Untitled Sci-Fi Story (2)

-zzzt-Suit containment compromised-zzzt-

-zzzt-Suit power at ten percent-zzzt-

**static**

-zzzt-Suit containment compromised-zzzt-

-zzzt-Suit power at ten percent-zzzt-

**static**

 

                Kesoka groaned and coughed. She opened her eyes slowly. Her suit’s view-screen was a mess of cobweb-cracks and the HUD display flickered in and out.  Her suit’s AI kept repeating the same lines over and over, occasionally interrupted by static.

                She could just barely make out the stone floor she was lying on through her cracked view-screen. She tried to get her hands under her to push herself into a sitting position but intense pain lanced up her left arm. Oh, right. That’s the arm you landed on. She thought to herself. It’s probably broken, or at least dislocated.

                She managed to slowly roll herself onto her back. She groaned in pain as she did and another coughing fit shook her. The planet’s atmosphere was deadly to humans. Her suit’s containment had been breached and she was now breathing the acidic atmosphere in.  Hopefully it’s only a small breach.

                -zzzt-“Kesoka,-” -zzzt-“-there?” her suit’s com crackled as a voice sounded around her. -zzzt-“Kesoka, come-” -zzzt-

                “Jet?” she croaked

                -zzzt-“Kesoka, where-” -zzzt-“you?” Jet’s voice sounded worried.

                “”You’re breaking up, Jet.” She coughed as she finished. She needed to get back to the shuttle.

                -zzzt-“What?” -zzzzzt-“-can’t-” -zzzt-

                “Jet?” she coughed again, “Jet, can you hear me?”

                All she heard was static and the suit’s AI.

-zzzt-Suit containment compromised-zzzt-

-zzzt-Suit power at five percent-zzzt-

**static**

     She needed to go. She managed to roll herself onto her knees, and stayed that way for a moment, coughing and cradling her arm. It hung limply across her lap. She glanced around her and saw a tunnel that led away into darkness. Might as well go that way. She mused.

                As she struggled to her feet, she noticed her pistol lying in the dirt. She managed to pick it up without falling over and gripped it tightly in her hand. Who knows what I’ll run into.

 

                A blast sounded and suddenly one of the men in front of them pitched over. Jet and Aleryus used the distraction to take care of the other two. The skirmish was over in seconds they both glanced in the direction of the shot that had saved their lives. They looked in time just to see a suited figure pitch forward into the sand.

                “Kesoka!” Jet yelled and dashed toward her. Aleryus followed close behind. They could see her suit’s damage before they even reached her. Her helmet was dented and its view-screen was shattered. Pieces of the screen lay in the sand. There was a long gash in the suit’s plaiting exposing it to the atmosphere and the left shoulder section was very obviously popped out of place.

                “Roll her onto her back.” Aleryus told Jet. The ridged plate along her spine showed no dents so he felt safe in his request. “We need to get her helmet off.”

                His friend rolled her over and gently removed her helmet. Her eyes were closed and her skin was pale and clammy. Aleryus felt her neck for a pulse and was rewarded with a weak throb.  Next he pushed his hair to the side and put an ear to her face. There was no noise.

                “She’s not breathing.” He said to Jet without looking up. “She’s been breathing the atmosphere for too long.”

                In response, Jet ripped off the breathing mask he had been wearing. This planet’s atmosphere was uncomfortable for his species, but it wasn’t deadly.  He set the mask’s canister to oxygen and placed it over Kesoka’s head.

                A few seconds later they were rewarded with a weak cough, followed by a weaker gasp, and more coughing. They waited as her breathing stabilized to weak, but consistent, gasps. Her eyelids fluttered, but didn’t open.

                “Let’s get her to the shuttle.” Aleryus said and he helped Jet gently pick her up and place her on the floor in the shuttle. Minutes later they docked in the ship’s hanger.

>>>>> 

Captain Dazok stared absentmindedly at the figure floating in a bright green liquid.  A mask covered her face, and tubes and wires were attached to various parts of her body. A readout on the tank’s glass showed a steady heartbeat and brainwaves. He was so engrossed in watching the readouts and his inner thoughts that he didn’t hear Dr. Chidren come to stand beside him. He inhaled sharply and shook his head as the medic addressed him.

