Back to the Future | CIS Dominion of Zolan

[Arabella Darkhold]

Her own thing what possibilities that offered. She was still trying to make friends and find her way around the CIS. They were at times a friendly bunch but she held back afraid of what could happen.

What secrets did she harbor? But someone armed with it could find her weakness and end her life. Her life was on a time clock anyhow but why rush it. She walked along an unfamiliar path on this planet called Zolan. Sounded more like someone's name, the GREAT ZOLAN! And then he'd smash pumpkins or watermelons or something along those lines. He would be a man about 40, with long white hair, a scraggly beard, long elegant fingers that hinted at his talent for playing a musical instrument, and then there'd be the scar that had story to be told. Yes the Great Zolan would have many stories.

While lost in her thoughts Bella walked pretending to look and smiling when she thought she should. Without realizing she had sighed a woman stared at her, "Sorry" Bella whispered not sure what she had done. Perhaps a drink to take the edge off. Something that warmed her tummy, burned her throat, and made her feel like humming.

She turned into the next available door. It was dark like all cantina's it smelled like polished wood though. A citrus smell she hadn't had since she left Atrisia. She missed Atrisia her home, her friends...oh yuck.

She found a seat that looked out on the street. It was official Bella was in a fishbowl. A tiny woman came by offering a menu, "something sweet, and a whiskey" She handed the menu back. She was feeling woozey a sweet treat would help. She waited.

Spoiler

[member="Kalee Bladesworn"]|[member="Srina Talon"] |[member="Izak Verd"] | [member="Hadashah Verd"] |[member="Nemesis Nemonus"] |[member="Umai"] | [member="Darth Metus"] |anyone else I missed

 

[Daxton Bane]

Less than 24 hours on planet, and already Daxton was itching to bury his blades into someone, something, anything. Damn diplomatic duties were about as much fun as pulling teeth with out pain numbing drugs, the Sith Lord was silently uttering a mantra to remind himself that he was supposed to here to make friends......

The place was too clean, too prepared. Something was awry and it set his teeth on the edge. Moving away from the tour group, proportedly to avail of the free flowing booze, Daxton would discretely move deeper into the shadows to conduct his investigation, his own way. Besides, the last thing he wanted was any of the ladies to suddenly decide to take a shopping trip with him in tow.

 

[Queen Bots™]

​

Fire. Some thought it pretty. Others simply saw it as being a useful tool. Especially for s’mores, quiet camping trips, and particularly nice smelling candles. [Who doesn’t like a s’more? Droids. The Empire. Vampires? Heathens. All of them, heathens.]

The flame that suddenly filled the city of Myst was not pretty at all.

It rolled outward from the Reactor Factory in a ferocious storm following a massive explosion. Unlike an ordinary fire, which typically seems to have a point of origin, or a line-like path there was no rhyme or reason to it. Flames began to rise almost instantly as enormous volumes of hot air rose over Myst, causing superheated airstreams to increase the intensity of the fire, and the rate of which it spread. The winds would eventually reach the force of something akin to a hurricane. Swirling, wild, and final.

The chaotic tempest-like phenomenon would drive the flames to burn buildings horizontally toward the ground, filling the city streets with fire and firebrands, causing it to jump hundreds of feet high to engulf that which wasn’t already viciously burning. The temperature of breathable air, if it could be called that, would have quickly risen to well above the point of boiling water. The entire zone would become a killing box from which there was no escape.

Except, suddenly, time began to rewind.

The flame disappeared, the people returned, and the explosion never happened. Never. Happened.

The typical citizens of Myst seemed to go about their business. They’d felt something, a sudden lashing of warmth, but they were used to radiation flare ups and heat. They shrugged off the distortion as little more than a mirage or the memory of something long forgotten. The Confederacy, as a whole, as well as the enemies that pursued them would not be so lucky. Depending on their mental fortitude they may or may not remember perishing in an inferno, a bright light, and then finding themselves a little disoriented. Repeating, things they had already done.

For the members of the CIS visiting the Hypermatter Facility itself they would find themselves once again following Jonpas Audotora from the landspeeders. They would find themselves coming out of a slight daze, watching her enter her biometrics, and give them the long, long winded spiel about Hypermatter Reactors once more.

Something is not quite right.

​

OOC INFO: This thread as previously noted has become Groundhog Day. For those that are not familiar with it we are all trapped in a temporal loop. In order to stop the loop and break the cycle the characters will need to piece their memories together and find a way to shut down the reactor, or the two generators that power it. All the while the building itself will attempt to murder anything living inside of it, due to being hacked, seeing all lifeforms as a threat to be eradicated. So, die, die, and die again XD. Have fun! ​

