Ask Flashpoint Byblos: Razing Hell

[Ezra Thorne]

Ezra was still reeling from the fact that people had looked to him for direction on what the Jedi should do. He was still reeling from a Jedi Knight cutting down the council chamber doors. His father was a leader, not him. Jayna was a leader, not him. So how did he become the driving force to mobilize the Jedi after months of inactivity?

The part Sephi stepped off the unassuming transport ship that slipped through the cracks. While a fleet would have been easily detected, individual transports could always enter the atmosphere. He had asked the Jedi and any volunteers to arrive separately and meet at a rendezvous point away from the main city centers.

Within moments, he could already sense the pure darkness lingering all around them. It almost made him sick to his stomach, and it manifested in the form of whispers and glimpses of images in the mind. Padawans would be slightly more susceptible to the perpetual presence of the Dark Side that always threatened to lure and draw.

Ezra’s saber was already in his hand, though not ignited, and he looked over at his fellow Jedi, “We have to be as efficient as possible,” He explained, “There is no bargaining or diplomacy with an abomination. They are no different than the AMS infected. Trust in the Light as you combat them and guard your minds.”

With that, he started walking towards the metropolitan districts. Already he could see the looming figures of grotesque monsters patrolling the broken and shattered terrain. It looked like a post apocalyptic world with a blood, red sky and the stench of death and decay all around. Dead bodies littered the streets everywhere and the Jedi would feel as if they had arrived at the gates of Hell itself.

 

[Vanya]

Vanya was glad that perhaps her decision to join the Jedi hadn't been in vain. Her presence with the Order had left something to be desired so far, and she had seen a great deal of impotence from them, but Ezra had stoked a fire that she hoped would turn to a raging inferno.

She had set down on this planet, and it, like Corsucant, was a strange mix of steel and glass. It felt so unnatural, and she still felt like a sore thumb here, but this was where evil had encroached (seemingly a common theme with these city planets) and so that was where she would go. It was simple mathematics.

Maybe she shouldn't have been surprised that the other Jedi with her on this whole thing was Ezra. Others had gone to other worlds, so she told herself that they were being useful just somewhere else.

I have fought them on Coruscant, she said with a nod, but even the statement caught like bile in her throat. This place - these creatures - they were vile beyond words. They were a type of reviling creature that made her blood boil in its own way. There was darkness and then there was darkness. This was beyond anything she had experienced before now.

She began walking down the street alongside Ezra, and no matter how long she was here, it made her skin crawl. She felt like she was swimming through a sewer and it seeped into her every pore, looking to corrupt her. To poison her mind and bring out the worst emotions that she kept locked down.

This is far worse than Coruscant. He has spread greater monsters here, not just his infiltrators, she said. Although she didn't know the name of the Exalted, she had taken to calling them by such an appropriate name. They had been the first wave at Coruscant, but here things were far worse.

Mangled corpses lined the streets: men, women, even the broken bodies of babies were strewn across the ground. She looked at them, and felt a sober coldness in her heart, the feeling that she wished better for them and the knowledge that nothing she did would save them now. All she could do was protect the rest of the flock.

Even a planet like this will have a resistance. We should find them. We cannot do it all on our own, she suggested.

As she walked, she wondered what it was that he hoped to accomplish in this. The world was sacked and its people in hiding, hunted by abominations and simply poisoning the atmosphere itself. What did Raze gain from this? She refused to believe that it was simply out of petty spite or because "he could." Sith were cruel, but their violence was not typically senseless. Perhaps the idea that it could be was far more terrifying to her than anything else.

 

[Ezra Thorne]

“You have?” Ezra asked, genuinely impressed. He had still been on Kro Var when the chaos unfolded on Coruscant. That Vanya went to what Ezra considered Raze’s prize and came out alive was a testament to her skills. He hadn’t formally met her before, but she had whispers around her since she was a Nightsister. He knew what it was like to have unwanted attention and speculation, so he didn’t prod too much about her past.

Her point about a resistance group was a good one, and he nodded, “Senator Kang had a solid following before she died. I imagine her fellow legislators went into hiding and some may even serve as de facto resistance leads,” He said quickly. It was obvious that being the son of the ISC President meant he knew how people and influence worked - even in times of crisis, “If there are villages or towns on the outskirts, I imagine that’s where they’d be hiding.”

Ezra said as he fell into step with her. Instead of continuing forward, he started to veer to the side and through the ghost towns. He hadn’t considered gaining allies first, and it made him change his plans.

