Zoo Keepers

[Tynian]

Tynian stood up. His arm was throbbing, but it wasn't as bad as a few hours ago. Walking over to the gate he looked at both ends of the walkway to catch a glimpse of what was coming...
The roars echoed again, but this time much closer. He turned back to the other two... "If we can make a run for another cage down the way, we may be able to get out of here before having to face whatever is coming. But if we do have to fight, I'd rather be out in the open."

He waited for the other two to be ready to run before opening the gate..."Arador, please check your map again. I don't want us taking wrong turns."

 

[Arador Drakar]

Arador swallowed lightly as he felt a lump in his throat as the roaring got closer by the second. Listening to Tynian as he came up with a plan the teenager looked at his map. Hoping that there is an escape route and a way to block whatever it is coming for them.

The boy found a way and pointed to a corridor right in front of them at the other side of the enclosure they are currently located at, "Down that passage is some sort of containment door. If we can get past that we can close the doors to slow down what is coming this way." He pointed to where the containment doors are located on the map. Hopefully those doors have not been torn to shreds by the rampaging animals.

The teenager continued to look over the map, marking where they currently are as well as where they have been. They were not as close to the control center as they were hoping. But they are on the right track.

 

[Kane]

Kane listened as Tynian and Arador came up with a plan and a route, it was solid. And the three of them freshly rested should be able to make the run to the doors...as long as the doors themselves were in tact.

"Excellent plan. Tynian, you take point. Aeador, you and your pup stay between us and navigate as needed. I will take up the rear."

With the plan in place Kane readied himself, holding his unignited saber in his right hand.

"Keep quiet as possible, use the force to cushion your footfalls if you can."

 

[Tynian]

Tynian made sure his lightsaber was in his hand, just in case they ran into more creatures... He led them out of the smaller cage and down the path. in the direction that Arador indicated.

Everything seemed to go fairly well as they ran toward the containment doors... until they came into the large opening leading to the doors themselves.

On the far side of the area were a pile of bones... next to the pile of bones, in front of the doors the Jedi were heading to, lay a sleeping Rancor.

Tynian stopped in his tracks, putting a finger to his lips for the others to remain quiet. So instead of speaking, he sent a telepathic message to his companions. Ideas?
Just as he sent the message, they heard a couple of loud roars from somewhere behind them... Tynian looked back to where they had just come from... then back to Kane. I think something else has caught our scent... we need to think of something fast.

 

[Arador Drakar]

Arador looked to Kane as the oldest of the three spoke up after the teenager and Tynian came up with a plan. It is not much of one but it is better than nothing. The boy nodded making sure the pup was secure before the three of them started moving.

It was just a straight shot down the corridor really. No twists and turns. Just a straight road really. His eyes narrowing as he thought that he saw something rather concerning up ahead but couldn't make it out until Tynian stopped them in their tracks. Arador spotted the sleeping Rancor and froze. Looking around, he looked back to the heavy doors they had just passed. They still looked like they functioned, at least that was what the boy thought.

Swallowing lightly the teenager looked to the Rancor. Arador looked back to the heavy doors in thought. If they could close them doors, it will create a barrier for whatever is following them to get through. Looking at the map the boy frantically searched seeing that just a bit ahead is another set of doors. Tapping Kane's arm since the man was standing the closest to him and the boy still had no idea how to use telepathy, he simply pointed to the map. Showing the doors the trio had just passed and another, possible, set just ahead of them.

 

[Kane]

Kane looked at the Rancor, then to his companions. The increasingly close sounding roars were a concern.

Arador pointed out an idea to him, it made sense if Kane understood what the boy was getting at.

A sound plan. However closing these first doors...it will likely wake the Rancor. Though judging by the sounds ofnthose roars I do not think we have much choice at all.

He projected to the both of them.

He readied himself, saber still unlit in his hand as he prepared to close the doors once they were all ready.

 

[Tynian]

We won't even be ale to reach the doors unless the Rancor moves...Tynian replied. Then he just winked at Kane and moved to his right. The area was big enough that if someone could create a diversion, then the other two could make for the doors and to safety.

With his unlit lightsaber in his hand, Tynian moved as far right as he possibly could without getting himself into a corner. The roars from behind them, seemed to be getting closer, and the huge rancor in front of them stirred slightly at the sounds.
Tynian finally made it to where he thought was a good spot and ignited his twin blades. He took a breath and then used the force to make his voice louder than normal. Get ready to run... I'll be there shortly.
"Wakey, wakey, ya big lug!" his voice resounded throughout the area... The Rancor's eyes opened up and it slowly got to its feet... Tynian yelled again. "Over here, ya ugly sap sucker!"
The Rancor let out a maddened roar and then began moving toward the Ysanna Jedi... not even paying any attention to the other two Jedi in the larger room.

@Nommie @One For Sorrow

 

[Kane]

"Oh by the force boy."

