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Dire Wolf
So who's ready to help me sock ol Adolf on the jaw?!
2,894 posts
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Have dakka will travel
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Sept 26, 2009 0:25:53 GMT -5
Post by Dire Wolf on Sept 26, 2009 0:25:53 GMT -5
Zeltros. To most but its hedonistic denizens of the party world it was generally avoided like the plague, as most sentient beings didn't enjoy being groped and pawed at. Above the slowly rotating sphere of blue, purple, red, and yellow hues hung a vast multitude of ships, each one of a different make and model, most made the sojourn to the planet for pleasure... though a select few for business reasons.
Until a singular ship dropped out of an extra-dimensional hyperspace tunnel, zooming into the system from some far away point at faster-than-light speeds. The ship was crafted with the most beautiful organic curves, making it look like some kind of chromium plated shark. Sharp fins jutted out of the aft section of the ship on each side, furthering the almost predatory grace that it held as it prowled towards the upper atmosphere of the planet, searching for a place to rest. But the aesthetic beauty and predatory grace of this creature belied its nature: it was an interstellar pack mule. Solely designed to haul items of value from planet to planet, on either side of the law. This craft was dubbed the "Sundered Star" by those who rode within its belly, including one Ryn Sundar. A grey jedi with a serious lack of luck, or absense of the Force's affection, and numerous scars taken from his life up to that point... be they physical or mental.
It just so happened that it was this very being who sat at the helm of the sleek ship as it angled its nose up to bring it under the full protection of the thick heat shielding laced about its underbelly. He simply gazed out of the transparisteel viewport as vibrant hues of orange and red danced about on the black canvas of space, marred only by a partial view of the planet and the stars that hung in the distance like tiny lights on the horizon. A soft blast of air escaped out of the helmsman's nose as he leaned back in his chair, feeling the full effect of the planet's gravity well wrapping the sleek ship up in its iron grasp.
For a brief moment the man felt as if he was in free fall, and for that brief moment a lance of irrational fear shot throughout his system. A quick burst of adrenaline forced its way into the man's blood stream, which energized his muscles and provoked the passing mention of the 'fight or flight' instinct within his brain. Though he quickly shrugged off the slight shot of fear that fired off into his heart, knowing that it was little more than some primal emotion. Instead, he allowed his fingers to grip the flight stick that controlled the vessel just a little tighter... as if the newfound strength of his fingers would help appease the primeval instinct that still lurked within his soul.
It was only until the artificial gravity created by the starship winked back on that he allowed his grasp on the joystick to ease. The blind man's gaze shifted down to brilliant white puffs that hung high above the everlasting party below as he continued his descent, soaking in every moment of sureal beauty like a dry sponge in water. Yet... the place felt different to the senses that weren't attuned to the physical world, they screamed at him to angle the nose of the ship back towards the sky and leave the wretched world. They told him that the place was one full of sin, but not of the malevolent nature, no, the otherwise beautiful world was marred by the sin that left the blackest mark on your soul: Lust.
It rose high into the heavens like putrid filth that had been left out in the heat to rot for weeks on end. Worst of all: the fetor of this wickedness was one that he could not ignore, for he could not simply close the nasal passages of his sixth sense. He could not cover the ears of his instincts, nor could he block the sight of his ethereal sensitivity. All that he could do was endure it. Fortunately, the man was well versed in enduring all manner of ill feelings, be it pain, uncomfortability, or the noisome air that repeated sin created.
The helmsman allowed a sigh to leave his lips, as if he was attempting to expelling the rancid air of lust that clung to his very lungs, as he angled the nose of the ship down to the cityscape of Zeltros and engaged the engines. The twin "Specter" sublight drives flickered to life with a golden orange tint, then shot out a superheated blast of vapor that flung the sleek ship downwards, nearly breaking the sound barrier. The man could feel his weight shift back into the soft chair slightly at the change in velocity, one that was far too soft considering the sudden acceleration to such a high speed.
Stark white pools shifted about in their fleshy container, taking in all the information that the Force would allow. The flashing neon lights of dingy dives and high class cocktail restraunts were the first thing to catch his unseeing eyes, followed by the multi-colored spectral storms that raged about each individual's form. Again, the man allowed himself to sigh as he drew closer and closer to a dock in the space port, one that had been reserved for the ship only a few moments before exiting hyperspace. Strong muscles in the man's arm twitched, angling the nose up and the aft end around, a quick pull of his other hand lowered the speed down to zero... allowing the ship to bleed its speed fairly quickly for a quick and stylish landing.
A satisfied smirk pursed the man's lips as he released his grip of the flight sticks fully, allowing them to bounce against the console a few times before stretching up to his full height. He was in his normal attire, a simple grey-black shirt with brown cargo pants and a long trench coat of the same hue as the pants. After a few moments of taking in the flashing lights and ill-colored auras, the man angled his body around and walked out of the cockpit, searching for the two women that he called his crew. One was his collegue... to say the least... and the other was his apprentice, one that had proved to be a slightly frusterating student. It was not her fault, however, she just seemed to have a barely passable aptitude for the Force.. but something told the man that there was more to it than that.
He hoped he was right.
After finding the fomer of the pair, he looked down at the radiantly beautiful storm that swirled around her feminine form, curling around every curve and arch, with a slight smile about his lips. "I will put this ship up for sale after we find yours, we might actually have some credits to call our own. Wouldn't that be something," he paused for a moment to allow the wry smirk that was wiped about his face to fade, "I have a bad feeling about this." While, yes, the ill feelings that generally twisted his gut about in concentric circles were common... they were rarely wrong.
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Sept 26, 2009 23:11:07 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Sept 26, 2009 23:11:07 GMT -5
(le suck...oh well)
Bored.
So bored…
Yes, still bored…
Oh! Wait! Not b….no…wait…yeah, still bored.
The ‘auburn’ haired woman had been taking turns with Ryn, watching over the controls of the Star. Even at the helm she was bored, but at least there she felt like she was being slightly useful. Maybe she’d been in the military too long, had to much to do constantly, that now she didn’t have anything to do…she was bored to tears. All she could do really, now that Ryn was minding the helm, was look through a list of potential smuggling jobs. A wide yawn escaped her and she flipped over onto her back, legs dangling over the side of the bed as she rubbed one eye in hopes it would stop watering. No such luck. So now she was bored AND had a watering eye. Brilliant.
The familiar slight ‘lurch’ of the ship as it entered the atmosphere had Sam grinning as she continued to scroll through the jobs. Ryn was lucky she wasn’t flying…hell, him and Vesta both were lucky she wasn’t flying. Sam was…well to be honest, she was a thrill seeker. Flying was her own, personal, thrill ride and she couldn’t get enough of it. If she’d been the one to be flying, well, chances were her two companions would have had a ride similar to what Ean got over Mygeeto. Fun for her, not always so fun for others.
—Suppose that’s what happens after years as a fighter pilot eh?--
She chuckled a bit and sat up as she could feel the ship twist about before finally settling down. With a stretch, she stood and tucked her data pad away in the belt she’d snitched from the shop on Tatooine before tossing her wrap around her shoulders. As she opened her door she found Ryn there and nearly yelped in surprise. Laughing in a mixture of embarrassment and the surprised nervousness that was wearing off at his (to her) sudden appearance. She nodded slightly and chuckled at his words, but his last comment caught her off guard.
A bad feeling? Bah…about what? Getting the Exodus? If I didn’t do something every time -I- got a bad feeling about something, I’d never do ANYTHING.
She laughed a bit and brushed off his words easily. Samantha had little clue about jedi and their ‘feelings,’ mainly seeing as she had never really had much extended interaction with a jedi before now. To the non-force sensitive woman, a feeling was a feeling and feeling weren’t always right. The funny thing was, if he’d phrased his statement ever so slightly different, she might have taken him a bit more seriously. When someone told her their gut instinct was telling them not to do something, or that something was going to go wrong…THAT was when she tended to listen. Gut instincts were different than feelings, after all, and those gut instincts tended to keep people alive.
As it was, she leaned against the door frame, waiting for him to move out of her way so she could get into the hall and they could get out of here. The sooner they got a wiggle on, the sooner they could all get off this planet. Not that she had anything against zeltrons, but to be surrounded by them was a bit intimidating for practically anyone BUT zeltrons…or nymphomaniacs or addicts or drunkards or…well, really anyone who had a serious “party” problem…mainly nymphomaniacs, something she just WASN’T.
