Kalen and Karracca and the gang aboard the Corra V were back on Arx for the 3rd time in 3 months.
“So we’re defending a village of…what did you call them? Who’s? From a monster that shows up every year during their holidays?” Kalen asked, still wondering why the contract called for 3 Brotherhood members. It seemed simple enough, find the bad guy/monster, pew pew, collect bounty board credits, job done.
“Hoo’s. They are known as the Hoo people. Short, lithe, cute lil buggers, they live in a remote village on arx. Primitive, non-spacefaring, noises bunch. Though they make a delicious Roast Beast I hear.” Karracca replied as they sat in the ships galley/lounge.
“And what about this Krampus thing, what do we got on this monster?” Kalen sipped his coffee.
“Apparently the Krampus is tall, green, and has a large pot belly. Thats the only intel we have about it.” Karracca replied.
“Hmmm.”
The soft clink of metallic charms and trinkets heralded the arrival of Hector Von Ricmore.
The Clawdite had arrived at Arx to respond to an invitation; members of the Brotherhood were deploying in strike teams of three to five to respond to a variety of threats. This particular assignment called for the investigation and neutralization, or at least prevention, of a creature known as the Krampus.
With weapons and his droid stored on his person, Hector was ready to meet whatever challenge this creature may bring. By now he had become quite experienced with bounty hunting, one did not become a Son of Vizsla by being inexperienced in that regard.
He would soon arrive at the coordinates for the meeting with his allies. It was time to learn whom he would be facing down the Krampus with.
Carmen hated helmets. They covered his face, made him get all sweaty and, as he was dealing with now, they made his hair get in the way. He had made due by braiding the whole thing and tucking the tip into his underarmor bodysuit, but it was far from an ideal solution. At the very least, these mountain tops he had been dropped on were cold enough that the sweat problem was not really an issue.
“Are you doing okay, Carmen?” Bebe questioned as she stomped through the snow beside him. The droid was bigger than she had been before, upgraded with as many jets, guns and armor Carmen could cram onto her chassis without sacrificing the sleak look of his handiwork.
“Your seem even more grumpy than usual for a mission.”
Carmen growled under his breath, then spoke louder so she could actually hear, “Please, call me ‘sir’ or something. There’s an actual Jedi from another clan on this mission, and if he’s red my dossier like I read his, he’s going to expect a Jedi of me too.”
“Of course, Sir Knight,” Bebe said, chuckling, “or would you prefer ‘Master?”
“Oh, frak it. Just don’t blame me when I have to scrap you because they kicked me out of the Temple. Anyway. To answer the question, my annoyance scaled just as you should expect from the mission. First they send me out for the Knights, then for Odan-Urr, now I’m being called to Arx itself? Before long I’m going to have to buy my own ship because I won’t be able to spend a single moment in the workshop unless I work on the way between all these… jobs they waste my time with.”
The trudging continued in scilence again. Carmen was able to keep the cold at bay for the moment with the Force, but he did worry about when he wouldn’t be able to spare the effort. Maybe he should have modded the armor before showing up.
The helmet he so hated painted a signal. A single outline, so distant it looked like a dot occasionally appearing through the trees on his motion tracker. Who else would be here?
“Looks like we may have found something,” he said before raising his vambrace to his face and calling out on a short range, open comm line, “attention, this is Inquisitor Nu'Whin, on site. There is dangerous wildlife in the area, state your intentions.”
By the Force, he sounded like a grade-A tosspot.
A message on an open channel? How very interesting.
The Clawdite paused in his movement. He raised his hands in an attempt to appear non threatening. He didn’t know where the voice was coming from and the last thing he wanted was to alarm the other sentient before learning more.
“I am Hector Von Ricmore, a bounty hunter with Clan Vizsla. I accepted a bounty on a creature hunting the local area; the Krampus was the name if I recall right. I carry my unique challenge coin as proof of identity, if you would permit me to reach for it?”
“No need, I got your dossier from the briefing, we hunt the same quarry. Isn’t like the top of some mountain is a particularly high security location.”
