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There was quiet, if only for a brief moment.
Arx’s light had already begun to fade, as twilight crept in to create a blanket of dusk. The air was heavy with the scent of blood, with antiseptic and bleach attempting to cover that and the rancid odor of bursted organs and ichor as maintenance crew scrambled frantically to clear away the bodies of the first wave of spider-like creatures that had attacked.
The base should have been safe behind the heptagonal perimeter of six-foot fences, each lined with flood lights pointed out and swiveling in an attempt to track motion from the tree-line and the darkness behind it. The defense turrets, though limited, could handle a few targets, but the sheer number that seemed to be swarming in from every direction had overwhelmed them.
Mechanics worked to refuel and refit, but time was fast fleeting.
Red and white lights cycled and circled to cast flashes of color across the otherwise grayscale base. The warning klaxons, even, seemed ragged as their siren alerts became dull ambiance to the yelling and screaming of researchers and rescue personnel alike.
A shuttle had docked and was being filled up quickly with research equipment and a few injured bodies. Off to the side, a single medic and her assistant droids worked tirelessly to do what they could for the injured.
Wyndell Tyris’s emerald eyes moved from the shuttle to the group of gathered Envoys. Right, he had a job to do.
Wyn approached the group of Envoys that had been either in the right or wrong place at the exact wrong time, depending on their respective stance or theory on luck and fortune.
“Alright gang. I won’t sugar coat this, but, in typical military efficiency, the Iron Forces are still scrambling to get backup routed to this location. There are no illusions that we can hold this base. However, the Exarch—first of his name, high in his chair, stupid of hair, long may he rain, etcetera—has given orders for us to get as many people out, and to get as much of their research out as well.”
“Shuttles will be touching down, so its our job to keep them clear. So far we’ve just seen the eight-legged freaks. Resistant bodies to energy and bladed attacks, but seem to be weak against thermal damage. Also their limbs…can’t do much without ‘em…”
As he spoke, his hands casually drew each of his blaster pistols with practiced ease, idly twirling them about his fingers like they were a pen or stylus to fidget with. He quickly explained that reinforcements would be coming, but they would need to hold out as long as possible.
“Let’s get to it. Pair up, or pick a side…because as the famous line from the classic holovid said: drums in the deep…they are coming…”
It was a partial misquote, but he figured they’d get the picture.
“Go, go go!”
“…would'nt be the Iron Forces if they didn’t rely on every Bothan and Biss to save their hides while they gather forces” Titius was his usual sarcastic self. “Here, K9, lets go make some noise.” “Perhaps you could try to maintain a modicum of care for the environment this time? It appears to be aiding us for the moment.” The gangly KX series garnered a flagrant glare from Titius.
Tisto smacked his fist together, electricity sparking between them for a second as the boxer smiled. “Keep people safe while evac is going on,” Tisto chuckled. “I can do that.”
Saal stood, helmet in hand, next to Dex, his IG Assassin unit. He studied his peers, particularly Tahiri. Ever the opportunist, Saal considered the potential benefits of partnering with the Quastrix, recognizing that this could be the chance to make an ally within the ranks of his Clan’s leadership. He let out a sigh before placing his helmet on his head. The helmet let out a raspy hiss, sealing the Sith within his armor.
“Yessir!” said Meero after Wyn finished briefing the group on the situation. The little Kushiban was feeling nervous so he took a moment to take deep breaths. “Alright, you can do this. Just need to hold the fort until evac is done.” He then looked at the little blue-striped L0-LA droid hovering right next to him. “Did you have to be here for this? I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“Are you kidding?” The little droid beeped. “I’m not leaving your side after you left me behind last time! Besides, you never know when you’ll need a mini buzz saw or floodlight! Then what will you do without me?”
“Hehe… Thank you, Lols.” Meero chuckled and extended his hand towards the little droid. Lola then gently bumped his hand simulating a high five. Meero shook off the nervous feeling and adjusted his glasses. “Alright then.” He then took out his energy bow and activated it. The bow expanded from its compact state and pinkish energy began flowing through it, ready to be fired. “They might be resistant to energy, but it’ll annoy them at least. Just need to keep them at bay. Let’s go find a good spot.”
The warning klaxons seemed to find their voice, lifting up through the droning metrnonme to spike a fresh alert.
INCOMING HOSTILES DETECTED AT: NORTH WEST, NORTH EAST, EAST, WEST.
The petite Togruta glanced at the Envoy’s gathered, smiling and nodding to everyone respectively, giving chuckle at Titius’ comment on the Iron Force. Same old Titius. She also recognized Warrior Saal Kesyk, even though he wasn’t in her house, he was in Plagueis, so she still knew of him. She gave a slight bow, respecting that another member of her clan was here. All the while she listened closely to Marick’s brother, Wyn. He definitely didn’t have the same air to him as his brother, but she saw they both had that same confidant bravado. Smirking and shaking her head at the misquoted line, as it was one of her favorite holovids, but she didn’t correct him, understanding the reference. Hold this place, for as long as it takes. The sleek Vornskr sat on his hunches, awaiting patiently for her command, and brightly colored Varactyl kept looking around at the chaos of the evacuation, warbling and chirping every one in while.
She had already connected with her companions, so that she could call to them at a moments notice. When the warning klaxons alerted, she nodded, stretching her neck till one side popped, “Well then, let’s defend and protect till we’ve got re-enforcements. Not the first time I’ve been in an outnumbered situation.” She sprang backwards and flipped up into the air, landing perfectly on Kerra’s saddle. “Let’s get into position,” her jaw set with a solemn look, however her sulfuric eyes, for those who were quick enough to notice, looked almost sorrowful for the task ahead. Nodding to Wyn, she immediately headed north-west.
Nicfer had been cursing her luck. First she was paired up with Steven Jerryson on a basic cargo run, and then the little idiot had taxed the engines too hard while she stepped away for one moment to get a bite to eat. Forcing them to land here. HERE of all places and times. Wrong place, wrong time. Always the wrong place and the wrong time. Now she was being drafted into base defense. She was more spy and saboteur. Less front-line warrior. As Wyn spoke, Nicfer could not stop shooting daggers at Steven who was hopping into their newly repaired shuttle and helping with getting it ready to help evacuate. Lucky poodoo.
The Zeltron checked her blaster and checked to make sure her gauntlet was interfacing with her visor auto-targeting system. She did not need to check her saber hooked to the back of her belt.
“Sure. Don’t have too much of a choice as my ride was just stolen. So screw it, I guess I can take out my frustration out on these things. Since I have been told I need to…”
She does air quotes.
“Be nicer to Steven and be more of a team player.”
She left out the part she wanted to add, ‘even if it means dying’.
“Dibs on the west side. Who knows. Maybe I can… I dunno… Flank them or something.”
“I’m just glad you aren’t taking your frustrations out on me,” said Saal, amused by the Zeltron.
“My droid can provide support on the east wing,” he said, turning to face Dex. “I know you’re afraid of spiders, but I’m sure you can hold them back for the time being.”
“You can’t see it, but I’m rolling my photoreceptors at you,” quipped the droid, before turning and marching towards his assigned perimeter. The bone-adorned assassin drew both of his blasters to his forcep-like hands as he continued onward.
