Masks of Madness Event Finale | Act IV: Madness

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Nyx"], @[member="Melantha"]

It was no exaggeration to say that Nyx' plan was quite shrewd and fun. When all things were said and done, Siobhan was quite willing to do almost anything for Tegaea. She had always been a fairly ruthless person, but also an extremely insecure one, relying on her wife to give her guidance.

So at this very moment she paid attention to no one else, not even the bound and chained blue space elf. Rather she pulled Tegaea closer, holding her like she never wanted to let her go, and gave her a deep kiss, trying to pour all the devotion she felt into it. This contact might make Nyx, who had so cruelly been starved of affection and of recognition for her greatness, rather happy because Siobhan was quite a good kisser, but anyway moving on with the family-friendly plot.

"It's ok...you did nothing wrong. It wasn't your fault, you have nothing to be sorry about. I should've been there. But I won't leave you now...ever," Siobhan spoke soothingly as she stroked her wife's hair, voice choked with emotion though she sought to keep her composure. Siobhan quickly followed after Tegaea as she stumbled out, catching up with her. She saw her wife shivering and at a mental command one of the guards was stripped off his coat.

"Here, take this. I'll keep you safe." Her lightsabre was raised from the ground and flew back into her grasp. However, at this moment thoughts briefly flickered back to the space elf. "Wait. We should take her with us. She's on our side, she's got lots of power that can help us."

 

[Rusken Shaxx]

(Am I getting ignored? :c)

All turned into desperation as any of the attacks seemed to have failed miserably. Zius was cast from the head of the dragon, being sent flying back into the same direction as the others and his counterparts. Flame engulfed his body for but a moment and singed his coat entirely right before he slammed hard into a wall, tumbling to the floor in a lifeless fashion. Was this it? Had the young Dark Jedi finally fallen on his own foolish accord? Who was he to think that he had the capability of taking down the beast, anymore so than the daftly bold Jedi around him. Ignorance at best.

Zius lay there unmoving and seemingly without a sign of any vitals. His helmet's display cast a red light over his face from within, showing a slowed BPM in his heart-rate as well as internal damage from the impact of smashing into the wall. Was this all he was good for? Dying on the ground because of some fool-hardy effort to be a hero? Was it redemption and gratification he was after? Idiot. What a waste of resources to even conceptually design such a waste of training, a waste of life.

Suddenly there was nothing. The sounds of chaos and battle left his ears and was replaced with a low, soothing hum. He opened his eyes once again to be met with what seemed like...peace? White light flooded his gaze; people he had known from his early childhood greeted him with warm gestures of smiles and open embrace, welcoming him "home". Feelings of long lost love and happiness washed over his senses as he looked down at himself. No armour, no cybernetics, nothing but his normal self before his conversion.

He was happy... truly at peace.

He was free.

Voices of angelic quality spoke to him in whispers. He listened with closed eyes as he smiled, inhaling deeply.

"You must go back..."

What? No. They couldn't make him go back, he wouldn't allow it! All the hell he'd been through in his mortal life, was this a joke? Why would this peace come about if it were only to be a guise of persuasion. Tears flooded his clenched eyelids as he slowly opened them, seeing his family. The family he was stolen from. His father slowly walked up to the boy, placing a hand on his shoulder, grinning.

"It's alright, son. We loved you... we always loved you. No matter what you do or what path you've chosen, we cannot forget our child. You've made us proud."

The father embraced him with a firm hug, creating a moment that would last with Zius forever. He began to sob as he wrapped his arms around his beloved father as well.

"We'll see you some day, Zius. We'll be a family again. I need you to stay strong for now..."

The world around him began to shift and distort, sounds of battle and death began to bombard his conscious again like a door being broken down to let hell itself back into his mind. He was suddenly departed from the warmth of his father, watching him fade away. Tears still streamed down his face as he reached out to defy his reality. He was tired...

"I-...I love you, father! Please! Please don't make me go back!"

Back to war. Back to his existence as a monster. His eyes shot open, he inhaled sharply with a gasp for air as he staggered back to his feet slowly, slouching a bit before straightening his posture. He looked down at the lightsaber he still held firmly within his grasp. The display on his helmet was a bit cracked and damaged, static flickered over his view a couple times before stabilizing. He clenched both hands tightly, walking over to Calico's position in silence and without expression. That same red, cybernetic eye pierced through his helmet with a new meaning and an intensified purpose of being.

