From Velusia with love (complete)

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena wanted to see into the containers if the droid was willing to let her just walk with him it should let her see in right.

She inched closer rather than continue walking, closer till she could see the indications of cold on the face plate, then she looked over. It was the face of a young man as she looked at this face she looked at the other containers. The question now was who was this man, and who else was in the containers, and why were they.

The droid was suddenly at her side so silent was he that he scared Serena, as she jumped back. "He looks good, cute even" God she said that out loud.

She smiled, "Can I see the others?"

The Droid was hesitating thinking, or confirming she had access she didn't know which. The light saber was not with her, her captors had taken it. So if she had to defend herself, she was back to her wits and what she knew of the force.

"Mistress there is five models three males and two females"

Serena stood silent, now why would there be five models, and what was their purpose.

"Are they ready to complete their mission?" She needed to sound like she knew everything about this, "failure is not acceptable"

The droid did not pay her any attention, it had no feelings to press to do better. "Mistress this model has been performing optimally each time it is sent out." The lifeless glowing yellow eyes of the droid now looked firmly at her, "your input is required to make it complete"

MY INPUT?? She thought, she knew she couldn't hide the bantha in the headlights look that just crossed her face.

"It is why I am here" she said as matter of fact as she could though in her head the words certainly came out a lot differently.

"What did the unit bring back from the last time it was out?" That didn't sound choppy and uninformed at all now did it. She knew that she was asking too many questions, she knew that at any moment they'd take her into custody.

"Mistress your heart rate has increased, is something wrong?"

Serena nodded, "Yes there is, I'm apprehensive about performance don't want to mess it up"

The Droid made several whirling noises, "The unit performed admirably, it would seem that the cloning procedures have been able to replicate some of the force sensitivity, but the units have no longevity, they were never meant to. Deterioration in Model 1A is significant, will re-evaluate when next awakened"

Now her heart truly sank these, who were they patterned after, and how much longer would they survive, model 1A didn't seem to have long.

Serena looked up, the cavern that she had fallen into from the upper level entrance from the cave had to be at least a three story building high. She began to wonder was anyone looking for her, had her message gone through?

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Coci Sinopi"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

This place the reason why it wasn't hurting so was because of their state of being. Serena looked at the droid, "What is their mission?"

The droid now was clearly checking her out, she had shown her hand she did not know what they were being used for, and it would only take him one interface to let anyone know she was here.

Also being a droid it responded, "to disturb the balance of government to make ready the path, the way for the Sith to take over" then the alarms sounded Serena shook her head, she knew it wouldn't last. She took off running towards what looked like a doorway she jumped over a table, putting up her hand she summoned the force to push the doors open it was fortunate that the doors were not locked, or bolted. They weren't prepared for infiltration thinking they were all safe.

Once in the hall she spun one way then the other, her sense of direction said go to the right and she did. She had no guard to let down and her mind began to say the things her mouth wished it could draw enough breath to do HELP HELP HELP.

The sounds of boots on the floor were coming towards her, she slid to a stop. She had slid down a vent, well maybe one went up. She pushed through the nearest door and looked for the air vents crawling on top a table, she removed the cover. They were closer her heart pounded as she tried to focus and not think about how close they were, she pulled herself up on her hands and knees she crawled.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Serena Bouie"] | [member="Connor Harrison"]

There was a sudden spike in the force. Fear coupled with a sense of a cry for help. Coci's eyes narrowed as her head turned toward the north. She pushed out through the force in that direction, she focused her mind to concentrate the search.

It is faint but it is there.

Underground maybe, she thought. But she would not waste any more time on speculation. "This way!", she suddenly called out and started off. Her eyes scanner the tops of the ridges, in case that lone sniper would return, but she felt no presence of any living being in the area save Connor and herself.

"I think I can sense her Connor, and Serena is in trouble". Coci broke into a run.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Starting to walk away from the ship, surveying the high rocks above, Connor raised his eyebrows in surrender. He started to think about what Serena had over him, and what Coci could detect in her.

”I don’t want to let her in there, I don’t even know she is. Before she left Voss she just made it clear that voices can be heard and it drives her cra – “

Coci brought him back down from his thoughts, her exclamation coming before she started the other way.

”What is it?”

Following her Force aura, Connor felt a tremor that wasn’t coming from either of them, and it must have been a burst from Serena somewhere. Coci was in the zone, and started off in a run.

