Family sit down

[Coren Starchaser]

He knew this was going to be tricky, but the kid was making a name for himself and Starchaser needed to make sure the others who carried on with his name knew what it meant to be a Starchaser. What it meant to be a Starchaser. He wasn’t sure how he could enforce anything, but he still needed to speak to this kid. He also had to make a call about if this little company he was dealing out could be helpful. Plus, Coren knew that he could actually help Damian.

Well, not directly, but the student he had taken under his wing was doing a lot of work lately. She was a Jedi in training with a taste for the skills of the artisans, Jal Shey, and possibly alchemy. He wasn’t sure how well it could translate, but on top of that, he was witnesses some of Savannah’s nervous ticks. She worked with machines with the fine precision and focus of an idiot savant. He knew she had taken classes, but if she was this good with tools and her studies on imbuing things continued, she may very well become someone quite useful.

He had been back to Sullust for a few days, he was working on getting a Sentinel training camp out here. And as a result, he had Damian come to him. Porter Coren’s astromech was working on the Tachyon Rising, which was docked in one of the civilian hangars nearby to the Alliance High Command structures. Coren was working on installing a new defense laser near the boarding ramp when he could feel the younger Starchaser approach.

“Welcome to Sullust.” He spoke.

[member="Damian Starchaser"]

 

[Damian Starchaser]

Damian approached his kind-of-Uncle with a bit of caution. In his youth he had wanted to be part of a family unit, of this family unit, for some time. Now that he was older and more mature it seemed somewhat less important and yet at the back of his mind nagged a certain desire. "I've been on Sullust before you might recall," Damian said nodding at Coren, "I broke [member="Kana Truden"] out of your prison here." Smooth. Way to make a good impression.

Beaming Coren a million dollar smile Damian winked at him and walked up with a hand extended. "I'm happy we're going to get this opportunity to speak in a more private manner." Without speaking anymore Damian took out a small scanning device and started searching for any sort of listening device. "We're family after all," he said continuing his search and dissembling, "and we really should...." alright it seemed safe enough.... but it was fun to mess with Coren. "We should really have a family outing."

Damian turned and smiled at his uncle.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

He was going to try to be good. He was seeing more and more in this galaxy, it wasn’t about where you were, it was about who you supported, and who supported you. Alliance, Silvers, Coalition. They all served, to some extent, the light side. It was the group he traveled with, and like that, he had the families of the Dawn Treader, including his own, the Starchasers. He was the patriarch of the family, and as much as he was not good at it, he needed to rally them to the cause. Hell, he got his own son, who was still Imperial to the core, to help. Why not someone who wanted to be here?

Because he was like Marek. And he was raised outside the ship, away from the clan. But he had his heart in the right place. Grinning, he didn’t turn around, he merely kept at the task at his hands and shook his head. “I suppose you have been. Mostly that was just an egotistical statement by me.” He looked over his shoulder. “Why were you breaking them out again?” Had to be a good reason.

Or misguided youth.

He nodded at Damian and shook his head. “It’ll be good. As much as I’m a bit traveled and war weary, I’m still learning how to do… family.” He looked at the kid and raised an eyebrow. “Outing? Ever fly in one of these?” He asked, nodding to his prized ship.

[member="Damian Starchaser"]

 

[Damian Starchaser]

Damian stood and stared flatly at Coren. He really wasn't good at this, like at all. With a deep breath he stepped forward and looked at the ship that was being repaired. "Kana Truden was my master," Damian said looking at the vessel. "She was my family long before any Starchaser came into my life." A knock? Sure maybe a little, but all the old angst seemed to be coming back to Damian. There was a swell of emotions and thoughts that raced through his head.

The Starchaser family was once something he aspired to be, not it was something he was curious about. He'd met a few cousins and strata family members and they seemed, for the most part, to be okay, but still Damian didn't know if he belonged in that world. "And I'm loyal to family." He hoped the implication was clear, you needed to earn loyalty from him, not expect it.

"I know you don't like me. Too much like Marek who was a disappointment to both of us." To say the least. "But I didn't have a choice in my birth or the manner in which it happened."

Putting his hand on the vessel he smiled a little bit. "My grandfather, the man who raised me, he was a smuggler." Also a thief and a bit of a rogue, but why bother adding that in? Damian was sure that Coren wouldn't understand. "So yes, I know how to fly if that's what you're asking, but I don't think I've ever been up in this particular model."

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

“That may be true, and I can respect that. Still, dark siders are dark siders.” Coren had a really strict definition of that, however. The Force was… messy. But if someone’s intentions were right? Maybe he could forgive most use of the Force. Hell, he used lightning, though it was a bit less high powered than the Sith. “The galaxy is a changing place. Its not a place to expect someone’s actions.” He rambled off. That was him stating he needed to see what Damian was made of.

