Ask Knee Deep In Nonsense

[Jayna Thorne]

.

“According to my calculations, the Malagarr System - located at Atlas coordinates V-18 - is the last explored system along our trajectory.” The voice of the protocol droid echoed across the open terrain. “My databanks contain no information about this planet or any neighboring systems in Wild Space.” There was a long silence that followed the statement from the droid, with only the sound of native crickets to fill the air.

“Yes,” Jayna finally said, staring out over the distance. “I could’ve guessed that we were lost. Thank you Twelves,” Several hours ago she’d made that determination, in fact. The protocol droid had been a gift from her father - as that particular model had been in the family and served her Altaris relatives for decades at this point. After a few memory wipes and upgrades, it was passed to be by Jayna's side wherever she went.

It was a wonder that the irritation hadn’t begun to bleed into her tone at this point - despite the numerous attempts to get her ship operational. The simple fact was that Ezra (@Sreeya) was the ship geek - and she hardly knew her way around enough to fix much of anything. Not to mention, there was no real explanation for her ‘crash’ onto the mysterious planet. There was seemingly no major system failures, and yet her yacht had been pulled unceremoniously from Hyperspace and forced to make a landing on the verdant surface of the planet. Initial analysis revealed her hyperdrive completely burnt out, leaving the quarter-Sephi completely without the ability to leave.

Of course, HoloNet signal wasn’t any better.

Jayna allowed her gaze to travel the landscape all around her - taking in the jungle and waterfalls in the distance. Were it not for the unfortunate circumstances, it would’ve been a thoroughly scenic and beautiful setting. The heiress was silent for several minutes, weighing her options and all the possibilities available to her. After a while, she finally stood up - checking the blaster pistol that she’d strapped to her hip. Emryc made sure that his children were well-equipped to face the world, complete with her martial arts training - and no shortage of weapons stashed on her yacht.

“I am going to take a look around. See if I can get signal on higher ground,” She said flatly.

“That would be highly inadvisable, Mistress Thorne. I believe it best to remain with the ship until help arrives from the Consortium. The distress beacon is still active to signal for aid.” Twelves said back firmly.

Jayna stared back at him blankly. “Have we been able to get any signal since we arrived on the planet? Or otherwise contact the wider Galaxy?”

“Negative, Mistress Thorne.”

Jayna rolled her eyes. “Stay with the ship, Twelves. I’ll be back before the sun goes down,” She said, once more checking her gear. The heiress was dressed in a pair of tight pants and leather jacket - complete with Trandoshan hide boots and a utility belt. Pocket rations, water and a simple blaster pistol were stored there, while her black hair was tied into a long braid.

“Heavens no.” Twelves began to walk alongside her. “It is my programming to remain by your side, though I must again insist you rethink this.”

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla had come to the Malagarr system in search of her latest quarry. This time it wasn't a bounty but or an artifact, but knowledge. Of course, this was no surprise. It was almost always knowledge with her unless she was having to pay the bills.

Rumors had told her that there was an old group out this way that was said to be able to see the future. Seers or perhaps Iktotchi, she wasn't sure, but what she did know was that they might be able to give her the information she was after.

She'd set down on planet, but had almost immediately become lost in the beauty of the planet. Flowing falls and trees that sprung up all over the area. Wildlife was pulsing in the Force all around and then... someone else. She didn't know who, but she could sense fleeting higher thoughts that only came with sentience.

Perhaps that meant it was who she was looking for... one of the seers.

She slung her bow over her shoulder and started heading in the direction of the person she sensed. The trip was quick and in short order she came upon another ship, frowning and crossing her arms as she looked at the landing area.

Well, that's not who I'm looking for, she grumbled to herself, all frowns and an eyeroll before starting to turn and head out in her own direction again.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

It only took ten minutes of walking for Jayna to immediately regret Twelves coming along for the journey. Like her father before her, the Heiress wasn’t particularly talkative - and was even less so during moments of stress. To fill the silence instead, was the continuous protests and whining from the Protocol droid, particularly as mud began to coat and cake on its exterior, chromium shell. Had they not already trekked out this far, she likely would have turned the proverbial car around.

Instead, the Heiress walked with her hand near the holster of her pistol - watching her surroundings carefully. Thanks to her Sephi heritage, Jayna was able to pick up on the faint sounds and footsteps a touch better than most - and used it to her advantage in that moment. While Arla began to approach the general landing pad some distance away, Jayna caught a brief glimpse of the woman.

