Star Wars Legacy of the Force: The Last Stand

IC: Loriana Starskimmer, Kuat Skirmish

Loriana noticed as Rhoen broke away suddenly and headed in a new direction. "Hmm. Repairs must be completed already. Rubi, what's the deal with Wraith 3's new trajectory?"

Rubi did a quick check and responded. "Oh, my. Wraith 9 and a whole batch of Howlrunners."

She headed towards the new site of the intense action and watched admiringly as Wraith 3 took out a sizable batch of the newly dispatched Howlrunners.

RubiJay kept up with the tactical updates on the displays and Loriana ramped up the shields and sighted on the remaining Runners with strafing lasers. The Runner overloaded and disintegrated, its pieces falling into its neighboring fighter, causing critical engine damage.

Loriana activated the private channel with Wraith 3. "Great work there. Is Wraith 9 out of critical, and what happened to the freighter, do you know?"

@galactic-vagabond422 \ @Sinrebirth

 

OOC - Gee this story is so bright and cheerful. We all gonna need a hug after this.
Tigger warning below - Just maybe.

IC - Kate Leeash
Kashyyyk - ??? Days ago.

Tears falling from her eyes, she had failed. Kate felt the crushing sense of hopelessness and didn’t want to move any more. She just wanted to lay there and let the ground swallow her whole. She had failed and this failure has now cost her son his life and she could hardly breathe and nothing could make up for this.

She looked back at the symbol hoping that maybe she just imagined it or misinterpreted it. But no it was clearly “Nuktuwa” and it meant to her, that she was two days from home at a normal speed. And as if to taunt her further and her personally, the ‘Mother’s Tears’ plant was growing from it and down to the ground.

~ Move. ~ the voice instructed. She had been still too long, but Kate didn't want to move, as if somehow her not moving meant that her son could live. But she had been on the ground too long, they had walked too far, she was unconscious for too long, she made a wrong turn when escaping from school, she had made the wrong decision to keep going to school instead of fleeing the planet. She had made the wrong choice in marrying Eak, she had made the wrong choice in becoming and pilot, she had made the wrong choice in being born and now nothing she could do would make it any of it right. She knew that fever was the first sign of the end. It would be followed by struggling to breathe, difficulty walking, more pain, then seizures even and then ultimately death. It would take a long time and it would be painful in every way and trying to escape a fire and deadly creatures make all the odds stacked up even further against them.

She picked herself up off the ground, each limb feeling like it was magnetized to the ground. She gathered her makeshift cups and found some more water to fill them. She gazed at the flower her inner dialogue clashing and her in her soul being torn apart. The need to save her son, but the knowledge that the only thing she could save him from now was pain. The unrelenting hope that resides in her heart kept saying ‘want if your just moments away from meeting another Wookiee that can help, or a fallen medpack with all you need. If you do this, there is no coming back. What if. . .’ this small flicker of hope was just making it all the harder.

//Denial is dangerous. // she repeated to herself over and over again as she used another leaf to pick 3 flowers and dropped them it into one of the cups so that they didn’t poison her too. She had another child to live for. //Oh Kara, what am I going to tell you?// Kate slowly walked back to find her children still sleeping. She looked back at the fires and realised they were getting closer and faster. She wanted to vomit, she wanted to scream, she looked at the water and then at her children.

Memories flashed before her eyes, the day Liam was born and how small he had been. The first steps he took, the wonder and amazement as Eak waved a small ship above his head. The first time he read a book to her, the time he got so high as he climbed he was too scared to come down. When he was 5 and he woke Her and Eak up at the crack of dawn to tell them he was going to be a pilot like Mum and Dad and that he wanted to go for his flying lesson now.

Her hands shaking, she sat down carefully but it still caused both children to stir. **Shhhh, its okay, I have some water**. Kara didn’t even sit up but drank her water laying down and then rolled over again and went back to sleep. Liam just looked groggily at her, and she noticed how pale he had gotten, or now that the light from the fires was brighter she could just see better now. Kate carefully helped Liam up a bit and she slid herself under him, so that he would rest lying on top of her in a relaxed seated position.

She would gladly rip off her own arm, or arms to save him but this one final act, as incomprehensibly terrible as it was, would be a gift for him, there was nothing left to be done. She held the cup of water to his mouth and held it while he drank it all, feeling her soul dying. **I Love you so much Liamnnska, everything is going to be okay.**.

**I know mum, do you think I could still be a pilot with a damaged arm?** His innocence and his dreams setting her soul on fire, hotter than the ones that surrounded them.**Of course sweetheart. You're going to be just fine, and you are going to fly through the galaxy and see things I or your Dad could never even have dreamed off. You're going to be just amazing!** she cooed softly as she felt Liam relax. Not one word of what she said was a lie. She started to rock back and forth gently humming the tune she used to sing him to sleep with, he may not be able to hear it, but he would feel the vibrations in her chest.

**I love you Mum.**

Then faster than she expected, Liam's breathing slowed down until he took his last breath and she felt him leave. Tears falling uncontrollably “I'm sorry. I’m so so sorry. I love you.” and she held on to him tighter and kissed his head. She never wanted to let go, she could hardly breath herself. She looked out and saw for the first time, actual flames from the fire. They had to leave and leave him here.

She carefully laid his small 7-year-old body down on a pile of leaves, and covered him with some more, like tucking him into bed. She put her head on this chest just to make sure, but heard nothing. She felt for his pulse, but again nothing. Shocked by how fast it acted, she wasn't sure if she was grateful or not, or maybe he was just that weak.

Kate gently rocked Kara awake, **We have to go** Kara looked up to see visible tears still on Kate’s face **Mum?** Kate looked away and took a deep breath. Kara sat up quickly and looked around for Liam. **His arm was very badly broken. There was nothing we could do to fix it, we couldn’t get to medical fast enough.** Kate was struggling to breathe again. **He died in his sleep, he feels no more pain and. . . and we have to leave him here. We have to go or we will be caught in the fire.**

Kate backed up to allow Kara to see. **But he just looks like he is just sleeping!** Kara said in disbelief tears in her own eyes forming. **He was fine just a moment ago! You said everything was going to be okay!** Kate understood her reaction and just gave her the as much time as she could spare for her to process it. Kara crawled up to the body and put her hand on his chest and waited. Kate counted her own breaths, trying to calm down, the next stretch of the journey was going to be the worst.

**Kara**. . .**NO! We can’t just leave him, we have to do something, we . . .** **Kara, I'm sorry but we can't, we don’t have the time. The fire will cover him, his soul is already gone and at peace. Say what you want to say to him, and then say goodbye. We won’t be back.** Kara looked helplessly at her mother, and then looked out and saw the flickering flames of the fires just beyond the trees closest to them, she knew they did have to go, but it felt so wrong.

Kate watched as Kara whispered something into Liam’s ear and then say her say goodbye. Kate knelt down and kissed his head once more, She helped Kara to her feet and embraced her in a big hug. When the embrace was over their eyes locked and they knew. Kara held Kates' hand and they turned around and started walking away. Kate knew they should run, but could barely get past walking. She feeling worse than hollow as if a black hole was actively sucking out her life with each step she took away. She wanted to turn around and look once more but didn’t. She held tightly to Kara’s hand, her last anchor of life and will to live.

~*~*~*~*~
Tag - Me.

 

IC - Kate Leeash
Kashyyyk - ??? Days ago.

The next passage of time was uneventful, the tiniest bit of tension was releasing as Kate’s ability to hear returning. Kara and Kate would take shifts in sleeping and watching as they needed. For there is no time, none that could be accurately measured anyway. Day and night blended together for whenever Kate looked up, all she saw the smoke and fire. The air was thick with heat and humidity and they took more care when gathering water because of the contamination. The ground was hard going with all the debris from the explosions, but neither had the strength to climb up.

Trying to keep focused on staying alive and to keep on moving, she was careful to keep what small positive light in her soul left alive. She wouldn’t let her mind go back, not now, not yet, they didn’t have the luxury of being consumed with grief yet. This last time as they got up to move Kara did not want to. “What’s the point mum! There is fire all around us, there are plants and animals just waiting to eat us. We have been going on forever and I have felt just so sick that we left Liam, he was all alone. We are going to die too, so might as well wait.” Kara lamented not wanting to get up.

Kate understood the pain and grief, the tiredness, thirst and hunger, and the darkness of the land. “Kara” Kate started but struggled to combine the words needed to reach past Kara’s mind and into her heart. “There is no fire in front of us, we are just three trees form my cache of supplies. Remember what I said about how this place feeds your darkness, feeds your fear and makes everything you feel worse. That’s all this is. I understand how you feel, really I do. You don’t think I haven't thought about giving up too?” these words caught Kara by surprise. Her mother was a pillar of strength and hope, and always had something positive to say, she never imagined her mum would ever consider giving up and she sat up and gave her mother a hug.

//The carers override.// kate mused to herself and smiled, //when you can’t do the thing, but then see someone else struggling with the same thing. You suddenly have the ability to do the thing to help the other person, and yourself at the same time. A true mark of a good person// she squeezed back and then looked into Kara’s eyes. “This place, it tests not only your body but your spirit. I was here before, and that’s how I learnt to hold onto the smallest positive thing and not let the darkness overwhelm me. We have to survive, it’s our deepest instinct and needs. The best chance is to not let our emotions control us, but we can’t just stop feeling, and if we ignore our emotions for too long they will explode inside of us and damage us and everyone around us.”

Kate stood up and Kara followed, they started walking on. “So the best comprise I have worked out for me is when I am in danger or in a situation that needs my logical mind, I take my emotions and put it in a box in my heart and when I can, I get somewhere safe. I take out the box and feel the emotions, and try to understand it and let it run its course. It took me years to get good at it, and even now as a grown-up I still struggle from time to time. But right now it’s a perfect time to practice just that.”

Kate waved her arms around, gesturing to the landscape. “We are in danger, and we have been for a long time now, and we are getting tired, humans can’t run on fear for very long without hurting ourselves. But we are not somewhere safe yet. So take the sadness you feel for Liam, and your fear of everything and put it into a box” as she was explaining Kate motined with her arms taking a large thing and squishing it until it was small. “But its too big Mum,” she said her voice filled with defeat.

