Myrkr

[Mirdala Ad'Goran]

Slinging her rifle, her hand found his as the two of them continued to walk the parameter. "It was warm..." she started, finally allowing herself to really crack the door on those memories. "Not just the weather, but just the way it felt. I remember when we moved from ba'buir's to Shogun that it felt more like home than any time I spent on Concord Dawn, even years later and even among the Ad'Nort's or Silvar's steds. Tikkel isn't big by any stretch of the imagination, and we lived far enough outside the community proper that it was easy to keep to ourselves to keep my secrets. Soresh's family and my cousins were the only friends I had growing up.

 

We lived right at the edge of the jungle. TeVerd and I would play 'hide-and-seek' with these pepper oil rounds. I know now it was his way of teaching me to hide from others like him in such a way that a small child would take it seriously and not scare them. I knew those jungles for miles out from our farm. The rivers, the ravines, the caves..." She stopped turning to look at her husband for a moment. "The part of you that exists in my mind has been to the caves. It's always been my safe place, my retreat. You're the first person I've ever even considered showing them to. I don't know if it's my own memories attached to them or if it's something else, but they are special, almost sacred. Or as close as our people ever get to such things."

 

"I haven't been back since my parents were killed. Maybe now that at least one of their killers is dead...I can finally let go of that pain enough to return."

[Moon Knight]

Her description of Shogun drew Kandor back to his own youth on Manda'yaim. Largely untamed, the world's rugged landscapes ranged from thick forests and jungles to broad grasslands and harsh white deserts. Kelborn's insistence that they remain largely isolated made sense for similar reasons as Mirdala's own family, except that it had been his own secrets he'd been concealing. There was no doubt that his presence would have drawn attention if it had come out that he was Judyc Viba. And so Kandor had only had sparse contact with the settlers, hunters, and frontiersmen that had come through their neck of the woods.

 

He'd had to learn those woods well, but he thought of them with none of the fondness that Mirdala had for the Shogunite jungles. As a part of his education, Kelborn would leave him out there for days on end to fend for himself. He'd learned from experience where it was safe to lie low and where to avoid. He'd been vying against the wildlife for survival before he was ten years old. He couldn't deny that as an educator, Kelborn's methods were effective even if they were harsh. Kandor had learned well that it was only through his wits could he master the perils of the wilderness, and that only through dedication to training and education could he establish his place above the predators that were bigger and stronger than humans like him. He was taught to be totally self-sufficient, and though at first he'd longed for the experience and protection of his buir, he had eventually come to prefer the solitude.

 

Kandor hated Kelborn for all of it almost as much as he hated him for what he had done to Mirdala decades later. He'd been fighting an uphill battle to overcome some of the psychological damage his dar'buir had inflicted on him. His marriage to Mirdala showed how far he had come, but it had been a hard and unlikely road, one he could have easily missed. Indeed, if exactly Mirdala hadn't come around at just the right time like she had, with all her stubbornness and fire, he believed he would even now be little more than the predator he was raised to be -- a solitary if honorable hunter of men.

 

It was unbecoming of Fett to dwell on such thoughts. He looked ever forward, and forced his mind out of his brooding. "When you're ready, we'll go together," he said, and left it at that. Maybe he wouldn't be able to put off talking about his upbringing with Mirdala forever, but right now she didn't need to hear more about what Judyc had done.

 

----------------------------------

 

After breakfast the next morning they set out to begin the ysalamiri harvest in earnest, pulling the equipment out of the Justice's storage holds. Kandor had been here many times by now, and last time they'd come he'd taught her the process by which the lizards could be safely extracted from their Olbio trees without killing them. The technique still took time, especially since they had to be prepared for a vornskr attack if one should happen, but they could still manage a few ysalamiri a day around their other activities.

[Mirdala Ad'Goran]

Once more the planet Myrkr proved itself a welcome challenge for the (now husband and wife) Mando'ade couple. Over the next several days they fell into much the same pattern they'd done on their first visit, only this time it was the two of them in the trees with Vy'ika and the two hounds running security.

 

The two hounds proved extremely useful in detecting the movements of the vornskrs, warning them of the slight incursions they made as they caught wind of the humans and Ageless traveling through their territory. The three highly-trained soldiers had little difficulty dispatching the packs when they did attack. Just as before, they were also careful not to thin out an area too much.

 

As Mirdala was securing their latest haul in the cargo, Vy'ika approached Kandor and gave a nod in Mirdala's direction. "I figure you two can sort things yourselves from here." He rested his hand on Kandor's shoulder, before adding quietly, "Through her, you are my brother now. Don't hesitate to call if you need anything, even to talk. This isn't an easy path for anyone. Leaning on each other is how we get through things. You're no longer a one-man army. Take care of her and take care of yourself as well."

 

He boarded his ship to ready it for departure.

 

"Does he honestly think he's going to get out of here without saying so much as a 'good bye'?" Mirdala asked, appearing at Kandor's elbow, before walking past him and onto Vy'ika's ship.

[Moon Knight]

"Vor'e. You have already helped greatly, and I will keep your offer in mind," Kandor told Vy'ika. He had yet to call on his new aliit for the kind of support that was being offered, in practice still preferring self-reliance, but he'd come to understand that he could not be an island if he was to successfully face the challenges ahead -- from maintaining a healthy marriage to beating Ab'ki to founding an organization and beyond. He resolved to keep an open mind to the concept, one that had never been available to him before, not only for his own sake but for his wife's. He knew how to fight and survive and he could lead when called upon, but his upbringing and solo career had developed those skills at the expense of others which would be just as important to his long-term outlook.

 

When the other clone headed off toward his ship, Kandor went with Mirdala to see him off more properly. With any luck, their time apart would be short and Judyc's data would give them a lead on Ab'ki or at least some of her plans. Best case scenario, it had a list of her locations and a strong hint as to her physical location, and they would be kicking down her door in days or weeks.

 

Once Vy'ika departed, they started to pack up their sensors and gather their ysalamiri, planning their next move. Kandor was eager not to keep all the lizards aboard the Justice -- not only did he not need the entire ship blocked off from the Force, but if something were to happen to it, he didn't want to have to make another trip here just to restock. "What do you say we swing by the Enigma?" he suggested. The space station was not far, having been relocated to be a closer to the Mandalore Sector, which was itself not far from Myrkr.

