Rebuilding a Home

[Verz Horak]

A day or so had passed since Mandalore had been damaged, her own heart forced to wrack the crust of the world, and the full extent of th immense damage and scars were still being figured out by her people. Verz had managed to get back by chartering a smuggler pilot to bring him from the out of the way space station that [member="Mia Monroe"] and [member="Ijaat Mereel"] had dragged him to before going on their way. Some naval vessels tried to stop his hired pilot, but Verz's name, even without the formal rank system in place anymore, still carried weight.

The smuggler had dropped Verz off in the Keldabe spaceport before hastily flying off.

Verz looked around at the ash covered city. Some buildings had collapsed during the quakes, and the volcanic ash that was now all over the upper atmosphere had coated the remaining buildings in gray and black streaks.

He immediately pulled out his comm, linking to the temporary system that had been set up, relaying comms from the planet to the orbital stations and back rather than the damaged planet bound relays. He punched in [member="Arla Balor"]'s comm code, hoping that he could get through to her.

 

[Arla Ordo]

She was pulling what was left of the small place she had called home on Mandalore, she had come back after that dreadful day. This time on a ship that didn't belong to someone else and was immediately dropped off.

There were only a few that had braved the atmospheric changes to come to Mandalore. Arla sat staring at the soot on her hands, the family next door had not survived. Arla had found them all dead on her return. They suffocated from the ash that had accomulated. The site had been grizzly she had never seen anything quite like it. Arla burnt the home to the ground speeding them on their way.

She rubbed her hands together watching the black cover her hands entirely. She had not reconciled even now what had happened. There had been no sign of anyone else that she came looking for, her over active sense of dread kept thinking they were all dead. The redhead shook her head.

She could hear a faint hum, a beep, was that her comm, she lifted it up to see...yes it was working, so communications were up some...but the id of the caller was still not working.

"Su cuy" She waited to hear whose voice was on the other end.

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

Verz was overjoyed to hear Arla's voice over the comm, choking back a sob of relief. He struggled to say anything for a second, gathering his thoughts. He focused himself by looking down, at the ash in the street. Verz took a deep breath.

"Arl'ika, it's me. I'm alive. You don't know how happy I am to hear your voice. Where are you?"

 

[Arla Ordo]

Arla held her breath, "Ver'ika I"m so happy to hear your voice, I'm sitting at what remains of my house." she stood up, "There's not much I can do here right now...where are you?"

She couldn't explain the relief she felt Verz was here, and alive. That gave her hope for the others. "Ver'ika do you have any idea what caused all of this? I mean I never would have thought that Mandalore could just do this." She didn't know what happen senseless death because of volcanoes? Yeah possible for certain but Arla was still in a state of disbelief and trying to reason out things.

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

"I'm in Keldabe, or what's left of it. The city is covered in ash and debris." Verz ran a hand over the back of his helmet. "I'll see if I can meet you at your homestead. Maybe I can get a landspeeder. If not I'll just hoof it. Do you have any supplies?"

Verz was relieved that Arl'ika was alive, but his thoughts had turned to her wellbeing. If her home was destroyed, then she might not have any provisions. And he wasn't sure if his own home was intact yet. Better to be safe and have some supplies ready.

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]

All of what she had in her house of importance thankfully she either wore, or had moved it to planet Ordo. This here this held provisions, like the extra shatual, she did have a few rations just because someone said she needed them on hand. But water, that was an issue.

"I got some ration bars, but no water Ver'ika. I don't think a lot of people have water and rations though. No one saw this coming..no one was prepared." Some clans didn't have the luxury of having extra they had exactly what they needed. She knew that Clan Ordo was in better shape because they were off world but...that was off world not now.

"I don't think the landspeeders will work because of the ash. The intakes might clog. Maybe. I'm going to start walking. Can't miss me." Arla pulled on her gloves. Everyone was only surviving because of the armor, thank the manda for that.

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

"Alright Arl'ika. I'll see what I can get my hands on, then I'll make my way to you. I'll stay on the comm. If anything happens I will let you know."

Verz was relieved to hear that Arla had at least something on hand. He didn't know how much of his own supplies had survived the disaster. It was prudent that he secure what he could.

