Hunting for Beasts

[Verz Horak]

@[member="Basaba Willamina"]
Dxun- Mandalorian Grey Fox "Kad" Frigate

The Mand'alor was on a hunting trip. Specifically, he was on a date, which happened to be a hunting trip to Dxun. Easily one of the more dangerous planets in terms of wildlife, it was a perfect place to hunt. Well, for Mandalorians anyway. Verz was in his quarters, preparing for the trip to the surface. The crew of his vessel was comprised of a few droids. His new hunting companion said she would meet him here.

His quarters were sparse, just a bed, desk, holo-emitter, and intercom. And of course, a stand for his armor and his weapons. Verz carefully looked over his armor, checking and double checking it, making sure it was ready for combat. Then, when he was satisfied, he did the same with his weapons, a Verpine shatter pistol and an old slugscatterer. It was old enough that the stock and grip were solid wood. It had been carefully maintained for generations, passed down in his family. The weapon was old and storied, but those tales are for another time.

And when Verz finished that, he waited for the woman he had met, of all places, on the Holo-Net. A site called Galactic E-Match. He had signed up out of curiosity, and soon had contacted another Mando. And so he waited for her.

 

[Basaba Willamina]

@[member="Verz Horak"]

The inside of Basaba's room was nothing special, her family lived on Dxun, they breathed living on Dxun. Or at least the small group of the clan who had become the hardened blade sisters. Used to fighting to the death with the native creatures or always being on guard. It did present a challenge and while Aeron had worked with her... Her heart was in the land. Omega was perfect for fighting when needed. It provided credits for her skills and some equipment as flimsy as they might be. Few could stand up to a river rifle or a ripper in a fight. Even less could compare to the baskad on the table or the vibro knucklers on her gloves.

The date as it were was at least on her terms, staying here on Dxun and hunting beasts... could be far more fun and it was a fellow mandaloirian. No correction it was the mandalorian... The Mandalore had requested it and that alone had set even her resolve to jelly. The idea of hunting with him was more nerve wracking. What if they didn't find anything? Or worse what if they fell into a Drexal nest and something happened. They could handle some but even she knew with enough beasts one could fall. Bah it didn't matter as she took the sword and her bes'bev securing both to her belt. Then a standard ripper for back up while the river rifle came off the headboard of the bed. She was prepared for a fight or a date which was the same thing just with less or perhaps more headbutts.

She popped her neck coming out of the door and slid the pale blue helmet onto the matching armor with a small grin of her face. A twitch of amusement getting pact the small glare before heading out to the meeting place which was not too far off. The other sisters went about keeping the place secure and running while her feet marched to the clearing for the Mandalores ship. Her heart was pounding with the thought as the only think came to mind. What did an initiate ask her boss?Her idea of being in a relationship was like the other sisters. You find a husband, have children and then leave to live and work. The small cultural adoption of Mistryl shadow guards from Emberlene had created a small and unique dynamic in them at least.

Just another sign of Mandalorian superiority allowing them to adopt other cultures to expand and survive long past the point the taungs extinction. Then she found it and stood rigid and straight looking around while a few cannocks mucked about. They were not needed but the maalrass that had followed her hopped on her shoulder. "Besbe heel"

 

[Verz Horak]

As Verz walked to the frigate's hangar bay, weapons strapped to his armor, he stopped short and chuckled. "Almost forgot you! Come here Mirdala! Time to hunt!" He punctuated the words with sharp whistles, waking the sleeping strill, which was laying in a heap by a heating duct. At the whistles and words of its Master however, the strill quickly got up and ran over happily, jowls soaked with saliva and the pungent oder of strills wafting through Verz's helmet.

​Mirdala followed Verz into the shuttle in the hangar bay, stopping only to stretch or to scratch an itch. Verz made sure the shuttle was ready, the picked up Mirdala and got onboard. The astromech pilot would take them to the specified coordinates where they would meet.

As the shuttle began the 20 minute ride to the surface, Verz idily scratched at Mirdala's head, while the strill happily sat, one of its legs twitching from time to time. He wondered what Basaba thought about relationships. Whether she was the kind to settle down and have children, or travel the galaxy with family in tow. Oh well, no use wondering, he would find out soon enough.

After 15 minutes, he felt the mild bump that signaled atmospheric entry. The shuttle flew through Dxun's atmosphere, heading toward the meeting place.

