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Meira
She don't mess around
2,830 posts
583 likes
Half awake in our fake empire
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last online May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
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Jan 13, 2009 15:23:45 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Jan 13, 2009 15:23:45 GMT -5
It was a fairly long ride, even at hyper speed. But there was plenty to do rather than simply sit around and wait. So Palas occupied herself by taking down a list of all the things that would need to get done when they got back to the compound. There were some major repairs in order, that much was certain. But as a whole, the Jewel simply looked a lot worse than she really was. It was nothing a little cleaning up couldn't fix.
Before she knew it, they had reached Kuras IV. Palas made her way back to the cockpit, but Lash wasn't there. Hoping he wasn't off poking his nose somewhere it didn't belong, Palas put the ship into the landing sequence. Within a few minutes, they were in the atmosphere and making their approach.
There was a storm passing by the compound, making their descent a little bumpy, but they were soon in the hangar, its doors closing against the frigid air outside. Palas quickly shut down the ship's systems and sat back in the seat with a sigh. Home, sweet home. She said to herself before standing up. Pushing the PA button, she leaned into the mic and spoke.
Lash, get to the cargo hold and lower the ramp. You're going to help be unload. It wasn't a request, it was an order. And Lash didn't really have many options, so refusal would be... well... stupid.
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Jenno
Still glorious, but no longer your leader.
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last online Nov 5, 2019 10:09:22 GMT -5
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Jan 17, 2009 13:29:23 GMT -5
Post by Jenno on Jan 17, 2009 13:29:23 GMT -5
With the captain’s exit, the cockpit had become eerily silent, Lash was left alone to gaze into hyperspace and think about everything that had led him up to where he was right now. It was amazing he’d gotten here in the first place, managed to survive as long as he had. He had been leading a very dangerous and harmful life for the past two years, alcohol, gambling and sleepless nights never amounted to anything good, it had almost led him to a meagre and unfulfilling death. Lash shivered at the thought when he realised he had almost been tossed aside like an unwanted pup, to rot in some unknown back alley whilst chocking on his own blood. After all he’d done, all he’d been through, did he really deserve a death like that? No.
Now here he was, sitting in the cockpit of a ship, deep in space and he hadn’t had a drop to drink since the bar on Nar Shaddaa. Perhaps this was a chance for him, an opportunity to turn his life around, find a ship, find a crew, make a living, travel through all of known space, no one controlling his life.
However, right now it seemed like he owed this ship and its captain his life. She hadn’t been wrong, just being on that ship meant Greegar would be after their necks as well. So in his brief time upon this ship not only had he saved their lives he’d also brought a world full of trouble down upon them. No doubt he’d have to work a number of jobs for them until he’d made up for the amount they would have made off of Greegar, and probably a bit more. But even then this would give the opportunity to make some contacts, look for any who might be interested in hiring a pilot. Who knew, perhaps after he’d worked off what he owed Palas would offer him the job here. Hah, he doubted it, through all of the demeaning looks and death threats Lash was begin to get the distinct feeling she wasn’t warming to him very much. Had they even had a conversation yet in which she hadn’t degraded him in one way or another? Then again, when a drunk stumbles onto your ship I suppose your first course of action would not to be to talk to them as if they were an equal.
Casting his gaze over all that lay before him Lash could see that everything was running smoothly. Taking this opportunity he thought he’d look around the ship a little bit. All too quickly he found himself in the vicinity of the crew’s quarters; he could see that practically all of them were vacant. Talk about skeleton crew” he thought to himself, although he was surprised that a ship like this had survived so far with such a small crew.
Finding himself a bed, Lash thought that a little lie down couldn’t hurt. As he lay there he discovered the only sound he could hear was the faint hum of the engine, it was soft, not hard enough to keep anyone awake instead it was more like a lullaby, trying to help him drift into a gentle and relaxing sleep. However, Lash was wide awake, he found himself unable to sleep, once again. He spent the entire journey lying there alone with his thoughts.
Then her voice echoed through the ship loud and clear. He’d lost all sense of time lying on that bed but it seemed as though they had landed on… where ever those co-ordinates had led them to. Checking his blaster, his only trusted comrade, was in its holster, he headed towards the cargo bay. As the sense of movement had stopped, he moved over to a small console which sat in the edge of the cargo bay. Selecting a few options he finally pressed the largest button on the console and with a gaseous hiss the ramp began to lower. He couldn’t recognise the surroundings which wasn’t really a shock given the size of the galaxy and even known space. With a puzzled regard he muttered the question “hmm, where is this place?”.
