Event Galaxy in Crisis!

[Minerva Wren]

Nar Shaddaa​

The fact the apprentice went inside ahead of her in defiance gave Minerva some amusement. Not bad, not bad at all. Of course she wasn’t going to say that outloud. Jumping in the hole she landed on both feet. The mercenary quickly turned on her helmet’s night vision and pressed forward alongside the Jedi.

The ground felt more sticky than she believed was possible and despite the helmet’s filter, some of the foul stench leaked in. Minerva scowled in annoyance but otherwise said nothing. Meanwhile the Bug Jedi was climbing on the wall and introduced herself and padawan. I don’t care. The gun for hire thought to herself.

Subsequently Izel asked for her name and reason for being here. Underneath the helmet Minerva rolled her eyes. Do all Jedi like to play forty questions? Next thing the bug is going to ask is for my life story. She was about to tell the Knight where she can shove that question when the latter exclaimed the other Jedi was close.

Despite the gunk stained floor Minerva sprinted forward though with some difficulty. Soon she felt and spotted the next large entrance collapsing. Without hesitation the Mandalorian activated her jetpack and flew at great speed. With seconds to spare she landed several feet away behind Nara just as the Gamorrans approached the corner.

@Isen @Reyn @Charndley

 

[Salek Fallanai]

Nar Shadda​

Salek gave one final, hard shove, and the door finally snapped closed. The shuttle was full to the absolute brim with refugees, and there were three more waiting to get in. It had been a frenetic hour of cat-and-mouse, trying to dodge roving bands of nightmares while digging terrified civilians from their hiding places. But they were almost all loaded, and the young Jedi breathed a sigh of relief as he walked towards the cockpit door.

"Stop," Master Lentus said. Despite his weariness, Salek stopped in place without putting his foot down. "Last three ride in front. It's a short trip, they can stack up."

Salek wiped a mix of sweat and...something, off his face and turned to his master.

"So am I riding on your lap, Master?" he asked. "I thought the Jedi frowned on that."

"Play time is over," Lentus said without a hint of humor. "Get some salt and water in you, and keep your tracker on. I'm going to run these kids up and try to find a transport that isn't full of slavers. Meanwhile, you look around, see if you can't find something useful. Comm chatter sounds like they're coming out of the sewers, so maybe check there."

Salek realized that his mouth was hanging open, and he snapped it shut. He almost asked the older Jedi if he was insane, but he'd gotten tired of repeating himself and hearing the same answer.

"Give me a grenade," he said instead.

Lentus grunted, his laconic sign of approval, and slapped a heavy detonator into Salek's palm. "Twenty meter vape radius," he said. "Be outside of that."

"Bigger in tunnels," Salek noted, adjusting the timer by feel. Another approving grunt, and then Lentus was climbing into the cockpit, ushering the last few refugees. The shuttle rose up, and the ventral cannon fired a stream of shots into the buildings around it. The duracrete crumbled, forming rough hills to block off all the paths that led to their square. It wasn't perfect, but it would be enough to redirect most people that didn't have a specific reason to go there.

"Right...so this is happening." An entire planet worth of territory to search, and he just got sent into a random hole. What were the odds that he was even within a thousand miles of anything useful? Then again, Master Lentus had depths that were belied by his gruff soldier's demeanor, and Salek had learned not to assume that things happening around him were the result of random chance or carelessness. He wiped his gloves on his pants, tightened a loose strap on his forearm guard, and headed towards the nearest sewer grate.

 

[Iko Gark Lokan Jistos]

Nar Shaddaa​

A blaster shot startled Iko as he examined the pathogen. "Doctor, you'll have all the time to examine that stuff in your laboratory, the infected have found us!" one of the guards said while shooting once again, and indeed, a small group of infected of various species were shuffling towards the small camp they had set up. The Tiss'Shar Sith begun to quickly pack the instruments, carefully storing the samples he had gathered in a few vials and putting them in a refrigerated container, while the other guard went in help of his colleague as the infected were growing in numbers, even though that single guard had still managed to kill a few zombies.
@Flood

 

[Altina Tiramara]

DATHOMIR

She saw the tracks, but the meaning of them did not fully register to Altina. She was too distracted by the allure of the unknown voices. They clawed at her mind unlike anything she had experienced before. Who are these voices? What did they want?

'You.'

"Why?" she murmured.

