Private The Secrets of Mad Science/Hiring for procurement

[Diarch Rellik]

The Diarch exited the bunker and was moving towards his apprentice.

"Kallous, be ready for her to attack as she emerges from the bunker" His tone serious. "Have you felt it within her my apprentice. Or have you been tied up in your gun. She has the ability to connect with the force. Assuming she never had the chance to refine her abilities I am giving it to her now." He went and stood next to his apprentice. Stopping his practice with the gun. Hands behind his back. In this fight, Helen would not stand a chance.

"Take this as a lesson my apprentice. Ask yourself, what are we doing and why. She has latent ability but has not been taught how to use it. Focusing her emotion in a place filled with the force can attune her to it. Giving her the chance to see her own potential. If she is not a tool for the Diarchy than at least she will be free. Free to use her power." He searched the feeling inside the bunker. She was struggling. Fighting either the force around her itself or the demons of her past.

The Diarch did not control what she saw, only bringing the emotions in the recesses of her mind to play.

"If Helen decided to strike down the demons of her past it would lead her to the dark side. If she chose to forgive them and follow the whills of the galaxy. She would move towards the light. For the Sith choose their fate and defy their pre-determined path. The Jedi on the other hand, allow the un-seen hand of destiny to guide them along. Trusting everything happens for a reason." This is your lesson for today Kallous "The only one who could help her now is herself."

He reached out, feeling; waiting for her to decide her fate and leave the bunker. Feeling the flow of midi-cholorians around all things would be knew for her. Either to control or to follow.

For the difference between a Master and apprentice is knowing where they stand in the galaxy, among the whills, and within themselves.

Tags: Kallous Helen Lupercal

 

[Helen Lupercal]

“This isn’t real Helen.” She told herself as the visions continued, various possibilities for the future folding out before her eyes which she tried to block out.

“Get ahold of yourself. This isn’t real.” She said again, closing her eyes and trying to expunge the visions from her mind. She had already, at some point in the past, come to terms with the possibility that she could lose everything. She’d lost everything before. A couple of times. So she was prepared for those emotions, better than many Jedi were in fact.

So while there was no doubt that she would do everything she could to protect her people, and she certainly valued her freedom which she would fight for. But she was no Sith, she knew what kind of devastation could be caused if she were to touch the dark. She would become the very thing she hated.

Ultimately she sat down and tried to regain control of her senses, to expel the visions from her mind. What was done was done. She had no reason to let her past affect her future. That part of her life was over, and she learned much from it. Besides… it all turned out okay.

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Diarch Rellik

 

[Diarch Rellik]

As the day moved longer into the night the Diarch was reaching out to Helen. He could feel her at terms with her life and choices. She knew which path she would take on this journey. When she emerged she would no longer have doubts or curiosity if she were attuned to the force. She would know that a galaxy of new opportunities and growth was there for her. Should she want to take those opportunities or sit upon her pirate throne was up to her.

It made him happy to know she could face the challenges of her life with a calm mind. A blade is always good but sometimes a process such as this creates savages. For it bypasses the years of tutelage a youngling or acolyte would go through. So far her company had been enjoyable and for her to return a frothing beast would be slightly... disappointing.

He could feel the calmness within her. Growing out as a beacon of hope. He would be ready upon her exit from the bunker to answer any questions she may have and to be honest about his manipulations. His intentions were not to destroy her, but to free her. For as his time as a Master grew he felt more akin to his Father in a sense, only kinder. He could not help but share his wisdom.

He could feel the pain in her as she mentioned her years as a slave. He has opened her mind to not think she has the tool of the force but to know she has it. That she can wield it on demand to ensure the safety of others. How this would mold her is to be seen.

He hoped she would emerge soon. The night was coming. There were still several bunkers they would need to check and they had one day left on their schedule to do so.

