Private Nameless Heroes

[Sula Skirata]

The transport was listing, spinning slowly with its nose down, its engines were dead, but most of the essential life-support systems were still running, though for how much longer Sula was unsure. She cycled through the comms channels the ship was projecting, each one more sombre than the last.

Click...

The deep guttural growls and groans of the undying...

Click...

"Please, is anyone out there who can help us, please they are breaking through!"

Click...

the high pitch panicked screaming made her flinch...

Click.

She was frowning beneath her helmet, turning slightly to look at her clan mate beside her. Did he feel something? Despair? sorrow? Guilt?

"We can't help them." she stated as if it was needed. Was it needed? She certainly didn't feel any compulsion to help. Doing so would require a suicide run through the ship. She shifted in her seat, turning her attention to the scanners currently mapping the best entry point. "They are already dead. Although...." she tilted her head. "A freshly infected specimen would be a great help. Do you think we could capture one?"

There were some key point Sula had left out in convincing Shev Skirata to come along.

Like, she hadn't finished testing the cure yet because Akaan had worked half her experiment with a misfiring in her lab.

Like there was a 50:50 chance this would make matters worse.

Click

The screams filled the cockpit again. She didn't flinch this time.

Kurayami Bloodborn

 

[Shev Skirata]

There were some key point Sula had left out in convincing Shev to come along.

Shev's left eye twitched behind his visor every time Sula Skirata clicked a damn channel. Was he surprised there were twisted monstrous life forms at a place Sula wanted to be? No, no he wasn't. Was he surprised he had agreed to follow the woman knowing that she undoubtedly was going to find the worst possible place to be and ask him crazy questions? Yes, because she had said they were going to pick up parts and he, in his evident stupidity, didn't think she meant of former people.

"First, You're right we probably can't save them." He said calmly despite his internal screaming, "Secondly, pick a channel or turn it off. It's not holo reruns, and thirdly and most importantly why don't we just duct your goo into the air systems and feth off back to the ship?"

He shook his head frowning behind the visor and let his shoulders slump slightly.

"The stuff won't maintain effect as an aerosol, will it? That's why?"

He was starting to wish the creed didn't say to help other mandalorians.

Kurayami Bloodborn

 

[Kurayami Bloodborn]

Sometimes wandering near the site of where he knew bad times were waiting made Kurayami wonder just how it was he had managed to survive this long. He picked up on intermittent comms traffic from a transport that was heavily listing, dead in the water, minus some sparking from what power banks remained operational. Life support read as still working if only barely, so that was a plus he supposed. Another ship was nearby and all their systems seemed operational so that was definitely a big help in this case. Though the why of them being here was confusing. For him it was simple, he was here to eliminate the threat, make sure noting spread any further after his encounter onboard the Tavlar. So this was the easiest way to do that...utter annihilation.

Opening a channel to the other ship as he adjusted his course and began to work on targeting solutions he was even and non-threatening to those nearby. " Hey there, Kurayami Bloodborn if ya'll were curious. I dunno if you guys have had any fun with these abominations, but I don't much care to see them go anywhere else, so I popped over here in a little gunship I put together to vape them before they become much more of an issue. What brings you to this particular hellhole friends?"

While he awaited a response he pulled out his flask and took a swig smirking as R6 beeped and what could only be considered cursed at him for making him run the targeting calculations.

Sula Skirata | Shev Skirata ​

 

[Sula Skirata]

Sula gave her clan mate a long withering stare before closing down the comms from the listing ship. She shifted uncomfortably at his accusation.

"No, its not not an aerosol, I couldn't fully test it in the lab without risking infecting others. And Akkaan, destroyed my mole so..." she gestured at the ship "Field test." She tried not to melt under the hateful stare she was sure was coming her way from Shev and began to manoeuvre them towards the transport. "I just need you to cover my back...and help me get a live specimen to work with."

Shev was supposed to be watching the scanner for other ships, so when the voice came across their comms she jumped. Her t-visor swung to look at him, wondering if he had deliberately not told her out of spite. But as Kurayami's words sunk home and she watched him begin to trail over the transport, no doubt running targeting calculations, panic set in.

"NO!" she yelled over the comms. "Do NOT fire on that ship. I need it. I need the specimens within."

She adjusted their course, seeking to cut the gunship off.

Kurayami Bloodborn Shev Skirata

 

[Shev Skirata]

Her t-visor swung to look at him, wondering if he had deliberately not told her out of spite.

“Oh there’s a ship on scanners.” He said knowing fully he hadn’t said anything, “You probably didn’t hear me over the sound of screaming aruetii.”

He watched Sula as she responded to the other ship. She only ever showed emotions about science stuff and getting items to do science with.