The voices offered no explanation. The path into the forest before her was poorly marked, but the crumpled foliage and broken branches indicated a recent incursion. As she ventured into the forest's shade, Altina felt like she was being watched. Not necessarily by forest creatures, but by the people, living or otherwise, who inhabited this planet.

The presences she felt were enough to make her head feel like it was about to explode. Altina steeled herself against the pain while stumbling through the undergrowth in her stupor.

Oblivious to the forest critters that lurked in the shadows, Altina staggered onward. It felt like the ghosts of whoever lived here were haunting her. No, they were taunting her. The echoes of laughter mocked her as she walked. It did not take long for her patients to wear thin.

Growling in pain, she lashed out in the Force. It, of course, did nothing to end the mocking: it actually made the laughter worse. But the telekinetic blast did throw back the creatures that threatened to harm her. It also helped clear the path before her, allowing her to focus on getting through the forest without getting harrassed by poison spitting creatures.

Although still pained by her massive headache, the release of her frustration allowed her to refocus on walking to... wherever this path leads.

 

[Elikar Bridhec]

Coruscant
​

This wasn't the worst day Elikar had ever had, but it was getting there...

In a flash, as he was still trying to take stock of his wounds and shake off the fuzziness from multiple explosions, Elikar's danger sense went off. The shout from the force combined with the sudden infusion of adrenaline, more powerful than all but the strongest stims, was enough to clear Elikar's head and override his body's protests. He could feel the Sith's lethal intent just as it was released ,giving him time to react and protect himself.

Thankfully his duffel had landed nearby. Elikar pulled it to him with the force and flung it in front of his prone form pulling in his legs and tucking his head to his chest at the same time. Most of the deadly shrapnel embedded itself into the duffel or flew past. A few pieces added to Elikar's growing list of minor wounds.

Elikar knew he was not going to be able to do anything about the blaster bolts from the droid the moment he felt the blaster fire and he prepared himself for the end. The end never came but a soon to be dead body did. The form of an armored soldier landed in front of Elikar taking the shots and giving Elikar the time to take cover behind a pillar and other debris that fell as a result of his dramatic entrance.

Elikar ripped open his duffel and pulled out his vibrosword. The sheath had a couple small pieces of shrapnel embedded in it but was otherwise unharmed. Elikar slung the weapon over his shoulder. He then pulled out his blaster and checked its charge, good. He wasn't so luck with the two spare packs. One had a half charge and the other... it was screeching an overload warning due to the shrapnel sticking out of it; it would exploded in seconds.

Elikar very briefly broke cover to the left of the pillar and chucked the powerpack at the IG-89 using the force to guide it. Elikar didn't wait to see if it detonated against the droid. He immediately sought cover again before breaking cover to the right of the pillar and taking a pair of shots at the Sith. While his weapon had a stun setting Elikar didn't use it when his life was in danger. After the two shots Elikar ducked behind cover again. If he could draw the Sith into melee range he might actually be more effective given his average skill with a blaster.

@The Eclipse @Killa Ree , @Nefieslab @Six

 

[Izel Thral]

Nar Shaddaa​

Izel had gotten a good head start on getting to Nara's position, only for the Mandalorian to fly past her with the assistance of a jetpack. The Vratix got a glimpse of her fellow Jedi Knight right before the metal grate came crashing down, separating her from the other two humans. "No!" She shouted in frustration, and slammed her fist against the metal barrier. Wasting no time she would stab her lightsaber into the grate and begin to slowly cut her way through. Looking over her shoulder as Isen picked up the rear she shouted to her apprentice urgently.

"Padawan! Use your saber to start a cut opposite me, we'll meet in the middle!" She ordered him promptly. Working in tandem they would be able to make a hole large enough to pass through quicker. Izel knew time was of the essence. She could sense a large number of hostile beings beyond the grate, and a greater darkness beyond that. While she didn't doubt Nara's ability, or the Mandalorian's, it was likely that they would soon find themselves overwhelmed by superior numbers. The master and apprentice needed to move quickly to offer support.

@Charndley @Isen @Minuteman75 @Flood

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

Coruscant

A wave of relief crashed over Falynn when the Zeltron, who introduced herself as Ranger Salis, offered her assistance. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t a medic, Elara could still help in other ways. At the time, Falynn hadn’t known she was a Ranger, but that proved to be a pleasant surprise. She felt better about involving the other woman in the crisis so suddenly, without warning. “Thank you, Ranger Salis.”

