A Creature From Another Age

[Matsu Xiangu]

​

[SIZE=12pt]Korriban [/SIZE]​

[SIZE=12pt]1800 hours[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=12pt]Entering Atmosphere[/SIZE]​

​

Matsu dropped the ship out of hyperspace just before they came up on Korriban’s atmosphere, making a slow descent. Her situation was distinctly different from the two hunters on board the craft the Guild had loaned to them – she had the Force. While this would undoubtedly come in handy on their hunt it also presented a unique drawback. Korriban was a planet rife with the haunting presence of force storms, the ghosts and impressions of Sith and Jedi long gone. The planet was home to a huge number of Sith tombs, Lords who’s bodies had been laid to rest even if their souls continued their strange obsession in the Netherworld. Their allure would be massive, a weight on Matsu’s concentration.

But she’d been here before, and she would do it again. Besides, she hoped her Sith teachings would help them capture, unharmed, creatures that were notorious for doing the bidding of the dark side.

She did not know the two men who’d taken the job from a hole in the wall, but neither did she have anything against them. The prep and take-off had gone off without a hitch and as she banked the ship to cross atmospheres she was given only further proof of said flawless beginning when none of the cages they’d loaded moved an inch from their docks.

“Entering atmosphere,” she said softly as they crossed to Korriban, a slight bump confirming her words as she dove towards the surface. It was only a few more minutes before they made contact, landing softly planet-side. She double-checked all the systems – because no one wanted to be trapped on a ship that won’t start with four angry, force-addled Sith creatures – before gliding from her seat, her sword clinking softly against the metal of the dash as she got up.

[member="Cor Latch"] | [member="Mirshen"]​

 

[Yag'dril'sil]

[member="Matsu Xiangu"] [member="Cor Latch"]

Who the hell is that? Mirshen looked up from the seat while he secured the helmet on with a hiss. THe seals going on and his breather functioning normally adding a little tone to his voice. THe iron skin and jackel pistols under the jacket while he held several knives. He had only been to Korriban once, on a trip with Lylin to let them see the galaxy and shoot things. She flew the ship he targetted the guns and all those things died around them. It had him dancing a little while he was checking the bag of Jun's diamonds and equipment. The mans sniper rifle on the floor.

"So we're going to a world filled with dangerous creatures and a bunch of old sith lords tombs.? You know in holomovies like this the ones paid to go in and get stuff usually die to prove it is serious right? Huh? Anyone.... This thing on?" He looked to the other two and stood up stretching his arms. "Alright then we'll go and have some fun fine but if there are zombies, werewolves, killer bats, canadians, giant snakes, crazy Atrisian ghost children with their long hair and dead eyes, energy vampires, fish people or mad scientists. I am running away and leaving you all there in the dust."

 

[Cor Latch]

He finally landed his shuttle on the planet, letting out a long sigh. Why did he accept this? He had enough credits to last for four months with his last hunt, probably even longer. He removed his Revelonian rifle from his ship's built in gun rack, letting out a sigh. He lowered the ship's ramp from the cockpit, rushing outside. He stepped down the ramp, letting out a long sigh. He scanned the area, searching for anyone or anything in the general area. He had not received any physical description of these hunters, this could take a long, long, long time, indeed.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"].

[member="Mirshen"]

(Sorry for the short post.)

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

Matsu had been introduced to the man now strapping his helmet on as Mirshen and she had shared her name in return. It was strange to work with beings outside of the Fringe – and wasn’t that strange that she was suddenly so comfortable among its members – but good, exciting. Even as Korriban’s history started weighing on her.

She let out a laugh when she heard her fellow hunter’s description of the task laid before them, nodding her head. She’d seen many of the same holodramas growing up though she didn’t have much time for them these days. She could only hope that she didn’t meet the same fate at the hands of some Tuk’ata. “That sounds like a fair approximation,” she answered, sweeping down the ramp of the shuttle and out in to the dusty red landscape of Korriban. She’d opted for more sensible shoes than she usually wore and could barely feel the warmth of the near-desert beneath her feet, pulling the cloth mask woven in to the hood of her protective clothing over the lower half of her face. Only her dark eyes showed as she closed the distance between herself and the other hunter who’d taken the job with them.

Matsu, for her part, did not necessarily need the credits either. She hunted because it was a good way to practice, another way to get a little of the adrenaline she craved.

