Dead Space | Galactic Alliance Hex Dominion of Polis Massa

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]Annnnnd the jig was up. The flat end of Choli’s tongue went sweeping over the front of her teeth. Gorram it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Unlike Trextan, at the mention of her rank, the teenager sat up a little straighter. Absconding with a shuttle didn't wipe away the military composure she learned in the starfighter corps. Even if Rogue Squadron was a bit more lax with rank. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The New Jedi Order and the Galactic Alliance Defense Force was rather large. We were talking about thousands of worlds within Alliance jurisdiction. Yet with increasing operations, it could be relatively easy to cross paths with a Marshal. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]This one in particular sparked the memories of the first couple of months at Sullust, taking a few classes while Jan and Chloe had done Academy business. He was a Jedi...Master. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]A sudden frown, the way that Trextan had reacted, the tone in the Marshal’s voice. Well, Choli would have connected the dots faster had it not been for her own echo of embarrassment that had swept her face; and the odd sight of some strangely dressed woman waving her hand frantically over the hologram. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Even choli couldn't help the twitch of humor at that corner of her mouth despite the tense press of her lips. Had it been Asmus, her reaction, well a different story. A weight rolled over her chest again. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]As Trextan didn't seem to be in the mood to talk, Choli answered. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Yes, sir.” Well a bit stiffly. [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

“Marshal,” Trextan tacked on. Seeing Choli sit straight had him draw himself up a little more. There was defiance building behind his eyes.

“I can't have you both stealing a shuttle. Especially not now. A war fleet has arrived over Skoj and we need all the support we can gather from the local systems. This doesn't look good for us.”

Trextan pursed his lips and leaned in towards the hologram slightly.

“I need you both to stop.”

Before Choli could reply Trextan spoke up. “What, back to hospital beds whilst the fighting is going on? Keep your maimed son out of it so he can't get broken any further?”

Jacen sighed. “No, I need you both to report to the Alliance task force as quickly as possible. We'll apologise to the locals and have the shuttle sent back.”

The defiance vanished and Trextan collapsed back in on himself once more in wretched embarrassment.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]


[SIZE=9pt]Oh, feth, it all came back to Choli then. Jedi Master Jacen Voidstalker. Marshal. There was even something about the Hounds right? Her mind attempted to process it only to come to a screeching halt as Trextan shot off at the hologram. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Her eyes went as wide as saucers, lips forming into a small silent, “Wow.” At the outburst and the result. Okay, now that made a bit more sense. Voidstalker. They were related. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]And it appeared Choli found herself in between a little family spat. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Wonderful. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Tongue in cheek, Choli promptly dove in. At least in terms of replying after Trextan threw himself back on the chair. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Where will the Galactic Alliance Defense Force rendezvous at?” Her mind was already moving towards how she could help. How she could get back onto Rogue. How she could just make herself bloody useful before figuring out what went wrong the past month. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Any news of Rogue Squadron?” That last bit was a bit more painful to inquire about. That much was certain based on the somberness that settled upon her olive face. [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

“They're not in the sector that I'm aware of,” came the reply. “We haven't been able to put much together at this notice. All the other systems are demanding we protect them all in case the First Order strikes. You'll see when you reach the task force. I'll send the coordinates to the task force now.”

His eyes panned over to Trextan. The serious look was somewhat undermined by him having to slap the hand of the tribal guardsman away. They had insisted on sending two warriors to help defend his tribe.

“Neither of you have completed Return to Service protocols. If you both say you can help, then I'll see what i can do to get you involved. Are you alright Trextan?”

The teenagers expression softened. “Yeah, I'm alright. Thank you.” The reply was somewhat snappy but the wind had been taken from his sails.

“See you both at the rendevouz.” The hologram fizzled out.

Trextan looked over at Choli and grimaced. “Well i just made an ass of myself didn't I?” Perhaps it was their shared escape or her being near his age that let him own up so readily. “Well nothing for it now. We have to help.”

