A hand in the dark

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="James Justice"] [member="Riamah"]

Dark times had fallen over the hand, ousted from the planet they called their home base pushed back away stardust welcome her sister to the safety of zeltros to hide them from the threats of the Sith. It was there stardust would bring James

Her freighter exited hyperspace, slowly approaching the planet as the crew moved about and prepared for docking procedures. Codes were transmitted to dock at he private dock while stardust sent a message to her sister

ra, I need you to come to docking bay Skirae 3a, I have someone I think you'll want to see

She sent the message and returned back to the deck taking a deep breath as they gently touched down...she hoped James was eh...least not to drunk

 

[Riamah]

Giving up Bast Castle in exchange for her life was a price Ra to pay. This wasn't the first time such a choice had been given to her and each time it had been force on her, she had made a poor choice. This time, Ra felt confident she had made the best one. She kept her skin intact, her life might be destroyed again, but this time she had friends to help her.

One such friend was her by far her oldest and closest to a sister as one could want. Stardust. Ra might be in hiding, but her sister always found ways to contact her and she smiled when that happened. Looking at the message sent, she nodded and changed her route in space. Her old and trusty freighter put up only a small sound of complaint before the course was altered and she was headed to Zeltros.

She said she had someone she thought Ra would want to see and that got her curious. There weren't many people Ra had an interest in seeing. A small handful and even that might be pushing it.

"On my way, sister. See you soon."

The message was off and a short time later she arrived and brought her ship down. Her hair was down and the days of her putting it up much of the time were past. Now she only did that if she expected to have to fight and she did not expect that with Star around or on this particular world.

Looking for her friend, she waved and smiled as she headed in her direction.

[member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] [member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

[member="Riamah"] I [member="Stardust Solus Skirae"]

Star's hopes would be greatly dashed--or at least moderately so. James was drinking, but in moderation--at least for him. He sat in his cabin, bottle of gin in his hands. His eyes stared listlessly at the wall, rarely flitting back and forth from the cabin wall to the bottle in his hand. He was an aweful passenger in the best of times, but the man was still coming out of his hermit phase. The ragged beard that covered most of his face was still there, but trimmed to a more manageable style. He hadn't changed since she picked him up and was starting to smell thickly of his pheromones. If he wasn't a Zeltron, he probably would have smelled horrific at this point instead of Pheromonic. He was still at the end of his rope, feeling a hollow, tragic shell.

The man reached into his pocket, retrieving a single cigarette. He snapped his fingers, sending the end into an orange-yellow blaze. He had lifted the pack from one of the Female Rodian officer after a quickie in her cabin. James was fairly certain that Star didn't know--but she probably would find out in about 9 months. He gave his ill-gotten cigarette a series of puffs, letting the smoke fill his lungs. They weren't his brand, they were some other some other plant variant he had never tried before that certainly was not tobacco. James could feel his body growing loose, limp and tired. His heavy eyes closed for a moment as the plant took its effect on him.

Instantly his mind was filled with the Image of Dal'Bor burning again. He could hear the final screams of his civilians that had counted on him ringing in his ears again. Their deaths. Their murder. Their pain. James jerked himself awake, tossing the cigarette away. That was exactly why he hadn't slept much in the past few days.

James felt the ship's rumble change as it reverted back to real space. Outside of the ship he could sense the debacle and decadence that was Zeltros as they came into low atmosphere. He closed his eyes and let the feelings wash over him. He drank it in, letting it distract him from his emotional hell. When her ship finally touched down, James was somewhat better than before. He rose from his bed, stuffing his free hand in his jacket pocket. He felt a bit of fabric in there that he curiously tugged out. The light glimmered off the bright, but faded fabric of the veil from his childhood, a long lost friend, he had kept it to remember her. He tucked it back in quickly before anyone could see it. He wondered where that Spinner was now. He would have to find out late.

Bottle in hand, the space stepped out onto the docking bay, his boots crunching against the gravel. He nodded at Star, "Ye think another orgy will make me feel better? Is that it?"

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="James Justice"] [member="Riamah"]

She glanced to James, least he looked a little better, she chuckled and shook her head smirking

nah if that was so I'd of taken a landing shuttle down here instead...nah we are meeting someone you might know my good friend, consider her my sister in fact...no you cant bang her either unless you already have then...ok rambling let's go!

Leading him away she let her senses extend out through the crowd, smiling she spotted her sister and walked over to her taking her in a big bear hug and let her down

hahaha it's good to see ya ra....brought someone I think you might remember

She would motion to James as she smiled

the scroundel and one of my best friends...James

She left his last name out as she figured saying it in public wouldnt be a good idea

 

[Riamah]

Ra had grown and changed in many ways, but not enough that a person wouldn't know who she had been. She was still not a person to show much emotion unless she knew the person really well. Star was one of those people and she returned the hug her sister gave her.

Looking over at the person she introduced, she shook her head.

"I can't say that I have met him before."

And this was the answer she stuck with. She found it nice to meet to new people and always had an eye out for business opportunities. However, right now was not exactly the best time to be thinking like that. Ra had some issues that she felt Star would be the perfect person to help her.

That might have to wait though since Star had brought a friend along she didn't know. While she trusted her sister, she didn't trust everybody and James was no exception.

"It is nice to meet you. Call me Ra."

