Fort Blindshot Training Grounds Selen 43 ABY
Invitations had been sent to the Dajorran Marshals to meet in gear at the Fort Blindshot Training Grounds, located in the dense rainforest of the eastern foothills of the island. Though the excursion was intended to introduce the newly elected Chief Marshal to their crew, different activities had been constructed to provide entertainment as well. A social area had been set up near the classrooms, with tables full of food and drinks. Along the path northward was a sparring ring set aside for the event. Further east from the ring, a set of buildings was sectioned off for the trainees to use as a firearm range.
Luka Zarkot walked briskly down the main route through each section of the Training Grounds, their focus on a datapad clasped in their hands. After clearing the last mark on their checklist, they swiped their index finger across the screen to clear the list from their view. Though the Human’s gaze was then fixed on the latest scouting reports, they were confident in their swift steps. Through crowded walkways, they wove their way southward. Trotting in front of them was a Nexu that diverted traffic away from her master, her beady black eyes shifting back and forth to narrow at each passing person or vehicle. The Nexu’s nervous energy matched her master’s, their swift pace setting her on edge.
A low stuttering growl brought Luka’s attention to their surroundings. A red Zabrak raised her hand in greeting as she approached from a side path. She maintained a distance from the Nexu with a distrusting glance, though the creature should have been familiar with the Zabrak’s scent. A friend, though the animal had sensed a growing tension between her and Luka during the preparation for this event.
“Almost time?” Vreva shouted across the way. “Thought I saw some shuttles overhead.” The wind through the trees whipped the leaves into a frenzy as she spoke, and both looked up to see at least one ship approaching the tarmac. Vreva waved, then walked a few steps down the path she had come. “Well, get your game face on, Chief! Don’t want them to see you buckle this early.”
Luka rolled their eyes and breathed a sigh of frustration, though Vreva had vanished into the wooded paths where she had came before they could formulate a witty response. Instead, they put on a bright smile and set off down the thoroughfare to the tarmac, where the first few were stepping off their transports. “Welcome, welcome,” they said with a formal air in their tone. “Glad you could make it!”
The briny air of Fort Blindshot’s training yard began to tremble when two LAAT/i transports approached, their repulsors warbling in the effort to keep the vehicles and their passengers aloft. After circling overhead so the pilots could find a suitable place to land, the transports touched down in a patch of empty grass approximately 30 yards from the target range. The doors of both LAAT/i opened with a sharp hiss, folding outward so their weight could plant them firmly into the ground as ramps for their passengers to disembark. A mix of both AAF (Arconan Armed Forces) and civilian employees of the Dajorran Marshals exited the transports in single-file lines; the civilians were dressed in formalwear fit for the warm summer climate of Selen, while the soldiers were dressed in their combat fatigues.
Bringing up the rear were Bril and Minnie Erinos, the Starosta of House Galeres and recent inductee to the Alomb'Erinos (Council of Erinos), respectively. Both were dressed to the nines. The former wore a designer white tee tucked into a pair of off-black fitted slacks held up by a pair of suspenders, a matching black hat, and a pair of light brown slip-ons; Minnie, on the other hand, wore a pair of fashionable cargo pants, a hot pink crop-top and white shoes with pink tongues, and carried a brown bomber jacket the same color as her cargo pants. She adjusted her sunglasses as they stepped off.
A buzzing notification emanating from one of Bril’s kom'rke prompted him to stop when he saw the word “Tsungi” appear on the digital display. “One second, pur'ka,” he called to Minnie, “This will only take a minute.”
Placing one hand on her hip, Minnie huffed while giving him a look. “It better, Kitty. You’re messing up our entrance.”
He playfully sucked his teeth before stepping aside to answer the holocall, causing a holographic image of a human man with cropped brown hair to appear in full color. He appeared to be in his early to mid forties, sporting a world weary expression and a scar that cut vertically across his left eye.
“Status report?” Bril began.
The man cleared his throat before beginning. “The situation on Obah Diah has remained largely unchanged. Our people on the ground tell us that many players in the underground spice trade have stepped up to fill the void left following the Kojimi cartel’s destruction by the Knights of Ren, but none have been as successful as new player known as the Kon D'irin. Details on them are sparse, but they’re known to be particularly brutal in how they carry out their business.”
Bril scrunched his face at that. “Alright. Instruct your agents to continue their work. If one of them can establish contact, we may be able to embed them into their organization to keep a closer eye on their operations. I’ll be in touch.”
“Understood, sir.”
The hologram dissipated.
Bril turned back to Minnie and smiled while looping his arm with hers.
“What was that about?” she asked, headtails flittering in the way they often did when she was curious.
“Trouble in Obah Diah. I’ll fill you in later.”
The couple continued onward into the training grounds proper.
—————«««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««—————
Commander Salma Eyotli, the highest ranking officer assigned to the Marshals’ flagship, the Nighthawk, stood with her arms folded behind her back, quietly watching the courtyard fill with people. Although formal attire was strictly optional for this outing, she’d opted to wear her white dress uniform not only because she felt comfortable in it, but also because all three of her Galeresian superiors were in attendance. When Luka approached, Commander Eyotli greeted the human Shadesworn with a salute. “Thank you for inviting me, Chief Marshal Zarkot,” she said rigidly.
<@227960499948486666>
From the very back of the second shuttle more full of civilians crept a tall, thin figure, ducking under the open hatch and emerging into the sunlight. As soon as it did so, the light caught on metallic strands of multihued hair, throwing veritable rainbows in a faint spray over the side of the ship and the ground. The man under those shining locks cringed in posture, bare feet stepping gently, slowly onto the tarmac, though surely between Selen’s sun and the material, it had to burn. He quietly barked and growled down at his side, where a Mott in a scarf and booties that would keep his feet safe trotted with him.
“Alk, stay with me,” the lavender hybrid bid in Shiryyywook. His saffron eyes were a little wide and a little frightful as he glanced about the area of Blindshot visible around them, shying from so many strangers marching about in a hurried yet rigid manner. He reached down and put his only hand on the Mott’s head, as if to keep him close. A long, muscular tail flicked close to his body, between his legs, then back out again, and his large, curling, pointed ears bent slightly. “Remember, Alk, we are here for the building of teamwork and skillets. No playing.”
He was dressed for not playing, having little idea what to expect beyond the Starosta’s command…no, invitation, he reminded himself, to join in this training. Hopefully his choices would be correct. His bag was slung across his shoulders, under his half arm, full of notebooks for the training and also Alk snacks and of course flowers.
Spying finally through the crowd an at least familiar flash of yellow that would also likely accompany the Starosta himself, Rue shepherded Alk that way.
“Sir Starosta Envoy Doctor Erinos,” he greeted whence he scurried through the crowd, his ability to make himself small, unnoticeable, and silent in juxtaposition to his gaudy appearance. “Mistress Just Minnow.”
He bowed low, his triple eight-strand plait only falling forward slightly, so tight it was.
Stepping off of one of the lesser filled transports was a tall yet well built Kaleesh the signature reddish green skin of his people gleaming slightly in the light of the sun. He wore a loose fitting shirt it’s shade of color a deep burgundy, a blue shash draped over his torso from his left shoulder down to his right, which was helping him keep the beskar spear he carried in place.
The bone Huk mask he wore has been painted black with wed and blue markings in a language unknown to most to match the simple athletic pants he paired the rest of his outfit to.
The Kaleesh wore no shoes wanting to feel the ground under his feet even if the limbs and synth flesh were not of his own. The red eyes behind the mask scanned the growing crowd of people finding some familiar faces but a lot of unknown.
