Cats on Fire

[Visser Chernykh]

Without a word Mael rejoined the melee. He didn't need the man's gratitude but rather his blade. Sentimentality had been driven out by the events of his life. It had left him with little in the way of compunction.

He felt no pity for the Croa whose hand he lopped off. It might've yet lived had it not attacked him. It cried out in agony and Mael swiftly ended it's suffering. The top of it's head hitting the rock with a thud barely registered.

Already he had turned his attention to the next one. You didn't stop to admire your work. Not in the midst of a confrontation. That point had been driven home hard during his training as a stormtrooper.

You killed and you moved on to what was next. A stormtrooper was a continuation of his weapon. No rifle had ever gloated about fulfilling it's purpose. Still he felt a measure of satisfaction as he went about his work.

It was the same professional pride of any tradesbeing. Mael Ren's trade was killing and he'd become good at it. Despite everything he was still a man. He had his limits and he knew this encounter was pushing him towards his.

Kreiger's shout could be heard above the din. How long indeed until they reached their goal? How many more mutants were to come? There would be no surrender but he wondered all the same.

[member="Darth Veles"] | [member="Wolf"] | [member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Enyo Typhos"] | [member="Saki lin"]

 

[Micah tol Powl]

"Clean up on Aisle Boo..."

Walking at a brisk pace, the young Pantoran stayed to the middle of the pack. His arms in continuous motion, the circuitous movements guided the way in which the young witch-boy was guiding the manipulations of the Force. Pulling. Pushing. The tidal motions lifting, moving, and freezing the black goo and other bodily fluids of the Croa out of the way of the group.

Over his shoulder, the amphistaff reared its read up in a yawn that revealed it's fanged maw and venom sacs. Resting it's head back upon the boy's shoulder, the creature seemed content to be a shawl and spectator. It's tail wagged back and forth, as the various sights and sounds piqued it's curiosity.

From beside him, the Pantoran picked up a feeling of fatigue. Pausing his work for a moment, the witch-boy made an obscure gesture with one hand, then reached out to gently rest that palm against [member="Mael Ren"]'s back. As he did, he uttered the words "Bu pawa se'e Balagoth sai'e uba."

It was a minor reinforcement spell, which would offer the benefits of Dark Rage to aid in reinforcing the Ren's body should he have need of it.

​

[member="Darth Veles"] | [member="Wolf"] | [member="Saki lin"] | [member="Enyo Typhos"]​

 

[Darth Veles]

Like a single entity, the group cut through the Croa without a pause. Veles paid little mind to the others – an occasional glance back checked on them, but little more than that. Most of the Mon Cal’s attention’s been devoted to the undead creatures relentlessly swarming the small expedition, although their attacks started to lose the ferocious intensity as the number of the Croa dropped drastically. Quite a spectacle, seeing the diverse Force users battle through Sithspawn beasts in a colourful display of flashing lights and running shadows.

A locked door denied their passage further, not a challenge for the amphibian’s lightsaber after Veles’s failed attempt to negotiate the entry peacefully through a broken control panel. Fully knowing of the raging fight for survival happening behind him, the Sith Lord wasted no more time than necessary before finally pulling the separated halves apart through the invisible grip of telekinesis, discovering a small room, most likely serving as storage.

Most boxes continued to stand at attention even after so many years of neglect, the same could not be said about numerous skeletons and weapons scattered all over the floor. What a terrible way to die, even though the weapons in their hands strongly suggested hunger and thirst weren’t to blame here. A cold, impassive glare of the Mon Calamari Sith washed over the whitened bones. No real reaction could be read from his stoic expression, too detached, too close to the mission’s goal and too driven by hunger for power to display a more appropriate reaction. He already had more than enough reasons to hunt down his fellow Black Rose councillors after the opportunity of a bloody coup’s been stolen from him by the government’s premature end.

One had to wonder if the mine’s ultimate fate was a result of an attempt to increase the Croa numbers or something different. The beasts could not reproduce through natural means, each a carrier driven by lust to spread the virus further.

Stepping over the peaceful remains resting in this sombre grave, the cyborg decisively opened the nearest box that collected dust right next to the entrance. The look in his eyes said it all, relief combined with satisfaction. Full of phrik, their prize.

“Take five containers and follow.” Veles commanded the surviving HRD, which put aside its flamethrower and obeyed, its metallic frame’s shine contrasting with the surrounding rust and disrepair.

Now came the hard part, getting out.

[member="Boo Chiyo"] [member="Mael Ren"] [member="Wolf"] [member="Enyo Typhos"] [member="Saki lin"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Darth Veles"], [member="Mael Ren"], [member="Saki lin"], [member="Wolf"], [member="Boo Chiyo"]


By the time the group finally reached the chamber that contained their prize, the ground was littered with corpses. Croa had been stabbed, strangled, broken or simply set on fire and reduced to charred flesh. The decomposing bodies produced a most foul smell. The scent of death was in the air. Enyo was covered in sweat and not without injury, but kept up a brisk pace. The amphibian Sith Lord forced an entrance, and then they were inside the storage room.


