Ask Today We Sail

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera Albion sat quietly in the cockpit of her ARC fighter, her uncovered eyes looking wistfully out the glass and towards the half-frozen planet below. Maltha Obex, formerly known as Brath Qella, spun silently thousands of miles below. A hundred years ago this world had been an uninhabited ice giant, but now? Now it was warm and luscious, plant life steadily spreading gently across thousands of miles of rolling green planes. The history of the planet was, of course, not the purpose of Hera's arrival on this world.

Being the closest group, the Jedi were contacted in a desperate plea by a local group on the planet's surface. The natives, known as Quella, were beset by a group of pirates trying to take over the world to establish a smuggling port. A simple mission, or so Hera thought, as she pushed on the throttle and headed down to the planet's surface. Her partner was supposed to meet her in a secluded field not too far from the local main city, this interested Hera more than anything else.

A Pyke Jedi, perhaps the first of his kind in the order, had been promoted to Knight and assigned to work with Hera. Always interested in the growing inner organs of the Jedi Order, Hera found herself inexplicably excited to work with this Knight. All were welcome within the Jedi Order, and while Hera had never really understood the all-welcoming nature of the Jedi, she knew it was something she needed to improve on. Therefore, this would be an excellent opportunity as she saw it to see and understand a different viewpoint from her own.

Setting her vessel down in the predetermined location, Hera smiled and put her darkened goggles on. The cockpit popped open with a hiss and Hera, rising out of it, breathed deeply of the pure atmosphere of this new experience.

@Arcangel

 

[Mako Krim]

Mako Krim watched as the kaleidoscope tunnel of hyperspace disappeared in a flash from the cockpit of his E-wing. A planet lay below, brilliant whites and greens against the inky void of space. Mako had studied what little info there was about the planet. A few geological surveys indicated some valuable ores lay below its surface. There had been no mention of life in the surveys, certainly not sentient. This could of course just have been a way around laws and regulations that prevented corporate powers from stripping the environment from the worlds of sentient beings in their quest for profits.

There was much more green on the surface than records might lead one to believe. Mako scanned the environment as the ship began its descent. The atmosphere was habitable. The environment seemed to be shifting rapidly, the world thawing quickly with thick band of green around the middle that was creeping into the retreating white expanses of ice that spread to each of the poles. Interesting.

Mako flew near the meeting zone, dark eyes squinting at the horizon and the "city" that lay there. It was the worlds main city, and by all means it was a small and pitiful thing trying to claim such a name. He turned his attention to the ARC-170 fighter that waited below, bringing his ship down to land near it.

The E-wing's canopy hissed as it opened and Mako disembarked from the ship, his split toed boots touching the earth of the planet for the first time. The fresh, new air in his lungs, the loam underfoot. The climate was warmer than he expected under the sun, though a chilly wind whipped across the fields, courtesy of the distant glaciers no doubt.

Mako squinted slightly at the wind as he approached the other Jedi's ship, his purple robes flapping in the breeze. Perhaps a bit finer of cut and richer of clothe than most Jedi would wear, but it wasn't Mako's fault that he actually had a sense of fashion. Or so he told himself.

"Hello, You're Hera right? I'm Mako." The Pyke Jedi said with a sharp toothed grin before quickly scrunching the smile back into the seemingly perpetual frown of the Pyke's downturned lips. He had been told before that his smile was unsettling.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera watched as the purple-robed sentient approached her, the only thought in her head a resounding 'Yep, that's a Pyke all right.' She smiled back as he spoke, nodding and responding quickly, "Yes! A pleasure to meet you!"

The Jedi Knight stood for a moment, allowing an awkward silence to build between them. She examined his purple robes up and down before glancing at her own dress, green armor and a brown Jedi cloak. Mako wore the garb of a diplomat, Hera wore the garb of a warrior. At least for the start of their mission, Hera felt underdressed.

Coughing, Hera snapped her fingers and stated, "Let's not dally! The local leaders are supposedly waiting for us in the city. Shall we walk together?" Turning, Hera began heading towards the city. It was not that her companion was a Pyke that put off the Jedi, rather, it was that Mako was a Knight. It had been so long since Hera had associated with her own peers that she felt strange to be working amongst them once more.

