Zemear
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Posts: 27 
Affiliation: The Felucian Conclave
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Post by Zemear on Feb 10, 2016 13:39:47 GMT -8
Zemear wandered through the hall silently trying to remember his old room number. He wondered if someone else now lived there, or if Covi had seen to keeping it up. Finally he located his room and hesitantly- almost expecting some unknown creature to jump on him, he cautiously opened the door and peered inside. What he found, made him squint.
Zemear was, by far, not a messy boy. He liked things in their places, in an orderly fashion, though often times his sense of order was another'a chaos. But his room absolutely displayed someone else's sense of order. Everything was neatly arranged, the floor cleaned, the bed made and desk clear. His pens and paper were all assorted nicely- he could live with that. But the worst part was his books, now arraigned alphabetically! What in the world? Why? Who does that anymore?! Scowling at the books on his shelf, the Epikanthix marched over- causing his still dangling weaponry to clang annoying against itself- and within a matter of seconds, had reorganized the several books in order of subject matter.
Scowling and shaking his head, he remembered that he had a mother- which brought a thin, forgiving smile to his face. Regardless, the smile turning smug, he heaved his massive shoulders and allowed his vest with all his gear to simply clatter to the ground in a heap. Then, whistling some innocent sounding tune, the tall boy left his room and headed to the medical bay, keeping an eye out for a mother.
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Zemear
Member
Posts: 27
Affiliation: The Felucian Conclave
Traffic Light: Yellow
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Post by Zemear on Feb 12, 2016 13:15:30 GMT -8
Just as before, with the same caution, Zemear opened the door and blinked.
How did she keep DOING that?
His books were untouched thankfully, his vest hung, without the darkening hint of dirt, and his weapons arraigned themselves according to size on his bed. He had to find his mom and hug her now. The smile that tugged at his lips felt so unnatural, unfamiliar- like a very old friend he hardly recognized. The realization that, his mother hadn't been the first person he'd sought out, almost brought the hardened Epikanthix to tears. Slowly, he changed out of his Felucia soiled clothes, and made his way to the bathroom to finally clean himself and scrub off the jungle planet's residue. He had no idea how long he remained under the cascade of steaming hot water- but he did know that when he emerged, he felt a whole log better. Sometimes he could calm his muscles with meditation or sleep, and other times he had to force them into submission with inhumanly hot water- but it worked. After drying his long black hair and re-positioning his padawan braid, he felt he looked much more presentable- well, except for cloths and- stuff. Opening the closet the Epikanthix found a set of never used, Jedi padawan robes and he considered them critically.
How did anyone fight in those things?
Well- he was back now, so he figured he best act like it. Perhaps Tom might be surprised or something- or annoyed. Curiously, Zemear put on the Padawan attire and flexed his shoulders to get use to the fabric. His vibro swords took the place normally occupied by lightsabers, and though they were long, Zemear's height more than compensated. He figured his vest wouldn't go very well with his garb right now, though he had to admit, he felt rather vulnerable. Unfriendly blasterfire wouldn't visit him here though.
Finally, opening the door, Zemear came fact to face with the one person who he'd managed to avoid sense returning. Without hesitation, the Epikanthix youth wrapped his large arms around his mother and held her close to him, silently thanking her for all she'd done for him.
Zemear- I was so worried about you.
Neera said, looking up at her son as he embraced her.
I'm- sorry...
He managed, meaning so much in those two words. He was sorry- for leaving in such anger with the desire to kill his father- her husband. He regretted abandoning them on that balcony just because he was upset- then for not being with them after the ordeal was over and the danger had past. He could have stayed. He could have reconnected with his mother- rebuilt his family,
But he chose not to, and he hated himself for it.
When he caught her eyes, a calmness came over him and he released her, giving her a gentle smile.
You look so grown up, like a Jedi.
Neera said with a proud smile.
Covi's told me a lot about them and everyone's been so kind to us here. I'm no longer afraid of the force, because I trust you.
She assured, squeezing his hands firmly.
You've always been such a good boy. Don't ever change, but no matter what, I will always love you.
He blinked a few times. The feeling of motherly love hadn't visited him in such a long time, that he found himself unsure how to respond. Chewing his lower lip in thought, Zemear nodded slowly and gave his mother one last, quick hug before walking away, still pondering on her words. It gladdened his heart to know she no longer feared him becoming a Jedi, but he idea that he'd only done good with hit talents hit hard. She didn't know him before he came here. That span of time was a secret to her- and, at least for now, he hoped it would stay that way.
Perhaps a good spar would get his mind out of the confused state it had worked itself into. Punching something almost always helped.
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Aerandir Calmcacil
The Jedi Order
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Affiliation: The Jedi Order
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Post by Aerandir Calmcacil on Mar 6, 2016 0:26:25 GMT -8
*The Garqi mission, while not flawless, had been a success, but it had also confirmed what they had all suspected: The Imperials were on the move. That alone was valuable information, and it made recruitment to the Alliance a simpler task. Make no mistake about it: War was coming.
