Ask Shadows in The Mist

[Jonathen Baize]

He didn't really like her "compromise" but nodded his head. "Let's just play it by ear, maybe we are getting worked up for nothing." he said. "I won't be a hero if you agree to do the same. Don't think I won't drag your ass back here kicking and screaming if I have to do." he said, smile touching his lips.

"I know. Trust me, I have thought about what all this means. I know we have our duty; that isn't something I take lightly." he said. There was a slight moment of insecurity, questioning whether she regretted the path they had started down. His jaw tightened ever so slightly as he pushed those thoughts down, now wasn't the time.

"Let's go. I need to gear up in the armory." he said. They would need to go down one level, where they would find the armory. "You said it didn't feel hostile, but did it feel the same as the other thing we fought?" he asked as he peeled his uniform shirt off, exchanging it for a black shirt and pants, armor going over the top of that. It was a lighter version of the assault armor he normally wore. He started strapping it all in place before moving to weapons.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

He reacted in terms of her suggested compromise and while he agreed, it was her time to do so now. "I know you would totally do that...and I also have to admit that it would be dope if you wouldn't have to drag me out unconscious this time either" she replied with a smirk, remembering how he had to drag her out on both prior missions while he had still been the one standing. "Agreed. We'll do what needs to be done".

She let out another soft sigh as they began walking, a few scenarios running through her mind. "I know you don't. Me neither...which is why this is quite tricky". Their loyalties were the same, but leaving the other behind would hurt more than anything. Yet, it was a thought she had constantly tried to process. She was overly glad that she was back with him, yet she wished they wouldn't get into such terribly difficult situations.

She followed him down the ladder and towards the armory, assuming they had transferred her gear already as well and was indeed glad as her gaze immediately landed on the uniform as they entered. He asked for what she felt again and she started undressing as well, having to change the Imperial uniform for the armorweave underbody before she'd have to turn to the red armor plates.

She was used to changing in rooms with a whole platoon without paying attention to any of them and thus wasn't worried about how this would look if someone walked in on them, however, regardless of how strongly her mind was already focused on the mission, she thought back to the last time they had changed in a room together. Everything was different here and they were gearing up to head out into danger, which did made her feel like her stomach was about to turn upside down.

"It's hard to describe...but it was as if it was indecisive" she explained as she strapped the armor plates around her shins. "Apart from the missing squad, it hasn't attacked, right? Also, it didn't lure any of you out, did it?" she curiously asked, finishing up the thighs. "This place is out of balance, but it isn't fully chaotic either. I also don't get the impression it wants us to leave just yet...all this energy is definitely going somewhere and I wonder where this place is".

She kept her own mind calm and stopped these thoughts from racing now. After she was done with the chest, she carried the back plate over. "Could you fasten that?". It would be much quicker and easier this way. "These...shadows you saw in the mist...did they appear to be watching? Or just passing by?". They also had to figure out where this mist came from, but maybe they could slowly bring the pieces together.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

"We will figure this out." he finally said, reassuring her and maybe himself that they could do this. They could learn to navigate this new life they had started to build. It would take time, but they would make it work.

He listened, perplexed by her description. "We didn't even know it was a thing until now.." he said. "Sure, we saw some shadows out in the mist, but that was it. Other than drain power, it hasn't done anything we can say for sure." he said, sliding a blaster pistol into a leg holster before picking up a blaster rifle.

They needed more information; going out was the only way they were going to learn anything. He took that back plate. "Sure," he said, stepping around behind her. He flattened the armor weave underneath, his hand lingering on her back for just an instant before placing the backpiece and beginning to fasten it. "Just kind of moving out in the mist. Just brief glimpses," he said as he tightened the last strap.

"You ready?" he asked, slinging a blaster rifle over his shoulder.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

She appreciated how he was optimistic about this because she was it as well. It was surely another thing she mentally had to reflect on, but she was good at it. She intently listened to his explanations which offered a small relief. "That's a good sign then" she couldn't fully be less worried, but its lacking aggressions were a helpful starting point.

He fastened her backplate and she noticed how he lingered for a split second, his touch actually soothing her. She looked up to him over her shoulder with a soft smile, replying, "Okay, we'll figure them out first then while moving east" before she finished the rest of her armor.

