Private Rebel Yell

[Makko Vyres]

"It's just the temperature difference," Jonas muttered.

"I'm telling you, I heard clanging around the cargo containers!" Parrew protested. The two wore the pale blue uniforms of BluScape starliners.

"Look, the passenger decks are heated, but not the cargo decks. We break atmosphere and things just shift."

A low thud reverberated through the dark corridor. Cargo pods had been pulled up into the belly of the ship before takeoff.

"See, I told you!"

"Eh, I'm sure it's..."

Another clang. Several thuds in a row. Jonas looked less certain.

"That sounded like it came from a cargo pod."

The pair approached one of the heavy pods. This time there was definitely a nock.

"Open the door!" Jonas insisted.

"Shouldn't we..."

"Its refugees again. Probably running out of air. Open the door and we'll contact the authorities again."

Parrew pressed his code cylinder to the lock. He lifted each heavy metal bar in turn and then pulled the door back.

"Alright who is..."

The bright red flash of a blaster bolt lit the dark cargo deck.

---

Across the passenger decks, the sound of the tanoy rang out.

"Thissss isss not your captain speaking," came the deep voice. Heavily armed trandoshan started to appear at every deck.

"This vesssel is under our control. Stay at your seats, or lie down where you are. If all goesss well we will set down and you will be picked up by your governments in just a few days..."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

-

"So I think that we can meet up with Aris first, then he can take us to talk with a Jedi Representative." Zaiya began to explain, nervousness causing the patterns over her skin to flutter between ombres of pale greys and yellows tinged with teals of excitement. She had decided to take the step and try to convince Dr. Isak to let her join the New Jedi Order.

Of course, the initial conversation had not gone too well. Dr. Isak had made it clear that he had a responsibility to her higher education and needed to ensure that the wishes of her parents were adhered to ensure Zaiya would be able to graduate and pursue a degree in higher education. Joining what would appear to be some sort of religious order was not the sort of education he believed her parents would have wanted her to pursue, especially considering a Lovalla's non-violent nature. The news between the Dark Empire and that of the Alliance had made is way to Commoner in the wake of Empress Teta's fall. Already there was much conflicting information going down the grapevine that it was difficult to determine what was hearsay and what was truth.

However, Zaiya managed to convince the Cerean that to make a proper decision, he should travel with Zaiya to speak to a representative Jedi Order and answer any questions he may have.

"Then I may be able to introduce you to --"

"Thissss isss not your captain speaking," came the deep voice. Heavily armed trandoshan started to appear at every deck.

"This vesssel is under our control. Stay at your seats, or lie down where you are. If all goesss well we will set down and you will be picked up by your governments in just a few days..."

Zaiya immediately froze, her iridescent blue eyes growing wide. It took a second before the color blanched from her face and her rosy golden skin turned a pewter grey.

"Oh no..."

 

[Makko Vyres]

SHIELD | ARMOR | LIGHTSABER | DRONES | SHIP | PISTOL​

Makko stood in the back of the Shreev class stealth ship. There was a holographic display of the starliner in the middle of a group of special forces commandos.

The entry point was marked on the display. The starliner had shields, but only commercial grade for dealing with small asteroids. They would be able to breach them with the right modulation. Getting in looked easy. It was covering the size of the vessel and all the trandoshan raiders before it got nasty that worried Makko.

They had demanded the release of a huge number of prisoners as part of a ream of unreasonable requests.

"Kid."

Makko looked towards the owner of the voice. It was the sergeant who ran the squad of commandos.

"You look pale."

"I'll be alright," Makko replied. His confidence had taken a few knocks. He had managed to get Colette shot and then he had nearly been cut in half during a sith ambush. That boundless confidence had been tested to breaking point.

"What are the two yellow dots on the display?"

"The, er, Y-Wings following the starliner."

"Why Y-Wings?"

"I don't know..." Makko replied, frowing.

"Enough ordnance to blow the entire starliner away if they try and crash it into one of our stations or worlds. We're going in and it might not go perfectly, but I need you to focus. It's karked up, but if we don't go in we risk everyone on that ship dying. So when we land you listen, you keep moving and keep on mission. Haven't got the time for your nerves of for regrets. Save that for later."

Makko gave a small nod. It was a strange, twisted kind of motivational speech to give. How could he argue with people who had been doing this job for a decade?

"Everyone to your seats. We're going to jump ahead of the starliner and wait in their path for the infiltration."

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

-

Makko Vyres

Panic would flare in bright flecks of yellow over the ombre of greys in growing confusion.

"What's going on?" Zaiya asked, aware that the twisting knot in the pit of her stomach already knew.

"No need to panic, Zaiya," Dr. Isak took hold of the Lovalla's hand, aware that the girl would require reassurance. The Cerean used his other hand to provide a gentle pat on top of the hand he held.

