Come Along If You Can [Demonsgate phrik thread]

[Dani Ticon]

Dani was a woman, a rough, tough, badass mama who could out drink, out smoke, and beat the crap out of the average man. But sadly the galaxy wasn't anything but average, and this meant you needed an average boost every now and then to stay not just relevant, but to stay alive.

"So come along if you can, take a ride to the land inside." Dani sang to herself softly in the cockpit of her ship.

Her small freighter exited out of hyperspace to the forever burning world of Demonsgate where she intended to pick up a few things on her shopping list to complete her comeback kit. She had acquired various substances to up her game to get into the big leagues of bounty hunting. Her ten year career has been nothing but picking up scabs and losers with small bounties that were the equivalent of cattle rustling in today's times.

Either way it was time to start pulling down big bounties and even though she was getting older she didn't let that stop her, she was a persistent and result producing independent woman that would knock your teeth out for looking at her wrong. So it was time to take that attitude and apply it to the big leagues. It just took a little preparation was all.

With the ship entering the planets hot as hell atmosphere she found a good place to land near a small untapped phrik deposit that her ship had scanned.

"Take a journey inside your mind." She sang to herself as she got up to activate her mining droids and suit up into s containment suit.

Before leaving she lifted up a family photo of the Ticon's and sighed for moment as her hand pined over Keira's face.

"Stupid kids." She then put the picture away then stepped out into the inferno that was Demonsgate.

[member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Tabitha Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Family was something Keira had been discovering in excess these days. First had come her younger brother, someone who was Corellian through and through just as she was, leaving no doubts as to their relation in his attitude alone, though most would find him to be far less callous and far more easygoing than herself. Such was life, as the saying went. Then had come a younger sister, and how she managed to be the black sheep out of a family like the Ticons remained to be seen. It was a feat she had once thought near impossible, but even they had their outliers. Now it seemed there was one more, and once again she was going to look into things. Surprisingly enough, Tabitha had decided to come along.

Being in a family comprised of vagabonds meant that any relations were nearly impossible to track down. But everyone had their tells, even people like them. This one had been something as simple as the names of their late parents. Apparently her older sister had more of a sentimental side to her than she would have guessed, because the freighter under her designation bore their names. That was an undeniable lead, and one she didn't hesitate in following. However much of an anomaly every one of the Ticons were, and however unwise it was to go charging into the unknown for the sake of family, this was a bond even she wasn't willing to pass up. If there was one exception to every rule for her, it would be family.

Perhaps if Tabitha had known what their destination was she would have rethought her decision to come along. Even from space it was obvious Demonsgate was far from a pleasant world. Being comprised largely of volcanoes and molten rock gave it the appearance of being engulfed in flame from space, and it wasn't difficult to imagine that it felt about the same once one was on the surface. It was an impractical planet for an impractical family, and nothing else seemed to serve quite as well for an initial meeting. Upon landing the ship they had taken near their sister's freighter she remained seated for a moment, finally turning in her seat to regard Tabitha. "You sure you want to come along?" She raised an eyebrow with a slight smile as she stood, making her way to where the containment suits were stored.

Without waiting for a response from the other she stood, pulling hers on over her clothes and stretching momentarily to work out any kinks, clipping her lightsaber to the belt as an ever present precautionary measure. Knowing that her younger sibling would choose to come along no matter what complaints were voiced in those next few minutes she exited the ship once her sister had gathered herself and finished her monologue about how terrible this place was, scanning their surroundings both with physical sight and the Force, searching for the only other presence besides that of the one that accompanied her. Once the elder came into sight she slowed her pace, speaking just loudly enough so she could be heard, "Dani."

[member="Dani Ticon"], [member="Tabitha Ticon"]

 

[Beowoof]

If there was one pattern that the youngest Ticon had started to see emerging, it was that her Ticon siblings seemed to be inexplicably attracted to the most brutally hot worlds out there--some even volcanic. And today's destination was no exception. Only a fleeting glance out the viewport confirmed that her big big sister had just shuttled them across the galaxy to yet another place that had 'Hell' written all over it. And, of course, the planet would be appropriately named Demonsgate. To Tabitha, it seemed like quite the no-brainer to avoid landing on fiery rocks of the sort, but, alas, her relatives were unimaginably rash and dauntless about the most obvious of danger signs. She had just barely been acquainted with the biggest sis of them all and was already figuring out that just maybe her blond hair color signified more than just a fun beach girl...

