Rendili

[Jorunn Grimsdottir]

<<Jorunn, Till. We're leaving. Get down here. Don't bother with the stairs. If you can't carry the equipment, leave it.>>

Till double clicks his comm and empties the DMR's magazine down the southern approach, before stashing it on the mag plate on his back and navigating his way through the wrecked office furniture, which had suffered even more destruction as he and Jorunn had shouldered it aside and generally abused it.

He opens a channel as he nears Jorunn's prone body, still at work with the AM rifle: <<Jorunn, let's go.>>

No response, aside from the massive flash and boom of another round fired.

<<Jorunn, come on!>>

He kneels beside her and places the palm of his gauntlet on an armored shoulder.

Another flash, and the windows reverberate in their frames. Till has his hand batted aside. Jorunn turns and faces him, he face unreadable behind the golden visor, but the quality of her voice clearly relaying everything.

<<Don't touch me...>>

She stands and mag plates the AM rifle, wasting no time with leaping out of the 7th story window she had been firing from and letting her booster jets carry her safely to the ground.

Till is left dumbfounded, but follows, and is the last to board the ValCAT before the upheaval in his stomach tells everyone in it that it has taken to the sky once more.

[Jet Almeara]

Jet's gaze turned to Taaru as he was loaded into the ship, the words spoken by the medic were worrisome and Jet once more cursed the fact she hadn't been on this mission from the start. At least she'd kept a building from falling on him...she supposed that was something. That didn't top her from wanting to slam Darren's fist into the metal wall however.

Her control over Darren was slipping however and his negative thoughts about her doing so were enough to keep her from actually doing it, which further irritated her causing a frown to crease Darren's face. "Don't worry Erika" She told her though her gaze was still on Taaru "I have other things to worry about now. Just get yourself looked at when you get aboard Faustus" Erika's wounds were painful Jet was sure but hardly deadly.

"I have to go - Darren will be a bit dizzy, but he'll remember what happened in a hazy sort of way. He may also feel drained as I've extended his force abilities beyond what he is used to, but he'll be fine. I'm afraid I'll bare the brunt of this" She told Erika with slight smile "I will see you on Faustus"

Leaning back as thought Darren was going to close his eyes for a brief nap on the way home Jet began to pull away from him - slowly so as to limit the shock to his psyche, she used the last of her wavering concentration to ensure a smooth transition between her control and his.

When she opened her eyes a few moments later she was back where she had started - safety within the Shadowchaser while her friends flew towards her , one of them critically wounded. No sooner had this thought entered her mind that she was hit with a crushing wave of exhaustion. She hadn't felt this bad since she had merged her abilities with Blade during the invasion. The exhaustion was coupled with a splitting headache and despite the fact that it was probably not a wise decision she reach across to open a slidding panel beside her bed and pulled out the bottle of Corellian Whiskey stored there, taking a drink straight from the bottle she set it down and laid back.

"Ice" When the droid answered her with a series of beeps she continued "reopen communications and alert me when the away team is approaching" When Ice confirmed Jet closed her eyes. Sith she felt like she could sleep for a week - but a power nap would have to do.

[Erika Freeborn]

"Fine, I'll get checked out once we get back." She told Jet but mentally she was cringing and thinking up any possible excuse to get her out of going to the medical labs. Erika absolutely hated going to the medical labs even when it was one of those life and death situations. But perhaps with Jet distracted by Taaru she could get out of going there - for a while at least. At Jet's next words Erika nods slowly. "I'll keep my eye on him just in case." She knew the after effects of having someone control your thoughts and actions and it would do Darren good to have an extra pair of eyes watching him for a little while.

Taking a deep breath she tried to relax and get even the smallest bit of rest during the remainder of the journey back to the Faustus. Though she would likely go for a nice long nap once back in her quarters.

[Dangerous Wave's Corporation]

Darren was tired - which was somewhat odd considering he felt like he'd been sleeping for quite some time now. His mind was refreshed...but his body was tired. He vaguely recalled Jet's intrusion on his thoughts during the fight, and his agreement to cede control to her - everything after that had a fog over it but he'd been left with the impression he'd done something important and someone - she - Jet - was grateful. Blinking slightly like a person waking Darren glanced about his surroundings, his team was here and nodding to him in turn as they noticed his glance. Khai offered him a knowing look and slight smile "Welcome back boss". Later - Later he'd get their reports and take on what exactly had happened.