“Then let me help you” with a smile Kate swung her arms around and looked like she was gathering all the fruit from trees. Kara half-heartedly joined in and moved her arms a bit. Kate gathered it all and started to struggle and push it smaller and smaller making funny faces while she did it. Kara couldn’t help herself and giggled. Kate knelt down and held her hands grasped firmly together, as if to stop water from spilling from them, in front of Kara. “Add what you gathered” Kara put her hands on top of her mothers.

“Now we take a deep breath and push it to our hearts” as she demonstrated by bringing her hands to her chest and then pushing her hands flat while taking a deep breath. “Our hearts are so big, and it understands all feelings and knows how to look after them correctly unlike our brain sometimes.” Kara not really wanting to believe or even try, but her mum seemed so sure of herself, that Kara wanted to believe her.

She followed her mother's actions and took a deep breath and suddenly and weirdly felt better. She looked at her mum in confusion, she didn’t think it would actually help. “Remember it’s only for a short time, we will have to look at these when we are safe. The darkness here is so strong and it’s so easy to be overwhelmed. Just think of even one good thing, no matter how silly or small and hold on.” they continued to walk in silence, Kara pondering this lesson.

“What is keeping you going right now mum?” Kate smiled as she heard a small spark of hope in her daughter's voice again. “I am here with you, and I get to show you around and teach you about this shadowy place. I am getting to watch you grow stronger and smarter right before my eyes. And just around this tree, we should find my cache with food and water and tools.”

“Why do you have that here?”

“For such a time as this”

Kate was more relieved than she realised when she saw her home tree. She looked up and saw that it wasn’t on fire. But that didn’t mean that it hadn’t already been on fire. She had noted a while back that the fires were not getting closer and where in-fact they were going out, this was a good sign. She looked for her rope system but was disheartened to find in all on the floor, burnt and snapped. ~ At least you didn’t have Liam here to see this ~ the voice chimed cheerfully. //When looking for a positive, that really is not what I meant.// Kate responded hurt, upset and annoyed.

Kate searched for the symbol she cut into the tree, once she found it, she dug a little way under the soil and saw that her cache was un-disturbed. She opened it and found it uncontaminated. She grabbed the food bars and handed them to Kara who instantly opened the packets and started to eat. //At least she took off the packaging// she smiled as she watched daughter ravenously devour the terrible tasting protein bars.

Kate pulled out the water canteen’s, and the water purifying packets. She took a sip of the water and found it cool and refreshing, even though it tasted a little stale. She offered it to Kara who drank it so fast she started to choke, but then calmed herself and smiled at her mother. Kate reached in for the rest of the items. A blaster, two camouflage poncho’s that double as blankets, one she put on her daughter and giggled as it reached the ground like a dress on her. Another knife which she also gave to her daughter. Keys to a ship, two stim packs, a small health kit, and a lightsabre she had found on her first journey in the shadowlands.

She never told anyone about this lightsabre and knew it was a very useful weapon, but she didn’t ever intend to use it. She kept it sort of as a prize, but also as something to sell, to get enough money to be able to do something, to set up a life somewhere. It was also very dangerous to have, since having any Jedi connections could easily get you killed or worse these days. She would have to be careful who she sold it too. Luckily or unluckily depending on the situation, she was acquainted with a few such unscrupulous individuals that would buy it from her and ask no questions and not tell no names if ever questioned.

“Mum, aren’t you going to eat?” Kara asked adjusting her poncho and water canteen and knife to her small body. “No, it will make me sleepy at this time, and I need all my brainpower and skills. We are not far from my ship, we will fly out of here and then I will grab something to eat,” she said as she closed up her cache and made a mental note to re-fill it some time. “We would have to climb all the way back up mum, that’s impossibly high!” she said with an accusing tone as she watched her mum set herself up with her fresh supplies.

“Not so, not far from here I found a large hole in a tree, not terrifyingly far from the ground and it’s just big enough to fit a small shuttle that I had won in a bet. We modified it a lot, so now it makes for a pretty good for all-rounder ship, shields and lasers, and big enough to fit 4 people, even if it was going to be a bit squishy. Your Dad helped me with the modifications, it is our emergency ship should anything happen, it has more supplies and communications. I planted vines around the hole that would grow over it so no one would suspect anything. Your Dad and I just checked on it maybe 3 weeks ago, cleaned it up and tested it while you were at school.” Kate listed cheerfully as she held Kara’s hand and started to walk.

“Will Dad be there?” Kara asked innocently, and Kate felt the wind get knocked out of her. She hadn’t thought about him at all or her clan. //Were they alright? Were they worried about her too? Did they make it? What would she say about Liam?// Kara squeezed Kates hand and she took a deep breath “I don’t know, but I hope so”.

Tag - Me.

 

IC: Rhoen Aquilla
Kuat System

Rhoen growled his fighter shaking again. Shields were gone, and he was being slowly picked apart. A few more shots and he would be gone. His first engagement with a new squadron and he would be one of the dead. Good job Rhoen, good job keeping your mother's legacy alive. On his sensors he could almost feel the opposing pilot grinning as the lined up their next shots, the ones that would finally put an end to the young man. Taking a breath he sat up lifting his chin, if he was going to go out, he might as well do it with some dignity. With a flick he opened the channel with Syal.

"Wraith 9, I…" his words failed him, what should he say. It's been a pleasure, Be safe, I love you….no he could say none of that could he? These were his last words in this galaxy they should be important.

"Great work there." Loriana's voice cut through, stopping him from continuing. Looking back to his sensors his back looked clear no more 'runners hounding him baying for blood. A sigh of relief left his chest. "Is Wraith 9 out of critical, and what happened to the freighter, do you know?"

"Yeah, we look clear." Rhoen replied over the channel, "I got really banged up, but I'll make it, thanks to you." Looking again he found the blip on his sensor screen that was the Zodiac Star...it was listing, tumbling moving without any direction. "No," he said quietly, With some quick swapping he tried to hail them. "Zodiac Star, come in Zodiac." No reply "This is Officer Aquilla with the Galactic Alliance please respond." Deadly silence greeted him. He slumped back in his chair lip quivering a little. They'd done all they could and it still wasn't enough. No that wasn't right, there was more they could have done was there not? They could have intercepted Vua, stopped him from launching that torpedo. It would have been a flagrant disregard for command and possibly a court marshall, but that family would still be alive.

He shook his head, he can't change the past he can only move forward. Though the question remained should he tell Loriana. It was clear she didn't know about she could continue to not know about it. No he couldn't do that, he wouldn't lie to his comrades.

"It's gone, Wraith 4, it's gone…" he did his best to keep his voice even not betraying the anger that was starting to rise inside him. "We did everything we could...it's not our fault." he closed the channel and slammed his fist into his thigh, though he said they did all they could. It felt like a lie.

TAG: @Sinrebirth @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

 

IC: Loriana Starskimmer, Kuat Skirmish

Loriana felt her stomach churn in a ball of ice at Rhoen's words. Gone?! How could it? What if that had been her family? She felt cold fury quickly followed by a gnawing question and doubt: These are the good guys?! No... Loriana recalled her misgivings during the briefing. There was only one culprit and villain in this piece, although there might be more pulling the strings ... Guess they showed their true colors after all, sooner than later, in the heat of battle...

One thing Loriana resolved right at that moment, not to blindly follow any orders, no matter who gave them, and to give her trust to her squadmates and those in command who didn't look to be sending them to the Rancor pit.

@Sinrebirth \ @galactic-vagabond422

 

OOC - Ooof better catch up then.

IC - Kate Leeash
Kashyyyk - 24 hours ago.

~*~*~*~*~

//Probably should have put a communicator in my cache too,// Kate thought, //then I would have more answers now, but not far to go//. She gazed ahead, and around, still no creatures, but she was still focused, even more now that they neared their target. She caught the sight of Kara out of the corner of her eye and saw that she was tired now with food onboard. **Nearly there, keep a lookout** she reminded her. The glow of the fires where nearly out, and far away. Kate could see the light filtering through the leaves and she knew that it was about midday, what day she couldn’t be sure.

**Up there, see it?** Kate asked Kara telepathically. She had reverted back to that communication as it got darker and the animals started to rustle more again. She pointed up high to a not overly weirdly placed green patch on this Wroshyr tree. It was going to be a two-hour climb, but then it would be smooth sailing from there. Kara just looked at her mum with a ‘really’ look. **I thought you loved climbing** Kate cheekily added, knowing full well this was going be tricky.

They reached the base and Kate pulled out the two stim packs. She looked around for danger, satisfied that there was nothing immediate she knelt down to face Kara. **Now this, . . this is like having 50 marjjar berries at once. You will feel invincible for like 4 hours, and then need to sleep for what will feel like 100.** she tried to think what an adult dose would do to a 10-year-old. **But you only let me have two at a time** Kate laughed as she remembered the last time Kara has 10 berries because they were unsupervised, she didn’t sleep for 24 hours and was in constant motion climbing everything that could and even couldn’t be climbed. **We are going to use this to have the energy to climb all the way up. That’s why I have them** Kate said as she injected the dose into Kara’s arm and then one into her own. **Gonna take a few minutes to kick it, but . . .**

Kate heard a twig snap and spun around knife already out. She couldn’t see it, but she knew it was there. **Start Climbing now** **But mum. . .** **NOW! And quietly. . .** she heard the slight shuffles as Kara began her ascent. //Please be a Tech and not Wyyyschokk// Kate thought, every time there was rustle in the bushes.

She then saw the first of two large tusks then its head as it slowly moved into view. . //It’s a Katarn, Lucky for me it’s not one of the climbing types.// She gazed upon the highly-revered creature, looking for any weakness or details that could help her win should it choose to attack. It looked larger than the one she fought in the past, but it also moved slower and hadn’t yet noticed her. //Maybe its old, or full// Kate hoped. She then heard Kara make a mistake as she was climbing, causing a small bit of tree debris to fall and land next to Kate //Kriff!// and the Katarn stopped and turned to face Kate.

They stared at each other, sizing each other up, neither moving. “You Leave, You Live” Kate said in her deepest most authoritative tone she had. The Katarn lowered slightly as if to focus. . .or to pounce. Kate knew the creature wouldn’t understand her words, but perhaps it would understand her meaning. These creatures were smart and revered for a reason. Kate reached for and held out the lightsabre ready, debating in her head if she should light it up. Would it scare the creature or cause it to attack? Right now they were at an impasse, neither was going to make the first move easy.

