Survival, Dark Times 3

[Revan Jast]

Caleb crossed his arms. "I'll stay to help protect Jenn and explore the ship remains with Daron. Not a one of you has a long range weapon that's decent, so I'm not budging."

With that, he kicked a nearby door in and peered through it. "Dark and hot as hell if hell went out of business for a day," he muttered.

[hk47fan]

Marlena

"Anziar must be slacking," Naos said, rolling his eyes slightly.

"Arthren? What are you gonna do?" Alsia asked, looking to the bounty hunter.

She looked like she was thinking long and hard for a moment. "I'll stay...if Allison's going, I should stay with Jenn and Jan. I'll help the other three keep an eye out for anything suspicious." she said.

We all nodded, and Alsia spoke again. "So Wey, Serra, Marlena, Allison, and myself are all going...sounds good. If we find anybody, we'll send them straight here."

"Good luck," Jan said encouragingly, but I could tell she was still nervous.

In truth, we probably all were.

"Stay alive, Jenn," Allison said as we began to walk away.

"Lets hope we find something soon...or that someone finally notices we've been missing long enough and sends someone after us," Alsia said, leading us through the sand.

We can't last like this much longer.

Sora

I marched through the Security HQ, looking very solemn as I did. Everyone stopped to glance at me, which was good. In fact, it was excellent...I was commanding more loyalty than I ever had before. I had more authority than I ever had before, and it was working. Everyone at least gave me a simple glance.

I knew some of them may be uncomfortable with it, but in time, they would grow used to it. This was what would unite the NR for a better future.

I had a woman standing behind me...a tall, thin woman, who had a stern look on her face, as well. She had straight thin hair, and glasses...but underneath that, was a person who I knew had alot of strength and courage to serve the NR well.

"Ah, there she is," I said to the woman, pointing to where I saw Winter walking around.

I approached her, and she stopped when she saw me. I began to speak. "Winter, I have good news...with all thats been going on, I've been to busy to decide on this, but finally, I have. It couldn't wait any longer, and I know this is for the best," I told her, moving out of the way so she could see the woman behind me. "Winter, meet your new Head of Security: Rhynna Volt."

[Rain]

Daron

I watched as the others walked away. After a few minutes of silence. "This sucks..." I muttered, "This really sucks!"

"What you're just realising that now?" Arthren joked. She slapped me on the back, "Come on Jeid, lighten up. We're going to live you know."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

"And what makes you so sure?" I asked.

She smirked. "Because I'm here. And more importantly, he's here!" She pointed towards Naos, "I mean come on he's the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. People like that don't just randomly die whilst wandering the desert. They die by sacrificing themselves or by being assassinated by sultry bounty hunters like myself!"

I scoffed and gave a small smile. "Weird logic... but I'll run with it. Lets just see if we can make a shelter shall we? Get Jenn out of this heat."

Winter

I was caught by surprise when Sora Trok introduced the woman. I knew he would introduce Han's replacement soon enough, but I was just shocked about how... well about how she seemed to be the exact opposite of Solon. Still, I of all pople knew that appearances could be deceptive, given that I was faking loyalty to Sora.

I extended my hand. "A pleasure to meet you. I'm Winter Retrac, I'm one of the encryption decoders here. I've been looking forward to meeting my new boss. But I'm sure you want to get to work straight away so would you like a quick tour of the place?"

[hk47fan]

Naos

I smirked at Arthren. "You act like we're invincible...we aren't. Marlena or myself have just as much of a chance of dying out here as everyone else does, we just can use the Force to preserve our energy, but thats beside the point. You're right...we need to make a shelter as soon as possible." I said. "We can probably use the resources from the last one plus whatever we can find around the remains here."

I began to look around, starting to gather what I could to make a decent-sized shelter...I began to put more materials together, with a little help from the Force but mostly using my bare hands.

