Fwurg

[Storyteller (Brend)]

Just as Trigiel looked away from the women without recognizing them, he suddenly remembered where he saw them before: they were in the video with the scientists and maintenance personnel walking past the security checkpoint.

As the two jedi slowly and silently made their way over the walkway towards the first auxiliary lab, Trigiel spotted a faint heat signature on the ceiling near the nest at the edge of his vision. The signature slowly shifted around as if keeping an eye on them, but as soon as he tried to look at it, it disappeared and remained hidden. The creatures in the spheres remained still, floating gently on whatever eddies were in the vats.

As they arrived at the first auxiliary lab's door, they concluded that it was already open. The lab was completely trashed, and they easily spotted the now familiar markings on the wall and floor. In this lab, they counted at least three dead scientists just by looking inside, the red of their blood soaking into the white lab coats.

They were not hindered or stopped, and made their way past the other auxiliary lab's, with all of them in state of disarray ranging from a tossed table to a complete and utter mess. By now, the count of dead scientists was up to fifteen.

As the Jedi were careful, the saw that the ceiling was a jumble of cables and ventilation pipes, which was a good thing with them being so deep in the mountain. Of course, this left plenty of possibilities for creatures to sneak around.

Arriving at the other side of the laboratory, the two padawan concluded that the map lied to them; the door was there, but it was marked with 'under construction'. After easily, and silently due to Nebesnogo's engineering insight, opening the door, it seemed that the hallway beyond the door was indeed not finished yet.

As they peered into the darkness of the immense cave, both Jedi felt a disturbance in the Force. It wasn't exactly the same feeling they would have when there was imminent danger, but more a feeling of alertness.

[Fecta Trigiel]

Upon looking into the cave Trigiel said over holo: "Phew, only a cave. At least not rows and rows of more labs. That would probably contain the issue to this lab only.

Let's go to the nest and take a closer look. There are some people in the nest. I recognised them from the video with the scientists and maintenance personnel walking past the security checkpoint."

If Nebesnogo didn't stop him, Trigiel walked closer to the nest.

"I think being stealthy does not work any more. As something is watching the nest closely. Let's just go there and see what happens." So Trigiel walked to the nest without trying to be stealthy. He was still careful though as the beast might still be very dangerous.

((Check: 9 = 4 Force Level + 5 Vision -- sensitive optics (infra red, ultra violet, night sight zoom function) to see an ambush comming))

EDIT: added check

[Nebesnogo Sveta]

"Yes but I have a bad feeling about this cave lets find this creature and see if we can communicate with him. I will cover you from above." he followed Trigiel at some distance close enough that he could charge in if something attacked Trigiel but far enough that no one creature could get both of them at the same time.

"It might be a good idea to try to use the force to send out the signal that were not here to hurt." He said before he used the force to try and project a feeling of friendliness while still moving with trigiel to the nest.

((Check: 8 = 4 Force Level + 4 Energy -- attempting to project a feeling so we are not immediately seen as hostile.))

[Storyteller (Brend)]

Not trying to be stealthy, the two padawan moved towards the nest. Going down the stairs they passed the two large spheres, giving them a good close-up view of some of the dormant creatures. These creatures resembled the creature they saw on the video. The creatures all looked the same: a cross between a wasp and a spider; the body of a wasp, with the legs and eyes of a spider. Their carapaces are red-purple, and they have four pairs of eyes.

Closer to the tanks, Trigiel spotted some small differences between the creatures. It were only small differences, but large enough to conclude that these weren't clones.

After a closer look at the first sphere, the Jedi continued their movement past the second sphere. When there were only thirty meters left to the nest, the Jedi heard a hiss from the ceiling.

Looking up, the pair saw how the creature from the video released its hold on the ceiling. It twisted its body in mid-air, and landed squarely in between the Jedi and the nest. As the creature reared on its four hind legs, it roared loudly and and stretched its limbs to seem larger.

The creature did not attack, or move toward the Jedi, but it was clearly ready to defend the nest from any who dared approach! Strangely enough while the creature looked directly at them, the Jedi felt a wave of calm ripple through the force, as if echoing Nebesnogo's attempt.

