Session export: LOST WORLD

They were in Star Commuter 2000. Jori the Chillaks turned on engines with Tajga sitting next to him… yes him - he was a part of the family, so he wasn’t “it” anymore.

Teenage female Shistavanen was wearing her headphones and listening to the Walkman, swaying at her seat from side to side to the rhythm “Walk with Dinosaur”.

Archian was sitting next to the window watching the ship slowly lifting through the Selen upper atmosphere, making him sleepy from calm breathing mixed with the snoring of Small One Jotaz at the Cargo area.

Young deaf Shistavanen Aksel was at the sit next to, attaching a new sprayed orange part looking eyes alike to his droid with curious Kaadu staring at it.

Red’s eyes started slowly to close, he lowered his round hat down in front of eyes to protect from the front window sunshine.

He lifted his head and looked again at black round Shista… “Archian!” Draagax’s head was attached to Aksel’s body, with a droid made entirely from the Relkass sentinel plant. “Archian!“ Head repeated and Archian woke up, staring into Jori’s open mouth roaring at him, pointing with his four arms at SISSMA research station.

It was just a nightmare from the past, which hopefully won’t come back. For now, they were almost at the mission assembly point, and kids were excited to visit the facility while he was gathering the intel and meeting alliances. Small One snored loudly from Cargo…

Starlynn stepped of of the transport shuttle into the SISSMA research station. She smoothed out the front of her robes, and straightened the bun she had put her hair up in. This was her first off world mission she had been selected for and she wanted to make a good first appearance. She. Made her way to the conference room and took a seat. It seemed she was early.

Leonidas arrived on a separate shuttle, striding off in confidence as he made his way to the conference room. He made sure his blade was secure in his waist sash and that his hair was properly pulled back. Leon’s vibrant red cloak seemed perfectly float behind with the pace he kept, secured to his chest armor with two electrum broaches.

The engines hummed as the Starlight flew across hyperspace nearing Selen. However, the only one keeping an eye on the ship’s bridge was a small blue-striped Lola droid. Meero was in the main hold talking to his sister through the holoterminal.

“So the news was true then?” The young Kushiban asked.

“Yeah. Some rich family on a yacht ended up on an island overrun by Nunas. I hear their daughter was injured but she’s fine.”

“That’s a relief at least…. That their daughter is safe. Not that she was injured.”

As the two Kushiban kept catching up, the doors to the bridge slid open and Lola hovered into the main hold. “Excuse me, you two!” The little droid beeped. “Meero, we’re coming up on Selen so we should be reaching SISSMA any time now.”

“Alright! Thank you, Lola!” Meero said with a smile. “Mind letting Asani know?”

“Sure thing!” The little blue droid then hovered away in the direction of Asani’s room.

Meero hopped off his chair, adjusted his glasses and began shutting down the holoterminal. “Well looks like I better get going. Talk to you later, Ali.”

“Alright! Be safe out there! Love ya, loser.”

The image faded away as the holoterminal completely turned off. Meero then headed towards the bridge and took the Starlight out of hyperspace. The little lagomorph could clearly see the research facility ahead so he began readying the ship for landing.

The small mandalorian was doing a quick pre-mission prep, checking her armor and gear as she usually did before every mission, when the little Lola droid managed to find her and float into her room.

“We should be landing any moment now!” the little droid beeped enthusiastically.

“Oh okay, thank you Lola.” Asani replied as she finished setting her gear up. Hopefully this would be an easy mission, in and out. No delays or distractions, and with some luck she’d make it back in time to watch something relaxing.

“So this is the place? It looks harmless enough.” she said to Meero as he and the facility came to view while she walked along the bridge, they had begun their descent by the time she had sat down waiting for the ship to land.

Esen looked out the thick window of the transport shuttle. Her foot tapped along the floor, as she chewed on her bottom lip.

A dark green medical bag lay at her feet. She considered checking all the items inside again for the quadruple time on the ride to Selen. She had everything she usually carried, yet one last check couldn’t hurt…

Her dark BD backpack droid, Vox popped his head over her shoulder producing a series of beeps and whirs.

She had taken the shuttle to Selen a many times. A frequent occurrence in her schedule, yet every time she dreaded the trip.

“No, not looking for him today.” She sighed, as she bent down and grabbed the bag, moving to a small table as she began to rummage. Taking a mental inventory.

“A mission today.” Vox produced another short series of beeps before receding back to his resting spot on her back.

The shuttle slowed to a halt, and a few moments later the doors slid open with a small click and a hiss. Other passengers began collecting their items and exiting.

Finishing her inventory check, no different than the other three times she had checked. She promptly zipped up the bag, gripped it firmly, and exited the shuttle.

A cool, unmoving mask plastered on her face. She didn’t think about her brother, not this time.

It’s easy to break in when you have a keycode to someplace.

Foxen ducks through the doorway, red eyes assessing the scene before him, a sprawl of predictability: object: person: Marelai, the matron half-rising from her spot on the couch with Marrien Moon, startled by the unannounced entrance. There is hope on her face. It falls in an instant, the expression that could have been if her son had never come home from his enlistment.

As it is, it’s the dear friend that is missing in action.

The woman knows by now not to bother overmuch with him, and merely says, “Oh, hello, Foxen, dear. If you’re here to see Jax, I’m afraid he’s heading…out. But there’s leftovers in the cryo…”

He knows. He’s seen the holos Jax sent, along with the candid and silly video of the process. Marelai walked him through a few simple dishes and a particularly ridiculous endeavor in cake decorating, which Jax proceeded to repeat in inadequate clothing coverage as part of a meme.

This is the scene: there is a welcome home cake laying untouched and put up, only due to the care of their friendly neighbor. There are stains on the table and the high chair, dishes in the sink, only the bottles cleaned and laid to dry haphazardly. Clothes are everywhere, and they belong to the formerly-away now-missing man; small nests of comfort for the two scent-first wolves of this den. He does not need to look in the trash to know it is going to be more full of empty cigarra packs of Kobign’s brand than it is of takeout food containers; he can smell it from the door.

His gaze cuts back to the sitter.

“Where is he.”

Marelai, being an astute specimen, has picked up a few basic signs around their family and clan. She points towards the bedroom. Foxen nods to her, then advances.

Pause.

- Walks over and touches Marrien’s cheek. The little girl grwos and nuzzles at his skin, gnawing in agitation. She is teething, and she misses her other father, and she knows his scent is one she is allowed to chew. His skin is thick enough to take it, and more alive than all her frozen rings.

“Be O.K,” he tells her, then pulls away.

The bedroom is, as predicted, a mess. Another story. More strewn clothes. A bed that has not been slept in in 3-4 days, once the fresh smell faded and relocation to the baby’s room was more desirable, most likely. Opened drawers and an open safe and weapons locker. A duffel on the floor, being actively packed.

His idiot fraking brother, tripping over a t-shirt, the manic darkness of over twenty four hours awake scrawled about his twitching eyes and his ears bent wing-like in agitation. He looks up sharply when Foxen enters, snapping his fangs, and the guilt only follows a whole 4.06 seconds later instead of instantly.

“Foxen?” he asks, and then, harsher, a bark, “I’m going.”

Jax knows. Just like Foxen knows.

“Deny.”

“Kobign is– I’m going.”

“You’re sitting the frak down is what you’re doing.”

“No, Thol.”

“Or I will make you.”

“That isn’t your decision to make–”

Explosive growling ensues as Foxen lunges forward and siezes the taller mammal by the shoulder/neck, pivoting and dropping to drive them to the carpeted floor. The struggle is brief as it is vicious. He has long been stronger than his brother, and a Jax running on a week of compromised sleep/diet and day of extreme stress + retirement life is not one that can wrestle him off like the last time they truly fought.

Also, he isn’t beating Kobign to a pulp this time. So there is that.

“LET GO, GET OFF!” Jax is snarling, roaring, struggling. Foxen’s forearms bleed, and he grunts, rears back with fistfuls of that beautiful copper-white hair, and slams the hybrid down harder. Three times.

- Marelai has come running, with a frying pan in one hand. Inadequate weapon. Doesn’t mean she isn’t a threat or tough as durasteel: she wields a warning and the crying, screaming seven-month old as a weapon.

“Boys! What are you doing?! Stop it! You’re scaring her! I will call the police!”

Jax goes limp quickly, with bad grace. He is vibrating with his fury, growling, choking on it, choking. Foxen lets go enough to grasp at the base of his skull instead, to give him room to move and breathe, and Jax grinds his face down into the carpet and sobs to choke it all back. His hand knots in his hair. He shakes.

Foxen squeezes, and Jax sobs again. It is not the right hand, the one meant to be in that spot, centering him, but it is all they have.

After a few minutes, Jax gets himself together enough to get up. To take Marrien Moon from Marelai and walk out of the room, to soothe her. Foxen stands and waves the matron off, if ignoring her angry, heavy look in favor of beginning to unpack Jax’s bag.

He has the entire room tidied, clothes sorted, bed made, and is warring with himself over not taking a cloth to dusting or finding the vacuum when his brother comes back. Jax takes one look around and sits on the bed.

With more bad grace.

Foxen crosses his arms.

“I can’t lose him, Thol.” Those big ears are bent in misery, a broken whine in his words. “I can’t. And I can’t do this– alone. Not like this. Perhaps if he. I-if he didn’t w-want us, if he wanted to leave, but not like– he’s my mate. I.”

“You are going to stay here. Listen. Listen.” Foxen crouched down, making sure Jax was watching his hands, his face. “I am going to bring him home for you.”

Jax’s jaw dropped. The shock splashed over his features was comical and also a knife to the heart. At least the guilt that came then was swift and soothing. The stubborn look though, that he could do without.

- “Thol– no, I can’t ask you two to do that–”

“Not asking.”

“What about Gai–”

“Don’t.” He put his other hand over Jax’s muzzle and shoved, physically pushing away the thought. “Don’t go there.”

“What about Gaile?” Jax argued, because of course he did. “You all just settled in–”

“I’m going alone.”

That brought Jax up short.

“You’re. What?”

“Flyndt will stay with Gaile. He’s having a flare. It will be fine.”

“Don’t lie to me, Thol.”

“I’ll come back. And I’ll bring your stupid traitor rat husband. You are NOT making Moo-Moo,” he made the baby’s name signs for a happy cow with an M, “an orphan, Irian. She isn’t losing both her fathers to this foolishness. So shut the frak up, do your goddamn dishes, rock the baby, and go protect MY Home while I’m gone getting yours. Understand?”

Ugh of course there’s hugging, ugh.

But it is acceptable. And he is squeezing Jax back hard enough that he hears his spine creak. It’s hard to let go.

But here’s the thing:

Someone has to.

The sheer slab of basalt and granite that was Foxen Erinos stood with his back against the wall in the appointed debriefing room on the SISSAM station. Unblinking crimson eyes dissected and catalogued each new arrival as object: person and their relevancy. A Miralukan adolescent, the first one in aside from himself and Socorra. The Galeres Quaestor’s aide-de-camp, with his nauseating fashion and infantile airs. The two projectile-sized lagomorphs, one unfamiliar, one recognized as a former mission asset and reasonably competent, also related to object: person: Sofila Armis. A Zeltron female with medical equipment. The arrivals went on.

The body waited, primed and outfitted for tactical flexibility. And if the hand gripped at the chest when noticing the L0-LA droid, well–

*“Hate this,” Flyndt brrrt’d into his neck, talons gripping tight to shoulders. He pulled back to smash their foreheads together, beak clacking, feathers furrowed flat. “Should be going with you. What if?”

