Session export: A Mother's Love: Southeast

The outer city limits were bustling with activity. The Dajorra Defense Forces had a battalion dedicated to keeping a perimeter around the city in the event the conflict moved north to Estle and her suburbs. Between the soldiers movements and equipment hauling, a squadron of LAAT/i’s had landed and were hurriedly loading up those deploying to face the threat head on. DDF ranks mixed with agents of Arcona, Naga Sadow, Odan-Urr, and Taldyran.

Diyrian Grivna watched the progression from holo lighting up along the walls of the Fort Blindshot main communication bridge. Having left the generals where they took observed up on the balcony overlooking the room, she paced between the rows of officers hunched over terminals, their even mannered voices adding to the buzz of the room. The caxqettes. She never wanted to face them again, their song still echoing in her mind. The visage of Sera stumbling after she shot her and the disturbing infants she tried to smuggle and save from a corpse –

“Sir, the LAAT/it’s are loaded and ready to go.”

Diy stopped beside the officer and nodded to the woman. If this was any other time, she might have been tickled by the use of ‘Sir’ towards her but right now that meant responsibility and a weight she never thought to handle. “You have a list of cords?”

A nod.

“Good,” she mentioned to have the comm set, the woman obliging after a incredulous look…

…The transport hold of the LAAT/i you find yourself in is filled with the soft crackle of speakers.

‘LAAT/i blue, Rose gold– er, Blindshot here. Need you to respond to Nannit, Pomonga County ASAP,’ the buzz continued with coordinates recited and the location repeated. Before the voice crackled off it addressed the hold itself, ‘Hey, folks. Good luck out there. Best get to know who yer rubbin’ elbows with cus they’ll be havin’ your back. Over ‘n’ out.‘

It clicked off, leaving the gathered team to themselves as the LAAT/i rose and took off.

Evelyn hid a small smile that disappeared as quick as it appeared when the mention of Rose Gold spilled through. She rested her head back on the cold metal and felt right at home. The sounds of the roaring engine, it was one of hte noises that could help feel at ease. It was only to be temporary. She straightened her posture and glanced over to the others that were in the ship with her. She only noticed two. Minnie Erinos and her boyfriend, Bril. She had went an interesting mission with Bril and relayed concerns to Minnie in terms of PTSD a while back. She can only hope that it was just Bril’s personality and not- Who was she kidding? She had been in wars and seen well-seasoned soldiers finally get defeated by something that they carry for the rest of their lives.

Hers?

She had scars. Two in fact. One was known and the other was starting to be revealed to those close to her.

She can only hope that they took it seriously. This mission… the Caxxies would do much further damage if not prepared. Well. They were adults. They were soldiers. She turned her head to the direction where the cockpit was, wondering who was flying this beast. She knew they were getting closer as the ship started to rapidly descend. The bodies in the shuttle shifted nervously or anxiously. Evelyn kept a stoic look with nothing easy to read at her expression and eyes. The moment the pilots shouted, she slightly hopped out of the shuttle and the grass folded under her boots. Evelyn reached to her holster and got her blaster drawn. She felt a small click as she turned off the safety on the blaster. She started to make her way where they directed her where they needed the group as well made sure not to go too far, they needed to stick together.

Dark green hues glanced back at the group. It was cold and firm. She had posture where she had seen this many times.

She was ready.

Clad in Lotus Robes augmented with heavy durasteel alloy plating, Bril’s black and silver fabrics contrasted starkly with the rose gold beskar’gam of his tai’shan (soulmate). Long before the shuttle landed at its destination, the Force imparted knowledge about the situation on the ground to his mind. Fear and panic sailed upon ripples of the Force in equal measure, bolstering the restless energy that carved a pit in his stomach. But that didn’t show on his face. A palpable air of sangfroid orbited the newest leader of the Dajorran Marshals as he ruminated on everything he felt. All those voices, those countless lives that were in danger of being snuffed out by the monstrosities—the mockery of the blessed life shepherded by the Living Force—called the Caxqettes. Each cry of distress that echoed through the Force bolstered his resolve to do what he’d been called to do—to protect whomever he could. Before he got too lost in his thoughts, Minnie’s voice pulled him back to the present.

He turned his head to regard her for a long moment. Even with another battle on the horizon, she still managed to make his hearts sputter with a single look from those seafoam eyes. Eyes he’d have no qualms getting lost in were it not for the exigent circumstances they found themselves in.

“I’m alright, pur’ka,” he replied, lips pulling into a smile.

-

One hand found a place atop her own, and he squeezed it while holding her gaze. He’d shared with her what few details he’d managed to glean from visions he’d received just a few days prior to this moment. Despite his certainty that they pertained to this battle against Alla’su’s horde, none of the details fit together to make a coherent picture; instead, they just left him with the knowledge that one (or both) of them would at some point would feel fear, pain, and rage. Any urge he felt to ask Minnow to stay promptly subsided once he reminded himself that she, as an expression of her love for him, had sworn herself to his protection. To deny her the right to make that choice was an insult that he wouldn’t dare commit. Besides, she was damn good at what she did, and they were an even better team.

Once they stepped off the shuttle and into the forward operating base that the DDF had constructed, Bril had to take a deep breath to steady himself when he felt the frantic energy of the nearby triage system. Then, he looked over those who’d gathered to be a part of his unit. He recognized most of them, and those whom he didn’t know personally, he at least knew of who they were after skimming their dossiers.

“When we encounter the caxqettes, it’s imperative that we don’t let them isolate us. We don’t want anyone being picked off and turned against the rest of the group,” he announced to others, projecting his voice so they could hear him clearly over the clamor of their surroundings. Any trace of the fun loving and sometimes reckless young man that many of them knew was gone, replaced by a resolute warrior that had already seen so much despite the brevity of his tenor in the Brotherhood.

“Do not hesitate to end them if you can. They certainly won’t offer us the same courtesy.”

The body of the tan Human swayed with the movement of the LAAT/i as the machine traversed the lower altitudes of Selen. The reports of Caxquettes returning left her with a knot in her stomach. There was a home she needed to protect from these pests. More than a home and most importantly was her daughter. Though it was unlikely, because it was a possibility, she gave her specific directions of where to escape should the entities begin to spread past the fronts that opened up on Selen and where to meet her father. Thanks to Tenbriss Ya-ir, she had confidence that her little girl could at least defend herself in a small scrap. Though these things were far above her daughter’s skill level, so an escape plan was more effective.

For most of the ride’s duration, Emere’s dark brown eyes focused on no particular detail of the durasteel floors of the shuttle. Her left hand was occupied by a steel lighter that she flicked open, close, open, close. The sound of the engine and the creaking of metal from the moving parts drowned out the soft clinking.

When the ship came to a halt, the woman stowed away the prop in one of her many pockets. She skimmed the faces of her companions again for this mission, taking a mental headcount. Seven. Arga and Minnow were the ones she recognized the most. Taking a loved one on a mission felt like a fool’s errand and full of potential compromise. Yet, there was no such regulation in the Brotherhood’s code. For the rest, two seemed familiar but she couldn’t remember their names. The main thing she cared about was all eight of them returning home with air in their lungs.

Like it was her daily routine, she freed herself from the safety harness, grabbed her helmet beneath her seat, and pulled it over her face. Finally, she did a once-over of her light armor to ensure her gear was secure.

As the door unlatched, the stench of carnage bypassed even the filters of her helmet, her scatter gun already put together and primed. She stood behind the silver-haired woman, her eyes scanning the scene. It appeared worse than it smelled. The base was taking in the wounded and deceased by a quantity that was more than uncomfortable.

Underneath her helmet, a morbid smirk briefly tugged on one corner of her lips while she contemplated how she would end these savages.

“Emere Galo,” she greeted dryly, nudging the Epicanthix on her arm from behind. She may as well since they may die there.

After the group gathered, Arga took his natural stead as the leader. Seeing the serious side of the Zabrak earned her respect.

”Do not hesitate to end them if you can.”

There would be no hesitation or negotiation. If she had her way, Selen’s memory would be wiped of these abominations. On the contrary, the thought of Allasu’s head hanging in the throne room on the Citadel also sounded appealing.

Her shoulders squared off toward Arga, she nodded once and said, “Understood, Deputy.”

There was a nervous energy about the other Human in their squad. Wearing robes of black and brown, with various blades and a pistol hidden away in its layers, they may have seemed at first less equipped than the others. Luka had spent most of the ride to the location in a trance, meditating upon the emotions that roiled within their gut and throughout the surrounding ship. Having had their experiences with caxquettes so far at a comfortable distance, they knew not what to expect. All they had was the sitrep and experiences from the others, but that was enough for them to know the stakes.

As curiosity drew their connection to the Force outward, they became lost within the storm. Their brow furrowed and they wrapped their arms around themself as pain and fear flooded their senses. It grew even worse as they landed.

The rush of others unbuckling their harnesses shook them out of their head. They tried to stand up out of their seat but was caught briefly by their own harness. Their Nexu companion’s yowl could be heard over the others gearing up. After releasing her from her cage, they followed after the others.

The sight of the triage caused them to pause in the way of the next to get off the ship. Though they shuffled aside quickly with a muttered apology, their gaze lingered upon those dead and dying. Their mouth drew into a thin line as they nodded in response to the Zabrak’s directive.

“Understood, sir. Luka Zarkot and Bico, here.” They gestured to the Nexu that followed and sat close to their side. The creature’s beady eyes surveilled their surroundings before she turned her attention back to her master.

Darkness and cold, these were the only things that came to the Battlemaster’s mind of his most recent memoires he knew that it was was the discison of the Arconae and the Clan’s leadership to keep the Kaleesh on ice. He did not blame them for this, his actions before his freezing had been…unpredictable at best, catastrophic at worse it was the most tactical choice they had. And so he did not hate them for what was done it did not however quell that burning flame the Sith held in his sleep like a starving beggar huddled around a lone flame to keep warm.

It balanced him for however long he was keep in the dark deep down in the Citadel depths hopefully forgotten and left to reflect on the actions that landed him there, but fate and circumstance were tricky things indeed and soon light filled his vision as the ice faded away, The Kaleesh remembered voices talking to him telling him of a new threat that had arisen to harass Arcona again. Of coarse it was to fight, it always was to fight Arcona had never needed him for anything less then his ability to inflict pain on others and deep down that was fine.

The shuttle shuddering brought the Sith out of his own thoughts as it descended into its final landing he cented himself mentaly for what was to come even as he expertly tightened down the last bits and plates of his Spec Force Amour running through the mental checklist he always ran through his mind before a combat mission, Ammo check, lightsaber check, Spear check, Equipment check. Everything was looked over one last time even though he had already done so thrice before.

Some might have called it obsession how many times he checked his gear and amour but the Kaleesh veteran knew better then to leave things to chance. The battle field was never kind nor merciful to those who came unprepared and he would not be unprepared, As the LAAT/i touched the ground the BattleMaster was up and out of his harness in seconds before unslinging the Beskar spear from his back and stepping off onto the dirt and mud of the evacuation site. His eyes scanned the mass of men and women scurrying back and forth to get the injured or dead onto shuttles of there own.

Taking a deep breath of the air even behind the sealed mask he wore the ting of blood and mud filtered though It was good to be back in the fight even for the moment He thought to himself as he began to trudge to the edge of the camp

”Do not hesitate to end them if you can.” Those words caught his attention even if it was for a moment as he considered the person who spoke it, internally Skar thought it was basic knowledge to simply kill that which meant to harm you even more so monsters of old that threatened the plant. A low sigh escaped his lips as he lamented the naivety of the newer blood to Arcona he chose to keep those thoughts to himself rather then voice them.

“If you lack the will to kill these monsters then perhaps you should stay behind.” He growled the Sith’s accent thick from lack of use of galactic common as of late before he trudged off to the edge of camp to get a lay of the land

A woman clad in green and bronze armor ARC Trooper armor found herself in eerily familiar territory as she rode along inside the LAAT/i. It was the same model of ship she had flown in during the war and the same model she had insisted on when she had initially chosen ships for the Kasiya Protection Programme. She thought back to full nights spent inside the cabin of one of these with brothers and loved ones and smiled softly, the upcoming battle almost melting away from her mind. Absently, her hands drifted to her thighs where her DC-17s resided. Objects of the past, just like this ship, and just like herself.

But, although memories last forever, they aren’t enough to fill one’s mind forever. The touching down of the large infantry transport jolted the woman out of her thoughts, and she raised her head to the opening doors but hesitated to step out towards the battle ahead. She spent one last moment in the memories of her first war, memories of her, before she let her boot fall onto the ground beneath her.

Cryo had read reports on the Caxquettes before she had boarded the ship, and her findings were nothing short of appalling. They were monsters born from darkness, monstrosities that sought to only reproduce and destroy. When the clone had heard about the attacks, she didn’t hesitate to join the assault to protect the planet she had just begun to call home.

The trooper looked to the man who had first greeted her when she joined Clan Arcona and listened to his direction. Search and rescue with a bit of destroy mixed in, nothing new to the woman. “Of course, Gen-” She had to stop herself before she finished her sentence. This wasn’t a memory. Bril wasn’t her. “Of course.” She repeated, a bit quieter this time, her accent akin to the soldiers the ship behind her used to carry.

As soon as the ship touched the ground, nodding as a greeting to others who decided to risk their lives at this mission, and checking thoroughly his medical supplies - Shistavanen struck gently the side of the ship accompanying Ronto. Alongside the quite large mount, he placed and hung the necessary equipment at both sides of the rider’s seat. Archian closed his eyes, trying not to listen to the voices, and started to repeat anatomy parts of his fellow warriors, while sitting at the back of Ronto awaiting commands.

”I’m going to Selen.”

Draca had attempted to ensure the words left no room for debate as they left his mouth, but one could never be too sure when it came to the man standing across from him.

”Excuse me?” The pair of cold, crimson red iris’ stared back at him, a single eyebrow raised in a challenge.

”The Supreme Chancellor is looking for volunteers to go help Arcona, right? After the blizzard? I want to go.”

”Absolutely not,” the Chiss’ tone was almost harsh. “This is not a game, young man.”

”I never said it was, Anders,” Draca attempted to reassure him. “I just want to help. I know you can’t go, especially if Cassandra is going like everyone thinks she is. Someone needs to hold things down here, so let me go for you.”

”Do not pretend that you are going on my behalf, boy,” Anders’ tone was a hybrid of irritated and frustrated. “Why do you really wish to go? Is it to help the people? To return the favour given to us, or do you simply wish to offer what protection you can to Miss. Luxor and her family?”

Draca opened his mouth to speak, but promptly sealed it shut. His instincts told him to answer in the most honourable way that he thought would be acceptable, that most people would want to hear like the good little Jedi he was. A guardian, a protector of the people.

Anders was not most people.

”Both,” the young man finally answered.

The Taldryan Proconsul eyed Draca like this was one of his room inspections. “Well, at least you are honest.”

”Please, Anders. You always say I have a connection to the Living Force that is more powerful than most.”

”And you do,” Anders confirmed with a small nod. “That is not up for debate.”

”Then let me put it to use. You believe in justice and fairness. We owe it to Arcona to help after what they did for us. You trained me exactly for this, to make a difference.”

If one did not know Anders, they could be forgiven for believing that what makes up the core of his being was self-confidence bordering on arrogance, selfishness, and a disregard for anyone else.

Draca knew better. There were little signs that told very different stories. Anders acted the way he did because he cared, evident right now by the way he lightly scrunched his lips and turned to gaze out of the window to the panoramic view of the city below. You would miss it if you didn’t know what to look for. He was concerned. He was concerned because he cared about the young man he took in as an eight year old boy.

*”Very well,” Anders finally relented, his tone unusually quiet. “I have faith in you.“

”Thank you,” Draca bowed lightly. “You won’t regret this, Anders. I promise. I’ll make you proud.”

”Draca,” Anders halted the young man as he was about to leave. His eyes softened as he spoke. “May the Force be with you.”

The Zabrak stopped, looking into the eyes of the man that had raised him since he was a boy. He didn’t know what came over him in that moment, an act of the Force, maybe? Whatever it was, he felt compelled to turn on his heels, walk to the blue-skinned man and wrap him in an embrace.

Initially, he felt Anders tense at the sudden contact. Draca could probably count all the times he had hugged the Chiss on one hand. Fortunately, the High Inquisitor relaxed and returned the hug. After a few seconds, they let go.

”I’ll make you proud,” Draca said.

Anders allowed a small smile to grace his face. “You already have.”

The ramp to the shuttle shuddered open, the winds of Selen wafting through his luscious, brown locks of hair. It hadn’t been that long since Draca was last on Selen, and yet, he couldn’t stop his twin hearts from pounding at the words Melissa had spoken to him;

“There’s fire coming, Draca. Anger and fire and death. I don’t know who, or why or… any details honestly. It’s coming soon and it’s wild enough that it has no direct paths set in the Force.”

Silvery eyes closed for a moment, even as they continued walking.

“You’re the first I’ve told.”

If Draca was a betting man, he’d hazard a guess this might have been what Melissa had seen. Still, the Force was ever mysterious.

“Bringing us down now!” the pilot announced through the ships communication unit.

“No need!” Draca answered. “I can jump down from here!”

It was a bit of a drop, sure. About twenty-five feet if he had to guess, but it was better than them trying to park the ship around the myriad of buildings and other vessels from those looking to help.

“Alright, kiddo. Best of luck! Don’t do anything I would!”

That was the understatement of the galaxy, though he chose to keep that to himself.

He *almost lost balance as he leapt down, his cloak flapping in the wind. The Force guided his descent as he landed softly once again for the second time in not so long upon Selenian soil.

Glancing up, he saw the ramp to the shuttle close as the ship ascended back into the clouds above. He turned his focus to the gathering of people here. Whilst he wanted to only speak when spoken to, a simple introduction was common courtesy.

“Hello,” he said to anyone around who cared to listen.

Evelyn watched a familiar woman, oh- was that her tattoo artist that Aketa and her went to get their tattoos done? It was confirmed when the woman nudged at her and introduce herself. If this situation wasn’t so dire, Evelyn might had been slightly amused at the woman’s memory. Regardless, she was a damn good tattoo artist so it wouldn’t surprise her if she had many clients and does not remember them all.