[Fecta Trigiel]

With the creature in front of him Trigiel stopped walking. Trying to approach the nest any further would be a dangerous action now. Suddenly his idea to talk to the creature felt quite stupid, but Trigiel gave it a try nevertheless: "Greetings, we would like to talk."

[Nebesnogo Sveta]

Nebesnogo gently approached he made sure the the creature could see him and he kept his posture as non threatening as possible.

When he felt the mimic of the wave of calm he tried to curious friendly feeling attempting to copy the feelings he had when he saw his father with something new.

((Check: 8 = 4 Force Level + 4 Energy -- projecting feelings of curiosity and friendliness))

[Storyteller (Brend)]

If the creature understood Trigiel's words, it did not react to them.

As Nebesnogo moved closer, the creature made sure to remain between the Jedi and the nest. But it did allow the padawan to move closer... With the creature towering over him, the Mudry moved close enough to feel really small. In fact, up close, the creature's claws and carapace seem to be rather sharp.

The creature lowered its head, and Nebesnogo stood eye-to-eye with the creature. Just at that moment, both padawan felt a wave of calm flow over them, though it felt as if it came from the tanks to their side.

Nebesnogo was now close enough to stroke the creature's head, or to attack it where it was vulnerable!

[Fecta Trigiel]

Trigiel didn't know Nebesnogo well enough to knew what the mudry would do. "Please be careful. There are probably ten others around here."

Trigiel tried to look around to keep an eye out for any other creature.

((Check: 9 = 5 Force Level + 5 Vision -- sensitive optics (infra red, ultra violet, night sight zoom function) to see an ambush comming))

[Nebesnogo Sveta]

"Hello." Nebesnogo said to the creature as he went to pet the side of its head careful as to not cut hem self on the sharp carapace.

He allowed to show his feelings of wonder and joy he had show trough the force as he felt he made a new friend.

((Check: 8 = 4 Force Level + 4 Energy -- to keep up the feelings of friendliness))

[Storyteller (Brend)]

As Nebesnogo pets the creature, Trigiel remains on the lookout.

The creature allowed Nebesnogo to pet it, but it didn't move away, or let the Jedi closer to the nest.

Trigiel, meanwhile, spotted five more creatures on the ceiling. They were moving towards the Jedi very carefully, and they did not seem to know that they has been seen. What was strange to Trigiel was the fact that these creatures seemed to move almost in synch. They were circling the position of the Jedi. But as far as Trigiel could determine they weren't able to see each other, so they shouldn't be able to coordinate so well.

[Nebesnogo Sveta]

Nebesnogo turned to Trigiel for a moment and said "I think I made a friend."

"Will you be my friend?" he asked the creature as he continued to give it his attention.

[Fecta Trigiel]

"5 creatures on the ceiling moving closer way too coordinated, surrounding us. I suspect telepathic abilities." Trigiel didn't really know what to do.

There was a nest
There were creatures
There was the centre structure with tanks and many more creatures

They couldn't really go forward
They could back of
They could move to the tank, that would surrounding them make harder
They could kill the creature, but that was only an option if the creature attacks first
Or they could talk

What Nebesnogo just did.
((Check: 9 = 4 Force Level + 5 Vision -- sensitive optics (infra red, ultra violet, night sight zoom function) to see an ambush comming))

[Storyteller (Brend)]

As Trigiel kept a wary eye on the creatures on the ceiling, Nebesnogo just talked.

The creature made a few clicking sounds, and very gently grabbed Nebesnogo's shoulder with one of its claws. Trigiel saw that the creatures on the ceiling prepared to jump down!

[Fecta Trigiel]

"They prepare to jump, last chance to back off my options are limited."

Why would they attack like this? The creatures could have done it right away. When would they attack like this?

If they suspect we were stronger
If they suspect we were faster
If they suspect we could escape

But why like this? Why not just blocking the doors? Too many doors? Because we are not paying attention.

Then it hit Trigiel, he was the problem, he was large and possibly the tread and a strange being for them. "I back of, I think they are after me. If they attack you, I attack, otherwise, I don't."

Trigiel slowly walked away giving the Nebesnogo and his 'pet' more space. The cyborg made sure to make no sudden movements.

