Black Fire, Blue Armor. (Taming of Nocturna)

[Break]

-Setting-
The great expanse of the world of Arcadia came over the Horizon of the HRD'S vision the booming and greatly technology advanced society was only contrasted by the bleak wastelands of the outer walls. A volcanic and desert wasteland was all that existed outside of the walls and Break was set on finding the Black Jewel that only lied in wait for the taking.

-Character-

Break looked out over the walls as he spoke to the Elder of the Capitol.

"As I have said before I'm not here to become a hero, I came here to take back what is mine."

He said slowly moving back from the window

"If I were to attract too much attention you would not only bring a backlash of the people for hiding...the prize...from them.

He sighed at the old man, the elders eyes were fixed on the possible income from a festival.

"What do you mean if you were to just find the Black Jewel of the sands you would bring honor to our planet once again."

He said from behind his large wooden desk Break knew he was obviously compensating for something.

"I see...well if you won't take a celebration will you at least take my gratitude and accept help on your quest?"

The old man pressed a button under his desk opening a secret door and from behind that door a large Trandoshan bounty hunter stepped out. As the old man spoke.

"This is the cities leading bounty hunter within our walls. In exchange for small compensation he has agreed to help you in your quest. He does fine work and is a decent lad considering his...upbringing. "

Break looked over the bounty hunter as he walked in

 

[Break]

-BEHIND THE WALLS-

The Trandoshan smiled his toothy grin as he walked passed Break, his scaly skin was scarred and white. Not quite albino but there was something definitely different about him.

"Ssso soon you required my aid I was hardly able to gather my belongings old one."

The giant lizards man spoke in a slow and deliberate cadence.

"Thisss is the one who requires my skills?"

He questioned as Break took a slow walk around him sizing up his would be partner.

"My name Sul'ran, Shiny one."

He breathed slowly and deeply almost as if it pained him to do so.

"I runnnn all criminals to their graves...or behind barsss... what can my services be to you? After all I'm not a thief and you are going after a Black Jewel I hear."

Break chuckled, he could see the Trandoshan was well beyond years of experience perhaps decades. Which either meant he didn't do many jobs or he was really good a what he did. He nneeded the 2nd choice

"The name is Break, and I'm going to need all the help I can get. Because this Black Jewel has teeth.

-IN THE CRAGS OF THE VOLCANO-

Nocturna reveled in her latest catch. A freight transporter had flown too close to her nest and she had knocked it from the sky her maw dripping with water from the tankard meant for the miners from which she had been picking off. Their small human bodies were plenty to feed her however she wondered about how her clutch would be able to feed... the eggs she had layed shouldn't be much longer now her maternal instincts were sure of that but food was scarce...she would have to stay with them just a while longer after they hatched. She maneuvered herself in the crag of which she made her home the burning lava created a perfect atmosphere for her clutch warm, dry, free of predators...for now.

-THE GATES OF ARCADIA-

The old Trandoshan wasn't taking the idea well that he had likely sold hid life for chump change.

"A DRAGON?"

He exclaimed as he boarded the craft that would take them to their quarry. Break smiled at him his face was truly worth 1000 credits

"What's wrong old one, bones feeling shaky?"

Break chuckled

"What happened to all of the talk about being the best their is? You lead all to their death or to bars."

Sul'ran was not pleased by this. He hissed as he spoke.

"Thieves and murderers are one thing but a fire breathing armored being of destruction is another! "

Break laughed one more time as they sped out of the walls

"Let me guess, you weren't paid enough for this?:

 

[Torvas Vief]

Behind the walls another individual slowly started to approach. Rather than the slow and deliberate mannerisms that had become the signature of the Trandoshan bounty hunter, this individual had an elegant and predatory way of walking that carried well over into the manner in which he spoke.

The wolfman paused for a moment as his tail started to droop for the time being. Adjusting his kilt carefully, he tilted his head back again. At that point he began to speak, "While I am no bounty hunter, and do not necessarily appreciate their kind, I am here because I am under the impression that there are criminals afoot and if that is so then I am here to take them out at your side."

Silence came in the wake of him finishing, but this lack of sound was punctuated by the noise generated from the motors of the droid that had come to accompany Torvas.

Unlike the Trandoshan, Torvas would have had no way to tell if Break's skin looked unusual or not. However, Break did smell much more like his droid than an organic creature. He wasn't going to say anything just yet, however.

