Private New Beginnings

[Gwyneira Vizsla]

It was over.

She had left the Eternal Empire for good.

After spending some time doing everything she could to make sure she wasn't tracked, she slumped back in her seat. She sighed, lifting her hand to her head as she rubbed her tired eyes. Exhausted did not even begin to describe how tired she was. In her ship, the Mercury Courier, she slumped as she looked over to her lover, Jac'Eli'Zirem. The half-Chiss had aided and helped her the entire way through, and he had offered her refuge in the Mandalorian Enclave.

Of course, now they had to get there.

Now parked, tucked away in an asteroid field on a tiny, dead dwarf planet, Gwyneira turned to him with all the appreciation and love she felt towards him. She really owed him. Head against her seat, circles under her eyes, she asked.

"What now? We call your friends in the Enclave?"

Her sheer tiredness may had made her come off as more blunt than intended, but her weary body language and softer, hoarse voice reflected her true disposition. Thankful and in desperate need of sleep, and still needing to sort things out before sleeping.

Eliz Krayt Kranak Vizsla

 

[Eliz Krayt]

This was the only outcome he could see to help her move forward. Gwyneira Vizsla had been loosing more and more sleep every day, and it angered him. How could it not? There was such a weight on her shoulders that she didn't ask for. The Empire didn't care about honor. Just blind loyalty. So when she wanted to leave? He was immediately supportive of the choice. More than that, he dived right into helping her figure it out.

Going Awol was it's own issue. One she'd need protection from.

So he reached out to the only person he could think to. Kranak Vizsla had saved him as a boy. Helped him to become something more worthy of being called Vod. They would meet up with him, and he would help.

"Vod, yeah. They'll help keep you safe." He smiled some, gently running a hand through her hair. Trying to help her relax. She was safe here. "I've been thinkin'. You.. I want to teach you how to be Mandalorian."

 

[Gwyneira Vizsla]

Gwyneira sighed. As Mini took over the controls in the background, she leaned against Eliz. Well, he made quite a proposition. Mandalorian! They were incredible warriors with deep culture and history. She was lucky to be in a relationship with one. Yet, as much as she wanted to come closer to her beloved this way, she had more to consider as well. Why would she be joining? Just for Eliz? She joined the Eternal Empire based off of concepts and philosophies, then had been blindsided by the authoritarianism and cold, brutal military. Would she be making a similar mistake if she joined the Vod?

She sighed, closing her eyes as he caressed her. "I think I'll need time to consider. I can't join for a selfish reason, like just wanting to be with you. The Mandalorians deserve better than that." Still, she opened her eyes and gave him a weak smile, "But your offer is most certainly appealing. I just need to know I'm joining based off of two things, knowledge and conviction. I joined the Empire based on conviction alone, with zero knowledge, and it cost me. I can't make the same mistakes this time around."

Eliz Krayt Kranak Vizsla

 

[Kranak Vizsla]

S A F E H O U S E

Location: Kestri, 60km West of Tor Valum, In a Forest
Local Time: 05:19
Date: -DATA CORRUPTED-
Primary Objective: Hunt Breakfast
Secondary Objective: N/A
Equipment: Loadout 1 (Primary, Secondary, Dual Pistols, Grenade Bandolier left behind in his ship. All electronics turned off, save for helmet commlink. Wearing hooded poncho, camouflaged white)
Tags: Eliz Krayt | Gwyneira Vizsla

It was another beautiful morning in Kestri. The Supercommando was at the start of his one week leave from The Kom’rk after he and his squad had aced the arduous training and exercise they had gone through, similar to other squads that had made it this far into their training. None of them were disqualified, but the same could not have been said for other squads. The Iron Barracks that once teemed with many Mandalorian warriors volunteering to prove their worth and join the ranks of the esteemed Si’kahya were reduced to a handful of squads. The process was brutal, and no exceptions were made.

A large silhouette walked under the thick branches of the trees surrounding him with a spear in his hands. The man wore a long hooded poncho; it’s hood was draped over his head. Strings, meshes colored to blend in with the snowy environment around him were tied and attached on the poncho’s webbing for camouflage purposes. There were leaves and brushes inserted under the webbing as well.

The giant strode the snowy terrain with cautious steps as he held a bushcrafted spear in his hands. The tip of the spear was adorned with fresh, sharpened bones of some small game he had killed not too long ago, but their flesh was not enough to satiate his hunger and get him started with the day. He had his eyes set on a bigger prey. He was tracking a four legged, herbivorous creature for the past thirty minutes. He could hear the animal dine on the vegetation up ahead, about twenty meters to his north, behind a small group of bushes and trees.

