Not So Fast

Not So Fast
Date of Scene:	06 October 2025
Location:	Aklyrr Bend - Tenoo - Outer Rim
Synopsis:	A Mandalorian confrontation draws others in.
Cast of Characters:	159, 418, Ellari Zin, Volken Mons, Navi, Cayde Alexis

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Athena (159) has posed:
A week has passed since Jorn would have received communication from the infamous baron himself, confirming they could meet, perhaps speak, perhaps fight, and perhaps even let the other baron, his twin brother, Kasseady, go. Whether there had been any truth to his statement about being on Takodana will remain a mystery - as far as Jorn and his allies know, when they arrive on Tenoo, he's nowhere to be found. So they'll likely bide their time and prepare for his inevitable arrival.

On the day, Kasseady's communicator will blink with another text transmission from Caine. <Meet just outside the south perimeter of Kublop Springs> he instructs. <On the peninsula, at the river bend>

Jorn (418) has posed:
Jorn has kept the brother in carbonite because it's just easier to deal with him that way. Every day Jorn will check the brother's vitals at least three times (morning, afternoon and evening). Then there's a pause as he knows that's probably. Also, Jorn would have spent the day scouting for a good location. Something where -he- could control the conversation, or battlefield. His accusor is familiar with this place, probably spent some time preparing.

<No. We'll meet here.> And Jorn will give a different set of coordinance. <I gave you the courtesy of waiting.>

Jorn willl have take Kasseady and freed him from the carbonite. The loopy senses would make it hard for the brother to do much, plus Jorn has gone through his things time and time again. Did what he could to separate any trace of trackable goods.

Now, Jorn will simply wait for either an arrival or a rebuttal.

((OOCly. I will need to discuss what terrain/location/etc. would be favorable for Jorn))

Ellari Zin has posed:
    Ellari has accompanied Jorn on his plan to change the location or at least attempt to, and she waits along with him. She's also sent a message to Volken regarding the plan relating to Caine. The man's muscle will be...instrumental to this being successful.

Athena (159) has posed:
Kasseady remains stable while in the carbonite, Jorn may be thankful he placed him in it, at least it gets him to shut up. Even after he's freed from the carbonite, he's drowsy enough to have nothing to say.

There's a pregnant pause, and then another text transmission comes through. <Very well, then. I'll see you there in half an hour>

Perhaps it's unusual that the baron isn't being... stubborn. Maybe Jorn will think its odd, or maybe he'll just be thankful for it.

Volken Mons has posed:
Volken's deep voice chimes in over the comms, linking Er'gi in as well.

<<Make sure you don't scramble Kassady's head with all of that carbonite nonsense... Though I guess without the cortosis there's no point in worrying to much about his skill as an armorer.... Capturing Caine is probably a better wedding gift anyway.>>

Volken has managed to keep his frustrations under control.

<<He's here though. Everything Er'gi and were told is being verified by the folk here. So what's your play?>>

Jorn (418) has posed:
Jorn has things set up near the gorge. Just a place to be elevated to have the high bround, to cause difficult terrain. Also, he can spot a lot of people coming.

<<We're just unfreezing him when necessary.>> Unfreezing and quickly refreezing Kassady did enter Jorn's mind for the first twenty four hours. However, that would damage what is currently precious cargo. So, he decides against that pretty promptly.

Jorn will wait with the others with him, whoever wants to wait near him, with him, etc. He just waits to see an old familiar face.

Ellari Zin has posed:
    Ellari waits on that high ground with Jorn, standing outside the ship but not too far out in the open. "So you think he's actually going to show up?" she asks, having doubts herself. "He must be desperate."

    She squints toward the bottom of the ridge they're perched on, as it looks like someone is already approaching. But wait, it's not Caine. "Is that...the Jedi kid? Your...instructor?" Well, no one could really mistake the long, drab-colored robe. "How does he know about this?"

Athena (159) has posed:
Jorn may be shocked to see that the Baron does, in fact, show up. He's not wearing his typical navy and silver beskar, but instead, a fully black kit and a red cape.

Jorn will hear him before he arrives - he comes from above, the flames beneath the thrusters on his jetpack dying down slightly as he descends.

But wait! He's not.. alone? He's flanked by six masked marauders, three on each side, -also- equipped with jetpacks and flying a few feet behind him.

They settle on the ridge, approaching boldly.

Kasseady, still dazed from being in the carbonite, sputters, and squints at the figure clad in black beskar.

Navi has posed:
Cayde has wandered off again. It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but for Navi there is no punch line. Just another day of making sure nothing bad happens to him.

She finds herself following his tracks and occasional fleeting sightings of him toward the Mandalorian meeting site. Before she gets there, the roar of jetpacks draws her eyes toward the sky, and there she sees seven figures wearing jetpacks descend toward a stretch of High Ground (tm). Six /armored/ figures.

