Chapter 3: Archaic

[Pandora 77]

"Sorry." He stopped squeezing her shoulder and rubbed his palm against it instead.

The words he spoke next were truer than he'd intended them to be.

"I'm not going to dispose of you again, sweetheart." He was so close to her now he figured she'd either slap him or kiss him, neither of which option would have left him in the ideal situation.

[Rogue 4]

"What reason do I have to believe you?" Layla asked, crossing her arms over her chest and sighing. "I have your word, and your past history---which doesn't really speak well for not disposing of Lay, if you recall."

[Pandora 77]

Blast it all! He dropped his hand from her arm but didn't back away.

"Would you believe me if I said that I was a total idiot back then? Just completely stupid? Besides, will your squadron really give me the opportunity?"

[Rogue 4]

"What does my squadron have to do with this?" She asked, dropping her own arms. "And you may have been stupid then, Deign, but you're not that bright now either. You sit here and say that you're sorry, that it's not what you wanted, but your actions too often speak differently."

"You sent a fleet of mercenaries after me. If you knew where I was you could have called, you could have written. You didn't have to do things this way." She averted his gaze. "You did this because it's not about me and you, it's about the New Republic and the Empire."

[Pandora 77]

And there was the truth of it. He shook his head nevertheless.

"You are not the New Republic and I am not the Empire and you know it. I just do a little snooping and take the Empire's money. I don't care much for their ways of thinking and you know that too. Archaic was the opportunity that presented itself, Layla. And don't you start about power again, because you know that is not true either." He was getting angry again. He tried to force it down and softened his mannerisms after a deep breath.

"I'm not denying that my actions over the last few years have been anything short of sleezy. But think way back. Way back before you got pregnant, back when we were happy. Did you ever in your wildest dreams see the postential for all of that in me?" He angled his index finger at her. "Now be honest."

[Rogue 4]

"I always saw potential in you Deign." Layla told him honestly. "Always. Otherwise I wouldn't have wasted my time with you. Back then you were trying to take care of your family, remember? You were honorable, and proud. Now...I just don't know, Deign."

Archaic didn't always work soley for the Empire either. They used to sell information to everyone. It was the Empire that caused the problems.

[Pandora 77]

"I am still trying to take care of my family. That's why I'm still doing this." He gestured to the building around them, indicating that he meant the entire organization. "And this," he swirled a finger in the air between them, indicating his actions at the moment. "This is because I've screwed up one too many times with the Diktat, who is not quite as benign as people think. He is the one thirsting for power and I am the one supplying him with the information he needs to move up in the galaxy and it's just not working anymore. I'm trying to buy my family enough time to get them offworld." He glanced at his chrono again. "And time runs out in... about three hours."

[Rogue 4]

"You're moving them off of Corellia?" Layla asked, surprised. His family was one hell of a stubborn Corellian family. "I understand if that's necessary, but you better realize that you're going to have to explain to them why they have to leave their home."

[Ayingel 24]

Szen nodded. "Got it." She leaned against the wall and looked outside. I hope she's alright. Her mind was wild with terrible thoughts of Layla near death locked up somewhere.

[Pandora 77]

"Yes, I know, and they'll hate me forever regardless. I can live with that. But you're changing the subject. I've already figured that Revenant Squadron is elite and probably top secret too. A few months old or not, news still travels fast for me and I've not even heard a whisper about it. Give me one more piece of information. What was the reason they were created? Or is there something about your ships that is specific to Revenant? You probably use X-wings, don't you? The New Republic loves X-wings. What makes them so special?"

Edited July 16, 2008 by Drake

[Rogue 4]

"There's nothing about the X-wings that's special. They're normal, routinely maintained T-65's." Layla told him with a small smirk. "It's not the fighters, it's the pilots. And what other reason would they be created but to be a hinderance to the Imperial Navy?"

---

"At ease, Nima." Nat said. He didn't look over to her, grabbed his datapad to get started on his work. "I was a little out of line too."

[Pandora 77]

Deign considered this and nodded. "Granted. So other than you, what makes the pilots so special?"

