The Busted Plugga: Chapter 1 “The Arrival”

JOURNEY OF THE BUSTED PLUGGA

Main OCs: Master Bal Darsten & Kas'sparr Bathori

NPCs: Esbern Greybeard, C00-K13, S2-S3

Equipped:

* Je'daii Archives on Holocrons.
* Book of Law (book)
* Lost tribe of the Sith (book)
* Personal log of Romulus Dreypa (book)
* Mab's Sniper Blaster Rifle
* Serapis, Mab's alchemized Khopesh

Prologue summary:

As Tython was evacuated, Esbern Greybeard was tasked to download the Je'daii archives and secure it before departure. However, due to Force storms contact with Esbern was lost.

Master Bal Darsten and the young Apprentice Kas'sparr Bathori, were sent to rescue the old Prakithian and the Holocrons before it was too late. When they arrived at Kaleth they faced several problems, one was the native beasts that blocked the entrance of the tower in search of shelter from the storm. After letting them in, Master Darsten assisted Esbern with the Holocron in the lowest level of the tower. Meanwhile the young Apprentice went to the very top of Kaleth for another task. His mother, the Grand Master, has asked him to retrieve important texts from the office.

After retrieving the texts and securing the archives, they finally left Tython. But before they could return to the Harpy, a terrible disaster happened. Their ship was pulled into a temporal anatomy caused by an explosion of Dark Matter.

Start journey:

* Location: Koda Station
* Ship status: life support, temp down
* Company: Enemy calling for assistance

~\*~

## JOURNEY OF THE BUSTED PLUGGA

Chapter one: The Arrival

GM: Sabina

Music: "Lost" by Jake Bugg

https://youtu.be/m7iwY1oIwO8

Date: 1259 BBY

// Outer Rim Territories, Wazta sector, I-18, Koda Space Station//

Somewhere in a backwater corner of the Outer Rim Territories, at the very end of the Koda Spur, you'd find a station. A small but busy smugglers hub, off the grid of course. Hidden in a region mostly populated by planets with poor farming communities, a place where no one would look.

Aboard that station, at the very top in Ops, sits the Lutrillian; Kossek, doing his usual job of instructing the new arrivals and departures of that day. After the last black market exchange, most freighters had already left during the night. So today promised to be a quiet day at the small smugglers hub, or so the Lutrillian thought,  because soon there would be an unexpected arrival.

~\*~

Quietly sitting at his workstation, the Lutrillian male holds a datapad with a game of Pazaak. Just as he's about to start a new game, Kossek notices a small flickering dot on the screen of his computer. A ship entered the system and is approaching the station. At once he places the datapad aside and sits up straight to open a channel to them.

"Incoming vessel, this Koda station Ops speaking. Please identify yourself and state your business" he says calmly and waits for an answer. But apart from some static there is no response and the incoming vessel isn't slowing down either.

"Incoming vessel, this is Koda station Ops.. slow down and Identify yourself." Kossek asks as he checks the comms to make sure they can hear him.

"Koda st…." A feminine voice finally  replies through the static. "Baba Yaga… assistance… breaks.. failure… I repeat.. this… Baba Yaga, we're coming in hot!!" The voice screams over the comms..

With panic the Lutrillian looks at his screen, the vessel is on a collision course with the station, he needs to think fast. "Baba Yaga, kill engines, steer away from the station, we'll catch you with the tractor beam" he instructs the pilot over the comms.

"Kill that engine Red!!, now!!" The woman could be heard yelling at someone in the background. A deep voice responds "I'm trying Liz!!" Then a split second later a loud bang could be heard.. "well.. the engine stopped" the same voice says. "It's completely gone" the woman yelled before returning to the comms. "Koda Station, Engine ejected, steering away now"

Meanwhile Kossek had informed the others in Ops of the situation and they were standing by with the Tractor beam. As the incoming vessel begins to steer away, they manage to catch it with the beam. "We got you!" Kossek says with relief as they successfully catch them. "Bringing you in now.."

Relieved, the Lutrillian plonks down in his seat and wipes away the sweat from his forehead. As he watches on screen how the freighter is being pulled in, he hears the station's proximity alarms going off. "What in the galaxy is that?" A colleague of the Lutrillian asks out loud. Curiously, Kossek walks over to their station to have a look. But neither of them understand what exactly they are looking at.