“I’ll go support Tahiri in the northwest section,” said the Sith as he moved his right hand to hover beside his waist. In response, the black hilt of his lightsaber flew to his grip. He pondered the situation as he began making his way to reinforce the northwest perimeter.
I have a feeling there is a little bit more to these creatures than we are being told. The likelihood of a naturally occurring mutation that causes resistance to blaster fire seems low to me.
True to his nature, the Plagueian had been trying to piece the puzzle together since the start of the briefing. At the push of a button, his lightsaber sprang to life, it’s crimson blade crackling into existence as he continued pressing onward.
Maybe it’s time to do a little research of my own.
“` As the Envoys took up positions and spread out across the base’s perimeter, the scintillating skittering of sharp, spindly arachnid limbs rose from a faint chorus and swelled into to a roaring cacophony. There was no way that sound was organic, and if anyone had time to look more closely it was apparent that the spiders had blade-like points to the ends of their legs.
Their bulbous bodies were like beacons of white against the growing shadows cast by Uskil’s marshy, canopy forest.
The first line of them surged towards the permitter fence. The auto-turrets activated with renewed vigor and began to open fire into the encroaching swarm. Blaster bolts hammered into their carapaces and rent through limb and sinew. But even as one fell, another soon took its place. Even with one, two limbs removed, the mutant spiders continued their frenzied approach.
They did not need words to declare their intent. Their mandible mouths hissed and chittered with razor-sharp teeth more akin to a Rathtar than an arachnid. They were hungry, and a bright-to-their-infrared vision source of food was just beyond that flesh. ”`
The second Tisto saw the spiders begin their surge he took off towards them. He entered a cluster of four, he brought back his right hand. With a single step he brought his weight crashing into an upper cut into one of them. Electricity crackled blue around his glove as the spider went careening over the fence.
Screeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Tisto’s lashes out at another with a left hook that crashes against its carapace. The blow crackled with electricity as the spider remained planted where it was.
The spider hissed and recoiled, but its two remaining comrades surged forward and tries to stab their knife-like spindly legs into the Kiffar.
After the tension was broken by the spiders charging towards the perimeter fence and the noise of the auto-turrets going off, Meero’s rabbit-like ears immediately perked up and twitched every which way.
While he had his energy bow at the ready, he was having difficulty focusing with the sudden eruption of everything. So much so that he didn’t even realize three of the arachnids were charging right at him and began spewing a poisonous spray. The second he sensed the danger, however, Meero instinctually grabbed Lola and channeled the Force to hop out of the way.
Once he landed at a safer distance, he straightened his stance and aimed his bow right at the arachnids. “Lola, pocket.” He told his little droid who immediately flew into the Kushiban’s pocket to stay out of danger.
Meero stared directly at the four arachnids ahead as they moved towards him and screeched. He took a breath, aimed and released a bolt of energy from the bow. The bolt of pinkish energy darted towards the spiders but, unfortunately, they were able to dodge it entirely and keep charging at him.
“Karabast!” The kushiban exclaimed. “Quick beasties, aren’t you?”
As the arachnids got dangerously close, Meero didn’t have enough time to fire another shot. He quickly reacted by once again channeling the Force. However, this time he did so by extending his hand and releasing a wave of telekinesis that instantly pushed three of the arachnids away from him. They screeched as they flew away and disappeared into the darkness beyond the tree line.
As the spiders attacked, Tisto opened himself to the Force. He felt a familar engine like heat fill him, and the boxer pushed that into hsi legs. He side steped the first spiders blade like leg, then back peddled to avoid a that spiders second attack as the second spider came in. Finally he pivoted around the second spiders last attack.
As the spiders raced in, Nicfer fought the urge to hide and ambush like she likes to do on more controlled battlefields. These critters didn’t look like they were following a leader or drawing battle lines.
Pistol in hand and at range, she snaped the sights on the closest spider and frowed as her over-charged power cell hummed to full power. Her gun felt like a serious lack of firepower. So, change of tactics. Nicfer reached for the saber on her belt and ignited the green blade with the squeeze of her handle while holstering her blaster. As the beast closed distance, Nicfer feel into the ritual of her training. Deep breath, grit teeth, and dig deep.
“These creatures want aggressive. I can be aggressive. B-E aggressive.”
She held her ground until the first spider critter was just on top of her, and then it clicked. That connection to the force that felt like touching a hot power coupling. She jumped with a sudden and explosive force, swing her saber to try and relieve the creature of its bladed legs.
With a clean sever of the leg, Nicfer swipped instinctively with her free hand. Willing the nasty and sharp tipped leg to try and skewer one of the others trying to swam her current position.
“GET BACK!”
“` The limb was severed cleanly and neatly, and then was promptly seized with telekenetic control by the Zeltron’s will and rammed into the carapace of the next closest one.
The first spider hobbled off balance, but the second screeched and fell dead from being impaled through it’s cerebral cortex. It didn’t even twitch. ”`
K9 opened fire over Titius’ head, clipping an arachnoid in its mandible. “KARK it all, are your logic circuits fried?” Titius howled, ducking at the noise. His own shot flew wide in a shower of splinters in the distance. Shaking his head to clear the modular ring from his implants, he sent another shot into another arachnoid. “My apologies, I forget how sensitive organics are to sudden sound. I suggest an upgrade.”
In a flurry, Saal dashed at the two spiders to Tahiri’s right flank, preparing to strike at them with his lightsaber. As he approached, one of the mutants reared back and leapt at him. Realizing his attack was poorly timed, he leapt out of the way to avoid the attacking arachnid.
“Blast it!”
The young Sith turned around and re-centered himself as he prepared to engage once more with the spiders, who hissed and chittered their teeth as they locked onto the Plagueian.
“Fine then,” he said, raising his left hand towards the spider on his left side. “Have it your way.”
In an instant, several tendrils of red lightning shot from the Sith Warrior’s fingertips. The lightning sizzled into the arachnid’s exoskeleton, burning and crackling as the mutant screeched in pain before succumbing to its demise.
In the southeast area, his droid companion, Dex fired at one of the spiders within his perimeter, missing and hitting a nearby tree, sparking the start of a fire outside of the research center.
“` The fire was small, and likely wouldn’t spread. Possibly. The air was damp and Uskil was more swamp than forest.
As the Force-fied spider spasmed, twitched, and died, two of its brethren screeched a battle cry and lunged for the mean red-haired Sith.
Both sets of blade-like, spindly leg strikes missed, as Saal amplified his agility with the Force and adroitly avoided both charges. ”`
The Elder watched the creatures surging forward, the turrets barely making a dent in their numbers as they continued up to the fence. Her mind raced, quickly going over what info Wyn had told the group and her own knowledge of beasts. Resistant to blades and energy weapons, meaning there will be a less likely chance of taking these creatures down with just a couple saber blows. I don’t them to suffer through much then these creatures may have already gone through up till now. Only the strongest survive in nature, thus let’s see if they will back off to survive.