You know…if you move…I can move…and then we can find Vesta…and get out of here.
Ah well…at least she was still feeling like teasing people. Not that it was difficult to tease the handsome man that stood before her...or perhaps “flirt with” would have been more appropriate.
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Meira
She don't mess around
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Sept 28, 2009 9:39:30 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Sept 28, 2009 9:39:30 GMT -5
((What gives Dire? j00 tooks mah color!))
The novelty had worn off pretty quick. After leaving Tatooine, and washing off as much of the dust and sand as she could in the ship's refresher unit, Vesta began to settle into her new role as Ryn's student.... or apprentice as he called it. He had told her he could teach her the ways of the Force, improve her skills and perhaps help her discover new ones. At first Vesta had begun to liken Ryn to Jasper, but she tried not to think of it like that. Jasper was more than just a teacher to her, he had been a father. She remembered the pain of losing him too vividly. Thinking of Ryn like that would only open it all up again. She preferred to keep it locked down if she could.
But right from the start, something was off. Vesta knew she was frustrating her new teacher. She knew because she was frustrating herself. Ryn wasn't like Jasper in that sense. Jasper, who had known her since she was a little girl, had been patient with her, had moved so slowly in his teachings with her, it didn't even feel like teaching, it just felt like living. But Ryn seemed to expect more from her, and faster. She felt overwhelmed at times and had even gotten grumpy and sarcastic with him on occasion. But in the end, she could tell that it was on her. In their brief time as teacher and student, Vesta was beginning to understand that she was simply sub-par. Was it Jasper's fault for not pushing her harder? Or was she just not as connected to the Force as Jedi were? She didn't know.
They had barely started her training, and already Vesta was beginning to feel like a failure. Her resolution was meditation. She had never been great at it, Jasper hadn't really taught her much about it, apart from clearing her mind. But maybe that was exactly what she needed. She thought too much, about everything. About what Ryn was thinking, about what Jasper might have said if he were here, about how long until they reached their next dock, about what Zeltros might be like. Her head was full of everything that got in her way. So, at every opportunity she got, she meditated, or at least she tried to.
Back home, clearing her mind had been easy enough. She and Jasper lived quietly a short distance from a town. There was no noise... no constant hum of engines. After Jasper died, she had let the habit of meditation fall away. She was too busy scrounging up a living. So now, alone in the ship, Vesta's out of practice mind caught on to every noise and every thought that happened to appear. When she felt the tell-tale movement of landing, Vesta's sigh was both out of frustration and relief. Frustration because she had gotten nowhere, relief because she didn't have to do it anymore. She knew they'd be selling the ship, so she gathered her small bag, which held nothing more than a change of clothes and a few credits and slung it over her shoulder. She glanced in a mirror to quickly check her appearance before exiting her room.
Her slipper like shoes were quiet on the floor, and she stumbled upon Ryn and Sam's conversation without being immediately noticed. Vesta had stepped back around the corner she had rounded upon seeing the two, allowing them their moment. She wasn't blind, she could see the way those two acted around each other. Awkward as it was for her, it was kinda cute. When she heard Sam mention finding her, she decided the moment was over. Vesta stepped back around the corner into full view.
Vesta found. Check.
She said with a sheepish smile before turning and making her way to the exit. Once out of the ship, Vesta couldn't help but gawk at Zeltros. Most places she had been were either industrial slums or outer rim wastes. Those were the cheapest places to travel, and she could almost always find a place to fight if she was in need of the credits. But here... Vesta suddenly felt a little dirty in her ragged clothes. Everything was posh and expensive looking. The people she saw were all wearing fine clothes turned up their noses when they looked at her. Vesta's hand toyed with the end of her long braid nervously as she turned around, crystal blue eyes searching for the two strangers who were now suddenly a source of comfort for the out-of-her-element girl.
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Dire Wolf
So who's ready to help me sock ol Adolf on the jaw?!
2,894 posts
49 likes
Have dakka will travel
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last online May 6, 2020 18:55:51 GMT -5
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Sept 29, 2009 14:49:00 GMT -5
Post by Dire Wolf on Sept 29, 2009 14:49:00 GMT -5
Ryn's brow knit together at her response, and her laugh. The Force was not something to be taken lightly, nor was it a joke in any way. He couldn't name the amount of times that he saved himself by simply listening to his feelings, though he couldn't be entirely sure on that. Whose to say that something positive wouldn't have come if he had simply listened to those feelings of his. "Like Tal's survival," a terrible voice crept into the back of his mind, "or perhaps she would have stayed faithful?" No. It wasn't his fault. The man bit the inside of his lip as the terrible thought coiled around his mind. Perhaps that was the worst pain that he'd endured in his life, for its wounds ran far deeper than the ship crash on Coruscant, and its effects left his heart just as scarred as his eyes.
His eyes.
Those cloudy diamonds set in his head slowly began to throb, to pulse, and it felt like someone took a hammer to his socket every time the pulse rushed. It was a recurring pain, the pain in his eye socket, as he assumed it would be for the rest of his life. That didn't mean that the blind bruenette would ever get used to it however, as the pain was just as bad... or worse... than the pain he felt when his own lightsaber was forced into his eyes. Ryn Sundar, the man who had endured incredible amounts of physical pain and anguish many times, simply couldn't handle the dull, throbbing pain that had began to thud against his eyes.
His eyes shut tightly out of instinct, hoping to lessen the blunt throbbing that had befallen the dead organs. Ryn's hands shot up to shield his eye sockets from the spectral agony that his body was putting him through, almost as if their presence would soothe the torment. After finding that those two actions were all for naught, his body reeled backwards against the bulkhead, slamming against the wall with a thud. All of the bad and tormenting memories from his past began to swell up within him, starting with the fall of Aeron, culminating with the death of his friends, and then finally ending in the death of Talau.
The man couldn't stop it. He'd tried before... but he failed. Nothing could stop the terrible act from playing over and over in his mind. Soon, the emotional pain that he felt dwarfed that of those throbbing dead eyes in his skull, all that he could do was slide down the bulkhead and wait for the pain to dull. Why? Why did this pain keep coming back despite the amount in time and space that he put between himself and Korriban? Thousands of questions began to pound within his skull. Why did the pain never stop? Why did Talau have to go off and do that... that with Aeron?
Anger. It welled up within the man's heart like a slow tide, ebbing at the boundaries of his soul like a blood tide. Why? How long? Was it my fault? Those three questions seared themselves into his mind as the Force began to rush into his body, fueling his muscles to well beyond physical limitations. He needed some kind of release, some way to vent the heat that had welled up in his face and his heart. As if at random, Ryn whipped his hand around and slammed the bottom of his closed fist into the durasteel bulkhead, denting it slightly. He envisioned Aeron's face being just beyond the dent, thsoe wolfish features pulled back in an almost lupine smile.
Again, Ryn took his hammer fist and slammed it into the same spot, deepening the depression made from his fist. Again. and again. and again. Until the depression turned into a crater large enough to store the fury that had stoked a fire in his heart. Blind eyes looked up at Sam, "sorry you saw that," he trailed off.
The man stood up and walked out of the room with a haste unseen by even some of his closest friends, they needed to get off this rock. It pervaded his thoughts, clouded his judgement, and made him quick to anger... not unlike Korriban. Not that the planet had a dark side effect on him, but the collected sin of its inhabbitants affected him. It disgusted him. Made his normally huge temper short, and his normally thick patience thin. He quickly stepped into the speeder, keying the ignition, and flew up beside Vesta, "you sure you wanna walk?"
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Oct 1, 2009 1:18:31 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Oct 1, 2009 1:18:31 GMT -5
Sam jumped and yelped a bit at Vesta’s words, and hand flying over her, now rapidly beating, heart.
Good to know!
She called back playfully, a grin forming on her face. That grin slowly faded, however, as she looked back up at Ryn. Something was wrong…she could tell instantly from the look on his face and the position of his body. That knowledge only solidified as he winced slightly at something…it looked like pain to the young kinetic “speaker”…then shut completely. It was pain. Even as his hands came up to press against his eyes he reeled backward, thudding against the bulkhead wall before sliding down it.
R-Ryn?...
He didn’t hear her.