“Chidren.” he said, acknowledging the medic’s presence. “How is she?”

The medic’s bluish-purple skin became a greyish blue. “Not very good.” was the raspy response. “Her left shoulder was dislocated and the collarbone was cracked. She also suffered a deep gash to the side which caused her suit’s containment to be compromised.  Because of that, she’s suffered severe damage to her lungs.”

“Can the solution heal her lungs?” the captain asked.

The medic shook her head. “If she was able to breathe it, probably; but as you know the solution only works for humans on what it can touch. We injected some into the muscle around her shoulder, but we do not have a way to make the solution breathable and still effective. Her lungs will have to heal on their own. If they do, it’s highly likely that they will never return to normal parameters.”

Dazok was silent. He and Kesoka were the only two humans in a crew of thirty people. He had been the only human for over a decade and her addition to the crew a few years ago had filled a void he hadn’t known existed. Their age difference meant he saw her as daughter rather than anything else, but he still didn’t relish the thought of her being gone.

 

 

Six Months Later…..

                Kesoka inhaled and immediately knew something was wrong. Her breath hitched and pain flared in her chest. She dropped to her knees, hands pushing into the stone floor. She had been breathing hard the entire match, but this was different. She coughed and tried to inhale again, which only made the pain worse and her to cough more. She felt a presence beside her and a hand on her back. So much for keeping this a secret.

                She coughed again and this time she spat blood onto the stone. Her lungs felt like they were on fire. She barely registered her name being called as she gasped for air and more coughing wracked her body. Dark spots swam before her eyes and she felt her body being lifted as someone carried her away.

>>>>> 

                “What happened?” Captain Dazok asked Aleryus as he walked into the room. Kesoka was curled on her side on a cot, a mask over her face, eyes closed. Her breathing was ragged breaths accompanied by coughs.

                “She’s been lying about her lungs.” Aleryus answered him. “She‘s been insisting her lungs were fine, so we let her be talked into a short sparring match. She was doing rather well when she collapsed and started coughing. Some of those coughs brought up blood.”

                Dazok sighed and mumbled “I never should have let her come.” as he rubbed a hand over his face. “What did Dr. Chidren say?”

                “We can’t reach him.” was the quite reply.

                “Excuse me.” a nervous voice behind them said.

                Dazok and Aleryus turned to see a small figure behind them. It was one of the locals. The people here closely resembled small humans; the tallest among them barely reached five feet. The only visible sign that separated them was their jewel toned hair and skin markings.

                The figure continued, “I was told the young girl was sick. I am a healer. I thought I may be able to help.”

                “Please.” Dazok said and the moved aside to let the healer move closer to Kesoka. As the small figure looked her over, he explained what had happened to Kesoka.

                “These symptoms sound similar to stiotine gas poisoning. It usually happens to miners.”

                “Is there a cure?” Aleryus asked.

                The healer nodded his head. “There is. I can’t say how effective it will be on an outsider, but if you’re willing to let me, I’d like to try it.”

                Dazok and Aleryus looked at each other.

                “We don’t have much of a choice, Captain.” Aleryus said quietly. “She’s dying already.”

                “I know.” Dazok replied. He thought quietly for a moment, listening to Kesoka’s ragged breathing. Finally, he addressed the healer, “We would be grateful for anything you believe would help.”

 “I will do my best.” The local said. “I will return in a moment.” Then he bowed and left the room.

A few minutes later, the healer returned with a stone jar in his hand. “I need her to be lying on her back. This ointment goes on her upper chest. If this works, the vapors should open her lungs as well as begin to heal them.”

Dazok moved to Kesoka’s side and gently rolled her onto her back. She groaned softly as he did, which made her cough more.  He sat on the cot and held her arms to prevent her from rolling back onto her side.

