Land of the Free

[Arekk]

"Revan, yes. I've heard the story before, pretty intriguing. I'll be giving you a chance, come on. Let me show you inside." he said, motioning [member="Tin'tinag"] to go on board of the Ebon Hawk.

Its interior remained untouched although slightly dirty due to spending many decades inside a docking bay without seeing a sunray thanks to The Exchange in Nar Shaddaa. Luckily, Ar'ekk managed to get his hands on the legendary freighter and belonged to him now.

"Here are your quarters, if you ever decide to move here. You can bring your stuff and sleep in there." Ar'ekk pointed at the crew dormitories and what would be the Twi'lek's bed.

"She's pretty old and does not maneuver as it did during her peak time but still holds to this day. I'll need a brave and smart co-pilot."

Ar'ekk and Tin'tinag walked around the ship's interior and taking a look at the other important rooms inside until they got to the cockpit. The view outside was breathtaking for anyone who had the chance to see it for themselves. Many centuries ago, some heroes and villains were standing there where they did in that exact moment.

 

[Tin'tinag]

She eagerly followed Ae'ekk in, wanting to have a gander at something few people would ever get to see. "I think you know my answer already, It would be nice to actually decorate my own living area for once, you know if that's allowed, don't want to damage anything". She may have not had a lot of personal items, but still, she would make the place her own soon enough, a little comer of her own device.

"Maybe she could use a tune up, perhaps some new engines of some sort, still better than a lot of other ships, and a classic to boot, as for your co pilot..... hmmm I think she is standing right in front of you". She gave a cocky smile and pointed to herself, if it had controls and an engine, she could fly it, hypothetically.

As the two made their way to the main room she couldn't help but ask, "soo if and when I do join, what would be our first job, just to get a feel of how things operate here". She looked out the window, entranced by the waves and endless sea.

[member='Ar'ekk']

 

[Arekk]

Ar'ekk gave his positive acceptance of the Twi'leks idea,

"Feel free to make that spot yours as you desire. It's yours now."

As they walked around the main room of the Ebon Hawk, the duo continued their conversation. Her quick-thinking and smart talking although quite energized put him off a bit, he felt she was the right person for the position.

"Well, talking about the jobs. I'm a simple wanderer and I go where the Force wills it, no set path. We might want to find some extra work for credits, anything that makes a living. I've been meaning to find some parts for the ship so that might be a start. I was thinking of a place that's known for its market, perhaps an underground one. Any ideas?" he inquired, asking for her own personal opinion. Working as a smuggler, she must probably have some knowledge of places to visit.

[member="Tin'tinag"]

 

[Tin'tinag]

She pondered on the though of the force being a guide, had the force guided her all those years before, keeping her out of danger, and now guiding her to this place, seemed to coincidental to be just luck, 'Seems like I need more training'.

She brought a hand to her chin and ponder some thoughts, "I know of several people weather they are still in their business or not, i am not sure, there is one guy I know, a cyborg of the name [member="Marcus Lund"], a bit unorthodox, but he does good work, he is currently on Ryloth from CIS reports that the Frist Order picked up while I was still a Ren, and I have a good feeling he is still their".

She kept on thinking a bit more, "Their are other people like Meran Mechanics, or a physicist doctor that once patched me up that could work their way around this ship, but I will leave the decision up to you". Her time away from the smugglers trade meant quite a few old acquaintances might not be active anymore, or moved their place of operation, though she could probably track them down easily, given the time.

[member='Ar'ekk']

 

[Arekk]

"I was thinking Nar Shaddaa or Coruscant's underworld market, a place I'm acquainted with. I don't suggest entering warzones, I want to stay away from those places." he swiftly said although taking her ideas into account. It was for their best interest that they remained out of conflictive areas.

"I'm not a Jedi Knight although I can share the few things I've learned over the years of my training. I am not a fresh learner, that's for sure." The Force probably brought these two together for a reason, they could never know. It worked in mysterious ways.

Her contacts could still be pretty much alive so rejecting her options to visit would not be a good idea. However, Nar Shaddaa was too dangerous to go since the Ebon Hawk was stolen from The Exchange in there. Coruscant seemed the most smart idea of a place to head first but he wanted her opinion first.

[member="Tin'tinag"]

 

[Tin'tinag]

"You do have a point, don't want to go back their while things are ablaze, Coruscant it is then, but I did not have a lot of contact their considering most of my work focused around the outer and mid rim, though I could always look for someone new It should not be two hard to track down some underworld marketer who know how to deal with the Ebon Hawk".

She sat down in the co-polits seat with a grin on her face. "So when do we head off, or are we still waiting for your master to return"? she was eager to get going, and start a new but still familiar life style, only time will tell of the adventures to come, perhaps they will write their own legend that others will retell for years to come.

[member='Ar'ekk]

 

[Arekk]

"He won't be here for a while. We can go ahead and depart if you wish, unless you need to head back into Sanctuary and pick up your stuff."

