Private A Small Miscalculation

[Zoar]

DENON
SPACEPORT
​

The last time Zoar had been on Denon was with Iris.

It hadn't been a warm homecoming for the Miln, but then again, he hadn't expected it to be. The planet, high in both tech and poverty levels, was a dirty, crime-ridden mirror of Coruscant. The Corpos ran things up top, and the gangs ran things below. Everyone else was trapped in the middle, tossed back and forth between both sides, until they stuck to one, or died.

When he was young, Zoar got stuck to the bottom. Before he was a Jedi, he was a tool, a child slicer. It wasn't the kind of thing he liked revisiting.

But that kind of experience made him uniquely suited (no pun intended) to take on the kinds of threats that plagued the planet. Hackers, cyborg bruisers, speeder gangs and cybercrats. Technological terrors that a Jedi Slicer could really dig their metaphorical claws into. Of course, the Temple sent him to help dismantle a new thieves' guild.

But Zoar wasn't sure who else they sent. Maybe a Jedi Master, like Master Noble ? Another padawan, like Iris?

The enormous power armor of the Miln lingered at the loading area of the spaceport, it's head on a swivel. Zoar was indiscernible from a regular droid, save for the armor's considerable bulk, and mildly twitchy attitude. He looked like a bounty hunter, or a binary load lifter. He didn't look like a Jedi at all.

Which was ironic, because he was trying to find someone Jedi-looking in the area. They were supposed to meet here. Maybe he got the wrong address?

- Yenna -

 

[Yenna]

The last time Yenna visited Denon, it was to train a young man in the ways of the Force. A favour she did for her former master. If memory served, it was the "adopted brother" of his girlfriend, and she wanted Yenna's master to teach him but he felt it would be a conflict of interest. Too much emotion involved. So she ended up teaching young Cartri Keswoll for a bit to grasp the basics of his power.

Her time as a padawan was a royal mess, in hindsight. It was a good thing that Cass' relationship fell apart, otherwise she would probably never reached the rank of Knight or even Master. It was a morbid way of thinking about it, but she couldn't deny that she soared when his focus was turned more towards her than his girlfriend.

This was going to need some meditation previously unknown to the Order to figure out. She only realized as she walked from her shuttle that she never actually pondered about it. She hoped that she could see young Cartri again sometime.

But for now, there was a more pressing matter to tend to. The rising situation from a new gang that was making waves in the lower levels of Denon. And for this mission, another padawan was going to help her. She had heard of Zoar before, but never had the chance to meet him in person. Her cane lightly tapped against the ground of the landing area as she limped towards the enormous figure... what surprised her was the presence coming from it. The figure was certainly no droid, however he didn't feel like a gravely injured soul stuck in a mechanical body. Zoar was whole, for all intents and purposes. This was a peculiar padawan.

"Padawan Zoar." She spoke up with a gentle smile as she reached the hulking figure. "A pleasure, it is, to finally meet you." She gave a bow in respect as her golden eyes looked up at the helmet. "Depart, shall we?" She gestured to the exit of the spaceport and started to walk, though it quickly became apparent that, compared to him, her pace was exceptionally slow. "Hehe... on your shoulder, if I climb, do you mind?" She asked with a chuckle. If allowed, she elegantly hopped into the air and touched down on the suit's broad shoulder.

"Our mission here, do you know what is?" She asked him as she looked down at the faceplate. She hoped that she could ask him sometime what the suit was for, but she wasn't going to press it.

Zoar

 

[Zoar]

"Padawan Zoar."

//Agh!// The huge mech took a defensive step back, having not seen the small Master's approach. But Zoar quickly composed himself, his mortifying embarrassment burning through the durasteel plates of his armor.

//Ah... sorry, Master Yenna,// the timid padawan finally said, folding his hands in front of him. He'd heard of the tiny Jedi Master before. She was a bit of an inspiration to him, to be honest. That someone like him could be a master...

Well, not exactly like him. She was talented in the Force, and wise... and he had a suit.

