"Please don't back out on my brother because of his association with me," she spoke up, stepping away from her previous location and forward towards the departing group. "At least let us have any information connected on his whereabouts; even with the Force skills both he and I have we can't simply work our way through a maze such as these caves without a hint as to their design.

"And as for him going back the way he came...

...I'm certain there is a reason he hasn't done so."

She trailed then, considering offering her help in healing Terrin but fairly certain that offer would only be taken as a way to further harm the group. She hesitated a moment longer with this, but couldn't avoid her natural instincts. "I can heal Terrin, to save you a trip back to the Hornett...

...and then you can do whatever with me you wish once I find my brother."

[ 11-11-2007 07:30 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shayla Stargazer Petrolu ]

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"You don't get it, Blondie!" I hissed as I stopped in mid-track and stomped over to her. I came right up, close and personal, and stuck my face smack into hers.

"I'm not risking myself or Terrin any more; ye gods, he already died once and nearly got eaten twice! You two have some kind of blood-link together, then fine. Use it. Talk to him with your Jedi Force-jabber; I've had enough of magickal hocus-pocus to last me a lifetime.

"He got where he is, he can get himself out, or else the other guys can find him. But as for Terrin and me, count us out!"

I turned to go, then paused.

"Our medical facilities are just fine and dandy, so you can take your little healing razzmatazz and go fix your brother's ego. I imagine it's pretty wounded by now, for all he's been sitting around on his thumbs waiting for someone to come charging up on a white steed to rescue him. And silly me, here I thought it was Jedi who normally did the rescuing!

"Maybe it's a good thing they're practically all gone!"

Seething, I stomped away from her before I could totally lose myself and strike her. For some reason her meek little attitude was striking me as an utter farce; there was nothing that I wanted more in the entire Universe right then than to take Terrin and escape to the haven of our ship.

--------------------

Nor was he going to point out the fact that the opening might not even bring them close to Petrolu.

"I'm going to slide inside and see if this looks like it might go anywhere," he then explained, holding out a lifesign reader to check and see what might be ahead. "Im not picking up any immediate life forms."

Pausing at that, Matt looked over towards Jasyn soon enough to see the scowl. "Hey, this is why we brought blasters."

Jasyn scowled further. "Fat lot of good it'll do us hanging..."

Jasyn trailed then, cut off by Matt's look. Matt then began working his legs into the opening, secured on the practically vertical wall they'd been climbing on by the rope around his waist and nothing else. After a few minutes of struggling, he managed to get his body in the opening. Only then did he realize that the opening wasn't the horizontal variety he initially thought it was for the simple fact that he began sliding downward towards...

...somewhere. He gripped onto the rope he was still hanging on and cursed loudly as he began continued to slide, trying his best to slow his body with his feet. The only thing that stopped him was the rope itself, which finally must have come to its complete length. He jerked to a stop, still hanging, feet first. He couldn't see a damn thing.

"Jasyn?!?!" he called over his head, hearing rustles behind him. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea..."

--------------------

"I'd point out I mentioned this was a bad idea," he commented then, trying to make light of the situation, "But then, if whatever is ahead is drier than what is behind us, I'm going that way."

He paused, nodding in the direction away from the opening they'd entered. "I took a look at the map while you were skidding your way here, and I think there is cave ground about 10 meters below you. I guess I could be wrong, it's been a while since I read a cave map...

...but I'm fairly certain. I'm gonna help you get turned about so you can take a look, since your feet are in the way of our view..."

Matt managed to work his head around to shake his head at Jasyn. "And if there's water below too?"

"Then I guess we'll go back the way we came, huh? And what awaits us there?"

Matt nodded, conceding the point. "Help me out," he then said to Jasyn. They promptly got to work on pulling Matt up just enough so that he could turn and look the other way, being as careful as possible to not put him in too much of a precarious position should he need to back out quickly. After several minutes, Matt was around enough to shine his glowstick below.

He sighed, and Jasyn oculd only hope that it was a sigh of relief as he waited for Matt's analysis of what was below.

--------------------

"We can go down," he replied to the unvoiced question. "There's ground below. Help get me untied..."

Jasyn nodded, and began helping Matt unbind himself from the rope they'd been using to climb downwards. TAking it on faith then that he would land on his feet, Matt let go and relaxed, knowing that any extra tension he put on his body would only make things worse. He landed on the cave floor with enough force that he was knocked off his feet, but was otherwise unscathed. Shining a glowstick, he began checking out their new surroundings as Jasyn entered the area in the same fashion he had moments before.

A strange humming nose began to fill his ears, and he frowned, shining the glowstick around more.

He didn't see anything. He hated to admit that the hairs on the back of his neck were standing.

"What is that?" Jasyn queried half under his breath.

"I don't know," Matt responded, "But it's no lightsaber hum, I'll give you that."

