Event Galaxy in Crisis!

[Juniper]

Nar Shaddaa​

Nara watched with dismay as the blaster bolts did nothing to weaken or falter the rancor. They'd need heavier armaments, or some way to disable them. And here she was without a ton of explosives. She hoped that the Mandalorian had more tricks up her sleeves, getting ready to approach the bull before it made it's awful, horrid scream.

Nara tensed and held back, face scrunched in concentration as she tried to resist the dark side drenched roar of the bull. She could feel the pulse of it through the air, through her boots, as she wedged herself into the ground to try and resist the full-force of the scream. For a few seconds, it overwhelmed her senses, which allowed the other rancor to act.

She barely pulled herself out of her concentration in time to see the rancor throw the rock. She had to move, and quick. She rolled to the side, trying to dodge the twisted rock that flew towards her. As she did, she attempted desperately to right herself up in some way, half-crouched in the debris and muck as she saw the rancor charge for her. Without any time to plan anything fancy, clever or particularly deft, she resorted to her instincts.

As the massive hands reached out to her, Nara slashed her lightsaber towards the digits viciously, hoping to cut right through and sever part of the hand. Enough to stop the rancor from being able to grab her up instantly, both hands on the hilt to keep an iron grip on it in case she failed. Pulling on every bit of Jedi training, saber practice and conditioning from Hannibal that she'd had in years past.

@Minuteman75 @Flood

 

[Minerva Wren]

Nar Shaddaa​

Hide too strong for blasters. Not even stopping them down. Minerva realized in frustration. The pair seemed more intelligent than the typical rancors, as one turned toward Nara despite the provocation. There was no doubt in the mercenary’s mind that someone or something was controlling these undead giants or at least trained them so.

The bull stared at her as she flew back. Suddenly a scream like she never heard and felt struck. “Ahhh!” The Mandalorian cried out in pain. She accidentally turned off the jetpack due to the unexpected onslaught and dropped the rifle as well.

She collapsed back to the floor, bruising further. Only her armor prevented additional damage but not by much. Her body was in utter torment, but Minerva nonetheless forced herself back up with gritting teeth underneath the helmet. The armored warrior wasn’t out of this fight yet.

@Charndley @Flood

 

[Elikar Bridhec]

CORUSCANT
​

The stims Elikar had been given were just starting to take effect when all hell broke loose, again. The gunship began raking the second floor taking down more medics. Elikar dashed down the stairwell after the group, barely keeping his balance, super heated glass, metal, and stone following in his wake. He was pretty sure he had some new burns on the back of his neck. Elikar tumbled down the last couple of steps but managed to keep himself upright for the most part. "All I wanted was some bloody kriffin' noodles." Elikar said aloud to himself in exasperation.

"I'm no Jedi, just have a few handy skills... and apparently a lightsaber" Elikar shrugged. He didn't think the "real" doctor was talking to him but... Time to come up with a plan, good. "We can't stay in this building either. I'm no structural engineer but I can't imagine its going to stay up much longer." Elikar pointed out. "I'm just a tourist here, but is there any sewer access or air ducts to the outside? I'm assuming they have any normal exits covered."

There was some static and the man who appeared to a Jedi's commlink went off. With all of the noise it was difficult to hear but he thought he heard something about someone running or retreating. "If they know a way out maybe we should follow." Granted if it was the enemy retreating they could have a rear guard or the snipers and gunship were the rear guard acting as a distraction for the retreat. Not conventional but quite effective so far.

@The Eclipse, @Six, @Nefieslab, @Dmitri, @Catbert

 

[Maeve Byrne]

Dathomir

Maeve stood silently near the Jedi as the monk spoke, more cryptic babble that the dark woman was in the least surprise. However, she was unsure of his mentioning of hatred and fear and if this were the classic light sider play book of recognizing the flaws that supposedly tore down those practicing the dark arts or if there were something about this Jedi that lied deeper than she could sense. She tilted her head slightly to gaze at the jedi from the corner of her eye, her lips pursed, unamused by this game of riddles. However, leaving this place and returning to the raging storm was not ideal at the moment.

Perhaps solving this riddle would make the storm stop before things turned less friendly between herself and the Jedi.

The Jedi Master spoke, asking for clarification.

"You should answer him because wasting time is quite rude." she stated flatly, a bit annoyed they had to play games to get answers.

 

[Jerex Dorn]

Nar Shaddaa​

Well, the good thing was that Jerex got to see the inside of Flood's lab, it was, of course, a very horrifying experience, at least for most people, Jerex, however was obviously delighted, the bacta being used to keep the vivisected people alive for so long being something he himself didn't do, but would probably start doing soon, and those vivisection were most likely related to the virus, so the old legionnaire had so many questions, yet it wasn't the time nor place to do that, not with a jedi nearby.

So, when Flood opened the doors and moved towards the center, Jerex walked forwards, following Flood's orders for his own interests, he had to take care of the blind jedi and listen to the other sith's little speech, meanwhile, however, Jerex caught up on the fact that the blind jedi was using the force for something, something behind his back, the jedi was up to something, but the legionnaire didn't do anything yet, acting without knowing the dangers would only get him killed. Instead, he started just calling upon the force, building up just in case, he was focused, but he was not acting yet. And when the jedi showed what he had behind his back, a light chuckle came out of the once knight of Ren, yet he was not lowering his guard "Sorry, the concept of a jedi threatening to do a kamikaze attack with a thermal detonator is quite funny, but sure, let's talk!" The sith said, the jedi probably wanted to waste their time because of something, he was not sure what, and Jerex wanted to make time so he didn't get vaporized, he or Flood would come up with something.

 

[The Forgotten]

Dathomir​

The ghostly woman simply looked at them for a moment, eyes narrowing a moment evaluating the pair that stood in front of her with skepticism.

We'll see, she said, ominously. Their claims of willingness to sacrifice were bold, but many thought as much when they were in safety or when the sacrifice was easy.

As the two of them looked at the carvings, the woman took on an absent, distant view as she stared straight ahead.

They would see the carvings on the walls were cryptic. They showed planets and people. Some of the worlds looked normal with indistinct land masses and oceans. Others had surfaces that were riddled with cracks and another looked altogether shattered. Above them all, was an indistinct shape. Almost like an energy cloud whose tendrils extended to some of the planets.

