The bolt streaks straight at the figure in black, on a path to cause serious harm. With an unnatural flourish of speed the Figure ignites a Red Double Saber and deftly reflects the bolt, it just barely scrapes their arm. The effort of reacting so quickly would be clearly showing to any who could see the face under that cowl.

In a sudden rush the beast leaps from atop the rubble pile, down into the Engagement in the Library. As this happens the robed figure, now wielding a bright red glowing double lightsaber launches off the beast, almost flying through the air straight towards Larik. The onrush of such a deadly foe catches everyone off guard, Discipline is required to prevent panic and keep a level head in this overly aggressive situation.

The large creature launches at the throat of one of the Krogan, sinking its teeth in, the Krogan grunts and punches it hard in the chest to shake it off, falling back to his companions side.

As the beasts are tearing at the Krogan the cloaked stranger launches their attack. They leap from atop the rubble straight at Larik, saber out and a fluid series of strikes follow. During the dual the cowl falls back from the face of the attacker, revealing a scared female Zabrak, a wild look of utter joy in her eyes. She launches more bursts of flurries at Larik, constantly moving, blade always on the attack. She pushes the Dullest back, the flourishes making his attempts to attack ever more challenging.

[incidental reaction to the deflection]

Queg swears under his breath as he sees the bright crimson blade of energy deflect his precisely aimed blaster bolt.

Khit takes care to Aim this time at the pack of beasts, firing in as much control as she can muster right now. The shots all go wide but fortunately they force the Pack back a little as their forced to duck and weave, making any retaliation more challenging for them.

The two Krogan shout their rage at the added foes and, seeing a larger, more worthy prize in the "alpha", they whip out their blaster rifles and open fire on it, striking with brutal accuracy.

Larik's mother taught him to initially give ground to an attacker. It gives you an opportunity to see what arm they lead with, to analyze their footwork, find an opening and an edge. He allows the Zabrak to push him back while he deconstructs her style, and then in a flash he turns her attack against her. When she goes in for an overhead lunge he slips to the left and brings his saber around from right to left. She recognizes she's opened herself up and quickly pulls her saber down to partially slide aside his weapon, but not completely. He's able to push through and slip his saber down her blade before lifting at the last second to sear a gash into her left thigh.

But then, overconfident, as is his way, Larik realizes too late she's anticipated his maneuver and only through the sheer force of will is he able to pull his saber's handle away from the angry wail of her whirling red blades. Breathing heavily he retreats a step and brings his family's saber in front of himself to a more defensive position, admitting to himself this may be a battle he can not win.

Naught started awake, unsure if she was roused by the carnage of the battle around her or by a tremor in the Force. Collecting her wits, she noted the beasts attacking the Krogan, but her attention was more drawn by the vicious Zabrak trying to kill Larik. Unable to follow the quick back and forth of their clashing lightsabers but able to tell that Larik was losing ground, she found her center and drew upon the Force. It responded to her desire to protect her friend and flowed through her as she sought to surround the Zabrak with a binding field to slow her movements and force her to tire herself battling the weight of Naught's will.

But the Zabrak possessed a will that rivaled Naught's own.

Naught focused every once of her being on restraining the Zabrak, but the Zabrak's own instinctive draw upon the Force rebuffed and negated her efforts. Taken aback by the fury of the assailant's denial, Naught could do nothing but fall back into a guarded stance and see how the dark Jedi responded to her interference. She emptied her mind, preparing herself to respond faster than thought to whatever attack the Zabrak might levy at her.

The Zabrak scowls at Naught, "You little mouse don't know what cage you have entered" The Gands assault may have been deflected but there was strength there. A quick glance at Flik reveals to her all she needs to know about his health, he is in bad shape. The decision is obvious, time to leave, but not without leaving a scar behind. She leaps forwards once more, striking high, low then high again forcing Larik back even further, right into the waiting claws of some of her pack. The adrenaline pumping, she drew the Force into herself, fuelling her body and reenergising her.

Leaping to land on Flik's back the two take off, straight out the small door at the opposite end of the building through which she had entered. Some of the Pack keep close, Flik commands respect amongst the pack and he was hurting, he needs their protection. The rest of the Pack make a final assault, but more as a warning, before fleeing themselves they are just cresting the rubble pile and haven't disappeared into the night yet.