//Yeah, sure,// the Miln offered, bending down slightly as Yenna somersaulted onto his shoulder. He plodded slowly out of the building, and into the street. It was a warm evening, with harsh neon lights all around them, bright lights advertising food and drink and anything else one could imagine. They were in the rich part of town, where the Corpos bumped elbows. Any hint of Denon's dark underbelly was completely absent.

//So, this is what I've been told,// the Miln started. //There's a band of art thieves in town. 'The Lift', they called themselves. Nobody's gotten a good view of them, or how many they are. All local authorities know is their MO. They always steal one piece of art, and destroy and leave another. But... over these last few weeks, they started leaving bodies, too. Something changed.//

//There's a new art gallery opening tomorrow, and we think that'll be the next target. But beyond that, we don't know much more.// The padawan shrugged, bobbing Yenna up and down.

//So... that's the long and short of it, I-I think. What should we do?//

- Yenna -

 

[Yenna]

Yenna had to admit that it was the first time in her life someone was startled by her stature. It earned a light chuckle from her, but she luckily made no comment on it. Poor padawan felt like a nervous mess already.

As the Master and Padawan walked, Yenna looked around them at the sights and scenes. It wasn't the same part she visited a couple years ago. This was the nice part of Denon. The corporate part. She couldn't ignore the ripples through the Force from the clashing of good intentioned, hardworking people, and the greedy, ambitious souls trying to take advantage of others. But beyond all of that, Yenna had to admit that the neon signs and stunning buildings had their own beauty.

Her gaze returned to Zoar as he began to speak, explaining what he knew of the mission. Yenna hummed in agreement as she gave a nod. "Perfect, Zoar." She commented with a warm smile. "Well, opening, if a new one is... investigate the previous incident, we might need to. Working with, what we are, so we understand." She suggested.

"And then tomorrow, watch the new opening, we can. Attack during the opening, I highly doubt they will. But... scout, they certainly will. Lucky, if we are, in the act, we can catch them." She continued as they moved through the streets. They received several odd looks from the people around them. Businessmen and workers all around, with the occasional police cruiser hovering past. They were probably used to seeing cybernetic enhancements, but a little green "child" on top of a giant droid's shoulder was not such a common sight. It was amusing to watch them walk wide circles around them, though she did feel bad for startling the people.

"Where the last incident was, do you know? Otherwise, visit the nearest precinct, we must." She asked him as she knelt down and sat on his shoulder. Between the board pauldron and the suit's size, Yenna was far more comfortable than usual.

Zoar

 

[Zoar]

"Perfect, Zoar."

The suit of armor seemed to glow with the praise, passing under multicolored neon lights. //Thanks. B-but it's just data regurgitation. Nothing special.// Still, he found a secret smile at that.

As they walked through the street, Zoar noted the eyes following their every move. He tried his best to ignore the unwanted attention, taking himself through a few breathing exercises as Yenna explained their plan. //Yeah. That makes sense.// The suit nodded. If they could identify the Lift at the grand opening, maybe they could confront the thieves before they ever tried to steal anything.

//I don't know for sure where their last hit was... Um, gimme a sec.// Zoar paused mid-walk, using his brain implants to dive his consciousness into the Holonet. It was a short search for the Miln, as natural as flipping through the pages of a book.

//Looooks liiiike... A nearby penthouse. Stole an oil painting, cracked a vase... security guard was found dead. Vibroblade wounds. It's... the images are kinda grody.// Zoar's voice was a touch more frightened, as he continued. //D-do you think we should go there?//

- Yenna -

 

[Yenna]

She could feel the hint of pride from Zoar for the compliment. His response, however, was quite reserved and humble. "On the contrary. Very important, it is, to remember important information, for a Jedi." She quickly answered with a calm voice and a gentle smile. He reminded her a lot of herself in her younger days. From the bashful demeanour, all the way through to the underlying anxiety and fear. She hoped that she would be able to spend more time with him, help him through those fears.

