Open Flashpoint Lead By Example... or Something

[Natalie Hope]

Who the fuck burns a bunch of grain? Like honestly? Grain makes beer and beer is delicious! Dressed in what had become her usual black jeans, olive tank top and black leather jacket, Natalie quickly made her way through the panicking halls of the presidential building. She was familiar with these halls. The last time she had been here, she gave a kid some snacks and even let another kid play with her lightsaber- under intense super vision of course. Seven year olds were dickheads but Natalie wasn’t that mean to let one use a deadly weapon on their own.

The first person she recognized was in fact, that same seven year old. His cheeks were drowning in tears, and the only words she could make out of his seven year old gibberish were the words “mom.” Natalie knelt down in front of him, gently grabbing his arms.

“Hey, buddy,” she said. “I’m here to get you and your family outta here. Let’s go find your mom, okay?” The boy nodded. Natalie picked him up and carried him as she swiftly made her way through the halls again. The president would most likely be in her office. Natalie was really hoping the seventeen year old daughter was there too.

To say time was of the essence was an understatement. The Sith had come to Genassa. Fields were burning. Citizens were being hauled away or killed. It was a fucking nightmare. Natalie’s priority was getting the president and her family off the planet with the waves of civilians that were being herded into shuttles and taken to shelters around Jedi space.

Natalie rounded a corner and stepped into a heated discussion between the president, her daughter, and other people in clothing Natalie could never afford that were obviously Genassa leadership. The president looked over at Natalie, her face marred with concern, worry, and sadness.

“The Jedi are here to defend us?” she asked.

“Other Jedi are, I’m here to get you and your people to safety,” Natalie said. “Let us handle things here. C’mon.” Natalie beckoned for the daughter, and by extension the president. The president motioned for the daughter to go, but stayed put herself.

“I’m the President of Genassa. I will not leave while my people are still here.” Ah yes, the go down with the ship type. Lovely. Natalie grabbed the daughter’s hand, spun on her heel and started back the way she came toward the shuttles.

“I’ll be back.” Hopefully more Jedi than just her would start showing up. All the Knights in the order and a Padawan is the one leading the way. Mr. Jawline give her strength. The seven year old started bawling. The seventeen year old found her voice too, calling out for her mom to come with. Natalie didn't stop though. She would go back for their mom, but she had to get them off the planet first.

 

[K'reel D'rellson]

For K'reel, with his heightened sense of smell and vision, the flare of fire and the smell of smoke was all but consuming as his towering form stepped forth into the halls of the Presidential Estate. He popped his short neck, enveloping himself in a barrier of the Force as his skin threatened to dry against the flames and heat that lingered. K'reel, dressed in his usual attire of cargo pants, combat boots, and vestige of his people, walked into the Oval Office just as a Padawan towing a young girl passed his massive form and his eyelids blinked at the President's argument. Foolish woman he thought silently to himself as he closed the distance in less than a blink and with two of his webbed fingers to her forehead, caught her now unconscious body.

"President or not, you will serve no purpose dying here." His voice growled behind extensive rows of sharpened teeth. Looking to the others, he blinked once again. "Gather what you need and follow me. There is little time for our retreat and the Sith are at the door. You will serve no one if you are dead."

With that said, K'reel threw the unconscious woman across his shoulder and broadened his barrier to include her, if only to protect her from the rising heat before he pivoted on his heels and made his way toward the exit. One thing about being enormous and looking like a beast from a horror-holo, was that usual when K'reel spoke, most held a tendency to listen. Even some of those that claimed to be Sith.

By the time @Natalie Hope would begin to return for the others, K'reel would now be stepping outside and handing over the unconscious President to the Med Corp and releasing her for transport along side her aides and children as he let down his barrier and felt the cooling night flow across his moist form. He was aquatic in nature after all, so the barrier had become a standard defense against the elements as much as opponents.

"I am Jedi K'reel Drell'son, at your service Padawan." He spoke as he reencountered @Natalie Hope outside the estate, giving a formal bow. "I came as quick as I could once the orders were issued. Thankfully I was only a few parsecs away."

