Private Station Situation

[Feng Huang]

Feng hummed along to the tune in her cockpit The Lightning Bolt Feng's heavily modified Eta 2200 Jedi Interceptor. She's stripped some of the defences such as Flares, 29 L ECM Package for standard Jammer and the Burner Deflector Shield, to boost the speed.

The only thing Feng loved more than tinkering with her ship, was flying it. Not that this was a recreational journey. Feng was on an important mission. Well a minor routine mission, but still it was a mission, nonetheless.

Feng and Aiden had been tasked with a routine inspection on the space station.

Feng wasn't anticipating any trouble, but then Master Wu's voice spoke in her mind as if he were right there on the mission with them.

Just because you do not anticipate trouble, does not mean you will not find it. Be alert my young padawan.

Feng at one point would have rolled her eyes confident in her abilities to handle whatever challenges she may have faced. Recent events had shaken her to her core. Not her abilities, but her judgement. Feng had felt the lure of the dark side all to easily. It scared her. Not because of the evil she had felt, but for the power she had felt. The rush, the exhilaration. She was scared because she had enjoyed it.

It had taken her months after the attack on the Kattadan temple to be prepared to go on another mission again. Particularly one without her own Master. Master Wu had gently insisted however. Saying, that she was losing her spark. The joy in life that made her who she was. Losing herself out of fear of the dark side was it's own form of darkness, one just as difficult to recover from.

"I know. It's about balance." Feng had acknowledged with a sigh.

"Yes. It is, but only you can find that balance within and of yourself." Wu replied with a gentle smile.

Master Wu tried his best, but sometimes she wondered if their paths were too divergent. She knew he'd have been happier maintain his position as a Jedi Monk, he had only joined the Jedi Order and by extension the High Republic with reluctance. Mostly because of her, her need of… people. Feng would never be the kind of jedi to sit in quiet contemplation away from the affairs of the galaxy.

Feng sighed shook her head, took a deep breath, she switched her tunes off and comms on.

"Violet Phoenix in the Lightning Bolt. Knight Aiden we're on approach."

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Feng Huang​

Aiden's mouth tugged into a small smile despite himself, the kind that showed up more in the softness of his eyes than anywhere else. He let out a quiet chuckle as Feng's formal report sat in his ears like a too-stiff uniform.

He thumbed the comm open, keeping his voice light on purpose, an anchor, not a performance.

"Understood," he said, warmth threading through the professionalism. "And… you can just call me Aiden, okay, Feng?"

His X-wing dipped slightly as he adjusted his angle of approach, the stars smearing into thin lines at the edge of the canopy. The planet filled more of his view now, beautiful in that way some places were right before they bled. He let the Force stretch outward, careful, controlled, like fingers brushing the surface of dark water.

The smile faded, not replaced by fear, but by focus.

"…Something feels up," Aiden continued, tone changing in a way Feng would catch instantly. "Not a single source. It's… layered."

His jaw tightened as the sensation deepened. It wasn't the sharp, predatory presence of a Sith, no clear blade-edge. It was worse in a different way. Diffuse. Everywhere. Like a city exhaling panic into the night.

"I'm seensing a great deal of darkness and fear right now," he said, the words calm, but weighted. "It's bleeding into everything."

Aiden's eyes flicked to his instruments, then to the corridor ahead, already mapping contingencies in his head.

"We can get through to Hangar Three," he added. "See if we can get access to land. If they deny clearance or keep stalling, we don't force it we pivot, we find another way in. But I want eyes on that hangar."

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng nodded and chastised herself slightly. It wasn't the first time Knigh- Aiden had asked to be called by his name rather than through rank formality. It was tricky for Feng she had grown up with a degree of respect for those that outranked her but as she moved closer and closer to knighthood those same structures were fading away. Feng alternated between being afraid and excited that those boundaries were starting to fall away.

Excited because it meant she was slowly gaining respect as she moved closer and closer to being an equal. Afraid because the security of being a padawan of having a knight or a master to look at for her was slowly disappearing as well. Feng sighed at herself. She should be ecstatic that she was growing beyond her current limitations. Instead half the time her anxiety was getting the better of her. She knew in skills she was close, but emotionally she felt further and further away.

"Right sorry… Aiden." Feng apologised.

Feng piloted The Lightning Bolt to Aiden's X-Wings flank in squadron position, even though there was only the two of them and no enemy fighters or ships on radar. Still habits died hard, Feng wasn't sure flying into formation was a habit she should break in any case. If anything it was a habit she should seek more often. She tended to have a habit of engaging in elaborate individual dogfights in battle.