She had a feeling that the mission would likely throw her into that direction with a lot less subtlety than she would prefer.

The suit came to a halt rather abruptly as Zoar apparently worked on finding out where the last hit was. To her surprise, he found the information almost immediately. He described the crime scene briefly, and for a moment she felt that fear climb within the suit. "Yes. For more information, our best chance, that is." She spoke gently. "Zoar... a deep breath, you must take. Exhale slowly." She turned and looked at the faceplate of the suit as she replicated the breathing for him. "Still there, the body will not be. To fear, you have nothing." She reassured him with a gentle voice, resting a hand against the helmet to try and extend her calm aura towards him through the Force.

She would never want to expose a young padawan to such horrid scenes, though she knew it was a reality of their work. She decided on a different approach. One that might help her learn a bit more of him, but also share a little of herself to help him find some peace, even if only for a moment. "You know... quite impressive, that search was. Very quick. From a news feed, did you get the info? Or a backdoor slice, perhaps?" She asked him with a knowing smile. "Rather curious, I am. Of your slicing prowess, quite a bit, I've heard. A special talent, that is." She continued as she sat down again on his shoulder. "A hundred-and-eighty years old, I am. But about slicing, I know nothing. Teach me sometime, you must." She admitted with a laugh.

Zoar

 

[Zoar]

//Yeah, okay. Sure...// He didn't sound sure. But Zoar wasn't one to argue with a Master.

"Zoar... a deep breath, you must take. Exhale slowly."

Having been caught in a brief episode of panic, Zoar stole a deep breath, letting it out just as deeply. And, for good measure, he did it again. //Yeah, I know. S-sorry.// The Miln folded his enormous hands together sheepishly, the tips of his ears burning from within his suit, only alleviated slightly by Yenna's calming aura.

His shame was quickly eclipsed, however, as Yenna once again complimented him, this time for his information-gathering skills. The mech's head turned towards the little green Jedi, as if it couldn't quite decide how to respond. She thought he had a special talent? //I have cybernetic implants. I've been slicing almost as long as I've been walking. Honestly, it feels just like connecting to the Force. But... more natural.// Technology came easy to Zoar. The Jedi stuff was still hard. //I... could show you how to slice. Maybe. Sometime.//

Deep breath in. Deep breath out.

//Have you ever... dealt with criminals before? Thieves?//

- Yenna -

 

[Yenna]

Yenna listened as Zoar explained his abilities with electronics, owing it to his cybernetics and years of experience. "Quite impressive, it still is. A knight, when you become, very valuable, that skill will be." She commented as she looked around them. Judging from what she could feel from him, and how he behaved, she had a feeling that the cybernetics had a bad memory or two connected to them.

He went on to ask if she had ever dealt with any thieves and criminals, earning a light chuckle from the Jedi Master. "Many times. One of them, I once was. Many years ago, to survive, I had to do anything. Small I am. And back then... of the Force, I knew nothing. A Coruscanti gutter child, I was. Terrified, I was... bandages and rags, I wore, to hide my appearance. But... quick, I was. Catch me, they could never." She explained as she looked down at the faceplate. A warm smile adorned her lips as she looked at Zoar, or rather, the being beneath the suit. She might not know what he looked like, but she knew he was looking at her. "Perhaps, some patterns, a veteran might recognize." She quipped with a chuckle. "To fear, you have nothing, Zoar. Happen to you, nothing bad will. I'm here, not while." She reassured him.

Eventually they reached the penthouse, where the CorpSec officers seemed quite taken back by the duo's unorthodox appearance. "Hey, uh... this is a crime scene... civilians aren't supposed to be here." One of the officers spoke up as he raised a hand, quite taken off guard by the sudden appearance. "Not to worry. Official Jedi business, this is. Master Yenna, of the Jedi Order, I am. Padawan Zoar, this is. To investigate The lift, we are here." She explained as she pulled a card from her pocket and opened a hologram to show her chain code to the man, along with her official designation as a Jedi Master. He studied it all with wide eyes then gave a nod.