“Evelyn Wyvern.” She gave the older woman a small nod of acknowledgement. Evelyn heard Bril call out and exhaled sharply, a small hiss unnoticed by others but herself. There should be no one here that would hesitate. Hesitation alone can turn the tides for worse. It seemed Bril had taken up on the leadership as one by one, the group responded to him. She continued to look around the perimeter. A thick accent spoke and it took Evelyn a good bit of time to get what he was saying. The corner of her lips tug into a small smirk before it vanish. She was glad someone said it and that she was not the only one thinking it.

Her eyebrow rose at seeing the Nexu and Ronto, wondering if it was even a good idea to bring them. Her eyes shot up when an unfamiliar ship that did not have the Arconan colors on it zoomed by and someone was jumping off. Evelyn took a few steps back for the man to land and he gave the group a small hello. Evelyn’s attention went back to the surroundings as she was ready to move.

The consumate professional was that Echani. Draca had to do a double take for a fraction of a second, but that was not Melissa.

Wait, wasn’t that who Anders…

Nope.

No.

He was not going there. He was not here to gossip.

That’s when he caught the eyes of someone, a woman, in Clone ARC Trooper armor. It looked like the setup of a bygone era, though the young Jedi had been informed by Anders of Taldryan’s previous leadership as it transitioned into a Republic.

The former Kasiya governess was here, so it seemed. He averted his gaze, and kept his mouth shut. It was rude to stare. He would await whatever orders were necessary. In a move characteristically Anders, he placed his hands behind his back and straightened his posture.

<@216702440140046336> <@301514304845381632>

Cryo rose a brow under her helmet after Draca, the guy who jumped out of a ship, promptly looked away from her. She lifted a hand to her helmet and brushed her glove along the icicle-like paint beneath her visor. With how young the Zabrak looked, she might have attributed his reaction to him being intimidated if not for the fact he was here to join in the fight. She made a mental note to approach him on it later potentially.

Evelyn glanced over while she was looking over her team and the surroundings, she quickly took note of the Zabrak’s stance. Spine straight, shoulders back, chin high, and hands behind his back. It reminded her the same mannerism of a certain Chiss. What an odd coincidence that he would have the same posture as him. She felt slightly annoyed and quickly centered herself to be calm and focus.

She’ll just have to talk to her therapist later.

Gazing into the distance, the Neti focused his Force presence outwards, mapping his surroundings as he wandered out of the shuttle. Green and Jedi beige flowing robes nicely contrasting to the deep brown, barklike skin as Ood once more set foot in a conflict zone.

An ancient evil, something even he would consider ancient too. How novel.

Draca had no idea how to proceed. The thought had occurred to him to maybe… you know… ask someone? Alas, this was unfamiliar territory to a certain degree. He didn’t want to accidentally step on the toes of any military officials trying to do their jobs.

He couldn’t help feeling the presence of another in the light, his eyes darting over to the Neti. The Zabrak had no idea if this other Jedi had felt his presence too, but at the very least he wasn’t the only Jedi here.

He decided the best thing to do for the moment was aid with moving supplies.

Or at least, that was the plan until he saw <@1056685516441006091>.

Draca froze foe half a second, but shook his head. Whatever issues their friendship had could wait. There were more important things right now.

The Kaleesh’s words suggested that Bril’s words lacked the clarity that he intended them to. Seemingly unperturbed by the man’s disapproval, he took a moment to clarify his point, speaking loud enough for Skar to hear him despite his decision to step away.

“…What I meant, is that it’s imperative that you seize every opportunity that presents itself to end them. For those unfamiliar with them, the Caxqettes’ possess the ability to dominate the minds of their targets, and they will use it to turn us against one another if we aren’t careful.”

He scanned the group gathered before them, allowing his eyes to linger for a moment on Evelyn. Onward to Ood, his new boss, whom he offered a nod before looking elsewhere.

His eyes fell on Draca last, and he regarded him with an expression that offered little insight into how he presently felt about the young Jedi. When he’d received word that this would be a joint operation that Taldryan would also be a part in, Bril had no doubt that his fellow Zabrak would be there to help. What he couldn’t have guessed, though, is that he’d end up on his team.

<@216702440140046336> <@301514304845381632> <@571544963607822336> <@205587614735007745> <@227960499948486666> <@315438760428961793> <@837236610684813342>

Should he approach? Say something? At the very least, Draca could say hello, even if it meant throwing himself into the firing line of Bril’s ire. There was nothing wrong with being cordial.

No, that wouldn’t be right. Why should he aggravate a situation that didn’t need aggravating? A Jedi should only speak when they have something worth saying. That was what was written on one of Draca’s very old textbooks.

He kept himself to himself. If Bril made the first move, then so be it.

If looks could kill.

Green Iris’ locked onto Draca with a coldness that almost reminded him of Anders in a weird way. It was almost funny. How different we could be and yet similar at the same time, even if in the littlest ways.

Being one so in-tune with the Living Force had its advantages and draw-backs. One of these, as Draca came to learn during the Port Kasiya Blizzard, was feeling the emotional state of those around him. He never meant to do it. To him, it was almost as instinctual as breathing, and when Minnow locked onto him, he locked onto her.

Yet, he felt… almost nothing. At least until she spoke.

Killing?

She was purposefully looking for blood, wasn’t she!? She had no intention of a peaceful resolution in the slightest. She didn’t want to help, she just wanted to put a blaster bolt in the first thing she saw. How dare she-

Calm down, Draca.

He didn’t realise he’d tensed, angry, blood boiling within his soul. He took a deep breath. There was no use in himself getting riled up. If people could be helped, then they would. He’d do it anyway he could. The young Jedi tugged on the bandage wrapped around his left wrist and forearm. A failsafe, just in case.

The dark side was like strong here.

“My words remain the same, those of weak will of the mind or the lack of conviction to kill these monsters should stay back.” He growled in a monotone of contempt. He has seen to many battle were those who could not do what needed to be done ended up jeopardizing the mission and causing more suffering due to there action’s. This was not the place for soft words or actions there was to much at stake with the lives that could be loss and those that were already gone.

“This is a extermination nothing more, and nothing less if we don’t quell these Caxqettes’ before they reach a major population center then we stand to lose the whole planet. I for one will not allow that to happen.” Continued the Sith as he resumed his walk to the camps perimeter Once there the Kaleesh jammed his spear into the ground and began to scan what was in sight switching between his thermal, and ultraviolet settings to see if any prey was stalking close to the camp unseen by the normal eye.

Even if it’s one of us.

The slightest hesitation preceded Bril’s answer. Although it was clear it was a veiled threat to his fellow Zabrak, it was nonetheless a possibility that he’d mentally agonized over since he read the reports of what those abominable creatures were capable of. His lips tightened at the thought of having to kill one of his own teammates … of, Edalin forbid, having to kill his beloved.

“…Let’s hope it won’t come to that.”

A gentle, comforting thrum propagated across their bond. It was Bril’s way of checking in with her, in a way, letting her know that he was present.

The shift in Draca’s emotions to something darker didn’t allude his notice, and he gave the man a knowing look before letting his eyes fall to the bandaged arm he fiddled with.

The Juggernaut felt it coming before he saw it happen with his own eyes the crash of metal, a shuttle crashing down into the forest quickly his trained eyes began to scan the crash site switching to thermals he saw two large forms take flight with what he assumed to be part of the crew or the wounded in there massive talons. He could see smaller forms looping around the downed LAAT/i at least four or five from this distance. A bitter feeling filled his get as he looked on the crash was close enough to reach on foot but…..

By the time anyone got there the crew was most likely going to be dead, turned, or taken away that was the dark side of combat that many didn’t like to deal with sometimes it was best to leave some behind to keep more foes busy and away from the main outpost here…at least for the time being. But knowing what these creatures did to those they took they would be ether fighting them soon with more spawned monsters or turned allies.

It was a hard choice stay and leave them to die or go and try and save them, ether way had its risks, but the Sith had learned that ruthlessness was mercy in its own way better to make sure they were not taken and used against Arcona later. A almost subsonic growl rumbled from the Kaleesh as he took up his Beskar spear and began spiriting to the crash site pausing only for a moment to yell back at those still within the camp.

“I am going to take the fight to the crashed site those who wish to join me may!” Dipping down into that cold pit of rage and anger that was ever present in his core Skar pumped the dark side into his legs to give him the strength and speed needed to reach the crash site as fast as he could.

Beware the Dark lest it swallow you whole.

The unsettling premonition that impinged itself upon Bril’s consciousness caused him to shift where he stood. Eyes of crystal blue shot upward to witness the transport shuttle fall, the flames that exploded from its damaged hull forming a tail of brilliant orange across the blackened sky. His hand shot to his hip when he heard the shriek that followed, but another, more urgent call from the Force left the Zabrak with no time to contemplate what had just transpired. It beckoned him to move, and he obeyed. Movement. Something soared above his head, narrowly missing him. Everything happened too fast for him to think, leaving him with only his instincts to save him. In the chaos of the sudden attack, he hadn’t sensed the second one coming for him, but Minnie did. In shoving him aside, she inadvertently placed herself in the creature’s path.

“BRIL–!”

His Nautolan’s desperate cry sent a chill down his spine. Whirling around to face her, he didn’t hesitate to shoot his hand into the air, reaching out with the Force to seize the flying caxqette in midair. And the Force answered his call, ensnaring the karking creature in place. But it didn’t last. Another shriek echoed out from beyond the DDF’s perimeter, echoing from within the blanket of shadows that loomed just beyond the reach of their spotlights. It struck deep in his bones, and he flinched, and that momentary lapse in concentration was all the caxqette needed to get away. Powerful wingbeats carried it – carried Minnow – beyond his reach in mere moments. The last glints of her rose-gold beskar’gam disappeared within the darkness.

She was gone.

His tai’shan was gone, taken from him, and he’d failed to prevent it.

–

“Minnow…,” he muttered to himself while letting his hand drop to his side. That same hand tightened into a fist. Suddenly, the world felt much smaller. The clamor of shouted orders and agonized cries of the wounded bled into a single, deafening buzz in Bril’s mind. He felt the gelid touch of the Dark Side at the edges of his mind. Disappointment and utter shock mutated into a dreadful, mephitic kind of anger that leeched off of him into his surroundings for all those who were Force sensitive to detect. Perhaps even those who couldn’t sense it, too—the unshakable feeling that not all was right in the mind of the young Zabrak. The briefest flicker of a sickly green within his ice blue irises were another hint as to what was happening.

Bril’s hand shifted to fetch his lightsaber pike, Fulcrum, from the concealed sheath on his side. Gripping the hilt tightly, he ignited it without a word. The crack-hiss of the bleach-white plasma igniting from one end sounded, only to be drowned out by the eerie howl produced by the energized krayt dragon pearl within the weapon’s hilt.

Luka had been lost in the drifting swirl of thought that tempted them from the treeline. The other’s conversations drifted to the background. Only Bico’s presence at their side drew them from their trance. The Nexu’s fear flooded the psychometrist’s mind, searing red-hot. It set Luka’s heart in tandem with their companion, and they instinctively looked to the sky.

Too late.

Bico yowled and crouched on her haunches, looking to either fight or flee. Luka pulled their focus away from the creature’s instincts and sought to retether themselves to their body. They needed to act.

The scream of a lightsaber drew their attention. They drew their own saberstaff with a practiced flourish, both blades igniting with a cyan hue.

“We can’t scatter like this!” Luka shouted over the howl of Bril’s weapon. They sought the Zabrak’s gaze and found him focused elsewhere. Bril’s sea blue eyes swirled with green, and Luka’s golden brown softened with familiarity. Again, they strained to be understood over the din, though they were unsure if they would reach Bril even if he heard. Regardless, their own choice was made. “I’m with you. What’s your order?”

It had all happened so fast that it had caught them completely unawares. It was like a flashbang, there one second and gone the next. It was like breath on a mirror, everything that was wiped away in seconds.

He heard it. So did the others. The unsettling sounds created goosebumps upon his flesh. He shifted from one foot to the other, his breaths slightly hitched.

Then chaos reigned, the dark side ruled the roost. Draca had only caught a glimpse of the change in Bril’s eyes as a cold, numbing sensation filled Draca with the dread of a dying son. The last time he saw that look was on Batuu. The howl of Bril’s lightsaber didn’t do justice to the anguish in his soul.

Not that he could blame him. If Melissa had been taken, how would he react? The same, if not worse.

Draca carefully approached his fellow Zabrak, saberstaff hilt in hand. “Whatever you need.”

The words were few, yet they spoke of a hidden meaning.

We will find her. I’ve got your back.

<@1056685516441006091>

Archian still with closed eyes lowered the grip at the two material stripes attached to his mount. That was a grave mistake as Ronto felt distress of something close by and almost threw Shistavanen off from its back by lifting its front legs low into the air.

When the order for intentional friendly fire was given, Cryo didn’t have many qualms. The only person she knew there was Bril, and even then, she didn’t know him well. If it came down to it, she didn’t have much reason to hesitate in liberating someone from the Caxqette’s control. The few people she did know currently resided in the city they aimed to defend, and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do to protect those she cared for.

The longing that Cryo so often pushed down deep within herself climbed to the surface and began to slowly dissipate as if it was finally being satisfied. Her aliit, her family, they were out there in that jungle. They were finally within reach, and she wanted nothing more than to be with them. She took a step forward, then two, and then a third until the feeling suddenly faded and the longing returned. The clone shook her head and growled softly at herself. She was being pulled away from the group and made into an easy target. She wouldn’t have it. She quickly backpedaled towards the group once again.

Upon returning to the group, the familiar sounds of a LAAT/i crashing towards the ground filled her ears, pulling forward emotions and instincts from an era long past. The thundering boom of the ship colliding with dirt echoed through the silent jungle into her heart, and that’s when it all went to hell. The ARC Trooper noticed the force users around her begin to tense and immediately went for her blasters, but she was too late to stop the first attack upon the woman paired up with Bril. With her DC-17s now secured in her hands, she pointed them towards the sky in preparation for another attack, but it didn’t come from the sky. It instead came from the jungle around them.

Although the situation of the camp was nothing short of desperate; the wounded and deceased being hauled in by tens, it somehow escalated further. After the LAAT/I soared into a pit about a kilometer from their base, Minnow was snatched by… it. An abomination. This happened in a hair’s breadth of a second and by the time she had her scatter gun trained on the creatures they were up and out of range.

Her gaze remained fixed on the setting sky searching for another to appear. Nothing else appeared. She clicked her tongue and swore beneath her breath, a sneer hidden beneath her helmet on her lips. The enemy had made significant advances already. One that jeopardized the goal in her own mind. The Kaleesh of their group already began barreling toward the scene of the crash beckoning anyone to join him. Even if another joined him, without a plan, they were doomed to fail.

Before she recognized the source, she felt a shift amongst them. Something that she could only describe as darkness. Emere, resolute and ardent, set her vision on their silently elected leader of the group. It emanated from him like a small blaze which seemed to manifest itself by the ignited saber in his hand. The woman was aware of the affection between Arga and Minnow. Fighting for people she loved was something that resonated with her deeply.

The other young Zabrak acknowledged and stood unified while the other Human spoke sensibly and asked for orders. Her helmet was facing him as she offered him a single nod. “We’ll need to act fast.”

Cryo’s head moved on a swivel towards the sounds of blaster fire following that deep bellow they had all heard. Her attention was quickly stolen once again by the quartet of Caxqettes that burst through the perimeter, the largest of which was quickly making short work of a poor soldier who didn’t have a single chance. Watching the blaster fire dissipate off of its hide was, in a word, disheartening. She thought to the beskar sword residing on her back, but even then, she doubted she had the sheer strength that would be needed to pierce through.

So, instead, she turned her focus to the three smaller forms that darted around the largest of the creatures. She kept her eyes trained on them the best that she could in the low lighting, finding it nice and easy to get a lock on them when they stopped running and began to harass a member of the AAF. She raised her blasters up and took a short breath to prepare to pull the triggers when a couple of knives made their way towards her two targets. The Trooper took full advantage of the more abysmal of the two throws and placed a blaster bolt between the eyes of one of the creatures. The other knife had hit its mark, and Cryo followed it up with a blaster bolt as well. This time though, it seemed to have survived.

Even with the storm of emotions whirling just beneath the surface, the young Arcanist maintained his composure. Having Luka and the unlikely ally in Draca at his side bolstered his resolve, and he likely would have began administering orders were it not for the sudden and violent assault on their position.

Caxxies spilled through the perimeter and immediately began attacking soldiers of Arcona’s military, but Evelyn and Cryo were quick to come to their aid.

“Draca, Luka, on me!” he shouted, his voice projecting like a trumpet over the clamor of advancing monstrosities and the unfortunate souls that fell to jagged teeth and claws alike.

Bril trained his eyes southward, toward the direction that Minnie was taken. A mammoth of a caxqette loomed there, standing amidst the broken logs and bodies left in the wake of its sieging of the FOBs perimeter wall. It stood in his way, as an obstacle to rescuing his beloved. His blood boiled and caught flame.

Bril’s eyes took on the same noxious green tint as he lifted his hand in the monster’s direction, curling his fingers inward to hold it aloft in a crushing telekinetic grip. But it was heavy, even for his skill in the Force, and he grit his teeth and breathed with heavy, savage breaths to maintain the effort.

“Kill … the bastard,” he managed to say between ragged breaths.

‘Bril!’

“Min-” She started to run. It didn’t matter. She weaved out of the way and halted. The crash-

Those flames-

Fully cloaked, Evelyn was zooming in the skies. She decloaks at the right moment and took down a ship. Good. With a swerve to the right, her radar flared up with warnings. Evelyn did not waver. She saw the enemy ships and got close to them before cloaking once again, having the missiles hit the enemy ships. Flew through the smoke, she gasped and everything slowed down.

