Private Finally, we are free

[Adonis Vassak]

Location: The Bastion
Tags: Kahlil Noble Alicio Organa Valery Noble

"How did they end up out here?" Adonis asked, as he glanced over at Kahlil, who was piloting the Bastion. He had offered to use his ship to locate and return the Epicanthix who were scattered, and today, they had found a first potential group. A signal in not just their native tongue, but a code language had echoed across the stars, and its source was Taul, an acidic planet with dangerous creatures on it. But what worried Adonis the most, was just how close it was to the borders of the Sith Order.

He wouldn't be surprised if they had already started sending scouts to the surface.

"They used a code language and encrypted the message. Perhaps they are in trouble, or they fear the Sith will intercept the message and find them." Of all places to be, the idea of being so close to not just any Sith, but a group where Carnifex held much power was not a comfortable one. Despite it, the elder warrior kept his cool and focused on the mission at hand. He had a Jedi Master and a senator with unusual combative skills with him to help.

The Jedi's wife was on a separate mission, but within range to assist, should it be necessary.

"Do you think you can trace the source and land nearby?" He finally asked, and if an attempt was made, the source would lead to an acidic wasteland, where an unidentifiable ship had crashed. Whether it had been there for years already, or if it was the Epicanthix ship would be impossible to tell. The acid had caused too much damage already.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"How, the same as anyone else. Why is what I fear."

Carnifex, the God King of the Epicanthix. It wasn't a shadow the Epicanthix could escape easily, if at all now that Panatha was gone. Sith Space was likely the safest place for them to be. But those not with Carnifex could likely only find peace near the Sith and hope they weren't found. Life wasn't fair to their people, not after everything that happened. He clicked on the display, selecting through to start tracking down the source. The sooner they found them and brought them home, the better.

"We'll be there shortly. Hopefully there's no scouts on world."

Alicio Organa | Valery Noble | Adonis Vassak

 

[Alicio Organa]

It was difficult not to feel small and insignificant, flanked by two large Epicanthix warriors.

Though, Alicio made a valiant effort, standing tall and attentive, cane just touching his hand. He stared down at the surface of Taul, a bit of acid in his own gaze. Already, the Sith were amassing power again. At first, it had only been rumors, shrouded by the brazen attacks of the Maw. But since the Galaxy went quiet, even the smallest disturbance was deafening.

The last time Alicio had faced a Sith, he'd won... but a part of him had lost, too. Hopefully, their slowly-growing fears would remain unrealized.

"What did the message say, exactly?" Alicio turned his steel-casted eyes to Adonis. "Did they mention what knocked them down?"

Then, to Kahlil, his frown strengthened a little more. "Do you... sense trouble?"

- Valery Noble - Adonis Vassak - Kahlil Noble -

 

[Adonis Vassak]

Location: The Bastion
Tags: Kahlil Noble Alicio Organa Valery Noble

"I fear that we might have to deal with more than just scouts." This planet was too close, and after everything that happened to his people already, Adonis perhaps had a more pessimistic view when it came to the Sith. He had learned to expect the worst because more often than not, it would be a reality with these people.

Adonis then turned to Alicio and hmm'ed in thought.

"The message only contained coordinates. No explanation, no elaboration on why it was sent. But I know that my people are out there, and we need to reach them first." The last thing he wanted was for Carnifex to manipulate them again, or worse. So when a question was extended to Kahlil, he looked at the man with his own curiosity.

Deep down, however, he already knew the answer that would follow.

There was a lot of trouble down below.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

No message, just coordinates.

That was still alarming in the back of his mind. It could very well be a trap, laid out by those still loyal to Carnifex. And yet, the fact it might not be was more than enough for him to check it out. He closed his eyes, let his senses drift.

".. Yes, but no. It's all dark here. All troubling. But nothing specific towards us, for now. We'll see if that changes, I suppose."

Alicio Organa | Adonis Vassak

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio's acidic gaze only strengthened as he listened to Adonis. He didn't like how vague it was- if he were setting a trap, he'd make the message just as simple. At the same time, were he actually stranded on a hostile world, he'd be just as nebulous.

".. Yes, but no. It's all dark here. All troubling. But nothing specific towards us, for now. We'll see if that changes, I suppose."

Alicio let his hawk-like gaze soften a little. "Well... That's something. Not... good... per se, but something." Then, without turning towards Adonis, he addressed the man. "If there are Epicanthix down there, we'll help them."

The Count let his own senses extend, though instead of sending them out as Kahlil had, he sent them forward. Through the Sea of the Future, looking for hints, impressions from what could be. But his vision was blocked, clouded by an unspecific darkness.

"I'm ready if you two are."

- Adonis Vassak - Kahlil Noble -

 

[Adonis Vassak]

Location: Taul
Tags: Kahlil Noble Alicio Organa

"They will be there," he assured them both. Adonis understood that this could easily be a trap set by the Sith they were so incredibly close to, but he didn't want to give in to what he considered to be paranoia. His people were out there, and to rescue them, he knew they'd have to dive head-first into danger many more times.

He was willing to do that, and he knew Kahlil and Alicio would do the same.

