1. | Arrival of the Lullaby Plague

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Laura"]

I've fought vong head to head and survived what they could throw at me, I ain't afraid of death nor some infection

Stupid maybe, bold yes. She grabbed a mask from one of her men who had been holding it out awkwardly for a few minutes, she placed it on and then looked back towards the girl

theres one thing I've learned Laura, I've watched death reap and take some of my friends, some of my best men....the worst ones is when you find them dead...alone...I'll survive and then I'll help these people and itll star-

The girl just, suddenly fell, making a growling sound as she hit the ground. Stardust moved forward quickly to try and maybe catch her but was too late...she stood there overlooking her body...no...she was still alive...barely however

Crouching next to her stardust put a hand on her shoulder, for whatever it was worth she spoke

dont let that fire die out laura....fuel it...let it burn away the sickness holding you captive...

She didnt know if the girl could here her, in any case stardust knew on the floor want the place to die. Ignoring the doctor she carefully picked up the girl and started down the hall taking a turn to some room that had a few beds in it. Stardust found one least decent and sat the girl down in it before turning and finding a spot on the ground to sit and meditate

It was up to Laura now...was her will to survive stronger then death?

 

[Cynthia Alucard]

Cynthia Alucard, Pixie Wing Commander
Location: En Route to City of Adascoplis
Interacting: None Presently
Attire: Uniform

Hand over her mouth, Cyn attempted to stiffen a yawn but to no avail, she had barely slept on the hyperspace journey over to Arkania and much worse the ground team’s recaf machine had stopped working suddenly. The young TIE Pilot Commander would had raised all manner of hell to get the recaf she wanted but because she was on planet surface to act in a supervisor role, the on-duty officer in command was not as needful for a decent caf drink. Unfortunately.

Cyn bit down, her teeth made a clicking sound doing so as she moved away from her vantage point and back further down to the base’s main headquarters. Republic forces had recently fled from the planet, and being told to investigate the cause was nothing something Cyn could pass up. Really.

Well, either that or heading down to the border dispute with Corellia. Cyn wanted nothing to do with the growing tension between both Confederations of the Core and Corellia. Perhaps a peaceful resolution could unfold, but until then Cyn contented herself with jobs and missions such as these, away from potential conflict.

The intel showed a lack of hostile forces and her TIE Scouts had given her nothing to bring much concern of the space around the planet. But something on the report concerned me. The space and stars were secured, but the planet itself, well alerts and other warnings were being transmitted and Cyn was curious if perhaps a terrorist cell was acting up or perhaps a group of ex-Republic forces were attempting to regain planetary control one city at a time.

Regardless Cyn narrowed her eyes on the holo-screen from the headquarter’s computer and silently mused on her next plan of action. There were supposed to be ground forces near the pinged city, but no information was being sent, perhaps communication was down in certain areas or perhaps a jamming signal was in place to stop messages from being sent out.

“Lieutenant, grab an escort and ready a transport, we’re heading out to investigate the disturbances at Adascopolis, prepare field gear and have it done ASAP.” Cyn ordered, the suddenly shakened Lieutenant nodded vigorously and headed out to quickly complete the task given by his superior.

Cyn gently rubbed her cape and settled her sword carefully by her side, she doubted the need for any blasters or weapons in general so she figured looking a tad ceremonial would suffice and smooth any issues with the local authority. After all, the Commander found boring, bloodless missions the most enjoyable, even if I happen to never receive any boring missions my best efforts to avoid it all.

Cyn grumbled and cursed her own poor luck with terrible missions, but perhaps here on this day, Cyn figured that this would all be a simple investigation and she’ll be granted leave once again and enjoy her next vacation.

 

[Doctor Nostredame]

Somehow the Doctor didn't register that the twi'lek took off her helmet until now. While the twi'lek may not be human or near human she now posed a threat to the safety of those uninfected but for now the doctor kept quiet. As the twi'lek tried to comfort the girl Dr Nostredame watch the girl go pale and faint as the twi'lek caught her and carried her away.


"Nathan follow the fallen and prepare to collect the fresh body as it seems we may not need to come back next week"


Dr Nostredame then beckoned Mr Johnson to the entrance of the hospital.