 

Mirdala agreed and soon the MandalMotors Tra'kad disappeared into hyperspace.

[Mirdala Ad'Goran]

"I'd say it's as good a place as any until we hear from the others. Besides, I've got to get a replacement implant, maybe even do some upgrades to the original design." She moved past him and began pre-warming the engines before securing Vi'ika for transit. "Let's go home."

[Raynuk Montar]

You get Six Ysalamiri by working together.

[Robert McNamara]

Robert ran through his mental exercises to detect the smallest movement with his eyes. The whole exercise was done in shades of green- camouflage. The blaster he held in his hands moved to track his quarry. A squeeze on the trigger and he was awarded with an audio note that indicated he had hit the target. After all this was a training exercise. One of many on the computer- ones that were interactive and learned. Sometimes they went into the holodeck in groups, but sometimes just solo. That was one of the ways he and his crew became better at their... past.

 

An innercomm announcement went over the speakers- they had arrived at Myrkr. Briefings had been undergone, and the men were ready. Soilders carrying spray nets for the nefarious vornskyrs, and the engineers who had been working since they left Carida to make the nutrient frames needed for the yslimari. Everyone was to wear a blade at the very least. He keyed open the door and made way for the bridge. While he was in full armor- he was able to key up a report on what the status was with each of the ships. If any damage had been done during the jump, but no- each ship was powering up their engines and impulse thrusters. This was turning into another ground maneuver. The ships were capable enough. They chose a clearing- and touched down in broad daylight. Their escorts remained in orbit, incase bigger fish needed to be fried.

 

Due to the metallic content of the flora any form of sensor scan was near blind. Sensors that were focused off motion in a close proximity would be possible though. Once they had touched down and nothing blatant came out and attacked the ship- a beachhead was formed and a steady supply of people had been put in the field. Currently, they were in a lighted- clear area, with a sizable space between them and the edge of the jungle. The hunt would begin soon. McNamara examined the terrain in a real-time 3D map. An ensign remarked that he had seen that in the movies. Robert winced at the statement. This wasn't the movies, this was real life.

[Robert McNamara]

The electric fences were set up- cages and nutrient frames were organized so the workers and troops would be able to fill them quickly and keep the workflow running smooth. Maybe he was over reacting to the whole set up, but Robert's resources were limited. He was trying to protect his company, better than what he had done in the past.