"We shall keep quiet and listen to the instructions. I am sure there are security redundancies in place for such a scenario." At least, he hoped.

Around them, the other passengers were also beginning to panic. Rightly so, as it wasn't long before the doors hissed open, and three Trandoshans, followed by a towering Nikto decked to the nines in armor and weapons aloft, gave a shout. Screams of alarm shot through the din, and an Ugnaught scrambled to get out of the way.

"Well, well, well... ladies and gentlebeings. We are soo pleased that you all are here." a sinister grin would split the Nikto's face in two.

Zaiya stepped closer to Dr. Isak, who stood firmly watching the interaction.

"The rules are simple. Follow orders, don't be a hero, and you will live." that half chuckle, however, didn't bode well for Zaiya, the Force swirling around her in foreboding.

 

[Makko Vyres]

"That's a big ship," Makko said quietly.

Their stealth ship was dark, both in electromagnetic emissions and literally in light. Makko was sat in the cockpit, looking up as the starliner passed overhead.

"And they aren't many of us," Sergeant Reynam agreed. "You take Fire Team B and hit the first passenger deck. I'm taking A and going for the cockpit. D will go for the hyperdrive. We expect there are only four or five and they've used the ship's systems to lock it down."

The pilot gently eased the vessel up towards the docking bay. They used limited gas thrust and a single burst of engine power to match the speed of the starliner.

The deck was abandoned, the ship setting down quietly.

Makko stepped out of the ship, following two members of Fire Team Besh. Two drones detached from his armour and set off ahead of him. They took a set of maintenance stairs upwards. Each step was a simple sheet of corrugated metal. It was a piece of the liner no passenger would normally see.

His comm crackled to life in his ear.

"Dorn here, engineering is guarded. We've been engaged."

"The bridge has been secured. Aurek under fire. We've underestimated their numbers. Besh, secure the passengers."

Makko could hear blaster fire before the comms cut out.

The drones ahead of him made it to the passenger deck without being stopped.

He went ahead of the team, sliding the door open. Rows and rows of passengers were seated ahead of him.

"You take the first class deck above," he told the soldiers. Makko couldn't see the whole deck, but there was one trandoshan marching up and down with a heavy rifle cradled in his arms.

Makko snuck out, ducking down to crawl along the opposite gangway. The passengers saw him pass, crawling along and occasionally shushing the crowd.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

-

"Alright, the instructions are simple," The Nikto began, his sharp teeth flashing under the overhead lights. Behind him the Trandoshans began to gesture with their blaster rifles for the passengers to line up against the wall.

"Gimme all your valuables. Nice and easy, into the bag," the Nikto gestured, while passengers gave scared yelps and protests. One human male attempted to fight back, only to get his face slammed with the buttstock of a blaster rifle. He fell to the floor with a groan, grabbing his face. Another Trandoshan kicked him in the stomach while the Nikto simply laughed.

"What did I say ladies and gentlebeings.... no heroes."

Then the Trandoshan pointed the blaster rifle at the bloody man's chest and shot him. Screams filled the air and Zaiya blanched of all color. Dr. Izak wrapped his hand around the younger teen's shoulder.

"Now file up. I want all your jewels, then start sitting pretty. We are taking you all for a ride."

Makko Vyres

 

[Makko Vyres]

Three beeps in his ear.

An awful sign. It meant that someone was actively jamming their local comms. The team at the engine room and cockpit had been engaged. This was all coming unravelled.

He was alone.

Makko pressed himself close to the ground and waited. The comms did not manage to establish themselves. He had to make decisions.

Then the Trandoshan pointed the blaster rifle at the bloody man's chest and shot him. Screams filled the air and Zaiya blanched of all color.

His arrogance had caused harm before. This time his inaction had caused a death. He silently cursed himself.

Makko needed to weave the right path. Balance between arrogance and fear. He had to know that he was more capable than the soldiers with him. Had to act.



Just as the screaming and panic began to turn to obedience, Makko appeared from the rear rows of seats.

"I said stand..."

In black armour, Makko immediately stood out. The Nikto managed to open his mouth to cry out when two trandoshan blaster rifles sparked and popped.

Makko ran forwards, leaping onto the backs of seats to cross the space and throw himself at the nikto

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

-

Everything turned to chaos. All of a sudden, there was a man in black armor ( Makko Vyres ) that leapt high in the air and went straight for the Nikto. Zaiya blanched but a sharp sweep of awareness went rippling across her patterns in a kaliscopic display. Wait. I've seen someone jump like that before. Aris.

This person was using the Force.

Blaster shots went up in the air, and screams began to fill the din once more. The Nikto was pinned down by Makko, but it was evident to the Lovalla teen that he was there alone.

