Lady Arya

'Floating' (Star Wars 2 BBY)

The blaster rifle rested on his lap, his foot tapping in aggravation. They had waited nearly twenty minutes now. Eighteen minutes too long. Wyler had picked up another stray, another deserter of the Empire. This one seemed fresh, too eager to leave, in his opinion, as far as what Wyler had told him about her. It wasn’t his call to say who the clone brought in, which included him but look how he turned out. The old clone seemed to think she could be an asset but how? An intelligence officer was far too risky. Could easily be a plant by the Empire, a double agent, his thoughts lingered. He leaned forward, gripping the handle of the rifle tighter.

”Where is this contact of yours?” The man grumbled toward the pilot, as he looked into the heavy rain.

DINK A blaster bolt hit the side of the transport ship making him pull back for cover. Several more shots hit the side. He stood, leaning against the opening of the ship, his rifle pointed at the landing pad, seeing three figures coming his way.

“Right on time..” The old clone mentioned, flipping a few switches on the console. The ship roared to life.

Aellyn was soaked from the rain. Where did those troopers come from, she groaned, her heart was about to explode from running. Two days she had laid low in the underlevels, two days of starving and clinging on to hope she would make it out. She turned, taking a shot at the two troopers chasing her. Missed. Dank Farrik, she muttered to herself. The landing pad was close, she could make out a ship in the distance. Well, she hoped it was the ship she was waiting for.

“Ah, she has two bucketheads on her tail…” The rebel stated as he aimed, taking two shots at the troopers.

Aellyn jumped to the side as she saw the bolts pass her, hitting one of the troopers. One down. At least someone was watching out for her, right? Or were they shooting at her? Too late to wonder about that now. The rebel looked into his scope, the woman was running erratically but he took aim at the other trooper. Taking in a breath then exhaled, firing off another shot.

Missed.

The transport ship hovered off the ground. Aellyn ran harder, gasping for breath as the rain pelted against her face. She holstered her pistol, took off her bag, tossing it inside before making a leap into the awaiting transport. The man yelled back to the pilot, Aellyn clung to the ship as her legs dangled below. ”Kriff!” Her finger tips gripped the floor but slick from the rain, she felt herself slipping back. The thought of dying passed by as she looked down at the shrinking city. She could see the trooper below aiming, firing more bolts as other troopers showed up on the pad. ”Help!” Aellyn yelled out.

Not that she needed to yell, the man was already reaching out, his hands grabbed both of her arms and pulled her into the transport ship. A few more shots hit the side door as it closed shut. Aellyn laid across the steel floor as Wyler maneuvered the ship out of harm's way and eventually set its course off Coruscant. Laying on her back, soaked, her eyes shut as she breathed heavily. Her red hair matted against her face. She waited, catching her breath as they jumped to hyperspace. Aellyn wiped her eyes of the extra water. Did she really just make it? Was she finally safe?

The rebel swung his rifle around to his back, kneeling down beside their newest travel companion. “I’m Devin…You must be, Aellyn?” He smiled down at her.

That is what she noticed first. His smile and a feeling she would eagerly begin to miss.
____

The neon glow of Nar Shaddaa seeped through the grimy transparisteel of the apartment, streaks of orange and green ran across the ceiling. Aellyn laid on her back, staring up at the lights reminiscing of a certain rainy day on Coruscant, a low steady breath could be heard beside her. She rolled to her side, toward the man laying next to her. She traced the line of his jaw with a fingertip, the stubble, rough against her skin. It was a moment of peace against what had transpired over the last week. Hiring a random transport to her next adventure, then finding herself stealing from a Star Destroyer and now, possibly, a casino heist. This wasn’t exactly her plan but what exactly was that to begin with, she began to question.

Aellyn studied the man’s face, it had been too long. The memories were beginning to fade of a life she once had with him. A life they had built outside the Empire, hell, the echoes of a rebellion. She wondered, not for the first time, if she chose the right path for herself. He was there, always, whenever she needed him. He accepted that she needed to find her peace. To fix what she had done.

