"Actually, it does bother me," Wade answered stiffly. "He is not to be harmed in transit."
"You plan on talkin' him to death, Goren?" Jana asked, amused. "Seeing as we're not gonna let you through the containment shield, that's your best bet." She turned to Wade. "He wants to talk to Galaxy Killer, we can let him, but we'll be close to be sure he doesn't do anything foolish."
She turned to Jack and said, "I just finished telling Beryl that we're a family. We don't want to loose any of our family, so I'd really appreciate it if all you'd consider doing is talking."
"Just a private word.. and maybe a punch. The guy doesn't desrive death. Death would mercy. And he doesn't diserve an ounce of that" Said Jack, in his normal cold, empty voice.
"No!" Wade protested. "We're not giving him the chance to get out! He'd kill us all."
"For once I'll agree with our passenger," Jana said. She turned to Jack. "Look, I understand you're mad at him for what he did, but maybe you haven't heard that many stories about him. He'd kill you before you even realized he wanted to."
Still lingering at the ladder, Beryl listened with interest at the conversation happening between Jack and Jana.
"The guy doesn't deserve death," she heard Jack say. "Death would mercy. And he doesn't diserve an ounce of that."
Beryl brightened. "Hey, Jack," she said to him. "You could always cook for him tonight?" she suggested, hoping to get out of galley duty tonight. She grinned. "That's enough like torture for the guy's first night on board, isn't it?"
"No!" Wade protested again. "He's not leaving his cell!"
Jana laughed. "Yes, I can just imagine the Galaxy Killer in the kitchen, burning our dinner because he was so busy killing us." She shook her head. "Still trying to get out of it, Beryl? Darn! Was thinkin' of puttin' you in charge of meals permanently... whenever you're not getting into fights, gambling with Nic, or blasting TIEs in the Headhunter."
"Come on, Beryl," she went on seriously. "You're good at meal-making and Nic hasn't yet caved in to my pleas for a cook, so until he does we're on the schedule... and you are next."
Beryl opened her mouth to protest, but then reconsidered as there was a passenger there. And a uniformed one at that. Probably wouldn’t inspire Captain Wade to have much confidence in the Echo’s ability to transport a dangerous prisoner if he saw her try to argue with the first mate. Besides there was always the possibility that Jana might always make good on her jovial threat to make Beryl a ‘galley slave’. Inside, she shuddered at the thought.
“Yeah, all right,” she said casually. “Erm…I mean, yes, ma’am,” she added respectfully as an afterthought. After all, ‘Captain’ Wade was watching. “Dinner in an hour, if that’s alright with you, sir,” she said as she passed Captain Wade and started down the corridor.
Nice looking guy, she thought. Too bad he’s in law enforcement. Never could deal with men in authoritative positions. But he looked like the type that wouldn’t mind eating Nuna Cacciatore.
Just outside the med bay, she paused for a brief moment. Her nose wrinkled at the strong odour of alcohol seeping from behind the door. “Oh, that’s appetizing,” she said under her breath as she grimaced. Okay, menu change. Nuna Cacciatore for the rest of us, and strong coffee for Impe. Very strong coffee.
((dang it. i really hate missing all the action. oh well, here we go...))
Ryshana could feel something coming towards the hangar and turned her head towards the entrance. All she could feel was something terrible coming, and that meant one thing: someone had found her.
"Captain! We've got storm troopers advancing on our location! I'm guessing nows the time we leave?"
Already inside the Echo, Ryshana quickly found an empty room and turned the corner quickly. As the Echo took off, Ryshana released her lightsaber that was concealed in her clothes. Strapping into a nearby chair, Ryshana concentrated on the battle outside. She could feel the enemy pilots desperately trying to destroy the Echo, and she could also feel them die as the crew shot them out one by one. It was an all too familier feeling of that of someone dying but knowing that person wouldn't trouble her any longer. All it did was make Ryshana grimace inside.
After the maneuvering stopped, Ryshana just remained sitting in the chair with her head leaning backwards. She felt surprisingly exhausted and slowly began to shut her eyes....