"Would you welcome me as well?"

Apparently he hadn't quite realized that the prize that they were seeking wouldn't be found in a criminal base or anything of the like. Rather, there were going to be looking for a very different kind of treasure.

Of course, when that finally had become clear, Torvas wasn't at all going to mind that he would be looking for something that might have proved to be a good bit more challenging than the run of the mill criminal that he usually went after.

Then again, how often did Torvas ever get the opportunity to go chasing after dragons?

There was going to have to be a first time for everything.

 

[Break]

-ABOARD THE SS SAND SKIPPER

Break was taken back as the ship he was told would be vacant had been infiltrated by a helpful stowaway. The old Trandoshan raised his blaster.

"Ssshhould I dust him Captain? "

Sul'ran said in his slow tone

Break looked over the lupine man with his scanner his blue armor shimmering in the light of the sand skipper.

"If you've come looking for a bounty there is none to be had. We hunt a beast of massive proportion."

He brought up the hologram of the specimen

"THAT is our quarry."

He said pointing at the holo.

"You are welcome to join but the pay is minimal and the risk is Great"

He looked at the lupine man one last time looking for any sign of fear.

"What's more we need to capture it alive."

At which point the Trandoshan gave a loud sigh

"Allive? I SHOULD have asked for more credits..."

Break took a seat at the back of the skimmer.
They would be arriving shortly.

-BACK AT THE CRAG-

The mother dragon stirred from her cave something was coming at a very fast rate. She could hear the engines of the skipper roaring over the wastelands she leaped to life as she spread her wings her eyes glowing red and her maw flaming. She leaped from the crag and flew towards the ship.

-ABOARD THE SKIPPER-

The computer began to flash red and a loud alarm could be heard.

"UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT CLOSING IN FAST"

[member="Torvas Vief"]

 

[Torvas Vief]

Admittedly, Torvas would have preferred to think of himself as an adventurer than someone who was stowing away on a foreign vessel, but then again there was no real way to change the truth. That being said he shook his head after Break had spoken and then offered the other a grin that was every bit as wolfen as his appearance.

"I seek no bounty...I seek justice. Regardless, if there is a beast to be had, then you appeal to a baser instinct of mine."

Instead of being dissuaded by the hologram like any decent normal person would have been, Torvas seemed excited. The reason was, of course, obvious - it was the fact that he was a wolf and therefore a predator who sought out a hunt by cause of mere biology.

His thoughts, though, were shattered by the sound of a mechanical voice.

"Master, I believe that this mission is not in keeping with..."

"Shut it, Eight-Cee!" Torvas growled a bit, much like a canine once more, as he silenced his droid and looked back to Break.

"Needless to say I am with you if you will have me."

Along with a toothy grin, the wolfman allowed his tail to wag as well to indicate his pleasure at the idea of hunting a dragon.

Once he had been alerted to an unidentified object approaching, Torvas turned about and readied himself for whatever was needed aboard the vessel. For the mean time his droid kept quiet, which might have helped to explain why he wasn't announced before. Looking up slowly, Torvas blinked for a time and exhaled again, holding his claws at his side with an almost feral glint in his eye.

Then again, would that really have been all that different from the Trandoshan who were next to him?

 

[Break]

-Outside-

The Dragon was closing in fast on the oncoming vessel she outstretched her claws and readied herself for impact as the giant ship hurtled towards her.

-INSIDE-

The Dragon was coming straight at them and Break knew her plan of attack he had watched the video of her attack on Arcadia in the not so distant past she had opened a vessel like this with her claws and teeth alone. If they had any chance of survival in this fight they would need to evade her attacks at each turn.

"SUL'RAN TAKE THE HELM AND PULL UP AND WHATEVER YOU DO AVOID THOSE CLAWS.
WOLFIE WE TAKE UP THE CANON WE NEED HER DOWN, AIM FOR THE BODY....they won't kill her but maybe they can stun her long enough to sedate her."

Break was right the canons were only just added to act as a last ditch effort to fortify the supply carrier against bandits. Not the dragon itself.
The old Trandoshan ran to the helm and pulled up on the controls just barely avoiding the large claws of the dragon but she wasn't far behind black flames followed them as they rose.

"WARNING ENERGY SHIELDS AT 53% PERCENT"

the ships voice rang out with a grim announcement another flame attack would have them at close to nothing.

