On The Island of Misfit Toys (Siobhan)

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

The first rays of sunlight were just peaking over the horizon as Galina started to stir in her sleep. The hour of waking was coming, the same as it had been every last day since she'd arrived on the mysterious planet, and found herself trapped by a vast ocean, on a rather large island. Her only home, the only thing she'd known since the crash was the twisted wreckage and remains of her parent's ship.

A heavy sigh came as her eyelids fluttered in response to the brightening sky. It was time to get up, and begin what would always be a very long day. Sitting up slowly, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and threw back the furs from her makeshift bed. Taking her time, she slipped on the rather simple clothing that she'd crafted from animal furs and skins. Another moment, and she grabbed a small quiver of handmade arrows, and slipped it over her shoulder, then the knife that had laid beside her sleeping place, with care she placed it in a small pouch on her belt.

One more sigh and she pushed through the furs that constituted the door to her home. Well, at least it was the only home she really remembered. It'd just been far too many years of solitude, far too many years without outside contact, and survival took over. Warm fuzzy memories of her former life would do her no good here, so they were long ago locked away.

With another few steps outside her shelter, Galina knelt down beside the embers of the fire from the former day, and carefully added more tinder and fallen logs to it as she built the flames back up to a dull roar. Unfortunately for her, Galina had not ended up on one of the lovely tropical islands upon Kaeshana. No, she'd ended up further north, and in a colder region. The need to keep warm a constant. Not to mention fire was her life blood. It kept away insects, and other large animals as well as provided a source for her to clean her water, and cook her kills.

After she was certain the fire would hold for a while without constant tending, she set off into the woods. Her footfalls barely making a sound as she shifted her bow off her shoulder and drew a singular arrow from her quiver, knowing all too well she could stumble upon her next meal at any time, or just as likely a threat of some form that would need to be put down. None the less, it was just the start, she knew, of what would be a very long day. The girl needed to eat, and with some luck she might find something that could last her a few days.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Galina"]


There was much of Kaeshana that was still unexplored. Even after thousands of years of technological advance and decades of outside interference, so much of the planet was still a mystery to the Eldorai, the people who called it their homeworld and claimed dominion over it. Truth be told, the vast continent that comprised approximately 99% of the planet's land was strange enough and populated by dangerous beasts, the behemoths, which even the elves feared.


What was worse was that the seas which covered the rest of the surface were largely unmapped. Violent storms and sea beasts made these waters dangerous for travellers. Many explorers had paid the price and never returned from their ventures. However, changing was coming and orbital satellites had now mapped every kilometre of the enormous ocean and found interesting things. It on one such island that Eyrecae Alzari, a primeval Eldorai supersoldier from the Rakatan times, had been discovered.


It was rumours that had brought Siobhan Kerrigan, Vice President of Firemane Industries and a powerful noblewoman in her own right, here. Eldorai satellites had recently come across the island, life signs had been discovered. There was a small chance that there might be Rakatan ruins, in which case the government would like to know about it themselves before some intrepid adventurer happened on it and blew the whistle on things. It was perhaps her good luck that the island happened to be located in the far north and in a very cold region. As her shuttle descended down from the heavens and came in to land, It was a grim, inhospitable place she was landing on, of snow, dense forests that looked foreboding and plenty of fog.


Fortunately Siobhan's armour was sealed and her view-pieces had anti-fogging technology. A gust of a cold wind swept towards Siobhan as she exited her flying craft and beheld the forests before her. The chirping of birds could be heard. In the far distance she could see hints of a fire, which piqued her interest. A camp fire meant she was not alone on the island. Having double checked her weapons, she set off into the forest, stretching out with the Force in an attempt to get a reading on sentient life forms that may be lurking inside it.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Galina ducked instinctively as she heard the ship fly above the treetops. The noises it made, the sounds, had her guessing it had landed in the southern portion of the island. The idea made her heart pound within her chest as fear spiked within her mind. The last being that ended up on her island had tried to kill her. The poor sap had crashed here too, like her parents had.

Her mind instantly went to the fire... It was a quick indicator of where she was, where home was! Her supplies! She couldn't have that. In half a heartbeat she'd raced back to the camp and grabbed a bucket of water, dousing the fire, and grabbed one of the ratty spare furs she had, using it to smother the ashes to keep smoke from being a further clue. The last thing she needed was her camp being a compass right to her.

