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Zem Vymes
Aug 11th, 2006, 09:05:02 PM
"He'd probably just sell you off to whoever offered the best price." I commented icily at her ponderings.

When she told me the next part, she had my full attention.

"Another one? Who?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 11th, 2006, 09:06:59 PM
The barest of laughs and a nod to one of the snoozing lumps behind her.

s'Il smiled faintly. "Who'd have thought I'd have a kid, eh?"

Zem Vymes
Aug 11th, 2006, 09:19:19 PM
I felt like a dullard, and sighed.

"Right. I forgot about her. Still though...does the trait pass on?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 11th, 2006, 09:24:01 PM
"Yeah.

"She's a Lupine through and through; I can smell it on her. No first change yet though. I'm a little worried about when it'll happen, since she's about at the age when it does."

The Lupine matched Zem's sigh with one of her own. "I only wish we were back on Cathar for it."

Zem Vymes
Aug 12th, 2006, 04:46:44 AM
"Why did you decide to leave Cathar anyway?"

I crossed my arms as I talked.

"You speak of it fondly, but now you're shiftin from world to world on a freighter with a guy who might just as soon double-cross us in the blink of an eye."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 12th, 2006, 06:58:16 AM
Her features turned dark and not a bit forlorn as she blinked a few times. "The Man in Black; he came calling.

"It took him a very long time, but he eventually found me. I couldn't stay after that, as much as I'd come to love Cathar. I've known Sanis for a very long time, and Dan and I both agreed that he was my best chance for getting away."

s'Il pursed her lips then. "I was the one that chose to stay on board though. It's safer to keep moving than to stay in one spot.

"But now," she seemed to sag, "... now I'm not so sure even that is enough; not with this new job."

Zem Vymes
Aug 12th, 2006, 01:17:26 PM
My expression turned dark in turn at the mention of s'Il's long-time tormentor.

She talked of the job, and I understood what she was talking about.

"I'm split both ways on it. In any other circumstance, I'd be far away from this."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 12th, 2006, 01:38:02 PM
She nodded, but opted to keep silent for a few short moments.

The Lupine really had nothing to say, and she leaned forward to rest her arms on the table. Her gaze fell to the aged wood surface, studying the grain and impurities. A finger tapped lightly against one the bust she'd set on the table, and s'Il soon plucked it up to toy with it once more.

"But, if we weren't here, who knows what would happen. You know more about the Urns than I do, and even I know enough to stay away from them."

Zem Vymes
Aug 12th, 2006, 01:45:01 PM
"What I know is the history, or at least what is written. Nobody since the Sith Empire has even laid eyes on them. For all we know, everything that is written on them may be wrong. But the Sith have created artifacts with the ability to control others before. The urns may be everything. They may be nothing.

As for what I believe, I have little doubt there's some terrible power within. Whether it is what the urns may do themselves, or what they may drive others to do. The Empire is willing to go to terrible lengths to have them. That's plenty of power in itself."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 15th, 2006, 12:49:56 PM
The Lupine gave a hrmph. "There's still too many unknowns."

Opting to stare down at the tabletop, s'Il gave a sigh, grumbling. A few moments of silence passed between the two.

"You though - what about you? You lost your faith, but here you are speaking of these things as though you respect the powere they could potentially hold."

Zem Vymes
Aug 15th, 2006, 08:18:25 PM
"I still do."

I don't think Lok understood the nature of my grievances with the Jedi.

"I believe in the force. I believe in the power that binds the universe together and all living things. I never stopped believing in it for a moment. I just stopped believing in myself, is all."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 15th, 2006, 08:34:20 PM
Now it made sense; or at least, moreso than before.Throughout their conversations in the past few days he'd never really explained fully what he went through; all she'd gotten out of him about it was what he'd said when the two had first reunited. And, well, s'Il had been rather angry at that time.

Now though, the Lupine pursed her lips. She really didn't have anything to say in answer, and so instead she reached a hand out, laying it gently over one of his own.

Zem Vymes
Aug 15th, 2006, 08:40:17 PM
"I spent a lot of time puttin up bricks. Wallin myself off bit by bit from what I used to be."

I gently slid my hand out from under hers.

"Were it not for them bricks, I'd be just another one of them folks in black, following your heels. I can't find the peace that a Jedi must have. I believe in the force strongly enough to respect it's terrible power and know what I risk by dabbling in it."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 15th, 2006, 08:52:47 PM
For a few brief moments, s'Il frowned at his retreat from her touch. Had he distanced himself from everything and everyone so much?

His words made her release a long breath, and she left her hand where it lay on the table. "There's no peace to be had anymore. It's just survival. You run, and pray to anything you can think of that you don't get caught."

Zem Vymes
Aug 15th, 2006, 08:56:46 PM
It hurt me terribly to hear her say that. I didn't want her to deal with the same scars that I had, but I was afraid it was too late.

"That isn't the Jedi way."

She could call me a hypocrite for all I cared. I wasn't afraid to call a spade for what it was. She had more control than I did. She should be slapped in the face.

"Run, hide. Survive. Maybe for Lupines. You were always more than that."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 15th, 2006, 09:10:07 PM
"The Jedi Way was made something punishable by death, and those of us who were left after the dust settled had no choice but to practice in secret. Our masters are gone, and all we have is ourselves.

"Whether I am a Lupine or not means nothing. We did not always hide; it was only when extinction became imminent that we were shamed."

Her eyes narrowed then, as her hand that rested on the table balled into a white-knuckled fist.

"At least your demons stay inside your head. I have to run, or mine will take me."

Zem Vymes
Aug 15th, 2006, 09:23:57 PM
"You honestly think the Empire would spare my life for refusing my powers? I've spent my days on the lam from just about everybody. You're not the only fugitive here."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 15th, 2006, 09:26:32 PM
s'Il gave him a look that bordered on sadness.

"At least they would kill you. It would be far more attractive a fate than to be forced into the Dark."

Zem Vymes
Aug 15th, 2006, 09:32:21 PM
I stood from the table, deciding to keep the salting of old wounds to a minimum.

"Lok, there are two choices you have here. The one you're pickin now ain't one of 'em. You're just bidin your time till you have to choose."

With that, I left the Cat.

Teagan s'Ilancy
Aug 16th, 2006, 08:07:33 PM
One of the lumps on the bed stirred. Sitting up, her hair mussed, Tak rubbed at sleepy eyes before casting a stare through the Cat. She looked down at Daani who was still asleep, and mindful not to disturb the slumbering Cizerack, crawled out from beneath the covers.

Dama had heard her wake, but didn't move from where she sat, so the little girl slid off the side of the bed to trundle her way into Dama's lap.

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 16th, 2006, 08:09:58 PM
A gentle knock came at the Cat's airlock.

"We'll be jin rrealspace jin less than half an hourr. You thrree should eat."

Daanarri Meorrrei
Aug 16th, 2006, 08:18:50 PM
Daani popped upright, going from asleep to awake in 3.2 seconds. "Eat!?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 16th, 2006, 08:40:37 PM
With an 'old person groan', s'Il managed to get to her feet while in the process dumping Tak onto the bed. The little girl giggled, then sprang right back up to jump up and down on the mattress.

Giving the two girls a grin, the Lupine turned her back to them. For now, Zem's words would be thought on and pondered later; she wanted to spend her time now not talking of the past or any other hardship, but having whatever fun she could.

She braced herself, muscles preparing for anything as she looked over her shoulder at the two.

"C'mon you bedbugs, piggybacks to the galley!"

Teagan s'Ilancy
Aug 16th, 2006, 08:42:48 PM
It took no other coaxing from anyone, as Tak hopped her way to the edge of the bed, then onto Dama's back. Scootching over as far as she could, the little girl waved Daani over.

Dama could carry both of them!!

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 16th, 2006, 08:46:53 PM
"jI alrready made you thrree a ljittle somethjing."

He laid out three plates on the small galley table. One was a tasteful spread of fruits and fish, for Lok. One was a stack of three chocolate chip and caramel pancakes for Tak, and another was the same, but with raw fish guts on top for Daani.

Sanis sat behind all three, still working on his fried egg sandwich.

Daanarri Meorrrei
Aug 16th, 2006, 08:47:22 PM
Daani, her hair sticking up wildly from her nap, leapt to her feet on the bed and bounced her way over to Tak and Lok. She scrambled on, and hollered, "To the galley! I smell something... uh..."

She couldn't smell anything yet, at least, not from the galley, so she finished the sentance with "Something edible!" Then Daani wiggled her body back and forth trying to get Lok to move faster. She was hungry!

Sanis Prent
Aug 16th, 2006, 09:31:15 PM
I cringed lightly at Cirr's efforts, and stuck to my own sandwich. The big guy meant well, but there was a part of him that would probably not understand that some people didn't eat the same combinations of things you'd feed to a garbage disposal. At least, people not being of Cizerack origin.

"Fortunately for us, Dantooine's a farm settlement. We can blow enough smoke up the port authority's skirt to say we're hauling produce at the highest bid. That should buy us enough time to get to the nearest town, and from there, to the cypher site."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 19th, 2006, 03:14:10 AM
Thankfully, the trip to the galley was a very short one, as toting two youngsters on her back was in and of itself a bit of a magic trick. With her two 'little girl backpacks' clinging tightly to her shirt, neck, and any other handhold they could find, s'Il padded barefoot into the galley. She stopped once, spinning in a few circles and elliciting squeals, but knew better than to keep them from their food.

Of course if she'd known what Cirr had made them...

One glance at the sugar feast Cirr had layed out for the girls and the Lupine knew that he'd thrown their rights to peace, quiet, and calm right out the airlock.

Of course for Daani and Tak, the food before them was something out of a dream, and both girls scrambled down to attack their meals. For the first time since leaving Cloud City, s'Il spoke to Sanis using more than just a few words.

"Do you know what to do once we get to the site?" She slowly lowered herself into a chair, pulling closer the plate that the big Cizerack had prepared for her. She plucked a slice of fruit and waved it at Prent before popping it in her mouth. "Or are you going to simply hit it with a 'spanner and hope that works?"

Sanis Prent
Aug 19th, 2006, 03:33:02 AM
"We'll need to take a look about. With the Empire running this outfit, we're talking about a fleet of bulldozers and dump trucks to build a sand castle. They overcompensate on everything, so it should be cake to find a way to slip in."

I took a drink from a canteen of fruit-flavored powder drink.

"Any mystical guidance to this maze is always appreciated though."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 19th, 2006, 03:52:43 AM
"I'm sure," was the semi-groused reply. There was a small bit of mirth in her tone though, which showed that she was not entirely angry at him any longer.

She'd had time enough to cool down, and keeping out of his presence had been a good thing.

"Anything else you'd like me to do while we're there? Pull whisperkits from my sleeves or something similar?"

Sanis Prent
Aug 19th, 2006, 04:11:27 AM
"Keep me from getting shot again, I guess."

I winced, massaging my healing wound.

"Not exactly my finest moment, y'know."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 19th, 2006, 04:41:04 AM
"That," she said pointedly," was your own fault."

Taking up her fork, the Lupine cut at the fish.

A wry smile. "Though you do seem to be recuperating just fine."

Sanis Prent
Aug 19th, 2006, 04:51:56 AM
"I've been shot seven times. Stabbed twelve. There's even a stim burn somewhere here."

With a grunt of effort, I pulled my shirt over my shoulders, revealing a macabre modern art masterpiece of scars.

"Nar Shadaa tattoos, eh? I know Cirr has a few to match."

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 19th, 2006, 04:53:49 AM
Cirr removed his shirt as well, showing a few lines of puckered skin and some star-shaped marks as well.

"jI thjink everryone who does what we do gets them frrom tjime to tjime."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 19th, 2006, 05:01:28 AM
"It's a wonder you're both still alive," s'Il mused between bites.

She gave only a cursory glance to the two, though paused on Sanis' myriad of 'war wounds' before once more returning to her meal.

"And I thought I had enough to be considered a piece of 'art'."

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 19th, 2006, 05:03:43 AM
"jI jimagjine a Jedji Knjight would fjind plenty of ways to avojid them."

Cirr shrugged, sliding his shirt back on.

"jIt's not rreally a brraggjing pojint. Usually jit all jinvolves somebody thjinkjing you'rre cheatjing at sabacc orr stealjing parrts frrom a speederr. Afterr that, knjives come out and jit's a brrawl."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 19th, 2006, 05:08:45 AM
s'Il chuckled only slightly. "You'd be surprised at how ill prepared some Jedi - or even practicing Jedi - can be."