At least she had the foresight to pack summer clothes. Not that it would matter, as it appeared that her sister was expecting her to wear these environmental suits that looked super dorky. "Like, you seriously expect me to wear that?" Tabitha sneered, pointing dreadfully at the thick, insulated suit. "Like, I can't even. How do I begin to describe just how much of a fashion crime that is? No. Way."

But, despite her protests, the Ticon women probably could have predicted that their fashionista sister would eventually relent and don the bulky uniform just so she would not be left alone on this ship. This was confirmed as soon as the second sibling began to step off. "Keira! Please..." It only took a few moments of loneliness before the blonde was tumbling awkwardly into her gear, likely clipping and fastening most of the important things in all the wrong places. Thanks for the help!

Finally, Tabitha came stomping down the ramp in her full suit, visor already beginning to fog up due to her failure to attach a certain hose to the correct nozzle. "Oh. My. Gosh. This is already like, the worst. Who lives here again? Because they are like, sooooo lame. Like, seriously. Why are we even here? Just gag me with a spoon already." Though it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to see anything through the condensing clouds in her mask, the youngest sister strained to look at the scenery and prove that her lamentations were justified as she stumbled over to grasp Keira's hand for personal comfort. It was not very hard to wail about all the horribleness of this world. "Besides, there's not even anything interesting. Like, what the freg, you guys? Can we just leave and find a place where there are hotels and they, like, actually serve up decent meals?"

[member="Dani Ticon"], [member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Dani Ticon]

[member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Tabitha Ticon"]

With the four mining droids behind her, Dani was off to go and get some phrik ore for some upcoming projects. She was wanting to get into the big leagues and to do that you needed to be strapped to fight force users, and to do that it took special tools that were resistant to their mystical bull crap ways. Dani was excited to say the least, however that excitement all came crashing down like a prized race horse at a moonlight derby. Her name was yelled by a very familiar voice and even though she hadn't heard it since said voice was in childhood, it was instantly recognizable.

Keira. she thought to herself before turning around. To them what they would see were the rising ripples of heat surrounding a humanoid shaped figure flanked by four other more mechanical looking contraptions. The form being a good twenty or so meters away began to pace it's way back to the two that had landed.

Dani's mind focused on Keira and her mystery guest that seemed to be with her. With her blaster rifle in her arms slung across her suit the woman set it to stun and tapped trigger housing unit with her extended finger, you know, just in case. But besides taking emergency precautions the bounty hunter decided the best way to handle the situation at hand was to talk to her sister after all these years.

Dani had not seen Keira since she was twelve, ever since she had abandoned the family to go off and swing some stupid laser sword. But Dani despite her anger towards the child had been following her exploits and the word upset did not come close to describing how she felt about her past actions. So as her figure approached the two coming within five meters she stared directly at Keira and narrowed her eyes.

"Keira." She said with a plain neutral tone.

"If you're here looking for an apology, then I can tell you your not getting crap from me. If you're here wanting to apologize to me for running out on the family, then shove it." She said again now speaking in the tone of an upset mother.

"Whose your frie-" Her eyes stopped when she saw Tabitha and her heart dropped out of her chest with a deep pull.

"No, you're dead." Dani said with her face almost turning white despite the heat of the planet.

The last time she had seen Tabitha was when she was in the hospital for her sickness. She was just a tiny kid, a baby even. But she knew her face like a mother knew her own daughter. She wanted to drop her rifle and go to run and hug her little baby sister, but she didn't think they knew who she was. There were probably faded memories of Dani Tabi was just a baby when everything had happened.

