“Hey, Moonbear, it’s okay. Shh…” Kobign’s voice hummed lowly into another Selenian nursery rhyme, his hand smoothing the brown curls of the toddler pressed against his chest, nails digging in.

Growl repressed with risen hackles for the danger to their family, Jax too kept one arm wrapped around Kobign and Marrien. “I will investigate with the bridge,” he managed levelly.

Oderyn felt the tremor in the cold steel that protected them from the vacuum of what they called “space”. He leaned against the hull, and glanced at Soryn beside him.

A bubbling cry followed the half-Selenian’s hand abandoning his stroking to firmly grab his husband’s sole arm, twisting to look up. “Shouldn’t we stay together, get to the evacuation pods?”

Jax’s expression shattered between the cry from their cub and Kob’s plea, logical. “I… alright. I fear us not trying to salvage, but… You are right.”

Logan plopped down on the lounge floor and started shifting through his bag of snacks. Bags of chips, chocolate bars, he wasn’t about to risk dying on an empty stomach.

“No, kark.” Kobign shook his head, exhaling roughly. “You’re right, should get ahead of it. See if anyone has comms to the Bridge first, I’ll help guide the evacuees, okay?”

Anslem stood nearby, tensed from the situation. He looked to Adele, and one thought ran through his blond-haired head. “Is this just a normal thing in Arcona? Shit’s getting crazy.”

“They need to spend less on glitter and more on maintenance.” Adele spoke with her outside voice. “We should go to the bridge and get control of planetfall if possible.”

Sashar unbuckled his restraints and crossed to the sealed doors, trying the controls to no avail, “Looks like we’ll have to cut our way out.” His lightsaber sprang to life.

Logan closed his snack bag and stood up. He had to agree with everyone else, the getting to the bridge was definitely the best chance of surviving this.

Anselm sighed before walking towards the sealed door. He held his hands out, grasping the doors with the Force. Pulling his hands apart, the metal groaned under the immense pressure.

Sashar added his own mystic strength to Anselm’s and the two managed to Force the doors apart in short order. The ship lurched beneath their feet, hitting the atmosphere hard.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Oderyn grumbled as everything shook. He was still not acclimated to these space faring “ships”.

Her pilot yelled over the prism’s internal coms…“Bozz, have a problem, transports going down”, Edema sprinted up to the bridge, only to watch the transport falling through the atmosphere.

As the doors wrenched open, peeling away from and tearing free from the walls, the vessel shook hard. Anselm fell over, nearly getting crushed by the very doors he opened.

Without a second thought, Edema took the controls and sent the prism into a steep dive, following the transport as it crashed through the planets atmosphere. “we’re coming folks”

Bril stumbled out of the refresher, clutching his stomach. “Good news! Refresher still works,” he said, heading toward the bridge. “Should’ve passed on that Double Bantha Deluxe before coming here…”

“Nightfall Prism to Arcona transport, do you read…. Arcona transport… Come in damit”…. “Frack, their coms must be down, get us closer damit, we have to do something fast”

“That… doesn’t look good…” Adele closed her eyes and expanded her senses, searching for signs of life on the bridge. She pressed her hand against the door, checking the temperature.

“Mistress, the bridge looks to be on fire, what should we do” Edema looked at the burning ship… “Head for the Hangar, we will do what we can there”

“I’m really starting to dislike these space-ships,” Oderyn grumbled as he looked about for others that could guide them to an exit.

“Perhaps we should make for the escape pods. I’m not certain there will be much equipment left to handle a controlled descent.”

Perhaps the shifting of movement quelled her cries as Kobign waved on hurried passengers but Marrien Moon was quiet. He spotted two young adults.

“This way, down the hall.”

“mistress, there is no way we can dock, or help, they are falling too fast, we will have to hope the ship doesn’t break up too badly on impact”

Sashar took stock and grimaced. “Well, I got a jetpack. I can carry one other person. Perhaps the twink?” He looked directly at Anselm with a shit-eating grin.

Adele fixed Sashar with a cool, steady look. “We’ll discuss your calling my brother a twink when we’re not on a crashing ship. Let’s make for the escape pods.”

Oderyn nodded and followed, Soryn on his heals. His spear was useless here, but tried to think what Master would do in this situation. Stay calm. His pulse raced.

With the bridge consigned Jax hurried back to rejoin the evacuees. He took the front, helmeted. “Alor Sashar, with me. Bril, the rear. Your senses will be our protection.”

“Wait,” the half-Selenian called as he glanced at the passing young man again. He could see the tension in his shoulders. “Help keep folks calm in there, okay?”

Oderyn made eye contact, breathed, and nodded. “Alright.” He moved to help others. He was used to this part, sadly.

Sashar offered a placating wink to Adele before brushing past the others to the front, patting Oderyn on the shoulder as he went. “This way if you want to live.”

Adele’s icy glare at Sashar was ruined when the corners of her mouth turned up into a smirk. She fell into the group, extending her senses in search of survivors.

The original lounge was clear, so were the next couple that had managed to slice controls or wedge the doors open. Banging two doors down caught Kobign’s attention.

“Of course, ori'vod,” Bril replied before taking a breath, opening his senses to the full breadth of the Living Force. “I’ll be our eyes.”

Following after his cythraul’s bark, Kob felt around the door seams and found no purchase. He shifted his attention to the panel beside it. “Hang on, I’ve got you.”

As Anselm looks around the bridge for a solution, he hears Sashar’s comment. Turning, he looks hard at Sashar. “You really think that I look like a twink? Thank You!”

The three arconan’s watched, powerless as the ship plunged through the atmosphere, hoping they could help who ever survived. “KC, have you scanned the planet yet?, we need info fast”

Adele’s concentration was curtailed by Anselm’s response, and a reflexive facepalm. A telepathic message to Anselm: “Can you please save the flirting for when we’re NOT hurtling to our deaths?”

“Nightfall Prism to Arcona transport, come in, anyone, is anyone still alive, I repeat Nightfall Prism to Arcona transport, please respond, mayday has been dispatched” Edema and her crew prayed.

“Hey, not my fault we’re in this situation. It’s making me feel hot.” After giving his twin sister a wink, Anselm gave his attention to the flames engulfing the ship.