The sensors seem to pick up an energy source pinpointed several kilometers away from the station. No ships in its proximity but it starts to grow, the energy rapidly building up. Then suddenly out of nowhere two dots appeared on screen, two ships that had appeared out of nowhere, but it wasn't hyperspace.

~\*~

Slowly Kayla opens her eyes. Her world is spinning and it takes a moment before she realizes where she is. A tie fighter, a heavily damaged tie fighter as she can hear the muffled sound of the alarms going off in the background. Carefully she lifts her head and looks around. Her head is ringing, she grunts softly and tries to remember what happened. She remembers the battle of Tython

She looks outside, there is no sign of a battle. Dazed, she stares into space, confused. What happened? She reaches for her helmet and removes it, but as does so she notices blood on her hand. When she looks down she shrieks as she sees that she has been impaled by a larger piece of metal. Only now she begins to feel the sharp pain and screams.

Kayla reaches for the comms opening a channel to whomever is close by. "Mayday..  may… mayday.. please help.. anyone… please.. is anyone out there?? I need help…" she cries in pain, hoping someone would hear.

What she doesn't know is that there is indeed someone nearby; The Busted Plugga with aboard Je'daii Master Bal Darsten, Apprentice Kas'sparr Bathori and the Prakithan Esbern Greybeard. They too had been spat out in the Wazta Sector, their ship also damaged from the journey through the wormhole. No working Hyperdrive and failing life support systems that caused the temperature inside to drop immensely. Will they answer their enemy's call for help?

\*\*\*\*\*

\*CLANK!!\* something hit against the Busted Plugga, \*SCRRRGGK!!\* metal scraping along the outer hull. "What was that?" The blue skinned Iktotchi yells over the noise as he looks at the computer. The shield indicator flashes red,  "shields holding at 81 percent" he says with a hint of relief "but it seems to be fluctuating.. maybe this…" Kas'sparr pauses and glances at Master Darsten "this.. whatever this is interfering with the generator." Then a sudden shadow draws his attention and he turns his gaze to the window. A tie fighter appeared in view, heavily damaged. "Looks like they hit us" Kas'sparr says as he looks outside.

Being part Chiss, the young man at first didn't notice the temperature inside was dropping. Not until he heard Esbern enter the Cockpit "it's freezing in here" he muttered as he grabbed the back of Kas'sparr's seat. The old man glanced outside at the mesmerising sight of the Vortex. "What in the blazes is this?" He asked with a tremble in his voice. "I wish I knew" Kas responded and began to check the ship's systems, as he did, he continued to speak "one thing is for sure, this isn't hyperspace. And If it is, the Navcom doesn't know this lane." The teen looks up from the screen, "well.. seems the Life support systems are malfunctioning.." "That explains the cold I guess" the old man says as he pulls his cloak tighter around his shoulders.

After several minutes everyone gasped as the vortex finally opened. They saw the damaged tie-fighter being thrown into open space moments before the Busted Plugga finally was spat out as well. At once the Je'daii Apprentice began fiddling with the navcom, hoping to find out where they were. "Well.. we are in the Outer Rim" he said after a few moments, "but more than that I can't figure out." "What about that Station…" Esbern said shivering from the cold. Kas looked up and squinted his eyes to find the station the old man was referring to. In surprise he raised his eyebrows "wow, you have good eyes" he said with a soft chuckle. "I'll try the long range sensors, see if they can see what station that is.

He pressed a few buttons and waited for the readins. It was now so cold that they could see their own breath but Kas was lucky he had Chiss genes. He was cold but he seemed to handle it better than the two humans. "That's odd" he said when the readings came in. "What's wrong?" Greybeard asked at once.. "the planets in the system indicate that this is the Wazta Sector" Kas replied, but before he could continue the old man impatiently interrupted "what's odd about that?… well I guess it's odd we are here in the first place." "The stars don't line up with the charts and… that station… that's.."

Before he could finish his sentance they received a distress call. "Mayday..  may… mayday.. please help.. anyone… please.. is anyone out there?? I need help…" a weak feminine voice said. Kas looked at the two men with him in the cockpit. "That's the pilot of that fighter" he said, pointing at the damaged enemy vessel.. "what shall we do?.. they're from the Regime" part of him wanted to help but he felt anxious as it was the enemy after all. "Master Darsten? You are highest in rank.. what do you think?"