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Meira
She don't mess around
2,830 posts
583 likes
Half awake in our fake empire
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last online May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
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Jan 24, 2009 21:29:52 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Jan 24, 2009 21:29:52 GMT -5
Palas had entered the cargo hold only a few moments after Lash, but he was busy trying to figure out how to lower the ramp. She debated if she should help him, but it only lasted a moment. Let him figure it out. Instead, she set about organizing some of the smaller crates, stacking the ones she could lift. When he got the ramp down, Palas moved toward it, and just barely caught Lash's mumbled question. She knew he hadn't intended for someone to hear so as to answer, but she had come up behind him... maybe she could give him a scare.
You'll find out when, and IF I decide to tell you. She said, striding past him.
The docking bay wasn't much to look at. In fact, the whole base was little more than a few rooms dug into the ground. But, like the Jewel, there was more to it than most would think. First of all, being on Kuros IV, it was well hidden and in prime position for smuggling water to Tatooine, her main cash job. Apart from the real estate side, Palas had turned the place into a relative fortress. With a number of sensors on a wide perimeter, there wasn't a living thing that could get close without Palas knowing about it. Maybe some would call it paranoid, but Palas often worked alone. She needed the extra security, should she be found by a rival crew. And the facility wasn't lacking in comforts. There was plenty of room for a full crew... if she could ever keep one, and as long as people weren't put off by lack of windows, it was spacious and accommodating. Over the years, Palas had made sure her home was just that... a home.
Turning around, she pointed to a small machine. Can you work that? She asked. It was a simple little cargo loader... or in this case, un-loader. Surely someone with the skills to get them out of that sticky situation with the other ship over Nar Shaddaa could handle it. She didn't say anything else. If he could work it, then he knew what he needed to do. Palas had decided during the trip not to be so hard on the guy... he HAD saved them after all. But he had also endangered them... so she wasn't going to go soft either. So she settled for indifferent. Turning to a work bench, Palas gathered some tools and started to inspect the outer hull of the ship for damages. She kept an eye on Lash to make sure he didn't blow anything up. And when he was done, she'd enlist his help with repairs... if he could be helpful that is.
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Jenno
Still glorious, but no longer your leader.
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last online Nov 5, 2019 10:09:22 GMT -5
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Mar 7, 2009 12:08:26 GMT -5
Post by Jenno on Mar 7, 2009 12:08:26 GMT -5
(OOC: Here's the post I promised)
With Palas’ surprise return to his own absent minded question Lash started uncontrollably, almost looking as if he was about to flee. Once again it was easy to notice how he’d slipped from the ranks of a well endowed soldier; his hands withdrew even further from the fire arm strapped to his hip. She certainly was stubborn, that much was clear to the shaky pilot, always maintaining that unwelcome sense of hostility that kept him at bay and forever on edge.
Watching as she strode past calmly, Lash leered at her no doubt planned stealthy and intently frightening appearance. His glare came keen and apparently she was able to sense it since she turned around suddenly. He straightened himself almost like a small child who had been misbehaving behind the back of a teacher, a teacher who now may have just witnessed the boy’s immature and pathetic retort. Instead he attempted to make the captain think that he was listening intently, clinging to her every word as if they were worth a thousand times more than what was held in their hold.
In all honesty there was not really the option to turn down her request, or to tell her that he had not operated any such vehicle before, because she had already sped off to work on something probably important. Begrudgingly, he slouched off towards the cargo loader and hefted himself into the driver’s seat. He gazed at the console before him, the buttons and even a few levers. There was a hard lump which pressed down his neck as he wondered what exactly all these controls did, he felt like he was in the flight simulator at the academy again. Except this time it wasn’t a virtual reality. Powering up the vehicle after a number of random attempts Lash first of all tried to figure out exactly which button did what and how the controls worked. It was a slow few minutes, uncomfortable to for any onlooker; the uncertain and cumbersome movements were like that of a baby who was just learning how to walk. “This is why I fly spaceships” he grumbled cynically.
But after a little time had passed the pilot was getting used to the controls, and offloading the cargo was progressing, albeit slowly. It did take a while longer than it probably should have done. Lash was concerned for the safety of the cargo since he couldn’t help but shake off the feeling that if he managed to somehow damage the goods in anyway the twi’lek might be inclined to damage his face somewhat.
Finally he was done and his sigh of relief soon turned to dismay as he was beckoned over to help look over the ship and any necessary exterior repairs. It had been a long time since he’d done this much work, even on his jobs he never focused this much, it was an odd feeling, even more so now that the Corellian ale was out of his system. It was a weird sensation, his eyesight seemed sharper, his breath seemed clearer and whenever he touched the controls of the cargo loader or the rough hull of the ship things felt more crisp, more real.
Gazing at the spectacle which was the shredded hull, Lash couldn’t help but wonder how they had in fact made it out of that confrontation alive. Even now it seemed more like a blur of lights than a near-death experience, but perhaps that was just due to the alcohol. “So,” he began to Palas as he ran his fingers over one of the scorch marks, “I take it you run into trouble frequently?” He had spied a number of injuries upon the ship which were worn and old, most likely not vital enough to be repaired. After all, credits were hard to come by for those who lived a smuggler’s life. “I hope you’ve got enough spare covering, it looks like this girl could use a lot of patching up.” He knelt down and picked up one of the tools before using it scrape away some of the gathered metal which was now deformed beyond repair. His work was slow at first before he began to pick up the pace, his concentration regarding the maintenance of the ship was obvious, the way he frowned in thought as he worked to smooth out and cover up all the bumps and unnatural curvatures of the ship’s hull.
