Hidden Yuuzhan Vong Enclave

[Emanon]

Stopping mid run Volk stops, there was something new on the ground. Black drops now and not water, frowning he kneels to get a better look at it. Fingers touching it he smears it on them, then brings it closer to look at rubbing and then smelling it.

"Vong blood?" he thinks back to the last time he had seen some.

Looking around he knew this was going to get worse, there were prolly thousand if not hundreds not to far away. Bad thing was he was alone for the most part.
There were the Imperials and SK, but where were they now?

Deciding to move on, Volk is more cautious this time, always keeping his ears peeled and eyes moving for any sign of danger. Pulling his blaster carbine he follows the blood trail....

[lotvashai]

Lotva Shai was flagging, and she knew it, but the more she tried to keep herself upright, the harder the struggle seemed to be. So when she arrived at the enclave, it came as little surprise to her when several Yuuzhan Vong, one of whom she recognized as one who worked in her own damutek, stopped and tried their best to disguise their gaping. Those who were subordinate did their best to look away, lest they earned themselves an expediently swift death, but those who were not looked on in confusion. It wasn't every day you came across your naked subordinate who just happened to have a large portion of their left shoulder missing entirely. Not in the communual chambers anyhow.

She paid their shocked glances no real mind, heading straight for the sector of the enclave where the shapers dwelt. And as an all too bewildered aide fell into step with her, Lotva Shai uttered the first words, and the last, that she would for some time to come.

"Summon the readers, I wish to know what our status is, now."

The aide, wisely, did not reply, offering only a curt nod in response before heading back the way they had come, disappearing into the crowd that was gathering. Few warriors had returned as yet, and those that had been left behind did not sit idle either, but there were plenty of the other castes left around here. And as many an infidel could attest, they were hardly your average civillians.

[Emanon]

Stopping dead in his tracks, Volk finds an enclave five hundred meters ahead. Deciding it was better to stay hidden, he hides behind a fallen boulder. Still hidden he looks on as there is a commotion in front of the Vong buildings. His eye sight wasn't the best at his distance, but using the Force he could make out.....what looks to be a naked Vong in front of others.

"What the hell?" He mutters quietly.

Could it be some "shamed One" being made an example of or just some bizarre random mating ritual. Staring and admiring the curves on the female Vong ( )....made him shake his head in shame.

Getting back to business he looks around at a way around them, maybe a way inside to investigate further. He wanted to know who was in charge and what their plans were.....why lure them out to the Outer Rim? Could it be to disguise some other plot or setting a trap for someone important. Sooner or later the galaxy in general would send in some kind of military force to try to force them out.

[lotvashai]

Twisting off the head and mandibles of the last clip beetle, Lotva Shai watched the shapers work with interest. The immense pain she had been feeling did not lessen any, though the warmth had returned to her limbs and she no longer felt as though she was, quite literally, draining away.

A sudden sharp spark of pain ignited her wound then, eliciting a response in the form of her eyes losing some of their focus, she truly relished little moments like that, like few others could. It reminded her that the gods were still with her, as well as reminding her her place in the grand scheme of things - Yun-Harla was fickle, it never hurt to be reminded of this fact.
And in light of this...

The consul turned towards the shaper Adept, gesturing for her to leave the work how it was, she could do the rest herself, the neathlats would prevent infection at least, but for the time being the limb was rendered somewhat ineffective. But she was far too agitated for the fuss that would be needed to link together that which the Jeedai's light weapon had severed. That, she thought, could wait for now.

Collecting the robeskin that had been procured for her, she slipped the garment over her head and let it rearrange it's self about her form. It's cillia immediately began to attach themselves to her skin, sinking into her pores in much the same way a masquer might have, with needle-like precision. She let a shiver roll down her spine at the numbing stings the creature exuded, and then strode from the chamber with purpose.

The consul had gotten halfway across the main chamber again, when a lower ranking attendant approached her at a brisk pace, expression somewhat agitatedly apologetic - as was correct in such an approach.

Without waiting to actually hear the message, Lotva Shai interpreted and asked a question of her own.

"Has K'litch Vang made contact?"

The attendant looked momentarily confused, then shook his head once negatively, "No, Consul."

"Well?"

Again the attendant bowed apologetically, and Lotva Shai began to wonder if she had also misinterpreted his manner, he seemed overly eager, as if brimming with news of a favourable nature - yet hesitant. She could hardly wait on her own prompt, but she did not have time for this.

"News from the creche...Azca has..." The attendant started, babbling a little under the pressure - this was not a worthy sign, did he not know he tainted himself with his own shortcomings? No, probably not. "...Consul, you need to see this for yourself."