A phantom. Right in front of her ship. The onslaught of red as Evelyn relaxed and started to close her eyes. This was how she was going to-

*She saw a flash of Rainbow and sky blue in front of her before it exploded into fire and smoke. *

‘Aketa!’ Evelyn cried out in pain.

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed at her own memory betraying her. The wail the moment she realized Aketa had died.

Evelyn believes Aketa died thinking Evelyn didn’t love her.

She was certain Aketa hated her. Her hands went to grab two throwing daggers and then the tank of a beast showed up. Her teeth gritted. The daggers was not going to be enough to take the beast-

Focused dark emerald hues caught a soldier was being attack by Caxquettes. With a swift motion, she aimed for the skull of both beasts, only managing to cut one of their chest, but was pleased to see that the teammate had killed it with a straight headshot.

My resolve is true. Evelyn thought to herself.

With a stiff nod to their leader, Luka moved in. They darted across the field to the creature held aloft with the Force, their focus on a soft spot between the plates. They held their saberstaff in a balanced horizontal grip in front of them, ready to strike. Bico ran alongside to provide a distraction should the creature wrench free.

A swift upward strike seared between plates along the creature’s neck, but it was not enough to silence it. It’s scream split the night and caused the Grey Jedi to recoil. Luka clenched their jaw and readied another attack to silence the beast.

As the Neti’s Force presence had reached out the second he set left the shuttle, something felt different, spicy even. Was that poison? No, something was going on…

Pain hit his core, someone was crying out for help! But where was it coming from?

NOT THE YOUNGLINGS!

They had DARED to hurt the little saplings… Their pain and fear only raised his resolve to end this decisively and fast. Wait, when had he become surrounded? Had he been distracted somehow? Unimportant, the how didn’t matter. Stay in the here and now. Too many to attack in turn, they’d have to be distracted, let the little ones escape while the aggressors suffered!

Shaking out his hands to the sides, a slight shockwave moved through the surroundings as small rocks began to tremble.

As the Jedi Elder raised his hands up, the debris followed.

As his left arm swept to the right, his right narrowly avoided its brother as it swept left. All around him stones began to bounce off of obstacles as the Neti conducted his pinging concerto to the rhythm of the drip drop once again singing through his soul. Why had he abandoned it again? It came to his aid as easily as it used to do…

Slowly, the improvised barrage changed its movement from side to side into a whirlwind of danger, and the promise of pain, as Ood began to twirl on his axis, his hands twirling to a beat only he could seemingly hear. As the screams started, their pain began to echo into the Force. Good, he’d monopolised their attention!

“Flee little ones! Good old Ood will keep them at bay!”

Bico’s yowl turned Luka’s attention to what they had assumed was an ally. They changed their stance to be more defensive, spinning their staff to block some of the rocks that hurtled toward them and Bico. Sharp splinters and stone tore into their robes. They cried out as a larger wooden shard pierced their shoulder and disrupted their whirlwind of a defense.

As Shistavanen opened his eyes after unexpected Khavan’s maneuver, and debris which felt like the needles pinning over his whole body - totally different from the feeling of gentle leaves grooming his soft fur in the jungle, alongside comfortable scratches over the wooden tree at his own camp. This made him look into the direction of the sudden attack which happened at Emere. He could smell the blood flowing from under the skin - Shistavanen visualized the painful muscular condensation, and started to heat up, red up and swallow cells around the wound. There was only one choice to make and it wasn’t self preservation… Red promptly kicked sides of Ronto, making the creature ride into the injured fellow. Focus on riding, the needle-like pain at the whole of his body, followed by continuous minimal force bond with Khavan made him use almost all energy. When he reached her and jumped off, he offered fresh bandages, and vodka to use as the disinfectant. His scalpel was ready to remove any lost Caxqette’s talons within the wound, alongside feeling that his own legs and hands were shaking from exhaustion.

It was carnage incarnate. It was like a thermal detonator in battle form. One second peace and quiet, then the next, fire, death and destruction.

The Caxqette’s attacked with the ferocity of rapid beasts. Everywhere Draca looked was chaos. His eyes widened. How was anyone able to concentrate on anything around them!? He’d been in battles before, sure, but never full scale conflict. The only time he had come close was when he was with the Children of Mortis and even then his tasks were more subdued.

It was at this moment Draca realised just how far out of his depths he really was.

What in the name of the Nine Corellian Hells had Arcona gotten themselves into!?

That momentary distraction had cost the young Jedi dearly. He was struck, rocks and wood ripping into his robes and embedding into his right side. He winced. It was times like these that he was thankful for his Zabrak physiology, but it still hurt like hell!

The pain had brought him back to reality. He saw Bril levitating a caxqette in the air. Luka had struck at it, but it was not defeated not yet. With his injury, leaping in was out of the question, so Draca did the next best thing…

He’d seen Marick and Ruka do it, just maybe…

He flung his saberstaff from his belt, the multi-hued blades snapping out of the hilts, whirling in the air like a flying guillotine towards their enemy. He held his hand out to guide it to his target…

Emere stumbled forward onto her hands and knees from the beast’s attack, a mixture of a hiss and growl escaping her mouth. Adrenaline did its work as she quickly regained her footing and whirred around to see the freak of nature retreat into the trees.

“Motherfracker!” She shouted after the cowardly creature. Her nostrils flared, her breathing noisy. Nothing escaped her notice. Her jaw wired shut as she discarded her damaged equipment, the mangled pack falling to the dirt. She lifted her scattergun to scope for her new foe, her weapon jerking from tree to tree. It wanted to play games, so she would play.

Her scope revealed the Caxqette in its crosshairs but it was too far to land a shot. She sucked her teeth and rushed to the edge of the perimeter of the camp, her eyes losing her target for but a moment. It began to retreat.With her feet planted firmly in the dirt and the muscles of her arms tightening in anticipation of the weapon’s recoil, she angled her scattergun to the flying beast and fired a single shot.

–

Accompanying the pop that sprang forth from the barrel was a cacophony of other tumultuous sounds. The roar of a whirlwind of debris that manifested within the small base drowned out the pained shriek of the wounded beast.. Bits of rocks and sticks became lethal projectiles when wielded by Ood. Emere’s reflexes aided in catching a few sticks but her light armor did not resist the weathering effects of the flying debris; a few sharp rocks dug past the armor-woven cloth and lodged themselves into the flesh of her right arm and thigh. By now, her scattergun was on the ground, providing no aid against the current attack.

She gritted her teeth as she lost her balance and fell to her knees, clutching her right arm as the crimson liquid began to ooze from her wounds. While the helmeted woman attempted to recenter herself, the Shistavananen member of their group came to her aid.

The saber came within inches of striking his enemy, only for them, even in Bril’s telekinetic grip, to twist their body to avoid his blades. Draca attempted to attack again as he summoned his weapon back to his hand, though the caxquette dodged again with a movement that almost seemed to be teasing the young Jedi.

Draca’s saberstaff returned to his hand and he grimaced, contemplating his next move.

I am one with the Force.

Death, s reams, darkness attempted to cloud his judgement.

I am truth, I am the light.

The Caxqettes rampage knew no bounds as they slaughtered the masses like dolls in a horrid game.

This would not stand.

It couldn’t.

No more!

I am Jedi!

The Force poured through Draca, healing his wounds in seconds. He stood upright, weapon in hand, ready to act.

Takeing in the sight the Kaleesh gritted his teeth ever so slightly but this did give him more information at least. These beasts needed living hosts for there infection that made things simple for him in the end.

Taking a tight grip on his spear the Juggernaut sprung forward into the crash sight bearing down on the closer of the two Caxqettes, his spear was sharp and ready to spill blood and so he trust the blade forward with a battle howl letting a smile cross his lips as he saw it strike home.

A good first strike but not enough to kill, that was was fine the hunt wasnt enjoyable if it ended to soon. With his other hand he began to concentrate on the force as crackling electricity began to spark and curl hungry to be let loose.

Evelyn’s eyes darted around the battlefield. She learned to gather and assessment as fast as possible. She cannot afford to make mistakes. They were retreating. Why? What did they want or need? Minnie has time, but they needed to move fast. They destroyed jetpacks. The shuttled that crash… there was barely any damage on that ship now she was taking a closer look at it.

What. Was. Going. On?

“Try this on the big dude! It immune to plasma! Do not touch the blade!” Evelyn shouted to Bril, Luka, and Draca, as she tossed her Twin Vibro-arbir Blades towards their direction. If they took it or not, she didn’t have time to find out. That was a later problem. She can only hope that none of them get poisoned by her own blade. She didn’‘t bring that many antidote.

“You!” She barked a the woman with green, bronze, and black armor. Her hand slipped behind her back as she pulled out a pair of the stuncuffs, “Restrain the Neti!”

Cryo, absolutely, no problem whatsoever, took down the Neti. Evelyn was shocked.

And maybe a bit turned on.

Evelyn slapped on the stuncuffs as the Telekinesis storm had died down.

Everything happened so fast. Almost right after Cryo had rescued a soldier with the help of a rather striking white-haired woman, a massive Neti began to pelt both herself and those around her with a blend of natural shrapnel. Her instincts immediately kicked in, and she ducked down and turned her side to the barrage, keeping her head facing away and arm beside said head for protection. The large Caxxie threat was already being distracted and taken care of, but it seemed there was a new threat made of an ally.

The ARC Trooper raised her blasters with the intent of retaliating against Ood but was interrupted by the voice of the woman who had helped her out earlier. She barely kept herself from rolling her eyes at the woman’s idea, but it was better than killing a squadmate, she supposed. Cryo trained her blaster upon a fleeing caxxqette before holstering her DC-17s and full sprinting towards the tree man.

She leaped forward onto the man and, through sheer athleticism, skill, and a little too much flourish, did some badass stuff and wrestled him to the ground so Evelyn could cuff him, hopefully neutralizing one of the bigger threats of the battle.

The largest of the Caxqettes floated above the ground, bound by the Force that fell firmly under Bril’s command. Only now did it dawn on him just how good it felt to hold such a hulking monstrosity aloft on his own. He felt powerful. Superior. Honeyed whispers beckoned him to venture further into the darkness, promising to make right the wrongs these vile creatures had wrought. Not only did he intend to kill them, but he also wanted them to suffer while doing it — to feel even an iota of the fear that Minnow felt, a fear that still loomed in the back of his mind, taunting him for his failure to keep her safe. If only he could muster the strength to crush the titan of a Caxxie within his grip. But the Force rebuffed his attempts to extract more power from it, even as his Jedi teammates’ attacks seemed mostly ineffectual. All of that just pissed him off more.

Then, he felt something in Ood change, and by the time he realized what had happened to him, the ancient Neti had already launched a torrent of debris toward him and the rest of his team. Luckily for the Zabrak, his species was known for its durability; that coupled with his robe’s armorweave and durasteel plating ensured that the abrupt assault left him with nothing more than a few scratches. But it did distract him long enough for two Caxxies to make their move on him.

Two silhouettes moved quickly in the corner of his vision, poised to strike the one who threatened the largest amongst them. Bril reacted by turning and hurling Fulcrum toward them both, bisecting one and missing the other. By the time the lightsaber returned to his hand, the Caxxie had already lashed his leg with something sharp and jagged. He’d felt worse.

-

But that was enough to make him lose his concentration on keeping the larger Caxqette suspended in midair. It hit the ground with a heavy thud, and immediately charged Evelyn and Cryo. Bril swung his saber low with the hopes of lopping off one of its legs, but the frakker’s armored hide resisted the lightsaber’s heat.

Odd. It could have attacked him, the one who’d harangued it since it first stormed the barricade, but it didn’t. It went for them immediately after they wounded the Caxxie currently attempting to drag an DDF soldier away. Was it a protective instinct of some kind? There was only one way to find out.

Empowering his speed with the Force, the Deputy rushed past the spot where Ood was currently detained. Once within range of the cirropodous creature, Bril began with a quick saber flourish and ended with a downward cut that severed the tendril embedded in the soldier’s body and sent the beast retreating over the barrier. Bril grabbed the man by the collar and pulled him back behind cover.

It could be luck. Coincidence. Or just pure badass girl power as both women managed to yoink the tall Neti back in unison and without communication. The three of them got out of the raging beast’s way.

<@575750161243045889>

Blood dripped from the bladed end of the Beskar spear the Kaleesh soft pattering on the ground below filled the space amid the growls and clicking of the Caxxie in front of him. His red eyes darted back and forth between the pair as he readied himself for there attack relying on his training and combat experience for tell tale singes of there next move. For once the Juggernaut was caught off guard as the pair of monster moved in unison there speed unnaturally swift and even the battle hardened Sith could not track.

A flash of pain coursed through his upper chest as one crashed into him its fangs and teeth digging deep into the metal and flesh underneath, the sudden crash caught him off guard and he felt the other latch onto his right arm that was holding the spear there combined weight toppled the Sith to the ground a grunt of pain and rage. As he crashed to the ground he could feel the caxxies attempting to claw and rend his amour and flesh but the metal plaiting was to thick for the moment.

In a spurt of anger the Kaleesh let go of his spear and seized the two creatures with his hands one each and roared in rage and he threw them off sending them crashing down to the ground in front of him. He could feel blood starting flow under his chest plate but it was a minor would at best he would deal with it later once these two monsters were dealt with. Using that pain and anger the rose to his feet once more his hands crackling with lighting and with a scream his unleashed it outward.

However his eyes widened as he saw the Caxxies shrug the Force Lighting off like it was nothing a quick adaptation to counter his power. This was going to be more difficult then he thought taking up his spear again

Luka ducked and rolled out of the way of the rampaging beast as it twisted out of Bril’s telekinetic grip. Thankfully they were not crushed as it fell, and it’s focus was turned elsewhere. Other, smaller caxqettes were nearby and fleeing the perimeter. They may have gotten what they came for, but Luka was not going to let them leave so easily.

“Bico, away to me!” Luka shouted to their companion. The Nexu’s gaze snapped to them for instruction, then forward as she darted towards the nearest caxqette in a far circle in an attempt to cut it off.

Luka focused their own attention on the farther caxqette. They made a direct line to it, confident that they no longer had to dodge shrapnel now that the Neti was under control. The caxqette rounded on them as they approached, its maw splitting apart and unfurling to show row after row of teeth.

Luka struck fast with a high spin of the saberstaff to distract, followed with a backwards stab through the core of the monster. Though Luka was unsure of the placement of vital organs on such a beast, it’s lashing afterward seemed to be in death throes as it collapsed.

A yowl followed by a chittering hiss drew Luka’s attention back to Bico. The Nexu had squared off against the caxqette as ordered, but the Grey Jedi could sense his companion’s fear. The Nexu kept only narrowly away from the caxqette’s claws. “Get back! Get back!” Luka shouted as they raced back to Bico’s aid.

Time seemed to move in a Crawl. Dust from the ground kicked up in his eyes. It scratched the back of his throat as deafening, blood-curdling screams. The Neti, whose name escaped Draca at this very moment in time, had thankfully been subdued.

The young Zabrak could help cleanse him when he got a moment.

“Get back! Get back!”

Draca heard Luka shout his orders to his companion. His twin-hearts beat like a marching band’s drums in his chest.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

It was almost timed perfectly with each step he took towards the caxqette attacking Bico. Draca didn’t think. The Force would be his guide. As the monstrosity lunged for the nexu, Draca leapt in front, kicking it square in its eye in mid-air. The Jedi felt almost immediately how dense it was under its fur, but also how tender its eyes were.

A weak spot!

“The eyes!” Draca shouted as loud as he could. “Go for the eyes!”

Suddenly clarity returned. Hadn’t he sworn off the advice of Messrs. Drip & Drop awhile ago? A slight mental exertion blasted apart the lingering darkness clouding his mind.

Like a supernova, the Force shone with a blinding light not seen without obscuring techniques blocking it in at least a century. The Neti hoped he wasn’t blinding any Dark Siders or even fellow Jedi with his outburst into the Force but needs must.

He was still unsure. What had happened? Ood needed a moment to center himself but there was a fight going on.

As the elder began to shift into his treeform, the set of cuffs restraining him being pulled inside his trunk, he wondered what was going on.

One second he was focused on the heat of battle, and the next, his senses became ablaze with the a pulse of the light side more powerful than Draca had ever felt before. It momentarily unsteadily him, like the rough waves crashing into a ship at sea, though like that very ship, he remained afloat. The young Zabrak Jedi couldnt stop his eyes glazing over to the Neti. Was that an ancient Jedi ritual?

Draca subconsciously tugged at his bandaged wrists. Those were questions for later.

Red stood up. Everywhere around was blood, damage, screaming and devastation. He was not in a state to fight - hands and legs still shaking, fur covered with debrief bleeding from micro injuries matting red color natural hair. The only support others could have from him was to try to treat the injured. He joined fellow female Shistavanen, took syntflesh dispenser and…

Breed Blood.

Veins shattered.

Feed Blood.

Tool not working.

Kill Blood

More blood leaving the body.

Archian closed eyes, fell to his knees, and dropped the Dispenser at the ground. Too many voices, too much exhaustion, too much blood and his body answering the primal urges.

Evelyn looked at Ood with shock. Her body remained tensed as sher shifted one of her foot back and was at the ready to take him down again if needed. She watched him as he looked around and the stuncuffs were-

They were being absorbed?! Come on! She need those! With a glare at his back, she turned her head away and went to the nearest soldier with Archian. Her hands rummage through her bag quickly as she got out the bacta. The corner of her lips grimaced when she noticed how dire the wounds are. There was no-

She placed the bacta on the ground and reached for the soldier’s hand and grasped it tightly. The fear and terror in their eyes. She had seen it many times but Evelyn remained calm. She gave their hand another squeeze and-

A last breath was exhaled. She gently placed the soldier’s hand over their chest and got up as she grabbed Archian by the arm. A firm but gentle grip. As if a mother helping her child up who fell down. She pulled him up to guide him to stand up. Her voice soft and gentle.

“Come on. There are others that needs you. Keep. Moving.” She gave him a pat on the arm before running her way over to the ship that was brought down to see if it can be used for her to drive and they could head south. She wasn’t worried about the caxxies at the moment. The others got them.