Some more time had passed since he had started working and Lash found his gaze catching on Palas occasionally, they weren’t really talking nor had they in any way which hadn’t involved any form of conflict. Taking the initiative to try and spark up a conversation which might not end up with him seemingly entirely incompetent, Lash cleared his throat. “This boat of yours got a name?” He asked with a slight smile, his eyes clear, no longer fogged with a drunken glaze, this was Lash Venedray talking, not the ale.
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Meira
She don't mess around
2,830 posts
583 likes
Half awake in our fake empire
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last online May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
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Mar 11, 2009 9:24:27 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Mar 11, 2009 9:24:27 GMT -5
Palas was trying to put a lot of concentration into her work, instead of yelling at Lash. He obviously didn't know how to work a loader. So why not just say so? Why risk doing more damage than he had already done? Her purple skin was flushing with her held back frustration, giving her cheeks a more plum coloring. But he seemed to be getting the hang of it, and soon enough, he had the cargo unloaded. A for effort. She thought to herself before calling him over to help with repairs.
She worked alone far too much. Doc had told her that on countless occasions, and the Jewel suffered for it. It's not like she had meant to work alone, it wasn't what she wanted. But too many fringers enjoyed the dancing twi'leks at the cantina too much to take her seriously as a captain. They might sign on for a run or two for the novelty of it, or worse, because they thought they had a chance with her. But they were quick to leave when they found out she was a serious captain with a short temper. Pile the work load of a whole crew on one person, and then add the stress of smuggling to make ends meat, and you get Palas. Overworked, underpaid, but too damn proud to show it.
But the Jewel couldn't lie. She was a testimony to deficiency of time on Palas' hands. Her battered state showed just how much Palas had to give up to keep from going under. But again, Palas' pride got in the way. It blinded her to the fact that she was floundering, just barely keeping her head above the water. She had become an expert in denial. But Lash had fresh eyes. And his words somehow made their way deep into her mind, refusing to be dismissed.
Palas stopped what she was doing, her arms falling limply to her sides. Yes, she had seen a lot of trouble in her days. More than she cared to admit. She stared at the battered hull, as if for the first time. She nodded to Lash's second question, indicating to a large door that led to an adjacent room full of scrap. But she didn't speak. Her ego had lost its hold on her thoughts, but not on her tongue. She went back to work, her jaw set and her brows pressed together.
After a while, Lash spoke again, but Palas kept on working. After a few moments, she stopped, wiping sweat from her forehead with a rag. She had soot and grease smeared over her hands and arms, some had even found its way onto her cheek. But she had finished patching up one of the larger sections of the hull. Stepping back, she looked over the whole ship. Banged up and beaten as she was, the name was still somehow perfect.
Nui's Jewel. She said, a small smile on her face and a distant look in her eyes. After a few moments, she looked away from the ship and to Lash. C'mon. She said, turning and waving her arm towards a door that led away from the hangar. You hungry?
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Jenno
Still glorious, but no longer your leader.
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last online Nov 5, 2019 10:09:22 GMT -5
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Mar 12, 2009 20:45:35 GMT -5
Post by Jenno on Mar 12, 2009 20:45:35 GMT -5
As Lash attended to the ship’s hull he noticed how all of the dirt and grime which had accumulated in the cracks and crevices of its, probably, once smooth and shiny surface seemed to have sprung from their unsanitary resting place to cover his hands, arms and face. The contours of his features wept with exhaustion. And on his clothes these two essences had joined forces to form a most lethal substance, one which his once white shirt would most likely never recover from. After they were done he’d most definitely need a new wardrobe. However, that provided quite a problem for the homeless pilot, who no longer had access to a wardrobe with which to store any new items of clothing, or to pull anything from.
Watching as the cold looking doctor sauntered off to somewhere else Lash was struck with a plan which would involve him ‘borrowing’ some items of clothing until they stopped somewhere which would provide him with some cheap shopping opportunities. It seemed like his greed had saved him from any future embarrassment, grabbing what he could off that table before making a break for it meant that now he actually had the credits with which to purchase new clothing.
Lash could feel the burn in his arms, primarily, although it extended as mere embers to other parts of his body. It had been a while since he’d felt the sensation and it was a healthy feeling, despite the pain he received when he tried to move. Being the observant sort that he is, Lash was able to take note at the fact Palas wasn’t coming across as the talkative type, certainly not whilst working. Although, given the fact that all the words out of her mouth this far had been degrading in some form or another Lash came to the swift conclusion that this might be for the best. In fact, as his mind wandered, he came to consider if the captain was actual able to talk on equal measures, even, if he might dare to think such a thing, dispense the occasional compliment.
