Morion - Weight of the World (Tal, Charlie)

[Latus]

Morion.

The dark blue oblate spheroid hung in the nothing, spinning as though it had been hung there from great strings against the backdrop of the void. Its satellites spun their own paths around the gravitational well creating several zones of super-high and super-low tides out of the murky waters. Great storms could be seen from afar, tearing across some of the minor continents on the primarily water covered world as other zones sparkled, light from the primary star reflecting across the turbulent water like ridged glass. Starships traveled here and there, dropping in and out of hyperspace well within several light seconds from entry. Fewer still came out of hyperspace more than a light minute out because it took time to travel via subspace that kind of distance. Spacers avoided it if they could avoid it but within the glowing realm something was malfunctioning.

The curtain of space folded, rippled, until finally the small craft appeared, a very light trail of smoke roiling from its port engine. It had undershot the subspace destination by almost twenty light seconds. From the bridge and several of the portholes the lights dimmed and went out. Within, someone was shouting.

I didn't put you back together just to have you fall apart you frellin' piece of sh-

Clang. While it was doubtful that striking the hyperspace core housing would help the matter any, Axle could not see to do anything else. Gotta clear the debris to remove the warning, get the lights back on... that was his thoughts anyway. Drawing his massive torque wrench back again he swung again, the head impacting with another reverberating crash of metal on metal. This time something happened; the core shrieked and groaned, the whole ship shuddering momentarily as the lights flickered and came on. Sweat slowly wound its way down his neck as the young man smiled and stood up straight, wiping his brow. Taking a step back he looked down and sighed as another chunk of rusted, corroded metal fell from the housing and onto the gangway in the port engine technical access. Shaking his head he shouldered the wrench and quickly tromped up to the spec readout which sat beside the door, welded to the rail. Setting the wrench down he began to punch in commands, specifically, the one for coms. The boss would want to know if they were ready to move.

Tango. He paused, waiting for the assassin to respond in some way. Port core is shot. Subspace engines are still at full power and we have more than enough fuel to get planetside. He would wait for her reply before speaking again. I'm coming up. A ticket isn't nearly worth what it would cost to replace that housing so... don't try to activate the FTL drive. Waiting for her final reply before shutting down coms Axle sighed and leaned against the readout panel, hands on the edges propping him up.

This was definitely more of a handful than he had expected when he had signed up for this one way ticket. He'd worked nonstop since they had left Tattooine righting small technical wrongs and even rebuilding whole systems, in the case of the starboard ventilation pump. While happy for the work he wished it had been in better company. He saw that Tango was still struggling with her emotions and the RELIC chip in her skull certainly was not making that any easier. She was still detached, cold... very much like Whiskey. Shaking his head he picked up his things and left the engine room, shutting off the light and closing the door behind him; too much like Whiskey.

He wondered how long it was going to take her to get used to living in the real world.

It didn't take him long to move down the darkened corridors of the Vesper's cramped halls and ascend the squat staircase. The patrol craft had become like his home and he liked it, the distinct lived-in feel very similar to his previous ship. Finally he paused, pressed a button and stepped into the well lit bridge where two short seats embedded and surrounded by banks of computers and readouts waited for its pilots... pilot.

Tango. It was her ship after all.

Stepping lightly onto the bridge he nearly groaned at the circle off in the distance. The dark blue dot, filling only a fraction of the view port from where they floated, was Morion. Bright specs floated to and fro, here and there as he watched. Stretching he stepped over the bank and settled into the co-pilot's chair, punching up the characteristics of the planet.

We're lucky that core didn't give out days ago. The pile of corrosion in the engine room is proof of that. Sighing he looked across the panel at Tango. If you can bear my company a little longer I'd be willing to install the new cores before catching the next boat off that rock. Pulling up the planet characteristics he slowly scrolled through them, taking in weather, humidity, city size, and so on. As he continued to scroll down he froze, his finger stopping on the pad.

Me'n my big mouth. He muttered. His eyes froze on the gravity rating for the planet then wandered up to the small blue sphere that was growing larger all the time. Two times standard gravity. I love this place already he thought sarcastically.

((1 light minute is 17 987 547.5 kilometers
1 light second is 299 792.6 kilometers))

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

When they’d chosen Morion she’d known the transit was going to push the already outdated and over-damaged FTL drive, but she hadn’t been expecting having to drop out almost a half minute early. Nor had she expected the engines to overheat quite so badly…much less almost all power to go out. Axle had launched himself out of the cockpit several minutes earlier as she had calmly noted the first of the warning lights out loud, followed by an eerie flicker of the lights. It had been a tense few minutes, even for the former MoD, whose RELIC was having difficulty keeping the flood of adrenaline from getting the better of the woman at the helm.

