Ask Devaron - All Signs Point to Quesh

[Covax]

He was starting to like Aska. She was more than a little rough around the edges but she had a fire about her that he'd not seen in awhile. Plus they both seemed to enjoy inflicting pain on scummy little worms like Jim. When she drew the blade, the towering merc knew what was coming. A little poking and prodding, both literal and verbal. It was nothing knew to Covax. Force, it was like interrogation 101.

What he didn't expect was Ali screaming for it to stop. Only as the Devaronian started to spill his guts. Covax's attention went from Ali, to Jim, to Aska. His head following. In fact they practically forgot the mando was still around. "You good?" He finally ask Ali as she started to stammer an apology. The Togruta seemingly ignored him, not trusting him or perhaps to deep in her own shaken head to hear him.

The merc then stood to watch the exchange between the two woman. Aska eye fucking her ass, Ali slow to get the clue as to what she wanted. Finally realizing, without any real words spoke, that the the human wanted the Togruta to nut up a little and restrain the thug prisoner. Covax just rolled his eyes, and then hung his head in his hand for a moment. Then unable to resist watching the speeder fire that was this former entertainer or slave or both. The towering merc lifted his head and continue to watch her poorly apply cuffs and then......give the fucker first aid..."What tha..."

With a smooth quick action. Covax moved his hand to his pistol, flicked the action to stun, drew from his hip and shot Jim. Dropping him with a shiver that told everyone he was still alive. Then put the gun pack on his hip holster. "Yeah I can do that." He answered Aska, still looking at Ali. "Don't worry your little cute head. If someone comes I don't mind shooting them. Maybe even more than once. I'll even start you a little fire so you stay nice and woman next to Aska. Oh and as for the little Trogruta's room...well I would use that one." He said softly to Ali, more then a little mocking as he pointed to the thickest bush on the other side of the hill from where the thug now laid.

@Tulos @Bex @Nor'baal

 

[Aska Ryun]

As Ali restrained Jimmehk with the stun cuffs, Aska watched with a delighted smirk. It was a start. Hopefully in time, the Togrutan would make this a pattern. She didn’t even mind that Ali had found the courage to speak up on her concerns with her interrogation methods, though they would never change. The only thing that had stirred a bit of disappointment was that the former slave girl had yet to learn that a well placed knife, knuckle dusters, blaster, whatever, was the only way to get answers. Well, that or paying someone off and no one was going to separate Aska from her money over something so worthless as conversation.

Rolling her eyes as the Togrutan then voiced her concerns of privacy and excretion, slightly diminishing the pride she had earned, Aska simply opted to lie next to the log she had previously been sat upon and prepared to doze off. This life wasn’t always glamorous or cushy and neither was the life of a slave. Maybe all that time at Raxx Manor had turned the girl soft. ”Fucking Klied” she thought to herself as she managed to fall asleep.

----------------

The morning sun of Devaron began to pierce through the branches above, the fire that Covax had built nothing but a smoking pile of ash. Having switched Covax out for guard duty half way through the night, Aska held her knees ahead of herself as she stoked the few embers that remained with her dagger as she puffed on another cigarra. The night was long and uneventful, the clone nearly nodding back off on a couple occasions but ultimately she had managed to stay awake. The others would soon be joining her no doubt. Reaching into her jacket, she removed a handful of dehydrated ration packs and tossed them towards each of her slumbering allies before stoking the fire back to life.

They had survived the night undetected by neither beast nor angry villager and soon could press on. Aska tore open her own ration pack and began to eat away at the dried fruit and meats inside, waiting on the others.

@Bex @Taz @Nor'baal

Spoiler: Nor'baal

If you're still interested and want to continue the thread with us, feel free. I'm fine with you dropping in a post whenever you feel like it but we'd like to keep this moving.

 

[Alisaah Tila]

Having received no answer to her questions from her mistress, Ali was left only with the mocking advice of Covax. He seemed to relish telling her that any intruders to their camp would be shot with impunity. Strangely however, his patronising words about starting a fire and where to go to use the bathroom did prove to be extremely useful, so Ali decided not to hold too much of a grudge against him. If it were not for the fact Covax had made a fire, Ali would have had an awful night of sleep. The flames were the only thing keeping her warm. It got cold at night and Ali was not best dressed for the drop in temperature. She had not counted on them staying outside the ship. Sleeping on the ground however, had not been a problem. The slave had done this for the majority of her life. The main difference was however, she had never had to do so outside and had normally been kept somewhere indoors.

When Ali awoke the next morning, the fire had gone out and Aska was crouched, tending the embers. Ali sat bolt upright. She looked at her mistress and then got to her feet. Nature called, as it always tended to first thing in the morning after a long few hours of sleep. She dashed over to the big bush that Covax had pointed out the night previous and hid behind it, hoping that she hadn't drawn too much attention to herself, but when you gotta go, you gotta go. The sound of the zip on her denim shorts could be heard, and a moment later, a faint trickling noise was audible to anybody in their makeshift camp. It only lasted for a brief moment, before there was some slight rustling of leaves and the same zipping noise before Ali reappeared with a look of mild relief on her face.