 

[Basaba Willamina]

@[member="Verz Horak"]

Basaba looked up into the sky to wonder about what was coming. Now even she felt nervous, the idea of dating was strange. They were warriors, they raised warriors. You met someone on the battlefield, fought in the battle circle and then that was a first date. Or second, hunting like this would be something also good to break the ice which was the plan. With her maalraas on her shoulder. Basaba thought about what might come if things went well. Dating the mandalore could be either a career killer to some or just mean she was made to be a better soldier to show her worth. Show her honor.

Now she could hear the ship in the distance and a breathe came out before her hands did another check to ensure the river rifle would fire. Her beskad would come out effortlessly and the vibro knucklers would eject to stab if needed. Her combat knife was in her boot and ready to stab whatever came near. This was all about the fun of hunting and on Dxun she planned to ensure their mandalore didn't end up like the Indomitable. He had to lead them with some good ideas towards retaking their space.

 

[Verz Horak]

@[member="Basaba Willamina"]

The shuttle landed in the clearing, crushing some small plants and grasses. The dull roar of the engines slowly quieted and the hatch opened, showing a red armored figure and another, smaller figure. The smaller figure ran out of the shuttle and down the ramp, sniffing around excitedly. The red armored figure walked down, chuckling and calling out for the smaller figure to return. Basaba would be able to see the smaller figure was a strill, a favorite Mandalorian pet. The red armored figure was Verz. The armor was scarred and scorched, holding tales of battle on many worlds, from Manda'yaim herself to the Outer Rim.

Verz walked forward, picked up the strill with ease, and walked forward, lookimg for Basaba.

 

[Basaba Willamina]

@[member="Verz Horak"]

Basaba straightened her back a bit at the sight of the Mandalore... her hunting partner and date sure but he was still the mandalore as she spoke having a small smile. Thankful the helmet wouldn't show her mouth. "Su'cuy Mand'alore, A'den be aliit Willamina. Kal'vod Basaba." Her face face took in the armored figure and he was just taller then her... Just a few inches and that was a plus. That he wore the scars on his armor and hadn't kept it buffed was also in his favor... Then he had a pet and her heart actually did a small leap. Her maalraas remained on her shoulders and curled a little, shrills were interesting but she had not seen how they did on the moon. No her pet was usually a better one to get, it hated cannocks and bomas could alert from zekkegs and drexals. One of the few instincts she did have was a pound of her fist to her chest in respect.

 

[Verz Horak]

@[member="Basaba Willamina"]

"Su'cuy Basaba. Please, call me Verz. It's a pleasure to meet you in real life." Verz set Mirdala, the strill down, watching it to make sure it didn't decide to jump on Basaba. When he was certain the srtill wouldn't jump, he looked back up at Basaba. She was a bit shorter than him, but of course, her face was obscured by her helmet, as was his. She also had a pet, a creature he wasn't familiar with, sitting on her shoulders. He walked closer until they were about arm's length apart. He reached to take off his helmet, showing a scarred face, happy to see Basaba, but also a bit tired, with circles under his eyes. If they were going to hunt together, she should know that he trusts her. And what better way to show that than to remove his helmet?

 

[Basaba Willamina]

@[member="Verz Horak"]

Basaba looked at the face of Verz... Not Mandalore for the moment... Verz. She could go with that and raised her hands to her helmet taking in off in a quick motion. Her eyes squinted a moment to adjust to the light before she took him in fully. Her eyes colored like dark honey with a lightly tanned and scarred face. Some cuts all around but above her left eyebrow and across the right cheek a with a little bit on the bridge of her nose. A scar from battle but a smile did come on her face. She let the helmet go to her belt clipping the bit of it for the moment. "It is good to meet you as well Verz. Do you have a preference for what we hunt?"

 

[Verz Horak]

@[member="Basaba Willamina"]

Verz thought for a second, while looking back at Basaba's face. With their helmets off, they were no longer different rank or status. They were equals now. Not just two hunters or warriors stood there, in the clearing on Dxun. Two Mando'ade stood there, their lineage stretching back to the Tuang, over four millennia ago.

Verz had some knowledge of Dxun's wildlife. On the trip over he had learned about them, mostly how to kill them. He probably leave the decision to Basaba. Besides, he was her guest, and she knew the world better than he. "It would probably be best if you choose what we will hunt. I do not know the wildlife as well as you do."

