Mushrooming Knowledge

[Dune Rhur]

Felucia

During his research into the records at the Telos Enclave, he'd come across the journal of Master [member="Sochi Ru"]. Within the writing of the fallen Togruta Jedi were references to a holocron of her own creation. Deciding that this was the Force guiding his path, the Bith had come out of his weeks of isolation on the Outer Rim world.

The jungle world was oppressively humid, even in the shade of the giant mushroom-like fungus.The sweet stench of rotting vegetation permeated the air and his acute auditory senses heard the myriad sounds all around them. Through the Force, he felt the wild and untamed energy all around. However, there was something off about things too.

Though his vision at a distance was lacking, he could make out unnatural shapes to the vegetation here and there. The buzzing swarms of biting insects around him were unusually aggressive, even through the repellent applied while on his shuttle. He turned to Nikias, the Padawan accompanying him and he spoke. "I sense something amiss here, though I can't say exactly what. Be mindful."


[member="Nikias"]
[member="Azlyn Ike"]

 

[Akhilleus]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Walking off the ship Nikias stood on the landing ramp for a few seconds as he took in a deep breath letting the fresh air flow into his lungs. It was refreshing and something he enjoyed doing on the more natural worlds that hadn't been turned into gigantic cities. While he had been to a handful during his time with the Silver Sanctum the feeling was still one he preferred. Though Nikias still had yet to take to the jedi padawan robes that had been handed out to him on his first day at the temple. They were just to uncomfortable and restraining for his tastes. The only time he saw a need to cover one’s body completely was in battle[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]though since his exile from his home world of Hellyni he had yet to dawn a set of his own. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]So as the bugs buzzed around him Nikias found them more than slightly annoying though those bugs that did stop to nip at his skin and drain his blood soon fell out of the sky and crashed into the ground. Due to the poison still in his veins Nikias' blood was lethal to the insects[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]though the rest didn't seem to learn their lessons. Stepping up next to the Bith jedi[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]Nikias heeded his warning. "Yes Master Rhur." Nikias said with a nodding of his head. Nikias himself couldn't feel anything but that wasn't exactly something new. He'd joined the Bith on his quest to the planet to not only learn about the world but to see what he could pick up from the jedi along the way.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=10.5pt][member="Dune Rhur"][/SIZE]

 

[Azlyn Ike]

[member="Nikias"] [member="Dune Rhur"]

Oh this world was so much fun... The albino thought it while she was standing there and stretching. Wearing the shell spider armor was one thing but there was also the big thing of..... getting to explore her nrew found freedom and power that came with it. She was a knight now... Crystal would be proud and her ancestor had been very proud... or bored... or she might have had gas... Hard to tell with a being that was over five thousand years old and a master of the elements. It gave the young zeltron something to move for and towards as she was walking through the jungles and could sense the creatures around them. Raiding the locals had brought her into the jungles and some of the arkley that were terrorizing a few lost explorers trying to hide in one of the old huts out in the jungle. THey had found some strange things there but it was all for naught when she arrived and relieved them of the burden that was holding stuff that didn't belong to them. Some old togruta and Mirilan from the looks of the images that had been in there. Her saber on her hip gleaming with the black metal.

 

[Dune Rhur]

It was sometime later that Dune and Nikias found themselves much farther into the jungle. Sochi Ru's journal hadn't said exactly where, merely indicating a general area. Thus, they'd spent the first several hours searching in an ever-tightening radius. Until they found the small, dilapidated old hut, the Bith wondered if he'd gone the wrong way.

Now he knew that he hadn't. Kneeling beside the body of one human, he found a datapad showing that this small group had been treasure hunters. There was a vague description of a holocron, thought not named as such, and several maps of the area. As to how a ragtag group of treasure hunters and ne'er-do-wells came across this information, he couldn't say. What he could say was this: they'd died not very many hours ago from wounds consistent with a lightsaber.

If these beings had heard of a Jedi artifact....

"There are Dark Side adepts nearby, Nikias. Ready yourself, these beings couldn't have gotten very far."