---​

And what is the will of the Force? Is the Force's will always good? the man asked, still monotonous in his tone. It was becoming more clear that the man wasn't enthusiastic about answering the Jedi's questions.

The Sith's blunt statements didn't seem to help, either. The man's thousand yard stare broke and he looked directly at her with a gaze that would elicit a physical reaction as she would feel lightheaded and nauseous perhaps to the point of retching.

You are in my home. I owe you nothing, he said, his voice taking on an almost hissing tone to it before he returned to a nearly catatonic state once again, seemingly no longer responding to any stimuli.

Then in a single, monotonous voice and perfect synchronization, every individual in the room spoke.

It must be stopped. Free the shackles.

---​

As the others met up in the pit below, they would find themselves drawn to the other door. Through it, they would find a ramp that led up and to the main hall that the others had recently traveled through, except they would arrive from one of the side passages instead of the main doorway. There, they would be faced with the Sith, the Jedi, and the monks as they finished their phrase.

@AutoFox @Mr. Teatime @Killa Ree @GABA @Six @Lavi @Darasuum @christhebarker @Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Dathomir​

Talking wasn't going to get them anywhere.

Not because talking wasn't the answer but because there was something there, something inside of the Monk, that meant he believed everything he was saying with an absolutely unshakable sense of conviction. No... perhaps conviction was the wrong word for it. Conviction implied that they had managed to come to the decision on their own and they clearly hadn't. Something had happened to these people that had ensnared them.

"Trouble with the will of the Force is you don't get to see it until it's ready." he admitted as he stood up from his seat in front of the monk, "Thanks for your time - I'll let you get back to your business."

And then the monk turned out to be properly possessed and turned it on the Sith lady. He stepped halfway between the monk and the Sith lady, enough to break full line of sight and maybe split the effects between the both of them. His stomach would churn but, hey, he hadn't had much to eat yet today so if he spewed it wouldn't be much. Grinning despite anything, he would turn to face the Sith lady with a shrug.

"Seems out hosts have grown less patient. I believe that is our cue to move on."

Of course then the truly possessed line came.

He stared for a moment before becoming more serious.

"Definitely time to move on."

@Phoenix @Killa Ree @Six @GABA @Darasuum

 

[Roland Rook]

DATHOMIR​

The ghostly woman disappeared with a remark after their answers. Roland turned to look at Indy a bit more for a moment but said nothing and turned his attention back to the carvings along the wall. The detail of some was clear though what planets they may represent was beyond him. He wished he had remembered to bring his datapad or a recorder. His helmet didn't have one integrated and the Mandalorian hadn't thought to bring a hand held one. But when there was what he believed the previous series of events was building to some big discovery, it might help to have a record. Roland was glad there were other witnesses to this ghost and these monks. Otherwise some might not believe the Lieutenants claim of what he had seen so far today. Still seen wierder though I suppose. But this is giving that mask a run for its money

For now he tried to commit the details along the walls to memory. But the more he looked he found himself stepping back and following odd looking tendrils stretching overhead into a cloud like form. "What...do you..." He stared up to the point his hood fell off his helm though Roland didn't seem to notice. One finger gesturing up since it wasn't usually easy to follow which way a Mando really looked. "...make of that?"

Something made him finally look away though and back towards the way they came. A distant echo. He could barely make it out but it was just the numerous voices that just made the Lieutenant's ear's try to hone in on it instinctively. Something about shackles but that was it.

Taking a few steps towards the center of the room with carvings, the Mandalorian didn't leave the immediate room but stared back down the way Indy and he had come. There was another hall still separating them from where the Jedi and strangers were gathered still as far as he knew. "Sense anything back there?" Part of Roland didn't want to leave just to check on things. He wasn't a babysitter. Once again he checked his comlink to see if there was any change with possibly communication outside of the storm area.

@Phoenix @Killa Ree @Nefieslab @GABA @The Forgotten

 

[Indy Sati]

Dathomir​

Oh well, ghostly lady didn't believe them. Hardly a shocker, really, most people would boldly proclaim that they were without a fear of death. But that was one of the tenets of being a Jedi; and from those they lost, she knew it was a plausible scenario. Perhaps Roland's people had a similar view, she wasn't as intimately acquainted with their own philosophies as the historian would have liked to be. But the curiosity still took over from the caution; a need to understand.

A need to know.

So when Roland pointed up at the carved mural around them, she glanced over. The massive cloud, the planets, the people. It was in a script she didn't recognize, but some points of history had been remarked, in old tomes in archives. Legends, more like, rather than proven fact.

"...Dathomiri witch magic?" she hummed softly to herself, head tilted slightly as though to eye it better. Even despite her tone, she hadn't relaxed her grip on her lightsaber hilt. She wasn't going to stand around and let things happen unawares again. But at his question, she glanced back at Roland, one lavender brow raised.

"Yeah. Not a good feeling... but I've felt that since Master Tionson and I went planetside. But considering the atmosphere, hardly a surprise." She paused, then glanced back to the witch ghost, sitting there with her distant stare. Her own voice was softer, golden eyes contemplative. "The luring song... it brought along so many. Curious it drew all sides of the stories from the past, isn't it?" She then glanced back to Roland, briefly.

"Remember, she," gesturing with her other hand to the ghost, "found it strange we were all working together. Don't you find it strange the planet all lured us here together, as well? Not just Sensitives. Spooky room with the many people, downed ships. Hostile planet native fauna." She knew she was stating the obvious, but she couldn't help it.

"This," she gestured to the wall, "was a history. Or a hope. I can't tell. But whatever it is..." she hesitated, then sighed.

"Don't mind me, I'm just... rambling." A hand ran through her hair, an absent frown touching her lips. "Why here? Why now?"

@Darasuum @Nefieslab @GABA @Six @The Forgotten

 

[Salek Fallanai]

Nar Shadda​

"You won't think it's funny for long if I sense an intent to move," the blind Jedi said calmly. He paused for a moment to think, his mind reeling and spinning through possibilities and potential outcomes.