"This doesn't look promising," she murmurs, slipping into the foliage out of sight, and watching the meeting site with some suspicion. "Why do I never get invited to the /good/ parties?" she murmurs sardonically.

Jorn (418) has posed:
"I don't know how they got here," Jorn comments to Ellari as he tries to figure out who is with him, technically. He's not expecting too many with him. There are one or two faces he expects that doesn't show though.

Jorn takes some holo stills of the new armor and even sends them off to a few people just for keep sake. Also because he doesn't trust that attire to be coinicidence. So, Jorn will flat out say who it is with each message. These go to Volken, Ellari, a few of his Jedi contacts and for good measure, he'll ready a message for the Duke. It doesn't get sent yet.

Watching the approach. "Nice entrance," Jorn will call out as he looks to see how this will start. He's not trying to start anything yet.

Volken Mons has posed:
"Why do you get to have a backback and I don't. Am I that much heavier then you?" complains Volken as he sees the arrival of The Baron and his entourage from a short distance away.

"Come on, let's go back 'em u---"

The helmeted giant turns his attention down the gorge as he catches movement off in the distance.

"What th'hell are they doing here?? Oh wow...this is about to be a problem vod.."

He considers his next course of action. Go back down to try and intercept Navi and Cayde or go to back up Ellari and Jorn.

In the end, he doesn't have much choice and he starts making his way towards Jorn's ship and the gathering entourage.

Ellari Zin has posed:
    "Hmph, of course he brought a -following- of criminals with him, the hu'tuun." Ellari mutters when Caine finally arrives with his 'entourage'. She fights back the urge to simply shoot him on sight. "You should've demanded he come alone." Rookie mistake, he should've known better. Well, perhaps it's just as well that the Jedi is here after all...

    She frowns, thinking she heard something rustling in the bushes over there, but doesn't see anything so dismisses it. Must have been an animal.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde reaches the top of the ridge just as Caine comes down out of the sky with his new 'friends'. He doesn't appear to do much other than just stand there and watch whatever is going down here. Although in reality, he is trying to investigate just who this black-clad Mandalorian is who has allied himself with the marauders.

Athena (159) has posed:
The man in black clad beskar doesn't even address Jorn when he comments he's made a nice entrance. He scans the area, and his gaze lands on Kasseady, who's lying on the ground, still bound (presumably) and looking rather discombobulated.

He turns to the marauders, and nods curtly at them, pointing at Kasseady. "Get him," he says.

The marauders incline their heads ever so slightly, and go to obey him.

When Volken arrives, he might not be too happy to see that the marauder who'd tipped him off is among those flanking the Baron. In fact, he's the one reaching for Kasseady to drag him away. Er'gi, tailing the other massive Mandalorian, frowns. "Vod..." he whispers to Volken. "What in the manner of betrayal is this?! But it seems the information he gave us was valid...!"

Navi and Cayde will immediately recognize Zealot. The young Sephi girl probably won't be surprised, or pleased, but Cayde is likely just distracted by his attempts to enter the black clad Baron's mind. He'll find that there's something... off about his mind. His memories aren't anything like what Cayde might have imagined they'd be like... he seems to recall being born in a lab, about a year ago. And he seems to only care nominally about Kasseady. Why, however, Cayde won't be able to discern.

Navi has posed:
"Wait a sec... I know those masks," Navi murmurs, watching as discreetly as she can while still being able to see. Fortunately, nobody seems much interested in her little patch of trees. "What are /they/ doing here?"

She tries to creep closer to the meeting site, to get a better look at the gathering, and those present...

Volken Mons has posed:
Volken's deep voice rumbles into the comms for Er'gi, Ellari and Jorn to hear: <<It means that it's either a setup or that di'kut has something up his sleeve that even Caine doesn't know about. Either Caine sent him to get the cortosis to lure us here - or he tipped us off -and- is working for Caine and is trying to play both sides since Ellari and Jorn are the ones that made contact with The Baron directly. Plus the boy-jedi is here? This might be some sort of elaborate trap.,..>>

He's lost sight of Navi but Volken does eye Cayde. Cayde whosel very un-Jedi like lack of control often brings chaos. Cayde of Chaos.

He considers selling that name to a holo-novelist. But later.

<<Sit tight. Let me see if I can ruffle some feathers...>>

With that, Volken steps forward and starts towards the group. "Hey! Caine! I didn't expect t'see you so soon after punching yoru face in, at the wedding infront of everybody in Sundari...."

Jorn (418) has posed:
Jorn tries to take a swing with anything nearby. Not the dark saber. "That wasn't part of the deal. You don't get him, yet," he says trying to fend them off. "I get what I want then you can take him," he says firmly as he wants to get people away from the brother because that's the bargaining chip.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde frowns. He recognizes Amarik; it doesn't surprise him, but it does sadden him a bit. However, he's more focused on the man's extremely brief memories. A lab? Was this some kind of experimental being? He starts trying to delve deeper. Where was this lab? Who created him? What quarrel did he have with Jorn and his companions?