He trailed then, still shining his glowstick...

...and freezing as he saw something coming in a particular direction. "Oh....hell!" he spat, his green eyes widening. "Get down, NOW!"

--------------------

“Hey,” he said, his Sith legs taking him quickly to her side, even with Terrin in tow. Next to her, he could speak quietly. “Li’l Red, hang on. I know you’re upset, and with good reason. I’m not going to ask you to help with the Jedi dude any more than you guys have already done, which is lot. But I am going to ask that you listen to me for a few minutes, without going all red-headed on me, and make a decision. I really need some help, and some advice, and someone to listen, who hasn’t been possessed by darkness or anything. And sorry about that red-head line, I’ve been around your sister too much lately.”

Panthar looked behind, and saw Shayla still standing. Dara was now walking towards him, looking confused.

“I trust her,” he added. “Both her and your sister, but it’s hard. Maybe I’ve been in this Sith body too long, I don’t know, but Jedi give me the creeps a little, you know? But I'll help her brother -- the galaxy needs them, it needs her. There is a lot of crazy stuff to tell you guys, and it effects all of us.”

--------------------

"Then you go off and be knight in shining armor!" I spat, my hand instinctively clenching by my sides.

"I've had it up to here with all this we gotta save the Universe, nobody else can do it, poo-doo; all it's done is gotten too many people I care about hurt or killed, including my own father!

"You just trot off and be the Big Hero; me? I just want a little corner of the galaxy to call my own, where Terrin and Darra and I can hole up together and spend the rest of our days as family! So go on, go help the helpless Jedi and see who gets broken up next...

"But before you do put Terrin down, like he asked. His body is already bruised; he doesn't need that happening to his ego."

With that I whirled back around and stomped off, heading to the ship. Nothing and nobody was gonna stop me.

I'd simply reached the end of my tolerance.

--------------------

“If I was knight in shining armor,” he called out, “I wouldn’t need help. The fact is that we don’t have any knights, all we have are a few people who know a little bit about what’s going on and a big dark secret that wants to bring our lives crashing in around us. I’m not going to just sit by and let that happen, not if there’s anything at all I can do about it.”

Panthar stopped, realizing that they had reached the ship already. He put Terrin down gently, listening to the gasp of pain escape from him.

“All I’m asking is that you listen to me for a minute. Right now we got a war brewing between the Sith and the Empire, and those Vong things are on their way too. I’d say that pretty much screws over our galaxy if either one of those comes about. I know there’s something that people greater than me can do about it, but they need a boost from people like me. Something simple to start it off. And I can’t do it alone, I need help. Just a little.”

--------------------

I paused at the open hatchway, nodding to a wide-eyed Darra who had followed like some blue-eyed wraith in our wake. She merely shot a strange sort of look my way, then toward Big Red, and finally cast a glance at Terrin before seeming to sigh. Silent she brushed lightly past me, and entered Eagle II.

It was as if that mere act of having her safely aboard triggered something within me, for suddenly my shoulders slumped. Once more I found myself facing Big Red, this time in a far less angry manner.

"No more," I said quietly. "Look, we're just people, ordinary, run-of-the-mill people. For far, far too long we've been separated; now we're finally back together as a family. I don't want to risk anything -- anything -- happening to that; as you said, there's people more powerful than us out there, people with all kinds of weirdness and abilities, not to mention sheer firepower..."

Yeah, I hadn't forgotten about my dear ex-love, nope not one bit!

"...who are more than capable in defending us against this big bad whatever or whoever it is that's threatening. And anyway, just who in Hell's Seven Circles came down the pike with all this sudden information?

"Nope, too many unknowns for me, too many variables for my comfort zone. You just go on and find someone with the oomph to help you fight your fight; I've done my bit for King and Country!"

--------------------

...or at least, as upright as he could possibly manage. "What...she said," he said in Panthar's direction, nodding slightly towards Galen, unable to add anything more than that.

--------------------

Suddenly he couldn't fathom why anyone thought this was a good moment to be trying to reason with either of them about saving the universe. And Galen was right, she and Terrin had been dealing with this for a long time. Now wasn't the time to be pushing either of them.

"Hey," he then spoke up, breaking the exchange back and forth between Panthar and Galen, "Why don't we help them get aboard ship and then look for the guys and Shawn? This obviously isn't the time or place for this sort of conversation."

He paused then, now having everyone's attention. "Shawn is lost, and for whatever reason he can't seem to get himself out. I'm willing to help, and they need to go get medical attention and some rest," he commented, nodding towards Galen and Terrin. "It is their business what they do from there; give it a rest."

Finishing with that, Aaron headed Terrin's way to help him aboard Eagle II, firm in his belief that this just wasn''t the time to be pushing things.

--------------------

"You can go make your plans with Blondie back there, or you're welcome aboard."