“I’m not worth it. You leave and I leave. We both live to see another day.” Kate reiterated. The Katarn lowered a little more, and Kate started to feel shaky as if every fibre of her being was tense and ready to snap. The stim pack had kicked in and was starting to overload her system that was already tired and then pushed to its natural limits when the sight of this fierce predator came into view.

Neither had even blinked yet. Kate decided she had to make the first move, so she ignited the lightsabre. The sudden brightness and noise disturbed her but disturbed the creature more as it backed up half a step. //Yes, you flinched, you lost// She lunged her whole body half a step forward making herself bigger, she even felt bigger like she could squash this creature under her foot even though it was the size of an x-wing. “Leave” she commanded in a tone that she felt would maybe have even made Darth Vader back down. The creature looked once more at her, and at her lightsaber. . .then decided it wasn’t worth it and started to walk backwards and away. She took another sudden step forward to ensure her dominance over this situation and the creature flinched again and ran off.

She looked around once more to ensure everything was under her control. She disengaged the lightsabre and hooked it back onto her belt. She waited a moment for her eyes to readjust to the darkness, then looked up to see Kara had made good progress. With one more look around she put away her knife and started to make the climb too. It was easy, every muscle in her body grateful for the movement, even her mind was pleased to be off the ground and back up high where she belonged.

Faster than she had ever in her life she made it to the hole in the tree and saw Kara waiting for her carefully seated under the craft, ready to attack if it wasn’t Kate. //So proud// Kate mussels twitched slightly, her hands sore. "Dads not here," Kara said in sadly. Kate was surprised at her lack of surprise //Yeah, I didn't think so, hope he is ok though//. “That's alright, he is probably waiting for us with Ronda, let’s leave” she pushed her keys up to the door of the craft that recognized them and opened. The smell of fabric and metal a refreshing difference to the moss and dirt of their current surroundings.

She saw all the boxes with supplies she and an Eak checked, “Have a seat” Kate pointed to the front of the ship. Kara went to sit down in the main chair “Not that one, that’s mine!” Kate said with a cheeky tone as Kara just rolled her eyes back at her mother but with a smile and plopped into the co-piolet chair. //Oh growing up so fast//

Kate leaned over her chair and flicked a few switches and all the machinery hummed to life and she let out an audible sigh she stood straight up and again and walked out of the ship. Kara looked out the window to see what she up was up to but couldn’t make it out. Suddenly diffuse light streamed into the craft as the vines parted. Kate got back on board and shut the ship up. “Let see if anyone left us a message.”

They sat back down in their seats, and Kate flipped a few more switches and nothing happened. Concern crossed her face as she started to do a few checks. Newsfeed filled the little holo-projector. Information about safe locations, and where to get help and who is missing flashed quickly on the screen, too fast for Kara to read much more than the first few words. Then it went quiet again, and Kara realised it was the clan channel. “Nothing,” she said quietly, unsure if that was a question or statement.

“Nothing at all, not from anyone we know,” Kate confirmed. “Perhaps they haven’t gotten to a communicator yet, it was very chaotic, I mean you lost yours!” Kara offered, but with the underlining tone of understanding what it could actually mean. Neither wanted to say it, but they both knew what this meant. Kate sighed as she checks a few more things through the holonet and found that she could only access the local version, communications with the rest of the galaxy had been cut.

“5 Days” Kate said in disbelief. “5 days ago when the attack started, and 4 days we were down in the shadowlands.” She knew it had been a while, but days? ~you knew it was days.~ the voice reminded her. She gulped and sighed, not sure what to do with this information now, but they had other places to be. Reports were conflicting, but the words she plucked out as she scanned over all the articles from the local holo-net seem to indicate that the Galactic Alliance attacked Kashyyyk, and the Confederation was helping put out the fires, but Kashyyk was not formally part of the Confederation. That sounded messy, and something deeper was definitely going on. //Yeah, Typical of Kashyyyk to get the short straw in another war.//

“We will go check with Ronda first, then we will make more plans,” Kate said starting to flick more switches and the craft started to hum to life. “Ronda?” “Remember all the code names I have been trying to teach you. Do you remember what Ronda was?” “Ronda. . Ronda. . .rendezvous point, our tree!” Kara remembered, she found the code names tricky mostly because she didn’t think she should ever have to be sneaky in what she was saying.

“Yep” Kate said, strapping herself in and watching as Kara did the same, she held the controls of the ship in her hands and felt for the first time in 5 days like she was in control of something. Just before she took off she prepared herself for what she might see, then remembered that Kara should prepare herself too.

“Kara, I am going to fly up and above the tree line, but keep pretty close to it, I don’t know if there are still unfriendly's out there. I’m going to circle our tree to see the damage, I am going to fly over the village and see what’s left, then I’m going to see Ronda. I want you to prepare for what you might see and how much it might hurt. We will see buildings destroyed and trees burnt and . . .” “Ok Mum” Kara cut in. Kate nodded understanding that Kara got it. //going from baby to grown-up child and back in seconds oh this is going to be hard. You have the perfect back story to become a villain, I’m going to try and treat you right so that you become the good guy. I promise//.

Kate pulled up on the throttle and gently eased the ship out. For a less skilled pilot, this would have been difficult, but it was only hard for Kate because it had been a while since she flew. Soon enough she eased up out of the canopy line and looked around. As prepared as she was, it wasn’t enough. Off in the horizon, she could see flames above the trees and the thick plums of smoke billowing from them. The size felt like half the planet was on fire. Everywhere she turned to look add saw not much more than black chard sticks and exposed trees. She saw some infrastructure, but not much. She flew over to her home, or now more accurately what ‘was’ their home. Nothing was left, not even the foundations on which it was built. “Must have got a direct hit?” Kate said absently.

With all that she had gone through in the past few days, she didn’t have any more emotions. She was just numb now, her heart couldn’t ache because she no longer had one. As she flew by she saw what was possibly Wookiee’s moving and darting around. She saw that the school was indeed flattened and she heard Kara gasp. She didn’t really have any words of comfort for her so kept quiet.

When she had seen enough to know that nothing was left for her, she started to head toward Ronda. Not because she had any hope that someone was there, but because she told Kara she would. But as she predicted, even from the distance the tree was damaged. Kate flew in low and landed on it, even as Kara squealed that it was too small for such a large ship, Kate knew her ship. “Stay Here” she commanded as she walked out into the main gathering area, that was normally totally enclosed by the tree, but now she had to shield her eyes from the harsh daylight and not breath to deeply because of the smoke. Looking around she saw nothing had been moved since the explosion.

Kate felt sick to her stomach, was it the smoke? Was the stim wearing off, was it emotions she no longer had now manifested as physical symptoms? Was it all of it. She looked around and decided to leave a message for anyone to find but only her clan would understand. She thought about carving the message out with her knife into the tree but decided it would take too long. But devoid of any other means of writing she pushed the lightsaber to the side to get to her knife. //Lightsaber cuts and burns// So she grabbed it again, annoyed she was using it for the second time today. She looked around, all around for ANY sign of ANY one that could possibly think that she was a Jedi, but not even birds were here.

It took less than 30 seconds, but even that she felt was a little too long. Her message simply said “Gone to see the Boss” and she dashed back into the ship, throwing the lightsabre to the side, hearing it make a rattling metallic clang as it hit the floor. Jumped into her seat and started to take off before the door even closed, at full speed, she dashed off into the canopy tops, and even a little lowered weaving in and out of trees and ignoring her daughter’s yelps of fear. She had to fly away, faster, she couldn’t be here anymore, or perhaps ever again. She headed to the raging fires further south of her location, she had an idea to get them off the planet without too much interference.

Faster and faster she flew through the treetops, sometimes miss judging a small branch and flinching as it slammed into the side of her ship. Kara had stopped making noise now, she had put on her belt and just looks worried. Kate zoomed straight into the fires, alarms starting blaring in her ship, but she knew the ship would be fine. After a minute or two, she made a sudden turn up through the thickest parts of the smoke, she followed it up, all the way up until it started to thin in the uppermost atmosphere, the alarms stopped. Her ship now purged by fire and smoke, she scanned out and found almost no other ships between her and her hyperspace jump.

She plugged in the coordinates so that she would spend as little time as possible out in the open. She took a deep breath and turned to Kara “We are going to visit your Aunty Adalia!” she said in a bright upbeat tone and with that, she pressed forward and zoomed to the location, waited a minute and took off into hyperspace.

TAG - Me (For one last thing before I play - Promise)

 

Occ - This is the last one, next post I get to play with people, woot!

IC - Kate Leeash
Trandosha System 1 Day ago.

~*~*~*~

After just a few minutes, they reverted back to real space. I the Trandosha system, it was the closest easiest ‘Safest’ place that Kate already have in the nav computer. Flying around and closer to the planet, She didn't intend to stay but send as subspace communication to Adalia.

“Hi - ‘Adalia Tehanis’ - is off-world at the moment, please leave a message”

“Hi Addie, Kate here, you better not be caught up in this war. . .we gotta talk so get back to me okay. Cheers” with that Kate shut off the communication. “Uurgg, I was hoping she would be home but it was kinda a long shot. Oh well, we need some real food and rest, whaddya reckon?” “I'm so hungry,” Kara said twitching in her seat, still hyped on the stim.

~*~*~*~

IC - Kate Leeash
Zeltros - Inner Rim, 23 hours ago (ish)

A short time later, Kate landed her craft “Sasha” (Kara came up with the name) down in its assigned pad. Kara was already up gathered some clean clothing in a backpack and was bouncing. Kate got her clothing as well after carefully putting Eaks’ and Liam's to the side. She gathered her things together they walked off the ship, closed the door and locked it. Kate knew it would be safe, there was excellent security around, and she agreed to pay a little extra for the privilege of a private pad.

The door was locked and Kara was literally running laps around the ship, but Kate found it oddly difficult to let go of the ship physically. Like if somehow she let go and it would burst into flames, or she would simply wake up back on Kashyyyk. Her mind explained the irrationality of it, but she still struggled to move past the fear. “MUM, LET'S GO!” Kara shouted and started to tug at her mother’s arm. With that sudden jolt, Kate stopped touching the ship and she freaked for a moment, but the ship didn't disappear, or burst into flames, it was going to be okay. Still shaking herself from the stim, she nodded and smiled at her daughter and they walked off. Kate constantly turning back to face the ship //Yep, still there//.