Her silver eyes immediately flicked to the tattoos, primitive bow and general ‘Queen of the Jungle’ get up. Her hand settled on the grip of her pistol, watching Arla for a moment before she started to walk away. “If you speak Basic - do you happen to know where we are?” She called back. Assuming Arla didn’t quickly respond, Jayna would likely follow up with a very exaggerated “DO YOU SPEAK BASIC”, complete with hand gestures to get her point across.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla had started turning to walk away, noting the woman's hand on her pistol, but the Nightsister didn't think she was going to draw. There was really no reason to and Arla saw no reason to fight anyone.

The woman started yelling about where they were, which caused Arla to stop, turning to look over her shoulder. Before she could decide if she was going to respond, the woman was gesticulating wildly and asking if Arla spoke basic.

There was a solid moment where Arla just stared at the other woman, blinking once before finally responding.

No, she declared deadpan. She wouldn't even be surprised if the woman actually believed that Arla didn't speak basic.

How do you not even know where you are? she asked before frowning. Oh yeah, this prissy girl wasn't here on purpose, was she?

 

[Jayna Thorne]

Jayna stared back at Arla - offering the Nightsister a similarly blank and unamused expression in response to the snark. It was all the confirmation she needed that communication wouldn’t require intervention from the Protocol droid standing not but four feet away. Despite her silence, the Heiress didn’t neglect to analyze and study the woman standing across from her - from the tattoos inked across her skin, to the visible weapons that she carried. Eventually, of course, Jayna glanced up to make clear note of the Nightsister’s piercing eyes

As if staring into her own reflection, Jayna found hues of silver almost identical to her own - vivid and piercing like those of her father and twin. They were a distinct Thorne trait, and combined with the slightly fluted ears the Nightsister bore, caught the heiress entirely off guard. It was both intriguing and unsettling to see those traits on anyone Jayna didn’t recognize as family, though she deliberately opted not to raise questions quite yet.

She crossed her arms over her chest, dark brows furrowing at the question. Without a word, Jayna glanced back over her shoulder - staring in the direction of a very clearly derelict and crashed Nubian Yacht. Her gaze promptly shifted to bore into the Protocol droid that was entirely out of place in the untamed and wild environment, before settling back onto Arla.

Jayna figured that the Nightsister would answer her own question, and had no intention of explaining the situation any further.

Before she could question their location or what the woman knew, Jayna’s attention was drawn to the sound of movement beyond the treeline. Just as she’d picked up on Arla’s approach, the sound of footsteps - deliberately slow and methodical in an attempt to be quiet - caused her hand to ever-so-slightly shift towards the grip of her pistol.

“We aren’t alone.” She said as little more than a whisper - but loud enough that Arla’s own sensitive hearing would pick up. The statement was meant just as much for the Nightsister to be on guard, as to get trigger-happy as Jayna reached for a blaster.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

The other woman didn't answer, but that wasn't all that shocking. Ultimately, Arla was going to simply turn and walk away before the lost girl said that someone was coming. Arla sensed it too, her head tilting slightly to the side to listen more closely. The steps were, indeed, soft, and while that alone wasn't enough to consider it an enemy, Arla couldn't shake the feeling creeping up the back of her neck. A feeling she'd learned long ago not to ignore.

She turned back toward the sound, her body instinctively dropping into a crouch as she surveyed the forest beyond her. She didn't tell Jayna to do the same, but she did unsling the bow from over her shoulder as her eyes continued to sweep over the area.

A rustling in the bushes caught her attention as her eyes flicked over only for the crack of a slugthrower to split the air and tear a hole through a tree stump right next to her face.

Dirt and bark burst into the air, spraying across the side of her face as she dove into the dirt, another shot tearing through the air where she had just been moments ago. As it turned out, these people weren't friendly.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

Jayna resisted the urge to roll her eyes when Arla said nothing in return. The heiress determined at this point that the part-Sephi with strangely familiar eyes wasn’t going to be any help to her current predicament, and lost interest attempting any kind of conversation. Before either of them could deadpan and walk away, Jayna’s attention was drawn to the sounds that cracked and rustled just beyond her field of vision. It could have been nothing more than a wild animal.. But Jayna knew better. She had been taught by Emryc since a child to be paranoid and always on guard, and the heiress knew the sound of someone trying to follow without being heard.

It didn’t take long for the quarter-Sephi to slowly begin drawing the pistol from her hip, fingers curling around the trigger at once. She lowered herself towards the ground, creeping ever-so-slightly to the left and towards a tree to provide some cover for herself. But she didn’t make it more than a two steps before the slugthrower went off - tearing through the tree just adjacent to Arla.

“Seriously?” Jayna practically hissed the words, immediately diving to the ground. She couldn’t help but grimace as her expensive leather boots and designer jacket were caked in mud, but neither did she hesitate - given the other option was getting shot. She immediately pointed her pistol, silver eyes snapping towards the source of the slugthrower or any of his buddies.