Enyo's senses remained alert as she stepped inside, ever mindful of an ambush, for it seemed the mine was infested with feline creatures. One had to admit that they were determined, though this did not make them any less loathsome.


While the boxes full of phrik ore remained intact, the miners and their equipment were in a far less good state. Skeletons and no longer functional weapons were sprawled across the room. The general state of decay was symptomatic of the Black Rose Cult's inability to build anything even remotely constructive. One of the HRDs made itself useful by grabbing boxes of phrik. Enyo claimed a container of the precious ore herself. Now they only needed to get out. Screeches could be heard in the darkness.


Her bolt pistol roared and an APEB round blew right through a Croa's chest when it pounced, creating a nice hole when it exited through the beast's back and incidentally collapsing its lung. The creature screamed in agony, for it was now drowning in a pool of its own blood. There was a gurgle when she stomped on its throat with her boot, silencing it at last. More of the creatures were coming!

 

[Saki lin]

So many bodies now lied around her

And so many more would join them

Many had been sliced to death others had been punched in a vital spot and died some with burns on their bodies where she had used pryokinesis on them

And she loved it

The thrill of the fight as she panted lookimg as now the circle was further away from yet still around her...her eyes scanned the area watching waiting for one to come within her range...she couldn't use her lightning right now it required a few seconds for her to charge it and then only one would die

They stood around her claws out, teeth bared with only one thing...infect her...that would not happen..yet she had to give it to them, they were Persitant

She crouched to get ready then

Boom

She started again this time with a path straight to the mines where she hoped the group had gone...either way she was running quick and slicing down anything in her path

[member="Enyo Typhos"][member="Darth Veles"][member="Boo Chiyo"][member="Mael Ren"]

 

[Visser Chernykh]

What....

There was the Pantoran. He'd turned ready to face an unexpected attacker. Understanding filled him as the Force surged at Boo's touch. He'd muttered some pidgin as he reached out.

Dark sorcery, some kind of magic.

The taller man nodded his thanks without a word. Mael felt less like he'd falter now. He could make it through the caverns and back to the ship. His eyes found the amphistaff which hissed before it snapped at him.

The Yuuzhan Vong and their biological kit should be eliminated!

His attention quickly turned to the Mon Calamari. His droids had acquired the phrik they'd sought out. Five canisters seemed such a trifling amount for such risk. "Let's leave this place," he said to Chiyo Ren before starting towards the way they'd come.

[member="Darth Veles"] | [member="Wolf"] | [member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Enyo Typhos"] | [member="Saki lin"]

 

[Micah tol Powl]

The Pantoran's finger bopped the amphistaff on the tip of her snout.

"Snapping at a Knight of Ren is a no-no," the boy warned the pet, wagging the finger in an admonishment as he spoke quietly to the biot curcled around his form.

The scales of the black serpent-like weapon seemed to bristle with a kind of electric energy, as the amphistaff gave a barking hiss in reply that displayed its fangs in a dominance display.

Leveling the same finger directly at the amphistaff, the boy just uttered a single word. "No." The amphistaff's head drooped, as it gave a mewling sound in concession.

That dealt with, the boy leveled the same hand out toward the canisters. A single container of the phrik ore floated toward him. With a nod toward [member="Mael Ren"], the boy fell into step with the group. With his focus on maintaining the telekinetic hold over the canister, he wouldn't be able to use his Sith sorcery on the walk back. But the ice blocks he'd put up should still be retaining the black goo from earlier.

[member="Darth Veles"] | [member="Wolf"] | [member="Saki lin"] | [member="Enyo Typhos"]​

 

[Darth Veles]

So many Croa!

Paws and tails kept leaving their mutated owners as a deadly blur of crimson light sang its deadly song throughout the abandoned mine. Screams of anger and pain filled the tunnels, swiftly silenced by the small group of Force users. A cruel price to pay for underestimating the power of the Dark Side, yet Veles continued to view the slaughter as an act of great mercy.

Another pitiful creature fell, dead, landing among its fellow victims in a shallow pool of black blood. The Mon Cal’s gaze fell upon a broken HRD unit carelessly discarded in the middle of deceased zombie catgirls, partially swallowed by their black goo. Such a waste of a good machine! It had served its purpose though; Veles carefully made his way around the pools of the Croa virus and left the loyal droid’s carcass behind, racing through the tunnels with others at his heels.

It was a wise decision to task the remaining droid with moving the crates; it allowed the sentients fully focus on battling through the undead hordes. Red lightning flickered through the darkness, robbing several Croa of their life energy and giving it to the Sith Lord.