Needs as pressing as they were should not have to wait, and yet she could hardly help herself...if there had been progress then she had to learn of it, and if there had not, well...she would have to take serious consideration in returning the crecheling to the gods, before he tainted both his parents domains.
She nodded at the attendant, "Contact the readers, see if they can raise K'litch Vang, I want to know what is going on out there."

Waiting until the attendant had gone to do just that, the Consul was left to consider what she had been told. If she had to see this with her own eyes, then she would, though she sensed Yun-Harla's cloaked hand in this...she should do what must be done. Resolved to do the correct thing, she made her way towards the enclaves creche.

[Emanon]

Sill hiding as he made his way around and to the top, he sat on a small pathway leading to the top of the sink hole. Looking down not to far away was Vong enclave, looking around he found one particular place that he could make an entrance. Though how long he had before getting caught was up to the Force.

Pulling his back pack and kneeling he looks to see what he has to work with. Finding two land mines, four frag grenades and one thermal detonator made things interesting. The rest of the contents were spare power packs for his blaster. a water bottle, food capsules and a re-breather.

Looking around his only option was to distract them with an explosion. If placed at the entrance where the Vong and he entered from, it would draw them in for the second land mine and the real trap. Meanwhile he would be on the move and cutting his way into the enclave from the opposite direction. If he moved fast he could be inside and doing what he had to do before being detected, then to the pathway up the sink hole if he failed or succeeded.

Done with thinking he sets about setting the trap. Working his way back to where he was when he saw the naked female vong.

[lotvashai]

What Lotva Shai saw in the creche surprised her immensely. Considering it had been less than a ket since she had seen Azca last, she would never have imagined that his progress could have gone in this direction so soon. The priests had predicted less than favourable portents to the status of his cleansing of the infidels taint, stating that it was still only half a chance that he would come through this unscathed. That in it's self would have shamed her domain, and she had taken to several acts of blood sacrifice as a result, thus trying to ensure this would not become a reality.

"When did this occur?" she queried one of the creche attendants, who had been replaying the series of events over a creature similar to a villip, but more ovoid in shape and gelatinous in texture.

"Before nourishment hour, Consul, and with little provocation." The Attendant responded evenly, inclinding his head as she did so.

Lotva Shai nodded positively in response, what she had seen was a playback of events as they had happened just that morning, when she had been hold up in that gods forsaken cesspit of a communications center. It showed Azca, now very much mobile under his own steam - yet cumbersome as crechelings were at this young age- fighting with another crecheling, she could not tell which domain, over what seemed to be little more than a scrubbing korsk. Korsks were creatures commonly used for cleaning, but seemed to provide safe yet relatively interesting an introduction to Yuuzhan Vong creatures for crechelings, and could take an awful lot of punishment before perishing. For reasons unknown to the Consul, they seemed to provide hours of entertainment for the young, mainly because they would eat just about anything. But having had this particular Korsk snatched away from him, Azca was not a happy crecheling.

The result had been a brawl on a very low key, but one nevertheless, and it was Azca who had dealt the deciding blow. Lotva Shai felt her heart swell with pride, if only her own crecheparents had been around to see this, then they might have thought twice about their decision to relegate her to the Intendant caste in the first instance.

"You can see him if you so wish." The Attendant's voice filtered into her senses again, and Lotva Shai nodded in the affirmative.

"I will...and one more thing." she responded, "Send that record to the priests, all the proof they need is there."

Such a pity that Nom Anor wasn't here to witness that, he might have just turned in his grave.

[Emanon]

Silently he made his way back to the spot he had entered from, kneeling and looking around he stops and aims his blaster carbine. Up ahead were two Vongs heading his way, he was hidden from there view though if they got closer they would see him. Deciding the time was now or never, he pulled the two land mines and armed them both.

Placing one inside the tunnel further in the darkness, the other he tosses close to the entrance. Then using the Force he tricks the approaching Vong...dropping some loose rocks against the sinkholes' wall to distracted them so he could make his escape. As the rocks fall they make nose that catches there attention and they go to investigate. Seeing his chance Volk makes a run for it, slipping past the Vong as he runs by, the noise of the rocks sliding down covering his escape.

Later when he is safe up in the pathway, and the Vong had found nothing but a rock slide they continue on their way. Once inside the tunnel, and pass by the land mine at the entrance, Volk sets off the first explosion. Later if it drew out more Vong, they would get the second surprise.

So in the chaos of the first explosion, Volk makes his move, jumping down and surprising one Vong guard with an over hand light saber blow to the head......

[lotvashai]

Sometimes the resembence was uncanny, the Consul thought when she looked at the crecheling, her crecheling. His eyes were cobalt blue, icy and deathly cold as those of both his parents, though there was definitely more of a resemblance to his father - especially when he did that thing with his face. At that thought Lotva Shai forced down a small fragment of prickly ire that threatened to become her, she had always known when Nom Anor had been lying, perhaps it was because of her reverance for the trickster, perhaps sheer experience, but she had known. He had done that thing with his face. And seeing it here she could almost picture a lie rolling off that crechelings tongue. Well one day they would, and they had better be good ones.