Her lightsabers were also here, so she clipped both of them onto her belt, just like the rest of her usual equipment as they needed to be ready for whatever before she nodded. "Yes, ready" the Knight confirmed, and all geared up, they made their way towards the station's exit together.

Back outside, the atmosphere was shifting into this palpable static again that made her skin crawl a little. Goosebumps laced her skin, yet she immediately suffocated any upcoming emotions as they stepped into the outskirts of the mist. It was a curious sensation to enter, but she kept her mind calm.

Could they drain her lightsaber's power? She didn't think so, as kyber crystals were a mysterious construct themselves, but she couldn't tell for sure. "It's getting thicker quickly...we should stay close" she suggested, however even if she was the one sensing all of those paranormal activities around, he was still the one calling shots. "Maybe we shouldn't have the weapons drawn but ready" another suggestion, as she didn't want to offend this entity, but at the same time she didn't want it to ambush them.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

They settled on the outline of their plan as they finished and made their way outside. The mist was still present, but at least the air wasn't stale out here.

They moved to the gate, Jon speaking with the posted guard. The doors were manually pushed open a moment later. As they stepped out into the mist, the doors closed behind them. They were alone out here, all they had was each other, and Jon was alright with that.

"No arguments there.." he said, staying close behind her as the fog enveloped them. Her second suggestion made him pause a little, though. He saw the logic in it but didn't like being unarmed, even for an instant. "Alright.." he said after a brief pause, moving the blaster rifle to his back, trusting in her intuition.

As they continued, it wouldn't be long before a presence would come nearer, still hidden in the mist. Kali would sense the thing approach; again, it wasn't hostile but somewhat inquisitive.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

As Kalique moved further, she kept scanning the mist, not just her eyes, but with the Force as well. She could already feel something drifting closer after a few meters and a shiver crept down her spine, yet she kept pressing on and swallowed those feelings to keep her mind calm.

They were moving, so was this thing, and soon another popped up nearby. Wanting to stay calm and centered, she decided to make some more conversation. "You remember the conditions of my demotion? I still need the official okay from a Commander, maybe Coners and you could provide me with that?" she knew he fully trusted her, but if they made it out alive, she was pretty sure Commander Conors would put in a good for her as well. Again, she repressed those 'if' thoughts. They'd obviously make it out fine.

As he answered her suggestion of staying as peaceful as possible, she faced him for a moment. "I know...I just have a feeling we can solve this without violence" she then replied, keeping her voice low and soft and her presence even calmer as she could feel them getting closer.

It would have been easy to get frightened, yet Kalique was good at dealing with those feelings and additionally she had seen a lot of creepy stuff. "Something is approaching. Stay behind me please" she gently told him, hoping he'd follow her instruction. She trusted her intuition on that, yet her heartbeat was still slightly accelerating.

She breathed deeply and stopped, gaze directed ahead where something dark and tall was approaching. She had absolutely no clue what it was and her blood slowly seemed to freeze in her veins. Still, apart from the dark figure, there was no dark atmosphere, no coldness, no oppressive sense of dread.

She slightly moved to the left, so that she was right between the creature and Jon until it slowly took more shape between the trees.

Stay calm. Stay calm. She could feel the Force shifting ever so slightly and turned into more chaotic. She projected her inner calmness onto the creature before it came any closer, as if offering it the balance, and it stopped. "It's okay..." she quietly whispered, to this thing, to Jon, to herself, taking another breath. She wanted to let it approach, hence she stopped where she was, also projecting as much calmness as she could muster onto Jon, needing him to keep his nerves as well, regardless of how unsettling and tense this situation was.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

They moved forward, leaves crunching under his boots. He stayed right behind her, just enough room for them to maneuver if needed. "I mean, you know you have me on your side. I am afraid there is a pretty big conflict of interest there, though. Conors, on the other hand, would be pretty grateful to be out of this though.." he said. He wanted to help her; it pained him not to be able to do more. They still had kept their relationship quiet for the most part, but even still, Honor demanded he not intervene.

