https://i.pinimg.com/564x/fc/2...8af69008c1826687.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-1">https://i.pinimg.com/564x/fc/2...8af69008c1826687.jpg" alt=''>

Landing on the planet of Drinax, where DD-3's research pointed to as the location of Hypo Station, was easy enough. The world was a vassal state, technically independant but only through paying large sums of credit to the First Order to not be taken over completely. Their presence and their influence is noticeable here, but not so much that they would shoot a pair of possible Resistance ships out of the sky, sight unseen.

The docks were fairly quiet today; not a lot of traffic on or off world beyond the two of you.

Kalidyn unbuckled and took off his helmet once they'd landed. He got out of the ship and looked around slowly. Step one complete - make it to, and land safely on, their destination. That was, unfortunately, the easiest part of their mission.

He waited for his partners and then said, "Well, looks kind of quiet but I guess we should start looking around quietly, maybe find a place to stay. I doubt this will be fast, despite what I would like."

"No, I wouldn't count on it. Finding them is going to be hard. Going to need to rely on patience and some unconventional thinking if we're going to be successful."

Kal scratched his nose in thought for a moment. Then he gave a small shrug. "Alright. DD-3? Do you have any information about a good but inexpensive place to stay? We're going to need a base of operations while we're here it looks like."

He started walking away from their ship once it was buttoned up. "I guess we start small and broad, then try to zero in on more specific information. I almost wish we knew who the Rebellion's people here were so we could contact them...but then again, I suppose one of them could be the 'leak' to the First Order."

He let out a sigh. "This is NOT what I thought I'd be doing when I joined up."

"Data is from military and governmental systems. Standby, will process request" The little droid scooted off out of earshot to find an open computer terminal.

"You and me both. My first choice would be to get back out there and take the fight where it's needed." Tess takes a look at the droid on its little mission, and than again to ensure no one in ear shot "Still, far as missions go, this is still pretty up there. Like, exactly what you see in the vids. 'The unlikely duo that single handedly won the war' and all that."

"Who says dropping bombs is the only way to leave an impact?"

Looking at Tess, he smiled and held up his hands slightly. "No, no, you're absolutely right. This is...at the very least, an interesting challenge." He gave a half-shrug. "Just a bit outside my wheelhouse is all."

Kal smiled at DD-3 and nodded. "Thanks, DD-3. I know this is a bit outside your wheelhouse too. I appreciate your help."

After a moment, he gestured away from the docks. "I guess we should at least start heading towards...'civilization' there, eh?" He started walking once DD-3 was ready.

The civilization as it was here was sufficient for modern life but wholly unremarkable. There was nothing in the architecture that made Drinax appear distinct from a thousand other worlds within the Republic. Built long ago to attract rapid expansion of commerce and migration from the coreward worlds, everything about it was contemporary and calculated towards a wide audience. Add to the fact of how old the settlements were, the place looked dated and boring.


If the landscape was underwhelming, the significant presence of First Order patrols would be enough to keep one on their toes. Everyone moved about the city quickly. It was too difficult to see if loitering and vagrancy was strictly prohibited, or if people were just that skittish around the military presence.

Though there was a large presence, this wasn't martial law, not at first glance anyway. Shops were open, people could move about freely, and nobody was heart to accost you the moment you arrived, so that had to count for something, right?

"I've seen Ithorians with more character" Tess gave as an off-handed remark. "The people we're looking for don't want to be found. Got any ideas?"

Kalidyn looked over at Tess when she spoke up. He smirked and let out a little chuckle at her observation.

But then he pondered her very valid question. "Welllllllll..." he started, drawing the word out as he thought, "we're looking for people that won't want to be found, people that hide in plain sight even."

He rubbed his chin as he struggled. "So...I guess...we either need to employ a slicer to dig up information, check out backgrounds, payment histories, communication logs, something that will give us a clue as to who might be the ones we're looking for," He cocked an eyebrow at the droid with him to see if they piped up. "or we need to make contact with...seedy elements maybe." He hesitated. "Or we need to attempt to find out who is sympathetic to our Cause and find a way in that way, though that's arguably the most dangerous of the three."

He gave a shrug. "Either way, we need information, and a place to stay." He looked at the droid. "Any ideas where to stay?"

The little droid, having completed its task, simply started to roll off into the street, assuming you to follow. Even for what this planet would call a mid day hustle, it's easy to keep an eye on DD-3 without racing to catch up, until it makes a sudden turn into an open door.

Heading in behind it, you're greeted by gregarious Mirilian behind the desk "Why hello, you two must belong to this little guy" she bore a big smile, enjoying her own humor. "Say, I know you from somewhere don't I? You look very familiar to me miss."

"Oh, I get that alot" Tess replies, looking strangely nervous "just have one of those faces, look like everyone else. We could use a room, if you have one, for a few days."

"Oh, sure." She points towards a turbolift "Rooms are up there, total service. Check in and check out through the terminals with each door." Pointing the other way "If you head in that direction, we have one of the best hospitality droids in the system there if you need some grub.

Kal let out a little laugh and nodded to the woman, gesturing down at the droid. "Yes, he's in charge." He gave her a wink but then sobered and listened.

He glanced sideways at Tess but didn't say anything about the 'recognition' for the moment. Once they were in private maybe.

"Efficient." He smiled and thanked the Mirilian before heading towards the turbolift. He stayed silent for the moment, wanting to ride to their room and get inside before talking again.

The conversation you were going to have was quickly erased once you walked out on the chosen floor. The sight of fully armed First Order troops will do that to a person. Three of them, hovering out the door of one of the rooms, talking to some unseen person inside.

"Look, I told your friends already. I don't know what you're talking about. How many times do we have to be over this?"

"You're coming with us to answer questions. We know you've been consorting with the enemy!"

"Consorting with the enemy? Why, that's absurd, that's impossible! I don't know any of you"

One was quick to raise his weapon and almost fired, but another who had seen that you and Tess were witnesses held off. The trigger happy one walked to talk to you as the others pressed their suspect.

"Care to explain that again old man? Sounds like you're admitting that you're part of the Resistance."

"Not at all." He replied with an unusually calm voice for someone perilously close to losing his life "The Empire lost friends. The New Republic is the galactic authority of Law and Order, which the First Order refuses to admit or submit to. So, you see, you all are the Resistance, from a certain point of view"

"The two of you had better leave now if you know what's good for you"

Kal froze for just a moment when they first exited the turbolift upon seeing the First Order troopers. Then he had planned on just pretending to ignore them and find a door to enter. But the First Order was having none of that. They walked directly towards Kal and his companions and engaged them, threatened them.

"EXCUSE you? We have every right to get a room. You stay out of our business, we stay out of yours." He shifted to look a bit towards Tess, more to put the holstered pistol on the side facing away from the troopers - and as he gestured towards the trooper with one arm, the other hand went to his pistol grip. "You believe this guy? Minding our own business and he gets in our faces!"

OOC: I mean, if you want some kind of roll, I'm terrible at all the non-pilot ones so let me know, LOL! I know I SHOULD just walk away, and not get in trouble the FIRST DAY on planet but...

It's entirely up to you as to your choice of action. If you want to try and play things down, a Persuasion Role could do the trick.

If you want to attack, you'd need to roll Initiative.

If you want to simply get in the turbolift and wait for whatever occurs here to roll over, you can do so without a roll.

OOC: No, it SOUNDS like this person may or may not be that we should meet and/or keep out of the First Order's hands. And...well...Kal doesn't like the First Order. And if the person could be helpful, even more so. So. Yeah. Unless Tess seems to not want that when he looks at her, I guess trying to pull his pistol and going to initiative. Lol. Oh man.

