Disclaimer: I do not own star wars or any of its character and while plot points are from various RPG games I take no credit for their origins only of their application in the story therein. This a labor of love and not for profit though if Disney or Lucas Arts would like to hire my creative brain I'd be more than happy to drop everything and come running.
Episode 4: Mandalorian Captain
Chapter 29: Buried for a Reason
Vortga's Palace:
The dark confines of the twisting passageways put all the caverns and forest of Pantora to shame. The crumbling, sloping walls combined with the cool dankness was enough to make even his hardened hunting instincts quiver. The near identical halls and rooms didn't do his nerves in favors either. If it weren't for the chem-lights left behind he wasn't sure they'd ever find their way back to the throne room.
Behind him, the mercenary was completely silent only occasionally commenting on their surroundings. Linev, like the rest of the Red Pact, had an air of hardened professionalism. When they were together, the mercenaries seemed to act as more than jaded triggermen.
-Maybe a bit jaded, if he was going, to be honest with himself. The utter lack of compassion for their fallen comrade gulled him almost as much as it irritated Jarek. It served only to reinforce the idea that the mercs would betray them at the earliest opportunity. Fortunately, until they found an exit they could count on a degree of mutual support. Or until their supplies ran low.
"-Whichever happens first," Slick mumbled to himself.
Linev glanced over at him asking, "Did you say something?"
"There's something up ahead?" he said and in actuality, his keen eyes did pick out a mysterious outline along the darkened wall. The hall they'd been walking down had seemed like any other corridor until the light from his lamp caught something out of place. A small bit of moisture glinting in the light of his torch.
The light caught on many things in the darkness; shards of minerals, damp moss, and even the rivulets of water that dripped drown the walls. Each glisten and sparkle had its own unique shade that Slick was able to focus on or ignore in turn. What caught his gaze was completely different that stood out from the norm.
Stepping closer, the light played across what appeared to be strips of white flesh dangling down the stone surface. They nearly glowed a translucent white in the light of their lamps. What he had mistaken for moisture was, in fact, dollops of slime that oozed down the lengths of flesh-like material.
Linev made a disgusted sound. "What is it?" he asked.
Slick angle his head to get a better look noting what could only be described as an embryotic sack amidst the shredded tendrils. "It looks like some sort of cocoon," he said recalling the tiny iratus cocoons he collected as a child on Pantora. Gently prodding the fleshy sack he added with a bit of trepidation, "It's empty."
The sound of scuttling legs caused Linev to whirl around weapon at the ready. Hearing the same sound, Slick reacted in kind. Scanning their immediate surroundings he saw no immediate threat. He started to lower his weapon when he noticed Linev was still staring wide-eyed back down the hall.
Stepping up next the mercenary Slick asked in a low whisper, "What is it?"
After a moment of silence, Linev replied, "I thought I saw something." The man never took his eyes off the hall where the sound had originated. Glancing at the cocoon then back down the hall Slick came to an alarming conclusion.
"We're not alone in here," he murmured in annoyance.
Graayl had immediately taken point when they'd separated from the main group. Gare didn't even question him. If the big lizard wanted to be the first to discover the next trap he was more than happy to let him lead. In fact, after getting the crew locked in the temple, he had half a mind to have an "accident" befall the Barabel. The memory of Graayl's dismissive attitude toward the death of Chenko still filled him with anger. It was a shame Jarek had come to a deal with the Red Pact otherwise Gare would've had no qualms about thinning the ranks. It was yet another moment where he felt grateful to have landed with a crew that not only cared for him but would probably mourn him should the worst happen.
At that moment he Mercenary Captain carelessly crossed in front of Gare's line of fire. The Gank's finger hovered over the trigger contemplating the unarmored patch between the Barabel's shoulder-blades.
"To easy," he thought with an evil gleam in his eyes. He reluctantly lowered his weapon. Graayl turned the next corner and just as quickly as the savage urge filled him, it dissipated. "Not worth the plasma bolt," he growled to himself.