Unfortunately for Twelves, the protocol droid wasn’t nearly quick enough to dive for cover. Out of nowhere - several feet from the original shot - another slugthrower round tore through the bush - slamming into the chromium exterior of the protocol droid. It tore right through the droid’s left arm and shoulder due to the close range, blowing the limb clean off and leaving a gaping wound of sparks and wires.

“GREAT HEAVENS!” Twelves flailed, screeching out in terror. “I’VE BEEN SHOT!”

Jayna narrowed her eyes, immediately snapping in the direction of the slugthrower round. Without hesitation, the quarter-Sephi fired off two stun bolts in rapid succession - vanishing past the treeline. A moment later, a masked figure stumbled forward and fell face-first into the mud, dropping the slug rifle he’d been firing off with at the two of them.

Without hesitation, Jayna quickly scrambled across the mud - switching her pistol to leather and proceeding to point it directly to the side of the fallen native’s temple. “Drop your weapons now!” She pushed the barrel against his head for emphasis, clearly not afraid to kill the man if they didn’t comply. It was a bluff to be sure, but would Arla or the natives know that?

@Phoenix

Roll: 19/20 for return fire....

 

[Arla]

Arla scrambled behind a nearby tree as more rounds cracked through the air, drawing fire and apparently the droid was doing so as well... albeit far less successful at the "dodging" part than Arla.

Prissy moved in and fired on their attacker, downing the other person in short order though the stun bolts were hardly as "decisive" as lethal force in Arla's mind. Still, the job was done. He was face-down in the mud and quite unconscious despite Prissy's threats.

I don't think he's going to be complying, she said, looking at his completely limp body in the mud.

Find something to tie him up, she said to Prissy. He would wake up in a few minutes most likely.

She bent down and started rummaging through the man's pockets, moving the slugthrower away and emptying it of its ammunition.

Besides rations and a hunting knife, the native had nothing else on him and she grunted. Apparently they weren't friendly here, and she would wager that others weren't far away. She wanted information, but she wasn't sure they'd have time for an interrogation.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

Jayna glanced up when Arla spoke, furrowing her brows ever-so-slightly. “I can’t possibly imagine how you managed to infer that.” The heiress said with deadpan delivery, briefly glancing down to the man with his face in the mud. Her words had been meant for whatever friends were still lingering in the trees, but apparently they’d taken the opportunity to flee and leave their companion for dead. A fact that was.. Good to note for the future, if they managed to encounter the natives again before too long.

Jayna glanced down into her utility belt - spotting a few general use zipties. She didn’t hesitate to secure the native’s wrists and ankles together - ensuring that he had no way of escaping and coming back to attack them down the line. Only then did she take another look around their surroundings, and then to the protocol droid that was still in shock to her left.

“Are you alright? Anything critical?” She asked, glancing up at the missing arm and damaged shoulder of Twelves. The protocol droid, of course, was hysterical - despite not actually able to feel pain or the loss of its very shiny limb. With a small sigh, Jayna picked up the arm and handed it to Twelves to carry with his still usable one. “Ezra will help get you fixed up,” She said in a rare moment of tenderous, seeming to genuinely care for the droid despite their back-and-forth.

Only then did she look to Arla. “We can wait for him to wake up or keep moving.” Jayna squinted ever-so-slightly. “What are you even doing out here?”

 

[Arla]

Then why were you issuing him commands? she snarked back in return, simply unable to pass up the opportunity as it currently stood.

She went over to start doting on her droid as Arla headed deeper into the bush, looking for signs of the number and movements of their enemy. Despite the rather sloppy execution of their attack, Arla couldn't help but notice that they moved quickly and smoothly through their territory, leaving little by way of a trail to follow, though she could make it out just slightly.

She stood to her feet once again and was preparing to head into the jungle in pursuit to either hunt them down or perhaps find her Seers when Prissy appeared behind her again.

If he's not awake yet, then we kill him and move on, she said, the casual coldness in her tone would be enough to send chills down Jayna's spine.

Then I'll move to track them. They'll either lead me to the people I'm looking for or I'll make sure they can't get after me again, she said, starting to head off into the jungle after the tracks she followed.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

Jayna stared back at Arla. “I was talking to whoever is still out—“ The heiress caught herself mid-explanation, exhaling through her nostrils. It wasn’t often that someone was able to get under her skin - but the combination of snark and stressful situation was certainly allowing for an exception. It was typically only her twin sibling that was able to push her buttons - and yet Arla was doing it without even knowing her name.

It didn’t take long to get Twelves situated and somewhat calmed down - clearly relaxing at the thought of Master Ezra repairing his arm, and a premium oil bath to wash the stress away. Oh, to be a Thorne Family protocol droid.