There was a stream not too far away from the camp and the Togruta made her way over to it, crouched down to wash her hands and then returned to where Aska was sitting by the fire. "Good morning mistress" she said, greeting the clone, "I hope you slept well. Are the others awake yet?"

@Taz @Tulos @Nor'baal

 

[Covax]

After switched the Aska earlier that morning, Covax made a bed of thick brush and his tac vest as a pillow. He tossed a little. Murmuring the names of Eva and Izzy in his sleep. An hour or so later he was a rock made flesh and would stay that way until Aska hit him in the arm with the ration.

His hand reached for his hand cannon as he peaked open an eye and noticed Aska. Then looked to his arm and noticed the food pack. THEN, noticed Ali diving for the brush he had pointed out the evening before. "Yeah, not a bad idea." He said before grunting as he got to his feet.

As Ali stood and walked toward the little stream not far from the camp, Covax made a stream of his own that sounded like he was pouring out a bottle of beer into the bush. When he was finished he also went over to the stream and washed up. First his hands, then his face. As he was traveling with two "girls" now, he thought best to be a little cleaner.

Getting back to the rations where he left them. He quickly snatched up the bag and tore into it. Starting with the fruit, then the meats...."So...." namm hamm.."What's the plan.." namm heemm. Chewing and talking, almost like a hutt.

@Tulos @Bex

 

[Aska Ryun]

As Ali emerged from the bush after her call of nature and returned to the make-shift camp, Aska would finish eating her own ration pack and proceed to light a cigarra. Devaron seemed tranquil, calm. Nothing like what she had expected from any sort of prior encounter with it’s native sentients. She liked it here.

”Jimmehk is still out cold,” Aska replied with a half smirk as she ashed the cigarra into the small fire, glancing over to the unconscious form that was their captive. ”The Mando seems to have taken off over the night. Could have gone home, could be off doing… whatever it is that Mandalorian’s do. Who knows. Big and burly stepped off to take a piss. Sit and eat, kid. It’s going to be a long hike,”

Once they had all gathered and the other two proceeded to eat at their own rations, Aska outed her cigarra and pushed herself to her feet before delivering one to the Devaronian’s rib cage with a sinister grin, her actions answering Covax’ question.

”Rise and shine, gorgeous. Time for you to deliver on your promise,” she chuckled at the now groaning Jimmehk.

”For crying out loud! You couldn’t have just shook me?!” he complained after gathering his breath but Aska simply spun on her heels and walked away.

”Nope,” she responded but a shriek from above soon dissolved her smug demeanor. Instinct took over and she drew her SE-45 then scanned the skies. Nothing… but she knew better than to let that fool her. Turning back to the group, she prepared to speak but soon her eyes reflected immense fear as the sound of massive fluttering wings could be heard behind Ali, Covax and Jimmehk.

”Oh shit…” was all she was able to say before a massive golden bird would come down mere inches above the heads of the others before wrapping it’s talons around her shoulders and carrying her up into the sky. As it ascended above the treeline Aska squirmed and wrestled for her freedom, even going so far as to vainly fire her blaster in false hopes of striking the bird. As she watched the camp grow further and further away, she called out to her allies.

”SOME FUCKING HELP WOULD BE GREAT, GUYS!”

Jimmehk, however, simply chuckled as he watched her fly away.

”Can’t say I didn’t warn ya,”

@Bex @Taz @Nor'baal​

 

[Yannik Btar]

Yannick had kept back from the group as they headed off, considering his work for the day done. Plus, they looked pretty broke, and - why help someone out when they aren't paying you? He had watched them from afar for a while, morbid curiosity about the group keeping him interested as they continued about their daily business.

This curiosity had led him to try and find the group again in the morning, and so he had headed out early, geared up and ready, to see what the day would bring.

He had walked toward where they had last been heading, and before long, he heard the tell-tale sound of a blaster going off. Trouble. He put his helmet on, and drew his rifle. Heading toward the location of the danger, he fired up his jetpack as he saw the object of the blaster fire - a native bird, lethal if left to get to altitude and dive toward its target.

Yannik would ensure that the bird did not get such a chance.

Firing up toward the bird, he passed close to the downward arch of its neck, out of range of its snapping beak, and careened over its back as it sought to turn to counter him. He wasted no time, dropping down onto the creature's neck, and grabbing onto its feathers with his left hand, dropping his rifle, which slapped against his side, held in place by a strap, as he reached for a grenade.

The creature arched its neck back, screeching, and Yannik took his chance and went to pop the grenade down the beast open maw. Missing, he dropped the grenade and lept from the creature back, jetpack clicking back on, as he swept down to the ground.