Well, at least he wasn’t the last one here.
“I’m almost to the meeting point, any sign of Kalen? He was supposed to be on the hunt as well.”
“You sound so formal, master,” Bebe interjected with a smug tone.
“Call me that again and I will re-break your vocal unit.”
“I recently landed my ship nearby, you are the first being I encountered since doing so.” Hector responded.
“If you wish we could make use of its communication device to attempt to reach Kalen. Additionally, I have a custom Walker aboard if the creature is fearsome enough to require armored support. I avoided using it so far to avoid alerting the creature to our position. But it is an available option should we require additional firepower.”
Truthfully Hector hoped that the Walker would be needed. He had recently upgraded the AT-ST and needed to do additional field testing with the vehicle. But it was more important to take the time and complete the hunt professionally, combat data could be gathered later.
“Maybe if it turns into a mobile hunt. If it’s firepower we need, I have that covered.”
He hoped so, at least. If this thing could shake off an Imploder and his Shockshard, there was going to be some issues.
“We can meet up at the rendezvous point and just wait for now. We’re a bit early.”
“That works for me.” Hector sent over the commlink.
“Given our current position we should arrive at the designated meeting place in several minutes. I’m sure we’ll see Kalen soon. If not, we could always fire off a flare and hope he sees it.”
With introductions sorted and conflict avoided the Clawdite resumed his march to the rendezvous. Hopefully this would prove an interesting and rewarding hunt.
Kalen found a clearing on a platuea next to a hillside about 200 yards from the rendevous point and put the 175 foot long Corra V down gently, with a soft hiss of the landing pads depressing under the weight of the ship.
“Alright, lets go save the holidays for these little suckers.” Kalen got up from his pilots seat at the front of the bridge.
“The ships yours until we get back Lieutenant.” Kalen patted Reece, the liberated astromech, on the top of his dome as he walked past.
“Sweet. I’ll have our gunnery crews do some target practice and get D to clean the lower hold.” The R3 doid beep booped as Kalen and Karracca departed.
Reece then rolled over to the pilots chair and used his jet thrusters to lift himself up and plop himself in the command seat.
Out in the bush
“Our teammates have already arrived.” The 450lbs wookie growled. Pointing to a small group that was emerging from the treeline.
“OH, HEY ALL!” Kalen waved expressively.
“Ssssssss!” Karracca shushed Kalen.
“The Krampus Brother, try and keep it down.” He growled.
“Yeah, like the Krampus wouldn’t have noticed the huge ship that just landed but he’s gonna hear me yelling in the woods….yeesh.” Kalen scolded the much older and much wiser wookie.
Carmen groaned as a freighter dropped out of the sky onto the meeting point. He had walked here to keep it quiet, and it seemed Hector had the same plan. Well, if the thing had any intelligence, it knew someone else was here now.
“You must be Knight Joss, then. And is it… Karracca? I saw you on Kalens dossier but didn’t know you would be attending.”
Carmen stepped up to the foot of the loading ramp underneath Kalens ship, Bebe moving to stand next to him. It appeared she was pretending to be a normal B2 again, her form of the “silent treatment.”
“I am Carmen Nu'Whin, this is Bebe. Did you see anything from above?”
Landing a ship directly at the meeting area, when the quarry you hunted was near, was certainly one of the decisions of all time.
Well, what was done had been done. No point in fretting over it. Besides that, Hector was more than a little familiar with improvisation; the Brotherhood were a quirky bunch.
Carmen had asked a question of their ally. Hector waited patiently until an answer had been given; he could introduce himself afterwards and he had no desire to be rude and interrupt.
“Yeah we’re a bit of a package deal.” Kalen leaned forward and half whispered.
“The whole wookie ‘life debt thing’” Kalen said, trying to sound cool. “Nice to meet you. Nothing but the birds is what we saw, that and hillside village a few miles to the north.” Karracca growled
“There are birds up here?”
Carmen shook his head and cut his hand ot the side, “No, not important. Do we know where this thing is? If no we could get to higher ground or check with the… Hoos. If they speak something we know, at least.”