A presence behind him drew his attention to Selenian that disembarked just after him his supposed handlerer for this event. There grim gaze meeting his own for a breath before turning away.
At least it was better then chains or cryo sleep again. Skar thought to himself before beginning to make his way into this “gathering” and onward to where he spied a sparing ring.
The shuttle hadn’t landed yet when Xi'ana vaulted out.
Just a blur of neon red and purple hair flipping once, twice, and landing in a crouch that left a scorch mark on the tarmac.
She stood. Stretched. Cracked her knuckles.
A bright-skinned Zeltron in her mid-twenties, Xee was a kinetic storm of chaos and color. Her undercut hair was half-tied up with what looked like electrical wire. Her outfit landed somewhere between space circus dropout and doomsday survivor. Her cropped armored vest looked stolen off a crash dummy no one missed, and her loose combat pants were stuffed into boots scrawled with glittery swear words.
She paused, catching motion at the top of the shuttle ramp after it landed. “Wait for it,” she said, half to herself, half to the planet.
Calyx Vorn descended the ramp with a practiced spin, blue coat with silver trim flaring behind him like a stage curtain. This Zeltron’s dark magenta hair was perfect, slicked back just enough to misbehave later. His blindingly shiny shirt was low cut and unbuttoned one more than was professionally acceptable. And his expression said he thought this was his press conference, not a tactical meet-and-greet.
He took three dramatic steps, planted himself on the grass, and raised both arms.
“Marshals, Mando-adjacent, and miscellaneous miscreants!” he called. “I come in peace, but I left fashionably late.” His voice was rich and melodic, as if every word was meant for an audience.
Someone coughed. The Nexu snarled. Calyx pointed at it sympathetically. “Same.”
Across the courtyard, Commander Eyotli turned to glance. He instantly attempted to catch her gaze and his smile turned feral. He walked straight toward her, slow and purposeful.
“Commander. You’re looking so sharp, I nearly saluted - and I don’t even own a salute.”
He offered a bow wholly inappropriate for a military field.
“Did anyone warn you I was coming? No? That’s fair. I didn’t warn me either.”
He glanced at his own attire then back at her. “I can go put on a uniform. It just probably won’t be mine.”
“…Unless you’re into that.”
His grin was shameless, his confidence nearly blasterproof, and absolutely no one had signed off on him being there.
<@1056685516441006091> <@244244163002892288>
The final passenger made her descent with a sigh everyone could hear. Doctor Nyss Veyra had, regrettably, shared breathing space with the duo. Her designer heels clicked down the ramp in perfect rhythm.
Nyss was a lightly tanned Human woman with sharp cheekbones and a sleek low hair twist pinned beneath a tilted pillbox hat. Her rose-gold coat, lined in fuchsia, hugged a curvy frame. Her mirrored sunglasses reflected the crowd with indifference. She wore retro-femme glamor meant for both war rooms and gala circuits.
She surveyed the crowd like it was beneath her.
“Chaos children,” she muttered, her voice low and husky. “Every time.”
Calyx rejoined her, walking backward, but not out of dramatic range of the Commander.
“You’re just mad I beat you down the ramp.”
“I’m mad you’re speaking.”
“I’m making an entrance.”
“You’re becoming an HR incident.”
“Guess I’m the safety violation,” Xee nodded vigorously, already holding a stolen energy bar.
Bored already, she peeled off from the group mid-sentence and beelined toward the trio beyond the crowd - Bril , Minnie, and the lavender one. She didn’t walk so much as saunter. It was as if she’d heard of military decorum and decided to mock it just by existing.
As she strolled up, she flashed them all finger guns, literal ones, with twin sparks of flame flicking from her fingertips. “Sup, nerds,” Xee said, her voice high and rapid-fire.
She gave Bril a once-over. “Okay, suspenders,” she commented, eyeing his outfit. “You here to train soldiers or seduce them?”
Then to Minnie, with a nod of approval. “You get it.”
And finally, to Rue, an apparent peace offering to the planet. “Love the sparkle, shy guy. You allergic to shoes or just morally opposed?”
Upon such… exuberant entrances, Rue had only shied further, flinching at the shouting man and inching back from the woman who approached now with flames on her fingertips in a manner he was uncertain of its aggression. Though he retreated, he still made sure to angle slightly, protectively in front of Alk, who was otherwise ready to slobber in greeting.
“T…this one was manufactured without allergies, Mistress,” he said more to the ground, bowing fully to her, uncertain of her station in relation to the Starosta or what she was commanding Minnow to get. “This one– I have…no moral opposition to footwear. I-I a-an accustomed to not wearing any. And find the confinement…less enjoyable.”
His voice was very small by the end.
Minnie, meanwhile, bore all her sharp, short shark teeth in a smile and cooed in a way that only Bril present would recognize as her Customer Service Voice. She popped one hand on her hip and stretched in her toes to sling the other arm around Bril’s shoulders
“Ohmigawsh, thanks so much! Hai! Nice to meet you, what’s your unit assignment?”
-# Rue, meanwhile, glanced sideways at the Nautolan, checking for facial drooping, and asked quietly, to himself, “Is this a cerebrovascular accident?”
Xee blinked. “Huh.”
Then she grinned, sharp and delighted. “You’re weird. I like it.”
She turned to Minnie. “Unit assignment?” she echoed. “That sounds like numbers. Uh, free…lancing… kabooms?”
Then she nodded at Rue. “He sparkle on purpose or did you bedazzle him? Either way if he dies, I riot.”
“Good to see you again, Rue. Especially in less dire circumstances.” Bril’s lips pulled into a gentle smile just before he lowered his head to mirror Rue’s gesture. “Kesh is doing well, thanks to you.”
As if on cue, the tanarook swooped down from his perch in a nearby tree and landed at the hybrid’s feet to look up at him with a tilted head.
Corporal Talè
“Don’t do anything stupid, Agrona,” came the voice of his escort, a pantoran woman dressed in the muted green and black fatigues typical of the Arconan Army Corps. Her obsidian hair was pulled into a bun of loose curls and mostly hidden beneath a brimmed hat that shielded her freckled, pewter blue skin from the sun. Why had she been assigned to guard duty? She’d rather be on clean up duty than have to babysit the bastard that killed one of her own and nearly did the same to Sergeant Anquis.
Commander Eyotli
Commander Eyotli took two steps backward when the stranger invader her personal space, lips stretching thin as she glared at him. “Excuse me? I don’t know you, and I’m not interested in your embarrassing attempt at flirtation, so I suggest you tone it down before i have you dragged out of here.”
Starosta Erinos
Bril’s eyes, crystal blue like the pristine waters surrounding Selen’s myriad islands, narrowed just a hair when the new arrival approached them. He didn’t recognize her or the others with which she’d arrived. Perhaps they were friends of Luka’s? Or a fellow Shadesworn he’d yet to to meet. “I appreciate the compliment, but I’d rather you didn’t suggest that I’m trying for the attention of my subordinates,” he paused for a moment when a pulse of benign possessiveness rippled across his bond with his tai'shan, Minnie. He gave her side a gentle squeeze as if to say, “I see you.”
For Rue, he extended his mind out briefly to him when he began to shrink away. Hopefully, a mental pat on the back would help instill some confidence in him now that this notably forward individual was speaking to them.
He looked to the woman again with a scrutinizing, albeit not hostile, gaze. “Are you an Arconan?”
<@244244163002892288> <@141239709291511808>
Rue very much did not understand most of what was said at the end. Why would this woman be motivated to a public disturbance involving an act or acts of violence that would constitute a clear and present danger of, or shall result in, damage or injury to the property of any other person or to the person of any other individual or a threat or threats of the commission thereof?