"Ok." he said. He was a soldier; he would be the first to admit that violent solutions were often the first that came to him; that is who he was, who the Empire needed him to be. He would welcome it if she thought she could do this without it.

Kali stopped in front of him, Jon following her lead. He couldn't see anything, couldn't sense anything. The only thing around them was the monotone mist and the red of Kali's armor. His heart quickened. He wanted a weapon in his hands but fought the urge down. The moment grew tense as something appeared just at the edge of their vision.

It unnerved Jon, feeling ice crawl down his spine. He wanted to charge it, wanted to shoot at it, wanted to run away, wanted to do anything, but they stayed. Kali's words echoed in his mind. "It's okay."

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

The eerie silence had first been broken by their steps on the dried leaves that have way as they passed, however as they both stood, there was nothing at first. Then, slowly but steadily, a quiet hum erupted in front of them right where this creature was standing.

Jonathen wouldn't initially know what was going on, but he'd suddenly see the Knight stagger. "No...no no, stop" she muttered, squirming right where she stood. The creature, however, didn't listen at it kept trying to consume her essence so that the Force was tugging at her very presence within the Force.

"STOP IT" she finally bellowed as she realized that sweet-talking didn't work and to her surprise, the creature stopped. She was breathing heavier now, but fighting to get herself back under control and to silence those racing thoughts.

While her mind was still on alert after the draining attack, the creature was suddenly growing in size, so that it was suddenly loomingly towering in front of them as it approached with heavy steps. That was until Kalique regained full control and centered herself. The creature stopped again and studied them inquisitive for another second before it suddenly vanished into thin air.

She didn't even realize she had held her breath for a moment. At first she panted out of shocked but she immediately reminded herself to breathe slowly again. "You...you didn't feel anything, right?" she wanted to know he was fine before she closed her eyes for a moment.

"It's seeking energy...apperently in whatever form and its hunger is growing" she shared her new findings, rubbing her temples. This wasn't good at all, but maybe they had just gathered a vital insight. "We need to move. I have a feeling it will be back" she gestured ahead, wanting to start walking again, however her knees felt a little weak. From now on though, she kept pushing forward with the Force to clear the mist a little, even if it only helped for a short period of time.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

He saw her stagger, his hand immediately going to his blaster pistol on his leg, but he hesitated, not wanting to ruin her plan with hasty action. He jumped when she yelled a moment later, stepping in front of her blaster drawn.

His eyes darted, looking for the wraith they had seen earlier, but there was nothing but the ever-present mist. The blood pumped in his ear as adrenaline surged in his body. Nothing came. The creature had recoiled at Kali's pushback against it.

He jumped again when she finally spoke, glancing over his shoulder. "Nothing," he said. "I did see...something for a moment, but it disappeared," he explained.

"You're hurt." he said, seeing her struggle. "We should go back." he said, concern in his voice. When she added they needed to continue, he paused. He could force the issue, but no, she was right. They needed to continue before this thing decided to feed on the people at the base. "You sure you're okay to continue?" he asked, looking her over.

If they continued, they would come to the power substation soon enough, the mist heaviest there.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique was absolutely grateful for both, Jonathen's trust and that he managed to stay calm even though this creature had been on the brink of attacking or whatsoever. After she had released the breath she hadn't even known she was holding, she met his gaze with a hint of bewilderment in her own eyes before she forced herself into calmness.

"Good..." she softly whispered, thankful that he hadn't been targeted. She assumed it could have easily targeted him as it could have also drained his life energy, but maybe she had just been in the way. Perhaps it had sensed she was force sensitive and thus had been more than interested to try, but it surely wasn't a good sign that it was capable of draining the living Force as well.

"No...not hurt. It just...drained me a little. But I'll recover" she assured him, softly placing a hand on his muscular arm. "I promise you I'm fine. I'm not sure what it will do when it returns, so let's hope it isn't too keen on a violent confrontation right now" she softly added, a trace of hope bleeding into her tone.

It was hungry, but maybe it didn't like to fight. What she had noted though was how it had responded to her presence within the Force and how a display of more power had made it want it more. Calmness was the key it seemed, and bringing peace into this chaos helped as well. It was easy to say, but difficult to do if such a thing tried to drain you, but she was confident she'd manage.