“I wish I knew what Raze is using to create these things..” He pondered aloud, “Everything I’ve read about alchemy implied that there needs to be an artifact or object.” He trailed off. Jedi forbade teachings on alchemy and he didn’t feel like explaining why he knew what he did. He had a suspicion a Nightsister wouldn’t judge him too harshly for taking the time to read on other utilizations of the Force.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

She nodded her affirmation of his question. I meant what I said at the meeting about wanting to fight, she added. She felt a bit of hope now that others had been stirred up. Even if their Council was... questionable, it seemed there were Jedi who were willing to go out and be what they all espoused by mouth.

On the other hand, there was an argument that Vanya was too eager to fight. But then, she had been right about the war with the Empire. She'd prepared Jedi holdings on Bastion and yet the fighting there still seemed as if it wasn't going to go their way. A spike of anger shot up through her followed by one of frustration and sadness. Of course, it had no place in her mind as a Jedi, but to experience emotion was to be a sentient being.

I know little of the Senator here, she admitted, but it was good to hear that there were some leaders here who weren't limp. Though the fact that she was dead was certainly not ideal. His knowledge seemed to complement her own, which was excellent as far as she was concerned. Her first few outings representing the Order had involved far too much diplomacy and politics for her taste, and the fact that they hadn't ended in disaster was simply a miracle from the Winged Spirit as far as she was concerned.

She followed as he veered off in the direction of one of the outskirt areas, and although the buildings became shorter and smaller, there became more of them as they proceeded along. Somehow, Vanya felt almost more exposed now than before with countless windows looking out at them. Fortunately, from what she had seen, the creatures were more brute force than cunning, though the thought of them advancing in the direction of intelligence was a terrifying thought. Also a thought that seemed to defy the Dark Side itself, which was all she could hope.

Agreed. And he must have it here on world to continue mass producing them. Or at least he did, she conjectured. It hadn't even occurred to her for a moment that he wasn't "supposed" to have this information.

Although from what I've heard, they can be produced without a device or artifact as well. More difficult, I believe, she said. I think Raze might have forgemasters, she conjectured after another moment. People who he has taught or else given artifacts to who can transform others into these beasts, she said. It would have explained the surprise appearances as well as the ability to mass produce when he seemingly wasn't present. Of course, her speculation wasn't accurate, but it was a plausible explanation and a technique she had heard of being employed by other Sith Lords in the past.

 

[Ezra Thorne]

“They can?” Ezra asked, grimacing slightly. He was hoping there was some easy ‘aha’ mechanism or artifact that could be destroyed and solve all this. He was silent as he pondered their choices. There was another factor in all this - “Did you see the address made by so-called Gareth Gin?” He asked quietly, “He could become one of those..things.. Does that mean there are others like that? How would we tell them apart from civilians?”

They walked a short distance before his sensitive ears could pick up some noises. He instinctively grasped a hold of Vanya’s arm to keep her from taking another step. He released her and gestured to her to be silent with his finger, slowly stepping laterally to approach the source of the noise. The sight was gruesome - a woman lying dead on the street with vacant eyes staring up at the sky. Her entrails were being consumed by a four-legged, unnatural beast carved of muscle and manufactured flesh. Its tail swished from side to side.

Ezra gestured for Vanya to crouch down next to him. He telepathically communicated with Vanya.

I hear more in the area. I think they hunt in packs.

The beast suddenly perked up. Ezra’s eyes widened in surprise. Could the things sense Force uses?!

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya shook her head after giving a moment's thought. I don't think they can transform back. Or at least, they haven't been able to do that historically. Sith plagues are generally a single direction like AMS or Rhakgouls, she said.

But he may well be a forgemaster. Someone has to be directing these forces. Historically, the Sith had their apprentices and underlings for that. Maybe that's what he is, she conjectured. It was remarkable how little was known about Raze for how much damage he had done to the galaxy. It was something that had to change even if Vanya, herself, was the one that had to change it. She thought back to Ithor and all the Jedi Masters that had been killed there. Who was she fooling, she had no chance of bringing him down? The thought was almost overwhelming and distracted her from the here and now, a dangerous and unwise lapse.

Vanya frowned down at his grasp on her arm with an angry flash before realizing that there was a purpose to it, and she was at least wise enough to keep her mouth shut. She relented completely a moment later when she realized the "why" and saw the creature. It was as horrid as everything else here, feeding on the body of a fallen woman.