To Cirr's credit, the fish was rather tasty, and s'Il found herself enjoying it.

"And as for bragging rights, I see it as more proof of anything to the resilience of a person." She elbowed the big Cizerack in a friendly manner, giving him a sultry, playful wink.

Sanis Prent
Aug 19th, 2006, 05:14:52 AM
"You've never seen Cirr fight. You need artillery to put down a 300 pound Cizerack."

Nevermind the fact that I was usually the one starting the fights, or had the fights started on me. Cirr was about as vicious as a lamb, usually.

I gritted my teeth as I worked my shirt back on. Rising from the table, I took my dishes to the sonic blaster on the wall, putting them in the recepticle.

"The only people who don't know how to fight on Nar Shadaa are either still poor and destined to be forever, or too rich to worry about doing it themselves."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 20th, 2006, 02:38:20 AM
Another bite of fruit.

"Sounds like a wonderful place; after living there, I'm a little surprised that you turned down life on Cathar."

Sanis Prent
Aug 21st, 2006, 07:32:48 PM
"I'm just stir crazy. I don't know if I could find a planet to settle down on."

I worked my arm in a circle, bearing the soreness to try and limber it up.

"I certainly don't have any love for Nar Shadaa. It's no proper way to live over there."

A neutral-toned klaxon chimed gently overhead. Cirr immediately finished what he was doing and headed for the engine room, and I made my way down the corridor.

"We're coming up on the exit waypoint in one minute. You coming?"

I looked at s'Il, wondering if she'd accompany me in the pilothouse.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 21st, 2006, 07:37:56 PM
The girls were too busy having a contest to see who could get the most food in their mouths, and with a slight chuckle, the Lupine pushed her plate away from her while standing up.

"I think so," she answered.

A worldess pat on the head to both Daani and Tak, and s'Il was out of the galley, following Sanis.

Sanis Prent
Aug 21st, 2006, 07:44:26 PM
We settled ourselves in, and I initiated the deceleration as we reached the waypoint. The ship shuddered gently as the strands of starlight shortened into glittering dust. Ahead of us, a tawny and blue-hued planet lay waiting.

"Well, welcome to Dantooine. Hope you like farms."

A less friendly klaxon got my attention real fast.

"I'm picking up a passive signature from the far side of the planet. Capital ship. A big one."

Sucking on my lower lip, I paused before hitting a series of switches.

"I'm disabling our transponder and browning our systems out. There are ships in and out of here every day, but if we got tagged on Bespin, I'm not taking chances."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 21st, 2006, 07:57:22 PM
Standing behind Prent as he sat, s'Il steadied herself with a hand on his headrest. She would follow his lead, as it was more than apparent he'd done these things many times before.

"You speak as if I would question your actions," the Lupine remarked plainly.

Sanis Prent
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:03:34 PM
"Give it time. I'm sure you'll think of something."

I delayed plotting an orbit approach, giving time for some passive scanning of the surface.

"If the Empire's digging here, their camp is probably on the other side. Whatever that ship's doing, it's sitting geosynchronously."

I exhaled, no longer too worried about a pending fight.

"That's fine. We can sneak about better this way."

With that aside, I settled on an approach toward one of the larger towns nearest us.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:06:39 PM
"How do you plan to get us there? It doesn't seem as though it'd be the best of ideas to simply fly over them and land right next to their workers."

Layla made a gentle turn, and her hand gripped the headrest a little tighter.

"Or were you thinking we could walk the whole way there from wherever you put us down?"

Sanis Prent
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:11:29 PM
"We can spend a little time in town, looking for work. I have no doubt that the Imperial camp will be a big topic around the water cooler. From there, we just move the Cat as close as we need to go, and get a better look."

The landscape was coming up quickly now, and I maneuvered for a small cluster of landing pads at the edge of town.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:20:03 PM
s'Il watched patiently as Sanis went through the procedures of landing; something she knew he'd done plenty of times in the past. Something ticked at the back of her mind though, and she couldn't help the first pangs of uneasiness that fell upon her. It wasn't anything overpowering, but it was still there.

She blinked, wondering idly if whatever money had been promised upon completion would be worth the unknown of what they were supposed to find. Or even the ordeal itself.

Sanis Prent
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:22:44 PM
I wrapped up the cool-down sequence, and shut the navigational systems down.

"See, that wasn't too bad."

I gave a goofy grin as I climbed down the hatch. Back toward the galley, the two little girls were still blissfully enjoying their lunch. Cirr poked his head out of the engine room's hatch, catching my head-nod that everything was okay.

"Alright guys, huddle up."

I clapped my hands once as I leaned against the far wall in the galley.

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:25:03 PM
Cirr stepped out of the engine room, wiping his oil-stained hands on a cloth as he did so.

"We'rre due on a new set of landjing gearr bearrjings. Djid you hearr that grrjind?"

He fretted irregardless of whether the squeaky wheel would get grease. It was his job to complain in general.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:30:17 PM
She'd stayed in the pilothouse for a few seconds longer, giving a last, lingering look out the viewport before following after Sanis. Catching the tail-end of Cirr's complaint made her smile lightly though, and the Lupine busied herself with making sure neither Daani nor Tak were due to curl up into sugar comas.

Sanis Prent
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:38:56 PM
"We do this job and you can put bouncers on the struts for all I care."

I brushed off Cirr's inevitable complaint for more money for maintenance. It was a perpetual tug of war.

"Okay. We've got to move fast. We go out, do some shopping, look for work. Make small talk. Find out what you can about the Imperial dig camp. When we find a way in, we'll sneak s'Il and Zem inside with the Cat."

My eyes rested on Daani.

"I need a pilot."

Daanarri Meorrrei
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:44:24 PM
Daani bounced up from her seat, eyes wide with excitement. "A pjilot?!" She jumped onto the table, scattering plates and struck a pose. "jI can pjilot! Oh, pjick me, pjick me!!"

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:46:31 PM
Cirr didn't say anything. He just stood there mortified, mouth agape and ears drooping.

Zem Vymes
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:47:32 PM
"The Hell? Have you lost it?"

I crossed my arms, glowering at Sanis.

"She's just a kid!"

Daanarri Meorrrei
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:49:42 PM
"jI'm Captjain Raurrssaatta!" Daani interjected indignantly before anyone could say anything else. "And jI saved yourrr patootjies on Bespjin!

"But Tak has to come too, she's my second-jin-command." Daani hopped down and threw a striped arm around the other girl.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:50:55 PM
"Aye, she seemed to do a good enough job at Cloud City," s'Il mused in Zem's direction, "Or would you rather she hadn't set us back down to pick you up?"

Zem Vymes
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:53:20 PM
"Am I the only one other than Lunchbox over here who thinks this is a really bad idea?"

Silence. The Cizerack mechanic was still too tongue-tied to come to my aid. I sighed angrily, waving my hand at the lot of them, before heading back down to the cargo bay.

"Best get busy making my peace with life then."

Teagan s'Ilancy
Aug 21st, 2006, 08:56:58 PM
Just as happy as Daani, Tak mimiced her mother, calling after the old man, "Don't forrget to brrush yore hayer!"

Sanis Prent
Aug 21st, 2006, 09:09:45 PM
"Tak...how bout you stay with me and Cirr, okay?"

I patted the little girl on the head as I eyed s'Il.

"Be my second in command and tell Cirr what to do."

Daanarri Meorrrei
Aug 21st, 2006, 09:10:48 PM
"Hey!" Daani crossed her arms. "But jI trrrajined herrr!"

Teagan s'Ilancy
Aug 21st, 2006, 09:26:52 PM
Obviously torn, the little girl looked from Daani to Sanis. Daani had trained her after all, but she loved being around Sanis...

Tak sighed heavily, the weight of such a decision on her shoulders, then looked to Dama.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 21st, 2006, 09:26:57 PM
s'Il offered a small chuckle as she laid a hand on Daani's head. "Tak should probably go with Sanis; after all, you need to complete a mission by yourself so that we can promote you to Admiral."

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 21st, 2006, 09:31:08 PM
Finally allowing a faint smile, Cirr approached Sanis...and wrapped both hands around his neck.

Daanarri Meorrrei
Aug 21st, 2006, 09:32:47 PM
Admiral Raurrssaatta! She'd be the same rank as Cirr! Daani's little chest swelled visibly, and she saluted s'Ilancy as sharply as possible. "Underrrstood!"

Sanis Prent
Aug 21st, 2006, 09:37:20 PM
"Grrack! Hrrght...."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 22nd, 2006, 04:58:02 PM
Returning the little Cizerack girl's salute with one of her own, s'Il gave Daani a wink. "Besides," she bent down lower, nodding at Cirr who was preoccupied with explaining to Sanis his feelings at the moment, "I think we'll be needing a new admiral soon as it is."

Daanarri Meorrrei
Aug 22nd, 2006, 05:53:10 PM
"Rrrjight!" Daani grinned, and then looked at her brother and Sanis, who was starting to turn purple.

"Cjirrr!" She walked over and pulled on his tail. "Don't hurrrt Sanjis. He's watchjing Tak forrr me." She gave the older Cizerack her best impression of a cute pout.

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 22nd, 2006, 06:37:05 PM
Cirr looked back to Sanis, and decided he probably didn't want to kill his best friend today. Instead, he deposited him roughly on the ground, and tromped off to the engine room with a growl.

Teagan s'Ilancy
Aug 22nd, 2006, 07:25:49 PM
With a bounce, Tak straddled Sanis' chest, hopping up and down in her excitement. Little hands reaching out, she cupped his face while grinning from ear to ear.

"Hoawdy pawd'na!"

Sanis Prent
Aug 22nd, 2006, 07:30:34 PM
"Oh, oh...no...ow..."

I took a bit of effort to sit up, but it was worth it to get the rambunctious little scamp off of my chest.

"Howdy!"

I managed to reply back, face still red as I caught my breath, looking back up to s'Il.

I climbed to my feet, sitting Tak on the counter as I adjusted myself.

"Alright. Lets get a look at town."

I walked slowly down to the ladder, climbed down to the cargo level, coughed, and extended the gangplank.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 22nd, 2006, 07:40:59 PM
It was a short trip to the Cat, as s'Il gathered her few belonging. Sliding the sabre gauntlet on, she pulled on her boots while grabbing her carrypack. Making sure her training sabre was snug, the Lupine stepped from her 'home' and scooped Tak up onto her shoulders, following after Sanis.

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 22nd, 2006, 07:43:54 PM
Cirr stepped out of his quarters as s'Il doubled back, adjusting the collar of a heavy coat he'd slipped on. He slung a flechette gun's sling over his broad shoulder as he gave her a glance. His ears flinched back and forth, betraying the stormclouds in his normally docile demeanor.

Daanarri Meorrrei
Aug 22nd, 2006, 07:55:10 PM
Daani, still feeling the effects of her sugar-filled dinner, bounced to Cirr's side and slipped her small hand in his huge one. "Don't worrry, Admjirrral, jI've been trrrajinjing forrr thjis my whole ljife."

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 22nd, 2006, 08:00:05 PM
Her sunny disposition helped improve his mood, and Cirr draped a big hand over her head, fingers mussing her hair as he shook her from side to side.

"jI wouldn't let you go jif I thought you couldn't do jit. jI just want you to be safe. Because ourr motherr wjill kjill me jif you arren't."

Daanarri Meorrrei
Aug 22nd, 2006, 08:02:19 PM
Daani bared her teeth as she and Cirr walked down the ramp and out of the ship. "Motherrr wjill kjill you anyway forrr the tjime you and that twji'lekji gjirrrl werrre jin herrr bedrrroom plajyjing -"

The rest of her words were muffled as Cirr clapped his hand over her mouth.

Sanis Prent
Aug 23rd, 2006, 07:00:34 PM
I drew my coat over my various holsters and small arms as the gangplank descended. What greeted my eyes was a homely little town of disheveled cottages and a few shops. People in peasants clothing milled about, looking a combination of dirty and weary. Ever-present on all border worlds, a gaggle of children ran toward the ship, hands outstretched in expectation of a hand-out from kind-hearted offworlders.

I made my way through the little gang, keeping my eyes on my surroundings. Something was wrong here. For a farming town, there didn't seem to be the usual farm activities. No cargo speeders carrying crops or animals. I could see fields in the distance, but few workers, if any.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 23rd, 2006, 08:06:37 PM
Tying her hair back, s'Il made a mental note of how long it was becoming, and that she would soon need to have it cut. Fiddling with a few errant strands that had fallen into her face, she stepped out onto hardpacked dirt to wade her way through the group of small bodies that crowded around the newly-arrived offworlders. A girl tugged at one of the silvery charms hanging from her wide belt, and the Lupine brushed her away gently.

