In the Shadow of Tantalus

[Dune Rhur]

Wayland, Inner Rim sector

The story of Wayland stretched back over a millennia. Perhaps longer, though it wasn't known if the world had always been called by that name. It was known that the Emperor, Darth Sidious, had called it that. He'd used the world as a storehouse for many things of evil and destruction.

Much had happened since those times on Wayland. More recently, the world had been off-limits after a failed attempt to terraform the world. But that hadn't stopped the Bith Jedi nor the archaeologist [member="Aldera Antilles"] from landing.

Not all the inhabitants had left nor died out though the centuries or more of isolation had left the small Noghri population in the distant past, having to rely once again on bows, knives, spears and hand-axes of wood, bone or obsidian. It was with them the pair now met near where they'd touched down in Aldera's craft 'Legacy'.

The Noghri contingent was small, from a hamlet nearby. The small-statured reptilians still spoke Basic, though oddly accented. It was a fortunate thing, facilitating peaceful relations. They'd wanted to know who these beings were and why they were here.

It also helped that the two travellers bore gift of food and other useful, small items. A combination of words and gestures had conveyed their purpose. They wanted to see and explore the ruins of the Imperial Research Station and Mount Tantiss.

Though the Noghri warned them of the dangers, they saw the pair wouldn't be disuaded. Ultimately they pointed them in the right direction but wouldn't accompany them. The grey reptilians were not cowardly but were in no mood to face the perils for what they saw as no reason. So Aldy and Dune found themselves alone.

 

[Aldera Antilles]

Aldy and [member="Dune Rhur"] headed toward their objectives, surrounded by ambient sights, sounds, and smells of surrounding flora and fauna, ever mindful of possible dangers, but reassured in having The Force as their ally.

On one hip, Aldy wore a holstered stun blaster, while on the other she carried a cylindrical metal object which could be telescoped to become a battle staff, as she wanted to have an alternative in case she needed to defend herself or the Bith Jedi.

Senses sharpened through The Force, she moved ahead cautiously, looking and listening for any signs of danger ... or long-lost artifacts to be reclaimed.

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Aldera Antilles"]

Dune knew he should've been paying more attention to the jungle around them. His auditory senses heard the calls and song of many creatures and his olfactory senses detected myriad flowering plants. Indeed the Vongforming had shaped Wayland into what beings of this galaxy might consider a gross caricature of a jungle. Everything was bigger, more misshapen than on a planet like Kashyyk or even Felucia.

However, his mind kept drifting back to recent events on Dromund Kaas. Burned by acidic bile, he'd lashed out in terrible fury and...he'd enjoyed it. Looking at his right hand, healed now, he wondered if it had all been a bad dream. But Bith never slept.

Aldera had convinced him to join her on this expedition. After Kaas, he'd sequestered himself in the Temple on Voss. He'd been neglectful of his training of Joza. He'd been so absorbed by him memories at that point.

Looking up, there was the Research Station. Number 61, according to old records, it had been overgrown by extragalactic creeping vines. The Jedi studied it silently as he approached. The Force didn't feel Dark here but not Light either, but rather a wild feeling.

 

[Aldera Antilles]

Aldy smiled at [member="Dune Rhur"], glad that he had accepted her invitation to join her on this trek. She had been with him on Dromund Kaas and saw the terrible injuries he had endured to both body and psyche. She had felt the wave of darkness which had momentarily consumed him and for which he later sought penance by sequestering himself, even avoiding Joza, who was like a daughter to him.

By agreeing to accompany her, perhaps her mentor and friend was beginning to heal. She hoped that the normally stoic Bith Jedi would allow her to assist in the healing process.

Research Station Number 61 loomed before them, a reminder of what had been ... and an indicator of what might yet come to pass.

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Aldera Antilles"]

Before the gates they stopped, sealed as if to ward off intruders. "It's surprising," Dune commented "That the vines haven't totally destroyed the wall." Cracked as the duracrete was and awash with vines, it still stood. Maybe the green tendrils were holding it together. How very like the Yuuzhan Vong, he though.