Vanya nodded at the voice in her mind, noting that the creature, too, seemed to notice. Alarm bells set off in her mind, and while this creature may not have been a natural one, she had hunted enough other beasts to know that they had been suspected at best and discovered at worst.

It seemed to look at them both, and that was when the attack came not from the front, but from the sides. And the other two dog creatures that they almost didn't even realize were there.

Clever girl, Vanya thought to herself, her saber bursting to life as the creature closed in on her from the side, its snapping jaws almost ripping the Jedi a new hole. Her purple saber burst to life in her hand and swept around, catching the creature across the face but not deep enough to actually bring down monster completely. It occurred to her that she really needed to learn to use Force Light sooner or later. It would have come in clutch now, but instead she raised a hand an a flash of green fire scorched the creature's face.

Ezra - the more powerful of the two - seemed to have attracted the extra dogs attention and would have to contend with two of the creatures: the initial side dog and the one that had initially attracted their attention consuming the woman.

 

[Ezra Thorne]

Ezra was both surprised and disappointed in himself that he didn’t notice the abomhounds flanking them. They hunted in packs and weren’t as blindly stupid as he thought. He applied a gentle tug of the Force to further yank the Nightsister out of harm’s way. However, he narrowly avoided having his own arm bitten off. The beast drooled on the ground, its breath foul with the stench of corpses as its maw revealed endless rows of teeth.

While Vanya did her thing, the part Sephi called the Force to himself to unleash a bright surge of Light. There was a collective yelp as the beasts shook their heads and cowered back. This gave the two an opportunity to use their sabers to cut down the abominations. Ezra got to work quickly with his saber, piercing it directly through the head of the beast before him.

“Only through the head!” He called out to Vanya, having fought these things on Fortress Infernum where Raze created his first prototypes.

Ezra killed the other beast after another application of the Force before he saw many more silhouettes forming over the horizon. The part Sephi’s eyes widened, “We have to find cover,” He muttered, a sense of dread sitting at the pit of his stomach. They weren’t powerful enough to take on an army of these things, so they had to be strategic about it.

“If we can find a way to create a Light Force nexus, it should theoretically severely weaken them..” He mused aloud as he started to run towards cover. It was difficult to hide from these things if one was a powerful Force user, so he had to find a way to blend in, “But I have no idea how to do something like that..” He said unhelpfully. Perhaps Vanya had some voodoo hairbrained idea that could work to contain the hordes.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya felt a tug that pulled her back from one of the beasts, and her saber swirled around to fill the extra space between her and the creature, forcing it to stay at bay as she backed up, nearly bumping straight into Ezra as she did so.

The scent of burnt flesh and rancid meat filled her nostrils, and it conjured up the worst memories of predator pits on Dathomir.

Understood! she shouted back as Ezra told her that it was best to strike through the head. Her chin pulled in toward her chest, and her eyes became deadly serious as she looked at the creature. She pulled a deep breath in to steady her nerves, and everything almost played out in her mind just before it happened. She saw the creature leaping toward her, her saber flashing, and it falling to the ground with a hole in its head.

Then, in a flash, it all came to reality. The creature's body hint the ground with a thud and Vanya whirled back to look out at the rest of the area. As her senses drank in the world around them, her gut dropped. There was more of the creatures... so many more.

She started to run as Ezra did, trying to keep the dead sprint from looking too much like a panicked dash. She was no stranger to fighting, so why did this unnerve her so much? Why was it that since she left Dathomir, she felt so... off balance. Perhaps it was the lack of so many reassuring faces and support or the distance from the familiarity of the source of her power. Whatever the reason, she knew that now wasn't the time to panic.

Force Light? I've never used that! she objected. She'd heard about it, and she supposed the idea was simple enough, but simplicity in theory and simplicity in reality were two different things. It seemed she would need to learn that skill and soon.

That, however, did not mean that Vanya was without tricks of her own. Your Light and my Fire. I think I can bring them together. A "purging fire!" she shouted back. There! We can get to that roof! she shouted. It was a three story building tall enough to get them off the streets, but short enough that they could reach it with some clever climbing and leaping.

For her part, Vanya channeled the Touch of the Kiin'Dray and her hands and feet became like a spider, clinging to the wall as she scrambled up. Had she gone up in reverse, she might have looked like some horror from the exorcist, but instead, she simply scrambled to the top before turning around to assist Ezra up as well.