Suddenly, and very unexpectedly, he slammed his fist into the floor….denting it.
The action alone had made her jump, but to see the dent…and then he hit it again…several more times. Grey eyes widened considerably and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to stay put, or run, or…what. As that anger…for it had been anger in the end…seemed to abate, Sam dared to get a bit closer. She approached tentatively as he spoke and she was about to offer him her hand to get up when he hoisted himself up and hurried past her and down the hall. Poor Samantha was at a loss for words. Even as she carried her own pack down the hall she wasn’t certain what to think or feel. Had she caused that some how? Was she to blame for bringing any of that about? As a follower of the Goddess and a kinetic ‘speaker’ she prayed it wasn’t her fault and that there hadn’t been something she could have done to prevent his emotional or physical pain…something she’d missed.
Tamping that down, she heard the speeder start up and move down the ramp slowly. She followed after it, putting a bright smile on her face as she slung her arm around Vesta’s shoulders, forcing a bit of the cocky smuggler in her to show itself.
You look worried. Stick with me, kid, and you’ll be A-Okay. Besides, these people live to make others happy, so you best not be feeling TOO uncomfortable or they’ll be pawing at you in no time tryin’ to make you feel better.
She perked herself right up and steered the younger woman toward the speeder before letting her go and sliding in with a wink.
So I gave you the address, right Ryn? I think I did but…can’t say these things don’t slip my mind sometimes.
Ah, bubbly Sam…such a good act she fooled even herself sometimes.
Now was one of those times.
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Meira
She don't mess around
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Half awake in our fake empire
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last online May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
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Oct 5, 2009 9:18:23 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Oct 5, 2009 9:18:23 GMT -5
Vesta felt something like a fool, standing at the foot of the ramp with that wide-eyed look on her face. When Ryn brought the speeder down, she pulled herself back together, laughing a bit at his comment. No, she definitely didn't want to walk. She didn't need more disapproving looks aimed at her. The tinted glass of the speeder would do just fine.
Vesta hadn't been prepared for Sam's sudden display of friendship, and so when the other woman slung her arm over her shoulder, Vesta was knocked near off balance. But again she recovered and composed herself, giving Sam a lazy salute with two of her fingers. The motion was accompanied by a chuckle, and soon Vesta too was inside the speeder and ready to go.
Where they were going was beyond her, so she just kept quiet and watched out the window. They were selling this ship and getting another. That was all Vesta knew, and likely all she needed to know for now. If she needed to know more, she'd be told more. She wasn't a nosy hand. When given a job, she did it and that was all. She had found that to be her most successful policy when hired on with a crew, and she wasn't about to abandon it now.
Then again, this wasn't the average crew. There was something under the surface with these two. With Ryn it was pretty obvious. It was hard not to notice a blind ex-Jedi. But then again, not many people knew he was an ex-Jedi... or blind. His mando costume did well enough to hide that. Though Vesta still thought he could use a lesson or two in the lingo to make him more believable. She was no expert by any means, but she had lived among the Mandalorians long enough to pick up on a few things. Maybe she could help him out.
With Sam, well, Vesta wasn't exactly sure what it was about the other woman that was different from your average mercenary or smuggler. But there WAS something more to her, Vesta was sure of it. She had a casual air about her that Vesta was fairly sure only came with an innate sense of protection. And then there was the way the woman guarded herself, as if to hide that very nature. It confused Vesta. Of course the Vahla woman didn't know about kinetic communication, but even her untrained mind could pick up on the occasional rigidity of the woman's posture. Body language was something all sentients understood to some extent after all.
In any case, it was these odd quirks that kept Vesta interested in her companions more than she might have been with another crew. That and the fact that the two of them had saved her life for no other apparent reason than it was the right thing to do. They were definitely not one-credit-a-dozen kind of people.
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Dire Wolf
So who's ready to help me sock ol Adolf on the jaw?!
2,894 posts
49 likes
Have dakka will travel
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last online May 6, 2020 18:55:51 GMT -5
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Oct 5, 2009 17:05:26 GMT -5
Post by Dire Wolf on Oct 5, 2009 17:05:26 GMT -5
Ryn sighed as he rolled the window up after speaking to Vesta, shifting his gaze from the vahlan woman to the effervescent cityscape of Zeltros' captial city. A vast multitude of flashing neon lights assaulted his vision, his brain, each one not allowing his gaze to see past them... unlike the buildings behind them. His gaze washed over the seemingly inumerable vagabonds of the starport as they mingled about, most of which were of a sick hue... be it yellow, green, red, or orange. The blind man paid little heed to the two who were standing just outside his speeder, not even bothering to notice the fact that they were well on their way inside as he peered out at the scene. Most of the beings that were strewn about the starport were presumably Zeltrons, oddly enough, as they were pawing at a few of the others trying to make their way out. Some of the people didn't resist, quite the opposite... some pawed right back. He was torn away from this moment of disgust when Sam spoke to him, "hmm? Yeah, I have the address. Shouldn't take too long to get there in this thing," he patted the steering wheel lightly.
After the two women were inside the speeder he pulled ahead off of the ramp, stopping only to punch in the code to the locking mechanism's keypad with the Force. The durasteel ramp closed shut in a slow, lurching manner as soon as the very last key was touched with the minor change in air pressure around it. No sooner did this happen then did a large gaggle of people crowd around the speeder, each one pressing their body up against the four viewports. Some where male, as was obvious by their aura, others were female, and some... some he just didn't want to know. With a simple sigh of disgust he keyed the elevation of the speeder to fifteen feet and dipped the nose down to allow any of the lecherous idiots to slide off.
A simple look of disdain crossed the man's face as he watched the aura slip off and get near insta-groped by the crowd, which wanted to take advantage of a man in the prone position. Ryn angled the nose back up and zoomed off towards the house that Sam wanted to get to, it wouldn't take all that long at the speed Ryn was forcing the speeder to fly at. 150 miles per hour. He gave an almost boyish grin as he heard the near deafining roar of the twin engines as they maxed their speed out and the rush of the wind as it slammed against the transparisteel viewport. A boyish delight quickly cropped up within the man's heart at the speed... he loved it. The man almost elevated the nose upwards and zoomed around the city at mind numbing speeds simply for enjoyment... almost.
He couldn't... they had things to do.
They were at the street in about three seconds.
Windflaps on the side of the speeder thrust themselves outward at the same time that the engines not only cut, but began to work themselves backwards in reverse. The wind flaps increased the amount of drag on the speeder's sleek form almost exponentially. Ryn's boyish smile only increased in width as the speeder jerked to a stop about half way down the street... and it stayed there for some time afterwards. With a small chuckle he looked back, "have fun?"
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Oct 6, 2009 15:15:16 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Oct 6, 2009 15:15:16 GMT -5
Sam had plopped into the seat beside Ryn swiftly enough, strapping herself in and stretching out lazily in the seat.
Great! Let’s get a wiggle on, then.
The grin was evident in her voice as she looked over at him, giving a short thumbs up. Even as the press of people drew in around the speeder, Sam could only giggle slightly and shake her head. Dopy zeltrons, always attracted to the beautiful…no wonder they were all here…the speeder itself was like a work of art, no doubt they thought there were some high rollers in it. The speeder lifted and she twisted in her seat to look behind at Vesta.
So this your fir…
…well, she’d been ABOUT to ask if this was her first time on Zeltros, but those words were swiftly stifled as she was thrown back in her seat unexpectedly. The tipping of the speeder hadn’t surprised her…it was almost expected since there was such a gaggle of drunk and horny red-skins around, but the speed at which Ryn took off….
It was a white knuckle ride to be sure.
First was the jolt of fear and adrenaline that coursed its way through her at the unexpected speed, then the second wave of adrenaline that came with praying to Via that Ryn wasn’t about to get them splattered all over the city, then the third wave of adrenaline as they jerked to a halt just down the street from where they needed to be, THEN came the high. At Ryn’s question Sam’s eyes widened.
Did she have fun?!...
HECK YEAH! OH MY GODDESS, WHERE THE HECK DID YOU LEARN TO DRIVE LIKE THAT?! THAT WAS TOTALLY AMAZING!!! AND YOU SAY YOU CAN’T FLY LIKE ME?! WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU?! THAT WAS COMPLETELY, TOTALLY, COOL AND….