Tags: Helen Lupercal Kallous

 

[Helen Lupercal]

Helen took some time to banish the visions. But eventually she found herself back in the real world. The dark, moist environment of the ancient imperial bunker filling her nostrils again. She took another moment to calm herself, and to dry her eyes of the tears that had built up in them.

Her calm knowing that the vision was just that, a vision, melted away to outrage. She had agreed to be a guide. Not a lab rat.

She stood up and began making her way out of the bunker. Emerging from the structure with a sour expression. Only briefly letting her glare rest on Rellik before moving on. She was none too pleased, but she wasn’t going to start something over it.

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Diarch Rellik

 

[Diarch Rellik]

​

The three traveled for some time before the Diarch decided it was time to make camp again. "Let us rest here for the night. Kallous begin setting up the tents and things." Rellik would wander behind some of the tall trees. Leaving the two to have a moment alone and giving him some space to think alone. He had nothing to tell Helen in regards to the bunker. Everything he would have said she would feel.

As the three touched down to camp he sparked the fire to life with lightning from his fingertips. Once the food had been prepared he asked the others to come eat. "Helen, Kallous. Come and sit down and eat. Gather your strength. I can feel that we are close and think that tomorrow we will be at the bunker we are searching for." Paying attention to see if either of the people there could pick up the feint trace of the dark side they were approaching.

Once finished he went to bed without, ensuring Kallous would put out the fire after some forced meditation.

Tags: Kallous Helen Lupercal

 

[Helen Lupercal]

Helen didn’t speak much on their continued journey. Instead she continued to move ahead and clear brush for her client as they continued to move. They would stop and Helen would throw up her tent away from His and Kallous’.

The night and the following morning would be largely uneventful. And they would arrive at the bunker, where the dark side presence was strong. Something dark had happened here… or there was something attuned to the dark side within this particular bunker.

Even Helen, as inexperienced, untrained and unattuned as she was, could feel it. She felt a chill run up her spine. “I have a bad feeling about this place.” She said, the first time she had spoken since the day before. “Are you sure you want to go down there?”

Her blaster was unholstered as they approached the foreboding structure. She had a feeling she would need to have it ready.

 

[Diarch Rellik]

The Diarch, always an inquisitive and mischievous man watched Helen as they moved through the forests of Endor. She had not spoken to them since her ordeal in the bunker. That was fine to him, he did not need everyone in the galaxy to be his friend. For they were notes in the galactic symphony. For him, he had just helped her find the right instrument for her to play.

They approached the bunker that he had been sensing in the force since the first rainfall. Its presence was un-mistakable. If he were to find the plant he required it would be here. Than finally Helen spoke again. "I have a bad feeling about this place." - Good, she was growing in the force by the moment. Even if she disdains the method used to push her in this direction, it was already proving dividends.

"Kallous, get into the tree line and keep watch with your new creation. Beasts with a more vicious nature tend to gather around places seeped in the dark side such as this." He pointed up towards a large tree where he believed would be a good perch for his apprentice.

He turned to Helen and with a smile said. "For those who wish to see a galaxy in peace sometimes you must cross thresholds which give you a bad feeling." He would begin to walk into the bunker without them.
"Stay out here. Try to hide your presence and stay near Kallous. Rarely are ones senses in the force inaccurate. You have done a good job searching out the aura of this place within the force. Your first trial, one I was sure you would succeed. Is already working in your favor. Welcome to a world of opportunities."

With that he descended into the bunker. Leaving the two as watch guards and for Helen to think upon his words again. She never asked for a master but at this point it was becoming Rellik's nature to be one.

As he entered he saw the wonderful flora at the back of the command center. He began to fill his bags to the brim with as many as he could carry. He might possibly need to bring Kallous in here to fill the space that had been emptied from his bag as well.

That was until he felt it. A dominating evil presence. It was coming through the trees. Something so dark it could only be akin to the Sith Spawn within Pandemonium. Time would be of the essence. He swiftly made his way back out of the bunker, hoping Kallous was ready for a fight that would push him to the brink.