\*\*\*\*\*

Master Bal shivered in his seat and pulled his mud soiled robes around him tightly, trying in vain to keep himself warm. He was still soaking wet from the raging force storm he had been caught in back on Tython, and his old bones were already feeling the chill which was steadily increasing in severity. Kas had just finished explaining the starships damage report and the fact they had somehow traveled to someplace called “Wazta Sector”

The whole thing up until the point had been like some kind of crazy dream.. until now, he’d lived his entire life on Tython at the historical Je’daii Temple of Padawan Kesh, defending and leading a dwindling community of Jedi descendants. Those few who he was charged with struggling daily to survive the harshness of the planet while still maintaining the old ways taught to him by his Master.. the very one who had suddenly appeared to him only hours ago. But how? Master Talo..? a force ghost? How had he even learnt this mastery of the force from their isolated Academy in the barron mountains. So many questions.. and why did he wait so long to finally contact him?  But it wasn't just his old Master… it was this damn war too.. The dark siders, the explosion and the vortex that had swallowed them and the Je’daii Flagship with so many of their loved ones was something out of a waking nightmare.. He now longed for those quiet days of meditation and labouring under the harsh Tythos sun in the crumbling Temple grounds with his Padawan and son as well as the others..

“Station? What station?” Said Bal as Kas continued to speak, as Esbern who was still obviously sore from the rough trip through a real life space battle was becoming more abrupt by the second. But before Kas could answer him though a weak females voice rang out over the short range communication array. A distress call… she was pleading for help.

That's the pilot of that fighter" Kas said, pointing at the damaged enemy vessel that had now come into view.. "what shall we do?.. they're from the Regime, Master Darsten? You are highest in rank.. what do you think?"

Bal raised his hand to his greying beard, stroking it as was his habit when but in such situations. He could already sense the softness of his facial hair beginning to stiffen in the plummeting temperature, his wrinkled face was now nothing more than a numb mask and the very air seemed to be becoming dryer.

He closed his eyes slowly, hoping the right decision would present itself. A part of him wanted to blast her out of the sky, the enemy of his new found order and the ones who had rp rescued him and his people. Murders of trillions in the name of peace, but their peace was only a lie. A ruse to trick the common folk that there was something beyond the control of the Galactic Empire, unfortunately that something was just more control from a just as power hungry new regime looking to become the new galactic rulers. He was angry at them.. he hated them, and he had learnt from the Je’daii teachings that anger and hate had their uses especially in wartime.

“Remember your lessons my Padawan '' suddenly rang through Bal’s mind. His Master.. one of the last things he had said to him when he was alive, before passing on the mantle of leader to the descendants. And Bal knew those lessons were that of the Jedi order, and ones that had already saved his and Kas’sparr’s life when dealing with the massive creatures back on Tython. He now knew what he had to do..

“Hmm… I know she is an enemy.. but she seems desperate my young friend, and unfortunately so are we I’m afraid. Unless any of us know how to repair a damaged hyperdrive or life support system I say we have no choice but to rescue her and see if she has some sort of mechanical repair experience on a starship like ours before we all die of cold.”

Bal focuses before closing his eyes and opening his mind… hoping to search pilots thoughts or subconscious for any signs of mal intent or maliciousness towards them. In return project messages of peace towards hers.

Force Powers used

Telepathy: 2 (Mind search)

\*\*\*\*\*

GM UPDATE

Master Darsten reaches out with the force towards the heavily damaged Tie-Fighter, in an attempt to sense the pilot's intentions and emotions.

[Dice roll for success or failure of \*Search Mind\*. 1x4 (1= unsuccessful, 2= successful sensing Friendliness, 3= unsuccessful 4= successful sensing Anger) result roll: 4]

He is successful, he can sense the weakened life force signature of the pilot. He can sense her pain, her fear of dying, her loneliness. But more importantly he can sense her anger. Despite her desperation there is much hatred in her. But the old Jedi, weakened by the cold, isn't able to pick up on her thoughts, only her emotions. He only senses her anger but doesn't know for whom or what.

\*\*\*\*\*

Anxiously the Chiss teen looks at the old Jedi, waiting for a response. What should they do, help the pilot or leave her? Kas'sparr wasn't the type of person that would just leave someone to die, but this was a Darkshield pilot, the Enemy. She had probably killed dozens of Je'daii and their allies during the battle.

