The Anger Of Angels

[Jamie Pyne]

"That's a hardly comforting thought." Referring of course to the idea that someone brought it there on purpose. "You think there's more then?" Gosh. I hope not!

If using that technique of the Force even one time had managed to tire Cerita out that much, she was almost too afraid to think of what it might mean if she tried doing it again. There was one time back on Spira where she'd accidentally, somehow managed to calm the mind of a wild Manka Cat that was about to attack her and Kurt, but the strain and stress of the situation caused her to faint mid-process. Next thing she knew, she woke up elsewhere.

Of course, she might feel a tad bit better about the whole situation if she had something a little more imposing than a simple sword to deal with such a gigantic, terrifying creature. Feth.

"Okay. We'll just have to pay double attention to everything around us, I guess."

Onward through the blizzard!

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

"I am not entirely worried about the terentatek - or the possibility of more of them - to be honest." She mumbled out, while pushing up her scarf against the snow and wind hailing them in the face and obscuring anything more than two meters in front of them. At this point they couldn't even see the caldera anymore, but as long as they kept the same direction... they would probably be fine.

Or they would start circling the same direction for hours on end, then drop dead from exhaustion.

But that was a thought she wisely kept to herself. There was little to no need to overly freak out Pyne - it was difficult to remember that most humanoids had a lot of worries that kept them from performing optimally in stressful situations.

She needed to adapt towards that realization.

"I am more worried about who brought the thing here in the first place."

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Ceri may not have been worried about more Terentateks, that was her prerogative. Jamie was petrified of ever seeing another one again. Even the one was more than she cared to ever bear witness to. Some things in life just needn't be seen...Ever. The woman did have a point though, whoever brought them here was likely equally as dangerous. After all, to be able to handle those beasts well enough to transport them without being eaten in the process was impressive in a frightfully concerning way.

"Right." She nodded, pressing forward, feet sinking into the deep trenches of snow as they continued towards their original destination.

The only company shared between the two was now the howling gale force winds, twisting snow into miniature cyclones before dissipating into nothingness, occasionally sending stinging gusts nipping at their faces and limbs. To her surprise Cerita's gadget was actually working. She was cold, but no more so than on a chilly day back home. Lucky for her, otherwise hypothermia would have already set in, and all that would be found, if ever, would be a frozen icicle of a former noble girl from Naboo.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

It was a long track, groveling one, there were times when Ceri just wanted to give up.

Just lay down in the snow, let her body sink into the depths and sleep. Exhaustion running high and weary through her muscles, the winds constantly harrying them and pushing them back. But they kept going and going and going. It was a mental issue as much as a physical one, because it didn't feel like they were making much process.

The caldera in the distance wasn't getting any bigger -- representing they were actually getting closer, if anything it was getting more difficult to see it, because of the snowy winds raising up again every once in a while.

"Feth." She grunted, when they finally got to the beginning of the slope. It felt like an achievement in itself... but part of Ceri realized that it was only gonna get harder now.

"How you feeling?!"

The gallowing winds were making it hard to understand each other, even when they were close-by.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie paused at the base of the slope. Slow, deep breaths. Looking up she saw an endless path obscured by snow. The gales were now as strong as whips against raw flesh, leaving behind a stinging sensation on any unprotected areas of skin as it passed by. It was rather unpleasant, coupled with their already less than ideal situation. It felt like the walk up would be impossible, insurmountable.

"I'm...Okay!" Her voice was carried off into the wind as she shouted to Cerita. "Come on!! We need to hurry!!"

Jamie used her moment of motivation to quickly step through several feet of densely packed snow upwards. That motivation would soon falter though, leaving her with that same exhausted feeling she'd had only moments prior. Picking feet up and advancing forward was more of a challenge with an incline, leaving the blonde to groan and grunt as she forced her way up.

This. was. awful.

"What do you think is even up here!?"

She wasn't sure if she should be eager to reach the top or afraid.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

In truth Ceri looked weaker than she really was.

No huge, bulking muscles or tall stature that implied any of the hidden strength hidden. But she was a plant at the end of the day, she didn't have any real muscle fiber, so acid didn't form up inside her muscles when she was getting tired and exhausted, and above all... she could shape her own body through plant surge.

This meant that using the extra mass hidden inside her body she could strengthen herself in situations that called for it.

Like trying to walk up bullcreek mountain.

"If we are lucky? Nothing at all." Sarova managed in between breathes. Slowly the 'muscles' in her legs started to grow in density, allowing her to push herself forward farther and with more intensity. "But we haven't been all that lucky before."

A shrug followed.

They walked silently for the next few minutes -- she needed her concentration for her legs, [member="Jamie Pyne"] needed to focus on the walk itself -- all that stopped though, when Ceri noticed a feint shimmering farther up.