"Come" she led him further, coiling the Force around her and pushing some more mist away as they walked. She could see and sense more dark creatures passing by ever now and then, but despite dwelling and watching for a moment, no more engaged.

"Why does this feel like being part of a survival horror game..." she muttered intending to lighten the mood a little to help her mind stayed focused on keeping the thoughts equiliberated, until another idea crossed her mind. "The blasters. Next time something tries to engage, maybe we should fire one blaster bolt. It seems to consume energy, right? Maybe this will appease its hunger" she mused, realizing how much power a blaster bolt contained.

"Or well...maybe not. Maybe it will be offended. It doesn't seem to be able to handle balance" she shared another piece of her mind, knowing that this was still all very enigmatic, but maybe he had an idea. A few meters ahead they'd manange to make out a shift in the soil as it seemed like there was some kind of swampy area between them and the generators, but there was still no sign of the squad...

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

"What the hell do you mean by drain..." he whispered. She reassured him one more time; it was enough to convince them to go just a bit further.

He followed her reluctantly further into the mist. Eyes darting back and forth as the mist swirled around them. "You like those games?" he said, his voice low. He knew she liked horror movies, so it made sense. Why someone would want to be scared to be entertained is beyond him. "Those are the worst, so this seems pretty much right on track. You know to soldier sidekick always dies in those things, right?" he commented, stepping over a large branch.

"So which one?" he asked, not getting a response before he spotted the dull black of a blaster several feet away. They were entering a swamp, meaning they had wandered off course, but he was sure they hadn't. He glanced over at Kalique before looking further into the mist. There was a boot another ten feet further, stuck in the mud. The tracks led further into the swamp. "These are human tracks..." he said, pushing himself up. The mud was getting bad here; he was making an effort to pull his boots free with each step. "We should go arou..." he said, cut off as something wrapped around his leg and pulled hard further into the swamp.

He slid face-first off the ground deeper into the swamp, mud covering his helmet.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Despite not liking any of this, he entrusted him all the details she had gathered, knowing he deserved the truth. "Draining me of energy, basically. Drawing the living Force out. It didn't push for it a lot, but it was as if it tried...it seems to be capable of draining various forms of energy". She wasn't even sure whether he'd sense it if they'd try to target him until he'd feel exhausted, but she'd keep her senses on full alert for sure.

"They can be fun...but I have to admit I really don't like participating myself" she replied quietly, carefully moving forward while keeping him close. "Don't worry, blondes are also on top of the list so this might end in a draw" again she used humor to lighten the situation, knowing that he often enjoyed this as well. It was at least better to fully dwell on dark thoughts that could easily come up in such a dire setting.

He asked for her opinion, but before she could answer, her gaze fell on what he just spotted. "You're right" a hint of hope lightened up inside her as she saw how the steps continued, but she also noticed how they vanished a but further ahead. However, there was no immediate sense of death around, so maybe they were indeed still alive.

"What?!" she immediately spun as he cut off, panic immediately setting in as she could feel how something was actively pulling him down. With the Force, she reached for those invisible tendrils and violently ripped them off, already witnessing how his body as getting swallowed by the swamp. Stay calm. Stay calm. She felt more presences closing in that seemed relatively delighted by her desperate battle against the vines.

She could feel them getting closer, their presence hungry and curious, but apperently they were waiting for them to get devoured by the swamp. She felt more movement underneath but kept her focus on freeing Jonathen with the Force before she grabbed him by the shoulder and tried to yank him up. "We've got to run...at least try. To the generators" it was incredibly hard to keep her voice down just like that inner tension, but she kept trying, however as she could feel shadowy figure getting way too close, she hurled a fireball at it.

Her mouth flapped right open as it trippled in size ans devoured it by simply sucking it in, seemingly satisfied with the little snack. "Come!" as she felt her own ankle getting grabbed, she tried to blast it away, but they'd both know they had to leave this terrain behind immediately.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

He clawed helplessly as he was pulled down, feeling mud envelope his legs. If Kali had not acted immediately, he would have been pulled under. With her aid, he was freed from the swamp, legs shaking slightly

"This way!" he said, leading her off the left to more solid ground. Vines grew across the ground, searching for their prey as the had to hop over obstacles. Shadows in the mist converged on them as the small building came into view.

