Beyond the Sands... Here there be Dragons!

[RC 212]

[member="Barkt Melan"] [member="Gray Watcher"] [member="Seanna Vel"]

Twas high noon across the Dune sea as their little skiff bumped and chattered along. They were flanked by Ferlin and Alleria Ordo, two die hard Mado'ade twins with a penchant for heavy weapons. They were on speeders ripping across the golden grains and stirring up volumes of dust in their wake.

Jack stood at the helm of the Skiff, watching Sail Barges in the distance float off and far... far away he thought his seasoned eyes caught the sight of a Sandcrawler. But he wasn't so sure.

They had set out from Mos Espa, a small crew of adventurers set on taking down a Mother Krayt Dragon and looting her for the resources. Jack hoped to divide them up evenly, giving each some scales and Pearls. Useful items for crafting, and besides, wasn't the pure adventure worth it?

With a grunt and a smile he shoved his Buc'ye back onto his Naval Aliit'Gam and stood watch behind the wheel, left hand resting on the pommel of his Besk'ad.

"So folks, where do you all come from?"


As the winds stirred he whipped the arcane wheel port side with his right hand, spinning her round and round to change course across the seas.


OOC: All gear in Bio

 

[Seanna Vel]

Giving a way nothing of who she could really be away from this harsh desert that lay a head of them. A smile creep across her lips having parted more if it hadn't been for the little bits of sand partials coming up to say their friendly hello. Putting on her own helmet that matched with her armor plating. Even so she couldn't help but know that she was only here to enjoy herself.

It took great pleasure to know that they was on such a dangerous hunt. Even so she would only give them her first name only, as for what she did that would remain a mystery at less for the time being. With the business dealing she had dealt with she had learn how to keep things to herself that would protect herself until she felt that she was in safe company. Could one really be in save company. Now came time for her to speak, as she knew the matter how she did would also be noted.

Then once again was she thinking to much maybe so, but still.

"Where I came from is no matter, what I'm here for is purely for the thrill of the hunt that lays before us, Sweet'ums" as she didn't speak for another few second.

"Its Seanna," that was it as she turn to the other two that had desire to tempt fate and to on such a dangerous adventure.

[member="Jack Raxis"]

 

[Gray Raxis]

[member="Jack Raxis"] [member="Seanna Vel"]

Gray had heard of this hunt and figured he might as well show up. He could use whatever they got from this trip. He hadn't really thought much about the actual danger since he tended to find himself in weird situations all of the time. He was the kind of guy who got shot at during a party without any warning after all. Besides the obvious profit of the trip, he also couldn't help but admit that he was looking forward to the thrill. He hadn't gone out to test his metal in awhile and he was looking forward to seeing what he could do.

Gray stood there with his armor on and his helmet on. He never liked the sand, and he found it kept the stuff out of his mouth and hair. He had his blaster pistol strapped to his right leg as he leaned on the side of the skiff. He smiled under his helmet and said, " Well I'm not from any place really. I'm a bit of a star child. Name is Gray by the way. Pleasure to meet everyone." He added after a moments pause, " I don't know about you guys, but I hope our hunt doesn't prove to be dry."

 

[Barkt Melan]

Above the speeder, just inside a standard comm range, a low-flying starfighter would seem to circle. Barkt didn't want to get too far ahead of the rest, but playing air support meant that he was much faster than the others. As [member="Jack Raxis"]' voice called over the radio, the bothan answered;
"Bothuwai. My dad used to work around here though." Flicking through a few sensors before continuing, he commented to the man. "I'm going to scout ahead for a bit. It's not good for the ship to try keep pace with the speeders like this." And with that, the fighter would break its holding pattern and shoot ahead, still in comm range, bust searching for any sign of the dragon they sought.

Why was he here? Well, quite simply, a krayt dragon pearl necklace would look wonderful on Nalli. And, if nothing else, he could sell them. Apparently, they made good lightsaber crystals. Maybe he could pay an Obsidion Order member with one of them....

As scannees pinged the ground below, he sighed. He wasn't sure he liked the idea of fighting a Krayt Dragon. Even from the cockpit of a starfighter.