It did not make sense. Not only because he could not understand why his expiration would be the cause for such violence, but also because she was only one person, and legally, a riot constituted the assemblage of three or more persons, and she was just one.
Although she had arrived with two others…
And what was this ‘bedazzle.’ Did it hurt. Was it terminal. Was this why she commented on his demise. The structure of the term suggested becoming blinding. Perhaps it involved ocular excision.
Caught up in his musings and mentally noting to ask after the terminology later as Bril, Minnow, and the woman spoke, his attention was drown down to the flutter of wings before him. The hybrid’s ponderous expression broke into a smile, the sun coming out from behind clouds. He knelt down and lifted his sole hand carefully towards Kesh, not reaching for him, but offering the limb for scenting or perching purposes.
“Hello again, litlun. Blessed Day on your new Dawning,” he sang softly to it in greeting, fluting tones of Ryn falling from his tongue.
<@1056685516441006091>
Skar stopped mid stride and gave a icy glance back at the Pantoran woman. His red eyes narrowing slightly from within their sockets in the mask.
When he spoke his voice came cool yet filled with a cold venom.
“I assure you corporal if there is to be violence today I will not be throwing the first punch. I will defend myself as needed.” He said simply before continuing his movement to the sparring ring
Corporal Tanè
“Yeah, right,” she muttered while trailing behind him. Although she’d read his file enough to know that his confidence was earned (what Shadesworn’s wasn’t, for that matter?), the surety in the kaleesh’s voice irked her. How he was allowed to walk free after what he did had left many of her fellow soldiers shocked and confused. Rumor had it that the decision came from the very head of Clan Arcona’s leadership, superseding the decision of Starosta Erinos, who was acting leader of their unit at the time.
Traxl
Plodding footfalls carried the towering Keadean across the field and into the area designated for training. Arriving shortly after Skar did, Traxl narrowed his beady gray eyes at the comparatively puny man standing across from him. “You, kaleesh,” he said, his Basic tinged with a thick Keadean accent, “I’ve heard tales of your strength. Will you honor me with a battle?”
Kesh
The tanarook cocked his head in the other direction as if he were appraising Rue, considering his gesture. Something about the little creature was uncanny. Rue himself would sense that this species was mildly Force-sensitive. After a moment or two of reflection, Kesh hopped up to perch himself on Rue’s wrist; then, he promptly began to preen his feathers.
Rue’s smile only widened, a brightening of day. He carefully pulled his arm just a bit closer, then lifted the other off of Alk, a soft growl of command finally letting the Mott free.
“Kesh, this is Alk.” His eyes slid sideways, then up, though uselessly, trying to spot the voorpak he could feel scurrying around on his head. Lata was not happy about how tightly his hair was bound up and braided for The Trainings. It didn’t make for good nesting. They’d have to tolerate being in his shirt, as even they were probably too big now to fit into his ear again. “And this is Serrulata. Alk, Lata, this is Kesh.”
The Mott was already shoving his whole head forward in greeting now he’d been allowed, trying to lick the tanarook.
Crimson tinted eyes meet gray and the Kaleesh took stock of the Keadean before him noting the size difference between them the way he stood and several other things all within a few seconds. A grim smile formed under the Siths mask and he turned his head back to the corporal his eyes and body language all but saying I told you so. Before he stepped into the ring proper.
“First the rules then. First to yield or first blood?” He asked slipping the spear out from off his back and him to his hand before he plunged it’s blade into the earth by his side.
Lively chirps and trills rumbled up from Kesh’s chest as he observed Alk and Lata. When the former stepped forward in an attempt to like him, Kesh hopped away, briefly flapping his wing to move faster. Alk tried to lick him again, and Kesh hopped away again. This continued, as if the tanarook was making a game of it.
Corporal Tanè rolled her eyes at Skar before taking a step back with her hands held behind her back. She’d never seen the other guy before, but he looked just as, if not more formidable than him. Maybe, if she was lucky, she’d get to watch the towering Kaedean kick his ass for a bit.
-
Traxl narrowed his eyes upon seeing the spear, then smirked. “First blood will do,” he replied, reaching behind him to unfasten his weapon from the scabbard fastened horizontally to his lower back. The weapon appeared to be a massive cleaver with a handle nearly a foot in length, its blade broader even than his own chest; minute chips running along the weapon’s edge suggested that this weapon had seen its fair share of combat.
Vreva “No maiming, boys.” Vreva’s sardonic tone announced her appearance at the sparring ring. The red Zabrak swaggered over to the group and stood with her hands on her hips. “This is a training exercise, not a street brawl. I don’t want to have to patch anyone up at the end of the day. Keep as much blood in you as you can.” There was an indifference in her tone, as though she was not quite content with the rules but required to enforce them.
Calyx blinked at the verbal slap, then smiled wider. He placed a hand to his heart with dramatic offense. “Commander, you wound me. Mortally. I’m dying.”
He stumbled two exaggerated steps back. “Tell my fans… I looked amazing,” he croaked to no one, collapsing onto an imaginary stage.
Nyss, without looking up from her datapad, remarked, “They’ll believe you. You’re irritatingly photogenic.”
With a groan, he rolled lazily onto his side and sighed, “Honestly, I’ll take it as a compliment.”
She paused, then added, “Which is tragically wasted on your personality.”
Calyx lifted his head, gave a theatrical wink, then sprang to his feet as if nothing had happened. With a casual spin, he adjusted his jacket and started striding off in the direction of the nearest authority figure he hadn’t yet annoyed. Spotting Luka in the crowd, datapad in hand, Calyx zeroed in with the focus of a man about to make someone’s day considerably louder.
“Ah, the clipboard czar,” he announced, arriving with open arms. “Tell me…are we being scored on dramatic entrances? Or is this more of a vibes-based evaluation?”
He leaned slightly, squinting at Luka’s datapad. “Be honest, am I winning?”
He sighed, dramatically again. “Xi'ana got to vault off the shuttle. Acrobat privilege. I had to collapse like some common stage casualty.”
Xee rolled her eyes with maximum effort. “I said soldiers. If your subordinates happen to be hot, that’s on your recruitment strategy.”
Xee leaned sideways, squinting down at the booted creature at Rue’s side. “Okay. That’s either a sidekick or an accessory. Either way, I love it.”
She crouched without warning, chin in hand as she studied the Mott up close. “You look like a Dennis. Maybe Sparkpaws. What do you think?”
“His name is Alk,” Rue repeated, now to Xee. Alk looked back and forth between Xee and Kesh dancing and chirping away from him, as if greatly torn, before he darted forward, licked the Zeltron’s face from chin to hairline, and then went bounding and stomping after Kesh, very much playing his favorite game with the tanarook. Briefly he looked back at Rue, expectant of him joining in stompies per usual, but the hybrid growred a low encouragement in the Wookiee tongue and the Mott tossed his head and went on.
<@1056685516441006091> <@141239709291511808>
Rue stood back up, a shy curl still to his posture, though a less startled one now.
“Apologies if Mistress Xee requires a handkerchief. This one has some packed. Also many implements for notetaking and herbs and foodstuffs, Sir Starosta, for whatever the trainings may require.”
Bril
“With the exception of one,” he said while gesturing to Koda Kendis with a sideling glance, “everyone here are my subordinates. Soldiers included.”
Although the statement wasn’t technically accurate since there were people here who didn’t fall into the hierarchy of House Galeres nor the system’s military, but he didn’t bother clarifying that much lest he strip his statement of its weight in the process.
