Strangers From A Far Land

[Cassius Droma]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3dlncMPRvY​

​

​

​

​

The Stardust Melody burst in from hyperspace, and Cassius Droma and Srina Talon were treated to a rather wondrous sight. A small nebula, with bright blues and purples, wafted in space, bathing the YT-1000 light freighter in cool lights. This wasn’t something Cassius had expected, though, so he double-checked the navicomputer. Yes, this was precisely where he was meant to be. His dreams and visions had led him to these precise coordinates.

He looked over to the young woman who’d agreed to come along with him. For all intents and purposes, a strange friendship had been struck between the two. After Coruscant, he had hoped to guide her towards the Jedi Order and the light side of the Force… but she was walking a different path. Maybe one day, he could ‘convert’ her. For now, though, he was just grateful that she had agreed to accompany him. With Master Jade becoming busier with her Grandmaster duties, Srina seemed like a good fit.

Ever since he’d left Eadu, he’d been meaning to become more independent, to go out on his own missions, particularly those with archaeological objectives. However, this was a little different. If anything, it was the strangest mission he’d ever been on. Going off of the word of an ancient Jedi Master that had been dead for centuries was a tough sell, but Cassius felt so strongly about this, that he couldn’t just let it go. So, he’d packed up his things and set off in the Stardust.

Cassius made sure to turn their scanners on full when he saw the nebula. Luckily, it looked like harmless gases, but the pilot was never one to be less than overly cautious. It was no wonder the planet had gone unnoticed for hundreds of years – not only was it on the fringes of the galaxy, but it was obscured in the cloud. As they began to become enveloped in it, he couldn’t help but tense up a little. He’d had bad experiences with storms in the past, but luckily, no turbulence struck the ship.

Eventually, the planet came into full view, with its green landscape and expansive blue oceans visible from space above. It looked like a lush, fertile world. But something was wrong. Something… dark lingered over it. Not darkness that one could see, but feel.

They broke the atmosphere, a heavily forested area with a mountain range in the distance stretching out before them. He’d only gotten a rough approximation of where he’d been told the “kingdom” was, so he had to use his scanners to fill in the rest. Skimming over the tops of trees in order to avoid detection by distant observers, Cassius found a good area to settle down. From his scans, there wasn’t any sort of settlement around for at least ten kilometers, so no one would have even heard them landing.

“Well, we made it,” Cassius muttered, turning off the engines and making sure security measures would be put in place once they left. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a cloaking device for the vessel, else he would have used it. From what the Jedi Master had told him, these people were primitive, so seeing a ship like this would be incredibly confusing to them.

Cassius stood from his chair, stretching a bit. He gave himself a good once-over to make sure he had everything he needed. His clothes were similar to his old robes, but stripped down to be simpler, and his lightsaber was on his belt. No blasters. No other technology. Nothing.

“You ready?” Cassius asked as he stepped out of the cockpit, grabbing his cloth rucksack and throwing the strap over his shoulder. Inside were basic survival supplies, in case they needed them. The plan was to infiltrate a local village and take refuge there in order to gather information and more supplies.

[member="Srina Talon"]

 

[Srina Talon]

Srina had always been taken with the sights that the vastness of space had to offer. There was nothing quite like seeing a planet, moon, or asteroid up close for the first time. Part of her even enjoyed the dizzying lights of hyperspace. It was a wild and breathtaking kaleidoscope of color and speed that she could be seen dreamily observing from the seat typically reserved for a co-pilot. The pale skinned woman could take on grown men twice her size in melee combat but when it came to flying a starship or a starfighter she was a complete amateur. Her natural reflexes and sense of spatial awareness was remarkable, which left her quite capable of operating a weapons station, but navigating was a whole other story.

Her mentor had been teaching her, but she was learning so much at once, that impromptu flight school was often placed on the back burner. It had taken a certain amount of clever promises and wheedling to get Darth Metus to let her travel so far and interrupt their training. He equipped her well, with weapons and armor that she could hardly fathom, but to her chagrin, he still seemed worried that if she left his side for too long she’d wind up with a vibroblade sticking out of her chest. Her unpredictable and resilient connection to the Force alarmed her, but she refused to let it keep her from living, not when she’d been on the run for so long. It was time to take her life back. This included helping a friend, someone who had assisted her in her bleakest hour, without even knowing if she was worth the trouble.

Cassius and Metus didn’t realize it…But they were both very similar in that way. Both of them had appeared in her life when she needed help the most. Both had aided her. Without a thought to the consequences or any expectations. Her mentor was part of the all-consuming dark. He had taught her not to fear the shadows. Cassius was the exact opposite. He was the little light that kept the darkness at bay.

To that end she found herself watching Cassius pilot with a certain level of delight, learning whatever she could, whenever possible. He may or may not notice the way intelligent eyes flickered over his hands on the controls, the buttons he pressed, the instruments checked, the switches flicked. Srina was soaking it in like a sponge. She knew for a fact that her friend would probably be spinning in his nonexistent grave if he knew she had a starfighter like the Obsidian Storm collecting dust in a hanger on Coruscant. Simply, because she didn’t know how to pilot it.

All thoughts of flying, her master, and Coruscant flew from her mind the moment they dropped out of hyperspace. “By the light.”, she murmured, the sight of the nebula reflecting in mercurial eyes, touched with an edge of wonder. They began to move through it eventually she found it possible to look away. Cassius seemed to be checking the area for anything harmful and she couldn’t say she disagreed when she felt his body tense beside her. Sometimes, the prettiest thing was the deadliest. “Where exactly have you taken us my friend?”

It should go without saying that she wasn’t questioning the coordinates. He’d explained that the mission had been prompted from some kind of vision that was connected to his saber. She could understand that. Her visions were vivid, strong, and could be triggered by almost anything. They were lucid dreams that bade her to comply. The same force that had led Cassius here had also led her to Darth Metus. Only, much gentler, it seemed.
Srina had forcibly gotten used to feeling things through the force. It left her with an understanding, and a sensitivity, that some did not possess. It was especially poignant after visiting the Nightlands in Ryloth. Her left shoulder burned, just thinking about that evening and the ramifications. Her gaze quieted as they descended on what appeared to be a visually appealing planet. It was beautiful, just as lovely as the nebula, or even Leritor, with all of its rolling hills and honest to goodness oceans. The only difference was that when they’d landed on Leritor she’d been excited, curious, and glad to be free of the Ferocity, despite her fascination with the assault frigate. Now, as they landed in the Stardust, she felt the urge to go back.

