Mission to Corbos

[Cynna Jade Sunrider]

It had been a few days already, Jade hadn't heard a peep from her padawan [member="Lorna Halcyon"]. So she assumed that she had been doing well and recovering well from her intense training that she had undergone with herself. It was almost 0800 hours and Jade waited in one of the private hangar bays in which her padawan would be meeting her. The upcoming mission would be a real test of her padawan's abilities. It would even put Jade herself to the test. There had been a sighted Imperial base on Corbos. Spotted by a deep secret reconnaissance probe. What they were up to exactly was not certain, but several reports indicated the possibility of bio weapons being developed. Jade and her padawan would be going there to confirm just that. If it ended up being true, they would then report back to the Republic who would then take the necessary action.

Jade patiently stood outside her ship. Her main ship was a TIE Defender, the Soul of Wildcat, however they wouldn't be going on that. Rather they would embark on larger, but still reasonably quick Corellian YT-1300. She had acquired this ship many years ago, amongst most of her prized possessions for that matter. Back in the day when she herself was a fighter pilot for an elite squadron called Hellfire Squadron which was part of a Republic fleet known as the Retribution Fleet. Her callsign from back in the day had been Wildcat, thus why her own personal and most prized possession, her TIE Defender was named the Soul of Wildcat.

It was almost 0800 hours. Jade felt the brisk cool air slowly blow across her face and body. Her padawan should be here any moment now. Jade herself was eager to get going too, so was hoping that her padawan wouldn't be late or at least not too late anyway.

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

[member="Cynna Jade Sunrider"]

Lorna was there with her master and a great deal of the hard work going into the different things. She had changed a little getting one of the sigils from Sasori that she could wear around her neck and the protection it offered gave her a great deal of relief that she didn't have to try as hard to make strong mental shields. She wouldn't stop training but there was a level of things you could do so your mind wasn't worried of trying to protect yourself every second. So when she was there with her master relaxing a little more and still feeling the pain from her muscles protesting while she was ready for anything that could come their way. Her saber and circlet on her hip so she could use it. "I am here." Lorna was running to meet her master and smiled with her green cloak over her shoulders while fixing her hair with ribbons.

 

[Cynna Jade Sunrider]

As Lorna came hurrying towards Jade, Jade would motion for her padawan to get onboard. Silently Jade followed her in and shut the boarding ramp.

"You look a little different today Lorna, follow me to the cockpit please."

Jade as per usual smiled at her padawan as she spoke. The two Jedi made their way to the YT-1300's cockpit. Jade did her final preflight checks and once she was cleared for takeoff, blasted off without further delay. As the ship broke orbit, Jade punched several commands into the ship's Nav computer and soon after they were travelling at light speed. Jade would then get up and invite her padawan to follow her into the main area of the ship. She would sit next to a small holo table and ask for her padawan to do the same.

"So Lorna, I hope you have been well the last 3 days that I haven't seen you. Corbos is a day's travel time away at our current speed. So I'm not gonna go through any mission briefings just yet. For now Lorna, I'm more interested in you. How are you feeling? Is there anything you would like to tell me, about anything not even related to this mission or Jedi training for that matter. Is there anything you would like me to do for you?

Jade paused a moment and gave her young padawan a warm and gentle smile.

"Things are gonna get tough during our mission, so right now I want you all relaxed and chilled out padawan. Thus why it's important to lay our minds off the more serious issues at hand, while we get those small and brief opportunities like we have now."

[member="Lorna Halcyon"]

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

[member="Cynna Jade Sunrider"]

She felt different, better, in pain but a lot stronger compared to where she was when she started with her master. THey had gone through an intense training session for the time and now as she was there in the cockpit ready to go she popped her neck and was ready for just about anything. "I am master, I feel better and ready for anything." She wasn't kidding but well she was nervous a real mission was not a joking matter though jokes helped to ease the tension in a situation. She was ready for anything and looking at her master while she was sitting there prepared. "We'll do what we can and see if they have any more information. Going through the jungle should be fun."

 

[Cynna Jade Sunrider]

"Going through the jungle fun ay?"

Jade burst out into laughter but at the same time tried to remain serious.

"Well it could get tricky. Corbos is known for its not so hospitable wildlife. To be exact, there are these vicious monster creatures who reside in Corbos' jungle called leviathans. We need to avoid them if we can. Picking a fight with one is a no go. If they attack us, we better hope it's just one or a baby one. Otherwise I'm blowing it up, and although that will mean the immediate attention of the Imperials on us, it's better than the other not so good outcome of trying to fight one of those creatures. So yeah the jungle ain't exactly gonna be loads of fun if you get my drift padawan."