Panic welled up inside her, and now she grabbed the most important things at the campsite before taking off into the dense woods.With some luck she might be able to reach the old ruins on the island before the intruders found her. At least, she thought it was more than one. There was just a strange sense she had, almost like a gut feeling that told her there was someone else inside the ship.

As silently as the redhead could manage, she raced through the forest heading north. All that stood between her and the ruins was a small cliff, and a good mile of rough terrain. But there would be safety, cover, and protection. Right now, her only desire was to make it there before anyone could get the drop on her.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Galina"]


Siobhan had been advancing in the direction of the fire when it was put out. She was obviously too far away from it to see that Galina had tossed a bucket of water inside it, though it was probably a reasonable conclusion for her to presume that whoever was on the island as well had put it out in order to avoid detection. Unlike Coryth Elaris Siobhan was no empath and so the deep feelings of panic and fear that was Galina was experiencing would probably be not something she could detect, especially not at such a distance.



However, every sentient being has a presence in the Force. Perception was not Siobhan's strong point nor was tracking, but she could sense she was not alone well enough that she was not alone and follow the threads of the Force back to the source. There obviously many ways to track and pursue someone on the run. Some were more subtle, others were dramatic. Siobhan chose a course that was not even remotely subtle, but still terribly practical and satisfied her desire for dramatic. She drew upon the seemingly infinite energy field of the Force, absorbing a probably absurd amount of power as she let the energies through her body and animate her muscles. Then suddenly she leapt into the sky, jumping very, very high as she took off into the air like an organic rocket ship until she was gliding above the forests. Her position was not so high that those still on the ground would appear tiny to her and so she swept through the air in pursuit of her quarry.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Racing through the trees Galina couldn't help but focus on the world around her, without knowing it her senses spread out, reaching for signs of life. She could feel it now, a being approaching her quickly, which only enforced her sense of urgency. The girl needed to get to those ruins and yesterday.

Running, as fast as she could manage. The kid leaped over rocks, and fallen tree limbs and branches strewn across the forest floor. Her hands were shaking, though Galina barely noticed it at all. No, she was a little too busy with the whole running for her life thing.

The girl stumbled over a series of rocks upon a steep inclined section on the way up to the cliff, though that was still some distance. The landscape just steeply climbed the closer she got to the cliffs. Galina shrieked as she came down hard upon the stones, tumbling a little bit back down the slope. The redhead glanced to her wrist which had been brutally gashed by the razor sharp rocks. Blood dripping down her arm at a steady rate.

It was then that she spotted a shadow drifting over the rocks near her. A glance up to the sky and she found the source! Some being was flying above. That drew a scream from the girl, horrified at what she was seeing.

Her instant reaction was to grab her bow, pulling an arrow from her quiver, and aimed for the being above. After drawing it to full tension in half a heart beat she released the string and sent the arrow soaring to the creature above. Galina, wasn't really familiar with technology or armor, and had little idea that even if she did manage to hit Siobhan, it was highly unlikely that it could ever pierce the woman's highly advanced gear.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Galina"]


She was getting closer, ever closer as she glided across the forest. To someone like Galina, unused to the wonders of the Force and abandoned for so long on a primitive island, she might have appeared as some sort of banshee or demon. Siobhan began dropping down from the sky when she could finally see the being she had been pursuing. It was...not who she expected to see. Well, she had not been sure what she expected, but probably something more like salvagers raiders, Dashdae Eldorai or a lost Kar'zun even, as absurd as that might seem.


Certainly not a young girl who looked liked she must have spent years in the wilderness. A young girl clearly frightened and running from her. Siobhan felt a measure of guilt rise up inside her when she saw the girl tumble down the slope and could see that she was bleeding, then heard her scream in fear. However, there was no time to say anything because suddenly the girl produced a bow and fired an arrow at her. The girl had a good aim, Siobhan had to give her that. Shooting at some super being that was flying above you probably also some guts.


Now Siobhan was wearing her usual beskar'gam, so the arrow could not even pierce her suit. It probably just hit it and shatter upon contact. However, as it happened it did not even reach her because it suddenly stopped in mid-air as if gripped by an invisible force and fell to the ground. Likewise, without missing a beat or breaking a stride while this occured, Siobhan landed as well. Probably with more grace than she usually displayed she descended down from the sky and her boots touched the ground. She made no further move to approach the lost girl though. However, she took of her helmet. Best to communicate when you did not look like a faceless automaton. "It's alright...I'm not here to hurt you," she said softly. It was probably not encouraging at all. "Sorry for scaring you."

