Chapter 54
Shadowlands
The quartet had barely stepped from the cage to give their attention to the approaching dark siders when their kitt was thrown out and the cage started to lift.
"Really, there is no need to wait." Terri stated sarcastically
With a shared look they stepped forward, lighting their lightsabers as they walked closer. The fifth dark sider sat down on the corpse of one of the arial reptiles, flipping his lightsaber hand over hand. Two of the darksiders flipped the cowls of their hoods back. Bastila's eyes narrowed as she recognised them
"Two in the middle are siblings, both were deemed unfit for being Jedi and were send to seperate Agricorp worlds." She informed the rest
"Unfit how?" Terri asked
"From what I have heard both were too dependant on one another and did not fit in with their apprentice group, both were classified as mentally unstable." Bastila answered
"So they separated two co dependant mentally unstable individuals and send them to the farms. I really wonder sometimes if the Order has not heard of something called common sense." Terri remarked
"It would be best if me and you take them on, they will fight as one and we have the best combat synergy." Bastila adviced
"Right, Melissa far left is yours, Juhani far right." Terri ordered
The group spread further apart to give themselves space and waited for their opponents to reach them. Bastila twisted her saber staff to be diagonally across her. Terri stepped into a Makashi high guard. Juhani and Melissa preferring Ataru got themselves in position, slightly turning to the side minimising their profiles, both going for mid guard stances.
The two groups stared each other down for long moments, the sounds of the shadowlands seemed to still in anticipation of the violence to be unleashed. Melissa extinguished her blade and shook the hilt and slapped the emitter, pretending to be frustrated
"Damn battery." She said
Her opponent flashed to her position only to be caught off guard as Melissa lit her blade and slashed at her, she managed to stop her forward rush in time as the tip of Melissa's blade slashed through the tunic leaving a thin burn line.
The siblings force jumped over Terri and Bastila and tried to slash down of them. Bastila lifted her blade and caught both slashes. Terri spun and stood back to back with Bastila covering the rear. The two landed and flourished their blades in red circles before taking a ready stance
Juhani and her opponent circled one another. She kept her second saber behind her back unlit waiting for the right moment to reveal its existence. The two lightly tapped blades in light touches to feel out the other. Juhani stepped right and forward to break of the circling to keep her opponent from trying to dizzy her with the constant circling. He gave a power slash downward. Juhani deployed her second blade and caught the stroke in a scissor slash. He jumped back to clear space.
Melissa and her opponent were furiously hacking and slashing at one another, their blades a constant twirl of movement. Breathing deeply they jumped back from one another. Melissa threw her hand out in a force push, her opponent countered with her own. They started to slide back from one another as the opposing techniques met. Melissa stepped to the left and moved her hand right before dropping her push. Her opponent stumbled slightly as she was caught flat footed. Melissa moved in using a high speed kata. Melissa got inside her guard and close. Delivering a headbutt , causing her opponent to rear back. Closing her blade she pressed the emitter to her opponents chest and triggered the blade again. Nerveless fingers dropped a lightsaber, the red light dying as the blade shut off.
Terri dropped her lightsaber and threw out her hand in twin force chokes. Bastila vaulted over her and got behind their twin enemies. She lifted her bladed to shoulder height and pushed forward, decapitating both. A cry of pain followed shortly thereafter and Juhani's opponent dropped to his knees, a scissor strike from Juhani leading to another decapitation.
Slow mocking clapping came as the last one stood up and approached them. He grinned at Terri as he came closer.
"We meet again. Last time you ran and left your comrade to die. Who are you going to sacrifice today?"
"Who are you?" Terri demanded
"For the short while you are about to live, you may call me Darth Bandon. The bigger question you should ask is, who are you really?"
Bastila darted forward and swung her blade. Bandon lit his own saber staff and the two started twirling and slashing around each other. Already tired from her first fight Bastila was the first to start flagging. She cried out in pain as Bandon managed to pierce her shoulder. Bandon twirled around and swung his blades as the force warned him of danger. He grunted as an object slammed into his chest, his blade sliding the back end of the shaft of. He coughed, aline of blood was dribbling from his mouth. Terri was in his face a moment later. Blackness claimed him moments later and the two parts of his body separated.
Terri caught Bastila as she stumbled back and helped her to the ground. Juhani was moving closer a medpack already in hand.
