Squashing Spidders

[Mrrew]

Mrrew stood staring into the cavernous opening in front of him, watching for any sign of light in what seemed like endless blackness. One of the many enterances to one of the many caves of Kessel. He was waiting for his hunting partner, [member="Corruck Kazen"], to arrive. He had made an order, then joined the Guild, then volenteered to capture his own order... Interesting, to say the least. He was looking forward to meeting this one. Hopefully he wasn't afraid of the dark. Or spiders. Or spiders in the dark. If he was, well... There was going to be some problems.

His gear consisted of all his normal equipment, Chiru rifle, bracers, as well as a specially made breath mask over his mouth and nose. The atmosphere was thin here- it was always best to have your own air if possible. And they would be needing a lot of air to run around hunting spiders... Overworking yourself in a low-oxygen enviroment usually resulted in bad things. Like death. He hoped his partner had the sense to bring a breath mask...

 

[Corruck Kazen]

Corruck finally reached the location of the tunnel. He had been walking for awhile, deciding not to take other sorts of transportation simply because he could use the exercise. He wore a breath mask with more than enough air to finish the hunt and return to his ship, or so he had calculated. He had spent the entire trip on the Recalcitrant in an airlock. He had ordered his crew to lower the air pressure enough that it would be noticeably less than standard, but was still not near to Kessel's. He had spent the time working out in the small airlock, letting his body adapt to the different conditions. He had slept, worked, eaten in that airlock for about two days, unless the crew decided to mess with his chronometer. Of course Corruck would expect them to have, being onboard the ship all the time was quiet boring, even with all the little gadgets to be played with.

When he arrived at Kessel he took a regular breath mask and had it set to regular oxygen levels. That would allow his somewhat adapted body to be a little stronger in this environment, but more importantly, he could lower the oxygen level if he needed to reserve air. Now he stood before a much larger creature, obviously not human or near-human, but by the creature's stance it was sentient. Remembering, Corruck laughed to himself, this was the leader of the Guild of course. Must have slipped his memory during the airlock shift. He thought to himself. The Recalcitrant was about five kilometers away, far enough that any attempt to find Corruck would be made difficult based simply on the ships location. Corruck didn't think anyone would try, but he was always careful. When the hunt was completed and they had the spiders, Corruck planned on signalling the ship to fly over and he would store the buggers onboard until he could get them to a planet where he would feed them properly.

"Good to make your acquaintance. I am Corruck Kazen. You must be the leader of the hunting guild...I'm sorry your name escapes me at the moment." He held out his right hand. His gear was not much overall, he had basic clothing and a blaster shotgun slung on his back. His left hand held a borrowed tranquilizer gun from the guild armory. The Chiru had been most interesting, and he had planned on asking his scientists to try and build similar weaponry, but not with physical ammo but energy. They of course had said that they would work on it, but there were already weapons like that. Corruck told them to get to it anyways, he preferred to see what could be made rather than what had been made.

[member="Mrrew"]

 

[Mrrew]

Mrrew, on the other hand, had not adapted himself to the change of air pressure. His head had been swimming since they got on the planet, and the combination of that and the difference in gravity was obvious in his step. It felt as if he had been knocked on the head by something big. However, he was adapting to it. Albeit slowly. Mrrew looked [member="Corruck Kazen"] up and down as he stepped out of the shuttle, taking note on his appearance. He carried a Chiru rifle from the Guild's armory. Good choice. He carried himself with confidence, strength. Prehaps he wasn't new to the profession, hunting. Or he was something else. The Togorian shrugged internally. It didn't matter, the important thing was he seemed at first glance to be competent. He probably wouldn't die due to his hunting partner making a mistake. Probably.

Mrrew nodded as Corruck spoke, and raised a hand large enough to dribble Corruck's head to shake. "Good to meet you. My name is Mrrew." His growled voice was muffled through the custom-made breath mask, but it was clear enough to make out. "Have you hunted before? Energy spiders?" If he'd never seen a spider roughly the size of a human, then his expression would be worth it to see once he did.