[member="Nikias"]
[member="Azlyn Ike"]

 

[Akhilleus]

[SIZE=10pt]The search seemed to be fruitless at best to Nikias as they searched the forest[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]the humid atmosphere caused the Hellyni to begin sweating profusely covering his torso in a sheen as they continued deeper into the woods. The time between him and Dune had been spent in mostly silence as they had split up to search for the holocron and the tighter the search radius became the more Nikias began to worry that there really was no holocron. That they had been led on a wild goose chase or that the original creator had returned to claim their holocron. Nikias had a holocron of his own and knew just how rare and sought after the creations were[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] for their wealth of knowledge. The one Nikias had found had been helping in furthering the Hellyni's talents in telekinesis. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Examining the corpse Nikias was aware of the lightsaber wounds as he himself had delivered plenty of them in the past plus had a scar on his right ribs where he had been stabbed by one. Nikias didn't know whether to feel remorse or anger at the treasure hunter[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]but he did the man the honor of closing his lifeless eyes. Standing up Nikias turned back to Dune. "They won't escape Master Rhur." Nikias said searching the ground for any clues or footprints. Due to it being a forest and the humid weather it would be easier to spot out the footprints against the ground. Finding a trail heading away from the huts Nikias called back to Dune. "This way!" Nikias had served on many battlefields and tracking had just been another part of the job. Offering the lead to the jedi knight nikias would follow behind at a run. [/SIZE]


[member="Dune Rhur"] [member="Azlyn Ike"]

 

[Azlyn Ike]

[member="Dune Rhur"] [member="Nikias"]

There were people here, the force whispering and her other senses standing there in the jungle while she felt them but remained at a distance. Letting the force flow freely while she hopped up a little carefully onto one of the mushrooms leaping to another and another. Letting some of the plants out to be pungent and attract some of the rancors or arkleys. This was a prime place deep enough to have them be roaming around and she rather liked the idea of seeing what the two could do. Also served for distractions to increase the gap between them when she was advancing away from the other people. crystal might have suggested she wear them down and go for the mental assault of fear and insanity... which she could do.

 

[Dune Rhur]

Dune followed behind Nikias, letting him lead with his greater experience in tracking. Around them, the jungle stirred as creatures dashed through the trees, prey animals' instincts assuming some danger to them. Dune pulled up in a small clearing and shouted for the Hellyni to stop. The creatures were far too agitated for just the two of them, surely they must've seen and heard the Felucians running through the jungles before.

The danger sense hit him just before his auditory senses picked up the sound of something big crashing through the undergrowth. His eyes shifted to the left as the sound drew closer. "Rancor," he said shortly as he reached for his lightsaber. Nothing else here was that big, at least that he knew of. Then the creature came into the clearing, perhaps 100 meters away and Dune frowned.

"A calf," he said as he noted it's smaller size, which meant...

The mother roared off in the distance, perhaps scenting the two Jedi near her progeny. He looked towards Nikias.

"We can't outrun her."

The calf had seen them, of course, and it's roar was a smaller echo of it's mother. Not threatening, the Bith decided, but calling to it's guardian. The mother roared in response and redoubled her pace, appearing seconds later. She snarled angrily as he stepped in front of her calf....

[member="Azlyn Ike"]
[member="Nikias"]

 

[Akhilleus]

[SIZE=10pt][member="Dune Rhur"] [/SIZE][member="Azlyn Ike"]