Her instincts were generally accurate and typically force driven. It made her feel a little foolish when she blatantly ignored them. Still, this was where Cassius visions had led him. She wouldn’t be afraid now.

White-gold hair shimmered and swayed as she stood after her companion. She had also dressed rather plainly once Cassius explained that the planet they were visiting was fairly backwater. She wore a pale blue set of form-fitting traveling robes, with soft tan leggings beneath it, which tucked into protective brown boots. Twin Echani vibroblades were hidden neatly beneath her clothing, along the length of her spine, but aside from that, all her gear, including newly made armor, personal shields, and her data-pad, had all been stowed away on the Stardust. If he knew of this—her master would not be pleased.

The only other weapon she had on her came in the form of an exceedingly plain silver ring. The band was boring and didn’t really seem to hold any value. For the most part, it didn’t. It wasn’t something anyone would want to steal. Not until she uttered the correct word.

She picked up a small satchel and smiled over her shoulder to Cassius when he asked her if she was ready. A small slice of teasing confidence had slipped through her seemingly perpetual sea of calmness. “I am as ready as I will ever be. Are you?”

Srina languidly headed toward the exit of the ship without waiting too long for an answer. The truth was, the reply didn’t matter, not really. They had already landed on a strange planet that they had next to no information on. If his visions had pushed him this hard, she knew that weight, and she also knew the force was impossible to ignore. “Come now Jedi…Don’t keep a lady waiting.”

The air outside was breathable, clean, and crisp. Srina loved planets that hadn’t been destroyed by industry. She raised her hand to shield her eyes from the light and tried to get her bearings. The terrain looked different on the ground versus being in the sky. If they wanted to reach the settlement before they lost the light it would be best to get a move on. She wandered toward the area around the ship. Some of the small saplings had been bent from force of the Stardust’s thrusters. Some had not. They’d been recently trampled through. She saw of flash of something very large with black and deep green fur. Gnashing teeth, elongated limbs, and long claws. “We should be cautious. Something passed through here not long before us. Hunting.”

Her ability to connect with animals was extremely limited. She was too embarrassed to say that her only real skill revolved around a proud little Yorshi. That would not help them here. Srina saw another fading flash of what happened when the beast caught its prey. A barely noticeable flinch ran through her.

“Correction. Cautious and quick.”

[member="Cassius Droma"]

 

[Cassius Droma]

“Somewhere very far away,” Cassius muttered in response to her question, fiddling with the sensors as he did so. They were so far from any other inhabited system that Cassius wasn’t surprised the planet was so isolated. Not to mention the fact that it was obscured by a nebula, and no solid hyperspace route had been planned out here. He wouldn’t let Srina in on this, but it had been very tense for him on the way over. Going off into uncharted territory was dangerous. Ships had a tendency to run into black holes, unable to escape. Luckily, that hadn’t happened to them, and Cassius made sure to save the course in the navicomputer for future reference.

They made it to the surface with ease, and Cassius made sure everything would be safe for them when they disembarked. Srina shot him some playful banter, and Cassius could only smile and shake this head. “I thought I was the excited one here,” he said, following after her. As he stepped down the ramp, he triggered an automatic shutting sequence that would raise the ramp as they came off of it. True to form, the ramp raised and locked behind them.

Ever the keen observer like himself, Srina noticed some plants that had been felled in a direction that indicated it wasn’t from their landing. Kneeling down, Cassius lightly placed his hand on the spot and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He tapped into his psychometric abilities, rare for Jedi to have, mainly because it was so dangerous to learn. While many Jedi had visions like the one Srina just had, Cassius was able to, in a sense, travel to the past and become an observer of certain events. It was dangerous in the sense that the emotions experienced by participants would be shared with Cassius… even the fear of death.

Now immersed in his vision, he saw the creature, in the realm of eight feet tall, as it lumbered past the clearing, chasing after a smaller, four-legged mammal. The beast leapt and landed on its prey, immediately biting into its neck. The cry of pain, as well as the sensation of it, made Cassius flinch. As if he were watching a holofilm, he skipped ahead to when the beast had finished its meal and scampered off, paying attention to the direction it had taken.

The same direction they needed to head in.

“I agree,” Cassius said, standing back up to his full height. “Stay on guard, and let’s move quickly. Unfortunately, the beast was headed in the same direction the nearby village is.” Starting off with a fast walk, Cassius headed towards the edge of the clearing and into the woods.

It wasn’t long before they could hear the rumbling sounds of movement and growls coming in their direction. The young Jedi stopped, drawing his lightsaber, but not igniting it. For some strange reason, the creature’s position was harder to pin down than it normally should have. It must have been the dark side energy surrounding the planet – it deadened to senses to certain darker presences.

With a loud roar, the beast flung itself out from behind a tree and at them, claws extended, jaw agape and dripping with saliva. Cassius rolled out of the way, and as he steadied himself back on his feet, pressed the activation button on his lightsaber. The blue blade sprang to life, ready for battle.

[member="Srina Talon"]

 

[Srina Talon]

He smiled at her blithe teasing and the silvery woman smiled back. It was easy to be lighthearted when she was around the sandy-haired Jedi. He didn’t have the occasionally unrealistic expectations and demands of her faction. He asked for her help as a friend. Srina could count how many of those she had on one hand. Mostly of her own doing—but still a fact. “We’re on a new planet with unknown people, places, and things…”, she trailed off, tossing another little smile over her shoulder. “We’re on an adventure Cassius…”

“What isn’t there to be excited about?”

Everything felt rather final when the ramp to the Stardust retracted and shut behind them. There was a way back, in truth, but Srina was always one to push ahead. She felt like going backward was the cowardly choice, the way of the spineless, and she refused to regard herself as that sort of pathetic.

It wasn’t long before her eyes picked up on inconsistencies in the area. The bent and broken foliage that went in the opposite direction of their ship. Her sight gave her more than she’d bargained for, flashes of a creature, of a chase, and of death. She pulled away from it as if it had stung her. Unlike Cassius and many others of their kind, her visions were not a choice. They came like the tide—Waxing and waning with some sort of force controlling it that she did not understand. She felt green-hued fingers of jealousy thread through her for the briefest of moments when her friend utilized his psychometry easily. Like a well-sharpened tool.

Srina could not do that. She felt the need to give him a little bit of space while he lingered in time that had long past. She had read and studied much on the matter of unnatural sight but there was still quite a bit that she didn’t grasp. When Cassius stood and agreed with her she nodded her head silently. A frown fell over primrose lips when he confirmed that the beast was indeed headed in their direction. Of course, it was. She shadowed the Jedi in front of her as light footsteps barely left a mark.