Logan ran to help Kobign get the door open. “Maybe there is a spot I can squeeze through and open it from the inside.” He stammered out in ewokese.

Edema could see the magcon field was down on the Hangar “prism to anyone who receiving, Hangar is void, I repeat Hangar is void, magcon down, I repeat magcon down”

Anselm gave himself over to the Force, intertwining his thoughts with the galaxy’s own energy. The flames cascading around the vessel soothed, granting the crew whatever time he could give.

Adele groaned, trying not to laugh. “Flirting and terrible puns. Lovely. Never change, brother.”

The half-Selenian looked down to the Ewok. He didn’t understand but their gesturing implied enough. Kobign crouched and grabbed his all-kit tool out. “Think you can get through the vents?”

“He is volunteering as much,” Jax contributed, translating. “If it comes to it I can make a door but we must be quick.” He clutched Marrian, having been handed her.

“A'right.” Kobign set to work freeing three of the grate’s fastenings above his head, letting it swing down. He turned and offer the tool over. “In case, you need it.”

Logan took the tools and hand off his snack bag. “Protect this with your life.” He said as he was given upies as he crawled his way into the vent.

Kobign nodded and handed off the bag to Canchi to hold, unknowing of its contents. The canine gingerly carried it obediently, being the trained creature he was. The snacks safe.

“Down there,” Bril pointed out, sensing more lights of life. He guided them further to another compartment sealed by power failure. Jax turned to Socorra and offered Marrien.

“Please, vod?”

“We need to hurry.” Adele extended a hand, beginning to force the door open with telekinesis.

“Go ahead with the younglings and injured to begin evacuating,” Jax barked the order, indicating Sashar and the others. “Search and rescue will catch up.”

Adele continued to work on the door, using her sudden frustration at the realization at how long her dry spell has been as fuel.

Socorra took the cute kiddo in short order. “Do what you need to. Be safe.” She hefted Mirrian in her hip and booped her nose.

His sisters’ thoughts entered his mind. Anselm blanched at the thought. Even continuing to hold the flames at bay, he thought, “Del, I don’t think I needed to know that.”

Bril stared at her for a moment, trying to remember where he’d seen her. “Hey, aren’t you the one who punched me in the kidney?”

Logan dropped out the vent and quickly found the loose wiring in the panel, that kept the door closed. Using the all tool he fixed it, and the door opened.

Seeing the Ewok, Kobign gave him a nod and exchanged their items, bag for the tool. He directed those inside where to go, while Canchi minded Turi holding his harness.

With his hand free, Jax took out his roll of denonite tape and tore off strips of appropriate length with his teeth. He made a frame then waved Adele back.

“You were literally just flirting with all the subtlety of a brick to the head.” She paused, eyes narrowing at Bril’s words. “And you dropped me off of a building.”

“I’ll grant you that win, little sister. Bravo to you.” his tone of laughter would be felt as he sent her his thoughts. “Can you all hurry the frack up?”

The tape exploded expertly, and instead of having to push the slab himself, Adele assisted Jax in lifting it free safely. Several people piled out.

“Let’s go!”

Kobign waited below the emergency exit sign, anxiously watching the hallway after hearing an explosion. Seeing Socks approaching with his daughter, he moved to trade children at the door.

“Jax?”

Anselm’s eyes blazed with fire as he gazed towards Bril. “Push my sister off a building, eh? I hope he enjoys flying as well. Certainly better than being burned alive.”

Anselm’s ire rippled through the Force, pinging Bril’s senses when he laid eyes on him. To cut the tension, he met Anselm’s gaze and said, “Sorry, I’m engaged.”

Anselm turned back to what he was doing before giving a slight smile. Then the air around Bril began to heat up at a fast rate, no longer being protected.

Jax and more people came running or limping down the corridor. Jax had someone over his shoulders in a fireman carry. He met Kob’s gaze in relief.

Adele snickered at Bril’s words, also buoyed by Anselm’s ire on her behalf. She gave Bril a hooded look. “Are we fighting now? Or waiting until we escape certain doom?”

Bril didn’t react to the sudden change in temperature. Anselm wasn’t the only one chosen by the flame, it seemed.

“Later,” he replied to Adele, turning to help the evacuees,

“What is the status on the pods?” Jax barked over the growing roar of rattling metal, atmospheric friction, and flame.

“Can I kill him, Del?” he asked his sister within their Force bond. “Please say that I can kill him?” He could also feel his power waning. “Times running short.”

As Jax came by with the evacuees in tow, Bril scooped up a small child who was having trouble keeping up. “I’ve got you, little one,” he said, marching forward.

Anselm saw Bril’s “act” with the child. “Wow, what a show off.” Before yelling out, “Hey, everyone at the pods yet? Can’t hold back this blasted fire forever, you know!”

His relief was returned. Kobign glanced at the corridor with a look of uncertainty. “Can only confirm one taking off, wasn’t able to see the others. There’s room here still.”

Oderyn poked his head out from the escape pod he was in with Soryn. He waved awkwardly at the Valreyes’.

“Time and a place, brother. Besides, I gave as good as I got.” She telekinetically lifted a few of the wounded and hurried down the hall.

“Fine, whatever you say.” Anselm yelled out, “Hey, I’m no Martyr. Let me know when I can get the frakk out!” He could feel his eyesight darkening from Force overuse.

“Logan ran as fast as his little legs would go into the escape pod with the others. He climbed into a seat and buckled up.

“Come on!” Jax called, having gotten the others situated and standing next to an open pod with Kob inside. Annie had his choice of pods.

Once child was safe, he stepped back to where Anselm was and reached out in the Force to assist him. “Can’t hold it as long as you. Now go.”

Anselm let go of the fires and started running towards the pods. His legs gave out under him as his skin felt like fire and sweat. “Shit…was…too…much.”

“Damn it!” She quickly set the survivors in the pod, before running to help Anselm find his feet. She winced at the heat coming off him. “I’ve got you.”

“Just…go…you idiot.” He was quickly losing consciousness as his world went black. He was terrified he’d be his sister’s demise. It would be his fault. “I…I’m sorry.”

“Shaddup, idiot,” Adele growled. Fear fed her power, increasing her strength to half drag, half carry him toward the pod. “You’re not allowed to die. We’re in this together, remember?”

