Private Rescuer Becomes The Rescued

[Auraya Irath-Ur]

The premise was supposed to be simple enough, hunt down an ambassador's stolen lava meerkat. Simple...

So how was it that Auraya found herself hanging upside down with her foot through some primitive rope trap, dangling from a tree? Well... She'd followed the meernappers trail from Coruscant to Onderon, making use of a droid-piloted vessel the appreciative ambassador had acquired for her, and then from the urban sprawl of Iziz out into the jungles beyond on foot. She hadn't seemed particularly out of her depths to begin with, even with how much she struggled with her training Auraya could handle two men hoping to ransom the animal for credits. They were desperate, according to reports, but not so desperate that they'd resort to extreme acts of violence.

It's why nobody had really batted an eyelid when she took up the case. Sure, let the Padawan find the missing meerkat. What could possibly go wrong? What indeed. As she hung upside down from one ankle, she was left to ponder her own chit luck. She'd found them the night before, because they weren't exactly being smart or discrete when making camp. A campfire crackling, voices booming, yeah it had been easy to crawl up on them and monitor them from the trees.

What she hadn't expected was the flock of ruping who swept down and tried to make a feast of the camp. Nope, she hadn't been expecting that at all. She'd fought off a couple from afar, using the Force to knock them off balance in hopes that it would scare them away. It hadn't. So she'd resorted to making her presence known, igniting her (training) saber, and waving it to get their attention. That worked, the winged reptilians left the men and the lava meerkat alone but now they were chasing her.

All the way through the jungle...

Until she stepped into a local, primitive hunter's trap and found her world turned upside down. The ruping had pecked at her a little at first, but realizing there was little meat to be found they soon flew away in search of better pickings. Then it was just Auraya and a whole lot of head-rush.

Seriously, how did she fail in getting back some pet lava meerkat?

How did she mess it up this badly?

Well if anyone could, it was Auraya.

"HELP!" she cried out, into the vacant jungle. Maybe the pair of thieves would hear her and come to her rescue, realizing she'd saved their hide. Then again, maybe they were long gone with their stolen goods, hoping she'd never find them again. "HEEEELP!" Force, maybe if she had a real lightsaber she'd have been able to cut herself down.

But nope. Still a training blade. Why was it always a training blade?

Norr Vakkea

 

[Norr Vakkea]

Rescuer Becomes The Rescued​

It was common for Norr to be in the wilderness for extended periods of time, he had spent many years within the jungles of sparsely inhabited worlds tracking down Sith, or ancient lost relics so that they did not fall into the wrong hands. He had been an outstanding Jedi of the order, but things had changed in recent months ever since he found that Holocron and succame to temptation and opened it up. Since then, he had changed to a whole new different person, something which he had tried his best to conceal from those that knew him, and even his Padawans.

He found himself on Onderon, deep within the jungle on a mission assigned by the New Jedi Order themself, to hunt down and locate a missing person of interest; a contact that had proven crucial against their war with the New Sith Order. A smuggler with keen piot skills almost unmatched within the galaxy that had been running sensitive cargo to New Galatic Alliance territory. He had recently taken a mission to capture a creature native to Onderon, but he had not been heard from in several weeks. So here he was, thick within the jungle searching for him.

He closed his eyes as he focused on the surrounding sounds, augmenting his natural hearing ability with the force, allowing it to carry distant far off sounds that most would be unable to hear towards him. His eyes snapped open as he heard a distant cry "HEEEELP!". His eyes narrowed as he thought to himself, had this been the person he was looking for? The trail he was following had gone dry a couple of days back. Or was this another fool that was about to get themselves killed, or a trap specifically prepared for him? He didn't have time to process all the options as he sped through the forest, dipping and diving as he navigated through the dense undergrowth that covered the forest floor.

