Dev Charles's Solo Adventure | The Castillon Arc

[Captain Charles]

Resupply III​

Charles | The Campsite | Evening:
The stars were out. It was a beautiful night. He could see Vortex and the moons in the sky. They had already eaten dinner. The fire had been going for quite some time now. He felt oddly relaxed. He normally felt a little odd being away from his ship and his men, but tonight with the stars out, him and his wife sitting by a campfire, he was at peace.

“It’s getting close to our one year anniversary.” he said, leaning forward to place another branch into the fire.

 

[Hannah Charles]

Resupply III​

Hannah | The Campsite | Evening:
She hadn't expected him to be the one to say it. She knew when it was, just that she was expecting to bring it up first. She didn’t know why she hadn’t expected it. He tracked everything. Of course he would remember this.

She looked at his face. The way the scar caught the firelight. The way his eyes glowed orange from staring into the fire. His face completely relaxed. Something warm rose in her chest. She scooted closer, leaning against him, her head against his neck.

He put his arm around her before she finished settling. It was automatic at this point. He said more with his hands than he ever said with words. She had learned to read both. They stared into the fire together for a moment.

“What should we do for it?” she asked softly.

 

[Captain Charles]

Resupply III​

Charles | The Campsite | Night:
That was an easy question. He had already thought about it and realized there was only one right answer.

“We do everything you liked to do on this planet. We visit the Library, the Grand Archive, your Mother’s Garden, things that you can’t do with me and the boys on our ships.”

He paused, tossing another stick into the fire.

“You spent nearly two years on my ship. You deserve at least a day at home.”

 

[Hannah Charles]

Resupply III​

Hannah | The Campsite | Night:
He had used the wrong word. Castillon was her homeworld yes, but her true home would always be with him.

“My home is wherever you are.” she corrected.

 

[Captain Charles]

Resupply III​

Charles | The Campsite | Night:
He paused for a moment. The fire flickered.

"I'm glad." he said.

 

[Hannah Charles]

Resupply III​

Hannah | The Campsite | Night:
The warm feeling intensified. She didn’t say anything else. Her body moved almost on its own, standing up then settling on his lap so she was face to face with him. She hugged him tight, her face against his neck, the fire warm at her back and him warm everywhere else.

They were forehead to forehead now. Eye to eye. His eyes flickered with recognition. She felt her heart rate rising. Her breathing starting to get heavier. She sat up straight, disconnecting from his forehead but maintaining eye contact. Her hands were already moving to the straps of her sundress.

The fire continued to burn.

 

[Captain Charles]

Resupply III​

Charles | The Campsite | Night:
He knew exactly what she intended. He knew the moment they made eye contact, when they were forehead to forehead with less than an inch of space separating them. She was still on his lap facing him, the straps hanging loosely off her shoulders. He put them back over her shoulders.

“Not now.” he whispered, maintaining discipline even as his body ached for more. “It’s inappropriate to do this outside.” he added. “People could walk by. We may be alone now but it’s still a public campsite.”

 

[Hannah Charles]

Resupply III​

Hannah | The Campsite | Night:
She looked at him. He wasn’t budging. She turned her head, looking behind her at the empty hillside. Then back behind him at the forest. Then at the lake below. Not a soul for miles in any direction. She looked back at him.

“I know what you are thinking.” he said. “But lets show some class here. Rules are rules. We can take it to the shelter.”

She sighed. Not exasperated…just fond. He was looking out for her too in his own way. She kissed him. Then got off his lap to stand up. She pulled him up with her. Her body was still hot with anticipation. She could wait a couple seconds.

She gestured towards the shelter.

 

[Captain Charles]

Charles | The Portable Shelter | Night:
The fire was dying out. He could tell because the shelter was mostly dark. The hills were quiet. He could only hear the bugs chirping.

They were lying together face to face. Their bodies tight against each other. His chin resting on the top of her head. He brushed her back with his hand. The skin was warm and smooth, a little slick with sweat. Their clothes were somewhere in the corner.

Her breathing had evened out. He thought she might be asleep. He was close to it himself.

Then he heard it.

It was coming from the treeline. Whatever it was, it seemed pretty big.

 

[Hannah Charles]

Resupply III​

Hannah | The Portable Shelter | Night:
She felt his body tense. Then she heard it, heavy deliberate steps and they weren't fading. They were getting closer. She gripped him tighter. They were already holding each other with both arms but she didn’t care, that comfort was required.

“Charles,” she whispered, her heart hammering and not in the good way from earlier. She racked her mind frantically, trying to figure out what could be out there. Castillon did have a few predators that could kill humans but—

“Stay there,” he hissed, moving towards their clothes. She let him go. He was fast, rapidly throwing on his pants and boots and grabbing his blaster pistol.