Connor knew better than to ask – it was obvious what was happening, and his second in command had locked onto Serena. He followed her over the rocks in a run, watching his footing as he did.

”Take the path up, use your sense to find her, I’ll stay low.”

He pointed with his fingers up a rocky incline that would lead to where the snipers probably had come from. Connor stayed on the path below and followed the tremor. Boots scrambled over rocks and his hands were stretched out to keep his balance as he moved over small sinkholes and caverns around the ridge of the mountain they were on.

Looking up, he saw Coci. Stopping for a moment, Connor scanned the expansive terrain before them – it was almost endless rocks and outcroppings from the ocean below, a land made up of cliffs, mountains and sinkholes.

Serena; come on. Get in my head – tell me where you are. Show me where you are. What can you see – we are near.

She could be anywhere. Time was running out.

[member="Coci Sinopi"] [member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena was trying to be silent like that was going to happen in this duct work the metal bent each time she moved and snapped back into position she went to look behind her while still moving, and fell through landing on top of a desk.

For a moment she laid there, Ow she whimpered, then slowly rolled off the table to the floor landing on her feet in a kneeling position. She looked up and at the door she scrambled to her feet and stood by the door. The thoughts of the guards started filtering in has to be here couldn't have gone too far, how did she get in here anyhow, are there any more? Shoot her on sight and be done with it

In the jumble of thoughts she wished there was at least one that was on her side soft voices soft thoughts concern

Her father's voice provided a comfort she needed Wren don't give up keep moving she nodded she tried not to be frightened, she was a geologist for goodness sake. As she breathed calming down she could hear others one she did not know Here, I'm here the other she breathed in relief

CONNOR!

I'm scared there are too many, and there are clones or something they are going to destabilize everything. I'm..underground somewhere

She knew she had to move, slowly she opened the door looking trying to sense the life that they had their thoughts felt faint, she stepped into the hall, tip toeing and looking. She strained to hear Connor and whoever was with him trying to quiet the other thoughts. More and more were joining them they had to be closer.

Serena came on a junction and turned right, labyrinth always turn right to get out. Isn't that what she was taught? She tried to focus on Connor the more familiar of the two if she could just keep moving toward them or provide them a way to find her.

there's a cave with two sith, with an entrance to where I am there had to be other entries, like a hidden hangar for all she knew that had to be underground or under water.

Wait, Connor, can you sense a pressure, if she tried hard to focus, if there is an entrance below sea level there will be an increase in pressure, the pressure point could be an access point, are you near the water? If they came in from a different direction it would give them time to find her.
L
[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Coci Sinopi"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Moving forwards and reaching out to find any beacon of Force activity, Serena’s voice come through to him, forcing him to stop and wince, crouching down as it overwhelmed him. The presence of one strong with her empathic ability coupled with his fragile state with the Sith Magic in his brain stem wasn’t good, but it was necessary.

”Coci!”

He called out, looking up, holding his head and listening to Serena at the same time.

”She’s around here – underground, look for a gate, or pipe from the ocean or something…it’s under the water.”

Going warm with the increased activity in his head, Connor stood and was thankful it went quiet around him. He stepped forward towards the edge of the level they were on and looked out for something – anything – that could be seen as a passageway or entrance to a cavern.

[member="Serena Bouie"] [member="Coci Sinopi"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Serena Bouie"]​

​

Coci stopped dead in her tracks.

Connor had made connection with Serena, the look on his face enough to tell her that. Her eyes scanned around the area but that was just a rudimentary skill as she pushed out through the force, to located anything that might give a location to a fracture in the ground or a subterranean body of water.

"Combine energy forces with me Connor", she said as her force tendrils weaved out through the air and into the ground. Although Coci is strong in the force, combined efforts produce a more accurate finding.

Then something odd came through to her, her brow knitted as she concentrated on the presence of the darkside. Something familiar came to her, very familiar yet not, it confused her, and sent a wave of distrust in her own abilities.

"Do you feel that?", she asked Connor wanting his confirmation of the same sensation. The more she pushed out and reached the presence of the sith, one in particular, she grew alarmed.

"Connor I think there is an entrance only a half mile away", she began to run once more, her heart pounding not from the exercise but what she had sensed.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Looking up at Coci, Connor was puzzled at her reaction, and all he could do was shake his head.

”I only feel Serena - what’s wrong?”