“It will be O.K.”

“I hate this,” he repeated, a miserable warble. Because for so long it had been about finding Gaile, had been them for that purpose, and now the Mission was unknown. Because Gaile was here, and now Foxen was going. Because they both needed him, and he was having to choose between his brother and Foxen.

Foxen had sworn he would never, never make his Home make that choice. And he hadn’t. He’d asked Flyndt to let him do this alone.

They both knew that wasn’t enough. It didn’t stop the thoughts. It didn’t not make this a choice.

“I love you,” Foxen told him. “Ner Círis. I’ll come back. I’ll be back. I’ll never leave you until you tell me to go, do you understand?”

“Bapti,” Flyndt snapped, and kissed him, clinging tight. “Love you also. Promise. You promise, you come back. Or I come after. O.K.?”

“O.K. I swear, ner ka'ta.”

Okay.

Okay.*

–but it’s not their Lola droid and he is not with Home. He has a mission to bring back his idiot brother in law.

So, waiting.

Socorra was still conflicted, even with all the time that had passed.

Yes, Jax and Kob had been pardoned. No, she still hadn’t been given her job back.

She’d done exactly what they trained her for- a decade of it drilled into her bones, beaten into her until it was instinct. She had taken it up as her own crusade as Director of the DIA, a position she had all but lived in long before it had ever been made official.

And for doing her job, Socorra had been fired. While they, traitors to everything they stood for, were pardoned.

Even now, despite everything, after all this time, she remained unemployed. While she had hated budget meetings with a passion, it weighed heavy not being able to dictate direction of the agency. Enemies still in the wild. Plans, strategies, and methods unexplored. There was still so much left in her perfect memory bank that would never see a digital database, things she could never trust anyone else with.

On one hand, she was furious- furious for that, furious at having to go save Kob’s shebs after what he did, after what he did to Jax even if willing. Furious Jax had been willing.

Furious especially after Kob gave her up to the Collective and all the hell that had caused.

But on the other hand… she never wanted to see Jax like that again. And their little girl. And the whole Mando thing and Arconans and trying to be a better person, and kark. It would be taken care of one way or another even if the woman had to do it her karkin’ self.

Socorra cradled her helmet and gave Foxen a one-eyed glance between arrivals they both were analyzing. The fact that either was there said enough. She too had a little one at home. Dressed in full beskar’gam, a messy child-like tassel dangling just so from the chestplate with a shiny sparkly sticker that was so stuck it would likely last planetary apocalypse, and Olys Guerlle in hand - a spear not drawn since the last war - she was clearly not there for funsies.

Tahiri sat in the co-pilots seat of her Star Courier, reading and mulling over what little details were given in the report on her data pad. Meanwhile her pilot droid, Max, maneuvered the shuttle into docking with the SISSMA research station.

Once docking procedures where complete and her droid had declared that everything was set, the petite Togruta stood and walked toward the docking doors, mentally doing a quick check of her equipment before the doors to the station opened.

Zuska, her Vornskr, padded alongside her, as they both were led to the meeting room. As Tahiri thanked the attendant and then stepped through, she quickly glanced around to see who all had come. Instantly she recognized a few familiar faces, however one stood out more than the others.

Foxen!

The thought had barely registered within her own mind, before she reflexes kicked in and she threw down her left hand, splaying her fingers out. The sleek Vornskr immediately halted in the doorway. A faction of a second mental command from his Alpha and he stepped back out into the hallway and sat on his hunches to the side of the door. A small huffed whine escaped him before the doors shut, vocalizing his displeasure at being told to wait outside.

Tahiri heard Hadzuska’s displeasure and felt bad, but she didn’t need Foxen getting upset. Making a mental note that she’d make sure he got a special treat for behaving afterwards. Hoping that Foxen had not noticed much of what just transpired, she waved and flashed a quick smile, before nodding acknowledgement to the others while leaning against the same wall as Foxen, as her body did not feel ready to sit down back down yet.

The visage of a human male with neatly kept stubble and a scar across the bridge of his nose appeared. He ran a cybernetic hand through the loose curls on top of his head before clearing his throat.

“Forty-three ABY, Helona Twenty-six. SISSMA Exploration Mission: Cypress IV Settgré - Log Entry One”

“Vessel breached atmosphere at ten forty-seven to a welcome sight of expansive ocean, confirming the orbital planetary preliminary scans. Plans remain to proceed forth in collecting atmospheric and oceanic samples —”

“…an undetected island spotted off the starboard side of the craft. The pilots, Matuu and Styth, are bringing us around for closer examination…Island is approximately one-thousand six-hundred seventy square kilometers according to a scan done at altitude forty-thousand meters. Lush green vegetation appears to cover the majority with barren rocky mountains.”

There’s a brief lull in the recording, with Kobign leaning back from the terminal to listen to the assumed ramblings of one of the researchers. Several other inaudible voices are heard in various states of clinical steady or excitement. Settgré returned his attention back to the recorder.

“Dr. Feldspa notes possible signs of volcanic formation of the island, steep slopes, what may be a caldera lake and topographic signs of lava deltas along the coast. Her cursory hypothesis based on aerial view is that there’s a volcanic complex system. Further examination needed to determine formation and mineral composite of the land.”

”Vessel dropping altitut— ssssh crrssh—”

The feed flickers and distorts as the audio cracks and breaks. A slight furrow of his brow a few seconds into the distortion indicated the man had started to notice some effect on the tech but not processed it yet.

“more scans…seeking place to— brzzzt sssh…*”

The holo transmission cuts out.

Blue and grey lights flashed like lightning discharged accompanied by cracks and pops. The image would stabilize, if barely, for a couple seconds, flickering with warbled and garbled audio. The half-selenian’s visage would fade in and out, gone more than it was visible. He looked rough compared to the initial message. His stubble thicker and unkept, a scrape on his cheek and the possible sign of bruising around his left orbital socket. A time stamp at the bottom listed:

43 ABY, Helona 31 19:29

Over five days has passed since the first recording. The audio crackled into bits that was somewhat audible.

Pssssaaat crnkllsht psssshtT—”ello? Can…” hsssshhrhh bzzssh— “Senth Senth Mern Aurek team…”

Settgré appeared to doubt the clarity of his message, using Basic aurebesh script to spell out SISSMA. The light from the holo cuts out nearly completely, leaving strangled audio continuing.

”…Cypress—” grrgrl rtzzz…“— five…dead, hosti—”

Brshhh crnkle pop— “Requeshhhhhngrn…extracttshzzz…..”

The feed falls silent and the room dim again.

Esen stood feet shoulder width apart, her hands rested together behind her back. Vox, her droid peek silently over her shoulder as they both watched the transmission.

She ran her fingers back, across her slicked back hair when the transmissions finished.

“How many days ago was the second transmission? Five dead. That’d leave 21. From what I could make out he seemed to be saying hostiles and was potentially requesting extract.”

“Five days and five deaths.” She muttered to herself, doing mental math.

“Here’s hoping some are left by the time we get there.”

She exhaled a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

Starlynn raised her hand before speaking “Is the ship equipped with proper medical facilities? It sounds as if we could be needing to treat a large number of survivors and a place to act as a temporary mourge to return the deceased remains to their families.”

“What about preservation pods in case we can bring back any samples of the local Flora and Fauna?” Starlynn perked up ant the thought of discovering a new species or plant.

“And if the survivors have turned hostile?” she wanted some clear instructions in case things went sideways. They usually did once panic set in for some. That is if they were lucky enough to survive considering they were now targets to some unknown entity.

“What puzzles and concerns me is the equipment not working around this planet…” the little lagomorph said while going over the recordings in his head. “Expeditions such as these have been done countless times. The equipment should be functioning just fine. Why does it simply drop dead? Jammers perhaps? Maybe someone doesn’t want trespassers?”

“DENY,” Foxen seemed like a statue suddenly animated, his hands cutting sharp as his knives, slashing the air. He finger spelled, knowing the droid would not understand a name sign, “K-O-B-I-G-N is not to be harmed. If you hurt him, regardless of condition, I will stop or kill you. Stun if you must, but any damage will be returned.”

Red eyes pinned on the female rabbit, having worked with her before, knowing she would know he meant what he said.

<@142850390738731009>

The Nautolan grunted. “Others irrelevant. Dispose of at will.”

“Any threats to me or mine will be returned in kind.” The Mandalorians helmet betrayed her gaze up at the gesturing man, her tone continued steady without emotion.

“I will do my best to secure your assets. I make no promises for their condition. If none are found, we’ll unfortunately be forced to return.” the posibility of the survivors having perished was also something she was concerned about.

Foxen tipped his horns in Asani’s direction, silent acknowledgment of like to like. Then he addressed the other Kushiban’s theorizing.

“Should be able to detect a jamming frequency being in use. Is there anything particular about the planet’s magnetosphere that could be warping transmission?”

That answer troubled Meero even further. “Hmmm… that’s a problem. We’re going in completely blind and our own equipment dropping dead will make search and rescue more difficult.”

“I am going regardless,” Foxen stated, expression still immobile as a mountain, gestures flat. He turned to Tahiri. “You brought your hound, confirm? Can it track a scent?”

The transmissions weren’t good, nor were they completely bad, at least they showed that there were survivors. Tahiri, still listening and watching everyone, contemplated the couple ways that this could go down…

Worse case scenario they’d be bringing back mostly dead, possibly a few survivors alive, all the while their own party may have casualties as well. Best case and most, if not all of them would make it back, along with most of the remaining survivors, especially the one Foxen seemed to be adamant about bringing back.

Noticing that Foxen had turned towards her, she pulled herself out of contemplation and listened to what the interpreter droid said, while watching hulking man sign.

“Yes, I’ve brought Zuska. He’s outside at the moment,” she tilted her head towards the door, as she didn’t want him to wonder where her pet was at. “And yes he is a very good tracker. If you have something of Kobign’s that we can use, Zuska will be able to find him.”

<@244244163002892288>

“Confirm,” Foxen said, and pulled out a length of soft, heathered tan and checkered blue. The scarf had some worn edges and frayed tassels, and a lot of tiny new holes from Marrien Moon, but it was still solid.

It was the last item Jax had that was the most “potent” for this trip. He’d been saving it, as was the couple’s little system; when they had to be apart, Kobign would leave things that he’d worn beforehand for the express purpose, and they’d put them up. Jax would take an item out and keep it until the smell faded, then use the next, rationing the precious connection like a starving man might his meager food.

The Nautolan handed it over, nodding to Tahiri, and held her gaze and hand a brief moment to communicate his seriousness.

When he released her hand, he signed again.

“Will do my utmost not to hurt your dog in particular. But cannot guarantee its protection. Error could occur. Triggered. Combat. Et cetera. I am sorry. However: we must save K-O-B-I-G-N. He is J-A-X’s family, and therefore mine and yours through B-R-I-L. Confirm.”

Just outside the door, a soft, crooning trill rose, somewhere between a purr and a rasp. Not long after, Nhar’quis slinked in through, wings tucked neatly to his sides. The runt Socorran sand dragon’s gait was smug, almost proud.

He slipped around the door frame and coiled lazily around Tahiri’s leg, nuzzling her purposely on the completely opposite side of where Foxen was.

“Mhm,” Socorra muttered under her breath at her tailring, dryly amused. Little osik.

Nhar’quis chirped again, unbothered. He liked the Togruta and her brood. He gave a brief sniff toward the hallway door, where Hadzuska’s low whine had faded. Socorra swore he looked pleased with himself, as if the runt had played a game with him and won.