He refused to be told no, his own stubborn will would help him survive. He would find home again.

 

[Nohemi Allaneh]

@[member="Urmax Pholoka"]

The gentle giant managed to free her from her cell, prompting an expression of gratitude along with a word of thanks. "Thank you," she told him, the petite Fallanassi dwarfed next to Urmax.

"I am Nohemi," she told him, taking a step closer to peer around the hatchery. She was still a bit woozy, and confused. Glancing back up, she tilted her head way back to meet the Urmax's eyes.

"What is going on?" she asked, curious and cautious at just what was happening.

 

[Adenn Gra'tua]

(Sorry about the late post, haven't been on for a bit.)

"Just a simple swing of your-" Adenn was cut off by @[member="Kira Liadain"]'s lighting iturrupted him, but sending the kursed flying backwards "Thanks for that, I guess." when Adenn looked at the man he was already getting up 'Shab' he thought, he was tough, real tough "Where do you think your going?" Adenn said while starting up a run towards Oryuke, before he was launched to the side by @[member="Jhaega"]'s scales "oof!" was the only noise he could make before hitting the ground "Arg, my leg. kriffing dragon." he looked down to see a scale in his left legs thigh. He would have to pull it put before the kursed attacked him, which he started pulling now, which made it slide out slightly.

@[member="Oryuken CC-128P"]

 

[Tutu]

​

THE UNDERFORGE​

As many of the Seven fought in the name of @[member="Akala"] and his minions toiled to create menacing weapons and tools of war, Tutu slumbered on his cushioned throne.

 

[Tefka]

THE UNDERFORGE​

​

Zzzzzzap.​

​

Akala teleported next to Tutu's throne.​

​

The place was a mess. Tools everywhere. Empty bags of food lay throughout the empty room. And Tutu slumbered.​

​

"Awaken, my precious Tutu."​

​

Akala swirled her hand, a mystical energy seemingly lifting Tutu into a sitting position.​

​

"We have work to do."​

 

[Tutu]

THE UNDERFORGE​

Awoken and up-righted by @[member="Akala"], Tutu looked to his Master. He snorted and asked in a groggy tone, "What? Master, what do you want?"

 

[Allyson Locke]

Sam never did like Jedi, very one tracked minded folk. Tilting her head she looked towards the boy and shrugged. In a calm voice she responded to him, "You'll need more than a fire resistant cloak - use what you got Jedi common now." Moving in step with Rave, her eyes moved from the Jedi towards the sky where the dragon was flying. He was going to be a bit of a bother and Sam wasn't in the mood to really deal with it. Looking towards Rave she grinned.

"Might not need that boat - challenge him to a Kaggath or whatever you like to do these days. We just need him on the ground something to provoke him, we could always offer to feed him the Jedi?" @[member="Antares Windu"] @[member="Rave Merrill"]

 

[Saki]

"Ah frak where the hell?" Saki looked around and raised an eyebrow while she took it all in there was but she checked her equipment and popped her neck. The planet was something else and right now all she wanted to do was make sure what had happened didn't come to past while her hands clenched letting the blades eject out for a moment before coming back in. Her finger went to tap and sigil on her neck while she moved to go and fight off and find what she could.

 

[Not Ordo]

@[member="Adenn Gra'tua"] @[member="Kira Liadain"]

Slowly he stirred and tried to find his feet. Jhaega's scale hit one of his assailants in the leg and dropped him as Oryuken made it to one knee. His mind was once again flung into a series of hallucinations and his body was slowler to respond. He looked up at the blond girl as slowly his hallucinations slipped again and thoughts of his dearest Una filled his mind.

He could only smile as the blond jedi raised her hands again. His smile wasn't brutal or angry. The expression on his face was one of thanks and relief. All he ever wanted was Una and now that she wasn't here he didn't want to be either.

The womans bolts struck him again and he didn't resist. He spread his arms and welcomed the electric discharge. His body shook violently as his big dark eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the floor. He was still breathing, for now, but only time would tell if he had any time at all.

