Into the Maw

[DudeTheManatee]

As Soran waited on a report from Skaut he inspected the bodies, "Whatever killed them was not doing it for food. Maybe for sport?" He disliked the idea of being hunted, he sifted through the corpses for any information. During his search he felt something odd, not the presence of a creature commanding the Force, but anger, fury, excitement...hunger. Soran could not pinpoint the emotions but they were somewhere on the station.

 

[Fyremage]

Even with a Sith as powerful sa Soran and Saevius, they would be hard pressed to feel anything really on the station. In fact, the longer they remained aboard the station, they would notice a small haze begin to threaten their sensitivities, rendering their ability to sense anything outside of their immediate area completely inert.

The datapad was largely intact and in working order. It would take Skaut little time to find a series of holo logs recorded within the datapad. Most were corrupted and inaccessible due to damage suffered, yet one was still retrievable by the looks of things. The record began as if from the perspective of the owner of the datapad, likely the sentient laying at its side near the datapad. It was a Cathar, male by the sound of his voice, with fear palpable in his voice: "G-get us out of here. What is t-taking so long??"

A voice from the cockpit could be heard, with a similar level of frantic anticipation clearly heard as well. "Shutup and let me think!"

As if completely ignoring the demand, the Cathar continued speaking: "Everything has gone to schatta, completely and utterly to schatta. Ever since they brought that thing on board, nothing has been the same. Did you see that look in Evelyn's eyes--"

Just then, a loud, unmistakable thud could be heard in the craft. A third voice, a woman's could be heard this time. "They've found us! We're dead, we're all dead. Oh for the love of--" The Cathar quickly rushed up to the woman, who was a dark complected human woman now currently laying in a pool of her own blood opposite the Cathar. He gave her a vicious slap which caused her hysteria to quiet, as if she snapped to her senses. The Cathar's voice could be heard again.

"Theatrics aren't going to help us at this stage, so I suggest you help contribute to the situation rather than folding under the weight like you always have." Time, as it seemed, had run out for them as a violent heave could be observed by means of the feed, causing the visual feed to cut off, with only the sounds of metal screeching echoing through the datapad, along with ghastly screams of terror before the feed cut off entirely.

Silence filled the upended shuttle after the holo recording for several moments. Aside from normal personal effects one could expect amongst Imperial researchers and personnel, Skaut, Soran, and Saevius would find little else of use save for a key card laying randomly in the middle of the floor.

 

[Steel Wraith]

"Final logs. They must've only been staff here." Skaut noticed the keycard and picked it up. It was about the size Skaut's palm, with a corner cut. "A keycard. Maybe it'll help us get somewhere. It could also be the main control room door." Skaut then felt a chill go down his spine. "What if that thing is still here on the station? Like...some hunter? And we're the prey." He said this and pocketed the keycard. He looked around, mainly at Soran. "Reminds me a little of Felucia."

 

[DudeTheManatee]

"No time to think of the past boy. We need to focus on the here and now.", even after these years Skaut did not know what to focus on. They needed to find out what the keycard went to and what happened here. "This is far from a normal mission. That recording confirms something was here and it did this.", as he spoke Soran did not show fear but intrigue about a creature he had no knowledge of. "I think we need to move on, we will find no answers in a ship for the dead.", his words followed him toward the door.

 

[Fyremage]

Nodding in agreement, Saevius silently followed Soran out of the shuttle and into the main hanger. It had seemed the troopers accompanying the three Sith had succeeded in securing the area, with troopers returning from all directions reporting little incident. Lt. Vosk's voice bled through the comm channel they all shared. "My lords, the hangar is secure. My troops report no signs of life within the hangar thus far, and we have refrained from inspecting the ships until further orders."

"We shall handle that, Lieutenant." Was all Saevius had said in response. The Inquisitor stepped toward the Mandalorian craft which stood several meters away from the upturned craft. Yet, despite the extreme fogginess the Sith would experience after their repeated attempts to reach out with the force, a small sign of life could be felt very close to the trio, coming from the other side of the upturned craft. Saevius paused, as if trying to center himself and feel where precisely the presence was. Yet, if Skaut were paying attention, he would likely spy a small blur of motion off to his side behind the upturned shuttle.

 

[Steel Wraith]

"But the past is nice." As he said this, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. He felt a presence of life here, and saw the blur of motion. "What's that?" He asked, trying to get closer to the blur. He grabbed his lightsaber, just in case, but he didn't activate it. He looked around, all he could see was that blur, darkness and that's it.

 

[DudeTheManatee]

Soran closed his eyes and pointed his head to the ground, "Well there goes the element of surprise." His eyes snapped open and narrowed on the blur trying to focus with the force but something was off. "Once we are done with this problem we need to check the Mandalorian ship.", his voice was low and fast the words were almost impossible to hear if they were more than an arms reach away. "We see you, if you understand me surrender and maybe find mercy. If not you are very outnumbered and outclassed.", as he spoke, Soran's hand moved closer to his saber ready if the need should arise.