15:16, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.

16:18, Today: Midichlorians, for the NPC Stormtrooper, rolled 3 using 1d20+2 ((1)).

The two Stormtroopers talking to the mysterious man suddenly slammed against the wall behind them as if violently pushed.

The one dealing with you two was easily distracted, allowing you an opportunity to strike first.

You clearly have the initiative. Make your attack, and a move action if desired.

Kalidyn quick drew his pistol and placed it almost right up against the First Order trooper standing in front of him. He fired it as he said, "Lesson one - never take your eyes off your enemies." But in his hasty attempt to shoot the trooper, he missed. He restrained a groan.

OOC: OF course lol. Only I could roll crappy enough to miss at point blank range ha!
20:23, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 7,13 using d20+5,3d8+2.  Blaster pistol vs Trooper.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:26, Fri 01 Oct 2021.

Your miss is justified, you did aim right where he was, and where he would have remained, not Tess had a different idea. The Zeltron had rushed the Stormtrooper, reaching for his weapon. The two were caught in a grapple over the rifle; though the enemy had strength on his side, Tess had found a way to utilize leverage, but neither was getting anywhere with it.

"Oh come on Kal! What are you waiting for!? Kill him!"

Bad news: you are shooting into melee, which does put a penalty into your next role.
Good News: You took the Precise Shot Feat, which negates this Penalty
Better News: You can use a Force Point to increase the chances of your success.
Best News: You have two Destiny Points, one for each level you have. These can be used for a number of things, including an automatic critical hit, and the double damage that would be commensurate with such)
If you choose to use either this or the Force Points, you have full discretion to add appropriately cool and dramatic flair.

"Whoah!" Kal was surprised at Tess jumping in to melee with the trooper, grappling with him. He blinked and then narrowed his eyes. This time he took care to aim his pistol better at the trooper, and not to hit his comrade-in-arms as he squeezed the trigger and fired again. "I'm working on it!"

OOC: Hmm. I didn't realize we had Destiny Points. But I kind of want to save that for something...bigger. Better base roll, terrible force point roll, lol.

15:21, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 17,11 using d20+5,3d8+2.  Blaster pistol vs Trooper Try 2.
15:21, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 1 using 1d6.  Force point (if needed).

The Stormtrooper stupidly relinquished the contest for the rifle in order to try and avoid your next shot, but to no avail. the shot from your blaster struck dead on, and at such close distance that the protection from his helmet meant nothing.

The threat eliminated, the man accosted by the First Order stepped out slowly. Behind his bearded and aged face shown a warm and friendly smile.

"Hello there"

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This message was last edited by the GM at 12:59, Wed 06 Oct 2021.

Kal stopped, frowning down at the storm trooper. He didn't relish violence, whether killing or stunning someone. But sometimes, especially in a war, something were necessary. He looked to make sure Tess was okay briefly.

Then he turned to look at the other man, who'd been harassed. "Hello. I hope you don't mind us getting involved, but I hate bullies."

He looked at Tess, "I think we need to look for lodging elsewhere." He then shook his head, sounding exasperated but smiling a little. "We haven't even been here one day."

He looked back to the man. "We better go before more show up. Do you have some place you can go to be safe? Hell, for that matter, you got any recommendations of a safe place for me and my friends to lie low?"

"I don't know about that." He said as he pulled a credit chit out. Upon paying his bill, he haphazardly threw it into the room. "They don't know who you are, and if someone comes looking for these three, they're about to start chasing a ghost all the way to Tattooine. In the meantime, the two of you get to upgrade to the honeymoon suite, with my complements."

"We were brought together like this for a reason. So, I suggest we move quickly, and stick together until we find out what that reason is."

Kal blinked a few times at the strange turn of events and the strange man involved. His eyes shifted to the left to glance at Tess before he answered. "Um. Okay. Thank you. I think."

He pursed his lips for a moment and then made a slight move of his shoulders that might be the beginnings of an aborted shrug. "Alright. Lead the way, stranger. I'm Kal."

"Woah, woah woah!" Tess called out, her feet planted "You're pretty big up in your britches to think you know us or what we're doing? We are not that kind of relationship! Okay? I don't even date him!" The Zeltron's emotional tirade took a small stumble as she tried to catch the words as they came out of her mouth.

"Okay, that sounded worse than I meant it to, but you get the idea. You don't even know who we are, why are you trying to have us all sink or swim together all of the sudden?"

"You have the strength and courage to fight the First Order. In times like these, we cannot be picky about our allies. Besides, I believe we will need each others strengths for us to reach our disparate goals."

"Ya, okay, whatever. How do we know we can trust you?"

"Because I gain nothing by betraying you. Even if I were to turn you into the First Order, they would never stop hunting me."

"Okay, that's fair...I guess, but there's still something I don't understand. Those soldiers, they practically flew against the wall. No weapon can do that..."

"In the strictest sense, you're correct. I'll discuss more later, but we really should be on our way."

"You can simply call me Demarchus" As he held the lift open

Kalidyn looked over at Tess and feigned a look of shock and wounded pride at her fiery insistence of what they were not. He muttered under his breath, "Not yet anyway." but he wasn't really trying to interrupt them.

He listened to them speak back and forth about things a moment. Finally, he spoke again. "Tess." He glanced at the man, "This is Tess. I'm Kal." Then he went back to speaking to Tess. "We can always bail if we don't like the way things look." He lowered his voice and stepped near her, "and there's three of us to his one if it comes to that really and we need to get clear."

He then stepped towards the lift, gesturing for DD-3 to come along. "C'mon, DeeDee."

The normally chatty droid followed along quietly, it's optical sensors fixated on the peculiar old man. Being this close to him in the turbolift, the hairs on the back of your neck start to stand up. There's a visceral presence around him, that is both energizing and yet calm.

<Orange>10:42, Today: Midichlorians, on behalf of Kalidyn Sunrider, rolled 22 using 1d20+2./Orange>

With the quiet and stillness forced by this place, you can more easily parse out that this Demarchus fellow is Force Sensitive. That might explain the unusual display a few minutes ago. Just as you detected this, he seemed to have his own suspicions.

"I'm sorry if I may have missed young man, but what did you say your last name was again?"

Kal gave Demarchus a side-eyed look as he felt...whatever that was. It was new...but vaguely familiar? That didn't make sense. He knew he'd never felt that before around anyone else. And yet...he knew...he knew what it mean, as if it felt a thousand times before.

He stayed facing the lift doors but a smile slid on to his face. "I didn't, actually, just as you did not. I didn't even give you my full first name, since we just met and under strange circumstances."

He paused a moment, long enough for the other man to possibly think he wasn't going to answer. then he turned slowly to face the older man. "My name is Kalidyn Sunrider." He raised one eyebrow questioningly to see if there would be reciprocation. Or at the very least to watch the other's reaction.

There was a visible look of surprise on his face. "You don't say? Sunrider, I know that name. I guess you must be here for the family business than"

The old man was being a little too friendly, turning to the young lady "You must be Theresa than" As he gently took her hand and kissed it.

The veteran officer resisted, but only slightly, and may have even blushed through her pink skin. "It's just Tess."

"Of course. Please, forgive my poor manners. I get so tangled in my mission that I often fail to come up for air, appreciate the everyday beauties of the world around me..."

Kal kept looking at Demarchus, frowning slightly. Not many knew his family name. And they didn't really have a family business, per se, outside mining. And it wasn't like they ran a mining company or anything. Maybe he'd been to Bes....oh. Right. THAT family business.

