Ask Event Stygian Reaches Deepest Dark

[Kaala]

Team Professor
Kaala turned towards the Doctor. "Apologies, sir. And to you, ma'am, as well," she said with a small nod towards the Tiefling. (@Logan ) "Just part of my job." With that, she quietly moved to the back of the room, drawing her blaster carbine and holding it in the standard ready position: Parallel with the Togruta's chest, barrel pointed down at a slight angle. Peaceful meeting this may be, being prepared was never a bad thing. A thought that was not unwarranted as the ship suddenly dropped out of hyperspace, and the sudden words of the crewmember making her shudder. Instantly she disengaged the saftey as the Maw appeared, as if her weapon alone could stop the looming threat. Then they were jumping again, appearing in front of a ring-shaped station. A cascade of sparks struck her armor, but she ignored them.
@Nefieslab

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Team Doctor

‘Yes. It’s good to hear from you again.’ Caerllion said telepathically to Trodai, feeling nostalgic in having his ex-apprentice here. With so many Jedi around, it was good to know that there was a Sith that he could trust during a fight. ‘We can talk more later, the explanation seems interesting.’

Indeed, the professor’s explanation was very interesting. Caerllion was now interested in learning more about the rituals that the man had studied and wondered from which planets they came from, deciding to ask more details later. The only bad part was that he would need to look more at the fashion assassin that was the doctor. The blue-skinned man was dressed like a tacky table decoration.

Even before the doctor had mentioned it, Caerllion had already felt the cold spreading through the ship, but it went beyond that. He could feel the Dark Side flowing freely around them all. He could feel as if it was a scream of pure hatred, shouting for them to leave. However, the Annfyn also felt something more. A message hidden behind so much rage.

It was a calling.

Something or someone was using the Dark side to call them, offering promises of power. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to hear it better. The message that he received back shocked him.

Before he could process it, the Wildcard started to shake. This wasn’t a good signal, even less the fact that the droid was asking the Force users to maintain the integrity of the bridge because the captain was going to jump again. What type of captain does it in such conditions? Does he have a bird brain?

Oh, wait…

He immediately used the Force around the bridge and hoped that the other Sith and the Jedi would do the same. The subsequent hyperspace jump was probably the most torturous that he ever experienced. There wasn’t any light outside, only darkness. Suddenly, it ended and they were back in normal space. Or at least more normal than the complete darkness from earlier.

Floating in the space in front of them was some type of structure. It was ominous like the message that he still could hear through the Force. There are Dark siders out there. Dark siders that used the darkness for war, and that continue doing it. However, they didn’t seem to be inside the station. It was really strange and the Annfyn was curious to understand how it could be possible.

At the moment, he would need to control his curiosity. They were going to land in the decrepit station for repairs. What a joy, being stranded in a death trap was his favorite hobby for evenings.

@Nefieslab @René @Volene @Akheron @Sreeya @Apollyon

 

[Rina Oziaf]

From where she stood, Rina could see the readout of one of the astrogation consoles. It wasn't her area of expertise, really, but the little Tintinna had spent a few weekends learning to fly a starship, back when she had extra money to spend on such things. Specifically, though, she was remembering her astrogation lessons; she had been required to learn the most commonly used hyperspace guidance signal types, but what was scrolling across the screen now was... strange. The code itself didn't resemble modern astrogation data; rather, it looked more like a segment of code her instructor had shown her for fun one time. Nobody used the code anymore, and anyway, who was it the instructor said had-

"Eep!"

Rina stumbled, the entire ship shuddering under her feet. Grabbing the side of a nearby console for balance, she was unable to help being thrown off her feet as a more powerful tremor caused the ship to buck. Sparks sprayed her from the console, but she barely noticed them as her attention was drawn to the view out of the wide observation window almost directly in front of her.

The Maw loomed.

Rina knew about the Maw; many people did, of course. It was the single most powerful known gravitational singularity in the Akkadese Maelstrom, a force of nature like no other in known space. The debris of a million sundered worlds spun in its accretion disc, its center a void blacker than the deepest open space, a hungry, well, maw that could swallow the Galaxy itself given enough time...

A cold, oily sensation rolled over Rina as she stared, transfixed, at the Maw. It was hungry, Rina knew, it was always hungry. It was the enemy of light, of life; it hated her, the Tintinna was sure. She could feel it rolling over her, she thought; a cold, ravenous hatred that pinned her in place...

Rina yelped again, this time in pain as she was jolted back against the unyielding metal console. The visage of the Maw had vanished, replaced by utter darkness. The little Tintinna felt true terror as she was pressed backward by acceleration, the absence of all light leaving her utterly blind. She heard a scream from somewhere, and only belatedly realized it was her own...

And suddenly, there was light again.