"Um... please... come right in. If you have any questions, we'll try to answer to the best of our abilities." He spoke as she gestured to the front door of the penthouse gallery. "Just, uh... try not to touch anything. Shouldn't be too hard for you Jedi, right?" He gave a half-hearted laugh as he tried to diffuse the situation.

Yenna gave a nod and hopped off Zoar's shoulder, pulled her cane from her belt and limped along, though she paused to check if Zoar would be able to fit through the rather tight door with his massive suit. "Fit in here, will you?" She asked him with a hint of concern in her voice. She wasn't about to ask him to get out of his suit if he wasn't comfortable with it.

Zoar

 

[Zoar]

Zoar seemed enraptured by Yenna as she spoke about her background. Growing up neglected, the fear, the need to hide... It sounded familiar. It sounded like him.

"To fear, you have nothing, Zoar. Happen to you, nothing bad will. I'm here, not while."

Oddly enough, he believed her. The mech suit just nodded quietly, continuing to power through the brightly-lit streets of his homeworld.

Finally, they made it to their destination. Zoar let Yenna do most of the talking, only offering a brief //Yo,// to the officer as the Master introduced them. Soon enough, they were allowed entry, with one final, large barrier to overcome:

The door.

His suit wouldn't be able to fit. He'd gotten very good at judging dimensions of entryways ever since making his armor. But he couldn't just wait out here. He couldn't let his fear control him. Yenna herself said that he would be safe.

So, slowly, tentatively, the chest cavity of the mech opened, and a small, rodent-like form hopped out. Zoar looked away from the Jedi, his tail wrapped protectively around one of his forearms. He was obviously supremely uncomfortable, but trying to power through it for the good of the mission.

"Okay, just... don't look at me. Please." His heart was already pounding in his throat, the sleek cybernetics ringing the back of his head flashing with feverish pink as his thoughts raced and crammed into each other.

- Yenna -

 

[Yenna]

The last thing Yenna was expecting was for the chestplate to open up and move away, revealing a small rodent with cybernetic implants and a very terrified expression on his features. But Yenna's thoughts were far from negative. A bright grin formed as she studied him. He was barely taller than her. She didn't make any remark, hoping to avoid any problematic situations. This proved to be a good call as he asked them all not to look at him.

Immediately her eyes shifted away for the moment as she gave a nod. "Very well." She muttered, turning to look at the very confused officer. Her gaze remained on his as confusion merely spread, until his eyes went wide and he gave a nod. "Uh... yeah... copy that." The man spoke as he looked away. The other cops did the same, avoiding eye contact with the two tiny Jedi.

Yenna continued forward into the crime scene, pulling her datapad from her pocket to make notes. Nothing seemed out of place for the most part. A rather typical, albeit highly specialized, infiltration. A neat cut into one of the windows, the shattered vase, and a lack of evidence to indicate who the suspects were. No fingerprints or any other indicators. However, something else caught her eye.

The security cameras and alarms.

"Zoar." She spoke up as she turned to face him, sparing only a glance at him before she looked away. "Access the security terminal, if we can... see any tampering, will you be able to?" She asked him gently as she pointed to a access pad against one of the walls.

Zoar

 

[Zoar]

Being outside of his shell with other people around felt wrong. Like he was naked. Like no matter who they were, that they were judging him. Like they were aware of his presence, and just knowing he was there could let them hurt him.

Even Yenna's supportive smile looked like she was baring her teeth at him.

But she averted her gaze quickly, and instructed the cops to do the same. That made the little padawan feel just a bit better, as he followed the Master Jedi into the room, his paws making the quietest of steps on the expensive floors. He took in each part of the room at the same time Yenna did, albeit catching fewer details.

"Yep," Zoar finally said, almost a whisper to himself. "S-s-something illegal happened here. Heh. Heh..."

Yenna turned around, saying his name. Zoar almost jumped out of his skin in surprise. It took him a moment to register what she asked of him, but when he did, he nodded. "Yeah. Sure. I can do that."

