The junction doors shudder as the platform lights die. Emergency gravity clamps release, and Marek catches Elara while the combat droid braces against the passage. Beneath the transfer route, a narrow maintenance shaft opens into darkness.
Marek Solan
Elara, stay with me. We are taking the shaft before the platform drops any farther.
The restraint band around Elara's wrist flickers as its control signal weakens. Behind the junction, Hutt security droids recover their formation and fire into the failing transfer machinery.
The Combat Droid
The shaft is passable. I will hold the passage while Marek moves Elara below.
The combat droid plants itself across the junction and returns controlled fire. Marek lowers Elara toward the shaft opening, but the abrupt shift forces Xenletetioxr to brace through his strained knee beside them.
Elara Solan
The band is losing its lock. If you can sever the signal, I can climb without it pulling me back.
Marek Solan
Then we do it now. The shaft gives us cover, but we still need a way out before those droids breach the junction.
✓ Quest Accepted
Get Elara clear of Jinxbingju’s security
“I continue helping”
SUCCESS (Great Strength, rolled -2)
Xenletetioxr plants his darkash-black armored shoulder against the junction frame and fires the military-pattern carbine in disciplined bursts, forcing the Hutt security droids to stay behind cover while Marek supports Elara.
Natural Weapon Junkie's drilled weapon familiarity keeps the carbine steady. With his free hand, he snaps the Elite Kusarigama's green-lit sickle blade around a railing, using its hooked reach to pull loose conduit away from the shaft opening.
Marek Solan
Keep firing. I have Elara's weight. The shaft is clear now.
Xenletetioxr drives through the strain and sweeps the kusarigama across the platform edge, cutting a snagged restraint cable so it cannot catch Elara as Marek lowers her.
His injured knee buckles under the force. The armor absorbs the impact against the deck, but a sharp twist worsens the strain and leaves his leg trembling as he keeps the carbine raised.
The Combat Droid
Marek and Elara are below. The passage remains held. Withdraw when able.
The combat droid drops into the shaft behind Marek and Elara. Xenletetioxr gives ground last, firing a final controlled burst before pulling himself below, with the junction secured behind him.