His right hand reached down to his lightsaber as he slowed his approach to the source of the noise, while his left hand moved forward to part the leaves that separated himself from whatever had called out. He prepared himself, ready to strike should he need to, only to be somewhat disappointed by what he saw. He let out an auditable tut as his gaze fell on the Padawan dangling by her foot, flailing calling for help.

He spoke with a stern voice, one filled with a chill and coldness and not warmth "Well, well, well... what do we have here?" his hand reaching down and grasping the hilt of his lightsaber, waiting for the Padawans response.

Auraya Irath-Ur

​

 

[Auraya Irath-Ur]

How long she'd been stuck like that, straining to try and keep her head up enough that it didn't implode under the mounting pressure, Auraya didn't know for certain. All that she knew that she had almost given up hope entirely, had almost resigned herself to her dizzying fate, when a figure appeared from between the trees and stood to regard her.

She was spinning languidly in place with each flailing movement she made, so she only saw him from her peripheral at first. But after noticing he was there she moved her head this way and that, trying to peer back at him to figure out who he was. One of the meernappers, perhaps? No... When next she got a good look at him she knew that couldn't be the case.

Just a stranger, then. What else was she to expect on this random world away from Coruscant?

Well at least he'd heard her cry for help. At least he'd come to get her down.

Only he didn't get her down. Not right away at least, instead he tutted as though she'd somehow disappointed him with her mere existence, and then spoke with a less than agreeable tone. Great, her fate hung in the balance of whether or not this guy, this -- well, frankly, she didn't know what his race was. But whether or not he chose to let her down?

She did take note of where his hand drifted to, though. He had a lightsaber... A Jedi perhaps? Something lurched in her gut though, just by looking at him, and she was left unsure about that assessment. Force, not a Sith. Please not a Sith.... She couldn't handle a repeat of Jakku, and they'd just been cultists not even the real deal.

"Please, mister," she said, once she'd turned around to face him again. Auraya tried to stop with her struggling, in hopes that maybe she'd stop spinning. "Help a girl out?" Man had a lightsaber, there really was no excuse for him not to get her down. Unless he just wanted to be an ass. There were enough beings in the Galaxy who likely didn't give two chits about how they seemed to others, she realized, she could only hope he had some level of kindness hidden within his serious, cold self.

Norr Vakkea​

 

[Norr Vakkea]

Rescuer Becomes The Rescued​

Time: Evening
Tags: Auraya Irath-Ur
Norr remained silent for a couple of moments as the padawan swang under the moonlit sky. He pondered for a moment wondering how long she had been trapped there unable to free herself. Had this been a different planet, one filled with vicious creatures, or sith lurking within the shadows, she would have long been killed and had her body picked clean of meat.

The moonlights rays shined onto Norr as the Padawan pleaded to him to let her down, his alabaster skin reflecting back the light as if it was similar to the moon in the sky itself. Norr had a form that would strike fear into most that met him, pale skin, with striking dark twisting horns adorning his head; he was an Elomin, not a common species often seen. He reached to his lightsaber as he jumped into the air skillfully, briefly igniting his saber as the blue blade illuminated the surroundings with a faint glow as he cut the cord that held her up, before deactivating it.

He had freed her, but for what purpose the Padawan had yet to find out. As he landed he turned to stare at her, waiting a few moments for an uncomfortable silence to build up before speaking as he assessed the woman. A Jedi knight? No, they would have been able to free themselves it seemed he was dealing with a lost Padawan. "How did you end up bound by your feet in such a primitive trap? What are you doing in the wilderness on your own?" Norr asked with a cold voice once more "Has your Master not come searching for you?".

His gaze stayed firmly on her as he awaited her reply. It seemed that he was going to have to play master for this lost Padawan and bring her back to safety. His mission would have to be left for another day, not that he had gotten anywhere with the few leads that were left. "No matter, I shall help you back to the nearest base for safety, we can't have a lost padawan wandering around here at night."

​

 

[Auraya Irath-Ur]

The man jumped up and cut her binds with his ignited lightsaber.