 

[Tempest]

Flying the ship through the storm, Tempest sought out a landing spot. She finally saw one near the shore, and brought the ship in to land. She watched as Siobhan departed to begin her flyover.

Attaching her own beskar'gam and sealing the helmet, she powered down the ship and headed for the exit. She could sense Siobhan was a little distance off, probably at the source of the lifesigns. She checked her jet-pack in case she came to any heavy obstacles.

"Siobhan, the ship's landed and I'm approaching your position," she commed.

[member="Galina"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Galina's eyes widened as she watched the arrow stop in mid-air and tumbled back to the forest floor. That was in no way natural. Not at all! The girl scurried to her feet, and started to back away from the creature as she started to come down to land. Galina was already drawing another arrow from her quiver, quick to string it upon her bow and vainly drew it back, letting it fly once more at the creature.

The poor girl was panting heavily, and still moving backwards as Siobhan touched down. Galina couldn't take her eyes off the being as it removed it's helmet, soon to reveal that the creature before her, wasn't a creature .... Well, not in the normal sense. It was a human, just like she was.

As Sio spoke, Galina's brow furrowed tightly, confusion spread across her face. Basic, she barely understood it at all. Her reaction to that, was only to draw yet another arrow from her quiver and string it tightly upon her bow, but she didn't release this one. The redhead only held the tension, as it was clear though that the strain was hurting her with the deep gash still oozing blood down it, a few drops dripping down upon her clothing, staining a rather nice cream fur near her waist.

"S--ss-s-t--op..." Galina stuttered, barely able to wrap her mind around what had been said. "No ... hu-r-rt ..." She panted, rather clear that basic was far from a language she knew with any clarity. "L--l--l --ea--ve!" Her tone becoming more serious, more powerful, as she motioned with her bow for Siobhan to go away.

All she wanted was for the woman to be gone, wanted to be safe, and right now, she certainly was not feeling safe as she took a few more steps backwards, inching towards more dangerous terrain that she couldn't see behind her. More sharp rocks, and an even steeper incline that led ultimately to the ocean there below where the waves could be heard crashing upon the rocks. She just wanted to make sure no one else hurt her, and she could go back to her life, as dismal as it was, without harm.

The second lifeform, she could feel moving closer which only made the girl more twitchy! She glanced away from Siobhan, the bow still strung tight though, visibly shaking now, as the young woman glanced towards the direction of Tempest. Her arm throbbing rather badly, and for a moment thought about grabbing the knife at her waist instead of using the bow, after all it had not done her much good so far... The woman had all sorts of magics as far as Galina was concerned.

[member="Tempest"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Tempest"], [member="Galina"]


Siobhan noticed that the girl was taking aim at her with her bow again but mande no hostile move, though presumably her mere presence made her appear like a threat. Given what Galina had been through she could harly be faulted that. Besides, Siobhan sucked at being soothing and nonthreatening. Well, there were a number of things she sucked at but let's not rant for a change.


"I promise. I won't hurt you. You're injured...I can help you. You're alone here? I can take you off this island," Siobhan said gently. It probably was not particularly encouraging but then this writer is inherently biased against her, though with good reason. She did not approach Galina further, but nor did she leave, trying her best not to appear a direct threat, or so she thought.


However, Galina was taking further steps back and moving onto more dangerous terrain. From where she stood Siobhan could see sharp rocks and while the ocean could not be seen it could be heard crashing against them. "Stop...you'll fall into the ocean." Acting on instinct she wrapped her telekinetic willpower around the woman to pull her back. Gently, since she did not want to hurt her, but insistently. Presumably that would not help at all when it came to calming the woman.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Galina"]

Watching the scene from below, and picking up most of the discussion through Siobhan’s helmet microphone, she saw the girl edge towards the cliff. Though Tempest obviously knew that Siobhan could live a mere girl with the Force, it didn’t hurt to be certain.

Firing up her jetpack she took to the air, ready to help catch the girl if necessary.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Galina's expression grew more confused as Siobhan spoke. Taking a moment, the girl looked down to her feet, trying to make sense of the words that were spoken. A few she could make out, but not all. "A-a--lone." She managed, somehow making that one word feel like a firm statement. The girl had been alone for so long, and that singular word pained her more than she could bear.

As Siobhan wrapped her telekinetic ability around the young woman, she let out another frightened and terrified scream, cursing in a strange language as she was pulled back from the edge of the cliff. Hearing the jetpack from behind, she glanced back fearfully to Tempest, then Siobhan and back again. She wasn't understanding, they weren't understanding.

