Blues Brothers (Jedi)

[Drop Shock]

Blues Brothers
The frigid temperatures of Rothana can quickly send even the heartiest humanoids into a cold grave. The beasts of Rothana are not so easily deterred by the cold. The creatures will strike at night when it is coldest and the RHE facilities are most vulnerable. A RHE outpost has gone dark. This is troubling for a number of reasons. First, if the outpost has lost power the workers will quickly freeze to death. Even more troubling, the base has been waylaid by mysterious creatures each night. The RHE employees are at serious risk. Travel to the outpost and discover the problem. You must arrive before the employees turn to blue popsicles or are attacked by the creatures. Solve the outpost’s problem, save the workers from a cold or gruesome death, and fight off any monsters. Easy.

Though he knew it was silly, Leys Jiron couldn't help but shiver as he looked out the viewport of the shuttle. They were descending towards Rothana's surface, which he knew was an arctic iceball. He just didn't think that it had to be so 'in your face' about it. Wind was driving the snow with such force that Leys couldn't see more than 2 feet outside the shuttle. He hoped the storm would die down before they had to get moving, because if not they might end up taking an unexpected detour down a crevasse or off an ice cliff. He wasn't even sure where the pilot would be able to drop them off in the first place.

At least his white robes and silver armor would blend in in a place like this; he usually stuck out like a wampa on Coruscant. It didn't help that he normally had camera droids following him as his own private film crew, part of his deal with Liberty News Corporation to produce propaganda for the war effort. Where 'Knight Avenger' went (as they had christened him), the droids followed; LNC thought live mission footage the best for their purposes. Leys had made the decision to leave the droids out of this assignment, however, concerned that the secrets of Rothana might be too sensitive.

The Pau'an leaned against the bulkhead and read over their briefing once more. An outpost gone dark. He hoped that they weren't too late, turning up only to find frozen corpses or piles of bones, or perhaps worst of all: nothing and nobody. He wasn't sure if the Sith or Mandalorians were testing their luck yet on Rothana, but he figured it was only a matter of time. This war seemed to touch everything and everyone eventually, no matter how well protected or remote.

Figuring they'd land at any moment, Leys decided to touch base with his partner one last time, while they still had the luxury to talk. He didn't know much about Knight Espaa, but what he knew he respected.

"Any final thoughts before we step into the void?" he asked, gesturing to the blizzard outside their windows.

@Aurius Pheonix

 

[Aurius]

Cecil gently calmed his mind as their shuttle careened towards the damp and frozen wasteland that was Rothana. To some, this place was a blot in the bigger galaxy, an unending tempest where Noone dare dwell. But to Cecil, it reminded him of home.

The aging Jedi had spent his childhood on the frozen planet of Rhen Var, growing to appreciate the glint of the snow at sunset. The beauty of glacier mountains as far as the eye could see. This trip reminded him of home, and to his dismay, even made him slightly homesick. He had left his homeworld to join the Crusaders, now known as the Jedi Order once more, and had not returned in many years. At that moment, he made up his mind to bring Kalen on a visit to her father's homeworld.

He glanced over at his Pau'an ally. He seemed to visibly dislike the tundra he observed, and the blizzard that enveloped it. He wore peculiar armor, that of the Holonet hero Knight Avenger. He had heard of the program from his daughter, and knew she'd be terribly amused if she could see him now. Cecil, however, wore a mottled brown and tan fur robes, traditional Varite clothing.

"Just keep your eyes peeled. The snow will make it easy to track, but also easy to hide and get lost. Do not separate yourself from me."​

 

[Drop Shock]

"That I can do," Leys replied as he double checked his utility belt, the supplies that were inside it, and the crossguard saber that hung from it. "I'll follow your lead."

The shuttle lurched suddenly and Leys had to shift his stance to avoid being knocked from his feet; after a few seconds of shuddering and the uneasy sense that they were sinking into the earth, the shuttle stilled completely. They had landed.

"My apologies, Master Jedi!" the pilot called from the cockpit. "I had to set us down some ways away from the outpost! The storm seemed to be moving with us in that direction and I wasn't sure I'd be able to put us down in one piece over there!"

Leys squinted and peered out the viewport: the ground was distinguished from the horizon by being a slightly darker shade of white. Perhaps that meant the weather was improving? He didn't know. He didn't have much experience in the snow, much less on an arctic planet, so he was glad to have Cecil with him. Leys would try to remember to trust the other Jedi and the Force more than his own senses here.