Kane muttered under his breath as he began to run for the doors, keeping his saber unlit in his hand.

He kept an eye on his fool son, and occasionally glanced back to make sure Arador was keeping up.

Half hope the thing bites his arm off. That'd teach him.

He thought to himself jokingly. Tynian reminded himself far too much of a younger Kane sometimes. If he didn't know any better he would have thought the boy was his biologically.

Kane wanted to help Tynian, but he trusted the young Sentinel. Though the old Crusader had a plan in mind if it turned out that help was needed

 

[Tynian]

The Rancor didn’t even flinch as the other two Jedi began to run behind it. Its sole focus was on the loud little creature that had dared to wake it up from its slumber.
Tynian moved a bit to his right to gage where his escape route would be, when he heard the loud roars of the creatures from the path.
Two green scaled Terentateks entered the area and gave out loud roars of warning as their eyes fell on the Rancor.

The Rancor turned to face this new threat and gave Tynian a chance to use the force and run past it and towards the doors. “Open the doors!” he yelled as he ran...

 

[Arador Drakar]

As Tynian made himself live bait.. Once again. The teenager shook his head wondering if the Knight had some sort of death wish. Especially as the rancor woke up and angrily went after Tynian. Well it certainly did look like one of them cat and mouse cartoons.

Even as Arador and Kane made a mad dash for the other set of doors the beast didn't divert it's attention. Not until two Terentateks came rushing in. With the three beasts seeming to forget that the three jedi are there. The boy looked to see the two sets of doors are... Closed? Just their rotten luck.

The teenager spotted a panel next to one of the doors. Pushing a button the young knight opened the door just enough for the three jedi to squeeze through and prevent the three beasts from chasing them any further if the three humans happen to get their attention, "Hurry up Tynian! We have to close the doors!" He yelled when Arador and Kane got to the other side of the doors.

 

[Kane]

As the Terentateks came into the area Kane watched the Rancor's attention turn fully from Tynian to the newly arrived beasts, he expected the distraction would be fleeting but it would be enough of one for his son to clear the distance back to them.

Tynian, I am going to pull you to add speed as you run. Hurry.

He projected instead of yelling.simply so that he.could be heard without a doubt over the roars of all three beasts. The Rancor was not happy about the intrusion into it's territory, and the Tarentateks seemed to be challenging the great beast.

Once he knew Tynian had heard him he would reach out with the force and wrap tendrils around the younger Jedi's waist like a rope harness and begin to pull as fast as he could without throwing off his son's balance as soon as Tynian began to run. This would effectively double the young man's speed as he rushed to join them.

 

[Tynian]

Tynian felt the pull of the force by his father and the extra speed it gave him.
He made it to the doors and turned sideways to squeeze through to the other side.

The creatures were too busy fighting each other to care and so the Jedi were safely behind the protective doors.

Inside, where the Jedi now stood, was a larger room with a long tunnel at the far end. It had metal cars all lined up and attached to a rail type system. This must have been a staging room for visitors to get into the cars and go on some tour.

There weren’t as many bodies in here, and not as many sounds coming from creatures.
In fact, once the doors were shut, a few voices came out from behind the small control kiosk. The voices belonged to about ten children... all huddled together and dressed alike. More than likely a school group of some sort.

Tynian was leaning up against the wall trying to catch his breath when a young man (about twelve in age), with black hair slowly and cautiously approached Kane. He looked back at the kids and they urged him forward.. so he turned back to Kane and swallowed before speaking. “Sir. Are...are you a Jedi? We need help... my sister is hurt. Her leg is all blue, and we don’t have any food.” The kid’s eyes filled with tears. “Our teacher is dead. The snakes got her, so we hid in here... will you help us?”

 

[Arador Drakar]

As soon as Tynian made it through the heavy doors, the teenager closed them using the force. There was not much of a gap realky to close them. So it was fairly easy.

Once the doors were closed he turned to find a group of children huddled together. Only a few years younger than himself, so he can clearly understand why they were so frightened. With their teacher dead, there is no one to protect them until now. He looked to the other two jedi then to the children, "Yes..we are here to help." Arador told the school child softly.

The boy walked over to where the boy's sister was laying on the ground. Her leg looked extremely bad, Arador had no idea how he can help her besides cradling her as Kane examines the girl's leg, "I think just around the corner is a medical center with a food court of sorts right across from it." He pulled out the map, laying it on the ground the teenager looked at it, "Yeah right there." He pointed to where the food court and medical center is located on the map. But the problem is that the smell of food may have attracted animals to that location as well.

 

[Kane]

Kane watched Tynian bolt to them, and as Arador closed the doors he became aware of several other presences in the room. As the young child spoke the old Crusader could feel his pain and fear.

