(( The following was written by Derek, and he has my eternal gratitude for helping me bypass my writer's block to get this done. ))
“I’m
telling you, another minute and I would have had at least ten
more.” Selus grumbled into the com system of the
Wanderer. He and his lover had just finished a patrol in
the Archenar asteroid field, and he could picture Aittera grinning at
him from the cockpit of the Devious Hope. Her modified freighter was
flying next to his as they came about in an exit trajectory. They’d
been in a pretty severe dogfight against one of the Imperial attack
wings, and she’d managed to outscore him before their enemy bugged
out.
“Of
course you would have, just like Alderaan right?” He could hear the
baiting tone of her voice and the grin. He knew she was just trying
to get his blood going for when they made it back to dock and got
into each other arms, and, as always, he rose to it.
“Hey,
if it wasn’t for me, Alderaan would have turned out a lot
different. And before you mention it, yes, sometimes I do
still feel the sting from that sniper on Belsavis.” Selus
was grinning as wide as he knew she was now.
Suddenly,
the alarm klaxon went off. “Missiles incoming, I thought we were
done with these…” He was rocked as they impacted his aft
shields. He put The Wanderer into a Z axis spin, hitting
his thrusters as he rolled it into a loop. From the corner
of his eye he saw Aittera do the same, following his lead as they
both swept around to face their attackers head on. It
appeared that the fighters they fought before were an advanced
scouting party, because now there was another attack wing coming at
them with a Terminus Class destroyer starting to move into the
field. “We’re going to have to do a fighting
withdrawal, there’s no way we’re going to take that Destroyer,
even with as much firepower as the Hope and Wanderer have.”
She
didn’t respond, already in battle mode as the first laser strikes
lanced out from the Hope toward the closest incoming fighter, scoring
a direct hit and putting her up by another confirmed kill. Not
wanting to be outdone he started firing the moment he got a lock on
one of the enemy fighters, scoring a hit of his own and continuing to
fire as they both shot through the swarm of fighters before doing
another Z-Axis roll to put the enemy squad back in front of them.
With
what seemed to be a practiced precision, they moved in tandem as they
locked onto another two fighters and loosed missiles. Then
the warning klaxon sounded again as the Destroyer joined the fight,
loosing a turbolaser barrage at them. Selus felt the Wanderer
shake from the impact, but worst of all, he saw the explosion out of
the corner of his eye. The Hope had taken a direct
hit to her shield generator.
“Aittera
get out of here, you just lost aft shields. Another shot by that
Destroyer and you’re done!” Selus yelled over his
com. Launching a new barrage of missiles at the last of
the enemy squadron, he watched the final fighter explode and he
punched his thrusters, taking him right through the debris field. He
turned and saw Aittera in the Hope following as they climbed out of
the asteroid field.
As
they both prepared to jump to hyperspace his com came alive with
Aittera’s voice, “I hope you know if we’d stayed, I still would
have ended up ahead by-” The com cut out mid sentence as she teased
him, and the energy that washed over her ship was unmistakable. The
Hope began to drift; the Destroyer had hit her with an Ion blast, and
without her shields it had left her dead in space.
Trying
to give her time to get to her escape pod so he could pick her up,
Selus put the Wanderer into another spin, bringing him to bear on the
Destroyer as he switched all weapon power to shields. He wasn’t
going to do much to it, but he hoped the improved shielding would let
him distract it. He began to roll and spin, not giving the
gunners on the capital ship a chance to lock into him as he kept an
eye on his sensors, watching the Hope for signs that Aittera had
launched her escape pod.
Just
as he was starting to worry, he saw the indicator flash for the
escape pod to launch right before the Hope impacted with a large
asteroid. Smart girl, he thought to himself. She
was using the explosion to cover her escape.
“Bug
out already would you, I need you to come back and pick me up
planetside.” Aittera’s voice came over his com, and he
wasn’t going to argue or push his luck. He brought the
ship around, transferring shield power aft as he made his
preparations for the short hyperspace jump.
“Be
careful; don’t take risks. Find a spot to hide on the planet and
send me coordinates over the secure channel.” He took
one last second to tell her something that she already knew, then
quickly added, “I love you.” Before the stars around
him went solid and he entered hyperspace.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On
the bridge of the Destroyer, the large Darth in Sith armor watched
the freighter enter hyperspace before he gave orders to his attaché
without even looking at her. “Launch
the recovery shuttles, I want the escape pod from that second ship
brought on board. ”
“Yes,
Lord Ragious, at once.” She saluted him with a hand
across her chest before she scurried off to carry out his orders,
leaving him to reach out with the force to find his target, so that
he could direct the recovery shuttles once he did.
10/03/2013
Kel'ri's Journal
"So...yeh. Busy with trying to get this charity off the ground and that guy in my bed. Would something on this boat please break so I have something to fix!!!"
9/28/2013
Kel'ri's Journal
"What the hell is wrong with me?"
*sound of something metallic being thrown/hitting something else with a dull thud*
*sound of something metallic being thrown/hitting something else with a dull thud*
9/22/2013
9/21/2013
Kel'ri's Journal
"Been waiting for my girl to lodge another protest all week, but she's purring like a nekkar."
9/19/2013
9/14/2013
9/13/2013
9/11/2013
Kel'ri's Journal
(This is taken from an RP log that took place on Friday, Sept 6. While, technically, it would be more in the 'overheard' sense rather than recorded, the flow and ease of the RP was too good not to convert into a post. Many, many thanks to the player of Rasos for such a great scene!)
The Starchaser eased into the hangar on Carrick station and settled smoothly onto its landing gear. As the hangar door closed, the hiss of pressurization in the bay could barely be heard over the roar of the engines. A few minutes later, once the engines were cut, there was the usual low buzz of activity that followed an arrival - mostly droids busying themselves with assessments of the area and the arriving ship for safety concerns. The hiss of the hatch sounded, and Harkyn was the first down the ramp, meeting with a security droid to go over the usual customs questions.
Rasos walked into the hangar once it was pressurized and waited by the doors for the captain to come out, leaning against the wall. He didn't have long to wait. By the time Harkyn was finished, Kel'ri was stomping down the ramp with a box in hand that was shaped like those used for shipping wine bottles or other kinds of spirits. She waved to Harkyn as he left the hangar and put a thumb print on the datapad the droid he'd been speaking to held out toward her.
Rasos nodded to Harkyn as he walked out then made his way over to the petite spacer. "We gotta talk."
Kel'ri looked up at Rasos with one of her trademark charming grins and gave him a quick nod. "'Hey' usually starts things off better, you know. Here or in private?"
"Private. Your ship empty?"
She nodded and gestured with her free hand to follow her back up the ramp. "Yep. She's empty, and she's been running like a dream since I stopped making declarations of affection for anyone within earshot," she joked.
"Lets go chat then." He gestured up to the ship for her to lead the way.
The blue-haired freighter captain was already heading back up the ramp, and once inside, she led him down a narrow corridor to a common area that was decorated with various items against cool earth toned tiles that likely hid more than one storage compartment from view. There was an actual table with chairs bolted into place in the corner, and even a couch against one wall opposite a holo-terminal. "Have a sit, I guess."
He nodded. "I normally hear from agents in the field every few days at least. I haven't heard from Kusu in well over a week."
She put the box in her arm down on the table and gave a non-committal nod. "Okay."
"I don't know if he's dead or turned, but I have no trace of him, and none of the contacts I have there have seen him."
Kel'ri kept her back to him for the moment, silent as what he wasn't saying began to sink in. When she did speak, her voice was steady, matter-of-fact. "So, he was either made or had to go into hiding. Or, maybe he just blew the whole assignment off and is in the wind. That cover it?"
"Yea, just about. I'm sorry, Kel'ri. I didn't want you finding out from rumors."
She turned to him with a grin and nodded. "I appreciate that. Knew the idiot was likely to vanish eventually. I guess that means I'm free again."
He looked at her stoically. "You put on a good mask. I almost believe that."
"Hey, I already told you I was having second thoughts, remember?" She reached behind her for the box and handed it to him, changing the subject. "Corellian brandy. Bought it for a friend, but I think you'd appreciate it more."
Rasos sighed but accepted it. "Thanks. You alright?"
"I'm always alright." Her expression showed it too, even if it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I knew something like this might happen at some point. Said everything I needed to last time I talked to him."
"What did you say, if I can ask."
She clung hard to the mask. "Same stuff I was telling you, really. Pretty much just put everything out there into words."
He looked at her and opened the bottle. "Got glasses?"
Kel'ri nodded and walked over to the wall to pull a panel open and withdrew two glasses. "It's supposed to be a good year and all. I didn't cheap out."
He poured out two glasses and handed one to her. "Sorry the original recipient disappeared on us."
She took the glass, half-raised it in salute or toast or whatever, and winked at him. "Oh, it wasn't for him. Sam made a point about being from Corellia one day, and I owe him a drink. I figured it would get me laid."
He smirked. "So am I. Though we're all supposed to be Whyren's reserve addicts."
She laughed. "He -did- make mention of Whyren's, but he practically had a bar in his galley." At that point, she actually did take a drink of the glass's contents - a healthy one - and as the liquor slid down her throat, her eyes grew wide. She took comically exaggerated breaths as she reacted to the burn, then coughed. Her voice was a little hoarse as she added, "Smooth."
Rasos chuckled and took a sip of his. "It's candy for adults."
She gave him a playfully indignant look. "I'm an adult!"
"Of course you are." He leaned back a bit and looked at his glass. "So you and Rhio are close friends now?"
She took a much smaller, safer sip of her brandy and nodded. "Yeah, but you know that."
"She's been getting some flack about trying to get involved in business or trying to control and influence me. What's your take on it?"
"Of course, she's trying to influence you, but it has nothing to do with business. It's what girlfriends and wives do. They decide you're worth keeping, so they try to domesticate you," Kel'ri shrugged. "And you, in turn, try to influence her by getting her to act the way you want her to. It seems to be part of the commitment thing."
"I get information from several people she does it too much, and others say it's nonsense. Thing is, I don't see it."
"You don't see what, exactly?"
"Her interfering with UI or me. I'm either blinded or she's not doing it around me."
"I don't think interfering is the right word, and I don't think it has anything to do with UI." She finished her glass and reached to pour herself another. "And you're not supposed to notice the domestication process. You're supposed to focus on getting laid and being taken care of so you want to change into the guy she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Just like she's not supposed to mind being conditioned to act just the way you want her to whenever she's in your presence."
"I was married once. I recognize the process. I actually don't mind it since I'm getting what I want."
"Well, there you go." She shrugged matter-of-factly. "That's pretty much what I see."
Rasos nodded. "She thinks all this crap boils down to people being jealous. Maybe she's right."
"Well, what I'd ask myself in your situation is, of the specific examples brought to you, how many are about your relationship and how many aren't? She tells you what to do sometimes, but is it about you, her boyfriend, or your company? And in the absence of specific examples, you have to consider that breaking up with all those girls has probably made for some bad feelings, even with the ones who seemed to understand. I know I'd hate to lose a fuck buddy to someone prettier and classier than me. Can't imagine what the petty type would do."
"You think so? I really hadn't counted on anything petty like that. I just got tired of running around and the jealousy. That and settling down is really more my style."
"I really think so, but I'm probably not the one to ask, you know," she mused into her glass. "I don't get jealous. I like running around, and settling down is really, really not my style. When I was first getting to know you and Rhio - and she'd say something to me about you sleeping around - my advice was that if she loved you for who you are, then that'd be something she'd have to accept about you. Then, eventually, I let her convince me that I should be with a somebody. Truth is, that was awkward, and I went about it stupidly."
"How so?"
"If I'd just done things the way I usually do them, him disappearing wouldn't be a big dea---" Kel'ri cut herself off and drained her glass.
"But it is. And you think it's your fault."
Instead of answering, she picked up the bottle and refilled her glass. "My point is that she believes in that stuff, and you just admitted settling down is your thing. Why are you letting people make you question it now?"
"I'm not. I have no intentions of letting her go. I just need to make sure people have the right impressions."
"And that's another thing," she added, pointing a finger at Rasos. "You're big on reputation, which I get, but you just made a major life change that contradicts part of your reputation. Why wouldn't that draw suspicion and make people concerned that she's somehow controlling you? No one likes change."
"I suppose that's to be expected. I'll manage." He looked at her. "Some guys live for infamy. Being the big badass in the room is their thing. It's a lack of self confidence that drives that sort of thing. When they run into people that outshine them, or see them for who they really are, they run."
"You mean after some idiot actually points to the things that they really are in an attempt to connect." Not a question; her eyes hidden as she contemplated her glass again. "I figure people will accept change or try to undo it by trying to sabotage what they perceive as the source of the change. Besides, UI is a family, right? You just introduced the new step-mom, and all the kids are freaking out that you love someone else more than them."
"I don't. And she knows it. Doesn't like it much, but I have other priorities. I'm her only one. Is it fair? No, but that's the way it is."
"There you go. Any more problems in the universe I can solve? I'm on a roll," Kel'ri grinned, looking up at him.
"How about your own?"
"Oh, I intend to get right on that as soon as I can make a few holo-calls."
"Oh?"
"Yep. Not everyone got pissed at me for telling them I was off the market, and it's only been a week. I'm going to claim temporary insanity."
Rasos laughed. "That's one way to do it." He looked at her seriously for a moment. "He was a boy, Kel'ri. All the insecurities and machismo that goes with it. You deserve a man."
"Aren't many of those in the universe, believe it or not. Factor in a few things about me, and that number drops. Factor in how many are taken, and I figure there's maybe eight?" In spite of the attempt to make light, her grin was gone, and for just a moment, there was a glimpse of vulnerability behind her dark brown eyes.
He beckoned her over to him, and she blinked as she took the two or three steps to bring herself to stand directly in front of him. He stood up to give her a long hug without saying anything.
She hadn't been sure what to expect, so between that and the alcohol, she was slow to respond at first. Finally, she buried her face in his chest and hugged him back, letting herself be comforted.
"It's not you. You're quite the catch. He ran scared from someone better than he was, and that's not your fault."
"At least now I know what not to do."
"And what's that?"
"Make the first move? Tell a guy I like him? Listen to Rhio and idealize her relationship with you? Try so hard? Take your pick."
Rasos looked down at her as he rubbed her back. "All of that is fine. The mistake was doing all that on a boy."
She lifted her head to look up at him with a lop-sided smile. "So now, instead of crushing on inappropriate guys, I crush on inappropriate guys and boys who don't deserve me? Think that's some kind of progress?"
"I would think so. At least you learn what to look for, right?"
She laughed as she took a step back. "I think at this rate, I should quit while I'm behind."
"You can't. That leads to being alone and that's not an option."
"Ah, but you forget." Kel'ri looked up and around them at the ship with an affectionate smile. "I'll always have my girl."
"Not quite the same thing. Then again, I find not worrying about it to be the fastest way to finding someone."
"I think the next time around, it should be someone finding me. Hope he's hot. With muscles,” she joked. "Hope he's not already married. Oh...or blonde." She shuddered, making a face. "Blonde men are so stupid."
"What else should he have?"
She thought for a moment, and the answer was not accompanied by the mirth of a moment before. "Starchaser's approval. If he can manage to make me feel something for him, and she doesn't start falling apart, I'll know he might be worth keeping around."
"Never figured out how to talk to my ship. How does that work?"
She shrugged slightly. "Ever just sit and listen to her engine? Ships have their own language. You just gotta listen. Of course, when Varr'o was staying here, the cooling system went haywire, and he got a head full of coolant in the shower. And after having Kusu over for dinner, the light drive decided not to work, and I was stranded here for days, fixing that."