Rina groaned as she rose to her feet, battered by her ordeal but somehow not badly hurt. As she saw what was outside, however, she felt herself drawn magnetically forward, stumbling toward the huge viewport to press her hands against the transparisteel, looking out at the strange thing that curved away beyond.

"What...?"

As others on the bridge began to recover, the buzz of conversation resumed, albeit subdued. Seeming to come out of a trance, Rina looked around, and saw the console she had been knocked into. She also saw the crumpled form lying in front of it, and her eyes widened, scurrying back to it. She was saddened to find that the person who had been manning the station was beyond help; ears drooping, she had begun to look for others to assist, but abruptly, the console caught her eye.

Rina was not a professional astrogator, but she knew how to operate the equipment, and this console still worked. Climbing up into the vacant chair, she stood on it to reach the controls, checking the available readouts. When she saw what was displayed, she blinked, then turned toward the center of the bridge.

"Er... C-Captain!"

Rina looked back at the console, then out of the viewport at the strange structure which loomed outside.

"Captain, we're still receiving that guide-beam! It's a lot weaker, but I think the source is... w-well..."

She swallowed her hesitation, and point out at the pulsing red light.

"I think it's coming from there!"

@Nefieslab

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Team Doctor

Trodai listened intently and with some interest as the Chiss doctor explained his particular field of study. Rituals to bring storms through sacrifice of lungs and crop growth through causing the victim's circulatory system to become co-opted by the local flora sounded like it could be pretty useful to know, especially in regards to one particular upcoming project soon. Perhaps after this if they survived he would call on the doctor.

He continued to listen as his question was answered more of less.

"I find it's better to be prepared even when you think you won't need it. I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it when needed. Interesting fields of study, we make it out of this I might have to look you up doctor. As to the Maw, if it is getting more aggressive...it sounds like it is building up to something. Something big. Which does not bode well for any of us."

Just as he stopped speaking and the doctor mentioned about feeling colder, Trodai had to agree. Something felt very off.

Within the Force as he stretched out his senses to indeed test for a connection, he felt it. Detecting the Dark Side roaring in rage for some reason. And yet more. This was a different kind but rage than he knew all too well. Something was crawling at their spirits, like a beacon, something was calling.

Like a battle drum calling out.

This peaked his interest more up until the ship suddenly began jostling and bouncing about as it was unceremoniously dragged through the Maw itself and perhaps another dimension entirely. They would soon find out. Trodai attempted to stay as steady as he could, using the Force to strenuously attempt to keep where he was from falling apart and upon the group he was with. Immediately following Caerllion and using the Force around the bridge in some attempt to stabilise and secure it against the journey they had been forced upon.

Yet throughout and even upon arrival at this new, strange destination he continued to feel that same feeling of rage in the Force. That call in the Dark Side that was seductive and offering a temptation of power. But at what price? he wondered. Probably too steep as had been the case many times before. Yet it was clear something had been the cause to bring them to this ring like space station that now was in front of them and the red sun.

They had been taken for a reason.

They just needed to find out for what purpose and why, at least if they hoped to return. He didn't think whatever brought them wanted them to leave just yet. He wondered about a possible theory based upon some research he had done before coming. Despite it he did welcome the opportunity to explore inside the Maw. Few ever had the experience they just did.

He turned to the group and the doctor "Everyone still alive? That was...unexpected. And troublesome in some respects. Something brought us here, we need to find out why and for what purpose it as want to get out. But the Dark Side of the Force spoke of a beacon of rage, a call. I wonder did any of you also feel it?"

He looked to his apprentice Kyssiria.

"If we are to go aboard best we be cautious. Something is very off about all this. Now you can see why I brought the weapons. I suggest a probe first, see if it's structurally sound and can still support life." He said attempting to lighten the mood a little despite current circumstances.

@Apollyon @René @LouJoVi @Sreeya @Nefieslab

 

[Alhazred]

The professor's answer both pleased and dissapointed the Nu-Vaal. On his back, the little tumor-esque thing wriggled, sensing its host's disappointment. Alhazred mentally shook his head at it, conjuring up an image of an empty void before projecting it to his newborn child. No, no, there would be little chance of seeing a deity today. The thing conjured up its own image of a bunch of clouds separating, with giant eyes hidden behind them.

"Perhaps, though I doubt it" Alhazred said unconsciously said outloud. To everyone around him, it looked like he was talking to himself. Perhaps those with advanced knowledge on Nu-Vaal biology would recognize the tumor thing in the DX Incubator on Alhazred's back was in fact his spawn, but it was doubtful.

The trip was exhilarating to say the least. Alhazred felt his stomach tighten, his tendrils darken, and his heart drop to his feet. Alhazred's brain began to race. What was happening? What kind of chaos was this that threatened such madness? Was he about to die here? By the void, he had brought his young! What foolishness this was....