Ro suddenly came barreling down from the opposite hallway, with several other survivors, and the limp form of his sister cradled in his arms. “We’ve got to go, NOW!”

As the final survivors begin boarding the escape pods, the ship fractures against the atmosphere, cracking and tearing from the immense pressure. Flames enter the hull, roaring towards potential victims.

From the bridge she let out a sigh of relief as she saw escape pods spew from the disintegrating ship. “KC , get a lock on those pods and track them”

As the final survivors boarded the pods and the doors closed, Adele dropped Anselm onto the floor, tearing at his armor to cool him off. “Don’t die,” she pleaded.

“get us close KC, me and J will try and grab a couple with the force, at least then we can try and guide atleast some of them”

Logan unbuckled and hoped down from his seat. He made his way to the steering controls and started guiding the escape pod down for a smooth landing.

A horrid sound ripped through the ship, the sound of it unraveling. Bril gave a final push against the roaring flames, abating them along enough to dive in a pod.

A quick assessment proved that Anselm was just overheated and exhausted. Adele sighed, relieved, before turning to other injured. “What happened?” she asked as she laid healing hands on Tahiri.

Bril placed a hand on Adele’s shoulder. “Conserve your energy,” he said before pulling a small gourd off his belt. He pressed it to Tahiri’s lips. “Drink, godmother.”

Adele whipped around, looking like she was going to argue. But she gritted her teeth, gave a tight nod and stepped aside.

As all the pods launch from the disintegrating vessel, a final low rumble could be heard before a near deafening explosion. Shards of molten metal fly off in all directions.

Their pod shimmies and jerks as the blast wave hits it. Ominous clanging can be heard as debris bounces off of the hull

A pod, that shot off unmanned, burst into flame as its hull was shredded by the debris. Even though there were no victims, the image instilled fear in the rest.

Adele swallowed hard at the sight of the disintegrating pod. She sat down near Anselm, her face a calm mask but her hands clenched into white-knuckled fists.

Debris fell through the atmosphere alongside the pods as fire licked the sky. An explosion propelled a metal chunk rapidly. It sundered one pod, a wave of terror quickly snuffed.

Those attuned to the the Force would feel it. The evaporation of life. Pod, after pod, unable to be saved from hellfire wrath, and the lives within simply… forever vanished.

They pulled along side two of the tumbling pods, reaching out with the force, and they grasped onto the pair of pods and pulled them close to the prism.

Adele looked ill as she sensed the lives winking out, like sparks vanishing in darkness. It made no sense. She didn’t know these people. She scowled, covering her discomfort.

Logan had to stand in the pilots chair to reach the controls. “Everyone one hold on!” He shouted over his shoulder in ewokese as he guided the pod down.

Heeding the Ewok, Kobign wrapped himself tight around his daughter. Fur brushed against his arm, belonging to Jax or the Cythraul his husband had pulled into his lap securely.

Aboard the Providence Rhylance stared as his datapad gave an alert. “Hmmm…so that ship has fallen. MORSE, prepare for immediate departure. Seems our services are needed. A debt incurred.”

Jax braced as best he could while holding Canchi and trying to cover the two most important people in existence, hoping his armored body would be a shield.

“Take the shuttle, Zig. It will be great, Zig. Shuttles are more reliable than your war-ready space yacht.”

Zig swore as she kicked open the door to the escape pod.

The Prism landed, her crews precious cargo being set down gently, Edema ripped the doors off both pods out of sheer frustration, hoping it’s occupants were alive.

The crash was hard, rattling, screams from the civilians and a wail from their pup. Impact and pain. But they were alive. He could hear her racing heart. Kobign’s. Enough.

Logan pulled hard on the controls as the pod drifted across the mud of the marshes before coming to a sudden abrupt stop at the edge of the forest.

“She just collapsed. I think she’s just exhausted,” Ro’s voice was strained, chest heaving. His normal wit and sarcasm gone, as he gently cradled her. “She saved several crews lives.”

Safe. They were safe. Pressing a kiss on the top of Marrien Moon’s head, Kobign in turn gripped the back of Jax’s neck and pressed foreheads together. “You okay?”

“Maybe it’s exhaustion. Can I take a look at-”

Adele was cut off as they impacted. Despite the automated systems, the pod jolted and shook, skidding on the terrain.

The jolt shocked Anselm’s body and he shot up in a panic. Breathing heavily, with steam coming off his body, his eyes were manically wide. “What in the frakking hell!”

“Jax…oi, come in you big lug.” Zig tapped the side of her helmet, trying to get the radio to work. Her HUD stabilized as she looked around the crash site.

“You are with me, so yes. Are you?” Jax answered, and then narrowed in on the sharper pain from his leg amidst abused senses, radiating from sparking cybernetics. “My ankle…”

Kobign winced after a big exhale of relief, “Yeah, I’m fine. Bit bruised but okay.”

Static crackled from Jax’s person as Kobign unbuckled himself, intending to check on his ankle.

“Crap.” No answer. “Where the hell did we land?” Zig was greatfuls he hadn’t changed out of her Zigbuster armor while doing the attempted repairs on the ship.

Logan laid flat on his back with his arm stretched out. His whole body hurt after the crash. He pulled out a chocolate bar and started eating it.

Physics kicked in, sending Adele flying as the pod crashed. Her head struck the hull with a CRACK. Mercifully unconscious, she didn’t feel the jagged metal impale her leg.

The tiny Togruta instinctively drank the offered liquid, as if she’d heard her godson. Eyes finally fluttering open after a few moments, just before the pod impacted the ground.

Zig frowned as she tried to find a signal. She altered the frequency, turning the dial on her wrist-com but then was greeted with a loud screech. “OW! My earballs.”

Jax whimpered both for Kobign’s pain and his own. He reached down to dig out the comm and match the signal to familiar colorful cursing. “Zigarashe?”

As he sprang up, awakened by the impact, body still steaming, Anselm’s face impacted metal that tore free from the pod. Bloody nosed, and bruised head, he lost consciousness again.

“Jax! Thank… whatever it’s you. Stupid crash pod, stupid…anyway where are you? Can you send up some kind of signal I can track? You good?”