 

[Fyremage]

In response to the demands made by Soran and Skaut, what appeared to be a young woman wearing a tattered imperial uniform dashed over to the nearby wall of the hanger, her hands frantically working to open the grating which blocked her entrance into the station's ductwork. Saevius proceeded over with the other two Sith, and with the force he quickly pulled the woman backward - clear of the grating and flat on her back. She let out a fear-addled scream, shouting at the top of her voice: "PLEASE! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME. PLEASE DON'T KILL ME."

She repeated the desperate plea as if a mantra to protect her, with the Inquisitor rolling his eyes as he turned his back to her and scoffed scornfully.

 

[Steel Wraith]

"Easy, easy, easy." He walked over to the woman, he felt the pure terror and horror she felt. "We're Sith." He placed his hands on her shoulders. He felt something wet on his right hand. He moved it and discovered blood. "You're hurt." He studied the wound. "It's pretty bad, guys. Whatever happened here probably caused this wound." He walked to Soran. "What's the play? She's scared, possibly any memory of the thing that happened here is being repressed by the terror. Maybe we could examine her memories...see what she knows."

 

[DudeTheManatee]

"Play? Is this a game Skaut? We have a Inquisitor right here, why don't we let him use what the temple taught him.", Soran smiled at Saevius. He looked over the woman as well, "She is not injured as bad as you think, that is not her blood." So far Skaut was showing mercy, why? "As you said we are Sith. Sith do not beg, tell us your name and rank.", the station seemed to chill, everyone in the hanger could feel it.

 

[Fyremage]

Spoiler: ooc

Sorry for the delay guys. I usually take weekends off, plus we are buying a house. I'll try to be more on my game. :)

Wordlessly, Saevius nodded at Soran and proceeded over to the young woman. She was frantic, that much was sure. Skaut's initial reaction prevented her from delving into pure mania, yet Soran's direct manner merely made her go quiet. While generally speaking the trio of Sith would feel a clouded sensation when they reached out to sense life or otherwise on the station, her close proximity allowed for them to fully read her emotions. Her pulse quickened, and she was in obvious mental distress. The Inquisitor stopped short of her, peering down at her. He deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it to his belt before leaning down to her. She pulled back slightly, yet Saevius' calm demeanor kept her from bolting. "W-what are your names?!"

"I am Inquisitor Saevius." Saevius said flatly, pausing as he allowed for his companions to also introduce themselves. The woman's eyes flicked over the trio, and her body seemed to relax slightly.

After a moment's pause, she began: "I am Le'va, I--" She interrupted herself with a pause, and her eyes widened once again. She rose to her feet and looked at the three Sith "We have to leave, now! Follow me."

With deft reflexes, Saevius reached out and grabbed the woman's wrist firmly: "Relax. We can help you. We have a shuttle over here. Now if you just answer our questions, we can--"

"THERE'S NO TIME!" She barked. "I have to get out of here. It's only a matter of time before they come looking." She looked at Skaut, Soran, then in turn Saevius with pleading eyes a she added: "Please!"

The Sith would feel no deceit in her, nor intent to deceive. She felt an urgency - born from surviving on this station for a thus unknown amount of time. Should they listen to her?

@Steel Wraith @DudeTheManatee

 

[DudeTheManatee]

"Who are they?", Soran spoke with frustration and urgency, any threat that could do this to a station could be a major problem. For the first time he took his saber from his belt and became very aware of the surroundings, his connection to the force felt strong but could not feel anything other than the soldiers and the Sith that stood beside him.

 

[Steel Wraith]

"Obviously whatever came through this station and did all this..." He said, grabbing his lightsaber, studying his surroundings. He was looking around, but couldn't feel anything in the Force. He only felt the accompanying soldiers and the Sith he was traveling with. He was getting bored. 'If I came in alone, I could've been in and out.' He said, feeling the Rage and Dark Side gnawing at him, begging to be free.

 

[Fyremage]

Without waiting for the Sith to decide whether they would follow her or not, the woman rushed over to the air vent she was attempting to crawl through previously. Wordlessly, Saevius moved to follow her, and paused to glance back at his companions after taking his first few steps. He was about to say something, yet it appeared he thought better of it as he merely turned to follow her. It was plain to him that the best way to get answers was through this woman. To allow her to get away was stupid, but to further antagonize her by preventing her escape would yield little results as well.

Would his companions follow suit? Or would they remain in the hangar. There were still a handful of other craft yet to be inspected, and as of yet the hangar appeared to be rather quiet.