Faction Lift Me Up [THR/TJO/Do-Gooders]

[Eloise Dinn]

Eloise hadn't meant to stand there in the doorway and watch. But it was hard not to.

She had seen a lot of suffering and death in her short life. The facts of hospice care were stark and plain in her mind. She had learned to shut off her personal feelings, focused solely on making sure the patient was comfortable, if not comforted, in their final hours. But she had never seen anything quite like this.

The dying man in the bed was lost in reverie, his cracked lips moving silently as he spoke to people who weren't there. Around him strange energies swirled in the Force, echoes of the past, the present, the future. And at the center of it all was Eugen Aker , pulling the strings, lifting the veil. Was he showing this man, a complete stranger, what awaited him after death? Was it just a final vision of the past, meant to soothe the pain of passing? She didn't know.

The energies coalesced, then faded. The man in the bed's eyes glazed over, his lungs emptying as he breathed his last. Eloise was still standing in the doorway, a tray full of syringes and painkillers in her hands, glassy-eyed, her mouth tight and nostrils flared with suppressed tears.

"I..." she began, then faltered, swallowing the lump in her throat. "That was..." She couldn't find the words, but the look on her face said it all.

 

[William Thule]

Andromeda reached into an inner pocket on her jacket to check the time on her datapad and almost -- almost -- resisted the urge to check if there was a message from William Thule William Thule in her inbox.

[Read: 3:01 a.m.]

 

[Xiaoyu]

​

The first thing Xiaoyu noticed when she stepped off the transport was the smell.

Sickness had a way of clinging to the air; metallic, sour, threaded with smoke that no amount of distance from burning worlds could quite wash away. She paused at the edge of the landing platform, hands tucked neatly into her sleeves as refugees shuffled past in uneven lines. Some walked. Some were carried. Some were far too quiet.

Froswythe was not her home, but suffering had a way of making every place feel the same.

The temporary triage station had been erected just beyond the spaceport gates; canvas awnings, portable cots, crates already split open and sorted with careful efficiency. The work of the quartermaster had clearly been thorough. Food. Bandages. Sterile packs. Antitoxins. Xiaoyu’s gaze skimmed over the supplies with a faint nod of approval. Excess gathering dust in a storehouse was a waste. Here, at least, it would be used.

A stretcher rushed past her, one of the volunteers calling out for a healer. Xiaoyu stepped aside first—observe before acting. The patient’s breathing was shallow. Irregular. Fever-bright skin against soot-stained cloth. Not a clean blaster wound. Not fire alone. Infection, perhaps. Or something more creative. She resisted the urge to speculate too deeply. Assumptions killed more efficiently than weapons.

She moved at last.

Her steps were unhurried, almost gentle, but there was no hesitation in them. Sleeves rolled back just enough to free her hands. Fingers light as she pressed to a brow, then to a pulse point at the throat. Too fast. Dehydrated. Exhausted beyond what simple travel would cause. “Water first,” she instructed softly to the nearest volunteer. “Small sips. Not too fast. And bring the broad-spectrum antivirals from that crate; no, the sealed one. If it’s been opened, I don’t want it.”

Her tone wasn’t sharp but carried certainity.

Another patient groaned from two cots down. A child coughed; wet, rattling. Xiaoyu’s eyes flicked in that direction, calculating priorities. Triage was never about who cried the loudest. It was about who would stop breathing first. She exhaled slowly through her nose.

Very well....If suffering wished to take many shapes, she would simply have to learn each one by touch..​

Objective 2 Tag:: Corazona von Ascania Eugen Aker Eloise Dinn
Indirect Thread Tag: Colette Andromeda Demir Vif Hozz Liana Organa Connel Vanagor Mykel Dawson Akela Ru Aiden Porte​

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Forswythe
Tags: Colette
​

Some days ago…

“We knew this day would come.” Said Torin, his head rested atop Katherine’s, as the redhead had her arms wrapped around him in a hug.

Time had seemed to fly right on by, since the day Katherine had made the decision to step away. After Coruscant; after the Core Worlds had fallen to the Empire. She had thrown herself into helping the relief efforts. Flying anywhere and everywhere that needed help, to a point that it was impacting her health. But fortunately, Torin had been there at her side to catch her when she collapsed.

