First Reply The Guardians

[Junko Ike]

The Atrisian world of Rei'izu ancient and always shrouded in a mist rising up the canyons. Large Cloud-deer roaming around and the gravity was heavier then mist were used to. The temple shuttle down rocking while they went towards the pilgrims ward of the planet. THe main temple on the planet was beautiful and when you came out of the mist you could see it for a moment. Wukong jedi were there protecting the mirror... something no one really knew about but the explorers of the planet were venturing deeper and deeper into the canyons. THey had found other things on the planet... statues that were older then many had thought... there were statues and smaller temples. Junko was coming here after her adventure with Shoma and Ahri... a fun time all around and it gave her the bug to go and explore some of the things they were letting the others do.

"We are on approach princess." The chance was there and riches were promised for discoveries, she had her equipment pack and her kimono robes while her emergency vessel was ready in case she needed it. A choushin biot accompanying her on the shuttle so that they would be able to walk around and explore. Only two handmaidens in Barca and Kirano who would be better at longer trips like this without the massive precession. She could see through the viewport the pilgrims area and they were landing as the feeling fo the planet came to her... the unknown presence at the corner of perception... the draw of the mirror and wanting to touch it but last time that had happened bad things came. The jedi princess was allowing a few of the others who had come to explore and try to make credits gather as there were groups being organized and heading out.

 

[Lucky Pride]

Rei'izu...hardly a place Lucky thought he'd ever step foot on, but where there were credits to be made and adventure to be had he couldn't turn a blind eye. Walking over to a viewport away from the others, Lucky couldn't help but stare in amazement as the craft descended from the clouds and hovered over the beautiful mountainous world below. Like a child staring into the front window of a toy store, Lucky pressed his face and palms against the thick glass. He swore he could almost taste the brisk cold air outside.

"Wooooow...so pretty..."

The vessel began to shake and shudder as the group approached the ground and Lucky was knocked away from the viewport and onto the floor, spilling the contents of his satchel everywhere. "Sorry! Ma' bad!" Quickly, Lucky began to shove his wrench unceremoniously back into his bag before standing up and making his way over to the rest of the explorers. He wasn't exactly sure what they were looking for on this world or if there was even anything to find, but the promise of credits was enough for people like Lucky, and who knows? On an artisan world, there might be expensive trinkets and art pieces to relieve people of. Worst case scenario he and his compadres could always find the most successful group and rob them of whatever treasure they hauled...that is if he even managed to form a group in the first place...

"Eh...?"

Lucky watched helplessly as all the other explorers began to break off into their own groups leaving him in the center with not a single soul left to accompany him. Was it because of what happened in the refresher earlier? How was he supposed to know?! The wipes said they were flushable! Why wouldn't he trust that? Frantically, Lucky began pacing around the room trying to covertly slip himself into the circles of the other groups but with his bright orange hair, purple coat, and less-than-pleasant aroma there was little hope of stealth for him.

Then he saw her...

A woman dressed in a beautiful robe Lucky had never seen before flanked by two attendants that didn't seem to leave her side. She had an air of regality to her but from what Lucky had overheard she wasn't just some noble he'd probably rob later...she was a Jedi. Jedi were supposed to be kind and benevolent right? Yeah...yeah! No way she'd turn him down!

"Hey! Yoohoo!" He shouted before jogging over toward Junko Ike . "How's it hanging? It looks like you're short on people!" He smiled pretending not to see the entourage next to Junko. "The name's Lucky." He planted a thumb on his chest. "But you can call me the Luckster. Nice to meet ya."

 

[Junko Ike]

Lucky Pride

THe various groups were moving around and going into their own teams. That was beneficial.. the more teams the more chances they would be able to discover anything. SHe was going to see about joining one when someone was running at them. Her handmaidens prepared to defend but she moved a finger and they stopped as he approached... His hair was bright.... and orange.... but coat larger but he came towards her which did earn a little in terms of endearment. "Lucky huh?" She said it like a question and raised her eyebrows up a little but offered a smile while clasping her hands in front of herself and bowing. "I am Junko."

She said it with the bow and when she stood up moved in a mixture, her feet moved small amounts but she was able to clear the distance when she was looking around. The three walls of the ward where they were and the one the others were venturing from. The mist covered canyons not opening but there were paths they could all go down from here or make their own way. "YOu are welcome to come with me, I was going to take the path behind the temple. Few go in to see the mirror for good reasons which means the path behind is less explored going down into the valley." She said it and bowed her head again as she had her back and the handmaidens flanked her.

