Distress Signal

[ARC-15]

ARC-15 had been roaming space for a good two weeks, desperately searching for a signal from GAR to no avail. He had been making random jumps as much of the navicomputer was locked down and could only be accessed with some sort of droid access mechanism. There were surprisingly a lot of rations for a droid ship, but they were quickly running out and it seemed he was no closer to reaching civilized space than he was when he started.

Initially, he feared if he was liberal with his distress signal, he might alert the Separatists. Things were getting grave, however. He needed to make his signal more public if he wanted rescued. Unfortunately, his holocom was largely out of date. Very few of this era could directly communicate, and only two sorts of individuals would be able to intercept his message: pirates and a military force. Even then, it would be very staticky.

"This is an S.O.S., I repeat, an S.O.S.," the message said, "This is ARC-15 of GAR calling out to anyone who'll hear me, I need immediate assistance. I've escaped capture from Separatist forces, but my rations are low and my navicomputer is locked. Send help."

As this message was send, Viper entered the Neimodian system, which had once been under Republic control. For a moment, he was relieved. However, unknown to him, the Republic no longer existed. This was now Sith space...

 

[Bad Luck Brian]

That poor, poor arc trooper. Bad luck Brian felt for him. He really really did. If Brian hadnt swallowed a whole tube of superglue, rending his mouth useless the lad would have already spoken out. It didn't help that he has spent the whole ride stuck under a pile of droids.... In the trash compactor. Oh the stink was getting aweful! Mr. 15 should really consider changing his diet choices, for the unholy stink it caused was rapidly becoming worse.

Brian tried to move, but alas, he could not. Wasn't this his luck? Someone sold him tickets to a cruise to Zeltros and he ends up in the septic of a war cruiser. Poor badluck Brian. Poor Clone trooper caught in the cross fire of his luck. Poor writer, insomnia pushed him to the brink of insanity and he feared it not.

It's ok, Brian thought for the thirtieth day in a row; There is another day coming tomorrow.

 

[Matreya]

Valashu silently pounded blow after blow against the sternum of one of Kaibigan's practice droids. The not was powered on, moving as fast as it could to intercept blows raining upon it, but as it was, Valashu simply knew where to place a shot that would bypass the mechanisms defenses. Left, duck beneath oncoming right, follow through with another left toward the now opened armpit and ribs. All the while he breathed deep, in through the nose, then out through the mouth.

Pausing mid blow, Val cocked a head upward, sensing against his peripheral power a tug. It was Kai alerting him to a need to be on the bridge for whatever reason that could be ascertained. This minor distraction let him take a reeling blow to the side of his head.

Shaking it off, Val called, "Kai, shut down power to the TR; I'm on my way." Then he spun on his heel and hastened toward the door, pausing barely long enough to snatch up the vest of his Archer Suit. Throwing it into the sky as he moved, his arms found their marks, and slid easily into the holes awaiting them. By the time he had reached the controls to his ship, he was hardly winded, his vest covered his chest, and his gear was found where he had left it.

An image seemed to overlay itself against his vision, one which showed correctly what he saw, but had a bit more emphasis on the communications array. Stepping to it, he activated a blinking incoming. Listening to the plea, Val rubbed his chin. Gar? He had been in this verse now for several years, and had met many expectations for one who had lived here to know - put simply, he studied more than most, yet had yet to hear the term. One phrase did catch his attention however: Separatists. They had been an opposition during the Clone Wars, many centuries prior. Much more than that was not known, and what was, was never easy to get ones hands on.

"Kai, get us to that ship. I think something is up. I want to see this man with my own eyes, and then let him know things are not what he claims." Val said, and immediately the adapted Aing-Tii hyperdrive kicked in. It was a damaged piece of machinery, and one moved by a less than master at the crazy intricacies of the Aing-Tii but it had done the trick. While not fully instantaneous, what took hours for many, took minutes for him.

Such was the case at current. Having been within a few parsecs, his ship dropped to a more controlled speed, then angled itself toward the fleeing vessel. "ARC-15, this Matreya of the Jensaarai-Ka, I am here to assist. Do not open fire. How copy?" Valashu sent amongst the same frequencies that he had received, "I will attempt to dock soon, but I await your own response."

[member="ARC-15"]

 

[ARC-15]

Viper jumped as he heard the incoming message, and boy was he overjoyed. As he could do was grin and laugh. Finally, he might go home. It didn't pass through his mind as to what exactly the Jensaarai-Ka was. The galaxy was a big place, after all. Right now, it just meant 'savior' to him.

