|
Post by Cachot Maître on Sept 19, 2009 22:29:25 GMT -5
EVERYTHING'S GOT A MORAL, IF ONLY YOU CAN FIND IT. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Her gaze drifted back to the beacon.
"That'll take too long to explain. I'm guessing we have about ten minutes at best to get out of here. If they call for an ODS, we have that much time to get at least thirty miles away from here. An ODS covers everything in a 30 mile radius, and, if you manage to escape that, you still have troopers chasing after you." She was already searching the troopers for anything of value. Credits, ID Cards, the works. She grabbed one of the E-11's, and tossed it Manu's way. "I hope you know how to work one of those things. You'll need it if we're going to get off this planet."
She motioned to the saber in her hand, which she carefully placed onto her belt, then adjusted it so it was underneath her clothing. "I can't go flashing this thing in town. Too many people loyal to the Empire." She swiftly moved to the exit from the hole and looked up the stairway, then at Manu. "You have a speeder right?"
|
|
|
Post by ippo on Sept 19, 2009 22:36:43 GMT -5
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID THINGS IN LARGE NUMBERS. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Nearly fumbling the blaster rifle, he hefted it to feel the weight of it. He's only used a rifle in passing. Those he's had got worn away by the sand. But considering all this information coming through to him, he was as good as dead if he didn't get outta here. Disappearing into the back, he returned moments later with a satchel of clothes and a few supplies.
"Mos Eisley and Mos Espa are both about fifty miles from here," he answered, slinging the pack over his shoulder. "I got a speeder that can get us there. Once we get there, I dunno. But I know I'm gonna have a lot of questions." He headed out the front door towards his excuse of a garage and towards his red land speeder. A quick check to make sure all the repulsors and gear worked.
To think, a life forever changed in the course of only five minutes. How he wasn't panicking was anyone's guess. Maybe it comes with age.
|
|
|
Post by Cachot Maître on Sept 19, 2009 23:07:57 GMT -5
EVERYTHING'S GOT A MORAL, IF ONLY YOU CAN FIND IT. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - She was never comfortable when it came to riding in the passenger seat.
Oh well. She'd get over it. "Once we get there, we need to find someone who can get us off this planet." She thought for a moment, then clapped her hands together. "I know just the person. But, that won't matter if we don't get out of here, and fast." She motioned for him to take the wheel and take them out of here. If everything went according to plan, they should be able to get off the planet before a blockade managed to show up. Why prepare for something like that? Well, if you knew just how important this girl was, then, you'd think a blockade was child's play.
If there was a blockade though, she knew just the guy to run it. But, it wouldn't come cheap, and, there was a pretty good chance they'd all die. But, they would die if no action was taken anyway, so, she decided it would be best to take the risk, if the need ever came.
I LOST THEM ALL IN COMBAT, I SOLD THEM OUT. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Watch them scurry for their lives.
Insects.
All of them.
With hands clasped together and behind his back, he watched the scene unfold before him. Down below, in the pit, were streaks of color, most red, some yellow, others blue. Rain trickled down his mask, and fell into the pit, landing on glowing sabers, only to dissolve with a hiss instantly. Each drop felt so insignificant. So petty. But each drop was a part of the massive storm above. Yet, we never looked at the single drop of rain, and saw it for what it came from.
His musing was interrupted as another blade wielding acolyte fell, leaving only two standing. One held a red blade, the other, green. They all came from different backgrounds. All seeking power in some manner or form. Be it out of craving, or fear. It didn't matter to him. They were all pawns in his grand game. Just as he was in the Emperor's.
Insects.
"All of them."
|
|
|
Post by ippo on Sept 19, 2009 23:50:58 GMT -5
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID THINGS IN LARGE NUMBERS. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - With a hop, he cleared the cockpit into the driver's seat. A couple switches later, the speeder whirred to life, the small red ship levitating off the sandy floor. With a sigh and a grunt, he flicked a couple more switches and hit the accelerator. With a jump, the speeder rumbled out of the garage, hovering for a moment in the open air. He turned to the girl in the passenger seat.