That was why Aerandir chose to spend as much time as he could with his ever-growing family, which included a new adopted daughter in Mina and yet another "bun in the oven," as the saying went. Cassie was now three months pregnant with their, hopefully, final child, and for the first time in his life, he felt regret. Not regret that the family continued to grow, no, but regret that they must spend their young years in a galaxy split by war. He supposed there was nothing he could really do about it, except continue to provide the best love and care he could give them, and prepare them to defend themselves should it come to that.
He hoped it wouldn't come to that.*
"You think it's a boy or a girl?" *Aerandir asked, gently and affectionately patting the stomach of his wife, who sat beside him.
She smiled and placed her hands on her abdomen, looking down at it for a moment as though in concentration. Then she looked up at him with a coy smile, instead asking,* "What are you hoping it is?"
*He smirked before feigning disappointment, jutting out his lower lip. She didn't buy it, so he chuckled and shook his head, first looking to the year-old babbling Lucina in his left arm, and Mina, who sat between them on both their laps. He then glanced towards Kayla, who sat on his other side, leaning over him and seeking Lucy's attention. Finally, his eyes found the door to Morgan's bedroom before returning to Cassie.* "I think I'm good on girls. More than one boy would be nice."
*Cassie laughed softly, patting her stomach gently before putting an arm around him.* "Well, luckily, mother's intuition tells me it's going to be that boy."
*Aerandir raised his fist and drew it back in a victory gesture, accompanied by a soft,* "Yes!" *Cassie giggled, and Aerandir put his arm around her again, smiling at her.* "Me and Jake are far outnumbered as it is, but we can take all help we can get," *he joked.
Cassie shook her head and supplied her own joke.* "And that's all the help you're getting. This is the last one I'm carrying."
*His right palm lazily lifted defensively as he replied,* "Fair enough."
"You had five babies?" *Mina piped up, looking up at Cassie.
Oh, right, they hadn't yet explained to Mina that Jake and Morgan were adopted, just like her. The couple exchanged a glance, silently asking which of the two should explain, before Aerandir took the lead.* "Three. Well, almost three, this little guy's still getting ready to be born. I suppose we didn't think about it, but we didn't tell you that Morgan and Jake were adopted, just like you."
*Her green eyes lit up with surprise. And perhaps delight? To know that she wasn't the first of his to be adopted into the family, and that they were so well-integrated and loved that they hadn't even thought to mention it until now, well, it was satisfying to know that she would receive that treatment as well. She smiled and snuggled into her new father, who rested his head on top of hers.
She was still a quiet girl, even after integrating into the family and even becoming officially adopted by the family. It was clear she was much happier now and even smiled a lot, but when it came to speaking, she seemed to only speak when she needed to. Aerandir had assumed she would have broken that habit when she was settled in and comfortable, but perhaps it was just her personality quirk.
He hadn't managed to learn much about her past, at least not through words. When he'd taken her through a series of beginner combat drills, she'd actually proven to be quite competent already. So her attempt to defend herself in the cells of Kashyyyk had been a learned technique, then... But who taught her this or why, Aerandir hadn't been able to divine. Perhaps in due time, but he wasn't entirely keen on delving into her darkest memories so soon after her liberation. Still, he was impressed at how much self-defense she was capable of; that would certainly make her training go much more smoothly.
Lucy, meanwhile, only got more and more active. She was constantly chatty and moving about, babbling off what few Basic words she could speak. Proudly, Aerandir noted "Dada" was one of them. She also sported a full head of wavy, light brown hair, just like her mother and Kayla. Aerandir had a feeling she'd take after Kayla, being active physically. Aerandir liked to think it came from his side of the family; Michelle was rather athletic as well.
Lucy too had taken to her new big sister, and Mina seemed fond of her as well. Fond of everyone in her family, but clearly still adjusting to their presence. By the way she seemed mildly overwhelmed, Aerandir had to guess her previous family wasn't very large. In a strange way, he could relate, though his family had grown gradually.
And now it was his duty to protect each and every one of them, along with the galaxy they lived in. They deserved a bright future, free from strife. His reasons to fight were all present in this room, and some elsewhere in the base.
They all deserved the best.*
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Adelle Bastiel
Member
Right or wrong? I can hardly tell. I'm on the wrong side of heaven and the righteous side of hell.
