Campaign Misplaced

[Zaka]

BLACKFANG - THE (NEW) JEDI vol. II
Issue #2 - Ponemah Forgotten

In the wake of the Brotherhood’s attack on Jedha, survivors and refugees in search of new beginnings have relocated to Ponemah to rebuild their lives. With the Alliance’s attention drawn to the next crisis, perfidious conspirator’s silence the cries of those without the ability to help themselves.

With new claimants of missing people everyday, N’Jazaka, already planet-side, calls upon Dagon and through him, other trusted Jedi to help uncover the cause of the mysterious disappearances.


Zaka stepped out of the sun and into the shade of a large rock outcropping. The inside was surprisingly spacious, pushed far enough back to be considered a cave, with the formation creating a shelf to protect would-be occupants from the sandstorms that frequented the planet.

“Miss Laqqar?”

Passing through the threshold, aside from grains of sand randomly strewn about, the ground was stone-like in nature. With no answer, Zaka delved deeper, the slow and silent steps of a hunter stalking its prey. Steadily drawing closer to a dim light, there was a bend, and he came around it, hilt in hand…

And found nothing but a handful of glowsticks scattered sporadically.

“You were right…”

Particles of sand whipped through the air harshly, assailing the Refugee Settlement. The sandstorm sweeping over them wasn’t as dangerous as the electromagnetic variety further to the planet’s polar south, the kind that interfered with technology and made navigation difficult. But, it was reason enough for most to stay indoors.

In the squat two story building, he was close to the spaceport. Ships flew in every other day carrying volunteers, refugees to and from Ponemah, and equipment for the future Settlement. Being on the fringe of Alliance Space and vulnerable to Mawite Raiders, there was also a surprisingly laxed security force.

Initially, Zaka had thought nothing of it. But it begged the question, why relocate to a new world so close to the site of the original attack. It made more sense to move deeper into the Core where an attack would be harder to pull off. But, after Coruscant he supposed nowhere was really safe.

Familiarity manifested itself on the edge of his senses, and the Jedi pulled on his heavy dark brown robes and stepped out into the streets, immediately buffeted by the winds. Pushing through them, he looked up, making out the dark outline of a starship descending over the Spaceport.

Finally.

The plan was for them to arrive during the storm to mask their approach. With Anti-Jedi sentiment and no physical evidence of their being wrongdoing on Ponemah, he doubted the Administrator would take kindly to Jedi snooping around their Settlement.

As the vessel descended into an empty berth, Zaka entered just in time to see its ramp reclining to admit him entry. Taking it as a cue, he climbed up the metal incline and entered the Jedi ship guised as a cargo ship.

tags - Dagon Kaze Jem Fossk Aeris Lashiec Creuat

 

[Dagon Kaze]

MISPLACED
THE GREAT ERROR vol. II
Issue #10

Despair.

He could see it through the viewport all the way up from lower atmo. The bustling squalor, the ragged, torn clothes shuffling about in a hurry looking everywhere for salvation. For survival. Ships docked and ships lifted off, each a ticket promising a better life, or rather... life. Ponemah was one of those many places on the frontier which had become a transit hub for refugees fleeing the wrath of the Sith, Dag had seen them countless times now. But this time it was different.

When Coruscant was sacked, fear surged into the very lifeline of sentient. The Core, the bastion and cradle of civilisation, was no longer the promised land, the designated safehaven. It was just another target on the list. It was no longer safe... because Solipsis had made it clear - he was out to eradicate the Jedi completely. So places like Ponemah, yeah right here on the frontier, became destinations for those who were too frightened to venture into the metropolis worlds fearing that where there were Jedi - there was death.

Dagon Kaze would've heeded Zaka's call alone had the info he'd dug on Ponemah from the info brokers on Denon been any different. And while the raven-haired Jedi Knight preferred putting everything on his own back, he'd relented about this.