Sam stopped abruptly, shutting her mouth with a snap and turning about five shades of red. Oh dear, it looked like the fighter pilot and adrenaline junky that had turned her into had come back in full force and gone and made her look a fool. The poor embarrassed woman cleared her throat and rubbed one shoulder lightly and the scarring that lay hidden beneath the clothes and serape she wore.
Uh…heh…sorry….it’s just…been a while since…you know, never mind. I’m just…gonna go see Halley about the Exodus
With that she unbuckled herself, careful not to look at her two companions, and got out of the speeder.
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Meira
She don't mess around
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Oct 7, 2009 10:13:14 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Oct 7, 2009 10:13:14 GMT -5
In the back seat of the speeder, Vesta was a little more free to gawk at their surroundings. Could this place really be the constant party that it was rumered to be? How could the people's bodies stand it? She watched with wide eyes as a mass of red, all arms, and legs, and lips converged on the speeder. When Ryn lifted the speeder up so that it would glide over the people and out of their reach, Vesta found herself angling her head to look out the window and down at the people they'd left behind to please themselves.
When she heard Sam's voice, she turned her head back, the slightest touch of pink forming on her cheeks at having been caught staring again. Before Vesta could answer the question... before the question could be finished, a great weight struck the group as Ryn, by a motivation that was lost on Vesta, gunned the speeder to its maximum speed from their dead stop. Alone in the back seat, and with nothing to hold onto, Vesta was pushed against the , thankfully, soft seat, her arms thrown out wide and clutching at the fabric, feeble as the attempt was.
It had been so sudden, Vesta didn't even have time to prepare. It had been so quick, she hadn't had time to react... or brace herself for the stop. When that stop came, the speeder and two of its occupants stopped with it. Vesta, who hand't been prepared, or restrained, did not. She continued forward, only stopping when her body collided with the back of the front bench of the speeder in which Ryn and Sam sat. Her shoulders and chest hit the seat, her head sailing forward, bobbing between the other two for a moment until she bounced back, landing in the back seat once again, wide eyed and panting.
Ryn's question was lost on the Vahla woman and as Sam exclaimed her response to the man, Vesta was busy checking that she was intact. Her hands clutched at ther arms, her legs, her neck as if to assure the body parts were still there. Her eyes were still wide, unblinking as the doors opened. She was shaky as they all stepped out of the speeder, and Vesta wasted little time in putting a good distance between herself and the thing.
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Dire Wolf
So who's ready to help me sock ol Adolf on the jaw?!
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Oct 7, 2009 17:40:29 GMT -5
Post by Dire Wolf on Oct 7, 2009 17:40:29 GMT -5
The large Jedi was taken completely surprised by the reply that he got from the woman beside him. Not only that, but the sudden yelling that ripped into his ear caused him to recoil back with a hand over his ear. Any louder and it was likely that his ears would begin to bleed... or so his ears told him. Luckily for the fighter pilot, Ryn's piercing gaze couldn't cut through the calm pool of golden orange that rippled about her form. Otherwise he would have probably found some quip to tease her.
Instead he simply opened up the door and slid out, stretching his back out after the "length" speeder trip. His stark white gaze shifted over to the calm storm cloud over Vesta's form. She was Force sensitive to be sure, he could see that much in her aura, but her prowess in all its aspects suggested that she was not... or barely one. He couldn't help but think that there was some other factor that was preventing her from unlocking the Force within her body. Something... and he only hoped that the Force would show him before she got too frustrated.
The tall Jedi began to walk down the street next to Vesta, simply watching her movements. It wasn't attraction that fueled his actions, oh no... Sam was the sole being that held any infatuation within his heart. The sole living being anyway. Rather, it was curiosity... his apprentice was something of a mystery to the man, and one that he felt as if he needed to solve.
It was right then that something hit him, or whispered to him to be more precise. It was the twisting in his gut, the little voice in the back of his head, and the slight increase in his heartbeat. It was the Force. It told him to stop, to wait, to even turn back and make sure that not a single one of his companions pass him. He obeyed, "wait. I have a bad feeling... just wait... don't go any closer to the house..."
The bruenette man held out his hands, not looking at either of his companions. What was he looking at? He was looking at the feminine form within the house, that lightly twisting green and blue aura... something told him that it wouldn't be clinging to her form much longer.
And the worst part? That same part of his mind told him that there was nothing he could do about it.
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Oct 8, 2009 16:27:22 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Oct 8, 2009 16:27:22 GMT -5
See…this was why she didn’t get excited about things around people….she aaaaalways made a fool of herself. Yeah, that had been one reason she’d taken to kinetic communication so enthusiastically. It helped her get a hold over just how she reacted to what…it didn’t hurt that Brathos had been the one teaching her either. That blush rose further as Ryn looked at her, and Vesta sat in the back making sure she was still in one piece, she had hurriedly gotten out of the speeder and folded her arms beneath that serape she wore and tried to not go bouncing around like an excitable child…like she wanted to. Embarrassed as she was, Sam was just glad Ryn hadn’t decided to tease her about her outburst.
The adrenaline pumped woman realized, suddenly, that they were leaving her behind.
With a little, almost excited sounding, squeak, Samantha trotted after them to catch up before taking her place at the back of the trio. Grey eyes darted around the street, as she watched for some potential danger that might or might not be there. Military service…ah yes…she may have been a trained fighter pilot, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t had ground missions. Oh no…the Sevens had done everything but water work.
As she walked behind them, she barely heard Ryn’s voice, never mind his words. No, she had been too busy with this creeping feeling working its way up her spine. She may not have been force sensitive, but every living thing had a connection to the force, and that was where non-force sensitives got their ‘gut instincts’ and ‘gut feelings’ and ‘gut reactions’ from…Sam was having one of those moments. Even as she nearly ran into Ryn’s outstretched arm, she paused and looked up to him.
You know that “bad feeling” you had earlier?....Either it’s contagious or something bad’s gonna…KRIFFING HELL!
That hadn’t been the originally intended ending to that statement.
Now, Samantha wasn’t one for cursing…ever. She never had been, even in the military…unless it was warranted. This was one of those times as she crouched down, instinctively shielding her head and neck as she curled up to protect the rest of her when the house exploded in a fiery ball of debris.
HIT THE DECK!
She didn’t exactly ‘hit the deck’ but she DID take cover, crouching behind the makeshift barricade of fallen wall and rubble.
Kriffin’ hell! I’M supposed to be the one makin’ things explode around here! Didn’t anyone tell them that?!
Cut yer yappin’ lass, an’ make us a diversion!
She gave Sev a mild glare before shifting that look to an evil little grin.
Gotcha cap’n tight pants…one diversion comin’ up.
Sev “glared” back as she nodded to the dark skinned man that was Brathos, giving him two simple hand signals before both pulled grenades from their belts. With a deft motion they stood, lobbing the two dissimilar grenades over the remainder of the wall their foes were using as cover.
Eyes.
Blinding white light followed by the sound of an explosion and there was a cacophony of confusion and shouting from behind the wall. Their small team had averted or covered their eyes and as soon as the confusion began, they were on the move. She hopped up over the wall, swinging her rifle over her shoulder to the front and charged in with the rest of them…
Grey eyes opened to see a completely different scene only moments after the explosion, that memory having taken less than two seconds to replay through her mind. The first thought that came to her: that WASN’T my doing….the second thought: Halley! Concern and training had her up in a flash and skirting the blast area, careful of any other explosions, testing the smell of the air for any hint of traceable gas…none. She didn’t think this was an accident.
As she came skidding to a halt at before the walkway of her friend’s home, she took in the damage….and seethed. It didn’t even LOOK like an accident. The explosion was too perfect, the kitchen and the gas there was on the other side and it was unlikely to have happened any other way. The smell that came with household gas of any kind…the scent they put into it so common people could discern if there was a leak in their gas lines…it was missing. There had been too much explosion and not enough natural fire that would point to a gasoline explosion, and even if there had been…that would have pointed fingers anyway. Who USED that stuff these days? That was pre-hyperspace! Alcohol wouldn’t have caused such a large explosion…Her mind raced through all the possibilities while she stood, tears streaming down her face silently as she turned her eyes down to the charred remains of her friend, Halley, laying in her own front yard. The window was broken, shattered pieces of glass were scattered about her body…the explosion had happened near that room and it was engulfed in flames…it didn’t take Sam’s demolitions expertise to piece together how she had died, or how she had gotten into the front lawn.