It had been the final nail, the final push for the redhead to make a decision. She had been too wracked with guilt, feeling as though she hadn’t done enough when protecting the innocent on Coruscant. And instead, had opted to pursue a personal vendetta against the person who had tortured her.

So Katherine made the choice, and decided to leave, but only for a time. She had left messages; informing those that needed to know that she was stepping away. A form of exile in a way, so that she could detach herself from everything, and focus on centralising both body and soul.

Torin had taken her to a planet, one mostly disconnected from the galaxy at large. It had numerous villages and towns dotted around, and one such locale was where the two had decided to settle.

But it was only for a time, as they knew going into this that eventually she’d return.

“I know, but I can’t deny I’ve been tempted to just…let this continue.” Katherine replied, her voice a muffled whisper against the druid’s chest.

“And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted to agree, but we both know that isn’t the right course.” Torin pulled from the hug, just enough so that he could look at Katherine. “You’ll be in my thoughts, and I will worry, but I’ve seen your strength; your resilience. The Katherine that is returning is not the same as the one who left.”

“Torin…” Katherine reached up with a hand, fingers brushing against his beard. “You’ll be in my thoughts too, Force knows I’ll be missing your presence.”

The druid chuckled, before leaning down and kissing Katherine. “If you need my help, I’ll only be a message away from answering.”

Present time…

The High Republic had been Katherine’s destination. During her days travel, she had focused on catching up on the goings on around the galaxy. In particular, trying to track down where her friends and colleagues had gone. She knew a number of them had joined up with the Republic, one such person was Colette.

Quartermaster huh? The thought amused Katherine, remembering the times their respective Masters had paired them to spar together. With a destination in mind, the redhead Jedi set course for the planet Froswythe.

Once she was planetside, Katherine didn’t miss a beat as she headed towards the central camp where the most hustle and bustle were happening. People moved around her as she walked, only sparing a glance as they passed. All busy with something, or somewhere to go. But eventually, Katherine caught the sight of a familiar bob of hair, well the back of it anyway.

“Quartermaster Colette, has a nice ring to it.” She called out, slowly approaching the young woman in question. “Fitting too I’d say, given how much you like hitting people with quarterstaves.” Katherine continued, a small grin on her face.

 

[Liana Organa]

Vif Hozz - Feng Huang - Open​

"Ew. No thanks on the backwash," Liana sneered, another cough escaping her lips. Through pride alone she was keeping the heat down, and it was pride alone that would also keep her from making the situation any easier on herself.

Another arrived, bringing in a box and making her own comment on the soup as she did. Liana squinted mirthlessly at the interloper, "Over there I guess," She thumbed toward a pile of other boxes beside the food prep station that had yet to be opened. "Mind lending a hand? There's a bit much for just the two of..." Liana glanced over at the next person she was going to serve, and was taken aback by his appearance. He was dirty and heavily scarred, no doubt by whatever had made him a refugee in the first place. He scarcely looked at Liana while she poured his soup, his expression vacant even as he walked out of the tent.

The Princess had seen downtrodden folk before, but never someone in such a state as that. Was this the kind of thing her parents dealt with day in and out? Father with his relief programs, Mother with her medical work? The reality of things crept in. These people were going through the worst days of their lives. Liana felt as if she had been abruptly put in her place.

 

[Colette]

Katherine Holt

Her heart beat with a steady rhythm as people came and went throughout the camp. A curious gaze scanned the crowds. There were so many stories here to be seen and heard that it was almost difficult to pick just the one. From the reunited lovers to the mourning widow, no matter where you looked there was life to be found.

It had been a long time since she had felt this accomplished over something. Colette had hunted oggdo and rescued apprentices, and yet this moment when she was surrounded by death and joy it felt like she was slowly putting parts of her own puzzle together.

She would have let the thoughts and the moment linger were it not for a familiar voice calling her name. It wasn't evident who it was at first, but once she turned around to see the angelic beauty of Katherine stand in front of her it was hard not to smile.

"Mmm," she purred in mock hurt. "Only the ones who pull my hair and pin me to the ground."