She held out a cupped hand to him.

Put your fist in my hand, and focus your Light, she said before raising her hand to the creatures below. She chanted quiet words and rather than green flames bursting from her hands, it was a pure, white flame that sprayed out over the creatures below, a mixture of both of their powers.

As he poured his energy into her, she began to feel just how powerful in the Force he was, and although it was refreshing, warm, and comforting in a way, the energy to channel such power and her own as well, left her feeling fatigued and short of breath.

And yet, after a few moments, she looked down to see scorched husks littered the area under them. A mixture of relief and fatigue hit her like a brick wall, and her knees nearly buckled as she sat back down on the roof. She may have been out of her league here.

Are you injured? she asked him, starting to look for any signs of bleeding or injury that might have been either of theirs.

 

[Ezra Thorne]

What? Did she just make up some half brained idea on the spot? Ezra didn’t operate like that - he liked method, process, steps, analysis. He almost tripped over a root as he ran, completely flabbergasted at the thought of whimsically throwing around and combining Force powers. Between his height and Force abilities, he easily leapt up high to grab onto balconies till he scaled to the top like some parkour champion. He looked down and almost lost it when he saw Vanya scurrying like a damn spider up the wall. It was one of the most unsettling things he had seen a Jedi do. He grimaced when she climbed over the railing.

“I hope I don’t have to see that again anytime soon..” He muttered under his breath. Ezra focused the Force to his hand, channeling it as he pressed his fist against her palm. He hadn’t seen her style of Force before, but he knew Nighsisters had their own ways of using it. A part of him almost wanted to ask her to teach him, but he figured it was some jealously guarded secret.

To his surprise, her method worked, sending out a powerful pulse of Light and Fire. Encouraged by the impact, he channeled more of his energy in. A massive surge erupted out from where their hands converged, blowing right through the abominations. It tore them not just physically, but down to their core. Flesh singed and fell apart and the darkness was eradicated by Light.

By the end of it, Ezra collapsed down to sit, realizing he gave more into it than he thought. It took a lot to take out the wave of those beasts and he was sure there were more not too far.

“I’ll…be okay..” He said, panting slightly. After a moment he pushed himself to stand, peering over at their handiwork. The stench was in the air even from up here, “Was that…the first time you tried something like that?” He asked bluntly.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya couldn't fathom what was wrong with her spider climb. Everyone did it, didn't they? It was less tiring than teleporting.

As their blast of energy finished tearing through the air, and a strange, almost-eerie silence settled over the area below them, Vanya took several deep breaths, greedily pulling air into her lungs to fill the void that seemed to have been left behind. The unwelcome stench of charred and rotting flesh filled her nostrils instead and she scowled in disgust.

Yes, I have not done anything quite like that before, but I've combined my powers with those of my Sisters before, she said.

I think it would be wise for me to learn to use that ability. Especially since I don't think that Darth Raze will be stopping his ravagings anytime soon, she said. Her eyes traced out over the horizon around them. The smoke that rose in the distance, the dead bodies that still littered the streets. The scorched bodies of the creatures they had just killed.

She wondered how the Jedi of old had driven back the darkness or if they even had. Many of the stories she had heard were that the Jedi simply outwaited their enemies until they destroyed themselves. The legacy of the Jedi was not always success and victory.

You did well to rally the Jedi to action. Do you think we still have the strength to drive back the Empire and Raze? she asked. It was a pointed and blunt question, but it was one that so many were wondering these days. Or at least, Vanya imagined so many were wondering it. It occurred to Vanya that the path she had chosen for herself would almost certainly lead to her own death in battle, but that was a sacrifice she ahd chosen to make, and she had no regrets in it.

 

[Ezra Thorne]

Ezra nodded in agreement. Her knowing Light would allow for a stronger front in purging a nexus or perhaps even creating a new one. The effectiveness of the attack on the abominations made it clear that it was a skill most of the Jedi Order needed to learn. The Thorne was still taxed, but he felt strength returning to him slowly.

“I can teach you,” He said, surprising himself. Ezra didn’t like people. He also didn’t like volunteering to teach in any capacity. However, Vanya had proven to be actually useful in a pinch, and her unique background meant she could come up with new methods of using the Force, “I might wish for you to teach me something in turn though,” Ezra admitted, staring at her. He needed to get a vibe check on how she felt about teaching an outsider like him one of her tricks. He didn’t specify what he wanted to learn, leaving that to her. Teleporting looked cool, but he had a feeling it was probably too difficult even for him.