Thinking about the Battle of Tython and even the Blockade prior to the battle, Kas'sparr turned his glance to the window. Looking at the damaged Tie-Fighter, he could feel his own anger growing, especially when he imagined the deaths of those he knew, who he loved. His Mother, his Sister Khara, Terrogate… Faera! What happened to everyone?, Did they survive? Were they still at Tython? He had so many questions. Fear and anger filled his mind as he waited for Master Darsten's response. Meanwhile the temperature kept dropping, even the young Chiss was beginning to feel it.

After a moment or two the Jedi finally answered, acknowledging that she was the enemy but also pointing out she was just as desperate as they were. He was right, Kas was a decent pilot and could handle computers, but repairing a ship was something he couldn't. With some reluctance he nodded "Yes Master Darsten'' and reached for the comms and opened a channel. "Darkshield Tie-Fighter, this is the Je'daii freighter the Busted Plugga", he said putting emphasis on Je'daii. He glanced at Bal and Esbern before continuing "we are offering a truce, to assist you.. prepare for docking." The boy said and initiated the ship's thrusters to move closer to the damaged Tie-Fighter.

\*\*\*\*\*

Master Darsten raised his hand as he felt the invisible tendrils of the force connect his mind to the one occupying the nearby damaged Darkshield tie fighter. He clenched his already closed eyes… looking to read the pilot's thoughts but the cold now was too great, it numbed his mind.. and kept his required focus out of his reach.... instead he picked up several emotions radiating from her and as they swept through his mind he gave birth to them through blue lips and chattering teeth… pppppain, fffearrr, anger! He emphasised the last.. and opened his eyes again, lowering his hand to his saber he then looked directly at Kas.. “we mmmmust be prepared.” He added with concern in his old blue eyes.

\*\*\*\*\*

GM UPDATE

The wounded pilot, Kayla, was relieved to hear a reply to her call for help. But hearing the man on the other side mentioning that they were Je'daii made her anxious.

She shifted in her seat, trying to reach for her blaster. But as she moved a sharp pain went through her abdomen. "Aargg" she gasped in pain, feeling the chunk of metal inside her cut even deeper.

Holding her blaster ready, she waited. It didn't take long until she heard a loud clank of the docking clamps.

\*\*\*

After carefully maneuvering the Busted Plugga over the Tie-Fighter, Kas'sparr let out a sigh. "Ok, let's see what we are dealing with" his words were accompanied by a white plume of his breath. Even the horned Chiss could feel cold shivers go down his spine by now.

He rose up and walked to the back. At the floor hatch, the young man stopped and knelt down. Turning the lever he unlocked it and then paused. As the hatch opened with a hiss, Kas'sparr grabbed his blaster and looked up at the other men "just in case" he said with a nervous chuckle.

Carefully he lowered himself down the hatch, placing his feet into the black Tie-Fighter. Once more he glanced up at the others for some reassurance. "Ok, ready?" He asked and reached to unlock the tie-fighter's hatch

\*\*\*\*\*

“You better wait back here.. just incase” he said to Esbern as the old bearded Je’daii shuffled past him. His leg was still hurting causing him to labour and limp as he walked. There was no protest as Esbern moved closer next to S2-S3 and the holocrons.

Bal Darsten nodded in appreciation and then maneuvered himself over the hatch in support of the young Apprentice.. His chromium lightsaber in one hand although his fingers were now beginning to go numb. And his other hand outstretched and palm raised downwards towards the closed back of the TIE. He focuses on the force as much as he could through the mind numbing cold, drawing it inwards in preparation to deflect or disarm any threat that may present itself, hoping he could still be fast enough if it was required.

“Ready..” he finally said, suddenly feeling slightly less cold somehow as the moment came closer to facing the enemy. He then waited for the horned Chiss boy to make his move.

\*\*\*\*\*

GM Update

Not long after the docking clamps sealed shut, Kayla could hear movement. The muffled sound of a hatch opening and voices right above her. Anxiously she held her weapon ready. A loud thud on top of the Tie-Fighter made her flinch, "arrgh" she cried as the smallest movement caused her more pain.

Her breath quickened as she kept her eyes on that hatch, waiting for it to open. Next she heard a loud click and knew they had unlocked the hatch. With a hiss, the hatch slowly opened.