[member="Seanna Vel"] [member="Gray Watcher"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Barkt Melan"] [member="Gray Watcher"] [member="Seanna Vel"]

Alright! So they had mysterious woman, Grey whom Jack was quite familiar with and a good Old Bothan Pilot. That was quite the assortment and Jack smirked as he whipped the Skiff again, redirecting her sails into the winds. He loved this stuff. Sailing on the dune sea, about to head into a den of danger. The risk of life and limb got his adrenaline pumping overtime and he felt his heart rate rise as endorphins flooded his brain.

It was on and big time.

"Alright then Cap'n Melan. We're looking for a cave."

And then he paused flipping open and ancient compass and comparing his heading with the map on his HUD. Being an Instinctive Navigator he normally had a knack for finding anywhere he wanted via gut instinct and the force. But this was different. It felt like cheating, so he was honing skills every explorer needed. Good old land navigation, the ancient way.

"Due north by north east, about ten clicks out. Landmarks include a Saarlac pit west five clicks of the postilion, and an old quarry two clicks south. Scout's out Cap'n, and bless us with a heading."

The compass snapped shut and Jack looked to the decks below, to Grey and the mysterious woman.

"C'mon now mystery girl. We aint gonna bite. I know 'bout Grey, he's a guest of mine many time's over. But you?"

Jack whipped the Skiff again, letting her bank hard and whooping with joy as she ploughed into the wind, staggering his balance a bit.

"You're just like....something else woman!"

 

[Seanna Vel]

Looking be on where the fly boy seem to take off to scout out a head. Wanting to open her trap right there and then about how she hope that he was scouting for more then just cave, like for others dangers that could lurk a head of them. Even as she got ready to listen to the next one. Couldn't help but take in all about being of the stars. It must be wonderful not to have to set down roots.

This only got a grin under her visor even so it was after all something she heard next. He stop only made her let her eyes clear at him or was it to watch him more closely. Even then she couldn't help it after all it seem there was a thrill seeking driver at the helm. As she slammed into Gray,[member="Gray Watcher"] only to stop herself from coming all the way down to the floor of this fine vessel. "Please forgive me from bumping into you like that, it wasn't meant to."

Straightening up before she spoke again. "Bite, you might want to watch where your going, if your worry about having someone along to have to babysit your mistaken when the time comes I can handle myself and my weapons of choice." bring her hand to her sniper weapon, but also on her hip was not only blaster of her own choice but also knifes lots of those, one could say she like to play with knifes even get into drinking games with them.

For now she wouldn't say to much about herself until she new these ones better, after all what did this one thing that she would warm up like a nerf cow warms up to bull.

"Oh Sweet pea I would keep both hands on that wheel of yours, I feel a storm coming." , even those it look to be a good day out bright with twin suns beating down on them. It was her way in the force that told her differently. Letting her own visor scan as far as her sensors would let her.

 

[Gray Raxis]

[member="Seanna Vel"] [member="Jack Raxis"]

Gray watched the ship fly over head as it went on its way to scout. He was kind of glad to have some air support for this hunt, even though he half wanted to drop off of it like a commando onto the dragon when they found it. He didn't know why, but he always loved taking an aerial drop to locations. Perhaps it was the Mandalorian in him?

Gray steadied himself better as the skiff shifted around. The woman fell his way, and he made sure she didn't drop to the floor. He just smiled under his helmet and said, " Don't worry darlin'. I always enjoy catching a gal as she is swept off of her feet." He was terrible he knew, but he couldn't help himself. It was just too perfect of a situation for him to not use the line.

Gray turned his attention to Jack as the woman straightened herself back out. He said, " So what do you think we will run into on our little hunt? Aside from the dragon that is. Think there might be Tusken raiders? Or very, very angry Jawas?" He figured it was best to know what he was up against, seeing how he was the least armed one of the group. Of course he considered his pistol to be pretty versatile, especially when it really counted.

 

[Barkt Melan]

"Copy that. I'll radio in when I find anything." Barkt called back as he scanned the sands below him. Nothing looked like a quarry yet, but that meant very little at this stage. There was something worrysome, though. Almost as soon as he saw it, he caught snippets of [member="Seanna Vel"]'s comment.

