Beyond the Backyard

[Jace Varro]

Jace hearing Loa's explanation behind such slaughter caused the teen to shake his head and scoff in disgust how can butchering children, he was never so glad that he wasn't touched with the force, if this is what it could lead to maybe it'd be best if it was just gone, then the evils would just be committed for 'normal' reasons and not some hope of greater strength from some weird space magic.
Pulled from his thoughts by Loa's demands to someone to show themselves, spinning in the direction she turned, Jace thought that perhaps some poor sod had managed to survive and could tell us who and how many there were, but upon seeing the young man's ash covered body, and the blood caked to his hands and feet Jace had a feeling he wasn't a friend, Loa's question ignored and began held up his hands and muttering. 'what the he'll is he doing' he wonders as this occurs, luckily for them both that Loa had some clue as to what was going on, he watched eyes wide with surprise and respect, as her hand jetted forward and the Ash covered youth went tumbling to the ground and a firm reprimand shot at him, hearing shuffling he notices the arrival of more people in the same state as the youth, Ash covered, limbs caked in blood.
Quickly Jace brings his blasters to bear, seems like they just stepped into the rancor's den.
"Ohhh... Jace, I hope you like a good fight." Turning to catch her coy smile he gives a reassuring grin after hearing the nervousness leaking into her voice. "Usually I don't like a head on fight, but I think I'll make an exception for our new friends and give 'em a taste of their own medicine.. We stand together, and we'll survive." finishing his statement he looked to the group of people slipping into view from around building, he could see five of them for now, and not counting the kid on the ground who was just starting to get to his feet, taking aim at the struggling cultist he hesitates momentarily, wondering if Loa would have issue with his handling of what was to come, they couldn't afford mercy at the moment he would have eventually got up and helped us friends, and so Jace pulled the trigger, his target slumps lifelessly to the ground, one down, who knows how many more, checking behind him for signs of anyone sneaking up on them revealed no one, standing beside Loa he raises his blasters. "Come and get some your kriffing bastards." Jace says to the air the bastards in question not close enough to hear was more for the youth as he thinks of why he decided to stay, avenge these kids, he needed to stay angry at them, Loa had said that the power they sought came with a price. That price was death and Jace the nice guy that he is, was going to help them pay up.
@GABA

 

[Isola Rin]

Jace was on board and she gave him a reassuring nod that if they stuck together they would get out of this situation alive. Jace fired at the one who was starting to stand and Loa wanted to turn and lash out, but now was not the time, his choice was his and hers would to survive. The Force was alive with the girl and as Jace raised his blasters more appeared; the girl quickly counted ten at least, she was unsure if more were hiding, but they would find out soon enough. Anger radiated from Jace in order to keep himself motivated, Loa was calm, focused, her training would surely determine if she was a capable warrior.

One of the cultists screamed and charged and the rest begun to close in; the tendrils extended from the girl to grip the charging cultist to throw him into the to others, knocking them over, but they were quick to get back up. They came again and Loa dodged between their swings; she felt someone pull at her ankle and the girl hit the soil, cracking her chin on the ground and tasting the salt of the blood from biting her tongue. Her drills taught her to be quick, always keep moving and so she did as she flipped onto her back and just in time for a cultist to overhead swing their club, landing in the dirt next to her head. Loa threw out her arms and the impact of the blast from the Force caused his bones of his rib cage to crack as he was thrown backwards several meters.

Another one came though, making sure to not let the girl get back to her feet, but Loa was ready, her trust was placed in the Force as her reactions were certainly unnaturally quick. She gripped his weapon hand with the Force and sent back into his own body, the metal pieced his gut and Loa jumped up to grab the weapon from him and to finish the job. The blade exited through his back as she pulled it out. She watched him stumble backwards before falling; Loa had never killed before and the moment seemed to catch her off guard, enough for another cultist to catch her with a back hand as she stumbled back in a daze.