Then he sort of got cute with Tess. That didn't help. Kal stopped himself from rolling his eyes. Or looking too jealous.

"And you are Demarchus...what?" He made it clear he was looking for the man to return the asked request.

"Demarchus Dustlane." he said with a smile, followed shortly after with the ding of the turbolift.

"Here we are." The door opened up to a private floor, with a grandiose double door. The opulent appearance here was a little out of place with the rather pedestrian appearance outside, and the rest of the city.

"Drinax was attempting to expand their economy into tourism a few years back, if you can believe it. The war put a cold freeze on that idea, and so the few places that tried to capitalize early on the market are mostly unused, with many having gone under, which is to our benefit."

He walks slowly, hands at his side, opening up the room with the side terminal "So, what does a human and a Zeltron come to a remote world controlled by the First Order for, when they hate the First Order?"

Kal nodded to the name given. Obviously he didn't know of any famous Dustlanes or where the name came from. Or if it was even really the man's last name for that matter. But he filed it away and moved on.

He slowly followed in to the...wow. Very nice place, that the lift opened up in to instead of a hallway with doors to normal lodgings. This looked very different from everything he'd seen so far and it was a bit of a shock. But a pleasant one. Like finding out your 'wingman' was a very attractive Zeltron that kissed you on first sight.

He looked around a bit from the doorway as Demarchus talked. When the question was asked, he slowly turned to face them once more. "I could ask the same thing almost, except in place of human and Zeltron inserting...jedi?" He watched carefully for a reaction even as he spoke.

He gestured at DD-3 and said, "Also, we have a droid with us, don't forget them."

He paused and looked back at Demarchus once more. "Hate's a strong word but...someone's gotta stand up to them." He glanced at Tess to see what she seemed to be thinking before he revealed anything specific.

"A Jedi?" Demarchus asked, entering the suite first. His smile showed all of his teeth, as he held his arms across his chest "That's a rather odd allegation to be making? The Jedi are extinct, thought everyone knew that."

Kal kept his face a bit neutral. "Are they? Interesting. I don't know much about them really." Clearly, Demarchus knew at least a little about them. "If not a Jedi, then what? You were able to throw those guards against the wall without touching them using...hence...The Force."

OOC: Nope. Seems legit! <eyeroll>
21:29, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Perception to sense deception.

"You noticed that, did you?" The smile quickly faded from his face, becoming gravely serious. "I'll make this offer one time. Tell me who you really are, and what you're really doing here, and I will do the same. We are serious people, living in serious times, with serious consequences."

Kalidyn leaned away from the man a little at the sudden shift in tone and attitude. One eyebrow rose upwards. But then he stared at Demarchus for a moment. He didn't glance at his companions this time, just spoke up again.

"I'm Kalidyn Sunrider. My companions are Tess and DD-3." He paused for just a second before continuing on, realizing that with this Demarchus they were already in a bit deep so it was sink or swim time. "We're here on a mission for the Resistance, looking to find and contact other members. You were in trouble with the First Order so we stepped in, kind of hoping you might be such a contact or someone to ally with."

"Than we are on the same mission, for different reasons." His arms dropped, though his smile did not return "I was a Jedi, long ago. I left the Order, left the Clone Wars, buried myself under so many layers even I believed I was someone else. Even I couldn't hide from myself forever, but by the time I chose to take a stand, Kylo Ren had already destroyed the new Jedi Knights and Master Skywalker was presumed dead. So, I carried on my own mission, trying to help how I could, but it appears something terrible has happened on Coruscant. I'm here to demand answers, and a solution."

Kal watched Demarchus very carefully as he listened to the man. He tried to hold in his surprise. Huh. I guessed right. Sort of. Go figure. One talk with an ancient ghost and I'm an expert. Yeah, right.

He frowned slightly. "I...see." He hesitated and the asked, "And...who on this planet do you think has the answers you seek? The First Order? Members of the Resistance? Someone else?"

He glanced at Tess and then back. "I don't know if we can provide any answers to you, though...I wouldn't mind speaking with you about a more...personal matter later." Having heard a last name for the second time now he did put forth, "Though...I do know a name that might interest you considering what you said before, though I don't know them personally or...strictly how to contact them or anything." He gave a small shrug, "Rey Skywalker."

He did NOT look back at Tess at this point and even looked down a little. "I was...actually told I should try to find her recently."

"You two should probably sit down..." Demarchus said, as he took his own seat, speaking morosely as he went.

"Nobody knows where Rey is currently, or what she's up to. She defeated the Emperor at Exagol, and shortly after vanished without a word. My mission though, isn't to find her, though it would have involved her, if we were successful."

"Covert entities within the New Republic have been trying to restart the Jedi Order, even before we knew about Rey. To that point, we were trying to take children that we thought were force sensitive away from harm's way and out of the hands of the First Order, find someplace safe so that, in time, they could become the padawans of the next generation of Jedi."

"Somehow, the First Order found out what we were doing. They attacked the rebel soldiers, and for good measure, slaughtered every child we were in charge of protecting. All of them, dead."

08:19, Today: Midichlorians, on behalf of Kalidyn Sunrider, rolled 22 using 1d20+2.  Use The Force.


He runs his hand through his long hair before standing in anger. "I should have been there! I could have kept them safe! Killed all of those First Order thugs and marched right up to the Jedi Temple while I was at it!" He plants his hands on a dresser with a heavy thud, as he takes a moment to collect himself.

Sitting back down, his calmness slowly returning "I'm sorry that you had to see that, truly. This has been a long and difficult fight, and I clearly struggle to maintain clarity and peace when I think about it. In any case, in looking over what had happened, the only answer we came up with is that someone was listening in on our comms, Knew what we were doing, and struck before we were able to get them offworld. If they could overhear that, than they could have their ears in almost anything the Rebellion is doing."

Kalidyn watched the other man with only a slight bit of wariness. There was not enough trust there yet. The news regarding Rey was sort of as expected, though he had hoped that Demarchus might know where she was.

His face fell as Demarchus described what happened with the children. "oh no. i'm so sorry." He looked down, but just then he felt something he hadn't felt before, something that made him look up sharply even though his eyes were of no help. A seed of darkness growing in the other man.

He leaned a little away from the anger rolling off Demarchus, but recovered as the man composed himself once more. Kal wasn't sure how to feel about all of that, how to proceed. He wished he could talk to...the ghost again. They might have answers. But...what if they showed up and Demarchus could sense them, hear them. How would he react? Kal didn't dare risk it.

"It doesn't sound like it was directly your fault. You couldn't have known."

He nodded, however, to the next point, and decided to open up a little. "That...is actually why we are here. We are trying to locate how the First Order is able to listen in on communicattions."

"Hang on! I need to back up a second." Tess piped in, looking at you rather than Demarchus "I feel like we kinda glanced over something completely, like it was no big deal."

She points a hand at the old man "So, he used to be a Jedi? Okay, fine, with the way those goons got tossed, I can see that. But you? Kal? Are you a Jedi too? And you never chose to bring that up?"

Kalidyn winced slightly as Tess caught on to the only-slightly-unspoken or at least danced-around subject. He shook his head. "No...no, I'm not a Jedi." He pursed his lips for a moment. looked over at Demarchus, then back at Tess, and then let out a sigh.

"So. No. I haven't told you two things because...well...I didn't want to sound like a crazy person before." He gave a small shrug.