The former blond took a shuddering breath as she silently assessed the damage and tried to coerce her mind into figuring out what it meant…why it had happened…
That slight form was rigid as stone as she turned her eyes back to the flames engulfing the house. If they had only gotten there sooner...she could have stopped it...she knew she could have stopped it...this wouldn't have happened if only...They couldn't stay here now, or they risked being caught by someone...security patrols would be on the way with the fire and medical teams. They couldn't stay.
...and where was Roth, Halley's husband? Had he been in there also? The soldier in her told her to find out...the house wasn't completely in flames yet and it wasn't as if she'd not been in a burning building before, but the smuggler in her told her to get the hell away from the place. Torn as to what to do...she hesitated...
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Meira
She don't mess around
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Oct 12, 2009 15:25:15 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Oct 12, 2009 15:25:15 GMT -5
The nerves from the ride were starting to wear off as the group moved along the street towards... well, Vesta wasn't really sure. Towards the people they'd be getting this other ship from she supposed. This area of town seemed a bit less intense and crowded, so Vesta didn't feel so awkward as she looked around at their surroundings. The homes that lined the street were beautiful and classy looking. Worth a few credits, she was sure.
When Ryn spoke, Vesta had been looking back at a house they were passing. She had turned her head toward him with a smile on her face, left over from the sensation of enjoyng the aesthetics of the subtle arichitecture of the home. But at hearing his words, Vesta's smile wilted. When Sam spoke next, Vesta wondered why she hadn't felt any wrong feelings. But the amount of time she had to think on such things was very limited. Before Sam could even finish her sentence, a resounding explosion filled the air.
She shock of the explosion expanded outward, and Vesta felt it hit her square in the chest. The sensation was like a rope lassoed around her rib cage and pulled tight, then a fist slamming hard against her sternum, pushing her backward. Unprepared as she was, Vesta felt her body react to the force of the explosion, bending to its will. She barely had enough time to contort her body, allowing her upper half to bend over backwards completely so that her hands touched the ground. Her extra cartilage allowed for the bend, and Vesta let the shock wave lift her feet from the ground. She rolled with the wave of energy, her feet going up, over, and down again behind her. She ended the movement in a crouched position and her hands moved to cover her head should any debris fall on her. After the initial blast subsided, Vesta opened her eyes to look around.
The house that had once existed ahead of them was now gone, torn into pieces that now lay scattered along the street. Vesta's first instinct was to search out her companions. They were both there, near her, and seemed to be alright. Cautiously, Vesta stood. Sam's movement was a surprise and Vesta started as the woman darted past her and towards the house. Vesta looked to Ryn in confusion, but began to follow the other woman. She stopped a few yards away upon seeing the body in the yard. Vesta, like Sam, hesitated. She didn't know what to do.
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Dire Wolf
So who's ready to help me sock ol Adolf on the jaw?!
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Oct 12, 2009 21:28:13 GMT -5
Post by Dire Wolf on Oct 12, 2009 21:28:13 GMT -5
((Didn't intend for it to be this long... but yeah, it is. And I don't think the latter end of this post is for the kiddies.. just a warning))
Ryn's mind was running far too fast for it to register the words that rolled out of Sam's lips after those few tenuous seconds. It was still trying to decipher the twisting in his gut, trying to cook up any form of logical outcome that could come from the Force's warning. A bomb was the very last thing that the grey Jedi expected, at best he thought that it would... maybe... be a gang of muggers, pick pocketers, or something of the like.
But Bomb?
If only his ability to sense the near future was honed... he could have better prepared himself for the concussion wave from the house going up like a concrete truck on mythbusters. Sam was quicker to react, she was already curled up in a little ball with her hands covering her neck and head... Ryn, on the other hand, was caught simply standing like an idiot. The wave of compressed air from the five pounds of high explosive slammed into his tall and broad form like a giant bag of bricks, sending him backwards.
The grey Jedi could feel the wave scrunch his innards together as the wave washed over and passed him, leaving him with that same twisting in his gut. Ryn instinctively tried to recover from the massive push by sending a foot backwards, and it may have just worked if Sam hadn't been curled up into a little ball just to the left of him the heel of his foot wouldn't have crashed into her buttocks. If this, if that... lets just face it. Ryn was caught flat footed.
Suddenly his vision blurred as his upper body crashed to the ground not long after his foot met the resistance of Sam's body. The whurr of wind was in his ears for all of half a second before it was replaced with the mind cracking WHUMP! of his head meeing with the hard duracrete. His momentum did not stop here, however, it continued as the rest of his body whipped around and slammed into the ground. Ryn wanted to say something, he really did... but all that could come to his mind was, "sonuvabetch."
Sam was already tearing off down the street towards the newly crafted conflagration. Not exactly the wisest move, but understandable considering the person(s) that were in her house... her friends. Ryn's blind eyes winced slightly as his palms met with the rough duracrete and pushed his body up off the ground. A deep groan quickly rumbled his vocal chords as his knee met with the ground, then pushed him up to a standing position. "That was some explosion, Rynny boy. How'd you manage to survive that one," he questioned himself. To be honest.... he had no clue. The Force didn't seem to grant the blind man's wish in ending his life... apparently he was still far too funny.
Another deep groan rumbled at his voice box as he began to gimp his way over to Sam and Vesta, the latter of which followed the auburn-colored blonde not long after she tore off. "Ataboy, walk it off... pain ain't nothin'," the thought flashed across his minds eye just as his foot hit the ground, sending a lance of pain up his spine. It was doubtful that anything lasting happened to him... though his body did just execute an concussion wave powered crash into the ground.
It wasn't long before the man had gimped his way down the street and to Sam's side as she gazed at the ever growing inferno. It must have been so hard for her, to have a friend die like that... and there was no way that it was natural. The Force played at his gut yet again at the thought, something told him that he was nowhere near the end of this. "Sam... are you alright," he asked... his voice plagued with concern, "I... I hate to say this... but we have to leave. We will find who did this, and we will punish them for this." He looked at the woman's shifting golden form as it dimmed, all that he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her... but he didn't. No. It wouldn't help the situation, and they needed to get out of the situation before the authorities arrived.
Authorities brought ID checks.
ID checks bought Sam a one way ticket to the firing squad.
He'd die before he allowed her to be captured. Though, he'd die for either of the women that stood next to him... despite the fact that he'd barely known one for a few days and another for a few meager weeks. At best. But they were his crew... and Sam? Well... she may have been a little more.
His unblinking gaze winked over to the fiery house once more. Then it hit him. Was this what Tal's few last moments where like? In the middle of an ever burning flame as the ship exploded? Ryn could feel his face warm as he stared blankly at the ruin, the only thought able to cross his mind was, "Icarus." It was then that he saw an image in the dancing flames, it meandered about just beyond his sight.
A wave of pain and sadness hit his form at as his eyes caught sight of the being in the flames: It was Tal. Her painful visage wandered out of the house and fell to her knees just infront of the door, holding out her hand towards him. Ryn's face contorted into many looks of pain as he fell to his knees, stretching out a hand towards the vision.
The look strewn about her face was one of pain and agony as the flesh melted from her face, drooping and sagging down her chin. Her eyes shifted to a deep orange hue, one that mirrored the flickering flames that danced about her burning form. Then, as quickly as it came... it disappeared. But he still sat there with an outstretched hand, in yet another state of disbelief as the image was branded into his mind's eye.
This wasn't right... the Force had to hate him...
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Oct 16, 2009 23:27:55 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Oct 16, 2009 23:27:55 GMT -5
Ryn fell?
She wouldn’t ever even know he’d tripped over her…she’d been too focused as she’d had that flashback and followed it up by the sprint to Halley’s house and the horrible thoughts that had followed. Even as he and Vesta had arrived around her, she barely even noticed their existence, never mind their words. Eventually, however, Ryn’s voice filtered into her head and she gave a nod, the soldier in her coming up enough to shield her from the painful emotions she was feeling and get things done.
The acrid smell of smoke tingled in her nose as she closed her eyes for a moment and sighed out her sorrow and frustration. Finally she opened them again and turned, heading back toward the speeder. As she passed Vesta, she halted slightly and looked at her.