The Bastion soon pierced through the acidic atmosphere of the planet, which helped some of the interference on sensors fade away. Jedi Senses were going to remain clouded due to something darker down below, but at least the Bastion would be able to pick up on the source of the signal — a ship that had crashed into an acidic lake.

From up in the skies, there wasn't much they could do, so Adonis remained quiet until they made their landing, and was rather quick to step outside once the ramp had lowered. "Of all places they could have crashed..." he muttered under his breath, as he looked around the surface. "Any ideas on how we'll reach the ship? If our people are even still there..." he looked at Kahlil and then turned to Alicio.

But the Count, now on the surface, would be drawn into his own mind, as the future reached out to him. Through his mind, he'd hear the echoes of droids, and see flashes of their optics scanning for life.

They were not alone out here.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil's expression thinned as he saw the crashed ship. In a pool of acid, no less. He found a spot as close as he could to the downed ship to land his own, stood quickly to get to the ramp. People were in danger, of that he had no doubt.

"Alicio, search for traces of life. I'm going to get the speeder ready and hopefully acid proof enough to get across this."

Alicio Organa | Adonis Vassak

 

[Alicio Organa]

Disembarking along with the other two, Alicio kept his eyes on the horizon, his cane tightly grasped in his hands. He'd spared a moment to look at the ship- to look on the bright side, the acid might have cushioned their crash- but his attention was quickly absorbed by their surroundings. It was difficult to sense anything, what with the chaos of the Dark Side around them.

But then, the Force brought a message from the future. He tasted the harsh sounds of...

"Alicio, search for traces of life. I'm going to get the speeder ready and hopefully acid proof enough to get across this."

"Droids," he hissed urgently, suddenly turning back to the two other Epicanthix. "There are probe droids coming!"

At least, that's what he thought they were. He naturally looked to Kahlil; he had more experience in missions like these.

- Adonis Vassak - Kahlil Noble -

 

[Adonis Vassak]

Location: Taul
Tags: Kahlil Noble Alicio Organa

Without a connection to the Force, Adonis knew that he should leave some things to his companions. Very quickly, that paid off when Alicio picked up on something already — probe droids. Kahlil had planned to take a speeder across the lake, but would they be spotted then?

"It is possible those droids were here to find our people." He looked at Kahlil with a stern expression. It meant that whoever owned those droids were actively looking for survivors, and he just had this feeling that it would be the Sith. Perhaps even followers of Carnifex specifically.

"They will spot the Bastion even if we try to take off, so they're going to know we're here no matter what we do. Might as well make sure we can leave with our people, hm?" He glanced across the lake, then back to Kahlil. "I say we get across the lake and bring survivors away. If someone tries to stop us..." His hand shifted down to a blade holstered at his side.

He'd kill any man trying to stop him from helping his people.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Droids?

Well that changed things. Kahlil kicked on the speeder to get them flying across the acidic lake. Time wasn't on their side, not if there were already people scouting out the crash. It was likely the Sith. And the Sith meant these people were going to be marked for death.

That was probably the most frustrating part of it all.

"Destroy the droids if you see them. We're lot letting the Sith know they crashed if we can help it."

Alicio Organa | Adonis Vassak

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio was quick to hop into the back of Kahlil's speeder. moments before it began to speed over the lake of acid. He perched in the back seat, one balancing hand grasped onto the side for stability, the other grasping his unlit lightsaber tightly. He had to squint a little, as the vapors of the acidic liquid beneath them stung his eyes and nose. When the Sith Order discovered them here, if they found the ship and destroyed it...

Alicio didn't want to think about what would happen next.

"Will do," he responded to Kahlil, though not without a bit of apprehension. At the end of the day, he wasn't a warrior. Would he have what it took, when the time came?

He would have to, for the sakes of whoever was alive on that ship.

- Adonis Vassak - Kahlil Noble -

 

[Adonis Vassak]

​

Location: Taul
Tags: Kahlil Noble Alicio Organa

From the back of Kahlil's speeder, Adonis watched the sides of the lake and tried to spot anything that moved. Droids, Sith, soldiers — it didn't matter. Nobody would get to his people with the intent to do harm. His focus was so strong because of his desire to bring them home, that he didn't notice the acidic vapors biting his skin at all. Nothing made him worry for his own life out here.

But as they moved across the lake, the two Force-sensitives would feel a sudden pain in the back of their minds. A ship was breaking through the clouds, and its design made it obvious who it belonged to. It was a Sith troop transport, sent out to follow scouts whenever they detected potential targets.

"We've got company," Adonis said, and within seconds, he spotted probe droids moving around the hill to get into their line of sight. They immediately began to move over the lake, trying to catch up with Kahlil's speeder. "They're coming!" He pulled out a pistol and opened fire at one of the droids, but it was not easy to hit targets while on the move like this.

Meanwhile, up above, several smaller transport ships exited the hangar from the larger vessel and began to move down towards the crashed ship with soldiers on board.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

A Sith ship?

Kahlil tensed his jaw further as he pushed down on the controls. Sped as fast as he could across the acidic lake. Soldiers were landing. Their people were in danger. That was more than enough reason for him to throw caution to the wind. Mostly.