The quartermaster caught herself and quickly straightened her back, cleared her throat and put her chest forward, hands behind her back.

"In the, uh…" She cleared it again with a small cough. "Ysalamiri pits and the, uh… The mud, of course."

Deep breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth.

"But, thank you. I'm actually kind of proud of my work here. It feels strange."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Xiaoyu | Open​

Cora’s grunt was quiet as she helped to settle the burn victim atop a stretcher. The transport medic was given a nod before the patient hovered away, bound for the Republic's intensive care facilities.

The grim necessity of triage never quite left her - it always lingered in the back of Cora's mind like the tail-end of a bad dream.

In a way, she was thankful for it. It didn't make things easier, but it made her reactions smoother. More familiar. Grounded, even.

As she sanitized her hands, Cora's gaze swept the tent before landing on the diminutive figure of a young woman in Jedi robes tending to the injured. She was flanked by another medic who held a cup of water to patched lips. Even from this angle, she could recognize the sallow, ashen face of severe dehydration.

Wringing her hands dry, she paced to a nearby crate and returned with a bag of clear liquid and an IV. "He'll need fluids," she said simply. The bag was handed over, and Cora's eyes, sharp with discernment, scanned the patient before settling onto the young Jedi.

She hummed once, a soft sound of approval

"It looks as though you've got things under control here. Do you need anything of me?"

 

[Aiden Porte]

@Open​

Within the hour, Aiden kept moving between the boarding queues, the ration tents, and triage, placing Republic personnel where tension gathered and listening when refugees pointed out what felt wrong. He did not raise his voice, because he did not need to.

A call came in from the loading pads. Aiden arrived to find two men crowding an elderly evacuee, hands on their sleeves and pockets under the excuse of "security." Aiden stepped in, the Force settling over the space like a quiet weight.

"That is enough," he said, steady and final.

Their hands stopped. Republic officers closed in at Aiden's nod, and he spoke without anger. "Detain them and search them."

He turned to the elder, keeping his tone gentle. "Stay in the marked lanes and do not let anyone separate you from the group."

As the minutes passed, Aiden returned to the supply tents and watched seals checked and manifests verified. Patrols tightened, the lines smoothed, and the opportunists along the edges began to thin, sensing that this haven was no longer easy to prey upon.

 

[Feng Huang]

Liana Organa Vif Hozz​

"Sure! Happy to!" Feng laughed.

Followed by a pause wondering if the levity was entirely appropriate. This was a place where the people had been through hell, they may not be ready for moments of levity to ease the pain. Trauma could be a difficult thing to manage it was hard to gage when and where humour, lightness a bit of life could help, or whether it would just remind them of everything they had lost.

Feng sighed, she did not wish to be insensitive or callous to what people had gone through, but she was a jovial even bubbly person by nature, quick with a smile or even a grin, a giggle and a laugh. From her perspective it was important to remember to enjoy life in between the moments of horror.

Feng watched the heavily scarred man walk a wide and gave a sad smile. There wasn't much she could do for them, she wasn't trained in grief counselling or trauma, but she could see they were fed.

Feng stepped up to the counter and started serving out meals. As she did she felt a familiar presence.

Aiden Porte is here!

Feng hoped he'd say hi, but she'd understand if he was busy. There were a lot of responsibilities on a knight like Aiden's shoulders, he didn't always have the freedom of time to catch up with friends when there was work to be done and people to help.

"I didn't catch your names?" Feng asked with a smile to the two people she was helping out.

 

[Vif Hozz]

[Objective 1]
Equipment: Training Saber, Misc.
TAGS: Liana Organa , Feng Huang
​

["Ew, no thanks on the backwash."]

Well, suit yourself. Not much more of a reaction was given, as he took another sip of the water. Setting the bottle aside after, he turned back to face the-

["Maybe it needs some cream?"]

Giving a glance over towards the one who spoke, Feng Huang . Raising a brow briefly, before giving a slow nod. "Hm. Perhaps it does."

As the other two spoke about the box Feng was carrying, he busied himself with wrapping a few snacks. But, he did notice the other two's reactions towards the scarred man who came and went. While Feng was more easily able to carry on afterwards, Liana did have a noticeable halt in her demeanor. After some moments of contemplation, he spoke towards her.