​

Spoiler

[member="Aedan Miles"], [member="Ahani Najwa"], [member="Ailuros"], [member="Aithne Charr"], [member="Akabane"], [member="Alden Kyr'Nau"], [member="Aleksander Miles"], [member="Alistair Myre"], [member="Alyva Terrix"], [member="Amaya Cardei"], [member="Anastasia Verd"], [member="Anya Malvern"], [member="Aoker Veru"], [member="Aova Nerys"], [member="Arabella Darkhold"], [member="Aria Lyr"], [member="Arlox"], [member="Averin An'Arach"], [member="Aya Clarke"], [member="Asher Mossa"], [member="Aston Jacobs"], [member="B1-990"], [member="B2-D34T7"], [member="Ballen-Ist"], [member="Bulthos Dorrir"], [member="Bartic Myth'rand"], [member="BBZ-20"], [member="Ben Mentel"], [member="BX-22222"], [member="BX-24601"], [member="BX-25233"], [member="BX-72967"], [member="BX-73300"], [member="BX-75244"], [member="Causstik Rahn"], [member="Chalim Vern"], [member="Chek Zun"], [member="Chikako Liona"], [member="Connor Harrison"], [member="Dakita Calfur"], [member="Dalton Kenway"], [member="Damien Van-Derveld"], [member="Darth Atrox"], [member="Darth Illisus"], [member="Darth Inanis"], [member="Darth Malus"], [member="Darth Nius"], [member="Darth Phren"], [member="Darth Rixas"], [member="Darth Seraphic"], [member="Darth Zurvan"], [member="Daxton Bane"], [member="DE-16"], [member="Derek Dib"], [member="Dinah Vekarr"], [member="Drauchir"], [member="Duidatos"], [member="DV8-420"], [member="Eirene"], [member="Ella Nova"], [member="Emberly Carrick"], [member="Er'in Tenel"], [member="Faa Vera"], [member="Faustina Beryll"], [member="Fidelis"], [member="Galven Hansol"], [member="Gorm"], [member="Ginnie Verd"], [member="Hades Dai"], [member="Hircine"], [member="Hypatia Najwa"], [member="Iris Issey"], [member="Irys Arist'lar"], [member="Ithiel Verd"], [member="Iskander Verd"], [member="Izak Verd"], [member="J'Raa"], [member="Jack Anderson"], [member="Jahn Harrington"], [member="Jasmine Zittoun"], [member="Jaya Tandris"], [member="Jayce Pryde"], [member="Jennifer Blanchard"], [member="Jia Darkhold"], [member="Jorco Czeku"], [member="Jaron Lesan"], [member="Jerad Lettiere"], [member="Kaiya Halcyon"], [member="Kal Jaii"], [member="Kal Kandossii"], [member="Karlie Lynn Destat"], [member="Kas Varad"], [member="Katria Vekarr"], [member="Katrine Van-Derveld"], [member="Kayla Wylen"], [member="Keric Dynt"], [member="Ket Van-Derveld"], [member="Karlie Lynn Destat"], [member="Kas Varad"], [member="Kip Ridel"], [member="Kyle Ajahn"], [member="Khia Varad"], [member="Kilia"], [member="Koda Fett"], [member="Kurayami Bloodborn"], [member="Kurenai Yumi"], [member="Lady Psyona"], [member="Lanna"], [member="Lera DeVana"], [member="Lewis"], [member="Lola An'Arach"], [member="Lord Metallum"], [member="Luna Terrik"], [member="Lyla Quinn"], [member="Lera DeVana"], [member="Meira"], [member="Maple Harte"], [member="Marcus Lund"], [member="Marek Starchaser"], [member="Maxerian Gron"], [member="Meira"], [member="Miki Starfallen"], [member="Mira Talus"], [member="Muad Dib"], [member="Mythira"], [member="Nasho Vesh"], [member="Natasha Darkstar"], [member="Nayru Wyndaru"], [member="Nicholas Covosi"], [member="Nilia Saavilin"], [member="Noatyr Moldmerr"], [member="Pitts Carnegue"], [member="Nyx"], [member="One-Eyed Jack Varren"], [member="Orion Trex"], [member="Paige Blossom"], [member="Pitts Carnegue"], [member="Prime"], [member="R4N-JR"], [member="Rale Elysar"], [member="Rapax"], [member="Rashae"], [member="Raziel"], [member="Rex Taff"], [member="Riggs"], [member="Rima Orwray"], [member="Rosaline Rousseau"], [member="Ryker Wylde"], [member="Samantha Jade"], [member="Scherezade deWinter"], [member="Shadar-Pox"], [member="Sko'saht"], [member="Sol Damerin"], [member="Space Prius"], [member="Srina Talon"], [member="Sungie"], [member="Super TD-T47"], [member="Surnin Strenger"], [member="Taran Holt"], [member="Tevro"], [member="Tarssin Destat"], [member="The Fallen"], [member="The Slave"], [member="Titan"], [member="Tmoxin Temi"], [member="Tyrande of Isobe"], [member="Tyris Hayes"], [member="Tytos Ardik"], [member="Valis Marr"], [member="Valjan Hon'rey"], [member="Verd Skirata"], [member="Veronika Fleischer"], [member="Viktor Hawthorne"], [member="Vinter Veers"], [member="Vuh'kis"], [member="Vulture 21"], [member="Vyra Silara"], [member="Werah Unon"], [member="Xero Wran"], [member="Yuna Hart"], [member="Zenva Vrotoa"], [member="Zephyr Carrick"], [member="Zesiro"], [member="Zhorin Cenvax"]

 

[Aya Clarke]

Location: Embassy

Objective: Tour the Reactor Factory
Wearing: General Uniform
Company: [member="Darth Metus"] [member="Hadashah Verd"] [member="Izak Verd"] [member="Srina Talon"] [member="Damien Van-Derveld"] [member="Rex Taff"] [member="Ultimatum"] [member="Kurenai Yumi"] [member="Anastasia Verd"]
Post: One

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8faH18iOJg&t=183s​

Aya was late that day. Perhaps it had been for the best had she not shown up, but misfortune had a twisted sense of humor. The motions were irrelevant, did anyone care to know, honestly? The General, stripped of her sword for the day, left with only a hidden dagger on her arm, and her lightsaber safely tucked away, was one of the last to arrive, and the last to be seated for the ride. A pleasant ride, but event-less one. She followed behind, making sure her weapons hidden, when all possible things were going smoothly. And when all hell broke loose, she stood back, letting them talk, letting them think. Seconds, they had seconds to depressurization. No oxygen. A vacuum. On a normal day that was bad. Today, it would be worse. She had to think quickly herself to even attempt to escape.

Well, no one could slice it, and no one had an override. So she'd make one of her own. So she lied about no weapons, big deal. Might save one of them now. The brilliant blue blade sprung to life, only moments left. She took a big breath, and did her best to cut a way out, if only to prevent hypoxia. The air was gone, and Aya began to very slowly exhale. That gave her more time, more time than average. Normally she might have twelve, or fifteen seconds. But here, here she kept herself from losing it that quickly. Others no doubt dropped around her, as she tried to cut open a hole.

It was futile of course, even though she forced more of the door to simply begin melting. She lost the air in her lungs, and moments later she too faded to black. Hypoxia, was no laughing matter. Eventually, eventually she woke up. The hole had worked, but it still didn't matter. She couldn't manage to move, and she assumed the others were dead or like her, barely clinging onto life. Points for perseverance, however, as she forced herself up, and surviving the last few moments before thje firestorm. Fire consumed everything. Hot, destructive, hellfire singing everything, like home. Like that night.

In my heart and mind, I always return to Kalis...

That was the thought that rang through her head as she blinked, slowly realizing everything was wrong. Her arms didn't feel right, they weren't in the right place. She wasn't in the right place. She shouldn't be standing right now. She should be on the floor of the hallway. And yet.. She glanced right to left, observing quietly for a few moments as she tried to remember. Why was everything wrong? It was silence for a beat from the General, complete silence, before that thought rang again. Kalis. Her home ablaze..