He can't do this alone. A Trandoshan took a vibrosword and went to attack at Makko's back.

"Watch out!" Zaiya cried out in warning.

 

[Makko Vyres]

"Watch out!" Zaiya cried out in warning.

Makko drove his elbow up and into the nikto's chin. The man wouldn't be getting back up from that quickly.

Hearing the warning, he turned to face his attacker. His right hand went to his lightsaber. It stayed there.

If he had swung upwards he would have cut clean through the vibroblade. It wouldn't have killed him, but it would have gone spinning into the civilians.

In desperation, he used the Force to stop the blade as it came down for his face.

Makko was left on one knee, holding his left hand palm open towards the sharp blade. The trandoshan hissed, forcing the blade down slowly.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

-

Zaiya saw the commotion and immediately brought her solid state hologram up. She brought up the selection for the bright flash of light then sent it towards the direction of the Trandoshan's face, hoping to blind him. The Trandoshan grimaced and the flash blinded him, allowing Makko Vyres the ability to take advantage.

At the same time, the guards that were held up used that chaotic moment to try and fight back against the hijackers, while the rest of the passengers did their best to duck down and avoid any stray blaster bolt.

Dr. Isak cried out for Zaiya to stop interfering, trying his best to drag her off, but Zaiya shot back, "No he needs help! I can help!"

Not that a 14 year old could do much in the situation.

By that point, blaster fire went over towards their direction, and Zaiya and Dr. Isak had to duck down to try and avoid getting hit behind a table.

 

[Makko Vyres]

Makko sucked air over his teeth in a hiss. He hadn't been fast enough. The trandoshan above him snapped his eyes shut and Makko knew he would win this fight, but now blaster bolts were flying.

Makko moved aside, moving with the flow of the vibroblade rather than against it. He pulled down with the Force, driving the blade down into the deck. The vibrating, sharp tip drove several inches into the floor.

Drawing a splitter pistol, Makko stepped back and fired thin traq-laden flechette into the trandoshan's arm.

"Thank you," Makko called.

He stretched out with the Force and ejected tibanna gas cannisters from the trandoshans blasters. He rushed forwards to get close enough to tranq the remaining hunters. It could penetrate armour and thick reptilian hide, but even from distance the flechette could have seriously hurt a bystander if Makko missed.

They were down, but he could hear distant blaster fire. This was not going to plan.

"Everyone to the back!" Makko shouted. He looked for someone in a uniform and picked out a tall twi'lek who stood behind Zaiya.

"Is there a place we can lock up or defend?"

"The theater?"

"This ship has a theatre?" Makko asked.

"For the...first class passengers."

"Well I guess everyone gets an upgrade. Can we squeeze everyone in?"

"I think so."

"Has anyone seen any more of this lot?" Makko called out.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Before Dr. Izak could stop her, Zaiya darted forward, moving towards Makko as the Force screamed a warning cry.

"There's one more!" Zaiya cried out, just as the last Trandoshan that had been hiding behind a column darted out with his blaster to send a volley of blaster shots over at Makko Vyres . Finger pressed at her bangle and the girl darted in a dazzling display of vibrant dark yellow hues of foolish courage, immediately activating the solid light shield in an attempt to protect Makko from getting hit.

Only that she didn't quite think it through as the bolts ricochetted dangerously away.

 

[Makko Vyres]

Another verse in a litany of errors. Makko didn't see the attack coming. He should have. The girl was a flash of colour and the shield changed the contrast and hue of everything on the other side. Red was splashed across it in a hail of blaster fire.

Makko swore. Those quiet curses were quite as colorful as the world around him. He stretched out with the Force and another blaster rifle was silenced.

"Thank you," Makko said as he stood tall and stepped out from behind the shield.

"Ssstay there!"

The trandoshan had grabbed a passenger with one clawed hand and drawn a wicked knife with the other.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Whatever relief Zaiya felt at being able to help out Makko Vyres left as she heard the hissed command from the Trandoshan. It wasn't a random passenger, it was Dr. Isak, the Cerean professor doing his best to keep calm even though a thin line of red was already beading at his neck.

Zaiya blanched, every bit of color draining her skin until it was a pale silver. Her license dimmed as horror darkened her mottled spots and stripes into slate, then melted into an ombre pale yellow in fear.

The step forward she attempted to take froze the Lovalla teen, her hands up. The shield shimmered, still activated, but a fine trembling would be a tell.

"D-don't hurt him!" Zaiya cried out, her voice cracking in its high pitch, her stomach twisting into vicious, nauseating knots as lime green tones would carve over her skin.

 

[Makko Vyres]

At this point, Makko was starting to expect everything falling apart around him. He always missed something, picked the wrong path or simply got his timing wrong.