Their first stop was a spa, and Kate booked the two of them in for a deep bath treatment. It would only take an hour, and they both needed to remove the caked-on dirt and grime from their adventure The look of bewildered horror on the face of the staff member manning the front desk was comical. “We have been on a mother-daughter camping trip, and I have to go back to work this afternoon, so we need to clean up a bit” “Of course madam, right this way” The young snobbish looking lady offered trying her best to hide her disgust.

The water was soothing and warm, the soap scrubbed away the dirt and Kate hair no longer felt stiff. Kara was splashing about and holding ‘hold your breath’ contests with herself. Kate and Kara got their very long hair braided by the skilled hairdresser, and she got a red ribbon put through the braid. “To Match” she told the hairdressers. As they got changed into their clean clothing, the lady asked “Do you want. . .these. . . wrapped up for you?” she asked about the dirty clothing. “No, it's okay, you can burn them” The lady nodded as Kate and Kara walked out the door. “Might just do that” the lady whispered as Kate closed the door.

“Mum, why did you lie to the lady and told her we had been camping and that you're going to work? and why the red ribbon?” Kara asked at an amusing speed as she gawked at all the buildings and her new surroundings. “I didn’t lie, and the ribbon is a memory for Liam and Dad.”

“but, but you did lie Mum, you said we were camping, we weren't camping, we were. . .” “sleeping rough surrounded by trees and with no electronic equipment. That is what most people think of when you say “camping”. They didn't need to know what we have been through. We have to be careful about what we say now. I don't want you telling only one, unless I approve, what we have been through for now, until I understand better what is going on. Although I didn't speak the truth to its fullest, I didn't lie either. Considering you want to be a politician when you grow up, you are going to need to learn this ability.”

“But Mum, Politicians and senators don't lie, they are there to help people!” Kate didn’t have the heart to correct her so went for the other tactic “Look that looks like a good place to eat, let's go, you can order whatever you want” “YAY!!” Kara screamed as she started to dash out in front of traffic only to be hauled to safety by her mum. “Kara! Look where you're going!” “Sorry Mum!”

~*~*~*~

On the way back to the ship Kara had slowed down noticeably as the stim finally started to wear off, and a food coma took its place, Kate was struggling as well. “Yip?” she asked Kara, and Kara went behind her mother and jumped on her back for a ride back to the ship. By the time they got back, Kara was almost asleep and barely holding on. Once they got inside and Kate laid back the co-pilot chair, Kara was already asleep on the floor. Kate locked the ship, then she wrapped the blanket around and under her daughter and sat next to her watching her sleep.

Tears streaming down her face, she grabbed a blanket herself and it smelt like home and she started to cry into the blanket to muffle the sound. Deep painful heartfelt sobs as it all flowed out of her. Visions of the forest burning, the vision of her now-past life going up in smoke. Her last normal thought was of how board she was in a meeting as everything was normal and right in her life. Oh, she wished she was back in that meeting.

A vision of her family screaming or crying or just vanishing in an explosion, her whole world suddenly wiped from existence. Her dad filled with wisdom that comes from being centries old, gone. Her mum with her soothing words and her warm hugs, gone. //Did I even tell you that I loved you? I don't even remember the last thing I said!// her heart started to have a feeling again, but it was colder than the vacuum of space, and just about as lonely, the kind of alone that is piercingly painful.

She sobbed as the voice of her husband said “Have a good day sweetheart” he said in the cheeky tone, knowing full well that Kate was dreading this upcoming meeting, “and Good Luck.” she couldn’t imagine a worse day in her life until she heard the sound of her son.

“I love you, Mum!” //Oh Force, what had I done?// She screamed the pain into the blanket as her inner mind filled with flames and she was choking, she couldn't breathe, it was so hot. She pulled her face out of the blanket, gasping for air, throat sore and covered in sweat. She was on her ship, it was dark now and cool and the only other thing she could hear was her daughter breathing rhythmically as she slept.

“What have I done?” she asked weakly feeling the darkness of sleep pull on her. ~ It wasn't you, it was the attack, that is what killed Liam, not you. ~ the voice said simply, but for Kate, it was the nicest thing it has said it a long time. She wanted to believe it so bad, but how could she, she was now a monster and not worthy of children. Lacking the will to remain seated she lay down next to Kara and snuggled her up close to her chest. “I will never let you go.” she whispered as sleep finally came and mercifully she had no dreams.


~*~*~*~


“Mum? Mum? Muuummmy, Mmmuuuuuuuuummm.” Kara gently rocked her mother. “Get up, I’m Hungry!” For a split second Kate thought she was home and that she just had the worst nightmare of her life, but the moment she opened her eyes, she knew it was all real. She took a deep breath and the effort caused her chest to shudder. “I’ll right, I'm up” Kate crooked. She watched as Kara went off out of sight and started to move about the cabin. Feeling a hollow from the mixture of let out bottled up emotions and the terrifying new reality that faced her as she sat up and rubbed her face.

“What do you want to eat?” “I donnno know, something” Kate took another deep breath and was feeling a bit more awake and still a little shaky from the withdrawal from the stim in her system. She glanced at the clock, //16 hours, ooof// that was the longest sleep in years, no wonder Kara was hungry. She needed to find Adalia, she was one of the last people she knew outside of Kashyyyk that might be able to help her or at least be a friend.

So for breakfast (even though it was about midday) they went to a holo-net bar. They got their booth and headphones, and a small mountain of food. Kara watched her favourite show, something called “Star Trek”, seemed harmless enough. Kate read through any reports about Kashyyyk and found terrifyingly, very very little about what was happening or happened.

But some new information about a battle at Kuat was coming in. The Galactic Alliance was fighting to gain something back from the Confederates, the article wasn't very clear but it did say that the Galactic Alliance was being led by new Wing Commanders, a Colonels Kaya and Tehanis.

“WHAT?” Kate yelled, and that drew the annoyance of some of the other patrons. She gestured her apologies and kept reading, but found no other information. //Addie how DARE you be on the wrong side of this war!?// Kate was fuming and started to slice around some safety measures and systems to find out more information from internal data. ~ Maybe Adalie didn’t know what happened on Kashyyyk. ~ // That may be the ONLY way I forgive her.//

She knew now that she had maybe 10 minutes tops before being found and getting in real trouble. //Kya. .. Kya . .Aden? ADEN? Kriff, I might not need to get Addie, Aden will do it,. . wait why the Kriff is he out of jail?, that little. . .Chief of State Solo. Solo? Ohh Kriff this is a mess. Ocean, right need to get here. Then? I don’t know. . .will work it out//

~ And Kara? You are not flying solo. ~ //Kriff// Kate looked up and watch Kara laugh at something on the holo. //Guess she is gonna come with me, there is literally nowhere else for her to go.// Kate shutdown her station and Kara whined that she didn't get to finish her episode. She tipped the owner of the cafe as she headed out. On her way back to the ship she got some extra food supplies and some extra clothing for Kara.

Back at the ship Kate packed away the new stuff and took a moment before carefully packing away Eak and Liam’s clothing. //This is all I have left of them// she looked around the ship //all of them.// she sat down and started up “Sasha” and took off.

“Kara, we are going to go visit a place like where I used to work as a pilot. Its like school but more strict. So you need to keep in line behind me at all times. Don’t talk to ANYONE unless I say it’s okay to do so. You don’t want them to get into trouble, and you don’t want to be the one getting in trouble.” Kate instructed.

“How long are we going to be there for ?”

“Hopefully not long, maybe just long enough to talk to Aunty . . .Well you have to call her just ‘Addie’. You might meet some of my old friends who you won’t remember, but they might remember you. Like before, it’s going to be super important to follow whatever I say when I say it. Although it’s not as dangerous as the ground back home, there will be a lot of ‘hidden dangers’ and traps that are set by talking or acting in ways.”

“Then why are we going if it's going to be dangerous?” Kara queried

//You have a point//. “Because we need to see Addie. She was my Lead and we had a good friendship. She was always able to help us and lead our team out of danger. She is one of the only people I know outside of home, and she looks like she might be in danger, so I want to save her” //so she can save me and us//.

“Okay, if you say so.” Kara said, suitably convinced.

“Above all Kara, remember, you and I can NOT be separated. You must be within my arms reach at ALL times, and if someone, and I don't care who tries to take you away from me or for whatever reason, I want you to fight them, bite them, kick and scream and do whatever you have to, to get back to me and I will do the same.”

Enthusiastically Kara responded. “Really I can bite and scream?”

“As loud and as hard as you possibly can!” Kate confirmed.

“Cool!”

It wouldn’t take long to Get the the Ocean. Just enough time to come up with a plan, or so Kate hoped.

 

IC - Kate and Kara Leash, Admiral Cha Niathal
Space - Kaut,

Kate had barely enough time to re-adjust to normal space when over her com channel she got “Unidentified shuttle. Make your intentions known.” She didn’t really have much of a plan aside talking to Addie, it was struggling to come up with any other life plan at the moment. She took a quick scan of the area and found no threats to her at the moment, but was glad she was close to the Ocean, the vessel she knew Adalia was on.

A stuck up sounding lady on the other end repeated. “Unidentified shuttle. Make your intentions known.”

Kate flicked on her com to replay but before she got a word out, her daughter chimed cheerfully in her small 10-year-old voice. “We are not Unidentified! The ship is called Sasha!”

Kate was surprised and then glared at Kara **WHAT did I just tell you, Don’t answer without my permission!** she said in a stern tone, but her daughter just looked sweetly back at her with **Sorry Mum.** Kate supposed her annoyed tone was being undermined by the goofy smile on her face as it was just the best answer she had heard to that question before. She shook her head and given the time it took for the stuck up sounding woman to respond it must have taken her by surprise too. //Out of the mouths of babes.//

“Shuttle ‘Sasha’, Make your intentions known”.

“I am former Lieutenant Kate Leeash-Schyler, I wish to speak in person to Colonel Tehanis, I have no other plans and don’t intend to stay long.”

--------------

“Please Stand By, Maintain your current course and do not deviate.” Admiral Cha Niathal responded and turned off her com. “What do we know about this Lt Kate Leeash-Schyler?”

A moment later an officer called out. “She was part of the Wild Knightz and Shadow Sabers who were under the command of Adalia Tehanis”. Another officer chimed in with “She is married to a Lt Eak Schyler, whom also served in the same teams under Colonel Tehanis. She has an excellent flying record and no official incidents in the record, she left on maternity leave at the same time as Lt Schyler retired. The last report says they are living on Kashyyyk with their children.”