"Thanks" He told her, taking note of the Thruvarans, Erika and the others all belted in around him - well at least she'd seen him safety to the transports before leaving him to regain his bearings. The sight of Taaru on a stretcher was grim but not surprising he recalled in a hazy sort of fashion that he'd been wounded. Ah yes he remembered seeing him tossed aside by a warmonger before Jet had taken over. His injury then must have been the trigger for her actions. He'd talk to her later too...find out more of the details. For now he was simply happy to be back in control - on a transport back to Faustus - and have his team with him in one piece. "Well" He remarked in dry tone as he glanced at them all "at least we got the maps.."

[The Thruvarans]

Mikhail busies himself with hooking his fallen squad leader up to the onboard diagnostics, a task infinitely complicated by the rapid atmospheric exit the ValCAT's pilot was hellbent on completing. With help of one of the freighter's crew, he manages to get Taaru strapped down into the diagnostics pod, set into the side of the troop bay, and runs an high resolution fMRI. He is marginally aware of other activity in the troop bay, only realizing Jorunn's approach when she manhandles him.

<<What's happened?! Is he alright?!>>

Her fingers are dug into the plasteen fabric of his plug suit, and he realizes her knuckles are white. Mikhail has seen this all too often in his profession...the the desperation of family...

He knows Jorunn somewhat...enough to know that she deserves the truth.

<<I don't know....I'm waiting to see. You'll only interrupt, so I suggest you have a seat and let me do my....>>

A staccato of thuds, meat on plastic and metal. He turns and realizes Masako has gone into seizures, his unconscious body rigid and bracing against the harness.

Mikhail knows this is a good sign, despite it's looks. But Jorunn wouldn't.....this too, is all too familiar. Before she has the time to process this, he has one of the Corellians pull her away and beyond site of the imaging pod, leaving Mikhail to his work. Her screams of protest and fear pain him......

But again....this is all too familiar....

[The Corellian Navy]

"Foehammer to flight control. Parabolic course plotted, should be on your scopes now. Request for DRAEDIS contact report."

"Foehammer, flight control actual. DRAEDIS registers no contacts in active range. Previous parabolic confirmed, you're on our scopes. Pad assignment to follow."

"Copy, flight control actual. Have a medical detail ready at the pad, we have critical wounded."

"Undestood, Foehammer. We'll get the medbay in touch with your AMO."

The hollow sound of turbulent air rushing past the VaLCAT's hull fades to mute as the beetle-like dropship breaks atmosphere, trailing vapor and chemical thruster exhaust behind it.

Aralee watches it's approach to the Faustus's orbit on the holographic display at her station. She had been following it's progress since it had left, and was glad to see it on a return flight with clear skies. For whatever reason, this unseen raiding party had neglected to deploy too many fighters.....but it was obvious at this point that they had what they wanted......

She examines the operational logs again, pulling up a basic animation of the events after the unknown force had exited hyperspace. The size of the one ship tells her this is no pirate crew: Something that size is unwieldy in the hands of hit-and-runners, and the maintenance is more than any pirate fleet could ever afford. The maneuvers were too disciplined and extravagant: There was no need to land troops on the surface, even as a distraction.....

Whoever orchestrated this.....it wasn't something her experience could qualify.....

But there were other means of determining who she was dealing with....

"Commander, put us on an erratic normal jump for Commenor as soon as that VaLCAT confirms docking. You've control of the bridge. I'll be in my ready room. Let the Diktat know her people are on their way back..."

"Aye, ma'am."

[Jet Almeara]

It seemed like only seconds had passed before Ice was buzzing her awake, such was the way of exhausted sleep and though it had been a while since she had been forced to endure it, it was no stranger to Jet. It had been even longer however since she had been both exhausted and force drained - but that was the reason enterprising non-force user's had invented things like Cafe and thought she typically hated the stuff Jet made herself a cup on the way out the door.

Thanks to Ice's advanced warning and a quick questioning of the ship computer Jet was able to make it to the transports assigned landing pad just as it maneuvered in on thrusters. A medical team was already waiting and she joined them where they stood as the ValCAT's ramp lowered.

The ship emptied quickly and Jet hovered about the Med team as they took over the care of Taaru her brows pinched slightly. Darren looking weary joined her.

"I can gather the team if you want a debriefing" He told her after a few moments, motioning towards the away team who looked to be in various stages of tired.

Glancing them over Jet shook her head and gave Darren a slightly apologetic smile "Later...tell them all to get some rest - you included, we can talk later...I wan to keep an eye on him right now.." She stated with a nod towards Taaru who was being quickly rushed away.

Darren turned his glance towards the med team for a second before agreeing "It would be appreciated, and no offense Boss but you look worse then I do" He told her with a slight chuckle before leaving to join his team and heading out.