Salek thought back to his training. He had practiced physical fighting, sure, but his master had spent just as much time drilling him in ethics, political philosophy, and the real cores of human motivation and psychology. He had made Salek study the Sith, not just from the perspective of the Jedi, but through the eyes of psychologists and criminologists who had made Dark Side users the center of their research. His master was a firm believer that regular people were full of ingenuity and deep thought, because they didn't have power to lean on. Considering how completely outclassed he was at the moment, he was grateful for the wisdom that had forced him through all those boring hours. Now that he was on the other side of the wards, Salek could see the pain and death - and worse - spread throughout this lair. It tore at his heart, and he found himself bracing his arm to slam the detonator down at the Sith's feet in sheer outrage. He held back, though, his jaw clenching until his teeth ground with the effort. A younger him wouldn't have been able to understand why someone could do such horrible things. Thanks to his master's training, though, he know the sad, pathetic truth.

After a few seconds on the brink, he said, "Thinking quietly is just going to convince you to make a move, which will get all of us killed. I'll just tell you clearly, so you're sure to understand me. As far as I'm concerned, you are crazed animals that must be put down for the betterment of everyone else. Now, I consider my life to be slightly less valuable than the average innocent's, and letting you leave pretty much guarantees that you're going to kill someone else. So taking even one of you with me is a profitable trade. Getting both of you, and maybe your little friend you have hiding in the hall? That's a downright bargain. I'll die happy, knowing that thousands and thousands of people will live on due to me. Now both of you, drop your weapons and slide them slowly over here. Emphasis on slowly. And if you think you can slip something past me, I dare you to try."


@Flood @Jerex Dorn @Cyrus Anvari

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

Coruscant

It turned out there would be no going outside. A voice crackled over Corran’s comm warning of the danger by gunship. Someone by the name of Lorcan. The injured Ranger was fading by the minute, and there was really nothing Falynn could do but stay nearby. Evident in the faint rasp as he breathed their names the medic realized Corran thought he was dying. Each name said like someone who believed they were breathing their last. Then his grip loosened as he slipped out of the conscious world. “Lay him down here.” Falynn did a primary survey, finding nothing else than she expected. She moved him into recovery position to ease his breathing, but refrained from taking any other measures. With his pulse faint but present and his breathing steady, unconsciousness would be a mercy.

Not so long after, Falynn was alerted by sounds behind her. The doctor emerged holding another being in her arms, both in pain and severely injured. As she moved closer, the medic could more clearly see the extent of the their injuries. Unsurprisingly, the majority were heat induced. One with burns across their small form, the other with extensive burns that carried the length of her arm. Both would have to be treated soon to prevent infection. Drawing near to Corran, the doctor’s concern for him was displayed as she knelt there, trembling from her own pain. Now with her helmet removed, Falynn realized they were close in age. “He’s all right for now. Fairly stable, doesn’t feel anything. Whatever toxin was on the blade caused enough pain to force him to lose consciousness, so he may not wake on his own until the pain is lessened.” The medic gave him another glance ensuring there were no developments, before stepping back to offer some space.

This hallway was becoming a popular place to be as yet another person entered and walked towards the fallen Ranger. With the way he acted, Corran and this man must have been friends of some sort. He clearly knew the doctor as well. Falynn eyed the man as he walked away with Corran’s armor before turning back to focus on the more pressing matter. “There’s not much more I can do for him, but I offer my assistance wherever it may be needed.” What Corran really needed was to go to the hospital, but that didn’t seem like a possible option at the moment. It wasn’t safe for him to be unconscious for so long if it wasn’t medically induced. Perhaps the doctor would be able to do something Falynn couldn’t. The sooner the better to avoid any further injuries. If her help wasn’t needed, she would be able to focus on others in the vicinity who were injured.

@Frannykins87 @TerranSteel @Kestrel @Killa Ree @AutoFox @The Eclipse​

 

[Bast Emblai]

The wait, the indecision was agonizing. Bast could feel each pump of her heart, each moment, the adrenaline fading more. Falynn seemed to be increasingly concerned, despite her professional distance and unphased nature. Something buzzed. A distant, staticky voice commanding the Rangers to stay put. The gruff tone was one she recognized, had worked with before. She had almost brought him into this very place in chains. Lorcan. A good, struggling man. One who had sent her to her death. Nevertheless, he was saving Corran. There was no hint of that uncertainty now, though. Just a cold command, a warning.

A dry, cracking voice came from blood-stained lips. As if the effort of speaking had taken all that was left, Corran’s typically sharp eyes began to glaze over. He had stilled, but agony was etched across the youthful face. The air was uncomfortably warm. It felt thick and difficult to breathe. She was trained for this. Had done it before. And failed. The woman wanted to leave in the hope that some odd rule of fate would save the others. She could not live with two catastrophic missions. But another force kept her legs locked. Her grip did not loosen. During the longs days at the mercy of the pirates, adrenaline had faded, but something beyond that kept her breathing. The pure will of the body to survive. For better or for worse, she had not died for pain and loss of hope.

He was speaking again. Resisting the urge to shush her partner and save him the pain, she listened as the male ranger listed names. She suddenly remembered the badge in her pocket. It was heavy. What had his name been? Unable to conjure words, the Corallian woman nodded, her throat tightening. Then the grip went slack.

An inhuman, guttural sound escaped the sounded from the woman. The wail felt foreign and strange, sharp and loud. Shame and fear rose simultaneously. Falynn moved in and helped lay him gently down before flipping him onto his side. So he was alive.

Quick, precise movement caught Bast’s attention as two figures, both injured. One revealed herself to be a lithe, pale woman. Despite the injury, she strode easily toward Corran and knelt, directing a question to Falynn. The voice was the same one that had screamed at her to get him to safety. Resentment boiled cold in Bast’s chest. Was she happy now? Now that he was unconscious? Should she have been there instead of Bast? Could she have kept him from slipping away? The grace and passion with which she knelt over him stirred up an alien emotion. Bast bristled but moved back, weak and tired. Standing guard was a childish and possessive thing to do. Still, when Lorcan joined the growing crowd and dressed down Corran, all she could offer was a terse ‘thank you’. There was nothing that gnawed her to the bone more than having to stand by and watch.