If the creatures jumped down anyway and they jumped on Nebesnogo to kill him, Trigiel jumped to intercept them mid air with his lightsabers.
If the creatures jumped on Trigiel, he rolled away to a convenient spot.
If the creatures jumped down but not directly on any of them, Trigiel took a defensive stance without lightsabers. He believed that that such lightsaber situations would hardly go better once such a stand off was created.
If the creatures didn't jump down, Trigiel continued to back off.

((Check: 11 = 4 Force Level + 4 Fitness + 1 Athletics + 2 Force Jump -- To intercept the creatures mid air if they attacked Nebesnogo.))

((OOC: Sorry for the many conditionals in my post, this is a complicated situation.))

[Nebesnogo Sveta]

When he heard the message form Trigiel he looked at the creature and then to Trigiel who was backing off.

He nodded to Trigiel in acknowledgement for his action. He then put his hand on the claw that was on his shoulder and grasped it gently.

"Friend." he said while using his free hand to indicate Trigiel while sending out the feeling of friendship trough the force to all the creatures.

[Storyteller (Brend)]

Trigiel slowly backed off. The creatures on the ceiling moved with him, but didn't jump down. It seemed that the kept a close eye on Trigiel.

Nebesnogo spoke, and again the creature did not seem to understand spoken words. But it did step aside and softly pushed Nebesnogo towards the nest. It didn't really put force behind the push. But the gesture made it clear that the creature would allow, and even wanted, Nebesnogo to go to the nest.

[Fecta Trigiel]

"It worked. They follow me but do not show signs of attempting a direct attack any more."

Trigiel backed off slowly to the walkway. There he climbed the stairs. He needed to keep an eye on the nest, but it was clear now that the creatures didn't trust Trigiel.

Trigiel looked for a nice spot to sit but with a good view on the nest. There Trigiel sat down crossed-legged and with his sensitive optics he waited to see how Nebesnogo his little adventure went.

[Nebesnogo Sveta]

"Ok" he said this both out loud and over the communicator.

He then went towards the nest deciding to stay on the floor instead of flying to not startle anyone.

"Hello." he said as he clambered into the nest. He hoped that one of the persons was capable of understanding him.

[Storyteller (Brend)]

As Nebesnogo worked his way into the nest, it seemed that everyone was sleeping, or at least resting.

A moment after he spoke, one of the female soldiers opened her eyes. She looked him over.

She said something in veolian. As it dawned on her that Nebesnogo wasn't a veolian, she switched to galactic basic: "You're not an insect."

She sat up, and had a better look at Nebesnogo.

"You must be a Jedi.", she said softly while she pointed to Nebesnogo's lightsaber. "I am lieutenant Acchā Sainika."

"I'm part of a group of scouts sent to this facility to find out what happened. When we came here, we found that all fail-saves were broken or sabotaged. We only encountered these creatures after we found the scientists, a hangar full of them. Almost all of the scientists were still alive, but must were sedated with something. These creatures jumped our group... The weird thing was, we found scientists that were torn to pieces, but they only knocked us out."

Though she appeared stressed, the soldier seemed in control of her emotions.

"When I came to, I was in this nest, and one of those creatures was busy dropping food in the nest, next to the children. I don't know what these creatures or children are, but I think they are some kind of experiment gone wrong. I think that they are trying to protect children. Even unborn ones. That woman over there", she motioned to a clearly pregnant women, "is pregnant for sure. The other one told me she was expecting as well."

"If you got this far, you have a plan to get us out of here right?"


While Nebesnogo was busy in the nest, Trigiel was sitting on the floor looking into the nest with his sensitive optics.

Just as the veolian soldier began to speak, he noticed another one of the creatures. It was walking towards him on the floor, and it was carrying someone. It seemed calm but something told Trigiel that any sudden movement might be unwise.

The creature moved to within 20 meters, and carefully laid the person it was carrying on the floor. It then moved away again, making sure to keep multiple eyes on Trigiel while it was retreating.

The body that was laid on the floor was that of a male soldier, clearly wounded.

[Fecta Trigiel]

Trigiel stood up and walked towards the soldier, making sure that he made no sudden movements. Trigiel made a quick examination of the wounds from the soldier to determine the severity of his wounds. At the same time he kept an eye out for the creatures. He didn't expect that they would use the man to lure him, but Trigiel did not know if they would allow him to. Right now his concern was patching up the soldier and he was not planning to move him till Trigiel knew the state of the man or when the cyborg was force to move the soldier.