She spotted the Ithorian from a distance, his height and distinct features making him an easy pick in the otherwise featureless landscape. “You’re Latch? I’m Matsu Xiangu,” she said by way of greeting. Matsu was the “ask questions first, shoot second” type, always willing to give the benefit of the doubt about another’s talent and capabilities. She knew nothing of Cor Latch except for the fact that he seemed bored out of his skull.

She swept her eyes between her two companions before looking out towards the soft hills and ridges of the landscape opening up to their left. Her theory in taking the job was that locating the beasts might be easier with her use of the Force, especially as they were creatures notorious for loyally guarding the tombs of Sith. Closing her eyes she reached outward, sensing for life and any signature that seemed particularly familiar. It took only a moment or two before she opened her eyes, nodding to the west. “I believe we’ll find a few of our quarry in that direction,” she offered, padding across the low scrub.

Over a low hillock a tomb rose, imposing and ancient, flanked by statues of supplicants bent and begging outside the final resting place of some Sith Lord. Matsu felt that perhaps she could have learned her history better, thinking of making a note to herself to brush up on it when the low, yipping communication of Tuk’ata greeted her ears.

Two mother Tuk’ata appeared slinking around pillars lining the tomb’s courtyard, tailed by six pups. They only needed four, but Matsu had plans for the other two if they could do this right – only one way to find out.

[member="Cor Latch"] | [member="Mirshen"]​

 

[Yag'dril'sil]

[member="Cor Latch"] [member="Matsu Xiangu"]

He looked at her and went down the ramp of the ship seeing their third man. A large ithorian and with a nod he slid one of the pistols from his jacket. These things were dangerous or supposed to be, one never knew what you could find when searching it all. THey might even chase one into a tomb and they could play tomb raiders.... Oh yeah he thought for a moment letting the obvious lewd comment about the female come to hsi mind but he pushed it away remembering that Lylin would not only kick his butt, she would then make him say sorry in single space handwritten letters. No no getting her wrath as she started off towards a direction.

He spoke looking at the other guy and flicked his head back and forth. "So ah you got any deathsticks? No you don't have any deathstick...... You think I should rethink my life don't you? I should rethink my life.... maybe settle down and not go about shooting all those floating babies." He kept walking and gave some space for the one leading them towards the tombs. One never knew what they could find as he cocked his pistols and slid them out looking at the tomb and starring down. A small whictle in his helmet while he looked to the mothers and the pups.

"So we need four babies right, means those big ones we can take care of and well always good to have a spare in case the babies eat something bad... Like the food in the processor or some of those explosives that are left laying around with the hard candies." He gave a nod of his head though while looking for the Ithorian to join them. "So Matsu you got a plan or am I just shooting those large ones and hoping there isn't some large daddy hidden away that will come and rip our throats out, of zombies or those large beasts that kill jedi for fun. Cause I like your hair no split ends but running away from scary things is a very nice survival trait."

 

[Cor Latch]

"Eh, it'll be easy. They're pups, nothing more. It'll be like taking blood from...never mind", He said, stopping himself mid-sentence. "Also, I am the Ithorian that contacted you", He said, gesturing towards his comrades. "So, what is the plan? If it goes wrong, the whole thing will get real messy, real fast". He then loaded his Revlonian rifle, grinning. "Probably the easiest job we'll ever have to do, my friends", He then slung his rifle, before removing a cigar and placing it in his mouth. He quickly lit it, removing it for a moment. "Y'all ready?"

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

Spoiler

OOC: Sorry guys, never got a notification! Onward!

[SIZE=12pt] She couldn’t help but let out another laugh at the seemingly casual attitude of the Mandalorian. True, they were well hidden behind the ridge surrounding the decrepit temple, but there were plenty in the Galaxy that would be afraid seeing the Sith creatures prowling around the dusty planet, no matter the distance between themselves and danger. But neither Mirshen nor the Ithorian seemed much phased – she was in good company.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] Their contract stated that four of the pups must be taken alive and she wanted the other two for herself. There were stories of Sith taming and keeping Tuk’ata as pets and the idea was tempting. Her companions asked for a plan and she thought for a moment, looking back over the targets.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] She knew next to nothing about weapons besides their basic function and she left that particular expertise up to them. “We’ll need to get closer. I can distract them as long as we can all keep relatively quiet – no problem there. If you two can take out the mothers once we’re close enough the two biggest threats will be gone, but the puppies will most likely scatter. I can take care of that too. Then we either stun them or herd them back to the ship.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] Matsu didn’t know if either of them had the capability or weaponry to stun the puppies, but it would be easy enough to herd them back – perhaps even tame them in the face of the disappearance of their mothers – and they would cross that bridge when they came to it. She looked back to them, offering her proposition. “Now…we only need four for the contract, but I want the other two for myself. I’m willing to split my share of the payment between the two of you if you’re willing to help me,” she said, keeping the Tuk’ata below in her peripheral as they planned.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt][member="Cor Latch"] | [member="Mirshen"][/SIZE]​

