Ask Two Worlds Collide

[Leon Baudelaire]

"The Gods will provide the lamb."​

Leon stepped off the transport's boarding ramp and onto Cyborreaian soil. The Sinha tribe led by The Lion of Ten Tribes had allowed the republic to place a base of operations within their territory, and that was The Padawan's destination. He was eager to get to work, this was his first official mission. Finally, he was going to prove he was ready for combat.

The settlement that had embraced the republic was clearly flourishing. The guards wore glistening armor, their weapons were sharp, and each of them towered over the human republic soldiers. The Decalian couldn't help but smile. He always felt at home where battle was a social standard.

The Order had assigned him to assist a group of healers that were being sent into a bandit ravaged tribe about thirty-five kilometers from the republic base. Their goal was to provide aid for the wounded and help the locals reinforce their borders while being on guard for the return of the bandits. This was the most exciting thing he'd been able to do since being sent to the Jedi.

Leon reported to the station officer and was directed to a hanger. The hanger was alive with action. Cargo carts operated by droids pulled supplies from one transport to another, Cyborreain warriors sharpened weapons and mended armor. After a quick scan, he spotted the group he was supposed to be shipping out with.

He trotted over and in his heavily accented basic he stated, "Leon Ulric, Padawan."

Leon put his fist to his chest then raise his forearm to his brow in salute. The Republic soldier cocked an eyebrow and replied, "Captain, Tran," The captain gathered himself and then said, "Why don't you make sure you've got what you need. Then take a seat on the speeder. We'll be pulling out soon."

Leon bobbed his head and made for the speeder. He took a seat near the door and pulled out his knife and whetstone. A small grin pulled at his lips.

Finally, the Gods saw fit to test him.

@Altaria

 

[Issyl Damol]

"This must be a mistake" Issyl plead to the Jedi Master that assigned her to a mission. "Relax young one, the other healers are occupied. Leaving us to send you to assist. Think of it as some on-the-job experience." He flashed a warm smile to reassure her. "There will be New Republic soldiers to help you as well." Thus, Issyl was placed on a transport heading to Cyborrea. She never heard of the planet quite frankly, but supposedly the New Republic had a heavy presence on there. It seemed a bit fishy to her, but her job was to just help the local people.

Issyl walked around the camp with amazement. The locals seemed happy and brandished brand new gear. The air was less smothering and humid compared to Yavin, with a slight chill. She continued to walk around until a Republic Soldier ran up to her. "Miss, Damol, they are waiting for you at the hanger." He bent over to catch his breath "Oh, my apologies, I'll make my way there." She scurried over to the hangar and entered.

An officer spotted Issyl and made his way over. "You must be Padawan Damol. I'm Captain Train." He pointed over to a lineup of speeders "Go ahead and take a seat on one of them, we will leave soon." Issyl nodded and made her way over, but a young boy caught her attention. He didn't appear to be a soldier, but Issyl could sense something from him. Could he have been another Jedi? Issyl took a closer look and saw he was brandishing a knife instead of a lightsaber. She was about to approach him until a voice called out to her. "Padawan Damol, come take a seat behind me." She turned to see one of the soldiers waving his hands at her, so she went over and sat behind him on his speeder. "Don't worry miss I'm a pretty good driver."

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Shhhhhk Shhhhk Shhhhhhhk

Preparation was the epitome of a prosperous hunt. Leon carried a lightsaber, a weapon that never dulled. One that stood as both a symbol of peace and destruction. If he were honest, The young Decalian didn't believe he was worthy of the burden and it use felt unfair in the face of their current enemy.

As he sharpened his blades a string in the force, or Seidhr, stole his attention from his blade. A girl stood radiant in the warmth of the lightside. Their gazes met for an instant. Recognition passed between them in a moment of fleeting familiarity and then it was gone.