The Ebon Hawk was still recognizable out there, being a legendary ship dated from the Old Republic days. They had to be very careful when going places and that's why Ar'ekk changed the ship's identification when scanned by spacestations to show a completely different model and information when ran through computerized systems.

"I haven't been to Coruscant since I was fourteen. Since I lost my family, when I left to train in Yutan." he reminisced, thinking of his lost loved ones. Much had gone through his mind over the years, sadness and anger. But if it meant necessary to go back and face old fears, he would head there no matter what.

[member="Tin'tinag"]

 

[Tin'tinag]

"Yer we can wait, I need to sell my ship and pick up my belongings as well, don't want to leave any trail that the First Order could follow", she stood back up ready to move out, dusting some of the same of her Disciple of Ren robe. She gave a slight frown at Ar'ekks words, "I do not know what it is like to loss family since I never had one around for me, but I do know what its like to be separated from loved ones". "I guess that's why the Jedi teaches to not hold attachments, since they could very easily be taken away from you, and breed a path to the dark side and what not". She quickly shook her head removing and doubts in mind, "I'll be back in an hour or so once I've got everything in order, give me a holler when your master is back". Tin'tinag gave a backwards wave as she existed the craft, heading for the space port, there would most likely be several people willing to pay for her bellow average freighter to get off world, and all her personal possession could be carried over in one go, Rens were not really allowed to own much stuff.

[member='Ar'ekk']

 

[Tin'tinag]

[Member='Ar'ekk']

 

[Arekk]

"They were my foster family. I never knew my real parents." the young Jedi said bluntly, putting an end to the conversation. The Ebon Hawk required some repairing so he would concentrate on that until the Twi'lek would make her return after selling her ship and bringing her belongings over. Cheedo and RB were working on their designated tasks as well, so everything would be ready to go by the time she returned to the freighter.

The astromap installed on the Ebon Hawk's cockpit allowed Ar'ekk to get a good view of most of the galaxy's locations. Coruscant wasn't very far and it wouldn't mean much hassle to get there, being a relatively neutral zone as it's always been. In the hopes of not being recognized, it'd be better if he wore less Jedi looking garments.

It was time to go soon.

[member="Tin'tinag"]

 

[Tin'tinag]

In no time Tin'tinag returned to the ship, selling her freighter to a family at half its store price and bringing along her personal belonging. All her extra weaponry, eletctro staff, whip blaster, as well as some change of clothes and her old smuggling outfit. When fleeing Mustafar she never really had in mind to take much stuff, not that there was a lot to take in the first place, as such all her belongings easy to carry over in one trip.

Entering the Ebon Hawk again Tin'tinag spied [member='Ar'ekk'] looking over the galactic map, plotting the hyperspace rout to the city planet. "Are we set to go, I have all my things, no point in waiting around any longer then necessary, especially if this old girl needs a tune up.

 

[Arekk]

"Put your weapons in the cabinet behind me next to the arsenal we've got. Feel free to decorate your quarters as you please. We'll be heading out in less than a minute." he motioned to [member="Tin'tinag"] as he continued to use the astromap.

The Ebon Hawk was ready for take-off and the coordinates were already in place so everyone could make their way to Coruscant, once the home of the Jedi Order and most importantly Ar'ekk's. This trip brought nostalgia and hurtful memories to the young Padawan but he had to be strong for whatever they were going to face.

He sat on the captain's seat and took control of the maneuvers as the seat next to him remained seated which should've been the Twi'lek's. Putting on the headset to communicate with everyone on the ship, Ar'ekk announced on the intercom they were departing Sanctuary. The Jedi waited for Tin'tinag to seat as his copilot to assist in whatever was needed for the flight.

"Time to go."

 

[Tin'tinag]

She gave a slight nod and proceed to walk into her cabin and arrange her weapons in the storage containers provided, the room was barren at the moment, but as time went on she'd personalize it, a place that resembled her as a person. Tin'tinag walked back into the cockpit, the sound of the engines starting up giving her the hint things were already to go, take a seat next to [member='Ae'ekk'], "Lets do this".

The Ebon hawk slowly lifted of the ground, the 1000s of year old engines still packing a good amount of power. With the the new motley crew was off, soon escaping the planets atmosphere, entering the familiar void of space. "Coruscant, here we come", her body was filled with excitement, a new chapter to begin, an adventure awaiting.

 

[Arekk]

The trip lasted as much as they expected it to be: short and to the point. A voice could be heard on the intercom who transmitted from Coruscant's main spaceport. Two starfighters escorted the Ebon Hawk along on each side as Ar'ekk provided the necessary identification details to be allowed to land safely in one of the landing bays in-world.

"You're cleared to use landing pad 982 just south of the main city." the voice said and the transmission ending abruptly.

Once Ar'ekk's home years ago, the landing brought many flashbacks to his teenage days when he lived with his stepbrother and stepmother in the slums of CoCo Town. The landmarks remained the same as he saw them early in his childhood. The landing went smoothly and they parked the freighter in the assigned landing pad. As he lowered the landing ramp to allow the crew to disembark, he was the first on the way out.

