Mission Voices from the Void | Refuge

[Jasper Kai'el]

Voices from the Void
Refuge
Previous Threads: Lost in a Lost World, Voices from the Void Article
Tags: Novac Lyrikal , Braze , Starlin Dinn , (CLOSED)

Lightsaber, Refuge, Respite, Jedi Outcasts, Grafted into Stone
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Following a distress call sent out from the ringworld of Refuge, the base of operations for the Jedi Outcasts, Jedi Master Jasper Kai'el was quick to return to his home territory aboard the Grafted into Stone alongside the incumbent Jedi-hopeful Starlin Dinn; a young man eager to prove himself worthy of training. As quickly as he could, Jasper organized an impromptu task force to investigate the area where the distress call had originated from. Jedi Padawan Novac Lyrikal and his former student Knight Braze would answer the call. With very little to go off of but the message that was sent out, they touched down outside what was the location of origin.

To say that the place was strange was an understatement. A thick jungle swamp had engulfed the surrounding area, almost in a way that seemed unnatural. Vines entombed an ancient structure, one that matched what was seen below the village of Respite. A connection back to that place, but what exactly the people who built it were still seemed unclear. Grafted into Stone had done a scan of the location from orbit, and...

"Scans indicate one lone heat signature inside the ruin," Jasper relayed as he trudged through the thicket up to the entrance. "No signs of a struggle from what I can see. For a place that was... "making machines," there isn't really much around to suggest that it's a factory..."

Jasper drew his lightsaber from the scabbard on his hip, the brilliant blue blade shimmering with a wild visage that resembled fire, or the solar storms of a star. It illuminated the dark passageway before them, an endless tunnel into the inky abyss. It was less sterile than the facility where his brother Jalen Kai'el and Shuklaar Kyrdol had lead that brief expedition to find those... things in tubes. They had to be related, but the Jedi Master simply couldn't figure out exactly what that relation was just yet.

Maybe those beings were the ones eating people...

"Stay close together, don't let anyone in the group out of your sight," he stated, making their formation clear. "Keep an eye on the new kid. He's inexperienced and looking to learn. And Starlin, by no means are you to engage in combat, you're just here to observe. Got it? Now, let's get to it."

From there, Jasper would step off first, leading the party of four into the darkness...

 

[Starlin Dinn]

It was an entirely different kind of heat than he was used to which hit him as they stepped into the loamy jungle with its tangle of vines and humid swampland. The air was wet, it clung to his skin and made him feel dirty before he'd even exerted himself at all. His usual robes had been done away with, he wasn't in a desert anymore, nor was he limited to just one set of clothes, though he kept his arms and legs fully covered beneath the thin cloth of the training garments Jasper had rummaged up for him.​

​

Olive green utility trousers, and a beige shirt, belted and booted, he still had the shoto saber the Jedi Master had loaned him bouncing against his thigh but otherwise? Very little else.​

​

Starlin had come into this Galaxy with nothing but the clothes on his back, and while Leviathan had some useful bits and pieces stowed away there was very little that had jumped out at him.​

​

A water canteen, a glow rod, and a utility knife proved the most notable additions.​

​

When Jasper spoke, Starlin gave him his full attention; he walked alongside the Jedi, sure, but for all he knew they could have been headed off a cliff with how focused he was on reading the man's lips.​

​

"Got it, Sir," he retorted with a sharp nod, squishing down the swirling pit that was forming in his stomach. It was made of nerves, sure, but also a growing sense of uselessness. He wanted to help, he wanted to give his all, but... it was true that he had no experience. This wasn't the time for proving himself, lives were at stake.​

​

The lad didn't reach for his glow rod, led on instead by the thrum of Jasper's lightsaber. In no way would he be responsible for drawing attention to them, not if he could help it.​

​

Jasper Kai'el Novac Lyrikal Braze ​

 

[Braze]

Tags: Starlin Dinn Jasper Kai'el Novac Lyrikal

​

Braze was uncharacteristically quiet throughout the ride to the designated location. The exhausted little Echani took what precious little time they had in transit to get a small bit of rest. When they disembarked and approached the structure entrenched in vines, Braze offered Novac Lyrikal a curious glance, then let his gaze shift slowly to settle upon the young blonde who was accompannying them. He stared unabashedly at Starlin Dinn , listening to the rules Jasper laid out and studying the two padawans carefully as the Master spoke.

