A Tourist in Familiar Space (PM for invite)

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

[member="Marriskcal Lati"]


Bakura.


Nestled in First Order space was Bakura. Lori knew of the planet from her mom, [member="Lady Kay"] . Apparently it was where she got a lot if her Sapir tea leaves from. It was also the home of [member="Ghorua the Shark"] , one of her mom's best friends.

The forested world with mountains and meadows was a lot like her home planet of Commenor. As she touched down her training fighter, The Grey Sparrow in a clearing next to the little city of Squammish, Lori could see the charm that drew her mom here. It was quaint, and pretty, and even while under Imperial control, there was still plenty of resources available. There was still a sense of freedom.

Lori opened the canopy of her ship and climbed out, but not before snatching her jetpack, goggles and blaster as well. It was time to go exploring!! Her feet touched the ground with a thump before she secured her ship and started towards the city. Maybe she'd find a market to do some shopping!! Oh that'd be wicked! Or maybe someone would need rescuing?! Or maybe some stupid boys would think that they could pick on her. Oh boy would they be sorry if they tried!

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Praetorian Initiate
Equipment | Vibrodaggers, Throwing Knives, Training Lightsaber
Location | Entrance, City of Squammish, Bakura
Unknown | [member="Loreena Arenais"]
Status | I like sharp pointy things and I can't deny it

[SIZE=11pt]It was strange how she ended up visiting Bakura despite her firmly dismissing the idea just a few days earlier. Marriskcal has known about her homeworld for a long time, ever since she was five and allowed the use of a datapad back on the academy. Back when she was younger, the scant information she learned about herself had seemed significant. But with the passage of time and increasing focus towards her studies, it had quickly faded to the back of her mind.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Apparently not.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Marriskcal stood at the main entrance to the small city, her eyes flickering hesitantly between the quaint-looking buildings and her starfighter that was somewhat hidden behind verdant trees. The hunter in her wanted to track and accomplish the nebulous objective that has formed the moment she sat in the pilot seat, to find out more about her origins. But at the same time, the youngling that she was found herself inexplicably reluctant to do so. It was a strange contradiction.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Did my parents give me up willingly?

Would it be better if they did?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Was it even important?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]They were questions whose answers Marriskcal found herself agonising over. There were probably no right – or rather – any answers that would be able to placate the initiate. Marr, you are old enough to be assigned to operations. Skulking around a city in hopes of meeting your parents by happenstance shouldn’t even faze you. But yet, it did. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]That is, if the Lati of this city is even related to me.[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] She only knew her family name and that she originated from Bakura. From what little information she had gathered from the database, this small city was the best place for her to start her search. Squammish was small enough that there were limited ground for her to cover, with a population that were familiar with one another. Marriskcal tugged at the edges of her loose tunic in a self-conscious manner, unused to wearing such a bright shade of turquoise after a lifetime of muted colours. But it would aid her in blending in.

After another moment of indecision, the blonde hitched her bag higher up on her shoulder as she forced herself to step fully into the city. Though Bakura may not be high on her list of planets to visit, now that she was here, she may as well take a brief onceover. Her eyes alighted on the knives and trinkets at the small stalls that lined the street. Well, even if nothing comes out of it, I could at least get some souvenirs to take back home with me…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]With that in mind, Marriskcal made her way towards the market.[/SIZE]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori pondered on where to go to first. So many little tents and booths to choose from. Should she go for food? Or how about some trinkets? Or tea? Or clothes? Hmm. When one had a huge allowance, credits weren't really an issue. But that left every decision so daunting. There were just far too many options.

She started to go through a tent filled with skirts and dresses made from a variety of fabrics, each of them bold in colour. Most were too long for her though. Lori had room to grow still, even at the age of 15. Perhaps in a few years she'll stop growing, but not yet. In the meantime she knew that whatever clothing she liked that was too big, she could get it fixed. There were plenty of people back home that could do that.

Lori picked out a pretty purple skirt with gold laced throughout. After purchasing it, she stepped out of the boith, holding the fabric partly out of the bag so that she could see the gold sparkle in the sun.