Jon slammed a shoulder into the door; his rifle raised as he scanned the dark stairs down. Without options, he started down. Coming down into the large power station room below he would be stopped in his tracks.

Some sort of mass of flesh lay in the center of the room, tendrils growing out in all directions. Human-sized cacoons hang from the ceiling; Kali would feel faint signs of life from these, one for each missing squad member. She would feel the life being drained slowly, being fed to the creature.

The monster stood at the top of the stairs, having drained some of the Imperial Knight's life force; it mimicked her appearance. Unclothed, skin ashen and dirty, long blonde hair covered her face as she looked down at the Imperial Knight.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Freed from the swamp, the fleeing pair was forced to hop over several veins and to navigate over the uneven, wet ground. She followed him and whenever something came too close, she pushed it off before anything tried to drain either of them again. They had no choice but to head into the building or else the environment would have just swallowed them, but as thy moved in, she could already feel that something was terribly off.

"Wait!" but it actually was too late. He was already moving downwards and she had no choice but to follow. Her opinions about horror holos was changing...this was the absolute most terrifying thing she had ever seen, but if truth be told, she didn't know whether the fleshy mass with tendrils was more disturbing or the monstrous presence she suddenly felt growing until it finally materialized in the shape of a horrifying version of her.

Which was the lesser evil? The mass was feeding, continously draining lives from the cocoons that could only be the missing squad or the beast on top of the stairs that was there to catch its next victims. It was as if her throat was suddenly constricted as she still desperately tried to prevent herself from panicking, but given what was happening right now, it was a miracle they were both still standing.

What the kriff were they supposed to do?! The darkness was now all around and death lingered in the air while what remained of the squad was still putting up the very last fight, but she was relatively sure they wouldn't make it. The Wraith on top of the stairs stood menacingly and not a second later did it begin to let out a bone-chilling, ear-piercing screech that defeaned her senses for a moment. Her head rang, but as she blinked she could see it rushing down, right at them.

"Cut the vines!" she tossed him a lightsaber, relatively sure that the creature wouldn't be able to drain its energy among contact and so it was perhaps there only choice: Removing its source of energy. But given what it had already consumed, she suddenly had to realize that they might have entered a battle they were doomed to lose.

She ignited her other lightsaber, so that the orange glow was enough for them to see that the fleshy tendrils were indeed everywhere around, but she wasn't in a position to observe the dreadful interior as the manifestation of terror was already upon her. She hurled the apperent mirage off, however the realization that it was already in its possession was horrible.

The thing was hurled off, but was back just a second later, relatively unscathed and perhaps even enjoying the bursts of energy that were hurled its way, so Kalique knew she needed a different strategy fast. Instead of using the Force, she slashed at it with her lightsaber, but it just went through it like it was nothing. She suddenly found herself grasps by its invisible powers and lifted up in to the air as it repeatedly prodded at her in attempt to steal more of her energy.

Meanwhile Jonathen would manange to cut through the flesh, but the fleshy mass was everything but pleased and it was viciously slahing at him with its free tendrils. Kalique could feel how the Wraith was establishing a connection between the two that should function as a way to siphon her, but instead of leading any energy flow from her towards it, she was at first trying to reverse the process. She grimaced heavily as she attempted to drain energy from it herself, but she'd soon find her tries in vein, so she was left with only one choice: To block this unwanted transfer.

Investing all her energy in creating a barrier between the two, she was hoping to sever their connection or in a best case scenario, the monster's connection to the Force. She knew the sorcerers of Tund had once mananged such miracles and that Jedi were capable of doing so, yet from a theoretical point she could at least dry. Maybe this thing was bleeding out if it's insatiable hunger wasn't fed...

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

He caught the Knight's blade in one hand, igniting a moment later. He had no training with a sword, so when he slashed they were brutal, unorganized things. Each hit bit further into the vines before one cacoon had been completely severed. The thing screamed with an unseen mouth, the shrill pitch rattling his teeth.

He moved to the second on, sparing a look back as Kalique held the shadow monster version of herself at bay. Knowing where to his this time, it only look several chops before the connection was severed.