You okay? You look pretty shook up…
Steely grey eyes searched the younger woman’s face and body language, looking to see if she might be hurt somehow from the ordeal. It didn’t look like it…she wasn’t holding herself like she was injured….just…shocked, and perhaps a bit dazed at the situation. She needn’t have worried so much about Vesta, however, as behind her she…didn’t hear a thing. That was odd. Wasn’t Ryn following her?
She turned to look, and what she saw had her heart hurting.
The pain was etched in his every line. Every minor detail screamed it at her, and she didn’t need her kinetic com. skills to see it. That was the worst part. If it had been hidden, it might have been easier for her to bear, if she’d had to read it on him, but she hadn’t had to do that…it was obvious to the world. The calm, gentle, man was hurting badly at whatever he saw and…from the look in his eyes…she knew that look only too well. It was one she’d worn before…one she still wore at times…and one she was surprised she wasn’t wearing now. Jogging back to him, she stepped in front of his view. His grieving wouldn’t help any of them.
Get up Ryn. I know you’re hurting, I’m not sure why you are, but I know you are…this isn’t going to help us though. Grieve later. C’mon.
It wasn’t a request.
She grabbed his outstretched hand and shouldered under his arm, shoving upward to get him to move on his own. Once he started to, she looked over at Vesta.
We need to go to the dealership. Get in the speeder, this time I’ll drive and buckle up.
Once Ryn was up, Sam gave him a rough nudge in the direction of the speeder to get him moving, just in case he still hadn’t gotten all his senses back, and she darted toward the driver side of the speeder, slipping in and readjusting for herself.
Grief.
It was a paralyzing thing sometimes…but Samantha had learned to over come it, to muscle through it until she could deal with it safely. Ryn had been struck by grief and it’s paralyzing effects. She had little clue, however, that the tells of that grief were easy to see…the feather across his bandoleer, the beads on the necklace that carried his blue saber crystal…the scent of a crisp autumn morning that still clung around him for those with noses sensitive enough to notice. All she knew was that he hadn’t been himself, the sorrow that comes with losing a lover had wrapped up the Ryn she knew, binding him tightly in the dismal grey folds of its cloak and he wasn’t thinking straight, so she needed to think straight for him. Stormy eyes turned to Vesta again.
I’ll get us to the Exodus, you get him back into his right mind, deal?
With that she keyed up the speeder and turned it about, heading for the dealership Halley and Roth owned.
She hoped Roth was there…she had a bad feeling about all of this mess now, and she needed to have a talk with the man anyway.
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Meira
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Oct 22, 2009 11:46:40 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Oct 22, 2009 11:46:40 GMT -5
The adrenalin coursed through her, keeping her moving, keeping her blood pumping, suppressing a pain that would later catch her. She breathed, in spite of the burning smell that filled the air. She breathed and focused and looked to Sam at almost the same moment that the other woman had turned to her. She nodded her head.
Yeah, I'm good.
The other woman was moving now, lifting Ryn from the ground. Vesta's eyebrows furrowed. What had happened to him to cause such a crippling display? Vesta was not a reader of minute postures and gestures. But this was not minute. Something held Ryn in a terrible grip of dispair. And panic threatened to form a similar grip on Vesta. But Sam's words pieced the cloud of fear that was shrinking in around the Vahla woman, cutting through like a knife and letting the light of cool reasoning shine through.
They piled back into the speeder, and Vesta wasted no time securing her seat belt. She had a feeling this ride would be similar to the last. Then, Sam gave Vesta instructions to get Ryn back into his right mind. Vesta was caught off guard, and for a moment, she simply stared at Sam, mouth slightly open and a helpless expression on her face. But the movement of the speeder negated any protest.
Vesta turned her head to the back bench where Ryn had been deposited. The man seemed oblivious to the world around him. Vesta undid her seat belt and clambored over her seat into the back, turning her body to face the man. She hesitated. There was no experience in her past to help her. She would have to wing it. Gingerly, she reached out her hands and took Ryn by the shoulders.
Ryn... c'mon. Pull it together.
No response. She shook his shoulders.
Ryn! We need you!
Nothing. Frustrated, the woman gritted her teeth and brought her hand across his face with a sharp slap.
Snap out of it!
Still nothing. Crystal blue eyes darted around, as if the solution were out there somewhere and she just needed to locate it. But there was nothing there to help her. She focused her eyes back on Ryn's. C'mon, c'mon... She thought, frantically searching her mind for something, anything. What would Jasper do? Vesta moved her hands from gripping his shoulders to the sides of his head. SHe held them there, applying a slight pressure and took a number of deep breaths. She'd never done this before, willing an emotion onto someone... but surely she could... it was a matter of focus, concentration. Closing her eyes, Vesta did her best to grasp the Force and reach out. The physical connection to Ryn helped. She could feel the Force around them both... could feel where it might flow from her to him. First she calmed herself as best as she could. Then gently, tried to move that calm down her arms, through her fingers, and into him.
The look strewn about her face was one of pain and agony as the flesh melted from her face, drooping and sagging down her chin. Her eyes shifted to a deep orange hue, one that mirrored the flickering flames that danced about her burning form.
As if hit by an explosion, Vesta fell back and away from Ryn, a cry escaping her lips. Her breathing was fast, uneven, and came in large gasps. Her palms burned, the spiral scars pulsating with each beat of her heart. Already the image was fading, confusing itself as if it was being pulled out of her mind. But in the instant that she had seen it, it had been so real, so terrifying. Again, Vesta's eyes were wide and darting about, still wrapped up in the confusion of what had happened.
Whatever she had done, it backfired. She couldn't do that again. So Vesta resorted to her previous method. She slapped him, this time as hard as she could. She then beat her fists against his chest and shoulders, yelling at the man, each word accenting a blow.
You.
Wake.
Up.
Right.
NOW!
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Dire Wolf
So who's ready to help me sock ol Adolf on the jaw?!
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Oct 22, 2009 15:59:35 GMT -5
Post by Dire Wolf on Oct 22, 2009 15:59:35 GMT -5
Despair. It had him entombed within the deepest depths of its cavern, shrouding his soul with darkness. The ghostly visage of Talau's skin melting and sagging off of her bones seared itself into his mind's eye, refusing to leave under any other circumstance but death. For a brief moment he wondered if he truly did see her last moments. "Was that how she died," he asked himself, "engulfed in the flames borne of a dieing ship?" Ryn's mind was completely detached from his body during this time, and his body was weak to urging. It did not take much to convince it to stand up, nor did it take more than Sam's gentle nudge to start him off in the direction of the speeder.
The slam of the speeder door crashing against the plastoid frame did little to throw the man's mind back to controlling his body, instead it simply served to cause an echo that repeated itself throughout his mind over and over. To him it did not sound like the door slamming, however, it represented the fiery conflagration of the Icarus detonating, sending the atomized bits of Talau's slender frame every which way into the cosmos. Much like ashes that were spread to the wind by a bereaved lover, but unlike that action it did little to provide any closure for the man. No. If anything it made it worse, knowing that he'd never see that soft face again, feel the creamy face of hers, nor would he hear the jangle of those beads in her hair. Even in death.
It was an odd thing, really, he didn't realize how much he missed the little things about her unti-... he felt a swift and powerful hand smash against his cheek. The stinging feeling on the side of his face showed up in a battered red mark that outlined Vesta's hand near-perfectly. During that time that his mind was lost within the deep caverns of despair much had been occurring in the physical world. Vesta had been trying to throw him out of the trance-like state that he'd entered, first simply talking, then gradually escalating to a series of yells punctuated by swift fists against his body.
His mental eyes shot open just as one of her fists was flying towards his chest. On instinct, the large, muscular man shot his far hand up and caught her fist in a larger hand. Ryn didn't apply tremendous amounts of pressure, instead he drew his opposite hand, the one closest to Vesta, back across his body and whipped the back of his closed fist at her stomach. That was when Ryn's mind finally caught up with the events that had transpired, she had simply been trying to pull him out of despair's great black maw before it devoured him completely. And it nearly did.