Jade then proceeded to give her padawan a cheesy and cocky grin.

"But don't worry, stay close to me at all times and I promise nothing bad will happen to either of us."

Jade thought that now would be a good time to rest. Given what would lay ahead.

"Padawan, I'm gonna rest up for a few hours, meditate too while I'm at it. You're free to do what you like in that time. Be back here in 10 hours time. We'll be an hour or so away from Corbos by then and can make final preparations for the mission then. Just make sure that you're also dressed and geared up for it by then too, as we won't have too much time."

Jade then stood up and made her way to her own quarters.

[member="Lorna Halcyon"]

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

[member="Cynna Jade Sunrider"]

She was listening to her master with a nod of her head as she understood it. There was danger there and the rumors, the legends of the creatures coming from the planet wasn't mistaken as she was looking over some of the things with her attention as she heard her master. A few hours to sleep and rest up as she bowed her head heading for to do just that. Straightening as she felt that nervous energy and anticipation as all of it before letting her hands rub together on her shoulders. She was relaxing and pushing the force energies she could feel onto herself while closing her eyes expecting that once she really was able to settle in it would be time to go.

 

[Cynna Jade Sunrider]

The hours passed quickly. It always did when she wanted to relax and free her mind from all the thoughts running constantly through her head. Jade quickly washed herself up and changed her clothes. She put on long black leather pants with long boots to go with it. On her upper body she put on a tight long sleeved leather jacket, also black. She, along with her padawan would be walking through the rough ragged terrain of Corbos' jungle, so one would wonder why the tight, full covered thick clothing. To put it simple, this wasn't going to be a pleasure tour through the jungle. It was undoubtedly going to get rough. So the more protection she had over her delicate body, the better, despite the obvious discomforts such clothing would bring in the given environment. She finally put on her utility belt, packed with a number of gizmos and weapons, and then finally clipped her lightsabre to it and her blaster on a small open holster attached on the lower part of her right leg. She then grabbed a pair of thick goggles. She had almost forgotten them. Those she would need as she walked through the jungle as insects and creatures would most certainly be everywhere. She clipped them on her head on hair just above her forehead and then took a spare pair for her padawan and left her quarters to go find her.

"Lorna we will be arriving shortly. The plan is to land in a remote thick area of the jungle. We will fly initially to an area more than 10,000 kms from the Imperial base. Then we will fly very low over the jungle tree tops to avoid being defected by the enemy. We'll eventually land after we find a clearing at approximately 500 kms from the base and make our way to it by foot. It will be over a day's journey through the jungle, and we'll also have to trek at night if conditions allow us to."

Jade then handed over her spare pair of goggles to her.

"You'll need these for when we walk through the jungle. We'll be exiting hyperspace in about 5 minutes. You got any questions you need to ask while chaos hasn't invited it's way over to us yet Lorna?"

Jade giggled a little as she tried to soften the mood a little. Things would be getting tough soon and she had to make sure her padawan would be as relaxed as possible, although that was probably going to be difficult once they got to Corbos as Jade herself was wondering just how much she herself would remain calm once the unexpected would preset itself, which on very much any given mission was always a certainty.

[member="Lorna Halcyon"]

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

[member="Cynna Jade Sunrider"]

Lorna understood and she was ready for it, a good trek through the dangerous jungle would be just the ting to really get the creative juices flowing as she checked her leggings and kama. Focus on her bracers while she was going over more of the things in her head with ribbons to keep her hair out of her face and her cloak. It was old and green but rather nice and protective before she was moving with most of her attention on the smaller sections of equipment. her belt and necklace for a shield, the shielding amulet and her lightsaber. A grapple gun was also always useful to have around when you were looking over things. "I am ready master, if we have to encounter some of the monsters I will not fail you but I'd prefer we don't if only because soul stealing monsters can be annoying."

 

[Cynna Jade Sunrider]

Jade quickly examined her padawan's attire and equipment and nodded in approval.

"Good you're all set and I love you're attitude already. We'll make an awesome team you and I."

Jade patted Lorna on the shoulder as she then made her way to the ship's cockpit and sat in the pilot's seat. Lorna would follow as the ship came out of hyperspace. Corbos shined dead ahead.

"Okay, the base is on the other side of the planet, I'm initiating entry into the planet's atmosphere from here."

Jade did just that and then headed straight for the forest below. Once close to the tree tops she began to fly just above them.

"Make yourself at home, this will take a couple of hours as we're flying low and slow."

Indeed it did take a couple of hours. Once they were around 500 kms from the base, Jade found a small clearing. It was a tight squeeze, however perfect to conceal the ship from any unexpected ships that just happened to be flying in the nearby vicinity. Once Jade landed, she got out along with her padawan and locked up the ship using a special code.