Reaching into her well within the Force, pulling the power she needed, and gathering it in points of her finger tips. However, by being immersed in her own thoughts, she didn’t quite realize how fast the spiders were advancing. Kera screeched a warning and jumped back, keeping Tahiri from harm, however the suddenness of the situation broke her concentration on the lightning she was summoning. Gritting her teeth and chastising herself internally for not paying attention as closely as she was supposed to. She tried to throw the lightning she had summoned, as Kera warbled with fear as the chittering mandibles closed in, towards a couple of the spiders in front of her, but only sparks flew off her finger tips. Sith spit!
Before Kera could retreat further back, the Togruta brought her legs up into a crouch on the varactyls’ saddle, using it as a spring board to gracefully leap off and land in front of Kera. Drawing both of her sabers, Tahiri ignited the blades and bared her teeth at the advancing spiders.
Tisto punched down at the already injured spider, his hand crushing into its carapace with a crackle of blue sparks. He almost gaged at the smell of the spiders insides reacting to the shockboxing gloves. He pulled his hand out from the spider and knelt down as its body collapsed.
He tried to wipe off the frying spider guts on his hand using the ground, punching another spider as it approached.
The spider recoiled, bruised and now battered, but lashed out with determination, which encouraged its two others to push through any fear of being punched.
The creatures lashed out with their spindly, pointed appendages, and the last waited before spraying a splash of liquid, green-and-black venomous goo at the Kiffar.
Tisto rolled out of the way of the first strike after opening himself up to the familiar warmth of the force. The spider he had punched flailed out at where he had been. As he spun to his feet the one that had been slashing at him got a cut into his leg. He winced briefly, that hesitation allowing the third spider to spit a stream of venom into his cut.
With one crippled and one dead from being skewered by a leg, Nicfer lept back from the spider she wounded and brought up her targeting visor that was linked to her Whistling Birds in her gauntlet. The visor crackled with static as it tried to target aquire. Red targeting marks showing up then just as quickly vanishing.
“Oh, come on. Why now!?”
With a final hiss from her gauntlet, the Whistling Birds retracted as they had no targets to hit.
“Why can’t things ever go smooth…”
As she had been targeting, the spiders had closed distance. Back in striking range Nicfer dove under the wounded one and with a wide arching swing, tried to sever as many legs as she could on the other side of the wounded one. Flinging the legs seemed effective and further cripping the spider near her seemed like the most logical answer.
The blade struck true, and the creature screeched in agony as its legs were severed and the rest of its carapace became easier to score into.
In the southeast wing of the research facility, Saal’s IG unit droid compatriot, Dex, found himself still engaged with two of the mutant spiders. He fired a shot at the spider on his left. The spider leapt, causing the shot to miss in its wake as the blaster bolt crashed into a nearby durasteel crate. Reacting quickly, spurred on by his advanced processor and targeting array, Dex aimed another shot as the spider prepared another leap. The mutant fell on its back, its legs curling and becoming stiff as it met its demise.
The second spider had already approached the droid, it’s sharp appendages slicing at and ultimately hitting him. The first attack was barely a blow, but as the arachnid drew back to attack again, letting out a hiss and chittering its mandibles as it did so, Dex instinctively reached for its leg, but it was too late. The sharp limb came crashing into the droid, denting the chest plate of the droid’s chassis in the process.
After force pushing some of the arachnids back to the swampy darkness they came from, Meero took a moment to look over to the other Envoys and see how they were faring. The situation was hectic but they didn’t look like they needed much help.
Suddenly, Meero felt something. The little Kushiban’s yellow eyes widened and his white fur bristled like sharp needles. He quickly turned to see two spiders had snuck up on him in the time it took to check on the group. The two spiders lashed out at him with their bladed legs and, because they had gotten so close, Meero wasn’t able to properly avoid them. Their blade-like legs managed to cut into the little lagomorph’s skin before he used the Force to hop away from them, leaving a trail of blood behind.
When Meero landed several feet away from the spiders, he looked at his injury and could see his normally white fur turning red as his blood spilled.
“Oh my goodness!” Lola beeped as she flew out of his pocket. “Meero, are you alright?!”
“Yeah…” Meero said with gritted teeth. “Nothing a quick trip to the medical bay can’t fix.”
“Did someone say: Medical Bay?” Wyndell Tyris’ voice carried clearly over the din of combat and strife.
The dark haired Defender positioned himself carefully, focused his will, and synergized with the Force. Then, he pushed outward, extending the effects of healing energies in a small radius that managed to touch Tisto and Meero, but unfortunately did nothing to help Dex.
“Med Bay is middle name–er well, I’ve been to one a bunch of times…hm, no, come back to me, I can do better.”
The sounds of blaster fire sang in chorus with the screeching and hissing of the mutant spiders that had encroached upon the perimeter of the research base. Saal’s natural aptitude for conjuring Force Lightning had already led to one cooked spider, and the Sith had set his sights on the remaining two nearest him.
One of the spiders had already been weakened, injured by a blaster bolt from one of the Plagueian’s comrades. It’s movements were slowed, but it looked aggressive and defiant nonetheless, almost as if this abomination of a life form was challenging the Dark Jedi. Saal was never one to shy away from a challenge.
The injured arachnid approached the Sith, emitting a foul hiss from its mandibles. Some of the spider’s toxic fluids had begun to seep out from its exoskeleton, due to the wound it had incurred earlier.
“I’m glad I’m wearing a helmet,” said Saal, wielding his blade high as he prepared to strike. “I bet it smells horrible in here.”
The mutant mirrored him, raising its front two spindly legs for an attack, but its encumbrance rendered this attempt futile. Kesyk swiftly slashed into the spider’s carapace, ending its life quickly as its remains slid across the floor, and then he turned to face his next enemy.
“What are you?”
He studied the menacing spider, puzzled by this strange creature. He was sure that it was a created life form, but why would someone want to create an atrocity like this? The question lingered in Saal’s mind, but it would have to wait.
Saal walked toward the mutant confidently, twirling his saber in a figure eight and flourishing it before making a missing pass at the evasive arachnid.
Saal walked directly towards the spider, flipping his saber and changing to the reverse Shien grip that so many Djem So practitioners were known to employ. Fueled by the intensity of battle, Saal evoked the image of an enraged samurai, letting out a battle cry as he closed the distance. He clasped the saber in both hands, raising it high above him before stabbing downward into his enemy’s bulbous body.
As Saal went to work with his saber, the spiders screeched and wailed as their limbs and torsos were rent by plasma.
Tisto clenched his fist as he felt his insides burning in a way that was not comfortable. He felt like an over heating engine. Knowing he had to do something, the Kiffar opened himself to the Force, and a more comfortable heat flowed through him. He felt his heart slow as he did, his breathing felt less necessary. Still outnumbered he lashed out at the spider he had previously hit with a right handed uppercut, sending it flying away with a satisfying crunch.
Tisto set back into stance, his left foot forward looking at the other two spiders. “I got this.”
The spider hissed and screeeed as it was pummeled out of its ability to continue fighting.
A stream of hollow pops sounded from behind the western group. Titius sprayed an array of spheres over and in to the remaining group of mutants. Anti-climatic on contact, the spheres quickly threw out a steady stream of viridian smoke.
