This planet doesn’t have a thing to offer anyone…

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus was pleased. In general and specifically. Her Padawan was learning and growing - which was nothing but good. And she'd put away technology and put her trust in the Force. If a Jedi was allowed to feel pride, Corvus felt it now.

If there were Voxyn roaming wild here, they would present a real danger. Controlled by a Dark-sider would only complicate matters - but still it was something they could deal with. Corvus hadn't come across them since she was a Padawan - and had one or two more tricks up her sleeve since then.

She slipped her hand in her pocket and after fishing around for a while, pulled out two seats of ear-buds. She handed one set to Kaia and inserted the others in her ears. They were off-the-shelf products, albeit military grade. They negated sound by setting up an equal and opposite frequency - or something like that, Corvus was never a fan of technology. If the Voxyn screamed, the Jedi's ear-drums would be spared.

[member="Kaia Vullen"]

 

[Kaia Vullen]

Kaia's first lesson with Corvus had been on the subject of "There is no emotion, there is serenity". That day, the Grand Master had told her that Jedi were not supposed to repress their feelings, but remain in control of themselves despite them. Right now Kaia felt focused and a little afraid. However, she did not let her fear control her. A little fear was natural, it was only by understanding it she could work past its grasp. Free of fear's grasp, she could feel the Force and adhere to its' guidance.

As Corvus offered the earplugs, she accepted them with a nod and smile. She was unable to put them on with her mittens, but after much ado she got a hand out and inserted the tiny plugs into her ears. She didn't really know what was special about them, but if her master offered them, they would probably be worth using. After putting her mittens back on, Kaia flopped over on her belly. With a little wiggle, she slid down the other side of the hill. By laying on her belly, she got enough surface to not break through the frozen snow. Thus she actually picked up some speed as she glided down the slope. It also left very little trace, unlike footsteps.

From there, she glued herself to an outcrop of pointy rocks close to where she had seen the void. Once more, she sat down to observe. As she was closer, she could see in more detail.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus kept close to Kaia. Was it fair to put all the pressure on her Padawan? In Corvus’ eyes it was. Soon she would be considered to become a Jedi Knight and taker her own Padawan. So Corvus had to be sure that Kaia was ready. For soon Corvus would not be here and the life of another would be in Kaia’s hands.

So Corvus followed — even in as much as sliding down the compacted snow, her own earplugs in place. But sh held back as Kaia took up a vantage point to see what was ahead. And she waited to see what her Padawan was going to tell her.

[member="Kaia Vullen"]

 

[Kaia Vullen]

What Kaia saw, she had never seen before: Holes in the backdrop of the Force, moving about. She heard the occasional sizzle as droplets of acid fell from the beasts' tongues. A whole flock of them seemed to be herded into the mountain. From her vantage point, she could see a opening of sorts carved into the rock-face. Most likely it had some sort of forcefield to keep out the cold. It was strange to her. She could hear their feet stampeding, yet they were shrouded from her. She could see the stone and snow surrounding her clear and crisp. Yet trying to look at what she heard was a herd of living things, she saw only a dark fog.

Daring not to speak in case it would alert someone, Kaia tried to reach out to her master through telepathy.

I can't see them, but I can hear them. I can smell them, it's foul. There's a structure here, too angular to be natural.

For a second, she halted. Something irked in the back of her mind. Were they being watched? She felt something disturbing, but could not quite pin what. A crunching of snow alerted her further, letting a small gasp escape her lips before she glued herself up against the icy rock. Her heart pounded so hard she half expected the mountain to crumble. Kaia's focus turned up, she saw nothing, not even a void.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

The Force was telling Corvus to be wary but she had no specifics to work with. So she erred on the side of caution.

She entered Force Immersion – a Fallanassi technique of the White Current. Both she and Kaia would become invisible to any means – organic and artificial. Sooner or later they would have to engage their foe – but this would give them breathing space.

‘I have hidden us for now. Unless we interact, we will remain hidden and can move about freely. I can cover our footprints for a reasonable distance too, but avoid fresh snow if you can to make our progress as undetectable as possible.’

‘We can still see each other, but nobody else can. This mission is proving more dangerous than I anticipated – but you are doing well. Very well. Please continue to take the lead.’

[member="Kaia Vullen"]

 

[Kaia Vullen]

Kaia had to take a moment to actually comprehend what Corvus was telling her. Was she invisible? How? She looked down at her own hands, they were perfectly visible to Kaia. There were so many mysteries to the Force she did not yet know, and learning the existence of another simply filled her with excitement.