Carmen began to relax, a little at least. Even there were two of them, it didn’t seem the Jedi were super orthodox, so he probably didn’t have to worry too much.
“Whatever we do, we probably don’t have to worry too much about stealth… that shuttles already landed.”
“Shuttle?” Kalen said, offended on behalf on behalf of his rather large freighter.
“But, yeah, the village is about 2 miles thataway.” The Jedi said, pointing vaguely north.
“So it sounds like we know where to go.”
Hector stepped forward intent on introducing himself.
“Hector Von Ricmore, a pleasure to meet you. Now I don’t know about you all, but this is far from my first hunt. From the sound of things we should make our way to the village. Could ask questions there and lie in wait for the creature when it returns. Then we bring it in warm or we bring it in cold.”
“I like it, why don’t we imbed ourselves in the village itself and wait for this Krampus to show up. The report said he mostly performed his mischief at night while the Hoo’s slept.” Kalen added.
The Jedi then keeyed his mic and said “Reece, take the ship 20 miles to the south, wait their for my signal, feel free to run whatever drill you want.” The R3’s gleefully beep boops could heard on the reciever.
Karracca just shook his head and started lumbering off towards to the village.
“Now that,” Carmen said to Hector, “sounds like a line from a holovid. Like, straight from a holovid. But I agree with Kalen.”
Moving a step away from the group toward where the village would be in the distance, he scanned across the surrounding peaks and valleys, looking for anything that might give a hint.
“If the Hoos are intelligible, it would be a good idea to question them, but waiting for this Krampus thing to show up wouldn’t be a good idea. Last thing we need is to fight some big monster in a town.”
He didn’t mention he was Hapan. Night blindness was a curse sometimes.
“We’ll meet you there, Bebe and I are going to check for any game trails or caves around the town on our way there.”
There was a hiss, a crack, and a roar as Carmens jetpack lit and carried him into the sky, followed soon after by Bebes own set of thrusters.
With the roar of the jetpack as a signal the group carried on its merry way. They traveled the two miles towards the village, making idle small talk as they moved. Before long they had found the village.
A series of well constructed durasteel structures formed the basis of the small village. Each one had power, heating and insulation against the cold weather brought by living high in the Elos Vrai mountains. Visible lines and cables ran between the structures, surrounded by a thick casing to survive the environment. A few villagers could be seen milling about; most had chosen to remain in their homes against the cold, having already accomplished their daily chores.
The Brotherhood team stood in ankle deep snow as they decided how to approach the village. And to await the return of Carmen from his scouting mission. Hopefully their ally would find a suitable position to face off against this Krampus creature.
“Well, we’re starting to draw a crowd now…I guess we might aswell introduce ourselves. After all, they specifically asked for our help, so it’s probably not a huge surprise at this point.” Kalen said as he noticed several of the Hoo’s clustering near a large coniferous tree that was adorned with ornaments and strings of multi-coloured lights. Many were whispering to eachother and pointing and staring in their direction.
“Greetings Hoo’s of Hooville, I am Jedi Ranger Kalen Joss of the Brotherhood. We are here to respond to your request for help.” Kalen said as he waved at the group of diminutive and oddly proportioned Hoo’s. The tallest among them was barely more then 50 or 55 inches tall.
As he approached Kalen hadnt realized that Karracca had followed a few metres behind him. The massive 7 foot 7, 450 pound wookie was remarkably fleet footed, walking nearly silently across the snow covered path that lead into the centre of the small town. All of the Hoo’s instinctively stepped back several paces, fearful of massive furrball. Well, all except one Hoo that is. A blooded haired Hoo child, standing barely 3 foot tall stayed put and just glared up at the strange newcomers.
“Hiya, I’m Sindi Lu Hoo.” The kid said distractedly to Kalen before slowly walking past him and walking right up to Karracca’s massive leg.
