Chapter 2: Forges of Ithyari

[Vergere 1]

Brier spoke quietly into Szen's ear as they finished getting their things to head out, "I doubt I'll be mad at you at all this evening, so don't take things I say or do to mean I'm mad." She smiled encouragingly at her new partner. "C'mon."

They strolled out of the hotel and down to the market briskly, down to the market. A continual frown on her features, she looked around as they walked, taking in all the details.

[Ayingel 24]

Szen smiled as she followed her new--what she hoped to be--friend to the market.

This is working out a lot better than I was worried about...And it's not like it's a bad thing to be around someone in charge.

"Hey, as long as no one tries to buy me, we won't have any problems." She laughed a little at her own joke.

[Vergere 1]

Murmurs low enough that only Szen could hear her. "Oh damn, you figured it out. And here I was, hoping for a bit of extra income..." She grinned over at Szen before returning to looking around as they walked, hoping to get a basis for the information she was looking for.

[Mara 29]

Waiting there, almost literally dead in space, Kaden was finding it hard to keep his focus on the upcoming mission and what they were going to be doing. Without anything to do, his mind was wandering, and before he knew it, he was opening up his sack and pulling out a holo.

He stared at the three figures in the image for a while, trying to make sense of his life, trying to get his mind back 100% in battle mode. His eyes lingered on the dark-haired woman.

Kaden gave it one more look before putting it away again and returning his eyes back to the dark space around him and the stars.

This is for you, Mom... all of this is for you...

[Ayingel 24]

Sticking close to the Captain, Szen looked around the market. It reminded her a lot of her days at the academy, all the people, busy streets. Then something caught her eye.

She whispered into her ear, "Mind if we stop for a second, I saw something I wouldn't mind buying for the role." She smiled as she looked again at the shiny bangles.

[Rogue 4]

Nat sighed, leaning his head back against the eject-seat as they all sat dead in space, their engines turned down to zero. The quiet of space brought things to memory. His home in the caverns on Ryloth, growing up. His brothers and sister---all older than himself. He remembered bartering passage off Ryloth, to the first system he could get to, and because of it's location on most trade routes he had ended up on Corellia. That had been his first trip into space, come to think of it, and the nervous sense of freedom it brought had lingered with him even after he had joined the Rebellion in Doaba Guerfel, and throughout his service with the ground forces.

He never stopped looking to the skies, and that's why his commanding officer had arranged for him to do some pilot training. At the time he had been told it was because they needed people to fly the shuttles, but it soon became apparent that he was a born pilot--and a damn good one too.

"To keep you here, out of a cockpit would be a travesty. You're more valuable up there."

Nat smiled to himself, shaking his head at the memory. As a parting gift the man had given him enough credits to get to Coruscant and enlist in the Pilot's Accademy. He was pretty sure that without him he wouldn't be flying as Executive Officer of a fresh squadron.

I'll have to remember to thank him for this leg injury when I see him again.

Nat flipped on the comm when he realized it was still quiet. "This is going to be a long wait if nobody has a good story to tell."

[Princess 35]

Nima spoke up "Well, this one time, at med school..."

[Rogue 4]

The audible sound of Nat hitting his forehead came across the comm. "Nevermind."

[Princess 35]

"Oh come on Blueberry. Get your mind out of the gutter. I was just thinking about this prank we played on first year med students during gross anatomy."

[Rogue 4]

Nat blinked. "Blueberry?"

[Princess 35]

Nima cringed. "Oh crap, did I say that out loud?"

[Drake 53]

Posting as Aeric. Sorry Chicken, but the opportunity was here and you weren't.

Aeric held back a chuckle and flipped on his comm. "That's a good one. I think I'll use it from now on. What do you think, Lieutenant Blueberry?"

Edited September 5, 2007 by Drake

[Mara 29]

Kaden heard his comm crackle and come alive as Lt. Riamor came over it. He smiled wryly.

A story, huh? How about when my parents abandoned me? Or when the Empire killed them? How about never having a permanent home? Or...

Nima's voice broke into his thoughts with her own story. He turned the comm down in volume a little bit, not noticing the "Blueberry" comment,. Kaden sat back, staring out into the stars, wondering which systems they were and what beings were living on them. Beings that were probably oblivious to everything happening just a few systems away.

