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El Taco Taco
The ElvenqueenWith the explanation of the Guardians were, Yerbol had a sinking feeling that Voldon had something to do with their appearance, Cheriss confirming the notion before summoning the Champions to her side and asking for their assistance. The Mystics, who had remained silent during Cheriss' explanation, exchanged looks with one another before the Mystic who first spoke uttered:
"You must ensure the health of your allies. We will tend to our own. It would be most beneficial for your Elders to convene with us at an opportune time. There is much we must discuss." Cheriss acknowledged the invitation before ordering the recovering Alliance squadrons to salvage what they could before requesting air transport off-world. Yerbol wanted to ask about the consequences of what Voldon had done, but Aria beat him to it. The short, somber exchange between Elder and Champion all but confirmed Yerbol's suspicion about Voldon's actions: he sacrificed himself for their own good. Not shocking for his character, but for one of the most stabilizing forces within the Qyaari to suddenly be gone was...well, it was hard to define the term, but Yerbol knew that the knots tightening in his gut were only a mere sign of things to come without the presiding Elder.
He was snapped back out of reverie when a couple of Alliance soldiers asked for help clearing rubble from the entrance of the Temple, Yerbol complying with the request and within a couple of moments the rubble that once acted as makeshift cover against the Gormak was swept aside. As he turned, he found his partner approaching, her near ebony colored irises that normally gleamed with joy tainted with sorrow.
"Hey." He muttered quietly, taking the wobbly hand that gently rested on his arm in one of his own. When no words came, he wrapped his arms around his partner, kissing her on the head as he told her:
"We're going to be okay. I promise you that we're going to be okay." Knowing that probably sounded trite and unconvincing, he quickly tried a bit of grim humor:
"Don't think Voldon would want us to think otherwise, right?" No, that didn't sound right either. Sighing, he released from their embrace and slid his hands up to her shoulders.
"So we focus on the people here that need our help, do what we can to make sure that what Voldon did can be honored through our actions." Already he could hear the whine of engines roaring through the sky as Alliance ships began to descend in the rolling hills that stretched out in front of the Temple.
"I think I heard some of the troopers talking about needing our help getting the wounded out in one piece. Mind helping?"
___
It took several hours, but all Alliance troopers that managed to stay alive through Manus' brutal assault were evacuated to shuttles along with debris cleaned up and disposed of. Voss healers and commandos who had been on the front lines at Voss Ka were diverted back to the Temple where they began to carry out their own fallen along with tending to those who still had a chance to survive the carnage Manus had brought upon their normally picturesque planet. When Yerbol wasn't busy helping Alliance or Voss forces, he would lean against one of the support pillars just outside the entrance, some variation of arms folded across his chest as he watched the sky, awaiting the arrival of the scattered Qyaari forces that were deployed to other planets. They hadn't heard anything about how Hoth or Taris did in the assaults, but he could only hope that there wasn't as much resistance there as they faced here. His first rumination session featured thoughts of his parents, but he then disposed of them. Surely they're alright. If anything, Manus chose those two planets to try and stretch their forces in vastly different directions so he could accomplish whatever he was doing on Voss. It was a miracle that one of the Alliance communications officers that came from the wreckage of the capital city managed to get a hold of forces on both worlds, relaying the message to come to Voss as soon as possible. He hoped that the message was actually heard.
It wasn't until night had fully descended upon the planet and the Temple cleared of almost all collateral damage did two shuttles shoot out of the night sky, coming to rest on the knoll in front of the Temple where so many other ships had landed over the course of the day. Their loading ramps ejected, allowing Yerbol to spot the forms of the other Elders and-
"Kira." He muttered, throat drying as he dropped the Faceless helmet in his hands that he had been examining and walked to the threshold of the Temple.
"Good to see you in one piece." Matthew shot him his trademark lop-sided smile, clapping a hand on the Champion's shoulder.
"It took a lot of sacrifice for that."
"So we've heard." Malu came alongside her fellow Elder, surveying the Temple with cloaked eyes.
"Something...powerful was here. Even more than Manus." She cocked a brow, demanding further explanation.
"That's a long story, one that I think Cheriss should tell you." Kira squinted, looking past the younger man as she asked:
"Where's the big guy? Is he trying to coordinate 'war efforts'? Goodness, he never knows when to stop, does he?" Blowing out a contented sigh, she followed up with:
"He'll be happy to know that Hoth was a complete waste of time. A few Faceless troopers and some weird ice drill that they were trying to use to bore into a cave that, according to Malu, had little value."
"Taris was a waste as well." Aliel joined the company now, her normally flowing blonde locks a tangled mess, bags underneath her eyes.
"Although not as easy as disarming a drill." She shot Kira a teasing look, to which she only chuckled.