Calls were made to other Jedi for aid and some would heed the call and others would be busy. He'd reached out to Viers Connory , too, even if he had been slightly hesitant at first. Sure, Dag had embraced her back into the 'fold' not long ago but he believed the less she saw of him, the easier it would be for her to move on. Last thing he wanted was his presence to be the reason for someone else's hurt. Let alone hers.

And Jem? He wanted her as far as possible from her father but sitting for too long on Denon would be a mistake. They had to make moves, shuffle around, never stick on one spot for too long. Then again, she would've probably sneaked into the ship anyways.

"... and keep the sabers concealed." he'd said that to Zaka on the line when the Blackfang had first gotten in touch with him and he'd explained it to the Jedi accompanying him on the way here. Last thing he wanted was whoever was behind all these disappearances to make 'em for the band of Jedi they were and delta outta here. It'd also loosen lips far more if their identities were discrete. Sending the whole Settlement in a frenzy of panic was undesired. He assumed Aeris wasn't too keen on the idea but for all the years he's known his best friend, Dag still had a hard time deciphering a librarian.

"Good to see you, Zaka." a thin, lopsided smile pulled his lips when the Blackfang emerged into the ship's main hold where the Jedi had gathered. Gesturing to those around him, he adds, "Some you know, some you don't but they're all here to help with this. I've told them what you told me but I guess since then you've got some more deets."

Zaka Jem Fossk Aeris Lashiec Viers Connory Creuat Valery Noble

 

[Jem Fossk]

Jem slowly floated out of Dagon's side, her attention draw to the large window overlooking the civilians beyond the hanger. Every step she took closer felt like a rock added to the pocket of her new cargo pants.

Dagon had insisted she wear street clothing, not that she had access to the temple closets anymore. He didn't want people knowing who they were. The closer she got to their haggard expressions, the more it made sense. They had been through so much.

Her father had done this to them.

Jem's stomach churned. The planning voices of her peers behind her went unheard.

 

[Creuat]

P A R A G O N

Jedha was secured, everything was done to salvage its treasures associated with the Jedi. Monuments and temples were desecrated, but the Jedi were more than just ancient rocks carved out by their predecessors.

But there was much more work to do, particularly with innocent bystanders that were scarred and misplaced by the misfortunes of war. Some sought refuge to the farthest reaches of the Alliance, parsecs away from the Deep Core as they tried to begin anew in the Colonies. Others found it nearby Jedha and Jakku. Ponemah, a frontier world that could suffer the same hardships as Jedha and Jakku with how close it was to the zealots of the Maw. Not just the Maw, but other opportunistic scum wanting to profit from the mishaps of victims.

Something that probably occurred on Promenah when a familiar Jedi called for aid.

Familiar and strange faces in this mixed group of Jedi, all unique with their own abilities.

"A pleasure as always, Padawan Zaka," the Nautolan bowed his head in respect to the Thyrsian. Questions he had, but awaited for anymore information the young Padawan discovered.

Zaka | Dagon Kaze | Jem Fossk​

 

[Aeris Lashiec]

Zaka. Dagon. Rhis.

Jem.

Aeris looked at the others, weary eyes wandering from person to person as she took in their presence and tried to figure out exactly how she felt about it. Exactly how she would go about their operation today. Murderers, part of her thought. Companions, another one whispered over it. She wasn't all too different from them in the end, but perhaps some part of her still clung to that belief that she was.

No lightsabers? No problem. Hers laid in the ashes of a pyre placed on an unnamed planet, hidden where its true owner had been put to rest. Their death had been certain this time, the body had been burned, she had seen to it. The lost had been returned, the returned been lost. Everything hurt.

As the others began to speak, Aeris snapped out of it. She took a seat, placed her elbows on her knees and clasped her hands together as she looked up at them. It was about masking the pain, about hiding it under a veneer of calm and reason. She had done it for years before Dagon had dragged her into some sort of friends' group, and she could damn well do it again.