Training on Eshan had prepared her for dangerous treks through wooded areas. They trained to fight all sorts of opponents, in various conditions, with or without opponents, with or without supplies. Single file was often the chosen formation in an attempt to hide specific sets of footprints. She didn’t know what they might face on this world but an element of surprise was always acceptable.

Cassius stopped walking and she the sounds ahead made her freeze in turn. They matched the growls from her vision. The creature moved, and she saw it without seeing, spinning out of the way just as her friend fell into a roll. The now familiar sound of his lightsaber igniting caused the delicate line of her jaw to tighten. “Not two hours planetside and something is already trying to eat us…”, she called to Cassius as she placed a large tree between herself and the beast. Her heart fluttered, but not with fear. “I think that’s a record.”

This whole planet felt strange to her. Her usually keen senses felt interrupted. It wasn’t the same as being overwhelmed, as she had been, with Starvald, Kane, and Metus. It was a disruption. Deliberate? She couldn’t tell. In the interim, she fell away from her sensitives to deal with the roaring creature. She was a warrior first. An Echani, soldier. They didn’t rely on magic, unseen forces, and parlor tricks to defeat their enemies. It certainly wasn’t necessary to deal with an angry woodland creature whose habitat they had just disturbed.

Srina moved out behind the four-legged animal and raised her fingers to her lips. From there she released a shrill whistle that the beast immediately rounded on. Her blades still holstered, she began to move backward, leading it away from Cassius. Hopefully, her friend would grasp her unspoken plan. It ran in such a way that almost made her eyes cross, appearing closer than it was a moment ago, and she bounded away. Every moment or so she chanced a glance back to make sure that it was still behind her. That didn’t seem to be a problem. Her ruse was clearly working considering the white-gold haired woman had turned herself into an exceptionally quick, exceptionally pretty, form of bait.

Light feet led her at break-neck speed toward a tree and in the last possible second she dodged around it, skipping over thick roots, and shrubbery as if it weren’t even there. The beast ran headfirst into the dense trunk and pulled back as bark splintered, face squashed, and caught in a deadly expression of a furious howl. Gnashing teeth made themselves known as the creature jumped around the obstacle, some sort of dark fluid leaking from what passed for a nose, before it gave chase again.

‘Anytime now Cassius…’, she thought as she fell into a dead sprint, only her quick reflexes, saving her from becoming lunch. Her hand inched toward the vibroblade at her back. Scenarios of how to kill the creature ran through her mind. Most of which involved pushing her thin blades through its eyes or dragging them along what appeared to be a soft underbelly. As scary as it was, as durable as it appeared, all things had a weakness. She had faith that her eyes and blades would find it.

[member="Cassius Droma"]

 

[Cassius Droma]

The beast rounded on him once again before the young Jedi had a chance to even stand back up to his full height. It outstretched its arm for a fatal swipe, but Cassius leapt into the air, over the creature’s arm. He slashed downwards, singeing the beast’s shoulder as he passed. It howled in anger, and Cassius safely landed on the ground a few meters away.

Before it could attack Cassius again, it was distracted by Srina’s sharp, distorted whistle. Its head snapped around, and snarled as it gave chase. Surprisingly, the little Echani was able to keep out of its reach, and Cassius followed closely behind, using the Force to push him along faster. Still, he found it difficult, as he also had to navigate the thick forest. Trees and braches whizzed by as he zigged and zagged along with them.

She’d led it right into a tree, and as the behemoth smacked face-first into it, Cassius swung wide in something resembling a flanking maneuver. He tightly flipped over a fallen tree and then broke right, putting himself on an intercept path with the creature. Srina would lead it straight to him. As the beast lumbered its way through the brush, huffing and snapping, Cassius launched himself at the creature once more. This time, however, he stayed low, and sliced at one of the creature’s legs.

He failed to sever a limb once more, and as Cassius slid onto the ground, the creature was upon him, raising its arms in preparation for a deathly strike. It roared – bits of saliva flew past its lips. It reared back, ready to come crashing down onto the young Jedi, when…

Something hit it in the shoulder. A small, cylindrical object, by the look of it. It even looked wooden in construction. Was it… an arrow?

Another hit it in the back. Grunting, the beast turned to see just what this new threat was. Just as it did so, an arrow embedded itself into its skull. This made the creature’s legs wobble, as if its core motor functions had been severely impaired. Fwip. Fwip. Two more arrows found their way into the beast – one in its snout, and other in its gaping maw. With one last whine, it slowly keeled over with a dull thud, shaking the ground around it.

Grunting, Cassius stood, his lightsaber still thrumming in his hand. He turned to face Srina, ready to thank her for the save, when…

“Hey!” a female called out to him. Brow furrowing, Cassius spun to see a woman, only slightly younger than he, dressed in light, earthy robes. Her brunette hair was in a messy ponytail, and a few strands were astray, as if she had been hunting the whole afternoon. Blue eyes looked wildly at Cassius as she approached, or rather, her eyes were drawn to his lightsaber.

“You guys alright?” she asked the pair, putting her bow back over her shoulder.

[member="Srina Talon"]

 

[Srina Talon]

Srina could feel her breathing beginning to fall unevenly as she kept running just slightly out of the creatures range. It never occurred to her that her Jedi friend might have a harder time navigating through woodlands than she did. Feeling the soft moss and grass beneath her booted feet felt just as natural as avoiding upraised roots and things that might cause a less coordinated person to trip. Her coordination didn’t stop sharp tree branches from pulling at her clothing. Her head turned to the side as something sharp sliced the perfect porcelain of her cheek but she barely registered it. It was thin, stinging, but easily dismissed.

Eventually, she could hear the sounds of Cassius trying to challenge the beast that chased her but she could scarcely afford to look over her shoulder. The white-haired woman ran in a straight line and used her momentum to fling herself into an upward movement just before she would have run into another old tree. She wasn’t sure if the creature would fall for the same stunt as the first time. Her boots found purchase on the rough bark easily as she went up several feet to ensure she could clear the eight-foot brute. Just before gravity would have pulled her back down, and into the hungry maw of a forest demon, she drove her non-dominant knee away from the tree to start rotating. Her movement initiated a swift backward fall and she tucked both knees in to ensure that a controlled vault was executed over the beasts head.