Tags: Kallous Helen Lupercal

 

[Kallous]

Kallous didn’t verbally respond to his Master’s instruction, simply doing as he was told. He went to the edge of the clearing and leapt up into the foliage, taking a position in the crux of a branch and the trunk, ready with his rifle to do whatever needed to be done.

He himself had sensed the dark presence there, but having been raised a Sith he hadn’t thought much of it. Honestly it felt like home to him. So seeing his Master on alert was a little strange but he trusted the elder man’s wisdom, and prepared overwatch just the same.

His Master went into the bunker alone to collect what he needed, Kallous as Helen hiding in the underbrush and foliage outside, waiting for something to come. And come it did.

A large, spiny creature stepped through the trees, sniffing the air and drawing ever closer to them. It looked similar to a rancor in anatomy, but was covered in bristling spikes and large tusks curled out of its mouth. Kallous immediately recognized the creature as a Tarentatek, and knew that this was not going to be an easy battle. He moved to aim his rifle, but the Tarentatek moved quickly, and rammed into the tree he was perched in. The sudden shifting of already uncertain footing dropped Kallous to the earth. His rifle falling away from him an unknown distance.

This was now even harder.

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Diarch Rellik

 

[Helen Lupercal]

Helen couldn’t help but agree with Rellik’s advice. She did what she could to remain near Kallous as instructed, her blaster held in her hand and at the ready to be used. But then the presence that she had felt in her gut emerged through the trees, and her heart stopped cold.

Well… they were Fubbernucked.

She raised her pistol to fire, and got one shot off before the Tarentatek smashed into the tree Kallous was in. Helen had to dive out of the way, her single shot glancing off its thick bristleback, and she got to her feet only to see that it had locked eyes on her.

She shot a couple of times, but then she had to start running. She had nothing that could realistically hurt this thing, and she got hit with a backhand only a few moments later, slamming into a tree, and leaving her dazed for a moment or two.

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Diarch Rellik

 

[Diarch Rellik]

Rellik dashed out of the bunker. Taking in the sight of a Tarantatek smashing into the tree told his apprentice to stage himself in. Kallous Now falling to the Earth after the blow. Per Rellik’s advice Helen was near the tree as well and the beast took her into his sights. She tried to defend herself and than run away but it caught up to her. Smashing her into another tree nearby.

The Diarch burst forward with a dash of speed. Intent to catch the beasts attention he leapt upwards and launched himself unto the Tarantateks back. Grabbing the top of its skull with one hand and unleashing his blade with the other. He started slashing back and forth upon its strong nape.

The blade which had sundered everything it touched before was now barely leaving scratches in the beasts thick hide but it was a start.


Tags: Helen Lupercal Kallous

 

[Kallous]

Kallous landed on his back as the tree fell over the opposite way. He let out a grunt as he did so, and pushed himself up off the ground a moment later, forcing himself to breathe despite the shock to his lungs. Helen was thrown clear by the savage beast, striking another tree with force. He wasn’t sure how badly she was hurt but it couldn’t be good. Both of them would be walking away with bruises today.

But that didn’t matter.

Rellik returned from the bunker to attack the beast, latching onto its spiny back and beating at it with his lightsaber. It was marking its hide but not much more than that. Tarentateks were notoriously hard for anything to deal with and were a threat particularly to force sensitives. And their hide was equally notorious for being hard to get through.

That didn’t matter, Kallous ignited his saber and rushed the creature while it was occupied with his Master. Reaching up with its claws to grab at him, and shaking voilently to dislodge him. Kallous took the opportunity to swing at its legs, and try to cripple it. It wouldn’t work the first time around, but it would eventually happen… assuming he lived long enough to see it done.

The Tarentatek resorted again to its previous tactic, failing to dislodge the Diarch by shaking, it instead charged another tree, threatening to crush Rellik between the tree and its spines. And once again knocking the tree over.