"Feel free to hide that you are a Jedi if you want, but if asked I will not hide who I am." Aeris said and let her hands fall down into her lap, back leaned against the wall. At the very least she wasn't wearing burlaps. Seemed like it was casual Friday at the temple. What a joy. "Provided that they ask."

"And the Anti-Jedi sentiment lies on us too, you know. Not just our enemies. Maybe if we stopped giving them reasons to doubt, we would not be here."

 

[Dagon Kaze]

MISPLACED
THE GREAT ERROR vol. II
Issue #10

Blue eyes narrowed into a frown upon hearing Aeris' words. Sure, they've always had their differences on things but ever since Jedha that rift seemed to have grown, whether intentionally or not. Hell, ever since Jedha she'd been different, way different than before. But so was he - since Coruscant. Dag would've been a sham of an investigator if he couldn't notice how their occasional conversations on the holo had become rarer, shorter. He wanted to believe it was the war; both being under tremendous pressure and out of time chasing their duties as Jedi.

But there was evidence indicating otherwise - she'd spilled the Jedi Archives out in the open and constantly stood for elevating the Jedi in a more public position, seeking to enlighten the populace about what it was to be a Jedi, whereas Dag saw things... almost completely the opposite. Jedi could take being hated - should endure it - as long as they made the right choices.

Finally, his features softened and he turned his head to his best friend, "Maybe... but we are here, Aeris... so let's make do with what we've got." just trust me.

Zaka Jem Fossk Aeris Lashiec Viers Connory Creuat Valery Noble

 

[Aeris Lashiec]

They had been friends for a while, she knew that look. The look of 'please, just agree' and 'please, just trust that I am right with this one'. And Aeris did trust Dagon; on more than one occasion he had proven himself to be one of the Order's most capable members. To feel this rift between them cut this deep hurt more than she would let on.

"Definitely, but as long as we can provide them with less reason to doubt us — that is an opportunity that we have to take." Aeris said and tilted her head back against the wall again. "If you— we want to win this war, we cannot go around creating more enemies than friends, or by acting from the shadows."

"I am not about to endanger this operation by making us question ourselves, this is not why either of us wanted me here. All I ask is that you think twice before you do anything hasty." She looked at the others. "That goes for all of us."

 

[Zaka]

BLACKFANG - THE (NEW) JEDI vol. II
Issue #2 - Ponemah Forgotten

​

Once he entered the hold, he was greeted by the Jedi when he was in the midst of throwing back the hood.

“Dagon Kaze,” he greeted with a smile and an upwards bob of his head. “You are right,” he says, dropping his hands to either side of him before his head rotates to find the amphibian bipedal. “Knight Fisto,” he greeted, approaching and planting a hand on his shoulder and sharing a personal nod with him as well.

They may have had divergent views the last time they had met, but N’Jazaka couldn’t help but to show gratitude to the Nautolan. Having come all this way, to a desert planet no less.

While he greeted him, one of the other occupants -- Aeris -- he had quickly found out, was not overly fond of their situation. Zaka leveled a careful gaze on her and the others that he did not know. Did they all feel the same? Even in an Order where they grew up together, and spent years with each other, he had come to find out that these New Jedi often had different views from one another. Curious, but there were more pressing matters to deal with.

"Our first thought should be of doing what's right," Zaka interjected between Dagon and Aeris' back and forth. "It does not matter if the people love or hate us. We'll still be there." At least, he would. "We are not hiding from the people. But we are also not advertising it, so that the wrong people do not see us coming." It wasn't the most complicated of strategies, but even he was prone to going off the rails.

“To start, a few people from my own work crew have gone missing. Men, women, young, middle aged,” he shrugged. “Same thing is going around throughout the entire Settlement. Been hearing talk of people leaving on ships for work, to get away from the border. I thought nothing of it, until a lady who recognized me as a Jedi from the Jedha attack told me her son was taken in the night by the hired guns around camp. She wanted to meet a few days ago outside of the camp, but I haven't seen her since.” He had already done his due diligence of searching for her inside the community.