The healer took the breathing mask off of Kesoka and set it on a table beside the cot unzipped the top of her shirt just enough to pull it open, exposing her collarbone. He then opened the stone pot and rubbed a blueish ointment on her chest. When he was done he closed the pot and placed it beside the mask. He rubbed the excess ointment on a cloth looped to his belt.

“How long will until we know if it works?” Aleryus asked from behind Dazok.

“We should know in a few seconds. Her breathing should become less ragged and her coughing should be less severe.” The healer replied.

They listened in silence, waiting for the change. Moments later, Kesoka breathed deeply, but the cough that followed was significantly weaker. The next breath was shallow, but calm. Dazok hung his head in relief, and let out the breath he had subconsciously been holding.

She was going to be alright.

Untitled Star Wars 1: Scene-Shot 2

Author's Note:

     This is a very rough series of scene-shots. I apologize in advance to any hard-core Star Wars fans who may read it and find canonical and technical errors and misconceptions in it (especially regarding the Jedi and the Force). I am a big  fan of Star Wars, but have not been able to express that love for some time (a long story that does not have a place here) and this has led to a lack of knowledge about much outside of the movies. As with most of my scene-shots it is mostly un-edited, nor did I do any research for it. In light of that, please forgive the lack of planet names and other species. I simply wrote what came to me based on what I already know. Also, it is not intended to have any relation or bearing to the current or previous cannon. It simply occurs in the same GFFA. (I will say that it would take place some time before the Phantom Menace.) Thank you for your understanding, and may the Force be with you.

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Cast of Scene-Shot 2
     Jedi Knight Wylder Cade - Human
     Jedi Knight Abu Sayeed - Human
     Padawan Kaedyn Jinn - Human


     Wylder bowed to the council and turd of the holocomm he had been using. The Council had been unable to shed any light on what was affecting his friend and had affected his friend's apprentice. They had ordered him to wait there on (planet1) until Kaedyn awoke and speak with her when she did. Then he was to report his findings afterward.
     Later, as he sat meditating, he reflected on what he knew of what had brought Abu and Kaedyn to (planet1).  It had been two year since he had last seen his friend, Abu Sayeed. Friends since childhood, they had completed several missions for the Council together as knights and had made a good team. Two years ago, after returning from a mission, Abu had decided to take a Padawan. Wylder had been sent off on a mission before he had heard Abu's choice.
     He had not heard from or about his friend until the message from the Council came, requesting him to travel to (planet1). They had informed him that the Knight and Padawan had been sent to a mission on (planet2). It had been five months since anyone had heard from them. A look at (planet2)'s spaceport records showed that the ship they had been traveling on had docked safely and Abu and Kaedyn had disembarked. However, they had never met with the contact who was supposed to meet them. Two other Jedi had been sent to (planet2) to take care of the mission while a search for Abu and his Padawan commenced.
     Five months later, a transmission from (planet1) was received. It stated that two Jedi had been admitted to a med-center. They appeared to be physically fine, except for minor cuts and bruises, but had remained in an unresponsive state.
     The descriptions given had confirmed that they were the missing Jedi Knight Abu Sayeed and his apprentice, Kaedyn Jinn. Having just finished a mission of his own on (planet3), which was close to (planet1), he was ordered to report there and "take custody" of Abu and Kaedyn and to see what he could find regarding how they had come to (planet1), light years from where they should have been, and learn where they had been for five months.
     Upon his arrival three days later, he was informed that while Abu's condition had remained unchanged, Kaedyn's had slowly been changing somewhat. Her heart rate and breathing had slowly increased, and her muscles had become tense; but she was still unresponsive. When he asked how they had come here he was told that according to local reports, Kaedyn had stumbled onto a local farm, supporting her unconscious master. Startled farm hands had rushed to her aid. She was barely conscious and only managed a weak, "Help him." before she passed out.
     The farmers had brought them to a local med-center that served the surrounding farms and towns. Then, they had retraced their trail from the farm to discover a crashed and badly damaged escape pod. A search of the surrounding area revealed no other pods or survivors. There was no clue of any kind that could tell him where they had been or how they had gotten here. He would have to wait until Kaedyn awoke to learn any more.