Tucking his head Gare followed the Barabel around the corner into yet another rubble filled room. However, crumbling facades weren't the only things festooning the floor of this new chamber.
"Bodies," Graayl stated. Bodies might've been a stretch. What Gare saw were three bundles of bone barely held together by rags and gristle. Though mostly skeletons, he could tell two were humanoid and the third could've been a Duros. Scattered amongst the bodies were crates, old supplies, and a few weapons. The pair of them stepped lightly so as to not tread upon one of the three prostrate forms. As Graayl bent down to examine the Duros corpses Gare touched his comm-link. "Jarek," he said in a low voice, shifting his gaze from one body to the next.
"Yeah," Jarek's voice came back broken but readable, "Go ahead."
"Graayl and I have found additional bodies," he explained noting the scattering of useless gear, "along with equipment and personal items." Without getting to close Gare could tell they all had the same teeth-marks Slick had described. "Looks like they were gnawed upon." He noted that the back of the Duros' head was missing as if it had been blasted apart. Maybe the creature had gone after his brain?
There was a pause and then Jarek asked, "Any sign of a creature?"
A logical question considering he doubted old-age ate these beings. "No. Just bodies."
Just then Graayl turned revealing a small data-pad. The Barabel activated it, briefly scanning the contents before jumping into the comm-link. "Mandalorian, I have what appears to be a personal log," he said reading the screen, "Name of Alander Britski."
"Alander Britski?" Era's excited voice came over the comm, "I know her work. She's an expert on the old Hutt Empire." Gare and Barabel shared a curious look. A thought passed between them that went unsaid, 'why was a renowned archeologist doing there if not to find a treasure?'
Jarek's voice cut back over the link. "All right. Take it back to Era. Have her look at it."
"Very well," Graayl responded. Before they departed the Barabel cast about the room one last time in an obvious attempt to find any indication the former occupants had discovered the Hutt treasure. No luck. Fortunately, it seemed Vortga's wealth was still theirs for the taking. Unfortunately, if they didn't find an exit the Red Pact and the crew of the Outcast would end up just like Britski's crew.
"There it is again," Linev gasped whipping his weapon around. This time the scuttling sound had come from back the way they'd come.
Slick followed his gaze scanning the hallway with his rifle. "I don't see anything," he said. He wasn't doubting the mercenary, for he had heard the sound as well. Whatever was out there, possibly the same thing that was in the cocoon, was toying with them.
"It's around here somewhere," Linev snarled in frustration, stepping ahead of Slick to investigate further.
The Pantoran started after him only to get distracted by the same scuttling noise right behind him. Panic and adrenaline surged through his system. Spinning he brought up his weapon while simultaneously bringing up his hand to shield his eyes. He felt Linev also turn. The muzzle flashed and Slick got the briefest of glimpses of the terror decent toward them. The scream intermingling with the otherworldly screech was deafening.
The report of Slick's rifle sliced through the darkness of the temple. Jarek's head whipped around, his finger immediately going to his commlink. "Era, Jacek, report!" he called out.
"It's not us," came Era's immediate reply.
Another shot rang out followed by another. Jarek and Larin started to move to head in the direction of the sound. They broke into a run, Jarek's hand still on the side of his helmet. "Gare?"
"Not us!" The Gank responded. There was the sound of shuffling feet and heavy breathing, meaning Gare and Graayl were also on the move. More blaster fire echoed through the darkness. Zeroing on the direction of the weapon's fire the Mandalorian threw caution to the wind and broke into a sprint, Larin hot on his heels.
"Slick, what's happening?" he yelled into his commlink. There was no reply. All he got was additional mussel blasts in rapid succession. Swearing he dropped his hand and poured the speed on. Following the chem-lights and the weapon's fire, he closed in on Slick's last known position.
Rounding a corner Jarek first finds Linev on the ground clutching at his neck. Slick is standing just over the mercenary rifle up and firing down the corridor. Each round from his weapon arcs out, briefly illuminating the darkness but never reveals what he's shooting at.