He returned to the terrain around them and concentrated but felt the Force heightening with the activity all around, but nothing alarming – nothing like he could read from the urgency in Coci’s voice.

Taking her lead as she ran, Connor followed down below and made sure to focus on the ground beneath him. Any portion could give way with loose foundations, sink-holes or volcanic geizers. Now, the alarm from Coci was dominating his mind, and he prepared himself for anything. The hilt of his lightsaber hit his side with every step, a reassuring sense to know it was still there.

She was making good head-way.

”Coci, watch your footing - ” he shouted, before mumbling to himself at her impressive, but stubborn, passion, ” – you’re gonna kill me one day.”

[member="Coci Sinopi"] [member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Serena Bouie"]​

​

She leaped high in the air, as Connor's warning can just in time, the ground under her feet giving way and crumbling creating a small hole in the ground. She landed safely away, and turned to face Connor. Her face etched with concern but not for the lack in concentration for her surroundings.

Coci pulled her lightsaber to her hand, her breathing laboured and eyes widened with alarm. "Connor, don't say that", she yelled. But how could she explain what she felt, he would think her mad.

"I sensed, I sensed a Sith, it is familiar and the reason why is that .. it sensed like myself?", she looked pained and riddled with doubt. "And yet not, I don't understand it, but I know we must get to Serena quickly".

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena slid around another corner only to find, with great disappointment that she had come around in a full circle. Where had she gone wrong, that could only mean one way in one way out...ridiculous. Who designed it?

Serena looked down to the floor now she had to keep her wits about her she needed something, she needed the information on the models. She had to calm down get a head of her fears and function like a Jedi. She deep within herself she knew why she was scared. She needed either a droid's memories or a datapad that had the readings from the contains. Ok...now with new adrenaline shooting through her and still the sounds of footfall Serena ran through the room heading for the one door she could see, her gaze darted from right to left then left to right looking.

"HEY YOU! HALT!"

Serena did not look back she knew if she did she'd freeze in one spot, she ran past the small lab where it looked as though samples were being tested, Serena could smell a familiar chemical smell. She couldn't believe it in there beside a beaker was a datapad, she darted in grabbed it and darted back out.

Then blaster shot went over her head, "Next one goes in"

Serena sprinted for the door praying the force would protect her as she punched through the door into an unfamiliar hall she instinct ran left this time the walls soon changed from the septic white to the gray and brown hues of stone, the incline went upwards. Serena was heading towards either the cave where she came in at, or the outside. She was concentrating hard on just moving.

[member="Coci Sinopi"] [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor thundered over the rocks, navigating the sink holes and sensing where the ground was weak. He noticed the coastline to the large plateau they were on was starting to rise, and the ground was inclining down. Beside him, the cliff started to increase in size the closer they got to the make-shift coast.

Coming to a stop, breathing hard, hands on knees, he scanned around to see the waves lapping up over the eroded rock and dozens of makeshift caves and a few dozen rusted durasteel grates in the cliff. He pointed over to them.

”Coci – take the cliff-face; see if any of those grates come away. It looks like ventilation. I’ll scout the caves here. And watch your footing!”

His eyes moved from each cavern to the next, some full of water, others empty leading down into the surface. Serena had to be around here somewhere.

Glancing over to Coci, he watched her and thought about what she had felt – what did she mean…?


[member="Serena Bouie"] [member="Coci Sinopi"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Cool air Serena could feel cool air the movement of it as it swept along the cave walls that meant either an opening, or ventilation. She was not out of breath she had learned that much to keep her breathing in control to keep oxygenated to prevent her from passing out. With her love of the outside keeping in shape was not at all hard where others had to work at it to maintain levels of eating Serena did not at this point in life have to think on it. She just moved.

She ran she could her the boots coming she looked up the ceiling had dropped ok that meant they were coming out of the man made portion of the cave and coming back into the natural formations of the cave. She couldn't see any stalactites from the ceiling though could they have all been knocked down, smoothed out to make room for whatever piece of equipment had been brought in to shape the cavern below into the laboratory that it was.

Serena looked down at the data pad she had managed to steal. Foot steps were closer slowing down Serena did not look behind her if she did she knew she would be scared. She couldn't be scared right now she could be scared later when she thought about this.

Serena could hear the lapping of water it was faint she was still below water level?! How could she have fallen so far?