"You said you know a guy," he hollered over the engine. "Where is he?"
|
|
|
Post by Cachot Maître on Sept 20, 2009 0:12:06 GMT -5
EVERYTHING'S GOT A MORAL, IF ONLY YOU CAN FIND IT. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - She nodded, then pointed in the direction of Mos Espa.
"He's in Mos Espa, but getting there will be the least of our worries. He's a pretty tough guy to meet, but, I think I might be able to convince him to help us." It was just then that she realized how much she already forced the farmer to do. She stumbled into his home, or rather was dragged into his home, killed nine FR Sandtroopers, told him he was now an enemy of the Empire, and that his home was about to be destroyed, along with him, if he stayed.
How he managed to stay calm under this sort of pressure was amazing, to say the least.
I LOST THEM ALL IN COMBAT, I SOLD THEM OUT. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Finally, only one remained.
With a wave of a hand, the platform he stood on, watching the trials below, lowered, and rested quietly on the damp surface. The acolyte was already kneeling, a hood brought up to cover the face. As was customary in this era. Acolytes were not worthy to look at the Sith unless they were accepted. Death was common, and it was forbidden to look upon the face of your killer, lest you be sentenced to a life of torture.
From underneath his mask, he stared hard at the acolyte. Something was different about this one. Something worthy of question. "Your name." It was a simple question, and, it wasn't rare for it to be asked at the end of the trials. The acolyte remained silent, however, staring hard at the ground from underneath it's hood. "Your name." He asked again. Still, no reply.
A crack-hiss was heard as his blade ignited, and rested over the acolyte's shoulder, inches away from it's neck. He wasn't going to ask a third time.
The acolyte shivered in the rain, both from fear, and from the cold. The warmth of the saber lingered was welcoming, but, there was no way an acolyte would give up so much and welcome the warmth. Finally, the name came.
"Mitsu-ru Masaki, m'lord." The words came out with each tremble. Then, the warmth came. Her hood fell from her shoulders and down onto the soaking wet ground. Her head was still attached to her neck. She was alive. She had passed.
"From this day forth, you shall carry the mark of the Sith." The saber grazed the skin of her neck, drawing a symbol on the back. Ancient Sith for apprentice. "Zhol kash dinora."
"Ja'ak."
It is done.
I am free.
|
|
|
Post by ippo on Sept 20, 2009 0:20:53 GMT -5
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID THINGS IN LARGE NUMBERS. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Right." The engine revved again, and with a bolt, they were off. He took one last look at his dome, his mountain and his farm. Was this honestly the last time he'd look at all this? Man, way to give up a livelihood at the drop of a hat. Still, a little excitement never hurt. It beats staring at the same dunes for thirty years. A hand rubbed his beard again as the speeder whizzed past the Imperial skiff and disappeared over the hills into the vast expanse of the Dune Sea.
Guess that shave'll have to wait.
|
|
|
Post by Cachot Maître on Sept 20, 2009 0:36:02 GMT -5
EVERYTHING'S GOT A MORAL, IF ONLY YOU CAN FIND IT. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - By the time the ODS came, they were long gone.
Still, that didn't stop her from looking back at the massive explosions, and the Imperial Star Destroyer in orbit above the farm. She was right in assuming they would send in an ODS. Still, it didn't help calm her nerves one bit. The Sith were going all out to capture her, and, she honestly didn't know why. She was just some Forcer, who happened to know about the Jensaarai. A lot of Forcers did. What made her so special?
That question would have to wait. Mos Espa was in sight. "We need to get to a place called Akim's Munch. The guy we're looking for works there. If he hasn't been fired already." She went through the glove box and, luckily, found a map of Mos Espa. With a pen she conveniently found, she drew a line through the streets to the location of the eatery.
|
|
|
Post by ippo on Sept 20, 2009 0:55:47 GMT -5
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID THINGS IN LARGE NUMBERS. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The scents and sounds of Mos Espa hit him all over again. A hovel where he generally dropped off his shipments of water for his payments. Unfortunately, he didn't come with a shipment today. He came with his life and a sack of clothes, and somehow he was satisfied being here. The explosions he saw and heard behind him before heading into the city limits sent shudders up and down. She handed him a map with a traced path. Oddly, it cut through many backroads and alleys. Makes sense, though, since the Stormtroopers are out in heavy patrol on the main thoroughfare. He set the map on the console between them.