Fire.

Almost without warning, Aya dropped to her knees, her arms wrapping around herself in a hug. Fire, resting on her, burning everything away. That was all she remembered. The last things that had happened to her. And the feeling of the moment rushed through her head right then, overwhelming her. Her past with fire, that made the memory distinct, harsh, something she could recall as if it was happening right then and there. She tried to stay calm, on her knees, holding her arms, shaking in pain. But that didn't last much longer. She just, had to let it out.

And so she screamed in pain. Pure, real pain, even though at the moment, she was just fine.

 

[Daxton Bane]

The flames burned flesh and orbalisk alike, faster than the insectoid host could recover. The smell of cooked meat and burning fat reminded the Sith Lord of last night’s dinner. If the pain wasn’t so intense, he would probably laugh at the irony of the situation. Then the super heated gas filled his throat burning his internal organs as he opened his mouth to howl in agony.

Then without warning was cool splash of liquid relief followed by the numbing sensation of alcohol. Daxton blinked, he was still in the bar, glass still poised at his lips. Was it all a harmless day dream? If so, what a strange dream to have. Still he could not shake the feeling that something was just not right........not right at all.

 

[Ultimatum]

​

The situation was deteriorating at a faster rate than Ultimatum had anticipated. As it turned out, his statistics had stood correct, at least one of the Confederates had brought their own weapon. Why people were so adamant about bringing weapons into volatile locations was beyond Ultimatum. There was a reason weapons were not allowed inside reactors, particularly when the people who had the weapons were unknown. One of the people could have been a person attempting to sabotage the facility. For all of the complexities of a Hypermatter Reactor, it was quite simple to destroy one. Blasting a control terminal, cutting a coolant pipe, two straightforward tasks, neither of which were necessarily easy, but they would set the Reactor on its way to meltdown.

The one with the lightsaber desperately slashed and melted at the doorway, following a logical assumption that the following chamber would contain air. However, if the security measures were as effective as they had been led to suggest, such a maneuver would be predicted or at the least noticed and the connected chambers and rooms would also be vented. If security was so complete, then there was only the minutest of chances that forced escape would succeed, and that just due to variables beyond any possibility for prediction. There was no escape without capitulation, but then again a visitor had broken the rules, and therefore any further action in defense was justifiable according to most judicial systems. Death by asphyxiation was an acceptable death sentence in.... twenty-three systems, mostly located in the Unknown Regions. Ultimatum realized that the figure was not from any HoloNet database, rather it was saved information from deep in his own memory. For a moment he wondered where he had learned that. It was certainly not the sort of factoid that a person would learn in everyday conversation.

However, his thoughts swiftly returned to issue at hand. Perhaps, death was not the intention, after all merely incapacitating the occupants of the room would be enough. The chamber could be vented and then given approximately two minutes, if not longer, should there be an indication of a conscious person. Then the room could be injected with air, or a security team with the proper breathing apparatus enter through airlock like conditions in an adjacent chamber. At this point the group could be apprehended and secured in another facility, most organics took several minutes to become cognitive after such an event. If this theory were to prove correct, and there was no indication that it was not, the ideal solution was for all persons in the room to become unconscious, or submissive as soon as possible.

Following this logic, the robot moved to a wall and lowered himself to the floor. Relaxing his mechanical limbs, the droid gazed vacantly to the rest of the group. Whether the venting had already begun or not, Ultimatum no longer cared. The situation would resolve itself in one way or another, and in his current form, there was little he could do to manipulate it. If he appeared to be disabled, perhaps that would accelerate the procedure.

The stimuli did not follow as expected. The internal mechanisms responded to a spike in local radiation, his 'parasol' automatically shielding Ultimatum from the brunt of the radiation. Immediately the robot's systems blasted to full awareness, his receptors attempting to discern the purpose of this. In the course of a millisecond Ultimatum realized something had gone wrong with the Reactor (96%), that or a breach had occurred in the building, and a solar flair had followed (4%). As his mind and systems overworked to find the reason, time seemed slow to him. The electrons of his mind firing in unison, and across his brain a prediction occurred. Meltdown, 93.8% chance. Instantaneous oxidation of nearby creatures was inevitable. The fires and heat that blasted through the droid, melting his body in an instant only took long enough for the sensation to bring back another memory.

A planet of fire like this and... music. Then, Ultimatum's body burned in the purifying flames of a Hypermatter Reactor. His photoreceptors fried as the brilliance of a sun consumed them. His limbs fused in place and melted into the floor. The precious metallic components which carried his life disintegrated before the almighty blaze. The last thought of Ultimatum was of the specks of dust he would become as a result.

----------

As time rewound, so would the droid. He was no organic, he had no true connection to the Force. Even as the world reformed and the flames receded, life and time returning to those who had perished, Ultimatum's mind rewound, information disappearing, having never existed. However, it was not all as should have been. There was a hint of subtle thought left in the new mind. His last thoughts echoed across the gap, lifted by forces beyond true comprehension. As time proceeded, his thoughts resonated with those that had been before, but at the wrong time. Dissonance.

---------

Ultimatum thought on dust, what all things in the universe were destined to become. No living being, artificial or organic, could escape it. Not unless the religions of organics were correct. But where did such thoughts come from? The droid recalled listening to the speech by the minister and his attention returned to her. There was a melody strangling her words from his ears and Ultimatum realized he had music playing in his mind. The theme was familiar, yet beyond his grasp. Information began to surface, information that had no origin, it had no purpose, yet it appeared in his mind. Coming from databanks that were not yet used, these small logs and bits of information did not belong. Momentarily pushing aside the outer stimulus, Ultimatum focused inward. The data was incoherent and beyond his ability to understand, but he felt a rather uncertainty about purging it. Had he been hacked? Unlikely, as his HoloNet connection was shut off for the tour, and therefore there was no remote access to his systems. But then where did this come from.

Even as Ultimatum came to a conclusion, a person screamed nearby.

Something was amiss.

Spoiler

Compatriots: [member="Srina Talon"], [member="Rex Taff"], [member="Kurenai Yumi"], [member="Katrine Van-Derveld"], [member="Damien Van-Derveld"], [member="Darth Metus"], [member="Hadashah Verd"], [member="Izak Verd"], [member="Daxton Bane"], [member="Aya Clarke"]
Location: Hypermatter Reactor
Objective: Reassessing
Post(s):5

 

[Malok]

No.