Then his senses piqued as he felt danger, seconds later hearing the rustling of leaves. From around the corner began to snake some sort of vine-creature. No, he saw, it resembled some monstrous fly trap with huge fangs and a drooling mouth that could engulf either of them. As it continued around, the Bith observed how huge it truly was.

"By the Force...."

 

[Aldera Antilles]

Before the gates they stopped, sealed as if to ward off intruders. "It's surprising," Dune commented "That the vines haven't totally destroyed the wall." Cracked as the duracrete was and awash with vines, it still stood. Maybe the green tendrils were holding it together. How very like the Yuuzhan Vong, he though.

Aldy nodded in assent to [member="Dune Rhur"].

"I have a bad feeling about this ...!"

Then his senses piqued as he felt danger, seconds later hearing the rustling of leaves. From around the corner began to snake some sort of vine-creature. No, he saw, it resembled some monstrous fly trap with huge fangs and a drooling mouth that could engulf either of them. As it continued around, the Bith observed how huge it truly was.

"By the Force...."

"What on Dxun ...?!"

Aldy had witnessed a similar type of fiendish flora during her forays throughout the galaxy. The last encounter had not ended well, with her guide being eaten ... alive! That one had been a mere bud compared to this humongous hothouse horror.

Natural or the result of Sith Alchemy? Aldy wondered.

"Carnivorous?" Aldy asked, setting her blaster to full power.

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Aldera Antilles"]

"I bet my credits on 'yes'," said Dune without taking his eyes off of the Vongformed monstrosity. It had been all too easy to approach the building and now he saw why. Anything else had been eaten by the plant. He silently cursed himself for not anticipating something dangerous.

Unhooking his lightsaber he hurled the activated blade at the plant. The blue beam scored a deep furrow in the greenish thing's 'head' and a sap oozed out. However, the creature only let out an enraged scream of anguish and it seemed to double it's pace. "We should move...now!". The Bith suited his words by running, followed closely by Aldy.

 

[Aldera Antilles]

Things started to happen very quickly.

[member="Dune Rhur"] unleashed his lightsaber, scoring the upper part of the plant-creature's bulk.

Emphasizing the urgency of the matter, he shouted and then began to run, Aldy only a hair's-breadth behind him.

They would sketch-out a plan of action once they were in a safer area.

Although in excellent physical shape, Aldy was surprised and amazed that she was able to keep-up with a Jedi, whose ability to move preternaturally fast was the stuff of legend.

... there is peace ..., she thought, trying to subdue the tingle of fear which gnawed at her like a dull ache. I need to work on better Control.

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Aldera Antilles"]

A safe distance away now, or so he hoped, Dune stood with Aldera under a kind of tree. He'd made certain it was also not going to attack them before they came to stand under it.

Observing the vicious 'guardian', he loosed a sigh. This was not at all going as hoped, he thought. "I shouldn't have done that," he said quietly in reference to attacking the plant. Not only had it not been successful, but it had merely enraged the predatory plants non-sentient mind with pain.

Beginning to study the situation, his eyes fell upon the gate. "If we can get through the gate, we might be able to activate auto turrets. However, would they be operational after centuries... Aldy, do you have any ideas, perhaps?"

 

[Aldera Antilles]

"Do we actually know that that was a predatory plant?" Aldy asked [member="Dune Rhur"]. "Perhaps it was not. Perhaps it was simply protecting its ... seedlings? I know that this isn't really the time for an in-depth philosophical discussion, but ... well ... I don't exactly feel comfortable shooting that ... thing ... with my blaster. I'm not usually trigger-happy, and I am still ambivalent about unleashing so much firepower while we were on Dromund Kaas, even though we were inundated with undead. How much more psychic backlash would there be for injuring ... or killing ... another living creature, sentient or not? We're in its territory. We are the intruders here."

Aldy considered the situation, lost in thought for long moments.

"The gates are sealed," she finally said. "Are they to keep us out ... or something in? We must be cautious! I have lost too many guides ... and associates ... over the years."

Aldy looked down at the ground, her face contorted in sad remembrance.

When she looked up again, she knitted her brows in stern contemplation.

"Perhaps there is a secondary entrance or a weakened area which we could exploit, ever mindful for the probability of traps. If my hypothesis is accurate, then whatever is inside the station may prove to be too large to venture through an access point small enough for us. What do you think, Master Rhur?"

