Darkness on Dantooine: Finale; Crusaders Call

[Fennex Zeerda]

Dantooine Crystal Caves
​

"Thanks..." Fennex stumbled over a rock and fell to the ground, gasping for air, "For nothing... You... Faint-hearted... Dingi"

The little Knight clambered back to his feet and held his bright blue blade in front of him as a light source in his tingling and bruised left paw, where one of the pulse wave blasts had bounced off his armor when he misjudged one of the many deflections he'd made. He could smell singed fur too, and would have to give his tail a thorough inspection when they finally made it out of this place and escaped the hulking deathbots that had just tried (nearly successfully in his case) to murderize them. He could still hear the thundering cracks of their cannons behind him, and the thumping explosions that sent dust and pebbles falling to the floor of the cave with every blow as they mercilessly pounded the small cave entrance the Jedi had escaped into with continued fire. Held aloft, the faint glow of his saber showed a corridor of smooth, naturally carved rock- something that might indicate an ancient underground stream or some such. The walls shimmered faintly, and the warm, pulsating sense of energy permeated him now, clouding his senses in a not unpleasant way. In fact, it felt slightly rejuvenating. He was finally able to place the sensation- it was the same, or at least very similar, to the caves on Jedha, where he had retreated several times to meditate in the company of the Kyber Crystals. Both Jedha and now Dantooine had a very similar feeling to Illum, before it was ravaged by war, where he had first been chosen by the twin crystals that now nestled in his matched sabers. Incredible. He knew that Kyber crystal deposits had been found in far flung, scattered locations throughout the Galaxy, but this was the first he had heard of them here on Dantooine.

"Master Dan'ela? Art? Cav?" Fennex called out into the darkness. He hoped the other Jedi they'd started this mission with had been able to escape, wherever they were when the mechanical monsters had come knocking.

He adjusted his hold on the collar of the unconcious youngling he'd dragged into the cave with him, and hoisted her with much effort onto his little back- her feet and roughly made slippers dragging the floor and occasionally catching on his tail. He'd used a lot of Force energy moving her so quickly as he twirled his saber defensively around them, and was slightly amazed he'd managed to make it out relatively unscathed. The girls was still breathing, but would be unconscious for some time after the trance Fennex had forced her mind into. With any luck it would break whatever spell or trauma had been put on her by the droids would be broken when she awoke, but he wasn't holding his breath. Fennex made his way slowly forward, half carrying and half dragging the child, deeper into the cave. He could see more faint glow ahead of him, and could now make out occasional phosperescent shimmers in the rock wall that often indicated or preceded crystal deposits. He only hoped this wasn't some dead end grotto that they'd found themselves in. Trying to blast their way out of the rock the way they'd come wasn't a plan that filled him with confidence, and they hardly seemed any closer to finding the councilor on top of it.

"Oi, numbskulls! Somebody help with this child shaped sack of bantha poodoo!"

@Valen Pelora @Black Noise @Eccelessey @GABA

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

Evalyn slumped against the smooth wall of the cave. Her emerald blade creating a soft green glow. She held the saber before her, slowly walking forward. She was exhausted. Evalyn had pushed herself nearly to the breaking point during their escape. Her brave and stupid decision had gotten them free of the ancient droids. The Jedi had been forced to make a mad dash across the plains of Dantooine. The droids chased them all the way to the caves. It was a miracle they were not dead.

Truly, they should not have made it. Evalyn’s armor was in ruins. Pulse wave grazes covered her body. Kriff, her clothes were hanging on by a thread. The Jedi Master was in rough shape. Physically she teetered on the edge. Evalyn finally looked around her. The Force was strong here. No, that wasn’t exactly right. The Lightside pulsed rhythmically in the cave. It felt so familiar. A realization finally hit Evalyn. There were rumored to be kyber crystal caves on Dantooine. By some miracle of the Force, the little band of Jedi had managed to stumble upon the caves. They had brought a droid army with them. She could still hear the autonomous killers hammering the entrance of the cave with munitions. Evalyn reached out in the Force.