She stuffed the datapad into her shirt not that it would hide it very well but it would mean her hands were free. Serena began to wonder where [member="Connor Harrison"] and [member="Coci Sinopi"] were. At this rate she'd end up back in that cell, or worse...and she did not want to entertain worse.

Troopers were close she could feel their emotions running high their determination to capture her. Serena had taken these few minutes to gather her thoughts the cave walls were smooth and this was not the tunnel yet. She set out again this time when she came across several crates she ducked behind them. Only another force senstive would know she was there, unless they looked. Troopers did not have that sense of life.

She would wait until they passed by and then she would get into the ventilation and hopefully it would take her to the water, and the surface.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Serena Bouie"] | [member="Connor Harrison"] ((I know we are slow huh?)) ​

​

Climbing up the cliff face, Coci soon found one of the vents Connor had located and would not hesitate to use her saber to cut through it. In silence she signaled for Connor to come to her location, it is time for stealth.

It would be a tight fit for him, but she had no trouble as she began to crawl her way along the shaft of the vent. It is grimy and smelled of stall air and dampest. Now, she could sense the light side of the force, which would be Serena but she has company and that worried her greatly. Especially that familiar sense of herself which still had her non-plused. But first things first, they needed to find the Padawan.

Finally she reached the end of the vent to be faced with another grill, looking through it, it is dark with little light to afford vision but that did not hamper her. Pushing out through the force to find Serena, and all within the environment, she located the girl very close to her. As best she could Coci removed the grill loosening it however she stopped as she sensed the arrival of what appeared to be troopers. But time is of the essence, and removing the grill Coci jumped down onto the floors surface and scurried toward the presence of Serena.

"Here you are", she said as she came up beside her. "Looks like you found more than rocks in this cave". Saber in hand now, Coci waited to see what would transpire next. "Stay close", she whispered.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor spun around and found Coci after hearing, what sounded like, a whistle. Her swift and clear signal was to get up to her, and quick. With a curt nod, Connor retracted his steps over the rocky ground, hearing the racing of his heart and the crash of the waves down below.

Doubling back up the incline, he moved quickly and came finally to the cliff face, and up ahead a smouldering grate on the floor. Connor moved and inspected the ventilation shaft, the still warm cuts from a blade led the way to his Shadow Sister like breadcrumbs on the ground.

It was a squeeze and the greatcoat didn’t help.

I need some new attire…this is….ridiculous…your fault, sis….

A few twists and turns and moving what felt like down, Connor came to another grill. Inching his hands forward, he found it was loose to the touch and easy to move away, but proving tricky to shuffle by.

A rip made him freeze, close his eyes and curse gently.

Inching forward even more, the rip continued, but so did Connor until he was free from whatever held him back and with a near clumsy effort, manoeuvred around to come out of the vent, feet first onto the ground below.

Stretching out for signs of life, Coci and Serena were near, and together. Moving in their direction, keeping low and quiet in the dark light, he rounded a small corner to see both girls. A pang of relief washed over him.

”Coci. Good work,” he reached out and placed his palm on her shoulder gently.

”You, Padawan Bouie,” he smiled and pulled up his torn coat, ”owe me a new greatcoat.”

Moving his back to the wall next to Coci, the three hugged the shadows. However, he felt that one of them had a greater fear of their surroundings.

”Serena, who took you? What is this place, do you know? And just what were you doing here alone?”

He sounded like the angry teacher scolding a student, which in a way he was, but he wasn’t the teacher. He was just one who knew how much danger Serena could be in without the right help and guidance.

[member="Coci Sinopi"] [member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena could feel others getting closer a stranger someone she did nit know. She held her breath friend or foe please be a friend. Serena had been crouching behind some containers her eyes closed until she heard a woman's voice opening her eyes she looked upon Master Sinopi though she had never met her she knew her face her emotions were tied to a man with blonde hair. Odd to know an image but not the person.

Serena smiled albeit nervously, "yes instead I've opted for a game of hide and seek with a few Sith and their creations." Serena produced the datapad, "I've managed to borrow their data" there was another noise. A clumsy heavy footed male for certain.

Serena looked in the direction of the sound tending one moment then relief she knew this one a few more steps and Connor appeared making faces complaining about his precious rogues coat. Serena arched a brow at him as he attempted to scold her.

"Nice to see you to, as I was saying for those late getting here there are Sith, and clones. They've been using them to unbalance peace. Upsetting governments I couldn't get more that's when they started chasing me. Course how I ended up in all this is irrelevant at the moment."

