The team had a slight debrief before landing. There were nine vaults in the area but due to fear of being attacked by slow moving Rakghouls, the scout team didn’t dare to mark where the vaults were. The map was barely complete but the team they were sending in can tell it was a bit of a maze. They were reassured the Rakghouls were there for so long and so decayed that while deadly, they were very slow moving. It should be easy to get out of the way if they get close.
There was a question if the team was insane or stupid for taking up this mission. Perhaps both.
Each team was given slicing equipment to connect to the vault scanner. They were to stay in place and push a button exactly as it appeared to help the slicing droid brain to open the vault. Their commlinks were connected.
Five vaults. That’s all they needed to open the main building door to get what they came for.
Glorious information.
The shuttle shook and groaned as it landed at the base of the maze. A small hiss of the opening of the ramp exposed the team to the sights and smells of the jungle. It smelt of damp earth with some sharp kind of metal that sticks at the back of the throat. The colors were dull with green and browns, maybe even some silver. A small hint of its history before it fell into decay.
What am I even doing here?
These were the logs of the presently disgruntled Liran’s mind. In fact, it was all that was written in the logs as he’d been thinking it since getting on the shuttle.
Who even are these people?
That was the second thought, interspersed amongst the first but with far less frequency. The pilot usually had a better eye for catching the fine print of a bad contract. Sniffing out the sus. And yet, there he stood. Sat. Whatever.
A gloved hand went to his chin and roughly scratched along the edge as Liran sighed heavily. His white-red hair framed his emerald eyes as he stared holes into the backs of three separate heads before looking out the transparisteel windows. He sighed again, but this time because his perceptive gaze took in the jungle and maze-like pathways. Yeah, things were about to get dirty. Greeeeeeeat.
With the shuttle’s ramp opened, and his nostrils flaring in offense to the wonderful array of smells it discovered, Liran took a couple quick, heavy booted steps and vaulted onto the muck and mire. A quick check on his wrists revealed his tech gear was firmly attached, so he didn’t bother with collecting the additional slicing equipment. A few quick inputs and he was synced up with the vault scanner all on his own. He was about to make off in his own direction, coordination be damned, but was suddenly faced by the daunting wall of looming shadows and chirping animals. Yeah, that sucked. So, Liran pivoted about face and extended a hand, palm up. He made eye contact with the first member of the team to deign to glance at him and gestured vaguely towards the flashlights in the shuttle with a grabbing motion.
And then the sounds stopped. From the jungle behind Liran, not a single animal could be heard. Contrary to what one might think, that was decidedly not a good thing. The young man visibly gulped and gestured for the flashlight again, this time a sheepish expression on his face. “Please?” he squeaked out.
Being tapped for this mission was not completely unheard of for Edgar, who had been sent out to collect trinkets, treasures, and all sorts of “very powerful objects,” but this was the first time he felt like this was more like a sick game to disguise a giant trap. Multiply triggers just to unlock the final treasure room. Yep, it’s a trap, but from all the intel the Grey Jedi went through, it’s a doable trap with either a very valuable prize or at least some good old-fashioned stealth training and fun.
Looking over the team he was assigned to, there was a Mercenary, a well-built Mirialan, and a Lurmen who had this crazed look in his eyes as he was sizing us all up. Then again, we all just met a couple of hours ago, and no one has yet really talked much. So he could just be hungry, who knows.
“Attention strike team, we are on final approach, and we will be on the ground in less than 10 minutes. Gather your shit and be ready to haul ass off the ramp. I’ll be taking off in less time than it takes a rancor to swallow you whole,” the pilot announced over the comm system.
Gathering his gear, the Jedi headed to the exit ramp. He was prepared to disembark when he made eye contact with the Mercenary, who was gesturing for a flashlight. Picking up 2 flashlights, he handed one over to the mercenary and stored the other with the rest of his own gear. “ You must be Liran. I’m Edgar. Let’s work fast and keep our heads on a swivel. I don’t trust this to be as easy as it seems.” Liarn and the others, after quickly introducing themselves, seem to nod in agreement.
A few short minutes later, they were all on the ground and already working on the first vault. Taking a higher vantage point, Ed calmed himself and masked his presence within the Force, reaching out with his senses at the same time. Hearing the first vault open, the Elder Jedi felt a presence devoid of the force close by, then he felt 2 more.
When the vault finally popped, the closest one heard and started heading their way. “Head’s up! Something is coming from the east, and it may not be alone,” he yelled, warning the group as he silently jumped down to them.
A older Lurmen with light gray fur lifted his translation visor and looked up from one of the vault terminals. “Not alone you say?” He spared a moment to look around before returning to his work.