Ryn shook his head once, releasing her hand, "I'm sorry... thank you. Are you alright?" Concern plagued his voice as he queried her. If he hurt her anything more than a lost wind he'd probably never forgive himself. Men never used their strength to hurt women, not real men anyways. "I suppose now is as good of a time as any," he let a sigh of resignation pass his lips, "I lost the woman that I loved two months ago. We were going to leave the Order together, but she never returned from her final mission... and they never found the body." After the last painful syllable left his lips he flopped his weight back against the back of the chair, as if saying those simple words took all the energy he had from him. That wasn't entirely false, as it took almost all of his energy to not break down at the thought.
As if on cue the speeder stopped at the shipyard that Sam's friend presumably owned. Hopefully the blonde's ship was still parked within its confines, but he doubted that they'd be leaving the planet so soon. Not until this murder was solved and the perpetrators were brought to justice. The man stepped out of the speeder after switching silent looks between the two women that shared the speeder with him, his brown duster jacket swirling at his feet. He looked down at the feather that was pinned to the bandoleer on his chest, Talau's feather, and it held an inscription at the bottom of the leather strap. Love Is Eternal.
That it is.
His all-seeing gaze shifted over to Sam's aura at the thought, he may not have loved her just yet. No. Ryn didn't feel the same way about her that he felt about the memory of Tal... but he was getting there. Perhaps it was just the sense of overwhelming loneliness that he felt in Tal's absence, maybe it was the hollow feeling within him... the feeling that crept into his mind and told him that he was but a mere shell of his former self. But he doubted it. He hoped that it wasn't the case anyways... she deserved better than that.
During this time of deep thought he had managed to make his way to the gate, and managed to get his wits about him soon enough to pull it open and motion for the two to enter before him. He may have been feeling down, way down, but he was still a gentleman. They were still women.
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last online Jun 4, 2023 4:58:38 GMT -5
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Oct 23, 2009 16:52:38 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Oct 23, 2009 16:52:38 GMT -5
Sam was off like a Corellian racing Spat out of the gate. She wasn’t Ryn, no, she didn’t have jedi reflexes, no, but she DID have several years of fighter piloting experience and add that to her years as a smuggler pilot with her dad…it made for damn good reflexes in a speeder. It helped that she knew exactly where she was going and how best to get there while avoiding major traffic. Hell, if she hadn’t been so traumatized by Halley’s death, Sam might have actually been enjoying the moment…such was not the case, however.
Keen grey eyes narrowed down to the area and the controls, her mind blocking out any information that wasn’t needed as she swung them around corners and down different streets. As they wove in and out of the sparse traffic around them, Sam’s attention was suddenly brought back to the interior of the speeder by a loud snap…or was it a slap? She glanced into the rear view to look into the back seat and see a nice red mark showing up on Ryn’s cheek. Well…that was ONE way to get things done, but…didn’t mean she liked it.
Sam didn’t have time for that now, however, as she cut the forward thrusters for a moment as she swung them around another corner. With a slight movement of her hand the engines sounded again and they were off, smooth as silk. She was really starting to like this speeder…she handled almost as smooth as the ‘hawks. That thought sent a stab of pain through her that she swiftly shut down. No use thinking about the past now…wasn’t gonna help anything. Finally she spotted Roth’s shipyard and she slowed them down to a more…legally acceptable…speed. No, she’d not been going in the 100s, but she’d certainly been hovering about in the 90s.
“…never returned from her final mission…and they never found the body.”
What?
Sam hadn’t had time to pay attention to what had been going on behind her and only now, as she slowed, did she find herself able to understand the words being spoken behind her. Sam blinked as she stopped the speeder, trying to puzzle out what he could have been talking about. Then it hit her. He’d had someone else…when he’d been a jedi, he’d fallen for someone and she’d never come back…that was why he’d been in so much pain so suddenly. Something about that fire had reminded him of her.
Sam had to swallow the lump in her throat as she stepped out of the speeder first, half slamming the door behind her. Dammit, she didn’t WANT to remember Brathos right now. She couldn’t. It wouldn’t help anything, and it wouldn’t get anything done. As she waited for the others to get out, she wrapped her arms around herself beneath that serape covering, willing away the need to cry and swiping away some of the tears. How long had it been now, since that day? Storm cloud colored eyes unfocused as she tried to remember just how long it had been since the day her life seemed to end in a twisting of metal and fire.
She’d been a secretary for two years…plus a year of recovery…so three years. Three years he’d been gone and she still felt so much pain. The others had joined her by now, but she hardly noticed, her head held low as she struggled against the recent death of her friend and the far less recent death of Brathos. Where were the others now, she wondered…Archer, Hunter, Sev…it was too painful to think about. Sam sniffed slightly, and brushed away another tear before standing up from her leaning position against the speeder and starting off after Ryn.
She’d finally come back to the real world, at least as far as her sight went, and so she saw him headed for the gate. He opened it for them, motioning them through, and she stepped into the area, looking around for her baby…for her home. It didn’t take the 26 year old long to find the sleek black form of the Exodus, the lines and angles of her small freighter a sight for sore eyes. With a sigh of relief, she took a step toward her ship, but almost immediately halted as Roth appeared from out of the office building settled in front and to the right of them. This, however, wasn’t the reason she stopped…no, the two men that were with him were why. She knew the look of that type anywhere. Immediately she backed up until she was pressed against Ryn, the fear almost tangible around her.
Pirates…
Sam was terrified of pirates, and she’d learned how to pick them out of a crowd if only to avoid them like the plague they were. It was a good thing she didn’t know that one of them was a force user as well, or she might have bolted from the area like a frightened rabbit. As it was, she was only able to keep this close because their little group was comfortably ensconced in deep shadows and Ryn was there. It was the fact that, her first dealing with pirates, Sam and her father were rescued by a knight and his padawan that had given her so much initial faith in jedi…especially when it came to dealing with this particular group of braggarts. Knowing that Ryn was still very much a jedi at heart, Sam felt considerably more safe around him despite the gnawing fear of the men who were speaking to Roth not far away.
“So it’s done then?”
“O’ course it’s done. Wha’chu take us for? Yeh paid us ain’t ya?”
“I did. Doesn’t mean you’d done anything…you’re sure you got both of them, right?”
“Yeah, yeah….two dead broads are in the place. What, you want we should bring the bodies back to ya or somthin’?”
Roth rolled his eyes slightly and folded his arms, looking at the man that was speaking and ignoring his rather…twitchy…silent companion.
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Meira
She don't mess around
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Half awake in our fake empire
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Oct 26, 2009 15:31:57 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Oct 26, 2009 15:31:57 GMT -5
That had done it! Vesta barely had time to rotate her torso, more than the average human or near human would be able to. Ryn's fist glanced along the surface of her body, the motion deflecting most of the blow. But right before the end of the punch, his knuckle caught the edge of her rib cage, sending a sharp pain through Vesta's stomach. It had happened so quick that Vesta parely had the time to draw in a sharp breath before it was gone.
It didn't matter. Ryn was speaking, he was back. And Vesta had no room for resentment in her heart. She could see the red mark on his face that her palm had left. And she could hear the heartbreaking, though brief explanation of what had happened to him. Could that have been....
But she didn't have time to even finish the thought. The speeder had stopped, signalling their arrival. The three piled out of the speeder and made their way to the gate. Ryn held it open for Vesta and Sam to enter, but their progression didn't get far after that. Sam stopped dead in her tracks, backing up until she was against Ryn. Vesta watched the woman, confused, and then followed Sam's line of sight until she saw the source of what had set her on edge.
Vesta never saw the faces of the three men who conversed not far away from their small group. She was enveloped entirely by a sensation of vertigo. Though her body was rigid and steady, and though she had never crossed beyond the protective shadow of the entrance, Vesta's mind was spinning and lightyears away from where the three stood.
She awoke with a hand over her mouth, unable to breath at first, the five year old's crystal blue eyes flew open wide with terror. A fewseconds passed and she realized her nose was not covered. A deep breath did little to calm the girl however. Above the bed where Vesta had moments ago been sleeping peacefully, Dark figures, robed and with hidden faces, loomed. The only light in the small room came from a single candle, held by a tall figure who stood by the door. No one spoke as the girl was lifed from the bed. Vesta, paralyzed by fear didn't move or even utter a sound as her night close were removed and a red slip was drawn over her.
