Raiders of the Lost

[Judah Dashiell]

Approaching Rakaa IV - @[member="Thessa Kai"] | @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]


The sleek vessel Siren's Song emerged from hyperspace, the jungle world of Rakaa IV filling the viewport. Brilliant green and blue covered in blue swirling clouds made the planet look like a marble from their advantage point. The peaceful setting belied what was going down below. Jungles could be some of the most rough terrain known to any sentient species. Yet the payout(and adventure) of the bulletin he had received was worth the risk. To be part of some history of just finding a piece of this rock was enough incentive to trek through lush jungle.

Shifting in the co-pilots chair, Judah was letting his wife take the lead on the flight and landing. He smirked a little at wife. Finally the pair had decided to simply do what they wanted -- which was elope and not make a large production out of one day. In a way, the trip to the ruins was the back end of their honeymoon, although this was going to be a far cry from the luxury resorts they had stayed at on Brentaal IV.

"According to our information it should be somewhere in the southern quadrant. Where is the larger question."

A glint caught the corner of his eye. Siobhan. Judah knew the woman from his dealing with Firemane Industries. His company had set them up for underwater mining, making Salacia Consolidated and Firemane Industries the only two companies in the galaxy who dealt in undersea mining. Sometimes it was nice to be part of an elite club -- especially when it came to profits. Today though, it wasn't her business skills that were needed, but her skills as a soldier and Force user.

Lazily hitting the comm, Judah hailed the second part of their exploration crew.

"Surviving over there Miss Kerrigan? We're about to start our descent down towards the planet."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Judah Dashiell"], @[member="Thessa Kai"]

Siobhan was presently surviving the self-imposed lack of cigarettes. Admittedly smoking during a flight would be sort of ill-advised, something even she could see, moreover, it would be bad around Judah's and Thessa's unborn child, but it was the principle of the thing! She could have picked a better time to try and quit...again. How long she would hold to that once she got back to Kaeshana was another question.

So Siobhan had spent most of the flight through hyperspace exercising and then cleaning her guns - lots and lors of guns, all neatly spread out on the table, each and every one of them a lethal and totally family-friendly death dealer. Just the sort of thing you wanted to have around your kiddies, unborn or not. But then the Galaxy was a dangerous place and it was best if children realised that for their own safety from early on. Perhaps it was best that Siobhan was not the child rearing type!

She did not have much in terms of business skills, but was quite adept at meting out bloody violence and she reckoned they would need it as her sleek and manoeuvrable ship sped towards the green and blue orb that was jungle planet of Rakaa IV, which from high up in the cockpit looked like a marble. It was a beauty really, lush jungle spread across the planetoid, invitingly blue rivers that seemed begging for a swim...if they were not presumably filled with various hungry creatures eager to fill their belly with travellers.

Doubtless the beauty hid risks and threats, as it so often did, but from Siobhan's perspective that just made the trip more interesting. "Very much so. How's the wifey? Had her fill of kelp?" she responded goodnaturedly over the comm as she maneouvred the vessel, taking over from the autopilot now that her craft was about to descend through the atmosphere. Unlike her two companions she was not much of a pilot, the closest thing she had come to participating in a space battle was firing the big gun of a Jaeger-class Star Destroyer during the Vandelhelm skirmish in the early days of the Pyre, but she managed.

 

[Thessa Kai]

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Judah Dashiell"]

“The wifey is right here, Kerrigan,” she smirked and spared a glance for Judah before returning to the landing-procedures, hot on Kerrigan’s tail. Prominent baby-bump showed beneath her shirt and flight-jacket, yet not so prominent that she wouldn’t be able to go on this mission. “I prefer kelp-juice but as Judah will tell you, our baby prefers chocochews.” Grin-widened before her face turned serious.

“There’s a clearing between the river and some old ruins. We’re heading over to set down there. Life signs are off the charts. Be advised. We’ll see you topside, Kerrigan.” With a light rumble, she maneuvered the ship to set-down gently onto the moist soil of the planet.

The newly dubbed Thessa Kai Dashiell turned to her man. “Happy honeymoon, sweetie.” Leaning over, she kissed his lips before unbuckling.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

@[member="Thessa Kai"] | @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]


"Don't think the chocochews are going to survive the jungle heat." Bad news for Baby Taddy. Hopefully their unborn child would make it for a bit without a near constant supply of chocolate. In fact, he was pretty sure the kid was going to come into the Galaxy expecting everything to be coated in the sweet substance. Unbuckling his crash webbing, Judah briefly kissed his mermaid back.