@AutoFox @TerranSteel @Killa Ree @The Eclipse @FireSong

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

Dathomir​

Oh hey, they actually responded. This usually didn't go that well. But sure enough, as Hannibal moved around to look through the doorway, there was the vaguely-recognized @Felix and @Altina Tiramara was even running up to him. Both called out Hannibal's name and title, and he was mildly glad he'd gotten over his issues with being called Master some time ago. "More or less. I've seen them around our temple," he replied to @Helen Holcomb, smiling down at her. He couldn't but wonder what in the absolute hell Padawans were doing here, but that could be dealt with later. First, they needed to not be here.

As the two Padawans approached the Jedi Master they may find a sense of mild calm. The Light flowed smoothly around and through him, his efforts to guard Helen and himself from Dark influences washing over them once they were close enough. "Master Grayza is I, aye! I don't think we've met before. I suggest following me," he told the two Padawans, as cheery as always, though something in the tone of his "suggestion" implied it wasn't one. His eyes were drawn on their to the other door, his intuition guiding them.

The sensation of spiders crawling across his skin, the echo of green, the chill of rattling chains, the distant shadow of-

Hannibal's eyes narrowed almost imperceptivity and he further solidified his defenses. Now was not the time. The nature of his place was dangerous, but he still had to walk through that door. "I'm going that way," he announced, indicating the doorway and the ramp beyond. He could feel Max and Indy somewhere above, along with patches of Dark. It felt full of life and strangeness. "Stand behind me this time, Helen. Please. You too, Padawans. There's danger up ahead." He wasn't going to push the issue too hard, but while the three were here Hannibal intended to keep them safe, and to his thinking that meant standing between them and whatever might do them harm.

The Jedi Master strode off through the door, hopefully with the other three behind, and headed up the ramp. He walked through the doorway near the end of the word "Shackles" and gave the room and its occupants. There was Indy with a Mandalorian- he was pretty sure his name was Roland- and yes, there was Max with a masked Sith woman, and even further back some kind of Zabrak cosplay enthusiast. He was the most "Sith" Sith Hannibal had ever seen. If he wasn't a Sith, Hannibal would eat one of his hats, hot damn. Oh, also there was a crowd of glazed-eyes monks or something. Better handle this situation appropriately, it seemed tense.

"Yo! 'Pologies for the intrusion." he announced by way of greeting, cheerily waving his right hand, standard-issue levity in full force. "What's this about shackles, now? Y'sure you wouldn't prefer a nice sit down talk with some good caf or somethin'?" He tried to keep himself surreptitiously between the mass of potential dangers and the others with him. Although he had no weapons in his hands he was a pretty quick draw. He'd prefer not to fight, but you better believe he would to defend himself or others.

@AutoFox @christhebarker @Lavi @Killa Ree @Darasuum @Nefieslab @Six @GABA @Phoenix

 

[Flood]

Spoiler: Nar Shaddaa

The moment the door cracked, dark side energy flooded through into Salek's senses. It overwhelmed the sewer smell and made him force down a gag. Stronger and fouler than anything he had ever experienced, it tasted like corruption and decay and fear and arrogance. But it didn't make him quail. He had been prepared for this, molded by a hard taskmaster who had looked long into the darkness and knew what it took to face it. In the face of true evil, Salek clenched his jaw and settled into a light, balanced stance from which he could spring easily in any direction. His lightsaber rested easily in his hand. He wouldn't show weakness to these pathetic creatures. He was their hunter.

"A lone blind Jedi is to be this planet's savior?" the one in back sneered. "This is all the grand Order could muster?"

"Yeah, that wasn't exactly the plan," Salek replied in a conversational tone, "but hey, in for a chip, in for a credit. Besides, I don't think it's worth bothering the real Jedi just for you two."

The Force warned Salek what was about to happen next, but it needn't have bothered. He'd listened to too many holovids to be surprised.

The dark figure muttered, "Kill h-"

Salek cut him off. "Yeah, no." His rear hand came around, and he stepped boldly into the room holding aloft the thermal detonator that Master Lentus had given him as he buggered back off to space. As the door opened, he had switched it to impact detonation at maximum power. Salek held the bomb in a telekinetic grip as well as his physical one, carefully watching the Force for any attempts to reach out to it. He stood before the two men, careful not to let them move to either side of him. His blank eyes stared at the space between them, not bothering to dignify either with the acknowledgement of body language.

"I know," he said with a smirk, "who am I to go on about clichés? But seriously, this has an open-field vaporization radius of twenty meters. In a room this small, not even your bones will be left, even with the best Force shield you could muster. I can't imagine how damaging it will be to the décor as well. So let's have a friendly chat, shall we?"


@Reyn @Isen @Charndley @Minuteman75 @Flood @Jerex Dorn

Nar Shaddaa​

To the extent that one could be lucky in such circumstances, the young Kiffar had a couple strokes of luck. As he was in the process of lopping off the hand of the beast, his master yelled out in warning that the monster was full of poisonous attacks. Isen was also quite fortunate that he landed with his back to turned to the massive enemy. When the tarentatek unleashed its acidic saliva attack at Isen, he was still crouched and turned away. Isen balled himself together as best he could, making himself as small as possible. He felt the splash of the caustic array spray upon his back. Isen could smell and hear the sizzle of the acid doing its work on his clothing. Isen sprang forward with another flip to create distance, ripping off the heavy robe he had been instructed to wear. He had been quick, but not entirely quick enough. Spots of the acid had quickly eaten through his clothing and was burning painful, heat-searing blisters into his back.

He was even more fortunate that Izel Thral, his master, had specifically told him to wear something thick and with sleeves. Had he not, he almost certainly would have gone sleeveless, and the burns on the backs of his arms would be excruciating. Isen gave his full attention to the creature and watched it send numerous poisonous quills in his master's direction. Even as he did, the monster's eyes were fixated on the Padawan. And again, the beast charged Isen. Isen responded as he did when the beast first charged him- Isen charged the beast right back. In this round, however, instead of trying to go over the top, Isen jumped and corkscrewed to the beast's handless side, extending one of his blazing blue blades defensively to prevent the backside hand from taking a swipe. With Isen's other lightsaber, he took a mighty swipe at the largely undefended leg. With no claw to protect that side, Isen's saber sliced through the beast's upper leg cleanly. A monstrous roar echoed once more through the chamber, but Isen, a quick study, would not make the same mistake as last time. Immediately upon landing from his attack, he would jump and flip forward twice in the direction of his master.