Gazing up toward the illuminated sky clouded with smoke and hellfire, K'reel grimaced. The Peace had ended. The Empire laid in shambles. And the Hutts reached far beyond their station. He knew this day would inevitably come, but it came quicker than he had anticipated. Still, there were young Jedi such as she, the Padawan before him, that gave great hope for the future. But only if they survived without falling. A lesson that he knew all too well with his own.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Keck]

Waiting for Natalie at the hangar, passenger ship awaiting refugees, was the bouncing banana yellow shape of Keck. His frantic bobbing - spurred on half from excitement, the other half from anxiety - certainly made him a visible beacon to any evacuating the facility. Especially because of the glowing green glowsticks he waved frenetically in each hand. No, not his lightsabers. Literally green glow sticks. "Come, yes! Get safe! Get snacks!" the amphibian warbled. And he wasn't lying, either - while no space was spared to house as many people as possible, under every seat was a lovely tub of self-warming soup waiting for them. Seeing Natalie and the big burly Karkarodon helping guide those inside towards the hangar bay, Keck gave the two a reassuring nod. "Yes-yes, bring more! Keck will go outside and lead others!"

With that, the diminutive Knight ran for an open garage door out into the city streets, continuing to frantically wave his glowsticks about. While gathering a lot of attention from the anxious citizens, his intentions were not immediately as clear as Keck presumed. After several moments of flailing, he croaked out reassuringly, "Come, yes! Follow friendKeck! Find snacks and safety!" With this brave, inspiring speech, the Jedi turned around and began march-hopping-waving back towards the hangar bay, another transport landing as he approached.

@TheDudeMike @Mythos

 

[Tycho Denarii]

A YZ-775 swooped low out of the thick black clouds rolling in from the west over a small farming hamlet several miles south of the Capitol, spotlight shining down and sweeping over the startled group of farmers standing at the edge of their fields watching the glow of flames on the horizon grow closer. Circling twice the ship came in for a landing outside the fence as a man with close-cropped blonde hair wearing dark brown Jedi robes pulled haphazardly over a flightsuit leapt down from the boarding ramp before the ship had even touched down and ran over to the families with his hands held up in the universal gesture for surrender as the farmers met his approach with weapons raised, a calming expression on his face that didn't quite reach his wild blue eyes.

"Hello there! I'm sorry for startling you all but my name is Jedi Knight Tycho and I bring urgent news from the Capitol; the Sith are here in force, burning as they come. We need to get you all to safety before the fires or the soldiers arrive."

One of the farmers, a short human woman with sun-browned skin and mousey hair stepped forward with a scowl on her face and her arms crossed over her nightgown. "We can't just leave our homes, look at those fields! We've gotta start planting tomorrow! And what are we supposed to do if they burn our crop in the barn? Who's gonna feed us, you?" A low murmur started among the men and women behind her, some looking at the beckoning ramp of the ship and promised safety longingly while others glared and squared their shoulders as weathered hands gripped their tools and hunting rifles. The woman looked the bedraggled Jedi up and down, eyes narrowed as she spit off the side and pointed an accusatory finger at him. "I'd say that you should be defendin' us but you don't even have one of those fancy laser swords on your hip! No, we're stayin'! Make yourself useful and help build a firebreak or move on."

Tycho bit back the curse that wanted to climb out from his throat, taking a slow breath and releasing his frustration and ange-upset away into the Force. He could understand her feelings; the Ossein braved similar odds whenever they tried to save a foundering ship, hoping against hope that the seals would hold or the purrgil would pass or the folks crawling over the hull repaired the life support systems before they ran out of air. It was a need born of privation, to fiercely cling too and defend what little you had, even if it seemed to be small in comparison to the value of a life. He took another step forward, hands raised calmingly before slowly reaching for his belt and putting together the pieces of his lightsaber, holding it up for her inspection as a low snap-hiss echoed across the field and a beam of pale blue light blazed into existence, though the glow seemed to dim as the smoke and red glow of embers pressed in around them. Extinguishing his blade, the Ossein Knight met her eyes and spoke again in that same low, soothing voice.

"I understand you want to defend your homes. Maybe the Sith don't notice your farms, and maybe the fires pass you by; but if they do notice you... if the fires come - ma'am, I can see at least ten frightened children behind you. I will come back and I will try and help get a firebreak built and protect you if I can, I swear it - but let me at least get the children and those willing to evacuate to safety moved out of the line of fire first. Please."