Posts: 338
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Post by Adelle Bastiel on Apr 10, 2016 12:04:41 GMT -8
Adelle felt every step on the duracrete floor vibrate in her bones as she walked the corridor to the dormitories and her suite. Most of the Jedi present held their conversations in low tones here, mindful of those who might not wish to be disturbed here. It was a most welcome gesture, simple but important, especially after the tense atmosphere of the bunks on CorSec military ships. Adelle rubbed her face, groaning as she realized another thing she had to do before another standard day went by: file a report to CorSec on the state of their informant. All she wanted was sleep, a break from the stress she'd endured the past week. Her face burned with shame as she thought about the fight with Na'an; that never should have happened. She was supposed to be better than that. She should've approached it differently. Maybe she needed a vacation, away from people she knew and familiar scenes. Somewhere she could breathe.
Two items sat in front of her door and Adelle stopped short. A datapad sat on top of a durasteel crate with a biological imprint lock and on top of everything lay a flimsiplast note. Curious, she picked up the note from the cargo bay and read the time of delivery, a few days before her arrival. No name or return address listed. Adelle glanced at the datapad and crate suspiciously then keyed open her door and pushed the two inside. Out of habit, she locked one of the systems on the door and tossed the flimsiplast onto her bed, looking the crate over. There were no obvious signs of tampering, no emblems or logos, nothing to indicate who sent these items. Frowning, Adelle picked up the datapad and placed her hand on the screen when prompted.
"Identity accepted. Adelle Korian Bastiel. Please wait," an electronic voice said. Adelle cracked the knuckles in her free hand as she waited for the holovid to load, a cold hollow opening up in her stomach. She had a bad feeling about this. A grainy image of a broad-shouldered Bothan appeared, his hands folded behind his back. Based on what little detail she could make out, his clothes had been tailored and spoke of affluence or at least, a taste for objects of a superior grade.
"Ms. Bastiel, ArmaTech Foundries greets you and wishes you good health. I wish I could say this was a pleasant business proposition but I will not hide from my duty as CEO, as unpleasant as it is. It has been brought to our attention that one of our affiliates on Coruscant has done you grievous wrong; indeed, has injured you so thoroughly that you still feel residual effects to this date. Our current investigation has uncovered evidence that you were unlawfully coerced into receiving experimental surgeries and unwillingly subjected to testing and research at an affiliated facility located on Coruscant."
Adelle's hands gripped the datapad tighter, turning her knuckles white. The cold hollow in her stomach turned to an icy ball of lead.
"Reports indicate that Sy Dir'egon conducted illegal business while acting as director of this facility and is currently missing, presumed dead by local authorities. Rest assured, our own investigation is following up on all leads to ensure justice is brought to this individual. I offer my personal condolences and an apology on behalf of ArmaTech Foundries for your mistreatment and abuse at his hands. I would like to offer such recompense as I can and have authorized backpay for all medical bills acquired as a result of the abuse, as well as backpay for the time spent as an unwilling test subject. This has been credited to the account listed under your name at the Corellian Galactic Credit Union."
Her teeth ground together. It sounded too good to be true but there was something else he hadn't mentioned yet. Something more sinister.
"It is impossible for me to erase the past; however, please know that good has come out of the evil done to you. Prior to receiving knowledge of your abuse, Director Dir'egon provided us with data essential to building a better suit of combat armor, of use to everyone including the noble Jedi. In an attempt to assure you of the good that's been done, please accept this gift of KA-V3 combat armor—"
Adelle dropped the datapad and recoiled from the crate. The room had suddenly closed in and the crate filled it with its enormity. She could almost hear his voice in her ear, commanding her to do cruelty, to kill, to thoroughly humiliate and defeat. Rishii. Arnelos. Rizala. The screams rose up in her throat and the blood roared in her ears, drowning out the Bothan that continued to drone on. Everything in her room became a trap. Unable to think beyond the fear, she fumbled with her comlink.
"Leigh!" Her voice came out hoarse and breathless. "Leigh, I need you at my suite. Now."
She glanced at the crate and felt her stomach heave. She slapped at the lock on the door and left the room panting. She couldn't leave it unguarded but she couldn't stay in the same space. Her feet paced the halls as she waited for Leigh. The droid's implacable logic and scanning systems would help. If nothing else, Leigh could stop her if she lost herself again.
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Post by Vidalu Na'an on May 3, 2016 18:43:55 GMT -8
The oversized robot made for an imposing sight even when standing still, so it was no surprise that the Service coremen and minor Jedi in the halls scattered as Leigh all but stormed her way down to the dormitory hallways, a scowl written across every step. She tapped at the comm on her rifle arm, rifling through calculations and communications at faster-than-human speed.
Na'an had been right--both of them needed to hold it together just a little longer before letting the day fall in on them. Years of practice had taught Leigh that that was her friend needed in tense situations, to hold off thinking about what had been done until there was time. Until the doing was finished, and it was safe to feel anything at all. Granted, it sometimes led into Na'an doing a little too much, saying or doing something that went just a little too far. And it was frustrating, sometimes, keeping up with how fast her shifts in mood were. An organic being would have called Na'an exhausting. It was just as well that Leigh's own personality had always been so stable...
