Across the Galaxy [Pilgrimmage to the Galaxys major Temples]

[RC 212]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"] [member="Xalus"] [member="Soliael Devin Talith"] [member="Amorella Mae"] [member="Cameron Centurion"]

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In the force there is much to learn. But one cannot attempt to learn it all....or can they?​

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Aboard the Cerberus a Peregrine Class Freighter three unlikely individuals set out across the galaxy to further their knowledge. Hoping to hit every major temple in the civillized galaxy they plunge along the hyperlanes towards their first stop. The Morross Crusades world, Exocron.​

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They are rumored to be a strange collection of force users, making others believe that they are gods.​

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Are they benevolent? Time will tell......​

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Lisa leaned back lazily in chair in the cockpit. The stars streaked by as they neared Exocron. Hyperspace travel had made her weary so she had resorted to making many many cups of stimcaf. The galaxy was a large place and so far they had been jumping for weeks, stopping only to refuel.

Thoughts of what theses fabled god's would look like swirled in her mind. Would they attack the three on sight? She hoped not, she was just here to learn, knowledge is power.

"What do you guys think? Think they'll go crazy when we show up?" She asked the other two idly...

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Lisa Ticon"]

Soliael stood in the center of Exocron, his usual robes replaced with a set of simple metallic Armor, an insignia inscribed on the right shoulder and a cloak hanging over his back.

For once, he was not pretending to be a God. His shaggy hair and the beard cropped closely on his face told of somewhat of a disguise, though none of the people of Moross knew his face anyway, no one did actually. What he was doing here in Exocra was simple, he was walking among his people. It was a common practice for him, something he did nearly once every month. He would dawn the cloaks and armor of a Crusader, a force using Moross Citizen, and walk among his people.

It was a way to understand them.

It was a way to get to know them and sense the climate of the people of the Crusade. Today, as every month he had done this, his people were happy. They had food, peace, safety, and everything they could want for. Oh there was problems, there always was, but generally everyone seemed to be happy.

He smiled slightly, thinking about what it would be like to have Kira here with him. They had never gotten to explore Exocra together, something that he knew she would have enjoyed. His smile grew as he made his way through the markets, people giving him short bows and nods of respect.

That was the way of things, people respected the Crusaders. He gave each of them a short nod, looking them in the eye each time.

All was well.

 

[Xalus]

The Cerberus was Xalus's pride and glory. It had served him faithfully and effectively over the course of his lifetime and its crew even more so. The silently working crew of almost two hundred droids worked dutifully to keep the vessel in pristine condition hour after hour, day after day, year after year. In his lifetime, he had been on more than just a few vessels and these robotic souls that kept it alive were the best he'd seen. Ever.

Today happened to be the rare occasion that people were aboard voluntarily. Rather than being in the detention cells under watch by guard, they were here lounging in the cockpit area with Xalus himself. As usual, his green-grey armor looked no less menacing than when he first met these females. One of them was his charge, Chiasa, and it was his job to ensure her safety until she no longer found use of him.

Xalus sat silently, mulling over readings from his heads-up-display and listening to the general chatter of his droids as they worked. Several servant variants could be seen tending to their guests, but the rest were business as usual.

"Sir, we're almost there." Taz spoke up, his tactical droid. "Shall I ready your shuttle?"

The Gen'Dai turned to the bot and nodded, patting the mech on the shoulder with what appeared to be affection.

It was time to show this cult what a real God was.

[member="Lisa Ticon"], [member="Chiasa Kritivaas"], [member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

When Lisa had first brought up the idea of this pilgrimage, Chiasa had almost assumed it was a joke. So many force using groups viewed their temples and their ways as the only, the ultimate, and never to be disgraced by exposure to Outsiders. But the more she'd thought about it, the better it seemed. A good chance to forge contacts, and oh how the Twi'lek loved those, add to that a chance to learn and grow in power.. Besides, as far as any danger went, she had Xalus by her side. She had utter confidence in him. At most she had to look after herself while he removed threats, and it wasn't as if she was defenceless herself.

Rising, she moved over and draped herself over Xalus shoulder as she gave the readouts a quick once over. He didn't usually mind the invasion of personal space she often subjected him to, and was one of the few beings she generally felt comfortable around as was not always calculating her every move towards.

She looked over and smiled at the other woman when she spoke.

"I don't imagine. They're all about converting people right? I've only read a little, but it seems like as long as we're polite and don't snicker at their gods we should be fine. Just play pilgrim, should be easy since technically we are."

Chiasa was not particularly religious. She was both too realistic and too vain for that. The only time deities played any role in her life was when she was cursing or in the bedroom. She didn't mind pretending if it benefited her though. She stood up properly and stretched. The shuttle was likely almost ready, Xalus had the most efficient crew she'd ever seen, even taking into account the fact that they were droids.

[member="Lisa Ticon"] [member="Soliael Devin Talith"] [member="Xalus"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"] [member="Chiasa Kritivaas"] [member="Xalus"]

The shuttle was ready in short time and as the droids chirped among themselves Lisa stood up and stretched mimicking Chiasa. Her cup of stimcaf was empty so she strode to the back hallway and made a new pot. As it steamed and whirled she opened her travel mug and waited.