The arachnoids caught in the cloud appeared to stumble, wobbling silently before crumpling into themselves as they fell. A blaster bolt sailed over the collapsing bodies, followed by protests from K9. “I was perfectly in control of the situation without you deploying toxic substances.” Titius only cackled in response, too pleased with his tests.
The two spiders caught most heavily in the dioxis cloud wilted and keeled over. The third managed to skirt out of it, injured but still going.
Tisto tried to keep himself open to the Force but as the comforting heat began to fade the spiders started their attack. He felt slow compared to normal, trying to weave out of one spiders way only for the second spider to stab a leg into him. The spider he had been trying to weave used this opporutiny to stab into the boxer twice. Pain shot up his legs as the cuts came in, and Tisto was forced to take a knee.
Staring down the last two spiders, both of which were sporting wounds made Nicfer smile to herself. She was not a front-line warrior, but she had not faired too poorly against the beasts. Maybe it was too early to feel cocky and she would regret it later, but she twirled her saber around her with a flourish and rushed the remaining two. As she charged she drew her blaster and leaped skyward, shooting the one to her left with her blaster as she aimed to land on the one in front and cut her way in from the top of the critter. She fought the urge to let a battle cry slip out. That might mean she was actually enjoying this. Something she could never accept. No way, no how.
The pistol hip fired by Nicfer deflects twice before finding an eye and burning out the overside eight-legged freak from the inside out. It dropped as what brain it had burned out from the energy blast. Able to focus on her landing on the second one, Nicfer sprawls from having to contort in the air to avoid a wild strike from the spider’s leg. As she lands and begins to slide off, she buries her saber into its hide and slashes a large chunk out of the spider’s midsection to prevent her from falling off and being crushed by the spider. With a thud both Nicfer and the spider hit the earth, but only Nicfer returns to her feet, though now covered in liquid and smelly innards of her now dead foe.
“…I think I would have rather been crushed than be alive and now marinating in…whatever this is.”
She flicks her wrist and a glob flies off and hits the ground with a sickening squelching sound.
“Gross.”
Dex was still in the southeast. The small fire that he had started earlier still burned, illuminating the edge of the wooded swampland outside of the research station. He had one spider left to pick off before the perimeter was clear.
“I haven’t found many organics that I like,” said the droid, raising both of his blasters. “But so far, you are the ones that I like the least.”
The spider hissed in response, almost argumentatively, before the IG unit put a blaster bolt directly into its exoskeleton. Injured and aggravated, the spider darted towards him. Dex fired another shot off, which missed, and the spider jumped at him, hacking away with its sharp legs. One of the attacks left a small dent in the droid’s chest-area plating, but his chassis remained intact and mostly undamaged as he broke away from his enemy.
Meero could feel the sudden surge of calming, soothing energy. The bleeding stopped and his wounds completely healed leaving a couple of bald spots on his chest. The fur would probably grow back. Maybe.
“Ah, that’s much better. Thank you, sir!” The little Kushiban said fixing his glasses and waving at Wyn.
He then turned and glared at the two remaining spiders as they screeched and began moving towards him with their blade-like legs wanting to finish the job.
“This rabble is becoming quite bothersome.”
With his yellow eyes fixed on the approaching arachnids, Meero took a breath and channeled the Force once again. Letting the energy flow through him, he raised his hand in a grasping motion which caused the two spiders to suddenly fly upwards as if a geyser had erupted beneath them. He then calmly exhaled and lowered his hand, causing the spiders to come crashing down. Their lives ended quickly as they hit the ground and bits of their bodies splattered everywhere.
“Woah!” Lola beeped. “Nice one! Hey, tell me again why we couldn’t provide cover with the ship?”
“No it wouldn’t do any good.” Meero replied flicking away a piece of spider gunk that had landed on his shoulder. “The swamp is too thick so we’d be shooting blindly. We’re better off helping with ground support.” The little lagomorph then readied his energy bow again and began looking around for any other incoming eight-legged freak.
Tahiri delved back into the well of Force energy surrounding her, letting it flow through her body. Focusing on her own inner beast, the Elder let out a ferocious roaring scream of her own, amplifying it enough in magnitude to hopefully throw the large arachnids back and deal a bit of damage if she could. Making sure she directed it towards as many of the sharp appendaged creatures as she could without endangering Zuska or Saal, focusing her scream on three in front and a little left.
She watched with grim satisfaction that two out of the three spiders were pushed back, looking slightly injured. The third one had stood it’s ground, somehow digging it’s sharp appendages into the durasteel base. Growling, she launched herself into a quick attack, hoping to catch the creature as it may of been disoriented. Bringing both her sabers in countering sweeping arcs across the arachnids body and limbs, she took it down as swiftly as she could.
**Hadzuska watched and waited for the right moment to strike. The large spindly creature in front of him screeched horribly as it advanced with it’s kin. He hated the sounds it made, and wanted so bad to just rush in and finish this annoying creature off. However, he had to wait for his Alpha’s signal. As he stood his ground, he kept a roving eye on the other pack member who joined them against these creatures. That male seemed to be doing just fine.
Laying his ears back at the sounds of his Alpha’s roar, he knew his chance had come, as many of the ugly creatures eyes turned towards the sounds source. Silently and staying low, he sprang forward, weaving his way in and out of the razor sharp legs, zeroing in on the soft edges of where the legs met its body. Sinking his teeth in and ripping at any soft flesh he could, while his tails’ barb found it’s mark, sinking into and through one of creatures eyes. He continued to rip and tear, and his tail found at least one more mark, before hearing it’s death gargles.
Quickly, he stepped back and waited for the next creature to come and challenge him.**
Saal assessed the situation around him in the wake of his fight with the spiders. His comrades were clearly holding their own, and most of the enemies in the area had been cleared out. He deactivated his lightsaber, reattaching it to his utility belt before pressing a button on the comlink he wore on his wrist.
“Dex, status report.”
“I’m still dealing with one of these nasty beasts. Now isn’t the best time to need me for something.” The sound of blaster fire echoed in the background.
“I’ll come regroup with you.”
“Wow. Lucky me.” The droid’s sarcasm bled through into his vocoder as he closed the channel.
Letting out a sigh, the Sith broke into a sprint as he made his way for the southeastern area of the research center.
“Hey! Saal!”
The Sith had cleared most of the distance between himself and his droid when he saw Tisto, who was being flanked by a duo of the mutant spiders he had just laid waste to.
“You can do the lightning thing, right? Shoot me with the lightning.”
The Sith looked at the Kiffar, puzzled.
Did this Jedi just ask me to fry him?
He thought about it for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders.
“Okay.”
The Sith raised both of his hands, pointing them at his unlikely ally. From his fingertips, his signature red lightning once again manifested, searing through the air as it flew directly at Tisto.
Good luck with whatever this is, Jedi.