 

~~~~~

 

Squads started their push into the jungle, the rough terrain was slowing their process but it was about getting it done right, no time limit really. The yslamir would harvested, as well as vornskyrs. Everyone had been armed with a blaster pistol, vibro blade, and spray nets. Troops got a quarter mile in- and then additional people were moved in to start the process of harvesting the creatures that pushed back the Force. A secure perimeter had been established, the troopers were alert for vornskyrs- from above and below. Each was in a position to cover at least two others- and so on down and around the line. Some type of cover. Reinforcement troop squads were stationed inside the column ready to respond to hard pressed sections of the perimeter.

 

Robert eyed the column of troops on his display map, and waited.

[Robert McNamara]

The campaign on Myrkr was coming to a close, that much Robert knew. They all had spent days here, weeks even. Progress was slow, but steady. Three more had died out right by vornskyrs, two were left disfigured in ways that made Robert cringe. One would need a robotic leg, and another would need a robotic arm. Even more had been stung by the vornskyr's tails- between the armor plates- those lucky shots. Everyone was tired and bruised at the very least. The commander was anxious, so he decided it was time to get his boots muddy. It would give moral a good boost as well- seeing the commander on the field always boosted his spirits, whenever he was a grunt. Also gave him a bit of anxiety- knowing he had to protect the commander.

 

Lacing up his boots and fitting the armor pieces was always a therapeutic exercise. Once that mask came down over his face and the brief second of darkness lifted, he felt empowered. Not overconfident, but solid. The faceless mask was who he aspired to be- just a suit of armor and a blaster. A damn effective suit of armor and blaster. A mirror was across the way so soldiers could inspect their armor if something wasn't right. Also so they identified as a storm trooper. But were they storm troopers anymore? They were now the Imperial Remnant, they were striving for something better. It seemed as though years passed as he stood in front of the mirror, analyzing himself. The clock on his Heads Up Display inside his helmet tracked it as 90 seconds, before Spook's armored fist bumped him in the shoulder- bringing him back to reality.

 

Spook remarked how ugly Robert was, and that's what caught his gaze for so long. Robert made a hand gesture that was offensive. Something about a rancor and his mother? Either way, it was time to move along. Robert, Spook and three others that had seen action, but were new to the squad were about to be sent out. The rest of Robert's crew were to stay on board. A sliver of Lisa AI was put into his helmet- a companion of sorts. Robert would feel a bit lost without her around. Relying too much on technology would be his downfall eventually. But wasn't it everyone's downfall? One break through would outweigh another one.... so on and so forth?

 

But the five headed out into the jungle, along with the standard column of troops, but they were going further than they had previously. After about a mile into the jungle, the encountered the first vornskyr that was an issue- Spook had shot it mid-leap. The beast still had velocity to it and knocked the one trooper to the ground. Now covered in blood, they had lifted the dazed trooper to his feet- his blaster had broken in the fall. A roar from the jungle wasn't uncommon as they all well knew at this point, but it was how many reverberations there were now. They had their spray nets in their other hand, holding it under their blasters- acting as a stabilizer now. Both barrels pointed outward, they moved cautiously through the jungle.

[Robert McNamara]

After a mysterious event erased two hours of Robert's life in the field, he wasn't quite sure how to shake this feeling of deja vu- the feeling where you've done this multiple times, but you just keep getting a restart. Apparently his troops felt it also as they all stood there- looking around. Their confused expressions hidden under their helmets.

 

By the stars... Robert cursed with escalating vulgar comments to be made. He didn't care- he was hot- and was tired of being on this planet. Tired of whatever atmospheric laws of physics made this planet so hot. Cursing the cooling factor in his armor as well, as it would drain the power supply faster than he could walk back to the ship to recharge.

 

He had called in for a speeder to come assist their crew- they had captured several vornskrs in their spray nets- some had to be put down due to their velocity and immobility causing injuries. One was so bad that the bones in its leg were sticking out. A shot to the head quickly silenced the creature. They had a handful of the powerful predators- once again with the feeling of deja vu- and Robert was pleased. The crew was still under threat of the tiny herd of these predators- and it seemed like it wouldn't end. Time after time, they shot the spray nets over the creatures, as well as outright killing the ones that were injured or that they couldn't get their nets over them in time.

 

His mind wandered as he raised his blaster and shot a beast off of Spook- who recoiled under the dead animals velocity striking him. Robert wondered what else was going on in the galaxy. Something called to him to get off this planet and back to Carida. He had been gone too long in order to capture all these- ysalamir and vornskrs. Unsure of the real numbers, he made a note to get back to the ship. The speeder showed up a few minutes later- considering the terrain was not kind to bigger vehicles, they loaded the stunned and netted predators to the vehicle and watched it float back to the ship. He wished they all could ride on the vehicle back to the ship- but with that much weight the speeder would break down and they would all have to walk and carry the predators themselves. Activating his cooling mechanism for a moment, Robert felt some relief as they scaled the next hill. The whole squad he was with was scratched and banged up- but no lost limbs and no dead soldiers. Considering that a win, he moved on. He knew some men and women died out here, but he would be okay with that once he got off this planet, conducted their funerals, and returned back to Carida.

 

Once he got in range almost thirty minutes later, he had Adams and Lisa start collecting everything they deployed. Their whole camp was to pack up and get ready to leave the planet. He wanted final numbers, and to be off the planet within the next day. He hoped the engineers and the troops had collected enough of the force-absent creatures as well as their predators to augment the next phase of the plan. The plan they had so many weeks ago... that has undoubtedly changed by now.

 

As the camp came back into view, Robert paused for a moment, and surveyed the scene. The ship- the camp- the dozens of moving little bodies of his company- and the cages filled with vornskrs to the engineers and zoologists that had been hired to get the ysalamir off the planet alive, and that would help them in their coming battles.

 

Scaling the boarding ramp, he spoke to Lisa and Adams- everyone was either returning, or preparing for dust-off. Still no word from Carida.

 

(OOC: After the board has eaten five of my posts, the IR is leaving, and a ruling is requested.)

[Ary the Grey]

Due to good writing, a lot of patience, and some quick math, you manage to harvest 109 ysalamir for your faction.

[Robert McNamara]

Robert let his blaster dangle at his side. He was showered- fed- his thirst quenched- and eager to leave this place. Looking over the final numbers, he looked to see what the final tally was. One hundred and nine ysalamir. "Dang, we should get six more, you know?" Robert said as he sat in his seat on the bridge, Adams was off to the side- messing with some sort of report himself- perhaps the wounded that Robert just passed him a few minutes prior. It was Lisa who responded- taking a visual form on one of the projectors. Her frame was that of a human female- her skin- or shell- or whatever was just a haze of digits. She was calculating the take off- and was running the numbers. The hum of the engines was growing stronger- any second now...

 