It was only barely working.

Finally there was little choice but to pull the ship out of hyperspace. It was that, or risk much worse fates than extra travel time spent in normal space. Those risks were not ones she was willing to take, RELIC functioning or no. So, almost half a light-minute out from their target time Tango pulled them out of hyperspace, and not a moment too soon it seemed as not but ten seconds later the lights flickered dangerously once again…then went out. With a belabored sigh that was, actually, a bit more of a growl than she knew, the assassin dropped the power for the engines to minimal levels until she knew what the state of things were.

Rubbing one shoulder lightly to ease out a knot that had developed, she waited patiently…in the dark…for any word as to their mobility. Logical assumption: the hyperdrive is out of commission, with minimal to no damage sustained to sublights. No readings of abnormal power surges through the main engine lines, so hopefully…As she waited, lavender eyes swept over the scene set before her through the view port. It was something she’d seen before…a similar scene for other planets she could actually remember going to…but this seemed different to her. Honestly, the partially-stoic woman couldn’t put her finger on what was different, other than the obvious malfunction. Blasted ship. It has so much potential too. If we can just get it working properly…A head tilt later and she was back to attempting to puzzle out the mystery the view of Morion presented to her. Nope, still nothing. She sighed. I have no idea. It isn’t as if anything has really changed about this sort of view…it’s simply a different planet.

The lights flickered and came back on.

“Tango.”

”Yes?”

“Port core is shot.”

No news there.

“Subspace engines are still at full power and we have more than enough fuel to get planetside”

Just as I suspected. ”Good.” Without further ado she put full power back into the sublights again and readjusted their course.

“I’m coming up. A ticket isn’t nearly worth what it would cost to replace the whole housing so…don’t try to activate the FTL drive.”

She sighed audibly in exasperation over the com at his warning. She hadn’t intended to, but it had come out with the bite of annoyance that she could feel…but not quite put a name to. ”I wouldn’t have anyway,” she muttered, half to herself and half to Axle as she clicked off the intercom. She understood that he couldn’t know all of her training, but something about that warning had just…bothered her. The worst part was, she didn’t know why it bothered her! As Axle appeared again, the sound of his footsteps reaching her ears first, she dutifully attended the controls and readouts. Even as he spoke she simply nodded and allowed her eyes to flicker over to him for half a moment before going back to what she’d been doing previously.

”I understood that coming out this far would be pushing the core, but this was the best choice considering our needs and our current status in the galaxy. It was worth the risk.” Besides, there may be work to be had on the planet to help pay for the cores that might not be found on other planets, it was difficult to say. Still, it was plausible and also made the trip worth the risk…not to mention the fact that she’d looked at the core herself and done some swift research and calculations once they’d left Tatooine. If the risk had been too great she would have simply taken them to a different planet, no matter the previous plans or how good Axle said he was with repairs.

Still he continued on, offering his services for just a bit longer.

”That would be welcome assistance,” she admitted. ”But gathering the funds may take a bit of time still, depending on what work is to be had on Morion. From what I gather they are not overly welcoming of outsiders in some of their major cities.” A slight shrug was given then, as if she didn’t particularly think much of a road block like that. After all, if people needed dirty work done who better to do it than an outsider. She just….hoped she was still capable of those sorts of tasks considering the RELIC’s degradation and the effects it had on her at points.

The two fell silent for a few moments longer, Tango absorbed in getting them to their destination and Axle with his reading over the planet’s specs. That was, until he muttered to himself in annoyance. Lavender eyes flickered over to him, an eyebrow raised questioningly. When he didn’t seem to notice, or perhaps he just wasn’t going to say anything without prompting, she looked at him fully. ”What are you talking about Axle? Your mouth is of adequate size considering your facial structure, but more importantly…why would you comment on such a thing right now?”

[Charlie Sharper]

"This is proving to be a waste of time, Addlay." Johez said with a sigh to the person next to him in the cockpit. "No, she will mess up, Johez, she has to..." Addley had only been with Green Meadows for a year, and Johez believed he still had a lot to learn about the business that he was in..."Have you seen their training? She won't make any mistakes." Johez just frowned at his partner, -they never made mistakes, ever...- he thought to himself. As he opened his mouth to speak but instead the comm buzzed to life. "Transport Charlie, this is base, over. We have information on the target..." Johez picked up the comm mic, responding to the call from GM. "This is Transport Charlie, what have you found?" Johez asked in a professional tone. "She was on Mustafar." "Yes, along with the other two; but then they dropped off the map." "She picked up something though...A companion...Not from the Reservation...At least not our reservation..." This wasn't like them, they were cold, calculating, and deadly precise, they didn't pick up hitchers or hangers on, but the mention of another possible facility might have something to do with that.

