Challenging the Darkness -Ossus-

[Darth Angelus™]

{Trigger}

"Good enough, Flash, Faith, stay here, Torque and I will fetch General Vang"

Bursting out of the Jungle Excalibur had just put down its loading ramp, Trigger ran up it as fast as he could, looking wildly for a speeder bike. Bingo! Two spare bikes up for grabs, throwing his helmet off and away he smiles at Torque jumping on it. Revving the engine the female troopers give the 'typical guy' look.

"Lets go save the day"

Blasting off the soldier shot outof the Flagship and into the Jungle, hoping to find his friend uneaten and alive. Spiraling, dodging trees it would take a while to find Ronok.

"Torque, split up. Stay in radio contact at all times"

Take a sharp turn to the right Trigger went full throttle, checking his scanner on the bike for General Vang's emergency beacon. Nothing. Either Vang hasn't activated his beacon, or he's dead. JUmping off his bike Troque rolled and ran through the bush yelling 'General Vang' at the top of his lungs hoping to find him. Bringing his wrist up he sends a communication to Torque.

"Torque you found him yet?"

[Vax Kote™]

-Following Trigger up the ramp to the flag ship Torque looks at Trigger who has a smile upon his face. Torque glances back at Faith who gives a 'typical guy' look. Shaking his head Torque runs over jumping on the speeder bike. Reving the engine on the bike up he blasts out of the flagship slowly behind Trigger. Swerving through tree. He moved about looking for General Vang. A sinking feeling told Torque that Ronok was injured. The frustration was there in the search for the general in both troopers.-

"Torque, split up. Stay in radio contact at all times."

"Roger that."

-Leaning in to the left, Torque pulls back the throttle to his speeder blasting off to the left nearly missing the trunk of a tree. Continuing at high speeds Torque moves about yelling Ronok's name out. During each time that Ronok did not answer only worried Torque more and more. He was not about to return to Coruscant and go through a long explanation to General Vax and General Aeon of how they lost contact with General Vang. Bringing the side of the speeder up Torque slids it to a stop. Holding it still he glances around the initial area for General Vang when a transmission through his wrist communicator comes through from Trigger.-

"Nothing yet, Trig. A number of things could of happened to the general. I am going to search a bit on foot. Torque out."

-Turning the engines to his speeder off, Torque hopped off of the bike using his heads-up display he scanned the area for any life signs; ranging from low health to the standard health. Stepping away from the speeder bike he moved through the brush using his ears and eyes to located Ronok. In terms of species and creatures not much was said to be around but as Vax had told him; he needed to expect the un-expected even when it came to un-inhabited planets.-

[Darth Angelus™]

{Ronok}

Blood still leaking through my hands, I had little energy left, I could hear Torque! Using the energy I had left I sent him a message through the force, maybe he could find me.

~Torque...by the old tree, near a large hollow log. Hurry...~

Falling to my side my body has no energy and I fall into unconsciousness. My body limp, unaware of a predator slowly making its way to my near dead body. The predator wasn't big but it was big enough to finish me off.

My mind went blank, there was nothing, I couldn't see, I felt blind, my senses gone, my eyes unable to open, I could hear the breath of the creature above me now, ready to pounce.

{Trigger}

The soldier got down on his knees, he found what was left of the FC-20 speeder bike. Cursing to himself, he sees footprints, and what seems to be a body draging itself along the ground. The General! Excited Trigger gets on the comlink.

"Torque I thin I know where the General is"

---{Torque's response}---

"Copy that"

Following the tracks Trigger makes his way to General Vang, blaster rifle raised ready for action. Then the sound of blaster fire got him running

[Vax Kote™]

-Hearing the call through what the jedi called the force from General Vang; Vax knew he was almost close to where Ronok was. There was only a short amount of time left before the general could become some sort of meal for some kind creature in this forested area. Standing up Torque scanned the initial area with his heads-up display trying to get a fixed position on where Ronok was exactly. Hearing the sound of his wrist communicator going off Torque brought up his arm activating it hearing a bruff transmission come in from Trigger.-

"I think I got a lock on his location as well Trig, I will meet you there."