[Result Dice Roll for blaster: 1x6 (1= not fired, 2=fired but miss, 3=fired hit Kas'sparr, 4=fired by accident but missed, 5=fired his Darsten, 6=fired by accident, deflects back) Result: 1]

Her hand trembled as she pointed her blaster up. A blue skinned man, with horns looked down at her.

\*\*\*\*\*

IC: Kas'sparr Bathori

Slowly the hatch opened, revealing the cramped cockpit of the Darkshield Tie-Fighter and in the pilot's seat a woman with dark hair. "Wow wow, lady" he said when he noticed the pilot's blaster aimed at him. "We're only here to help" he said but like her held his blaster ready.

Glimpsing into that small cockpit, Kas'sparr could see a large piece of metal sticking out out the woman's abdomen. She looked pale and was trembling, probably because of the blood loss. "Why don't we lower our weapons.. and get you out of there" the young man suggested.

It was obvious the woman was anxious, she didn't trust them and Kas knew that fear could be a dangerous thing. "Truce.. ok? we're no longer at Tython, the battle is over.. we're not going to hurt you" he said and lowered his weapon. He held out his hand, ready to help her out of the cockpit.

\*\*\*\*\*

As the hatch opened Bal was ready to act, but before he could or indeed needed to, the young apprentice took charge of the situation de-escalating it and lowering his weapon in a sign of good faith to the clearly injured pilot. Master Darsten was silent and followed the boys lead by lowering his own weapon. However, the old man was still wary and kept his hand up just in case he needed to create a sudden protective shield.

Master Dasten looked more closely at the pilot still holding her blaster. She’d been penetrated through the stomach by a large piece of metal and looked very weak. If they didn’t do something to help her, she could die.

“Apprentice, she’s been wounded.. Here is a Jedi ability I learned during my years as an apprentice from my own Master Tallo. It’s called force healing.. and while I’m no master, I could use it to save her.. I can use it to stabilize her wound as we get her out, but we need to remove that metal fast. If I can’t sustain it long enough, she’ll bleed out.” The old Master said, purposefully loud enough for the woman to also hear.

“You hear me girl?” He said again, now directly at the pilot. “I can save your life.. but you need to trust us. The war is over, at least it is for you… take his hand, let us save you.”

Bal, recognising there was not much time remaining for the girl, focused his connection to the living force, remembering his dark skinned masters lesson.. around him.. a building aura of pure lightside energies started to form.. hoping she would see sense and take the Apprentices hand.

(Force Healing -2)

\*\*\*\*\*

GM Update

Weakened, Kayla looked up at the two strangers. Her hand still trembling as she holds up her blaster. The blue skinned male tried offered a truce and lowered his weapon but the old man looked more wary.

Kayla nodded

[Result dice roll, blaster: 1x4 (1-loweres blaster, 2-drops blaster, 3-keeps blaster up, 4-drops blaster and goes off) result 2]

She was about to lower her weapon when she felt a sharo pain again. "Aargh" she gunted as the blaster fell out of her hand onto the cockpit floor. In pain she listend to the old man speak. The fact that he suggested to use the Force to heal her, scared her, Kayla didn't understand nor did she trust in this Jedi mumbo jumbo. But she had no other choice.

Reluctantly she reached up and took the young man's hand, allowing him to pull her up. "Aarrgh.. be careful alright" she moaned in pain.

\*\*\*\*\*

IC: Kas'sparr Aro Bathori

The young man nodded, "we are your best chance" he said, holding out his hand. He was relieved to see the pilot dropped her weapon but felt sorry for the pain she was in.

Eventually, with some obvious hesitation, the woman took his hand. "Brace yourself" he said, knowing it was going to hurt and he began to lift her up. Kas'sparr used the force to enhance his strength, using telekinesis to support the wounded woman as he pulled her out of her seat.

It only took a moment until she was out of the cockpit and in his embrace. Standing together in the cramped space on top of the tie fighter felt a little awkward. "Eh.. I'm Kas'sparr by the way" he said with a sly but awkward smile.. "ok.. the last bit is gonna be tricky" he looked up at Master Darsten. "If you pull her up Master, I will give support from here" he suggested..

Abilities used:

~ Telekinesis 1

\*\*\*\*\*

Bal was relieved that the woman who had identified herself as Kayla seemed to also see the logic in self preservation over becoming a martyr for those blasted Darksiders. Warily she took Kas’sparrs hand accepted his help. Bal, who had already been gathering the living force for several moments, pushed out with its healing power, focusing on the pilot's abdomen hoping to stabilize her wound as the apprentice also used his force powers to help lift her up out of her seat.

