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Thread: Moons Over Vendaxa (Volk)

  1. #1

    Moons Over Vendaxa (Volk)

    Vendaxa

    Layla high stepped through the thick underbrush of the jungles of Vendaxa. She had spent the last several hours wading through a dense thicket of trees. It was an odd request to Lilaena’s Mandalorians to be dropped on what amounted to an uncivilized world, known best for the dangerous fauna that made its home there. Layla didn’t elaborate on her reasoning, too unsure of her present company to trust what secrets she hoped remained on Vendaxa to them. Their leader intrigued her, but she needed to find her own feet in this new galaxy before choosing where to throw her lot, if not build her own foundation entirely. The aspiration had always been there, and under the Empire had cost her.

    Layla had been graced before her parting with a pair of boots, a size too large for her that caused all manner of discomfort to her heels, a drab grey tunic of a poor material quality, and a pair of brown slacks which were about the only garment she wore that seemed close to her size. The Mandalorians had graciously offered her a blaster, but she had declined politely. The majority of her sojourn had been spent in quiet meditation, rebuilding the atrophied mental muscles that bridged her connection to the Force. What she did take from her former host was a bag with a few days’ food and water, a communicator, and the materials she would need to forge a makeshift shelter, the latter of which she was confident she wouldn’t need.

    Her progress was slow through the brush, careful of every noise she made, mindful of every predatory threat that lingered. She didn’t trust her more offensive capabilities with the Force yet, so she cautiously withdrew into the skills that came more easily. Her hike turned uphill, an incline that started to resonate with her as familiar. She continued her ascent until the terrain ended in a ridge that overlooked forest for kilometers in every direction, save for the occasional break in trees that revealed a body of water, or other inclined terrain. Scanning the horizon, she found what she was looking for, the large onyx stone structures of a safe haven long since abandoned.

    Her progress was slow going the rest of the distance, not wishing to get careless in the excitement of seeing if her home was intact. Along the way, she stumbled upon the corpse of a Lemnai, fresh enough to suggest it’s predator might still be lurking nearby. The jungle, teeming with life as it was, did little to warn her if she was headed on a path that might intersect a more dangerous, and living, creature. Altogether, caution paid off as she arrived at the overgrown structure before her, a stone home that would rival the prestigious villas of Naboo in size and grandeur, were the forest not attempting to reclaim it. The large double doors were scratched, damaged, and ivy covered but altogether not breached by the creatures that might have tried to make the structure their home.

    She rounded the building to offshoot building nearby, the large metal door solid enough to hold its own against the elements. Her hand touched to the handle, searching with the Force until she found and engaged the lock on the other side to permit her entry. The door opened with ease from there, and she moved up to the power station, brushing dirt off the paneling. With a draw down of a large switch, the generator kicked on with stored solar power. She closed the door behind her and moved through the tall grass back around to the main structure, wiping at the biometric lock to clear the debris free before applying her hand to the paneling. It took a few failed scans to finally admit her.

    Inside looked nearly as poor as the outside, the flora having found its way into the home by whatever fashion it could, laying claim all the way up to the vaulted ceiling. She shut the door behind her, lamenting the poor state of upkeep of her former retreat, but moving with purpose through the home. Layla first entered her bedroom, sifting through the clothes that were still in fair condition and setting them aside to change into later. She prioritized a proper sized pair of boots before she went trudging back through the manor. Moving to the west wing, and then into the basement, she went to access the comms system.

    During her travel aboard the Mandalorian cruiser, she had contemplated her first course of action. So many years lost, she wondered about those she had left behind. Talia came to the front of her mind as the first to check in on. Her daughter no doubt thought she was long deceased, with nary a word heard from her in so long. With nothing to go on, she resolved to hire a Hunter to track and keep tabs on the girl, then report back to her. She did not wish to go the normal route, but rather to know who she was working with. With that established, the initial contract was not to track down her Kiffar daughter, but a request for a Hunter to retrieve a valuable item from the very manor she now inhabited on Vendaxa.

  2. #2
    A sizable light freighter, a Ghtroc 720 by the name of Skadi, hovered over the varied terrain of Vendaxa. Standing within the cockpit, Volk scanned the landscape of the general vicinity from the viewport and then pointed a clawed fingertip in the direction of a plateau, situated high above the jungles he meant to traverse.

