Private Familiar Connections Pt 2

[Kyra Perl]

Having a master was weird. Before Caedyn, life at Silver Rest was a a series of classes and practice sessions and socializing galore. Now there were tasks, missions-- expectations! Ugh. Not to mention the time spent traveling in space. It was all a lot to adjust to, and she wasn't sure if that was a good thing... or bad.

Caedyn insisted it was a positive step forward in her training. She guessed she saw the point. Like field work and helping people? It was what she had been waiting for! Still, expectations so very rarely matched reality, and there was a bit of tension in her chest over the new responsibilities in her lap. One such responsibility was meeting Caedyn as he wrapped up his work with his enclave in that outer rimmy space. He had given her the task to come meet him, but had level the frustrating terms that she was to do so without Silver help, or use of her family funds. It was a useful exercise, he had said. She failed to see the point.

Apparently she couldn't always expect to use her wealth to get her out of places?? What kinda nerf chite was that.

So fine, no family money and no Jedi ships. He had said nothing about family friends.



Kyra gave a confident skip as she hit the metal boarding ramp of Coren's ship, letting the sound of her weight bending the metal announce her arrival. "Hello~" She helped herself into the familiar belly of cargo hold, the green back drop of Kashyyyk framing her form. She dropped her bag on on a crate and wandered further in, moving towards the cockpit she had chilled in once before.

"It's meee, the bestest Perl you've ever known! Are you reaaaaaaaaady?"


Coren Starchaser

 

[Coren Starchaser]

As it was, Coren Starchaser was having a weird go at it. With his Alliance at peace with Sullust in the OPA, he found himself in a weird position. A man who accomplished his goals, a man who had, as best as he could, succeeded. He found peace for his people, even if it did not mean peace for the galaxy. But with the Sith Empire, this galaxy was going to be in one of those places where peace was… difficult, at best. And it was time to afford himself some anonymity. With blessing from Celeste, he made sure his affairs were in order, turned over control of the Dawn Treader to Jared and Kaia, to enforce the peace where they could, keep Jedi and smugglers hidden, and help set up support for the Underground, the old network Jorus Merrill had founded. And Coren supported.

All while that was going on, the Jedi Master was looking for answers. Answers in the Unknown Regions and Wild Space. Answers about himself, his past, and his future, and, importantly, answers about the Force. And maybe his place in it. As he was handling a few things, he did make some supply runs into the Unknown Regions, leaving his connection to the main galaxy in the hands of his family. He hated cutting and running, but at times, it was required. Dropping off at the Treader for a repair and refuel on his YT-2000, he made the next jump, the Silver Rest. Stopping by with some supplies, smaller holocrons, lightsaber crystals, he was prepping to leave, but not before signing on for another passenger.

The Jedi was looking like he typically did on a mission, somewhere between Galactic Alliance hero, and spacer, with a touch of Jedi. He heard a voice call as he heard small steps on the boarding ramp. His hand went to his lightsaber out of personal reflex, but he could tell who it was.

Or more importantly, what.

“Kyra, please tell me you’re not my passenger.”

@Kyra

 

[Kyra Perl]

Kyra steps faltered, a smidge of rejection flickering unseen across her face. "...Ah, come on. Don't be that way. You gotta take me on, my momma said so," she lied, the skip leaving her steps as she followed the sense of his presence in.

She turned the corner, a bit subdued as she stopped short before him. It was strange how fast a kid could grow. Six months ago she had been all baby fat, but her time at Silver Rest seemed to stretch her out and trim her down. Standing before him was a budding woman, yet she pouted at him like she was still ten. She sighed, plopping into his pilot chair like she owned it.

"It's my birthday this week and I'm gonna get to see Yula." ...Not inaccurate! She spun, her long limbs leans and void of that Zeltron softness. Definitely off world parentage. Her skin tone reflected that equally-- a pale shadow of her homeworld compared to her siblings. "You can't say no to a Perl on their birthday, it's against the rules."

She stomped her legs down, stopping chair as it swirled towards him. She leaned forward, her eyes wide and watering as they begged without words. "I won't talk much, I promise. I checked your charts, you're going that way anyway!"