"What do you mean 'Not from our Reservation'?" Johez didn't look at his partner, who was on a dangerous course he was treading. "That's need to know...And neither of you are need to know." Said the cold voice on the other side of the comm "Where are they?" "Our mutual friends have reason to believe they headed to Tattooine." "We'll be there in-" The com cut him off. "They already left. We did pick up a trace however...Morion. The ship has been picked up in it's orbit." "Copy. We'll set a course for Morion after we talk to--" Johez was again cut off, this time by their passenger when she leaned down between the two. "Set a course for Morion...Now" the cold, emotionless voice commanded. Johez nearly jumped out of his skin. She was always doing that, sneaking about the ship like some damn predator in the wild stalking it's pray. To say he was frightened by the assassin was an understatement, he was damn near petrified by her.

"Yes ma'am" He said finally responding to her command. He hated transport detail, if only because he had to be so close to the actual assassins, or maybe because he had to be close to their handy work....Which explained why he disliked transporting Charlie the most. She was one of the messiest killers of the Green Meadows assassins. She used axes for Force's sake, it was sickening to see her handy work. Though this wasn't a job you just up and quit, when you got in, you were in for the long haul...Or else... "One more thing, were sending additional information on the other Target. For her eyes only..." Finished the base as they started receiving an encrypted message. "Send it to my quarters." Charlie said flatly. Johez sent the message back to her bunk and before he looked back, she was already gone. Addlay punched in the coordinance into the nav computer as Johez activated the hyperdrive. This would be bloody, two trained assassins going head to head. Johez was extremely worried about what would happen. And he was hoping to keep his lunch, but that was a bit of a lofty goal.

[Latus]

”I understood that coming out this far would be pushing the core, but this was the best choice considering our needs and our current status in the galaxy. It was worth the risk.”

I certainly can't argue with that. The core lasted this long and that's good enough; long distance sublight travel did not appeal to my cabin fever.

While he did allow himself a small smile at that point it was more than that. He doubted that Tango had experienced months at sublight travel and with her RELIC acting like it was he didn't know if she would remain stable for that length especially if food ran out. Thankfully, that was no longer here nor there as they were sufficiently in-system with only a short distance to go before they reached their destination. When Axle did verbally moan his ire at the planet that they were bound for Tango's comment did draw a brief narrow of his eyes, for he didn't know if she was kidding, being intentionally ironic, or genuinely meant what she said how she said it.

”What are you talking about Axle? Your mouth is of adequate size considering your facial structure, but more importantly…why would you comment on such a thing right now?”

Its just a phrase, Tango. Pausing he punched up the statistics and swiveled the readout toward Tango, his concern highlighted in a bright blue selection bar. While I stand by what I say it might not be as easy as I thought to install the new hyperdrive. Those cores are not light, Tango, and with double standard “gee's” every system on this ship will have to work twice as hard to just break atmo. Who knows how much more of this ship will fall apart just getting on the ground. Turning the readout back to himself he reached into his vest pocket and pulled out his datapad. I'll run some tests on the current systems here in sublight, see what we get. I stand by my work... it wouldn't do to leave you stranded on a high grav world because of something I missed.

And that was that. He would give an affirmative or negative to her response but he had his work cut out for him. Rather than waiting for the intermittent time to pass doing nothing, he would run the simulations, testing the systems in backup mode to see if something critical would give out if they launched from planetside. If it did he would try to correct it in micrograv. While he had been many places in the galaxy it had always been to near-standard gravity planets coreside or rimside; Morion scared him.

Why?

A great man once said; “the high peak of knowledge is perfect self-knowledge.” Axle knew himself as well as anyone could, at his best and at his worst he knew his capabilities and, indeed he suspected they were high. However, this gravity was a varible that changed everything. His muscle memory would be different, his weapons of choice would react different whenever he swung them. Even his fists would control differently in double gee and he would not be able to maintain himself in combat as long. Worse than that, he didn't know how long he could fly if at all veritably stripping him of his most fundamental escape mechanism. Weight and lift was different on a planet like this and even if he could fly it would not be as sustainable.

Stifling a groan he tried to focus back on the simulations but as the numbers rolled across the display he could not keep his thoughts from them. The only consolation that he found as his eyes strayed to Tango was that everyone else was like him; limited by the physics of the planet that loomed in the distance much larger than Coruscant. He could not keep the chill from running down his spine. As the last series of numbers rolled past his eyes, all of them looking positive, he leaned back in his seat as a sharp staccato of static rolled across the coms.