A true Lightside nexus pulsed around them. She took a deep breath and drew on the Force. Her strength reached heights she had never felt before. Evalyn pushed the Light throughout her body, washing away pain and exhaustion. She wasn’t healed but she was in better shape than she was. Finally, she began to move a little deeper into the cave. She looked for Cav, Art, and Fen. They had been a little separated while sprinting away from the droids. Evalyn stumbled upon Fen as he was calling out. She cleared her throat behind him. “That’s no way to speak to a Jedi Master. Especially one who saved your furry little hide.” She smiled at him, looking around. “We need to find the other numbskulls and a way out of here.” Evalyn wasn’t exactly keen on going out the front door. Those droids weren’t suddenly going to suddenly give up. @Loco @Black Noise @Ecclessey @GABA Ren

 

[Artyom]

Voices, lights and sounds swirled around Artyom. He vaguely remembered rushing into the caves, trying to help carry Evalyn, what happened before that? There were droids, a creepy child, Artyom tried to kill her? Oh he shouldn’t have done that, regret set in now. Where was he? Reaching out, he felt the ground around him, thick rocks and dampness surrounded him. Reaching down for his belt, he felt for his lightsabers and failed to find them. Kriff, he had left his lightsabers down back there with the droids. The droids, they had attacked them, right? What else? Evalyn! She saved them, that was right.

Kriff, my head hurts... Artyom thought, reaching up to feel his head. His mask was gone, weird, and his hair was wet. Had he fallen into a puffy? Reaching down, he felt a small amount of water on the rocks below and deduced he slipped on that. Attempting to stand, the Crusader immediately regretted that decision and fell back down. His left leg did not support his weight at all, “Kriff, I think it’s broken.” he whispered. Attempting to stand once more, Artyom put the majority of his weight on one leg. Looking up, he saw lights in the distance a little further in the cave. Half hopping, half limping, he made his way towards the glowing green and blue lights.

As he moved, he started feeling out with the Force. His eyes slowly adjusted and he looked around at his surroundings. This was more than any ordinary cave. The Force moved through this place like a river after a heavy rain, swelled and full of life. The walls were covered with crystals that seemed as if they spoke, containing power and silent strength. It was amazing. He had never visited a crystal cave before, not even on Ilum where he heard of such places existing. The war had made such normal trips impossible for one such as himself, and he felt blessed to finally be able to see one. Even if this awe-inspiring sight was on the heels of a life threatening situation.

“-And a way out of here.” Artyom approaches at the tail end of the conversation. Waving at Fen and Evalyn, he smiled gently in the darkness at his friends. He called out to them quietly and lightheartedly “H-hey! I think my leg might be broken-” Finally in the light, Artyom looked down to his extremities and quickly turned a shade of pale. His left leg had twisted one hundred and eighty degrees around and bent the wrong direction. Chuckling gently, Artyom’s voice took a deeper, far more serious tone. “Oh that’s definitively broken...”

 

[Rem Shivaaga]

Water dripped from the crystal laiden stalacite from above into the small pools that surrounded the battle damaged group. The air was cool, a little musty, but otherwise peaceful as compared to outside the caves where the bombarding had picked up once more. The blue Jedi Master sat quietly as the remainder of his settlement group also rested, he grimaced as a particular shell seemed to disturb the entire cave.

"They're at it again, Master Shivaaga." said one of the Knight Crusaders taking a seat beside the chagrian. The Jedi Master nodded but didn't open his eyes as he focused. The crystals sung between the flowing waves of the Force, the light brought the worn crusader better insight on where to take his survivors. He furrowed his brow as he reached out, letting the Force pour through his body, listening to the guidance of the Force on the direction he needed to take. The cave rumbled again, pebbles and dirt shaking loose from the walls and rain down on the group.

"Lets keep moving." Rem spoke and the Knight sitting beside him nodded and went to round up the rest. He stood slowly, his body ached even with the Force drawing to him in order to help him move better. He sloshed through a shallow pool and ignited his saber as the glow of the crystals darkened as they moved through a smaller tunnel, pausing when the ground shook and then kept moving. The Force was their guide and it had yet to lead them astray. His senses reached out feeling what was ahead, he would not have any ambushes, they couldn't afford it.

However, as the group continued, between feeling the waves in the Force and something echoing in the distance, Rem held up a had to have the group stop and they followed, falling quiet as the Councilor listened. They were voices; it took the chagrian a moment to decipher what was being said through the echoes and a smile cracked on his harden features. "C'mon.." he said looking over his shoulder as they continued through the tunnel, leading them to a larger cave opening. He could see the glow of sabers and he felt a renewed vigor as he picked up his pace.