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Aldera Antilles"]

Nodding slowly, the Bith considered Aldera's opinions. "All good points," he sighed again before he went on. "That's part of why I regret harming whatever it is; an error in my judgement." It was unfortunate that they lacked a proper blueprint of the station. Now they'd have to carefully skulk around and find some way in.

"Aldy, one detail I'd like to mention. Please don't call me Master, Dune is fine. I'm aware of the formality but we're far from the Temple." He smiled to soften any perceived sting from his words.

 

[Aldera Antilles]

Nodding slowly, the Bith considered Aldera's opinions. "All good points," he sighed again before he went on. "That's part of why I regret harming whatever it is; an error in my judgement."

"An understandable error, though," Aldy said to [member="Dune Rhur"]. "I felt that something wasn't quite right just before the plant creature appeared. There was some kind of danger close by at that time. Whether it was the creature or something even more fearsome, I don't know. At least there isn't an overwhelming darkness here, as there was on Dromund Kaas.

"Truth be told, I'm almost of a mind to go back to check on that plant before we continue on with our expedition. Despite its appearance, I sensed no overt malice from it as it drew closer to us, only pain. It's as if there was a momentary empathic rapport between us. Someone once said that discretion was the better part of valor. I'm now torn between going forward or going back to check on that creature, despite my not having any sort of way to heal it, especially given its ... alien nature."

Aldy sighed heavily.

"Aldy, one detail I'd like to mention. Please don't call me Master, Dune is fine. I'm aware of the formality but we're far from the Temple." He smiled to soften any perceived sting from his words.

Aldy blushed, looking down and then back up.

"My apologies ... Dune," Aldy said with a lopsided smile, which didn't quite hide her embarrassment at making yet another social faux pas with the Bith Jedi.

Way to go, Kid!

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Aldera Antilles"]

"Your senses will be sharpened through the Force, even those beyond the mundane," the Bith explained "Already you are beginning to perceive danger."

"Perhaps we should avoid it given that it likely saw us as a threat even before my hasty actions."

He felt foolish, attacking so quickly. This world HAD been warped by the Yuuzhan Vong, however, causing it to be essentially shut down. He knew his conflict was in large part due to events on Kaas. Before this, Dune would've been more resolute in his decisions.

"At any rate, let's act. Daylight is wasting."

 

[Aldera Antilles]

"Let's scout around a bit. We may be able to find a way inside. The landscape around here is quite ... surreal, although I've seen weirder. Hopefully, the interior of the station will be more ... sedate."

Aldy moved ahead and began scouting, her senses tuned up a notch or three as she concentrated on expanding her perceptions through The Force.

Do not come to rely on The Force to the detriment of your other senses and abilities, Aldera.

I will be mindful of that, Master.

Aldy toned down the focus of her perceptions, returning them to the normal spectrum. It was then that she noticed an inconsistency which she might otherwise have missed. On one side of the building, overgrown with vines and some sort of shrub or large wood-bearing weed, she could just barely make-out an indentation behind the barrier.

Leveling her blaster, she burned away the area, uncovering a crevice large enough for a standard-sized humanoid to squeeze through.

"I've found a way in," she said, smiling to [member="Dune Rhur"].

Then she headed toward the makeshift access point.

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Aldera Antilles"]

Thanks to Aldy's sharp eyes, a way was found. It was unfortunate that the sound of her blaster had begun to draw the plant-creature. "Run," the Bith said and they made a mad dash for the crevice. It was a narrow thing, Dune letting Aldy in first as he watched the screeching thing hurtle itself towards them. He made it in with literal seconds to spare.

Outside, it screamed in frustration. Dune looked back and wondered how they were going to get out. Shaking his head, decided that it was best to focus on the present. The past included almost being eaten by plant life and the future could involve...being eaten by plant life.

Looking around, the Jedi saw a courtyard covered in giant leafy plants with auto-turrets barely recognisable under masses of vines. The duracrete underneath was even cracked by greenery. Such was the pervasiveness of the Vongforming. It was somehow even more alien than outside to him.

Ahead of them was the main building surrounded by smaller outbuildings. "Nothing has escaped the Vong, here."