Walking crouched, and using the terrain features to his advantage, he moved silently to the west instead of going straight at the creature. He didn’t have a clear angle to throw his spear at the creature from where he stood. He needed a better angle.

The Supercommando halted crouched next to some snow covered rocks as he gazed at his breakfast. It continued to devour the leaves off a large bush, unaware of its impending sudden demise. The Supercommando’s poncho and form fitting flightsuit rustled ever so gently as he assumed the proper position to throw the spear while he stood up; He held the spear at the middle of its shaft at its balance point. The spear was raised up to the side of his head, parallel with the ground. The giant took one step forward towards the animal to gain momentum behind his throw as he kept his footing about a shoulder-length apart.

He turned his body slightly sideways to create a release angle a second before he was about to throw the spear. But then, his commlink built-in to his buy’ce blared into his ears just as he threw it; The spear faintly whistled as it was shot towards the animal with immense speed. The spear disappeared inside the large bush the creature was dining off of. Now alerted to its hunter’s presence, the creature took off running to the north. The mild nuisance the notification caused him to miss his mark by an inch. <”Aaaah, kark!”> The giant cursed out loud in anger and frustration as he made his way towards the large bush his spear was buried in. Frustrated, he reached for the small switch at the left side of his helmet and turned on his buy’ce to check the unexpected commlink message that caused him to miss. His interactive heads-up display turned on; the helmet’s visor glowed in a lively white in a few moments after pressing its power button.

With a pre-recorded movement of his eyes, he opened the commlink message and read its contents as he retrieved his spear and sat on a snow covered rock. His anger and frustration subsided quickly as he read. It was from Eliz. The young lad only contacted him on serious matters. He would unintentionally put on a steely gaze as he read his message.

He was in need of a place to lay low for awhile. He had a girl with him, named Gwyneira Craft. Apparently she had gone AWOL* (Absent Without Official Leave) from the Eternal Empire after what had transpired in Lwekk. Apparently, she was ordered to subject the planet to orbital bombardment during the Empire’s conquest of Lwekk. Wanting nothing to do with the Empire afterwards, she had chosen to defect. The giant slowly nodded as he read the message. He understood her reasoning. There was no glory, nor honor in senselessly laying waste to a civilian populace, no matter the justification. It was a dishonorable act.

He heaved a sigh once he was finished reading Eliz’ message. He would of course help him, but this wasn’t how he imagined he would start his one week leave. The giant would send him his response. The message would include detailed instructions to head to one of his safehouses in Kaddak, the one he had used as his base of operations a few months ago while he was dispatched on a reconnaissance mission to gather information on the planet’s various crime syndicates. He made sure to mention which routes to take to remain concealed from any curious eyes once they were in the city, especially in the slums, and the tripwire boobytraps set in various floors on the staircases leading up to the safehouse. Kranak trusted Eliz enough to cover their tracks as they got there, so he didn’t find the need to give him instructions on how to do that. He sent the message as soon as he wrote it.

The giant then stood up from the rock and continued with his hunt. He had ample time to get to Kaddak and get set up for their arrival. But first, breakfast.

After hunting the animal, he would cook a good chunk of its delicious flesh over a wood fire and have his breakfast. He would be donating the rest of the flesh and offals to a butcher he knew in Tor Valum before heading to his gunship to travel to Kaddak.

Location: Kaddak, City Slums, Abandoned Apartment Complex, 104th Floor, Safehouse
Local Time: 11:39
Date: -DATA CORRUPTED-
Equipment: Loadout 1 (No Medical Backpack)

The white fluorescent lights came to life with the flick of a button, illuminating the Safehouse. The safehouse was in a much better state compared to what it was a few months ago during Kranak’s reconnaissance mission on Kaddak. Three high quality durasteel barricades were positioned looking towards the apartment’s entrance in the entrance hall. Past the entrance hall lay the living room. The living room consisted of some cheap furniture, a television set with a small flat screen situated on the television stand in front of the couch. There was a pile of holobooks on top of a small table next to the couch. Their contents were mostly about outdoor survival techniques, and several issues of Blaster Digest. The windows of the safehouse were covered with durasteel plating painted black, for both cover and concealment purposes.

To the right was the open kitchen in the living room with a kitchen sink, cooker, some cooking ware and complemented with a refrigerator. There were just a handful of cutlery, glasses, cups and dinner plates in the cupboards. The ferro-crete floor was relatively clean, save for a thin layer of dust. He hadn’t paid a visit to this safehouse in the past three weeks after all.