"It is for the people like him, that we are here. Doing all of this. Keep that in mind." Just a few words to try and help her out.

["I didn't catch your names?"]

His attention returned towards Feng, after. "I am Vif. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." There was a slight bow that was given towards the two of them.

 

[Liana Organa]

Vif Hozz - Feng Huang - Open​

Liana's cheeks darkened with embarrassment as Vif seemed to notice her reaction. It was a silly feeling to have, but she was ashamed of her naieveté on the subject. "You're right." She said, not quite looking at him as if to avoid a deeper conversation. Feng took everything in stride, already skipping past the scarred man to help them in the kitchen.

"I didn't catch your names?"

"Liana." The Princess was accustomed to introducing herself with full title and name, but willfully skipped it this time. She didn't want to make a whole thing out of it in case they recognized her family's legacy, "Uh, nice to meet you." Liana focused on doling out soup, finding herself in a rhythm and earning some comfort from the gratitude she saw in those she helped. As the current pot began running lower, she glanced over at their latest conscript, "Feng, right? You mind starting up a new batch, actually? We're running low, and I think I'm bad luck in the kitchen." If the last pot was any indicator, Liana figured it would be best for everyone that she didn't try again.

 

[Xiaoyu]

​

Her attention remained on the patient, fingers steady as she checked the man’s pulse again. Still fast, but no longer quite so frantic now that the water had reached him. Good. That meant his body had not yet decided to give up the argument.

When the IV bag appeared, her eyes flicked briefly to the clear fluid, then to the woman holding it. The assessment was quick and quiet; calloused hands, efficient posture, the calm that came from someone who had done this work before. Not a volunteer dragged in by circumstance, but a professional.

Xiaoyu shifted slightly to make room beside the cot.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice mild. "You arrived at a good time.”

A small understatement. She inserted the needle with a smooth motion, securing the line before hanging the bag from the edge of the cot frame. The slow drip of fluid began its patient work almost immediately.

Only then did Xiaoyu properly regard the woman beside her.

“You’ve seen this sort of thing before,” she observed, not quite a question. Her tone carried the quiet curiosity of someone cataloguing information rather than making conversation.

Her gaze drifted briefly across the tent; over the coughing child, the burn victim being moved, the slow, constant stream of new arrivals filtering through the canvas entrance. “If you are willing,” Xiaoyu continued calmly, “there are three patients I have not yet reached.”

She gestured subtly with two fingers. “The child with the cough will worsen first. The woman near the entrance is hiding how badly she is burned. And the man behind you likely has a fever already.”

She allowed for a small pause. “I would appreciate another pair of capable hands.” A very audible rumbling sound could be heard immediately after her statement. Xiaoyu’s calm expression turned into a sheepish one, as she knew that this was her body telling her that she hadn’t touched a morsel of food since the day prior. With a click of her tongue to signify her displeasure, the woman turned to the other woman, “is there a food station of sorts nearby?” Her mind had been too consumed with trying to help the sick that she had once again become tunnel vision to her surroundings.​

Tag : Corazona von Ascania - directly
Feng Huang - indirectly​

 

[Connel Vanagor]

Heroism in different forms
Outside Froswythe City
Relief Camp Obj III

Omega Squad Every Day Gear Locations

• Michael, Gabriel, Azrael, Sariel, Raphael, Jeremiel, Connel, Raguel
  [Any text in brackets signifies comm-link usage and not face to face conversation]
• 
  Rides
  "Enterprise" Station Ship
  Null Vector
  Speederbike
  Iron Psalm
  Gear/Armor
  Gear(“Bodycam” Datapad, UAD Drone, link to Seraphim AI and Nanotech included)
  Lightblaster
  Shortsabers (“Night” and “Day”)
  Throwing Lightknives
  Force Blinding Flashbangs
  RI-17 Rifle-w-MS-0412 Grenade Launcher
  SURGICAL - CRYBERNETIC IMPLANTS
  Repli Implants that would be for the limbs
  Bonemer enhancements to strengthen structure of the body
  Muscle enhancements.
  Hemo enhancements for blood flow
  Hawkeye implants for eyes
  Advanced Medical Implant
  Scentzy
  Injected Nanotech upgrades
  
  
  
• Shadow Sanctuary - Enterprise

It was worth a thought. Those two making their way away from the place. It was alright if they were not involved, in fact a part of him did not want this to be. However. We should still talk to them, perhaps they could point us in a direction.