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Diarch Rellik

 

[Diarch Rellik]

As the Diarch’s slashes were not penetrating its armor he decided to switch his tactic slightly. He began to carve runes with his blade into the back of the Beast. In the language of the ancient Sith he carved push.

As he did so his Apprentice ran forward to try to attack the beast. It was focused on shaking Rellik off of his back. So Kallous began to slash at its legs while its arms were in the air. The beast's rage grew as well as the dark side and the force grew around it.

Rellik yelled out to ensure his pupils' safety. “Stay away from its tusks and mouth! They will kill you quickly!” He knew his Apprentice was smart but he just wanted to ensure he had the information.

The beast's fury was becoming unbound. In a rage it started running directly for a tree and at the last moment it turned around and tried to squash the Diarch between itself and the tree. Rellik leapt off at the last moment as the tree came crashing down.

While moving through the air he activated the Rune with his words. "Postum" (PUSH) With the enhanced magic of the rune and since the attack was not directly effecting the beasts hide but the air of the force around him the Tarentatek came crashing down to the ground upon its stomach.

"Kallous now! Approach with a fury and be unrelenting. We will pierce the beast and mount its head upon the Vaults command center!" With fire in his eyes and a violence saved for precious moments Rellik moved swiftly to the side of the beast and instead of slashing across it he stabbed into the back and tried to pry its hide from its skeleton.

Tags: Kallous

 

[Kallous]

The tree came crashing down and they would both hear Helen let out a pained howl. The tree having landed on the woman who had just recovered a moment prior from her impact with the tree.

Kallous couldn’t think about that however, that only meant their guide was still alive. That mattered more than her pain at the moment, so he would fight rather than help her. It was the smart thing to do after all.

Kallous watched his Master plant the Tarentatek in the ground, and begin trying to stab it, using his saber like a prybar rather than a sword. Kallous would do something similar but ultimately different. He didn’t need to break the hide open he just needed to pierce it, a deep enough injury would kill something even without there being much wound there in the first place.

So that’s what he did. Using the force to burst forward with as much strength as could be managed, and he drove the ballade of his saber into the creature… it didn’t go deep enough. And the creature was already trying to push itself up.

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Diarch Rellik

 

[Diarch Rellik]

The two men were straddling the beast as it rose. Rellik was able to sever a portion of its hide and was now shocking it with lighting into the meat. There was no great effect and as it fully stood up he finally had to get off of it.

Rellik leapt far behind both Kallous and the Terentatek. "Kallous distract it for a moment!" The monster, recovering its senses and letting out a bellowing roar would than tilt its head down. Breathing heavy from the damage but feeding on the dark side of the force near the bunker to sustain itself. It looked up at Kallous with vicious intent.

Rellik would begin to lift the tree off of Helen and prepare to launch it at the beast.

Tags: Kallous

 

[Kallous]

Kallous did as his teacher asked, and made to keep the beast busy. He hurled a large boulder at it, the beast falling over from the heavy impact while Rellik moved to assist their comrade.

Kallous wasn’t sure how long he would be able to keep this monster occupied, but he’d make sure it was as long as he could manage. So while it was on the ground recovering from the staggering blow he’d dealt it he moved to jam his saber into one of its eyes. Even if he couldn’t get through its shell, eyes were usually pretty squishy.

He didn’t manage it.

The Tarentatek twisted on the ground and batted him away again, tossing him across a substantial distance, and landing him at the base of another tree.

A few seconds had been bought.

 

[Helen Lupercal]

Rellik would turn around just in time to see Helen doing something to contribute to the fight despite being trapped under a tree.

He would see Kallous’ rifle fly to her hand, and she took aim at the prone Tarentatek. She pulled the trigger, the loud crack of the weapon’s thunderous discharge echoed through the forest, and the Tarentatek howled. The force had been enough to knock the large beast back a foot or two, and leave a smoldering spiderweb crack in its carapace.