-Reaching behind Torque grasped onto the DC-15S blaster rifle. Pulling it in front of himself he ran forward in search of an old tree and a large hollow log. It could be only a few feet away considering that Ronok was able to send a calling to Torque through the force. Jumping over a downed tree Torque slid to a stop seeing Ronok's downed body and a predator approaching.-

-Raising his blaster to his tinted ARF trooper helmet he took aimed and pulled in the trigger sending three blaster bolts into the creatures side. Only did a fourth one from Trigger made Torque look over seeing the man come running through the brush. Lowering his rifle down; Torque moved it over hoistering it as he ran over to Ronok. Slidding on the white armor plates within the grass he came up to Ronok's side.-

"Sir are you okay?"

-Looking down Torque took notice of the blood dripping from an open wound on Ronok's stomach. By the looks of it he had failed to retreave the holocron back. Clearing his mind away Torque went to to work pulling out what little medical supplies he had on himself.-

"Trig go get your bike, as soon as I finish up here we will haul him back to the flagship."

[Darth Angelus™]

"You got it Tor"

The camoflauge armoured soldier ran back to his bike after putting his rifle back on his back. Getting to the bike he encountered a problem, a larger predator was next to his bike. Putting two pistols to the head of the beast he pulled the triggers and the creature bellowed loudly before dieing.

"It's about time"

Dargging the bike over to Torque he watched Torque get to work on Ronok. Trigger had never really had time to have emotions but his situation put him in a worried state. Throwing the emotion away he went back into the state of being stone cold and ruthless.

"Alright, what can I do?"

Listening carefully to Torque he would obey the order, this was General Vang's life at stake, no mistakes allowed now. Not ever either. Trigger could only imagine the pain, the fear Ronok must've gone through. Keeping calm he awaited further instructions.

[Vax Kote™]

-Sweat trickled down Torque's face as he assessed over Ronok's injuries. Blood was everywhere and slowly gathering onto Torque's white and blue marked armor. He had only a few chanced to make this right and save Ronok. Hearing Trigger come up behind him Torque did not even bother to look as his main focus was on saving Ronok. Clearing his throat and swallowing the salavia that gathered into his mouth; he was lucky to go through basic field medic training in any case someone got hurt. But he never really expected it to be a jedi seeing as they could simply use the force to heal their wounds, but then again jedi were not miracle workers.-

"There is to much blood, I need to remove his jedi attire to see how deep the wound really is."

-Knowing that a jedi cherrished the attire they wore much like the cherrished the lightsaber they constructed it was the only other choice to be made at the moment to see how badly injured Ronok really was. Moving his hands over Ronok's belt he removed it along with the lightsaber and set it to the side next to Trigger. Grasping onto the end of the jedi attire Torque ripped upward tearing the peace of cloth up. He continued tearing throwing aside peaces of blood stained attire until he was down to Ronok's bare skin. Finally, able to see the wound Torque's eyes nearly widened he looked over to Trigger who seemed to be in the same state of shock. Something sharp must of pierced throuh his back to the front causing a great amount of loss in blood.-

"This is not good."

-Reaching over into his medic pack Torque pulled out two needles that were full of bacta. Holding one in his rght hand he moved over handing Trigger the second one.-

"Put the bacta into his neck. It will help stabalize any other injuries he may of recieved."

-Looking down at the open wound that still was filled with blood; Torque did the only thing he could do. It maybe painful but it was the only way to save Ronok's life. Gripping the bacta needle tightly in his right hand he thrusted it inward. The needle slammed into Ronok's right just about the same time that Trigger put the other bacta needle into his neck. Pushing down on the pump the bacta squeezed in sending a cool blue liquid into Ronok's body. Removing the needle he set it aside.-

-Placing it back in the medic supplies he pulled out some alcohol to clean the blood around the wound up. Using a small peace of cloth he dabbed into the alcohol and proceeded to cleaning it up. By now a great amount of blood had gathered on Torque's hands, fore arms, legs, and lower abdomen plate but it did not matter to him at all. With the blood finally clean; Torque took some gauze bandages and placed them on Ronok's wound twriling them around until it was firmly put into place by some tap. Throwing the rest of the gauze into the medical supplies; Torque closed it up placing it back in the pack he carried on his back.-

"That should do it for now, but he will need to get into a bacta tank as soon as we get back to th main ship. We should start heading back now. Help me load him onto the bike."