As the first rays of the moon's artificial dawn began to bleed through the window, new light painted the room. Aellyn knew she would need to check back in with the UA soon, if they hadn't left her, which was a high possibility. But for now, she allowed herself a few more moments, laying there with him.

Devin stayed still, eyes half-lidded in the faint neon haze, letting her touch trace the line of his jaw. "You always get that look when you’re thinking about leaving," He said quietly, not accusing, just... knowing. "Not right away. Just... eventually."

“You should be asleep…” She interjected.

He turned slightly, catching her eyes. There was a softness in them. Or maybe he was just fooling himself again. "I don’t blame you. You’ve got your fights, your ghosts... your missions. I’ve never asked you to give that up." A beat. He reached out, brushing a thumb along her wrist.

"But maybe... maybe I just wish, for once, you’d stay because you want to. Not because you’re tired. Not because you’ve got nowhere else to go. Just because of this," He nodded toward the space between them, the warmth beneath the covers, the moment held in quiet, "This is enough." He let the silence hang, barely a whisper above it. "I know I’m not your finish line. But I keep hoping maybe I could be a stop you don’t run from.”

Aellyn moved, closing the space between them. Her eyes looked deeply into his. “I’m not running, Dev. I’m fixing what I did... This heist could be big. If we pull it off, I can get us, you, off this rock. Settle on Pabu…or Spira? Somewhere nice.” Her thumb running over his cheek. A moment she needed to remember.

He didn’t answer right away. Just let her words hang there between them, soft and full of promise, like they always were. Pabu. Spira. Some place warm and quiet. Some place that wasn’t here and now. His hand found hers where it touched his cheek, holding it gently.

"You talk about later like it’s something you’re saving me for." His voice wasn’t accusing. Just tired. A little sad. "I don’t need a beach or a clean slate. I don’t need perfect. I just need you."

He met her gaze, steady, but there was something breaking at the edges. "I know you’ve got things to fix. I know you think this job’s the way out. But if I’m only ever going to be part of the ending…" A pause. He shook his head slightly. "Just come back. Please.”
____

Moments later, his words still echoed in her head. ‘Just come back, Please.’ It was always the same between them. He wanted her to stay and she couldn’t. Her past haunted her, the need to find peace was constant. Her eyes shifted over toward Devin as she folded some high end dresses into a crate. If she was going to look the part at the casino, she couldn’t wear just anything. And by that, she meant anything stored on the UA or smelled of bantha poodoo. Closing the crate after she packed the last item, she then picked up the shadow hologram off the table, placing it in her jacket pocket.

“I don’t know how you found the hologram but it will come in handy. I owe you, Dev. I owe you..everything.” She stepped toward him, placing her hand in his, looking into his eyes. Aellyn squeezed his hand before letting go. There were no more words that he could say to her and he knew it. Just a look of sadness but understanding. She pulled on the long jacket, double checking she had all her gear. Aellyn remembered the feeling of that rainy day, the first moment she saw him and his smile. She felt safe, she felt wanted. Something the Empire could never give her. The guilt moved through her body as they stood there together. The crate hovered above the ground as she looked back at him. Studying him over one last time, hoping it wouldn’t be the last.

'Floating' (Star Wars 2 BBY)

Aellyn couldn’t quite place the feeling. The stare the stow had given her wasn’t a plea for help. The woman seemed capable of taking care of herself. She had made it this far. Then the look the Pilot had given her before he joined the stow in his room. The same look when she went off script on Abilene. Hoping the advice would help take it easier on her. The stow seemed to have gone through a lot to make it this far. Hell, she fooled the whole ship. The door to the cabin hissed closed. Letting out a sigh, she turned and looked down at the droid. He had managed to roll toward the control panel, which was lying in pieces on the floor. Wrench was going on about the Pilot breaking his ship and he would have to fix it. Her eyes traveled back, nodding toward the mechanic who seemed to be unbothered by the situation.