"Hello!" he called out, his low voice echoed through the cave, "Are you hurt?" he asked as a woman and a fox with a child came into view.

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

Evalyn was distracted from Fen by the unmistakable voice of Artyom. She turned to watch the Crusader emerge from the darkness. A small smile crept up her face. He wasn’t dead and appeared to be mostly unharmed. They still had no idea where Cavalas was. Despite all of Cav’s problems, Evalyn was worried about him. The crabby Crusader was one of them and she didn’t want anything to happen to him.

Artyom finally fully moved into the light. He remarked on his broken leg and Evalyn’s gaze shifted to his injury. She almost gagged. That was horribly broken. She had seen a ton of horrible injuries in her time. A twisted leg still made her stomach churn. How the Force was not awash with Artyom’s pain, she might never know. Maybe he really was insane. “Kriff Art, sit down.” All of their supplies were back in the ruins of Master Shivaaga’s camp. They had no medical supplies, food, or anything. She bent down to inspect the gruesome injury. She could maybe heal some of the fracture. Evalyn looked back up at Art. “I don’t think I can heal this. Our brush with our new friends and sprint to this lovely cave, have taken too much from me.” She grimaced. “I’m sorry Art, best I could do is take away some of the pain.” Even with Fen’s help they likely wouldn’t be able to fix such a break. Their time on Dantooine had taken a significant toll on them.

Evalyn spun as the Force pulsed again. She breathed in the Lightside, preparing whatever new terror approached. A humanoid voice called out. Evalyn nearly passed out when Master Shivaaga and a band of Jedi emerged from the shadows. There was no mistaking the Crusader Councilor. She could not believe they actually found him. She stepped forward. “Master Shivaaga, kriff we have been looking for you.” Finally. “My friend here has a busted leg and we’ve been chased all across Dantooine by droids looking to vaporize us.” She looked at the band behind Shivaaga. It was far less than she had expected. @Loco @Ecclessey @Black Noise @GABA Ren

 

[Cavalas Onn]

Cavalas woke up with the feeling of a running nose and an intensity spike of a severe headache. Slowly he opened his eyes and cast them down on himself in the little light a crack in the cavern's ceiling provided. He was covered in blood and burned leather and unbeknownst to him a burn wound covered his left cheek and disfigured his beard. It would fade and then heal completely, but the memory of the past minutes would probably linger in his mind forever.

It was painful to see the light disappear from your inner self and make way for the Dark Side and it was this that had exhausted Cavalas far more than the sprint towards the cavern complex. In his desperation his defense against the blaster bolts had been far from perfect and his ruined armor displayed the several hits on his body where the blood and shavings showed his unwillingness to slow down in order to get through the narrow cavern entrance he had first spotted. It hadn't been the same the others had used and as his eyes slowly got adjusted to the darkness he discovered in despair that the hilt of his lightsaber was rendered inoperable by a blaster bolt and his pistol's battery pack was empty. "This is the D'Astan Sector all over again," the Serenno-born sighed, referencing the painful similarities between the events that caused the great rift between Serenno and the Force-sensitives.

With tremedous effort and the support of the walls on either side of him, Cavalas managed to get up on his feet and make a slow but steady journey through the cavern. Eventually he heard voices that provided him with a beacon to follow and just as he turned into another cave did he spot Evalyn and Shivaaga. "By the Force," he croaked. Finally, mission accomplished.

Whatever could go wrong now.

 

[Artyom]

Artyom stood still for a moment, barely hearing Evalyn telling him to sit down. His eyes lingered on his broken leg, in fact broken was not even the beginning of a description for what happened to his limb. It looked both twisted and crushed, as though something far heavier than Art had collapsed on it during their dash to the cave. Running a hand through his sweat laden hair, the Crusader sat down on a large rock and lifted his leg up. It didn't hurt like it should, that was for certain. Only in moving it did he feel short, acute pains in certain areas.