He rushed to Kali, cutting a vine that had surged forward to entagle her. He didn't know what to do, he could go back to what he was doing, but he wasn't sure what the right thing was. "Do I keep cutting the cacoons free?" he asked, slicing at another vine.

Kali would sense the thing grew slightly weaker, it needed the contest surge of enegery at this size. With its weakness, came dsperation though as the creature redoubled its attacks.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

As she found herself in the air, she suddenly noticed a slashing sound right behind her and assumed this had been Jon, saving her from the tendril that she had sensed as well, however found herself fully unable to speak while she was being held by this monster.

She was heavily grimacing and her head was already hurting as this silent battle took place. While Jonathen viciously slashed at the creature's vines, it became increasingly ferocious with each and every hit he landed. Meanwhile what he'd see of Kalique was her just motionlessly levitating with the mimicked, gruesome version of her doing just the same.

What happened inside her very mind was that this thing aggressively tried to sever its way in to siphon her within seconds if it would get the chance. She had all barriers up and was desperately clinging onto whatever sources of calmness she could find and again, what kept her centered was Jon.

She forcefully dragged this presence with her as she dove into the realm of the Force and here she could immediately see what they were really dealing with. She was glaring into an abyss, pitch black and immensely hungry, consuming every piece of energy it could find and pulling it inside like a black hole.

Kalique's silhouette was glowing, her body also levitating in this ethereal plane and it was fairly obvious that the abyss wanted to drag her inside as well. With the hits Jon landed, she could see little parts and pieces breaking off and dissipating into oblivion. "It's getting weaker" her voice would project into his mind all of a sudden, but she wasn't capable to say any more, nor had she even heard his question, but he might have been given just the answer he had needed.

"I won't give you what you desire" she told the abyss, obviously challenging it, but she had already noted that the more vicious and hungry this thing got, the more it responded to her lack of reaction. Instead of fighting it aggressively, it was as the surges of black energy it threw at her just bounced off.

"You have no power here" she pointed out at the realization, her own hope growing. It had followed her here and suddenly the tendrils would stop attacking Jon. It had followed her willingly, assuming it might manage to satisfy its hunger here, but Kalique now knew it had been created by someone and this someone had chosen to let it materialize in their sphere of reality.

It clearly had a connection to the Force, an unbreakable bond with the darkside, but here, Kalique was the one in power and thanks to the nexus she had dealt with, she had some experience in this. This thing wouldn't terrorize them any longer. From the outside, Jonathen would notice how despite the fleshy mass and tendrils, everything looked a lot more peaceful. The mimic still faced Kalique, but it wasn't hostile. It was waiting.

In the realm of the Force, Kalique would float closer, her own ethereal glow shedding light on the abyss while it began fading away. With her powers inside this sphere and Jonathen weakening it further from the outside, it was decreasing further and further, until Kalique spotted something shiny on the ground. Only now did she realize that it was something like a silver coin and attached to it was a string of black miasma that apperently was the root of this thing.

Without thinking twice, she moved further forward until she reached the thin thread, glaring up at the menacing, yet shrunken black nothingness before she'd violently reach in and tug it off. With that, she was immediately hurled back into her own self and was thrown into the wall behind her, yet at once did the mimic vanish and the mass of flesh would shrivel up like a withering plant, only that it dried out within a few seconds. Kalique was on the ground and not moving, yet once Jonathen approached, he'd find her lifing her head before she'd slowly move her hand forward, only to reveal the coin that hand bound this thing...

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

Jonathen hacked furiously at the creature, trying to keep it off of them but, not practiced with a blade, soon started to grow tired. Each swing coming slower and slower. He tried after a swing, lightsaber clattering to the floor. Vines surged forward, Jon expecting to be overwhelmed, but nothing happened.

The room was still locked in a battle in a world Jon could never access. A second later, there was a bright flash of light, and Kali was sent flying into the wall. When Jon's vision cleared, the monster was gone, and the thing behind him was already shriveling and dying as it supernaturally aged and faded to dust.

He crawled over to Kali's side, exhausted, barely able to move, but as he reached up to check her pulse, she looked up, causing Jon's breath to resume.