"Damnit, Bas. Why did you have to be so reckless?" Terri demanded
"Got tired of his voice." Bastila tried to joke
"You should have waited for all of us to attack, you were lucky Melissa decided to go with an arrow instead of a blaster." Terri chided
Bastila sighed in relief as a hyposyringe hissed and delivered an anealgesia. Juhani sat her up and loosened her combat suit zip and pulled her top down to expose the wound. Efficiently she dressed the injury before pulling the suit back up and immobilising the arm in a sling
"Nothing a force heal session will not take care off." Juhani reported
Terri pointed to the set up tents.
"Might as well settle down here for the night and go through their equipment and effects. We might find something usefull."
She turned her attention to Bastila
"You are going to start hibernating right now." She said, a concerned look on her face
"If only to have you stop being mad at me." Bastila replied
"That is going to take a bit more than a long nap." Terri answered.
Terri was sitting on a cot in the tent looking down at her resting fiancé, she ran her hands through her hair where she had her head in Terri's lap
"Why did you do it? There was enough of us to take him down safely." She asked again
Melissa and Juhani returned from moving the bodies of the dark siders and the dead reptiles further away from the camp so that they will not draw scavengers near to the camp.
"Terri, you need to sleep as well. Me and Juhani will keep watch for what is left of the night." Melissa said
"You two also need sleep." Terri objected
"We can do that in the morning while you and Bas search the camp." Melissa replied.
Juhani stepped into the tent as well. She dropped a Sith issue ration pack down
"I believe I have found the cause for the Sith's belligerence. Somehow this is worse than Republic issue." She stated
"We will forward that information to the Republic the moment we can. Instead of dropping artillery we should be dropping food packs." Melissa grinned
"Fine I will sleep, get out of here." Terri waved them out
Melissa pointedly switched of the light hanging in the tent before stepping out to take sentry duty.
Melissa woke a hand shook her. Turning from her side she saw Juhani pulling her hand back
"You have been asleep for nine hours." Juhani informed her
"Guess I was more tired than I knew." Melissa replied
"Well you did have two busy and tiring days." Juhani pointed out.
Sitting up on the cot she rubbed her face with her hands. Her face and body sticky with sweat.
"I would really love to have a shower now." She said
"As would I, however that seems not be in the immediate future." Juhani replied.
Stepping from the tent she looked around
"Where is the other two?" Melissa asked
Juhani pointed to a tree.
"Trying to get a signal to the Hawk and setting up a cache. The man in charge was Malak's apprentice. His datapad revealed a lot of important data." Juhani explained
"And burying it would have the Wookies digging it up, when the cage comes down again." Melissa nodded
"Yes which is why apart from taking the lightsabers, we are leaving everything else in place. Give them something to scavenge and no reason to go looking." Juhani added
Melissa pulled her backpack close and opened it. With little to no enthusiasm she pulled and MRE out and depressed the button on the bottom of the pack. The contents sizzled as the heating coil heated the food up, but as typical the coil lost power before everything was completely warm. Opening the pack and taking the supplied utensil, Melissa started eating the unappetizing contents. Juhani just as reluctantly followed suit.
"First decent planet, we go and buy hunters rations." Melissa stated after swallowing a mouthful
" I would go and eat at a restaurant when we get to a decent planet." Juhani replied
"Should I have Canderous taking over cooking again?" Melissa asked teasingly
"Well, his nerf stew is better than yours." Juhani replied musingly
"For that I will not share my cream stash with you again." Melissa threatened laughing
"No problem, after the time we spent with the Naruku's I have reached my limit on taking in fish, milk and cream." Juhani shrugged
"Now, I know you are lying. I can remember them being in a food coma and you just keeping on going." Melissa said, pointing with the utensil
"I can't help it if the smaller cats are lightweights." Juhani sniffed
"If they heard you know there would be eating competition of note." Melissa chuckled
"And I will win again." Juhani declared loftily
Terri and Bastila returned two hours later. Both were dirty and covered in bark and leaves.
"Had to climb quite a bit to get a signal through." Bastila explained their state
Terri sat down by her pack and pulled out a meal.