Leon blinked suddenly released from their connection as the girl was ushered to a different vehicle. He watched her until she was out of sight and then returned to his weapon. He'd detected entities within the force before, but never in a way that felt so... direct? The parade of transport, three speeders in total, formed up and proceeded out of the base. His brow furrowed as he inspected the edge of his blade, but his mind was still on her. Satisfied, he sheathed the weapon and attempted to push her from his mind. There wasn't any room for distraction during a mission.

As they made their exodus of the settlement, the desolation of Cyborrea from the AMS enthralled was compounded by the ravaging bandits whose terror was scored into the landscape. Burntout shells of settlements spun the horrors of this world for those who looked upon their bones. Packs of feral Neks could be seen on occasion and here and there the shambling sway of an infected. Leon couldn't help but wonder why the tribes had allowed themselves to reach this point. Where did pride end and survival begin with these people?

The speeder he was in suddenly began to slow. Leon's brow knit together as he surveyed the area. It was clear they were still a few kilometers from their destination, and then he spotted it. A distant plume of billowing dust wafting from the plains indicated an incoming party. The Padawan moved up next to Captain Tran.

"Hope you're ready, kid. Those aren't speeders, they're battlemounts."

@Altaria

 

[Issyl Damol]

The scenes Issyl witnessed terrified her. The devastation of the environment, mountains of bones, the rancid smell of rotten flesh, and burnt down huts. At one point it was so unbearable, Issyl shut her eyes. She knew it was inevitable to be a witness of violence as a Jedi, and this is why she did not want to leave Yavin. The force would spiral deep within her as Issyl struggled to get the images of war out of her mind.

As the three N-47 Speeders reached a halt, Issyl looked out the window to a dust cloud building up in the distance. "What's going on?" she asked the driver. "Trouble." he swiftly responded. Captain Tran would issue an order over the radio: "Spread out to the sides and take them out with the heavy turrets. Don't let them get too close; the only way they can damage our speeders is by planting explosives." Per their orders, the drivers of each speeder turned and drove to the side in order to encircle the charging bandits.

As the bandits came into view, two of the speeders fired. The third speeder that carried supplies did not have a gunner. The Republic was far more advanced than the Cyborreans, but the bandits made up for it with numbers. There was at least 40-50 warriors on battlemounts brandishing hand-made spears. A few of them had blasters, but it did little to no damage to the speeders. The bandits let out a ferocious war cry as they charged, and they were smart. Rather than split their forces, they all focused on a single speeder: the one that had the supplies. It was the only speeder that didn't have the gunner, and that let the bandits know which speeder they should go for. The bandits maintained a formation that protected the ones in the center; those were the ones carrying explosives. No matter how many fell, the bandits would stay in their formation and charge. Issyl watched in horror as the heavy repeating blaster turrets shredded through the bandits.

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Leon listened to Captain Tran relay orders. His eyes fell upon the encroaching hoard and he rose from his seat.

"Kid, sit down. I know you're here to-- Hey, get back in here!"

Before Tran could stop him, Leon, slipped out the back and took position on the defenseless transport. If this vehicle was taken down their whole mission would be ended. Failure wasn't an option for The Deucalian. He pulled his plasma bow and began to pick off riders. The speeder's mounted guns laid waste to the oncoming bandits. Their numbers diminished rapidly as they frantically tried to close the gap on the medical supplies.

This wasn't a battle it was a slaughter. A thin frown rested on his lips as he watched the final few members of the raiding party disperse. Leon was confused. Why was he here? These bandits were so poorly equipped that they had no hope of doing any real damage to the speeders. Even with their superior numbers, it didn't matter. The turret fire was just too much and still they pressed. With no joy in his being, Leon took aim at the center rider. He pulled back and loosed a bolt directly into the explosives they were carrying. The explosion broke the formation. Those that remained turned tail and fled.