Aellyn turned on her heels toward the kitchen, she figured it needed a good scrub. The stow managed to scrap the pot to the last bit, she smiled. Girl was resourceful, she gave her credit. She heard the muffles beyond the door but couldn’t quite place on the conversation. Maybe it was better this way, keep to her own business for once. Her hands scrubbed the last bit of grime off the inside before she rinsed and put the pot away. It was nice to finally have a meal, where you weren’t shoveling it down and running off. She remembered those days.

Her hand suddenly went straight to her pocket.The encrypted comm alerted her before everything went down. She grabbed the nearest seat and pulled up her datapad. A smile formed. So, he hadn’t forgotten her. He agreed to meet and also find her the item she had requested. He would be waiting in their normal spot on the smuggler’s moon. Aellyn rubbed the back of her neck, sighing happily. A familiar. The door to the cabin hissed open as she leaned to the side to see both the stow and the Pilot inside. She perked a brow, seeing the mattress off the lower bunk, curious what that was all about but sat up straight, her gaze went back to her datapad as the Pilot exited the cabin.

Fel sighed as the door closed behind him. Moving off to check in on Wrench, who was fixing the ceiling, before heading for the flight deck to check on the progress on the flight to Shaddaa, he passed Aellyn in the galley. ”She ain’t dead. Ain’t over friendly, neither. Didn’t give me no reason to lock her down. But she’s with us till the Moon. Mebbe we’ll be able to convince her to stay out of the floor… maybe we can convince her we ain’t all bad.” He shrugged, carrying on toward the bridge.

He emphasized the word all. Was he referring to her? Probably. They had clashed since she boarded but the short moment they had cooked dinner together, that was nice. Right? Or could it be he was referring to his time in the Empire. Her thoughts went back to the redacted files she had found. That did have a way of coming back. Aellyn stood up and made her way to her own cabin. Thoughts drifting toward a familiar face on the smuggler's moon.

Lost World: The Lost Continent

@InfamousGuy101 that is the vibe I got when I read it. But I could be that wacky American! 😂 but I love everyone’s characters all the same!

Lost World: The Lost Continent

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Lost World: The Lost Continent

@Theyra @Ducksworth Apologies, wasn't sure if I was allowed to post in OOC yet.

Lost World: The Lost Continent

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Lost World: The Lost Continent

Cool! I’ll put something together after work!

Lost World: The Lost Continent

Hello! Consider me interested! Where do I apply?

How high can we count before a mod gets involved?

33

'Floating' (Star Wars 2 BBY)

After dinner and the briefing of their next heist, she found herself in the cockpit, everyone else seemed to go their separate ways, which was fine for her. Her thoughts were running a mile a minute and she needed space to think. There were questions that needed answering, more planning on their part. Two weeks was a tight window but she thought it was doable. She sat in front of the communication panel, hooking up her datapad to it. Her fingers ran across the keys, sending an encrypted message to her contact on Nar Shaddaa. A smile formed on her face, it had been awhile since she had been to the smuggler's moon but there were from happier times.

Her hands rubbed over her face, the waiting always seemed the longest. Would her contact still be there, listening? Waiting? They never failed her. Her datapad dinged as she reached out for it before she heard the commotion in the hallway. It sounded like something fell. Leaving her datapad on the panel, she pulled her blastor from its holster and stepped into the hallway. “What the kark?” It was only the slightest of looks but she could swear she saw another woman standing with Wrench before the little droid closed off the area.

Fel was out of his room in a mere moment, even though he had been in his own little world, going over the past (as he often did.) The noise brought him back to the present in a half heartbeat, and he met Aellyn running into the common area from the bridge, likewise seeing Wrench and – something – on the other side of the compartment hatch (which was never closed.)

“Wrench! What in the three suns…” He hammered on the hatch. (to Aellyn) “...who the karking frack was that?” He moved swiftly to the access panel and started running a bypass, but Wrench was too smart for that, having locked out the panel. He shook his head at Aellyn – no shot. “WRENCH!”

Aellyn followed in behind him, her blaster at the ready. “Appeared to be a stowaway because that definitely was not the kid or Jet.” She stood next to the pilot who seemed a bit frantic as he tried to access the panel. “Bet the droid has a plan, my worry is I think Jet and Zane are on the other side. Can we access comms to engineering?” She asked.