The Miln walked slowly up to the device, unspooling a scomp link cable wrapped around his shoulder, and plugging it carefully into the access panel. He closed his eyes, the lights of his cybernetics flashing brighter as he dove headfirst into the technology. He let the Force guide his mind, as he sifted through millions of bit of information.

A viewing panel next to the console flashed to life, as Zoar found the footage they were looking for.

The gallery was still. Then, a device bonked on the outside of the window. Some sort of automated suction cup with long arms spun around quickly, cutting a circle in the glass. Two figures, wearing all black, seemed to crawl up the side of the building, yank off the clean disk of glass, and throw a small device in. The feed cut out a second after a bright explosion.

"EMP," the mousy Jedi whispered, as if it were the bane of his existence.

He would rewind and go forward as many times as Yenna asked. Maybe she saw something he didn't?

- Yenna -

 

[Yenna]

Yenna truly felt bad for Zoar as she watched him flinch and sneak around, felt the fear and anxiety coming from him. She hoped that she could get through to him somehow, maybe gain a chance to help him rise from this pit of fear. He had the makings of a great Jedi, and beneath all of the nervousness she could sense a kind and gentle soul.

But for now, they had to focus on the task at hand. Zoar moved over to the control panel and plugged into the security system, bringing up a recording of what transpired. Yenna watched carefully as the video feed ran, taking notes of every aspect she could see. "What they are doing, they know." She muttered, her golden eyes glued to the video.

"Valuable, that footage is. Complicate things, an EMP will. But clearly, unconventional entry, a problem for them, is not." Her gaze shifted to Zoar. "Very good job, Zoar. Now... to you, how dangerous is that? Insulated, is your suit?" She asked him gently.

Her gaze returned to the video, then took in the gallery again. Something was off about it all. She couldn't pin it exactly, but she knew that they were missing something. Her eyes studied the officers guarding the gallery around them while others searched for any more clues, one of them talking into his uniform's commlink. Likely a report of some sort.

It finally clicked, but she didn't want to talk about it in the open with him... or anywhere with someone getting the chance to listen in. "To the ship, let us return. To discuss, we have much." She suggested as she turned to leave with him, though she took a risk and held a hand out for him to take if he wished. A little gesture in hopes of calming him down and reassuring him that he had nothing to fear.

"Well equipped, unconventional, willing to kill... missing something, we are. At the ship, we must talk. Too many ears, this city has." She commented just loud enough for him to hear.

The officer by the door greeted them with a tip of his cap as they walked past them, looking around the place for a moment.

Zoar

 

[Zoar]

"You can say that again," Zoar breathed, hands fidgeting as he respooled his scomp link.

Her follow-up question was a good one. Zoar seemed to grow a bit bashful, flinching as Yenna turned her eyes to him. "I h-h-haven't really... figured out how to do that, yet. EMPs will fry my wires like nobody's business." Even his cybernetics would take a hit, were he in the blast zone. It wouldn't kill him, but it wouldn't be pleasant, either.

One of Zoar's ears flicked in surprise as the Jedi suggested they head to a ship. She'd found something, but the padawan couldn't decide exactly what that was, or why secrecy was suddenly so important.

She held out her hand to him. Zoar recoiled away from it, folding his paws together, his tail coiling defensively around his waist. Then, he pretended as if he hadn't seen the hand, trying to ignore his previous awkwardness.

"Too many ears, this city has."

Zoar looked at Yenna, confusion slowly dawning into understanding. It took all of his willpower not to glance around at the security detail, as they left the room, and the Miln quickly hopped into his mech.

They walked a ways away from the building, before Zoar spoke up again, his voice once again distorted by his power armor. //So... do we need to go all the way back to a ship, or was that just an excuse to get away from those guys?//

//You think they're involved?//

- Yenna -

 

[Yenna]

Yenna was disheartened as he recoiled from her gesture, though she quickly dropped it as her hand retreated. He would break through eventually. If not with her help, by that of someone else's. She was confident of that. She watched him jump back into his suit and turned to exit the cloudcutter, jumping back onto his shoulder as he entered the turbolift.

