In the surprisingly spacious cockpit of the Aries, tension hung as thick as the atmosphere of a gas giant. The air was charged, not just with the anticipation of departure but with the unease between its occupants. Aron, a newcomer to this crew, felt the weight of scrutiny from the moment he stepped in. His gaze met that of another man, one who seemed as much a part of the ship as the controls and screens that flickered with star maps and navigation data.
This man, with his long blue hair cascading over shoulders that had borne the brunt of many a skirmish, turned to Aron with a look that could curdle synth-milk. His skin, a dark tan, spoke of days spent under alien suns, and his eyes, a dull green, held stories that were likely as hard-fought as they were numerous. He settled back into the co-pilot's chair with a grace that belied his imposing presence, fixing Aron with a stare that seemed to challenge him even as it sized him up.
Valin, the de facto leader of this motley crew, stood with an ease that contrasted sharply with the tension. He was sipping from a metal drink cup, the casualness of his posture. As Aron made his way into the cockpit, Valin's gaze shifted from the blue-haired man to Aron, a silent acknowledgment of the undercurrents at play.
Without a word, Valin tossed a set of keys to Aron. They spun through the air, catching the dim light of the cockpit before landing in Aron's hand. The key ring, was adorned with a small metal model of the Aries. It was a weighty set of keys. It was a test, a challenge, and perhaps, a welcome.
"Great. Take us up. Be mindful of the traffic; we're on Coruscant, by the way. I want to see how well you can fly," Valin said, his grin cutting through the tension like a laser through durasteel. His tone, while light, carried an edge of seriousness. It was clear that this was no joyride but a trial by fire. Coruscant's skies were notoriously unforgiving, a tangled maze of air traffic that could overwhelm even seasoned pilots.
Aron Thress
Valin Zenth