He should have done better. He shouldn't have remained immersed in the Force, sensitive to the thoughts and feelings around him. He was a sensitive empath, but only if he kept his mind open.

He was fast, but not fast enough to act quicker than the trandoshan could move the blade just a centimeter.

Other passengers were moving towards the back of the compartment.

"It'll be alright," Makko said quietly to the colourful girl. He needed it to be. The soldiers with him might have been able to detach themselves from the risks, but he still struggled.

He couldn't watch the girl break down at the death of her friend or guardian and continue. He had to stop this. The knife hovered over the man's throat.

It had been easier in the darkness of Denon, but Cora had drawn him back from that path.

Makko dropped his lightsaber, letting it roll under the chairs. Out of sight, it continued to roll on at his bidding.

"I'm staying here," Makko agreed.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

"You Jeedai... fool!" The Trandoshan replied, his tongue flicking by Dr. Isak's ear as he gave a broad, toothy grin. A fine red line and few beads of blood began dripping from the Cerean's neck, and Zaiya utterly froze.

Makko Vyres by all intents and purposes, seemed as if he was giving himself up. Zaiya couldn't focus on that, she was too busy trying to think what she could do to stop this. Wait, could she even do anything?

The slip of a knife could pass so quickly and Zaiya didn't want to see Dr. Izak die.

Meanwhile, Dr. Izak gave a subtle wave of his hand down by his hip, as if indicating it was okay and for Zaiya to stay where she was. The Trandoshan, however, howled for another of his companions to come over and get Makko's lightsaber, unknowing that it was rolling down at Makko's whim.

 

[Makko Vyres]

Makko had never been as controlled in using the Force as he was an natural in letting it guide him. Emotions were easy for him and his perception of the possible future events was growing, but only technology was easy for him to manipulate.

Now he needed to be precise.

Makko visualised what he needed to do in his mind. Knowing that he needed to do this, gave him the confidence to make it happen.

Snap-hiss

The violet blade appeared from behind the trandoshan and vanished in an instant. The trandoshan's arm fell slowly from its shoulder and hit the ground with a dull thud.

"Sythetth!" the creature swore.

It could survive a lost limb, but that did not mean it wasn't stunned to realised it had been cleaved away in an instant.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

The chaos and the searing sensation of having his limb sliced off caused the Trandoshan to swear viciously, and at that same time, Zaiya felt an internal push telling her to act.

Her slim wrist shot up, fingers swept over the display of her SSH Bangle, and not a second later, a bright, blinding flashing light was sent directly towards the Trandoshan's face. It seared at his coroneas, the combination of the lightsaber hit and the blinding of his eyes causing him to stumble. Dr. Isak was able to take advantage and dropped down and away from the lizard, desperately crawling as he did his best to get away as Zaiya screamed out, "Keep going!! Get away from him!"

Other passengers were scattering, some picking up the blaster rifles of the downed Nikto and other Trandoshans that had been taken out. THe question was, just how many others were on the ship, especially if they'd taken over the bridge?

Either way, it was a perfect opportunity for Makko Vyres to move.

 

[Makko Vyres]

Makko jumped to his right, planting his foot on the back of a chair.

Makko didn't kill if he could avoid it. During his time away from the Jedi Order back on Denon he had killed too much. He had put down cyberunners, gang members and corporate enforcers for his masters.

In the moment, he chose not to take a chance on the speed of smart tranq or the ability for a stun shot to go straight through the trandoshan's armour and scales.

The lightsaber flew to his hand as Makko launched off the chair, over the head of Dr Isak. The blade came down and thrust straight ahead. It deactivated as Makko's feet hit the floor. The trandoshan collapsed, the single hole in the center of his chest.

"Back of the passenger compartment. Go."

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

Zaiya gave a start, then froze as the Trandoshan was killed right in front of her. The scent of charred flesh and fabric was acrid in her nostrils. All of a sudden, her colors muted once more, shocked and just stunned at witnessing someone dying in front of her. The Force would flutter through her. While it was different than with her parents where she felt them die, Zaiya could now sense when life was no longer... there for others.

It made her sick.

Nausea would charge through her patterns in a lime green hue, and a hand went clampin over her mouth. She barely recognized Dr. Isak grabbing onto her shoulders and moving her towards the direction in the back of the passenger compartment as instructed by Makko Vyres .

Beads of sweat formed over her brow, and before she knew it, she had to push away from the Cerean. With a hurl, the Lovalla teen bent over a chair and spewed the contents of her lunch, body wrecked in heaves.

By the time she was done, she felt lightheaded and if her bones were all jelly. Dr. Isak barely murmured a comforting phrase and gathered Zaiya back into his arms.

THey had to find a way out of this.