Change of Plans

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

She grinned at Riggs.

"Oh I can share. But there's probably just enough for Riggs and I so.....," she shrugged looking about as smug as a wookie who just won a dejark game. "Sorry Trex. You'll be okay. We're saving you from unnecessary calories."

Riggs began to have his own smug smile, the initial shock beginning to wear off. "Yeah, mate. So sorry. I'll even bunk up and share a tent with you, jedi lady." He sauntered over and took the duffel from Taheera.

Her smug smile faltered slightly, myrtle-ellipses widening. She quickly turned and scooped up her smaller pack that contained more of the medical supplies.

"Um. Let's revisit that."

Throat cleared. This time,she couldn't make eye contract with Trextan. "Pulled up a map of our area and it looks like there's an old research center not too far. A few days walk maybe. That might be our best bet. It's Northeast."

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Trextan gave a mock sigh of defeat. He was going to steal some of the chocolate rations one way or another. He turned his eyes towards the canopy above and the shards of light that cut through the trees.

Then Riggs made his comment. Trextan's gaze snapped down and he pulled his head back. The remark vexed him, but it took a couple of seconds for a little bubble of anger to rise up and burst. His time with the Jedi didn't even paper over all the cracks. They'd cultivated his anger for years in the sith temple.

"That's enough of that," he snapped. He looked away so that the pair couldn't see the expression on his face.

"Northeast..." Trextan murmured. He realised he didn't know which way this world spun about its axis. "Which way is that?" He didn't have anything calibrated on him, so he hoped there was something in the gear she'd brought down.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

"Oh come on," Riggs waggled his eyebrows turning. "I was only jo-," voice trailed off as the pilot caught the look on the justicar's face. "King," he muttered and jammed his hands in his pockets, stalking a bit ahead and muttering.

The healer-empath frowned, feeling that very real spike of anger come from her friend. Finally, she broke the silence that lingered in the air almost heavier than the humidity. "Yeah. I've got a universal compass, just a sec," hand dug into her backpack. Calibrating it to the planet, myrtle ellipses peered down at the screen. Chestnut-hair splotched with mud fell across her face.

A second longer and she finally looked up, pointing toward Riggs' muttering form. "He's headed in the right direction, that way." Riggs waved his hand, hearing them and continued on. The Mirialan held back a second, falling in step next to Trextan.

"You okay? Riggs is just...you know. Riggs. I don't think he has an off-switch to flirting."

Muddy-shoulders shrugged. Was that what was bothering the teen? Or was it something else? More with his father? Still feeling the blow from the loss with the First Order. She certainly still was. Maybe Riggs was too and didn't usually act like this.

Or, maybe she'd read the entire situation wrong and she was just putting her foot in her mouth.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

His anger would have been an ally, or at least a shield against any further questions. Instead it evaporated as soon as she finished speaking and left him with nothing but embarrassment. He knew he'd snapped unnecessarily and he didn't really want to be accountable for it. He silently cursed his anger for egging him on and then abandoned​ him so quickly. Like that kid who always got his bigger friend into a fight then his behind him.

Trextan shrugged and kept his gaze low. “Yeah I'm alright,” he replied softly. He kept his tone low and quiet, hopefully out of Riggs’ range of hearing. Was she disappointed in him? Or perhaps even worse, was it bad enough that she would report this back to the Order. Losing your temper in the field was a bad sign for a Jedi.

“It’s just been a difficult couple of days is all,” he offered. “Probably for him as much as anyone.” Trextan sighed. He wasn’t sure what else to say. “We shouldn’t let him go out in front,” he said, trying to smile. The hapless pilot would only walk them into another acklay nest.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

"Hey," she spoke quietly, a mud-drenched hand reaching out and curling around Trextan's upper arm gently but firmly, trying to stop him and get his attention.

Her grip slightly slid along the mud of his sleeve and her own palm. "It's okay," as if reading his thoughts once again or getting a trickle of his emotions through the force. "I know you've got my back. Even in the droid factory when we first met. I want you to know I've got yours too. Okay?"

The mirialan healer-empath could feel her friend's worry even if she didn't understand the source. If she guessed that he was worried she'd report him she might've laughed. She wasn't that intuitive, though. She guessed his worry came from their situation. Or perhaps worry at his spike in emotions and how that might've tied to his past and his concerns with the darkside and losing control. She, out of anyone, could relate to that.