 

[Corruck Kazen]

Corruck shook the large hand, though internally he grimaced. Such a large creature, the calculations for possible death by an attack from the guy were practically all on Mrrew's side. When he looked in the guild master's eyes he could see that there was a critical eye there. He was being read, for weaknesses and strengths in regards to the hunt. While Corruck had never done much hunting, his forte was figuring future trends and setting odds based on them. But he hoped that this would become an enjoyable part time employment.

He replied to the questions, "No and no. I have read up on Energy spiders, but I have never seen one up close. I look forward to it." He had indeed read much on the spiders. Unfortunately, there were no scale images, only measurements. He had created a mental image, but did not fully understand the creature. He found himself wishing he had brought one of the ion weapons that his techs had made to sell.

[member="Mrrew"]

 

[Mrrew]

Funnily enough, Mrrew was also asking for his own purposes. He only read about Energy Spiders long ago, and his knowledge on them was rusty. He remembered their webbing that was made into glitterstim, and he remembred they were attracted to light. That's about it. He was hoping [member="Corruck Kazen"] would know more. "Right. Let's hope you're a good shot." Mrrew turned, staring back into the darkness of the cavern. After a mometn's of fumbling with the many pockets of his gunbelt, the Togorian pulled out a small light, and attached ti to the end of his Chiru rifle.

"Anything else before we set out?"

 

[Potato]

Potato jumped over a rock and yell I Can help!~~~

 

[Corruck Kazen]

Corruck followed the Togorian's example, attaching a light to the bottom of the Chiru. Fortunately, he did not have to fumble for the light, as he had only four pockets on his trousers, and he knew what each one held. One had contained the light, another had held a glow rod just in case. The third had exactly 1000 credits, a comlink, and a blaster, needless to say this was his largest pocket and the hidden one. The final pocket had a small shaving set that he had bought a few years ago, it contained an antiquated razor and a sharping towel. Then he checked the sight on he rifle. It seemed straight, but he wouldn't know until they had found one of the pests. His excitement was easily contained within his cool exterior. He knew that just like calculating future trends, one must keep a level head in order to complete the task. He felt a calm enter him, one that he hoped would survive to the end of this hunt, but he doubted it would. He expected to find that he was not prepared for the situations that would arise during this expedition.

"None." He began to walk forward, shining his light in front of him. His knees bent into a natural combat position, slowly he stepped forward. While it may have seemed foolish, Corruck had had to use such maneuvers when entering enemy buildings. It allowed him to fall to a crouch if needed, to give him better aim. He was about two meters into what would have been pitch darkness, when he turned his head slightly to show that he would follow Mrrew if Mrrew decided to take lead.

[member="Mrrew"]

 

[Mrrew]

Mrrew nodded, and walked slowly into the cave behind his hunting partner. His heavily padded paws made absaloutely no sound behind [member="Corruck Kazen"], only the quiet sounds of breathing coming from his breath masks giving him any sign that the Togorian was still behind him. It always paid to be quiet on a hunt. If prey heard you it would run. Or rip your throat out. One or the other. And since he didn't much feel like chasing scittering spiders through caverns, or getting eaten by one, he kept his ears perked for any sound of the spiders.

"Watch out for webbing." The Togorian spoke in a low voice, almost a growl. "If they catch you, they will kill you." The light would help find them as well, of course. Light attracted the spiders. They thought it was a sign of nearby food. Not nessesarily a good thing.

Spoiler

[member="Potato"] -

If so:

Mrrew's ears flicked at the sudden sound after they'd stepped into the caves. Almost sounded like a voice... Maybe one of the miners on the planet? The Togorian ignored it, and went on.

 

[Corruck Kazen]

Corruck smiled in the dark. He thought to himself, "Just like criminals. They set webs, and suck livelihood dry if they catch you."