And that was when she bumped right into [member="Marriskcal Lati"] , walking straight into her left side. Quickly she lowered the skirt and began shoving it into the bag. "Oh! I'm sorry...I didn't se--I mean, I wasn't looking where I was going. Are you okay?" There were some she knew that could take the accidental bump as attempted assault. But the girl seemed to be about her age. So that helped at least.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Praetorian Initiate
Equipment | Vibrodaggers, Throwing Knives, Training Lightsaber
Location | Market, City of Squammish, Bakura
Unknown | [member="Loreena Arenais"]
Status | I deserve a 10/10 for awkward conversation starters!

[SIZE=11pt]Despite her earlier reservations, it did not take long for the initiate to ease up and enjoy her small slice of freedom. Marriskcal was a naturally curious creature and this was the first time that she was allowed off-planet (On my own!) to go where she wanted to go and to see what she wanted to see. There were so many things to see and so many things to do that she found herself wandering up and down the market street several times over, following the waft of a delicious scent or the sparkle of a shiny trinket.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]That smells really nice! I wonder what is it?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Oh, that looks really pretty. But why do people need these things? It doesn’t even seem all that useful…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]For a person whose decisions were mostly limited to trainings and missions, all these strange and interesting new things she was discovering were wondrous. Impractical, but still delightful all the same.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]As she was following the tinkling trail of melody, her senses focused fully on the soft strain of wordless tune, the blonde neglected the cardinal rule of her training – always be aware of your surroundings – and stepped right into the path of another person. It was all too easy when she was distracted by all these new sights and sounds.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Startled by the contact, Marriskcal took a wide step back, her right hand twitching out of instinct. But the force remained serene. With a sweeping glance, the initiate swiftly assessed the other person she has walked into and came to a decision that the other was genuine and it was truly an accident. Don’t forget you are also half-responsible, Marr. Appeased that it was a harmless gesture, she shook her head, giving the other girl a small smile. “I’m fine. And I should apologise as well, since I was also distracted and wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Were her words too formal?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Now that she had calmed her fight or flight impulses, Marriskcal took a longer glance at the other, a girl around her own age or… perhaps a year or two older than herself. She noted that the other was doing her best to stuff a lovely looking purple and gold laced material into her bag. Steel blue eyes alighted on the metallic pack and goggles the brunette was totting and her smile grew into a grin. Perhaps she was also a visitor[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]?[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] Or… even better, a traveller![/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Marriskcal loved learning about planets and all that it contained. But with her growing responsibilities, travelling was something she had limited time for. Being able to speak to someone who was able to traverse the galaxy was the next best thing.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]There was only one way to find out.

“Hi! Are you from elsewhere[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]?” Marriskcal asked, belatedly realising that such an upfront query would seem suspicious. “I– I mean, I noticed some of your equipment and assumed that you were not local…” her voice became softer the longer she spoke, conscious that she was digging an even deeper hole. “I’m sorry if it’s intrusive, it’s just that I’ve never met a traveller before.”

Or anyone outside of the Order of Ren and the First Order military for the matter.[/SIZE]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori breathed a small sigh of relief as [member="Marriskcal Lati"] seemed just as sorry as she was for the unintended bumping into eachother. After the material was safely stored away, she blinked in surprise at what was being said. Did the girl just check out her jetpack?? Maybe she was a flyer too! Although her questions gave her the impression that she hadn't gotten out much.

"Yeah! I'm from elsewhere. Commenor, actually.
Have you heard of it? It's in the Colonies. Super great place, sort of like here, but with some bigger cities, palaces and such. My mom used to come here a bunch and they have her favourite tea, so I thought that I'd get some." The words just poured out of her mouth. It wasn't often that Lori came across people her own age, and lately she had been by herself. So she was feeling just a little lonesome. And maybe homesick.

"My name's Lori. What's yours? And if you don't mind me asking, why don't you get to travel?
Is it too expensive? Or does the First Order have strict rules on interplanetary travel?" No, she didn't know that the girl was among them, but she didn't know what First Order laws were like either. She just knew that they were strict.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Praetorian Initiate
Equipment | Vibrodaggers, Throwing Knives, Training Lightsaber
Location | Market, City of Squammish, Bakura
Unknown | [member="Loreena Arenais"]
Status | I only know how to dig deep holes and even deeper holes!

