|
Post by Jet Almeara on Jun 26, 2009 7:50:57 GMT -5
Kele pawed the ground, fidgiting with the bit as he stared angrily at the horseclaws in front of him - like his owner he was a rather competitive creature and hated being beaten by anything - ever. Jet however seemed to be ignoring her mount's displeasure for the moment keeping him well reined in as Taaru and Jorunn marched off ahead of them, having what appeared to be nice little conversation.
Furrowing her brow slightly Jet regarded the departing pair for a few moments - she really hadn't yet decided what to make of the quiet female. Knowing full well that Taaru's people gleaned much f thier culture from Mandalorian traditions - she was prone to believe the women had decided her to be a lowly outsider and was probably pissed at habing to do this mission jointly with the Corellians. Or that could be her current ill temper with Mandalorians showing through, ever since Re had run off with one rather then sticking to his Kabal duties she'd been a tad extra hateful towards them. Past bounty hunters did not do much to endear them to her heart either.
However it wouldn't do to express these particular thoughts to her current companion, Miko - whom Jet had found an aimable enough person which combined with the fact that he was Taaru's friend ment she would conduct herself as though amoung friends. That didn't mean however that she wouldn't be vigilent while amoungst them - everyone in Jet's life moved through her mind in a complicated but orderly net, thier placement depending on everything form her current mood to her ability to trust them and her willingness to shoot them if it came down to it.
Force she wished for the good old days when war's were simple and the enemies always clear. What she wouldn't do for a good old vong invasion right about now - nothing like the Vong to get everyone pointed at the right enemie and all hopped up on destruction. Clearing her heads of these thoughts as Miko mounted his giant bird and motioned towards the mansion Jet turned her attention back to him and the present, releasing Kele who imediately surged foreward thankful to be free of the restraint, although Jet kept him to a reasonable pace.
"I imagine so - else we'll be left behind and they'll eat everything in the mansion before we get there"
|
|
|
Post by Avery Heartshorn on Jun 26, 2009 20:53:37 GMT -5
It was easier to slip away than expected. She could feel her eyes rolling back and the effects of sleep washing over her. She rolled her head to one side, so her eyes would be a bit more shaded from the sun.
Slowly but surely her leg stopped rotating in the water.
|
|
|
Post by Taaru Masako on Jun 26, 2009 20:59:36 GMT -5
Taaru and Jorunn had spurred their mounts as fast as the hitched travois would allow. Taaru in particular was eager to get the krahbu hung and bled, before the meat fouled. It wasn't the sort of red meat normally served at a Thruvaran banquet, but Konrad would insure it was to everyone's liking, without exception. Marlowe, Jorunn's strill, was trotting along ahead of them, slowing or stopping at intervals to turn around and let the horseclaws catch up.
Taaru steered his loping horseclaw closer to Jorunn's, getting her attention.
In Thruvaran: <<What is the lesson, Little One?>>
Jorunn glanced at him, then peered down at her horseclaw's neck. Some found it unnerving that she actually though before she spoke, but Taaru considered it a valuable quality, and encouraged it. It showed she was always in thought, as opposed to the lesser quality of only thinking when it seemed prudent.
<<I confess, sire>>, she responded, <<I do not know. It seemed to me a lesson in awarding that which is due....and a lesson in humility.>>
"Gewiss, Mädel," Taaru agreed. <<It was, forsooth, my prerogative, and you were too eager or absent-minded to show the proper respect. But I, in turn, overreacted, and apologize.>>
Jorunn turned her head to him, peering at him with a sort of curiosity, confused at the sudden reversal. She remained silent, as Taaru's inflection suggested he had more to say. However, she nodded, accepting the apology wordlessly.
<<But that is not the lesson I want you to learn today.>>
Taaru twisted in the saddle, banging the hitch of the travois to indicate it: <<Above all else, you will, by necessity, learn that the burden of killing is carried solely by the killer. Blood stains our hands, and we add layer upon layer. We can try to ignore it, but therein lies a greater corruption.>>
Taaru adjusted the felt hat on his head as he turned to watch the setting sun in the west. They had risen above the floodplain as they climbed a steady grade leading up to the mansion.
Jorunn followed his gaze, and they both watched the sunset for a silent moment.
Taaru turned back to Jorunn, his features betraying a melancholy and a wisdom gained at the most dire of sacrifices.