Stepping closer to the cockpit so he wouldn't have to speak so loudly, Leys addressed the pilot. "You did well, no need to apologize. How far to the facility from here?"

"About 5 kilometers, sir." The pilot twisted in his seat to better answer the Jedi. "You should be able to make it by nightfall."

Leys nodded and thanked the pilot once more. They would arrive just in time for the beasts to come out. He checked his gear one last time and moved to the hatch, inclining his head to Cecil as he drew near. "We're in your realm now. I'm right behind you."

@Aurius Pheonix

 

[Aurius]

Cecil couldn't help but smile. It was like diving back home. The snow banks, the frost that coats the ground with a beautiful sheen made him happy. But the weather concerned him greatly.

The blizzard wasn't letting up. If it kept up, the ship might not be able to leave the system until it abated, which could well be minutes or days. They needed to move quickly.

"...The storm seemed to be moving with us in that direction and I wasn't sure I'd be able to put us down in one piece over there!"

"That's alright, pilot. If we don't radio in within the next cycle, assume we failed in our mission. You'll need to lift off before this storm grounds you here. The temperature is going to plummet come nightfall, these engines won't handle the flash freeze. Thanks, and stay safe."

Cecil grabbed a good old holopad. It was sturdy, and he hoped it would last the cold. If not, he would have to inscribe it on something that couldn't lose power. He turned to his fellow Knight and pointed towards a valley between two of the higher snowbanks.

"I figure we should head for the clearing and make our way as straightforward as possible to the outpost. If you can, gently blanket yourself in the Force. It should prevent any severe weather detriments-"

Cecil paused, realizing he was using his father voice. He didn't need to be so formal with another Knight.

"-and Leys? Try to keep moving. Would hate for you to freeze in the moment..."

He smiled at the terrible joke and started forwards, trudging towards the indented path and waving the pilot off. His golden saber activated with a hiss and lit the way.​

 

[Drop Shock]

Leys turned to watch the shuttle as it lifted off and blasted snow in all directions in the downwash of the thrusters. Within moments it was hidden from view by the falling snow, though they could still hear it as it retreated back to orbit, the roar of its engines slowly fading to nothing.

And then silence. Cecil spoke first.

"I figure we should head for the clearing and make our way as straightforward as possible to the outpost. If you can, gently blanket yourself in the Force. It should prevent any severe weather detriments - and Leys? Try to keep moving. Would hate for you to freeze in the moment..."

Leys rolled his eyes at the joke but chuckled nonetheless. He appreciated the humor of the other Jedi, even if it was more for the intent of such jokes than the quality of them. He also appreciated the advice, as he was never the most intuitive or creative in how he harnessed the Force. Luckily, of all Force techniques, this was by far his most proficient. Stepping forward in the snow, he focused.

Breathe.

Breathe.

In the span of a few heartbeats Leys had settled into easy, familiar relationship with the Force, allowing it to radiate from him like a wellspring, guiding his muscles and protecting them from the worst of the cold. Though he still felt the biting chill, it was bearable. He followed suit with Cecil and ignited his saber as he walked, the brilliant blue blade roaring to life amid a cloud of steam as the falling snow vaporized on the plasma.

The two knights pushed forward through the snow, their lightsabers shining like beacons in the blinding miasma of the storm. The only sounds were the rush of wind, the hum of their blades, and the crunch of their footsteps in the knee-high soft snow.

"So," Leys said, "what do we know about the wildlife here? We have any ideas what's going to try to eat us come nightfall?" He took a few more steps, then chuckled. "I like to know who's inviting me for dinner before I accept the invitation."

 

[Aurius]

"So," ​

Leys said, "what do we know about the wildlife here? We have any ideas what's going to try to eat us come nightfall?" He took a few more steps, then chuckled. "I like to know who's inviting me for dinner before I accept the invitation."

"This planet is a mystery to me. The only beast I know for a fact exists here is the Horned Whelmer. And they are massive, we'd see them from miles off."

Cecil put his left hand in front of his face as a fresh blast of Frost smacked into them. It was purely reflex, the bubble around him protected him from any cold that struck. He felt his own energy pulse as he countered the howling wind with the Force. Their sabers shone as beacons, his partner's sapphire blade giving a needed glow. The path ahead of them was unmarked, but that meant nothing. Fresh snow was covering their tracks as they walked, regardless. He felt the energy of the ship taking off behind them, it's engine glowed until the two Knights were alone amid the endless snow.

"So. The Knight Avenger. How exactly did that happen? My daughter loves your broadcasts."