"Now only you and I can get in, but hopefully no one comes past and sees the ship. It's highly unlikely but you never know."

Sweat began dripping from Jade's forehead. It was in the middle of the day and the sun was at its strongest.

"We best get moving and make up as much ground as we can before it gets dark. Not sure yet if trekking at night will be possible or not. Let's go."

Jade motioned for Lorna to follow and headed off into the thick jungle and into the direction of the base.

[member="Lorna Halcyon"]

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

[member="Cynna Jade Sunrider"]

Lorna looked at her master and gave a nod as she was stepping out of the ship and into the jungle. Feeling the heat while she felt a little better, once there was a chance of it being cooler when her master spoke. "Understood." She was ready and hoping no one came near the ship. She was getting to have some fun now though as she moved the hood of her cloak back and opened it so she could at least not overheat letting herself breathe before heading there. "It should be fine, if the creatures on this world are as dangerous, the walking around the jungle might not be liked or wanted. We should have some time assuming they hadn't been tracking us."

 

[Cynna Jade Sunrider]

Several hours had passed and the two Jedi had trekked through the jungle very much trouble free. The thick forest trees had been blocking out the severe rays from the sun allowing the two to move quicker. However it was still humid so both Jedi had undoubtedly built up a sweat. They had at least a couple more hours before darkness would settle in. Jade had decided that soon they should try and find a safe place to camp the night. The terrain was just too rough to travel at night, and the wildlife predators of the night, more ruthless than the daytime creatures. Another hour would pass and the sun was beginning to set down fast. Then suddenly a sound could be heard. It was getting louder and louder. Jade stretched out with her Force senses to reveal a beast heading in their direction.

"Stick behind me padawan, something dangerous is heading towards us."

Then before Lorna could even respond, Jade had already unholstered her lightsabre and ignited it and stood in a defence position. Out of the thick woods a creature would suddenly emerge. A monster. It was what Jade had feared and had been hoping to avoid. Although on the bright side it was only one and a baby one. However, although the deadly leviathan that starred at the two Jedi was only a baby one, it was still a creature of ferocity and without a doubt, very deadly. This particular leviathan had just happened to wonder off from the main group and was hungry. It looked at both Jedi with the intend on making them both its meal. Jade of course had other ideas.

Jade without hesitation would then Force leap into the air to take a strike at the creature. Yet for a baby this leviathan was quick. It extended an arm and claw out to Jade. Jade had to evade it and sort of did but got hit by the creature's arm. It sent her hurling into a nearby tree. Jade was able to cushion her impact, but it would immobilise her for at least 30 seconds. The leviathan would then growl in anger but wouldn't charge at the momentarily downed Jade. Instead it starred at Lorna, growled even louder and finally began to charge straight at the young Jedi padawan.

[member="Lorna Halcyon"]

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

[member="Cynna Jade Sunrider"]

Lorna could feel her sweat all over in everything as she walked in he jungle wanting to complain if only because it seemed the thing to do on general principle over actually having a reason. Then she heard something as her master was looking at it and she moved behind her. Prepared for a fight as a baby of the creatures was there and it was still nasty and dangerous but her master was moving to engage it as Lorna focused and she might not have any stored up force energy but she did have a lightsaber and there were trees while she moved. The snap hiss coming while she slashed in and up the side of the tree to position and aim it before shouting. "Master incoming." She waited a few more heartbeats for her to hear it and see or feel it before jumping up and kicking at the tree to start it falling down to give the beast pure blunt force trauma.

 

[Cynna Jade Sunrider]

As Jade regained feeling and movement she could see the creature charge for her padawan.

"Run while you can, save yourself first!"

Jade would shout at her. However Lorna wasn't simply going to abandon her master. Instead she used what ahe had learnt in training and improvised. As Jade got back to her feet, she could see a huge tree tumbling down and her padawan yell out a warning of incoming. Jade was however well clear of the falling tree, and very much witnessed first hand the tree crush the baby leviathan. The danger was over. At least for the time being. Jade quickly rushed over to her padawan.

"Score one for Lorna. That was quick and good thinking of you. Thank you."

Jade put her hand on her padawan's shoulder as she spoke, half out of breath. If anyone had taken a beating just then, it was Jade. Yet Jade being the master was more concerned about her padawan's well being than her own. Clearly Lorna could see that Jade was a little sore after her impact. Yet Jade didn't appear bothered.

"I'm glad you got out unscathed Lorna. Let's hurry now and move. It's almost dark. That was a baby leviathan. That means there are likely to be more around. We should find a cave and camp in it for the night. We'll continue trekking tomorrow at dawn when it's safer."