It didn’t really bother him the level of hostility between them, he’d been in plenty of relationships where there was a great level of tension and verbal exchanges which were dirtier that a Hutt’s backside. Even then the level of hostility he was used to came in the form of savage thugs holding him at the tip of a blaster point, so this little banter wasn’t so tough on him, he could stand it. Plus, it was still early days in their captain-pilot relationship, who knew where things might take them; they might end up as the best of friends…
When Palas stopped working Lash was only a second away from finishing himself. He did so just in time to catch the few words she did utter. At the ship’s name he did, of course, raise an eyebrow. But that would come up again in a few moments. There were more important matters to attend to, and those matters involved Lash getting fed. “Hell yes,” he responded enthusiastically to her question. He got up and followed, almost like an obedient dog. Food was quite a prominent weakness, simply for the fact he hadn’t had any in a while. Whilst they were walking Lash’s stronger desire to talk amongst the silence arose once again.
“So Nui’s Jewel huh? You choose the name yourself or was it from the previous owner? And more importantly,” he continued inquisitively, “was he blind? Because, that ship ain’t nothing remotely similar to a jewel. Unless of course he was being ironical, in which case the guy was a genius. I’ve seen a lot of ships, big and small, and that one certainly ain’t gonna be winning any beauty contests any time soon. Fly’s unexpectedly well though, I’ll give it that much.” He seemed to be drifting off as he spoke, almost as if following his own wild and unkempt train of thought. “Hey,” he said snapping his attention back to Palas, “you fix that boat up proper and it’ll do you much better than it currently is. Course, you’ll need a fair sum of credits for such a project.” Lash carried on walking, almost completely absent minded, as if his focus and knowledge on the previous matter had been contained in a small wisp of air which had promptly escaped the predominantly vacant head of his. “So what’s to eat?” He finished cheerfully.
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Meira
She don't mess around
2,830 posts
583 likes
Half awake in our fake empire
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last online May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
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Mar 24, 2009 10:26:10 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Mar 24, 2009 10:26:10 GMT -5
Palas led Lash down the short corridor between the hangar and the living areas. It wasn't much to look at, no windows, low ceilings, and nothing in the way of decoration, but Palas called the place home. If there was one place she could relax and not have to act so tough, this was it. The main living area was the largest room in the compound and included the kitchen and eating area, much like on her ship, the room served multiple purposes.
While Lash rattled away, Palas was looking through the cabinets. She might have lashed out in anger at his comments on the ship, but just the sound of another voice was having an effect on her. It calmed nerves that had been high strung for so long, she hadn't even noticed any more. Not until now. And new and untrustworthy as she believed Lash to be, his and Doc's presence was soothing... though she'd never admit it. Finally finding some packages of dehydrated food, Palas set about preparing it. She had fallen into a spartan lifestyle, learning to get by on just the basics. The meal was nothing fancy, nor would it taste like much more than tree bark, but it was nutritionally filling. She presented Lash with a plate in answer to his last question, and then sat down at the table.
At first, she only looked at her plate, chewing slowly as Lash's words refused to leave her alone. Finally, with a sigh, she spoke. My father bought the ship for me. She said, still not looking up from her plate. I was going to call it the Shadowlander but... She trailed off. She didn't know if it was because she didn't know Lash well enough, or because the memory was still just too painful, but she couldn't say the next part. She cleared her throat, set her jaw, and looked up at Lash. Her purple eyes, which had been full of emotion only moments ago, were now flat. I liked Nui's Jewel better. She finished, almost daring him to call her on the lie.
Her eyes fell back down to her plate where she finished her meal in silence. She stood and cleared her plate away, cleaned it and moved to leave the room. She paused in the doorway and turned around. This hall goes to the quarters, there's a refresher unit at the end of the hall. I'm one floor up. Use the comm if you need anything. She turned to leave, then stepped back into the room. I'm sure Doc has some spare clothes you can borrow. Then she turned and left.
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Jenno
Still glorious, but no longer your leader.
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last online Nov 5, 2019 10:09:22 GMT -5
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Apr 9, 2009 14:08:39 GMT -5
Post by Jenno on Apr 9, 2009 14:08:39 GMT -5
Sitting at the table, enjoying what food he had, Lash was glad to see her responding to all his chatter. He watched as she spoke, chewing soft and slowly, brow furrowing as she seemed to struggle with his answer. It wasn’t because she forgot; he could tell that by the brief look on her face which had scarred his mind. He recognised the pained expression, red raw emotion traversing from her heart to her face, he knew because of the times he’d spent facing a mirror. Of course, a strong-willed woman like this, there was always some painful past, shaping them into who they were. He was no psychologist nor a master of interpreting sentient behaviour, but he could recognise the similarities. She was certainly a closed person, setting her jaw, putting on that front, it interested the sober pilot. Perhaps they had more in common than they thought.