Then it was over. They were all staring at the ring world, in shock.

Alhazred wasn't focused on the pinging light.

He was focused on the Force.

"I can't feel it" Alhazred whispered. "The Light....there is no light here...by the void, there is no light here, only dark....oh Dead God below, what is happening?"

Alhazred's mind began to race into a panic, barely restrained by experience. Had there been the screeching noise of a starweird, Alhazred would've snapped completely He reached out to clutch something to balance himself. His hand landed on the arm of Kaeden ( @StephDLegend ).

"My apologizes miss, this is a lot to take in" Alhazred said after hearing how the professor and the doctor would be taking teams onto the ring. "It's just...this is wrong...unnatural. I cannot sense the light side. We must be careful. I suggest we keep the padawans close by until we know more"

@Nefieslab

 

[Nye]

Team Professor — Nye waved and nodded at Thelia (@GABA) with a slight smile. It has been a long time, very long time in fact. Nye never would have expected to see her here. He was surprised. But then again, this sort of thing in the Maw would be something that would perhaps interest her mother. So probably he shouldn't be surprised.

In all, it's nice that going into this, there is a familar face, that will put him somewhat more at ease going into this.

---

Suddenly everything went hayfire, happening in sequence with getting a shiver, and strangely other people felt it too. By the end of it, people are dead, the ship is damaged and dead in the water, emergency lights are on. They then beheld a large sp e-borne mega-structure of unknown origin. "It reminds me of the shipyards around Kuat" he said. Nye would take out his EZPhone, and then take a picture of the ring structure with the black hole looming in the background

Nye went to see what he could do, he would walk over to one of the intact console, stepping over a couple of the dead crew members in the process.

He would type in some things on the terminal and then, Nye would get a nasty surprise of a sparks and a spurt of flames in his face. "Shit" Nye would be staggered as his eyes and face caught it. It was really painful and Nye should have known better.

Eventually, he would then ask the Professor (@Nefieslab) "What all do we have to work with? Do we have vac-sealed suits on board? And working shuttles on board to get us safely into the station?" he said, still gritting his teeth from the electrical spark burns on his face.

 

[Alienor Pom Blodau]

Team Professor

The presence of her friend, Kaedan, was welcome as Linny frantically scribbled down every word that came out of the Professor's mouth. Oh, the things she was already learning! Her stylus moved over the datapad quickly, before she felt the tendrils of something cold and wrong inching around her.

"What in the-" she began to say, her face screwing up in distaste before the ship lurched. Linny gasped as she stumbled, boots squeaking on the floor as her pad slipped from her hand. It smashed against a sparking console as Linny twisted, trying to stop herself keeling over.

She tried to brace herself and help, even as ice-cold terror pulsed through her body. Amongst the other Force sensitives, she projected out to try and hold everything together, adding her smaller power to their own. As they jumped again and all light disappeared, she could feel the scream hold in her throat, too frightened to even let it out...

And then they were there. Linny pitched forwards slightly, clutching her chest as she breathed heavily. Now, at least, they were safe. If you counted safe as being somewhere completely unknown, possibly in the middle or just beyond the Maw. Her ears twitched as she stared out at the station.

Hearing the orders come out, Linny stepped closer to the Jedi she recognised. Towards Kaedan, the other padawans and the Nu-Vaal knight she was unfamiliar with. She looked back fretfully at her broken datapad, shattered into several plastic parts on the floor. Hearing the Nu-Vaal knight panic had set her on edge too, though she avoided an outburst. It was just written on her face as she chewed her lip with worry.

"There has to be something there," Linny whispered, with only Kaedan close enough to hear it. Beneath the twitching ears and fright-filled eyes, the fear mixed with something:- curiosity.

@Nefieslab @StephDLegend @Narzen

 

[Theia Durand]

Team Professor/Hanamites

Theia turned her attention to the questions being asked of the professor, they weren't off to a great start, all he knew from the data he had was there was something out there that was causing the Force to bounce between the extremes. It was worrisome that the Maw was measuring bigger in size and it was hard for the padawan to not show how she felt with a grimace that crossed her face. Though her grimace would morph into a feeling of unease, the Dark side was unmistakable as the pulse would come from something greater and not just the small group that went off with the doctor. It made her knees buckle, her stomach churned as chaos would soon erupt.

The red headed padawan, like many others, were unable to brace in time as the ship suddenly exited hyperspace. The light burned brightly from inside her, senses becoming more acute as she shielded her face with her arm, feeling the prickling sensation of electrical sparks fly from the exploding consoles. Death trickled through the ship, there were causualities as she quickly looked around, time seemed to slow as she looked to the viewports, realizing where they were, "This is bad..."