[Darth Angelus™]

Putting Ronok's right arm over his shouler Trigger lifted him up withTorque dragging the Jedi to the bike. Once Ronok was secured to the bike Trigger sighed and looked at Torque and laughed.

"You have no idea how many times I've saved him. Anyway you take the bike to Excalibur, I'll climb up a tree and activate my tracting beacon. Then pick my up"

Watching Torque get on the bike The soldier nod his head and salutes Torquw. As he takes off Rigger turns as he heard noises behind him. Taking cover behind a tree he waits as two droids pass him by, rolling a droid popper at them they look down just as it shoots electricity, disabling them. Picking up the droid that seemed to be in charge he spoke into the camera knowing it wasn't broken.

"If that's all you got Visciouz, you have got to try harder. Oo-Rah"

Dropping the droid and ripping the heads off he throws them on the ground in disgust. Muttering he walks off to find a tree, but none that he could see were tall enough to reach the canopy. Swearing loudly some animals scattered and ran away quickly. Running he hurridly looked for a tree, without luck

"My day just seems to get better and better by the minute. This is so bone"

Slowling down he stops as lound footsteps come from behind him. Gulping he turns to see face of a large beast. Letting out a worried laugh, he sprints running from the beast chasing him!

"Oh this really makes my day, a beast trying to kill me! How original!"

[Vax Kote™]

-Torque did not like the idea at all of leaving Trigger out here with the possibility of predator's lurking. However, it seemed more or less that keeping Ronok safe was indeed the number one priorty at the moment. There was little time to even argue over the situation of who would be going and who would be staying. Trigger had the more experience with Ronok but Torque held the experience in field medic work and getting back to the Excalibur without any resistance. After placing Ronok's body upon the speeder Torque turned over to Trigger.-

"Stay safe, Trig. See you back at the Excalibur."

-Jumping onto the speeder; Torque reved the engine up and took off at high speeds with Ronok laying over the bike out cold. Torque looked over ensuring that Ronok would be safe. It was not only himself that saved the jedi guardian's life but it was also Trigger who apparently delt with injuries pertaining to him. The travel out to find Ronok was no more then five minutes so it would take five minutes to get him back to the ship.-

-Punching the throttle forward the speeder zoomed through trees, bushes, and small creatures as it made an even closer approach to the Excalibur. The wind seemed to be even getting colder with the temperature dropping. It would be a matter of time before darkness set in once more upon the world.-

"Don't worry general I will get you back to the Excalibur safe and sound."

-Safe and sound was just another way to put it as the speeder moved even closer emerging from the brush into the open field where the Excalibur sat with Flash, Faith, and several other troops waiting for Torque and Trigger's return. Speeding up the ramp Torque brought the speeder to a stop jumping off.-

"Flash come give me a hand with the general."

[Darth Angelus™]

{Flash}

Looking over his shoulder he saw Torque! And the General too! Torque stopped next to Torque looking around for Captain Trigger. But before he could speak Torque asked him to help.

"You got it mate"

Rushing to Ronok to assist the fellow ARF trooper, Flash cleared his throat, Getting Faith to come over to replace Torque Flash panted.

"Go find the Captain. Take a shuttle from the Hangar, the silver and black one will do. My personal one, armed and fast shouldn't take you long to find him...Or deal with any resistance"

Turning Flash and Faith carried Ronok to the Madical Bay, passing soldiers they all were shocked by the state Ronok was in, the Medical Bay was not far, taking a right they entered a hallway that had a room on the far end, almost running with the General on their shoulders they entered putting him on the table.

"Doc, fix him up! He is dying"

"Of course put him in a bacta tank, his wounds will take time to heal-"

"How long?"

"Anywhere between a week, to a month. The wound is critical we must act now"

Flash picked up Ronok by himself and placed him in a empty tank putting a breathing instrument over his face si he wouldn't drown. Looking back at Faith he sighed and walked out lighting a deathstick as he went.

-----------------------------------------

{Trigger}

With no time to waste Trigger activated his tracking beacon. Wrong time. Tripping over his beacon shattered on the hard ground. Sweariong loudly he quickly remembered he had a carnivorous beast trying to eat him. With hardly any ammo clips he would use them to his advantage.

