You are currently viewing our boards as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content, and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple, and absolutely free, so join us today and begin your roleplay experience!
Tylana could not contain her mirth. Loud and surprised laughter burst from her as she considered his words. Big and bad, eh? Her eyes flickered over the length of the man, resting on a more private area, automatically drawn to it when she had heard the word “big”. With a fair eyebrow cocked she muttered to herself, “I'll take your word for it.”
She watched him as he bent to examine the now incapacitated man. His concern piqued her curiosity; he obviously had a reason to be here. She would have merely exited the cantina without a second glance after shooting him. She wasn't one to show any compassion toward those who would try to kill her. Subconsciously she raised a hand to her neck.
"Doesn't look like you come with these types of guys, either." He said as he rose from the floor, his attention now returned to her. The corners of her mouth twitched slightly with amusement. You have no idea, she thought to herself, the beginnings of a smirk forming on her face. Sobering up slightly, but still rather under the influence of the copious amount of brandy she had forced into her body she took a step forward, mentally preparing a response loaded with double entendre. Her attention was stolen however, by the raised voice of the ignored and angered bartender. Threats of swarming authorities stopped what could have been an enjoyable exchange short. That's just what I do not need. What use would I be to Kell banged up in a cell somewhere? So when the curious man leaned in to suggest they make their getaway she nodded in ready agreement.
Her suspicions proved correct when he grasped their assailant's shoulders and began pulling him from the cantina. He almost certainly had business with him, she could not believe that he was that much of a good Samaritan and planned to take him for medical attention. Perhaps he is a Bounty Hunter, collecting a head? The thought did not surprise her or trigger any sympathetic feelings. If there was a price on this man's head it was a well deserved one as far as she was concerned. Despite this she could not stop her body stiffening as the idea took root. She could not help the deep mistrustful feelings that overcame her when confronted with a Bounty Hunter. They made her uncomfortable.
They stepped outside into the night and Tylana sighed wearily. Her night had not exactly gone according to plan, but then again, when alcohol was involved they very rarely did. She turned to her companion as he introduced himself. She took his proffered hand and found herself smiling back at him. It was difficult not to, he was engaging to say the least.
"Nice to meet you, though I wish it was under different circumstances. I'm a freelancer, though I dont mind playing the knight in shining armor once in awhile."
"Kinda like a dirty pleasure of mine."
Her smile widened at his admission. “Hopefully not the only dirty pleasure you enjoy partaking in,” she stated, a glint in her eyes. “I'm Tylana, also a freelancer of sorts, and not very used to the damsel in distress role.”
She retrieved her hand from his and crossed her arms over her chest, an exaggeratedly confused expression on her face. “How will I ever repay you?” She asked, her voice breathy and affected, but unable to hide the amusement. _________________
Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 59 Location: The Final Frontier
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject:
Jaren's face continued its bright state as he received positive reactions from the blonde in front of him. It was good to know she had a good sense of humor one that at least mirrored his own. Jaren could not have helped the subtle puns that flowed out of his mouth - at some points of the conversation, the words flew out faster than Jaren could really process in his mind. Sometimes, his wit could get the best of him. Jaren shifted his stance as the woman introduced herself, leaning up against the wall in a very casual fashion. for a moment, it appeared as if Jaren totally forgot about Dusty.
"Hopefully not the only dirty pleasure you enjoy partaking in."
Jaren chuckled at her rebuttle to his statement; she had wit as well. Though this was totally unplanned, he had to admit he was starting to enjoy the random conversation with her.
“I'm Tylana, also a freelancer of sorts, and not very used to the damsel in distress role.”
Jaren shook his head in mock disappointment. "Well thats a shame. Personally, I liked it, and you know what? Not afraid to admit it, either." he said, his voice going up in pitch at the end in teasing defensiveness. It was quite ironic that she turned out to be a freelancer as well; of course, she must not learn of his mission. He did not want any competition in his missions, and he would especially hate to get into competition with a woman. Extra pressure to succeed. Plus he needed the credits. It was interesting that she turned out to be a freelancer as well; and in a sense, made him like her more.
Maybe it was the possibility....that he could meet someone similar to himself? He hated to admit it, but he was sort of...
The ex Jedi managed to push such thoughts out of his mind.