Someone called out about a second jump and she quickly as she could went to try to aid the technicians and engineers at the navigational computers, but then they jumped. Theia never heard such haunting sounds of the ship as it was willingly pulled and pushed through the heart of the Maw. She could feel the fear from the engineer she was aiding, her had grasped Theia's arm and the padawan did her best to help her, placing a palm over her hand, soothing her with the flicker of hope that they would make it through.

For what seemed like an entirety though would quickly end, light would return, but not from the ship itself as it went to its emergency reserves, but from the red star. There was a silence except for the crackling of electrical sparks, and the soft pinging from one of the consoles. Theia, however, was drawn to the red of the star that laid out in space, and with it, a ringed station. She heard the orders for an expedition, Nye was asking about equipment and passage to the station. She grabbed some bacta packs and bandages from the medical box being used by the crew to aid the injured. Handing a few to others who were waiting to be treated, Theia gave one to Nye (@The Good Doctor) as they prepared for what they needed to do for the expedition.

"Are any of the sensors picking up biological signals from the station?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Team Doctor
While the rituals Doctor Lile described were certainly interesting, Kyssiara was left disappointed and without any real details to write down. Then again, she reminded herself, she probably should've tempered her expectations. The contingent of Sith here had come to learn about the Maw after all, not this Chiss' doctoral thesis. It would probably be a fascinating read though.

"Does it feel... colder, to you?"

Kyssiara felt the shift too, even before Lile managed to say anything. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, a shiver ran down her body, an intense rage assaulted her psyche; the Pureblood knew the touch of the Dark Side well, yet this was the most intense she'd ever experienced it. The amount of energy behind it was almost sickening, yet oddly inciting at the same time. It was as if the ship they were on could feel it's call too; in fact, maybe it did. The entire ship creaked and groaned as it was ripped out of hyperspace, causing the acolyte to shield herself from a shower of sparks exploding from a nearby console. Despite this, and like a moth drawn to open flame, the ship began to lurch back into hyperspace... towards the Maw??

Everything went dark; not just black, but completely empty and devoid of any light at all. Kyssiara would've been lying if she said a little hint of fear didn't creep into her mind, but it was drawing on that fear and a desperate need to survive that helped the girl draw upon the Force to do her part in keeping the ship together. She could feel the ship straining against the group's collective hold, but after what seemed like ages it finally stopped once again. Dull red light flooded Kyssiara's vision as she let her arms down in exhaustion with the ship appearing to have stopped trying to rip itself apart for the time being.

Of course, in times of crisis, there was always the way-to-familiar sound of a certain chatty Pureblood's voice filling the silence stating the obvious. "I'd be surprised if anyone didn't feel that, master." the acolyte responded, before muttering, "Lucky us, your insights are as perceptive as ever." in a heavily sarcastic tone under her breath. Obviously something had brought them here, ships didn't just jump into black holes on their own. Though if she was being perfectly honest the Pureblood, wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to find out what the something was.

"Are ya sure we can't just send one of those Jedi first to see if we can survive in there?" Kyssiara asked in response to Trodai's second assessment. "After all, they're holy altruists or somethin' right? Better they test the waters before we waste our own lives."

@Nefieslab @LouJoVi @Akheron @Apollyon @Volene @Sreeya

 

[Cipher Four]

Team Professor

---

___Four's ears flicked when Doctor Lile asked if it felt colder, her acute hearing capable of picking up his voice despite being further away. The woman looked down at her arms, turning a palm upward towards her face. As she gazed at her palm, an expression of mild discomfort flashed across her features as a chill shot down the length of her spine and through her tail. Her mouth opened to comment, but the sudden shuddering and lurching of the ship cut off anything she might have said.

___The Fiani reached down to grab a nearby railing as the ship tugged and churned. Four ducked as sparks spewed from the bridge's monitors and consoles and lowered herself into the most suitable cover she could find. The lights went out, leaving the room in inky blackness and unsettling nothingness. Her eyes darted to and fro, looking out of the viewports and across the people she could still see.

___Then, she saw it. The yawning, abyssal Maw stared them dead in the eyes. She scarcely had time to process what she was looking at before the protocol droid announced another jump, and Four reaffirmed her grip on the railing that was still intact to brace herself for the second jump—and, potentially, her death. She squeezed her eyes shut, and in moments, it was over. The lights buzzed as they turned back on, and although the bridge was in shambles, most people were still standing.

___Rising to her feet, Four dusted small debris from her clothing and looked outside. Where were they? She squinted as she appraised their location, but nothing looked familiar. Being a Cipher, she was well acquainted with star charts and galactic maps. Knowing where you were and where you were going was essential, but somehow, she recognised nothing.

___"Wait," Four said, lifting a hand to point at one of the nearby stars. "That star, right there. That's one of the further stars visible from the Outer Rim," she murmured. Her hand lowered, and her mouth was agape. "It looks different, though," the woman added. Her brow creased. "Like we're... looking at it from the other side."