Jet didn't stick around long enough to watch them leave - she was already sprinting after the medical team. Though where she managed to dredge up the energy to do such a thing was beyond her.

[Erika Freeborn]

Erika was quite releaved that the short trip from the planet to the hanger of the Faustus went smoothly, unlike what had happened on the surface. She had kept her eye on Darren as he left the ship to make sure he was stable enough to go on his own. After all the others were off the ship Erika departed. Waiting to be the last to get off was her way to guarantee avoiding talking to Jet again about getting checked out at the medical labs. Besides Taaru needed the medics help much more than she did. A couple of bacta patches and a nice long nap would do well right now.

Leaving the hanger Erika made her way through the varrious corridors of the ship on her way back to her chambers. A lot had happened in the short time she and the others were on the surface and it was clear that everyone would need a bit of time to gather their thoughts - and data - about what happened. What exactly had caused the attack she didn't know, but what mattered now what that everyone had made it back to the Faustus alive. Finally reaching her chambers Erika quickly locked the door and collapsed onto her bed - falling asleep within minutes.

[Taaru Masako]

There is a world beyond what we consider to be reality. But it contains no magic, or promises of adventure. It is an inner world, a world of thought, of mind....but not the one we think we know.

It is a realm of nightmares. For in darkness, the unit dwells on itself. And that is the most horrible torture of all.

[...]

A flash of sensory data. Baser brain stem functions register vibration, crude touch, pain: Unqualified. Eyelids too swollen to open, yet register successive patterns of light and dark. Consciousness is attempted, fails, attempted anew, fails again.

Process loading incomplete. Insufficient resources. Shutdown imminent.

[...]

He is a figure without form. He stands in an abyss. There is no light, but he can see the reflecting pool. He approaches. The water is still....no vibrations.

He sees no reflection. He bends down to look. A hand covered in burning pitch reaches out and seizes him. It sears his face. He screams without sound. He struggles to no avail. He is pulled in. He struggles still. Everything is aflame. The reflecting pool boils.

Flashes of images. A city, melting. Fields of bones. The dead, mewling in blood and ash.

A dying child.

A spark, and ignition. His head breaks the surface again; putrid air a sweet mercy. He opens his eyes, but can't see beyond the flames.

He looks down. He can see his reflection, as his leathery wings unfurl.

[...]

[Jet Almeara]

Jet's wayward rush after Taaru was checked by necessity at the surgery room door and although she was not keen on this she also knew it was not possible to change it and so she merely simmered in impatience and worry outside - like any other worried friend might do and probably was doing in other medical bays across the universe at this same point in time.

Typically such a wait would not be a problem for Jet, she had other means by which to keep track of the happening in rooms she couldn't be in physically. At least she normally did, but her connection to the force right now felt like something more akin to scattered waterdrops then the deep cool pool she normally likened it to. It was like someone had had taken a boulder and threw it into her pool over and over again until the water had scattered in every direction. The boulder wielder had of course been herself and things would take some time to coalesce again after she'd extended herself so far in making the connection with Darren. It might not have been so bad had she also not expended so much energy into Darren's well being during the process - but Darren was a valuable resource and she'd deemed the sacrifice on her part worthwhile there.

Now of course she was rethinking some of that - holding back just a little bit might have given her enough to check in with Taaru now, but wasn't that typical of life? There was no going back now and she would just have to work with what she had - which wasn't much. She had found however that many things influenced ones force abilities and one of these multitude of influences was just how badly you wanted to achieve your goal - sheer determination counted for allot in the world of force use and Jet was - as always - pretty damned determined to find out how her friend was doing in that sheltered sterile room she couldn't physically enter.

She was well aware that there were others waiting with her - but for the moment she was ignoring them, she was far to exhausted to concentrate on them and her task at the same time - it was one or the other and Jet choose Taaru over social niceties. Not like it was a hard choice.

Taking a deep steading breath she tried to gather the frayed ends of her force connection - the normally simple task felt like trying to talk over a bad connection, but it was at least a connection and that was enough. Reaching out quickly before she lost even that Jet tried to find her friend in the force - she knew him well enough and it should have been a simple task even unconscious most people were not so completely lost that the task was impossible.