"Where's Cheriss?"
"I don't...." Yerbol turned back, relieved to find that the Elder was approaching, although he didn't know where his spouse was. She ought to be here.
"You must ensure the health of your allies. We will tend to our own. It would be most beneficial for your Elders to convene with us at an opportune time. There is much we must discuss." Cheriss acknowledged the invitation before ordering the recovering Alliance squadrons to salvage what they could before requesting air transport off-world. Yerbol wanted to ask about the consequences of what Voldon had done, but Aria beat him to it. The short, somber exchange between Elder and Champion all but confirmed Yerbol's suspicion about Voldon's actions: he sacrificed himself for their own good. Not shocking for his character, but for one of the most stabilizing forces within the Qyaari to suddenly be gone was...well, it was hard to define the term, but Yerbol knew that the knots tightening in his gut were only a mere sign of things to come without the presiding Elder.
He was snapped back out of reverie when a couple of Alliance soldiers asked for help clearing rubble from the entrance of the Temple, Yerbol complying with the request and within a couple of moments the rubble that once acted as makeshift cover against the Gormak was swept aside. As he turned, he found his partner approaching, her near ebony colored irises that normally gleamed with joy tainted with sorrow.
"Hey." He muttered quietly, taking the wobbly hand that gently rested on his arm in one of his own. When no words came, he wrapped his arms around his partner, kissing her on the head as he told her:
"We're going to be okay. I promise you that we're going to be okay." Knowing that probably sounded trite and unconvincing, he quickly tried a bit of grim humor:
"Don't think Voldon would want us to think otherwise, right?" No, that didn't sound right either. Sighing, he released from their embrace and slid his hands up to her shoulders.
"So we focus on the people here that need our help, do what we can to make sure that what Voldon did can be honored through our actions." Already he could hear the whine of engines roaring through the sky as Alliance ships began to descend in the rolling hills that stretched out in front of the Temple.
"I think I heard some of the troopers talking about needing our help getting the wounded out in one piece. Mind helping?"
___
It took several hours, but all Alliance troopers that managed to stay alive through Manus' brutal assault were evacuated to shuttles along with debris cleaned up and disposed of. Voss healers and commandos who had been on the front lines at Voss Ka were diverted back to the Temple where they began to carry out their own fallen along with tending to those who still had a chance to survive the carnage Manus had brought upon their normally picturesque planet. When Yerbol wasn't busy helping Alliance or Voss forces, he would lean against one of the support pillars just outside the entrance, some variation of arms folded across his chest as he watched the sky, awaiting the arrival of the scattered Qyaari forces that were deployed to other planets. They hadn't heard anything about how Hoth or Taris did in the assaults, but he could only hope that there wasn't as much resistance there as they faced here. His first rumination session featured thoughts of his parents, but he then disposed of them. Surely they're alright. If anything, Manus chose those two planets to try and stretch their forces in vastly different directions so he could accomplish whatever he was doing on Voss. It was a miracle that one of the Alliance communications officers that came from the wreckage of the capital city managed to get a hold of forces on both worlds, relaying the message to come to Voss as soon as possible. He hoped that the message was actually heard.
It wasn't until night had fully descended upon the planet and the Temple cleared of almost all collateral damage did two shuttles shoot out of the night sky, coming to rest on the knoll in front of the Temple where so many other ships had landed over the course of the day. Their loading ramps ejected, allowing Yerbol to spot the forms of the other Elders and-
"Kira." He muttered, throat drying as he dropped the Faceless helmet in his hands that he had been examining and walked to the threshold of the Temple.
"Good to see you in one piece." Matthew shot him his trademark lop-sided smile, clapping a hand on the Champion's shoulder.
"It took a lot of sacrifice for that."
"So we've heard." Malu came alongside her fellow Elder, surveying the Temple with cloaked eyes.
"Something...powerful was here. Even more than Manus." She cocked a brow, demanding further explanation.
"That's a long story, one that I think Cheriss should tell you." Kira squinted, looking past the younger man as she asked:
"Where's the big guy? Is he trying to coordinate 'war efforts'? Goodness, he never knows when to stop, does he?" Blowing out a contented sigh, she followed up with:
"He'll be happy to know that Hoth was a complete waste of time. A few Faceless troopers and some weird ice drill that they were trying to use to bore into a cave that, according to Malu, had little value."
"Taris was a waste as well." Aliel joined the company now, her normally flowing blonde locks a tangled mess, bags underneath her eyes.
"Although not as easy as disarming a drill." She shot Kira a teasing look, to which she only chuckled.
"Where's Cheriss?"
"I don't...." Yerbol turned back, relieved to find that the Elder was approaching, although he didn't know where his spouse was. She ought to be here.