Isen quickly turned around took a ready, attack position with his eyes on the tarentatek. Despite the clean cut, the beast's legs were massive, and it did not completely sever the leg. Isen scolded himself quietly for not making his cut just above the knee. It would have taken the entire leg off, and the beast would be largely immobile. As it stood, the giant of a beast had fallen but was trying to stand once more, unsteady and unsure if it could even walk for now, but pissed...

@Reyn @Flood

Nar Shaddaa
​

Izel leapt into the air as the storm of quills fired in her direction, flipping and landing on her feet on the chamber ceiling, her insectoid biology allowing her to cling to it with ease. At the same time she held out her free hand and called upon the Force once more, bringing one of the poisonous quills to her palm. Thankfully Isen had avoided the worst of the Terentatek's counterattack, and was rushing in to deliver another blow. This time he would have his master's assistance.

Izel crawled rapidly across the ceiling towards the beast as Isen came at it from the opposite direction. While the Kiffar attacked one of the beast's sides, the Vratix dropped down on it's other, jamming her lightsaber pike into it's other knee to bring it down, and then stabbing the monster's own poisonous quill right into the underside of it's jaw.

Izel would then immediately jump back as Isen did, not giving the creature a chance to retaliate. The Terentatek came down on it's knees and roared in pain, hurt badly, but showing no signs of stopping yet. Izel watched the creature's mouth with curiosity, wondering if the acidic poison would have any effect on the creature that produced it. Slowly she began circling the beast while maintain her distance and keeping her lightsaber up. "Good job Padawan," She said with a huff as she kept her eyes on the beast. "Let's keep it's attention divided between us. You stay on one side, I'll stay on the other." Whoever the monster attacked, the other Jedi would be given the opportunity to counterattack it. So long as they kept this up and didn't drop their guard, Izel figured they could whittle the Terentatek down until it finally died. It was certainly losing a lot of blood from where Isen had sliced off it's hand already.

@Isen @Flood

Nar Shaddaa​

Nara watched with dismay as the blaster bolts did nothing to weaken or falter the rancor. They'd need heavier armaments, or some way to disable them. And here she was without a ton of explosives. She hoped that the Mandalorian had more tricks up her sleeves, getting ready to approach the bull before it made it's awful, horrid scream.

Nara tensed and held back, face scrunched in concentration as she tried to resist the dark side drenched roar of the bull. She could feel the pulse of it through the air, through her boots, as she wedged herself into the ground to try and resist the full-force of the scream. For a few seconds, it overwhelmed her senses, which allowed the other rancor to act.

She barely pulled herself out of her concentration in time to see the rancor throw the rock. She had to move, and quick. She rolled to the side, trying to dodge the twisted rock that flew towards her. As she did, she attempted desperately to right herself up in some way, half-crouched in the debris and muck as she saw the rancor charge for her. Without any time to plan anything fancy, clever or particularly deft, she resorted to her instincts.

As the massive hands reached out to her, Nara slashed her lightsaber towards the digits viciously, hoping to cut right through and sever part of the hand. Enough to stop the rancor from being able to grab her up instantly, both hands on the hilt to keep an iron grip on it in case she failed. Pulling on every bit of Jedi training, saber practice and conditioning from Hannibal that she'd had in years past.

@Minuteman75 @Flood

Nar Shaddaa​

Hide too strong for blasters. Not even stopping them down. Minerva realized in frustration. The pair seemed more intelligent than the typical rancors, as one turned toward Nara despite the provocation. There was no doubt in the mercenary’s mind that someone or something was controlling these undead giants or at least trained them so.

The bull stared at her as she flew back. Suddenly a scream like she never heard and felt struck. “Ahhh!” The Mandalorian cried out in pain. She accidentally turned off the jetpack due to the unexpected onslaught and dropped the rifle as well.

She collapsed back to the floor, bruising further. Only her armor prevented additional damage but not by much. Her body was in utter torment, but Minerva nonetheless forced herself back up with gritting teeth underneath the helmet. The armored warrior wasn’t out of this fight yet.

@Charndley @Flood

Nar Shaddaa​

Well, the good thing was that Jerex got to see the inside of Flood's lab, it was, of course, a very horrifying experience, at least for most people, Jerex, however was obviously delighted, the bacta being used to keep the vivisected people alive for so long being something he himself didn't do, but would probably start doing soon, and those vivisection were most likely related to the virus, so the old legionnaire had so many questions, yet it wasn't the time nor place to do that, not with a jedi nearby.

So, when Flood opened the doors and moved towards the center, Jerex walked forwards, following Flood's orders for his own interests, he had to take care of the blind jedi and listen to the other sith's little speech, meanwhile, however, Jerex caught up on the fact that the blind jedi was using the force for something, something behind his back, the jedi was up to something, but the legionnaire didn't do anything yet, acting without knowing the dangers would only get him killed. Instead, he started just calling upon the force, building up just in case, he was focused, but he was not acting yet. And when the jedi showed what he had behind his back, a light chuckle came out of the once knight of Ren, yet he was not lowering his guard "Sorry, the concept of a jedi threatening to do a kamikaze attack with a thermal detonator is quite funny, but sure, let's talk!" The sith said, the jedi probably wanted to waste their time because of something, he was not sure what, and Jerex wanted to make time so he didn't get vaporized, he or Flood would come up with something.

Nar Shadda​

"You won't think it's funny for long if I sense an intent to move," the blind Jedi said calmly. He paused for a moment to think, his mind reeling and spinning through possibilities and potential outcomes.

Salek thought back to his training. He had practiced physical fighting, sure, but his master had spent just as much time drilling him in ethics, political philosophy, and the real cores of human motivation and psychology. He had made Salek study the Sith, not just from the perspective of the Jedi, but through the eyes of psychologists and criminologists who had made Dark Side users the center of their research. His master was a firm believer that regular people were full of ingenuity and deep thought, because they didn't have power to lean on. Considering how completely outclassed he was at the moment, he was grateful for the wisdom that had forced him through all those boring hours. Now that he was on the other side of the wards, Salek could see the pain and death - and worse - spread throughout this lair. It tore at his heart, and he found himself bracing his arm to slam the detonator down at the Sith's feet in sheer outrage. He held back, though, his jaw clenching until his teeth ground with the effort. A younger him wouldn't have been able to understand why someone could do such horrible things. Thanks to his master's training, though, he know the sad, pathetic truth.

