First Reply Some Like it Hot

[Kinsey Starchaser]

"I miss him too," Kinsey said to Pibs. Her pebble-drone booped and razzled. And for a moment it was as if the spacer felt him in the back. Riding with his jacket neatly folded over a seat. Not a hair misplaced upon his light blond hair. And while they'd gone their separate ways long ago, Kinsey still found herself wondering how Rune Shamalain was doing. She hoped...

Just good things for him and his.

Bright blue-Starchaser eyes focused upon the viewport as the orange glow of the many magma rivers filled it up. "Going dark," her finger flipped the switch on the control-panel on her modified U-wing. The cloaking system would kick in. Queyta was straddling the line between the free outer rim and the Sith Order. She didn't want any trouble even though trouble always had a way of finding her. Fingers and toes crossed her intel on the artifact she was after was actually here.

Rumor had it there was an old Separatist Base built between the main Skakoan city and the circling volcanoes. And inside that base was what she was looking for.

Pibs booped beside her.

"Yeah, take us down. Monitor the seismic activity will yeah? Don't want us to be fried once we land."

 

[Zinayn]

It seemed to Zinayn that he was on a wild goose chase. Here he was out here near the outer rim on the slim hope of completing his mission. The High Commander of the Lilaste Order had sent him here on the chance that there might be something worth finding in the old databanks built into some Separatist base. The description of its location gave the name Queyta, and the information that it was between a city and volcanoes. No coordinates. He might be here for days before spotting anything resembling...

The Chiss peered out the viewport as he entered the atmosphere. A mountain jutted up into the clouded orange sky. Not just any mountain. A volcano. But it looked like he'd be seeing a lot more of those on this world, he knew as streams of gurgling magma entered his sight.

He grimaced. Couldn't Laphisto could have sent him to a more pleasant world? There were surely many more databanks in places many times better than this. Oh well. An excuse to get off the station and away from teaching was good, no matter the location.

Studying his map attentively, Zinayn found that a large city was just to the north, only a few minutes' travel. A glimmer of hope flickered within. It was surrounded by exploding mountains!

Hopefully this is it. If it's not...

Kinsey Starchaser

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Hiding her force signature came like breathing. As the doors of her modified U-wing opened and that warm, dry air blasted her face from the planet, she glanced around at the ashy and rocky landscape. It reminded her of Mustafar. Or insdie the belly of a krayt dragon.

Boots landed softly on the dusty, warm earth. Goggles slapped over the upper part of her face. Starchaser-blues peering out from beneath the tinted lense. Fingers tapped at the edges as she brought up the scanner.

"Pibs, stay with the ship. Take off if you see trouble," she'd murmur as her Pebble-drone warbled a quick reply. She let her senses stretch forward in the force, poking and probing to see if she felt any other life signs or other potential whiff of trouble even as she hiked further away from her ship and closer to the base of one of the volcanoes.

 

[Zinayn]

The shuttle swooped down to land amid jagged, randomly shaped rocks coated with ash. The repulsorlifts kicked up an egregious amount of dust particles (enough to make the Chiss put on an oxygen mask). He'd landed pretty close to the city; just several miles out. As Zinayn stood before the hatch, he checked his sides to make sure he had everything.

Lightsaber concealed under cloak? Check. His new katana ? No. He looked under the piloting console, and there it was standing out against the black painted deck. He reached for it and attached it outside his cloak. Now he was ready.

He hit the release button, and was immediately met with a blast of ash and dust in his face. Maybe I should bring some goggles too... these'll do.

All geared up, Zinayn left his shuttle and turned towards its bow. Towering up through the clouds was a volcano. Hopefully the right one. He fished out a handheld scanner from his pocket, squinting to see it clearer through the film that had already built up on his goggles. Straight ahead was the strongest signal.

Minutes later, he was regretting bringing his katana. Although it was pretty light, it wasn't weightless, and it was obvious that there would be a decent trek ahead of him. After all, why bring two weapons? It wasn't like anyone would go looking for this centuries-old base.

Unbeknownst to the Chiss, there was another searching for the same location he was. His presence would stand out like a skyscraper in the middle of a block of single-story homes. He wasn't trying to hide it. Why would he? Again, who would go looking for such an ancient place? Who except the High Commander of the Lilaste Order. And by extension, Zinayn.

Kinsey Starchaser

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

There was a warble in her ear from the commlink even as the mountain loomed ever closer before her. Kinsey paused and canted her head. "What do you mean another life form coming to exactly where I am?"