"So if she breaks on you with a guy around, that's her saying to dump him?"
She opened her mouth to respond, closed it, then answered with a contemplative look. "Huh. I just figured she was jealous, but maybe. Yeah."
"Why wouldn't your ship want you happy?"
"You mean whenever you're jealous, it's about you wanting Rhio happy?"
"I get jealous?"
"Tell me you've never been jealous."
"Never."
"Of anyone?"
"No. When I was married, my wife only had eyes for me. I knew no other man had a shot. When I got out of prison, I wasn't tied down, so if a woman I was with wanted someone else, that was ok. I just wanted some company."
"And Rhio will never give anyone the time of day, so you're good there. I guess I see it. But jealousy isn't about wanting the best for someone. It's about wanting someone to see you as the best for them."
"It's insecurity. It's about wanting something you can't have, or fear of losing something you already have. Either way, it's not something I'm wired for."
"Lucky you."
"Doesn't mean I don't miss things when they're gone. Losing the wife or more recently all the girls I've been with does hurt, but I'm not jealous. I just miss them."
"Well, no wonder you can't relate to everyone freaking out or Rhio's jealousy."
Rasos poured himself a new glass and sat down. "It just doesn't make any sense. If they're gonna leave you, let them. Why stay with someone who doesn't want you?"
"It's different for different people, I think. If I get emotionally invested in someone, it's scary to think that they might not want me before I don't want them. I avoid rejection like crazy, you know."
"That's the source of fear and why you put up that tough girl mask. You don't want anyone to walk away that might like you."
She nodded. "Exactly. Even worse, there are some pretty freaky skeletons in my closet. Some of them have these huge signs hanging around their neck that declare me unworthy of being the kind of person you don't walk away from."
"Everyone has skeletons. They hide them about as well as you do. Though some make a game of one upping each other on past miseries. They forget its the past."
"Yeah,” Kel'ri acknowledged.
"You'll have to find your own confidence to be immune to that."
"So, I'm guessing Rhio's jealousy might have something to do with losing her fiancee. Not that I'm sticking my nose in your business to take your attention away from mine."
"No, it's from me screwing a lot of women when we started out."
"We just established that jealousy comes from insecurities. If she had your attitude, screwing a lot of women wouldn't matter."
"And she is that.”
"There you go."
"I can't fix that. Only she can."
"Wasn't saying you can. I just figure you gotta give her some leeway. No one's perfect. It's not like you don't have your own flaws."
"Oh I have more than most."
She gave Rasos a wicked grin as she retrieved her glass and took a seat opposite him. "Yeah, you do."
"They can be assets depending on who's involved."
"I'm not touching that one."
He laughed. "Probably wise."
"So, what about Kusu's investigation?" Kel'ri asked.
"I spread out the assignment to everybody. Have some folks undercover who can do it."
"I guess let me know if you need anything. In the meantime, I am going to see how many orgasms it takes to get over romance gone pear-shaped."
"Depends on how good they are. There's an art to it."
"Especially for me," pops out of her mouth before, "andIcan'tbelieveIjustsaidthat." Kel'ri laughed. "Please, take the rest of the brandy with you when you go."
He grinned as he stood, grabbing the bottle, chuckling. "Hope you find a guy who knows what he's doing."
The Starchaser eased into the hangar on Carrick station and settled smoothly onto its landing gear. As the hangar door closed, the hiss of pressurization in the bay could barely be heard over the roar of the engines. A few minutes later, once the engines were cut, there was the usual low buzz of activity that followed an arrival - mostly droids busying themselves with assessments of the area and the arriving ship for safety concerns. The hiss of the hatch sounded, and Harkyn was the first down the ramp, meeting with a security droid to go over the usual customs questions.
Rasos walked into the hangar once it was pressurized and waited by the doors for the captain to come out, leaning against the wall. He didn't have long to wait. By the time Harkyn was finished, Kel'ri was stomping down the ramp with a box in hand that was shaped like those used for shipping wine bottles or other kinds of spirits. She waved to Harkyn as he left the hangar and put a thumb print on the datapad the droid he'd been speaking to held out toward her.
Rasos nodded to Harkyn as he walked out then made his way over to the petite spacer. "We gotta talk."
Kel'ri looked up at Rasos with one of her trademark charming grins and gave him a quick nod. "'Hey' usually starts things off better, you know. Here or in private?"
"Private. Your ship empty?"
She nodded and gestured with her free hand to follow her back up the ramp. "Yep. She's empty, and she's been running like a dream since I stopped making declarations of affection for anyone within earshot," she joked.
"Lets go chat then." He gestured up to the ship for her to lead the way.
The blue-haired freighter captain was already heading back up the ramp, and once inside, she led him down a narrow corridor to a common area that was decorated with various items against cool earth toned tiles that likely hid more than one storage compartment from view. There was an actual table with chairs bolted into place in the corner, and even a couch against one wall opposite a holo-terminal. "Have a sit, I guess."
He nodded. "I normally hear from agents in the field every few days at least. I haven't heard from Kusu in well over a week."
She put the box in her arm down on the table and gave a non-committal nod. "Okay."
"I don't know if he's dead or turned, but I have no trace of him, and none of the contacts I have there have seen him."
Kel'ri kept her back to him for the moment, silent as what he wasn't saying began to sink in. When she did speak, her voice was steady, matter-of-fact. "So, he was either made or had to go into hiding. Or, maybe he just blew the whole assignment off and is in the wind. That cover it?"
"Yea, just about. I'm sorry, Kel'ri. I didn't want you finding out from rumors."
She turned to him with a grin and nodded. "I appreciate that. Knew the idiot was likely to vanish eventually. I guess that means I'm free again."
He looked at her stoically. "You put on a good mask. I almost believe that."
"Hey, I already told you I was having second thoughts, remember?" She reached behind her for the box and handed it to him, changing the subject. "Corellian brandy. Bought it for a friend, but I think you'd appreciate it more."
Rasos sighed but accepted it. "Thanks. You alright?"
"I'm always alright." Her expression showed it too, even if it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I knew something like this might happen at some point. Said everything I needed to last time I talked to him."
"What did you say, if I can ask."
She clung hard to the mask. "Same stuff I was telling you, really. Pretty much just put everything out there into words."
He looked at her and opened the bottle. "Got glasses?"
Kel'ri nodded and walked over to the wall to pull a panel open and withdrew two glasses. "It's supposed to be a good year and all. I didn't cheap out."
He poured out two glasses and handed one to her. "Sorry the original recipient disappeared on us."
She took the glass, half-raised it in salute or toast or whatever, and winked at him. "Oh, it wasn't for him. Sam made a point about being from Corellia one day, and I owe him a drink. I figured it would get me laid."
He smirked. "So am I. Though we're all supposed to be Whyren's reserve addicts."
She laughed. "He -did- make mention of Whyren's, but he practically had a bar in his galley." At that point, she actually did take a drink of the glass's contents - a healthy one - and as the liquor slid down her throat, her eyes grew wide. She took comically exaggerated breaths as she reacted to the burn, then coughed. Her voice was a little hoarse as she added, "Smooth."
Rasos chuckled and took a sip of his. "It's candy for adults."
She gave him a playfully indignant look. "I'm an adult!"
"Of course you are." He leaned back a bit and looked at his glass. "So you and Rhio are close friends now?"
She took a much smaller, safer sip of her brandy and nodded. "Yeah, but you know that."
"She's been getting some flack about trying to get involved in business or trying to control and influence me. What's your take on it?"
"Of course, she's trying to influence you, but it has nothing to do with business. It's what girlfriends and wives do. They decide you're worth keeping, so they try to domesticate you," Kel'ri shrugged. "And you, in turn, try to influence her by getting her to act the way you want her to. It seems to be part of the commitment thing."
"I get information from several people she does it too much, and others say it's nonsense. Thing is, I don't see it."
"You don't see what, exactly?"
"Her interfering with UI or me. I'm either blinded or she's not doing it around me."
"I don't think interfering is the right word, and I don't think it has anything to do with UI." She finished her glass and reached to pour herself another. "And you're not supposed to notice the domestication process. You're supposed to focus on getting laid and being taken care of so you want to change into the guy she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Just like she's not supposed to mind being conditioned to act just the way you want her to whenever she's in your presence."
"I was married once. I recognize the process. I actually don't mind it since I'm getting what I want."
"Well, there you go." She shrugged matter-of-factly. "That's pretty much what I see."
Rasos nodded. "She thinks all this crap boils down to people being jealous. Maybe she's right."
"Well, what I'd ask myself in your situation is, of the specific examples brought to you, how many are about your relationship and how many aren't? She tells you what to do sometimes, but is it about you, her boyfriend, or your company? And in the absence of specific examples, you have to consider that breaking up with all those girls has probably made for some bad feelings, even with the ones who seemed to understand. I know I'd hate to lose a fuck buddy to someone prettier and classier than me. Can't imagine what the petty type would do."
"You think so? I really hadn't counted on anything petty like that. I just got tired of running around and the jealousy. That and settling down is really more my style."
"I really think so, but I'm probably not the one to ask, you know," she mused into her glass. "I don't get jealous. I like running around, and settling down is really, really not my style. When I was first getting to know you and Rhio - and she'd say something to me about you sleeping around - my advice was that if she loved you for who you are, then that'd be something she'd have to accept about you. Then, eventually, I let her convince me that I should be with a somebody. Truth is, that was awkward, and I went about it stupidly."
"How so?"
"If I'd just done things the way I usually do them, him disappearing wouldn't be a big dea---" Kel'ri cut herself off and drained her glass.
"But it is. And you think it's your fault."
Instead of answering, she picked up the bottle and refilled her glass. "My point is that she believes in that stuff, and you just admitted settling down is your thing. Why are you letting people make you question it now?"
"I'm not. I have no intentions of letting her go. I just need to make sure people have the right impressions."
"And that's another thing," she added, pointing a finger at Rasos. "You're big on reputation, which I get, but you just made a major life change that contradicts part of your reputation. Why wouldn't that draw suspicion and make people concerned that she's somehow controlling you? No one likes change."
"I suppose that's to be expected. I'll manage." He looked at her. "Some guys live for infamy. Being the big badass in the room is their thing. It's a lack of self confidence that drives that sort of thing. When they run into people that outshine them, or see them for who they really are, they run."
"You mean after some idiot actually points to the things that they really are in an attempt to connect." Not a question; her eyes hidden as she contemplated her glass again. "I figure people will accept change or try to undo it by trying to sabotage what they perceive as the source of the change. Besides, UI is a family, right? You just introduced the new step-mom, and all the kids are freaking out that you love someone else more than them."
"I don't. And she knows it. Doesn't like it much, but I have other priorities. I'm her only one. Is it fair? No, but that's the way it is."
"There you go. Any more problems in the universe I can solve? I'm on a roll," Kel'ri grinned, looking up at him.
"How about your own?"
"Oh, I intend to get right on that as soon as I can make a few holo-calls."
"Oh?"
"Yep. Not everyone got pissed at me for telling them I was off the market, and it's only been a week. I'm going to claim temporary insanity."
Rasos laughed. "That's one way to do it." He looked at her seriously for a moment. "He was a boy, Kel'ri. All the insecurities and machismo that goes with it. You deserve a man."
"Aren't many of those in the universe, believe it or not. Factor in a few things about me, and that number drops. Factor in how many are taken, and I figure there's maybe eight?" In spite of the attempt to make light, her grin was gone, and for just a moment, there was a glimpse of vulnerability behind her dark brown eyes.
He beckoned her over to him, and she blinked as she took the two or three steps to bring herself to stand directly in front of him. He stood up to give her a long hug without saying anything.
She hadn't been sure what to expect, so between that and the alcohol, she was slow to respond at first. Finally, she buried her face in his chest and hugged him back, letting herself be comforted.
"It's not you. You're quite the catch. He ran scared from someone better than he was, and that's not your fault."
"At least now I know what not to do."
"And what's that?"
"Make the first move? Tell a guy I like him? Listen to Rhio and idealize her relationship with you? Try so hard? Take your pick."
Rasos looked down at her as he rubbed her back. "All of that is fine. The mistake was doing all that on a boy."
She lifted her head to look up at him with a lop-sided smile. "So now, instead of crushing on inappropriate guys, I crush on inappropriate guys and boys who don't deserve me? Think that's some kind of progress?"
"I would think so. At least you learn what to look for, right?"
She laughed as she took a step back. "I think at this rate, I should quit while I'm behind."
"You can't. That leads to being alone and that's not an option."
"Ah, but you forget." Kel'ri looked up and around them at the ship with an affectionate smile. "I'll always have my girl."
"Not quite the same thing. Then again, I find not worrying about it to be the fastest way to finding someone."
"I think the next time around, it should be someone finding me. Hope he's hot. With muscles,” she joked. "Hope he's not already married. Oh...or blonde." She shuddered, making a face. "Blonde men are so stupid."
"What else should he have?"
She thought for a moment, and the answer was not accompanied by the mirth of a moment before. "Starchaser's approval. If he can manage to make me feel something for him, and she doesn't start falling apart, I'll know he might be worth keeping around."
"Never figured out how to talk to my ship. How does that work?"
She shrugged slightly. "Ever just sit and listen to her engine? Ships have their own language. You just gotta listen. Of course, when Varr'o was staying here, the cooling system went haywire, and he got a head full of coolant in the shower. And after having Kusu over for dinner, the light drive decided not to work, and I was stranded here for days, fixing that."
"So if she breaks on you with a guy around, that's her saying to dump him?"
She opened her mouth to respond, closed it, then answered with a contemplative look. "Huh. I just figured she was jealous, but maybe. Yeah."
"Why wouldn't your ship want you happy?"
"You mean whenever you're jealous, it's about you wanting Rhio happy?"
"I get jealous?"
"Tell me you've never been jealous."
"Never."
"Of anyone?"
"No. When I was married, my wife only had eyes for me. I knew no other man had a shot. When I got out of prison, I wasn't tied down, so if a woman I was with wanted someone else, that was ok. I just wanted some company."
"And Rhio will never give anyone the time of day, so you're good there. I guess I see it. But jealousy isn't about wanting the best for someone. It's about wanting someone to see you as the best for them."
"It's insecurity. It's about wanting something you can't have, or fear of losing something you already have. Either way, it's not something I'm wired for."
"Lucky you."
"Doesn't mean I don't miss things when they're gone. Losing the wife or more recently all the girls I've been with does hurt, but I'm not jealous. I just miss them."
"Well, no wonder you can't relate to everyone freaking out or Rhio's jealousy."
Rasos poured himself a new glass and sat down. "It just doesn't make any sense. If they're gonna leave you, let them. Why stay with someone who doesn't want you?"
"It's different for different people, I think. If I get emotionally invested in someone, it's scary to think that they might not want me before I don't want them. I avoid rejection like crazy, you know."
"That's the source of fear and why you put up that tough girl mask. You don't want anyone to walk away that might like you."
She nodded. "Exactly. Even worse, there are some pretty freaky skeletons in my closet. Some of them have these huge signs hanging around their neck that declare me unworthy of being the kind of person you don't walk away from."
"Everyone has skeletons. They hide them about as well as you do. Though some make a game of one upping each other on past miseries. They forget its the past."
"Yeah,” Kel'ri acknowledged.
"You'll have to find your own confidence to be immune to that."