Jarek runs up to the Pantoran. "Slick!" he called out finally gaining his attention.
Lowering his weapon Slick looks at Jarek. "I'm all right," he gasped. His wide fearful eyes said otherwise. The liberal amount of dirt and dust on his outfit indicated he'd taken a tumble in the dirt as well.
Jarek and Slick were just turning to check on Linev when they heard the sound of running feet. Jarek lowered his weapon when Graayl and Gare ran into view.
"What happened?" the Barabel demanded as Jarek and Larin began to look over the still groaning Linev.
"A creature attacked us," Slick declared gesturing down the corridor he had just been firing down. "Dropped down from above and got Linev in the throat."
Larin looked up from his fallen compatriot to Graayl. "I think he's going into shock," he declared his voice cracking with panic.
Jarek stood and without even looking at the Barabel began issuing orders. "Get him back to the main chamber," he said looking at the mercenaries. Graayl glared at him for a moment, but at an insisting prod from Larin set to his task. Jarek and Gare started to follow when he noticed Slick lagging behind. Turning Jarek looked at the Pantoran hunter. "Slick?"
Shaking his head, Slick replied sounding nervous, "It was too dark. Not sure if I got a kill shot."
That was a problem. It was bad enough they were trapped in the temple. They didn't need to be trapped with an angry predator as well. If it was the same creature that attacked Britski's team then it was a very real threat that needed to be dealt with. Sighing, Jarek checked his weapon. "Well," he said, "After we regroup, we'll just have to go kill it."
"Might be a bit harder than that," Slick said. Jarek looked at him questionably. The Pantoran ejected his spent magazine and slotted in a fresh one. "Jarek, I hit it half a dozen time," he said his tone becoming nervous, "and it still kept moving."
Vortga's Throne Room:
By the time they'd gotten Linev back to the throne room, the mercenary had stopped groaning in pain. Instead, he'd begun wheezing heavily and his eyes had rolled into the back of his head. Laying him down Slick broke open a med-kit before examining the wound. What had been a pair of puncture marks had swollen and turned a sick shade of green.
Slick winced at the sight having seen similar bite marks before. The tiny iratus bugs were nothing compared to the creature he'd witnessed. "The creature must have injected him with some kind of venom," he stated looking Linev overtaking in the various other symptoms. He'd definitely seen reactions to venom, but nothing so rapid. "His body's shutting down." He grabbed a vial of anti-toxin from the kit. After slotting it into a syringe along with a stimulant he slipped the needle into Linev's arm.
"What can we do?" Jacek asked. The old man had hovered over the Pantoran's shoulder throughout the entire procedure. Slick would've told him off if he hadn't been so focused on saving Linev's life.
"Well," he replied even as he monitored Linev's vitals, "I've given him a shot of epinephrine and a stimpack." Even as he spoke the mercenaries breathing began to ease but he remained unconscious. "That might buy his immune system time to counteract the venom." He looked up at Jarek with the gravest of stares, "His chances will be slim enough if we don't get him back to a proper med bay and soon."
"He's right," Era commented. She'd initially lent aide to Linev but when Sick's knowledge of venoms superseded her own she'd backed off. The archeologist had instead contented herself by scanning Britski's data-pad. "The same thing happened to the other team," she continued, highlighting a passage in the screen. "According to Dr. Britski's journal; 'the creature came at us from the shadows. It attacked Major Kiren. He was dead within two hours.'"
Kiren must've been the name of the first lone body they'd discovered in the corridor. That left the room of corpses Gare and Graayl had discovered. "Any mention of what happened to the others?" Jacek asked.
Era held up a finger as she scrolled through the texts. After a moment she nodded. A grim look crossed her face as she read, "'Janese and Levat are displaying increasingly anxious behavior sense Kiren's demise. But we have to press on if we hope to locate the vault entrance." Many ears perked up at the sound of the word 'vault' but Era ignored them and continued. "The structures visible from outside turned out to be the tip of the proverbial iceberg, and the main temple is largely untouched which is good for us. Aside from the creature, we found no other signs of other life-forms, sapient or otherwise. We remain vigilant." She scrolled slowly to the next page. "My instincts tell me something is watching and waiting to strike. No matter. Patience is something of an art for my people, and I am more than willing to play along in order to locate what I came for."