After a few seconds on the brink, he said, "Thinking quietly is just going to convince you to make a move, which will get all of us killed. I'll just tell you clearly, so you're sure to understand me. As far as I'm concerned, you are crazed animals that must be put down for the betterment of everyone else. Now, I consider my life to be slightly less valuable than the average innocent's, and letting you leave pretty much guarantees that you're going to kill someone else. So taking even one of you with me is a profitable trade. Getting both of you, and maybe your little friend you have hiding in the hall? That's a downright bargain. I'll die happy, knowing that thousands and thousands of people will live on due to me. Now both of you, drop your weapons and slide them slowly over here. Emphasis on slowly. And if you think you can slip something past me, I dare you to try."


@Flood @Jerex Dorn @Cyrus Anvari

The Master and Apprentice team of Izen and Isel were proving to be much too much for the poor terentatek to handle. It lacked the honed, deadly instincts of its wild brethren, battle-tested and experienced in hunting the force sensitives of the galaxy for sport. It had been grown, kept in relative isolation to serve as little more than an organic safe deposit box for Flood to hide something.

As such, the poor beast had been imprinted with a single instruction should it find itself in a dire situation. And now, facing a clear and present death, it followed through on that instruction without hesitation.

@Izel Thral and @Isen Ramm would feel the very essence of the darkside begin to radiate from the terentatek. It would feel like an almost physical wave of energy blasting them, somewhat subtly at first but quickly increasing in intensity like hurricane waves crashing against a beachhead.

And then, as if all at once, the energies would be pulled back into the beast before unleashing once more in a violent explosion as the terentatek destroyed itself in one final attempt to take its attackers down with it. In its final moments, the beast would erupt in a darkside fueled forceblast. The energy from the blast would be enough to potentially shatter small bones with its shockwave, but even more dire for the Jedi, would be the gallons of caustic blood and guts that spewed in every direction. There would be little place for the Jedi to hide.

Should the Jedi survive with their lives intact, they would find a perfectly spherical obsidian orb laying in the remains of the terentatek, unmarred by the pool of acidic slime it sat in.

--

If the bull rancor could feel emotion, it would have been feeling positively elated at the results of his attack. The Mandalorian fell from the sky like a bird pelted with a slingshot, and without wasting any time, the bull rancor continued his attack. Rushing towards @Minerva Fhirdiad, the rancor would raise its mighty fists into the air and attempt to smash her into nothing but a beskar alloy paste.

While her partner was facing dire circumstances, @Nara Allam's quick thinking with her slash would stay her death for now. Her blade would land true, severing all of the fingers from the female rancor, causing her to rear back with a roar of pain. While the blaster bolts didn't seem to faze the beasts, the lightsaber attacks seemed to cause them incredible discomfort.

Blinded by rage, the rancor would take her charred, cauterized stump hand and slam it downwards into the duracrete, trying to use it as a makeshift cudgel to kill Nara. The female's maneuvering would be sluggish yet wild, the beast clearly still reeling from being attacked with Nara's lightsaber.

--

Flood remained quiet through @Salek Fallanai's inane speeches. The production of the thermal detonator may have seemed like a deus ex machina to the fledgling Jedi, but to Flood it was merely cause for a condescending smirk to crease his lips. Throughout Salek's droning, the sith alchemist drew the darkside energies that swirled ferociously throughout his lair into himself, preparing for whatever he may have to do to rid he and his compatriots of this unwanted annoyance.

Oh no my Jedi friend, I'm sure neither of us could ever slip anything past you. Flood said, his tone mocking and amused. A cackle shot from his mouth shortly after, its echo cracking off the walls like arced lightning.

Flood made no moves to retrieve the lightsaber that hung loosely on his hip, he felt no obligation at the moment to relinquish or brandish it. The threats of imminent demise coming from the Jedi seemed unlikely and fell on blind eyes.. er, deaf ears.

The radius of a thermal detonator is five meters, young Jedi. You may incinerate my friend here, but that is of no consequence to me. In this place, I am the darkside. You have no power here. Flood paused for a moment, his vile, venomous sneer returning. So go ahead. Press the button.

Throughout his talking, Flood would remain vigilant. Should the Jedi attempt to make any sudden movements, he would be ready to stop and do what was necessary to react.

 

[Izel Thral]

Nar Shaddaa
​

Izel cringed visibly as dark energy began to pour out of the terentatek, infesting the air around them. With her well attuned senses the Vratix almost felt drowned in it. From all her research on the terentatek she had never recalled anything like this. "What in the galaxy...?" She began to ask before there was a sudden shift in the Force. And then all that dark energy began to rush back towards the beast as it hunched over, shuddering. Izel gasped with realization, there was no time.

"Isen get down!" She shouted urgently, and leapt over the dying monster to where her apprentice stood, so she landed between him and the creature. Turning around, she unleased a Force wave of her own just as the terentatek destroyed itself with a mighty blast. The two opposing waves struck each other with tremendous power, releasing a deafening crack like thunder that echoed all around the small chamber. Izel had succeeded in countering the worst of the explosion, but was still thrown backwards with great force and showered with the terentatek's blood.

The Vratix slammed into her Padawan before falling to the ground, crying out in pain as she desperately tore at her burning cloak, trying to get it off. The garment fell to the floor nearly completely eaten through, and the insectoid's skin smoked from the caustic fluids. Izel struggled to get up before collapsing again. She'd live, but she doubted she'd be doing any more fighting anytime soon. Slowly she turned her head towards her apprentice to see if he had faired any better. "Padawan?" She asked worriedly, her voice weak. Without her cloak a gruesome old scar was revealed creeping along the length of her right arm.

@Isen @Flood

 

[Isen Ramm]

Nar Shaddaa​

"Isen get down!" he heard his master say, and Isen, if nothing else, was obedient to Izel Thral's commands. Isen hunkered down, and tried his meager best to extend the force shield outward for further protection. Unfortunately, the beast's power won the day, and both master and Padawan were thrown back. Thral landed on Isen, shielding him from the brunt of the toxic, acidic goo that exploded out of the terentatek. Isen could tell, however, that the sacrifice of his master took a most serious toll on on her. She was hurt badly. An acidic smoke was rising from the Vratix's body. She tried to stand, and Isen was moving to help her up, but she collapsed before the young Kiffar could help her get upright. Isen saw the scar, but his immediate concern was the current state of his Master. Stoic by nature, one to hide his emotions, bottle them up, Isen Ramm would show worry and concern plainly on his face and in his eyes. The worry was not for himself and his safety moving forward, but rather the prospect of loss of the only true friend he had.