Faceplanting into the ground in front of Aska, he sighed, and rolled over.

 

[Alisaah Tila]

OOC - On the understanding that Nor'baal has withdrawn from the thread, this post will be made assuming that Yannik abandoned the party during the night and did not reappear, perform the above action and then leave again.

Ali listened to her mistress' explanation of what was happening in camp and took her advice to grab some food. Her stomach was empty, having not eaten the night before, so she enjoyed nibbling at the food from her ration pack as Aska went to wake Jimmekh. In her usual fashion, the clone decided to be violent where a simple shake would likely have sufficed. Ali winced when she kicked him in the ribs and furrowed her brow, but remained silent, continuing to eat her breakfast. As she ate, there was a shriek from above and she snapped her head upwards to look. The Togruta's green eyes saw nothing. Gazing over at Aska, she saw that her mistress had also looked and similarly spotted nothing.

As she looked at her mistress, another loud noise could be heard. A fluttering, getting closer and closer and before Ali had a chance to turn around and look, the Togruta had watched Aska's eyes widen and face contort with fear before a hulking shadow swooped across them, and a gigantic Taka-tey picked the clone up in it's claws and began to fly away. Ali screamed. Tossing her ration pack aside and instinctively reaching for her ELG-3A blaster pistol, the slave gave chase. "Mr. Covax! Help!" she yelled, following the golden bird into the undergrowth, trying to take a few shots at it. The training given to her by Klied on Onderon was already starting to show, as the Togruta did manage to land a couple of hits, but missed most of the others due to it being a moving target.

It was not very long before the Taka-tey was too far out of range and the environment around her at ground level proved too much of an obstacle to effectively keep chasing. Ali was forced to stop running. Being in very good physical condition, it was not the running that caused her to lean against a tree to keep her balance. It was nerves. Fear. "Mistress no..." she whimpered. Ali could not bare the thought of something happening to Aska. The vision shown to her by the ancient Sith flashed to the forefront of her mind. If Ali was not with her mistress to protect her, she would die alone and be left in a muddy puddle to rot. "NO!" she screamed again, causing birds to scatter from nearby trees, and she looked up to the sky in the direction they had flown, before turning back and running to find Covax and Jimmekh.

When she found them, Ali marched straight up to the towering figure of Shane Covax with a wild look in her eyes. "You must help me get her back" she demanded, "Right now!" This was incredibly unusual behaviour for the meek and mild mannered slave. She was not one to make demands or be angry. But her mistress was in danger - her friend was in danger - and she knew she had to do everything in her limited power to get her back safely. Marching over to Jimmekh, who was still restrained by the stun cuffs, she helped him to his feet. "You will come with us and help too" she said, a serious tone to her voice that was quite unlike how she normally sounded. The Devaronian looked at her puzzled and then sighed. It seemed like he was never going to get out of here.

@Taz @Tulos

 

[Covax]

Covax was finishing his breakfast. The dried fruit and nuts crunched his his mouth so hard that it was all he could hear in his head. Had he heard the bird the first time it was likely he would have shot it down for lunch or perhaps dinner. Since it was also likely given the clone's lack of planning, that they would be stuck on the planet for at least another day.

As is happened the towering human was rather amused at the sight of Aska kicking her hostage. Yes she could of just tapped him on the shoulder or even given him a nice little shack, but where was the fun in that. What he had seen next surprised him. Fear, true fear was on Aska's face as some golden feathered bird creature snatched her up like a grub.

"Some Fucking Help...." "Mr. Covax, Help!" "Can't say.."

All the voices shouting about the same time. Turning first to Jim, Covax smashing him in the ribs again, causing him to scream in agony. "Stay!" Covax demanded. Then turned to see Ali running into the woods after the bird and Aska. Quickly, Covax looked around for his rifle. Finding it under his vest he had used for a pillow. By the time he found it and checked the weapon, finding a full charge. He heard Ali yell "NO!"

Covax got about two steps from camp, ready to give chase or kick ass. Only to be stared up by the usually meek Tagruta. "I'm...I'm helping.. Lets go" He stammered. Caught off guard by her sudden call to action. He looked to the Jim as Ali demanded the same help from her. Muttering something to the effect of Aska being dead by now anyway. "Oh...I wouldn't have said that." Covax said to himself.

@Tulos @Bex

 

[Aska Ryun]

It didn’t take long for Aska to discover that struggling against the massive talons that carried her away was only going to hinder her chances of escape. The muscles in her shoulders and biceps were already strained beyond anything she’d experienced before, no doubt one massive bruise beneath the now torn and shredded leather jacket. Were she in a less life-threatening situation, the state of her favorite coat would have undoubtedly infuriated the clone but there was more to worry about at the moment.