“But at times, family is the only thing you’ve got.” Or that has your back.

“Marek is… was, whatever… he’s a difficult being.” Coren shook his head. “Too… I don’t know. He struck out on his own early.” The elder Starchaser shook his head. “And a smuggler? Who?” He nodded to the ship, as in a ‘to get in’ towards Damian.

[member="Damian Starchaser"]

 

[Damian Starchaser]

"Kana wasn't a darksider," Damian said firmly in defense of his master. His eyes narrowed as he looked back at Coren. There was a loyalty between him and the woman that wouldn't be broken, and Jacen Voidstalker had said his influence was a good one on her after her release, although Damian suspected the man just wanted to keep tabs on him. Still things had worked out and Kana was retired to a hospital or some such healing to her hearts content. Meanwhile Damian was here.

Damian nodded considering Coren for a moment. Was he really making Damian try out to be part of the family? He stared a bit before boarding the ship. "My grandfather was a smuggler. You probably wouldn't have heard of him, he wasn't a particularly famous or noteworthy one.There aren't really a lot of famous smugglers." Okay there was actually a bunch, but they were doing it wrong, "Then again..." Damian was probably the galaxies most famous secret agent... "That's sort of the point."

The ship was familiar as he entered and headed off towards the cockpit. He wondered what experience Coren might have planned for him. Damian rubbed his hands hoping for a jaunt through a lava canyon or some other such awesomeness.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The elder Starchaser nodded. He looked at Damian with a bit of perplexion and concern. She wasn’t a darksider? “Then what was she?” He looked at the younger kid. He was what, Kaia’s age, maybe? That could be good, if they worked together, and not like Coren and Marek worked. Working together was important, but acting like you couldn’t stand each other? That made things go real wrong, real fast.

He laughed at Damain and nodded. “I suppose that’s the way to do it. The ones who get outed are the ones that aren’t smuggling well enough. Or they’re showboating.” He smirked. “The famous ones end up dead with a list their misdeeds.” He shook his head. It was the way things worked, after all. Coren was a smuggler, but he was so much more, and the greater galaxy didn’t give a kark where he was.

He stepped up the ramp. “What are you flying nowadays, anyhow?” Yes, he was judging based on his ship.

[member="Damian Starchaser"]

 

[Damian Starchaser]

"She was just confused," Damian said when Coren asked what Kana was if not a darksider. "The world isn't black and white Coren." He turned and stared at his uncle narrowing eyes and giving him a flat look before turning to the controls.

"I'm between ships at the moment." Starting the engine up and preparing the ship for takeoff Damian moved through the controls with a practiced ease muscle memory practically taking over. The controls weren't in the exact same place as he was used to, but generally all ships shared some design elements. "Currently I have a few things in the motor pool though, although I have to admit I'm working on a little Santhe Challenger Sports Edition. The previous owner got into an accident and I've been repairing and restoring it."

Not many people knew he did that sort of thing, but Coren was family right? "Working on expanding the motor pool as well, probably going to add a few ins and outs to round it out." Of course Coren probably wouldn't understand that being one of the poors. Damian smirked a little to himself at that thought. He himself started from rather humble beginings.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Starchaser nodded. Right, got lost. Still, that was another reason for the holding cells. Give them time to come to their senses. And keep them there until they did, or proved that they were no longer useful. Sure, currently Coren was a bit different than that Coren, but it was the same. “When it comes to the Force, though, sometimes its needed.” He wasn’t going to back down from that.

“In between ships?” He tsked and shook his head. “That won’t do at all. Gonna need to get you a ship.” Starchasers without a ship? He was going to need to fix that. Same with [member="Kinsey Starchaser"]. And he was going to need to drag her back into the fold. Or, he didn’t know, talk to Kaia and have her do it. “You know, we’ve got a little thing going, Starchaser Enterprises, can help with ship mods.” He shrugged.

“But what do you like to fly?” That was the question. He nodded to the ship exit and waved his hand. Looking back, he shook his head at Porter. Damian was going to be fine.

[member="Damian Starchaser"]

 

[Damian Starchaser]

"Well," Damian said taking off from Sullust and starting the ship through the sky. "i've flown a wide variety of ships, personally I like them small and fast although I've often had to make do with larger bulk freighters in my time. I'm working up a motor pool for Chase." He took the controls and started to fly across the lava flows of the planet staying low and fast weaving between terrain features.

A volcanic mountain came up and he skirted the rock within a few meters and spun around it before performing a little loop in the sky above the lava spout. A valley was up ahead and Damian started to lower the craft. Anyone could fly in space but it took someone truly talented to fly where there was obstacles and to maneuver around them with practiced ease. Truth was Damian was having fun and it showed on his face. That was of course until Starchaser Enterprises was brought up.