"If you want to stay for just six, I can turn off the engines that cost a few hundred credits in fuel that we just wasted..." She narrowed her eyes, and put her hands on her hips. An AI with sass wasn't ideal, but Robert liked it- it kept him from getting too cocky.

 

He snorted a laugh- "I wish, but no, continue take off, please." He also always remembered to use his manners, he wasn't a heathen. Her image flashed away.

 

"We have a lot to make up for-" the countdown came on interrupting Adams. Robert finished the rest of the sentence for him. There had been a lot that transpired between the time they landed, and now.

 

"Take us to orbit, link with the Gozanti and let's be about it then. We need to get to Carida." Robert finished off- and with no surprises- no ambushes- no enemy at the last minute- just the same old boring lift off and into space- then the model blue visual of hyperspace to fill the front screen. Robert watched as it cycled through the blue and black mixture. One hundred and nine that survived the transplants. That was a lot of ysalamir. Then the compliment of 42 Vornskrs. Their time here had been worth it after all. With a relaxed body- he sunk into the chair, put his feet on the railing, he took a gulp of his water and started to see what they needed for restocking.

[Lusef Aryan]

Fresh from Dathomir, Luciferian Gamma touched the shuttle down in the remains of a somewhat concealed old Imperial landing pad. Automated floodlights came on, highlighting the cracked and weathered pad. Once landed, Gamma lowed the ramp and checked on his comrades and for what for lack of a better term, he thought of as his master.

 

"Your lordship," he reported with a salute. "We're docked on Myrkr." He saw Alpha and Beta sitting uneasily off to the side, looking warily at their master's hoverchair. All three of them were now aware of the deception he'd wrought and the tension in the shuttle was palpable.

 

For their master, he sat, head bowed, fingers resting lightly on the arms of his chair. One could have mistaken him for sleeping, but they knew better. Subtle lifts and shifts of the fingers, as if directing touchpads or screens could be observed. Faust was directing more than a simple strike on CoreSec and raid on Myrkr. There was much more going on. The trio waited patiently for their master to respond, and a moment later, the hooded head lifted.

 

"Good. Are the communication arrays set as I specified?" he asked, his slithering out between his bloodless, scarred lips. Gamma nodded, and replied with a crisp, "Yes, sir!"

 

Lord Faust looked up, the blue glow under the hood wavering faintly, indicating movement of the face, his real face. "Once we're out of the craft, use the sonic dampeners as I've directed. The frequencies we've set could still produce some adverse effects." Faust's mechanical hands started moving, punching in various keys on the arms of his chair. Gamma observe there was none of the shaking and quivering he'd seen before on Dathomir. Was his lord as injured as he let on? Or were there more layers of deception at work here. He looked up and saw Alpha and Beta watching those same deft movements.

 

"My lord," Beta said, voice hesitant, as if afraid of interrupting. "How many of these bodies do you have?" She looked at her lord intently, remembering the warning he was expendable on Dathomir but they were not, new understanding in that order.

 

Faust's head slowly lifts. Under the hood, those bloodless lips curl into a smile. It's a benign, almost parental smile. "The number is not information you need," he responds, his voice almost gentle. "What you do not know, you cannot divulge. Our enemies can rip secrets from the strongest of minds, and though I've trained you all in the past to resist some intrusions, I would not risk it, nor burden you with protecting secrets you do not need to guard." He clutches his chest again, coughing sharply, as if those words had worked his lungs to their limits. The three hover nervously over their lord, Beta even reaching out to put a hand to his cloaked shoulders, hastily waved away. "We move," he growls under his wheezing breath.

 

The descend the ramp, the trio moving in a triangle formation with Faust at the center. Alpha took point and Gamma took up at his lordship's left flank. At once a heavy shrieking could be picked up on their HUD's scanners, a piercing shriek. Off in the distance a whimpering howl could be heard, retreating into the distance. Gamma hears his lord give a rasping little laugh. "Vornskyrs have senses not unlike certain hounds, their ears pitched to hear at frequencies you or I cannot. The right pitch, and the right intensity can be quiet... painful." Gamma nods in understanding, the orders for setting up the shuttles communications array now made crystal clear. It was possible some Vornskyrs may be immune from age or deficiency, but those would be weaker, more frail and easy blaster fodder. A separate hum could be heard, coming from their lord's chair. Not as powerful or as broadly cast as the signals from the ship, it would provide a second layer of defense. Even so, the trio moved in a tight formation, each one taking point in their triangle, their HUDs and the military grade scanners in their lord's hoverchair all at work to guard against danger. The high metal content of the trees interfered, but Imperial intelligence, ever wary of Jedi and SIth over the ages had compensated and the scanners could work around that. And life signs were always that, the scanners honed to pick up Myrkr's unique tree dwellers.

 

"We'll need ysalmari," Faust explains, looking meaningfully at Alpha, wearing a heavy pack atop his normal gear, designed to transport those creatures. Beta and Gamma wore the same. "There are elements within the Jedi and Sith we shall need to engage, and being vulnerable to their machinations with the Force will not do. My powers are... lacking... the Dark Side of the force takes a strain on my body I cannot risk." Gamma stiffens, surprised to hear his lord so candid, so bitter. "All the same, we shall neutralize their advantages." Faust's voice becomes speculative, musing. "A pity I did not engineer some sort of plague or bioweapon to wipe them out during my time as Emperor," he whispers, hacking another sharp cough. "But... I needed them then to keep the factions in check."

 

Gamma walked at profile, HUD, scanners, and eyes all on the alert, wary of the planet's tree dwellers for harvest, finger on the blaster trigger to deal with Vornskyrs. He knew that he could trust Alpha and Beta to cover his other flanks without worry or pause, such as their training. And with their lord here, or at least a cybernetic simulacrum, he knew nothing on this planet would thwart them. He wondered though what other plans Faust had set into motion, and where his attention would fall now... or after they'd completed their harvest?

[Lusef Aryan]

Luciferian Gamma found the time spent on Myrkr far less harrowing than they anticipated. Whether it was their lords preparations driving them off or simple luck, then encountered none of the vornskyrs during their trek. They went back to the ship at night, holding up in there. It seemed like for as fragile as his body was based on the droid doll that allowed him to function, Faust never slept. Even in the night, when he seemed to be dozing, Gamma could see minute movements and gestures, as if he was in communication with other agents and setting other plans into motion.

 

"Do you ever rest, my lord?" he finally worked up the courage to ask on their last hunting day on the way back to the ship. Faust turned, his hooded head moving in Gamma's direction. There was an uneasy silence, as if Gamma had crossed some line. "I'm only asking out of concern, my lord. You seem so-" He breaks off as Faust raises a trembling hand.

 

