A Desert Blossom

[Mirah Mackali]

Mirah arched a brow. Luck? Did he really consider falling into this place... lucky? It made her wonder, just what did he think he was going to find here? So far, there was just a whole lot of sand and bugs. Still, the bugs were an odd piece to the puzzle.

“Yeah, why...” She echoed, unable to deny the curiosity.

Now that she was pretty much stuck here, she might as well go along with it – and him. Looking down, she stepped to the side, avoiding the flow of bugs that was now crawling along the floor and into the darkness. Strange as it was, they did seem to have some kind of purpose.

“Guess we should go that way,” She pointed with her glow stick. “They got us into this mess.”

Mirah indicated the bugs.

“You go first,” She said, nodding in that direction.

[member="Jared Starchaser"]

 

[Jared Starchaser]

Luck was one word for it. For him it was definitely the Force. Almost divine intervention to get him to this world. He was not sure what was going to come of it, but he knew something was here. If the Force was playing with him maybe it would just be a botanist and some old ruins, but he felt it may be more.

Reaching out to the Force he was looking with his eyes as much as he was reaching out internally. Sensing the movements of the Force. Of how life was moving. The bugs and where they were going. But something was odd...

The Force felt like feedback. Shaking his head, the glowstick waved as he steadied himself. He would fake a headache if she asks.

"Yeah, I'll lead." He pulled his sidearm out. Keeping it loose and down to the ground.

[member="Mirah Mackali"]

 

[Mirah Mackali]

Mirah's eyes narrowed slightly as she watched Jared. He shook his head and seemed to need a moment to gain his bearings. Though, it was completely possible that he was still shaking off his fall through the sand. She was, too. In fact, she still felt somewhat strange... it was something she couldn't quite put her finger on though.

She didn't know what this feeling was or what it meant, only that she'd never experienced it before.

“Alright, lead the way, then,” Mirah said.

Moving through the narrow passageway, she did her best not to tread on any of the beetle bugs, the steady flow of which continued along before them. They were definitely attracted to something here. And, this place being quite devoid of any sort of flora that she could see – she was out of her league.

“So, what do you think this is?” She asked, her voice traveling forward to Jared. “A tomb or something?”

[member="Jared Starchaser"]

 

[Jared Starchaser]

He was a Jedi, and that meant he was foolhardy and headstrong. Well, ok, he was a Corellian Jedi, so that was what happened when you added those two together. But he was also an explorer, a spacer, a pilot. He had so little fear of the unknown, it was only that which he could understand that frightened him.

He kept moving forward, knowing he’d have to lead the charge here. Whatever kind of charge that was. The pilot’s pistol was ready and all he did know was that the bugs were not Vong, he could sense them in the Force, and yeah, that was a concern for him. Much like his father, he preferred to be using the Force than not.

Though he had plenty of toys to mess with anything that wasn’t able to be thrown across a room. “Definitely feels like a tomb, but I don’t know for who.” They stepped into another room, he could see the glint of gold in the light. “Maybe something more.” Not an armory though, but he was hoping he could learn more. Breaking open another glow stick, he threw it across the room, knowing it would power up higher than the low-light one he had.

[member="Mirah Mackali"]

 

[Mirah Mackali]

Her brows rose slightly, showing the first hint of interest. When he confirmed that it felt like a tomb, she flashed something of a dark smile. “Cool,” She said, under her breath. It was pretty cool, in a morbid sort of way. But, she paused as Jared noted that there might be something more. Mirah blinked and stood up on tip-toe to try and see around Jared's form.

Light cut through the darkness as his glow stick arced into the room, landing on the other side.

Peeking over Jared's shoulder, her eyes went wide. There were sparkling gold accents peeking out from the sand, some that even looked to be encrusted with jewels. And, near the middle of the room stood a rather tall... vase? The base was cracked but holding steady for now.

Mirah stepped up to the explorer man's side. “What is it?” She asked, already stepping into the room.

[member="Jared Starchaser"]

 

[Jared Starchaser]

The thing with Starchasers is they got everywhere, and when they were somewhere they didn’t know? It almost seemed innate for them to get a bit more calm. Against the edge of a map, in a foreign city, or underground on a deserted planet in some crypt that hasn’t been touched by sentients in a long while. But maybe he wasn’t alone in that thought. When he said it was a crypt and she just grinned? Well, that definitely made him smile too. This botanist was a bit more than met the eye, apparently.