"She's not wrong. There's a massive sandstorm about six clicks due north and moving south." He wired in to [member="Jack Raxis"]. "It looks like you may be able to avoid the worst of it by going towards the edge. You should have a few minutes before it reaches you." Sighing, he pulled higher to avoid as much turbulence as he could, and Tried to find the end of the sandstorm. It looked like it was smaller than he first thought, but it was also moving faster. That was a bit of a mixed blessing.

Returning to his search, he scaned for any sign of a quarry or a saarlac pit. He thought he saw one in the distance, but he wasn't sure. Coaxing a little extra speed out of the engines, he went to check it out.

[member="Gray Watcher"]

(OOC: It's 2:30 in the morning here. I'm going to head to bed for the night.)

 

[RC 212]

[member="Seanna Vel"] [member="Gray Watcher"] [member="Barkt Melan"]

Sandstorms were good if you had protection. Jack had his Aliit'Gam, but the skiff was his main concern. That much sand in the engines would take her down for sure. He didn't like crashing much less fireballs that usually came with it. As the woman and the Bothan warned him he whipped the wheel with amazing force, banking the Skiff hard as the engine and sails realigned.

The wheel spun over and over, and he grabbed the handrails as they tilted, bucked and then sped off due west, towards where the edge might be. It was coming in fast, a rapid wall of brown and golde glistening grains.

"Hold on to your Shebs folks!"

He turned and kicked the engine lever with his armored boot, kicking her out full and sailing just on the edge as the storm crossed every inch they travelled behind them. Massive winds were nipping at their rear end. Jack clutched the wheel, and gritted his teeth. Several more meters to go....

 

[Seanna Vel]

There was a heated glare coming from under her helmet, just looking could see it or the words she had coming out of her mouth. Times like these she was glad she had a mute inside her helmet. After which a long pause, before switching it on, "Aren't you just.." Feeling that what she felt was coming true, she had hope that had been wrong about the sand storm. Finding herself now getting down as low as she could grappling onto anything she could get her hands on to keep herself inside. Having a chance to look up once in a while to see the action of the captain of the ship, her partner in this adventure. [member="Jack Raxis"]

My sweet ass I"m holding on for my dear monkey lizard butt.

Feeling the ride starting to get more then a little bumpy, looking over to the one near her [member="Gray Watcher"]. Feeling that some of her old self slipping out wanting to start a her own mouth off.

Blast it all that mothers milk, this is going to be a ...

Knowing go well that with the storm this way that there was no way they could get a call out to or even if [member="Barkt Melan"] made it through safely.

Not able to finish before taking another hit of stronger blast this time this time throwing her almost to crash into Gray again. "Lets just get out of this with our breeches still on, sugar.

"Make it through this storm, drinks are on me, sugar pie.", even didn't need to know that she own her own factories that made all kinds of alcoholic drinks.

 

[Gray Raxis]

Gray could tell he got the usual response to his comments from [member="Seanna Vel"] . He was glad to know he could still pull it off, even though you would think he would rather get a positive response instead of someone muting themselves so they don't cuss him out publicly. He was about to have a good laugh when the sand storm became a real threat. He couldn't help but hate the idea of the ordeal. He didn't so much mind the tossing and turning as that just let him know he was a live, but the sand was a real problem. It could dice them all up if their armor wasn't strong enough, and then it was going to get into everything that wasn't completely sealed up tight.

Gray dropped down to minimize his surface area being exposed as the storm was about to hit. He grabbed onto the railing with one hand and pressed the side of his helmet with the other. He said over the com channel to [member="Barkt Melan"] hoping it would work, " How does our situation look eyes in the sky? Are we good or should we get ready to dump sand out of our unmentionables by the end of this?"

Gray had just finished speaking when the mysterious woman fell into him again. He reached down with his free hand, glad the occupied one was still managing to hold onto the railing, and held onto her tightly just in case she might fall off the skiff. He said to her as he did, " Don't worry darlin', I got you. I'd rather we not lose the best looking one here, especially if they are going to pay for our drinks." He chuckled a bit before adding, " Seriously, don't worry. I will go off this thing before I let you fall off. Jack is steering too, so we are covered. Lets just hope the sand doesn't get into any uncomfortable places. I don't know if this skiff has a changing room."