That wasn't good. Art had been in enough battles to know that, when it came to wounds, pain was a good thing. Not feeling it meant he was either in shock or the break had severed a few nerves, maybe both. He looked at Master Dan'ela, in the dim lighting and dankness of the cave, she looked nothing short of beautiful. He almost spoke these words aloud, but he quickly caught himself and kept his mouth shut. What was he thinking?! Reaching up, he felt his head once more and sharply drew his fingers away in pain. His head bled as well.

Smiling at Evalyn, he spoke quietly "It's ok, Master, I don't feel much pain-" '-I know it can't be fixed.' Looking to her lightsaber, gently illuminating the wound, he added, "There is something more you can do for me, something you should probably do before we are attacked again. After all, it's just a leg, and-" '-It needs to be removed.' His mind's thoughts could easily be heard by Evalyn, if she were listening, but he did not attempt to project them into anyone's minds.

Suddenly, a new voice drew Art's attention up. His smile faded at the sight of the figure. It was their target, it was Master Shivaaga. He should have been happy that they had completed their mission, but Artyom could feel nothing but dread. Something had to be wrong, why was the master hiding? Why were their so many bodies outside? Who was hunting them?

 

[Rem Shivaaga]

"We have a knight who can look at your leg. He's our best healer" he said waving to one of the group members, a blonde male hurried forward, he seemed to have noticed Artyom when they had arrived, he was just waiting for the signal to go help him. The Knight nodded to Artyom, an individual clearly of few words, he knew he wasn't going to like what he needed to do: realign the bones.

Rem seemed to be taken aback by Evalyn's comment about searching for him. However, the feeling subsided as the Jedi female continued to explain in short their journey to get to where they were right now.

"Droids?" his brow narrowed, "Where did they come from? Had you all found out?" His eyes flickered from Evalyn to the rest of her group, "We had been in these caves for about a week, we've entered near the southern pass, as we were trying to seek shelter from the droids..." he paused as the cave shook, dust and rock crumbled from the ceiling of the cave as the forces outside continued their onslaught to get inside.

"We're not sure where they came from, but they're relentless, caught many of the settlements off guard, including ours and we had to retreat." he spoke, finding reluctance in admitting they had to fall back, but ultimately it was the best chance they had. To run and then live to fight another day, stronger than yesterday. However, it costed them lives regardless of what decision he made. "It looks like you guys seemed to make enemies with them as well." The chagrain master, gave a smirk, shaking his head as he rubbed his chin with his forefinger and thumb, thinking, but shook his head. The constant running had worn on him, "Our comms also seemed to be jammed, if we can just work ahead of them and find what is jamming us, then we can signal for some additional assistance."

His orange eyes flickered from Evalyn to the fox and to another young man as he waited to hear their thoughts.

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

Evalyn’s face paled as she sensed Artyom’s inner thoughts. She would not take his leg. Kriff maybe he was as crazy as he appeared. She’d exhaust herself trying to heal Art’s shattered leg before she ever lopped it off. He didn’t seem to be in much pain. That was concerning. Either Art’s nerves were damaged, or he was going into shock. Thankfully, Master Shivaaga had a healer with him. That put Evalyn’s mind at ease for a moment. At least Art wasn’t going to die from falling into shock. The rest of Master Shivaaga’s news was not so encouraging.

There were no more answers in the caves than outside on the plains. The leader of the Crusaders seemed to be equally at a loss. Their basecamp had fallen to a surprise attack and their communications were still out. Evalyn sighed heavily. This was a kriffing mess. Why had she thought anything would change when they found Master Shivaaga? There were no anointed heroes. Not anymore. There was no time for reverence. She could apologize the Councilor after they were safe. “They are ancient. Leftovers from some long-forgotten crusade and force-bent on murdering all of us.” She pointed at everyone in the cave.

“None of us exactly look like we are ready to stand up to a droid army. You’re right we need to get a signal out, but I have no idea what could possibly be blocking communications.” Her mind began to think way back to history lessons. “These old droids needed a command center close to relay orders. That has to be where the jamming signal is coming from.” Her mouth turned into a frown. “But where the kriff is that? Anyone have a brilliant idea? Anyone?” Evalyn certainly didn’t. The pounding outside the case was getting worse. They needed to be on the move soon. The droids would not be content with simply shooting from a distance forever. Soon, they would begin to move into the cave system. @Black Noise @Ecclessey @GABA Ren @Loco

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

was about ready to collapse from dragging the deadweight girl when the motley collection of Jedi finally found some friendly faces. Art's leg was in pretty bad shape, Cav wasn't very much better, and Evalyn looked absolutely exhausted (though he would never say as much to her face). The sudden appearance of Master Shivaaga, the one they'd put themselves through all of this searching for, did much to raise the little foxes spirits- not that the crusader band looked very much better than Fennex and company.