There was a feeling of helplessness that pervaded her senses then, as she caught up to Sanis while still doing her best to make sure she retained all of her belonging.

Prying another set of wandering hands away while still making sure Tak was secure atop her shoulders, she ground her teeth. "Cute kids."

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 23rd, 2006, 09:09:32 PM
"jI swearr jI see the same barrefeet, hungrry kjids on everry one of these planets."

Cirr paused, pulling a small bag of caramels from his jacket pocket, and began flicking them into open, eager hands. Sanis might be jaded and s'Il might be protective, but Cirr remembered what it meant to be one of those hungry sets of hands. He always had at least something to give.

Sanis Prent
Aug 23rd, 2006, 09:32:11 PM
A white-haired lady approached from a nearby building, gesturing to us in a brusque, shooing fashion.

"Go from here, go! We have nothing to sell you!"

She had a weathered face, and sharp blue eyes, and wore a white and blue dress that was made of robust fabric.

I rested a hand on one of the kid's heads.

"I noticed your crops aren't in. Perhaps we can help with water? Is there anything you need?"

I looked back to s'Il, with an expression that explained that this behavior was clearly not normal.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 24th, 2006, 07:32:52 PM
She only gave him a shrug in response.

He was the one who frequented other planets more than she, so she'd default to him for now.

"Well, they're not very happy," was her only offer.

Sanis Prent
Aug 24th, 2006, 07:37:56 PM
The elderly woman studied the unspoken exchange between me and s'Il, and spoke.

"Our men have been conscripted away from here for two weeks. They beat them into work. Those they pay, are paid poverty wages in Imperial credits that do not have value here."

It was not her intention to turn away those who could truly help, but she didn't want to see any more caught up in the gears of the Empire than she had already seen.

"You will make no money on Dantooine. If you stay, you too will be forced to work."

I frowned, shifting on my feet. Although this helped make our job really simple, I never liked to see suffering like this on a wholesale level. Unfortunately, the Empire seemed to deal in misery in bulk quantities.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 24th, 2006, 07:46:05 PM
s'Il gave the woman a half-flinched look, then looked to Sanis. Involuntarily she clutched Tak's ankle just a little bit tighter.

"How far out is the Imperial camp?"

Sanis Prent
Aug 24th, 2006, 07:49:28 PM
"It lies on the far hemisphere. By pack animal, it would be months. By speeder, days. By skyhopper, hours."

She wasn't telling us anything we didn't already know.

"Do you know exactly where? Does anybody in your village know the way?"

At last, her eyes took on the glimmer of hopeful understanding. I wasn't sure, but I think she just realized that we were willing to help.

She took my hand in her own weathered grip, pulling me forward.

"Yes, come. This way."

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 28th, 2006, 09:09:08 PM
Cirr followed Sanis and the village elder, glancing at s'Il quizzically a few times as they entered an atrium in the town plaza. The village elder parted with them, heading toward a group of townspeople huddled at an oblong table near a fireplace. She sat, and they spoke in hushed tones. Hushed for humans, at least.

Cirr's broad ears swiveled, snapping precisely so that they triangulated on the muted conversation.

"Well, a few of them want to kjill us and burry us jin a barrn."

Cirr stated matter-of-factly, shifting uncomfortably on his feet.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 28th, 2006, 09:11:50 PM
Brows rising, s'Il felt a bit of a smile tick at the corners of her mouth. "How quaint."

She cast Sanis a feigned disgruntled glare.

"Though I suppose I should start getting used to this sort of reception when around you."

Sanis Prent
Aug 28th, 2006, 09:29:33 PM
I glanced back to s'Il aghast, with my hands pointing to my chest in shock.

"It's always me. It's like you've got some kind of complex."

I glanced back to Cirr, voice low.

"Uh, if they decide to go through with it, give us enough warning for a head start."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 29th, 2006, 09:50:13 AM
"No such thing, I assure you."

A sweet smile as she reached out to pat the side of his face with a surprisingly gentle palm. "Pragmatism dictates that I go with what the past has shown me."

Cirrsseeto Quez
Aug 29th, 2006, 08:23:09 PM
"They'rre talkjing to a cattle drroverr who's been to the camp, askjing jif he could make the trrjip agajin."

Cirr cocked his closest ear, otherwise doing his best to look disinterested and aloof.

"He doesn't want to. Now, they'rre pleadjing wjith hjim."

Cirr half smirked.

"At least we'rre off the subject of the barrn forr now."

The conversation concluded, and the elder approached, this time with the other occupants of the table. At her side, a bronze-skinned man in a set of dusty coveralls nodded curtly at Sanis, regarding him with a wary look.

"This is Trai. He has driven dewback to the area where the Imperial camp is. He can show you, but will not venture close to that place again."

The elder squeezed Trai's shoulder, who began to speak to the group.

"You're either our heroes or a gaggle of fools. The Empire wants something out of the wretched earth, and they'll tear this planet and any of us apart to get it. Their encampment is large, well manned, and daunting. If you plan on getting inside, you'll need either subterfuge, or volunteer for work."

Daanarri Meorrrei
Aug 29th, 2006, 08:36:00 PM
"jI ajin't worrrkjing!" Daani looked up sharply from where she was staring at the village children cautiously.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 29th, 2006, 08:52:41 PM
s'Il gave Daani a reassuring glance, then turned to the man who'd spoken.

"When the Empire first came - how did they transport your men to the site?"

Sanis Prent
Aug 29th, 2006, 09:03:03 PM
"The lure of work was enough for the initial few. An announcement for work was passed from village to village, and a few left for the camp. When that wasn't enough, there were conscriptions. When that failed, armed impressment. The men were always carried by shuttle..."

Trai ran a finger through the air, mimicking the path of a flying ship.

"...the impressments come every day. If you really wanted to enter the camp with a shovel in your hand, you could simply wait here."

I didn't really like that option.

"No thanks. I don't think anybody here's keen on digging much of anything. You mentioned you could lead the way. Why weren't you conscripted?"

Trai smirked.

"I'm a drover. Even the Empire needs to eat. You think Stormtroopers care to subsist on rations when their warship is stationed on a farm planet?"

"Fair enough."

I crossed my arms and looked back to s'Il.

"Think you and the old man can slip in there?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 29th, 2006, 09:10:44 PM
"So long as you come get us, then yes."

The Lupine cast a look behind her then to Layla.

"Though, that's if I can get him off the ship."

Sanis Prent
Aug 29th, 2006, 09:15:51 PM
"Leave that to me."

I replied with a chipper tone.

"I've been wanting to do something with that smell of mothballs thats been growing in the cargo bay."

I looked back to Trai.

"Can you leave immediately?"

The drover's jawline tightened and he nodded.

"Lets get this over with. Sooner the Empire pulls up stakes, the better for all of us."

I shook Trai's hand, and bowed to the elder.

"I appreciate the help."

With that, we all left the atrium, and headed out into the sun again.

"Daani, run ahead and prep the Cat. I've got some things your crew will need in the cargo bay."

We all trotted up the gangplank, and I moved to the far corner, rifling through a series of squat footlockers.

Zem Vymes
Aug 30th, 2006, 09:01:22 PM
I rose when Sanis and the others returned, watching the skipper dig through a few cases, pulling out a few blasters and other assorted hurt machines that were probably less than legal here.

"Something subtle. I'd rather be able to run than shoot."

I squatted down, sorting between two pistols and a carbine with a folding stock. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man with a farmer's tan entered.

"This our local guide?"

"Yeah. His name is Trai." Sanis added.

"Mm." I went about my business. I didn't really want to know the kid's name. I glanced back to s'Il, remembering we were in the company of outsiders, so I stayed discrete.

"Wouldn't hurt to take a shooter."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 30th, 2006, 09:22:41 PM
She gave a nod, depositing Tak upon the deck while turning on her heel towards the Cat.. The little girl moved to stand vigilantly beside Sanis to make sure that he stayed safe and unhurt while unloading the trunk. Spotting a small cartridge of... something... that they'd taken off Savoc before dumping him back on Cloud City, she bent down to pick it up.

s'Il was thankful for the older man's words, glad that he remained mindful of her privacy. She stepped inside the shuttle then, finding her gunbelt hanging over the back of the deskchair, and checking the slugthrower over for a brief moment, slid it back into its' holster. The belt went around her waist, buckled with practiced ease as she closed the hatchway behind her.

The Lupine stopped then, staring at the small group from afar with a distant look in her eye. She took in everything she saw through what seemed like a filter; as if she had become seperate from them all... even her own daughter.

And then the moment was gone.

s'Il shook her head to rid herself of the very notion, and headed back towards the group.

Sanis Prent
Aug 30th, 2006, 09:27:54 PM
"Here."

I snatched a small device from one of the footlockers, and took a matching one from my own belt. I tossed one to Zem, and stepped toward s'Il, putting it in her cupped hand as she approached.

"Defense fields. Won't take more than a half dozen shots or so, but every bit helps."

I hoped she'd take it and not rely on her fool Jedi pride about this sort of thing.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Aug 31st, 2006, 07:08:07 AM
Eye going down to look at the device, s'Il brushed an errant lock of hair out of her field of vision. It was a conscious effort on her part to not return it, and instead she closed slender fingers around the thing before looking up to meet Sanis' gaze.

"I don't think it's necessary, but thank you none-the-less."

Sanis Prent
Sep 2nd, 2006, 12:48:57 AM
"Yeah and I don't get shot everyday either. That's insurance and it's free."

I looked down to the shell gun at my hip, and back to her.

"This too."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Sep 2nd, 2006, 12:54:01 AM
Her features showed a small bit of surprise then, and s'Il only stared at him.

"I've already got a gun, you know," she smiled lightly.

Sanis Prent
Sep 2nd, 2006, 12:59:27 AM
"Not like this one, you don't."

We'd been friends and acquaintances for years now, but until a few days ago she'd never seen me even draw and fire my shell gun. It was Mandalorian, older than anything I'd ever seen, and the ammunition was hard to find, made by order from a handful of craftsmen around the galaxy. The upkeep was expensive, but there were few weapons in the galaxy more reliable. Maybe moreso than a Jedi's lightsaber, even.

I could've long-since made a mint off selling it. No doubt there were plenty of people who would be interested in such a thing. It was crafted in trim and wood, in an age of blasters built by the hundreds in a stamp forge.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Sep 2nd, 2006, 01:04:05 AM
Accepting the weapon, the Lupine cast her eye over its' lines.

It was a fine piece of workmanship, she had to admit; where Sanis had gotten it she could only imagine. She looked up to meet his eyes once more, her own taking on a rarely-seen softness.

"Are you sure?"

Sanis Prent
Sep 2nd, 2006, 01:10:27 AM
I gestured to the shoulder I still gingerly protected.

"I'm hemmed up in here, and if things jump off, you'll need me on a dust off. Right now I can fly a lot better than I can shoot. Take it."

I unclipped my gunbelt, handing it to her.

"I've got thirty shells for it. Seven durasteel penetrators, six flechettes, five shaped charges, four field projectors, three incendiary shells, two microfilament nets, two lightspeed slugs, and this..."

I pulled out a shell that differed next to the other colorful ordnance in that it's casing was a stark black.

"A cortosis slug."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Sep 2nd, 2006, 01:13:19 AM
s'Il carefully took the belt, easing it around her waist and buckling it. She had to tighten it though, and meticulously made sure that it rested comfortably over her own gunbelt.

Staring at the shell Sanis held out, she stayed her hand.

"... and that does... ?"

Sanis Prent
Sep 2nd, 2006, 01:17:17 AM
It might have been a tricky subject, but our initial meeting had left me with a mind to be prepared. I wasn't sure she really wanted to know who that bullet was meant for when I bought the thing. Then again, I don't think it would've suprised her.

"The Mandalorians traditionally battled the Knights of the Old Republic. Cortosis is a brittle ore, but one that will effectively nullify a lightsaber's containment field, if you find that sort of thing useful."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Sep 2nd, 2006, 01:22:51 AM
A pause.

Glad the she had kept her hand back initially, the Lupine shifted her gaze to the shell he held. Hr eye still held that same soft gaze, but a touch of nervous trepidation could be seen creeping its' way into her one metallic blue iris.