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The Jedi Master shook his head. It was really all he could do. Eyeing the Zeltron, he just rolled his eyes and moved his hand away from his hip. No need to slice into her, especially if momma bear Joza Perl was anywhere in the galaxy. Somehow she’d know. She’d just know. It was bad. Still, he didn’t mind the Perls, as much as he gave them hell. All the time.

It’d been a while since he had seen Kyra, and they left things and he had a weird… he didn’t want to call it itch, but definitely something in his mind when it came to that kid. She seemed familiar. Still, he tried to just shake the thought. He didn’t get an answer but he had more direction for answers. The man had been securing some Force artifacts, and diving into myth and legends. He was partially looking for Jorus Merill, but it was possible that the man had gone to Firefist.

“Force be damned, I’m bringing you to Yula?” He shook his head. That was probably his favorite of the Perls to have on his side in a fight, but it made it a pain if she ever broke a nail in combat. “I’m pretty sure Joza wrote that into the OPA’s charter.” He shook his haed and nodded. “I’ll take you, yeah.” Wouldn’t hurt for the company, anyhow.

“Yeah, yeah. You’re fine. We just need to secure some things and we’ll be ready to launch. Did you eat before you got on board? I’ve got…” Dehydrated proteins, he was pretty sure.

Kyra Perl

 

[Kyra Perl]

Kyra made a face, familiar with the types of food he had on hand. "Nono, that's okay. I ate beforehand," she corrected quickly. She seemed to burst with mischievous energy as he confirmed she could join him, radiating the desire to burst forward and hug him.

But she kept it in. She had promised. No too much gene!

It must be lonely always living in a ship, talking to steel and getting no hugs. Her lips parted to asked him about this, before she caught herself and closed them again. She split into a large smile instead, her legs swinging in barely contained enthusiasm.

"I knew you liked me." She stood up, the words just slipping out, okay?? "And no, you're not bringing me to Yula. You're bringing me to my master, but the coordinates are they same-- he'll bring me the rest of the way-- I'll just get my bag and set up my bed, no need to show me, I remember from last time!" Her voice echoed down the hall she had started walking down as she talked, giving him no time to react to the small reveal that he had been lied to.

See? Zero pain.

Her feet could be heard pitter patting into a run, pleasure bursting through her at her successful maneuver. Take that Caedyn Arenais. She didn't use family money or Silver ties! Ha!

 

[Coren Starchaser]

It was definitely better for her to have eaten. Coren was visiting some exotic worlds and had gotten some meats and fruits and vegetables he’d never seen, had some, froze others, but on hand? It was a spacer’s life for him. He didn’t mind so much. Life was alright, it was quiet, and it kept him on the move. As well as a number of artifacts and leads he had. Including a Jedi compass. That was his big thing right now.

Following that, adjusting it.

“Smart kid.” He laughed dryly.

Unlike Kaia, Coren was used to the wandering, and he didn’t have a problem finding places to stop, cantinas to share and swap stories with, people to help. It was interesting, being out in the black again, but it wasn’t all together a bad thing. He got to keep his people safe, this way he could do what really needed to be done. Quirking an eyebrow he looked at the Perl.

“Master? Who?” Because sometimes it mattered. Where were they going anyhow? “Where?” He said as she seemed to run off. Shaking his head, he looked at his astromech and gave a nod, one that said ‘start the ship up’ as he followed after the Perl.

Did she have her own room, or was she using the perpetual guest quarters?

Kyra Perl

 

[Kyra Perl]

Those quarters were definitely her room.

She grinned up at him as her found her dropping her bag down inside of it. "Terminus," she chirped, unzipping and pulling out a set of sheets. Her own sheets. That she had brought herself. This couldn't have smelt anymore premeditated than if she had faked his suicide note and taped it to his head. Still, it was all meant to be harmless enough-- a means to an end to complete an assignment. Nothing more!

"You can keep the sheets for next time," she reassured, cutting off any remark before he'd get the chance to make em. "My master's name is Caedyn. ...Caedyn...Um. Aranis? Anus! ....Aenes. You know I don't know, I don't usually call him anything." The casual words held a story, one she didn't mean to slip. She plowed forward anyway, tossing a pillow his way to help her strip.