Further ahead the gentle thrum of wind was abated by the snowbanks surrounding them. Nonetheless, there was no sign of any station yet.​

 

[Drop Shock]

Cecil said, "This planet is a mystery to me. The only beast I know for a fact exists here is the Horned Whelmer. And they are massive, we'd see them from miles off."

Leys scanned the horizon to either side of him, or rather where the horizon would be if he could see it; frankly he wasn't convinced that if any 'Horned Whelmers' decided to show up that they would spot them before they got stepped on. He pictured a scene out of a holocomedy ('Let's rest for a bit under this tree.' 'No, Janus, that's not a tree! That's a *splat*), and couldn't resist smiling at the absurdity. He was pulled from his thoughts as Cecil spoke again:

"So. The Knight Avenger. How exactly did that happen? My daughter loves your broadcasts."

"Oh," he said, "thank you." Leys hadn't met many connected to the Order who watched or valued what he did. It was a pleasant surprise. "I had an Op to do with two other Knights. We were tight on time so we co-opted a squad of Antarian Rangers who had been about to launch for some blue milk run, a publicity thing, you know. They had a member of some pro-Republic news corporation with them."

"Not the brightest guy," he added with a laugh. "He got thrown from the shuttle mid-flight, I dived out to grab him, and then we completed the mission. He was impressed and approached me with the job." He paused. "They'd had this idea for a while, it seemed. They just couldn't find a Jedi who would agree to do it."

He laughed again. "I'm not sure what that says about me."

 

[Aurius]

He laughed again "I'm not sure what that says about me."

Cecil shook his head. He had been in his own fair share of stupid situations, but being thrown from a shuttle wasn't one he had the mispleasure of dealing with. The path they followed winded slightly, and Cecil adjusted himself and continued to walk. A faint light source could be seen ahead, but whether it was the outpost or not was anyone's guess in such a storm.

"Why, it means you're a good sport, if nothing else. It also helps the Jedi seem more grounded in reality for most people. More approachable."

Cecil paused as he saw the faint strobe of a sensor marker up ahead, and pointed his Lightsaber forward.

"Seems we're getting closer."​

 

[Drop Shock]

"Why, it means you're a good sport, if nothing else. It also helps the Jedi seem more grounded in reality for most people. More approachable."

Leys was opening his mouth to reply when Cecil paused and pointed his lightsaber ahead.

"Seems we're getting closer."

Leys squinted and made out the strobe of the light that the other Jedi indicated. Forgetting any reply he had formed, Leys let himself sink deeper into the fabric of the Force, allowing it to guide his senses and prepare him for whatever may lurk ahead. The roar of the blizzard blanketed the background of his thoughts as the white noise of Coruscanti traffic lulled one to sleep. Soon they were climbing a ridge, then passing the marker, and the single strobe was replaced by a multitude as the outpost revealed itself on the other side. The lights, blinking on and off in a staccato, betrayed the buildings that the blizzard sought to hide. They had made good time but the sky was still beginning to darken.

Something howled in the distance.

 

[Aurius]

"Oh. Sith spit."

The outpost was before them, a derelict station that had clearly seen better days. It's first impression left a distasteful 'This is it?' Impression in Cecil's mind. Not a great impression at all. Furthermore, the shriek that welcomed them certainly did not bode well for the workers inside.

Raising his left hand to eye level, Cecil focused on the he snow between him, his ally, and the outpost. Drawing upon his knowledge over the Force, he unleashed a powerful blast of kinetic energy, clearing a path to the outpost with its power. It dissipated just before striking the station, and left naught but wide snowbanks and fresh snow on rocky soil for them to traverse.

"I'm getting too old for this... come on."

Cecil launched himself towards the outpost perimeter, closing the distance as fast as he could.​

​

 

[Drop Shock]

Cecil's telekinetic wave - his abilities obviously far outstripped Leys' own here - ripped through the snow and cleared a path. Leys took off after Cecil toward the outpost, the Force propelling him forward far faster than he should have been able to move. The two Jedi were blurs, seeming to almost fly over the snow and rocky soil. Leys did not know what was lurking in the snow around the outpost or whether or not it was already inside, but he'd be damned if he didn't try his hardest to beat them to it.

He reached the walls of the station somewhat ahead of the aged Jedi and immediately began circling, looking for an entrance - and for evidence the beasts may already be inside. There were some scratch marks on the walls but nothing indicated a breach... until he reached a service entrance off a catwalk. The door was still there, but that's about as much as could be said for it. Its thick metal was twisted and ripped in parts, and it was enough distorted and ruined that even Leys would have been able to slip inside without having to actually open it.

