Log // Networkish - Homecoming

[out_of_order]

WHO: Cal Kestis, BD-1 and anyone else
WHERE: Between the Bishop and Agra 10
WHAT: Returning to Agra 10. Things could have gone better.
WHEN: Uhh today (10/14)
WARNINGS: N/A



There have been a few things going through Cal's mind ever since he'd set foot back upon the Bishop and they'd left the Agrii mothership. He hovers near the cockpit, eyes straining towards the planet of Agra 10 as they make their approach, a frown marring his brow as he observes the swirling masses of clouds that hang over Temba's whereabouts. "...I have a bad feeling about this," he murmurs, and over his shoulder, BD-1's low beeping echoes his sentiment.

From above it certainly looks like a storm, which can't bode well for anyone, given the last actual storm they'd had to endure. As they make their descent, his hand tightens over the seat he stands by. He's not sure how to describe what he senses through the Force, save that it puts him at unease. He can feel his connection with it slip like a slick rope being grasped at by wet hands, just before the entire ship suddenly drops, lights and systems cutting out. At least he trusts Poe can get them on the ground in relatively one piece, but they're not the only shuttle out here, and as they begin to plummet, he can see nothing but forest coming to meet them.


...


He's sure the heaviness of his body isn't only from being jarred about by the rough landing as he pushes himself upright. "...everyone okay..?" It takes what he feels like extra effort just to get to his feet, but he checks around the shuttle to make sure the rest of their small crew is all right before staggering towards the open hatch. Squinting against the rain that gets blown in, he pulls out his communicator, even as he tries to see anything beyond the trees and wind-whipped rain.

<< This is Cal from aboard the Bishop. We crash-landed well outside the city. Lost track of everyone else, systems failed upon planet reentry. Is everyone all right? Please check i- >>

His voice trails off as he catches movement, or what he thinks to see as movement, out in the stormy woods. Swallowing, he shakes his head, bringing his other hand to pat BD-1 before he pulls up the hood of his poncho over his head. "I'm sure they're all right," he assures the droid, of that much he's confident of. "I don't think it wants to outright kill us." Although it's sure doing a good job of coming close.

Comments

[out_of_order]

Briefly, Cal closes his eyes. He has no idea who these clones were, save that they were close to Echo, they had to be. But he knew that there were so many who had lost their lives. It was the way of war, and even the Jedi numbers had dwindled as Separatists and the Republic battled.

The Jedi had done their best, just as the clones had. He wanted to believe that. But they couldn't be everywhere, and it was a painful thing to admit. Cal says nothing, continuing to place one foot in front of the other. He hears Echo's voice, so different compared to the tone of his brothers, and he fixes his eyes upon the opening both so close and yet so distant.

"Almost there," he agrees, as though voicing it would make it that much closer. BD-1 chimes in with encouraging beeps of his own.

[on_repeat]

The clones were raised to go into battle. They knew they were going to die eventually. Even then, they still fought for the good of the Republic, guided by the hand of the jedi who dove into the fray with them.

Knowing this along with learning how the future supposedly unfolds has led to many questions, but the storm warps these truths, skewing the past quicker than Echo expected. And Cal...Cal is doing his best. He's been through this before, still dealing with the trauma he's been living with as it's brought back to life. But he is willing to forego his past experiences to help the clone pull through.

And he thinks: this really is unfair.

In his silence, the voices of his brothers weave in and out of the pouring rain. BeeDee's beeps are heard, and each step is given purpose.

Closer, and closer. Nearing the hatchway, Echo squeezes the Padawan's hand. "–I'm sorry, sir."

[out_of_order]

He's not sure if it's a momentary connection with the Force or just his own gut foreboding, but even before Echo speaks up, Cal feels a sudden loneliness, despite their hands still grasped. The slip in formality makes him swallow again, a title he'd never gotten the chance to earn, but he'd been happy enough just to be considered a potential comrade, a friend by those of the Thirteenth Battalion.

But it's not only that reason that has Cal feel the panic he's been managing somehow to keep at bay, suddenly slip, like a hole has just opened up beneath him.

"Echo?" His own voice sounds so far away, and he feels in that moment miles apart from the clone despite them still being right there beside each other. The sound of the rain hammers in his ears as it beats down upon his hood.

[on_repeat]

He had a plan.

An unspoken, reckless plan.

Cal has every right to think something is wrong. Barely hearing his name, Echo almost feels guilty for what he's come up with in the short time they've spent getting to this point. But he can't lose his nerve now.

He tenses, suddenly jerking his hand away from Cal's grasp, his stance shifting so that his freed hand draws back.

"You can yell at me later," he says through clenched teeth, the same hand flying forward to strike and shove the young man and his little droid friend into the shuttle without delay.

Mud-covered boots begin to back away, slipping once before recovering in the next two steps...

[out_of_order]

The clone's hand slips easily from Cal's, both as rain-slicked as they are. The padawan barely manages to start forming a word with his mouth before he finds himself being propelled backwards suddenly, tumbling back and into the shuttle. BD-1 shrieks in alarm, hopping up and off Cal before he can get landed on. He rushes off to the edge of the shuttle's hatch, staring out after the ARC Trooper.

The muted sound of the storm within the hold of the shuttle is a jarring contrast to all he'd been subjected to but a moment ago, and even as Cal shoves himself to sit up, he's still dazed, unable to process Echo's actions. He catches his breath, looking towards his droid buddy as BD-1 glances back at him. Staggering to his feet, Cal lurches towards the hatch, leaning against its frame, trying to make out the clone's form through the curtains of rain that seem only to blur anything beyond several feet.

"Echo-!!"

[on_repeat]

One last look, and Echo turns.

He breaks into a run, the flash of blue and white somehow blending into the black and gray in a matter of seconds. Muddy water splashes upward with every step he takes, his own breathing loud within the confines of his helmet. Every muttered word repeats itself, jilted and almost lost due to clumsy navigation of a new and obscured landscape.

Block out the voices, try to contact the others. Follow up with finding Temba and try searching for any of the others who may have crash-landed on Agra 10 as well.

It's stupid. It's a huge risk. There is no guarantee of success, but risks are what ARC Troopers take. He's had the training, he can be better than this.

So long as Cal stays safe.

Old habits die hard.