“Hold on, Minnie…” Evelyn whispered under her breath. Caxxies take people for one reason only.

They do have time.

And it’s rapidly ticking down.

Bril was just shaking off the effects of his new boss, Ood’s, sudden and intense radiance in the Force when he noticed movement in the corner of his eye. Gripping Fulcrum’s hilt and poised to cut down whatever came, he was disappointed when he realized nothing was. Instead, Evelyn was sprinting off in the direction of the crashed ship, in the same direction that the transport shuttle had crashed.

What in the Edalin’s name was she doing?

“No!” he shouted in protest, “We have to stay together!”

To think that she’d criticized him on previous occasions for his supposed recklessness. This was a real mission in which lives had already been lost and many more were at stake, yet she was dashing off after enemies that very well could have been waiting to ambush them should they rush ahead without a plan.

Anger.

Fury.

Rage.

Draca had to wonder, albeit very, very briefly what Anders wpd have thought of these creatures. They were amalgamations of the dark side, or at least, that’s what they appeared to be. Would he see them as the tortured souls they were, or an intrigue to be studied?

Both, probably.

He was momentary distracted by Bril shouting towards the Echani woman. His fellow Zabbro Zabrak had a point. They were much more easily picked apart if they split up! What was she doing!?

The young Jedi bit his lip and was about to move to intercept when the currents rippled through his subconscious. Despite his youth and inexpensive, he knew well enough that when the Force spoke him, he should listen.

Nasty, gnarling jaws snapped at him with rabid, sharp canines. Even with the forewarning, Draca found himself backpeddaling from the caxqette trying eagerly to make him dinner.

Did no-one ever tell it that Zabraks taste awful?

Luckily, the Force was on his side. The energy poured through every ounce of his body, supercharging him in a way that was superhuman. He leapt into the air, spinning, twirling, avoiding the snapping maw of the beast below as he landed behind it with the grace of a dancer from a Coruscanti opera. When it turned to bite him, Draca channeled that energy into one, hellacious kick that sent a small shockwave from the beast’s jaw and clamped it shut.

Emere sincerely thanked the Shistavanen medic for his willingness to get her battle-ready again despite his perforations. When the last bacta patch was applied, Ood had been subdued, and quite a few Caxqettes began to retreat. She was eager to enter the fray again. She set her dark brown eyes on the behemoth which caused chaos further in the middle of the base.

Moving with a sense of urgency the Human scooped up her scatter-gun and closed some distance on the creature. It was charging at the other young Zabrak who quickly got out of its way. That gave her an in to get within firing range of the charging colossus. She flanked it on its rear right side and fired a single blast from her scatter-gun. Considering there was movement from herself and the beast the impact from the projectiles did not land as she desired. Bits of its outer shell chipped off, the pieces falling to the dirt. The creature seemed not to be otherwise phased by the attack, so she prepared another shot.

<@216702440140046336> <@301514304845381632>

Growling and snapping of fangs was all the Kaleesh could hear as blood thrummed in his ears and his heart pounded like a drum of war in his chest, This time he knew how fast these caxqett’s were now and he would not be caught off guard by it again. The twin Caxqetts leapt into action again both moving in unison trying to divide his focus but he wouldn’t let them.

With a flourish the Kaleesh brought down his spear into the path of one is teeth crashing and breaking on this metal surface while the the other took the chance to bite him once more in the torso hoping to draw more blood, but this time the amour did its job and held firm against the teeth long enough for the Sith to let go of the spear with his left and and draw his slug thrower revolver.

There wasn’t much time to aim with it being so close and so the Juggernaut let one amour piercing round scream from the revolver, it skimmed the head of the beast doing some superficial damage but enough to stagger it back and off oh him for the moment. He needed to end this quickly or else they would get lucky with one of these bites. even as he thought it they came again bighting and clawing his amour took some of it but his leg flared in minute pain for a second.

Rage sparked to life in the Sith’s chest as he looked down at the Caxqett that was latched to his leg and his eyesite blurred with red as he felt the Darkside whirl into a fenzy inside his body his muscles blulging with power and he looked to end this fight here and now.

At first, she ignored him. The shuttle wasn’t that far-

No signs of smoke. The groaning and shifting of metal when under intense fire was not heard echoing through the forest. She grinded her teeth once in annoyance. She wanted to get to the shuttle to see if she could fly it so they could go get Minnie.

But sadly, the shuttle was much further than she thought if she cannot see a glimpse of glowing light in the dark forest. She wasn’t an idiot. She was not going to risk her life going through the forest by herself. Now, for the guy that had ran off- that was his choice.

The big beast was still causing havoc so she grabbed her blaster out of it’s holster, her arms relaxed and strong, she made sure no one was in the way and that no one was going to be in the way as she fired a shot at the beast; unknowingly that Emere and Cryo had also taken a shot at it. The quicker they take care of the caxquettes, the faster they can team up and run to the shuttle to see if they could use it.

<@301514304845381632> <@315438760428961793>

Luka crouched low and clicked off the blades of their saberstaff. They held the hilt in their hands and at the ready as they moved in a steady circle around their quarry. With the caxqette’s focus between Draca and Bico, the silent hunter was nearly forgotten.

The half-blinded caxqette recoiled from Draca’s kick with a guttural snarl and shook its horned head to clear it. Bico took the opportunity to take a swipe at the beast’s flank with her claws, but she leaped back as the caxqette swung its spiny tail at her in return. The caxqette arched its back with a hiss as it’s multitude of eyes flicked between two targets before focusing once again on Draca. It’s claws dug into the earth. It readied to strike.

Luka was ready, too. As soon as the caxqette lunged at Draka with its maw wide, Luka brought their lightsaber down on the creature’s exposed neck. The caxqette’s jaws hung slack inches from Draca, and it made a vile gurgle when it stumbled and fell at the Jedi’s feet.

Leaving nothing to chance, Luka brought their lightsaber down once more to completely sever the caxqette’s head. Once satisfied the beast was dead, their gaze glanced to Bico first, then to Draca. Both safe. They brushed back dark curls, slick with sweat, away from their eyes. “Big one left, I think,” they said with hastened breaths as they surveilled the field.

Draca gave a short nod. They needed to hurry. Not that Bril couldn’t defend himself. He absolutely could, but if the Port Kasiya Blizzard had taught him anything, it was that his fellow Zabrak took liberties when it came to his own safety.

He stared at the corpse in front of his feet. It didn’t deserve this. None of them did. A pang hit hid hearts as he clenched his fists. He didn’t blame Luka. The Jedi knew sometimes, it just had to be done, as gruesome and brutal as it was. At least the creature was no longer in pain.

“We better hurry. Oh,” Draca smiled at Luka, patting Bico gently on its head as he gave a genuine; “Thank you.”

He quickly made his way towards where the largest Caqxette and indeed, Bril, was. The… Beast, if you could call it that, mangled by repeated shots. It didn’t take the Force to realise how tortured it was, how much it was suffering.

Draca reactivated his lightsaber, the twin rainbow blades erupting out of either side. He sit the saberstaff into two, holding a hilt in each hand, twirling the blades as he got into position.

‘Make it quick.’ He thought to himself.

Draca felt… something, yet, just like the flicker of a flame, it was there one second and gone the next.

The Jedi turned his head, bit whatever was there, if anything was gone. He turned his attention back to the fight at hand.

Cryo’s icy gaze set on the final living beast in their camp. Expertly, she aimed both blasters at the vulnerable parts of its flesh. The blasts rang out, ripping into the belly of the beast. Although she counted two coming from her gun, a third and fourth had come from her allies in unison.

–

At the second cock of her gun, Emere saw the flash of lasers burn into the skin. It mattered not where they came from because the creature was more vulnerable than before. She focused on the creature’s rear leg and fired another slug, the smaller pieces ripping into skin and sinew. It wailed in agony and began to prepare for another charge. Its target was Bril.

“It’s heading your way, Arga!” Emere yelled as she prepared to blow a few more rounds into it.

<@1056685516441006091>

Once Bril was sure the wounded AEF soldier was safe, he placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Try not to move, sir. You’re going to be alright.”

The human man looked back to him with wild eyes and a grimacing face, no doubt due to the grievous injury he’d suffered. It wasn’t pretty, but he wasn’t going to let the man perish without at least trying to help him. He gripped the soldier’s hand tightly while holding his gaze. Recalling Siva’s lessons on how to keep a patient calm, Bril quickly asked for the man’s name while his teammates battled the last of the Caxqettes.

“Tavin.”

Bril smiled. That’s good. This would help ground the man. “Do you have family, Tavin?”

“A–gah! —daughter. I have a daughter. Biala.”

“I need you to think about Biala.”

The Zabrak leaned forward, keeping his eyes locked on the wounded man’s. “You’re home with Biala. Holding her in your arms. Everything is fine. Everything will be fine.”

The soldier repeated every word, and Bril felt his pulse from his wrist steady. That should hold him until he could deal with the giant Caxxie rampaging within the camp.

He stepped out from behind the barricade to see Evelyn, Cryo, and Emere unloading on the feline-esque monstrosity. They were enough of a deterrent to steer the beast in his direction as his fellow Marshal shouted to get his attention.

Like caulkers in a canyon.

As the rampaging abomination barreled toward him, Bril didn’t retreat, nor did he charge. He merely stood his ground, placed his saber in his left hand-–the same arm that he wore his beskar vambrace on-–and deactivated it. If this were to work, his timing needed to be perfect.

Ku-dunk, ku-dunk, ku-dunk.

Its heavy footfalls grew louder the closer it got.

-

Ku-dunk, ku-dunk, ku-dunk.

Now, it was close enough for him to clearly make out the thickened hide that had so easily resisted the heat of lightsaber and blaster alike. Its stench, like the smell of putrid flesh and the irony blood of the people it’d killed, singed his nostrils.

Once the karking beast was close enough that it seemed like he’d be bitten in two by its gaping maw, Bril thrust his left hand forward and into its mouth. As expected, the Caxquette jaw slammed shut around his arm; razor sharp teeth and beskar clashed and the beskar won, withstanding the incredible force of its bite and providing him with the perfect opportunity to end this once and for all.

CRACK-HISS.

Fulcrum’s blade ignited again, sending its dazzling white blade shooting up through the roof of the caxqette’s mouth, through its brain, and out the back of its skull. Bril felt the hold on his arm relax before it fell to the ground with a loud thud, dead.

A grimace appeared on the Zabrak’s tattooed countenance as he stared at it. This victory was … hollow, far too paltry to satiate the craving for greater violence that burned in the back of his mind. He ignored it, for now. There were more important matters at hand. But that didn’t stop him from collecting a small piece of memorabilia from his kill: one of the larger teeth within the Caxqette’s mouth would do.

Once that was finished, he looked across the battlefield to the rest of his teammates and gave each one of them an appreciative nod.

“Gather the wounded and regroup,” he announced, his tone more forceful than his previous utterances to the others. “We need to plan our next course of action, and quickly, while we have time. They’ve retreated for now, and I don’t intend to give these things enough time to coordinate another attack.”

As Luka approached the others, they watched with narrowed gaze as their leader removed a tooth from the creature. Were they tasked with a sample retrieval? Believing it no matter to them, they listened to Bril’s directive and turned their attention to the wounded around them. Though Luka had no knowledge of medicine, they could help with some wounds. Some. It was likely that their arm was the most they could heal without draining themselves.

Their gaze turned to the treeline and the crash site beyond. “What about the crash, sir?” Luka shifted their attention to Bril, concern in their soft brown eyes. “One of ours ran to meet them there.”

Though Bril’s slaying of the beast was a satisfying one, the group was where they had started but in worst shape. Even with their territory reclaimed and the retreat of the enemy, they were still down two members of their group. One having been taken and the other running off to the crash site.

As the Deputy spoke there was something like a shift. It wasn’t merely his tone and attitude there was something else. It reached out to her daringly grazing the deepest part of her being. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and although her light armor had temperature control, goosebumps raised on her skin. In that moment her helmet felt uncomfortably hot. She snatched it off and hooked it to her utility belt until it was time for them to move on again.

She set her brown orbs on their Zabrak leader, fighting the urge to ask ‘what the hell is wrong with you?’ A question she could very well ask herself as she had not felt anything of the sort before. Luka had a sensible question instead.

“We may need to split up. A team here to scout the crash and make sure we can get out of here with minimal interference and a hunting party for Minnow.”

The Human looked at Bril again, unable to shake off the aura she felt coming from him. “What do you think, Arga?”

Draca approached Bril, overhearing the suggestion made by… Emere, was it?

He didn’t envy Bril. He looked… stressed, and who could blame him? Draca had half a mind to place a hand on his shoulder and try to comfort him, but he got the feeling his fellow Zabrak would just shrug him off.

Instead, he intended to make himself useful. He closed his eyes, channeling the raw power of the Living Force through his body, rejuvenating him like a chill in the air on a hot day.

He opened his eyes, searching for the wounded so that he could put his, admittedly, mediocre skills in healing to use.

Evelyn watched as the group started to gather. She glanced over to her blade on the ground and went over to pick it up. Carefully, she twisted it into one piece while walking towards the group.

“I think we should go to the crash. One, for the one that had ran there. Two, to see if I can fly the shuttle and we could go get Erinos quicker. Sadly, it is a lot further than I anticipated so if we are going to go, we need to waste no time.” Evelyn chimed in as she joined the group. Her dark emerald hues glanced over to Bril. The urge to lecture him was strong but not in front of people. Strangers. Some he may know, some he may not. Right now he seemed to be under control.

“I can come with you, if you want?” Draca asked with all the politeness the young man had been educated in. “I can at least offer some protection.”

After listening to everyone’s suggestions and weighing their options, Bril spoke up. “The crash site is a priority. You all are correct. And we can’t leave Skar out there alone. But the ship is what? A kilometer away? Maybe more? Minnie was taken in the opposite direction; taking the shuttle would be ideal, but it’ll take too long to get to it and then to her. And that’s assuming that it can still fly.”

He paused, looking over the team. “I’m going after Minnow myself. Anyone who wishes to accompany me is free to do so. The others should get to the shuttle. We can rendezvous back here afterward.”

Draca was… what was the word… conflicted? Yes, that was it. On the one hand, he had offered Evelyn protection, but on the other, he swore to help Bril with anything his fellow Zabbro Zabrak needed.

“Bril? He asked quietly, baring louder than a whisper, lest he his ire. "What do you wish from me?”

<@1056685516441006091>

Rage pumped in the Kaleesh as he took each of the glancing blows of the claws with ease his amour taking the brunt of the hits he was sure to feel it later on but thankfully pain didn’t bother him anymore. A sadistic smile came over his face as he stalked forward spinning the spear idly in his hand deciding on which creature to kill first. Best to deal with the one that had more life in it he thought.

And so with a savage howl he brought the spear around and plunged it deep into what he assumed was the skull of the one still attacking him its metal blade piercing flesh and bone with some ease as a spray of blood and gore splatered over his visor and amour. It took two pulls to yank it back out of the caxqette head but that was fine it gave the lone monster time to feel fear and that is what the Sith craved. Turing to the sole remaining he rasied his spear once more to end its life once and for all.

Upon hearing Draca’s voice, Bril looked at him and sucked his teeth thoughtfully. His tone seemed hesitant, cautious. But Bril could tell he was doing what he could to ease the tension that had existed in some form or another between them since their first meeting. That felt like ages ago, now. His issues with his protege aside, Bril recognized the value in having Draca as an ally. And what was happening now was bigger than them both, bigger than their problems.

His gaze softened. “I need you to accompany Evelyn and anyone else who decides to go to the shuttle. Keep each other safe. And keep your comlink close by.”

He held out his hand for a shake only to suddenly retract it when he heard Tavin shout.

And when he saw Tavin struggling against his fellow soldiers, clutching and clawing at his chest as if he were trying to free something trapped deep beneath the skin, the severity of the man’s situation dawned on him.

“Don’t go near him,” said Bril, sharply, to Luka upon noticing that they’d began in the soldier’s direction just as he had. “Not unless you want to suffer the same fate.”

<@227960499948486666>

Luka looked over to Bril, then back to the injured man. “I don’t want to leave him like this,” they said in an even tone, their mind already made up. “I’ll go with you to find your friend, but I need to take care of this first.”

They approached Tavin cautiously and gestured for the others to stand back. Their gaze lingered for a moment on the soldier’s weapon, then on the soldier’s eyes wide with fear. Luka crouched a short distance in front of him, and with a barely perceived gesture they deepened that connection through the Force. Fear and pain flooded their senses, along with the song that had pulled them in before. With a slow breath, they steadied themselves against the mental storm.

“I know you’re scared,” they said with the softness and familiarity of a close friend. “We want to bring you home. But they want to take you away.” Already they could feel the man’s identity slipping away, and something else taking its place. They had to act fast.

“Lower your weapon. Let us help you.”

Slowly, cautiously, Bril approached and stopped just a few feet behind where Luka was. He kept his hands clasped in front of him, working his thumb into his palm while watching the gray Jedi calm man down.

“I made a mistake,” he admitted, a tinge of remorse carried in his voice. “I thought that using the Force to influence his mind would help, to calm him down. I didn’t think that it would do … this.”

Normally, he never would have used the power without asking for his permission, but the heat of battle and the gravity of Tavin’s situation demanded that he acted quickly.

<@227960499948486666>

“I’ll leave the rest to you,” Luka replied to the medic. This was their expertise, and they knew more of what to look for when it came to the caxqette infection. The medics would know what to do.

Luka stood and turned to Bril. They offered hum a soft but weary smile. “Your words kept him present, at least. Gave me some surface thoughts to hold on to.” Their gaze drifted back to the soldier, and to the wicked stinger in his chest.

“It’s done, now.” They closed their eyes and clutched at their injured shoulder, willing it to mend. Flesh knitted together, leaving new scars to add to their collection. Luka stretched and brushed off whatever splinters remained on their robes. “We need to find Minnow. And soon.”