Tisto opened himself to the Force, allowing the heat that came with it to wash over him. He slowed his heart so the poison would travel through his body less. Then he urged some of the heat into his hands as he extended them out towards Saal. The lighting stopped a hairs breath from them, gathering as the Plagueian threw it at him. As the dark siders lighting came to an end, Tisto pivoted on the balls of his feet before the energy could disparate. He threw it out at the spiders as he did, the attack less accurate than he had hoped for. The redirected lighting flashed across the ground leaving a trail of burned metal as it slammed into one of the spiders, frying it. The other spider was unfortunately untouched by this.
Smelly and the goop hardening on her armor with each step, Nicfer was looking for another spider to unleash her rage upon. Seeing the force lighting and the new smell of burning spiders, she decided that was the likely place for more thing to inflict pain on.
Saber blazing and pistol raised, the now pink and green Zeltron stormed up towards the remaining spider. Shouting just enough of a warning for folks to get clear.
“Make way! Pissed off Zeltron with a blaster COMING THROUGH!”
With the warning issued and her target in range, Nicfer unloaded. Each step firing a new shot into the spider critter.
“You traped me on this planet!”
Blaster shot.
“Let Steve take my shuttle!”
More blaster shots
“And then covered me in your innards!”
Even more blaster fire.
“Just die already you eight legged freaks!”
“` Nicfers words were almost as lethal as her blaster fire.
The mutated spiders never stood a chance.
As Tahiri and Zuska finished off the last spider near them, there was a brief quiet and lull. Sounds in the distance could be heard. The auto-turrets still fired sporadically at stray targets approaching the fortifications.
Humans and aliens, researchers and personnel aside, all yelled and shouted over the hectic pace of everyone moving towards the evac zone.
No more spiders threatened the group, and none had made it past the vanguard of Envoys.
The first convoy lifted off, carrying away grateful researchers, and wounded and a few body bags that would be laid properly to rest elsewhere.
The unspoken thoughts of those that had been dragged away into the woods screaming lingered, but for now, the survivors would live to see another day.
In the distance, a new kind of screech pierced the temporary din. A rally cry.
More would come. And there was still work to be done. ”`
(Message deleted)
Wyndell Tyris walked over towards the trio of Nicfer, Tisto, and Saal. “Hey Nikki- you…uh, good?”
Nicfer face snaps to see who has just made the mistake of calling her Nikki as she seethes. She fights the urge to also snap her pistol to the same target. However seeing Wyn, Nicfer closes her eyes and breathes deep once. When her eyes open again she is back to her normal expression, which is a mix of being unimpressed, bored, and lightly annoyed at the world.
“Don’t know who Nikki is, but yeah, I’m good. I had to fight the thing of nightmares and I am covered in innards, but sure. Lets go with good. What’s next? What other ways am I going to be pressganged into roles I’m not suitable for?”
“I mean, would you prefer ‘Ferry? Furry? No, can’t be that one…” Wyn continued to cycle through potential nicknames for Nicfer.
“If I had to guess,” he checked his data pad very quickly. “We’ve got one more transport to get out of here so the lab-coat folks can get the last of the research loaded.”
He thought back to the lair they had discovered previously. The Defender glanced at Meero, the only Envoy who had been present for that.
“And not to be too cliche, but, I’ve got a bad feeling about this…”
Nicfer eyebrow twitches in annoyance at Ferry but she tries not to look excited at Furry. She was feeling furious right now.
“How valuable could this research be that we have to hold the line to let them pack like they are on the last day of vacation?”
When Wyn comments about having a bad feeling, Nicfer pokes him in the chest and glares.
“No. Stop it. No more bad feelings. Don’t invite complication.” She grumbles.
Tisto took a seat, chosing to be as comfortable as possible while the poison moved through him. “I got some of that spider gunk in a cut. And a few more cutes besides.”
The Kiffar offer those around him a grin. “We can protect one more shuttle. Even if I gotta get more bloody and maybe more poisoned. Dunno what was in those frakking spiders.”
“WAIT THATS IT. NIC-FURY. No one has ever come up with a nickname like that!” Wyn blurted out. When Tisto revealed the issue, Wyn frowned and seemed to focus.
“This research could very well save the continent of Uskil,” the Elder said a bit solemnly. “Meero, myself, and the others found the lab originally. We didn’t have the resources to go after it, because by the time we got back, the lair was already moved. Doctor Shelby has been creating all of these…things and drawing the very life force of the marshes of Uskil away from it.”
He ecplained as he casually tossed Tisto a small brown bottle. “Antidote,” he explained, as he then handed the Kiffar a bacta patch.
“Anyone else need medical attention?” he asked aloud, his voice carrying easily with his stage training.
Tisto nodded thankfully as he placed the bacta patch on his leg. He opened the brown bottle and sniffed at it. He frowned but took a sip of it anyway. “Eh. Had worse.”
“ K9, I need to get my hands on some of that poison.” Titius was intrigued by its effects on the afflicted. “Perhaps a vial of the antidote would be more appropriate.” K9 chimed back, “Much less danger to yourself.” The mercenary bobbed his head in thought before giving an affirmative gesture to the droid.
Meero moved about the area like an animal checking for danger while Lola hovered behind him with her little floodlight on to help him see. He checked every corner while on all fours, sniffed the air and his rabbit-like ears twitched every which way trying to pick up the slightest sound. He would also tap into the Force to try and sense if there was anything just beyond the dark tree line, but luckily everything was quiet and still. For now anyway.
He let out a sigh of relief then headed over to Wyn. “Excuse me, sir!” The little kushiban said while saluting. “The western area is currently spider-free. Is there anything you need me to do?”
<@189568236201705472>
“Please, just call me Wyn. ‘Sir’ was my Mother’s name,” the dark haired Human waved a hand dismissively.
“Actually, my good fellow. Could you help me attend to our droid friend here? I know you’re pretty good with the mechanical…stuff!”
Wyn lead Meero over to the droid. “If I’m not mistaken, I think his receptor-thymus is not interfacing correctly with his fillmanet injector…here on the chasis.”
“Your… mother’s name was- uh, never mind. Of course! I’d be happy to!” The little lagomorph then adjusted his glasses and took out his arc welder. “Alright. Let’s see what we’re working with…”
When he followed Wyn over to the droid in question, his yellow eyes widened slightly when he saw it was an IG droid. As Wyn attempted to explain what the problem was, Meero simply indulged him by smiling and nodding. “….. Mhm, I see.” He then turned to Dex and waved gently. “Hello there! I’ve never worked on an IG droid before but I promise to do my best.”
“` Meero got to work, but from the stress of everything going on, he remembered what he’d seen back at the lab when they had scouted. He had heard what Wyn said. Meero had been there when they decided to retreat and regather. When the Brotherhood had returned, the lab was gone, and so was the mad Doctor building these monstrosities.
Meero fudged the first few attempts at repairing the droids chassis where it had been rent. But, as Wyn tried to once again make a "helpful” suggestion, Meero realized the right pairing of wires.
“Sorry,” the Kushiban explained. “You should be all good now…”
The piece of metal that Meero had used to salvage his first attempt was slightly differnet color than Dex’s hull.
“Thank you,” the droid replied, and looked towards its master. “`
“It’s not a bad look, Dex,” said Saal, approaching the group. “You’ve got a lot of catching up to do. I didn’t think two of those spiders would be too much for you.”