"So, I'm guessing Rhio's jealousy might have something to do with losing her fiancee. Not that I'm sticking my nose in your business to take your attention away from mine."
"No, it's from me screwing a lot of women when we started out."
"We just established that jealousy comes from insecurities. If she had your attitude, screwing a lot of women wouldn't matter."
"And she is that.”
"There you go."
"I can't fix that. Only she can."
"Wasn't saying you can. I just figure you gotta give her some leeway. No one's perfect. It's not like you don't have your own flaws."
"Oh I have more than most."
She gave Rasos a wicked grin as she retrieved her glass and took a seat opposite him. "Yeah, you do."
"They can be assets depending on who's involved."
"I'm not touching that one."
He laughed. "Probably wise."
"So, what about Kusu's investigation?" Kel'ri asked.
"I spread out the assignment to everybody. Have some folks undercover who can do it."
"I guess let me know if you need anything. In the meantime, I am going to see how many orgasms it takes to get over romance gone pear-shaped."
"Depends on how good they are. There's an art to it."
"Especially for me," pops out of her mouth before, "andIcan'tbelieveIjustsaidthat." Kel'ri laughed. "Please, take the rest of the brandy with you when you go."
He grinned as he stood, grabbing the bottle, chuckling. "Hope you find a guy who knows what he's doing."
9/06/2013
9/05/2013
Kel'ri's Journal (OOC Explanation)
So, in making Kel'ri my main, I started to worry that I wasn't writing for her and had no inclination to do so. The character, herself, tends to be very spontaneous and in the moment, so quite often, if I were to write for her, it'd be after the fact - something I'm already trying to do for Aittera and, eventually, Rismaa.
I thought about the old journal threads from back in the coalition days in CoH, but I didn't want to directly do that either. I also thought about how big a part music plays in setting mood or reflecting mood when I rp and write. So, why not kinda combine the two, keeping in mind that Kel'ri is also usually going at light speed. I don't think she'd write anything down, but she'd be likely to record herself saying something here and there, and I think she'd link music that reflects what's on her mind.
Now, yeah, I get it. Star Wars universe. Terribly not cannon to use pop/rock/metal/etc music. Hell, when I first said something to my guild leader about wanting to use music in some story-telling, he went straight to (and I'm paraphrasing, so don't have a cow) "Sure, that's a great idea. Just find a piece of classical music that fits what you're writing.".
There's breaking cannon rules to Mary Sue yourself into established story, and then, there's breaking cannon rules. I hardly think assuming music beyond the classical exists in that universe truly breaks cannon, and I don't think using music from our world is all that unacceptable. I'm not a musician, and my singing days are long done, so it's not like I'm going to jump up and write original music specific to the Star Wars universe just to make the effort completely cannon. Self expression comes from many different avenues, and I don't see why there should be restrictions on it for the sake of cannon.
Just to be on the safe side, though, Kel'ri's journal entries will only be posted here so that I don't offend anyone or break anyone's brain. Only 2 of you read this blog anymore anyway, right? :P
I thought about the old journal threads from back in the coalition days in CoH, but I didn't want to directly do that either. I also thought about how big a part music plays in setting mood or reflecting mood when I rp and write. So, why not kinda combine the two, keeping in mind that Kel'ri is also usually going at light speed. I don't think she'd write anything down, but she'd be likely to record herself saying something here and there, and I think she'd link music that reflects what's on her mind.
Now, yeah, I get it. Star Wars universe. Terribly not cannon to use pop/rock/metal/etc music. Hell, when I first said something to my guild leader about wanting to use music in some story-telling, he went straight to (and I'm paraphrasing, so don't have a cow) "Sure, that's a great idea. Just find a piece of classical music that fits what you're writing.".
There's breaking cannon rules to Mary Sue yourself into established story, and then, there's breaking cannon rules. I hardly think assuming music beyond the classical exists in that universe truly breaks cannon, and I don't think using music from our world is all that unacceptable. I'm not a musician, and my singing days are long done, so it's not like I'm going to jump up and write original music specific to the Star Wars universe just to make the effort completely cannon. Self expression comes from many different avenues, and I don't see why there should be restrictions on it for the sake of cannon.
Just to be on the safe side, though, Kel'ri's journal entries will only be posted here so that I don't offend anyone or break anyone's brain. Only 2 of you read this blog anymore anyway, right? :P
9/04/2013
Bowser's RP Rules
Totally just stole these from a friend just now, and I'm making them my own!
1. RL Comes First
2. Don't make me hate this game
3. Don't be a greed-headed loot wh0re.
4. Help each other when you can. We all have different playstyles and goals for the game. Help others, or at least speak on /gu -- even just to say 'Rain check? Awful mood right now'.
5. ffs don't drop more acronyms than a government agency.
6. LOL is not an end stop
Which reminds me of the old Lela's Clique rules:
1. Take nothing seriously or personally!
2. If you have a problem with someone else here, I don't care. Go talk to them and leave me out of it.
3. Well, this was I reserve the right to kick anyone, but let's change it to "I have the right to slap anyone I want to with the iggy stick!"
1. RL Comes First
2. Don't make me hate this game
3. Don't be a greed-headed loot wh0re.
4. Help each other when you can. We all have different playstyles and goals for the game. Help others, or at least speak on /gu -- even just to say 'Rain check? Awful mood right now'.
5. ffs don't drop more acronyms than a government agency.
6. LOL is not an end stop
Which reminds me of the old Lela's Clique rules:
1. Take nothing seriously or personally!
2. If you have a problem with someone else here, I don't care. Go talk to them and leave me out of it.
3. Well, this was I reserve the right to kick anyone, but let's change it to "I have the right to slap anyone I want to with the iggy stick!"
8/31/2013
Picking up the Pieces, cont'd
"Go ahead. Shoot."
Aittera's vision was filled with the vibrant green eyes that spoke the dare behind the challenge as he took another step closer so that the blaster's barrel was pressed lightly against his chest. The scent of him - after-shave, the barest presence of a cologne that mingled well with his natural musk - hung in the air between them, drawing her further in. She could feel the heat of him, the barely contained desire to touch her, and the weight of his hand as it came to rest on the top of the blaster with the barest brush of his fingers against her hand.
She hesitated. Her instincts failed her as they wavered between a very real sense of danger and an equal portion of yearning. The recent dream swam to the forefront of her mind to taunt her with the time spent in the light of the dying fire. If she could just bring herself to squeeze the trigger, she could be free of this moment and the influence of that emerald gaze that dared her to give in to the inexplicable passion between them.
Her hand was at the back of his neck, pulling him into a heated kiss. He swept her into his arms and held her body against his as the blaster fell from her gun hand.
Time stopped.
The spell broke as their lips parted, and she took a step back. There was a new, deadly element in her demeanor as she recovered and glared at Jheryth. "Leave. Now."
Her shotgun was in hand before he'd cleared the hangar entrance, and she turned with a furious growl to loose shot after shot at the large cargo containers that had been waiting to be loaded. The smell of burning plastoid rose from one of them as her shotgun jammed, and she threw it forcefully against the far wall.
The fire suppression system kicked on, spraying the smoldering crate with white foam, while she stalked to a stack of smaller crates and picked up one after the other, hurling them against the closest wall. Several of them broke open on impact, spilling their contents - mostly food and dry goods - onto the floor as they landed, a tirade of expletives in a smattering of languages accompanying the act.
Later, after convincing dubious security personnel that she'd had a weapon malfunction with a great deal of smooth talk and a credit voucher passed between hands, she sat down heavily on an undamaged crate to survey the damage.
She could still taste him on her lips.
Aittera's vision was filled with the vibrant green eyes that spoke the dare behind the challenge as he took another step closer so that the blaster's barrel was pressed lightly against his chest. The scent of him - after-shave, the barest presence of a cologne that mingled well with his natural musk - hung in the air between them, drawing her further in. She could feel the heat of him, the barely contained desire to touch her, and the weight of his hand as it came to rest on the top of the blaster with the barest brush of his fingers against her hand.
She hesitated. Her instincts failed her as they wavered between a very real sense of danger and an equal portion of yearning. The recent dream swam to the forefront of her mind to taunt her with the time spent in the light of the dying fire. If she could just bring herself to squeeze the trigger, she could be free of this moment and the influence of that emerald gaze that dared her to give in to the inexplicable passion between them.
Her hand was at the back of his neck, pulling him into a heated kiss. He swept her into his arms and held her body against his as the blaster fell from her gun hand.
Time stopped.
The spell broke as their lips parted, and she took a step back. There was a new, deadly element in her demeanor as she recovered and glared at Jheryth. "Leave. Now."
Her shotgun was in hand before he'd cleared the hangar entrance, and she turned with a furious growl to loose shot after shot at the large cargo containers that had been waiting to be loaded. The smell of burning plastoid rose from one of them as her shotgun jammed, and she threw it forcefully against the far wall.
The fire suppression system kicked on, spraying the smoldering crate with white foam, while she stalked to a stack of smaller crates and picked up one after the other, hurling them against the closest wall. Several of them broke open on impact, spilling their contents - mostly food and dry goods - onto the floor as they landed, a tirade of expletives in a smattering of languages accompanying the act.
Later, after convincing dubious security personnel that she'd had a weapon malfunction with a great deal of smooth talk and a credit voucher passed between hands, she sat down heavily on an undamaged crate to survey the damage.
She could still taste him on her lips.
8/27/2013
A not-so Quiet Drink ( How Aittera met Jheryth )
Aittera looked around her at the destruction in the hangar where the Devious Hope rested as she reflected on the first time she'd met Jheryth Chrystopher several months before.
Aittera was sitting in a small cantina in the back of a casino on Narr Shadaa's Promenade with her third or fourth drink in hand. She'd chosen the brightly lit and garishly colorful venue, because at this time of the evening, it was mostly empty as the larger, more well-known places drew the heft of the gambling crowd. This was the kind of place that filled up later, after the bigger prizes were doled out and the parties were over.
She'd been feeling anti-social, and in spite of the sounds of slot machines and the canned music from the speakers overhead in the ceiling, this was as close to a quiet drink as she was likely to find on the Promenade. She could've gone elsewhere, of course. There was no lack of seedy dives on the Smuggler's Moon. However, she had a meeting later, and convenience trumped...well, anything else, really. She'd felt a slight tickle at the edges of her perception since she'd landed, and it made her eager to get business wrapped up so she could leave.
As a rule, she relied on her gut, but this was very different. It wasn't the feeling she got when she knew she was being watched, for example, or when something dangerous was about to happen. Instinct and sharp reflexes were the cornerstone of her ability to stay alive in spite of her tendency to put herself into situations she shouldn't be able to walk away from. This was more like something that remained just out of focus, but hinted at a kind of feeling a child might get when reaching for the stove in the moment before his mother smacks his hand. The more she tried to analyze the feeling or figure out what it was, it darted away and left the question as to whether or not it was there at all.
She knew her luck, though. It was there, and whatever that sense was indicative of, it would not be a good thing. What was worse was that she'd be the idiot reaching for the hot stove.
"Just a brandy, please."
The voice had come from a little further down the bar, and she was roused from her thoughts at the same moment that little tickle became a magnetic pull. What struck her first was the vibrant green gaze that was fixed on her with intense contemplation. Immediately, she liked and hated the way he was watching her, taking her measure, smiling with an unnerving confidence that mirrored her usual brazen cockiness. His white hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail at the back of his neck, and the suit that framed his muscular six foot form was easily worth more than she'd made in the past six months.
The air between them was electric, and she could have easily focused on that save for the mental image of the hand and the stove top. Her gut was finally weighing in, and it was screaming danger.
He started the short exchange of bantering and flirting that followed as they spent the better part of the next hour in the usual dance. He bought her a drink. She gave him a hard time for being so pedestrian as hitting on a woman at a bar. He insinuated. She deflected. In any other circumstances, she would have been enjoying it, but damned if that stove top wasn't beckoning. There was a flow to it that was just so easy that she was tempted to stay and blow off her meeting to see where things might lead.
And then, she noticed the lightsaber hilt on his belt.
With a final witty jab, she got up and was halfway to the door before he came up from behind her, asserting that he'd at least earned her name. When she turned to respond, he was close enough to her that she was in his space, and the draw had somehow felt even stronger.
Looking up into his face, she saw it there - he wasn't creating that magnetic pull, he was experiencing it too. She leaned forward as he bent his head forward, and she whispered something in his ear. It wasn't her name, but it would surely stick with him long after she'd left, and it was distraction enough that he didn't notice that his jacket pocket was a little lighter as she turned to walk away.
Aittera was sitting in a small cantina in the back of a casino on Narr Shadaa's Promenade with her third or fourth drink in hand. She'd chosen the brightly lit and garishly colorful venue, because at this time of the evening, it was mostly empty as the larger, more well-known places drew the heft of the gambling crowd. This was the kind of place that filled up later, after the bigger prizes were doled out and the parties were over.
She'd been feeling anti-social, and in spite of the sounds of slot machines and the canned music from the speakers overhead in the ceiling, this was as close to a quiet drink as she was likely to find on the Promenade. She could've gone elsewhere, of course. There was no lack of seedy dives on the Smuggler's Moon. However, she had a meeting later, and convenience trumped...well, anything else, really. She'd felt a slight tickle at the edges of her perception since she'd landed, and it made her eager to get business wrapped up so she could leave.
As a rule, she relied on her gut, but this was very different. It wasn't the feeling she got when she knew she was being watched, for example, or when something dangerous was about to happen. Instinct and sharp reflexes were the cornerstone of her ability to stay alive in spite of her tendency to put herself into situations she shouldn't be able to walk away from. This was more like something that remained just out of focus, but hinted at a kind of feeling a child might get when reaching for the stove in the moment before his mother smacks his hand. The more she tried to analyze the feeling or figure out what it was, it darted away and left the question as to whether or not it was there at all.
She knew her luck, though. It was there, and whatever that sense was indicative of, it would not be a good thing. What was worse was that she'd be the idiot reaching for the hot stove.
"Just a brandy, please."
The voice had come from a little further down the bar, and she was roused from her thoughts at the same moment that little tickle became a magnetic pull. What struck her first was the vibrant green gaze that was fixed on her with intense contemplation. Immediately, she liked and hated the way he was watching her, taking her measure, smiling with an unnerving confidence that mirrored her usual brazen cockiness. His white hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail at the back of his neck, and the suit that framed his muscular six foot form was easily worth more than she'd made in the past six months.
The air between them was electric, and she could have easily focused on that save for the mental image of the hand and the stove top. Her gut was finally weighing in, and it was screaming danger.
He started the short exchange of bantering and flirting that followed as they spent the better part of the next hour in the usual dance. He bought her a drink. She gave him a hard time for being so pedestrian as hitting on a woman at a bar. He insinuated. She deflected. In any other circumstances, she would have been enjoying it, but damned if that stove top wasn't beckoning. There was a flow to it that was just so easy that she was tempted to stay and blow off her meeting to see where things might lead.
And then, she noticed the lightsaber hilt on his belt.
With a final witty jab, she got up and was halfway to the door before he came up from behind her, asserting that he'd at least earned her name. When she turned to respond, he was close enough to her that she was in his space, and the draw had somehow felt even stronger.
Looking up into his face, she saw it there - he wasn't creating that magnetic pull, he was experiencing it too. She leaned forward as he bent his head forward, and she whispered something in his ear. It wasn't her name, but it would surely stick with him long after she'd left, and it was distraction enough that he didn't notice that his jacket pocket was a little lighter as she turned to walk away.