But then he continued slowly. "Back around the time that Exagol...happened...I heard...or felt...something. I couldn't explain it and didn't try. I kept it to myself. And then very recently, after I met you in fact, I was..." He looked down and then gave up searching for a word, "visited I guess by someone claiming to be my ancestor, Nomi, a Jedi Knight in the past. She told me things, said I...." He looked a bit uncomfortable but also strangely hopeful, "will become a part of this rebirth of the Jedi, and that I should seek out Jedi Master Rey Skywalker...to train me."

The young Zeltron tried to absorb the information as well as possible, but was clearly struggling.

"This is crazy talk. Like, if I was saying what you two are saying, in public, they'd tell me I need help, and they'd probably be right. I mean, ghosts don't just wake up out the blue, giving people missions to go some mythic adventure to change the galaxy. Charming old men don't go around the galaxy looking for children to turn into their little pet projects. Well, unless you're the first order, but that's different. And the craziest part about all of this, is I actually believe the two of you, and I want to help."

Tess' eyes thin as a new thought enters her mind. "Hey, wait a second. If Kal can be trained than I can too, right? I mean, what's so special about him? Why can't I become a Jedi? Or anyone else for that matter?"

Kalidyn smiled at Tess and gave a shrug while spreading his hands. "You see? You asked why I didn't say anything before..." He gestured. "This is why."

He shook his head. "This is all still fairly new to me. I don't understand it myself."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tess asked, angrily "You're making it sound like this is all my fault."

"I believe what he is saying, my dear, is that he didn't want to speak about something that he knows nothing about, which is understandable." Demarchus spoke up on your behalf, trying to defuse the situation.

Tess relented her point but was still angry "Yaaaa, I get that I guess. Still, that's an important thing to know, could help figure this out too, at least try to."

"That's an understandable feeling to express as well, as is your desire to be a Jedi. I wish that were enough."

"What do you mean?"

"Not everyone can become a Jedi. People who can be trained to use the Force are very few and far between."

"But why!?" Tess rose from her chair "This human farm boy is no better than I am. I could be great at anything I put my mind to, so who are you to say who can and can't use the force?"

"I wish I knew. Truly" Demarchus raised his hands and tried to get her to sit back down "it's one of the oldest mysteries of the Force itself; there's little rime or reason to it, and I would be the first to defend you that you have the tenacity and eagerness that would be necessary to walk among the Knights of the Jedi Order. If I may, know that Sunrider becoming a Jedi makes him no more greater a person than you, just as the Chancellor of the New Republic is no greater than an urchin on Coruscant. That is the ideal you are fighting for, is it not?"

"Yaa" Tess slowly sat back down, her arms crossed and visibly upset "It's still patently unfair."

"You're not wrong, and if it's any consolation, you will never hear Kalidyn or myself disparage you for not using the Force. You are integral to the mission we find ourselves in as anyone."

Kal looked at Tess, "He's not wrong. I know almost nothing about all of this stuff. And I meant, as I said, it makes me sound crazy, and I didn't want to sound crazy. I thought I might be going crazy when I...saw and heard...a ghost?" He raises both hands helplessly and shrugged.

He shook his head, looking down. "Nothing like any of this has happened to me before Exagol. It was like..." He frowned as he searched for a word, "it was a...catalyst, or something. I don't know."

He blinked in surprise. "Huh. I didn't know that. I thought...anyone could learn but like...not many were taught. But I guess that makes sense, otherwise there would be...so many force-users running around."

He then tuned and moved to kneel next to Tess and gave one arm a reassuring squeeze. "Tess, never think anyone is better than you, 'cause they aren't. And no matter what I learn, I will always look up to you." He stopped himself from trying to make a joke to lighten the mood. He didn't think it would go over well.

"That's..very nice" Tess said, as her body relaxed her face turned toward a faint smile "That hasn't been the norm for me. Everyone wants me to just be a waitress or a dancer or...worse, even in the Resistance that's popped up" She said with a grimace "But, this isn't about me."

Her head moves visibly back and forth between you and Demarchus "So, we're all here for the same reason. Unless I've missed something, we're no closer to actually finding these folks from Hypo Station. Either of you have a new plan?"

Kalidyn moved back from Tess and re-took his seat. Maybe he shouldn't have done that, said that. Things between them were a bit awkward sometimes, and - at least on his end - there was some tension. But to hear say she thought that was...he couldn't just let it lay there.

To her question, however, he smiled and gestured towards Demarchus. "Hey! At least we made an ally shortly after landing here, right? Progress!"

He sobered and thought, finally speaking a bit slowly as he organizes his thinking. "Welllll...can't really call it a plan yet, just putting out feelers really. We need information." He reiterated what he'd said before to Tess, "We need to find an information broker and/or a slicer to dig in to information about people that could be involved - check out backgrounds, payment histories, communication logs, something that will give us a clue as to who might be the ones we're looking for."

He turned to look at DD-3. "Actually...are YOU any good at slicing, DD-3?"

The small astro droid spun in a circle as it contemplated the question.

[Language unknown: Ure, k oflath. T pelena il asstli himori k hihis o ncetravir, ar a andoutive roespa. Red ilre ingonswhi herughderart er terthi'oushis les ckceun ectta thsiwe, hou wer...]

OOC: Sorry. Had some rl tragedy to deal with.

Kalidyn feigned a look of hurt and put a hand to his chest. "DD! How could you? You know I'd never let anyone scrap you!"

He then sobered and gave a firm nod to the droid. "If you don't wish to help us, then I understand. I don't want you to do anything you don't want to, even if we as a group have to. And have already."

He shrugged looking at the others. "Guess we'll do it the hard way and ask around, hoping not to get shot."

The Droid rocked back and forth a little before it made a response "its for the mission. I'll do it. Not fair that everyone else risks everything it all and I dont."

Kalidyn showed a smile down to the droid. "I appreciate you and your willingness to do whatever it takes. I couldn't ask for a better partner."

He looked away and winked at Tess. Then he looked back at DD-3. "Okay. Do we need to go somewhere for you to get access? We need to get a list of people that might have access to the information needed, to give to the First Order, I think for starters...." He stopped, ...unless you have a better idea? This is more your area of expertise maybe than mine."

"I have an idea, but you probably won't like it..." Demarchus remarked. "We want to know what the First Order knows, the First Order wants me detained, and we know where to get a hold of a couple of First Order Uniforms that nobody's using right now..."

Kalidyn did a double-take, his face clearly showing his visible surprise for a moment. He blinked a few times and then glanced over at Tess. His jaw worked back and forth as he pondered. After a long moment, he finally spoke back up. "Well. I mean. It's not the worst idea I've ever heard. It definitely is...outside the box thinking."

He frowned and looked back at Demarchus. "But it'd pretty dangerous. Are you sure you want to go through with that?"

"I've already spent far too long trying to avoid danger. My conscience is clear on this; if injury or death saves more kids, or the Resistance, than it will be a cost gladly paid."

Demarchus smiled, rising from his chair "But, I'm also not worried about that, because I have total confidence in the two of you, and in the Force. Nothing happens for nothing. We were brought together for a reason, and I believe this is it."

Kalidyn tok in a deep breath, and then let it out slowly. He understood the logic behind the decision, and the emotion behind it as well, though he thought it was a risky plan. Calling it a 'plan' was generous anyway. It was more of a fluid concept.

But aside from some slicing and hoping, or talking to a lot of people and hoping, he didn't really have a better idea.

"I guess we'll see." He headed towards the door to go retrieve a First Order body to bring it back to the room to strip it. "Come on, Tess. Let's go bring the First Order back here so we can change."