Leigh paused, mid-button.
But then she hadn't been so stable lately, had she? Ever since Nar Shaddaa, she'd been...off. Having one Shan around, let alone her mother, had upset her normal smooth demeanor with something that stirred and bubbled under the surface, making her prone to irritation. A dark current under calm seas. It felt alien--its very presence seemed to exaggerate the wrongness of it.
It would merit some investigation later. Right now, she would imitate her friend and put it off until later.
Leigh turned a corner, finding what she was looking for. Adelle was on the other side of the hallway alcove pacing in circles with her thumbnail at her mouth. Leigh paused, taking in her friend's vitals: pulse, respiration, blood pressure. This did not include the fact that her olfactory signals indicated that she had not changed or washed since she had left the ship several hours ago.
"You are distressed. Did Na'an cause a problem when she met with you?" She bent slightly at the waist, her holographic face reflecting the movement to look continue scanning Adelle. "Your heart rate is far too elevated for this level of exertion."
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Adelle Bastiel
Member
Right or wrong? I can hardly tell. I'm on the wrong side of heaven and the righteous side of hell.
Posts: 338
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Post by Adelle Bastiel on May 5, 2016 23:06:37 GMT -8
Echoes of stromping metal boots burrowed through the roar of blood in her ears. Adelle spat out the torn fingernail from her index finger and moved to her thumbnail as she continued pacing. Leigh. It had to be. It better be. She wasn't sure how much longer she could stand to wait here. The droid rounded the corner after what seemed like years and stopped. Adelle kept moving back and forth, unable to stop. Leigh's implacable voice cut through the air suddenly and she jumped, yanking the mangled thumbnail down to the quick. Adelle hissed and sucked on the blood, only half-paying attention to what the droid was saying.
"Not Na'an," she said, worrying the injured nail-bed with the other fingers. "S-s-someone else."
She croaked mid-sentence and her voice became hoarse like she was losing it. Adelle popped her knuckles, first the right hand then the left, and then the right hand again. Her right hand twitched, half-way involuntary as she tried to cope with the anxiety she felt. Finally she rubbed her face with both hands and forced herself to stand still in front of Leigh.
"There's a crate in my room I need you to scan," she said, her voice fading at the end. She tried to clear her throat. "I-I need you to... scan f-for transmitters, beacons, signals, anything and everything."
Her eyes met Leigh's and she felt less like a Jedi Knight and more like the terrified young woman just waking up so many years ago. "I-I can't—" Whatever else she had wanted to say, silence only followed. Her voice had had enough.
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Post by Vidalu Na'an on May 26, 2016 18:17:59 GMT -8
"I can."
Without questioning why, Leigh's hologram snapped off as her processes switched over to a high-power scanner. While not designed for infiltration, she was able to locate the signatures of hostile electronics--if present. Adelle's door was open to her left; she turned into it without entering the room, in order to provide a better vantage point to analyze the entire space. The small, sparsely-equipped quarters were briefly illuminated with a bluish laser-array, cutting the dim lamps with surgical precison before snapping off.
"I detect what looks to be a set of combat armor of unknown manufacture inside the crate in your quarters," she recited in an even monotone. "Which is unopened. While not activated, it seems to contain several optional communications arrays typical of such units, intended for use by the wearer."
Leigh turned to the shaking woman again, her face returning to focus. She narrowed her eyes at the thumb stuck in Adelle's mouth. "You are bleeding."
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Morgan Calmcacil
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Posts: 931
Affiliation: The Jedi Order
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Post by Morgan Calmcacil on Jun 8, 2016 23:33:43 GMT -8
*It had been a bit of a task, assembling this little "team," as Morgan liked to call it. Inspired by both real life and holofilms, Morgan had thought it would be neat to gather together some of her peers into a group that would get to know each other, train together, and maybe, if they were lucky, even team up to go take on missions together! It was a dream anyway, one her daddy supported. If Morgan was honest with herself, she was in a way trying to emulate her mama, who seemed to have a team of her own.
It had just been the recruitment step that daunted her. Of course, she knew her classmates, but how would she pick and choose which ones would be great for the team? Fortunately, she had made good friends with a girl named Delaney Vada, or Laney. Laney was a half-Zeltron girl, possessing a human skin tone but blue hair, and she was quite the energetic and outgoing girl. It was on her suggestion that they sought out one of the more unique students at their age level.
This was Sylvie, a girl of the rather rare Sylphe species. Said species was curious in that they physically resembled green humans, but in reality they were a vegetative species, thriving off of sunlight and water. Also, instead of hair on their heads, they sprouted long vines of flowers, which, at least in Morgan and Laney's opinion, was quite beautiful. She had an odd speech pattern in that she often spoke using strange lingo, but she was eager to join up with the two of them, extending the team's roster to three.