[member="Jack Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Barkt Melan"] [member="Seanna Vel"] [member="Gray Raxis"]

Sand. Sand was everywhere as the last of the storm crashed down. It washed over the skiff by a mere meter and they blasted through the hurricane of brown and golden currents, coming out the other side. And then there was nothing. Still speeding straight ahead the storm was moving by behind them, they'd made it.

Though not unscathed as his armor had been scored by rock and grit, and the skiff was a little dinged up. She was still seaworthy though, and Jack whipped the wheel as hard as humanly possible, putting the storm to their right and banking the craft with a jolt.

"Hold on!"

They caught extra wind in their sails, combined with the repulsion engines. Speed increased as they made along the fringes of the storm, moving north at an amazing rate. Jack grinned inside his helmet, both hands resting loosely on the archaic wheel. One boot came up to rest on a crate, Captain Morgan style.

"See that wasn't so bad was it? anyone got a reading from our eyes in the sky?"

 

[Seanna Vel]

If only he could see her look, "That what I"m worried about, sugar." as she just let herself feel the last of the blast of sand go over them like a sea of nothing. Even so she couldn't help but feel the pull, looking up at their captain. "Aren't you just so, darn cute up there now," more in her book cocky but she would keep this to herself. As she looked at the other one again through her helmet. "I told you didn't I or am I going to have remind you with a slap, that .." oh who was she kidding he wasn't going to stop.

Giving out a sigh as seeing she was out number more likely they was talking to each other on a private channel still should could help but let some of her temper show through this all. "Aren't you just a cute one, maybe what you need is a good cool down maybe I could stun you and drop you off on Hoth to cool off for a while." she didn't care if their captain heard this or not. Letting her tongue get the best of her for the time being.

"And you don't think your going to not get what's coming to you, I have never in my life seeing someone be so ..darn blasted to heck so wreak-less to think..okay okay so we made it through but still we could all be buried out ther but I don't know about you but I like to have more to life for." as she looked at one then the other. Throwing up her hands and turning her back towards them both that might not be the smartest but she did.

[member="Barkt Melan"] [member="Jack Raxis"] [member="Gray Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Seanna Vel"] [member="Seanna Vel"] [member="Barkt Melan"]

There was no answer on the Comms and nothing to note. As the skiff raced across the simmering golden seas Jack growled, unsure of his next move. the Air support must have gotten lost in the storm, which wasn't good at all. It was time to take his skills and apply them to land. Closing hisn eyes he fell into the force, letting that familiar tingling feeling wash over his gut.

His hands acted not of his own accord as he was guided by the currents. His target was in mind and a thousand paths lay before him. He was ignoring everything, Gray the Woman Seanna, all of it. The only thing he was focused on now was Instinctively Astrogating, a family trait that ran in his blood.

Slowly but surely the mutli coloured paths fell away as his sense expanded, plumbing each destination and circling back. A few more minutes and he would have their heading, bringing them straight to the lair of the beast. Of course with his helmet on the other couldn't have a clue his eyes were closed, but he was eerily silent....

 

[Gray Raxis]

[member="Seanna Vel"] [member="Jack Raxis"]

Gray stood up once the storm had passed and helped Seanna to her feet. He dusted the sand off of his armor and had a weird feeling. He wasn't sure what it was, but he could feel something was off. He half listened to Seanna rant as Jack focused on the directions. He went over to the front of the skiff and began to scan the sands. He wasn't sue what it was he was looking for, but something told him to look. All he saw was an endless sea of sand, everywhere. He didn't like it when he got these kinds of feelings, but he had learned to trust them when he got them.

Gray kept at it for awhile until he noticed a weird little indent in the sand. It didn't look right either, the sand didn't indent circularly normally. He stared at it a bit longer before he realized what it was. He turned around and screamed, " Saarlac pit! Dead ahead!"