She grabbed his arm just as he was about to open the entrance. “Be careful.” she said after a moment. Then she let him go into the darkness.

She was alone now, sitting up on the sleeping pad. The air was cold against her skin. She missed his warmth already. The blanket was nearby, she wrapped it around her, pulling it tight. She didn’t want to lay back down.

The fire was close to out. She could hear the steps outside, both the creature’s and her husband’s as they hunted each other in the dying light. Her breath quickened, the anticipation was too much to bear.

Then she heard a blast.

 

[Captain Charles]

Resupply III​

Charles | The Campsite | Night:
He had made sure to close the flap behind him. Their shelter was fabric, but his wife would be safe in there, predators rarely investigated inside shelters after all. He knew that from his survival training. He hoped the statistic rang true here.

He moved cautiously towards the treeline. Glow rod raised in one hand. Blaster in the other. He had run tracking drills with his Marines. As long as he wasn’t ambushed, he would be fine.

The snarl was audible first. It was a low rumble. At least he knew which direction it was in now. He raised his glow rod in the direction it came from. The glow rod found the eyes first. Two points of reflected amber light between the trees, low to the ground, approximately eight meters away. Then the body — large, muscular, the specific build of something that had been at the top of its food chain for a very long time with no reason to develop caution.

It looked at him.

He looked at it. It was only ten meters away.

It charged.

He fired.

Two shots in quick succession. It was a large beast. He knew one wouldn't be enough. It collapsed three meters from him. He watched as it drew its last. He watched for a moment longer, his wife would probably know the species. He would ask her to look at it in the morning.

He checked the surroundings one last time. Nothing. He turned back towards the shelter and his waiting wife.

 

[Hannah Charles]

Resupply III​

Hannah | The Portable Shelter | Night:
She heard the two shots. She heard the creature bursting through the brush. Then a thud. Then silence. She remained silent, the only things audible being her rapid breathing and pulse.

It seemed like an eternity before she heard his footsteps. The specific thud of his boots hitting the ground. She let out a deep breath, immense relief crashing over her. She felt everything disappear, the tight jaw, tense shoulders, rapid pulse, they were all fading.

She heard rustling as he opened the flap. She didn’t wait, she threw the blanket aside. Her arms were around him before he even entered the shelter. She could feel his heartbeat against her chest, steady and certain in the way he always was. The tension melted away, he was home.

 

[Captain Charles]

Resupply III​

Charles | The Portable Shelter | Night:
They held each other for a moment. Her skin soft against his bare chest. Her forehead against his jaw, her face tucked against his throat.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Let’s go inside first.” he said. “You must be cold.”

She looked down at herself. Then quickly pulled him inside. He closed the flap behind them and began pulling off his boots. She went to grab the blanket, wrapping it around herself. They sat down together on the sleeping pad once he finished with his boots.

He looked at her. She was looking at him with a waiting expression. She wanted answers. Now.

“The animal was large, had four legs and dark fur. I’m guessing it was around 1.8 meters tall.” he started, pausing before continuing with his story. “I heard it snarl first so I flashed the glow rod in that direction and sure enough it was right there about ten meters away. I saw its eyes first.”

She remained silent, her expression showing quiet concern.

“We locked eyes. Then it charged.”

Her eyes widened as she let out a gasp. He paused to look at her. She looked scared for him. He put his hand over hers. Then continued.

“I shot it twice in the head. It collapsed about three meters from me.” he said finishing up with the story. “We should take a closer look in the morning. I’m curious to see what it looks like in the light.” he added.

 

[Hannah Charles]

Resupply III​

Hannah | The Portable Shelter | Night:
Three meters.

She sat with that for a moment. Three meters was not very far. Three meters was the distance between the rack and the door in their quarters. Three meters was nothing. Three meters was how close something 1.8 meters tall with dark fur had come to her husband in the dark while she sat in a fabric shelter wrapped in a blanket listening to her own heartbeat.

She looked at his face. Completely composed. The flat certain expression of someone who had assessed the situation, responded correctly, and filed it. He was already thinking about the morning. He was already curious about the animal.

“Let me guess, you want me to help you identify it.” she said slightly exasperated. She loved him but sometimes she wished he would register the danger better. It would make her feel a lot better. She had communicated this multiple times but somethings never changed.

He looked at her flat and certain. “Yes,” he replied with complete certainty. She looked at him for a moment before laughing. It was the quiet one, the one she reserved only for him.

She got on his lap, opening her arms so she could wrap the blanket around both of them. She pressed him down so they were laying down, her on top of him. She kissed him. Then rolled off him to the side to find her usual spot against him making sure the blanket stayed over both of them.