Ellari Zin has posed:
    Right, -and- Jorn shouldn't have just let Kass be out in the open, either. <<Hmph, he's playing both sides to his advantage. Let's make sure he doesn't win the day in the end.>>

    "What is the meaning of this?! This was supposed to be a -negotiation-!" Ellari shouts, and immediately opens fire on the one going to grab the twin brother.

Athena (159) has posed:
Navi will recognize, Zealot, Pop and Dart among the marauders gathered. But what on earth are they doing apparently working for that black clad Mandalorian??

The figure in black turns to Volken, and for a moment, doesn't say anything. After a moment he sneers, "Is that what you came here for? To grind me to a pulp?" he scoffs. "Well I have news for you all. I don't owe anyone, anything." His jet thrusters activate, and suddenly, he's out of there, flying away over the gorge.

Ellari's blast singes the upper sleeve of the marauder who's grabbing Kasseady, leaving a small blackened mark. His arm instantly recoils, just as Jorn swipes at him. He manages to dodge it with unnatural speed and grace, before he's reaching for the other baron once more.

Cayde will discover that the black clad figure honestly doesn't even know that much about the lab itself. It's in the colony site, somewhere, but it's surprising how little he seems to know about himself. And the quarrel itself, he doesn't seem to know much about either. Someone else had told him about it...

Jorn (418) has posed:
Jorn pulls out a weapon, but it seems to not work. At least that will be what he tells everyone since his story is the weapon isn't working. He's always said the gun doesn't work. This is just proof of it. Even with the opportunity created by Ellari. So, Jorn intenerally curses himself for "grabbing the wrong gun."

Volken Mons has posed:
Well - Chaos. Just like he imagined.

"Not so fast, vod!" he calls out as Caine attempts to go leaping away into the air. Volken brings his club sized arm around, clenching his fist and priming his bracers. His body seems to root itself to the ground in preperatio and then his whipcord goes lassoing out, lunging across the distance at Caine as he attempts his escape.

Unfortunantely, he's a touch too slow. Volkens' shot misses, going off to the side and snapping violently with a cracking sound as the air ruptures from its speed.

"Damn!"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde finds all of these revelations rather disturbing. Who was doing experiments on humans, birthing them in a lab, -in- Aklyrr? And how had this escaped anyone else's notice? This kind of research was illegal by Republic standards. The Arkanian scientists come to mind, and he recalls that he doesn't know much about what they're doing. But what about Pike, or Navi? Or Soren. They were closer to the medical operations.

    But then, the strange lab rat is trying to fly away. Oh no, he still needed more information! He reaches out with the Force into the man's mind...if he really is only a year old, he should be easy to manipulate...

    <Stay...you're not done yet> he commands.

Ellari Zin has posed:
    Ellari would've echoed Volken's words but that would be awkward since he already said it. She rushes at the marauder as he attempts to grab Kass again, but instead of assailing him, she instead tries to push past him and grab the twin baron herself.

    "Volken! Make sure the di'kut doesn't get away. I've got his idiot twin brother."

Navi has posed:
"Swell. Now they're fighting," Navi murmurs, watching what looks like the opening act of a brawl. "The least unpredictable result of this whole situation." She starts moving closer again, looking for an opportunity to assist, or at least keep Cayde from being killed...

Athena (159) has posed:
The flying black clad figure narrowly avoids getting roped by Volken's whipcord. He spares the massive Mandalorian a look, but doesn't comment, instead, increases power to the thrusters, ascending and accelerating.

But then, Cayde enters his mind. This is foreign, new, and unwelcome. He makes a choking sound, and grips his helmet, suddenly veering left. Cayde will be able to sense that he's fighting Cayde's telepathic probe tooth and nail. And it's... it's definitely to his detriment. His mind, it's so young, yet physically mature at the same time. His consciousness, it's... it's starting to tear and fray a little, from struggling so much. What few memories he has, he's suddenly losing. He screams, thrashing in the air. Navi may also sense a disturbance in the Force.

Meanwhile, Ellari buffets the masked marauder aside. He topples, but rolling over, aims two precise blasts not at Ellari herself, but at Kasseady's cuffs. Now, suddenly, he's free. Kasseady blinks, his mind still foggy from the carbonite. But then he raises his wrists and realization dawns on him, albeit a bit slowly.

Yet, just as Ellari attempts to secure Kasseady, the other marauders open fire on her!

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    No, no not again...

    Cayde desperately tries to suppress the man's struggling, to 'enforce' a sense of calm. But also he shows him that there is a struggle going on down there, that the prisoner he'd tried to collect earlier isn't quite secured yet. Isn't that what he'd come for? Hopefully that will get him back on track and focused on the task at hand.