A growling amused huff left him. “Oh, I can. Injuries. Non critical. We’re with civilians and Marrien. At least three other pods. Help others first.”

The landing was rough. Bril emerged from the pod and, after ensuring that Tahiri was okay, opened his senses to the Force again. He needed to know who’d survived.

Wakefulness met Adele with a throbbing headache and burning pain in her leg. She got shakily to her knees. Seeing Anselm was down, she crawled over to check on him.

Jax tested his weight on his bad ankle and found it precarious. He leaned against the wall, eyes on his husband and daughter. “I don’t have a flare.”

Logan sat up and started digging through his snack bag. “Will this do?” He asked as he pulled out a flash bang grenade, showing it to Jax.

“That’s okay. I’ll figure something out. Keep your comms active. Wink.”

Jax grinned wolfishly at Logan. “That will do if Kobign’s cannot, thank you,” he said in perfect Ewokese. Then he looked to the others, gauging readiness. “Wink, Zigarashe.”

Seeing that Anselm was alive, she sighed in relief. Adele swayed slightly, her leg burning, she emerged from the pod to take in the view. “Well. This place looks inhospitable…”

Ro had held her tight, taking the full brunt as the pod crashed. Tahiri was fully aware and quickly scrambled from his grasp as the pod settled, assessing his wounds.

Anselm, after a short second nap, stirred. His head ached something fierce and his nose was clearly broken. Blood coated the left side of his face. “This fucking clan’s cursed.”

“It’s not cursed,” he said, “Troubled, for sure. But there’s a lot of beauty to be found in it.”

“You chose it, brother.” Adele limped into the pod, dripping blood on the floor as she went and began hunting for the medkit. “Do you sense anything?” she asked Bril.

“Many of our people have survived, but it’s difficult to determine the exact number,” he replied. “I’m not sure if it was the rough landing or something about this planet.”

While Bril looked outside, Tahiri pulled her brother into a sitting up position and there behind him was the medkit, she opened it and handed a bacta patch to Adele.

“Thank you,” Adele said, and began treating her brother’s injuries. “Well, at least there are some survivors. How far are they?” Her voice was tight from working through the pain.

KC landed the ship in a clearing, the area the pods came down was safe, well as safe as could be on this world, it made Myrkr look pleasant.

“It’s here if you need it” Logan said. Putting the flash grenade back in his bag and pulling out his LW-896 blaster pistol. He made his out of the pod.

Edema rushed down the ramp. “by the gods you survived”… “KC grab the survival kit, Chieftain, time to get off your ass, we’re gonna need you on this world”

The pain in his head lessened as the soothing effect of his sisters powers took root. When he was healed enough, Anselm stood up to wander close by and assess.

“I don’t know,” he replied, shaking his head. “The Force refuses to answer my call.” His senses were powerful, innate. So why was everything so clouded? Had it forsaken him?

As Anselm walked along, he couldn’t help the dizziness he felt. He had overloaded his body controlling that fire, and it seemed the side effects continued. “Seems I’m a liability.”

“As always, big brother,” Adele said in a pale attempt at a joke. To Bril: “Maybe it is this planet. Can you get a sense for how far they are?”

Zig fiddled with her equipment and omnitool. If she reversed the polarity with an inverse frequency…she could triangulate Jax’s position and create a directional nav in her HUD.

Jor came rushing down followed by KC, their grav trolleys loaded with any equipment they could find that could be of use, Chieftain was now standing overwatch.

Found him. She activated her jetpack and took off towards Jax’s location. As she flew, she sent another comm. “Edema, that you?”

She waved “sure is comrade, we have supplies, and shelter and medical kit, its not a lot but it will be something, get the kids inside when you can”

“No more than one or two kilometers,” he said. “I have a flare gun to signal our location. It’ll give us time to let the injured amongst us rest.”

Adele gave a slight nod at Bril’s words. “That seems like a wise move.” She accepted the medkit from Tahiri, and settled down to begin bandaging her leg.

“Copy- stay safe, will try to regroup once I find the others.” Zig radioed back as she wove through the murky sky towards Jax’s signal ping.

“roger, we will set up a basecamp here, the ground is stable and we have clear views around the area for 100m or more”

After finishing with Ro, Tahiri saw Adele’s leg and without hesitation placed her hands over the wound. “This is gonna need more than that medkit. Allow me.”

“Understood, will keep you updated.”

Tahiri had said what she had not wanted to, and Adele was grateful. “Thank you.” The warm energy washed over her leg, soothing the pain and stopping the bleeding.

Bril fetched his flare gun. He pointed it straight up, and fired. The flare shrieked from the barrel, painting a crimson streak across the sky.

“MORSE, what is our ETA? I would rather not upset my wife by being late for the gala.” MORSE’s integrated voice responded, “We will be arriving in 2 hours, Doctor.”

Now that she could move more freely without agony dogging her ever step, Adele got to her feel. “Maybe we should do some environmental scans in the meantime.”

Anselm looked to his sister and smiled. She’d always preferred taking the lead. “Are any of our tools working for that?” He hadn’t been able to take much stock yet.

Ro groaned as he shifted to try to stand, but his head spun even as he pushed himself up.

“Don’t move, I’m not finished with you yet,” Tahiri’s tone stern.

“What do you see?” Jax called to the man, seeing no point in a remand for risking the pod’s atmosphere as it was too late now. They all still breathed.

Taking stock of his gear, Anselm’s daggers had melted from the intense overheating. Much of his other gear seemed fried. Except for Druik , his droid rescued amonst the pod’s wreckage.

As Anselm began checking his weapons, Adele turned to Tahiri. “I can help with healing, if you want the assist.”

Glad to see you’re nothing a having a rough one, buddy.“ Anselm told his Droid, Druik as it rider in the air. "Can you scan the area for us, please?”

Logan stepped back into the pod shaking his head. “Nope.” He said before describing the nightmare they had just landed in. “Does anyone have any ideas? He asked.

Having fixed a rebreather on Marrien and his scarf around his own face, Kobign scanned one of the small windows. A red streak lit the sky. “A flare, five o'clock.”

“Thank you, I appreciate it. This voorpak brained dunce, decided it would be a good idea to try lifting heated metal,” she sighed and shook her head.