8/20/2013
Picking Up the Pieces, cont'd
Jheryth stirred, his arm instinctively reaching out for something. He became dimly aware of the empty space under his arm, and the cool dampness of the grass. He opened his eyes, sitting bolt upright, looking around. He was still at the campsite, the sun was rising, and he was alone. He blinked his eyes, absently rubbing the scruff of his chin. He filled his lungs deeply, certain he could still smell her perfume. He could see her face so clearly in his mind. It felt so real, he was certain she was really here.
Or was.
He shook his head, chuckling to himself. If it was his dream, he was amazed at how beautiful she looked in that green dress. He contemplated having one made the next time he was at a marketplace. The dream was so intense, it still hadn't begun to fade as he started to pack up the campsite. There was something important about that dream, instinct screamed it at him, he just could not piece together what exactly that was.
He pulled his comm out from his backpack, placing it into his ear and pressing the call button, "Good morning you two. It's time to go. I've found what I was looking for." Jheryth pulled out a green holocron crystal, made of pure Emerald, in just the perfect shape for his lightsaber. He rolled it around in his fingertips, admiring it, before placing it back into his backpack. He finished getting dressed and packed up the campsite. He could feel the wind stir from the wake of his ship.
He looked back, across the ashen remains of the campfire, "She would have been standing right there."
Or was.
He shook his head, chuckling to himself. If it was his dream, he was amazed at how beautiful she looked in that green dress. He contemplated having one made the next time he was at a marketplace. The dream was so intense, it still hadn't begun to fade as he started to pack up the campsite. There was something important about that dream, instinct screamed it at him, he just could not piece together what exactly that was.
He pulled his comm out from his backpack, placing it into his ear and pressing the call button, "Good morning you two. It's time to go. I've found what I was looking for." Jheryth pulled out a green holocron crystal, made of pure Emerald, in just the perfect shape for his lightsaber. He rolled it around in his fingertips, admiring it, before placing it back into his backpack. He finished getting dressed and packed up the campsite. He could feel the wind stir from the wake of his ship.
He looked back, across the ashen remains of the campfire, "She would have been standing right there."
8/19/2013
The Dream (Picking Up the Pieces, cont'd)
As Aittera stepped into the moonlit clearing, a gentle breeze stirred the skirt of the emerald silk dress that she wore. The sounds of the forest mingled with that of the dying embers in what was left of the fire in the center of the campsite. He was standing on the opposite side of it, waiting for her, and the waning firelight cast a dim glow in his loose white hair and piercing green eyes.
The dark shadow on his neck and chin told her that he'd been here a few days, and the amusing contrast of a dark beard with all of that white hair struck her, causing a smile. She took one step further to join him in the fading circle of firelight, his gaze leaving hers just long enough to appraise the way the dress flowed around her while defining every delicious curve like a sensuous embrace. It seemed only fair, she thought to herself. While he was drinking her appearance in, she was admiring his muscular arms and strong, chiseled chest.
It seemed as though one step brought him to her side of the fire, and he was standing before her, his hands raised to cradle her face as gently as though he were handling something delicate and precious. Her senses were so filled with his presence, she swayed on her feet, leaning into him until he captured her lips with his own...
Aittera's eyes opened to the darkness of her quarters aboard the Devious Hope. Beside her, Selus slept with an arm hooked around her, his breath slow and steady. The dream had seemed as real as this moment, and it took several minutes to dispel it, dismissing it as nothing really important.
The dark shadow on his neck and chin told her that he'd been here a few days, and the amusing contrast of a dark beard with all of that white hair struck her, causing a smile. She took one step further to join him in the fading circle of firelight, his gaze leaving hers just long enough to appraise the way the dress flowed around her while defining every delicious curve like a sensuous embrace. It seemed only fair, she thought to herself. While he was drinking her appearance in, she was admiring his muscular arms and strong, chiseled chest.
It seemed as though one step brought him to her side of the fire, and he was standing before her, his hands raised to cradle her face as gently as though he were handling something delicate and precious. Her senses were so filled with his presence, she swayed on her feet, leaning into him until he captured her lips with his own...
Aittera's eyes opened to the darkness of her quarters aboard the Devious Hope. Beside her, Selus slept with an arm hooked around her, his breath slow and steady. The dream had seemed as real as this moment, and it took several minutes to dispel it, dismissing it as nothing really important.
8/16/2013
Chrystopher Legacy- Chapter 2:Introductions
Chapter 2: Introductions
Jheryth felt his lightsabre fly off from his belt a moment before he felt an unfamiliar presence at the edge of the clearing. He turned in the direction of the invader, standing to his feet in one motion. He saw the blade of this lightsabre ignite, hovering in mid-air, casting a faint glow against a blurry figure. He moved cautiously towards the strange visage, stretching out with the Force to gain any information about this new threat. The closer he got, the more solid the figure became, revealing a humanoid shape just barely taller than his own six feet, though not as broad. The stranger was clothed in green robes with black trim and odd symbols. Jheryth kept his focus more on his lightsaber, ready to react, taking into account the sleeved arm hovering over the handle. An older voice, strong and commanding, emanated forth, having a very strong and unfamiliar accent, "A well constructed lightsabre. Very classic design. That part is very curious, though perhaps not very surprising." Jheryth remembered hearing the voice not to long ago.
The man lowered his hood, the green glow of his eyes revealing stark white hair and a face very similar to his father's. "When I found you in this clearing, five years ago, I had very high expectations." Jheryth narrowed his eyes, studying the man's face, his hand twitching slightly, wanting to grab his saber. The body of the man shimmered in the moonlight, his eyes seemed to arc green tendrils of energy from his pupils outward. "What are you?", Jheryth asked softly, awed and intrigued by the power of the man before him. A wicked grin spread across The man's lips as the green energy in his eyes sparked more intensly, "What I am is not of real consequence. Who I am to you, and if you can live up to those expectations, that is the real question." He motioned his hand along the saber's projection, "I see you chose a red color crystal. How common." Rage contorted Jheryth's face, grabbing his lightsabre, "I am a Sith Lord!" As he swung his sabre, the man calmly put his hand up, creating a barrier that held the swing in place, "I've heard that mantra that you chose, and you're going to cling to belonging to the Sith? You don't fit in. Not with Jedi. Or Sith. You could care less about the Empire, and even House Ulgo has disowned you." Jheryth starred in disbelief, turning off his sabre and attaching it back to his belt, "How do you know this?"
The man smiled for the first time, "I know a great deal about your family, and what they truly come from." He motioned a hand towards the clearing, "This place that you claim as home, this clearing, this forest, it is not by chance. It already belongs to you. If you want to know who you are, and what you could become, then find what I have left here for you. You will find what you really belong to." The man became translucent, then faded away in a green mist.
Jheryth felt his lightsabre fly off from his belt a moment before he felt an unfamiliar presence at the edge of the clearing. He turned in the direction of the invader, standing to his feet in one motion. He saw the blade of this lightsabre ignite, hovering in mid-air, casting a faint glow against a blurry figure. He moved cautiously towards the strange visage, stretching out with the Force to gain any information about this new threat. The closer he got, the more solid the figure became, revealing a humanoid shape just barely taller than his own six feet, though not as broad. The stranger was clothed in green robes with black trim and odd symbols. Jheryth kept his focus more on his lightsaber, ready to react, taking into account the sleeved arm hovering over the handle. An older voice, strong and commanding, emanated forth, having a very strong and unfamiliar accent, "A well constructed lightsabre. Very classic design. That part is very curious, though perhaps not very surprising." Jheryth remembered hearing the voice not to long ago.
The man lowered his hood, the green glow of his eyes revealing stark white hair and a face very similar to his father's. "When I found you in this clearing, five years ago, I had very high expectations." Jheryth narrowed his eyes, studying the man's face, his hand twitching slightly, wanting to grab his saber. The body of the man shimmered in the moonlight, his eyes seemed to arc green tendrils of energy from his pupils outward. "What are you?", Jheryth asked softly, awed and intrigued by the power of the man before him. A wicked grin spread across The man's lips as the green energy in his eyes sparked more intensly, "What I am is not of real consequence. Who I am to you, and if you can live up to those expectations, that is the real question." He motioned his hand along the saber's projection, "I see you chose a red color crystal. How common." Rage contorted Jheryth's face, grabbing his lightsabre, "I am a Sith Lord!" As he swung his sabre, the man calmly put his hand up, creating a barrier that held the swing in place, "I've heard that mantra that you chose, and you're going to cling to belonging to the Sith? You don't fit in. Not with Jedi. Or Sith. You could care less about the Empire, and even House Ulgo has disowned you." Jheryth starred in disbelief, turning off his sabre and attaching it back to his belt, "How do you know this?"
The man smiled for the first time, "I know a great deal about your family, and what they truly come from." He motioned a hand towards the clearing, "This place that you claim as home, this clearing, this forest, it is not by chance. It already belongs to you. If you want to know who you are, and what you could become, then find what I have left here for you. You will find what you really belong to." The man became translucent, then faded away in a green mist.
Unexpected News
Kel'ri stared at the datapad in her hand. Two hours ago, she'd been laughing and playing truth or dare with a bunch of friends, and now...
She should be crying, shouldn't she? When her mother had died, she'd cried for days as though the world had ended. She began to feel guilty for the relief that she had felt when Deke'o had given her the news, because the secrets she'd so carefully guarded could now die with the rest of her family.
Wasn't she just talking with someone about their father? Rhiordan had been talking about her father, and he was happy for her. Kel'ri had smiled and been happy for her without the slightest sense of jealousy for a father that could be a good influence in his daughter's life. It was like just that small story made it easy to share in that feeling of being loved by a good father.
She imagined her father as he was before her mother's passing, warm and filled with a father's love for his little girl who detested skirts and could beat the boys at most any game on the playground and was teased by her older brothers. But she'd already mourned the loss of that father, hadn't she? He'd been replaced by someone she couldn't recognize, filled with anger and contempt for anything that reminded him of his loss - including Kel'ri.
The datapad slowly unblurred as she blinked back the unshed tears from her eyes, and she counted the zeroes again. Deke'o had called it her 'share', her inheritance. It was carefully diverted and disguised so that she couldn't be traced by it, he'd said. Now, what to do with it...
And why wasn't she crying?
She should be crying, shouldn't she? When her mother had died, she'd cried for days as though the world had ended. She began to feel guilty for the relief that she had felt when Deke'o had given her the news, because the secrets she'd so carefully guarded could now die with the rest of her family.
Wasn't she just talking with someone about their father? Rhiordan had been talking about her father, and he was happy for her. Kel'ri had smiled and been happy for her without the slightest sense of jealousy for a father that could be a good influence in his daughter's life. It was like just that small story made it easy to share in that feeling of being loved by a good father.
She imagined her father as he was before her mother's passing, warm and filled with a father's love for his little girl who detested skirts and could beat the boys at most any game on the playground and was teased by her older brothers. But she'd already mourned the loss of that father, hadn't she? He'd been replaced by someone she couldn't recognize, filled with anger and contempt for anything that reminded him of his loss - including Kel'ri.
The datapad slowly unblurred as she blinked back the unshed tears from her eyes, and she counted the zeroes again. Deke'o had called it her 'share', her inheritance. It was carefully diverted and disguised so that she couldn't be traced by it, he'd said. Now, what to do with it...
And why wasn't she crying?
8/13/2013
In Over Her Head, pt 4
Deke'o Starbreaker waits in the cockpit of The Maiden, having landed it in a clearing a kilometer or so from the Jedi training grounds, near the Twi'lek village. It seemed like not so long ago he'd first hooked up with his Jedi to deliver medical supplies here. Now they were back, and he was getting impatient.
When Litessen finally returns to the ship, she quickly heads for the cockpit, instinctively knowing where he would be and aware of his impatience long before arriving. As he turns to greet her, she gives him a warm smile that is purely for his benefit after the series of discussions and meetings she's spent the day in.
"Thank you for that database you recovered. It helped a great deal. Though I should tell you that neither of us will ever receive credit for its retrieval. Officially, while Master Zaron was on Taris last year, he discovered it as well as a little Mirialan girl who showed remarkable force sensitivity, and he brought both back with him at the time."
Deke'o gives her one of his lopsided grins when she finishes, putting his feet up on the console as he crosses his arms over his chest. "Officially, if they're able to tell lies like that, they should have no trouble making up some grand story, with appropriate heroics, for getting us some additional pay."
Litessen can't help but smile at his response. "Don't hold your breath. Still...since the negotiations I attended did not officially take place, there is little likelihood that anyone from the Republic will investigate Yen's existence. If someone does inquire after her, the Council has agreed to keep her true identity a secret."
Deke'o gets annoyed, but it's not because he's missing out on a payday for the database. It's because of her phrasing. "Oh they agreed did they? If they hadn't, the Republic would have needed new Jedi leadership. Did you give them my suggestion that she could change her name to Yen Starbreaker?"
Litessen answers patiently, "No, I did not. She'll be safer with a name that doesn't connect her in any way to you or I. The threat isn't past. After speaking with Yen, the Council has given me a new directive. It seems the circumstances surrounding her planned sale were a bit more complicated than a slaving transaction.
"The man who owned her - Jalif Makria - is part of a powerful merchant guild that operates in both the Empire and the Republic - discreetly, of course. While I agree with your feelings about slavery in general, as slave owners go, he seems to be among a minority that actually treat their slaves well and keep families together, even caring for their needs responsibly beyond the minimum necessities. Yen describes him very favorably, and she has grown up with her mother and two sisters."
Deke'o frowns, but lets the need to express his distaste go. "Speaking of threats, has there been any news of a handless man found dead on Taris? 'Cause that would make my day, actually."
"I haven't had the opportunity to look, but my feeling is that the bounty hunter won't last long if he did survive. There's a Sith involved in this. They don't like failure."
"As I said, this is more complicated," she added.
"With the Sith, things always are. You're trained for them, right?"
Litessen nods. "Yen's owner didn't want to sell her. He brought her back to his space station so that she could say goodbye to her family first."
"So, if we want to make sure she is completely safe, we just need to find this Sith and destroy him. Perhaps we should just start with every single one we meet, we'll eventually narrow it down."
"Perhaps we should talk when you can be less emotional about this?"
"This isn't emotional. This is me wanting to make sure that little girl never has to look over her shoulder."
Litessen turns a console chair to face him and slides into it. "Alright. Explain to me in realistic terms how you plan to go into a full on war against the Empire, and don't forget to include every Hutt and every gangster in the known universe."
She pauses to let that sink in before continuing. "The only way to safeguard her is to take this step by step, and even then, she won't always be safe - not from everything that could ever happen to her, anyway."
Deke'o gets one of his grins that says he's either got something completely brilliant in mind, or something sarcastic, or both. "Have you ever heard of the Foundry?"
Litessen sighs, rubbing her eyes. "I'm going to regret whatever you're about to say, aren't I?"
"Well, you asked how I planned to go into a full on war against the Empire."
"I was trying to make a point."
"I know. I'm just worried for her."
"She's safe now, Deke'o. I'm more worried about why this Sith wanted her enough to pressure one of the richest men in the universe into selling her."
"I know, I know." He throws his hands up in surrender. "And that's really the question. What about Yen was so special? I mean, she's an amazing kid, probably my favorite in the Galaxy. Was there something about her force ability?"
"Nothing that sets her apart from any other force sensitive youth. And if he just wanted her for training, Makria would've spun it that way when he sat down with the family to explain the situation. Instead, he offered the mother the consolation that he would make sure that Yen's sisters would have the best positions he could give them in his household. To Yen, it was as if they were already mourning her death. She knew she was in terrible danger."
