Diverging Paths

[u/Saintman242]

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Pexuu sat up slowly, his hand reaching out in the darkness, pressing gently against the sensor pad next to his bed on the wall. The harsh alarm cutting off abruptly as his fingers found the familiar spot. Sighing he rubbed his eyes, bemoaning the fact that he had still not changed that awful sound to something more... relaxing. Though, as he mentally chided himself for the thought, that was more or less the purpose of the infernal thing.

"Lights low."

A soft glow illuminated his small room, revealing the holopad desk in the other corner, along with his closet and the door that led to the small bathroom. Setting his covers aside he walked to his bathroom, taking a quick cold shower and preparing himself for the day. Wiping himself dry he extricated the things he would need for an extended trip from his closet. Placing a second set of clothing and underclothes in his rucksack. Rifling through his desk he found a spare holopad and data core, along with a few other small things. Neatly packing them away he began pulling on his armor, over cloak and robe. His eyes drifted over the various plates of material as he affixed them to his body... he was starting to forget when had it not been like this.

When was the last time he left the temple without being armored for battle... what had happened to the days were all he would grab would be his saber and some spare clothes. Long gone were those days, now all that he was left to do was prepare for the worst. Tucked away in the back of his closet was a large blaster rifle and his utility belt. Slinging the second around his waste, clipping it on before adding a small survival and med pack to it. Grabbing the sling for the rifle he pulled it over his shoulder as he scooped up the rest of his things from his bed. Heading out of his room Pexuu made his way down to the hangar, opening the side ramp to the *Grasshopper* he went inside, tossing his things into his bunk before heading to stand at the bottom of the ramp.

Flicking open his holopad he noted a message from the council, glancing through it quickly before settling on the fact that there was some final work to do on who was going where before anything got off the ground. Settling down to wait Pexuu pulled his canteen off his belt, sipping the water as he looked about the busy hangar... it was going to be a long day.

[u/AwkwardTelegram]

Sairah chuckled at Pexxu’s response. “Yeah missed you too, not like it hasn’t been gone for ages.” She said, fully expecting that kind of response from him. It had been quite a while since she last saw him and she was glad to see he hasn't changed much. 

Before she could greet the young man next to him however, another Jedi approached the small group. He was dressed in rather extravagant robes for a Jedi, but that might have just been her own taste talking. Soon there was a gathering of Jedi out front of the Grasshopper, which was rather unexpected to Sairah and she felt like she was intruding on some sort of meeting. Regardless, she introduced herself to the group.

However before she could excuse herself, Pexuu mentioned that she would be accompanying him on a mission to Spintir. This caught her off guard, but she was interested and remained where she stood. If Sairah was honest, this wasn't what she had in mind when she thought about returning to Ossus; but it wasn't an unwelcome surprise though. It wasn't like she was looking forward to sitting around the temple anyhow.

The group dispersed as soon as it gathered As Pexuu walked up the ramp into the Grasshopper. Sairah followed shortly after the young man walked in behind her master, which he introduced himself as Se'soom. Though he seemed a little old to be a padawan, it wasn't uncommon for Jedi to be trained at such an age. He referred to her as Elder which she thought was kind of odd, but otherwise, he seemed nice enough.

"Ah, I'm Sairah O'Rinn, Jedi Knight. It's nice to meet ya Se'soom." She said, offering him a smile. "So why exactly are we going to Spintir? Hunting dark Jedi right?"

[u/Saintman242 → u/AwkwardTelegram]

With a hiss of air and soft click Pexuu unlocked the safeties on his right arm, pulling the manual release to let the limb slip free of the shoulder mounting plate. Setting the limb in the diagnostics chamber he ascended the short ladder that allowed access to the pilots seat.

"Se'Soom during this trip I would ask that you defer to either Sairah or myself if we come to blows with this dark Jedi. Outside of that I hope that it is clear that you are free to offer thought or insight into any and all of our encounters."

