Ask Lost Treasures

[Captain Ahab]

Hyperspace can be a fickle and, moreover, a nasty thing. Things that go into in don't always come out the same. Things like wandering black holes could utterly wreck ill-planned space flights. There were always rumors of events like the Rift Disaster occuring to other beings. And there were stories of things like the Flight of the Harbringer, having one vessel disappear in one time and reappearing in another.

In a sense, the fate of the lost 'Treasure Hoarder' was a combination of these ill fates. Long ago, before the Clone Wars, before the invasion of Naboo, one Neimodian who gathered his greatest treasures into one ship, attempted to 'hide all his wealth in Hyperspace' where only he had access to it. Indeed, his specially modified ship would travel hyperspace and only reappear for repairs and resupplies.

The ship was successful...if a bit faulty. Something must have happened in Hyperspace. An engine malfunction, an improper calculation, perhaps even an unforseen element like spaceweirds or something wilder. Whatever happened, the Lucrehulk disappeared into Hyperspace, and never reappeared at its scheduled maintenance time 5 days later. Days turned into months, then years, then centuries. The ship, its crew, the Neimodian's family, and not to mention its treasures, never appeared. Forever vanished, it, its owner, and all the wealth accumulated over the years was considered lost by all. It was nothing more than an old spacers tale. Indeed, 'The Lost Treasure Hoarder' was told in cantina's across the galaxy.

Then, by some miracle, a disturbance. On the edges of wild space, the Treasure Hoarder broke hyperspace. Decrepit, the ghost of a ship drifted aimlessly in the void of space, on a one-way trajectory with a nearby blackhole. Even if its engines were functioning, it was already caught up in the Ion storms that surrounded that ebony maw. Now, only the smallest and fastest ships could get to the Treasure Hoarder before it, and all its fabled treasures onboard, vanished forever.

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Toffin Yate]

The luxury starliner, HMS Monoloon, floated silently in the vast void of space. A luxury cruise along the edges of wild space for those dering socialites with more money than brains. To see the sites, with promises of the unknown, the sudden apparition of a Clone Wars era lucrehulk fit the bill; much to the surprise of the crew who well-knew this cruise was nothing but a pleasure cruise of wealthy debauchery with trips near nebulae and secretly-plotted space anomalies and cosmic happenings. The captain found himself in a hard spot then when these adventurous pleasure seekers began clamoring a desire to visit the long lost treasure ship, to stake their claim, and find adventure. Lightly armed, the captain knew his ship stood little chance against a well-armed craft like the Treasurer Hoarder and the fabled defenses legend rumored it to possess. Hr was not risking his ship for this.

Yet, money talks; and finally, the captain had no choice but to relent, in part. An advance party would be sent to ‘secure’ landing and then those desiring to visit the hulk could be ferried over for a shore leave. Of course, the captain had no intention of there ever being a secure landing zone being established and his more seasoned crew knew it. They’d ping it for their less savory counterparts to return to after they left. No sense sharing whatever fabled ill-gotten booty there might be. Still, they had to look like they were fulfilling the part and a call was out out amongst the crew and hired hands for volunteers to go with the advance scout team. Obviously none of the senIor personnel seemed to be volunteering…

That did not mean; however, that a few brave, foolish, or desperate deckhands did not leap at the chance. One of those being was none other than Toffin Yate, a shuddering mass of foliage and positivity. Something in the force itself had seemed to predicate the arrival of the shift, the bery breath of the cosmos had inhaled at the ship’s arrival. That alone drew the Revwien’s attention.

Fronds chittering and swishing with excitement, Toffin boarded a small unarmed shuttle alongside a ragtag contingent of a half-dozen other hopeful ne’er-do-wells; many of whom clutched sensory devices or weapons, garbed in whatever piecemeal passing-for-protective-wear they could amass. Aboard the cramped supply shuttle, Toffin did his best to anchor himself to a seat without bothering the others too much. He could taste their excitement in the air he breathed, their exhalations; and it was contagious. Toffin did not know what to expect, but surely it would be grand. He was honored to have been chosen, one of few entrusted to go forth into the unknown. And why should he not? Had he not proven to be a forward thinking plant of courage and bravery already? Beneath them, the ship rumbled to life as it lurched out into the void toward the Treasure Hoarder and the inky black well that lay beyond. Time was of the essence and they had chosen the Toffin…

As the ancient lucrehulk loomed to fill their viewscreen, Toffin felt nothing but a passive tingle of excitement and joy in his leafy appendages even as he could taste the nervous air exhaled by the others. This was it, the edge of a greater unknown. That which lay beyond was not just his to discern, but everyone’s. Together, they would unravel yet another mystery of the universe.

