elucidation of ethos

[Marriskcal Lati]

Knight, Praetorian Guard
Equipment | Armour, DE-39 Maser Rifle, Lightsaber (blue), Throwing Knives, Binding Wires
Location | Near the Healing Center, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface
Allies | [member="Kaine O’Doran"]
Status | Cautious

Clad in an innocuous armour that preserved her identity as one of Sieger Ren’s chosen, the blonde made her way down what was once an ascetic corridor. The systems of her suit came to life as it scanned the derelict stretch for any signs of life. While weeks has passed since the last time she found herself on the volcanic world of Sullust, it felt like nothing has changed since.

Even with the knowledge that they were alone, her own senses flared to life, stretching out further and deeper into the ruins as she continued to move forward. Her steps were light and quiet as she stepped carefully past the pieces of debris and broken machinery that littered the floor, ever conscious of the figure that followed close behind her.

He was the reason why Marriskcal has decided to forgo the crimson regalia of her office. While the Sith Empire remained an ally to the First Order, the Praetorian remained wary and distrustful of her companion. What were his intentions? Other than his name and a paper thin reasoning, she has received no further briefing for his presence on Sullust. Despite the silence, she knew full well that she was to keep a close eye on his person and ensure that he did not attempt anything detrimental towards their cause.

As the TCB-42 droid that accompanied them zipped ahead to scout, the blonde turned on her heels to take in the form of her silver-haired companion. Even in her armour, the other loomed over her, his frame solid and imposing. There was also an inimitable touch of something feral and dangerous that coloured his aura, a clear hint that he may not be quite so human as he appeared to be. Despite the concerns Marriskcal held, she was assigned to be his escort and it would be discourteous of her to treat his presence as a hindrance.

“Kaine,” she uttered his name, her voice distorted and mechanical due to the vocabulator of her armour. “Is there a particular part of the Temple that you would like to explore?”

 

[Kaine O'Doran]

[SIZE=9pt]Location[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Near the Healing Center, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Allies[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - First Order || [member=”Marriskcal Lati”][/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Enemies[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- The New Republic[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Status[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Wary; Cautious[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Armor[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - Terentaek & Durasteel Armor[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Equipment[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Crimson Lightsaber (1x) | Ballistic Knife (1x)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____[/SIZE]

The young Gurlanin male found his current predicament, his current circumstances, his current ‘objective,’ strange. He hadn’t known why him, him of all people, had been chosen for such a mission. He had been assigned to go to First Order space and to eliminate any artifacts that the Sith Empire didn’t want to fall into the hands of the Jedi, into the hands of the democratic New Republic. The male found that him being chosen out of everyone else who resided in Sith space as a soldier for the Sith-imperial army wasn’t right. Even though he had come from the primitive world of Qiilura, or at least primitive compared to everything else in the Galaxy, even though he had no knowledge of the known Galaxy save for Csilla and a few Sith-occupied worlds, and now Imperial-occupied worlds...he knew he wouldn’t have been anyone’s first choice. What O’Doran lacked in overall mental and education finesse, he made up for in regards to a physical showing of force and feral fear of the bestial nature of the Sith. He was being used as a tool, that was one theory. Kaine was an uncontrollable ‘animal,’ an untamable ‘beast that needs to be put down’ as some had called him, a tool to be used for the goals of the Sith.

He was nobody’s tool. All the male Gurlanin’s goal was...all he wanted...was vengeance[SIZE=9pt]. [/SIZE]Vengenace on those blind, on those foolish, on those utterly idiotic elders who had condemned him a murder and thus subsequently exiled him without any choice of rhetoric to defend himself. He was using the Sith as a tool to grow stronger, and he would do so until the time comes for his departure back to his home to clear his name...by whatever manes necessary, no matter how ‘morally wrong’ as viewed by those people of the Galaxy. Where Kaine came from it was a live or die world, and he wouldn’t be held up to the supposed morals of Galactic society. Never.

Kaine’s blazing orange eyes carefully watched the form of the blonde woman in front of him. He didn’t trust her whatsoever, he didn’t trust anyone not of Gurlanin origin at all. Though, he had to play ‘allies’ with her as the Sith had told him. Pretend to be friendly, which was easier said than done for the Gurlanin especially due to her wearing some type of ‘powered’ armor. It proved her weaknesses of the flesh, her physicalities as being weak and un-nurturing, poor and defenseless. As he viewed everyone with his bias of hate towards outsiders due to his first-time off-world being one of...xenophobic defamatory’s directed towards him and violence.

He wore little to no armor, opting for a simple mixture of Terentaek armor with [SIZE=9pt]durasteel[/SIZE] gauntlets and a durasteel chestplate. The thought of heavy metal armor disgusted him with how limiting and constricting it was, much as to how he found spaceships as tombs, inescapable and constricting, claustrophobic. He found it the same with ‘modern’ metal armor, however, unlike ships, he viewed these supposed ‘modern armors’ as ineffective and overly cumbersome. Something which upset the Gurlanin, having been used to living and fighting with little to no protective armor, instead relying on speed, agility, and overwhelming strength to survive.

“Kaine, is there a particular part of the Temple that you would like to explore?”

At hearing the blonde-haired woman’s comment, O’Doran shook his thoughts from his mind, opting to answer the question that the woman has offered to him, seemingly out of no other intent than being ‘nice,’ at least that’s what the male supposed of her reasoning for asking him.

“Biosphere. Location of [SIZE=9pt]arka[/SIZE] -- arti...artifacts is Biosphere, yes?”