"Yes and no." She admitted softly. "With the security system, the benefit of the doubt, we can give them. But a security team, there was. Overwhelm them, how can a handful of people? Someone on the inside, I suspect they have... and, correct, if my suspicions are, connected to that, the new murders are." She explained as she pulled her flask from her pocket and took a swig of hard liquor. "But also, piece this together, I want to. All the evidence, we have to place down. And then, tomorrow morning, visit the new gallery, we can. Late, it is getting... and, out at night, we do not want to be, in my experience." She admitted softly.

She knew that there were Jedi operating at night on Denon, far more suited for its harsh underbelly. But their mission was the first priority. They could help out after they caught the criminals and brought them to justice.

"You know... a bit jealous, I am, with this suit. Very handy, it would be, to reach high shelves." She quipped with a snicker to lighten the mood. "Unorthodox, it is... but, a useful tool, for beings like us, it is. A lot, I struggled, as a padawan. Something like this, I wish I had." She continued as they drew closer to the ship.

Yenna hopped off the suit's shoulder and pulled her cane from her belt as the boarding ramp lowered for them and calmly limped up towards the exterior door. But as the door hissed open and they entered the bulkhead, Yenna paused and held a hand out. "Zoar... something, I feel." She warned as her lightsaber gravitated into her hand. Armed with her cane in one hand and her lightsaber in the other, she walked with the giant suit deeper into the ship, her senses on high alert...

But her actions fell flat when an electrical field erupted around the two, the powerful arcs shooting out and locking onto the two Jedi in an overwhelming surge, leaving electronics disabled and knocking the lieforms caught in its wake unconscious.

The little green Jedi's eyes fell shut as she hit the floor, her weapon rolling from her hand...

Zoar

 

[Alicio Organa]

 

[Zoar]

Zoar tromped along, nodding his head at Yenna's deduction. //That makes sense. No one was in the room of the gallery when they snuck in. Maybe someone told them when the best time would be.// Then, the robotic, unmoving faceplate of Zoar seemed to become more thoughtful. //I don't know how that's connected to the killings, though. It's... a puzzle.//

"You know... a bit jealous, I am, with this suit. Very handy, it would be, to reach high shelves."

The Miln giggled a little at that, fully aware of the woes of being short. //Yeah, it's great at opening jars, too.// Then, he reclaimed his seriousness, regarding the small master once more. //I struggled a lot as a youngling, especially when I was first brought to the Jedi. I... I-I still struggle.// Those first few weeks of healing and physical therapy had been the hardest of his life. A story for another time.

He debated asking Yenna more about her padawan years, before she suddenly perked up.

"Zoar... something, I feel."

A flash of panic blazed in his chest, as the suit froze, then slowly grasped onto the massive hilt of it's greatsaber. Relying on her bravery more than his own, Zoar followed Yenna into the depths of the ship, head spinning slowly to take in the entire area.

Which didn't help, as lashes of electricity found purchase in the Jedi. With a warning klaxon, Golem's circuits immediately sparked and fried, and a sound of agonized pain echoed from inside. The suit crashed to the floor with a thunderous boom, his greatsaber rolling from it's grip.

- Yenna -

 

[Yenna]

The world was a blur around her when Yenna came to. It took several moments for her eyes to focus and then a few more to take in the surroundings. She was in a cell, a rudimentary cell door blocking the exit. The gaps in the bars were too tight, even for her tiny frame... but what concerned her more was the collar around her neck. Whether it was a shock collar or a bomb collar, she wasn't inclined to tamper with it to find out.

Her cloak and personal effects were missing... but the biggest situation was the young Miln in the cell along with her, a collar fastened around his neck as well. "Oh no... Zoar?" She muttered, kneeling down beside him to make sure he was alright. Luckily he didn't seem injured, at least on the surface. If something was damaged with his cybernetics, sue wouldn't be able to tell without a proper medical facility or scanner while he was unconscious.

