suitably_heroic | The Surface of Telos, A While After Last

Meetra	Meetra was the first to get up off the ground. She hurt in... a lot of places, but that wasn't new. Surviving a wreck like that? That was. She'd be a little euphoric if it wasn't for the familiar face staring at her.
Bao-Dur	"Good to have you back, General." The Zabrak - Bao-Dur - seemed to bounce back from this sudden surprise very quickly. There was nothing in his tone to hint at the fact he'd just watched a shuttle crash and explode practically by his feet.
Meetra	Yes. She knew him. But how? Meetra touched her face. No blood. "Where am I?"
Bao-Dur	"Easy now," Bao-Dur cautioned calmly. "You survived one spectacular crash. Lucky I was there to pull you and your friends out of the wreckage, or you'd be more than a little crispy." There was a brief twitch along the edges of his lips. "But it's only fair," he said. "I owe you more than one, General."
Meetra	She still couldn't place him. Then again, her head hurt. "What are you talking about?" she managed.
Bao-Dur	"You must be in shock from the crash," Bao-Dur observed dispassionately. "Have to expect some long-term memory loss from that." He looked at the tiny round thing hovering by his head. "Too bad she's not a droid, huh?" The tiny droid beeped back. "We can't all be that lucky." He turned back to Meetra. "I'll humor you, General. I was one of the Iridonian mechanics that was at Malachor. Bao-Dur? I can see how you'd forget me, seeing as how I was the only one."
Meetra	Somewhere, in the parts of her memory she didn't like to explore too often, a picture emerged. Yes-- now Meetra was sure. "I think I recall you," she said. She had given him orders. He had carried them out.
Bao-Dur	"Please don't think too hard," Bao-Dur said. It was hard to tell if he'd been mollified by that or not. "I'd rather not talk about the war, if we could. We all went through some tough times after Malachor, and maybe we all did a little forgetting." He glanced up at his little controller. "Guess that's one thing we've got better than droids - they can't forget anything." He paused. "Then again, you give them a memory wipe, and they forget for good."
Meetra	Meetra could understand that - on many levels. She preferred to leave Malachor V behind her, whenever she had the chance. "How are the others?" she asked, glancing at Kreia and Atton's prone selves. They weren't dead. She knew that much. But her senses were still dull.
Bao-Dur	"They'll be fine," Bao-Dur said, glancing over her shoulder. "The pilot's more or less unharmed, and the old lady... well, she's tougher than she looks." His gaze ran over her face next. "You know, I never thought I'd see you again, General. Galaxy's a big place, and this is the last place I thought I'd bump into you. So I have to ask - just what are you doing here?"
Meetra	"Looking for my ship," she said.
Bao-Dur	"Well," Bao-Dur said, "If your ship's in as bad shape as this one, I don't think you're gonna have much luck." It took some really bad luck to get a ship this banged up to begin with. He was almost impressed.
Atton	"Well, this is familiar. Feels like my last time on Telos." Atton sat up, gingerly reaching for his head. It hurt. A lot.
Bao-Dur	"Crashed a shuttle that time, too?" Bao-Dur asked him, casually.
Atton	"No," Atton said, rolling both of his shoulders as he forced his way back to himself. "Pazaak."
Kreia	"That was not the most pleasant landing I've endured," Kreia muttered. She, too, was getting to her feet. "Next time, we should perhaps seek out a more reputable pilot."
Atton	Oh, come on. They'd gotten shot at! Atton got onto his feet. "You're welcome, Kreia," he snapped. "You know, if I weren't such a crack pilot, we could have hit the shield wall or one of those rock faces."
Kreia	"Yes," Kreia said dryly. "Our current situation is a vast improvement."
Meetra	Were they going to be doing this all day? Not on her watch. "We need to find our ship," Meetra pointed out. Pointedly pointed out.
Bao-Dur	"Yes," Bao-Dur concurred. He squinted up at the sky. "Czerka is probably already on their way..."