"Here's hoping the second phase is just as fun as the first."

Shooting Thessa a wink and grin, Judah left her to do the post-flight procedures while he went down the corridors to wake Sparky. Pulling the little astromech out of his sleep/charge mode, Judah busied himself with gathering the last of their needed items in a pack. With Thessa pregnant, Judah was the pack mule on the trip, and it seemed to require extra items than it did pre-pregnancy.

"Sparky, Keep an eye on our ship and Lady Kerrigan's."

An uncertain whistle.

"You'll be fine here, just keep the ship locked tight until you see one of us."

Patting the droid on its dome affectionately, Judah lowered the ramp and went out into the clearing. The humidity was so thick he might as well had been drinking the air. Running a hand through his shaggy hair, blue eyes searched the clearing for any signs of trouble. None so far.

"At least Thess and Taddy will enjoy this weather."

Focusing on their little excursion, Judah waited patiently for Lady Kerrigan and his wife to emerge.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Thessa Kai"], @[member="Judah Dashiell"]

Siobhan's ship touched down upon the moist soil of the planet shortly after the Siren's Call, with her soon emerging from the vessel after the landing ramp was lowered. Unsurprisingly she was kitted out in full combat gear and what passed for a camo pattern, ready for any beastie that might pounce upon them, though the clearing seemed free of them. Doubtless as they went deeper into the jungle this would change.

Her lightsabre was attached to her belt, plenty of explosives, spare magazines and other weapons had been stuffed into a bag. Siobhan was not properly paranoid at all. Flesh and bionic searched the clearing, alert for any sign of trouble. Bolter in her grasp, ready to be pulled up, she approached Judah, giving the man a smile. "Ready to go artefact hunting? Been a while since I went on one."

 

[Thessa Kai]

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Judah Dashiell"]

After a passing, affectionate pat on the dome-shaped head of Sparky, she shifted the pack on her shoulders and stepped into the wonderfully moist air just behind Judah. Her skin looked practically glowing in the jungle air and it wasn't just due to the baby-bump. "You bet I am," she responded to Sio. "Good to see you again Kerrigan, especially outside of a jail-setting." She winked and looked innocently at Judah.

"Don't worry, it wasn't me that time. Just a mutual red-headed friend." Blaster was strapped to her hip as well as a MK1 bolter. "Which way should we start? There's a path up the river or this old ruin. Any other thoughts?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

@[member="Thessa Kai"] , @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]


"Nice to know you haven't turned into a wanted convict."

With his skin already developing a thin sheen of sweat and his curls beginning to stick to his head, artifact hunting was the last thing in the world to be excited for. Somehow asking the two ladies in his presence to turn around and bask in the cool climate controlled air of their respective vessels wouldn't bode well. Shame they couldn't have hoisted this artifact from a museum or snagged it from some elderly widows' estate.

"Wouldn't miss trekking through dangerous jungles and ruins for anything in the Galaxy."

Then his wife would have missed out on the adventure and the moisture rich air. Checking to make sure his hold-out blaster wasn't already rusting at his side, Judah squinted up the river, looking at the mildly worn path Thessa had pointed out. Trouble was, they knew they were looking for ruins. Just....which ruin was the correct one was the larger issue.

Looking around in the knee-high foliage, Judah searched for signs of any other ships having landed recently. Should give them a slightly better clue on where to head - hopefully.

Judah.....Judah....JUDAH!

Head immediately snapped up from his searching. Someone had called his name. Or the heat was already getting to him. Either way, he didn't want that concerned look from Thessa right now and kept his hallucinations to himself.

"Lets head up the path a little. I'll take the rear and keep an eye on our six."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Judah Dashiell"], @[member="Thessa Kai"]

Her naturally tanned skin seemed to be glowing from the heat and a thin film of sweat was forming, though she did not let it bother her. It had been a while since she had gone on a jungle hunt, but better that than tomb raiding on Belsavis. She would not have minded snagging an artefact from the luxurious estate of an aristocrat though...especially if there were pretty ladies to seduce.

She looked across the area where they had landed, stretching out with her Force enhanced senses, but it seemed they were alone. No beasties coming to pounce on them in an attempt to get their next meal, no sound of the engines of another ship coming to swoop down. That said she doubted the tranquility would last long. Whoever their 'anonymous buyer' was, their offer was too lucrative to pass up. Of course, if it came to a hostle encounter Siobhan had some rather convincing arguments on her side.