Deke'o clenches a fist, but doesn't have another outburst - yet. He thinks on it for several long moments, then shakes his head as if to drive the thoughts away, like they're in a place he doesn't even want to think about. He just looks at Litessen, waiting to see if she's got any insight into the situation.
"Yen met him. I have a description, at least, but no name. I can't go back to Makria, because it would confirm that I took her. Right now, all her safety rests in the details of her disappearance being as scarce as possible. All I have is her accounting of the meeting, and it was very brief."
"I could try my underworld contacts. Through an intermediary of course. I wouldn't risk my name being associated with it."
Litessen nods. "That might help." She falls silent for a thoughtful moment. "She said that when he approached her, she knew her death was waiting with him. I don't know if she realized she was force sensitive before that moment."
"As much as I don't want to, I could also try an old adversary in Imperial Intelligence. He owes me a favor, might be able to get us a name from the description. Maybe."
"It's a place to start. Thank you."
[This post is converted from a scene RP'd with player-Deke'o. Huge thanks to him for allowing me to use it and for his contribution to this story. I'm only ever as good as the people I have the privilege of RP'ing with, and he is, as always, a great friend.]
When Litessen finally returns to the ship, she quickly heads for the cockpit, instinctively knowing where he would be and aware of his impatience long before arriving. As he turns to greet her, she gives him a warm smile that is purely for his benefit after the series of discussions and meetings she's spent the day in.
"Thank you for that database you recovered. It helped a great deal. Though I should tell you that neither of us will ever receive credit for its retrieval. Officially, while Master Zaron was on Taris last year, he discovered it as well as a little Mirialan girl who showed remarkable force sensitivity, and he brought both back with him at the time."
Deke'o gives her one of his lopsided grins when she finishes, putting his feet up on the console as he crosses his arms over his chest. "Officially, if they're able to tell lies like that, they should have no trouble making up some grand story, with appropriate heroics, for getting us some additional pay."
Litessen can't help but smile at his response. "Don't hold your breath. Still...since the negotiations I attended did not officially take place, there is little likelihood that anyone from the Republic will investigate Yen's existence. If someone does inquire after her, the Council has agreed to keep her true identity a secret."
Deke'o gets annoyed, but it's not because he's missing out on a payday for the database. It's because of her phrasing. "Oh they agreed did they? If they hadn't, the Republic would have needed new Jedi leadership. Did you give them my suggestion that she could change her name to Yen Starbreaker?"
Litessen answers patiently, "No, I did not. She'll be safer with a name that doesn't connect her in any way to you or I. The threat isn't past. After speaking with Yen, the Council has given me a new directive. It seems the circumstances surrounding her planned sale were a bit more complicated than a slaving transaction.
"The man who owned her - Jalif Makria - is part of a powerful merchant guild that operates in both the Empire and the Republic - discreetly, of course. While I agree with your feelings about slavery in general, as slave owners go, he seems to be among a minority that actually treat their slaves well and keep families together, even caring for their needs responsibly beyond the minimum necessities. Yen describes him very favorably, and she has grown up with her mother and two sisters."
Deke'o frowns, but lets the need to express his distaste go. "Speaking of threats, has there been any news of a handless man found dead on Taris? 'Cause that would make my day, actually."
"I haven't had the opportunity to look, but my feeling is that the bounty hunter won't last long if he did survive. There's a Sith involved in this. They don't like failure."
"As I said, this is more complicated," she added.
"With the Sith, things always are. You're trained for them, right?"
Litessen nods. "Yen's owner didn't want to sell her. He brought her back to his space station so that she could say goodbye to her family first."
"So, if we want to make sure she is completely safe, we just need to find this Sith and destroy him. Perhaps we should just start with every single one we meet, we'll eventually narrow it down."
"Perhaps we should talk when you can be less emotional about this?"
"This isn't emotional. This is me wanting to make sure that little girl never has to look over her shoulder."
Litessen turns a console chair to face him and slides into it. "Alright. Explain to me in realistic terms how you plan to go into a full on war against the Empire, and don't forget to include every Hutt and every gangster in the known universe."
She pauses to let that sink in before continuing. "The only way to safeguard her is to take this step by step, and even then, she won't always be safe - not from everything that could ever happen to her, anyway."
Deke'o gets one of his grins that says he's either got something completely brilliant in mind, or something sarcastic, or both. "Have you ever heard of the Foundry?"
Litessen sighs, rubbing her eyes. "I'm going to regret whatever you're about to say, aren't I?"
"Well, you asked how I planned to go into a full on war against the Empire."
"I was trying to make a point."
"I know. I'm just worried for her."
"She's safe now, Deke'o. I'm more worried about why this Sith wanted her enough to pressure one of the richest men in the universe into selling her."
"I know, I know." He throws his hands up in surrender. "And that's really the question. What about Yen was so special? I mean, she's an amazing kid, probably my favorite in the Galaxy. Was there something about her force ability?"
"Nothing that sets her apart from any other force sensitive youth. And if he just wanted her for training, Makria would've spun it that way when he sat down with the family to explain the situation. Instead, he offered the mother the consolation that he would make sure that Yen's sisters would have the best positions he could give them in his household. To Yen, it was as if they were already mourning her death. She knew she was in terrible danger."
Deke'o clenches a fist, but doesn't have another outburst - yet. He thinks on it for several long moments, then shakes his head as if to drive the thoughts away, like they're in a place he doesn't even want to think about. He just looks at Litessen, waiting to see if she's got any insight into the situation.
"Yen met him. I have a description, at least, but no name. I can't go back to Makria, because it would confirm that I took her. Right now, all her safety rests in the details of her disappearance being as scarce as possible. All I have is her accounting of the meeting, and it was very brief."
"I could try my underworld contacts. Through an intermediary of course. I wouldn't risk my name being associated with it."
Litessen nods. "That might help." She falls silent for a thoughtful moment. "She said that when he approached her, she knew her death was waiting with him. I don't know if she realized she was force sensitive before that moment."
"As much as I don't want to, I could also try an old adversary in Imperial Intelligence. He owes me a favor, might be able to get us a name from the description. Maybe."
"It's a place to start. Thank you."
[This post is converted from a scene RP'd with player-Deke'o. Huge thanks to him for allowing me to use it and for his contribution to this story. I'm only ever as good as the people I have the privilege of RP'ing with, and he is, as always, a great friend.]
8/11/2013
Chrystopher Legacy Chapter 1: Echoes of the Past
Chapter 1: Echoes of the Past
Jheryth opened the bay doors on his fury class starship to reveal a small forest clearing. He slung a survival pack over his shoulder and turned to address his small crew, "Head to house Thul, you should be received well. Enjoy some time off. I shall contact you when it is time to leave." His crew nodded and made their way back to the cockpit. Jheryth stepped out into the forest, hearing the door hiss close and the thrusters warm up. He turned and watch his ship and crew take off.
He turned back to the clearing. He placed a hand on a hearty tree, like a friend gripping the hand of an old friend. He marveled at the strong brown bark, having a distaste of the Hydenock trees that Alderaan was famous for. He ran his hand along the bark, then rubbed the dirt into both hands.
His thoughts and emotions spun around in his head. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, slowing down the personal onslaught he was feeling. Knowing it all must come to the surface, feel it all, put all his thoughts in their place.
He took another deep breath, centering himself, letting the forst fade away, his mind's eye pulling up the memory of his parents. He remembered how pleased they were when he was identified as force-sensitive, that a Chrystopher was to be trained as a Jedi. Jheryth's brow furrowed as the scene was replaced by the look on his parents faces when he returned from the Acadamy. Having to tell his parents that he was kicked out of the Academy. Their looks of disappointment, disdain, and rejection. Jheryth watched his former self, taking a few personal belongings and a survival pack, walking out without another word to his parents.
Jheryth opened his eyes, surveying the clearing, watching the shadows slowly creep across, heralding the coming nightfall. He set his pack down against an old log, the clearing having the look of a well-used campsite. He pulled out a few things from his pack, arranging a few cooking tools, sleeping bag, and a flint stone. He stood, looked around, and moved about the clearing, picking up some bits of wood and kindling. He thought back to the long walk from his parents estate, living off the forest, wandering for weeks, loosing all sense of time, until he found this very clearing. Without the slightest trace of civilization, he claimed this clearing as his own.
He made his way back to the campsite, set a fire going, then sat down on the sleeping bag, just starring into the fire, watching orange embers drift into the night. He couldn't fight the grin spreading across his lips as he thought of auburn hair and green eyes. He tried to recall any other woman he had been with, but no woman ever held his attention quite like she did. It was that hunger, that unbridled passion that matched his own, that first attracted him to her. Add on top of that, she was the property of a Sith Lord. The pursuit was too tantalizing to resist. He breathed in deeply, knowing the emoiton of defeat was surfacing again. No matter how much he thought he wanted her, she was not to be his. This Sith Lord was far stronger, and more cunning, beating him at every turn, taking every opportunity to humiliate him. In the end, another Sith convinced him that she just wasn't worth it. He let the thought of his first infatuation drift away with the winking embers.
"Aittera." He let her name roll off his lips. He remembered meeting her in one of the many cantinas on Nar Shadaa. He remembered knowing that he just had to go to that cantina that night. her wit, sharp banter, beautiful scarlet curls. A pull to this woman beyond anything physical. He just had to have her. Her name, her scent burned inside his chest. He had to hand it to her. She was really good at staying off of Imperial records. Standard inquiries got him no where, and it wasn't until their second meeting that he got her name, and so much more.
He sighed heavily, thinking back to his recent attack on an SIS station. He stood up suddenly, growling to himself. Disaster hardly described the results of that attack. Not only was it just a small surveillance station, monitoring some Hutt, but the computer server went no where. Not even a data link to slice. He gripped his hands into fists as he relived the battle inside the SIS station. The Force was with him. He defeated everyone inside. Not once had he let an enemy live. In every battle, there is victory. And the Force claims her spoils, and makes her champion stronger. So why did he let that Jedi leave with his life? He pressed his fists to his head, letting out an anguished scream.
Jheryth opened the bay doors on his fury class starship to reveal a small forest clearing. He slung a survival pack over his shoulder and turned to address his small crew, "Head to house Thul, you should be received well. Enjoy some time off. I shall contact you when it is time to leave." His crew nodded and made their way back to the cockpit. Jheryth stepped out into the forest, hearing the door hiss close and the thrusters warm up. He turned and watch his ship and crew take off.
He turned back to the clearing. He placed a hand on a hearty tree, like a friend gripping the hand of an old friend. He marveled at the strong brown bark, having a distaste of the Hydenock trees that Alderaan was famous for. He ran his hand along the bark, then rubbed the dirt into both hands.
His thoughts and emotions spun around in his head. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, slowing down the personal onslaught he was feeling. Knowing it all must come to the surface, feel it all, put all his thoughts in their place.
He took another deep breath, centering himself, letting the forst fade away, his mind's eye pulling up the memory of his parents. He remembered how pleased they were when he was identified as force-sensitive, that a Chrystopher was to be trained as a Jedi. Jheryth's brow furrowed as the scene was replaced by the look on his parents faces when he returned from the Acadamy. Having to tell his parents that he was kicked out of the Academy. Their looks of disappointment, disdain, and rejection. Jheryth watched his former self, taking a few personal belongings and a survival pack, walking out without another word to his parents.
Jheryth opened his eyes, surveying the clearing, watching the shadows slowly creep across, heralding the coming nightfall. He set his pack down against an old log, the clearing having the look of a well-used campsite. He pulled out a few things from his pack, arranging a few cooking tools, sleeping bag, and a flint stone. He stood, looked around, and moved about the clearing, picking up some bits of wood and kindling. He thought back to the long walk from his parents estate, living off the forest, wandering for weeks, loosing all sense of time, until he found this very clearing. Without the slightest trace of civilization, he claimed this clearing as his own.
He made his way back to the campsite, set a fire going, then sat down on the sleeping bag, just starring into the fire, watching orange embers drift into the night. He couldn't fight the grin spreading across his lips as he thought of auburn hair and green eyes. He tried to recall any other woman he had been with, but no woman ever held his attention quite like she did. It was that hunger, that unbridled passion that matched his own, that first attracted him to her. Add on top of that, she was the property of a Sith Lord. The pursuit was too tantalizing to resist. He breathed in deeply, knowing the emoiton of defeat was surfacing again. No matter how much he thought he wanted her, she was not to be his. This Sith Lord was far stronger, and more cunning, beating him at every turn, taking every opportunity to humiliate him. In the end, another Sith convinced him that she just wasn't worth it. He let the thought of his first infatuation drift away with the winking embers.
"Aittera." He let her name roll off his lips. He remembered meeting her in one of the many cantinas on Nar Shadaa. He remembered knowing that he just had to go to that cantina that night. her wit, sharp banter, beautiful scarlet curls. A pull to this woman beyond anything physical. He just had to have her. Her name, her scent burned inside his chest. He had to hand it to her. She was really good at staying off of Imperial records. Standard inquiries got him no where, and it wasn't until their second meeting that he got her name, and so much more.
He sighed heavily, thinking back to his recent attack on an SIS station. He stood up suddenly, growling to himself. Disaster hardly described the results of that attack. Not only was it just a small surveillance station, monitoring some Hutt, but the computer server went no where. Not even a data link to slice. He gripped his hands into fists as he relived the battle inside the SIS station. The Force was with him. He defeated everyone inside. Not once had he let an enemy live. In every battle, there is victory. And the Force claims her spoils, and makes her champion stronger. So why did he let that Jedi leave with his life? He pressed his fists to his head, letting out an anguished scream.
8/08/2013
In Over Her Head, part 3
Terrakos stormed into the living room, shrugging off two female slaves still trying to keep his attention. Jalif Makria turned in surprise to the intrusion, the fear draining all color from his face as he tried to appear in control. "My lord Terrakos! I hope my staff is treating you well?"
Terrakos stood there, coldly regarding his host, "Makria, though your 'staff' are quite good at distraction, my patience grows thin. What news do you have about my property?"
Jalif turned to his wife, her terror more evident than his own, "My dear, would you.." As Jalik's wife began to stand, Terrakos raised his hand, sending out an arc of electricity, knocking her back down to the couch, "I think she can stay." He strode across the room, closing the distance between himself and his hosts, a sneer playing across his lips, "After all, you are married. You both are in this together."
Jalif straightened, putting forth a brave face, "M-mlord, the girl has escaped. It's possible she was aided by a Jedi."
Terrakos thrust his hand out toward the woman, sending arcs of electricity through her body as Jalif pleaded. Terrakos turned the voltage down, speaking to him while admiring the sight of the writhing woman, "I want all the data you have about this thief transferred to my ship."
"Of course my lord. P-p-please release my wife."
Terrakos narrowed his eyes as he mulled over his options. He knew Jalif had some dealings with the Republic. The electricity stopped flowing out of his hand, leaving the woman writhing in agony. He didn't need to make more enemies by killing Jalif's wife, not when he had a thief to hunt.
Still...
8/07/2013
Star Wars: The Old Republic Character List
Ebon Hawk Server
Republic Side
Litessen - Jedi Guardian. Nickname: Lita. Species: Mirialan.