"So who is we? Starchaser Enterprises, but I notice that I wasn't invited. Or am I still excluded from these little family outings?" Okay so he had a chip on his shoulder. Could you blame him? He'd been out of the loop for so long and Coren would have to earn his respect just as he was earning Corens through this little flying trial.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Sullust was a good world, it was a shame to move the capital, if that was even a call someone was making. Starchaser was a man for the stars, but the Outer Rim and a world of fire suited him just fine, thank you. “You’re gonna want to get something for your own, granted moving with the bulks… can keep you hidden.” The kid did some sort of agent gig, didn’t he? Maybe a cloaked something-or-another.

“Chase is making ships now? And for Enterprises? It was something I had started out in the Unknown Regions years ago. Something to tune up personal ships, set up charters. Kaia’s running the show now. I’m sure she could use the help. I’ve got too much on my plate as it is. New Jedi Order, and the Alliance.”

That was the first time he ever spoke it in that order, so that was new. “Nah, we need the Starchasers together again. If the galaxy is going to go belly up like I think… we’ll be very useful. So long as you get ready to fly.” He laughed as he looked out on the landscape, seeing how Damian was responding to the ship.

It was a good sign.

[member="Damian Starchaser"]

 

[Damian Starchaser]

"Yeah well motor pool. I'm planning on getting a few ships." It was true enough, wealth had its perks. "For various situations. Thinking about a fighter, a freighter, something small and fast. Maybe a stealth vessel of some sort." Damian smiled as he took the ship down into a canyon and skirted the ground moving about.

"Kaia is a good girl," Damian said on behalf of his impulsive cousin. "I enjoy her company. Although she was a bit... rude." Laughing at that he spun the ship getting it through a place where the canyon narrowed in one piece. The entire time a big goofy grin never left his face. Flying had always been something he enjoyed. The freedom and control you had over your own life was appealing to someone with his history. "I live in the galaxy Uncle Coren. I won't let it go belly up. Push comes to shove I'll find a little hidey hole and survive until the opportune moment presents itself to strike."

Turning he narrowed his eyes and turned off the smile. "What do you need from me?"

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Coren grinned. Kid had lofty goals. “See, I figured you meant something for the company, handful of freighters. I’ll need to get you to the Dawn Treader sometimes.” Yeah, that one. The ImpStar that the Starchasers and several other families used as their mobile family base of operations. Back when the Starchasers were definitely ex-Imperial strike pilots. Now though, it was the nomad lifestyle that kept them together. “There I’ve got… oh feth, half a dozen ships, various designs? Kaia has a few. Its good to have options… But…” He shrugged at pat the controls of the Tachyon Rising.

“One always becomes your favorite.” He laughed about what Damian was saying. The thing, Coren was starting to come around to Damian, had heard good things about the kid. Wasn’t going tot ell him that, hell no. But still. “Yeah, well, raised on the ship. Hard to learn some skills, I guess. And its always good to have a place to go to ground to, helps if it moves.” Unofficial invite to the Dawn Treader? Yeah, Coren was real worried about the future.

“From you? I need to make sure you’re on our side. Not the Alliance, necessarily but the side of the galaxy that is right. The light side." And well, he needed someone who would be keen to rush the dark side with some fun new toys. But that was secondary.

[member="Damian Starchaser"]

 

[Damian Starchaser]

That damned Star Destroyer. Damian had heard all about it, and frankly he grew less impressed each time it came up. He used to care, at least about the concept it represented, but now it seemed something distant. There was however more and more"And am I?" Damian asked looking next to him at [member="Coren Starchaser"]. "On the right side?"

Truth was Damian was on his own side. Or at the very least in a morally grey area. The truth was half of what he did wasn't legal, which wasn't to say it was illegal but a spy, an agent, is nothing but a criminal working for a government when you boiled it down. Damian didn't even have a government. Not really.

"So. You're making sure I'm on the right side. Great. What else?" If he had passed the little interview he might as well see what prize he earned.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Coren grinned. The right side. It meant a lot, if he was going to bring Damian, who was a clone of one of the worst Starchasers in history, into the fold. Marek was the prime example of what not to do. But Coren was starting to feel better about Damian here. The kid seemed to be on the right side of history, working with the Outer Rim Coalition and, as far as Coren could tell, doing his best to be a Jedi. Something even Coren struggled with, though he was definitely on the light side most of his adult life.

Or second act of the adult life.

“Well, I want to make sure you can fly. Marek couldn’t fly worth a damn. And if I’m going to open up Starchaser Enterprises to working with your company, if you’d even take that job. I want to make sure you’d know what you’re doing!”

[member="Damian Starchaser"]