“Vessel on heading niner-six-niner this is Morion planetary traffic control, identify and state destination and business.”

Glancing over at Tango he sighed and clicked on the coms.

Morion planetary control this is the Vesper on route to Camien. We are in system for ship repair and work.

The hair on the back of Axle's neck stood up for the tense moment that the traffic controller took to respond. His glance at Tango was certainly held a shade of worry in his eyes as he turned back to the coms.

“Vesper, you are clear to approach on bearing oh-five-two. Welcome to Morion.”

Sighing a moment of relief he turned his attention once again to his readouts. He had to be extra careful on entry here, any sign of malfunction re-entry could be fatal.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

“It’s just a phrase, Tango.”

It certainly was one she hadn’t become familiar with. Then again, such things always seemed irrelevant to her with the others…mainly because it was irrelevant. Of course, she’d had to learn a few of the more common ones so that she could hold a cover, but that was about it. As he highlighted the section of the demographics he was concerned about she lifted an eyebrow. Double the gravitational standards…uncomfortable, certainly, but not something that would create hazards they couldn’t handle. This thinking, of course, came from one who had trained to deal with all manner of uncomfortable planetary situations, including high gravity. The ship’s troubles would be the largest problem…and moving the heaviest parts…but even then things were workable.

”The ship will make it…and whatever trouble we encounter because of the high gravity will simply show us what else requires immediate attention. I would rather it be now than find out at a more…inopportune…moment,” she countered simply.

As he went about the scans, her own mind wandered slightly. Once the Vesper had more thorough maintenance completed, and the hyperdrive was suitably replaced, she pondered her next course of action. Jobs would come and go, but she had to find Victor. That was a priority. Victor first…then maybe we can look for Alpha. If anyone could help them all get organized enough to retaliate against Green Meadows it would be Alpha…and if anyone could help find Alpha it would be Victor. Besides, it isn’t right, going without my partner, she mused.

Sighing a bit, the woman tucked a wayward curl (if the kinky and messy lock of twisted hair could be called a ‘curl’) back behind her ear. Had it been shorter than it was her hair might have actually been closer to fully curled ringlets, but such was not the case…that was part of the point, too. Lavender eyes flicked back and forth along the viewport.

Axle was looking at her again.

She wondered why.

Narrowing her eyes just a bit, she would wait a moment and then glance over at him, quirking a brow before looking back through the viewport. Slightly her head shook as she wondered just what the man was anyway. Never had she even heard of a humanoid race with bird wings. If anyone should be studying anyone it should be her studying him. It was obvious that he was the more unusual of the two of them. Truth be told, he was so odd to her that she wanted to learn more.

Curiosity…not exactly a new concept. Even with the RELIC working the MoDs seemed to show some vague and base form of curiosity in their training. It was one thing that pushed them to learn, she supposed. That, or perhaps it was the punishments for not doing so…Really it was difficult to tell, but she did recognize her curiosity for what it was. At least that is a simple emotion…one I can tolerate.

As the static and ground-control voice crackled over their comm. system, she simply nodded to Axle’s glance and kept a steady course. Her face was passive as the controller checked their readouts and the ship’s landing verification as the request for it popped up in the comm. consol. Without hesitation Tango transferred the code, only momentarily catching the glance Axle gave her. Not a moment later they were given their new heading and welcomed, albeit a bit coolly, to the planet. Readjusting their trajectory, the assassin prepared the ship for entry….then double checked it as swiftly as possible before they hit the gravity well and then the upper atmosphere.

The entry itself was harsh.

Of course, reentry was always harsh, but it felt especially so in the older ship. The heat shields and inertial dampeners held well enough, but the Vesper protested the high gravity loudly. A muscle worked gently at the corner of the woman’s jaw as she constantly adjusted to keep the ship on course, her mind churning swiftly through the readout information it received from her eyes, and her ears whenever Axle stated them. It only took a few minutes, but when those minutes were over and she was able to level off further to bleed off the extra heat, she was all too happy for it.

”Contact the Camien air control and find us a landing pad please. We’re most likely to find what we require there.” Letting out a breath to release some of the built up tension in her muscles, she adjusted her course toward the large industrial city. Quite honestly she was ready to walk around a bit…and hopefully make some progress toward getting what they required.