Ryshana quickly opened her eyes and checked a nearby terminal for the time: just three minutes of sleep. Well, hopefully this won't be a very exciting trip, Ryshana thought. Finally unstrapping herself, Ryshana exited the small room and headed up towards what she assumed was the meeting room. Seeing Jana, Ryshana felt slightly relieved. "So, about that tour you were talking about..."
Jana smiled. "Ah, yes. The tour. Now that we've evaded the Imperials, I can give that to you." She began to lead Ryshana up toward the cockpit, but stopped at the sight of Wade.
"Oh, Ryshana Uti, this is Captain Elliott Wade of the Alderaan Police," she said. "Captain, this is our third passenger."
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Uti," Wade said, bowing slightly.
"Captain Wade is taking a prisoner back to Alderaan," Jana explained.
Nic had left Jana and Beryl to tend to their guest, he desided to leave assoon as Jana started up her old arguement for a permanant cook. He went back into his room and changed his clothing to slightly more casual outfit. He often did this on long flights as he thought it was better to be confidatible and there was no point in Wearing armour when no one would be shooting at him. He did consider their prisoner for a moment, but he Just thought "Clouds a genius, The prisoner ain't going anywhere."
Nic left his room and went into the Common room, Beryl was Cooking while Jana, Wade and the other passenger spoke. He walked over to the group and caught the conversation.
"Captain Wade is taking a prisoner back to Alderaan," Jana explained.
"and the 'eye balls' n' bucket heads obviously wanted him so thats why we had the speedy getaway, aswell as the poor excuse for a TIE attack." Nic said with a Smile looking at Ryshana "I hope it wasn't to stressful."
Cloud heard something about 'eye balls and bucketheads'." He figued they were talking about TIEs and stormtroopers. "I wonder if I really seen that Ryshana." Cloud thinks. He goes to his room and brings up an Imperial database and searches up 'Ryshana Uti'. "Why am I doing this?" Cloud thinks. "This is wrong. She deserves some privacy." Cloud leaves his room, unknowingly leaving the database on, showing a bounty sheet for Ryshana.
((just a note there: the last name of Uti is just a cover for Ryshana's real last name. ;) ))
"Oh, Ryshana Uti, this is Captain Elliott Wade of the Alderaan Police," she said. "Captain, this is our third passenger."
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Uti," Wade said, bowing slightly.
"Captain Wade is taking a prisoner back to Alderaan," Jana explained.
"And it's good to meet you Captain Wade," Ryshana stated as she returned the bow.
"and the 'eye balls' n' bucket heads obviously wanted him so thats why we had the speedy getaway, aswell as the poor excuse for a TIE attack." Nic said with a Smile looking at Ryshana "I hope it wasn't to stressful."
"Not a problem. Its been a while since I've been on a ship in combat, but it doesn't exactly measure up to anything that I've dealt with before. Its not something I missed from the Clone Wars, but it does bring back a couple of memories," Ryshana replied to Nic.
"Not a problem. Its been a while since I've been on a ship in combat, but it doesn't exactly measure up to anything that I've dealt with before. Its not something I missed from the Clone Wars, but it does bring back a couple of memories."
Ship in combat? Clone Wars? Beryl stopped chopping up the nuna, and looked up with interest at the newcomer. From behind the galley bar, she discreetly observed the T'wilek. Ryshana didn't look much like an average soldier or even an officer to Beryl, but then again not everyone who fought in the Wars was a soldier....
Ach, it's none of my business, Beryl thought to herself. She shrugged and went back to preparing dinner.
Nic was surprised to hear that there passenger was involved in the War, but he then thought that Jana suspected she was with this new Rebel alliance. Nic had heard a few things about this rebel alliance mainly from Beryl who had two brothers in it. At the moment the Rebel Alliance was little more then a loose affiliation of small Rebellion groups that were trying to resist the Empire on their home-worlds. The groups had little contact with each other at the moment they mainly traded with each othe, If one group stole a surplus of weapons they would trade the leftovers with a group with none or little. There are rumours that Bail organa and Mon mothma are attempting to make it more but Nic thinks nothing will happen.
"You're a fellow Clone War Vet', Well i say i'm a Veterin but i didn't see much of the war on Naboo, When the clones moved in i bearly did basic police Work." Nic said to the Twi'lek "Where did you serve?"