His ears twitched slightly and turned a shade of red as she brought up how he rallied the Jedi. It was something he never expected out of the show he put on, but he was pleasantly surprised by the outcome, “I think we will have to get more of the galaxy on our side,” He admitted grimly, “Raze is…a strange case. He isn’t just a regular Sith that trained up to get where he is - he is an entity manifesting in a body. I’m not sure what happens if we kill his physical form. Does he get released into the atmosphere and become free to possess someone else?” Ezra gazed off into the distance, silent for a moment, “We need to know everything there is to know about his creatures and how he was made before we attempt to destroy him. If we get it wrong…” He trailed off there, turning to look at her.

His ears twitched again as he turned to look towards noise below. He could see some movement below and could make out figures in the distance, “Look,” He pointed, “People coming out of hiding. Let’s go down there.”

 

[Vanya]

Vanya's head tilted to the side as he mentioned he wanted her to teach him something in return. That could mean a lot of different things, but from what she had heard, most of those who knew what Nightsisters were - a limited group - seldom wanted anything but that power for themselves. Granted, the Jedi seemed different than the Sith who had come to her world before, but she was still wary.

Such as what? I probably cannot give you what you seek, she said stated, up front about the cost and commitment that came with the ways of her people. Though, the thought did bring another to her mind.

I heard rumors about Jedi of old, my people, and a people called the Zeffo harnessing the power of positive spirits to create magic. Together, we might be able to bring back that power. It seems it would be useful in this fight, she said. Of course, she meant the broader sense than any upcoming combat, but she knew - and was sure he did as well - that this war wasn't going to come to a close any time soon.

Perhaps we could both use an ally in trying to piece a lost puzzle together, she said. It was not quite what either of them had asked the other for, but it was - in its own way - a means of getting something very similar and possibly saving the galaxy at the same time.

She nodded as he mentioned needing more people to help them.

Yes. I admit I was disheartened by the fall of Bastion. I worked to bring people together there, and it... nothing came of it, she said. Perhaps if she'd started making moves earlier. Prepared things even sooner. What if, what if, what if. It could eat you apart from the inside out.

I think people are too afraid to stand up. It will take a dramatic example to shake them out of apathy, she said. He might note that it almost sounded as though she were quoting someone else, though she didn't offer the source of this wisdom.

All the more reason to pursue something that even Raze has never seen, she said. Jedi magic was an all-but-forgotten art, and it might be just the means of restraining an entity the likes of which the galaxy didn't truly understand.

She followed his gaze to the people coming out of hiding and nodded, pushing herself up to her feet as she shook the burning build up out of her muscles. She dropped from the roof, landing almost silently below and moving out into the center of the street, raising her hands and making herself very visible. If these were civilians, they would likely be jumpy, and she didn't want to startle them and be shot.

I am Vanya and this is Ezra of the Jedi Order. We are here to assist you! she declared.

Kriffing Force-users! she heard from down the street as blasters swiveled to point at her but not fire.

Just hold fire!

Quiet you two, another voice hissed, this one older sounding. Miss, you've gotta understand we're a bit skeptical of... well, your people, the man said, stepping out. He was a tall man and although he was likely in his sixties with a close-trimmed grey beard, he still somehow looked like he was chiseled out of rock. Like perhaps he was someone who had been simply built for the life of the post-apocalypse.

 

[Ezra Thorne]

Ezra shrugged vaguely at her question on what she could teach, “More offensive tricks that don’t cross into the Dark Side,” He said finally, “We have limited things in our repertoire,” He muttered. He loved being a Jedi, but he couldn’t deny that the Dark Siders got a lot of the cooler tricks perfect for quickly ending a fight. He didn’t press on it further, his demeanor nonchalant. If she didn’t want to teach anything, it wouldn’t bother him.

The Thorne spun and had his saber drawn the moment he heard people shuffling behind them and the tell tale signs of weapons preparing. However, the elderly man quickly put a stop to it and Ezra switched off his weapon. His silver eyes narrowed as he looked around at the skeptical looks on multiple faces, “Our people are the only kind that can put a stop to these things,” He reminded the group curtly. He came from an entire lifetime of living in a regime that despised Force users and his kind. His entire life had been a lie and his father was a hypocrite. And yet, none of that mattered right now because the entire galaxy had to prepare for what Raze unleashed.