He noted what appeared to be small webbing a little into the cave. The webbing was too small to have a spider in it. Must have been removed awhile ago. He kept his aim steady, though he preferred his other weapons they had been specifically reconstructed for his sole use. Of course, those weapons were lethal and would not be good to use on animals which he wanted to catch alive. "So, how many do you expect to find here in this cave? Enough to fill the quota?" Corruck was new to hunting and to Kessel. So he was trying to figure what the master hunter thought. And to get even a slight conversation started. He thought he caught movement at the corner of his light beam, but a quick flick of the weapon's muzzle showed nothing to be there.

[member="Mrrew"]

 

[Mrrew]

Mrrew smirked at [member="Corruck Kazen"]'s comparison between spiders and criminals. And both are linked to spice. Heh. However, he didn't reply until Corruck's question. It was hard to tell either way, he imagined the deeper they got into the caves, the more likely they'd find them. They'd need to avoid anyhing that looked like senteints had been near. Anywhere sentients were, the webs would've been more likely to be harvested by glitterstim, and the spiders would've moved.

"There'll be plenty enough to fill the quota. Finding them will be the problem. They're spiders- so we know where to look." Mrrew turned, stepping into a smaller tunnel almost to small for him to walk through easily. "We find the darkest crevice in the cave system- and start shooting."

 

[Corruck Kazen]

"Even more like criminals. Sneak into the smallest area possible and hope the law doesn't find you." He knew that not from experience, as he had always made sure not to commit that mistake, but from viewing of smaller crime lords and what not. He followed [member="Mrrew"] into the small area, not having quiet as much difficulty fitting through. He noted immediately that while the tunnel was small, it seemed to go on for some time before the area widened out. It appeared to lead to a small cavern, though the actual size Corruck did not know since his light rod could not brighten that far away. He noticed some more strands of webbing, maybe the creature had already been caught, but maybe it was further in the cave. Corruck did not know, he just hoped that the Togorian knew what he was doing. Tight caverns meant that it was easy to catch something, but it also means that it is easier for stuff to catch them.

 

[Mrrew]

Mrrew glanced back at [member="Corruck Kazen"] in the dark. As funny as his quips were, he knew an awful lot about criminals. The Togorian vaguely wondered if he was a smuggler or spicer while he turned back into the darkness, and worked his way to the opening at the end of the tunnel. Not that it particularly mattered, the Guild empolyed anything from Jedi to Sith. In fact, two of the Guild's best members are a team of one Sith and one Jedi. Matsu and Matsu. If he was a good shot, Mrrew didn't care if he was a spicer or a senator. It didn't matter.

Mrrew stepped quietly out of the small tunnel, shining his glowlight around the cavern. "Feth." Webs draped from the ceiling, wallpapering the sides of the cavern as far as the glowlight could show them. Huge white masseds hung from the cieling like ominous chandeliers, leading the eye to the shaking webs near the very top of the cave. As if something was moving among them. Eight red eyes appeared, reflecting the light from the two glowlights, in the high webbing, staring down at them. With every turn of the glowlight, more moving could be seen among the webbing that surrounded them in all directions. It wasn't hard to find them, that much was right. Just wander down a tunnel. He was starting to realize why there was no miners in this particular area of the infinite caves of Kessel. They'd stumbled into a nest.

 

[Corruck Kazen]

"Never a more wretched a hive of scum and villainy than this." Corruck didn't know where he had heard that before, but again these spiders seemed like criminals in his mind so the saying seemed pretty good. Of course he was a criminal as well, though he preferred to keep his company to strictly legal types. Most of the time anyways. He shone his light around in an oval once or twice, his breath was increasing slightly. He was excited, at last some risk! Yet there was also some fear, these creatures were staying the webs so far, but they would soon be drawn out by the light. When they come out, Corruck would have to see what they were actually like. That would be when his knowledge would be put to the test. Sure he knew what they were and the specs of them, but he didn't actually know what the creatures were. Experience was the difference between true knowledge and simple facts and figures.