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Knight, Praetorian Guard
Equipment | Armour, DE-39 Maser Rifle, Lightsaber (blue), Throwing Knives, Binding Wires
Location | Near the Healing Center, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface
Allies | [member="Kaine O'Doran"]
Status | Cautious

The cadence of his words were stilted and harsh, almost as though the other did not speak very often. It was the first time she actually heard him speak, as the other had remained distant and silent throughout their journey, seemingly contented to follow behind her as they wandered through the maze of deep caverns and winding corridors.

“We are currently in the underground system, located almost directly beneath where the biosphere has fallen,” she enlightened him after a moment of deliberation, her blue eyes narrowing beneath the anonymity of her helm at his mention of artefacts. “The last time I was assigned to Sullust, we have already conducted an investigation of the ruins and did not uncover anything of interest. I suggest that we focus our current efforts in this sector, as most of the area remains unexplored.”

With the revelation at the forefront of her mind, Marriskcal observed the silver-haired male with a renewed wave of suspicion. “And what do you plan to do with those artefacts once you find them? While I realise that you have your own agenda, do remember that you are standing on a world that is subject to First Order rules,” she cautioned.

​

One hour prior​

Her preparations were underway when she felt the tendrils of two Force signatures approaching her position. While the blonde would usually pay it no heed, the second aura was dark and corrupted, and its unfamiliarity made her tense and wary. Placing her datapad aside, Marriskcal had greeted the intrusion of her Ren brethren and the stranger with a strained smile. Though she was well aware that both the First Order and the Sith Empire were allied, this would be the first time she had actually encountered a dark-aligned Force user that were not part of the First Order.

As with most things in life, change was inevitable. And while the Praetorian would much prefer to have a group of stormtroopers accompanying her instead of an outsider whom she could not trust, she could only acquiescence to the request despite her reluctance. It was far more palatable than the thought of the other being allowed to wander around the ruins and its underground systems without an escort. Even then, it did not stop Marriskcal from giving her Ren sibling a heated glare as the other made their escape.

A few seconds of awkward silence had filled the air between them as Marriskcal was left with the bare bones of a request and information on her datapad. Seething internally, but keeping her mien neutral, the blonde had turned towards the taller male. “Please forgive the lack of courtesy, Kaine,” she started, giving him a faint smile more out of politeness than any genuine emotion. No, the blonde did not appreciate the sudden change, but she has worked enough with others that she was able to adapt.

“While I did not expect to have your company, we will both just have to work together to the best of our abilities. My name is Marriskcal and I will be your escort throughout your stay. If you have any queries or require verification on any matter, please bring them to me.” What remained unsaid was the fact that she would keeping a close eye on his person.

Satisfied for now, Marriskcal turned her attention back towards the three large cases arrayed before her. Already clad in her bodyglove from before, the blonde swiftly settled for a set that both sharpened her senses and dampened her presence, accessing the last case with a quick press of her hand against its matte surface. “Please allow me some time to complete my own preparations. If you require any extra supplies, I have some extra knives and cuffs in the storage container to the left.”

 

[Kaine O'Doran]

Knight, Sith Warrior
[SIZE=9pt]Location[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Near the Healing Center, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Allies[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - [member="Marriskcal Lati”][/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Status[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Wary; Cautious[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Armor[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - Terentaek & Durasteel Armor[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Equipment[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Crimson Lightsaber (1x) | Ballistic Knife (1x)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____[/SIZE]

The caverns that the pair were walking through were haunting in a way. Kaine wasn't sure if he was frightened by these caves or intrigued by them with their ethereal darkness that swallowed everything as though unseen beasts from a world of beyond, and their There were few times in his life that he had felt and experienced feeling's and emotions that stemmed from the emotional complexes of fear, anxiety...sorrow. The endlessly winding tunnels and the ever-expansive, the ever-growing caves which gobbled up everything they saw insight, brought to memory such distant and far-off thoughts of apprehensions, thoughts of past troubles, thoughts of past misdeeds and false witnesses to condemn him. To condemn him, to exile. O'Doran's memory brought a fleeting and wished away memory, the memory of his brother's passing...of him dying in his bloodied palms, the anguished scream and cry out to the God's above to bring him back from the brink of death. And yet...his cries of faith, his testified teachings, and followings of the God's above did nothing. It was an effort which brought forth no fruit with it, all it had brought...was retribution for doing naught wrong in the sight of the God's in the Clouds.


“And what do you plan to do with those artifacts once you find them? While I realize that you have your own agenda, do remember that you are standing on a world that is subject to First Order rules,”

Kaine's sunburnt, orange eyes observed the blonde-haired woman. He knew his mission, and he wouldn't fail at it. However, the male Gurlanin was not one who was good with words, at least in this pitiful foreign language he had to speak in. He wasn't some silver-tailed fox that spoke wonders and mighty follies of manipulations, if he had been, he could have left this situation long ago. He wasn't good with words, he wasn't educated, he wasn't 'smart' and thus, he didn't know much of what to say. He wasn't much of a speaker or thinker most of the time, save when it came to combat. Though even then, he still would go in headfirst and use his overwhelming physical prowess and power as both a man and wolf to butcher his enemies. But he couldn't do that now, even the 'dumb wolf' as other foreigners had called him, he knew that he couldn't do anything much to get out safe and well with whatever he said. Thus, he made up a lie...or tried to.


"Sith business, none of the concern is yours. What I do with it? I...check on it is all."

