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last online Jul 11, 2018 23:15:20 GMT -5
Knight
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Aug 27, 2011 14:58:09 GMT -5
Post by Deceit *Drinker of Jawa-Juice* on Aug 27, 2011 14:58:09 GMT -5
Ss'ss'th tensed up as Byar aimed his weapon at him and winced when he heard the shot. He opened his eyes after a few seconds, feeling no familiar sting. It would seem his hostess had actually stopped the blast from hitting him. He looked over at her, not quite knowing what to say. The conversation continued and snake felt grateful to Zarene.
As Byar relayed the order, Ss'ss'th said, "Thank you." It had been some time since anyone had done something so kind for him. In fact, the last people to physically defend him were the other Slith of whom had adopted him into their clan long ago. It was probably nothing to Zarene, but just that simple act made him view her differently. She was welcoming him into her home and even accommodating him. He only hoped that she was a better hostess than Vex had been.
Ss'ss'th looked around at the camp, and the various personalities that lived there. His appearance had, as predicted, caused quite a stir. People couldn't help but come out or stop their duties for a moment to stare at the estranged black and orange snake. He slithered along, unconsciously contracting his muscles to become smaller, not that it would do much good, his sheer length was already large enough to frighten a groan man.
"Is there anything, perhaps, that I could assist with in camp?" Ss'ss'th asked, "My strength could be of assistance..."
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sparrow
The Night is Dark and Full of Onions
2,999 posts
145 likes
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last online Dec 26, 2019 3:11:06 GMT -5
Master
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Sept 11, 2011 3:59:30 GMT -5
Post by sparrow on Sept 11, 2011 3:59:30 GMT -5
Zarene shook her head, as Byar moved off towards the men to direct the flow of equipment in an orderly manner. "Anything they were able to unload from the ship, they can reload." They were other reasons as well. Some of the equipment was fragile and needed to be handled with care. She doubted that the snake, strong as he was, would be able to make use of handholds and other features designed for use by humanoid quadrupeds with opposable thumbs. There was also the matter of the classified data. There were certain procedures on how such things were to handled.
She found an old tree stump and sat down, hands crossed over one knee. "Now, how far do you intend on travelling with us? The next world? A few systems? Or are you looking for a slightly more permanent arrangement?" The first option was simple and easy. She wasn't sure what she would do if he chose the last option. Ss'ss'th didn't know they were Sith... yet. And without knowing his opinion on the Order it would be difficult to have him around for anything exceeding short-term. But it wasn't a question she could simply without giving away too much. "How do you feel about Sith?" wasn't something that could be inserted into casual conversation. It was an interesting little dilemma.
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last online Jul 11, 2018 23:15:20 GMT -5
Knight
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Sept 18, 2011 1:33:44 GMT -5
Post by Deceit *Drinker of Jawa-Juice* on Sept 18, 2011 1:33:44 GMT -5
Ss'ss'th accepted the answer and moved on, observing the crew. They didn't seem ragtag. This was certainly an organized group, and he hadn't the slightest idea what the equipment they were carrying did, or how it functioned. People were ferrying various instruments and machinery around, unloading some, loading some, and were generally really busy. He didn't see anybody slacking off, so he knew it was a disciplined camp. Of course, on Dxun, most sentient beings needed to be disciplined just to survive. Even Ss'ss'th, who felt little to no threat from the majority of the life on Dxun, had to be careful what he did and how or he would become a victim to the ever hungry bowels of this planet.
Ss'ss'th didn't like planet too much. It was always wet. Unlike his home-planet, which was mostly dry and spanned for many miles without anything on its surface save for the occasional prickly and poisonous plants or scorpions. Life was abundant here, which created chaos without any clear sense of order.
This camp had the order which he longed for. While Slith communities were not exactly...loving, for the most part, or entirely close, they were still group creatures. His existent lacked any sense of cooperation or community. He looked at Zarene. It seemed ridiculous to think he might actually find community with her and her group. But, his heart fluttered at the thought.
He knew he had to take it slow, so he tried to squeeze those thoughts out of his mind. "Now, how far do you intend on travelling with us? The next world? A few systems? Or are you looking for a slightly more permanent arrangement?"
