Post by Nicole on Aug 24, 2011 16:56:53 GMT -5
Erregearen Koroa.
A message appeared in the government computer network on Mandalore.
Erregearen Koroa:
Bandomeer, ruined spaceport. Lockbox 3122. Password requirement is false.
Ori'haat
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Post Sun Aug 14, 2011 6:14 pm by Nicole
After the message was discovered on the computer interface at the base just outside Keldabe on Mandalore an armed shuttlecraft was sent to investigate along with a small extraction team of Mandalorians who would proceed to teh spaceport and search for this lockbox 3122 assuming nothing stopped them or interfered.
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Post Mon Aug 15, 2011 6:42 pm by Toivo
The spaceport in question was once the largest on the planet, the core of the planet's economy and capital city. Now it was a ruin, its synthetic structures destroyed by bombardment and covered by the coral shapes of Vongformed structures. The box itself, though, was easily enough to find, one of a small bank of rental lockers, still standing under a lean-to of plasticrete.
Inside the box was a rather elegantly made paper crown, a fine version of the sort children on some planets received in prepackaged foodstuffs. Inside was written a simple message.
Go to Soccoro, and find the Lovers' Bloody Lake. Follow its famous couple to their lair under the water. By blood or by stealth, you will find answers you did not even know to seek.
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Post Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:12 pm by Nicole
"Hehehe." Tarja giggled, stepping back from A'den.
She'd opened the box to discover the paper crown and stuck it atop the helmet of the Captain. She tried to contain her laughter but in the end, well, it was funny as hell. She snicker-snorted and tilted her head to the side, trying to peer at what was written in the box.
"What's it say?" she inquired, the hint of laughter still on her breath.
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Post Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:20 pm by Praenuntius
Laughing at his reflection in her visor A’den found it hard to concentrate on the scrawled message. Opening the paper up between gauntleted hands he read each word carefully. Then read it again. And then another time just to be sure there was no hidden meaning. “It’s a riddle.” He hated riddles. Riddles where for smart people and took too much time to solve anyways.
“Something about going to Socorro and finding some Lovers’ lake and following some famous couples trail to their underwater lair where we will apparently find something.” He didn’t mention the stealth part. Anyone who knew Tarja knew stealth wasn’t in her vocabulary. “I reckon we’ll be having a bit ‘o fun Tarja. We’re done here.” He handed her the letter, taking the paper crown off of his head and then deciding against his better judgment, taking it with him back towards the shuttle.
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Post Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:36 pm by Nicole
Tarja giggled again and stepped to A'den, placing a hand on his shoulder she leaned sideways, bringing her armored leg up and bent at the knee of the other mockingly. "Oh A'den, you're taking me to a lover's lake? Just the two of us?" she let out a playful squeal before she righted herself and started to walk back towards the shuttle, giving a childish little skip there with the letter reading it over as she came to a sudden stop, turning and looking at him.
"Heeeey... bloody lake? Is that where you're going to say.. If I can't have you, No one Will! and make the water turn red?" she questioned him, no doubt gaining a few questioning looks from the others in the shuttle.
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Post Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:52 pm by Praenuntius
He shook his head at the theatrics, rubbing her arm off of his shoulder as he brushed on past her with a throaty chuckle. How in the hell had he ever gotten mixed up with this misfit? Jovial for the moment, he reached the shuttle before she did, a wry grin hidden as he ushered her in only to be greeted by an uproarious laughter from the Commando’s assembled inside.
Hopping in through one of the three lower hull hatches of the shuttle, he closed the hatch and sealed it before turning to regard the assembled men and women, all of them looking, most of them still twitching with fits of laughter. “Now look here missy,” he was all stern Commando for a moment, jabbing his finger at the lower ranking officer, “Just ‘cause we had a little fling back at the Mynock Hole on our last bounty doesn’t mean you,” by then most of the men had been turning away in a vain attempt at stifling their laughter. Even A’den’s resolved crumbled, his voice cracking in amusement, “I told you, it was ‘cause we dressed you up like a prostitute to lure the pirate we were after.”
Everyone had heard the story at least a dozen times with half as many endings. “Get us off of this rock and set a course for Socorro!” He had activated the intercom that had a direct link to the command module located in the upper hull of the shuttle. “Roger that Captain.” Came the crisp reply.
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Post Tue Aug 16, 2011 11:01 pm by Nicole
Tarja brought her hands up and clicked her helmet off, showing it on the bench seat next to her as she looked at A'den who pointed his finger at her, scolding her, or trying to, though she gave him such an innocent naughty grin. Her eyes looked right up at him as he spoke of the story, though she tilted her head slightly and gave a questioning look.
"And here I thought you were suppose to be the prostitute. No wonder it didn't work out." she flashed him the largest of grins followed by a few chuckles from the others again. She started to work her harness on and clicked it together as she heard the order to take off. She rolled out the paper in her hand and looked at it again, her large grin still lingering on her face.
"Socorro... that place is a hell-hole." she muttered.
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:03 am by Praenuntius
Taking his own seat he strapped himself into the seat harness, tsking playfully at Tarja as she removed her helmet. Making sure his straps where secure he felt the thrum of the shuttle as it took off from its makeshift landing. All of the Commandos would follow Tarja’s example, some still chuckling at her last little quip with the Captain.
“Well it woulda worked if you hadn’t of accepted my credits! I told ya it was part ‘f the plan! Get him to think you’re a real hot commodity,” his joking tone suggested otherwise, “But no you just couldn’t resist the charm of ‘ol A’den! Just had to take his credits and you know me lads,” a gruff laugh ended with a pause, “I’m not a man to be cheated out of his money!” There was a grin, too bad she couldn’t see it.
The stabilizers made the ride smooth as they left the atmosphere of the craggy planet. No more than sea and a bleak grayish continent. There were no viewports in the lower module, but A’den knew what it looked like all the same. His helmet had picked up her mutter even over the whirr of the engines, “Socorro ain’t nothing but a black sandpit. We’ll be lucky if we can find any water on that shit hole. I reckon we’ll start at the Black Dust Tavern.” The grin grew wider as he leaned over, a whisper just for her ears, “That should bring back some fond memories, eh?”
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:12 am by Nicole
"I should've been paid more." she replied, casting a glimpse back towards A'den and then back to the parchment with the words written on it. She considered Socorro for a moment, a small shrug given before she nodded, "Maybe one of the locals will know if there's water around. " she replied before she balled up the note and tossed it over at A'den, bouncing it right off the forehead of his helmet with a little - "Score." from Tarja.
"Tavern? Is that where you're going to get me drunk before you take me to lover's lake? I have to tell you, I'm not liking this plan of yours to woo me."
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Re: Erregearen Koroa.
Tarja’s idea had merit. Someone had to know about some lover’s quarrel gone wrong. Though a bloody lake was nothing new to the bounty hunter turned Commando, just there weren’t any lakes in Socorro. “I should’ve paid you to fuck me is how I would’ve put it.” That was about when she bounced the balled up piece of paper off of his visor, he caught it with one hand, he had better put it in the report to the Resol.
The last remark from Tarja drew another hearty laugh from the Mandalorian. “Woo you? Hell I’m just wanting a good drink and maybe a fist fight or two, never said nothing about a romp and stomp. Just stay away from the Sabacc tables eh? Don’t want you losing your pants again or worse.”
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:28 am by Nicole
Tarja scowled a little before sinking back in her seat, both at the earlier comment and the one about Sabacc. She folded her arms across her chest and closed her eyes, " You wont let me blow up stuff, or get drunk or play Sabacc.. You're no fun at all A'den. Wake me up when this bucket of bolts gets us to Socorro." she muttered, resting her head back against the bulkhead.