With that I turned and hastened into the ship, hurrying to assist Aaron as Terrin was obviously slumping more and more with each unsteady step.

"Maybe I should have let Big Red carry him aboard," I said, shooting a grateful look into Aaron's eyes as I grasped Terrin on his non-supported side. "But--

"Thank you for what you said back there."

[ 11-15-2007 11:03 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Galen ]

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Aaron trailed, trying to make as much light of the situation as possible as he cocked a brow Terrin's way, helping him then lay down on the cot in the alcove. "There should be some painkillers here," he then said, rummaging about in a nearby cabinet. "That should at least help some while you get back to the Hornett."

He paused then, pursing his lips then looking Galen's way. "Could you do me one small favor when you get back to the Hornett? I could really use a ship, some small frieghter or something, for when we hopefully find Shawn and the boys. Someone aboard the Hornett can fly one down, and it would help prevent anyone else who might be injured from being stranded here."

[ 11-15-2007 11:24 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aaron Barnes ]

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"I'll send one as soon as I get Terrin squared away; no--"

I paused a moment before amending the statement.

"I think I can manage to do two things at once, after all I've been through!"

I smiled, and Aaron returned it before turning around to depart from Eagle II.

"Don't forget to get Panthar to back up a bit; I wouldn't want to fry him on take-off!" I called as he disappeared from view. After dispensing some painkillers to Terrin and harnessing him securely, I hurried to the open hatch, there to watch as Aaron and Big Red moved safely out of the range of our thrusters. I waved...

Then closed the hatch. Brushing past an extremely quiet Darra, who was standing unmoving against the small companionway, I made my way to the tiny bridge area. Seating myself there, I kicked her into full warm-up, and after waiting but a few moments longer to make certain the other two were indeed safely away from our thrusters, let 'er rip.

"Hornett, this is Eagle II, departing Dagobah for low orbit prep to reuniting. Request approach vector and docking coordinates."

Then, with nothing else to do for the time being but try to relax, I blew out a puff of air, slumping back in my seat. A small movement caught my eye: I glanced idly down to contemplate my hands, which had removed themselves for the moment from the controls for the little craft was on autopilot.

They were hardly laying still and serene in my lap.

I frowned and clenched them; then leaning my head back against my seat I just closed my eyes, listening to the quiet thrum of the ship as I waited for a reply from Hornett.

[ 11-15-2007 11:41 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Galen ]

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"Eagle II this is Hornett responding," the communications officer stated into the comm unit. "Approach vector anbd docking coordinates are incoming."

Sending that message back to the Eagle II, the comm officer immediately confered with those responsible for such figures, and quickly got said coordinates. In a matter of no more than a standard minute, he received the coordinates and then sent them to Eagle II.

"We have an eye out for your arrival. Please let us know if you need anything further. Communications, out."

[ 11-15-2007 11:52 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin's Crew ]

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"Hornett, this is Eagle II. Confirm receipt of vector and docking coordinates; am planning an ETA of--"

I paused fractionally, now turning my attention to the navigational computer.

"--approximately four and one half standard minutes. As far as needing anything..."

I paused again, glancing backward over my shoulder toward the alcove where Terrin lay quietly. His seeming silence did not necessarily mean he was resting peacefully, for every so often a slight grunt would worm its way from his lips.

"I am in need of a medical crew asap upon docking; don't worry, it's not serious, but Terrin has been injured. And then--"

My words were suddenly truncated as a slight cough came to my ears. It was not, however, coming from Terrin.

"And then I shall be offloading my daughter into the collective and quite capable hands of ship and crew. I believe it would be best for her to remain with her-- father."

Another fraction of a moment passed, one in which I discovered to be filled with the sudden blink of the proximity light. Even though my conversation had been short, it couldn't compete with the velocity at which we were traveling. I grasped the controls now, taking her off auto to manually dock with the massive SSD.

"Entering docking bay... now," I sent, then applied myself to the tricky job of doing just that. Moments later, and a slight whump brought home the fact that I had safely brought Terrin and Darra home.

"Opening hatch," I sent, then did exactly that, keeping the ship on standby as I turned to send a meaningful look Darra's way.

"Off you go, kiddo," I quipped as the sound of approaching footsteps began to echo in the confines of Eagle II, but the look in my eyes was anything but light.

--------------------

"Are-- are you coming, Mother?"

A little frill coursed through her veins at the look she received in turn, which more than adequately answered her. Now letting a tiny smile cross her face, she merely blinked once and left the ship, moving quickly and gracefully past the team of men who came pounding up the gangway. At the foot of the gangway she stopped, waiting for them to reappear so she could follow them to the medbay and there do exactly as her mother had said:

Be with her father.

--------------------

--------------------

For, I now suddenly realized. I wasn't blowing up at Blondie and Big Red -- ok, at Big Red -- because I was mad at them.