The matriarch stepped forward and reached up, grabbing his chin and pulling his face down to be level with hers. She peered into his eyes for a moment, searching for something he couldn't name before letting out a grunt and releasing him. "Fine - those that want to evacuate can go with you - but I'd better see you back here the moment they're safe in the capitol, Jedi! You gave me your word and I expect you to keep it." She turned away and then glared back at him over her shoulder, "And don't you call me ma'am, the name's Lottie."

Bowing, Tycho grinned and turned to the ship where an L4-series droid stood at the ramp with a bundle of blankets held in it's arms. "Lari! Get the ship ready, we're taking off the moment these people are onboard - and please, by all the little gods, try not to upset anyone this time!" The droid sputtered, photoreceptors flashing as he tried to lift his arms, stumbling to stay upright under the weight of the blankets before walking back up the ramp with a curse in Bocce hurled out behind him. Tapping his wrist-mounted commlink, Tycho waited for the connection to pick up and quickly reported in, "This is Knight Tycho answering the call for relief and evacuation, I'm heading towards the capital from the hamlet at Grid Aurek-9 with a number of families, though some have refused to leave. I'll be bringing this group to safety and then coming back to try and convince the rest to evacuate and defend them if need be." Waiting for acknowledgement, he let out a shaky breath and released his anxiety and fear-nerves into the Force. Turning back to the approaching farmers, Tycho knelt and gave a small bow of his head to the children with a soft smile on his face before looking up and meeting the eyes of the adults. "Thank you for agreeing to come - it's going to be a quick trip back the capitol so let's get you settled inside and we'll be on our way."

Standing and clipping his lightsaber to hang at his belt, Tycho gestured to a little girl clutching a ragged-looking stuffed tooka with a missing ear close to her chest forward with all the grace of a diplomat meeting a queen; "After you, milady." Fear temporarily forgotten in the face of laughter, the children surged forward and vanished up the ramp where a hovering BA-series astromech weaved through the air and chirped chipperly at them before zipping away, giggles and whistles and beeps getting fainter as they began chasing him deeper into the cargo bay. Looking at the parents Tycho met their scared faces with a small smile and gestured them forward, speaking with quiet, steady confidence suffusing his warm voice. "I will do my best to keep your families safe, I promise you. Have faith... trust in the Force."

Looking back as they filed up into the ship, the Knight looked between the approaching dark ember filled cloud and the small hamlet bustling about like an army of Endorian ants as they began preparing for the coming storm, the smile falling away to leave a solemn expression in its place. "Have faith, Tycho..." he murmured under his breath, trying to release the doubt he could feel churning in his heart without much success as he walked up the ramp and closed it behind him. "Trust in the Force."

 

[Natalie Hope]

Natalie knew that circumstances were dire. Of course they were dire. The call that the Sith were on Genassa was a pretty big deal. An even bigger deal when you realized that the price of grain just shot through the roof which means beer and bread were also going to be through the roof. Even so, Natalie couldn’t help but feel for the kids, who’s lives had been peaceful up until this point; all while internally cursing them for crying. How dare they be sad and also adorable at the same time.

Speaking of adorable. KECK! Natalie couldn’t help but smile as she let go of the seventeen-year old’s hand and dropped down on a knee to lower the boy to the ground. They moved by Keck, but the seventeen-year-old turned and screamed. Natalie followed her vision and Mr. Jawline so help her; if that shark was carrying the body of who she thought it was…

Natalie didn’t wait for the Jedi Knight to finish introducing himself. She jabbed a finger up and into his torso. “What in the absolute FUCK are you doing!? We’re Jedi! We don’t knock people out to get our way; ESPECIALLY not in front of their kids!” She finished with a frustrated growl, not in the least scared of the toothy behemoth. Right now she could skin him alive and use his hide for a pair of boots. No Natalie, Jedi didn’t do that either. Right. If his face wasn’t full of sharp teeth she’d have clocked him though.