Verz continued down the ash covered street, looking for any shops that might still be open or have food or water available. None of the family shops were open, and very few of the corporate stores were open. Most of the ones that were had already sold out of everything. The ash crunched under Verz's boots as he walked down the quiet street. After a few moments, he heard some commotion near a small landing pad. Nearing it, he found that a supply shuttle from one of the ships in orbit had landed, bringing some meager supplies, mainly ration food and water, to the surface. Verz spoke up.

"Arl'ika. I found a shuttle bringing some supplies from the naval vessels. I'm going to get some to bring to you."

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]

"Ok, so I will...Ver'ika just bring enough for the day. I'm not sure I have a secure place to store anything, and anyone who doesn't have supplies...well we need to get the supplies to the familes that need them." Her mind went to the familes with children she could last a lot longer than alot of the ad'ika that ran around, or use to.

That gave the redhead pause, they use to...how many...oh she couldn't think about that and thankfully Avram was on Ordo. Feth. Why hadn't the scientists known that there was going to be this massive volcano activity? She wanted answers if only to satisfy that people had died because of someone neglecting their duties.

She just walked slowly her mind in different places, things she needed to check.

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

"Alright Arl'ika. I'll see what I can do."

Verz approached the shuttle, which already had a few people around it, getting some bags of supplies. Verz waited until it was his turn, and spent the time looking at the others who were trying to get supplies. Many were covered in ash and soot, like the city. Others were pacing, clearly agitated. When Verz finally got to the front of the queue, the Mandalorians in the shuttle quickly handed him a pack of supplies. Looking inside, Verz found some sealed ration packs and a couple of jugs of water. Easily enough for a couple days for one person. Maybe a week if stretched. For Arla and himself, it would only last the day. Still, it was better than nothing.

Verz began making his way to the edge of the city, the pack on his shoulder.

"Arl'ika, I have a supply bag. I'm heading towards your homestead."

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]

She looked around realizing that this would not take a day or two to get past it would take months, maybe years. She dared not walk far for what if there were to be more eruptions? Had they truly stopped or merely took a break? The ground had not shifted for at least a few days so it could be over.

What to do first? Where to start? Her mind began to work through problems, ok we start with rescue work if needed. Just then her communications came in she smiled and nodded, "Ok Ver'ika I'm here I'll stand still so you can find me." Not that he couldn't with his armor he'd be able to find her.

Arla began to scan around her searching out life signs. Everyone would need to be checked.

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

Verz hiked through the ash that had piled up around the city. The forest was not easy to navigate, as the ash had not been cleared away here. Some of the trees had been scored by the heat of the ash. Others had been spared. Either way, the dead foliage and ash would provide nutrients for new trees to grow....if they could survive being buried. A few times during the trek, Verz was tempted to stop and rest, or to drink some water. He couldn't stop though. He needed to save the supplies until he and Arla knew how to ration them. It was tiring, but he needed to get to Arla. He needed to make sure she was safe.

After a couple hours, he neared the clearing where Arla's homestead should be. He called out over the comm.

"Arl'ika! I'm here, where are you?"

 

[Arla Ordo]

She was sitting there watching the ash fall, it was sad, just sad. There weren't life signs around her, she had checked. They had either all evacuated when opportunity came up, or..they'd find them later.

She shook her head again wondering how had they missed this? Then there was a crackle and a hummm, "Ver'ika, here" She stood up shaking off the accumulated ash, and began looking for the familiar bright red armor, it wasn't hard to spot.

"I see you" She waved, "see..." She walked slowly, "I'm so glad you made it." She was, she really was glad. "Did you see anyone else along the way?"

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

Verz saw Arla wave, her arm's movement standing out against the stillness of the forest. He waved back to show her that he had seen her. Then he broke out into a run, covering the distance between them quickly, despite his exhaustion.

When Verz was close enough, he scooped up Arla in his arms, tightly embracing her, their armor plates making a clanking as they hit each other. He gently touched his helmet to hers, holding it there for a second before speaking.

"Oh Arl'ika, thank the manda that you are alright! I was so worried about you."

 

[Arla Ordo]

[member="Verz Horak"]

It was a moment frozen in time for them, together their helmets touching the realization of what could have been she could have lost him forever once more time. Her pride was getting in the way she knew it, recognized it, and her fear.