"It seems our friends have failed to follow basic quarantine regulations and their leader has exposed herself to the infection. You are to make sure none of them leave here and especially don't enter their ship for the rest of spreading the lullaby"


The Doctor then proceeded to the transport truck at a fast pace. The way he moved one might tell he was not happy and rather frustrated with what just happened and he even failed to notice the person spying on them. As he got to the truck he quickly activated its comms unit and in a rather annoyed voice he started informing the Hope Foundation on what just transpired


"Normally the situation is easy to deal with when its a civilian but this is a group of armed people here on some bloody random mission and I doubt they will want to stay on the planet for long please advise"


The person on the other end put the Doctor on hold and came back a minute later informing the Doctor that they will attempt to get government officials to deal with the situation but it may take some time as currently the closest local authority are busy trying to keep stability and making the shelters safe.


[member="Lannik Hayes"] [member="Dancer"] [member="Cynthia Alucard"] [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] [member="Laura"]

 

[Laura]

It didn't feel like dying, or at least it wasn't like she'd imagined it.

It was dark, completely black. She could still feel the cold, hard floor beneath her body, but it was muted, distant. The sounds of the room had been replaced with a low rumble, deep enough she could almost feel it more than hear it. Laura's thoughts felt cloudy, and it was hard to concentrate. She felt as if her brain was coming apart at the seams, like in a few minutes, it would just unravel into threads and drift apart. Maybe that would be for the best. She had been so miserable, in so much pain. Just let it end, let it be over with. Then she could rest.

Really she should be happy it was over, that it wasn't painful. She could just allow herself to drift away quietly into the void.

So why was she so sad?

Seemingly random images flashed in front of her: The sun through the crowns of the trees, a young man she had fancied a few years ago, a beach where she would go with her family once every few years. The memory was vivid, and she could almost feel the sand between her toes and the wash of the waves in her ears. She saw the cramped, tiny apartment in Arkania, her family huddled on the tiny bed, away from her. She saw the dead woman in the store.

What had she been thinking about?

More pictures: the man who they had hurried past when they'd stepped off the shuttle. He'd keeled over in the street, his limbs suddenly locked together by the disease that afflicted him. She remembered how nobody had hesitated, they just crossed to the other side of the street and left him moaning feebly on the ground. He was marked for death, what else could they have done? She saw the sickly at the spaceport, before it had been overrun. The way the soldiers had shot anyone who tried to cross the barriers. She remembered their taught, grim faces and stony eyes as they raised their rifles to neighbours, even loved ones. The shuttle driver, sitting of the roof of his ship, calmly taking a drag from his pipe. Had he made it off-world? She saw her own body, from above, twisted and frail. She looked so small, just another hapless victim of a disease that cared about nothing, no one.

She wasn't feeling so relieved now, how could she be? She was drifting away, just like everyone else had. That wasn't right, it wasn't fair. She wasn't ready to go. Wasn't ready to accept it. She'd thought that she was ready to go. To let the disease end the struggle, cut her life short. After all, what was there actually left for her? It's like she'd said, whatever happened to anyone else, she was destined to die here. But, despite all the rationalisation, despite the numb, grey hopelessness, she just couldn't let go.

For everyone and everything, there is a time to die, but it was not Laura's time.

Something began to flicker within her, and her clouded, fragmented thoughts suddenly snapped together, cohesive and lucid. Laura felt a sudden spark of anger. Anger at the disease, anger at the woman and at the doctor and his soldiers, anger at this stupid planet and the disease that had taken everything from her. Anger that she had wasted her time, that she had given up so easily, that she'd allowed herself to succumb, that she'd welcomed it.

Once again, like before, she felt that power stirring inside her, she felt the reservoir within her, whipped into a fury by her passion, by her frustration and her hurt and her anger. Not only that, she could feel the walls that contained it, that constrained the power but allowed it to be manipulated, to be held in control, to be checked.

This time, Laura didn't hesitate, she reached out, pushing and tugging and tearing at the walls, allowing the pent up fear, rage and trauma that had collected inside her to roil around and destroy the foundations of the dam that held back the darkness inside. She felt it buckle, and her body, before lying motionless, began to twitch and convulse in the arms of the woman. She was no longer in control. The power in herself that she'd released, whatever that was, was taking her along for the ride. The fire had burst to life inside her again, and it burned bright and hot. Laura's body writhed, and she felt herself get dragged into life in a rushing, unceremonious tumble.

Laura's eyes snapped open.