"Sshhhe is closing in Captain what is our plan?"

The Trandoshan said in a controlled and faster tone.

Break watched as the sand skipper supply carrier Was taking its beating. This ship was only meant to carry the dragon not combat it... this wasn't the plan and Break had underestimated his quarry.
That's when he saw his savior. A canyon in the wastes.

"THERE. take us there she won't be able to maneuver in there she'll have to touch down to get us!"

Break then hurried to the other turret as he began to fire at the dragon if their survival counted on her being stunned then he would give [member="Torvas Vief"] all of the help he could.

 

[Break]

-THE SHIP-

Sul'ran deftly maneuvered the skipper it's lugging weight was barely affecting the Crack pilot as he flew his target was simple make it to the canyon. What was so hard about that? I mean it's not like a giant fire breathing armored flesh eating flying predator was behind them right? Right?....
Alas, the ship was not fast enough to evade the dragon as she flew in on them she lunged at them with her claws and met metal to claw she spread her wings as to create drag and throw the ship off balance she would turn her wings and the ship would lurch to the left as it spun out of control.

The small crew was thrown about on the inside of the ship. Nocturna let go of the craft sending it hurtling to the ground.

Break was thrown from his post at the guns and tossed like a rag doll and smashed against controls, he however managed to grab onto one of the pilots seats and was struggling to hang on. Then noticed the old Trandoshan was unconscious as he had hit is head on something and his blood was floating in the air with him.

Break managed to pull himself close enough to the controls to level her out just before hitting the ground sparing their lives. The dragon had noticed and was coming back around to finish the job unfortunately. Break took his seat and made a B-line to the Canyon

"HANG ON!"

He shouted right before the dragon made contact with the ship once more.

 

[Torvas Vief]

Eight-Cee, Torvas' droid, went absolutely flying as a result of the fact that he was being thrown around in the process of the ship being struck off balance. Fortunately Torvas was able to maintain decent stability regardless of the orientation of the vessel because of the presence of his outstretched tail.

Of course, he was not looking forward to buffing the dents out of his droid at all.

The next time, Torvas was able to brace himself properly and got ready to take on the dragon's assault. Swallowing deeply, he opened his eyes wide to give himself some frame of reference.

" [member="Break"] !" The Shistavanen wasn't at all sure if he had gotten the other's name He hoped he had, or what he was saying would have probably just sounded like gibberish, "I think I can stick it out."

It wasn't that he wasn't getting banged up so much as he thought that he would have been able to at least help out in the situation in spite of it all. "Do you need me to help you, or should I go to that Trandoshan's aid?"

His words were spoken, of course, totally in spite of the fact that the lizard-like individual had previously suggested that he could have been dusted.

Unlike Torvas, though, his droid didn't look to be in particularly good shape for the time being. That was going to make for an annoying set of repairs later on, but it was the sacrifice he would make for this sort of an adventure that fed to his predatory instincts.

 

[Break]

Break would have gladly offered a job to Torvas but at the moment he meant to speak the ship was once again grasped by the dragon and this time thrown into the canyon wall. The ship buckled under its own enormous weight as it bounced from wall to wall like a child's playtoy. This was the final moment, this was it. Break pressed the thrusters one last time to full power and brought the nose of the ship up right before a crash landing minimizing damage to them and the ship however the crew who wasn't strapped in (or didnt have a trusty tail to hold on with) was in for a bumpy ride as most of the passengers were strewn about like pinballs.
At last the ship came to a screaming halt as it wedged itself within the rocks of the canyon

With one final and deep exhale Break sat still for a short time. Never in his existence had he been that close to death.
Break turned to assess the damage behind himself. The poor Trandoshan sat upright a head injury spilling yellow blood upon the floor. Break hurried with a med pack that was kept on board for small injuries but it would have to do.
He set to work scanners looking for any other injuries. Luckily for them he only suffer from a few cracked ribs and a simple but large head injury which looked a lot worse than it actually was.

"Torvas..."

Break said from over his shoulder.

Check to see if any of the components on the ship actually still work. GPS, comm link, doors, oxygen... anything that works just let me know.

[member="Torvas Vief"]

 

[Torvas Vief]

Looking to [member="Break"] for the time being, Torvas took the brunt of the screaming halt and grasped to a chair in front of him. Even his canine physiology could only take so much at this level, and even if he were an ace pilot with the body of a wolfman there were limits. Fortunately this bumpy ride had finally ended and he was all right, even if his droid was pretty well beaten up.