The hills were quiet around them. The glow rod had long since been switched off. She found her spot, the blanket settled over both of them, and somewhere between one breath and the next they were both asleep.

 

[Captain Charles]

Resupply III​

Charles | The Portable Shelter | The Next Morning:
He woke up with a jolt. The creature. He wanted to see it. The morning light shone through the fabric of their tent. Against him Hannah stirred. She was drooling. He cracked a small smile, she must have been really comfortable. He wiped the saliva away gently. Somewhere beneath the blanket their legs were tangled together. He decided to wait.

He heard her voice. “Honey?” she mumbled. He looked over. She was very much asleep. “Don’t go, it’s cold.” she continued, snuggling closer. He smiled, sometimes she talked in her sleep. He hadn’t moved an inch. She was probably dreaming.

He waited until her eyes slowly opened.

 

[Hannah Charles]

Resupply III​

Hannah | The Portable Shelter | The Next Morning:
His skin felt warm against hers. She looked at him. He was already awake like usual. She smiled.

"Good morning," she murmured, staying put against him.

"Good morning," he replied, looking back at her.

They maintained eye contact for a moment, just two people happy to be together. He pointed outside. Oh right, the animal, she thought to herself with trepidation. She hoped the scavengers hadn't eaten it too much last night.

She needed her clothes. She also didn't want to move. He got up to get them solving the dilemma for her. She was about to pick not moving. The blanket instantly felt colder when he left.

He handed her the clothes. She sighed. They were cold too. She forced them on anyways. Her husband was ready before she finished. They lifted the flap and headed out. She took his arm like usual, gripping it tight. Whatever it was she had a feeling she was going to be grossed out.

The animal wasn't far at all, just a couple meters past their speeder. There were no animals around it. They must have been scared off by their approach. She could see a part of its rib cage, she heaved but nothing came out. He put his hand on her back.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah, just a little grotesque." she replied recovering from the sight. It was time to see what exactly this animal was. It didn't take long to identify it.

It was a Hill Brute. The apex predator of the area. They could grow up to two meters and were incredibly strong. Their claws could be as long as knives. They were mostly nocturnal and preyed on all kinds of foods. Their coats were prized for their fur. Lyra had told her there were cases of people being killed by these things.

She looked at the claws. Then back at him. The three meters played through her mind. Her husband had been that close. A shadow flickered across her face. From now on she would be asking for…safer camping spots.

"This was a Hill Brute." she explained, looking at the creature. "They are an apex predator and can grow up to two meters tall." She looked at him. He was nodding along. "They are incredibly strong and have killed people." she finished quietly.

He looked at her. "Good to know." he remarked simply. "I'll keep that in mind for the next camping trip." then he turned back towards the camping site.

They packed up. Then headed back to the Viridian Hills community on their speeder.

 

[Captain Charles]

Find Ostell
Charles's Revenge Part I​

 

[Grand Admiral Ostell]

A Luxurious Retirement​

Grand Admiral Ostell | Personal Quarters | OSS Triumph:
He slept well. He always slept well.

The personal quarters of the OSS Triumph occupied the entirety of deck seven — a deliberate architectural decision made during the ship's extensive modification. Grand halls. A private dining room. A study lined with shelves that contained books he had acquired and never read because they looked appropriate on shelves. A bedroom that was larger than the bridge of most ships he had commanded in his NIO days.

He rang a bell.

His butler and a maid appeared. They bowed.

“Fetch me my uniform.” he said, barely acknowledging them. Instead his attention drifted to his wife, actually his third wife, who was still asleep on the bed. He chuckled, most men would have been ashamed to be on their third wife. He wasn’t, there were plenty of younger woman throwing themselves at him. His current wife happened to be one of those women.

The butler and maid returned with his uniform. The uniform immaculate as always — the gold trim catching the morning light from the viewport, the Grand Admiral insignia precisely positioned, the gold SE-14r holstered at his hip because he liked having it there. They helped him put it on. Then they led him to breakfast.

The food was perfect, like it should be. The servants had left it out to cool for the specified amount of time. They knew what happened if it was not.

His intelligence officer arrived after the appetizers. On schedule like usual, good. He placed the reports in front of him.

“Grand Admiral, our intelligence reports of increasing cooperation between the remaining Imperial Remnants. Your officers were debating whether we should try to join up with them or not.”

Ostell swallowed another bite before responding.

“Join up with them," he said, picking up his glass. “And share what exactly? Our resources? Our territory? Our intelligence?” He set the glass down. “The Remnants that survived did so because they were capable of surviving independently. Let them cooperate. They only present themselves as a target. Once they are eventually crushed by a higher power we will move in to fill the vacuum.”