She turned back to the president’s kids, ushering them inside the medical shuttle with their mom and showing them where Keck had stored food and supplies. “You’re mom is going to be fine, I promise. Don’t lose faith in the Jedi just yet, alright?” Her words were directed at both of them but her hardened, hazel eyes were on the daughter. “I’ll find you when this is all over, I promise.”

With that, the Padawan that was starting to feel the pressure and weight of being a Jedi in her shoulders, back, and legs, rushed out and down through the halls again. People had taken up the sides of the halls, directing people where to go for the evacuation shuttles. She followed them until there were no one in the halls left, just rooms of scared people.

One by one Natalie opened doors, convincing people to come out of hiding and head down the hall where the guides began. Why hadn’t she just become a baker or something?

@Mythos @Shalken @Rom

 

[K'reel D'rellson]

K'reel stared at the young Padawan with confused eyes, blinking briefly in her departure, unsure as to what had upset her. The Lady President had refused to come. His mission was to evacuate and save as many lives as he could. The course of action taken mattered very little in the end. It wasn't like he had hurt her. Just put her in a sleeping trance. She would be fine when she awoke, and safe, with her kids. Alive.

Still, he couldn't help but grin at the Padawan, a certain fire in her eyes. His grin, however, didn't help the situation with the onlookers. He was Karkarodon. And a Karkarodon smile, as friendly as it was, held a tendency of scaring most sentients. Looking over at one of the on lookers, he jested as he rubbed where she had jabbed him. "She has the heart of a Karkarodon. This is good."

But K'reel's mission wasn't complete. Many had flocked to the Presidential Estate in fear and desperation. And now that they were here, many held the false belief of safety. This wouldn't do. Looking outward across the rolling plains and forests, it was evident that the Sith Warmachine would arrive in a day's time, maybe less. And the Padawan that led the charge, big heart but little experience. K'reel would aid her however.

Reentering the engulfing Presidential Estate, K'reel followed the halls until he found her again, her intent to usher each individual out a heroic and yet daunting task for one such as her. Opening himself up to the Force, he let his mind wonder across the emotions of fear, and let the light within his heart flow over it. Those who hid in fear would feel an embracing warmth layer upon their heart, a desirable intent to trust the one pleading for them to follow, and a semblance of hope and peace lead their thoughts. And soon, one by room, the room's would begin to empty as the Karkarodon stood motionless, his gaze fixated upon the flow of the Force as he let his own emotions intertwine with theirs.

Once the Estate became an empty burning husk, K'reel would fall to his knees in pain as his skin cracked in its drying, coughing up clumps of phlegm filled with smoldering soot. It had been more taxing than he anticipated, and with his focus upon helping the Padawan rather than his barrier, he had left himself open to the heated environment.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Keck]

At some point en route the hangar, Keck turns around to encourage his followers - only to realize that basically nobody is following him. Most of the civilians, looking scared and worried, were just giving him confused looks. He could see that most were filing their way towards a large warehouse of some kind, quite some distance away from the hangar where the refugee shuttles waited. Keck huffed as he waddled hurriedly in the direction of the building. These people clearly didn't know what snacks were waiting for them.

Hustling his little legs into the warehouse, the place was totally packed. While perhaps once used for farming equipment, it was now crowded almost wall to wall with people, their attention directed to somewhere at a far end. Making a concerted effort to navigate through the crowd, Keck's diminutive form made it difficult to be noticed at all, never mind let through. Noticing a row of hooks and shelving arrayed along the wall leading toward the person making some kind of speech, Keck leaped up onto the attachments, clambering along the side.

Now able to see above the crowd, Keck noted a figure standing on a makeshift stage that had stopped their speech, regarding the strange newcomer with wary curiosity. Leaping onto the stage, Keck raised his glowsticks high into the air again, waving them with frenetically. "Come to hangar! Jedi ships here, have snacks! Help escape!" he proclaimed. The crowd, however, didn't look too convinced. "Why should we evacuate? You should be out there, fighting the Sith! Not leading us with food and herding us like cattle!" the speaker declared, murmurs of agreement echoing through the gathering. Keck lowered his glowsticks glumly. This was harder than he thought.