At first, the Sith stared in disbelief. Everything had happened so fast that his mind hardly had time to put the pieces together. What had begun as something so simple - so mundane - had evolved into a literal nightmare. In one moment, the whole of his thoughts were placed upon an urgent conundrum: oxygen rapidly being stolen away from the room. Srina’s thoughts were just as frenzied as his own, what could they do to prevent the unnecessary loss of life? But then…

He was on Mandalore.

He was standing before the pyre.

He was going to Die.

Darth Metus looked upon his world. His sulfuric gaze focused upon the four lights that kept the abyss at bay. His children. His Srina. Instinct fueled his movement. His arms and legs moved on their own accord. The Force screamed forth without any conscious command. With arms outstretched did he place himself before the column of damnation. A hastily erected shield exploded from his back, attempting to give his lights the means to weather the storm.

And the Sith accepted his demise.

The heat raced down his open lips, blistering and charring his skin away.

His lungs were incinerated in their final breath. His blood boiled within his veins. And all Darth Metus could see was fire before his vision glazed over. Agony beyond words washed over the whole of his being. But in the final moments, he did not go where he expected. When the inferno finally ceased, he was not awoken with the precipitation of blood upon his head. He was not sentenced to wander the Netherworld again; but neither had he ascended to the Light of the Manda. In disbelief...in confusion did he blink. ”What?” he breathed, before quickly looking down.

His body was whole. His hands, his clothes, his skin - all were free of blemish.

He turned. His children. @Anatasia Verd, [member="Izak Verd"], and [member="Hadashah Verd"] were all just as fine as they were moments prior. Srina? [member="Srina Talon"] was just fine. Even the flute of champagne in her grasp was where it once laid.

”What...What is going on?”

 

[Ravenfire]

Team Tag: [member="Srina Talon"], [member="Darth Metus"], [member="Hadashah Verd"], [member="Izak Verd"], [member="Katrine Van-Derveld"], [member="Damien Van-Derveld"], [member="Kurenai Yumi"], [member="Ultimatum"], [member="Anastasia Verd"], [member="Aya Clarke"]
Rex was looking around frantically for a way out before the countdown finished, then he felt an immense heat hit him. It reminded him of a very hot desert planet. Like the one where he had fought off several waves of enemy soldiers before the LZ was clear enough for the escape craft to land and pick him and his team up. That had been a terrible firefight by the end they had finally escaped just before they had run out of batteries. This time he didn't make it something hit him in the back.

He looked around as everything went cold he was on Csilla again. He could see all of his team. They were standing waiting for him. He had killed them by mistake and they were still waiting on him to return to them. There was a small camp fire that they were all standing around. He wanted to go to them. To warm himself by the fire. To have his squad back. To have the person who loved him above all else back. He see them standing there but they were shaking their head. "Now is not your time. You will return to me one day, perhaps with another in your arms. But something is wrong now is not your time."

His body was burnt to a crisp well before the decompression had taken effect. The facilities around him melting as he fell to the floor.

Then he opened his eyes. He had a drink in his hands. He was still standing near Srina and Metus. He was still in the embassy. It felt like what had happened was a bad dream. Until the Vicelord Metus asked what is going on. Rex spoke up "Are you remembering this as well and dying in a few minutes. Is it a force vision or did it actually happen, either way the doors are going to seal themselves." He looked confused by what was happening, he could remember dying and seeing his lover who was among the team he killed. The reason he left the Chiss in the first place.

 

[Katrine Van-Derveld]

Location: Embassy then Touring
Objective: Tour the Reactor Factory
Wearing: This
Company: [member="Rex Taff"] [member="Kurenai Yumi"] [member="Damien Van-Derveld"] [member="Ultimatum"] [member="Srina Talon"] [member="Daxton Bane"] [member="Aya Clarke"] [member="Darth Metus"]
Post: Four

Her cousin had given her his drink and she's tried it, finding the flavor better than what she'd just tasted as he suggested she never take the champagne or the first drink officer because apparently, the best stuff always came out second. The blonde nodded. "Really? Gonna have to remember that."

Sometime later, during their tour, Damien would whisper into her ear that the tour was boring. "Count your steps. Make a mental map," she whispered back at him. Katrine didn't do that too often but on occasion, when it was either too boring for her or if she considered the possibility of getting lost, she counted, finding it easier to remember the location better. Of course, Katrine's mind worked differently than it did for most people, just like Chloe's did, but again, different than hers. It was complicated to explain but maybe Damien would find entertainment in that.

As she'd waited for their hostess to answer her question, her sapphire gaze bore into her waiting. In her head, the question was formed and it required an answer. However, she didn't immediately get a verbal response, instead, the mirage of the beautiful woman flickered for a split second, making Katrine blink just as the reptilian eyes looked at her. The answer given was elaborate as most of the sentences the clawdite gave. There were a lot of things in the factory that could be dangerous and others that could accidentally break, she heard first. Hypematter reactors were delicate despite their advances. She diverted her attention to the left, making her head turn to glance over as the woman continued. Self-loading reserve tanks of reactant fuel, optimized to produce the least amount of waste and give out least damage to the fusion systems. Katrine's eyes returned slowly to the hostess as she processed the answer in her mind. "I don't like vague answers," she finally told the woman. Could be dangerous and accidental break wasn't information enough at all.

Still, the hostess returned to enter the code when the system went berserk, alarms screeching. Katrine groaned immediately as her eyes shut and her hands moved to cover her ears quickly. It was painful that she barely contained herself from screaming. "Shut it off! Shut it off! Shut it off!!" She started shouting instead at the loud sounds. She couldn't even hear the words mixed into the sound anymore from the pain or if anyone else was talking.

Katrine had little awareness of what was happening around her, she was essentially deaf to her surroundings due to the high pitch sound causing her ears to bleed due to the immense pain. She could see the current firing and she would begin to feel the lack of air as she suddenly began to gasp for air. She'd only seen the droids coming their way before the flash occurred, her screamed, the explosion consuming her.