While he was originally going to check up on the Trandoshan with the other, he nodded once Break had started to speak with him, "Will do."

Soon enough he was pulling a panel door open on the wall and moving over to the controls. The door motors had certainly been smashed up, and it didn't look like they were going to open, but fortunately life support was checking out.

"I'm running a systems diagnostic. We have at least pressurized life support if it came down to it. Murrrf." His sentence was punctuated by a noise that humanoid organisms certainly wouldn't have made.

Eventually Eight-Cee got up and started to dust himself off with his mechanized hands. He started to walk over with a slight limp to join his master looking at the panel while the aforementioned Shistavanen took a merciful moment to maneuver a few of Eight-Cee's bolts back into place with his claws.

Torvas turned back toward Break and then gave a status update on what was going on, "In a few moments we should have the comm-links back online. Give me a few to patch up my droid too."

He started to wag his tail as he went to work, having still been driven by his hunter's instincts for the time being.

 

[Break]

Break stood grasping his head a small drip of blood was running down his ear. It seems even he had taken some damage during the...forced professional landing as he would call it later.

"Thanks...uh I don't believe that I caught your name... but I can definitely say I like your character so I'll give you mine first."

He held out his hand for a fist bump.

"The name is Break and we're going to have to do the next part of this mission by ourselves."

He lifted the Trandoshan with a forced grunt as to not give off the fact he was a droid....he trusted Torvas but he didn't care to share the information with everyone.

"Old scaley one here will be out for a while... You wouldn't mind leaving your droid to stay behind and look after him as we go hunt the beast on foot?
[member="Torvas Vief"]

 

[Break]

As Nocturna threw the ship she had caught her claw upon the ship and lost one of her many scales. Of course this would not harm her but to an experienced tracker this might prove an invaluable asset. She flew overhead as she seared for the ship among the rocks and crag of the wastes. She would periodically land and breath fire down the canyon walls trying to smoke her prey out. She looked around trying to see them she listened carefully for their screams of agony....but nothing. The walls of the canyon shielded the crew from the flames far too well.

 

[Torvas Vief]

Considering that [member="Break"] had smelled somewhat mechanical to Torvas before, he had at first assumed he was some sort of non-biological creature but now he saw blood dripping down his ear and that made him think twice about what this individual was. Regardless, he smirked - which had the effect of bearing a couple of fangs in the process - and soon took Break's offer of a fist bump...which may have been the first time Break ever did that with someone who had fur and claws all over his hand.

"Torvas...my name is Torvas Vief. It's an honor." As soon as Break offered a grunt when lifting the lizard-man all thoughts of him being a droid left his mind. Break must have just been an extremely unusual human, Hapan or something.

Having turned back to Eight-Cee in order to fix a few more loose bolts, Torvas shook his head. "He should be fine. How are you feeling, Eight-Cee?"

"I am operating within nominal parameters, Master, and am currently fitted with a restraining bolt."

Torvas nodded, "Alright, look after the Trandoshan."

Standing up, the Shistavanen was soon wagging his tail as he heard the offer to track the beast on foot. This was what he did best. "Allow me to look if she left anything for me to smell."

Soon enough he was on all fours and started to leave the ship as soon as he could have opened the door. Allowing his nose to twitch around, he bounded about and soon found what Nocturna had left behind.

It seemed that he had the trail of wherever it was that she was going.

 

[Break]

As Break and Torvas departed outside Break grabbed a face mask for Torvas and walked outside quickly shutting the door behind him.

Break stepped out into the bleak wastelands that we're the canyon and quickly handed Torvas the mask

"Be careful breathing out here without one of these."

He then placed on his shining azure full Zodiac helmet and turned on all of its systems.

"While the planet itself isn't radioactive enough to harm us the solar winds that come from space are. Keep this on for now until we can reach somewhere ventilated..."

Which just so happened to not be very far away. Break himself had a mining operation not too far from where they currently were. Hopefully this would be a lucky break as they could find transportation and better medical attention for the old Trandoshan.

As Torvas searched he found the black blood of the beast upon the craft enough for scent tracking to work. And hopefully the dragon was injured.