Scratching the back of her head as she stepped, she decided to keep quiet for a little longer as they stepped through the gentle grasses. In her thick armor, cloak, and armor weave underlay, she actually felt a little too warm on the cold world. Her body and genetics were acclimated to a far colder climate than this, so the chilling bite of the wind was completely ignored by Hera.

@Arcangel

 

[Mako Krim]

Mako gave a nod back to Hera as they exchanged pleasantries. "Yes. A pleasure." The words hung in the air as silence stretched into awkwardness as they both stood there, sizing up the other. Mako in his fine robe and Hera in all her warrior splendor, armor plates, thick clothe and armorweave. Would such things really be necessary, Mako wondered.

A cough by the other Jedi interrupted the awkwardness, much to Mako's relief. "I don't suppose there is a reason not to." Mako joked, or rather tried to. Of course the Jedi could probably think of a multitude of reasons why they might split up. None necessary in the moment though.

They walked quietly a ways as the Pyke's mind tumbled, both on the job and the current social interaction. Mako was fairly used to people being a bit cold towards him, the reputation his people had was not unearned. He hoped that it wouldn't interfere with the current mission. A chill went down his spine at the thought, one that he preferred to attribute to the wind.

"Beautiful weather." He said, because of course what else did one talk about but the weather to break uncomfortable silence. "It's warmer here than I expected, the latest files on the planet indicated it was an uninhabited ice ball." He remarked, shivering slightly as an especially strong gust sapped the heat from his bones. Perhaps he had spoken too soon.

It wasn't long until they spotted a few of the locals working around the outskirts of the city. They got fairly close to the strangely tall, quadruped sentients in their approach before they were spotted. The reaction was... even worse than Mako had hoped for.

"The Pykes! They've returned." One of the aliens brayed as all of the Qella ran for the safety of their city. Mako looked up at the sky for a moment in exasperation before turning his large head to look at Hera.

"Well... That complicates things." His words carried a sad bitterness in them as he took in the meaning of the Qella's fear. It was clear that the pirates that had been plaguing them were no mere pirates. Mako could only hope that they were rogues and outcasts, not associated with the greater Syndicate. A reaching hope that was. If the Pykes were involved, the mission just got a lot more dangerous.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera wasn't sure what she expected of Mako, but the kind, soft-spoken small talk was not unwelcome. Hera couldn't help but be entranced by the manner in which Mako walked, the movements of his face as he spoke, the heat of his body and how differently it pulsed through him when compared to her. The Knight's observations were cut short, however, as one of the Qella shouted frantically at their arrival.

Qella, quadrupeds who looked almost akin to what a child might imagine a centaur to look like. That is if the child had never seen a horse before. Four long arms with long fingers formed the basis of their 'legs' before their bodies reached up into a torso and another pair of long arms with long fingers. Hera was neither judging the Qella based on their appearance nor was she disgusted by them, rather, her mind simply made factual notes of their appearance.

Of course, she also knew that her 'factual notes' were probably speciesist, as she still couldn't see past the image of a centaur drawn by a child who didn't know what a horse was.

Pushing these thoughts out of her mind, Hera remarked to her companion, "I'm sure they'll come around, don't worry about it!" Before heading further into the 'city'. The dismay of the townies revealing their enemies were Pyke was lost on Hera, at least for the moment. As the pair approached, a dozen or so militia emerged from the main road. Hera put her arms up, lightsaber hilt in hand, before shouting, "Please don't be alarmed! My friend and I are Jedi! We received your distress call and have come to help!"

@Arcangel

 

[Mako Krim]

The bizarreness of the Qella was not lost on Mako as he watched the quadrupedal species... run... away. They looked very centaurian, if a centaur were shaved and all arms and hands. As a Pyke who had spent the majority of his latter life around humans and other aliens that looked absolutely nothing like him, Mako knew what it was like to be the bizarre one. He would try not to be judgemental.

The Qella did not reserve such sentiment it seemed as they approached the city to be met by an armed militia, weapons raised on the pair of Jedi. "I suppose this is them coming around." Mako hissed through the side of his lips as he raised his arms as well. He let Hera take the lead for the moment with the talking, her being the non-Pyke of the pair.