Her relief was short-lived, in that she was promptly dumped unto the ground below, with a thud. She was lucky, in truth, that she did not break her neck or hit her head on a rock on the way down. Nope, instead she was just unceremoniously dropped, and that was embarrassing enough for the likes of her. Colour formed within her cheeks, but it was better than hanging upside down for the rest of her life.

What a short life it would be, too.

"Thank you" she said, as she righted herself and pushed back up to her feet. She brushed down her training attire as best she could - shirt and trousers to allow for increased mobility when compared to robes - and then peered up at the stranger. His race was not one she could identify, but surprisingly enough she looked upon him without a single lick of fear. Maybe it was because he'd freed her. Or maybe she'd been taught not to judge others.

Probably a mixture of the two.

He had a bunch of questions for her, and Auraya chewed on the inside of her lip as she pondered how best to respond. Honestly... That was her usual go to. But would honesty get her into trouble here?

No. He seemed like he was genuinely willing to help.

She dipped into a bow of respect and thanks, before she answered him.

"I don't have a Master" she explained, as she righted herself once more. "I'm here trying to see to the safe return of a lava meerkat to its owner on Coruscant. I uh... I almost had it. Then a flock of ruping tried to make it and the thieves their dinner. I uh, made myself the bait instead. That's how I ended up stepping in the trap, I was trying to get far away from the others and... Well, I wasn't paying enough attention to my surroundings."

A further blush fell over her, burning at the tips of her ears. Was that, perhaps, a little too honest? Oh well. It was the truth of the matter.

"But I'm afraid I can't just leave with you to civilization. I need to find the lava meerkat, Sir. I can't go back empty handed..." A dread set over her with the notion of going back to Coruscant without her task being completed. They already thought she was a failure.

This should have been easy, even for her. She'd never be able to show her face again.

"Thank you for getting me down. And thank you for offering to guide me back to the city. But... I respectfully decline."

Then without any further pomp she turned and began to head back the way she'd run from initially. She doubted the camp was still there, but maybe they'd left signs of where they might have gone to next. Hopefully.

Norr Vakkea​

 

[Norr Vakkea]

Rescuer Becomes The Rescued​

Time: Evening
Tags: Auraya Irath-Ur
Norr smirked slightly as the padawan landed on the ground face-first without much grace, truth be told he had expected her to at least be able to stick the landing without embarrassing herself, but alas it was clear that he had expected too much from her; something that he sought not to repeat. He replied without more thought as the girl managed to muster a thankyou "You're welcome.", as he watched her begin to pat herself down.

He waited for her to respond, allowing her to squirm under his piecing gaze. He was surprised, not because he had stumbled into something that he wasn't expecting, no. He was surprised because the padawan seemed to be keeping herself composed, more so than most her age would be able to do. His brow peaked at the mention of the return of a Lava meerkat, and the look of disappointment on his face only deepened at the mention of turning herself into bait as he butted in. "Well, I can see you had certainly turned yourself into bait. I wouldn't have been surprised if all that was left tomorrow night was clean bones hanging here picked clean by the creatures that lurk in the jungle."

He waited for her to finish speaking as a look of disappointment remained, shaking his head, she was going to end up dead if she decided to stay out here all night. He watched her sprint off before he could voice his complaints further before letting out a little sigh. He was hunting for someone too, and if he had no leads to follow he might as well keep an eye on her. So without wasting another moment he moved to follow her through the jungle, to where ever she was heading

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[Auraya Irath-Ur]

Boy, she'd never seen someone quite so openly disappointed in her mere existence before. It was unnerving to say the least, and she fidgeted under his scrutinizing gaze as he listened to what she had to say then remarked on how she'd likely have been naught but carrion food if he hadn't found her. True, she knew, most definitely true.

"Better me than them" she shrugged, only really catching up to the fact that she'd put the lives of literal animal thieves over her own a few seconds after she uttered it. Therein she frowned. Didn't remedy it though, didn't take back her words. Two lives meant more than one, surely? Especially when the one was as useless as she.