"Yeah, I can do that," he remarked before returning to the controls. "Just point it out when we get there."
|
|
|
Post by Cachot Maître on Sept 20, 2009 2:09:18 GMT -5
EVERYTHING'S GOT A MORAL, IF ONLY YOU CAN FIND IT. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "We're here."
She leapt out of the speeder before the farmer even had the chance to turn it off. She was quick to enter the eatery, and gave no pause to let the bearded Forcer turn off his speeder and catch up with her. Inside, aliens from nearly every planet imaginable were seated, munching on a large variety of food, and conversing in their native languages. She paid no attention to them, but instead, went straight to the bar, where a rather scruffy looking Shistavanen was manning the counter, taking orders and yelling over the many cooking devices in the back. When he noticed her, he turned to a small window, growled something, then left the counter to have a Bith take his place.
He took her into a back room, but she slowed him enough to allow the farmer to spot them and follow. When the three were in, the Shistavanen locked the door and towered over her. "You were smart to come here, Suzu. Word has already spread about the ODS. The whole city is spreading rumors about it." His fur-covered brow rose as he eyed the farmer up and down. "Another Forcer? What's this guy's story?"
She dismissed the subject with a wave of her hand. "Not the time or the place, Remis. We need to get off the planet. You're probably the best pilot I know, and, the only one who has the coordinates to Susevfi." She spoke with a serious tone, but Remis couldn't help but laugh.
"There's a party at Mother's," he said, grinning widely. "And a good time will be had by all." She replied, and Remis' muzzled grin widened even more as he clapped his clawed hands together. "Very well. Looks like we're off to Verumi. Pack your bags, because we're leaving in five minutes." She watched him stride out of the room after unlocking it, then redirected her gaze to the farmer. "If we're about to go to Verumi, there's a few things you should know. First, my name is Suzu. What's yours?"
|
|
|
Post by ippo on Sept 20, 2009 12:14:47 GMT -5
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID THINGS IN LARGE NUMBERS. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - She's not the most patient girl in the world, it seems, but considering the situation, it was reasonable. Shutting the speeder off in front of the door, he pulled up his sack and hopped onto the ground, letting the door slide open. He hadn't been to this particular eatery before. Most of the time, he only stayed in Mos Espa to drop off his shipments and grab a bite somewhere. All colors and all voices hit him at once, the sensation not new but still bewildering. Eyes caught the girl waving him over to the back room before they disappeared. With a heft of his sack, he followed behind her, just in time to hear the tail end of the conversation and the Shistavanen disappear out the door. Weathered eyes turned to look down at...Suzu, right? Verumi? Never heard of it. He cleared his throat to answer.
"Manu Nomarin, moi--"
He paused.
"--former moisture farmer."
|
|
|
Post by Cachot Maître on Oct 3, 2009 21:10:18 GMT -5
EVERYTHING'S GOT A MORAL, IF ONLY YOU CAN FIND IT. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Former. Right. Whoops.
"I'm sorry about this whole mess, Manu." She leaned against a wall inside that small storage closet. She was visibly thinking, sizing Manu up and down. He had to have been somewhere in his thirties, so how could he be oblivious to his Force Sensitivity? Maybe she got some sort of mixed signal from him, and he was just another norm. Or, maybe, what she sensed was true, and he could make a Hopeful yet.
"Nevertheless," she said, pushing herself from the wall. "We should really get to the hanger. We'll have plenty of time to talk about what's going on once we get off this rock. Susevfi is all the way in the Suarbi System, which is in the Quence Sector. It isn't that far of a flight, and, could take about two hours..." She paused for a moment, going over the actual flight time from just memory alone. "But with the asteroids, and gravity wells, and everything else, we're looking at sixteen hours of flight."