“It is entirely your decision. It seems that everyone wants to go towards Erinos,” She nodded her head towards the direction where she went. Since the young Zabrak was the only one that was offering to go with Evelyn, she knew that if he wishes to go with the group, she cannot go towards the crash. It would be foolish to go alone. Evelyn watched carefully as Bril and Nexu’s owner managed to calm the soldier’s mind. It seemed that Bril had convinced the younger Zabrak to go. She could finally say what she was going to say to Bril. Not everything.

“Arga. Bring Erin- Minnie, home and do not lose yourself in the process or she may feel she had lost you too.” Her voice was soft and her expression followed for a moment before she glanced over to the Jedi with a stoic look and cocked her head towards the forest.

“We should go. My name is Evelyn Wyvern.”

“I’m with you, Deputy.” Emere stated, stalwart in her decision. Although staying together was the most ideal, splitting up was the most practical.

While Bril and Luka spent time helping the wounded soldier, Emere spent time to check her gear. Unfortunately nothing was salvageable from her scout pack. Besides the tears in her armor from Ood’s attack, everything was functioning as it should.

She glanced at the once frazzled soldier, feeling pity for him. If it were her she would beg for one them to put one in her head.

Evelyn spoke again, addressing the other young Zabrak followed by Arga.

“If I can help it, he’ll remain in tact,” Emere said simply, looking at the Echani. She refused to promise anything more. Her features remained stoic as she continued. “You all focus on getting back safe and in one piece.”

The other young Zabrak of the group couldn’t stop himself from smiling at Evelyn. If he were honest, his curiosity of the woman in front of him piqued. He couldn’t help himself. He was always inquisitive even in the face of certain danger.

“My name is Draca. Draca Zul, ma'am. Its a pleasure to meet you,” the young Jedi lighy lowered his head in a respectful bow.

“And you too, Miss… Emere?” He asked, hoping he got her name right.

<@315438760428961793>

After the large Caxqette was dealt with, Cryo’s eyes scanned the area in search of another target, another fight. But there wasn’t any. All that was left were bodies of both friend and foe. She winced as she realized the amount of AAF troopers littering the ground was greater than the amount of Caxqettes.

“Kriff…” she grumbled before holstering her dual DC-17s and walking closer to the perimeter for a moment of solitary calm. She had seen her fair share of violence in her day, both in the past and the present. Fighting these monsters reminded the trooper of the crystalline beings who laid siege to Kasiya, similarly infecting people and turning them into enemies. At least this time around, it seemed those who lost themselves weren’t lost forever.

The Trooper reached over her shoulder to her beskad and held onto its grip for a short moment to remind herself of why she was there and not home. With a deep, calming breath, Cryo released the sword and made her way back to the larger group of friendlies. It seemed she had arrived just as folks were deciding where to go.

“And I’m Cryo,” the clone said abruptly. “Where am I needed most? I’m here to help.” She looked at all the people in the group, plenty of force users and a fouple ordinary folks.

Evelyn gave a knowingly nod of gratitude to Emere. It wasn’t bringing them back in one piece she was worried about. It was more so about the effects of the Dark Side.

Nothing she can do. It’s out of her hands.

The moment the young Zabrak introduced himself, Evelyn’s jaw clenched as her eyes narrowed for a split second. Then it was gone as fast as it arrived.

Did that insufferable Chiss tell Draca?

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Zul. Mr. Anders had told me wonderful things about you.” She started to make her way towards the forest in the direction of the crash. She also made sure to keep her distance from the Ronto, somewhat, considering that could be a nice big hefty target for the caxquettes.

<@571544963607822336>

Again, Draca felt the Force flow between them, unwittingly connecting her emotions to his psyche like a light switch in the middle of the night.

If the clenching of her jaw didn’t tell him of her frustration, then her emotional state surely did. Frustration built up against the dam holding it back in her heart. Draca could tell it wasn’t directed at him, but something related to him.

Anders, probably. He had that effect on people.

Then a flicker of something else appeared on the surface. Pride. Sweet, sweet, protective, motherly instinct rose in Evelyn like a flower in bloom.

This was quite the spectrum his name alone had caused. What had Anders done to her? He knew of their marriage, but Anders wasn’t one to go into specifics if he didn’t have to.

“If I’ve upset you somehow, then I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

Emere nodded at the Zabrak’s greeting.

“Call me Galo,” she said frankly. Although he was correct and it was public record, she desired most to reserve her first name for personal relationships. In the same way she addressed those around her by their surname if they had one.

Slowly the supernova started to decrease. As if sucking back into its star shape and then diminishing further into a flickering candle.

As the elder meditated, he rewrote his shape and slowly the branches once more flowed into a humanoid shape as he focused on the Force to revitalise and center himself once again. The old venerable veteran Jedi would once again become merely Ood, the old coot whom nobody was too sure about. The radiant light would take some time to be forgotten, as would the display of power, but he had time to let the memories fade. He was a Neti, time was the one resource he had a vast supply of.

The young Zabrak was sharp. Observant even. Wonder where he learn that from? She felt slight guilt that he thought her bitterness was directed at him when it was not.

“Mr. Zu-” She stopped herself. If this was going to get a bit personal, she would want to make sure the message was clear.

“Draca, Mr. Anders spoke nothing but praise of you and I look forward to seeing what he speaks of. The negativity I expressed for a moment has nothing to do with you but the stubbornness and political situation of Mr. Anders and my marriage.”

“With me,” Bril remarked to Cryo, “You and Galo are great shots, so Luka and I will need you to cover us if … when we encounter trouble while on the move.”

The Zabrak Sentinel collected Minnow’s rifle from the ground and ran his fingers across the polished metal. “I’m going to find you,” he said, gazing at the weapon with an aching, solemn expression. He closed his eyes and opened himself up to the Force.

Bril’s eyes became a solid white as he received an echo in the Force. An intense light filled his mind’s eye, causing his head to snap backward and his grip to tighten on his tai'shan‘s weapon. Then, the light faded, leaving the wispy images of his beloved being carried away by that winged abomination. He felt the fear and anger she felt in that moment, and also traces of resolute duty associated with the rifle itself – the duty to protect the one she’s sworn herself to, and the unshakable determination to end anything or anyone that threatened him or anyone else she loved.

Their connection in the Force roared to life again, but he immediately noticed that something had changed. Her presence, normally as charged as she was in person, had become eerily quiet. It reminded him of how she felt following their fight on Dathomir, but she didn’t feel injured at all. But muted, suppressed. Not unlike how other Force users felt when he used the Force to achieve similar aims. But Minnie wasn’t Force sensitive. The thought of what they’d done to her to invoke such a feeling made his stomach knot.

After coming to the vision, he looked to each member of his rescue party.

“I know where she is. We need to go, now.”

-

Then, he looked to the others, first to Ood who was just coming out of his meditation. “Glad to see you’re back in your proper state of mind, sir,” said Bril, “We’ll need someone to stay here and help coordinate defense and casevac. The soldiers already know you and you’re the most experienced member of this team. Not to mention an incredibly powerful Jedi in your own right. I know you can do this.”

He addressed Draca, Evelyn, and Archian next, using the Force to amplify his voice above the clamor of forward operating base. “Get to the shuttle see if you can get it working, and if there are any survivors. And drag Skar back here if you have to.”

“And may the Force be with us all,” he said to the entire group before slinging Minnie’s rifle across his back and beginning southward.

The rage slowly drifted from his body like waves of steam off of the grass in the summer morning. He felt the exhaustion affecting him but it was tolerable for now. He could still move after all and that was all that mattered. Stalking forward he brought his spear around to deal the final death blow to the wounded Caxqette wanting to end this quickly so he could move on after dealing with the three survivors.

As he brought it up the creature reared back and let out a cry that shook the Kaleesh and the very forest around him, he bought the Sith to his knees as he felt a unfamiliar presence in his mind scratching, clawing, trying to get it’s way inside.

But the Jugernought had been trained to deal with such mental probing by the Inquisition hell he had made it a skill to be able to break others mental fortitude like this thing was trying to do. So these attempt was child’s play to him as the durastell defenses of his mind snapped into place protecting him from anything other then a minor headache at the least.

Shaking the scream off he could hear the felling of trees and brush somewhere near him in the forest and it was only getting closer, the Sith needed to end this quickly here and now. Struggling to his feet he inched closer and savagely brought the leaf shaped blade of his spear right down the open throat of the Caxqette silencing it before it could call for help again.

The Sith took slow deep breaths looking around the battle zone and his options before his red eyes fell on those three survivors left, he had been told enough about what these things did to people they were around long enough and without proper medical care or personal around there was nothing he could do for them if they were infected, or worse turned to the Caxqettes side.

He resolved himself the only mercy he could provide those people in this moment as lighting dancing along his left arm once more and lashed out connecting with the closest person before jumping to the other two in quick succession. The first died outright while the other started to seize in pain. The last however screamed into the night drawing more attention to this location.

Growling the Sith dropped his arm and drew the slugthrower once more keen on ending this as he aimed for the last two survivors still alive.

Death lingered.

It was hard to describe, the feeling of life ending. It was usually like a bright, warm candle being snuffed out. It left nothing but the chill of a cold winters night in its wake.

When the group of Evelyn, Archian riding Ronto and himself reached tbe clearing, the stench of burned flesh was the first thing that took his senses. He’d recognise the smell of electrical burns anywhere in the known galaxy, thanks to Anders.

His eyes drifted to… was that a Kaleesh? Or a droid masquerading as one? It seemed more machine than man, twisted and evil. A theory that was confirmed when he drew his weapon upon the survivors.

‘NO!’

Draca’s eyes widened. The Force reacted to his open palmed gesture towards the Kaleesh’s weapon, sending it spiralling out of his hand and careening several feet away, out of reach.

As he led the group along a path that snaked through the Ussunian wilderness, Bril kept his focus squarely on his awareness in the Force. They moved as briskly as one could without drastically increasing their chances of alerting any Caxxies in the area. And there were many. The Caxqettes were like motes of radiant darkness within the Force, appearing for a moment and vanishing just as quickly in its shifting currents as they moved about. Only when they came within about a mile within their position did Bril feel hearts sputter in his chest—his body’s way of subtly preparing him for possible conflict.

The task of scouting their surroundings and keeping his connection to Minnie’s location intact was daunting even for a talented Force user such as himself. That he was straining himself became clear to his team when a trail of crimson rolled down from his nose just as he briefly turned to inspect the glowing lights of a distant Ussunian village.

<@227960499948486666> <@301514304845381632> <@315438760428961793>

Luka walked in silence behind their leader. With Bico’s shifting gaze on their flanks, Luka’s own attention was ahead. When Bril stopped, Luka looked over to him. Concern knitted their brow when they saw blood.

“Allow me to find the trail,” they said as they tentatively reached for the gun in Bril’s hands. “Can’t have you collapsing on us.” They turned their gaze to the light of the village. “Unless you want to go investigate?” Though the lights drew their curiosity as well, they had little time.

Archian stomped with Ronto into the crush site. Looked at the whole medical transporter with hope that precious resources weren’t wasted. Next what he noticed was a civilian in distress, which was showing clear signs of advancing cardiac arrest. Red considered options - he could use a drastic method and ask one of the Siths to use Force lightning or use one powerful stomp of his Ronto to restart heart, but it wasn’t time for cruelty. As soon as he jumped off from his ride, backpack was in his hand and a small scanner was already reading the victim’s heart rate. Just next to for unknown reason the box containing AED was lying on the floor, but no one who could be responsible for taking it outside was around - the cruel reality of fighting with gods was that it was easy to die.

Shistavanen reached for the life saving equipment, placed pads in the correct places, and waited for the right moment. Small scanner beeped, the area cleared and the button pushed. Chest of a civilian lifted, losing breath and falling back to the ground. Scanner stopped beeping, silence remained and breath stabilized. Archian didn’t wait; he moved to the next civilian…

Cryo followed along with her group, easily falling into the old habits of following a borderline reckless Jedi into battle. She did her best to keep herself aware of her surroundings, to find details in the villages they passed, but was too stuck in her own head to see anything of note.

Evelyn drew her blaster and there was a soft click as it moved over to stun. Draca managed to get the slugthrower out of his hands. That was good. She aimed for Skar’s kneecap and fired. Her dark green hues watched him carefully looking for any signs if he was under the influence of the Song.

If the injured was, she assumed they were not anymore. The steady beeping of AED as he lived and his breaths and heart stabilized. The scream of the third one. And the burnt flesh of-

She kept close watch on the Kaleesh while sidestepping her way to the burnt body and not taking her eyes off of him and her blaster still aimed directly at him.

Skar heard them approach before he saw them some shouting at him other going to the two still living survivors laying on the ground. He was slightly disappointed in himself that he didn’t kill them outright with the lighting but that was fine there was always more time. His minds snaped back into place from its wondering as the slugthrower was retched out of his hand and thrown to the side. The Juggernaut narrowed his eyes at the one who did it that flicker of cold unsettling hate thrumming to life in his chest.

A twitch of a reaction came from the Sith as a stun bolt splashed into the ground by his right foot missing completely but the intent was there move or do anything hostile and they would shoot him. But let it be said he did not fire first at least not this time. But a sly smile grew on his lips he had delt with countless situations before when he was hunting for the Inquisition he could play this off get into a better position. And the crashing of the trees and brush was growing ever closer.

“That…was a poor choice you know.” He hissed leaning on his spear not so much as moving as adjusting his stance the small hiss of Bacta and pain suppressants kicked into place as his amour began to deal with what minor wounds he had.

“Its better to kill them the chance of infection or them being turned is to high and we are to far from any true medical help, but if you are all so determined to save them then fine. Let your actions jeopardize the whole planet.” He said his words carrying a knowing weight to them he had delt with such infections before and knew what could happen if it reached major population centers.

“Besides you can hear it no? The song it doesn’t dismiss no mater how many we kill, it only grows stronger this god will not just go away. You must kill that which it feeds on if you can if not exterminate everything connected to it.” Standing back to his full height the Sith began to back up walking backward into the jungel line behind him.

“But you have more important things to worry about then me.” He said with a low laugh

“Then let us check if they are actually infected before you kill them. How do we know you are not affected by the Song? Please stay put.” Evelyn ignored the rest of the mad ravings from this man. He was a liability and causing war crimes. He needs to be stopped. Whose bright idea to let him be part of this mission? Her eyes glanced to the burnt body now she was close enough-

Why does the corpse somehow somewhat look familiar? She can’t keep flicking between the body and keeping an eye on Kaleesh. While maintaining eye contact for the time being, her slender fingers went around to find the chain of the neck. Perfect. She cannot yank it off; it still needs to be used to identify the body. So she tugged it out from underneath the clothing. She broke eye contact for a moment to look-

Hulta

Her breath stilled for a moment. Her expression turned cold as she stood. A pilot, like her. A widow, like her. A parent, like her. Their child… she distinctly remember the kid.

Aketa was always better with people… Her jaw tightened at the sudden intrusive thought. Not now.

Evelyn kept her breaths slow and steady. Emotions are to be vented outside of battle. During can make you lose logic.

She’ll have to grieve later and help the Captain of Breaker Squadron to make sure Hultra’s child is placed in a safe home, hopefully with close relatives. Evelyn shoved her thoughts aside for now.

Soldiers always march on.

“You don’t truly know if there are infected, sir. Like Miss Wyvern said. No-one does if we can avoid it.”

Draca hobbled over to the nearest soldier, unperturbed by the Kaleesh. He didn’t need the Force to see the Sith was completely exhausted and in no condition to fight. If he tried? Well, Draca would simply do what he must.

What a mess that would be to explain to Ruka later, though.

“Try to relax,” Draca said calmly. “I am a Jedi. I’m here to help.”

Draca placed a gentle hand on the injured soldier.

“Because if you were going to shoot, you would have done so already. I promise, we are not responsible for what happened here. The Force brought us here for a reason. I think that reason was to help.”

The young Jedi began channeling his ability to mind through the Force through his body and into the injured soldier. The damage was excessive, but if he could do anything, well, now was the time to try.

Draca eyed the Kaleesh warily. If there was ever a time that he was vulnerable, it was now. He saw the desperation on the medic, her concern for her patient reassured him that there was still some good left on this planet.

“He won’t,” And if he does, I’ll intercept.

The tone suggested enough.

“May I ask for whom it is I am helping?” Draca spoke his question politely, attempting to ease the tension.

Evelyn was focused putting the Bacta on the burnt wounds quickly. She let Draca talk to them. He… was a much better talker than Anders that was for sure. How odd.

“At ease, Sergeant.” She didn’t want to say her plans for the Kaleesh outloud in case he had really good hearing so instead she got up and had her hands up as if peaceful and slowly made her way towards the shuttle but kept her eyes on him.

“My apologizes, we could not tell if you were under the influence of the song. We are under orders to bring you back to us as well see if the shutter is in working order to rescue a teammate of ours from, possibly, a nest. Will you help me check the shuttle?” Evelyn asked of the Kaleesh.

And believe me and you, I will make you pay for your war crimes. She remained calm, her facial expression stoic. As if she had seen carnage before. Her eyes stayed on his.

<@205587614735007745> <@837236610684813342>

“I don’t think I will.” Said the Kaleesh continuing his slow pace backwards to the jungle step by slow step.

“I do not recognize any order to bring me back until my mission that I was assigned is complete, and I certainly wont be taking orders from any Jedi in the least your broken morality and compassion have no place here on this battle field.” He practically snarled the word Jedi, the venom in his voice impacting the hate behind it. The pain he had in his upper chest was fadeing with the pain med’s and bacta if this did come down to a fight he would be ready for it

“And what is your mission? Same as ours, to take down the caxquettes. That is where I am taking the shuttle, to a nest. Do you not want to speed up your mission? As for the Jedi, he is in our team yes, but he is not your boss, rest assured.”

“So let me ask you this then if i chose not to go then what will you do then hmm? I know good and well the….stakes of what will happen should I chose to go with you, I’m better off out here where I can do the most damage against these caxquettes…..and I refuse to go into another crio cell for what needed to be done.” He snarled at the end there true hate and loathing dripping from the words

Blind murder of innocents is not what needs to be done.