"But yeah," fingers slowly slipped from from around his arm. A tentative but tired smile found its way briefly on her mud-spattered face. "Definitely shouldn't let Riggs lead."

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Trextan didn't really know what to say to that. Her words cut through any defence he could muster and he felt exposed. Trextan at least met her gaze. He took a breath.

"Thank you," he replied. The youth looked away to see Riggs carrying on away from them. In reality he simply couldn't hold her gaze as he spoke more. "That means a lot."

It did mean a lot too. Trextan still couldn't bring himself to believe that Jacen had his best interests at heart. He often felt as if he was alone, with little support. In truth he had gone through the last five years without many friends around him. Almost none.

He looked back at her and matched her smile. For just a moment the turbulent swell of emotions calmed.

"Let's go fetch him before he gets lost then eh? So what's the word on this facility?"

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

"Riggs, hold up," she slipped and plodded through the mucky jungle-floors as she and Trex caught up to the plucky pilot. "Trex has decided he'd love to share a tent with you tonight."

Purple lips twitched mischievously as she went back to her teasing self, casting Trex a look. They only had two tents and she was making an executive decision. There was NO way she was sharing a tent with Riggs. And, well, Riggs certainly shouldn't be left on his own for too long out here. That settled it in her mind, whether or not it was much to Trextan's chagrin.

"Besides, I'm a light sleeper. And I bet at least one of you snores." She smirked, hoping that comment would help it so their manly pants wouldn't get in a twist. Myrtle-ellipses drifted down to her hand to check that compass as they plodded forward and eased into the lead. "And as for the facility. I'm not sure."

There was something about it. Something that felt foreign and familiar at the same time and she didn't like it. As far as she knew, she'd never been here before. Maybe she was just being paranoid? Feelings of trepidation were quickly shrugged off.

"Figured that's our best shot at finding a new ship or repair parts...calling for help. Something."

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Trextan took the sleeping arrangements for what they were. However, if Riggs started commenting on it any further he was liable to have another sense of humour failure. Fortunately the pilot didn't.

"Jacen always said you could make a hyperwave beacon wiyh cable, power and a datapad. Unfortunately he isn't here so I'm hoping they've got something we can salvage," Trextan said.

"He's not wrong," Riggs added. "If they've got some kit at the station I might be able to get something running."

"How far is it?" Trextan asked. "Will we make it before nightfall?" Regardless of the arrangements it would be good to reach cover before night.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

Chestnut-brows shot up on a muddy face.

"That's impressive," she muttered. "I'll stick to healing." She grinned. Her smile was brief. "No, we won't make it before nightfall. As soon as we get to a clearing, I say we make camp."

And camp they did. Somehow, Trex managed to share a tent with Riggs without killing him.

The night was relatively uneventful. Sleep didn't exactly come. There were too many sounds of creatures lurking just outside. Perhaps an acklay in the distance. Still, she'd never been more thankful to see the soft light of dawn penetrate through the thin-material of the survival tent. They'd survived the night and were hopefully only a few clicks away from the facility. She'd just finished packing things up and began shouldering on her pack once more. Pausing, myrtle-ellipses panned down to check the compass readings.

"Should only be about four miles up that ridge." She pointed through the fog, mist, and vines. "You two sleep okay?"

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

"His metal arm is really heavy!" Riggs announced. He feigned being crushed by a massive weight on his chest. Colour rose on Trextan's cheeks. He hadn't intended to wrap his arm over the naval officer and had been quite asleep at the time.

Trextan shook it off. A good night's sleep was a good way to settle his mood and he didn't want it to be soured already. He had revisited some of the conversation from the previous day, keeping himself awake through self doubt. On reflection he had been a little rude, but his behaviour hadn't been seen far gone as to warrant him dwelling on it.

"Just four? If it wasn't for the chance of running into something else's hunting ground I'd say jog it. Trextan canted his had to one side as he looked towards their destination. Something felt off to him. This couldn't have been a trap? How would anyone know they were coming. Unless the hyperspace disturbance had in fact been the trap and they'd been caught at random. He kept his thoughts to himself for the time being.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

She gulped back a bubble of laughter as soon as she saw the color spread across her friend's face. One day, she hoped he'd be able to laugh at himself. Until then, she'd try to spare his further embarrassment.