The male Gurlanin casually looked over her form. She could be a worthy adversary if she attacked him, though he knew he could take her. Any being who used such clunky, claustarphobic...ugly armor was weak-willed and weak of the flesh. They were of no challenge to a seasoned hunter who had no need for armor. However, she had looked strong and properly toned for a female back when the two had met, and for that, Kaine gave her a semblance of a chance against him. The blond-haired woman certainly had a very strong pair of legs, resembling those of a runners and fighters. At the time he had not been intending to look at her in such a way, the Gurlanin normally did no such things. Despite this thought of his, he had incidentally and accidentally looked at her and he had noticed that she certainly had a very nice and toned pair of legs and thighs. It was hard for him to believe that under the loud and ugly looking, even cumbersome looking bright red armor, was something organic. It was hard to believe that something was alive inside of that metal tomb. Kaine, for one, hated the idea of wearing full body-covering metal armor. It made him feel clausterphobic and trapped, just like how starships did. It made him feel as though he were in a giant metal tomb with no escape. Turning his attention back to the blond-haired woman who was accompanying him, he found it outstanding to just how easily the armor hid her beautiful hour-glass shaped body. It was difficult for the male gurlanin to believe that under all of that disgusting and clausterphobic armor, was a beautiful looking woman who was toned in just -- all of the right places.

[SIZE=9pt]_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____[/SIZE]

Kaine was on a mission. A diplomatic mission. A diplomatic mission...for reasoning that was unknown to the male. The Gurlanin was no diplomatic, he was no clever Charlton who knew how to weave diverse words together to manipulative others with little effort, he was no bastard of a silver snake who reveled in the manipulation of his kin and of foreigners. It took the male much effort to weave together simple phrases and words which sounded and tasted foreign and disgusting to him. He found no joy in speaking this 'Galactic Basic' language which all individuals he had met thus far, knew how to speak without fault and then subsequently pointed mockingly at him for not knowing how to speak. Not that O'Doran cared about their mocking insults and xenophobic bigotted attitudes. Foreigners to him were weak, they were lazy, they were arrogant...they were cowardly and knew nothing of the Great Hunt in life, the Game as his familial parents had called it, had called life.

The male Gurlanin's orange eyes gazes curiously and lazily around the room as the blonde-haired woman, whose name was Marriskcal, in front of him began talking to him. However, he offered no response to the woman with her ramblings, opting instead to keep his silence as a confirmation and acknowledgment of her words to him. As he looked around the room, his eyes haphazardly glanced at the woman's derriere. O'Doran didn't do such a thing on purpose, he instead had done such a thing on pure accident alone. He didn't know if it were wrong to do such a thing as he had lived for his whole life on Qiilura, he had no semblance of manners, he had no semblance or knowledge about what was accepted by this 'Galactic' society as it was called. He didn't know it was wrong, and thus, he didn't find a need to look away. He shamelessly admired the strong and supple curvature of her thighs and how they curved up gracefully into both her hips and butt, giving her rear a very firm and very toned looking appearence which was dispalyed gracefully in her skintight bodystuit which hugged the woman in all of the right places. Displaying every little curve and putting her derriere on display to him.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Knight, Praetorian Guard
Equipment | Armour, DE-39 Maser Rifle, Lightsaber (blue), Throwing Knives, Binding Wires
Location | Near the Healing Center, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface
Allies | [member="Kaine O'Doran"]
Status | Annoyed and confrontational

Even without exerting her influence over the Force, Marriskcal knew that he was willfully speaking the untruth, or at the very least, refusing to divulge the true reason behind his presence on First Order dominion.

After all, silvered words and deceptive truths were something that the blonde was familiar with. As most of her brethren who walked the same crimson-sworn path preferred to remain within the shadows, it fell to her to speak for them when the need arises. Likewise, her own ambitions meant that her upbringing on the wintry peak of Canaitith has been filled with lessons on etiquette and eloquence that allowed her to meander amongst nobilities and magnates as one of their own. As one who served as the Supreme Leader’s herald, it was imperative that she knew how to follow the path of a conversation, as well as to discern what remained unsaid.

Kaine’s answer only served to arouse and escalate the misgivings she already held.

But it was clear from his brusque tone and dismissive words, as broken as its structure were, that the other would not appreciate any further queries of his intentions. Whatever it was that is considered as ‘Sith business’ anyway. The blonde graciously allowed Kaine the illusion of an accord, all while she intended to a keep an even closer watch over his person.

Speaking of which, Marriskcal could not help but to notice his unwavering gaze on her person even through the murky gloom of the cavern. Perhaps the silver-haired male was merely being cautious and vigilant as he was not wearing any equipment that allowed him to see through the darkness, but his stare felt heavy and contemplative, almost like he was assessing her. Her instincts were on an edge, as it made her feel as though she was a prey to his predator. And Marriskcal has never liked being made to feel vulnerable.

With his obvious deflection and her own growing annoyance at his unrelenting stare, the young woman allowed her usual polite veneer to slip, her words chiding. “While I realise that you may be curious, it is considered rather rude to stare. Is there something about me that you would like to know before we continue?” Marriskcal paused in her steps and turned to regard the imposing male, her brows furrowed as she crossed her arms, barely stopping herself from tapping her foot in a petulant manner.

She was not about to admit that she found his physique intimidating and his intent gaze unsettling.