She placed a hand atop Azca's slanted forehead, brushing back the tufts of black hair that had begun to grow towards the back of his skull, it would soon be time to give him his domain markings - but he would not bear those of his father, no one could know. Not even him.
She had know though, that he had agreed this should be done. And it would.

And that was when the sound of an explosion rumbled in the distance - but it was not like those that had been heard from around the near cities of this world, no, this one was closer. Much closer.
Already several of the creche attendants had shot a look in Lotva Shai's direction, and she, eager to conceal her incredulity, shot them a warning glare.
The warriors that had remained behind would already be on their way towards the sound, there were only so many ways that someone could get into this hidden settlement after all, they had hidden it well enough, but how could they have been located so soon?

She had left no trail...had she?

Either way, it was only a matter of time before something like this would have occurred, such a pity it hadn't been later rather than now.
She placed Azca down upon the ground, stroking to life the villip she had brought with her and had already begun barking orders before the creature had fully formed the features of the sub commander in question.

"Find the source of that explosion and slay whoever is responsible, see to it that the area is searched, there can be no trace of their presence here."

This wasn't happening, not this time...

[Emanon]

Twenty feet and the downward motion of his Lightsaber forced Volks lightsaber past the Vongs natural ability to deflect the ancient weapon, killing him before he hit the ground. Once thats out of the way he looks around having to move fast, soon there would be alot of activity. Using his lightsaber he cuts an opening in the nearest building, slowly cutting past the hard surface to make a hole.

Kicking inward the piece falls off and he steps inside looking around. At once he is swarmed with thud bugs, barely deflecting them in time. Seeing a lone Vong charging him with a yell or curse. It was hard understanding the difference..

[lotvashai]

The warriors didn't hesitate, nor did many of the other various caste members that had been going about their business, when the snap-hiss of a lightsaber ignting caught their attention, all turned it towards the invading Jeedai with all the ire of a Vua'sa with an if'ii spine stuck in it's claws. All about the chamber cries of 'Jeedai' went up, leaving no doubt to those who could not see, what was happening here.

Directly across the other side of the space, Lotva Shai saw it all with a burning ire renewed, warriors shoving passed her in order to get to the interloper as quickly as possible - others were already issuing challenges to the rogue Jeedai, the fools had no idea what they were getting themselves into, it would have been better that they all rushed him at once. But that was what made them warriors, Lotva Shai thought with a grim resolve, they only ever thought of one thing, glory...and what that would bring their domain, their 'slayer'
Letting fear of having blasphemed run through her for that short moment, she, too joined the fray, snatching a brimming pouch full of razorbugs from an already fallen warrior, trying to wade her way through the gathering crowd whilst the creche attendants were doing their best to shield the young from what was occuring here. Though really, there was no better lesson for them, to be able to witness the taking down of a Jeedai so early on in life, they would do well to remember it.

Older members of the creche, those who had reached an age where they could understand, fully, what was going on, surged forwards also, complaining inexorably when the attendants would not bid them the egress to go and join their crechebrothers and sisters in the glorious action.

It was only when Lotva Shai drew closer that she realized, she recognized that Jeedai...and she recognized him well.
E'hmpitah! - cursing her stupidity, the Consul drew little more than a curious glance from those nearest to her, which she dispelled in an instant with her next words.

"Slay the Jeedai, let no trace of him remain!"

[Emanon]

Volk was caught by surprise, he was wanting to be un-noticed, but walked right into the wrong place. Seeing a room full of Vongs all shouting either war cries or challenges to personal duels. He didn't think, holding his lightsaber in his right hand he tossed one of his two frag grenades into the mass. Then pulling his blaster keeps most of their attention on him, knowing the frag blast would most likely hit or injure him in the process.

Using his lightsaber in close range was hard against thud or razor bugs, but at least they didn't have time to pick up much momentum on impact. Few got through his defense, but those that did opened gashes or ripped at his robes.

Still blasting away keeping most of those in front from charging and deflecting the thud bugs, Volk waits for the Frag Blast hoping for the best......

[lotvashai]

The Jeedai ducked and wove his way through the onslaught of thudbugs and wild slashing amphistaves, deflecting where he could, slashing and parrying elsewhere. All the while the masses did not dissipate, did not slow their attempt to try and bring Volk down. Yet somehow, he was making progress.

Lotva Shai had literally clawed and elbowed her way to the fore, determined to set things to rights when the sudden glint of bioluminescence on all too alien metal flared to life in her peripheral vision.
Not good!