    Set down there and wait for my word. The body of water to the west looks like a prime area for their nesting grounds. Get the drones down there and see what can be harvested.

    The droid acknowledged the orders and Volk turned, ducking his head beneath the confines of the cockpit aperture that could not accommodate his unnatural height. He alighted within the lounge area, which had been stripped of its usual comforts and outfitted with large storage lockers with various hunting, climbing, tracking, and combat-oriented equipment. A large metal desk had been drilled into the floor and various items lay atop its magnetized surface; he approached the desk and began applying various tools to his bracers, bandolier, and waist belts. Things like rope, vials of scent gland secretions, location beacons, and various weaponry. The last thing Volk grabbed was an impressively large, expertly crafted vibro-spear that was attached to the polarized socket on the bandolier between his shoulder blades.

    Approaching the ramp access, Volk pulled down the manual release and braced himself against the humid, violent winds that flooded into the chamber. Clawed feet lent him a measure of stability as he picked his way down the ramp, great whorls of air buffeting the timber toned fur covering his form. At the edge of the ramp, he turned his saffron hued eyes to the dense jungle below; their enhanced capabilities seeking out an ideal in. He found one and jumped chest first into the emptiness of the sky, his form cutting through the air currents like a dagger through flesh. The air grew thicker, hotter, as he grew closer to the the massive canopy of trees. He brought his right arm around and activated a switch on his bracer, various mechanical components shifting to stabilize his joints before a pronged grappling rope shot deep into the bark of the tree he descended through. His left claw came up to curl around his right wrist, further stabilizing it as the slack on the rope disappeared and his body was hurled into a rotation as the pronged side curled around the tree branch above. At the peak of his return, he disengaged the prongs and landed silently in a crouch on the fertile branch where the prongs formerly penetrated.

    He inhaled deeply through his snout, drawing in the various scents of the jungle; taking in the many things that were ageless like the trees, fathomless like the shadows, and vivacious like the fauna. Then, there were the interlopers who gingerly navigated the obstacle laden floor below. Fanned out, seemingly unaware of one another. More hunters. Volk's eyes narrowed and he snorted in contempt.

    -Sir, Skadi is set down on the plateau as discussed. There are two more ships here, scans showing no lifeforms inside. Shall I proceed with harvesting?- This from the droid on his ship.

    Proceed as instructed.

    The commlink hissed as the channel was closed and Volk began to slowly pick his way closer to the other hunters. They were undoubtedly prepared to defend themselves from the Acklay. They would be ill prepared to deal with the true apex predator that had already caught their scent.

  3. #3
    Five days passed before the first mercenary arrived on Vendaxa. In that time Layla flexed her connection with the Force. While the manor remained in a state of disrepair, she at least removed large portions of rubble and debris from inside the structure. The overgrowth remained for the time being, Layla finding herself none to keen on gardening with her first days of freedom. It all slowly returned to her though, the mental atrophy fading until she started to feel like herself again. By the third day she would venture into the forest and meditate, pushing at her senses while suppressing those of the many predators of Vendaxa. They would wander past her harmlessly as she pushed into their minds, and by day four she experimented with exerting control over the local fauna.

    On the fifth day, the first ship blared overhead, too high up to spot the manor and with no ideal clearing for some distance. Within the main hall of her home she lowered to her knees and settled her palms atop them. She could sense the lone individual that had come to claim the reward for her task, and she made no move to interfere. Instead, she was curious to see how the first to the planet would fair. After nearly an hour of tracking his progress, the blip that was his life force was swallowed up by a much larger, not literally though she imagined he was indeed food. She sighed her disappointment and went back about her work.

    Day Six brought another, and with it another failure. Day 7 brought the first group to try their hand, and once again she observed through the Force. Their progress was further than the original, though they did halt at finding his remains. Their progress picked up again, until they met their first real challenge. Just what it was she couldn’t discern, nor did she really care. She expected this is where their foray would end, but this group seemed organized enough to support each other. In the end, whatever assailed them fell, but she could also sense the distressed life force of an injured ally of theirs.

    Where their failings began was in their sentimentality, and how they allowed it to distract them from their goal. They slowed themselves greatly to stabilize their ally, then proceeded to bring their injured companion with them, sure to draw the attention of other predators. With a mind towards the predators, instead of the group of hunters, she picked up the presence of a new being. This one resonated with a touch of the Force, though with no aptitude to match her own. Still, even compared to an organized group, she felt something that inspired confidence in a resolution to the task she had assigned.

