Open Dead Civilizations

[Talak Rand]

Today wasn't going very well. Even though they'd found the info they were looking for, he was seriously concerned they might end up just dying in here.

This is just unreal, he grumbled in his mind.

He cut free the rebar and sliced off a portion of the grappling line to brace it against his the Occultist's leg and tied it up. It would manage for the moment, and that meant that they just needed to find an actual way out of here.

Look, I think we both know I'm going to have to carry you out, he said. It was suddenly a very good thing that the Amaran was only 17 kilos because it suddenly became a viable option.

He opened up his comlink channel. Artee, bring the ship in on my coordinates. See if there's a landing platform on the roof and if not land in the street outside, he said.

Upon receiving confirmation that there were no landing pads on the roof, Talak resigned himself to the fact that he was about to have to travel down several thousand steps with someone riding on his back. At least it's not up the stairs, he tried to encourage himself. @The Captain

 

[Korsak Wulpez]

"I'm not too proud to accept the help, and I'm not too heavy to carry." Korsak was very thankful for both points, as while the stim and bacta packs were helping him settle he was still a long ways away from being able to walk out of here without some help. He raised his one arm for some assistance and would try to find a stable position on the Arcanist's back with only one arm and a leg he couldn't put weight on. As they prepared to leave the chamber Korsak kept his saber up to light the way and grumbled.

"Let me assure you this is as unfortunate and undignified for me as it is for you."

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Well, sometimes war is undignified, he said. And as far as Talak was concerned, this was a war. Even if this particular mission was on a battlefield it was recon. It was searching out a goal. It was part of the war effort. He just had to remind himself of that when things became unpleasant or difficult.

He started his descent down the stairs, and took slow, careful steps. Thrice his feet slipped as the stairs came out from under him and he fell down, catching a myriad of cuts and bruises on his hands and arms, but he managed never to fall on his partner or break anything serious. On the whole, the stairs held.

It must have taken hours to descend, and by the time they got to the bottom, Talak felt exhausted, but they were alive. His ship was waiting for them at the bottom, and Talak turned his head over his shoulder.

Your ship or a medcenter? he asked. He didn't know where the Amaran would want to go, but he wasn't going to force the issue. @The Captain

 

[Korsak Wulpez]

"This isn't war, this is just life." He grumbled back, as whatever the Arcanist thought of their mission Korsak was at war with nothing and no one, except perhaps his own powerlessness. And that was one enemy he would never surrender to.

The trip down the stairs was slow, jostling and unpleasant, but at the very least Korsak didn't suffer any additional damage despite the lumps her partner was taking on their trip down. Honestly, between the two he would have vastly preferred scrapes and bruises to shattering his shin in two places. At least they were both able to reach the bottom without further catastrophic injury.

"My ship, there's a medical bay on board where I can treat this." He fumbled for a second, trying to stay upright while also using his communicator. "Brickhead, bring the ship down to the central tower, I need retrieval."

"Yes sir." The pilot droid replied mechanically. Korsak had never trusted droids, and he certainly didn't want his developing a mind of its own, so he gave it regular mind wipes as often as required to keep his pilot droid placid and functional.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak nodded as the Occultist radioed for his ship to come in and made his way up as it landed. The droid that was there seemed... boring compared to Artee. Sometimes he wished Artee was a little less sassy, but deep down he also knew that otherwise he would have had a very boring and lonely life.

He took the Occultist to his medbay and then pulled out his datapad. On the bright side, we did manage to get some info, he said, holding it up for his partner to see if he wasn't too busy patching up.

I can transmit it to you, he said, transmitting it to his own ship as well. He didn't know if they would each track down the leads on their own, but time would tell where it led them each. There were a dozen ways to track down a single lead, after all. Unfortunately, Talak wasn't sure how long it would take to repair that leg, but even if the Occultist didn't continue, Talak was an "honorable" Sith and would give credit for assistance where it was due... actually, he didn't even know his name, so that might be a bit difficult. @The Captain

 

[Korsak Wulpez]

Korsak was glad for the very boring and mechanical assistance of his droid, who gave the Amaran something to lean on as he hobbled his way up the ramp into his ship. Before he closed the ramp, however, the Arcanist chimed in that he'd managed to find something before the entire operation went to kark.

"I'll take anything that might make this debacle worth it. I thank you." He gave the Arcanist a transmission code for his ship and began to look over the data. It was the name of a leading Gree engineer, a potential lead but far from a solid guarantee of results. This had been an unusual encounter for Korsak, and not just because of his rotten luck. It had been sometime since he'd met another Eternal who could keep both professional composure and results at the front of their mind. Korsak had no interest in credit or renown, he wanted something more, and the hunt for the hypergates would hopefully be his first steps on his wider search.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak finished the transmission as he was given the code, and then slipped his datapad away. It had been... interesting to say the least. It hadn't gone particularly smoothly, but it was still a success.

I suppose this is where we part ways, then, he said, patting down his belt to make sure he had all of his gear... apart from the grapple line that had been lost.

I'm sure we'll meet again. Until then, take care of yourself, he said, giving a half bow before heading out. It was the end of one road and the beginning of another. Something told Talak, however, that things would get more complicated before they became more simple again. He had a lot of work to do, and an impending trouble seemed to cloud his mind. He didn't look forward to whatever he might find, but he would be ready.

//Exit @The Captain

 

[Korsak Wulpez]

"That was the plan." He bowed back as the ramp eased shut between them. Brickhead would have to pilot the ship with extra care while Korsak tended to his leg. He was by no means a medical professional but he knew enough about first aid and had enough supplies to stabilize his leg. He wouldn't be walking anywhere any time soon, but he had no intention of going on another field mission for some time. He would return to Eternal space for some time and try to research the name he'd been given. Whether he or the Arcanist made the final discovery, Korsak was sure this would provide new opportunities to learn.

//EXIT