To the left, near the corridor that led to the master bedroom was his workbench and gun cage.

Closing the thick, armored door behind him and engaging its locking mechanism by uttering a code phrase to his interactive heads-up display, the giant passed the barricades and made his way to the kitchen to make caff for himself, Eliz and Gwyneirahimself. While the water for it boiled on the cooker, he would unsling his ENCL-36 Paranaor Blaster Rifle and Scatter Gun from his chest and backplate off his left shoulder and toss them on the couch as he walked to his workbench. His broken Verpine Shatter Battle Rifle rested on the table, disassembled into its parts. It’s barrel blossomed like a flower. He hadn’t had the time to fix his rifle after the fight that ensued in Kaddak. He was hit by a tank shell, and the shell’s overpressure had severely damaged the rifle.

He would be passing the time working on the battle rifle while he waited for their arrival, while waiting for the caff to be ready.

 

[Eliz Krayt]

"Well, Kranak knows a lot about being Mandalorian. I do too, technically. We can teach you whatever you'd like to know. Everything we can." Well, the idea of teaching Gwyneira Vizsla his culture was something that obviously excited him. For more than one reason, admittedly. Teaching her his culture, growing closer with her. Maybe taking this to another level? No, no no no no he was getting ahead of himself. He cleared his throat, turning his gaze away from her for a moment.

And to the message from Kranak Vizsla . He nodded once as he read through it. Yeah, that made sense. He went right to setting up the coordinates to get them moving, but not before glancing to Gwyn again. With a smile he leaned over, gently kissing her cheek. "rest up, we'll be there before you know it, alright?"

 

[Gwyneira Vizsla]

Gwyneira sighed, leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes. Honestly, she wanted to both stay here and go to her bed. It was so hard to decide. Then again, her brain was fried from. Well. Everything.

She opened her eyes again, gazing into the hypnotic hyperspace blues before them, "Are you sure you and Mini got this?"

Her voice was sleepy and kind of absent. Looking back to a second ago, it was a stupid question. Of course they had it! She had always been able to rely on Mini to take over the ship, and she trusted Eliz with her life! Literally, right now. She closed her eyes, just wanting to shut off. But she wanted her bed.

With another sigh, she shook her head, "Just... I'm not thinking right now. I want my bed, but I don't want to get up and walk and stuff."

Yes, she was asking Eliz to carry her once again.

Eliz Krayt Kranak Vizsla

 

[Eliz Krayt]

Eliz did his best not to snort.

No he ended up snorting anyway. With that, he let himself fully chuckle before reaching out to casually lift Gwyneira Vizsla up into his arms. "Alright." He was spoiling her, sure. But after everything, she deserved it. With her in his arms he walked to her bedroom, laying her out on the mattress. Tucking her in as he did the first night they truly let themselves care for one another.

"Sleep well, cyare. I'll wake ya up when we get there." He patted her head and offered a smile. She could use all the sleep she could get, if she could get it. He left the room and went back to Mini, nodding to the droid. They got this. The time passed, and they'd arrive at their destination. Eliz wasn't much of a pilot, so Mini ended up being the one to land the ship some distance from the slums Kranak Vizsla had told them to arrive to. A safehouse. It wasn't what he expected to be offered, but it was far better a place for Gwyn to lay low for a bit.

Once the ship touched down he re-entered the room the hybrid was sleeping in. A faint smile formed as he slipped onto the bed beside her, reaching out to touch her cheek. "We're here, cyare."

 

[Gwyneira Vizsla]

As expected, but still much bemoaned, Gwyn was unable to sleep soundly. Her dreams were nightmares, and she woke up to flashbacks. Everything the past several days had been a massive blur, and her sleep was likewise. She slept, sure. She entered the deepest levels of sleep, but her deep sleeps contained the most surreal night terrors of them all.

Her unpleasant rest was interrupted when Eliz announced their arrival. She turned her head and kissed the hand he placed on her cheek. She sighed, "I need lots of coffee."

Oh yeah, they were out of coffee.

Gwyn groaned and sat up, feeling a strange mesh of heartily rested and uneasily drained. It was bizarre. She shook herself, her bedhead probably being more of a tangled rat's nest than Eliz had ever seen. She swung her legs over the bed, slumped, "I'll get ready 'n stuff. Thanks."

Soon enough, she had changed (whether or not Eliz stayed with her) into tight black sweat pants and agile goth boots. She pulled a shirt over her head, one of her sassy edgy ones. The sharp I don't have time for your bantha poodoo against the pitch black t-shirt was something that got her looks on the streets of Vengard before. She pulled a black leather jacket on, unbuttoned and hanging. She pulled the cloth hood over her head and additionally packed.