When Aiden mentioned sensing something was off, Feng concentrated her own senses. He was right, there was something definitely off about the station.

"It's like a wounded animal too tired to call out for help." Feng confirmed with a slight shudder. "There's a lot of pain coming from that station."

"It's a good thing we're here." Feng felt resolute in that conviction. Whatever it was they were here to help. Between the two of them Feng was confident that they could resolve the Stations Situation. Whatever it may be.

"Hangar Three this is Padawan Feng and Knight Aiden Porte requesting permission to dock in your hangar." Feng waited a few moments.

"Hangar Three respond." Feng frowned.

"No response. Do we dock in hangar three anyway? It's open." Feng asked the mission leader.

"Of course if we've just let them know our intentions maybe we should board from another dock?"

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Feng Huang​

Aiden's gaze remained fixed on the station as Feng spoke, but his attention was fully on her. Not just her words, but the way she weighed the options, the way she questioned rather than rushed. That mattered. It always had.

A small, approving smile touched his face, brief but genuine.

"Your instincts are solid, Feng," Aiden said, his voice calm and assured as it carried over the comm. There was no hesitation in it, no qualification. "Great job."

He eased his X wing slightly to give her space, an intentional gesture, subtle but clear. This was her moment to lead the next step, and he wanted her to feel that trust without having to ask for it.

"We will pick another hangar," he continued, already adjusting his sensors to mirror her approach. "Make the call. I am with you."

As he spoke, Aiden let the Force settle around them again, steady and patient. Whatever waited inside the station, Feng was meeting it the way a Knight should. Thoughtful. Present. Aware.

And he was exactly where he needed to be. Right there on her wing.

 

[Feng Huang]

"We'll dock in Hangar Two." Feng made the call.

It felt odd to be making the call for a change. It was both scary and kind of relaxing. Like Feng's decisions, her life were her own, without the comfort of depending on others to make the decisions for her. Still she was glad Aiden was here with her to guide her through the process. Master Wu was great, but he was a Wayseeker at heart, he tended to avoid missions where possible.

Feng on the other hand needed to be involved in the state of the galaxy, she wanted to learn how to infiltrate, take action, take command and exfiltrate a mission. Complete it to the best of her abilities, to be a part of an organisation that strove to do good in the galaxy beyond just where the Force may guide her.

Hangar Two was empty. Too empty. This was a space station there should be techs, mechanics, foremans, overseers, even another pilot or two checking on their ship and its cargo. Feng approached her dock cautiously and set the Lightning Bolt down.

"It's quiet Aiden. Too quiet." Feng commed to Aiden as she got out of her cockpit cautiously, carefully, one hand on her lightsaber for the moment remaining unignited.

Feng reached out with her senses once more. There was definitely life on the station, but it was in pain. Like an animal caught in a painful trap waiting to die.

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Feng Huang​

Aiden descended from his starfighter with practiced ease, boots touching the hangar deck in a soft, controlled landing. The silence pressed in immediately, thick and watchful, and his expression tightened just enough to show he felt it too.

"I know," he said quietly, his voice steady as it carried across the empty space. "I can sense it as well. Stay on your guard."

He moved forward a few steps, positioning himself where he could see both the hangar entrance and the deeper access corridors. With a flick of his wrist, the device mounted to his vambrace activated, its holographic display blooming to life in pale blue light. Lines and compartments unfolded in the air as the station schematic began to download, layer by layer, revealing decks, junctions, and maintenance routes.

Aiden studied it for a moment, committing key paths to memory. The Force whispered uneasily around the structure, but knowledge was still a form of protection.

"This should help us navigate," he said, glancing back toward Feng as the schematic stabilized. His tone softened slightly, inviting rather than directing. Trust was deliberate.

He met her gaze, calm and resolute.

"What is your call?"

They could head to the command center, or go to the communications center and see who they can get in contact with around the station.

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng glanced at the station readout schematics on Aiden's holopad- it was still so weird to think of him as just Aiden. Feng smiled it felt good to be regarded as an adult and not just some kid along for the ride. Aiden seemed insistent that Feng take the lead on this particular mission. Feng examined her feelings on the matter carefully and found she was nervous yet excited by the change in roles. She knew Aiden was still present should anything go wrong, which was a nice comfort and safety net. At the same time it felt… right, to be taking more responsibility.

Feng couldn't hide behind her superiors forever, she needed to start taking responsibility of actions in the field. It was nerve racking, yet exhilarating at the same time. So long as she could remain calm, centred, not let her passion run away with her. Feng took a small calming breath, sent the Force down a quick path of relaxing her muscles. She wasn't much of a healer, but she could do a hell of a stress easing massage. The kind athletes used before or after a match, in a matter of moments. It felt better to take her time with it, right now efficiency was key.