"Time to get into character, I guess" she said as she stood up. She was quiet until getting into the lift to go back.

"I know our Jedi friend's okay with this, but between me, there's still like ten different ways this can go wrong. I don't have better ideas, but that doesn't mean I have to like this one..."

Kalidyn looked over at Tess and gave a gesture that was part nod and part shrug. "I have ideas but I don't know how much good they are. Or how well they will work."

He then slowly nodded again. "I know. It's not a great plan and it could easily go horribly wrong. He seems...almost fatalistic." He frowned. "But he...trusts in the Force. Maybe...that will help."

He looked down at the armor he was wearing, and his lip curled in disgust. He put the helmet on. "This stinks." In more ways than one.

He lead the way back to the room and hesitantly said, "Let's get moving...scum..." He didn't mean it to sound like a question but it almost had.

"Careful there soldier." Demarchus said with a quiet humor "Spend too long in there and you may start to enjoy it."

DD-3 followed behind closely, as your deception carried out of the hotel, with Demarchus appearing as though he were detained by you and Tess.

OOC: Make a perception check to try and figure out where you need to go.

OOC: Whatever that image/gif was didn't work, FYI.

Kalidyn gave a small snort and shook his head. He quietly replied, "That seems highly unlikely. I really dislike them and uncomfortable in this...disguise."

He couldn't even bring himself to say 'armor'. The 'outfit' didn't fit him that poorly, but he felt very uncomfortable in it, like he would need many showers to clean off the...feel of it, the grossness he felt. But he tried to remain a bit stoic for the part he was playing.

15:41, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 27 using 1d20+7.  Perception.

The helmet reduces your peripheral vision somewhat, but with what you can see, you're able to parse out the patrols of the other First Order soldiers, and from there, the outpost they're using as a base. They're not hiding their presence from the outside, with the two guards outside a fortified gate, but there's no hint as to what may going on inside, or how well occupied it is.

"What's this?" A guard says as you approach with Demarchus behind you. "I wasn't aware of any detention squads on patrol today."

Kalidyn frowned as they walked along. How did the soldiers see well with the helmets on? It wasn't very conducive to keeping an eye on the surroundings. Maybe lots of training? He preferred the more open-visored approach of the piloting helmets he'd worn. Being able to see was very important to flying. He assumed it would be for...soldiering...as well. He stamped down on other less-nice terms that came to mind for the First Order and focused.

He straightened ever so slightly as they approached the outpost. He gave a hard yank on Demarchus as the other soldier spoke up. "Well, when I get told to bring someone in, I don't stop to ask too many questions about it, or find out who knows about it, if you know what I mean." He had adopted a slightly tired but bemused tone to his voice, with a 'why are you questioning ME about this, clearly someone else ordered this' sort of feeling he was projecting.

"Stand by." The guard took a few steps away to communicate on a different channel.

As he walked away, Demarchus leaned in gently to whisper into your ear


The soldier returns "There is a cell waiting for him, all the way down the hall to the right. There will be someone there to take custody of the prisoner when you arrive, at which time you will return to your patrol"

Kalidyn was prepared to wait but then 'his prisoner' whispered to him. 'Sage advice'? And he said 'remember' like Kalidyn had been taught anything about the Force and how it 'worked'. He didn't even know he was...descended from a Jedi or whatever before a few days ago! He had zero training, outside of mining and piloting.

He made a face - which he then realized that Demarchus couldn't see - and gave a little shrug and a quick gesture with his hand to indicate he didn't know what to do with that information.

Then the other trooper came back and spoke. Kalidyn just replied, "Good." He figured the less he talked, likely the better with the First Order troopers. He didn't know their 'lingo' or codes or whatever and he didn't want to blow it.

He gave Demarchus a little shove towards the way that had been indicated. "Move."

In the meantime, he was not moving too fast to give them time to scope things out and once not in eyeline they could maybe break away and look for information.

OOC: Just realized - did DD come with or stay behind?

Ooc: Yes, DD is following along with you

The directions given were easy enough to follow. Several other soldiers were moving about in the base, but none seemed to give you a moments attention.

At the end of the hallway was a man in dark, ominous clothing standing near a doorway to a small pitch black room.

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/89/a...65ccd0a43a2436c7.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-64">https://i.pinimg.com/564x/89/a...65ccd0a43a2436c7.jpg" alt=''>

"Very good, you are to be commended for succeeding where so many have failed. I will take the prisoner now...."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:56, Fri 04 Feb 2022.

Kalidyn, still back a bit from the ominous one up ahead, muttered quietly almost under his breath, "dd, see if you can find something to tap in to out of the way please."

He then prodded the prisoner forward with another little shove. As they got close, he gave a small nod to the person speaking. "Just doing our jobs." He hesitated. "Careful though. He's a handful."

OOC: Is anyone else within sight or seemingly nearby?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:35, Tue 01 Feb 2022.

"I've seen worse. now it's time to do my job." Taking Demarchus into the room, you were left alone with Tess and your droid.

DD-3 wasted no time to scurry off, finding a computer terminal to access.

"I hope he moves quickly. If that was who I think it is, we could all be in a lot of trouble."

Kalidyn looked over at Tess with a questioning look on his face and a raise eyebrow before he remembered his face was hidden in the stupid helmet. He quietly asked, "What do you mean? Who do you think that was?"

He then moved to follow DD-3 slowly, trying to look nonchalant and confident like he belonged there. He glanced back at where Demarchus had been taken. "We need to free him once we're done here."

"That's an Inquisitor, I think. They've only been rumors, but they're elites within the First Order. Story goes that they're called in to get answers and make problems go away. If they figure out he's a Jedi, even a former Jedi, he's not walking out..."

"I'll stick with DeeDee. You go find a way to get him out of there."

Kalidyn didn't what the term meant, but he really didn't like the explanation he got from Tess on what that might mean. Even just the moniker - "Inquisitor" - sounded ominous and scary. Likely as it was intended.

He let out a small breath. Sort of under his breath he muttered sort of at Tess, "oh, sure. i'll handle the easy part. don't mind me."

He frowned inside of the stolen helmet. Then he mustered his courage and headed after where Demarchus had been taken to see what was what, keeping his senses alert.

OOC: You know, theoretically, Kal is good at Perception.
20:25, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 12 using 1d20+7.  Perception.

The First Order wasnt everything they wanted the galaxy to think they were, but they knew how to move in a hurry. Two soldiers had already taken point outside the door, taking immediate pause with your presence.

"Official business is taking place here, strictly need to know. This is your one chance to turn around"

"This isn't the time for half measures or calm discretion." You hear in your mind "reach deep inside, and find the Force within yourself, and you can accomplish anything,"

The First Order Trooper previously known as Kalidyn Sunrider sized up the two guards as he slowed his approach. Especially when he heard the voice in his head. What did that MEAN though? Even if he found it...what would he do with it?

He could try and bluff his way in, but he wasn't that great a liar. He could attack and hope for the best, but if they sounded the alarm...

He stopped and started to turn away, but then calmed himself. He took in a deep breath and tried to follow the instructions. He tried to reach deep inside himself to find...the Force.

OOC: Is that just a d20 + cha mod since he's not trained in Use The Force?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:13, Thu 12 May 2022.

Ya, I missed the  ste0 where I give you the instructions

You have a free use of one Force Power of your choice. Force Points and Destiny Points can be used to supplement this

Kalidyn shook his head, looking at the two troopers. "Did you hear that?" But then realized that they wouldn't have. He knew that even if he could talk his way past them, once he got in the room the jig would be up. And having these two able to come in behind him and attack would be bad for him.