She wrapped her sniper rifle up in heavy cloth. She threw her smaller weapons, changes of clothes, some sketch books and art supplies, and some engineering holobooks and holograms into a bag. Engineering tools and supplies also went into the bag She slung all of it over her back and strapped her combat knife onto her belt. Then, she turned to leave.

She approached the door and looked down to her loyal droid, Mini. She patted the astremech's dome and smiled faintly, "Stay here, buddy. Somebody needs to watch my baby while we're in hiding."

The droid beeped in response and pushed gently against her leg. Then, he turned to return to his duties at the cockpit. Gwyn sighed, pulling some of her dyed hair over her face. "Well, here and ready and stuff. I hope there's coffee where we're going."

Eliz Krayt Kranak Vizsla

 

[Eliz Krayt]

Ah, yeah. Coffee. He chuckled nervously. They should have really restocked. Though they were in a hurry. Eliz would just have to buy something for them when they made it to town. At least he could move around freely. Gwyneira Vizsla though.. He watched as the hybrid got dressed, mild concern in his eyes. This was good, for her. Getting away from the Empire, away from that poisoned responsibility they pushed on her.

But would she really be alright with being in hiding?

He tugged on his own clothing, similar in style to hers. Though, without the swearing t. His armor was tucked in his pack, just in case anyone was looking for him under the assumption they'd find her. Never could be too careful. "Building we're going to won't be the best of places, but it'll be safe. You ready?"

Kranak Vizsla

 

[Gwyneira Vizsla]

Gwyneira sighed, nodding. She was too tired still. She was just going to let Eliz handle it all. As the doors opened, Gwyn scowled. Oh, this planet was a dump. Half ruined, run down buildings, criminals visible yet keeping to themselves in every alleyway. The vegetation was overgrown, and poor lower class citizens were always on guard. As they walked through town, passing a twi'lik mother in shabby garb watching her children play closely, Gwyn was assaulted with memory upon memory of her own home growing up.

Her mother's tenet. Her mother's crime ridden, run down, filthy tenet. Living on a planet run by Arkanians, anyone not Arkanian was forced to live as servants or as criminals. Either way, in a poorly maintained, poorly hygienic, highly unstable living space. Gwyneira pulled her hood tighter over her face, trying her best to hide the distaste from walking through a place so similar. These slums were awful. The familiar smells of drugs slammed into her nose. She sneered as she smelled her mother's favorite, death sticks, amongst them.
She kept close to Eliz, even holding his arm, as they steadily made way to their destination. Dodging tripwires and cables, and sneaking through alleys and dirt streets, they eventually were standing in front of the heavily guarded door if their hideaway.

Gwyneira let go of her grip hold on Eliz's arm, but she stayed behind him. Whoever he had contacted, could they be trusted? Would they scorn or misuse her like the rest? It was obvious Eliz trusted this contact, Gwyn wanted to too. But why couldn't she?

Perhaps, the journey here just put her off a bit.

She adjusted the equipment on her back, nervously looking to Eliz, "This is it?"

Eliz Krayt Kranak Vizsla

 

[Eliz Krayt]

"This is it." Eliz didn't pay much attention to the town. Well, any more than he normally would. It was important to be aware of his surroundings. Something Kranak Vizsla had taught him, amongst other things. It'd be good to see the giant again, even with the circumstances as tense as they were. He'd click the com first, giving Gwyneira Vizsla a brief nod as he took the lead.

Never could be too safe.

"Su cuy'gar! Kranak, you here?"

 

[Kranak Vizsla]

S A F E H O U S E

Location: Kaddak, City Slums, Abandoned Apartment Complex, 104th Floor, Safehouse
Local Time: 12:05
Date: -DATA CORRUPTED-
Primary Objective: Assist Fellow Vod and His Companion
Secondary Objective: N/A
Equipment: Loadout 1 (No Medical Backpack, Scatter Gun left behind on a couch.)
Tags: Eliz Krayt | Gwyneira Vizsla

The giant sat on the metal foldable chair at his workbench after coming back from the kitchen. He had just brewed the caff. The smell of fresh hot caff wafted in the living room as he sat down. His mind was occupied with Eliz and his friend as he picked up the damaged parts of the battle rifle, continuing to do maintenance on the broken or damaged parts, trying to salvage them. They were supposed to be here by now. They were ten minutes behind schedule. Did they get into trouble? Did something happen to them? He had given Eliz detailed instructions for the paths they would have to take to get here safely.