“Is this your hair, or are you wearing a special snow suit.” she asked as she reached her little arm out and began stroking the thick furr around Karracca’s knee. All the Hoo’s appeared to be wearing a variety of different brightly coloured puffy, hooded winter garments.
“Sindi Lu! Be careful sweety! Remember what I told you about how to act around strangers.” What they assumed was the childs mother emerged from the crowd and grabbed one of Sindi Lu’s hands and pulled her back a few steps away from Kalen and Karracca.
“It’s no trouble miss. I assure you, young Sindi Lu Hoo is in no danger from me or my comrades.”
Karracca growled as gently as he possible could in Syriwook, but it was to no avail, the roaring and primal sounds of the wookie language spooked the Hoo’s even more.
“My friends says that it is no trouble, and wishes to assure you that you are in no danger from any of us…” Kalen said to the group before kneeling infront of Sindi Lu.
“And to answer your question. Yes, that is his real fur.” He said directly to the brave young Hoo.
A small smile blossomed on Hector’s face as he witnessed the interaction. The Clawdite was pleased at the reminder of the things that most of them fought for; the reason the group was here today.
It was clear that Kalen was far better with the crowd than he would have been. That was no issue, he just had to play to his strengths.
“Kalen. I’ll leave the questioning and conversation to Carmen and yourself. Our ability to recall information as sentient beings has limits so I’ll be tracking the Krampus through more esoteric and mystical means. Allow me a few hours to complete a ritual through the Force. And then we can meet and swap information.”
The Force Sensitive bounty hunter removed his wayseeker focus from a jacket pocket. The powerful artifact would help guide his Force Visions, even allowing him to view into the past. It normally would require several days but the Seer had another tool in his arsenal; Tiamat’s cloak. The ornamental garment enhanced his already respectable Farsight ability. While no master of the art, Hector was sure he could learn something of use in the time that the group had to prepare. It likely would not have been enough on its own, but he had allies to assist in this matter.
‘Yes’ the bounty hunter mused to himself, ‘I always appreciate having competent allies.’
Just as the Hoos began to settle, a dull roar became apparent from above, quiet enough at first to be ignored, but growing in intensity until everyone looked up anxiously at a gleaming comet that crashed down nearby. As the smoke and snow settled, Carmen was left in a three point landing. He told himself it was for show, but still used the Force to wick away as much of the pain as possible as he stood and gave a two finger salute, looking as heroic as possible in his gleaming armor.
“And I am Carmen! Knight of the Order!”
He had hoped he timed it right to land with the introductions, but judging by how close the other Jedi were to the Hoos, it seemed like he was too late. Carmen took a few steps to work his aching joints and finally moved up beside Kalen.
“Think I found where it’s hiding. Se yon curlycue mountain?” he thumbed at the nearest mountain, with a strangly curled up top, “Its got a cave system and a forest behind it, as well as packed snow at the peak. Perfect place for a bitter old monster to look down on his prey. You get anything from the Hoos yet?”
After informing the Hoo’s that they’d be staying in or around the village through the evening until they caught or otherwise dealt the Krampus he went back and rejoined the team.
“So, sounds like they’re all out doing there last communal evening events tonight because after this date the Krampus usually begins his mischief.” The grandfathered Jedi said.
“Should we do a takeout and wait, or recon the mountain?” Karracca growled.
“Uh, do I need to translate?” Kalen asked Hector and Carmen.
Carmen stood still for a moment, looking between the two, though his eyes were concealed. It was kind of annoying that shyriiwook was both so important and so practical, with how many wookies were around these days.
“…Probably should head out and get to tracking. We need to stop it before it gets dangerous, and it’s still… probably nocturnal, right?”
As the sun crept low on the horizon. “Yeah, I’d presume so…should we break up into teams?”
“I… suppose so. We have comms to we can meet back up when things go bad.”
Bebe chuckled and turned, “when? Awfully dour, for you.”
“I thought you weren’t talking,” Carmen grumbled, before turning along with her to head towards the mountain.
“If we have one group start at the top and one at the base, we can meet in the middle of a monster! Any of you able to get to the top with me?”