 

[Kira Talith]

The Hatchery - Team Dragonslayer
@[member="Oryuken CC-128P"] @[member="CC-935 Bluejay"] @[member="Commander Calico CC-247"] @[member="CC-117 Canal"]

Kira didn't have moments to waste in a sigh of relief, things were chaotic enough as it was already. One down. Thankfully, not dead. At least she hoped not. She went stumbling forward to check Oryuken's pulse, taking his helmet off in a jiff. Guy maybe force dead, but she had to make sure he was still breathing.

Thankfully, all signs lead to that he was. He was just knocked out. Good. She propped him up against a pillar. He would be okay there.

Now on to @[member="Galaar CC-252"]. She was no healer, but she could do some sort of first aid. Now on to the next. This time her focus was on the first commando who had been wounded initially with the headshot. Kira bent down to kneel before him, her eyes skimming over the charred hole in his helmet.

"Sithspit," this was going to be a bit more difficult, because just looking over with a rush of the Force gave no readings, he was simply a void. So, she did the next best thing, starting to take off his right armored glove.

If she could get to his wrist, she could get to a pulse point. And if she could get a pulse --- well, meant he was still alive.

 

[Djorn Bline]

When your CO sounded angry and looked all pissed off, then there is no room for mistakes or screwing around. "Yes, sir," Canal said to CalicoCalico as he obeyed his orders. I think it would be best if I save this bad puppy and use my pistol first Canal thought to himself as he pulled out his pistol and began firing with careful accuracy at the Kursed killing them with either a headshot or a shot to the throat.

"Kark, our helmets," Canal said as he almost got hit in the head with a bolt. He went to where both his helmet was and Calico's and placed his helmet on him. He went to Calico, offering his helmet and said, "Here brother. I don't want you to meet your fate, yet." He then saw at Bluejay and saw her wound. It was nasty all right and she was lucky not get hit somewhere critical otherwise she would be dead. But she still needed to be treated and Canal wasn't going to do it cause he has medical experience and secondly she might do something that he would regret. He continued killing Kursed with his pistol as he was still at Calico's side.

@[member=Commander Calico CC-247]

 

[Revenchent]

DRAGONSLAYING


The Jedi could have their glory, fighting dragons and spitting the teams. They had left the CIS and a few others to fend off the main threat, a large number of guards and the Kursed. The Dragon could have been put down with a quick combined assault, but they had opted to run ahead with no planning whatsoever.

Now, Galaar was dead, Bluejay was likely dying, and Oryuken was down. His sons and daughters, his brothers, paying the price because of some sick mind game. What were the Jedi losing here?

I'm sorry ad'ika. I failed.

Calico slid Galaar's 'Deece' into his hip holster and gently lowered Bluejay up next to Oryuken and Galaar. "Canal, pour it on! Keep the guards off us! Zius, keep Canal alive, we'll make it out boys!" It was all rather surreal. Calico set a hand to Bluejay's temple, a small wash of relief flowing over him as he felt a pulse. No one else was going to die.

"It's alright Jay, I've got you." He mumbled to himself, using the gauze that he had patched Kira up with before to wrap around the grotesque wounds around Bluejay's neck. It wasn't anything professional, but it was all he had. He checked to make sure his handiwork would hold, and made sure she wouldn't fall over. His gaze flickered over to Oryuken. "Hold it together son..."


A feeling of helplessness washed over the Commander. He really couldn't do anything to further help these two; and his closest brother was gone. Dead. Ripped away just weeks before the cure was finished. It wasn't--no, his people needed him now. He needed to stay focused and together, no matter how much he wanted to break down in grief.

The Commander quickly took the helmet offered by Canal, "Thanks ner'vod."

He leaned up over the rubble to asses the situation. That's a lot of contacts. How many guards--we have to keep them off the Jedi.


He set the DC-17 between two niches in the rubble, and began to lay down suppressive fire. It was all he could do to stay in the moment. "Do not falter from this position! If we're pushed back then the Kursed will move in; our Jedi friends and company won't walk away with their shebs whole after that!" He paused to slam another magazine into the rifle. "It's our responsibility to give them time to put down the Dragon! Live up to it, Galaar did!"


That stung to say, but it was the truth. Calico shot @[member="Kira Liadain"] a quick look. His expression softened slightly as he spoke, though it was hard to hear it over the sounds of battle. "Thank you."