"Jedi?! You keep bad company Jedi!" The lead Qellan shouted back as he glared at Mako. "Why would we believe the Pyke is a Jedi?" The militia began to approach them cautiously as the lead Qellan spoke, the word Pyke laced with a venom that spoke to experience. A venom that brought Mako great sorrow as it was directed at him, but also understanding.

"It is true, I am a Jedi!" Mako said loudly, but subdued, the vibrating tones of his voice unmistakably Pyke. "I appreciate your caution, the Pykes are just as cruel and malicious as you seem to already know. I assure you that the only similarity I share with them is my species. We are here to help you." Mako said, hopeful that his words would reach reasonable ears.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

"Why would we believe the Pyke is a Jedi?" 'Because we said we are, and we have lightsabers?' Was Hera's immediate, reactionary response in her mind. Thankfully, a cooler head prevailed in Mako and Hera kept her thoughts to herself. The Qellan leader seemed to not believe Mako though after the Pyke Jedi spoke, the confusion and doubt more than evident on his face. As he stared the pair down, Hera sighed deeply and ignited her blades above her head.

The sound of the ancient dual blade igniting, a visceral sound more akin to that of a low growl than a calm hum. The light of the orange blades illuminated their faces for but a moment before Hera turned off the blades. The Qellan leader waited for a moment before shouting, "Ok! You might be Jedi, but the Pyke we do not trust! You come, he stays!"

Hera, lowering her arms, shook her head, "I don't think so! I don't know what these other Pykes did to you yet, but I can vouch for my friend here with my full heart and soul. If you cannot look past his appearances to see that we are here to help, then unfortunately we must leave you to the pirates!"

It was an ultimatum. Anyone that knew Hera knew that she rarely made such demands. But here was a moment the Knight decided to put her foot down. This world needed their help, both the Jedi and the Qellans knew it. There would be no solving this without grievances being put aside. Slowly, Hera watched the lead Qellan lower his weapon. He gestured for the others to do the same before responding to Hera, "We still do not trust the Pyke! But you both may come into the city, follow me!"

Then, in a lowered voice, he spoke to his companions, "Keep a close eye on the Pyke."

@Arcangel

 

[Mako Krim]

It had been a longshot. The confusion was beginning to spread among the Qellan's, but doubt still persisted in their minds. Mako could feel it. That and it was written all over the Qellan's faces. Hera's patience seemed to run thin and the woman ignited her saber blade(s) with a violent snap-hiss. A harsh and growling thrum filled the air that surprised even Mako as he glanced sideways at the woman for a moment.

The Qellan militia leader was stubborn, only compromising halfway. Mako was silently thankful as Hera spoke on their refusal to trust Mako. The woman had known him for only a few moments and yet she vouched for him strongly. If need be, Mako would have gladly taken a bow and left the active diplomacy with the Qella to Hera while he approached the mission from the shadows. That wouldn't have to be the case however as her ultimatum forced the Qella into a corner.

"Trust can be earned," Mako commented to the leader of the fighting Qella at his comment, "but by all means, keep two close eyes on me." The Pyke Jedi said with a wink that only seemed to unsettle the Qella captain further. This was not going to be easy.

They were led into the city, surrounded by Qella armed with strange weaponry. The city around them was strange as well. The Qella seemed semi primitive, and yet their craftsmanship bore none of the marks of a primitive species. Not a sign of stone or even wood, the buildings seemed to be made each of a singular piece of unknown material shaped through mysterious means.

"Thank you." Mako spoke quietly to Hera as they walked, the feeling of eyes burning through him with every step. He wasn't sure he had ever felt so "watched" before. They would have to be careful. What little trust Hera had cultivated could be blown away with the slightest mistake. Mako breathed, centering himself as they walked, refusing to let the growing anxiety that gnawed at his chest take over as they approached what appeared to be the largest building in the small city.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

The pair slowly followed the leader of the militia through the city and towards the central building. This location wasn't truly a city, however, more like a very large village. No more than a couple of thousand beings lived here, and this was supposedly the largest settlement on the world. The Qellan settlement and the Qellan people were not what began to attract Hera's attention, however.