He dropped the small, damaged Integrated Targetting Computer in his hands on the workbench as he stood up from his chair. The giant slowly paced back and forth with his left hand at his hip; his right hand grasped the rim of his faceplate where his chin would be underneath his helmet faceplate. His glimmering white visor glanced down. He was considering his options. They had to be somewhere in Kaddak. He would have to help Eliz if they somehow got into some serious trouble.

Just as the giant silently cursed, his interactive heads-up display notified him of a movement in the perimeter of the apartment complex. The giant stood straight with his hands dropping at his side and his head raised swiftly as he gazed at the data the movement sensors had sent him. Two contacts, moving close to each other. They were about three hundred meters away from the entrance of the abandoned apartment complex.

He had picked this structure for a reason. This part of the slums were mostly inhabited. There were weeks where not a single soul walked the streets over here. There was some gang activity here and there on a few occasions though. They would do some shady business with shady people, but those took place far from his safehouse. This place was heaven for someone looking to make a secret stash of weapons and gear, or a safehouse.

The contacts were getting close. He wasn’t sure if they were Eliz and Gwyneira, though. He only had motion sensors installed. He hadn’t installed cameras for surveillance yet. Springing into action, the giant walked towards the couch at a trot to pick up his blaster rifle from the couch and headed towards the apartment’s entrance. The Supercommando slung the rifle’s sling over his left shoulder as he positioned himself behind a durasteel barricade before the door. Assuming a combat stance, the giant kept the rifle in a low-ready position over his broad chestplate with his finger trigger resting on the trigger guard as he observed the movement of the contacts. They were coming closer. A few moments later, they entered the structure from the fire escape. He had set up explosive traps on both the main entrance and the fire escape. He was waiting for an explosive to gently shake the building now.

He waited, and waited, but his sensors did not pick up any of the explosive traps going off. The two contacts ascended floor after floor instead. The giant had carefully instructed Eliz on avoiding the traps’ tripwires in his message. It was them, then? He couldn’t exactly be certain though. Maybe the contacts were a pair of skilled bounty hunters dispatched to hunt him down, and they had found him. He had made a number of enemies during his time as a bounty hunter himself. He cursed at himself again for not installing cameras on the compound. The sensors weren't enough to identify the contacts.

It took the two unidentified contacts some time to ascend a hundred floors, naturally. The apartment’s elevator was not functioning, after all. The giant raised his rifle at the thick, armored door once he saw the contacts were on the hundred and fourth floor and continued to wait as he watched the two blips in his interactive heads-up display coming closer to the safehouse’s entrance.

The contacts stopped right in front of it. <”Alright, let’s see who you are.”> The giant muttered to himself slowly as he turned on his rifle’s glowrod attachment by the left side of the rifle’s barrel. The glowrod casted a very bright white light over the door. The giant gave a verbal command at his interactive heads-up display to unlock the armored door, and open it afterwards.

Following his command immediately, the door’s locking mechanism let out a series of muffled clacks as it unlocked itself. The armored door then retracted to their housing in the floor and the ceiling with a woosh as it opened. He heard his helmet commlink crackle to life just as the door opened.

”Su cuy’gar! Kranak, you here?”

The flashlight shone brightly on the two rather short individuals in front of the door as his vigilant gaze scanned them both for a few moments. They were wearing similar attire to one another. Jeans, leather jacket and a hood over their heads. They were both carrying large packs, but one of them had a long object slung on their backs, wrapped in heavy fabric. Though that didn’t take a genius to figure out what was wrapped underneath it, especially a man like the Vizsla. It was a sniper rifle, larger than its user. The Supercommando turned off the blinding glowrod attachment as he lowered his blaster rifle, and eased his combat stance. <”You’re late.”> The lad had the Vizsla worried. He let out a sigh of relief as he beckoned them with his left hand to come inside. The door would shut and lock behind them as soon as they entered. <”Were you followed?”> The giant asked the two of them afterwards.

 

[Eliz Krayt]

To say he was blinded was an understatement. Without his helmet or armor, his senses were easy to overwhelm. Kranak Vizsla 's light left him utterly blind. With a hiss he covered his eyes with his forearm, trying his best to ignore the sudden migraine it brought on. Late. Right. Gwyneira Vizsla needed the sleep, but he should of sent word ahead at least. "My bad, ner vod." He didn't see the beckoning, though he did step in. He needed to get Gwyn out of the open. And away from the explosives inside. Good defense network, still spooky.

Good thing he didn't forget anything Kranak told him about the traps.