The bridge going to the temple was deceptive... it looked ancient, it looked like rope but they had modernized it in more ways... securing the ropes with materia to strengthen the bonds of it. SHe stepped on it and it didn't sway as she walked without looking down at the mists and canyon. The other side of the bridge obscured but her footsteps were quiet on it. Barca and Phaidor following behind her as they didn't looked to look around just raised the hoods of their robes to obscure their face.

 

[Lucky Pride]

Lucky smiled at the sound of the Jedi's name. Junko huh? That's a pretty name, he wondered if it meant something. What he wasn't expecting though was Junko to bow, she didn't bow terribly low but it still caught him off guard. It wasn't too long ago that the roles would have been reversed. Shoving his hands into his coat pockets, Lucky backed up a few steps and really examined Junko Ike and her entourage. Her expensive clothing, the two women he hoped weren't slaves, her formality, her posture...this lady had MONEY. Like MONEY money.

"Wow...you're pretty AND wealthy!" Lucky smiled sincerely and placed a hand on Junko's shoulder. "I'ma rob you one day!" His smile didn't fade during the short pause that followed. "Welp! Time to get movin'."

Following Junko out onto the planet, Lucky was immediately hit with the cold brisk air of the world just like he expected. There were canyons and mountain ranges for miles around and it made Lucky instantly glad that he had managed to find a group because on his own he didn't know where he would've started, it was all so massive. Following behind the Junko the group was led onto an ancient bridge definitely much older than any of them and Lucky found himself questioning the integrity of such a structure. Deciding the test the old bridge, Lucky began to stomp hard on one of the wooden planks, shaking the entire bridge until eventually the wood caved in and the plank fell to the bottom of the abyss with a loud CRACK!!

Backing away from the hole, Lucky tried to play off what happened as though it wasn't obvious as he scoot his way back toward Junko and the others. Not even two minutes in and he'd already damaged a valuable historical structure. Squeezing past Barca, Lucky came up beside Junko his hands in his pockets as he didn't even bother hiding his blatant staring at the woman. "So like...are you actually a Jedi? What's that like? Do you get to just go around slicing people up and stuff? All the stories I heard about the Jedi make you guys seem almost invincible, so honestly I think we're WAAAAY better off than the other groups."

Lucky adjusted his goggles and ran a hand through his hair. "I mean between your good looks, supposed magic powers, and my irresistible roguish charm there is NO WAY we don't haul something good. It's like...mathematical."

 

[Junko Ike]

Lucky Pride

Her eyebrow was raised at the claim as they were moving... She listened to him damage the planks of the bridge and made a mental note as he continued to talk and she stayed there. "I am a jedi yes." She said it while walking and listened to his view of it and what they might be able to find... there was something funny about it she would admit. "but I do not go around slashing people. To do so would be to bring shame to the order and myself. A jedi works with the strictest control of their skills and emotions." She said it and well did follow it... plus there was the whole thing where criminal colors did not look good... and the hygiene of the ones in those holding cells left a lot to be wanted.

She continued to walk though while he was speaking and breaking down the situation with only a raised eyebrow.... and a blink. "I see, please let me know when the roguish charm kicks in." She did offer a smile though as the temple was close and the guards stood at the doors. The heavier turadium opening without a sound while Junko was looking at the structure to make sure it was fine. Her attention on some of the others who were within the temple itself as they looked at the massive mirror... well not really. The kyber didn't reflect their image back it did fractel patterns of it so you saw various states of yourself.

"Careful in here. We are just walking through." SHe said it and moved not disturbing the ones who were looking into the mirror or the others who were making sure things were clean. THe edges of the mirror with blackened iron and heavier chains keeping it in place. The pathway going through to the back area beautiful as the trees were plants and a pathway weaving between them was able to be followed. She walked towards the back area and the open edge didn't have railing it just had a foot path going down into the mist when she crouched to look down. "I do not know what we will find... there are some tales of the world but most revolve around just this temple and the mirror."

 

[Lucky Pride]

Lucky smiled at Junko’s comment, it was pretty rare that he found someone that actually believed in his abilities. Guess that Jedi foresight isn’t just a myth after all. “Don’t worry. You’ll be the first to know when it happens.”

The group began to walk inside the temple and its sheer size and majesty immediately taken aback Lucky. Seeing just how breathtaking history could be almost made him feel bad for breaking that plank on the bridge earlier…almost any way. Walking over to one of the guards, Lucky began a line of questioning that got him a raised eyebrow from a good bit of the staff. “How do you get hired in a place like this? And like what’s the interview like? I mean what kind of resume do you even need to be qualified for the job? And what's the job description like?”