[member="Boo Chiyo"] [member="Mael Ren"] [member="Saki lin"] [member="Enyo Typhos"] [member="Wolf"]

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Darth Veles"], [member="Mael Ren"], [member="Saki lin"], [member="Wolf"], [member="Boo Chiyo"]


Croa! Croa everywhere! It seemed the tunnel was filled with the loathsome mutants. They threw themselves at the Knights of Ren with reckless abandon. On paper such death charges were lacking in efficacy, but quantity had a quality of its own. Enyo soon lost track of how many Croa fell to her. She was not the frivolous type who 'kept score' and it would be impractical anyway. Her mind was focused on extracting herself from the felines and getting out, now that they'd won their prize.


She fired her bolt pistol till the clip was empty. The roar of the gun was matched by the screams of felines. Then used the heavy weapon as a club to bash a Croa's skull. Brain matter spilled across the ground, intermixing with the pool of black goo. Dropping the pistol, she used her lightsabre to clear a path, using the Force to throw it through the air. Mutated creatures were freed of their paws, tails and heads as the purple beam hummed, playing a symphony of death and righteous purgation.


It was all for the greater good, for Croa were unnatural abominations. Their eradication would set these poor unfortunate souls free and allow them passage into a better place. Slowly, the group of intrepid adventurers would be reaching the lift.

 

[Saki lin]

The Symphony of death was playing through the air, it's sound simply carried in the wind along with the smell of burnt flesh, screams, growls , hisses, and sakis own cry of battle...she could force a large force group near the mine...she needed to get there

However the amount of croa was as she remembered....yes...the first time she killed one, she almost made a fatal mistake getting caught in thoughts as she ducked and turned quickly slicing the croas hands away before picking the thing up and throwing it at its friends before she charged her lightning and released it as those touching the other were shocked to death

Mayhew she could get a reprive soon....she needed to gather energy soon but...didn't seem so...she knew she was close maybe she could meet up with the others....

[member="Enyo Typhos"][member="Darth Veles"][member="Boo Chiyo"][member="Mael Ren"]

 

[Visser Chernykh]

It was fortunate that the Order of Ren worked together. Had they not he was certain he'd have been swept away. The Croa flooded all around them. Perhaps they'd heard the clamour or smelled the blood.

They came from every possible direction. His blade sliced in wide arcs as Croa tried to surround him. He could've closed his eyes and still struck. Their bodies pressed close and he could feel their heat.

Going up the tunnel acted as a bottleneck. It meant they slowly lost their ability to flank him. But he'd lost his ability to cut them down. Wide and strong became tighter.

A blaster rifle would've been extremely well-suited. Even a pistol would've helped. He'd have to made due....

[member="Enyo Typhos"] | [member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Darth Veles"] | [member="Saki lin"] | [member="Wolf"]

 

[Wolf]

[member="Darth Veles"] | [member="Enyo Typhos"] | [member="Mael Ren"] | [member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Saki lin"]

If these Croa had a God, today was their Judgement Day. The Knights of Ren cut through them mercilessly, their consciences pure and their cause righteous. Wolf was personally quite astounded that they could get through so many of them, and it was a testament to the strength of the Order of the Ren, and the seemingly limitless power of the Dark Side. Wolf was in the full flow of combat, and no doubt could feel himself improving at the art of the blade, as he ducked and weaved this way and that, his vibrosword coming up to slice at the neck of one then going low to stab at another.

At one point three Croa moved in on him, each armed with a blaster. Without a lightsaber to artfully deflect their blaster bolts, or the knowledge to even use a lightsaber, Wolf outstretched his left hand towards them. Calling upon the same anger and desperation he had experienced earlier, when the Croa was on top of him and nearly killed him, he found that commanding the Force in the same way had become much easier after experiencing it already. He felt the Dark Side bubble up inside of him, before surging down his arm and outwards from his fingertips, a wave of power that came crashing into the three Croa, sending them off their feet before they could fire a single blast.

Wolf immediately pounced, his vibrosword coming down as he landed to stab straight through the sternum of one of the Croa on the ground, a distinct crunch as it cut through the bone, the Croa screaming as it met its demise. With one fluid motion the blade was lifted out, Wolf bringing his back foot forward to manoeuvre to the other Croa on the ground and dispatching it. The last Croa had managed to scramble to its feet in this time, but it was to no avail as Wolf was upon it, charging with a fierce growl as he ended its life with his blade. This was exhilarating, Wolf's body pumped with adrenalin as he fought with the others. He could not help but admire, and desire, the sources of the flashes of red that lit up the tunnel as they made their way through, the distinctive hum of the blade and the hiss as it cut through flesh and unleashed its power. The lightsaber was truly a beautiful weapon, far lighter than his own vibrosword, able to achieve feats that no other weapon could, but Wolf had to focus on the current mission. He was confident that one day he too would wield the ancient weapon, though that day was not today.