This may have been a victory, but it held no glory. Leon took a seat on the roof of the transport and looked at the crumpled and ruined bodies that lay strewn across the plains. A couple of minutes later and they were back on the move. The padawan elected to remain on the defenseless transport. If asked he'd claim it was more efficient, but in reality, he wasn't sure how to process the destruction he'd just witnessed. Fighting hand to hand and grit to grit was one thing. Massecuring a bunch of impoverished beings felt... unjust.

@Altaria

 

[Issyl Damol]

Before the battle could finish, Issyl was already looking away from the window. She refused to witness what was happening, she just couldn't bear it. Once the firing stopped, the Captain's voice could be heard through the radio. "Good work everyone. Form back up and let us continue." Issyl knew that violence was going to be inevitable, but she felt as if she killed those bandits herself. She could have protected them, even reason with them. The whole situation could have been avoided.

The driver of Issyl's speeder was muttering to himself. Issyl turned to listen. "Finally got them back for what they've done... kriffing bandits got what they deserved." The Padawan was shocked to hear what the soldier said, but didn't have the guts to speak up. 'How can people have such thoughts...' Issyl was reminded of the last time she was in her own village. She understood that not everyone could remain as calm and collected as the Jedi, but that's why the Jedi needed to help the galaxy. These people needed mental training just like the Jedi received.

Issyl looked towards the once defenseless transport, sensing the boy from earlier. 'Huh, he must have moved to that one for some reason..' She didn't witness him in the massacre that had just occurred earlier. She wondered what the boy's thoughts about the events were, and so she tried to reach out to him. Her emotions and thoughts focused on him. While she concentrated, the vehicle came to a sudden stop and she opened her eyes.

They were at the entrance of a village. It had many huts out of straw and leather, but a few were completely destroyed. Despite the many huts, there only seemed to be around 20-25 people in the village. They looked pale, sickly, and famished. A few of them were dragging bodies that laid on the side of the road. "What's going on?" Issyl asked the driver next to her. "Those bandits we killed have caused mayhem to this village and many others nearby. Looks like they took out a few more people before they left." He then pointed towards the back of the village "Look closely over there, it's a mass grave. This village use to have a population of 150." Issyl nearly vomited upon hearing that information. After a few deep breaths she managed to slightly regain her composure "This is all the village has left?" She turned to look at the driver again, his expression was blank. It was as if he was trying to hide his own sorrow. "Kind of. Many of the women and children were taken to slave camps. We're still trying to find out where they are located."

"Alright everyone," the Captain's voice was heard once more "began unloading the supplies. Healers, do what you do best." Issyl and the other healers stepped out of the speeder. The air reeked of rotten flash, and it made Issyl gag and cough. The rest of the healers were unfazed; they were use to it.

@Zay

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Leon felt a presence brush against his consciousness. A image of the girl flashed through his mind and he reciprocated the gesture. He wasn't used to telepathic communications outside of the temple on Yavin, but relished the idea of not having to speak. He made a mental note to touch base with her once they arrived at their destination.

From his vantage point on the speeder's roof, he could see pillars of smoke reaching for the sky. Ruined buildings and burning pyres. His frown deepened. The caravan pulled in and Captain Tran set to giving orders. Leon fell in with the soldiers and helped unload while the healers made their rounds. The work was tedious and unsatisfying, but once it was done he was free to roam.

The people of the village were wounded, gaunt, and hopeless. They were ruined and even with the meager help the republic had provided, nothing would replace the losses they suffered today. Unless... as he wandered the broken homes he overheard the mention of survivors. Granted the survivors were being held by Cyborrean slavers, but the fact they were alive had to mean something, didn't it?

Russet locks and a pink bow caught his eye as the girl from before slipped just out of his view. Reaching out with his mind he sent her images of a rendezvous location. If anyone would be on his side, he had a feeling she would.

Careful not to attract unwanted attention, Leon made his way toward a well on the edge of town. It was on the opposite side of the settlement from where they'd made camp and obscured by a few buildings whose walls managed to remain upright. By the time he'd reached the location, his mind was already made up. He wanted to free the slaves, but he couldn't do it alone...

@Altaria