 

[Aurius]

Cecil continued to bolt down the path of his own creation, looking around to see the technically younger Jedi surge ahead of him. He knew the location would be well scouted by the time he got there. In the meanwhile, he focused on spreading his Force Presence around him, sensing for hostile life. Cecil found some, within the structure. When he arrived at the door, a marred and rent in thing, he understood they were late.

"Damn. They never can wait, can they?"

Cecil ran through the rent door, keeping his saber ahead of him and followed the hallway until it opened to a dimly lit server room. The room itself was marred with claw marks and signs of struggle, but very little gore. It was a good sign.​

 

[Drop Shock]

Their lightsabers blazed in the dim light of the server room, the gold and blue blades mixing to cast the room in an eerie green glow. The low thrumming of their weapons joined with the buzzing of the servers in a haunting harmony. The air inside was not nearly as frigid as it was in the blizzard on the other side of the walls, though it was still obvious the outpost's heating was not operating as it should. Leys gave the scene before them a cursory examination, reaching the same conclusion as his partner: there was hope.

"The outpost isn't large," he said, "but the beasts have a head start and probably know where they want to go. We should split up. The faster we secure the workers the better. Just stay on comms and we can keep each other updated."

Leys set off down a side passage without waiting for a reply from the other Jedi. He didn't mean to offend; his first impulse was simply to find the RHE employees as soon as possible. Time was of the essence. Holding his blade close to his side, Leys went on the hunt.

 

[Aurius]

His partner did not wait, he sprung into action, saber aloft, down a side passage adjacent to Cecil.

I suppose this is why he's the action hero.

Cecil agreed. He didn't like being hasty, as reckless behaviour tended to end badly for those involved. But in this occasion, with lives at stake, they had no choice. He branched away from his ally, down a long and narrow hallway.

The hall itself was eerie by nature. Wires hanging from the insides of walls, with only one flickering light at the end of the way, revealing an open room. The faint yellow glow of Cecil's saber revealed nothing, but appearances could be deceiving. Using the darkness to his advantage, Cecil spread out his consciousness even as he deactivated his blade. Cloaking himself in the darkness, he let the Force guide him down the hallway and towards a sign of life. The next room seemed to be a supply closet, arrayed with lockers and boxes. Cecil caught a humanoid hiding behind one of the boxes, seemingly injured and frightened. He revealed himself calmly.

"Hey! Don't worry, I'm a Jedi, I'm here to help."

A Kel Dor male rose and turned to the Jedi. He did not speak, simply shivered and shook his head. Cecil could not determine what was wrong with him; perhaps shock had taken its toll. He guided the man out of his hiding place, gently resting his arm on the beings back, pulling away to comm Leys. To his surprise, he found his hand was wet.

Sweat? No. This isn't...

He raised his hand and smelled copper. Blood. The Kel Dor had not been injured... and this stench came only from a fatal wound. His heart dropped as he heard a sickening crunch, something unnatural and rearing to strike. Cecil did not hesitate, spinning and activating his Lightsaber to cleave clean through. The creature hit the floor, the skin it had been wearing fell with it.

At a cursory glance, it seemed this pale quadripedal creature had fit itself inside the Kel Dor's skin and carefully used it's disguise to ambush Cecil. Showing they where both experienced hunters, and cunning predators.

"Leys. Be careful; these creatures are smarter than we thought. They wear the skins of their victims. Be wary of anyone you find. I'm on my way now."​

 

[Drop Shock]

Leys stopped in his tracks. They were wearing their victims' skins? The image of a wampa zipping up a woman's skin like footie pajamas flashed through his mind. He shook his head and continued on.

"Galaxy gets weirder every day..." he muttered to himself.

He turned a corner and reached a flight of stairs which branched up and down. The faint sounds of voices wafted up to him from the lower level, which was all he was looking for. Leys leaped down the staircase and vaulted a railing. He rolled with the landing and took off in a force-fueled sprint, barreling down hallways like a freight train, having to run up and kick off wall when a turn was too tight.

Within seconds he had the speakers tracked: one RHE employee stood at the far end of the hall outside of a door which was beginning to open. Leys heard two voices from inside.

"By the stars, I don't believe it Derun, you survived!" said one.

"We thought you were a goner! Quick, get inside! I hear more coming!" said the other, mistaking Leys' approach for a monster's.