Luka
Calyx seemed to startle the Chief Marshal to focus. Luka had not anticipated the number to arrive nor the theatrical entrance, and they had froze with nerves. Many of the faces were completely unfamiliar to them, including the Zeltron. Luka made a mental note to check through dossiers as soon as they weren’t busy playing host.
Only briefly could the datapad’s contents be seen - a map of the location, a list of names, and a group message. Luka brought the screen quickly to their chest when they caught the Zeltron looking over its contents. Their eyes narrowed.
“No scores,” Luka said. A smile turned the corner of their mouth. “Though if I were to give a grade, I’d say… B minus. A bit too much flair.” They waved their hand. “Needs to be more… effortless.”
As the Sith watched Traxl draw the cleaver from the scabbard from the small of his back the Kaleesh let his body slide into a state of coiled preparation. His left foot inched just behind where the blade of the spear had found its home in the dirt before in a flash of motion and speed he used the same foot to kick the spear up and with it came a spray of dirt and sand aimed right at the Keadeans face.
It was a dirty trick but Skar knew good and well in any fight nothing was off the table. With the spear freed and with an effortless spin of its shaft in his hand the Sith Battlemaster sent its blade rushing towards Traxels center mass hoping to strike a hit and end this quickly.
Commander Eyotli
Never had they been so relieved to have their boss around. At the very least, the Chief Marshal had captured the strange person’s attention long enough for Salma to slip away, but not before excusing herself with a bow to the former. Maybe they’d have a drink?
<@227960499948486666>
A spray of soil flew into Traxl’s face, causing him to grunt a curse in Kaedean while shuffling backward. Dirt and grime made his eyes burn, temporarily blinding him, but that didn’t stop him from mounting a successful defense of the subsequent attack. The Force whispered warnings of danger in his mind, prompting the towering Galeresian to whip into a quarter spin that pulled him just outside the spear’s reach. Who would have expected a man of his titanic stature to move with such speed, such grace?
The momentum generated from the brief spin translated into a fluid horizontal cut, causing the cleaver’s blade to sweep through the air just above Skar’ weapon on a path that would end with his bisection if he failed to defend. But he managed to do just that, leaning backward at the waist so the cleaver’s jagged tip sliced a piece of his tunic’s fabric. When Skar pulled away to reorient his spear between himself and his opponent, Traxl pointed his cleaver at him.
“Is this how the Kaleesh of old one their battles? Cowardly tricks?”
There was a twitch in the Kaleesh’s eye as he heard the Kaedeans words. The grip he had on the spear tightening ever so slightly knuckles turning a lighter shade. The words didn’t cut particularly deep into his pride of what was left of it but they did manage to find some shred of purchase as a small fire of anger kindled to life somewhere in his chest.
“My forebears did what was needed to survive and win against the Huk and those who came after. As do I.” He said a light snarl in his tone if this man wanted a fair fight then so be it.
With an experienced flourish of the spear the Sith pressed forward using the spears length to give him advantage here the long blade of the spear with moving and weaving with a vipers grace turning one weapon into many, sword, spear, knife all blended into one form.
Xee blinked after the Mott as Alk bounded off, seemingly in shock like she wasn’t quite sure whether to be honored or horrified.
She wiped her pink cheek with the edge of her sleeve. “Huh. Bold move. He kiss all the pretty girls, or just the chaotic neutral ones?”
Rue offered a handkerchief shyly, and she flashed him a grin that was only slightly feral. “You’re a gem. Hold onto those herbs. We might need ‘em if someone starts actually training.”
Then she swiveled like an animated ballerina on her toes back to Bril and Minnie. “Anyway. Whole unit’s hot. Gene pool’s workin’ overtime.“
Then pirouetted right back back to Rue. "Leafmancer, you’re officially my emotional support flower nerd.”
<@1056685516441006091> <@244244163002892288>
Calyx gasped. “Effortless? B minus?” He pressed a hand to his chest again, scandalized. “I practically bled charisma on that tarmac. Do you know how hard it is to collapse elegantly?”
He stepped around Luka, peering over their shoulder with exaggerated nosiness. “Let me guess. A-plus is for those who just stroll off the shuttle and shake hands? Hard pass.”
Then, with a bright grin: “But fine. Challenge accepted.”
Calyx folded his arms and tilted his head, voice dropping a notch from banter to something almost sincere.
“You’re Luka, right? The new Chief Marshal.” He casually walked back to the front with a smile that was still bright but less flamboyant. “I’m Calyx Vorn. Recent addition to Arcona. Specialist in optics, morale, and non-lethal mischief. You might’ve caught me in Bloodflower: The Swoop Opera, or that anti-Collective PSA that went viral. The explosion? Not in the script.”
Vorn winked. “Zeltron charisma’s hard to miss.”
With a small shrug he added, “Figured I should introduce myself before you start seeing ‘Zeltron interference’ in your after-action reports. Well. Aside from the one I arrived with, who apparently thinks grenades count as stage direction and fire counts as personal branding.”
The Cloak & Flair practitioner turned slightly, tossing imaginary hair over his shoulder. “I do hope the rest of your day can live up to this.”
Though the Zeltron moved on too quickly for him to explain that his so-called shininess was not resultant of crystalline composition in his keratinous cells, the order she gave was swift. Rue nodded sharply and straightened up, on gripping his satchel tight and looking towards where two large reptilian and cyber-reptilian individuals were already committing violences. He was busily assessing for injuries visually as best he could at this distance and with the crowd and clamor before once more he was being addressed with new duties.
“Oh! Oh, u-um, yes, Mistress!” the hybrid accepted quickly, trying to make sense of the new title. Leaf-man, sir? He was not worth such titles. He did support flowers, and according to Elly, being a nerd as he was was a good thing, and indeed he was emotional, but still, what was he officiating?
Did she think he was a priest or judge or notary?
Did it even matter, given, as Sir Starosta Bril had pointed out, he was the one of highest hierarchy here? Would it be a sin to obey Xee’s orders if Bril had already ordered him to do the trainings?
“P-pardon, but…what is this one meant to do?” Saffron eyes flicked back to the Zabrak and Nautolan.
<@1056685516441006091>
Bril himself would catch Minnie’s look through the whole thing, a little bit exasperated, likely more on his and Rue’s behalf than any objection to Xee’s energy that she could match when called for, but still with a positive face on.
Luka
The Human frowned at the assessment of his grading, but said nothing to disagree. They only gave a shrug and allowed Calyx to change the subject.
Their brow furrowed as some of Calyx’s exploits were listed. “I… might have heard of that…” Probably in some dossier notes he skimmed over in their haste to read all of them. They hoped for a chance to read through them all during a time alone, especially since a few present were not in their list of Marshals current.
In regards to Calyx’s companion with a fascination for grenades, Luka chuckled. No doubt that Vreva would appreciate that.
“Though I wasn’t expecting someone of your calibur to show up, but if you’re interested in food, hand-to-hand combat, or firearms, we have you covered there. Just follow the signs along the path, and it’ll lead you to where you want to go. If you’re hungry, we have tables set up on your first left off the tarmac.” They pointed with their datapad off into the forest trail.
Traxl
The kaedean was nothing if not determined, and that showed as he continued to press forward in spite of Skar’s renewed offensive. Each strike was parried or evaded with a well-placed block or shift of his hulking form. A slight flare up of emotion drifted through the Force as the kaleesh responded to his comment. Had he struck a nerve?
