Better late than never

[Atham'aali'kema]

Thyferra​

​

The Twilight Hours following the Invasion by The Sith Empire​

::Your answer is...unsatisfactory.::

He tilted his expression as his hands moved over the dash of the small vessel. He had known the analogs of starfighters and cruisers through the lens of the Yuuzhan Vong. He had known the ways of the Clawcraft before his changing. And with practice, he was beginning to understand the mechanics of flight when things were removed from automation. For when he flew before, he flew with his mind and the connection to the Yammosk. And now, he flew with his eyes and his heart.

::I am sorry. We just don't know where she is. We are still coordinating evacuations.::

::Unacceptable. She is a Jedi Master of your Alliance.::

One might have assumed, based on the dialogue, that he was showing some form of anger. But the truth was that he was still feeling the aftershock of his transformation, still learning to grasp at the things that irritated him beyond those objects that were once so ingrained. Like the Force, like the Chiss, like all the nuanced subjects that tethered him to the Vong and ripped him from his former culture. And those things were now gone.

There was no anger.

Only concern.

::Requesting permission to approach planet:: He was late to the show. Not being tied into the leadership of the Alliance, being struck by moments of dissociation, he wasn't quick to wage war. But this wasn't war.

::Permission denied. We are still evacuating Xucphra City. We cannot risk additional casualties.::

::Coordinates set for Xucphra City. Thank you for your assistance.::

::Did you not hear me? Permission deni-::

He clicked the communications off. The ship cut hard as he entered the coordinates. Shouldn't be a problem to find her, he thought. Like finding a wiggling green needle in a burning haystack.

@Harla [member="Taheera Sollo"]​

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Atham'aali'kema"]

Why were there so many mini flying tauntauns?

Watery eyes blinked hard. That sith with the yellow mask and crimson saber had disappeared. Head shook slightly as she held back, base of her staff planting firmly on the ground, green-digits wrapping tightly around the cylinder as she leaned against it. Taking a deep breath, she almost coughed all the oxygen out. The air was tangy and smoky and...glittered?

Had she breathed in a mini flying tauntaun?

Head shook, chestnut strands of hair fell across one of her tattooed cheeks as her head tilted to the side. Listening. Trying to sense...something normal. But it felt as though a fuzzy blanket was wrapped tightly around her senses. Corners of her eyes caught a flash of crimson retreating. Myrtle ellipses narrowed.

"Going....after him Gabe. Get the others out."

Thing was? She'd lost Gabe. And she was blocks away from the hospital already, wandering the burning and smoldering streets with air still filled with the lingering effects of the spice cloud.

 

[Atham'aali'kema]

Blue fingers fluttered over the controls of the airship as he cut hard above the city. The viewscreen filled with images of destruction, fire on the horizon and buildings falling over. He had seen this before, the acts of war and aggression from a faction that was no better than its many predecessors.

Every Sith Empire was the same. Every Empire focused on claim was the same. Taking without the need, until the end of time. Galactic Empire, First Order, The Sith Empire - many heads to the same beast. A beast that went by the name of greed.

He scanned the streets as he reduced his speed, taking on a slow creep at hovering altitude. Any lower and he'd be scraping the bottom of his ship on what buildings were left.

::Approaching the City. Requesting location information on Taheera Sollo.::

He could feel the resistance on the communications, coming in the form of silence. But he was logical and so were they. After all, there was now nothing to be gained from holding information from him.

::She was tasked with evacuating the central hospital. But that facility has been fully evacuated, we aren't sure what is left of it...::

Cinder and smoke. That was almost his answer as he set molten orbs upon the location, ash and smoke billowing from the center. He spotted the remains of a shielding array on the roof, belching black smog from the generators that were left somewhat intact.

::Thank you for the information. I will reconnaissance from there.:: He would just need a solid place to set down.

[member="Taheera Sollo"]​

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Atham'aali'kema"]

Heat from the flames on either side hit her in waves. Wrapped arm came up to wipe across her green brow. She huffed, trying to clear chestnut feathers of hair that refused to become unstuck to her skin. She'd lost the sith. Somewhere. Somehow. Between the mini flying taunt tauns.

There was a roar from above and she tilted her head as smoke and ash were swirled in mini-eddies across the battered pavement.

"A...dragon?" Pools of mossy, jungle greens that were full of soot and water narrowed. Sounded like a ship. With a start, she finally tore her gaze away. How long had she been staring up at the black sky? Mind churned against the curtain of sparkly-fog. Legs buckled beneath her. She needed to sit and wait.

Wait for a moment.

 

[Atham'aali'kema]

The ship strafed as it moved across the roof of the rumbling medical facility. Fire gushed from the roof in blankets of black smoke, ensuring that such a place would make for a terrible landing spot. Maalik read across the warnings of dash. Structural integrity scans and atmospheric assay's were pinging with a red blare.