He probably had; winning a game against a vornskr usually meant not getting eaten.

<@375384499770359819>

Socorra’s mind flipped through the banked dossiers of the gathered group and turned her one pale arctic blue eye towards Foxen. Her expression was flat, unreadable, her voice matter of fact.

“Will you lead t’is group down t’ere?”

She did not ask if he wanted to. She did not ask for a volunteer, and even as experienced as the Elder and retired Herald was, she still asked Foxen.

Socorra knew her strengths. But also, the Nautolan would search for Kobign regardless of the other possible survivors and their situations. He would curtail the mission and the group towards his one singular purpose.

That, at least, made him predictable.

That question gave the massive hybrid a whole 3.7 second pause. Red eyes slashed up and down Socorra, lingering an extra heartbeat with calculatingly lethal intent on her tailring, before fixing on that lone arctic orb.

“I’m not J-A-X,” he stated. “They will not follow. I will not suffer a war on two fronts with this many unknown variables.”

Even as he said as much – gesturing with emphasis to Asani as he indicated the group as a whole – there was something there that the ever-invading Socorran could detect. To her senses it was like a faint flash of sunlight, the glint off a knife, the slice of a wing through cold air. And with it was a deep and fathomless black exhaustion, crushing and breathless as the ocean floor where no light had ever reached. Tired was an understatement, but it was touched by a feather of hope.

She would faintly hear Flyndt’s voice, before a sudden wall slammed down:

“…give chance to find more…I did…”

Outwardly, Foxen’s hand twitched knife-ward. He curled his lip slightly back at Socorra, bearing two rows of sharp teeth, and his shoulders slumped 0.6 mm in defeat.

“If the others listen I will lead, assuming competent performance/ability remains over 70%>”

<@142850390738731009> <@691024797659955210> <@490928122544259102> <@375384499770359819> <@267489687902486530>

“T’e 70% t’at would read, respond, get here, and not run off after brief are already here. Odds are we have team.”

She turned to the others.

“What say you?”

Archian didn’t say anything, he had suspicions and intuition was telling him that no civilization means something more dangerous that usual sapient enemies. When the briefing was over, there was a knocking at the door - one in the middle, other lower to the right. Higher knocking could be recognised as a rhythm to the theme from the “Extreme Dinosaur” series, when the other one was a morse code for “Open the door, please.”

The electric doors slid to the side, opened by an unknown but friendly researcher passing by. Two young Shistavanen started running with the younger one making noise sounding like “Uncle Foxen!”

The black and brown 40 kg mass of fur launched and hung to the Nautolan’s chest, while Tajga hugged him at his side, still listening to the rock theme in her headphones.

Archian couldn’t stop himself but smiled, and then looked at the door where a large front limb stopped it from closing and the eye of Jotaz stared at everyone with Kaadu’s head squeezing beside it, looking for their friends.

Jotaz stared and looked at Red.

“Better I feed them before we leave.” Shistavanen nodded with his canine snout.

Waiting to see if he was ‘appointed’ as a leader of the ground team while calculating every second and possibility between him and rescuing his no good traitor rat occasionally not terrible brother in law was certainly a time to be tackle-hugged.

However: the distinct knocking patterns had forewarned him of who was coming, as had the shouts of his name and the endearment. Such was that his hands did not draw any knives, and that the body was braced, which was always beneficial for Aksel doing a cannonball into one’s gastrointestinal tract.

While they were no trouble for him to lift or catch, and Mandalorian still grunted, vocalizing so that they would know they were being greeted, Tajga hearing as much and Aksel feeling the vibrations. Foxen put one arm around the teenage Shistavanen girl and used the other to hook under Aksel’s legs and lift him up fully. Arms wrapped around his head/neck/headtails as the younger boy furiously rubbed cheeks and headbutted him.

Hands both busy, Foxen grunted again, making his face deliberately into a smile for each before his expression once again became stone to the others.

Hearing Rhylance’s dismissal the Zeltron turned, she wanted to go through all her items once again, and any last minute preparations. Maybe a quick bite to eat if there were time. She’s been on missions with indefinite times. Getting a good portion of nutrients and calories in ahead of time was key.

However, it seemed her team was casting a vote on who should be the appointed leader.

She knew her place. She is disposable. Her opinion, and vote means nothing. She just tries to be the good little soldier she was molded to be. She was not apt to vote.

Instead, she gives a single slight chin dip, looking to each person,

“My skills and equipment are at your disposal.”

Another single chin dip, before slinking back to prepare.

Upon hearing the dismissal Asani looked to Meero signaling it was time for them to go. “The sooner we leave the sooner we get back home.” she stated to him, her tone tired. This was more complicated than she had wanted it to be. The Zeltron caught her attention “What are your skills?” The Mandalorian asked trying to figure out the best way to go about finding what they needed, they had a tracker already no need to linger when they were wasting time. She signaled as if to let the zeltron know to walk and talk their way toward their transportation. “If you’ve got anything to do before we go, now’s the time. Otherwise I think we’re prepared and need to leave.”

Esen stiffened slightly at the mandalorians approach. Mission. It’s a mission. Remember.

“Medical care on the field, Ma’am.”

“In the off chance I am incapable via incapacitation, death, or other means, Vox is equipped with a stim pack dispenser.”

She bit back the urge of mentioning she was ready, just her overthinking anxiety refuses to let her sit still until showtime. Instead, she gave another swift chin dip in acknowledgment.

“Good, focus on your strengths.” She’d continue to walk, perhaps too fast for the Zeltron to keep up with if she didn’t try, the small mando would be out of earshot pretty fast, heading towards the ship. Either she was eager to start or eager to fight, either way there was some enthusiam there.

Starlynn stood up from her chair. “I am also skilled at healing through use of the Force. As for who leads us, I have full faith that the experience in this room will be enough to keep us safe and make the best decisions.”

Seeing as Asani and Meero had already entirely left, and two answers were neutral at best if not negatives, Foxen shook his head at Socorra. He let go of the children to state:

“They will not follow,” he repeated, predicting both generally and much more so certain in regards to himself. “Leave it.”

Esen kept her head locked straight, with a neutral expression. Staying silent as she moved into a force march, keeping up with the Mandalorian, as they move onto the ship.

Having heard Esen talking about her medical knowledge Starlynn quickly followed her toward the ship. “Excuse me! She tried to get her attention. "I was wondering if we would have a chance on the flight to share some medical advice. Im Padawan Starlynn.” She said extending her hand out.

Esen stopped her stride, did a quick about turn, peering at the Padawan behind her.

“Esen Dulle. Of course, anything in particular you wished to discuss?” She shook the offered hand firmly.

Archain came closer to Foxen and Socorra and nodded to them. “You two, go find Jori, time to go home.” Both teenagers started complaining and slacking, but after giving hugs to both the female human and Nautolan, they followed four arms of a fluffy pilot.

“And you.” Archian turned to Foxen. “I got your back and you have my paw.” After that he followed snores of Jotaz to feed him in the Cargo area.

“Hrm,” Foxen replied, red eyes flicking over Archian, Tahiri, and Socorra. Even if the rabbits and other medics had run off, these three would be adequate and dependable. Perhaps he would not have to drag Kobign out of a trench by himself after all. “Confirm, all of you. Proceed.”

They followed, and the Nautolan spared what might have been a judgemental look for the Galeres aide-de-compc’s floating cape.

<@395091612952297484>

Leonidas cocked an eyebrow upon receiving the look from the Nautolan. He then looked around the briefing room to make sure he was the last one out. “It would be best to save your judgements until they are needed. Unless you are trying to do an impression of Quaestor Kendis, then you’d be giving him a run for his money.”

A single raised middle finger was stuck out to the side, Foxen not bothering to look back, in answer to that statement. Nobody who made their cape float to a mission briefing got an opinion.

“Anything really.” Starlynn perked up at the opportunity to possibly learn more. “I haven’t had any experience outside of clinicals and medical facilities. This will be my first time getting out into the field. Im a nervous wreck but still excited to actually be out there.”

Leon chuckled and followed, “Charming.” His cape still seemed to float behind him.

As Meero followed the rest of the group towards the ship, his little Lola droid flew out of his pocket.

“I dunno, Meero.” She beeped nervously. “I have a bad feeling about this. Are you sure you’ll be fine?”

The little lagomorph smiled and booped his droid companion on what would be her nose. “Don’t worry, Lols. I’ll be fine. It’s just a search and rescue. Besides, Asani will be with me so I’m sure we’ll be ok. I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Alright then… you better. If you die out there I’m gonna kill you.”

“I know. I know.” Meero giggled. “And hey you’ll be in charge of the ship while I’m gone. Just don’t give Doc a hard time, alright?”

“No promises~” the little droid then hovered away in the direction of the Starlight.

Esen looked at the padawan, her eyes alit with a small sparkle. Starlynn reminded her of herself when she was first starting.

Releasing a small sigh, “Alright. Probably the best thing I can tell you, stay calm. The wounded life will be in your hands, and keeping a level head is for the best.”

“I’ll be out there with you. A few other members from the crew also have medical training, if you need anything.”

A small pause as her mind spiraled. Starlynn’s first mission on the field. Esen wished she could say everything will be okay, non of that is certain.

“Are you prepared? Have everything you need?” A small genuine smile spread its way across her face.

Mist had fallen over the vegetation sparse ground, the sky overcast. It was damp still after the earlier rainfall that did little to decrease the humidity. The ash laden dirt had turned to mud and the rocks slick. Kobign Settgré slowly turned away from peering around the overhanging boulder they had found cover beneath, trying hard not to think about what happened yesterday.

“Hey…”

He whispered, peering down at the crop of mulberry hair beside him. The young Selenian researcher had crumpled into the spot when they arrived, tired and exhausted. Their head was hanging down, chin to their chest unconscious. Their skin was so pale their stripes nearly blended in. Kobign’s gaze glanced at the heavy bandaging around their thigh, thickly packed into the gauge of a chunk missing from it. He nudged them again and shook them slightly.

“Hey, Bavru, come on, kid. Stay awake for me, eh? I’m gonna collect some of that holey rocks, make a fi—”

“It’s called pumice…vesicular glass…Feldspa would have your head…” Jalu Bavru interjected as expected, their voice raspy. Blue eyes did meet his own though as the young adult lifted and leaned their head back against the rock, both of them exhaling.

Kob swallowed with a wince of a smile, thinking of the geologist “Yeah…yeah she would have.”

He took one final glance at the other Selenian, then the communication array sitting nearby before he moved to leave. The chirps and chitters of the wildlife all seemed to dim as a croaking call rose over the rocky barren land and the forest below. Everything stilled, the land, his breath. Only the low growl of the red and tan cythraul at his feet urged him to move, a hand directing Canchi to stay and be quiet. Bavru shifted more upright and drew their good leg in with a terrified look upon their face. .

Seconds passed, then another call that sounded like a choking speeder engine. All hopes that the pack would have turned away satisfied from their meal were dashed. It sounded closer, too close.

Then, silence.

Settgré slowly exhaled his breath and dared to peer around the rock. Nothing moved over the landscape. When he turned back, he caught sight of Canchi looking up, the scrawny cythraul’s lip curled back. A dust of soot and small chips of stone fell from above. The tip of a scale-covered snoot poked out from above the boulder for what felt like an eternity until finally disappearing. Talons scratched against the rock as the beast left and called to its pack, the noises drifting farther away.