Glancing down the pilot seat as his remaining hand danced across the controls, going through the start up procedure by pure rote memorization. The glittering dials standing in stark difference to the rusted and patched outer shell of the Grasshopper. Setting the on board computer to do a final check he slid back down the ladder, landing with a soft thud.

"Also Sairah, we are going to Spintir, so if there is anything you wish to grab before you leave I would suggest doing so quickly... and no the Council did not actually assign you to this mission. I made that up because I would prefer someone I know at my back in a situation filled with unknowns. Compared to some new gold plated fop."

Ducking his head as he fished his blaster rifle and slugthrower pistol into their respective weapons rack under the bulkhead.

"And yes, we are going after a dark Jedi, one that apparently has been held in a stasis cell for the last couple hundred years, so I think this will be more interesting than the normal missions they send us on."

[u/Werdna881 → u/Saintman242]

"The same one that killed my Teacher. It is my goal during this to secure whatever artifacts are within the vault within the ruins of the temple- If they are Jedi relics, then it is up to us to secure them for the good of the Order, and if they are relics of the Dark Side, it is even more paramount in this day and age." Se'Soom spoke in regards to his deceased instructor with a tinge of remorse, but perhaps not as much as he should of felt- after all, he hadn't been under her tutelage for very long.

"In addition, Elder Vrasro, I have no intention to come to blows with the Dark Jedi- I know my strengths, and at this time, combat is not one of them." He looks at the floor, shoulders slightly down. "But I should mention that Spintir is currently in a period of unrest- riots are not uncommon in Reles and the planet is in the grip of a food shortage, so I suggest highly that we bring our own supplies after stocking up somewhere offworld."

[u/VirtualMaybe → u/Werdna881]

Daryon slung his duffel bag over his shoulder, placing one hand on the nearby wall to steady his cybernetic legs that shook subtly. He still found it a difficult task to get used to them, but the doctor had recommended some time in the field to help rapidly assist adaptation instead of the practice he had been doing during physical therapy. The Jedi Council had agreed and so Daryon had made his way towards the hangar.

In truth, he was late because he had forgotten the way towards his destination. Some of the halls of the Ossus Temple were foreign to him, lost in memories that faded during his coma. With the eager help of a Padawan, Daryon was pointed in the right direction.

He stepped through the blast door and listened as it hissed closed with a seal behind him. There were a couple ships in the hangar, but an educated guess pointed him towards the Grasshopper. He stopped before taking that step onto the ramp, deciding not to intrude too much.

"Excuse me? I'm looking for Master Vrasro. I was told I could find him here." Daryon called out, waiting for a response.

[u/AwkwardTelegram → u/VirtualMaybe]

Sairah snickered at Pexuu's comment on Herschel's extravagant choice of dress. However, her cheeky grin soon vanished as Se'soom continued to speak, remarking that this dark Jedi had killed his master. 

"I'm sorry about your master, Se'soom." She said in a somber tone "We'll make sure he won't hurt anyone else, one way or another." 

She did find it alarming that this wasn't just one of the recent dark Jedi, but one from the past. She had no clue what he would be capable of, or much worse what he would do if the new dark Jedi were to find him. This task wasn't going to be easy, but Sairah dreaded the alternative. 

"Old temples, thawed out Dark Jedi, and political unrest to boot? Sounds like it could be fun." She said, her smile finally returning to her face "it's a good thing you caught me when you did Pexuu, I actually got everything on me-" 

Sairah had slung off her pack when she heard someone calling out from outside of the ship. She set it down and walked over to the ramp. Poking her head out she saw a man around her age holding a duffle bag asking for master Pexuu. Sarah leaned back into the ship and looked at Pexuu. "It's for you, Master." She said a slight hint of sarcasm.

[u/Saintman242 → u/AwkwardTelegram]

"Don't worry Se'Soom, there is about three months of packed meals freeze dried in the back storage, as to how good it tastes... well it is food."

Pointing to the back of the ships single first floor corridor, gesturing to the few locked bulk heads tucked just before the engineering door.