"Did you... see th-" They approached closer and the wind was angled just right, shoving away some of the snow that obscured the durasteel doorway hidden away. "Ah kark."

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie leaned her head partly sideways, eyes squinting a bit to see what it was Ceri was referring to. Several obscuring gusts later and her sight cleared enough to make out what the other woman had seen. "Is that...." Her head leaned several inches more forward, as if trying to confirm her own question. "A door?" It sure looked to be one. But, why? Why here? Why on top of this mountain? What was behind it and what was the purpose of whatever was built inside? So many questions she had, on top of a feeling of unease.

"Well, we don't have many options. Either we check it out or die out here." The blonde shrugged, covering her face again as she continued up. "Come on, what's the worst that could be in there? Who knows, maybe they'll have a ship we can borrow to get out of here, or at the very least a comm to radio for help."

With that she continued her trek up the mountain with renewed vigor towards the door that had been reflecting the glimmering rays of sunlight through the gale and frost of Belsavis. After seeing Ceri deal with that monster she was far less frightened about what could potentially be waiting for them inside.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

Rampaging Sithspawn, a caldera with volcanic activity and a shimmering door hidden away by the icy snow.

All of that just screamed that this was a bad idea, but Pyne had a point when she spoke of limited options. There wasn't much they could really do right now, either explore this place or go back into the snow and just wait to die. So after a second or two the green girl followed Pyne, catching up with her in front of the durasteel... wall.

There didn't seem to be any way to get inside, though. No seams, no door latches, nothing. Just a big, shiny durasteel wall - forged from one piece of metal.

"Don't suppose you got explosives with you." Ceri mumbled out, while approaching the wall. Her hand reached out... but something told her it would be better not to touch it. Sithspawn... could be a rival alchemist at work. "Not sure I got many more tricks in me at this point."

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie patted her sides down as if there was any hope of finding some kind of stray thermal detonator or something ludicrous like that.

"Nope." She said with a shrug of the shoulders. "Afraid not."

Her icy blue eyes shifted from side to side, her hands brushing away at the snow covered durasteel to try and find some kind of recessed latch, button, or biometric door lock. She was familiar with those types of doorways as her home back on Naboo had several hidden biometrics to different rooms that one wouldn't know of unless they were told, or had some other means of seeing through walls.

Unfortunately she found nothing that gave away the impression that there was a hidden release lever on the door. Perhaps it was elsewhere? Or maybe this was another Force thing?

"Are there any doors that are linked directly to the Force or something? Like do people have Force signatures or something like a person would use to sign their name? Or a ship to transmit its' signature to a tower?"

That was the only thing she could think of, short of looking for another way in.

"I mean, unless you just cut through the metal with a lightsaber. I guess that would work too?"

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

"That is possible, yes." Sarova remarked after a brief ponder. It was entirely possible the 'alchemist' (she didn't even know if there was a rival alchemist in play here, but her instincts had never failed her before) had attuned the wall to his personal signature, or maybe there was some kind of signal which needed to be transferred, before the door would open.

Either way- they didn't have a similar signature nor a signal, so both of them were dead ends.

Blink.

"I completely forgot about my lightsaber!" Cerita suddenly said, suppressing the urge to facepalm. "I barely use the thing, so it usually slips my mind as an option."

Which wasn't something to be proud of. As a scientist she should always have all the options clearly open to her.

"Alright," She brought out the 'saber from her pack, before looking over her shoulder. "Stand back, we aren't sure what will happen if we laser through."

A moment later their immediate area was illuminated by a silvery shine and then the metal started to sizzle, when she punctured the wall with the lightsaber.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie probably would have laughed if it weren't for the dire situation they were currently in, and about to be in once they managed their way through this doorway to whatever was on the other side, or waiting for them. The unknown was always the most terrifying. The blonde turned her head as Ceri ignited her saber and began cutting through the doorway to shield her eyes from the brightness and melting metal.

It wouldn't take long for the other girl to carve their way through the durasteel door. A loud thunk gave signal that the metal had fallen inwards of the entryway. If anyone was aware of and actively watching that entrance they were sure to know they had company now. The whole element of surprise was almost certainly gone if anyone paid that doorway any kind of attention.

"No alarms. I guess that's a good sign, right?" Perhaps, or maybe they were silent alarms. Better to be cautious all the same she figured. The light coming from the saber lit the inner hallway as the two stepped inside, looking down what was an incredibly long corridor that eventually faded into darkness.

"It looks like a long way down." Where exactly where they heading?

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

"One way; forward." Ceri mumbled out, while trying to pierce the darkness farther down the road.