 

[Yag'dril'sil]

[member="Matsu Xiangu"] [member="Cor Latch"]

She wanted pets huh? Ah hell he looked at her for a moment and smirked under the helmet. before he whispered. "Ah hell it is hard to refuse someone. Alright we'll get you the pets as well." He was willing to try at least and the shots were only needed to really take out the mother... and the father if he showed up. Let her handle the pups as he went near the rocks and removed the jacket. "Alright if we're going to do this then sneaking up on them might be the way to go but more then likely they'll hear us. Getting down there without disturbing rock could take time.... unless."

He thought about it, a safe way to get down and now alert someone.... get carrie with the force but as he slid the guns into the holsters and left the jacket on the rocks with one to weigh it down. "Come back for you.... so I have an idea, we're going to jump, you use the force to catch us and put us down then we catch you. Won't be pretty but saves going carefully down the side and hoping they don't see you or going down and ricking a rock falling. Those ears shouldn't just be for show, doubt their eyesight is any less acute. So we do it when they are adjusting just between day and night while their eyes are fighting between which way to be."

Oh perfect plan he could see it now and there was very little that could top is except... tiny little germs. The kind in your blood that formed a symbiotic relationship and gave you the ability to feel the force. Those could alert and attract darkside creatures after all wasn't that what most sithspawn were keen to? He had to wonder but there was no time for that he had a job to do and looked around. "Of course I could be wrong those eyes look like they might be all glowy." Then there were all the other things like them being smarter then some creatures... Oh this was like hunting the big bad wolf. "So who wants to jump first? Also who has snacks? This could be a while wait."

 

[Cor Latch]

"W-wait, we jump? She uses the force...and that's it. You a force sensitive or something?" He asked, letting out a sigh. "We ain't got no time for that! I say we just snipe 'em from back 'ere. I brought a Revelonian rifle with me, it'll probably bring 'em down...possibly killing them in the process", He mumbled, slowly unslinging his rifle. He quickly loaded in a slug, grinning. He took aim, looking down the sights carefully. "Why don't we just shoot 'em. I'd rather have them things dead than alive. I mean, how strong are them things? I ain't no nothin' 'bout these creatures. We need a rope or something to put 'em all in, but can't they chew through that?"

[member="Mirshen"]

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

[SIZE=12pt] Matsu was surprised at first when Mirshen formed a plan using her ability to tap in to the Force with such acuity. It was an excellent one and she was a little abashed she hadn’t thought of it first – ah well, that’s what the practice of being out here with them was for. She nodded, giving him another small smile. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] However Latch did not seem as convinced. True, the fact that she was not only Force-sensitive, but a Sith at that, would attract the creatures with more zeal. But there were multiple accounts of Sith taming Tuk’ata and Matsu felt confident that between her power and taking out the adults of the group that she could keep herself and her fellow hunters out of harm’s way until they could cage the pups.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] “The contract says the buyer needs them alive, so unfortunately, it’s a jump for all of us if you want those credits. And the extra two are of no use to me dead either,” she said, her eyes shifting back to the slow, prowling creatures below. “Once we’re close, you can use that rifle to your heart's content so both of you can take out the mother's simultaneously, surprise the young ones, disorient them. Then I’ll cow the pups in to submission. We Sith have tamed Tuk’ata before. Then it’s just a matter of getting the ship and herding them inside,” she intoned, quietly skirting out from behind their cover of rocks with a small, knowing smile on her face at the revelation of what she might mean to the creatures below. (Sithspawn, protectors of long-dead Lords of her kind.)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] “I’ll catch you at the bottom,” she said quietly, dropping off the edge and willing the Force to cushion her joints as she landed with a soft whoosh of air and sand at the bottom of the slight cliff face. It wasn’t a long drop and the distance to their ship was not far if they could accomplish what they’d set out to do. She turned, looking up and waiting patiently for the men who would just have to trust her to break their fall. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] Some ways off behind her, the Tuk’ata slowed at a slight stirring in the Force.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt] They would have to be quick.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt][member="Mirshen"] | [member="Cor Latch"][/SIZE]​