[member="Torvas Vief"]

 

[Torvas Vief]

Without question, the Shistavanen put on the mask and nodded. He hadn't seen any elevated levels of radioactive gases or anything of the sort from Break's ships sensors when he checked before, but he assumed that the if it were indeed some sort of stellar radiation that they were dealing with that those systems wouldn't have been able to pick it up.

"I will check to make sure my fur isn't falling out later, and make sure to take a nice cold shower...as much as I hate baths." Naturally, as a canine that was the last thing he wanted to do.

Having blinked a few times, he was visibly unhappy that the mask in question significantly dulled his sense of smell, but then again he was also pleased in turn that he had found the blood and was soon on what seemed like a rather hot trail.

Without saying anything more, he started to bound off on all fours as a canine might, trusting that [member="Break"] would have come along with him. The dragon seemed to be injured, and the smell of the blood from that reptile was getting stronger in spite of the aforementioned mask and therefore giving him the ability to continue tracking for the time being.

 

[Break]

Break followed close behind [member="Torvas Vief"] , his tracking senses would prove to be better than Breaks however Break would have no trouble keeping up. Breaks azure robes flowing behind him with each bound.

The dragon Nocturna was however starting to become impatient. Her prey had long since been lost and buy she could still smell them. The only problem? Other scents were starting to mix. She could smell the annoying scent of the wasteland Raiders. They would be closing in soon...a perfect target for her aggressions.

 

[Break]

As the dragon flew closer to the Raiders Break and [member="Torvas Vief"] decided to split up and double their efforts. Neither of them going too far, able to respond in a quick post persé. Break lunged forth into the mines as to not cause attention to himself. He quickly found inside the mine was scorched. The dragon had been feeding on whomever was in here recently. Luckily there were no bodies strewn about so perhaps some had made it to shelter. Break quickly typed in the access codes to bypass the security systems affording him and Torvas free reign in the mines Break would warn Torvas not to go deeper than 4000 ft without his mask on

 

[Torvas Vief]

Considering that [member="Break"] hadn't seemed to have any real difficulty keeping up with him, Torvas had continued to move about and sniffed as though he were far more of an animal than he even already was. At this point, the droid had no longer been the smell that he was primarily paying attention to so he stopped his suspicions, even though Break hadn't appeared like a living creature would usually.

Naturally Torvas had the vision of a predatory beast, so different creatures tended to look a little different at the sacrifice of not being able to distinguish colors very well. Nevertheless, he just accepted that Break must have been some kind of mutant like Hapans were.

As he continued to rush forward alongside the other individual, he allowed his tail to keep him upright as the dragon swept downwards. Once he finally made it back into the mines like Break had, Torvas looked up and nodded. He was used to wearing masks at this point anyway, even if this one wasn't quite designed to match his biology.

"Did you have a plan of attack?"

Honestly Torvas was hoping the other hadn't so that he could have just gone wild, but he doubted that would have been the case at all.

 

[Break]

Honestly Break didnt have a plan at this point. He had never thought of the fact of being LITERALLY thrown like a ragdoll.
"Yea...uh...I have a plan..."
He lied.
"We uh...we just have to activate some security systems first is all. But we need to get passed-"
He was cut off by the most abrupt roar heard from the opening of the mine.
The dragon had landed at the mouth of the cave and was on its way in.
As it got down on all fours wings folded up it squeezed into the mine and began breathing it's black translucent flame into the mine it's claws digging their way into the ground.
The fools had led themselves straight to their doom here was her hunting ground and here is where they would die.
"Run!"
Break yelled to his comrade as he himself fled to a more tactical position.
He drew his plasma canon to the beast and headed further down the mine

[member="Torvas Vief"]

 

[Torvas Vief]

"Oh, pity." Apparently Torvas wasn't too pleased at the idea that there would have been a plan considering that he had been hoping, instead, to go wild. Of course, he didn't know that the other was lying. For some reason, it was hard to smell the emotions that [member="Break"] exhibited!

Snarling, Torvas soon turned around. As soon as he was given the order to run it seemed like the hunt was on for him. He threw his claws at his side and let loose a ferocious howl as his teeth parted and he got ready to fight. The wolfman was turning vicious and he was quickly allowing his instinctual mind to take control of his intellectual one. In his opinion that was where his true strength was.

Jumping insanely onto a rock crag, it looked like he was going to go down the mine a little further with Break...and then fight the dragon with his own fangs and claws!

Now this was a great deal more the Shistavanen's speed he had to admit.