Public Spark of Resistance | Dire Hour 2

[FN-999]

Objective: Finish the Job
Complement: 5 4x Death troopers | 1/2 of a 908th Legion
Allies: Empire: Karkosuchus | Open
Enemies: GA: Iris Arani | Jasper Kai'el | Nyla Ven | Zak Dymo
Interacting With: Karkosuchus | Iris Arani | Open

Predictably enough, the Jedi chose to save herself using the Force.
​

FN-999 grimaced as his fist was pulled above the Jedi's head, leaving his torso exposed for a strike. Fortunately for the Baron, something else caught the Jedi's attention, causing her to withdraw.

A shockwave was coursing across the ground towards the pair, centered on the huge reptile that had just landed on the ground a short distance away. The wave was thin enough that it would likely not throw the Baron seriously off balance even if it hit him head-on, but he was taking no chances now that he was unarmored.

FN-999 reached down to grab a discarded square crate cover about four meters in area and held it in front of him as if it were a shield, protecting his legs from the vibrations the shockwave might otherwise cause. The wave passed rapidly, exerting a slight pressure on the lid but otherwise passing harmlessly by. As soon as the shockwave passed, the Baron tossed the lid aside and strode forwards, seeking to close the newfound distance between himself and the Jedi.

He almost chuckled aloud as the woman resorted to throwing chunks of debris at him. FN-999 didn't even bother to block most of the debris, only swatting away the bits that came close to pounding his eyes or nose. The rest bounced harmlessly off his uniform and the battle-tested body beneath.

"Join your friends in retreat now if you want to keep living." ordered the Baron to the Jedi before him. "You are agitating your injuries, and the reptile behind us is no friend of yours."

"Keep on resisting, and the gator and I will make a sport of your execution."

The Baron kept on moving closer to the Jedi, intending to force her hand.

When he was about five meters away, he noticed the glint of the thermal detonators above.

The following explosion vaporized his uniform in an instant.

One second, the Baron stood on the cusp of victory, about to pin down his most dogged foe.

The next, his body was filled with nothing but the sheer agony of his flesh burning away.

With a sickening squelch, bits of debris thrown earlier fused to his burning skin, melting into it and forming hideous spikes protruding from his flesh. He fell to his knees and then collapsed entirely under the weight of a localized shockwave five times as powerful as the one that had come from the descending reptile. For what seemed like an hour, the only sound he could hear was his own screaming, crying out in pain and agony as the heat of the blast rippled through him from all directions. If one of the thermal detonators had landed just a meter closer to him, he would surely be dead.

Just like Tess.

No.

Despite having received enough punishment to kill an entire squad of ordinary troopers, he remained alive. He remained breathing, his lungs safely insulated from the third-degree burns coating nearly his entire body. None of the pieces of steel debris embedded in his body had struck a major organ, and his vitals remained remarkably intact. Protected by the wall of his skull, his brain went into overdrive, his most instinctive reflexes springing to life. Fight-or-flight? Fight. Where to move? Forwards. When to go? Now.

The man who emerged from the blast of the thermal detonators was not the same colonel who had entered the hangar.

The Beast of Borosk had only one objective.

Kill every rebel in the room.

His flesh burnt ash gray all over, bits of exposed red muscle tissue providing the only natural contrast in color. Aside from a thin strip of cloth covering his groin, the Beast's possessions had been completely incinerated or melted into his body. Chunks of steel stuck out of the flesh of his torso and legs, digging into his flesh with each strained breath he took.

The Beast was a gruesome sight to behold.

With a loud, deep growl, the Beast of Borosk strode forwards, fists clenching as he aimed to utterly pulverize the Jedi in front of him.

He could no longer feel pain, and he was absolutely pissed about it.

 

[Karkosuchus]

Spoiler: Equipment

Thermal Detonators​	Grenades​	Repulsor Throwing Razor​	Caltrop​	Fire Blade​	Energy Bola​
Field Security Overloader​	Dissuader KD-30​	.48 Caliber Enforcer Pistol​	R-20 Scatterblaster​	Arkanian Energy Shield​	DC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System​
Stouker concussion rifle​	Iron Shell Armor​	Gatling Gauntlet​	Radiation Cannon​	Brass Knuckles​	The Swamp Vanquisher​
S-30 "Retention" Anti-Disruption System​	​	​	​	​