Ss'ss'th thought for a few moments, "To be honest." He said, "I don't really have any plans. I haven't explored the universe much...I've only been to a few planets. I am inexperienced, but, if I would be allowed, I would probably stay with you for as long as you would have me."
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sparrow
The Night is Dark and Full of Onions
2,999 posts
145 likes
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last online Dec 26, 2019 3:11:06 GMT -5
Master
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Sept 25, 2011 21:02:26 GMT -5
Post by sparrow on Sept 25, 2011 21:02:26 GMT -5
That had been an interesting response, Zarene thought. It appeared that the Slith had no idea where he wanted to go. Not the slightest inkling. Ss'ss'th didn't know who she worked for, what she was up to, or where she was even going, and yet he wanted to travel with her crew. She wondered if he would still want to once he found out.
She'd reveal that information to him eventually. But not yet. She needed to find out more first, so that his response would not be a surprise.
Another thought came to her. Ss'ss'th mentioned that he had been on other planets. He was not a native of Dxun. And he had no ship and likely wouldn't be able to pilot one even if he did, which begged a certain question.
"Yes, I suppose you could travel with us for a while. We can discuss duration later. But first, I'm curious." She leaned forward towards him. "How was it that you arrived on Dxun? You obviously must have come with someone. What happened to them?"
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last online Jul 11, 2018 23:15:20 GMT -5
Knight
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Sept 28, 2011 12:22:18 GMT -5
Post by Deceit *Drinker of Jawa-Juice* on Sept 28, 2011 12:22:18 GMT -5
"Two...people, who are on the run from the Republic." Ss'ss'th replied cautiously. He did not want to betray Vex and Aunna's identities for he knew that many people were after them. The protocol they went through to accomplish their secrecy was impressive, and they put their trust in Ss'ss'th by letting him go. Therefore, he remained vague, "Upon the planet of Carida, I came across them." he started, hoping that wasn't too much, "And they were in danger so I saved them from the wildlife there. Grateful, they allowed me to travel with them as I healed from my own wounds, for I had to help them against three large and vicious...creatures. I do not know what they were called or even what they were." Ss'ss'th's thoughts began to trail off.
"This was one of their hide-away spots, and we all decided that I should stay here on Dxun even after they moved on. I underestimated, however, my own curiosity of the universe and desire for more than a mundane forest-life."
He felt that that had answered her question adequately enough. She had already been kind enough to allow him there, so he didn't want to seem uncooperative or withhold too much information. He was a little worried that she would ask more about his past, and so he began to wonder what he would tell her. He couldn't tell her what planet he was from, for that was a secret he would take to his grave, for the sake of his species. However, it would probably do no harm to tell, if asked, his history between his time with the huts to his time on Carida.
"Is that adequate?" he inquired.
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sparrow
The Night is Dark and Full of Onions
2,999 posts
145 likes
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last online Dec 26, 2019 3:11:06 GMT -5
Master
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Oct 3, 2011 17:38:45 GMT -5
Post by sparrow on Oct 3, 2011 17:38:45 GMT -5
He was a bit evasive, but he answered. Zarene found it difficult to tell what he was thinking thanks to his mechanical monotone voice and complete lack of recognizable facial expression, but he seemed to her reluctant to reveal more. She nodded. It would do. For now.
He won't name names. There's something about those two he doesn't want me to know. Interesting.
"Everything's loaded and the pilot's read to take off," Byar interrupted. "Shall we be setting a course for the Capital or the Temple first?"
"I want to make a quick stop on Taris before returning to Korriban. You can return to Munnilinst afterwards if you want. Take a more roundabout route." Byar nodded and quickly went off to inform the pilot.
She kept her eyes on Ss'ss''th as she stood up and gestured towards the ship, waiting for some kind of reaction. Anyone who knew anything about the galaxy would know of Korriban and Munnilinst, and at least have a vague idea of the organizations those two planets were associated with. How Ss'ss'th behaved next would reveal much.