“If you pull her up Master, I will give support from here" Kas’sparr said to the old Master who’s Je’daii robes and beard were still caked in mud from outside Kaleth Temple.

“Oh.. ok then.. here give me your hand girl..” said the old Master, placing his chrome hilted lightsaber onto his belt so he had a free hand, then kneeling over the opening to attempt to pull the girl out. He only hoped that breaking his concentration with his force healing wasn’t a mistake. “OK Kas, I’m ready.. let’s just get her up here.”

\*\*\*\*\*\*

IC: Kas'sparr Aro Bathori

Quickly Kas climbed out of the airlock hatch. "Esbern, bring something warm" he ordered the old Prakithian.. "ehm…ok...." he said and rushed away to look for anything he could find.

"Kayla, stay with us.. I know it hurts…" Kas put his arm around her, giving her some support and taking her weight off the old Jedi. Let's lay her down over there" he suggests, nodding at the padded seats in the main hold and beginning to move the wounded pilot to the seats.

Meanwhile, Esbern returned with a thick duvet from the private quarters of the Grand Master.. "This was all I could find" the old man said… "I also found this" he held a medkit in his other hand.

\*\*\*\*\*

“Yes, yes…let’s lie her down lad..” said the old Master in a rush as Kas’sparr climbed up and helped take Kayla’s weight. Hobbeling and cold he shuffled over to the padded seating and helped lay the wounded pilot down on the flat of her back. Esbern arrived soon after with a duvet and a medkit. “Yes, those will be perfect my friend.” Bal responded, taking the medkit from Esbern and placing the blanket down over her legs and waist then he slowly kneeled down next to her so he could perform his healing.

“Do you think there is something in her tie to fix our heating while? He asked Esbern as he opened the medkit and sat it down next to him, remembering the Prakithian was some kind of engineer for the Grand Master before his time at the temple of knowledge.

“Kayla” the old master said, attempting to get the girl's attention. “Listen, Kas’sparr here is going to remove that metal in your stomach, and I’m going to try to start and heal you through the force” Bal looked up at the apprentice's eyes, waiting for a returned look of understanding before progressing.  “Not about to lie to you, this is going to hurt… a lot.”

Bal looked down to the pilot woman, pulled up his sleeves one at a time then raised both his hands and hovered them closely above her stomach. He fixed his focus on his breathing and closed his eyes, using the force technique his dead master had taught him so long ago.. blooms of steady gentle fog expelling from his mouth in the cool air of the Busted Plugga.

Bal opened his eyes but he didn’t see the pilot now as he did moments ago, instead he now saw beyond the usual physical, he now saw the glowing light of her spirit in the force. Inside the bright light that now replaced her physical form he saw dark cracks. Some small, some larger.. These he knew were the representations of physical wounds in the woman. Old broken bones, scars and bruises. Then, right below his hands he saw a large dark hole right where the metal was inserted.

“I’m ready Kas’sparr” he said and began to use the force to attempt to close and repair the cracks of her body, as much as he could he concentrated in on her abdomen.”

(Force Healing -2)

\*\*\*\*\*

IC: Esbern Greybeard

The Old Prakithian handed over the medkit and followed the two Je'daii to the seating area in the ship's main hold. Shaking from the cold he watched them carefully lay the wounded pilot on the seats and place the thick soft duvet of the Grand Master over her legs.

"I will have a look" Esbern replied to Master Darsten through chattering teeth. The old man turned away and approached the open hatch. He knelt down and peeked down the hole before he carefully lowered himself into the damaged Tie..

~\*~

IC: Kas'sparr 'Aro' Bathori

Kas'sparr glanced over his shoulder, watching Esbern disappear down the open hatch when he heard his name. Instantly he brought his attention back to the wounded pilot. Master Darsten was explaining to her what they would do.

When he heard that he was supposed to pull the shrapnel out his red Chiss eyes widened in shock. "Ehm… what?" he nervously responded as he continued to listen. The young man was no doctor and had absolutely no experience on how to treat wounded so he felt extra nervous about his task. However he didn't want to stress Kayla even more so he composed himself and nodded to Master Darsten in understanding.