“Easy for you to say,” responded the droid. “I don’t have a laser sword.”
“You do have an advanced processor and sensor system.”
“You’re lucky I’m not an 88 unit.”
The Sith smirked. Despite their occasional back and forth, the droid was one of his only trusted allies. He had programmed Dex to be a bit of a jerk, finding amusement in his sarcasm-imbued interactions with others, especially the Arconan military officers when he served in the Shadow Clan.
It’s posture slightly tilted, the droid stood, straightening itself with clunky movements as it’s sensors spun, examining the area around him.
“The mission isn’t over. We’ll see how it goes this round.”
“That’s true.” The Sith had heard the piercing cries in the distant surroundings of the outpost’s perimeter. With the press of a button, the Sith removed his helmet, revealing his curly brown hair and the parted-pencil mustache and goatee combo that framed his face. He paid no mind or concern to the clamoring researchers and personnel aiding in the evacuation. Instead, his piercing red eyes stared out into the distance, fixing themselves onto the distant swampland. He thought he had noticed movement in the trees, though it was difficult to tell with such low lighting.
I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
“` The banter and chatter was suddenly drowned out. Everyone on base loading into the next evacuation transports froze as a haunting caterwaul pierced the heavy air and moon of Arx darkening the skyline as dusk began to fade.
While the sound of skittering metalic legs was no longer present, new sounds began to emerge from the marshy swamps shrouded by trees.
Clicking mandibles, chattering hungrily of a faint hiss.
A low, snarling growl from some kind of mutated hunting quadruped.
Plated boots from armored footfalls squishing through the mud, accompanied by the groans of no-longer-living soldiers.
And lastly, a ferocious roar unseen from the recesses of the forest.
The final stand of the research base had begun. ”`
(Message deleted)
“Here they come. I’ll go protect the evacuation pad. Keep comms open!” Wyndell Tyris shouted, as he took off suddenly at a sprint. He slid into place, weaving through the now frantically moving and packing and piling in researchers and lab workers trying to load into the transports.
His twin blaster pistols, the Double D’s, appeared in his hand in one smooth motion. He toggled the alternate settings and behind to fire streams of blaster fire at the approaching monsters, trying to draw their attention.
The loud roar that cut through from the edges of the forest was a clear indicator to Saal that whatever was to come would be more deadly than a mutant arachnid. With the blaring of alarms, alongside the frenzied shuffling and panicked shouts of the scrambling evacuees, it was difficult to hear through the tumult. However, Saal was almost certain he could hear the sound of thunderous footsteps in the distance.
“Dex, we’re splitting up again. Go reinforce the southwest wing. It’s crucial that we maintain a strong perimeter and cut off all hostile access to the evacuation site. I’m staying here.” The Sith replaced his helmet, which let out a hiss once more as it pressurized the Mandalorian armor that he hoped would shield him from the horrors ahead.
Igniting his lightsaber, he turned and faced the edge of the outpost once more, readying himself for whatever foul monstrosity would emerge from the swampland.
“I do believe our host is a requisite moron.” K9-C4 wasn’t usually so deadpan but droids could learn. “First smart thing I have heard out of you all deployment” Titius wheeled, making for the open flank. He could see movement among the fenceline but nothing more. Reaching down, he made for a grenade pausing when K9 squawked. “Perhaps best to leave the fence intact for the moment.”
As the loud roar echoed throughout the thick swamp, Meero’s ears shot up and his fur began shifting in waves of purple. “That doesn’t sound good…” he said turning slowly towards the swamp with his eyes widened.
The various new horrible sounds grew louder and louder as the next wave of enemies approached the compound.
“Definitely not good.” Meero then readied his energy bow and began moving back to the same position he was holding before while Lola hovered behind him.
“Here they come.” The little droid beeped. “You ready?”
Meero chuckled. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Ok! Just know that, if you die, I’m gonna kill you.”
When Meero returned to the same post as before, he could hear footsteps and rustling in the darkness just beyond the swamp’s tree line. “Alright, here they come.”
His rabbit-like ears twitched following the sounds but, because he couldn’t see beyond the trees, he sniffed the air. His eyes widened slightly and his fur bristled when he picked up a scent he immediately recognized. Suddenly, a Catraki, a Vornscreech and a Necrotic Soldier emerged from the darkness and charged at the little Kushiban. An all too familiar sight.
“Ah… these guys again.” He said hopping in place getting ready to react. “Ok ok, just like how Asani taught you.”
The three vile creatures roared and screeched as they attacked the little lagomorph with a flurry of fang and claws. Fortunately, remembering his training sessions with a certain Mandalorian, Meero expertly hopped and sidestepped dodging every attack. Lola suddenly flew in and flashed the creatures with her floodlight, slightly tripping them up and allowing Meero to gain some distance.
“Nice move with the floodlight, Lols!” Meero said catching his breath.
“No problem!” The little droid beeped. “So what’s the plan? Which ones do I go after?” She then took out her mini buzz saw and aimed it at the three creatures. While she was trying to appear menacing, more than anything, she looked adorable.
“None.” Meero said staring at her with an endearing look. “I appreciate the energy, Lola. But these guys are a teeny bit out of your league.” He grabbed her gently and put her in his pocket.
“Hey!” She beeped angrily.
With his friend out of harm’s way, Meero then got ready to fight back.
Tisto froze momentarily as he saw some trooper like figure run towards evacuation. Good. More are getting to safety. Then he took a second and looked back at the trooper. That was not one he recognized. Horrifed, he opened himself to the force, running after the figure. The boxer leapt as he got close hoping to stop the trooper. Unfortunately he had forgotten to take into account his force enhanced legs as he over shot and crashed into the ground. “No!”
“` The Necrotic soldier continued on towards it goal of getting to the transport. A thin, reedy Zabrak researcher with a patchy beard and a small crown of horns above his brow let out a panicked scream as the Necrotic Soldier simply grabbed them by the arms and started to pull with inhuman strength until both arms wore torn from the sockets. The Zabrak screamed, blood spraying and then spilling as it was then tossed bodily aside.
The rest of the evacuating personnel screamed, but one of the facility guards, a toned Twi'lek who only had light armor and a side-arm pistol, moved before her body knew what it was doing. She pulled the blaster, fired a flurry of bolts into the creatures toroso and then threw herself bodily at the Soldier and grappled it to the ground. ”`
The creatures circled the Kushiban, but did not try to make it past him. They saw what they had thought was easy pray, but it had somehow eluded them. Their primal base instincts took over their directive of simply killing *everyone*.
“` The scorpion like giant creature lunged at Titus with needle-knife claws, saving its stinger for the moment.
The mutated Vornskr, meanwhile, missed its attacks on Titus’ droids. Not even close. ”`
Titius tried his best to beat off the creature, limbs awhirl through lightning fast sequences. Unfortunately for the mercenary, two arms was no match for multiple attacks. The scorpion tail snaked down through his defences. Titius howled as the tip punched through his armour, shoulder and landing on bone in a gut wrenching scrape. The attack dropped him to his knees before retracting. A large dribble of blood welled from the wound, coating the front of the armour.