 

[Keira Priest]

However predictable and oftentimes irritating the complaints of her younger sister were, Keira couldn't help but laugh quietly at all that Tabby had to say as they traversed across the boiling hot surface of Demonsgate. "Nobody really lives here, don't worry. We're here to follow a lead, like I told you on the ship. Older sibling and everything, remember?" Even then she had a feeling the grievances wouldn't cease, but it was worth a shot. "You're the one who was so excited to meet more family. Nobody told you that you had to come along. You got yourself into this mess, Tabby Kat. Now you have to live with it." Still, she squeezed her sister's hand in reassurance all the same.

As Dani made her way back over to the pair she made some final adjustments to the suit of the younger, the fog clearing from her mask nearly immediately. "There. Good as new." She straightened just as the eldest began speaking, listening to everything that was said with a carefully neutral expression, restraining herself from lashing out verbally. Words were always her first defense, but this was family, so things were supposed to be different, right? Family was supposed to support one another unconditionally, worried only for the well-being of another member. But apparently even that was thrown entirely out of the window when it came to the Ticons. Really, she shouldn't have been surprised.

The second her elder sister's hand shifted on the rifle she held her left hand came millimeters closer to the hilt at her waist, and for a second or two they were locked in an uneasy stalemate. There was no doubt in her mind Dani was just as deadly efficient and capable as she herself had grown to become. It was what made them Ticons, after all. "I would watch where you point that gun. I picked up a bit more than a few Force tricks after I left." At least she hadn't blatantly threatened the other with death as she was so fond of doing with most any other adversary. That had to count as some kind of progress, regardless of how small it really was.

"You say that like I'm the only one that walked out. Everybody left Corellia when they got the chance. There wasn't much of a family to stick around for, and I had a chance at a life a whole lot better than winding up dead just like mom and dad. The Jedi weren't just a way out. They were a chance to be better." A chance that had ultimately backfired on her, as she had wound up leaving only four years later once she tired of their ideals. "But if it makes you feel better, I got back to our roots after that. I guess you never really left them in the first place." There wasn't much of a reason for this attitude from either of them. They should have just been happy the other wasn't dead at this point.

[member="Dani Ticon"], [member="Tabitha Ticon"]

 

[Beowoof]

Tabitha held her hands awkwardly to her side as Keira adjusted some hose connections and expressed her irritation with the blonde's complaints. Ironically, the "youngest Ticon huffed back at her, "Soooo dramatic."

But, in spite of her tone and annoyed gestures, she could tell after the cloud in her helmet cleared up that, behind the eyes, Keira cared and wanted her here for this--even if Tabby was the pain she could quite well be. Their bond was even evident in the gentle squeeze returned to her hand, and reiterated in the affectionate nickname given to her. Almost as cat-like as such a name would imply, Tabitha leaned into the suited body of her most-familiar sister, resting her shielded head against the taller woman's shoulder. "Thanks."

With her visor clear and the environment around them discernible to the blonde's eyes, it was immediately noticeable that she had not missed much when her vision had been impaired by the condensation. The smog-filled atmosphere hindered vision beyond a handful of meters, everything beyond appearing only as silhouettes. A well-traced figure could be seen apart from the scattered background of mountains, however, and the distant person's call to Keira indicated it was the person they had come to meet. A rather bitter engagement in conversation followed between Keira and the quickly approaching woman, and all became much clearer yet more muddled when all three females had broken through the ashen clouds and come face to face.

So this must be her oldest sister. And things were already off to a superb start, what with Keira and Dani bickering back and forth like two children in a playpen. What was most confusing, however, was the surreal sort of greeting she got from the latest discovered family member. What is one supposed to say when they are informed that they are dead?

"Uh... No, I'm not."

[member="Dani Ticon"], [member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Dani Ticon]

[member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Tabitha Ticon"]

Dani toned out everything Keira was saying, she wasn't important to her at the moment, her scolding could wait. Right now all of her attention was focused on Tabitha. She had grown up to be a very beautiful woman from the looks of her face and there was a possibility that she was healthy again. Her heart races and the clip from her rifle unhooked to drop to the volcanic ground with a thud.

Once it had been dropped Dani stepped forward towards Tabitha and wrapped her arms around her, she wanted to be as close to her as these suits would let her. With her arms now embracing her the woman placed her right hand against the back of her head's helmet. A few tears began to well up in her eyes, not that Keira or Tabi could see them, she hated when people saw her cry. She had spent enough time being weak and confused but just holding her baby sister once more brought her back to the days where she was in and out of the hospital to see her, the last sickly child of the Ticon legacy.