Case in point, the trap.

Even so he didn't get to say much more before she was rushing off through the trees. At first she thought she was going it alone, back on track as with before, but then she felt his presence behind her too. Great, so now she was going to have a shadow? Internally Auraya groaned, just her luck. Even if she got the lava meerkat back to Coruscant it would have been due to the interference of another.

She'd never live it down.

Auraya found their camp pretty easily, though there wasn't much remaining to look at. The remnants of their fire, a couple of items they'd left behind in their haste to flee. Best of all were the footprints, though, leading further into the forest. Those were promising.

She paused long enough to glance over the discarded items, then set her hands on her hips. Peered along the path they'd wrought for themselves.

How long had she been hanging?

How far could they have gone?

"A few clicks, maybe" she mumbled under her breath. "Maybe it's time to hire a speeder bike..." One hand reached into her pocket, coming free with a measly amount of credit chits. Some of those would be required to get back to Coruscant too; a ship she may have loaned, but she still needed to fuel it.

Alright, best she get to hiking then.

Norr Vakkea

 

[Norr Vakkea]

Rescuer Becomes The Rescued​

Time: Evening
Tags: Auraya Irath-Ur
It has not really occurred to Norr that his presence may dampen the credibility and the merit of the Jedi Padawan, and nor would he have been. There was only one thing that ran through his head at the time, to best conceal the change that he had recently gone through. He did not want a single trail left that would help expose him, and it was crucial that this padawan return without any sense of doubt about his character.

As the pair made their way through the dense undergrowth, Norr remained further back allowing the padawan to pursue the trail on her own, while he remained back like a shadow; not planning to interfere. His mind began to wander slightly as dark thoughts entered his mind, he pushed them aside as he remained focused on his own task

The group that he had been tracking down had not been seen in months, and the last contact was weeks ago. It was clear that something had gone wrong and with all trails left, it was down to dumb luck to find a lead and perhaps this padawan would lead him there, guided by the force. He drew in the force as he took in the surrounding sound, listening closely to the words that rode amongst the wind, force listening; a remarkable ability that was able to amplify ones hearing to an unimaginable level. Norr had been trained in many Jedi ways, and even some sith, but this skill was what caused him to be assigned on this mission in the first place.

His eyes narrowed. He had heard the men that the padawan was searching for, but it did not seem like she was the only one that had encountered the fauna on Onderon, and they seemed to have ran into something a lot more dangerous. The Padawan was right, a few clicks away in the direction she was heading, but perhaps it was a trap that she was walking in to once more.

​

 

[Auraya Irath-Ur]

After lightly toeing the cool remnants of the fire with her boot, and seemingly coming up with nothing of note within the ashes, Auraya let out a huff and turned to walk away. As she did so, however, a small glint caught her attention. She leaned down, reached out, and pulled from the soot a small pin that seemingly had resisted the previously burning temperatures it had been engulfed by.

At first glance it didn't seem like very much of anything, but then she wiped the surface of it clean and unearthed an emblem of some sorts. It wasn't one she inherently recognized, it just looked like a sunburst to her, but at least it was something right? Maybe someone back at the town would recognize it and know which gang they belonged to?

If they'd come here, after all, surely they operated out of this world?

Her gaze shifted over to the stranger who had chosen to follow her into the clearing. Apparently he was serious about sticking around, no doubt intent on leading her back to civilization the moment she either gave up or came across her quarry. Adults, she thought, always sticking their nose in...

Still, maybe it wasn't all bad. Next time the local wildlife tried to gorge on her they might have a harder time doing so. With a sigh she figured she might as well take advantage of the situation then.

