Hermits, pirates, fugitives, political exiles…the classier crowd…

[Nubica Felidae]

With dim blue lighting and the sweet taint of rekka smoke in the air, the station Cantina was the kind of place where smart customers kept their backs to as many walls as possible. Its only ceiling was a disorganised web of ventilation ducts suspended in the murk above, and there was a half-concealed entrance somewhere along every one of its eight walls. The patrons were clustered in groups of three and four, sitting around corroded steel tables and openly studying Nubica and Kaia.

The cantina's clients were exclusively human and near-human, with no droids, and roughly balanced between handsome men with scroungy three-day beards and beautiful Hapan women dressed to look tough but available. Nubica figured she and Kaia would fit right in.

They’d been given the tip-off an informer would give them the coordinates of a pirate stronghold nearby — apparently situated on a large asteroid. Their brief was simple — if the locals cause them any trouble, they were authorised to kill them.

‘Yeah, that's a great plan,’ Nubica had thought. ‘We wouldn't want to cause a scene or anything.’

The cantina was almost certainly being watched by any number of criminal organisations. If someone tried to kill or capture them, they would have no choice but to fight their way out.

At the bar, an aproned bartender with a cleft chin and dark eyes came over to take their order. Nubica was immediately suspicious of the fellow's athletic build and clean-shaven face, but if he was a Hapan agent, he was a well-prepared one. He fixed Kaia's Fogblaster and even Nubica's Red Cloud without having to consult the data-pad behind the bar for a drink recipe.

He placed the two drinks on the counter. "Thirty credits."

"Thirty credits?" Nubica objected. "I see why they call this a pirate station."

The bartender merely pointed at her Red Cloud. "Blood ain't cheap."

"Blood?" Nubica made a sour face. It was a drink she’d heard of once — but had no idea what was in it. She didn’t plan on drinking it, but had to keep up appearances. She removed a pair of credit chips from her pocket and laid them on the counter. "At that price, I hope it's yours."

They took a seat in the nearest corner, at a rust-stained table that looked as if it hadn't been wiped down in a month. Nubica refused to set her glass down, and refrained from resting her elbows on the surface.

Nubica almost took a sip of her drink though reflex but managed to stop herself in time. "I hope we don't have to wait long,” she said to her companion under her breath. “If the locals don’t get me, the drink will.”

And she glanced around the cantina casually, trying to decide whether their contact was the guy in the new utilities or that classy-looking brunette in the syntex vest.

[member="Kaia Starchaser"]

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

Being more than willing to work with the Jedi was important. She was taught by the Covenant, not the floral one, the other one, the light sided one run by the Talith clan, in the way of the Jedi, then by Mara as a Warden of the Sky. That last bit was where she claimed herself to belonging. But she was working for her goals, protect the spacelanes, and protect data and information. That last bit she was only recently working on, but for now, it was playing with a Jedi to chase down pirates.

The alternative-looking Jedi was looking around the spaceport. She kept her lightsaber, silver hilt, synthetic viridian crystal, a Starchaser process, in her messenger bag, probably an unnecessary step, but it worked for the girl. What was she looking for? Trusting her instincts on where to go, on where the galaxy needed her. She was hoping she wasn’t going to have to harm anyone, but she was ready in case it happened.

Mission brief and all.

Kaia was used to the set up of these places, old, dirty, gritty. Spaceports were home, cantinas were just the vacation from that home. She looked at her Fogblaster and took a sip of it, doing her best to smile at the bartender. Man knew his stuff, which she could respect.

Okay, so she was a lot like her father, was that so bad?

Following the Jedi, the dark-haired, tattooed spacer, sat at the table, leather jacket clad arms resting on its surface, she always thought it was important to look like you belonged. “There is something nice about this place, though…” She lied, kind of. Kaia enjoyed these places. Looking around, she was staring down the man who kept looking over. Contact? She wasn’t sure until he stepped up and headed over.

He looked too calm, probably not the contact…

“Ladies.” The man spoke as he leaned on the table.

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Before he moved, Nubica leaned across the table to Kaia. "Someone is watching you. And you may know him. He's trying very hard to keep out of your sight line."

“And you know, something does look kind of familiar about him," she said. "He's trying to hide it, but that guy is a soldier — and I have this crazy feeling I do know him."