For now.

The seven hour flight had left much time to prepare. During that time, Foxen had explained to Tahiri that Kobign had his Cythraul with him, and if the man and animal were both still alive, one would be with the other. Also that Canchi was trained as a military assistant hound, and so could be relied on to follow basic commands, swim with assistance, and attempt rescues.

This debrief turned into a slightly larger one, as he additionally explained that his own ability to communicate would be hampered once they no longer had a translator droid to relay on on the move. Socorra pointed out it would be smart to at least attempt showing the others the Erinos’ Mandalorian hand signals, which weren’t a full sign language nor the Sign Foxen spoke, but would serve basically for directions on the battlefield.

Begrudgingly, Foxen agreed, and the two attempted to share with the menagerie at hand. Whether or not they would listen or retain anything was up to them.

He also saw fit to advise at that time:

“K-O-B-I-G-N is a fraking idiot,” he told the lot. “If there are others in danger he will attempt to assist them as priority over his own well-being. He is also…” teeth grit, hands halting in their motions, “intelligent and clever. Likely suspect he would be trying to find some way to communicate, go to high ground, or otherwise sacrifice himself for the needy. Suggest we assume worst case scenario and operate accordingly. Hostile takeover from another source, perhaps, Children, Collective, pirates, slavers, et cetera.”

Earlier:

When Foxen had signed about doing his best not to hurt Zuska, she appreciated the gesture, and had smiled, tipping her head in a small bow.. then awkwardly, in the best way she could while trying to get her hands and fingers to configure properly, she signed back.

“Confirm.”

“I understa-” the petite Togruta was cut off by the feeling of something wrapping around her leg, something warm. Looking down, her first thought was to scold the Tailring, as she thought that Eeth'Mireth had somehow stowed away. The Elder was rather confused and taken aback by the fact that it was a male Tailring wrapped around her leg, rather than a female. Glancing toward the door and then back at him, she could feel the emotions of both the Tailring and her Vornskr, and became amused.

The rest of it was all a blur now. She had missed a small bit of the following convo between the woman named Socorra Erinos and Foxen, looking back up when she had heard the droid say something about "competent performance/ability remains over 70%". She had nodded to Socorra’s question, but whether that was caught or not, was up in the air as two children had barreled in. A smile tugged at her cheeks as she watched the hulking hybrid with them, even cocking an eyebrow as she saw his smile. Then watched as the Zelton, the two little lagomorphs, and the other medic left for the transport.

The Togruta had gently detangled the little male Tailring from her leg and held him in one arm, while following the rest of the group to the transport ship silently. Zuska had snuffed at the little companion she had gained, before padding along close beside her.

Present:

She had checked her gear and stayed mostly quiet, listening and watching everyone, wondering how this was going to go. While she was confident in her own abilities and that of Foxens, she knew next to nothing, except what everyone’s dossiers said, although she didn’t have to look up hulking Mandalorian’s info. Tahiri was now carefully repeating the signs that she was shown by Foxen and Socorra, making sure that she could do them properly with both hands, just in case. Now that she felt more confident in the signs and watching him more, she motioned for Foxens’ attention, to sincerely repeat the sign she’d studied from earlier.

“Confirm. Save mine and yours.”

“I understand and am with you all the way. Also, I need to ask… if you are alright with it… if we get separated and I happen to find Kobign and Canchi before you and I’m able to… would you be alright with me contacting you through telepathy?” She was slightly hesitant to ask as Bril had mentioned that the hybrid wasn’t too keen on certain abilities of the Force. “I understand if you don’t wish to allow that, some find it too evasive. Which is why most of the time I ask before attempting a connection, except in extreme cases.”

While she waited for his answer, Tahiri briefly glanced over to check on Zuska and Nhar’quis, the former moving his tail in such a way as to entice the latter to attack. When that happened he’d place a paw on the little Tailrings head, or wing, or tail and give a triumphant huff, before releasing the squawking little runt. Although every time Nhar'quis managed to evade the paw, he’d puff up his chest, and make a triumphant croon himself.

<@244244163002892288> <@141239709291511808>

Meero’s ears began flicking as alarms rang across the ship, and his yellow eyes darted across the control console seeing everything quickly lose power. “Oh kark… This is exactly what I was afraid of.”

The little pilot began pushing buttons, pulling levers, throwing switches, anything he could think of to activate any of the ship’s emergency systems but nothing worked. A crash was unavoidable. All they could do was manually maneuver the ship so everyone would survive it.

“Asani I’m going to need your help to keep us leveled. Everyone strap yourselves in! We’re going down!”

Seeing the tree lines quickly get closer and closer, Meero took a deep breath and began to manually angle the ship to keep it as steady as he could.

Alarms rang, lights flickered, they were loosing power and going down. She reacted as they had practiced, moving as he did to attempt to restore the ships power with what he had taught her. She pulled levers and flicked switches on her side, anything to help but it seemed they weren’t about to get anything to work as it should.

“Got it!” she replied upon hearing his request to help level the ship, hopping back up, hands on the controls, at least if they were going down they could try to minimize the damage to the ship. She helped keep the angle as steady as possible eyes darting between the ground and her captain. They just had to land, even if it was a crash, it could be salvaged, the damage could be minimized they could do it.

Realizing that Meeronand Asani were trying to save them all, Starlynn set down cross legged on the floor. Focusing her will through the Force she directed it at the two pilots trying to help improve their coordination with each other to save the ship

Of course everything goes to shit before they even make planetfall, because of course it does.

Fraking Kobign.

Everything went dark, the hum of electronics dying, leave void space in their ears quickly replaced by the sounds of rushing air from outside the cabin and the Kushibans’ warnings to hold on as they entered a steep dive, stomachs rising to throats and feet lifting off the decks.

Equipment not strapped down, though it wasn’t much on a military-resesrch vessel, flew about. Inertia and momentum threw their bodies. Many managed to grab onto straps or twist out of the way, but Tahiri, diving instead to hold on to her hound than any emergency holster like a sensible object:person, went tumbling through the cabin.

Gritting his teeth, Foxen snapped out an arm and grabbed onto her, his other hand in a flight strap, and pulled, flexing his bicep to reel her and the mutt back in. They were not heavy, but he was fighting gravity and acceleration, and it was with a mighty heave that he clutched the Togruta – and Zuska, when her grip started to fail for the same reasons – to his body, turning and using his bulk as a brace to hold them against the wall of the ship.

3.4 seconds, 5 seconds, 9.01 seconds…

They leveled, and abruptly, again, everything shifted. Objects and bodies slammed about, but a quick assessing glance revealed little damage. Another warning shout, the female Armis, and from the corner of his eye he witnessed the Miraluka adolescent drop down at the front of the cabin and hold still the way jediit only did when they were focusing on using some power. He could only guess at what it might be in this case, as Meero and Asani began to move with a new level of synchronization as their tiny bodies yanked at the yokes with all their might.

- Then, out the viewport: clouds, trees below, then rock and impact, a glancing blow. There was a ripping sound of metal, though no gaping holes suddenly appearing to suck them out. Rather, another collective shout, and some hissing sound from somewhere that most everyone seemed to ignore in the multitude of Things Going to Shit noises like rattling and roaring air resistance and multiple people talking about what to do and suchlike. Foxen noticed, though, and Archian’s nose scrunched, and across the mangled cabin object:Esen Duelle stiffened and sniffed, opening her mouth, looking towards the medical bay.

“I– does anyone smell that? That’s nitrous oxide!” At the general lack of concern given crashing actively, the medic added, urgent, “We use it to sedate patients minorly. Wherever the leak is, if we breathe it in, we’ll be knocked unconscious.”

God*dammit* Kobign.

Calculations and code cascaded in the Mandalorian’s mind. He flashed a hand signal, one that meant RETREAT, and then pointed at the rear hatch, miming a diving motion with his hand. The medic stared at him a moment, shocked, before her face hardened into a mask and she nodded. But then a look back at the Kushibans and Starlynn.

“He’s saying to bail out!”

“Then we’ll go last,” Meero called back, resolute. “I’ll keep the ship as level as I can for all of you!”

“We can’t just leave you–”

- “Confirm,” Foxen was already signing to exactly leaving them. He yanked a breath mask off his belt and dug into his pack, already striding towards the cockpit, that faintly cloying sweet taste on his tongue a warning. Each bump and shake of the ship threatened to throw him, and he felt a helpfully – if unwanted – stabilizing telekinetic push from somewhere behind. Grabbing on to the copilot chair, the Nautolan hybrid reached around and roughly strapped the mask over Asani’s face, its fit nearly too large for her, having to yank the straps to their limit. Meero was next, and then with their flight at least semi-secured, retreated to the rear cabin.

“I’ll stay,” Leonidas volunteered, watching Foxen bull about. He sat down beside Starlynn, a show of solidarity, and translucent coronas of light appeared around the four of those protecting the flight. “We leave no man or woman behind.”

Foxen waved him off, already waving to Tahiri, Socorra, and Archian. The Shistavanen was, smartly, putting on climbing claws. Foxen gestured FORWARD and WITH ME and pointed at the manual release hatches for the exit ramp. Without any electricity, it would be manual. He gripped one, then pointed again at the other. Both Socorra and Tahiri lifted their hands, focusing their will on it, and together they pulled the hatch open enough to fit through bodies, the rush of air whipping and cutting, branches and blasting heat and damp even through their armor/helmets, distant cries claimed by the scream of wind going over 100kpm. They gathered to judge the distance/conditions while the ship dipped and swerved as their pilots did their best to compensate for the air pressure change through the cabin.

“I go last, oye,” Socorra proclaimed, accent fuzzed out through her helmet. Red eyes flicked over her suit, noting the bulky seals and comparing the modifications to his memory files of her armor. “Help best can float you all down, sah? Tahiri?”

“I can also,” confirmed the Togruta.

-

Foxen grunted, reaching out to grip Socorra’s shoulder, ripping off the beloved tassel there.

Then he threw her out of the ship.

She would be fine, 89.6% likelihood. But devastated if the fall damaged Tur'haya’s mark. He zipped it into the protected pouch of his bag then motioned at Tahiri and her hound.

It was simple: take him. Because they needed the damn dog.

Understanding flashed feral in yellow-on-black eyes, and Zuska levitated in her mental grip while Foxen grabbed her. He noted Archian preparing his own leap with climbing claws at the ready, and as the bottom of the ship expertly, miraculously skimmed over treetops, the Shistavanen jumped.

Foxen tipped back too, activating the wings of his jetpack as they cleared the doorway.

Moments before the crash…

A dirt covered thumb rubbed over a grey-tan sandstone charm bracelet, smearing grime across the silhouette of a quadrupedal aquatic mammal. The half-Selenian stared at it where he sat on top of a boulder, the space around it long since fading out of focus. The blood and mud heavy and crusted as it dries. A cold brush of a nose and several licks of his hand elicited a shuttered inhale. A longer exhale, deep and tired.

“Canchi,” Kobign murmured, a calloused hand wiping his face. He shifted to give the cythraul scratches, who leaned against him silently. They sat there, looking out across the forest canopy and watching the sun rays slowly chase away the night. To give what barely felt like a reprieve with each passing day.

At some point, he swore he saw a dark speck out among the orange-hued sky. His brow furrowed as he squinted, trying to discern if what he spotted was real, creature or figment of his wishful thinking. But it grew larger, flying closer to the island.

A ship.

…

A ship.