To Morgan, though, that wasn't large enough, and it needed boys, something Laney agreed wholeheartedly with. However, finding the right boys was the difficult part. Morgan suggested a Devaronian named Kodagin Vant, one of the strongest kids in their level, as potential muscle. To their surprise, he seemed quite eager to join up with them, making that step simple.
That left one more, Morgan thought. Morgan asked Kodagin if he had any guy friends he thought would make a good fit, but he had no answer, which left her and Laney, feeling like the two leaders of the group, to scout out one more. Perhaps the Arkanian boy, Niam Althacorr, could be interesting. Arkanians had a reputation for being brilliant scientific minds... but also for being an arrogant species. Still, some expertise like that would be highly useful to the team, and so they approached the goggles-wearing boy. He seemed to analyze them visually as they proposed their idea to him, still and calculating. He certainly looked the part of a scientist, or at least one of a scientific mind. But in the end they agreed, and their team was now complete.
Morgan was excited, now all to do was plan hangouts, as well as a place to have them. She preferred their own private headquarters, not somewhere in the open where they could be eavesdropped upon, and Laney agreed; the others didn't seem as enthusiastic. When asked about it, her daddy seemed to contemplate something before offering an unused room in the dorms as their clubhouse. Morgan cheered with glee, thanking her daddy with a hug even before she was shown the room, but in all due time, the room's code was given to each member of the team, and now they had their own little clubhouse.
And thus began their first meeting together, the five of them gathered together in their "clubhouse." Sylvie sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, Kodagin sat sideways in one of the chairs, Niam standing beside the wall, and Morgan and Laney stood in the center of room, the half-Zeltron standing behind her. Morgan was doing her best to restrain her excitement to a small smile as she began,* "Alright, welcome to the clubhouse and the first meeting of the—" *She paused, briefly frowning.* "... we don't have a name yet." *Shrugging, she regained the smile and clapped her hands together.* "Anyway! Our first team meeting! We're here to get to know each other and become the best Jedi team anyone's ever seen! Oh, and become best friends too." *Her giggle was echoed by Laney, and Morgan turned to exchange a grin with her before continuing.*
"Anyway, let's all introduce ourselves. I'm Morgan Calmcacil, nature lover and daughter of Felucia! I like spending time in the jungle, practicing my abilities, and making the bad guys look like fools when they get their butts kicked by a little girl!" *She giggled again, once more receiving an echo from Laney. Morgan turned to her and gestured for her to take the floor before backing away.
The blue-haired girl took a step forward and beamed proudly.* "Delaney Vada, at your service, but you can call me Laney. I'm part Zeltron so that means I like to party! You're gonna have a good time when I'm around." *She winked and giggled before asking,* "Who's next?" *and backing away from the center, standing beside a smiling Morgan.
The goggled Arkanian boy didn't hesitate to respond,* "Niam Althacorr. I enjoy studying computer science. Any program you use on your datapad? I know how it's coded."
*He seemed quite proud of this fact, and even Morgan seemed a little intrigued, but Kodagin interrupted,* "What's with the specs?"
*Niam's turned his head to settle his gaze on the Devaronian, a scowl forming on his brow.* "They're Arkanian blinders. Arkanians have enhanced vision and can see into the infrared spectrum, but on hotter planets, our senses are overwhelmed, so these goggles mitigate that."
*Kodagin only tilted his head to the side and asked,* "'Mitigated'?"
*Niam frowned and sighed.* "A genius, I see. To 'mitigate' something means to make it less severe. But since you're so eager to speak up, why don't you introduce yourself next?"
*The Devaronian boy offered a toothy grin and a raise of his chin.* "Gladly." *Standing up and walking into the center of the room, he bowed as he introduced,* "Kodagin Vant. I'm the strongest in our class."
"And?" *Niam interjected, looking unimpressed.
Kodagin glowered at him.* "What's wrong with being strong?!"
*Niam waved it off.* "Nothing at all, if you know how to properly apply it."
*Kodagin clenched his fists.* "You saying I'm not smart?"
*Niam shrugged.* "I don't have much data to extrapolate from, so I cannot say."
*The Devaronian went silent for a moment, as though contemplating whether or not he should be insulted by that, before eventually grumbling to himself and stomping back to his seat, leaving Morgan and Laney looking amused. They looked towards the Sylphe girl still sitting on the bed, and she nodded to them before smiling and beginning,* "What's good? You can call me Sylvie. I like to spend time with plants and can even control them with the Force! Far out, right? I hope our little team will be most excellent."
*She spoke in such a collected manner, making the outdated lingo seem even more out of place. Yet, there was something humorous and interesting about it, enough to make Morgan and Laney stifle giggles. Morgan stepped forward to take the floor again.* "Okay. So we know each other's names, but we need to get to know each other a little better than that."