“About that sir.” started the officer, a little nervous. “One of them is already making moves.”

“What moves? And who are they?” he replied, setting down his glass with a huff. The conversation was already starting to bore him. The main course would be here in a few minutes. He looked at the intelligence officer.

“Mahporeem sir. Our intel reports say they are considering sending a sizable force led by an elite squadron…though they aren’t quite sure exactly what this formation is.”

“Have we sent envoys to them?” he asked rubbing his chin. He would prefer to just bribe them or make a treaty to keep them off their backs.

“No we have not sir…and intelligence suggests that would be impractical. It seems they…don’t trust you already sir.” replied the officer, a bead of sweat running down his face.

Ostell slammed the table with his fist. His dish clattered to the floor. “Those bastards,” he snarled. “They dare to attack me!? I’ll show them.” He pointed at the maid. “You clean this up.” He looked back at the intelligence officer. “And you get me all the captains to the ball room now.”

He got up and stormed back to his bed.

“Darling, are you okay?” asked his wife. She was already dressed in the outfit he told her to wear.

“I’m fine, just let me think.” he replied, flopping down to lay on his back.

He lay there to cool off. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. It was time to think. What he needed was a decisive battle. If he could crush their advance guard, it could convince those Mahporieans to leave him alone. Maybe I can even get them to pay a tribute, he though with a sneer.

His officers would be here soon. He would tell them his plan.

 

[Captain Charles]

An Old Enemy Returns​

Charles | High Command Headquarters | Mahporeem:
He had been called back to Headquarters in a hurry, that was slightly concerning. A hurry usually meant something was wrong.

The Senior Officers were waiting for him. They were standing around a display showing a sector of the Outer Rim. Their expressions looked grim.

“Thank you for arriving on such short notice Captain.” said an Admiral. “We have a situation in the Outer Rim. An Imperial Warlord has been raiding supply lines and supporting pirate groups. This threat can no longer be ignored. We will destroy him, and as a part of our expansion effort we have decided seize his territory for ourselves afterward.”

He tapped the display zooming in on two systems.

“There are two systems under his control,” continued the Admiral. “This, he said, pointing at a planet with a ship building ring, “is Marvex, a former NIO planet that has submitted to his rule. That will be our first target. Our goal is to neutralize his industrial capacity.”

He tapped the map again, pulling up some pictures of the orbital ship ring.

“This was taken by intelligence.” he said, pointing at one of the pictures. “It suggests a large fleet of battle cruisers are under construction…and nearing completion.” he added darkly. “If those are completed they will pose a massive threat to our trade routes. As such we have decided to try to capture or destroy them before they are fully completed. “

Charles nodded along. All sound reasoning so far. He took notes on his datapad. The Admiral zoomed out again before tapping on another nearby planet.

“And this is Velar.” said the Admiral, tapping to reveal a tropical island world. “Don’t let its beauty fool you. This warlord enslaved the native population, approximately 200 million of them.” his eyes narrowed slightly. “We believe this is the location of his headquarters.”

Charles frowned. Enslavement was something that he always opposed. Whoever this warlord was, he or she was not a good person, that was for certain. He double checked the display to memorize the planet locations. He wrote them down too for good measure.

“And who is this warlord?” he asked.

The Admiral tapped the controls. The map disappeared, replaced by a older, overweight man in a modified Grand Admiral’s uniform. “Grand Admiral Varen Ostell," said the Admiral. "Former Vice Admiral of the New Imperial Order.”

He blinked. He read the display again. Not because he needed to but because he wanted to make sure. A deep black rage surged within him, a rage that had been simmering for years. He decided to excuse himself.

“Thank you for the information sir.” he said, working hard to suppress his anger. “I’ll have my squadron conduct a reconnaissance mission soon.” With that he left the room. He managed to hold it together until he was aboard his ship again.

Charles | Captain’s Quarters | Stryker II:
He had stormed back to his and his wife’s quarters. Everyone he passed looked at him though they knew better than to ask. His veterans, men who had served with him since the days of the original Stryker, had kept the curious ones away. They already knew what this meant. They would ask questions later.

The hatch closed behind him. He sat down at the desk, putting his head in his hand. He needed to think, to calm down, to figure out exactly how he was going to get revenge. But he could only think of one word. Kill.

 

[Hannah Charles]

An Old Enemy Returns​

Hannah | Her and Charles’s Quarters | Stryker II:
It was Holt who informed her of her husband’s condition. “He never gets visibly angry, it has to be Ostell.” he had said. She knew who Ostell was, Charles had told her the story. She rushed back to their Quarters. He needed her right now.

She threw the hatch open. He was sitting at the desk facing away from her. She was halfway across the room before the hatch slid closed.