[Charlie Sharper]

Johez sat in silence as the ship flew through hyperspace, Addlay was sleeping but Johez couldn't sleep, he wasn't sure what to expect once they reached Morion. It wasn't exactly a hub of activity or anything of that sort, they were probably in need of something and Morion was the only option. "But what?" He asked himself out loud. He sat up instantly when he heard her voice. "Increase the gravity in the hold to 2.1 standard G." He instantly pressed changed the gravity in the hold as requested. Looking back he answered, "Yes Ma'am." But she was gone. Heading toward the hold no doubt to prepare for the inevitible confrontation with one of her own, the fear no doubt lost on her. They always did that, prepare, it was a constant for the operatives, endless training. It's what made them so scary, the sheer determination they always had. Johez woke up Addlay. "Wake up and watch the ship, I'm going to make sure our guest doesn't need anything." Johez lied. He just wanted to see her train. To see if there was any hint of fear in her as she approached her possible equal.

He walked back to the hold in silence, trying not to make any noise. He arrived outside of it and activated the view screen outside of it. He could see her sitting in the center of the room, doing nothing, she was just sitting there. Then her eyes opened and she jumped up to her feet, pulling her axes out of her pack and she began what Johez could only assume was an training exercise. Inside she flipped in the two G environment as if she had always lived in it. Turning to her side she swung both axes in an outward pattern, then did a back flip, rotating in the air while swinging her axes down toward the ground. She landed and did an almost pirouette as she swung each axe out in a latitudinal slash. Then bringing each axe up above her had she brought them down and made a "U" in the air, bringing them back up and doing a final back flip, bringing both axes down as she landed, cleaving the imaginary opponent into three pieces. She then started over and continued this for almost an hour.

Her sweat rushed over her skin, dropping to the ground at twice the speed. She then began a different kata, then after another hour, another. This continued for some time, finally a knock came at the door to the converted hold. "Enter." she said in a cold voice. It was the pilot, Kel Johez. "We have arrived at Morion. We will be on the planet within the hour." "Good, I must prepare...Leave." She commanded as Johez left the hold, griping his heart as the gravity returned to normal. He wasn't sure this planet would be good for his heart, or this mission. He heard the door to the hold close and looked back at her as she walked to the refresher to tidy up. There was a reckoning coming and whether she realized it or not, it would be bloody...

[Latus]

”The ship will make it…and whatever trouble we encounter because of the high gravity will simply show us what else requires immediate attention. I would rather it be now than find out at a more…inopportune…moment.”

Huffing a low chuckle Axle shot Tango a look that showed he certainly didn't share her sentiments at all before the last sentence. The young man did want to know if anything was going to happen now rather than later but he did not want a critical system failure within reentry. That would most certainly ruin his day.

You've not seen the systems. Forgive me if I don't share your level of assurance. I've conducted the first real tune up this thing has had in a decade without proper parts so you'll have to pardon my concern.

Sighing Axle looked back at his readouts as the small patrol ship passed over the thresh of planetary space; nothing but green. Good... stay that way. He could see the numerical approach vector punched in, correct and on approach to the industrial city of Camien which showed up as a small dot on the Vesper's HUD at the far end of a small opaque line. That side of the planet was dark, the northern hemisphere's night cycle causing the massive city to gleam like a gem under a cloud of blue-gray pollution. His stomach fell just slightly as his mind wandered for a moment; won't be able to see the stars... easier to see on planet. Pollution ruins it. Pulling his mind back from his fantasies it alighted on something else.

Somewhere down there was his ride back to his life on the run; back to his life alone. A little work before maybe but... soon.

Steeling himself he placed his datapad beside his chair in a holder before giving his harness a preparatory snugging. Leaning back he tried to run positive thoughts through his mind as he waited for the expected turbulence. As the ship began to rock, the view screen filled with a brighter and brighter glow he gave a quick glance back to Tango before returning his eyes to the fore again. Mentally browbeating himself he chastised himself for being illogical. He didn't want to stick around Tango, he didn't want to have to worry about his safety with a new variable added to the mess, he just wanted to get back to it just being him.

It took a longer than average time for the shaking to end and it brought with it a massive weight on his mind and body. Groaning he looked down at his readouts, still all green; he'd never thought of the effect that the higher gravity would have on his heart or any of his other innards for that matter. Not staying longer than needed. The air seemed clear ahead through the view screen the starlit sky with barely a cloud floating lazily here and there making for fantastic flight. Sadly Axle couldn't enjoy it. Tango's voice floating over the roar of the Vesper's engines brought him around. Nodding he twisted the com signal around until it opened to the only civil access channel on the bandwidth.