"Not by anyone I could see, and the sensor didn't pick anything up. Unless you've got some seriously rich enemies, I don't see anyone able to hide from me being hired after an awol soldier." That was the handy thing about his father's teachings. While he didn't learn much about his armor, he learned all sorts of things about infiltration and stealth. Including how to counter it.

Once inside and he heard the door shut Eliz started to rub at his eyes. Trying to get some sense of sight back after the bright light.

"Right. Gwyn, this is Kranak Vizsla. He laved my life once. There's no one I trust more to give you someplace safe."

 

[Gwyneira Vizsla]

Gwyneira was wondering why so many meetings started with a gun in her face. She had ducked behind Eliz, kind of intimated by the hulking behemoth of a man. She even had reached for her knife. Yet, when the two men started speaking in friendly terms, she relaxed enough for Eliz to pull her into the building. As the door heavily locked behind them, Gwyn pulled down her hood. Her dyed hair half covered her face as she gazed around the dreary, bland room. Not only was Eliz right in this place not being well off, it was outright ugly!

Gwyneira noticed Eliz's struggle with the light. She was perceptive enough to have noticed his sensitivity to sensory input. She did her best to guide Eliz to the couch, really wishing she had invested in pain killers. Massaging him, hoping it would help his migraines, as Eliz introduced the giant as Kranak Vizsla. She had heard the name Vizsla before, yet she had little knowledge of them. Her desire for approval meshed with her growing distrust of authority figures. When everyone she ever had over her used, mistreated, and shunned her, it was hard not to be resentful. The Eternal Empire had only agitated her polarizing duality on anyone she would look up to.

Yet, Eliz trusted him. Gwyn trusted Eliz, ergo she should trust Kranak. She nodded faintly, her face a wall of hesitation, bitterness, and admiration as she spoke, "It's good to meet you, Vizsla."

Her exhaustion was obvious in her tone. Her slightly slurred annunciation and her best attempts at sounding pleasant sounding just like that, an attempt. She sat down next to Eliz, continuing to try to help his pounding head. She had not even bothered throwing her luggage on the ground. She looked back up to Kranak for a moment, looking like a skiddish cat who was worn from life on the streets. Her blank Arkanian eyes did not help to dampen the look. Then, she looked back to Eliz and reached up, pushing some of her hair behind her ear with her four digit hands.

Eliz Krayt Kranak Vizsla

 

[Kranak Vizsla]

S A F E H O U S E

Location: Kaddak, City Slums, Abandoned Apartment Complex, 104th Floor, Safehouse
Local Time: 12:08
Date: -DATA CORRUPTED-
Primary Objective: Assist Fellow Vod and His Companion
Secondary Objective: N/A
Equipment: Loadout 1 (No Medical Backpack, Scatter Gun left behind on a couch. Paranaor Resting against the frame of the doorway opening into the living room.)
Tags: Eliz Krayt | Gwyneira Vizsla

The lad had covered his red eyes with his forearm as he hissed. The giant would tilt his head to the left in intrigue. Was it because of the bright light? The giant would assume it was, but the young Mandalorian’s reaction was a bit extreme compared to a regular sentient. <Sensitivity to bright lights?> The giant thought to himself. He would keep that in mind for the future. The lad would answer his inquiry after apologizing for their delay by the doorway before coming in.

”My bad, ner vod. Not by anyone I could see, and the sensors didn’t pick anything up. Unless you've got some seriously rich enemies, I don’t see anyone able to hide from me being hired after an awol soldier.”

<Good, they were not followed, then.> Kranak thought to himself, his tensed muscles visibly relaxing. Though he assumed the Empire the girl fled from would send someone after her. Authoritarian empires such as the one she defected from didn’t take treason or desertion kindly, no matter the reason. The Supercommando nodded to Eliz as he let go of his large blaster rifle. The blaster dropped onto his broad chestplate, suspended on it by its sling. The lad spoke once more after he and the girl stepped inside.

”Right. Gwyn, this is Kranak Vizsla. He saved my life once. There’s no one I trust more to give you someplace safe.”

The giant gave a slow nod of his head at the young lass shielding herself behind the young Mandalorian. She seemed very tired, and somewhat intimidated. It wouldn’t be the first time for an aruetii to be afraid of his stature, and perhaps the faceplate of his buy’ce. His presence alone was enough to instill fear into lesser beings, and give a sense of safeness to his allies. Though she would be more relaxed around him if she got to know him, in due time.

