Not Zando..? As soon as the child begins her withdrawal back into the smoke, Astrid rushes forward, tugging her goggles into place. If she is not Zando, I have to try...

"Mr. Zando, with all due respect, sir," Yorik was very careful to keep his voice low and emotionless. "We'll be on our way." He spoke loudly and evenly as he knelt forward to once again equip and arm himself. He looked down automatically to check his gear from habit and slowly and deliberately slung his rifle across his shoulder.

It would be so easy to flick that one little switch and go full auto. Get out of here, right now, Yorik before you lose it and start popping grenades. There will be a time and a place for this. Not here. Korriban. Everything you need to kill will be on Korriban. You are disciplined, you are a soldier, and you know there is a time and a place to kill. This is not it.

Yorik eyed Astrid to see how she was holding up. His heart ached for the anguish she must have been feeling. He then glanced at Bennar, Shard, and the old man in the smoke carefully, as he made certain to stand very still in front and draw the girl Zando's attention to himself. He had entered that state where his Danger Sense was on hyper alert and everything seemed to move in slow motion.

Not here. Not now. Korriban. There will be time. There will be a place. Insanire first.

"Sir, we've encountered some unusual beings during our business with you that resulted in Necessity forcing us to adjust our missions and that often altered our ability to retrieve all of your requested items. However, you should know that we made every effort to do what we felt was best for the situation at hand and we remained loyal to you throughout. There's certainly no need to threaten us. We'll fulfill our duties to you and update you when we know more regarding the situation on Korriban. That being said, are there bounty hunters or mercenaries from the Hutts that we need to worry about?"

13 hours ago, TheShard said:

At the suggestion of the old man Shard lets the smoke obscure the female figure and disappears. The stealthfield seems to be working well. He moves to the small man as fast as he can. " Do you want to come with us? What's going on here... Quickly tell me?"

are you trying to hide the man in the stealth field?

(Possibly, if he wants to flee then yes, if not I'm trying to get a jist of what happened to him before i flee]

Durrak without thinking went for his discblade but thought better of it at the last second. So, are we going now ?

7 hours ago, TheShard said:

(Possibly, if he wants to flee then yes, if not I'm trying to get a jist of what happened to him before i flee]

" im Zando.. Save me... Sav..." you notice the tubes attempt to reconnect the man, but they appear lost... it freaks out and dashes for the doors... the machine seems to send some code to the other astrid who nods and starts to press a few buttons, you, for now, are ignored

as you leave ... you notice that the Hind has been brought and awaits you... oddly Lord Crumbleberry is no missing, as is a certain droid...

the Droidika clanks behind you

On 9/19/2017 at 4:19 PM, Edgehawk said:

Not Zando..? As soon as the child begins her withdrawal back into the smoke, Astrid rushes forward, tugging her goggles into place. If she is not Zando, I have to try...

(Any success reaching the child?) @April

3 minutes ago, Edgehawk said:

(Any success reaching the child?) @April

It would be very hard(you could use your destiny pool to do it)

Astrid's tracking goggles help pierce through the swirling smoke, but she can locate neither child, nor pod. Unsure of the gaseous substance she is navigating through, she has enough lab experience to be cautious about taking a breath. And what would I do if I found her, now? What would she do?

The ominous clanking noises intensify, and she knows she must leave without the girl. Frustrated both by her impulsive plunge into the mist, and by her failure, she turns around. Snatching her lancer up, she hastily scoops the rest of the weapons into her satchel, and hurries to catch up with her withdrawing team. No time for my twin, either, I guess..

Spy-D, we're leaving. The lack of response is unsurprising, but there is no indication that her message was even received, like their link is broken. Spy-D, lay to the Hind , for immediate departure. Confirm!? Rattled further, by her missing droid companion, she nevertheless slams the plate to close the hatch.

Yorik, get us out of here. Korriban.

Zyi, secure the ship.

Bennar, see to our guest.

We'll debrief in hyperspace.

Astrid keeps her cool long enough to reach her stateroom. Sliding down with her back against the closed hatch, she hugs her knees, and cries for the first time in as long as she can remember.