"Come to think of it, am I suppose to call you anything? Or is uncle Dami just like. A freak coincidence." As per usual, no context was given, the girl holding a silk pillow case between her teeth as she shimmied the pillow in.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

She had as much claim to them as anybody else, he figured. At least he knew where she was going. Following her into he room, he leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, the pistol on his right hip swinging against the frame. “Terminus? Out to the OPA. Ok, it really is on my way.” He had to make a stop by Sullust and make sure things were still going well. The real trick was how did she know he was here, he’d been here less than a day, really. Or was it more? Planet time was always weird.

An eyebrow quirked up at the leave the sheets comment was all he was going to give her for an answer. But when she started to mention a name for her Master he nodded. Caedyn Arenais. “Arenais?” Good family. Like the Perls or Starchasers, good light side stock. As much as the side of the Force was determined by family, at least. He’d learned a few things lately regarding Skywalkers and Palpatines… He shook his head.

Catching the pillow, he decided the best thing he could do was assist her and went about it. “Call me anything? Depends when you knew me, I guess. Gone by General, Master, Commander, rebel, Captain…” He ran a hand through his hair, his blue eyes tightening as he focused on her. “Or what you need me for, I suppose.”

Kyra Perl

 

[Kyra Perl]

Blue eyes focused back, her brows pulling in over them. "I don't need nothing but a ride." No bite, he must not be related to Damian then. Oh well, it was a long shot-- a cool long shot, but no.

He was no more her uncle than Caedyn was. Wait. Scratch that. She didn't want him getting all mastery on her either! "I'll just call you Cor." She fluffed her pillows, tucking them down and flicking open the folded sheets right in his face. Help please! Her rapid speech seemed to slow, the first bout of silence hitting her as, together, they pull the sheets over the bed and tucked in the corners. She gave it a happy "pat pat" and jumped up, bouncing a little before settling down and looking back up to him.

"You can call me Kyra. Everyone does. Mostly cause, well, it's all mom gave me for a name. It's so boring," she laminated. "How can you pull a nickname out of that?"

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The eyes were familiar. But it couldn’t be. Most of the Starchaser did have crazy blue eyes, from him, to Kinsey, to Jared… Kaia not so much but her heritage was different. Marek had them, and he was the black sheep of the clan. But still, he’d have known if he did anything like that with Perl, wouldn’t he? He shook his head. He kind of passed off the ‘Uncle Dami’ as a sort of ‘what the youths say’ thing. It had been a while since he was in the civilized galaxy.

The last time Coren taught someone exclusively? Well, she ended up on the dark side. He’d have to come to terms with that eventually. He still felt he was one of the heaviest hitting light siders, and recently? His research has helped him find a lot more of the Force he agreed with. He’d blinked as she shook out the sheet and grabbed it and helped her. His eyes were still watching the Perl, with recognition and just… seeking.

“Yeah I know your name.” He rolled his eyes. She had a place on his ship, apparently. “I mean, you can get a nickname from being annoying I’m sure.” Smirking, he continued. “Or from how you act and what you accomplish. Same as fighter pilots.”

Kyra Perl

 

[Kyra Perl]

Kyra shot him a sharp look, her ire lingering while he smiled at his own joke. "You know I've just decided-- Kyra works," she leveled, her voice flat. She watched him as he looked at her, something about the seeking nature of him catching her attention. She gave a self-conscious look down, but as expected, nothing was amiss.

She was in civilian clothes, the bright colors befitting Zeltros while somehow managing to not show her midriff to the universe. Modesty was a trait she had absorbed from the temples, and due to the perceptions others formed by her skin, it was the first thing addressed. She gave a tug at her shirt hem, not an ounce of pink showing. So what was his deal?

She ran her tongue over her teeth, the concept slipping from her mind as another came through-- running through her like a leaf in the wind. She grinned, mischief hitting her expression. "Heeeeeeeeeey, what'd my mum call you then?"