//So given the state of her ship she must have gotten caught up in it// Cha mused. //Given her training, she must know that the GA ordered the attack, so why is she really here? It can’t be just to see Adalia.//

Cha gazed out at the ship, a small and insignificant detail in the grand scheme of things, she wondered how much of a threat she could really be. Maybe she was just wanting to touch base with her old commander after a battle. Maybe Adaila had contacted her while she was looking for pilots a few days ago, and this was the soonest she could get here. But to bring her child into a military facility during a war, no mother would do that willingly, especially considering, it would be in Lt Lessah-Schyler’s mind, to an enemy ship.

All of Colonel Tehanis former pilots where. . .special, each had an uncanny ability to the best as what they did, but not play well within a structured system. //Neither does Adalia come to think of it// considered Cha had just sent her to the brig for the high offence of attacking another commander.

“Mrs Leeash-Schyler, why do you wish to speak to Colonel Tehanis?”.

------------

//Gee that took a while,// Kate mused as the officer lady got back to her. She looked at Kara with a ‘don’t you dare’ stare and responded: “I was contacted about a job.” She was not exactly lying as she was sure Adalia would have at least tried to contact them at some point in the past few days, but had no proof. “You also don’t need to call me Leeash-Schyler, as Mr Schyler and I have. . . separated” She looked to Kara for her reaction, but didn’t get one. Again it wasn't a lie, but she wasn't about to talk about it some low ranking com officer with a stick up her. . .

“I am sorry to hear that but Colonel Tehanis is currently unavailable, and will be for some time. Please leave via. . .”

“Please I know she is there, I need to speak with her. She said that I would always be able to go to her for help. I know she is busy with whatever you guys are doing nowadays” //Like destroying innocent lives for no real purpose// “But although I don’t want the job offer, I want to be able to stay at her apartment in Corrosuant for a short while.”

“We are going to stay at Aunty Addie’s house!” Kara chimed in enthusiastically, Kate just mentally sighed.

------------

The sincerity in Lt Leeash’s voice and the innocence in the small child’s voice really made Cha question her initial misgivings about this situation. Maybe she could talk to Adalia under full supervision and with the threat of more than just a court-martial is Adalia says anything not necessarily relevant. Lt Leeash wouldn’t do anything out of line, she had her daughter with her and surely she wouldn't risk any harm coming to the child.

But given Lt Leeash’s training, the fact that she ended up in the Shadow Sabers, and now given her personal circumstances, this might just be an elaborate rouse, some sort of set up, Cha really didn't want to risk it.

------------

“Please, my mother died a few days ago, and I just. . .I just need some guidance from my friend.” Kate said over the com, her voice cracking as she was laying it on a bit thick, but now she was starting to feel desperate. She couldn't explain it, but she just had to talk to Addie.

Logically she would be able to work out her own life, Logically Addie would not have all the answers and make everything better like Kate wanted. Logically bringing her daughter she was exposing her to unnecessary risks, Logically she should turn and leave and just begin again a new life selling cakes on Dantooine or something. But Kate struggled to work with logic. Logic forced her to kill her own son. Kate was started to feel her heart rate rise as panic was slowly setting in, the voice of logic slowly disappearing behind the blood rushing in her ears saying ~ don't let grief cloud your judgment ~ but it was too late.

The lady had not gotten back to her yet, it had been too long, they were going to deny her the one thing she needed most. She needed Addie, nothing else mattered anymore. She started to work out an attack path to get into the ship. She started to breath more quickly as panic rose in her throat, her thoughts clouded with just one command, ‘Talk to Addie’ she needed guidance, she needed a hug, she needed soothing words just like her children did when they were scared and didn't know what else to do, she trusted no one else, she had to see Addie, if it was the last thing she did.

“Mum I need to use the Fresher” Kara said in a smallest sweetest voice Kate had only heard her use when she wanted something that she wouldn't normally get and it snapped Kate out of her panic spiral. She looked at Kara confused as it hadn't been that long since the last time, but then she saw, on Kara’s face, the most devious smile. Then Kate realised that the com was still active. //They would have heard that!//.

“Look can we at least land and use the Fresher? As your scans of our ship would have indicated, this ship has been a little damaged and is not quite as functional as I would like.” Kate had installed a small device that made it look like the ships weapons were inactive and damaged, and she had checked the ship back on Zeltros and it was all in perfect functioning order. She didn't realise it at the time, but going through the fire made the ship look even worse and damaged, although it was in perfect working order. It made for an excellent cover from people who may have seen them as a potential target for anything.

“The Fresher on board is damaged and it will be a long trip to another suitable location. I don’t think such things can be held that long. Please, even just 20 minutes. I don’t want any repairs or fuel or even food, just to use a functioning Fresher, and to speak to Colonel Tehanis”

Another long silence, Kara looked at Kate, and Kate nodded “Muuuummm, I really, really have to go!” Kara taking her mother's que and thickly laying on the pain, need and her child-ness in the tone. //Oh Force, what have I created?//

“You may land. You have 10 minutes, docking station 147, do not deviate or you will be shot down.” the lady sighed.

“Thankyou” Kate said and carefully followed the sent instructions. Now onto the next part of her plan that she didn't have. . .get to Adalia Tehanis.

--------


IC - Kate + Kara Leeash.
Location - Ocean Docking Bay 147.


As she landed the shuttle she had come up with a plan. . .it was a bad plan, and she knew it. But with the lack of any other ideas she was gonna have to go with it and hope that it will turn out alright.

“You got this?” Kate raised her eyebrow.
“Yes Mum, I think I can manage it” Kate affirmed, trying to hide her devious smile.
“I know you can, we are going to be amazing” Kate reassured her, not that she needed it apparently. Kara glowed with pride at being given this task.
“Remember Kara, if I ever catch you trying this trick with me, I'm gonna make you lick the ship clean. Got it.” “Yes Mum.” she said trying to think how long it would take to lick a ship?

As Kate expected, when she opened the door there was a single young uniformed soldier waiting to escort them to the fresher. //You must not think, I am that much of a threat, oh how sorely mistaken you are.//

“Ma’am I am Sargent Borilas. I have been instructed to escort you and your child to the fresher and back to your ship. So if you would kindly walk with me” He said in that crisp military-type tone. As Kate stepped off the ship, she locked it and stood next to him, she was a good foot and a bit taller, and more muscular than he was. Kate smiled sweetly “Thankyou Sargent, I am First Lieutenant Leeash, and I am so grateful for your assistance. This is my second in command, Kara Leeash.” she said gesturing to her child, whom although was only ten, nearly came up to his shoulder. Kara nodded her head as her mum taught her as a sign of respect.

Although he was intimidated by her size and now her rank, he held it together and tried to not show it. Kate milking it just a little, lifted her head and straightened her back, and gracefully kept in step with this smaller man. In no time they had reached their destination, and with small amusement, she watched as Sargent Borilas stomped and turned heel but the door. Kate and Kara nodded their heads as they entered the ladies fresher. The door closing behind them, Kate stood right next to the door and listened for any details she might overhear, as Kara went inside.

She heard slightly sloppier footsteps come and talk to Sergeant Borilas. “Ha, you gonna write back to your ‘girlfriend’ that you escorted a mother and her kid to the fresher” this unidentified male he said in some sort of mocking tone. “Nah, I don’t need to tell her about the tiny details of my life like that, I honestly think she doesn't care. Look whatever gets me in the good graces of the Commander, I just gotta get this woman and her kid back to the ship and then they will take off and it’s not my problem anymore. It’s a step up from mopping the floors.” “Urgh civilians, a bit weird she was let on broad but whatever. Not my problem, catch-ya shorty” “See ya Chadd”.

Kate knew it, she wouldn’t get to talk to Addie, and this wasn't going to be the case. Kara came out and gave her mother the questioning look. Kate nodded and Kara smiled, then shook her head trying to hide it. Kate opened the door and smiled sweetly at Sergeant Borilas, a little sad he was gonna get in trouble for the upcoming, but not really.

As they walked back to the ship, **Now.** Kate communicated with Kara, and then suddenly Kara tripped and fell on the floor with an overly dramatic scream. “OWW, Owowwooww my ankle!” Kara grabbed her left ankle and started to sob. Kate didn't really have to act, her mothering instincts were still on high from the past few days as she swept down and tried to soothe her daughter. “Oh, you must have twisted it. Sergeant can we get some ice, I am sorry to be asking, but please.”

Sergeant Borilas just stood there, not really sure what to do, he couldn't leave them, but he request wasn’t unwarranted. “Ahh,. . .”

Kate sighed and helped move her daughter to the wall next to a supporting beam and got her to rest by the wall. She knelt down again and gently rubbed her daughter's foot as Kara quietly tried to suppress sobs. Kate looked back at the Sergeant with the pain of the past few days shining through her eyes as she gently asked “Surely you could have some delivered to the ship.” she turned back to Kara “Honey do you think you could hold on to me, I could carry you back to the ship.” “Yes Mama.” Kara nearly whispered. Kate turned and Kara carefully got on her mothers back.

“Oh, ohh. . . yeah. . .I sure, I suppose.” Sergeant Borilas watched as Kara got onto Kate and Kate stood up. “Sure, yes, please follow me.” he said in an unsure tone, as he started to walk and fumbled for his com. “Please have a small medical ice pack sent to Docking Bay 147” “Copy That.” the voice responded. He waited to hear Lt Leeash thank him, but didn’t. . .in fact. . he turned around on his heel and suddenly couldn't see either of them.

“Kriff” Oh he was in trouble. He had one job, it was a simple easy job and he royally Kriffed it up. Then he heard it.

“I’M NOT COMING DOWN UNTIL I GET TO SPEAK TO COLONEL ADALIA TEHANIS!!” a loud voice boomed over the whole hanger, loud enough for everyone to hear. He looked up to see Lt Leeash and her daughter 100 feet in the air, walking with ease long the support beams of the hanger.


--------

Tag - Anyone wanna help me get down and NOT shot?

 

IC: Natalia Keizar
Ocean Hangar

The new logistics officer stepped away from the group sending a com hail to the Chief of State's office. As she did she accessed the internal systems of the Ocean to see if a report of the clear altercation had been reported yet. It had, Colonel Tehanis and Colonel Kya were remanded to the bring for fighting. The case was still open, but preliminaries were stating that Tehanis was the instigator. She poured over this reports while she waited for the Chief of State, or more likely one of his staff to answer.

