Hanger Relics (Talau)

[Zarkan]

Arkandos taped the wall as the hanger bay twenty-two's door slowly slid up to show a dark abyss. "I'm sorry about the long walk." he said quietly turning slightly to lia as the door finally clicked as it reached the top. "but." he said as he reached in to turn on the lights in the midsized hanger. "For obvious reasons I can't have a normal bunk." he said stepping heavily into the wide space of the room it's walls and tables strew with the trappings of an long life. Ark stopped at a near by table and bent pulling out a large heavy trunk from under it before opening it and gingerly pulling his ancient armor from the chest and setting it aside. "Here we are, most of this stuff is from back when I, well back from the wars." he said not so fluidly diverting his original statement of back when he was human before pulling out probably his prize weapons out of it and placing them aside near is armor. "I'm afraid those you can't have any of the rest are yours for the taking though." he said tacking several steps back and pulling out several trunks containing his own weapons for him to see to them.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Italia hadn't minded the walk. To be honest, she had rather liked it. It helped her become more familiar to the place they were in, along with chatting idly with her new friend. As they reached the hangar and Ark went about his business, she chuckled slightly and walked over to him, her eyes still scanning the room.

Don't worry about it Ark. I wouldn't have had it another way. As for your armor and those weapons...I wouldn't have even thought of taking them from you my friend. I am not so cold.

She stated, moving to a position where she could look him in the 'eye' more easily. He towered over her, so looking up at those sensors could be a difficult task at times. Grinning she put a hand on his arm and chuckled.

As I said, I'm not overly worried about weapons right now vod. I'll need little of them on this mission, so I don't see the reason for pestering you about them. I was, however, intrigued by your models...um...at least, that's what I'm assuming they are?

She asked, setting down her pack easily and walking over to what appeared to be a work table littered with small parts. Tilting her head slightly, she smiled at the work he had done on one model...a replica of a hammerhead capitol ship. Even though this one wasn't completed yet, she could see the amount of detail he had put into it and was surprised.

This is really well done Ark! I think I've only ever seen one other replica like this. My...my father had it....it was on his ship.

She said, her voice trailing off at the end. Biting her tongue until the pain of it overrode her urge to cry, she sighed and smiled slightly.

He never would tell me where he'd gotten it from...he always said I'd never believe him if he told me.

Lia chuckled slightly and shook her head, the beads in her hair clicking together slightly.

[Zarkan]

"I wouldn't be too hasty to assume that we will not have to fight my dear we are after all going into the wolf's den." he shifted on his haunches as she walked to his large work table. "Yes, I suppose they are I do after all have a great deal of time to work on them." he stood and walked over slowly to place one of his heavy hands on her shoulder. "I've only given one of those out before to a young boy many years ago." he delicately lifted the small model up. "Perhaps that was him what was your fathers name?" he asked as he gazed unblinkingly at the small ship replica.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Lia chuckled slightly an nodded.

Yeah, I know Ark...I'm not horribly worried, however. Beside, I like to have a little time to get used to a weapon before I just jump in and start using it. If I don't know how it reacts in different conditions, myself or someone else could end up dead. So I'll be sticking to my own gear for this trip....but once we have a little time between missions I'd gladly use some of the weapons you have.

She replied. Honestly she felt bad for turning down his generous offer, but she had what she felt was a good reason. Lia knew her gear, knew it's little quirks like her own, and that had kept her alive. As he walked over, and told her about his model making, asking her her father's name, she blinked up at him as if she were confused about what he'd said. Really, she wasn't but it had just taken her so much by surprise that she couldn't do anything BUT blink.

Orik...his name was Orik.

Really Lia couldn't even begin to imagine that her father had gotten his replica from Ark...it was just too strange a coincidence...too far of a chance....but what if? If he'd told her that he'd gotten one of his most prized possessions from a giant cyborg, would she have believed him? Heck no!...so...he would have been right in what he said to her...about her not believing him. Sighing, she shook her head and shrugged a shoulder at her thought.

[Zarkan]

"Orik." he said slowly as he set to replica down. "Yes, that was his name." he spoke slowly and quietly as the thought back. "I met him when he was a little over five years old in fact I gave him that model for his sixth birth day." Ark turned and strode away from her and ran a hand down a ornate tapesty on the wall. "Apparently he was the son of my long removed many greats grand daughter." he turned back to lia and leaned back against the wall sighing heavily. "I'm afraid his mother soon became tired of my attempts at being present and with the army becoming more active I became farther and farther away from him and by the time he was of age I had well and truly lost track of him." he looked at the pile of his armor laying on the table. "As useless as it would be I had hoped to give him my armor one day." Once again he stood as he sighed. "But alas that was not to be and after his mother died I lost the ability to find him once he left ordo."