When there was a break in the exchanges, Traxl gripped the back of his cleaver’s blade, curling his fingers in a small opening in its spine. The sword roared to life when he gave its handle a sharp twist. Although its internal vibro unit was made from repurposed parts of old Galeresian weapons stockade left from the martial House’s occupation of Eldar, and therefore an antique by today’s standards, it had served him well.
Lifting the humming cleaver into a proper guard again, Traxl dashed forward with blitzing speed before leaping through the air before descending upon his opponent with a vertical strike meant to rip through his defense and bring a quick end to their bout.
Bril
Bril extended a hand to pat Rue’s shoulder, shaking his head in response to his question. “She’s doing what you might call ‘banter,’ Rue. Not meant to be taken literally. But, emotional support flower nerd does have a nice ring to it.” He smiled in a way meant to encourage the colorful hybrid. Hopefully, he could relax a little, but that wouldn’t happen with Xee conversational style, which he could tell was overwhelming him a bit. Maybe shifting attention away from Rue would help?
Crystal blue eyes settled on Xee again, looking her over. “Speaking of hot …,” he gestured to the zeltron’s hand, “you created fire, earlier. I don’t often meet other people who can do that.” In fact, she’d created the flames with greater ease than he currently could. That he’d yet to hear about her or the rest of her trip was a surprise to him. Clearly, he needed to give the clan roster a closer look when all this was over. “You must be pretty powerful in the Force to do that so easily.”
The arm he had around Minnie’s waist curled a little tighter, though the change was a subtle one. She’d seen him like this before. Probing for information, for signs of danger, building a picture of the woman standing before them; although he’d turned over his private investigation firm to one of his colleagues so he could better attend to his duties as Aedile, those instincts had remained sharp. Xee seemed right at home when focused on others, but how would she react when the attention was placed squarely on her?
<@244244163002892288>
Xee leaned on one foot, cocking her hip as Rue tried to process her crazy. “I meant check for bruised egos or bruised ribs, but you are forever friend now!”
Her eyes flicked to Bril when he spoke. When he mentioned her fire, her smile sharpened. “What, this?” She flexed her fingers, a tiny flicker of heat sparking between them before fizzling. “Just a party trick. Works better if there’s confetti.”
She paused, looking thoughtful for a second. “Hmm, maybe glitter too. Know anyone with lots of glitter?”
She watched Bril with a slant-eyed curiosity, matching his subtle scrutiny. “But hey, if you’re in the market for fireworks and explsions, I do private events. Weddings. Invasions. Training exercises with snacks. Oh! Wait, you can fire bug out too? Perfect, can do a fire twins act!“
<@1056685516441006091>
[Somewhere, on Ol'Val, Atty sneezed, as if she had almost been summoned by someone mentioning glitter and weddings in the same breath.]
[Somewhere, on Ol’val, Socorra sneezed, as if her name had been invoked by someone mispronouncing Ol’val, which meant hello and goodbye in her native Olys Corellisi.]
Though Bril’s explanation was helpful, and indeed informed him to begin taking what the woman was saying less literally, it was still difficult to keep up with her ‘bantering.’
Also, did this banter mean she did not actually want to be his friend forever? Or at all?
His shoulders drooped slightly, and he was quiet, awaiting a time when he was to check any bruises on egos or otherwise or provide interesting plant facts, or whatever else may be wished of him.
Minnie, meanwhile, seemed to appreciate Bril’s squeeze, and was watching Xee as well, taking her measure while her Kitty led the charge of the investigation. She wasn’t convinced that a party trick was all that was. Not when Bril called it out as being so much more expert to do on her own. Any amount of fire could be dangerous, but especially a hidden one.
“You’re a demolitions expert, then? So is my biggest brother,” she commented, angling.
Calyx gave a mock gasp. “You weren’t expecting someone of my caliber? You wound me again.”
He glanced toward the path Luka indicated, then back with a smirk. “Food, fists, or firearms… it’s like you’re trying to seduce me.”
A pause.
“Don’t worry. It’s working.”
He pivoted on his heel with a flourish, then called over his shoulder, “Catch you on the runway, Marshal.”
Bril nodded. “I can.” Holding his palm up to the sky, he created a small orange flame in his palm. It took him only a moment longer than Xee had, but once it was there, it didn’t dissipate until he curled his fingers into a fist. “It’s a useful power. For me, it’s like an extension of my connection to the Living Force. Taking the fire the burns in myself, the fire of life, and capturing it. Externalizing it. How do you relate to your fire?”
Although the explanation was true, it served two other functions: 1) to hopefully get Xee talking more, and 2) to serve as enough of a distraction for him reach out first with his Force Sense, then to probe deeper with Telepathy.
“Hrumpth!”
The rumbling huff of air announced his presence before the wide, tall shadow fell over Vreva. Paumgon Lfin stepped up beside her and crossed his meaty arms, his beady mulberry eyes fixed on watching the spare between Kaleesh and…Barabel? No, some reptilian species he wasn’t familiar with. “So it’s started, hm? Think they’ll stick to the rules? Or are we mopping up after them?”
“A game of Five Hands?”
“To decide who gets to cover the firing range versus the spar ring? Ha, you remind me of my granddaughter right now” Vai chuckled, air whistling through her fluted nose and her cinnamon furred tail flicking in amusement. The Ryn squinted at the younger Selenian medic. “What happened to the bets, eh?”
A nonchalant shrug. “They’re pretty even. Guaranteed some bladed injuries in sparring if not concussed, and someone’s gonna end up shooting themselves in the foot after forgetting the safety.”
“Alright. Roski Rules or regular?”
“Roski’s fine.”
Palms and fists rose and fell in a quick tempo, pausing in the crude symbol of an animal. Ronpa came out on top, two out of three, and wasted no time claiming his prize. Vai shook her head with a chuff as she watched him head towards the shooting ring, no doubt guessing why the young man was interested in going there.
She in turn hefted her medical pack onto her shoulder and made her way towards the sparring rings. The sounds of weapons crossing perked her interest. Soon, she was eating her pack on the ground and content in watching the match, gaze keeping aware of any signs of injury.
Rue watched the exchange quietly from the side, leaning back further when Bril summoned a flame suddenly to his palm. He didn’t flinch anymore, not after a year of campfires with Hunyi, but seeing it happen suddenly from both Xee and Bril unsettled him somewhat.
He focused instead on Bril’s sharing, and how Alk was demanding of pets, with all these people about and so little attention thus far.
Luka:
“Been a pleasure to meet you, Calyx,” they said with a small wave as he turned to walk away. “Catch you on the runway.” Luka hoped that the next gathering they would be wearing something nicer than their battle gear. They felt that they would get along with the extravagant Zeltron, though the first impression did feel oddly like standing in front of a mirror.
Luka looked down at their datapad, checked off the names of those gathered that was on the list, then added those they had not expected to arrive. A message popped up on their screen from Vreva and they hastily made a response.
❤️🔥 That Kaleesh and the Kaedean are out for blood!
Not sure who's gonna win. Spear or vibrocleaver?
🦋 I thought you said it was going to be hand-to-hand?
❤️🔥 Oops
The Human let out a frustrated sigh and furiously tapped their response. As they did, their Nexu’s tail whipped back and forth as she lay at their feet, matching her master’s nervous energy. She stared at Alk as he meandered about the crowd, though got no closer. It was hard to discern whether she considered him friend or food.
Vreva:
Vreva looked up from her commlink at the hulking Herglic. “Luka wants fists, but that’s boring. I’m not cleaning after them, though. They chop off a limb, they’re picking it up and gluing it back on.”
She cupped her hands around her mouth to shout over the din of the spar. “Remember, no maiming!”