He was listening. Of course he was. Anders had always told him to pay attention to the people around him. Somehow, the young got the idea that no matter what he said, it would oy serve to fuel the Sith’s ire even further. They’d never met, and the Kaleesh had a loathing for him that seemed to burn hotter than a star about to collapse. Judging by the state of the Sith, that statement might have been more accurate than the young Zabrak realised.

How horrible it must have been, to be controlled by such hatred. Draca felt sorry for him in a way.

“Seargant, I believe I have stabilised your patient. It’s not perfect, but he will be fine until we can get the proper evac.”

Draca quickly caught up with Evelyn, keeping his senses trained on the Sith. He wouldn’t say anything to him. A single word could incite the beast that dwelled within, a rabid animal locked in a cage.

And those kinds were often unpredictable.

“Right now, what I will do is not a concern. It is what we need to do, right now, which is take care of those caxquettes.” Evelyn ignore about the fact that he doesn’t want to go back to the cell. She doesn’t lie so she can’t say anything.

Actions has consquences.

“No there is no we here there Is I and then you but if you are so incessant on going to the shuttle then Drop this conversation and go.” He said dipping into that wellspring of hate and power he held at his core to reach out through the Force and take a hold of the woman’s mind there was always a trick to forcing actions on others and the Kaleesh had trained well in how to break down mental walls and barriers for some time now.

There was resistance at first she had a high mental fortitude that the Sith was not expecting but it didn’t matter in the end there were always cracks in the walls somewhere all he needed was to find the right…there it was he thought to himself as he finally found the chink in the preverbal amour so that his instructions were not so much a verbal command but a order she could not refuse…at least for the moment untill he could slip away.

Evelyn shivered at the words. The darkness slithered around at her walls.

“I am determined to make sure we stay together and get out alive-” It found a small crack and slithered into it and like a python, it wrapped around tightly, taking over her control.

“Yes, sir.” She turned to look at Archian, “We should load up the injured into the shuttle too, we cannot leave them here. Please help him, Draca.” Evelyn made her way into the transport and started to check it’s condition.

Draca felt it before he saw it. A fluctuation in the Force so profound it almost felt familiar.

It was familiar. The Dark Side. The young Jedi had, however, had seldom felt it in this fashion. This was much more subtle, the kind that was most often used by…

His eyes peered to Evyn when she called the Kaleesh sir. That confirmed it. Mind Tricks! He immediately stopped walking, his head snapping towards the Kaleesh. He’d made a promise to Bril to protect their squad, a pro.ise he intended to keep no matter what. He’d heard Evyn’s request, but pushed it aside for the moment. He uttered one sentence, a warning, hands getting closer to his weapon.

“Let her go.”

<@205587614735007745> <@216702440140046336> <@571544963607822336>

Although her experience with explosives were limited, Emere knew enough to know how to set a charge. She collected Jax’s gift and strapped it onto her person. The thing was heavy, but not so heavy as to prevent her from moving. It would however be a tax on her stamina further into their journey. If they got into another encounter with the monsters it would be as simple as setting it down.

The group waded through the darkening brush, Emere using the flood light on her helmet to illuminate what was in front of them. Her senses were keen in an attempt to catch anything out of the ordinary or enemies stalking nearby. By now a sheen of sweat was starting to form on her skin. The weight of the bomb was starting to taking its toll.

When they drew near to the lights of a village, Luka pointed out Arga was overexerting himself in some capacity.

“There’s no time,” Emere said, unknowingly echoing Luka’s thoughts. If they made a detour, that could place their goal in more jeopardy. She planned to succeed in their mission or die trying.

The Kaleesh laughed for a breif second while maintaining the connection just in case. However his eyes flicked over to the one called Draca the so called Jedi who was reaching for there weapons.

“Careful now Jedi, the mind is such a delicate thing when controlled you wouldnt want her to get hurt would you?” Said the Kaleesh as he resumed he slow pace backwards.

“If I wanted to harm her I could but I didnt, so as soon as I am gone it will go away.” He said with absolute certainty in his words the conviction in them iron clad.

Draca knew that all too well. Unfortunately for the Kaleesh, the Jedi was no amateur when it came to witnessing the Force affecting the mind…

“I also know that the application of the Force you are using requires your complete concentration. If you focus on me, it’ll break no matter what you want to do. You are desperate. Nothing more.”

Draca, however, did not pursue. There had been enough violence without having a rogue Sith to deal with.

“If you wish to leave, then release her. I won’t stop you. We have more important things to worry about.”

Certainly more important things than the squabbles of a Jedi and Sith.

Interesting this Jedi was more versed in the darker side of force then he anticipated but that was fine he was far enough away and the control was still strong, but right at the moment he could not afford another fight even if he thought he could win. With the caxqettes still around there was no telling when they would be set upon again.

With a idle wave of his hand he severed the connection like a whiplash and fully turned around. “Have it your way Jedi enjoy the death that awaits you in the futile attempt of saving your so called friend.” He said not even giving the trio a second glance before moving off into the night and brush of the Jungle proper

He released the breath he didn’t realise he was holding. At least that was one crisis avoided for the moment. Though, somehow, Draca got the idea that wasn’t going to be the last he saw of this particular Sith.

‘The Force works in mysterious ways,’ he reminded himself.

“Seargant, if you see anything move in the trees, call for me immediately.”

With that, he rejoined Evelyn in the shuttle.

<@244244163002892288> <@216702440140046336>

Then she let out a soft breath of relief when she went into the cockpit. She was hoping Draca was busy with helping Archian. Her dark emerald hues glanced up at the forest canopy. Hm.

She’s flown through worse.

The phyton uncoiled and was gone.

Evelyn blinked a few times as she glanced around the shuttle. She.. she felt like she was forgetting something. What was it? Her brows furrowed. Wait- was the Kaleesh in the shuttle? Her head snapped as she saw Draca approach. She knew exactly what happened. All that training. All that torture was for nothing. Her breathing frantic-

Mom, please- Evelyn scrunched her eyes tightly as she grasped the edge of the pilot chair. Distraction. She needed a distraction. She can’t use her blade with the poison coating over it-

Mom! Stop!

There was some damage to the metal on the ship from scraping on the ground. Evelyn gritted her teeth in preparation as she does a quick and light ||jab at her upper arm. The screams stopped as the blood started to spill. Good. She had enough control to make sure it wasn’t at a major artery or nerve and can be easily wrapped.|| She reached to find a first aid kit that most pilots keep in cockpit to find a bandage.

“We need to get the injured in here.”

Draca appeared just in time to see Wvelyn harm herself. What in the name of Selen was she doing!? He was so startled that for a brief second, he didn’t react, instead just going wide-eyed.

When his eyes lingered on the blood, he snapped himself to his senses.

“You’re hurt,” Draca didn’t give Evelyn a chance to process as he gently took her arm in one hand and poured the healing energies of the Force into her with the other.

“Is there anything you want to talk about?” He asked gently. “We can get the injured in here first and then I’ll listen. I’m good at that, or so I’m told.”

He would have rubbed the back of his head sheepishly if he could.

“Maybe later,” Draca smiled at Evelyn warmly, finishing healing her wound before attending to the injured in the cramped quarters.

“Is everything alright outside?” He asked to Archian.

<@216702440140046336> <@571544963607822336>

Evelyn almost yanked back at the grab since it caught her off guard.

“Mr. Zul, it would be wise to ask if you can heal next time. Consent is very important.” She let him heal quickly as she shook her head and started to work on the controls.

“As for your offer, no thank you.” Evelyn will just have to increase her therapy visits after this. Again. With a a long exhale, she waited for the clear for them to take off… then it occurred to her that the Ronto may not fit. At all.

Of course there were boundaries. Just because he was a Jedi didn’t mean he was excused from them.

He would apologise later. For now, he needed to focus on everyone else.

“I do not hear anything, but we shouldn’t stay here longer than we need to…” Archian said while double checking survivor of cardiac arrest.

Luka nodded solemnly. Still, they attempted to stretch their connection towards the distant lights. They felt small flickers of sentient emotion. People there were struggling, fighting in the face of the looming shadows. The Song was ever present and seemed joyous in its composition. The people were dying, becoming more.

The Grey Jedi shivered as they disconnected from those they knew they would not be able to save. Galo was right. They could not afford to linger, and they could not risk splitting up further.

Their hand reached to Bico, who was immediately at their side. The Nexu’s head pressed up into their touch as she let out a warbled sound.

“Yes…” They answered Galo as they focused their mind on the colorful Nautolan they had only just met. The connection was feint, but with her weapon in hand they believed they could find her. Would they find her in time, however?

They had to try.

“Let’s move out. Only caxqettes that way.” A lie to attempt to stave off their lingering guilt.

The sound of the LAAT/i drew Luka’s attention skyward. Though they were glad to see the reinforcements had arrived, they had little time to plan their attack. They quickly released their focus on their target and drew that focus on the approaching caxqettes.

At first the caxqette’s Song reverberated in their head, with so many voices echoing in discord within their mind. Luka shook their head to clear it, then began to entwine their fingers together to lock their thoughts to the beasts.

Focus. Breathe. Trust.

Spreading their arms wide again with a sweeping gesture, they sent out a handful of duplicates of themself along the paths they might have taken. Though they would be invisible to their allies, perhaps they would work on the caxqettes. The dopplegangers scattered across the beach to draw the beasts attention, each drawing a saberstaff to provide glowing targets.

“I should be able to distract some of them, but we’ll need to move fast.” Their voice was strained as they spoke, but they’d be able to split their attention somewhat. Bico kept close to guard her master, crouching low on her haunches.

Evelyn’s eyes flickered around quickly. Hm. If she could get back in the air, they could distract and try to take down the flying beasts but-

Her eyes landed on Emere. And Cryo. She knew they were good shots and she could use their help up in the sky.

“Galo! Cryo!” She jerked her head back to the direction of the ship.

“Get in and woman the gun!”

<@315438760428961793> <@301514304845381632>

Luka’s voice rang in her ears as she sought to make haste in the situation. The beasts were honing in on them and they had seconds to prepare. Emere, already a little tired from their journey, drew her scattergun from its holster and began using her scope to hone in on the flying Caxxies. They were too far for her to reach. She could leave the hefty bomb there fight, and collect it again, or she could keep it on her. The Human deliberated for a moment. The town was down there. The potential innocent lives on the line were offset by her desire to put these monsters down. Even if she was able to set it, there was at least Arga who might prevent her from trying.

In a timely fashion, Evelyn arrived with the LAAT/i. As the others offloaded from the ship, Emere heeded the Echani’s call and followed Cryo. She hefted the the bomb up put it into a secure location and then turned to the Firrerreo.

“You’re a good shot, take point, and I’ll woman the gun,” Emere shouted over the noise of the ship to the clone. She took the turret into her hands, quickly giving it a once over. Though she never manned a turret before, she knew her way around guns and all she needed was the trigger and what to shoot.

‘There’s always a bigger bird.’

The ride was, quite frankly, bumpy as all hell. Evelyn was supposedly an experienced pilot, so he kept his opinions to himself. He’d already upset the Echani woman twice now. She might not be so pleasant a third time, even if unintentional.

He had braced himself until they landed, holding himself steady. If the caxqettes could fly and walk on land, had wings and claws that could tear flesh asunder, then that meant there was likely some in the water.

‘A good presumption, but unclear as of yet.’

Instead, he fell into a silent, meditative trance, drowning out the sounds of everything else around him as he allowed it to flow in and out of him like a conduit.

‘I am a Jedi,’ he reminded himself as he reopened his eyes. He stepped forward, splitting his saberstaff in two as he prepared to defend everyone with him with his life.

“If they get close, then stay behind me. I’ll keep you all safe. I promise.”

Even though Emere knew her way around most weapons, this was different. Her dark eyes fixated on the crosshairs of the turret while her hands took the grips near the triggers. Even Evelyn’s mastery at piloting didn’t stave off the apprehension the Human felt. As caxqettes flooded into view, she took the liberty to fire. A few of the shots missed her target but she managed to knick one on its wing, the creature spiraling toward their grounded squadmates.

In contrast, Cryo’s marksman’s ability shined the most as she took her twin blasters and fired a barrage of shots into one of the flying monsters. The creature plummeted down, deceased.

Archian watched flying six-legged creatures around. He grabbed a few Polyhedral Dice from his pocket, placed them in the metal box, and started to shake it, but it failed to get their attention. Bait to try and control one of them had failed.

He was feeling lonely after sending his Ronto away - back to the landing zone.

Shistavanen decided to make a connection to the hurt creature which had fallen from the sky. A chance to save a living identity was almost Archian’s priority, and doing so now would give them advantage as well. Red focused his sight just under the white coloured circles where the eyes of the Caxqette were. Eye to eye, synchronization of breathing, nostrils opening and closing at the same time, and losing balance the same as the creature to its lost wing side.

It was sudden. Paws at his head, open snout, catching breath, and closing eyes to not make a connection of the blood taste with his companions. The thirst for the blood, crunch of the bones, the warning for him and his life - felt with his own body… like jumping at one of the crew mates, killing them and enjoying their warm flesh.

As his teammates rallied against the false goddess’ horde, Bril’s attention shifted to the wounded Caxqette that fell within his line of sight. With a severed wing, it’d been robbed of its ability to harass them from the sky, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a threat. Seeing it there, thrashing and screeching in vicious defiance of Archian’s attempt to pacify it using the Force, Bril felt the beguiling presence of the Dark Side return. Like the welcoming hand of a generous host, it led him into a space he always had access to yet seldom entered. And it felt damn good to be there again.

Bril’s hand shot out to seize a large stone with the Force. It soared through the air and stopped only when it was hovering directly over the Caxxie’s head, allowing the Zabrak to swing his hand downward to send the rock crashing into its skull with a crunch and squelch. Were he not familiar with just how ruthless these creatures were, he may have felt pity for it as its limbs continued to spasm long after its brain had been crushed.

With that done, he shifted his attention to the Caxxies who’d yet to approach.

Thunk. The sound was familiar yet unmistakable. Spending much of her time with blasters taught her what a critical mechanical failure was. The results typically ranged from a useless gun to a loss of any limb or body part that was too close. Emere ended up on the further end of that spectrum.

There was no time for the weapon specialist to act as the gun slumped forward, snatching her whole body with it. Her hands had a tight grip on the handles while the rest of her body swung below her. The turret was melting from the inside out. Emere shouted from her position, a fast-thinking Cryo rushing to her aid. When the clone arrived to extend a hand, it was too late for the Human. The weight of the gun and Emere was beyond its capacity. The metal from its anchor screeched as it broke off from the shuttle, sending both plunging into the planet below.

Constantly watching and moving out of the way of the great beasts, how was this more difficult for her? She had to watch the skies and ground, this was a new territory for her. Her teeth gritted as she noticed one of the massive flying beasts was getting too close. She needed to do something-

Her head snapped towards the direction where Emere shouted and it was as if everything had moved slow motion. Split second called for split decisions.

“Harness! NOW!” Evelyn shouted as she lunged the ship forward, careening towards to the ground while Cryo, a good solider quickly slipped herself into a harness that was right by the door. They were used for gunners to shoot down anything and not fall off the ship. The pilot twisted the ship to the side, Emere going through the open door as her body tackling right into Cryo as they both held onto each other. With another violent jolt, Evelyn turned back straightword but was still plumming to the ground below. If she jerk upwards, it would be too much stress so she opt to crash onto the caxquette’s back. The shuttle groaned and it felt like they got hit by a wrecking ball while in vechile, smashing onto a flying beast back. The violent hit from both caused the shuttle to slow down on its descent and she was able to pull up as the flying caxquette crashed into the ground and slid. It stopped before Draca, dust followed and clouding for a moment. It audibly groaned and started to sputter out dirt and rocks it had eaten.

“You two okay?” Evelyn shouted as they went back to the skies.

<@315438760428961793> <@837236610684813342> <@244244163002892288>

The young Jedi’s first instinct was to jump, but the Force had not suggested he was in any kind of Jedi yet. Instead, he stood whilst the ship came to a stop inches from crashing into him, dust kicking up straight in hid face.

He coughed and wiped all the dirt from himself. “Never better!”

He turned his attention towards the caxqette. There was something primal about it, no doubt, though the dark side had an effect on those it touched. He closed his eyes and centred himself in the Force, hoping to see if anything of the former beast remained within.

Darkness.

There was so much of it that Draca almost choked on it. It was old, like the dirt upon which he stood. It felt like the darkness here was part of the creatures very cote, what it lived, breathed, ate, slept and…

Love.

Love for their packages, their children, their home. It was familiar to the young man in a way that made his twin hearts ache for what they were. It was a familiar kind of love, like between parent and child.

Like between Anders and himself.

There it was. A glimmer. There was a chance! All Draca had to do was reach it.

And to reach it, he needed to take a step forward. The closest caxqette was already causing trouble amongst the team. He needed to get its attention.

He ran, then leapt into the air. He somersaulted then landed in front of the beast itself that was attacking Archian. He tugged at tve bandages on his wrist, undoing them, seeing the ancient texts that lay within.

Then the beast struck.

Sharp fangs dug into Draca’s flesh, straight through his armor and to his bone like the teeth of a chainsaw. It was nauseating, his hearts thumped in his ears, unable to keep up with the loss of blood.

And then he put his hand on it.

Draca felt the RAGE. He felt the LOVE. He felt the need to PROTECT THE NEST. BROTHERS KILLED BROTHERS CHILDREN.

He recited ancient words, words once spoken by ancient Jedi. Knowledge that was once lost, forgotten, underrated and abandoned was spoken from his lips.

“I am Jedi. I am the… the Light. I am one with the Force and the Force flows… gah! Through me! By the Force’s will, I cleanse you of your darkness and… and embrace you with the light!”

<@571544963607822336>

The roar of the circling LAAT/i shuttle peppering caxqettes with its mounted weapons, the shrieks and howls of those abominable Sithspawn as they crashed against the Ussunian shores like vicious, life-averse waves, and the sounds of struggle from himself and his own teammates – all these things melted into a single, unrelenting drone of war that robbed Bril of his ability to hear anything else. And within the chaos and clamor of a battle for the fate of the very planet upon which they stood, Bril found a kind of peace. But not peace of mind; he was far too enthralled with the power of the Dark Side to feel anything other than fear, malice …

And rage.