"Its not a matter of where I served, but how. I was actually a Seperatist Mercenary recruited from Saleucami. Us Mercenaries didn't have a very glorious role in the War, though. My squad was primarily involved in sabotage and such. Although my last stint was at the end of the war during the 5 month Republic siege of Saleucami as a fighter pilot. But then I was fighting much more for the protection of my homeworld than the Seperatists.
Now, there is no Confederation nor a Republic. Both sides are gone, and now I just have to wonder who was truely defeated in the war."
"We all were." Nic answered, Nic didn't hold on to the past that much, He saw the war for what it was a diversion to distract everyone from what was really going on. The only person who won was the supreme chancelor turned Emperor. Nic had no problems with the sepritists, he now feels they may have been the right side.
You intent to just lie on your bed while my killer is a few rooms down A young causain bruenet stood beside Jack as he tried to get a bit of sleep before the first stop.
"Yep. That's the plan" He replied.
Those enchancements those scientics gave you gives you a huge advantage over that phyco. You can kill him The women said, failing to presade Jack to kill their second passenger.
"Can. Wouldn't. Now go away"Ordered Jack
[I]No Goren! You just dont care! Do you! You dont give a crap at a cold blooded murder is on your ship[I]
"Nope" Jack pulled out a sirign and injected himself with a blue liquid that put him straight to sleep but not before saying "Another 7 hours till first stop. Have enough time... For sleep"
As she finished preparing dinner, Beryl listened unobtrusively to the conversation taking place between Nic and Ryshana.
"… Separatist Mercenary recruited from Saleucami,” said Ryshana. “Us Mercenaries didn't have a very glorious role in the War, though.”
Yeah. Right. She’s just being modest, thought Beryl.
“… primarily involved in sabotage…”
Sabotage? Sabotage can be glorious. At least, that what my brother Joshi told me. Then again, he also told me that there was such a thing as a closet monster when I was five. Liar.
“… last stint was at the end of the war…”
That’s when the best fighting takes place! Plenty of glory opportunities!
“…. Republic siege of Saleucami as a fighter pilot.”
Beryl arched an eyebrow. Fighter pilot? Did she say fighter pilot? Ha! I knew she wasn’t a common grunt soldier!
“….fighting much more for the protection of my homeworld than the Seperatists.”
As good of a reason as any.
“Now, there is no Confederation nor a Republic.”
No. Just a crusty old Emperor and his handful of puppets with their own delusions of grandeur. Like our own bantha-brained Diktat on Corellia.
“Both sides are gone…”
Well, there is still the Rebellion. And don’t forget the good ol’ Corporate Sector Authority with their highly annoying ‘Espos’! Not much better than Imp’s, but they do wear more fashionable uniforms.
“… have to wonder who was truly defeated in the war."
"We all were,” said Nic.
Erm…what?!
Even though it was against her better judgement, Beryl felt compelled to speak on behalf of her three brothers out there fighting for the Rebellion. She hadn’t heard from any of them in months and it was beginning to get to her.
“Hey! Who says the war is over?” she said to them, with a slight air of indignity. “There’s a Corellian saying, ‘A war isn’t over until the last soldier is buried.’ And from what I’ve seen, there are still plenty of ‘Republic’ sympathisers slash soldiers running about out there. And…”
The timer on the re-heater binged.
Whew! Saved by the bell! She didn’t want to go into any more detail about her brothers or her own Rebellion sympathies in front of a stranger. Yeah, Ryshana said she was a former Separatist, but that didn’t mean she was still one now. Beryl flashed Nic a quick grin. “Dinner’s ready, chief!”
Nic Smiled, Beryl could be quite emotional when it came to her family. "Kay people, Grubs up." Nic said and moved over to the table, he pointed over to the Availible seats for the guests to take as he sat down at the head of the table.
((This is one of those Character development parts when we can talk about our characters past live with people asking question while they eat.))
Jack's eyes snapped open "Damm you Nick" He must of release I was taking the sleep stuff and switched it which bubble-gum flavoured juice.