But it was not the Jedi in her that suddenly had become hesitant...

"If I touch it, will I be touching cortosis?"

Sanis Prent
Sep 2nd, 2006, 01:26:28 AM
That was a strange question.

"It's jacketed, so no. The metal itself would disintegrate in the barrel without a sheath."

She seemed reluctant to even handle it. Were Jedi somehow allergic to the stuff? I'd never heard of that before.

The old man was eyeballing me something fierce, not that I gave a damn what he thought.

"Check yourself. I don't have to explain a thing to you."

Zem Vymes
Sep 2nd, 2006, 01:29:37 AM
"Sure. Everybody might as well prepare for a random Jedi attack. They're as common as gundarks in the woods, right?"

I knew that bastard had an angle, and this was all the evidence I needed. I just wondered what his price was, and when he planned on selling s'Ilancy out.

"Lucky thing she's on your side, isn't it?"

It was high time for me and Lok to have a talk about Mr. Prent.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Sep 2nd, 2006, 01:35:17 AM
Gingerly, the Lupine reached out to take the shell in her hand.

She felt no burning, though the faintest feelings of heat she could feel - even through the casing. s'Il held the shell out to Zem then, a wordless request fr him to keep it on his own person.

She smiled then, a somewhat thin-lipped smile that hid her previous nervousness.

She stepped in close to Sanis then, their faces mere inches apart.

"Thank you."

Sanis Prent
Sep 2nd, 2006, 01:49:05 AM
"Forget it."

I shrugged off her thanks, smiling reassuringly.

"You can have every dirty trick in my playbook, just do what you need to do and come back."

I looked to Zem.

"You too."

I meant it, even if I didn't like the guy. With the Empire as your enemy, even bastards like Vymes were indispensible allies.

I walked to the hatch leading to the Cat, and opened up. Daani was obviously itching to go, and I put both hands on her shoulders.

"You've got the ship, Captain."

I mussed her hair a little, looking back at Cirr. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall.

"No hot-dogging. Fly low. Bring her back the way you found her. Got it?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Sep 2nd, 2006, 02:11:03 AM
Sanis' concern did not go unnoticed, and for the first time ever, s'Il gave pause. She looked at the man, taking him in as if for the first time. Yes, he was injured, but held himself with... something... a certain kind of pride? She found herself able to identify with it, and for the first time since their meeting, Loklorien s'Ilancy allowed herself into a thought that she had once - very long ago - entertained. It was the look, however fleeting - in his eyes that made her consider him then.

Was he more than a friend? Was her constant badgering at him more than just that?

The Lupine blinked then, turning to Zem before letting her eye lead her forwards into the Cat.

Daanarri Meorrrei
Sep 2nd, 2006, 08:38:09 PM
Daani nodded as solemnly as possible. "Therrre and back. Low, no hot-dogsss."

She saluted Cirr, and darted inside the shuttle, getting herself settled in to the cockpit and starting the tiny bit of pre-flight the shuttle required.

"Betterrr sssjit down and hold on!" The cub hollered towards the back of the shuttle, and then giggled.

Sanis Prent
Sep 3rd, 2006, 02:07:05 AM
I stood at the doorway with Cirr, and closed the hatch. My eyes stayed on s'Il for a moment, until the airlock hatch sealed. Tak clung at my leg, and I dropped a hand to rest on her head.

"Cirr, we've got work to do."

Maintenance was a constant reality. You never seemed to have the time or money to do it all. Now, all I had was time. An eternity to wait, and hold my breath. Busying ourselves with a few tasks on the ship would keep our minds sharp and help the time pass.

"And you, little one. I'm gonna teach you to turn a wrench yet."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Sep 3rd, 2006, 05:02:52 AM
She'd stared at Sanis as he stared at her, then her eye went down to Tak and she gave the little girl a smile. Then the hatch closed. And even then she still stood, a perplexed look descending upon her face that; a look that fell uselessly against metal plating.

Shaking her head then, the Lupine found her hand going to the shellgun at her hip, and her fingers tightened imperceptibly over the clasp that held it snug in its' holster.

A turn on her heels brought her around to face away from the hatch - and quite unexpectadly right into Zem's chest.

Zem Vymes
Sep 3rd, 2006, 05:05:59 PM
"I think we're both making a big frellin mistake."

I scowled down at her, as the little Cizerack revved up the shuttle's engines. We made our way to our seats, and strapped in. Trai took the seat next to Daani, and we sat in the back.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Sep 3rd, 2006, 05:17:05 PM
She was taken aback by Zem's tone of voice, blinking a few times at him. The level of animosity radiating from him was almost palpable, and s'Il opened her mouth to speak. Nothing came out.

The shuttle jogged just a tad as Daani followed Trai's directions.

With a hand on the bulkhead, s'Il tried again, though kept her voice low. "What the - I've been saying that since this whole thing started; and now you start up?"

Zem Vymes
Sep 3rd, 2006, 05:19:38 PM
"Thats before I got the serious notion he planned on doing you in."

The vast steppes and plots of farmland moved beneath us as the shuttle picked up speed. Everything was close to the ground, as Daani kept to the low ceiling.

Daanarri Meorrrei
Sep 3rd, 2006, 05:24:30 PM
This was fun! Daani took the directions seriously from her new co-pilot (who smelled bad, by the way), and also took Sanis' admonition to heart. Stay low.

It was sort of like being in a hologame, except there was no reset button. Being so low meant that every curve of the land beneath the Cat needed an adjustment direction. Daani went as fast as she dared, but there were some things you just couldn't rush. Especially with no reset button.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Sep 3rd, 2006, 05:30:22 PM
"I... wait; what... ?"

Eyes narrowing, the Lupine leaned away from Zem, regarding him in a curious, if not newfound cautious light.

He thought Sanis was going to 'do her in'?

"Of all the nerfrot that's ever come out of your mouth, that right there's got to take the cake."

Head canting to the side, she went on. "But, for the sake of my own perverse curiosity, please. Tell me how he plans on doing this."

Zem Vymes
Sep 3rd, 2006, 05:32:28 PM
"Who else buys a weapon used to kill Jedi Knights?"

I palmed the black shell, rolling it about in my hand.

"He doesn't even put a new coat of paint on his freighter, yet he can set aside money to buy a thing like this?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Sep 3rd, 2006, 05:41:37 PM
"What makes you so sure it's for me?"

She let him keep a hold of the shell, having no real desire to carry it around herself. As a Jedi, she had only a small bit of reservations when dealing with such a material; but as a Lupine, that reservation was multiplied a hundred-fold. In some ways it was a very real fear.

"I think you need to loosen that tinfoil hat of yours. The man does alot of traveling, and it makes sense to be prepared for any contingency; even for Force-users. There's no garauntee that it's for a Jedi in particular."

Zem Vymes
Sep 3rd, 2006, 05:48:06 PM
She had a point, but I wasn't sure if it was one that I was ready to concede. Jedi were so scant these days, it just didn't add up.

The ship rocked slightly as Daani veered to avoid a change in the ground terrain.

"You've been on the run for so long. Why do you see something to trust in a man like him, and not in someone else?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Sep 3rd, 2006, 05:53:51 PM
"Because even if he did leave, he always came back."

It was a harsh statement; one that was meant to hurt, and the instant that the words left her mouth she wished that she could pull them back. Instead, the Lupine turned her head to look at the deck, suddenly ashamed of herself.

Zem Vymes
Sep 3rd, 2006, 05:56:19 PM
I looked at her, and found nothing fitting to retort with. My mind was fogged in anger and remorse. Instead, I just looked out the window.

Teagan s'Ilancy
Sep 3rd, 2006, 11:33:56 PM
Back on Layla...


Turn a wrench, Sanis had said. She still didn't know what exactly that meant even though he'd already tried to explain it twice now. Probably some sort of guy thing. Daani had already told her lots of stuff about what guys do; like leave messes, wear dirty clothes, and eat worms. Maybe turning a wrench was one of those weird guy things that her best friend hadn't remembered to explain. Oh well.

At the moment, they were in the pilothouse, Tak straddling Sanis' stomach as he lay on his back with his upper body beneath the console. He called for a tool, and she happily handed it to him.

Of course sometimes the little girl got her names mixed up, and handed him a spanner when he'd asked for a screwdriver.

She chatted away the entire time, about nothing in particular, and whenever she reached the limits of her basic, she simply substituted in Cathar words. Of course, Sanis only seemed to know 'uh huh' and 'yep', but that didn't daunt her.

It was as she was reaching for a socket wrench that she decided to try and get out of Sanis what she could never get out of Dama. It was strange, how devious the minds of children could be.

"Dama told me you and James haff the same dad."

Sanis Prent
Sep 3rd, 2006, 11:49:59 PM
I set the spanner aside, and pointed to the tool I was looking for.

"Dama said that?"

Ugh, touchy subject, this one.

"Yeah, we do."

I torqued open an access panel, and checked the connecters going from the terminal to the routing coupler. Half the length was held together by tape. It worked, but man did it look ghetto.

Teagan s'Ilancy
Sep 3rd, 2006, 11:58:27 PM
She seemed to think about that for a moment, then decided to venture on. Now it was time to play... what did Daani call it? Oh yeah! Twenny kwestions!

"Do you think he's my dad too?"

Sanis Prent
Sep 4th, 2006, 12:01:52 AM
I stripped a screw head when she asked.

"No, I don't think so Tak."

Cirr was supposed to be running the diagnostic in the engine room. I should've gotten a green light on the secondary power regulator by now.

Teagan s'Ilancy
Sep 4th, 2006, 12:07:33 AM
"Oh."

Well, so much for that. She searched through the toolbox, pulling out a set of allen wrenches. Thinking back to all the time Dama and the old man had been spending together, Tak frowned, yet pressed on.

"What about that old man; Ssem? Is he?"

Sanis Prent
Sep 4th, 2006, 12:12:01 AM
That got a nice shudder out of me.

"He's old enough to be somebody's grandfather."

I thumped the regulator, and the light came on.

"Dama doesn't know who your dad is? Have you asked her?"

Teagan s'Ilancy
Sep 4th, 2006, 12:15:01 AM
A pout.

"She knows, but she won't tell me. She sess she fisits him though, and that he fisits her."

Sanis Prent
Sep 4th, 2006, 12:16:36 AM
I scratched my head with the screwdriver. This was getting damn peculiar.

"Does Dama ever have any company over in the shuttle when I'm not around? Maybe somebody that you'd call Uncle or something?"

Teagan s'Ilancy
Sep 4th, 2006, 01:00:58 AM
This made her think for a few moments.

"Well, no. Only Ssem. When we werre still on Kat'ar, she had fisitorrs, but they werre always Kat'ar. Sometimes she left, but she neffer said wherre she was going. Only that she was fisiting daddy."

Sanis Prent
Sep 4th, 2006, 01:06:18 AM
"Oh."

Due to some massive galactic blessing, I was still yet a stranger to all of the nuances of being somebody's baby's daddy. Either that or my hyperdrive is faster than a request for allimony.

"I'm sure she'll talk to you about it when you're older, kiddo."

I half-crawled out from where I was, and looked up at her.

"I need you to go down to Cirr and bring him this."

I handed her a small kit that I'd rested on the captain's seat.

"He'll know what to do."

Teagan s'Ilancy
Sep 4th, 2006, 01:12:21 AM
Her interrogation halted for the moment, Tak removed herself from her perch atop Sanis. She took the kit that he held out for her.

"I hope you're my dad," she commented idly while stepping from the pilothouse.

She'd slightly tipped her hand and shown her intentions for the grilling, but it was the truth. She liked Sanis alot, and he was always helping her with something whenever he visited. Not to mention he'd always brought her surprises. And now, being on his ship, she was able to spend lots of time with him.

Cirrsseeto Quez
Sep 4th, 2006, 01:24:17 AM
"How the hell do these thjings get jin herre?"

Cirr was greeted as he opened a maintenance hatch by the flapping of a mynock's wings. He reached in and quickly yanked the creature out of the hatch, and bit down behind the mynock's head, killing it quickly before it could squirm too much.

He shined a pen light into the access tube, and took another bite off the mynock, tossing it aside as he squirmed his stocky frame into the cramped confines.

Teagan s'Ilancy
Sep 4th, 2006, 01:31:55 AM
It'd taken a bit of finagling, but Tak managed to make her way down the ladder in one piece. The kit though, well, heh. She'd lost her grip on it halfway down, and it'd hit the deck with more than a little crash. She sure hoped there was nothing important in it.