While his allies planned a strategy to deal with the Monster, Hector was deep in the thrall of a mystic vision. Brute forcing a vision was usually unwise; it left one with a fragment of the information that could be gained with proper meditation and preparation. But some information was better than none; and the Clawdite carried the tools and skills to make do.
His focus emitted a blue luminous aura. His eyes, closed in fitful sleep, twitched as sweat began to bead on his face. With sight beyond sight he had begun to see.
From the ground appeared a pair of claws, utilizing immense strength to unbutton. A massive creature, easily 8 ft in stature, pulled itself through the hole and clambered nimbly to its feet. It held a thick fur coat like a Wookiee. An elaborate set of horns, like a devaronian, crowned its head. Thick muscle was hidden beneath the fur, made obvious by the movement of the behemoth. Wrapped around its chest was a series of chains which seemed infused with an otherworldly energy; something unnatural.
Hector’s eyes opened with a start. That was as much as he could get with a forced attempt at visions. Yet the information was valuable.
“I saw the creature in a vision.” The Seer alerted his companions. “It’s a massive creature. Covered in fur. Capable of digging and carrying a strange length of chain. Looks like a Wookiee mixed with a Devaronian.”
Carmen paused for a second as he gazed at the top of the strangely shaped mountain, “Subterranian, eh? Guess that means the forest is out. Its gotta have some lair in those tunnels. I’ll meet you on the inside.”
He started his jetpack again, Bebe following close behind as they blasted for the top of the nearby summit. After all, what were the chances that it was somewhere near the top and not hanging around the base of the mountain? If it was in there, it would have some low down den for warmth, and it seemed like the other three didn’t have a way to join him on the peak in a reasonable time.
Carmen chuckled to himself. The real Jedi would take the thing down and he wouldn’t have to get smashed into walls by some evil monster. Wins all around. He got seen, too, so it wasn’t like he would be accused of doing nothing. That was the proper way to get out of work, be so mediocre that they wouldn’t think to send him on any more of this life threatening banthakist.
“Its only a couple miles. We’ll be right behind you.” Kalen said as Karmen jetted off.
“Up for a little jog?” The Jedi Ranger asked his wookie pal and Hector.
“Hahhaha. I’m almost 300 years old. I don’t jog.” The rotund wookie replied.
“Suit yourself.” Kalen replied as sprinted towards a rock ledge and lept off, landing and running another 4 paces and then leaving forward a dozen metres. He repeated the pattern for about a mile and a half before slowly to a walking pace as the base of the mountain came into view.
Karracca on the other hand on simply stared 50 metres in front of himself and teleported to that location, he’d then walk about 10 steps and then teleported again. He caught up to an out of breath Kalen at the base of the mountain.
Lacking the mobility options of his companions, Hector watched as they shot forward towards the search area.
“I really should have brought my mech.” The Clawdite mumbled as he marched after them.
A short while after he arrived at the base of the mountain, the last of the group to make it. He took a look up at the summit while heaving and catching his breath.
“You have got to be fracking joking.”
Karracca had used his drone swarm to scan, and found the entrance to the cave system that was presumably home to their prey. It was about 300 metres up the slope.
“Well, lets get up there.” Kalen said before crouching and then leaping up to series of rocks. Karracca stared at a boulder 49 metres up and teleported himself atop it.
Hector sighed, lowered his head and extended a single index finger in the air.
“I’ll just be a minute.”
After another leap to the next series of boulders Kalen saw Carmen standing atop the presumed cave entrance and waved his hands and put a finger to his lips indicating to he quick. He then pointed downward to the cave entrance.
Apparently the Krampus was home.
A small, pop echoed across the mountain. A small metal peg slammed into the side of the mountain. Attached to the peg was a fibercord rope.
Hector grasped the rope with his hands, clipping it to his belt for safety. And then he began to climb. One hand after another, step by step.
After several minutes he arrived at the top, hauling himself over. Chest heaving he packed up his rope into his envoy bag.
“Ok…not again….next time…we’re flying to the location.” He gasped out.