She flicked the pin toward him. "Clutching at straws here," she remarked, before turning back toward the trail she needed to follow, "Any chance you recognize it?" Then she set off, before the meernappers could get too much further away. They were still on foot, at least, if the impressions were anything to go by. As she pushed through the trees, moving aside low lying branches and underbrush with her hand and her boots, she strained to listen out for anything he might have to say about the pin, as well as to be a little more alert in case more creatures came out from the trees.

Norr Vakkea

 

[Norr Vakkea]

Rescuer Becomes The Rescued​

Time: Evening
Tags: Auraya Irath-Ur
He stayed close to the Padawan like a shadow, remaining within reach if he needed to act and save the Padawan from the creatures within the jungle that would like to make her their next meal. He exited into the clearing observing the camp that they found themselves in, clearly whoever had acted against this 'pet' knew what they were doing, the only thing that alluded him is why they found themselves deep in the jungle.

His hand snatched the pin out of the air with great speed as it travelled towards him. His finger ran over the surface as he cleared away the soot that had blacked it, and found its way into the grooves and contours of the symbol. He pondered at the Padawans question, did he recognise it. He was almost floored by the actions once more, there were few who did not recognise the symbol. The Sunburst symbol was only used by a single gang. "The Black Sun" he replied without much further thought as his gaze drifted over to her moving aside the undergrowth.

He let out a smirk at her actions, at this rate she would end up dead before nightfall, clearly she was not that experienced with the worldly affairs of the galaxy. Just within a couple of meters further, she would find her targets, along with a greater threat. He was curious to see how she would act when faced with the fauna that lurked within the shadows, few could hold their nerve when staring down towards potential death.

​

 

[Auraya Irath-Ur]

The man gave his response, and Auraya turned to stare at him incredulously. The Black Sun? Here? "What are they doing stealing lava meerkats?" she wondered aloud, audibly perplexed by the entire notion. Gaze lowered to the pin in his hand, then she shook her head. It didn't matter, did it? She had, of course, heard of them, but she had never made it a point to learn the symbols of the various organizations out there in the Galaxy.

Going forward, perhaps she ought to pay just a little more attention to such.

Turning back to the trail at hand, she began to make out the sounds of not just the men but other creatures in the distance. Her hand drifted back to the lightsaber on her belt, and she drew the hilt from its place and into her grasp. It might not have the typical cutting power, but she'd been struck by them enough in training to know first hand that they could still hurt.

Sometimes sight alone was enough to deter. Maybe not an animal, mind... But the light? She'd seen that work wonders to drive off---

The sight of the boma drove such thoughts right from her mind. Yeah, there wasn't a chance in Chaos that the light alone would scare this stout thing off. Ugly, muscular, small yet mighty, it had both of the men on their back foot. She glanced over them in the time it took her to step out of the mass of tangled weeds that made up the forest floor, and found no sign of both the meerkat or the bag they'd been keeping it in on their persons.

Kark. Had they handed it over already?

Eyes scanned the more immediate vicinity, before falling on the satchel strung up on a branch. Up out of the carnivores reach... She could just grab it, take the bag and go. A clear conflict rose up within her at that thought. Would it be so wrong? She'd ensure that the meerkat was returned, and so focused on the boma they likely wouldn't even notice.

She looked back at the men and the beast. Huffed a frustrated sigh, directed more at herself than anything else, and then with a snap-hiss she ignited her blade and made her approach. Snapping twigs drew more than just the attention of the men, that ugly creature turned its head to glower at her, stamping its feet as it prepared to charge.

As fearsome as it looked, as much as it had her quaking in her boots, she found herself staring it down in turn. Her lightsaber, she quickly realized upon seeing its thick, scaled hide, wasn't going to do chit. Not even a stinging blow would do anything to deter it. So she solidified her stance, narrowed her eyes, and drew upon the Force. Auraya had heard about people calming great beasts... It wasn't something she'd ever done, of course, likely unobtainable for her, but she'd at least try. If nothing else she could be a distraction once more.

It wasn't as though she was alone this time, after all. Maybe one of the men could figure something else out in the meantime.

Norr Vakkea