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:01 am by Praenuntius
A’den watched that pretty little face scrunch up into a scowl. Tarja knew him better than that so he only gave her a chuckle. “I never said you couldn’t have any fun, I just said try ‘n keep your pants on.” He winked and began undoing his restraints he made his way to the upper hull to the command pod that was upraised over the hull of the shuttle. There was space enough for three easily, A’den would be the fourth which cramped it.
“Send this to fleet stationed at Concord Dawn. Encrypt it and package it for the Resol and mark as priority one.” He handed the Commando handling the communication console the letter, “And also inform the Resol that we will be proceeding to Socorro. We’ll puzzle this riddle out. I smell a trap. Dispose of the letter when you’re done transmitting.” The Commando would know the correct frequency to transmit on, there was no need to remind him.
The starry backdrop filled the view ports as the shuttle sped away from Bandomeer. Passive scanners scanned for anything suspicious or communication from the outlying mines. Equipped with its own Mandalorian modified hyperdrive it quickly made the jump to lightspeed in the direction of Socorro.
Making his way back down to the long hall that held his Commando unit, all forty of them, forty-two counting himself and Tarja who was more a specialist in mischief than an actual Commando, he took his seat again, at least it wouldn’t be a long ride, this hyperdrive was built for speed. Hopefully their replacement wouldn’t blow out like the last one. That had been hell.
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:18 am by Nicole
"Exiting in 5...4.."
"So much for my nap." Tarja commented, peeking her eye open and glimpsing towards A'den as the sound from the engines began to increase.
"3...2...1"
With that the shuttle lept from hyperspace over Socorro, powering rapidly for the planet's atmosphere as it began to slow it's rapid approach to it's normal operating capacity, a small rumble of the shuttle as they began to enter Socorro's atmosphere, Tarja's other eye opened as she focused on the Mandalorian across from her, seeming not to mind the small bit of turbulence. She'd been through worse, they hall had.
"I'll try to keep my pants on. But you know how I get when you give me money." she sneered at A'den before she took her helmet and replaced it on her head, twisting it back into place and then waiting as they punched through, the ride almost immediately calming as the word over the speaker above told them.
"We're through. Proceeding to Vakeyya. ETA, Ten miutes."
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:34 am by Praenuntius
A’den swiveled his head to view the lovely Tarja. “Better than none,” he had been restless since leaving the ruined space port. Waiting for the countdown to end and the stabilizers to kick in as they entered the atmosphere, A’den got out of his seat once more. He opened one of the weapons lockers that lined the wall; it had his name across the top of it in white. Inside the door panel was a single photo though so faded by time it was impossible to tell just who the two blurred out figures where. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together could make it out.
Inside the locker where two racks of weapons, along the bottoms of those racks was the ammunition for the guns above as well as spare Mandalorian plates for field repairs. Utility packs, slicing equipment, personal communication jammers and a wide variety of other mission specific equipment. He turned back to Tarja, still strapped in and looking pretty as ever, “Well as long as you keep your pants on, I don’t see any reason not to let you spend the usual. Now get off yer ass and check your gear.”
Reassembling his EE-3 he slung it over his shoulder, reaching into the locker to pull out his Enforcer pistol, he opened the hidden compartment on his thigh and secured it there. Pulling a few spare cartridges and explosives from the weapons locker he secured them about the utility belt around his waist.
By the time he was done the oversized landing gear had found a site within the capital, Vakeyya spaceport. Walking towards the far end of the shuttle, the hatches had yet to open and only one would besides. Flipping the intercom to the Command Pod, “Monitor all outgoing transmissions, anything that hints to our arrival I want reported to me.” Receiving the acknowledgement he switched off the intercom and looked over his men, pointing out four of them, “I want four patrols of rotating shifts starting with you four. Patrol the perimeter of the ship, report anything suspicious and inform me at once. I will make contact once we’ve got a clear idea of where we are going.” He kicked the hatch, the door unsealing and sliding open in less than a second.
“Let’s go woman! Christ you take forever. No no! You won’t… Really?” He cocked his head to the side, the men already laughing, “Oh whatever.” Chuckling by now he would give her a roll of his eyes, unseen as it was before jumping out of the hatch.
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:08 pm by Nicole
Tarja snorted, " The usual?" she eyed him, " Ten credits. Gonna be a big shopping spree tonight." she muttered in sarcasm, getting up from her seat and checking her own storage locker, pulling a few fresh weapons out and holstering them before she paused and looked at him, "My gear's always ready to go, unlike yours." she replied, shoving the door to the compartment shut and slinging the strap of a rifle over her shoulder.
She arched a brow as she listened to A'den, snickering some and glimpsing on into the compartment, " You heard him, women, don't take so long next time." she sneered before jumping out after A'den, giving him a casual punch to the armored shoulder as she moved up next to him.
"You're the one that has to get all pretty before we go out."
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:44 pm by Praenuntius
“Someone has to look professional.”
He looked over Tarja. Seemingly fit as a button he strode off and was soon lost in a thick crowd. There were two lanes of traffic divided by two lanes of vehicle traffic. Black sand as far as the eye could see. Down every alley, the surrounding hills, even some of the buildings where covered in the glistening stygian sand.
A’den shouldered his way through the people his scarlet armor twinkling in the hot sun overhead. He looked apart from the crowd. Weird and foreign the crowd seemed to part for him until he actually found the place he was looking for where the crowd thinned out. The Black Dust Tavern, it looked like a hole in the wall. A place for the less savory types to congregate at. After all, there was no security but that which you could find at the end of a blaster barrel.
Tarja might be more than overjoyed to learn she had more than ten credits, apparently she had been promoted or the Captain just liked to play games, either way she had a thousand. Taking off towards the counter he eyed the Sabacc tables as well as the more unrefined gambling games. The music was probably more off putting. Damn Jizz bands.
Taking a seat at the bar, he ordered a drink and removed his helmet with a few clicks and sighs as the pressure released. Sand had already made a nuisance of itself. Taking his drink in one hand, his helmet in the other he turned around to lean against the bar, surveying the patrons. One of them would know a thing or two; the question was who or what. Tarja had her role to play and for the time being he was playing his.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:12 am by Nicole
Tarja smirked some, strutting off after A'den, though she didn't particularly take the same path, her helmet's display showed her A'den's location without her having to keep an eye on him. Of course, mingling in with a crowd was a bit difficult when you wear full body armor and look like you're ready to start your own miniature war with your own arsenal.
In the end both she and A'den ended up in the bar, she snagged a drink off one of the serving trays without anyone noticing and headed on towards the sabaac tables. If there was one thing certain, if A'den told her not to do anything he knew she'd do it, so it had to be where he wanted her to start.
Of course the fact that she'd checked her credits balance on her way in certainly didn't hurt either, she was more than pleased to jump right into a round of the game while she stuck her helmet on the corner of the table and cashed out her credits for chips. She wasn't about to let some hokey riddle keep her from having some fun!
"One hundred in!"
Approximately twenty-six minutes later A'den would find himself being approached by someone stating that a woman wearing armor like his said that he'd be able to pay up the five-hundred credits that she'd overspent.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:25 am by Praenuntius
A’den kept mostly to the bar counter, chatting with the barkeeps as they came and went, there were two of them. The Sullustan was the more amiable of the two. Without missing a beat he watched as his sly minx of a partner made her way onto the scene with a loud splash. How often did one see a female Mando in these parts?
Keeping his grin to himself he brushed up on his Sullutese to learn the fellows name, On Nimb. The Trandoshian beside him was less willing to talk, but he learned his name all the same, something less weird thankfully, Durg. Just A’den was about to start in about the riddle and whether they might know of any famous couples or places named after famous people on Socorro, he was interrupted.