[SIZE=11pt]Commenor, Commenor…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Why did it sound so familiar[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Ah yes, the Commenor Systems Alliance![/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]While they did not have any firm ties with the First Order, Marriskcal knew that it was more because the system has a strict stance on maintaining their neutrality. With the knowledge that the other – Lori! – was not upset with her inquisitive words and that she was from a system that they had friendly relationship with, the last vestiges of her hesitation melted away. The initiate brightened, taking a step closer to the brunette.

“Yes, I have. It’s… near the deep core, right[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]?” If she did not remember wrongly, it was also along Hydian Way. “You are very far from your homeworld, then,” Marriskcal remarked, impressed with how brave Lori was to travel all the way here. At the brunette’s fond portrayal of Commenor, the youngling could almost imagine the planet. While Skye was also stunning in its own way, she has never seen so many lush greeneries until she visited Bakura. Her mind painted an image of gently sloping verdant hills and deep valleys, with graceful palaces peeking from amongst the mists. Commenor sounded beautiful and Marriskcal found herself hoping that she would be able to visit the planet one day. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“I’m Marris, pleased to make your acquaintance,” she said, the sobriquet easily slipping out from between her lips. Ever since she first learned how to form a sentence, it had been ingrained in her to never reveal her full name to anyone unless they had clearance. But for the first time since she became an initiate, the blonde found herself lamenting the need for secrecy. You chose this life, Marr. While Marriskcal would never regret the path she has decided to walk on, a wistful part of her wished she could tell her true name to her new friend. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]I can count Lori as a friend… right?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The youngling shook her head slowly in response to Lori’s astute query, more than pleased to provide an answer so long as it was within her means. She knew what it was like to want to know more. “Our citizens are free to travel to any parts of the galaxy should they wish to. But in my case, I can’t travel much as I’m still studying and have other obligations.” And as much as she disliked admitting to it, her age and inexperience was also a factor. “I’m also considered too young for long-distance travel.” As it stands, Marriskcal would not be surprised if this was another aptitude test.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“It must be nice to be able to go wherever, whenever you like. And Commenor sounds really lovely, I hope that I will be able to see it for myself in the future.” The mention of expense flew over the youngling’s head. After all, everything she required for a mission was provided to her. Anything else, she paid out of a credit chip that she seldom found use for. Perhaps she would use them to get some of the tea leaves Lori mentioned? Would that be considered expensive? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“You must care for your mother a lot then, to visit Bakura just to get her favourite tea.” Was tea leaves even something you purchased for people you care about? If so, should she get some for the knight? [/SIZE]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori chewed the inside of her cheek. Guess she was a bit far away from home. But it wasn't as though it was noticed. Her Dad was...somewhere she didn't know. Her Mom was at home ruling over everything from her office. And her twin brother was off someplace learning the Force with his Master. Lori had a Mandalorian guardian that was looking out for her, but the two of them had a fight and she ran away. Sort of. She did miss them all, but hardly felt missed herself. She was just kinda lost in whatever direction her life was taking her. And she was alone.

"Nice to meet you too, Marris." It seemed as though [member="Marriskcal Lati"] was also the type to not give out her full name. Lori didn't do so just in case people were mad at her parents, plus the fact that she tended to find that when people found out you were royalty, they'd treat you all different. It was annoying...

"Oh! What are you studying?" Should Lori be in school? Probably. But it wasn't as though anyone was telling her to. And besides, she was pretty good at it anyways. Well, most subjects anyways. The fun ones.

Was she lucky? Maybe. But it was a scattered sort of life. Maybe that was why people became bounty hunters or something. Jobs gave them something to do. But Lori didn't have to worry about the credits.