Her body opened back up when she saw the ground underneath her and she landed gracefully on the balls of her feet. The monster snarled and looked around momentarily confused, sharp claws shredding and splintering the tree as it caught itself, and launched its body back toward her. Srina took a partial second to breathe before she fell into a dead sprint that led the animal back toward Cassius. She hadn’t managed to make the creature daze itself again but she was at least headed in the right direction.

She also hadn’t been gutted yet. It was still a good day.

Srina dropped and dodged out of the Jedi’s way when he launched himself at the beast. She turned on a dime, but even her splendidly fast reflexes weren’t fast enough, not when the animal was already on top of her friend. Something dark and arcane welled within her and fought to escape the flimsy surface of her skin. Her heart grew tight and the air felt thin. Power, a reactive response, born of fear and something she couldn’t name. Her hand rose without thought but something slender and small screamed through the air a few feet in front of her face.

An arrow struck the beast and its roar of pain snapped her free from the lingering blackness that called to her. Srina buried the power that she was only barely learning to control as deeply as she could and instead took off toward Cassius. Several arrows later, the animal fell dead, and there was a new presence to be observed. The archer. Silver eyes, that held the likeness of tumultuous storm clouds, swept over their humanoid savior. The Echani pulled on her training and forced her thoughts and mind back to equilibrium. Cassius was a Jedi. There was no reason for panic or an emotional response. Had the brunette not interrupted Srina would have dealt with the creature in her own way. Only, it may not have been such a clean kill.

“We’re fine. Thanks to you.”, Srina responded softly to the woman, stepping into her frame of vision so that she was forced to look at something other than Cassius. Or his lightsaber. It was a blessing that she spoke basic. Careful eyes watched as the stranger put her weapon away. Srina was not a trusting soul. Especially, not when they were on some far distant backwater planet born of a force vision. She knew the power of foresight. It truly was, unforgiving. She didn't bother asking her friend how he was, not again, when the stranger already had. “My name is Srina…This is Cassius. We were looking for a nearby village to resupply and seem to have lost our way. Could you point us in the correct direction? ”

It was best, as an interloper, to stick to the truth as much as possible. Srina offered the woman a gentle smile and painted herself to be the non-threatening one. Cassius was one with a strange weapon activated whereas she only visibly had on her light traveling pack. Her vibroblades were hidden artfully beneath her pale traveling dress. Gingerly, she reached up to her face and wiped away the thin line of blood that was just a little too pink. Most people barely noticed—considering it a trick of the light.

[member="Cassius Droma"]

 

[Cassius Droma]

The woman stopped in her stride as Srina stepped in her path, only just seeming to notice her existence as she did so. She’d been so transfixed on the lightsaber in Cassius’s hand that she didn’t bother to look at anything else. A cordial smile crossed her face, and her eyes lit up a little. She was surprisingly friendly for having just killed a massive beast.

“Oh, hi,” she said. “I’m Myla.” Her eyes darted back to Cassius and his lightsaber, leaning ever so slightly to get a better look at it. Conscious of this, Cassius extinguished the blade, placing the hilt back on his belt. The young Jedi then tried to smooth out his robes, so as to make the environment more casual. Myla slowly side-stepped Srina, putting an equal amount of distance between her and the two strangers.

“You have a sword of light,” she marveled, as if she’d never even heard Srina’s question about a village. “Where did you get it?”

“I uh…” Cassius’s gaze fluttered to Srina for a moment. This was already going the slightest bit south. If this girl could help them though… “I found it,” he finally answered.

“I’ve only seen one other,” she said. “Yours is blue though.” Her eyes went from his hip to his eyes. “Do you have magic?”

She must have meant the Force. Cassius hesitated. The girl seemed nice enough, and didn’t seem to hold any sort of malice towards them. If anything, she was genuinely excited by the prospect of seeing a ‘sword of light’. Just as he felt the doubt rising in his chest, something suddenly dashed it away. Then, there was a sudden push, an urge to trust this girl. It was just as strong as the urge to come to this planet in the first place. She can help you, a thought rang inside his head, as if not his own.

“Yes, I have ‘magic’,” Cassius said. “I’m still learning how to use it, though.”

“You’re a mage, then?” Myla asked, her expression turning somewhat quizzical. “I thought they only served Lord Soo-Rao…”

“Listen,” Cassius said, disliking having to interrupt her. “I can explain everything, but we should probably get moving. Sun’s setting.”

Myla looked off towards the trees and frowned. “You’re right,” she said. “Here, follow me.” Turning, she began to lead the two of them south, away from their landing site. “You guys are lucky that Mrog didn’t tear you to ribbons. They get pretty feisty if they haven’t eaten in a while, and if one was out during the daytime, that meant it was desperate.”

“Thank you, really, for the save back there,” Cassius said, falling into step next to Myla. “We’re from very far away, so I’m afraid we don’t know a lot of the customs around here. Mind telling us a little more about your kingdom?”

[member="Srina Talon"]

 

[Srina Talon]

At least the fascination with lightsabers seemed to be universal.

That or Cassius was more comely than he gave himself credit for. Srina mentally snickered at that thought. Truthfully, it was probably the glowing lightstick. “Hello, Myla…”, Srina’s voice carried through the trees like a whisper on the wind, echoing in the softest way, until there was nothing left. She could have sighed loudly when the brunette literally leaned around her to get a better look, were she not doing her best to appear innocent and non-threatening. Soft features, combined with a genetically lovely face didn’t make it all that difficult.

Cassius caught her gaze momentarily and her expression was nearly a blank slate. Humor glittered in the back of her eyes, the same way a candle flickered behind a window, but other than that she gave nothing away. However, when the Jedi uttered lamely that he FOUND the majestic, glowing blue lightsaber it took everything she had to keep a straight face. Myla wouldn’t notice when Srina mouthed one sentence to her best friend. ‘You found it?!’

Rather than torment her Jedi with all of the things that were incredibly silly about that excuse, considering Myla seemed to but buy it, she focused on the bits of information that Myla had unknowingly provided. If she’d seen another in any capacity that meant that there was a force presence in the area. The way she described the force, calling it magic, reminded her of the way the Priestesses on Eshan called it a gift. She also named a Lord Soo-Rao. Srina had never heard the name before, and if the force user was a Sith, her ties to the Confederacy left her well versed.

Srina allowed herself to fade mostly into the background as they headed toward the village. She didn’t mind how they got there, using this doe-eyed huntress as a guide, or by their own merit. Either way, the result was the same. They had more information than they’d started with and could possible glean more still. Sometimes, it seemed, it did pay to be a trusting silver-tongued Jedi. Cassius posed his inquiries as personably as possible and it seemed that Myla would comply.