There was a series of razzled replies.

"No I get that. Just...how soon? How close?" Kinsey extended her senses in the force, stretching outward from her position even as Pibs offered a response. Oh chit. Definitely someone strong in the force. She just had no idea who they were affiliated with. A glance over her shoulder as she whispered a command to her goggles to zoom in.

Just there. Movement. A little too far right now and she had no idea if they'd spotted her.

Best to press on and be ready if they were following her same path. "Yeah, I'm moving ahead. Just keep an eye on them, yeah?" A quick message to Pibs as she approached the mountain. There was a large split between the rocks. An entrance to a cave. Once inside, Kins found a spot within the cleft of the rocks and tucked herself in. She'd be hidden from the entrance but would have a glimpse of whoever came in.

 

[Zinayn]

Something probed at him. Someone. But the probe was there and gone right as he recognized it. Zinayn frowned and stopped in his tracks, checking his surroundings. He sensed nothing for at least a hundred yards. Though of course a skilled Force-user could hide their presence if they so wished. His head tilted upwards to capture the entirety of the volcano looming up ahead. Probably less than a mile out now. He'd bode well to save his energy and walk slow.

His mind went back to the sensation of that probe. A Force-user all the way out here? Maybe some scavenger? No, someone with ability to do that and hide their presence would be very skilled. And why would someone as skilled as that resort to scavenging old bases? He was beginning to be grateful that he'd brought two weapons.

For now though, he wouldn't respond to the probe. He'd leave his presence as big as it had been before. Nothing wrong here. Just a guy going for a stroll towards an active volcano.

Finally, he reached the base of the mountain. It was much taller now than it had been minutes before. Hesitance filled his thoughts. What if the volcano erupted while he was inside and he was swallowed by churning lava? Or would he survive the onslaught, only to be suffocated by hovering fumes?

Zinayn blinked off the what-ifs and looked ahead, where there was a crack in the mountain, and darkness inside. Probably the way in. Now, any old treasure hunter would take precautions before going in such a suspicious entrance, but not this Chiss. Zinayn walked into the maw, knowing his eyes would give him slightly better vision in the dark than a human, for comparison.

He stopped just a few steps in. The source of that probe wouldn't have just been out in these parts for no reason. They were probably searching for this hidden base as well. This crack in the mountain might not be the only way in, but there was certainly a chance that Force-user was here somewhere. Maybe precautions would be a good idea.

Kinsey Starchaser

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Whoever it was had goggles and an aspirator on. Plus the cloak. The build definitely seemed humanoid. Kins frowned and paused, unmoving. She didn't know what the best play was. If he was going to the same place she was, they'd run into each other again. She could stay hidden but...

Deciding to trust her instincts, she waited for Zinayn to pass her so that she'd have the door at her back and him in front. Well, his back. She wasn't quiet with her movements and held her fingerless-gloved hands up.

"Easy stranger. Don't want any trouble," she kept her hands where he could see them and away from the weapons at her belt. Dirty-blonde hair framed her ash-streaked face. "Figured you and I might be headed to the same place and figured we might get farther if we work together."

It was an invitation and one she left hanging in the air between them as she watched him closely.

 

[Zinayn]

Zinayn walked a bit further into the crevice before hearing noise behind him. Unlike most things, this sound startled him, as it was obviously made by a living being. One that he couldn't sense. So this was the being who was also searching for the base. The Chiss turned, raising his goggles and setting them on his forehead, revealing his slightly-infrared crimson eyes. He examined her stance. Hands away from her weapons: good. Blocking the only exit: bad.

Zinayn's arms were still hanging down by his sides, close to his katana and his lightsaber, although the latter was hidden by his newly dirtied cloak. So she wanted to team up? He took a moment to think before answering, "Depends on what you're after."

If she was after the information in the databanks, that was fine. The data could certainly be copied at the expense of a few minutes. But if there was anything else in there, like artifacts relating to Laphisto 's species... they would have to decide what to do if something like that was found. The dragon commander definitely would not be very happy if something that important slipped through Zinayn's fingers.

Kinsey Starchaser

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

A mystery, powerful Chiss. She huffed and lowered her hands. Real slow like. The ground rumbled beneath them. Pibs warbled on her wrist comm.

"Don't stab me in the back and I won't stab you."

The proverbial stab.

"We don't have much time so let's just agree to that and decide on things as they come, yeah?" Kinsey chipped her chin toward the dark passageway ahead. Fishing a headlight from her belt, she put it on, flicking on the switch to illuminate the way. He probably didn't need it but she did.