He then heard nick shout out "Kay people, grups up"
Jack jumped off the bed and walked to the dinner table. He sat down at his usuall seat and waited for everyone else to join.
“Hey! Who says the war is over?” she said to them, with a slight air of indignity. “There’s a Corellian saying, ‘A war isn’t over until the last soldier is buried.’ And from what I’ve seen, there are still plenty of ‘Republic’ sympathisers slash soldiers running about out there. And…”
"Perhaps, but the Repbulic no longer exists. It is difficult to sympathise for a cause if the cause no longer remains. Besides, the Clone Wars are over. If another war rises to take its place, then it will be a very different war of which this galaxy hasn't seen since the Sith Remnant tried to retain their empire through mass scale treachery, sabotage, and guerilla warfare over 4,000 years ago," Ryshana theorized.
"Kay people, Grubs up." Nic said and moved over to the table, he pointed over to the Availible seats for the guests to take as he sat down at the head of the table.
Well, I guess I could use some food, Ryshana thought while remembering the fried Krayt Eggs she had back at the spaceport. Besides, it smells delicious.
When Cloud heard dinner was ready, he was on his way back to his room. "Coming." Cloud shouted. He quickly made his way to the mess hall. "What's for dinner?"
"Beryl's Nuna Cacciatore." Nic answered to his engineer and turned his head to Ryshana "So Miss Uti, Care to tell us why you are going to Alderaan?"
Jana and Captain Wade were on their way to the table, but before Beryl sat down (cause she’d been serving the plates up) Beryl did a quick headcount. Then she frowned. Without a word, she walked purposefully out of the common room and down the corridor.
She stopped directly in front of the med bay door and banged heavily on it. “Impe! Chow time!” She paused, and put her ear closer to the door. She could hear someone stirring inside, but they weren’t stirring fast enough for her. Time for a different approach.
“Oh, Oliver,” she said in a sweet sing-song persuasive voice. “I’ve brewed some nice, fresh-ground, aromatic black coffee. Just how you like it.”
She thought she heard a muffled acknowledgement. Shrugging, she went back to the common room.
She sat down at the table, but not before giving Ryshana a suspicious look that she hoped would rival one of Jana’s. Well, maybe not quite rival it, but perhaps it would debut on the ‘Jana Vincent top-ten dirty looks chart’ at around number seven.
Sitting at the table with an Alderaan policeman was one thing. But Beryl wasn’t quite sure what to make of the T’wilek at all. There was something…disconcerting about her that Beryl couldn’t quite place her finger on. And because of this feeling, she immediately didn’t trust her. But, Jana and Nic seemed to trust her….well, maybe not so much her as her ability to pay… so Beryl would try her best not to shoot her mouth off. She could do that, right? As long as Ryshana didn’t mention anything really derogatory about who was fighting in the Rebellion. Or mention the Empire. Or anything about Corellia. Or the pitfalls of a Headhunter. Or…
Beryl stuffed a large forkful of food into her mouth. Not being able to talk because her mouth was full was a good enough excuse to keep quiet.
"Looks delicous. Once again, Beryl graces us with one of her meals." Cloud said in delight. For some reason, she always made the best meals on the Echo. He sat down took a bite and after he chewed and swallowed, he said "Whoooie. This is one good meal. Just like Mom used to make on Aldeeran. Too bad dear, old Dad left for Naboo to become one of the Royal Guard." Cloud continued to eat the food.
Beryl swallowed hard, nearly choking. “You never told me you were from Alderaan?” she said to Cloud. "Heck, you never even told me you had parents!" she added wryly. So much for keeping quiet.
Jana laughed. "Everyone comes from somewhere, Beryl," she said. "And they all typically have parents too."
Beryl swallowed before answering. "Jana, if there's one thing I've learned, in this Galaxy, there are always exceptions to every rule." She flicked her eyes towards Jack. "But I agree, typically, yes, most everyone has parents." She took a sip of her drink. "Speaking of parents, have you heard from yours lately? Since my dad died, I don't get much news from home anymore."
"Speaking of Dad, I really haven't heard from him since the day the 501st went to Naboo." Cloud told Beryl. "You do know who the 501st are, don't you?"