All seemed peaceful as she walked up to the path, taking point as she tried to get a better view of things, before suddenly her Force senses tingled. She felt a presence, then suddenly words resounding in her head...barely audible, like whispers.

Kerrigan...c-come....Kerri...

Then just as abruptly as the whispers had begun the voices fell silent, just as she wanted to lash out mentally against the unexpected intrusion, her jaw tightening. Siobhan had....bad experiences with strange voices talking into her head, to say the least. Darth Shadow had driven her to insanity and turned her into a puppet whose stringe he pulled, on Terminus she and Qae had battled an entire city that had been driven berserk by a Mad God worshipped by the Bando Gora...and almost succumbed to his influence.

So...as brash as she was, she was not inclined to shrug the voices off as hallucinations and not say anything about it. "Any of you just had voices whispering in your head as well?" she asked seriously, tone making it clear she was not trying to make a bad joke.

 

[Thessa Kai]

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Judah Dashiell"]

"Now that we're married you don't have to look so eager to keep an eye on our six. You...," her joking cut short as she stopped in her jungle-march and looked at Kerrigan, wide-eyed. Voices? Reminded her of @[member="Harkin Kane"].

Frown deepened on aqua-lips as she paused between the two. "I...am not hearing anything." Hand dropped to her blaster, the setting clearly not on stun. She was not prepared to run into a second Daxton Bane. "Judah?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

@[member="Thessa Kai"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"I'm not understanding. Either you're going to let me look at that six more often or since I've entrapped you with marriage and my child I don't need to be so discreet about it? No complaints. I jus-"

Apparently, he wasn't the only one hearing things. Cutting short the conversation with Thessa, he listened to the concerns of Kerrigan. The woman was extremely serious about it. No doubt something she may had encountered in the past. Kerrigan was a Force user, right? Glancing up at the brunette woman at the beginning of their merry trio, Judah then turned his head in a few directions, as if trying to hear. He wasn't stupid. Mention hearing voices to his overly protective wife would have him waiting in the ship.

Besides, Judah's voice was familiar. Yet...the woman's voice he had heard shouldn't be. The person in question died long ago. Not something he wanted to bring up either way.

"No, no voices. Been hearing a lot of odd creature related noises." Hand fell to his blaster, resting casually. "Who knows whats in this jungle. We better push ahead and reach these ruins. I'm sure thats a whole different obstacle."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Thessa Kai"], @[member="Judah Dashiell"]

"An obstacle that can be overcome with brute firepower." Siobhan gave Judah a significant - and sceptical - look when he denied having heard anything other than odd creature noises. Not because she had any special insight or could read minds, for her skill at mentalism did not go beyond being able to use the simple mind trick of the 'these aren't the droids you're looking for' variety but simply because she was a naturally suspicious person. However, she let him be.

"Heard something....someone. Think it mentioned my name. Can't place it though. If there's really a piece of an ancient artefact lost in the ruins somewhere, it might be an effect of it - arcane devices like that can have a power of their own. Or ancient spirits. Can warp your perception of reality, manipulate you. Last time I heard voices it was a Mad God holding a city in his thrall and drove its people berserk," Siobhan said in a serious, matter-of-fact tone.

She was by no means an expert when it came to the more mystical and arcane applications of the Force, but she had seen enough not to take things too lightly. Of course, given that they were searching for an artefact it was only natural that she would relate to her own experiences, whereas what was calling to Judah might be something totally different. "No way to find out other than going there. If I start acting weird shoot me with stun bolts. Plenty...or I'll just get cranky. I'll take point. Be on your guard."

 

[Thessa Kai]

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Judah Dashiell"]

She gave Judah a sideways glance, brow furrowed in worry. She wouldn't press him but she did notice the way the corner of his lip twitched when he lied. For kriff's sake, she was married to the man now. "Shoot you, got it. Check. I can do that." A roguish-smile briefly passed over her tight lips. She followed after Sio, the murky-water of the river churned on their right.

A longing-gaze briefly passed over the moving water before she turned her attention back to the other side of the jungle. It looked like the path was widening up ahead. As if the future Dashiell-Kai could feel its parents excitement and apprehension, several swift kicks met her side from inside. She paused, a hand wrapping around her stomach. She could just make out the crumbling bricked-top of a roof through the treetops ahead.