"I thought we had lost you, I always knew you were out there somewhere. No matter what my head told me my heart knew you were alive." Dani said with a few tears falling down her face.

"I have your birthday presents on the ship's locker. One for every year I missed." Dani then took a moment to breathe and release her sister.

With a deep sigh of relief she stared over to Keira, she had completely forgot what she had said and even though she was going to get an ass chewing when they got back to the ship for now she could at least pretend to not want to punch Keira in her pretty little face. In truth she loved Keira and in time would be better to her, but old wounds were open right now and despite that she was thankful that she had reunited her with her baby sister.

"Thank you, Keira. I mean that, thank you." She said genuinely.

"I just want to say that I'm s-"

"Master Dani, awaiting orders where to begin digging." One of the droids behind the three Ticon's said in their distorted robotic voice.

And just like that the moment was ruined. Turning around Dani grabbed her pistol from the waistline of her pistol and quickly leveled it at the Droid's chest. The blaster opened fire and a red streak of light passed through the droid and out the other end. Sputtering and flailing the droid began to malfunction and leak various fluids from the hole in its chest.

Pulling the trigger again and again more bolts pushed through the droids chest and abnormal amounts of fluid began to spray not just on her but on Tabitha and Keira. After the droid was barely maintaining itself the woman took its head and started to bash it against a small rock formation.

"I WAS HAVING- A TENDER- FAMILY- MOMENT!!" She said bashing the droids head against the rock between words.

"HOW ABOUT YOU START DIGGING RIGHT THERE! OH WAIT YOU CANT BECAUSE YOU'RE DEAD!!" Dani yelled to the deactivated droid before turning back around.

Overkill was so underrated after all. Once the droid lay on the ground Dani caught her breath and it would be pretty clear to Tabitha where Keira's first words of "you call yourself a Ticon?" Had very well come from. But with the droid having scratched some of the outer layer off of the rock they were looking at a good chunk of phrik ore. Well that was a good place to start digging after all.

"Hey! You three! Start digging here!" She then looked over to her sisters with various oils, coolants, and other materials dripping down from her suit.

"Who wants tea?" She asked casually as if she hadn't just gone psycho on that droid.

 

[Keira Priest]

The Ticons were not a family to be taken lightly, and this was just another example of that. For the majority of the impromptu reunion Keira had stood aside, merely observing the interaction between Dani and Tabitha, knowing she was an outsider in all of this and not minding for the moment. Sometimes it was nice to be the one looking in, as it allowed a chance to witness others for who and what they really were. Such was how she knew her older sister really wasn't quite as hot-headed and callous as she had first made herself out to be. It was clear to her that the other woman cared deeply about her family, even if her methods of demonstrating that love were rather abstract and unconventional.

"You know, it feels like I never left Corellia." The outburst had been witnessed with a sort of wry amusement on her part, and she laughed quietly, shaking her head. It wasn't something that really bothered her, as she had missed the rambunctious and rough-around-the-edges attitude that most hailing from the planet possessed in one form or another. This was an opportunity to return to her roots if it was anything at all, and she missed the feeling of general carelessness that accompanied the majority of her family. Her hand waved dismissively at the attempted thanks. "Don't worry about it. It's the least I can do, after all of us being separated for so long."

Raising an eyebrow she looked over to Tabitha as if to say 'See what I meant?' before nodding at Dani's inquiry. "It would be worthwhile for the three of us to catch up, I think." Still she was testing the waters, searching for the signs of the same enmity that had been present minutes earlier. It wasn't that she was necessarily looking for a fight, but it would be better to get that initial tension out of the way rather than let it ruin the bond that was evident between the eldest and the youngest of the family before it had the chance to flourish. If that inevitably ended in some kind of clash between she and Dani, so be it. "What have you been up to for the past few years, Dani?" A question she could already guess at the answer to.

[member="Dani Ticon"], [member="Tabitha Ticon"]