Feng frowned as she deliberated on what her call should be.

"It's tempting but foolish to split up, one of us going to the communications array and sending a boosted distress signal, but until we know what we're dealing with it's premature. We could just be sending up a distress signal to lead rescuers to a trap. We are both the scouts and reinforcements. What we need is more knowledge of the situation."

"We should head to the command centre. It should have enough connections with stations systems, life support, sensors, emergency signals, as well as control over stations systems. It will also be in the centre of the station allowing us to scout the situation along the way, see if anybody needs help."

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Feng Huang​

Aiden regarded Feng with a small, genuine smile, pride warming his expression in a way he did not bother to hide. Her plan was measured, thoughtful, and grounded in awareness rather than impulse. That mattered more to him than boldness ever could.

"Well done," he said simply, his voice calm and encouraging. "Let us get going then."

They moved together into the station's corridors, their footsteps soft against the durasteel as they advanced toward the command center. Progress was slow by necessity. Aiden let Feng set the pace while he stayed just behind and to the side, watchful without crowding her space. The air felt wrong the farther they went, heavy and faintly oppressive, like a pressure behind the eyes. The dark side of the Force lingered here, unmistakable and sour, threading through the station like a sickness that refused to settle.

Aiden reached out through the Force, not probing aggressively, but listening. Whispers of disturbance answered him. Distant clanks and the scrape of something moving where it should not. Sounds echoed through the corridors in ways that made distance hard to judge, bending direction and intent alike. His posture shifted subtly, senses sharpening, one hand lowering closer to his lightsaber without yet touching it.

Then the Force lurched.

A violent detonation tore through the corridor ahead, light and sound collapsing into one brutal instant. The shockwave slammed into them, hurling Aiden sideways as the deck buckled and the corridor screamed in protest. Smoke, fire, and fragments of bulkhead filled the air, and the world fractured into chaos.

Before Aiden could call out, before he could reach for Feng through the Force, the station itself seemed to twist. Emergency barriers slammed down between sections of corridor, durasteel shutters crashing into place with finality. The Force connection between them stretched, then snapped into distance, not severed, but abruptly far away.

Aiden hit the deck hard, rolling once before coming to a knee. He sucked in a breath, already reaching outward, searching for Feng's presence through the haze of smoke and dark side static. Relief flickered when he felt her still alive, still moving, even if separated.

So this was how the station answered careful planning.

Aiden pushed himself fully upright, expression settling into calm resolve despite the ringing in his ears. Aloud, to no one but the corridor and the Force itself, he murmured, "All right., focus Feng." Aiden whisphered reaching out with the force. "We adapt now."

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng was glad for the reassurance that she had made the right call. It was nerve racking to be given so much responsibility. This was serious. This was life and death. Peoples' lives were on the line. Yet in addition to the burdening responsibility their was a lightness in her chest that it was in fact her decision. No one else's. Wasn't that what freedom was, the ability to make choices, decisions.

It was this clarity of purpose Feng was feeling as she led Aiden down the hallways. She was still feeling it as the shockwave of the detonation caught her off guard. Feng didn't even have time to prepare a defence, when it caught her and threw her to the side even as Aiden was thrown back.

Feng's instincts kicked in and she turned hours of training to turn the fall into a roll, coming up she drew her lightsaber panting. Emergency barriers slammed down in response, proof that not all the stations systems were inactive. The durasteel shutters dampened the connection between Feng and Aiden, but it didn't severe the tether completely.

Keeping a wary guard. Feng took a deep calming breath, and reached out with her senses. The dark side swirled around the station in a heavy mist, as if it's very essence had absorbed the dark side. Through it she reached out to Aiden.

She felt him, his instruction. Adapt. Adapt how? They were isolated and separated, that was precisely why they hadn't split up. Feng calmed her mind using meditation techniques.

She could tell Aiden the plan remained the same to meet at the command centre, but she didn't like the idea of them being separated even further. It would just mean whomever they were up against could pick them off individually. That seemed like a stupid strategy. Feng searched for a solution, sometimes she wished she could just stab things with her lightsaber...

Feng growled, and stuck her lightsaber through the durasteel wall separating them. The metal slowly started to turn molten, under the heat of the blade. It should only take a few minutes to destroy the door.

"Aiden, impale it from the other side" Feng asked him through the Force, closing her eyes to concentrate on extending her Force senses as she did so.

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Feng Huang​

On the other side of the bulkhead, Aiden felt Feng's determination steady through the Force. A faint smile touched his expression.

"Good thinking," he said.