Running and pointing his blaster up he shot into the air coming up to a large tree. One clip left. Turning around he stood his ground pointing his rifle at the creature charging him.

"Come here you walking carcus!"

Shooting wildly at the beast he shot it several time in the head, and it did damage but it it angrier even more. Again cursing loudly he got on the radio, tuning in to Torque's frequency.

"Hey, once your done babysitting the General why don't you come pick me-"

Before he could finmish the creature wrapped its large jaws around Triger's shoulder ripping into his skin. Taking out his knife he stabbed into it's head hoping to get a brain stab to kill it.

[Vax Kote™]

-In a brief moment Torque jumped off of the speeder bike watching Flash and Faith carry Ronok into the Excalibur. Worry moved into Torque's gut of even if the general would survive his injuries. Torque had done all he could to keep the general alive up until now. Now it was simply the bacta doing the job of healing his wounds. Then and only then would he need a few days of rest. Closing his eyes for a brief moment he let out a calm breath of air feeling somewhat relieved that General Vax would not be at his throat for leaving Ronok behind. In the seconds that Ronok disappeared into the Excalibur; Torque nearly forgot about Trigger.-

-Turning to the shuttle that Flash requested him to use Torque ran over and up the ramp quickly jumping into the pilot seat. Running his hands over the controls Torque quickly activated the ships engines, communications, and closed up the ramp. Pulling back he brought the shuttle off of the deck and punched it forward sending it into the sky. Torque kept everything low so he could spot Trigger. It was actually one of those fool hardy moves that said: 'Hey kill me now.' However, Torque held a good amount of experience to know what to expect in these certain situations. Running over his communications and scanners Torque continued looking for Ronok. The search seemed to pan for about ten minutes already when in those ten minutes they could already left the planets surface in the Excalibur. Soon enough a transmission beaped through Torque's helmet com'link...sure enough it was Trigger.-

"Hey, once your done babysitting the General why don't you come pick me-"

-It was cut short but within that time period Torque was able to pinpoint Triggers location. Punching the throttle forward he moved through the trees following the signal on the radar when something caught his eye. Slowing the ship down he noticed Trigger fighting off a creature. Lowering it down to about five feet above the ground Torque put the auto-pilot on and jumped out of the pilot seat running to the back. Slamming the 'OPEN' button the suttles ramp lowered down. Slidding on it Torque gripped onto his DC-17 hand blaster and aimed it out firing four shots at the creature that was attacking Trigger.-

"YO Trig, you want to leave then lets go? I am pretty sure I don't want to babysit you and that friend of yours there."

[Darth Angelus™]

Raising his blade once more, Trigger slammed it into the head of the creature, a unhuman gargle roar echoed as it slowly died. Getting loose of the jaws Trigger raised his rifle up with one arm aiming at its eye.

"See ya mother"

With his last shot he successfully hit the eye getting his well earned brain shot, sighing loudly in relief the captain looked up to Torque and nodded his head smiling. Not bad at all, he thought, not bad at all...

"I could use a hand Tor, I'll be sure to tell Ronok about what you did when we get back to Excalibur"

Once on his feet Trigger half walked half stumbled to Flash's shuttle, looking back behind him he looks at the creature, spitting on the ground he mumbles to him self. facing forward the wounded soldier gets into the small shuttle to leave this planet behind, he has had enough of it.

Sitting himself in the closest seat to the ramp, he watched it close thinking about what just happened. Tirgger had almost died there, tonight. It was getting very dark, there was little room for error. groaning as he got up Trigger walked to the cockpit leaning on a chair next to Torque.

"How far are we to Excalibur?"

[Vax Kote™]

"Dang, Trig you are about as inpatient as General Vang. I see much of his personality in you."

-Torque was not that far into knowing General Vang but from his brief experience with the Jedi Guardian; the trooper could really tell that many of Ronok's own men held somewhat of a same personality as the general himself. It was true that the sooner they got to the Excalibur the sooner they would be able to leave this dump of a world.-

"We are not that far. It only took me five minutes to get out here."