The amber light of Concord’s blade cast an eerie glow upon his face, a tattooed visage twisted into a grimace as he squared off against another of Alla'su’s vile “children.” Bril displayed none of the precise, nigh artful efficiency that characterized his personal fighting style. His attacks were fast but unfocused, better suited for a gravity hammer than the elegant weapon he held in his hand with an iron grip.

And that lack of precision resulted in him missing again. The plasma blade just barely missed one of the creature’s vitals and ricocheted off its armored carapace. Bril was quick to return to his stance, but just as he was about to deliver another strike, he felt something.

NO!

A tremor in the Force more powerful even than the Iridonian groundquakes of his youth rippled through his mind and stopped him in his tracks. It was a voiceless message but unmistakable in its origins: both his master, Ruka, and his beloved, had uttered an unequivocal rebuke of the path he’d chosen to race down. And he sensed that that message from Minnie wasn’t just a rejection of his circumstances, but also a clear warning about the state of her own. He needed to get to her, now.

~

But this karking monstrosity had other plans for him. The sting of a serrated tail breaking through his armored robes and digging into his flesh ripped his mind back to the present.

It was sudden. Paws at his head, open snout, catching breath, and closing eyes to not make a connection of the blood taste with his companions. The thirst for the blood, crunch of the bones, the warning for him and his life - felt with his own body… like jumping at one of the crew mates, killing them and enjoying their warm flesh.

Beast was in front of him… Landed, moving closer, boiling from anger. Blood erupting in the veins, head pulsating, swearing to kill, swearing to feed, swearing to use the body. Blackness and darkness of the body, redness and scarlet of the blood at the ground. Beating wings from furiosity, beating heart from the pain. Revenge flexing under the muscles, anger growing under the skin. The emptiness against the fulfilling of the promise, willing of emptying the mind opposite to thoughts brutally sent inside. Constant rough movement forward to the rooted motionless body, intensive angry breathing closing up at the lungs breathing with regret and bereavement.

Creature lifted its leg, extended its claws, rising the front of the body. Wings beating intensifying, muscles constraining, shortening to implode in the blast.

Wolf Man standing with eyes covered. Paws dropping, staring forward, emotionless, without hate. No happy thought, no willingness of alliance - neutrality and slow relaxation of the muscles.

The claws digging into the face, shallow scars. Possible memory of the muscles? Blow of the wind at that moment? Wobbling of the body? Or not attempted push of the beast arm at the face fur saving from the instant kill.

Now face scared at the cheek, staring at the Draca holding to the beast which was hurting him…

Luka watched from the treeline as their companions faced off against the Caxqettes. They wove their hands together in an intricate gesture and brought their illusions closer to the fray. The phantoms took on the appearance of Bril and Draca in an attempt to draw the Caxqettes away from their intended targets.

“Look at me,” Luka murmured as they moved their puppets around the field. “C'mon now, take the bait.”

Archian looked at Draca who was holding the palm of his hand at the creature. Eyes looking at him, but they weren’t noticing him. Eyes slided down at the creature, refocused, paw extended, step by step getting closer. Touch at the head. Both sides had feelings - fear, pain, and confusion at which side they belong.

Red stepped at the creature’s forelegs, lifted with his tight muscle and grabbing only the wing left. Sat across. Pat the head of Caxqette. Now waiting together. For a fight? For hurting a family? For filling the void?

Emere was forced to be okay after nearly taking a plummet to her demise. She clamored off of the clone soldier and though Evelyn’s flight skills were great, they weren’t perfect enough to stave off the onset soreness she would feel in the coming days. Cryo recovered like a soldier and was back on her feet in seconds. While her squadmate beamed down more of the creatures, Emere looked at the charges. With the beasts attacking, his ship was on its last leg so maybe she could make its last moments worth something.

Emere retrieved the charges and began to line them along the internal portion of the ship. She collected the remote, securing it in her utility belt. The loyalist barely kept her balance as she made her way to the cockpit, hanging on to an innocuous bar that kept her upright. “Wyvern. Think you can get us out of here safe and drop this bird into the batch of these frackers?” She drew up the detonator to show the Echani hybrid, the small blinking light indicating the charges had been set.

Her sharp eyes glanced at the caxquette that was attacking the ship. The ship wasn’t going to last long. Either the women get the caxquette or she needed to land. Then she glanced down to the ground and saw that the comrades on the ground were struggling a bit.

That solidified the decision for the pilot. Emere appeared as her eyes flickered to the remote before back to the canopy window to keep piloting. “You got it, get ready Galo, tell Cryo the same.” Once she estimated there was enough time and that the women were ready, she went low to the ground, safe for the women to jump out. Evelyn watched the pair jump out as she took to the skies once more and saw a group. There doesn’t look like there would be any civvies.

I hope not. Evelyn bit her lower lip. There was no way to tell..

She grabbed a broken piece of metal and locked the control wheel in place at an angle, she ejected the seat.

Evelyn caught up to the women, “Come on, let us go help our allies.” She tilted her head towards the direction as the ship crashed into the ground and the caxquettes were surrounding it and screeching. That was good. It took the bait.

In the midst of his pitched battle against the insectile caxqette, Bril managed to exploit a momentary break in the combat forced by the trio of badass women who rained hell down upon the opposing forces. He raced to the wounded Draca’s position in a Force-empowered blur and didn’t hesitate to lay hands upon his mangled arm to begin healing him.

“None of us are joining the Force today, Draca Zul,” he said as a faint yellowish white glow shone from his palms. Although there wasn’t enough time to completely heal his wounds, he managed to restore the man’s limb back to a functional state.

“Now we’re even.”

He extended his free hand to help pull his fellow Zabrak to his feet. Bril stared at him for a moment as if he were searching his very soul. Then, he smiled before speaking in Zabraki.

“The ancestors have shown me that Vysh is on our side, brother.”

<@837236610684813342>

Draca blinked for half a second before glancing at the hand Bril had offered him. It was strange how tbe two of them could be at each other’s throats one second and then offering to help the next. It was like the Force was playing with them somehow. Bril never owed him anything to begin with.

However, he did return the smile, clasping Bril’s hand before giving his response.

In Zabraki, of course.

“Then we had better not disappoint.”

And so, Bril turned to face the Caxqette that he’d been fighting, and lifted his hand to seize the creature in the Force and yanked it toward them. Like a vornskr pouncing on its prey, he lunged forward to deliver the first strike, executing a diagonal cut between the chitinous plates of its abdomen. He held it aloft so his Jedi counterpart could attack it, as well.

Thank tbe Force, or Vysh, or whoever for Zabrak physiology. Whilst he was far from 100%, Draca was much more able to tolerate the minor wounds compared to the massive gashes that led to his arm going limp before Bril healed it.

His fellow Zabrak didn’t need to speak for the Jedi to understand his intention. Draca split his hilt in two, holding a separate rainbow-bladed lightsaber in each of his hands. With the Force empowering each move, he went to work neutralising each of the caqxettes many limbs. Like hell he was making the same mistake twice!

By the time he was done, the beast was unable to stand on its own power. Grazes on every leg, singeing.

Draca turned off his weapons, placing tbe separate hilts on the floor beside his feet. He undid the bandages on his arms before turning to Bril.

“May I?” He asked.

HIs eyes shifted to the bandages, to Draca’s gaze, then to the disabled caxqette. “By all means.”

Bril didn’t relinquish his hold on it in the Force, just in case.

Draca placed both of his hands on the caqxette, ensuring this time that both bandages were in a good position.

He spoke the words, the ritual, like a chant of the Force meant to bring peace and restore balance. There was a shift in the energy of the caqxette as darkness was replaced with the warm embrace of the light.

With the Force on his side, Draca left Atchian and Luka to do their thing. He’d done all he could do to help the caqxette. It was up to them now.

He followed after Bril, ready to offer whatever assistance his fellow Zabrak needed.

Archian watched how Draca pacified another Caxqette - but this one was at a higher pain level than his mount. Slowly directed ridden creature to get closer to nervous and squeaking from pain Caxqette. He assessed the wounds at its legs, while at the same time calming down his own creature, which started to feel the pain of the other one. He prepared necessary equipment, lifted himself up and while balancing on one leg, made a step at the side of another creature - he tried to avoid getting close to its jaws and still functioning dangerous parts of the body. It didn’t like it and made a step to the side, making Red do deep twine between them too. Shistavanen whistled, mount got closer again, lifting him and letting get at the back of still hurting Caxqette. He leaned to the side, using the Sythflesh Dispenser around the lightsaber cut, and dispensing some of the liquid from Bacta Tank at the wound to speed up the recovery.

The creature calmed down, layed down at the belly, gaining back the energy, mourning the death of other creatures - making it impossible to move.

Archian made a step to the side, getting at his mount. He looked at the Draca and Brill getting away into the town direction.

“If anyone needs a lift, now is a good time to get on this beauty.” He said, patting Caxqette at the back’s space between front legs. Emre and Evelyn got closer and climbed up, positioning each behind each other. Archian gently squeezed sides of the mount with his hips, and the creature started to follow the track left by Draca and Bril.

<@244244163002892288> <@315438760428961793> <@216702440140046336>

Bril was hip to the attack and, upon resisting it, shot the Caxqette a bird. “Deny,” he said, emulating a certain big-headed Nautolan hybrid he knew.

The moment they arrived, Evelyn darted around. Check the areas, check her team, open exits, check-

The beast stiffened between her legs.

“We should get off. Not sure how much longer it would listen to you.” She pointedly said towards Archian. Maybe it would be best to go ahead and kill it while it was still complacent to avoid it turn against them. The pilot slid down as she made her distant from the caxquette and approached the pair of Zabraks while she looked around.

Those… filmy things were concerning. Her head tilted in a way as she tried to see a better angle into the home. Were those eggs? She glanced over to the docks and noticed there was more of them.

“I think those are eggs, we should destroy them but-” The water made her nervous. She used to go to the beach often, thanks to Aketa but she had never seen the waters in such a frenzy, even when flying over a raging storm.

“There are more beasts lurking under the water I believe-” Her eyes darted towards Draca and she tensed. Was he… under the Song?

“Are you with us, Mr. Zul?”

<@315438760428961793> <@571544963607822336> <@837236610684813342> <@1056685516441006091> <@244244163002892288>

“Why do you teach me the light?”

He couldn’t have been any older than eight, maybe nine, if he could recall correctly. He had been curious. He’d been under Anders’ care for just over a year. A year under the guidance and tutelage of a Sith attempting to do what, quite frankly, should have been impossible…

Teach him to be a Jedi.

And of course, the Chiss had seen through the meaning of the question, as he always did.

“Let me answer your question with a question, young Draca,” Anders smiled at him, clasping his hands together as sat in his seat. “Are you particularly drawn to the dark side?”

It took a moment of deep thinking for Draca to comprehend what that meant. Deep down, however, when he searched inside himself, he knew the answer.

“No,” the Zabrak boy lightly shook his head.

“Precisely,” Anders said, almost triumphantly. “People are typically drawn to one side or the other. Why? Because that is how the Force demands it to be. It demands balance. I do not choose the dark side because it is evil, or because I wish to tip the cosmic scale of the universe one way instead of the other. I choose it because it is the dark side, no more than you choose the light for the very same reason. We are drawn to it like wampas to fresh meat. It is not the side we choose in the Force that determines whether we are good or evil, but the way we choose to use that power. Never forget that. There can be pleasant Sith and corrupt Jedi.”

Draca had a lot to think about. However, he still had one more question.

“Can’t people change sides?”

“Indeed,” Anders confirmed with a small nod. “Though, you must always ask yourself. Was it forced upon them? Or were they destined for it all along?”

That’s right. Draca had attempted to shift the balance in the caqxettes. Yes, it had worked with one, but who was he to try and turn something from dark to light if that was the way the Force had intended it?

What had he done?

Bril didn’t hesitate in stepping forward and pointing a closed fist toward the Caxqette that had tried and failed to ensnare him within its song. There was a mechanical click followed by a high-pitched shriek caused by six of his vambrace’s whistling birds exploding from their compartment. As the explosives zipped through the air, they danced around one another while following their spiraling trajectory before converging on the Caxxie’s location.

Draca was not responding and Evelyn doesn’t have time for this. She brought up her combat boot before stomping onto Draca’s foot with enough force for it to hurt and maybe a small bruise but nothing more.

Emere, naturally, was apprehensive about riding the beast. Archian had subdued it enough to be their steed into town. It was that or walking. The LAAT/i had become a Caxxqette oven which was a fine use for the shuttle that survived two attacks from their foes.

While Bril and Draca did their Force stuff ahead, their Shistavanen squad-mate guided the beast safely to town.

She was all-too glad to get off of it, surprised that it hand not turned into a wild bull to throw off its unwelcome guests. As the Illohan dismounted the creature, she heard that shrill song reach out and try to overtake her mind.

It reminded her that if the beast behind her suddenly decided her, Evelyn, and Archian were dinner she would take care of it herself. Then there was the growl.

In an instant Emere swiveled on her boots and drew her scatter gun. She aimed it right at its face, but Archian was in her way.

“Let me put it out of its misery.”

What had he done? He’d made a mistake. One should never tamper with the natural flow of the Force.

“Ow!”

He felt Evelyn’s hard, probably steeltoe capped boot plant itself on his, by comparison, unprotected foot, snapping him from his daze. He gave Evelyn a sad look, like a hurt puppy.

Luckily, it snapped him to his senses.

He split his saberstaff in two, igniting the rainbow blades and twirling them in his hands like they were glowing batons on a runway. He jumped, spinning mid-air and launched his two lightsabers towards the large, singing caqxette.

His fellow Zabbro Zabrak needed his help, as well as Emere, Evelyn, Archian. He couldn’t let them down.

Draca guided his sabers with deft hand movements towards the beast, slicing at whatever openings he could find.

Emere lowered her gun after Archian seemed to get control of the thing. Her jaw was taught, her helmeted gaze fixed on it for a moment longer. She couldn’t be the only one thinking this beast was a liability.

Joining the rest of the group, Emere didn’t hesitate to dump two scattergun shots into the creature Bril and Draca were attacking. She thought about a third shot but it seemed excessive since the thing was more done than a bantha roast.

Evelyn saw the look that Draca was giving her. Was he seriously trying to guilt her for snapping him back to reality?

“You will be fine.”

Though she was relieved to see that he was okay. Was it something else or the Song? Bril had got onto the caxquette back with fluidity and possibly, guide from the Force and started attacking along with Draca. Emere, as always, was quick with the draw and starting to hit it with slugbullets and her aim was impeccable, not hitting Draca or Bril. Evelyn drew her Sith poison-laced sword and watched carefully for any weak spots. She believes she had discover a few. The pilot danced forward and went for a stab into the caxquette.

The opening created by his teammates’ attacks left the Caxqette open to an attack on its blind spot. Bril, eager to end this before it became another prolonged battle, leaped through the air with the Force and landed on creature’s back. After quickly searching its body for weak points, he settled on the collection of burned flesh around the base of its wings and plunged his amber-colored saber into gnarled, charred flesh beneath its chitinous armor. The blade, aimed for its spined, ripped a painful screech from its jaws, and sent the caxxie into a fit of violent thrashing to throw the Zabrak off its back.

Bril landed on his feet gracefully just a few feet away without ever losing sight of his target. As soon as he landed, he thrust his hand forward, releasing a powerful burst of Force energy that collided with the Caxxie and sent it skipping across the ground like a stone across a lake. The sound of its body breaking against with every impact punctuated the sound of blaster fire.

Evelyn exhaled softly as the beast had fallen. Her eyes glanced over to the nests.

“We need to destroy the nests.” Evelyn sheathed her sword and pulled out her dagger as she started to make her way towards one.

Bril, upon hearing that comment, felt like he’d taken a stun baton to the chest.

“No!” he protested, shouting at first, but quickly lowering his volume to check his tone. “We can’t. Not yet.”

A hand moved so he could pinch the bridge of his nose. “Minnie and I have a bond in the Force. A constant and very powerful one. I can feel her, right now. And I can sense that they’ve … done something to her. Mentally shackled her to their hivemind somehow. We can’t risk what destroying the hive without freeing her first will do to her.”

Evelyn was startled at his shout. She looked back over to him and waited for his explanation.

At first, she was shocked that Minnie… allowed it? She allowed- She really loved him. For a moment, Evelyn’s heart swelled. It was really possible. Minnie was finally at peace-

No. Evelyn’s mind snapped back into reality. Minnie wasn’t, at least not right now. She was taken and in danger. Her jaw tightened as the grip on the hilt of the dagger tensed. Her knuckles turned white. She wished she was taken and not Minnie. She had no one- Minnie had him.

“Where is she?”

“Bril, do you have anything that belongs to Minnow on you right now?” Draca inquired. He summoned his lightsabers back to his hands and deactivated them, placing the weapons back on his belt.

<@1056685516441006091>

Bril watched Evelyn’s face change in response to his words. He was aware that she and Minnow were close, especially when they served together. He wondered what she was thinking.

“She’s over there,” he said, his voice falling as he pointed to the cocoon-like structure near the docks.

This would also serve as an answer to Draca, whom he figured was planning to use the Force in the same way he had earlier.

<@837236610684813342>

Evelyn eyes widen as he just casually pointed to where she was.

“Then go get her,” her voice actually had an undertone of slight confusion. She glanced to other … nests and started to see similarities. Oh.

Oh.

“Guys, there are people in them! Be sure to extract them carefully!” Evelyn went to the nearest cocoon shape and put her sith dagger away because it had poison. Instead, she used one of the throwing knives and carefully started to cut away the cocoon to get the person inside.