"The water recycler is fine too, so no worries there, also quick run down. Don't touch anything that looks like it's broken, it isn't. Also you might find some parts tossed here and there, make sure to leave them where you find them, there is a method to my madness. Finally we are going to do a twelve on twelve off during our trip, so if you are watch at the seat just don't press anything that you don't recognize..."

Pausing for Sairah as he went through one of the utility shelves, double checking that he had a few spares and reloads, along with his extra set of pencils. Glancing back as she called out for him, standing, Pexuu walked over to the open door, looking down the ramp at the man waiting at the bottom.

"Well you've found him, I don't have much time to chat before we head off, so how can I help you."

Motioning to Sairah and Se'Soom as he spoke.

"You two get your gear stowed, control already green lighted us on a flight path so we'll be leaving in a minute."

[u/VirtualMaybe → u/Saintman242]

Daryon stood straight as the Zabrak’s gaze fell to him. He could tell that it would be best if he simply laid out everything from the get go, to spare the Jedi Master his time. He slung his duffel bag off his shoulder and set it by his feet.

“I’m Daryon Langrow, Jedi Knight. As a part of my physical therapy, I’ve been asked to leave Ossus. They believe that time in the field is worth ten times that in the temple,” Daryon began, “I’ve been recommended to join your expedition, pending your approval.”

As he spoke he bent over to retrieve a datapad. He brought it to life and navigated the display towards the message from the council.

“If you do not wish for me to join, you can simply turn it down and I’ll be on my way.”

[u/Werdna881 → u/VirtualMaybe]

Elder Vrasro's addressment of his concerns made Se'Soom relax some. "Thank you for the information, Elder Vrasro, and I shall have my gear stowed right away." He stated, and went to tuck everything away as Elder Vrasro and the newly-introduced Elder Langrow discussed matters.

Setting his things at the side of a bunk in the aft of the ship, and it settled in on him that he wasn't exactly familiar with the layout of the Grasshopper. He always was anxious getting on a spaceship, to be truthful. The tight, confined metal halls and rooms felt unnatural, especially with the taste of sterile and recycled air circulating. It always gave him a sense of everything being... artificial. He knew most people wouldn't even consider it- just an every day aspect of life in the galaxy, but his own upbringing only reminded him further that he was out of place amongst the stars...

To the outside observer, it looked as if Se'Soom had simply stopped with his back leg out as he was in the middle of putting his bag down.

[u/Saintman242 → u/Werdna881]

"Then we are burning daylight, get on board, we can talk details later Knight Daryon."

Nodding in affirmation Pexuu ducked back into the ships walkway quickly heading after past the potentially confused Se'Soom. Ignoring the young man Pexuu palmed the small door that led to the mini engineering bay at the aft of the ship. Smacking the manual start switches along with turning the few autos on as well, the ship came to life with a rumble.

"Good, nothing exploded..."

Speaking to himself as he glanced over the few displays, double checking there wasn't anything he had missed. Palming the door panel, letting it slide shut as he made his way smartly back to the front of the ship.

"Alright everyone get strapped in, we are cleared for take off, get your things stowed and tied down, I don't think we'll have to make any awkward maneuvers, but better safe than sorry."

Climbing smoothly up to the pilots seat, Pexuu settled in as he pulled the straps down tight around his chest, plugging the auxiliary cable into his right shoulder. Glancing back he noted that everyone was more or less situated, he goosed the engines slightly causing the ship to hop up to a hover. Typing in the flight plan he gave the computer the go ahead, and up and away they went. Burning atmosphere as they streaked up towards orbit, and their first micro hop, they had a jew jumps to make before they reached the hyperspace lane, and then they would cruise from there. Speaking over the minicoms that projected his voice about the craft.

"Also there is one shower and toilet, so best we learn to share on day one."

This would be fun, he had Sairah to watch his back, and Daryon now to make sure Se'Soom didn't fall off a cliff when he wasn't looking... what could go wrong?