She was incorrect. Jacen Solo himself responded. His eyes were sunken, and his face was marked with various small backs patches; he looked terrible.

His eyes narrowed and he stared. He had no need to introduce himself; but her?

Her head snapped up, she had to fight to keep the shock off her face. Part of her wondered what she or her new posting had done to get her directly though to the Chief of State himself.

"Sir, I am Lieutenant Natalia Keizar newly assigned logistics officer for Wraith Squadron on board the Ocean." She introduced herself. "There seems to have been an altercation sir. Colonels Kya and Tehanis have been taken to the brig on orders of Supreme Commander Niathal, for fighting physically. the XO of Wrath Squadron suggested that I reach out to you for intercession. I believe Kya was provoked by Tehanis, at least that is what the reports are suggesting."

“Kya was provoked by Tehanis... seems more likely that Tehanis flew off the handle and started it.” He frowned. “I give you authority to investigate on my behalf. You are new to the Ocean. You won’t be associated with Tehanis or Kya.”

He leaned forward. “I’m sure you’ll figure out who should be in the brig out of the two of them... and which is to be stripped of command of the Wing.”

Solo was hardly going to intervene personally. Kya had to fix his own messes. “I will speak to Admiral Niathal to ensure she leaves you to it...”

"Understood sir." It was curious, but not unexpected that she would be tasked with doing the investigation being new to the ship and all. Though she worried if anyone would speak to her. That wouldn't stop her, this a direct order from the Chief of State she could not just blow it off. "I will begin right away not give time for memories to become hazy." She resolved to start with the maintenance crew first, they would have been first on the scene, or saw it from the beginning. She would save the Colonels for last, they would have the most reason to lie or misrepresent the truth.

He lifted a finger. “If we have recordings, or evidence, that would be acceptable. If it is connected to the mission, I would need to know...”

Solo smiled lightly. “... after all, mission conduct is important.” He nodded to himself. “If there is anyone you feel needs diverting to me directly... or to the GAG for processing...” The smile broadened, and deepened. “I would be happy to assist.”

"Will do sir." She nodded her head a nervous feeling welling up in her chest. It was the feeling of power, of having the ability to make things happen. Though she knew that she should handle this power rightly using it in service of Justice not her own ends. "I will have a report to you shortly."

Solo lazily gestured and turned aside, dismissing her and ending the conversation.

As the young woman began moving towards the techs planing to talk to them about the altercation, a loud voice boomed over the hangar.

“I’M NOT COMING DOWN UNTIL I GET TO SPEAK TO COLONEL ADALIA TEHANIS!!” Looking up she can just barely see a figure, standing up in the rafters of the hangar. She began to note this occurrence something to report at the very least.

"Excuse me Ms!" Another voice called back, looking towards the voice she saw the young man...Rhoen was it shouting back, more so he could be heard than being aggressive. "Unfortunately Colonel Tehanis is unavailable. But, if you would like to come down we might just talk about this? Why is it so important you talk to the Colonel let's start there."

TAG: @I_am_Kooky @Sinrebirth @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

 

IC - Kate and Kara Leash
Ocean Hanger Rafter.

"Unfortunately Colonel Tehanis is unavailable. But, if you would like to come down we might just talk about this? Why is it so important you talk to the Colonel let's start there." A voice shouted back at her. Kate looked down and saw someone she didn't recognise, not that she was expecting someone.

"Not Coming Down until Colonel Tehanis IS available" Kate Shouted back, lowering her aggressive tone, she needed to still be approachable or she might be shot at. //Kriff, I don't actually have a way out of this. . .why was Addie not available? Maybe she should ask that.// but a feeling of defiance hardened her resolve. She was a bit beyond reason and logic, she couldn't even explain why she neede Addie so bad without sounding like a child throwing a tantrum. ~ Yeah, but you are throwing a tantrum and a big one at that, Not a really good example for your daughter is it now. ~ //Well a bit late to be thinking about that now huh?//

"Kara, remember, don't you try this tactic on me alright?" she quietly spoke to her daughter who was just holding on tight to her mothers back. "Yes Mum." she meekly said.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @Sinrebirth @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha @Adalia_Durron @Rebecca_Daniels

 

IC: Rhoen Aquilla
Hangar, Ocean, trying his best.

"Not Coming Down until Colonel Tehanis IS available" Well she was calming down at least a little, that was a start. Rhoen let out a breath. The defiance in her voice was unmistakable. She wasn't coming down until the Colonel was made available, and that wasn't going to happen, not quickly. He squinted hard seeing not just the one figure, but another clinging to them. Now a child was involved. His stomach turned there had been enough death, with the family back in the skirmish.

"That might be a little bit. The situation is not something we can solve in a moment, not likely in an hour. Might be more comfortable down here." he worried not about the woman, she seemed sure footed enough, but the little one with her, how long could they hang on. "If you need anything I'm here to help...need water or some food?" He might use the opportunity to check on the child and the woman, make sure nothing was seriously wrong.

TAG: @I_am_Kooky @Sinrebirth @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

 

IC: Jesse Coulson, Adrian Malek (Combo with Adalia)
Hangar

Jesse was angry and confused, needing space. He'd just stopped her from hitting him harder or worse, but now she was in too deep and he didn't know what too do. He'd ordered his squadron to stand down and get ready for debrief, but he wasn't going to do that himself. He just needed to get away from the prying eyes he felt were staring at him due to his intervention. Without thinking he began to walk away, the next hangar, right beside, was not as active, no one was really there, so he headed to the corridor that joined them both.

Adrian saw Jesse leave and hurried his steps to catch up with the older man, while gesturing R7 to follow him. He figured that it was probably a better idea if they approached their superiors together, they had both seen what had happened and could corroborate each other stories. Also Coulson was a much more experienced officer while Adrian was just an XO for a few days who had now temporary taken over command of a squadron. Quite the career jump actually, he mused with half a smile.

Jesse turned to see Addie's XO. "What do you want Adrian?" he asked gruffly, he didn't need the 'kids' drama. As he passed Adalia's ship he noticed her droid, if anyone or anything knew more about all this, it was that droid. Stopping he turned to it, what was its name? He searched him memory, "Sparks? Wanna come with me?" he asked attempting to be nice to the droid. He was greeted with what could only be considered a grateful warble as it shot out its front leg and rolled toward him. "Come on." He turned to Adrian, "You too."

"My droid has complete footage of what Aden did out there in the void," Adrian muttered quietly, a bit taken aback by Jesse´s reaction but determined to keep up with him as they made their way out of the hangar. "He clearly violated the code of conduct in such a situation, this was blatant murder. If we show this to our superiors we can get Aden removed from his post and back into the cell he belongs into. And I´m sure they will also understand the colonels reaction better in light of this."

Jesse listened as they walked through the corridor and stopped briefly. "That's actually good to know, we need to sit and review all that." he turned and entered the next hangar to hear yelling.

"Not Coming Down until Colonel Tehanis IS available"

He slowed as he saw the young woman Vau had been speaking to looking up with another soldier. He stared for a few moments at the woman, her long dark hair hanging down, and a girl nearby, both at home in the crossbeams at the top of the hangar. She was standing defiantly with no fear of the height or the risk, as was the child. She had the courage of a Wookiee up there. He stopped. No, couldn't be.

"What the..." Adrian stopped in his words he saw the scenery in the hangar. He stared up the woman and girl up there in the crossbeams. Is everyone in this galaxy going mad around me? He asked himself for a second before taking a step forward. Looking around he saw several soldiers had gather trying to talk to the humans up there. Adrian wasn't sure but it seemed to him that he was, at least in this very moment the highest ranked person in the room, not to mention the XO of the person who these madwoman demanded to see. So he raised his hands and stepped closer to them. "My name is Adrian Malek," he said clearly and calmly. "I´m the XO and personal adjutant to colonel Tehanis. Anything you want to tell her you can tell to me. Its just a decision where on the ship we are doing it."

Jesse turned and listened to Adrian, but he was sure he had no idea who he was dealing with. He glanced at the two standing below before looking up at the young woman. He stepped forward. "Kate? Kate Leeash? Wife to Eak Schyler?" Behind him, Squirt began to beep and whistle excitedly, only confirming what he believed.

Tag: @Adalia-Durron, @galactic-vagabond422, @I_am_Kooky, @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha, @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Loriana StarSkimmer \ Ocean Hangar

Loriana was still preoccupied with all that had happened and wanted nothing but to find a quiet corner with a tall mug of something chocolate when a demanding female voice caught her attention.

She glanced up and saw a woman and a youngling perched way up there, demanding to see Colonel Tehanis. Rhoen and Adrian Malek were engaging her in a conciliating conversation. Fascinated, Loriana drew near and waited to see if she could be of any help in settling the situation.
@I_am_Kooky \ @galactic-vagabond422 @Sinrebirth ... etc.

 

IC Beka Tiarri
Kuat battlefield

Through passion I gain--

No, that was wrong.

There is no emotion, only--

No, that one wasn't right either.

The mantras jumbled in her head as a wave of anger overcame her, vision doubled from the force. Or from the Force. It was Addie, unmistakable, if a forgotten feeling of someone else's emotions overwhelming like that.

Two bailed her out, blasting an oncoming Howlrunner as she failed to follow through on their maneuver. Two, because she hadn't learned his name yet, didn't necessarily want to, didn't trust any of them.

"Three more, port side," he continued, making no mention of the lapse. She hadn't flown in a battle like this in years, he probably thought she was washed up, a nepotist squadron leader, only here by Addie's wishes. And maybe they were right. But she also had more kills than these green kids did combined. Probably. She hadn't counted them or anything.

"Break port, I'll take starboard, see who they follow." She was unsettled, not thinking straight, trying to find her focus again. Her control. When the disciplines failed her, she cut herself off, and it was better that way. But that blast of rage, of helpless anger had shorn through her defenses, and now the enemy had the upper hand and she didn't even know why. Though given who it was, she had a couple guesses. Whatever Aden had done, she'd kill him for it. Later.

I am one with the--

Yeah, this wasn't working.

A laser blast sliced through her shields, barely missing the nose of her X-wing but leaving carbon scoring in its wake. Focus, don't die. Control your anger, don't let it control you. She knew how to do this, how to keep that anger and darkness in a tightly controlled space, buried away and no danger to anyone. It was just hard to do that in the middle of a chaotic battlefield.