It almost felt like what life had been like years ago, before the Rebels got strong, before the NR came to be, before the Order returned...when we were just small-time people on the run, having to make do with what little we could. What very little we could.

Scout. I miss you so much...I hope you can hear this. I thought to myself.

Many thoughts had crossed my mind...Scout and the others that had left, my son, the Jedi...but I was assured that they all were fine. My friends were needed in other places to do other things, and the Jedi were in good hands under Barriss.

To this day, it still amazed me that Jaskia had appointed me as Grandmaster...but I didn't mind the role.

Continuing on with trying to build a shelter, I was attempting to put some of the metal still intact together to make a roof...it'd keep us all protected from the sun's scorching heat, for sure. The Force was making it easier to keep them connected, but I'd need some kind of hammer to keep them bolted together. However, I didn't want to release my grip on the metal pieces t-

As if she was reading my mind, Jan approached the pieces, hammer in hand. She crouched down and began pounding away. "Don't worry, I'll do it," she said softly.

"Uh, thanks," I said slowly.

"You know...you don't have to hate me, Naos. I'm not as bad as I look like," she told me.

In truth, I still had no clue what to think of Jan. She seemed utterly psychotic, and that she probably was...but this fiasco had caused me to see a side of her that wasn't crazy ramblings about me or being some creepy stalker in the shadows.

"Besides, we're going to need to talk soon, anyway....real soon," Jan finished with a deep breath.

I raised an eyebrow while she hammered the various bolts into place. "About what?"

"Just, trust me. We'll need to figure this out very soon."

Rhynna Volt

"I'll leave you two to it, I have alot of other things to get to...don't let me down, Rhynna," Sora told me, looking at me with a face that didn't seem so welcoming, but instead just solemn and down. Even when offering me the job, the man wasn't that cheery.

Thats how it was supposed to be, however. It was how a proper military should be run.

He walked off, and I looked to Winter Retrac. I shook her hand. "Unnecessary. We don't have alot of time to waste with all thats happened...just show me to my office, and we'll get to work. Admiral Trok has alot to take care of, and he's going to need our help. I expect you to be at your best, or else you have no place serving the Admiral, or this security team."

[Rain]

Winter

I was slightly taken aback by the woman's bluntness. I knew already I wouldn't like working for her. "Yes, of course." I said after calming myself, "Your office is just down the hall. I would walk you down there but, you know, I have to stay here and be at my best. Walking down that hall would waste 15 precious seconds that can't afford to be wasted." I picked up my files and smiled, "So, it was a pleasure to meet you Miss Volt, but I really have to get to work now. If you'll excuse me..."

[hk47fan]

Rhynna Volt

I nodded. "Good, and its Head of Security Volt. We'll have to meet later, to discuss your skills and qualifications...see if you are actually worth being on the Supreme Admiral's payroll, or if you need to be fired. I'll be doing something similar with all the top officers." I told her coldly, proceeding to brush past her.

I headed towards my new office, and saw a plaque that had been turned around on the door. I grabbed it and flipped it over to see "Head of Security Han Solo".

"Don't need this anymore..." I muttered in a monotone, walking over to the window and tossing it out.

[Rain]

Winter

This woman would be a nightmare. Still at least she seemed competent. She was arrogant and stern, but she was no Hunter Solon. That was something. I looked at my holowatch. My shift was over, and I had a two our break.

I pulled out my comlink and entered Kurt Jervada's frequency. I had told him that I would keep him up to date on all that was happening, and I felt he should be informed about my conversation with Miss Haltzilakas.

"Kurt, it's Winter." I was still in the main building, and people could hear me everywhere, so I couldn't tell him over the comlink. Besides knowing Sora he probably had everyones comlinks bugged. "Want to meet up for a bite to eat?"

[Revan Jast]

Kurt was a couple blocks from Winter's location. He'd been out patrolling and had just started his break. Well, all day may as well be a break, since Sora didn't have him doing much... yet. He'd just reached the street when his comlink buzzed to life. He reached down and silenced it, then answered.

