Private An Interesting Encounter

[Ardon]

Mila Uhlesifa (Woops! Sorry, thanks)

He smiled in agreement nodding his head when she said she hoped he never saw it, and neither should she. He had no other words for it. He couldn't blame her for making such a weapon. But it didn't make it less scary if it were used on him. But that was the case with any weapon wasn't it? "Ardon = Agrees." he said.

Ardon swallowed as he waited for her response to his question, and then removal of the question. She told him, even if it was somewhat personal. He stayed quiet as she did. So, she was a slave. His eyes dropped as she clarified indeed it was the 'unsavory' part that she was forced to be involved with. He clutched his heart for a moment. A feeling of both pain and anger rushing through him, visible on his face. He'd never met a slaver. But to think any sentient had the utter cruelty for what he heard was something that boiled. Through only fortune she escaped, and it was Vemric who helped her, and why she was where she was now. He stayed quiet nodding slightly, his face still very soft, "Ardon = Sorry. Slaver = Disgusting. Slaver = Deserves destruction. Instance = Should not ever happen."

He raised his eyes to look towards hers, "Ardon = Listener. Ardon = Wished he could have helped. Ardon = Will help if asked."

 

[Mila Uhlesifa]

She was touched that he was angry on her behalf and voiced distaste for slavers. She smiled gratefully at him and put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. “I appreciate your sympathy. But I’m fine now, my life has improved. Really. While I still don’t like slavers, and I never will, it’s not going to accomplish anything to be angry about something that can’t be changed. So don’t worry about it.”

She moved her hand from his shoulder and checked the timer. Half a minute before they needed to stop baking the food, so she looked at him sweetly. “Thank you very much Ardon. And if you need to talk to anyone about your problems, I’d love to listen to you. I will say, one good thing about the way you talk, is that there’s no way to misunderstand you.”

 

[Ardon]

He smiled somewhat in response to her reaction. Nodding his head as she spoke. She was probably right, he didn't have the power to fix it. And she was alright now, so, there was that at least. She may have had a problem in the past, but it was solved. There was nothing he could do to further fix it for her at least.

She looked at the food, it was nearly done. And then again told him she'd listen to his problems. Which made him smile appreciatively. And that he at least wasn't going to be misunderstood. If he could chuckle properly, he would, that was a nice thing at least. Being misunderstood was sometimes a dangerous thing itself. "Ardon = Thanks you." he said. Simple words but said in full honesty. He wished he could express himself in the voice the way others could to one another. But she understood him, and that was what mattered.

Mila Uhlesifa

 

[Mila Uhlesifa]

“You’re welcome Ardon.” Was her simple response, and equally genuine.

Before long they pulled the food from the oven, put it on plates and Mila brought the plates to wherever it was that they were going to dine. She also brought cups and a jug of water to the same place and called the two others to eat.

Kark and the big guy, who they had yet to learn the name of yet, came in from outside, having been watching for pirates. None had shown up.

Kark asked, “So now that we’re all together and we aren’t running for our lives. What say we get to know each other better. So i’ll Get us started. My name is Karko’on, or Kark, I’m a gunner on what was a cargo ship. I’m twenty nine years old and my home world is Tattooine.”

 

[Ardon]

Ardon nodded and they continued. He felt a little more at peace at the moment. Though the concept of slavery might stay on his mind for awhile. They worked on getting the table sat and eventually all sat down to eat. No pirates yet, thankfully. So they didn't need to prepare the ship for defense. At least if they had to there were turrets on the ship, so attacking the ship without a vehicle was probably a poor idea, and a vehicle would get noticed by the sensors.

Kark spoke first, he further introduced himself, giving his longer name and even his age and homeworld. Ardon decided he would also properly introduce himself, "Ardon = Ardon Tillian. Ardon = Captain of Angel. Ardon = Works as good transport for Tilllian family Enterprises. Ardon's age = 19." he smiled and waited for the others. Holdings his hands on the table near his plate, but waiting for introductions before eating.

Mila Uhlesifa

 

[Mila Uhlesifa]

“I’m Mila Uhlesifa. I’m an engineer in applied science for the CIS navy. I’m 21 years old and I currently live on Naboo.” She said to everyone. In all honesty, she was surprised to find out that Ardon was in fact younger than she was by two years. He seemed, at least to her, to be more along the lines of a 21-22 year old, especially given his rank and job.

