Welcome to the Jungle

[Bradok]

"Where the frak am I." Mangus said to himself as he sat down on a nearby stump with a thud. Somehow, through a series of unfortunate events and the urging of a rather obstinate client, he had managed to find himself smack dab in the middle of some jungle on an unnamed moon. "Since when were smugglers charged with tracking down the cargo." He mused with a hearty laugh before standing and brushing his pants off, letting out a great sigh as he did so. This wasn't by any means his ideal sort of work, but then again he had a debt to pay and couldn't pass on easy creds.

Scanning the area around him Mangus trekked along what appeared to be a rough game trail of sorts, looking for any indication that civilized life had once existed here. According to his employer there was a bunker somewhere around here that smugglers from the area often hid their goods in when times were tough. Mangus' employer had hired said smugglers to deliver something to Courascant for him but apparently they were arrested beforehand and had left the package here. How he got that information and why he wanted whatever it was he had lost so bad Mangus had little care to know, but something was defiantly off on this moon.

The air was thick here, and not just from the humidity. Mangus liked places like this, like jungles and forests which were full of life, but there was an almost ominous presence drifting with the air. Mangus, being the man he was, brushed it aside as anxiousness and apprehension but the feeling lingered on. After a good bit more of walking Mangus managed to make his way to a clearing, it was there he hoped to get his bearing, and it was there he wished to begin the end of this task.

@Willa Isard [member="Knight K'sara"]

 

[K'sara]

More relic hunting.. fun... The things I do for creds... I mean, who the hell puts relics on an uncharted moon?

That seemed to be all she was looking for now. he constantly remained bored. There were other things she could be doing. She wondered how X3 was faring. Maybe that little astromech was having more fun than she was, who knows? Something felt odd about this moon. It was surrounded by the Force vastly... and should it fall into the wrong hands, like the Sith..... oh... she didn't want to think of the consequences it could have. Her slightly glassy eyes shut. Getting a read on this place would be like escaping a rancor's belly with a bent plasteel spoon.

[member="Willa Isard"] [member="Mangus Abraxius"]

 

[Willa Isard]

[member="Knight K'sara"] [member="Mangus Abraxius"]

Willa looked up and at the moon, this was the first time she could think about where she wasn't the back up or the team leader... instead she was the student. Or closest thing you could be considered, she wasn't exactly certain what she was as a ranger force user. All she knew while she was walking and hand her hand ready for the smg on her hip. Underbarrel attachments in the ankle sheath for her to use. Her rifle on her back and the force... she had actually been trying to use the force as a sort of weapon or tool and it was working alright. Instead of just using it to curve her slug shots she was throwing things at people and when the need arose incinerating them with the goddesses flames but only bad guys.... or ones who stuck her with needles. She shook her head though while moving and spoke. "This feeling, it is like a buzzing in the back of my head."

 

[Bradok]

The sun sat high in the sky, it's rays cascading down upon the clearing and causing shadows to form beneath the tall canopy of the tress surrounding it's border. The swing wiped up slightly shifting the breeze and blowing past Mangus as he emerged from the underbrush, alleviating a bit of heat exhaustion as it did. This was a beautiful place, this moon, vibrant and full of life. Forests and groves of unfathomable ages, but still something felt off. It was in places like this Mangus felt truly at home, at ease, and alive. Yet for some untold reason he could not let down his guard as he would normally do. It was as if eyes watched him from afar, his every move tracked, but he knew all to well he could feel if something was nearby.

Instead he once more brushed off the feeling, sat aside his doubts, and moved on. Heading toward the center of the clearing his began to scan the area around him, taking in the sights as they unfolded and bringing up his Data-Pad to better go over the information he was provided. The details said the bunker was near a natural rock formation on one of the far sides of the jungle, and the peak of said formation appeared as a hand from a distance. As he looked around, eyes scanning the horizon as it appeared over the treetops, he finally caught sight of it. It lay a good distance away still, and shaking his head with a sigh Mangus once more trekked off into the distance.