Lita's compassionate, articulate, outspoken. She believes in the good in people and that a Jedi's primary function is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, not seeing them as weak, but as part of the Force that she serves. She believes in the ideals of the Republic, if not necessarily the law of it, realizing that a government is necessary for order and peace, but those laws do not take into account singular situations or individuals who may be an exception to the rule. In spite of having excellent diplomatic skills, she has a tendency in her own life to rush into things without taking her own safety into account. She flies with the "Maiden", a starship captained by her husband, Deke'o Starbreaker. She's also become known by her friends as a magnet for stray children who are often runaways and/or in danger.
Tal'rend - Jedi Sentinel. Qorian's padawan. Nickname: Tal. Species: Zabrak.
Tal's a handful. She's smart, strong in the force, and picks up new skills with gifted ease. She's also a bit incorrigible, pulls pranks, and likes to draw attention to herself. She's immature and impatient. A lot of this comes from her being double-babied by her mother, who was making up for losing her sister, Qel, before she was drawn into the Jedi training program at 7. Rambuncious.
Veeh'ra - Vanguard. Species: Cyborg.
Severe head trauma caused by crushing damage in a "training incident" (that wasn't her fault), so her entire skull had to be rebuilt. Cyborg tech was used to restore 100% of her motor functions and 75% of the rest of the damage to her brain. This made for a total personality change from the dedicated and good-natured soldier she used to be to a calculating, cold, fearless warrior without a moral compass. She follows her orders completely without regard to right or wrong. She is actually a better fighter than she was before the incident, the cybernetics enhancing her combat skills and abilities. She's blunt and sometimes crude. Her blaster rifle is named Jayne, and it is her most favorite piece of weaponry in the whole universe.
Katliss - Gunslinger. Nickname: Kat. Species: Human.
Having been Untruth's playmate for so long, she's brash, self-involved, cocky, and doesn't care what anyone thinks (with the exception of her brother, and even then, she likes to make him yell "Kat!" when she says something outrageous). She is loyal to her brother to a fault, and right now, he is the only person who can exact any kind of control over her.
Vesatta - Jedi Shadow. Species: Miraluka.
Having been raped while still in the Academy, Vesatta is quiet and shy. She never reported the experience, humiliated and ashamed by it. While she is confident that she is up to any task set before her, she doesn't allow anyone to truly "know" her. The Shadow path allows her to court the darkness without falling into it, but also makes her very vulnerable to the Dark side. Because of what happened, stealthy, mystical powers are much more appealing, keeping with the desire to keep her distance from people. Because of this background, she lacks some inter-personal skills, so she sometimes comes across as apathetic or blunt.
Lullia - Commando. Species: Twi'lek.
Basically a good person, honest, courageous. Soft-spoken, but friendly. Her family was rescued by a Jedi knight from the Empire when she was a child, prompting her to join the military, when she became old enough. She is trained as a field medic and as back-up for special forces ops.
Aittera - Scoundrel. Species: Human.
Former SIS agent. Disillusioned when she lost her partner in an op gone bad. Flying and freedom are now her top priorities and takes smuggling work to make that happen. Still, she has honor, loyalty, and her own sense of morality. She has a weakness for lost causes and dangerous men.
Lei'quii - Jedi Shadow. Nickname: Lei (pronounced "Lee"). Partner: Val'ros. Species: Human.
Former Jedi who was asked to leave when it was discovered that she had developed feelings for a Republic trooper and planned to marry him. Until she left, her belief system was very much in step with the teachings of the Order, though now, she's questioning those teachings and beliefs. In spite of all this, she's still loyal to the Council and the Republic. Has been partners with Val'ros since leaving the academy, where they sort of grew up together.
Tholata - Jedi Sentinel. Species: Cathar
Grew up on an Outer Rim planet where her village was attacked by Mandolorian raiders while she was still a young child, leaving her orphaned and on her own. A few years later, she caught the attention of a visiting Jedi knight, who gained her trust and took her to the Jedi academy. She's incredibly shy in social situations, and very curious.
Kel'ri - Gunslinger. Nickname: Blue. First mate: Harkyn. Species: Human.
Basically a good guy out to make a buck to keep flying. She's the reluctant hero - tends to make a stink about what doing the right thing costs her and her reputation, though she'll most alwys do the right thing in the end. She tends to be a bit cocky and wreckless like any good pilot should be.
Imperial Side
Kiabe'deth - Sith Marauder. Species: Sith Pureblood.
Kiabe is Sith and pureblood from one of the oldest family lines in the Imperial Empire. She is arrogant and cruel, having no interest in anything but her own advancement and crushing anyone who gets in her way. Married to Darth Ragious and has a son by him.
Qel'rend - Sith Sorceror. Nickname: Qel. Species: Zabrak. Zadakiel's apprentice.
Qel is self-confidant, but not arrogant. She spent most of her life as a slave, and she understands her place in the world, even now that she's been freed. She has placed herself into Zadakiel's care, because she believes that she can be as strong as he is one day, and that he will guide her. She has instinctively used pain to create and store power all her life. Because of this, she isn't the typical Sith in that, rage and hate are simply emotions others use to reach the power she so easily can draw into herself by this method. She guards her emotions carefully as a result, seeking true direction from the Dark side to make decisions in combat and social situations. Now that she has chosen a Master, she will not acknowledge anyone he considers beneath himself as having true power over her, unless he commands it. However, she's smart enough to hide her full potential from anyone who might take advantage of it.
Renn'a - Imperial Sniper. Nickname: Renn. Species: Cyborg.
The Empire is the penultimate bastion of power and order in an otherwise chaotic galaxy, so she will serve it with every fiber of her being. She takes her greatest pleasures from killing for the Empire, but will do any duty set forth before her without complaint. Lord Ragious took Renn'a as a 'pet' against her will, but she's since come to accept her position in his household, continuing to work for him and Imperial Intelligence.
Temivi - Sith Assassin. Agonar's apprentice. Species: Twi'lek.
As far as Temivi is concerned, she's earned her right to be free by surviving Sith training. She's outspoken about her opinions and sometimes doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut. She is from an occupied world, and her parents were part of a slave labor force. She irritated the local authorities often by fighting for her community, even joining a rebellious group, and was arrested on minor charges several times. When she was chosen as a potential force weilder, her parents convinced her to go by making her swear to have a better life than they had, and she sends them credits secretly on occassion when she is able.
Riukii - Mercenary. Species: Cyborg.
When she was younger, Riukii joined the crew of the freighter Ridge's Dust and spent her first couple of years in a whirlwind/tempestuous relationship with its captain. When the relationship soured, the captain found his way into an 'incident' with a malfunctioning airlock and Riukii inherited the ship. She has something of a short attention span, avoiding long-term commitments of any kind, seeking to avoid ever letting her guard down again. In spite of this, she's friendly, accessible, and is even a bit of a flirt, eschewing the usual tough guy act that most mercenarys tend to project. Being a merc is just a job that keeps her from having to settle in one place and keeps her out of poverty or from having to depend on anyone. Loves her arsenal and equipment, because she likes the big boy toys.
Farell - Sith Juggernaut. Species: Zabrak.
Arrogant, defiant daughter of Darth Ragious. She's a total daddy's girl and resents her step-mother and step-brother, seeing them as detractors from her father's attention. She's smart, manipulative, and ruthless. She is constantly seeking out Ragious's approval, willing to do anything to get it.
Wa'seandee - Mercenary. Species: Chiss. Partner and husband: Nekama
Before Nekama's appearance in her life, everything was pretty simple - money buys freedom; kill someone before they can have a chance to kill you; be tougher than anyone you meet. Now, however, she's been known to show mercy and has designated herself Nekama's personal bodyguard. She still loves to blow shit up though.
Dels'taron - Sniper. Species: Chiss.
When she was young, there was a rebellious uprising on her homeworld. Imperial Intelligence recruited her to infiltrate this uprising to aid in quelling it. When the Imperial military stepped in to arrest the leaders of the uprising, one of the officers became involved in helping her become an Imperial agent and married her, primarily to have a beautiful young woman on his arm. His life has since come to an end at the hands of a Sith Lord who decided to take Dels for himself. She's adventurous, out-going, and ambitious, though she has a tendency to take unnecessary risks.
Somaesthesia - Assassin. Name: Jocelyn Arren. Species: Human.
When the spirit of a powerful Sith was unbound, it sought a suitable 'vessel' from its decendants' bloodline to occupy permanently, effectively giving herself a chance to live life again. She found a vessel in a force sensitive slave girl who was taken to Korriban. She's devious and calculating, having no true loyalty to anyone but herself and her family.
Azarey - Juggernaut. Species: Cathar.
Azarey was the strongest warrior in her village, having no idea that her speed and strength were natural gifts from the Force. While visiting the city near her home for supplies, she was attacked by a group of Mandolorians who overwhelmed her 5 to one. When she thought defeat was imminent, the Sith apprentice Agonar stepped in to rescue her, and she has sworn her life to serve him and the house of his master. She is loyal, fierce, fearless, and honorable.
Erlanne - Marauder. Species: Sith Pureblood.
Not quite all there, Erlanne sees herself as Vengeance personified. Because of her own paranoia and eratic nature, Erlanne is that quiet kind of crazy for the most part, and people generally dismiss what she says as Pureblood eccentricity.
Telkara - Mercenary. Species: Twi'lek.
Telkara grew up on an embattled world where her parents died fighting for freedom against Imperial forces. Now, she is wanted for connections to rebellious groups and trafficking arms. She hates the Empire, is idealistic and outspoken. She has a natural affinity with tech and a reputation for stealing ships.
Republic Side
Litessen - Jedi Guardian. Nickname: Lita. Species: Mirialan.
Lita's compassionate, articulate, outspoken. She believes in the good in people and that a Jedi's primary function is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, not seeing them as weak, but as part of the Force that she serves. She believes in the ideals of the Republic, if not necessarily the law of it, realizing that a government is necessary for order and peace, but those laws do not take into account singular situations or individuals who may be an exception to the rule. In spite of having excellent diplomatic skills, she has a tendency in her own life to rush into things without taking her own safety into account. She flies with the "Maiden", a starship captained by her husband, Deke'o Starbreaker. She's also become known by her friends as a magnet for stray children who are often runaways and/or in danger.
Tal'rend - Jedi Sentinel. Qorian's padawan. Nickname: Tal. Species: Zabrak.
Tal's a handful. She's smart, strong in the force, and picks up new skills with gifted ease. She's also a bit incorrigible, pulls pranks, and likes to draw attention to herself. She's immature and impatient. A lot of this comes from her being double-babied by her mother, who was making up for losing her sister, Qel, before she was drawn into the Jedi training program at 7. Rambuncious.
Veeh'ra - Vanguard. Species: Cyborg.
Severe head trauma caused by crushing damage in a "training incident" (that wasn't her fault), so her entire skull had to be rebuilt. Cyborg tech was used to restore 100% of her motor functions and 75% of the rest of the damage to her brain. This made for a total personality change from the dedicated and good-natured soldier she used to be to a calculating, cold, fearless warrior without a moral compass. She follows her orders completely without regard to right or wrong. She is actually a better fighter than she was before the incident, the cybernetics enhancing her combat skills and abilities. She's blunt and sometimes crude. Her blaster rifle is named Jayne, and it is her most favorite piece of weaponry in the whole universe.
Katliss - Gunslinger. Nickname: Kat. Species: Human.
Having been Untruth's playmate for so long, she's brash, self-involved, cocky, and doesn't care what anyone thinks (with the exception of her brother, and even then, she likes to make him yell "Kat!" when she says something outrageous). She is loyal to her brother to a fault, and right now, he is the only person who can exact any kind of control over her.
Vesatta - Jedi Shadow. Species: Miraluka.
Having been raped while still in the Academy, Vesatta is quiet and shy. She never reported the experience, humiliated and ashamed by it. While she is confident that she is up to any task set before her, she doesn't allow anyone to truly "know" her. The Shadow path allows her to court the darkness without falling into it, but also makes her very vulnerable to the Dark side. Because of what happened, stealthy, mystical powers are much more appealing, keeping with the desire to keep her distance from people. Because of this background, she lacks some inter-personal skills, so she sometimes comes across as apathetic or blunt.
Lullia - Commando. Species: Twi'lek.
Basically a good person, honest, courageous. Soft-spoken, but friendly. Her family was rescued by a Jedi knight from the Empire when she was a child, prompting her to join the military, when she became old enough. She is trained as a field medic and as back-up for special forces ops.
Aittera - Scoundrel. Species: Human.
Former SIS agent. Disillusioned when she lost her partner in an op gone bad. Flying and freedom are now her top priorities and takes smuggling work to make that happen. Still, she has honor, loyalty, and her own sense of morality. She has a weakness for lost causes and dangerous men.
Lei'quii - Jedi Shadow. Nickname: Lei (pronounced "Lee"). Partner: Val'ros. Species: Human.
Former Jedi who was asked to leave when it was discovered that she had developed feelings for a Republic trooper and planned to marry him. Until she left, her belief system was very much in step with the teachings of the Order, though now, she's questioning those teachings and beliefs. In spite of all this, she's still loyal to the Council and the Republic. Has been partners with Val'ros since leaving the academy, where they sort of grew up together.
Tholata - Jedi Sentinel. Species: Cathar
Grew up on an Outer Rim planet where her village was attacked by Mandolorian raiders while she was still a young child, leaving her orphaned and on her own. A few years later, she caught the attention of a visiting Jedi knight, who gained her trust and took her to the Jedi academy. She's incredibly shy in social situations, and very curious.
Kel'ri - Gunslinger. Nickname: Blue. First mate: Harkyn. Species: Human.
Basically a good guy out to make a buck to keep flying. She's the reluctant hero - tends to make a stink about what doing the right thing costs her and her reputation, though she'll most alwys do the right thing in the end. She tends to be a bit cocky and wreckless like any good pilot should be.
Imperial Side
Kiabe'deth - Sith Marauder. Species: Sith Pureblood.
Kiabe is Sith and pureblood from one of the oldest family lines in the Imperial Empire. She is arrogant and cruel, having no interest in anything but her own advancement and crushing anyone who gets in her way. Married to Darth Ragious and has a son by him.
Qel'rend - Sith Sorceror. Nickname: Qel. Species: Zabrak. Zadakiel's apprentice.
Qel is self-confidant, but not arrogant. She spent most of her life as a slave, and she understands her place in the world, even now that she's been freed. She has placed herself into Zadakiel's care, because she believes that she can be as strong as he is one day, and that he will guide her. She has instinctively used pain to create and store power all her life. Because of this, she isn't the typical Sith in that, rage and hate are simply emotions others use to reach the power she so easily can draw into herself by this method. She guards her emotions carefully as a result, seeking true direction from the Dark side to make decisions in combat and social situations. Now that she has chosen a Master, she will not acknowledge anyone he considers beneath himself as having true power over her, unless he commands it. However, she's smart enough to hide her full potential from anyone who might take advantage of it.
Renn'a - Imperial Sniper. Nickname: Renn. Species: Cyborg.
The Empire is the penultimate bastion of power and order in an otherwise chaotic galaxy, so she will serve it with every fiber of her being. She takes her greatest pleasures from killing for the Empire, but will do any duty set forth before her without complaint. Lord Ragious took Renn'a as a 'pet' against her will, but she's since come to accept her position in his household, continuing to work for him and Imperial Intelligence.
Temivi - Sith Assassin. Agonar's apprentice. Species: Twi'lek.
As far as Temivi is concerned, she's earned her right to be free by surviving Sith training. She's outspoken about her opinions and sometimes doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut. She is from an occupied world, and her parents were part of a slave labor force. She irritated the local authorities often by fighting for her community, even joining a rebellious group, and was arrested on minor charges several times. When she was chosen as a potential force weilder, her parents convinced her to go by making her swear to have a better life than they had, and she sends them credits secretly on occassion when she is able.