Pausing, "That's why I called you here," he admits. "There is no proof to any of my claims. Just a feeling that I hope above all else is wrong." He did not shy away from looking these people in the eyes. He wanted them to believe him, to trust in him. To help. "The Settlement is too big and holds too many people for me to search on my own."

"I have a plan," how could he not after inviting them here? "But I need to know, if you're here to do what's right, for the sake of doing what's right, or to feel better about yourself." He may not have shown it, but he was speaking to them as much as himself. After Jedha... He'd rather overreact and be wrong, than do nothing and be right.

tags - Aeris Lashiec Dagon Kaze Jem Fossk Creuat Valery Noble Viers Connory

 

[Viers Connory]

//: Zaka //: Dagon Kaze //: Jem Fossk //: Aeris Lashiec //: Creuat //: Mercy //:

Dagon's summons came as a surprise for the young woman. He had gone silent after her confession. She assumed their friendship had crumbled under the weight of her abandoning him along with her feelings towards him. Suppressed emotions were easier to handle than when they were out in the open, but at least she knew where she stood. Her training helped with that, so seeing Dagon again was as if the confession never happened.

She stood silent, listening to the Padawan speak, his concerns were valid, and Viers understood why Dagon had summoned the group of them. For the most part, each face was new to the monk, Zaka she had only heard of, Rhis as well. Eyes lazily glanced over each face until Viers came across Aeris. The woman's face looked tired, and she was far from the uptight woman she had met some time ago. A part of her wondered what had happened to drive the librarian to this point. She was never the type or didn't seem like the type to fight.

They both had changed, and Viers remained silent, figuring the woman didn't recognize her after everything. No longer the child that played pranks and sought after artifacts. She had seen death, wielded it like a weapon - forever changed after killing the soldier. Viers peered around, almost looking for someone, but her attention was drawn when Zaka continued speaking - questioning why they were there.

It was a curious question, one that Viers didn't fully understand. Her position changed, leaning against the weapon disguised as a walking stick. "This is important." She started by making sure that the branding and tattoos were covered by the sleeves of the loose robe. "Innocent people are being poached or worse, and this isn't their war nor their fight." She felt naked, speaking and without her usual war paint - this wasn't her war either, but she was here. "I'm here for the people; tell us your plan - I follow your lead, Zaka."

This wasn't her realm of expertise; Viers understood this. She wondered how far the monastery reached; if there was some semblance of them here, they could use it to their advantage.

 

[Mercy]

Aeris Lashiec Dagon Kaze Jem Fossk Creuat Valery Noble Viers Connory Zaka

Chit got complicated with the Empire's collapse.

She couldn't very well show her face in the Tion cluster either. One, her pride wouldn't let her. Walk back groveling into her parents' estate like nothing had happened?

Feth no.

Second of all... pretty sure the bounty hunters would be hanging around there too with that bounty pinned down.

Complications or not, Mercy had to eat. Preferably also drink and lots of it. It didn't take long before the woman found employment. Surprise surprise, enterprising gangs and criminal outfits were always looking for someone build like a brick wall and with Force powers to boot. It was a pretty simple operation at that.

Well, Mercy's part anyway.

Land the ship. Make your way to the warehouse. Herd the gaggle of new enslaved sentients. Lock them down in the cargo ship. Get out.

At the end of it a nice and tidy paycheck. Nothing to complain about. Sure, it wasn't exactly thrilling and the whiny mewling of the slaves was kinda annoying, but everyone had to do some unsavory things in the pursuit of financial happiness. The one thing the Sith apprentice hadn't been counting on was a gaggle of Jedi landing in the starport around the same time as her. Landing almost right next to her at that. It wasn't like Mercy was great at shielding her force presence.

So for those that were paying attention to their surroundings... the sulfur acid of the Darkside started to filter through the area.

What ever could that be?