 

[Kaine O'Doran]

[SIZE=13.5pt]Knight, Sith Warrior[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Location [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Near the Healing Center, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Allies[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - [member=”Marriskcal Lati”][/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Status [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Wary; Cautious[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Armor[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - Terentaek & Durasteel Armor[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Equipment [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Crimson Lightsaber (1x) | Ballistic Knife (1x)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Kaine didn’t know where he had gone wrong. He wasn’t doing anything hurtful or hazardous to the woman’s health unless she considered having eyes dangerous and hazardous to her personal well-being. The male Gurlanin didn’t believe anything wrong had occurred whatsoever, the male Gurlanin didn’t believe that he had done anything to purposely upset the blonde-haired woman. It appeared, however, that O’Doran had done something of an offense to her, he had somehow, unknowingly, insulted the woman by just...existing there, by just staring at her, by just being there. The male personally could care less if this female, if this woman, if this weak creature, took offense to how he acted and to what he did. He had no reason to answer the woman’s questions, he could ignore them entirely. In his culture, it wasn't an offense to stare at someone. The male Gurlanin had never been told the right and wrongs, the good and bads, between what he could do and what he could not do. Thus subsequently, O'Doran saw no reason as to why his behavior was 'rude' to the woman, he didn't have any notion whatsoever that what he had been doing in that very moment, could be considered highly offensive and very rude. But he had been told to ‘Play Allies.’ It was against his better judgment, it was against his more predatory and primal instincts, though he would regrettably comply to the demands of the higher-ups of the Sith, he wanted to remain on their good side for now until he gained enough strength to come out of exile from his home.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Apologize I do...offended you I did, how? Armor, it [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]look[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] very strange -- to me, it does, yes. Why wear it, you do, very cumbersome it is, like a tomb. I sorry you feel much offense from what I do, didn't know it was wrong, I did. Where I from...they never tell you of such things, home very different from here...primitive when compared.“[/SIZE]

The male Gurlanin was surprised at himself with how he had talked. He had been struggling to form cohesive words and sentences that were able to be understood by the locals of the Galaxy which spoke this 'Galactic Basic.' O'Doran had never been able to, exactly, string the words together in a musical and auditory-pleasing symphony of alien letters and foreign phrases. He had never been able to do so previously. The words felt sour and tasted sour on his tongue, as though they had been ingested and internal poisons which he was trying to speak through despite the pain. The words, these words, the 'Basic' words, they were all wrong, they felt all wrong, they sounded all wrong. Kaine hated speaking in such a foul sounding language. It wasn't his own language which gracefully flowed off and over his tongue as though it were a spring creek, spilling water onto the riverbeds from which it came forthwith from. However, now, at this very moment, when he had been speaking, something had clicked. It had been a brief understanding of the language, a brief connection of the Gurlanin's feral and primitive nature with the civilized and modernized nature of the Galaxy, a union of language and of beast. Kaine had surprised himself entirely with how he had almost attained a mastery of the language in that very fleeting moment of tranquility.

"Where -- where come from you? This...er, this 'First Order,' what it is?"​

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Knight, Praetorian Guard
Equipment | Armour, DE-39 Maser Rifle, Lightsaber (blue), Throwing Knives, Binding Wires
Location | Near the Healing Center, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface
Allies | [member="Kaine O'Doran"]
Status | Slightly guilty & more agreeable

As the silver-haired male enlightened her as to his… limitations, Marriskcal found herself blinking at his heartfelt confession. She allowed a soft exhale to escape, her lithe frame losing its severe slant as realisation began to dawn on her.

For the first time since their meeting, the blonde made her way towards where Kaine stood and moved within reach of his grasp. With deliberate slowness, making sure to the other knew she was not about to strike at him, Marriskcal lifted a gauntleted arm and patted his arm in a gentle manner.

“I apologise as well, I did not realise that you left your homeworld only recently.” The young woman dipped her head to further convey her sincerity as she spoke. Though his curious regard would continue to prickle at her senses and unsettle her mind, now that she knew it was the innocent curiousity of someone who was experiencing the confusing chaos that was the vast galaxy for the first time, the blonde was determined to endure the discomfort it brought.

But more importantly, how did one even begin to attempt to expound on how his stare was unsettling without saying it outright? “Though I can feel that you have no intention of attacking me, when you stare at my back like what you were doing earlier… my senses warns me to be careful.” It was a poor explanation, but one that Marriskcal hoped was enough to satisfy her companion.

Though she realised that they were probably losing time, the Praetorian decided pausing for another minute or two would not make much of a difference. After all, the rough hewn corridors stretched far and deep, and they were but two. It was a given that this was a task that would probably take them several days. With the decision made, Marriskcal held out the limb she touched Kaine with, allowing the silver-haired male to study the matte black and red suit if the other wanted to.

“I wear an armour because the benefits outweigh its disadvantages. While it is heavy and it can feel restrictive if you are not used to it, but you eventually find yourself becoming accustomed to it. The armour provides additional protection and serves to complement my abilities, as well as provide me with a constant flow of information of my surroundings.” Her lips twisted into a mischievous smile and her voice turned slightly playful as she spoke her next set of words. “Perhaps when we return to the base, I will let you try on a gauntlet, though… I doubt it would fit~” The blonde waved her fingers at him as an emphasis.

But his next query had Marriskcal inclining her head towards Kaine in curiousity. It was not a question that was often asked of her, be it by her siblings, or even newly made acquaintances. “…Where am I from?” she echoed. “I am guessing you are asking about my homeworld?”