-Gripping the controls of the ship Torque moved in over a group of trees. From darkness emerged the Excalibur. Torque let out a small smile as he punched in a few buttons starting the landing sequence to the shuttle. Moving it down slowly he brought it in for a landing withint the Excalibur's opening. Setting the ship down; the hydraulics kicked in for a smooth landing. Moving his hand over Torque clicked a button shutting off the shuttle engines. Slowly it whinned down with the released compression of air to follow. Un-hooking the harness to the pilot seat from himself Torque turned to Trigger with his ARF helmet still on.-

"The eagle has landed."

[Darth Angelus™]

Getting his arm in a comfortable position, Trigger stood grunting, he had probably bruised or even broken a rib or two, but that was nothing. Ingoring to burning pain, he walked to the loading ramp waiting for it to open fully before walking out.

Flash and Faith accompanied him and Torque, Flash gave the orders to leave the planet and enter hyperspace. The rest of Alpha Squad was resting on some containers, and Ronok's Daggers just got in before they took off.

"I'm going to go to the Med Bay, Torque you're in charge"

Once around the corner he let out a long sigh of relief, now limping on his right leg he stumbled toward the room. The creature had given a dosage of venom which was literally slowly killing him. He entered the room, a Nautolan Medical Officer was going through a report on Ronok's wounds. Ronok floating in his Bacta Tank, his wounds slowly healing.

"Fix me up Doc"

The Medical Officer turned around and got Trigger onto a bed, sighing he Nautolan got to work, he came back with two bacta needles and stuck one in his neck and one in his ribs, slowly injecting the blue liquid into his system. The ARF Captain screamed, it was a white hot pain shooting through his whole body. After about ten seconds the pain started to cease, and he could breathe normally. His arm no longer numb, the venom from the creature gone, he was about to jump out when a hand pushed him down.

"Give it time to heal"

Putting his head back Trigger waited for the Nautolan to turn around before sneaking out, he raced to the Bridge where Torque was waiting for him, Trigger entered and cleared his throat. Before Torque turned to see him Trigger fought sharp pain and disguised it by creating an 'I'm fine' illusion.

"Time to debrief the Generals don't you think Tor?"

[Vax Kote™]

-Turning around Torque took notice of Trigger who came back from the infermery. Technically, he should be resting up but like any soldier of war or individual that was caught up in a ton of mess it seemed to go against them to actually rest up while certain things where happening. Crossing his arms over his armored chest; Torque did not bother to actually remove his helmet. He was never one to showing his appearance. Even General Vax did not know what Torque looked like under the helmet. So there was no telling if he was human or some type of humanoid alien from an unknown world.-

"Technically, Trig you should be resting up. After all those injuries you recieved I know I would."

-Letting out a sigh beneath his ARF trooper helmet he could not help but chuckle at this amazing feet. The ARF troopers of the Republic's Army where trained to go about some kind assignment even if their arm was severed from their shoulder or they had a collapsed lung. That was what every ARF trooper went through.-

"Time to debrief the Generals don't you think Tor?"

"A good idea Trig, but I think we should wait to get back to Coruscant to explan to General Aeon and General Vax of all that happened. And I am pretty sure General Vang would want to be there to join the party and want to explain his side of the story."

-It was good to brodcast something through holo-vid but who knows what could happen? Being tract or something even worse. Torque did now want to waste it to be captured and killed. Seemed only best to wait until arriving back on Coruscant. Vax understood and so would Aeon.-

[Darth Angelus™]

Ronok had to go to Dantooine after Ossus, and it would be a quicker trip, so Dantooine it would be. Torque might understand, the General's condition is getting worse, even in the Bacta Tank, he need healing from the Jedi.

"Ronok has to go to Dantooine, I know the Jedi there. And there we can debrief on a secure channel, without the Sith listening in"

Turning to Karne, the Admiral nodded and pulled out of hyperspace, Karne turned to navigation controls.

"Set a new course for Dantooine"

Feeling the engines prime, the ARF Captain looked out of the window and into the distance thinking, it a was a minute before the engines were ready again. Excalibur entered hyperspace again, this time to Dantooine, so Ronok can be properly healed.

Concern for the General entered Trigger's mind, he was worried about the Jedi Master. Ronok had saved Trigger many times, now he will do the same, he owes it to him, this was his chance to repay General Vang for everything he has done for him.

"Torque, how was your first mission with Ronok?"