The pain returned for exactly a moment and for a second, Katrine released a small scream before she realized there was no pain and stopped. Then she blinked and touched the edges of her ears. She recalled the pain but she was aware it wasn't there. It made her blinked as she sought out Damien. "Are you okay?" Katrine found herself asking as she moved closer to him, the faded memory of the pain inside her ear being the strongest one. She could swear she was in immense pain, she could swear she'd seen a massive flash of light but heard nothing but the horrific sound in her ears.

Someone else had screamed, making her search for the person. It was Aya Clarke, on her knees, she realized. Was the pain real?

Rex's voice made her turn her attention to him as he asked if they remember dying, making her blink. Was it real? The question formed in her head again as the hostess delivered her speech. Problem was, she knew the speech already, she'd heard it. "Stop," Katrine suddenly ordered without thinking, knowing how the sentence would end. Katrine could recall things that happened to her in great detail, words especially, she could repeat those very words a long time after. It didn't quite work the same for visions, dreams or even her wild imagination. So, how could she remember the Clawdite's words?

"What's going on here?" She finally asked, staring at the hostess.

 

[Kurenai Yumi]

Objective: 1 (Mission failed, well get them next time)
Post: 3
Company: - [member="Srina Talon"] - [member="Anastasia Verd"] - Darth Metus - (somewhere? [member="Katrine Van-Derveld"] [member="Damien Van-Derveld"])

Kurenai would have questioned [member="Ultimatum"] inability to help slice through the system, were not all droids to some extent able to hack into electronic but before she could utter a world a raging heat of unknown fold raced through the complex. She would have tried to abate the coming explosion but any force shielding ability still alluded her in a blinding flash that could not be stopped her body was incinerated, the shear proximity to the blast being enough to kill a Gen'Dai, all but a smoldering corpse being left in return.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cMhT7d59lY

Well that was what would be their, if the woman then did not find herself once again leaning up against the wall like nothing had happened, her eyes quickly shifting to the others around, that was not dream it was to real and Kurenai never day dreamed or fell asleep like that. More so the force lingered around, like some other worldly force had intervened.

[member="Rex Taff"] was the first to voice the most question about it, herself walking up behind the Chiss, with a rather unsettling calm expresion, in both face and mind, almost if dying was nothing new to her. "Dime dilation, a paradox of some sort, many things, in all honesty stuff like this has happned before to many others, the reasoning for it though it.... strange, did we go back in time? or just simply enter a new dimension, all our loved ones back in the old now suffering from our deaths". Maybe a little over the top, though it probably was time reversing, she had head strange rumors about Palpatine dabbling with such stuff in the past a while after the Civil War had ended, could it have been true? It did not matter what had happened gave them another chance.

"Look whatever is going on just remain clam, who ever caused, 'that' to happen may be watching, if we panic they can catch onto your knowledge, best we remain clam and play this through another way, first thing first we need to shut down those security measures". Being trapped in that room and leisurely stroll through the facility had wasted valuable time, and judging from where they where not it was just before the tour, that would, if the same thing happened again give them a few minutes to make it to the reactor. "Rex would you be able to get into the system ahead of time and make sure we do not get locked back into that room"?

 

[Daxton Bane]

If I am cut but there are no wounds will I still bleed? Daxton was certain something was not right, what it was he could not say at this time. But where did that vision of fire and agony come from? It could have hardly come from the aether, surely not something that vivid or intense. It was almost as if he experienced it for but a moment then someone wiped the slate clean.

That made no sense whatsoever. There had to be a reason, he thought to himself as he signalled the bartender to refill his glass with another shot.

 

[Srina Talon]

Location: Lambada Sector - Zolan - [Myst] Hypermatter Facility |Outside|
Objective: Tour the Reactor Facility
Wearing: This
In the Company Of: [member="Hadashah Verd"] | [member="Darth Metus"] | [member="Damien Van-Derveld"] | [member="Katrine Van-Derveld"] | [member="Kurenai Yumi"] | [member="Rex Taff"] | [member="Ultimatum"] | [member="Izak Verd"] | [member="Anastasia Verd"] | [member="Daxton Bane"] |

Sixty seconds was not enough time to react. Not when they were trapped in a box. Not when the cost of their freedom could bring about the destruction of an entire city. Srina was not an engineer, nor was she a scientist, but she was smart enough to do a little bit of research. Before they approached most worlds she did when she could to learn and adapt before setting foot on the planet. The one, singular, and rather poignant thing that she had gleaned about Hypermatter Reactors was as follows:

‘Build something around hypermatter, don't be surprised when it blows up.’

She could see her Master. His children, and truly, their friends all caught with her in a tomb. An explosion deep within the facility could be heard. She could see the flame in her mind’s eye long before it arrived. Lavender eyelids sild over mercurial silver orbs as acceptance settled. Death was a part of life. It was inevitable. If it came for them the snow-kissed apprentice would meet it standing tall, doing what she believed was right, and without a shred of remorse. The power of Darth Metus washed over her suddenly, a shield, but somewhere deep down she knew it would not be enough.

There were many things that the Sith Lord could withstand. He could not withstand the inferno she saw coming. Nothing could.

There was a moment. A pause. A slice of soundless time where up felt like down and left felt right. They existed nowhere and everywhere. Blinding light filled her vision, pressure, and agony so extreme that eventually it simply stopped. Suddenly, they were nothing at all.

Srina blinked rapidly as sunlight blinded her. A fresh breeze blew as she found herself stepping out of a land speeder with a glass of champagne in hand. She let go of it as a scream ripped through the air, breaking the stillness, and her eyes jumped from her incredulous Master to the sight of [member="Aya Clarke"] on her knees. It bothered her to see the strong general broken, unbound, by whatever had just happened. Srina had fought with the woman on Tatooine. This was not like her.

“General…Aya…”, Srina murmured, making a few quick strides toward her crumpled form, while everyone else began to check on each other. Many people offered solutions or suggestions as to what had happened but the small apprentice was not knowledgeable enough about paradoxes and time manipulation to add her input. Instead, she focused on what she could do and knelt down beside the traumatized Aya. “It’s all right. Whatever it was…It has been undone. We’re all here. We have our strength and our wits which means that we’ll figure it out.”

The pale haired Echani was afraid to try and touch her. Srina did not yet know what she feared but the phantom feeling of being consumed by flame had her on edge as well. It reminded her too much of Mandalore, and for that, her heart ached enough that she was certain Darth Metus would feel her discomfort.