We will get the children to the medical center, they will be able to stay safely locked in there until we can access whatever countermeasures this floating hell is equipped with. Then we get whatever food and provisions we can from the dining area and bring it to them before we move on.[/color]"

Kane hooked his saber back on his belt and extended both sets of Vibro-Claws as he looked to each of the Jedi and children gathered, his war-brain kicking in and thinking tactics.

"I will take point, Arador. You stay in the middle with the children and your pup. Tynian take up the rear. Children, stay close to Arador and do not make a sound. Silence and swiftness are life right now."

He sniffed the air, using the force to enhance his senses. The stench of blood and death in the air was all he could smell, so he stopped that effect.

"Let's move."

 

[Tynian]

Tynian knew better than to argue with Kane when he was in this kind of mindset. And he really didn't have anything to argue with anyway, since the older Jedi's plan was a sound one. So the Ysanna took up position behind everyone and followed them out to the med-bay.

Leaving the rancor and terentateks behind, the group made their way down the new hallway. They passed several non threatening creatures, which were content to remain in their cages and eat the plants. Then they came to a fork in the hallway... one led to the large snakes... the other led to the aquarium area. According to Arador's map...the med-bay was on the other side of the aquarium.

Tynian sent the other two a telepathic message. I'd suggest scouting it out first... Are you up for it father? We can stay with the kids til you return.

 

[Arador Drakar]

Kane didn't need to tell Arador to stay between the two older jedi with the children. Because they were already crowded around him. With his staff folded and put away, his rifle slinged over his shoulder, and his pup perched on his shoulder. The teenager was carrying the injured girl, using the force to keep her calm as the group moved. Though with the children huddling around him so close that each was in physical contact him and each other, the calming feeling he was putting into the girl spread to the other children.

Arador thinks he has figured out how to telepathically communicate with the two Jedi. You two can go on ahead to scout the area. I can stay behind and defend the kids. The teenager told the two of them. The area is fairly big by the looks of it on the map. It may take two to scout it out. Plus the boy was not sure if someone going alone was a good idea with all the beasts wondering around looking for a easy meal. Plus there is no telling if there is anything waiting wear the group is going.

 

[Kane]

Four eyes are better than two, Arador is right. Kane projected with an approving nod towards the youngest Jedi. I'll take the right, Tynian go left. We'll rendevouz on the other side and head back through the middle.

With that the old Crusader began to walk out to the right, following along the walls amd using the force to cushion his footfalls and mask his presence. His claws were down and to his side, though the vibromotors were powered down they could be activated in an instant. And of course the cortosis blades were honed to a razer sharp edge regardless.

Kane was not abundantly concerned about the aquatic beasts, most of them would likely die if they left the water. However he was concerned with what any corpses of escaped beasts might draw in, there were many species of predator that were liable to scavenge for a free meal where they could get it.

 

[Tynian]

Tynian walked silently down the left corridor. He could hear sounds from up ahead, but couldn’t place what kind of creature they would be coming from.
It was a weird sensation of unsurety... but the Jedi just pulled from the force calming himself more as he went forward.

The reptilian section was a mess. Dimly lit lights that mimicked the various creatures natural habitat, did little to help ease the nerves.
There were glass cages of all shapes and sizes set up for the viewing of the visitors, but most of them were now empty.
“I really don’t like snakes” Tynian said as he moved through the area.
Then he saw it...

A rather large snake was coiled in the left corner of the large room. There were several other snakes and the like all around the massive snake, as if they were trying to massage it while it slept.
A lot of empty clothing and bones were scattered around the “snake pile” as well, indicating that no one would have made it out of there alive when all hades broke loose.

Tynian used the force to project a calm around him, so that as he moved through the area, the snakes wouldn’t care about it. He finally made it safely to the far end and to a set of exit doors leading to the aquarium. He breathed a sigh of relief when the doors opened easily and he was able to leave the snake pit behind him.
I’m through father, how are you faring?

 

[Arador Drakar]

As the two knights went ahead to scout out the area they will be heading towards, Arador kept the children huddled with him. He found a children's treehouse of sortss. So after making sure it was empty the teenager had all the kids climb up into the treehouse, he himself though jumped up to it since he was carrying the injured girl.

Up there. The teenager came up with games for the kids to play to keep them occupied while Kane and Tynian scouted ahead. His wolf pup helped distract the injured girl from her pain by playing fetch and tug o war with the girl.

 

[Kane]

Kane passed many tanks that appeared to be empty, several of them with signs that read "COMING SOON" in huge bright lettering.

All is well son. I am nearly through.

The old crusader ducked as he was startled by a thud against the glass on a tank to his left, when he turned to it he was face to face with a massive Colo Claw Fish. It stared at him and clacked it's claw against the glass one last time before swimming away, obviously aware that it was never going to get him.

Finally Kane reached the end of the aquarium area and linked up with Tynian.

"Well, that was so easy I'm concerned we may be walking into the most danger yet." he chuckled. "Let's head back to Arador and the children."