"Kurt, it's Winter. Want to meet up for a bite to eat?"

"Yeah, sure. Good timing, by the way. Give me a location and I'll be right there."

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

Caleb exited the part of the ship he was in with a large, dark green tarp. "I hit the gold mine in there!" he said, smirking. "Get some of those supports secure and we can use this to help shade Jenn and anyone else who wants to join her."

He laid the heavy plastic sheet next to Naos and ran a hand through his hair. "Hotter than a firecracker out here. How the hell do those damn Tuskens wrap up so damn tight?"

[Rain]

Winter

"Dex's Diner. I'll see you there."

* * *

After waiting for about a minute I noticed Kurt walk in the door and stride towards me. "Afternoon." I gave him a nod as he sat down, "I've already ordered, but as you probably guessed I didn't just call you here for food. I have news on the team that we sent out after Mona..."

Daron

"Yeah, it's strange." Uli commented.

"What's strange is that they don't reek of body odour!" I exclaimed, by to my usual self, "But hey, to be honest I've never seen one without all that gear on. They could be robots? Who knows?"

[hk47fan]

Naos

"Robots? I don't think robots scream like that," Jan remarked with a snort, as she finished hammering the bolts down. She stood and wiped some sweat from her forehead, tossing the hammer aside.

I had not been around Tusken Raiders much...only during my adventure on Tattooine with Scout after we escaped the Tantive IV.

"Don't think they're robots, but who knows with them. They're...very strange. Somehow, they manage, though...they've been living this way for years, and we're having trouble just surviving a few days," I commented, turning back towards everyone else.

Duskbringer

Dawn and I had been through several games of War by now, and the score was pretty even...he had won two, I had won two. That was what you had to expect when cyborgs were playing against each other. They'd been peaceful, but intense, games.

Finally, I felt the transport come to a sudden hault, and realized that we must be landing in Mos Eisley now.

I looked at my partner-in-crime. "Well, Dawn, I think its time to get to work."

[Revan Jast]

"Indeed," the cyborg said, standing. The transport had been made with taller people in mind, but his head nearly reached the ceiling regardless. He had to bend over a bit to get through doorways. Clunking down the ramp, Dawn looked around and chuckled. "I feel sorry for the meatbags. My sensors register the temperature at 107 degrees F. Imagine how the open desert is..."

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

Kurt pulled up a menu and smirked. "Yeah, I seriously doubted this was a lunch date. Speaking of food, I've heard kath hound steaks are good. Waiter!"

"Yessir?" the man said, coming over.

Kurt ordered his lunch and took off his helmet, laying it on the ground next to him. "Alright, what's the word?"

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

Caleb sighed. "We'll make it, I'm sure. Maybe I'm just hoping really hard, but I have a semi-good feeling about this."

He leaned against the outside of the ship. "Anyone up for rummaging in the wreckage?"

[Rain]

Winter

"They disappeared." I explained, "Just like that. Didn't leave a trace. But Miss H and I both have a hunch that they are still alive. She sent the two cyborgs, Dawn and Dusk, to try and locate them. If and when they are recovered they are going to Bespin."

The waitress droid brought my food over. "Thanks." I said politely as she wa sleaving, "But here's the thing that bothers me. Sora hasn't asked about them at all! It's like he has stopped caring altogether. I'm worried that he's getting worse. It's like every day he gets more and more bitter. Not only that but I think he's surrounding himself with the wrong people. I mean Solon is one thing, but now theres this Rhynna Volt character he got to replace Han. You're meant to be the hothead, but if I have to work closely with that woman I am going to flip out!"

Daron

"Count me in." I said as I stood up, "My schedule is pretty free. Oh, actually I am meeting up with some Jawa's in an hour or so for a meal."

Arthren rolled her eyes. "I'll help you out also."