She sat forward, gasping for air. Tentatively, she flexed her fingers, astonished at the easy movement. All traces of the paralysis were gone. She felt raw, and every muscle burned as if she'd just run a marathon. But her synapses sizzled with fiery alertness, and briefly, in the blink of an eye, a crackle of electricity jumped between her curled fingers. Somehow, she was alive, but she could tell that she was no longer the same Laura.

What exactly that meant remained to be seen.

[member="Doctor Nostredame"] | [member="Cynthia Alucard"] | [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] | [member="Lannik Hayes"] | [member="Dancer"]​

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

Stardust had put hwe down before she started convulsing, eyes closed as she simply focused on the force around her pulling at it letting it flow throughout the room like a river flowing around them. This was a fight she herself could not help in but merely be there to offer guidance should Laura pull through

Heren turned towards the door, spotting Nathaniel as they turned to face him fully guns in hand yet not raised at him merely watching the man carefully

A moment later stardust would feel the force lash out at the room, like as if the river suddenly gained speed and lashed at its banks and crested over the rocks in violent splashes. Yet within that moment stardust remained still even as a few items left standing fell over onto the ground, eyes opened to see the girl sit up and a grinned formed as she saw that electricity flow between her fingers

born through the fire of death you are remade

She stood offering a hand

I want to extend a offer to you, I know a place in which you can receive training...and if you wish I can train you...your a warrior in the making you've got that burning fire within....if not i can simply take you to the place where people can help you learn your...new found ability

 

[Lannik Hayes]

Sergeant Lannik Hayes
Equipment: AKraB Vibrodagger, DC-17m ICWS
Location: Moving away from Walcott Medical Centre, Adascopolis, Arkania
Tags: [member="Laura"] | [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] | [member="Doctor Nostredame"] | [member="Dancer"] | [member="Cynthia Alucard"]

His eyes widened at the information that began to drift past the broken windows. While it was spoken in a soft conversational tone, the eerily quiet surroundings allowed Lannik to catch and piece together most words being said.

Infected? Death?

Not just Arkania? So it’s highly contagious then. With a high chance of dying.

At that very moment, a chill travelled down his spine as everything clicked together. From the silence at the spaceport, to the empty streets, to the people running away from him… to that weird looking thing he saw on the streets.

Could he have been infected?

He hasn’t approached anyone. Nor has he come upon any dead bodies. But still, he was not about to ignore the possibility, no matter how small.

Then another feminine voice spoke up, and this one seemed to be… a warrior of sorts? The stormtrooper sergeant was not certain as she did not divulge enough as the voice spoke to the victim – Laura? – and encouraged her to burn the infection from her system. Lannik frowned to himself, remembering his charge and her Force cheat card.

But before he had the chance to ruminate on this reveal, a third voice, a masculine one interjected. Quarantine. Exposed to the infection. Spreading the lullaby. The brunet chanced a peek so he could place the person… and a few other people in hazmat suits. He leaned heavily against the wall as the group left, his lips drawn into a terse line.

While he did not like the fact that he was exposed to the infection, there was nothing he could do about it at the moment. Lannik lowered his weapon and assessed the situation with a solemnity that was rare in him. Giving the two people left within the hospital a final glance, the stormtrooper decided that if they have the power of the Force at their beckon, they’ll survive.

He had his own life to think of and a report to make.

Selfish? Yes.

But he’s not about to involve himself with people he held no loyalties to.

With his course of action determined, the sergeant crept away from the building, until he was a good distance away from them. He tapped into his comms, “Sergeant Hayes to Command Arkania. I’ve troubling news to report–” The male continued to move away from the medical centre as he spoke, his eyes and weapon scanning his surroundings with renewed intensity now that he knew that all was not dandy and well. “–Alright, I’ll make my way to Base Prime.”

Thirty minutes left.

 

[Cynthia Alucard]

Cynthia Alucard, Pixie Wing Commander
Location: City Streets of Adascoplis
Interacting: None Presently
Attire: Uniform

Cyn calmly stared at her fingernails, her days of constant typing and military gloves being required as part of her uniform, the more vain side of her personality never had the chance to explore the more enjoyable parts of her comfy position. A soft sigh escaped her pursed lips, but even so she didn’t mind the overall mission she was given, neither did the prospect of being stuck on base.