 

[Basaba Willamina]

@[member="Verz Horak"]

Basaba gave a tight lipped grin at that, the idea of choosing what to hunt did have its appeal and she gave a nod. "Oya" With a look around basaba popped her neck while letting the path into the jungle, her eyes went back and forth while the trees cast more shadows before thickening. There were few beasts on Dxun worth fighting and zekkeg or Drexals were really the best, a devourer if it came out to fight would be a prize of course but she didn't see as many of those... At least until one tried to attack you. Basaba let her eyes flick back and forth slowing down while the maalrass jumped off her shoulders into the trees.

Another smirk played across her face while hefting the rifle up to her shoulder and looking around. "Have you been to Dxun before Verz?" She didn't know how often others came here but most Mandalorian's came to Dxun one of the best places to train an be on your toes. Even the cannocks would try to attack you if you didn't pay attention.

 

[Verz Horak]

@[member="Basaba Willamina"]

Truth be told, Verz couldn't remember coming here, but it was possible that he had been here on a mission before, or was it that other planet? He didn't recognize the wildlife, but then again, the only wildlife he had seen were viscous Sith alchemical beaats, not exactly a good representation of the planet's fauna. He noticed Basaba's smirk and looked at her for a few seconds before he spoke.

"I'm pretty sure that I have never been here. I think."

 

[Basaba Willamina]

@[member="Verz Horak"]

He hadn't been here before? That was a surprise mostly, in truth she figured nearly every mandalorian had come to Dxun at one point it was a place to test your mettle, to train yourself to be tougher then others. Though the idea of being the one to pop his cherry for fighting here, oh for hunting here she would have to make sure it was extra special now. Basaba moved looking to a small stream while she crouched. Her hand tapped while she spoke with a wider grin. "Drexl tracks Verz, a dangerous beast. Keep your eyes open and in the skies. The older ones fly while some walk upright." Her eyes moved up to look for the large creatures. A giant reptillian bird coming from the sky would be dangerous.

 

[Verz Horak]

Verz smiled. Time to hunt, it seemed. Verz followed @[member="Basaba Willamina"] throught the clearing until they stopped at a small stream. They still didn't have their helmets on, and Verz could hear wildlife in the distance and the sound of the stream. He looked down at Basaba when she told him of drexal tracks and looked at the tracks left by the reptiles. He crouched down and Mirdala sniffed at them, the meter long tail started twitching as it did so. The strill had gotten a scent, it seemed.

"Well, what are we waiting for then?"

 

[Basaba Willamina]

@[member="Verz Horak"]

Basaba gave a nod of her head looking at the creature as the maalrass screeched going off along the trees, her eyes flicked around while walking down the stream. It would be fun to say the last for them to see where it all went but she knew it ended near one of the ponds. Somewhere older ruins were situated but the creatures they were hunting were something fun as it went, she kept walking and stared down the sights letting the sounds of the jungle sink in. Without the helmet they might not hear everything but she knew what to look for the inky shadows against the black. The beady red eyes in hovels or hollowed tree's. The entire world wanted to kill you and her gun jerked at the sight of several cannocks who stared at her. "Cannocks, annoying things but they can eat your equipment if you leave them alone." Basaba whistled as the maalrass dropped down and screeched chasing into the groups while they gave chase into the jungle. Something small but it could escape the predators. Her eyes flicked back towards the tracks and gave a nod walking off towards the end of the stream.

 

[Verz Horak]

@[member="Basaba Willamina"]

After Basaba nodded at him, Verz looked over at his strill, who was busy snuffling around, searching for the scent of their prey. As they walked, the cannocks that Basaba said could eat equipment peered down at them, then flew off as the maalrass chased them. "They sound like nasty buggers. Hopefully they can't eat through beskar." As they walked, Verz could hear the babbling of the stream they walked by, screeches and calls of creatures in the distance, his strill happily sniffing about, and the breathing of himself and Basaba as they hunted. Such beauty in such a hostile world. And it felt a bit strange not having his HUD tracking things, but it made him feel a bit closer to his ancestors. They fought wars without so much as projectile weapons, in ages long past. If they could do that, then Verz could hunt without a HUD. His slugscatterer was in his hands, ready to fire at any of the wildlife that tried to try its teeth out on him or Basaba.