@Rom @TheDudeMike @Mythos

 

[Kaedan]

Kaedan was a person who believed in helping others once he was able to. When he heard that the sith were attacking Genassa he knew he had to do something to help the Jedi with the evacuation effort. A planet full of grain being attacked and destroyed for whatever schemes the sith had. This wasn't acceptable. It wasn't the Jedi way to push a fight but maybe in an instance like this they should. Maybe that was a thought that other Jedi knights and padawans shared liked Kaedan but the most important thing overall was keeping the innocent safe. They didn't ask for this and so they needed to be pulled to safety then it was up to the Jedi to do their best to defend the home of the locals. At least, that's what Kaedan believed.

Kaedan ran through a a village of grain farmers looking the people who lived in the village. He had found a young couple who had secured themselves in a makeshift bunker. Kaedan knew that this bunker wouldn't be enough to keep them safe. The fields of grain were on fire and once it hit the village there would probably be nothing left. "Hey, I am here to help. I am Kaedan Javik of the Jedi Order. You and everyone here need to evacuate. There is a Jedi shuttle not far from here that would ensure everyone's safety." The young couple looked at Kaedan but they didn't budge. "We can't leave our home. This is our life. We grew up here and we will stay." Kaedan sighed. He understood why they would want to remain but for them to remain would be certain death. "I understand. Trust me, I do. If you stay here, you and the village will perish. While we Jedi are doing the best we can, the truth is, the fields are burning and not every piece of land we can save but the people, we can try to get them all to safety."

The couple still refused to budge but a little girl ran out of her home. It was one of the buildings that caught on fire. She wasn't alone as she had an older man with her who seemed to be her grandfather. Seeing this, the couple immediately stood up. They reluctantly decided to accept the evacuation. "Fine... There are more people here that are in their homes or in makeshift bunkers like this one. We will help as well. If anyone is reluctant, tell them that Gerra and Roza are helping with the evacuation and that should convince them." Kaedan nodded and moved from the couple.

He looked for some of the others, finding an older couple who barricaded themselves inside their home. Kaedan knocked on the door. "Hey! We need to get you evacuated. I am Kaedan with the Jedi Order and we are here to help. Gerra and Roza are evacuating and you need to as well." Even though he said what Gerra had told him to say, this older couple was even more stubborn. "Let them run away. This place is our home and we will not leave it no matter what. If we must die then we die." There was no way for Kaedan to get in without unwarranted force. "I can tell that this place means a lot to you. It's special to you because you worked hard to maintain it and now you're being to ask somewhere you invested so much into. I know it's scary to think about losing everything you worked hard for. There is no promise that it can all be saved but what can be saved is your lives. That is something that has more value than any place in the galaxy. Not only valuable to you but to your neighbors and your family if you have. Don't let them lose their homes and you too. A home can be rebuilt with time and work but a lost life can never be restored." His words were able to reach the stubborn man who decided that they would evacuate as well.

As the old man started to unbarricade the house, the fire started to catch in the room. As it grew, they expressed fear which Kaedan could sense with the force. "It's no use. By the time we finish unbarricading the door, the fire would already have gotten to us." Kaedan grabbed his lightsaber and ignited it. "Take a step back. I'm going to cut through the door with my lightsaber." After giving them a few moments to move away from the door, Kaedan sliced the barricaded door in half and then slowly opened it with the force. "Come, let's go." He deactivated his lightsaber and got the elderly couple from the house.

After gathering the villagers, Kaedan led them back to the Jedi shuttles that were around. He guided them inside and made sure that they didn't have any injuries.
@TheDudeMike @Rom @Mythos @Shalken

 

[Tycho Denarii]

"You talk funny." "Wha- what do you mean I talk funny?! Kid, I know more languages than your little brain can comprehend, how exactly am I talking funny?" "You talk funny!" "That's not an answer!!!" "Is so." "It's 'it is,' and no it isn't." "Is so!" "Is not!" "Is so!!" "Is not!"

Tycho had to hold back a laugh as his hands ghosted over the controls of The Tipsy Convor as they entered the capitol's airspace, triggering his Jedi vessel transponder as he talked over where to land with the spaceport authority. L4-R1 was a relic - part family heirloom, part family - having belonged to his father and his grandfather before him and has never once been mind-wiped; combined with the already notoriously quirky programming of the L4-series and you got one of the most infuriating and touchy personality matrices that the Ossein Knight had ever encountered. Coming in for a landing at their assigned platform, Tycho turned in his seat and looked to his right where his droid copilot was glaring at the little girl with the one-eared tooka stuffy, photoreceptors blinking in agitation and arms crossed over his spindly metal chassis.