Turning to the man who approached him, he knew the type, all tall and broad shoulders. Leaning off of the counter and letting the strap of his rifle fall of his shoulder, he squared his stance and eyed the fellow. A big grin broke out, “Did she now?” He peaked over the man’s shoulder, looking directly at the high stakes table; he gave a shake of his head.
“500 you said?” Mumbling something he ran a gauntlet hand through his golden hair, messing it even more. “Did you ask for ‘er pants?”
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:32 am by Nicole
Tarja glared over at A'den, she wasn't so far away she couldn't hear what he asked the man. She folded her arms, scowling a little and growling out.
"Haar'chak! (Dammit)... Pay the man!" she folded her arms, trying to not let a grin from creeping up on her lips too much.
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Re: Erregearen Koroa.
“What was that?” He looked at the man, his brows furrowing in confusion. “Did you hear something? A little bird perhaps?”
At least the security thought it was funny. Funny enough to pull out his blaster and press it against the Mandalorian plated suit. The man was either a simpleton or batshit crazy, but A’den took it in stride, lifting both hands up in a sign of futility. “Whoa whoa there buddy, now just a minute. We’re just having a little fun.”
Reaching into his utility belt he produced the needed credits. The man took them and holstered the blaster completely oblivious to his peril. “Hey little birdie,” his voice rose through the din of the tavern, “I paid the man. Your ass is mine tonight.”
Even the Sullustan was laughing, until A’den asked him if he really had three testicles.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:46 am by Nicole
Tarja glared at A'den and then squirmed free of the two security that were detaining her, snagging her helmet from one of them she glared and turned about, heading back towards A'den, she heard his shout out before she noticeably shrank a few inches down into her armor. She bounded right up to A'den before giving him a shove on his shoulder back against the bar some, "A'int no little birdy, I'm more like a duck, I like to make a big splash. " she commented, casting A'den a glare before she looked to his Sullustan comrade.
"Speaking of making a big splash, are there any lakes around these parts? He promised to get me wet." she replied, thumbing towards A'den.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:58 am by Praenuntius
On Nimb was torn being shock and outright confusion. First A’den had asked him a very personal question and one that was entirely unfounded and then along came the bouncy and energetic Tarja asking about a lake and for the less inclined, a promise to get someone wet.
Covering his grin with the drink Durg had just finished making him, he lodged a playful elbow to Tarja's ribs. “Do you quack like one too?” The grin remained growing more devious by the second as he turned to the Sullustan having barely avoided the thumb she directed towards him. When On Nimb shook his head, A’den shrugged his shoulders, “Figures this shit hole ain’t got any water. Now how ‘n the hell am I supposed to get her suit off?”
Sighing, Durg came to their rescue.
“The nearest lake is out in the Doaba Badlands, just twenty five klicks to the south.” And somehow she had managed to do it once again. Lost all of their money and found the lake they had been looking for.
Clapping her on the shoulder, he chortled, “Well look at that little duckling – I can get you wet now.” He grabbed his helmet, clicking it on and then shouldered his rifle. Tossing a few credits over the counter as a tip, he nodded towards the two barkeeps. Brushing past Tarja, he sneered, “Come on little duckling, time to get you all nice and wet.”
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:09 am by Nicole
"Lucky me!" Tarja faked her best energetically happy grin and then grabbed her helmet and followed A'den on out, taking energetic strides as she came shoulder to shoulder with him and leaned with a whisper to him. "That would be Tarja: 6, A'den: Nooone." she taunted him, pulling her helmet up and clicking it back into place as she moved along with him.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:46 am by Praenuntius
“Who said anything about keeping count?” He whispered back, stopping just outside the Tavern.
“Oswald,” the speakers where off so he wouldn’t be heard, “Establish a commlink with the Marev.” Waiting several seconds he instinctually watched the people pass by, assessing and weighing each individual.
“Marev, A’den, we’re on our way back, power up and be ready to go. End transmission Oswald.”
“Let’s get back to the shuttle. I’m docking the 500 from your pay.” He spoke in a jesting voice while his grin was concealed. With that he headed back towards the shuttle. From there they would make their way towards the lake which would soon show up on sensors.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:20 am by Nicole
Tarja paused along with A'den, her eyes too equally scanning the people around them, moreso wondering when A'den would finish his little transmission. Even if she couldn't hear him, she knew. Her eyes glimpsed back towards him when he finally spoke to her and began to move along.
She glared at the response however, "Heyyy.. " one could simply feel the fire burning from her eyes behind her visor.
"Is that before or after I shoot you in the leg?" she questioned, jumping up into the shuttle, waiting as it lifted off and headed for the Badlands. In the end they would land about a klick from the only H2O signature they could find, of course Tarja had gotten stuck with A'den again, the two making their way towards it, through the little Oasis that had sprung up around the outer edges of the little lake.
Tarja proudly marched over to the water and stepped into the edge, turning back to look at A'den she brought her hand down to the surface of the water and splashed a handful of it over at him.
"I wonder why they call it a bloody lake?" she asked him, muttering lightly under her breath. "Wonder if I can bottle it and sell it to the locals.."
Her little comment grew to an end as the massive shadow in the water that had been watching suddenly burst from the surface of the lake, swallowing the female Mandalorian and disappearing back under the water in a brilliant explosion from the water.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:12 am by Praenuntius
Smirking, he looked at the wiry woman. “Pfft. Like you could shoot me.”
Climbing in after her, he didn’t change his armament in the least, instead taking the time to assess just why it was called bloody lake. While the locals hadn’t said why, A’den had a small hint when a search by Oswald brought up Tra’cors.
Waiting patiently he didn’t bother to strap himself in, waiting on the green light as the shuttle touched down once again. Kicking the hatch open he watched as Tarja jumped through and then he followed, closing it right after. This shouldn’t be too difficult he told himself.
Surveying the wasteland before them he didn’t immediately follow after. Out here it was just rolling dunes of stygian sand as far as the eye could see, broken only by the wilted stumps of barely surviving trees that tried to eke out a living near the water’s edge. Following after the little imp he had been saddled with yet again(Would he truly have it any other way?) he stopped a few feet beside her looking into the placid lake. The depths where sooty and the water itself looked filthy. More than likely had a stench.
Her splash caught him in the shin as he deftly moved further away, eyes narrowing when he turned to look at her. “I wouldn’t make any noise just yet there are Tra…”
He never got to finish as a large shadow created ripples on the surface of the water. Emerging from the depths it took the unsuspecting Tarja in both webbed claws and simply fell backwards and kicked away from the shore disappearing into the aquatic depths.
Claws, check; hostile, check; ugly looking, check; and a Tra'cor too. And the damn thing had stolen his woman! Without a second hesitation he dived into the water, his HUD guiding him after the fast swimming Tra’cor.
Plates slide aside along his shoulders, on the back of his thighs and beneath his toes. The jets would kick in instantly as he stabilized himself with his hands, propelling him forward, if they were lucky there would only be one.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:32 am by Nicole
Tarja thrashed and squirmed in the grip of the massive beast which was taking her deeper in the murky water towards it's underwater grotto. The grip around her was so tight she could barely move, fortunately her armor plating was keeping her from being crushed. Even so she was able to flex her wrist just enough to start a round of blaster fire, illuminating the murky water even if she couldn't land a shot on the Tra'cor.
If there was one lucky couple in the galaxy, A'den and Tarja were not them. The sounds of Tarja's struggle transmitted through her helmet to A'den's but she obviously was having problems even speaking with the tight death-grip that was holding her.