It was then, however; he felt it. A tremor within the Force, and once not caused naturally. No, this was one brought about by another skilled in it's arts. Though feeling out another Force-Sensitive when they chose not the hide their presence was no astonishing feat, here on this desolate moon with that all terrible feeling in the air caused the hairs on his arms to stand on end. Unfortunately for him the presence, which unbeknownst to him belonged to Master [member="Knight K'sara"] and her pupil [member="Willa Isard"], lay directly in the path of his destination. Praying for the best and preparing for the first Mangus advanced, wondering what he had gotten himself into.

 

[Willa Isard]

[member="Mangus Abraxius"] [member="Knight K'sara"]

Willa was looking now, her eyes squinting to try and see past the buzzing in her skull as she turned her head and looked back. There was nothing there she could see but the buzzing had turned from that annoying hum to a screech almost and she shook her head. That tightening of her gut told her something was there that could be danger as she was speaking. Her master might be blind but... she had ways to see and pilot a ship. "I think we aren't alone master." She said it more matter of fact and was grabbing her rifle while she was lokking with a hand grabbing the line launcher attachment.

 

[K'sara]

She had an idea of what was out there. Passed the swell of Force energy, she saw the male that wasn't too far away from them. She confiscated the weapon and attachment from her padawan and pulled out the single hilt that she kept in her cleavage.

"Willa, you are going to need this... Your rifle will be useless here. There is a Force User here... and that buzzing is the swell of the Force. It will be annoying, even deafening now that you've been fully awakened, but you will learn to get passed it. I had to learn too."

[member="Willa Isard"] [member="Mangus Abraxius"]

 

[Bradok]

His path had been set, and as he pushed ahead undaunted by the call the Force emitted around him, Mangus could only hope those he felt were not hostile. Though the longer he thought upon it the more unlikely anyone of good nature and kind heart would be on this desolate moon other than he. Slowly he trekked through the wilderness, pushing limbs and brush aside to make his path. His eyes constantly scanning the horizon for first sign of those he had felt. It was strange Mangus had to admit, for it had been many years since the call of the Force had beckoned him with such ferocity. He knew not the cause nor the reason behind it, but he remained wary nonetheless.

It was as then, as he rounded a bend and made his way up onto a natural rise of ground, that he saw two figures in the distance. The tremors shaking the Living Force told him it was these two that he had felt, and he knew if he was aware of their presence then they too were aware of his. Mangus had been careless, so long had he went without worry of the Force or those that command it that it never donned on him to attempt to conceal his presence. As he stared out across the rise at them he knew not what to do. So, taking a chance, he began to approach them.

His pace as slow and even. He made sure not to reveal in hostility in his gait. Running around this jungle in attempt to flee from a figure that might not even be his enemy was foolish, he knew that. Now, even if they did attack him, he could better asses the situation and see full well whom his attackers may be. As he got within what he thought to be earshot of them Mangus slowly raised his hand and began to speak. "Hail there! I thought I as the only one on this moon!" He would yell out in hopes of gaining the attention of the strangers and to alleviate any stress they may have gained upon seeing him.

[member="Knight K'sara"] [member="Willa Isard"]

 

[Willa Isard]

[member="Mangus Abraxius"] [member="Knight K'sara"]

Willa looked at the gun and slid it into the holster as she took the saber and held it slightly awkwardly for a bit. It was just like a combat blade only without the weight and could cut through most thing. She had her armors weapons just in case but would trust her master as she said with a small smirk holding the blade in two hands. "Still warm." She was looking and feeling it, feeling the one coming as she didn't believe it at first. Her muscles were tense with the readiness to attack and protect her jedi charge... protect her master. Then she heard the sounds of his voice while she stood at the ready looking with her helmet closing around her face. The visor glowing and the active camo working with the thick armored cloak.

 

[K'sara]

A soft mumble would go to the neophyte behind her, her pupil Willa. "Show yourself to him. He means no harm as of current, but do not let your guard down. Allow me to do the speaking."

"I hear this moon has relics... but it is strange how someone would hide relics on a moon they may never find again!" She stated with a projected voice, allowing her blind, glassed eyes to 'fixate' on the male before them. "And why are you on this rock?"