“Just let me catch my breath.” He told his companions at the entrance to the cave of the creature.
Carmens heart fell when Kalen joined him atop the cave entrance. Then again and again when the other two found their way up as well. Was there no other entrance? How would this cave system get enough ventilation for habitability with one entrance?
Carmen sighed in resignation as the others joined up, “Well, it seems theres nothing for it. If things get bad I’ll work on collapsing the cave system, so be prepared to bolt if this thing ends up being more trouble than its worth.”
His helmet clicked as it switched to infrared. It was always annoying that he couldn’t see in the dark like most others could, but at least he was becoming able to overcome his weaknesses with tech.
“Bebe, keep the rockets to a minimum unless I ask for it. We don’t want an uncontrolled cave in. Lets find us a monster.”
It was hard to keep the pained resignation from his voice.
Just then some barking and then a roar was heard from deep within the cave.
“Intruders! I don’t take house guests, especially around life day!” The Krampus charged out towards the end. His steps seemingly rumbling the entire mountain side.
“Maybe he’ll be reasonable and we can just have a chat.” Kalen said.
“You’re delusional.” Karracca said as he ignited his lightsaber.
The creature fully emerged from the mouth of the cave, ready to confront the intruders with its monstrous might. The furred creature moved with a swiftness that was surprising for its size. It gripped the chain around its chest and, with a deft swing, sent it hurtling towards the intruders.
With experience born of many years, Karracca deflecting the chain away with a swing of his lightsaber. Yet the chain was unharmed by the heat of the plasma blade.
The chain was clearly composed of some lightsaber resistant material.
“How do I keep finding myself in these situations? Lightsaber resistant materials are supposed to be rare but these days it feels like everyone and their mother can buy them at the store.” Hector grumbled to himself.
The Clawdite ignited his own weapon, a crimson lightsaber whip which pooled on the ground around him. He watched the beast’s movements intently, awaiting a moment where he could intercept the chain with his own whip.
How did he not get noticed?
Carmen stood almost a hundred feet down the tunnel, pressed up against the rough cave wall. Somehow, somehow the Krampus thing had just… walked right on past him. Now the sounds of combat rang through the cave, the monster apparently not only capable of speech, but wielding some sort of alchemically augmented chain or something. Slowly peeling himself away from the wall, Carmen considered jumping in to strike at its back buuuuut… well, he could just slip further in and say he just missed the thing, right? Slide in when the fight was over?
Silently motioning Bebe to follow, he scampered further down and took the first turn he could, pushing past a… door? A bulkhead door down here? Pushing inside, he froze again, sweeping his view across a piano, an entire dining room set, an insectoid dog as tall as he was, a lavish four poster bed…
Wait…
Carmen bairly managed to duck as the oversized Akk Dog clamped its jaws where his head was a moment before, and Bebes heavy durasteel arm clocked it, sending it rolling off to the side. Sparking his jetpack to make him slide across the floor, Carmen fired both of his wrist blasters at the creature, only to be dissappointed by some ineffectual scorch marks appearing on its thick carapace.
“What is going on in this place?!” He yelled as he ignited his own lightsaber to slash at the charging beast once more. It was then that he noticed the strange hunk of metal that looked vaguely in the shape of a horn tied to its head. With a squeal, he and the dog bounced off each other and smacked into a wall and a dresser respectfully.
“Carmen!” Bebe called over the din, “We can use this!”
Using his grapple line to throw a dining room chair into the creatures mouth, Carmen yelled back, “Not really my concern right now! Surviving!”
Stepping in between man and beast, Bebe allowed the dog to bite down on her torso in exchange for hitting it once, twice, thrice with her heavy limbs, punctuating each struke with a small burst of blaster fire.
“You’re a Jedi, Carmen, like it or not!” Bebes voice was becoming warbly, screeching, from all the damage she was taking, “You’re a slacker, but you still attend the academy!”