Anselm heard Tahiri’s words and couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. “I can attest to that. Heat plus metal equals a bad day for your bare fleshy hands.”

“Hey, I’m right here,” moaned Ro-Tahn, as he opened his eyes and gave them all a weak cocksure grin. “Besides, I knew Hiri, would heal me after my heroics.”

Adele laughed quietly. “It’s good to know I’m not the only one cursed with a self-sacrifical brother.” Despite her words, there was a note of pride in her voice.

As Anselm waited for Druick to return he flashed his sister a smirk. “One for one little sis. You pull that crap too.” He then winced as she punched him.

Adele tossed her blonde ponytail over her shoulder. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Noting his bruises, she added, “Must be the head injury talking.”

“A storm rolling in too,” Kobign related. Leaving the viewport, he glanced at the young couple and elderly man sitting anxious nearby then the others, waiting for some plan suggestions.

“The water could rise,” Jax growled, “or I would say we stay here inside. Let us make for the forest. Here.” He began to strip.

Just then, a jetpack could be heard cutting through the air. Then a thud as a heavy figure in armor landed nearby. Familiar, purple armor.

“Free show? Nice.”

“I am a married man, Zigarashe.” Jax smiled at her through the pain of pulling his suit leg off around his nearly severed cybernetic, clamping down on the howl.

Kobign couldn’t help but chuff. He had to admit if things were different, he’d had devious thoughts. “Zig, good to see your okay. Any chance you’re able to scan here?”

Jax used his claws and pulling with Canchi’s help to shred his bodyglove undersuit. He passed out sections and pieces of his armor as coverage for the civilians.

“You see its always a ‘head injury’, you guys she always blames a ‘head injury. Can’t ever admit she’s wrong.” Anselm shot her another grin before Druick returned, beeping frantically.

Kobign frowned, worry clear on his face to those who knew him. He placed a hand at the small of Jax’s back, “What about you? Take my cloak, will you?”

“I can, yeah. But it’s touch and go. Want me to look at that, big guy?” Zig removed her helmet, tucked it under her arm and approached, kneeling down to peek at the cybernetic.

In another pod elsewhere nearby, Rue Kendis placed a palm on his sister’s face and murmured urgently, “Snowdrop, wake up,” with a surge of healing Light.

Kob nodded, then gave a grateful look at the aid offer. Leaving Jax in her trusted hands, he started shrugging off his cloak to hand over.

Jax knowingly took the offered cloak, inhaling that comforting ✨ scent✨ . “Yes, Zig, please, quickly. Time is short. Kobign, take the evacuees.” Take Marrien, was obvious.

Logan walked forward to the others. “What ya need me to do boss?”

The cut that had opened up on the side of Cryo’s skull thanks to the impact quickly healed with Rue’s help. Cryo groaned, turning over into the man.

“I can, will. Grabbing supplies and then we head out.” With Jax translating, Kob turned to Logan, “Help me empty the compartments?”

He then searched himself, stashing wares to carry.

Anselm rushed over, slightly dizzy, to the droid to calm it down and listen. After a few moments he turned to the others. “We have an acid rain storm approaching.”

“An acid rain storm?” Adele glanced at the remains of the pod. “Do we have time to find shelter? Or would this be sufficient?”

Logan moved over to the compartments and started loading ration packs, extra water bottles, and quick fire starters into his bag. “We should have enough to last a couple days.”

Druik responded with loud beeps and whirls. “Ok, calm down little guy.” Anselm met his sisters eyes. “Highly corrosive. Pod’s no good. We need to find shelter, or get rescued.”

“Fast-Good-Cheap triangle,” Zig reminded Jax, since usually you couldn’t have all three. “Fortunately, you have me.” Zig set to work with her omnitool with preternatural precision and mechanical alacrity.

Jax found the pain suddenly stop as Zig repaired his leg. And even the toe that gave him trouble was perfect. He yipped, standing easily now.

“Why didn’t you tell me the servos stabilizer was pulling left? ‘Could have fixed that in five seconds if you’d, you know, asked.” She stood, dusted herself off and grinned.

Adele pressed her lips together as she scanned the landscape. Violet eyes fell on the distant ruins. “It’s too far to run. Think we can teleport people there? Leapfrog style?”

Hidden behind his hair drapped over his left eye, the skin ached with a fiery burn. Anselm looked to his sister, grinned and sighed. “Well, we can certainly try, Del.”

She bit her lower lip in uncharacteristic indecision. “Unless anyone has a better idea? I… I’m not sure.”

Bril wasn’t so sure. “Those structures in the distance will protect us from the elements, but that’s at least five kilometers away. How far can you transpose in one go?”

One of the pods doors popped, swinging heavily open. Four minutes later, the other did. A couple heads poked from each before slowly the small groups of survivors exited, shaken.

Jor waved over to the survivors exiting the pods, gesturing for them to head to the camp, she was busy setting up trip alarms, to warn of critters.

“Good, that should hold us over a bit,” looking in the bag was translation enough. He stashed what he found and thumbed his wristlink.

“Bril, this is Kobign. Over.”

Bril’s eyes widened when he heard Kobign’s voice through his vambrace’s comlink. “Kob, you’re alive! Good. Jax and Me'su?” he asked. “Where are you?”

Confused and in shock the civilians followed directives. A couple individuals carrying themselves like soldiers despite off-duty approached Jor. “Did any other pods make it? We can help, what now?”

“Approximately 50 feet,” Adele said. “The terrain is relatively flat, so that is helpful. If Anselm and I alternate…” She paused when a voice spoke over Bril’s com.

“Safe, they’re safe. I spotted your flare –” He cut off for a moment, then listed off coordinates clearly fed to him. “–Flood risk. Heading to higher ground and dry coverage.”

“And what state will the jump leave you in afterward? We should conserve our strength,” Bril said to Adele. Then, he answered Kobign. “We’ll rendezvous after the storm. Be safe.”

Adele sighed. “Probably not a great one.” She lapsed into silence, her frustration at the situation clear in her eyes.

“Copy that, likewise.” Kob closed comms and hoisted his pack onto his back – Marrien strapped to his front. “Socorra, Logan, with me. Jax, Zig, hold the rear? Everyone between us.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Zig quipped with a giggle that rolled into an indelicate snort. She popped her helmet back on and readied her equipment. Hehe, rear.