It was the buildings.

They were warm.

Hera removed her goggles in order to get a better look at the tall forms that rose around them. They pumped heat throughout them not like the carefully run pipes of boilers and furnaces, rather, their heat moved like that of massive bodies. It reminded Hera of the one time she saw a Rancor in the flesh, how its body was so large that she could track the heat of its blood as it pumped through its heart.

Their buildings were alive, and Hera could not help but not hear the words of the leader of the Qellan's introducing himself. Indeed, she hadn't even realized they had stopped moving until they almost shouted "Excuse us!" at her. Snapping back to the present, Hera turned to face the apparent leader of the city. A large Qellan stood before the Jedi, draped in rich purple clothes not unlike that which Mako wore. He carried no weapon, but his fingers seemed almost finely tuned for the sole purpose of communication, as he twisted them about to keep the red-head's attention while he spoke.

"As I was saying. Yes, Master Jedi, we welcome you to the world you call Maltha Obex, we are glad you have arrived. Though, we do find it strange you did not bring with you a military force to repel the Pykes, will they be arriving soon?"

Hera, without skipping a beat, completely ignored the question of the leader, "Are your buildings grown? How do you form them? Have you manipulated a single lifeform for this purpose or is it multiple different forms grafted together? Is it sentient? Surely not!" Her tone and body language exuded an almost childlike curiosity, forgetting the purpose of their mission for a moment. Perhaps the leader would find this endearing, perhaps he would find it tiring, but for the few short moments following Hera's questions, he just seemed confused.

 

[Mako Krim]

Mako was ever aware of the eyes that followed him through the village like city. The hateful stares and sideways glances that spoke of the pain his brethren had caused these people. His mind was preoccupied by these thoughts as they approached the Qella's leader, adorned in rich purple robes that were almost of matching shade to Mako's own.

The leader's introduction was interrupted as Hera nearly walked into the being, Mako quickly grasping her shoulder with a large three fingered hand to gently direct her back away from intruding on the Qellan's personal space. He looked at her strangely for a moment as she started to ramble about their buildings, a look of confusion striking his face that mirrored the Qella leader's own for a moment until he to a moment to truly look around him. To feel the thrum of life that pulsed through the village.

Not just the people. His eyes widened as his senses grew aware of the force of life that seemed to encapsulate every being and every structure that dwelled within the city's borders. It was unlike anything the Pyke Jedi had felt before. It also wasn't the most pressing detail of the conversation.

"Forgive us esteemed leader, its just that we have never seen structures such as your buildings and homes." Mako spoke quickly, trying to salvage the situation. "However I believe there are more pressing matters that you would rather discuss now, the reason you contacted our Order." Mako glanced at Hera, hoping she would get the message. Now was the time for decisive action, not picking apart the culture and ways of the locals.

"A military force?" Mako's tone amused as he looked at the Qella incredulously, as if it were a strange thing to ask. He propped his hands on his hips, casually brushing aside his robe and pinning it back behind his arms to reveal the lightsaber hilt that hung there. It was a power move, to display his saber so casually that it seemed unintentional. The Qella's eyes seemed to glue to the weapon hanging from the Pyke's hip for a moment. "We are Jedi, esteemed leader. I believe the two of us should be sufficient." Mako said with a toothy smile that made the Qella jerk back in revolt. Whoops.

Distrust colored the Qella's eyes as he looked Mako up and down. "Jedi or not, do you really expect me to trust the words of a Pyke! After what they've done to us." The Qella raised his voice and Mako could feel the beings pain as it rolled off him in waves, the strong exterior he portrayed clearly covering a man stricken by grief.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

'After all they've done to you? What? Do you think all Pyke share one mind?! That the entirety of a species boils down to the sum of a single criminal organization?! You must think that, because of the three fingers on each of my hands, I've come to run genetic experiments on you!'