Alisaah, Covax and Jimmehk were no longer visible as the Taka-tey flapped it’s massive wings, further sending them due west. All Aska could do was watch as the landscape below zipped past, praying the massive raptor didn’t decide to release her and swing back around for what remained after she slammed into the ground below. Her situation was well beyond dire. She didn’t even dare fire her weapon again, should it frighten the predator. She was at it’s mercy until it decided to release her and even then, it didn’t look good. Either smack into the side of a mountain or have it’s curved beak tear into her belly.

After some time, her fears were realised as the bird released it’s grip on her arms. Plummeting downward, the clone squeezed her eyes shut and prepared for the inevitable bone-vaporizing impact. This was not how she had ever thought she would die. Maybe some pissed off husband blowing her brains out or on some job in the middle of wild space, sure, but not this.

Of course, the impact came much sooner and with a softer landing than she had anticipated. As her feet came into contact with what would turn out to be a massive nest, the forward trajectory forced her into a roll until she collided with the risen edge of the construct. There she would lay for a moment, staring up at the sky as she struggled to cope with the shock of what had just transpired.

”I take it back,” Aska finally spoke to herself, still motionless. ”This place fucking sucks,”

@Bex @Taz​

 

[Alisaah Tila]

Although she had not known him long, the big mercenary appeared to be a shadow of the man he was the night before when he mocked Ali for her questions about where to use the bathroom. Covax was actually stammering in response to the Togruta's demands. Ali paid this no mind, because her attention was drawn to Jimmekh and his snide comment about Aska being dead. Her grip around the Devaronian's arm tightened, mostly out of dislike for the thought of her mistress perishing to the Taka-tey than anything else, but even so it was enough to pain their informant. "H-hey what gives?!" he shouted.

"Don't ever say that again!" shouted Ali, clearly in a state of panic.

"Or what? You're too much of a pushover to do anything about it!" he spat, clearly feeling more confident now that Aska wasn't around to beat him within an inch of his life.

"I don't need to if I left it to him!" she said, thrusting a finger in Covax's direction, "So just... just be quiet! Please!"

The distressed Togruta then dragged the Devaronian over to Covax anyway so she could address the mercenary face to face.

"How do we find mistress?" she questioned, interrogating the gigantic man in front of her, "I don't know how, just help me find her quickly!" If Covax were to look into Ali's green eyes he would have seen fear, but have been totally oblivious to the voice of the ancient Sith Aska from her memory laughing at her internally. The vision from the holocron was flooding her mind and all Ali could do to keep it at bay was to busy herself in whatever way she could to find her mistress, and right now that involved harrying Covax into action.

@Taz @Tulos

 

[Covax]

Covax stood with his arms folded and smiled. Kinda hoping to see Ali really loose it on the poor dope. Mostly to see if she had it in her. Which of course she didn't. She gave the Devaronian a mild talking to. However did imply she would let him beat the snot out of Jim and that returned the smile to Covax's face. Because the one thing this alien couldn't do was shut up.

"Easy, We'll finder her." He replied. Trying to be calming. Then thought for a moment. He was an ok tracker, by no means his strong suit but he could managed. "Well the damn thing went west, that's the easy part. Bird that size can cover more miles in an hour then we can in a week." He said before thinking. "But if we're lucky enough, she's getting ready for baby season. Her nest will be withing a mile or....five." he recovered.

The merc could see the fear and sadness welling up in Ali. He could understand the bond they had in that moment. Or at least what he assumed their bond was. In any case, he had to help. Until there was nothing left to help at least. "I would leave him, he's just going to slow us down and I don't think we're going to find whatever or whoever you wanted now."

@Tulos @Bex

 

[Aska Ryun]

Aska remained still for some time, eyes closed, as she wrestled with the possibility that she may well be about to cross from the land of the living to the ethereal as some overgrown bird’s bedtime snack. For now, all she could do was reflect on all of the moments that had brought her here. Leaving the lab on Coruscant for the first time, crushing Dur’Agu’s skull beneath her boot as an instinctual act of self defence. It was the first life she had ever taken, the first time she realised she was a natural predator. His lifeless and beady eyes had burned into her mind… and she had never forgotten them. She simply found ways to cope with the burden of being a murderer. The booze, the drugs, the women. They were all mechanisms she had adopted to hide herself from the pain of killing this one man.

Of course, that all changed on Nar Shaddaa when she had met Deskar. His giant toothy grin, his never clean white shirts. And his absolute adoration to pod racing. All the nights that the two of them shared in his pub discussing each racer. She recalled his endearing respect for those who played the game clean and when the memory surfaced of his irritation the first time she won a personal bet against him by deliberately putting her credits on a renowned cheater… For a moment, she chuckled as she remained laying in the nest. How she missed him and Quinn. It seemed like a lifetime ago since their deaths.

Alisaah, Klied, Poffo… Her new family. They’d seen her at her absolute worst. Learning to cope with the loss of Deskar and Quinri. The day she had been forced to give her twin sisters the mercy of their own demise. The death of her “father”... It all began to dawn on Aska in that moment that her entire life had been built on death. Of course it was. It was what she was created to do. It was the one thing she had told herself would never be her reality and yet fate had nothing less than that in store for her.