His message must have reached someone. There was a chance, a small window of one but a chance. Settgré pulled himself to his feet and pulled a flare gun from his waistband. He scrambled to load a flare cartridge into it, aimed, uttered a prayer and fired.

As the crimson trail rocketed up into the sky, Kobign kept his eyes trained upon the dark object…his heart dropping when the ship immediately lurched suddenly and forcibly began to plummet. He watched as the sky seemed to ripple and crack with thin iridescent tendrils around the spacecraft for a mere moment, as if disrupted by it. The effect faded so quickly he nearly doubted his eyes again, but it was burned into his mind, circling over to be dissected later. For now, he watched in gripping dread as the T-2C shuttle plummeted into wilderness, dipping nearly out of view from the mountain peak.

“…Kark.” .

Crouching, Kobign rubbed his still organic hand over his face with a great, winded exhale and grimace. He pinched his brow, debating his course of actions. Knowing what he had to do, he fixed the flare gun onto his belt and did up his pack. His hazel eyes glanced at the bracelet where it had been dropped in his haste. Without a second thought, he grabbed it and fastened the leather band around his wrist, another brush of the Allquiróna charm. Then, he pocketed a rounded, oblong pebble of pumice before looking back behind him with a pause.

“Come on, let’s get us home.”

And started the brisk and long track back down the mountain…

Archian jumped out of the ship after Foxen, followed by a large body of Jotaz, who dropped down like a rock, and Kaadu tripping over the edge and rotating for the first part of the fall, then extending its both legs to the back like in classic superhero movies and slid through air down.

Shistavanen aimed at the dense part of the jungle under him, spreading his limbs in each direction to slow down the fall. Small One passed him, making an exciting roar, creating an airy wormhole which stabilized Red’s direction to the same point of landing.

A large companion made an impact with the crown of tropical trees, creating a big black hole, hopefully slowing it down from painful contact with earth. Behind Kaadu “flew” passed head first gliding over the first few tree tops, finishing somewhat in a hole previously made by its predecessor.

Archian repositioned his body legs down, just before crossing tree line, falling into the hole and spreading his arms to sides, catching huge trunks with climbing claws, digging deeply into it, spilling feeling fresh sap at his paws.

He stopped in the middle of the tree, holding close to the tree. He spotted Kaadu hanging and tangled in Lianas trying to reach fresh fruit in front of its mouth, while Jotaz was half of his body deep in the small padlock of mud, making an angel with its arms.

“I go last, oy—“

And suddenly Socorra was falling. Because Foxen tossed her out. Kitted in the Erinos family heavy beskar armor, appearing as a large, confident, dangerous (and sexy!) woman with take-no-shit aura, she still lifted and flew like a ragdoll from his giant meaty hands.

“FOXEN!!!!!! Karkaa yoooouuuuuuuu…”

The free fall was not pretty, it was not elegant, not like the holovids of HALO jumps, not when dumped out of a craft versus controlled fall. Without a jetpack or glider all sorts of things could go wrong and end in splat.

Nhar’quis looked at Foxen, his little head cocking to the side. He trilled once at him, then casually hopped out the hatch.

The tailring folded his wings for maximum velocity, his little scaly body condensed like a torpedo and his mouth hanging open as if catching flies (or having a really fun time). When he reached his mother he cried out and clamped onto a gloved hand with his mouth and spreading his wings to slow her decent…at least a little.

Socorra was still yelling obscenities to Foxen and tapping on her vambrace to see if anything still worked, possibly the grappler or the repulsor. She already knew telekinesis alone would likely not end well.

But more than that, she had a fresh and perfect memory of Turi’s tassel being ripped off her armor. Amid the fall, one compartment of her mind analyzed that moment, fear and anger driving it. Another compartment messed with her gadgets and HUD. Another saw a flare go up in the distance. But even with an eidetic memory all the sudden and simultaneous things failed to catch which direction.

All of the compartments were incensed with Foxen. But that was saved for later; the ground was getting a lot closer and a hell of a lot faster.

<@244244163002892288>

At the ship

The alarms had gone silent, the control panel was dark except for some sparks going off here and there and, overall, the ship was pretty banged up. While not the happiest landing they’ve ever had, they still made it with no casualties. Any crash you can walk away from is a good landing.

Meero’s hands slid off the controls, he adjusted his glasses and unbuckled himself from his seat. “Is everyone alright?!” He yelled out to anyone still on the ship. He hopped off his seat and went towards his copilot to check on her. “Are you alright, my star?”

They had crash landed but landed no less. With a sigh of relief the small mandalorian unbuckled, removing whatever items had been placed on her, she wasn’t truly sure as her helmet kept most of it off her and off view. She managed to survey the controls before looking to Meero, hopping off her seat and meeting him halfway.

“I am, my treasure.” she replied hugging him. “Another happy landing.” she joked looking to the back of the ship to see who might still be there and if they even had much of a ship left, to her surprise there was still a ‘back of a ship’ to look at. They’d likely have to fix some things but nothing too serious she hoped.

“We need to asses damage to the ship. Its our one way out of here and I’m not about to be stranded in a hellhole.” she shook her head. She looked at the open hatch then, there was something that made her uneasy about the foliage outside.

Starlynn pushed herself up off the floor. When we ship crashed she had been sent rolling across the floor, but the barrier had protected her from nothing more than a few bruises.

She stood up to take a look around, when her head started spinning. She sank back down to her knees and put her head in her hands. The strain from the Battle Meditation had taken a harder roll on her than she had realized.

Initiate: descent.

The dive commences, inverted, then abruptly horizontal as the metallic wings catch air with a shriek. The body is wrenched aside by momentum/wind resistance/Gs, but maintains flight posture/optimal positioning to both perform jump and carry/protect passenger.

Through the helmet, the eyes register: ship, sky, trees, ground, allied objects: people, flare–

Flare.

Someone is still alive.

If Kobign is not one, this planet will burn.

Tahiri shouts something lost to wind/falling. Sticks out one flailing hand. Their terminal velocity decreases. Descent slows. Foliage comes upon them rapidly, but not so fast they can’t see if happen.

Impact:

Breaking branches (ImpactImpactImpactImpactImpactImpactImpactImpact…)

Trunk

Ground/rock.

Body adjusts angle, twisting shoulder, to land precisely at 76° which allows contact with back/shoulder planes without snapping the damn wings off his damn jetpack or crushing his little brother’s godmother.

unfortunately, the dog doesn’t get vaporized in engine ion trail or go splat. It floats down next to them and runs for Tahiri.

Foxen is 7 m away across the clearing in 0.9 seconds while she spits mud from her mouth.

<@375384499770359819>

He tests his range of motion/assesses the body for pains or dysfunction while assessing the area around them. Pulls of his helmet to inhale. The earth is hard and soft. The air is damp and hot, wet and heavy enough that if he took the body glove off his head tails, he is certain he would feel things. Possible advantage. Possible distraction.

Eyes clock all around, noting foliage, sounds, tracks, recording imprints in the soil, angle of light hitting leaves, scraps of skin/bones that indicate predation, noises of avian wildlife that make his heart lurch so hard he gasps in a breath. The violent chest convulsion that follows could be heart infarction or could be missing Home so badly he will vomit. Regardless, he compartmentalizes it and resumes threat assessment, particularly for any signs of humanoid life but irreparably aware of animalia. One sliver of hope, it seems only Tahiri’s mutt and Archian’s things playing in the dirt and eating fruit while the Shistavanen has to climb down are the only creatures in the immediate area.

He searches for the smoke trail of that flare, but the angle and height of the growth of the tree canopy prevents it. He calculates the angle of their landing and extrapolates the angle the ship must have been headed when crashing.

Likelihood whoever shot the flare saw the crash: at least 67%.

Benefits: regroup, reinforcement. Bullet sponges that aren’t Kobign. Possiblity to rendezvous with the research team that may have sent the flare if they head that direction.

Detractors: the objects: people. Also possibility that hostile forces eg slavers/pirates/Brotherhood enemies also witnessed the crash and will be heading there. Possibility of ambush/capture.

The calculus is dismal, but the objective clear: they had to go either way.

Once they collected Socorra, at least.

The Nautolan turned about, searching the bushes for the hue of her armor, mildly surprised she wasn’t already here.

Esen let go of the bolted chair leg that she had wrapped her arms and legs around and gripped on for dear life. Her head she had bumped in a few times, but after a quick self assessment deemed it was fine.

Her eyes made a quick sweep of the room, noting that Starlynn was over there now, but thanks to Leonidas’ barrier, was at least…. conscious. She’d want to do a medical check on everyone after gathering their bearings.

“Esen Dulle reporting. Starlynn and Leonidas are here and conscious. Foxen, Socorra, Archian, and Tahiri are all unaccounted for.”

A moment passed as she looked to her backpack droid. He was just… off. In an eternal slumber. She was afraid of that. Welp. She’ll need to get him back to Zig or some other mechanic, mentally adding it to a list.

“How are you and Asani? Okay?” She moved to grasp her medical bag that had slid away.

Leonidas stood up and groaned, he looked around to make sure no one was injured. “And I thought Koda was a crazy pilot…”

He then looked to Starlynn, “You did good, take a moment to rest. I know how difficult that focus can be.”

“Yes we’re ok! Thank you!” Meero was relieved. He couldn’t speak for those that jumped ship, but everyone who was still there seemed to be alright. Walking towards the open hatch, he was about to pass Esen when he noticed the backpack droid on her back.

“Oh! May I?” The little kushiban began gently inspecting the droid. Gave it an overall look, checked its joints, lightly tapped its lens with his claws, then looked at Esen with a smile. “Well no need to worry. The little guy just shut off like everything else. But thankfully suffered no actual damage.”

Meero then walked up to Asani by the hatch and looked around. He knew better than to simply step outside. “How’s it looking? Is the coast clear?”

<@142850390738731009>

“We’re good, thank you Esen.” the mandalorian spoke, approaching the outside cautiously. Her HUD wasnt working, that complicated the situation. She had to verify everything the old fashion way. It seemed anything that was electronic in some way was doomed to fail.

“Meero if you had to guess what could cause malfunctions like that on the ship and droid? My HUDs busted too…” she asked, adding the detail about her own gear at the end. This wasnt normal. They were past normal.

“Im verifying the old fashion way, stay here.” she stated moving outside of the ship, vibroblade in hand to protect herself, she walked a few paces toward the front of the ship. She might as well take a look at the damage while she checked for anything dangerous.

Asani immidiately prepared to fight once she heard what she could only describe as growling, but soon enough the small mandalorian found herself staring in awe, her posture relaxing.

Creatures as tall as buildings were grazing in the wetlands ahead, their giant forms outstretched to the sky above, their necks allowing them to reach the canopy. It almost looked like a herd of giant eopies with small faces.

She moved back toward the open hatch of the ship “Hey everyone, youre gonna wanna see this.” she stated her tone showing she was at ease. She mightve been staring at the creatures but she was still being vigilant, listening and observing for anything that might also be lurking in the jungle.

Starlynn picked herself up and walked to Asani. Looking at over to where she way staring Starlynn could see massive Force auras bigger than anything she had ever seen

She looked on in amazement. The creatures towered far above them. Their Force auras show bright in different shades of greens and browns. Gigantic pure animals with no evil or good in them. Just magnificent wild beast surviving in this wild landscape

“Well nothing solid…” Meero pondered answering Asani’s question. “I’ve only ever heard theories of disruption fields that could cause this kind of effect on electrical systems. But I’ve never actually… seen it… firsthand…” His thought interrupted as his yellow eyes looked up in amazement at the towering creatures before them. “Oh my… they’re beautiful!”