[member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] [member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

[member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] [member="Riamah"]

nah if that was so I'd of taken a landing shuttle down here instead...nah we are meeting someone you might know my good friend, consider her my sister in fact...no you cant bang her either unless you already have then...ok rambling let's go!

James smirked at her comment. He had meant it as a serious question; if she had come down to take him to a planet full of horndogs and told him to have fun with the best of the women--well, it wouldn't be the first time someone had tied to pull him out of a rut that way. If only getting out of your own mess was that easy, he would have already screwed himself out, instead of screwing himself over.

He rubbed his beard as the redhead came closer after giving Stardust a hug. She looked familiar, he could have sworn he'd seen that carrot top somewhere before. The man scratched the side of his jaw for a second. His eyes looked her up and down.

"I dunno, did we bang before?" he asked, clearly one of the worst questions you could have asked a woman to start off. His eyes narrowed, he could have sworn he had seen her before.... he shook his head, "Ah, musta been someone else, me thinks." he offered his hand, "James Justice. If ye are familiar with the legends, half of them are true. I'll let ye decide which half they are."

The last time the two had met his eyes held a fire, a sense of devil may care freedom. It was gone, there were only ashes where it had roared, not even cinders remained to smolder within. He took a pull from his bottle once their hands had parted.

"Good to meet ye Ra," he looked back at Star, "Well if ye dun't bring me to Zeltros to bang ne'er anything, and I ain't allowed to smoke what the hell did ye bring me here fer?

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="James Justice"] [member="Riamah"]

Guess lotta time passed, star couldnt blame them at all. Smiling she stood off to the side but between them so she could talk to both of them with equal attention

well james... actually let's wait till we get to my palace loose ears are worse then loose lips

She chuckled and waved for them to walk beside her, ignoring James comments of banging and smoking. She brought James here for a reason and that was to give him a form of purpose besides drinking and smoking himself to death

Moving along she looked to ra

I sense...you need to speak about something to yes?

 

[Riamah]

Letting go of her friend and sister, Ra looked at James with an entirely confused look and shook her head before speaking.

"No, certainly not. I do know your name though. Been to your planet, Soceras a couple times..."

Then it came to her and she looked at him with a different view. She had met a James while visiting there the second time, when she went there alone. He had changed enough that she didn't know who he was now. Maybe the same could be said about her. No longer was Ra the lost person he had met. She had a confidence in herself that she had lacked then.

Since the day they had met, her life had been destroyed a couple more times and she had some sense of steel to herself. She was far sharper than she had been and stronger for it.

"We did meet, James. And no, you did not bang me. Got me very drunk though."

Turning to Star, her face gave the expression mirrored in the question James had asked. However, Star was a step ahead of her and Ra nodded. It was probably common knowledge now that the Sith controlled Vjun. What was less known was her view on that Empire.

"I agree. We need a place that is private."

[member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] [member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

@Riamah @Stardust Solus Skirae

James gave a grunt and a nod at Stardust's comment about loose lips and loose ears. He hated both, they were equally dangerous. He had been convinced in the back of his mind that both of those would be the fall of Soceras. He was sure that at one point he would bag the wrong woman, spill secrets, and watch the world burn because of him. He could have handled that more, possibly. But in the end, it had been loose hands that lead to the downfall of his beloved planet.

He gave a wince of pain as Ra mentioned the planet. He gave her a sharp nod. He had many memories of getting plastered with redheads, almost all of them faded out to nothing and resolved with them in his bed. He didn't recognize Ra by her face, but he did have a slight memory of someone who's aura was similar to her's. James' memory was rather battered from the drinking, but even still Force Auras were relatively easy to remember, each one was distinct.

"Doubtful, but I'll take ye word for it," James said offering her the bottle in his hand. He was a sexual being, but not one fond of non-consensual sex or purchasing it. If it wasn't given freely, as an empath, it wasn't the same. "That drunk part sounds bout right."

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Riamah"] [member="James Justice"]

She started up to the palace, keeping quiet as she let the two talk. Stopping she looked yo the doors as they opened up for them and turned

let's us enter, I'll guild us to my meeting room

She said with a wave of her hand to follow, the palace was well kept of course with a few servants walking about along with advisers discussing the many businesses of the planet. Star would lead them into a room with a decent sized table enough for ten people

take a seat my friends I can have food and such brought to us if we need

 

[Riamah]

Much like when they had originally met, James offered her his bottle which she accepted again. Taking a drink from it, she handed it back to him and just shook her head slightly at his comment. She had been only a little different when they met, but she still did not regularly show her emotions in public. She wasn't sure what he doubted about what she had said, but did not actually ask what it was.

Following Star, she looked around at how the palace was run and suddenly missed Vincent very much. He had died on Vjun when the Sith had taken Bast. Vincent had been with her for so very long as her servent, batman, butler and anything else she had needed. He had run Bast for her and had died giving her the chance to get away.

It was when her friend spoke that she came out of her dazed state of memory and she had to blink her eyes a few times to clear away the small amount of tears that had come. Hoping they would go unnoticed, she took a seat at the table in front of them and listened to the offer of food and drink.

"Only if you think it's needed. I for one haven't had a good meal since leaving Vjun. So it's been a while."

[member="Stardust Solus Skirae"] [member="James Justice"]