"By the Force, Master Shivaaga, it's good to run into someone who isn't trying to eat, impale, or atomize me for a change!" Fennex called out as he came up on the blue skinned master. He propped the limp bodied girl on a rock for one of the larger knights to retrieve, and was glad to finally rid himself of the burden- carrying a human child that easily outweighed him half over wasn't exactly what his furry little frame was built for. "Automaton Conquistador Corporation?" Fen interjected as the topic changed to their more pressing concern, "Or, uh... something like that. I read about them while I was recovering from Illum. Obviously we can't fight them," he gestured the motley group of injured and exhausted survivors, "but if we can at least disrupt their communications or jammer it might confuse their logic processors long enough to make a run for it. That's what the old Jedi and Republic Task Forces did." He paused to think... "They're probably running some sort of standard search grid, but if all else fails-" he shrugged "-we can just follow the giant foot steps. Cant be too hard to find... Assuming we can get out of this cave of course." he added as a distant rumble showered them with cave dust and loose pebbles as the droids continued their relentless bombardment

Fennex looked over the little band. Only a few of them could put up a fight, but with any luck that's all it would take. A small strike team could do it, and Fennex figured they'd seen enough of the droids patterns by now from the surrounding devastation to narrow down their search for a target. The lumbering buckets of bolts were many things- subtle wasn't one of them. "We'll need a small army to clean this place up..." he grumbled.

@Black Noise @Ecclessey @GABA Ren

 

[Artyom]

The young man that approached Artyom would find the Crusader's demeanor turned very cold. Art knew exactly what the blonde Jedi was going to attempt to do, reset the bone. Looking down, Artyom watched the Jedi illuminate his leg with a small glowstick. The boy hesitated as he looked at the wound, yeah, Artyom could feel the color draining from his own face at a similar pace as the young Jedi's. Looking up at Artyom, he introduced himself, "Uh, I'm Gerad, nice to meet you, I'm, uh, going to-" Artyom held up a hand, stopping the quiet boy mid sentence.

"I've fought in too many battles to need a rundown, just try your best. Never seen someone get up from something this bad before, so I don't have my hopes too high." Gerad did not respond, simply turning to Art's leg and setting his hands upon it. Artyom reached for his robes and stuff part of them in his mouth to keep himself from biting his own tongue off. A loud CRACK resonated throughout the cavern as Gerad had to break the bone one more time in order to properly twist it back into place. Having been broken at both the ankle and below the knee, the main bone had to ply a bit in order to properly reset the other two sections.

Artyom did scream, but it could barely be heard through the cloth as he ducked his head down. Breathing deeply and slowly, Artyom raised his head to watch Gerad brace the leg with a rudimentary splint and bandages. Slowly removing his own cloak from his face, the Crusader looked to the group and spoke up, "That, child-thing, that you captured, Fennex. Did it not have a headset on it's head? Those don't have a range of more than about 150 to 200 meters, whoever was controlling the droids was also communicating with that thing, so they might be much closer than we think. If we can get out of these caves, we could easily sight out the communications location from a higher ground."

Turning to Evalyn, he added, "Eva, we cannot leave these droids like the last group did. Otherwise, we will just be setting up another disaster for the people who will come to this place in the future. Someone else will take control of them, we must destroy them." Without another word, Artyom stood. He put weight on his leg, focusing the Force to bear almost ninty percent of his body's weight, allowing him to stand despite the breaks. Pain flooded into his mind, like a train hitting him head on. It hurt like a mother kriffer, but he could push through pain, and the pain was a comfort. His nerves were not damaged, at least not badly.

Even if he could not run, he could stand. If he could stand, he could fight.