Believing that those words sufficed, she turned her head to Paum. “It’ll be fiiine. Good to let them work off a little steam.” She softly bapped his arm with a fist.
Xee lifted her brows, suddenly very interested. “Demolitions expert is such a formal term. I prefer… enthusiast. Or connoisseur.”
She tipped her head at Minnie. “Would love to meet your biggest brother then! Nothing wrong with a little boom, especially if it’s stylish.”
Then, catching Rue’s droop out of the corner of her eye, her voice softened just a touch.
“Still friends, Leafmancer. You can’t shake me that easy.”
She gave Rue a genuine smile, her words sincere. He looked like the type of person that needed hugs, and though it was much more bold to her than eccentric words and acrobatics, she opened her arms a little in case he would like one. It was a large step up from simply vanishing at anything anxiety-inducing.
“I’m sure you and Jaxxie could talk,” Minnie commented in wry amusement, tone just slightly warning. “He’s pretty staunch about explosive safety though…”
Sending a woman who acted like Xee with fireworks would probably be a one way ticket to lecture town from their alor'ad, and a teeny part of her kind of wanted to see it, sort of like when Foxen had first agreed to teach Bril marksmanship soon. It was the anticipation of seeing something you’d suffered brought onto another.
Rue, meanwhile, though he’d leaned back from the flames, and didn’t understand why the woman was giving a hugging motion his way, nonetheless well recognized it by now. He obediently skittered forward and hugged her, confused but deliberately starting to purr this time to comfort.
“Is Miss alright?” he asked.
An eye quirked up as the vibro cleaver sprang to life in Traxels hands. The Sith was familiar with such weapons though he has never used them himself he knew just how deadly they could be in the right hands and from what this short boute had shown him the Kaedean knew how to use it well. But it didn’t deter the Kaleesh in the slightest he had been up against far worse in the past hell his grandfather had been more ruthless in training then this. No he was sure he could win, it just all fell down to timing and positioning.
As the Kaedean charged again and leapt into the air the Battlemaster considered his options in the split seconds he had before the blade fell on him he knew the beskar spear could handle the blow but the weight behind it would stagger him leaving an opening to be exploited, but he could use that same thing to his advantage.
As the Sith brought the spear up meeting the vibro blade head with the shaft of the spear itself there was a screech of metal and sparks and the two meet. Instead of letting the strike fallow through straight down Rrogon shifted his feet and hips in a way to absorb the full force of it and with a swift turn of the spear send it careening down harmlessly to the side and the dirt below.
As the two separated from the strike the Kaleesh continued to flow with his own turn using his momentum to bring the spear head striking at an exposed space of flesh on the Kaedean leg just above the knee hoping to end this bought one and for all with the drawing of first blood.
Xee watched his flame with visible curiosity, nose scrunching at his explanation.
“That’s poetic. All that living flame stuff. Very noble, respectable. It seems…very you.”
She flicked her fingers again, no fire this time, just the motion. “Mine’s not like that. It’s not spiritual. Not soul-fire or whatever. It’s emotional. Instinct. Quick. Explosive. Like a laugh. Or a scream.”
Xee tilted her head, all grinning eyes and pearly whites, but she hesitated for a second.
“Maybe that’s why mine burns brighter. It’s not about control. It’s fueled by raw desire. Hunger, joy, defiance, chaos. That’s what gives it power. It’s about wanting.”
Bril could sense both a vivid thrill and a performance. Attention terrifies her but hits like an adrenaline rush as much as her beloved explosives. She lives for the chance at potential mischief. There’s no hostility or threat. The young woman isn’t dangerous - not right now, at least. She’s just having fun.
For just a moment, something else simmered beneath the smile, a loneliness buried under the noise. A sharp, quiet ache masked by jokes and fire. The chaos distracts and also shields. There is a longing for recognition. Not power or control, but a real connection. She had been invisible for too long, and now she flares loud enough to drown it all out.
These feelings flickered and vanished, sealed behind another smile.
Luka: Luka shifted their stance between their feet as they watched the group by the tarmac mingle. They were unsure whether they were content there, or if they were waiting for instruction. Likely the latter. Their gaze shifted towards Bril, then away. After drawing themself up straighter, they stepped forward. The Nexu padded along behind after a stretch. Her gaze surveilled the group.
The Human cleared their throat and called out over the clearing. Their voice gained strength the more they spoke, but their nerves stifled their volume at first. “If this is everyone – first of all, thank you for coming. And if you would follow me, the classrooms are this way. Food and drinks are there, too. The path onward has signs leading to the training arenas, either hand-to-hand or target practice. If anyone has any questions, ask away.”
Traxl
The timely parry sent the kaedean’s blade gliding to the side, and likely would have resulted in the kaleesh landing the first uncontested blow of the bout were it not for Traxl’s balance and athleticism. Instead of resisting the angular momentum foisted upon him by Skar’s maneuver, he allowed it to carry him along, rotating his body with deft footwork in just the right amount to place his thigh just outside the reach of his opponent’s spear.
Thin, scaly lips stretched into a toothy grin because Traxl knew he had him right where he wanted him. That spin placed him squarely within the spear’s length, far too close for the kaleesh to retract it in time to parry or block the backward elbow aimed for his temple; the very same momentum used to evade his own strike now used as a vessel for the counterattack levied against him.
“It seems…very you.”
Bril lowered his head in a polite nod upon hearing that He hadn’t expected to be paid such a compliment, even if Xee didn’t necessarily intend it to be seen as such. Her explanation of how she tapped into her own fire was fascinating, to say the least. That emphasis on it being based more in raw emotion and instinct was similar, in a way, to how he explained how the Witches of Dathomir related to the Force – it was wild and raw, like a hurricane or tsunami.
Peering a little deeper beyond the veil of smiles and devil-may-care swagger, Bril sensed feelings of loneliness and longing smoldering there. It made him frown – a look of understanding shared between them before his gaze shifted to Chief Marshal Zarkot, whom he greeted with a smile.
“Would love to,” he said before looking to Minnie, Rue, and finally Xee, gesturing with his eyes for her to join them as they followed Luka.
<@141239709291511808> <@244244163002892288> <@227960499948486666>
“Oh yay!” she replied. Getting to meet “biggest brother” sounded like a lot of fun.
Xee was surprised by Rue’s purring as she hugged him. “Better than alright,” she smiled. “Are you?”
As long as Rue moved too, Xi'ana naturally subconsciously followed the group wherever they were going.
Rrogon let out an internal curse as the strike missed by mere inches impressed by the flexibility the Keadean showed in dogging the blow. The Sith knew he couldn’t move out of the incoming elbow aimed right for his head in time but he didn’t want to, he was always trained in the ways of the Obelisk first before the Sith, those few who held to those traditions never shrunk from a fight nor the damage it could bring. He was a Exarch first a Battlemaster second, even if the order was gone he remained.
Has the Keadeans elbow landed clean and true with the resounding thundercack of flesh on bone onlookers would have expected the Kaleesh to stager and real from that hit but the Sith stood resolute and still never moving a inch until he was ready to even as the throb of broken bone lanced the side of his head.
When he did his body was a blure of movement and speed, with both of his hands still on the spear from throwing Traxl the Kaleesh slid around and under the outstretched and scaly arm to dash to the right of the larger alien male the leaf shaped blade angled to draw a clean but clear cut on the Keadeans chest and he rolled into the dash and sprang clear of the reach of that vibro cleaver and it’s weilder.
Once he did he saw the streak of red on one side of the razor sharp spear blade and called out to Traxl. Letting out a light exhalation of breath thankfull the fight was not over.