"Oh I didn't come here just for tea. I was exploring too.
I figured that since I was here, that I should get her some in case she ran out. She drinks A LOT of tea. More so than anyone else alive!" Or so she thought.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Praetorian Initiate
Equipment | Vibrodaggers, Throwing Knives, Training Lightsaber
Location | Market, City of Squammish, Bakura
Unknown | [member="Loreena Arenais"]
Status | Exploring sounds a lot more fun than reconnoitering

[SIZE=11pt]Ah, now that was a difficult question for her to answer. Marriskcal did not possess enough knowledge about the galaxy at large for her to have a basic notion of what normal schooling was like. Her days were occupied with classes and training while she was back on Skye, and were mostly focused on subjects that would serve her while she was out on the field. But now that she became an initiate, she could be assigned on a mission at any time… and as sheltered as she was, Marriskcal doubted what she learned then would be suitable for an ordinary conversation.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“I don’t like most of them, but I’m taking Astrogation, Galactic Politics and Economics, Geology, Maths, and Oratory classes.” Most of them were a necessary evil, so as with everything in her life, Marriskcal did her best. But other than her astrogation and geology classes, which she felt was the most important subject, she disliked the rest. But what the blonde did not realise was that most thirteen year olds would not be taking at half of the subjects she has listed. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“I’m also a decent pilot! I would probably perform better if my seat could be adjusted further though!” Ugh, being young and short was terrible. The seats could only be adjusted so much. And when most starfighters were designed for pilots taller than 5’, it was hard for her to reach the controls comfortably. But what she was most proud of was her skills in a duel. Though all she did was to merely take down a wounded brother during the brief schism at the Bastion of Ren, she still received a praise from the knight! “But I’m definitely good at…” What was it called in civilian terms again? “…self-defense modules.” Her delight was clearly written on her features.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]And on the topic of exploring…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“She must really like it then. I’ll be sure to get some for my brother and see if he likes it as well.” But that could wait up until she has to leave Bakura. “Are you up for more exploring then[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]?” She has never had the chance to do any exploring on her own before, only visiting other planets for the sole objective of her missions. Being able to to do, and with a tentative friend who is also an experienced traveller, Marriskcal felt she as though she won some sort of prize.[/SIZE]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori nodded. She took some of those classes too, though her favourites were mechanics and engineering. Still, she didn't seem to mind it all as much as [member="Marriskcal Lati"] did.

The mention of piloting clearly got her intrigued, as her eyes went wide with excitement. "You know how to fly too??? I have my own little fighter. Well, it's a training one, but it's great! And built for me so height isn't much of an issue.
Do you wanna see it? I came here with it!" And boy was she eager to show it off.

To the question of more exploring, Lori nodded her head. "Yeah I'm up for more exploring. I kinda, sorta have to on my way back home. My little fighter can only hold so much fuel, so I've gotta make a lot of stops along the way. Where abouts have you travelled to?" Surely Marris did some. Mostly everyone did. Even hermits had travelled at some point in their lives.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Praetorian Initiate
Equipment | Vibrodaggers, Throwing Knives, Training Lightsaber
Location | En-route to the Grey Sparrow, City of Squammish, Bakura
Friend | [member="Loreena Arenais"]
Status | This is so exciting!

[SIZE=11pt]A fighter? But then again, the galaxy at wide was filled with chaos and anarchy. Even with the Galactic Alliance defeated and scattered to all corners, pandemonium still reigned. In a way, Lori was smart to have anticipated and prepared herself for any unknown dangers that she may encounter.

“I would! I most definitely would!” Though Marriskcal was interested in ships, she was not necessarily knowledgeable on the technical aspects of it. The youngling only knew how to admire its forms and controls, and it was definitely wizard when she managed to see something new and different. And since Lori did say she originated from Commenor, Marriskcal was certain that her fighter would be a different model compared to the TIE fighters and carriers she’s seen. “I’ve only ever seen imperial vessels, so I’m very interested to see how a vessel from another part of the galaxy looks like.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]As the other girl made her a generous offer, the youngling felt it was only fair if she reciprocated. “I came on a starfighter myself, though it doesn’t really belong to me.” If one closed an eye, it was hers technically… well, in that she made use of this particular vessel most often, but not hers in that it was First Order property and any member of the Order of Ren could make use of it. “I’m not allowed to show you the interior and the controls due to restrictions, but I can show you the exterior!” As much as she felt it would not hurt, Marriskcal knew how strict the First Order were when it came to their technology. It was better for her to err on the side of caution than to be punished for it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]She followed after Lori, walking a step behind the other but mostly staying by her side, Marriskcal gave the query some thought. As much as she would have liked to tell her companion more about the amazing places she has been to, the truth was that she could not even count the three places she has set foot on as travelling. She basically merely stopped by to accomplish her objectives, barely seeing anything other than a specific area. “I’ve only been to three places so far… and I didn’t really get to see much of anything at all,” she started in a morose tone.