Logan pulled his bag onto his back, and stuffed his blaster pistol between the strap across his chest as he moved over to Job.

Jax, tall enough to feel the rain first when it happened, took position in the rear for once. Canchi was vigilant too.

An incomming message alerted to all Arcona personal in the area. “This is MORSE of the MLC-Providence. Our vessel is above planet now. Survivors, please report respond for prompt retrieval.”

“MORE of what? Supplies? Yes please. Zig quipped back over the comms. "We’re here, sending out signal.”

Rue kissed her head before tugging at her. “Cryo, we must join the others in rescuing survivors. Another Mandalorian has come to help.” He looked out the emptying pod.

Cryo groaned as she brought herself to her feet with the help of Rue. She reached to her belt to make sure her blaster and knives were there. “I’m up.”

Socorra placed her beskar helmet over Turhaya’s head. It was huge on the toddler but he cheered and jumped up and down. “Lookit me lookit me Unca Jax!!”

Jax said, “A fine warrior, Turhaya. Now step carefully. The floor is acid.” Thankfully they played floor is lava at home. Or the special edition: Aunt Atty Got Glitter Again.

“I have a brilliant idea,” he announced to the other members of his group.

Mama Mando frustratingly tried to throw her cloak around the kid too as he started hopping on Jax’s command, avoiding anything resembling a puddle. “Yes sir, Jax sir!”

Feeling better, Ro rolled his shoulders, glancing at Tahiri and Adele as they were trying to give Anselm some heals. “What’s the idea Brillo? Anything is better than nothing.”

Avoiding the acidic pools with less lengthy detours was easier in the margin between forest and marsh. Kob called back to Zig, “Relay we’re heading to the building compound nearby.”

He gestured to the escape pod. “We already know we can all fit, so we can use our telekinesis to hollow it out so we can float across the marshland.”

“And see if they can broadcast that openly to any others,” Kobign added, having paused to direct Canchi around a foul smelling soggy patch of marsh. The cythraul hopped along.

The pair joined the Mandalorians who had come to aid them along with the plainclothes soldiers. Rue looked around the acidic landscape and at the sky. “A storm…”

“Sounds like a plan,” Ro nodded, pulling out his All-kit tool and flashing a cocky smile. “Let’s get to work.”

Cryo put a hand on Rue’s shoulder. “It’s just rain, Cyar'ika. We’re okay.” She looked around at the people helping and simply stood there. Maybe she could be a civilian.

The comms devices again rang out with MORSE’s voice. “Attention survivors, you have been located and are being sent coordinates. This will be your evacuation point. Please do make haste.”

Under Ro’s guidance, Bril started to strip the pod of parts to make it lighter. “Could use some help, here,” he said to the others.

Logan trudged through the mud behind Kob. His short legs sinking down to his ankles with every step made him more or less waddle along.

“Relayed,” Zig affirmed as she took up a rear position and kept her helmeted head on a swivel.

“Sure.” Adele set to work, also following Ro’s directions in the targeted demolition of the pod.

With their combined efforts, it didn’t take them long to strip the pod of everything weighing it down, then to shape it into something more reminiscent of a raft.

Anselm stood with his sister and looked over the retrofitted pod. “Well, here’s hoping this works. I’d rather not get melted or burned…more.” His hair covering his left eye.

“No…” Rue shook his head, gnawing his knuckles. “Look at the water. The rain will also be acid. A storm will injure. This one can help.”

Rhylance commanded members of his crew as they finalized extraction plans. “Make sure there are medical droids available for any injured. I will accept no casualties. Arocona protects their own.”

Acid rain? That was new. “Oh. Just be careful, Rue. You’re the most important here.”

Confident in their work, in his plan, Bril was the first to take the metaphorical plunge. Dropping the pod on water’s surface, he stepped inside it. And it held.

Adele let out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding, before stepping onto the floating pod. It continued to remain afloat.

Rue shook his head. “Not at all, but this one will be careful.” And while the others began were evacuated, he started walking out carefully into the bubbling swamp.

Zig made a mental note to research anti-acid rain components. Probably could make a pretty penny if she could downsize it into an armor modification…

“And this is why they pay me the big bucks,” he said with a chuckle. “Seriously, though – thank you for the help.”

Jax knew that expression. “What are you masterminding, Zigarashe?” He offered Logan his shoulder, kneeling by the Ewok to get him out of the mud.

Logan wasted no time scrambling up onto Jax’s shoulder. Placing one have on top his head to balance himself Logan sighed in relief. “Thank you.”

“So it would seem. It was a good idea,” Adele replied. Let it not be said she was unwilling to give credit where credit was due.

Turi was thrilled to be on an expedition with so many Arconans, leaping from place to place as the group moved to the evacuation zone. He delighted in making Marrien giggle.

Giggle she did, distracted enough from the danger, though sensitive to the stressed scents from her parents.

Cryo began to follow the man out, resisting the urge to grumble. She knew there wasn’t changing his mind, but she wished she could.

Rue approached the nearest boiling, sulfuric shoreline and promptly stuck his hand in, counting out loud under his breath calmly.

Cryo stayed with the man the whole time, wincing when she watched his hands submerge. “Please…”

“A small test,” he promised, smiling at her though there was pain in his eyes. He pulled his blistering, bright red hand back out, estimating acidity calculations.

“Contemplating reversing the chemical composition of acid rain against sith alloys, beskargam, and energy shields and seeing if that could apply to a more easy-to-aquire modification part.”

“I hope for no more acid,” Jax sighed, but smiled at her. “You are brilliant, Zigarashe. I daresay it will be a basic invention for you.”

Cryo reached over and pulled him away from the pool, tying to be gentle. She respected his autonomy but this was… Too much. “Rue…”

“It is alright,” he assured, showing his already healing flesh. He closed his eyes, brows furrowing. “This one can sway the storm…somewhat.”

Zig frowned. “It’s less about…can it be created or not, but…to scale it for mass production and keep cost down so people can actually afford it…”

“It doesn’t look alright.” Her voice was just short of stern, working hard to tread that line. “Let’s go back to cover.”

Against Kob’s chest, Moonbear suddenly yawned sleepily.