The station itself was huge and imposing, befitting such a thing of legend and tall tale. That was not what drew Toffin’s attention though; no, it was the pilot and the greasy-looking swine of a so-called copilot. They were agitated. Hushed harsh whispers filled the air as they seemed to argue about something unknown, frantically and nervously switching from pulling on the controls before flipping switches desperately.

Something was wrong and everyone aboard knew it and there was little that they could do. So Toffin did the one thing he could do, the one thing he knew, he breathed; setting himself within the flowing current of the breath of the galaxy, feeling it around him as it pierced his body and filled every cell with it’s goodness, it’s reassuring power.

@Narzen

 

[Captain Ahab]

When the ship landed inside the hangar bay, nothing stirred...at first. While the life support system was working, the air itself tasted stale and old.

The Hangar bay the group had landed in was filled with a variety of antique vehicles and opened cargo crates. Skiffs, speeders and land speeders, racing star hoppers, luxury shuttles, even some boats. There were even a group of ancient one man devices that utilized wheels and foot power for transportation. It was a veritable wonderland for xenoarcheologists and historians. However, just because they were antiques doesn't mean they were well maintained. Many of the things were rusted or degraded to the point that the only value they had was historic. And the crates...the mold and growths from previously held food stuff or the toppled over mini containers and lockboxes were the only things to find. A treasure trove, this was not.

After a few moments, movement occurred. Several Vulture droids stirred and began to walk towards the group. Despite their fearsome, albeit rust-covered, appearance, the droids made no indication of combat. They simply approached and studied the lifeforms and walked around the shuttle. While they made no hostile actions, it was noticeable that they began to circle the shuttle before becoming still.

There was a clang somewhere in the distance as something fell. Metal footsteps.

"Avast ye!" a metal voice boomed out. Several brightly and sloppily painted B1s popped out around some places of cover, rifles trained on the group, while the heavy metal footsteps continued. A moment later, Captain Ahab made himself known. Stepping from behind a star hopper, the Super Tactical Droid, Buzz droid sitting quietly on shoulder, gestured his peacemaker towards the group.

"Draw ye guns, and we will take no quarter" Ahab stated simply. "Keep still, and ye continue to draw breath. Answer me this: Who are ye, what are ye doing here?"

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Toffin Yate]

Somehow, in someway, furiously fighting the ever-stagnating controls the shuttle managed to rumble to a rough landing inside one of the dark bays. Amazingly the nebulous energy shield that kept the void of space from sucking the ship clean like an oyster shell was still functioning, even if it was dark within. It was all the more unnerving the door was even open, needing to be shut for hyper-travel.

So as the ship landed hard, an audible sigh of relief was heard from those at the helm and weak cries of relief echoed through the cabin. So far, so good; and yet Toffin was bot sure yet. The cold dark that beckoned from beyond the open hatch door cried death, even as his fellow advance team began to spread out, lights splaying about the hangar across the myriad of eclectic and rotting collectibles even as they geld their weapons at a shaky ready. None of them were truly qualified for this, well, save for one feller, a gruff looking musclebound Klatoonian, unbeknownst to the others a former Hutt slave and enforcer.

Toffin shuffled after, his large leafy appendages carrying him slowly down to the cold deck of the ship. Behind him the hiss of steam came from the ship as her systems relaxed in the cold dark bay, whistles and whines of fluids and machinery returning to their rightful place. Once on the ground, the botanical being began to survey the area himself until he was startled by a grating and the ominous metallic cry of piracy. Immediately, Toffin froze, lowering himself to the decking, just another plant…in the dark….in a decrepit ship…in space…In the cold…the only plant here. Not the best hiding spot. He had little need to respond further as of yet. He was fascinated by what was unfolding before him. The r of the crew were busy enough in their startled reactions.

Of the six other members of Toffin’s ragtag taskforce, two immediately opened fire with their hosgepodge handguns, one other-a mountain of a man lashed out with the vibroblade he was clutching, and a fourth dove straight into the nearest droid. The Klatoonian had the wherewithall to drop to his knees, hands above his head in a universal sign of surrender hoping to not get aerated. Their so-called co-pilot, a diminutive humanoid looking fellow with large ears, dove for cover behind a rusting skiff. Toffin was content to sit and watch, breathing in and breathing out as he let the life breath of the universe breathe through him and invigorate his body.

The chaos that would undoubtedly follow should the droid pirate lord make good on his word would be swift and brutal. Droids did not have a tendency to show mercy. Toffin thought on this as the scene unfolded around them; and as the scream of the first of his compatriots being turned into mush by the robots echoed in the cold air, he knew he had to act. Drawing in his breath and with it breathing in the flowing life energies of the universe, Toffin allowed it to flow openly through every pore of his form. With a flash of green flame that illuminated the room, the Revwien vanished in a flash. It took but a moment as the Tyia of the force carried him across an eternal plain before depositing him. From there, Toffin watched as if through a green gelatinous liquid the scene unfolding around him before another flash of green flames belched him out a short distance away, directly behind what Toffin could only presume was the droid leader, @Captain Ahab.