Carmen held his aim, trying to draw a bead past Bebe, when she wrenched the dogs jaws apart and booted it away, launching a rocket for good measure. Unfortunately, it lowerd its head and the small explosion was absorbed by the strangely indestructable horn.
“The frak do you mean a slacker! I know enough too…” Oh.
Whipping his grapple cord forward to grab Bebes back and pull her over, Carmen used the momentum to slide into the path of the charging animal, he extended two fingers and slashed them across its field of view.
“CALM. DOWN.”
Carmen almost couldn’t believe it when the creature stopped and sat, tongue lolling out of its mouth.
“Huh. That was easy.”
“I got you now.” Kalem said. He saw his chance and took it. Disengaging his lightsaber hooking it back on his belt, and leaping atop a nearby boulder in the same instant, he then jumped on the back of the large green furred beast. A beast with remarkably skinny legs Kalen noticed as he flew threw the are and onto the Krampus’s back. He locked in a rear named choke hold and began squeezing. And squeezing. But there was little to no give in the monsters muscular neck.
“Really?” The Krampus asked almost comically before running backways and slamming Kalen into the cliff face repeated until the Jedi released his hold, slumping down, nearly unconscious.
“Lets see how you do with projectiles.” Karracca said as he began hurling 100lb stones at the Krampus over and over, shattering a few against the back of the creature.
The creature let out a howl of pain and rage.
With strength amplified through the Force it swung the chain at blistering speeds. The metal smashed through the next several rocks Karracca had thrown, then hurtled towards the Wookiee directly.
The red beam of Hector’s lightsaber whip slammed into the chain, wrenching it safely to the side of his ally.
The Krampus snarled and yanked on the chain. The Clawdite held fast to his weapon but lacked the strength to compete with his quarry. He slid towards the Krampus, his boots carving a line across the ground of the cave.
Calling upon the Force, Hector sent the mystical energy across the length of his weapon. The whip erupted in mystical orange flame, its plasma blade heating up hotter and hotter. The chain it was connected to began to heat up as well, but the Krampus continued to pull him closer and closer.
He needed more.
Channeling even more energy through him the Clawdite felt an exhaustion set in. But the effort payed off. The orange flames burned ever brighter, heating to a brilliant blue. Heat shot down the metallic chain, burning the hand of the Krampus and causing it to hurl the weapon away with a growl.
Hopefully his allies could take advantage of the opening.
Kalen was busy shaking of what was likely a few cracked ribs and a grade concussion when he saw the black furred wookie who owed him a life debt dart out from behind a rock and launch himself right at the Krampus, focusing on grabbing ahold of the monsters thin spindly legs, wrapped his arms around both knee joints and driving his shoulder into the lower thigh.
After a few well timed yanks on his saber whip, the Clawdite and Wookie were able to bring the Krampus to the ground. It’s Beskar chain few out of his hand as he fell over the edge of a rocky crag on the side of the hill. He only fell about 15 feet, and landed on his back.
Karracca meanwhile had just managed to belly flop onto the rock that the Krampus had fell over. As he layed there and peered over the edge, he saw the Krampus stir and start to get back to his feet.
Just then, the Corra V roared over top of the mountain and side slid itself into a position where all of its main weapons could be brought to bare if needed. When the Krampus got to his feet and looked up at Hector and Karracca, one of the Ugnaught gunners manning the ventral Quad Laser cannon fire 4 laser bolts at the Krampus’s feet.
“Frick, alright, you got me.” The Krampus said as he put his hands up.
Kalen’s comm chirped. “Want me to put him down permanently boss?” Reece booped and beeped from the bridge of the ship.
“Reece wants to know if he should he shoot him!?” Kalen hollered from a vaguely seated postion at the base of the rock the Krampus had smashed him into, unable to see exactly what was going on. Every word caused sharp stabbing pains in the right side of his chest. Each time he stirred or tried to move he felt the same pain. And the headache was piercing.
“Nah, I think he’s surrendering. Have Reece keep guns on him though.” Karracca hollered from atop the nearby rock.
“Engh! No Reece, keep, target lock on him, though….ergh!” Kalen muttered.
