Dec 17: Overcoming An Obstacle
Word Count: 584
Summary: Yuun gets to be the hero.
A/N: I love this Gand, and he so rarely gets his moment in the spotlight. Especially when competing with such big personalities as found in Havoc Squad.
Red clay, roughly two hundred meters in both directions, and seventy-two meters high. Fynta sighed and removed her helmet, shutting down her diagnostic’s program. “Well, shab.”
Havoc Squad’s directive lay on the other side of the natural barrier. Due to the wall’s unique mineral composition, it didn’t show up on satellite imagery. Something Dorne apologized for profusely.
“Can’t we just blow a hole through it?” Vik asked, looking towards Fynta with a shrug.
“According to Dorne’s readings, the inside of this thing is hollow,” Jorgan answered, rapping a gauntleted knuckle on the red nuisance. “If we use explosives, we risk bringing down the entire section.”
Cormac took a step away from the wall, while Vik shrugged again. “That doesn’t sound too bad, at least we’d have a way through.”
Fynta reached over and punched the Weequay’s arm. “Yeah, and alert every Imperial to our location. Try again.”
Vik grunted, and Fynta turned her attention to Dorne. The medic stood with her faceplate close enough to the wall that it might scrape if she turned too quickly. Dorne knocked on the clay, pressed her ear against it, then huffed. “No, that won’t do.”
Fynta and Jorgan shared a look, then decided to leave the woman to her work. Fynta walked backwards, her head craned towards the sky, measuring the distance to the top. Jorgan followed, shaking his head. “I know that look, and don’t even think about it.”
Offering an unapologetic smirk, Fynta stopped. “It wouldn’t work anyway. Our rappel lines won’t reach the top, and I doubt anyone except Cormac would have the skill to unhook, then reset the line at the top.” Jorgan didn’t bother hiding his relief. For such a talented sniper, the Cathar had a long list of fears that he’d never admitted to before meeting Fynta. Mostly because he probably didn’t know about them until she came along.
“Could always free climb it,” Cormac suggested, joining his commanders. Jorgan’s jaw went slack, and Cormac chuckled. “Or not. Just a thought.”
“It would take too long to climb,” Fynta answered, going to her husband’s rescue. He’d do it, because Jorgan always put duty above his own discomfort. The ability to face his fears was one of the main reasons that Fynta had fallen for the grumpy shabuir.
Eventually, Vik ambled up as well, and after a while, Elara too. The blonde medic lifted her helmet free and sighed in defeat. “Sir, I haven’t got a clue. Every scenario I’ve formulated is doomed to failure. There is simply no other way around this wall. Perhaps we should return to the Thunderclap and choose a new landing point.”
“That would cost us hours,” Fynta grumbled.
“Understood sir, and I apologize for this–” Elara cut off when Yuun approached.
The Gand’s shoulders were square, his spine straighter than normal. Fynta could tell by the man’s bearing that he was pleased with himself. Yuun stopped in front of his squadmates and folded his hands. “Yuun has found our path.”
Every head turned in the direction the Gand indicated. There, plain as the planet’s three blazing suns, was a tunnel. It sank into the odd formation with a gentle curve of edges worn smooth by years of erosion. “You’ve got to be shabbing kidding me,” Fynta gaped.
Cormac guffawed and slapped Yuun on the back hard enough to stagger the Gand. “Best damn Findsman in the galaxy.” The big man hefted his hand cannon and winked at Fynta. “Come on, boss. Let’s go get our quarry.”