On 9/21/2017 at 1:54 PM, Edgehawk said:

Astrid's tracking goggles help pierce through the swirling smoke, but she can locate neither child, nor pod. Unsure of the gaseous substance she is navigating through, she has enough lab experience to be cautious about taking a breath. And what would I do if I found her, now? What would she do?

The ominous clanking noises intensify, and she knows she must leave without the girl. Frustrated both by her impulsive plunge into the mist, and by her failure, she turns around. Snatching her lancer up, she hastily scoops the rest of the weapons into her satchel, and hurries to catch up with her withdrawing team. No time for my twin, either, I guess..

Spy-D, we're leaving. The lack of response is unsurprising, but there is no indication that her message was even received, like their link is broken. Spy-D, lay to the Hind , for immediate departure. Confirm!? Rattled further, by her missing droid companion, she nevertheless slams the plate to close the hatch.

Yorik, get us out of here. Korriban.

Zyi, secure the ship.

Bennar, see to our guest.

We'll debrief in hyperspace.

Astrid keeps her cool long enough to reach her stateroom. Sliding down with her back against the closed hatch, she hugs her knees, and cries for the first time in as long as she can remember.

7

The ship undocks then jumps

the ship is abnormally quiet... even the engines sound silent... the heavy droid sighs " oi You guys Get me OUT THIS BLOOMING THING" ... that voice..... There is only one person that crazy to sneak on board a Destroyer, rewire a Droidika and escape.... but why?.. Surely ... it must be....

Shard blinks back into visability.

You better get us far away.

He looks around hoping old man "zando" kept up.

Astrid's cathartic release does not last long. When the tears stop, and her face relaxes, she stands and heads to the refresher. Stripping down, she activates the sonic, and rinses away the sour stench of sweat and fear.

Her mind is still reeling with questions, though, perhaps more than before. Who is the old man? The girl? My doppelganger? Who... am I? And where is my errant droid, my droid errant? Was he Zando's creature this whole time?! This way lies madness, Doctor Andunie. You are stronger than this. And you know who you are.

Pulling on her comfy culottes and a sleeveless tunic, she swings by the laundry room with her mountaineer armor, before heading to the crew lounge.

Noting their unexpected stowaway, Astrid nods, and permits her signature half-smile to creep onto her face. "Well hello, stranger.."

5 minutes ago, Edgehawk said:

Astrid's cathartic release does not last long. When the tears stop, and her face relaxes, she stands and heads to the refresher. Stripping down, she activates the sonic, and rinses away the sour stench of sweat and fear.

Her mind is still reeling with questions, though, perhaps more than before. Who is the old man? The girl? My doppelganger? Who... am I? And where is my errant droid, my droid errant? Was he Zando's creature this whole time?! This way lies madness, Doctor Andunie. You are stronger than this. And you know who you are.

Pulling on her comfy culottes and a sleeveless tunic, she swings by the laundry room with her mountaineer armor, before heading to the crew lounge.

Noting their unexpected stowaway, Astrid nods, and permits her signature half-smile to creep onto her face. "Well hello, stranger.."

" Stranger... stranger... Yeah okay funny... I don't mind that i was captured by a megalomaniac ... After returning from Tatooine .. No, I mind that IM STUCK IN A ROBIT... Now please for all that the endless sands has to offer get me owt of it!!!"

A calm voice enters her mind and says " do not give in to these dark thoughts... Whatever that was, only seeks to make you doubt yourself"

Spy-d looks at you quizzingly "Beep?"

10 hours ago, TheShard said:

Shard blinks back into visability.

You better get us far away.

He looks around hoping old man "zando" kept up.

He does but looks cold and scared ... his eyes wide... and it looks like he has had extensive Cybernetic modifications... Though no care has been taken with them.

I knew we should have spaced that Droideka immediately..

Spy-D! Astrid's mouth quirks, and breaks into a rare full smile. She pats the scout droid, relieved that her paranoid imaginings were just that. Dark thoughts indeed! But however calming, I'm now concerned that the voice in my head is now initiating conversation.. just had that little pep talk about madness, and now this..?