*And that method was, simply, to talk more about themselves, ask each other questions, learn their likes and dislikes and more about their personalities. Niam most definitely was a little bit haughty, but he still seemed very interested in this team activity and studying everyone's behavior and tactics, learning how to apply that in the field. Sylvie's continued use of odd lingo made Morgan wonder if that was how her people talked, or if she became familiar with Basic through... questionable means. She also seemed to be quite fond of water, having a disdain for anyone who wasted it. Kodagin... was brash, to say the least, but he was still quite friendly to the others, albeit he clearly disliked his pride being targeted. Laney was cheerful and energetic, taking a shine to all of her new comrades with ease; in some ways, she was like Morgan, which made their friendship come easy.
The first hangout considered a success, the group then exchanged datapad frequencies to keep in touch, even establishing their own group chat to message each other in. Morgan's excitement only grew; their own team, their own clubhouse, their own group chat, they had everything! And should the team thrive, they'd have even more...*
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Adelle Bastiel
Member
Right or wrong? I can hardly tell. I'm on the wrong side of heaven and the righteous side of hell.
Posts: 338
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Post by Adelle Bastiel on Jun 11, 2016 21:05:18 GMT -8
"I can."Without questioning why, Leigh's hologram snapped off as her processes switched over to a high-power scanner. While not designed for infiltration, she was able to locate the signatures of hostile electronics--if present. Adelle's door was open to her left; she turned into it without entering the room, in order to provide a better vantage point to analyze the entire space. The small, sparsely-equipped quarters were briefly illuminated with a bluish laser-array, cutting the dim lamps with surgical precision before snapping off. "I detect what looks to be a set of combat armor of unknown manufacture inside the crate in your quarters," she recited in an even monotone. "Which is unopened. While not activated, it seems to contain several optional communications arrays typical of such units, intended for use by the wearer." Leigh turned to the shaking woman again, her face returning to focus. She narrowed her eyes at the thumb stuck in Adelle's mouth. "You are bleeding."
She suddenly spun and swung her clenched fist at the wall, shouting. Pain flared in her hand, sharp and burning. Tears sprang to her eyes as her hand recoiled. She cradled the arm, leaned against the wall, and slid down, crying silently."It's not fair," she said aloud. "I did this already, I killed him, and he won't stop coming back." |
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Post by Vidalu Na'an on Jun 17, 2016 17:43:43 GMT -8
Leigh blinked, looking surprised. This was a reaction she had never seen from Adelle Bastiel, but it was a reaction she had seen before. Granted, it was improbable (0.07% probability, with a 0.003% margin of error) that the he was not in reference to Aherk Formidonis, but the parameters were startlingly similar otherwise. Taking a second to scan her medical protocols from three years ago, she lowered the volume of her vocal circuits and knelt, providing a visual block between the crying woman and the crate that had sparked this...episode.
"Ms. Bastiel," she said quietly, keeping her holographic eyes firmly on Adelle's face. "Further scans are ongoing, but I can confirm that there are no biological, chemically volatile, or electrically charged elements within this shipment. I am currently running a radiation analysis in this room, which while not complete indicates no readings outside of the planet's normal background radiation. Whoever he is, I promise you with 99.9987% certainty that he is notin or observing this room."
This tactic--knowing the pure, unvarnished facts of the situation around her, for good or ill--had always helped calm Na'an during her last remaining bouts of paranoia. From what Leigh knew of Adelle Bastiel, the likelihood of a similar response was favorable. Leigh did not reach out to touch Adelle, but turned to open her torso and make tactile contact available--if the human chose.
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Adelle Bastiel
Member
Right or wrong? I can hardly tell. I'm on the wrong side of heaven and the righteous side of hell.
Posts: 338
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Post by Adelle Bastiel on Jun 24, 2016 19:03:51 GMT -8
The recitation of facts fell into a pattern Adelle had learned somewhere along the way. Fact: Leigh detected no sign of weapons or surveillance systems. But scanners could be cheated and deceived; Leigh's scanners might have missed something. Fact: Leigh is the product of a technological genius composed of sophisticated systems and complex machinery. She is beyond what Krayt could have imagined. But even he had the technology to hack the most advanced systems and give them his own directives; one of his associates would have the same tech. They could hack Leigh. Fact: They didn’t know about Leigh.
Adelle took a deep, shuddering breath and tried to discreetly wipe away the tears from her eyes. “S-sorry,” she said at last. “I’m just… having a very bad week.”
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Post by Vidalu Na'an on Jul 5, 2016 17:35:58 GMT -8
Leigh briefly considered the words, calculating probabilities from inflections in Adelle Bastiel's sudden change in tone. Whatever had bothered her was not easy to discuss, but severe enough to remove her from the realm of logic. Irregular breathing, an involuntary increase in tearing lacrimation, and vocal quavers normally undetectable to the human ears indicated that this stimulus was far from gone with 94% probability.