Maybe their interest tipped him off? Regardless, he sauntered over and slid onto the bench next to Nubica, positioning himself close enough that she would have to push him out of the way before she could reach her saber. “Come any closer and I’ll be forced to show my disapproval.” He was now thigh on thigh with her and for a second, she wondered if he wasn’t the contact but a rather amorous patron.

"Then let's hope it doesn't come to that." The man reluctantly looked away from the wall. Though the hair hanging over his brow concealed the crooked scar running up his forehead, there was no mistaking the steely green eyes. "Because I would hate to see you angry."

Nubica tensed but then laughed out loud.

“Gram." She was genuinely pleased. "Glad to see we didn't kill you after all.” She turned to Kaia. “I was helping the Alliance in a raid on a nightclub. Gram here was the inside man.”

“So, you have information for us?” And before she could stop herself, she’d pointed to her own forehead. “That’s new…”

[member="Kaia Starchaser"]

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

Taking another sip from her drink, the blonde quirked an eyebrow as Nubica started to speak. She knew how spaceport cantinas worked, and she wasn’t going to be turning around, at least not yet. The tattooed Warden just kept facing her friend, idly reaching out in the Force. It wasn’t going to do any good though, Kaia spent so much time on a starship that when it came to sensing an individual person? Everyone around them just folded into this mass of… sensing.

She knew the man though? She was going to let her take point, when it came time to do something, the Warden would be there. Apparently the man was still approaching though, based on Nubica’s expression and apprehension.

When the man did finally speak, she turned around a little, investigating the man and listening to him. One of those. Whatever happened, she’d be ready.

“What kind of information?” Kaia asked Gram, looking away from Nubica for a moment.

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

"After you left, I was paid a visit.” He shrugged.

Nubica touched his forearm, drawing a flinch visible even across the table. She quickly withdrew her hand. "I am sorry. Before we departed we were led to believe your extraction was imminent."

He shrugged again. ”It was a very dangerous planet, as you know," he said. "The recovery team vanished, and the decision was made to risk no more lives on behalf of one operative."

“Anyhow, information?” Nubica knew that he didn’t want her sympathy and he was here because he was a professional.

"This station is a long way from your usual stomping grounds.”

"One table at a time," the bartender said. He banged Gram’s drink down and stomped off.

"So…I’me here because of the Ohnaka Gang. Or a modern equivalent. Like their first incarnation. A band of Weequay pirates. Inspired by him by all accounts. Anyhow, they’re causing all sorts of mayhem — and I have the coordinates for their base of operations.”

“Nothing written down of course, you’ll have to remember them. They’re in the outer rim. R-5. So, you here as go-betweens or are you going to follow this up yourselves?”

[member="Kaia Starchaser"]

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

The feel of the… she thought it was glass. Or really high grade plastics, in her hand was a bit different. Kaia Starchaser preferred plasticware. When it fell from the storage spots on her ship in a harsh maneuver and went flying all over? It didn’t break, typically. But her drink was in a glass, and that was… again, strange. Still, she was idly playing with the glass, rolling the ice in the liquid as she listened to Nubica, who was light years ahead of her as a Jedi, speak with Gram.

Extractions that went south were never a good thing. She really needed to see Mara about that SAR vessel she had mentioned that one time in that thread that didn’t happen, but the two were friends, damnit.

“Ew… Weequays.” Kaia looked a bit shocked that she even let that out and turned from Nubica to Gram. “I’m good with coordinates.” Pilot and navigator and all. “We could check it out.” She nodded at Nubica. It would be… fun?

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica grinned. She was a Jedi and followed the Code. And its tenets. And its pillars. But she was also a proponent of Vaapad. Which made her a little off the beaten track as Jedi went. She loved to fight. She had an inner darkness that was channelled through the use of the Form. It was a mind-set as much as a fighting style.

And oddly it was a Weequay that was co-creator of Vaapad.

“Fun…” she nodded, “Oh most certainly.” She entrusted Kaia with the coordinates — she sounded a competent pilot. Nubica was handy in a fighter but was no star traveller. Kaia seemed more at home in the cockpit of a ship by the sound of it.

They thanked the contact before Nubica slapped him on the face. “For that price, you’d be lucky to get a toothless Gamorrean interested. And I have all of my own teeth. So unless you want them biting something you might need, scram.”