<<We do not kill with the sword, for he who kills with the sword has forgotten the face of his father...>>
<<We kill with our hearts>> Jorunn finished the mantra.
<<That's my girl>>, was Taaru's response.
|
|
|
Post by Avery Heartshorn on Jun 26, 2009 21:31:58 GMT -5
She could hear something beside her and she rolled her head lazily, grumbling as she opened her eyes to a distorted and fuzzy view of a sunset...and a strill...
Her eyes popped open immediately from the shock- but as she remained frozen there, she found it was going to do no harm to her.
"Blergh..."
She pulled her legs from the water and climbed out of the pond to begin putting her socks and boots back on, the strill sticking close to her side.
She paused as she tied one of her laces.
"Am I supposed to pet you or something?"
She wrinkled her nose at the thing as it stood there. Calmly, and slowly, she put her hand out to it. Avery would be the first to admit she didn't really have any animal experience under her belt. But she did know from books that you should keep calm and offer them your scent as if saying, 'I'm not here to harm you, now come home with me and lets be friends forever'.
After a moment of sniffing, she slowly moved her hand to the top of it's head and patted gently.
"Good...boy?...thiiinnggg?"
|
|
|
Post by Jet Almeara on Jun 27, 2009 7:49:51 GMT -5
Miko had been silent on thier return ride and Jet was fine with that, letting her force awareness keep track of her enviroment while her eyes swept the view surrounding them. It had not been by accidnet that this site had been choosen as the estate grounds by Grifter.
True - it was an easily defensible location, but there were many such locations on Corellia and they had gone to look at a goodly number of them Jet recalled, often times they would no sooner step out of the ship then Grif was shaking his head and informing her that the spot wasn't right and despite her lack of patience at the time she recalled those particular outings rather fondly now.
Grifter had been a fan of art - which explained much about the mansions decor, something Jet had altered only slightly since his death, living art as well as created, and when he choose the Mansion grounds he had done so in part because of the beauty of them. It wasn't often Jet has the opportunity to fully appreciate the estate grounds and so when she had the chance she tended to take advantage of it.
Part of that beauty had been destroyed during the vong invasion - ugly memories prevailed in some quardrants, but nature was retaking those spots and the land had recovered well. Jet did not often visit some of these scar's...but she could look at them and that for Jet was good enough for now.
Halting such reflections as they reached the mansion grounds Jet turned to glance at Miko before reining Kele to the side.
"I'll find you guys once I take care of Kele"
Without really waiting for a response and showing in her own way that she considered him a friend - for the moment - Jet left him to find his own way around the grounds - she doubted it would be hard to find Taaru.
|
|
|
Post by Erika Freeborn on Jul 14, 2009 13:19:21 GMT -5
A lone X-wing soared through the sky headed towards the DJO Estates. It kept it’s distance for now, circling the property, knowing that the defense systems would be tripped if it got too close without the proper authorization codes. The pilot of the craft once knew the codes like the back of her hand, although they were updated frequently, she always had the latest code to allow her access to the mansion and its grounds. But it had been all too long since her last visit and she was unsure as to weather the old code she had would be accepted. The X-Wing looked like nothing more the a heap of scrap metal for those who got a good look at it, the parts used to fix it were not the typical replacement parts one would use, but parts were limited where she had come from so she took what she could and managed to put it back together for the most part. It had been a long journey here and it was a miracle the ship had made it here in one piece.
Erika turned the X-wing towards the mansion, getting close enough to input the security codes she had. At first the computer froze while she tried to put the codes in, it was an old computer, salvaged from another ship that had been destroyed a while ago, and it worked well, or it did some of the time. Finally with a kick the computer came back to life and transmitted the code to the mansion security system. Now all she had to do was wait for confirmation that the code was accepted. If it wasn’t she didn’t know whether the piece of junk hard enough left in it to get away from the mansion defenses in time.
“Warning! Warning!” The computer blared at her.
“Damnit what now.”
She slammed her fist into the computer console trying to get a better answer out of it. Was the security system locking onto her position? Perhaps the computer was giving her a final warning before it fizzled out for the last time. Either way it wouldn’t be good. Turning the ship away from the mansion she began to make her way away from the area hoping to make a good distance before anything bad happened. The screen of the computer went black and the lights within the ship flickered. This wasn’t good at all.