@Nefieslab

 

[Rowan Allaird]

Team Doctor

Any sense of relief that Rowan felt from the Doctor reassuring them that there would be no combat was immediately wiped away. The ship lurched and sent him toppling over unceremoniously. Another jump?! Rowan scrambled back to his feet, looking over to overhear the sketchy looking guy (@Akheron ) mumbling about the Dark Side. He felt that chill down his spine, of course, but what the hell was this guy talking about?

“What do you mean a ‘Beacon of Rage’?” He asked bluntly, “The ship just malfunctioned and..” Rowan glanced around before announcing to the wider group, “Based on known galactic references, we are actually nowhere near the Maw,” After all, his studies in the field was bound to come in handy at some point.

Rowan next looked at the doctor (@Nefieslab ), “Where the hell are we?”

It was bad enough that everyone here came prepared for battle, but now the destination of the mission changed as well? He wanted to find a way off the ship, but there was nowhere to go now.

 

[Iymril]

The Doctor​

Iym was interested in learning more about the details of the rituals the Doctor described. Unfortunately, they were unable to ask the Chiss for more information. That would be thanks to an armored and ghoulish Pureblood that just blabbered in circles. Iymril normally didn’t have to worry about emotions spilling into their features but for the briefest of moments, they had to actively suppress a scowl from bleeding onto their lips.

However before they were able to do anything about the annoyance, they felt a shift in the Dark Side. Before they were able to delve too deeply into it, the space before the ship shifted. An unexpected Hyperspace jump towards the Maw. A lethal jump judging from what Iymril felt through the Dark Side.

When the Captain announced another volatile leap into hyperspace, Iym felt their blood run cold for a moment. They didn’t need to be asked to aid with maintaining the hull, they made a quick pair of gestures and threw their hands out at an upward angle. They channeled the might of the Dark Side through them. With the aid of other Sith and perhaps the pathetic Jedi, they’d keep the ship from collapsing in on them.

Once the vessel came out of hyperspace and settled back in, Iymril would relinquish their hold on the Force. They would brush the front of their shirt and pull their hair back into a single messy tail. It was clear from the chaos and sudden surge of voices, they’d have some work to do.

“No Acolyte.” They stated bluntly to Kyssiara’s (@René) suggestion. “We are unfortunately reliant on one another now.” They continued. “Any conflicts we might have must be put aside to survive.” They explained. “Splitting apart feels ill-advised but to echo the…human?” Iym asked as they looked to the white haired man (@Sreeya) “Where are we? I’m unwilling to blindly board that…thing and invite my doom.” (@Nefieslab)

 

[Kaedan]

Team Professor
The ship groaning didn't bother Kaedan one bit. His ship had its own grumblings and so much of that that this sound didn't even register in his mind. It didn't matter one bit.

The day was continuing and the professor began speaking. Kaedan's eyebrows rose in shock as the professor spoke of having no idea what was going on. Wasn't he supposed to at least have an idea on what was happening? Even if it was just a working theory or hypothesis, Kaedan would be more comfortable with that being mentioned. Turned out that the professor was quite excited for this unknown.

Kaedan felt the force. The dark side was quite strong yet there was an undercurrent of the light side. He didn't know why but a sense of calm came over him like a reassurance from a friend. Even though it was there he couldn't discern what the force was telling him or why he felt it.

When the Wildcard was forced out of hyperspace, Kaedan, just like many others, nearly fell. BOOM! The explosion cause his eye. He looked over at the bridge to realize that members of the crew were dead. There would be a time to mourn them later. Right now, he needed to be vigilant in order to provide any assistance that may be needed. As he looked out into space he saw the black hole. Then came the warning of the second jump.

Kaedan braced for the 2nd jump as they were headed right into the black hole. He felt the fear around him as the light vanished. If there was ever a time to trust in the force, it was then. The fear inside him wasn't going to stop him from being brave. There were padawans on board that would be looking to the knights for comfort. That alone meant that he couldn't let his fears be projected outward.

The light returned and it was intense. He squinted to allow his eyes to adjust to the new light. There was a space station the shape of a ring around the Wildcard. It had power from what he could see. Did that mean that it may have people on board who were trapped or worse? With the Wildcard being a sitting duck, it was wise for the captain to think that the energy from the space station would be usable to power the ship. The problem was that there were many unknown factors.