But even I have my limits of my patience. Cyn drummed her fingers across the speeder door and contemplated if she could make time to stop by somewhere in the city of Adascopolis. The monotony as mentioned had begun to taken a serious toll on Cyn’s poor mind and often she day-dreamed of simply returning back to Coruscant. Even Nyeon for all its issues, I at least had my Wing-Mates and pilots to amuse me.

The communication officer that accompanied her had quickly scrambled to grab Cyn’s attention, who had lazily gazed back at the man who frantically attempted to remain calm in front of his Superior. Cyn nodded for the Officer to say what he needed to say and for a the moments that proceeded after the Office had explained to Cyn the situation at the City, the Wing Commander nearly wanted to weep at her terrible misfortune and curse the galaxy for its cruelty.

With the news of a strange plague afflicting the city of Adascopolis, Cyn turned to grab the field gear assembled from the Lieutenant she had ordered around before she set out and thankfully found several rebreather masks for situations as these and Cyn quickly wrapped one around her mouth and passed the rest to the Communication Officer and one to the driver.

What really though happened here? The more curious mind of Cyn wondered, even as she vehemently wanted the speeder to drive back, she at least needed to confirm the presence of the team that had entered this city as MIA or otherwise found. If not for the field commander present on Arkania than for her own personal curiosity.

Suddenly her speeder alarm warned of an incoming collusion and despite her driver’s best effort, she felt herself free-fall and crash onto the city street below them. Perhaps thankfully the searing pain of her muscles and aching bones told Cyn she was alive, but at the moment she had wished the crash had taken her life instead. With herculean effort on her own part, Cyn managed to unbuckle herself and open the door to jump out, her knees grew week but Cyn kept herself steady by leaning against her speeder-wreck.

With deep breathes, slow and easy breathes, through her re-breather Cyn managed to recollect herself and her studied her surroundings. When she called out for her Comms Officer and Driver, neither responded and when Cyn climbed back up to her speeder, she understood why. With quick hands she collected their data-signatures and began to ready herself.

Cyn had already experienced a crash landing before, but thankfully she was no in a war-zone and in freezing snowy climate. But she lacked the armed escort from her Byss adventure and as well as more suitable armament for herself. She slapped her sword’s hilt and patted her hip-blaster once before carefully making her way through the city streets. With her emergency beacon turned on, alerting the base of need of immediate evac, Cyn hoped the reports of this "Lullaby" plague was mostly exaggeration.

 

[Laura]

'You are remade.'

The woman was right. Whatever had just happened, whatever Laura had done, it had shifted something deep and foundational inside herself. The walls inside her had been torn asunder, and what had been released coursed through her body in dizzying waves. It was a little intoxicating, the sudden freedom of movement, the feeling of charge, electricity bouncing around inside her. Compared to her state over the last week, it felt like flying. The grey fog over her mind had lifted, pushed aside by the awakening of whatever this was. Laura knew it would return, but maybe now she could learn to push it back.

Flexing her fingers once again, she relished the sudden freedom of movement. Still, something felt a little off. It was not that there was a delay in the movement, nor did it feel particularly awkward. On a surface level her movements were identical to when she was healthy. But, something had changed. It seemed like the mechanism had been rewired. The result was the same, but something else was driving the motion. It occurred to her that perhaps this would only be temporary, that the moment whatever she'd released died down, she'd go back to the way she was before, but she pushed the thought aside almost as quickly as it came. Laura could cross that bridge when she came to it.

Another small voice chirped in her head. This couldn't be good. She didn't understand what was happening to her, she had no control, and a few moments ago she had been on the verge of death. She should be panicking, tearing her hair out, scared out of her mind, but she wasn't. She was calm. Her rational brain could not accept that anything good could come of this, and perhaps that made sense.

But what exactly was the alternative, lay back down and wait for death? She had been given a second chance. She had to count her blessing, to take what she was given and act while she could. She had spent two weeks slowly wasting away, tumbling into a seemingly inescapable spiral of death and decay. But now it appeared she was out.

She would get out of this, or try anyway, and she'd find out what was happening to her, learn to control the fire inside. And hey, maybe she'd end up okay. Maybe there was a future for her.

Could anyone blame her for hoping?