And distractions abounded, but she let them go. R4 kept a log as she called them out. "Addie's activity. Sensor logs, E-wing. Whatever Aden did. File for later." Three things to check into, because that very well might have been an E-wing she'd seen. And sure, maybe it could have been someone else, but every time an E-wing showed up, it always seemed to be Adam. Just her luck.

----

"Keep your eyes to yourselves!" Beka shouted over the commotion, mainly at the pilots and techs gawking as Addie took Aden down. "It's not a blasted sideshow, get back to your own business!"

It was too bad Addie had punched him and drawn all the attention. After reviewing her sensor logs on the jump back, Beka was ready to shoot him where he stood, if she hadn't been there already.

She shouldn't be surprised, and a part of her wasn't. Aden hadn't changed-- wasn't capable of change, he'd just gotten better at hiding his machinations. And despite dragging the two to the brig, she knew only one would be making it out of this clean, and Aden was good at weaseling his way out of trouble. If Solo had gotten him off some charges, why not these as well? No, they'd have to be careful-- Aden wasn't the only piece of this conspiracy, and, she suspected, not the most powerful piece either.

So she'd have to start planning a jailbreak, then.

The beginnings of a plan started to form, a 'just in case' but more likely 'don't trust anyone and run' sort of plan in case she needed to haul Addie's butt out of here before something worse happened. Maybe her droid had something on the E-wing, because it was definitely Adam, and he'd be helpful in getting them out of here.

She was contemplating where to get big enough explosives for her entirely theoretical and definitely not happening plan, which seemed more likely to be needed by the second, as the squadrons slowly dispersed. She was going to have to find somewhere quiet, somewhere private to plan this. Somewhere it didn't seem like her XO was hanging over her shoulder, though for her credit Ariadne had stayed back from the commotion, looking after the Suns rather than gossiping. Beka still didn't know what to make of her, and her opinions of Aden seemed to be far more generous than he deserved. Second chances had to be earned.

The list of who to trust was short indeed. Addie seemed to like Adrian and Jesse, but Beka barely knew them. What she wouldn't do for more of the old Sabres to show up right about now...

TAG: @I_am_Kooky TBC...

 

OOC - written in Combo with @Rebecca_Daniels @Sinrebirth. So nice to be playing with people again.

IC Kate and Kara Leeash, Admiral Cha Niathal, Beka Tiarri
Ocean Hanger Rafter.

"That might be a little bit. The situation is not something we can solve in a moment, not likely in an hour. Might be more comfortable down here."- "If you need anything I'm here to help...need water or some food?"

Kate wanted to respond but didn’t know what to say, and she was getting suspicious. //Why were they keeping Adalia away from me? Surely she could even just be put on a com?// But her heart melted a little, she didn’t really have it in her to be a tough person. She could pretend as she needed, but it was not a natural state. She was getting tired and put Kara down. She thought about it and wasn't actually sure what time her body thought it was. //Really have to get back into a 'normal' rhythm again//. As she watched she wondered if her daughter would be worried by the height, but Kara seemed to have no issues at all, and maybe almost enjoying it? //Truly my Daughter// Kate smiled.

"My name is Adrian Malek," - "I’m the XO and personal adjutant to colonel Tehanis. Anything you want to tell her you can tell to me. It’s just a decision where on the ship we are doing it."

She looked down at these newcomers, which wasn't hard to do from this height. She was looking down on everyone. She didn’t recognize the name, but then again did she expect to? //I was kinda hoping maybe some of the old Shadow Sabers would be here.//

“You. . .” Kate sighed. //What did I want to say to Addie? I don't know. . .’My entire life has burnt down around me, and you're fighting for the bastards that did that, and I need a hug now?//

Another voice called out “Kate? Kate Leeash? Wife to Eak Schyler?"

//Eak, oh. . .// suddenly all the pain of the past few days filled her mind, she felt the heat again, her heart was feeling so small and fragile. She was lost and just didn’t know what to say or do anymore, she needed her Lead to tell her what to do, what to say, . . to tell her everything was going to be okay. . . "YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND! YOU COULDN’T POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND!” Kate Screamed her voice thick with the pain and anguish and desperation of the past few days overwhelmed her. She knelt down and leaned against one of the polls connecting to the roof.

“Mum?” Kara’s voice thick with worry. Although Mum had told her that this was her plan, she didn’t think she was acting anymore, and Kara was scared now, this wasn’t right.

Kate saw the look in her daughter's eyes and she just put her face into her hands. //Oh no, . . // this was all getting out of hand, this was becoming too much, Kate couldn’t really see a way out of this where they might all live. As soon as she touched the ground she was going to be thrown in the brig, they would take away her daughter and then, could she really be held responsible for her actions after that? She should have rested more, she should have had a better plan, even maybe told the full truth. //what if I just jumped, the ground is far enough away, it would solve all of our problems very instantly.//

“Mum, remembered what you said about not letting your emotions take over your logical mind” Kara carefully said. Kate looked up at her daughter, anger filled her //How DARE you lecture me CHILD on matters you are NOT equipped to know?// she wanted to smack her for being. . . .

“You said to put our emotions in our hearts until we could deal with safely” Kara said looking terrified now, but carefully did the same arm actions that Kate did for her not even 48 hours ago. “Please mum, I’m scared,” Kara said holding an invisible ball in her hands.

//You don’t understand Kara, my heart is broken, it can’t hold anything anymore// she sat down on the beam now, legs dangling either side. She looked at her daughter with the same despair that Kara must have felt back in the forest. She saw her 10-year-old trembling as she pushed this invisible ball into her little heart and took a deep breath. It hurt to be humbled by your own child for your behaviour.

Kate weakly smiled and did the hand movements she had taught Kara, and held it to her chest, closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling nothing but the crushing weight of guilt and responsibilities and, . . .her daughter's hands. She opened her eyes and saw that Kara had moved closer and knelt down to gently place her hands on top of her mothers.

“I’m so sorry Kara, I didn't mean to scare you.” Kate said quietly, shame filling her as she was humbled by the lesson. Also that her 10-year-old child brought her back from an edge she shuddered to think about. Kara carefully leaned up against her mother in a hug, resting her head in the middle of Kate's chest.

Kate wanted to cry again as she embraced her daughter. A warmth and love spilling from her child into her cold useless heart. Kate started to remember. Remember why she was alive and what she was meant to do. She had to protect Kara from everything, including herself. A small crowd had gathered, but at least they had stopped shouting at her for a moment. //I am so unworthy of your love child, but I do love you//



--------

Admiral Cha Niathal was keeping an eye on this Ms Leeash. It had been a while since her heartstrings were pulled like this. She wanted to trust Ms Leeash so badly, but her gut said that she would cause trouble. So she watched as Ms Leeash and her small child was escorted to the fresher as requested. Then she saw as the guard sent to watch her was so easily fooled by the most basic of tricks. Cha was however surprised at the speed at which this Ms Leeash climbed up the rigging to the roof.

“I’M NOT COMING DOWN UNTIL I GET TO SPEAK TO COLONEL ADALIA TEHANIS!!” and there is was, Cha sighed as she was un-surprised, but a little impressed that she was willing to risk her and her daughter's life for this chance to seek to Colonel Tehanis. Then as she looked and saw no fear on either of their faces from being what, 100 feet up in the air. Maybe they were not risking anything after all.

“Is there any other Shadow Sabers here that is Not Colonel Tehanis that this Lt. Leeash might know?” She asked slightly annoyed, as she awaited a response from her team. “There is a Lieutenant Beka Tiarri, she served with Colonel Tehanis and Lt. Leeash for an extended time.” “Good get her on the Com, Now”

Cha sighed. Perhaps she should have read the reports on Lt Leeash herself before allowing her to come on board. But deep down, she knew that even if she denied this request, Ms Leeash would have made it on board somehow, and in a less controlled way.

She turned her attention back to the screen. ”YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND! YOU COULDN’T POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND!” Cha felt that pain in her voice, she understood that pain. Then realised what was happening, she looked at Lt. Leeash’s files for herself. She scanned the information and history, her list of skills and flying accomplishments were indeed impressive for this young woman. Yet nothing official, but lots of little things that were unprofessional as was common for a Shadow Saber. Cha looked confused at a holo image of A-wing hanging upside down and suspended from the roof.

Cha had got it, she wasn’t separated from her husband, he may have died in the attack. Kate wasn't lying when she said her mother was dead, perhaps her whole family was dead. She knew about the attack on Kashyyyk, and how unnaturally devastating it was. Cha looked back in the files and saw that Kate had two children. But when Cha looked at this woman hugging her child, she realised she only has one with her. That pain in her voice, she just wanted her friend because she was in pain and had nowhere else to go.

Kates words came back to Cha, “I want to be able to stay at her apartment in Corrosuant for a short while.” - “I just need some guidance from my friend” - Kate may have lost everything and all she had left was Colonel Tehanis and any other Shadow Saber that would have come when Adalia called. A sense of peace came on Cha’s heart and she knew that her conclusion was correct, Kate would be no threat if she just got her simple request of speaking to her friend. She felt for this woman, war was hard and it took a toll on those who did not ask for it.

However, this made Ms Leeash more dangerous than she first anticipated. If Ms Leeash’s was true to her word, she would talk to Adalia and leave without fuss, and her file indicated that she was known for a Wookiee’s sense of honour. However should anything get in her way, she would have no doubt that Kate would take this whole ship down in a heartbeat.

“Send a note, Ms Leeash has permission to visit Colonel Tehanis in her cell, and not under ANY circumstances is anyone separate Ms. Leeash from her child.” Cha suspected that would be the catalyst for an unpredictable outcome, that would only be bad. Now she just wanted Ms Leeash off her ship and out of the way as fast as possible, she didn't need any more complications.




------

As Beka walked out she heard someone else yelling. Curios she followed a small crowd of people into the next hanger. It took her only a second to realise what she was hearing. Who she was hearing. It didn't take long at all to figure out where, though-- up, the answer was always up.

Other voices tried to talk her down, like she was some stranger. As if she was in any danger up there. Beka found her voice as Aden's second agreed to allow her to go to the brig to talk to Addie.

"Kate!" she called, and hopped up the nearest ladder to someone's X-wing, pulling herself up onto the nose so Kate could see her clearly.