You never give me credit when it’s due, Anselm responds to his sister through their mental link. He gave her a soft wink. Really feeling the love there, little sis.

Adele paused and glanced up at her brother with an unreadable expression. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” She dropped her eyes and moved aside, waiting for the others to come aboard.

Anselm’s grinned dropped, seeing her expression. He continued speaking in their mental link. Hey, you know I’m just kidding right? I don’t feel disregarded or disrespected by up. Never have.

Blaster fire could be heard away in the murky fog of the marsh, occasionally chieftan would launch a barrage of missiles, but it’s target was never seen.

<@244244163002892288> <@244244400488710155>

Rue followed his partner, blindly, opening eyes glowing with light as he concentrated on the weather system around them.

Jor began to set up static fields around the Camp while Edema set up a transponder and guided those who were close to the shelter of the camp.

“Oh hell no,” Zig grumbled as she took off on her jetpack. She maneuvered deftly away from the group and fired her whistling birds from her vambrace at the creatures.

Kobign froze at the clicking rising from the forest. Pressing a protective hand to Marrien, he glanced back at Jax, suddenly tense and weary. The flare appeared in his hand.

Hell no was right.

Oops All Explosives was suddenly a good thing. Jax unslung his high ordinance grenade launcher.

The young woman hiking with them stiffled a cry, hugging her partner who looked shaken too. Wisely, they sought the others’ guidance while the old Twi'lek man reeled to fight.

“I’ll try to aggro away from the civies” Zig’s said over comm. Guilty Spark hovered after her, but was struggling with the tree branches and canopy for now.

“Go!” Jax barked the order to his husband and Socorra, herding the group.“Go for the station! We will cover you!”

He aimed and fired.

Logan pulled his blaster pistol from between the straps on his sack. With one arm wrapped around Jax head, he looked for something to shoot like a shoulder mounted turret.

“That isn’t good,” said Bril while unclipping his lightsaber from his belt. He promptly stepped out of the pod and onto solid ground. “Look alive, everyone.”

Kobign nodded, grabbed Turi and placed him on Canchi’s back. He beckoned the group to follow in a brisk jog through the trees, trying to avoid acid rain and creatures.

Jax fired another grenade, then let the launcher hang on its sling as he took an Imploder from his belt and aimed. Threw.

“Logan, Denton charges in my backpack. Throw!” barked Jax.

The Imploder detonated. An entire sphere of space and creatures– vaporized. Afterimages of heat.

Zigs whistling birds darted experimintally but like angry hornets towards the monsters.

Logan shifted around to dig through Jax’s backpack. He laughed as he pulled out the Denton charges and started throwing them into the swarm.

With the sudden swarm, Rue ceased tempering the storm. He knew this was danger, and that meant Cryo would protect him at cost to herself. “Snowdrop, will you trust me?”

“With my life,” Cryo replied, her DC-17 now in one hand with a throwing knife at the ready in the other.

“Then allow me to carry you this time.” In a shift of radiance, transformed into a massive, six-legged, chitinous armored shape. It bowed for her to climb up.

Despite being together for months, Cryo still hadn’t gotten used to the shapeshifting. Especially into something like that. Hesitantly, she hopped on, feeling a little awkward. “Be careful.”

BugRue tappied its frontmost legs before taking off at speed into the shallows of acid water. But the species survived lava flows.

Dirt, bark, bug bits rained as explosions and whistling darts met them. The young couple slipped in the mud running, the woman pulling him while the old Twi'lek tripped hard.

Edema took a sniff of the fog, something about it was off, wrong even “hey KC, did your scans mention anything about this fog?” the droid shook his head.

“I know. I’m just having a moment.” That ‘moment’ lasted until the mechanical thrum shook the land, disturbing the killer swarm. Adele drew her lightsaber and leapt onto the shore.

The fog thickened, swirling around the Camp, Something worried her about it but she tried to ignore it, focusing on making the site safe and hoping others found it.

Bril ignited his lightsaber and hurled it toward them. Concord’s brilliant white blade tore through the air on a long arc, momentarily keeping the creatures at bay.

The voices… Where were they coming from. The fog swirled, coating the camp in a thick blanket, and the smell, it wasn’t bad, but it was disconcerting, and the voices.

Adele extended her hand, intending to create a protective barrier. It flickered briefly, before vanishing. “Keep it together,” she growled in self-admonishment as she ignited her lightsaber.

The group tried to busy themselves, but they could all now hear the strange voices in the fog, cries, whispers, even what sounded like their own voices at times.

Cryo rode Rue as the hybrid clattered along the acid lake on long legs.

The camp was ready, the wounded being sorted in the ship, everyone else was bunked in hab-tents. The fog was thick, coating the camp, shapes whirled in the gloom.

Following his senses, bug!Rue made his way towards the only other familiar presences: Bril.

there was a sudden scream in the camp, Edema jerked and looked around to see what had happened, only to see equally concerned and confused faces looking back at her.

Rue covered territory quickly in this form. The couple soon saw an escape pod converted to a boat, and lightsabers lit. Rue clacked. Hopefully no one shot at them.

Cryo had found whatever handhold she could in bug!Rue’s chitinous armor, blaster in her free hand. She saw the sabers and given their usual company, she hoped for safety.

“Sir, we have fighters incoming! Four Squadrons!”

Rhylance activated a holomap projector and his face broke into a sinister grin.

“This is their one mistake. They will get no others.”

“All hands, reign fire on these parasites.”

Two turbo lasers and 16 missile silos began firing on the encroaching squadrons. The Doctor watched as hellfire engulfed his enemies.

“Maintain pressure.”

Adele growled as she missed one bug with her lightsaber and another with a TK punch. “Maybe we should retreat back to the water.”

For the first time since first harnessing his powers, Amselm felt no flames. He felt weak. His arms were shaky. But nothing was worse than seeing his sister in trouble.

Bril shoved an ichor potion into Anselm’s chest. “Drink,” He turned to deflect a blaster bolt from a passing fighter, but missed. Something got in his eye! “Adele’s right. Move!”

Adele growled and threw all her frustration into channeling the Force. A golden corona appeared between them and the bugs. “Go. I’ll join you once you’re out on the water.”