Since the shadows were indeed growing longer as the sun swept low Srina did her best to keep her ears and eyes peeled. The Mrog, whatever class of beast it was, also happened to be a rolling death machine. She attempted to refrain from tapping into her force abilities but she wasn’t entirely certain that her virbroblades would do the trick.

“You mentioned magic Myla…”, Srina trailed off gently, once Cassius opened the line of discussion, “Do you often see it in your village?”

The brunette was so enamored with Cassius that Srina doubted that the female even remembered her name. Not yet, anyway. Especially not since she’d remained mostly silent for a good portion of the walk. Not far up ahead it looked like she could see some sort of lights through the trees. Her head inclined and she pointed, wanting to make sure they weren’t in the wrong place. “Is it? Up ahead?”

[member="Cassius Droma"]

 

[Cassius Droma]

Myla shook her head as Srina queried about the frequency of her seeing magic in her village. “Not really, no.” She stepped over a log with such grace that one had to wonder if she even had to think about it. The hunter was incredibly familiar with these woods, so they were like a second home to her. “In the kingdom, if you can use magic, you’re taken to Lord Rao to serve him. It’s supposed to be an honor.” The young woman hesitated for a moment, mulling over her words before explaining further. “Some fear it, though.”

“I didn’t know there were other kingdoms,” Myla said, trying to change the subject. “I was under the impression that we were the only ones in the realm. There are stories of those who try to flee the kingdom and live elsewhere… are you from there?”

Cassius sighed and gave a small glance to Srina. “No, I’m afraid we’re much further away than that.”

“Yes, this is it, up ahead,” Myla nodded to Srina, pointing and quickening her pace.

​

Cassius followed, and eventually the trees broke to a clearing, with a river running to their left. Roughly seventy meters away, on top of a naturally plateauing hill, was the village. The buildings were either made from stone or timber, the smallest amount of activity could already be seen.

Voices started to become audible as they got closer – the last errands the townsfolk needed to run before sheltering for the night. Small fires were already illuminating the windows of homes, the matrons preparing to cook supper. Children were getting out their last little hoops and screams of glee as their parents called them inside.

“You two don’t have a place to stay, do you?” Myla asked.

“Um… not exactly,” Cassius said, knowing that if they tried to get back to the Stardust to stay for the night, their chances of being caught by a creature of the night was exponential. If one Mrog was a lot… a pack of them would be sure to tear the two young Force users to shreds.

“Stay with me tonight,” she offered. “I’ll fill your bellies and make sure you’re ready for your journey tomorrow.”

“We appreciate it, Myla,” Cassius said, looking to Srina. They’d yet to work out a way to communicate telepathically, but Cassius tried to make her feel the same thing he felt about this young woman – that they could trust her, and that she was important in his quest.

They eventually came to a small hut on the edge of the village, just within the wooden walls. It was quaint, only one room, with a small bed tucked into a corner, a table and chair, and a timber box in another corner. Myla got to work making a fire, and Cassius eased himself onto the floor, sitting cross-legged.

[member="Srina Talon"]

 

[Srina Talon]

The slender Echani let the native woman explain what she could about the magic she’d seen without interruption. Srina had an intense and sudden feeling that alerted her to the fact that Myla was going to abruptly change the topic. She’d mentioned that some feared being taken away to serve this Lord Rao. Did she? Srina noted that she seemed very grounded, honest, and sure of foot. That didn’t mean that she was without reservations.

Myla asked about where they were from and again she let Cassius handle it. She could feel her friend's eyes on her form but it wouldn’t do for them to both blurt out a different answer at the same time. Regardless, it turned out that the structures she’d seen in the distance were exactly where they were headed. Little pinpricks of light grew brighter and she noted it was the glow of firelight. This was definitely, one hundred percent, a backwater planet.

The village was quaint. Aged masonry displayed weather-worn homes and thatched rooftops that drew her eyes to the smoke coming from chimneys. The air smelled of leftover meats and char. Srina grew a little distant, as she often did, hearing the laughter of little ones. It always reminded her of Eshan and despite her masters best attempts to comfort her—she was often homesick.

Srina had already begun to look for an inn of some kind when Myla asked about their sleeping arrangements. They didn’t really have any currency, but, there might be some sort of barter system in place. Cassius responded, and she glanced back at him, thinking along the same lines that he had. A trip back to the Stardust would be a delay. The beasts that lay within the forest seemed powerful enough that her blades almost felt like oversized toothpicks. It wasn’t worth the risk.

Myla offered them shelter, food, and provisions for the following day and Srina knew without a doubt that Cassius would accept. She was suspicious, cautious, by nature. Especially when someone or something appeared too good to be true. His repeated glances were effective. Primrose lips curved into a soft smile. “That is very generous of you. Thank you.”

There were a million reasons that she remained careful. Myla could be a cleverly disguised pawn. This whole scenario, the Mrod, and their placement here could be a setup. Last but not least, if none of these things were true they had a duty to keep from enlightening a young civilization about intergalactic space travel before it was ready. The lightsaber fiasco was minor. But, it was clear, that someone was trying to keep these people in the dark by calling the Force magic. It was a gross understatement. Her Priestess had also referred to it as such. One day, when Srina returned home, she would correct them.

Still. If Cassius trusted Myla… She trusted him. His faith was enough for her.

Srina followed the auburn-haired woman with light steps, white-gold hair seeming to reflect any light that touched it, much like the moon. They made it to a hut with ease. For all of the ways that her master claimed to live simply, his version of it, her version of it, was nothing like this. The architecture on Eshan was elegant with scrolling woodwork and ivory towers that spiraled high. This was what humble really looked like. Cassius took a seat and Srina paused. “May I help?”

Myla nodded her head with a light smile and passed Srina the wood that would be needed. She arranged it along the path of the previous fire and moved out of the way when their host signaled that it was enough. Sooner than later the auburn-haired huntress lit the flame with flint and seemed to be deciding on what to cook. The hut was small, but even with three people, it didn’t seem overly crowded. There was a sense of closeness but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Srina hoped that Myla would ask Cassius if she needed any help preparing dinner. She was rather awful at it, as her friend would well know, and the Echani had no want to poison either one of them. To that end she pulled off her rucksack and set it down before taking a seat beside Cassius. Her legs tucked delicately to the side and she did her best to make herself as small as possible. "Myla..Can you tell us a little more about the Mrog? Are they known to be poisonious?"

"We don't seem to have the same beasts where we come from. Is there anything else to be wary of?"