Lucky held a finger above his top lip to imitate the guard's thin mustache. “Guard ancient ruins with your life.” He spoke in a mockingly gruff voice. “Dispose of trespassers and blasphemers. Protect the majesty of these holy grounds on which your unworthy to stand.”

"Careful in here. We are just walking through."

Lucky snapped back to attention and stepped away from the guard who sighed in relief. It was too early for this nonsense. “This isn’t over.” He hissed as he walked backward toward Junko. Turning around to walk forward, Lucky ran his hand along the “mirror” and was surprised to find that it had a rocky texture like some gem or crystal. The warped reflections of himself and the others in the mirrors were pretty captivating.

Lucky smiled at his reflection and watched as the tips of his mouth reached his forehead in the mirror. Reaching into his satchel, Lucky pulled out his hydrospanner and began tapping the mirrors with it as he followed behind the others. They pulled onto a narrow path that led down in a thick mist and Lucky adjusted his goggles, they had definitely come in handy.

"I do not know what we will find... there are some tales of the world but most revolve around just this temple and the mirror."

“Isn’t not knowing what you’re going to find the best part though? I mean worst case scenario we could probably find a way to steal some of these mirrors and just take that with us.” Shoving his hands into his pockets, Lucky pointed deeper into the mist. “I’m betting on lost treasure. If you really wanted to hide something you could just throw it in one of these canyons and it’d get lost in the mist. That or a corpse…you could probably hide one of those too. In fact no that I think about it, since your a Jedi if I commit a crime are you gonna arrest me? And don’t lie! I’m pretty sure you guys aren’t supposed to do that.”

 

[Junko Ike]

Lucky Pride

"The last time someone messed with the mirror, it caused the planet to disappear and their consciousness merged with the world in whatever hellscape they went to since it destroyed their body." She said it and looking at him offered a small smile. "At least that is the legend and tale we have managed to uncover." SHe was looking at him more while turning to look down into the mist. "But you are not wrong there is always the chance for adventure and mystery." She said it and held a hand out as Barca stood there and her robes shifted... the hood enclosing as the robes oppened to a repulsor pack she could use and armored sections.

"Also helps to have a mandalorian bodyguard." She jumped down into the mist and would be able to scout the pathway down so that they would be able to stay on the path. Heading down when she waited and started with some confirmation from it. Phaidor moved her hood back and the bronzed skin gleamed with moisture from the mist as she smiled to herself. "The princess doesn't lie... though you might not like her answers in some situations." Junko bowed her head to that. "She is not wrong, there is a lot that might happen if you commit a crime and as I jedi I would have to try and bring you to justice but this an atrisian operation. Unless it is needed I shouldn't need to use my lightsaber."

She said it while walking down into the mists with a smile on her face turning away. Barca was feeding information to her interface visor. The small earring was able to function from her ear showing a scan from Barca who was going down so she could navigate the pathway down. The sound sof the cloud deer as they were jumping down areas of the mountains. Other peoples voices echoing through in the mist as they were talking and being louder. Junko walked down and stopped checking the ground while holding a hand out to push some of the mist aside and give them a better view of the ground around and before them on the path.

 

[Lucky Pride]

Lucky shuddered at the sight of Barca’s armor and then again at the mention of Junko Ike 's lightsaber. He’d never seen one in action before but he like most others had heard the stories of the Jedi and their powerful blades. He was almost starting to reconsider robbing her later…almost. “Okaaaay I won’t mess with the mirrors. I plan on having a criminal record the size of a holonet catalog but I don’t really know how I’d feel about having planet destroyer on that list. It just seems a bit much.”

Lucky pulled his coat tighter over his body as they continued on the narrow path into the mist, the murmurs and movements of their fellow explorers echoing through the canyon and the mist in an honestly eerie fashion. The air was getting colder and crisper, his heart skipped a beat as Lucky took a step and felt the stone give way beneath his foot and drop into the cloudy abyss. Speaking of the abyss it might’ve just been his jittery nerves but the mist almost seemed to be getting…thicker? The outlaw watched Junko wave her hand across the mist and push a good bit of it away only for the clouds to flood back in like the tide and diminish her progress as soon as it was made.

“Is that the force? Or are you doing something else? Whatever it is you are not doing a good job of it.” This mist grew thicker and began to close around the group and block their vision. The sounds of the cloud deer and the other travelers grew distant and soon were completely gone, it was so quiet even their footsteps lost their voice.