Maiq didn’t really fear the Rakghouls, in fact they were something of a scientific curiosity to the Shadow Academy scholar. Not something to weaponize, no no, nothing that pedestrian but much like the legendary Doctor Eckard Lokin, Maiq had an interest in the Rakghoul virus’ abilities to enhance the longevity and physical properties of sentient beings. Of course, in the centuries since Lokin’s time no researcher had fully been able to unlock the potential of the Rakghoul virus. Still, any specimen would be worth studying. The Lurmen’s goal in this expedition was more along the lines of what was inside the vaults vs what was nominally guarding them.
The fur began to stand up on Maiq’s neck as his ears caught the faint sound of rustling in the underbrush several meters away. The Lurmen doctor logically knew it was the onset of a flight or fight instinct, something his species had evolved to a finely tuned sense. Despite him knowing this on a logical level his body still felt an overwhelming sense of fear. The Force itself in the area began to feel cold, dark, draining. Something indeed was out there and it wasn’t just Rakghouls. And whatever that thing was it had an effect on the Force around it. On a logical level that piqued Maiq’s curiosity, but every bone in his body and instinct told him to run.
Mustering up the composure to hide his baser instincts from his companions, the Lurmen again lifted his visor and inquired, “Perhaps we can investigate our surroundings. It would be a shame for this fruitful archaeological expedition to be interrupted.”
younger Jedi’s attention snapped to the small monkey-like creature, and he was beside himself. Since he only heard of the Lurmen ‘s from traveling merchants and smugglers, he never got the best impression of them and most certainly never thought they could be as smart as his companion.
Feeling slightly ashamed of himself, he turned to the pair who had just finished the generator. “Do you guys want to head to the next one while I escort the Doctor on a little recon mission?” Edgar asked.
Sofila looked at both the Doctor and the Human. “We have a lot of work to do, and you two want to split up, and what if we get into trouble?” “That’s a very good question, but from what I can tell, there is only a small number heading this way, and with any luck, we can distract them while you deal with getting the door open. There are also a few generators in the direction they are coming from, so if we are lucky, we might be able to help speed the process up. Do you think that is a valid plan?”
Taking only a couple of seconds, the Mercenary and female Mandalorian nodded and headed off to the nearest generator while Edgar watched as his partner darted off in front of him, yelling, “Come, young one, there’s science afoot!”
Sofila scoffed under her breath. Separating was a bad idea. Every time she tried or even dared to suggest a split up, she got a lecture from whoever was with her. With a roll of her eyes underneath her helmet, she glanced towards the shorter guy. What was his name? Larry? Lawrence? Ludwig?
“Well, at least it would be quicker with both of us working on this one at least…” Her eyes stayed glued to the datapad as she had to wait for the appearance of a certain color.
Her head snapped towards a direction where she thought she heard a sound and she heard cackling from the vault.
“Oh kist!” Sofila yelped as she realized she missed her chance to do the ONE JOB SHE HAD.
The kriff was that?
Liran stared straight ahead while working on the code alongside Sofila. At least, he assumed that was her name. They hadn’t said anything to eachother.
Honestly, Liran was growing comfortable with their conversation. Specifically the lack of it.
Then the sounds started.
“Nope,” he declared flatly and stood upright. For the briefest of moments he thought perhaps he should say something before leaving. But wouldn’t you know the damnedest thing? His feet were already going!
She’d figure it out. Right?
Already, Liran was panting and at a full sprint. The jungle terrain was, in a word, treacherous. The noises? Lots of chittering and howls followed him. Monkeys? Liran checked. Fangs and teeth. No eyes. Slimy high sheen skin.
Not monkeys. Decidedly not monkeys.
“Shouldn’t panic. We should not panic. Which is good…because I am VERY MUCH PANICKING!”
M'aiq had paused in a clearing when Edgar caught up to him, seemingly investigating an unusual set of footprints in the muddy jungle floor. Numerous smaller footprints consistent with rakghouls littered the area but the Lurmen scholar had spotted a pair of noticeably larger prints. They were almost like boot prints but much larger than your typical near-human and judging from the depth of the tracks much heavier as well.
“Come here boy, quickly,” M'aiq motioned for Edgar to come examine the footprints. “Do you know anything about tracking?” He paused for a moment and judging from the human’s confused expression, answered his own question. “Nevermind, just be aware something bigger than a rakghoul is out there.”
Before Edgar could reply the loud thud of very heavy footsteps rang in the middle distance. The hair on M'aiq’s tail and neck stood straight up. A bulking creature nearly three meters tall emerged from the treeline. It had a humanoid shape but was clearly mutated in unspeakable ways. It had massive arms, a large torso, and strong legs. The creature’s head looked like a rakghoul but twisted almost beyond recognition. The flesh around its mouth stretched and flayed so that its teeth were exposed in a twisted smile. It wore a jet black suit of armor and had some kind of a tentacle writhing from one of its wrists. M'aiq was both terrified and curious at this product of foul artifice.