Jaren watched with curious hazel orbs as Tylana acted out a sort of distressed but amused reaction to what had happened:
“How will I ever repay you?”
Jaren chuckled in his own amusement to Tylana's statement. She paused at the end of it, expecting a response from him. The wheels in Jaren's head began to turn quickly - so she was almost expecting something from him, eh? Overall, he liked her response.
"Oh well, I guess you do owe me something." Jaren said with a big amused grin on his face, responding to her expecting statement. Jaren put his hand to his chin, and made a mock "hmmmmm", as if he pretended to think of what say. His eyes rolled up for a moment; then came back down to rest on Tylana's.
"Well I hear of a new restaurant that opened on Courscant in Galactic City. Now of course, I have no idea if the food they serve there is any good."
What the hell was he thinking? Hughes mentioned about this restaurant to him yesterday - he must have hoped he would have asked a girl to go with him. Who the hell did Hughes think he was, anyway? He didnt have time for this! It wasnt as if he could go on dates anyway; he could bring her in danger. However, Jaren could not help himself; plus, he figured he was off the radar anyway, considering he was not attacked ever since he fled Hoth. His mouth continued before his mind could stop it. Jaren simply could not help himself; the presence of the female in front of him trigged certain responses that he could not stop. He always had a weakness for blondes...
"I'm actually on a job right now, but afterwards, when we are both free, we could meet up there and try some of the food out for ourselves?"
he asked, his baritone voice smooth and casual. "Id like a....second opinion." he said, grinning to her, a presence of mischievousness deep within his eyes.
Tylana couldn't help but chuckle as Jaren solemnly took up the thoughtful pose, half expecting a suggestion not very innocent in nature. When he did reply to her teasing question she was more than a little surprised.
"Well I hear of a new restaurant that opened on Coruscant in Galactic City. Now of course, I have no idea if the food they serve there is any good."
Her eyes widened at his words, her eyebrows raised almost to her hairline. Is he asking me out? Her mind worked as she mulled over the possibility. It had been a long time since she had gone on an actual date, as in getting dressed up, making an effort with something more than her usual garb, sitting down and having dinner, making polite conversation and then pointlessly wondering if the age old question, “your place or mine” will eventually pop up.
She had had propositions, sure, but nothing like this. Not for a long time. She presumed it was a testament to the type of person that was standing before her. Tylana had become used to the brash, rough and ready approach used by many of her peers and colleagues, and sometimes employers. Jaren was obviously not like them. It was a refreshing change.
"I'm actually on a job right now, but afterwards, when we are both free, we could meet up there and try some of the food out for ourselves?"
So he is asking me out. The more she thought about it, the more she knew that it would be no harm to say yes. They could walk away from each other at that moment and never see each other again. She might not survive the kamikaze mission her old friend had planned out for them. And there was something about him that had captured her intrigue. For a fleeting moment she stopped herself from inquiring further about the job he was on, and what it had to do with her attacker. However she bit her tongue, knowing that it was none of her business, and that if anyone had asked her such a question she would have no problem reminding them of that fact.
"You do owe me, now."
Her smile returned. His cheeky reminder served to seal the deal for her. “Sure, why not. I have been known to eat from time to time. In between brandy binges that is.” She removed her arms from across her chest and placed them on her hips, taking on a more authoritative pose. “But I will have to insist on picking up the tab. As a thank you for saving my neck back there,” she added, looking at him closely. _________________
Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 59 Location: The Final Frontier
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:30 am Post subject:
Tylana's acceptance of his inquiry made the bright face of Jaren turn brighter - if that was even possible. Unknowing to Tylana, Jaren had never been on a date in his life. He had heard of them, perhaps from the descriptions from good ol Hughes, but never actually experienced it. Jaren's Years as a student in the Jedi Academy had, like all students there, deprived him of any romantic pursuits that he would have liked to start. After fleeing the Jedi Academy, Jaren still had no real sense of romance, and any of his "romantic" involvements never really involved anything that closely even resembled love. Love was a far out idea to Jaren, something alien, something nearly out of his reach. Jaren shifted from his leaning position next to the cantina's walls, propping himself up in a more alert position. He saw Tylana put her hands on her hips, as if she was in some position of authority.