Both were compromised but he could get away from one of them. The atmosphere issue was concerning, given that he wasn't sure Taheera had what she needed to avoid breathing in toxins. Or, according to the readings, variant forms of narcotics?

::Control. Sensors are picking up atmosphere suspended narcotics. Please advise.::

Silence came over the communications.

::Control?::

::Yeah, we heard you. There were reports of the Sith Empire introducing agents into the atmosphere.::

::Spice?::

::That or an explosion at the medical facility aerosilized what stock was left. Proceed with caution.::

Vision narrowed as he turned the vehicle, setting down between two buildings that appeared to have some form of structural integrity. Before opening the top, he opened a small container and pulled two full face rebreathers from the chest. Placing one on himself, the top hissed open as he hopped out. A tremor shook the world around him as molten orbs looked upwards, stepping clear from a shower of rubble that deflected on the vessel.

"Gotta make this quick..." He whispered as he stepped out into the street, head on a swivel for a blotch of green.

[member="Taheera Sollo"]​

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Atham'aali'kema"]

It was so hot. Her wraps and clothing stuck to the curves and valleys of her form. And they were damp. Movement caught her weary gaze. Movement in the orange and yellow licking flames that seemed to swirl around her form, seated within the middle of the rubble-strewn streets. The once bright orange pain of an upturned speeder on her left was beginning to melt.

A glinting tooth and gleaming eye caught her attention.

A...fire dragon?

Form straightened quickly as she launched to her feet. Staff was powered off, the strap slung back over her shoulder. Free hands spread in front of her form as her mind churned at the partial illusion. The flames were swirling and licking around her but there was no beast. Spiced-mind saw what it wanted.

With a surge of the force and a desperate grunt, she sent a powerful invisible wave into the swirling flame dragon.

But seriously, what happened to the mini-flying tauntauns?

 

[Atham'aali'kema]

The world rumbled around him, angered by something he didn't understand. The world of Selvaris was almost entirely living and in that fashion, the emotions of the planet were living. When it was angry, when it was glad, when it was appeased. But this felt like agony. Even if he had once been cut off from the force, the removal of his inner yammosk carried over a sense of intuition.

He pulled the cowl down over the full face rebreather as he came around the corner. It wasn't that he felt any particular need but in a way, he felt out of place here. The state of Thyferra still hung in the balance and couldn't discern whether he still existed as ally or newly minted enemy. If the Sith Empire was successful in their endeavor, then he wasn't sure what he would find as he walked through the narrow alley ways of Xucphra City.

He ducked behind a smoldering dumpster, pressing his back against a wall of charred brick.

A set of soldiers moved down the street, checking every nook and craney for strays that had missed the torment of this invasion. As they moved closer, he realized that they were either speaking a language beyond basic or using coded terminology. Or, perhaps, there was a leak in his rebreather.

His molten eyes pinned as he considered that option. This was a standard rescue but what was the point if the rescuer needed rescuing as well? He pressed his hand against his head, shaking it back and forth, as he waited and hoped that he wouldn't have to fight his way out of this. And as they walked by, they decided that no one would be hiding next to a building that had been damaged so entirely. At least, that was what Maalik assumed.

As they moved far away, he slowly stepped out and turned in the direction they had come from. In the distance, that green blotch appeared and above the figure - an antennae array was knocked off the roofing. He could tell that the strike originated from her because of precedence and the past - this is what it looked like when she fought. He went to rub his eyes and as his hand pressed against the rebreather mask, catching against the glass, he steadily walked towards her.

[member="Taheera Sollo"]​

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Atham'aali'kema"]

The mirage of the fire-dragon puffed up and exploded as her force wave ripped through its flame-licked body. Debris kicked up at her feet as a loud bang sounded. It was the antenna's base, part of what Maalik had seen. She stumbled forward and turned, arm coming up to cover her face as a cough racked through her green form. Watery-eyes finally managed to look up, squinting in the distance as she caught a cloaked figure approaching.

Was this real?

She squinted more and thought she caught a glimpse of molten with the cloak's shadow in a fleeting moment of clarity. In a blink of soot and ash it was gone. The figure seemed to shimmer into the sith she'd just fought. The one with that golden mask.

There was a roar coming from a perpendicular street to her right. Shouts. The force flowed through her drug-induced state instinctively, though slowly. Protective shield popped up from outstretched green-palms, as it caught the red fire of laser turrets. The tank-like vehicle coming toward her and firing was very much real. Unlike that dragon. One side was shooting a flame thrower into the surrounding buildings, adding to the fire already there or starting more.

The roof turret was aimed at the mirialan jedi in the street.

Took everything she had to keep that protective shield up even as her legs stumbled over piles of rubble to find some sort of cover. Great. Now she had sith at her front and at her back. Couldn't afford to forget the golden masked-man.