 

[Kaine O'Doran]

[SIZE=13.5pt]Knight, Sith Warrior[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Location [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Near the Healing Center, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Allies[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - [member="Marriskcal Lati”][/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Status [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Wary; Cautious[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Armor[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - Terentaek & Durasteel Armor[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Equipment [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Crimson Lightsaber (1x) | Ballistic Knife (1x)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____[/SIZE]


[SIZE=9pt]The silver-haired male stared blanky at the armored figure, orange marbles composed of fire, the male's eyes, watching her. He knew not of what this woman would do after he had announced where he had come from, the male had, in fact, hesitated at first to tell the blond-haired female from whence he came. Although the male Gurlanin didn't take heed and although he didn't care for the xenophobic and bigotted comments he had received at the hands of outsiders in just recent weeks, he was...nervous. Though he had ignored such xeno-hating and dastardly comments from the foolish idiots where made up the general populace of the Galaxy to his eyes, he had still felt their stung. It wasn't their threats that had breached through the man's mental fortitude of rock and stone. He did not feel threatened by such weak creatures. He did not. He could kill them easily and quickly as though they had been wisps in the wind, he could. No, it wasn't their supposed threats that had seized his mind, it had been the vocal insultation and attitude presented towards him. He normally wouldn't allow such things to affect him mentally, however, they had. The words had stung. Why...why had they stung so ferociously as hyenas biting a large animal in the night? Because...they reflected and vocally rose Kaine's own weaknesses and self-doubts to the forefront of his mind. He had been taught to ignore such things, to put them aside. He had never...been told or taught how to deal with such things.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Which, was why when the blonde haired woman approached the male Gurlanin, both of his hands curled up into fists. It was in part due to past transgressions committed against him by outsiders, and in another part, due to his instinctual offense and predatory behavior whenever someone approached him to touch him. He had always been wary of physical contact with someone of non-gurlanin origin. And this very encounter at this very moment counted as well. O'Doran was not a trusting individual and thus...didn't trust the blonde woman. Much to the male's surprise, however, all the female did was put her hand onto his arm, gently patting it. To say that the gurlanin had not expected for such a thing to happen was an understatement. He was always on the defense and always untrustworthy, which is what made her action of timidness, gentleness...friendliness so daunting and surprising to the man.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Although he didn't understand the woman's feeling about being stared at, Kaine would choose to respect what she thought and believed of him and his stare. Any being who looked upon him as an enemy, he hadn't expected for a non-gurlanin outsider to feel the same way as he did. However, apparently, there were people who were much similar to him in those types of regards. A fact that...O'Doran found curious and strange as though they were connected through some unknown emotional linkage of the feeling of similar emotions and feelings about certain subject matters, scenarios, and things.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]"Apologize I do, for offense I caused."[/SIZE]

The male gurlanin listened to the blonde haired woman speak as she described why she wore such clunky and ineffective armor. Despite the woman explaining it in a way that made sense to her, to the gurlanin, he still found it as useless and troublesome, cumbersome even, to even think about using such heavy and restricting armor made out of heavy metals. He saw no viable use in it, even when considering how the woman tried to justify why she was wearing such armor. Despite the perceived uses of heavy metal armor by the woman, the gurlanin knew it wouldn't work for him or any others of his race, at least, he knew it would mostly serve to hamper them tan offer any substance of an advantage for them. The armor would, of course, be useless once he or any other individual of his race would transform into their wolf forms. All it would do was fall off and onto the ground, disregarded as it didn't fit the agile and powerful form of their wolf bodies. Despite it, Kaine found no reason as to hate the woman for her chosen apparel choice. He thought it was strange, foolish, stupid, and downright idiotic, yes. However, he wouldn't needlessly argue with the woman about such things. It was not his way, he wasn't a diplomatic or a politician, he would rather leave the problems undiscussed and allow both to come to their own solutions. Such was the mindset of a gurlanin who recently came out to the Galaxy and found all things foreign and alien and wrong.

His orange eyes swept over the metal-encased arm of the blonde-haired woman, whose name currently alluded him. He had been told about what she was called hours earlier, yes, though he had no recollection of how it went or how it was pronounced. Maybe her name is...Marrs? Marris? Marrisk? O'Doran didn't know and he wouldn't bring up such an issue as to not knowing the woman's name until the time demanded that he needed to bring it up. For now, all he did was examine the fine metal platings of her armor. Despite the cumbersome nature of it, the gurlanin found an almost ethereal beauty in the metal platings that connected to one another like a hard rockface, a rockface that had been weathered through countless winters and summers. "Perhaps when we return to the base, I will let you try on a gauntlet, though… I doubt it would fit~;" the edges of Kaine's lips upturned at the warm and kind sentiment the female offered to him. Having never been treated kindly by outsiders, he found the remark and offer from her...heartwarming and warm. It wasn't something that he would have expected from an outsider, most of which had been xenophobic bigots thus far, but he was glad to be proved wrong from what he had witnessed of them thus far in her.

"Yes...where, from you are, yes?"

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Knight, Praetorian Guard
Equipment | Armour, DE-39 Maser Rifle, Lightsaber (blue), Throwing Knives, Binding Wires
Location | Close to the exit leading out to the maw, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface
Allies | [member="Kaine O'Doran"]
Status | Wistful and curious

Behind her faceplate, the blonde smiled at the apology Kaine offered. “Apology accepted. You did not mean to, so it is fine.” While the air had been fraught with tension between both Praetorian and Sith, it had all but dissipated.

Though Marriskcal did not realise the true reason that the taller male seemed to have lost some of his wariness and even offered her a quirk of his lips, she was still contented that their reserved relationship from before had thawed into something more cordial. For while the young woman has and will probably find herself working alongside people who were apprehensive of her, she preferred to share a light camaraderie of sorts.

As the young woman contemplate how she should start her answer, she made a motion for them to continue their journey down the dim tunnel. From the map that was displayed at the top left corner of her helm, it was another five minutes of walking before they reached one of the many exits that lead them out to the open.