Panting, and starting to realize, maybe they weren't here to hurt her. She looked around her as she released the tension on her bow, though did not put it away, "W-why?" She asked rather simply. No one had ever helped her before, so why seemed an important question to her. Though she was unlikely to completely understand the answer that she was sure would come. "Why ... help?" It felt so strange to speak, even now her own voice sounded so wrong. It'd been so long since she'd spoken at all.

[member="Tempest"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Galina"]


Siobhan would loosen her telekinetic grip around the woman and then release her once she had been pulled back from the brink and did not seem in immediate danger of falling over the rocks into the ocean. After all, she did not want to hurt her and keeping someone constrained through magic powers was probably not the way to build any measure of trust. If against all odds she did make a break for it or fall, then Tempest was hovering with her jetpack and could swoop her up.



"Because you don't deserve to be locked on this island alone left to fend for yourself. I don't know what happened to you...but I know what it's like to be abandoned, afraid...alone," she said feelingly, taking a single step closer. "I don't expect you to trust me...but you don't have to be alone anymore."

 

[Tempest]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
[member="Galina"]

Understanding that their target was a frightened girl, Tempest also removed her helmet and hung it from her belt. She landed using the jetpack on a rock near the scene, close enough to jump in if needed, but far enough away not to be a threat.

She waited, not wanting to upset the girl further. She felt sorry for her, marooned here probably for years.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Galina glanced between the two of them again, a bit of relief crossed her features as Tempest removed her helmet, but the girl was still fearful, worried. Siobhan took a single step forward as she explained her reasoning, making the redhead tense up in response.

Unfortunately for her, the woman had spoken to fast for her to catch much of what was said. The inability to communicate effectively, and understand the responses was only causing the girl more fears and anxiety about the situation. But alas, their patience told her one thing, if they were truly here to hurt her, they'd have already done it. And she knew they had a ship with them. So, escape from hell was a real possibility. Freedom from her island prison.

Sighing most frustratedly, she slung the bow over her shoulder and knelt down to brush away some fallen leafs and snow away from the soil. Once she had a bare patch open, she used her arrow to crudely write a few words in Basic.

Read better. Write. Halp me? Laeve?

A couple naturally misspelled, given her rather simplistic understanding of Basic. After all sand didn't exactly have spell check. But at least the girl could clearly read basic, and write it. Honestly, she could understand much more written than she had ever understood of spoken Basic. Reaching out most cautiously, she offered the arrow as a writing implement to Siobhan with the most hopeful of expressions. Maybe the brunette bionic would understand, or perhaps the other would get what she was trying to say.

[member="Tempest"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Galina"], [member="Tempest"]


Siobhan bent down to read the words that had been written into the soil. Crudely written they might be, but she understood enough. She looked puzzled for a moment then accepted the arrow, trying to take care not to make any sudden movements that might scare the girl. They had already gotten her to stay put and try to communicate with them. That was progress.


She thought for a moment, then knelt down and started writing herself after having brushed some fallen leafs and snow away.


Yes. I am Siobhan. I want to help. I have a ship. she wrote rather crudely. Siobhan's handwriting had never been the best and it was awkward to write in the sand, but she managed. There was a pause for a moment as she looked up at Galina, then added two more words.


And food.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Galina"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Seeing that things had calmed a bit, Tempest moved slowly, carefully from her rock, coming from behind Siobhan so she was fully in sight from Galina at all times. She didn’t want to startle a girl who was still with her back to the cliff!

Seeing Siobhan’s last message she reached into her pouch and produced a ration bar. It was…tasteless…which was probably better than it tasting bad. She broke off half and took a bite to show it was safe, then put the other half in the wrapper on the sand so Galina could pick it up if she wanted.

“Me…Tempest,” she said slowly, clearly.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

As she watched Siobhan take the arrow, and start to write, she pulled a small bit of fur away from her neck and took care to wrap her still bleeding arm. It had been an unfortunate accident, but she'd gashed it rather deeply. It undoubtedly would need some form of medical attention if she allowed for it.

The redhead glanced from Siobhan back to the soil slowly reading over the words twice just to be certain. Food, of everything that certainly got her attention as she looked up at Sio with what could only be considered as eagerness and excitement. It'd been forever since she had gotten a hold of food she hadn't hunted down and killed herself, often going days between meals.