“I visited Virgillia briefly, but it was storming, so I didn’t even get to see much on anything on my flight over and ended up inside the whole time I was there.” At the memory of the schism between the Ren and her crimson knight’s rage that day, Marriskcal shuddered lightly. “The second place wasn’t even a planet, but an asteroid field!” It sounded pathetic mentioned out loud. But Marriskcal was determined to fix her travel deficiency in the future. The First Order was slowly expanding its influence, so she would get to see more in time. “My most recent visit is to Lothal. It’s still chaotic there, but I’m helping wherever I can!”[/SIZE]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori took hold of [member="Marriskcal Lati"] 's arm, hooking it with her own free one and nearly started to drag her away from the market. There was nothing but eagerness and excitement written on her face. "Come on, I'll show you!" A small frown appeared though as sheheard of the resyrictions when it came to Marr showing off her own ship. How typical! "So many rules and everything...So many restrictions. I'm surprisedthat they let you do anything on your own." It made her glad to not live in such a society. Common sense ruled and Lori had...well some of it. Enough to keep her mostly out of trouble.

She turned her attention to Marr's descriptions of the places that she had been to, both of which she hadn't visited before. "Storms are fun.
We have a place back home called Valley of the Storm. There's lots of thunderstorms there and the flowers change colour with the weather. It's pretty neat! And asteroid fields are soooo much fun to fly through! You gotta keep your focus and they are great for practicing maneuvers in!"

Lori let go of her arm as they came across the landing pad where her little Grey Sparrow sat. She grinned prpudly and nearly skipped while on her way towards it. She lowered the ladder, climbed up and then unlocked the canopy, raising it up. "Cone up and see! It's a two seater too!
I took my brother for a ride once. But he got scared." She snickered at the memory.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Praetorian Initiate
Equipment | Vibrodaggers, Throwing Knives, Training Lightsaber
Location | On the Grey Sparrow, Outskirts at City of Squammish, Bakura
Friend | [member="Loreena Arenais"]
Status | Wizard!

[SIZE=11pt]Was it that bad? It certainly did not feel restrictive to the initiate. But then again, it was likely that Commenor’s culture were vastly different from what Marriskcal was used to. Even then, loyal to the end, the blonde put up a weak token protest, “It’s not that bad…”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]When Lori first touched her, the youngling tensed, unsure of what she should do. Is this normal[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]?[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] But as the other continued on without any sign that it was anything out of the ordinary, Marriskcal began to relax, and even felt that this was something she could grow to like. She may have earned hard-won compliments and a rare praise every now and then, yes, but none of the people around her – from guardians to instructors – were particularly demonstrative. A small spark of warmth fluttered within her at the show of closeness the other girl displayed. This is… nice.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Slowly, almost shyly, the blonde tightened her own grasp and allowed Hurricane Lori to sweep her out of the city happily, content to listen and chatter with her new friend. The more the brunette spoke of Commenor, the clearer it became that the other loved her homeworld with all her heart. “Those flowers sounds really lovely.” She would not mind being caught out in a storm if she could watch those flowers change colours. Flowers were scarce on Skye, even more so at the peak of the mountain where she resided.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]While Marriskcal did not possess the optimism of her friend, it was something she admired in Lori. To the initiate, it seemed that the other could find good in everything and everyone she saw. “I’ve never thought of asteroid fields in such a manner before,” she admitted. She had always thought they were dangerous and troublesome to navigate through, and in her mind, crossing through one was a necessary evil. “But you bring you bring up an excellent point. I’ll definitely keep it in mind the next time” Perhaps she should learn from Lori and look at everything, even when it was something she disliked (Yes, Marr, even your oratory classes), as an exciting challenge.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]As they approached the white and blue vessel, Marriskcal eyes widened in awe. Its bright colours contrasted the dark and menacing colours of the imperial starfighters. Though she missed the warmth of Lori’s arm in her own, she was excited to see the ship and found herself even more surprised when the other invited her to take a look at the interior. With a joyful squeal and even brighter grin, the initiate clambered after her friend, staring in to the seats and controls with great interest. “If your brother got scared, it only means you need to take him on more rides, so that he’ll get used to it,” she said in a mock serious tone, though the mischievous pull to her smile gave her away. “It’s for his own good, after all.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The design of the Commenori fighter was definitely vastly different to the TIE series that she was more familiar with. The vessel’s body was long and sleek, its aerodynamic design hinting at its capabilities at handling atmospheric flights. The length also hinted that it can hold some storage, which made sense considering Lori was constantly travelling. “It looks really wonderful! How fast can it go[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]? What are its offensive capabilities like?”[/SIZE]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori laughed at the suggestion of taking [member="Caedyn Arenais"] out for more rides in her Grey Sparrow, her laughter ending in a snort. The mischievous grin that [member="Marriskcal Lati"] showed her soon after made her like the girl even more. "Yes! For his own good!
I'll have to tell him that."