"Tried to have a look around while up there. Could only see more trees." She reported
"Trees in a forest? No." Melissa replied sarcastically
"And for that, you get to take point when we leave." Terri retorted
"Speaking of which, are we going to wait for day or are we doing a night march?" Juhani asked
"A night march I think, we need to get some distance from here and see to our objectives." Bastila replied
Finishing her meal Terri tossed her container on the junk pile created by the previous occupants of the camp. After standing she pulled her rucksack on and held her rifle in a relaxed ready position.
"Let us hit the road then ladies." She ordered
Moving through the forest was a lot easier than anticipated. Generations of Wookies making their way through the shadowlands had created some well defined paths. Not that the paths were without their dangers. Raptor like reptiles had tried to attack them at several points as well as some very large arachnids. Bastila denied having screaming like a little boy after that attack.
Stepping into a clearing they found three dead raptors, cautiously they approached. Juhani knelt down and touched one
"Still warm, a recent kill. Wounds are cauterised, single slashes" She reported.
"Lightsaber?" Melissa opinioned
"Most likely." Juhani replied
Terri looked around the clearing.
"Two defined routes leading out of here, one more heavily used than the other." She reported
"Let us check the less travelled route first." Bastila suggested
"Might as well." Terri shrugged
The sound of running water and a creaking sound was the first indication of change they heard. Stepping round a bend they spotted a waterwheel turning in the slow current of a very small river, Wooden aquaducts leading to mudbrick dam. An enclosed farm plot abutted the mudbrick dam, the wall also made of mudbricks. A second line of wooden aquaducts let to a massive tree, where they could see a door set into the tree and light spilling out from carved windows. However they saw a shocking sight
An old man was washing off underneath a rudimentary shower. The second aquaduct having led to another water wheel that turned an ancient generator providing power as well as feeding a full tank for previously mentioned shower. Melissa spun around
"Checking rear." She stated
"Covering Melissa." Jihani added
"Checking right." Terri called
"Leaving me to deal with that." Bastila grumbled
"You are the senior Jedi on the mission." Terri pointed out
"Cowards. It is just a naked old man." Bastila stated, stepping forward
Looking down and placing her hand in front of her eyes.
"Hello, sir!" She called out
"What do you want?" An ornery voice called back
"Could you get dressed before we talk." Bastila called back in reply
Several moments later they were gathered in front of the tree house. The old man had gotten dressed and was grumpily standing in front of them. Bastila cleared her throat
"Good evening, sir. I am Bastila Shan, with me is Terri Cazor, Juhani and Melissa Wren." She said
"If you are looking for the Czerka camp it is the other way." The man replied, pointing
"I was wondering if you could answers for us?" Terri asked
"And I should indulge your curiosity, why?" He replied
"Common courtesy."Bastila snapped
"I am old, courtesy is something I have forgotten."
Melissa produced a chocolate bar
"How about payment then?" She offered
The bar was out of her in moments
"Go on then." The old man said
"Could you tell us your name? It is a bit disconcerting not knowing how to address you." Bastila stated diplomatically
" The Wookies call me the crazy old human, your bosses at Czerka call me the irritating old bastard." He stated in return
"Since we are neither Wookies nor Czerka employees, shall we try something else?" Terri spoke up
"And I am just to take your word for that, girly." He replied
"You want us to prove it somehow?" Juhani probed
"Sabbac, you win the price, kitty."
Biting back angry retorts at the casual racism offered, the four shared a glance
"How do we prove our allegiances to you then?" Terri demanded
"Go to the Czerka camp and release all of the animals they captured." He demanded
"Is that all? Any specific way you want it done?" Melissa snarked
"I just want it done. Now, shoo. I want to finish my shower."
Juhani started wincing as they approached the Czerka camp. Her discomfort was picked up by the others immediately.
"Whats wrong ?" Terri asked
"Nothing, just an irritating noise." Juhano demurred
Stepping closer they noticed a line of swinging parabolic dishes.
"Sonic disruption." Bastila stated
Melissa dropped her pack and produced a headset which she handed to Juhani
"Sound nullifiers, I guess I took them instead of the amplifiers I wanted to pack. Should block most of the noise out" She said
"Thank you." Juhani replied, gratefully.
A line of Czerka guards were in position behind the dishes. One called out to a tent on spotting them. A bulky man irritably stepped out from said tent and approached them.