"Lari, give it a rest; you're arguing with a toddler... and I'm pretty sure you're losing." Grinning at the girl, Tycho released her seat belt with a flick of the Force and nodded his head toward the stairs leading down into the cargo bay. Glancing back at the droid, Tycho patted him consolingly on the shoulder and said, "Do me a favor and do a quick check on our fuel, see if we need to fill her up before we head back out there." Ducking out of the cockpit before the droid could begin defending that no he hadn't been losing the argument Tycho adjusted his robes to look a little more presentable over his flight suit and took the stairs down to the cargo hold two at a time, smiling reassuringly at the clustered families as the cargo bay doors opened to show a landing pad full of running people and ships landing and lifting off in rapid succession. "We're going to get someone from the spaceport to get you processed and onboard a Jedi ship until the planet can be made safe, please come with me and stick together! I know it looks a little crazy out there but I promise we know what we're doing."

Guiding the farmers out of the ship Tycho quickly flagged down one of the people wearing the uniform of the planetary authority and handed the group off to them with a bow and a promise to get the rest of the villagers to them as soon as he could. Turning away the Ossein reached out with the Force and let out a relieved sigh at the bright presences he could sense across the spaceport; Jedi working together could accomplish so much more than a single Jedi on their own and he hoped one of the others might have an idea to convince Lottie and her hold outs to retreat to safety. Sensing one of the Jedi's mood plummeting he made his way toward the energetic presence in the Force(@Shalken ), a gentle telepathic ping letting him know he was on the way. Stepping into the warehouse, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath to focus and calm himself from yelling at the one stirring up the locals when they were trying to evacuate before approaching the glum looking amphibian Jedi and the agitated speaker.

"What seems to be the problem here? As I'm sure my fellow Jedi has told you there are ships waiting to take you to safety. The Sith, I'm sure I don't have to tell you, are not known for their mercy and we cannot focus on fighting to remove them from your world if you stay and risk becoming a target. You want us to save you and your world, we want to do the same; so what seems to be the problem and why are you trying to prevent us from doing it?"

@TheDudeMike

 

[Natalie Hope]

Natalie was making her way back to the shuttles when her EZPhone pinged. She pulled it out, swiping it open. She could take bad news like the best of them. She was Ord Mantellian after all. Give it to you straight, knock your lights out if you disrespect it, take her hits and move on; it was the way she’d always been. The news that the Jedi that had engaged the Sith had lost and were left in a burning field, the Sith leaving in earnest still made her heart drop through her stomach.

Pulling up the communications part of the phone, she searched all nearby Jedi phones and pinged them with a message. “All Jedi on Genassa, the Knights that engaged the Sith lost, but the Sith are leaving. Any Genassan that wants to leave still can, but if they want to stay… let them. Send someone to pick up our fallen and put out the field and home fires. Let’s help with recovery.” She released the ping, letting the message send and putting away her phone. Maybe there was still a chance they could salvage this relationship.

As much as Natalie wanted to be sad about the loss, she couldn’t help but think about the reasoning for the Sith to come to the planet in the first place. They fight two Jedi and then just dip after killing civilians? What were they even after? It didn’t make any sense- unless the Jedi had caused enough damage to the Sith that they had to retreat. Natalie grit her teeth and growled. She hated shadows so fucking much.

Returning back to the shuttles, she would wait for any of the Jedi to return as well. Her arms were folded across her chest, her eyes fixed on the president of Genassa’s kids who were thankfully eating the provided snacks but crying over their unconscious mother. Natalie clenched a fist, trying to let the anger go. They were Jedi, and they just couldn’t help but keep fucking it all up for themselves could they?

@Shalken @Rom @Mythos @StephDLegend

 

[K'reel D'rellson]

As K'reel exited the estate, his EZPhone chirped with a message forwarded by @Natalie Hope. The Jedi Knight's gaze would shift from the phone, toward the burning fields and the evacuation that had commenced, then toward the star filled night sky that had become blanketed with smoldering fumes left in the wake of the Sith War Machine. Reaching up one of his webbed fingers to clear its screen, he cursed under his breath as his claw cracked the screen. Without another word, he chubked the phone behind him and left it where it laid. He really should stop wasting his money on technology that wasn't made for his kin.