"Roger that, Matreya," Viper replied enthusiastically, mistaking Matreya for his name.

He slumped over in the captain's chair for a moment as he quietly thought. He certainly doubted even if he wanted to defend himself that this ship had the capabilities to do so. Sure, it did have laser defense, but it was too light to defend on its own without an escort. Likewise it was much too slow to outrun it.

Suddenly he felt an itch on his chin and felt compelled to scratch. When he gets back to the Venator, he's gonna shave this thing right off.

[member="Valashu Elahad"]

 

[Matreya]

The bond between he and Kaibigan brought forth assurity that she was going nowhere during his excursion. He knew this of course, yet still patted a wall as he walked toward the exit hatch, "No worries dear. I will be back in a bit." At that he drew his Mask into place, and activated the voice modulation before taking a deep breath. Slowly exhaling, he jumped lightly from Kai's hatch towards that of his goal.

Having gained approval from the other pilot, Valashu had had Kai send frequency codes that would open the ancient ships exit ramps. Thus his quick spacial jump landed him lightly on the ramp, roughly halfway up, where upon he slapped a hand to a large button that closed the area. Immediately a hiss could be heard, filling the area with oxygen, as well as providing proper pressure.

At his hips hung his Bow, Quiver, and Silt. The axe was an oddity that he had not used recently, but the bow and arrows were brought as a means of defense should the need arise. However, each was hidden by the White Current in utter invisibility.

Now, he simply waited for the pilot to come to him. He wouldn't trespass in a ship he didn't know, potentially letting himself be at risj.

[member="ARC-15"]

 

[ARC-15]

As he sat there waiting for the ship to dock, Viper continued to be consumed by his thoughts. His relief slowly withered to concern. Could this be a Separatist agent, he wondered? Was he walking in a trap? Nonsense. He was being paranoid, he thought. The man hadn't yet given him a reason to be worried. Still, he'd definitely keep his commando pistols handy.

As soon as he heard the clicking sound, Viper knew that his rescuer had docked. Quickly, he stood up from his chair and grabbed his helm, slipping it over his head. The docker had yet to enter yet, which was good. It gave Viper a sense of ease.

The clone briefly looked through the foggy visor and saw a green-eyed young man with blond hair and light stubble. Pretty boy, huh? Viper quietly mused, Hope he can pilot a ship. After pressing the red button next to the door, the hatch opened, bringing the clone trooper and the archer face to face.

Viper brought himself in a position of attention and saluted the young man. "ARC-15," he said, introducing himself, "41st Elite Corps, Bulwark Company, Grand Army of the Republic." After this, he shifted to a position of at ease, allowing him to move less rigidly.

"Good to have you here. Was starting to think I was done for."

Through his visor, Viper began to quietly scrutinize the man. The man wore tights lightly armored with leather. His weapon choice was interesting enough: a bow. He'd heard of Dathomir witches using something like that, though he doubted his rescuer was one such witch.

[member="Valashu Elahad"]

 

[Matreya]

Though he was in some eyes, a pretty boy, that only seemed dressed in a light leather outfit, any who chose to attack the Kensûrai Archer would soon realize his suit was more durable then some of the best known armors in the galaxy. Short of a group of Force Masters, or being thrown into a sun, very little could damage it. Not to mention he himself being quite the competent assassin, marksman and close quarters combatant. Yes, he appeared less than most, but did it not serve the purpose of disguising him as less than dangerous?

"Well, I haven't heard of a Grand Army in many a year." Valashu murmured, his voice deep and graveled thanks to the voice modulation wrought by his mask; it could not be altered through recording to show him as the speaker, "Nor have I heard mention of Separatists in even more. Now, don't get me wrong, I do know that it is a term wholly encompassing of an ideal, but the word non the less brings to mind the Separatist Armies, which...

"Have been perished for well into centuries as it is. Hell, a friend of mine was there when the last of them fell. Like literally in the battle." Valashu shrugged but nodded, "Sorry, hope that doesn't come off as rude. I usually attempt to speak more contained but your message was... confusing." He stepped a bit further into the ship, sending a message through their link to Kai, letting the ship know to move away a bit, but be ready to return to assist if he needed it.

He still did not know how this party wound end. His skills in the Force were not the prophetic sort.

"I am Matreya, the Kensûrai." Valashu called, "I am glad I can be of assistance. I have a ship that can drop you off at any port you wish, so long as you agree to disarm and remove all combat systems, including armors or gear."

[member="ARC-15"]