As she spoke, she remained ready to launch a knight-master strength ability at the male in case of attack. She didn't want to take any chances with him until she was completely sure of his intent. The flagging on the Jal Shey armor that protected her rear end flapped a bit in the wind that started to blow.

[member="Mangus Abraxius"] [member="Willa Isard"]

 

[Bradok]

For the most part the two strange figures he had felt interrupting the flow of the Force were two ordinary women, but Mangus could tell at first glance there was more to them than met the eye. He had been wise to play it casually and present himself to them, knowing that from the way they held themselves they were not strangers to a fight. As he looked on, at first he said nothing, merely letting his eyes drift over their bodies to better understand what he was dealing with. Meeting them here, on the way to the bunker, was surely no coincidence Mangus had thought but with the first words from the red headed one he knew well their purpose.

"I was hired to recover some things left behind by the last people here." Mangus said bluntly as he slowly approached, keeping his eyes trained on the both of them. "More or less anyway. As for relics, well I don't really know about any of that but I do have a good idea where they might be." He continued with a wry smile. "Old bunker at the foot of those mountains over that way. Same place I'm headed in fact." He finished, looking them over again to see how they reacted to these words.

He didn't have to tell them about the bunker, but he had a feeling they would find their way there eventually one way or another. When they had done so spotting Mangus there would have proved to make things very difficult for him, and to avoid such an unruly situation he had simply opted to divulge what little information he had. Mangus was sure that them getting their 'relics' wouldn't have anything to do with his job anyway, or at least he hoped not.

[member="Knight K'sara"] [member="Willa Isard"]

 

[Willa Isard]

[member="Mangus Abraxius"] [member="Knight K'sara"]

Willa was watching the man as he approached stepping closer and infront of her master on the side while she was thinking about it. This was a strange feeling though as she held the blade but didn't activate it. The cloak and hood over her armor as she was scanning with her visor for any tricks or weapons as she changed her stance presenting herself to him and making her her smg on her hip could be seen. The rifle across her back and she had her combat blade in a sheath from her shoulder going down towards her hands holding the saber. She spoke for her master low and careful without turning her head. "I don't see any threat from him yet master."

 

[K'sara]

K'sara nodded to her student and then turned her attention once more to the male. "These items may well be the relics... With as swollen with the Force as this moon is, I wouldn't be shocked if they are Jedi and Sith relics." She kept her focus at her hands, still ready to stun him if necessary.

[member="Willa Isard"] [member="Mangus Abraxius"]

 

[Bradok]

It had been a strange occurrence to find such pull from the Force on this moon, and stranger still to meet two figures so strongly tied to it. Mangus had come here with the sole reason of acquiring coin by retrieving the items left behind by this moon's last inhabitants, but now with the mention of relics his mind began to churn with possibilities. Mangus knew not what they sought, but surely if there was a treasure trove of relics locked somewhere deep within the compound he headed towards there would be more than enough for them both to part ways with a hefty bounty. Of course his primary goal was completing his contract, but that did not mean he wasn't open to other opportunities.

"As long as gathering your relics doesn't interfere with me collecting my employer's goods I see no reason to not show you the way." Mangus said politely as he turned from the two and brought up his Data-Pad once more. "It's still about half a day's walk from here to the bunker but if we but strait through the jungle we should make good time." He continued, bringing up various charts on maps his employer had sent him. "If you wish to accompany me that is. Either way I need to be moving on."

Whether they came or not really didn't matter much to Mangus at the moment, though keeping an eye on them would be much easier if they did. He now knew there was more on this moon than abandoned cargo, and though he didn't wish to come to blows with his new compatriots he wished to see just hat these 'relics' were before turning them over to two strangers. Deciding to favor prudence over patience he began to trek off, looking back to see if the others followed,

[member="Knight K'sara"] [member="Willa Isard"]

 

[Willa Isard]

[member="Knight K'sara"] [member="Mangus Abraxius"]

Willa was watching the man as she thought about it and would do as her master commanded. At least in regards to this and sharing information. She was more then happy as her hand held the saber to slid it in the cloak as she was looking to the man going off and her voice came out low. "It is your decision master, I don't trust many and he is here searching as well. Could be dangerous."