As he made his way toward where the shuttles had gathered, he couldn't help but think of the lives lost here this day, nor the reactions to his own actions. Had he been gone for far too long that he had grew out of touch with the Order? Sometimes a reluctant participant needed a good swift kick in the rear, or so that was how he saw it. Still, was his actions Jedi like? He was unsure to be honest. He had always been one of action first, consequences later. Better to ask forgiveness of one rather than permission to recover the body. Or so he thought.

When he arrived, he found @Natalie Hope standing near where the President and her family was being looked over and taken care of. Clearing his throat as he made his approach, as to let her know that he was there, he made an attempt to apologize.

"Forgive my actions earlier, Padawan." He spoke, attempting a heartfelt smile, but recoiled at the grimacing of his teeth. "I meant no ill toward her, only to save her life before the Sith could arrive. Her importance to her people should have been her first priority, not the selfish desire to be the last. What good would her death be to her people? Perhaps I acted in my own haste. Like you, there are many things that I have to learn as well, it seems."

There was genuine sincerity in his voice, his voice soft and low as to not have his words fall upon the President's own children as he made his apology to the young Padawan. He knew that perhaps he had acted too hastily, but there was no way of knowing the outcome at the time and he felt it was better to rescue and deal with the repercussions of his actions later. The young Padawan before him, however, had reminded him that sometimes diplomacy wasn't his strongest suite. "I...I.. thank you for the humbling you have granted me. When the President wakes, I will gladly face her wrath for my actions."

With that said, K'reel would allow her response, if she had any for him, before bowing and taking his leave as he moved through the makeshift triage in hopes of being some use to someone. Perhaps the young lizard @Keck would need some.

@TheDudeMike @Shalken

 

[Keck]

As the new Knight that arrived tried reasoning with the speaker, Keck quickly read the ping that he'd gotten from Natalie. Seeing the news, the amphibian raised his glowsticks above his head in elation once again. "Sith gone! Safe now!" A ripple of relief moved through some of the crowd, though many remained crestfallen at the damage that had already been done. While they didn't need to evacuate the planet anymore, all the refugee ships were still here, and more on the way as well. It was unfortunate, Keck had put so much work making sure those ships had snacks available, all about to go to waste...

That was it! The snacks!

Keck jumped off the stage, heading for the door and waving the glowsticks. "Come, follow Keck! You lost food, we give out snacks!" It definitely wasn't a terrible idea. These people had just lost a large amount of their fields, and would now need supplies to hold them over until next season. Whether he was being followed or not, Keck waddled his way once again towards the hangar bay, at least gathering a semblance of a curious crowd behind him.

@Rom @StephDLegend @Mythos @TheDudeMike

 

[Kaedan]

Kaedan had made sure the villagers didn't have injuries. After seeing that they were all physically fine, he searched the shuttle he was aboard for edible items for the villagers, especially the children who were there in the event that they were hungry. He sympathized with them. He wasn't sure how he would feel if his home was invaded and burned. Luckily for these villagers, they all survived and agreed to come to safety. The only things that were lost were homes and everything in it that wasn't salvageable.

One of the kids tugged against his robe and he looked down at the young boy and smiled. "Hello, young one." He knelt down to the boy's level. He offered the little boy a smile and a friendly expression. "One day, I am going to be a cool Jedi like you." That made Kaedan smile. "It's hard work but if you put your mind to it then yeah, I believe that you can accomplish such a feat." He stood back up as he heard the ping going off his EZPhone.

Kaedan took out the device and saw Natalie's message. He frowned at the news but as was the way of life. He put back on a smile since there was a bit of good news and that was the good news he was going to share with the villagers. "We have a good update. The sith invaders are leaving the planet. The Jedi are going to help with extinguishing the fires and the recovery effort to get you all back on your feet. I would ask that you all stay here and sheltered until the fires are out and we can recover what's salvageable. Once that's over then we can get started on repairing your homes."