After the being on the mount deflected his blaster bolt and fled over the hill of rubble, Queg hears an increase in the shouts and struggle from the other side of the wall. He was about to lower his weapon to rush in to aid those in peril, when, not ten seconds later a group of smaller beasts, like the one the stranger was riding, crest the hill of rubble. On reflex, his hunting blaster snaps up, he takes careful aim, and fires at the first one to enter his cross hairs. When he realizes how many are in this pack, he swallows and focuses his energy to prepare for an incoming attack.

Lalam crouches behind the rubble, fingers brushing his blaster, watching the felines scatter. When he's sure they are gone he quietly makes his way to the ruined building. There's no light within. Maybe they're all dead? He pokes his head in around the door, one hand on his stun club: "Anybody alive in there?" he asks.

One of the beasts in the pack makes a parting swipe at Naught, but she was already elsewhere, having begun her reaction to the attack before it even began. As the Zabrak withdrew, the Gand let out a long, slow breath. She had never encountered power on that scale, and she was more than a little relieved that the Zabrak had elected to withdraw rather than press the attack. "Larik, are you all right?" she called. Seeing that he was winded, but largely unharmed, she instead moved to the Krogan and pulled out her medpac to treat their injuries. "Have you seen that Zabrak before?" Naught asked as she bandaged and stabilized a shoulder.

When a Weequay poked his head around the door and asked "Anybody alive in there?" Naught was startled, but quickly responded, "We seem to be. Did you see which way that Zabrak with the red lightsaber went? This Gand does not relish the thought of her circling around to swoop on us again."

"ThisGand?" says Lalam. "How many ThisGands can there be?" he wonders aloud. "I just left a ThisGand a couple weeks ago on..." He rubs at a growing bruise under one of his dreadlocks. "...On wherever that was."

"I think the red lady went that way." He points vaguely in the direction he saw her flee, then rummages through his pack. "I might have a stimpack somewhere, if anybody needs one."

Larik tries to slow his breathing and find his calm center, but after the sneak attack he's simply too much on edge to soothe his nerves. He sees Naught tending the wounded and wordlessly gestures toward Khit when Naught looks his way. He can't help but feel responsible for the carnage. It was his watch and this happened. He feels the fear, anger and hatred start to well up in the pit of his stomach and he nearly lashes out with his light saber when he's surprised by a Weequay poking its head around the corner. He controls himself, but stares at the newcomer suspiciously as Naught questions him about the Zabrak. Slowly it begins to dawn on him this new face isn't a new face at all.

"Hey, how did you get here," Larik asks. "You were one of the ones the broker summoned weren't you? What was your name again?"

Khit sits quietly while Naught tends her wounds, the shock of the entire encounter still rattling her nerve. The bandages comfort her, and the Stim she injects work quickly to heal her aches and pains. The fear though of those creatures surprising her in such a violent way will haunt her for a long time to come, that animals can be violent is not unknown to her, but the Cruelty that emanated from that Zabrak shook her to her core.

Suddenly Khit hears the call from outside and instinctively draws her rifle, never again... she wont be caught off guard ever again. She raises the rifle 'just in case'.

At the mention of "the broker", some of Lalam's memories come flooding back: the strange meeting, the job that turned out not be a job, and the ... the Acklay (he shuddered again thinking of it) that wanted a hug of all things... it weren't natural, none of it. It might say it wanted a hug, but those teeth said otherwise. Made his skin crawl, like he'd fallen into a nest of blood-wrigglers. "Weequay don't hug," he'd said, but it was pure bravado...he'd hightailed it out of there faster than a mynock fleeing a blowtorch. Then came the second call...he couldn't remember it all, but it must have been convincing because, well, here he was.

"Larik? Did you follow us?" He points to his companion. "This here is Queg. Won't find a finer shot this side of...wherever we are. Our ship crashed over there and we woke up to shots."

Just before Lalam introduces him, Queg steps on a loose chunk on the mound of rubble, hunting blaster slung over his shoulder, and slides down the pile, rubble spilling every which way, quite loudly. He looks a little startled from the maneuver and more than a little embarrassed, but **** if he didn't look awesome doing it.