The big guy spoke up in response. “I’m Taros, from Mancala, I’m 26 years old and I work as a bodyguard for a merchant.”

With introductions out of the way Kark decided to take it further. “So. Anyone been kidnapped before?”

Mila raised her hand slowly in affirmation, looking a little embarrassed about it.

 

[Ardon]

So she was older than him? Ah well he should have figured, she worked as an engineer. Those two years could make all the difference in a job like that he imagined. Then came the big guy, who had yet to give any name at all. Taros. Apparently also under 30, none of them were really all that old here. And he was a bodyguard, or is.

Then came a more personal question, asking about kidnapping. Mila raised her hand. Ardon smiled sympathetically. He hadn't no, this was his first. And hopefully last. "Ardon = Only captain alone for short time. Ardon = not prepared for trap." he admitted apologetically. Not that he had a reason to be apologetic, they all fell into it.

Mila Uhlesifa

 

[Mila Uhlesifa]

“Just wondering if anyone here has been in a similar situation before. Mila, if you’re willing, maybe you could share? Advice would definitely help.” Kark said gently.

“Well, I’ve been kidnapped, a few times.” She said with her face reddening. “Overall advice I can give you I said be prepared for every contingency. The way me and Ardon got out was because I had the means to make a metal-eating acid, which I now carry with me at all times so that I’m ready to get out of places like that. Since I’ve been in similar places a number of times. So, advice-wise, just be ready for anything.”

She really wasn’t proud of her kidnapping record. It wasn’t something she was blatantly ashamed of, but it was something she was a little more flush about sharing. Much like how she’d be flush about her parents showing someone baby pictures of her.

Taros shook his head.

Kark said, “I’ve never been a prisoner before either.”

 

[Ardon]

Ardon nodded at the reason for why. It made sense why he'd ask now. Still, he felt bad seeing how much Mila Uhlesifa reddened when asked about her experience with it. Still, she answered, be prepared for anything was the simple matter. So that could be troublesome. He leaned back in his chair thinking it over as he rocked it slightly.

He tried to avoid mentioning her reaction this time. He rubbed the side of his head thoughtfully, where the artificial skin hid the metal plate to his cybernetics. "Ardon = Vulnerable to EMP's + ION weapons. Armor = Helps against vulnerability." he said, maybe that would be important later, he figured it best to say, "We = Could scout first? We = Don't know what we're up against. If: Enemy = has multiple cannons. Enemy = May have good vehicles."

They were basically planning some kind of strike or stealth op. Not remotely a thing he knew how to do.

Mila Uhlesifa

 

[Mila Uhlesifa]

Mila looked to him as he said he was vulnerable to EMPs and Ion weapons. That wasn’t going to be a widespread threat, but the fact that the cybernetics were in his brain, it was best if they played it safe. So ion weapons and emps were to be found quickly and he was to be made aware of them. Then he asked about recon and something popped into her head.

“Wait, Ardon, do you still have the pirate’s communicator?” She asked, her face clearly showing that she had an idea. “An did I say there a working transmitter on this ship? And if there’s a higher-power computer too then all the better.”

 

[Ardon]

Mila Uhlesifa (Sorry, today was very busy. Didn't end up with much time on the sight)

Ardon nodded smiling as she asked about the communicator. He pulled it off his belt and set it on the table, and then started to eat not wanting the food to get cold while they talked. But he was listening intently to Mila Uhlesifa and barely actually looked at the food aside from glances to ensure he was getting it on his utensils.

They had a working transmitter in the ship, and the communicator should still be able to be in touch with those of the pirates especially with his ships upgraded systems on top. He had to think about the computer part though, "Angel = Can interact with Ardon's Cybernetics. Angel = May not have supercomputer but: Angel = May still have good systems."

 

[Mila Uhlesifa]

"The computer isn't 100% necessary, I can use this." She said tapping the computer on her forearm. "The idea is this. I use this transmitter and communicator to give me access to their mainframe. I would be able to control their cameras, their Comms, their doors, everything. I'd be able to get us inside information from here, I might not be able to shut down the weapon but I can get us the information we need."