Archian slowly started to climb down the tree, and carefully walked from branch to branch to reach tangled Kaadu. He carefully cut loose Lianas, making sure of the slow descent of the creature which ended with a quiet thumb at the ground, and fruit falling straight to mount’s mouth.

When Shistavanen made sure that Small One stopped playing with water, and got out from the mud hole, all three proceeded to reach earlier spotted Foxen and Socorra beneath the crown of the trees.

“I hope landing was easy for you.” Red said to Socorra, assessing her automatically for injuries.

“I saw broken trees, probably that’s the right way to find our ship.” He signed and told Foxen at the same time.

In the meantime Small One took his distance from Nautolan and stayed in the foliage, having previous experience with him, Kaadu on other hand was now standing next to Socorra, sniffing her boots with curiosity. Archian whoosh it away gently from her.

The fall was exactly as unpleasant as Socorra expected.

Branches cracked, smacked, and clawed at her beskar until one finally caught her grappler line. Between the tailring and the line she was slowed just enough to dump her into a soggy patch of mulch instead of splattering her outright. Nhar’quis floated down after, trilling like he’d just wrestled a mythosaur.

She sat up, slapped her vambraces and helmet controls - nothing. HUD: dead. Comms: dead. The only thing online was her temper.

Helmet came off with a hiss of seals. Damp, heavy air wrapped around her while she turned on the tailring.

“Yeah, yeah. Big hero. You want medal now?”

The forest pressed in, thick and ancient. The only sound was the wet crunch of her boots and the soft clicks from the spear in her hand as she moved. A flash of red eyes through the leaves told her who she was about to find.

“Vos krebbir chakaar-basa! Gar osik’la! Ni cuyir meh’la - nihiir gar! Ni nayc kyr’amir tra’vits, vos braskesh!” she barked before she was even fully in the clearing, the words snapping like a whip between Mando’a and Olys Corellisi- the surest sign Socorra Erinos was livid.

Fury was a universal nonverbal language, which came easy to Foxen, while the only understandable Mando'a among the extinct Old Corellian verbal words in her thick accent was “asshole,” “heights,” and “toad”.

She stepped into view, helmet tucked under one arm, arctic glare sharp like daggers. The kohl rimming her piercing pale eyes only enhanced the glare.

“You t'row me again, I make sure you hit every branch on way down. Twice”. The heat in her voice was real, but so was the fact she was still here, moving toward Foxen instead of away. The words were not much of a threat, and her spear wasn’t in impaling position either.

The Sith was pissed, not stupid.

Her gaze flicked to the treeline and back.

“Kiss odds calculation goodbye if we walking blind. I saw flare - too busy trying not pancake to mark where from.”

Nhar’quis hopped up onto a root beside her, smug as ever, as if he knew she’d follow Foxen anyway.

“Confirm,” Foxen gestured in reply. He pointed to his own eyes, then the sky, then between them, implying the same result. Then he unzipped the protected pocket in his bag and offered her son’s tassel back to her.

Maybe one day, out of curiosity, he’d repeat the sounds she’d just been making back to Jax from memory audio files and discover just what all she’d been lambasting him with, but that was for another time. He had a tree to climb and an idiot to find.

Socorra dropped her voice, letting the edge bleed out so it didn’t hit someone who didn’t deserve it.

“Could have been worse,” she said quietly. She looked intact despite the reckless fall, brushing a fleck of mulch from her armor. A small tilt of her head indicated the black-scaled tailring perched nearby. “Nhar’quis helped.”

There. It was not an ego-inducing medal - because the young prideful thing didn’t need more of that - but it was not-not a thanks, either.

Socorra caught Foxen’s gesture and followed it- eyes, sky, back to her. A silent “same” she could read well enough. When he unzipped the protected pocket and offered her son’s tassel, her fingers closed around it without hesitation. No words, just a slow nod and the faintest twitch of her mouth, not quite a smirk, not quite thanks. She turned it over in her palm once before tucking it away with deliberate care, the gesture acknowledging she knew now he must have taken it to keep it safe. Her gaze lingered on him a second longer than necessary, as if to say: you’re still on thin ice… but maybe you didn’t completely screw it this time.

One hundred percent of the time, her vambrace comp handled sign translation - no droid needed, no personal fluency required. Now, with it dead, she had to lean on memory and the handful of words she’d picked up over the years. It wasn’t ideal, but it would have to do. She was also keenly aware that if Foxen ever wanted to, he could ask Jax to translate every Olys Corellisi and Mando’a word she’d just flung at him…and she kind of hoped he would, just so she could watch both of their faces.

The kaadu’s sudden interest in her boots drew her gaze down. It gave an inquisitive sniff, earning a faint narrowing of her eyes before Archian’s gentle gesture shooed it away. She did not make friends with it…yet. One of them might end up needing a ride. Nhar’quis trilled smugly from his root perch, clearly pleased at the display.

Socorra’s eye briefly flicked around, looking for Tahiri in the foliage. If Foxen was fine, she had to be too, right?

<@571544963607822336> <@244244163002892288>

Foxen returned the stare unblinking and accepted the nod, then pivoted and surveyed the area once more.

Assessed the optimal tree for scaling ability/height.

Approached selection.

Deployed climbing claws to forward position.

Set task: climb.

Set task: spit bug out of mouth, goddamn spiderweb.

Set task: ignore all the bird-adjacent sounds and how spitting out a bug makes the heart hurt for Home even more. Should’ve tested it for optimal crunch factor.

He emerged shortly through the canopy, not poking out fully, mindful that his armor’s camouflage would now be useless. The hybrid manuvered into the most suitable cover of branches/foliage he could and unslung his rifle then eased his head up, taking a careful look in all directions and–

Oh, goddammit, Kobign.

Why.

Why is it always animals.

Why is it always enormous animals.

Why can’t he have one fraking nice thing.

And Flyndt isn’t here.

Safety: lost.

Status: not O.K. not O.K. not O.K.not O.K.

Set task: wipe the face of moisture discharge from eyes

Set task: breathe

Set task: suck it up, champ

- The body lifts the rifle for a better look. The scope still works, even if some functionality lost. The things have thin heads and long necks that erupt from the canopy, which must make them over some 10-15 m tall, based on the relative height of the tree he has climbed and those around it, adjusting for distance/possible slope of land. He couldn’t see more of their bodies, just a few glimpses of more neck. They were eating the tree leaves and their teeth are many but blunt. Their eyes are on the sides of their heads. These facts imply a non-predatious species.

Well so were reeks but he still doesn’t have a spleen thanks to one, now does he? Nevermind everything else from–

Deny.

The finger moved to the trigger.

But somewhere another not his bird thing called, and he can just imagine Flyndt seeing these. Gasping at their size. Hooting in curiosity and amazement.

Crying out in anger/horror if their heads exploded around a .45 mm caliber bullet.

Sighing, the Foxen made sure to look for any other smoke trails from the flare and note the direction of the crash site Archian had also indicated to confirm his trajectory. Then he went back down to report.

GROUP FORWARD, he indicated in hand signals once they’d all gathered, gesturing the necessary direction. POSSIBLE HOSTILES. And then, lacking a signal for this, just lifted up on his toes and stretched his arm overhead in a universal expression of, big.

While everyone was admiring the towering creatures, Meero’s gaze shifted back to the ship and he could see just how banged up the exterior was.

“Oh goodness.” The little Kushiban hopped on all fours towards one of the ships’ exterior panels and opened it. A cloud of smoke erupted from the panel and colored the white fur on his face black except behind his glasses. He shook it off, cleaned his glasses, then climbed inside the panel to check and tinker with the circuitry inside.

“Well luckily the ship only suffered some surface damage.” He said hopping back out and closing the panel. “I can fix it pretty easily. But she’s completely out of power, which is a problem if we want to leave the planet.”

Looking back down from gargantuan eopi-like creatures to the group Asani nodded in acknolwedgement.

“We better find the assets along with the rest of our crew and try to get ourselves out of here. We can work out the ship problem later.”

She pondered for a moment, they needed to find their way back to the ship and without a beacon a marked path would be the best way to and from the ship.

“I suggest we cover the ship and mark a path. The rest of the crew landed a ways off we could probably find them without a lot of effort, or they could use the marks to find their way back to the ship if they dont plan on regrouping. Either way we need to move.” she took a moment to verify she had all her items with her before making a mark at a nearby tree pointing toward the ship.

After getting unceremoniously dropped face first into a mud puddle on forest floor, the Togruta wiped the mud away from her eyes, and tried to look around, taking in her surroundings and the reason why she had been dropped. She hadn’t sensed any imminent danger, then she felt Zuska sniffing at and all around her for any sign of injury, and lapped at her face doing his best to clean her face off. It finally clicked.

Ah right, Foxen must’ve dropped me when Zuska came over.

Once Zuska was satisfied that her face, Lekku and the front of her were cleaned enough, he backed off and stood watch while Tahiri got to her feet. Looking down at herself as she dusted off dried tree needles, and the ground, she realized that most it was dry. The largish depression in the ground among the ferns and foliage being the only damp spot.

“Fracking hell. Why’d he have to drop me in the only wet spot on ground,” she muttered to herself as she looked around for the others, spotting them easily enough, the ones who had jumped gathering near the base of a tree close by.

Spitting out more grit, as she began to walk over to the group, she quickly assessed and made sure she had all of her equipment. Everything seemed in order, and was there, including the scarf that Foxen had given her in order for Zuska to track Kobign, safely within one of the specially lined pockets of her clothes. She had made certain pockets scent trappers, that way if she need to track or cover her own scent, these pockets allowed her keep such items handy, and full of the scent they had instead of her own scent.

The Togruta mentally asked Zuska to sniff around and check the area while she joined the others and finally got her bearings. She continued to dust herself off and wipe away any remaining muck while watching Foxen descend from a tree and tell everyone to move forward. Cocking her head at the next few hand signals, Possible Hostiles... Big.

“Hmmm, interesting.” The Togruta looked around, slowly looking around this time and taking in everything. This forest was new to her and yet it felt familiar, as if it was like her old hunting grounds on Shili. She walked confidently forward and jumped up onto a fallen log, mentally tracing a path as she studied the forest, it’s undergrowth and where places thickened or thinned.

“Alright everyone,” glancing back over her shoulder. “Like Foxen said, let’s get moving.”

Socorra stilled, shutting out the noise of boots on wet ground and the low chatter between the others. She had that faraway look Force users get when locked onto something beyond the here and now.

A few seconds later, a small, sharp gasp slipped out as her breathing hitched, quick and shallow, before she gave an abrupt shake of her head, like flinging off water. The helmet in the woman’s hand dropped to the ground while the heel of her palm pressed hard to her temple, a hiss of breath slipping between her teeth as if cutting off an unwelcome signal.

A sharp trill broke through from Nhar’quis, perched close, neck arched and wings twitching in agitation. Her hand lowered, the other a white-knuckled grip on the spear, the wrap creaking under the strain.

Socorra hadn’t moved the whole time. Her pale eye narrowed, darting across the treeline, Nhar’quis mirroring her with tense, restless wings- both fixed on something unseen.

“K’olar, vos kyr’amir’chaas ra velan ori’sol,” she intoned low, partly in Mando'a, but like a witch’s curse, willing it into the future: come on then…you will die choking on black sand.

Leonidas checked around the crash site to make sure there wasn’t anything in the immediate area. He saw the towering creatures and was reminded of the beasts on his home planet. Once the group started moving, he took a position at the back of the group to make sure their rear was covered.