He felt his fellow knight's hand on his shoulder (@Narzen) who was keeping himself balanced. After the Nu'vaal steadied himself and made suggestions, he heard the whispers of his friend, Linny. (@Charndley) "Yes, I believe there is something out there." He whispered back. If the two groups were going to be exploring the ring then some safety needed to be advised. "If we are going to be a team exploring the ring then I would advise that padawans and non-force sensitives stick with Knights. Those who are confident in defending themselves and others should be ready to be in front of others who aren't." His voice projected out to the professor and the Hanamite group. He then turned back to Linny. "Stick close to me?"
@Nefieslab

 

[Azathoth]

Team Professor

The prodding from the Togruta elicited little more than a grimace of annoyance from Aza as a venomous retort started stinging her lips. Before she could get it out, though, the professor came to her defense and that came as such as a surprise to her that she was able to swallow her reply and nod thankfully at the Chadra-Fan.

Azathoth also made a mental note that if the opportunity presented itself, she would make sure that the nosy montrail-head wouldn’t make it back from this trip in enough pieces to be accurately identified.

Before she could thank the Professor properly, Aza felt the ship balk and lurch violently and it just by luck she was able to grab ahold of a nearby metal pole for balance. She watched as a few of the consoles exploded and sent their shrapnel payloads into the ship’s crew, and for a moment her mask slipped and she smiled at the carnage. Things were already getting interesting.

Aza offered her aid to her fellow force users in attempting to keep the ship from exploding outright, feeling no fear as all of the lights went out and they were plunged into inky blackness. When light returned, it took her a moment to acclimate, and when she did her attention was drawn fully to the strange metal structure that loomed in the distance.

As everyone around her started squawking about this and that, both literally and figuratively, Aza couldn’t help but find the talk of protecting the padawans a little bit.. Sad, really. If they were so weak as to need constant vigilant protection, they really didn’t belong here in the first place, did they?

But that was the opinion of a Sith and for now, Azathoth was pretending to be something else. Someone else, someone who cared about her fellow passengers. And so she would be, for a time.

I can keep an eye on the padawans. I may be able to use the force, but I expect you more learned Jedi would be better off in the front than I would., A lie, obviously, but so it goes.

Professor, once we dock, what is the plan? She asked, turning to look at the Chadra-Fan.

 

[Merian Sere]

Team Doctor

Though Merian was no scholar, she felt the dark side as much as the others, viscerally, like concentrated in this nearing void with the mass of a thousand stars. The Doctor’s rambling about grotesque rituals made short work of whatever respect she may have held for the man. If he had no more knowledge of the Maw than them, why was he here? Everything about this outing made the knight-captain uneasy. Realizing she was alone in treating the dark side like a tool, rather than a calling, she felt awfully isolated. Vulnerable, despite her strength. Surrounded by Sith. All the same.

Her hand found the button in her tunic’s pocket. If feeling uneasy was enough to abandon her missions, she wouldn’t have lasted nearly this long. A part of her still remembered Anzat.

In retrospect, the lurching back into real space was far from the first sign something was off.

As the crew died around them, Merian added her power to those struggling to keep the ship together. If that second jump was to kill them all, at least she’d die doing something useful to keep her mind occupied. Only they didn’t die.

Their surroundings had changed. In different circumstances, or if she only took a few minutes to rest, Merian might have been in awe of what was unraveling before them. Had Kellan ever seen anything like it? Was that why he liked space so much?

But instead she channeled stress into action. There was no time for bewilderment. Her eyes found Four in the chaos, confirming the agent was still alive. Then she moved to the casualties by their broken consoles, hoping to find some of them still alive.

“If we don’t dock, none of us are going anywhere,” she remarked to the hesitant ones.

@Nefieslab (@Remileah @Tic mentioned)

 

[The Gatekeeper]

All​

As the crew and their guests fell about themselves in their panic, understandable as it was, the Captain took the moment to stare out of the viewport. The view was captivating in the extreme and it did a lot to ease his worries. His feathered gradually unruffled as he settled into his typical demeanour - these were entirely unprecedented times but he was the Captain of his own destiny and he refused to start to collapse. Instead, he started issuing orders to different areas of the ship.

Not quite battle stations but not far off.

Turning the chair from the viewport, the Captain eyed Rina with his beady little bird eyes. Chirping up, the protocol droid answered and translated quickly.

"That guidance beam took us here through the most hostile route imaginable... I'm thinking it might be the only way back that doesn't involve us being crushed into atoms."

He turned and addressed his other crew members.

"Scan techs! What's the report on the viability and stability of the station?"

Said scanner technician shivered slightly as she read through the readouts on her console before responding quickly.

"S-sir! Hull integrity seems to be solid. Readings are saying that the power is in flux... there may be issues with the power generation and supply. The hull is too thick for us to detect any life signs at this range, however."

As the Captain was gathering information, the Professor answered some of the questions that had come his way - he was shaken up but seemed to be intrigued.

"We have a contingent of Lambda shuttles - we can make our way over in space suits as well for added safety." he chittered away to himself, "Who knows what kind of viruses that might be here... life must exist here but in what form?"