“But I will have to insist on picking up the tab. As a thank you for saving my neck back there."
Jaren's eyebrows went up at this statement. Tylana was not looking at him intently - he had her attention, and he could see that interest in him grew. But... she wanted to pick up the tab? Excuse her! Even he knew that the man what the one to pay. Jaren's hazel eyes now looked into hers, as he drew himself up to his own height, and mirrored her own hands-on-hips stance.
"What? Now wait a sec, I'm the guy here, I should pay."
Though he was almost a good foot taller than her, Tylana did not back down. Though Jaren might have been seen as threatening to someone who had just met - the dynamics between him and his female companion began to show, and the situation could be no less amusing and even comedic. Jaren couldn't help but crack a grin, as they mirrored each other.
Sure, he wasn't exactly the richest bloke out there, but he could most certainly pay. It wasnt as if they were going to some fancy restaurant...were they? He forgot. Jaren briefly scratched his head for a moment, perplexed - but quickly recovered, putting down any suspicions that Tylana had about his past romantic...experience. However....
"Alright, fine." Jaren said, in compromise. "How about this. We do...uh...halfsies?" he said, the cracked grin still present on his teasing face. "And I....get the tip. No no! I called it. Besides, there are other ways you can thank me....and I'm sure you'd be just as eager." he jested, his eyes leaving hers briefly, coming to rest on her body - and then back up. The ex Jedi simply could not help himself tease her just a little bit more before he left.
"What? Now wait a sec, I'm the guy here, I should pay."
Tylana shook her head in disbelief as he mirrored her stance and stated his intentions. This one really is different, she mused thoughtfully, her mouth pursed as she eyed him. Most of the males she knew, of any species, would embrace her offer warmly with open arms, and would probably add more than a couple of rounds of expensive drinks to the tab.
At his suggestion that they split the future bill she could not bite back a returning smile. There was an enticing quality about him, but she could not quite put her finger on it. Obviously he was an attractive specimen, as she would put it later to Kellen when she returned to explain her whereabouts that night, but that wasn't quite what intrigued her. It was almost like an innocence, he wasn't quite like anyone she had met in his line of work before. He could handle himself in a brawl, surely, and he had stepped in to help her out when she had needed it. No closer to explaining the feeling she shook herself mentally, just in time to hear his teasing observation.
"...Besides, there are other ways you can thank me....and I'm sure you'd be just as eager."
“Sure there are other ways, but so far you've only put food on our menu,” she replied smoothly and with a smirk. With one hand she pulled the material of the bottle green leather corset she was wearing out slightly, and with the other she reached into her cleavage and retrieved a small datachip, her eyes remaining on his. Positioning it between forefinger and thumb she flicked it rather recklessly in the air and in his direction.
“For when you're ready to be thanked properly,” she nodded at the chip. Redirecting her attention to the quiet body at Jaren's feet she chuckled softly, remembering his earlier words of being on a job. “Enjoy the rest of your job.” Her eyes widened slightly at the word before she looked back up at him, grinning. “And am I glad it took you to Dirty Dan's.”
(OOC: Fun. Feel free to add in, finish up or write her out if you're ready to go with the interrogation. And before anyone asks, YES Tylana does carry things around in her cleavage. It's NOT abnormal ) _________________
Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 59 Location: The Final Frontier
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:18 pm Post subject:
“Sure there are other ways, but so far you've only put food on our menu.” Tylana fired back at him, with no less wit in her rebuttal. His eyes lingered downward as attention was drawn to her chest; Tylana seemed to produce something out of her cleavage. Of course, his eyes were more or less drawn like magnets to that certain spot; it wasnt like he could help it. They took their time making their way back up to her face. A dark eyebrow was raised for a brief moment.
Wonder what else she keeps in there.
Jaren had barely enough time to react as Tylana flicked the chip that was produced in his direction. Jaren lazily stuck his hand out; and even though the chip was no where near his hand, the chip flew into it anyway, and he then swiftly tucked the chip away in his pocket. Jaren figured his subtle use of the Force probably would not detect any suspicions from Tylana; it after all was a very small chip. Throughout their conversation Jaren was probing Tylana for any signs of Force signature - he could detect none. Tylana was not Force sensitive at all, which if anything gave Jaren some relief.