Braze found it rather nice to be tagging along with Jasper Kai'el on a mission once more.... It reminded him findly of a time when he was younger and he had so often and sowillingly followed Jasper into uncertain ventures, though the remarkably young Echani Knight wouldn't dare admit such sentiments aloud. Just being in the man's presence set his mind at ease. His body relaxed around the familiar Force signature of his former teacher, settling into a sense of safety Braze hadn't realized he'd missed until he felt it again.
Braze padded after him, taking position just half a step behind and off Jasper's right, close enough that the blue firelight of the Master's blade still washed over his slight form, tracing the edge of his silhouette in a cold blue against the dimness beneath the canopy overhead.

The change in atmosphere hit him harder than he'd expected. The dry, recycled air of the Grafted into Stone had given way to moist loamy scent of, rotting vegetation, and the humidity made his clothes feel almost sticky.

Braze offered the blonde a weak smile, having picked up on the body language cues in all their subtlety. The small petite figure gently nudged Starlin's forearm with his own.

"Relax… keep your eyes and ears sharp," he mused softly.

 

[Novac Lyrikal]

Tags: Jasper Kai'el Starlin Dinn Braze

As Novac got off the ship with everyone else he was met with the pleasant humid air of the swamp. He didn't get to spend time in jungles or swamps nearly enough, the air and humidity where perfect for the reptilian jedi. Stretching his arms out he took in the smells, it was lovely.

He listened carefully to Jasper's rule and gave a quick nod as he took hi place on the far left. This would be his first time going on a mission with Jasper Kai'el and Braze , though he had met both before, though not to well.

Slithering up to Starlin Dinn Novac gave him a pat on the should with his lower right hand, "You'll be fine," he said as he clipped a small light to his robes with his left hands.

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Refuge
Tags: Starlin Dinn , Novac Lyrikal , Braze

Lightsaber, Refuge, Respite, Jedi Outcasts, Grafted into Stone
​

Jasper would lead the party down the hall, his radiant blue saber illuminating walls covered in cracks and vines that obscured and ancient and undecipherable language. A cold chill hung in the air, but besides that all things were still. Unsettlingly so. Unlike below Respite, there were not even simple traps to be found. No patrol droids, no trip wires. Nothing. It was almost like things had been intentionally left in a state that would allow them to simply...

Walk right in.

"Anyone feel anything?" Jasper would ask of the others, those who he knew would have a stronger Force-sensitivity than him.

Alas, not so much as a prickle of danger would be felt. In fact, there would be a bizarre absence of things to detect through the Force, let alone any impending doom.

As they marched on, however, something would become audible. It echoed through the decrepit stone halls, the vibrations carried to them by the natural shape of the structure. It was carried from deeper into the complex, down the leftward direction at an upcoming crossroads. It was...

Crying. Deep and hollow. Like that of someone who had been left behind.

 

[Starlin Dinn]

Starlin was not used to having so many eyes upon him, certainly not at once, so as reassurance after reassurance came he got a little quieter, more sheepish perhaps, and merely nodded his understanding and thanks.​

​

It was already a lot to be out on his first mission without even really understanding what he had committed himself to, and the humidity was eating him alive, trying to think up a cunning response was beyond him. He did hazard a glance at the others though, the pair who were unfamiliar to him, eyes lingering a touch too long on Braze before hastily looking away.​

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As for Novac Lyrikal he had more questions than anything, but he worried after the Cathar incident that he might come across as insensitive by asking them so he kept them to himself. He'd never seen a reptilian with sentience before, sure the desert back home had lizards and snakes but they were just your run of the mill animals. This was... a lot.​

​

His gaze drifted this way and that as they made their way through the too-empty structure. Though there was nothing inherently untoward, no tingling at the back of his neck or musical warning signs, Starlin simply felt off by being there. Wrong. "It's... too quiet" he said. "Too... nothing." Like walking through a usually busy public space in the dead of night.​

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Still, there was nothing to focus on exactly... nothing until those deep sobs drifted toward them through the complex.​

​

Without thinking Starlin rushed forward. That was a child's cry, he'd bet his meager life savings on it.​

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Jasper Kai'el ​

 

[Braze]

Tags: Jasper Kai'el Starlin Dinn Novac Lyrikal

​

Braze let his awareness press outwards, trying to feel out anything he could sense through the very walls. The more material there was in the way, the blurrier those impressions became… shapes and feelings muddling together the farther he tried to reach.