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Italia followed beside him as he moved, hanging on his every word like some small child listening to a particularly interesting story. Looking up at the tapestry, she tilted her head at the long lines of names and connections between them. As he continued, she looked up at him wide eyed. Oh...good....lord....I'm related to Ark. Lia's mind spun slightly as she fully tried to comprehend what he'd just said, not even barely noticing his last two statements. Italia was very quiet for a moment, barely moving as she tried to figure out what to say or do. The only thing she could think to do was so simplistic it was bordering on childish, but...well...what else could she do? She didn't know what to SAY.

Grinning, she closed the little distance between them and tried her best to wrap him in a hug. This in its self was a rather daunting task as Ark was quite huge, but she didn't particularly care at the moment. Ugh, her family had always been so small, just her mother, father, and her two twerp brothers...and if you counted the rest of the tiny clan, there were maybe 6 others, none directly related to her. She'd always wanted a large family...to have a bunch of cousins or aunts and uncles or heck, even dogs worked...but no, it was just their small little household. Now that she had even a small idea that Ark MIGHT be related to her, she was considerably happier...not so happy as she might have been if her father had still been....no, she wouldn't think that way. Not now.

[Zarkan]

Ark looked tepidly at lia as she stood quietly in front of him attempting his best to figure out his her thoughts. He was greatly relieved to see her smile before she approached him and slowly wrapped her arms around her mid section. Arkandos desperately wished he could smile at that moment or in some other way so his feelings as he gently wrapped his massive arms around the small girl his massive form shaking slightly as he did. "I don't know for certain if you are, but from this day forward I'm choosing to believe you are my grand daughter." his voice actually cracked as he spoke and for a short moment he was almost glad he was metal for if not he would have been crying in that moment.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Italia, not being made of armor, did cry. She could almost imagine how lonely he'd felt for who knew how long, and even if she wasn't really his grand-daughter....for all either of them knew, she wasn't....she could be now, and gladly would be. As he wrapped his large arms around her, she rested her head against the armored hull, not even bothering with the fact that he was cold. Sniffling slightly and chuckling, she couldn't hardly believe everything that had happened today.

Ark...grandfather....I...I can't even begin to believe all of this. I mean...all in one night I meet you...find out dad...yeah....and Lat comes back from god only knows where, since I'd not seen him in ages....and now this.

Lia chuckled again and shook her head a little.

Dad, he...he always told me he was from Ordo...and Grandma, and even great grandma...but...I don't think I ever really believed him. I mean...I never saw any of them, and he didn't talk much about them...but...

Oh! There was one thing....I don't know if it would mean anything to you, but...I have something that Dad gave me right before he left for Mandalore....when...when I came to take care of mum.

Taking her arms off from around Ark, Lia opened a small pouch on her belt and pulled out a small golden chain with a circular charm on it. Imprinted on the charm was a bird in flight, and on the back EP was engraved. Holding it up to him, she tilted her head to the side slightly.

Dad said that it was handed down through the Tel'ala side of his family. He wanted to give brother a silver chain with a ring on it...but...I don't know if he ever did. He said it was passed through the same family, and that the two went together. I don't really understand it but, iI never really questioned it. I don't think dad ever really knew why either...

She stated simply.

[Zarkan]

Ark's heart soared it felt so wonderful to have some one there. "Oh" he said as he looked down at her as she spoke held up a small necklace and charm. Gently he lifted the small gold chain from lia's hand and brought it up to his eyes. He slid his fingers over the bird on the front facing of the charm recognizing it instantly as a mandalorian dove something that was nearly extinct even in his day. Quickly he turned it around looking at the back of the pendant. "Eli'demu..." he said quietly almost too quiet for lia to hear as he recongnized the initials on the back of the pendant. "A ring you said? have you ever seen it?" he asked quickly.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Lia tilted her head to the side as she watched him. She knew he said something...a name, but it was so quietly spoke that she couldn't make heads or tails of it. Deciding that if he'd wanted her to hear, he would have spoken louder, she focused instead on his questions.

Yes, a ring. Um...I've only seen it once up close...twice in total. Dad kept it locked up all the time, just like this necklace. It...it looked to be a man's ring. It had three stones, two diamonds and a...sapphire...I think. They were just small ones though, and set into the ring so they wouldn't get caught on anything. The unusual things about the it though, were the engravings.