Now onto her pretty little fighter. Lori gave Marr full reign to snoop around for it wasn't as though she had anything to hide. No journals, no weapons, no secret bags of credits. But she did stuff in her recent market purchases. "It's pretty fast. Just a training vessel though, so there are no guns on it.
Plenty of shielding though, which helps when I go through those asteroids! My parents thpught it best to not give me anything tpo intkmidating yet, that way I can't be mistaken for a threat. But I bet that they never thought that I'd take it all the way over here! I probably hold the record for furthest kilometres flown away from home with this class of ship. I hope that when I'm a little older I can have something bigger and with firepower!" Of course they'd have to trust her more first. And sometimes...she didn't really show that she was very responsible.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Praetorian Initiate
Equipment | Vibrodaggers, Throwing Knives, Training Lightsaber
Location | On the Grey Sparrow, Outskirts at City of Squammish, Bakura
Friend | [member="Loreena Arenais"]
Status | There are so many bad things out there

[SIZE=11pt]Undoubtedly, the youngling thought to herself wryly, that Lori’s brother would end up cursing both their name to the Nethers if the brunette managed to somehow coax him into accompanying her again. Though Marriskcal has only know her for less than an hour, she already knew Hurricane Lori was a force to be reckoned with. So it was definitely something that would happen some time in the near future. The mere thought of the nameless and faceless male clinging hard to the seat of the Commenori fighter made her gleeful. The initiate joined Lori in her laughter, feeling light and carefree. Was this why some people liked to sow mischief so much?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]She slowly stepped into the fighter with care, making extra certain not to scuff or accidentally snag herself on any parts. To her, this was a personal belonging of a friend. To be allowed access was something special and sacred. Other than a bracelet she made herself from the bark of a tree, Marriskcal herself had no other belonging she could truly call her own. Everything, from her clothing to her weapons, was given to her by the Order. And while she never wanted for more, the initiate knew how how important it was when a person had something to call their own.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The blonde stepped towards the controls, her eyes roving across the various buttons and switches as she mentally compared it to the more familiar TIE fighters. While she would have need to test the Commenori fighter itself to gain a better understanding, the controls looked straightforward enough. But it was clear that this vessel was created as a training fighter. “The speed and durable shielding is definitely essential, especially when you don’t have enough weapons.” If you cannot outfight a hostile, it was best to retreat. Even then, a part of her was worried for her friend’s safety. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]With its bright blue and white colours standing out starkly against the darkness of space, Marriskcal could see the logic in her parents’ decision. “They thought right. Though most authorities would not harass a single fighter unless they made an aggressive move first.” But even then, she could not help but feel that Lori’s parents were too idealistic. While the youngling was certain that Lori was a great pilot – else her parents would never let her travel on her own – there were still a lot of anarchistic elements in the galaxy. What if she got caught in an interdiction field or a traction beam? Even the speed and defenses of her Commenori fighter would not be able to help her then.

