Trooper

Birth of a Rebellion

Orto Plutonia: 11 BBY
Republic Base
Jess

They rounded a corner and spotted several tall furry creatures waiting in the hallway. Hard spiked shells covered their backs. Each of them had several black eyes and a strange mouth. Jess tilted his head, watching them.

"Those must be the Talz Senator Chuchi talked about," Mirk said.

The Talz had spotted them and were coming closer. Cassian and Mirk raised their blasters. Instantly, the creatures growled a warning and pointed their spears. Jess darted in front of the two boys and held his arms out.

"Put your blasters down," he ordered.

"But what if they," Mirk protested. Jess shot him a look. Mirk glanced down and obeyed. They lowered their blasters and stepped back.

Ok, how am I going to do this? I have no idea what they're saying and I doubt they'll understand me. Still, they have to know where Ryn, Feylin, and Azie are, Jess thought. He took a hesitant step towards the Talz.

The creature straightened and cocked its head. "Use hand signals maybe?" Arwen called.

Jess arched an eyebrow but shrugged. "Um, sure. Do not make fun of me," he growled. "Elide, come here."

Elide's eyes widened in terror as Cassian pushed her towards Jess. He took her arm and pulled her beside him. The Talz watched them curiously. Jess held his hand above Elide's head, trying to portray Ryn's height. He attempted to move his hands in the shape of her lekku as well, hoping the creature would understand. Elide caught on and pretended to pull something over her shoulder, like Feylin would with her lekku.

The creature turned to its companions and said something in their strange language. The group of Talz began walking away. The other waved a hand over his shoulder, beckoning for them to follow.

    "Do you think they understood?" Arwen asked.

    "If they understood that, they're smarter than I expected," Mal scoffed.

    "Elide and Cassian, you should get the ship and follow us," Jess said. They nodded and broke off from the group.

    Outside of the base, several cat-like mounts were waiting. They had long sharp talons and teeth. Their spiky blue fur fit in with the harsh landscape around them. The Talz mounted their creatures and offered hands down to them. Jess jumped up behind their new companion and hung on as they went dashing across the frozen land. He desperately hoped the Talz were helping them, and that he hadn't just doomed them all.

Orto Plutonia: 11 BBY
Talz Village
Ryn Alera

    Ryn blinked her eyes open in a dome shaped hut. Feylin and Azie were beside her. Feylin was still asleep, but Azie chirped as she turned towards him. Someone had plugged him into a power supply of sorts and there was a generator in the center of the room. Ryn huddled closer to it, grateful for the warmth. There was a thick blanket of sorts wrapped around her. She pulled it around herself tightly.

    "What happened?" She asked Azie. He whistled a brief explanation. "And here the Empire thought they'd kill us," Ryn chuckled. "Let's hope their good will holds out." Weariness dragged at her mind, but she forced herself to stay awake. She could sense something coming, though she wasn't what, or from where.

    The thick fabric covering the hut's door moved as one of the furry creatures entered. The Talz said something, but she wasn't sure what. It handed her a steaming bowl of some sort of broth. Ryn took it gratefully and held it in her cold hands, soaking up the warmth. She began to sip it slowly. It was delicious, full of flavor and warmth.