The beings they were trying to save, along with the rest of the New Republic and other outlying systems, by destroying the remnants of Palpatine's Empire.

Edited September 5, 2007 by Mara

[Vergere 1]

She nodded to Szen, and followed the other girl to wherever she was going, keeping a casual attitude and her thumbs in some belt loops as they walked, one hand near a blaster. She walked a bit away from Szen, giving her some space but close enough that Brier could step in if something happened. As she leaned back against a wall, she just looked around at all the people passing by, taking in everything.

[Rogue 4]

"I think I might be putting in a transfer." Riamor remarked, shaking his head. Blueberry....now that's original. He remembered how much the Revenants had begun to war with the Mynocks and smirked to himself. "Think Captain Slade would take me, Lieutenant--er, Captain?"

[Drake 53]

Tak laughed as he rode the turbolift down with Layla and Jaim. "Scoundrel? Scoundrel, eh? I like the sound of that."

After reaching the bottom of the lift, they made their way through the lobby and back out onto the street.

[Rogue 4]

"Scoundrel, huh?" Another voice echoed in her head, carrying the same playful tone and she swore she could see violet eyes and a Corellian grin. "I bet you've got a thing for scoundrels..."

Layla didn't realize that she had slowed slightly, and biting her lip she quickened her pace again like nothing had happened.

[Drake 53]

Tak barely noticed Layla's slight change in pace and demeanor but notice it, he had. He chose not to pursue it since it was either nothing important or something she didn't want to talk about at the moment. Instead, he chose to look back and give her a smile.

"Coming, slow poke?" he asked.

[Rogue 4]

Layla smiled, her eyes loosing their clouded look a moment later. "Yeah, sorry. Just ah...thought I'd make you wait."

Wonderful...a little memory and all my witty one liners blast out the transparisteel window.

[Chickenman 9]

Aeric chuckled to himself. "Careful, Nat. We both know who the better pilot is. And coincidentally, the most good looking."

[Drake 53]

He smirked, knowing that something really was off with Layla. Again, he didn't ask about it. He might later if they had the chance but right now they had to refrain from talking about anything out of character.

"Well, Miss Proul, please don't make us wait any more than we must!" Tak exclaimed. "Our clients are looking to buy some prime realestate on Ithyari and they need us to scan the market atmosphere. You know, do a little recon here and there. Maybe take down a competitor or two."

[Rogue 4]

"Competitive marketing, is there no better kind, Captain Jast?" Layla smiled at him. "Now I'm telling you, when we're finished here our product is going to be the best thing, if not the only thing in the local market."

---

"A matter of opinion, Captain." Nat smirked to himself. "And we just won't know who the better pilot is until we go head to head now will we?"

Edited September 5, 2007 by Rogue

[Drake 53]

Tak grinned. "You said it, Imana! We're going to burn through the rest of the competitors like a wildfire." As they turned onto a main street, they came into view of the sensor relay building and the multitude of dishes and antennas protruding from it. Tak looked up the hill at it and added, "First, though, we're going to need to find a way into the trade."

[Rogue 4]

She nodded, taking in the building while she passed, pretending she hadn't even noticed it. "It's going to be difficult. I'm sure our competitors have found ways to secure themselves. They're guarding their assets in six different ways, and I bet that's just the front door. And we can't forget that someone is always watching."

Six guards at the front gate. Security cameras.

[Vergere 1]

As Brier rested back against a wall, keeping a protective eye on Szen, a tall Corellian made his way towards her. He smiled a cocky smile as he approched, "G'day ma'am, I hate to bother you, but I thought you looked familiar."

Brier jumped at his voice, her hand immediately on her blaster before looking at the man's face. She smirked and relaxed again. "Raya Tsal. You should remember me. You gambled away your favorite speeder and your home to me a year ago, on Nar Shadda. By the way, the house is nice. Thanks."

He groaned and ran his hand over his face. "Yeah, I thought you were familiar." He held out his hand, "Keir Taylor. In case you forgot."

She hesitated before shaking his hand. "I never forget cocky Corellians."

"You must have quite a memory then."

She smirked. "You better believe it. What do you want, Taylor?" Her arms crossed across her chest, she continued to watch Szen out of the corner of her eye, continuing to make sure her partner was safe.