She ripped open a small panel near the computer and began fiddling with the wires. Attempting to get the all too important system back up and running. She glanced up for a second to realize she was losing altitude and it she didn’t get things going soon it would be the end. After a few stressful seconds of jiggling wires and cursing the computer came back online. Quickly she steered the ship upwards and craned her neck to see what was happening with regards to the mansion security system. There were no missiles coming towards her so that had to be a good sign. After another minute, which seemed like an eternity the computer beeper. The code had been accepted and she was cleared to land at the mansion.
Pulling the stick she once again turned the ship towards the mansion and headed towards the landing pad near the hangers. With a thud and a ear-piercing creak of metal the X-Wing came to a rest. Erika pushed open the hatch and jumped out of the ship, glad to be on solid ground again. In her arms was a small ball of fur which she set on the ground before returning to the ship to grab her bag. A small vorskyr pup began sniffing around the ship, all the new sights and smells exciting him.
Erika grabbed her pack and stopped not far from the ship and watched her little companion get his first taste of something outside of Dathomir. She glanced around the property that had one been her home so many years ago. How long had it been since she were last here? She couldn’t really remember. It had been at least 5 years since her last communication with Jet and she was excited to see what was new in the galaxy. Communications on Dathomir had been knocked out for those five years so she was in the dark about most of the happenings that had occurred at that time. She took a deep breath and the air stung her nostrils. She shuddered slightly at the smell….civilization.
“Come on boy, lets go see who’s home.”
She turned and made her way towards the mansion. The small vornskyr happy to follow its master wherever she went.
|
|
|
Post by Dangerous Wave's Corporation on Jul 31, 2009 17:00:20 GMT -5
It was nearly a day and a half later before Darren was able to scrounge up his scattered team members - they had been enjoying a bit of R&R on Corellia for the last week and so had been scattered to the four corners. Some had been enjoying thier time more then others he thought with a wry look at a few haggard face's.
Bella was espechially rough looking,yawning and attempting to use Vidown's pack as a pillow no matter how many times he snarled at her about it, Darren snorted slightly as Bella told him in no uncertain terms what would happen if he moved - just.one.more.time. Vidown shut up with a moody look on his face and Darren didn't really blame him. Arguing with women was bad for your health in the best of times - adding rocket launchers to the mix just gave them more options.As his eyes roved the remainder of his team Darren couldn't help but wonder how Jet would take them - she'd hired them all, oh not in person of course but she'd been behind it, thrown them together and placed them within the proving grounds of Dangerous Waves. She must have known what she was doing the sandy haired man thought to himself because despite thier varied sometimes shady pasts and range of temperments they had quickly started to shine within the Dangerous Waves ranks - and now they had been picked for this mission which according to Devlin was of the greatest importance and a 'real opportunuty'.
He was probably right - it wasn't everyday that groups such as his were approached to work so closely with Jet and her ilk. No...that privilage was generally reserved for fully proven teams of the highest order. Darren had thought such things still years away - clearly he'd been wrong.Or perhaps lucky. Steadying himself as the transport he'd hired to bring them all to the mansion ground to a halt, his musing's were inturrupted as Ras nudged him with his elbow, nodding out the transports viewport as the backdoors opened and they all started jumping out.
"So Jet..she as pretty in real life as she in the holovids?" he asked with a grin, wiggling his eyebrows a little. Darren arched an eyebrow at him before jumping off the back of the transport and closing the doors, rapping on the side to send it off."Better...and she disarmed me in less then two seconds, don't even think about it" Darren responded to his best friend as they slung thier gear over their backs and looked up with the rest of the crew at a rather imposing wall and gate.Ras snorted a little and made some comment to Nik about 'already being possesive', Darren ignored him.
"Hey boss...how the hell we supposed to get in this place anyways? I don't exactly see a welcoming commitee" Came Bella's voice from his right and he glanced over at her just in time to see her stomp on a cig. Nasty habit. Not that he was one to talk he thought lighting up his own, sill on a lady...the thought made him flinch, though someone would be hard put to call Bells a 'lady' - to her face anyways."No clue Bells, I think I was supposed to get a code - but Al'Meara got sidetracked by personal matter's" He responded.