Right. Speaking over it he couldn't help but notice how everything felt so much more sluggish, low pitched... heavy. Camien traffic control this is Independent ship Vesper looking for an open landing zone. Come back when ready, over.

The silence was just as tense as before even though everything still felt like it took that much more time.

“Vesper, landing fees have been charged to your account. You are cleared for docking at Jitko Towers, layer seven, platform two. Welcome to Camien.”

At least they have priorities straight... Copy.

Sitting stiffly up into his seat Axle snagged his datapad and pulled up the holonet. After a cursory scan for bounties that included him or Tango, both of which came up negative, he ran a proxy before scanning into parts dealers and wholesalers around Camien. As the small ship touched gently onto the landing pad he had moved onto the second page of possibilities, preferring cash only places or those that did not require background checks to the others.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

The weight of the planet settled not merely over the ship but its occupants as well. While Axle may not have been used to it, the woman with him hardly seemed phased by the change. Uncomfortable as it was, Tango adapted extremely swiftly to the new conditions, that Green Meadows training paying off once again. Still, she had never liked the weighted and mildly sluggish feel of movement in high-grav even though she knew she was quite capable of “performing optimally”…it simply took more energy. She didn’t enjoy that knowledge either.

Sighing, she waited with open ears for directions on where they were going to be sent for landing. As soon as the instructions came across her mind was committing the position to memory, one hand reaching across the consol to input the information. The glittering lights of the city they were approaching swiftly, twinkling through the atmosphere in many colors…it was something she’d seen hundreds of times, no doubt, but this just seemed…different. After a long moment of attempting to figure out why this seemed different she tilted her head just slightly to the side, then glanced over at Axle.

”Do you notice anything different about this view over others similar to it? I’ve ruled out the cause being the heavier gravity, and I remember seeing cities at night like this before so it isn’t because I cannot remember what one looks like…but this just seems…different somehow.”

Shaking her head a bit, the woman twisted the controls slightly to bring them around toward the correct line of flight, the Jitko Towers there before them, rising up like sentinels through the surrounding city. Around it dozens of ships hovered and circled like insects attracted to the light; she hardly paid them any attention as she maneuvered into position and slid the Vesper into the landing area, settling it down with a slight protest from the landing struts. Unclipping her harness, Tango stood and stretched, releasing the tension in her muscles after a long and trying flight. With a deep breath she sighed out the rest of the tension and stepped around the pilot’s seat.

”Let me know when you’ve found a likely place for the parts the ship needs. I have a few preparations to make of my own.” Including a job to hunt for to pay for it all, she mused silently. ”I’ll be in my room when you’re ready.” With that she was gone, down the hall with the silence of a ninja.

Slipping into her room, she wasted no time in reaching for her bag, pulling out several straps the black bands were pulled on and strapped down securely to her forearms. The sturdy black metal clips there didn’t seem to bother her as she pulled a medium length, ‘thin’, case from her pack as well and set it on the floor beside her as she sat on the bed and pulled out her datapad, beginning the search for a job suited to he…area of expertise.

[Charlie Sharper]

Toul-shan sat in his chair drawling, which he spent most of his time doing at this hour. It was late and the shift was about to change, a change that Toul-shan looked forward to every night, a chance to see his two lovely daughters before the headed off to school and his Wife headed to work. The Fairmont Docks saw little activity this late at night. They were originally built to house Military in case of an emergency, but most of the time they were just used as a industrial port for when the nearby Jitko Towers or Randa Landings were having repairs or anything of the like that would require them to divert traffic to the small docking port. He was just finishing his latest drawling of two Jedi fighting when a comm beeped to life. This is Morion Traffic Control to Fairmont Docks. Toul-Shan nearly jumped out of his skin before hearing the traffic controller speak. "Uhhh, this is Fairmont Docks, what do you need. "We are getting backed up and need to divert some traffic your way. -Great, now I'll be here another hour- Thought Toul-shan. Alright, send over your docking info and the transmission codes and we'll get things settled. Toul-shan looked at his screen and the numbers began downloading onto his datapad, he looked over the two ships that were going to land at Fairmont, the first was a cargo hauler that was carrying guns for the military but the military docks were undergoing repairs and the vessel would have to stay here for the night. The other was a converted cargo hauler that had a skeleton crew and a passenger...One passenger? They must be loaded then because that model wasn't exactly cheap to maintain.

Toul-shan gave the first ship it's clearance to land along and alerted the on site guards to head out to the docking bay, it was just a precaution but it might be necessary to make sure no weapons "fell of the back" as it was referred to....at least on the holodramas that his daughters watched. He smirked at the thought of Rissan, his youngest joining the police, but that's what she said she wanted to do when she grew up, who was he to say different.