This is what Hera wanted to say, but, a cooler head would prevail in this situation. She breathed deeply as the local leader finished speaking, calming herself with the affirmation that she was not a Padawan anymore, she was a Jedi Knight. Jedi Knights do not have emotional outbursts, even if the anger held a righteous fury. Looking up at the leader, Hera replaced her goggles and spoke with great calmness,

"While I can understand your apprehension, you can clearly see the pair of us are Jedi. If we wished to cause you harm, we would not have come peacefully into the midst of your great city. I implore you to look past the grievances of your past and allow us to heal you for a better future."

Looking about, Hera added, "This square is too public for a proper plan to be drawn up, may we meet more intimately in your office?" The Qellan leader seemed to pause, as if considering Hera's words carefully. "Alright, you may come inside, you both may come inside. However, we will not meet alone. My guards will accompany us."

Bowing gently, Hera smiled and responded, "We thank you for your hospitality."

At that, the Qellan leader turned from his position in the center of the square and moved towards a nearby building. The structure, no more than four stories tall, appeared to possess no doors or windows. However, as the leader approached the structure, the building itself seemed to crack and fizzle open. A maw not unlike the jaws of a Rathtar beckoned the group inside, the Qellan leader and his armed guards entered without hesitation.

 

[Mako Krim]

As the grief that was a rolling wave came off the Qella, the anger that roared for a moment in his fellow Jedi was like a flash. It burned hot and bright, like a flash in the force that made the Pyke wince slightly. It burned out quickly though, and Mako's fellow Jedi spoke there was not hint of the emotion that had played out within her.

Her words seemed to carry a coolness to them that calmed the Qellan leader. Another wrinkle smoothed out of am already rather wrinkly mission. If only they had an iron. Mako kept his curved lips shut for the moment as they made their way inside, not letting the Qella leader's distrust in him be too much of a bother. Mako only hoped that the Pykes hadn't been able to hook into any of the pockets of these guards.

There was a brief moment of hesitation as the structure ahead seemed to peel open to let them in, like a large mouth looking to swallow them whole. None of the locals seemed bothered by this however, so Mako simply accepted it for the time being and moved on. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking into the belly of the beast.

They were led through a hallway, the walls that curved up around them seemed to illuminate the space with bands of gentle luminescence that ran the length of the passageway. They came to large room that seemed to be furnished for meetings, a large table in the center that appeared to grow out of the floor.

"Tell us about the situation." Mako started as they came to settle in around the table. The Qella leader nodded before taking a deep breath.

"The invaders... they arrived a few weeks ago. They brought great structures that rip and tear at the earth, stripping it bare, down to its bones." The Qellan shook his head in disgust. "We sent messengers to them, but they did not return. Their ships attacked our village and their soldiers stole our people away... They stole my son." There was a hollow look in the Qellan's eyes for a moment before he blinked it away. "Their camp is about two days west of here by foot." He finished.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera sat down quietly at the growing table, watchful of everything as if it would leap out and grab them at any moment. Looking towards Mako, who seemed to be handling the situation emotionally far better than she was, she watched him speak for but a moment before looking to the Qellan leader.

The story he told was one of deep pain, grief, and suffering. Unfortunately, it was also a story Hera had heard before. Pirates, smugglers, and all manner of spice traders often conducted their business with violence. Even when violence was unnecessary, it was still their first reaction. Hera tried her best not to judge them, as Jedi were also an order that dealt almost exclusively in violence. Violence for defense or violence to hurt others was still violence.

'But,' Hera thought, 'if I'm to deal in violence, I should at least take solace in the effort of using violence to help others.'

Tapping the table as the leader finished, Hera spoke up, "It is possible your people are still alive, I would not give up hope so easily. However, we will see to it that the smugglers that have come to your world see the error of their ways. I would ask if you have transport we might be able to borrow in order to reach the enemy's encampment a little faster?"

The Qellan leader seemed to perk up at the thought of his son still being alive, but the hope quickly faded from his eyes as he responded to Hera, "No, It's been nearly a week since they took my son. I cannot imagine they would keep living prisoners and not send any demands of us. But, if you are serious about fighting the Pykes, we have a few Runner Beasts we might be able to spare for you."