Astrid and Zyi set to work extricating the Jawa from the destroyer droid, and in short order, Griff is dumped unceremoniously onto the deck. Offering him a hand up, Astrid pulls him in for a hug. Good to have you back, friend. Holding him back, now, at arm's-length: You don't seem too much worse, for wear.. If you don't require medical attention, I believe our other guest here should be seen by our medic, now . Zyi, do you think you can assist Bennar with that tangled mess of cyberware? Grabbing a blanket from the closet, she places it over the old man's shoulders, and begins walking him to medbay.

Zyi examines Astrid's face.

Poor women, what an absolutely kriffed experience she just had.

Sure, Astrid... No problem...

She's tired, what an emotional horror that was back there, what are we apart of?

Griff! Hey buddy! We at least we got some good that came outta that shizz storm back there!

Between "Zando" and Griff-droid there's a lot of work here. Zyi tries to push past the adrenaline.

No better time like now to tri this out. Here goes nothing.

He takes out a mess of electronics from his bag. He starts untangling the mess. Connecting wires to ports and data cards into slots.

She needs a distraction...

Mind giving me a hand Ma-dam Boss? He says sarcastically emphasizing the very un-Astridlike daintness of the word, trying to make her laugh.

Continuing to attach parts together, the device takes shape.

He fiddles around in his bag until He finds it . He holds up the "gift" he was given up to a light.

A blueish green crystal.

Anyone guess what this might be? I analyzed it before and got some really strange readings... This ain't just inert geology here.

Boss.. I guess I have been somewhat overbearing.. Wait! Madam?! Astrid smiles, in spite of herself.

Boss, huh? I'll own it. I guess I have been spouting orders, like I run the show, here... Sorry. I know you don't need that- it's the control freak in me coming out, under stress.

But madam! Unless I attain high political office, or open a brothel, I don't want to hear that again for at least another fifty years!

Astrid assists Zyi as best she can. She sees what he is doing, but is grateful for the distraction. Eventually, it even works, and she finds herself truly lost in the endeavor.

When he holds the crystal up to the light, she is caught by its raw beauty. And her Omwati friend is right- inert geology, it is not!

I suspect it to be some sort of Kyber crystal. From the coloration, it could be an Ilum crystal, but then that is also the only specific type I can think of, offhand. Though essentially mineral in composition, they are attuned to the living Force, and have been used to focus it, for ages. Notably in saber construction. You are using it to power this... device?

Zyi shrugs.

Why the frak not? We'll see if it works or not... I mean it feels weird holding it. See what i mean.

He hands the crystal over to Astrid.

Its tingly like getting zapped by a crossed wire... But like emotionally... If that makes any sense...

I'm not in tune with the force, so this might be a thunderbolt to you.

Astrid accepts the crystal, and there is indeed the sense of vast, barely contained energy within. Her hackles rise, a prickling sensation, and.. she feels burdened with the weight of the responsibility, like holding a child.. such power is not to be trifled with, must be respected, protected.. (Astrid also Senses all living things within Short Range).

Description	"Sense" when she accepts crystal from Zyi
Results	1eF : 1 Dark Side [1eF=DS]

Yorik very carefully calculated their odds of survival against Mr. Zando at less than 5%.

Even less, if they tried to retrieve Astrid's clone sister and mother at the same time. They needed to withdraw, come up with a better plan of action, then frag the machine, the ship, and the whole operation.

He was getting awfully sick of those with wealth and power treating all others as if they were worthless tools.

Zando was no different than Insanire. They were both similar to the Hutts in his opinion.

Frell them all...

It was good that they were back on the Hind but the ship no longer felt like home. Everything felt tainted somehow.

Corrupted because it was Zando's and now that they'd met him... They less they were connected the better.

Frell.... Poor Astrid...

He didn't know how to even begin apologizing for what she must have gone through. Must still be going through.

There would definitely be a reckoning. First, they'd have to deal with Insanire. Then, there would be time to deal with Zando.

Well i say, mighty interesting eh? I mean i think the force is kinda cheating, talking away all the hard work out of the equation, so frell the force, ill cheat at tge force... Plus all that cybertech junk you want me handling... Crazy looking stuff. I'm gonna need some help. I mean after sustaining head a massive head injury... He taps the mess of tech that is the back oh his skull, Im really running on like half a brain. So I'm gonna kriffen cheat, like every lazy bastard that I've suffered.