@TheRevenchist

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace stood resolute as the cultists approached, like Loa he didn't see any more than the near dozen spread before them, of course they could have just sent out these guys thinking it would be enough and send out more later.
Conservation of his shots forefront in his mind he was about to fire at the charging cultist when Loa showed off her abilities and knocked him into the others, satisfied that she ccould handle herself he takes aim with his CSR-2A blasters focusing on the nearing cultists, with his left gun goes off 3 times, spraying into the approaching crowd, stalling their progress long enough for him to take aim and let loose two bolts to the chest of his intended target, the cultist dropping to the ground and a harsh laugh forcing past his lips, more from nerve-racking humor.
Hearing a thump he looks towards the source of the sound of a cultist impacting a wall, and falls to the ground. 'So that was three down only seven and who knows how many more to go.' his thoughts interrupted as something makes contact with his face, stumbling to his knees he sees the thrown stone, dazed he brings his hand to the corner of his eye and sees blood.
Angry at his lapse in concentration, he slaps his face to gain his bearings before hauling himself to his feet, glad that the stone hadn't hit him above the eye and totally blinded him, and just starting to swell, he could still see clear enough to smash the butt of his blaster into the side of the face of one of the cultists that gained ground on him.
The cultist dropping dead or dazed he wasn't sure, he fires both Blasters into the remaining cultist at nearly point blank, he was dead before he hit the ground, needing to get more space between the remaining cultists and himself he turns and runs a few feet before spinning and shooting to delay and gain some ground, he does this once more stopping before a hut opening.
Sparing a glance at Loa nearby, a cultist dead at her feet. it seemed to him that her mind wasn't in he fight anymore, not noticing the approaching cultist he shouts out to her to look out bit she doesn't hear and is slapped back, kriff. Firing into the crowd once again to buy time, he takes aim at the cultist that struck Loa, fires thrice at the man, one wide, two lucky shots hits his leg and shoulder, knocking him to his knees, and buying time for Loa to gain her bearings.
"Get it together girl! Live or Die! The choice is yours!" He yells to her hoping to kick her into gear again. Having turned back to the crowd Jace begins to lign up his next shot, unaware of the cultists that slipped from the shadows of a derilict hut behind him, a long dagger poised to strike him in the back.
@GABA

 

[Isola Rin]

Loa would admit, she had not be cracked in the jaw like that since her beginning training days when she was first learning to use her weapon. It stung and she had a feeling that she should probably get used to because it would not be the last someone would catch her off-guard. She heard blaster fire again and the stares in her vision faded as she came back to focus, she reached for the Force as Jace yelled out to the girl to pay attention. The number of cultists were starting to dwindle, some bodies laid about with the victims they attacked and others were beginning to retreat in order to nurse their injuries. Loa of course pressed onward, now with a weapon, her movements were smooth like the currents of a river as she stepped and ducked between swings of fists and their swords.

The Light of the Force burned brightly from the girl, her sword slashed across the clay caked chest of another cultist; they were there to kill her and the hutt gangster, Loa knew she couldn't hold back. She had dragged Jace into this issue and she couldn't let him get hurt either. However, they were pushing through and there were only just a few left standing by the time she was once more at Jace's side.

The remaining cultist starred at the dark haired girl and her partner before turning their backs and running, retreating over the edge of the hill until Loa could no longer feel their presence. If Jace raised his blaster to shoot, Loa would stop him, pressing his weapon to aim into the blood stained dirt. They had proven their strength against the dark siders, though it didn't bring anymore answers as to why they killed the people in this village or if they were causing the sick back at the Adept temple. Loa felt a little frustrated and disappointed, had she known none of those answers were going to be here, she should have stayed put.

The girl glanced at Jace, seeing blood run down the side of his face, "Are you ok? It looks like they knicked you good." she said reaching up to brush back some of his hair to look.

@TheRevanchist

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace watched in awe a Loa regained her footing and went to work on the cultists with a renewed sense of focus he fired into the crowd, his bolts hitting their marks, and cultists dropping, his gaze kept returning to the force sensitive girl who swept him into this mess, he was mesmerized by the grace of her movements he'd never seen anyone fight like that, he didn't know why but watching her was like watching a fast flowing river, both violent and beautiful.
From behind the cultist in the shadow struck while Jace was was again off guard, an impact and loud clank sound out as the dagger connects with his armor, slamming his weight backwards into his attacker he smashes him into the doorframe before spinning around and firing, cultist dropping into the shadowy hut, kriff, he liked this jacket and now there was a slash in it, he thinks as he turns back around noticing that Loa has just reached him, the cultists begin to flee and Jace goes to fire at them only to be stopped, his blaster being pushed to aim at the ground by his companion.
Giving a shrug of his shoulders he holsters his blasters. Well they survived, seems they didn't like dealing with people who could fight.
Standing beside the force user Jace turns to face her only to have her express concern about his cut, he finds himself holding his breath as she gets closer and brings her hand to his face to inspect the cut, face redening, he wasn't used to anyone worrying about him, her being a female had nothing to do with it nothing at all, he definitely didn't find the way she looked fighting attractive, nope, and he definitely didn't think she smelled fantastic, even after fighting for her life. NOT. AT. ALL.
He'd obviously took a harder hit than he thought, after all she did drag me into this dangerous situation, so he definitely wasn't her biggest fan.. Well that was his story and he'd stick too it...
"I'm- he clears his throat as his voice catches as he goes to speak. -I'm fine, wasn't paying enough attention and got a rock for it, I'll be fine, but I've got to say you are pretty impressive..."
He trails off as he does nothing to stop her inspection his brow furrows as more unwanted thoughts enter his mind, he blamed the fact that he had just survived a life or death scenario. "So.. What about you, are you alright?"
He didn't really like to pry too hard into feelings territory, but he had a feeling she wasn't too pleased with the outcome of this 'quest' after all they'd done they hadn't learned anything from this, other than they were cowards when things didn't go their way.
So there he stood uncomfortably close to Loa trying not to think about... things, he really needed a drink, forgetting that's what got him into this mess.
@GABA