Esen fought an internal war between herself. Does she leave Vox on the ship? Does she take him with her?

Off, but fine according to Meero.

What if these hostile creatures break into the ship while they’re gone and destroy everything? What if she loses him along her journey? He would be an extra added unnecessary weight. What if another ship comes along and they leave on that rather than this one?

She shook her head clearing her emotions. She needed to think of what was best for her survival and not the loyalty of her droid.

She tucked him in a corner under a seat. She then placed a few loose items that had not been grabbed, and were going to remain on the ship, and covered him.

Mentally giving him a silent goodbye before covering his sensor.

———

She hopped down off the ship and very clearly saw what the others gawked at. Long neck creatures gazing on elongated trees. So calm and serene. If she were next to one, she would be nothing but a mere ant compared to them. Easy to squish… she made a mental note to not get too close.

“Agreed. I can offer assistance covering the ship. What do you suggest marking the path with?”

She adjusted her standing. Her back feeling oddly light without the little droid there. Her eyebrows furrowed.

The group began to proceed, Foxen hanging back to allow Tahiri and her mutt to take lead. As they breached the undergrowth, however, Foxen caught the flicker of arrested movement from the corner of his eye, took in the expression on Socorra’s one-eyed face. He knew it well. That Jediit Look. Flyndt wore it on occasion, Bril especially. And it was unusual how still the woman was.

Her partial curse was particular. He signaled to her an obvious, simple WHAT from the treeline. His body was tense and ready. Senses waited for any input. Was it threat. A vision. Kobign. An incoming attack.

What.

“I’ll take point. This may be a new forest for me, but it’s a forest and most creatures have habits that are universal. Stick close and don’t fall behind.”

There’s always a chance of getting lost, especially in the densest part of a forest.

That last piece of advice she left unsaid, since she figured most of the group knew better. Or at least she hoped they did.

Then the sharp trill from the little Tailring caught Tahiri’s attention quickly, though she did not know the little one well yet, she knew enough that the sound meant something happened. Her sharp eyes darting around as she surveyed the area around the group.

Glancing up at the Tailring and then down to where Socorra hadn’t moved since the group had gathered. Furrowing her brow for a moment, the Togruta paused, noticing Foxens’ hand movements and even the way he seemed to tense up. Although he kinda always looked bit too tense everytime she met him. Though her exterior visage remained calm, her body tensed like a fresh sturdy sapling trap ready to snap it’s catch, and her mind reached out, feeling and searching for what dangers she didn’t see.

“What’s wrong, Socorra?”

<@244244163002892288>

Her pale eye slid to Foxen first, catching the clean WHAT in his hands. Then to Tahiri, the same look holding.

“Somet’ing here,” she said, voice low and flat. “Not just here- watching. It is old… ancient. Feel like it been hunting t’ese woods for millennia. Maybe even luring ships here.”

The dinosaurs were massive and en masse, it could not want for food. Boredom? Force-hungry?

A prickling itch crawled between her shoulder blades. She didn’t look over her shoulder.

Nhar’quis gave a short, sharp trill, wings twitching. Socorra’s grip on the spear tightened.

“The Force is overwhelming, it blinded me to Kob location, to anyone. But I saw t’is hunter, whatever it is, chasing someone moment ago.”

The Sith was not sure if it used terror or if it was natural response to being chased or both. But that moment, that roar…

She shifted her stance, scanning the treeline as though the thing could step out any second.

“It may have Force ability, feeding or amplified by planet. T’is no just rescue and evac anymore. We play t’is clever… or we are playt’ing and food.”

<@244244163002892288> <@375384499770359819> <@571544963607822336>

Foxen paused mid-stride hearing the screams. He couldn’t match the tenor to Kobign with definitive identification, which made the possibility of investigation being required high. However:

He signalled to Tahiri, tracking the direction of the screams.

WHERE DIRECTION, he waved, pointing at Zuska.

<@375384499770359819>

If the paths diverged, then the screams were irrelevant.

“Anything you can make a decent mark on a tree with, a knife or rock should be o-” she had been replying to her companion when she heard a fain scream, clearly filled with what could only be described as horror and fear. “Look alive people we’ve got a situation!” She yelled at the team “Partner up, triple up whatever just don’t be alone, slash trees to your right side only as you run we’ve got an asset to secure! Lets go!” she yelled at the group, looking back for confirmation that her orders had been heard, grabbing her knife and starting to make her way toward the scream with hastened steps. She didn’t burst into a full run to avoid leaving the team behind, and to ensure she left a trail of slash marks as she moved. Whatever this place and the crazy creatures it had in store for them they’d had to figure it out on their way.
<@691024797659955210> <@267489687902486530> <@395091612952297484> <@490928122544259102>

The scream cut through the trees and Socorra dropped into a low crouch in the same breath, spear snapping into a ready grip.

She glanced at Foxen and gave a short, sharp signal - two fingers stabbing the air, then a flat palm sweeping low: approach with caution.

Her voice stayed low but hard. “No do stupid. Not just man screaming in vision. Big karking t’ing. Charge for noise, you end up next one making it.”

Her pale eye flicked to Tahiri and Archian. “Do not lose sight of each ot’er. It clever enough to split us, take down one by one.”

<@244244163002892288> <@375384499770359819> <@571544963607822336>

“Wait don’t just run off!” Starlynn screamed as she took off after her

Meero’s ears perked up and his body stiffened when he heard Asani yelling orders at the group. He admired his beloved mandalorian for how very professional, focused and incredibly scary she can be.

“Oh! Right! Y-yes ma’am-“ He was caught so off guard that he instinctually began walking in her direction but didn’t notice a rock in his path and tripped over it, falling flat on his face. He immediately got back up, dusted himself off and quickly resumed walking with his glasses askew. “I’m alright!”

“What are the rules of engagement?” The mandalorian asked her tone showing no emotion, her arms crossing as she inspected the rest of the crew, her gaze moving up to Rhylance once her inspection concluded. Her hopes of an easy mission were dashed.

Goddammit, Foxen thought of Socorra, annoyed she’d pointed the scream out to the others who hadn’t seemed alerted. Surely heroics would follow. He watched Zuska sniff Kobign’s scarf, the mere heartbeats passing seeming days long.

Starlynn stumbled back from the giant creature. Her hand instinctively pulled her lightsaber but the absence of the snap hiss of the blade caused her to stall confused.

Motherfrakking fraking frak.

Frak.

No.

DENY.

-# co nfir m .

It is a weak agreement. The Foxen flees, deep inside, into dark places where it can bloody its nails and arms on the walls, scrabbling and wailing its terror.

The body moves.

Blood and spittle and remnants of researcher: category: Daljes, Alod are still spraying when the arms clock upwards. The shoulder lifts, the feet space, bracing. The rifle levels, pointed at visible soft palate, approximating where brain may be located in large cranial cavity based upon previous experience with object: awful category: rancor, male category: motherfrakking Lollipop like this is some kind of joke.

Steady.

Aim.

Fire.

The massive rifle round punches through palate, facial/cranial bones, snout(?), bursting a hole approximately the size of a Near-Human skull at entry and, though not visible from this angle, thrice as large on the opposite side. But the beast does not drop. It roars.

The hand chambers another round, cli-ckick, and readies a second shot.

Red grabbed one of the Lullabies out from his pocket, and looked at the roaring beast. He knew that there was no chance to tame it, and Small One was literally too small to challenge it. He took a deep breath, bent his knees with one leg in front of another. His arm was above and behind his head, ready to throw. But the counter leg started to shake from beasts roaring after Foxen made a shot in its snout. Arm let go of a tooth full of toxin and landed somewhere in the mud next to a big lizard.

Archian didn’t feel it for a long time against any beast… He felt fear!

The beast charged, and while some naturally split to run away and gain ground, the Foxen body bolted forward, intent on circumventing reach of the head and getting inside its guard. The body would scale the beast with climbing claws deployed and fire another round into the back of its fraking head.

The legs move. The eyes catch movement. And then impact.

Lift.

Flying.

Impact.

There is a crunch. There is pain.

Set status: ignore.

-# flyndtyndtflyndtflyndthelpflyndfhelp

Set status: ignore

The body vaults back onto its feet, swaying and pushing past pain/disorientation/panic. Assess: possible arm break or fracture. Assess: fingers still functional on that hand. Pain ignored.

Set task: spit out three dislodged teeth, blood.

Set status: continue.

While he was at the back of the group, upon hearing and then seeing the commotion, Leonidas’s legs started to bolt him towards the monster. He drew his blade and couldn’t help but form a smirk.

But he wasn’t as fast as he could have been. He saw the armored Nautolan get toyed around with, still alive but harmed. He gritted his teeth and his face turned into more of a scowl, he would have to let his ego trip go for this time to stay alive, something seemed too off.

He focused Force energy into his hand and lept up into the air between the beast and Foxen, releasing his palm towards the eyes of the creature. As the flash began, he closed his eyes. An intensely bright light illuminated the immediate area, shadows being cast from the trees. He landed with a skid as the monster stumbled around, dazed.

“Save your damn pride and let’s move!” He turned to Foxen, not sure if he was telling himself that or Foxen. Probably both of them.

Starlynn turned and started to run away from the beast when she saw Foxen slam into the tree. She cut hard to turn and ran over to him, sliding down behind the tree he hit like a holoball player hitting home base. She scrambled back up, keeping low and hiding as she peeked out to the Nautilan. “Don’t move to fast! Are you ok?” She buzzed out questions general concern in her voice

Having flinch-pivoted to avoid the eyes being utterly fraking cooked, the body had view of object: Starlynn repositioning behind the large tree that had splintered bark where it had made contact.

Assessment: status: impaired. Left upper limb fractured, incomplete break, likely radial. Increased respiration. Increased heart rate. Tachycardic. Severe nausea. Likely hypercalcemic spike impending from fracture, bruising, muscular injury, disorientation.

-# not O.K. not O.K. NOT O.K. FLYNDT–!

Negative.

Also negative: touching from the medic.

The Miraluka medic who could not see his DENY signal.

The mute Nautolan grunted and hissed in her direction. The body backed away as object: category: friend: Tahiri entered the fray, slashing, gaining advantage over object: You Don’t Know Shit About Me, Pal, Leonidas blinded enemy target.

The damn thing was fast and strong.

With one competent arm, the body Foxen switched his rifle to the fractured one, pain ignored, and waved his fist overhead, circling, and then made motion of slamming down while pointing at the creature. This was accompanied by signals for ATTACK, SECURE, and JEDI.

In other words, hold its massive head goddamn down in the dirt with your minds.

<@571544963607822336> <@395091612952297484> <@691024797659955210> <@141239709291511808> <@142850390738731009> <@375384499770359819> <@267489687902486530> <@206692046424113152>

A giant creature, with teeth far larger than her body could handle thats for sure, she hesitated for an instant longer than she had wanted, seeing that one of their assets had become lunch for this thing. Soon her feet where moving on their own as she made a mental note of its size and possible weaknesses, if she could get on top of it they’d have leverage.

“Meero! Boost!” she yelled out running toward the creature whatever plan she was thinking of might not be the best considering this thing was huge but anything was better than becoming monster food.

Her fellow kushiban companion nodded at her request “Got it!” yelling back as he boosted her.

It was a tremendous leap made much easier with assistance but hanging onto the thrashing monster was harder than she anticipated. Be it the humidity, the leap or the fact it wouldnt stop moving she slid down falling with a hefty thud. “I’m going to feel that later…” she mumbled rolling away from the creature and moving back toward the group.