K9 on the other hand, barely exerted himself in sidestepping a wimpy attack from the oncoming vornskyr. As the creature came off balance, K9 brought his blaster to track, slamming a bolt into the creature’s hide.
Wyndell Tyris saw the trooper break through and rip apart a poor researcher. He swore silently, his usually easy going demeanor fading away almost instantly as his focus sharpened.
Time to get serious
The first problem was easiest to handle. The zombie-like trooper, while dangerous, was a fairly standard target. Instead of trusting instinct and going for his twin LW-896’s, Wyn brandished his CX-101 Crystal blaster instead. As he backpedaled slightly, he charged the guns unique chamber, while his free hand distributed a set of disk-pads around his small cluster of enemies.
He landed his first charged shot into the troopers chest. But the trooper just sneered and continued to try and grapple him.
“Bad touch bad touch!” Wyn exclaimed as he spun, and reversed direction, drawing and still luring the trio’s attention away from the evac now.
His second charged shot missed, but the third hit the exact same spot as the first. Then a fourth. The crystal-powered projectiles didn’t just cause impact at this point, but began to burn away the armor protecting the necrotic flesh beneath, eating through bone and reanimated sinew alike. The trooper dropped, which left him with the two unfriendly critters.
He lobbed a cylindor from his belt towards the first. It missed, but the canister errupted and a spray of freezing gas hissed free and slowly enveloped the Vornscreech, which ground its motions to a half.
The Catraki evaded the cryoban grenade, and came at Wyndell with gnashing mandibles. The Prophet let out a bit of a high pitched noise of startle, betrayed by the practiced and surefire motion of his hands as he carefully under-hand tossed his concussion grenade into the creatures now open mouth. It swallowed the small sphere, which then erupted inside of it with a resonating thrum.
Then, in a final flourish, Wyndell now swapped his Rifle for his twin blasters, toggledthe ricohcette mode, but then aimed at his projectile disks. He sighted expertly, then pulled down hard on both triggers, sending a dizzying display of scarlet dashes as blaster bolts bounced, bounded, and found their marks inside of both creatures. The semi-frozen Vornscreech was shattered into pieces while the Catraki sneered, tipped over, and went belly up from the extend of its injuries.
“Protect the Evac!” he shouted, voice carying with the weight of his stage training. “Reinfrocements are almost here!”
Still not done with her complaining, Nicfer manages to shut up for a moment and dodge their new “dance partner” as they swing at them. Seeing the attempted strike like a ghostly vision seconds before the blow would have landed.
“Do you mind! I was not done,” She draws a hand back, manipulating the force like pulling an invisible rubber band on a sling shot. “Voicing my displeasure with this planet and your stupid kin!”
She thrust her arm forward and wills the force to slam into their target to drive them back at RAPID speed.
“SO GIT!”
Tisto sprinted towards the soldier, throwing himself into a slide for the last bit of distance so he wouldn’t collide with the twilek. He hit the soldier with a right jab as he slid to a stop before getting up and punching the soldiers face with his left hand.
Tisto looked to the twi’lek and nodded. “I got things from here join the evac!”
“Yessir!” Meero responded while taking aim at the Catraki ahead of him, and his rabbit-like ears followed the sound of the other two circling him. He took a deep breath, straightened his stance and aimed at the creature’s face, right between what he was sure were it’s eyes. “I have you now…”
Suddenly, as Meero was about to release the shot, the Vornscreech that was circling him let out a piercing roar that tripped him up. He flinched slightly as he released the energy bolt, causing him to miss the shot entirely.
sigh “You lot are extremely rude.” The little kushiban said frustrated. Meero began thumping his rabbit-like feet, feeling the Force flowing through him and becoming more potent with each thump. He finished his thumping with a strong stomp, causing telekinetic energy to erupt beneath the Vornscreech, sending it several feet in the air. He then extended his arm at the Necrotic Soldier to his left, causing the now airborne Vornscreech to come plummeting down at high speed on top of it. Upon collision, both creatures erupted and pieces of them flew in all directions. Some of it also got on Meero, much to his disgust, which he had to shake off like a wet hound.
“Now then…” he said putting away his bow and staring down the Catraki. “Since you seem determined to not let me keep up my bow practice, I’ll stick to what I know best.” He began to take deep breaths and relax his muscles. His now lightly stained white fur began to flow and sway as if being blown by a gentle wind. The presence of the Force swirled around him, not as a raging storm, but a gentle breeze and small pieces of debris began to float around him like small moons orbiting a planet.
“Come at me.”
The creature was sent flying backward from the Force-fueled assault.
The necrotic soldier faltered and fell to Tisto's assault. The Twi'lek guard got up, panting, eyes a bit manic, but they nodded to the Kiffar before running off.
All three creatures were cast back by the Kushibans bending of the Force, the little lagamorph shining fiercly despite the mismatch.
The second wave of mutants had swarmed upon the research facility in droves, responding to the screams of panicked researchers with snarls and growls as they moved to attack any moving thing in the facility. Amidst the attackers emerged a large, six-legged creature with an anchor shaped head and and large scorpion-like stinger protruding from its back. The catraki approached Saal and lunged it’s stinger forward, which the Sith narrowly avoided by dodging to the left.
Further down to his right, the Sith’s assassin droid, Dex, continued his efforts to maintain a line of defense against the wave of mutants and the evacuation area. In the distance, he saw an armored soldier, barely illuminated by the lights surrounding the outpost, limping his way towards the droid.
“Trooper! Are you injured?”
In response, the soldier locked its gaze onto the droid, snarled and let out a growl, before beginning to limp more quickly and aggressively towards the droid. Upon a closer look, Dex could see that this soldier was disfigured and zombie-like.
“Oh.” In an instant, the droid raised his blasters and unleashed a flurry of blaster fire. The undead soldier ate a few shots and continued limping on before finally being downed by a bolt to the head, shaking and gurgling as it collapsed to the floor.
After Meero successfully dealt with the creatures that had surrounded him, his fur turned a gentle yellow as he sighed in relief. “Well then, that’s that.”
His little blue-striped droid then flew out of his pocket and bonked his head. “Don’t scare me like that again!” She beeped angrily. “But dang I gotta admit, Meermeer, you’ve definitely gotten better at the whole telekinesis thing.”
“Could you please not call me that?” The kushiban said rubbing his head after Lola bonked him. “And I can’t exactly take all the credit. Asani’s training has been helping a lot.” He thought of her for a moment, his starlight, his muse, which caused the fur on his cheeks to flush a light blue. Lola, of course, noticed this and beeped at him in a teasing tone.
Meero gently cleared his throat and looked in a different direction to change the subject. “Anyway… This area is secured. I wonder if any of the others need help.” As he said this, they both noticed Dex unleashing blaster fire hell on one of the necrotic soldiers until it died very badly.
“……I think they’re fine.” Lola beeped feeling intimidated.
“Yeah… then let’s go help with the Evac.” Meero and Lola then headed off to assist Wyn with the researchers.