[SIZE=10pt]Skidding to a halt Nikias turned to Dune with a look of confusion upon his face. Nikias thought they were getting closer to their prey and was hesitant to give up the chase. Even with the amount of wildlife that had seemed to become active Nikias thought it best to reach whoever had the holocron first before worrying about such things. Though Dune was the knight, so he was somewhat obliged to obey. Turning back Nikias froze opening his ears and listening to the forest around them[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]he could certainly hear the hoots and screeches of the wildlife as though something was upsetting them though due to his lack of telepathic abilities Nikias had no clue what was truly going on. Nikias heard the loud crashing and his eyes narrowed. There were Rancors on his homeworld and they had proved themselves to be incredibly dangerous creatures. Nikias wasn't to keen on having to face one down either[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] it would be a waste of energy and would draw time from their hunt.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]dRAWING his own saber not yet activating the weapon. He wanted to see what the Rancor would do first as if he had to spend more time dodging it would be better to do it without the saber activated. The appearance of the infant rancor also made Nikias scoff[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] he had thought they'd be dealing with a bigger threat. Though he was soon proved right as the heavy footsteps and roars of the second rancor reached his ears. Mama rancor exploded out of the forest to protect her young and step in front of it. "Just great." Nikias said looking over to Dune. "So any plans?"[/SIZE]

 

[Azlyn Ike]

[member="Dune Rhur"] [member="Nikias"]

The sounds or rancors had her attention but Azlyn wasn't staying there, she agreed with a simple premise... if someone is chasing you and a monster attack... Be somewhere else. SHe could let them fight the rancor and if they survived well then they learned something and she had more then enough time to get away from them leaping into the air and kicking off the head of a larger mushroom to leave less of her trail behind. She anglered for the bark of some trees and kicked off again making her path zig and then zag instead of remaining in a straight line. She could keep this up for hours if there was enough in the way and not give them a trail while working to attract the arkley to the different locations... keep them guessing and put up hazards right when they near the goal.

 

[Dune Rhur]

"Oh yes, lots," the Bith replied absently without taking his eyes off of the mother. "Most of them involve living past this point."

He began to quickly study the surroundings while still trying to keep the slobbering monster in his field of vision. The mother rancor roared again and began to come forward quickly. That decided things for them and Dune shouted "Jump!".

Suiting his own words, he called on the Force to aid his leap onto the mushroom-like fungus' cap to his left. The Padawan went to the right and just in the nick of time as the rancor was nearly on top of them. It screamed in frustration as it missed with a deadly, swiping claw that would have eviscerated the Hellyni.

The relief he felt was short-lived as the beast began to hack at the fungus in an attempt to bring the Bith back to the ground. He looked from the huge creature to Nikias. "Let's go!".

With that, Dune leapt to the next cap not far away with, he grimaced, the angry mother in hot pursuit....

[member="Nikias"]
[member="Azlyn Ike"]

 

[Akhilleus]

[SIZE=10pt]"Yep... Survival. Thats high up on my list as well." Nikias said as he turned to face the coming Rancor. Though before he could do anything Nikias heard the Jedi Knight scream for him to jump. Due to his lack of being able to boost his body with the force Nikias instead had to settle for a roll to the right that carried him out of the Rancor's range of attack. Nikias could feel the wind whoosh buy from the sheer strength and speed behind the blow. Looking up Nikias saw Dune on top of one of the giant fungi that extended from the ground. Nikias himself wouldn't be able to get up that high, so instead he did what he had to do. "Go on without me! I'll stay here! Go get the holocron! I'll catch up!" Nikias himself wasn't able to use neither control abilities such as boosting his own prowess nor telepathic, or most other abilities that were taught at the academy. All he had going for him was his telekinesis and his shield. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]So while the rancor tore at the fungi trying to get at Dune Nikias leaped as high as he could and activated his shield that snapped on similar to a lightsaber. Followed by the smell of ozone Nikias landed on the rancors back and by raising and bringing down his shield in swings from left to right he carved into the beast’s thick hide. The shield worked just as good as a lightsaber and due to its size it was able to cut through alot more of the rancors body. With a mighty roar the rancor reared back trying to shake Nikias off her back but he held on trying to buy time for Dune to follow after whoever had stolen the holocron. If the rancors were the first Nikias was sure there'd be other challenges ahead. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Hanging on for dear life Nikias was finally tossed free from the back of the beast but not after dealing a significant of damage to its back. The beast moved slow having trouble with keeping up through the infant Rancor didn't seem to like anyone fighting its mama and rushed Nikias with a roar. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt][member="Dune Rhur"] [/SIZE][member="Azlyn Ike"]

 

[Dune Rhur]

"[member="Nikias"], stop!,"

Besides that his attacks would further infuriate the dangerous beast, it was better for them to leave her be. She was simply protecting her offspring, driven by natural instinct. A rancor was not inherently evil though it may attempt to kill you.

