I Have News

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

((For Latus the Great!...erm...I mean Latus Prime ^_^; ))

It was the most amazing thing Italia had seen in a VERY long time. The blue and the black of it glinted in the light of the shop, the stripes of red a bloody contrast to the rest of the piece.

"Try it on and make sure it fits properly vod."

Lia was snapped out of her awestruck gazing by the man's words. She nodded, picking up the heavy bundle of cloth and armor and finding her way to the room they had set aside for changing into the newly fitted or made suits of armor. It took her several minutes to change into the padding for the armor and then the armor itself. The first thing she noticed was that it was heavy. Much heavier than her own version of the scouting armor. Next, she noticed just how well it fit...like a glove almost, the metal holding snugly against the padding beneath. The third thing she noticed...I looked remarkably good on her if she did say so herself. This itself was an odd occurrence since Italia rarely ever thought she looked good in anything, least of all armor, but this just LOOKED right. It looked natural.

Moving about in the armor, she decided that it would need a few changes, but all of them would be best done by herself and none other. Nodding, she slipped on the helmet, the beads holding her hair staying out as she did. The HUD flickered to life as she clipped it together with the rest of the armor giving her a new view of the world around her. Nodding again, she moved about some more, making sure her field of view was appropriate, and once satisfied, she removed the helm and settled it under one arm, pinning it to her side. Stepping out of the room she had occupied she smiled at the barely concealed look of amazement that the armorer got when she appeared.

You've done a good job, thank you. I believe I payed you for the service already?

The man nodded slightly and she smiled, nodding once in return.

Thank you again.

With that she walked out into the heat of the day...what little of it there was. The clouds from the past two days rain were only now vanishing with the crisp wind that blew over the plains of the planet, causing the blue and black battle dress material at her hips to snap about her thighs and knees. Now to find Itani. The woman paused a moment, ignoring the new looks she was receiving because of the armor she was sporting. Where would that insufferable brother of hers be? Her best bet would be the space port working on that wreck of a ship of his, or some such thing. With that she headed in the direction of the space port.

Along the way she passed the Ante Up, Daryn's ship, and pondered stopping to see him. A light smile touched her face at the thought. That had been some kiss...but no, she needed to see Itani first. Continuing onward, she came up toward the ship and paused, glancing around for him outside it. Not around outside that she could see, but then again, not seeing Itani didn't mean he wasn't around. Shrugging slightly, she noted again just how heavy it was. This would certainly take a while to get used to. Walking up to the ship, she rapped loudly on the hull of it, hoping he might hear her.

Where WAS that boy?

[Latus]

The ship was overwhelmingly silent around the young man, so much so that he could hear his own heartbeat. From the outside the ship looked like a solid piece of steel; the blast panels on the view screen were closed and the outer hatches locked against intruders. The young assassin stared longingly at the receiver for the com, hoping against hope that it would burst to life and propel him away from his cares, somewhere far away. If someone were to, impossibly, happen upon Itani they might be surprised; the silence a stark change for him. When he was around others the was always light, airy, a mind for mischief, and a smile to boot. Unknown to them, this was the mask he wore, the mask he chose to wear.

Itani smirked to himself as his mind drifted to those he had met on Concord Dawn; "This may come as a complete shock to you all but, I am an assassin. He could visualize the look on his and their faces, one of levity and misunderstanding. Perhaps they didn't understand the wholeness of the truth; he killed people for a living, ended lives. Some would call him a murderer, others a professional. He helped keep the gears of the universe turning by removing cogs that might gum up the works. Like his peers, it was a service which he did willingly provide. He wore a mask to hide himself in plain sight, not only from those he trusted, but his marks as well. Through and through, a killer; no more no less.

He stood, the leather of the seat sticking to his tunic and defiantly resisting his departure. His thoughts departed with him, to family, to Lia. More specifically to the hut'uun jag ((rough: cowardly man)) whom she now consorted with. Itani had not been around this Daryn long and but he didn't seem like the sort he wanted his only sister getting attatched to. The coward may turn out for the better but who knew. His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp tapping echoing over and over again on the metal walls. A visitor? He had spent time enough with his mask off, time to put it back on. Taking his time he moved in the direction of the main egress hatch, attempting to get within the necessary frame of mind. Pulling the heavy metal hatch and entering the required code on the adjacent keypad he felt the lock slide open, the door sliding smoothly with it. Slipping his head out he was hardly able to contain his surprise.