Laura wanted to leap to her feet, to rise suddenly from the cold floor and run as far as she could, just because she could. But she didn't, raising her own arm to the extended arm in front of her, she slowly pulled herself to her feet, still half expecting the waves of nausea that would usually accompany the movement as she became ill. As she stood up, Laura noted how cold her own flesh was, cool enough that even the gloved hands of the woman seemed hot. Was that concerning? Maybe, but perhaps it wasn't that unusual. The room was freezing after all, though she hardly felt it. Did that mean anything?

Focus.

Laura locked eyes with the woman. Had she really not asked her name? She supposed she'd been preoccupied. Now this stranger was offering her... Sanctuary? Tutelage? Something... Laura didn't know about that, it was all a bit much to consider. But she did know that her chances of getting off Arkania were better with this mysterious warrior than they were with the doctor and his men, and she seemed to be showing genuine concern, and was at least pretending to understand what was happening to Laura to some degree. Besides, she hardly had many options here.

"I don't know about your offer. There's a lot of... Confusing things going on right now. But I do know that I probably won't get another chance to get out of here. So wherever you are going, I will gladly come along."

Laura thought for a moment. Was it a danger to others to be leaving the planet? She had no understanding of what had pulled her from the precipice of death, and the chance that she had purged the disease entirely from herself seemed slim. There was a chance that Laura could unwittingly spread the plague to others.

"But, you'll need to keep me isolated, at least until I can get somewhere I can be tested. This sickness is nothing to trifle with."

Outside, the breeze caught a few words, snippets of a male voice from not far away, but the voice was carried off as soon as it arrived, and Laura could not discern any meaning. In a low tone, she spoke to the occupants of the room.

"I think there's someone else here."

[member="Cynthia Alucard"] | [member="Lannik Hayes"] | [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] | [member="Doctor Nostredame"] | [member="Dancer"] ​

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Laura"] [member="Cynthia Alucard"] [member="Lannik Hayes"] [member="Doctor Nostredame"]

Words whispered among her ear, her team glanced about then to the door as they remained in position. Stardust herself remained focused on Laura as she spoke and nodded offering a smile

I'll make sure we get you sanitized and checked over for the disease professionally....not by some man and his squad picking up dead bodies

Eyes glanced to Nathaniel, she could not blame the man with his job however her opinion of the doctor leading him waant the greatest out there...looking back to Laura she nodded and turned to the door

indeed...it seems weve more guest

Her ears caught the sound of a distant explosion, hoping it was some unchecked machinery...if it was raiders or people looking for trouble

how are you feeling Laura? Can you move good? Time for us to leave one of my men can help you if you need

 

[Lannik Hayes]

Sergeant Lannik Hayes
Equipment: AKraB Vibrodagger, DC-17m ICWS
Location: Diverted from Base Prime, Adascopolis, Arkania
Tags: [member="Cynthia Alucard"] (interacting with) | [member="Laura"] | [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] | [member="Doctor Nostredame"]

The crash echoed throughout the eerily quiet city, the mechanical screech of metal meeting the duracrete ground rippling across the vicinity as the clamour bounced from skyscraper to skyscraper.

It was as though fate conspired to bring them together–

The stormtrooper sergeant paused in his trek, his eyes narrowed even as his head turned towards its origins. With his thoughts heavy and only on reaching the base, Lannik was tempted to ignore the situation… but he had joined the stormtrooper corps to do his part to help make the galaxy a slightly better place. Expelling a breath with a slight hiss from between his mouth, the brunet changed his direction, his legs swiftly carrying him towards the crash site.

He blinked when he caught sight of a familiar mop of tousled gold and the lithe stature that could only be…

–Only to toss them into an even bigger pit of chit.

“Alucard, was that you?” he asked in an incredulous tone, a hand gesturing weakly towards the direction where he had heard the commotion.

A dumb question, perhaps.

Quietly, Lannik discreetly looked over the young woman, taking in her rumpled uniform and ruffled hair, and the way her chest rose and fall slowly. She seemed fine – for a given value of fine – to his practiced eyes, but one could never be certain. A part of him was glad to see she was wearing a rebreather, meaning that she managed to receive the report before she found herself here.

“Are you okay? Do you need a stim?”

Even then, the brunet kept his distance, still worried he may have caught the virus that had swept through the city.