"You won't get any meds guys, the Medbay was on our side of the ship." Uli told us, "But if you find any water supplies at all, bring them out ASAP will you? Jenn really needs to keep her fluids up."

"No problem, doc!" I gave him a wink, before looking at Caleb and Arthren. "So... scavenging time?"

[hk47fan]

Duskbringer

"I know," I said, following Dawn down the ramp. "Tattooine is one of the hottest planets there is...I wouldn't be surprised if any of them had gotten heat stroke by now, wherever they are. The desert isn't the best place to be, thats for sure."

I looked around...this docking bay was fairly simplistic, nothing special. Typical Mos Eisley...just a fairly run down building, with a few machines on the walls.

"Okay, so...space control, right?" I continued. "Guess we better find them before we lose anymore time."

Naos

"I'll help, too," I said, after finishing the last of this small, but stable, roof. "This should do for now...so I can help find anything we can get our hands on, though it looks like mostly everything came down with us. Li and Sem pretty much went down with little to nothing...its no wonder why they...perished, if they even survived the crash."

[Revan Jast]

"Let's not dwell on them right now," Caleb said. "With death comes despair, and that's the last thing we need to be feeling. Sad though it is now, they will be properly remembered when we get the hell out of this."

The Mandalorian brushed his clothes off and growled quietly. "I think I got a bunch of sand in my boots. Hopefully it's just sand and not some tiny desert bugs."

Reaching up, he grasped a pipe and pulled himself up and through the doorway. "We'll be doing a long of guessing," he said, referring to the darkness. "Wish we had flashlights or something. Hell, even a certain cyborg with night vision would be nice right now..."

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

Dawn nodded as he walked. "Space Control, yes. Hopefully they'll have something on the crash. If not, I suppose we can ask a few local people. If there's nothing there..." he said, then shrugged. "Guess we'll be doing a lot of walking."

The Gatekeeper was snoring loudly in his sleep as they reached the booth. The cyborg pounded on the metal wall to wake him up, leaving a nice dent.

The terrified man nearly fell out of his chair as his feet dropped from the table to the floor. "Sorry, sorry!" he quickly said, standing and walking over to them. Realizing how tall Dawn was when he was in front of him, the Keeper decided to stay inside the booth instead of coming outside with them. "What can I do ya for?"

"Where's the Space Control HQ?" Dawn asked, his voice booming.

"It's... uh, through the gate, down three streets. Take a left at the third street and go down about five buildings. It'll be on the right."

"Excellent. Thank you," Dawn replied before walking off. "Lead the way," he told Dusk.

-----------

Kurt chuckled. "You flipping out? That'd be something to see. But I digress. You're right about Sora; he's gone from a positive, let's-work-together type of guy into something not far from a tyrant. Hopefully he won't go that far, but I'm not holding my breath."

The kath hound steak arrived with a delicious assortment of side dishes. Kurt took a bite and grinned. "You picked a good spot to eat."

Taking a sip of his java, he sat the cup back down on the table and looked over at Winter. "Sora is letting what happened get to his head, no doubt about that. He acts as if nothing bad has ever happened to anyone ever before. His close friends were there to support him and try to talk him out of what he was doing and he responded like a kath hound that had its tail pulled."

The merc shrugged, as if to say there was nothing to do but wait and see what happened. "Tell me more about this woman he placed as Head of Security. I'd prefer to know as much as I can before I have to deal with her myself."

[Rain]

Winter

I gulped down another mouthful of the steak. I had been so busy lately that I had forgot about eating. I was only now realising how hungry I was.

"Well, not much to tell really." I explained, "Other than the fact she's arrogant, she's cold, she's merciless and robotic. She looks down on everyone, and automatically judges those she doesn't know as incompetent. She's passionate about her job I'll give her that, but honestly she has her head stuck so far up her own own ass it's unbelievable."

There was a long pause. "Listen to me... I really have been spending too much time around you!"