“For when you're ready to be thanked properly.”
Jaren nodded in acknowledgment. "Alright. Hopefully that wont be too far into the future." Jaren moved to now drag the body onto his hover bike, and Dusty's body fell rather clumsily on the end of his bike. Jaren moved to get on the seat of the vehicle, but paused as he heard Tylana's last statement:
“And am I glad it took you to Dirty Dan's.”
It was quite a compliment, one he had not heard in awhile. Jaren's face turned into a genuine smile as he gazed at Tylana. "Same here..." he said gently to her.
Jaren revved up the engine of his bike, getting ready to takeoff. Jaren was about to go, when he stopped, and turned again to Tylana.
"Take care of yourself, Tylana. I'd like to see you in one piece. You owe me that date, now." he said with a playful grin, before the engine revved up to its climax, and he left the scene in a bang.
-------------------------
Jaren quickly managed to see the punch from Dusty; and this time, wasnt even playing with him. Jaren easily grabbed the man's wrist and pushed him up against the wall, squeezing his arm around the back of his waist. Jaren let out a growl, as he angrily grabbed the man's hair and pulled him to face him. Jaren's face contorted into one of terror, as the dim light of the street fell upon his face, making it appear like that of a demon, as he threw Dusty up against the wall.
"You're going to tell me, Dusty." he growled at him angirly, daggers in his voice.
"...Tell you nothin."
"Wrong answer. I dont have time for this!"
Jaren did not have time to play around with him, and drew out his own small knife at his side, and plunged it into the man's shoulder. Dusty cried out in pain, as the knife bit into his skin. Blood began to seep out of the wound, adding to the already bloody mess of the once proud bodyguard.
"Ok ok ok!" The man breathed and pleaded to the near demonic man behind him. "Oh Gods, dont kill me!"
Jaren breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. Where is he keeping the girl?"
"Girl?" Dusty breathed, now more cooperative with him. "Holst wasnt keeping any girl..." Jaren eyebrows went up in disbelief, and let out a grunt of dissatisfaction. Hearing Jaren's displeasure, Dusty went on to elaborate in hushed tones. It was obvious to Jaren that now he was telling the truth - he could sense it in the Force as well. "W-well, theres that girl that he had shipped off to Devall. Word got out about that."
Treading lightly and with a rather aimless demeanor Tylana made her way back through the now emptying streets of Coronet. During her walk she noted a handful of other late night revelers like herself, but very soon the route of side streets she took had left her seemingly alone. She was replaying the events of the night in her head; her brush with violence and the subsequent exchange with the man who had so surprisingly come to her aid.
She shrugged off a fleeting guilty feeling that had washed over her when she thought of her destination, and Kellen, who would more than likely be waiting for her return aboard the Truant, impatient and frustrated, having more than likely procured the information they needed to continue their search for his twin sister. She was not sure if he would understand the overwhelming need for a little downtime that had attacked her earlier following their heated argument, and she knew that he would be more than likely cursing her from a high heavens. She exhaled deeply; a sigh of her own frustration as she picked up her pace, unwilling to wait any longer for the inevitable scolding she would receive.
Turning a sharp corner onto a wide street that would put the hangar into clear view, she stopped suddenly, strafing quickly to the shelter of a doorway. Her body had stiffened, her mind alert again as her eyes darted around and behind her, seeking something or someone. She had heard a step, a soft, quiet step and could not shake a sudden feeling that she was being watched. She stood still, her hand resting reassuringly on her blaster holster as she held her breath, waiting. As the minutes passed without another sound she began to wonder why she had reacted with such paranoia to such a small, unambiguous sound. After all, she mused, stepping out from her hiding place, Coronet is a busy city, people come and go at all times of the day and night. She dismissed her discomfort quickly, feeling a little silly that she had overreacted.
Stepping back out on to the empty street she continued her brisk walk; her eyes narrowing in the near distance as she moved closer to the hangar bay. Reaching the door she began to punch in the code that had been given to her upon arrival. Midway through the code she paused, her ears straining. A soft step again. Sucking in a breath she drew her weapon and turned, her back now pressed against the entry door. Painting her blaster in an arc of targets, her knees bent and her upper body swiveling to accommodate the open space before her, she found nothing. Yet her instincts were roaring, telling her that she was not alone. And having heard the sound again, and in much closer proximity this time, she was inclined to listen to them. Blaster still in hand she entered the remainder of the code, and backed quickly through the door. Her eyes found her ship almost immediately, and she broke into a near jog in it's direction, her speed increasing as she reached the ramp of the Truant, keen to get herself inside where she would feel as safe as she possibly could.