@Arcangel

 

[Mako Krim]

Mako was torn. His knowledge of the Pykes and how they operated was a bit more intimate than these Qella or even Hera. He had to agree with Hera, thought the Qella leader seemed to have lost all hope on that front. The Pykes weren't wasteful, even if they hadn't made demands yet, they were probably holding the Qella leader's son as a contingency.

"If you would be so generous, we will be another step on our way to resolving this conflict." Mako bowed to the Qella, though he kept his eyes on the being. There was conflict there that played out on the Qellan's face. A glimmer of hope that struggled to overcome a spiteful response. In the end hope won out however and the Qellan signaled a guard who left to presumably prepare their mounts.

"The Runner Beasts are fast and will bring you to the Pyke's encampment quickly, though they can be hard to control." The Qella warned before waving the pair away as the willful personal he wore seemed to deflate, sapped of resolve for the time being. A pair of guards ushered the two Jedi away and led them to the stables as quickly as they could, their leader clearly in distress.

"That went... better than I expected." Mako said with a sort of depressed humar as they waited outside the stable for the runner beasts to be brought out. The stable itself didn't make much of an impression compared to the meeting hall. It didn't exactly seem big enough to house many animals which meant it was probably mostly underground. "What do you think we should do about the... the uhh... the Pykes?" Mako asked suddenly, glancing down then to the side as he scratched at the back of his bulbous head with a pair of fingers.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera stayed quiet as Mako ushered along their conversation with the leader. They were directed to a guard who took them toward the stables. It occurred to her as they walked that her companion might have a better knowledge of who they were dealing with than Hera did, but she didn't wish to assume. In Hera's mind, it would be akin to assuming the Arkanian knew more about genetic manipulation based solely on racial assumptions.

I mean, she did know more than the average sentient, but that was beside the point.

"That went... better than I expected." Mako's voice redirected the wandering mind of the redheaded knight once more. She nodded in response and subtly winced at Mako's hesitation in his second question. She understood the apprehension with which he spoke, but Hera did not like the options they had been presented either. Sighing deeply, she watched as their guard walked off to retrieve their mounts. Once the Qellan was out of earshot, Hera would speak her mind freely.

"Killing them all is- on the table." She remarked coldly. "But not the preferable option..." Glancing at the ground, Hera decided to bite the bullet and make the assumptions she dreaded, "Mako, know that I only think the best of you. But if you have any insights into the Pyke Syndicate, I would appreciate it. A trail of bodies left in my wake is not the legacy I wish to leave on this world..."

Indeed, sometimes it felt like killing was all Hera was truly good at. But those dark thoughts would be pushed aside, replaced instead with the hope that her fellow Jedi Knight might present better options. As Hera waited for Mako's response, the beasts arrived with the guard. The animals were large- smaller than Varactyls but larger than Reeks- and they bucked fiercely against the guard's attempts to reign them in.

They walked on six legs and possessed dual snake-like heads. Their smooth and rubbery skin secreted a viscous fluid that dripped like slime onto the ground beneath them. Their saddles were strapped tightly to their bodies as if the slime might cause them to slide off if a single buckle was missing. The heads seemed to act and move in tandem with each other, rather than separate minds. But the intricacies carved into their flesh caught Hera's attention most.

Their skin did not appear branded nor scarred, rather, it looked as though runic patterns had naturally formed on their bodies as they aged. One's skin appeared like a massive canvas, telling the story of the rise of the Qellan people. The other seemed to be patterns of runes organized into the shape of seven Qellan men dancing in a field. Truly, Hera believed, they were both beautiful.

 

[Mako Krim]

They were alone for the time being as their escorts retrieved the runner beasts, which meant they could finally talk in earnest. Of course the first thing that Hera said nearly made Mako wince.

"I'd like to avoid the... killing them all option, if it's possible anyways." Mako's tone slightly detached as the idea was floated. A likely outcome considering they were possibly up against the Pykes. It wasn't that Mako was squeamish about killing his own people. He was just squeamish about killing in general.

Mako would have been glad for any other topic to move onto, other than the one Hera moved onto. He had never divulged much about his childhood to his fellow Jedi, other than the council when he had been accepted into the Order all those years ago. It was a topic he always wanted to avoid. It was painful.