With her newfound partner waiting for her lead, Falynn analyzed the mess in front of her. Even from her distance, it was evident that floors had begun to collapse. Entering from the main entrance meant that their progress upwards would unavoidably be blocked by debris, and there would still be people trapped in the upper levels. Her gaze scanned upwards in time to see a vehicle hurtling towards the already collapsing building, creating yet another gaping hole in its side. More blaster shots could be heard from within. Falynn turned back to Elara, noting the blaster by her side. Good, they were likely going to have use for it. “Let’s try the side entrance. There should be an emergency stairwell along there that hasn’t taken the brunt of the damage.” With that, Falynn put on her helmet and raced towards the raging inferno, glancing behind her to see if Elara was following.

Once inside, she could more clearly see the extent of the damage. The ground floor itself was littered with fallen debris and accessibility was low. From the entrance, any progress forward was blocked, leaving two options. Go up or go down. Falynn turned back around to Ranger Salis. “Would you be more comfortable if we went up to the second floor or down to the basement? Both are critical areas, so I’m leaving the choice to you. I’ll follow wherever you choose.” Though it was likely more people would be trapped in the upper levels, it was becoming clear there was an equal threat down below. The further up they traveled, the more risk from smoke inhalation and unstable beams. Having calculated both options, Falynn found she had a preference, but in the end it didn’t matter. If they were to work together, Elara had to have as much say in the matter as she did.

@Frannykins87​

​

 

[Isen Ramm]

Nar Shaddaa​

The young Padawan found that he was faster if he ran up the incline of the hexagonal wall for a while and then leap to the other end, ping-ponging back and forth to stay out of the sludge. Either way, he was not as nearly fast as the jet pack-wearing Mando nor Izel Thral whose insectoid legs gave a distinct advantage in this environment by avoiding the syrupy, sludgy floor completely. The Mandolorian passed him quickly and Thral was continually creating distance. As athletic and agile as Isen was, he couldn't compete with the technology of one and the anatomy of the other.

Isen was approaching when he heard the metal gate crash and echo throughout the tunnels. "Padawan! Use your saber to start a cut opposite me, we'll meet in the middle!" he heard his master say. Things were happening fast for the young Padawan, but for Isen, that was a blessing. On Jedha, he was often chided for acting too swiftly without appropriate thought or having enough patience in a given situation. Here was a situation where acting swiftly and definitively was a blessing, and patience may actually be more closely akin to deadly hesitation.

With both lightsabers ignited, he stuck them both into the grate and worked them in a circular motion in opposite directions- one towards Izel Thral's beginning point, and one to where they would meet. Together, the two Jedi created an entry through the gate. Once the circle was complete, Isen withdrew his lightsabers and with a motion of an open palm, Force pushed the circle to the floor. As Isen passed through the hole in the grate, he said to Izel Thral, "Thank you for your patience, Master." There was no time for a response. An alarm, the one set and thrown by Nara Allam, started to sound and echo throughout the tunnels.

@Reyn @Charndley @Minuteman75 @Flood

 

[Maeve Byrne]

Dathomir

Whether Malleus (@Six) would follow or not, Maeve left it up to him decide if he was going to continue. Though a part of her hoped he would given in this unknown and unfamiliar situation, having another body in her corner would be ideal. With the storm quickly rolling toward them, it seemed as though it was not going die down, pushing the Sith further into the forest and closer to the shadowy settlement. Her senses felt prickly, though there was a shared path of darkness in the Force, it still felt foreign and untrustworthy, or perhaps she was the foreign and untrustworthy one.

The storm and her presence seemed to had gotten the local wildlife quite stirred up, the forest seemingly lifeless, was very much in fact alive with creatures that did not appreciate her presence. She grimaced at one of the crab creatures, its claws forelimbs raised up in defense as she started to pass it, but it would surprise her with a hurl of acid goo that caught the edge of her dark robe. It ate away at the fabric and Maeve quickly discarded her dark outer garb. The crap continued to edge closer and with subtle flick and swing, her saber cut through the creature, but that did not seem to deter others.

Maeve backed up and picked up the pace to get out of the territory of the acid crabs; sensing other creatures ahead the gnarled branches made it difficult to navigate as she worked to out run the approaching storm still. The last she wanted was to be caught in the rain and whatever else laid in wait within the dark clouds along with the crabs that still scuttled about.

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

The little Lepi seemed to have decided to follow him through the foreboding landscape, something Hannibal thought was likely for the best considering some of the other Force users Ego had found on nearby. Sith were not exactly known for their patient and kind demeanor. At his new adventuring companion's query he turned his head slightly to look at her for a moment before returning to their surroundings.