Finally back inside her ship, smelling the familiar smells that she had grown accustomed to and now begrudgingly felt she couldn't live without, she breathed a sigh of relief and turned to activate the ramp. Standing against the panel, with his arms crossed and a furious expression on his face was Kellen, glaring at her with the fury and heat of a dozen suns. Gulping at the sight of the big man's anger she attempted a sheepish grin. “Hey Kell,” she ventured, with a small but needless wave.
“Where have you been?” He demanded, although Kellen Vita knew all of the signs of a drinking binge when he saw them. He was no stranger to one or two himself. Taking in her blood shot eyes and the tired, weary expression on her face his anger almost softened. Almost.
“Someone tried to strangle me and now I think I'm being followed,” she blurted, throwing wary glances toward the open ramp. She felt uncomfortable and exposed.
Kellen's brow furrowed deeper. “Someone tried to strangle you? Why? Did you try to steal their drink?”
Tylana waved a dismissive hand at the question. “No no, I had my own,” she replied, her attention now caught by the distant sound of a door sliding open. She glanced at Kellen, urgency in her tone. “Move it. I need to close us up.”
Kellen uncrossed his arms and took a step closer. “There is nobody following you Guns. You're paranoid and you've had too much to drink.”
“Stop being facetious,” she spat, her eyes narrowed. Although she did not have a hard time understanding the conclusion her companion had drawn; she knew she probably looked a right state and she had been gone many hours. She also knew that she wasn't being paranoid, and if a near strangulation and the debacle that followed it wasn't enough to sober up the most inebriated person than she did not know what was.
Her head snapped toward the ramp again as she heard steady steps. This time, Kellen followed her stare and shifted his weight from one leg to another while looking back at her in confusion. “It's probably just a pilot doing some maintenance,” he supplied helpfully, though a faint doubt had begun to creep it's way in.
“No,” Tylana shook her head, her voice now a mere whisper as she continued to listen to the footfalls. “I was certain someone was following me on my way back here. On two different occasions.”
Obviously growing impatient Kellen took off down the ramp, muttering to himself as he walked. “Wait!” She hissed at him, but to no avail. He ignored her and stepped out onto the floor, looking expectantly around him.
Her view was obscured from her position inside her ship, but she did see Kellen's expression change and jumped into action. “Hey!” Kellen bellowed, taking long strides in a direction back toward the ship. “What the hell do you think you're doing!?”
Tylana had reached the end of the ramp before the words were out of his mouth. Blaster drawn she followed Kellen's direction and saw a man, bent hunched over am exposed panel of the Truant, various wires and mechanics on display. Fury engulfed Tylana when she saw this strange man with his hands on her livelihood. “Get away from it!”She screeched, ready to shoot him then and there. Kellen, now surprised that Tylana had actually been telling the truth through her intoxication, took this chance to draw his own weapon. Eying the target he began to feel glad that they'd had the jump on him, as opposed to the other way around. The man was big; his shoulders and chest twice the width of Kellen's, who himself was by no means a small man. He had his hands raised, his face a picture of indignant shock.
“I'm a mechanic here,” he said, his eyes wide as he stared at the two blasters now pointed at him. “I was asked to do some routine maintenance...” One of his hands dropped and reached to his jacket, as though looking to provide some identification. “Keep your hands up,” Kellen ordered, stepping closer to the man.
Meanwhile Tylana was staring at an underside section of her ship, a small, black device now attached inconspicuously to the hull. Keeping her blaster aloft she edged toward it, bent her knees and grasped the device tightly and tugged. Now free and in her hand she studied it closely. “It's some sort of tracking beacon,” she observed incredulously, her gaze flickering from Kellen to the supposed mechanic. Dropping the beacon to the ground she stomped on it with booted foot. “And what, pray tell, would possess a mechanic to attach a tracking device to the hull of my ship?” She asked, her voice dangerously low. “Let's get him on the Truant Kell, and out of the way of any prying eyes.”