 

[Atham'aali'kema]

He lifted his hand to wave to her. The reception wasn't what he expected. Even from afar, her expression felt...cold.

Molten orbs narrowed as he looked towards her, confused but all the same, understanding that the waging of war was a confusing thing. He was, after all, robed in an good deal of cloth that worked to conceal his physical presence. She wouldn't recognize him from the distance.

He paused as the breath of fire spilled from the tank, nearly bucking at the presence of impending danger towards Harla. But then he recalled the last time they were together in dangerous circumstances. If he recalled correctly, he made the reckless decision to fight a beast in the snow - the sort of decision that landed him on a mat against a warm fire. Against her. If he recalled everything else correctly, he was sure he made a promise to stop doing things like that. If she had her way, he would stay clear of this danger...

The amphistaff coiled out from the robe of his cloak as he threw away thoughts of being reckless. He couldn't be reckless if he was protecting someone he cared about. Breaking the slow gait, he charge forward and beyond Mirialan Jedi and her erected shield. With the practiced jump, indicative of his Slayer training, he mounted the tank and slashed at the outer armor. As soon as he realized that such an effort would bear little fruit, he turned the mouth of the amphistaff towards the open viewport and filled the cabin with bile toxin.

"Run, Harla!"

The mounted turret began a slow turn towards him. But he was close, he could dodge the attacks rather effortlessly.

[member="Taheera Sollo"]​

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Atham'aali'kema"]

Harla?

She blinked.

Had the sith just said a name only the chiss-hybrid knew? Shield flickered as the turrets were drawn away. At the same time, the flaming gun was swiveled her way. With a grunt of effort she launched herself behind a huge upturned duracreet chunk as the flames licked and nipped at her wraps and exposed flesh. Palms caught herself as pavement bit into her skin.

Just as quickly, the flames were gone.

Chestnut-haired head peaked up. Myrtle orbs tried to focus on the figure and the tank but her body was full of smoke and drugs. Still. The force was there. It was always there. Muted but there.

Wearily, she tugged on her connection. Eyes squinting as a wavering, green palm extended. For the healer, using TK typically felt like using a sharp-edged and precise tool. Right now? It felt like she was wielding a blunt hammer. Taking that invisible hammer, she crunched down on the tank's turret tubes.

Whether it was Maalik or a sith, they'd only have seconds to get free from the impending explosion.

 

[Atham'aali'kema]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

The sounds of screaming within were muted by the splash of amphistaff toxins and the crimping of metal. From some distance away, he watched with molten complexion as her hand extended from the upheaval of rubble. Hand narrowing and tightening, as if gripping a staff or the handle of a door, he could only surmise utilization of the force. But if she was as disoriented as her expression indicated, as exhausted as her stance implied, he felt there might have been a better way.

Eyes went wide at the realization, looking down to see the wrinkle form in durasteel. Then it twisted and tightened and the bore was sealed shut. He growled and kicked the hull as he pulled the amphistaff away. "DON'T FIRE!"

Silence followed for brief moments until blood shot eyes formed in slots where the toxin entered the tank.

"Kriff you, alliance trash."

If Maalik's eyes could have grown wider, they would have. Turning, he jumped and pushed off as hard as he could. Behind him, the round dropped in the barrel and ignited. An explosion careened outward, propelling him across the thoroughfare as he bounced across the duracrete. One hop, two hop, three hops, then he stopped.

Dazed and clawing at the ground, he reached out as the amphistaff slithered and wrapped back around his arm beneath the coat. Pressing blue fingers against the tragus of his ear, he struggled to his knees. Dizzy and disoriented, he looked around with a vision blurred by recent trauma. "H...Harla?"

He pressed his tragus again, this time more furiously, as he could hardly even hear himself talk.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Atham'aali'kema"]

Even partially behind the rubble, the explosion was enough to whip her around, feeling a blast of heat along her clothed form. Knees and palms caught herself on the pavement. Dark, green blood leaked through where the duracreet managed to bite in beyond her wraps and into the skin beneath. Ragged breath was drawn into her raw and aching throat.

Ears rang.

Anything Maalik uttered was lost to a muted ringing sound. Not understanding where she found her resolve, the healer managed to stagger to her feet. Gaze narrowed on the movement of the cloaked and masked one. That sith. She stumbled forward, scooping up a pair of forgotten cuffs on the ground. Orbs of varying green seemed as if they were peeking through a slight film.

Green palm swiped through the air, batting away one of those pesky baby flying tauntauns, Then, she would lunge for Maalik's form, knee would go into the middle of his back as she would attempt to pin him, using her leg as leverage for an arm. She would lunge for the other arm. Only. The cuffs she held in her hands weren't cuffs at all. It was an abandoned sock.