When Darsten gave the signal, Kas'sparr reached out with the force. With telekinesis he grabbed hold of the large piece of metal and slowly began to move. Cautiously pulling up and out, hoping that the Pilot would make it.

Abilities used:

Telekinesis  1

\*\*\*\*\*

Deeply focused inside the living force the old Master focuses hard on the healing ability. He was scarcely even aware of anything else around him, not Kas’sparr or even the screams of pain from the pilot lying in front of him, there was only light and life.. Suddenly, the dark hole of her life energy began to warp and change shape. Bal knew now that Kas’sparr had begun to move the metal from her midsection. The old Master continued his focus, pouring himself into the force and he could now see the small cracks inside the woman were closing all over her body, and pleasingly also the dark spot on her stomach was now beginning to close and he was hopeful they would save her.

The treatment was slow however, and although the Je’daii Master was experienced he was still a novice at this specific technique and already he had expended himself several times today. He closed his eyes and concentrated trying to stay in the moment but as the long seconds wore on he started to become feint, his connection to the force started weakening until finally was unable to continue any further and collapsed onto his backside breaking the force healing.

He opened his eyes, the light was gone and he now saw what he always saw. He was unsure that what he gave had been enough. Hoping that he and Kas’sparr were able to save Kayla.

\*\*\*\*\*

GM update

Kayla lay on the padded seat, shivering from the cold environment as well as the blood loss. Her heart raced in her chest as she heard them speak of their plan. Imagining the pain it would cause made her gasp.

She bit down in the leather sleeve of her flight jacket and closed her eyes. Within seconds she felt the pain and screamed through gritted teeth. Her hand grabbing the seats, nails digging into the fabric.

Slow but steady the blue skinned Iktotchi pulled the scrap metal out of her abdomen while the old Master attempted to heal the wound.

[Dice roll for attempt to heal the pilot.

1 successful, pilot survived and Bal will regain his energy.

2 successful, pilot healed but Bal's energy is depleted no force use for 2 rounds.

3: unsuccessful, pilot died, Bal will recover.

4 unsuccessful, pilot died, Bal's energy is depleted, no force use for 2 rounds.

Result: 1]

Kuala screamed when the metal left her body, but soon after the pain faded. When the old man fell onto his backside, the pilot spit out the sleeve of her jacket and looked down. The wound was healed but of course due the blood loss she still was too weak to move.. "Thank you" dazed she looked at the two men, not sure how this was possible..

Meanwhile….

Esbern had been fiddling around in the damaged Tie-Fighter. Looking for any parts that could prove useful.

[Dice roll for spare parts and equipment:

1: finds the parts to fix the Environmental systems

2: retrieved the distress beacon

3: finds nothing

4: retrieves the targeting computer

Result: 3]

Esbern returns to the main hold, shaking his head "sadly I couldn't find anything useful. Its either broken or not comparable with the Busted Plugga."

\*\*\*\*\*\*

“Well done Kas, we did it.” The old Master said letting out a relieved sigh after looking up to the apprentice and managing a blue lipped smile. The pilot woman spat out her sleeve, grateful to be alive she thanked them although unable to fathom how this was even possible..

“Why through the power of the force is how of course…” replied Bal to Kayla looking down to meet her gaze. “Those dark masters you serve possess no such power but we are Je’daii.. The light of Ashla promotes and protects life, while the darkness of Bogan seeks only to destroy it.” He added darkly and looking off into the middle distance, thinking of the fierce space battle with the Darksiders they’d found themselves in after escaping Tython. It was seemingly even a miracle that any of them were still alive at this point.. however if they couldn’t come up with something soon to fix the temperature controls it still may all have been for nothing.

The re-emergence of Esbern from the main hold brought his attention back instantly and Bal looked at the old man as hopefully and eagerly as a domesticated Kath hound looked to his master when carrying food. “Anything?” He asked through chattering teeth.

Shaking his head the Prakithian answered, "sadly I couldn't find anything useful. It's either broken or not comparable with the Busted Plugga."

“Skrog!” Bal replied. Well then unless anyone has a better idea I guess we need to find somewhere close by to land before we all freeze.” Surprisingly Bal felt some of his strength had returned to him quickly after the force healing, he had fully expected to now be totally exhausted of force energy. Perhaps the force had healed him as well, he thought. Certainly he would welcome it if the force had somehow fixed his leg as well as just his stamina.. but that was yet to be tested.