With that said, Calico popped his helmet back on. The isolation was welcome. He could simply lead now, and not be Calico, not for the moment anyway. He had dealt with death, that off brothers, friends, a lover, but Galaar was his link to the past. His closest brother, and poor Oryuken had a girl back home, Bluejay had a lot more to live for. It broke his heart.

@[member="Oryuken CC-128P"] @[member="CC-935 Bluejay"] @[member="Zius Aurus"] @[member="CC-117 Canal"]

 

[Galaar Tal'Verda]

Broken and Bloodied on the ground, the final verdict - Dragonslaying team

Galaar lay on the ground face down. The side of his helmet had one smelting hole that leaked ooze. Everything about the clone seemed dead, even his position on the bloodied ground. He lay slack in Calico's arms as his brother grieved for his fallen comrade. Then he was placed back down...

Bodies seemed to be passed between hands alot because next Kira arrived, pressed his lifeless form against the wall and removed the helmet. The wound... The wound wasn't as bad as it could have been there was relatively no burning to it at all. The worst was the bruising and swelling; the kinetic force of the blaster blow still packed a punch and had jarred his head within the helmet in relation, the brain. If Galaar wasn't dead, he likely had some sort of inter-cranial pressure or wounding. The swollen lump on his skull was the worse of it all, it was a purple convoluted lump on the side of his head.

His glove was rather easy for the female jedi to remove and with it came the moment of truth...

Galaar still had a pulse and was still breathing, barely, but more than likely in a coma. It was a miracle within itself he was still breathing without medical aid.

@Oryuken CC-128P @CC-935 Bluejay @Zius Aurus @CC-117 Canal @[member="Kira Liadain"]

 

[Anya Venari]

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"So kind," Melantha said wryly. "If this was not a situation where the whole galaxy was threatened I'd begin to imagine that you were enjoying yourself."
Around them the battle went on, but the sooner she was free the sooner she could actually help. She was ascended after all.
And blue. A blue space elf. Not many of those around!

 

[Anasi]

The Hatchery

The stupid dragon has failed us. Why are they awake now?

He sensed the presence of his Master in the toolshop. He never normally went there. There was something about the place which was...disgusting. The sloth of the pig went against everything he was. Still....

@[member="Akala"] @[member="Tutu"]
With an effort of the Force suddenly he was beside Tutu's throne, before Akala herself.
"Lady, the prisoners are awake. Shall we activate the Kursed? Shall I rouse the rest of the Seven?"
It was good to be eager to fulfil her will. It was even better to not charge in without letting some of the meat get minced first.

 

[Voroll]

That voice, that deep, horrible voice shook Voroll awake – who, prior to the alarm sounding and orders echoing through tunnels, had enjoyed a rather peaceful sleep on the floor of a cell with a now-open door. Apparently he was somewhere new, but he could not shake the feeling that he had just been at a large party invaded by giant floating beasts and the invasion of a planet, both simultaneously.
They seemed real at the time, when he tried to recall the memories associated with them it was blurry and hazed; as if they were but dreams. Surely they could not have been dreams, though? The smells, the emotions and at one point… one point Voroll thought he was a ghost.

Yes, okay. They were dreams. Only such a state could imagine a planet wrecked by ravenous, deformed beings controlled by a single girl, @[member="Akala"], – who had, in those dreams, managed to conquer the galaxy with a powerful few ‘council’ of dragons and fear-eaters and other such monstrosities.
The last thing Voroll could remember in those dreams was a woman doing a rain dance, as if that would stop the war. @[member="Galaar CC-252"] was in those dreams as well, although he was injured when Voroll first found him. A stab to the chest, or something.

The floor was cold and his head had been leant on it awkwardly for some time. The Royal Stormtrooper Armour of the Fel Imperium still adorned his body, as did a vibroblade and blaster pistol, amongst other things that requirement of was little or nil. He lay in a foetal position with his back faced away from a corner of the cell; hands kept warm – despite being covered by the body glove and fragments of white armour – between his legs.