"You got a name?"

 

[Zinayn]

The woman lowered her hands. One who was more jumpy may have attempted to cut her down, but Zinayn stood still, observing her. She seemed sincere. And he didn't believe there would be a reason for her to attack him. At least until they saw what the reward for their scavenging would be.

As she strapped on her headlight, the Chiss moved to the side. Who would walk in front was the question now. He didn't quite trust her yet, if he ever would, and she likely didn't trust a hooded stranger either. The walls of the entrance were far too tight for them to walk side by side comfortably. Though maybe a bit of discomfort was preferable compared to a stranger at your back.

She asked his name and he responded, "Zinayn, my core name. And you?"

Kinsey Starchaser

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

"Kinsey," she called over her shoulder not taking her eyes off the dark passageway that lay ahead, illuminated only by the small beam of light from the light across her forehead. "My friends call me Kins."

She didn't need trouble so she didn't bother with her last name.

Sorry Uncle Coren.

"You might want to be careful where you step. These places tend to be...trapped." The way she said it alluded to her experience in artifact hunting. She paused as the very mountain they were within shook around them. Dust and debris rained from the tunnel. They were within a volcano or very near one. She just hoped they didn't get buried alive down here.

 

[Zinayn]

Zinayn followed behind the woman, taking every step cautiously. Currently he was only worried about slipping, but when the newly identified Kinsey warned of traps, he walked even slower, observing the ground and the sides of the passageway with suspicion.

The tone in which she conveyed her message was not lost on Zinayn. "You seem experienced. I wonder why you do this? The reward could be great, but the danger is greater still. Especially in a place like this. Is it for the possibility that you find an ancient artifact you can be paid for? Or perhaps you enjoy studying such things yourself. Or do you delve into dungeons like this ... for fun?"

The corner of his mouth turned up at that last word. The thrill of adventure and danger was certainly a reason why he worked for the Order. He pitied the folks crammed up in cubicles all day to make a living. They didn't understand the joy of combat or being out in the galaxy. They would be asleep in their chairs until they died unless something woke them up.

Zinayn woke up to his surroundings as dust rained from above and the ground tremored ominously. Hopefully the volcano wouldn't erupt while they were inside. He was no scientist, but that couldn't possibly be good. He picked up his pace a bit. As long as he stepped exactly where Kinsey did, he should be fine.

Kinsey Starchaser

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

A low whistle and quirk of her lips. A glance of her goggled face over her shoulder at the chiss.

"That's a lot of questions at once, Zinny."

She paused as their tunnel rained rock and debris down on them but nothing that hurt. Not yet anyhow. "Let's just say the 'verse has a lot to offer and sometimes it's nice to be able to experience that while disappearing for awhile. What about you? You working for any of the mighty powers that be right now?"

Jedi. Sith. Alliance. You name it.

Kinsey still wasn't entirely sure how Zinayn aligned himself.

 

[Zinayn]

Zinny. Another addition to his list of nicknames strangers had given him. One of the less extreme names, but equally dislikable. So she was out here to see what the galaxy had to offer. She sounded like one of those old hyperspace navigators, charting out and exploring the unknown. Every jump could bring death, but curiosity kept them going. Maybe that was what drove Kinsey as well. Their drives for adventure were different, but Zinayn could respect hers. And now that that was out of the way...

The second part of the sentence was what he focused on. She wanted to experience the galaxy without anyone knowing of her whereabouts? There were many reasons for wishing to remain secretive, from just wanting alone time, to avoiding a massive bounty on your head. He laughed mentally. Wouldn't it be something if he was exploring a dungeon with some infamous terrorist?

After nearly chuckling aloud to his hypothetical situation, he answered her return question. "I've been working with the Lilaste Order. It's likely that you haven't heard of it. We're not exactly prominent in galactic affairs."

Kinsey Starchaser

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

"You're right. I haven't. Tell me more about it." Her tone was casual with a flicker of curiosity. The tunnel rumbled again. Kinsey's footsteps picked up their pace. The headlight's beam casting an ever-shifting glow just ahead of them.

Her boot hit something and there was a sudden click CLICK CLICK WHHHHHRRRRRRRRRR

Right before the floor itself opened up beneath them.

"Chit," Kins swore as her feet met air and she began to fall, hand going to her utility belt.

 

[Zinayn]

Kinsey pressed further, desiring more knowledge. Zinayn was happy to give it. "We're a group of folks that encourage users of both sides of the Force to come together and fight for the balance of the galaxy. At the moment, that only entails warring with an organized pirate group, but-".