//Beka!// Kate was relieved a voice she did recognize. She turned and looked for her in the crowd and then saw her wave. Kate waved back. “Hi Beka!”

“You going to come down any time soon? I don't think I can get up there myself."

“Only if I get to talk to Addie!” Kate Reiterated. She desperately wanted to come down and give Beka a hug, but she had made her stand, and couldn't back down now.

Beka glanced at Vua. Yeah, she don't trust him in the slightest. But he probably wasn't stupid enough to try anything after what just happened. "I can take you to her, don't worry."

**Are you for real, I will get to see Addie?** Kate sent the telepathic message to Beka.

"Kriff," she muttered. **Forgot you could do that. Why were we shouting, again? Yes, we're going, I'll make sure you can talk to her.**

**And we won’t be put in the brig the moment we touch the ground?** Kate asked cautiously.

**No, and I'll blast anyone if they try.** She patted her blaster, though from this distance she wasn't sure Kate could see. **Addie's in the brig though, punched Aden like he deserves. Come on down, you're making me nervous with Miss Tiny up there.**

“Alright, I’m coming down” Kate Yelled back. She looked at Kara. “Thankyou Kara. You have helped me more than you know.” “I love you mum!” “I love you too.”

Kate looked down and around, sure she could just shimmy on down the boring way, but now she had a pretty good audience. She needed not to seem weak in front of anyone else. She needed that strength she had that scared off that Katarn back on Kashyyyk . She remembered that Aden was around somewhere and she doubted very much that his time in prison changed him, so definitely couldn't be seen as weak.

//And just maybe it would be more fun, and not really any more dangerous than the other way//. “Whadda reckon Kara, think we could jump down, there, there and as I jump off from there, you jump off my back and we both make fantastic Landing?” Kara looked cautiously down. “Ah, sure, we can do that. Yeah! Let’s do it!” Kara said as she stood back up.

Kate stood up and stretched her legs and arms, and felt the fear and panic leave her body. She watched as Beka climbed down of the X-Wing, //Perfect//. Kara got back on her mothers back and Kate re-adjusted her body and centre of gravity. “Remember Kara, this ground has zero give in it, and it will hurt if you are not relaxed” “Understood”

She took a deep breath and trusted in herself, her training and her Wookiee heart. She leapt off the beam and feel a good 30 feet to a smaller crossbeam, which she used to leap up higher again, so she could re-adjust her aim. She fell another 40 feet at a different angle and grabbed some thick cables that were hanging across, they fell with her a foot or so before they snapped tight. Kate still with a lot of momentum held on and swung up and around the cable in a 360, twice, slowing herself down. On her next swing around she let go and aimed for the wall about 15 feet down. As Kate hit the wall with her feet, she kicked off again, this time Kara let go as well and they both somersaulted and landed on the ground and both fell into another ground summersault to remove a bit more speed and both stopped just in front of Beka and jumped up with a smile on their faces. Their braided hair falling behind them.

Beka was impressed but hide it and just said “Show Off.” with a smile.

TAG: @Rebecca_Daniels @Adalia-Durron TBC . . .
If anyone else wants to comment they can

 

Thank you to @adaml83 for the collaboration.

IC: Kyp Durron, Adam Lyons, Kirney Slane



Having agreed to discuss a plan of some sort Kyp had allowed Adam to guide him to what essentially was a meeting room, the entire way he considered ways to address the younger man’s underlying and simmering aggression. He knew better than anyone it wasn’t a benefit to anyone especially himself, and he’d decided him as a friend needed to address it. They entered the room and he closed the door behind them. “Before we go any further Adam, we need to talk?”

Adam looked at Kyp curiously, "Sure, about what?" Adam gestured to Kyp to sit down. There was going to be a good amount of information to go over.

Regarding the seat he shook his head, this wasn’t a sit-down conversation, this was a Jedi one and he gave his head a shake to refuse the seat. “I’m betting no one around here knows what’s going on under the surface with you?” he raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Adam considered for a moment, most of the people here knew him pretty well, and even about his temper, That couldn't be it, could it? He cleared his throat, "I don't know if I'd go that far. This place was used fairly regularly by Wedge before he was forced off by his own government. It's owned by Myn and Kirney. The three of them know me pretty well, know what I've been going through the last couple of years, and even know about my temper." He grinned, "It's sort of why Wedge gave me homework. He told me to find myself."

Kyp tilted his head to one side, he was making light of it and that wasn’t helpful. “No, I don’t think they, or even you, realize it's like a layer under your skin at this point, not ebbing and flowing, feels more like a constant layer, all over. That’s not good, why?”

Adam sighed, "It's building up, and when it builds up, I don't think. You know what happens after than that." He considered a second, "Would you think it comes from two places, anger? I'd almost guess it's on a personal level with Aden, and then on a professional level with how the GA specifically has been handling the war. I mean how bad can you be when you get down to the point when you're willing to ask me, of all people, who would most likely question orders if there were ethical problems and generally cause trouble?"

“You know the answer to that better than I do.” He drew a breath to consider the words and options. “There’s not much you can do about the GA’s direction, we know who is behind it and like you said, we can’t cut that head off, not yet anyway. But we can pick at its base of support, pull apart and discredit the columns supporting it.” He reached up and rubbed his chin, noting the scratchy goatee beard needed a trim. “Being angry about it clouds your judgment, so you need to let that one go, and just find ways to tip the scales in your direction. As for Aden, it's all from the same point in my opinion, and putting him into the mix as just another pylon as such, might make it easier. Let go of the personal stuff from the past, it’s the past, you can’t change it so let it go. Focus on what you can do now instead of what he did before.” He snorted softly. “Listen to me………Corran would have a field day if he heard me.” He gave a wry smile. “Sounding like a Jedi Master.”

Adam grinned, "For all we know, Kirney's recording this and could send it to Corran, she knows how to get to him assuming he's on the Skate with Mirax."

From outside the room Kirney in the comm center, "I heard that! And yes I can record this and yes I will send it to him!"

Adam sighed, "I almost never win with her. You're right I need a vent for the anger, or I need more positives in my life, pick three. I need to work on it, I need to focus better," he looked up at Kyp, "but it's easier said than done."

"Kashyyyk really threw a wrench into things. I mean if they're willing to go that far, and they're willing to get Aden out for what he did...." He took a deep breath and blew it out, "We need more information, and some skills I don't have."

Kyp smirked, he knew she was nearby, he’d felt her, but trust wasn’t an issue here. “Better not!” he called out “I might not like it.” He lightly threatened before turning back to Adam. “Kashyyyk?” There’d been so much pain the galaxy of late, shutting it out had become second nature, and with his own attentions focused he had no idea what Adam was talking about. “What happened at Kashyyyk?”

Somewhat evil laughter came from the general direction of the comm center, "Try and stop me, once we bust Adalia out of jail, I'll just tell her you weren't behaving!"

Adam would have tried shushing her, but it wouldn't have worked, "The GA bombarded Kashyyyk, causing a lot of fires there, killing and wounding who knows how many. I don't believe that they had taken sides yet, which makes it unprovoked in my book..." He looked down, "I'm worried about Eak, Kate and their family." He looked back up, "Think some of my anger is a bit more justified now?"

Kyp listened and slowly breathed in deeply as he controlled his own emotions before running his hand over his head and turning away. He knew that it had something to do with the Jedi, it was believed they were hiding out there, untrue but believed. He bit the inside of his cheek as thoughts raced through his mind. Nodding slowly he turned back. "Justified." he conceded before turning away and taking a few steps. "KRIFF!" he snarled. This changed everything.

Adam brought the holoprojector up, "Combine this with Aden, means they're becoming the Empire under Palpatine. This isn't negligent leadership as it was in the early part of the Vong War, this is pure evil. Why do you think I jumped towards Alderaan? We need to make people see them as if they're becoming the Empire. We need to fight."

He’d never actually fought in the Rebellion, it was his childhood. Granted it had destroyed his childhood, but he’d never actually been ‘a Rebel’. He gave his head a shake. “So, is the Confederation essentially the Rebellion now? I’m confused.” He was trying to think clearly but the realization of the situation was like a nova and hitting hard. Home? That was supposed to be Coruscant, but that wasn’t possible now under these conditions and the Jedi were not in the last Rebellion much, except Luke and right now he was not in a mental place to fight. “Or are we?” His mind raced to the Holocrons, Jacen would want them, he hoped Corran and Mirax were a long way from, well anyone by now. Then there was Addie, she was on the wrong side of this and he didn’t even know if she was aware of that. He closed his eyes to calm the massive wave of conflicted emotions currently coursing through him. He hoped she’d realize it and get the Kriff out of there.

Adam nodded, "We are, and I think if Wedge can get with Luke and his group, we'd be roughly on the same side, just isolated and going after different targets." He could tell that Kyp was conflicted so he decided to take a leap, "Kyp? Where's the Crystal Dawn?"

TAG: @adaml83 , @Sinrebirth

 

IC: Kirney Slane, Kael Swiftflight, Briana Odan

Kirney was listening in to the conversation, which had quickly turned into planning after discussion of Adam’s temper.

He does have one, but he’s also very, very, VERY frustrated at the moment... and he’s feeling a bit guilty.

She heard mention of needing a troublemaker and someone who knew explosives and grinned wickedly.

Got it!

The Wraiths, old and new, always managed to find ways to get information to individuals through backdoor means, and Kirney was about to put that knowledge to use.

Two very certain individuals from Adam’s past would be perfect. Swift and HQ, I bet you’re more than ready to cause some trouble with Stealth again...

----Elsewhere----

Kael Swiftflight was looking at various messages before heading out for a supply run at the latest safehouse he ran with his partner in crime Briana Odan when a particularly interesting one popped up.

It was a message from a former Wraith through the old back channels, letting them know that a certain someone was looking for troublemakers and demolitions experts. There had been what had been deemed a rogue starfighter, potentially identified by some sources as an E-wing, throwing off all sorts of weird IFF signals.

Kael had sent a message on up the chain of command that he and Briana would check it out, at the very least to gain more information. Once he’d sent the message, he looked over to see Briana stretching.

Kael sighed, “HQ, you know it’s been over 10 years since he’s seen us. Besides, there’s always the chance that one or the both of you will hurt yourselves now.”

Briana grinned, “There’s always time for one more.”

TAG: @Sinrebirth