“I’m very impressed you flew to this side of the galaxy just on a fighter. You must have needed to stop often to refuel.” Marriskcal’s furthest trip was from Skye… to Bakura. “I hope that it would change soon. Though the war is over, there are still a lot of unrest. It’s a bit dangerous to explore some parts of the galaxy without any armaments.” She would prefer that her friend had the option to fight back, than to just rely purely on evasive and defensive maneuvers. “If they are still reluctant, maybe try asking them if a cloaking option is possible?” As she never had any parents to guide her, Marriskcal would never understand their views.

“But I’m glad you managed to made it all the way here, or else we never would have met.”[/SIZE]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori grinned at [member="Marriskcal Lati"] as she climbed into her fighter and started checking it out. It was of course, one of her pride and joys, the other being her jetpack. And one of these days she was going to build some light armour too!

"Most let me pass by, yeah, especially as I'm so young. Not like I'm much of a threat on my own. Especially with no weapons capabilities. Unless you can consider me to be the weapon!" She grinned. "Everyone lookout! It's Lori!! Take over!" She snorted while she laughed at that one.

She beemed as Marr remarked on her flying this far in her little fighter. "I have made a bunch of stops along the way, yeah.
And this is one of them. I will go back home eventually. Maybe I'll be there in a couple of months."

To Marr's last remark, Lori grinned. "I'm glad that we met too. I hope that you can come see me some time and I can show you Commenor! You'd love it!" That is if the First Order gave her time off. She wasn't sure if they did that soet of thing.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Praetorian Initiate
Equipment | Vibrodaggers, Throwing Knives, Training Lightsaber
Location | On the Grey Sparrow, Outskirts at City of Squammish, Bakura
Friend | [member="Loreena Arenais"]
Status | It's a bit sad that I don't have a permanent CommNet address...

[SIZE=11pt]Somehow, she could just imagine it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Perhaps they were both still young and have much to learn and experience, but there was no doubt in Marriskcal’s mind that when they matured, they would both be strong enough to take on the galaxy. With Lori’s zest for life and her fearless streak, she would definitely be a sight to behold. Marriskcal could easily imagine the other becoming an explorer, discovering ancient ruins and finding buried treasures, or even becoming an ace pilot! As for her, she knew it was only a matter of resolve, a lot of hard work and proving her loyalty time and again. She knew she had a difficult path ahead of her, but she was determined to succeed.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“I wish you a safe and swift journey then.” Lori would be able to travel safely so long as she stayed within the First Order territories. With the Galactic Alliance dissolved, the tail end where Belgaroth is located would probably be close enough to Commenor that the brunette may be able to make the last few parsecs home without encountering any insurgents.

On that note, Marriskcal smiled softly at her friend, touched by the invitation. “If you’d give me your CommNet, I’ll make sure to contact you if I’m near Commenor.” She definitely dearly hoped that there would be time, but with the current instability caused by the void of a superpower, it would probably be another year or so at soonest before it calmed enough for her to travel outside of the territory. And that was her being optimistic.

“Would you like to see my fighter now[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]? It’s just over there,” the blonde stated, pointing roughly towards the northeast direction from where they both were.[/SIZE]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

"Yeah I can give you my CommNet. Do you have a datapad somewhere?" Lori couldn't recall whether or not she had one. They were in a market earlier afterall and both seemed to be exploring it in their own way. Sitting around with a datapad and surfing the Holonet wasn't exactly how one would explore a market. At least not any normal people...

To the request given by [member="Marriskcal Lati"] to see her own fighter, Lori grinned widely. "Oh yes!
That'd be fantastic!" Even just seeing the outside of it would be good enough for her. Lori had a big imagination and could easily picture herself flying and dogfighting in some little Imperial Warbird. "I don't think that I've ever been close to an Imperial fighter before. It'll be so neat!"

