Xuko Pagoi
Character
Objective 2: Strike Team Sunrider
Xuko turned what he hoped was an icy gaze Rikuan's direction as his fellow Padawan judged his choice of tactics, although generating any kind of malice with reflex tears occasionally streaming from his injured eyes would've been difficult. He softened slightly as he realized Rikuan was joking, though.
Rikuan hadn't been joking about the cramped nature of the crawlspace, however, and Xuko almost immediately regretted his decision as not only did his claustrophobia flare up, but the vent was vertical. Xuko had mentally envisioned a horizontal vent, but now he had to brace himself and avoid falling while also battling his frayed nerves.
In short, it was probably a good thing that vents were known for moving vast quantities of air because Xuko was pretty certain his breathing was doing a pretty good air exchange impression.
"This. Is. Easier. For. You. Than. Me." Xuko huffed up to Rikuan, struggling to keep up with the Makurian and adding 'climbing inside vents' to the ever-growing list of proficiencies he needed to obtain.
Then the vent turned horizontal, and Xuko really regretted the life decisions that had led him to this point. He'd more or less gotten used to the size of the vent when it narrowed, and once again Xuko felt the panic in his chest flare up again as he squeezed himself into the horizontal space. But he sensed Rikuan moving ahead of him, and like with
Klar
on Tython, the only thing that kept him going was the fear of being stuck alone. And so the Zabrak pushed on, trying to recall the story she had told him as a means of banishing the mind-numbing fear he felt.
He lost track of time, distance, and space, doggedly crawling forward and wishing the ordeal to end. He could occasionally feel the thin metal of the ventilation shaft bend underneath his weight, and even began pushing at times to give himself a few more millimeters of space. Cursing inwardly as Rikuan paused ahead of him- unbeknownst to Xuko, to draw their lightsaber- Xuko pushed some more and ignored the creaking of the metal. Vents did that all the time, right?
Then he pushed too hard, and just as Rikuan cut himself an exit circle Xuko broke through the vent and fell down to the floor. Xuko laid there for a moment, processing the pain of the fall with a huge grin on his face.
Free!
Rikuan
Xuko turned what he hoped was an icy gaze Rikuan's direction as his fellow Padawan judged his choice of tactics, although generating any kind of malice with reflex tears occasionally streaming from his injured eyes would've been difficult. He softened slightly as he realized Rikuan was joking, though.
Rikuan hadn't been joking about the cramped nature of the crawlspace, however, and Xuko almost immediately regretted his decision as not only did his claustrophobia flare up, but the vent was vertical. Xuko had mentally envisioned a horizontal vent, but now he had to brace himself and avoid falling while also battling his frayed nerves.
In short, it was probably a good thing that vents were known for moving vast quantities of air because Xuko was pretty certain his breathing was doing a pretty good air exchange impression.
"This. Is. Easier. For. You. Than. Me." Xuko huffed up to Rikuan, struggling to keep up with the Makurian and adding 'climbing inside vents' to the ever-growing list of proficiencies he needed to obtain.
Then the vent turned horizontal, and Xuko really regretted the life decisions that had led him to this point. He'd more or less gotten used to the size of the vent when it narrowed, and once again Xuko felt the panic in his chest flare up again as he squeezed himself into the horizontal space. But he sensed Rikuan moving ahead of him, and like with
Klar
on Tython, the only thing that kept him going was the fear of being stuck alone. And so the Zabrak pushed on, trying to recall the story she had told him as a means of banishing the mind-numbing fear he felt.He lost track of time, distance, and space, doggedly crawling forward and wishing the ordeal to end. He could occasionally feel the thin metal of the ventilation shaft bend underneath his weight, and even began pushing at times to give himself a few more millimeters of space. Cursing inwardly as Rikuan paused ahead of him- unbeknownst to Xuko, to draw their lightsaber- Xuko pushed some more and ignored the creaking of the metal. Vents did that all the time, right?
Then he pushed too hard, and just as Rikuan cut himself an exit circle Xuko broke through the vent and fell down to the floor. Xuko laid there for a moment, processing the pain of the fall with a huge grin on his face.
Free!
Rikuan