This was like some hideously cliched and abominable holomovie, she thought with bitter anger, and knew she had limited time to get herself away from the grenades before they went off and decimated the scene a little more than it was already.
She had scarcely made it to the other side of the large crowd, when one of the frags went off. Yuuzhan Vong warriors went flying in all directions....some, closest to the blast, with chunks missing.

Pulling herself up from the floor as shrapnel rained down around her, the Intendant checked herself over briefly, nothing more than a few cuts and bruises, nothing that would hinder her past the point she was hindered already by a past wound.

Many of the warriors who had been out of the way of the two blasts had rounded on the Jedi as he made a bid for defence, it was still unclear as to what he was doing here of all places and why he'd chosen to take on a settlement. But he couldn't leave, not alive.

[Emanon]

Moving his way forward still deflecting or attacking those near him, Volk felt through the force the second before the Frag grenades exploded. Having no choice but to jump further away from the blast, he leaps into the jumbled mass of Vongin stead of away. Jumping away would mean getting most of the sharp fragments to injure him, jumping into the Vong bunch meant they would hopeful take the brunt of the damage.

With a bang they went off, the destructive wave throwing him along with most of the Vong around like nothing. Hitting the wall hard with his back, Volk loses the air from his lungs and almost blacks out. Injured from a shrapnal fregment on his right shoulder, he could still feel it in him hot and burning. Using the Force to help him catch his breathe, he stand on shaking legs as he looks around. More Vong coming and something he had never seen, Vong children?

Calling his lightsaber and blaster to his hand, after having dropped them as he hit the wall, he was in no shape to continue fighting so soon. Thinking quickly and not really sure if it would work, he grabbed the first Vong kid that was in reach. Hoping they were like any other sentient that would protect their young. In his arms held a striking Vong child, not even being sure his age, but it wasn't important. With a lightsaber blade not to far from the kids neck, Volk backs up stepping over dead Vong bodies.


"Stop or i kill him ! " Volk shouts at the on coming Yuuzhan Vong.

[lotvashai]

If the persuing crowd had been riled before, then the Jeedai had just done himself no favours. His swiftness was his ally, but even he must have realized that his chances of facing all that stood here and surviving, were not good in the slightest. And by the time Lotva Shai had managed to get a good view of what, exactly, was going on here, she was about to be rendered incredulous all over again.

In the arms of the Jeedai, lightsaber pointed perilously close to their neck, was a crecheling - Her crecheling.
Rage that had simmered within her mind reached it's boiling point in that instant, and even as the warriors dared to edge closer, amphistaves hissing and spitting in anticipation, the Consul pushed her way to the front of the crowd roughly, a snarl forming on her otherwise severe visage.

"Fool!" She spat viciously, "Killing him would mean your own death, you will not do it. I have seen how you infidels, you Jeedai, behave! You would no more sacrifice your enemies than you would a defenceless infant were there another way."

She reached out cautiously, making certain that the warriors at her back were going to hold off for the time being. While death was common place among their society, a death at the hands of an infidel was dishonourable if not attained in the right way, and she would not sacrifice Azca's chances at a glorious future in servitude to their gods, not for the sake of capturing this Jeedai in one piece. If he had to die here and now, before they discovered if he was alone or not, then she would do that.

"Give him to me." She demanted, resisting the urge to edge forward and making sure that her voice was as benign as possible. "Now."

In the Jeedai's arms, Azca, who had seemed oblivious to the danger he was in moments before, had become restless, trying to wriggle free of Volk's grip on him and finding his efforts momentarily useless. But, like most of his crechemates, he was as resourceful as the next one and in knowing kicking and struggling wasn't going to get him anywhere, there was always one thing left to try. And try he did, biting down as hard as he could on the limb that held him.

[Emanon]

Finally someone who spoke basic, not that alien talk of theirs. Still holding the kid in front of him as a shield from them trying to throw or attack him, Volk was inching closer to the hole in the wall he cut to get out.

"Finally a civilized Vong, so happy to meet one that could talk basic and not only your own ignorant language." Who ever this kid was it seemed to do the trick. They were holding back for the moment, his goal at insulting them was to gage if the kid was indeed important or if they just want the Jeedai as they called force users. "So who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"


Volk was just now feeling the extent of his injuries, his back was sore, from hitting the wall the way he did. His right shoulder was still bleeding with a piece of shrapnel in it, then adding on the other cuts or bruises from the thud and razor bugs. This was getting bad, he had to get out quick or he was going to get weak fast.

The last thing he expected was a bite from the little Vong kid. With sharp teeth puncturing his forearm holding him, Volk doest think and strikes out at the kid with his lightsabers butt to the back of the head. Angered about the bite and all the things happening he was beyond caring that he just hit a defenseless kid. Still having one last thermal detonator he was planning on using it once he got out of the hole in the wall. Wanting to kill as many Vongs as he could now.....