"Oh. Shoot and branch." Koi sounds disappointed as she drops back onto the sand.  She holds up the piece of shrapnel to AG. "It looks like this has been here for a while. I'm not sure if anyone --except maybe a droid -- could have survived a crash into the ocean that long."

"Come on, let's show this to Mel." She starts heading back down the beach in an easy jog.

Melveleh had hiked the leggings of his coveralls to his knees and waded into the shallow water. Leaning forward, he combed his hands through the sand, looking to see any of sea life, no matter how small.

His attention was pulled away at hearing the shifting of sand by two pairs of human feet.

"Hey there, You two doing laps, or you find something interesting?"

"AG found this in a tree trunk up the beach. I think they crashed into the ocean." She waved the piece of shrapnel for emphasis before offering it to Mel. She was a little breathless and flushed from the run, but clearly bounding from place to place was a normal method of locomotion for the young woman. "It looks like it has some weathering on it, and the branches are starting to rot away. So I don't think it happened recently. Do you recognize the material? Or have any guess about what kind of ship it's from?" She confides after a moment. "It has an odd feel to me."

Melveleh studied the fragment carefully, feeling it in his hands and looking at the details.

"It's a composite of some kind." He said simply "too many variants to know exactly what. This looks like it belongs to something that was meant to be in the atmosphere, or the weathering would be much worse. Probably broke off a starfighter, or some other small craft. Probably not Imperial or First Order though. TIEs are all made out of the same material to make logistics easier."

In reply to Melveleh (msg # 23):

Oh. Koi said thoughtfully, relieved that the First Order was probably not crashed on the same planet. She wasn’t ready to rescue AG against the First Order. “Well, do you think we should find their ship? Koi asked hesitantly. I’m guessing it’s not likely they’re still alive, but maybe we can let their family know what happened to them. And, well, I didn’t get all the extra parts for the Rose on tattooine.  “

"Your prognosis is correct. I'm afraid that we won't find anything inside it but rags and bones. If we are able to find out anything about who was inside, provide some closure, we'll have done the right thing. If there's something inside that we can scrap or sell for some extra credits, we'll have kept the expedition going a little while longer."


Mel slowly starts walking in the direction you came from "That's of course assuming it didn't fall apart under water. Either way, getting down there and pulling whatever we can from the wreck could  be a challenge."

"Well, there might be a droid on the ship. A droid might survive..err..be fixable?" Koi's sounds a little doubtful -- despite trying to be optimistic."  She matches pace with Mel. "Should we tell Oro and the Captain?  They might be able to scan for the ship."  Koi glances at AG.  She doesn't necessarily want to let him know that she's a future jedi.  But the Captain or Mel should know that there might be a ghost on the ship. If only she had a chance to talk to the Jedi spirit mentor about everything that has happened -- she seemed to have a lot of advice!

"That's a good idea, but we'll leave the Rose where it is for now. I need the exercise, and Oro needs the challenge."

He looks over at AG "You've got a strong pair of legs, go get the others, tell them we're going deep fishing." He makes a short nod and takes off, running as best as he can through the sand

"Well, he follows orders well. I just hope there's something else in there." Mel said after the soldier was out of earshot.

"He was helpful in finding the shrapnel." Koi remarks a trifle defensively. She *likes* AG; he was brave to throw his life in their hands and try -- even when he clearly knows very little of the non-military world.

"Mel," Koi starts, and hesitates before forcing herself to continue. "Wix and I..can sense things. Like the Force.  And the ship on the bottom of the ocean is definitely strong in the Force.  I don't know what that means in a practical sense.  It could be a ghost, or an ancient relic on board. It could be friendly or angry. But it's definitely something out of the ordinary.  The Captain knows about me and Wix..but I'm not sure whether AG would be angry or unhappy about it."   She glances down the beach.

"You and the womp-rat can feel the Force?" He asks, his smile belying his unintended tone "That's great news, I think. I quite miss the Jedi. Who knows, maybe the little one can be the next Master Yoda." He chuckles at the seemingly incredulous thought.

"I don't think AG would know what to do with that information if you told him. He lives in a binary world, and you don't fit in either category of the Jedi or the Sith. I think learning that he is not just a hammer and the galaxy is not full of nails will do him some good."

"Yeah." Koi admits sheepishly, "Wix is a lot better at it than me. I don't mind.  It's nice to be able to sense the world and understand it a little better."  She feels lighter having been able to tell Mel.  His acceptance means a lot -- she admires him so much. And something about him saying that she is neither Sith or Jedi seems..right. "Master Yoda?  The great leader and warrior?  I think Wix can be a great hero, but I hope he doesn't have to fight so much."