Thankfully though it hadn't opened up, and gathering it in both hands, the little girl tromped towards the engine room. She was just in time to witness Cirr taking a mouthful of mynock before dropping the creature onto the deck.

And oddly enough it didn't phase her at all. She'd seen many such things on Cathar and had grown used to them. With a cheery smile, she held out the kit.

"Prresent frrom Sahnis."

Cirrsseeto Quez
Sep 4th, 2006, 01:38:15 AM
With a few grunts and shimmies, Cirr had extracted himself from the tube again.

"Oh, good!"

He crawled over to Tak and took the case from her, opening it up. Everything was a mess inside, and Cirr was more than a little suspicious that the loud bang he'd heard was the thing hitting the floor. Still, no harm, no foul. It was all a bunch of durasteel tools and they weren't going anywhere.

He fiddled with the parts for a moment, meticulously putting them back in order.

"Herre, hold these."

He pressed a pair of soldering tools into the girls's hands, grinning toothily as he re-arranged laser drill heads.

"We'rre gojing to rewjirre the secondarry powerr feed swjitch. jI can save a ljittle money by dojing jit myself, and you get to help."

Sanis Prent
Sep 7th, 2006, 09:26:05 PM
I dicreetly climbed down the pilothouse ladder, creeping past the hatch leading to the engine room. I could hear Cirr and Tak both going over the task at hand, and it gave me a smile. Sometimes, the best cure for the every day gripes was to get back to the basics. I was more at home with starlight on my face, but Cirr really relaxed when wedged into an engine. I knew that he was taking my decision hard, and he was doing his best to shrug it off.

I stepped into the galley, and produced a trio of fizzyglug's from the cooler. I returned to the engine room hatch, and crouched over it.

"Anyone thirsty?"

Daanarri Meorrrei
Sep 21st, 2006, 06:29:01 PM
On board the Black Cat...

Daani stuck her tongue out, biting down on it in concentration as she settled the Cat down in a clearing behind a grove of tall trees. Beyond the trees there was a rise in the landscape, and beyond that was the Imperial camp.

"Hate to brrreak up the djiscussjion camperrrs," she flicked on the intercomm to address her passengers, "But we'rrre herrre."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Sep 30th, 2006, 02:15:16 PM
Thankful for the interruption, s'Il left Zem and headed for the front of the Cat. She placed her hands on the back of Daani's chair and leaned forward just a bit in order to get a better view of the outside. It wasn't much, and the Lupine frowned.

But, she reached down to muss the little Cizerack's hair. "Good job, Captian. Keep this up and you'll soon have your Admiral's Bars."

Turning then, she regarded Zem with a quiet eye.

Zem Vymes
Oct 8th, 2006, 09:49:03 PM
"Lets get this done."

I tapped our guide on the shoulder, and he filed to the door, with me behind.

We all stepped out and looked at the prominent ridge in the distance, obfuscating the horizon beyond.

"How far's the perimeter from here?"

"More than a mile, less than two."

Trai eyed along the ridge with sharp eyes.

"They'll have sentries to watch for silhouettes on the horizon, but a storm gully runs alongside it, and we can get around the ridge that way. It leads directly into a quarry, and then, to the dig sites."

I fiddled with a blaster pistol before stuffing it down a holster.

"Figure that's half an hour in, and about as much out again. Now we just need to find the cypher stone's chamber."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 8th, 2006, 09:56:46 PM
"I'm sure it won't be hard to find. From what I've been told about Imperials, they're not much for subtlety."

s'Il made sure the shellgun was secure on her hip, sweeping a hand down to her desk and palming a small gldstone trinket attached to a thin leather strap. She wrapped the leather around her wrist idly while following behind Zem and their guide.

"Unless you know where it is," the Lupine somewhat finished, addressing Trai in an absent-minded tone.

Zem Vymes
Oct 8th, 2006, 10:02:02 PM
"I don't. The Empire has dozens of dig sites. They may have even added more since I last came. But you are correct, it should not be difficult."

"So, that means we need to find us somebody who can point it out. Any friends on the inside?"

We were making quick time across the open terrain, as I figured. Still, if a Sentinel Shuttle or some other craft were to do a flyover, it could be bad. We were exposed from the air.

"People know me. I should be able to find somebody who knows the digs better. We'd be best to be discrete though. The Empire won't take this infiltration lightly, and the workers will be the first to be punished, I'm sure."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 8th, 2006, 10:27:16 PM
Easily keeping pace with the other two, s'Il spoke once more.

"We'll keep as low a profile as we can. I don't think it would be too hard to blend in with the workforce; as long as your friends are willing to spare a few sets of clothes."

Zem Vymes
Oct 8th, 2006, 10:35:56 PM
"That's a good idea."

I glanced back to Trai, who nodded his agreement on the issue. After a few more minutes, we'd reached the ridge base, and were following the gully to it's end.

We moved into the gully itself as the ridge tapered down, and a few minutes later, it spilled into the open. The walkway was littered with broken bits of rock and debris, so we stepped lightly.

I looked back to s'Il.

"We get in a pinch, I hope you can look out for the kind of trouble we can't see."

I didn't trust Trai, no particular fault to him. We weren't in a position to trust anybody a whole lot. I confided in the Lupine, and hoped that she could give us an edge.

"There."

Trai squatted down low, and pointed over two large boulders. The clearing in the distance was littered with heaps of rock, and open pits all over the place. Hundreds of people toiled about, as excavation machines worked busily in the distance.

"I count eight sites below us. Figure maybe more beyond that main debris pile."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 9th, 2006, 08:22:16 PM
Her eye followed to where Trai was pointing, and she let her gaze sweep over what could be seen of the operation.

"We should find the nearest worker's tent; the sooner we can disguise ourselves the sooner we can get the information we need and get this job done.

"I'd rather not be here any longer than necessary."

There was that sense of danger again, only this time it was a much deeper sensation - one that she'd felt before, while in the presence of Decepis. It ate at her, threatening and calling all at once. Steeling herself with resolve, s'Il ground her teeth.

Zem Vymes
Oct 9th, 2006, 08:24:47 PM
"I will go ahead. There is a barracks close by."

Trai rose from his position, and eased down the spillway. I took his place, hand on my weapon ready to cover him if guards became suspicious of anything. He was heading toward a row of generic canvas tents, around which a palisade of prefabricated durasteel buildings were erected.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 9th, 2006, 08:27:36 PM
s'Il sidled up to stand beside Vymes, her eye on Trai yet her mind obviously leagues away.

"Can you feel it?"

Zem Vymes
Oct 9th, 2006, 08:29:46 PM
I ground my teeth at her question.

"You know I don't."

I didn't let my eyes waver off Trai, as he made his way through the rear palisade entrance, to a tent.

"All I got is my own paranoia. I haven't dug deeper in years."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 9th, 2006, 08:38:12 PM
She licked her lips, oblivious to Zem's attitude and reaction.

"It's ugly. Ugly and twisted."

And for some reason, her voice held just the barest tinges of curiosity. "I've only ever felt such a thing while in the presence of a living person; to feel it from the remains of the dead is so very different.

"It's calling; seeking... " The Lupine exhaled with a snort then, as the first hints of human odor could be picked up by her more sensitive nose.

s'Il uncharacteristically relaxed her body. "It looks to be used, or to possess; I can't tell which."

Zem Vymes
Oct 9th, 2006, 08:40:25 PM
I finally took my eyes off Trai.

"I don't doubt there's a Sith artifact somewhere at the end of this, but you're saying there's a will to it?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 9th, 2006, 08:46:49 PM
"Not necessarily a will. Maybe a desire, or the last vestiges of... something. Whatever it is I can feel it."

She stood on her toes, trying to get a better look over the boulders at the excavation site.

"It's like some sort of magnet."

Zem Vymes
Oct 9th, 2006, 08:49:29 PM
"Well hell, it's sure got us stuck to it, and the Empire to boot."

Minutes seemed like hours. Then, near the breaking point, Trai resumed his trek up the spillway, with another man, both carrying baskets of debris. They reached the boulders and deposited the rocks on the ground, so that two extra set of workers coveralls fell out as well.

"I would still recommend a low profile. Nobody knows you, and the less you remain seen, the better."

Trai looked to his accomplice, who nodded to affirm his advice.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 9th, 2006, 09:14:02 PM
The Lupine only gave a nod as she pulled one of the two sets of coveralls from the ground. Momentarily shedding her carry-pack, she pulled the new clothing on over her own, careful to make sure that the shellgun was still accessible. The carry-pack was once more slipped over her shoulders before an outer cloak covered that as well.

Zem Vymes
Oct 10th, 2006, 01:33:25 PM
I slid the clothes on as well. They were made of robust cloth, dirt-smeared, and plain. Both myself and Lok fit the profile well enough, and as long as we didn't dally, we should blend in alright.

"I thank you both for your help."

I pointed at Trai's friend.

"You'd better git, before you're missed."

The accomplice departed as he came, and I looked back to Lok and Trai.

"Did you get the cypher location?"

Trai smiled.

"Yes, and it will be easy. Apparently the site is abandoned. Nobody is excavating there anymore."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 10th, 2006, 01:38:38 PM
With an amused huff, s'Il turned to once again look out over the camp. She threw the tail end of her outer wrapping over her shoulder, and tied her hair back loosely - it was getting long; she'd have to cut it.

A motion at Trai then, and she inclined her head.

"Lead on."

Zem Vymes
Oct 10th, 2006, 01:42:36 PM
We set out from the spillway and down into the main camp area. It soon became apparent that the operation was very large. The excavation sites and camps stretched out from the blind side behind the ridge, and we finally could see the garrison itself, built up behind a complete durasteel facade. All around were excavation vehicles, droids, and Imperial ground forces. In the distance, a series of shuttles stood ready on a prefabricated tarmac, with a half dozen TIE fighters parked opposite.

"If the cypher site isn't being dug anymore, then why are they still digging."

Trai shrugged.

"He did not say. But he knew of the stone you are looking for, and it still rests where it was found. It has not even been moved. Very strange. If it were of value, would it not already be taken?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 10th, 2006, 01:49:35 PM
The Lupine kept her thoughts to herself. There was no need to move the cypher; in fact, it was useless once it'd been used. Admittedly she didn't know exactly how to use it, but still. It seemed that the Empire had somehow figured it out.

And that was what worried her. If they'd found one of the urns already, they very well could be too late.

But the pull was still there; that intangible, twisted ugliness that tugged at her. As long as she still felt that, there was still a chance.

Zem Vymes
Oct 10th, 2006, 01:53:24 PM
We reached a mound on the eastern perimeter of the site, that descended into an excavated pit. With attention diverted practically everywhere but here, it was easy to approach. The excavation bottomed out at what was a hand-cut stone floor, leading carefully to a vaulted doorway.

I looked along the doorway itself, mindful of how spartan the whole thing appeared.

"Nothing here. Not a mark. No hieroglyphs. Nothing to note what's here, or any value at all."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 10th, 2006, 02:03:51 PM
Running her palm along the doorway, s'Il leaned forward to sniff at it. It smelled ancient, old. A different kind of old than the Citadel back on Cathar, this door smelled sterile. There was no life to it, only a functionality. As a Lupine, she found herself frowning at such blandness. There was simply no life to it.

And without a word, she stepped forward to disappear into the darkness of the room beyond.

Zem Vymes
Oct 10th, 2006, 02:08:09 PM
With one last sweep over my shoulder to check for anyone following, I walked through with s'Il. Trai followed alongside.

We proceeded down a corridor for about 30 meters before arriving at a large, domed room, with vast arched stone sides extending some 50 meters above. The same bland decor greeted us, without a single decorative accent to be seen. Artificial lighting units, no doubt from the Imperial excavation teams, had been set up around the area to give the site plenty of light to work in.

There, at the center of the room, on a round, raised crater dais, rested what appeared to be an immense, round rock. Not a rock, a sphere of stone. There were no markings on this either.

"Is that it?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 10th, 2006, 02:14:15 PM
She didn't answer, instead continuing on until she was standing before the stone. It was huge, easily dwarfing the three individuals, and s'Il craned her neck upwards to cast a wandering eye over its' surface.

Once again her hands reached out, and she felt the smooth surface for any impurities. None. It didn't even seem to have been constructed by human hands, such was the nature of the thing. She could find no chisel marks, nothing. It was as if it'd simply come into existence.

The Lupine moved, her hand still flush upon the stone as she began to trace around it.