 

[Cor Latch]

"Motherfether!" He mumbled, watching as the woman jumped off the ledge. He shook his head several times, stepping back. "You jump, I don't trust the force..." He said, his glance upon @Mirshen. "I'll wait up here, but beyond that I ain't even going to think about jumping. It'll be suicide!" He declared, slowly slinging his rifle, stepping back. "You better go! We ain't got all day, I'll wait up here until y'all catch them creatures." He then took a crouching position, removing a cigar from his mouth.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Yag'dril'sil]

[member="Cor Latch"] [member="Matsu Xiangu"]

Mirshen looked at the woman jumped down and he nearly whistled then watched the ithorian and the tuk'ata below as she spoke low and to the point. "You know that voice that appears when your looking over a cliff saying jump you can fly.... It isn't here." That didn't matter he wasn't about to be upstaged by a sith and he backed up taking a moment to psych himself up before charging and he lept off the cliff keeping himself from screaming 'GERONIMOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' By biting his tongue and trusting in Matsu down below to catch him as he disregarded her claiming to be sith... at least for now.

This was a job after all and he was here to make some credits, while he had appreciated the Ithorians wanting to shoot everything living creatures were important to the goals they had and he prepared seeing the creatures slow down in their movements. 'Oh frak' he thought about what they might have seen and remembered this dream while he switched to a private channel. "Did I forget my pants again or the math test?"

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

[SIZE=12pt] Matsu held up a hand and pushed outwards with the Force when Mirshen started tumbling from the cliff-face. It would be easy, she thought, to just not help – to let him hit the ground if for nothing else than a little amusement. But she would admit to herself that sometimes he made her crack a smile, and she liked how he seemed to roll with the punches. So instead she grabbed him mid-air, slowing his descent and letting him land lightly on his feet. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] She looked back up towards the edge of the cliff once he had landed, expecting to catch the Ithorian though he was nowhere to be seen? “Not coming? Ah well, someone needs to bring the ship around,” she murmured.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] She crept closer with Mirshen, keeping to the slight shadows created by the setting sun and cloaking her signature as much as she could in the Force in the hopes that she wouldn’t alert the Tuk’ata nearby. Once they were sufficiently close she stopped, squatting down and looking to Mirshen. “Alright…if you can take the mothers out, or Latch is doing something we don’t know about up there, I’ll go to work,” she said. But for the moment, this part of the plan was theirs.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt][member="Mirshen"] | [member="Cor Latch"][/SIZE]​

 

[Yag'dril'sil]

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

He felt her holding him with the force and only one thing came to his mind with that..... This tickles... and a girl is touching me all over.... goodbye virginity. He laughed in his own head touching the ground and looking up while getting his guns out. Her speaking and a nod of attention about the plan had him thinking of his own. He knew what needed to be done, get the babies, kill the parents and hope they don't disturb grave and get chased by and evil spirit. Yep yep he had a plan alright and turning to look at Matsu he spoke.

"Just remember that I always loved you the most above all the Atrisian women in my life." He smirked under the helmet and then was running thinking to himself. Smooth talker you she is totally going to be the first in line for stalkers.... Bahahahahaha. He raised the pistols and jumped up running off a rock while he fired a shot into one of the mothers, landing on the other and locking his legs on the torso as he fired off into the mother across from him. "Yeah, come on I'm a tasty treat and all that with a bag of chips." He kept firing until the one he had landed on bucked and he was off firing into her face.

"Bang bang bang blam blam blam murdered you." He looked at the other one while laying on his back and was rolling at those glowing eyes came at him bloodshot and hungry.... no angry and he rolled as it lunged hopping up and shouting. "RUNNNNNNNING TIME." He was taking off firing into the thick scales with the shots as the creatures followed him and going off towards the tombs so Matsu could do her thing with the pups. He had said she'd get them but he was now thinking that this was a bad idea. "Oh frak oh frak oh frak running running running."