"Stars, I hope the kid isn't hearing voices," she mumbled, eyes returning to watch Kerrigan's six.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

@[member="Thessa Kai"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Shoot her? Thankfully, Kerrigan had mentioned the fact that any and all blaster fire should be in the form of stun.Judah wasn't too keen on firing at a business partner with live rounds so to speak. Having someone bleed out and die by your hand wasn't exactly conducive to happy and healthy trade. Luckily for the group the crumbling ruins was in sight, the shadow of the overly large building casting along the path, providing some relief from the hot sun.

Seeing Thessa pause, Judah slipped his hand near hers, just in time to feel their baby kicking wildly. He often suspected the active nature came from her genes and not his. Should their baby have his temperament, he or she would be reading an issue of Widgets Weekly and trying to figure out how to increase capacity for droid brains or the like.

"Really swimming around in there huh?" Judah kissed her temple and chuckled lightly,addressing their child now "Stop giving your Ma such a hard time."

Judah. You're getting closer Judah. Not far now, you'll see.

Frowning at the familiar voice again, Judah unholstered his blaster, the ruins filling their view now. It was huge. Larger than he expected....Judah had expected something smaller. Less grand. Especially on such a world. Vines and plants sprouted from the rock it was built on, as if the jungle kept trying to reclaim the ruins, but the ruins were too stubborn.

"I assume you have something to blow the door Lady Kerrigan?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Judah Dashiell"], @[member="Thessa Kai"]

Siobhan could not suppress that nagging feeling in the depths of her mind but kept quiet. Doubtless that would later turn out to not have been the smart thing. But regardless they had not been assailed by beasts of doom as they made their way through the jungle, though doubtless that would change as well soon.

Baby Dashiell-Kai was apparently making its presence known judging by the comment Judah had made, though Siobhan kept her eyes focused on the ground ahead of them as the ruins crept into view. Vines and plants sprouted up from the rock upon which it had been built, nature seeking to reclaim the ancient ruins for themselves, but they still stood tall and proud as if their old glory days had not long since passed.

Blow up the door! Finally something fun for her to do!

Siobhan did not answer Judah's question as she focused her eyes upon the aforementioned door, concentrating intently as she sank into the Force and gave herself to it. She made a motion with her bionic hand, clenching it into a tight fist as power surged through her, then at her mental command the telekinetic power banged against the large door. Much like an invisible hammer smashing against it. Such was the force that the door flew wide open under the pressure of her will and was sent flying down through the hall in the ruins, the entrance being blown free for our intrepid adventurers as the ancient door imploded, what was left of the door crashing into the walls.

"There you go," she said simply.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Thessa Kai"]

Watching the doors get blown open, Judah looked mildly impressed. After all the local birds and creatures had scattered throughout the jungle upon hearing the blast. Waiting for the dust to clear,it was now eerily quiet in the local area. Tightening the grip on the blaster he was thankful the voice was also quiet. For now at least.

"Well.....that works.Lets get to it."

With the dust settling it was much easier to see. Thick stone lined the hallways, smooth and gleaming at the day it was erected. It was odd, almost if someone or something had been taking care of the old ruins. A fine layer of dust coated the floors, but not quite enough as he expected. Judah had enough experience going through old places as he searched for droids. Frowning as he looked around, he kept moving forward at a moderate pace, growing more worried. There were too many parallels between this situation and the time when Bane captured and tortured him.

"Where do you think this item is? Its just another ruin. A piece of rock. Think your Force tells you which rock?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Thessa Kai"], @[member="Judah Dashiell"]

"Deep down on the lower levels, no doubt after we've braved a series of traps, beasts, spirits and what else," Siobhan said without any hint of irony. Of course Jedi Master @[member="Phylis Alince"] would insist that all these stories about fighting monsters and arch-villains whilst searching for arcane treasures and artefacts of unspeakable power using a map marked with the letter X were just nonsense spread by bad holomovies. There would totally not be a lava pit!

"Force arcana and artefact aren't my department. I know a hot Jedi librarian who loves that thing though. Nonetheless if I'm close enough I'd sense its force aura. And if it's really bad I might hear it whispering in my head," she continued on conversationally. On the bright side as far as they knew the artefact they were searching for was not called the Daemon's Heart, so that was something. Warily she walked through the hallway before them as the dust cleared, eyes alert, Force senses reaching out to scan the area and try to get a reading on things, for threats that might be lurking in the shadows before them.