"Get ready to jump!"

He lifted up suddenly, sending them soaring across the top of the ship. Right into a group of the soldiers. Then, he jumped. Straight out towards them as they opened fired to let his green saber ignite and start battering away their shots.

Alicio Organa | Adonis Vassak

 

[Alicio Organa]

The sudden taste of the Dark Side, an acrid, intoxicating sweetness, overwhelmed his palate, as Alicio saw a ship descending from the sky above. Either they were too late, or the trio of defenders were cutting it far too close.

Already sensing what was coming before Kahlil offered the warning, Alicio tensed his legs, gathering his strength from under him, and staring ahead. Finally, his saber ignited with a deep growl, blue and black humming coldly at the Count's side.

And he jumped.

Cape billowing behind him like the heroes in the tales of old, Alicio landed in the midst of the soldiers, his thin blade executing a series of quick slashes. It was all he could do before the soldiers regrouped, backing away with rifles raised. Relying heavily on the Future and his Soresu training, Alicio began batting red bolts away from his center mass, turning out of the way of blasts he couldn't deflect safely away, one hand tucked securely behind his back.

Alicio was a prodigy at Battle Precognition, and his style betrayed a fair amount of finesse, but he was no Jedi Knight. It was all he could do to stay alive, much less strike back. He would have to leave that to Kahlil and Adonis.

- Adonis Vassak - Kahlil Noble -

 

[Adonis Vassak]

​

Location: Taul
Tags: Kahlil Noble Alicio Organa

"Get ready to jump!"

Adonis grumbled something that barely made it over the rushing winds, but was likely some cursing in his native language. He wasn't a Jedi or Force user, so as his companions jumped and easily landed into the battle, Adonis struggled a bit more. Or perhaps he was just getting old, and it were joints that were screaming at him for it.

Somewhere else in the Galaxy, though, Valery was the one who was likely screaming - she loved her speeder, and now it crashed straight into the acidic lake.

"Keep me covered!" Adonis called out, as he remained behind the two lightsaber-wielding fighters. Up on the ship, there was no cover, so the enemy soldiers were far more exposed than he was. To exploit it, Adonis drew a pistol and started tearing apart their numbers with careful shots.

But too many had already made it inside the ship, and they had locked the small escape ports leading out onto the top.

"We need to get inside and go after them!"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

No.

It was the simple thought in his mind as he saw the troopers disappearing into the ship. The Epicanthix had already suffered so much. Purpose filled his steps, his movements, his blade. He weaved through the incoming fire, both to put pressure on the soldiers and still defend the two behind him. No, the one. Alicio had improved quite well. Good. The Jedi's blade arced through soldier after soldier before he raised a hand up and closed a fist.

The engine of the Sith's transport crushed immediately. He didn't look after it as it spun off into the acidic waters. Instead, he lowered his hand, gripped, and pulled. Ripped open the hatches.

"Down! I'll cover up here. Get them out!"

Alicio Organa | Adonis Vassak

 

[Alicio Organa]

Struggling to keep up with the storm around him, Alicio wheeled back a few steps. But he couldn't entirely retreat. No, he was acting as a shield for Adonis. If he buckled now, the Epicanthix would be without cover from this side. So he had to dig in his heels, he had to fight.

Thankfully, the skillful blaster wielding of the Elder, and unstoppable nature of Kahlil, meant that he was able to weather the storm, and notice as Kahlil gave them a way in, and told them to go. Wordlessly, the Count nodded, quick, silent steps bringing him to the hatch. Elegantly, the Senator stepped off the edge, disappearing into the darkness below, the flashing of dark blue following his fall as he engaged with the troopers in the tight space within.

Dispatching the troopers in his immediate area, Alicio called into the ship, saber raised defensively. "Hello?! Rescue party here! If anyone is alive, we need to leave now!"

- Adonis Vassak - Kahlil Noble

 

[Adonis Vassak]

​

Location: Taul
Tags: Kahlil Noble Alicio Organa

After Kahlil crushed the Sith ship's engine, it went down but perhaps surprisingly, it seemed to sink far deeper into the acid than the ship they were standing on. Had the Epicanthix somehow gotten their hands on a far bigger ship, or had it hit something in the lake that was keeping it from sinking to the bottom of the lake?

They'd get an answer pretty soon.

Alicio and Adonis had used the Shield's cover to get inside and kill some of the enemy soldiers that had entered before them. But a sudden rumble and shift of the floor beneath them would make it a lot harder to stand.

The Epicanthix ship was sinking.

"Oh chit..." Adonis muttered before looking up the open hatch at Kahlil. They had no speeder anymore to get back, and very little time to make plans now. "Can your ship fly to us automatically? Or can you call in extraction?" Problem with the former was that it made the Bastion a sitting target, but they were also far from Alliance borders, so calling for help was not easy either.

Meanwhile, Alicio's call was answered with gunfire. A few Sith soldiers had made it deeper inside, but now found themselves in a firefight with the Epicanthix, who were no pushovers even in this situation.

But if things couldn't get any worse, another Sith transport descended through the clouds, and it was coming straight for the sinking ship.