The wall was up now, her girth and determination mixed in the cement which set bricks together, making it impossible to pass. He avoided her eyes when she looked back to him, turning his attention to the meal instead. He was lost in thought; it was mainly the oddity of this fact which caused him to act in such a frantic state. Perhaps he’d enjoy his time here, who knows, he and Palas might even come to trust one another at some time, instead of thinking the other is going to shoot them in the back. Or in Lash’s case, throw him out of an airlock.
Silence sat comfortably over them whilst they finished their meals, after all there was still a lot to take in and it would take a while for Lash. He’d been in a drunken stupor for two years and the quick and sudden change of scenery, not to mention the number of times his life had come under threat, left him with a lot to sort through mentally. As his, he now supposed, captain went to leave she graciously pointed out a few things for him in the compound so that he would find himself walking around aimlessly. He finished after she had left then grabbed his things and cleared them up before trying to locate the doctor.
He left the doc’s quarters a little disgruntled, the satirical comments from an old guy certainly helped the tension ease back into his life. Still, the old man had been kind enough to lend him some clothes for a little while, but he couldn’t really see them becoming best of friends any time soon.
Most of the quarters were free; Lash only needed one to dump his things before heading towards the refresher. He was quite pleased to see that they had a water-based shower here. Hot water was so much nicer than the sonic showers most places provided. He bounded into the shower, maddened with glee. Of course, when the first cold blast covered him he shrieked and ran out almost as fast. He forgot how most needed to warm up a little bit first. After a few cautious moments of testing the water, he finally clambered beneath the streaming water.
As the steaming pitter-patter of water landed on his back and neck, Lash could feel the tension evaporate with every drop. It was almost as if the water landed upon his naked flesh, sucked out the anxiety from his muscles until they were full and rolled down his body before dripping to the ground. Raising his head he let the spray cover his face, he felt like a spice addict getting his fix, the ecstasy from the soothing water was greater than he could have remembered. It didn’t bother him that the water was scorching, almost enough to scold his skin, after a little while he seemed to adapt to the temperature, and the slight painful sizzle which had once been there seemed to have dissipated.
All in all, he would call that a great way to relieve any pent up pressure. It had been a little while since he’d gathered the strength to leave the shower and now he stood in the hangar, a set of the doctor’s clothing covered him, a little bigger than his own but they would do. He felt fresh; the sensation of water on his skin was something he certainly couldn’t recall from the past two years. Not only had it removed the dirt, grime and grease which had accumulated from his work on the Jewel but it had also awoken his senses from their alcohol-induced slumber.
Now he gazed at the Jewel, half sitting half leaning on one of the workbenches near the under-belly of the ship. “The Nui’s Jewel…” he whispered to himself. It still looked like a poorly assembled pile of scrap, but from what he experienced so far, it flew better than the average ship. “Looks really aren’t everything” he said to himself again, a warm half-smile on his face. It was certainly going to prove interesting flying this thing. It certainly wasn’t any military single-person fighter and they were his specialty, but it seemed to have the capability to keep up with what he asked of it, and most ships that size failed at that. Gazing at the ship, he was distracted by movement nearby.
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Meira
She don't mess around
2,830 posts
583 likes
Half awake in our fake empire
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last online May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
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Apr 15, 2009 16:22:07 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Apr 15, 2009 16:22:07 GMT -5
She didn't want to admit it, but Palas had technically run away. The feeling of other living beings around her had been nice at first, but then Lash had drudged up memories and feelings that solitude allowed her to ignore. She could have used that as a reason to hate Lash, but for some reason, she couldn't convince herself that it was his fault. And she was really good at convincing herself of things.
So she ran away. She retreated to her quarters, leaning her back against the door as soon as it was closed, almost as if it wouldn't stay that way unless she physically made sure it did. She closed her eyes, tilting her head back until it touched the cool metal. Had she been on her own so long that conversation made her anxious? Not entirely. Business conversation was fine. But that was different. It was cold, detatched. When she was talking to Lash... it was personal, with no real goal in mind other than to speak and be spoken to. She shuddered.
Taking a few deep breaths, she stepped over to a mirror that hung on the wall over her dresser. She hadn't looked at herself in a while. Was she thinner than usual? Her cheeks looked a little sunken. She could see the signs of little sleep under her eyes. Her lekku hung a little limply. Being on her own had taken a lot more out of her than she had realized. But I'm not on my own anymore.
Palas shook her head and turned away from the mirror, mentally chastising herself. Don't get like that. You know Doc, he'll stay on for a while to make sure you're alright, and then he'll leave. And Lash... He's only a temporary problem. Once you take care of the spice, he'll on his way too. It wasn't really a fair thing to say, and she knew it. Lash HAD saved their lives, after all. Even if he only acted in self preservation, she couldn't deny that it was his skill, drunk or not, that had gotten them all out of there alive.