As the glowstick hit the far end of the room, he was seeing what seemed like a treasure room. Shaking his head in disbelief, he was looking around. A low whistle as he looked, but the main thing that was grabbing his attention was what grabbed Mirah’s. Shaking his head, he put a hand up to stop her from moving forward.

“Not sure, but I’m going to check it out. You want to come, or… no?” He didn’t want to force her into anything, especially since he essentially kidnapped her.

[member="Mirah Mackali"]

 

[Mirah Mackali]

Mirah's feet skidded to a halt as Jared stuck his hand out to stop her. It probably wasn't a great idea to go charging into the room, but curiosity – or something – had tugged at her mind. But, Mirah shrugged, playing it nonchalantly.

“Yeah, I might as well.” She said, heaving a sigh. “Go on, then... if there are any traps, better you than me, right?”

Stepping up to the strange doorway, she waited with arms crossed.

Her dark eyes flickered once or twice towards the large vase. If it was as old as it looked, it was probably just full of sand by now. There were flashier things in the room, the items that gleamed in the sand. But, there was just something about the vase that seemed... weird.

And, as she stared again... she could have sworn she'd heard something. A voice.

“Was that... you?” She asked, narrowing her eyes at Jared. “Did you whisper something just now?”

[member="Jared Starchaser"]

 

[Jared Starchaser]

He didn’t want to get her in trouble with some idea that he came up with. Not at all. Wouldn’t do good here. The explorer wasn’t going to force anything on Mirah, letting her make her own calls. “Yeah I guess.” He rolled his eyes, not that she could see all that well, but if she was able to sense the Force, there was a definite twinge of a sigh, essentially. He had his hand on his blaster as they approached the door.

Touching it, he reached out with the Force to give it a gentle nudge, but nothing. Then he heard her ask.

Pulling himself from his concentration, he raised an eyebrow. “Me? What? No I didn’t say anything.” But she heard something? That made this place much more interesting. He looked around, not pulling his blaster out yet.

“What did it say?”

[member="Mirah Mackali"]

 

[Mirah Mackali]

Mirah blinked and looked to Jared with an expression of gloomy sheepishness. He really hadn't heard it? Maybe it had been her imagination, maybe it had been the wind... but, her mind immediately dismissed both of these options. She had very little imagination, and the air inside the chamber was stale and still. She absently brushed a few strands of hair away from her face.

“I don't know,” She said, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “It was just... like, I don't know,” Well, now she was just repeating herself. Mirah's thin form shifted, uncomfortable. Eventually, her shoulders dropped slightly as she resigned to doing an impression of what she'd heard.

“Sort of like...” She made a 'whooshing' sound, followed by some whispers of gibberish. Mirah was about to blush, deeply embarrassed... but the voice returned.

This time, it was louder – some kind of language that she didn't understand.

Instinctively, she stepped closer to Jared, unintentionally bumping into his side. “You heard it, right?”

The vase began to shudder, causing the chamber to quake, too. And, it began to... crack.

[member="Jared Starchaser"]

 

[Jared Starchaser]

The fact that there were voices, that was not a good thing, but they could make do. Jared knew a bit better than to immediately freak out on things. But when it involved the Force and someone who wasn’t trained, at least he didn’t sense she was trained, he knew it was more important to worry a bit o that. The Green Jedi eyed MIrah for a second. Jared was already trying to call the Force to him, and her, to protect the pair, not from anything physical, nothing was dinging that bell, but from what could lurk beyond.

“Ah yes, we’re in the Temple of the Whoosh Murmurmurmur, it makes sense now!” The Corellian grinned as he still called the Force to cover them both, hoping she’d feel a sense of calm, or at least protection, even if she didn’t know what to call it.

“Heard something, but wasn’t sure if it was--.” That was a cracking, that he heard. His hand went to his lightsaber, something he wasn’t going to do, but the Force was still right there with him.

“Stick close.”

[member="Mirah Mackali"]

 

[Mirah Mackali]

Jared's jesting made Mirah's lips pressed together into a hard line. She might have snapped at him, but a strange sensation settled over her. Just like before, when she fell through the sand... it was the same feeling of being held, being protected. Her eyes flickered towards Jared.

Was it him?

She wasn't allowed to linger on this thought for long. Mirah's mouth dropped open as the vase began to crack, a thin hair-like line traveled from top to bottom of the ancient ceramic. And as the vessel continued to shudder, the crack grew and grew until it finally split. Sand, dust, and... smoke? Another incoherent mumble escaped Mirah, and she stood close to Jared.