“Huh…that’s pretty cool! I knew riding with a Jedi would be live!”

 

[Junko Ike]

Lucky Pride

Phaidor remained there behind and seemed to debate just pushing him off... no one else would know and see it. Junko shook her head though sensing it and spoke through the interfaces that they wore. The small earrings glowing faintly for the moment.... Barca was still giving the information to them as lower she found the ground and lit one of the glow rods. Junko looked at him. "It is but the mists are natural... they will always come back and this far down the shadows start to play tricks in some ways." She was going and getting to the bottom the sounds were almost muffled... she couldn't hear anything else but she could see Barca standing there.

She slipped the glow rod to walk. "THere is a path we can walk but it isn't much. THe canyon curves and blocks the light from filtering down ahead." She said it and was making a map that could be followed while Junko looked up into the mists. THe cloud deers moving up out of the canyon was an important to note when she started walking. Phaidor making some notes as Barca took the lead. Junko watching all of it. "So you know about me, tell me about yourself if we are going to be traveling down here." She said it and offered a look of interest when she was moving around the stones and walking carefully enough.

 

[Lucky Pride]

Lucky did his best to calm his nerves as he listened to Junko's words. None of the women seemed phased in the slightest so the boy figured that perhaps he was getting jittery over nothing and like Junko Ike said, the mist and shadows were just playing tricks on his mind. Still, as the cloud deer rushed up the canyon in droves, the sounds of the other explorers remained hidden and the mist closed in higher around them, Lucky hoped that this path Junko spoke of was more viable than she was making it seem. The Jedi said the shape of the rocks stops light from reaching below. What so it's going to be dark AND filled with mist? That's just perfect...not to mention for some reason and he couldn't discern why...Lucky swore that woman behind him was going to throw him to the rocks just now.

Lucky swept a hand through his hair and smiled at Junko. "You want to know about me? Sure! Let's see..." Lucky stroked the thin orange hairs on his chin. "Well, you already know my name is Lucky Pride. I used to be a slave but a group of pirates killed my master and set us all free. Because of their kindness, I decided I want to be the greatest outlaw in the galaxy. I'm going to rob every single snob in the galaxy, run every blockade in existence and get a bounty of three-hundred billion! I'm not going to stop until my name is synonymous with lawlessness."

Lucky for a moment forgot about the mist and barely noticed how dark it was getting. Clenching his fist, Lucky's face became uncharacteristically dark and serious. "I had my freedom stolen from me at birth. So I'm going to compensate by becoming the freest person in existence, this galaxy is going to put a face to liberty and it's gonna be mine." Lucky's features relaxed and he adjusted his goggles before looking at Junko and giving her a toothy smile. "What about you? Why be a Jedi? It can't be for money I mean your a princess right?"

 

[Junko Ike]

Lucky Pride

SHe listened to him with a more curious look as he went on. "THe highest price on your head hmmm. Jia Ren would be disappointed as they are the Commonwealths criminal mastermind." But she still walked and was fairly certain that Kaine in the sith still held the highest... Ashin's was technically paid at one point when she had been captured. "And I was a jedi long before I was a princess. When the resistance against the one sith waged on the planet. The emperor and empresses children were slain. My brother was named heir to the throne and so our family was elevated. our mother is the special investigator of people, places and events. That is only below the chamberlain in terms of nobility under the royal family."

She said it and continued to walk. "As to your plans well, try to be careful. Freedom is good to have but crime will get you locked up and there are some places that you will wish you were back on that ship." She said it less as a threat and just a statement of fact. THe commonwealths prison system was a little better since they had more advanced technologies so food, living conditions and security were some of the finest but she couldn't condone him for that. Even if he had a past that might merit it. "Of course as an offworlder you wouldn't fall into our jurisdiction. The blackguard would send you to the Alliance for any criminal activity.... So you do have that to think on."

SHe said it and paused when BArca was stopped and crouched down in front of them. The larger woman still almost as tall as Junko standing up. Phaidor stopped and was scanning the rear as shadows were getting more and more defined. The overhangs coming in. "See something?" SHe said it and the mandalorian spoke pointing. "THere is a drop, one of the other teams discovered it. The canyon muffled their screams and I lost tracking three hundred meters down." Junko looked at her and debated it while checking the ground. "You lost them or they landed and there isn't anything left?" A distinction one needed at times. "THey haven't stopped falling, scout drone hasn't registered the sound of an impact."