 

[Cavalas Onn]

The relief of seeing Master Shivaaga still alive and well within the Light cost Cavalas much of his adrenaline, which caused him to lose energy and he slumped back against the wall. He had his doubts whether they were up to destroying an entire army of murderbots, but then again, they had Master Shivaaga on their side now. The master of all jedi crusaders was a man of glorified feats of extraordinary fighting skill. Cavalas finally allowed himself to relax a bit and let all his fears fade away from the front of his mind. "I will follow your lead, Master Shivaaga-" he smiled wearily, "Out of these caves, through those droids and straight to the Exile's end."

Perhaps when he finished resting, Cavalas would realize that Shivaaga was in no state to bring the fight to the Exiles. His reasons for finding the Crusader Lord were slowly being proven to have been fruitless. The hardships he endured on Dantooine and the doubts that festered in his being because of it would all proof to have been for nothing. The weary knight's eyes slowly closed as he sunk down to a seated position, "May the Force be with us."

 

[Rem Shivaaga]

"Our goal is to get communications open again. We know we are outnumbered, we will need back up if we are going to take on these droids." Master Shivaaga replied folding his arms in front of him. The Knight with the broken leg chased off the healer, who seemed reluctant to let the man do what he wanted, but given that Artyom was set on what he was going to do, Gerad backed off and returned to the group of Knights that accompanied the Jedi Councilor. Artyom had spoken of a headset with the girl and the blue councilor nodded in agreement.

"But first we need to get out undetected and that is when we will place our trust in the Force to lead us." the Councilor replied, he looked at his group and then back to the new Jedi that had joined them, "We get out of these caves, find higher ground to locate the communications tower and we take it out." He reviewed the plan. It seemed simple enough, however, the task to accomplish it all was going to be multiple hurdles to get to their goal. The Jedi Councilor was ok with this, they had made it this far and he would see that they make it to the end.

He closed his eyes, breathing deeply as he let his arms relax. He held up his palms in a meditative fashion, the strength of the Force flowed through the fibers of his being as he searched and listened. The Jedi search time had brought them to him for a reason, their purpose would not be finished in these caves. It would be several minutes before he felt the reassuring confidence of the light pulling him where he needed to go. His arms lowered and he nodded, gesturing the direction they needed to go.

"Grab the child, let's go."

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

Evalyn listened closely as Fen, Art, and Cav, all explained some version of the same plan. Master Shivaaga had the right of it. They needed to call for reinforcements to deal with the droid army. The Jedi’s numbers may be slim, but they could still handle antiquated automatons. Besides, they couldn’t just leave the ancient army to terrorize the people of Dantooine. The small ragtag group and what remained of Master Shivaaga’s crusade could not defeat the droids. They were too tired, too broken. Evalyn felt the Force running through the Councilor. She nodded slowly.

She could feel him searching for direction from the Force. The Lightside did not always provide answers willingly. Eventually, a direction was chosen. Evalyn could feel the echoes of the Light guiding Master Shivaaga. She opened herself to the Force, reaching for that same thread. She felt it as a warm pulse pushing her forward. Yes, this was right. The group made their way through the caves. Evalyn kept the Force roaring through her body. She wasn’t sure what they would find at the end of this. Her lightsaber was still alive in her hand, an emerald green glow cascading up the walls. Evalyn smiled. It felt good to be surrounded by her brothers and sisters again. She wasn’t always a great Jedi but damn if she didn’t try.

The sounds of hammering blaster fire eventually faded as they moved deeper into the cave. Soon, a different kind of light began to show. The light at the end of the tunnel. They were near exiting the caves. Evalyn reached out in the Force, trying to feel any warning. She knew they couldn’t sense the droids but maybe something else. Anything else. She didn’t feel a thing. Only the finality in the Force. Whatever they were searching for was up ahead. “We are close.” Evalyn prepared herself for whatever they would find. @Ecclessey @Loco @GABA Ren @Black Noise

 

[Rem Shivaaga]

The thundering began to grow softer as Rem focused and lead onward. The twisting cave tunnels brought uncertainty to those who didn't feel the path, but Master Shivaaga was confident in their direction. Soon there was only the glow of one of the Jedi's sabers, but it would be enough to shine on any unexpected holes in the floor of the caves. The Jedi Master hoped his focus and resolve would carry the rest of them through, once they would get to the exit, they would have to be on their best guard as he would be certain the ancient droids would have look drones searching for stragglers who were not necessarily themselves. However, hopefully, they would be far enough to give them some time before they realized they were no longer present in the former cave and regroup to find them.