"Yeah," tone fought to stay even and business-like. "Ground is dangerous too. Better to go slower." Shifting the pack on her shoulders, she took the lead, trusting Trex to keep an eye on Riggs and to keep him from becoming Acklay snacks. After a time of monotonous trekking, the healer tried to pick up the conversation. "You know what I miss the most? Well, besides food that isn't ration packs, dry air. This humidity is killing me."

Riggs chuckled and swatted at his neck. "I miss big spray."

Weaving through some vines and branches, she paused. There was a bunker structure up ahead, built into the mountain of the jungle. It could've been easily missed, if they weren't looking for it.

"That should be it," she breathed. A frown tugged at her purple lips. "Looks like someone hasn't been here for awhile." Head tipped back, studying the structure around the door. Goosebumps formed on her hot, sticky skin even though it was far from cold. Hand reached out and tugged on the door.

Nothing happened.

She tugged harder. Door seemed stuck. "Might need super arm," Riggs piped up. It was her turn to be embarrassed. Myrtle-ellipses panned to Trex. At least she wasn't asking him to open a can on Mimba beans.

"Can you try?"

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Trextan was down to just a light beige top by the time they reached the facility. The v-neck down to the waist was damp with sweat; he didn't deal well with heat and humidity. Keeping cool also left more flesh exposed for the insects.

There was a slap as he squashed something against his arm. "As oversized as the plants," he grumbled. "We're going to need some shots when we get back I'm sure."

Trextan slid the strap of the rifle from his shoulder and passed it to Riggs to hold onto. Having a very strong arm wasn't the same as being that powerful all over. Trextan had slowly learned to adapt. He braced his knee against the wall next to the door and drew on the Force to keep the rest of himself stable as he wrapped his metal digits around the door handle. It snapped free.

"Oh for..." He complained, looking at the tube of metal in his hand. He tossed it aside and replaced it with his lightsaber and started to cut the door from the frame.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

She was the healer and knew Trex was right. "Yeah, I'm surprised no one's gotten a fever, yet. Or broken out into hives." Oops. Hopefully she didn't jinx them. Taheera had more experience in healing physical damage. Working to expel a virus or something like that, was something else entirely.

She stepped back as sparks cascaded from the door as Trex cut. Well, derp. She could've done that too. Probably. Turning, she watched their backs as he finished off. Clear for now but who knew what kinds of creatures the commotion might draw? The vegetation shifted further down. Then again. It wasn't a good sign.

"Trex, you almost done?" With a shrug, she unshouldered her staff. Just in case. "Riggs. Get closer to the door."

He grunted. "Yes ma'am captain, yes ma," voice faltered as he turned and saw that she was seeing. "I mean yes. Hurry up mate!"

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

"What...a lovely...thought..." Trextan grunted as he continued to move his lighsaber around the frame. "This is a surprisingly dense for a door..." he mused as he finished the incision. He noticed that Taheera had her staff in her hands once more. Was she concerned there was something on the other side of the door? This place made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. And that was relative to an oversized jungle where every plant and creature seemed to want to kill them. Even if it the plan was to slowly drain his blood through a thousand bites.

He followed Taheera's gaze towards the moving undergrowth. Was it his own imagination that conjured eyes in the foliage? As the door fell away Trextan formulated a simple plan to find out.

"Mind your heads!" The door went sailing over them and into the undergrowth. There was a low mewl and Trextan caught the sight of something stripy bounding away from them.

"Don't know what those were but hopefully they've lost their curiosity for now." He gave a half-hearted shrug and turned back towards the open door.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

Chestnut brows lofted. "That's one way to take care of the problem," grinning she nudged Trex on his fleshy arm as she walked past him. Staff still ready. Giving one last glance over her shoulder at the boys, she stepped into the murky-darkness. Shuffling further in, emergency lightning suddenly popped to life from above. She blinked and looked around.

She sensed no malevolent force. At least, not immediately close by. "All clear," voice filtered back as she continued to move further in. There were rows and rows of tables and what looked like old bacta tanks, long drained and cracked. Finger reached out and plucked off a tarp, covering some old half broken beakers and tubes.