Bril nodded and gestured for the others to enter the pod. Tahiri helped Ro aboard, and he helped Anselm by throwing the man’s arm over his shoulders.

Fine cracks were already beginning to appear as the bugs crashed against the barrier. Adele set her jaw, bracing her arm with her hand as she focused.

Seeing the distress, Rue let Cryo down in the “boat” and transformed back into himself. His eyes glowed, hand lifting, an acidic tornado forming towards the creatures only.

The clone got herself situated, standing partially in front of Rue to take any damage that may come

Anselm saw the acidic tornado and grinned wide. Channeling the Force, he focused on the tornado and watched as it burst into flame! “Time to burn, you gross insect bastards!”

“No!” Rue yelped, pleading. Light spilled from his mouth and even the tears that left his eyes suddenly. “Don’t hurt them!” He merely kept them away.

Cryo did as she was told, simply holding her weapons at the ready, waiting for the enemy to approach. She’d only kill if necessary

“Its us or them!” Anselm shouted out before turning to look at Rue. “And I have no plans to watch my sister get hurt or die for your bleeding heart.”

“I hate EVERYTHING about this,” she grumbled as the acid tornado of fiery death raged in front of her. She kept the barrier, letting the ‘boat’ get more distance.

Cryo resisted every urge to snap back at the stranger. Internal conflict wouldn’t get her anywhere, though if her Rue started to cry, that would be another story.

Rue openly cried, feeling the pain from the bugs that burned. He dropped to his knees, keening, using the windstorm to get the flaming creatures into the water further away.

“Come on! Ain’t leaving you behind!” Kobign helped the Twi'lek back onto his feet.

Red lights zipped past overhead. Starfighters.

“Jax, Zig. Can you distract, lock them onto the pack?”

“On it!” Jax roared back to his mate. He pulled out an incindeiary mine, primed it with a wide contact, and threw it into the insects like discus.

The ‘boat’ was far enough from the shore hopefully. The barrier shattered as Adele vanished, appearing a moment later in the boat. She dropped into a sitting position, breathing heavily.

The mine, far overhead, triggered per Jax’s settings. Napalm rained down over in a cloud over the insects, creating a screen of flame to lock on to.

After a moment, she realized that there were more people in the pod than expected. “Wait,” she said as she caught her breath. “Where’d you two come from?”

Rue, trained to answer any question even when sobbing, replied, bowed, “Southwest, Mistress.”

As the mine detonated, Kobign pulled the old man behind a wall of earth and roots. “Take cover here! Come on!”

The civilian couple and Canchi with Turi followed suit.

“Just Adele’s fine,” she said trying not to feel too bothered by the person sobbing like a child. “Were there others with you?”

Jax continued defending the escaping group with Logan.

-

“Evacuated, Mistress Just Adele. There is a rescue ship.”

“Not Just Adele, just Adele,” she said. “Um, nevermind. A rescue ship? That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. How far is it?”

Rue reported the location and distance Edema’s ship had last been in before taking off with others.

Logan and climbed off of Jax’s shoulder and had wedged himself into his backpack. Still pulling out granades the little ewoke counted off bugs as they exploded.

The camp was set and the mysterious fog was disappearing, KC came running down the ramp arms flailing so Edema turned to see what was wrong.

“Sir, the enemy is circling back!” The first altercation was almost definitive. All that remained of the attackers were a handful of fighters. Rhylance answered with intensity. “Kill them all.”

Dusting off quickly, the prism locked it’s wings and lasers, Chieftain was left to protect the survivors, the ship had a flight of uglies to turn into scrap.

Starfighters screamed past, launching torrents upon the explosively lit horde. How long till they switch to the survivors? Kobign looked to the others, uncertain they should stay above for extraction.

Like a dragon she swooped in from the sun, laser pulses coming from her multitude of weapons, striking down uglies with each horrific blast of energy.

After a quick exchange and a barrage of bolts several meters away, the group made a break for the underground. They dodged acid puddles and leaping insects before stumbling inside.

The fighters stopped their ground attack, the sudden attack from the Prism changing their motivation and significantly thinning their numbers, swinging around, the survivors engaged the new target.

“How long can we defend here?” Kobign called to Logan and Jax.

The latter reached into his pack while considering, finding it light. “Depends how heavy they come. Five left.”

Logan ducked down into the backpack. “Getting low on granades!” He called out.

Kobign paused in dread as he looked down at Marrien, then Turi and the civilians.

“I think we need to use the tunnels! Might bring us to the extraction safer!”

The remaining uglies peeled off, choosing escape over death, so the Prism switched to ground support and flew in on a strafing run, her coms open for any arconan survivors.

MORSE monitored the comms channels, looking for anyone needing immediate extraction. “We need to expedite this MORSE. Can not have Lucine being disappointed tonight.” Rhylance said from his command chair.

The strafing run ripped into the ground forces. “Nightfall Prism to any survivors, please respond and ping IFF” The ships lasers tore craters into the ground while it approached.

Floating as they were in the acid ocean and not knowing where to go, they made sure to message for extraction

“Sir, we have recieved a request for extraction.” Rhylance gave a small nod to his droid assistant. “Well, it is about damn time. Send down a shuttle, quickly and quietly.”

Thankfully Jax and Zig’s comms could ping before they joined their group below ground.

“Rescue coming!” Jax called to his family, Kob holding MooMoo close.

As pings came through, shuttles launched from the Providence to rescue the survivors. Rhylance watched from his holoscreens and his red eyes flared, the feeds reflection gleaming off his glasses.

The ship circled, waiting to hear from any survivors then saw shuttles from the Providence “Prism to Providence shuttles, ground is clear, you’re good to go, Prism out”

Anselm looked at their current situation, rolled his eyes, and spoke to his sister along their link. “Fuck this, I’m calling for that evac.” He pinged the Providence for help.

“Need to move fast then!”

After facing a couple security measures and slicing into the network to unlock doors, the group made their way up to safer ground for extraction.

“This is why you’re the smart twin,” Adele replied through their link as she turned her eyes skyward. “Are things always this exciting in Arcona?”

“I mean, it seems so. I kinda just joined my sister,” Ro chuckled.

“Yeah. Just cause I still have to save your karking ass at times,” she rolled her eyes.