"I had sleep enough before," he rasps. "The Dark Side consumed my body and soul. I was able to survive, and am once again here before you, though through this proxy." He gives a faint chuckle, then lifts his head, the blue glow of a sardonic smile revealed. "I may be weak and unable to appear before you, but sleep, that I have not the time for." He lifts his head further, the wavering blue projected image of Faust's eyes boring in. "Your concern is not born of sentimental weakness, but from curiosity, and a test for my limits, to understand how it impacts you." There was no accusation in that rasping, cough laden voice, just a statement of fact. "Bold and direct, even as you and your companions fear my wrath should I be offended. Yet, I applaud you for that. You are one who is willing to risk all to survive," he adds, nodding in approval.

 

As they get back to the ship, Faust's chair moves on, and Gamma watches him motion to Alpha to check the ysalmiri in their nutrient frames. "A final report for Operation Blue Harvest?" he asks, referring to the code name for their ysalmari harvesting mission. Gamma listens in at the number, even as he primes the ship for take off, Beta attending their lord. In short order, the Delta class shuttle lifts off, Gamma showing some surprise as their lord imparts the location of their next destination.

 

((Mod request for the results))

[Karys Narat iv-Adas]

“Well there is no harm in investigating what destroyed your love, Karys. Putting that bit of your life in order will strengthen your connection to the dark side. Disordered anger and grief are strong for a short while, but putter out like a disembowled ewok…”

 

The young girl tossed a handful of protein cubes at the Sith, guiding them in a trainlike line with the force towards his mouth, while making little chooing sounds between her giggles,

 

“Open up the tunneeeeeelllll! Nutrition Delivery for Mister Sith Almost-Lord-Somedayyyy”

 

The hyperspace alarm triggered, alerting a near approach to their destination

 

The massassi, Karys listened as the young Hapan spoke, turning to face her, and caught somewhat offguard as several protein cubes made their way into his mouth...giving him little room to manoeuvre or object to it with a almost comical result. Hayley certainly appeared to find it amusing. The cubes tasted alright all things considered. As the young girl spoke what she said did make some sense.

 

There were notable benefits to be reaped from continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding his lover's death apparently. Besides he and his people were owed an explanation if nothing else and closure on that chapter in their history. He decided he would look into it more when time permitted.

 

The conversation was soon cut short however when the alarm signalled they had arrived. Karys had already noticed, the distinct lack of feeling of the Force was evident when the ship breached atmosphere. Yet this did little to worry him, he would rely on his other senses to navigate the dangerous and unpredictable world. As disconnected as he seemed to be.

 

Gone was the comical expression he had previously worn and in it's place was the strict professionalism of a soldier...of a warrior ready to do battle.

 

His movements were precise, cautious and aware. Myrkr was not the place to be complacent or to let your guard down. Karys made a quick comment before departing to the armoury and where he had chosen to store his weapons for the trip.

 

"Looks like we are up. I'll be in the armoury preparing, scan the local area in the meantime see if we are expecting company or if this will be smooth until we get down there."

 

With that the massassi disappeared and was soon assembling his gear.

[Ary the Grey]

Lusef, harvesting on your own with a few NPCs nets you 7 ysalamir for the 7 days on Myrkr.

[Sheog the Mad]

Hayley brought a bare hand to her freckled brow as the ship entered the atmosphere of the jungle planet. She felt nauseous, as if a she were suddenly blinded, cut off from a sense she had relied on since Hoth. Her other hand began to feel clammy with a cold sweat on the control yoke as she brought the ship in for a landing in a small clearing. The landing was bumpy as the nacelles ripped through the forest underbrush in a tangle of vines and trees. She stood slowly, using the seatback as an armrest.

 

She felt exhausted already, drained of her strength as though a leech was sucking the power from her very core. Her breathing was heavy and laboured as a sickening coldness formed a knotted lump in her stomach that would not untangle. She gripped at her flesh with stiffened fingers, one arm pressed to her flat belly. She stumbled towards the landing ramp, into the cargo hold where the Massassi was gathering his equipment

 

“Karys, I feel like absolute shi-”

 

She began to vomit a mix of crimson bile and chunks of protein cube. She landed hard on her knees, the durasteel biting deep into her kneecaps. She shuddered and vomited again, before leaning heavily against the unlowered landing ramp, her small hands shaking

 

“So this is what the galaxy feels like, devoid of the Force…”

 

The ships jolly AI, having sensed that they had landed on solid earth, triggered the landing ramp at the touch of a recognized human, dropping Hayley sprawling. She tumbled hard down the landing ramp, smacking her face on the corrugated durasteel before she landed in a jumbled mess, unmoving in the weeds.

 

[Karys Narat iv-Adas]

Karys looked up as Hayley collapsed, and at finishing collecting what was needed, the massassi ran to see how she was. Checking, he made sure she still lived...the last thing he wanted to do was explain to Sheog that his most valued asset had died on his watch and suffer excruciating pain for it.

 

After collecting his equipment, Karys was quick to rush to her side and check she was alright. First he made sure there was a pulse....some sign of life before turning her around to face upwards in the weeds and speaking to see if she had coherence or was at least conscious.

 

As he did this, the massassi adjusted himself to the distinct lack of the Force present. Breathing slowly, deep breathes he closed his eyes and focused...allowing himself to breathe in the air and adjust his senses to the new surroundings. Remembering what it was like to be without the Force and using only the senses he was born with.

 

"Can you hear me Hayley? Do you feel any pain anywhere? Can you breathe? Give me a sign if you are conscious to let me know you are coherent and able to walk. If your having trouble without the Force, close your eyes and breathe several deep breathes for a few moments, take in the air. Let yourself adjust to the change."

 

As he waited Karys, looked about, making sure the coast was clear of hostiles as he surveyed the area. Listening the massassi could hear ghe local wildlife moving about in the bushes and almost feel all eyes looking at the two by the shuttle. Like demons in the night studying prey.

 

Yet he was silent, and focused. If they came he would be ready.

[Sheog the Mad]

...Farewell happy fields of home, Where Joy will never dwell: hail my horrors, hail this new infernal world…

 

Pain greeted Hayley’s awakening, drawing streaks of throbbing heat from her face where several furrows leaked ruby droplets to stain her tunic dark with blood. With opening hazel eyes, the girl gazed at the Massassi above her, reading the concern upon his jowled face. She hissed in a breath through gritted teeth, before wriggling around him to her feet. He towered over her, blocking out the bright sunlight as she swayed with darkening vision.

 

“Dammit, I haven’t been without The Force since before I joined in my master's madness...”

 