And he did have skill. If he could fly like that drunk, what would he be like sober? Palas was a decent pilot. She could take off and land without incident, though docking was somewhat of a challenge. But she had never known flying like what Lash did. He must have had training. It was almost like he was flying the ship like it was a fighter. Where'd he learn to fly like that?
She shook her head again. Lash's past, beyond his problems with Greegar, was none of her business. What she needed to be thinking about was what to do about their current problem. Crossing the room, she sat down at her desk, propping her feet up and leaning back in her chair, which squeaked it's complaint. She hadn't used the chair in a long time. In fact, most of the stuff at the compound was barely used. Having to be out working most of the time left it all a little neglected. Story of her life.
In her head, Palas went through her list of contacts, ruling out the ones she knew wouldn't work against a hutt like Greegar. The results weren't promising. They were zero in fact. The hutts simply held too much power in the smuggling business. So where did that leave her? In a dangerous place. She would have to venture out beyond her usual contacts. But she'd need money first. And the easiest way to make money was a water run to Tattooine. It was a little risky, being hutt space and all, but there were so many scumbags in and out of that planet, Palas was sure she could manage it.
With this new resolve of having at least the beginnings of a plan, She went about the business of cleaning herself up. Her shower was a little cold, probably because Lash had the same idea in mind, but she was quick and out before it was a bother. She then changed into some fresh clothes and made her way back down to the hangar.
One automatic function that the compound ran was collecting snow and ice, melting it, and storing it in huge tanks. The climate of the planet renewed the supply just as quickly as it could be collected, making the process extremely simple and with next to no expense. All that had to be done was set a computer to drain a specified amount of water into smaller, shippable containers and load them into the ship. This was all done in a room off the hangar for ease of access.
Palas walked into the hangar and moved to go to the water room when she caught sight of Lash at a workbench near the ship. Her immediate instinct was to avoid his presence, but she had entered assuming he wasn't there. He had caught her movement and turned his head to see her. He had cleaned up, and though Doc's clothes were a little big on him, she had to admit that he didn't look half bad. It was mostly that she could see he was completely sober. He didn't have that rediculous stance, or the glazed over look in his eyes. Overall, he appeared... sharper.
It was to his credit. His appearance no longer offended her, and so rather than sneering at the sight of him, she offered instead a placid expression of simply noting his presence. Perhaps a slight curl of a smile unconsciously crossed her lips for a split second, but who know. In any case, she couldn't find cause to insult him. We need to figure out how we're going to fix the mess we're in. She said, changing her course to speak with him. She needed things to be clear before they went anywhere, and she wanted to make sure he wouldn't leave her holding the check on anything.
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Jenno
Still glorious, but no longer your leader.
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last online Nov 5, 2019 10:09:22 GMT -5
Master
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May 3, 2009 21:11:11 GMT -5
Post by Jenno on May 3, 2009 21:11:11 GMT -5
Before he knew it Lash had brought reality crashing down onto his slightly atrophied shoulders. When he crossed eyes with Palas she changed her course and setting in order start conversation with him. At first he was a little taken aback until he heard what was to be the subject of discussion. “And there’s a subject I’d very much like to run away from” he said sardonically, any light or passionate fire which may have beset his eyes were quite abruptly snuffed out with Palas’ words. He didn’t like to talk seriously or, rather, realistically. After all, he did owe her, given the position they were now in.
He looked to her after finishing what he’d said. No doubt she was would yap on at him and so he interjected before she’d have the chance, “yea, I know, it’s serious. Can’t blame a guy for wishing can you?” He fell silent and looked back towards the ship a bit more morose than previously. “You were right with what you said on the ship,” he started suddenly, “I owe you now, big time. Got you hauling a guy and a cargo that’ll be wanted on over a dozen worlds. Only problem is,” he said turning his head with a little grin, “I’m not exactly living the lavish lifestyle. I haven’t got near enough credits to pay for my debt. I doubt I’ve got enough to by myself a half-decent wardrobe. The only thing I can give you is my service.” He said pausing for a few moments.
Realisation suddenly struck when he saw how what he’d said could be seen in a completely different light. “A-and by service I mean me, flying, that thing,” he turned and motioned to the lifeless Nui’s Jewel. “Seems to me like you’re a bit underhanded, given the size of the ship. If I hadn’t been there I doubt you could have repaired the hyperdrive and avoided all the fire from the guy that was hunting you. Besides,” Lash whispered cautiously, “the Doc looks like he might have a heart attack if anything sudden and, y’know, life risking, were to happen.”