She was brought up and burst through the airbubble in the gotto, tossed out she toppled around and around as the Tra'cor let her go, she ended up on her stomach, pushing herself up on her arms she coughed, shaking her head slightly only to come face to face with the second, larger, female.
"Frak. I just met his loving partner.."
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:49 am by Praenuntius
Well judging by the speed and the bright flashes and all the bubbles, proton torpedoes where out. Disengaging the guidance system, the plates just over his shoulder that harbored the mini-torpedoes slid back into their slot and powered down.
Extending his vibroblades instead, each extending just under a foot from his hands, he clenched both his hands into fists and powered down his propulsion system. By that time Tarja had disappeared into the grotto while the male turned to face him.
The Mandalorian suit would protect him from the deadly claws, but the fiend could steal easily crush him like a soda pop can. Still propelled from the momentum of his jets he only had time to say one thing in response, “Any chance she’s more hospitable than her husband?”
Crashing into the large shadowy form of the Tra’cor A’den wasted no time in fending off the claws, shearing through the thick carapace and soft tissue beneath. Kicking off from the male’s thickly armored chest, he angled to sever the head. The monster let loose a terrible roar soon cut off as A’den cleaved the head right off.
Recalling the knuckle blades, he grunted making his way towards the grotto and the cursing Tarja. Moments later he would emerge from the pool, covered in the thick sludge from his recent engagement with the male. He quickly tried to assess the situation, blades extending once more, their sonic thrum heard clearly now that he was out of the water.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:39 pm by Nicole
Tarja was fairing no better with the female of the two, she'd been picked up before she could scramble to her feet, the roaring was deafening in the room as she was brought towards the mouth of the hungry female Tra'cor, she had little time but a well placed blaster bolt from her wrist into the slimy mouth of the beast had her dropped back to the ground, toppling her back onto her back, her hands fumbled for her larger more impressive sidearm on her hip, angling it right up just as the female was about to pounce atop her, she fired once, twice, three times, and then there was a deep uttered groan before the female collapsed atop of Tarja, trapping her beneath.
She squirmed, getting all gooey in the mess that was pouring out on her, frakin great. Just what she wanted, to smell like that thing.
Tarja was squirming, trying her damnedest to get out from under the thing, handfulls of muck and debris as she clawed her way out right to the feet of A'den, thoroughly coated from head to toe in green goo. She wiped her glove at her visor with an audible squeak, then collapsed on her back, panting slightly, looking up at A'den.
"I still hate this planet."
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Re: Erregearen Koroa.
The blade slid back into their slot with no audible noise. A’den was beside himself with laugher as he watched the muck covered Tarja slip from beneath the dead beast’s corpse. Without offering a hand he stared down at her collapsed, panting form. “You and me both kiddo.”
Working his way from the water’s edge he was wary of any other horrors lurking in the shrouded depths of the grotto. Each step making a squishing noise and even once and a while something would pop and crackle under his metallic heel. His armor was coated in the same gooey substances only his was more black than green. Splotching his usually pristine armor in a coat of the thick mucky vitae, he looked equally grimy.
“Well this might be the lover’s lair.” He looked to Tarja still sitting on her rump, panting. “Going to sit there all day and wait for more to show up?”
Statistically that was impossible, given that the creatures where territorial, but weirder things have happened. He had left his rifle on the beach above; hopefully it was still there when they returned.
“Now where would I hide the treasure if I was an overgrown slug?”
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:07 pm by Nicole
Tarja glared up at him as she pushed herself up onto her feet, her eyes glimsped down her body, surveying the scratches and dents in her armor now. Her eyes looked back to A'den as he made his summary . She glimpsed around for a moment before opening one of the packs on her waist and pulling out a pair of glowsticks, cracking them she tossed one to each side of the grotto, illuminating the small expanse slightly before she glimpsed to the dim form of A'den.
"If?" she repeated, mockingly, smirking and starting to survey the area inside of the den, twigs, and muck, all arranged into almost a nest like shape.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:16 pm by Praenuntius
Just what they were searching for was unknown. The riddle said they would find answers they did not know to seek. Pointing to her side of the grotto, “You look over there and I’ll look over here. Try not to start any fires and no, I don’t care if it’s making noises.” After their last little escapade in a beast’s lair he didn’t want her spooked at a water beetles approach.
Taking to his side he rummaged through the rubbish that had be collected into what he guessed resembled a nest. Various pieces of metal, skulls, bones, all sorts of useless junk; it probably would help if he knew what he was looking for.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:18 pm by Toivo
There, half beneath a pile of bones and covered in a rather large amount of dung, was a glint. A glint that was something recognizable, something Mandalorian. A breastplate of mandalorian iron, with the upper half of a skeleton inside. The tra'cor had managed to rip the owner in half, eat the legs, but the top half proved too tough. Likely, the man had stolen the breastplate years past, and lacked the rest of the suit. The remnants of an internal datapad confirmed it, filled with the ramblings of some daring adventurer nearly a millenium dead. There was something underneath, as well. The owner's arms were wrapped around a helmet.
No...the helmet. The datapad contained notes on it, as well, how the owner had stolen it with the armor from another man long dead. Worn by a series of successive Mandalore, turned to a helmet by Canderous Ordo, Mandalore the Preserver himself, and lost for nearly four thousand years, here it was. Covered in dung but too strong to rust or dent, here it was.
Mandalore's Mask.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:31 pm by Nicole
Tarja's eyes scanned around the room, she began to sort and dig through the muck and bone. One of the lights of her helmet glinted off something metallic a few meters away which drew her attention. She arched a brow, narrowing her eyes a little as she tossed one of the bones back into the pile.
"Hey A'den, over here." Tarja called to her male comrade.
She adjusted her footing through the weavework of decaying bone to the torso, pulling it over datapad toppled towards her while the mask, loosened by the decaying flesh that had faded away to bone toppled right before A'den's feet.
Tarja's eyes looked to the datapad, picking it up she tapped at it, the batteries having long since died, but hopefully the information contained within could be retrieved when they were back at the ship. Her head tilted as the light beam passed over towards where the other object had gone, towards A'den.
"What is that?" she questioned, her eyes narrowing in contemplation.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:42 pm by Praenuntius
Glad for once that he couldn’t smell anything, the Mandalorian dug through the dung infested leavings, scattering the bone fragments and bits of disjointed metal in his wake. Every once and a while he stop and inspect bits and pieces wondering just what he was doing a Tra’cor lair to begin with. Feeling absolutely disgusting he was trying to wash the fetid substance off of his gauntlets when the beams of Tarja’s headlights lanced across the room and fell upon him. “Mm?” he turned in her direction, hands still partially submerged.
Standing up slowly, he switched his beams back on, a fierce blue color. Walking towards Tarja he saw the datapad and it was a moment before the glint caught his eye as well. He leaned down, the harsh screech of metal scraping against metal as his hands cleared the gunk that had built up.
The first thing he noticed was the partially disintegrated clan sigil. No one could mistake that sigil. Not anyone who considered themselves a Mandalorian and while A’den had always been on the fence, even he remembered the reverence with which Duncan had treated this sigil.
Dropping to his knees he picked up the mask. Cradled in both hands, it’s surfaced tarnished by years of neglect; he tested the durability of the metal. Sure enough it was Mandalorian metal. Pivoting on his heels, he looked up at Tarja the mask on full display. “Clan Ordo,” he pointed at the sigil still intact on the right side of the helmet. More gray than white now, it almost blended in with the darker gray tones of the metal itself. “What you’ve found duckling, is the Mask of the Mandalore!” He was grinning as he finally stood up, his voice filling the room with his jubilant laughter.
Maybe he wouldn’t dock her pay after all.