She placed a small hand on Kary’s chest to steady herself, letting the droplets of blood fall from her chin to dim the emerald gleam of the tangled grass and weeds on which they stood. A distant chittering growl echoed through the surrounding junglescape, quickly echoed by a chorus of others. She withdrew her vibroblade slowly, leaning a small amount of her weight on its leather-bound handle. She kept the blade at an arm’s length and sunk the tip into the grass as the wind began to pick up about them. The howling breath of the wind carried more bestial voices with it from the jungle. A few droplets of her blood stained Kary’s already ruddy features with flecks of crimson.

 

“Vornskrs, I would bet.”

 

[Karys Narat iv-Adas]

Karys was happy Hayley was alive and apparently well, despite a slight injury due to her fall but that was to be expected. Stepping back to allow her some space, and helped her to steady herself a bit before she hissed letting him know she was fine as she wriggled around him and to her feet.

 

Much to his amusement, allowing a brief smile to transfix his lip at the sight.

 

As the Hapan girl spoke, Karys soon understood just why she had collapsed in the manner she had. H remained calm, allowing her to use him as a support when she chose to steady herself more as a few droplets of blood hit the grass...and himself. It also became quickly apparent...they were not alone.

 

No doubt the smell of blood had attracted attention.

 

Let them come.

 

Karys thought, as he readied himself for combat as the sounds of the wild made themselves known. Looking about and making a note of where the bushes rustled, the sound and direction of where the Vornskr's were likely lying low and attempting to sneak up upon the pair, the massassi had several thoughts.

 

A plan sprung to mind, well one which would suffice for the moment.

 

"Well that explains alot. Well looks like we both have relied on that gift for far too long, sometimes you got to go back to basics and what you used to know to see you through the day. Can't always rely on the Force can we to see us to the end. Such is the case now.

 

That aside I think your right. It seems the wildlife smelt your blood, let's not make it easy for them however...let's draw them out to where we want them if we can."

 

Pausing but a moment he continued.

 

"We are gonna need some bait, luckily for us we are perfect for that. From what I hear Vornskr's love a good Force-sensitive. Problem is they hunt in packs, and numbers and the environment are against us here...we are on their turf. But let's turn that to our own advantage. Check the ship see if we got any mines and stuff we can use to slow them down...see if we can prepare a little surprise for them. I have an idea...but it is a little risky.

 

I'm gonna use myself as the bait, if we got mines place them under leaves and old bark around us. Although be careful not to step on one yourself." He winked "While you do that and if we got enough time I'll prepare some traps using some old tricks I picked up. We'll lead them in and splatter our faces with their blood, although just in case let's bag some grenades if we have any and set up a couple of E-webs for good measure. Time is against us so I suggest we get started."

 

Karys said before climbing a tree, cutting some vines down and several branches, passing one or two ysalamiri on the way up. It appeared he was attempting to make some type of deadfall traps, some spikes or spears as well.

 

Objects they could use if his plan failed and hide where they knew them to be and could easily reach if needed.

[Sheog the Mad]

(OOC: Lesson One: Pacing your Posts. When in battle, your actions must be concise and take no more than perhaps a minute or thirty seconds. It’s respect to the opponent and makes things believable)

 

Hayley looked at the Massassi in disbelief, her fingers tightening on the leather-bound grip of her vibrosword. Her knunckles turned pale and she withdrew the vibrosword from the tangled weeds before her

 

“E-WEBS? MINES? GRENADES? TRAPS?”

 

She flung a series of curses at the back of the Massassi as he began to clamber up an Olbio tree with surprising ease for a man who had moments before lost all connection to the Force. Her voice wavered for a moment between fear and anger.

 

“Karys, we have NONE OF THOSE THINGS!”

 

(OOC: Lesson Two: Using your inventory in a fight. We literally only have our inventory. What’s on your character sheet, you have access to in a fight. The environment can be used for advantage, but one cannot spawn weapons out of nowhere for tactical advantage)

 

With snarling vengeance, a pack of six Vornskrs burst from the treeline, followed by another pack of smaller Vornskrs. The first pack, led by a Vornskr with a coat of crimson, marked by rippling musculature charged the young girl where she stood in the clearing. The smaller group of Vornskrs, began to scale the tree in which the Massassi had climbed.

 

Hayley sighed, centering herself for death as the beasts made their charge. The leader made a headlong charge for her neck with his gnashing fangs while the rest began to circle and flank her. She flipped herself backwards, digging her vibrosword into the spinal ridges of one of the circling numbers, letting the sword chew through flesh and bone alike. She dropped in a tumble to the grass, coming up in a fighting stance above the dying beast.

 

“Dammit.”

 

[Raynuk Montar]

It was rare for the Masters to send a cell and it's leader on missions this close together when the subjects of those missions were connected. But so pleased with the efficiency and results that the man known as Azron and his followers had produced on Raxus Prime, that they felt he was the best suited to carry out this particular errand as well. And so their delta-class shuttle descended towards the surface of Myrkr, seeking the same treasures that so many others came to the planet for; ysalmari.

 

Azron spent most of the trip in relative silence. Unlike last time, there was not a great deal of reading and research to be done to prepare him and his followers for their mission. The native vornskrs were going to be the greatest threat to their success on the planet, but Azron had the added burden of ensuring that no sentient on the planet knew of their existence either. The twelve cultist soldiers, all part of the raid on Raxus Prime, had checked their weapons and equipment several times over by the time the shuttle slowed to a stop, and then initiated its vertical descent to the jungle planet below.

 

With military grade precision, the group disembarked from the shuttle, setting up a rudimentary camp around it to serve as their base for the days to come, and while the soldiers finished unloading the gear from the shuttle, Azron strolled a few meters away, hands clasped behind his back and hood covering his face, and simply observed. Within the hour, he and the majority of those with him would traverse into the trees to begin the careful process of extracting the mystical lizards from their trees.

[Karys Narat iv-Adas]

(OOC: So sorry for the delay life got extra busy all of a sudden with very little warning.)

 

Just as the massassi had begun climbing the large and rather tall olbio tree, barely making it halfway...he heard several words that were not what he wanted to hear...cursing his bad luck, his face visibly grow a paler shade of crimson as light seemingly reflected off his pupiless yellow eyes, like they were made of amber or gold neither of which was the case. It appeared that time and the wild of Myrkr were very much against the two, a Massassi and a young Hapan girl whom had been fated to work together on this planet.

 

It was a rather odd pairing all things considered and a task Karys convinced himself he wouldn't fail in.

 

Knowing he had about thirty seconds to a minute at most in which to act, Karys threw caution to the wind. Taking his new saber, the massassi ignited it, holding onto the branch with his other hand as he waited a mere moment, allowing one of the Vornskr to make it to his branch as to deal with the threat now rather than later and decrease the numerical odds against the two. Charging along the branch and using it's claws to grip, the beast ran across towards his prey. But Karys would not make himself a meal so easy.

 