'That is so... awesome!'

Kaia climbed up on the outcrop she had been hiding behind and stood up gingerly to get a better outlook. She could see the wreckage of one of the downed ships. Judging from the usual snowfall of Hoth, she reckoned that the ship had been pulled out of its crater and in all likelihood pilfered. Focusing, she could see the side of the ship had been torn open. Sadness came over her as she could discern the dead bodies inside. She tried to see the second ship, but it was only a speck on the distance.

'I think we can say quite sure that the ships were shot down. I can see one from here. It's torn open at the side.'

While she did feel the sadness over the loss of lives, she did not dwell on it. They would pay their respects in time, but it could not interfere with the mission. She turned away from the wreckages and looked up at the face of the cliff, searching for whatever had shot them down. She saw something, a shade, a crack. It was worth investigating. She was invisible right?

Kaia started to climb. While the clothes hampered her severely, she was still able to set a considerable pace up the rock-face. Her small, mittened hands wedged themselves into the cracks of the icy surface and her boots bit onto the rock. She had always been good at climbing. It was something that came as natural to her as the Force. Most likely it was the Force that helped her find those obscure vertical paths.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus realised an explanation was in order. “It’s called White Current. I’m no Master. Someone expert in it would be able to hide an Academy or Fortress for example. But they’d have to have expended their entire life dedicated to the technique and its associated abilities to do so. I am a Jedi and have other things to learn. So my ability extends a matter of metres in any given direction. We are essentially hidden within the Force right now."

She allowed Kaia to go slightly ahead to climb the outcrop. And she listened to her Padawan’s assessment.

As her Padawan started to climb, she followed – to ensure she remained hidden. And she struggled to keep up with Kaia – given the Padawan’s natural ability to climb – but she did her best and stayed close enough to allow her to remain invisible.

[member="Kaia Vullen"]

 

[Kaia Vullen]

Kaia listened intently as Corvus explained in further detail the nature of their concealment. White Current, she noted the words. Sneaky, she had never really been, but there was no arguing against the utility of an advanced stealth-technique. Perhaps she would learn it one day, when she had such grasp of the Force. So much to learn, so little patience.

'In other words, I should stay close. If we get separated, they see me.'

Obviously, Corvus would be the centre of the technique and as such remain within it. Despite Kaia's natural affinity for climbing, she was not too difficult to keep up with. She was shorter than Corvus and as such had to take certain detours. Not to mention the restrictions put on her by the heavily padded clothing. Soon, she found a ledge on which she could comfortably stand. Her fingers burrowed into a crack in the ice and she leaned out to get a better view of what she had seen earlier. Amidst the solid ice, rock and snow, she saw a metal pipe.

'I think I see artillery. Probably what shot down the ships.'

She didn't have much experience with artillery outside of snippets she had read on the holonet. Still, what else could it be? Some random pipe peeking out of an oddly angular crack in the mountain? Hardly.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus listened and closed her eyes. Using the same Force Sight she sought the pipe her Padawan spoke of.

Given it was non-organic and directly hidden by other non-organic material, it was hard to decipher more than Kaia had. But her prognosis was valid.

Something drew the ships here and the artillery shot them down. The ships were then pilfered. It could be as simple as thieves – who had found a way to generate a string of crashed ships and plentiful bounty.

Or maybe something else? Time would tell. But Corvus was in danger of entering solution mode and taking charge of the mission. She metaphorically bit her lip and calmed herself.

“So, Kaia, what is your plan?”

[member="Kaia Vullen"]

 

[Kaia Vullen]

'I say we go in. Find out what's in there. Perhaps sabotage it.'

She looked out over the valley, seeing the two wrecked ships in the distance. Deep down, she hoped they were only pillagers. But the presence of Voxyn were still an unanswered question. Had they simply been hired in as guard-animals, or were there more creatures like it inside the mountain.

'I don't know what kind of creatures we find. I will need you to be my eyes if we're discovered. I know it's dangerous, but we are Jedi. We have a duty, right?.'

Under her scarf, she grinned wide. She genuinely felt they had a duty to investigate and perhaps disable this threat. Also, it was quite exciting. Kaia hoped Corvus would not take charge just yet; she was just getting the hang at making decisions. Were they the best? Probably not, but she made a sincere effort and listened to her instincts. They told her to handle this.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus muised Kaia's responses - but only for a couple of seconds.