Ezra looked at the older man again and his eyes narrowed slightly, “Are you Aemon Orlan?” He queried.

The man’s eyes widened and he chuckled sadly, “I am what remains of him yes..”

The part Sephi was surprised. Aemon Orlan was a high profile diplomat that often appeared on the Senate with Senator Kang and was her second in command. He also had oversight of the fleets. To see him holed up here was jarring.

“Where are your men? Your ships?”

He shook his head, “This is what’s left of us..” He pointed to the ragged and worn out faces all around him, “Raze had his followers take thousands of our able bodied soldiers off planet,” He explained, “We don’t know what was going to happen to them but they kept chanting something about becoming exalted..”

“Can you do it?” One of the other men standing in the background rasped, barely audible. He had been one of the ones pointing a blaster at the Jedi, which was slowly lowering, “Can you help us retake this planet?”

 

[Vanya]

Vanya found her eyes studying Ezra for a bit longer than necessary as she tried to pin him down in her mind. He was... enigma might have been too strong of a word, but he was multifaceted. Enough that it made her wonder how all the pieces fit together. But then, weren't they all complex in their own way?

Instead, she pondered his request a bit, and thought perhaps she could even think of something to that end.

But alas, the people they now dealt with left little room for discussion on the topic, but that could come later. If they didn't die today, they'd be in this fight for months or years to come.

Vanya was glad to let Ezra take the lead on speaking up about... negotiating and all that. Vanya supposed she couldn't fault people for their ignorance, but she still found it annoying that they seemed to be treating the pair of Jedi like the enemy, and wasn't sure she'd be able to keep her sarcasm in check if she opened her mouth.

Vanya looked back at the man who was now lowering his gun and asking if they were going to retake his planet. That was a more difficult question than Vanya might have hoped for. She had no interest in lying to the man, and refused to make empty promises, and she found herself wondering if she was supposed to provide false hope.

I'm here to fight for this planet. Tooth and nail if I have to, she said. Her head flicked to the side as if she heard or sensed something that was unseen.

We shouldn't have this discussion in the streets. Is there somewhere safe we can talk? she asked. Some people would say that it was "luck" that they practically bumped into a former-Senator, but Vanya didn't believe that. It was fate.

Yeah, this way. They'll be coming out in force soon as the sun goes down, Orlan said, motioning up to the setting of the sun in the distance.

Orlan turned and headed back to the building he had been heading from and weaved through its rooms as if he had been doing this a hundred times. It occurred to her that he may well have done just that. Eventually, he made a turn and stopped in a single-stall bathroom, pushing the door open to reveal a massive hole in the floor where the toilet used to be. The smell wafting up from it was precisely what you would expect, and Vanya had to stifle a gag as the scent seemed to permeate ever pore of her skin.

Orlan dropped down a rope as if it were nothing, landing in the sewer below. They don't work under the streets much, which means we can move relatively freely down here. We discovered that real quick. Moved most of the refugees out of the city center this way when it all started, he explained.

 

[Ezra Thorne]

The stench hit Ezra like a solid, brick wall. Vanya may have been able to keep her composure, but he did not. At the end of the day, he was still a spoiled boy born in the lap of luxury. He coughed, sputtered, turned away and actually vomited in the corner. Several of those gathered stood there in stone cold silence. One didn’t have to read their thoughts to decipher what they were thinking - 'these are our saviors?'

Orlan, however, took it in stride, only giving an amused chuckle before the man in his late 50s or early 60s casually rappelled down the hole as if it were a walk in the park. Ezra heaved a few more times before wiping off his mouth, his eyes watering from either puking or the rancid smell - he couldn’t tell at this point. He always traveled with a bag of supplies and quickly drew out a spray, spritzed it over a scarf and promptly wrapped it around the lower hemisphere of his face. Unlike before, he wouldn’t outright refuse to go down that hole, but he sure wasn’t going to smell shit the entire time he did.

He pointedly avoided eye contact with Vanya as he followed the others, not in the mood for any judgy looks. Actually, he expected something far worse from her - a look of curiosity. She always had an inquisitive look for situations that he picked up on, and he couldn’t stomach that after he just emptied it.

He grimaced at his imported, chazrach leather boots squelched in sewage upon his landing. It was a testament to how much he had grown that he didn’t begin with a string of complaints. He stood far taller than everyone else and had to hunch to walk through the low tunnels, no doubt his styled hair brushing against whatever goop lined the ceiling.