Certainly not the six foot tall something giantess strutting out the starport with an oversized sword strapped to her back.

 

[Viers Connory]

//: Mercy //:

And almost like magic, the figure that Viers had been searching for stepped into the light. The Dark side burning from her form, Viers watched as she walked. There was no care to her presence, and the Monk wondered if this was on purpose. It could be that she was so thick-headed the giantess didn't even think about protecting herself. It was apparent she assumed the weapon on her back was all that she needed.

Viers focused on the woman and stepped away from the small gathering. She figured she said her piece, and the others would follow in suit. As she moved away, the Monk faded out of existence, taking refuge in the shadow of the Force. With each feather step, the girl drew closer, following almost in tandem with the giant woman's measures.

Grinning, Viers jabbed the staff between the woman's stride in a small attempt to trip her while she was hidden from view. Fighting where they were would only draw negative attention to them. Which would only ruin Zaka's attempts at helping the population. She figured that wasn't the type of 'seen' the padawan was talking about.

No, she'd have her fun with the Sith as she tried to figure out what drew the woman to Ponemah.

Spoiler

//: Dagon Kaze //: Valery Noble //: Jem Fossk //: Zaka //: Aeris Lashiec //: Creuat //:

 

[Kai Bamarri]

As the senior-most members of the group, the Knights stood together, the Padawans orbiting them like satellites. Jem was tethered to Dag, Kai to Aeris.

It was easy to overlook Kai. He seemed smaller than usual, shrunken and deflated. His shoulders drooped and he wouldn’t look anyone in the eye. The doppelganger was still dealing with the aftermath of Jedha and his brief, bizarre encounter with Darth Solipsis—a story he hadn't told anyone else yet, mainly because it was hard to believe.

He listened to the back-and-forth between Dag and Aeris about hiding, and Zaka’s debrief on the situation. Refugees were disappearing, probably poached by slavers. Kai had some experience dealing with them. Which is to say, a very young and inexperienced Kai had once been captured by slavers during a routine survey mission and had to be rescued. He’d make sure to stick close to the others this time around.

If he could, anyway. They were here to search the settlement, and that would probably mean splitting up. Sure enough, one of Dag’s friends broke off from the group in order to pursue a big woman carrying a big sword, without even bothering to stick around and hear Zaka’s plan.

<Does the plan involve dividing and conquering?> he asked the others.

Zaka Dagon Kaze Jem Fossk Aeris Lashiec Creuat Viers Connory Valery Noble Mercy​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Ponemah​

Valery: Appearance​

Lightsabers (Concealed): Link!​

Tag: Dagon Kaze Zaka Kai Bamarri Jem Fossk Viers Connory Creuat Aeris Lashiec Mercy ​

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​

When Valery got the call from Dagon to travel to Ponemah, she hardly needed time to consider it. They had originally met on Spintir when he was still a Padawan, and the trust between them grew ever since. She understood that when he called and asked for her assistance, that something important was happening. ​

​

So without any hesitation, she accepted the call and traveled with him and the other Jedi to Ponemah. She didn't know much about the planet itself, but she had heard about the stream of refugees that ended up there and heard more about the ongoing situation during their journey, where Dagon briefed them on the specifics.​

​

To Valery, remaining in the Shadows and keeping her identity obscured as much as possible was a natural thing. To blend into a crowd, to offer assistance without recognition - none of it was odd to her. This wasn't about her, or any of the Jedi - it was about these people. So when this was brought to her attention, she prepared a more civilian outfit and stored away her lightsabers within her jacket.​

​

But it also meant that when some discussion began after their arrival, that Valery's focus shifted more towards Zaka. His sincerity and apparent need for their help caused Valery's features to soften, and she'd respond after a moment.​

​

"I'm here to help the people, too. In any way I can," she said, her eyes briefly shifting to the others. ​

​

"There is a lot of ground to cover - do we have any clues or locations where we could begin?" she asked before nodding at Kai Bamarri 's question as well. She had no problems with splitting into groups, but they had to go about such things cleverly. Whatever or whoever was causing these people to disappear could turn out to be dangerous.​

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​

 

[Zaka]

BLACKFANG - THE (NEW) JEDI vol. II
Issue #2 - Ponemah Forgotten

​

Zaka's head twisted in the direction of Viers, once she had stepped out from her corner. And just as quickly as she appeared and invested her confidence in him, she took off, down the ramp and outside.