"I suspect most people can't hear much of it, or at all. It's a strange thing." A frankly rather vague answer, but not incorrect. Hannibal didn't ascribe to the mysticism of orthodox Jedi, though he did have a few personal practices. He tended to describe the Force more like a thing of nature rather than something spiritual, though the details of why would probably get lost in translation. Nonetheless, the call was clearly being transmitted through the Force, and therefore those sensitive to the Force would more easily pick it up. Probably. The sheer number of Force sensitives he could feel, and that Ego had picked up, seemed to fit his idea. And although the Lepi wasn't exactly a shining beacon in the Force, Hannibal was pretty sure there was something there. If she was sensitive she certainly wasn't trained, or was hiding it really well.

"So I am. Jedi Master Hannibal Grayza. Apologies for the late introduction," he replied to her cautious questioning with a charming smile that clashed oddly with their immediate surroundings. "The galaxy is a big, strange place. Is "magic" really so strange of an idea?" he asked her before retrieving his beeping commlink and holding it up to his right ear. A rapid string of binary came through, a sort of list of sightings and notables the seeker droid had picked up. Hannibal raised an eyebrow.

"My little friend seems to have spotted some troublemakers. Or at least beings who look like troublemakers," he paused for a moment. Ego had also reported sightings of distant large creatures, and was transmitting what data it could on the approaching storm. But also, more immediately interesting, was a crashed ship. "Also, a downed ship. This should be interesting." He replaced the commlink on his belt and slightly upped his pace. The ship wasn't exactly far from his landing sight; he could already see it in the distance, through the trees. Also, a crab. A crab that was wiggling back and forth and chittering threatening at the approaching duo. But why, though?

Hannibal focused his attention on it, altering his presence in the Force to be as non-threatening as possible as he walked toward the ship. Unfortunately, whatever nonsense was wrong with this planet made his efforts less effective. As the young Jedi approached it lobbed a glob of green fluid toward him, which then abruptly flew sideways into a tree at a small gesture. A moment after, the crab seemed to sort of just... Fall asleep where it stood. Hannibal retracted his hand and sighed.

"So, ship. Y'mind if we check it out, then?" he asked the Lepi with all of the casual air of an ordinary Tuesday morning. "Or would you rather heed the call?" He trusted Indy and Max could handle themselves well enough and they probably had time for a detour. Although he did want to catch up to those two probably-Sith up ahead. They, and the other Jedi, weren't exactly far off. The downed ship was just much closer.

@AutoFox @Phoenix @GABA @Six @Nefieslab @Killa Ree

 

[Darro Tane]

Nar Shaddaa​

As soon as Darro had readied his pistol the infected being simply stopped...and walked away. In it's place a pale white haired humanoid took it's place and looked directly at he and @Birsk FanQeete's direction. He could see the coy smile on the beings face and Darro didn't need to be a genius to put the pieces together. Who ever this person was...they had a part in this nightmare if they weren't directly responsible. He aimed his pistols again and stood from cover, no questions were going to be asked, he was just going to blast the bastard.

He paused however as the man spoke...seemingly right next to him...despite being several feet away still. Karking force user, figured. The being mentioned something about fear, Darro didn't much care. He cared even less when the being waved a hand and suddenly 2 infected came sprinting down the alley past the being and 2 more screams could be heard behind; 2 more infected Darro assumed.

He gritted his teeth and pulled the triggers of his still aimed blasters. Hot plasma lept from the barrels, 4 shots down range. All four would find a mark, all kill shots...normally. The 2 infected would stagger back from the impacts, but simply scream and keep coming, a bit slower now. Darro would spin and see the other 2 infected almost ontop of Birsk and the girl. He loosed more bolts from his pistols shouting, "Get down and frakin do some shootin!"

 

[Darmus Onn]

Coruscant

Darmus did his best to keep up with the Jedi and issue direction whenever needed, but he was way too far in his own head to be alert to danger and if Nykoria hadn't pulled him into cover he most likely would've died. He was still recovering from this fact, trying his best to get his head back in the present and be at least aware of the fact that he was holding a stun blaster, when the Jedi moved out again and performed an impressive display of Force-enhanced melee.

"That's impressive-" he began, but quickly thereafter registered the bootfalls coming from the hallway to the left. There wasn't a cell in his body that didn't understand that they'd be outnumbered and outgunned soon. Even with the Force the chances of survival were very slim and for a second Darmus considered turning around, go back through that security door and slice the console to prevent anyone from following him through.