She dtood up again and looked around for a moment. They weren't on Denon anymore... they were on a ship or in a facility of some kind. Too few lifeforms around them for a planet. A camera sat in the corner of the ceiling, constantly watching their every move.

"Oh dear..." She muttered with a sigh as she moved back to Zoar. Until he was awake, there wasn't much she could do at the moment. But given how nervous Zoar seemed even in his suit outside of danger, she wasn't sure just how bad his reaction was going to be when he came to. Hopefully not too bad... she was going to need him on this.

But the more realistic reaction was probably going to be one hell of a nervous breakdown.

Zoar

 

[Zoar]

Zoar clawed back to consciousness with a deep, terrified breath, and he immediately winced, his neck jerking violently to the side.

"A-a-a-agh!" The Miln grasped the sides of his head, scooting blindly away until his back hit the bars of their cage. His hands, his ears, his tail, all twitched a chaotic rhythm, as he screwed his eyes shut, fighting against a massive pain in his head.

Something was obviously wrong with his implants. He knew that much. But the world seemed fuzzy, undefined, as he faced the worst migraine of his life. He realized after a moment that his cybernetics were off.

They had never been off before. Ever since he had been a baby, he'd been connected to the Holonet. His brain had developed to function alongside a computer. It made him a natural at slicing, but without his implants...

"I c-c-can't thhhink," the Miln squeaked out, tears sprouting from his eyes as he curled up. "I can't think, I can't think, Ican'tthinkIcan'tthinkIcan'tthink..."

- Yenna -

 

[Yenna]

"Zoar?!" Yenna spoke up as she pulled back, watching the Miln squirm as pain and terror flooded through his body. He scooted against the side of the cell and clutched at his head. She didn't know what, but something was very wrong. That was when she noticed it. She had noticed that something was off about his look this whole time, but she couldn't place it.

The flickering lights he had when she saw him were gone. Did his implants shut down somehow?

"I c-c-can't thhhink,"

"I can't think, I can't think, Ican'tthinkIcan'tthinkIcan'tthink..."

"Zoar, hey..." She muttered with a faint voice as she knelt beside him a hand reaching out but not touching him. She delved into his presence, closed her eyes and focused the Force to try her best at understanding what was happening. It didn't come close, but she managed to at least understand to a degree what was wrong. "Okay, you will be..." She muttered as she extended the Force towards him, trying her best to ease the pain in his mind and silence the hurricane of thoughts... or rather, lack thereof.

She didn't expect the latter to do much at all. All she could hope to do was nullify that pain for the moment.

This was unknown territory for her. She had never dealt with something like this before in her life. To help someone so reliant on cybernetics was foreign to even her. All she could do was try to calm him down to the point of talking to him.

"Zoar... at me, can you look?" She asked as gently as possible. She kept her distance, outstretched hands and all, to not force her way into his personal space.

She needed to figure out how they could activate his cybernetics again...

Zoar

 

[Zoar]

For a few awful seconds, the world was ill-defined, swimming in conjoined, barely-grasped concepts. Zoar could scarcely hold onto one thought before it slipped through his fingers. And the headache... The terrible, brain-splitting headache, as if half of his mind had simply shut off, and the other half was figuring out how to cope.

Which, to be fair, was exactly what was happening.

After a long, agonizing moment, the world started to return to the Miln. His thoughts were still fuzzy, slow, and painful, but finally, Zoar was able to open his eyes.

"Zoar... at me, can you look?"

He wiped a cheek with the back of his arm, feeling himself calm as the Jedi Master was made known to him again, but not daring move from his fetal position against the cage. His tail still twitched an erratic pattern against the floor, as he pressed against the sides of his head with his paws.

"Sorry... sorry. I... sorry. Sorry." He covered his eyes in shame, unable to say much else, before trying to coax the right sentences out. "W-w-what... what happened? Where are we?"

- Yenna -