“Does this lead back towards where the main attack happened? Can we get to it without coming to surface?” His muffled, almost nasally voice came after a moment of silence. Apparently he was trying to hold his breath even with the scarf. He zoned out in many of his Jedi classes, but there was one that went over nexuses. It mentioned that nexuses were often created at sites of great trauma and travesty. If one was created here, even if it was dark, converting it could potentially weaken or kill the abominations. And if they used the underground tunnels, they could get there and operate without getting a swarm on them.

 

[Vanya]

Vanya couldn't blame Ezra for losing his breakfast in the corner, and she still found herself gagging as she descended downward, finally giving in to the overwhelming desire to throw a cloth over her nose. It didn't help much, but it was better than nothing. She wished she had some hwotha berries she could stick in the mask to help dilute the smell, but she had no such berries on hand.

She was about to follow but paused when she saw Ezra pull something out and held her own face covering out. Please? she asked before wrapping her face back up and heading down after the Senator.

She glanced over at Ezra to check how he was doing, but he seemed to be pointedly keeping from looking at her. Maybe he - like she - was just waiting for this all to be over. This was worth than diving into an old, rotten rancor pit. Although you haven't seen a fecal mass until you've seen a rancor's den.

Hmm, you can get almost anywhere in the city down here. You'd have to download schematics from the city hall. We've been trying to get there for a few weeks now, but it's swarmed. Tendy might be able to help, though. He was one of the engineers who helped maintain the gas and electric down here. He's the one who helped us get our original movement down here going. He's been missing for two days, though. Last seen near half mile from where we just found you. We were going to head out for him after we dropped you back at camp, he said.

Seems like maybe we should help you with that, Vanya offered. If they needed either Tendy or the city hall to get their directions, Tendy seemed like the logical first step to her. Less dangerous than an assault on an enemy-held building.

 

[Ezra Thorne]

Ezra felt decidedly better when Vanya also needed a spritz of cologne to keep from gagging. He paused for a moment, but then obliged. She would be presented with the smell of expensive rich spices, earthy tones and a mossy finish that would both remind her of the forest and being in the lap of luxury all at once.

Orlan’s answer only made him sigh. Of course there was a side quest before they could make it to the trauma site. When was anything ever easy for Jedi? Vanya volunteered their services and he moodily stayed silent. They had no other choice. Out of everything to do with being a Jedi, helping civilians with their nonsense was the toughest for him to accept. He didn’t have that inherent desire to help, but it was a learned habit for him.

“What are the odds he’s actually still alive?” He asked bluntly. He heard a few people bristle and shift around him. Clearly Tendy was a popular character with this group. Ezra’s eyes and demeanor remained unchanged. He was here to do a job, not get into sentimental tip-toeing.

“He’s a resourceful man,” Orlan said after a moment of silence, carefully choosing his words, “And we haven’t exhausted all options to rule him out.”

Well, that answered that.

“It’s best you two go with Tank and Millie,” He pointed out two soldiers that stepped up, “Keep a small group and you may avoid detection.”

Ezra nodded and walked with the duo, splitting off down a separate tunnel. It was dark, damp and far worse than where they just were. Tank handed them nightvision goggles that were low quality. He grimaced at the engineering, but said nothing, putting them on and looking extremely goofy. They walked through darkness and there was nothing but an eerie tunnel in front of them. There was no noise save for the scurrying of rodents and an endless drip of water.

“So what happens when you go out this way usually?”

“Well…” Millie began, trailing off for a moment before she continued, “The parties always lose people or don’t make it back. We tried sending two separate parties. One of them said they saw some odd..things down here. Different from the four legged dogs up there.”

“Terrific,” Ezra muttered under his breath, glancing over to look at Vanya to see how she was faring.

 

[Vanya]

Vanya probably would have enjoyed the cologne a lot more if she weren't also still getting the faintly foul feculent fragrance flowing forth from the fetid flood. Still, it managed to make her feel both soothed and nostalgic for home at the same time.

Even as Ezra asked if Tendy was still alive, Vanya didn't bat an eye. It was a practical question, and she'd seen people lost in the jungles before who were torn to shreds. This place was - as hard to believe as this was - even more dangerous than the Dathomiri jungles. It was a living, vibrant nightmare.