"I don't think they'll try an convert a bunch of random travellers, or at least I'd hope not." She bellowed back towards the cockpit.

*Ding*

It was finally done and Lisa poured the steamy liquid into the mug capping it. She turned back to the Cockpit and stuck her head through the door, smiling wickedly.

"Well everything seems in order. Are we ready?"

Lisa was in a hurry to get there, an impatience that was a Ticon family trait.

 

[Xalus]

The Twi'lek who had bent over to drape her arms around his neck and stare at the readings on his datapad was none other than Chiasa Kritivaas. She was his charge and he never minded her invading his personal space. After all, he'd already done the same to her and it was only fair that he "put up" with her antics. Xalus never minded and actually was very pleased to have a constant companion that had flesh rather than durasteel. Droids may live forwever, but they were only interesting once they developed personalities.

"Shuttle's ready."

And with that, he was up and out of the chair. His seven foot tall figure rose to its full stature and he slung his assault rifle across his back, slipped on his Crushgaunts, and fixed his lightsaber to his belt. Finally came a hefty grey-green cloak that would serve to shroud his form. One simply didn't walk around with an assault rifle with a grenade launcher and expect not to be questioned for it. These were zealots after all. Coming into their home armed instantly made you a heretic and Xalus was in no mood to be burned at the stake.

He waved for both of the women to follow him as they made their way through the ship. The trio would soon find themselves within the hangar bay before the Gen'Dai led them to his prepped shuttle, staffed by a skeleton crew of some naval droids.

Moments later, they would be off and heading towards the planet's surface. In particular, the Grand Temple.

[member="Lisa Ticon"], [member="Chiasa Kritivaas"], [member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"], [member="Soliael Devin Talith"] [member="Xalus"]

Lisa settled into her seat. She was fully armed and looking like a walking tank, with guns a jingling from her person. She had two plasma pistols, a flechette launcher, twin sabers, twin daggers, twin SMG's and her favourite, the sniper rifle.

She took another sip from her caf mug and set it down, massaging her eyes. There was a lot of things running through her head. As they neared the atmosphere she reached out with her mind, probing the force. It was strange here, a mix of dark and light. This place was almost like a nexus.

"Alright we're on our way!"

Lisa was anxious to get to the surface and make contact with the locals, maybe explore the country or peruse their shops. But she was also eager to learn. As Xalus masterfully guided the Shuttle she kept an ear out for transmission, expecting to be hailed any moment....

 

[Chiasa Kritivaas]

As her companions kitted themselves out with enough gear that they were probably safest if they did not even fly the shuttle over any bodies of water, the Twi'lek had a quick look to make sure everything she needed was in her purse. Mace, check. Zip ties, check. Moisturiser, check. Credits, check. Barely fake ID, check. Lip balm, check. Small industrial grade tube of glue, check.

Well that all seemed to be in order. It wasn't much, in comparison, but as a general rule the Twi'lek avoided physical confrontations, and had found the more prepared you were for one, the more likely it was that one would find you.

Plus if there was time after the pilgrimage part she might have a look at what the local shops had to offer, and that could be awkward if she showed up with a small armoury. Besides, she'd already worked out an easy explanation for the others gear if they were called on it. Assuming, and this was not a safe assumption, that no one jumped directly to violence she'd simply say she'd hired them as security to keep her safe as she traveled the galaxy. After all, it was a dangerous place for a lone Twi'lek woman. It had the added bonus of being at least half true as well, so on the off chance they had anyone with the tech or ability to sniff out lies she'd still be covered.

Settling into a seat on the shuttle, dressed in a form fitting black catsuit with a charcoal grey hooded cloak thrown on more for modesty than anything else, Chiasa looked more like a well to do Twi'lek than a threat. Perfect. Though she was easily identifiable, markings as clear as hers being uncommon, she did not think she'd made enough waves yet with the Red Ravens that she would be automatically associated with them. As much as she loved and craved influence, there were times when being unknown could be handy as well.

The shuttle decelerated expertly under Xalus' hands as it neared the docking area closest to the Temple. Chiasa noted the markets they passed over with interest. How nice it was to have credits to her name again.

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"] [member="Xalus"] [member="Lisa Ticon"]

 

[Malachite the Shoki]

Exocron... I'd been here, before, once. Of course, I hadn't paid homage to any gods. My ego was a tiny bit too strong for that. As in, I'd made the mistake of saying out loud that any god that really wanted to try and smite me could do so, if they didn't mind a pillar of fire up their nose. And, I'd also burned the face off a guard or two in the process.

But the place itself fascinated me. The Moross had done well here, at least, with the cities they'd built and the infrastructure they'd replaced. It was awfully pretty, this little market square I was hiding in, affording a view of the gold-embossed temple of a god I didn't give a crap about. It also fascinated me that the "gods" of the Moross were still worshipped after they died. It was more similar to the 'avatar' theory of the Vong religion, I guessed. How ironic.

This train of thought was interrupted, as I felt a very familiar presence almost directly above me. When I looked up, there was a shuttle overhead, and the feeling intensified. So, Chiasa was here too, huh? This marginally boring day had just gotten a little better.

[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"] [member="Lisa Ticon"] [member="Xalus"] [member="Soliael Devin Talith"]