"Padawan?" Izel Thrall asked. She sounded so weak.

Isen knelt beside her and took hold of one her tarsus, refusing to grimace as the acidic blood of the beast started to burn the inside of his hands. . "I'm fine, Master. Don't worry about me." He looked her over. He was not a healer. He didn't know what to do. He could fight. He could negotiate. He could manipulate the Force to move things via telekinesis and run fast and jump high. But he never had a talent for healing. Isen, a Padawan known for his decisiveness did not know what to do or how to act. A Padawan who had often been scolded for acting prematurely and without thought now sat frozen, unsure. "Master, tell me what to do."

@Reyn @Flood

 

[The Eclipse]

Coruscant
​

The thermal detonator, though damaged, had still been devastating. @Nykoria Tallis being on the very edge because of her hasty retreat had doubtless saved her from a short, painful death by incineration. Sirius could feel she was still alive, as he expected. A badly wounded Jedi was worth more than a dead one, tactically speaking, though he certainly wouldn't have minded if she'd met her end. But he and his group had other work to do to secure their retreat. Last he checked, another Sith was in the area Sirius was headed to as well, one of Vyrassu's madmen. He was briefly distracted by the report of Talak Rand's appearance, but he trusted Overwatch to be handle to handle him well enough.

@Darmus Onn and his dataplague would find themselves simultaneously too early and just in time. Many of the Ranger station's systems were shorted or destroyed and remained uninfected, and others simply weren't connected to the primary network, but there was a secure console by the basement armoury that had a foreign system plugged in. It disconnected from the console shortly after, but Damus would be able to confirm the plague had spread to the foreign system before it was disconnected. He may well be able to trace that system to where it would eventually end up if the user didn't notice the dataplague before it was too late.

@Dr Ilana Morata and @Trini Halrixien had survived the Sith woman's spiteful final attack, though with severe burns along Ilana's arm and a long cut from a vibroblade across Trini, respectively. @Corran Velt was not dying, as @Falynn Tikarsis could determine through careful observation. Outside stimuli may result in autonomic pain response with even the slightest touch, sweat would pour, breathing rapid and ragged, but the Sith venom rarely killed its victims unless they had a particularly weak heart. He was undergoing an extended response to pain. Though the brave Ranger could be cured of further damage by a dose of toxin removing medicine, his nerves had been attacked. He would remain in pain for another day with lingering sensitivity during the recovery period, but he would survive.

In particular the stripping down and removal of Corran's blast vest by @Lorcan would be agonizing. Luckily Corran wasn't awake for the waves of burning agony the simple movement of cloth over skin would provide.

Down in the records room, @Vera Coulter made her desperate stand against the rage-crazed Nemoidian. The thrown console dug deep, sinking into flesh and crushing bone. The blade of the Nemoidian's lightsaber seemed to intensify under the influence of his rage, crackling and sputtering wildly. The Dark Side twisted chaotic around him, stun bolts veering wildly off course despite the short range. Vera's vibroblade quickly began to heat and warp as the Nemoidian bore down, hatred burning in his half-blind eyes. She would die. She would pay! She wou-

Thunder rang from the hallway outside the records with entrance, bright crimson cannon bolts its lightning. The barrage of E-web fire that @Crix Aran behind the Sith interrupted his rage-induced assault on the old Ranger, cutting him down and blowing him across the room, burning through several consoles, and reducing the already damaged records station to useless slag. The smoking remains of the Nemoidian landed in several places, inert and very much dead. So dead. The very first dead person Crix had ever made in his life, in fact. But at least he and the old Ranger were safe, for the moment.

@Lorcan made his way into the basement unopposed, a series of wall signs leading him toward the hall containing the armoury. As he turned the corner he would easily spot another person halfway down stepping out of the door to the evidence room, turning to look at the ex-Ranger. An old man, countless wrinkles creasing his kind-looking features and back bent by the weight of years- an image rather marred by his eyes, practically glowing a wicked yellow-gold and the scarred lightsaber clipped to the belt of well-worn robes. He smiled in a grandfatherly way upon spotting Lorcan.

"Oh, another guest? I'm afraid you'll have to come back another time. We're busy here, you see," he said, slowly and steadily beginning to walk toward Lorcan, wrinkled arms bent before his body. Obviously a Sith, clearly physically weakened by age, but he still stood between Lorcan and the armoury.

Back outside, @Mara Kensei would quickly find that the two soldiers were anything but friendly. When she announced herself their helmets snapped toward her and, realizing she wasn't one of them, both open fired with a duo of bolts each from their E-11D rifles directed toward her center mass.

In the distance the gunship passed by the station, leaving a trail of dead and wounded CorSec officers in its wake. It banked around to direct itself toward the ruins of the Ranger station from a new angle and locked its weapons on target- this time, all of them.

The snipers had stopped firing for the moment, a brief lull in the rain of precision blaster fire.

Within the building @Talak Rand had found himself in, the descending lift finally reached the bottom. With an anticlimactic ding the door wooshed open to reveal- a holoprojector plate, thirty centimeters wide. After a moment it flared to life, the full colour image of a young man shrouded in darkness filling the life. His eyes were black as pitch, seeming to look both at and through Talak, and his stood with military poise and precision. Despite it being only a hologram, the sense of something Dark surrounding the figure would be all too clear. A vague shimmer there, the ghost of movement in a shadow there, and the familiar sense of being hunted by something hungry. If Talak launched the glass he would see them pass directly through the hologram and shattered against the wall and projector, doing no more than sending a wave of static through the image.

"Talak. So you are on Coruscant. Shouldn't you be checking on Ms. Aran?"the figure asked coldly, raising an eyebrow and checking a datapad in his left hand. He saw the detonation of Trys Aran's apartment as confirmed and on schedule. "Although, it would be pointless, I suppose." The young man looked back up at Talak with those dead, dark pits he had for eyes, the tiniest smirk forming on the edge of his lips.

"She should be in pieces by now."