“I could perhaps create a small force flame for a while” He said.. but we'd need to find somewhere quickly.. it won’t last forever.” He looked up to Kas’sparr, the horn headed Chiss apprentice… “what do you think?” He asked..

\*\*\*\*\*

GM update

Slowly Kayla manages to rise up to a seated position. The wound was healed but she had lost quite some blood and therefore felt lightheaded. Wrapping the duvet tightly around her, she leaned against the back of the padded seat, listening to the old man talk about the Force.

The dark haired pilot wasn't Force-sensitive and until today she had never even witnessed it being used. All she knew was what she had heard about the Sith, the very people she served; that the Force was a dangerous thing, a weapon even to be feared.

Before she could respond, the other elderly male returned empty handed. "What about that space station" Kayla suddenly mentioned, vaguely remembering seeing it pop up on the navcom before it crashed.

\*\*\*\*\*

IC: Kas'sparr Aro Bathori

"The station… Yes!" He rushed to the cockpit and sat down behind the helm. The Horned Chiss checked the nawcom's long range sensors. "It can't be" he muttered as he looked at the results. "According to the navcom we are in the Watzla sector but the stars don't line up.." he scratched behind his horn, just as his mother used to do when she was thinking.

"If this \*is\* the Watzla sector, then that station is Koda station" he said and looked over his shoulder "I know it… it's a smugglers station with a black market… a lot of shifty people but we could get repairs done there" he explained when he suddenly heard a beeping sound. Kas'sparr turned back and saw a small moving dot on the sensors. "What's that?" The young man checked the reading and began to smile.. "I guess we are in luck… I found a Hyperdrive"

\*\*\*\*\*

After asking Esbern to stay with Kayla and make sure she was ok the old Je’daii quickly stood and shuffled along following Kas’sparr, the young man had bounced up like an over excited puppy and headed for the cockpit as soon as the lady pilot had mentioned it.

Bal furrowed his brow at the way Kas’sparr had described the situation with the maps and where they were now somehow located. The whole thing was a mess ever since they had decided to resist the Darksiders. “Lad,I’m no pilot.. but It seems odd that the stars don’t align, doesn't it?,” he said to Kas’sparr thoughtfully. “S2S3! Please come to the cockpit…” he called out, suddenly pressing the ship's intercom button and hoping that something in the droid's internal memory banks may shed some light on the problem. He did just download several thousands of years of data from the Je’daii archives after all.

"If this \*is\* the Watzla sector, then that station is Koda station" said the apprentice. The old Master had to mindfully bury the warning he felt building in his gut as the blue skinned Iktotchi mentioned that this station, if he was correct, was actually a black market smuggler's haven. Space smugglers or not they needed repairs desperately however and the fact was they needed to chance going there even if it meant getting hustled, or worse.

"What's that?" Said Kas as he checked the readouts. The young apprentice began to smile. "I guess we are in luck… I found a Hyperdrive" he said as a beeping noise became audible inside the cockpit.

“A hyperdrive?” Bal responded and moved to get a better look at the screen. It didn't help however, he literally had no idea what he was seeing. To his old eyes it was just a dot. But he could guess it was a ship perhaps? “What are you talking about? What is that??” the Master asked.

\*\*\*\*\*

GM update

His heart racing in his chest, the Lutrillian male; Kossek, rushed down the docking ring. Making his way to the airlock where the Baba Yaga was now safely docked.

Further down the docking ring, he could hear raised voices, a man and woman fighting. "That must be them" Kossek said to himself as she quickened his pace. And indeed, he was right, it was the crew of the damaged VCX-100 Light freighter.

"Liz!! Come on, I said I was sorry" a large Devaronian male with filed down horns yelled at a young human woman walking away from him. "I said kill the engine, Red! Not blast it into space!" She replied over her shoulder at the red skinned giant. The Devaronian noticed the Lutrillian coming their way "Kossek, buddy!" he said with a grin.

The woman who was walking into the opposite direction now stopped and turned around. "Anung" the Kossek replied with a nervous chuckle. "We need to borrow a shuttle to retrieve our engine" Anung continued as he approached. "You know I can't give you one. I nearly lost my job the last time I borrowed you a shuttle." "Hey now, it was an accident.. we need that engine before someone else finds it."

END OF CHAPTER 1