"You are late. The cargo should have been collected yesterday. Did you stop to pick flowers along the way?" He snapped
"Excuse me, what do you mean we are late?" Bastila replied
"Czerka did not send you?" He answered
"No, we are not affiliated with Czerka." Bastila stated
"Karking furballs, screwed up again. Names Dern, what brings you down here?" He responded
"Specimen collection for Coruscant university." Terri replied
"Bantha crap. You are here for tach glands. That is the only thing worth coming down here for." Dern snorted
Looking over the camp they noted the cages stacked to one side. Most were filled to the brim with tachs. The agitated animals were pushing and treading on one another to get away from the sonic assault they were experiencing
"Raptors." A guard at the far end of the camp called out
Dern rushed there after grabbing a rifle. He fired into the group of raptors as they were disabled by the sonics. Several dropped to the ground before the rest of the pack scattered. Dern waved the guards forward
"Don't just stand there, bring them in and skin them, and don't mess up the skins, the leather will bring in a nice bonus." He ordered
Making his way back to where he had left the quartet he stopped behind his line
"You lot still here? Get lost, this is Czerka property." He snarled
Looking over the group he let a leer through as he stopped at Melissa
"Though if you wish to make some credits, little red can stay. A man can get very lonely down here." He said smarmily "I am certain my boys will keep the rest of you in profitable company."
Terri grabbed Melissa before she could respond and let the way back. Reaching the intersecting clearing they noticed that the raptor carcases had disappeared.
"I am really starting to hate this planet, evil Ithorians, condescending racist old men, misogynistic hunters." Terri let loose a rant
"Not mentioning enslaving Wookies." Bastila added
"The old man was not racist, he was testing a response." Juhani replied
"Could you explain that?" Bastila asked
"I have been the target of many a racist comment, so I could tell he did not mean it, besides that he felt uncomfortable in the force while saying it." Juhani replied
"I did not even think to scan him in the force." Terri admitted
"He tried to hide it, but he is moderately powerful." Melissa put in.
"I missed that as well." Terri replied
Melissa sat her rucksack down and withdrew her bow and two bulbous tipped arrow heads from a case tied to the side. One had yellow striping on it , the second red.
"I assume you have a plan to get those tachs freed?" Terri stated
"We have several options. Go back and try to force persuade them to switch it off, but for some reason I believe their leader will not be persuadable. Two try to sneak in under stealth belts and manually switch of those emitters, after the first three stops working they will know someone is among them." Melissa explained
"If you even get to three emitters without the belt being disabled by the sonic waves." Juhani put in
"Option three is going in guns blazing, and that is too risky to my mind. That leaves option four, a stealth attack."
"Go on." Bastila encouraged
Melissa finished attaching the bulbous heads to two shafts and lifted the yellow tipped one
"This contains a mild knockout gas, I fire it close to the cages and hopefully sedate the tachs." Melissa explained
"The second arrow is a high explosive head, is it not?" Terri stated
"Their power generator is next to Derns tent. I followed the power lines back from the emitters to there." Melissa went on
"You knock out the power, their defence is useless. So they have a choice between running and trying to beat back the wildlife by themselves." Terri mused
"With all those tachs in one place, they have lured quite a large number of predators to their camp." Bastila pointed out
"The tachs will be safe in the cages. The hunters not so much." Melissa completed her proposal
"What about us, where will we be?" Bastila asked
"Somewhere up in a tree, the predators will most likely be interested on the targets on ground level especially if they start running." Melissa answered
"I believe option four is the most optimal plan." Juhani voted
"I agree, though I am not looking forward to be in the trees again so soon." Bastila added her vote
"You liked it well enough before." Terri grinned, lewdly
"The chafe marks not so much." Bastila replied
"My innocent ears, please stop." Melissa complained
Melissa crept along a sturdy branch overlooking the camp. Reaching the optimal position she found multiple vines blocking her shots. Most were easily shifted away, one however had gotten tangled in another branch below her, drawing her knife she slashed the vine. A white viscous flied erupted from it, covering her from head to toe in it . Luckily she had closed her eyes and mouth when the eruption first began. She glared at the now dripping vine with murderous intent. The fluid had a fruity smell to it. After wiping her face with a hand, she nocked the yellow arrow.