Kriff. He tried to unclench his hand from the blaster and loosen up his grip enough to improve his aim. Darmus had lived with so much regret since his actions on Outpost Blue. He didn't have anyone to take care of, no family that liked him, so why not stick around and try and protect that Jedi. Call it a shot at redemption.

Moving to the corner, he peeked around it to try and see what was coming for them. "Halt!" he called out, "Sector Ranger!"

If they came too close to the corner, Darmus would take a potshot from cover in an attempt to force them to pause.

@Catbert

 

[Elara Salis]

Coruscant​

Elara blurts out a quick "No problem" at her new found partner, a medic no less. For a minute, she felt like maybe she could really be of help. Although that was yet to be determined. She hears a lot of gun fire coming from the upper levels of the building, then suddenly a taxi...was that a taxi?? Just flies into the side of the building, making a ear crashing sound as it splits some of the building into more pieces and disappears into it . It was so loud that her body almost ducked out of instict. After a few moment,s she hears more blaster fire from the upper floors.

"Bloody hell this is a mess.." She mutters as she follows Faryn into the building from the side. As Faryn explains, Elara considers the options. The upstairs was where the majority of the shots were from, at least from what she could hear. However, the HQ was likely to have been holding a few criminals down in the cells in the basement. It was a guess however, she's only been inside once to register, and she wasn't sure of the layout...In any case, given the fact that Faryn was a medic, Elara thought it would be helpful to follow the shots, there might be injured...However, her courage starts failing. She's been in similar danger before, but without the destruction around. She takes a breath to calm her nerves. She knows she needed to do what a ranger is meant to do.

"It sounds like they could use back up upstairs.....If nothing else, there might be injured you can attend...I would opt for going to the second floor. if you have no objections..."

If no objections are given, Elara decides that a medic should not be going headfirst into danger. At least, if herself got hurt, maybe she could survive...She gulps at that thought, but this was no time to hesitate.

"Let me go first then, so you don't get shot at" She says quickly, trying to sound as confident as she can muster.

Despite her nerves, she quickly gets out her blaster, gripping it tightly with both hands, ready to shoot if needed, and, if no protest is given by her new partner, steps futher into the building, moving onto the first floor carefully but purposefully, ready to react. She sets her weapon to stun and removes the safety as she walks.

@FireSong @The Eclipse @Killa Ree @Six @MasterTyvokka @Ecclessey @Catbert @TerranSteel @AutoFox

 

[Helen Holcomb]

DATHOMIR

Helen, at Hannibal's belated introduction, hesitated a moment before answering. She still felt it was an incredible coincidence that his ship had landed so soon after her own had crashed, especially on such a lonely, out-of-the-way planet as Dathomir. She was torn on whether to give him any information about herself in light of that, but then she had decided to travel with him. And anyway, she had a blaster if he started any trouble; the stories said that the Jedi were good with their beam swords, but she doubted they could be that good.

"Captain Helen Holcomb, United States of Hemispheria Naval Air Corps, at your service." She said, by way of introduction. At Hannibal's other remark, Helen frowned slightly, then shrugged. "And I guess from what I've seen of the Galaxy, I suppose you're right... mind you, I haven't been out here very long."

The Lepi raised an eyebrow as the Jedi Master raised a device she now recognized as a comlink - she still had trouble thinking of such devices as anything besides a "radio" - and listened to what still sounded to Helen like gibberish by way of a telephone switchboard, though she now recognized it as the language many robots - droids, she reminded herself to call them - spoke. When Hannibal asked her where they should go next, she blinked.

"I mean, if we can help it, I'd rather not tangle with anyone dangerous, even if we can take them. That just seems prudent." She replied. "And if there's another crashed ship out there... well... I don't know about you, but that sounds like it would be worth investigating. Could be related to all of this-"

It was then that the acid crab attacked.

Helen saw the glob of corrosive slime flying at her, and was just making to dodge, when the glob inexplicably changed direction in mid air. Bewildered, the Lepi was fumbling to aim her blaster at the enormous arthropod that had scuttled out of the tangled, thorny foliage, before it abruptly sagged and retracted into itself, looking for all the worlds like it had simply gone to sleep.

Helen turned to look at Hannibal, her eyes wide for a moment, before she shook her head clear.

"U-Um... yes, ship. Let's go there." She managed, staring back at the crab as she trailed behind the Jedi Master. "Wait... how did you do that?!"