There wasn't a better option for them left, though. They could either take their chances with this... whatever this was or go back the way they came; either could be a suicide pact. But this way they wouldn't be cold while dying, which automatically made it the preferable option in the long run. At least that's what Ceri thought and considering Pyne followed her in shortly?

She probably had the same thoughts.

"Stay close."

Perhaps it was unnecessary to add, but in this short jaunt Cerita had developed something of protectiveness over the Naughty Pyne. Nickname was developed after a night of drinking, she still had to stifle a giggle at it.

They walked and walked and walked and walked.

Part of her wondered if there would ever be an ending to this, but all they could see was shiny durasteel wal- wait, there. In the distance there was a single point of light, suddenly appearing out of the darkness.

"You see that?"

 

[Jamie Pyne]

"Stay close?" She whispered, "Where else am I going to go?" She said sarcastically.

The corridor was straight, down, and narrow. It wasn't quite like Jamie had anywhere else to go. Short of trap doors or obscured holes in the floor she wasn't going anywhere but forward with Cerita. Though now that she had that thought in her mind, she couldn't help but take a bit more caution with her steps.

For some time Jamie wondered if this path was simply taking them all the way back down the mountain where they would once again find themselves out in the storm, having wasted countless minutes walking. How long have we been in here anyway? She wondered to herself until finally Ceri pulled away her attention to the light at the end of the tunnel.

"Yeah. I see it." Her tone was mildly nervous. Unsure of what the light was, or what lay beyond. Though it was harder for Jamie to see from behind Ceri, the hallway too narrow for both to walk side by side. "Can you see anything?"

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

"Not yet," Ceri mumbled out, while ignoring the sarcasm. It was a mammal response to anxiety as far as she observed. When one was afraid or in danger or nervous about something, they lashed out (some more than others) in an attempt to dissuade or even completely ignore their own feelings about the situation. Quite an interesting emotional response, but sadly this wasn't the time for studies or elaborate observations now.

The light was blinding, because their eyes had just about settled and adapted towards the darkness of the tunnel itself. But the closer they came, the more clear it was becoming to Sarova. For one, it was artificial light. The angle and color told her as much, but the cascading effect only settled it for her. So this wasn't just the exit out into the cold again, it was... a room?

Perhaps.

They were about there, when Ceri turned around an inch and pressed her fingers on her lips- universal sign for silent-mode. They crept forward in silence, until finally they broke through the eternal tunnel walk and arrived at the end.

It was a room; big, round and spacious. No occupants as far as Cerita could sense or see, but that didn't have to mean much. There were large bookcases stacked with thick tomes on one side, it dominated that partial area, while the other side had strange equipment; some high-tech and some more... arcane in nature.

There were couches and chairs and tables scattered through the room, tables with trinkets and tools spread out.

"Huh; this might be bigger trouble than I thought."

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

 

[Jamie Pyne]

The blonde stood aside Cerita, her blue eyes shifting from wall to wall, ceiling to floor, and everywhere between. It was confusing, their surroundings. The room partially looked like a laboratory, while at the same time it looked to be a grand study. Jamie's hand lifted, tussling her golden hair. "Trouble? It looks like a library." She said bluntly. "But, over there-" A finger pointed towards the western face of the room. "It looks like a research lab." There was a pause, enough time for her to puff a small breath between her lips. "It looks ancient and modern at the same time. But what I'm most confused about is why this would be where that tunnel leads? If This is what's at the entrance, what else is here?" She mused aloud, looking around for and eventually locating a large durasteel door separating the chamber from another room or corridor.

"You think they make those...Things we saw outside here?" Jamie meandered towards one of the large circular tables with a variety of beakers, vials, and flasks in a circular container encased in transparisteel. Bending over she placed her hands on the table and gazed at the mixture of vibrantly colored chemicals, shifting from one to the other in turn before looking back over at Cerita. "Strange." Rolling her shoulders she stood back up and sauntered over towards one of the bookcases and pulled any random one off the shelf before plopping herself down lazily onto a couch.

"Let's see what they're learning about." She said, cracking open the book.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

"Let's." Sarova agreed, before looking over Pyne's shoulder towards the book. But only after reaching gently out with the Force and ensuring that it was actually safe to crack open and look at -- mostly, because some Alchemists just loved to add spells and curses to their lovely things. If and when someone who wasn't authorized opened it... things happened and usually they weren't pretty things at all, yet, nothing seemed to happen this time around.

This meant either of two things; either this alchemist didn't care or - more likely - this book wasn't all that important to him.

It would be silly to curse every single pebble in your possession. No, you would only do the ones that truly mattered to you and that was that.

"Huh." Her eyes scrolled past the texts and noted the pictures. "Yeah, Terentateks, vivisections and other gruesome stuff, whoever this joker is... he's made that thing out there."