[Rogue 4]

"Let the Empire find out for itself." She gave a wry little grin before sliding around him and walking over to sit on the bed. "Much better than that cot I had this morning."

[Princess 35]

Nima dropped her salute and stood at ease. "Do you want to talk about what's bugging you? Is it something that I need to know about as squadron medic, or shall we start tackling this oh so exciting pile of paperwork to sort through? I know that's just your specialty. It was my worst during my residency, attendings were always getting on me about completing my charts, but I wanted to spend more time with the patients then on the paperwork." She smiled, trying to draw Nat out, since he'd looked a little miserable when she walked in. "Oh, and I'm sorry that my krakana of a mother ruined your time with your sister earlier."

[Rogue 4]

"It's alright, I just haven't seen her in a few years. And you know how hard it is to get a comm signal sent to Ryloth. Especially in the lower caverns." Nat responded. "But yes, let's find a good place to get started."

[Princess 35]

Nima nodded. "I know. It's one of the reasons that I haven't contacted my mother in so long. But I suggest we start out by brewing large amounts of caf, because we all know that's how paperwork really gets done, and find Captain Fae and find out what intelligence has dug up for us to dig through."

[Pandora 77]

Deign sighed. If only it were as simple as letting them find out for themselves.

"Glad you approve." He took the ration bar out of his pocket and handed it to Layla as he sat next to her. "Sorry, I know I promised you grilled cheese. Maybe if you hate me less tomorrow I'll make the fire prevention droids frantic and cook you a proper meal."

How can I make what she told me look bigger?

[Rogue 4]

Layla accepted the bar and looked down at the silver wrapped, ominous meal-substitute. "At least it's not meal-paste." She said, swallowing. "Thanks."

[Pandora 77]

Deign nodded. "Sure." He sat there while she ate and stared at his hands. "Where is Sena? I'm asking for me now and for my family, not the Empire."

[Chickenman 9]

"Kaden, you'll be accompanying me to the meeting as my associate. Your job will mostly be to stand there, look pretty, and agree with everything I say. Unless Atuarre starts shooting, in which case we do the same, and run." He turned to everyone. "Let's get to work. We've only got a few hours to go."

[Mara 29]

Kaden had blinked, wondering if the captain had forgotten their ill-fated blue milk run, and had kept his voice casual. "Fair. Not much use for weapons in the mechanics shop, Jaggs."

He nodded and holstered the proffered weapon. Force, don't make me have to use this thing...

[Chickenman 9]

"Well then maybe you'll get some practice in. And don't worry, the targets will be nice and close."

Aeric noted Kaden's reluctance as he holstered the weapon. He may not feel up to this, but this is a commando squad. If it did come down to a firefight, Aeric only hoped his skills would be able to keep himself and Kaden alive.

The group began gathering their gear. Aeric grabbed some medical tape and taped his pistol to his stomach, underneath his shirt. He hid another one in the padding on the back of his vest.

"You might want to conceal yours too, buddy."

[Vergere 1]

Brier sat in a large room with her family, piles of papers scattered about the table messily. Brier had pulled her hair back simply but very out of the way, and just looked frustrated as they quietly shuffled through papers individually, some of them listening to music in their headsets as they work. All the windows and doors were open, giving it a nice, open look in the room and a nice breeze to keep things cool.

Edited July 17, 2008 by Marking Twain

[Rogue 4]

Nat nodded. "I was just about to do that." He rose, walking past her and out the door, walking around the house until he found Brier elbow-deep in paperwork. "Need some assistance Captain?"

---

"Deign, I can't." Layla told him, looking down at the floor. "I just don't trust you like that yet. Bad things come from good intentions." And that's just considering you're intentions are good. "Sena's safe from Gallamby." And she's safe from you.

Edited July 19, 2008 by Rogue

[Vergere 1]

Brier looked up in suprise, then motioned to some open chairs. "Feel free to join in the mayhem. We're going through the paperwork to see if we can find any good leads to send the others out on. Dig in."