Hearing the screech’s, growls, and odd groans from the woods would have made any normal persons blood, plasma, or whatever secretions ran through the galaxies numerous species, run cold and put a solid stone of fear in theirs guts. To Tahiri however, all she heard was the cry’s of creatures that weren’t asked to be changed, but either were experimented on, or throughout the many changes and exposures their world had taken to make them adapt this way. Having to kill these creatures, as ravenous as they were, made her own blood boil hot through every vein in her body, causing her to hyper focus on the sounds and what made them.
The next couple of creatures to rush out of the surrounding dense trees, were not the spiders, instead what looked like a crazed decaying soldier, and a creature that took her a moment to recognize, the adaptations making it gangly, pale, even more ferocious then the one beside her. The very thought of that poor being the same as Zuska made her grit her teeth. Sending a mental command to Hadzuska to take out the soldier, and leave the bigger creature to her, as she waited for the creature to make it’s move.
**A huff was the only thing he could say, even though he would have happily taken on the bigger, somewhat familiar scented creature his Alpha faced. But, he wanted to do as she said, so baring his teeth, Zuska growled at his new adversary. This strange, and almost putrid looking humanoid moving towards him, had the scent of death, but it moving in what seemed like an erratic and uncontrolled way. He wasn’t too worried about taking this thing down.
However, as he started advancing on the humanoid, snarling at it, the sleek vornskr started his attack. Coming in at one angle from the left and then swiftly he changed direction and came from another angle on the right side. Zuska suddenly yelped and snarled as he felt a raw stinging pain from his side. He had underestimated the swiftness and ferocity of this adversary, and now paid for it. Quickly he retreated back, reassessing this opponent, and hoping that he could take this creature before needing to help his Alpha.**
The Elder watched the creature come at her with such intense speed and savagery, that it swiped its sharp clawed paw, and stabbed at her with it’s nasty barbed tail. Her muscles twitched, just before her legs propelled her into the air with ease. She tucked herself as she flipped gracefully in the air, making herself a smaller target in case the mutated vornskr tried to attack her mid air.
Tahiri’s leap carried her just out of reach of the creatures. Landing she spun in place, keeping herself a small target, while summoning the Force from within and around her. Gathering the energy to her fingertips, she then released a torrent of Lightning into the creature as it tried to close the gap, almost making it freeze in place. Then the chained off of the mutated vornskr, hitting the necrotic soldier square in it’s chest. She sustained the lightning for a few moments longer, watching as both foes spasmed and jerked to the ground, before the scent of charred fleshed filled the air.
Finally stopping, she stood up straight, gently patting her upper thigh, while watching the two burnt creatures lay twitching on the ground. Once she was certain that they were dead, she patted Zuska, who had slunk to her side, “Let’s get back and make sure the last of the Evac are ok.” Glancing down, she soothed her vornskr’s pain the best she could through their link, as she had not heard him so much as felt the pain that coursed through his body.
“Let’s go Zuska,” turning to check on the Evac and the rest of the Envoys.
“` The Envoys Corps’ mission statement seemed to come to life as the defenders of the outpost started to fall into a rhythm and they continued to defend the evacuation site. Blasters, sabers, Force Lightning, Telekinetic manipulations. Creative combinations, teamwork, and ultimately, success in their objective.
There was no line between the different Clans. Only a group of Envoys working in harmony.
“That’s the last of the supplies loaded up!” a security officer shouted.
“Loaded, prepared for takeoff!”
“Go go go!”
Footfalls, shouting. The last of the shuttles, filled with research equipment and personnel, lifted off.
Meero and his droid Lola fell back towards Wyndell Tyris, the duo using a combination of energy bow and twin-blasters to ward off any of the remaining necrotic troopers coming their way.
Tahiri, Zuska, and Titus, and K9 held down their quadrant of the base, while Nicfer, Tisto, Saal, and his droid Dex mopped up the stragglers on the eastern front.
But there were still more coming. Clicking claws and mandibles and roars. And then there was something unnatural. Roaring, charging. It looked like a Rancor, but had a mouth like a Rathtar. Instead of claws, it had hooked tentacle like appendages as it charged with abandon, toppling trees and troopers in its path with no remorse.
More mutated critters formed up behind it. The Envoys gathered, but they were still outnumbered. Fatigue was starting to set in, labored breathing, shrugged off injuries catching up to the group.
A whistling howl pierced through the marshy swamp outpost’s ambient air. Ochre clouds of flame appeared moments later, as projectile missiles from inbound starfighters open fired on the
The Iron Legion had arrived- the Brotherhood’s local flyers laying down fire and carefully carpet bombing the trees around the base.
Between the reinforcements, a lone ship, moved to land at the center of the base.
To Nicfer’s chagrin, Jerry Stevenson was piloting the Envoy Corps T4a shuttle.
Standing at the opened side hatch, the Exarch himself stood, Envoy uniform crisp and pristine and his hands clasped behind his back.
“Great work, Envoys. We’ll take it from here. We’ll debrief at the Academy,” Marick Tyris Arconae explained, gesturing for the Envoys to join him on the shuttle.
(Message deleted)
Seeing that everything was being secured, Meero sighed in relief and put away his energy bow. He got on the shuttle with Lola floating behind him and noticed Marick standing there gesturing at all the Envoys. The little Kushiban’s normally well-kept white fur was messy and stained, his glasses were gently cracked and his clothes were torn in places. Though he wished he was in a more presentable state, he still respectfully saluted the Exarch.
“Always a pleasure to see you, sir. You arrived just in time.”
Marick nodded once to the Kushiban. “We’re lucky to have Envoys like you, Meero,” he replied calmly. “I’ll be sure that my apprentice gets to see the debriefing as well,” he added, his face stoic but his bright blue eyes smiling.
A medic emerged from the shuttle and was already moving to attend to the lagamorphs wounds.
“It’s been a while, Marick,” said Saal, nodding in respect to his former Consul. “It’s good to see you are still alive and well.”
He hadn’t seen the Arconae since he had disappeared from Arconan airspace and resurfaced on Aliso. While he had become disillusioned with the Shadow Clan in recent years, he still held deep regard for the Exarch, having seen his heroic deeds during the Dark Crusade.
“Give my regards to my master. Let him know he can be expecting a visit from me soon,” said the Sith, a slight smirk on his face.
“Likewise, Kesyk. Welcome to the Envoys.” Marick went pensive at the last part, but bowed his head respectfully towards Saal.
Standing up from attending to Zuska’s wounds, Tahiri turned, smiling her signature bright smile, and waved, “Hi Exarch! Always happy to help where I can.” Kera warbled and chirped, while Zuska slowly got back to his feet. “Do you mind if Kera rides with us? If not, it’s not a big deal, my personal ship will be here soon to pick her up.”
She also raised an eyebrow as to Saal talking so casually to Marick, but smirked and chuckled a little at the Exarch’s response.
Marick nodded amiably at the Togruta. “Kera is of course welcome, Adept.”
“Thank you,” she nodded and mentally told her pets to behave as they headed up the ramp. Zuska stopped, looking up at the tall Human, bowing his head, before then bumping his snoot and head against Maricks’ leg in thanks.
Marick actually smiled and pat the creatures head. His Cythraul, Fela, was back home so he took advantage of having another creature to appreciate.