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last online Jul 11, 2018 23:15:20 GMT -5
Knight
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Oct 5, 2011 13:07:57 GMT -5
Post by Deceit *Drinker of Jawa-Juice* on Oct 5, 2011 13:07:57 GMT -5
Korriban...
Now where had Ss'ss'th heard that name before? He was a widely ignorant beast on intergalactic politics. In fact, he was widely ignorant on just about everything in the galaxy. His knowledge of the universe was much like that of a child's. Only vague. He had no sense of factionism or nationalism, only what little, mostly neutral, advice he'd been given from his Miralukan friend on Nar Shaddaa.
Korriban...
The Miralukan had not enough time to give Ss'ss'th any detailed lessons on the universe. Ss'ss'th quickly tried to recall what all he told him. A short history of the Republic...the Mandalorian wars...the Jedi...the Sith and their Empire...the fall of Miraluka. Where did Korriban fall in? He could remember that fellow so vividly and yet-
Suddenly Ss'ss'th remembered. Korriban was a planet rife with the power of the dark-side. Ss'ss'th was not sure what the dark-side was. He knew that the old Miralukan had told him about the force, and the dark-side and light-side. He said, however, that they were two sides of the same coin. Opposites in discipline, yet equal in spirits and strength. The main difference, was in the philosophies.
Ss'ss'th did not know much about the force. He did, however, have some experience with it. Vex was a force user, and dark one at that. He still remembered the splitting pain from Vex's healing powers that made it feel like his guts were roiling around and trying to rip out of him as his tissue was rearranged. A barbaric, archaic, yet effective healing tradition. Ss'ss'th did not want to go through that again, yet if he were dying he knew he would, for it could very easily save his life.
Korriban, a dark-side planet. That was Zarene's destination. Why? Why did she want to go there? Did she have affiliations with the Sith? He knew little to nothing of them, but he had heard that remnants remained.
Still, he could not judge them. A people ruled by passions, he could understand the lifestyle. For he had passions as well, and he knew the drive for strength. He also understood that that same drive could lead to cruel acts, like that which happened upon his home planet on Yavin XIII.
Of course, he was still a largely ignorant being, with many years ahead of him. The experience and knowledge would do him good, as well as the adventure.
He didn't know what this Taris and Muunilinst were, but they were headed to Taris first. Wherever that was, Ss'ss'th would be able to further speculate from there. For now, he just had to trust. He wasn't very good at trusting, but he had the feeling that seemed like a mutual deal. As long as she trusted him this far, he would trust her at least to Taris. In his heart, he knew he probably should be more wary, but at the same time his spirits hoped dearly that this would work out.
As he was thinking that he glanced at Zarene. She had gestured to the ship a good half a minute ago and he had seemed to lay there perfectly still in his contemplation, "I apologize." He told her, slithering toward the ship, "I have heard of Korriban before." he said. He knew she must be wondering if he was wondering why she would go there, "I have heard it is dangerous. For many reasons. But Taris first?" he asked, boarding the ship, his scales grating quietly against the metal surface.
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sparrow
The Night is Dark and Full of Onions
2,999 posts
145 likes
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last online Dec 26, 2019 3:11:06 GMT -5
Master
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Oct 21, 2011 4:31:51 GMT -5
Post by sparrow on Oct 21, 2011 4:31:51 GMT -5
"Yes, Taris first. It's near a major hyperlane. A good place to stop and resupply."
She had been hoping for some kind of reaction from him. Positive, negative, anything. Instead, nothing. Perhaps there was some way his species expressed themselves that she could not interpret, but either way, no useful information was gained.
"Some of the men are looking forward to some time back in civilization there."
A little voice in her head spoke. If we cannot read him, then we can't afford to keep him around. If he needs transportation, supplies, anything at all, he will be able to find it on Taris. And that will be the end of that.
There was a counterpoint. He seems to mean well. He's a bit of a freak. Like you. Maybe there's a place for him here.
His allegiance is unclear. There is danger here.
Either way, he is going to Taris. It can be decided there.
So be it.
The ship lifted up into the air, rising through the sky and into space, leaving the moon of Dxun behind.
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