With this in mind, Leigh decided that rather than letting it go, she would do something that, for Leigh, was not common at all-- activating her motor controls in legs to sit, not on the bed or on the room's only chair, but directly on the floor.
"A 'bad week,' " she began, her vocal circuit skipping slightly as the bulk of her weight hit the ground, "Is what I would use to summarize the last week for Na'an and I. I would not consider an adequate descriptor for your current mental state. Rather, if my diagnostic software is sufficient, I would say with 83.6% probability that a more adequate term would be 'a paranoid episode', possibly in combination with post-traumatic stress."
She crossed both her arms--humanoid and cannon-bearing--on her knees to disperse pressure on her hip joints, her holographic face flashing a dimple in a momentary smirk. "And I think we both know from experience that my diagnostic software is quite sufficient."
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Aerandir Calmcacil
The Jedi Order
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Affiliation: The Jedi Order
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Post by Aerandir Calmcacil on Jul 6, 2016 20:00:26 GMT -8
*Aerandir led the way to the dormitories from the courtyard, with Mina, Morgan, and Light in tow. Along the way, he was sure to point out any significant locations, such as the dining area or classrooms. Upon reaching the Calmcacil quarters, he released the children's hands so that he could enter the keycode for the door, then lead them inside to the common area.
Here, three people already occupied the room: Cassie, Aerandir's wife, sat on the couch, with the toddler Lucina in her arms. The one-and-a-half-year-old infant sported shoulder-length, wavy light brown hair, and a wide smile at the sight of her father. The nine-year-old Kayla sat beside them, also looking happy to see her family.
Both she and Cassie, however, gained a look a shock when they saw the fourth girl with them.*
"Daddy, where'd the other Morgie come from?" *Kayla asked frankly.*
"Well, hello," *Aerandir greeted them, ushering the three girls behind him into their quarters before shutting the door. Facing them again, he stood behind Light and put his hands on her shoulders gently.* "This is Light, the newest member of our family." *Was Cassie familiar with the term "Echo"? He wasn't entirely sure, but it was best if he explained that to her later and he gave her a look saying as much. She gave a nod, and he continued,* "Light, these are your sisters, Kayla, and Lucy. And that's..." *He paused a moment as the realization hit him, then he chuckled to himself.* "Well, your mother I guess, and I guess I'm your father."
*Poor Cassie, come to think of it; this was now the second child since their marriage he'd brought home without being able to consult her first. She hadn't seemed to mind with Mina, but Light came almost immediately afterward. Hopefully she didn't think this was becoming a pattern...*
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Post by Light on Jul 6, 2016 21:25:46 GMT -8
"Sisters? Mother? Father?"
While her mutter wasn't exactly quiet, it was under her non-existent breath. She was trying the terms out, familiar with the concept from her collective knowledge but confused from never having practiced such a thing before.
"Hello, Kayla, Lucy, uh..."
And Aerandir had never given the older woman a name other than "your mother", so...
"...Mother?"
Her voice was unsure, tentative as it left her mouth, as if even the word itself wasn't quite sure it was supposed to be spoken just now. Her unblinking blue gaze traveled over each of them in turn, before going back to Aerandir himself.
"This is.. where I'm going to live?"
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Adelle Bastiel
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Right or wrong? I can hardly tell. I'm on the wrong side of heaven and the righteous side of hell.
Posts: 338
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Post by Adelle Bastiel on Jul 6, 2016 21:29:38 GMT -8
Leigh briefly considered the words, calculating probabilities from inflections in Adelle Bastiel's sudden change in tone. Whatever had bothered her was not easy to discuss, but severe enough to remove her from the realm of logic. Irregular breathing, an involuntary increase in tearing lacrimation, and vocal quavers normally undetectable to the human ears indicated that this stimulus was far from gone with 94% probability. With this in mind, Leigh decided that rather than letting it go, she would do something that, for Leigh, was not common at all-- activating her motor controls in legs to sit, not on the bed or on the room's only chair, but directly on the floor. "A 'bad week,' " she began, her vocal circuit skipping slightly as the bulk of her weight hit the ground, "Is what I would use to summarize the last week for Na'an and I. I would not consider an adequate descriptor for your current mental state. Rather, if my diagnostic software is sufficient, I would say with 83.6% probability that a more adequate term would be 'a paranoid episode', possibly in combination with post-traumatic stress." She crossed both her arms--humanoid and cannon-bearing--on her knees to disperse pressure on her hip joints, her holographic face flashing a dimple in a momentary smirk. "And I think we both know from experience that my diagnostic software is quite sufficient." "It's all relative," she said, bringing her arms around her knees. "Your software is as accurate as ever. Good to know its installation was a success." She rested her forehead against her arms, staring at the floor. "Three and a half standard years. One thousand two hundred seventy-five days, exactly. Six months of