She asks Mel, "What were the Jedi like? My dad had a few old children's stories, but knowing how hard it's going to be to help the Jawa..how could they do it?  Stop wars. Rescue people from terrible villains.  Why, my Dad said that a jedi could disable a whole battle station with a single shot." 

Koi crinkles her nose in disbelief. "I'm pretty sure that was a philosophical metaphor.  I mean, that couldn't have *really* happened. It's too unrealistic."

"I had only met a few, but they really were all that." He smiles as he looks up into the sky "You could not find a more honored and revered group in all of the Galaxy as the Jedi Knights. Comitting their lives to the defense of the helpless, a constant fight against the injustices of the galaxy, masters of secrets most of us could never begin to understand."

"When Sheev Palpatine informed the Republic had tried to perpetrate a treasonous coup against him, and began hunting all of the Jedi, I couldn't believe it. There was something that was being hidden. The worst part came later, when the untold masses believed the lies of the Empire, and began to help with their elimination."

"Your father's story is correct. Luke Skywalker, the Jedi Knight, was the one who was able to single handedly destroy the First Death Star, and was later able to defeat both Darth Vader and the Emperor himself. After some years had passed, he tried to recreate the Jedi Knights, but something happened. He failed, and now the Jedi Knights again seem to only exist in people's memories and imaginations."

His somber tone shifted again; Mel seemed determined to look at things positively "Still, this isn't the first time the galaxy thought the Jedi were extinct, only for them to return when they were needed most. Maybe you and Wix will be the next Jedi, and finally bring the peace our galaxy so desperately needs."

"I would like that." Koi says quietly as she looks out on the ocean and thinks about the..pollution that the Emperor left behind. And the incredible legacy that she is being asked to live up to.  Mostly it's herself doing the asking (maybe a little Wix and Ms. Spirit), and that somehow makes it harder. But she does want to try.  And she does sense somethings, even Ms. Spirit confirmed that her intuition was pretty good.  But she's not good with words and it is hard to explain the nebulous currents of feeling that she's just starting to sense. "I think the Emperor left a big mess..I don't have a good sense of it, but some of it is like salted or contaminated ground. Things can grow there, and it looks okay. But you have to treat the ground with special plants and water to make it really right again. Kind of like AG who need to learn to be person." She considers, "I think he could be an amazing person. But like the captain said, he'd have to choose it himself."

She searches her heart for a moment. "I have any chance of succeeding it will be because of you and the captain and Oro and Wix. I barely know enough to be a person myself. I don't feel like I know enough to help others very well yet. It's hard to see some much that needs done and feel like a baby who doesn't know what to do.  Or someone trying to repair a hyperdrive wearing thick mittens and welding shield. Having people who accept my being different and care -- not just as a future hero, but for bean-sprout, climb crab Koi. -- it makes a big difference. I don't know if I'd have the courage to try without out it.

She smiles shakily, as they come up on the blasted trees. "Well all that being said -- do you want me to see if I can sense the ship better? Sometimes if I sit down and concentrate I can suss out things more clearly."

"What? And ruin the surprise?" The question would remain unanswered as AG returned with the others.

He smiled at Oro and motioned her closer "We've got work to do there tadpole. There's a ship down at the bottom, and we're the only ones who can get at it."

"Finally." She exclaims as she approaches the water and begins to stretch her limbs out. "Wait, doesn't that mean that we're not the first people out here? If someone else has already staked claim out here, than we-"

"Easy there tadpole" Melveleh assured her "The ship is at the bottom of the ocean, so what do you think that means"

"Oh" She said morosely "I see. Good point." With a quick removal of her external layers, she and Mel descended into the water, leaving you to wait with AG and the others.

Koi watches Mel and Oro dive gracefully into the ocean.  Mel might not be the most graceful on land, but in the water he soars.  She smiles at AG, "I don't think Mel has had this much fun in months. It's not very common for him and Oro to be able to go for a real swim like this."

After they disappear, Koi wanders over to the dead wood and picks out a piece to inexpertly whittle.  Maybe she can make a bowl or cup or a spoon.  Something simple and useful anyway.

OOC: Koi is going to *try* to be patient and wait for Oro and Mel to report back :)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Sat 02 Jan 2021.

AG was quiet, but acknowledged your response. He sat adjacent, brushing a stray twig against his pant legs in a rhythmic fashion, as he watched Wix run back and forth with the slow pulse of the waves. The Captain sat atop a warm rock with his datapad, crunching the numbers of different theoreticals.

Trying to keep dry and out of the others way, Wix ran up to join the others as he saw Oro-Qiebra and Melveleh approaching. Oro had a good start on Mel, and was moving at a much faster pace after both hit the land. As Oro stared straight at AG, he quickly rose to his feet, with an increased sense of dread.