  4. #4
    The scent of fresh blood, though some distance away from his position, flooded his nostrils and prompted his fur covered head to turn in the direction of the other hunters. Pupils dilated as he flexed their capabilities, honing in through the vast network of tree limbs and tangled vines until he'd plotted a path for himself to reach them. Hocks and hind-feet sank deeper into the branch he perched upon, sharpened black nails biting into the bark silently. Shoulders hunched forward and his foreclaws found purchase in between his feet, preparing for the follow-up maneuver.

    He jumped outward and a ripple of the Force reinforced the already strong sinew and muscle that covered his body. Once he started his accelerated trek through the canopy, he did not slow; rolling his shoulder over low lying branches, his claws flashing out to dismiss net-like growth that might have blocked his path, and otherwise picking his way closer and closer to his quarry. At their own slowing pace, he reached them in no time at all but chose to remain high above them, his enhanced ears grasping for their conversation strained under the weight of their injured ally.

    "We have to stop, Johva. We can't keep carrying him at this pace." One of the heavily armored bounty hunters grunted, coming to a halt and slowly sliding his comrade to the ground. He slung his supply pack off his other shoulder to further relieve some of the pressure from the burdened walk.

    "Just leave me..." The injured one said weakly, pressing his palm against the uneven ground to brace his gentle impact against it. Blood oozed from a dire wound on his side and from above, the Shistavanen licked his lips hungrily. Ever so slowly, he began to climb down to their level.

    "Enough. We're not leaving you. We brought the bacta-" Both the heavily armored bounty hunter and the supposed leader whipped around with their heavy blaster rifles trained on the canopy, catching the fluttery wing span of a local avian as it moved above. Both hunters seemed to let out a sigh of relief and then turned back to their injured friend, allowing Volk to soft step along the moisture soaked ground right behind them. "Like I was saying, we brought bacta and supplies, so we'll be able to get you patched up."

    It will only be a waste of your stock and.. The force took hold of his voice and scattered it around the jungle surrounding them, causing the hunters to frantically whip their weapons in search of the voice's source. By the time the one named Johva had wheeled on him, his right claw had extended and guided the muzzle of the blaster off course. The blaster bolts loosed lit up the dark and petered out as they impacted the dense vegetation behind him. His left claw struck next, wrapping around the thin, fragile throat of the human woman and lifting her with ease off of her feet. He squeezed and she dropped her weapon to pry at his grip, keeping her aloft so her ally's own line of fire was blocked by her writhing form.

    I would say time but ... it seems you've already run out of that. Crunch.

    He flung the lifeless corpse at the heavily armored hunter but did not close on him, melding back into the darkness. The armored hunter screamed, goading him to come out and fight, firing random volleys in directions he hoped Volk would be. The sounds drew out other predators though and he knew his interference with their mission, now solely his mission, was no longer necessary. Glittering red eyes diffused the shadows just before a beastly screech heralded the arrival of a mammoth Acklay. The jungle floor trembled at it's approach. Volk reached down and snagged the supply pack where it had been discarded, meeting eyes with the gravely injured hunter.

    It won't be long now, brother. Die well.

    He scaled one of the trees just as the Acklay trampled into the small clearing, sparing a glance down at the ensuing carnage before resuming his direct route to the manor. It wasn't within his power to assume whether entering via the foyer or one of the many other floors would be advantageous for him. He chose the first floor, black nails tapping lightly against the dirtied, cracked tilework infused with roots and vines. The Shistavanen stopped, inhaling deeply again to gather what information he could with his sense of smell.
    Last edited by Volk; May 19th, 2020 at 01:00:32 PM.

  5. #5
    Meditation provided Layla the best glimpse into what was happening that she could muster from such a distance. She saw no details, no visions, only sensed the emotions. Something akin to joy was felt, while a small gathering lay submerged in fear and pain. Panic welled at times, increased, crescendo and ended. She knew what that meant, especially when a grim determination set back in from the one Force sensitive. “Not a fan of competition, are we?” She mused to herself, her lips tightening into a line of contemplation. She rose, departing her manor to make the final preparations for this one’s final challenge.

    What lay on the other side of the large double doors quickly became no mystery to Volk. An agitated, hissing Acklay stomped around searching for its way out of the Manor. In the time left of his transit, Layla had called upon something she had learned from her brief forays to Dathomir and coerced the Acklays primitive mind to bend to her will. She had brought it back to her home and kept it in a docile state until she felt the approach of the Shistavanen.