Atton	"We don't even have any idea where to look for the Ebon Hawk," Atton pointed out with a sigh.
Bao-Dur	"I can help you find it," Bao-Dur said mildly. "I have access to the shield network." He took a few steps past them. "I came here hoping to repair whatever damage your shuttle took, but not even I can fix that wreck."
Meetra	Too bad. They'd just have to go on foot. "Then let's get going," Meetra said. "The longer we stand here, the more time Czerka has to pinpoint our location."
Atton	They strode through the grasslands of Telos, which swayed in the breeze and sang with the sounds of the insect life hidden between blades of grass. But Atton was keenly aware at all times of the darkness lurking just over the horizon, behind the shield wall that protected the restoration zones. There was damage on this planet, and very little of it healed - it cast a pall over everything. He was okay with that. Or at the very least: he was familiar with that. It just made him a little jumpy. Not a bad thing, as it turned out. They were barely across the valley or guys showed up and started shooting. They took 'em out with a little effort, blasters and vibroblades and Bao-Dur's crazy robot arm flashing.
Meetra	Of course, then it was only a couple more minutes until they stumbled onto a mine field, which definitely hadn't been in the restoration planning. There was a Rodian on the other side who seemed positively gleeful. "{What luck!}" he crowed. "{We did not expect to see you again!}" "I was just thinking the same thing," Meetra replied, reaching for her vibroblade again. "{We thought our situation being stuck here on this planet would keep us from collecting the price Goto has put on your head. But now you've so thoughtfully delivered yourself to us. We would be remiss to let the opportunity pass us a second time.}"
Bao-Dur	"Wait," Bao-Dur said, frowning. "Why is there a bounty on your head?"
Meetra	Meetra let out an irritable sigh. "I'll explain later." "{Don't you know?}" the Rodian burbled. "{The Exchange is paying handsomely for the head of a Jedi Knight. Your friend here just happens to be one. But that's of little importance. What's important is that we take you to Nar Shaddaa to collect.}"
Bao-Dur	"I don't think so," Bao-Dur said, with the first thing akin to emotion finally rearing its head in his voice. "You'll have to come through me if you want to take the General."
Atton	"{That was the plan, anyway,}" the Rodian shrugged. Then he crashed to the ground, smoking blaster hole in his forehead. Atton shrugged. "Hey, if this is going to keep happening," he said.
Bao-Dur	Bao-Dur did not seem particularly shocked by this act. He strode carefully between the mines, stepping over the Rodian's body. "You know, I always feel a sense of calm when I walk the surface of Telos. The Ithorians are truly amazing in their work."
Kreia	"This planet is strong in the Force, that much is true," Kreia mused. "But I am not sure if it is Chodo Habat's work." She turned towards Meetra. "Can you feel anything?"
Meetra	"A whisper, perhaps," Meetra said quietly. She shut her eyes and extended her senses - but they were still dull, blunt. "Like the breeze through the grass."
Kreia	"That is good," Kreia said quietly. "As a breeze may swiftly turn to a gale, you are slowly beginning to be reopened to the Force." What did it mean, she wondered. Why.
Atton	"There is something about this place," Atton said. He wasn't sure if he trusted it. "I feel it - like a weight is lifted off my shoulders."
Bao-Dur	"Quiet," Bao-Dur cautioned to all of them. "There is a mercenary pack up ahead. If we move carefully along the perimeter, we may be able to get by without them spotting us. We could cross along the shore, or head up along the cliffs to the south."
Atton	Okay, after being shot at more than he had ever been shot at over the space of this few standard hours, Atton wasn't going to argue against sneaking around. Which, with their luck, of course only held out for a couple of minutes until they suddenly found themselves shooting their way into a mercenary camp, but on the bright side, the Zabrak said he could figure out where their ship went from here. They'd get around to figuring that one out as soon as they got done shooting all these people. As per usual.