So he shrugged and let out a breath. He reached for what he had barely felt and never tried to grasp before. He tried to push away his anger at the First Order and the injustices they perpetrated. He didn't realize that not harnessing emotions as part of this was a better idea. He grit his teeth and thrust his arms outward, towards the two troopers and released a wave of unseen force at them.

OOC: Man, I went back and forth over what power to try out, knowing he's not gonna be great at any of them. Plus it's been a rough week. Heh. Here goes. Also going to say that he's unlikely to be 'calm' and using the Force as a Jedi should, so possibly Dark Side more than Light.

Force slam. Spending a Force point to up the damage. 21 damage if that hits/exceed their Fortitude Defense, and they're knocked prone. If not, then 10 damage. Really tempted to spend a Force Point to up the roll, but I don't get more for a while so I guess I'll leave it.

19:47, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 14,21 using d20+1,6d6.  Force Slam (Force point enhanced).

You have a flash of memories that are not your own. Your maternal ancestor, Sumi, as she fought to protect her family, against insurmountable odds. The vision and familiarity guided you as you reached out with the Force to incapacitate the goons in your way.

Struck against the bulkheads behind them, they dropped instantly, like heavy luggage. In the collision, one of their heads struck the pad for the hatch into the interrogation room, opening it.

"What is going on here!?" He storms out, helmet still on, cape pulled back. Quickly piecing together what is going on, he reaches his hand out towards you, and the helmet flies off, filling his hand with a strong and sudden thud.

"I see." He lets out through his own helmet. "It would appear we have a deceiver among us." The chilling hum of a lightsaber fills the room, along with its crimson light. He reaches up to strike you, but is intercepted. Demarchus lit his own, glowing in a radiant purple, blocking from reaching forward.

"Dont let that be all" He quipped, pulling the Inquisitors attention

"Let us not stand on pomp and ceremony here, Jedi." He threw the helmet at Demarchus, and the duel began in the blink of an eye.

"Get out of here!" Demarchus yelled as it spilled out into the hallway "I'll handle this. Worry about the mission!"

Kalidyn's eyes closed for a moment and then blinked rapidly a few times. That...hadn't been his memory. That had been both bizarre and oddly comforting. That power...was that his? Had he done that? Or was it just someone, or some thing, else working through him?

He didn't have time to ponder as the scary man came out of the room and surveyed the damage. His helmet was ripped away and his life almost ended. But then there were LASER SWORDS!! What?!? And banter??

He wanted to say something witty as well but his mouth and brain weren't working together and he just opened his mouth and his jaw moved around a little but no sound came out. Then Demarchus told him to get away. A brief moment of hesitation and then he nodded. "Thank you."

And he turned and headed back towards his two friends in a hurry!

Running was the best option, as the lightsabers quickly filled the space of the narrow corridor. Anyone fool or unlucky enough was caught in the collateral fallout, including a few responding First Order soldiers cut down by the Inquisitor.

Retracing your steps, you rush beyond where you left Tess, and quickly find her hovering over DeeDee, plugged into a computer terminal. Her pink skin turned flush in a hurry, in obvious frustration

"Kal, what are you doing? You're supposed to be getting your Jedi friend! Not dawdling here!"

Having turned around the same corner, the lightsaber duel is now in view, and you see her purple eyes shrink in fear. She's fast on reflexes, pulling her blaster from its holster and firing desperately at the Inquisitor.

"We're blocked in! What now?"

Kalidyn rolled his eyes at Tess and gestured with his free hand towards the lightsaber battle. in a 'You have to ask??' sort of gesture. "I did sort of and he told me to find you and run but...you see what I'm dealing with??" He shook his head.

He asked their droid, "DD - is there another way out we could get to?"

But even as he asked he took aim at the Inquisitor and fired, trying to help Demarchus (and free up their exit).

12:23, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 12,12 using d20+5,3d8+2.  Blaster pistol vs Inquisitor.

"Finding out!" The small Droid beeped out. Suddenly, the room went dark, with only the glow of the lightsabers filling the space. Not relying on their eyes, the two fighters were not slowed by the darkening of the room.

The loud distant Boom and shaking did distract, however, that Demarchus capitalized on to push the Inquisitor off and provide a gap to run past.

Kalidyn didn't like the situation. It was too dangerous, too fluid. Any moment now the inquisitor could get the upper hand or more troops could show up and shoot Demarchus in the back or something.

Everything went dark suddenly and he let out a quiet curse. Then everything shook and he barely kept his footing. He saw, barely, what might be an opening. "Never mind, DD! Let's go!"

And he made a break for it!

Make an Athletics check to tumble through the area and run past

Kal sprang forward, twisting, turning, and rolling as needed. He did NOT want to be sliced in half with a laser sword!

OOC: So to be clear, he's also going to make sure that his allies make it through as well if at all possible.
10:22, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Athletics.

So, we'll treat that as an Aid Other action, which raises the DC, which you still meet.

Tess rushed through the fight with you, briefly tripping as the droid tried to outpace her. You feel a strong tug on your belt pulling you back, and you struggle to keep your feet under you with the sudden change of inertia. In the darkened space, you missed the throw, but it was impossible to miss the boom. She must have tossed a grenade, creating an impromptu hole in the bulkhead to the outside.

"Okay, now we go!" She shouted, racing again with you. She picked up DD, who no doubt would have struggled with the debris. As you approach, you hear more combat on the other side. With the duel behind you, you have no choice but to keep moving forward, and in the bright light of day, you see the First Order soldiers scrambling to assemble as a speeder with a heavy repeater strapped to the back decimates anything in its way.

OOC: Are the soldiers assembling this to face OUR way, or is there already combat going on with someone else outside (And if so, can see who?)? Have they noticed us (I assume maybe with the explosion)?

The First Order troops are dispersed, but even with the whole in the wall, they are not paying great attention to you, they're mostly focusing on the makeshift turret strapped to the speeder. A few that do turn in your direction are quickly dispatched by the larger threat. Whoever is operating it seems to be making an effort to avoid the hole you're coming out from,  giving the weapon a break as it swerves side to side to not throw any rounds in your direction.

Kalidyn glanced back at Tess, looking surprised for a moment when she carried their droid friend, but then smiled slightly and only for a moment. The outside wiped it off his face quick. It was like a warzone. But he didn't have to observe and wait.

He barreled forward, through the hole, and immediately started angling for a way through the path of least resistance among the First Order, blaster pistol in hand in case he needed it. "Go, go, go."

OOC: Trying to get outta Dodge, but will engage if I have to, especially to free up Tess or DD.

The only move forward was towards the most dangerous element in the fight. The gunner ceases firing for a moment to wave you all towards him. The rain of fire continues immediately, making a makeshift wall of ammunition. Kicking the gun off the edge of the speeder as you close in, he holds his arm forward to heave you and Tess up with the droid. No sooner are you on board that a pistol is shoved into your chest.

"Come on now, don't think just because you're a pilot that the grunts are going to do all the work for you!"

Kalidyn looked surprised for a moment but then tried to take it in stride. There were many questions in his mind that needed to be asked, but they would have to wait for the moment.

He grabbed the pistol shoved at him and righted in his grip, even as he turned and crouched down a bit. He then began firing back at the First Order troopers, making them dive for cover or be shot.

"Uh, sure. Thanks."