 

[Seanna Vel]

Looking a head will that would be where she would have been. If it hadn't been trying to clear the sand off herself in places that she didn't think possible. "I think that lady room is needed on this thing or eyes.." couldn't finish as there it was dead a head. Looking at their captain, blinking once but twice. If only they could see her doing so, as if on.

"Well captain, want some help up there scoping it out." as she had a smirk under her helmet. As she wanted to do nothing much then to jump up there with her sniper rifle but knew better until it was the right time.

[member="Jack Raxis"] [member="Gray Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Gray Raxis"] [member="Seanna Vel"]

"No no help-whoa!"

Jacks eyes snapped open inside the helmet and he slammed the wheel left, rotating her extra fast under his nimble hands. No sooner had Gray spoken than they were careening into a sideways skid. Jack roared with joy as they slammed into the rails, and the skiff cut around the pit with blinding speed.

They were getting closer, the Sarlaac pit was a waypoint on the journey, he remembered that much from the map before he had destroyed it. This kill would be theirs, and no one else’s. Which brought them to the end of their sailing adventure. Low and behold far off against the hroizon cliff loomed, standing tall like ornate statues of crimson.

A few more minutes brought their little skiff to the cave entrance. Jack killed the power and looked into it, using his thermal and nightvision to pierce the depths of the darkness. So far there was nothing. One hand flexed, clenching and then un clenching. the Dragon was close now, he could feel it.

"Stay sharp."

With a jump he ascended the rails and fell to the dirt below, landing in a crouch amongst the sand. Something rumbled within the cave. Jack cursed, if there was a little girl there she would have screamed. The sands began to shift, the air pressure growing twice as heavy and before he knew it the Krayt exploded form the cave. It launched straight towards the skiff, scales hard as starship armor. It maw was open, hungry and bit down on the side, ripping and renting the metal deck.

"Open fire!!!!!" Jack roared, rolling sideways into a tumble, springing up and then drawing his DL-44. Bolts burst against the beasts scales. More of a distraction, until they could get in closer with their weapons.

 

[Gray Raxis]

[member="Jack Raxis"] [member="Seanna Vel"]

Gray held onto the rail as Jack cut the wheel again. That cousin of his liked trying to throw Gray over board a little too much. Not that Gray could blame him seeing how fun it must have been to sail the skiff. He just smiled under his helmet as they skirted the sorlaac. This trip was turning out to be a ton of fun so far.

Gray could feel there was something in the cave as they got to it. He got his blaster pistol ready and went over the side of the skiff. He reached up and dropped his visors and set them to night vision. He couldn't see whatever it was that was inside of the cave. It was starting to bother him how there was no sign of the beast they were after. He had heard rumors about the beasts, even though he had never seen one himself. He had done some research though to know what they were dealing with. He didn't like what he had seen. The creatures were as armored as a starship or tank and could hit you just as hard if not harder. He knew if the beast got its claws on any of them they were dead.

Gray heard the shifting of the sand and watched the dragon erupt forth. He got out of its way as fast as he could. He started taking shots at it with his pistol, but it's regular shots were not doing much damage. He said as he slide a hand up to the side of his helmet. He said as he kept taking shots, " I did some research and the beast has a soft spot in its mouth that leads to its sinus cavity. If you hit it then you can kill it instantly."

 

[Seanna Vel]

Getting use to the rocking back and forth as he turn sharp this time braces again to the side. Feeling that she couldn't do nothing more then to ride the wave if one could call it that way. Finding herself unable to do more then that until felt something odd. Only after they had open up fire did knowing that this would be what they came to take down. Even so as heard Jack. Wondering if for some reason that she could take out a eye on the big beast.

Finding her finger on the trigger before pulling she gathered to her the force as she set the bolt at the creature. Only a second later she was rolling to her left then up on her own feet. Taking out the long rifle as she let herself roll again hoping that the two would keep it busy while she line up the shot. Their life had to depand on it. There it was the shot was off and into the eye it went hearing the angry scream.

Wondering now as she let herself having to roll but another time. "Hows it going, sweet peas" hoping maybe with all her thoughts that if she got it to open its mouth enough that someone could take a shot.

[member="Gray Raxis"]