Her attention to her pocket was not lost on Connel, but he would not press the matter. It did make him wonder if there was something to that which would compromise their situation worse than it was.

Is there security footage by chance? If not. We’re going to need a hard target search of the area. I have ideas. Not just street corners, or back alleys, two crates worth was a big deal and there could be locations, not only to hold them, but to arrange delivery to others.

When Andromeda asked him if the AI search found anything, he looked at it. This was not good… You were hacked. Still are… let’s leave it that way, make them think they got away with it. See if they’re stupid enough to try again…

Then he paused… In fact… He went to tell her what his thought had come about to.

Colette • Andromeda Demir
• ARE • OPEN
Personal Effects - Omega Squad Loadouts​

 

[Feng Huang]

Direct: Liana Organa Vif Hozz
Indirect: Xiaoyu​

Feng inclined her head to Vif, as much of a bow as she could accomplish with important work to be done.

"The pleasure is mine." Feng replied politely. Vif seemed to be a harmonious soul, willing to serve others before himself with humility. Feng got pleasant vibes from just being around him, she decided to enjoy his presence so long as she was in his company.

"Pleased to meet you Liana" Feng greeted just as politely with an incline of her head. Liana seemed to almost have more to say upon her introduction, but withheld herself back ever so slightly. Feng shrugged to herself internally, if there was more to Liana's story, the woman clearly didn't wish to share it at the present moment. Perhaps Feng would get to know her well enough for her to share at a later date. Either way Feng wasn't inclined to push her for details she clearly didn't wish to share.

Feng nodded whatever Liana's hesitation was she was clearly accustomed to giving people tasks to complete. Not that Feng minded there was important work to be done, it didn't matter to her who was in charge so long as they were competent and not a complete power hungry monster. Which she hoped would be hard to find in a volunteer run soup kitchen.

Feng got to work on the next batch.

"So what do you guys like to do with yourselves when you're not helping out?" Feng asked making conversation.

Half the joy in serving in communities like this was getting to know people, including other people in service.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Forswythe
Tags: Colette​

That’s the first thing you say, huh?

Katherine was amused, evident by both the raised eyebrow and look in her eyes. She was tempted to tease Colette about it at that moment, but filed it away for another time.

“For sparring, of course.”

Okay, maybe a little teasing.

The redhead smiled, watching as Colette seemed to gather herself before speaking again. “As you should be, it’s not easy managing something like this.” Katherine remembered flying to Ilum with Torin, medical supplies in tow. There in the sanctuary, Cora was focused on managing the medical needs of everyone she could.

And she’s somewhere here, I can sense her presence through the Force.

Katherine walked up, turning to stand by Colette’s side as they looked around at the organized chaos before them. “I imagine it is strange, especially thinking back to where you began.”

Where we all began, really. So many of us have changed from the simpler times of being Padawans.

The redheaded Valkyrie smiled, reaching an arm out to the side, pulling Colette into a hug. “Missed you.”

 

[Colette]

Katherine Holt

Look back to where it began? Colette raised her brow at the statement. She supposed they had come a long way since then, but that went for most things. People always moved on, learned new ways to handle life and help others.

She'd point it out, but the conversation moved on and Colette was brought into a hug. She accepted it and gave Katherine a gentle pat on her back. Or perhaps it was the base of her wing. It was hard to really know what she was brushing her hand against from this angle.

"It's been a while." Colette grinned for a moment as they separated. "I still laugh when I remember Valery's face after we declared that spar a draw."

She took a quick breath to cut Katherine off before she could ask.

"She's good. Takes a few more breaks these days, but operates in the shadows. I know the Path fell apart, but… She's busy."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Xiaoyu | Open
​

“You’ve seen this sort of thing before,” she observed, not quite a question.

"Many times," she said simply. "We're fortunate to have what resources that we do here."