Though you and Tess were able to make it out quickly, Demarchus was trailing behind. Though he was surviving the fight, it was clear that the Inquisitor had the upper hand. Your new allies took potshots with their blasters to distract, giving him some breathing space. Demarchus had likewise used that chance to push his enemies attention away, using the force to hurl debris at the Inquisitor, making a break for it as his opponent broke them apart with his lightsaber.

Leaping aboard, the speeder immediately started to move, but only for a second. Holding his hand out, the Inquisitor was holding the speeder in place through the Force, moving closer in.

Kalidyn's face lit up when he saw Demarchus. He thought for sure the old fool was going to stay behind and get himself killed, so it was a welcome surprise to be proven wrong. The smile fell from his face, however, when he saw the Inquisitor, felt what they were doing.

He aimed his pistol and began firing shot after shot at the Inquisitor, if only to make them break their 'grip'.

OOC: Do you want an attack roll, multiple ones, or none?

Yes, make an attack roll, or a UTF check if you want to recant your previous decision and try to resolve this a different way.

OOC: UTF? As in trying to just blindly use the force again? Hmm. Maybe next round seeing how well this went, but I'd already stated what he was trying. =)

10:15, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 6,11 using d20+5,3d8+2.  Blaster Pistol vs Inquisitor (yeah, not a good idea).

The blaster bolts were deflected easily, as the Inquisitor used the lightsaber in his free hand to cast them away, ricocheting in all directions. You feel a nudge in your shoulder between shots, from the old man.

"Come on Kal. That's not going to work. We need to push him back, together. Now, close your eyes, take deep breaths, and focus. Try to feel the world around you, and push it away."

OOC: Make a contested Use The Force Check against the Inquisitors DC, with a circumstantial +2 from Demarchus' Aid Another action. You are, in effect, being given a temporary use of Force Push.

Kalidyn rolled his eyes at Demarchus. "I don't know why you keeping thinking this is a good idea! I'm not trained in this stuff! I am like a toddler and you keep telling me to run."

Nevertheless he concentrated, slowed his breathing a little, and focused on the Inquisitor, and knocking them back or down.

10:38, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Use the Force.
10:38, Today: Kalidyn Sunrider rolled 4 using 1d6.  Force Point.

The connection to the Force wasn't there, despite your best effort. The Inquisitor held the speeder tight with his grip, even pulling it closer to him. The engine revved for all it could, but made no difference. There seemed no solution, until you hear a distinct pinging sound and a grunt, as the soldier behind you heaved a small object towards the Inquisitor. The object, a frag grenade, went off in mid-air before it could be deflected and destroyed by the lightsaber. The pain and concussive force disrupted him, and as his connection to the Force broke, the speeder shot off like a blaster bolt. The driver was unprepared, and nearly collided with a high-rise before getting things in control. Thankfully, having moved so fast, you escaped the grasp of the Inquisitor and the First Order.

Kalidyn almost fell off when the vehicle suddenly started moving again in the opposite direction and then careened a bit. "Gaaahh!" But he managed to hold on, barely.

He glanced at the soldier who'd thrown the grenade and let out a deep sigh of relief. "Good thinking, thanks."

He looked over at Tess and DD. "You two okay?"

"Just like the trainer in Flight School..." Tess replied with a slight smile. She had held onto the outer ring of DD, who undoubtably would have launched out otherwise. The droid had a quiet defiance, spinning it's inner piece in horizontal circles quickly.

Kalidyn flashed Tess and DD a smile, glad they were fine as well. His eyes shifted to Demarchus and looked the older man over. He had just been incarcerated and in a lightsaber fight after all. "How about you?"

He then looked to the group that was directing the vehicle and asked, "Thanks for the rescue. Where we headed?"

"Don't worry about that. You won't see or hear from us again." The soldier responded, not even looking at you as he speaks "We're going to drop you arrogant flyboys off back to your ships so that we can go back to doing our jobs. Do you have any idea what kind of a problem you've been?"

Kalidyn made a face and said, "Weeeellll, about that. We were sent here to talk to the top cryptologic minds in Hypo Station that are secretly receptive to our cause. We kind of got caught up in a completely different event while trying to find them."

He gave a shrug. "So we aren't leaving just yet."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:57, Wed 09 Nov 2022.

"Yes, you are" As he drew his rifle and pointed at your head, with a disquieting amount of calm. "Whoever you're looking for probably doesn't want to be found, not with the amount of attention you bring to yourselves."

Kal didn't flinch or look worried. "Soooo you're unconcerned with the fact that the First Order has access to our communications? And that we need to find the leak and also create a new encryption?" He nodded. "Makes sense. You don't seem too concerned with greater threats and ideas ouside your bubble here."

He shrugged. "If you feel you need to kill me, then do so and live with the guilt for allowing what's happening to continue, but I can't leave without completing my mission."

The former Jedi was fast to move, rising to his feat in the moving speeder.

"Okay now" He spoke loudly but calmly, his hands raised "Nobody's going to be blasting anyone. Killing each other now would make that narrow escape a wasted effort, right?"

The soldier lowered his weapon, but his hostile glare continued. Demarchus continued to work the situation "We're all on the same side here, so let's put aside any professional or personal differences we have, and figure out how we can start helping each other."

The situation calmed down, the soldier moves on without saying a word, looking out into the cityscape. You nearly missed it, but from her crossed shoulders, you see Tess give you a thumbs up.

The speeder pulls up to a rundown building, a factor of some kind you think. Your rescuers hurriedly hop out, with Demarchus and Tess following suit.

Kalidyn looked over at Demarchus and wisely shut his mouth. Some would say for once. He let the older man talk to the soldier and see what could be done about the situation. And it seemed to work. Weapons were no longer pointed at others in the speeder.

He glanced at Tess and flashed her a quick surprised smile and shrug. It hadn't been him but at least things were hopefully better off.

When they arrived, he followed along with disembarking and heading after their rescuers.

You get no further than the gate, before you're interupted.

"Wait here" The soldier who pointed his weapon you dictates, this time directing with his fingers rather than a gun. You see him speaking with a few others, though can't make out the conversation. There's some weaponry, an impromptu workshop, even some other vehicles in here, but it's all very hastily put together; probably meant to be taken down quickly too, if needed.

A new face appears, walking slowly towards you, cleaning her blaster pistol with a cloth as she goes.

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e2/7...e6f2c12ec65debda.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-104">https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e2/7...e6f2c12ec65debda.jpg" alt=''>

"I hear you like to talk, so talk fast."

Kalidyn drew in a breath as they were told to wait, but turned to Tessa and Demarchus. "Going from about to be dumped off-planet or shot, now to being told to wait? We're making progress!" He grinned.

After some time, he saw a woman approaching. She asked him to talk so he did. "The First Order has broken our encryption, either by a genius on their side, a traitor on ours, a spy or something else. We were sent on a mission to find out how they broke it and to get a new encryption."

He glanced over at Tess and DD to make sure he hadn't missed anything, at least in the broad strokes.

"Well, my friend thinks you're the biggest dangle he's ever seen or heard of. I think you just don't know how to be discreet or know who not to talk to. Good news for you, I'm in charge. Bad news for you, I'm not taking the risk of being wrong. If what I'm told is true, the First Order is looking for you and they won't stop until they find you, so there's no way I'm putting you in touch with anyone we know."

Kal deflated slightly. "I...can see your point." He gestured towards Demarchus, "We ran in to this Jedi - former Jedi? - being harassed by the First Order and got involved. Things have kind of devolved a bit from there. We certainly weren't out to cause a ruckus."