Kaedan looked at his EZPhone once more before putting it away. They would mourn their losses later but now it was time for them to help the people of this planet. He walked to the exit. "I will be back once it's clear for you all to return to your village." He stepped out of the shuttle and sighed. He started walking back towards the burning village. Could he have prevented some of the buildings from burning? If he arrived earlier, could he have out the blaze that was coming towards the village?
@TheDudeMike @Shalken @Rom @Mythos

 

[Tycho Denarii]

Tycho was standing with his arms crossed over his chest and an expectant look on his face as the Genassa native stirring up the others opened and closed his mouth without words, waiting for him to explain to the Knight and the others gathered why he felt delaying the evacuation so the Jedi could focus on defending the planet was a good idea when the Jedi Alert Network pinged on his EZPhone. Looking down as Knight Keck waved and announced that the Sith were leaving. Tycho felt his breath catch as he saw that the Knights engaging the Sith had failed and that the fallen would need to be picked up. Nodding firmly at the amphibian Jedi, Tycho turned and rushed back toward the Tipsy Convor, wrist raised as he barked orders to L4 in the commlink to finish fueling and to have Doc prep the MedBay.

He took the corner fast, a tendril of the Force leaking into his movements as he navigated through the crowd of milling refugees deciding whether they'd go back to their farms or take the Jedi's offer of refuge off planet. As he passed the table where a harried Genassan official was checking IDs and taking down information he saw a small hand wave and followed it down to the little girl holding the stuffed tooka, a serious expression on her face. Taking a breath and slowing down, Tycho stepped closer to the line and knelt down to look the little girl eye to eye, forcing a smile onto his face despite the turmoil and helplessness he could feel raging inside him.

"What can I do for you, milady?" "M'name is Sara." "Well, Lady Sara then, what do you need?" "You sad." It wasn't said as a question, her little face screwed up in concentration as she reached a chubby hand out and patted his cheek. Tycho blinked, surprised to find his eyes watering and let out a weak chuckle before brushing the tears aside. Squeezing her hand, the Ossein Knight nodded and let out a sigh before saying, "I guess I am a little sad, Sara. I don't like seeing people being hurt... and there's a lot of hurt in the galaxy, young one." Sara hugged her tooka tight to her chest, her dark eyes still focusing with a surprising intensity on his. "You scared?" she asked quietly, as if sharing a playground secret. Tycho let out a breath and nodded, giving her a soft smile. "Sometimes, yes. But my father used to tell me that the only time you can be brave is when you're scared... so maybe being scared sometimes isn't such a bad thing." She looked at him and hugged her tooka one more time before holding it out to him; it was an old stuffed animal, patched and repaired often with one ear flopping limply over the button-eyed face and the other missing entirely. "When I'm scared, Mr. Stuffles makes it better. He can help you be brave too."

Tycho tried to push the toy back to her but she insisted, pressing it into his hands and showing the same stubborness from when she was arguing with L4 before. Looking up at her bemused parents who gave a helpless shrug of their own, the Knight chuckled and reached for his belt and pressed a commlink into her hands in return as he took Mr. Stuffles, carefully tucking the stuffed toy under his bandolier against his chest. "I will borrow Mr. Stuffles then... and if you get scared you can have your mum and dad call me on this and I'll bring him back. Does that sound fair?" Sara nodded and gave him a quick hug and then rushed back into her father's arms, waving to Tycho with a loud, "Goodbye Mr. Jedi!" as their names were called and they were led to a shuttle.

Looking down at the tooka, Tycho removed his glove and brushed his bare fingers against the worn fabric, his knees nearly buckling as the impression of emotions washed over him like a tidal wave; love and happiness and fear of dark things in the night overcome by courage. Taking a fortifying breath, he felt a smile twist his lips - the first true smile since he'd landed on Genassa - and lifted his hand to wave goodbye before turning to head up the ramp of the Convor. There were wounded Jedi in the field that needed assistance and, afterwards, he still had a promise to keep. Settling into the pilot's seat next to L4-R1, Tycho placed the tooka on the console and lifted off, setting course for the distress beacons pinging the Jedi network.

It was time to be brave.

@TheDudeMike @Mythos @StephDLegend @Shalken