"Well that was a thought but Barca was mapping it as she fired a glow rod and then another. Several arcing and marking where there was ground to walk on at least. "Stay together single file and walk in each others steps." She and Phaidor were setting markers to direct their path and one of the drones as a warning indicator for others. Junko checking on it as BArca walked forward and made the path for them to follow. JUnko stayed on it and moved as she was using the force to disperse the mist further away from them. THe ground darker and Phaidor spoke. "It is ash and cinder." SHe said it while checking some more of it. "There must have been fires down here."

 

[Lucky Pride]

Lucky listened to Junko speak and was intrigued by her past. He imagined the elevation to regality might be as drastic and a bit stressful as the elevation between slave and free, if not a bit more. They stood on two completely different fronts in life, Junko both a Jedi a defender of justice as well as a Princess and he a former slave who’d had just barely reclaimed his freedom before immediately setting a goal that would almost guarantee its loss. She should have talked down on him, maybe she was and he didn’t know it. But from where Lucky stood he didn’t feel like she was lecturing him or anything like that, just advising him that the path he was walking could lead him to ruin and on some level, he appreciated that level of respect.

Not that it would deter him of course.

“I see what you are saying…” Lucky began as he stroked his chin and nodded his head. “But all of that is assuming that I get caught. If I have my way I’ll never touch a cell in my life.” Lucky folded his arms and smiled as they approached the overhangs and Barca started analyzing the situation. “Have some faith in me. If I ever see you again, it’s not going to be from behind an energy field.”

Now over some sort of chasm or gaping hole in the ground, Lucky actually made a point of listening closely to Barca as she briefed the group on the situation. “They’re still falling? What kind of place is this?! It looked so nice and safe before…” Following along with the others, Lucky breaks out in a cold sweat as they narrowly step around the edge so deep it seemed like they could fall for days maybe even years on end! Okay maybe years is crazy but still!

Reaching into his pocket, Lucky pulled out one of the few credits he had and tossed it into the darkness before clasping his hands together and making a wish. I wish that we find something to eat down here because I’m starting to get hungry.

Not wanting to get lost in the mist, Lucky returned to the group still unable to shake the uneasy feeling in his stomach. He tried to think about what Junko said earlier to calm his nerves but he couldn’t shake the sensation that something was off and it was his fault. Thinking back over everything that had transpired since they left the ship, Lucky couldn’t think of even a single thing he could have done wrong. He broke that bridge? Eh, it was already old. Harassed that guard? Nah, he was totally into him anyway. Stole that piece of a centuries-old magic mirror that the wise and powerful Jedi said would curse him and cause his soul to disappear into the ether? Probably not that. And that vibration in his satchel where he remembered putting the glass was probably…the wind? Yeah, he was going with that.

“Hey, Junko…” Lucky was suddenly right behind Junko Ike on the narrow and perilous road they walked, somehow getting in front of Phiador. “Let’s just say hypothetically someone did steal a piece of the mirror with a hydrospanner earlier…what’s the worse thing that could happen…?” Lucky clearly wasn’t very confident in the question he was asking.

 

[Junko Ike]

Lucky Pride

She stepped lightly and listened to him... the question about the mirror was... interesting. "IN theory and legend the someone could be assaulted with visions of the past, future, present even... possible threads of the force showing scenarios that could happen to them or did. Relive memories so intensely they start to forget themselves and possibly have their mind shattered and consciousness trapped somewhere while their body withers and they try to get a sense of themselves again over the course of several thousand years." She said it and stepped for a moment supporting herself and raising an eyebrow in the shadows. "Or since they broke a mirror they could be cursed with bad luck."

She said it and turned her head back to look at him with a raised eyebrow as Barca stopped and was using the glow rod to go up when she fired a grapple line that could be used to climb. PHaidor moving around and using her own as the pair started to head up with their repulsors slowly enough. Junko offering the line and she moved up the wall using repulsors and went with the others to go up and above the mists. The overhang presenting something for them to climb under it and up to the higher areas. "Come on." She said it down before checking on a few of the areas the line was in and making it so the line could be used to climb from under the overhang up.

Junko moved rising up and standing there for a moment while she waited for him to join her and was looking into the mist. Carved stone paths giving the impression of an older road which was beneficial to them for exploring and going this far out from the temple she couldn't see it through the mists. The sounds of the cloud deer weren't around and it was silent save the small sounds of their breathing and climbing. She looked down around the stone walkways and was measuring the size to see what might be able to use it or fit. "About five feet across enough for people and maybe a cart if it is small enough."