When eventually he moved, the door to the caged cell was wide open, and the other cells were just the same: door open and empty. On the floor were numerous bits of metal from where some bars had been cut from the cells, or where the locks had been torn apart.
Okay… Voroll thought to himself. Perhaps there were people here. And they had obviously either left him to sleep peacefully, like the little baby he appeared to be, or had not seen him at all. The walls of this particular cell did look quite white, so the latter possibility would not be out of place.

His head poked out of the cell, turning each way to peer down both sides of the hallway. From one side he could hear the rhythmic thudding of boots, clad in metal, against stone floor tiles.
Friends! He stepped out, hands instinctively held on the hilt of the blade and the holster of the pistol. He was in a new place with no one but his own mind for company – but the mind could be manipulated and swayed.
Their armoured bodies shined after they emerged from the darkness of the corridor. There were only two guards, but both of them fired as soon as they saw Voroll.
“Kū-moku, give me strength.” He muttered – hoping that this ancient, family god, would hear his prayers – before spinning around and running down the hallway as fast as his armoured legs could carry him, while blaster fire erupted against the rock beneath and at the sides of him.

 

[Duggan]

The Hatchery - fighting kursed​

Kallion heard Calico's orders to defend the force users, which was fine by him since he was already firing on the kursed 'Theres always so many of them.' he thought, before he saw the clone called Galaar, he had been shot, Kallion had never had any feelings for anyone and he couldn't imagine what Calico was going through, but he wasn't going to try. He turned away from the clones before reloading his pulse rifle, then firing on more kursed "Do we have a way to block them off?" he yelled over the blaster fire.

@[member="Galaar CC-252"]@[member="Commander Calico CC-247"]@[member="CC-117 Canal"]

 

[Kira Talith]

@Kallion @[member="Galaar CC-252"] @[member="Commander Calico CC-247"] @[member="CC-117 Canal"] @[member="Adenn Gra'tua"]
TEAM DRAGONSLAYER ---- would love a medic or a jedi healer with medic training <3

"By the Holy Stars!" came Kira's exclaimation, "He's alive!" she said, glancing up at the rest of the commandos. They might have not heard her due to the battle with the Kursed and that Dragon, but she said it anyways.

"He's alive!" she repeated, bringing her hands up to cradle @[member="Galaar CC-252"] 's cheeks gently to get a better look at his noggin. It was a doozy of a purple bump, likely would have a concussion. But the man was breathing. She was no healer, but she knew that if there was internal cranial pressure, that could end up causing brain damage as well as death.

She attempted to get a closer look, her right hand lightly skimming over the large egg shaped mound, yelling over her shoulder, "I need a medic! Or a healer! ANYONE?!"

 

[Revenchent]

Alive?

Calico wasn't an overly emotional man, but when he felt, he tried to show it. Getting the emotional fits out of the system helped you stay calm and collected when things really mattered. He was a man of extremes, a swirl of fiery hatred toward his enemies, fierce loyalty to friends, and boundless love for anyone who really needed, in search of a paternal figure or otherwise. There was never any middle ground.

Now though, now he was confused. On one hand, it felt like a massive boulder had been lifted from his shoulders: on the other, the creeping reality of Galaar possibly being brain dead--a fate worse than death in Calico's opinion-- and having came to that state saving his life swamped him with guilt.

"He's breathing?" The Commando's time was absolutely elated. "I could kiss you right now Kira." Brain dead was still alive, and anything could make a come back as long as it was still breathing.

He went down on one knew, back pressed against the rubble and set the DC-17 on the ground. His gaze drifted over the Oryukwn, Bluejay, and Galaar. Even if they were alive now, they wouldn't be for much longer without medical treatment.

Where is Doc when you need him?

To say Calico was suddenly feeling better would be saying that the Cathar forgave the Mandalorians over night. He had still caused this, part directly, part indirectly. It weighted heavy on his heart, but it would have to wait until later. Then there were his boys fighting desperately to hold the position, in which Calico couldn't be proud, and Kira. She hasn't gone off with the other Jedi to play hero. She's stayed back to help the meat cans--the regular folk (and Zius) He'd thank her when he had the chance, let her know he had her back whenever she needed it, though he felt she knew that already to some degree.

Kallion, son, do you have any medical experience?"


@[member="Kira Liadain"] @[member="Kallion"] @[member="Zius Aurus"] @[member="CC-117 Canal"] @[member="Galaar CC-252"]