Cora tilted her attention toward each of the patients described. A child with a deep cough, another burn victim, and a fever. The little one would likely need antibiotics, but not before a quick scan to see what was lurking in those lungs. With that thought, she retrieved her pocket med-scanner and began booting up the imaging program.

"Sounds as though we've our work cut out for us."

Another sound rumbled between them, and Cora couldn't help the way one corner of her lips lifted in a knowing smile. "There is," she waved toward the tent flap nearest to them. "Straight down the midway and to your left. We can't do our jobs on an empty stomach."

The scanner gave two long beeps, signaling that it had been properly warmed up.

"Cora, by the way. You go on, I'll look after things here."

 

[Mykel Dawson]

___________________________________________________________________​

Background:

Froswythe is a southern Colony World renowned for its high quality meat exports, and leather tanneries rivaling the quality of Ghorman textiles.

To help manage the recent influx of refugees, Consular Mykel Dawson of the Jedi-led Frontier Cooperative brokered an agreement between local ranchers and KSA to secure Oasis Agri Stations at a discounted rate to boost output. In exchange, a portion of surplus product generated will be redirected to support relief efforts administered by Quartermaster Colete Noble and the Jedi Service Corps.

As a good will token, ranchers have already donated pallets of produce free of charge!

In the background, Frontier Director Rozalyne Kurganova holds discussions with planetary officials to formalize temporary work permits for refugees, enabling them to address labor shortages across Froswythe and prevent the refugees from becoming a financial burden in the long term. Kurganova has also proposed new investments from Frontier to expand the local dairy sector, including the development of a new creamery complex to diversify production and create further employment opportunities for native inhabitants and refugees alike.

​

Objective 1: Firing Up The Grills
With: Akela Ru , OPEN

Appearance

Mykel laughed. "Don't worry, the spice and herbs are coming, I can assure you."

Standing at long tables behind the grills, volunteers were hard at work grinding seasonings with large mortars and pestles, coaxing fresh brightness back into previously sealed ingredients. Others finely diced aromatics for a similar effect. Dry rubs were being mixed, marinades blended, cheeses shredded, doughs kneaded, and condiments crafted. Cheery chatter flowed steadily among the cooks, and Core-style pop music soon began booming from a stereo set up on one of the nearby tables.

"That said, when we have such prime meat like this, salt is really all you need to bring out the natural flavors." He made a point planning to set aside a few pans with nothing more than salt and pepper for the less adventurous.

"But a little sugar also goes a long way," he added, figuring the candy fiend would approve. Come to think of it, he couldn't recall ever seeing Akela eat anything besides candy. He doubted the Togruta survived on the same diet as some sugar-fed avian, but it was amusing to imagine all the same. "Great for making crusts and adding flavor depth."

"What's your favorite kind of protein, actually?" he asked. "We could start working on that together."

 

[Vif Hozz]

Equipment: Training Saber, Misc.
TAGS: Liana Organa , Feng Huang
​

With Feng Huang going to make more soup and Liana Organa being the one to give it out, he figured he'd get done some of the other busy work. There had been a pile of dirty dishes from not only the cooking, but also of the bowls, utensils, and cups that refugees brought back. So, he motioned over to where the pile was, utilizing a little bit of the Force to carefully transfer most of the dirty dishes over to a sink. With that, sink was turned on, and he got to work scrubbing and washing.

["So what do you guys like to do with yourselves when you're not helping out?"]

There was a glance given back towards Feng as she spoke, before he refocused on the dishes. Seems like he'll have to make conversation. "Studying. Reading. Meditating." A rather bland, but truthful answer.

 

[Akela Ru]

Mykel Dawson

Favorite kind of protein. "I am too young to think of smelly boys." She said it looking at him as in the background Jey spoke. "Protein is meat." AKela looked at Mykel with narrow eyes for a moment as she was thinking about it. "Then I like the strips of meat we sneak out of the kitchen with the blue chocolate milk." She said it while looking at the man and starring upwards as the tiny togruta. Mentally she was thinking about it and thought to herself. 'Padawans log, perhaps I should learn what some words means but that would involve admitting to the adult they are helpful... and then they would want me to nap or clean my room.'