She would not ouwardly show it but even now there was something about ancient force artefacts that unnerved Siobhan. Bad experiences from the past no doubt, but also because they were simply an aspect of the Force of which she had little understanding. Throwing a walker-sized writhing horror with your mind was easy. Well, actually it was not easy, but it was terribly straightforward, something battling an insidious influence whispering inside your mind was not.

 

[Thessa Kai]

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Judah Dashiell"]

Noticing the nerves of Sio and Judah only increased her own anxiety levels. Index finger hit the switch to turn on the light at the end of her blaster rifle. The light reflected off the dark and dank twisting ruins. Cobwebs brushed against her legs and face.

"Remind me to ask you over if we ever need help remodeling our house," she quipped to Sio, trying to pull out a smile from the pair. She whispered quietly to Judah, falling in-step beside him. "You okay?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

@[member="Thessa Kai"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"You didn't happen to bring this hot librarian with you by chance?" Judah didn't think Siobhan had a woman tied up in her ship. Hopefully not. "Whispering huh? It can do that?Learn something new every day..."

It took him a moment to remember the little light on his own blaster. Flipping the switch as they descended into the dark ruins, Judah looked up, using the light to scan sections of the halls. Every so often, side doors or entrances could be seen. Everything was on a grand scale, as if for a person twice as tall as he was. Listening carefully, the salvager could have sworn he saw something scurry around at the corner of his eye. Something much larger than a rodent. Leaning into an open entry way and checking, Judah didn't see anything -- but nearly jumped when Thessa came to his side.

"Yeah, I'm fine" Judah whispered back and sighed. "You alright? This is a strange time to worry about remodeling our home" He gave a wry smile in the dark, one Thessa would no doubt miss but all the same. A cool breeze filtered through the hall and they were clearly headed down into something. He could feel the floors starting to slope.

Judah, you're going to have to break away from your harem and come see me. Its been so long. Leaving me behind and all. You should be ashamed Handsome.

Pausing slightly, he wondered where the voice was coming from. The little Force rock thing or his own imagination? Judah doubted the second. This wasn't the time or place to be thinking of a dead ex-girlfriend. Nor had be brought up the subject in years. Never to Thessa for obvious reasons.

"I think we're getting closer"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Thessa Kai"], @[member="Judah Dashiell"]

"No, for some reason she doesn't want to knock boots. Personally I think she's just playing hard to get. Got a nice rack though," Siobhan said because that was totally the way to respond. Unfortunately Phylis had proved steadfast in her refusal to get out of her terribly covering robes, despite how hot it must be inside them.

"Force artefacts can do many things, like driving you nuts. Velok used some hefty magicks and artefacts to vaporise two planets," she continued. Apparently the former Exarch was feeling terribly motivating today and thought it best to share with her friends just how devastating such toys could be. Well, at least some of them because contrary to popular belief not every ancient relic was a tool of world destruction.

However, she paused as she felt her Force senses prickling, a sensation overcoming here as she felt the energies of the Force, a siren call beckoning her to come closer, drawing her in as she tasted the power. Her bionic eye glowed in the dark, sunlight fell through the hall from a crack in the ceiling, along with droplets of water dripping down. "Yeah, we are. I can sense a force signature, we're going the right way," she said at last as she pulled herself away from the sensation, shooting Judah a look. She was not buying the story about him not having heard anything one bit.

She thought she heard something scurry down a corridor but when she turned there was nothing. As they came towards a staircase, with Siobhan taking point, as she began walking down the stairs suddenly, without warning, the ground beneath her began to give way and the stairs began to cave in beneath her. Siobhan was pulled down as the ground suddenly beneath her suddenly vanished and she seemingly went down on a long descent, but then the Force surged through her muscles and she leap very high, very far to reach the other side in a force jump.

 

[Thessa Kai]

@[member="Judah Dashiell"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"The kriff you're okay. And I'm giving birth to a baby nerf," she shivered and cast him a scrutinizing look as the cold air mingled against her skin. She didn't need to be a force user to know when her husband was lying. She was miffed that he didn't trust her enough to spill.

She would wait....

Winding down the stairs she fell back a step to cover the rear. Plus Judah's six was still hot in the darkness. Looking down, Sio suddenly disappeared as the ground bucked beneath them. It distracted her long enough to get over her heebie-jeebies about the force signature mention from Sio. "Kerrigan!" Voice yelled as she dropped her blaster and lunged forward, hand trying to grab hold of the back of Judah's shirt before he fell too.