She looked at Connor "when we leave I promise to fill in the blanks but for now. The question is do we escape and review this data or something else" Serena looked at Coci. It was up to them what they did next.

[member="Connor Harrison"]. [member="Coci Sinopi"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Serena Bouie"] [member="Connor Harrison"]

Coci turned to Serena, not having met the girl before this, she quickly introduced herself. "I am Master Coci Sinopi, what do you mean by clones and them unbalancing peace?". Her brow knitted and she wanted answers.

That strange feeling had not left her, in fact it only became stronger as if drawing near. She looked over to Connor with a questioning look, "Connor I think we should find out what exactly is going on here".

Her head popped up over the barrier they all hid behind, the troopers very close now and they would have to make a firm decision quickly.

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena nodded, “Hello Master Sinopi, welcome to Velusia” She smiled but then kept going, “I was talking to the droid which is down the hall, the one way hall. The hall circles the lab, but this so far seems the way in and out…unless I missed a door.”

Serena took a breath. “The droid said” Serena calmed herself further otherwise the words would jumble and be useless. “They send them to places, I was thinking of the uprising we’ve heard of lately. A couple of planets actually had civil war, that kind of unbalancing. If people are busing warring upon themselves, they won’t notice what’s going on around them.”

Serena looked at the data, “there are five rows of at least five, and the droid said there were five models”Serena looked from Coci to Connor, “of force users.”

She shook her head, “They look young not past the twenties, but many people use growth tech when they need something for short term. There was an article a few months back it’s not my field, but I browsed it and…what happens to the clones is horrid.” Serena did not want to be anywhere near a clone if it were made to suffer.

“The troopers are coming, hear their foot falls” Serena did not look over the containers she didn’t need to.

[member="Coci Sinopi"] | [member="Connor Harrison"]​

 

[Connor Harrison]

Resting on the cold wall, Connor kept his head turned to where he felt life, and not that of the two Silver Jedi beside him. He controlled his breathing, watching and waiting, whilst listening to the report from Serena.

”Sounds like a breeding facility if you ask me,” he whispered almost to himself.

Clones? Force Users? War? That didn’t sound good.

”Coci – follow my lead, act quickly and quietly.” Connor pushed back against the wall, hearing the sound of approaching footsteps and felt a surge of adrenalin course through his veins.

Closer….closer….

The first sign of a body started to turn the corner to their chamber, and Connor moved.

Turning out, he reached forward on instinct to grab the barrel of the blaster rifle held across the armoured chest before him; a frightening, faceless trooper behind a mask. Hoping Coci would act to counter his ally, Connor yanked the gun, bringing down the trooper with a violent snap. But the trooper was ready, pushing Connor back with his thick arm and swinging a fist up to the Jedi.

Thankfully, a well held block with his arms absorbed the blow, and Connor used his momentum to swing around the trooper and lock his arms around the neck, crushing his helmet up into his throat with Connor applying pressure through his arms.

Turning his head to maintain his strength against the struggle, the trooper eventually went limp and gurgled trapped air that wasn’t coming out. However, Conner knew this wasn’t a fatal attack – it would render him unconscious for a good while.

”We need to get out of here.”

[member="Coci Sinopi"] [member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Serena Bouie"]

"Connor I want to find out about these clones, I think we need too". she said as they moved forward.

As Connor dealt with the first of the troopers, Coci moved to stand in front of them, her arm raised and she sent a strong bolt of force light to them. This would effective blind them temporarily long enough for them to be incapacitated for some time. The first front of the troopers stumbled backward holding their helmet and crying out before falling to the ground. The second wave however, are prepared but so was she. Her arm remained up and through the force issued a powerful push scattering troopers but the rest opened fire.

"Ok they know we are here", she said tongue in cheek. "Serena stay close and lead us to these clones".

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor winced as Coci emitted her Force power to the unsuspecting troops, but moved fast back to them when the blaster bolts came from the second wave.

”Clones it is then!” Connor said, calmly, turning hs head to avoid the splinters from the blaster impact in the wall.

He pulled the lightsaber hilt from his belt and held it ready to activate.

”Serena, lead us on – I’ll take the rear. Be wary of your surroundings.”

Connor turned and leaned over to Coci.

”Be careful, your uncertainty is evident. Don’t take any unnecessary risks,” he whispered.


[member="Coci Sinopi"] [member="Serena Bouie"]