Fel had a split second of indignance – *stowaway? On this ship? No way…* but he swallowed that immediately. It was entirely possible. Hell, he had used some of those cavities for smuggling in the past. If someone was wily enough to get past them (on Abilene?) there was certainly room enough to stow away.

“I can do us one better…” he sprinted for the cockpit, and activated the ship-wide comms. Wrench couldn’t disable that – it was old-school hard-wired as a standalone system.The question was – what to say.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the pilot sprint off toward the cockpit. She waited for a moment before taking off after him. Holstering the blaster for now, she saw him slide into the comm panel. Kark. She had forgotten her datapad, laying there in the open. She swiped it and quickly shoved it in her pocket. Watching him, she noticed he was going for the ship-wide comms. “ No. If it's a stowaway, your droid has them locked down. He would do the same to me if I threatened the ship. They are not going anywhere. Well, unless he dropped the ramp. I would see if you can only access the comms in other areas. Make sure the others are safe.” Aellyn also wondered if this was Abliene sending a final message to Fel. The two didn’t seem to get along all that well, in fact Abliene did want him dead.

Fel had to admit, quickly to himself, that he hadn’t even thought of that. He nodded appreciatively to Aellyn. “Great idea.” In the heat of things, he was going to speak ship-wide, directly to Wrench and this stowaway. In fact, he’d never done anything but ship-wide from this panel. It took him a moment to shut off the areas he didn’t want to speak to, leaving only the Starboard hold active, and dropped the volume by forty percent, to better ensure that only Jet (and the Kid, if he was in there too) could hear what he had to say.

“Jet? You there? What’s your situation? Wrench has locked me out from the common area… I can’t get in there without getting violent. Don’t worry, if you reply – only Aellyn and I will hear.”

---

Jet had been in the bay for longer than he would have liked, he often forgot what it was like to do work one-handed but, of course, working on his arm meant he had no other choice. A hydrospanner sat clenched between his teeth as he fished through a box of parts switching them in and out as he needed. A new plate here, a piston there. The hinges were in a majority good condition, thankfully, just needed debris cleared from their path. The bay had been quiet until then, just the hum of the lights, the rattle of tools, the soft clink of metal against metal. Steady, predictable. He could’ve had the job done in the next twenty minutes or so, if not for the sudden burst of chaos from the corridor just outside. He was sure the ship wasn’t in that bad condition that it would be falling apart.

He dropped the spanner onto the workbench and moved over to the door which.. Didn’t open. Strange. He jammed his hand against it and gave it a push, maybe it had got jammed on something but.. No. The mechanism wasn’t even trying. He pressed his ear to the door and picked up the muffled whine of whirls, beeps, and voices raised in confusion. One voice rose above the others - Fels. He stepped back and leaned against the bench behind him, shaking his head softly in amusement.

It was then that Fel’s voice crackled through the comms, the signal laced with static and quieter than usual. Jet’s first instinct was that something else had broken again, typical. But the weight in Fel’s tone pushed that thought aside pretty damn quickly.

“What’s my situation?” he muttered, jaw tight. “I’m locked in my karking workshop while it sounds like the ship’s turning inside out. What the hell’s going on out there?”

“Seems we got us a passenger on Abilene. Don’t rightly recall asking for one. Seems they’re havin’ a word with Wrench outside your door. Can’t get in. Tin-Man locked us out, or else the stow did, but I can’t see how. You locked out of your panel?”

Jet pressed a palm to the door panel and the lights responded. He wasn’t locked in like the others. “Panel’s on,” he said into the comm, voice low and even. “I’m going in. Leave the line open.”

He didn’t wait for confirmation. He keyed the override and the door unlocked with a low hiss, mechanisms whining as they slid apart. Jet stepped just past the frame and stopped there, leaning his shoulder into the edge of the doorway. His eyes moved slowly across the room. Wrench was off to the side and just behind him, the stowaway. Jet took her in with one long, quiet look. “You wanna tell me what the hell you’re doing on my ship?”