He ignited his lightsaber and drove the blue blade into the weakened durasteel. With both sides superheated, the structure began to buckle and sag.

"Stand back," he called.

As the metal gave way, Aiden thrust out his hand, using the Force to shove the molten debris aside and clear a narrow opening. Smoke curled between them as the path formed.

He stepped through, eyes sharp despite the haze.

"Great work, Feng," he said evenly, and with a smile. "Come on. This is only the beginning."

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng smiled and bobbed her head pleased as Aiden praised her. It made her feel a warm glow in her chest. Master Wu praised her so often it started to lose it's meaning, and was devastating when he so gently expressed disappointment. It was nice to be praised by someone else for a change.

Feng nodded sharply and continued to run down the hallway. It was tempting to put on a burst of Force Speed to cover the distance, but it was also foolish to expend energy this early that they might need later. Unfortunately, whatever had happened her, had probably already happened. There was also the risk of running at full force speed into another trap, like a door… or a mine.

Feng felt her passions surge through her as she realised the people here had suffered. She felt the usual urge to give into the passion use it to fuel her strength even in the Force. Instead of resisting the passion she acknowledged it. Yes, that's what she was feeling. No, it didn't have to control her. She just needed to be aware of it without giving into it or fighting it.

Feng kept her senses open as they ran. Feng wasn't much of a healer, but Master Wu's training had extensively focused on being aware of ones surroundings. Feng had practiced blindfolded when training more often then not, relying on her senses with the Force then her physical senses. It meant she had an awareness of her environment even as she participated in physical activity. They should be coming up on a mess hall for the station. The durasteel door was once again closed.

"Aiden stop!" Feng called out.

"There's something… a lot of somethings on the other side of the door, in the mess hall. They're covered in the oily, slimy, sickness of the dark side and… they're in pain. So much pain." Feng shuddered. "They're alive… I think some sort of half life. Aiden what if not all the personnel on the station died? We could be walking into an infectious disease situation. Some sort of… disease from the dark side? A Sith experiment?"

Feng didn't want to be right, she wanted to be wrong, oh so badly, but if she was right… if she was right they would be facing a situation with the very people they were sent to help. If so… if so she would face it. As she should. As she must. Not only because she was Jedi, but because it was the right thing to do.

Feng took a breath.

"If it is we need to face it."

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Feng Huang​

Aiden listened to Feng without interruption, his expression attentive and grave. He stepped closer to the sealed mess hall door and placed his palm lightly against the cold durasteel. Leaning in, he closed his eyes and reached deeper through the Force.

The pain was there, just as she had said. Twisted half life. Frenzied hunger wrapped in suffering. And beneath it, something he recognized all too well and his stomach tightened. He had faced it twice before in his life. Twice he had hoped it would be the last time. The signature was unmistakable. Viral corruption fused with the dark side, mutating flesh and mind into something monstrous.

Aiden drew in a slow breath and stepped back from the door.

He turned to Feng, his voice steady but heavy with certainty. "They are Rakghouls."

He held her gaze to ensure she understood the gravity. "A plague born on Taris. Highly infectious. Extremely aggressive. Someone released it here deliberately, or it was deployed as part of an attack. And if that is true, there may be Sith involvement as well."

His hand settled firmly on the hilt of his lightsaber.

"When we open this door, we are clear and concise. There is no cure for them in this state. Hesitation will cost us."

His tone did not harden, but it sharpened. "Do not hesitate. Do you understand?"

Aiden moved to stand beside her, shoulder to shoulder, equal spacing between them and the threshold.

"We stay together. Side by side."

He nodded once toward the door.

"Open it when you are ready."

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng listened to Aidens explanation with growing dread.

Was there nothing the Sith touched that they didn't corrupt?

Feng felt sickened by it, to inflict a mutation on a life, any life, was a pollution of the natural balance of the force, of the light side. It was twisted, poisoned, torturous. Feng so desperately wanted to help these people, cure them of their ailments, but she knew if that was an option Aiden would have said so. The only ease for their suffering was the final one, to send them on their way to being one with the Force.

Feng took a deep breath.

"We shall ease them from their suffering." Feng said with sad conviction, closing her eyes for a moment, she said a quiet prayer for the souls of those she was about to cut the severe of life.

Most Jedi were ambiguous when it came to prayer, but for Feng at the very least it focused her mind, and she didn't see what was so bad about sending intentions out into the force.

Feng eyes opened and she nodded sharply to Aiden, placed her hand on the door, and opened it.