--To (possibly) Be Continued--

Untitled Star Wars 1: Scene-Shot 1

Author's Note:

     This is a very rough series of scene-shots. I apologize in advance to any hard-core Star Wars fans who may read it and find canonical and technical errors and misconceptions in it (especially regarding the Jedi and the Force). I am a big  fan of Star Wars, but have not been able to express that love for some time (a long story that does not have a place here) and this has led to a lack of knowledge about much outside of the movies. As with most of my scene-shots it is mostly un-edited, nor did I do any research for it. In light of that, please forgive the lack of planet names and other species. I simply wrote what came to me based on what I already know. Also, it is not intended to have any relation or bearing to the current or previous cannon. It simply occurs in the same GFFA. (I will say that it would take place some time before the Phantom Menace.) Thank you for your understanding, and may the Force be with you.

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Cast of Scene-Shot 2
     Jedi Knight Wylder Cade - Human
     Jedi Knight Abu Sayeed - Human
     Padawan Kaedyn Jinn - Human

     Jedi Knight Wylder Cade stared at the med-data before him and then at his friend laying on the bed below it. His friend and fellow Jedi Knight, Abu Sayeed, lay absolutely still. His breathing was calm and measured; but it was not the deep breathing of sleep, nor the controlled breathing of meditation. The med-droids had been unable to find anything physically wrong with him besides a few scrapes and bruises.
     Moments earlier, he had tried to reach out to his friend through the Force. What he had found was a void of sorts. Where he should have felt the calm, assured presence of his friend, and possibly the reason he was unresponsive, there was nothing. He could sense he was still alive, but not the reason he had remained unresponsive for so many days.
     Wylder felt a shift and turned his gaze to the other figure in the room. Abu's Padawan, Kaedyn Jinn if he remembered correctly, lay a few steps away. In stark contrast to her master, who lay on his bed seemingly at peace, Kaedyn was obviously in turmoil.
     While she made no outward movement, Wylder could sense she was struggling against something. Her hands were balled into fists, and her heart rate and breather were faster than they should have been. Her face was a mask of pain.
     He walked the short distance to stand beside her. He looked at her for a moment and then placed his hand on her forehead. It was damp.
     He reached out to her through the Force, just as he had with his friend. At first, he was met with what he assumed the same "void" as before; but as he studied it, he noticed cracks. The void was an illusion, more of a cocoon than a void. One that suppressed a being's presence in the Force and their ability, or will, to respond to any stimuli.
     Kaedyn had somehow managed to crack the "cocoon" that was imprisoning her. He could sense her pushing from the inside, struggling to escape. The cocoon was pushing back. Wylder watched as some of the smaller cracks she had made began to reseal themselves.
     He reached for one of the larger cracks. He felt along its edges, and then gripped them and started to pull them apart. He sensed Kaedyn's awareness and struggle shift to this crack. He sensed her fatigue and a growing amount of frustration, but also her relief and hope that help had come.
     "Focus, Kaedyn." he mentally said to her. "Focus on this crack. You can do it."
     He felt her efforts surge. Physically, he felt her head move and heard a quiet groan. She was breaking through.
     After what felt like an eternity of combined effort, the crack they were widening created too many for the cocoon to repair, and it shattered. As they gave the final surge of effort, Wylder felt and heard Kaedyn give a low scream of pain. Moments later, the cocoon shattered, he felt her relief at finally being free of the prison.
     He withdrew from the Force, and opened his eyes. He looked down at the young Padawan. She was covered in sweat and breathing hard. Her eyes fluttered and then opened. They found his for the briefest of seconds and then they closed and she succumbed to exhaustion. Her breathing eventually slowed into the deep, rhythmic sound of someone sleeping.
     Wylder turned to the med-droid who was now standing behind him. He had undoubtedly come in regard to Kaedyn's elevated heart rate and scream. "She should improve now. Please come find me when she wakes up."
     He glanced at his friend as he left the room. Abu still lay quietly, completely unaware and unable to respond to the struggle of his apprentice. He hoped the Council could shed some light on what had imprisoned Kaedyn and was still imprisoning his friend.

--To Be Continued--