The guard shifts were rotating when a yellow cloud erupted by the tach cages. Moments later an explosion rocked the camp knocking most of their feet. The blast expelled Dern from his tent and had him connect hard with the ground. If they were not deafened by the explosion they would have heard the whines as the sonic emitters ground to a stop. They did hear the roar of the wildlife as they were no longer denied their feast
Dern got to his feet and started running to where the cage staging area was. The guards looked dazed at one another for a moment. A savage roar broke their stupor. A six metre high animal with two legs and four arms was moving closer, as it roared in challenge again all they could see was teeth. To a man they decided to follow their leader, despite all of them being armed. A stampede of animals followed their flight, the ultra predator lumbering in their wake.
Melissa walked to the edge of the branch and tied a rope to it. Lowering herself down to the front of the cages. The tachs were already stirring awake within the cages. Hurriedly she tapped the open cage tabs on the cages locks before pulling herself hand over hand up the rope to the branch. A sea of tachs erupted from the cages and flooded into the shadowlands while the predators were distracted. She was looking down at the camp as the predators returned, some bearing blaster scorching. A few minor battles erupted between different packs before they broke away to pursue the scent of the tachs, leaving a few of their numbers dead in the camp. The group that stayed behind paused long enough to gather the dead and drag the carcases behind them into the jungle.
Melissa looked over her shoulder as she sensed the other approach. Seeing Terri's grin and her opening her mouth to comment on her state
"Not a word." Melissa threatened
Searching the camp proved to be quite profitable, the most priced find was the food containers with precooked and stored meals. The four happily exchanged those for the MRE's they were carrying. Credit wise the haul was not too bad. They managed to fill four cages with left behind blasters, energy cells, tibana cartridges and various loose pieces of equiptment. A fifth cage was stuffed full with cured raptor leather. Said cages were then elevated up to the tree branches before being moved to a new cache site. Melissa climbed up the rope to the branch and untied it before dropping to join the other three.
"Let us go speak with that old man and get this over and done with." Terri said
They started walking back to the treehouse, discarded power cells and the occasional blaster littered the path back. A quick detour to the cage lift area had another pile of discarded equipment by the landing.
"Guess the cage came back in time for them." Bastila shrugged
They found the old man seated in front of his house, drinking from a wooden cup, a large beaker standing by his feet. Melissa found the smell coming from it to be very familiar. The old man looked at her covered visage
"How are you not completely drunk?" He asked in surprise
"I assume you know what this fluid is?" Melissa countered
"Jumba vine, I brew my drinks from it, has to be diluted quite a lot." He replied.
"Good thing you kept your mouth closed, otherwise we would be chasing you across the forest again." Terri snickered
"At least tracking her would be easier, just follow the clothes." Bastila added
Melissa glared at the two, flicking a sign at them. Juhani shook her head, her mouth corners twitching. The man let them have their moment before looking them over.
"I heard the explosion and the noise. Have you removed the hunters?" He stated
"Yes, they are on their way back to their trade station, they might come back with greater numbers though." Bastila replied
"I do not sense death on any of you, that is good." He answered
"Ready to drop the eccentric hermit routine now?" Terri asked
"Why should I? It is what I am." He answered
"A force sensitive, yet you do not reek of the dark side." Juhani commented
"So I can use the force, who is to say I am not contemplating the force in solitude here?"
Melissa pointed to the jug by his feet.
"If you were here on a force pilgrimage you would not be drinking, two your set up here is too comfortable for someone on a pilgrimage." She pointed out
"You got me there, missy. Names Jolee Bindo." He snorted
"How did you get here?" Melissa sked
"Crashed my ship several years ago, decided to stay down here." Jolee replied
"Why not go to the top and be retrieved by the Temple? Surely the Wookie leadership would help with that." Bastila asked
"I decided I need a break from the Republic and the galaxy. I have had my share of adventures, thought I could enjoy my retirement here. I did exactly that till Czerka started sending their poachers down here." Jolee answered
He gave a deep yawn and stood up gathering his mug and container.
"You four can stay here for the night, the animals have long ago learned to stay away from here."
"How did they learn that?" Terri asked
Jolee pointed to a line of white stones forming a perimeter.
"Killed a few and started adding my scent to the area." He explained
"Scent?" Bastila querried
"I peed on the stones. Now I am going to sleep, keep your silly questions for the morning."
Jolee paused at his door.
"I would suggest taking a shower as well the lot of you smell like Gamoreans, especially whitewash over there."