 

[Roland Rook]

DATHOMIR​

Roland switched to infrared as he continued to make his way forward but stopped only after a few steps as he recieved a message on his comlink. Checking who it was and seeing it was Indy he read it and then cocked an eyebrow. His head turning back towards the direction his droid had reported the voices. He typed up a quick response. |Already here. Are you?| He didn't wait for a response and pocketed the device as he saw movement from a heat signature to one side.

Some small forest creature dove from the twisted canopy making Roland duck. They passed by harmlessly. But the creatures behind it were less wiling to overlook his presence and there multiple of them. The man turned and began running with only after a few steps his heels rocketed him up and out of the forest and a few stories into the air. Looking over his shoulder he could see the storm much clearer than before.

The Mandalorian would maintain flight all the way towards the abandoned city. He gave a quick order for his seeker droid to continue following the source of the voices. There wasn't much else he could have the droid do except probably get lost through the forest while traveling towards Roland's destination. If the floating hardware was still alive by the time Roland got back then great. But judging by the glimpses of beasts moving abnormally he could only get the feeling something big was happening. A tingling feeling at the back of his mind uncomfortably returned to the thoughts of Mandalore. What did I expect from a witch world?

@Six @GABA @Nefieslab @Killa Ree @AutoFox @Mr. Teatime

 

[Corran Velt]

Coruscant​

The torrent of blaster fire came to a sudden halt. A metallic thud echoed loudly in the hallway. Faint whisps of smoke escaped from the barrel of the Ranger’s Power 5 blaster. Did they get it? Cautiously, a single sky-blue eye peaked out from the closet into the carbon-scored basement walkway. In the middle laid the viper droid, without power and now a mere hulk of metal. Its carapace covered in blaster entry wounds. They got it. Corran stood up from his sitting position and glanced to Trini nearby. She had been the one that shoved him to the ground. One quick glance to the scorched security door where they first entered suggested that could have been his ashes there without her intervention. No matter how you sliced it, the little alien had saved his life. The young man returned his gaze to the Amaran and gave a single nod. “Thanks for the help back there. You’ve got good…” His eyes stared at her ears for a moment, “… instincts.” That probably evaded any unintended speciest undertones.

A muffled explosion from above shook the basement and puffs of dirt and ceiling material drifted downward, illuminated by temporarily flickering lights. Secondary explosions or more hostiles? What was going on up there? Corran stepped out into the hallway from the small closet, blaster in hand. They couldn’t stay here for long. Unfortunately, trouble found them first. Heavy boots could be heard approaching, similar but more ominous than the killer droid before. A shrill, taunting sing-song threat announced the arrival of a more humanoid combatant. Instinctively, the Ranger unhooked the stun baton from his belt but kept his blaster in the other hand. No weapon in his arsenal could have prepared him for what the young man was about to face.

A sharp, energetic hiss caused Corran’s eyes to widen in shock. No. It couldn’t be. Shimmering red light announced the dreaded arrival of terror. Of murder. Of disorder. A Sith. A woman, with a cruel smile and cackling barbarity, taunted the two others before her. The Ranger didn’t reply; taken prisoner? And get his head sliced off on galactic television like those on Corellia? Never. Backwards out the security door would leave them vulnerable to the aggression of the Sith terrorist. Their objective to rescue survivors and throw back the attackers was forward. There was only one choice: through her.

Analyzing the terrain, a metal air-duct snaked along the ceiling coming from the janitorial closet. Too big for him, but small enough for someone else. A droid’s large carcass between the Ranger and the Sith. Everything else, besides the closet, was an open hallway. Force-users could deflect blaster bolts, Corran had seen Jedi do that in two different occasions, and those lightsabers cut through flesh and bone with impossible ease. A head-on fight wouldn’t be enough. “Sector Ranger Corran Velt,” the young man announced himself, standing at his full height, “Lay down your weapon. You’re under arrest.”

That rarely worked on common criminals. Corran would raise his blaster with lightning speed, set to stun, instantaneously after getting out the last word and open fire. Utilizing the full distance of the hallway, he would fire well-aimed stun blasts at the Sith at her center mass, head, and arms. Anything to slow her down. To keep the distance, he would back up as she neared. All the way to the security door if he had to. If she tried to cross over the fallen droid, the Ranger would immediately switch his blaster to lethal fire and fire successive rounds into its center chassis, trying to cause a moderate eruption of energy. If that didn’t work, at least catching her off balance or sending metal shrapnel up from her feet might help. Rapid stun blasts would follow-up.