 

[Cynthia Alucard]

Cynthia Alucard, Pixie Wing Commander
Location: City Streets of Adascoplis
Interacting: [member="Lannik Hayes"]
Attire: Uniform

The terror, of what? Cyn rocked back and forth on her heels, The crash must have been something else entirely. The Wing Commander felt unsteady on her legs, perhaps for the first time in awhile she desperately wished to return into the comfort of her TIE cockpit. Fear was not a foreign feeling to the young pilot but all this uncertainty were not helping her situation.

Even if under fire of multiple enemy star-fighters, because at least the vacuum of space can preserve my body. The morbid humor manifested itself once again and this time she allowed herself a harsh chuckle that clawed at her throat to escape from her lips.

Her feet continued to steady as she slowly picked herself across through another alley way, but it was slow going as the wreckage still appeared within her line of sight. Though even through her clouded mind a voice broke through her thoughts and snapped Cyn back to the present, along with her hand unsheathing her blade from her waist.

The point of the blade directed her line of sight to the source of the voice and it took a few uncomfortable moments for her to place the face and name and the voice all to one person. Each moment grew tense for Cyn but ultimately she sheathed her sword back to her waist and nodded once.

A soft sigh escaped through her tightly pursed lips and Cyn slowly began to approach Sergeant Hayes with a pair of incredulous eyes. “I need a lot of things right now Sergeant,” Cyn spoke, Like pain killers, a vehicle out of this place and a forty day leave of absence, her voice grew back to its steeliness tone, “-but I am okay, no worse for wear. . and yourself?” Cyn returned the question back to her old comrade of misfortune.

“And whatever happened here, I do say a tactical withdrawal is in order.”

 

[Lannik Hayes]

Sergeant Lannik Hayes
Equipment: AKraB Vibrodagger, DC-17m ICWS
Location: Proceeding towards Base Prime, Adascopolis, Arkania
Tags: [member="Cynthia Alucard"] (interacting with) | [member="Laura"] | [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"]

Considering the heights that speeders usually cruised at, the stormtrooper was surprised she survived without any severe injuries. Though… he thought to himself, they will have to get her looked over at the infirmary when they get to a more secure location. She may have a collection of fractures that was yet unknown, and...

With a flash of quicksilver, the sharp end of the blade was pointed menacingly towards him.

“Woah there, Alucard. Ally here. Ally!!”

Despite his instinct telling him to raise and point the muzzle of blaster, Lannik quashed the desire, knowing that it would only elicit an even more detrimental reaction from the dazed young woman.

He watched the young woman warily as recognition dawned and she sheathed the thin blade.

“You and me both, Wing Commander,” he said with an amused huff, though he did not relax his grip on his weapon. Just in case another of those… things… made an appearance.

When she got a little too close, the brunet raised a palm to let her know she should not draw any closer, shaking his head slowly to ensure his point was clear and obvious. Until they have gotten more information on this… infection… he was not about to risk breathing on Alucard unless he absolutely had no other choice. “Could be better myself. I was hoping for an easy day, but looks like we’re both stuck in the middle of an apocalyptic holomovie ripoff.”

How did one reveal that there was a chance they may be infected again?

SURPRISE! I’m positive!!

Oh? If I start showing signs of being unwell, abandon my sorry arse?!?!

“I got kriffed by Lady Luck,” he started, shrugging in an indolent manner that was carefully measured so that he would not alarm the grounded ace pilot. “I was wandering through the city on foot all this while, so I may already caught a good whiff of the virus. So it’s best if you keep a bit of a distance until we’re certain, just in case.”

But one thing was for sure.

“But agreed. I’ve been told by Command Arkania to convene at Base Prime and await for evac… or quarantine, so heading there would be our best bet for now.”

He was too damn pretty to end up as a Thing.

“I’ll take point. But if you have a pistol, be prepared to use it. The few beings that are still around would rather avoid you, but I’ve seen one of the infected and I’m not sure if they’ll ignore you or they’ll attack. Either way, best to shoot and kill, than to let them get within reach.” The brunet began to advance, his blaster once again held at ready. “Let me know if you need to stop and rest, or if you need any medical attention. I’ve got a few stims on my person.”

With that said, the stormtrooper began lead them back towards the open, making sure they had some distance away from the entrances and lanes. While his training screamed at him to stay close to the walls as they proceeded, Lannik liked the thought of being jump-scared even less, so he… compromised by staying close to the edge of the pavement.