The dome that used to be home to the Jedi Temple had fallen and was precariously suspended at the edge of the precipice of the maw. Its bottom was filled with wreckage, of huge pieces of duracrete and mangled skeletons of durasteel. Crossing the area to the other side where they would begin their search for the artefacts would make their journey much faster than if they followed the tunnels.

Marriskcal came to a decision. “I was born on Bakura, but as I was taken in by the First Order soon after my birth, I do not have any memory of my life then.” Perhaps she was being surprisingly open, but the blonde had never found a reason to keep this part of her life a secret. As someone who did not remember anything about her homeworld, or even her parents, she did not possess any sentiments that bound her. It was what it was.

“When I was of age and was allowed to travel on my own, I visited my homeworld,” she paused, her mind going back to verdant forests and misty hills. “It is a beautiful place. Peaceful and tranquil, untouched by the chaos that plagues the galaxy… I would like to return for a longer visit one day.” This time, Marriskcal hoped that she would be able to find her parents. The blonde blinked as she realised she verging on becoming a little too wistful, and decided to turn the query back on her companion.

“What about yourself, Kaine? Can you tell me a bit about your homeworld?”

 

[Kaine O'Doran]

[SIZE=13.5pt]Knight, Sith Warrior[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Location [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Near the Healing Center, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Allies[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - [member="Marriskcal Lati”][/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Status [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Wary; Cautious[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Armor[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - Terentaek & Durasteel Armor[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Equipment [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- Crimson Lightsaber (1x) | Ballistic Knife (1x)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____[/SIZE]

“I was born on Bakura, but as I was taken in by the First Order soon after my birth, I do not have any memory of my life then.”

"Kidnapped you, they did?"

The male Gurlanin questioned, suddenly concerned and perplexed at such a notion and thought. To steal a child, to hide a child, was something he found just as revolting as the xenophobic comments he had received within past weeks, and some, even days ago. He found the idea of such an act, of such a revolting act, sickening. Although not physically sickened by such an act, the Gurlanin only grew more disgusted by the society which was this wider Galaxy than his home had been. To kidnap a child was wrong, he knew this. Despite his apparent lack of morals due to his tribal-esque upbringing, Kaine knew one thing. He knew of one moral code, one moral rule, that he wouldn't break, ever. The harming of children. To do such a thing, was something he viewed as a cowardly and pathetic act. It was something that he hated with a passion. Children were innocent, children couldn't find. Men, and Women, they could fight for their survival. But children? Babies? They could not. They didn't deserve any foul fate to fall upon them. Which, was the supposed reason Kaine believed that he felt compassion upon this...Marris. Or was it Marrik? Kaine didn't know. Nor did he intend to fully know until the two grew to know each other more. He still wasn't trusting of this blond-haired woman, even if she did have a striking posterior.

“What about yourself, Kaine? Can you tell me a bit about your homeworld?”

Kaine didn't reply for a beat to the blonde's question. He didn't know how to respond. He didn't know if he should respond, in honest and earnest truth. He still held hard and sharp feelings in his heart from his recent banishment from a place he once called a sanctuary, a home. The scars burned deep still, causing him daily pain and sorrow to think and remember of such things. And anger. Anger most of all. However, the male Gurlanin did his best to reply to the woman's question with his limited vocabulary and with his wanting to tell as little as possible as to not arouse hard feelings of past misdeeds done against his person.

"Home...my, my home are -- is -- was, tranquil, peaceful. Endless forests, no...disgusting metal, metal tombs. No war, save for...the outsider hunters. Peaceful it was when...there I used to be. Free of...this...war, this of pollution, sanctuary."

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Knight, Praetorian Guard
Equipment | Armour, DE-39 Maser Rifle, Lightsaber (blue), Throwing Knives, Binding Wires
Location | Beside the exit to the maw, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface
Allies | [member="Kaine O'Doran"]
Status | Subdued

The stark words from her companion came as an unpleasant surprise and for a moment, the usually eloquent Marriskcal fell silent, unsure if she should deny them. For her whole life, the blonde has always thought of herself as fortunate to be chosen for such a noble destiny. And perhaps, if these words were thrown before her by another person and spoken in a more judgmental tone, Marriskcal would have refuted them vehemently. But they were spoken by someone whose views that were more or less untarnished by the corruption that perpetuated the galaxy...

Was it true though? Or was it spoken out of ignorance? The young woman found herself at an impasse. In a way, his query had incited a thought that has never once sparked in her mind up until today. Marriskcal suddenly found herself feeling uncomfortable that she did not know the whole truth behind her being in the First Order. The only thing she knew of her life from before was her family name and homeworld. The questions she once sought answer to, but forgotten with the passage of time surged to the forefront of her thoughts once more.

Unable to answer the other with any sort of certainty, the blonde decided to stay quiet in hopes that the taller male would allow the topic to fall to the wayside as he answered the query she presented to him. Marriskcal listened to his halting description of his very own home, and it reminded her quite a bit of Bakura, with its gentle valleys and misty forested hills. "Your world sounds like a beautiful place as well. If I ever get the chance, I would like to visit one day. And I promise that I will keep my metal tomb far away from your home." Though she attempted to keep a light tone to her voice, it was clear to any observant listener that the blonde was slightly subdued from just mere moments ago.

As the two beings approached the light at the end of the tunnel, her senses began to rouse, whispering for her to stay cautious. Marriskcal paused in her steps, her hand moving to retrieve her weapon even as she moved to the side of the wall. "Do you sense anything, Kaine?" While Sullust had fallen under the First Order's dominion, it did not mean that all was well. There were still many who were dissatisfied and would seek to rebel and cause chaos.