Jet was prepared for the bleak lost expanse that most people found themselves in when unconscious due to injury, and tried in vain to project the soothing presence such people desired...but that soothing presence falter when she encountered a roiling pit and flaming hand, a field of death - and probably most worrisome of all sheer stark terror. The connection began to falter, what little energy she had gathered failing her, knowing she had little time and no chance of doing more she did only what she could - and tried to send forth a soothing cool breeze. She doubted it would help him..but it might let him know she was near and sometimes - at least for her - knowing those who cared about you were close when injured helped...she could only hope this would be the case here..if his fear would even let him notice it, if he was even there at the moment because as the connection failed completely Jet was left with only the sense that the Taaru she'd felt wasn't completely the Taaru she knew anymore.

Thrown from the connection as her over tired force abilities fizzled out completely Jet was once more cut off and smacked the nearest wall in irritation. So infuriating...to be capable of reaching across space to rescue him from a falling building but be incapable of helping when he lay mere feet away. She couldn't save him from his own mind..and she would have to trust the doctors to save him from his injuries.

She took to pacing as the time slipped by in an ever slowing fashion, mulling events over in her mind over and over again. He'd been conscious when she found him - even talking...that had to be a good sign yes? It was hard to tell and she knew it could merely chalked up to shock - something that could keep even the most grievously wounded moving and speaking long after they should be able to. For her own sake she decided to view it as a positive sign and after a while the pacing stopped - more because she was just to tired to continue then for any other reason and she wound up sitting on the floor - leaning back against the wall across from the door - unwilling to move far enough down the hall to seek a chair until news of the procedures came at long last.

[The Thruvarans]

Mikhail follows the awaiting medical staff as they promptly rush their patient to the med bay on a hover sled. It strikes him briefly as an odd thought, to think of his commander as one of his patients. But a patient he was, and the thought escapes him again as he runs the medical staff, whom he had previously been introduced to, by all his collected observations: cause of injury, time spent unconscious, what he'd done and what he recommended they do.

They are in one of the long hallways that runs the length of the ship when a shout makes him look over his back.

He looks to his Corellian counterpart, Dr. Cottle: "I'll handle her."

He turns and stands in Jorunn's way, deflecting the punch aimed his way which he'd seen coming from a long way away and smashing her into the bulkhead wall as softly as he could, restraining her. It was sloppy work for her...but she had reasons to be sloppy right now.

<<Let me go! I need to see him!>>

<<Jorunn, listen to me! There's nothing you can do for him now. You need to let me and Dr. Cottle do our jobs. You're just wasting our time.>>

She struggles, breaking his grasp, but doesn't attempt to follow the wounded Taaru as he is wheeled around a corner to medbay.

<<You don't understand. I need to make sure he has this.>>

She shows him her off hand, and what she is holding in it, which he hadn't noticed till now: A dagger, double-edged and milk-white, it's hilt wrapped in a rich leather.

Mikhail is briefly taken aback, then moreso once he realizes what this implied: <<I didn't realize --- Jorunn you can't be certain that --->>

Her blue eyes are deadly serious: <<I have to give this to him....just in case.>>

He has no argument. There isn't one. Not for this, not to them.

<<Alright...but hurry, before they put him in through disinfection.>>

He turns and makes his way down the hall, Jorunn at his side. They enter medbay, where Cottle and his team have already cut his clothes off of him, intubated and begun wiring him for the biosensor suite in the disinfection room.

Dr. Cottle glances up from the first readings his terminal is receiving, and waves an angry and dismissive hand, growling with the voice of a smoker: "Get her out of here, blast it. What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Soldiers are guaranteed their last rites. This is one of them."

Cottle is flabbergasted, spying the dagger, divining its possible significance: "Damnit, then make it quick. You kriffing space nomads and your nuttiness, I'll never get it."

Mikhail looks at Jorunn, nodding his head at Taaru: "Los. Schnell."

Jorunn looks from Mikhail to Taaru, the dagger clutched against her chest. She steps forward hesitantly, but once the pang of horror washes over her, she works efficiently. The nurses and technicians scatter for her as she approaches.

She opens her father's right hand and places the dagger's hilt in it. As she closes his fingers around it, she leans down and whispers in his ear. Mikhail doesn't have to hear it, he knows what she's saying. Every Thruvaran child learns it, whether they later choose to ignore the old ways or keep them.

She finishes, and exchanges quick words with Cottle, who has done his best to look even more grim. The doctor begrudgingly promises to make sure the dagger stays where it is.

Jorunn nods, and takes a last look at her fallen father.

Tears flow freely down her cheeks as she passes Mikhail and leaves the medbay proper.

Mikhail almost voices an apology for earlier on the dropship, but decides to leave her be for now. He busies himself with exchanging his plug suit for appropriate attire, the shudder of the Faustus entering hyperspace around him his only distraction.

((Episode continues in the "Hyperspace" thread))