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

[SIZE=12pt]Just remember that I always loved you most out of all the Atrisian women in my life…[/SIZE]​

​

[SIZE=12pt] Funny – that probably shouldn’t have served as a distinction, but Matsu couldn’t help but roll her eyes and grin despite herself. Think about it: if she was ‘in his life’, he must consider just about every woman who strolled past him on the street a potential candidate. To be the most important of all the Atrisians? Oh, how tickled![/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] Watching him was like catching one of those holoprograms she didn’t have the time to watch anymore. His attack on the Tuk’ata mothers came with witty dialogue and spirited movement and were she not so focused on her part in the scheme she may have just sat back to watch. But instead she took her cue when Mirshen started running, exiting cover and sprinting towards the group of Tuk’ata, the two mothers off on their chase after the first to assault their group.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] The puppies turned to her with eyes just as hungry and wild as their mothers, glowing and full of the power that ancient Sith had bestowed on them. She could do this…she would tame them, if only temporarily.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] When she was what she felt was close enough without being dangerously stupid she raised her hands and pulled at the earth around the pups, dragging sand and rocks in a whirlwind around them. The swirling sand kept them confused, each of them backing up until they were huddled together, snarling and snapping at the barrier. Once they were pressed together in one small pack she let the whirlwind drop, watching the puppies and letting her power sweep from her in waves. She drew her sword from its hilt at her side, a blade made from Sith alchemy and imbued with an aura of the dark side. [/SIZE]

​

[SIZE=12pt]Look at me…I am one of them.[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=12pt]We created you.[/SIZE]​

​

[SIZE=12pt] She watched them, tilting their heads almost as if questioning her though she doubted they could understand. They took a cautious step forward, testing out the woman who exuded that which they worked so hard to protect.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] “Mirshen!” She started backing up, heading in the direction of the ship. “Whenever you’re ready!” Latch was nowhere to be found, but she and the Mandalorian had come in on their own anyway – time to fill those cages.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt][member="Mirshen"][/SIZE]​

 

[Yag'dril'sil]

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

He was running and weaving as the chased him and then he heard the woman.... "Time to go." He turned on his heel and fired falling backwards just enough to avoid the lunge shooting into that softer underbelly. The splatter of goop and blood not lost on him while he rose up from his spot and the yelping on that was trying to crawl with its underside open and exposed. "And I though they smelled bad on the outside." He looked back and saw the other while holstering the guns and motioning for it to come at him.

"Bring it." The beast lunged and he grabbed those protrusions coming from its head with a grin, focused on holding it and when it managed to get on top of him he rolled a little to slam it against a rock then again to fling it onto the ground. She moved to get back up and the claws came getting his shirt as he felt the blood welling up with a gasp. "This is my favorite shirt. Oh your going to get it now" He moved keeping a tight grip on the beasts head and suplexing it onto the dead tuk'ata's spikes with a grunt. Then she was looking at it and speaking while taking ff the helmet.

"Yeah that is what you get... from now on that is what you get." He was moving now and looking around the area while he went to the par where the pups had been and Matsu. She was gone, his jacket was there up there as he climbed and went back to the ship removing the helmet as he entered. Jacket over his ripped and slashed shirt while he looked about. "Hello hello.... you get the prizes all happy and secure?" He entered running a hand through his hair. "You missed all the fun but hopefully the pups are good and taken care of. I think we will have a great future... assuming this claw slash doesn't give me tetanus."

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

[SIZE=12pt] There was a sense of resistance in the minds of the pups, a fire that Matsu would have been disappointed not to find. They were truly terrifying creatures even at their young age, all teeth and claws and hate-filled eyes. It was obvious they would grow in to monstrous creatures and she could imagine them curled at her feet, sleeping with one red eye open to watch those that would come too close to their Sith. She could see where that hate could be intensified in the presence of her power, and how they could come to adore her. Perfect.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] She had just finished closing them all in their cages (and watching her fingers as she secured the locks, for certain) when Mirshen reappeared, a little dusty and sweaty but otherwise apparently none the worse for wear. She had to hand it to him – he’d taken care of business efficiently if a little extravagantly and they were both looking at a nice little payday. She was more than willing to give him her share of the credits for risking his neck even further in the pursuit of not four, but six pups. Then she wouldn’t sick them on him in the future either.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] So when he joked about their future together she allowed him a small smirk, only rolling her eyes a little. He was clearly good-natured – if efficiently deadly – and she didn’t mean a slight tease or two. “I’m sure you’ll be just fine Mirshen – doesn’t seem like a little infection is going to stop you.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] With the ship prepped, she took off, cruising up and out of atmosphere before hitting hyperspace and bringing them to drop off their precious cargo – a job well done.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt][member="Mirshen"][/SIZE]​