Opening her eyes, the clone stared upwards at the clouds as they slowly moved beyond the mountain tops. It was quiet here as she waited in the wings of death, her only company being her memories. If she managed to escape this, would any of these thoughts change anything for her? Could she be different? She doubted it a great deal but these considerations of a clear mind, devoid of any altering substance… For once, she found… comfort. Peace with herself in the end.

Letting off a sigh, the clone tried to push herself up. It was painful but after a few attempts she was successful. Looking around the nest, she spotted two massive eggs on the far side. ”Great,” she thought. ”I’m not even the big bird’s morsel. I’m gonna be taken out by a freaking baby,” Groaning, the clone rubbed her palm against the whole of her face but was soon shook to full attention as a cracking came from her company. The shell began to erupt, followed by a deafening cheep cheep as the two young Taka-tey filled their lungs with their first breaths.

Panic set in. Struggling to her feet, Aska peered over the side of the nest and saw the long descent down the mountain side and looked back to the two young hatchlings as they began to flop around, stretching their tiny wings. Tiny in comparison to their mother, of course. Each bird could still easily finish Aska off in a couple of bites, leaving her with little choice. Either face her fate here or… Looking over the edge of the nest again as the two hatchlings found their footing, the clone gulped back her fears and crawled onto the edge. Perhaps for the first time in her life, she found religion as she uttered a short prayer before rolling off.

@Taz @Bex​

 

[Alisaah Tila]

Ali looked from Covax to Jimmekh following the mercenary's last comment. It was true that dragging the Devaronian along was likely to just slow them down, but if they did not take him with them, it was likely to make tracking down and speaking to Kurrsk difficult. That was if they ever even found the Trandoshan at this rate. "We can't just leave him here, we need to find Mr. Kurrsk and he's the only one who knows where we can find him. It's why we came here" said Ali, struggling with the weight of the pressure and stress of the situation, "He's coming with us to find mistress and then we're going to--"

The Togruta was cut off mid-sentence. To Covax and the Devaronian, it would appear like Ali had malfunctioned. She just stopped. There was a moment of awkward silence where only the native wild critters and birds could be heard, but from where Covax was standing, the mercenary would be able to see Ali's face contort into a look of absolute terror. The blood drained from her face, her eyes widened and her head then jerked wildly off to the west, where Covax had just then indicated the Taka-tey had gone with Aska. The silence was then broken by an ear splitting scream from the Togruta.

"MISTRESS!!!" she cried, releasing her grip on Jimmekh's arm, "MISTRESS!!!"

The Devaronian looked at Covax confused, wincing with each scream that came from the slave. The other two would not have known what Ali had felt. Even Ali herself did not fully understand what she had felt, because she had only recently discovered her own force sensitivity, but what she had felt was not good. The force was telling the Togruta that something terrible had happened to Aska, but nothing more than that. It did not reveal where she was or what had happened, just that she was in mortal peril. The fear that she felt in that moment was the worst she had ever felt it, even greater than when the holocron had shown her the vision. This feeling was so similar to that, it was unreal. Looking around at the jungle around her, Ali started to panic. Was this the place? Was Devaron the planet from the vision?

Turning wildly to Covax and Jimmekh, a dark and maddened look in her eyes, she screamed at them both. "MOVE, NOW! MOVE!" she yelled, before sprinting off westward into the trees. There was nothing that could be done to calm her down or comfort her in this moment. The only thing on her mind now was finding Aska. Nothing else mattered. She had to know what had happened to her mistress.

@Taz @Tulos

 

[Covax]

By now Covax had gotten the rest of his gear on and strapped on his rifle. Ali was trying to explain to him the importance of this Devaronian but the merc couldn't see it. Aska was gone, the mission they had likely fragged. A soldier would cut his losses, gather the wounded, and get the fuck out. But Ali, she wasn't a soldier. Hell he didn't know what she was but she damn sure wasn't that.

They started to walk, or at lease the towering human was. He took several steps and realized Ali wasn't hot on his heels. Turning he saw the look of horror on her face. Frozen on her expression like she just died and rigor had just set in. It was perhaps the most creepy thing he'd seen in a log time. "Ali?" he tried, "Hello....Ali" saying again this time waving a hand in front of her. Nothing.

Sudden't she screamed in his face and nearly tore off the Devaronian's arm. Ali looked to both of them now in a panic and tore off west. Babbling about hurrying. The Togruta dashed for the trees to the west seemingly not waiting, or slowing down. Covax had no idea what the force just happened but he was not about to pay babysitter to dead weight.

"Sorry about your luck pal." was all he said. A flick of the switch and Covax pointed the rifle at Jim. Shooting the man with a blue stun bolt. Dropping the man to the ground. So long as the predators of this world didn't get him. He would live. But he was no longer the merc's problem. Covax then ran to try and catch up to Ali. In her state he wasn't totally sure that he could.