The figure holding the candle turned and exited the room, and Vesta was urged to follow. The little girl cried silently to herself as she was led down the dark corridors of the ship. Any other day, these halls would have been welcoming and familiar to the girl The ship was her home, had always been her home. But tonight, it was terrifyingly different. No lights, not even the emergency back ups lit the passage. Only the glow of the candle, partly blocked by the carrier's body, lit the way. Had fear not held such a tight grip on the girl's mind, Vesta might have noticed that this procession was leading her into the bowels of the ship, down to a level she had never been permitted to go before.
When the group reached the end of a corridor, two doors slid open noislessly. The room that Vesta now entered was even more foreign to her than she realized. This was the ship's Temple to Vahl. The center of the circular room was sunken, with only two sets of stairs leading down to the center. The lower level was also circular, encircled by a ring of fire. The two paths bridged over the fire, and at the very center, a long low table sat empty. Vesta was led to this level, walking over the bridge over the fire and stopping at the table. All around her, in the upper level of the room, hooded and faceless figures stood watch, each holding a single candle. From the opposite end of the room from which Vesta had entered and descended to the lower level, a single figure stood out from the rest. The red robe fit tightly against the obvious femenine body and was sleeveless. As the figure descended to the lower level and stood across the table from Vesta, the small girl recognized the spiral scars on the woman's arms.
Mama?
A sharp slap echoed through the room as Vesta's mother struck her across the cheek. Vesta's tiny hands clutched at her face where the sting and burn of the impact raged, fresh tears rolling from her eyes.
Do not speak in the presence of Vahl.
It was her mother's voice, but dark and cold, nothing like the warm affection Vesta had grown used to hearing from her mother. She dared not make a sound, not even a whimper. Vesta's mother, the high priestess signalled to the two that had walked Vesta down to the lower level, and the hooded figures lifted the girl up with strong solid hands, placing her on the cold table. The high priestess began the ceremony, calling to Vahl to accept the young girl being offered, that she might be a mighty servant to the goddess.
A knife was brought fourth, along with a basin full of oil. These were set at the end of the table by Vesta's feet. The high priestesss lit the oil, then held the kife in the flames until it glowed. Vesta watched, a growing dread filling her stomach as her mother spoke in a strange tongue, invoking the dark power of Vahl. A murmur filled the room as the hooded figures joined in the invokation, their voices steadily rising until Vesta had to cover her ears and shut her eyes to keep it out.
Then, a fire shot through the child as the knife pierced the skin of her foot, cutting and sealing the wound almost instantly. esta's sharp cries did nothing to stop it, as another line was drawn, then another, two more. With all fear of being too loud now entirely lost and forgotte, Vesta cried in earnest and tried to pull away. But even as she move, strong hands held her fast, and the process was repeated on her other foot. The pain was too great, the smell overwhelming. Vesta's eyes rolled back as her body gave up its futile attempts at escape. The world grew dark...
Vesta woke screaming. She was on Zeltros, standing at the gate of some docking yard. Sam and Ryn were beside her. And in front of her.... three men had turned their gaze in the direction of the gate. Wide eyed, Vesta looked to her companions, her breathing fast, heavy and uneven.
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Dire Wolf
So who's ready to help me sock ol Adolf on the jaw?!
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Oct 27, 2009 12:25:58 GMT -5
Post by Dire Wolf on Oct 27, 2009 12:25:58 GMT -5
Ryn had only barely made it through the gate before he felt Sam back up into him, pressing herself against his chest absentmindedly. The man could see sick yellow lines lace across her swirling golden aura, making it look almost as if an infection corrupted its beauty. He snaked a tendril of his own mind over to Sam's, sending her waves of calm and serenity. --Shhh, glydine, shh. Its alright... I won't let them harm you,-- his words would be a whisper in her mental ear. One hand protectively wrapped itself around the fearful woman that was leaning against him heavily while the other allowed for nothing more than a pair of fingers to point outwards. Those fingers traced a half circle in the air beside his leg, then lifted up towards the back of his hand.
To mirror this, half of the lightsaber on his back underneath that duster was twisting in its bandoleer. Once the bottom half of the lightsaber was free the man used the Force to undo the strap that held the top of the scabbard closed. Then, slowly, he moved both pieces of the saber to each of his sides. The top half met his right palm, the cool dark metal pressing against his skin felt almost as if it was meant to be there. Like it wouldn't fit in any other person's hand. The other half of Sol slowly found its way inside one of the jacket's cargo pockets.
Ryn had been about to gently move Sam around behind him so that his larger frame could better defend hers when, in a snap, he heard an ear shattering scream. One of complete terror and pain. It wasn't coming from Sam, however, it was coming from his apprentice. Stark white eyes shot over to the shorter woman, along with the hand that had been wrapped around Sam protectively. In a flash he enveloped Vesta in a warm, comforting aura that would protect her body from the physical forces that it was about to go through. His wrist flicked downward, flinging her behind him... she would stop just as she reached the area behind Ryn's body.
By now the three men had noticed the rival trio's presence, and one of the more... twitchy... men began to sprint towards the small group like a man possessed. A small smirk etched its way across Ryn's face as he grabbed onto Sam and rolled his body around, "You, Vesta, watch Sam," he said quickly before he let go of her, spun around, and thumbed the ignition button of his lightsaber. A single blue star leapt out from the emitter with a snap-hiss! that was known far and wide as the bane to evil.
snap-hiss!
A sick yellow glow erupted from a small metallic cylinder in the crazy looking man's hand, its infectious yellow glow cut through the darkness like a sword... this fight just got interesting. Ryn knew that he'd need room to duel this insane Dark Jedi, fighting right infront of Sam and Vesta was bound to get one of them skewered, sliced, or cut in half. Seeing as the "grey" Jedi wanted none of the above, he stepped towards the dark man, Sol held in a high guard.
Something told him this fight would be... different... from most.
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last online Jun 4, 2023 4:58:38 GMT -5
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Oct 29, 2009 19:45:30 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Oct 29, 2009 19:45:30 GMT -5
—Shhh, glydine, shh. It’s alright…I won’t let them harm you.—
Calm…
For some reason she suddenly felt so much more calm than she knew she should have been. It was strange, but with Ryn behind her and one of his arms wrapped about her…well, she trusted him not to let those blasted pirates at her. She paused a moment then…’glydine’? Did he speak Olys Corellisi too?! That thought, however, was swiftly no longer able to hold her attention. All semblance of calm vanished with the wind as an ear piercing scream shattered the silence around them and wide grey eyes looked at Vesta as if she now suddenly had two heads.
What the HELL was THAT?! Was she INSANE?! You don’t just up and scream when you’re trying to HIDE! Suddenly Vesta was…tossed?...behind them and Sam turned her eyes to the man charging at them. He had the deranged look of a madman and Sam actually let out a short whimper. It was like all her nightmares, all her past experiences with pirates, all her fear of them suddenly slammed down against her and…suddenly she was turned?
“You, Vesta, watch Sam”
Now she was completely confused by the sudden motion, the fear, the entire situation. In that fight or flight instinct that roiled about within the woman, the flight side was winning out. Darting past Vesta, she stopped at the gate, one hand on the latch.
C-come on V-Vesta….l-let’s get the...the h-hell out of here!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
snap-hiss!
Oh yes, Ryn was very right that this fight would be different.
CIP…or Congenital Insensitivity to Pain to be exact…is, at the best, a rare and hellish disease. An inherited disorder of the nervous system, the clinical name boils down to one very easy to understand idea: one is born unable to feel pain. Those cursed to live with it are prone to a laundry list of possible ailments and injuries that leave the poor being scarred in more ways than physically…though most of those scars are, indeed, physical. The poor man who charged Ryn down at this moment was cursed with this very disease, the added bonus of not being able to feel varying temperatures tacked on to his already horrible lot in life.
Considering that he was, luckily, not cursed with the far more extreme CIPA disorder he was free of mental retardation. He was, however, rather insane because of his condition…this was much of what Ryn and Sam had seen as he’d started toward them. Now, as that saber blazed to life, it was that much more obvious the man was a bit more than deranged, an odd glint in his silver eyes as Ryn stepped forward. In an instant a maniacal little chuckle escaped him and he pulled, almost playfully, on one of Ryn’s legs through the force before darting under a nearby ship, his saber blinking out of existence.
Silence.
The other pirate had vanished from the scene and Roth could be seen hurrying toward the opposite side of the lot.
Don't let out your breath just yet though, folks....Mr. Insanity wasn't gone yet...
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