Through the smoke and debris of the shockwave came the Anointed Bounty Hunter Karkosuchus. His gaze locked onto the nearest squadron of Death Troopers who would stand with him against the Dorin Resistance and the Jedi Rabble before him. There was no hesitation within his eyes as they locked onto FN-999 would be his assistant in this dance to the grave. Moving his hand behind himself to grab the Swamp Vanquisher which was still plugged deeply into the ground. A single tug lodged it free as the large reptile moved to tramble Iris Arani underneath his clawed foot even as rubble flew towards the Stormtrooper Commander. A large projectile from Jasper Kai'el slammed into his back causing him to fall to a knee for a moment before turning his head towards the blonde jedi with a vegenceful look within his eye.

Swinging his tail around in a hard motion brought the large reptile back to his feet and facing the Dorin Resistance and Jedi. Moving into a charge motion to flatten them all as wind soured behind him due to his large surface area creating drag. Raising the Swamp Vanquisher high in an overhead attack. But this would never come as the thermals thrown by the rebels as a last ditch effort to defeat the Imperial Legion exploded around him and caused his momentum to cease. But this would not be the end of Karkosuchus, Devourer of Flesh and Consumer of Bones. As his silhouette rose from the smoke screen, and his form was revealed. His face had become scarred, exposing his jagged teeth and his armor became black in coloration.

ROAR

A mighty bellow was heard from deep within him, as Karkosuchus charged at them in a blind fury without care nor consideration.

Zak Dymo

 

[Veino Garn]

DORIN CENTRAL SPACEPORT
DOR'SHAN, DORIN
SPACEPORT SUBLEVEL 1
Corbin Vasher Pyeth Raffinki
Hall Mannarra FN-999 Jasper Kai'el Iris Arani Karkosuchus Keylee Linth Zak Dymo Nyla Ven Saram Kote CS-4444

Spoiler: Complement

Armor; Poncho; Handcannon; Lightsaber; Durasteel Ball Bearings; EF-300 Carbine with explosive, standard, and armor-piercing slugs; Red Spray Paint; Electrobinoculars
TEAM: Four Kel'Dor rebels equipped with ballistic vest, Model 38s, 1 EF-200 Sniper Rifle, 1 M32 Grenade Launcher with thermal detonator, ion, and cryoban grenades; 1 with RPS-6 Rocket Launcher

"I think we're clear for now," Veino said, striding into room that served as a junction between several of the main drainage pipes servicing the spaceport and immediate blocks. Fetid drainage and freshwater splashed around his ankles as he entered the small rendezvous. "Everyone reloaded?"

There was a series of nods from the Kel'dor as they finished reloading their magazines.

"Phase two," one of the Kel'dor said, holding up an arm-sized monkey-wrench. Veino nodded. "We've charted out the pipes we're looking for."

"Just tell me what to do," Veino said. "This is your territory." They nodded and there was a brief consultation.

"We need to seal off these three pipes," the Kel'dor pointed out. "The junctions are down these corridors. You and your companion will need to take one of them."

Veino nodded, committing the words to memory. "We can do that."

"We'll seal the rest and unseal the one directly under the spaceport exterior," the Kel'dor continued, adjusting some welding goggles over his eyes. "That should redirect the water and swamp their backline enough to bog down any armored reinforcements now that we've drawn them away."

 

[Iris Arani]

Jasper Kai'el | Zak Dymo | Nyla Ven | FN-999 | Karkosuchus

It was tempting. To flee now. Usually she would've. They needed to, for sure. This wasn't a fight they were going to win. She could see the colors around her disappearing one by one as the Death Troopers filed through. It's why she told Zak to head back. To find Jasper, get to the ship. She'd join them eventually, when she was sure they weren't going to be followed. Getting off world was going to be hell on it's own without Death Troopers trying to shoot them down from below.

She raised a hand again, lifting another chunk of debris to throw. They weren't light throws. He withstood them.

There was no way he was human. She'd already assumed that before, but now? Absolutely not human.

The Lizard moved, trying to trample her. She slipped away, brought her saber over to just cut him in passing. He wasn't the threat she was focused on. Or wanted to be. It pulled her gaze from the trooper though. When she looked back? Grenades. Heat consumed him. For a moment, she thought he was dead. Except he wasn't. Not in the slightest. The colors around him twisted with pain and rage. It filled her with horror. Not because he survived. Not because it meant he was some kind of monster.

