Rough Skies

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]


Where was Judah? Currently staring over the edge of a cliff. Somewhere on his flawed mental map of what he had flown over earlier there had been a wrong turn during his trek. Judah certainly didn't remember seeing a cliff while flying over on his initial landing. Or maybe he had. The days had begun to blur together, the infection setting in his shoulder. Part of him was highly concerned, wondering how quickly it spread and kill him. Judah remembered warnings about septic shock during survival training with the Republic. Going out slow and painful wasn't on his list of ways to die.


Peering over the edge, a flickering thought wandered across his mind, suggesting it might be easier to jump and get it over with. Jumping into the waterfall would no doubt kill him, either due to drowning or being thrown against the rocks. It was the cowards way out. His Pa didn't raise him to quit when the path was hard. It wasn't a lesson Judah wanted to pass on to his son either. Not that they would ever find his body...there was still some lingering principal of the thing. A shred of morals that held him from taking the plunge, the desire of wanting to be a better man for his boy.


Gently backing away from the cliff, it was clear he was going to have to find some other way down. Turning from the cliff and waterfall, he began to double back from where he just came.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

Patrols would scan in concentric circles from the origin point of the ranch. The trouble with the search party is that there was so much verdant undergrowth. Token resources from the planet in the form of metal and ore deposits also made it difficult to scan for any sign of a downed craft. All the while, Danger was fretful. Restless. She spent the majority of the time staring out into the viewport of her ship while the drones and the aircraft would continue on with the search.

"Any news?" Danger asked Aeri, panning her head over towards the woman in the hopes of an answer.

"We are heading towards the mountain ridges north of the ranch." Aeri would explain, motioning to a holographic map representation of what had been combed through already.

"We've sent out Hegemonic search and rescue droids to aid in the progress."

Lips drew thin, but Danger gave a nod none the less. She could only imagine what Makai could be going through right now. What Judah may be if he indeed managed to ...

No, there was no sense in thinking negatively, Danger told herself. With a shake of her head, she took a deep breath. "Alright."

Off about five klicks from Judah's position, Hegemonic Search an rescue droids would break into a grid pattern.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]


Five clicks in thick jungle made it difficult for Judah to hear any non-nature related noises. He was still trekking along tiredly back up the path he thought was correct, away from the waterfall and sharp edge. Hand went to his forehead, blazing hot and it wasn't due to the humid temperature of the jungles. Good hand pulled up his shirt, looking at the poorly bandaged shoulder. It was getting an angry red, almost as if it was spreading towards the centerline of his chest. Running his hand over some of the once-pale skin, it was equally hot.


Great.


Pushing through, he looked at the path, trying to locate a familiar site. The jungle was starting to blend together. Sticking to the river had been wise but he didn't know it had branched off, wandered in many different paths. Thick clouds were beginning to gather overhead, rumbling in the short distance. The wind was picking up, bending the trees at its will.It was one of his only ways to know the time, afternoon thunderstorms.


Moving off his path, he went into the depths of the jungle to try to fashion together a little shelter with broad leaves and some sticks. There was no sense moving when a storm came running though.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Judah Dashiell"] would first hear the slight hum of a repulseor lift engines off in the distance. As if barely on the edge of his hearing. The gathering storm could very well smother the sound of the Search and Rescue drones, but they were nearing his location. The bright red ocular sensors would search with heat and through life-sign scanners. Their hum would be a foreign noise within the depths of the jungle, distinctly different from the calls of birds and the flapping of bats.

Two drones would sweep in a pattern up the cliff as big, fat tear drops began to fall from the heavens. They hit the ground and the verdant broad leaves with a loud splatter, increasing in noise and appearance as rain finally broke from the thick gray skies. Judah Dashiell would have to be careful of any flash floods, but his most pertinent concern was the singular drone heading near his camp.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]



Rain water matted down his curls as he sat under the thick brush, listening to the roar of the rain. It wasn't torrential where he was sitting,thanks to the thick canopy. Elsewhere in small clearings the rain poured through, making rivulets on the ground, rushing towards the river he was walked form. Back against a tree, he tried to get comfortable, closing his eyes and listening to the storm as it passed through.


Beyond the rain and rumbles of thunder, his ears picked up on something else. It was almost a whirring, a mechanical like whirring. Vessel overhead? They would never spot him....yet....it didn't sound like a space faring vessel. It was much more high pitched, almost smaller.


Struggling to get up, Judah put the pack over his shoulder and listened. He took a few steps, trying to pin down the location. He had quickly learned things echo in the thick jungle, making it difficult to pin down locations. Taking a few steps and stopping, he slowly turned, looking for the cause of the whirring noise.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

While the rain and the cooling temperatures would lower the core body temperature of Judah Dashiell, his heat signature was impossible to not pick up within the internal sensor of the Search and Rescue drone. That whirring of their hover drives grew louder as one would swivel in place, turning towards the direction of the oblong humanoid heat signature.

The water pelted down from the sky, thick drops that saturated the ground and made it near impossible to see. A light flickered within that cerulean ocular disk. It wouldn’t be wrong to suggest that the appearance of a floating orb seemingly come out of the mist would be rather startling to anyone. Add into the fact that not five meters away, a flare of a green life sensor laser went sweeping from the top of that drenched mop of dark hair and down to his feet.

It processed the information, matching and comparing it to the details provided for the search.

[ Analysis: Scan complete. Subject Identified. ]

The second drone would appear just off to the left of Judah, another sweep of scans passing over his body.

[ Salutations: Greetings, Judah Dashiell. I am Xesh-Three Search and Rescue Drone sent by Arceneau Trade Company.

Reassurance: Extraction is underway. ]

The other drone completed its scan. It contained life saving medical technology in order to stabilize anyone found in the field that was harmed.

[ Statement: Infection is present. Recommend bacta injection to stabilize. ]

Orbiting above the planet, the details of Judah’s discovery would be transferred to Aeri’s datapad. A small beep alerted her to the update. Danger had heard it as well, and she felt her muscles tense. What news would it bring?

“ They found Mistah Dashiell. He is alive.”

The sense of relief that swept over Danger was visible. Her throat bobbed, and her shoulders fell. Eyes would tear up and a silent nod would follow. Her next order was simple.

“Bring him home.”

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Nice to meet you Xesh-Three."


The probes had startled him at first. It wasn't everyday one was lost in the jungle with probes sent to track down. They seemed interested in scanning him, both for identity confirmation and health reasons. Before he could protest the bacta injection, the second probe had already extended its arm and shoved a needle through the fabric of his shirt, injecting the fluid into his bicep.


"Thanks for the warning about the injection....What do we do now?"


[ Moving to the extraction point is highly advised. It will be difficult for the vessel to land in these conditions otherwise. ]


"You're the boss Xesh-Three. Lead the way."


So, he started to follow the probe droids back to where they were leading them. Putting one foot in front of the other was a difficult task, coupled with his infection and slippy terrain. [member="Danger Arceneau"] must have orchestrated the search event after he failed to show up to discuss business. Thunder rumbled overhead as he walked, hoping it wasn't some fever induced dream and that he was really going home. Little did he know what wait him back on Ceto.