"I suppose this was not on the planned retinue then..... I would guess we find a choke point, draw them in, and bag these beasts? Or do you have a better plan?" He had drawn from his military experience, not completely sure how to deal with a situation like this with something that wasn't sentient. He had the simple outline in mind, fall back to the tunnel, draw them in with the lights and let rip with the Chiru rifles. He hoped that even if his plan wasn't the best, that [member="Mrrew"] would figure something to do. This was certainly not what Corruck had expected when he first landed on this rock. But it made sense, for security they would bunch together in living areas.

 

[Mrrew]

Mrrew looked slowly up at the spiders, keeping his rifle ready. The spiders were slowly crawling down the web-lined walls, watching the intruders cautiously. Mrrew took a step back. "Choke point's good but we'll be overrun." The Togorian took another slow step back, careful not to make any sudden movements, while dozens more of the creature, big and small, began to appear from the webbing. Mrrew realized almost every time he'd gone on a hunt that he was under-equiped. A flare would be very useful right now. "Slow steps back. Don't draw them in- let a few come to us... If the entire nest jumps us, it wouldn't matter if we had a turbolaser." The Togorian watched as the first of the spiders finished it's decsent donw the webbing covering the walls, slowly scittering across the ground. Many more weren't far behind it. But they moved slowly, carefully, wary of strangers in their nest. Probably the only reason dozens if not hundreds of spiders weren't swarming them. Trying to shoot at spiders while you're in a nest of hundreds is not hunting. That's a death wish.

[member="Corruck Kazen"]

 

[Corruck Kazen]

Corruck followed the Togorian's example, slowly stepping backward. He decided against coming up with another quip, the possibility of death by these quite magnificent beasts was a little daunting. He had hardly expected to find a nest of them so soon. It made sense that they would build up in an area where they could grab whatever food nearby without being subjected to too much danger. His heart was beating so fast that Corruck found it a wonder that nothing else heard it. The excitement, while always enjoyable, was dimmed somewhat by the fact that they could die very soon. He liked the idea of a Turbolaser, if Corruck had any he would have used them by now. He felt cold sweat drip slowly down his face and catch on the edge of his breath mask. It was cold enough that he knew this was not sweat of heat, but fear.

"So just draw out a few, hoping that the others won't follow? Then grab the ones that we can?" Partly he was just trying to rationalize to himself the idea.

[member="Mrrew"]

 

[Mrrew]

(Sorry for the late reply)

Mrrew watched the spiders as they slowly crept forwards, more and more appearing from the nest webbing every second. He continued to back towards the door. "They'll follow. They'll wait for an opening." The Togorian slowly raised his rifle, careful not to make any sudden movements. Attacking one would probably give them all cause to surge forwards. Hundreds of spiders attakcing at once. Backing into the tunnel would just trap them- sure, they could pick them off ofr awwhile, but they were outnumbered hundreds to one. If they stayed in the cavern, they were eventually going to get swarmed anyway. Mrrew slowly glanced up at the webbing, then back to the spiders which were only about a dozen meters away, and slowly getting closer. "Flares." This was another one of those times where Mrrew fonud himself under-equiped. Mrrew glanced at [member="Corruck Kazen"], stillw atching the spiders out of the corner of his eye. "Think there's enough oxygen in the air for fire?"

 

[Corruck Kazen]

Corruck thought for a moment. "Probably enough to start and sustain a fire, if we have the fuel. Bet there isn't enough for a full blown inferno." Corruck kept his rifle aimed for a moment longer before letting go of it with his left hand. His stronger right hand held it fairly steady, while his left felt for a his blaster pistol in his pocket. He could start a fire with it, it he hit one of the webs, not that it would be a big enough fire to get their attention at first. The light from the blaster would startle and probably make the spiders swarm though.

"What have you got in mind? Got a flame thrower in one of those buckles?" He couldn't help but wonder if this was a normal day in the beast hunter's guild. He certainly hoped not, but then he might be able to get used to it at some point.