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Praetorian Initiate
Equipment | Vibrodaggers, Throwing Knives, Training Lightsaber
Location | Forest Clearance (TIE Silencer), Outskirts at City of Squammish, Bakura
Friend | [member="Loreena Arenais"]
Status | Whew, hopefully I bought myself some time to make a CommNet address

[SIZE=11pt]“It’s fine, I can memorise it quite easily,” the youngling assured Lori swiftly. Due to a variety of security reasons, Marriskcal was not allowed to carry any sort of electronic devices for longer than the duration of an operation, just in case it was compromised. Even her own personal datapad back on Skye was never allowed to leave the vicinity of the Academy. The only option Marriskcal had if she ever wanted to keep in contact with her friend was to make use of a public terminal. While she could technically use the archive terminal, there was a chance that one of the keepers would discover her friendship with the other, and Marriskcal would be forced to terminate it.

Well, why are you so keen on maintaining this friendship with Lori when you know that it would be met with disapproval?

She is worth it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]This would be the first time Marriskcal rebelled against the core foundation of her teachings.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“I’ll drop you a message as soon as I can, so you’d have mine as well.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]With a confident skip jump off of the floor of the brunette’s Commenori fighter, the blonde used the force instinctively to land lightly on the grassy ground. Though it did not belong to her, Marriskcal was still proud about the TIE fighter that was assigned for her use. Now, if she could grow just a tiniest bit more so that she could press the controls on the overhead panel without needing to wriggle forward in her seat. The blonde waved for Lori to follow after her, not quite daring to catch her friend’s hand in her own just yet. Next time. The next time I see Lori, I will be braver.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The thought that the other shared the same sentiment as she did and there was a ‘next time’ in their future her made Marriskcal perk up.

“It’s not too far off now.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Her TIE Silencer was parked at a discreet distance from the small city, parked in a wide clearance and mostly hidden amongst the tree. Only if a person was looking out of a high building, would they be able to notice the dark wing tips of her starfighter. Compared to Lori’s sleek and bright vessel, Marriskcal’s assigned TIE was dark and menacing, built for intimidation and aggression.[/SIZE]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

"Okay! It's LoriTheGreat, no spaces, at spacemail dot com." Luckily it wasn't overly complicated for her. That would've been bad. "Oh and I can't wait to hear from you! We can exchange adventure stories! And make plans to have adventures of our own!
You get vacations, right? I can always go to meet you some place!" Wherever that was.

Lori watched [member="Marriskcal Lati"] as she jumped down in a graceful way. It almpst seemed a bit unnatural. But then again, Lori could just be a bit clumsy and heavy footed. She jumped down and landed with a thud, crouching down for a moment to absorb the impact before straightening up.

She grinned and almost skipped along as Marr led her to her fighter. The moment that her eyes caught sight of it, her jaw dropped slightly. It was the first time that she had seen such a thing with her own eyes and up close! "Oh wow! I know that I can't see inside, but can I touch it? Please!" If only she had a camera. She'd do goofy shots pretending to stop the fighter with her bare hands! But...sadly she couldn't do that. Maybe next time though!

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Praetorian Initiate
Equipment | Vibrodaggers, Throwing Knives, Training Lightsaber
Location | Forest Clearance (TIE Silencer), Outskirts at City of Squammish, Bakura
Friend | [member="Loreena Arenais"]
Status | How I love loopholes when works out for me

[SIZE=11pt]It was definitely a relief to know that it was a simple enough an address, though if she was pressed, Marriskcal could definitely memorise a long line of letters and digits. “Just so you’d know it’s me messaging you, I’ll sign off my messages as Skuld.” In a way, the blonde has already decided on her address after hearing Lori’s. It was whimsical and contained a nod to her first maybe-friend she made, and also the first being she lost due to her ignorance. Omen And A Norn. She only needed to find a fairly secure service provider and she would be all set up.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“And it would definitely make me very happy to hear your adventures.” In a way, she could live vicariously through her friend. Her own adventures… were exciting in its own way, but she also only experienced them because her assignments took her around the galaxy. “And yes, I do get some free time in between. We can definitely plan to meet up somewhere and explore!” Perhaps it was time for her to hit the astrography maps once more…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Feel free to touch it all you like!” It pleased Marriskcal that Lori liked the starfighter assigned to her. Stepping up in between the wings, the youngling patted at the red-tinted glasteel viewports. “Though I can’t let you in, I can point out stuff to you from here.” This way, she wasn’t breaking any unspoken rules.[/SIZE]