Zem Vymes
Oct 10th, 2006, 02:41:17 PM
"This doesn't make any sense. What kind of cypher stone doesn't have anything to decipher? Perhaps there's something inside the stone instead?"

I pulled my blaster free from the holster, only for Trai to put a hand over my arm.

"No, they could hear the shot."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 10th, 2006, 02:49:40 PM
Her pace slowed to a halt, and s'Il turned to fully face the stone. Placing both hands on it then, she slowly leaned in to rest some of her weight against it. Her eyes closed.

"You're right; it's inside."

She rocked back then, pulling away to stand a few paces from the cypher. Looking to Trai, she spoke once more.

"Go outside. We need someone to act as a sentry. If anyone comes too close, warn us."

Zem Vymes
Oct 10th, 2006, 02:51:00 PM
Trai nodded, and left the chamber. I stood alongside Lok, staring at the thing.

"What is inside?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 10th, 2006, 03:01:01 PM
Alone with Zem and the cypher now, s'Il again closed the distance between herself and the stone. Her hands felt along its' out surface carefully, her slender fingers gentle in their apparent wanderings.

Her eye went almost mad as she thought, tracking left and right while her mind worked feverishly to discern what exactly lay within this stone coffin. Finally she spoke in an awed whisper.

"It's, it's a machine.

"So perfect, so precise, everything fitting together with no room for mistake or deviation."

The Lupine was completely struck, entranced by what she felt beyond the stone barrier. Unthinking, she grabbed at Zem's hand and placed it on the sphere as well.

"Don't you feel that?" her grip on his wrist moved, and she lay her hand directly atop his own so that it was between her palm and the stone. "It's amazing."

Zem Vymes
Oct 10th, 2006, 03:21:02 PM
I jerked my hand away.

"Stop asking me that, you already know!"

I immediately regretted my ire. It wasn't her fault that I'd made my choice. Slowly, I returned my hand to the cypher, if only to empathize.

"I'm a believer, same as you. I just stopped lookin, for everyone else's sake."

I looked to Lok.

"I need peace in my heart to see this, as you do. I think I made the right choice back then, but I look for your sake alone."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 10th, 2006, 03:28:05 PM
Suddenly pulled from her state of mind, s'Il took a startled step back at his minor outburst, puzzlement in her eye which was soon followed by remembrance. She kept her hands on the stone though, as if the touch of it was soothing.

"I'm sorry," her voice was low, "I forgot."

Her head went down as she leaned a little more against the cypher. "It's just, I want you to feel it too."

Zem Vymes
Oct 10th, 2006, 03:31:49 PM
"This is going to take time for me."

I screwed my eyes shut, leaning heavily against the stone. At first, it came to me as a whisper. Flickers of light in the dark. I could do more than see - I could feel, beyond my eyes and beyond my fingertips. It came to me naturally as breathing, limited only by my own trepidation and hesitation. At once, I severed the link, staggering away and too hesitant to continue.

But I had seen.

"There must be thousands of parts. How could it be built, and hemmed seamlessly into this stone sphere?"

I looked over my shoulder toward the exit.

"I wonder if the Empire really knows what they've uncovered?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 10th, 2006, 03:45:01 PM
"I doubt that very much. They wouldn't know it if it slapped them in the face."

She pressed further against the cypher, now almost overjoyed that he had seen and felt the same as she. Her eye drank in the stone surface, traveling over it.

She dove deeper then, pressing inward with her mind and feeling as the thing seemingly swallowed her whole. She could see each gear and piece of machinery around her, clear as day. It was all so meticulously put together, that for the briefest of moments she was overwhelmed. It begged to be used; to be deciphered and read. The Lupine obliged as best as she could, working through the Force to put all the pieces of this arcane puzzle together.

Eyes half-closed, beads of sweat formed on her brow as she worked, and s'Il sank to her knees, hands sliding down along the stone as she continued on.

Zem Vymes
Oct 10th, 2006, 03:48:06 PM
"Seeing is one thing. Using is another altogether. How can the cypher be accessed?"

And then I felt it, and it all made sense. Lok began to manipulate the machine from within, using the force. It was so simple. Only a force adept could possibly work the cypher.

I strained my hearing for sound of the working machine, but it was silent. Perhaps from the machine itself being silent, or being sunk beneath too much stone, the room was quiet as death.

"Anything?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 10th, 2006, 04:01:49 PM
The Lupine didn't answer immediately; not for any lack of desire, but simply for the reason that she couldn't. So focused on the cypher, everything around her seemed to disappear. Her world was within the age-old key now, and her purpose in it was to unravel its' mystery.

It took a small amount of time, but she soon began to understand its' inner workings more, and her progress quickened.

Still kneeling, s'Il leaned forward until her forehead rested against the stone. Still held captivated by the thing, she pressed onwards still. And then, it all just fit together; as if it was always suppoed to be, and she knew then where their prize lay.

The fatigue hit her then, as the Lupine let out a pent-up gasp, using the cypher stone as support now instead of something wonderful to be touched. Her eyes closed and she swallowed.

"I know where they are," she managed to rasp.

Zem Vymes
Oct 10th, 2006, 05:00:36 PM
"Where?"

That was an obvious question. Still, what did it entail? Was it a puzzle, were they coordinates?

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 10th, 2006, 05:59:35 PM
Steeling herself, s'Il stumbled up to her feet while in the same motion heading for the doorway.

"One of them is here." Her body still recovering, the Lupine was almost running from the cypher room, leaving Zem behind and passing by Trai in a flurry of robes.

Zem Vymes
Oct 10th, 2006, 06:05:41 PM
"Here? On this planet?"

I stumbled to follow, quickly gaining momentum.

"That explains the other dig sites!"

I reached out, yanking Trai along as we ran.

"Come on!"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 10th, 2006, 06:15:51 PM
Up and out of the pit, s'Il passed through a clump of workers, her mind racing. The urn's resting place was far enough away that it would take too long on foot; they needed another form of transport.

She turned to Trai, who looked a little surprised at Zem's sudden grab.

"We need mounts."

Zem Vymes
Oct 10th, 2006, 07:56:47 PM
"We need to get back in touch with Prent, that's what we need."

I eyed the path back up the spillway.

"Take Trai and scout ahead. I'll make my way to the shuttle."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 11th, 2006, 08:35:40 AM
"Fine fine."

It was a rushed few words, and as Zem began making his way back from which they'd come, the Lupine spotted her prize; or, prizes rather. A pair of tuskcats stood tethered to a hitching rail. She grabbed Trai and pulled him with her.

"Come on."

Zem Vymes
Oct 11th, 2006, 09:11:29 AM
The way back was quicker than the way in, but I found myself looking over my shoulder a bit more. I made it to the open terrain past the storm gully, and began an open run, a feat a little taxing for my age.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Oct 11th, 2006, 10:07:57 AM
Quick to untie the animals, s'Il tossed one set of reigns to Trai before pulling herself up into the weather-worn saddle. The 'cat pawed at the dirt, turning in a circle and the Lupine made no move to calm it. She knew the 'cat could feel her sense of urgency; even the pakkas back home were known to feel the emotions of their riders.

Trai followed suit, and within seconds they were off, s'Il leading the way.

Zem Vymes
Oct 11th, 2006, 09:11:53 PM
I finally made it back to the shuttle, thoroughly winded and ready for a breather. I rapped twice on the hatch.

"Daani, open up!"

Daanarri Meorrrei
Oct 23rd, 2006, 07:48:29 PM
The door popped open and the little Cizerack greeted Zem with the business end of a blaster. She sighed in relief and put the weapon down when she saw who it was. "Whats going on? We leaving now?"

Zem Vymes
Oct 26th, 2006, 08:29:17 PM
"I need you to send a message back to the ship."

I motioned with my hands to the comm, even though I was sure she knew all about that.

"We need Sanis here now. The Empire may have what we're lookin for."

Daanarri Meorrrei
Nov 6th, 2006, 06:18:29 PM
Daani gulped, nearly dropping the blaster (which was a toy), and darted back to the cockpit, leaving the old guy to come in or not as he pleased.

She paused, "Won't the Empire be able to hear the transmission?" Daani pressed the record button and blurted out a quick message for Sanis to come quickly the Imps were finding what they wanted, and activated a quick burst transmission back to the Layla.

Zem Vymes
Nov 11th, 2006, 09:44:52 PM
"We don't got time to be sneaky anymore."

She was already ahead of me on the transmission, and I climbed inside the shuttle. Switching my comm to s'Il's frequency, I opened the channel.

"Sanis is coming hard burn on our location. You found that damn thing yet?"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Nov 11th, 2006, 09:59:38 PM
There was no answer, as the Lupine could not hear the comm unit over the din of pounding paws and workers going on about their business.

Reigning in the 'cat, s'Il pulled it to a skidding stop at the lip of another abandoned dig site before vaulting from the saddle and hitting the hard-packed dirt at a run. She slid down the sites' steep slope, loose rubble causing her to exercise a small bit of caution on her haphazard descent.

A hole had been opened up at the bottom of the dig, and the Lupine slid to a halt at the edge of it, going to her hands and knees to ty and get a better glimpse of the darkness inside.

Already she could tell that the Urn had been found; found and taken. She looked up over her shoulder to Trai, who'd just arrived at the top of the dig site himself.

"It's gone."

Not quite understanding of her urgency, the native only gave a shrug, then pointed off into the distance. "Probably being taken to the shuttle -"

Sharp curses, in a language certainly not Basic, cut him off, and almost before he could blink, s'Il was clamboring up the slope once more.

Callomas Savoc
Nov 11th, 2006, 10:06:42 PM
Callomas stood at the far end of the tarmac, waiting for his superiors to leave the recently-arrived shuttle. The gangplank lowered, and he stood at the ready, hands clasped behind his back. A dark haired woman and a pasty man in a black fedora emerged from the ship.

"Madame Director Esalis."

Callomas clicked his heels sharply and gave a curt nod.

"The project foreman has extracted the artifact from the dig. Would you like to inspect it?"

R. S. Esalis
Nov 11th, 2006, 10:13:16 PM
So different from the hustle and bustle of Coruscant, Director Esalis regarded the land around her with scrutinizing eyes. It might have once held a quaintness to it, but now Dantooine was just another backwater planet worth very little interest. Of course, that was dependent upon who you asked.

The sight of Savoc before her did little to lighten her mood.

"I would. It would be a welcome thing to see something that you have been able to actually keep your hands on, this time."

Colonel Karrnage
Nov 11th, 2006, 10:17:35 PM
Karrnage dismissed Esalis' icy disposition with a wave of a gloved hand.

"We can bicker over spilt blue milk later. Our prize awaits."

The Imperial scientist seemed to have a bright gleam in his spectacles, smiling thinly over the prospect of inspecting the artifact.

The three Imperials began the short trip downhill to the staging area in which the artifact was being guarded. Once they could vouch for authenticity, they would take the urn to the shuttle, and return to the ship.

Daanarri Meorrrei
Nov 15th, 2006, 09:28:58 PM
Daani quietly warmed up the engines, getting ready for the Layla's appearance. She'd have to be quick to get the 'Cat back inside its berth.

Sanis Prent
Nov 19th, 2006, 02:32:07 PM
"Cat, this is Layla. Coming in low and hot. Need you to scoot low and link up mid flight. They know we're coming."

I threw the sublights into maximum atmospheric allowance, skimming over the steppes as I raced to Daani's position.

"Cirr, I'm gonna do a pass on the landing pad. I need extra shields, we're gonna get cooked going in."

Cirrsseeto Quez
Nov 19th, 2006, 02:35:52 PM
"Ai'jaa'eerro' Sanjis, jI just got herr fjixed the way jI wanted!"

Cirr shouted into the comm in the engine room, throwing a spanner at the voxbox in impotent anger.

"Don't do anythjing stupjid ljike get a scrratch orr get us kjilled!"

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Nov 26th, 2006, 01:21:28 PM
Leaving Trai far behind, s'Il brought the 'cat to a skidded halt as close to the landing pad as she dared without being seen. The animal pawed the ground, turning in agitated circles as the Lupine held it in place. She pulled a pair of macrobinoculars from the right rear saddlebag, still holding the 'cat as still as she could while bringing the macros up to her eyes.

The first sight that met her gaze was that of a woman, dark haired and clad in the unmistakable garb of those in the upper Imperial echelons. The second was a short man, spectacles glinting in the sunlight. There was something instantly... eerie about him, but the Lupine brushed it aside momentarily as 'creepy white guy' syndrome.