“The match is over I take first blood.”
“This one is alright,” Rue replies to Xee as she pulled away, and another Important Person In Charge began calling for order. Rue recognized the Chief Marshall They'dy, from one of his first missions for the Envoys…when there had been pain and deception, when he had met Sir Lord Duke Quaestor Proconsul Master Captain Draconis. And also Bico. Alk seemed interested in meeting Bico this time, but Rue kept a hand on hid back, unsure if the two species could yet mingle safely.
Instead, he merely followed the group dutifully before Luka’s words sunk in…
“Classrooms?!” the hybrid chirped, all but hopping in place as his tail tip swished rapidly. “We are also the learning? Or is this to be of the training for teaching? Did Sir Starosta wish this one to perform for the trainings? It is competent in healing, medicine, sciences, mathematics, the weather, animal transformation, botany, Selenian civil defense law…”
He continued to rattle off more specific topics.
Vreva:
“Woahwoahwoah! Yeah, it’s over.” The red Zabrak quickly hopped over the ropes confining the sparring ring and stepped between the two combatants. Her yellow eyes glanced between the two of them, ensuring that they would uphold the somewhat informal rules of the duel. Between the two, she eyed the vibrocleaver with a bit more apprehension despite the loss.
“Ehh… The Kaleesh is the winner here. Congrats. You get bragging rights and a bit busted in the process.” She squinted at Skar’s face, tilted her head to the side, then sighed. “I can probably help with that, but it’ll take a good minute. Can get you both cleaned up while we get the next round set up. You can duck outta this one, though. It’s not King of the Hill.”
“Wasn’t my intention to fight again for a little bit anyway….and I’ll be fine I can take care of the injury myself given enough time, but thank you for the offer.” He said while rising to his feet slowly and deliberately.
The Sith ripped off a part of the blue shash he wore and wiped the blade clean his eyes glanced back to the corporal who was assigned to watch him with a slight smug look to his eyes before they flicked back over to Traxl.
“It was a good bought Keadean you fought well.” He said stepping out of the ring and lowering himself to the ground a bit away to make room for others to make use of the ring if they do chose to. While sitting he began to focus inward on the Force and waved it’s flow to the now throbbing internal wound on the side of his head.
It would take time for the Kaleesh to stitch the broken bones back together but he had nothing but time now.
After stepping out of the ring, Traxl looked to Skar for a good, long moment; then, he nodded. “As did you, Kaleesh. You’ve bested me, and thus, earned my respect.”
Looking over to the zabrak woman who interrupted their bout, Traxl watched her with unblinking eyes while slinging his vibrocleaver over his shoulder and back into its sheath. “I think I’ll take you up on that offer,” he said, stepping forward and removing the now ruined haori, letting it hang loosely around his waist. A bright streak ran clear across the length of his chest, slowly leaking blood.
<@227960499948486666>
Luka:
“I could find someone for you to get in touch with, if you really want to teach.” There was a hesitancy in their tone, with a lack of confidence in the hybrid’s list of specializations. However, they barely knew him beyond their brief mission together, which in their opinion had been a bit of a stumble despite securing the target. It was not the greatest situation for a good first impression.
Their Nexu found all this talk of classrooms quite dull, and took off ahead of the gathering to led the way to a cluster of buildings off the first path into the forest. Signs further along led to the sparring ring and range.
As Luka passed by an individual geared in Mandalorian armor, they stepped in close to speak quietly. “Hey, Lektra. Do you want to come help me with catering, or would you like to go help Vreva or Vince? Vreva…” A long drawn sigh completed their sentence, no more needing to be said to describe their frustration with the Zabrak. “Vince hasn’t sent me a message, but maybe that’s a good thing?”
Luka feigned a smile to the others as they ushered them to follow the path. They wouldn’t take long to follow.
Vreva:
The blood did not unsettle the red Zabrak. She had seen worse scrapes before. The Kaleesh’s injury concerned her a bit more, but his insistence that he could deal with it on his own earned him a shrug before her focus returned to the Kaedean. “Do you want a bandage and bacta, or do you want it healed quickly?” She glanced over to the sideline where Vai stood. The Ryn was usually the one patching folks up, so Vreva expected an interruption.
A grunt rumbled up from Traxl’s throat as he considered her question. “Take your time,” he began, moving over to a two-person bench nearby and sitting on it while leaning forward, forearms braced against his slender thighs to keep himself propped up enough for Vreva to have a clear view of the wound.
He never took his eyes off her as she walked over; shapely curves and toned muscle were equally appealing to him, and he seemingly either wasn’t away (or simply didn’t care) that he was staring. Did Kaedeans blink?
“You look more like a warrior than a healer,” he commented.
Despite the easy openings for socialization, Lektra had spent most of the time to herself after Luka had welcomed the Marshals to the gathering.
It wasn’t until Luka approached her that she finally spoke up for the first time in quite some time. “I can help with the catering,” she said. The last thing Lektra wanted to do was leave her friend out to dry. “And I wouldn’t worry about Vince. Sometimes… distance can be good.”
Bril noticed how Luka looked at Rue when he mentioned the idea of him teaching, and sensing some tension there, opted to change the subject. Luckily, the hybrid had mentioned something that caught his attention. “Animal transformation? What do you mean by that?”
Minnie, meanwhile, was keeping an eye on Xee as they walked, though she had relaxed a tad once she was sure that the woman wasn’t obviously a threat.
Rue’s excited vibrating dimmed a bit at Luka’s look, but he smiled back and nodded, trekking along with everyone. Though he was considerably thinner, his stride was long, and he moved quickly and with alternating grace and complete gracelessness, sort of like a–
“Oh!” the hybrid looked over to Bril. “This one means…well, what it has said? It can transform into animals. Like Alk, or Kesh, or Sir Starosta and Mistress Minnow’s tooka. Like this. Oh, hold this, please.”
So said, he paused mid-step and shrugged his bag off and on to Alk like a sling, which the Mott seemed perfectly at ease with. Taking a deep breath as though gathering his focus, and he took another stride forward and…warped, wavered, a twisting burst of iridescent mist and light. It was gone in a blink, and there in the place Rue was standing was a violet, crimson, and gold tooka, with incredibly long fur, long ears that curled at the tips and drooped with floof, and a fluffy tail that went on for ages. Four tiny paws were capped in fluff as well, spots like Rue’s scales patterned its face and body, and a pair of saffron eyes gleamed intelligently up at them.
It…he…meowed.
Xee’s jaw dropped to the ground and her eyes widened as big as death stars. “Whaaa??? NO WAY OMGTHATISSOAWESOMECANIPETDATDAWG?”
If it was strange to see a man turn into a cat tooka, then it was probably also strange to see said tooka look to Xee, tilt its head and flick ears back as thought puzzled, and then nod in understanding and permission.
“Wait, you can turn into …?” But before Bril could finish his sentence, Rue had already shrugged off his bag and transformed before his very eyes – eyes that went wide in disbelief when he saw a tooka with variegated fur, fur resembling the myriad species of flower seen in the gardens of Arcona’s Citadel.
His grip on Minnie’s arm tightened, and he snapped his head to look at his nautolan cyar'ika with a childlike glee. “Babe. Oh. my. god.”
He looked to Xee, then to Luka. “Did you know he could do that?” he asked, wondering if the Chief Marshal was aware of the hybrid’s unusual ability.
