Ask Kashyyyk Out of the Black

[Scorpio Armegedon]

Scorpio neither waited nor affirmed the presence and well being of his Comrades within the moment he had recoiled, instead pivoting upon the slide of his heels as he caught traction and flew forward toward the metabolizing creature with blurred speed. Both the current imagery, along side the imagery of his parent's death, plagued his mind as he became a torrential display of emotions within the Force and in his own visage. And yet, despite the display, his reaction was one of selflessness and disregard for his own reality, and his visage adorned the appearance of determination he held within his mindscape.

For far too long, Scorpio had been one of innocence and disillusion, sheltered behind both the tragedy of his life and the heritage of his mother's Miralukian bloodline. It mattered not whom he was or where he came from, but in what actions he took to safeguard the future he sought to create. He needed to step outside the Darkness his mother had brought into his existence, to step beyond the Light that had been his father's influence, and become the man he wanted to be. A sight he had received during his time under the Luka Sene.

He would be that man:

A man stood upon a cliff, overlooking destruction and chaos, the area below blinded by the darkness that corrupted it. His gaze was stoic, unhindered even by tears he wept, as he gazed not at the darkness below, but at the horizon that glimmered with hope and promise. It was there he wished to be, to truly see it against the rising of twin suns, as the spirit of Tatooine shifted from villainy to prosperity, a soul of pure transparency where the dark was ablazed within it's light. And with a smile, he embraced the light that enveloped his form in it's coming.

His blade struck out hard at the raging beast as it struck out at the others, it's attention spanning across the three leaving a voice of conscious space between them. By the time it recoiled in response, the blade had connected and tore its flesh asunder, Scorpio quickly shifting his twisting form as he turned his blade from its arc to meet the rising threshold of the branching mesh, both hands upon it as it struck at the cold steel of his blade. With a swift shift of it outward, Scorpio's feet connected with duracrete and steel as he used to momentum to spring forward a second run at the creature. It may have been fast, but as the Force swirled vibrantly around Scorpio, he grew faster, taking on the true persona of the Jedi Guardian.

For Scorpio's mind had been made up, the kyber within his satchel vibrating in singsong as his soul met it's destiny amidst the challenging darkness. It's sound would pierce the veil, becoming a beacon of will as it sung its chorus through the Force, reverberating the shared essence they forged in unison. It was in that moment, his will in the Force, his blade imbued with his conviction and enlightening a blue hued aura, that his purpose was clear. His attacks would distract the Sithspawn so the others could focus it's demise.

@Vosrik @marshland

 

[Elenath]

Elenath's vision began to blur and dim despite his struggle against the Sith spawn's grasp. But hope was not yet lost — both Hiraya and Scorpio utilized their training to the fullest, both freezing the monster and cutting through it with honed steel. In an instant, Elenath's stamina and clarity returned. Leaping to his feet, the Light blossomed once again between his fingertips stronger than ever to weaken their quarry.

The Knight lunged forward, saberstaff awhirl in a haze of bright indigo. Already weakened, frozen, and carved into, the unleashed flurry of blows left naught but chunks of dissolving flesh on the laboratory floor. With the danger now gone, or at least temporarily for all they knew, Elenath surveyed their surroundings. "We have to burn this room. Or freeze it — destroy it all somehow. It's the only way we'll know this thing can't harm any others," he stated with some finality. Taking up his own advice, the Echani began systematically slicing and cutting into as much of the disgusting growths as he could.

Only once every trace of the Sith spawn's influence was finally gone could Elenath relax. Extinguishing his lightsaber, he continued to hold the mote of the Light aloft to guide their way out. "You both did exceptionally well today," the Seer congratulated. "Hiraya, your use of cryokinesis was brilliant, considering its sensitivity to heat. And Scorpio," he continued, "your enhanced speed and skill with the blade was also crucial in gaining the upper hand. I'll be sending my full recommendations to the Council, and I will gladly attend and vouch for you both when you take your Trials of Knighthood."