It was the last man though, that elicited a whispered curse from her lips. She knew that face. So he was Imperial, just as Zem had said.

s'Il ground her teeth, unable to take her gaze from the assassin.

Zem Vymes
Nov 26th, 2006, 01:33:16 PM
"Lok, Sanis is coming in for a hard burn. Where's the urn? We gotta get it, now or never."

I gritted my teeth as I watched Daani's little fingers fly over the controls.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Nov 26th, 2006, 01:40:28 PM
Still battling the 'cat, s'Il watched the Imperials as they disappeared into a makeshift tent that'd been set up beside the landing pad.

It took some fancy juggling, but she managed to access her comm unit.

"I'm not sure," she answered.

Daanarri Meorrrei
Dec 4th, 2006, 06:14:55 PM
"Rrread ya loud an' clearrr!" Daani flipped switches and pulled the steering yoke up to direct the Black Cat into the air as the Layla approached. It was a finesse move, but she was ready when the freighter came up, and quickly accellerated to match pace.

There was some bumping as she docked, but hopefully nothing Sanis would notice. As the shuttle was clamped into place, she threw off her restraints and ran into the Layla, nearly bowling over Vymes as she did so.

Colonel Karrnage
Dec 4th, 2006, 06:19:51 PM
"Let me see, let me see it!"

Karrnage could barely contain his eager zeal as the entourage of guards around the tent parted, letting the Director, the Colonel, and their associate inside. Karrnage removed his fedora, dabbing at the sweat accumulated on his balding head with a kerchief as an excavation foreman opened up a military crate.

"After hundreds of generations. We are among the first to see the Urns of the Sith."

Gloved hands gingerly ran fingertips over the aged contours of the urn, which was marvelously still intact and still sealed.

R. S. Esalis
Dec 4th, 2006, 06:31:50 PM
Standing back to allow Karrnage his moment, Esalis crossed her arms. She stood beside Savoc, watching the Colonel for a few more minutes before addressing the assassin.

"The excavation took longer than expected. There was no trouble in finding it, I hope?"

Callomas Savoc
Dec 4th, 2006, 06:34:23 PM
"The device was complicated. It naturally took time to calibrate the tractor beam emitters to be effective."

Hearing a faint sound of engines in the distance, Savoc glanced outside the tent.

"If you will excuse me Director, Colonel."

Teagan s'Ilancy
Dec 4th, 2006, 06:43:49 PM
Overjoyed that Daani was back, Tak scampered her way down to the cargo hold. She saw the little Cizerack bound from the Cat, and happily bowled into her.

"H'are you h'a h'admiral yet?! Did you win h'a fight?"

Tak looked over Daani's shoulder, waiting for Dama to come out. She only saw Zem. Oh well, maybe Dama was still on her way out. Attentions going back to Daani, Tak grinned wide.

Daanarri Meorrrei
Dec 4th, 2006, 06:49:58 PM
"jI dunno." Danni grumped, reminded of her impending promotion, and lack of action, then she grabbed Tak's hand. "Let's watch frrrom the cockpjit!"

The two girls ran up and squeezed themselves in behind Sanis and Cirrseetto, with Zem Vymes following behind slowly.

Sanis Prent
Dec 4th, 2006, 06:53:47 PM
I was flying low enough to graze my bootheels, and coming in fast. Suddenly, the ridge cleared, and we were coming up hard on the camp nearby.

"Cirr..." I spoke carefully, white-knuckled on the controls.

"...do we still have those concussion missiles? I want to use a few."

Cirrsseeto Quez
Dec 4th, 2006, 06:56:00 PM
Cirr's ears lowered noticably.

"Technjically...yes. But, we've neverr fjirred them and aparrt frrom rreadjing the operratorr's manual jI've neverr touched the damn thjings."

Why did he want to use missiles? What was he planning?

Cirr's tail twitched about nervously.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Dec 4th, 2006, 07:10:28 PM
She'd dismounted the 'cat, leaving it behind so that she could get closer in. Stealing up behind a sentry at the edge of the staging area, s'Il reached around his neck and twisted it violently. The stormtrooper went limp, and she gently eased him to the dirt while in the motion plucking his carbine from his lifeless hands.

Two more troopers met their fate in the same way, each pulled out of sight and away from prying eyes.

The Lupine remained on edge, using tents and boulders alike as cover. Watching the tent that the three Imperials had disappeared into, she managed to make her way to its' side, stepping ever so lightly towards its' rear entrance. Unknown to her though, Savoc had left. Perhaps it was a temporary boon, but this she would not know.

A quick step brought her inside, and with the flick of her wrist she sent a knife into the neck of the foreman. In the span of two milliseconds she'd given the tent's interior a cursory once over, noting with a minor worry that Savoc was nowhere to be seen. The Urn however, was, and s'Il leveled her stolen carbine at the two Imperials.

"Hands off the Urn."

Colonel Karrnage
Dec 4th, 2006, 07:12:36 PM
"Who are you?" Karrnage hissed, and then looked back at the woman leveling the weapon at him. Doing as she asked, he looked to Esalis in confusion.

"Who is she?"

R. S. Esalis
Dec 4th, 2006, 07:19:16 PM
There was no such confusion on the Director's part. Instead, her eyes became clouded with malignant joy. It was her!

"It's you," she half-whispered.

At Karrnage's demand, she answered, her eyes hungrily going over the Lupine. "It's your Lupine, Colonel."

Daanarri Meorrrei
Dec 6th, 2006, 04:18:54 PM
She clutched the back of Sanis' seat, peeking over his shoulder as best she could to get a good look at what he was doing. It didn't make sense to her, but if Sanis was doing it it was gonna be good.

Wajit a sssec - "What about Lok!?" Daani clutched Tak's hand.

Teagan s'Ilancy
Dec 6th, 2006, 10:30:40 PM
For a brief few moments, complete shock swept over Tak's face. Her blue eyes went wide. Did Daani just ask where Dama was??

Her hand held in a vice grip by the little Cizerack, Tak turned her whole body to look at Zem before craning her neck to the side in the hopes of a glimpe of her mother walking up behind the old man. It was only him; no one else.

"Wheire is Dama?"

Sanis Prent
Dec 6th, 2006, 10:36:04 PM
"Good question." I answered both of them while switching on the comm.

"Lok, need some news. I might be making some things explode in a second and I don't want them to be you."

Callomas Savoc
Dec 6th, 2006, 10:41:44 PM
Away from the tent, Callomas fixed his eyes in the direction of the approaching engines. A minute later he could spot it, a craft approaching from over the ridge. Retrieving a set of collapsible macrobinoculars from a vest pouch, he snapped them over his eyes.

A Corellian freighter. YV-666 to be precise. One he'd seen quite recently.

Securing the macro's again, he signaled a stormtrooper captain with a hand gesture.

"Captain, rouse your men. We have trouble."

He headed back to the tent to alert Esalis to the approaching threat.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Dec 7th, 2006, 09:00:13 PM
Her grip on the carbine tightened imperceptibly at the Imperial woman's words.

From the comm attached to her belt, Sanis' voice cut through the silence. s'Il growled a curse, shifting her stance and taking her a step closer to the urn.

Zem Vymes
Dec 7th, 2006, 09:16:02 PM
I snatched the comm away from Sanis.

"Lok, seriously. The guy has missiles and a serious itch to use them very soon."

Cirrsseeto Quez
Dec 7th, 2006, 09:20:32 PM
"Don't we get to vote on thjis?"

Cirr protested meekly as he buried his face in his hands.

Colonel Karrnage
Dec 7th, 2006, 09:27:22 PM
At Karrnage's demand, she answered, her eyes hungrily going over the Lupine. "It's your Lupine, Colonel."

Karrnage's brow knit for a second, then suddenly realization shone over his face.

"The missing Losstarot?"

He eyed her over completely. How fortuitous. The Urns and the Lupines at once?

R. S. Esalis
Dec 7th, 2006, 09:40:42 PM
"Yes. The missing Losstarot. The last of the Apex Houses."

Esalis remained undaunted by the blaster pointed at her.

She let an almost evil smile grace her lips, and crossed her arms. "You had better answer your friends."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Jan 7th, 2007, 04:49:01 PM
She continued to ignore the voices on her comm, the fact that Sanis was wanting to fire missiles suddenly overriden by the fact that these two Imperials knew her House.

Her jaw set, the Lupine said not a word. Instead, she reached a hand out to grasp the urn and pull it to her side.

With her blaster still on the pair, s'Il began backing out the way she'd come in.

Sanis Prent
Jan 7th, 2007, 07:32:32 PM
I thumbed the target reticle up on a large tent, near the staging area and landing tarmac.

"Just something to get their attention."

I placed my hand on the fire control, and suddenly Layla jolted. We were taking fire.

"The jig's up! They're on us!"

I peeled off my attack lane and dumped the throttle, sending the ship sideways as we hugged a tight spiral to wheel around on the quad cannon that had opened up at us.

"Daani get in the bucket and hose 'em!"

I strayed dangerously close to the withering field of fire before dumping a missile downrange. I kicked the ship hard skyward, hoping for a hit.

Callomas Savoc
Feb 27th, 2007, 08:56:46 PM
Callomas tore open the tent's entrance flap.

"Director, we have a situat-"

He looked to Lok and paused with a calm face. Outside, the sound of weapons fire was intensifying, as well as the sounds of ships maneuvering furiously overhead.

Things were heating up.

And that's when the shuttle exploded on the tarmac.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Feb 27th, 2007, 09:16:31 PM
The thunderous blast of the exploding shuttle caused s'Il to flinch minutely, her muscles taut. She had the Urn, and was on the right side of a blaster.

For only a few seconds she stared at the assassin. She locked eyes with him, her one good eye piercing into him. Expressionless, the Lupine held for a scant moment more.

And then without word, she twisted, bolting back the way she had come in. In a flurry of robes and dust, s'Il burst out into the sunlight...

... and complete bedlam.

R. S. Esalis
Feb 27th, 2007, 09:44:12 PM
She should have known that the Lupine was but a harbinger. With a grip like steel, the Director clamped her hand onto Savoc's shoulder.

Drawing close to his ear, she whispered her simple, fierce order. "Get her."

And with that, Esalis released her hold on him.

"We must go, Colonel. Do not fret. We will get both the Urn and the Lupine back.

"But for now we have to make for safer pastures."

Callomas Savoc
Apr 1st, 2007, 05:18:29 PM
Savoc caught his fingertips at the Lupine's collar and kicked at the back of the nearest knee to stall her and bring her to the ground. He had already cross-drawn a repeating handblaster from his coveralls and was ready to lay down a battering barrage.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Apr 1st, 2007, 08:31:28 PM
The Urn held in a firm grip, s'Il feigned a stumble, skidding to one knee. She kept the carbine beneath her robes, having not discarded it quite yet. It'd been a good decision on her part to keep a hold of the weapon, and the Lupine let her body curl forward against his grip, the neckline of her robe digging into her throat.

Holding the blaster by the barrel, s'Il shifted her weight then, rolling from her extended leg back and twisting her upper body to follow the movement of her firing muscles. The Carbine came out then, traveling in an arc as she fully intended to club the assassin in the temple with it.

Daanarri Meorrrei
Apr 26th, 2007, 04:43:01 PM
In the 'bucket' Daani was whooping and hollering, aiming for the ground and hitting it. She was the best shot in the world.

The huge bolts from the guns she was controlling strafed a shuttle on the tarmac, and it exploded quite spectacularly. She eased up on the triggers, swiveling around in the bubble she was seated inside, and looking for another target. Ah...therrre...

Daani's finger tightened as she aimed at the low building - a tent really - but she yelped and pulled her hands completely off the controls as Lok came tumbling out of the front door with someone else jumping on top of her. "Lok's jin sssjight, Sanjisss!"

Sanis Prent
Apr 26th, 2007, 08:13:27 PM
I caught her out of the corner of my eye.

"I see her!"

Of course, we were still getting cooked by the quad cannon emplacement, so I didn't have much time to linger. I rolled Layla into a bank and kicked the nose up, crossing paths with direct sunlight, hoping to buy a little mercy.

"That gun's got our number, can you hit it?"

We were pulling a nearly vertical ascent, leaving the gun roughly on our six, far below. I could keep this up for about ten more seconds before atmospheric flight would stall.

And then there were the inevitable TIE fighters that would soon grace us with their presence.

"Cirr, double time the juice into the shields. I need time to find a spot to put down."