To the other side, The Doctor whipped his head around as he looked around him, trying to take in every view available through the transparisteel viewports. His glasses had been knocked askew and he didn't immediately correct them, looking more distressed with every question directed his way.

"This... this is beyond what science I have ever studied. By all accounts, this is literally not possible!" he declared, throwing his hands up in the air slightly before finally adjusting his glasses, "But if we ignore the impossible... we will be wrong, eventually. Everything can be true, with science, in time and we? We have just proved that we can use hyperspace travel to escape the boundaries of our Galaxy. We are OUTSIDE of the norm."

With the preparation kind of done at this stage, the Captain turned back to the group as a whole. He eyed them before bowing his head to them quickly. There was a sense of gravity as the avian puffed his chest out to address them all.

"I am sorry. I am sorry that I have to ask this of you on this voyage... I am sorry that we are in this situation but the only route out is via the guiding frequency that is coming from that tower. And it needs consistent powering... there are two areas that our scans show this power coming from. Professor, Doctor - take a team to each, sort out the power issues and meet up together at the beacon. May the warm winds guide you."

Team Professor

@The Good Doctor @Charndley @Interdictor @StephDLegend @Narzen @Logan @Laskt @GABA @Remileah​

Professor Hanami took to guiding his group towards one of the shuttle bays - the journey allowing him to take a few moments to just breathe. He wasn't happy to be leading any kind of expedition like this but he needed to make it work. They needed to get home and, in the meantime, there was a chance that they could examine something truly out of history and out of time.

Some of the markings and the make of some of the parts he could see looked to be of ancient designs - or at least related to them - but they seemed to have been newly made.

"O-okay team this is... not what I was expecting but instead of studying history, it looks like we're making it!" he chittered nervously as he boarded the waiting Lambda shuttle, "The Captain is sending us to the 'east' section of ring - one of the power supplies is nearby. This one actually!"

Pulling up a picture taken of the exterior of the ring station, the Professor highlighted an area that appeared to have active shielding, not too dissimilar to the shielding that covered hanger bays on ships and stations across the Galaxy. One thing that was immediately obvious, however, was that the hanger bay seemed to be surrounded by bright, colourful, neon signs and arrows - as though they were advertising something within the hanger.

Something that they couldn't know because none of the languages shown in neon seemed to be anything like any of the known languages in their home Galaxy.

With a gesture of his claw, the Professor pointed out and literally highlighted a couple of features. They were blurry on the datapad but they were an ominous shape - they appeared to be shipping containers, left floating in space around the entrance to the hanger. Worse, there were bulb-like protrusions along the surface of these containers.

"These look like either alarm sensors... or turrets." he chittered nervously, "So... does anyone want to fly this thing? We need to get into the hanger bay without being blown up and, well, my legs are too short to reach the controls."

Team Doctor

@René @Volene @Sreeya @Apollyon @Akheron @LouJoVi @AutoFox​

Over with Doctor Lile, the Chiss was contemplating drinking again, even as he made sure to grab the little mouse technician woman to bring along with his team - she seemed like she'd know what she was doing with technology. And his degrees were in physics and literal cults so he wasn't going to pass up bringing someone along who likely knew more than he did about the kind of work they'd need to do over there.

Guiding his team to their own Lambda class shuttle, the Doctor took the time to start pulling on a vacuum-rated environment suit (from a rack full of them) over his robes.

"Someone needs to pilot the ship - I'll do it if I have to but my landings need work." he told them even as he began pulling on the helmet to fully secure the suit atop of himself, "Alright. So."

Moving over to a weapons locker built into the side of the passenger area of the shuttle, Doctor Lile opened it up before withdrawing a pair of basic blaster pistols, the kind that were found across the Galaxy. Strapping one to the belt of his environment suit, he handed the other to Rowan; the one person in the group who looked more uneasy about the prospect of violence than the Doctor himself.

"I think we can all agree here... that restraint has its place but it is not here, past the edge of known space. If we find something or someone there... we need to shoot to kill if they don't immediately prove their not hostile. Are we in agreement? If so... its time to get this show on the road."

Note: Every player needs to roll a d20 - preferably in Discord. The team's total will be used for DMing purposes

 

[Theia Durand]

It was at first that Theia was going let Knight Alhazred's comment slide about keeping the padawans close. It made her feel as though she couldn't be trusted to know what was right and wrong, that she couldn't trust her instinct, let alone the Force. He looked as though he were panicking and Theia felt...embarrassed? She made sure Nye (@The Good Doctor) got the bacta pack on, trying to distract herself before Kaedan seemed to agree with Alhazred and told the other padawan to stick close to them as if she were like a child. It was one thing about the Order she didn't like, it wasn't altruism or for service, its the need to assume that no one else around them could put up a fight or knew what they were doing. It was hard for Theia to believe that anyone present on this expedition knew nothing about why they had joined.