@Catbert @TerranSteel @Killa Ree @Nefieslab @Ecclessey @Frannykins87 @AutoFox @Kestrel @MasterTyvokka @Dmitri @Phoenix @FireSong @Phantom

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Coruscant​

And just like that, this place had become an immediate triage. Waves of jealousy and resentment poured from the female Ranger closest to her, however, and amber eyes flicked up to meet @Bast Emblai 's own venemous gaze with a level stare that spoke volumes.

This isn't the time or place right now.

Thankful for the other Ranger's medical intervention, she glanced over to @Falynn Tikarsis , and the reveal of an Affiliate badge on her coat spoke as much.

"Dr. Ilana Morata," she replied quietly, shuffling closer to Corran's inert form. Glancing to the female Ranger that looked like she would rather shoot daggers at her, her face softened ever so slightly.

"Please bring the Amaran here too. I can't do it one-handedly."

Pain churned in her stomach, screamed in her nerves. Sweat began to bead on her forehead and her face tightened, but she had to remain focused. Even the sight of Lorcan wasn't a surprise anymore. "Do my best to help," she replied in clipped tones.

"I'll need a sample of whatever's on the blade for later analysis, but for now I have something that will help some," she spoke, swallowing hard. Her other hand dug through her black bag, finding a hypo and a measure of black liquid. "Stuka cheskar, in case of poison; one dose, but as for the stitching for the cut I can't do it one-handedly." She glanced at the medic Ranger, almost an apologetic glance. "You'll have to do it; it'll scar, but..."

She hesitated. Briefly, the most tender expression touched her features. How long had it been since Starfall? It felt like ages ago... She reached a hand over as though to brush some of his hair away, then paused. Her voice was low, soft. "Stay with me on this, cowboy. I... and many others here... need you around for a while."

The lightest brush swept away some of the bangs away from the matting blood for the medic to see the cut better. She could dial a dose of the toxin-neutralizing liquid antidote, but administering it was no easy feat. And there was treating the Amaran for her wounds, and who knew how many called-in medics hadn't survived the gunship---

No. I need to focus.

Taking a deep breath, she felt her hand tremble minutely at abused flesh singing agony up and down her spine in protest to every movement or air, getting the dosage right, then gritting her teeth to lean down and administer the dose into his neck, the surest way to administer the drug while he was unconscious, opening up her bag for the Ranger medic to use should she need additional supplies.

She wouldn't fall apart now. Not until they were all safe and secure, and her last patient stabilized. When she pulled away, a bloody handprint was left on the duracrete from her lightning-burned arm.

No time. On to the next. Keep breathing.

@Nefieslab @TerranSteel @Kestrel @FireSong @AutoFox @The Eclipse

 

[Salek Fallanai]

Spoiler: OOC

Hey Flood, sorry I didn't link it earlier. I just wanted to assure you that the detonator isn't a deus ex machina, I set it up back on page 5. Here's the link.

Spoiler: DM Post

Oh no my Jedi friend, I'm sure neither of us could ever slip anything past you. Flood said, his tone mocking and amused. A cackle shot from his mouth shortly after, its echo cracking off the walls like arced lightning.

Nar Shadda​

Flood made no moves to retrieve the lightsaber that hung loosely on his hip, he felt no obligation at the moment to relinquish or brandish it. The threats of imminent demise coming from the Jedi seemed unlikely and fell on blind eyes.. er, deaf ears.

The radius of a thermal detonator is five meters, young Jedi. You may incinerate my friend here, but that is of no consequence to me. In this place, I am the darkside. You have no power here. Flood paused for a moment, his vile, venomous sneer returning. So go ahead. Press the button.

Throughout his talking, Flood would remain vigilant. Should the Jedi attempt to make any sudden movements, he would be ready to stop and do what was necessary to react.

Salek's mouth worked silently for a moment. He had always expected that the Sith's arrogance would be their downfall, but if Salek himself got killed because their hubris caused them to make a silly mistake, that would just be...sad.

"Five meters? Maybe for the tiny little balls the Sector Rangers like to dangle around," he replied to the Sith, "but my master doesn't really enjoy half measures. This is a Merr-Sonn VX-20 Class A detonator. Since I doubt you take the time to actually learn anything useful, I'll simplify it. You're used to little booms for people who are afraid to make a mess. This is a big, big boom for when messes are all you want. Now put your lightsaber on the floor before I do something drastic."

Some part of him hoped that the others had made it through whatever was waiting for them, but he couldn't check. They were too far away, and nobody had taken the time to set up commlinks. He couldn't count on hope; he had no idea what the others' capabilities were, or what they were up against. They could be fist-fighting a rancor, or they could be tied up in a broom closet somewhere. He had to handle this situation on his own, and the indolent self-assuredness of the Sith made it pretty clear how low his odds of survival were. They were so lost to the Dark Side that they didn't believe they could die, even facing down a fusion bomb. The fear began creeping up in him, but he swallowed it down.

You're dead either way, he thought to himself. Don't let them get ahold of you. You know what they'll do. If you're going to go out, make it quick and drag them with. And hey, maybe stalling wasn't such a bad tactic after all. Maybe his brief allies were capable and on their way. It would be nice to get a pleasant surprise for once.


@Flood @Jerex Dorn @Cyrus Anvari

 

[Maeve Byrne]

Dathomir

Perhaps it was the wrong thing to say, she had a knack for saying the wrong thing, but the dark woman was also certain it was part of the role of being a Sith. The monk's gaze focused on her and though the Jedi stepped between him and her, she still felt its effects. Her stomach turned as though she had been thrown into the air and now was free falling back down. It was enough to set her off-balance and she readied to pull off her mask to hurl whatever contents that were still settled in her stomach.

The Jedi spoke, suggesting it was time for them to leave and Maeve was ready to agree to this yesterday. For a voice and odd phenomena that pulled them here, they sure were not as welcoming as she would have liked. Most Sith had other means of figuring out these mysteries, but it was not in her style to do so.

Maeve pushed herself up, grimace to her unsettled stomach, and it was then there was a unison of voices, one that demanded freedom from shackles.

"Who's shackles?" Maeve questioned and agreed with the Jedi Master, it indeed was time to leave. However, that was when more guests arrived and the Sith was not too enthusiastic about this situation.