He paused, feeling his hair stand on end, and felt something urgent in his mind. Danger. He leapt back a good few meters, aided by the Force. Before his feet touched the earth, he yelled, hoping it would be enough of a warning for Kinsey. "Dive!"

However, she began to plummet. Zinayn dashed forward, to the edge of the pitfall trap. She was reaching for something in her utility belt. A grappling hook, perhaps?

He didn't have to try and save her. He could stand at the edge and watch her fall. If her grapple succeeded and found a sturdy support on the rocks, he could simply remove its hold. Then, he would have no one to compete with for the treasures inside.

Why am I thinking this? The Force gave her value and purpose. I won't end it.

Shaking off those unusual and evil thoughts, and recognizing this whole ordeal had gone down in milliseconds, Zinayn reached out to her. She was too far down for him to reach her physically, but he had the gift of the Force, and through the Force, all things were possible.

It was certainly harder than it looked to hold her afloat, denying the power of gravity. It wasn't just the exertion of using the Force that was hard, but also the sharp rocks and pebbles sticking into his stomach and chest now that he was lying prone.

Hopefully she got her grappler out before he broke a sweat.

Kinsey Starchaser

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

The sudden hitch around her body floating in space would probably make someone not used to dealing with the force freeze up. Sure, it felt uncomfortable to feel it from someone else. Even when that someone was saving your behind. With a flick of her wrist, the grappling hook buried itself into the rock above her. She tugged it with her arm, determining it would hold.

"Okay, I'm okay!" A signal that he could release his hold on her with the force.

The she began climbing up. Luckily for her, it wasn't too far and it wasn't too long until she heaved herself over the lip of volcanic rock. Rolling onto her back, she gave herself a moment to recover and catch her breath.

"Thanks," she breathed. "You do that often?" There was a chittering in her ear and Kins spoke to her droid on the other end. "Yeah, everything is fine, Pibs."

Her attention went back to Zinayn . "You're gonna have to jump over this pit of death to get to this side. The side she'd climbed out on.

 

[Zinayn]

With a shout from below and the sudden appearance of a grappling hook on the other end of the pit, Zinayn's muscles relaxed, and he took deep breaths. Silently, he cursed himself. All that time aboard the station and not out in the galaxy adventuring and constantly using the Force was becoming obvious. He wiped the sweat from his face and stood up, swiping at his robes and the dust on them. He knew this teacher life was making him softer, but maybe this was the wake up call he needed.

When Kinsey's figure crawled over the edge on the other side of the chasm, he realized that he needed to get over to her. The Chiss backed up a few meters, then, with a running start, leapt over the ledge. The Force carried him through the air and he landed gently on the other side.

"Ah, not too often. I just strengthen my telekinetic powers in...other ways," he said, thinking about his usage of the Force on the battlefield. The Order's army always requested him up front to deflect missiles and crush enemy tanks with his abilities.

"Well, shall we continue?" he asked, gesturing further into the darkness.

Kinsey Starchaser

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Finally dragging herself to stand, she reholstered her grappling hook. This small piece of equipment had saved her hide too many times to count. Sometimes the simplest things made the biggest difference.

The rest of the way took them through a few more sets of traps. Luckily, they didn't trigger any. Eventually, the corridor began to slope upwards. Kins could tell because of the shift in burn in her muscles. That dark corridor suddenly opened up into what looked like an old lab. There were old smashed-out tanks that must've held kark-knows-what. Broken glass long dulled by time and ash scattered across the floor with broken glass vials and beakers on the dirty tables and counters. There was an old desk in the corner and shelves that lined the back wall.

Kinsey moved toward the desk.

 

[Zinayn]

The rest of the journey was nothing to write home about. A few traps here and there, but other than that, it was a simple uphill climb. He managed to slip a few times, but no one else would know. When they reached the top, there was an open space. Broken containers littered the ground with glass shards. Zinayn surveyed the room as Kinsey approached a desk in the corner. Directly across the room was a shelf filled with books, and some other stuff that was likely to be of use to Laphisto.

The Chiss crossed the room, hearing crunches under his boots as he walked on the glass. He stopped a pace from the shelf and reached out a hand. He hesitated a moment, thinking of some trap that would spring once he took the tome from its resting place. Brushing aside his paranoia, a blue hand met the spine of the book, and he took it.

Zinayn felt his body tense for a moment, but when no earth-rumbling mechanism opened up underneath him, he opened the book.

Kinsey Starchaser