Story. Time. He'd already know how much she loved hearing about their past.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Maybe he had been away from the civilized galaxy for too long? The Corellian didn’t know. His goal wasn’t to insult, more to tease the girl. Was he worried about Joza? Of course. But it was more than that. He had a few other concerns, when it came to people on his ship. Coren wasn’t the type to really try to ruin someone’s day, though he wasn’t sure that’s what just happened. Hell, he wasn’t sure what just happened in general. The girl was fine, he felt the need to apologize but held it for a moment.

Compared to most Zeltrons, Kyra was more reserved, or at least she seemed it. Her outfit was loud, in the way of color, but reserved in the type of dress. That was… well, it was what it was. He’d been to Zeltros, he knew how they worked. And she had her own way about it, clearly. “Didn’t mean to… offend you?” His eyes clearly stated he wasn’t sure if he did. Or what he did.

Starchaser did not deal with the younger crowd all that often.

“Called me? I’ve known Joza a while. Going to have to be more time specific.” He grinned, not having an issue talking about his past, just did she want it all?

Kyra Perl

 

[Kyra Perl]

“Didn’t mean to… offend you?”

She snuffed. But whatever it was that seemed to bother her, she seemed to move on rather quickly. Kyra was like that-- her moods as fickle as her thoughts, which ran through her with a speed that overwhelmed many a masters that had tried to work with her before. She was a handful incarnated, but what Perl wasn't.

Time specific, eh?

Given the nature of this trip, and the birthday quickly looming, one time frame jumped easily to mind. "What about... seventeen years ago?" She chirped, eyes alight. "Can you even remember that?" Her grin split wider, the Perl much more keen to dish out teasings than to take them back. She wasn't annoying, alright??

She totally was.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

What? He didn’t. Coren was in carbonite for the majority of Kaia and Jared’s formative years. It put him really out of place for dealing with anyone younger than him. It gave him a longer time frame in the galaxy but with some serious gaps. Understanding that he could easily just hurt someone was not anything he dealt with. Starchaser was loud, opinionated, and a force to be reckoned with, on the best of days. On the worst?

Well, who knew?

Seventeen? “Ha, I can, that was pretty close to when Joza and I met... Wait, how old are you?" He shrugged as if dismissing it temporarily. “Most nicknames came out in some other language, that all seemed to translate to ‘trouble.’” A laugh escaped him, Joza wouldn’t have been wrong. And with that, he and Kyra could feel the ship shudder as it started going through take off procedures. Porter, Coren’s astromech, was upgraded to do limited flight operations on the Tachyon Rising.

He looked at Kyra. "Can you pilot?"

Joza Perl
Kyra Perl

 

[Kyra Perl]

Kyra pulled a face, very clearly wanting to say yes. Yes she could pilot. A sense of self preservation cut the urge to lie short. No doubt he'd have her try and pilot the ship then, and there'd be nothing impressive about that. "I've taken classes?" She offered, her voice tilting high.

"I can shoot the guns. Or navigate. I do that for Acaadi all the time." Because no way in hell would he let her do anything else. He knew her too well. She nearly hit an asteroid once. In the dead of space. He still didn't know how she managed that one. She looked around them as the ship began to rattle and rumble, showing signs of taking off. A bit of tension left her shoulders, her relief released as they started prepping for space.

"...Thanks for this, by the way." She really had been at a loss for how to reach Caedyn Arenais otherwise, but perhaps that was the point. What would she had done if she had been solo on a mission. Like with the hutts-- what if she hadn't brought a ship then? Or the cult, or... Oof. Her confidence lost a bit of steam, the girl suddenly feeling like her cheating would came back around to bite her in the butt later.

"Hey, if you need someone to shoot at things, I can?" The offer did not make up for it. She tried!

 

[Coren Starchaser]

He was hoping that she could fly, if not he was going to put her through the ringer. Any questions he had about her heritage, no matter how… outside of the possible they were, could always be answered by what someone could do. Starchasers were natural navigators and they were able to pilot near about anything with an engine and repulsorlift. At least, so far. Kaia, and Jared, obviously, their cousin Kinsey, his own brother Marek… His sister… everyone. “Classes? And how are you doing in them?”

Granted classes were not flying, but as she continued, he nodded, listening. “Navigating, huh? Charts or with the Force?” A trick some knew, some didn’t realize they knew until they were doing it. Watching her, and taking in the flow of the Force, something very easy on this ship, between he and Celeste Rigel taking flights around the Unknown and Wild Spaces, it made a calm center where the Force was flowing easily.