Only the monster was already with them. Leys could see the sloppiness of the monster's costume from behind, but the two men couldn't. Without slowing down, Leys barged past the creature, simultaneously imposing himself between it and it's victims and shoving the two other men backwards. They shouted in terror when Leys cleaved the beast in two, and lost their voices completely when the ragged skin of their comrade fell away from the body.

Leys turned and looked the other two over, though he was fairly certain neither was one of these skinwalkers. "How many others work here? How many do you have with you?" Looking over their shoulders he could see at least 2 others in the room, along with portable heaters and generators.

"The-there were 12 of us I... I think," one stammered.

Leys counted 2 dead, 4 alive, that left 6 survivors or skinwalkers presumably elsewhere in the outpost.

"I'll find them, or avenge them on these monsters." Leys replied, a bit of his Knight Avenger act slipping through. "Keep these doors locked, don't open them for anyone until I or another jedi returns, with one of these." Leys indicated his lightsaber. The RHE employee nodded, his eyes still wide, and slammed the door shut. Leys turned and pulled out his commlink, updating Cecil about what he'd found.

 

[Aurius]

And the plot thickens...

Cecil murmured in his mind even as his senses expanded, his muscles contracted, and his speed accelerated. Although he was in blissful peace among his thought, his body moved faster than physically possible, driven forward by the crackling whip of the Force. He sped towards the location of his Jedi partner, aware of the Jedi due to his force signature. As he passed the hallways, his senses picked up shadows beginning to move around him. His plan was working.

These creatures relied on their ability to single out and ambush their prey. That tactic wouldn't work against armed warriors that expected them, especially if those warriors happened to be two Knights of the Jedi Order. He almost felt their innate hunger and desire to kill, the wicked rasps of their breath beneath the skin of their victims. There was something that caught his attention, however. The smell of human blood.

Curving his movement down a western passageway, approximately 10 meters from Leys, Cecil came upon two of the Skinwalkers, in the open and preparing to finish their injured prey; an unconscious human worker that had clearly taken a blow to the head. But he would not die here today. With a trained hand, Cecil impaled one of the creatures with his blade, ducking beneath the others' claw. Whilst he spun out of range and past the monster, he felt the beast's organs through the force, focusing on it's lungs and rapidly compressing them. The result had the creature exhale all of it's oxygen, leaving it vulnerable to the lacerations of his golden blade. Picking the human survivor up, he moved quickly towards Leys as the Skinwalkers began to consolidate and approach en masse.​

 

[Drop Shock]

Leys returned his commlink to its spot on his belt and, hearing noises, turned to glance down an adjacent hall. He saw the golden light of Cecil's weapon rip through a pair of the creatures.

That was quick, he thought.

It did not take long for Leys to pick up on Cecil's plan; it sounded like a drum-line was following him down the hall. Leys stepped forward, away from the door to the room which was sanctuary for the several survivors they'd found. Leys had hoped there would be more - and maybe there were, hiding in other corners of the outpost - but for now he focused on defending those he could.

Cecil passed him with an injured human survivor in his arms and a horde of the beasts hot on his tail. Leys raised and held his blade in front of him in a salute - a silly gesture for these monsters, he knew - and smiled as he charged them. He drove deep into their ranks, surrounding himself with the beasts on all sides so that his blade would never want for a target. He ducked, leaped, and weaved. His blade never ceased its chaotic dance of death. His feet and fists, drawing unnatural strength through the Force, pummeled bone and soft tissue alike.

Yet the beasts were not without wits, and they quickly hemmed Leys in, attacking in unison and from multiple angles. Though he wouldn't admit it, he awaited Cecil's aid, as he didn't fancy being filleted.

 

[Drop Shock]

Cecil dropped the injured worker off in the 'safe' room and immediately moved to join Leys in battle, only pausing to slam the doors to the workers' room shut with the Force. He ignited his golden saber and swept into the backs of the creatures as they desperately tried to disembowel Leys. Finding themselves under attack on two sides, the creatures fell into disarray and fell to the Jedi blades one after another. When the last squeals and roars had quieted, the two Jedi stood amid the beasts' corpses like a snowbank. They filled the hallway.

Feeling no further signs of the monsters through the Force, Cecil and Leys scoured the outpost for the remaining workers. They recovered 4 more alive, hiding in various nooks and crannies, and one more dead. All told they saved 9 of the 12 employees. It wasn't the best result and Leys couldn't help but feel some guilt from the loss, but the mission overall was a success.

With the help of the employees and some impromptu rigging, Cecil used the outposts' comm systems to get a hold of their pilot, and by extension the Jedi Order. They were done here. Leys hoped he wouldn't have to return for some time. Too cold for a Pau'an.