The chamber grew dark. All of the dazzling trinkets turned tarnished, their jewels cracked and went dark. Some of the treasures even began to crumble into dust. It was all an illusion, a trap. The air was heavy, the stench of death hanging in the chamber now... where the bugs were congregating at the base of the pedestal where the vase once stood. It was the smell of carrion they liked.

“H-what,” She gasped, watching as the smoke began to take shape.

It looked like a giant shroud, hooded and dark. From beneath this ethereal cloth, a skeletal hand reached out – with it, the sensation of being drained...

[member="Jared Starchaser"]

 

[Jared Starchaser]

The fact that she wasn’t shouting at him about a joke definitely made him feel more comfortable around her. The man was more the type to always tool around if he wasn’t worried about flying and leading a squadron. But now, when it came to the Force and old mysteries? He was more relaxed. He had his wits to him. He was going to protect her and himself.

He looked at her, watching over her. But when the room started to turn dark? That he noticed. But as it kept getting darker, his hand was on his lightsaber, there was a snap-hiss as the white blade came to lie, illuminating the room, or casting even darker shadows. The smell coming in, that was not safe.

He could feel the malice in the shadow and brought his lightsaber forward, taking a defensive stance between the monster and Mirah.

Leave now… The creature was saying as it reached for the pair. IN the Force and with the shadows. Or die.


[member="Mirah Mackali"]

 

[Mirah Mackali]

Mirah jumped, the unfamiliar sound jolted through her. That is until she realized what it was – a lightsaber, something she'd only heard about in tales. The illumination cast them both in an oddly gentle light, at least... that's how it felt. But, the urgency of the situation still remained. The darkness was beginning to close around them, the light of the saber in Jared's hand seemed to keep it at bay.

But, only for so long...

She cast a worried glance around as the... spirit spoke. It was a feeling that went all the way to the bone, a chill she'd never quite felt before – as if the darkness was seeping into her very being. And, it scared her.

The realization dropped on her, making her stagger. She couldn't do anything, not against an otherworldly power like this... whatever it was. Mirah squinted, looking at Jared's brave shadow standing before her in a protective stance. Was he really going to keep her safe? He had no reason to stay, no real obligation to her... why would he do that?

These questions swirled faintly in her mind... as she began to slump, folding under the pressure of the darkness. “H-help...” She managed to whisper. Indeed, it seemed that Jared was the only one that could help her now.

[member="Jared Starchaser"]

 

[Jared Starchaser]

He knew that there were going to be people who weren’t as calm as others when things got crazy. Jared was a Starchaser, he knew what it meant to get into the deepest corners of the galaxy. A Jedi, a Jensaarai, an explorer of the galaxy. He was ready for more than most. A lightsaber and armor, though the latter wasn’t here with him. The white light from his lightsaber, found in both the blade and through the highly stylized hilt, much different than his first, was casting the light around them.

The former military man had entered into a new lifestyle with his exploration mindset. He was a little more artistic, not as utilitarian.

But it didn’t matter here. All that mattered was where this voice was coming from. Who it was coming from. What it wanted. But he kept his blade forward, where he sensed the foe, the presence. The Force was wrapped around him and he was searching, as he had done so many times, for an opponent, for a sign. He was a warrior, a protector, that was his raison d’etre when it wasn’t about exploring.

But then he heard her, Mirah, behind him. Help? Where was the foe. He turned to her, saber still in his hand, down, and away from her. “Mirah!” He reached out to her in the Force. Could she respond?

[member="Mirah Mackali"]

 

[Mirah Mackali]

Everything was a blur.

She felt... something. It was Jared, but... somehow different? Mirah attempted to reach for it, to grab hold. But, the feeling slipped from her grasp. The crushing darkness pressed her down and she crumpled down to the sandy ground. The last thing she remembered... was feeling very small, diminished.

And, when her eyes finally opened again... they were glowing.

Though it retained much of her outward appearance, Mirah was gone. The dark presence had taken root. She held her hands out, it'd been quite a long time since the presence had had a physical form. But, when Mirah's eyes turned back to Jared, they narrowed sharply.

“Do not interfere, mortal.” Mirah's mouth moved, but the voice was not her own.

Her palms shot forward, using the force to push Jared away – hoping to blow him across the room.

[member="Jared Starchaser"]