The young Jedi could feel Coruscant's air hit his face once again as it did for many years. A soothing yet hurtful feeling he felt in that moment.

He was once again at home but now not alone, not anymore.

[member="Tin'tinag"]

 

[Tin'tinag]

The trip was a bit more interesting the traveling alone, during the flight Tin'tinag walked around the ship investigating different things, talked more with [member='Ar'ekk} and generally rested for a reasonable amount of time without having to worry about the First Order or any acquaintances she had met in the past.[/FONT]

[FONT='lucida sans unicode']Th ship was allowed to dock and the Twi'lek disembarked, breathing in the air, "You'd think being a city planet and all there would be more pollution, that's one thing ill have to give em credit for". She had adorned a more smuggler outfit instead of her robes, taking again the part of a scoundrel and gunslinger, "Soo you want to grab a drink first"?

 

[Arekk]

Ar'ekk frowned at the sights revealed upon him since there was no pollution and considering he also never spent much time in this part of Coruscant, the rich one. His daily views were only dirty streets and crime lords opressing the innocent ones for their belongings and extortioning them out of their cash.

Using his usual Jedi attire, Ar'ekk decided to wear a large black cloak to cover most of his outfit laying underneath to make it less obvious as they walked through the city. However, he'd be recognized almost immediately considering he had to use a very distinctive mask on his face and had a cybernetic arm.

"Sure." he said in a cold manner to [member="Tin'tinag"] as he felt somewhat strange in his old home planet. Many memories flowing through his head, pain in his heart and the iris of his eyes switching between hazel and yellow as the struggle to stay on one side became more difficult within time.

 

[Tin'tinag]

She gave another cocked eyebrow at [member='Ar'ekk'] at his choice of attire, "You sure you want to wear that, I mean, put on what suits you, but I'd not like to get pulled over by the cops from hanging around you". "Ha ha ha, I'm only joking, but seriously, wee need to get you a more casual outfit, something that works well with your cybernetics, but first rest and relax, I'll see if I can pick up a lead while at the cantina".

With a small skip she strutted down the street, she could feel some sort of pain from her new partner, and wanted to keep things in a lighter mood, "Common don't be a slowpoke". She playfully enticed Ar'ekk, putting on a show for other pedestrians, her attire playing perfectly into the part of an outgoing typical Twi'lek smuggler.

 

[Arekk]

Ar'ekk followed along, sniffing loudly as she criticized his choice of apparel. "I used to live here, you know? I might get recognized anyways."

As they strutted down the street he couldn't feel but slightly awkward at her moves to entertain the many pedestrians in transit that morning however he let out a small laugh since he had a sense of humor, at least. She was a good person in his eyes despite knowing her for a few days already. Hopefully, she could put all that hatred and Ren teachings behind to finally focus on becoming something greater and he would be there to support her in everything just as he expected the same thing from the Twi'lek.

"This place looks alright. You go in first, I'll tail you." he said as he pointed at a scummy looking cantina entrance with a Nikto bouncer outside covering the door, somewhat annoyed.

[member="Tin'tinag"]

 

[Tin'tinag]

She rolled her eyes at the comment, "I didn't say ditch the hood, just something not so, "hey over here, shady guy and all", some would be bounty hunter would probably attempt to try and take you in just from the look of you". They continued to walk down the street, many people giving a glace at the Twi'lek, some other smugglers and scoundrels that gave a acknowledging nod, other enjoying their outfit, 'now i remember why I lived this life, always made me happy".

The sound of [member='Ar'ekk'} laughing from behind reached her ears but she did not pay much mind, this was fun, and it felt like her old self again, though somewhat with a higher moral standard. [COLOR=#ff8c00]"Hm? that place, looks like a hive of scum and villainy, you sure you want to go in, might be toooo much for you". [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT='lucida sans unicode']It was sarcastic but she made a slight point, he wasn't the most experience with 'her' kind, "Follow closely but let me do the talking". She strode up to the bouncer with a sly smile, "Hello their would we be able to get accessed to your fine establishment". The bouncer gave her a blank look and she followed up with Lekku flick and a hand sign used by the 13th rail. "Go on in, but you and your friend better not cause any trouble".

 

[Arekk]

Her demonstration of extreme happiness and joyful acting was quite a surprise for him and he felt okay with it since it had been a long time he had seen such a mood. The Tw'ilek had a strong personality and sometimes her words would sound hurtful but he knew she did not mean any harm so he let it go.

"Oh, trust me. I've dealt with more scum than you have ever seen in your life." he said, cracking a sly smirk. The duo entered the cantina and once inside they were hit with a massive cloud of smoke and loud music as any other place in the galaxy. There were two open seats by the bar and the Jedi pointed to them so they could sit.

Ar'ekk lowered down his cloak to reveal his face and a pretty obvious mask. Both of his arms rested on top of the table with his cybernetic arm at clear display although he felt careless. Most of the individuals here would mind their business after all.

"Two Kriffs." he told the bartender, ordering the strongest drinks out of the menu for himself and [member="Tin'tinag"].