[member="Mrrew"]

(No problems. Take however much time you need.)

 

[Mrrew]

Mrrew took another slow step bakc, before realizing that he'd stepped back into the mouth of the tunnel. A small fire is all they'd need... Hopefully. The spiders had stopped scutlting forwards. They stood all around them, red eyes dots in the darkness, the light from the two glowlights flickering off thousands of eyes. They were close now- within striking range. They weren't sure what had wandered into their nest. Much larger then their normal prey. They were still wondering if it was safe to attack, or not... Which was probably the only reason they were still alive. Mrrew glanced at [member="Corruck Kazen"] out of the corner of his eye again. "Flamethrower? No. I was hoping you had something..." Mrrew glanced at the blaster pistol already in Corruck's hand. He had on on his own belt, as well, but he would rather have his rifle handy... "If we can light up one of the webs, then turn off our lights..." Mrrew looked to the nearst spiders, which were slowly beginning to creep forwards again, long fangs moving back and forth, as if waiting to bite. And then the nearest one leaped.

Followed by the rest of his nest.

 

[Corruck Kazen]

"That all?" He said right before the first spider leaped at them. He pulled the trigger on the rifle in his right hand, the recoil forcing his hand back in what must be an unnatural manner. The spider fell to the floor with a thump, twitching as it lie on the floor. A quiet cry escaped Corruck's lips as he fired with his pistol on three other spiders. He felt a surge of pain up his arm, that was not a good thing. He had not expected them to jump, that was why he had been willing to have a bad grip on the rifle. This had been a foolish decision, as Corruck now knew, because animals were a little less predictable than sentient beings.

He fired twice more with his blaster pistol, aiming into the general mass of spiders. The light from his pistol would draw their attention while he continued to back down the tunnel. He fired three shots back into the webbing from which the spiders had come. The first two shots simply burned clean through the webbing, leaving no flame to ignite the webs. The third burned through one web, then set fire to the edge of a web further in the mass. That web ignited, the limited air forcing it to expand quickly. Due to the fact that the spiders lived in a confined space, the heat allowed the fire to spread as quickly as it needed to. The webbing, being made of glitterstim would activate, due to the light, and then burn from the fire. In a few minutes there the fire would spread across the whole cavern and then burn out. Of course the fire would burn along the spiders as well, but even so it would take too long to grab the spiders attention.

"Blast it all. Can you cover me for a moment?" Corruck dropped the Chiru. He had a plan, hopefully it would work. His right hand twisted the gas canister out of his pistol, while his left slipped the pistol into his pocket.

[member="Mrrew"]

 

[Mrrew]

Meanwhile, Mrrew raised his Chiru rifle, firing through the thing carpace of the closest spider- followed by another who leaped at the Togorian. The tranqulizer's effects weren't as quick as death, but they were quick enough. Within seconds of each dart hitting the spiders, they fell to the ground twitching. Mrrew smiled as the cavern suddenly filled with light- the fire beginning to spread over the webbong/ He wasn't hoping the spiders to burn- he wasn't that optimistic. But energy spiders were attracted to light, to them light meant food. A instinct programmed into their brains long after the extinciton of the bogeys. However, they weren't used to fire. On a world with a thin atmosphere such as this, fire wasn't common- ecpecially in caves. After hundreds of thousands of years of evolution without fire they lacked the common instinct nearly all animals had- to avoid it. So in their minds, they were suddenly surrounded in food... Which meant they were distracted. The majority of the spioders stopped attacking the two hunters, tiny red eyes staring at the fire. A few of the less lucky spiders even scuttled straight into the fire... Which was just the slap into relaity the spiders needed.

However, the brief moments of confusion would have been plenty enough to run. But it seemed [member="Corruck Kazen"] might have had a better plan. So Mrrew used those brief seconds to slam another set of darts into his rifle, and make sure nothing attacked his hunting partnerf while he was doing whatever he planned to.