Gram took the hint and feigned a combination of annoyance and wounded pride. “Fine…” he said and stormed from the bar, muttering under his breath.

The turned her attention back to Kaia. “So, we take your vessel, yes?”

[member="Kaia Starchaser"]

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

Kaia didn’t play nearly as loose with the Jedi Order, or even the New Jedi Order’s mindset. She respected it and tried to keep as peaceful as she could. As a child, she remembered her father coming home from a mission, and just the darkness in him, from whatever he had been doing. Hunting Sith, she knew now, but hunting them in the worst ways. When he came back to the galaxy, he learned a bit more on how to use the Force, and what side he should be pulling from, and that helped her own opinion.

Still, she was a Warden first.

Take her ship? Kaia nodded. “Yeah, the Star is ready, willing, and able. Have anything you need to load up? She’s got the room, if you need it.” She loved her ship and was always proud of what she could do.

Looking to her drink, she finished it quickly, not quite greedily, but Kaia had been to one or two cantinas in her time traveling the stars. “What’s the story with Gram then, you two have history?” She doubted it, Nubica couldn’t be any older than she was, but that was what people did right? Gossip?

Kaia had no social graces.

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica almost took a swig of the drink, then set it down on the table and pushed it away from her. Just in case.

“I travel light. Just me, and my robes if I get to put them back on. Do you?” She pointed at her own untouched drink, before shrugging.”Or a fresh one if you’d prefer?”

She glanced around the room. She’d never frequented a cantina before, unless on a mission. She was in two minds if she’d enjoy it. And even if she did, if her guilt would allow her to let go.

Aware she’d been asked a question, she snapped back to the conversation. “Gram? No.” She chuckled. “I was heavily chaperoned, so nothing could have happened even if I wanted it to. Or him. I’m a kind of by the book Jedi. If I’m on business, then I tend to stick to the job in hand.”

“I hadn’t even considered him as..you know…that kind of option. Not sure he’s my type. If I have a type. Kind of hard to be a Jedi and a socialite on Ossus. Few bars and lots of lessons have that effect.”

“What about you? Do you have someone special? Or just someone?”

[member="Kaia Starchaser"]

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

She smiled. Kaia was always excited by the ideas of space travel. She was star born and raised, so out there was her comfort zone, right beyond the edge of where you thought you could go. That was where the young Jedi felt she was of the most use, or the most alive, or both. Did she have anything she needed? No, she shook her head. “Everything I’ve got is on the ship.” She smiled before considering the drink. “One’s enough, especially if we’ve got something to do now!” That was more excited than it was shouting.

“That makes sense, the sticking to the book. When you get off book too far, things get… they get weird.” She had run across a few merchants in her time, but even with their way to speaking, she had managed to leave mostly unscathed, nothing beyond finding out who had bad breath.

The tattooed Warden smiled and shook her head. “I can imagine. I stopped by Ossus a few times, but I found a bit more of a calling among the Wardens, so… Space. Then my dad was working with the Alliance, and here I am.” She smiled, standing up from her seat and stretching her arms above her head, her vertebrae popping.

“And for someone? No… no one really… is that exciting?”

She liked travel.

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

The conversation was refreshing. To date she’d spoken primarily to Jedi her own age on Ossus. Or younger - given she was passed over as Padawan until older than she would have liked. Her interest in fighting was a major stumbling block apparently. The senior Jedi wanted to be sure she was ready before allowing her to progress.

And since she’d spread her wings, she mostly travelled alone in a fighter, from one tour of duty to another, not picking up friends. Or she’d been with senior members of the New Jedi Order — who seemed to want to wrap her in cotton wool. They talked but not on this level…as peers. Funnily enough, despite not knowing much about each other, Kaia was as close to a friend as she had.

Nubica smiled at the reference to the book.”Of course, we all read different things into the text,” her grin widened. “But I believe I honour the Code, so that can’t be wrong.”

“And I’m enjoying the travel. Not just the planet hopping, but the fact I’m seeing different sides to things now. I’m a Jedi for sure, but I care about the galaxy, not just a handful of planets. Which feels…liberating.” She chuckled. “And despite this conversation getting really deep, I haven’t been drinking.”

She stood. “Right, let’s get going. We have places to see and skulls to crack. Skulls and crossbones I’d wager.”