<@141239709291511808> <@227960499948486666>
Minnie squealed incoherently next to Bril, mainly still in shock. Rue looked adorable, and two parts of her brain were screaming and fighting each other, going: PET THE BAAAABBBYBYBBY YBY YB vs WHAT THE ACTUAL FRAK THAT’S A PERSON THAT WAS A PERSON WHAT THE SHHHHH.
Rue, for his part, meowed again, disturbingly in a cadence akin to attempting humanoid speech but not possessing the vocal cords. The result was a bit like, “MrowwwrrrrNN-errr mrRURuRU, rrrrr.”
No, Starosta Sir.
Minnie’s fervent, “what the freak,” was out loud this time.
A small giggle passed through Lektra’s lips as she watched the whole situation. Although the memories were hazy, the sight of her Uncle standing serenely as an animal brought her a small amount of childlike glee.
The woman pulled her helmet off her hip and knelt down beside the cat. She turned it upside down and offered it as a place for him to go. It wasn’t something any Kendis had offered him yet, but it’s something Lektra distinctly remembered her family doing during her childhood.
“Want a ride?”
Tooka-Rue tilted his head inquisitively, then gave a pleased chirp and hopped into the helmet. He pushed up on his hind legs and stretched his little tooka arms out around Lektra’s neck, butting his head forward to rub their cheeks, like a hug.
Lektra smiled brightly, happily leaning her head into Tooka-Rue’s before giving him a kiss on the forehead. “Try not to shed too much in there.”
Luka:
Luka had opened their mouth to reply to Lektra, but then watched, stunned, as Rue transformed into a Tooka in front of their eyes. They glanced down at their datapad again, brow furrowed. In response to Bril’s question, they gave a shrug as they stepped in a bit closer to speak more quietly. “You probably know more than I do. The file I’ve got is a bit … incomplete.” They hesitated to say more on the subject, scratching at the back of their neck. Considering the majority of their information was in the Starosta’s own report, Luka did not want to sound like he was questioning the man’s work. “But if he’s joining the Marshals… Is he joining the Marshals?” The question was said slightly louder, to include the person they were discussing.
The Chief Marshal continued down the path, subtly guiding the rest of the group towards a clearing between clustered buildings of austere duracrete. A few of the buildings were already dark inside, their students dismissed for the day. Laid out on tables across the clearing were various food and drinks. Some of those that had gathered for classes had begun milling about the tables, leaving some dishes bare.
Minnie’s squeal made Xee squeal right back. She clutched the Nautolan’s wrists excitedly, bouncing on her toes like a kid seeing fireworks for the first time. She squeed again, then absolutely pet the… Rue Tooka, gently and with her whole heart.
When the stranger scooped Rue into her helmet, she let out a dramatic gasp, flung her hands to her cheeks, and spun in a little circle like she might just cartwheel into the jungle. “DID YOU SEE THAT? DID YOU–AHHHHH!” She grabbed Minnie’s wrists again, vibrating with giddy disbelief, ready to explode into a thousand more questions.
“I did and I’m really nawht sure tobehonest if I’m freaked the frak out or it’s – he’s – adorable?” She looked at Bril, extracting herself from Xee so they could catch up following along. “Hey, um, Kitty, don’t get any ideas…”
Meanwhile, to Luka’s question, Rue stood up again in the helmet Lektra was carrying for his ride to the clearing and perched his paws on her shoulder. He meowed at the Chief Marshall, then meowed again, and again towards Bril with a more stringent, perhaps distressed tone, and seemed to be trying to bow. As a cat. In a helmet.
<@227960499948486666> <@1056685516441006091> <@301514304845381632>
“Oh good, your able to heal yourself,” a short Ryn with grey frosting her brown fur assumed when she halted beside the meditating cross-legged Kaleesh, “Be faster than naturally and less headache.”
Adjusting the medical backpack trapped onto her back, Vai left Skar where he was and moved on to check on the other combatant. She stepped up to the pair in time to hear the Kaedean’s comment, whether or not she noticed the subtle flirtation towards the Zabrak was difficult to distinguish as she dropped her gear and started pulling out supplies. “Those can be the same thing,” the combat medic pipped up. Vai paused where she knelt and twisted to glance up at Vreva. “Well, lass, am I patching him up or you healing? Bacta could square this up quick.”
Meanwhile, Paum chuckled lowly to himself. One because ‘not cleaning up after them’ as Vreva vowed had lasted a short moment, her offering to heal one of the blokes. And secondly, the attempt the reptilianoid gave at flirting going over her head. The Herglic settled on the sidelines to observe.
<@227960499948486666> <@205587614735007745>
For once, Bril didn’t jump when Minnie squealed; maybe it was the Force warning him beforehand, maybe it was him knowing how his cyar'ika tended to react to cute fluffy animals. Then, Lektra offered him a ride in the helmet and, as Bril watched him do just that, he uttered an audible “huh.”
<@244244163002892288> <@301514304845381632>
“I’m not sure, to be honest,” Bril replied to Luka, “Up to you two. He’d be a good fit, though.”
The second squeal, which came from Xee, did elicit a jump from the zabrak aedile.
-#“Ow.”
<@141239709291511808>
After his ears readjusted just in time for him to catch what Minnie said, he looked back at her with raised eyebrows, an expression of feigned offense appearing on his tattooed countenance. “You wound me, pur'ka.”
Once they all reached their destination, he took a seat at one of the tables, and threw his arm around Minnie’s shoulders, and looked to Luka with an expectant gaze.
<@227960499948486666>
Once they all arrived and began sitting down, Lektra lowered the helmet, and Rue hopped out, agile, to pad up to a chair. In another flash of mist and light he stood before everyone as a person again, then shook himself.
“This one can also transform one other person into an animal. Or another creature, at the same time itself is transformed. Or two others and not itself.”
Minnie immediately shot Bril a look from under his arm that said, noooo way.
“This one hopes it was helpful and may continue to be so for whatever trainings the Masters Chief Marshalls Starostas require,” Rue concluded, bowing, before he sat perched in a chair. Alk trotted up and folded down next to him, so he took his bag back.
Luka:
Luka remained standing, intending to move around the tables as needed. “Certainly a useful ability to have. And if you can train others…” They shrugged. “I’m not certain who would be in charge of hiring professors here, but I could find out…?”
Their gaze shifted to the Starosta to confirm, unsure of their authority in the matter. “We’ll get you in touch,” they added with a nod to Rue and a flash of a perfect smile.
Vreva:
The Kaedean’s flirtation had indeed gone unnoticed as Vreva’s focus was on her task. The red Zabrak narrowed her eyes as she looked at the wound, judging whether it was worth her time or energy. “Well, if bacta can take care of it, probably the best you take care of it.” She stepped back from the Kaedean. “Since, yes, more a warrior than a healer. Though if you’re shot in the field, I could be your gal.” She gave an awkward smile and a wink before stepping aside so the certified medic could step in.
“Oh! Alright?” Though he seemed unsure of what exactly was going on, he stuck out his one hand obediently towards Luka, waiting for whatever touch there would be. His tail tip gave a hard, nervous whap, body still expecting pain to follow, though he understood that Bril, Luka, and others would not harm him. And Luka was smiling. So he smiled back.
“Alright,” Vai turned to the Kaedean and started addressing the wound, applying pressure to stop the bleeding first. The Ryn looked up here and there while her free hand prepared the next supplies with the ease that came from decades of practice. “Hey, I’m Vai and what the Gal med corps. Good fight out there you two had. Name?” <@1056685516441006091>
A thick elbow nudged Vreva’s shoulder. Paum flashed her a crooked smile. “That didn’t go badly,” he chuckled deeply, “The boss can’t complain, as much as I enjoy a good fistfight.”