The Supercommando turned around as he accompanied them inside to the living room. Noticing the young lad’s sensitivity to visual sensory input, and the fact that the glowrod had temporarily blinded him, the lass took Eliz’ arm and guided him to the couch. <”Make yourselves at home,”> Said the giant as he unslung the blaster rifle from over his left shoulder and leaned it against the living room’s doorway before heading towards the open kitchen in the living room. <”Must’ve been a tiring trip to Kaddak,”> Kranak said, referring to the lass' tiredness. <”Are you hungry? Want some caff? I just brewed some caff, actually.”> Said the giant Supercommando as he took a large caff mug from the cupboard and started to pour some jetblack caff for himself and added a few teaspoons of sugar and stirred it; the smell of fresh caff wafted in the living room.

If they were hungry he would offer them a thick slice or two of uj’alayi he had made not too long ago in the fridge. It would go great with the caff.

After serving them a mug of caff and a few slices of uj cake if they wanted some, the giant would grasp one of the chairs by the dinner table by its top railing with his left hand while he grasped his caff mug with the other as he set the chair in front of the two seater sofa where Eliz and Gwyneira sat. The giant sat with his legs extended and crossed. He removed his buy’ce with his left hand and set it on the ground next to him; the glimmering white visor faded into darkness as soon as he took it off.

”It’s good to meet you, Vizsla.”

The lass sounded noticeably exhausted as she extended her gratitude to Kranak while she massaged the young Mandalorian’s temples to ease his headache. The giant grinned in response. “Always a pleasure to help a vod out.” Kranak said as he shifted his scarred face to Eliz. “Looks like you could do with some pain killers for that headache.” It was the caring combat medic within him talking. The well being of his vode was one of his top priorities, whether in combat or not.

 

[Gwyneira Vizsla]

Gwyn continued to massage Eliz's temples, even as the smell of coffee, precious coffee, tempted her. She asked for her coffee plain black and, because Eliz would not get off her case if she didn't eat, asked for a single cake. Sweets were okay to her. She grew up eating heavily processed, often times sweet, food. Since then she had developed more taste for savory, spicy, and bitter foods. Still, she set the small breakfast on her lap and nodded gratefully to Kranak when he talked about painkillers.

She gave Eliz a small kiss on the forehead, then finally started chugging her coffee. It was nice and hot, it felt incredible rushing down her throat like a river. She placed the empty cup down, wiped her mouth, then slowly took a bite of the Uj'alayi. She did not feel hungry, but she took it to keep Eliz from worrying. It was not nearly as processed, and not even as sweet, as the synthesized foods she grew up on. It was... nice. At least, she was able to eat it well enough not to have to feign enjoying food this time.

As she finally ate, she continued to gaze at Eliz in concern. She looked around the dreary, cold room. Right now, the darkness and lack of color was great for Eliz's head. Gwyneira, however, thought this place needed a makeover. Whoever between the three of them would be supplies running, she needed to remember to ask them for painting tools and equipment. She continued to keep close to Eliz, her anchor. She did not want to be overbearing, but she held one of his hands and kept her arm against his. She closed her eyes, still tired, as she ate the last bit of Mandalorian cake. She absentmindedly opened her eyes and picked up her cup, "A second cup would be nice. Where's your painkillers? I can get both."

Ah, yes, Gwyneira was already offering to be the convenient errand runner. The loyal task taker. It was instinct, it was all she knew to do. Despite being in such a poor state. She frequently closed her eyes and her body fell off balance, struggling to start awake. Still, she was useful as always. At least, she tried to be.

Eliz Krayt Kranak Vizsla

 

[Eliz Krayt]

Eliz stayed quiet for the most part. Really, he just didn't wanna end up groaning or complaining about the headache. Gwyneira Vizsla picked up on it though. She always did. He did his best to hide his smile as she tended to him. She always did, huh? Gwyneira Vizsla still had trouble putting herself first. At the mention of painkillers his vision had mostly returned, and so too did the headache mostly fade. "I'll be fine. It leaves as quick as it hits."

His body healed quick. Just was easy to overstimulate. Rapidly blinking he'd turn his attention to his own cup of caf, reaching out to take hold and take a sip finally. He did actually quite enjoy it, though movement caught his attention. Gwyn swaying? His eyes narrowed, trying to focus in on how she looked. Her face was just a blob of pink, white, and pale for him at the moment, but the movement wasn't something he could miss.

Rather than continue reaching for the caf, the hybrid instead reached over to her, stopping her from standing.

"There a bed for her to use?" Just as she had learned how easy he could get headaches, Eliz had learned to pick up on when she was pushing herself too hard. She needed sleep, and he'd make her go to bed if he had to. Even near blind.