A message appeared in the government computer network on Mandalore.
Erregearen Koroa:
Bandomeer, ruined spaceport. Lockbox 3122. Password requirement is false.
Ori'haat
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Post Sun Aug 14, 2011 6:14 pm by Nicole
After the message was discovered on the computer interface at the base just outside Keldabe on Mandalore an armed shuttlecraft was sent to investigate along with a small extraction team of Mandalorians who would proceed to teh spaceport and search for this lockbox 3122 assuming nothing stopped them or interfered.
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Post Mon Aug 15, 2011 6:42 pm by Toivo
The spaceport in question was once the largest on the planet, the core of the planet's economy and capital city. Now it was a ruin, its synthetic structures destroyed by bombardment and covered by the coral shapes of Vongformed structures. The box itself, though, was easily enough to find, one of a small bank of rental lockers, still standing under a lean-to of plasticrete.
Inside the box was a rather elegantly made paper crown, a fine version of the sort children on some planets received in prepackaged foodstuffs. Inside was written a simple message.
Go to Soccoro, and find the Lovers' Bloody Lake. Follow its famous couple to their lair under the water. By blood or by stealth, you will find answers you did not even know to seek.
----------------------------------.
Post Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:12 pm by Nicole
"Hehehe." Tarja giggled, stepping back from A'den.
She'd opened the box to discover the paper crown and stuck it atop the helmet of the Captain. She tried to contain her laughter but in the end, well, it was funny as hell. She snicker-snorted and tilted her head to the side, trying to peer at what was written in the box.
"What's it say?" she inquired, the hint of laughter still on her breath.
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Post Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:20 pm by Praenuntius
Laughing at his reflection in her visor A’den found it hard to concentrate on the scrawled message. Opening the paper up between gauntleted hands he read each word carefully. Then read it again. And then another time just to be sure there was no hidden meaning. “It’s a riddle.” He hated riddles. Riddles where for smart people and took too much time to solve anyways.
“Something about going to Socorro and finding some Lovers’ lake and following some famous couples trail to their underwater lair where we will apparently find something.” He didn’t mention the stealth part. Anyone who knew Tarja knew stealth wasn’t in her vocabulary. “I reckon we’ll be having a bit ‘o fun Tarja. We’re done here.” He handed her the letter, taking the paper crown off of his head and then deciding against his better judgment, taking it with him back towards the shuttle.
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Post Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:36 pm by Nicole
Tarja giggled again and stepped to A'den, placing a hand on his shoulder she leaned sideways, bringing her armored leg up and bent at the knee of the other mockingly. "Oh A'den, you're taking me to a lover's lake? Just the two of us?" she let out a playful squeal before she righted herself and started to walk back towards the shuttle, giving a childish little skip there with the letter reading it over as she came to a sudden stop, turning and looking at him.
"Heeeey... bloody lake? Is that where you're going to say.. If I can't have you, No one Will! and make the water turn red?" she questioned him, no doubt gaining a few questioning looks from the others in the shuttle.
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Post Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:52 pm by Praenuntius
He shook his head at the theatrics, rubbing her arm off of his shoulder as he brushed on past her with a throaty chuckle. How in the hell had he ever gotten mixed up with this misfit? Jovial for the moment, he reached the shuttle before she did, a wry grin hidden as he ushered her in only to be greeted by an uproarious laughter from the Commando’s assembled inside.
Hopping in through one of the three lower hull hatches of the shuttle, he closed the hatch and sealed it before turning to regard the assembled men and women, all of them looking, most of them still twitching with fits of laughter. “Now look here missy,” he was all stern Commando for a moment, jabbing his finger at the lower ranking officer, “Just ‘cause we had a little fling back at the Mynock Hole on our last bounty doesn’t mean you,” by then most of the men had been turning away in a vain attempt at stifling their laughter. Even A’den’s resolved crumbled, his voice cracking in amusement, “I told you, it was ‘cause we dressed you up like a prostitute to lure the pirate we were after.”
Everyone had heard the story at least a dozen times with half as many endings. “Get us off of this rock and set a course for Socorro!” He had activated the intercom that had a direct link to the command module located in the upper hull of the shuttle. “Roger that Captain.” Came the crisp reply.
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Post Tue Aug 16, 2011 11:01 pm by Nicole
Tarja brought her hands up and clicked her helmet off, showing it on the bench seat next to her as she looked at A'den who pointed his finger at her, scolding her, or trying to, though she gave him such an innocent naughty grin. Her eyes looked right up at him as he spoke of the story, though she tilted her head slightly and gave a questioning look.
"And here I thought you were suppose to be the prostitute. No wonder it didn't work out." she flashed him the largest of grins followed by a few chuckles from the others again. She started to work her harness on and clicked it together as she heard the order to take off. She rolled out the paper in her hand and looked at it again, her large grin still lingering on her face.
"Socorro... that place is a hell-hole." she muttered.
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:03 am by Praenuntius
Taking his own seat he strapped himself into the seat harness, tsking playfully at Tarja as she removed her helmet. Making sure his straps where secure he felt the thrum of the shuttle as it took off from its makeshift landing. All of the Commandos would follow Tarja’s example, some still chuckling at her last little quip with the Captain.
“Well it woulda worked if you hadn’t of accepted my credits! I told ya it was part ‘f the plan! Get him to think you’re a real hot commodity,” his joking tone suggested otherwise, “But no you just couldn’t resist the charm of ‘ol A’den! Just had to take his credits and you know me lads,” a gruff laugh ended with a pause, “I’m not a man to be cheated out of his money!” There was a grin, too bad she couldn’t see it.
The stabilizers made the ride smooth as they left the atmosphere of the craggy planet. No more than sea and a bleak grayish continent. There were no viewports in the lower module, but A’den knew what it looked like all the same. His helmet had picked up her mutter even over the whirr of the engines, “Socorro ain’t nothing but a black sandpit. We’ll be lucky if we can find any water on that shit hole. I reckon we’ll start at the Black Dust Tavern.” The grin grew wider as he leaned over, a whisper just for her ears, “That should bring back some fond memories, eh?”
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:12 am by Nicole
"I should've been paid more." she replied, casting a glimpse back towards A'den and then back to the parchment with the words written on it. She considered Socorro for a moment, a small shrug given before she nodded, "Maybe one of the locals will know if there's water around. " she replied before she balled up the note and tossed it over at A'den, bouncing it right off the forehead of his helmet with a little - "Score." from Tarja.
"Tavern? Is that where you're going to get me drunk before you take me to lover's lake? I have to tell you, I'm not liking this plan of yours to woo me."
------------------------------
Re: Erregearen Koroa.
Tarja’s idea had merit. Someone had to know about some lover’s quarrel gone wrong. Though a bloody lake was nothing new to the bounty hunter turned Commando, just there weren’t any lakes in Socorro. “I should’ve paid you to fuck me is how I would’ve put it.” That was about when she bounced the balled up piece of paper off of his visor, he caught it with one hand, he had better put it in the report to the Resol.
The last remark from Tarja drew another hearty laugh from the Mandalorian. “Woo you? Hell I’m just wanting a good drink and maybe a fist fight or two, never said nothing about a romp and stomp. Just stay away from the Sabacc tables eh? Don’t want you losing your pants again or worse.”
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:28 am by Nicole
Tarja scowled a little before sinking back in her seat, both at the earlier comment and the one about Sabacc. She folded her arms across her chest and closed her eyes, " You wont let me blow up stuff, or get drunk or play Sabacc.. You're no fun at all A'den. Wake me up when this bucket of bolts gets us to Socorro." she muttered, resting her head back against the bulkhead.