She shut one eye as she thought more about all she could remember about the piece she had been asked about, but it was difficult. Lia had only seen it for any amount of time once, and that was when she had been young...10? 11 maybe? Running a hand through her hair, she sighed slightly.

Around the outside there was a design of...it was waves or...wind or...the design was curling...but the stones looked like they were supposed to be stars I think. That was the impression I got anyway. On the inside though, it had something...written....ugh...I can't remember. I'm sorry. I was only ten when I saw it....I can't remember much now.

She said, muttering the last part and feeling rather bad for not being able to quote to him what had been engraved on the inside.

[Zarkan]

"It's alright little one I remember what it says well enough." he said slowly as he placed the golden necklace in lia's hand folding her fingers closed over it before striding over to far end of his work table and opening a compartment pulling out a small leather bag and setting it on the work top. "It was wind below a trio of stars that were under us the day I agreed to marry her." he said slowly more in memory then in conversation as he pulled a thin silver ring from the pouch with a similar design as the one she was describing before walking back to her and placing it in her hand. "like this one?"

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

She nodded slightly as he replaced the necklace in her hand, curling her fingers over it. Italia watched quietly as he walked to his work table and pulled out a small leather bag. Lia took a cautious step toward him, but stayed put as he spoke. By this time, she had already stored the necklace in it's pouch once again. Tilting her head to the side, the auburn woman watched as Ark returned and placed a small ring in her hand. Picking it up in her fingers, she turned it about and nodded silently, before holding it back out to him.

Yes...exactly like it...well...except this was obviously made for a woman.

She stated, still holding it out for Ark to take back.

So....you do recognize them....don't...don't you want the necklace back grandfather?

Lia asked, a little tentatively.

[Zarkan]

"No," he said taking the ring generally from her and placing it gently back in the soft leather pouch. "I gave that pendant to my daughter I assume she likely gave it to her own it is yours by right besides I have little use for it." he said slowly placing the pouch back in it's position before leaning heavily on the desk. "The ring is mine the one I showed you was my wife's I may have to ask your brother for that back. Their bond rings if your curious I had originally planed to give them to my children I got Tem's back from another member of ordo who had received it."

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Nodding, Italia sighed slightly, walked over, and put a hand on his large arm. She just couldn't even begin to imagine what he might be going through, and she wished she could tell what he was feeling more easily. Despite the apparent lack of visual emotions, Lia felt she had a pretty good idea of how he was really feeling. Letting out a quiet sigh, she wondered how one was supposed to comfort a 400 year old soul? Looking up at him, she smiled a little.

Grandfather....I....well....you've got me now....and Lat too....and mum. I mean...we're not...we're not your daughter or....but we're family now, and I won't leave you.

She said simply. It wasn't much, and really she didn't know what else to say, but that was as good as she could do right now...and it was truth. Lia couldn't speak for her brother, but she knew that she wouldn't leave Ark now that she'd found him. Thinking for a moment, she beamed a swift grin at him and darted off toward her pack. Rummaging through it for a moment, she gave a cry of happiness and pulled out a long, braided leather, necklace with a set of four small boma tusks. Looking at it affectionately, she stood and walked over to Ark once more. Upon reaching him, she clipped it around his large wrist, where it only hung loose enough to be like a bracelet.

I want you to have that....

[Zarkan]

Ark looked down at the table long rivets ran where his fingers had pulled bits of wood off the table top. Ark looked at her slowly. "I'm glad to have you with me lia." he said slowly before she bound off to her back returning and slipping a leather neck lace over his wrist. Slowly he brought it up to his photo receptors staring at now bracelet before looking down at lia. "I...I will never remove it." he said slowly sitting down. He wished he could smile at her as he looked at her running his free hand over the small tusks. "Would you like to see them?" he asked fingering the small holo record attached to his armor. "My children and wife that is."

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

She grinned at his statements. Good, she'd hoped he'd liked it.

I'm glad...those mean a lot to me...they were from my verd'goten.

Lia said proudly, her green eyes flickering slightly as she lifted her chin slightly. She'd been proud of the fact that she had managed to kill the beast during her trial, but this just added to it.

I made it shortly after I returned home...I'm glad you like it.

She added more quietly. Hearing his question, she nodded slightly.

May I?....I mean...it's okay with you?

Lia wasn't quite sure why she felt so hesitant in asking to see his...their...family, but she was. Part of her supposed that it was because she felt it was quite personal for him, and that perhaps he was just trying to be nice to her. Another part felt that maybe he would be hurt by seeing them again...but...maybe that was just how she would feel?