He looked around him at the city that still bore scars of the Pyke attack, at the people who would forever bear those same scars on their hearts. He shook his head slightly before meeting Hera's eyes, or rather the dark goggles she wore over them. As much as it hurt to delve into the past, these people were hurting more. He took a breath and began to speak. "Hera, I-"

He was cut off just as he was about to speak as the runner beasts were brought out by the guards. He managed to get a glance at the creatures as they were brought up, right as a guard lost control of the one that seemed to have images of Qellan' dancing. Mako got an up close view of its rubbery and slime covered mass as it slammed into him, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"Oof." He grunted as the wind was knocked from his lungs and he gasped for a moment as the thing towered over him. A quartet of eyes stared down at him on each of the beasts heads, black and gleaming membrane covered orbs peering from each corner of the beasts face, centered around chitinous beak that was split into four separate parts that gave the creatures face pyramidal look. The beaks clicked aggressively at Mako as they slowly lowered closer to him.

A feeling of panic threatened to surge in Mako's chest as his heart pounded. Fear. It demanded that he grab the saber from his hilt and defend himself from the creature. Fear was not to be given into however. A sensation of cold spread across his body as the Pyke drowned the emotion out, instead of letting it drown him. Mako let the light spread from where the fear had grown within him, his attention focused solely on the runner beast as it's beaks clicked closer to his face. Peace, felt within and projected out, into the mind of the beast as Mako raised a hand towards one of heads slowly as he tried to calm it's mind.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera watched the beasts carefully as they were brought in, disappointed that their arrival seemed to cut Mako off from further speech. Suddenly, the beast with a dancing marked body burst forth from the guard, charging directly at Mako. As it knocked into the Pyke, the other beast tore free of the guard and attempted to do the same to Hera. Instead of the swell of fear and panic that she felt from Mako, a different, though not unrelated, emotion rose in Hera. Anger.

The runner beast marked with a story of history stopped just inches short of slamming into the Arkanian. Hera projected power to the beast, a silent threat through the force to cause harm should it dare to tease out her rage. Then, as fast as the flash rose, Hera stuffed it back down. Reaching out to the runner beast's faces she cupped a cheek on each side and projected calm, peaceful emotions.

It took a minute longer than Mako's own beast, who reacted quickly to the Pyke's emotions and knelt down for him, but eventually, Hera's runner beast also knelt for her. Sighing deeply as she mounted the runner beast, Hera looked over to her companion and remarked, "Let's go."

The beasts were fast, frighteningly fast. A speeder bike or swoop bike could keep up with the animals, but it seemed that would be the only land vehicle that could manage to compete with the runner beasts. For a while, as they traveled, Hera was silent. She did not like that her first emotion when the beast threatened her was to threaten it back. There was an ugly part of the Jedi that seemed to be coming out during this mission.

Hera needed to stamp these feelings out.

@Arcangel

 

[Mako Krim]

The runner beast seemed to calm as Mako poured calm into its mind. It settled back and let him rise from the ground, purple robes smudged with dirt and runner beast slime. He kept a hand hovering near its head as he gained his feet, and then reached out to further rub his palm gently on the side of the beasts head. It was just as slimy as he expected.

Mako merely nodded as Hera made her remark, climbing up onto the saddle and letting the runner beast do its things. What he didn't expect was for the creature to suddenly bolt forwards, rapidly accelerating in a way lurch that jerked the Jedi back in the saddle. It took him a moment to get his bearings on handling the beast, but the rest of the journey was swift, if quiet. There was no room for talking as they steered the creatures across the terrain at such a rapid pace.

It didn't take the runner beasts long to cover "two days by foot" and they were quickly witness to the devastation that the Pykes had visited upon the landscape. A vast pit was carved into the earth, a terraced strip mine where precious ores were ripped from their cradle within the ground in order to further enrich the Pykes. The mine was abandoned, but a great churn of dust could be seen on the horizon. This location had clearly been stripped of all value and then abandoned. Like everything else the Pykes touched.