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:01 am by Praenuntius
A’den watched that pretty little face scrunch up into a scowl. Tarja knew him better than that so he only gave her a chuckle. “I never said you couldn’t have any fun, I just said try ‘n keep your pants on.” He winked and began undoing his restraints he made his way to the upper hull to the command pod that was upraised over the hull of the shuttle. There was space enough for three easily, A’den would be the fourth which cramped it.
“Send this to fleet stationed at Concord Dawn. Encrypt it and package it for the Resol and mark as priority one.” He handed the Commando handling the communication console the letter, “And also inform the Resol that we will be proceeding to Socorro. We’ll puzzle this riddle out. I smell a trap. Dispose of the letter when you’re done transmitting.” The Commando would know the correct frequency to transmit on, there was no need to remind him.
The starry backdrop filled the view ports as the shuttle sped away from Bandomeer. Passive scanners scanned for anything suspicious or communication from the outlying mines. Equipped with its own Mandalorian modified hyperdrive it quickly made the jump to lightspeed in the direction of Socorro.
Making his way back down to the long hall that held his Commando unit, all forty of them, forty-two counting himself and Tarja who was more a specialist in mischief than an actual Commando, he took his seat again, at least it wouldn’t be a long ride, this hyperdrive was built for speed. Hopefully their replacement wouldn’t blow out like the last one. That had been hell.
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:18 am by Nicole
"Exiting in 5...4.."
"So much for my nap." Tarja commented, peeking her eye open and glimpsing towards A'den as the sound from the engines began to increase.
"3...2...1"
With that the shuttle lept from hyperspace over Socorro, powering rapidly for the planet's atmosphere as it began to slow it's rapid approach to it's normal operating capacity, a small rumble of the shuttle as they began to enter Socorro's atmosphere, Tarja's other eye opened as she focused on the Mandalorian across from her, seeming not to mind the small bit of turbulence. She'd been through worse, they hall had.
"I'll try to keep my pants on. But you know how I get when you give me money." she sneered at A'den before she took her helmet and replaced it on her head, twisting it back into place and then waiting as they punched through, the ride almost immediately calming as the word over the speaker above told them.
"We're through. Proceeding to Vakeyya. ETA, Ten miutes."
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:34 am by Praenuntius
A’den swiveled his head to view the lovely Tarja. “Better than none,” he had been restless since leaving the ruined space port. Waiting for the countdown to end and the stabilizers to kick in as they entered the atmosphere, A’den got out of his seat once more. He opened one of the weapons lockers that lined the wall; it had his name across the top of it in white. Inside the door panel was a single photo though so faded by time it was impossible to tell just who the two blurred out figures where. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together could make it out.
Inside the locker where two racks of weapons, along the bottoms of those racks was the ammunition for the guns above as well as spare Mandalorian plates for field repairs. Utility packs, slicing equipment, personal communication jammers and a wide variety of other mission specific equipment. He turned back to Tarja, still strapped in and looking pretty as ever, “Well as long as you keep your pants on, I don’t see any reason not to let you spend the usual. Now get off yer ass and check your gear.”
Reassembling his EE-3 he slung it over his shoulder, reaching into the locker to pull out his Enforcer pistol, he opened the hidden compartment on his thigh and secured it there. Pulling a few spare cartridges and explosives from the weapons locker he secured them about the utility belt around his waist.
By the time he was done the oversized landing gear had found a site within the capital, Vakeyya spaceport. Walking towards the far end of the shuttle, the hatches had yet to open and only one would besides. Flipping the intercom to the Command Pod, “Monitor all outgoing transmissions, anything that hints to our arrival I want reported to me.” Receiving the acknowledgement he switched off the intercom and looked over his men, pointing out four of them, “I want four patrols of rotating shifts starting with you four. Patrol the perimeter of the ship, report anything suspicious and inform me at once. I will make contact once we’ve got a clear idea of where we are going.” He kicked the hatch, the door unsealing and sliding open in less than a second.
“Let’s go woman! Christ you take forever. No no! You won’t… Really?” He cocked his head to the side, the men already laughing, “Oh whatever.” Chuckling by now he would give her a roll of his eyes, unseen as it was before jumping out of the hatch.
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:08 pm by Nicole
Tarja snorted, " The usual?" she eyed him, " Ten credits. Gonna be a big shopping spree tonight." she muttered in sarcasm, getting up from her seat and checking her own storage locker, pulling a few fresh weapons out and holstering them before she paused and looked at him, "My gear's always ready to go, unlike yours." she replied, shoving the door to the compartment shut and slinging the strap of a rifle over her shoulder.
She arched a brow as she listened to A'den, snickering some and glimpsing on into the compartment, " You heard him, women, don't take so long next time." she sneered before jumping out after A'den, giving him a casual punch to the armored shoulder as she moved up next to him.
"You're the one that has to get all pretty before we go out."
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Post Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:44 pm by Praenuntius
“Someone has to look professional.”
He looked over Tarja. Seemingly fit as a button he strode off and was soon lost in a thick crowd. There were two lanes of traffic divided by two lanes of vehicle traffic. Black sand as far as the eye could see. Down every alley, the surrounding hills, even some of the buildings where covered in the glistening stygian sand.
A’den shouldered his way through the people his scarlet armor twinkling in the hot sun overhead. He looked apart from the crowd. Weird and foreign the crowd seemed to part for him until he actually found the place he was looking for where the crowd thinned out. The Black Dust Tavern, it looked like a hole in the wall. A place for the less savory types to congregate at. After all, there was no security but that which you could find at the end of a blaster barrel.
Tarja might be more than overjoyed to learn she had more than ten credits, apparently she had been promoted or the Captain just liked to play games, either way she had a thousand. Taking off towards the counter he eyed the Sabacc tables as well as the more unrefined gambling games. The music was probably more off putting. Damn Jizz bands.
Taking a seat at the bar, he ordered a drink and removed his helmet with a few clicks and sighs as the pressure released. Sand had already made a nuisance of itself. Taking his drink in one hand, his helmet in the other he turned around to lean against the bar, surveying the patrons. One of them would know a thing or two; the question was who or what. Tarja had her role to play and for the time being he was playing his.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:12 am by Nicole
Tarja smirked some, strutting off after A'den, though she didn't particularly take the same path, her helmet's display showed her A'den's location without her having to keep an eye on him. Of course, mingling in with a crowd was a bit difficult when you wear full body armor and look like you're ready to start your own miniature war with your own arsenal.
In the end both she and A'den ended up in the bar, she snagged a drink off one of the serving trays without anyone noticing and headed on towards the sabaac tables. If there was one thing certain, if A'den told her not to do anything he knew she'd do it, so it had to be where he wanted her to start.
Of course the fact that she'd checked her credits balance on her way in certainly didn't hurt either, she was more than pleased to jump right into a round of the game while she stuck her helmet on the corner of the table and cashed out her credits for chips. She wasn't about to let some hokey riddle keep her from having some fun!
"One hundred in!"
Approximately twenty-six minutes later A'den would find himself being approached by someone stating that a woman wearing armor like his said that he'd be able to pay up the five-hundred credits that she'd overspent.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:25 am by Praenuntius
A’den kept mostly to the bar counter, chatting with the barkeeps as they came and went, there were two of them. The Sullustan was the more amiable of the two. Without missing a beat he watched as his sly minx of a partner made her way onto the scene with a loud splash. How often did one see a female Mando in these parts?
Keeping his grin to himself he brushed up on his Sullutese to learn the fellows name, On Nimb. The Trandoshian beside him was less willing to talk, but he learned his name all the same, something less weird thankfully, Durg. Just A’den was about to start in about the riddle and whether they might know of any famous couples or places named after famous people on Socorro, he was interrupted.