[member="Kaia Starchaser"]

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

Kaia came from a family of Jedi, well, her grandparents were part of the Jedi, at least some version of it, that was chased and hunted down by Sith Inquisitors. Then her father did his thing, which she still wasn’t asking about, it had a lot to do with chasing down the Sith, but using their own skills against them. He was a Regulator, or some such. But really, she tried to meet her grandfather’s expectations as best as possible. Her training was a bit different, taught mainly martial use of the Force, and how to fly, but she was tearing through the Starchaser Datacron, that one taught her a lot.

Her family was a Service Corps family, Jedi Explorers! How stellar was that, right?

The dark haired girl nodded. “That makes sense. I mean, if we’re all looking at it from our own perspective, unless we’re seriously off the mark, it can’t be bad.” Probably why the NJO and SJO got along.

And with the TJO moving to the Rim, that might put them in talks too! Exciting times to be on #TeamLightSide.

“Yeah, traveling is really fun. I like being between worlds. You get to see so many people, that they teach you a lot of things! And if you want a drink, before we get there… well, I don’t keep it stocked on the ship, but you can bring some.” She laughed and shook her head.
“Pirate flags, I think I have a few from past missions…”

Right! Ship! Flying!

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica listened. A recent mission had shown her that she’d a lot to learn. That was the thing when you were finally a Padawan, you eyed the next prize. Sure many said they weren’t fussed — but deep down they knew that being a Padawan wasn’t being a Jedi. Only Knights could truly call themselves that.

And she’d realised her knowledge was lacking in so many areas. Not so much in Light-sided Abilities — but rather general information. Like the layout of ships. Tactics used by stormtroopers, or pirates. How to use a blaster. At one point she considered enrolling as a Naval Cadet — but figured she’d be better off mirroring their training without crashing their programme.

She shook her head at the offer of drinks. “I’m a soda kind of girl and I don’t think this bar is the right place to buy them.”

As they walked, her curiosity was certainly piqued. “So…pirates. I know of a few large criminal gangs. Are pirates mostly local or are there a few large organisations? And if so, do we know what we’re likely to be facing?”

[member="Kaia Starchaser"]

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

Corey was one of those writers, that forgot about his alts.

But that clearly didn’t matter to the conversation of Kaia Starchaser and [member="Nubica Felidae"]. Not at all. The dark haired girl smiled, as she was known to do way too often. “I’ve got soft drinks on the ship too!” Of course. Kaia thought of everything, and the money she made from her freight jobs? It all went into maintenance of her ship and then… whatever she wanted. It really was the good life.

“As for pirates. Most are just… they’re groups that work out of the same planet, or region. I don’t know of too many galactic pirate organizations. Smaller outfits, a handful of ships. Overstacked with guns and engines though. Corvettes are their favorites.” The CR90s and remodels were some of the best to use for that, because they could be overstacked with guns. But Kaia had a few tricks that she needed to develop.

One was her ion cannon usage on the Star and the ion pulse torpedoes. It helped slow a ship down so she could go do her Warden thing.

“But as for their base… I try to avoid the ground.” She admitted.

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica listened and learned. She was a Jedi primarily but since joining the Alliance had spent more time in space than on the ground. And most of that time was in an X-wing.

“So, what’s it like flying bigger ships? Especially in combat. I’m used to going toe to toe with other fighters. Do you still dogfight, or are the tactics different?”

It wasn’t so much she wanted the life of Kaia — but she didn’t like to be a total passenger. If she was going to fly with her, she wanted to pull her weight and knowing what to do against a Corvette was clearly going to come in useful.

“And tell me about your ship, everything. I want to know it all.” Her eyes betrayed the fact this was not polite talk — she was genuinely excited to learn.

[member="Kaia Starchaser"]

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

As a Starchaser, ‘ship’ and ‘home’ were really synomous words. Kaia wouldn’t have it any other way. Yes, she didn’t know any other way, but the lives of those who stayed in one place? They didn’t hold much attraction to her. On her Odyssey, she met a lot of different people, from a variety of lives. Military families seemed to do the travel thing a lot, so she was able to relate to them, as technically she was a military brat. And one who chose the same life.

As for combat? That was a bit different. “Well, the Star is a bit over 100 meters long. She’s more a large freighter, light corvette. I try to stick out of combat with her, but… Its more like capital ship warfare, you get to a range and start firing while you try to get out. I have a fighter, well, two, but only one I keep aboard, in case something happens.” Like she needed to chase down a pirate.