<@837236610684813342> <@1056685516441006091> <@315438760428961793> <@571544963607822336> <@227960499948486666> <@244244163002892288>

Evelyn refrained from cussing under her breath as she looked around inside the house. The webbing.. the nesting- Was that a child?! Her heart twisted. She immediately gently placed the first infected she found and placed them on the floor by their nest in case they needed to stay close to keep them from being in distress. She ran over to the child like shape. Evelyn brought her arm up, opened the small metal slate, and started to speak into it.

“This is Captain Wyvern reporting, I need medics and a shuttle to my location as soon as possible. There are no hostiles at the moment. We have many egg-infected victims here.” She kept an ear out for any responses from her comm as she started to work on the child-like shape cocoon.

Protect. Help. Innocent. Jedi!

A thousand voices infiltrated his thoughts, begging for help. The weak, the mild, the innocent. This nest, this hive. It had done nothing wrong. He couldn’t yet feel the influence of the dark side. Who were they to destroy it?

Draca moved with a speed that if anyone blinked, they would have missed it. Whilst Evelyn was busy with her comms, the Jedi spun, twisting, extending, his foot smacking into the daggers in her hand out of them.

The Jedi followed up by sending one saber, ignited in all its rainbow glory, soaring towards Bril with the Force.

<@1056685516441006091>

Evelyn’s jaw clenched to keep from yelling out in surprise at the sudden hit of her hand which had her drop one of her throwing knives onto the floor. Without a moment of hesitation, she close the gap between the two, bent her arm and went for an elbow strike at Draca’s jaw.

Draca felt it, the physical blow, but not before he saw it out of his peripheral vision. He staggered back, thankful that his Zabrak physiology let his shrug off the sudden pain better than most.

Emere glanced around the nest they were in, a sudden chill creeping up her spine. They were people. Cocooned and egg infested. Evelyn boldly cut into one of the pods, the revealed contents causing the loyalist’s heart sinking into her gut. It was a child. It was good to know that these beasts didn’t discriminate because that meant she didn’t have to either.

After a moment, the Echani had radioed to the LZ before anyone else could. Her perceptive eyes only caught a glimpse of Draca’s swift movement to knock Evelyn’s knife from her hand. Thinking fast, she stored her scattergun and moved to Evelyn’s aid against their hypnotized team member, taking his distraction from the Hybrid’s elbow to throw a boot heavy foot into the back of his knee…

Fool him once shame on you, fool him twice, shame on him. Anders would never live it down if he’d let himself be struck twice in a row, Force or no Force.

The screaming in his mind intensified. These people, his teammates, had they lost their minds!? These creatures were innocent, pure, deserved to live. Why did they insist on killing them!?

Draca twirled out of the way of Enere’s boot. Even without the Force, this particular Jedi was as nimble as a sand panther on the hunt and landed gracefully on his feet. He took his K'Thri stance, and attempted to summon his other lightsaber back to his hand.

So be it. As a Jedi, he would do what he must.

The slippery Jedi’s movement irked scattergun toting woman. Her gaze moved with him as he summoned his lightsaber back to himself. If he wanted to stand off, she would give him just that. To even the playing field, she retrieved her hunting knife, staggered her foot stance, and raised both hands.

While she locked onto her target she saw Evelyn creeping behind him.

She counted three heartbeats before she shouted, “Now!” to her Echani team mate. The woman narrowly achieved to get the Jedi into a grapple hold before Emere came in with an attack of her own, kicking her boot up into the Zabrak’s chin…

Fool him three times, shame on you again. Evelyn had a hold of him, yes, but all that meant was Draca now had a platform in which to extend his body out of the way of the kick. He managed to dodge, the song singing sweetly in his ears with each small victory.

He forced himself out of Evelyn’s grip and spun, once, twice, thrice, building momentum in Emere’s direction, planting a hard kick in the Human’s upper chest.

The moment his boot connected with Emere, something snapped inside his head. The song, once soothing, sounded like a screech. The suggestions, once obvious, suddenly seemed blasphemous.

His eyes widened, panic striking his twin hearts worse than any strike from the blade of a lightsaber. He felt sorrow, then the righteous fury of being turned against his allies.

His chin hurt too. That was something.

He also, still had one lightsaber on him. These people could still be saved.

“Bril!” Draca cried out. “I’m not under the spell anymore!” <@1056685516441006091>

To prove his point, he carefully sliced into the nearest egg to him with almost surgical precision, carefully removing the person inside.

Draca’s demonstration combined with a brief perusal of his intentions using the Force confirmed that whatever hold the Caxxies’ song held on him had been broken. Good. Things could’ve gone a lot worse with the young Jedi under their control, but his team had acted quickly and efficiently to neutralize him. It also helped that even with his temporary shift in allegiances, he hadn’t tried to kill them so much as disable them.

“Good. Now we can begin carefully extracting survivors from these pods,” he said, “I’m going to free Minnie.”

“My other saber is by your feet if you need it.”

Not that Bril did. He had his own, perfectly working lightsaber. Still, given what had just happened, it was only polite to offer.

In the commotion, he hadn’t realized that Draca’s saber had landed anywhere near him.

“Thanks, Draca,” he nodded appreciatively to his fellow Zabrak before turning to pluck the saber from the ground.

Draca’s kick sent the weapon specialist into the ground with a grunt. While she began to rise back to her feet, the song rang in her ears again. Though this time, she could not resist the talons of its persuasion. In the span of a breath, the song enveloped the inner recesses of her mind. The children, the children… her daughter. Morra. Her flesh and blood. She was in danger. Her very heartbeat in this wicked galaxy. If she was no longer there… Emere would have no reason to be. She needed to protect her. She was her shield and armor. No matter the cost.

At the sound of tearing, Emere snapped her head to the source. It had decided to tear into her daughter’s abode, drawing out her limp body. Her susceptible mind was now putty in the hands of darkness. The same alluring sensation that she felt earlier in their mission snatched her into it. A vitriolic hatred and vehemence consumed her, her eyes becoming bloodshot instantly, her skin hot like the gases of Bespin. She screamed and ripped her helmet off, the protective shell falling to the ground with a clatter.

The gesture was done mechanically and expertly. The muscles in her arms obeyed the muscle memory. As soon as the scattergun was drawn, there were three pops in the direction of the monstrosity who would cause her daughter harm. Kill, kill, kill, was the chant in her mind as she sought to decapitate the Jedi.

Evelyn sighed with relief as Draca was back to them. He didn’t even ask questions, just went to go help the victims that were in the nest. Evelyn followed- her footsteps abruptly stopped. The Song. It was becoming more beautiful. Evelyn grimaced as she tried to fight it off. Don’t listen-

‘It hurts-’ Evelyn’s breath felt like it was stolen for a moment as the memory came up. She made the decision to not be a mother. She was not capable and-

She’s happy. She’s thriving. She’s in a great family. She desperately tried to think of all the photos of her growing up and all the conversations she had with her cousin. The Song was making it so difficult to remember. What color was her hair?

Blonde, it was blonde- The memory faded as her eyes flickered to the nests. The babies. The innocent. No. What color was her eyes? … Her eyes. She couldn’t remember anymore. The Song had taken over. Where was she? Where did she go? Frantically, Evelyn looked around. Protect. The nests were in danger.

She needed to protect them.

That baby was mine. And I gave her up. I am not making the same mistake again. Her eyes flickered over to Archian and that wave of blonde hair-

Evelyn drew her blaster, aimed at Archian, squeezed the trigger and fired a few shots. She has murder in her eyes and the most cold expression on her face.

Stay away from **my* baby.*

<@571544963607822336>

Archian watched the battle nearby, also noticed that most of the companions snapped from the song’s commands. The fellow Caxqette also didn’t show any signs of mind control, not including hesitation from the “hive” feelings of death, pain and breaking the eggs. These could be still observed as the beast was moving from side to side, stepping nervously around, and trying to pull closer to the source of the song.

Archian bended over the Caxqette’s head, and whistled close to its ear. Patted its head, and jumped off next to the nearest pod of the eggs. Scalpel was already in his paw, and started to cut the surface, with careful extraction of the hostages. He whistled again to the creature and pointed at the next nearest nest of the eggs. With hesitation the monster walked there, carefully lifted the pod, and started carrying it to the Shistavanen who in the meantime was checking hostages for the implanted eggs inside them. One after one Archian was removing them from the bodies, trying not to damage hosts as much.

Sudden feeling of watching eyes, hidden aggression, and sound of pulled trigger. All if this could have been only another Shistavanen - but he was mistaken, it was the half Echani - the only who came was Evelyn.

“For Mother Sake!” Archian shouted while pushing down the body of the freshly removed hostage with one arm, pulling the cutted off eggs out from the body with another, and this way safing own head from the deadly shot. He looked straight at still staring at him, full of control overtaken from the song partly Epicanthix.

“I swear I will throw away Jori’s drumsticks if I come back home from this mission.” He murmured aggressively.

To say that the visions he saw, these glimpses into the past of both Draca’s and another person who he didn’t recognize, were intense was an understatement. Flooding his consciousness like a wave breaking against the Ussunian shoreline, it took every ounce of his concentration and will not to lose himself within the memories. From Tahiri to Nora, to Cora and Ruka, each one of his masters had offered guidance on how best to manage his natural aptitude for the coveted ability known as tal vordrax. He relied upon that training to maintain his composure in the light of such a powerful set of visions. Minnie needed him, and nothing was going to stop him from saving her.

Speaking of which, he ignited the saber and wasted no time in carefully cutting her out of her cocoon. But it seemed that the Force wasn’t finished showing him things just yet. An unsettling sensation formed in the back of his mind, followed by a silent alarm to act going off. When he turned to see what the source of the feeling was, his eyes widened to see Emere aiming her slugthrower at Draca’s head.

“No!”

His hand shot out and yanked backward to seize and pull the other Zabrak with the Force, a desperate – and nearly too late – maneuver that resulted in him taking a shot, but at least it saved his life. The unmistakable sound of burning flesh made his head snap back to where Minnie was, and he cursed himself beneath his breath when he realized he’d grazed her with the saber. It wasn’t bad but would likely scar. After pulling her from the pod, he hastily applied the single pacta pouch he carried in his Envoy bag before turning to face Emere with Draca’s saber in hand.

In that short time, more shots rang out – the result of Evelyn firing at Archian. Thankfully, the man managed to dodge the shots without suffering any damage.

His eyes narrowed. “You two are being controlled. You need to snap out of it.”

But he knew it wouldn’t be so easy.

<@315438760428961793> <@216702440140046336>

Dark eyes darted from her initial target to the other atrocity who would dare touch her Morra. Her dark eyes somehow seemed darker, pupils undiscernible from irises. She let out another guttural scream, her lips lifted into a sneer, while she charged for her new target. Without aiming she haphazardly fired a blast of pellets into the other Zabrak’s hand to disarm him.

There was something different about her, something that demanded his attention even while she attempted to gun him down. A seed of potential he’d failed to notice before. Once dormant, now forced to blossom by the caxxie’s interference … by whatever it was they showed her.

“Fascinating,” he muttered to himself while watching her raise her weapon again. Fingers flexed to summon the Force again. His intent had been to pull the rifle from her hands, but in his curiosity, he underestimated how tightly she held it. At least it pulled the weapon’s barrel off course enough to avoid a hit to one of his vitals, leaving the fast-moving slug to explode against his armor for superficial wounds.

Pain. The ringing drowned out all other noise, a parable chorus of numbing electrical impulses brought Draca to his knees and then onto his side.

Apparantly, the Force had other ideas for him today. It had acted through Bril, who had saved his life through the narrowest of margins.

He’d have to thank him later.

Even still, he was sitting in a pool of his own blood, seeping, leaking out of him like he was a broken tap for his own life essence. It was an odd sensation, staring into the pool beneath his legs. If he wasn’t a Zabrak, he’d likely have passed out by this point just from the agony alone.

At least there was something he could do about it.

The Force answered his call, if only barely. The most of his minor wounds began to heal, though his most serious afflictions would take more than a quick injection of the Force to repair. He poured every ounce of himself into the effort.

He went into a meditative trance of sorts. He focused on the here and now, rather than what had already occurred, or what would occur.

He would not die today. For Melissa, for Anders, for the Force. It had decided he should live, and live he shall!

Weak, he forced himself upright, blood-stained robes and all, heavy, ragged breathing wheezing out of his lungs, but still. Very. Much. ALIVE.

Her eyes widened in fear and horror while her heart twisted and her breath caught. The egg.

“No!” Evelyn shrieked as she tossed the blaster and decided to get more personal. She ran and tackled him down to the ground, a small sand dust kicked up. She was not going to let him hurt the babies anymore. Evelyn’s hand clenched into a fist and went straight for his temple.

Emere hissed seeing anything less than mangled carnage from her shot. While her grip may have been firm against her opponent’s use of the Force, it was no match for the grip that seized her arms and pinned them to her side. She fought and struggled against the power that held her while she snarled and shouted obscenities at the object of her constriction. In her struggling, blood trickled down her nose; she could not stop until there was peace and Morra was safe again.

Archian took hard her body over his, trembling over the hostage, rolling next to emotionless Caxqette doing nothing and not interested in intervening. When Evelyn positioned herself over him, paw was already at the whip. Closing up first at his aimed previously from the gun head was getting closer to his eyes. Swiftly moved the whip, tangled arm half way to his forehead and pulled which rolled Evelyn off from him to the side.

What’s next? He thought trying to not provoke her with any words.

Evelyn grunt as she landed on her side. The Epicanthix was absolutely fuming as she bent her knee and attempt to kick Archian at his side but he was at enough distant to not get kicked.

It was hazel.

Evelyn exhaled sharply at the memory of a beautiful baby in her arms. Blonde hair, hazel eyes… red face from the crying when she entered in the world. Then her cousin holding the baby and crying with her husband as they held her. There was so much love in that room.

She’s so loved.

Evelyn swallowed as she look to Archian. Her head was spinning and it hurts. It felt as if she experienced a sudden and rough drop in cabin pressure.

“A-are you okay?” She stuttered for the first time in her life. “Did I hurt you?”

“I’m fine - maybe a broken rib or two. You are hard as rock.” Replied with calmness. He stood up, dusted off armor, and hung whip to his side. “Most importantly - are you alright?” He started to assess her body with his medical eyes, trying to avoid staring at the more sensitive parts of the female body.

“Physically, yes.” Evelyn replied honestly, concerned about his broken ribs. Her mental health can be checked in much later. She started to check their surroundings and was surprised to see Draca down. Panic swelled- what-

Then she can see Bril was having Emere in some kind of grasp as Evelyn winced. So they both were under the Song? Bril seemed to have Emere at the moment so she made no hesitation to rush to Draca’s side. Her eyes were full of worry but her expression stayed calm. She hastily grabbed her bacta container and started to apply to his wounds.

<@837236610684813342>

Archian automatically followed Evelyn’s steps, after noticing with her that Draca is hurt. He kneeled and supported them both by slowly applying liquid from Bacta Tank at Evelyn’s bandages, making sure that everything is in the right amounts to cover Draca’s head and chest.

<@216702440140046336> <@837236610684813342>

Warm, then straight to cold. Draca couldn’t suppress the shiver that shot down his spine when the cooling bacta touched his skin. The nest around them pulsed with life. What were they to do?

He closed his eyes, looking to the one thing he knew could give him guidance in this moment.

The Force.

Truthfully, if Draca were any other Jedi, he might had been content with their destruction. Yet, he had felt their love, their pack, their need to protect one another. They were no monsters. They were animals looking out for one another. They didn’t deserve death just because of what they were.

That begged the question of how to separate the caxquettes from their hosts without killing either side?

Memories flushed his brain like the answer came straight from the Living Force itself. His eyes shot open.

“We can save them…” He said, a small smile forming on his lips. “We can save them all. Hosts and caxquettes alike. The Force, it wants them all saved and I think I know how to do it-AGH!”

Draca attempted to stand, but hunched over in pain, his head and chest thrombin, even with the bacta. “Bril… I need your help! Same with you two and Emere. I can’t do this alone. I’m too weak. Please, I know how it must sound, but I need you to trust me.”

<@1056685516441006091> <@571544963607822336> <@216702440140046336> <@315438760428961793>

“I agree. Do what you need, I also have an idea.” Archian said and emptied the rest of the Bacta Tank, leaving enough liquid at the bottom and walls of the container. He whistled to Caxqette which brought the next nest, and Archian slowly started to place eggs from it inside of the tank and did the same with the eggs taken out from the hosts. “If you need me to do anything, I will follow your steps while doing this.” Archian added to Draca while focusing at the surgical moves.

<@837236610684813342>

It was a lot to ask, and they had to put their trust in him that it would work. The Force guided his hand, telling him what to do. The Force flowed through everything, right? So why not Evelyn, Archian, and Emere too when she wakes up?

“I know a way to separate the eggs from the hosts without either dying. Everything gets a chance to live. Everything.”

Bril didn’t budge for a half moment, but the look in his told the story.

He had felt it too.

The bandages on Draca’s arms, whilst bloodstained, were at least somewhat still intact. He slowly undid them, his hands shaking. Once Archian had seen it, he immediately rushed to help undo them.

“Thank you…”

He offered one end to Bril, who took one end, and to Archian who took the other.

“Head to opposote sides of the nest. We need to divide and conquer.”

Once the three of them were in position. Draca closed his eyes and began chanting.

‘There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no fear; there is power. We are the heart of the Force. We are the revealing fire of light. We are the mystery of darkness. In balance with chaos and harmony, Immortal in the Force.’

It was like the Living Force itself pulsed around them like the beating of a heart.

‘There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no fear; there is power. We are the heart of the Force. We are the revealing fire of light. We are the mystery of darkness. In balance with chaos and harmony, Immortal in the Force.’

All three began chorusing the ritual, the power growing, stronger, undeniable.

‘There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no fear; there is power. We are the heart of the Force. We are the revealing fire of light. We are the mystery of darkness. In balance with chaos and harmony, Immortal in the Force.!’

It was like there was whooshing in their ears, but not of a song, nor a whispering in their minds, but like a soft, flowing river that warmed the soul and put everything at ease.

“OK, we can separate them now,” Draca said, approaching the first caxxie/host pairing and separating them both.

<@571544963607822336> <@1056685516441006091>