Speak o' the devil. Lia! Welcome to my abode, sister. Come in. I needed some company.

The smile that graced his face was only partially false as he swept himself aside to allow her entrance.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Well, it certainly seemed that Itani wasn't here...but if he wasn't here, and he wasn't at home, just where WOULD he be? Her brother wasn't exactly a social butterfly after all. He wasn't prone to making house calls unless they were paid house calls and likely involved killing or picking up money for killing. She frowned at the thought slightly and sighed. Italia had just turned to leave when the sound of the hatch brought her head to turning over her shoulder to see his head appear around the corner of it. Turning fully, she smiled quietly at him, the blue and black (now stained with those shoulder stripes of blood red), glinting in the sun and dying him in the same hue of blue.

I'm glad you did, because heaven knows there's a lot to talk about right now.

Green eyes wandered around the empty platform for a moment before she followed him into the (relatively) cramped space of his small transport ship. To him it must have seemed cozy, to Lia...well...it was certainly cozy, but not necessarily in a good way. She preferred the Star's more open living spaces. Then again, she was biased. Following him through the small spaces to the, what she assumed was supposed to be the galley, Lia pondered just what she was going to tell him. She hadn't told anyone about her joining the military yet, and Itani was about as good a place to start as any.

She didn't even want to THINK about telling Daryn yet. (well technically she already HAD thought about it, and the thought didn't please her)

Itani, there's something I need to talk to you about, well, several things, but one in particular right now.

She stated. There would be no dancing around the truth with her brother today. What little mask she wore would only be enough to blunt her words and feelings, to dull the edge and soften the blow.

[Latus]

The young assassin had to admit, his sister looked good in that armor. He smiled at the thought as she walked by. Any mandalorian would look deadly in a good set of armor but she took it up a level. Allowing her entrance he jabbed a button and the hatch swung shut again and turned to follow. Growing up with his sister had certain benefits that he could enjoy. He could tell from her stride and the tone that her voice took that something was on her mind, of that Itani had no doubt. Trying to keep the mood light he patted her shoulder as the siblings exited the entrance-way and stepped into the small living area of his shuttle; home sweet home. Motioning for her to take a seat he continued into the kitchen space.

I suppose that would be true. The armor suits you by the way. Of these many topics I am sure one includes the mission to Coruscant, mum, or Daryn, no? Care for something to drink?

Taking a few canned drinks from the cooler Itani returned to his sister, gave her the drink, then took a seat on a chair opposite her. His smile faded as he looked at her. His initial notions were correct, something was definitely on her mind. Looking her in the eye he couldn't help but wonder.

Whats on your mind, vod?

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Lia followed him through the ship and took a seat at the table, pulling off her helmet and setting it on the tabletop. Yes, Daryn might have been part of it, yes, it was the mission...but not the one to Coruscant.

Well...it does have to do with a mission, but not Coruscant. Not entirely.

She paused, not so much for dramatic effect (though it did add that), but rather to figure just how to tell him...well, honestly, there was nothing for it other than to tell him straight out.

I'm joining the Special Operations team, Itani.

She stated simply, green eyes searching his. Yes, Lia had completely ignored his offer of a drink, but then again, she didn't really think she wanted anything to drink. Not much could settle in her stomach right now, and that was the last thing she needed was to be feeling sick. Some example that would be setting for her brother, right? Huffing lightly to herself, Italia tapped one finger on the tabletop anxiously.

[Latus]

His eyes went wide. Not so much because her comment was unusual, but because of whom it was coming from. Itani had seen others, friends from by gone days, run off to join up with the "honorable" Mandalorian military. That was the rite of passage, the way a boy entered the world to become a man. It was only too obvious, especially now that he had been the black sheep in that regard. Tipping the chilled metal can to his lips he took a long drink, his mind number than it had been in days. Raising his eyes he gave her another look.

Really?

All at once it seemed to add up. The appearance of his ba'buir Ark, the successful mission to Coruscant, the new armor; it all pointed to the military. Looking back at his drink Itani let out a long sigh. He certainly wasn't thrilled at her decision but could he do anything about it? True enough that he did not like the military, but could he really look his sister in the eyes and say no? Taking another long drink he turned back to Italia, eying her once again.

And what, exactly, brought about this new mindset?

He was having difficulty hiding his displeasure. The cocky air that he maintained so effortlessly was tarnishing as he looked at her. She didn't need the army. She was a competent fighter and a clever one at that, a mercenary. What possible reason could she have to leave a life of freedom for one of damn near servitude?