"ALI!" he yelled.

@Tulos @Bex

 

[Aska Ryun]

The fall was quick. Far quicker than she had anticipated. As Aska descended from the nest, her body turning from the momentum of her roll, her eyes caught a rotation between mountainside and skyscape. There was simply no way she would survive this. It was impossible, was it not? If she had opted to wear her armour on this trek then there would have been plenty of chances to save herself. No, now she was simply a victim to whatever fate had been chosen for her.

The first impact was excruciating as she slammed into the side of the mountain. The wind was knocked from her lungs immediately but more noticeable was the pain that radiated from her left hip as it shattered to dust. Unable to cry out, she was forced to suffer in silence as tears began to form in her eyes. This was not the end of it however, as she soon was sent rolling further down the mountain. Each time her limp body crashed into the wall of rock, another bone would snap loudly. Again. Again. It reached a point that she no longer felt the agony, her body soon in shock from the sheer amount of injuries she had received.

She begged in her mind for it all to come to an end. For her to simply fade off into a deep slumber, to die and let the nightmare come to an end. That’s all this was to her at this point, a never ending nightmare that was only toying with her in her final moments. Of course the fall did finally come to an end as she hit the flat ground approximately one hundred feet down the mountain side, the mature Taka-tey circling overhead as she lay on the ground, beaten and bloody. There was one final snap upon impact and it was almost… welcome. Unmoving, the echo of pain vanished entirely from half of her body.

All she could muster was a struggling gasp for air. She didn’t know it yet but her spine had been severed above her hip bones, both of her legs had been shattered in multiple places as well as her right arm. Multiple ribs were splintered. Paralyzed by both her injuries and by panic, she was helpless as a dark figure appeared over her.

”Get the medical supplies! Go!”

@Bex @Taz​

 

[Alisaah Tila]

The Togruta did not slow down or wait for Covax to catch up. Though she did not fully understand what was happening, the force was reaching out to her and Ali was connecting with it. She could feel Aska's pain. It was excruciating and the closer she got the worse the pain felt. The slave kept running, hopping over fallen trees, roots and bushes, carving a path through the jungle desperately searching for her mistress. Ali had no idea how much ground she was covering, whether Covax was managing to keep up, if Jimmekh was still with them. None of it mattered. All she cared about was finding Aska and ending the pain.

Eventually, Ali reached a point where the trees seemed to thin, opening up into a clearing which was host to large stony structures. The slave could see them from through the canopy of the trees, they were so high it was hard to miss them. The pain she felt was now becoming unbearable and she was out of breath. The Togruta had been running and climbing as fast as she could and with all the mental strain she was under, it was all taking its toll. Taking a second to catch her breath, Ali leaned against a tree and shut her eyes. Behind her eyelids the vision of Aska laying dead in that puddle resurfaced, tormenting her. She was about to scream again, but before the sound left her throat, another, piercing screech filled the air.

Ali's head snapped up into the sky at the sound. She knew it was the Taka-tey. It was here. Aska was here. The Togruta pulled her ELG-3A pistol from her belt and aimed it at the giant golden bird in the sky. It was not looking at her, however, but in another direction. Then, suddenly, blaster fire sounded in the distance. Ali looked to see if it was Covax, but saw no sign of him. Looking back at the Taka-tey, it appeared to be moving around in some discomfort now, injured by the first volley of shots. The Togruta wondered if it was her mistress firing the shots, but if it was, why did she feel such immense dread over her well being? Feel her pain? There was no way the clone could be firing a blaster feeling like this. But if Aska was not shooting this beast, who was?

The slave began to run once more, towards the shooting, but stopped in her tracks when another screech was interrupted by more heavy blaster fire and she saw the golden creature drop from the sky like a stone. Whoever had been firing at it had finished it off. In a way this was a relief, as it meant Ali would not have to try and fend it off, but not knowing who had done it and whether they had Aska gave her cause for continued concern. The Togruta knew that there was still some distance between herself and her destination, but she would need to be quieter than she had been up to now in case whoever was there was an enemy. Ali was about to move off, but another strong vision and the haunting voice of the ancient Sith Aska thrust itself into her mind. She clutched her head and was forced to stop. This at least, would give Covax time to catch her up.

@Taz @Tulos

 

[Covax]

"By the fucking force where is she?" Covax grunted between deep breaths. He'd been jogging for some time now. Following the trail left behind by Ali. The Togruta moving through the jungle more like a wounded animal rather then a humanoid. He had no idea what was going on or why he even cared. But he continued to move. Following the trail.

When he heard the shot he stopped. Shouldering his rifle as he gulped in air. Looking in the direction of the shot then to the sky above as he noticed the bird above in the breaking tree line. It could have been Ali shooting, but that struck him as unlikely. If the woman could have shot the bird on the move she likely could have done so back at camp.