“We’re calling you Beaker from now on.” He said utterly ignoring her inflated sense of urgency. “That’s your new call sign when we fly. If we find more Beakers you can be Beaker One.”

He got up from his seat and began preparing to board.

“If I can’t get a live sample you can name me next, Beaker.”

Sula Skirata Kurayami Bloodborn

 

[Kurayami Bloodborn]

"R6, you gotta be getting close on those calculations right? So what's with the hold up? I thought you were supposed to be superior to the R2 series." The questions and taunt were met with dissatisfied and sarcatic beeps at first before turning into a fullon screeching wail as the astromech disconnected from the socket. It took a moment for the reason to sink in but almost simultaneously with the transmission from the other ship it began picking up speed. And heading on an intercept course with, wait was it with him or the transport. Frakking hell no time to think. "R6 divert power from weapons to shields and lock yourself in place. We are about to start moving this ship out of her way. Our current drift rate will put us right in her path if we dpn't adjust. Strap in for a bumpy ride lil' buddy."

True to his word Kurayami punched the throttles to military power for a second, pulling them back to half before slowly easing them back forward while rolling the ship to the right, kicking on the pedals in the same direction, and smoothly pulling the stick back until it was fully deflected. It was by no means a snap roll but for something larger than a YT-1300 the resultant descending turn and displacement roll was surprising. He had half a mind to yell at the woman for her brashness, but something told him that she could be on to something as well. Even if she were more than slightly crazy. Reopening comms the annoyance was clear in his tone. "FINE. You want specimens? You got it. Next time though maybe give a little more warning before moving to cut off someone who is drifting. My astrodroid left me in the lurch and freaked so I had to course correct off the cuff. That aside, I'll help ya get the samples you need given what seems to be causing these zombies a cure or vaccine would be a very good thing. I'll gear up and meet you onboard."

Looked like he was going to fight more of the undead, so that was fun. the pistols he'd used on the Tavlar needed recalibration and some cleaning, so it looked like it was going to be DC-17m, MSD-32's, plenty of spare ammo, and lightsaber as a last resort. He sealed the helmet onto his Katarn Night Ops armor and awaited the reply from the other crew.

Sula Skirata | Shev Skirata ​

 

[Sula Skirata]

Sula ignored Shev.

It wasn't a deliberate calculated move to do so, its just that she'd lost interest in his words and was far more focused on the threat to her experiment.

"Your lack of attention to your surroundings is not my error, Bloodborn." she retorted, the panic and frustration that had erupted from her gone as she returned to her usual calm self, relaxed now that he was no longer targeting the ship. "I'm sending you viable entry options." A full scan of the transport, with docking points marked across it was sent, with one flagged blue to mark the entry point she and Shev would be taking. "We can meet in the control centre...or before. The specimens there will be the freshest. Skirata out."

She turned to look at Shev, confused that he was no longer in his seat, a glance over her shoulder at him preparing and she realised she had ignored him entirely. Frowning, she played back the conversation, the recording playing quietly within her helmet. A failsafe, for situations exactly like this one. She might be incapable socially, but she had been pretending at being a person long enough so create backups for herself.

"Beaker?" she turned it over slowly in her head. "Because I am a scientist." another long pause as she manoeuvred them into place with a docking point, waiting for the connection to pressurize.

"I don't like it."

Kurayami Bloodborn Shev Skirata

 

[Shev Skirata]

"I don't like it."

He finished typing out a message to the every pilot he had flown with letting them all know Sula’s new callsign and chuckled inside his buy’ce.

“Weird,” he said only half expecting her to even be listening, “Aaaand too late.”

He didn’t elaborate knowing that the lack of clear concise explanation would be enough to irritate her.

“I’ve got the packs ready.” He said continuing to put his weapons in order, with a karking whip cord this time, and stopped when her got to his beskad and Sula’s knife.

“Here, Beaker.” He said holding the knife out hilt first, “You dropped this on Yavin and we both got busy. It was your Buir’s if I remember.”

He didn’t give her a hard time about the knife. Just like she, either through not bothering to notice or genuine acceptance, didn’t give him a hard time about the creed. It was probably complete ignorance of the fact he didn’t remove his armor and didn’t turn down aid to other Mandalorians, but he appreciated it.

“Gifts from family are important. I should have made time to give it to you sooner.” He said before setting his blaster rifle to stun and charging his net launcher, “This is the way.”