Quietly she tugged a water canteen from her pack and used a sparing amount on a piece of cloth to wipe the blood and dirt away from her face and hands. The shadows hid her inhuman features, to a degree, but her dual toned voiced was a challenge. She did her best to hide it for Myla but it was giving her a headache. Hesitantly, she reached out to touch Cassius, tapping him only once. “You are all right…Aren’t you?”

She wished that she could speak to him without words. She’d managed it a few times with her master…But it was difficult.

[member="Cassius Droma"]

 

[Cassius Droma]

The small hut was… cozy. Comfortable, even. The Stardust was a moving palace compared to this, but for some reason, the freighter he’d called a second home was somehow less welcoming than this. Perhaps it was the metal, the pipes, the machinery that clicked and buzzed as he slept… but for some reason, Cassius could imagine himself living here. Or, at least, in a structure similar to this. He envisioned himself finding a far off planet and building a cabin, with a large clearing nearby for the Stardust and probably even an A-wing.

Shaken from his thoughts, Cassius listened as Myla began to speak about the Mrog and their possibly venomous nature. “The females can be, yes. They’re more dangerous, if you can believe it.” The young woman grabbed some nearby vegetables from a basket and put them in a black cauldron above the now-growing flames. “Needn’t worry - if you’d been poisoned, you’d be dead by now.”

In response to Srina’s question about if there was anything else to fear, a small chortle escaped from Myla. “Other than the Royal Guard, not really. From what I saw, the two of you seem more than capable of handling yourselves. You made it this far from a completely different kingdom.”

When Srina tapped him on the shoulder, Cassius looked at her with a raised eyebrow. He nodded curtly, saying in a low voice, “Yeah, I’m fine.” Although Srina was the warrior between the two of them, Cassius had also seen his fair share of scrapes and bruises, especially on Eadu.

Eventually, piping hot wooden bowls of stew were handed to the two strangers. Cassius took it with gratitude, but elected to wait a little for the food to cool. In the conversation that followed, Cassius asked about the Royal Guard, as well as any other details he could gleam about this Lord Rao. Since they were in such close proximity to their host, Cassius wouldn’t be able to tell Srina just yet that his suspicions were confirmed: Lord Rao was this Dark Lord that they’d been sent to defeat.

== The Next Morning ==​

​

Cassius had slept well, thankfully, but also surprisingly, he didn’t have another vision. Perhaps that was a sign that he was where he was meant to be, for the time being. His body was slightly sore from sleeping on the ground, but regardless, he was well-rested.

The town outside of the hut was bustling with activity as he, Myla, and Srina stepped out the door. Everyone was in the market getting their daily provisions or running their morning errands. Cassius squinted as he studied the area. A group of children blew past him, heartily laughing as loudly as their lungs would allow. Something that struck him as interesting was that the vendors weren’t screaming at passing customers to come see their stall. It was a testament to how close their village was: everyone had their routines, and no one had to advertise.

“If you have anything to barter to sell, now would be a good time,” Myla said to them.

[member="Srina Talon"]

 

[Srina Talon]

“Oh, I can believe it.”, Srina responded lightly to Myla, the barest flicker of a smile marring her empty expression, before it vanished. Most viewed the Echani as a race of scantily clad warrior women. That might not have been the case, exactly, but it was definitely a case where the fairer sex could be more lethal than their male counterparts. Even while sequestered the current Echani Queen was probably the best example.

The knowledge that the beast that had nearly turned Cassius into a pile of meat and bone, at least, wasn’t poisonous, or hadn’t managed to poison either of them was a relief. Small, but noted. It was also a small consolation that there wasn’t much else to worry about that was naturally occurring. Her friend responded of his wellbeing and she nodded silently.

Myla served them first, much to Srina’s chagrin, and she held the warm bowl between her hands. It was warm enough in the hut but Srina felt a distinct chill. She wasn’t sure where it came from, or why, but it kept her spine straight throughout the evening. Throughout the light discussion, she wondered why it was that she could connect telepathically with her Master yet she couldn’t bridge the gap between herself and Cassius. It was frustrating. She tried to reach out a few times, but didn’t want to waste her energy, and eventually gave up after one last attempt.

‘Good night.’

The next morning came too quickly for the small warrior. Her dreams had been fitful, enough that she’d woken herself up before the first fingers of dawn spread. Vestiges of things that she didn’t understand lingered in the halls of her eyes and it forcer her to remain awake until the others began moving. Reality or fabrication—it was hard to say. By the time both Myla and Cassius were awake Srina had already cleaned up and could be found straightening the laces of her boots. “Morning…”

It was a good thing she hadn’t slept heavily because it seemed that the day would have begun whether she was ready for it or not. As usual, Srina hung back, analyzing every inch of the area, and every person she saw. Mirrored eyes were still. Not lifeless, simply tranquil. The sight of children playing, nearly running over Cassius, distracted her momentarily. Her life was filled with blood, assassins, violence, and death. Srina did not belong in a place like this. It seemed untouched…

Except that it wasn’t. Something was off and it had been ever since they’d descended through the atmosphere. Her sensitivities to the Force were abnormally uncanny for an apprentice and she could feel a sense of wrongness in the very ground beneath her feet. It was in the air. Everywhere.

Myla mentioned that this would be the time for trading and the silvery woman nodded her head. They HAD mentioned that they were on their way to the village to re-stock their supplies. Briefly, she tried to consider what she had that could be of any value when she remembered a decent sized package of namana candies in a pocket of her rucksack. She was sure, once a vendor tested one, that she could use it to barter. “I’ll get to it then. We’ll need some rations and whatnot for our journey.”

She would have traded some of the supplies from her medi-kit but she worried that they may actually come to need them before this adventure came to a close. Not to mention, that bacta patches would probably go over just as well as a lightsaber, or starship. Some might accept that the material was coated with natural herbs to promote faster healing, but when seen in action, it would be too fast. Skin mending too quickly to be anything but ‘magic’ and they were trying to keep a low profile.

Srina painted a smile on her face as she approached the first marketplace trader that seemed viable. Cured meats were a staple for long travels and he had plenty. She was polite, unassuming, and beautiful. He seemed more stunned with her too clean appearance more than the pleasant feeling that arrived after he tried the candy she offered. Half a package later she returned with what she’d been looking for stashed in her pack. They had weapons. They didn’t really need anything else—Just information. That, and a direction, for her to point her blades in.