"So Miss Uti, Care to tell us why you are going to Alderaan?"
For the first time, Ryshana's heart skipped a beat. So far, she had done quite well in maintaining her backstory, but this was a question she hadn't completely thought through. Quickly taking a bite of the food so she could think it over for a second, Ryshana paused to take in the flavor of the food.
"Mmm, now that is good," Ryshana stated after swallowing the food. "As for Alderaan, I have a couple of friends that I've been wanting to get together with for quite some time. But with the work I've been doing since the war, I just haven't been able to do it."
At the mention of the 501st, Jana grimaced. "Vader's Fist," she muttered. Then, she nodded to Ryshana. "War changes things... that's for damn sure."
She shook her head. "That's part of the reason I don't want to go home... don't much like the idea of how much it might've changed since I've been there last."
Nic Had eaten about a third of his meal listening to the various conversations around the table, He always liked it when the crew ate together. Everyone seemded to get on, even when they argued.
Jana shook her head. "That's part of the reason I don't want to go home... don't much like the idea of how much it might've changed since I've been there last."
"We're all here to get away from somewhere or someone, otherwise we wouldn't be on this ship." Nic took a sip of the Corellian ale he tried to keep a crate of in the Cargo Hold. "Everyone needs to escape once and while, this ship is just an opportunity to do so."
"I think i must come along" Oliver mumbled, why he changed clothes. He coulden't understand, why he did vormiting. "Maybe it was because of the jumba juice?" he asked himself.
Oliver changed his clothes to a nice siut, he had bought in Naboo. Maybe some spots of mud and cofee, but the spots could be covered by Olivers long hair.
He didn't say a word, when he jumped into his his chair. He looked on the new passengers, but none of them looked really interesting to him.
"Well, I do have to ask: why does everyone seem to find me interesting? I've never seen such a curious crew of mercenaries?" Ryshana asked with a smile.
"If it makes you feel better I'm not curious." Said Jack "Quite the opposite attacually." Jack quickly finished he food and left for the cockpit "We should be coming up for our first stop."
"Well, I do have to ask: why does everyone seem to find me interesting? I've never seen such a curious crew of mercenaries?" Ryshana asked with a smile.
"If it makes you feel better I'm not curious." Said Jack "Quite the opposite attacually." Jack quickly finished he food and left for the cockpit "We should be coming up for our first stop."
Nic watched Jack leave and walk into the cockpit. "Don't mind him he's not to good with passengers... or people in general actually. Anyway We're not your average Mercs and Is it so strange for a captain to want to know who's on his ship?"
"Well, most people either don't want to know or they don't care. This is just a bit out of the ordinary for me," Ryshana stated while finishing up the last of her plate.
Nic relaxed in his seat and took a sip from his corellian ale "O.K then let's make this fair, Ask me a question, anything you like." Nic said as he took another sip of his ale.
"Fair enough. What's your take on Emperor Palpatine?"
Nic Sat up strait and thought for a few seconds then had a rare completly serious face. "Palpatine's our lovable dictator, If you say any differant you'll be shot for treason against the Empire." Nic Smiled and laughed.
"Really, now that's a rather sarcastic way to see things. If you want my opinion, I'd say that Palpatine has brought about the darkest time in the history of the Galaxy. Sure its 'security for all', but at the price of all but the most personal freedoms. It is tyranny at its darkest and most pinnacle point," Ryshana replied.
Jana smiled and turned to Nic. "Wasn't that about the most well said and shortest speech you've ever heard on the subject?"
She turned to Ryshana. "Well said and to the point. I applaud." And she did. Then, she went back to her food.
While Nic and the passenger has the Palpatine debate, Oliver did suddenly wake up for his hangover.
"Well, the Empire and the Rebel Alliance is doing wrong things. It's not very democratic, that the Rebel's is fighting the Empire with many civilan costs. I would wish, that the civilian actually could say their opinion, without all the propaganda from both sides".
Cloud quickly ate the rest of his share. "That was good, Beryl." Cloud said rubbing his stomach. "I'm going to head back to my room to sort my droid parts. If you need me, I'll be in my room." Cloud then made his way to his room.