 

[Kaine O'Doran]

[SIZE=13.5pt]Knight, Sith Warrior[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Location [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Near the Healing Center, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Allies[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt][member="Marriskcal Lati”][/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Status [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Alarmed[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Armor[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] - [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Terentaek & Durasteel Armor[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Equipment [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]- [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Crimson Lightsaber (1x) | Ballistic Knife (1x)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____[/SIZE]

The male Gurlanin found it strange that the blonde-haired woman, [SIZE=9pt]Marrks[/SIZE], did not refute his claims. She did not even bother to answer his claims. The woman didn't even appear to acknowledge his claims and his reasonable judgment about what happened to her. Something which did upset the silver-haired male. He couldn't understand why she wouldn't accept such a thing. It was simple in truth. Marrks had been taken away, stolen as though she were some valuable asset by conniving thieves who wanted to use her for their own purposes and reasons. She was kidnapped, that was an undeniable truth that was present and visible to the man. There was no possible way to deny such a thing, the facts were all there. The scenario was all thought out, all of it. All of it. So then why, why did this woman choose not to answer him? Marrks had appeared level-headed thus far and she acted and talked like an intellectual and a reasonable thinker. So then why did she offer up no denial of such a thing? Why did she offer up no acceptance of such a thing? The Gurlanin came to the assumption that this blonde-haired woman -- Marrks -- was denying the truth about what happened to her.

In most cases, a male Gurlanin such as Kaine would push such a subject and pressure her to see the truth about what had happened. He normally charged headfirst into situations without any prior knowledge or intelligent thought put into things. However, he opted not to say anything this time. He went against the grain of his normal nature. O'Doran didn't want to try and pressure [SIZE=9pt]Marrk[/SIZE]. This was her choice on whether to believe the truth or deny the truth. He had no say in what she believed and in what she didn't believe. The male Gurlanin wouldn't interfere in [SIZE=9pt]Marrks[/SIZE] personal affairs and troubles. All he would do would offer her advice, he had no right to pressure her to believe and do something whatsoever.

Before Kaine had a chance to answer Marrk's question about him sensing something...a metal canister was rolled out between the two of them. The trained hunter barely had enough time to react whatsoever before the metal canister exploded in a fiery haze of shrapnel and munitions going off, it was a grenade. A grenade...

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Knight, Praetorian Guard
Equipment | Armour, DE-39 Maser Rifle, Lightsaber (blue), Throwing Knives, Binding Wires
Location | Bottom of the maw, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface
Allies | [member="Kaine O'Doran"]
Status | Scared and panicking

​

​

It was as though her query was the catalyst for the chaos that ensued.

One moment, Marriskcal was standing within the shadows of the tunnel with her senses alert. And the next thing she knew, the entrance was engulfed in a blaze of fire and sharp fragments and deafening noise. Ever cautious, more so when she knew they were standing on a world whose populace were ardent supporters of the Galactic Alliance, the blonde managed to bring up a barrier in time to shield both Kaine and herself from the worst of the blast.

But with all of her focus and concentration poured into maintaining the barrier even as it was being worn down continuously by the conflagration, the Praetorian did not realise that she was in a precarious position. The explosion caused the already unstable foundations of the tunnels to further deteriorate… and with the added weight of the young woman and the armour she wore, the ledge where she stood began to crumble.

Her eyes widened as she felt the ledge began to erode and fall away. Clenching her jaw stubbornly, the blonde slowly took a step back, only for the attempt to find stable ground end in utter failure as the foundation shattered into debris. Dread filled her as gravity caught her in its claws and she began to fall… and fall… and fall...

And just when Marriskcal was about to twist her body and gain control of her descend, her back hit the ground and she felt her breath leaving her lungs. For a moment, the Praetorian laid amongst the fallen wreckage, her heart pounding hard against her ribcage and sending a word of grace to the Maker that she was unharmed. And that was when her eyes first fell on the durasteel bar that was jutting out of her torso. In her awareness that she was impaled, red hot pain began to blossom and thread its way through her body. In her panic, Marriskcal struggled and attempted to sit up… only to realise that she was pinned against the ground by another rod through her shoulder.

 

[Kaine O'Doran]

[SIZE=13.5pt]Knight, Sith Warrior[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Location - [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Near the Healing Center, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Allies - [member="[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Marriskcal[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] Lati”][/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Status - [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Threatened & Alarmed[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Armor - [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Terentaek & Durasteel Armor[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Equipment - [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Crimson Lightsaber (1x) | Ballistic Knife (1x)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____[/SIZE]

The male Gurlanin had never seen a grenade before in person. He had heard of such things beforehand when he had first left his home, though, he had never seen such things in action as they were meant to be seen. He had never seen the destructive capabilities of such a weapon beforehand. That is, until now. The Gurlanin felt the full presence and power of the blast which stunned him at first, prompting the male to take a few steps backward as he brought an arm up to shield his eyes. The fiery explosion of flames and shrapnel was blinding to the relative newcomer to the Galaxy, shocking him from the sheer ferocity of light that it gave off from the once impenetrable darkness of the cavern they were in. Said darkness had now been replaced by wild flames which whipped and whisked at the cool air of the face, unleashing a torrent of hot and suffocating air into the immediate vicinity of the blast which made it hard for the Gurlanin to breath at first until he was able to get himself under control. Normally he hadn't been surprised by such types of ambushes. With all of this newly discovered technology, however, the male found it all daunting and incomprehensible as to all of the new feelings which washed over his hardened form. Everything from the heat of the explosion, to the flames that had licked at his bare skin, to the shrapnel that had flown at him like arrows launched from a taut string made him feel overwhelmed. Even with the force barrier that this Marrk suddenly put up, it was so overwhelming.