[member="Cassius Droma"]

 

[Cassius Droma]

He hadn’t been visited by the Jedi Master that had led him here in his dreams. Cassius had expected it, since he had finally come to the place where he’d been urged to all this time, but there had been nothing. It has almost as if he’d been cut off from the light sided presence… due to the darkness surrounding the planet, no doubt. When he did finally wake up, he saw Srina was ready to go, boots laced and everything. The young Jedi didn’t think much of it – perhaps Echani didn’t need as much sleep as humans. Myla woke up shortly after, and they headed out.

Cassius didn’t exactly have much to trade, other than awkward glances passed his way as he moved through the small crowd around the stalls. There were a few small pieces of metal and dull gems that was in a compartment in his bag – things he thought could be used for currency or bartering. Reaching a stall that sold maps, Cassius bought one, finding it surprisingly detailed. It would prove useful as they planned their attack on Lord Rao. Once he bought a few more items that would make camping out in the woods easier, Cassius felt satisfied that he’d gotten the supplies he required. There wasn’t much else he needed – he’d made sure to pack what supplies he thought could be useful.

A small murmur went through the crowd as Cassius felt the atmosphere chill around them. Not physically, but in the Force. Turning his head, he saw a man shrouded in a black cloak and dark armor, the steed upon which he sat an equally intimidating shade. Two other men strode next to him, wearing similar garb. Their mere presence brought a metaphorical dark cloud over the town, and the villagers quieted.

Cassius felt Myla come up next to him and grab his arm, leaning in to his ear. “Lord Rao’s men – his Acolytes.” The Jedi slowly nodded in understanding.

“There has been a report of a child with magic here,” the one in the middle declared, his voice booming across the town square. “Bring him here. Now.”

From the crowd, a small child, no older than ten years, was pushed from the masses by a weasel-looking older man. “This one! This one ‘ere! Saw ‘im moving rocks without touchin’ ‘em!” A woman broke from the crowd and put her arms around him – the boy’s mother.

“Please, the man does not know on which he speaks!” the woman cried. She knew what was about to happen, but squeezed her boy as tight as she could, in the hopes that it wouldn’t come to be. The middle Acolyte dismounted his horse and strode to the pair, removing his helmet to reveal a man in his late thirties, with flowing brown hair. “We’ll determine that for ourselves. Give us the boy.”

“No!” the woman screamed out, but the man wrenched the child from her grasp and threw her to the ground. The boy squirmed from the Acolyte’s grasp and ran back towards the crowd. The Acolyte stepped forward, but suddenly found Cassius standing in his way, his hand outstretched.

“Move, boy,” the Acolyte ordered, reaching for his sword.

If there was one thing in his whole galaxy that Cassius hated, it was being called ‘boy’. “No,” he simply muttered.

Without another word, the Acolyte stepped forward, drawing his blade, but before he could get much further, there was a snap-hiss, and a blue lightsaber blade was pointing directly at him. The Acolyte stopped before he ran into it, his shocked eyes trained on the tip of the saber mere inches from his face. Cassius was in his preferred ox guard stance, his green eyes staring down the Acolyte before him. A hushed murmur echoed throughout the crowd.

The other Acolytes drew crossbows, and Myla drew her bow, arrow trained at the closest Acolyte.

[member="Srina Talon"]

 

[Srina Talon]

Srina smiled and charmed the merchants as only an Echani could. There was an air of mystery, a sweetness to her laugh, and a shine to silver eyes that few could ignore. All of her kind seemed otherworldly. Polite, educated, and near perfect. Suspicious glances melted both out of her own allures and a little bit of mentalist manipulation. It was one of the first things Srina had worked on with her Master in light of her encounter with Jairus Starvald. He’d first taught her to shore up her mind against outside intrusion. Lessening suspicions about both herself and Cassius took little effort. Making her own presence palatable was just one of the many parlor tricks she’d picked up.

Her utilization of the Force was was smooth, effortless, and made the recipient feel as if her gentle nudge had been their idea in the first place. It was so slight, so minimal, other Force users may miss the execution.

She made what trades she thought might be useful and spent a little bit of timing getting to know the community. Myla was informative, kind, and gracious, but she liked information from multiple sources. It wasn’t long before the mood of the pleasant morning shifted. Srina had wandered some distance from Cassius by the time the riders arrived. A crowd formed, and Srina was forced to slip through the masses, her lithe form barely causing a ripple. She too could feel the chill in the air and a small shiver ran down her spine.

The reality of the situation sunk in and the Echani could feel the panic that ran through the mother. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard the sound of a lightsaber igniting. The tension in what equated to a gathering in town square went from nothing to a hundred in seconds. Silvered eyes grew firm as she broke through the line of townspeople. “Gentleman…”, she called to both Cassius and the Acolytes that were currently pointing rather nasty looking crossbows at both her friend, Myla, and several innocent people. “Please. There is no need for such hostility. There has clearly been some sort of misunderstanding.”

The young apprentice let her consciousness brush against the mind of the Jedi that she came to stand beside. It was gentle, far from an intrusion, but a wordless whisper of calmness and reassurance. Her hand came to test on Cassius’s shoulder, briefly, before she stepped neatly around his glowing blue lightsaber. “What my friend means to say…Is that there is no child with magic here.”

Silver eyes held the gaze of the man with the flowing auburn locks and she issued a disarming smile. He was strong but not mentally skilled, not in the way that her Master was, nor in the way of any Sith she’d come across. The little Echani pushed past the barriers of his mind that would seek to keep her out. The Force responded to her, as easily as a mother responded to a wailing child, and she utilized it to keep her manipulations from overwhelming the Acolyte she was attempting to obfuscate.

If she pushed too hard, too quickly, it could cause his mind to reject the point of view she was attempting to impress. “You must have been misinformed. Accidentally, of course.”

Srina pulled on the one thing she knew to exist almost universally. Self-preservation. It would make even the strongest of soul back down. Cassius was an unknown and his lightsaber had clearly startled everyone present. He was a threat. Did they really want to fight over nothing? There were so few of them. So many townsfolk. “Let us ask the man again.”, Srina backed away from the Acolyte as her influence expanded to encompass all of Lord Rao’s men. The white-gold haired beauty turned to the weasel-faced man that she wanted nothing more than to run a sword through. Selling out a child, in any form, was unacceptable. “Tell these men truly…Did you really see this boy perform magic?”

The man opened his mouth, as if he was sure of his answer, before he paused. Gnarled fingers rose to scratch his head as confusion flooded his expression. “I really thought…”, the main trailed off, mouth opening and closing, as Srina changed the memory. Eventually, his mind would try to reconcile the paradox she’d left behind but by the time the rightful events returned it would be too late. “I uh…I might ‘ave been confused. Lots of kids were playin’ outside. I might ‘ave had abit more to spirits that day than usual...”