The door opened and Remis had a small satchel at his side. "Come on, the Maiden's Lance is prepped and ready to go. Kine is aboard and ready to fly us out of here." Suzu groaned loudly as the three left the storage closet. Remis guided them through the back, and then through a series of alleyways and buildings, until they found themselves in a medium sized hanger, with a ship waiting for them.
It was a medium sized freighter, large enough to carry all sorts of cargo, but small enough to run through even the tightest of blockades. Remis was already jogging ahead to run up the ramp, to inform Kine that it was time to go. Suzu, on the other hand, simply slinked ahead, hands shoved into her pockets, and shoulders hunched in obvious distaste.
As they boarded the ship, a man leapt out from seemingly nowhere and blocked Suzu's path. He opened his mouth to talk, but Suzu gave him a quick punch to the jaw, and he stumbled back, rubbing it, but grinning all the same. "Still as feisty as ever, aren't ya', Suzu?" He blinked, then eyed Manu up and down. "Who's the ancient Forcer? Friend of yours?" Suzu kept walking, and ducked to enter the cockpit. She found Remis working on the controls of the ship, and there was a slight turbulence as it lifted into the air.
As far as she was concerned, she was glad there were no troopers blasting at them from the hanger.
|
|
|
Post by ippo on Oct 3, 2009 21:30:11 GMT -5
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID THINGS IN LARGE NUMBERS. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - At least she meant well.
They slid between the alleys into the hangar, and Manu slowed down. He'd seen shuttles ducking in and out of the city all the time. He'd never had a chance to actually get to a shuttle up close. This was actually pretty neat to lo--
Crack.
An eyebrow arched as a guy leaned against the rail of the ramp and Suzu stomped up the ramp. He shrugged and shuffled inside, ducking low to avoid bumping his head on the entrance. Wandering around for a bit, he found himself a seat in the main atrium, pushing his satchel around to the seat next to him.
"Nice place," he rumbled to himself. Cozy. It was about as big as his old house.
|
|
|
Post by Cachot Maître on Oct 3, 2009 21:57:41 GMT -5
I'LL BREAK THE SEAL OF THIS CURSE IF I POSSIBLY CAN, FOR FREEDOM OF EVERY MAN. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - His jaw was still hurting.
Kinezumi Gufu found himself strolling around the ship with his hands folded behind his head. After wandering aimlessly for a good minute or so, he found himself walking into the main atrium, where the 'ancient forcer' was sitting down on one of the seats. Honestly, he didn't see what the big deal was with this guy. He could sense that he was a Force Sensitive, but, that was about it. Nothing special.
So, why would Suzu bring him to Verumi? What could he possibly do to help them? The only way he'd find out was to pry the answer from him!
"Hey, what'd you say your name was?" He grinned as he walked forward, then leaned against the holo-projector in the middle of the room. His hair was an unnatural shade of orange, and his eyes were almost golden yellow. He wore a simple outfit, consisting of smuggler pants, and a simple T-shirt. Upon closer inspection, Manu would be able to note his lightsaber, which was almost identical to Suzu's, except for a few key details here and there.
|
|
|
Post by ippo on Oct 3, 2009 23:21:18 GMT -5
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID THINGS IN LARGE NUMBERS. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Eyes looked up at the young kid with the wild head of hair. Looked like the dunes misplaced something, the way he looked so orange. With a grunt, he leaned back in his seat, pushing his satchel aside delicately and folding his hands across his chest.
"Manu Nomarin," he replied plainly. He looked him over once. "So, who are you and why'd she sock you in the jaw?"
|
|
|
Post by Cachot Maître on Oct 3, 2009 23:41:59 GMT -5
I'LL BREAK THE SEAL OF THIS CURSE IF I POSSIBLY CAN, FOR FREEDOM OF EVERY MAN. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Seriously? She didn't talk about him?
"Oh, I'm hurt. Suzu never said anything about me? I'm Kinezumi Tracyn Gufu, last of my family name. I've chosen Suzu to carry on my name, and one day, she'll realize that she loves me, and we'll get married on top of a mountain. But, that's something for another day. She thinks she hates me, but, she's obviously in love with me. That's why she punched me."
He seemed completely serious about what he said, despite how ridiculous it may sound to someone other than him.
|
|