He flashes a wicked knarled grin.

If this does what i hoping it will, frakker will light up my noggin like an arc welder in deepspace.

His smile grows even bigger, his scared skin stretching awkwardly over high chwekbones. His teeth like incoming shrapnel.

...or kill me.

Right now, you're just damaged enough, to continue in this crazy venture with the rest of us.. And using all available tools is not cheating. Whether it's utilizing advanced tech, or manipulating the Force.. or an amalgamation of both, such as you are attempting here- being capable of tapping into such resources gives us an edge. An edge we are going to need, against adversaries using every tool available to them, as well.

Come to think of it, I sort of feel like a tool that has been used , myself..

Anyway.. These things are not what define us, either individually, or as a team. Our innate awesomeness does that. Astrid smiles, then reverts to a more serious expression:

If you truly think your death could result, however, perhaps we should try this thingamajig out on Durrak first? She maintains her deadpan long enough to register a worried look from Zyi, then relents.

Kidding, kidding.. I was pretty sithed at his response to Lady Xirrix's torturous murder.. But upon reflection, I think I was mostly angry with my own glib reply, however disengenuous.

So we're freelance now, right? Zando must die, of course. Or whatever that was back there.

Oh.. And thanks for being a good friend, and a good listener, too. I just hope you can multitask with that half-a-brain of yours.. with the way I've been babbling throughout this whole delicate process... I'll shut up, now.

We owe Zando nothing. He used us.

Well to deal with these two i gotta be better, and i gotta be way better if I'm tangling with a frelling force storm...

Aye floats over and bleeps at him wishing him well.

Aye, Aye cap'n...

He unplugs a series of attatchments in the back of his head, pulling the rectangular cuboids out of sockets. He fishes between wires and feathery hair. The first one unplugged sends a small tremor trickling down the jawline of his face. The second seems to have no effect. He pulls out the third and the arm he's been using goes limp and flops at his side. The Two components tumble onto the deck of The Hind. The processor suddenly absent, the signal relays cannot transmitte the electric nerve impulses between brain and muscle.

He uses his cybernetic arm to finish the rest. The fourth and fifth cause one side of his face to droop as if from a stroke. The next causes his eyes to quiver and then he goes blind. His optic nerves relayed to a brain that now lacked a crucial peice of optical processing. His eyes still worked but what was left of his Omwati brain couldn't tell.

He grabs the the cybernetic brain implant.Once a sleek curved semi circle that fit to the back of the head, has been transformed. It has been broken down into various components. Now rebuilt into linked modular elements.

...eeeehhhh nnnoooooo-wwww jjjjjjjah naahhh-mmmmmmm.... ffffiiiiiittttssss..... He manages to slur out.

He pulls out a few wires and then slumps over onto Astrid. He tries to prop himself up on her shoulder. His cyber arm lifts up the implant.

He wrapped it around his skull stringing it along the back of his skull like a rope ladder over the side of a cliff. Attatching components to one side then drapping it over the other side of his head, continuing to fill the emptied ports as he went.

His control returned bit by bit, and he lifted himself off of his friend. His face still sagged and he had no speech control but he could use both arms.

Clutched between angular grasping claw mechanisms folded down from his housing shell, Aye held a circuloid metal object. Its powdered dark housing coating didn't hint at the energy contained within the shard it housed. He floated over to Shard and released it into his hand.

Shard holds it reverently in both hands tries to speak, but can't, shrugs his shoulders and plus one component in the side of his head and connects a few wires, pushes a few reseat buttons and reboots processors. He holds the final plug, quivering and hesitating for just a moment. The 4 inch long plug slids deep into a jack penetrating deep into his brain.

He jerks stiff his fingers and toes quivering with what seems like enough force to break them.

Xxxttss....aaahhhj...xzzzzggts...AahhjhtzzzzzaaAAAAARRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Lights pop on everywhere, blinking at maddening rates. The circuloid component whires to life the cooling vents open revealing a deep blueish glow. It quickly becomes blinding turquoise! An alarm sounds!

Suddenly everything goes dead and zyi falls to the floor.