Ellari Zin has posed:
    The shots are mostly absorbed by Ellari's beskar armor, although they cause her to stagger slightly. But she then notices Kass is now free. "Oh no you don't!" she lunges at him, attempting to wrestle him to the ground.

    Unfortunately he's a bit stronger than her, even if still somewhat dazed. Hopefully, Volken will be able to help deal with this...

Volken Mons has posed:
"The hell is -wrong- with him!?"

Naturally Volken is oblivious to The Force and all that rot. All he sees is Caine suddenly flipping this way and that like a wild man in the air.

But he does know Cayde of Chaos is here.

"Bo---Cayde! Stop what you're doing! Just.... just pull him back down here! I know you can do i--"

Volken suddenlly wheels as if snapping toa ttention as Ellari is fired on. One massive arm lifts, priming his repulsor attacment. An instant later and a blast of pure kinetic energy goes warping out - shooting violently at the nearest mercenary attacking her.

His other arm reaches up, beginning to unhook his massive repeater cannons from his back. No words, just a sudden cold fury.

Navi has posed:
"STOP! STOP THIS INSANITY IMMEDIATELY!!!" Navi shouts, hurrying into view off to one side of the clearing, shouting at the Marauders. "I don't know what you're doing here, but you need to stop, right now! This isn't a boarding party... these are /Mandalorians/! If you try to go toe to toe with them, /you will die/! Graveyard dead! Stop it!"

She looks up at the man in black twisting in midair, wincing at the pain radiating from his thoughts. There can be only one person responsible for this... << Cayde! Be careful with that man's mind, or you'll wind up killing him! >>

Athena (159) has posed:
Kass wiggles out of Ellari's grasp. He stumbles a bit, still dazed from the carbonite but manages to activate his jetpack. He skyrockets upward, but a thick fog is settling in and he's in no shape to really pilot himself. He's barely gone ten meters before he crashes into a tree, then plummets down, down, down, deep into the Gorge, into the thick fog where no one can see anything.

Cayde's mind powers work better this time, but the black clad figure still isn't completely back to himself yet. Just as Cayde thinks things might just work out okay because the Mandalorian has turned around and is heading back towards the melee, he fails to notice a massive branch jutting out and knocks his jetpack on it. With a hiss, one of the thrusters goes out, and suddenly, he's spiraling out of control, straight into that same fog that Kasseady had become obscured by. And then he's gone, out of sight, and for Cayde, out of mind, for within seconds he's too far to reach with the Force.

Volken's repeater cannon knocks the offending marauder back a few steps, leaving a massive dent in her armor. However, after a few moments, she recovers, and sneers at Navi's comment. "Do you think we care??"  But now that it seems that the other two Mandalorians have disappeared, their reason for being here seems to have, as well. They laugh, their jetpacks activate and then they're off, to only light knows where. The marauder who had grabbed Kass initially follows suit, but as he does, he leaves Volken a little parting gift - another blaster shot aimed right at his ass!

Navi has posed:
"Jerks..." Navi grumbles as the Marauders depart. She moves to the edge of the cliff and looks down, down into the fog-shrouded depths. "I'm getting really tired of climbing into and out of gorges..."

Volken Mons has posed:
The shot finds a mark onto Volken's flank as he's already starting to move.. but he doesn't stop and instead lowers the repeater cannon and sends a spray of blaster bolts chasing after the marauders.

But it's mostly just for the sake of his frustration as they're soon gone.

"What the hell was all of this! We -had- him!" he thunders before looking down into the gorge. "We had them -both-! COME ON."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde stares down into the gorge where the strange man had fallen, sighing. Then he lifts his gaze back toward the others, frowning.

    [He was...born in a lab] he informs them. [...last year]

Ellari Zin has posed:
    Ellari sighs heavily as Kass manages to get out of her grasp and fly away, only fall down into the gorge. -Something- had gone seriously wrong with Caine, stars only know what. "Dank farrik," she mutters, mirroring Volken's sentiment. She isn't eager to go to down into the gorge, either. Not without any kind of lead. Nothing could ever be simple, now could it?

    She presses her lips together, exhaling audibly. "We'll find him," she tells Volken and Jorn resolutely. "We'll make him pay, and -then- we'll deal with the -rest- of them." she remarks, looking off toward where the marauders went. "I'm sure they're hiding somewhere."

    She squints at the sign language, as if unsure she's reading this right. "Wait, what do you mean? That's not possible. How could a one year old be a full-grown man?" And yet, something about this hadn't seemed right anyway...

Navi has posed:
"Those Arkanian medtechs at the lab near the Vergence keep talking about experiments in cloning," Navi observes, "but I had no idea they could produce an entire person yet. Maybe that's where this person came from?"