More shots, and the beast fell from view. This was not Ali, also unlikely to be Aska given the shots seemed to be coming from the jungle floor. Moving with the rifle still at the ready, he broke the tree line and found the clearing. The bright sun seeming to shine off Ali, as her figure slipped into the trees across from him. He didn't want to yell for her as he now knew they were not alone out here. However it seemed she was slowing down now, moving with more caution.

Running across the open ground the merc got to within a distance he thought he could say he name and stop her. "Ali! Damn it." He growled. "You're not any good to her if you get yourself eat or shot." He warned. He didn't say another word, rather took point in moving through the jungle now. Careful to say low as his taller frame could, and watch his steps. This close he didn't want to step on ground cover that might snap or crunch and give away their position.

@Tulos @Bex

 

[Aska Ryun]

Much of what transpired after her fall was left as a blur in Aska’s mind. The pain in her arms and back was severe but all she could feel was an echo of what truly screamed across the nerves of her broken body. Fading in and out of consciousness, she was only partly aware that she had been collected and brought further down to the base of the mountain on a makeshift stretcher. Words were spoken in a language she had heard before but at the moment she could not even identify the source, let alone what was said. No, all she could do was lie there and await whatever was in store.

”Come, Khek. Give me a hand with our trophy,” the voice hissed from beyond her scope though she could feel a second being rustling beside her. What she could not feel, however, was this second being setting her broken leg and securing it to a splint.

<<”What of this one?”>> the second man replied in his native tongue, still crouched at Aska’s side as he tightened the cloth that wrapped both her leg and the splint.

”Little more can be done, nephew. We have made her last moments comfortable. This is all we can do. Now come,”

<<”Yes, Uncle Kurrsk,”>>

In her disoriented state, still unable to fully understand what was being said around her, the clone managed to identify a single word as she turned her head which would spark another sharp jolt of pain down her spine.

”Kurrsk…” she groaned out, trying to summon the will to sit up despite her injuries. While such an act would be impossible, the second man noticed her efforts and promptly placed a hand on her chest, pushing her back down to the stretcher.

<<”Rest. You must rest,”>> he implored but was met with another groan of pain before Aska’s eyes opened slightly. Still she could not identify the men by voice or by shape, only dark and shadowy silhouettes, but she knew. She knew she had quite literally fallen into the lap of the man she had been sent to find.

”Klied…” she struggled, causing the distant man to turn his focus to her entirely. ”Klied…”

”Klied? What of him?” Kurrsk would respond, concern in his voice. No doubt he had not expected the stranger he had saved to have known such an old friend of his. ”Is Klied alright? What of him?” he continued as he approached her, kneeling at her opposite side from his nephew. He would not get his answer as Aska soon fell unconscious from her injuries.

[EXIT THREAD]

@Taz @Bex​

 

[Alisaah Tila]

Clutching her head, Ali looked up when she heard Covax's voice from behind her. He had caught her up, but did not stop moving. The man with the imposing build took point and started to quietly move forward through the remaining trees. Despite the pain and horror shooting through her mind, the Togruta followed behind him, her blaster in hand unsure what they might find. "We have to find her..." said Ali in a whisper just loud enough for Covax to hear, "The bird got shot down, it can't have been mistress. Someone else is there..." Ensuring that her dancing feet did not snap twig or kick rock, the slave accompanied her unlikely companion to the edge of the tree line, bringing them in to view of the foot of the rocky spire that housed the Taka-tey's nest. As she crouched in the undergrowth with Covax, assessing the situation, she saw a large golden feather which must have belonged to the Taka-tey, just hanging off a plant. Ali picked it up, feeling a burning hatred for the beast that had snatched her mistress etching into her mind. After placing it in her pocket, she turned her attention back to the clearing. That's when she saw them; two Trandoshans. One was busy looking over the body of the fallen creature, another was attending a makeshift stretcher upon which lay...

"MISTRESS!" shrieked Ali, leaping from behind cover of the bushes and sprinting as fast as she could towards the Trandoshans. This was an unwise and reckless move but the Togruta was naive and had been a slave for far too long. It was in her nature to put her owner's needs ahead of hers. It had been drilled and beaten into her for her whole life, and nothing Covax or anybody else could have said would have been able to prevent her reaction. By now, the second Trandoshan had also gone to attend the stretcher and was hunched over it, listening to words that Aska was struggling to get out. "Don't hurt her please! You need to get away! NOW!" shouted the Togruta, pulling her ELG-3A blaster pistol on the Trandoshan known as Kurssk.

The older Trandoshan stopped talking to the clone and raised to his full height. He towered over Ali as she approached, an entire foot taller than she was and much more broad. In any normal situation, Ali would have been frightened of him, particularly as she had no idea that he was the man they had been sent here to find. "Mistress...?" questioned Kurssk, "You know this one?" Ali's arms holding the blaster began to shake from the stress and emotion of her situation. "Yes! She is my mistress, my... my friend! I have to save her, please let her go!" pleaded Ali.