"What's that?" he asked, confused, as she held up a silver coin to him.

 

[Kalique Baize]

Her head was spinning and she was exhausted beyond belief. The movement costed her more energy, but she simply needed some more time and that she'd recover, she assumed. Grimacing, she tried to roll to her side to slowly push herself up while fighting against the perpetual headache.

She removed the helmet at first, which allowed her to breathe better, but she still had to hold onto him in order to not just fall back again. "A...fairly regular coin. However, it bound this presence to this place". She began to explain, slowly rubbing her temples.

Her gaze went towards the cocoons at first as she could suddenly sense another ripple within the Force. Not all of the energy had been depleted by the monster it seemed, but what remained of the energy was somehow stuck between the spheres. "You know what...this reminds me of Entralla...when I shifted spheres I realized something. This was no twisted work of nature or the Force. Someone conjured this thing". She met his gaze, the new findings actually haunting.

"I'm not fully sure whether those incidents are related, but I do see some parallels" maybe through thorough research, she'd gain more clarity on that mattered? For now though, she wanted to get out of this terrible place. "Are...the soldiers physically unscathed?" she asked him, nodding towards the first withered cocoon and the motionless body inside. Maybe their work here wasn't done just yet. She had an idea.

@Raydo

 

[Jonathen Baize]

He grabbed a hold of her, keeping her steady. He almost laughed at the obvious answer but tilted his head slightly at the second part. He was sure whatever it was would take longer than he wanted to spend down to explain.

"It certainly was as scary as Entralla..." he mused. "You think someone is doing this?" he asked, knowing they would have to tackle these questions later.

He pushed himself up to check on the cacoons, which we already flaking away into dust. Underneath, they found their missing squad. They each had faint pulses and looked like they had been starved for weeks despite only being gone a day. "I don't know about unscathed, but they are alive.

He moved over to the power supply station, the place where this thing had grown. He pulled a lever, and after a long second, the power in the basement flicked to life. "This is Commander Baize to Commander Conors." he said into his comm. After a second, the other Commander answered. There was a brief exchange, Jon explained the threat seemed to be dealt with, and they had discovered the missing squad. He requested a medical team be brought to their location.

Jon turned his attention back towards Kali, this base's nightmare might be over, but he had a sinking feeling that they were only scratching the surface of this. "You doing alright?" he asked, returning to her.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

She faintly nodded that this was just as scary, actually finding it impossibly hard to determine which one had been worse. This time she was conscious, but this also meant she had to actively process what had happened here and she knew this would take some time.

With his help, she was back to her feet before she quickly assessed him. "Are you okay? I'm glad it didn't really get to you" she stated, grateful and relieved at the same time, but she couldn't fully revel in those feelings as something was still off.

"Yes...I assume there's someone, or maybe rather a group behind this. This hungry presence derived from the darkest Sorcery I've ever seen and well, I can't help it but to think it was purposely attacking the Imperial base" she shared her piece of mind as he checked on the soldiers.

It was relieving to hear they were still alive but she had a feeling medics alone wouldn't necessarily mamange to fix them as the living Force had literally been drained of them. "The medics might have some difficulties with that" she walked over slowly, chaneling the Force with her last remaining energy and squatting down next to the first soldier.

"Let me try something". She knew she was no Jedi, nor could she heal, but as the living Force was still caught between the realms, she had an idea. She channeled more and more through herself, functioning like a conductor and nothing else as she tapped into the ethereal sphere to convert just a little bit of this special energy and push it back into the soldier.

He gasped, suddenly squirming slightly, but his heartbeat would increase. She was close to fainting then, the continous Force use taking its toll on her, but she wasn't willing to give up. "I think I can help them. If we stay a little longer we might be able to save them. It drained them, but they Force still lingers and I can give a part of it back".

Surely, it would have been easy to help herself with it as well, but she knew she couldn't use it herself as draining the Force was something dangerously addictive and dark, but conducting it to someone else seemed to work quite alright. "Do you think it's coincidence we've gotten involved in this mess again?" she asked after a moment, frowning slightly. If the events were connected, how could they have both been drawn to it again?

@Raydo