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]“Yeah, well…” Choli gave an abrupt rise and fall of her brows as if to say, ‘that’s putting it lightly.’ It was one thing to get the dressing down from a superior officer, another when it was apparently your father -- and as a result you snap right back. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I doubt he’ll send you to do head cleaning duties.” It was a quip to try and make light of the situation. Whatever was going on between them, and it seemed to be plenty- was their own business. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Choli didn’t grow up with a traditional family unit, so she wasn’t too attuned towards what Trextan was going through. Little did she know that Trextan and his father weren’t exactly on the best terms or that the younger Voidstalker didn’t actually grow up with the Marshal at his side.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]A pause, then a glance over at the teenager’s direction. Those almond shaped eyes curiously gave him a once over. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Voidstalker?” A piqued interest took her tone. Not because of who his father is, surprisingly enough, but what the origins of the name likely were. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Choli grew up on Tatooine, she was well used to strange conjugation of surnames there. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]A small beep came through the Nav array. There they were, the coordinates just as promised. The girl turned her head and went to plug them in. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Long way from Tatooine.” She said, making the assumption. [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

“Yeah. Sorry about that,” he replied first of all. His father still held an important position within the Alliance and he'd probably just embarrassed Choli in front of him as well. He'd felt so small and had lashed out again. He kept lashing out at Jacen and it just kept rolling off him. It was infuriating.

“It is, yeah,” he managed to smile, glad of the change of subject. “My grandfather migrated to Coruscant with my grandmother. Jacen married there when he was in the Army of the Republic. She took my stepfather's name but i kept Voidstalker because… well it was on the school register I suppose.”

He was veering into subjects that he doubted the young officer needed to know about. He silently chastised himself.

“Rogue Squadron then?” He asked. There was genuine respect in his tone. “That makes sense, I'd heard they had Jedi pilots. How did you end up in the hospital?” He looked at Choli for a moment. Genuinely looked at her for the first time since he'd seen the bruising on her neck. Tanned skin, perhaps from tatooine herself given the question.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]Ah, now it was Choli’s turn to give off the aura of unemasiness. A shift of her seat and she gave a small grimace. Great. Her attention lingered on the nav computer, checking the coordinates second longer than necessary. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Yeah. Rogue.” Brows drew tight in contemplation, then she swung her head forward. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“And I'm not a Jedi.” Easier to say that then go on about how she ended up in the hospital. The whole thing was still a blur to her.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]So she gave a shrug, right shoulder rolling. “Not sure.” Lips thinned. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Last thing I remember was getting shot down on Kaeshana behind First Order territory.” A click and then the whine of engines. [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]And getting caught. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Alright, the task force isn't too far away.” Profile to him, the Rogue ducked her head, stray strands of dark hair framing her sweat slicked face. [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

Trextan looked at the unease on her expression. His mother had always told him off for ducking his head and hiding behind his hair like that. He missed her. She hasn't been perfect, but she had always cared.

He pushed that pang down. He felt as if he should say something reassuring to Choli. She was clearly distraught about the entire experience. An entire month was missing.

“I had my arm cut off on Kaeshana,” he blurted out. Perfect. You absolute moron. He looked at the bruises again. That parasitic anger latched onto imaginary figures. What had they done to her? But she didn't need his anger or pity. That would only fuel her own.

“I'm sorry we didn't managed to get to you,” he said. “The Force led me into no man's land. I found a group of soldiers they'd captured and released… after burning out their eyes and branding their foreheads.”

He looked down at his arm. He thought back to how defiant those soldiers now were. It put his self pity to shame. “I suppose we can wear our scars. Like watermarks. Own them. I'm sure your Squadron will look after you. I can see why you want to get back to them so much.” For the young man it was quite insightful. Pursing his lips he decided to give her an out.