"Well I sure as frak ain't touching this thing" remarked Jethro who had wandered over for a closer look at the Gate's controls, Vidown snorted "we're lucky you'll still touch a datapad after that fiasco on Tatt." Jethro jerked his head around to glare at him catching the amused look on several other faces at the same time."go ahead laugh it up" he retorted "And just see what happens next tiem you have to pass cutoms with a fake ID" he continued in a threatening voice, the smirks were wiped out nearly imediately - well except Vidown who just scoffed and clapped him on the shoulder "come off it Jethro, you know we're just messing with you" Jethero nearly fell over as Vidown hit him but kept whatever else he'd planned to say to himself muttering under his breath as he went back to inspecting the gate controls.
"Oh for sith sake just hit the force damned com" Came an irrate voice from the back and before anyone could comment on the obviousness of this statement the red Twi-lek marched foreward and reached to hit the comm. Darren jumped with the rest of the crew as a rumble from the gates preceeded thier opening, Mulokhai her finger mere hairs breths from the com simply shrugged and marched into the tunnel the giant gate revealed.
Darren hefted his pack and rifle and started after her. "Let go folks...times wasting" He called over his shoulder and without having to be told twice the rest of them fell in line. Footsteps echoed down the tunnel - which had sealed itself off nearly a soon as the last person had entered, light's clicked on in front of them as they walked and Darren was well aware of the turrets which tracked them and the sensors which blinked but otherwise remained quiet.
"This is Creepy" remarked Samir her voice somewhere between intrigued and weirded out, Rexen agreed with her in a tone which clearly suggested he thought it might be overkill."Don't forget who the place belongs too" Telera remarked "It's really not very surprising when you think about it".Darren who by now had over taken Mulokhai turned around to look at them all. "She's right and we're here to do a job - not ask questions, You want to get out of the nerf osik jobs we've been doing the last few years..here's the ticket so smarten your asses up and act like professionals rather then a group of miscreants" He warned them with a commanding look in his eye.
"You heard the man" Ras commented "form up and march out" Taking his accustomed position alongside Darren who had already started stalking off, the rest of the team didn't need to be told twice. All joking aside they walked out of the tunnel and into the light.
Darren halted as they reentered the sunlight - The Gates was still a way's off -
and he was abotu to start off on what promised to be a very large walk when a portion of the ground to the left of them opened up, fake lawn folding in on itself as a collection of well maintained transports rose into view. "Guess we don't have to walk after all" Was his only comment before Nik - resident vehicle junkie pushed by him in obvious bliss, rushing over to the machines and yelling back some inane remarks about them..state of the art this and stae of the art that. Darren sighed and Ras patted him on the back. "Order be damned eh sir?" Darren watched as the rest of the team streamed past him to leap into the vehicle Nik had choosen - a red monstrosity that looked to have been choosen for it's speed capability rather then sensibility. "Apparantly so"
"Ah well cheer up - you know they'll perform when it counts" Ras remarked before joining the rest of the team with a whoop. Darren merely shook his head and walked over to join them - he did know that and apparantly...so did Jet. She'd choosen them afterall.
|
|
|
Post by Avery Heartshorn on Aug 3, 2009 18:12:32 GMT -5
((Urrgghhh, catching up suuuuuucks))
Avery ignored the beast after that moment, and could feel herself overheating. She felt sick to her stomach, and could swear the world was spinning.
"Ugghh, geez...."
She got up quickly and ran back to her room.
|
|
|
Post by Xander Cross on Aug 13, 2009 16:23:28 GMT -5
*Xander stepped about 3 miles out wondering why he was back wondering why this had happend to him wondering why he was off limits according to the djo mansion he felt it in the force he stayed at distance he waited for aproval from Jet.not knowing where she was he reached out to her in the force wondering if she would remember and reply...he waited in a crosslegged floating stance..*
|
|
|
Post by Jet Almeara on Aug 13, 2009 16:42:15 GMT -5
Within Xander's mind floated a response. The hanger. Jet's location and already Ice had reinstated him to the Mansion's security.
|
|
|
Post by Xander Cross on Aug 13, 2009 16:47:57 GMT -5
*Xander move silently threw the shadoes to his old room and sees the dust settled on his own things an waits for jet ot return to the manision*
|
|
|
Post by Taaru Masako on Aug 31, 2009 21:01:35 GMT -5
He finds her about two hours later, retracing his steps from when she first left him and tracking her the old fashioned way: bootprints, broken twigs, signs of disturbances in the foliage.