The captured man looked as though he were about to open his mouth to respond, but Kellen got there before him. “Keep it shut,” he warned through gritted teeth, “And get moving.”
*
With binders around his feet and his hands the man they now knew as Bern sat slumped on one of the chairs of the ship's recreation area, blood running from his nose and a nasty looking gash on the side of his face, courtesy of Kellen. Surprisingly the pair had soon discovered that Devall's man did not need much by way of encouragement to talk. Kellen assumed that this was because Bern knew he would be punished to the extreme by his boss anyway, and so had nothing to lose. Tylana, on the other hand, suspected something else. The ease with which they had apprehended him, followed by his willingness to hand over certain information, caused her to sense some deeper, complicated meaning.
Perched on the table she watched him thoughtfully. Her polar opposite at that moment, Kellen was pacing restlessly, a big ball of unrelenting energy. His fists were clenched and his shoulders were stiff. “It's such a weak link,” he repeated angrily. “Typical Yaz, always getting involved with people she shouldn't.”
Tylana pursed her mouth. She was dissatisfied with the entire explanation; Shay Devall murdered as a result of required vengeance, his son taking over the syndicate business and taking it upon himself to find and torture every person the murderer had ever known or cared about. To a degree she could empathise; she had felt like doing the same herself to the Bounty Hunter who had collected on Jal Taren, but time and common sense had gradually softened her need for reckless revenge. And now, the fact that Yazura Vita had enjoyed a brief tryst with Devall's murderer had been her undoing. And her brother's. It didn't quite add up to Tylana, but she kept her mouth resolutely clamped closed.
She slipped slowly from the table and rested a hand on her astromech droid. “Keep an eye on him, Knuckles,” she ordered, her fingers tapping lightly on his red and white dome. She glanced at Kellen with a raised brow. “You keep pacing. Get the show on the road. I'm going to sleep off a hangover.” With that she turned and walked with purpose to the captain's quarters, removing her outer garments already in preparation for the slumber ahead.
She reached out but her fingers touched nothing. He was so close. He was a hazy figure of her mind's eye. Her mouth was moving and her throat was raw, as though she had been screaming for hours and hours, but yet she heard no sound. She could smell him, his scent, an intoxicating infusion of sweat and liquor. It was all around her, creeping upon her slowly, the sensations, the movement, the familiarity of his presence.
Sometimes he smiled, sometimes he cried out, his face lined with a pain she could not see. Sometimes she fought against the invisible forces that kept them apart, wanting to feel him, wanting to ask him why, wanting to comfort him. Other times she wanted to draw away. Those where the times her confusion and self preservation won the battle of her heart, when she did not want more, when she wanted the mere memory to release it's stranglehold upon her.
Those nights she dreamed about him were fitful ones. She would wake in strange positions, sheets tangled around her warm body, her hands clutching fistfuls of them, her knuckles white and her hair in disarray. She would feel as though she had not slept at all, her body even wearier than when it had fallen into the bed previously, and her mind sharp and active as though she had actually been there, with him, living the dream. They had been growing in frequency, the dreams, and that had begun to disturb her greatly. It had been years since it had happened, and although a day had not gone by since when she did not think of him, even for a fleeting moment, she had moved on with her life. With the passing time she had taken other lovers, inconsequential affairs that had ended almost as swiftly as they had begun. Whilst they had all left her body sated her mind had remained neglected, as though she forbade herself any extensive contact with anyone she did not have a platonic relationship with. She knew, deep down, she was trying to protect herself.
It was not an ideal situation, but one she was content with. The dreams, however, were not ideal and she continued to suffer their after effects. That morning was no exception.
Her eyes had flickered open quickly and without the usual laziness a satisfying sleep can induce. Kellen Vita was standing in her quarters and he was upside down.
“Strange sleeping position,” he noted, his head falling to one side as he peered down at her.
She had been lying at the end of the bunk, her head hanging off it. Realising how uncomfortable she actually was she maneuvered herself into a sitting position, one hand massaging her neck as a sharp pain jolted through it. She looked up at Kellen with a frown. “Bad dream.”