“How about this,” Lash pushed himself off the workbench and moved over to the Jewel; “I’ll fly this girl for you until the day you can offload the junk Greegar’s goons forced on her. It’ll probably take a while; he’s got a lot of loyal contacts from when he used to be a major player in the Rim. And I really don’t know anyone who’d be able to fence or would want to buy what we’ve got.”
“One thing though,” Lash turned away from the Jewel to focus on Palas, instead of glancing between the ship and its captain, “I just want you to get this straight so you don’t go and get yourself killed. Don’t look to me if you run into trouble. My priority here is to get through this in one piece and at the moment flying with you seems like the best way to go about that. So if you get into a fire fight or a brawl of some kind, you’re on your own. I’m not the brightest nerf of the herd but I know that jumping into a blaster fight ain’t gonna help me avoid danger.” He paused for a moment, letting what he said sink in. “On a ship you can trust me with your life; we’re on the same boat then, quite literally, you live, I live, you die, I die. On the ground however, I’ve got more chance if I just clear out of there. So don’t take it the wrong way, fight to your heart’s content, but I’m not gonna be intentionally putting myself in any line of fire.”
His rigid body dissolved into a more casual and flaccid stance, he’d had as much seriousness as he could take; it wasn’t good for his mind or body. Lash walked back over to the workbench, cranking up a smile as he did so, that usually joking grin. “You got any place we might start looking to sell this stuff or have you got something else lined up first? The sooner we start looking, the sooner I’ll be out of you hair” his eyes slowly drifted up to Palas’ lekku “… or so the saying goes.”
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Meira
She don't mess around
2,830 posts
583 likes
Half awake in our fake empire
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last online May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
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May 4, 2009 16:12:45 GMT -5
Post by Meira on May 4, 2009 16:12:45 GMT -5
Palas had barely gotten the sentence out before Lash responded. Sarcastic as the comment was, she couldn't really blame him for it. So rather than snap back at him, she just rolled her eyes. Lash seemed to get the idea, and switched gears into a more serious tone. No, she couldn't blame him. She was about to speak along those lines, but Lash continued. He was facing away from her, looking towards the ship as he spoke. His tone carried the more serious words with a hint of sadness perhaps. Again, she couldn't blame him. She didn't like the idea of owing someone any more than she imagined he did.
Lash then hit on one of the small bumps in their path. There was no way he could just pay her for what he had done. She was about to comment something along the lines that she doubted he could buy himself another drink, but he beat her to the punch, though along slightly different lines. His words, and his smile elicited a twitch at the corner of her mouth.
"The only thing I can give you is my service."
Palas nodded thoughtfully. That could work out. Again, she was about to speak to tell him that would be fine, when he started stumbling over his words in an embarrassed attempt to clarify what he had meant. Palas raised an eyebrow at him, not understanding right away. When She caught on a moment later, she couldn't stop the sudden burst of laughter that escaped her. Any type of 'services' other than piloting weren't even close to being on her mind.
But Lash continued on, talking about how he was a big help in their escape. He didn't need to give the example, she had been there, and she remembered it all too well. She scrunched her eyebrows together when Lash mentioned whoever it was that had been shooting at them Chasing me? She had been sure whoever it was was chasing him. But then Lash was talking about Doc.
Palas shook her head. Doc was much more sturdy than he looked. She would have told him this, but he was off again. Now she was starting to get slightly annoyed. Usually, when she said "we have to talk" she was the one doing the talking. But Lash aparently had a lot he needed to get off his chest. So Palas crossed her arms in front of her and leaned against the wall to wait him out. Surely he wouldn't have much more to say.
He made his offer, saying he would pilot until they got the whole mess sorted out. That was fine by her. She had been thinking along those lines already. It wasn't like either of them could go rat the other out without risking life or limb. They could trust each other that far. But Lash soon made it clear that Palas couldn't trust him to stand with her if there was a fight. Well, if he was going to be a coward, at least he was upfront about it. Again she let out a chuckle. She had never pegged him for a fighter anyway. The fact that he was cowering in a tiny compartment on her ship was evidence enough of that.
With all of that out of the way, Lash finally turned back to her, asking if she had a plan. She paused, watching to make sure he was really actually done talking. She didn't want to open her mouth, only to have to close it again while he continued on another tangent.
No one I know is going to cross Greegar, so we're going to have to get creative. But if we want to do that, then we need to get some money fast. That means we're going to Tatooine. She motioned with her head towards the door she was originally headed towards before she got side tracked. C'mon, let me show you what this place is for.
Uncrossing her arms, Palas turned and led the way. She opened the door and led Lash into another room, almost as large as the hangar. It was much colder in here, but not too uncomfortable. On the far wall were the large water tanks, with pipes running down to a central faucet device. Underneath there were stacks of smaller, 1000 gallon contaniers. A few feet from the door was a control panel that regulated which storage tank would drain to the central faucet.