Settled back on the deck, the breath of the force coursed through Toffin as he raised himself high on his branchy limbs to an imposing height. From there, he reached forward to tap the tactical droid on the shoulder. With a calm presence as if none of the chaos before them were unfolding, Toffin responded to the droid’s initial questions. “Greetings esteemed mechanical one. We are but a humble advance party for our patrons, come to make sure this place is safe for curious adventurers before their ship moves on. We mean you no harm. Perhaps you could assist us in this matter?”

Suddenly, over the din, a single bolt popped from somewhere within the team’s shuttle, zipping through the air with a zing before clattering loudly against the plated wall. An eruption of smoke followed before a cascade of bolt began to fly wickedly through the air, unable to contain the building pressure of the Monoloon’s captain’s insurance policy to prove the ship was not ‘safe’ in full fiery display, visible across the expanse of space from the carefully positioned viewports aboard their luxury liner.

@Narzen

 

[Captain Ahab]

When they opened fire, Ahab and his crew were willing to return fire as swiftly as their programming allowed. GreenHorn seemed the most eager of the droids. True, they were all programmed equally to fight, but given the number of years since their last memory wipe, each had their own quirks. GreenHorn seemed to enjoy the combat the most, uttering phrases such as 'Lets go!' and 'Pew Pew ugly bags of water!" BlueBlood held himself in higher esteem, rendering not maniac energy like GreenHorn, but quotes of reserved confidence such as 'We got this' and 'Just like my programming always told me!'. YellowBelly, the most reserved of the group and was always glancing behind him for a potential ambush, continued to warn his comrades, reminding them that 'Keep a eye on our flank boys' and 'This seems too easy! What are they planning?'

All the while, the large vulture droids simply watched. Even when some of the stray blaster bolts hit them, they made no movement.

Ahab himself fired twice, but stopped when the plant lifeform literally vanished before his sensors. His programming quickly tried to make sense of the situation, running through every memory bank he had on what exactly happened. Neither he nor his men had any disruptors, though not for lack of trying. Cloaking devices were impossibly for simple humanoids, as far as he knew. So in the end, there was only one conclusion.

Ahab spun around when the plant spoke up, and took a step back, pistol trained on the figure.

"Keep ye limbs upwards ye Jedi..." Ahab stated clearly.

Before he could respond to the plant's inquiry, their ship exploded. The Vulture droids around the ship backed off and began to walk away, as if their programming stated they were no longer needed.

Everyone stopped firing. Ahab turned and looked at the wreckage in confusion. Was this some kind of trick? If it was, it was beyond his capabilities of calculating.

"Cease fire all!" Ahab shouted after Greenhorn made one last shot, eager to get back into the fight. The B1s obeyed, though if any of the passengers survived was unclear. Still, the B1s remained behind their chosen pieces of cover.

"It seems ye need more assistance then me first assumed..." Ahab stated turning back to the plant, Buzz droid rubbing its tool arms against each other. "Still, it matters not. This ship be under my jurisdiction, as we claim it in the name of I, Captain Ahab..."

Ahab paused. "Aye, I would claim it, if we could leave. Our ship is be stuck in here. No sooner than we landed, the noble Poggle's Revenge was rendered incapable of leaving. This vessel's tractor beams be affecting it even here in the hangar, and flight is impossible now. And the doors from this bay have proven impossible to open so far."

Almost as if to mock the droid, somewhere in the hangar the sound of doors slowly opening could be heard. It was as if the earlier explosion had attracted the attention of something inside the mighty ship.

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Toffin Yate]

The bloodbath did not take long; even if the advanced party managed to get in a few licks. By the time @Captain Ahab called for a ceasefire, there were only three of Toffin’s companions standing. The comment about the plant being a Jedi would have to wait; but that was ok by Toffin. The explosion of the ship, their ride, was a slight bit more pressing as the Klatoonian, the dwarf, and somehow, the mountainous blade-wielding man turned in shock to see their ride home engulfed in flames; a fireball engulfing a portion of the hangar in searing heat. It was a heat that curled the edges of Toffin’s large leafy appendages across the room.

Toffin regarded the lead droid with curiosity. The finer points of droid-based claims of ownership were foreign to him. Even moreso if the rumors were true, antiquated droid-based property legislation. This ship had been missing for years, hundreds, possibly thousands; he could not really remember. Oh well, they had waited this long; and all the explorers wanted to do was that, explore. Toffin could not think of a conflict; well, except the exploded shuttle and dead crewmen. Toffin really did not like that his compatriots had been killed off so readily. It dod not make much sense.