“You use the Force to fly, you know that right?” His tone lifted slightly with the question.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]This time around, the T-1 Shuttle didn’t accelerate with a knock back thrust, but instead with precision and skill. Choli was visibly going through her own train of thoughts, one of which was half amused at how the guy started suddenly chatting like mad when he hadn’t been particularly forthcoming earlier. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]It was a bit of an awkward moment, but nothing too obscene. It none the less brought the angle of focus back to the Rogue. Then Trextan went on to explain what the First Order had done to other Prisoners of War…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]That just didn’t make any sense. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Anger flared, and her knuckles turned white along the piloting yoke. Her olive skin turned tight over the delicate bones of her face, lips drawing thin. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Yeah[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt].” she finally managed to reply hoarsely, focusing on the instruments in front of her. It could have been a reply to his comment on the Force or about wearing their scars like watermarks. Either way, it had certainly troubled the young Lieutenant Commander. [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

Trextan looked back to the console in front of him. His feet tapped on the floor beneath his chair. He wasn't helping matters. He had been quite an insular child during his early teenage years. Troubled by his own family situation and prone to getting into scraps. Then his parents had died and the sith had found him.

None of this had prepared him particularly well to provide comfort to someone else who had been through a rough time.

He let the silence stretch out for a little while long. When she had at least relaxed her grip on the controls he spoke up.

“They declared war you know. It's official now. I'm planning on fighting. I guess… we're both frustrated at not being able to get back into it. But at least the only holes in my memory are being kept under and operated on.”

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]That swung Choli’s head over towards Trextan. Those almond shaped eyes gave a slight widening, only to narrow further after. There was an interesting color shift in her hazel eyes, as if the gold swirled into silver. Was it a trick of the light? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“It was a long time coming.” she added, the girl’s voice a bit gruff. It would take them about twenty minutes to rendezvous with the fleet. Choli only had to make the micro jump into hyperspace and take them there. If nothing too crazy appeared between then, that is. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Ready for hyperspace jump.” the Rogue relayed, prepping the hyperdrive. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]At least the only holes in my memory are the ones being kept under and operated on.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Yeah, Choli didn’t get that luxury. Instead an entire month was gone. Who knew what had gone on, what they may have done to her. It frustrated her because she never had any issues with blocking people out. Was it a chemical wipe?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Pearly white teeth came out to bite her lip again, chewing on it thoughtfully.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]“So what are the Justicars?” and again, the attention was swung back to Trextan. [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

At least she was still talking to him. That was a good sign at least.

“You ever hear of the Hounds? Jedi Investigators working for Jacen. Well the Justicars is just an expansion of that really. The plan is we try and look after anyone who needs it. They've set up an HQ with forensic labs and all the backroom things we need. I've got… a lot to learn, but i think we'll do something good.”

Much like his father when Trextan talked about something he believed in he did so plainly and with conviction.

“Those men we found on Kaeshana are working with them too. Though as Special Forces for when we need to deal with hostage situations or leave Alliance space.”

It struck him - even if it took time, he was still seventeen - that she had stunning eyes. Were those colour changing contacts?

“I'm sorry, I should have said already: thank you for getting me out of there. I know, in a way, we still got caught. But I would have been stuck there still otherwise.”

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]“It’s fine.” a small olive hand came up to gesture that it was okay. It sailed and upward path to tuck wayward dark strands behind her ear. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“We have about twenty minutes.” she told him. Choli wasn’t ignoring what he was saying, it is just that when she flew, and with everything going on right now, her mind was a bit clouded. Confused. She caught bits of his explanation. The Hounds, forensic labs and Special Forces.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“So a special task force basically. “ those eyes seemed to lighten back to a muted smoky topaz, the girl attempting to get back to her normal state of mind. Talking she could do. She could chit chat. Goodness knows that those in Rogue could shit talk like the best of them. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Fancy force powers and basically being cops?” a pointed expression with those slanted eyes dared him to tell her otherwise, but the twitch at the corner of her mouth said she was trying to keep it light hearted. [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Choli Vyn"]

"Yeah. Fancy Force powers and being cops," he replied. His head fell forwards but there was a grin on his face. Lighthearted suited him just fine. "Not fancy Force powers and being thrill seeking."

"But at least we'll be on the ground and in the mud and rain," he added. He paused. He had been about to launch into the typical army versus navy routine about pilots wearing shiny shoes and being nowhere near the danger. Except she had been in the danger. And she'd ended up in the mud and rain on her own. That thought upset him, all the more when he saw her bruises.