It was quiet on the ship as it reached the atmosphere, the only occupant on the bridge was Johez, sitting and typing into the datapad the log for the ship. He wondered where Addlay was, but didn't pay it much thought as they landed. The intensity of the gravity could not be overstated as Johez felt his muscles and organs slow as they touched down. The comm beeped to life Welcome to Fairmont docks. Said a man's voice. I see that your docking fee has already been paid, welcome to Morion. If the gravity doesn't bring you down, the women will. The man laughed over the comm but Johez stayed silent. Well, hope you have a eventful stay. "I'm sure it will be quiet eventful." Johez said to himself.

Johez walked down the ramp as it lowered to the ground. He looked around and saw no one in sight. "Good." He said quietly, "She can come down" He said as he walked off the platform and looked back. Addlay accompanied by a figure in what looked like an Ubanese bounty hunter stepped off the ship and looked around. "Stay on the ship, I will return once I am done, stay on your guard, understood?" said the metallic voice. "Yes ma'am" Johez wanted this job to be over as soon as possible, which would not be soon he feared.

[Latus]

As his fingers flew over the datapad arranging outsider-friendly parts merchants Axle fought to keep his mind off of the massive disadvantage that had him ill at ease. While bordering on obsessive as to how hindered he was the young man still felt that he would have to stretch his wings once they landed, preferably in a private setting. Another concern was if his feathers were actually ready for flight and, as if on cue, he reaching back to scratch a small itch at the base of his barbs. It had been a while and though most of the feathers had grown to an acceptable length for flight, at least he thought so, everything changed on Morion. Tango's voice brought him around... daydreaming too much. A quick glance and he listened.

”Do you notice anything different about this view over others similar to it? I’ve ruled out the cause being the heavier gravity, and I remember seeing cities at night like this before so it isn’t because I cannot remember what one looks like…but this just seems…different somehow.” 

Wondering what she meant for a moment Axle went back to punching numbers before stopping, looking up and out of the foreword viewscreen at the spectacle of the lights of the city glinting against the muddied sky behind it; pollution... He had to think about his response for a moment as the city grew larger as the familiar feeling of wonder at the capabilities of sentient beings within the galaxy filled him up. Twice he began to talk without anything particularly intelligent in mind before he stopped himself and looked back to Tango. As she glanced out of the window he saw that same type of wonder that he had experienced but to a level as though it was her... first time. That IS it.

That is called awe... at least I think that's what you are feeling. He smiled, looking back to his datapad as he finally completed his compiling of the merchants; peeling away a layer of coding he began to pour into comparisons of prices and stipulations they may have for sellers. Its less of an overt feeling like happiness or anger but it has no less of an effect on how you view things like the city out there. If I understand anything more about you and your situation these things are still new to you and even the simplest of concepts or images may elicit different reactions than they may have before.

Chuckling he went back to his computations as the Vesper drew ever closer to their destination but try as he might he was unable to tear his view from the rapidly growing city. While he had seen cities of greater sprawl and grandeur than Camien the architecture was something that he had not expected. The spires were sharp and angular, corners stretched and apparent, much different from the smooth buildings of Coruscant, and even as his eyes lit upon some of the ships settling in on the docks he saw that this place was a jewel of a find for him. Why? Well, if he could fly he knew that each and every spire, each buttress, each corner was a hiding place for him. The larger buildings were together, as well, and his affinity for modern exploration, parkour, suddenly flooded his desires for their stay. After she sleeps... give it a look. As they passed the Jitko Towers on their approach Axle actually had a small but genuine smile on his face that had overcome his fears of the negative aspects of the planet. Maybe something to positive thought... He was so engrossed with the architecture that he was only brought away from it when the Vesper touched down, the struts shrieking and creaking from the added weight. Tango's voice followed it with her regular measure of silence and tempered emotion.

”Let me know when you’ve found a likely place for the parts the ship needs. I have a few preparations to make of my own. I’ll be in my room when you’re ready.”

With a glance to her he looked back down at his datapad, the algorithm just finishing the cross check process. I will; in fact I already have a... Glancing back up he realized that she was gone, Axle cringed; that level of stealth showed talent even if it was not explicit. Sighing he shook his head and stood, immediately stabilizing himself on the copilot's chair from the sickening feeling of being lightheaded which threatened to throw him off balance. It took several seconds to catch his breath and adjust to the feeling of extra stress on his slight frame before stepping into the gangway back toward the engines, his chosen bunk.