Then the smaller, younger rancor began to rush to it's mother's defense. The Bith lifted a hand and thrust it out, sending a hard shove that sent the calf staggering. Seeing this, the mother bucked the apprentice hard and came for the one threatening her baby.

"Run!"

With the rancor in tow, he began to leap once again among the wild fungi....

 

[Akhilleus]

[SIZE=10pt]Here came Dune to the rescue having blasted the baby calf enough for it to stagger. Looking back to see that the Bith jedi had yet to leave Nikias frowned. The Bith would've stood a better chance of catching up to whoever had stolen the holocron if he had just continued onward. Rancor’s were common on Nikias' home world and he'd be able to handle one just long enough till he could escape. Though he did not argue as he saw Dune leap off among the fungi. Nikias wasn't able to do such things so instead he took the distraction that the Knight had caused to run back into the forest not in their direction and aim to pick back up the trail of the one they were hunting. It wouldn't help if Nikias ran the same way as the jedi knight with the rancor chasing him. Plus[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] the Bith probably could sense Nikias in the force if he needed to find him again. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Exploding through the underbrush at a run Nikias only stopped for a few seconds before reorienting himself with the tracks of whoever had come through before them. Though the further he followed Nikias noticed the footprints stopping at one spot and appearing in other places off to the far right or left of the past ones. Sometimes nowhere near where the last tracks had ended. Kneeling by a set of tracks Nikias examined them. They were to fresh and showed no signs of one backtracking to hide their own tracks[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]and considering where they ended and kept starting whoever they were hunting was just as skilled at running. It would certainly take a while to make sense of all the broken tracks.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt][member="Dune Rhur"][/SIZE]

 

[Azlyn Ike]

[member="Dune Rhur"] [member="Nikias"]

She was still moving among the mushrooms and leaving as little trail as she could try while escaping. Stopping at some of the places she could find while some of the nysillin fields were down there with droids working and tending them. She could feeling some of the sections landing on a roof before she lept onto one while the saber activated and she wrapped the fiber cord around it to turn and guide it. The repulsor guiding her away as she gripped the saber in her other hand watching some of the other things on the ground. She started sending it up a little higher and faster over one of the lakes with her body crouched. Creating a smaller area with the white-blonde hair blowing in the breeze.

 

[Dune Rhur]

Meanwhile, Dune was half running and half leaping with the angry rancor close behind. Nikias' actions had enraged the mother and she saw blood. He could hear the footfalls of the beast as much as feel them. Then, ahead of him, he could feel the Dark Side presence.

He would've sighed if he had a chance. When it rains, it pours thought the Bith. But then, he had an idea just how to hit two bird with one stone. The Jedi redoubled his pace, soon coming close enough to make out the streaking Dark Side presence not far ahead of him.

The screams of his pursuer told him that she was still not far behind and he drew his lightsaber. He didn't bring it to bear against his attacker, but rather, after activating it he made an underhanded toss ahead. The pinwheeling saber passed by the Dark Sider and severed the branch they were about to land upon....

[member="Azlyn Ike"]
[member="Nikias"]

 

[Akhilleus]