Kranak Vizsla

 

[Kranak Vizsla]

S A F E H O U S E

Location: Kaddak, City Slums, Abandoned Apartment Complex, 104th Floor, Safehouse
Local Time: 12:10
Date: -DATA CORRUPTED-
Primary Objective: Assist Fellow Vod and His Companion
Secondary Objective: N/A
Equipment: Loadout 1 (No Medical Backpack, Scatter Gun left behind on a couch. Paranaor Resting against the frame of the doorway opening into the living room.)
Tags: Eliz Krayt | Gwyneira Vizsla

The Supercommando’s raised an eyebrow at the sight of Gwyn knocking the mug of hot caff down in one big swig. It didn’t seem like it burned her throat though. Shrugging, the giant took another swig from his own mug of caff in silence as he watched the two eat and drink. The girl spoke after she ate the last bit of her uj’alayi and grabbed her empty mug.

”A second cup would be nice. Where’s your painkillers? I can get both.”

The giant gave a nod towards the open kitchen behind them to the right for more caff. As for the painkillers, the giant unfurled his crossed legs and sat straight while he reached for painkiller tablets from his own IFAK at the back of his warbelt, right under where his left kidney would be. The young Mandalorian spoke as the giant Supercommando had reached for a painkiller pill tablet, kindly turning down the offer for a painkiller.

”I’ll be fine. It leaves as quick as it hits.”

The giant wasn’t going to insist. If he said he was going to be fine then he would. The press stud of his IFAK’s cover softly snapped into place as he closed the IFAK pouch. The Supercommando then took another sip from his caff as he stretched his legs to the side. Just as the young lass was about to stand up and get some caff for herself, Eliz reached towards her and gently stopped the lass from standing up.

”There a bed for her to use?”

Kranak nodded as he shifted his gaze to the pair of red eyes. The giant gave a curt nod towards the corridor behind them to the left of the living room before he spoke. “Second door to the right, Master Bedroom.” There was a king size bed with a pillow and a thick blanket and his wardrobe in the bedroom. He hadn’t invested much into the safehouse. He was content with the belongings he had in terms of furniture and the likes. It was far more than enough for the giant to get by.

The Supercommando spoke after he took another big swig of caff. He would stand up to get a refill for himself in a few moments. “You can use the wardrobe there to unpack your clothing and the likes if you wanted to.” There would be a lot of space in there, as he just had a pair of form fitting flightsuits, some casual clothing and undergarments.

 

[Gwyneira Vizsla]

Gwyneira wanted to protest at first. She just got some sleep! Not only that, but she just downed her first cup of caf! She additionally did not want to nightmares again, the terrible memories and twisted horrors her mind created based on them. Every time she closed her eyes to sleep...

Still, she was too tired to argue with Eliz. Her usual, snarky stubbornness was gone as she blankly nodded and stood up with her gear. "Okay."

She turned and trudged towards the bedroom. Just like the living room, this room was a bland and dreary place. Grey walls and boarded windows made for a grim resting place. With a sigh, she decided to buy some time for herself, before the nightmares, and put her clothes away. She shoved her outfits and undergarments into a corner of the large wardrobe, away from Kranak's stuff. Then, she leaned her wrapped rifle against the wardrobe and tossed her pack on the floor before giving in. She sighed, shrugging her jacket off. Then, she plopped onto the bed. She kicked her shoes off and pulled the blanket over.

It took a long time of twisting and turning before she fell asleep. And as expected, only nightmares awaited her.

She sensed it, under the atmosphere from where she was flying. Another commander was decimating civilian life down there. She heard the screaming, the agony. She heard them begging for mercy. Cries and shouts arose from the whole planet, mists of red arising from the atmosphere and surrounding Gwyn. The metallic taste of blood choked her as blood surrounded her and clogged her ship.

Eliz Krayt Kranak Vizsla

 

[Eliz Krayt]

Eliz 'watched' Gwyneira Vizsla walk away, though it was more staring at the blob of color he assumed was her once she got up. At least things were starting to get somewhat clearer. His red eyes closed, cutting off the dim glow as he rested his head back. There were some things he could help with, but the dreams she had, she needed to face them. Nothing could change what she'd done.

"I really appreciate this. All you've done. She needs all the help she can get, and there's only so much I can do." He didn't open his eyes to speak. While he said he was already feeling better, that was a lie. He really needed to get sunglasses or something to help him not get overwhelmed. Though even sunglasses wouldn't protect him against the glowrod Kranak Vizsla used.

"Do you know how to help someone with that? The nightmares?"