((Check: 9 = 4 Force Level + 5 Vision -- sensitive optics (infra red, ultra violet, night sight zoom function) for spotting approaching creatures, probably from the ceiling.))

((Check: 9 = 4 Force Level + 4 Reason + 1 Medicine -- For checking and if possible patching up the soldier.))
((OOC: I don't know if I am allowed to do this double check. If not then the patching up check has priority.))

[Storyteller (Brend)]

While keeping an eye on the creatures Trigiel made his way to the wounded soldier. He quickly diagnosed the unconscious man, and worked on bandaging and applying the necessary medical compounds to his wounds. Trigiel noticed that his injuries were mostly superficial, enough to knock him out, but too weak to actually kill him.

While Trigiel was working, he noticed that the creature on the ground was carefully watching what he was doing and what he was using. Just after Trigiel was done, the creature slowly moved towards him, clearly intent on taking the soldier away again.

((OOC: Double action checks are discouraged (but sometines helpful to speed things up), double information checks aren't a problem in my book.

I have OOCly contacted Nebesnogo Sveta's player, but they did not post after 1.5 week. I'll continue this post as if he is still busy listening to the soldier. If he does not show presence during the next posting cycle, I will write him out of the story.))

[Nebesnogo Sveta]

"Greetings. Da, I am jedi. My name is Nebesnogo Sveta I and my comrade Fecta Trigiel are here to find out what happened." he then let her finish her story about what happened.

"That seems logical seeing they tried something and then went to kill the thing they made but failed." nebesnogo was clearly not plesed when he talked about the killing part.

"We did not expect that we would have to save anyone from here so no I do not have a plan yet for getting you out." he thought for a while on what she said to him.

"Are the children able to communicate? with you or the creatures?" he finally asked.

((OOC: sorry for the delay in posting I was completely distracted form this topic. I also don't know if I will post before the 9th.))

[Storyteller (Brend)]

The soldier in the nest looked surprised at Nebesnogo's question.

"I don't know. I have seen them playing with one of the creatures, and sometimes they mumble things in their sleep. But I don't think they know galactic basic. Maybe you should wake them up? When I tried that they seemed friendly, but then a creature came and gently pulled them away from me."

[Fecta Trigiel]

Trigiel stepped back allowing the creature to take the soldier with him. Trigiel saw no reason to challenge the creatures, as it appears that abuse and torturing were not part of the creatures agenda.

It appeared that they had encountered a stalemate: The creatures were doing their thing here and the Jedi were observing, but any action ending this mission had a high probability of escalating into bloodshed. What were their options? What was it what was keeping them from ending the situation? ...Knowledge... They had not enough knowledge of the station, of creatures and anything else around here. They didn't even had knowledge of the Veolian plans with these creatures besides their efforts to gain more insights in hemetism.

At the other hand, did they need more knowledge? What was their mission? In his head the cyborg heard Duke Iaat Vyapar saying: 'The objective is determining the status of the other two patrols, and stopping any hostile activity.' They did stop any hostile activity, and the status of the other two patrols was: Either dead, or in captivity of the creatures or running around... let's refrase that: Either dead or out of direct hostile danger, with possible wounded at unknown locations.

"Do you already know what happened to the other patrols? It is almost time to return to the camp and report our findings."

If the creature took the soldier with him, Trigiel tried to follow the creature with his eye to see where it was keeping the soldier and if there where more. Trigiel didn't remember having seen wounded soldiers in their walk around the facility.

((Check: 9 = 4 Force Level + 5 Vision -- sensitive optics (infra red, ultra violet, night sight zoom function) to see where the soldier is taking to.))

[Storyteller (Brend)]

Trigiel kept his eye on the creature as it departed. It seemed that it didn't have a secret entrance, or some trick to disappear: it walked out of the lab through the door, the same door Trigiel and Nebesnogo entered through.

Suddenly, the communicators of both Jedi crackled with a noisy message: "This .... Iaat Kinsara .... containment authorised .... orbital bombardment .... facility .... one hour .... respond!", apparently the Iaat forces had been able to send a message through the storm and into the facilities communications array.

Whatever the Jedi were going to do, they had better be quick about it!