Because he had to live through that kind of pain. She'd felt it herself. The time it took to recover, the pain that still lingered in her scars. She moved on instinct. He was a foe, a servant of the Empire, but it didn't matter. As he fell she pulled on the Force. Her pink saber extinguished as she popped open it's casing, took out the gem within. Focused with it to lessen the pain. Put out the fires. Try to heal him. He survived. It was a hell no one wanted to survive, and he did. He was still alive. He was still burning.

She couldn't ignore it.

Then he stood. Moved. Right. He wasn't human.

"You can't keep moving! Just- You need a medic! You need to stop!"

 

[FN-999]

Objective: Finish the Job
Complement: 4x Death troopers | 1/2 of a 908th Legion
Allies: Empire: Karkosuchus | Open
Enemies: GA: Iris Arani | Jasper Kai'el | Nyla Ven | Zak Dymo
Interacting With: Karkosuchus | Iris Arani | Open

When the smoke cleared, the Beast of Borosk came upon an astonishing sight.
​

The Jedi, while a safe distance away from the blast that had so nearly killed him, had stopped in her tracks. Deactivated her lightsaber. Removed her blade's crystal. Put her hands atop it and directed its energy directly at him. He instinctively crouched down and swung his arms in front of his face, bracing for the worst.

However, instead of a curse, he received a blessing.

Suddenly, the skin on his arms began to unburn, increasingly pleasant sensation returning to his body. Some of the melted metal began to thaw and popped off his flesh, large bruises indicating where the steel had once been embedded. At the realization, FN-999 began to return to his senses, lowering his arms to see that the Jedi had still not moved, continuing to heal him. Despite being bitterly opposed to each other, despite moving to crush the very rebellion that she was supporting, she was helping him out. Any sensible person would have seen the ruined Baron, known that he was approaching his absolute limit, and simply kept him at a distance long enough for the muscles in his arms and legs to collapse.

Clearly, the Jedi was insane.

"You can't keep moving! Just- You need a medic! You need to stop!"

"I don't need your pity, Jedi." rasped the Baron, coughing up blood and ash.

Yet her words had their intended effect. He found himself coming to a stop a few meters away from the woman, a wave of fatigue rapidly taking hold of him. At the same time, he felt a strange sense of sympathy, possibly even fondness for the Jedi. As misguided as she and her ilk were, a long-neglected part of FN-999 that still believed in virtuous heroes sprung to life anew. His will to keep fighting was diminishing, especially with the knowledge that this Jedi would not be the one to take his life.

"I will not fight you anymore unless you abandon your plans to evacuate the hangar. The death troopers will shadow the rebels to ensure they leave, but they will not fire unless provoked."

"Both of our missions are nearly complete. The only task left for both of us is to see it through."

He fell to his knees, his consciousness rapidly fading.

"Let me warn you this, girl. Not every foe you meet will be so understanding. One day, you may face someone whose sole purpose for living is the destruction of you and everyone you care about."

"When that time comes, you will need to learn to pull the trigger."

Perhaps from his injuries or perhaps from the effects of the crystal, FN-999 collapsed to the ground, falling into a deep sleep.

END OF NARRIATIVE: FN-999​

 

[Corbin Vasher]

TAGS: Veino Garn Jasper Kai'el Iris Arani Nyla Ven Zak Dymo Hall Mannarra FN-999 Karkosuchus

Spoiler: Equipment

ARMOR: Gar'Katya
WEAPONS: Ravenfire - Burbr'sacitr - Burbr'sacitayr - Nuhaatyc'bedtr​

All they had to do was close off some valves and open another. That was easy enough. Corbin headed with Veino Garn to the section of the tunnel they would be taking care of. He had schematics of the tunnels loaded into his armor's computer, which was overlaid on his HUD. It showed him right where to go. The main branched off into two smaller tunnels, one on either side, barely big enough for one person to fit through. "All right, guess I'll take the left." He headed down that vein while the Jensaarai leader took the other. This vein had drainpipes coming from various drains on the surface that helped prevent flooding. He took to the task of turning valves and closing off each one.