"Then we have a plan. And we are a team, that much is plain. So, you shall lead the way and we shall have each other's backs."

Corvus started back down the slope, heading towards the artillery piece. "Of course I shall warn you if we encounter anything. And yes," there was a warmth and a happiness in her voice now, "We are Jedi. We serve. It does not get any better than this."

Despite the cold, Corvus pulled back her cloak, to allow her better access to her sabers and her katana if necessary. Slowly they made their way to the opening in the rock, where the barrel of the gun was protruding from. Once close enough, Corvus slowed, allowing Kaia to take the lead once more.

[member="Kaia Vullen"]

 

[Kaia Vullen]

We are Jedi; We serve.

Those words would stay with Kaia for the rest of her life, of this she was certain. She felt a surge of energy run through her as she patted the pocket containing her lightsabre and rubbed her mittens together in preparation of her next acrobatic feat. She spun on the forefoot of her boot, making her once more face the barrel of the artillery. Then, she allowed the Force to boost her as she took three bouncing strides and leapt off the ledge, over a little gap between herself and the cannon. Gripping onto the thick, frost-covered pipe, she threw her hips into a twist and manipulated her momentum so as to propel her inside the gap from which the cannon protruded. By manipulating the momentum of her turn with her arms, she managed to slow down enough to pass through the energy field. Which kept the cold out of the structure inside. Softly, she landed on a stone floor and peered around, surveying the room.

Kaia stood perfectly still, hoping she had not made too much noise and aroused the suspicion of anyone. With her force sight, she probed the room for life-forces. However, she could see nothing. But she could feel that there were living, organic beings in this structure. Beings that were not hidden, nor shrouded in the Force. Was there some sort of spell on this place to obscure her sight? Due to the distance and many levels of structure between them, she could not get a clear image of the life-forces. She saw there was some, and she saw the Force-gap of the Voxyn. As she looked around, she heard something, footstep... crunching sound, churning... chewing? Was there someone eating?

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus’ plan was simple. To keep close to Kaia. To not get in her way but be the perfect back-up if the Padawan needed it.

So she broadly mirrored her movements — albeit a little more conservative in her actions. Using Force Valor she made the same jump as Kaia had, and similarly used the barrel of the massive gun to change direction and pass into the cave it was situated in. And of course Kaia was right — it was an artillery piece.

The cave they were standing in had been artificially enlarged to house the massive gun and Corvus was pleased to see they were alone — at least for now. In parallel to her Padawan, she checked out the vicinity and found nothing close…at least not immediately. But something was approaching — and it was a presence she’d felt twice before. Once was in a gladiatorial arena. The other time was on the planet it originated from. Both. This planet.


A wampa was heading this way…

[member="Kaia Vullen"]

 

[Kaia Vullen]

The sounds came closer, crunching, thumbing. Kaia could feel the vibrations in the floor beneath her as a hushed tremble against her light touch. She was beginning to focus on other forms of input, now that she could no longer trust her sight. Of course, she hardly picked up much, but she could reason that because there were vibrations coinciding with the thumps, they were footsteps. The crunching was not in tune with the thumps, but appeared to have the same location. From which she could infer that it came from the same creature, either it was enjoying itself with some crunching toy or it was gnawing on something rather substantial. Kaia put her money on gnawing. She stood up and smiled at her master. She patted the pocket containing her lightsabre for safety before the luminescent aura of the Wampa came within her view. A shiver went down her spine, she acknowledged the presence of fear, but gave it no hold of her mind. They were Jedi, they served. She did not need to send a telepathic message to express her brief worry to her master, it would be all written on her face as she wiggled it out of her scarf.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus was in two minds. It was – after all – a confined space and there was a danger she would get in Kaia’s way. She was also keen that her Padawan face the creature without interference or help – which was broadly the same thing.

So she took her hilt in her hand and stood firm. A step or two behind her Padawan and ready to quite literally leap into action if Kaia needed any help.

But she trusted her Padawan would deal with the creature and so held back for now.

[member="Kaia Vullen"]

 

[Kaia Vullen]

Kaia could feel her master holding back, and she appreciated the faith the Grandmaster, her master, put in the Padawan. With a slow exhale, Kaia was about to take her sabre-hilt out of her jacket, but felt that it would be to assume aggression. A Jedi should not think that all problems can be solved by waving a weapon at it. Therefore, she let her hands down at her sides. Taking a few careful steps forward, she could see the wampa more clearly, as if watching it through a sheet of glass. Her fists balled, then relaxed. Relax, she would have to relax. The Force would guide her.