Here among all of this devastation, "I was so afraid you had been swallowed up by all this Ver'ika. I can't remember the last time I had been so afraid." For a few moments she could forget that their home was in ruins, for home wherever it was, would always be wherever Verz was.

"I don't know what I would have done had you been taken from me forever." She sighed relieved that she would not have to find out.

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

If Verz had to pick a moment to last forever, it would have been this one. Knowing Arl'ika was safe, and his relief knowing that she was unhurt flooded him, and he was almost overcome by it. He had to take a deep breath and blink away a couple tears before he could talk.

"I'm alright Arl'ika. I'm here. It's not my time to march off just yet."

Verz continued looking at Arl'ika, their helmets touching, with his eyes taking in every familiar scratch and chip of her buy'ce, before slowly pulling back.

"Arl'ika, we are going to need to see if we can find some shelter for the night. Is the celler intact?"

 

[Arla Ordo]

Was the cellar intact? She had to think a minute clear her head she had looked, "the foundation cracked but it is intact. The house is sturdy, that is for sure." She looked down and then up she knew he couldn't see her smile but that was alright.

She looked passed him was anyone around? She hadn't seen anyone since earlier, "We can check it when we get down there. Might have to pull some of the survival gear out of the locker..if we can find it."

She sighed, "Should we look for others?"

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

"Good. At least we will have some shelter for the night."

Verz grabbed the two bundles of supplies he had gotten in the city and begun moving them towards the celler, the sound of water sloshing and packaging rustling was easy to hear in the still evening. Peering inside, with his helmet light illuminating the darkness, Verz could see that the cellar was spacious enough for the two of them, even if it would be a bit cramped.

"It would be a good idea to search a bit. At least the surrounding homesteads. It will be dark soon. If it can get any darker."

Verz looked up, watching the swirls of ash that had mixed with the clouds and stained them grey.

 

[Arla Ordo]

Everything was already a dismal grey with patches of black nowhere could she see even a faint cloud of white, or patch of sky. How long would it take for Mandalore to clear and for them to see the skies once more.

Verz was already moving towards the cellar, he would drop the supplies and then they could search the nearby homes. Then she stopped. Looking around, "Where is Mirdala did you leave her some place safe?" Her mind could play with her emotions she could envision things that had no happened and yet feel them deep into her soul.

She had an attachment to the strill for certain. It was at that moment she felt the shiver run down her back and knew that goosebumps had formed on her arms. The tiny mountains made her hair stand up. She looked at the houses around her own, she had earlier helped. They had left but there was another couple of houses behind them that they should check.

Just in case.

[member="Verz Horak"]

 

[Verz Horak]

[member="Arla Balor"]

"Hopefully Mirdala is alright. Strills are tough, and it's not like there won't be prey in the forests for it to hunt. If we have time, however, I do want to look for it."

Verz finished dragging the bundles into the cellar, placing them under a support beam, just in case any part of the ceiling fell. The bundles would be safe.

Coming out of the cellar, Verz looked at the nearby trees. Most of them were intact, however some were already missing leaves. The ash would have scorched some of them, with the lack of light doing in more. For sure, there would be fewer trees around in the coming years.

"Come Arl'ika, let's get a move on on checking the other houses nearby. It'll be darker soon, and we need to stay warm and hydrated."

 

[Arla Ordo]

Oh she was out there, and yeah Verz said she would be ok but would she really?

"Ok, let's move" She wouldn't think about it, Mirdala was more than Verz pet and hunting companion. Mirdala was important. "Let's check over this way I didn't get this far before. I didn't want to venture too far into some of the wreckage without having help."

She moved, she pushed her body to move. She couldn't bring herself to think about what had happened, would happen, and how this really wasn't the worst. The worst was yet to come. She scanned ahead of life signs, so far nothing.

"Ver'ika how did we not see this coming?" She couldn't help it she had to have an answer, this...not knowing, and how could they avoid it somewhere else or here again...what if Mandalore exploded from the core and became shards of beskar floating in space.

Oh by the Manda she didn't want to think about that.

[member="Verz Horak"]