“This would be a good time to run.”
<@224731543153803264>
Edgar’s first instinct was to ignite his sabers and fight the creature off, but hearing and then seeing his companion prepare to high tail it out of there. Edgar thought better of it and started running towards the Lurmen. “Let’s see if we can lose this thing and then get to the next generator!”
Like it was almost instinct, the Dr. jumped onto the Human’s back as he ran by, and for the next couple of minutes, the creature was slowly gaining on them. Edgar was dodging and trying to run the monster in as many circles as he could to lose him, while the poor Dr. was attempting to locate the next generator. In one particular long circle around these two large rock formations, Edgar’s passenger tapped him on the shoulder and commented, “You keep looping around these rocks so much, I’m beginning to get motion sickness. Look, the generator is about 50 meters to the east, and if you could lead him in the other direction, I will have it up and running by the time you get back. Do you think you can handle this beast by yourself?”
The Jedi was half-hearing M’aiq but heard enough to understand and just nodded. Just before he could turn around and verbally agree to the plan, he felt a small push on his head, which Edgar instinctively turned to see what it was, but it was nothing. Literally nothing, his little companion was already three-quarters up the rock outcropping and waiting for his opportunity to run. After dodging the creature for a couple more seconds, Ed was ready to make his diversion, and right before he bolted, he nodded at his partner to receive a nod back and noticed he was pointing to Edgar’s left to indicate the direction he wanted me to go.
And with that, Edgar ignited his sabers and yelled at the creature, then, to M’aiq’s surprise, his new friend ran off with a surprising burst of speed. The creature took off after him, and not wanting to waste any time, Edgar was buying him. He darted to the generator and was immediately hard at work fixing it as fast as he could, even using a brand new part he happened to find nearby.
As he was about to finish up, Edgar seemed to appear out of nowhere and startle the Dr. “Dam it, boy, you almost made me jump out of my own skin! What happened to that thing?” he asked.
“I’m not sure I had him chasing me for a good while and was able to bonk him on the head a couple of times with some rocks, but when I hit him the second time I hid to catch my breath and just waiting for a min but it vanished I looked for a couple of second and that got worried he was coming here. Now I’m at a complete loss as to where it is.”
With a loud mechanical roar, the generator sprang to life, and the Lurmen turned and jumped back onto Edgar’s back and said, “Well, that’s done, but let’s go find the others. That thing has to be going after them for sure.”
“We’re running?” Sofila called out as she followed the human.
”WHY are we running?!” She stopped as she frowned as she lost Liran. Sofila heard a groaning noise and a small branch snap as she looked over and saw a rakughoul.
“I THOUGHT IT WAS A MYTH!” Sofila yelped before she brought her hand up to her helmet to connect to the comms. She started to move backwards while keeping an eye on the slow moving creature.
“Rakughoul! Rakughoul! Very real! Much real!” It seemed the age of the rakughouls had hindered their movements into a creep but they all knew it just takes one scratch. Sofila groaned as she had been in a sprint and go for a bit there and the rakughoul just steady catch up every time she paused to try to open a vault. They were persistent.
Sofila glanced up and saw a wooden structure that once must’ve belonged to a building. She waited until there was a perfect time, it’s decaying arm reached out to slash at Sofila but she jumped up and grabbed ahold of the decrepit foundation and pulled it down and the rakughoul fell underneath its weight. It groaned and twitched for a moment before becoming lifeless.
“Get squished, schutta!” Sofila triumphantly grinned.
“Liran?” Sofila asked as she glanced around.
A head popped up nearby in a flash of white and red, bursting through mud and branches.
“Say. Nothing,” he hissed between clenched teeth and shame. The human worked his way out of the brush, inspecting himself for wounds. He collected himself before standing ramrod straight, looking to the sky with closed eyes and opened his mouth to speak.
Bzzzz! Bzzzz!
The device at his wrist began vibrating. A single eye opened and glanced down suspiciously before raising his arm to appraise it.
“Huh. They did it,” Liran remarked, the surprise dripping from every word. He glanced over at Sofila, seemingly looking for wounds and not being subtle about it. “Sounds like we have a vault to inspect.”
He didn’t wait for a response, merely seemed to try to take note of his bearings. Liran began striding confidently forward only to suddenly stop, tisk, and turn in another direction with a shake of his head.
“I know where I’m going,” he grumbled to himself while passing Sofila. She was, in fact, joining him. Good.
With their work done and loot awaiting, he was sure he wasn’t the only one oh so ready to get the hell off world.
In one piece. That was preferable.