I was blowing up because I was mad at the circumstances I suddenly had found myself in.

The simple truth was that I was worried to death about the safety of Terrin and Darra. After so long a hunt, so many trials and tribulations, I had finally found them. Now Red was asking us to blithely trot off into the face of death... again.

I'd been there enough, Khaandon only knows! With Sorben, with Flac, with Loban... the list had grown a bit over the years. I knew I could take care of myself... but I didn't want to risk the more than likely fact that my husband and daughter couldn't do the same.

And it was that dilemma that had me by the horns, so to speak. I had been forced to place my fear for them smack against a promise I had made.

"Aaron said he needed a ship; I'm gonna bring him one," I said tersely, gripping the controls more tightly.

"So unless you wanna come along as Second, you'd better get your hiney off my ship!"

I turned my face to the crewman, nodding toward the open hatch in a manner he simply could not misconstrue.

--------------------

...but please be careful, and keep in contact. The Captain, if he's anything like he used to be, will have my head if you get hurt and he knows I let you go on your own."

He paused then, still concerned, not liking this one bit but knowing by the look in Galen's eye he didn't have any other choice.

"In the meantime, however, we'll be up here, waiting. Hurry back."

Saying nothing further than that, the crewman hesitantly complied with Galen's request and departed from the hatch to head after the crew now taking Terrin to the medcenter, JhinDarra following along as well.

He sure hoped he just hadn't made the mistake of a lifetime.

--------------------

"Hornett, this is Eagle II" I called out as my hands flew over the controls.

"It seems I've left some unfinished business down on Dagobah, and as representative of EE and my husband, I feel dutifully responsible to attend to it. Please vacate docking bay and depressurize; I'm departing in T-minus twenty seconds.

"19... 18... 17..."

I stared out the forward view, willing the docking bay doors to open... which of course they did before my countdown reached fifteen. Grinning at this tiny, if grim, victory I waited out the remainder, then shot out of Hornett's underbelly like a scalded womprat.

Soon I was heading down into the boggy green mists of the swamp world, following the exact trajectory I had used to depart from it only moments before. The planet seemed to turn beneath me as I descended in one graceful, swooping arc, and it wasn't long before the green-enshrouded, swamp-surrounded hillock upon which I had formerly landed rolled into view:

Murky shadows, sinister plantlife, a trio of bipedal specks and all.

[ 11-15-2007 01:07 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Galen ]

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Panthar looked at Shayla, who was nearing him and Aaron.

“I have a really bad feeling about this,” he said, flatly. “Let’s get the heck out of this swamp area and get your brother, then find a way back to the Sith. I was really hoping to have Galen with us, but I guess you reach your limit sometimes, eh?”

Panthar let out a sigh and scanned the area beyond where the ship had been.

“My Sith communicator was able to cut through the rock last time and get to Shawn. When we get closer I’ll try it again. Any idea where to go?”

Panthar's attention was then drawn by the glint of something in the sky. He peered upwards, trying to make it out.

"Is that a ship?"

--------------------

Pausing then, he cocked a brow at Panthar. "And as for this communicator that cuts through rock...

...do you know how to put a specific frequency into the thing like a regular communicator? Matt and Jasyn should have secure EE frequencies, and I know that Shawn does, I gave it to him myself."

--------------------

She quieted for a moment then, thinking. "I can sense Shawn's proximity but that doesn't tell me exactly where to go to find him."

--------------------

But my pilot's eye spotted brown and tan amidst the greenery, places where underlaying rock of some sort, or at least drier soil, poked through. A relatively "large" spot of this, in conjunction with a slight upward bulge of the terrain, lent credence to the belief that I could very well land practically on top of them.

Which I did.

I couldn't help but smile as I strutted my stuff; it had been quite a while since I'd been able to flex my piloting muscles. Visions of my cowboy-ish retreat from Ambria flicked across my mind as I now came in, swooping in a half-roll before turning about my Z-axis in order to keep the propulsion thrusters away from them. I couldn't do anything about the shock wave, though; although Red was massive enough to withstand the onslaught, and Aaron had taken refuge behind him, Blondie was taken a bit by surprise. I caught a fast glimpse of her stumbling backward, her hair whipping in my artificially created breeze, before the positioning of the ship took her out of view.

Gotcha, Blondie! I couldn't help smirking; then I let all childishness drop from me. There was much to do, and nobody wanted it done any faster than yours truly here.

Quickly I powered down, then slapped open the hatch. I was on top of the gangway even as it began to descend.

"I hear somebody ordered a ship; well, here she is. Now before we all go flying off all jolly and nice, shall we get back to the business of finding this poor excuse of a jedi? I wanna get back before supper."

[ 11-15-2007 02:05 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Galen ]

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