[SIZE=10pt]Nikias had truly gotten himself lost trying to follow the tracks that had been left by whoever they were chasing. They had suddenly ended and he was sure he'd traveled in a circle. In the distance Nikias could still hear the roars of the rancor and began making his way in the same direction as it to find Dune Rhur and deliver the bad news. There was nothing more Nikias could do when it came to following the trail[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]everything had gone cold. Whoever they were hunting knew what they were doing when it came to leaving fake tracks and losing their pursuers[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]but Nikias was sure they hadn't been able to leave the planet yet[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]and if they had been dealing with anything like him and Dune were they'd probably had been slowed down as well.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Nikias wouldn't be able to catch up to Dune and the rancor if he followed the sound so instead he made his way diagonally through the forest in an attempt to cut Dune and the rancor off where they would be and not where they were. At a dead sprint Nikias ran through the forest[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]having come from being on the battlefield such things were common place to Nikias and looking up he heard the sounds of the rancors roars growing closer. He was getting close and as he entered into a clearing Nikias heard a faint whirring sound that slowly grew louder. He knew what it was. A lightsaber. Nikias thought and looked up to see a lightsaber whirling through the air[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]noticing it was Dune's[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Nikias realized just how close he'd gotten to them when the rancor exploded from among the fungi and almost trampled him. Rolling out of the way Nikias dodged his fate and hopped on the creatures back not attacking it this time and instead using it as a beast of burden to close the distance between him and Dune. [/SIZE]

[member="Dune Rhur"] [member="Azlyn Ike"]

 

[Azlyn Ike]

[member="Dune Rhur"] [member="Nikias"]

She was keeping her senses forward with the faint look back to see what they could do. Between the two of them chasing it was intriguing when she heard the rancor screaming tightening the grip on her saber but keeping it deactivated for the time. The cord was more then strong enough to do the things she needed while keeping the droid flying forward so the knight could keep some of the distance between them. They were running after her with a rancor between them and she was up in the air to avoid it while uncertain if the two could see her she saluted keeping the speed while climbing up a little higher.

 

[Dune Rhur]

Dune saw his blade sever a branch not far from where the Dark Sider was flying on some droid. He also narrowly missed Nikias who was...riding the rancor?! He had to shake off his bafflement and do something quickly before she got away. It was a female, he could tell now.

Reaching up, he caught his returning lightsaber and he focused himself, pulling up for a moment. Thrusting out his hands, he sent a strong wave of telekinetic energy towards the attempted escapee. Not enough to kill but certainly enough to knock her droid off course....

[member="Azlyn Ike"]
[member="Nikias"]

 

[Akhilleus]

[SIZE=10pt]Riding the rancor had to have been one of the most exciting and terrifying moments Nikias had ever had in his life. He hung tightly onto the creatures back as it chased after Dune and felt his body pumping with adrenaline. Nikias may had just invented a new sport they could televise on his homeworld. Rancor racing[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt],[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] they would possibly make a killing in the market as the only world insane enough to do such a thing. The creature was so enraged at the Bith that it didn't even notice that it had picked up a passenger. Branches passed scratching at Nikias' skin oen even leaving a nick across his right cheek. Looking up into the sky he saw just what Dune was trying to bring down. Standing upon a droid high in the air Nikias could see a women upon it. She was getting extremely far now and gaining distance on the pair[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]if they couldn't stop her the holocron would be gone.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Reaching out with his left hand at the same time as Dune[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Nikias aided the bith. Though instead of releasing a push Nikias used a grip. The invisible hand of the force reached out and wrapped itself around the droid that the women was using to escape. The grip would tighten around the droid holding it in place causing the thrusters to struggle in the grip till Dune's own telekinetic blast could reach it. At the last second Nikias would release the droid to the wave would hit it and send it tumbling out the sky. [/SIZE]

[member="Dune Rhur"] [member="Azlyn Ike"]

 

[Azlyn Ike]

[member="Dune Rhur"] [member="Nikias"]

She felt the droid jerk and sputter there for a moment, struggling while her hand shifted the small device with the fiber cord from her belt to her wrist holding it steady as she brought her saber back to her hand. Leaping down to stand there in front of them two and wait for them to arrive. Her bangs getting blown out of the way with a quick breath, she could let them come and meet her while getting to a seat and hearing the other creatures around. Reaching out with the force as Crystal had taught her to saturate the area and allow them to feel more fear and unease around the area she was in. Her saber was ready for anything but she could sit right there ready to begin a fight if they came at her.