Silver eyes turned to Jonpas Audotora as [member="Katrine Van-Derveld"] questioned her. Srina’s expression went flat, and without warning, her mind launched itself with the strength of a rancor at the unprotected Clawdite Minister. The apprentice invaded her thoughts as she had been taught, delving deeply into her secrets, and exposing them. Srina was loath to do it. But, they had to start somewhere, and something was definitely not as it should be. They would need to start with the unknown elements and dissect the problem from there.

After a moment, Srina shook her head and withdrew. “She…He doesn’t know anything. This is either an accident or a secret assassination… the Minister is entirely unaware of any plot involving anyone harming us. He doesn’t even remember the explosion.”

Yet the words of an explosion DID mean something to the Minister. It was a risk. With the adjustments made to the Hypermatter Reactor there were a series of potential problems and possible cataclysmic events. The walls of fire, the explosion, the time distortion. “He does…He does think that IF we are truly experiencing a paradox…Something has gone wrong. That or the reactor was tampered with.”

“We need to shut it down.”

 

[Queen Bots™]

​

“We’ve taken data from many sources over the years in an effort to isolate instability and weaknesses from our reactor. Hypermatter power plants generate power by destroying hypermatter. The cores of such reactors are usually insulated with exfoliating doonium and dolovite…But we’ve developed a new synthetic that works even better. Safety is of course our number one—“

Jonpas stopped talking when the uppity yellow-haired woman from before interrupted her, again, and turned around to look at their guests. All of the CIS seemed to be in varying states of distress. One of them had even crumpled, and the Minister wondered if she had mistaken a scream of pain, with a cry of joy when hearing about their superior adaption of tachyon particles.

All at once they began talking about fire, an explosion, and most curiously about paradoxes. It read like the warning label that had been etched into the operation manual for the reactor. It became immediately apparent that they believed they were being watched, or quite possibly, that Zolan had set them up. The Minister's eyes widened and suddenly, without warning, she felt pressure in her head. Clearly, these people were giving her a headache.

The notion that their reactor was not working correctly caused her cheeks to burn. Her lips parted to deny such heresy but she was interrupted by the mere waif of a girl that stood beside the Vicelord.

Only, she didn’t just speak. She knew truths that she should not. Jonpas Audotora was Clawdite, and thus took many forms, but at her core, she did not identify as female. He had been born male and typically lived that way. He simply believed that most people were more receptive to a new idea when it was presented by a kindly old woman that reminded everyone of their own grandmother. He took different forms as needed for business purposes and to maintain control of his office.

Jonpas opened and closed his mouth a few times, like a fish out of water, while the white-haired Confederate spilled his secrets like dumping water on the floor. “I don’t—You—“

Confusion. Definite, confusion. Jonpas raised a hand to his head and pressed it to his temple.

“You have all become very confused. Perhaps, you enjoyed our hospitality and spirits a little too liberally? There was no explosion. There is no plot to harm anyone. We wish to join the Confederacy. It is against our interests to hurt it.”, the Minister began, a little flustered, but was eventually able to find his place. Politics, next to science, was his specialty. “If the reactor has been compromised our people would have already begun the shutdown process.”

“The generators on the inside and the outside of the facility would need to be powered down by hand. If shut down improperly it could cause the explosion you keep talking about. The entire city would become a firestorm. This is preposterous.”

Spoiler

[member="Nemesis Nemonus"] | [member="Srina Talon"] | [member="Izak Verd"] | [member="Hadashah Verd"] | [member="Darth Metus"] | [member="Katrine Van-Derveld"] | [member="Damien Van-Derveld"] | [member="Ultimatum"] | [member="Kurenai Yumi"] | [member="Rex Taff"] [member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Ravenfire]

Team Tag: [member="Srina Talon"], [member="Darth Metus"], [member="Hadashah Verd"], [member="Izak Verd"], [member="Katrine Van-Derveld"], [member="Damien Van-Derveld"], [member="Kurenai Yumi"], [member="Ultimatum"], [member="Anastasia Verd"], [member="Aya Clarke"]

Rex looked around at everyone again they were all alive. No he team wasn't there. What was going on around here. Kurenai had answered his question though. She had said Something about Dime dilation or a paradox of some sort or perhaps we went back in time or just simply enter a new dimension, all our loved ones back in the old now suffering from our deaths. The last one didn't worry him. "I have no loved ones to speak of, not anymore anyways Kurenai, anyone who would miss me is dead." He said with a calm that was distressing.

She also asked if he could slice it before they got there. He thought about it for two seconds before turning to her. "I can do a lot of things and yes that would be well within my abilities." He said still calmly. "If you will excuse me Metus and Srina. I have been sent a message I must attend to." He walks way grabbing out a pad slicing into the security from here was easy when you knew what you were doing. He changed the number code to a random number that was changed every 30 seconds that should slow down anyone attempting to get back in. Walking back in he said "It has been done my apologies for that, important message."

 

[Ultimatum]

​

It appeared that the strange experience was not limited to Ultimatum alone. If it were not an isolated phenomenon, then that suggested reliability in an assumption of his information remaining trustworthy. Therefore, he had to assume that there was a danger of a Reactor Meltdown of catastrophic proportions. The droid attempted to design a potential plan in order to halt the inevitable. Unfortunately, there was not enough information on the Reactor to be able to stabilize it. It would probably be available on a blueprint of its construction. The Minister had suggested that a method of shutting down the Reactor was to turn off two generators, one inside and one outside. Interesting design choice, rarely would a meltdown be slow enough to allow a single person to cover that distance effectively. She, for that was all the droid knew the Clawdite to be, suggested however that the Reactor was perfectly safe.

"Most Reactors with high-risk potentials are designed with multiple safety measures. If I may ask, are you aware if the Reactor runs on a liquid fuel system or solid? Are the conventional safety measures on location in either case?" He was directing his questions to the Minister, seeing as how the rest of the group was moving through various preparations he decided it was probably best to obtain some information on the plant. He did not want this to be their tomb. If he could learn about the particulars in the design, then perhaps he could find a way to break down the Reaction process. Maybe an absorbing material could be located and used to suck energy away from the reactants and thereby cancel the continued functionality. It would need to be discovered quickly; there was no telling if the phenomenon would occur again. They had to assume that there was no repetition.