The crew of the Outcast and the Red Pact Mercenaries stared at the Mirialin taking in every word with dread anticipation. Hands clenched weapons and eyes shifted nervously, but no one spoke.
"Janese is losing it as one of our last remaining powercells died," Era read her voice growing tight as her own nerves played along her spine. "The light seems to discourage the creature but not entirely.'" Even as she spoke one of the lanterns flickered ominously making Larin and Saw flinch. "'She only took the job for the credits and possibly out of boredom, but she knew what she was signing up for. But as time passes, I'm beginning to think I'm not much safer inside these halls after all. I've seen Levat glancing around. Even though his strangely calm demeanor, I can tell he thinks we're being followed." In the far distance, the scuttling sound echoed. Weapons swung around towards the entrance only to be met by darkness. After a moment of silence, Era continued to read. "'The creature attacked again. Janeth was killed when the passageway collapsed. Levat was bitten and died in my arms." Era paused to swallow a lump in her throat before scrolling to the final entry. "I'm all alone now. There is no escape. Only one course of action remains.'"
"One course of action remains?" Saw questioned, "What does that mean?"
Gare looked at Era and asked, "Was Dr. Britski a Duros?" Era nodded and Gare sighed. "Found a Duros corpse. Its head had been blasted open." As the weight of Gare's implication sank in a collective groan went through the group.
"It seems," the Jacek said softly, "the good Doctor took her life, rather than face the darkness alone." The old smuggler who had moments ago been consumed by his own fear and need for survival was suddenly acting as though he mourned the death of the archeologist. Perhaps in her fate, he'd seen his own mortality and even the futility of searching for lost treasure. Slick certainly had.
"Doesn't bode well for finding a way out," the Pantoran mumbled earning a soft groan of despair from the others.
The situation was looking bleaker and bleaker by the minutes. Linev's wounds already hit morale hard, but after the dire journal entries, a depressed air had settled about the room. Jarek grimaced at Graayl. He knew what the Barabel was thinking, and wasn't surprised when he opened his mouth.
"Mandalorian, we no longer have a choice," the Mercenary Leader stated angrily, "We must use the detonators."
Yes, the expedition was in dire straits, but Jarek wasn't prepared to give up so easily. No matter how hopeless it seemed he couldn't allow himself to give into despair. Not for his crew's sake. "We're not done searching yet, Graayl," he snapped back making sure to keep his tone soft but firm.
Graayl drew himself up to full height and glared down at the smaller human. "Linev is running out of time!" he hissed gesturing to his downed man.
It was all Jarek could do to keep from shooting the lizard on the spot. He'd been so callous about losing one man, and now he wanted to show concern? Jarek wasn't sure what kind of leader used the suffering if his own people as leverage, but he hoped he'd never become one. "I'm well aware of that," he retorted also drawing himself up to his full height, "But we're not going to risk any more lives until we've exhausted all our options!" Graayl didn't budge but his rapid blinking indicated his frustration. He was used to his size and natural ferocity intimidating those around him. The sight of the Mandalorian continuing to be defiant seemed to off balance him. When he didn't respond Jarek looked over at Gare and asked, "You guys find anything worth salvaging besides the journal? Hints about how they got in?"
Gare shrugged and shook his head. Graayl likewise shook his head before replying in a low growl, "There was nothing but old equipment and spoiled rations."
Saw looked at his commander incredulously. "What about finding the treasure?" he demanded.
Jarek shot him a lethal look that instantly cowed the Twi'lek. "The Treasure isn't a priority," he snapped. Picking up his blaster he gestured to Slick, Gare, and Graayl to head towards the door. Beast or no beast they still needed to find where Britski's team got in. "Killing that creature and getting out of here is."