Riukii - Mercenary. Species: Cyborg.
When she was younger, Riukii joined the crew of the freighter Ridge's Dust and spent her first couple of years in a whirlwind/tempestuous relationship with its captain. When the relationship soured, the captain found his way into an 'incident' with a malfunctioning airlock and Riukii inherited the ship. She has something of a short attention span, avoiding long-term commitments of any kind, seeking to avoid ever letting her guard down again. In spite of this, she's friendly, accessible, and is even a bit of a flirt, eschewing the usual tough guy act that most mercenarys tend to project. Being a merc is just a job that keeps her from having to settle in one place and keeps her out of poverty or from having to depend on anyone. Loves her arsenal and equipment, because she likes the big boy toys.
Farell - Sith Juggernaut. Species: Zabrak.
Arrogant, defiant daughter of Darth Ragious. She's a total daddy's girl and resents her step-mother and step-brother, seeing them as detractors from her father's attention. She's smart, manipulative, and ruthless. She is constantly seeking out Ragious's approval, willing to do anything to get it.
Wa'seandee - Mercenary. Species: Chiss. Partner and husband: Nekama
Before Nekama's appearance in her life, everything was pretty simple - money buys freedom; kill someone before they can have a chance to kill you; be tougher than anyone you meet. Now, however, she's been known to show mercy and has designated herself Nekama's personal bodyguard. She still loves to blow shit up though.
Dels'taron - Sniper. Species: Chiss.
When she was young, there was a rebellious uprising on her homeworld. Imperial Intelligence recruited her to infiltrate this uprising to aid in quelling it. When the Imperial military stepped in to arrest the leaders of the uprising, one of the officers became involved in helping her become an Imperial agent and married her, primarily to have a beautiful young woman on his arm. His life has since come to an end at the hands of a Sith Lord who decided to take Dels for himself. She's adventurous, out-going, and ambitious, though she has a tendency to take unnecessary risks.
Somaesthesia - Assassin. Name: Jocelyn Arren. Species: Human.
When the spirit of a powerful Sith was unbound, it sought a suitable 'vessel' from its decendants' bloodline to occupy permanently, effectively giving herself a chance to live life again. She found a vessel in a force sensitive slave girl who was taken to Korriban. She's devious and calculating, having no true loyalty to anyone but herself and her family.
Azarey - Juggernaut. Species: Cathar.
Azarey was the strongest warrior in her village, having no idea that her speed and strength were natural gifts from the Force. While visiting the city near her home for supplies, she was attacked by a group of Mandolorians who overwhelmed her 5 to one. When she thought defeat was imminent, the Sith apprentice Agonar stepped in to rescue her, and she has sworn her life to serve him and the house of his master. She is loyal, fierce, fearless, and honorable.
Erlanne - Marauder. Species: Sith Pureblood.
Not quite all there, Erlanne sees herself as Vengeance personified. Because of her own paranoia and eratic nature, Erlanne is that quiet kind of crazy for the most part, and people generally dismiss what she says as Pureblood eccentricity.
Telkara - Mercenary. Species: Twi'lek.
Telkara grew up on an embattled world where her parents died fighting for freedom against Imperial forces. Now, she is wanted for connections to rebellious groups and trafficking arms. She hates the Empire, is idealistic and outspoken. She has a natural affinity with tech and a reputation for stealing ships.
7/29/2013
Picking Up the Pieces, cont'd
Nar Shadaa. Though not a forest, it was a good hunting ground for other pursuits. Imagine Jheryth's surprise when he noticed a Jedi doing a bad job of skulking into an abandoned warehouse in the industrial sector of Nar Shadaa. He had his crew scout the place, and discovered that it is highly likely to be an SIS outpost. If there was any place to find the information he needed, an SIS database would be a gold mine.
He pulled out his old Jedi robes, setting his look in meticulous order, donning his old attire like an old hat. He walked with purpose to the warehouse, striding in through the front door past two sentries posted on either side of the door. The looked at him as he passed, uncertain but holding their position.
He was halfway across the the warehouse, having a clear view of the main room, along with a a couple of operatives sitting at makeshift desks, between Jheryth and the control room doors. Jheryth cleared most of the expanse of discarded boxes, and that's when he noticed the young Jedi picking at a piece of thread on her robe, sitting on a box near one of the desks.
Her head snapped up, her brown eyes opening wide in realization of what he was. Jheryth force jumped to the furthest guard, drawing his sabre in mid-flight, igniting the blade as he landed, running the guard through. Following the flow he already set up in his mind moments before, reached out with the Force and pulled the other guard off his feet and flung him into the blade of a fork-lift in the corner, before the young padawan even ignited her blade.
He smiled at her, noting the determined look on her face, as well as the gripping fear she was feeling. He stalked her, moving slowly around the desk, blocking one of the boxes she lifted off the floor and hurled at him. Jheryth smiled as he cut through another box thrown at him. The girl had strength, but obviously no real combat training.
He feinted to one side, watched her take the bait as he sidestepped her swing, moving in under her defense, pulling her to him with one hand as he thrust his saber through her chest, staring into her eyes as her defeat registered, her plea voiceless on her lips as she went limp in his arms.
Jheryth laid her down gently, turning as he heard the hiss of a smoke bomb, and a few blaster shots, heralding the entrance of his associates. Aven stepped over the downed sentries, making his way to Jheryth at a quick walk, "Communications have been neutralized, but secondary security systems are still online, my lord."
Jheryth growled as he tried the control panel buttons, getting no response. He tapped his ear comm, "Decker, can you get these doors open?" A female voice answered, "I think....um...yeah, um...no.The penthouse suite is not open today." Growling, he stood there, drawing in the Force, focusing on the doors, willing his anger and passion for the information he desired pull on the door, willing it out of it's secured position.
With the doors groaning against his onslaught, they suddenly flew open, a Jedi flying out at him with a flurry of sabre swings. Jheryth reacted with the instincts of the Force, blocking each one. Jheryth grinned as he reacted, trading block for block, cut for cut, enjoying the feel of this Jedi as he can sense the emotional turmoil coming from him. Jheryth reveled every moment of it, admiring the Jedi's skill, and the moment he was searching for came.
Jheryth moved to the side, the Jedi's swing barely missing him, as he got into his space, around his arm, bringing his sabre up and cutting through the Jedi's sabre hilt, the sabre sparking, spinning to deliver an elbow to his face, knocking the Jedi down, standing over him, the killing blow poised at his neck.
And then Jheryth heard it. It was barely perceptible, and louder than an avalanche. A heartbeat, not his own.
He stood there, looking down on the fallen Jedi, his own master drifting intangibly in a corner, telling him to finish him. His thumb moved, the sabre's blade winking out. The fallen Jedi looked quickly from Jheryth to the other companion's shocked faces, scurried to his feet and out the door.
"My lord, are you alright?" Jheryth barely registered Aven's question, too busy staring down at his own trembling hands. Taking stock of the situation, he was aware of his breath coming in ragged waves. He closed his hands into fists, knuckles showing white, to keep them from shaking, "FIND HER! I want that data file NOW!"
He pulled out his old Jedi robes, setting his look in meticulous order, donning his old attire like an old hat. He walked with purpose to the warehouse, striding in through the front door past two sentries posted on either side of the door. The looked at him as he passed, uncertain but holding their position.
He was halfway across the the warehouse, having a clear view of the main room, along with a a couple of operatives sitting at makeshift desks, between Jheryth and the control room doors. Jheryth cleared most of the expanse of discarded boxes, and that's when he noticed the young Jedi picking at a piece of thread on her robe, sitting on a box near one of the desks.
Her head snapped up, her brown eyes opening wide in realization of what he was. Jheryth force jumped to the furthest guard, drawing his sabre in mid-flight, igniting the blade as he landed, running the guard through. Following the flow he already set up in his mind moments before, reached out with the Force and pulled the other guard off his feet and flung him into the blade of a fork-lift in the corner, before the young padawan even ignited her blade.
He smiled at her, noting the determined look on her face, as well as the gripping fear she was feeling. He stalked her, moving slowly around the desk, blocking one of the boxes she lifted off the floor and hurled at him. Jheryth smiled as he cut through another box thrown at him. The girl had strength, but obviously no real combat training.
He feinted to one side, watched her take the bait as he sidestepped her swing, moving in under her defense, pulling her to him with one hand as he thrust his saber through her chest, staring into her eyes as her defeat registered, her plea voiceless on her lips as she went limp in his arms.
Jheryth laid her down gently, turning as he heard the hiss of a smoke bomb, and a few blaster shots, heralding the entrance of his associates. Aven stepped over the downed sentries, making his way to Jheryth at a quick walk, "Communications have been neutralized, but secondary security systems are still online, my lord."
Jheryth growled as he tried the control panel buttons, getting no response. He tapped his ear comm, "Decker, can you get these doors open?" A female voice answered, "I think....um...yeah, um...no.The penthouse suite is not open today." Growling, he stood there, drawing in the Force, focusing on the doors, willing his anger and passion for the information he desired pull on the door, willing it out of it's secured position.
With the doors groaning against his onslaught, they suddenly flew open, a Jedi flying out at him with a flurry of sabre swings. Jheryth reacted with the instincts of the Force, blocking each one. Jheryth grinned as he reacted, trading block for block, cut for cut, enjoying the feel of this Jedi as he can sense the emotional turmoil coming from him. Jheryth reveled every moment of it, admiring the Jedi's skill, and the moment he was searching for came.
Jheryth moved to the side, the Jedi's swing barely missing him, as he got into his space, around his arm, bringing his sabre up and cutting through the Jedi's sabre hilt, the sabre sparking, spinning to deliver an elbow to his face, knocking the Jedi down, standing over him, the killing blow poised at his neck.
And then Jheryth heard it. It was barely perceptible, and louder than an avalanche. A heartbeat, not his own.
He stood there, looking down on the fallen Jedi, his own master drifting intangibly in a corner, telling him to finish him. His thumb moved, the sabre's blade winking out. The fallen Jedi looked quickly from Jheryth to the other companion's shocked faces, scurried to his feet and out the door.
"My lord, are you alright?" Jheryth barely registered Aven's question, too busy staring down at his own trembling hands. Taking stock of the situation, he was aware of his breath coming in ragged waves. He closed his hands into fists, knuckles showing white, to keep them from shaking, "FIND HER! I want that data file NOW!"
7/28/2013
Picking Up the Pieces, cont'd
Ping, ping, ping.
Aittera sat in the corner of the Devious Hope's medbay, watching Selus sleep in the kolto tank. She'd tried to go to bed, but somehow, laying there in silence was worse than the faint, consistent beeping of the monitor that tracked his life signs.
Ping, ping, ping.
In four years of service to the Republic in SIS, she never once disobeyed a direct order. Hell, for that matter, she'd never taken a life out of vengeance or even anger. She'd been an effective enough assassin when the assignment called for it, but she'd believed that she was working for the greater good. Before tonight, she would have thought it impossible and absurd to think that she could just take a life in cold blood.
And now, it hung in the air around her in silent accusation, punctuated by the soft, steady tones of the monitor.
She pulled her knees up and folded her arms atop them to let her head drop against them as tears welled up in her eyes again, the fight playing once more through her mind. She'd heard Rasos's order. She stepped forward to use the handle of her blaster to knock the Sith out.
And then, she saw Selus's body in the snow. Ping, ping, ping.
Denial had been her armor and practically her way of life for so long, it might have continued to come easily enough in that moment for her to complete their assignment. Why didn't it? Just a few more minutes of that false sense of emotional fortitude that convinced her that she felt nothing more than friendship and gratitude for the idiot who'd refused to let her run away.
Ping, ping, ping.
While she'd expected Rasos's anger and a swift boot out of UI, what really delivered the cold smack of reality was the accusation that she and Selus were together. Faced with the truth of the feelings she'd been firmly in denial of, with the evidence of her actions staring her in the face, she couldn't deny it further. She couldn't even find words to argue.
Ping, ping, ping.
He'd been right. And now, she was forced out of the safe haven of her denial and into this vulnerable, bright light of reality. She could no longer cling to the love she had for a man who's death she'd never faced.
Ping, ping, ping.
When Selus had tracked her to the cantina on that little rinky dink moon, he'd said he knew she was a runner the moment he met her. He'd been right. She'd been running since the day Davin Vael died. Even then, she had the opportunity to act in vengeance and kill her CO, but she didn't have it in her, no matter how angry she was or how much she believed he was solely responsible for the death of her fiancee and two other extremely competent agents. She'd just left, disillusioned with the agency that had been her home for as long as she cared to remember. She wanted to be dead with her partner and lover. Instead, she ran.
Ping, ping, ping.
In fact, there was a part of her that was whispering, even as she spilt tear after tear born of guilt and regret, that it would be easy to just go to the bridge and plot a course for some place far away from Universal Investigations and this colossal screw-up. It was like a little siren song that promised a new descent into denial with all the alcohol necessary to forget everything.
Ping, ping, ping.
Aittera sat in the corner of the Devious Hope's medbay, watching Selus sleep in the kolto tank. She'd tried to go to bed, but somehow, laying there in silence was worse than the faint, consistent beeping of the monitor that tracked his life signs.
Ping, ping, ping.
In four years of service to the Republic in SIS, she never once disobeyed a direct order. Hell, for that matter, she'd never taken a life out of vengeance or even anger. She'd been an effective enough assassin when the assignment called for it, but she'd believed that she was working for the greater good. Before tonight, she would have thought it impossible and absurd to think that she could just take a life in cold blood.
And now, it hung in the air around her in silent accusation, punctuated by the soft, steady tones of the monitor.
She pulled her knees up and folded her arms atop them to let her head drop against them as tears welled up in her eyes again, the fight playing once more through her mind. She'd heard Rasos's order. She stepped forward to use the handle of her blaster to knock the Sith out.
And then, she saw Selus's body in the snow. Ping, ping, ping.
Denial had been her armor and practically her way of life for so long, it might have continued to come easily enough in that moment for her to complete their assignment. Why didn't it? Just a few more minutes of that false sense of emotional fortitude that convinced her that she felt nothing more than friendship and gratitude for the idiot who'd refused to let her run away.
Ping, ping, ping.
While she'd expected Rasos's anger and a swift boot out of UI, what really delivered the cold smack of reality was the accusation that she and Selus were together. Faced with the truth of the feelings she'd been firmly in denial of, with the evidence of her actions staring her in the face, she couldn't deny it further. She couldn't even find words to argue.
Ping, ping, ping.
He'd been right. And now, she was forced out of the safe haven of her denial and into this vulnerable, bright light of reality. She could no longer cling to the love she had for a man who's death she'd never faced.
Ping, ping, ping.
When Selus had tracked her to the cantina on that little rinky dink moon, he'd said he knew she was a runner the moment he met her. He'd been right. She'd been running since the day Davin Vael died. Even then, she had the opportunity to act in vengeance and kill her CO, but she didn't have it in her, no matter how angry she was or how much she believed he was solely responsible for the death of her fiancee and two other extremely competent agents. She'd just left, disillusioned with the agency that had been her home for as long as she cared to remember. She wanted to be dead with her partner and lover. Instead, she ran.
Ping, ping, ping.
In fact, there was a part of her that was whispering, even as she spilt tear after tear born of guilt and regret, that it would be easy to just go to the bridge and plot a course for some place far away from Universal Investigations and this colossal screw-up. It was like a little siren song that promised a new descent into denial with all the alcohol necessary to forget everything.