No this prey was not prey at all, this one had teeth to bare. This one was a hunter, a killer of beast and men. And more than that, there was something primordial about him, something that gave the Vornskr reason for pause before hunger won out above caution.

 

A grin gripped his lip as both the hunted and hunter locked eyes.

 

Karys relished the moments like this...moments where life hung in the balance and the truth of who a man really was would be revealed. Would they run or would they fight? Karys for one was a fighter.

 

Taking a deep breathe, Karys waited and only at the last moment did he act. As the gnashing jaws came at him, he thrust out with the saber, still holding on with his other hand and using his feet to keep steady upon the branch, a vicious intent set upon slicing the beasts skull down the middle or impale it wherever fate allowed the saber to land. Even without the Force, the massassi expected the saber to do some damage, and as such held a tight grip upon the Tuk'ata Fang hilt he had fashioned and was ever careful to avoid slashing himself as he controlled it's every movement.

[Raynuk Montar]

The process of harvesting ysalamiri was, as far as Azron was concerned, a fairly straight forward task. Time consuming, but straight forward. It was the planet itself, and all the other native fauna and flora that constantly proved to be the unknown entity. As planned, Azron and his compliment of soldiers set out into the jungle and prescribed to a designated path through the trees, harvesting as they went. In most cases, Azron and three of his followers took care of carefully extracting the beasts in order to keep them alive and stable, while the other nine troopers would guard them from all angles. They had it down to a science and a routine.

 

The problem with routines it seemed though, was the inevitable slack that would occur. A few days into the trip, that slack cost one of Azron's soldiers his life; the man, assigned to guard duty that rotation, had grown lazy in his vigilance. Eyes meant to be watching the underbrush, and ears meant to be listening were both aimed elsewhere, and did not see or hear the vornskr that pounced on him and shredded him in a matter of seconds before the others cut it down. Azron had no patience for incompitence or for those who let their faith lax. The solider was stripped of gear, and left where he had fallen. The process continued without him as though he was never even there. Everyday the group went out from their base camp, and every evening they returned to secure the day's work.

 

One evening however, Azron received a message, presumably from the Masters, and told his followers that the next day would be their last on the planet to harvest their prize. And so the soldiers slept well that night, and prepared for one more day of work.

 

------(6/16)----

 

The next day, the Cult of Morthos packed up their camp and their personel back into their shuttle. They double checked their cargo to ensure they were all surviving and indeed thriving, and then strapped in for their exit from Myrkr.

[Ary the Grey]

Per the rules, as this was not a faction harvesting the furry little buggers, the Cult of Morthos gets one per day, for a total of nine ysalamir.

[Sheog the Mad]

With a voracious howl, the dark-coated Vornskr leapt towards the Massassi, its beady eyes filled with rage. The glint of bestial malice disappeared as the life was driven from it as it fell to the Massassi’s blade. Two more of the shimmering beasts leapt from the forest, to surround the Massassi and reinforce their brothers. The Vornskr fell from the treebranch, its skull split from the crimson blade.

 

Nearby, Hayley drove her vibroblades along the flank of one of the Vornskrs that made an abortive charge to her side. A spray of dark blood coated her, slung from her vibrating swords as she leapt backwards. She slashed through the claws of one of the reinforcing beasts as she made her way towards the tree in which the Massassi was surrounded.

 

...Krakkkoww…

 

Scarlet light richocheted about her, digging up deep troughs in the weeds and exposing blackened earth. The young girl dove into a tumbling somersault, feeling a scorching heat tear through her back as she did so. Her feat of acrobatics ended in a stumbling fall, driving her into the dirt. Yammering howls could be heard as the beasts made a retreat. Hayley attempted to stand, her stained clothing clumped with dirt and blood, but she crumpled to her knees, her stomach feeling as though something had torn loose inside her. All she could see was the darkness behind her heavily lidded eyes.

 

“Looks like some Sithsssss have come to ouuuuur Domainnnnn”

 

She struggled to open her eyes, and succeeded for a moment. Barabels, around twenty armoured and heavily armed. Most of them aimed their weapons into the tree within which Karys remained, the leader cruelly smiled down at her, with sharpened and frothing teeth. He held out a blaster, leveled to her face. Her hazel eyes scanned the weapon, seeing it was set to single shot, and most certainly not on stun

 

“Kriffing Pirates…”

 

[Karys Narat iv-Adas]

As soon as Karys heard the telling sound of a blaster bolt, he knew there was more trouble ahead. As if his day couldn't get any worse than it already was going....it seemed the Force was really pushing the limits today of the Massassi and Hayley.

 

Looking down Karys saw Hayley had been shot, right in the abdomen. A cowardly pirate had shot her when she wasn't looking, Barabels by the looks of them numbering at twenty and packing some serious firepower.

 

He noted that most were aiming at him and as such were not taking note of Hayley, something which worked to his advantage. As soon as the leader pointed a blaster at her face, Karys pounced like a uncaged animal...Karys was furious, the sheer audacity of the act! The Barabel pirates were about to find out what happened when you provoked a beast as deadly as a Sith.

 

Putting caution to the wind, Karys leapt over the Vornskr in front of him and ran at speed to the edge of the tree, giving the beast a swift kick to the face in the process hoping to send it at the pirates below by tipping it off the branch. A minor distraction at best but something was better than nothing. Jumping over the edge of the tree branches and out of the tree he was in, Karys attempted to avoid several blaster shots while he aligned himself above the leader.

 

Bringing his saber down the Sith Warrior was hoping to descend in time to meet his arm and remove it before the barabel could fire into Hayley's face. The follow up would be just as quick, brutal and efficient. A decapitating blow or something to a similar deadly effect. At least that was the plan that spawned into the massassi's head. This he envisioned would be followed by grabbing Hayley and making a swift exit into the treeline.

 

Not to retreat or no, as a Sith....as a warrior he couldn't permit himself to retreat. This was all part of the attack, amongst the trees the two could easily hide and use the undergrowth to stage ambushes, use the trees as cover and reduce the twenty members of the pirate band to walking in smaller groups as obstacles got in the way. Guerrilla warfare at its finest.

 

His speciality.

 

Within moments the Sith acted, beginning for better or worse the battle in earnest. Upon his lip was a look of joy and equal parts malice as the killer within was brought out to enact a terrible vengeance upon these unfortunate souls.

 

Their time of reckoning was upon them.

[Sheog the Mad]