It was probably still raging there, in the deep, deep dark pit they had dropped him in.

"We need to figure out if there's a place here where we can communicate with the Alliance- or hell, a gorram ship that we can use to get out of here. Ideas?"

 

[Jamie Pyne]

"Well." She said, closing the book with her thumb and index finger, wafting a small plume of dust into the air as she did so. "We know where that creature came from. That's a start." She continued, setting the book back atop the shelf. "Now we just need to know who and why." Giving a nod to Ceri she took up a seat at the edge of the room, crossing her right leg over the left, resting her chin in her hand for a few long moments in thought. "It's isolated here. That means they wanted it to be done safely, and in secret. So that tells me that they're at least sane in a sense."

There was a small wiggle of her nose as she pieced the puzzle together.

"They've built this rather grand structure into the side of a mountain, which means they planned to be here for some time, alone." Her throat hummed away, trying to understand this person's thought process. "Perhaps that beast was simply a guard of some kind? An early warning of sorts? In case he was ever discovered, perhaps that...thing was meant to buy him time to escape. Maybe that's why he's not here now. Perhaps he was expecting some kind of military force?"

This whole thing was incredibly strange and circumstantial. Regardless though, they needed to get gone, and the sooner they did that the better. "Either way, there has to be a ship here somewhere. How else would he have gotten here? Or planned to get off this rock? I don't see anywhere a person could likely find food, so he must have to leave this world eventually." Jamie stood, heading towards a large durasteel door that looked to have a biometric lock. "I'm guessing this is our only way out. Though I doubt it's going to accept my fingerprint."

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

"I don't think he or she is gone, they wouldn't leave the things they left... not even in a hurry." She knew this to be true, because she was pretty much the same. No matter what- there were lab equipment that Cerita would not, could not, leave behind even if there was all the hurry in the world.

It wasn't about their worth in monetary goods, it was about the sheer difficulty of obtaining them in the first place.

Would be like giving up an arm or a leg, sorta.

"But you are right. He isn't hitch-hiking on public transportation, so there has to be some kind of private bay for him." The alchemist looked past Pyne and then at the biometric lock. It was surprising how an alchemist like the one they were facing could safe-guard against everything... except his very own trade.

Maybe he hadn't figured it likely that another alchemist would intrude upon his domain or maybe he needed another option, if he got locked in himself?

"Here." Her hand moved over the lock and a sizzle sounded from its inner-workings, sparks flew and magically the door opened itself again.

Behind it? A stairway up.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie watched in awe as Cerita manipulated the lock to open with seemingly little effort. Her eyes widened, jaw fell agape, brow raised and nostrils flared.

Quite an attractive look.

"Well. That's a neat little trick, huh?"

Without waiting for a response the girl began to ascend the staircase. It wasn't quite like they had anywhere else to go. Their options were back out into the frozen tundra or up this staircase to who knows where.

"I wonder what else he's got around. I imagine those creatures aren't the only thing he is working on, if he made himself a nice little isolated mountain lair here."

A side of her wanted to find out what else he had, the other just wished the place was abandoned with a single ship left that still functioned which would get them off world. Somehow though she didn't think that was likely in the cards for them. The staircase was unnecessarily long, or so it seemed, that the two were walking up for quite some time before she reached the final step, a door with a tiny rectangular window faced them. Jamie would press her face against the glass, trying to see what was beyond, though there didn't seem to be quite enough room to maneuver and manage anything of use.

"I don't think we have much choice but to just open it and see where we are, unless you have some other kind of trick I don't know about."

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

"Sadly I haven't learned how to walk through walls and mountains yet, so we might as well." Ceri responded with a smirk, before taking a deep breath.

Cracking open that lock, making the ice break under the beast, it had taken its toll. Any other time, it would have been relatively easy for her, but she was tired. There was still an ache to her, but being thrown around in a spaceship accident would do that to a person. So she wasn't worried- just cautious that it wasn't overdone.

There wasn't much Cerita could do while being unconcious and dragged by [member="Jamie Pyne"].

"Alright, here goes nothing."

Ceri pushed open the door, while shielding Pyne with her body. At the end of the day Jamie was still a padawan, so she felt a little bit responsible for her safety. Even if she almost got all of them killed by a routine trip. Inside... a ship, but there was more than just a ship inside an utilitarian hangar bay.

There were signs of preparations.

Crates opened and various equipment laying haphazardly next to them. The signs of a man evacuating, trying to be as fast as possible.

Sarova couldn't see him though, which concerned her. In response she waved Pyne down and put her finger to her mouth, universal sign of staying quiet for the moment. Then she started to sneak into the room. Hoping that they would be unnoticed for the moment, while they figured out what the hell was happening here.