Ping, ping, ping.
7/26/2013
Picking Up the Pieces, part 2
Jheryth opened his eyes calmly and sat up in bed, the covers sliding down his bare chest to pool in his lap. He cocked his head slightly, feeling out with the force. Nothing stood out at him. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. He looked at the clock on his nightstand, glaring at him a time some 3 hours before daybreak. Something woke him up. He could not sense any reason for it and sighed. Disappointing he thought to himself, as recalling the last thing he remembered before waking up was 'her'.
The image of her face, the scent of her body, the feel of her against him, was all he could think about. He took another deep breath, letting it out slowly and took stock of his emotions. He shrugged his shoulders, and releasing yet another breath, threw the covers off and swung his feet off the bed, placing them on the soft rug that spread out from under his bed. He knew, with her image now fixed in his mind, sleep was no longer going to happen today.
He made his way to the closet, pulling out his mediation robe and padded across the floor, through his bedroom and into his meditation room. He set about the meticulous placement of incense, music and kneeling mat. He brushed his robe outward, allowing him mobility to sit down, breathing in the serenity.
"Power is Knowledge, Knowledge has no sides.
Without emotion, there is emptiness.
Without passion, there is no life.
There is no death, there is only the Force.
In battle, there is the Force.
While I am worthy, defeating my enemies gives me strength.
May I be defeated by hands more worthy than my own."
The image of her face, the scent of her body, the feel of her against him, was all he could think about. He took another deep breath, letting it out slowly and took stock of his emotions. He shrugged his shoulders, and releasing yet another breath, threw the covers off and swung his feet off the bed, placing them on the soft rug that spread out from under his bed. He knew, with her image now fixed in his mind, sleep was no longer going to happen today.
He made his way to the closet, pulling out his mediation robe and padded across the floor, through his bedroom and into his meditation room. He set about the meticulous placement of incense, music and kneeling mat. He brushed his robe outward, allowing him mobility to sit down, breathing in the serenity.
"Power is Knowledge, Knowledge has no sides.
Without emotion, there is emptiness.
Without passion, there is no life.
There is no death, there is only the Force.
In battle, there is the Force.
While I am worthy, defeating my enemies gives me strength.
May I be defeated by hands more worthy than my own."
7/25/2013
Picking Up the Pieces...
"Damnit, Brixen, they're still in there!"
Aittera was sitting up in the bed in her quarters on the Devious Hope, her breaths coming in rapid succession as her vision cleared and the nightmare faded away. The protocol droid was standing in the doorway, and it took her a moment to realize she must have shouted in her sleep about the same time she realized her head was throbbing. With a groan, she winced and fell back against the pillow, squeezing her eyes shut.
"What?" she snapped at the droid, a little more irritated than she meant it.
"Master Selus instructed me to administer this," the droid patiently explained. "It is a hangover remedy." She lifted one eyelid very, very carefully until she could see the steaming cup in C2-X4's hand.
"I'm fine," she responded, waving him away. "Just get me something for a headache." The droid didn't move.
"Master Selus instructed me to tell you that if you refuse, I am to contact him to return immediately to - forgive me, Master - force it down your throat." The tremor in the droid's metallic voice would have made her laugh under other circumstances.
"Fine!" She sat up again and held her hand out toward it, and the droid crossed the room to place the cup in her hand. "What'd I tell you about calling me master, you annoying piece of tin?"
"My apologies, Captain Badass."
"When is Selus expected back?" Even with a hangover, the droid's answer struck her as satisfyingly funny.
"Some time this evening, Captain Badass."
"Good. Now, go away." She brought the rim of the cup to her lips and took a tentative sip as X4 left her room and the door slid shut behind it. The concoction was surprisingly sweet in spite of its foul odor, and she nursed it for a few more minutes.
Gingerly, she pulled the covers back and swung her feet over the side of the bed, but the 'remedy' was already doing its work as the expected wave of nausea didn't come. She took another drink from the cup before setting it down on the side table and slipped off of the bed to her knees, turning to bend down and look beneath it. She reached for a floor panel a little further under the bed and pressed it down on one side until the opposite side rose enough to slip a finger beneath and remove it.
The strongbox waiting within lifted out easily, and she drew back to sit cross-legged on the floor with it in her lap, tapping in the security code and pressing her thumb to the identification screen. Once it popped open, she reached in to withdraw a small rectangular wallet and set it aside on the table next to the cup.
Once the strongbox was returned to its hiding place, she stood and walked over to the retractable sink to splash some water on her face, fending off the last remnants of sleep and the dream that came with it. The memories of her fiancee's last moments of life hung in the air around her like a thick fog, and she indulged just a few moments of reflection.
She'd managed to banish the nightmare of those final few minutes before, but the dreams had returned more vividly than ever.
It was Selus's fault, she told herself. He'd shown up in a little out of the way cantina she'd been resting (...hiding...) in. In the brief firefight with two bounty hunters that had tracked her to the cantina, she and Selus had acted in perfect synchronization as though they were merely extensions of each other. They were so connected in that moment, no longer individuals, and...
She let the thought die there. That was the moment she'd committed the ultimate sin - she'd forgotten that Davin Vael had ever existed. The dreams were her punishment. She'd promised to love him forever, and for that one careless moment, she'd forgotten her fiancee had ever existed.
With a heavy sigh, she pushed the sink back into its retracted position and walked over to the bedside table to pick up the wallet. At least one loose end from her subsequent drinking binge could be dealt with. The last thing she needed hanging over her was a Sith Lord's interest, whatever that interest turned out to be.
At the desk, she opened the wallet and withdrew an identification chip that she inserted into the computer. In minutes, she was finished with her message to Rasos, detailing everything that she knew about Jheryth Chrystopher. It really wasn't much. That was the whole point, of course. If she'd been able to do this on her own, she'd have never sought out Universal Investigations in the first place.
She was glad she had, though. Between keeping her busy with work and giving her new acquaintances and allies, she felt almost like a normal person living a reasonably normal life. The proverbial spy that came in from the cold. How cliche.
Aittera was sitting up in the bed in her quarters on the Devious Hope, her breaths coming in rapid succession as her vision cleared and the nightmare faded away. The protocol droid was standing in the doorway, and it took her a moment to realize she must have shouted in her sleep about the same time she realized her head was throbbing. With a groan, she winced and fell back against the pillow, squeezing her eyes shut.
"What?" she snapped at the droid, a little more irritated than she meant it.
"Master Selus instructed me to administer this," the droid patiently explained. "It is a hangover remedy." She lifted one eyelid very, very carefully until she could see the steaming cup in C2-X4's hand.
"I'm fine," she responded, waving him away. "Just get me something for a headache." The droid didn't move.
"Master Selus instructed me to tell you that if you refuse, I am to contact him to return immediately to - forgive me, Master - force it down your throat." The tremor in the droid's metallic voice would have made her laugh under other circumstances.
"Fine!" She sat up again and held her hand out toward it, and the droid crossed the room to place the cup in her hand. "What'd I tell you about calling me master, you annoying piece of tin?"
"My apologies, Captain Badass."
"When is Selus expected back?" Even with a hangover, the droid's answer struck her as satisfyingly funny.
"Some time this evening, Captain Badass."
"Good. Now, go away." She brought the rim of the cup to her lips and took a tentative sip as X4 left her room and the door slid shut behind it. The concoction was surprisingly sweet in spite of its foul odor, and she nursed it for a few more minutes.
Gingerly, she pulled the covers back and swung her feet over the side of the bed, but the 'remedy' was already doing its work as the expected wave of nausea didn't come. She took another drink from the cup before setting it down on the side table and slipped off of the bed to her knees, turning to bend down and look beneath it. She reached for a floor panel a little further under the bed and pressed it down on one side until the opposite side rose enough to slip a finger beneath and remove it.
The strongbox waiting within lifted out easily, and she drew back to sit cross-legged on the floor with it in her lap, tapping in the security code and pressing her thumb to the identification screen. Once it popped open, she reached in to withdraw a small rectangular wallet and set it aside on the table next to the cup.
Once the strongbox was returned to its hiding place, she stood and walked over to the retractable sink to splash some water on her face, fending off the last remnants of sleep and the dream that came with it. The memories of her fiancee's last moments of life hung in the air around her like a thick fog, and she indulged just a few moments of reflection.
She'd managed to banish the nightmare of those final few minutes before, but the dreams had returned more vividly than ever.
It was Selus's fault, she told herself. He'd shown up in a little out of the way cantina she'd been resting (...hiding...) in. In the brief firefight with two bounty hunters that had tracked her to the cantina, she and Selus had acted in perfect synchronization as though they were merely extensions of each other. They were so connected in that moment, no longer individuals, and...
She let the thought die there. That was the moment she'd committed the ultimate sin - she'd forgotten that Davin Vael had ever existed. The dreams were her punishment. She'd promised to love him forever, and for that one careless moment, she'd forgotten her fiancee had ever existed.
With a heavy sigh, she pushed the sink back into its retracted position and walked over to the bedside table to pick up the wallet. At least one loose end from her subsequent drinking binge could be dealt with. The last thing she needed hanging over her was a Sith Lord's interest, whatever that interest turned out to be.
At the desk, she opened the wallet and withdrew an identification chip that she inserted into the computer. In minutes, she was finished with her message to Rasos, detailing everything that she knew about Jheryth Chrystopher. It really wasn't much. That was the whole point, of course. If she'd been able to do this on her own, she'd have never sought out Universal Investigations in the first place.
She was glad she had, though. Between keeping her busy with work and giving her new acquaintances and allies, she felt almost like a normal person living a reasonably normal life. The proverbial spy that came in from the cold. How cliche.
7/12/2013
Overheard in a little Coruscant cafe
"It's not that I'm not grateful," the blue-haired rogue reiterated for what must have been the 15th time since the conversation had begun. "And yes, I owe you for that situation back on Ord Mantell--" She was cut off by the calm, even voice of the Mirialan sitting across the table from her.
"As much as you paint yourself the defiant, hardened criminal, we both know that the worst of your so-called crimes involve running supplies into warzones that keep the local civilians from starving." The Jedi was looking at her with the kind of reproachful smile that reminded Kel'ri of the way her mother used to look at her when she lied about sneaking out of the house to avoid her studies.
"Hey! There were banned items in those shipments," Kel'ri countered with a cocky grin. "People may need to eat, but the real credits in those runs came from alcohol."
"Which they used to trade with the local Republic troops for medical supplies and a host of other things? You won't even run weapons unless you're sure they're getting into the right hands." Lita wasn't letting her off the hook.
Kel'ri relented with a raised hand. "Fine! Fine. It's not like there isn't an upside to going legit. And you were right about the company, I guess. Everyone I've met so far seems..." she smirked playfully in pseudo-dramatic pause before finishing, "...like they've had their shots."
The Mirialan gave her a knowing grin. Since their friendship began a few years ago, Lita's uncanny ability to read people and inspire their best character traits had somehow grown on the smuggler. Kel'ri liked to tease the Jedi about her habit of 'picking up strays', but the truth was that she had been one of those strays. If it hadn't been for Lita's guidance, she probably would've fallen in with one of the gangs on Nar Shaddaa or worse, been strong-armed into some aspect of the pleasure industries that the smuggler's moon was notorious for.
"I still don't see how I can keep an eye on the kid, though," Kel'ri continued, getting back to the subject at hand. "She's on Coruscant at school most of the time, and you know I hate sitting around planetside on a Core World with nothing to do. What if I'm out on a run when they give her a job, and I can't get there to hold her hand?"
"She hardly requires hand-holding, but I do see your point." Lita conceded with a thoughtful nod. "The Council is extremely reluctant to pursue her Force training any further for now, but I've been considering finding a Jedi who might be able to take her as their padawan."
"Why not you?" The question seemed obvious, but Lita shook her head.
"She is already attached to me emotionally in such a way that I fear it would defeat the purpose," she explained. "When I found Tholata, she'd been living on her own for so long that gaining her trust so that she'd allow me to help her was not easy. I feel that she still sees me as a substitute for the family she lost, and the person to change that dynamic between us should be her - when she's ready."
Kel'ri picked at her plate while her friend spoke, then shrugged with a smart-assed smirk. "You lost me somewhere around 'purpose'. I think you don't take on padawans, because it would get in the way of your love life. How is life on The Maiden with Captain Dreamboat?"
The rest of lunch consisted of the usual banter between old friends; Kel'ri teasing her friend about what she insisted must be a sordid, hot affair with the captain she travelled with while Litessen countered by teasing right back about Kel'ri's short attention span for men and women alike. They parted with the usual promises to stay in touch and to get together again soon, as well as the less sincere promises to stay out of trouble. Neither of them ever could keep that promise.
"As much as you paint yourself the defiant, hardened criminal, we both know that the worst of your so-called crimes involve running supplies into warzones that keep the local civilians from starving." The Jedi was looking at her with the kind of reproachful smile that reminded Kel'ri of the way her mother used to look at her when she lied about sneaking out of the house to avoid her studies.
"Hey! There were banned items in those shipments," Kel'ri countered with a cocky grin. "People may need to eat, but the real credits in those runs came from alcohol."
"Which they used to trade with the local Republic troops for medical supplies and a host of other things? You won't even run weapons unless you're sure they're getting into the right hands." Lita wasn't letting her off the hook.
Kel'ri relented with a raised hand. "Fine! Fine. It's not like there isn't an upside to going legit. And you were right about the company, I guess. Everyone I've met so far seems..." she smirked playfully in pseudo-dramatic pause before finishing, "...like they've had their shots."
The Mirialan gave her a knowing grin. Since their friendship began a few years ago, Lita's uncanny ability to read people and inspire their best character traits had somehow grown on the smuggler. Kel'ri liked to tease the Jedi about her habit of 'picking up strays', but the truth was that she had been one of those strays. If it hadn't been for Lita's guidance, she probably would've fallen in with one of the gangs on Nar Shaddaa or worse, been strong-armed into some aspect of the pleasure industries that the smuggler's moon was notorious for.
"I still don't see how I can keep an eye on the kid, though," Kel'ri continued, getting back to the subject at hand. "She's on Coruscant at school most of the time, and you know I hate sitting around planetside on a Core World with nothing to do. What if I'm out on a run when they give her a job, and I can't get there to hold her hand?"
"She hardly requires hand-holding, but I do see your point." Lita conceded with a thoughtful nod. "The Council is extremely reluctant to pursue her Force training any further for now, but I've been considering finding a Jedi who might be able to take her as their padawan."
"Why not you?" The question seemed obvious, but Lita shook her head.
"She is already attached to me emotionally in such a way that I fear it would defeat the purpose," she explained. "When I found Tholata, she'd been living on her own for so long that gaining her trust so that she'd allow me to help her was not easy. I feel that she still sees me as a substitute for the family she lost, and the person to change that dynamic between us should be her - when she's ready."
Kel'ri picked at her plate while her friend spoke, then shrugged with a smart-assed smirk. "You lost me somewhere around 'purpose'. I think you don't take on padawans, because it would get in the way of your love life. How is life on The Maiden with Captain Dreamboat?"
The rest of lunch consisted of the usual banter between old friends; Kel'ri teasing her friend about what she insisted must be a sordid, hot affair with the captain she travelled with while Litessen countered by teasing right back about Kel'ri's short attention span for men and women alike. They parted with the usual promises to stay in touch and to get together again soon, as well as the less sincere promises to stay out of trouble. Neither of them ever could keep that promise.
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