She frowned as she walked up to a cold, metal table with restraining rings. Fingers brushed against the cuffs. Uncertain. It was an eerie scene in of itself. A long, forgotten lab. But the worst past was, it seemed familiar.

"I don't like this place," the hybrid clone whispered.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Trextan leaned into the nudge and grinned. It wouldn't have seemed so clever if he'd hit another acklay and earned its ire of course, but he had a tendancy to act first and think later. Especially when he could show off.

"It's just some medical equipment..." He started to reply. But her gaze led his to the cuffs. Experimentation was all too common. Outlawed science, Yuuzhan Vong inspired genetic manipulation and even alchemical works of the dark side. "...still could've been a genuine research facility before being abandoned..."

His tone betrayed a lack of conviction in the words. Why would it have been abandoned so quickly if that was the case. And why did the Force make him feel so uneasy.

"Regardless, it seems empty and at least it's shelter. Shall we see if we have any power or comms?"

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

"Already ahead of you, bossjedi," Riggs piped up from further in the facility, rummaging around one of the closets. "Looks promising but nothing yet. A few datachits."

Myrtle-ellipses finally broke free from the cold, hard surface of the abandoned table and its cuffs. Fingers were trembling and she quickly drew her hand to her side. "No, it's not that. It seems...familiar." Purple lips pulled into a frown. "It's silly," she quickly rushed on. "Never mind. I'll check some of the shelves over there."

She went to quickly turn away from Trex but wondered if she'd get that far.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

"Familiar eh?” Riggs asked. He took a moment to jangle the shackles hanging off of the table. He threw Trextan a copy grin, one which was not returned.

The young Justicar canted his head to one side as he looked after Taheera. He didn't know why Taheera was reacting this way, but he could tell things were getting worse.

He left Riggs to his search and halved the distance to Taheera in a few long strides. He cast a sidelong glance at the door, half expecting to see something wild from the jungle following them. There was nothing there.

"Taheera?" He asked softly.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

Hands trembled as she reached up on a top-shelf, feeling along the back for what she was too short to see. She paused, hearing Trex's voice from right behind. Face half turned, myrtle-ellipses connecting with his concerned gaze for a moment. She wanted to feel stronger and push away the feeling of dread that was building within the depths of her bones. There was no logic to it. It was just....since they stepped foot inside this place.

She frowned, her fingertips knocking against something spherical on the shelf. Turning away from Trex, she pushed on her tiptoes and grabbed at whatever it was. Turning, she held it in her palm.

"A datacron," she whispered, uncertain and vulnerable gaze locking onto the face of her friend. Thumb brushed against the side and a 3D recording jumped into the space between them. The Mirialan dropped the device in surprise and it clattered on the floor, still playing.

"Log 1623." A whiphid's wheezing voice and face briefly flickered onto the screen. "Valik and I are making progress to genetically engineer a soul from the DNA remains of one Master Je'gan and one Master Tahira Solo. While there are certain risks of starting a clone off in a young adult body as opposed to infancy, we think the hybrid model, using both the genes of a jedi master along with a master proficient with the darkside will eliminate most of the ill side-effects." The lens widened to show a young woman strapped to the same table they had just passed, though unlike now, the lab was spotless.

A gasp left the healer's throat and she backed away, bumping into the empty shelf behind with a jolt.

"That's me," she whispered, horrified as the recording played on. "Before I....I jumped to this body."

The whiphid wheezed and continued. "The Dark Lord will be pleased with our progress. His new tool should be proficient but we are running out of time. They're coming to....crshhhhhhhhhhh," she recording ended abruptly in a buzz of static.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

"What was that other voice?" Riggs called from further in the facility.

"A recording," Trextan replied quickly. "Riggs don't go any further in for now. This place could be dangerous." His tone was different to before. Clear and calm with a measure of command that Riggs immediately followed. Much like his father Trextan could become quite focussed in the darkest of moments.

He placed a hand against Taheera's back. It was as comforting a gesture as the teenager could manage. It didn't sink in that this was the very place that Taheera had been created, at least not yet. He had more immediate concerns: Was this place dangerous? Would the previous occupants pick up a distress call before the Alliance?

"Do you know who they are?" Trextan asked quietly of the 'creators' in the video.