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Diarch Rellik

 

[Diarch Rellik]

Kallous's failed assault and Helen's blast created the perfect opportunity. Rellik heaved the large tree that originally had fallen unto Helen at the beast. As it soared through the air Rellik would begin running along side it a few paces behind.

When it smashed into the Tarentatek the tree split into a thousand pieces as if it had been shot by a cannon. It had slammed into the spot where Helen hit it with the rifle. Opening the crack even further.

Rellik pushed the beast with the force as he came within a few feet of it. Slamming its pried open back into another tree, while at the same time he leapt forward to stab into its exposed front.

"HELEN SHOOT IT AGAIN, SUPERCHARGE THE RIFLE." Rellik knew he would also be caught in the blast and take substantial damage but the time to strike was now. If the shot hit in the right spot the beast would be killed and he trusted Kallous to aid him until he recovered.

Tags: Helen Lupercal Kallous

 

[Helen Lupercal]

Helen was not able to move very well, her leg had been dislocated at the hip, and moving was painful. But she couldn’t afford not to at the moment. So with a groan of exertion she pulled herself to a better position when the tree was lifted off of her.

She watched the apprentice, Kallous, be flung off again by the beast. Though he was evidently tougher than she was. It took one smack to put her nearly out of commission, and here the two of them were taking four times the beating and still moving forward as if it were nothing.

Not the time Helen. She scolded herself, taking aim with the rifle again. She had been astonished by its power before, and still was. It seemed a little too powerful for something so compact. But she wasn’t complaining. They needed it after all.

There was a booming crack as she pulled the trigger again. The bolt of energized plasma traveling the distance between her and the beast in a fraction of a second, punching into its tough hide again. It wasn’t precisely the same spot she’d hid before. But it was close enough.

This time a hole was opened into the creature. With the tough carapace penetrated there was only flesh underneath, which was easily burned through by the powerful weapon. The creature was dead before it hit the ground, the other side of its carapace having held together, only showing a few minor cracks from the leftover impact.

She let out a sigh of relief, and tried pulling herself to her feet. Leaning against a tree so she could actually stand up. Her useless right leg dragging along the ground behind her as she moved.

“What was that?” She asked the Diarch.

 

[Diarch Rellik]

He held his blade into the beast as it recovered and began to thrash about attuning himself to find comfort in the moment. The presence of Helen moving to shoot again was in the back of his mind. Rellik was feeling the environment and danger around him as the battle continued.

This would work, it had to work now. A thunderous crack seeped through the chaos of the moment and within a blink after the sound came Rellik was flying off of the creature. The force of the weapon hitting against its body reverberating him as well in its percussion. As he laid on the ground his ears rang. The Diarch and his Father worked tirelessly to make his body strong beyond belief but this weapon was obviously made to penetrate things harder than his skin. Even only feeling its blowback was intense.

As he laid there he heard Helen.

"What was that?"

Groaning through his teeth he responding. "Eerrrh, it was a Terantatek. A Sithspawn that can occur naturally in places drenched in the darkside. Similar to the bunker you had visions in before." The Diarch would cough a few times while laying there. He could sense Kallous coming too and knew his apprentice would protect him from Helen if need be. So here he would rest for a moment while the party gathered themselves.

Tags: Helen Lupercal Kallous

 

[Helen Lupercal]

Why Rellik thought he would need protection from the woman he was paying to help them, who was also currently unable to walk on her own without assistance thanks to her dislocated leg, only he knew. But Helen had no intention to shoot him with this weapon, which she was honestly kind of scared to use. It seemed like it would have a high chance of failure if it was the prototype they said it was, and with this amount of discharge failure probably meant explosion. She would rather not find out by pushing it too far.

"Can we expect any more?" She asked with concern, she didn't think they'd have much luck if another one showed up. This gun seemed to be able to handle them with decent levels of success... but she'd already found her concerns about it. "Or is that it?"

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Tags: Diarch Rellik