“Thanks? No worries, its on my way, anyhow, y’know?” He grinned at her. Nodding his head towards the cockpit, he lead the way back. “Nah, I don’t think we’ll need to be shooting things. But, do you want to help plot the course out to Terminus? Three jumps should do it.” He could at least watch.

Kyra Perl

 

[Kyra Perl]

“Navigating, huh? Charts or with the Force?”

There was a difference? She didn't utter this, also conveniently ignoring his question about her classes as she got up and scrambled after him. "Actually," she told him, a bit of heavy-handed confidence to her tone. "It's two. I know. I looked!" She give him a prim glance, secretly eager to prove herself to the semi stranger as she went sliiiiiiiiiiding on by him in the hall. She caught herself before she splatted into a wall and turned the corner, leaving him in the dust to get there first and pull it up.

He'd walk in to find her already hunched over and plugging away, those red locks and a small paddie braid spilling over her shoulder and masking her face. "See?" She finally asserted, pulling back. "Look~"

It was a bit unconventional, but then again what about the girl wasn't-- a path charted ignoring the hyperlanes and conventional paths did indeed give them a clear shot in with only two jumps to break it up. ...And it was faster to boot.

She grinned at him, clearly pleased for seeing a path he hadn't. ...Even though it broke some rules. Who needed em.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Coren had been navigating instinctively almost his entire life. He didn’t quite realize it was a Force gift until his father had helped him fix some smuggler runs when he was young, and didn’t really start to show off what he could do until Jorus Merrill took him under his wing. Still, he watched the Perl and as she spoke he grinned.

“It is two, unless you’re flying a ship that is known to harbor Jedi and rebels. We’re operating under a clean identity, but I’d still rather not get dinged by a random patrol…” He watched her for a moment, now following her to the cockpit. Smiling as she was already hard at work at the navigator’s seat, he dropped himself into the co-pilot’s seat as Porter, the astromech, twitter. Coren nodded to his companion and held a hand up.

He took a look at the path she charted. A grin crept across his face. She was passing that first test. “Alright. This one seems like it’ll be perfect. Do you want to take us out on this one?” He looked at her, the ship still leaving atmosphere, but heading for space as he indicated the pilot’s seat.

Kyra Perl

 

[Kyra Perl]

Kyra's grin faltered, her attention shifting from the familiar navigation panel, to the flight control. "Uuuuuh." The many lights reflected in her gaze, the number of switches overwhelming.

From the moment Kyra had first entered her flight class, she had stopped trying. She saw the numerous controls and heard the words "serious practice and application", and she wrote herself off without an attempt. Kyra didn't do 'application of oneself'. At least... not until lately. Her fickle attention always found a way to focus on anything but the task at hand. Especially when the task might require she fail before she succeed.

The padawan was slippery like that. She only took bite out of what she knew she could chew. It was Caedyn's biggest road block with her, and it was one he was slowly working through.


She squirmed backwards a little, her confidence snuffing out of her as she shook her head. "Maybe you should-- I'll shoot things if they get in our way." She popped up, sacrificing the seat she had harbored so he could take back over.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

He always had some trouble understanding the inner working’s of someone thoughts. As much as he saw himself as a Sentinel, and a Watchman, he was definitely more martial in many regards, even if he was the type to get out there and use advanced Force techniques before swinging his lightsaber. Or shooting his blaster, more likely. “C’mon. Sit.” He said, as he gently nudged Kyra by the shoulder. He could feel something… familiar when he touched her. Still, he shook his head, only a few ways to be certain.

“And the guns will be fine. Can control them from the copilot’s seat just as well as the turret. It’s a milk run.” He sat down in the co-pilot’s seat and stared at Kyra, wasn’t going to move until she sat, and Porter knew what he was doing. The droid had seen it a few times with students.

“You don’t need to think about what you’re accessing, this is a Corellian ship, if I know your mother at all, you’ve been in a few. And you’ve got the Force. You already have all the tools you need to fly.”

He waited. And watched.

Kyra Perl