This is my cash crop. She said, motioning her hand across the room. I didn't build this place, but whoever did, sure made it easy. One person can do the job, but it goes faster with two. Palas made a jutting motion with her chin towards a loader off to the side of the smaller tanks. You load and change out the containers, I'll work the panel.
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Jenno
Still glorious, but no longer your leader.
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last online Nov 5, 2019 10:09:22 GMT -5
Master
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May 27, 2009 17:07:32 GMT -5
Post by Jenno on May 27, 2009 17:07:32 GMT -5
“Yes captain!” Lash said with a forced sense of vigour and enthusiasm. There had been an unusual desire to salute as he’d said that and he’d felt his fingers twitch but in the end he’d subdued the urge. It looked like spending time back in the real world was bringing back all kind of habits and thoughts that had remained forgotten under the tankers of alcohol he’d consumed.
Casually he headed over to the exciting piece of machinery that was the loader. It was time for the pilot whiz kid to quickly wrap his head around this particularly pretty operating system. It was actually rather, a gundark would be able to figure out how it worked. As he mounted the loader he spoke up and called out to Palas. “So, Tatooine, I hear that place is a little warm? You think I’d be able to lay my hands on any decent clothes, the Doc’s style certainly suits his age” he said with a grin. He was quite lucky the doctor wasn’t around; no doubt the old man would have set him straight after that remark.
Lash had to say he was rather impressed and surprised at the facility. There was certainly a lot of mystery about it, especially when Palas had said she hadn’t built it, and it didn’t seem as if she knew who had. But still, it provided a place to rest and recover and apparently it was an infinite source of income. True, the view outside wasn’t the prettiest but it was isolated, which meant it was likely to be safe. All in all it was quite a hideout.
Easing into the lay of the controls made the first trip quite a slow and cumbersome one. There were a few hiccups on Lash’s part but he corrected himself and nothing was damaged so everything was alright. Still, land-based machinery really wasn’t his thing, nor was it anywhere near as interesting as flying a ship. But work needed doing and he had to be the one to do it.
“So,” Lash began inquisitively as the things playing on his mind finally got the better of him, “if you’ve got a place like this and a ship with that many beds, why is it I don’t see anyone besides you and Doctor Charming around? I mean, that ship would be best run with about a minimum of three people and whilst I’m sure the old man’s good at what he does, he doesn’t come across as being mechanically inclined. I’d have thought more people would have given you bigger and better options for jobs. I mean, it doesn’t seem like you’re entirely new to this kind of thing and I’m not really an expert myself but still, safety with numbers and all that.” He slowed down a little as he spoke and waited for a response. Palas didn’t seem as though she was in possession of exceptional people skills, although that was only going by Lash’s own interactions with her thus far, but there didn’t seem to be any good reason as to why she didn’t have even a skeleton crew.
This was, essentially, Lash trying to make small-talk. He was living and interacting with real people now so he needed to make use of the time he had, silence just helped him remember bitter things. Of course, if this route of conversation steered towards a Lash Venedray direction then he’d have a fun trip down memory lane alright. But then again, he didn’t feel keen for a session of show and tell, he’d bite his tongue and just say whatever came first to his head.
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Meira
She don't mess around
2,830 posts
583 likes
Half awake in our fake empire
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last online May 11, 2023 23:01:34 GMT -5
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Jun 22, 2009 8:33:24 GMT -5
Post by Meira on Jun 22, 2009 8:33:24 GMT -5
As the two started the work of filling up the water containers, Palas was surprised at the ease of it all. It had been quite some time since she'd had another person able to work with her on,well... just about anything here at the base. She had gotten so used to doing it all herself, she forgot how quickly it could go with someone else helping out. Within minutes, Lash had the first container loaded up to the spout. Palas turned a few knobs and typed in a few keys, and soon water was rushing from one of the large silos into the container.
Pretty warm, yeah. She said, nodding her head. But we won't be there longer than we have to. Too many Hutts in that area. But I think you should be able to find something.
Lash had earned a faint smile with that comment. Doc's clothes did look kind of odd on the younger man's frame. The water hit capacity and the drain system shut off automatically, allowing Lash to remove the container and replace it with another. The process was repeated. Load, fill, unload, repeat. Easy. Palas' mind was drifting again, wondering at how things had gotten so thin. As if he had read her mind, Lash started asking about why she didn't seem to have a crew. Well, there were a few resons to that. She kept her eyes on her controls, however, hesitant to respond. She still wasn't sure how much she could trust this guy, and telling him that men didn't like taking orders from the likes of her didn't seem like the best idea.
I used to have a full crew. But I only seem to be able to find temporary help anymore. Her eyes connected with his for a moment. She looked away again quickly. He fell into that category. She couldn't allow herself to get to settled with him. He was sure to be gone as soon as his debt was paid.
I guess I'm just in a rut. Trouble just seems to find me. her mouth curved into a smile, her lekku twitching with humor. Like it hides on my ship, just waiting to jump out.
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