Kaine had not heard her fall, he was too preoccupied with the situation at hand to have heard her fall. As soon as the residue from the explosion had subsided enough for the male's now oversensitive senses to adjust, he threw himself back out into the darkness ahead of him. A darkness which now had lights of white break through it in cone shapes as though they were vipers looking for their next meal to ambush and poison with their cruel tools and instruments of pain and of the hunt. Light. He didn't know what was at the beginning of these light sources though the male assumed that whoever or whatever was making these lights, were the same things that had thrown the grenade towards the pair of him and Marrk. The Gurlanin made short work of these light-sources, slicing through them like a knife through warm butter as he struck from the darkness, his predatory eyes allowing him the sight from which to prey on them and strike them from the shadows. Screams and yells of pain filled the cavern for a few minutes...then there was silence. O'Doran had not used the metal cylinder that hung from his hip. Instead, he had opted for the much more silent and weighty knife which now was slick with the warm blood of those rebels who he had silenced. As he finished with the rebels, the man looked around his surroundings, trying to find out where Marrk had disappeared to. Which was when he heard a yelp of pain from below where had and Marrk had stood just moments before...

A feeling of dread fell into Kaine's stomach as he realized what had happened. She had fallen, there was no denying that whatsoever. Going back over to the edge, Kaine's nostrils flared as he sniffed the air trying to discern where Marrk was below him. He sniffed the air a few times, identifying her scent amongst the jumbled smells of blood and gore and bodily fluids that he had left behind him. Below. Below, directly below...that was where she was at. Taking a deep breath, O'Doran jumped off of the edge feet first, bending his knees as he approached the ground and utilizing the force in conjunction as well to take away the sharp impact that would have pushed through his feet and bones otherwise if he had not used the force. Once on the ground, it didn't take the Gurlanin long to find Marrk. All he had to do was follow her scent and the sounds of the subtle movements of limbs in the near-distance. Which was when his eyes fell upon her.

Marrk's body was all twisted in pain with two durasteel bars impaled through her body. One bar protruded from her torso and the other from her shoulder. Both of these bars looked to be dripping with blood, though the male made no attempt to get close to the bars to find out anything. At the sight of such a thing, Kaine did not know what to do. He didn't know how to help her and he didn't know why he should help her and he didn't know why he wanted, no needed to help her. Maybe it was guilt about seeing her so injured and compromised that compelled him to want to help her? No, no it couldn't have been...right? Or maybe it was the way she had acted towards him, how she had been actually friendly towards him and nice towards him despite him staring at her earlier which at the time, he had not considered offensive? True it was, that she was one of the few outsiders that he had met so far that treated him with dignity and respect. In a sense...Kaine thought of this woman as a friend...

Reaching both of hands out tenatively, Kaine took hold of her body and tried to lift her up. Unknowingly though, as he tried to do so, the protrusions and hitches crosses and engravings on the bars only caused further damage to the woman's insides, tearing at flesh and bone and other sensitive interior parts, tearing them and causing the ground around the woman to gather more in a pool of blood. At the sight of this, Kaine began to panic...

She...she is going to die! And it's my fault, it's my fault that she is going to die. It's my fault that she is in so much pain right now...

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Knight, Praetorian Guard
Equipment | Armour, DE-39 Maser Rifle, Lightsaber (blue), Throwing Knives, Binding Wires
Location | Bottom of the maw, Beneath the Biosphere Ruins, Sullust Surface
Allies | [member="Kaine O'Doran"]
Status | Unconscious

​

​

With the clarity of pain piercing through her mind, the blonde did not know how much time has passed before the form of her companion came into view. With her vision blurring and sharpening in turn as her life’s blood were steadily spreading out around her, Marriskcal thought the silver haired male was a hostile at first, flinching when she caught his legs and she struggled to lift her head, her eyes gaining a gleam of resolve… until his worried features came into focus.

Like a marionette whose strings has been cut, the Praetorian allowed her head to fall back to the ground, fatigued by that one small act. While they served two different leaders, Kaine has proven to her that he was a decent being despite his reserved demeanour. Even now, his presence was coloured by concern and guilt. Oh Kaine… it isn’t your fault that I got hurt. But before she could soothe and calm his fears, the other reached out to help her.

And in his panic and ignorance, Kaine unknowingly caught her on the twist of the metal shaft. Try as she may to keep her poise, Marriskcal screamed as her flesh were further torn, the sound echoing across the maw. It was fortunate that though her armour’s integrity was compromised and pierced through, its turadium exterior held fast, preventing her injuries from turning fatal. She clenched her jaw as her vision turned white from the pain, and forced herself to breathe slowly in hopes that she would be able to stay conscious for a few more minutes.

“K–Kaine… I– I need you to remain calm. Listen carefully…”

Every single word she spoke further drained her reserves. But the Praetorian knew that her chance at surviving this would increase if he came to her aid.

“Take my– my lightsaber and cut the bars as close as you can to my armour,” her voice was becoming weaker and weaker even as she held the hilt of her blade towards the other. “Then… you’ll have an easier time lifting me off…”

Beneath her faceplate, her eyes fluttered as she began to exert her influence over the Force towards her wounds, directing them to start her healing process even as her consciousness began to fade.

“Don’t worry… I’ll be just fine…”

And she sank into oblivion.

​

​