Srina smiled and turned back to the Acolyte, spreading her palms, as if to prove that no one had anything to hide. The more she rooted her manipulations in possible truth the longer her influence would hold. All she had to do was break the ringleader and the rest would follow. “Do you see? Now…Why don’t we forget all of this and put down our weapons? Water your horses and come into the inn for a meal and some drink. Then you can be on your way.”

The Acolyte stared at her for a long, long moment, before he sheathed his blade. “Aye, girl. That does sound like a good idea.”, the man eyed Cassius none too gently, but continued on, taking his horse to the watering trough. Srina smiled, as if nothing was amiss, and made sure that the rest of the soldiers followed suit. The little Echani stepped back and willed the crowd to disperse. Everyone ought to slowly, but surely, go back to their routines.

The white-haired woman could feel the strain, the tension, from pulling on so many loose threads at once. Even still, she focused on the men in black armor as they disappeared into the makeshift inn at her less than subtle suggestion. She kept moving until her back found the wall of a shop and she slid down it quickly, almost as if her legs gave out beneath her. She sat squarely on her rear in the dirt and her eyes fell closed.

Srina had a watery feeling in her mouth that denoted she might soon be ill and her head felt like it was full of lead. ‘Consequences.’, she could hear the voice of her Master in her ear, despite the fact that he was nowhere nearby, ‘Cause and effect, my dear. Just breathe through it. You'll adjust."

[member="Cassius Droma"]

 

[Cassius Droma]

Cassius stood, his face stoic, piercing eyes staring down the Acolyte with his sword drawn. He didn’t break his gaze, even as Srina worked her ‘magic’ around the crowd. Her influence could be felt brushing up against his mind, and he couldn’t help but push it away, somewhat. His body was set on battle – three easy moves, and the man in front of him would be dead, and Myla would surely be able to shoot down at least one of the mounted Acolytes.

What surprised Cassius is that her influence actually worked. All those minds, especially those of the trained soldiers, must have taken its toll. As the men in black broke off, Cassius continued to keep an eye on them, the blade of his lightsaber slowly sipping back into the hilt. Myla lowered her bow, relieving the tension on the string and de-nocking the arrow.

As the young archer came over to Cassius and the crowd dispersed, Myla quickly walked over to him, worry etched on her face. “What she did…” she said, talking fast and low, “is it permanent?”

“No,” Cassius said, his jaw hardening. He already knew where she was going with this. “We need to leave.”

“Yes,” Myla nodded, wild eyes shifting about. She looked over her shoulder to the Acolytes.

The man who had outed the small boy of magic earlier shuffled up to Cassius, his eyes squinting and watery, obviously confused. “Is… is that a Sword-“

“Go home and sleep this off,” Cassius said in an authoritative tone without even looking at him, his hand waving ever so slightly. The man grumbled and shambled off, a finger to his temple, his mind a fog from so many manipulations in such short succession. Cassius looked back to Myla. “Do you have anywhere to hide?”

Her gaze went off to the side for a moment. “I think I might,” she said, curtly nodding. “In the woods. It’s safe.”

“Let’s get moving, then,” Cassius said. “Grab anything you need from your cottage. I’ll get her,” his head nodded in the direction of Srina, who was sitting on the ground. Myla nodded and ran off, her fear hanging over her head like a heavy storm cloud. They might have been able to stave off conflict for long, but it wouldn’t last.

Cassius walked over to where Srina had planted herself and knelt down. “Can you walk?” he asked.

[member="Srina Talon"]

 

[Srina Talon]

Srina breathed deeply, in through her nose and out through her mouth. The churning in her stomach slowly subsided and the tension between her eyes decreased. There were so many factors involved that left her feeling like too little butter spread over too much bread. She could hear Cassius and Myla talking, conspiring, but she couldn’t quite follow the words. By the time her green-eyed Jedi knelt down before her she was feeling a little more stable, though her eyes remained closed, focused on something further away. “Of course I can walk.”, she responded, her usually sweet tones marred with a touch of burning Echani pride. She didn’t like being treated like an invalid.

She braced herself against the clay packed wall and pushed herself up, refusing to let Cassius see any further weakness, no matter how her body and mind protested. The tightness in his jaw, the look in his eyes, told her that he wasn’t pleased with her choices. It was a strange day indeed when a Sith Apprentice would show more restraint than a Jedi Padawan. “You would risk fighting in the open?”

“One stray shot from a crossbow…”, Srina trailed off, knowing how quickly she could dispatch an enemy, but also knowing, from her work in the Confederacy, that the wellbeing of the people came first. The first lesson she had learned when she entered Larinkáoi was that no soldier was infallible. “We cannot fight in a crowd unless there is no other option. We stay the combat, move away from the village, and proceed on our own terms. Unless, acceptable losses has been added to Jedi curriculum.”

They’d seen the effects of fighting openly long ago, upon their first meeting, on Coruscant. If it could be avoided it should. From three soldiers to an army…Srina felt strongly about it. She hadn’t followed him to this nebula clouded planet to bring heartache to an underdeveloped people. It was unfair. They were caught in a web they didn’t understand.

Srina picked up her pack and slung it over her shoulders, ignoring the way that she wobbled, and refusing to ask for help. She moved ahead, knowing instinctively, from what she had gleaned from the black armored soldiers, that they would need to get out of sight. Her manipulations would buy them time, plenty enough to get a head start, but it was merely a tactic. “The mother and child will need to hide. But, not for long. That lightsaber of yours, that you keep flashing, will bring them to us.”

“You are far more interesting, far more valuable to them, than any child. Congratulations. You’ve become bait.”

Srina adjusted her rucksack, brushing white-gold hair out of her eyes, and continued to walk. She wasn’t sure how far they were going, but until Cassius stayed her, she didn’t intend to waste time. The forest was a perfect staging area. If the soldiers were worth their salt, they would track the small group, so long as they didn’t wander too far. If they retained the intention of being found the rest was simple.

“When they find us, we kill two and save one. He will show us the way to this Lord Soo-Rao that your hunter friend spoke of.”

There was something off about the young woman, though, it would be hard to place. Either way, her thoughts on the matter were rather clear. No matter the reason Cassius was drawn to this planet it seemed obvious that they couldn't leave without disposing of an oppressive and cruel regime. The soldiers were pawns to be moved for either side. Srina intended to use it to their advantage.

[member="Cassius Droma"]