The second Tempest moved, Galina's eyes were upon the woman, watching even the most tiny of movements, only occasionally stealing a glance to Siobhan. She couldn't be too safe after all. Her brow knitted together as she curiously cocked her head to the side when the human woman took out the ration bar, and broke it in half. Her lips quivered in excitement as she watched the woman set the half of the bar down on the ground near her.

For a long moment she hesitated, waiting as the being took a bite of the other half herself. Once she was certain it was safe, the girl lunged forward with uncanny speed to snatch up the bar. Bringing it to her nose, she sniffed at it in an almost feral manner, as if trying to somehow deem it's safeness for herself. Another tense moment passed before she quickly devoured the portion of the bar she'd been given, so quickly in fact one might have thought she hadn't eaten food in a good month or two.

Looking up, she took a single finger and pointed to herself. "Galina." She said with a nod. "Tem-pest." She said pointing to the woman, and then to the brunette. "S-siobhan." Confirming she had the names right.

Once she was finished she glanced back and forth between the two women, before she carefully and slowly removed another arrow from her quiver and quickly erased the words in the sand that she'd written. For a moment she pondered what to write, to say to the others to best explain what she wanted. After a brief moment, she slowly started to write in the soil again.

Get me things. Laeve hear. Want to Laeve place. Need Halp. Go Nao?

It was possible that she might need a Basic lesson or ten before all was said and done. She hoped her message was clear. The young redhead only wished to return to her camp, collect the most important things to her, and just go. After all there were a few reminders of her family, her former life in the wreckage of the ship. And, she didn't want to leave the island without saying a final goodbye to her parent's graves.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] [member="Tempest"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Galina"], [member="Tempest"]


It occurs to this writer that Siobhan is the only character in this thread who has a last name!


Siobhan gave the girl a nod after she had spoken, confirming that she had heard them correctly. "Galina," she said softly, giving her a smile. This writer will not even make the attempt of claiming that her smile was disarming. You cannot disarm a wildling girl and in any case it would mean claiming an auto-hit, which would necessitate a report. She bent down to read the words Galina had written into the soil, then gave the girl a nod, showing that she had understood the message.


Yes, we can go now. If you have things to carry, we can help. More food on our ship.


Having written this she stood up again, looking at Galina though she did not make any more moves towards her. Galina must have been marooned on this island for years. A crash? As for basic lessons, this one finds the image of Siobhan trying to help Galina out in that regard terribly cute and a bit hilarious.

 

[Tempest]

[member="Galina"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Tempest noticed the exchange was going well. The girl was eager to leave, but needed to get her things first. Not wanting to crowd, Tempest tapped Siobhan on the shoulder.

“I’ll go get the ship prepped and get some food for our guest. Comm me if anything happens, or if I need to do a flyby to pick you up.”

It was better not to intimidate Galina with two armoured strangers, so when Tempest got back to the ship she got dressed back into normal clothes, laid out some food and clean water, and had the ‘fresher prepared. She of all people knew what it was like to go from primitive conditions to ultra-modern, and wanted to cushion the shock a bit if she could.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Galina leaned forward and read the words written in the soil. Nodding slowly she rose to her feet after sticking her arrow back into it's quiver. She carried a worried expression, not willing to smile. There was still much that was uncertain to the young woman.

Her eyes moved to Tempest as she spoke. Ship, and food were about the most she caught out of what was said. Which was really all the encouragement the redhead needed. Biting nervously as her lip, she only watched as the woman headed off. Now, it was just Siobhan and herself. Something that made Galina feel a bit safer, even though truth be told she was unlikely to be able to fight off the armored woman at all.

Tentatively she took a couple steps back in the direction of her camp. Pausing, she glanced back to Siobhan, and motioned with her free hand for the brunette to follow her. Walking back through the dense woods, the fog hadn't seemed to have lifted in the least little bit. And one couldn't help but feel they were being watched. It was enough to make Galina draw her bow once more, and stung an arrow across it. One couldn't be too careful. And after all, she'd spent years on the island and knew it well. Predators existed, as did prey.

A few more minutes of walking, and a twig snapped near them. Galina halted in her steps and glanced around with a most concerned expression upon her lips. She glanced to Siobhan, unsure of what to do really.

It was about then that a large cat made it's move, leaping from the bushes towards them both. Galina only managed to get a single arrow off, striking the creature in the leg. In truth it did little to slow the creature, and only seemed to enrage it as it turned back for the young redhead. Reaching back she pulled another arrow from her quiver but it was doubtful she'd be quick enough to actually do anything to stop the creature.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] [member="Tempest"]