"Uh-"

"You can trust her," Dagon's familiar voice spoke, cutting through the abrupt fog of confusion that manifested in his mind.

"Huh," he says before crossing his arms. "Okay."

"Dag, Aeris,--" the latter of which he had yet to form a real opinion on. Though, he would've had to have been blind to not realize that they were close. And despite not knowing how close, he planned to use that familiarity to benefit this mission. "Question who you can. There's no real pattern from what I've heard, so far, other than mercs stealing people away. I need a potential location. A name of a guard, if possible."

Turning about, he found the Nautolan once more. "Knight Fisto. I have a speeder at the edge of the Settlement. I need you to find a sign of any passing. Not many people leave, what with the sandstorms, and the interference they cause in the South. With a Jedi, we can link our minds. I need to know what's out there, if anything."

Once again, he redirected his attention. First to Kai, then to Jem Gaelor in the corner. The latter he had met on Chaldea. It didn't feel that long ago, but the girls attitude had changed drastically from then. Sparing a glance in the direction of Dagon, he found the one stuck to Aeris' side. "I need you and Jem to take care of the people. Lend a hand wherever you find yourself. If I'm wrong, the people here will be glad to have you nonetheless."

Finally, he turned to Valery. There was a feeling to her that he coukd only equate with time, experience, longevity. He couldn't put it to words, not really, but he meant to find out. "You and I are going after the Administrator. I mean to lure him out of his office, and then I'll need you to sneak in and find anything that could point to these missing people." Offering a nod to her to her let know that he was done, he gave a look to the assortment of Jedi.

"If there's no disagreements... That's all I've got for you."

Valery Noble Aeris Lashiec Dagon Kaze Jem Fossk Kai Bamarri Creuat Viers Connory Mercy
Pyrrah Tae

 

[Jem Fossk]

Upon hearing her name, Jem turned and drifted back to her Master's side.

"What are we doing?" Came the distracted inquiry. It was cut short by a jolt of shock, the teen freezing in place upon seeing Aeris Lashiec with Dagon. Only days ago, Jem had snapped at the woman. ...Horribly. Jem knew it was wrong, but there had been a sense of justice to the moment when she had lost her cool on Aeris. She recognized now that she had just been scared, but nothing, not even the threat of Aeris tattling, could get Jem to cop to that.

She backed peddled none the less, as guilty as a clam as she struggled through a bow of respect.

"M-masters." Did he know? What a rat! ...Shewasdead. "I'll ... go with the others." Jem tried to peel off with the other groups, unwitting to her assignment.

Dagon Kaze

 

[Pyrrah Tae]

Ponemah Terminal
Lets Transport Some Slaves
The “Heroes”: Zaka | Dagon Kaze | Jem Fossk | Kai Bamarri | Valery Noble | Viers Connory | Creuat | Aeris Lashiec
The Saviors: Mercy
​

Salvation.

That is what he and the Maw were offering here at the lonely spaceport at the edge of the Galaxy. People on this planet have lost their vision, their true path. In the end, the role of these refugees was to serve the Maw, whether they wanted to or not.

When he originally sold the Hyperlane coordinates to the Maw all that time again, he had not known that it would form a long-lasting and valuable partnership. From that point he had become one of the top slaver traders within their ranks. Not only did this benefit himself and the Exchange, it the Maw could always use some new…’workers’ as well.

Looking ahead, the pirate watched as the next shipment of refugees was brought in from the camps. His operation was so well disguised in this little spaceport that no one would possibly miss if a handful of people went missing each day. It wasn’t like anyone cared for them.