He looked down. "Look. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused but it's not about me. I can stay away and make sure the First Order doesn't come any closer to you or them, lead them on a wild goose chase if needs be, or leave the planet completely. But if you would at least take DD here," gesturing at the droid, "and help then that would be...more than I deserve, but everyone is counting on us. Or if you want to contact the appropriate people and then reach out to...me, or I can provide someone else to contact."

He shrugged. "Please don't let the First Order prevail, and don't let my unintentional blundering stop this from being fixed. I will do whatever I can to help the Resistance, Rebellion, Republic, all of them succeed and throw off the tyranny of the First Order."

DD and Tess both turned to you in surprise and distress. Tess was able to be more clear over the boops and beeps of the droids binary language.

"Wait, what? You're going to hand over your droid, your co-pilot, and friend? I hope you've got a good explanation.."

Kal frowned at the vehement reactions. He held his hands up in a defensive posture. "What? Not to KEEP! Just to lead to the information."

He spread his hands. "Look, I'm willing to do whatever is needed, up to a point I suppose, to get the mission done and make sure the Resistance has a chance to bring down the First Order. I can't let my overeagerness and unintentional loud drama cause the mission to fail or the Resistance to lose. That's all I'm saying."

"We don't even know what information we have" The droid beeped at you angrily "plus, what if I never see you again? I don't need to be abandoned by another pilot..."
This message was last updated by the player at 21:49, Fri 16 Dec 2022.

"You're still saying a lot, more than you should to people you don't know" the leader said. Her eyes darted constantly from each of you to the other before she spoke, seemingly have made up your mind "Here's where I'm standing; I want to believe you, but I don't know that I can trust you. If you want to help, you'll do it this way..." She shows you two identical data sticks, handing you one. "These drives are coded to one another, and only to each other. Whatever information you put on yours will automatically send a copy to mine. If the information you have looks legitimate, I'll share what I might know. For now, friends or not we need to split up. Better the enemy only finds one group of us than both."

"But that's not-" Kalidyn looked at the droid and opened his mouth, but then closed it. He let out a small sigh. "You're right. Sorry."

It seemed like no matter what he did or said, things just kept getting worse and more complicated. But he was a pilot, not a flipping spy! He wasn't supposed to be doing this sort of thing. He was supposed to be flying a fighter and shooting down enemies, flying escort missions and stuff!

He hesitated but then accepted the drive. "Understood."

He then turned away and started heading away from the other group at a quick but not hurried pace. He didn't want to attract even more attention, though that seemed like something he was doomed to do.

As they walked away, he turned his head slightly and said to Tess and DD, "A pilot should be in a cockpit, not running around causing chaos on discreet missions!" He blew out a breath. "What should we do now? Maybe we should get off-planet and let things cool off." He sounded frustrated.

"That's not a bad idea" The old man piped in "I should join you on this journey. I don't know what your future and destiny brings, young Sunrider, but whatever it is, you will need The Force if you are to succeed. I can help guide you down the Path of the Jedi, if you are willing."

Kalidyn looked over at the old Jedi for a moment and then slowly let out a breath. "Yeah. I guess." He still was a bit unsure about the whole Force thing as it pertained to him but...that seemed to be the consensus.

He glanced at Tess and DD, "What do you two think? You haven't liked several of my last decisions slash choices, so figured I should weigh in with you two."

He wouldn't be surprised if Tess suggested splitting up. She would be wise to get away from him for a bit probably.

"Well, the first problem I see is logistics.  Two one man fighters won't do the trick of getting three people off world. I agree that we need to look at the data we picked up. That may have the answers we need, so that we skip over Hypo station alltogether."

Kal looked over at Demarchus with one raised eyebrow and a small grin. "You got a ship lying around?" He assumed not but it never hurt to ask.

He looked down, then back at the older man. "Well, we could...book you passage somewhere nearby maybe, but that takes credits. And some place to go to meet up. I don't like the idea of leaving our fighters here."

He shook his head. "Or we find a place to lay low on-planet but that seems riskier."

He glanced at the droid, "DD, can you check to see what ships are listed as leaving soon and have destinations that would be...I don't know. Either not too far away, or Hypo Station I guess." He let out a sigh. "I don't know how we best find out more information."

"Commercial passenger transit off planet appears limited, but there are options. None to New Republic systems, but nuetral options exist. Doro, Robill, or Dartag appear to be the best options."

Kalidyn listened as the droid listed off possible destination. He pursed his lips and closed one eyes as he thought and tried to remember what he knew. "Hmm." He shook his head. "Not Doro. Bad atmo and mining guild, not ideal."

He looked down. "Robill's not...bad, but...Dartag? That sounds like a place we can get lost in if we need to, maybe find out information." He glanced at the others for any signs of objections, but that was his choice of the three.

"I used to have an apartment there. At the very least, it would be a good place to use to make a transit to a New Republic world if we needed to. Do you want to return to the Nebula first?"

Kal let out a snort. "Why am I not surprised?"" But he smiled at her and then nodded. "Alright then. Let's head to Dartag." But then shook his head at her question. "I don't think that's a good idea. We were kind of told we were on our own, remember?"

He looked over at Demarchus, then at Tess. "Want to let him know where that apartment is? Seems like a good place to meet when we get there." He nodded at the older man once that was done. "See you there."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:22, Tue 03 Jan 2023.

"That rental is long gone, but I can think of some places that we can rent out for a short basis. Hook up with some old friends, maybe."

She handed over a personal datapad to the old man, who busily copied the data in front of him.

"I recall being plausible deniability. That doesn't mean we're cut off. Still, there's a lot to be said for getting straight to the next task. Even more to be said to not report back until we actually have something tangible, so let's hop to it."

Kalidyn made a face that seemed to say 'oh, sure, that makes sense', with just a touch of sheepishness in it, about the rental. "Okay. Great. We'll...find something once we're there then, okay."

To the rest of what she had to say, he hesitated. She wasn't entirely wrong. Finally he shrugged and said, "Right, other than us changing locations, we don't have a lot to report, and certainly no real good news." He restrained a sigh, knowing a lot of that was his fault. "I think we wait, but if you two think otherwise, we can contact them on the way."

He started heading towards where their ships were docked.

Your return to the ships was thankfully uneventful, and the ships themselves unmolested. Demarchus joined you all the way to the end, following quietly. There was a small, inexplicable grin on his face the whole time. Odd, given what the day had brought and what could still happen.

Surprisingly, he hugged each of you before you entered your fighters.

"I'll see you both on the other side. Our meeting together was not coincidence. Together, we'll get to the bottom of what happened, and start something new."

He reached into a pocket of his coat and pulled out something out. He held his hand out for you to take it. dropping it in gently, it was sharp and jagged, but there was strength in it. It felt strong, somehow.

Kalidyn started to give a nod to Demarchus when the older man started hugging them all. Kal's eyes went wide. He had not pegged the old Jedi for a hugger. He listened to the words the older man said. "I'd say I'd take your word for it, but I guess Fate isn't a thing and it's more about destiny and the Force and all that stuff, according to you and the ghost." But there was a small smile on his lips as he said that.

He frowned at the small crystal. It wasn't a smooth gem or anything. It was a dark blue in color, almost edging towards green in places. He picked it up out of the palm of one hand with fingers from the other hand. He held it up as he examined it...as he felt something from it, pulling at him. "This...what is this?"

"It's a beginning." He replied with a smile "This is the first step in you building a lightsaber. In proper times, Jedi would give training lightsabers to their padawans, or older ones that they no longer use. We don't have that option right now, so we will work together on building one. You me, Tess, and this...ghost, you're speaking of..."

"Until than, May the Force be with you"