Callomas Savoc
Apr 26th, 2007, 08:27:21 PM
The butt of her carbine met his shoulder, knocking the pistol out of his grasp as he fired. He spun about with the force of impact, but that only brought his weak-side foot about, to smash the top of her head with his boot heel. It missed it's mark, clipping her on the side of her neck instead, but with enough force to send her sideways.

The Caridan assassin pounced, a sliver of durasteel blade slinking into one of his gloved hands from a wrist-mounted holdout.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Apr 26th, 2007, 08:33:54 PM
The blow was jarring, and she dropped the carbine as she hit the ground fully with a painful hurrf, gasping for air. Her free hand went to the side of her neck as her other pulled the urn in close to her body.

The roar of a starship's engine reached her ears, and without looking she knew that the Layla was overhead. But it was another sound, almost imperceptible over the ship's engines, that caused her a bit more worry. The hand at her neck lashed out in a blur of motion, and the Lupine grabbed a hold of her attacker's wrist to guide his blade down into the dirt by her shoulder.

R. S. Esalis
Apr 27th, 2007, 09:24:49 PM
Flanked by a pair of stormtroopers, Esalis ducked out of the tent with Karrnage in tow. If it hadn't been for the appearance of the rogue freighter, she would have enjoyed watching the scuffle between Savoc and s'Ilancy. Sadly, as things stood, she could not afford that luxury.

She did however, cast a half-expectant stare to the side, looking down at the two combatants as they struggled on the ground a short distance off.

Colonel Karrnage
Apr 27th, 2007, 10:35:39 PM
Karrnage sweated profusely, fumbling for his sidearm inside his overcoat. He got a hold of it, thumbed the emitter to "stun", and raised it at the Lupine.

"Turn your attack dog loose or she'll be harmed!"

What a prize! He had to have her.

Callomas Savoc
Apr 27th, 2007, 10:53:02 PM
Savoc's blade followed his momentum, into the ground. Undeterred, he made a fist with his opposite gloved hand, and drove two prongs on that glove into the Lupine's chest, sending a brutal jolt of electricity into her. He withdrew the stun glove with just enough window to drive a knee into her stomach, before pulling the back of her robe upwards and over her head.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Apr 27th, 2007, 11:08:45 PM
She clenched her jaw at the surge of electricity that ran through her, and barely had time to brace herself against the following knee in her gut. The Lupine grunted, the breath knocked from her.

At a rather direct disadvantage - as one hand still held the urn - she let her body flow with the movement of the robe she wore as the assassin pulled it over her head. Her torso twisted, allowing the outer covering to peel away from her upper body with ease to reveal a slim figure, hardened by years upon the Cathar deserts.

As the robe came off, she gripped one of its' folds and pulled inwards, towards her own body. Releasing the robe and grabbing the front neckline of his uniform, she brought Savoc into even closer quarters, and with a snarl the Lupine violently headbutted him.

Daanarri Meorrrei
Apr 28th, 2007, 12:13:07 PM
As they got closer to the ground, Daani turned a one-eighty in the targeting bubble to keep an eye on Lok. She couldn't shoot at the guy trying to beat her up, because she'd shoot Lok too, but she wanted to be ready.

Callomas Savoc
Apr 28th, 2007, 11:07:02 PM
Felled to his knees by the blow, Callomas still had the awareness to clap a hand over s'Il's own, painfully locking the wrist back, and pulling her to the ground, where he could clasp both legs around her ribcage in a scissor hold. Reaching past her, he stretched a hand for his right ankle, trying to pull free yet another blaster.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Apr 28th, 2007, 11:24:20 PM
The Lupine went down atop him, doggedly straining against his hold on her wrist. The angle he held it at was painful, and throwing her elbow out to the side, twisted her wrist inwards toward his thumb to try and loosen his grip.

Bringing her face within inches of his, she bared her teeth at him. In a slight, controlled change then, the normal blue of her eye glossed over, swirling into a tawny yellow as the lines in her face became more severe. The tendons in her neck seemed to stand out even more as she pressed her body down on his, curling her lips back to reveal a disturbingly different set of teeth.

Callomas Savoc
Apr 28th, 2007, 11:37:19 PM
As Callomas started to lose ground against the metamorph, a blue wash of energy hit them both. For Callomas, it made him go limp and nearly black out. For s'Ilancy, it would likely have a similar effect, at least enough to put a halt to the change.

Both fighters rolled away in a daze, taking seconds to come to their senses. The urn rolled out of s'Il's grasp, as an explosion split the air about 50 meters away.

Sanis Prent
Apr 28th, 2007, 11:40:00 PM
"You did it!"

I heard the thunderclap as the quad gun nest's tibanna reservoir bit it. Daani scored a kill.

"Hang on guys!"

About that time, I lost the stick, and the ship shuddered, beginning a stall.

"Cirr, cut the engines until I call for a burn! We gotta ease this flying brick down."

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Apr 29th, 2007, 03:14:21 PM
Pulling in a labored lung-full of air, s'Il strained to crawl away from Savoc and towards where the urn had rolled to. The stun blast had been enough to stop her change and disorient her enough so that only one thought remained; to get the urn. She could feel it calling her, pulling her to it almost, and the Lupine obliged the best she could.

Hands hooked like claws, she pulled herself along while struggling to regain her senses.

Callomas Savoc
Apr 29th, 2007, 03:23:30 PM
Callomas coughed, and weakly adjusted his specacles. He'd wound up on his back, and was fortunate that the stun blast had only clipped him. Groggily, he took note of his surroundings. He could still hear weapon fire in the distance, but the familiar sound of the quad cannon nest was silent.

He blinked, and noticed his hold-out, a short distance from where it had fallen out of his ankle rig. Sliding on the ground, he reached for it.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Apr 29th, 2007, 03:46:06 PM
Her legs were slow to recover, but by now the Lupine was using all of her remaining energy to help propel her forward. A hand slapped over the urn then, pulling it in close to her body while in the same motion struggling to at least get to her hands and knees. Propped up on one elbow, her legs scrabbled along the dirt ground, trying to gain enough purchase so that she could rise.

Her eye caught sight of Savoc - reaching for his blaster - and rolling to her side, her free hand reaching around in a smooth motion to pull her sabre from its' carry-pack.

Cirrsseeto Quez
Apr 29th, 2007, 04:21:20 PM
The next few seconds were upsetting on the stomach to say the least. Cirr felt the effects of steep descent, and grabbed onto the closest sturdy object he could find. A few minor things started jostling about the engine room, as he slapped the emergency choke on the ion drive.

"jI'm lowerrjing the drrag flaps to put us jinto a gljide. jIt's gonna get shakey!"

With effort, the Cizerack mechanic slammed down a lever to the pneumatic flaps, and instantly the ship bucked, violently rumbling through turbulance as it caught air resistance.

With a steady hand, Cirr watched the pneumatic pressure. Too much, and he'd blow the system and the flaps would freeze. It was a quarrel between the pneumatics, and the atmospheric conditions. The moment the pressure abated...

"Now!"

Retracting the flaps, Cirr spun around and opened the ion drive back up. They had enough lift and thrust to pitch out of the stall. And just in time, he was getting queasy!

Callomas Savoc
Apr 29th, 2007, 04:32:05 PM
Callomas redoubled his efforts for his blaster, but fell back again. His muscles were weary from the stun, and were too slow and unsteady to respond

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Apr 29th, 2007, 05:16:07 PM
Sabre in one hand and the urn in the other, s'Il stumbled up to her feet. Staggering forward a few paces, the Lupine drove onward doggedly away from Savoc. In her eye was a grim determination, and she looked upward at the rapidly descending Layla.

Her stomach dropped at the sight.

Callomas Savoc
Apr 29th, 2007, 05:30:48 PM
A third try, and he made it. Callomas curled a gloved hand around the blaster's grip, and hoisted it carefully. He drew a careful bead at the dead center of her back, and hesitated.

Not like this, he chastized himself, grunting as he made the effort to sit upright. He had a hundred ways to kill her, and he wasn't going to cheapen his victory.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Apr 29th, 2007, 05:44:59 PM
It was slow, but the cobwebs from the stun blast were starting to lift at a faster rate, and s'Il kept on. She could feel the urn in her grasp; it seemed to throb in her hand as if given some sort of new, perverse life. She gripped it harder, forcing herself to ignore the feeling of dark tendrils trying to engulf her.

Turn around...

It was somewhat instinct on her part, but the feeling itself was from the urn; that much she knew.

The Lupine slowed her already unsteady gait, turning backwards to look at Savoc.

And perhaps it was the effects of the stun blast still slowing her reflexes or that of the urn invading her mind, but no matter what the cause, s'Il could only stare into his eyes.

Callomas Savoc
Apr 29th, 2007, 05:49:13 PM
His eyes met hers, and he smiled.

"Bang bang."

Now was his chance. He fired.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Apr 29th, 2007, 06:18:53 PM
The Lupine staggered back a step, a smoldering, blackened blossom blooming from the center of her chest. Another feeble step backward, and another shot lanced through her body; this one lower and to the right.

Legs suddenly unable to hold her weight, s'Il fell to her knees in silence, the sabre dropping from her hand to hit the ground with a dull thunk.

And still she stared at him, at the smoking barrel of his gun. If she was supposed to feel pain, it had not yet arrived. She watched his finger tighten once more on the trigger.

She felt her head thrown to the side; could feel the heat of the blast along her cheekbone. Spun around by the force of the shot, s'Il landed roughly on her side in the dust.

Callomas Savoc
Apr 29th, 2007, 06:36:48 PM
He'd done it!

With a sigh, Callomas weakly rose to his feet, taking a moment to steady himself. The academian behind him, Karrnage, was shrieking something in his ear distantly. He paid it no mind.

Approaching his adversary, he paused only to pick up her lightsaber. It was an elegantly designed weapon, and Callomas' keen eye worked over it briefly, before turning his attention to s'Ilancy again.

"I was expecting a longer fight." It was not meant as an insult, it was genuine longing.

He rolled her onto her back with his boot, nudging at her shoulder. She seemed teetering on the edge, and he hoped she could hear him.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
Apr 30th, 2007, 09:31:53 PM
Every breath a labored, wheezing, excruciatingly painful task, the Lupine felt her body begin its' healing already. It was overcompensating though, and adrenaline raged through her like a wildfire. Her back arched, and she stared upwards at the smoke-fill sky.

With one hand lashing outward, she caught the Imperial at the ankle in a grip of steel. Her other hand came out then, the curved Cathar blade flashing in the sunlight briefly before whipping around.

And in silence, s'Il ran its' keen edge upwards as far as she could along the inside of his leg.

Callomas Savoc
Apr 30th, 2007, 09:39:54 PM
"Aaaagh!"

He'd let his guard down. There wasn't time to berate himself over it. He smashed her across the side of her face with a bootheel, and stumbled away for two and a half steps before falling over. Blood spurted in heavy flows from the wound, which by his calculation would be fatal if not seen to quickly.

Then he remembered the lightsaber.

He raised a trembling hand to his mouth, biting at the glove to remove it. He was losing blood quickly and turing pale. He had to work fast. Sucking on his lower lip, he reached his fingers into the deep laceration, searching for the fleshy artery that was nicked. He felt it pulse, and snared it with two fingers, drawing it as close to him as the pain would allow. With cold sweat beading on his brow, he thumbed down the emitter on the saber, and ignited it, edging the blade precariously close to the artery. With a slight flick of the wrist, he cauterized the end of the blood vessel, preventing his own death.

He looked back at s'Ilancy, breathing heavily, and smashed her lightsaber upon a nearby rock.

Loklorien s'Ilancy
May 1st, 2007, 06:54:23 AM
Her body could only follow the direction of her head as he'd kicked it, and s'Il used the momentum to partially lever herself up on one elbow. It took a few moments, but she managed to place both hands upon the ground and pull her legs beneath her. A sidelong look, almost frantic even, was turned in Savoc's direction in time to watch the destruction of her sabre.

In silence she lifted a hand to the blaster wound on her chest, and faltered at the shift in balance. Her feet scrabbled for any sort of purchase as she began the painful crawl towards him.

Murderous intent was now clearly seen in a yellow, bloodshot eye, and the grip on her dagger tightened.

Callomas Savoc
May 1st, 2007, 04:52:04 PM
Callomas weakly palmed his blaster again as she crawled forward, and hefted it up in her direction. She had such foolish stubbornness, and the Caridan admired her tenacity.

"It has been a pleasure, s'Ilancy. Have a good death."