As Taaru ascends a small hill, visor open to the cool evening breeze, he draws nearer to a small rock formation in a boulder field, rocks strewn across the highlands overlooking the floodplain nearby. On one of the larger boulders of this small formation, he spots Jorunn's suit. Disengaging his repuslors, he plods the last few hundred feet to it, only to find that it has been powered down, its occupant having shed it.
Flipping down his visor, he scans the immediate area with IR....and finds a small red and white blip next to a larger expanse of cold black. Taaru follows this electromagnetic guidance around a larger stone pillar, and finds Jorunn at the edge of a crystal clear reflecting pool that has formed in the basin rock of the formation. She is seated, her legs drawn to her chest, forehead resting on her knees.
As he nears, he disengages the suit, smoothly transitioning from walking in the suit to exiting and walking on his own two feet, as if he were some molting insect, effortlessly shedding its gossamer skin. He only winces, as he is forced to free his injured arm from the biofoam plug, opening the wound once again.
Reaching Jorunn, he stands for a moment or two, looking at her without expression, then out at the reflecting pool.
Finally, he sits down, cross-legged, next to her.
After a while, sitting motionless next to Jorunn, he unclips a belt pouch on his plug suit and opens it: a small medkit. The bleeding having restarted, he busies himself bandaging the wound.
Jorunn, a little startled by the sudden sounds of motion, looks up, evidence of tears on her face and in her eyes. She watches as Taaru unpacks a bacta patch and applies it, then tries to wrap and tie it with only a spare hand. This proves difficult and Taaru is forced to rewrap it. Yet before he can, tender hands lay themselves on his, and busy themselves with the work.
Taaru allows them this, and waits patiently as Jorunn ties the bandage.
She finishes, finally, and with nothing left to do, she remains at his side, resting on her shins now, and avoids his gaze as he tries to look into her eyes.
She feels calloused fingers on her cheek, as Taaru cups it in his hand and turns her face towards his. Finally their eyes meet.
<<I am sorry, Jorunn. I have failed you, today.>>
This brings new tears, from both of them, and both fall into an embrace.
|
|
|
Post by Taaru Masako on Aug 31, 2009 21:20:34 GMT -5
[Some hours later.] Nighttime fauna makes itself known by the chirping and buzzing of nocturnal insects. Corellian fireflies are out in abundance. At the edge of the reflecting pool, two forms lie next to each other, looking up at the clear Corellian sky and its manifold of stars.
<<He acts just like him....>>
<<Who?>>
<<Aaron.>>
<<No, who does Aaron act like?>>
<<You know who I mean>>
A pause.
<<It was my mistake. I didn't realize....Is that why-?>>
<<Yes.....I can't stand him. He charms only to possess. And what he possesses he breaks. He is a rake...>>
<<...>>
<<I hate him.>>
<<You've only known him since today.>>
<<That is all I want to know of him. I don't want him to come with us. I won't->>
<<End up like your mother?>>
<<....no....I won't,>> she sighs, rolling onto her side, with her back facing Taaru. <<After all this time....for this to happen now. Its been so long since....>>
She feels a comforting hand on her shoulder blade.
<<It will fade with time, memories always do. As long as we live, they have to.>>
<<I know.>>
Some time passes.
<<He blusters not for the same reason, Ad'ike. He has reasons of his own, and they are more innocent than you would assume.>>
<<That doesn't sound like a good excuse.>>
<<Maybe not...but how will you know until you know him a little better? Don't you think you should judge him on his own merit, and not what you perceive him to be?>>
<<...>>
<<Will you give him another chance?>>
Nothing.
<<For me?>>
<<Yes, father. For you.>>
|
|
Amber Storm
New Member
Jedi Knight, DJO Praetorian
Posts: 30
|
Post by Amber Storm on Sept 24, 2009 11:55:17 GMT -5
Her mother had only been gone a little while - far too soon for the mansion to feel so empty, and yet it did. The Gates without her mother seemed devoid of something important and irreplaceable.
It wasn't like Amber to be so despondent - and so she had grabbed her things and gone on a hike about the estate grounds - many of these places she hadn't seen since she was a child, and there was some joy in rediscovering old haunts and hideaways.
It wasn't long into her trip down memory lane that Amber took notice of Talpha actually moving about in the mansion - pleased that the child had decided to actually leave her room Amber headed back to the Mansion.
|
|