“You there, Trandoshan, make sure the Wookiee doesn’t reveal our location. Shut them up, now.”

A scaly nod was given before they walked over to the screaming Wookiee. It was obviously crying out for someone, something, but that would never come. At least not here at the Ponemah Terminal. With a bag over the head and a shock collar later, the hairy beast was silenced. Good.

Now, onto the next round of refugees.

 

[Dagon Kaze]

MISPLACED
THE GREAT ERROR vol. II
Issue #10

"...All I ask is that you think twice before you do anything hasty." She looked at the others. "That goes for all of us."

"Agreed." he nods, then turns to hear Zaka briefing the group on the details of the case. Not much had changed in terms of clues since the Blackfang had first reached out to the investigator. But something was better than nothing. They didn't have a name but at least the hired gun angle seemed like the hottest trail they could pursue.

He let the man set the plan of action, only interrupting to reassure him to trust Viers' sudden departure - eyes lingering over her disappearing figure thoughtfully before shifting his attention fully back on the Blackfang. Zaka had been working - community work from what Dag understood - here on Ponemah for a while now; the Settlement and its intricacies were something he would be more familiar with than anyone here, it was Zaka's Denon and Kaze had no intention of being a fed taking over.

With the plan settled on, Dag nailed down on the operational details, "Right, then let's get to it." the Knight nodded, glancing at Jem who seemed more lost than ever. He'd been catching her zone out far more often these days than ever before, "Jem, you're going with Kai." he jerks his head at the Doppelganger, "Patrol duty... ask around, help anyone don't make a scene--" --or try not to, "Anything that catches your eye - report. Kai, you'll hold a mind link with us all," turning to glance at everyone around, "we'll use it as means of communication between each other." the sithspawn-turned-padawan was probably the most capable mentalist among the group.

Sliding the hood of his cape over his head, he shuffled to leave only to stop beside Zaka, a tap on his shoulder, "You and Val might wanna use the cover of the sandstorm before it's gone..." then, turning his head to the rest of the Jedi, "...godspeed."

Into the Settlement, the Jedi go. The sandstorm was slightly beginning to dissipate, revealing the true scale of squalor he couldn't have fully witnessed during landing. Some were already hurrying to set back up the very few wares they had - probably whatever heirlooms they had been able to grab before escaping certain death by the Maw - and hoping to sell enough to buy a ticket off-world or start life anew on Ponemah. This was the cost of war many on the high rises never saw. Numbers and figures were all they could see.

As they shuffled through the cramped up, sandy alleys of the Settlement, looking for anything pertaining to their task, Dag finally spoke up, "You okay, Aeris?" he arched an eyebrow but kept his eyes on their surroundings.​

Zaka Jem Fossk Aeris Lashiec Viers Connory Creuat Valery Noble Kai Bamarri Mercy
Pyrrah Tae

 

[Aeris Lashiec]

For the sake of unity she refrained from arguing it further. Doing what’s right more often than not aligned with what the populace wanted. Or at least so she thought for the moment, the week’s flavor and fancy shifted and re-aligned with each moment she gave more and more thought to it. Jedi were beacons of hope and leaders of the ‘right way’, and yet she also wanted them to take the backseat and lead from the back and not the front.

It made sense some days, not as much on others. It didn’t stop her from being vocal about it though. While the ideas in and off themselves were contradictory at best, the ultimate goal was not: reform. Change was needed, some form of end to this doubt that they were doing their best and meant the best. If people doubted light, if they doubted good and were willing to embrace dark, then there was something very wrong.

All these faces, vaguely familiar from a time that somehow seemed easier. It felt like an eternity since she had caught Dagon and Viers making out in the ventilation shafts. Or rather, since they had made their entrance into the archives through it.

“Right now?” Aeris responded to Dagon’s concern with a small exhale. “Sure.”