---

After the drainpipes were all sealed, Corbin and Garn made it back to their makeshift base. They only had to wait a few minutes before the Kel'Dors were finished with theirs as well. The Kel'Dor leader spoke up. "No troubles? Excellent. That will take care of the surrounding areas. Now we just need to take care of the drain to the spaceport. Considering its importance, it has a much bigger drain. We will not close this one off like the others. Instead, we will reverse the pump on the water filter to push the water back through the drain and flood it faster." He explained as he guided the group to where the drain from the port was. There was a large water pump connected to this one. Corbin wasn't entirely sure, but he suspected this one had a dedicated filter to help remove any waste or foreign contaminants that might come from the ships. Wouldn't want those in the water supply, especially for a species with a unique biology like the Kel'Dor. The Kel'Dor guide motioned to a branching outlet pipe. "We usually back the water out this side pipe to clean out anything clogging the filter so we can dispose of the waste. Instead, we are going to ignore that outlet and send the water back up the drain. Normally, the pump works automatically, but we will need to shut it off completely before we can reverse the flow. Mister Corbin, if you'll handle that, the box is over there. Everything is universal, so a standard tool kit should suffice."

"On it." Corbin pulled his tool kit out of his belt and had the fuse box open in no time and threw the switch to power down the pump.

The Kel'Dor had the other four Kel'Dors close off two valves on either side of the pump. "Stand by there, we'll need to reopen them in a moment or so. Master Garn, Mister Corbin, if you two will get on this lever right here. This will reverse the pump. First, though," He opened a pressure release valve and a small stream of water came out. He tested to make sure the valve on the waste outlet was closed and the cap on the end was secure. "Ok, we're good."
Corbin and Garn pulled on the lever. With their combined strength, the large lever gave easily. The Kel'Dor closed the pressure release while the others reopened their valves. At a nod from the first Kel'Dor, Corbin switched the pump back on. The pumped roared to life, pushing the water up the drain. "That should take care of tha..." There was a sudden large shockwave. "What on Dorin was that?"

Corbin felt out with the Force. "It came from towards where the Jedi are. Feels a little unsettling, but they're Jedi." He turned to Veino Garn. "Master, think they'll be ok, or should we go help?"​

​

​

 

[Veino Garn]

DORIN CENTRAL SPACEPORT
DOR'SHAN, DORIN
SPACEPORT SUBLEVEL 1
Corbin Vasher Pyeth Raffinki
Hall Mannarra FN-999 Jasper Kai'el Iris Arani Karkosuchus Keylee Linth Zak Dymo Nyla Ven Saram Kote CS-4444

Spoiler: Complement

Armor; Poncho; Handcannon; Lightsaber; Durasteel Ball Bearings; EF-300 Carbine with explosive, standard, and armor-piercing slugs; Red Spray Paint; Electrobinoculars
TEAM: Four Kel'Dor rebels equipped with ballistic vest, Model 38s, 1 EF-200 Sniper Rifle, 1 M32 Grenade Launcher with thermal detonator, ion, and cryoban grenades; 1 with RPS-6 Rocket Launcher

Veino nodded, memorizing the plan from the Kel'dor as they explained it. It was clever. Not one he would have came up with, but they were local and worked on the city infrastructure. That gave them a unique insight that nobody else could match.

He paused briefly, assessing the series of valves along the wall, ensuring he understood their arrangement and the process. He went from one to the other, pushing his weight against each valve. It took a few minutes to finish them, but he returned to the center area.

Veino followed along behind Corbin and the others as they began reversing the pump. It was a complicated process, but he did as he was bid, eventually wiping off the grime and rust from the valves onto his sleeves.

The shockwave rippled through the ground above them and Veino glanced up. Last time he had spent much time under a city, he had thrown down against a Sith lord in the middle of some ritual. He didn't expect there would be imperial ritualists. He could be wrong, though. It wouldn't be the first time.

Veino considered, looking to the guerilla leaders. "It's your call."

They checked their chronos and conferred briefly before speaking.

"It won't be much longer now," Ari Kael explained, tapping the pipe carefully. "With the water redirect, we'll have the spaceport swamped in maybe twenty minutes. Less if the rain comes down harder, but we can't affect that."

Veino considered the options. "We'll check it out. Best to go ahead and disperse then." He nodded towards Corbin. "Better get your respirator ready. We may be doing some swimming on the way."

That done, he turned to his comrades and gave a smile beneath his mask. They wouldn't be able to see it, but he couldn't remove his helmet without ending up suffocating.

"May the Force be with you," Veino said at last. "Keep the fires burning. Never let them pin you down."

There was a poignant silence before the others nodded and melted away into the shadows of the tunnels to rejoin their respective Underground cells.