therapy. This . . . This won't ever go away, or so I've been told." Her shoulders sagged as her lungs deflated. She pressed her tongue against her teeth, gripping the rough fabric of her pants. Leigh was safe. She embodied logic and radiated rationality. Adelle could find comfort in fact, in what existed in solid space. She couldn't hurt Leigh like she could Morgan. Or Na'an. Or like she did with Rishii. "Six years ago I disappeared without a trace. Five years ago, my partner in CorSec found me, unconscious. Doctors gave me a cursory exam, pronounced I had a severe case of amnesia and a mild case of PTSD and sent me back to CorSec as a liaison agent. I had—have episodes where I'm . . . reliving something. A memory maybe, or the identity I had on Coruscant. I'm not . . . I'm not Adelle Bastiel like that. And I—" Tears choked her words and she had to take a deep breath to calm down. A familiar weight settled in her stomach and her shoulders bowed even further under an unseen burden. "I had an episode and killed my partner," she said at last, the words tumbling out of her mouth. "After that . . . I couldn't let it go. I thought that, maybe, remembering was better than not knowing. That somehow knowing what had happened would help me deal with those episodes. Maybe prevent another . . . accident." She raised her head to rest her chin on her arms and stared unseeing at the wall next to Leigh's hulking form. "I went to Coruscant. Followed the trail. I found out what happened." Adelle pressed her lips together and met Leigh's eyes for the first time since speaking. "I was wrong. It was a pyrrhic victory." |
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Aerandir Calmcacil
The Jedi Order
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Affiliation: The Jedi Order
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Post by Aerandir Calmcacil on Jul 7, 2016 16:07:56 GMT -8
"Sisters? Mother? Father?" While her mutter wasn't exactly quiet, it was under her non-existent breath. She was trying the terms out, familiar with the concept from her collective knowledge but confused from never having practiced such a thing before."Hello, Kayla, Lucy, uh..." And Aerandir had never given the older woman a name other than "your mother", so..."...Mother?" Her voice was unsure, tentative as it left her mouth, as if even the word itself wasn't quite sure it was supposed to be spoken just now. Her unblinking blue gaze traveled over each of them in turn, before going back to Aerandir himself."This is.. where I'm going to live?"
Aerandir, himself still smiling, nodding at Light after her question, but before he could answer her verbally, Kayla had already hopped off the couch and closed the distance. Despite being younger than Morgan, she was still significantly taller than the girl, and therefore Light. As a result, Kayla was leaning down a bit to examine Light, asking,* "You're another sister?" *Chuckling to himself, Aerandir replied,* "That's right." "Yay!" *Kayla exclaimed, throwing her arms around Light.* "Hello, sister!" *Aerandir waited for Kayla to release Light before kneeling down beside her, asking,* "How did you use to live before? How did you sleep and find food?" |
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Post by Light on Jul 7, 2016 16:31:23 GMT -8
Her eyes betrayed her shock as Kayla wrapped her arms around her, but she didn't react to the gesture past that. And when Aerandir knelt down to question her, her unblinking blue eyes stared up at him with .. not a complete lack of understanding, for she understood the concept of sleep and food, but an emptiness as to how those would ever apply to her.
"I.. didn't?"
She wasn't sure what the correct answer was supposed to be, and it was a bit new for her to be greeted with so many voices outside her head. Maybe it showed. Maybe it didn't. Once more, she wouldn't have been able to tell.
"Ever."
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Aerandir Calmcacil
The Jedi Order
Posts: 1,731
Affiliation: The Jedi Order
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Post by Aerandir Calmcacil on Jul 7, 2016 16:42:52 GMT -8
*She didn't? Ever? This was information that surprised everyone. Well, except for Lucy, you just continued to sit and babble. Aerandir couldn't exactly say it was unheard of, but, considering the nature of the Corruption, he figured they at least had to have some kind of sustenance. As far as not resting... maybe they just had continuous energy due to their collective link? Unsure how to respond to this, he only asked,* "Can you?"
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Post by Light on Jul 7, 2016 16:55:07 GMT -8
"I mean.. I guess so?"
She didn't shrug, but instead maintained her unmoving stature. It was another one of those things that she would pick up on the longer she stayed around other people, but for now, nonverbal gestures were not her thing.
"We can eat, for sure. We just don't have to. Though.. without any connection.."
Her gaze dropped.
"I may have to learn."
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Morgan Calmcacil
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Post by Morgan Calmcacil on Jul 7, 2016 17:08:53 GMT -8
*Morgan had been content to watch the entire proceedings, letting her daddy handle the introductions and explanations; there were other ways Morgan could help Light later. It was certainly a surprise that she never ate or slept before, and Morgan, sensing her feelings, felt a little sad for her. All of this must be so overwhelming...* "... but that's what we're here for!" *Morgan declared cheerily, throwing an arm around Light.* "Don't worry, we're gonna take care of you and teach you everything you need to know!"
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