“You alright?” He took a step further inside the room, a genuine look of concern crossing his features.
“I'll be fine,” she muttered. She swung her bare legs around and brought them to the floor. “Where are we?”
“We're orbiting the Elrood System, close to the co-ordinates Bern gave us.” He grabbed a hold of the arm she held out and helped to pull her from the bed. “You sure you're up for this Guns?”
Now standing facing her old friend she managed to crack a wry smile. “Let's do this thing before I decide I'm not.”
With a smile of his own, but borne of entirely different feelings, Kellen returned to the cockpit of the Truant and left her to dress. The closer they seemed to get to finding answers, the more determined he had become. If that was possible.
She had been blaming the increasing dreams on their current collaboration. Although she cared for Kellen, being around him had brought back many memories. She had found herself drinking a lot more, knowing that the more intoxicated she was, the emptier her sleep would be.
She dressed hurriedly, hoping as she did that this next stop would bring him the answers he so fervently sought.
*
The Truant's cockpit was crackling with the excited energy of a desperate man. The deep sigh that escaped Tylana as she took a seat in the co-pilot's chair was neither excited nor desperate. Feeling weary from her dreams and the unpleasant situation they had found themselves in she placed her hands behind her head and pursed her lips, considering their next course of action. Taren's Truant was speeding toward the growing image of a gigantic Mon Calamari Cruiser.
“The ID has been changed and we're all set to approach,” Kellen informed her, his hands moving lightly over the ship's various controls. She nodded in response and activated the Truant's communications panel with the flick of a wrist.
“DeValiant, this is the freighter Corona, requesting docking instructions.” Her tone was flat and matter of fact.
“Co-ordinates are being sent to you now, Corona,” a female voice responded to Tylana's request. “We've been expecting you.”
The ominous comment drew a stricken reaction from Tylana and she turned to stare at her companion. “They've been expecting us?” She asked incredulously, swinging her chair around and staring into the ship's recreation area where their prisoner was currently subdued. “Oh this just can't get any better.”
Kellen's jaw clenched. He knew the dangers this trip entailed but he wasn't about to back down merely because of a strange communication, no matter how many flippant or sarcastic remarks his friend made. “She's on that ship. I can feel it.”
“I guess we'll find out soon enough,” Tylana muttered through clenched teeth, involuntarily stiffening her shoulders so she could feel the cool, comforting steel against her back; a habit she had long ago begun during times of anxiety. “But for the record, I've got a bad feeling about this.”
Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 59 Location: The Final Frontier
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 12:43 am Post subject:
OOC: Warning! This post contains some mature content.
The treadmill began to speed up and at the same time incline itself to challenge the runner. Jaren decided it got too hot, and his t shirt lay dejected on the floor, exposing both his bare torso and also the light blue Gem embedded into his chest. Sweat beaded down from Jaren's face as he continued on the machine. In actuality he hated such cardiovascular activities and much rather preferred straight up old fashioned weight training. He rolled his eyes as the cool, soothing female voice stated its next moves. He shook his head, flipping through the various channels on the screen of his machine. Finding nothing of interest, Jaren went back into the usual trance-like state. For some reason he could not seem to break down this routine. The routine of training, started back from when he was a Jedi, stuck with him even when he was as free as a bird. He could not help but still push his body to the limit. Perhaps it was the feeling of accomplishment, or perhaps it was the feeling as if stress dripped away from his mind; he did not know. Finishing the workout, Jaren stepped off the treadmill with a huff, wiping his face with a small towel. Breathing heavily, he sat down on the bed, and tried to close, letting the sounds of the night of Coronet soothe him to sleep. Sleep however, was not going to be granted to him. Jaren tossed and turned on his bed, his mind filled with the disgusting, terrible thoughts, tearing and pulling at his sanity.
His hazel eyes wandered the room for a minute in a daze, and then less upon the familiar piece of equipment sitting at the table to the side. Jaren ventured to pick it up, his fingers slowly crasping around the cold metal with a sigh escaping his lips.