“If we find pirates, we may have to deal with them.”

As they were walking to the ship, Kaia smiled. Talking about her ship? Yes! “Well, she’s a Turhaya class ship. Something the Corellian Engineering Corp created for Jedi and the like. Upgraded with some extra ion cannons and an automated crew, I can basically take her wherever I want. But I’ve been using her to help move cargo around for the Alliance, nowadays. Helping from behind the scenes.”

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica realised that she had led a relatively sheltered life. Yes, she was a Jedi and yes, she’d undertaken countless missions. But they tended to be very rigid. Fly in, investigate or fight — or both — and leave.

She’d visited countless planets and yet she could hardly remember their names, let alone their cultures or much about them. It was very much a transient life but without any social interactions. She suspected that Kaia connected on a far more personal level. And was broadly in greater control of her destiny.

Not that Nubica minded. She was a Jedi and the life was in many ways chosen for her. But her blinkered view of life was benefiting from meeting people like Kaia. Who served in a slightly different way and whose experiences only enriched what Nubica could offer.

So she listened with interest about the different approach to fighting that the bigger ship required and smiled too. “And as far as the pirates go, I’m hoping we do find some…but maybe I’m just that kind of girl.”

“So, where to first?”

[member="Kaia Starchaser"]

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

That was the trick of living life on the spacelanes. Kaia Starchaser didn’t really have friends. Sure, she knew the Talith family, and there was Kaili, and also Mara Merrill, they were her friends, but… She spent so much time between places that she was her own best friend, and most of the time she loved it.

But when she was actually dealing with people on friendly terms? She hated it.

Nubica could be her friend. Yep. Not that Kaia was going to claim her as such (well, that is a lie, Kaia was so going to do that), but it was nice to have someone to talk to.

“I’m sure we will, as long as your source is correct.” They made it to the docking bay in short order and Kaia was pointing at her ship, almost giddy to have a bit o show-and-tell time. “Well, there she is!” Proud? Kaia loved her ship.

“And first things first, I’m all fueled up. We’ll check the navcharts for worlds in the Rim… He said R-5, right? And from there, we hop on out, see what we can find, and do what we can!"

[member="Nubica Felidae"]

 

[Nubica Felidae]

Nubica always wondered about that part of the Code where attachments were mentioned. She’d left her parents at a young age and hadn’t even considered visiting them again.

She’d known other Younglings and Padawans of course, but as acquaintances more than friends. And once she’d become a Knight, every day meant a different planet and different people. So the concept of putting another ahead of her role as a Jedi was alien to her.

But then she’d met a few that had relationships and siblings and wondered what it was like for them?

She nodded at the comment. “I’m sure he can be trusted,” she said, and then she saw the ship. Nubica knew there was a difference between flying a ship and owning one. Nubica flew some fancy pieces of kit, but every day was a different bird and she could sense in Kaia a feeling of pride that she was almost envious of. So this is what attachments were all about?

“I can see why you love it so,” Nubica said as she approached it. “So thanks for having me on board. I’ll help out in any way you need…”

[member="Kaia Starchaser"]

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

Kaia was raised in a completely different fashion. Her father had a datacron with the family’s knowledge, barring some serious gaps, including the location and navigation charts of the Kathol Rift. But for her, the Force was a tool. But not a tool she was taught to use right away, her, like her brother, and cousins and adopted cousins (because really, she knew Lily and Scall weren’t here blood aunt-and-uncle, so their kids were adopted cousins), had to earn it. They had to display competency with a few skills before the powers of the Force we all but bestowed upon them.

Her brother was the fighter pilot, but Kaia found herself as a gifted mechanic, shuttle pilot, and most importantly, sniper. She was also fairly good at beating the snot out of someone with her rifle.

“I don’t doubt it. If you trust him, I trust him.” She smiled. And soon they would be seeing the ship. It wasn’t some garbage freighter, no, this was a good ship. When they finally stepped up to the vessel, she ran her hand over its hull, lovingly. “I’ll get her warmed up, if you want to work on the navigation? Its a mostly modern system. Couldn't live with the outdated systems anymore, so I fixed it... Mostly."

[member="Nubica Felidae"]