Kurssk looked at the Togruta, considering her for a moment before continuing. "Then you know Klied" he stated simply. The slave's green eyes focused in on the Trandoshan's red ones. "K-Kly?" responded Ali, confused and taken aback by the mention of another one of her friends names by a total stranger. "Yes, I suppose if you recognise him by that name..." hissed the Trandoshan with a slightly raised eyebrow, "Your 'mistress' here was trying to tell me about him before she went unconscious. My name is Kurssk and Klied is a friend of mine. If something is wrong with him, I would have you tell me."

"N-no, there's nothing wrong with him" confirmed the slave, suddenly realising she was talking to the man they had come to Devaron to find, "He is very well. He sent mistress and I out here to... to find you..." The Trandoshan tilted his head with curiosity as his nephew continued tending to Aska behind him. "Klied sent you to find me did he? And I suppose you two got seperated because of our feathery friend?" he questioned, but Ali was just about at the end of her tether. She was so concerned for Aska and the force visions terrorising her mind were unrelenting. She couldn't stand having to be cordial with anybody right now. "Yes! Yes! Kly has a favour to ask of you. He wanted us to ask if you would look into something on a planet named Quesh for us. There is a bounty, something to do with the Onderonian royalty" she explained frantically, "Please, please let me see my mistress, what has happened to her?..."

Kurssk looked down at Ali, an expression of concern and pity visible in his lizard-like features. "We have been staking out this nest to hunt the Taka-tey..." he said, pointing towards the fresh kill a few feet away, "We saw it return with something in its claws. We saw her fall from the nest..." His red eyes pointed up towards the tip of the rocky spire as he spoke before returning to the Togruta. "She will most likely die from her injuries. I am sorry... we have done what we could..." At these words, Ali's emotions consumed her. She stepped up to Kurssk and roughly shoved him out of her way - aggression she would never normally demonstrate - forcing her way past him to kneel at the side of the stretcher. "No, no, no! She can't die! She can't!" wailed the slave, tears now streaming down her face. Kurssk's nephew, Khek, looked over at her with the same look of concern as his uncle. Ali gazed upon her mistress, battered, bloody, broken. It was unlike the vision shown to her in the holocron. They were in a jungle, yes, but the trees were not as dense, there was no rain, no muddy puddle, but the pain felt exactly the same. The guilt and grief enveloped Alisaah as she broke down crying over her mistress. The Togruta reached gently for Aska's hand, clutching it firmly. "Mistress I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... I should have been better, I should have been strong enough to save you..." she cried, pressing Aska's hand - which was still warm - against her forehead.

The two Trandoshans looked at each other, their faces a mixture of perplexed and sympathy. "If... there is any hope of saving her, she would need medical attention unlike anything you are likely to find so far out from the cities. If you have a ship you may be able to get her to a hospital and see what they can do" offered Kurssk in a show of compassion for the grief stricken girl.

@Taz @Tulos

 

[Covax]

Covax took point as they moved. Ali's words ringing in his head as the moved with caution. He wanted to help but the true was he didn't really know these two from Anakin and wasn't about to dye for them any time soon. They made it through to the area below the nest without so much as a sound, before Ali once more dashed for the feather he noticed. Covax again standing watch more concerned with the "not the only ones out here" problem then the likely dead woman one.

The towering merc quickly spotted the two Trandoshans. One looking over the predatory bird, the other over a makeshift litter. "Fuck, they found her first." he thought in his head but didn't say a word. HE did need to. Without warning, Ali broke from cover and screamed loud as she could as she ran toward the two hunters.

"Fuck!" he growled. Irritated that this Togrutan woman was likely going to get him killed. He realized now, far to late, that he could have and should have just left these two to the mob at the bar. Finished his drink, and walked out the other door. Instead he took aim at oldest appearing lizard man as Ali approached. Covax could hear talking but could not clearly hear the words.

To Covax's surprise they didn't try to capture or even kill her. They were literally having a conversation. The merc moved up his position then. Slinging his rifle behind his back but keeping his hand on his pistol, just in case. As he approached he could see Aska. Looking like he fell from the ugly tree and hit every single branch on the way down.

Hearing Kurssk's words, Covax pulled a comlink device from his belt, as well as his datapad. "Washer, fire up the ship and find a landing as close as you can to the coordinated I'm sending you now." the merc spoke to his droid as he quickly tapped a few buttons. A short time later, a very beat up looking YT-1200 freighter landed in the clearing they had just came from. The ramp of the ship lowered and an equally beat up looking R6 astromech rolled down the ramp.

"That's our ride, lets get her on the ship and the three of you could have a nice long chat about this Kevin dude on the way to a hospital." Covax barked. It wasn't a suggestion. It was an order. The Trandoshans could help the girls or they could end up a meal for another predator. Covax was good with it either way.

@Tulos @Bex