 

[Isola Rin]

She could see his cheeks reddening but didn't give it second thought, assuming he was not used to others fussing over him. The girl smirked as he pulled himself together long enough to give a response, explaining what had happened, but followed up with a compliment on her fighting style or at least that's what she thought he meant. Her ego wanted to take it further and nodded in its agreement that yeah, she was pretty impressive. However, she wouldn't verbally admit it to Jace.

"I'm fine, feel a little tired, and guilty." she explained frowning some and even more so she had nothing extra to help patch him up. She could heal him with the Force, but the village of the dead was not the place to do it. She turned to look at the bodies, "We should head back, I can find some others to come and give them a proper burial but once the sun begins to set, scavengers would come out, and I'm sure this place has them." Loa said placing a hand on his forearm to guide him to follow. She took one more look over her shoulder before she set her attention on moving onward.

"I feel guilty because I dragged you into this without asking, without really identifying the threats we faced, I'm sorry." she apologized, "I got nothing, no answers, just an injured gunslinger and a bruised ego." the dark haired girl huffed. "You could have left any time, but you didn't, so thank you for sticking with me." Loa glanced up at Jace, her tone changing to softer to show her appreciation for his help.

@TheRevanchist

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace allowed himself to be led by Loa, away from the scene of carnage they had discovered, while they didn't get them all they got some of the freaks, listening as his companion spoke of her guilt over leading him into this mess without planning, and more information. He perked up... Internally at her praise, he wouldn't.. Couldn't admit that he liked helping her, even if it went against everything he had grown up believing. Look out for yourself, and don't stick your head out for others or you risk getting stabbed in the back. The Jace's waged a silent war within him. The Jace that enjoyed to help others, shouting that this is what you should have done with your life... and the Jace who only cared about himself, shouting back that the weak are meat, and the strong do eat.
"...for sticking with me.."
"You're welcome.. he manages pausing briefly his brow furrows unused to saying things like that. "Besides it's never a bad idea to help a damsel in distress, at least that's what the holovids say... So try not to to be too hard on yourself, after all you did something, and we thinned 'em out at least, a nice little warning to let them know there is someone out there that won't put up with there kriff, Sure I didn't find anything of value, but if it makes you feel better we could always say you owe me one." finishing he goes to smirk but instead smiles a real smile at the force Adept.
For the first time in his life Jace wasn't looking forward to going back to the Criminal world that he was a part of, he'd let some walls down to help her out, he wondered if he would be able to get them back up again and become the cold killer the Cartel had made him... Was that a bad thing? Only time would tell..
Pushing his insecurities away for another day he flashes a grin to Loa. "Now as much as I like standing here watching the sun set with you, I think we should probably move on... Unless you think there's a cosy cave nearby you want to cuddle in" he states his tone playful, a sly smile on his lips, he wanted to enjoy this moment of calm with someone who wouldn't shoot him for credits, he was acting like any normal teen in the Galaxy for the first time in a long while, while it would prove fleeting he would hold his adventure with this girl, inside him for the rest of his days. A lone flame burning bright in the darkness that was his life
@GABA

 

[Isola Rin]

Loa quirked an eyebrow as he reassured she shouldn't be too hard on herself. He was right, they did thin out their numbers, but it wouldn't bring back the innocents who died for their dark cause. Hopefully they wouldn't be attacking anymore villages anytime soon, she wasn't sure if she could do much without the help she had gotten from Jace.

"I guess I could owe you one." she told him nodding to the deal. He suggested for them to move or to move to a cozy cave and Loa gave him a warning look, "So smooth, slick." she teased, "Then separate ways then, Jace, you're not going to find credits here." she told him, her eyes following a departing transport in the distance, "But surely I think we'll see one another again. The galaxy is not as big as some believe it to be."

Loa grinned and gave him a small bow before taking to the opposite direction in which Jace needed to go.

@TheRevanchist

//THREAD