Sula Skirata Kurayami Bloodborn

 

[Kurayami Bloodborn]

Well to say that he had lacked situational awareness in the moment wasn't entirely accurate or inaccurate. He had been paying attention to the displays and making sure that he didn't drift too close to what was soon to be a debris field, but then there had been a ship accelerating towards him at breakneck speed...so that took precedence. "Less lack of awareness and more making sure I didn't float into what was about to be a massive debris field filled with high speed shrapnel. Don't want to scratch the paint too much. Your stunt of comin' at me at damn near ramming speed. You are even more psychotic than I am. And that is sayin' something. Place to hook up is much appreciated ." Honestly, Kurayami didn't much care where they met up in the transport, it was going to be interesting to see how well he got on with this group though he had to admit he admired the pilots brazen approach to making sure he didn't take the shot, smirking he looked over the entry points nodding as he transferred the data over an encrypted connection to R6.

"Need you to get me to that marked point of entry. They are the blue point, the one I marked in green nearby is the destination. Keep the engines running just in case we need to get out fast. Well I guess just me this time, they got their own boat. Worst comes to worst I'll let you know to detach and nuke the whole thing, but It won't come to that. So just watch some holodramas 'til I get back." Sad beeps were intermixed with aggravated warbles and finally an annoyed, but afffirmative series of beeps as the astromech rolled off to guide the ship into position as the Corellian sat and started checking his weapons one last time before the chit really his the fan.

Sula Skirata | Shev Skirata ​

 

[Sula Skirata]

"Less lack of awareness and more making sure I didn't float into what was about to be a massive debris field filled with high speed shrapnel. Don't want to scratch the paint too much. Your stunt of comin' at me at damn near ramming speed. You are even more psychotic than I am. And that is sayin' something. Place to hook up is much appreciated ."

"I am not psychotic," Sula retorted. "I'm just a better pilot."

She rose from her seat as the lights flicked to green, indicating the connection was secure, joining Shev. Checking the fuel line for her flamethrower, collecting her rippers and sliding them into the holsters at her hips, before seizing a small chrome case and popping it open, revealing what looked like a dart gun, and three darts all filled with the same clear liquid.

She stared at it for a long minute, before snapping it shut and securing it at the back of her belt, when the glimpse of a familiar wroshyr wood hilt caught her eye.

“Here, Beaker.” He said holding the knife out hilt first, “You dropped this on Yavin and we both got busy. It was your Buir’s if I remember.”

She took it gently, studying it for a moment before slotting it into the empty sheath at her hip.

"This is the way." she repeated.

It was as close to a thank you he was going to get.

She picked up a shotgun, racking a fresh round into the chamber. "Lets go catch a zombie."

Kurayami Bloodborn Shev Skirata

 

[Shev Skirata]

He nodded as he adjusted his kit as they moved toward the airlock. His armored feet clicked on the Durasteel deck plates as he brought his carbine rifle up to his shoulder and looked back at Sula Skirata over his shoulder and held up a hand to count down on his fingers;

Three...

Two...

One...

He depressed the palm pad to open the door and began moving as the door slid aside with a rush of stale rancid air. Shev kept his barrel pointed slightly down as he watched his HUD for movement and sound indicators. His helmet filers working to full capacity. He wasn't sure who the other person was but he kept his eyes open for a non-zombie in the area. He hoped the guy, Kurayami Bloodborn wasn't another crazy. Sula was more than enough to keep track of for the day.

"I've got movement ahead." He said quietly, barely moving his lips, "about 50 meters."

The broken lighting flickered and sparked overhead as he brought his muzzle up and moved into a combat crouch as they walked. Slowly, he blinked his under barrel net launcher active. He said he would try and so he would.

 

[Kurayami Bloodborn]

Kurayami scoffed at her assessment. "That is a load of bullshit and you know it ma'am."

While R6 set to the task of clamping to the hull in the chosen location and began cutting through the hull, Kurayami checked back over his armor making sure once and for all everything was sealed and the plates were correctly attached to their harness points. Everything was solid as the maglock indicator switched from red to green and the droid gave a few annoyed sounds that he was to be left behind yet again. The Corellian just chuckled as he sealed his helmet in place as he approached the seal and waited for it to slide open so he could make his way into the ship beyond.

Bringing the DC-17m up into a ready position as he worked slowly forward toward the designated marker for the meetup. So far so quiet outside the normal zombies, but those he had managed to avoid drawing attention from so far. The Force was strangely hard to keep track of positioning right now due to the sheer amount of objects and even the sensors were having fun filtering all the noise. Two sudden spikes in life signs and through the Force drew his attention, those must be who he was meant to meet with.

Lowering the barrel of his rifle slightly, he did his best to hurry towards them without drawing any unwanted attention from shambling undead.

Sula Skirata | Shev Skirata ​

 

[Sula Skirata]

Sula moved with Shev, placing a hand on his muzzle to lower it. "Not yet. Lets get to the command centre first, might be a better sample there. Someone recently bit. Be good to see it properly instead of scavenging half rotten corpses."