"Not… much…" Braze offered before watching Starlin Dinn burst forwards.

Rather than run after him, Braze kept his gait slow and sighed softly, trying to keep his attention on any hidden traps or anything else out of the ordinary. He didn't want to go charging blindly after Starlin and end up crowding someone should they happen across anyone else down here.

 

[Novac Lyrikal]

Jasper Kai'el Starlin Dinn Braze

Not only could novac not feel anything with the force, but he sensed no heat other then the 3 around him. "No. no random heat presences either." The place as far as he could tell was fully devoid of life, not even a rodent in the halls. That was until he heard the crying.

As Starlin Dinn took off Novac sighed " What was that about staying together?" as he followed, not to quickly to make sure the others still had at least his tail in their line of sight.

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Refuge
Tags: Starlin Dinn , Braze , Novac Lyrikal

Lightsaber, Refuge, Respite, Jedi Outcasts, Grafted into Stone
​

Without thinking Starlin rushed forward. That was a child's cry, he'd bet his meager life savings on it.

Jasper didn't hesitate either, running off if only to keep pace with Starlin. The Master, of course, was not being reckless. His eyes scanned for traps, potential dangers, anything. He'd have a conversation about not running off into danger mindlessly without a plan after this.

After all, it would be all to easy to play a simple recording and lure someone in. They couldn't afford be so reckless.

Of course, all that in mind, they would arrive at a lone chamber at the far end of the complex. No trip wires, no droid security, no danger. The chamber appeared to be a cell, and the door had been left open. It was as though they had all but been invited in, no strings attached. Naturally, Jasper didn't like what was going on... but he had only one path forward. His hand moved forward and pushed the door open...

"Sorry..."

It wasn't a child, but a young woman fresh into adulthood. Simple manacles kept her bound in place, and she wore plainly generic clothes. She hardly looked wounded at all. Her hand moved to finish drying her face, and her eyes remained fixed on the floor in shame. She was Theelin, pale speckled skin and soft blue hair, with horns emerging from the side of her head and right below her ears. The tone of the young woman was shameful, guilty even...

"She found out I made a call..." the woman relayed, her eyes still a bit hazy. Like she was in a trance. "She took everyone away... She wanted me to tell you that... you wasted your time."

No fight, no anything... just silent and pitiful acceptance.

 

[Starlin Dinn]

Unlike the others, who had far more experience in the real world than an isolated boy like he, Starlin did not think to check for traps or trips or anything of the sort, he just rushed on headlong into the room and...​

​

Not a child. He owed someone his life savings. The girl perhaps?​

​

"Heey," he soothed, as he moved to kneel before her. He didn't touch, Starlin did not know how to undo shackles and he didn't want to crowd or scare her. Leave that to one of the others. "It's okay, are you alright? Are you hurt?" As he spoke Starlin was already working to draw upon any moisture in the room, pooling it together into a small source of water in the shape of an orb. If she had been here a while she'd be thirsty, most lifeforms needed water to survive.

It wasn't until he turned his head toward the others that sense kicked in and he realized he'd broken one of the only rules Jasper had given him.​

​

"I-I'm sorry, Sir" he said, "I thought.. it sounded like a child.."

Jasper Kai'el Braze Novac Lyrikal ​

 

[Braze]

Tags: Starlin Dinn Jasper Kai'el Novac Lyrikal

​

Braze frowned at hearing what the girl had said trailing after keeping to the rear guard and trusting Jasper to keep the front well guarded against any possible threats.

"She? And waste our time? Could you elaborate a little more miss?" Braze asked as he raised a hand and focused on the delicate task of just... unlocking the shackles with fine telekinesis from afar not wishing to crowd the sorrowful young woman.

Braze didn't try to scold Starlin Dinn , seemingly deferring to Jasper as the leader of the expedition and the most experienced Jedi among them. He didn't think scolding anyone here would be particularly appropriate, considering the apparent situation at hand.