 

[Ardon]

Mila Uhlesifa Ardon nodded glad that her computer on her arm would suffice. He listened as she further explained, what she could do. She could hook up to much more than just communicators apparently. He hadn't even really considered that as a possibility, but she was the technical expert. He nodded as she spoke, "Ardon = Likes this idea." He leaned back in the chair trying to think on what they could do with that, furrowing his brow, "We = Could confuse their sensors?" he asked uncertain if that was an option.

 

[Mila Uhlesifa]

“We might. But at the same time my hacking into their own computers they might be able to pinpoint where we are. While I can keep them out of the ship’s computers, they’d see the signatures and be able to track it everywhere on the planet and maybe beyond.” She explained. “So it’s risky.”

 

[Ardon]

He furrowed his brow as she mentioned the problem of that if they could recognize his ships computers, they might be able to figure out exactly where they were on the planet, and could potentially use that against them in the future. He hesitated to say it aloud, but these were difficult circumstances.

"Situation = Maybe less dire. Ardon = Could alter Transponder could. Ardon = Could preform manual alteration of computers. Ship = Different signature. Ship = Less likely to be caught." he explained. For those who really knew the right things about ships, altering a transponder code was illegal. It was supposed to be essentially burned into the engine. Technically, Ardon just said he could change the transponder code. Not that he ever had done it before, nor that he had a system to do it. The truth was, he had a rather well hidden set up that allowed him to essentially swap between codes, allowing him to use different ones for different situations.

Normally, that was in regards to legality. Here however, it would end up being a matter of stealth. Not a method he'd used it for before.

Mila Uhlesifa

 

[Mila Uhlesifa]

She listened. He suggested something illegal, but so too was hacking into a mainframe and shooting people. But this was no-man’s-land, and no law really applied at the moment. So she wasn’t really disturbed by his proposition.

“That would work great. And it would definitely be beneficial.” She’s said to him. “When do you want me to start working on penetrating their mainframe?”

 

[Ardon]

"Work = Maybe morning?" He asked, "We = eat. We = Rest + Sleep. Work = Easier + More efficient." he suggested. A good nights sleep could do wonders for a persons abilities. Though he did imagine that they may not sleep completely well, given the circumstances. But at the very least they could get something out of it.

Plus, if something did go wrong, they wouldn't be unrested for it in case it went on for a long time.

Mila Uhlesifa

 

[Mila Uhlesifa]

“Makes sense.” Kark said to Ardon. “Can you set up the sensors to an alarm? Or do we need to rotate watches?”

“I’ll think that I can set up an alarm system if there isn’t one.” Mila said to them, her food now finished. “My question is what do we do if someone does come along. If it’s a small patrol with speeders, we might be able to fight it off. If it’s something like a tank or another ship it would be a problem.”

 

[Ardon]

Kark agreed and then asked about alarms, as did Mila offering a solution. "Ardon = has droid. Droid = Monitor sensors." he answered. Then Mila brought up a legitimate problem. What would happen if they came at them with another ship or tank. Ardon thought about it.

"If attack = Ship: Angel = Fast enough to keep us out of reach + Weapons should be enough. If attack = tank: We = Should be able to outrun or: Shoot it down using ION+Laser cannons. We = Would have to stay low but: Would be safe." He responded. He was more concerned about them using another ship than a tank. A tank could more easily be outrun, and if it couldn't it was probably not well enough armored and could then just be shot down by only rotating his ship and using the ion and laser cannons. If the ship chasing them was the same size as his or smaller, his weapons would probably be enough to take it on. If it was bigger, he might actually be able to use it as cover to escape the planet if they chose to try and chase him.

Mila Uhlesifa

 

[Mila Uhlesifa]

“Great! That means that we’re all set. As Ardon has already said it is best if we sleep before we try anything. But since it’s not even sunset yet, what do you all want to do?” Mila asked curiously. “Just familiarize ourselves with the surrounding area? Stay onboard? Talk? What?”

Mila really didn’t know what to do. She had been Kidnapped before yes, but she had always been alone for the entire experience and she spent all of her waking hours trying to get away or trying to get home, and now that she could do neither, she had no idea how to proceed. Ardon was certainly a pleasant guy and she’d have no complaints about talking with him more. But she was unsure about the other two, Shenzhen hadn’t spoken to them much, and while she was under the impression that she could trust them, she just didn’t know what she could say to them.