Vanya followed "Tank" and "Millie" until she was handed a pair of nightvision goggles. She took them in hand and just stared at them for a moment before slinging them over her head, having failed to turn them on and seeing nothing but pure blackness. She almost declined using them altogether, but decided it was probably impractical to rely on the Essence to enhance her senses the entire time. Better to save her strength in a place like this.

Umm... how do you... I can't see anything, she finally grumbled before a hand from Millie reached up to flip a switch and turn them on. A faint haze erupted in front of her, but she had absolute trash for peripheral vision.

That's not much better, she grumbled quietly to herself so that probably only Ezra's Sephi ears would pick it up.

She started walking forward with the rest of the group, constantly looking down at her feet to make sure she wasn't tripping over something, and her head bobbed up and down between the trail ahead and her feet in some hilarious and out of place way when Ezra looked back at her. Technology did not appear to be her strongest suit.

She didn't like what she heard about all the people who had died, and she pondered what the "other" things could be.

Has anyone seen the "other" things? she asked.

They're bigger, stronger, and faster. Usually not many of them though. Usually one big one and then some scattered smaller ones. Grunt-types, I guess, she said.

Vanya didn't love the sound of that.

Our break for the surface is about a 100 meters up. A bomb caved in a big chunk of the road and made a nice incline up to the surface, she explained.

In the distance, behind them, Ezra would be the first to hear a quiet squelching sound approaching. Its pace seemed slow and deliberate, but its consistency was unmistakably footsteps of a sort.

 

[Ezra Thorne]

Ezra completely forgot that Dathomirians didn’t exactly use technology. He thought that was just prejudiced joking, but Vanya proved they really didn’t dabble in tech. When she muttered it wasn’t much better, Ezra pondered to himself. The old him would have pretended not to hear and kept walking, but he had years between who he was back then and who he was now. He paused and took the time to adjust and fix up the goggles for Vanya, “This button? Turn it to adjust for clarity,” He explained, “The peripherals on this are garbage.”

He could practically feel Millie bristling near them. Clearly she had a hand in engineering some of this. Ezra didn’t care - he was a far superior engineer and he was going to be snooty about poor tech. The mini crash course he gave Vanya would allow her to navigate without being perpetually confused.

He was less than pleased with Millie’s explanation, though an incline up sounded more promising than finding some shaft to squeeze up. Ezra stopped as soon as he heard the noise, holding a hand out and gesturing for the others to stop, “Are we expecting company?” He whispered quietly, pointing a thumb behind them.

Millie shook her head grimly and Tank prepared his blaster. Ezra slowly turned around and froze where he stood. He had never seen anything like it. What slowly moved towards them had no noticeable head, eyes or ears. It was composed of only limbs, fleshy appendages melded together through some unnatural practice. The stumps of its hands began to morph slowly into claws as the thing began to bend, appearing like a headless humanoid doing a downward dog yoga pose.

“What…is..” Ezra said as he slowly began to step back.

And then the thing started scurrying top speed towards them blindingly fast.

@Phoenix

 

[Vanya]

Vanya didn't like not knowing things, and she felt like an idiot for not knowing this one, but she took his crash course to heart quickly and absorbed the information like a sponge.

Thank you, she said sincerely, but almost with a hint of discomfort in her voice. She was still too preoccupied with getting the goggles working - now with much more success - to notice the other woman bristling at Ezra's comments.

Ezra heard the creature before Vanya sensed it, but as soon as he drew her attention, she turned to face whatever was coming. Her hand fell to brush against the lightsaber hanging from her belt, and her head tilted to the side. She exuded a quiet confidence... for a moment.

And then she saw the creature that was coming toward them and for a moment, her brain started trying to put together... what it was. The confidence was no longer so strong.

What!? she couldn't quite help gasping out, and it only got worse as it started scurrying toward them.

Her saber sprung to life in her hands almost of its own accord as she leapt backwards only to have her foot slip on a patch of... something unsavory. Rather than a smooth dodge and counterstrike, it turned more into a slip and near-miss in saving herself from wiping out into the sewage.

As it turned out, it didn't charge at either of the Jedi but instead slammed bodily into Tank, its creepy upper extremity thighs wrapping part way around his chest and starting to crush him in its grasp. Far more muscular than any arms, these thigharms quickly began to squeeze the life out of him like a terrible boa constrictor. It only got worse as the pop of cracking ribs filled the tunnel even over the sounds of the scuffle, sharpened bone fragments pierced through both of the man's lungs which began to collapse and fill with blood in only seconds, the sick, gurgling gasps of death being choked out of him by thigharms.