Rem heard the young female speak, seeing a faint glow ahead of them bouncing off the crystallized rock, indicating the natural light of their much awaited exit. As much as he wanted to relax, he didn't. His pace sped up and he grasped his saber hilt. Many of the Jedi in his group did the same as they prepared for what could lie ahead. With his sense reaching out, he couldn't feel anything that would cause immediate concern, but it didn't mean they were free from the danger.

"Be alert, stay close." the Master Jedi spoke, pausing in his step and raised his finger for the others to stop and listen. He peaked out from the mouth of the cave and looked around, his eyes didn't see anything that would cause alarm. The tunnel had led them on an elevation, the ledge overlooked the near tops of the trees and it gave them some view of the horizon. Mentally counting how many have exited and satisfied their numbers did not decrease he pointed over the tree line to a disk-like structure about a three-quarters mile from their location.

"That looks like our destination. If we can get there and shut it down, then we can get the call out for aid." he said.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

They were finally escaping these damn caves. Evalyn was tired of hiding in the Dark on Dantooine. She desperately wanted to breath in some fresh air. There was a buzz of anxiety thrumming through the Force. None of them truly knew what they were headed up against. They were still beleaguered and horribly outnumbered. Evalyn reached out in the Force, hoping to sense something. Nothing again. Battling the droids was a horribly unique situation. Master Shivaaga was right to counsel them to be careful. Evalyn gripped the hilt of her lit lightsaber tightly.

The group of Jedi emerged from the cave. Thankfully, they were not met with a hail of blaster fire. She huffed a sigh of relief. Well, at least that was going their way. They finally crested a small rise to see their target. A strange disk like structure rose in the distance. Evalyn frowned. That had to be where they were headed. She agreed with the Councilors assessment. “I’m fresh out of super fun explosives.” She looked across the other Jedi. She seriously doubted they were hiding a cache of grenades. They would have to use the Force.

Luckily, two of the Order strongest Jedi happened to be gallivanting across Dantooine. She turned to Master Shivaaga. “This is a two-man job. If we bring the cavalry, the droids will certainly follow.” Plus, they needed need to get terribly close to hang that damn thing down with the Force. “Shall we, Master?” Evalyn breathed the Force and deactivated her lightsaber. She clipped the hilt to her belt. They wouldn’t want to announce their presence by waiving around bright colored laser swords. She was pretty sure this wouldn’t end badly. What could go wrong? All they had to do was avoid the murdering robots and yank down a massive com blocking tower. Easy. @GABA Ren

 

[Rem Shivaaga]

Rem put away his lightsaber and agreed with Evalyn, knowing that the more there were, the more likely the droids would be able to track them. At the very least, the group could go find shelter until the two of them returned. He glanced back at the structure and nodded, "I don't need any explosives." he said sternly and begun the trek to their destination upon Evalyn's invite. The trees were thick enough to give them cover. Evalyn would blend in easier with the earth tones of her human character, however, Rem knew he was sticking out like a fat lip with his bright blue skin. Regardless, he didn't intend to linger, his senses were in tune, ready to move into action if the droids discovered the group's new path.

However, about twenty meters in, he paused, raising his hand for Evalyn to stop also. The forest fell quiet, the small chirps of birds and the buzzing of insects continued with their song as Rem listened, the rumbling had stopped. His brow furrowed in thought as he closed his eyes focusing, making sure he didn't miss the wave of thundering explosives that were being used back at the mountain's collapsed entrance. Rem pressed his lips together, looking for the right words and then spoke, "Its stopped, either they got inside and will soon move through the tunnels, or they have given up and now search for a new way inside. Either option does not spell in our favor." Waving for Evalyn to continue to follow, they would reach the perimeter of the command tower within only a few more minutes time.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

Evalyn kept her senses searching as she moved towards the tower with Master Shivaaga. There was no chance she could feel the droids but there would be other signs of their approach. A disturbance in the trees or the silence of plains could tell much. There were subtle ways to sense those who were absent in the Force if you knew where to look. Evalyn and Master Shivaaga would both know exactly how to keep an eye out for the droids. She stopped to listen as the Crusader Councilor stopped to comment on the silence. Evalyn frowned.

