[Video] Confusion...

[erranthero]

[A few weeks ago, Kerra had just felt like she needed a break, to get away from all of it. And maybe see if Wanda's idea about the pods was true, so, she'd just gone back, and now she was just waking up.

A cursory scan of the network reveals nothing, but she knows that's not true. Something feels off, here.]

Guh...so...okay. Hey. It's Kerra, and I'm back.

[She looks tired, kinda grouchy, and thankfully clothed.]

Anyone mind catching me up to speed on what's going on? Took a little time in the pods. Needed to clear my head, and it feels like I've been gone a while.

Hit me, either here, or I guess at home. Maybe the bar.

Comments

[video]

[girlworthfighting]

The most pressing was probably the recent attack on the market.

There were two creatures that invaded. They came out of nowhere, and destroyed many things. Anyone injured by them eventually died.

[video]

[erranthero]

[Kerra's eyes widen in surprise.]

What sort of creatures? And how many dead?

and...anyone we know?

[video]

[girlworthfighting]

[She replies to the most pressing part first.]

Anyone from the ship was able to come back. Within a matter of days.

[video]

[erranthero]

[Her voice tightens. She knows this trick.]

You're trying to soften a blow. What the kriff happened?

[video]

[girlworthfighting]

Over the past few weeks there have been...strange happenings, out in the wilds. Dying plant life. Animals killed in unusual ways. Then there were these two monsters that came into the marketplace, and attacked everyone. They were huge, and vicious, and looked like they were made entirely out of bone.

More than two dozen people died right there. And anyone who had been cut or scratched by the creatures...their flesh slowly hardened, like it was turning into rock, until they too died. I think last I heard well over a hundred were among the fallen.

...I didn't see it happen, but. Wanda was hurt during the fighting. I don't think she even made it to the hospital.

[video]

[erranthero]

[Kerra remains silent for a long, quiet moment, listening to this. The end of it, though. Wanda. Hurt? Dead? While she was...

No.

No that...that was...

The young woman's face twists in pain, rage filling her eyes. Wanda couldn't be dead. A rumbling sound fills the air, bits of metal and stone and spare parts shaking and lifting all around Kerra as her anger gets the better of her. The Dark Side, that constant, faint, niggling little voice in the back of her head calls out to her. A parting shot from Odion, that little whisper of doubt had been easy enough to shut away but this brought it all to the forefront.

Dead? She should have been there. She could've done something. But she'd been too selfish and gone off to do something idiotic.]

Didn't make it?! She's dead?!

[video]

[girlworthfighting]

[Her eyes widen as she's watching what happens in alarm.

Not that she expected Kerra to take the news well, considering, but this is more than she thought would happen. Much, much more.]

Was dead. I didn't see it happen; we must have been in completely different parts of the market. I only heard about it after. And she's supposed to come back! Maybe she even already has! I just haven't seen her yet.

[video]

[erranthero]

That doesn't make it right!

[She can't help it, her fury takes over and the little bits and bobs that've started floating start getting bigger. Barrels, crates, and any number of much heavier things start moving around.

Including some things around Mulan, the video giving Kerra's Force power enough of a link to start moving things on her end.]

I wasn't there to stop it. She died. Coming back doesn't make that mean less. Coming back just means it can happen again!

[video]

[girlworthfighting]

[Mulan stops watching Kerra for awhile; paying more attention to the things floating around her. She's incredibly ill at ease - she'd draw her sword, save for how she knows there's not really any good a weapon would do against something like this.]

You weren't there, yes. That isn't your fault. You had no way of knowing.

But I was. I was there. I could have helped her, and I failed. I'm sorry.

[video] 1/2

[erranthero]

[Kerra's attention snaps to the camera, a deadly glint in her eyes as she focuses on Mulan. She's right. She...is completely right.

In an Mulan might feel pressure in the air around her neck, while traces of red and yellow flicker across Kerra's irises.]

Yes. I...I should...

[video] 2/2

[erranthero]

[I should what? For a moment long, tense second, Kerra's expression looks torn between hate and fear. She wants to act on it, lash out at her friend. But her training...Master Treece's words...they float up through the haze and start to push away Odion's dying words.

The young Jedi sags, piles of junk dropping to the ground with a clatter.]

I...I should...Force above, I don't know what I should...do...

What...what happened...what's going on?

[girlworthfighting]

[Mulan feels the pressure and lifts her hand to instinctively claw at her throat, but to her horror there's nothing there.

She doesn't have long to panic but panic she does, nothing to do but give in to a threat she's truly powerless against.

She gives a short, sharp cry full of fear.]

Kerra--!

[But the pressure is released and then Kerra is speaking again; so far gone in that moment, it seems, she didn't even hear her. Mulan catches her breath and tries to gather her focus, eyes closing as she draws a gasp of relief.]

...I don't know. I just told you...everything I'm aware of. I think. Other than that, I don't know.

[She's intensely wary, now.]

[erranthero]

[Kerra's hands cover her eyes for a moment, her head shakes back and forth...]

I...what...what did I just...?

[She looks up at the video, eyes widening as she realizes what happened...]

Oh...did...oh Stars. Are you...did I? I...

[girlworthfighting]

[Still breathing audibly, slow, and watching Kerra with an aside glance, her hand raises and lingers over her own throat.]

I'm not really sure what you just did.

[erranthero]

I...don't actually know. The Force...it just...flowed and everything went red and...I have never done that before.

[She admits that, frankly. She's only vaguely aware of Force Choke, as none of the Sith she's fought with or worked with were fond of it.]

I was just so...so...angry and I just...Force...are you okay?

[girlworthfighting]

I'm fine.

[She doesn't sound like she's fine.]

[erranthero]

L-Look...I...that...that won't happen again.

[She sounds more than a little afraid, now. She puts on a tough front, but she's absolutely terrified of losing people.]

Just...tell me you're okay? Please.

[girlworthfighting]

I'm alive. I'm uninjured. And I'm still apparently luckier than many of our friends were.

[Mulan has put on a tough front of her own; shutting down, going utilitarian, turning incredibly brusque.]

And for now that's more than enough. If you'll excuse me, though. There's...things I have to get back to.