 

[Cynthia Alucard]

Cynthia Alucard, Pixie Wing Commander
Location: City Streets of Adascoplis
Interacting: [member="Lannik Hayes"]
Attire: Uniform

“Copy,” Cyn acknowledged the Sergeant’s words, if he had been told to head back to base for an Evacuation, the situation had deteriorated far beyond Cyn’s initial fears. Of course, the moment she had heard of the widespread of a strange illness her first idea was to have the speeder turn around and head back to base and preferably straight into a shuttle up to orbit.

Except those infected things?

Perhaps a virus of some sort, something that fried the brain to cause such aggressive behavior out of the diseased. Cyn though, as she walked behind Sergeant Hayes, looked at his back with much uncertainty to his claim of being possibly infected. The kindest thing for Cyn to do would be to deliver him the Imperial peace. But with her own weakened state and hazy mind with shaky legs, Cyn needed someone to watch her back and assist in situations that would have otherwise overwhelmed the poor Pilot.

Cyn kept her blaster pistol ready and primed, while she kept a good distance away from the man as a precaution, she could not lag too far behind or she might get caught and ultimately left behind. Though, Cyn’s walk slowly gave her legs more certainty, and her mind though hazy, she felt her the shakiness slowly wear off. Soon replaced with this fear of death, or worse, and the urgency to get back to Imperial holdings and off this accursed planet.

The situation of the city was appearing near apoplectic, and another fear slowly began to dwell deep in her mind, that perhaps this illness could be carried all across the planet. . . and further worse yet to other neighboring planets and systems. With a shake of her head, Cyn closed of her more morbid thoughts and focused on her own survival and making it back to the base.

I can worry about the galaxy when the galaxy starts to worry about me.

“Sergeant, do give me a forewarning should you feel. . . different. I’ve been told I have excellent bed-side manners.” Cyn offered, perhaps if was her re-breather that muffled the tone enough to make it sound as if Cyn was serious and genuine, or perhaps she was telling the truth.

Cyn heard a crash of something metal, but when she turned and quickly pointed her blaster at the offending sound, she only found an empty alleyway save for a small animal that had knocked over the top of a garbage can. “-How far away is the base again?”

 

[Lannik Hayes]

Sergeant Lannik Hayes
Equipment: AKraB Vibrodagger, DC-17m ICWS
Location: Base Prime, Adascopolis, Arkania
Tags: [member="Cynthia Alucard"] (interacting with)

Lannik snorted.

Loudly and without any grace.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he said dryly, shooting his companion a deadpan look. “I’m still holding out hopes that I didn’t manage to catch any of the spoopy pollen that’s drifting around. But I’ll keep your bedside manners in mind if we reach that stage. You better be granting my final wishes though, or I’m not letting you add me to your kill count, Wing Commander Alucard.”

With his eyes scanning their surrounding for beings and things, the moment the clang resounded through the empty streets, his bones almost leapt out of his skin. “For Maker’s sake,” the brunet cursed beneath his breath, shooting the creature that skittered away a dirty look before he replied the ace pilot. “…About twenty minutes at our current pace,” he estimated. Considering that Alucard had just crawled her way out of a crash, the sergeant did not dare to push the other too hard.

The two unfortunate beings continued to journey across the deserted city of Adascopolis at a steady pace. Whether the galaxy took pity on them, or whether it was because they stuck to staying on the main street, they did not encounter any other living beings.

Was it a blessing?

Or did it speak of how vulnerable the capital city was that it could succumb so thoroughly to a new strain of a virus?

Now, that was a question best left to people who gave more of a kark than Lannik Hayes.

To him, he was just glad that he managed to get both himself and Alucard back to Base Prime without any further dalliance with the infected. And he had never thought that the sight of the fugly rectangular building that screamed Imperium HoldingsTM would suffuse him with such utter joy until today. He let out an inward sigh of relief and metaphorically patted himself on the back for a job well done even as he walked up to the gates and went through the stringent process of proving his identity before they were allowed in.

At least it was good to know that their fledgling presence on the world were still around even when it seemed like the rest of the capital dropped right into the Nethers. While he felt a sense of pity for the residents of Adascopolis, there was nothing that could be done for them at the moment. Perhaps in a few more weeks, the imperium’s doctors and scientists would find an answer on how to cure the plague, or even control its spread.

But until that happens, all Lannik could do was to make sure Alucard got the medical attention she required; then check himself in for quarantine, get stabbed a lot of times by huge needles and hope very hard that he was not infected.