She was rushed almost immediately, a hideous slavering monster, almost seemingly made out of gellatonous flesh, nothing resembling a sentient being left. Feng's training kicked in and she cut it down, more on instinct then conscious thought. There was no time to recover from the onslaught as there was soon another to take its place, and another. The plague must have hit while the station was gathered in the mess hall.

Normally Feng bounced between enjoying a good fight and feeding on her passions to fuel it, but this was… there was no passion, no anger, no fuel for her fire, just cold mechanical strokes. A part of her mind made sure not to touch or be touched, but these beasts had no sense of self preservation or tactics. It made them dangerous, but easy to lure into killing moves, disarming moves as often. The shrieks in pain made Feng's blood run cold, as limbs and bodies fell. It was the same shrieks they exhibited regardless, Feng realised it meant they were always in pain.

There was no glory here, just extermination of a disease.

Force forgive us.

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Feng Huang​

"Do not let this take hold of you, Feng." Aiden said with a simple voice. He knew the pain, years ago when he first dealt with this, and what he first thought. They could be saved, when they truly couldn't. It was a hard lesson to be learned, but it was the simple truth. There was no cure for them beyond this portion of the infection.

"Don't let the pain and darkness take hold Feng. Stay, forever in the light."

They did what needed to be done, but there was still so much work to do. And then, a sharp, sick, dark laughter echoed throughout the room and down the halls.

Someone was approaching.

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng felt tears come to her eyes, she took a ragged deep breath and blinked them away. These weren't evil people she was… dispatching, was the only words that came to mind. They were regular people, men and women doing their duties on a station. They didn't deserve to be in this situation.

Feng took another breath to forestall a sob. It was necessary, that didn't make it right, there was nothing right or good about these circumstances. Except perhaps that they were no longer in pain. At least Feng could deliver them that.

Feng nodded at Aidens words, she would stay within the light. She had to, the people responsible for this were still out there. There were still more of the poor creatures in pain, she could feel them throughout the station. There was still work to be done.

Then Feng heard the mocking laugh. Snarling she brought her lightsaber around, fury overcoming her like a welcome warm blanket. Who could find this funny? Feng thought she knew, the only person who unleashed this plague in the first place. Sith no doubt.

"Step out and face us!" Feng commanded with a snarl.

With a will she reigned in her fury to tight control, not letting it control her, but keeping it harnessed, ready to be unleashed at the proper moment. It was begging to be released like a snarling hound, but Feng soothed it with a mental exercise. Now was not the time to lose control.

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

Feng Huang​

"Is this the power of the darkness. Is it too afraid to face us. It resorts to tactics such as this!?" Aiden shouted, taking a defensive stance beside Feng. He could feel her emotions, what she was going through. "It's going to be okay Feng." The Jedi knight whispered to her, just as another cackle of laughter broke through.

"Oh Jedi, you know nothing. The power of the darkside is so stronger, simpler, more than anything the light could offer." The voice whisphered sickly and disgusting through the air. Before he appeared through the smoke and fire, advancing on them before coming to a halt.

"I've heard this many times before, and we are still here. You are cowards and nothing more." Aiden then spoke to Feng. "We take him together, you go in from the side." The Jedi knight moved forward twirled his blade before he began to engage the sith. They would show this dark entity the power of light.

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng growled in agreement with Aiden.

"The Dark cowers in the shadows, afraid to be banished by the light!" Feng confirmed with a roar.

She was tempted to rush in, to smite this evil, one that had caused such suffering on the innocent people of this station. One which had forced her to end the lives of those innocents. The fact that it was self defence, did nothing to ease her own pain of what she'd had to do, the fact that she had ended their suffering did little as well, but perhaps getting righteous justice for these people would help put them to rest. In her heart if nothing else, though she doubted her mind would be anymore eased from the nightmares sure to follow.

Feng nodded furious acknowledgement of Aidens reassurance. She wasn't scared she was wrathful. She wanted justice for the people she had been forced to kill. She was determined to get it.

"We will deliver justice for the people you've tortured with this plague, this half life, this abomination of the Force!" Feng spat.

Still she waited for Aidens signal. It was almost agonizing to have to wait, she wanted to unleash her fury on this foe, but she withheld it tightly. At first telling herself that tactically it would be smarter to engage him together with Aiden. Then reminding herself not to depend on her emotions, that path lay to the dark side. Feng refused to become another skulking creature of darkness who enjoyed the suffering of others.

When Aiden gave the signal to attack. Feng dived launching a powerful force push, as she landed into a roll she came up and launched an attack on his flank, supporting Aiden's own efforts.

Feng fell into a meditation, analysing with a distant part of her mind, the dark siders pattern of attack and defence, waiting for an opening for her Makashi to exploit.

Aiden Porte