The powerful beam of blue light shot in front of his face; shining across from his eyes. It was oh so familiar, and Jaren's breath quickened momentarily, old habits and instincts coming to him. It was an odd thing, the connection shared between blade and warrior, lightsaber and Jedi. It was an especially odd feeling however; Jaren had not been practicing lately with the blade, which he did regularly back when he was a full fledged Jedi, yet the instincts were still all there. He could feel the Force running through his veins, the veins that contained almost twenty thousand - as the council told him - midichlorians. It was always at these times that Jaren had reminisced about his past, skulking around alone in his room, his eyes concentrated on the blue blade, as it almost served as a focusing point.
What would have happened if I stayed a true Jedi?
"Doesnt matter..." he whispered, answering his thoughts. "Was never fit to be a Jedi..."
Jaren stared at the blade, the focusing point. The Gem on his chest began to glow a deep, disgusting green; contrasting onto his face. He wasnt a Jedi anymore. Now he was just a scoundrel. All those morals and principles, out the window. What a coward he was...such a coward. He put the blade away and put it back away on the table where it lay dejected last. The dark hair fell about his face as he looked downward.
The Force trembled.
Jaren cocked his head to the side, feeling the re vertebration of the Force. Eh? Something was amiss...
The tremble in the Force served to shock him out of his own dark thoughts. Jaren turned around, and felt the passing wind of a flying knife by his neck, barely missing him by mere inches. Jaren started toward the shadow that appeared behind him. Jaren ran up to it, andhis hands flew out immediatly sensing attack. There was a loud grunt as Jaren blocked a right attack, and with precise Teras Kasi training, began to block a flurry of well placed attacks to his neck, aiming for a quick disabling strike. The fighting shadow managed to land a quick attack to his knee, momentarily putting Jaren to his knees. However, Jaren caught another attack to his face in between his hands, and with an amazing amount of strength, shoved the agile attacker back, sending the shadow sparwling onto the ground.
Jaren's thoughts ceased as he was in the heat of the moment. Jaren let out another primal growl as he leaped out of his place onto the shadow. There was another loud grunt as Jaren's fist landed straight into the assassin's mouth. Jaren was about to land another blow when he heard a clicking sound coming from the shadow's jacket.
Jaren had barely enough time to call upon the Force to block the pincers of the taser, as they bounced harmlessly off Jaren's shielding. The assassin let out a gasp of surprise. Focusing all of his frustrations upon the assassin - mainly his frustrations of his past upon the attacker, Jaren pushed the assassin from where he was standing onto a piece of furniture in the back, falling into it in a large crash. Possessed by now an intense anger, Jaren drew out of the knife in his jacket, and ran up the assassin. Jaren pinned him to the wall in a large crash, and his trembling hands full of anger grasped on the neck and the sides of the assassin. Breathing heavy, hot breath, Jaren pulled the knife out of his jacket and plunged it in the assassin's neck. The assassin's hand grabbed the glade of the knife, and Jaren knew he was drawing blood. But the anger in Jaren empowered him, and grinding his teeth together in ferocious anger, Jaren slowly overpowered the attacker's strength, and he could hear the blade hitting the flesh of the assassin's neck, hitting a vein. Blood immediatly began to creep out onto Jaren's hands. The assassin struggled in Jaren's grip like a mouse in the grip of a cat, struggling to get away from inevitable doom. Jaren heard and felt the gurgling of blood oozing out from the assassin's mouth. The man under him let out a final shudder, signaling that his life was finally taken him him. Jaren, his hazel eyes wide, drew out the knife from his neck with a sickening crunch, his breath hot and heavy.
-----------------
Jaren mindlessly walked into the bathroom, took out the bloody knife, and began to wash it with a certain methodology. His face showed no obvious signs of emotion as it reflected upon its assuringly busy owner. Jaren's hazel eyes were cast down as he washed the blood from the knife. The blood seeped and crawled down from the blade into the water, swimming into the vortex of liquid that send it out of his sight. He closed his eyes as most of the blood corrupted the water below him, turning it a deep red. The ex Jedi let out a small sigh, finishing his work.
Jaren walked back into the trashed living room and sat down on the couch, putting his head into his hands. He closed his eyes.
Nadaan would not have liked what I had done....
But Nadaan wasnt alive.
Jaren stood up, and pocketed the knife. He gathered his belongings, and headed for the door. He took one last look at the room. Jaren had managed to remove any bits of evidence that there was a deadly fight the night before. He had his methods. He turned his head forward.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
)