If it got closer than that, desperate courage would have to make do. Instead of waiting for the terrorist to slash him to bits against the door, he’d charge her in a short distance, firing stun blasts all the while, before kicking his own feet out from under him and trying to slide into her and hit her with the stun rod. That, however, would be the last gamble.

@AutoFox @Kestrel @FireSong @Ecclessey @Catbert @The Eclipse @Killa Ree

 

[Bast Emblai]

Coruscant
​

The hall was dead silent except for the Bast‘s heavy breathing and the grinding of debris underfoot. Then, a telltale comm link chirp. Deft fingers tuned to woman in. So the line was not dead after all. The message coming through was choppy, but she knew the voice as well as she knew the Correlian streets. Corran was alive, although his voice sounded strained, rough. “Basement...hostiles.... I repeat... engaging-“ The relief that had previously settled around the Ranger turned into cold fear. Fervently jabbing the comm, Bast held her breath, but no more came through.

Doing her best to orient herself with in the decimated remains of building, Bast stumbled over something soft. Even in the dim lighting, she knew immediately what it was. There was no pulse. It couldn’t be her partner. She had just heard him cry for help. Still, the woman knelt and gently felt for a badge, her fingers gliding over the cooling skin and bloodied shirt. There was no way to make out the number. The weight of the cold metal felt heavy in her hand. She was carrying someone’s heart, someone’s life, yet whose was unknown. If the databases were destroyed, she would never know. How could the family be told? Were they, perhaps, watching the holonet, hoping and praying for their child to run into frame, no matter how battered? For her own sake, the woman had to assume the fallen was someone she did not know. She must move on.

A distant explosion resounded. The walls groaned sympathetically. There was no time for caution if this place was not to be her ashy grave. Despite her best attempt at running, the corridor felt as if it were elongating. Would her own fragility be her death sentence? Uneven ground caught an unprotected shin, leaving Bast sprawling, an iron taste in her mouth. Over her rasping breaths, a shrill voice echoed. Although words incomprehensible, the sound grated. In response, a lower voice bravely demanded the hostile lay down her weapon. For once, Bast wished Corran was not there. She wished he was somewhere safe, not playing the hero, this one time.

Slowly, painfully, the former CorSec Officer rose, slowing her breathing and drawing her blaster pistol. She had one chance. Criminals never surrendered when asked to. Invariably, they would attack. An electric hum vibrated the air, making the hair on her arms stand on end. This was no ordinary opponent. Drawing closer, the detective observed the walls were tinted with a red light. A lightsaber. A Sith. If she was spotted, even by an ally, they were all dead. Fighting the urge to run up to the blond man and fight side-by-side, she crouched. The Sith was partially obscured by a wall. It would take one shot to alert the force user to her presence. That one shot had to count. As the aiming hands shook violently, Bast settled on to her stomach for the chance of a more accurate shot. She was completely prone, but the risk was a necessary one. The trigger was pulled back and released. In only the bolt would hit the mark.

@AutoFox @TerranSteel @Killa Ree @Ecclessey @FireSong @The Eclipse @Catbert

 

[Malleus]

Dathomir
​

The large Zabrak continued to walk deeper into the foster following the much smaller @Maeve. There seemed to be a storm picking up around the area, murky ominous clouds gathering around the red hued Dathomir sky though the forest was still visible enough for him to see without having to use his lightsaber to shine his path. Some creatures scurried around the forest floor, crab like beings, small and insignificant he thought. Interestingly enough the creatures were either territorial or simply lacked keen instincts that would alarm them to beings obviously above them in the food change. One of the creatures scurried over to Malleus and spat what seemed to be a ball of goo at the Sith's boot. The surface layer of his protective boots was seemingly eaten up by this acidic substance though it lacked potency to damage the plating of the footwear that way beneath the primary layer. Malleus kicked the creature casually but with seemingly terrifying force that came naturally to the large Zabrak and sent the crab thing flying several meters through the air before colliding with a tree followed by a crunching sound. The limp body of the creature slid down the tree as some of it's bodily liquids oozed out of the broken shell.

Malleus was aware of the light side beacons in the Force that what he presumed were Jedi created but the intrigue and pull from the Dark Side presence of the planet, more precisely the structure on the nearby hill was emitting was far more alluring. Feeling the distance between him and the possible Jedi he knew that they wouldn't pose an imminent threat and made the structure at the hilltop his priority, ignoring the Light Siders.