She realised as she pressed close to the corridor walls, stepping as lightly as she could that "good" was probably a poor choice of word. She stopped and looked at Shev as a handful of zombies rounded the corner.

"That wasn't a good thing to say, was it?" she asked him as they shambled closer. "The data would be helpful, to better understand the developed of the virus, the speed at which it infects, how it impacts appearance, motor functions, speech. At what point do they lose sentience and become..." she looked at the nearest zombie "well...that."

CRACKBOOM

Its head vanished in a spray of gore and she racked the shotgun again.

"Its important data."

She moved forward, the ships layout blinking in her HUD as she pciked them a path towards the bridge. Carefully taking heads of zombies that lumbered too close. They weren't as fast as the moles and Hydra had been on Yavin, nor like those on Celanon. She wondered if perhaps the cold of space had something to do with it.

Kurayami Bloodborn Shev Skirata

 

[Shev Skirata]

Shev walked in a combat crouch his blaster carbine leading him forward. One shot in the head and one in the chest of each loathsome creature they approached...the ones that Sula Skirata didn't remove the heads from with her boarding shotgun.

"Yeah, probably don't say that to everyone." He said as they moved and were eventually joined by they're near miss friend from the other ship.

"Welcome to the star ship 'Undead hoard' dinner in the bridge." He said using his snarky humor to diffuse the fact they would probably be eaten by a virus that made people into slightly dumber hungrier versions of themselves. "I'm Shev and this is Sula. Clan Hydra. We'll be your escorts this evening."

He braced for Sula's response as He fired off a quartet of bolts killing two more zombies in rapid succession. He really was a good shot. He just preferred more meters between himself and what he was shooting.

Kurayami Bloodborn

 

[Kurayami Bloodborn]

"Well at least the atmosphere for dinner is a pleasant one. Company ain't too bad. Kriffing hell does the service suck though. Ordered my drink five hours ago and still waiting on my appetizer menu. Bastards just snarl and try to bite me. One star." Kurayami had no problem throwing the snark right back at the man. "Shev, Sula, pleasure to meet you both. Never heard of Clan Hydra. I'm not here on behalf of any clan. Was in the area after getting family out of a shitstorm the erupted on a training vessel. Heard it had spread this way, followed the trail."

He watched as Shev put two more zombies down, while his DC-17m was old it still packed enough of a punch to be effective against these hordes. Especially with the fact that these were not the fastest of the infected he had seen. He fell easily back into firing into the horde, quick taps of the trigger seding only singe bolts downrange to maximize the amount of kills per clip. Of course that meant more time aiming precisely for the head per shot, but Kurayami figured the trade off was worth it for the moment.

Sula Skirata | Shev Skirata ​

 

[Sula Skirata]

"The ship isn't called Undead Hoard." Sula retorted frowning beneath her t-visor though their companions response only deepened her frown until realisation dawned.

"Oh...you were... making a joke." she paused to try and decide if she thought it was funny, her shotgun disintegrating another zombie head as it came to close. She took point, leading the way through the corridors towards the bridge, not bothering to greet Kurayami, not because she didn;t care for him, but because she was trying desperately to understand the joke.

"Dinner on the bridge?" she muttered to herself as they reached the bridges barricaded doors, sliding the shotgun onto her back as she popped open a side panel pulling out the wiring and fiddling to get it open. "I'm reading eight life signs on the other side. Too few to be zombies. Maybe one infected if I'm lucky."

Oh wait, she wasn't supposed to say things like that.

She glanced at Shev, and then decided she didn't care and went back to rewiring the door to allow them access.

Kurayami Bloodborn Shev Skirata

 

[Shev Skirata]

Maybe one infected if I'm lucky.

"Maybe we can infect you and you can scribble notes about the experience quickly before the virus eats your brain?" He said as He covered her rewiring, "Has to be you though, I'm not smart enough to make the correct observations."

"She's always like this." He said to the newcomer, Bloodborn. "Very...clinically minded."

He knew she would take it seriously. He knew she would actually think about it for a minute. He just hoped he could stop her before she tried to follow through with it.

"Six o'clock, Bloodborn." He said as He fired His carbine down the corridor and into a zombie. The flash from the blaster bolt striking the walking corpses head illuminated that they had a whole gaggle-feth of trouble shambling their way.

"Sula. Door. Now." He said His voice gone cold and calculated as the humor went out of him, "I count twenty. Engaging."

He almost sounded like his cousin as he put his shoulder to the bulkhead and dropped to a knee before opening fire with a steady rhythm.

Kurayami Bloodborn Sula Skirata