Spoiler

Compatriots: [member="Srina Talon"], @Rex Taff, @Kurenai Yumi, [member="Katrine Van-Derveld"], [member="Damien Van-Derveld"], [member="Darth Metus"], [member="Hadashah Verd"], [member="Izak Verd"], @Daxton Bane, [member="Aya Clarke"]
Location: Hypermatter Reactor
Objective: Avert Repetition of Meltdown
Post(s):5

 

[Aya Clarke]

Location: Embassy

Objective: Tour the Reactor Factory
Wearing: General Uniform
Company: [member="Darth Metus"] [member="Hadashah Verd"] [member="Izak Verd"] [member="Srina Talon"] [member="Damien Van-Derveld"] [member="Rex Taff"] [member="Ultimatum"] [member="Kurenai Yumi"] [member="Anastasia Verd"]
Post: One

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8faH18iOJg&t=183s

It didn't stop, it had to stop, why wouldn't it stop?

The screams of pain and anguish wouldn't stop spilling from Aya's mouth, even as Srina knelt beside her to try and offer words of comfort, something, anything for her to cling to in her mind. Something to root her in the real world. The result? Aya couldn't tell. She couldn't hear, couldn't see past her own body as she curled inwards on the ground, tears marring her face as she continued to feel the phantom fires consuming her flesh, destroying her body. Which fire was it consuming her body and mind, the flames from moments ago, or minutes ahead? The flames of her home as she tried in vain to dig out her parents, her own life irrelevant? Was it her screams or her mother's ringing in her heart and mind? The questions only went on, and on... and on... and on...

Her voice went out before the pain, a hoarse scratching with each breath as she continued to all but convulse in pain beside the Echani. Had she the mental capability, she would've almost laughed at the irony of her situation. Not that she was suffering, of course, not even that she was yet again trying to determine reality, but that the very pain which was driving her body to recover. Her voice may not have had the strength for a while to scream, but her body could still pump the adrenaline through her, even as she dug her nails harder and harder into her flesh. Nails dug deep, as feeling left her extremities, as though she suffered from third degree burns, removing the sensation of her hands pressing into herself. Not feeling in her hands mind you, in her arms, and back and legs even, as she slowly felt the pain too leave her. It lingered at the 'edges of her burns', where her body might not have had enough time to be burnt completely before the time loop began, but even with that agony still reverberating in her the sting was gone.

Just in time to hear the insult to their honor.

Aya withdrew her nails from the flesh of her arms, where little darker flowers were starting to blossom against the already dark fabric, red flowers were she to decide to take the coat off and reveal the white shirt beneath. Her strength and no pain meant she could easily break skin by accident. Especially when insulted so haphazardly by the Clawdite minister. A solid thump replaced her hoarse breathing, as her hand impacted on the ground, and she slowly pushed her body up, bit by bit, until she was finally standing once more. Quite possibly, as she gave a subtle indication for permission, with the help of Srina should she feel comfortable with it. "You insult my honor, Minister. I do not drink on the job, I am a Knight, I must have such standards. I know well what fire feels like as it kisses the flesh, peeling it away layer by layer, slowly, quickly. If you would argue with that so be it but do not question my sobriety. If I am hallucinating, then 'tis a shared image and one in a trillion. So forgive us as we assume the worst, and please, if you are so adamant to join the Confederacy I would suggest you help alleviate our concerns before matters must be taken into the hands of those with a greater sense of urgency."

She coughed rather violently, almost collapsing again before managing to catch herself. This was not good at all, she could barely stand with the agony she'd just barely left behind. She slid one hand into her coat's side, as if resting on her chest to provide herself comfort and support, but quite honestly to wrap her fingers around the hilt of the hidden lightsaber. This Minister might not know anything, but the General was no treating this as a hostile situation.

 

[Skorvek]

Post:2
Location: High rise suite

And then the pieces fell into place and everything was going according to @Nemesis Nemonus had intended his only irritation was that the strongest of the souls he felt where trapped within to suffer a endless loop of death over and over as if the netherworld's tendrils opened and started its torment within the room, Sadly the ones he was interested the most in are out of his reach for now ...But there's the souls of those who are not within to test and test he shall. He muttered in ancient Anubian tounges and words that echoed across the room as several cloned variants of himself appeared and started there march out of the suite heading to the first few souls outside one of them went for two of the closest souls of [member="Umai"] and [member="Kalee Bladesworn"] this phantom chose them as his first targets to test and see how well they can handle him hopefully theyll provide a challenge if not then he will simply take there souls and use there carcass's for other tests.

 

[Rhaegar Nemesis Dib]

Post: 4
Location: skyscraper suite

At the initial explosion the building he was in was prepared to activate it's shielding, yet just as danger became imminent something odd occurred, the Firestorm he was witnessing seemed to rewind upon itself and time rippled in the force. Blinking for several moments it took him a few seconds to recognize the reemergence of the force signatures of the formerly deceased Confederates within the building. Frowning silently he contemplated the meaning while [member="Skorvek"] began his apparitions.

As the realization that some form of time dilation was in effect he sighed audibly and slowly rose from his chair. If time had rewound there was the chance it would do so again. And again. He had learned enough of the Confederate forces that, with enough time, they were able to overcome most obstacles. And if the pattern were to repeat, they would get that opportunity.

Pausing to watch from the window for a few more minutes he understood that his plan had failed in it's initial intention. Yet not all was lost. The ones stuck in the building would die, over and over again. While it wasn't as final as he would like, the idea of his enemy suffering through death several times would certainly cause some emotional distress that would last for some time. And that made the events he had orchestrated partially a success. Until he succeeded in making the sweet release of death a permanent end for them.

Taking his overcoat he slipped it on and gripped the head of his cane as he placed the shades upon his face once again. Looking at his companion, [member="Skorvek"] , he arched an articulate brow in silent question. The noticable working in the force was easily felt as the anubian conjured and controlled his creation. Holding out an arm he gestured toward the door for the other being before walking ahead. Their presence was no longer necessary here, and once the Confederacy freed themselves they would begin to search for those responsible. And while it would take some digging, both through Zolan's records and memories, before proof of his involvement was attained, it was wise to remove himself from the equation while the opportunity had presented itself. And so he did, leaving the fate of the trapped forces to either their own tenacity and actions or to other, external, stimuli.