The two Krogan stare at him as he approaches the Weequay, cast a glance at one another, then shake their heads, laughing silently.

Queg nods at the gathered, rough and tumble group before speaking. "Queg Buuk," he says, "Big game hunter."

He turns to address Lalam, lowering his voice. "Can we trust these people? Also, we shouldn't stray from our campsite for too long. We don't want anything to plunder or damage our speeders. Not to mention, I have valuable equipment stored on my bike."

"Lalam!" Naught responds, recognition dawning, "This Gand is happy to see another friendly face on this world. It was unfortunate that we got separated in the first place." Nodding to the Rodian, she adds, "Welcome Queg. If you wish for some safety in numbers, this camp is open to you. Some extra eyes to watch for our recent attacker would be much appreciated."

"My thanks," Queg says, replying to the Gand. "I don't mind keeping watch in case more of those cats show up, as long as Lalam and I can retrieve our speeder bikes and gear from our camp first. If someone can repair my scanner goggles, all the better. I'm not one for field repairs."

He indicates the scanner goggles with their recently broken strap by pulling them from his belt.

Lalam looks regretfully at Queg's scanner goggles but doesn't say anything. "If you guys don't need a stimpack, we should get our gear. Lead the way, Queg."

Larik simply stands there, mouth slightly agape, the barest hint of a bewildered smile tugging at the edge of his lips during the entire exchange. For the first time in a very long while, possibly ever, he's lost for words.

Lalam and Queg leave to retrieve their gear and Larik once again looks around to the rest of his companions, struggling with the idea just a few short weeks ago he never knew they even existed and now he was willing to give his life to protect them. Another few moments pass quietly and finally his words return, not many, but the only ones he has right now and when he says them, he means them more than anything he's ever said in his entire life:

"What the hell just happened?"

After a few minutes, the twin whines of a pair of approaching speeder bikes heralds the return of Queg and Lalam. Queg reenters the abandoned library carrying what appears to be some sort of bow instead of his hunting blaster. Wordlessly, he sits near the campfire and watches what he assumes to be the most likely entry point for any further intrusions.

None of his new companions, even Lalam, have spent much time with Queg, but a well-trained observer will note he looks distracted or out of sorts.

With the niceties over, you all settle back down to try and get some sleep before dawn breaks and your journey continues. Being extra vigilant you set a double watch, but rotate regularly to give everyone time to recover. Occasional noises in the dark are unsettling, some dream of home while others dread the felines who woke them, but the rest of the night passes uneventfully. Finally, with a quiet sigh of relief from those on watch, the dim sun rises above the horizon into an overcast cool day. Breakfast is had by all, the Ronto is fed, and camp is packed, Saddle bags on swoops bulge with everyones gear.

The Krogan then wish you all luck, this is the end of their territory, they will be returning home today, most likely to warn their clan of the new threat faced by you all last night. The give some last minute directions (Add a boost to todays Navigation rolls) before they depart in the direction opposite to your destination. On the horizon is the silhouette of the crashed Star Destroyer, your guidepost to follow. Between you are two days travel, time to get on the road... if there where any left.

"I probably should have asked this last night," Queg says to the group as he "expands" his speeder to its standard size from its storage configuration, "But where are you lot heading? Lalam and I were on our way to the downed Star Destroyer for...a personal matter." He points out the looming silhouette in the distance.

He did not elaborate his original intent for travelling to this war-torn planet - that he was planning to recreationally hunt some Imperial officers, since that tends to offend those with weak stomachs or Imperial sympathies. He also takes this time to store away the bow-like weapon and retrieve his hunting blaster from the confines of the speeder bike's storage compartment.

Naught roused herself from her meditations. The altercation with the Zabrak the previous night still unsettled her, but it had given her a different perspective on the Force that had deepened her understanding in a tangible way. It was amazing how much came into focus with contrast. Communing with Arkady had also given her some new insights on influencing the minds of others, something she was quickly coming to see as vital if she was to show anyone a different path than the one they were walking.

Standing and walking over to the Rodian, she offered an answer to his query. "We are looking for someone who contacted us and called us here for assistance," Naught nods in the direction of the Star Destroyer, "and that is our landmark. This Gand now suspects that this may have something to do with last night's assailant."