Noticing that Foxen is trying to shoot at the tyrant lizard again, Red whistled an instruction to still hiding in the bush Small One. Information was clear - run at giant reptile, tackle with full body, and held its head for Nautolan’s clear shot. Jotaz just looked at the beast, then back at Archian, roared in a very short high pitch way and hid his head between branches of the bush.

“I… understand…” Shistavanen muttered to the creature, feeling the same amount of fear and excitement while looking at Asani jumping across at the creature and then almost instantly sliding off.

With no other choice Archian took his bow, and let a single arrow with still shaky arms, but of course again it missed its target flying into a nearby tree instead of the beast’s eye.

“We should probably retreat.” He said to the group and signed to Foxen.

Meero’s eyes widened in fear seeing Asani fall off the enormous creature, but then felt a slight relief when she managed to get away from it mostly unharmed.

The unusual nature of the planet was not allowing anyone attack at their full potential. The beast was clearly strong and angry. It needed to be restrained somehow if they wished to either kill it or escape.

“Alright big boy. I need you to stay still.” The little Kushiban closed his eyes and extended his arms. His white fur began swaying as a telekinetic burst of the Force manifested from him and landed on the creature like powerful pressurized air. Even though the beast had been slammed onto the ground and was being held in place, it was still thrashing angrily.

However, something felt off. Normally using his telekinesis was as easy and natural as breathing, but Meero felt himself having to apply more effort than what he’s used to. The Force somehow felt heavier here for some reason.

“I don’t know how long I can hold it!” He yelled out to everyone. “Either run for it or make your move now!”

Esen’s moment of grateful to see the other members alive, was quickly stomped short when the massive reptile clouded her vision with fear. She made mental notes to look over Asani and Foxen after this creature was dealt with. Hearing someone’s arm crack isn’t a great sign and the Mandalorian did have as much of a graceful landing as she could given the circumstances.

The Zeltron overheard the words spoken by Meero and watched with anticipation, hand on her blaster, though it was no good here.

The creature stopped moving.

Right. The Force!

Surely this was enough resistance on the reptilian creature that she could land a hit with her poisoned sapphire blade. Her aim was to the jugular, but the toxin coating would target the muscles and nervous system, even a simple cut would do.

She stepped forward with her dominant leg, using the twist in her body to hurl the blade as strong and as fast as she could. The creature thrashes against its invisible restraints, knocking the blade off course. Narrowly missing Asani. It tinks and falls to the ground.

Esen, now wide eyed, and scared tracked the blade with her eyes.

“Crick.”

Hey Esen, how about we don’t slice and poison our allies?

She would definitely need to make it up to Asani later. Making a mental note to collect the blade after the creature was dealt with.

Her less than graceful removal from the monstrous creature was a solid step in the wrong direction, yet it seemed the universe had decided one bad step deserved another.

While getting up and moving away from the creature it seemed someone elses weapon bounced of the beast, heading straight for Asani.

She managed to dodge and somewhat parry the knife out of the way with her own.

Tahiri had dipped from wellspring that was the Force, but it somehow felt a little different here. The Togruta had no time to think about it, the beast was a hunter, and it was a kill or be eaten situation, and she was a hunter too, so only one option stood before her.

Muscles that were augmented by the extra strength, she had made her move, sprinting in from the side and slashing at the beasts legs as it had knocked Foxen aside and the roar to in confusion from being blinded. She had managed to use both of her blades to cut just deep enough through the hide to cut the tendons, making it stumble. The other members of the team, specifically the two Kushibans’ to get a hold of the beast.

Tahiri wanted to run in and plunge her weapons into it chest, or eye, or where she could to help take the beast down. However, when she had skidded to a stop behind the beast, only a few trees away from Foxen, the extra strength faded away, faster than it normally did for her. The Togruta was confused by the fatigue, as it felt like she had already done it several times, instead of just this once.

When she saw Foxen raise his rifle again to blast the beast in the head, she readied herself, unsure if this feeling was attributed to the creature, or if there was something bigger afoot.

Object: category: friend Tahiri cut into tendons, weakening legs. One of the Jediit, presumably object: person: Meero heeded suggestion and telekinetically slammed down the beast, holding it fast. It struggled, though hamstrung legs scrabbled ineffectively, and arms were useless. Danger lied in the thrashing head.

The body stepped forward, the eyes searching as a blue sword flew by and rebounded in a direction not lethal to the body, and meeting object: Tolerated For the Kids: Archian and saw his nod. The Shistavanen whistled a command to one of his horrible creatures, which proceeded to take the mud on the ground and fling handfuls at the beast’s eyes, obstructing field of vision.

Likelihood of further injury decreased to merely 76%.

Fraking. Kobign.

The body bared two rows of teeth and advanced, hoisting the rifle again and bracing it against the intact shoulder; the body Foxen was strong enough to handle recoil one-handed. It did not aim. It approached at speed, set the boot against massive snout, set the barrel to mud-covered eye, and fired.

The bullet, as before, burrowed through skull and now sulci. The beast very abruptly ceased moving. The shot echoed through the air, causing avians – ugh – to lift front nearby treetops.

The body stepped back. Shot again, once, for certainty. Twice would be preferred, but ammunition limited. The body turned back to the others, seeking Tahiri. It pointed at the scarf on her belt, then at Zuska, signalling, PROCEED.

Enemy neutralized. Mission continued.

<@375384499770359819>

Elsewhere…

Kobign Settgré crept across the dark rocks, keeping low in a crouch with Canchi crawling beside him. Halting, he peered over the edge of a steep slope. He stiffened when his gaze fell upon what looked like a figure sitting among the rocks, a cold shiver running down his spine swiftly quelling the irrational hope that reared its head.

She shouldn’t be there.

She should be half buried beneath a boulder, a trap of her own making gone wrong. Yet, his eyes recognized Feldspa’s horned head, saw where those vile predators had dragged and propped her torso against the rocks to better feast. He covered his mouth to fight back a dry heave, forcing himself to focus. A final scan of the perimeter assured there were no immediate threats. Kobign coughed, getting to his feet, “Come on, boy.”

The slope was steep. Pebbles and cobble clattered down with each skid of his boots, and he slid down the last couple meters. Canchi scaled it easily, falling back in step with him. The pair pushed on, passing the fallen Ovissian geologist and stirring a few tiny scavengers off of it. His canine companion whined, wanting to chase them much like he had been allowed to hunt them yesterday but no command came right now. Vegetation closed in on the route they were backtracking down the mountain, and soon the open barren rocks were no more than thin strips and pockets within the forest. Kobign tried to move stealthily, as best he could with his calves starting to burn and the brisk pace he pushed himself to despite the exhaustion from nights of little sleep. He had to get to that crash site. There was an outcrop ahead, they could rest and stretch there.

A croaking bark.

Movement in the brush.

Kobign froze. He wordlessly reached for the flare gun at his belt, moving slowly. A growl from Canchi and he was pivoting, aiming towards the trees to his right when a reptile the size of a speederbike broke through the foliage. He pulled the trigger.

Nothing. .

Kark! He had forgotten to load it, this wasn’t a damn blaster.

Settgré dived to the side and rolled to his feet as talons crashed against the rocks where he had just been. He yanked the commandeered and malfunctioning vibroknife roughly from its holster on his leg, eyes darting to the side to spot two more reptilians circling stealthily in the brush. His breath caught as he backpedaled, trying to keep them all in sight and ahead of him. Stern Selenian commands directed Canchi to keep back, the canid deftly dodging a pounce towards him and loping to circle his owner, barking. The larger of the trio advanced in before rearing back as its prey sliced its snout. While it shook his head, another darted forward only to chase the blur of grey and orange fur instead.

“NO! Canchi—” Kobign’s desperate yell cut off as he threw himself out of the way of another pounce, scrambling to his feet and pressing back towards the direction of that outcrop. He made it a couple meters before a shadow fell over him.

Teeth cut into his forearm and gnashed against metal, his cyberhand tanking the brunt of a bone crushing bite. A pained cry escaped him with each violent shift of the creature to assert its leveraging position driving the talons into his shoulder and abdomen more. Pinned in place by the large sickle-shaped claw of its hind leg, he couldn’t shift beneath its weight. Its rancid breath curled hot against his face as he braced his right arm, trying to keep his fist full of metal jammed within its mouth. .

A growl sounded as Canchi broke away from looping the other two predators through the brush, latching onto the hindleg trapping him. The beast screeched and kicked its leg, talons tearing his skin but dislodging him from the meat hooks’ grasp. The distraction afforded Kobign enough time to yank his arm free and slice a ragged gash into the reptile’s neck, its blood soaking into his shirt with his own. The beast stumbled back, choking and gurgling before slinking away injured.

Kobign pulled himself to his feet out of the shallow creek rocks, his free hand pressed against the ragged threads of shirt and flesh soaked red. His breath was labored as his gaze darted behind him where the stream abruptly fell off. A waterfall. Grimacing, he whistled for Canchi, hollered for him. Then, he turned and took off running. The chortling chirps and splashing followed in pursuit, the distance closing short. One last look behind him, the raptors snapping at each other and at Canchi as they chased. The small, lanky cythraul kept just from the grasp of jaws but enough to slow them for Kobign. Taking a stabbing sharp breath, the half-Selenian ran to the edge and the horizon of jungle canopy beyond it.

“CANCHI! JUMP!!!” he shouted, praying the canid would follow.

He leapt.

Kobign treaded in the air for what seemed like forever, a mountain pond sparkling in the sun beneath him. Then, he plummeted, hitting the water as a shot rang out over the miles of forest trees…

Leonidas looked around the area to make sure there was nothing there to strike before letting his guard down. “Nice work everyone. Let’s tend to the wounded and make sure to take a moment to rest if you can.”

The mechanical sneer of refusal was all the body Foxen showed to that statement, a perfunctory shake of the head. As Zuska sniffed and approached the detached remnants of an arm of the researcher that had been consumed, he again pointed at Tahiri, signalling, FORWARD. CONFIRM.

<@375384499770359819>

^

“Wait!” Starlynn slipped out from behind the tree and walked towards Foxen. “Your arm is injured. I can mend it through the Force.”

<@244244163002892288>

Lips peeled back to show double rows of sharp teeth, and while the Miraluka could not see it, she would surely feel the brutal wave of rejectiondisgustunsafeviolence from the man before his being snapped back to the void like emptiness of a droid. Esen, translating for him, gave word to his gesturing to follow.

“DENY. Save your energy for K-O-B-I-G-N. Likelihood of his being injured: astronomical.”

“Well his likely hood of being injured is less than the certainty of you already being injured, and your not doing this guy any favors by playing macho Man. If you haven’t noticed there are giant lizards here and if we are going to save people, that’s your guy included, and get out of here. We need you at full fighting capabilities.” Starlynn shifted her weight and put her hand on her hip. If she had eyes they would have been boring a hole through Foxen.

<@244244163002892288>

“Deny,” the granite slab of Nautolan repeated, unmoved, “you are our only proclaimed J-E-D-I H-E-A-L-E-R. Save. Your. Energy. For. HIM.”

He did relent enough to offer:

Not being proud or M-A-C-H-O. High functioning capabilities even injured. Fact. However: will permit binding or splinting that DOES NOT limit movement. Quickly. Must follow trail ASAP. Also avoid southwest. Hear same creature as this in that direction, estimated 5.6 km.“