With that the two hurried along. More noises could be heard in the nearby distance. Undoubtedly more leviathans. Jade then spotted what she thought could be a cave.

"Hurry Lorna, this way."

Jade pointed to her padawan. But it was too late. A huge raw could be heard in front of them. This time there were three of the creatures. Two smaller ones and a bigger one.

"Oh oh! This cannot be good. Looks like we have the mother and the rest of the family here to say hi now. Just frakken great! Run for the cave Lorna, I'll try and hold them off or divert them away from you. Go now! That's an order."

Jade stood there ready, lightsabre in one hand, and with the other primed one of her thermal grenades on her utility belt as she readied herself for battle.

[member="Lorna Halcyon"]

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

[member="Cynna Jade Sunrider"]

She could hear her master while she was looking at the creature when the tree fell on it with a od of her attention. The ground a slightly darker shade under the tree and creature while she head some praise for quick thinking and could almost blush. She hadn't really gotten such a praise but was glad for it. Positive reinforcement could help and it wasn't like her master was saying her force push was like that of a master or something to really build her up and arrogant. Dropping a tree really had only two levels to it... Hitting the thing or missing. "Thank you master." She was enjoying it and going after her quickly while she looked at more of the things with her hands at the ready for anything until she heard her master and was looking before she saw the mother and babies with a look. She didn't know if she could leave her master behind but she also didn't see the tree trick working on them more then once. The cave was a good way to try and narrow them into a line so they could handle them one on one. "Understood." Looking at her master while she took off running and going itno the cave with most of her attention on her master.

 

[Cynna Jade Sunrider]

As Lorna made a run for it, one of the baby leviathans decided to give her chase. Jade was confident that Lorna would reach the cave before the leviathan could get to her. This left the mother and other baby left for Jade to deal with. Somewhat it was a minor improvement for her not so good odds. Jade again using the Force flipped through the air. However this time the creature wouldn't whack her. Simply due to the minor distraction of the sole baby who had decided to give chase to Lorna. Jade pointed her lightsabre downwards as she landed on the mother leviathan's back and then struck it on the back of the neck. Her lightsabre went straight into the creatures neck and through into its body. It roared and as it did, Jade turned off her lightsabre so she could pull it out. She fell off the creature as it would then be silenced and drop dead on the ground. As she fell the other baby leviathan took a slash at Jade. It's claw hit jades hip. Jade would completely fall back first to the ground. Unable to get back up, she pushed herself backwards while sitting on her backside. The baby creature roared at her in anger as it looked at its dead mother beside Jade. As its mouth open, Jade would throw a grenade into the creatures mouth. It went deep down its throat as the creature went in to finish off Jade. The bomb however did explode, blowing out the creature's guts in all directions.

Jade was relieved for a moment. But only a short moment. The baby leviathan that had chased Lorna was now coming back for Jade. Jade had been injured. She couldn't get up. She pulled out her comm unit to call her padawan for help.

"Lorna please come in. If you can hear me, I've killed two of the leviathans but have been hurt in the process. The one that had chased you down is coming back for me. I need you to come back and destroy it before it gets to me."

Jade hoped Lorna had gotten the message. All she could hear was static. She readied her lightsabre. She could probably hold the creature back for a minute at the most. If her padawan did not return, Jade knew she would be in serious trouble.

[member="Lorna Halcyon"]

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

[member="Cynna Jade Sunrider"]

[there was no notification]

Lorna was in the cave and reaching out as she moved, going inside she thought it was safe and worried about her master when she slipped on something slimy sliding down a section of the cave. "Ow, I think I broke my butt." Maybe not really but it was hurting and she wanted to snivel a little at the feeling while her attention went to some of the larger things there... mostly the smell as she fumbled to grab the glow rod from her belt cracking it and looking at everything there. Then she heard her master and needed to get back looking up the incline that was covered in reddish pink and purple jelly as well as squiggling creatures. She could see the newly hatched leviathans in a cluth while one was crawling on her arm and she could be brave in the face of a darksider but once it went down her shirt she was leaping ten feet in the air and trying to run on air to get away from the babies. "Out of the jungle and nto the nest." She was retching while running to try and get up the incline and back to her master t help the woman. The Halcyons and the Sunriders were old school jedi gamilies they needed to protect and stick together.