    At this point, she knew there was no masking the senses of the hunter without also interfering with his ability to defend himself against the waiting threat. She thus chose not to hide in some alcove, or another room, but took her place right before the unlit fireplace. Kneeling, she rested her hands upon her thighs and concentrated on keeping the Acklay from opposing her, while also keeping herself open to the Force. When Volk entered, she would be visible, but unresponsive. Layla would be the least of his concerns, as well. You’ve come this far. Your quarry awaits through the Acklay. Her words permeated the mind of the humanoid just outside her manor, beckoning him within, curious to see if he would be the one.

  6. #6
    There were always incalculable possibilities that one couldn't predict in situations such as these. Volk had prepared himself amply for the predators and terrain of Vendaxa; what he hadn't prepared himself for, was an Acklay stomping around the foyer of the manor. Predominantly aquatic creatures, they typically only ventured into the jungles for sustenance. By smell alone, it would not have found much of it in these dilapidated halls. Yet, another scent clung to the air. The smell of freshly carved amber, tree moss, lotus, and wood smoke. Briefly, his eyes wandered past the beast to take in the dormant, knelt form before the unlit hearth. Beyond the Acklay, the conclusion of his mission could be had. Force user.

    Very well.

    At his voice, the Acklay swiveled its triad of eyes upon him and let out a monstrous hiss. The supply pack was discarded to the side and the vibro-spear was removed from his back, spinning elegantly through the subtle manipulations of his claws. Taking this for that threat that it was, the Acklay trundled forward but steadily began to pick up its pace. His weapon whirred upon activation and he dropped into a relaxed stances, prepped for movement rather than defense. Carapace covered protuberances crashed against the already ruined tiles, one swinging upward to deal the first blow. Hind-paws flexed down into the vines below and then lurched him sideways, the creature's leg plunging through the tile and below into the dirt. It stuck only briefly, removed safely with forceful tug.

    The parallel leg lifted this time, sweeping at a more horizontal angle. Volk jumped atop the extended joint and kicked off, narrowly missing the strong jaws of the creature and landing upright atop its crustacean back. He sprinted forward, dodging left then right as it snapped those razor sharp teeth at him. Then, the Shistavanen long jumped to the latter part of the stone staircase; turning to engage and swinging his vibro-spear with a flourish behind him. Another wall shaking hiss left the creature as it wheeled around using all of its legs, rapidly clearing the first half of the stairs.

    Extending his arm, his pronged grapple hook shot out into the overgrowth at the base of the stairs and he activated the retraction system. Humid breath raked his ears and he dropped to his back, sliding down the stairs at an alarmingly fast pace. He swung the vibro-weapon upward into the vulnerable underside of the Acklay, dissecting one of it's legs from its body completely. The high pitched screech from the creature muddled his hearing, making him vulnerable to the follow up sweep from its middle leg; the flat of which caught him in the stomach and sent him flying back into the entryway. He disengaged the hook from his bracer just before he crashed to the floor. The beast's blood oozed from his frame and he slowly climbed to his feet. Again the Acklay turned to him, slavering fangs parting for another feral bellow.

    Volk reaffirmed his grip on his weapon and hunched forward into a predatory stance of his own. The skin and fur on his muzzle pulled back and his own teeth exposed themselves, his saffron eyes alight with the hunger for victory.

  7. #7
    The Acklay turned on Volk with a shrill screech, a sound Layla had decided she could never tolerate for long periods of time. Confident she didn’t need to exert nearly as much power to suppressing the Acklay’s awareness of her, Layla rose and turned to observe the bout. For the first time she was able to see the Shistavanen that had made it further than any others. For such a large frame and powerful frame, he was far more agile than she might have imagined.

    For an aquatic creature, it was surprisingly quick in it’s chase about the stairs, a creature that could surely provide an adequate test for Volk. He did what he could to outmaneuver and position the beast, but unsurprisingly didn’t manage to evade everything it threw at him, though did escape any life-threatening injuries. “Come now. You didn’t come all this way just to be bested by some feral creature.” She spoke encouragement in her accented voice as her hands tucked in together behind her back, clasping and pulling the folds of a black sleeveless robe that covered the rest of her ensemble back with it.

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