There was an air of annoyance from the redhead as she turned to look at the group following with The Doctor. Her brow furrowed in her thoughts as she paid no further attention to what the Hanamites were saying. She heard the translation from the droid as the feathery captain apologized for this misfortune and their new object to address the power problem. If this was going to be as chaotic as it seemed to be going, she might as well hang with the group that seemed to not be panicking and significantly more hotter collectively.

Hotter as in, like that guy with the white hair looked dreamy (@Apollyon ) and the one with the pointed ears (@LouJoVi) and the Arkanian (@Sreeya) looked similar to an off-brand of Ezzie and his boyfriend. However, strangely also hot... in a way... And even the Chiss Doctor had that nerdy cute to him that would make a great holo-sitcom

team professor

TEAM DOCTOR​

Theia split from the group and with her vac-environment suit, quickly slipped it on, double checking for any defects as the Chiss Doctor searched for his volunteer to pilot the shuttle. "I can pilot for you." she said adjusting the straps around her gloves, feeling confident in her decision before they headed out. Lambda-class shuttles were as basic as they came but efficient in their purpose, as long as it wasn't modded out by someone who was a bit too ambitious in their basic shuttles.(@Nefieslab)

Team Dice Roll= 3/20
Piloting Dice Roll = 15/20

 

[Rina Oziaf]

TEAM DOCTOR

Before Rina really knew what was going on, the little Tintinna had fallen in with the group headed by Doctor Lile, the tall Chiss not really giving her a chance to refuse. There was some talk about who would fly the shuttle; Rina had been about to speak up when a vac-suit had been tossed to her, and again before a human redhead spoke up, volunteering her services. Rina, for her part, was slightly relieved; she could fly, she had the qualifications, but a mysterious ring station in unknown space was not exactly anything she had been trained for.

She pulled on her vac suit, which for a wonder seemed to be her size; as she secured it, she eyed the pistol the Doctor handed to another member of the party warily. Exactly what could the group expect to find over there?

"But... what are the odds of finding anyone, really?" Rina remarked. "That station might have power, but it looks... well, ancient. And aside from that guide-beam, I don't think anyone over there has tried to talk to us, which is the first thing I'd do!"

Trini felt a little foolish at the outburst, but it reassured her. Chances were, there would be nothing at all on the station, and this would all be boring, if admittedly weird.

@Nefieslab Rolled 1d20, result 4.

 

[Nye]

Team Professor — Nye rolled his eyes at the Jedi group. 'Padawans keep close.' 'Non-Force Sensitives stick with Knights' he heard. The clone didn't care for simple-minded sectarian zealots in general. Nye was pretty secure and comfortable in his own abilities. Although maybe the Jedi will be useful, perhaps even doing all the simple easy but menial work. He could imagine that the Jedi would be good for carving things up or moving objects out of the way that Force of theirs. Not much else.

---

"Thank you" he said smiling to Theia after she helped him with his wound, which is fast feeling better, after he applied it. Theia seemed very annoyed herself. Not at him he saw, but something else. And he had an idea of what it was about, and it was understandable. And looks like she went to the Doctor's team. It's a shame, since having met her, he knows that she is very talented prodigy as well, that is someone that Nye respects.

---

"We are outside the galaxy?" he echoed. But that can't be? They were just in the Maw but... He would check his EZPhone and.. no signal on it. Nothing. He can't report this to Father. And there is no apparent way back and the only way is on that space station. Maybe figure out where exactly they are. Not much else can be done. Now he would get his vac-suit on, he would have his helmet on him. And he would board the shuttle once preparations are made.

Flying isn't something Nye specializes at, he is used to having a Smart Ship AI do it for him. He will let someone else with that though. He will see how he can help out if needed though.

Roll: Nat 20 :)

 

[Kaala]

Kaala brushed imaginary dust off her shoulder and followed the Professor to the shuttle, not bothering to stay with a Jedi Knight. She watched with interest as the short rodent nervously explained the hangar situation, wondering what the was reason behind a bunch of crates floating in a hangar. As they entered the ship, the Togruta pulled a life-support box off of a vac suit and strapped it onto her chestplate. "I'll fly," She offered quietly when the professor requested a pilot. She might not trust these people any farther than she could throw them, but flying was something she could do. On her shoulder, Vaze chittered to himself. Kaala approached the pilot's seat, scanning the controls. Yeah, she could fly this. Humming quietly, she slid into the pilot's seat and started flicking switches and pressing buttons. Primary…life support…engines…repulsors…shields…and weapons. As the shuttle slowly came online, Kaala removed her helmet and placed it on the copilot seat, then waited for everyone to get in their seats.
Team Professor
@Nefieslab
Roll: 17