Turning to the man who approached him, he knew the type, all tall and broad shoulders. Leaning off of the counter and letting the strap of his rifle fall of his shoulder, he squared his stance and eyed the fellow. A big grin broke out, “Did she now?” He peaked over the man’s shoulder, looking directly at the high stakes table; he gave a shake of his head.
“500 you said?” Mumbling something he ran a gauntlet hand through his golden hair, messing it even more. “Did you ask for ‘er pants?”
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:32 am by Nicole
Tarja glared over at A'den, she wasn't so far away she couldn't hear what he asked the man. She folded her arms, scowling a little and growling out.
"Haar'chak! (Dammit)... Pay the man!" she folded her arms, trying to not let a grin from creeping up on her lips too much.
--------------------------------
Re: Erregearen Koroa.
“What was that?” He looked at the man, his brows furrowing in confusion. “Did you hear something? A little bird perhaps?”
At least the security thought it was funny. Funny enough to pull out his blaster and press it against the Mandalorian plated suit. The man was either a simpleton or batshit crazy, but A’den took it in stride, lifting both hands up in a sign of futility. “Whoa whoa there buddy, now just a minute. We’re just having a little fun.”
Reaching into his utility belt he produced the needed credits. The man took them and holstered the blaster completely oblivious to his peril. “Hey little birdie,” his voice rose through the din of the tavern, “I paid the man. Your ass is mine tonight.”
Even the Sullustan was laughing, until A’den asked him if he really had three testicles.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:46 am by Nicole
Tarja glared at A'den and then squirmed free of the two security that were detaining her, snagging her helmet from one of them she glared and turned about, heading back towards A'den, she heard his shout out before she noticeably shrank a few inches down into her armor. She bounded right up to A'den before giving him a shove on his shoulder back against the bar some, "A'int no little birdy, I'm more like a duck, I like to make a big splash. " she commented, casting A'den a glare before she looked to his Sullustan comrade.
"Speaking of making a big splash, are there any lakes around these parts? He promised to get me wet." she replied, thumbing towards A'den.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:58 am by Praenuntius
On Nimb was torn being shock and outright confusion. First A’den had asked him a very personal question and one that was entirely unfounded and then along came the bouncy and energetic Tarja asking about a lake and for the less inclined, a promise to get someone wet.
Covering his grin with the drink Durg had just finished making him, he lodged a playful elbow to Tarja's ribs. “Do you quack like one too?” The grin remained growing more devious by the second as he turned to the Sullustan having barely avoided the thumb she directed towards him. When On Nimb shook his head, A’den shrugged his shoulders, “Figures this shit hole ain’t got any water. Now how ‘n the hell am I supposed to get her suit off?”
Sighing, Durg came to their rescue.
“The nearest lake is out in the Doaba Badlands, just twenty five klicks to the south.” And somehow she had managed to do it once again. Lost all of their money and found the lake they had been looking for.
Clapping her on the shoulder, he chortled, “Well look at that little duckling – I can get you wet now.” He grabbed his helmet, clicking it on and then shouldered his rifle. Tossing a few credits over the counter as a tip, he nodded towards the two barkeeps. Brushing past Tarja, he sneered, “Come on little duckling, time to get you all nice and wet.”
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:09 am by Nicole
"Lucky me!" Tarja faked her best energetically happy grin and then grabbed her helmet and followed A'den on out, taking energetic strides as she came shoulder to shoulder with him and leaned with a whisper to him. "That would be Tarja: 6, A'den: Nooone." she taunted him, pulling her helmet up and clicking it back into place as she moved along with him.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:46 am by Praenuntius
“Who said anything about keeping count?” He whispered back, stopping just outside the Tavern.
“Oswald,” the speakers where off so he wouldn’t be heard, “Establish a commlink with the Marev.” Waiting several seconds he instinctually watched the people pass by, assessing and weighing each individual.
“Marev, A’den, we’re on our way back, power up and be ready to go. End transmission Oswald.”
“Let’s get back to the shuttle. I’m docking the 500 from your pay.” He spoke in a jesting voice while his grin was concealed. With that he headed back towards the shuttle. From there they would make their way towards the lake which would soon show up on sensors.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:20 am by Nicole
Tarja paused along with A'den, her eyes too equally scanning the people around them, moreso wondering when A'den would finish his little transmission. Even if she couldn't hear him, she knew. Her eyes glimpsed back towards him when he finally spoke to her and began to move along.
She glared at the response however, "Heyyy.. " one could simply feel the fire burning from her eyes behind her visor.
"Is that before or after I shoot you in the leg?" she questioned, jumping up into the shuttle, waiting as it lifted off and headed for the Badlands. In the end they would land about a klick from the only H2O signature they could find, of course Tarja had gotten stuck with A'den again, the two making their way towards it, through the little Oasis that had sprung up around the outer edges of the little lake.
Tarja proudly marched over to the water and stepped into the edge, turning back to look at A'den she brought her hand down to the surface of the water and splashed a handful of it over at him.
"I wonder why they call it a bloody lake?" she asked him, muttering lightly under her breath. "Wonder if I can bottle it and sell it to the locals.."
Her little comment grew to an end as the massive shadow in the water that had been watching suddenly burst from the surface of the lake, swallowing the female Mandalorian and disappearing back under the water in a brilliant explosion from the water.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:12 am by Praenuntius
Smirking, he looked at the wiry woman. “Pfft. Like you could shoot me.”
Climbing in after her, he didn’t change his armament in the least, instead taking the time to assess just why it was called bloody lake. While the locals hadn’t said why, A’den had a small hint when a search by Oswald brought up Tra’cors.
Waiting patiently he didn’t bother to strap himself in, waiting on the green light as the shuttle touched down once again. Kicking the hatch open he watched as Tarja jumped through and then he followed, closing it right after. This shouldn’t be too difficult he told himself.
Surveying the wasteland before them he didn’t immediately follow after. Out here it was just rolling dunes of stygian sand as far as the eye could see, broken only by the wilted stumps of barely surviving trees that tried to eke out a living near the water’s edge. Following after the little imp he had been saddled with yet again(Would he truly have it any other way?) he stopped a few feet beside her looking into the placid lake. The depths where sooty and the water itself looked filthy. More than likely had a stench.
Her splash caught him in the shin as he deftly moved further away, eyes narrowing when he turned to look at her. “I wouldn’t make any noise just yet there are Tra…”
He never got to finish as a large shadow created ripples on the surface of the water. Emerging from the depths it took the unsuspecting Tarja in both webbed claws and simply fell backwards and kicked away from the shore disappearing into the aquatic depths.
Claws, check; hostile, check; ugly looking, check; and a Tra'cor too. And the damn thing had stolen his woman! Without a second hesitation he dived into the water, his HUD guiding him after the fast swimming Tra’cor.
Plates slide aside along his shoulders, on the back of his thighs and beneath his toes. The jets would kick in instantly as he stabilized himself with his hands, propelling him forward, if they were lucky there would only be one.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:32 am by Nicole
Tarja thrashed and squirmed in the grip of the massive beast which was taking her deeper in the murky water towards it's underwater grotto. The grip around her was so tight she could barely move, fortunately her armor plating was keeping her from being crushed. Even so she was able to flex her wrist just enough to start a round of blaster fire, illuminating the murky water even if she couldn't land a shot on the Tra'cor.
If there was one lucky couple in the galaxy, A'den and Tarja were not them. The sounds of Tarja's struggle transmitted through her helmet to A'den's but she obviously was having problems even speaking with the tight death-grip that was holding her.