Yes, the pounding of the blaster fire had stopped. That could not be a good sign. Either the ancient army was prowling through the tunnels or they would be returning to the tower. Evalyn knew they were running out of options. She turned to look at Master Shivaaga. “We are running out of time.” They were at an awkward distance. They were not quite close enough to pull the tower down, but they were equally separate from the Jedi. She set her feet and marched forward. “Just a little closer and we might be able to manage it.” Evalyn could start to feel subtle shifts in the Force. They were in trouble.

After another 10 meters she stopped. The tower wasn’t exactly close. It was likely close enough, looming above the trees. Evalyn reached deeper into the Force. She was near her breaking point. It did not matter, it was time to end all of this. Her arms outstretched as she hands wrapped around the tower. Invisible fingers in the Force grasped. Evalyn reached for Master Shivaaga in the Force, imploring him to join their strength. She began to yank towards, pulling on the tower as hard as she could. They needed to end this. @GABA Ren

 

[Rem Shivaaga]

Time was against, them, it was against them from the start of this disaster, but Master Shivaaga knew they couldn't stop and turn back, they had to keep going. He looked at the tower in the distance as Evalyn spoke, "Not might, we must." he said feeling the Force grow dark with warning. "Come." he stated simply, his saber to his palm in case of any unexpected guests tried to get in the way of their path, he was ready and relied on Evalyn to be ready also. Within a moment, they could see the tower more clearly.

Rem joined Evalyn, his own arms outstretched also as his sense kept a check on their surroundings, he reached for the tower, feeling the cold metal underneath the invisible fingers of the Force as he gripped the structure with his fellow Jedi Master. The combination of the power within the light served as no match against the man-made structure. The Force itself rumbled around the Jedi as the metal creaked under the pressure of the Force, nothing was impossible with the Force.

The Councilor stepped forward, his foot digging into the dirt as the energies flowed through him and Evalyn, the creaking would surely draw attention. However, with a holler from the chagrain Jedi, the supports on the tower buckled until the tower begun to tilt while the Jedi Masters pulled and eventually toppled over itself from the uneven weight. The metal structure pulled free wires, sparking and smoking as the tower fell. Rem swiftly grabbed Evalyn by the arm, pulling her to the side as he looked to remove themselves from the path of the tower's fall.

It was then met with a loud bang as it crashed through the trees, sending birds and other creatures running from the sudden disturbance the Jedi Masters made. However, Rem listened past the physical noises, looking for any more signs of danger; he turned his orange eyes to Evalyn raising a brow to double check her own senses.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

Evalyn’s teeth ground together. Her muscles strained as she yanked on the tower. She felt like her hands were wrapped around the massive cylinder. Her body groaned. Her feet slipping forward. Evalyn set herself and pulled harder. She could feel Master Shivaaga working beside her. The two of them straining against the strength of the tower. Slowly the tower began to fail. With one shout and yank, the tower finally did fail. Evalyn drew in ragged breaths. That was all she had left. Her legs and arms shook from the excretion. Force exhaustion pulled at her body and mind. She had blown past her limits. The trials of the day simply caught up to her.

Her eyes flicked to the fallen tower. She had blocked out the crash as the thing fell. She couldn’t believe they had done it. Master Shivaaga and Evalyn were certainly powerful Jedi, but this was beyond what even they should have been able to accomplish. What they had done was nothing short of the will of the Force. Evalyn met Master Shivaaga’s gaze. She shook her head slowly. She didn’t sense anything either. She pitched her voice low. “We’re clear. It won’t last.” Evalyn rummaged in her pocket for her commlink. She flicked the device on. The sweet sound of connection finally rang in her ear. Evalyn heaved a heavy sigh of relief. The blocking signal was finally gone.

When the tower fell, they were free. They couldn’t revel in their victory for very long. They needed to get a message out immediately. Evalyn deftly reached out to the Order through the well-known communication channels. In matter of seconds, the distress signal was sent. Soon, a force of Jedi strong enough to deal with the droid army would arrive. “It’s done. Now, we have to get the kriff out of here.” Evalyn reached for the Force but her body complained. She could not push herself any longer. She’d have to do this the old-fashioned way, just running. She shrugged at Master Shivaage and took of jogging. Evalyn silently prayed to the Force that they could clear the tower before the droids arrived. They needed to get distance until the reinforcements arrived. @GABA