 

[Srina Talon]

Location: Lambada Sector - Zolan - [Myst] Hypermatter Facility |Outside|
Objective: Tour the Reactor Facility
Wearing: This
In the Company Of: [member="Hadashah Verd"] | [member="Darth Metus"] | [member="Damien Van-Derveld"] | [member="Katrine Van-Derveld"] | [member="Kurenai Yumi"] | [member="Rex Taff"] | [member="Ultimatum"] | [member="Izak Verd"] | [member="Anastasia Verd"] | [member="Daxton Bane"] | [member="Aya Clarke"]

Everyone it seemed, save a select few, were stunned to stillness—or in more extreme cases traumatized wails. Silver eyes fixated on the crumpled form of [member="Aya Clarke"]. This was not how she had ever expected to see the General, yet, she hadn’t been with the Confederacy to know the intimate fears of those around her. In this case, it seemed personal, private, and out of respect alone, she would not ask the dark-haired woman ‘what’ was wrong.

Perhaps it was the explosion of light, the subsequent flame, and never-ending nothingness…But even her Master had nothing to say. At least, not yet.

With that in mind, the white-haired woman tried to cobble together a plan of action. Her gaze fell on [member="Rex Taff"] while he spoke with [member="Kurenai Yumi"]. The newly minted Minister of Science would likely understand far more than she would about the technical aspects of shutting down generators connected to a reactor but they didn’t really have the manpower to be choosy. Instead, she telepathically lifted what knowledge she could about the procedure from Jonpas Audotora, including, the locations of both generators.

Rex disappeared for a moment, only to return minutes later, having likely accomplished a task that would keep them from being trapped uselessly in the access hall. That was good.

The extremely humanized droid spoke up next. What he said made sense, but, having been inside the mind of the Minister of Myst the answers were already on the tip of her tongue. She had never met this odd automaton before, and therefore, did not know his name but now was not the time for introductions. “Many of the typical safety measures were not taken because they don’t believe this -is- a reactor with a high-risk potential. It should be benign. They rely on highly refined doonium to protect it and dolovite to shield it. The eruption we saw….”

“It shouldn’t be happening. Unless…”, Srina trailed off, head tilting as she mentally probed deeper within the Clawdite. She could see his faculties slip from her invasion. She would need to be careful—They might need the Minister of Myst before the end. “Unless it’s been tampered with. Automated failsafe protocol must have been disabled. There’s also an option of a cold shutdown. The Minister doesn’t want to consider introducing freezing materials to slow the speed of tachyons…But it can be done.”

A cold shut down wouldn’t be cost effective. The calculations needed to restart the process and the manpower to clean the reactor of excess pollutants and water could take weeks. Months. Myst would be plunged into darkness. Srina’s expression remained still. It was darkness, or death, one or the other.

The temporary connection she had with the Minister broke as Aya began to regain her faculties. Her screams had not gone unnoticed, but in an effort to prevent their time displacement or eventual incineration the apprentice had been forced to focus on multiple issues at the same time. The sturdy General had nearly been convulsing with pain that the Echani could not see. Srina backed up, slightly, when Aya suddenly sat up at the Ministers less than prudent wording.

Once realizing that she seemed to have broken the surface of her psychosis the snow-kissed warrior moved to help Aya sit up and eventually stand. Srina was slight of frame but surprisingly strong. She was flooded with relief when the General sounded more like herself. Brassed off and brave. Aya coughed, before nearly falling, and the student of Darth Metus reached to catch her. She seemed weakened by her experience, physically, not just emotionally.

“I don’t know how much time we have. We’ll need to get to the control center inside the facility to either perform a cold shut down OR to power off the internal reactor. Minister—Call some of your security forces and head toward the external generator. If you wish to join the Confederacy you will do as I ask without question. We will provide for Myst, either way, if this was all for naught.”

With that Srina Talon headed back toward the area that [member="Rex Taff"] had sliced through, with anyone who wanted to join her, hopefully in tow. She made it through the first area easily, thanks to the slicing efforts of the Confederate Minister of Science. Between him, and the rather informed droid (@Ultimatum), and any staff inside she believed they could do what needed to be done.

What she didn’t expect, after passing through the access hall, was to be confronted with a series of difficulties. The way was blocked, not only by high-powered laser-turrets, but by a long…Long line of droideka droids. Srina blinked.

“Chit.”

Suddenly, the group she was with would be fired on, and they would be forced to take cover. The Echani ducked down behind a large permacrete pillar and sighed heavily. They did -not- have time for this.

 

[Ravenfire]

Team Tag: [member="Srina Talon"], [member="Darth Metus"], [member="Hadashah Verd"], [member="Izak Verd"], [member="Katrine Van-Derveld"], [member="Damien Van-Derveld"], [member="Kurenai Yumi"], [member="Ultimatum"], [member="Anastasia Verd"], [member="Aya Clarke"]
Rex listened to the droid it was a good question how would they shut the reactors down. It was then answered by Srina Talon. He was mildly surprised to say the least. That was until he felt the force connecting her to the minister. So she was probing the minister for information very Smat move something even he wouldn't have thought of. So they could either shut it down or drop the freezing liquids into it. He saw Aya almost fall over when all this was said.

The woman had apparently taken more damage than the rest of them coming back from the future. Then again he could feel the force within him soothing several of his mussels. Maybe she didn't have the force. She was a brilliant tactician though and something they could not afford to lose. He would keep an eye on her if she did decide to come along for the ride.

Srina then spoke to the minister. She was taking control of the situation rather quickly and smoothly that impressed him even more. Very few generals or even commandos that he once knew could do it with such ease. He felt something strange in him. A sudden spark of admiration and loyalty towards the Echani. It was something he had felt a few times before. He was ready to follow this woman through hell and back just as much as he would do for Kurenai.

So when she went to go Rex followed her. He would be there to help and serve and to do what was needed. Making it through the room they had originally gotten trapped in thanks to his efforts. But after that was some turrets but that didn't worry him the droidekas did. He heard as Srina said kark diving for a pillar a move he copied but with one slight difference as he went. He force pushed some of the droidekas into the turrets, it wasn't many mind you but some of there number had been destroyed even if the turrets weren't. He looked around for another way thru while behind the pillar. He didn't know how much time they had left though.