[Zarkan]

Ark turned his "eyes" to lia and then back to the tusk. "That was quite the accomplishment." he said truthfully to lia as he unhooked the holo cell from his left chest and gently holding his most prized possession in his hand. "I would not have asked if I was not willing to show it to them." he said slowly as he set the small device down on the work top and activating it. The small device poured greenish light out as the familiar loop began playing in the recorder. A young mandalorian woman holding a small girl in her arms while the young boy stood looking wide eyed towards the camera. Soon a man came into view ruffling the boy's hair before putting his arm around the woman and kissing her as he allowed the little girl to grasp his finger. Ark suppressed his urge to reach towards the picture as the holo flickered off and he lowered his "head". "There are days I wish they had simply left my broken body to die." he said quietly to himself more than any thing as he picked up the holo cube and latched it back onto his chest.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Italia beamed, if possible, even more at his praise. It'd been a difficult fight, leaving her with a scar to remember it by, but in the end it had been worth it...this just added to that honor. Nodding at his statement about his family and watching intently as he pulled the projector from the compartment in his hull where his heart would have been, she blinked as he set it down and allowed it to play. So THAT was his family...and that had been him!? She smiled quietly as she watched and was almost sad to see him turn it off and replace it. His next words, however, troubled her.

....Ba'buir....

She murmured quietly. It made her heart hurt to hear him say something like that, but she couldn't really blame him for his feelings. She chewed on the inside of her bottom lip for a moment, trying to decide what to say or do, but for once she wasn't sure there was anything. Before she knew it was happening, however, she was speaking quietly, her eyes cast down to the ground as she ran her fingers over the surface of the work table.

I...I'm glad they didn't....

Her voice was unsure as she spoke, but as soon as her mind had caught up to her heart, she looked up at him, a mixture of sadness and resolve in her green eyes.

I'm glad they didn't.

She stated firmly.

Maybe it's selfish, but...I'm glad they didn't just leave you there. I wouldn't have met you if they had. I might not be here...I might have been on my way to do something foolish, like get revenge on those pirates if...

Her eyes were welling up with tears as she spoke, her voice quavering slightly, but she refused to allow herself to cry. Not now Lia...hold it together....

If I hadn't met you today, I don't know what might have happened. Maybe I would have done something to dishonor my....our...entire family because I didn't have anyone around to understand what I was going through.

You're foolish for thinking something like that Arkankados Phelan. I doubt they would have wanted you to think like that either....and if dad had been around....metal or not he just might have given you a good walloping for that.

We...we're supposed to value our lives more than that....

She ended, unable to stop the single tear that had managed to slide its way down her face. Her back was ridged as she tried to make herself as tall as possible, as if scolding him. With her last words, however, she slumped slightly, her eyes falling to the floor once more. That wasn't helping anything...getting upset at him like that. What did she know anyway? He was far older than herself...he had every right to feel whatever he wanted.

I....I'm sorry. I....just....I'm sorry.

Feeling confused and upset, she put both hands on the table and leaned heavily against it, her head drooping between her shoulder blades slightly as she tried to sort out her feelings again. Why had his words hurt so bad? Was it because of her father's death? Was what she said really how she felt about it? Oh she didn't know any more.

[Zarkan]

"I am still here despite the opportunity for me to end myself it's just simply hard to be alone for soo long. Even now I won't ever quite be able to relate to anyone to to touch anyone." He rested his weight on the table causing to wood to sound out in protest. "Perhaps you think me silly or a poor example, but there is nothing I can do about my fears not after four centuries." He reached out with his hand and brushed the tear from her face. "I will remain a while longer dove, of that you may have no fear."

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

She knew that it was the way of things, but his words had still hurt. She sighed heavily at his words and shook her head.

I...I'm sorry ba'buir....just....

Lia sighed heavily and leaned her head toward his hand, grabbing hold of it before he could move it away again. At his last statement, she nodded slightly and turned to look at him again. It was obvious she had been trying not to cry this whole time.

...Just....please try not to think that way. It....well...it hurt to hear you say something like that.

I don't know...perhaps I just feel too much. That's....not a bad thing in a mando is it grandfather? To feel sad about something like that? I mean....I don't even like to fight if I don't have to....heh....how un-mandalorian can I be?

She said with a heavy sigh and a shake of her head. Where had THOSE questions come from?! Maybe it was because of her father's death...she just felt...lost...suddenly.