Even as Axle walked, tromping down the stairs with a much greater noise he realized how much more difficult it must have been for Tango to stay quiet in this situation. Shaking his head he pulled up his datapad again and switched to a different page for odd job requests. When he could, and when it was convenient he always tried to find anonymous work where he could. Usually it was in the fixing of small appliances, engines, and emergency no-questions-asked starship repairs that kept him afloat and, if his original assessment of Morion was correct, there would be plenty of that to keep him busy. Reaching his room he quickly slipped on a more appropriate coat for the current planet side weather, cold-ish, and strapped on what tools he had, can't take a job not looking the part. With his wrench in one hand and datapad in the other he stepped out again. He had gotten his share of odd looks for someone his age working with and knowing so much about ships but money was money and it took no time at all to find some modestly paying jobs that looked to be right up his alley... he just hoped that he would have time chance to take them.

Turning toward the egress ramp he paused at the airlock and pressed the comlink to Tango's room.

I have a half dozen different places that not only have the part we need but take cashy-money and ask no questions; only two deliver to the spaceport, though. That may make or break the deal, here, but those are our options. I'll be on the landing pad.

With a whoosh and a clank the airlock slid open blasting Axle with a burst of cold air as the pressure normalized. Clanking down the ramp he stepped confidently onto the landing pad, his thick boots creaking in rebellion on the dense duracrete platform. Sighing once more he shifted his wings within the thick fabric of his jacket as he looked at the sky, ships coming and going at regular intervals. It would have to be darker or in the more shadowed sectors before he dared open them in such an unshielded place. He couldn't help the desire to do so, however; he itched. After a moment he let his massive wrench fall, turning it vertical and propped his weight against it.

Yeah. This is gonna be a fun stop, he thought sarcastically.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

She had heard his reply, certainly, but the common reaction of verbally acknowledging it just wasn’t there. Not a single sound was made in return even though she weighed his words against her textbook knowledge of the emotion. Certainly Victor had told her to expect emotion, but expecting it and actually having them were two different things…especially with the less overt ones. By the time she’d reached her cabin and had started preparing to leave she had come to the realization (for the umpteenth time) that these emotions were going to make everything so much more difficult when it came to doing work…actual work.

Slipping out of her normal clothing, the woman would fit herself into the black and lavender body suit that she was so used to. It was a good, sturdy, weave that helped provide minor protection from blaster damage and had been coated with a liquid polymer that helped provide some protection from piercing. Here and there (and only in the most vital places along the torso) there were thick, flexible, pads of an almost rubber-like material that had been embedded in the suit to provide just a bit more security. After all, Green Meadows hadn’t wanted her to become too damaged.

Pulling a shirt over it, she’d pull on her leather jacket and her boots. It was lucky that the bottom of the suit would simply look like some protective, if close fitting, grey and black pants…especially once she put on the belt and the pistol holster with Victor’s MAP, as well as a secondary one that rested at an angle across her left hip that held several throwing knifes and zipped up the bottom portion of the jacket. If anything she looked like a mercenary that was serious about her business. Hell, she may as well have been considering her situation. Considering that a moment she decided that it was likely a better way to portray herself, rather than an assassin. It would certainly open more opportunities up for jobs, and not all of them would have to be dealing in death. Now that was an idea that she liked.

Taking a moment to pull back (and tame) her hair, Tango listened to Axle’s voice cut across the comm. Pulling on her gloves she thought over the options before turning back to her datapad and looking over the list of possible jobs that had come up. Gabbing the datapad, and her case, she headed down the corridor toward the hatch. Her boots made the lightest of sounds on the ramp as she descended it, seeing him leaning there on his wrench. With as many layers as she had on the woman was fairly warm, even given the cold temperature, but her legs could feel the edges of that wintery weather as she paused beside her…companion.

”We should attempt to avoid the places that will deliver the part as it would only leave a trail back to our ship. If possible we should attempt to find the closest place to the space port and find an alternate means of transport for the part. Depending upon how large it turns out being it may prove useful to…borrow…a vehicle of some sort for a while if we cannot outright rent one.” She would pause and give him a sidelong look, sizing him (and his reaction) up. ”There are a few jobs that I may be suitable for that will give us the money we need for both the part, a rented vehicle and some extra.”

With that said she started walking, only pausing to wait for the lift down to the main thoroughfare from the starport and into the city. As they stepped out of the lift and into the crowd she kept her eyes on the move and her voice only loud enough to where Axle would be able to hear her. ”I intend to see to some of these possible jobs when we’re done looking for the part we need, so if you would like to return to the ship at that point, or do…whatever you intend to do…that may be a good time.”