“You doing alright Cap? Did you spring a leak or blow a circuit?” The R3
Asked.
Carmen strutted out of the darkness, his grapple line looped around the Akk Dog like a leash with Bebe, damaged, but not broken, lay on its back.
“HEY! I GOT YOUR DOOOOOOaww,” Carmens voice trailed off in dissapointment, “Alright, well, looks like everything’s already over.”
Turning his head, the Krampus’ face looked enraged enough to re-engage, air support or no.
“Max! What did you do to my dog, I’ll kill you!”
Carmen flicked out another Trick, just prodding the creatures mind enough to stun him for a moment, but not filling the space with a command.
“Relax, Tall-Dark-and-Scary, ‘Max’ is fine. He’ll continue to be fine if you shut up and listen.”
Krampus’ face didn’t get any less stormy, but he did at least sit back.
“So what do you want, then?” his voice was now a low, sullen rumble.
Carmen pulled Max forward, his attempt at seeming cold and cruel somewhat sullied by the dogs eagerness to heel.
“You, Krampus, are going to behave. You can stay here or move, but if I even catch word that you’re hanging around Hooville again, I’ll detonate the bombs I’ve got hidden around your house.”
There was only the one, but he didn’t need to know that.
“So, what, I leave or get kept up with all this racket? I’ve lived in this mountain for centuries before the first Hoo squalled its monthers name!”
“Yep!” Carmen said with a grin, regardless of his obscuring helmet, “Behave or leave. I don’t claim to be fair. If you want to move then there happens to be a freighter right there with a friendly pilot.”
He leaned to the side and cocked a finger gun at Kalen around Krampus’ side.
“Or we could just kill you and your dog. That was the order, after all. Contrary to popular belief, Jedi aren’t pacifists.”
“Or I’ll have my crazy droid blow up your cave from orbit…but I just don’t get it, why are you terrorizing these little Hoo’s, its obviously not much of a challenge for you.” Kalen said.
“Can’t you tell by looking at me? I’m a Grynchian, we can only avoid a constant state of deep depression by stealing the joy of others. I only mess with the Hoo’s just enough to state of full on brooding until next year.”
“What the frack are you even talking about? Have you even heard of that species?” Kalen asked, still wincing and nursing his ribs.
“Yeah, I’ve heard of them and his story tracks.” Karracca replied.
“Perhaps then, you could weaponize that necessity as a force for Order.” Hector joined in. “Work with the people of Hooville instead of against them. There is a historical precedent for deputizing criminals capable of martial combat, beings such as yourself. You could then steal the joy of those who indulge in criminal and destructive acts; allowing for you and Max to find a home within civilization.”
The Grynchian paused to give it a moment of thought. He could give Max a proper home. And address the needs of his species.
“And before you get any clever ideas,” Carmen interrupted with a wagging finger, “We will know if you start flattening Hoos for jaywalking or kidnap criminals for ‘creative’ punishments. That sound like a better deal than death or exile?”
Krampus squirmed, growled, and wrung his hands as he shifted his eyes between all his invaders, the ship, and his traitorous pet.
“Gruhhh, fine! You biting gnats have me dead to rights, here. I’ll be your pet lawman if you get out of my house… Any chance you’ll remove those bombs-”
Carmen finally removed his helmet and gave his most innocent and beauteous grin as he cut in, “Not a chance!”
Krampus huffed and began to lumber back into his home, over a dozen weapons trained on his back. Thankfully, as Carmen released Max and helped Bebe up, nothing untoward happened, heavy footsteps filling the cave.
“Right,” Carmen said, turning to the others, “We should probably leave before he sees what I did to his living room.”
“JEDIIIIII!”
Carmen and Bebe both sparked their jets and took off out the cave entrance.
“Nice to meet all of you! Good hunting!”
Kalen and Karracca and the less mobile members of the team hurredly boarded the Corra V and left the scene. Kalen later organized some discretionary funds to be sent to the Hoo’s to provide a small salary for the new Deputy Marshal Krampus.