There was a curious expression on his face as he caught her eyes again. Was that trick of the light?

"A lot of people on the ground were awfully relieved when they heard the X-Wings drown out the screeching TIEs though. Hell, Rogue Squadron are basically heroes to most people. There's actually a poster up back in the lab," he said with a deep chuckle.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

[SIZE=9pt]Mud and the rain. That had been exactly what Choli had to deal with behind enemy lines back on Kaeshana. What bit of blurred memories rose, ever fleeting and still so very confusing. A deep breath caused her shoulders to set, the coral of her pilfered medical scrubs jostling with the movement. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]At the compliments on what Rogue had done and how they’d come in to provide cover, Choli gave a wane smile. Yeah, perhaps they might be heros, but honestly, Choli did not know how many of them had survived Kaeshana. Were they all okay? Who had been shot down as well? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Who didn’t survive?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Just doing what we can.” Choli added, expression darkening in fleeting somberness. How many Rogues had their final flight in the past year since she’d joined. Choli could recall every single one; Name and call sign. Janes -- Janes had it worse. First through with the Commander… then Russo… then Janes. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Her throat gave another bob, eyes darkening to a muted charcoal grey. Tension arose along her skin, another flex of the fingers. Memories drawing a tense, melancholic expression. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]“Was it the swimsuit edition?” she changed the subject onto the poster. “The poster. I know they made a silly one to raise some funds awhile back. Turned it into a calendar.” [/SIZE]

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Choli Vyn"]

Trextan cocked his head to one side. He smiled. “I wasn't going to mention that, but yes, that one.”

If you could get your head out of your own affairs for a few minutes then you might hear it.

Jacen had tried to teach him to listen to the Force. A Jedi did not just control, he said, but allowed the Force to guide him. Trextan had managed ten minutes in silence before getting frustrated and walking off. But to be a Justicars he had to learn to listen. Learning when someone was being deceptive or becoming anxious was vital.

Perhaps it was because she actually had his full attention that Trextan could feel just an echo of her emotions through the Force. Along with her expression it painted a clear picture. She had been on the ground on Kaeshana, not up above watching it. And he had seen several X-Wings go down that day. It had been the Alliance’s worst naval defeat.

“How much did they tell you about the battle?” He asked. There was grave concern on his face, altering the youthful lines. His face wasn't pulled tight as it had been when he had curled in on himself in embarrassment. His eyes were widened, lips open, softening the harsh line of his jaw.

 

[Choli Vyn]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

He was being inquisitive. Normally, that would be alright with Choli, but after Kaeshana...

A small cant of her head, another shrug. It was almost as if she were drawing inwards. It wasn't deliberate, just that Trextan's questions were shifting the Rogue back into the confused and heightened emotional state she'd been in before.

The need to keep her hands busy arose, and she shifted on her seat.

"You could say I'm still catching up," she said honestly. There wasn't a need to lie. Her right hand came up, tugging at the rubber band that held her hair in place. A wince drew over her slightly chapped lips, feeling the sharp tug of the elastic pull out a few dark hairs as she did so.

The thick mass waterfalled back down her shoulders, a deep, dark brown threaded with highlights the color of taupe. Much like Trextan had used his own locks to hide his face, so did she, using the excuse to finger comb the mass. Her fingers had subtle bruising, a few cuts. On her left hand, her forefinger's nail was a deep purple, suggesting blunt trauma of some sort.

"It's only been a few hours."

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Choli Vyn"]

There was another flare of anger seeing those bruises. They looks old enough not to be hurting the girl constantly any more - and she was a girl, very young for a Rogue - but they were probably still sore to the touch.

"I didn't realise," he replied quietly. "You seem pretty ready for combat though. Especially as I had to half carry you out the ward."

He looked down at his metal hand again. It was still difficult not to think about it. "Well, if this isn't broken then i guess I just need to work through the problem."

 

[Darth Assimilus]

Watching fate turn down​

Swing it around and around​

Turn the wheel around​

​

@All​

 

[Darth Assimilus]

Galactic Allies?​

Cowards. I call them. Flanking.​

Where is this going?​