“In general?” Her nose began to scrunch up, her forehead wrinkle, corners of her lips tense up with frustration. “No.”

“But I am dealing with it.” She sighed for a second time and looked at one of the nearby stall with a feigned interest in whatever was for sale. Food. No, not even. “That’s what we do. We deal with it. Die for it. All that.”

“Alex came back from the dead.”

“... Then they returned to the dead.”

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Ponemah​

Valery: Appearance​

Lightsabers (Concealed): Link!​

Tag: Dagon Kaze Zaka Kai Bamarri Jem Fossk Viers Connory Creuat Aeris Lashiec Mercy Pyrrah Tae ​

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Valery listened to Zaka as he began to assign the Jedi various tasks, and offered quick nods to them as they began to depart to handle their parts of the case. Finally, Zaka turned to her and whether he realized it or not, asked her to help with something that fit her skill set quite well. To infiltrate places she wasn't supposed to be in was very common to her, and something she had plenty of tricks for. ​

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"Sounds like a solid plan to me," she said with a nod of confirmation, and a smirk that showed her confidence in their ability to complete the task. It would also be her first time working with Zaka , so she looked forward to seeing the Padawan in action. If his sincere request for help was anything to go off of, she knew her confidence would​

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The woman's gaze then turned to Dagon as he recommended using the sandstorm for concealment, and she nodded in agreement. To sneak into the administrator's office, she'd have other tricks for concealment, but the storm was the best bet they had for reaching their objective. ​

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"We will, Dag - Force guide you out there." she offered a faint smile and then turned to Zaka as they readied themselves to move out as well. "Are there any guards stationed around the office that you know of?" she asked as she waited for him to take point. He knew this place better than she did, so it was only logical for him to take lead here.​

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"Shouldn't be a problem if there are, but it's best not to run into unwelcomed surprises."​

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[Kai Bamarri]

Zaka gave out orders and paired people up in what amounted to a tactical buddy system. Kai’s expression soured as his buddy was revealed to be That Girl. During their one and only other meeting, she had refused to tell him her name, demanded he stop using telepathy to communicate because he “had a mouth and should use it”, and behaved in a generally aloof and standoffish manner that made him feel like trying to explain himself, let alone befriend her, was a complete waste of time.

Now she was to be his partner in a potentially dangerous mission. Zaka asked if there were any disagreements. The doppelganger planted his fists on his hips, ready to protest… but then Dag spoke, essentially ordering the girl—Jem—to go with him. Kai's body language softened.

"Kai, you'll hold a mind link with us all, we'll use it as a means of communication between each other."

The doppelganger blanched. <Are you sure?>

Had Dag forgotten that Kai was a mind-eater? Sure, he'd been trying to rein in his hunger, but a battle meld was risky. Like leaving spice stashed somewhere in a recovering drug addict's apartment, it would be opening him up to temptation. But Kai was eager to please, eager to prove that he could control himself, and if Dag had faith in him...

Relying on his amulet to hide his aura from the others, Kai set up the link. It was a simple meld, not particularly deep. They'd only be able to sense each other's strong emotions and deliberately projected thoughts.

Kai headed for the nearest exit, keeping his distance from Jem. She was acting weird again, although now her behavior was more skittish and squirrely, like she thought someone was out to get her. Tempting as it might be to ditch her, Kai had a job to do.

The Settlement was a ramshackle sprawl of temporary housing that had sprung up quite literally overnight. It was overcrowded with refugees of every age, species, and walk of life. The wind carried with it dust and the reek of too many bodies clustered together.

The two Padawans were supposed to help these people, but it seemed an insurmountable task for just two people. He looked around and spotted a nearby tent bearing the insignia of the Refugee Relief Movement, along with the universal galactic symbol for medical aid.

<Any ideas on where to start?> he asked Jem.

Zaka Dagon Kaze Jem Fossk Aeris Lashiec Creuat Viers Connory Valery Noble Mercy Pyrrah Tae​