She was brought up and burst through the airbubble in the gotto, tossed out she toppled around and around as the Tra'cor let her go, she ended up on her stomach, pushing herself up on her arms she coughed, shaking her head slightly only to come face to face with the second, larger, female.
"Frak. I just met his loving partner.."
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:49 am by Praenuntius
Well judging by the speed and the bright flashes and all the bubbles, proton torpedoes where out. Disengaging the guidance system, the plates just over his shoulder that harbored the mini-torpedoes slid back into their slot and powered down.
Extending his vibroblades instead, each extending just under a foot from his hands, he clenched both his hands into fists and powered down his propulsion system. By that time Tarja had disappeared into the grotto while the male turned to face him.
The Mandalorian suit would protect him from the deadly claws, but the fiend could steal easily crush him like a soda pop can. Still propelled from the momentum of his jets he only had time to say one thing in response, “Any chance she’s more hospitable than her husband?”
Crashing into the large shadowy form of the Tra’cor A’den wasted no time in fending off the claws, shearing through the thick carapace and soft tissue beneath. Kicking off from the male’s thickly armored chest, he angled to sever the head. The monster let loose a terrible roar soon cut off as A’den cleaved the head right off.
Recalling the knuckle blades, he grunted making his way towards the grotto and the cursing Tarja. Moments later he would emerge from the pool, covered in the thick sludge from his recent engagement with the male. He quickly tried to assess the situation, blades extending once more, their sonic thrum heard clearly now that he was out of the water.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:39 pm by Nicole
Tarja was fairing no better with the female of the two, she'd been picked up before she could scramble to her feet, the roaring was deafening in the room as she was brought towards the mouth of the hungry female Tra'cor, she had little time but a well placed blaster bolt from her wrist into the slimy mouth of the beast had her dropped back to the ground, toppling her back onto her back, her hands fumbled for her larger more impressive sidearm on her hip, angling it right up just as the female was about to pounce atop her, she fired once, twice, three times, and then there was a deep uttered groan before the female collapsed atop of Tarja, trapping her beneath.
She squirmed, getting all gooey in the mess that was pouring out on her, frakin great. Just what she wanted, to smell like that thing.
Tarja was squirming, trying her damnedest to get out from under the thing, handfulls of muck and debris as she clawed her way out right to the feet of A'den, thoroughly coated from head to toe in green goo. She wiped her glove at her visor with an audible squeak, then collapsed on her back, panting slightly, looking up at A'den.
"I still hate this planet."
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Re: Erregearen Koroa.
The blade slid back into their slot with no audible noise. A’den was beside himself with laugher as he watched the muck covered Tarja slip from beneath the dead beast’s corpse. Without offering a hand he stared down at her collapsed, panting form. “You and me both kiddo.”
Working his way from the water’s edge he was wary of any other horrors lurking in the shrouded depths of the grotto. Each step making a squishing noise and even once and a while something would pop and crackle under his metallic heel. His armor was coated in the same gooey substances only his was more black than green. Splotching his usually pristine armor in a coat of the thick mucky vitae, he looked equally grimy.
“Well this might be the lover’s lair.” He looked to Tarja still sitting on her rump, panting. “Going to sit there all day and wait for more to show up?”
Statistically that was impossible, given that the creatures where territorial, but weirder things have happened. He had left his rifle on the beach above; hopefully it was still there when they returned.
“Now where would I hide the treasure if I was an overgrown slug?”
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:07 pm by Nicole
Tarja glared up at him as she pushed herself up onto her feet, her eyes glimsped down her body, surveying the scratches and dents in her armor now. Her eyes looked back to A'den as he made his summary . She glimpsed around for a moment before opening one of the packs on her waist and pulling out a pair of glowsticks, cracking them she tossed one to each side of the grotto, illuminating the small expanse slightly before she glimpsed to the dim form of A'den.
"If?" she repeated, mockingly, smirking and starting to survey the area inside of the den, twigs, and muck, all arranged into almost a nest like shape.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:16 pm by Praenuntius
Just what they were searching for was unknown. The riddle said they would find answers they did not know to seek. Pointing to her side of the grotto, “You look over there and I’ll look over here. Try not to start any fires and no, I don’t care if it’s making noises.” After their last little escapade in a beast’s lair he didn’t want her spooked at a water beetles approach.
Taking to his side he rummaged through the rubbish that had be collected into what he guessed resembled a nest. Various pieces of metal, skulls, bones, all sorts of useless junk; it probably would help if he knew what he was looking for.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:18 pm by Toivo
There, half beneath a pile of bones and covered in a rather large amount of dung, was a glint. A glint that was something recognizable, something Mandalorian. A breastplate of mandalorian iron, with the upper half of a skeleton inside. The tra'cor had managed to rip the owner in half, eat the legs, but the top half proved too tough. Likely, the man had stolen the breastplate years past, and lacked the rest of the suit. The remnants of an internal datapad confirmed it, filled with the ramblings of some daring adventurer nearly a millenium dead. There was something underneath, as well. The owner's arms were wrapped around a helmet.
No...the helmet. The datapad contained notes on it, as well, how the owner had stolen it with the armor from another man long dead. Worn by a series of successive Mandalore, turned to a helmet by Canderous Ordo, Mandalore the Preserver himself, and lost for nearly four thousand years, here it was. Covered in dung but too strong to rust or dent, here it was.
Mandalore's Mask.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:31 pm by Nicole
Tarja's eyes scanned around the room, she began to sort and dig through the muck and bone. One of the lights of her helmet glinted off something metallic a few meters away which drew her attention. She arched a brow, narrowing her eyes a little as she tossed one of the bones back into the pile.
"Hey A'den, over here." Tarja called to her male comrade.
She adjusted her footing through the weavework of decaying bone to the torso, pulling it over datapad toppled towards her while the mask, loosened by the decaying flesh that had faded away to bone toppled right before A'den's feet.
Tarja's eyes looked to the datapad, picking it up she tapped at it, the batteries having long since died, but hopefully the information contained within could be retrieved when they were back at the ship. Her head tilted as the light beam passed over towards where the other object had gone, towards A'den.
"What is that?" she questioned, her eyes narrowing in contemplation.
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Post Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:42 pm by Praenuntius
Glad for once that he couldn’t smell anything, the Mandalorian dug through the dung infested leavings, scattering the bone fragments and bits of disjointed metal in his wake. Every once and a while he stop and inspect bits and pieces wondering just what he was doing a Tra’cor lair to begin with. Feeling absolutely disgusting he was trying to wash the fetid substance off of his gauntlets when the beams of Tarja’s headlights lanced across the room and fell upon him. “Mm?” he turned in her direction, hands still partially submerged.
Standing up slowly, he switched his beams back on, a fierce blue color. Walking towards Tarja he saw the datapad and it was a moment before the glint caught his eye as well. He leaned down, the harsh screech of metal scraping against metal as his hands cleared the gunk that had built up.
The first thing he noticed was the partially disintegrated clan sigil. No one could mistake that sigil. Not anyone who considered themselves a Mandalorian and while A’den had always been on the fence, even he remembered the reverence with which Duncan had treated this sigil.
Dropping to his knees he picked up the mask. Cradled in both hands, it’s surfaced tarnished by years of neglect; he tested the durability of the metal. Sure enough it was Mandalorian metal. Pivoting on his heels, he looked up at Tarja the mask on full display. “Clan Ordo,” he pointed at the sigil still intact on the right side of the helmet. More gray than white now, it almost blended in with the darker gray tones of the metal itself. “What you’ve found duckling, is the Mask of the Mandalore!” He was grinning as he finally stood up, his voice filling the room with his jubilant laughter.
Maybe he wouldn’t dock her pay after all.