He entered his house and moments later the lights went out. The area was lit by some bio luminescent plants and a single light that splayed onto the enclosed garden. Melissa dropped her pack and gunbelt and made her way to the shower after digging out a pile of fresh clothes from her pack.
"Might as well wash my clothes while I am in there." She said over her shoulder.
"Should have asked where the refresher is." Bastila commented
Terri pointed to a wooden structure standing in the garden plot
"As and you shall receive." She said
"How uncivilised." Bastila sniffed
"Welcome to the jungle babe." Terri replied.
Despite the lack of discernable light morning seemed to have the darkness recede somewhat and make objects more visible. Melissa was on watch when the door to the treehouse opened and Jolee stepped out. He settled himself on his seat and loudly stretched and yawned. Melissa pulled two food cases from her pack and sat down next to him. She passed him one.
"Thought you might like a change in diet." She commented
As she was handing the pack over her shirtsleeve moved up revealing her newest tattoo. Jolee blinked on seeing it
"Interresting." He muttered, depressing the warming button
"What?" Melissa asked
"A Jedi with mando tattoos." He answered
"I am Mandalorian, and no I am not a Jedi in the traditional sense." She replied
"Grey then are you?" Jolee rejoined
"As much as there are Grey Jedi, yes. But I am Mandalorian first and foremost." Melissa replied
"How did you earn your tattoo?" He asked
"Stole an Alterran cruiser." Melissa answered
Jolee choked mildly on that answer and gave several deep coughs to clear his airway.
"That must be an interesting tale." He commented
"I am sure you have just as many from before crashing here and from being here itself." Melissa answered
"Why should I have stories?" Jolee evaded
"As you say frequently, you are old. No one your age will not have at least a few stories."
"Show respect young whippersnapper." Jolee grumbled without anger
"So how old were you when hyperdrive became a thing?" Melissa teased
Jolee chortled at that
"When I had a head full of hair and Coruscant was a small town with a well." He replied
Melissa looked thoughtfully over the set up
"I can see why you are comfortable here, despite the danger there is a certain peace here." She remarked
"You are too young to be talking like that." Jolee remarked
"The old goat is right." A new voice spoke
Beren appeared sitting beside Melissa
"Babuir." Melissa greeted him
"Grandpa? Him?" Jolee retorted
"Yes, you old goat. I am her grandfather." Beren spoke
"Hah, I knew I would outlive you." Jolee said, slapping his knee
Beren gave a friendly grin
"It is really good to see you old friend. The years have been kind to you." He said
"Tell that to my aching bones." Jolee grumbled
"Not too be rude, but why are you here?" Melissa asked
Beren laughed a bit and lifted his arms in a disarming gesture
"No need for concern, I just came to see how you are doing. Manifesting here is a lot easier. That an old friend is here with you just made it more enticing."
Beren nudged her shoulder with his, or at least tried to.
"Though in truth I also wanted to get away from your father for a while. He has been near insufferable after your stunt on Alterra. He was gloating how his mandalorian DNA was showing to be superior to your Jetti component." Beren said
"I should have known you were watching that." Melissa replied
"He also told me to tell you not to get your dates drunk if you wish to score." Beren grinned
Melissa immediately went red.
"I thought we agreed that you lot will stop watching me like that." She whimpered
"We stopped when you stepped into your cabin. We did hear your confession to your bondmates though." Beren said.
Jolee coughed and cleared his throat
"Never knew you had a kid and with a mando at that." He commented
"Never did. She is my last padawans daughter, We adopted each other." Beren explained
"I see why should would rather claim the other side then than be associated with her." Jolee remarked
"You do not know the half of it." Beren stated, darkly
Jolee looked at the force ghost
"I am guessing you want me to tag along with your brat and her friends." He said
"As if you were not planning to invite yourself along anyway." Beren replied
"I am enjoying my retirement." Jolee objected.
"More likely bored out of your skull. Melissa could you give us a few moments?"
Melissa stood up and went to wake up the others where they were sleeping in their bedrolls. Throwing a look over her shoulder as she did so. She saw Beren place a hand on Jolee shoulder and say something and how Jolee's face showed a moment of acute pain before replacing it with his usual grumpy expression. Jolee nodded at Beren. Beren saw her looking at disappeared after giving her a wave. Terri woke after Melissa shook her awake
"Anything going on?" Terri asked yawning
"I believe we have a guide now." Melissa said