@marshland @Mythos

 

[Hiraya Manawari]

A wild smile - raw and uninhibited, and full of sharp, fanged teeth - crossed the Tiefling's face amid the creeping exhaustion that began to stubbornly cling to him at the sight of his success. He didn't realize that the split second decision, the gamble he made, paid off more than what he expected as the Irzêona roared in pain from Hiraya and Scorpio's combined assault.

Ice froze and impeded the Sith spawn's movements, while the bite of cold steel tore its flesh asunder. Master Elenath, freed from the Irzêona's draining touch, brought forth a stronger burst of Force Light that further weakened the abomination. The sight of the wretched creature being brought down gave Hiraya one last burst of energy, determined to freeze it and deprive it of the warmth it relied on to hunt its poor victims.

The Tiefling stood panting in the aftermath, chest heaving, as he fought against the exhaustion to comply with Master Elenath's instruction. Drawing on his newly-unlocked capability in the realm of Cryokinesis, Hiraya froze as many of the growths and tendrils that stubbornly clung to whatever wretched life the Sith spawn had and crushed them with his fists and booted feet. By the time he was done his hands were shaking, and his breathing came out more labored than he anticipated.

The Knight's praise made Hiraya's pointed ears twitch, his tail finally loosening from his waist and drooping behind him. His tail wagged tiredly, mirroring the Padawan's fatigue, but still holding enough cheer and delight in response to Master Elenath's generous praise. Though his smile was weak it was genuine, sincere, as he glanced between Master Elenath and Scorpio, following the Knight's guidance as he led them out of the facility.

"T-Thank you... oof-"

The Padawan's heartfelt gratitude was cut off when his knees buckled under him, and he fell on his backside on the floor. Using Cryokinesis for the first time (and during a high-stress situation at that) had depleted the young Tiefling's stamina, and with the Sith spawn's death, the accumulated stress had also began to manifest. He tried to push himself up but he stumbled again, his whole body shaking like a leaf, pointed ears drooping.

Knowing that the creature was dead, that their mission was over, Hiraya allowed himself to succumb to his exhaustion, though he fought to stay awake so he wouldn't be too much of a burden for the older two Jedi.

"I-I'm okay!" he assured his companions with a tired smile as he attempted to get up again. "I'm oka..."

The Tiefling's eyes fluttered shut, body gently slumping on the floor, unresponsive. A loud snore then tore through the silence of the lab as Hiraya fell asleep, unshed tears of relief clinging to his eyelashes.

@Vosrik @Mythos

 

[Scorpio Armegedon]

The squealing of rubber heeled boots sliding against the durasteel flooring brought Scorpio's form to a halt as the air around he and the beast froze in a mist of haze. Blade hung toward toward the ground, chest heaved in breath as the sweat from his heated forehead dripped into drops of ice before hitting the floor beneath him. But the beast had been dealt with, and Scorpio let loose a relieved sigh.

"It's dead. Thank the Force." He spoke under his breath before he turned to @Elenath and @Hiraya Manawari with an exhausted smile. With a chuckle, he scratched at the back of his head, partially in disbelief that he had survived, but more so in the embarrassment of Master Elenath's praise. His only reply was a subtle but cheerful "Thank you" as he bowed.

But the conclusion of their battle with the Sith Spawn held a worriment in the back of Scorpio's mind. The Reach of the Sith, the Dark Side, and the Exalted that Master Elenath spoke of earlier were growing. The scenery before them was but a portion of what was hidden from the Galaxy at large, the poor souls here likely unexpected participants. Waving his hand, a barrel of fossilized fuel turned over and rolled across the barren landscape they were leaving behind, and as it rolled, Scorpio tossed behind himself a struck flare as the trio made their exit. Whatever remained of the scene would perish in the consuming fire.

When @Hiraya Manawari fell upon the floor as they exited the engulfing room, Scorpio felt a smile grace his face again, replacing the one of concern over the growing darkness, and reached down to lift the Teifling up and upon his shoulder. His blind gaze shifting to Master @Elenath, he spoke once again. "Let's get out of here."

@Vosrik @marshland