"What? What is it?" He asked. As the distance was closed, Oro responded by launching a furious hooking punch with her strong arm, which caught AG by surprise and connected with his jaw. Her next punch was deflected, and the First Order soldiers instinctual training kicked in, fighting back. The two were equal combatants, but AG was fighting defensively; holding back to make clear, solid strikes to try and stop Oro, who wouldn't stop.

It wasn't until Melveleh had caught up that the fight stopped, as he used his superior size and strength to pull Oro away.

"Alright tadpole, that's enough out of you"

"What the hell?" AG asked, angry and confused.

"He has to pay! They all have to pay for what they did!"

"He's as innocent of this as you are. You know that. Now go walk it off, and get the Rose powered up so we can pull the ship out"

Oro responded reluctantly, shoving herself away to do what she was told, walking away without a word.

"Oro!" Koi yelped in surprise as she scrambled to her feet. She tried to find a way to pull Oro off without getting in AG's way. "Oro stop!" She yelled ineffectually.

She fumbled in her pockets for a clean, if crumpled handkerchief. "Are you alright?" She asked AG, handing him the handkerchief. Koi's expression is between worried, protective, and impressed. She gives him a searching look -- trying to sense whether Oro seriously hurt him. "Should I get a med-kit?"

"What happened?" She asked Mel quietly, her look is more solemn and serious. "Should I get an aquabreather, and go back down with you?"


OOC: Wow!
This message was last edited by the player at 19:46, Sun 03 Jan 2021.

"I've had worse" He said with a glare towards the ship. "Probably better to talk to him. Figure out what got into her." Pointing to Mel.

Answering the question "Better to just stay where you are, for now. Rose has a magnetic towing cable, we'll be able to pull the ship out from the bottom."

Mel paused for a second "Just, take it easy when you see what it is."

Koi looks wide eyed at Mel, and AG. She takes a deep breath, muttering "I have a bad feeling about this." That Oro freaked out suggests strongly that it's something to do with the war. Maybe even someone she used to know. Did she know someone strong in the Force?  Is it a slave ship?

Hoping the captain will chime in, Koi suggests quietly. "Maybe you could break it to us gently, Mel?  I think we've had enough surprises."

"Kids" Mel replied simply and in a somber tone. Wix had come in close to hear the story as well "It was a Jedi starship, with two kids inside. Padawans, possibly. The hatch wouldn't open as they went down, and than by the time they hit the floor of the ocean, the sudden pressure would have killed them instantly, so they were trapped."

AG's eyes got wide upon hearing and imagining what took place, but was deathly still and quiet, while Wix was scanning his little eyes between everyone, and the Captain had finally gotten up to investigate and listen in.

Koi looks stricken and surprised. There are -- or were -- more people like her and Wix. Recently.  And people were hunting them.  So..presumably the First Order knew there are more Jedi now.  Sure there were bad people other than the First Order that would hunt down children..but the First Order was definitely at the top of the list.

She glances at Wix sadly. "Whomever was hunting them..I don't think they crashed. They're probably still out there."


Noticing that AG is very, still she watches him for a moment.  Tries to guess how he's reacting to the news that there are -- or were Jedi -- that might have the information he sought.

OOC: Not sure if Koi needs a perception roll or not for this one.

"I wouldn't think so" Torin refuted "There haven't been ships branded with the Jedi Order since the end of the Clone Wars, when they were all marked for traitors" It was hard to catch, but the captain made a short look over to AG as well, as he continued.

"This was either a casualty inflicted by the Confederacy of Independent Systems, a Clone Trooper who betrayed their superior officers and the Republic, or the Empire who hunted down the last remnants of the Knights."

The Gammorean Rose slowly rose off the sandy beach, moving overhead and hovering as it released it's claw. The increasing noise of the engine and blowing of the wind would require shouting to be heard clearly. Sand blowing off the ground buffeted any and all nearby.

AG remained quiet, and wide eyed. His eyes focused on Torin, than Melveleh. His posture had shifted, as one about to run, but where he would run to on such a small island, who could say?

It was strange to think this crash happened so long ago. Although Koi herself was protected from the major battle because she lived in the fringes of the galaxy, there has still be a war for most (or all) of her life.  It is disconcerting to remember that it's really been going on for generations. Human generations anyway.  If those kids lived, they could have been grandparents by now.

And now maybe this ship would have some answers for AG about the Jedi and what happened when the Emperor betrayed them.

Koi glanced at AG and then back at Torin. "Wow, this is very loud.  I think I'm going to go further away from the beach.  AG, you want to come with me?"

May be the dunes and rocks would shelter them from the noise.  Maybe it would give AG a little space to set aside some fears.

He shook his head strongly in response "No," There was a slight pause as he tried to expand on his words "I, I need to see this. This had nothing to do with me, but still."