Hayley’s breathing was laboured, each breath was an agony from the weeping wound in her abdomen. She watched beyond the blaster pistol aimed at her face as Karys knocked the Vornskr into the pirates below, their weapons drawn. Since they were not from a cheap action holo, the pirates did not simply wait to be dropped on by a snarling beast, and their shots cut it to ribbons as it fell from the Massassi’s mighty kick. As the Sith leaped down at them, Hayley felt time beginning to slow about her.

 

She could feel the soft caress of the grass on her legs, interspersed with weeds and their cutting thorns of that tore small holes in her pajamas, pricking her pale skin enough to draw small flashes of pain. Hayley could feel each heartbeat, the thumping in her chest seeming to richochet off her ribcage from the pumping of adrenaline in her system. The lull of emptiness and the flash of fullness that came with each thud of her heart. The sting of the wind as it whipped her chestnut hair in a mane about her thin neck. The air tasted of the musk of slaughtered animals, and the fear that bellowed out of the forest, carried like a dozen arrows on the wind.

 

She could not bind her mind to the force, to keep it steady as she watched the crimson blade of Karys crash into the barabels arm, nor utilize it to leap to the side as the weapon discharged. She only could smile up at the Massassi as a ruby flash of light lanced into her left eye, burning through the yellowed-hazel iris in a glancing blow that emptied the socket. She held on tight to the Massassi’s arm as they made it to the woodline, her feet moving on adrenaline alone. When they were safe for the moment, she collapsed against a fallen tree. She smiled at him once more, as she felt a river of blood beginning to dribble down the side of her face. She spat out a laugh, trying desperately to make the Sith smile.

 

“Well… That went rather…”

 

She slumped into the embrace of the rotting wood, and the nightmare of unconsciousness that awaited her

 

[Karys Narat iv-Adas]

Karys face lit up with delight as the saber did it's job and hit home, severing the pirate leader and removing him of his arm, resulting in several curses and screams as the Barabel fell to the ground when the massassi finished the job. However Karys delight turned to concern when he noted Hayley had not gone unscathed from the encounter.

 

He could do nothing as the hot bolt made it past his defense and into her eye...a fact that illecited a feeling of horror and then anger at himself for not being able to stop it.

 

I should of stopped it! Why didn't I stop it!? A fool's mistake. Your quicker than that, you know it. I must be better, I will be better.

 

Running as quickly as he could, with Hayley now firmly attached to one arm, the massassi made a beeline for the woods as several bolts flew past into the trees and surrounding area, and the massassi himself was not free without a price to pay. Two bolts caught his left leg, one a direct hit and the other a light grazing wound that struck him as it zipped by causing the smell of burnt flesh to enter his nostrils and several curses in sithese to fly out most unceremoniously, it was very unlike the massassi who rarely swore in the company of others. But without the Force to dull the majority of the pain, even despite his endurance he just couldn't help himself.

 

Su'us iv xealonera! Po velnių, chaosas zinot xalone! Anas virztease ztaoseni, tezn j'us saut oer Nu itik j'us... j'us valia alga nuo anas niratiz jiaka!

 

Translation: < Son of a bitch! Goddammit, chaos have mercy! That bloody hurt, just you wait until I get you...you will pay for that pirate scum! >

 

Struggling through the pain, a accustomed feeling...the masssassi continued to run further and further into the trees, with Hayley in tow. Eventually the two settled next to a rotten piece of wood once they were sure they were clear of the pirates for now. It was a welcome reprieve no doubt.

 

As Hayley broke out in a laugh, he joined her illeciting the smile she was after, however the moment quickly passed from one of laughter to concern when she collapsed unconscious just seconds after the massassi finisbed the sentence.

 

"Fast. I would say interesting but that's semantics. Hayley? Hayley!? Oh no you don't, your not dying on me yet! Sheog would kill me."

 

On that notion, Karys gave her a mighty slap hoping to jolt her out of her stupor before applying a bacta patch from his belt to her eye and one each to his leg.

 

Should do for now...at least until I find something more permanent. Hmm...there are a few pirates so could mean one of two things. Either they got a ship or a base nearby. I'm betting the latter. Well no time like now, time to double back a bit and follow the bantha fodder see where they hide. They are going to rue the day they sought to swap blaster bolts with the Sith, I'll make sure of it.

 

With that the massassi lifted the Hapan with the same arm she had grabbed before, heaving her over his shoulder, before making a move in a wide arc back the way they came as to follow the trail, hopefully to a base. Being careful to try and avoid detection from the pirates where possible and placing Hayley down when it was impossible to avoid them, hiding her among the undergrowth as his saber remained silent.

 

Now was not the time to attack. This required patience...this he knew, his time would come soon enough for vengeance.

 

One must be patient when faced with such odds.

 

He thought.

 

Silent and as deadly as a Tu'kata on the hunt on Korriban, I must lay in wait and follow them to catch them when they least expect it. For now they live for I have far graver concerns. Hayley 's survival is my priority as such I must let them lead me to their base or bag a pirate...make them squel. But that might not work in my favour...they might call others. No I think I shall follow them and locate some more medical supplies. That temporary fix won't last long. It's better that I play the long game.

 

With that the massassi begn anew the game he was playing. A game of cat and mouse.

[Sheog the Mad]

“...Stop your kriffing singing you di'kut.”

 

The sound of her father’s voice cut through the kind love of a lullaby, ending the words but the music continued in her mind. She could feel the caress of warm arms about her shoulders, and the whisper of a language made up from one who never learned basic. The words carried pain across her mind, the grip of the hug conveying emotional hurt

 

<>

 

The stomp of boots kicking upon hardwood was followed by drunken bellows and the scatter of toys being kicked aside. The grip on her shoulders released, and a form moved across her vision, the springs creaking on the bedframe and boxspring. A brush of cold air as blankets were moved aside, followed by a stream of light and a crash as a door was kicked off its hinges. The light highlighted her sister’s lithe form in a nightgown, backlit for a moment before she was thrown to the floor by a much larger form.

 

<>

 

The smack of knuckles on flesh and the words ended with the sharp exhalation of air tinged with pain. Another blow and the crunch of ribs from a kick from a metalclad boot. The voice began to sing softly as the blows continued, projected into her mind

 

...Now I cry for everyone, do not fear their voices, cry for everyone, do not fear your choices...

 

Hayley held back a sniffling cry, that turned to a muted sob. The form moved to her beside and the outline of a palm sped towards her.

 

-Crack-

Her one good eye fluttered open, and the treetops came slowly into focus. The ebony bark of the olbio trees was outlined by their evergreen branches, entangled by twisting vines and hanging moss. Pain came next in stinging waves, carrying with it nasua that made her wish to vomit. As her mouth turned sour she let herself stain the decomposing wood about her with crimson bile, with a retch that almost made her pass out.

 

As for Karys, he would see a small patrol of three Barabal Pirates picking their way carefully down a disguised path, marked only by the occasionally broken branch in the undergrowth. These three pirates were armed with slugthrowers made for hunting, and crept through the forest like nightstalkers.