“Why did your . . . machines, kill my fellow party members? Does that not go against your programming to preserve life?” Even as he asked, he thought that maybe perhaps his companions were wrongly perceived as a threat. Then his comrades replied in kind. “It was all a misunderstanding Captain. Would it be possibly for my fellows and I to assist you in freeing your ship from it’s prison cell? Our main ship is nearby and surely a crew of bots as pristine as yourselves would be most welcome aboard.”

Across the vast expanse of space; however, a slight grin played across the captain’s face. They had caught it all on video; evidence of the danger of the lost craft. Within the hour, they would have shown the video to those insisting on checking out the ship and would be on their way with a promise to return better armed and prepared. Meanwhile, the pirates’ associates would move in for the loot before the ship slipped beyond the event horizon.

The rumbling of unseen doors creaking and grinding against the dust in their grooves and gears called through the shadowy hangar bay of flickering enflamed shadows as the remnants of the shuttle engulfed the rat-chewed interiors of several rusted husks and toppled piles of crates with who-knew-what within. Toffin canted his mushroom-capped ‘head’ in a way to indicate his attention was drawn to the sound; even if it was entirely unneeded. It was a more mammalian habit Toffin had picked up from his fellow crewmen. “More droids, perhaps friends of yours Captain. Toffin’yate will wait for them. Together we can work together to rescue your ship.” Meanwhile, the three remaining advance party members seemed less sure, the grating echoing ominously in the dark. Even the Klatoonian cocked an eyebrow in mild concern. Given the strangeness of the entire situation, anything was possible.

 

[Captain Ahab]

"Why? Ye ask why, ye leafy dirt-dweller?" Ahab mocked the plant. "I told ye and yer men to disarm, less ye face our wrath. Besides, we are not security. We have no noble quest to preserve life like ye Jedi codes. Have ye not heard the legend of Captain Ahab and his droids of fortune? Bah..."

Ahab listened to the plant's offer carefully. He would've taken longer, had not the doors opening rushed his internal calculating processors. Several corners in the calculations of possibly betrayal, overall survivability, and chances of making out with glorious riches had to be cut, but overall, the calculations seemed in Ahab's favor.

"Aye, but remember Toffin'yate, this ship, and its goods be ours. If we get free from this place, we may share some treasure with ye, but only because ye help us."

Ahab gestured to the droids to take hiding positions. Even now, footsteps that did not belong to anyone seen so far could be heard.

Roll to hide: 20/20

The door that opened led to further inside the ship. What came out was a small battalion of 8 B1 battle droids and 1 protocol droid, slightly rusted in color. Unlike Ahab and his droids, these ones marched in perfect unison. Their older style was evident: Each droid, while discolored and rusty, had antennae connections on their backs, allowing them to be perfectly controlled from somewhere. While not independent like Ahab's crew, these things had no chance of developing personality quirks.

The protocol droid, and the battalion, had one simple mission: find any organics in the hangar, and secure them for processing. If they resisted, corpses could still be processed.

The Protocol droid and the battalion began to move towards the exploded remains of the ship. Ahab, for all his and his crew's oddities, seemed well enough to hide from the scanners of these battle droids, and even the Vulture droids, who were now powering down. Whether Toffin'yate and his people were going to meet and speak with the protocol droid head on or not was yet to be seen, but if they chose to hide with Ahab, the droid pirate would be able to issue orders to them well enough for them to hide as well.

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Toffin Yate]

“Many apologies good captain, but I have not yet heard the tales of yourself nor the droids of fortune. Perhaps,” he offered, “it is a Jedi tale? I am not a Jedi so that could explain my lack of knowledge. We are much more dedicated to the causes of peace and life, it is the way of the galaxy itself.” With the rumbling of the doors in the darkness, Toffin stopped himself taking in the area around them all. “Something is amiss” he noted aloud. “Perhaps it is best we work to leave before we are taken into the void itself.”

The men that had accompanied Toffin quickly scrambled for cover, weapons held at the ready. On the contrary, Toffin did not move. He shuddered, his leaves rustling for a moment before he settled into a trance-like state; not that anyone could tell. He willed the force, the breath of the cosmos, to flow through his very form, his cellular structure and genetic makeup as the sounds of feet marching mostly in unison drew closer. Suddenly the first of the marching machinations of death came into view. The hangar was in disarray. The exploded ship did little to help the general disorder of a long untouched store as it was jostled through who-knew-what realities as it traversed time and space. Thus, a single plant growing up from the deck plating was odd, but not entirely unexpected given the general state of the place. A sentient-plant based threat was something that was not so common in the galaxy; and as such, it may not be calculated in the antiquated programs of the battle droid central control module that commanded the bots that now began to fill out the room.

Toffin watched silently as his heavy form was jostled by the passing droids. Suddenly the room erupted as the dwarf lashed out at the waist of a passing droid and toppled it in two.

@Narzen