Jayna glanced back towards Arla - and indeed felt a chill run down her spine when the Nightsister casually suggested killing the man. Her eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly, masking her internal hesitance. Even if Arla felt it through the Force, nothing played out on the girls expression. “Go ahead, Darth Raze.” Jayna said with an unamused stare, jutting her chin towards the energy bow the woman carried.

“I’m not getting blood on me and catching some disease.” She said flatly.

Whether Arla did the job or not, Jayna checked her pistol before gesturing ahead. “Lead the way.” She said. It was clear the quarter-Sephi was effectively attaching herself to whatever Arla was doing or where she was going - regardless of protest. As they began deeper into the jungle, Arla might begin to notice the almost tribal symbols that were carved into trees and chimes that hung from branches. They were almost impossible to see if one wasn’t paying close attention, but she just might.

They clearly marked a direction - a faint path through the vegetation where the natives had left none.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla's jaw tensed slightly as Prissy called her Darth Raze. She had no idea just how close to home that hit, and Arla wasn't going to explain. She wondered to herself where her father was right now and what he was doing. She could only guess wildly.

True to her word, Arla slung the bow off of her shoulder and raised it, pulling back the energy string and unleashing a single shot that carved away most of the man's head before she slung the weapon back over her shoulder again.

That's why you keep your distance, she said, letting Prissy see that Arla was not, in fact, covered in blood.

I won't slow down, she said as Prissy declared for Arla to lead the way. Although Arla wasn't going to tell her to go away, she also wouldn't risk her own neck to save the other girl.

Nevertheless, she pressed onward through the forest, the symbols out here initially vague and difficult to notice, but the further they went, the more unmistakable they became. Arla's gut began to churn with anxiety.

There was no sign of anyone else alive, and Arla sensed no one else through the Force, but she did sense that darkness that stained this place. The effigies that hung from the trees over the widening path held a dark power within them, and... were those ears that hung from the stakes lining the path.

Switch that blaster off of stun, she said simply. Whatever these villagers were, they were dangerous. Of that, Arla had absolutely no doubt any more.

 

[Jayna Thorne]

“Good to know you won’t be lagging behind.” Jayna said without missing a beat, staring back at Arla with her typical deadpan. Whatever perception Arla had formulated internally, the Heiress didn’t pay it any mind whatsoever - and frankly didn’t consider herself to be any form of hindrance. She kept her hand close to the handle of her pistol, but otherwise allowed herself to relax ever-so-slightly - silver eyes flicking across the jungle horizon. It wasn’t so different from her upbringing on Thyferra, albeit devoid of the luxury and amenities that the Heiress was, naturally, quite accustomed to.

As she hiked, Jayna couldn’t help but narrow her eyes - spotting some of the effigies and.. Ears? Were those ears? Even if Arla picked up on them first, they eventually became common enough that even she didn’t fail to notice. Whoever the villagers were, they weren’t at all friendly. It was just her luck that Jayna would crash onto a planet filled with angry little people, and it only fed her curiosity as to why Arla had voluntarily decided to pay a visit. Naturally, Jayna didn’t voice any of these musings - but rather continued to analyze and pick them apart within the confines of her own mind.

Which made for just fantastic conversation.

“Hm.” She hummed back when Arla spoke, clicking the safety setting over on her pistol. Even if she had hesitated to kill the man a mile back, Jayna wasn’t stupid enough to misinterpret the danger they were in. In the heat of the moment, the Heiress only hoped she wouldn’t hesitate again.

As the pair grew closer, however, Arla would begin to notice a shift in the air. A palpable darkness that hung across the jungle and clouded the Force - feeling like a weight that bore down on her chest with every intake of air. The Spirits, normally vibrant in places such as this, were silent and dim - as if they’d been driven away by whatever inhabited the village just through the treeline ahead of them. Strangely, Arla would still be unable to feel the pulse of sentient life around her, save for that which came from Jayna.

Just through the treeline, both quarter-Sephi would be able to see the village built into the jungle. Hutts and communal buildings raised up with leaves and cut branches, coupled with exterior walls adorned in wooden spikes. Ears, disembodied hands and the heads of victims adorned pikes along the outskirts of the village, serving either as a warning or as part of some foreign ritual. It was primitive and brutalistic - and resembled something not unlike the more rural villages of Dathomir. They would see the figures that stalked the outside of the village - patrolling the outskirts with slugthrowers that matched the one wielded by the ambushers.

The part that would almost certainly throw them off, however, was the faces attached to those figures. Rotten and greyed skin, just barely kept from slothing off the bone. Clouded eyes that resembled someone long-since gone blind. Blackened and sickly veins that stretched from the edges of their mouths, down their necks and to the tips of their fingers. All the signs that the men and women had died long, long ago.

And yet they walked.

@Phoenix