 

[Trini Halrixien]

CORUSCANT

Trini took a moment to peak out from behind her cover after Corran emerged from his own, aiming her appropriated blaster at the inert probe droid. Once satisfied that it wasn't going to move again, she lowered the weapon, breathing out a long sigh of relief.

At Corran's praise, she gave an unsteady grin, swiveling her large ears.

"Heard it coming." Trini said, before looking down at her weapon. "I-I think you were more instrumental in taking it down than I was... but where do you suppose it came from?"

As if in answer, Trini heard the snap-hiss of the lightsaber, and turned to see the red glow the weapon cast before a slender woman rounded the corner ahead of them.

The little Amaran froze.

"Oh... kriff."

Trini had never met a Jedi before, and indeed, had hoped never to meet one of their dark reflections. She had of course heard stories about the Sith; there had been an entire block on them in her Continuing Old Republic class during her sophomore year at the University of Rudrig. She had even gotten the chance to examine an ancient Sith artifact, once; a ceremonial dagger. Even through plastene gloves, the experience had left her shaken, and the dreams she had experienced for weeks afterward had been disturbing, to put it mildly.

But here and now, she could feel what was coming toward her down the corridor. The Sith radiated an oily, cloying aura, something that was almost tangible even to Trini's untrained sensitivity. Panic seized her, unbridled fear, the overwhelming urge to flee, to escape...

She turned, and saw an entrance to the building's air handling system, the normally sturdy grate cover broken and dangling from one of its fasteners. It was small, too small for a human or other "normal-sized" alien to follow, but Trini could fit easily. Before she entirely realized what she was doing, the little Amaran was sprinting for the vent, scrambling up and inside even as Corran demanded that the monster coming down the corridor surrender to his authority as an officer of the law. Somehow, she had the presence of mind to keep hold of her blaster, and her knuckles were white beneath her fur as she clutched it for dear life, crawling as quickly as she could through the duct.

Out of sight of the Sith, her panic abated somewhat, and she felt sick at herself for what she had just done, abandoning a good being to face such an opponent alone. Her mind was still racing, however, and no sooner had the disgust passed than she started to consider a plan.

Kriff, I'm insane to even consider this! She thought, trying to pick up the pace as she heard the sounds of battle coming from below her...

@TerranSteel

 

[The Forgotten]

Dathomir​

As @Roland rocketed toward the top of the cliff, the storm seemed to lunge forward as if to meet him. Plunging into the mist would steal away his visibility and he risked slamming into the side of the mountain if he moved too quickly. Gusts of wind and lightning higher up the cliff made any sort of flight extremely precarious and the Ranger would be forced to either land on a small ledge that seemed to be part of a path on the side of the cliff or descend back to the bottom and look for an alternative means of ascent.

With the arrival of the storm and mists, lightning began to tear through the air overhead. Lightning flashed through the sky, but no thunder followed. It was instead accompanied by the hissing of an unnatural electric flow. Pulses of energy passed through the air that jammed comlinks, nav equipment, and even the optics and scanners of droids. The adventurers were blind and deaf, now having to rely only on their physical senses.

Come, my child, one of the voices said to @Altina Tiramara. For the moment that that single voice echoed above all else, the other whispers ceased. It was a moment of freedom from whatever haunted her only to dissipate a moment later as the whispers returned. They would decrease as she pressed forward, however. After a short time, she would find an incline leading down almost like a ramp to a dark tunnel, with only a faint bit of light that could be made out within. It looked and felt like a place of safety from the haunting. Come, my child.

A similar call would reach the ears of @Felix. He, too, would feel himself drawn away from the direction of the mountain and toward the small cave. If he chose to follow it, he would find the same incline and cave entrance, faced with the choice to continue, retreat, or head forward to the mountain.

@Malleus, @Maeve Byrne, @Maxims Tionson, and @Indy Sati would find themselves at the base of a cliff much more quickly than they would have expected. The trip to the cliffside should have taken them longer, but here they were nevertheless. They would be forced now to either ascend or find a path up, potentially risking further attack from the creatures of the forest.

@Helen Holcomb and @Hannibal Grayza would find the ship looked as if it had been abandoned for some time. Harmless critters scoured the interior and exterior. The ship's ramp was still open and it appeared to have enough power to boot up basic systems if they chose to search the ship logs or turn on the lights. There was a musty odor within but no signs of the crew.