Beryl had been trying to concentrate on eating, instead of entangling herself into a potentially contentious political debate. Sure she knew about the 501st. Did a nerf have antlers? She knew about them. And Vader. And Palpatine. And she hated them. Hated all of those who willingly served the Empire. Well, all of them except one.
Two of her brothers, Rayne and Nuss, had gone to fight with the Republic and their 'wonderful' clone armies during the Clone Wars. When Palpatine had declared himself Emperor, Rayne had returned to Corellia. Her brother Nuss, however, had not. She had said as much to Nic once, but hadn't bothered to correct his assumption that her brother had died. Nuss hadn't died. As far as Beryl knew, he still lived. And still served the Empire. Somewhere.
It was a secret that she had no wish to mistakenly divulge to anyone. Especially to an Alderaanian policeman or a T’wilek that seemed to have Rebellion sympathies. It was time to change the subject. And Cloud had just given her the opportunity.
"Ah, speaking of droids...," she said to Cloud, as she too rose from the table. "You don't happen to have a gasket for a D-size transversal ring floating about in that scrap heap of a room, do you? My flight sim's busted again. And since Nic is obviously not ready to lose again at cards..." She gave Nic a challenging grin. "...I figured I might need something else to occupy my time."
"Well, the Empire and the Rebel Alliance is doing wrong things. It's not very democratic, that the Rebel's is fighting the Empire with many civilan costs. I would wish, that the civilian actually could say their opinion, without all the propaganda from both sides".
Jana glanced over at Oliver as he spoke and then shook her head. "You can't expect democracy from a dictator," she sighed. "But really, this discussion is getting entirely too political for me! Can't we think of something better to talk about?"
Ryshana laughed lightly to herself, partly in relief that she wouldn't have to betray any of her true feelings that might give her away and also partly because she found all this uneasiness a bit humorous. "So, Jana, I take it you're a gunner of sorts on this ship. What kind of systems are you using for it??"
"First mate and primary gunner," Jana agreed. She then went into great detail concerning the turrets, the targeting computers, and anything else that had anything to do with the ship's guns.
((Which I didn't explain since I'm not entirely sure :D ))
"Ah, speaking of droids...," she said to Cloud, as she too rose from the table. "You don't happen to have a gasket for a D-size transversal ring floating about in that scrap heap of a room, do you? My flight sim's busted again. And since Nic is obviously not ready to lose again at cards..." She gave Nic a challenging grin. "...I figured I might need something else to occupy my time."
"Yeah, I do." Cloud told Beryl. "I'll go get it." Cloud then left for his room.
__________________________________________________ _______________
Cloud was looking in his room for the D-sized transversal ring when he seen that his computer was still on. "Oops." thought Cloud. He looked into the screen and it shown a link to the Galactic Databank. That shows every citazen in the Galaxy. thought Cloud. Cloud, agenst all of his principals, opened it and searChed for 'Ryshana Uti'. There was no file. There was one similar to it, but Cloud's Jawa Beer effect wore off and he closed the link. Strange, how can someone exist without their file in the Galactic Database?
__________________________________________________ _______________
Cloud returned to the table, carrying the part Beryl wanted. "Here you go, Beryl." Cloud said handing the part to her. "Nic, I need to speak to you and our passenger, Ms. Uti, alone for a minute."
((ExtreamJedi12, do you have a problem with characters that have secrets? Is that why you feel you have to expose them? Did you get a PM from Starmark? If not, let me know and I'll forward it to you... we've been planning how Ryshana's identity is exposed... and your post is a bit off track...
Starmark: I suggest that, from now on, we use the Discussion Thread to talk about stuff like this too... I wonder if the PM really got to all of us :) ))
((ExtreamJedi12, do you have a problem with characters that have secrets? Is that why you feel you have to expose them? Did you get a PM from Starmark? If not, let me know and I'll forward it to you... we've been planning how Ryshana's identity is exposed... and your post is a bit off track...
Starmark: I suggest that, from now on, we use the Discussion Thread to talk about stuff like this too... I wonder if the PM really got to all of us :) ))
(OOC: 1. No, I don't. 2. I didn't get a PM from Starmark.)