The Wampa stopped as it would pass the door. The massive, horned head with its beady, black eyes peaked inside. Kaia thought it stared right at her, but then remembered what Corvus had said about the White Current. They were disguised, invisible. The Miraluka's smile turned rather mischievous at the thought of pulling pranks on the wampa. She danced to the side gracefully as the great beast forced itself through the door and lurked towards the canon. Kaia guessed it could smell where their hands had been, like a trail. Or perhaps it just liked the view? Looking at the beast, Kaia could see blood tricking from it's claws and staining its fur. Who would let a Wampa walk around? What was the link between this beast and the Voxyn downstairs? Perhaps the Wampa had killed the keepers.

Watching the Wampa sniff the canon, Kaia circled around it. She positioned herself strategically behind it and looked at Corvus. Was it right to kill it? Sure, it was a dangerous beast, but it was also just that: A beast.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Her first ever Master had a mantra. In truth he had many – and Corvus was no different. But here and now one jumped into her mind.

‘Provide the question marks, never the exclamation marks.’

In simple terms, she should not give the answers but ask the questions that would lead her Padawan to the solution all by herself.

“Do what needs to be done. Killing is not the only solution. It is never the first solution, but sometimes it is the final solution. Only you can decide.”

Her words were calm and clear, barely above a whisper.

[member="Kaia Vullen"]

 

[Kaia Vullen]

Kaia nodded. Killing was not the only answer, yet she had to be prepared to do it. First, she would find a way to deal with the situation without needless violence. She backed, looking around her, and then relaxed to let the Force guide her thoughts. It was a beast, only a beast. It did not have malice, only instinct. That, she could see from its radiance. A smile appeared on her lips once more as a plan formed in her mind, and the Miraluka reached out through the Force to touch an object laying on the floor in the hallway outside. She lifted it, then dropped it audibly, making the Wampa lurch around. Kaia had to jump back, to not be cracked over the head by a humongous, clawed limb

Kaia lifted the object again and threw it down the hall to the left, able to see through the walls like lightly tinted glass thanks to her Force-Sight. The Wampa rushed to the door and sniffed, then turned to the left. Again, Kaia threw the object even further away with a light touch of the Force. She looked at Corvus with a mischievous smile and tricked the Wampa to the left, which descended in a long staircase. Meanwhile, she looked to the right. While cold gusts of wind came from the stairs, the right corridor appeared to be heated. She looked at her Master and jerked her head in the direction of the door.

He'll be back, let's go this way.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus observed. If she wanted to add to the plan, she couldn’t. It was perfexctly thought out and fool-proof.

Her Padawan had used her brain as opposed to her saber and Corvus entirely approved.

So she watched as the creature was lured further and further away until they had access to an area that promised to be inhabited.

“I’m right behind you. And…well done my Padawan.” In Corvus’ mind, this might be the last time she used that term.

[member="Kaia Vullen"]

 

[Kaia Vullen]

Kaia smiled and bowed her head in thanks to Corvus' praise. She was quite happy for her plan to have worked. In her mind, Jedi should refrain from violence whenever they could and always strive for a peaceful solution. In their essence, Jedi were guardians of peace, not warriors. It was a tough stance to hold in the chaotic state of the galaxy, but it was her core belief.

Kaia turned her back on her master and looking to the closed doors at the end of the rightmost corridor, the smile still present on her lips. With light steps, she nearly skipped towards the door and placed her hands on the flat metal surface. Resting her forehead on the cool surface, she tried to strengthen her sight and thus better see voids in the Force, but she saw none. There was not a single life-force in the room as she could see, nor any voids, but it was warmer than where they had come from, which indicated some sort of activity. Confident in her discovery, Kaia slapped her mittened right hand on the opening button. Perhaps she was a little too confident.

The moment the door opened, a pre-set blaster begun firing. If it were not for Kaia's reflexes, then she would have suffered an array of blaster-wounds. Rather, she took one shot to the leg before she could and raise a defence. A barrier surrounded her form and deflected the barrage of shots, then with a swipe of her hand, she moved the muzzle of the blaster to shoot up into the ceiling of the room. At least now they could advance. This room was more dangerous than she thought.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]