Mako was quiet for a long moment while he surveyed the devastation. "They have to be stopped." His words were laced with sorrow as he took in the dead land, ripped of all the life and beauty that they had come to see among the rolling lowland plains. He looked at Hera, almost unable to meet here eyes. "They were once my people. I was born into the Syndicate... and their blood runs through my veins." Mako looked down at his arm for a moment. The same blood that ran through his family ran through him. Was this devastation what he was...

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

The devastation of the land temporarily stole Hera's breath as the pair came upon it. The pain the Pykes were able to wreak after having only been here for what, a few weeks, a month or two at best? It was terrifying. Then Mako spoke, first a statement she wholeheartedly agreed with, then another that seemed less something for Hera to respond to and more something that Mako needed to get off his chest.

For a minute she contemplated his words, then the redheaded knight formulated her response, "I was left to an orphanage as a baby, I never knew my family, my biological family that is. I'd like to think that they were good people. I'd like to think that they just weren't ready for a child when they abandoned me. But I don't know the truth, and I may never find out." There was little emotion in her tone as she spoke. Her eyes stared blankly at the scar dug into the earth, recounting her speculations as though it were as mundane as listed off what she ate for breakfast.

But then, as Hera turned towards Mako, she changed her tone. It reflected an air of hopefulness, joy, and of a positive view of the future. "From even a very young age, I chose my family. I chose the Jedi. Even if you were born into the Syndicate, even if they raised you, that's not how I see you. I see you as a brother. Even if their blood runs through your veins, even if they were once your people, your family, that's in the past. I would hope that you could see me, the order, as your family now, just as I see you."

Clicking the Runner beast's reigns, she attempted to leave Mako with that thought for a bit. Whether or not he would pursue her, whether or not he had a response already prepared, Hera still moved on towards their mission goal. Of course, should Mako attempt to catch up and speak to her then Hera would slow down. The words of her Knight brother were to be heard when he had them.

@Arcangel

 

[Mako Krim]

Mako continued to look down at his hands, three large fingers that at the moment seemed only capable of spreading suffering in sight of the ravaged land. That was not what he did with those hands, but what had been done with so many other like them. He was shaken from his despair as Hera spoke, breaking the long silence.

He looked at her then as she recounted her own childhood. So different from his own. He had known exactly who he was, who his parents were. It was something that was ever present in his life. To not know ones only family, whether they were cared about, loved. It was a story so many knew, a story his own family had caused countless times. Mako silently listened as he wondered where the Arkanian Jedi was going with things.

She looked at him then and her words cut into the Pyke Jedi. Her words range with the truth of her conviction. Hera finished speaking, and before Mako could even have time to process her words, let alone formulate a respones, she was off. Mako clicked his own beast into motion, following behind her as his mind pondered everything. He had no words and didn't seek to catch up to fill the air with empty noises.

Mako had never truly chosen, dumped on the Jedi's doorstep through circumstances he could only suspect. He had grown attached to the life he now lived true, relieved to have escaped the harsh cruelty of the syndicates that had so often broken his heart as a youth. But he had never been faced with the choice. Not until now.

It was very likely that they would be going up against forces of the Syndicate, or at the least fellow Pykes. It was something he had never been faced with before in his years as a Jedi and he realized the choice was approaching him quickly. It seemed the force worked in mysterious ways as he looked ahead to the plume of dust that the invaders churned from the earth.

To be confronted with this choice so soon. Mako felt unready. But when was one ready for the things life threw at them. He looked back over his shoulder at the devastation behind them and he knew. That wasn't what he was. Not now, not ever. He sat with those thoughts for a while as they rode, until they were approaching the new dig site.

"Hera." He said as he caught up with the woman as they slowed. "I am a Jedi." He said as he looked at her with conviction swimming in his dark eyes, a decision made. A promise. He held her gaze for a moment before turning to look over the new devastation. he looked at what his old people wrought, was faced with the horror of a people he would not call his own. Great machines tore at the earth, spitting out raw ore that was broke up and sorted into bins by a workforce of assorted droids and slaves. Lording over these people were the outlines of familiar forms, wide shouldered skinny bodies with large, bulbous heads. Armed and armored in a hodgepodge way that didn't speak to the true organization of the Pyke Syndicate, but they were Pykes nonetheless.

@Black Noise