 

[Cynna Jade Sunrider]

As the last of the three Leviathans that had attacked Jade began baring down on her, it was evidently obvious that her padawan wasn't coming. Jade guessed that she may have ran into trouble of her own. Now Jade had to it alone. In-fact she couldn't allow herself to be defeated, not now when she knew her padawan was also in trouble. The baby Leviathan roared angrily at Jade who sat upright on the ground. She pushed herself backwards while sitting on her arse, blood was pouring from her mouth. Jade would then turn off her lightsabre. She had a hunch. If the creature saw her turn it off, that it would lunge straight at her. As predicted by Jade it did. The sheer weight of the creature would have alone crushed Jade. However at the last moment she turned her lightsabre back on which caused the baby Leviathan to land on it. It went straight through its torso and heart in the process, as Jade then let go of the lightsabre and rolled her body around to avoid getting crushed by the falling carcass. Yet although Jade had defeated all three Leviathans, it was far from over. Lorna! She would say to herself. Although it hurt like hell, Jade got herself up, retrieved her lightdsabre from the carcass of the dead Leviathan and assisted by the Force, ran at speed towards were Lorna was.

Jade could see Lorna jumping and hoping in the air, trying to avoid newly hatched Leviathans. At least these couldn't be as dangerous as what she just faced. Well as long as there were no more big ones coming. Jade Force leaped in the air and landed where Lorna was. She sliced a couple of newly hatched Leviathans that happened to be near them, and using the Force, pushed the rest away several metres into the forest trees. Jade looked at Lorna and felt for the little creature that had gone into her clothing. She placed her hand on the area and crushed it and then allowed it to fall out from under Lorna's top.

"It is time to move and move fast."

Jade yelped at her padawan and breathing heavily, as blood continued to rush from her mouth. She grabbed her hand and hurried for them both to get to the cave which lay not to far ahead. This time they would make it there without further incident. Once there, Jade fell down on her arse again with her back upright to the wall. She was clearly injured as both her legs now hurt and so did her lower part of her torso. Her mouth continued to spurt out blood as she huffed and puffed and breathed heavily.

"That was way too close Lorna. I think I would rather fight Imperial stormtroopers instead."

Jade would comment sarcastically knowing too well that once they were through the jungle and at the Imperial base that that would be next.

"Lorna attached to my utility belt is a small pouch that contains a small med kit. You will need to patch up my mouth area and stop the bleeding. Then we are going to have to rest here the night. Once you are done with me, see if you can gather some wood. There should be some near the entrance so don't venture beyond that where the Leviathans could be lurking. Bring some back here so we can light a fire to keep us warm for the night."

[member="Lorna Halcyon"]

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

[member="Cynna Jade Sunrider"]

Lorna managed to get there and near her master as she was running with her. Seeing the blood and creatures while she was still trying to make sure none of the larva were on her... tthey didn't hurt but it was like little eels on her skin getting everywhere and she knew they generally likes warm places.... Didn't want the mental scarring from that as most of her attention went to following her masters orders and looking on her belt for the equipment so they could make a fire and keep warm. She was getting her stuff as well while focusing to try and keep them in the clear. Hopefully if anything followed it would get nice and distracted by that imperial base over them. "That was not what I expected master.... there were so many of them and they got everywhere." She was wiping at the slime on her arms and legs.

 

[Cynna Jade Sunrider]

"Well my young padawan, this is how it is in a real life mission. It never turns out as planned and the unexpected always happens. Today has been a valuable lesson for you. You have learnt a lot more today than you ever had with all your training. You did well. We did well as a team despite us getting hurt. The average person would have been dead after the first leviathan attack."

Jade smiled as she had finished closing the cut on her face and then painfully got up. Then with the help of Lorna lit up a small fire. She then pulled out some small rations and gave some to her padawan and ate the rest herself.

"Eat up, it's not much, but enough to keep your energy levels up. Plus with sleep we should be ready to continue the trek in the morning."

Not long after that Jade would lie down on the soft dirt on the ground and would soon be out. She was sore and had been heavily bruised. Yet she knew that she not only had a task to complete, but also protect her padawan. She had experienced all this before. In the morning she would wake up a little sore, her padawan most likely as well, and then they would continue on.

[member="Lorna Halcyon"]

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

[member="Cynna Jade Sunrider"]

She she looking at her master in understanding while the feeling of her blood pumping was there in her body and she was amped up wantign to do something but... she also knew that it would subsid quickly enough and she'd crash. Not fully out of it but what pain there was she'd be feeling in her limbs and what danger there was from infection or the slime she would have to deal with while nodding to her master. "Understod master." She was eating and changing a little feeling the slime as she grabbed the canteen from the rangers that was useful for producing its own water as she turned it on wiping at the slime and fluids on her body. "I think fighting would be one thing but falling in a cluster of the babies and feeling them all over.... " she made a face squirming in her place.