Reprising Bad Decisions

[Caid Centurion]

Caid lounged casually in the pilot's chair of the Phantom, an unmodified VCX-100 Light Freighter. While the former pirate and military commander typically preferred a much more personalized method of transportation, he was painfully aware that it was counter-productive to his current duties within the First Order. Outside the viewport of the old ship design, Tython could be seen. Caid had traveled here in search of...an old acquaintance. From what he recalled, the woman had once been apprenticed to his father for some amount of time, and he was hoping she might yet have some insight that he could benefit from.

Information passed to him by his former Cathar Master indicated that archived files referencing some planet named Endelaan had come up in the wake of the Galactic Alliance's recent acquisition of Coruscant. Apparently, Keishi had been able to uncover some information from the private apartment of Cameron Centurion regarding continuous trips to the world and a rather proactive effort to keep the location concealed. Even the information that Kieshi had uncovered was relatively vague, but she had passed the information on to Caid for his...awareness.

At first, the young Neophyte had been content to remain blissfully ignorant. However, as time wore on, he became more and more intrigued by the notion of potentially discovering a great deal more about his lineage. There was only one place he could think to look to uncover information on Endelaan's actual coordinates, but he wasn't exactly thrilled about infiltrating the veritable Cameron-Utopia that was Corstris. The last time Caid had managed to do it...it had almost been a complete fluke. Since that fateful day, a great many of the security risks had been covered and backed up with numerous fail-safes.

Silver-green eyes darted to the glossy black lightsaber hilt resting casually on the center console behind him. Whenever Caid so much as approached the weapon, it was as if he could feel a presence that hinted at faint, distant familiarity. Snapping his gaze back to the view of Tython, Caid exhaled softly as he activated the holocom to contact Athena. They hadn't departed on bad terms, and Caid could admit that the hybrid had a certain...allure. It was, however, for that reason that he never reached out to her after their initial encounter. The emotions had reminded him of his time with Princess Ozmeri, and that had ended in a spectacularly terrible fashion.

He'd thought it best to just ignore emotion altogether.

Little did he know that the typical strength of his emotions was something of a genetic trait...and one that could destroy just as easily as it could empower.

This should be interesting...

[member="Athena Heron"]

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Tall, slender form moved through the spaceport like a wraith. Hollow bones made for silent footsteps. Always one for knowledge, the young hybrid had disappeared from the verse to immerse herself in studies of the dark arts. And war craft. And flight on the side...as something fun.

Eyes as deep as black space sharpened as she felt a tingle of someone familiar. The son of a master she had unabashedly lusted after. But how much like the father was the son? It had been a very long time since she felt Caid's presence.

Rose-lips on a blue-tinted face curved upward. The gesture was brief before falling away back to normal. Footsteps angled away from the archives and toward an open landing deck. She had no doubts of who it was. But the why was another question.

Her comm beeped.

She didn't ask what he was doing there. Or any silly messages about long time no see. Where you been, bae? Her message was much more concise:

"Meet you on platform 22."

Black eyes flecked gold as she waited.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid appreciated the brevity in his typical discourses with Athena. That didn't mean she couldn't be particularly verbose when attempting to learn or acquire more knowledge. After all, there was no reason to communicate with twenty words when the message could be conveyed with merely eight. "Got it," was the only reply he sent to Athena before terminating the connection.

The old VCX-100 glided towards the spaceport with no issues. Tython was not exactly a high-transit system, so dealing with the small system defense presence did not pose any problems. Within fifteen minutes of his message to Athena, Caid had nestled the light freighter onto the durasteel deck of the hangar. A loading ramp extended almost immediately thereafter as release valves near the hydraulic actuators released a steady flow of steam.

Dressed in a simple black and silver tunic over black pants beneath a flowing black cloak, Caid descended the ramp with purpose. His silver-green eyes did not have to search the landing platform, he could feel the familiar presence of Athena. As he approached the woman, Caid's expression was mostly impassive. His greeting, however, betrayed an air of familiarity. "I need your help, Blue." Best to keep the interaction...perfunctory for now.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Feathers within silky strands of thick-hair rustled slightly. "So it would seem." The dress she wore moved as she did, as if made from the air itself. She didn't hesitate, she hugged him quickly and tightly. His gaze was enough for her to take the risk but she certainly didn't linger.

"You've changed," she observed quietly. Dark-eyes were not shy as they studied every inch of his form. He seemed taller. More muscle. There was confidence in his voice. Of course, all this was expected with time.

"And since you gave me a flight lesson so long ago, it would only be fair if I offered my assistance now, Caid Centurion."

His last name was used on purpose.

"What have you gotten yourself into?" She shifted the scrolls in her hands. Eyes were mischievous. Her mind was locked tightly but that didn't stop her from gently probing his.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid didn't really have much of an immediate reaction to Athena hugging him. Even when she wasn't manipulating the Force, she had a tendency to move faster than he expected. A benefit of her species, no doubt. By the time Caid had made the mental decision to return the hug, Athena was already withdrawing.

"You've changed."

The Neophyte arched a curious brow. "Have I?" It was rhetorical. "You're exactly as I remember you." His gaze swept the length of her form slowly before returning to her eyes once more. "Not a bad thing."

As the conversation shifted towards the reason for Caid's visit to Tython, he clasped his hands behind his back. "Did you ever hear Cameron mention a planet by the name of Endelaan?"

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

While a certain pale, slicer would've blushed furiously at Caid's very directed gaze, she only offered a very wicked glint deep within the depths of her deep-black orbs. But her dark, feathered brows quickly lofted in surprise.

"He had me study it once but I couldn't find much in the scrolls of old. Legend has it, it's in the unknown regions. The locals believed if discovered, it would bring about the destruction of the galaxy. Have you come to believe in the spacer's fairy tales, Caid?"

More like nightmares, but still. Athena preferred nightmares so it didn't matter anyway. Shoulder-blades twitched. She missed the wings that had once been there.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid's lips curled into a thin, mischievous smile. However, it was not the physical manifestation of impure thoughts that tugged at his subtle amusement. "Fairy tales? No. However, I do believe in the veracity of any objective information my former master conveys to me. Still..." Caid digressed for a moment, he counted Keishi Miahr among the the top five people he trusted most in life. That did not, however, mean he would not take steps to independently verify her information. "I intend to verify her claims all the same. Apparently, Endelaan has something to do with my family's past. My former master indicated that it was in fact rather central to where Cameron and his ancestors actually originated."

A pause.

"First, however, we have to infiltrate Cameron's citadel on Corstris to obtain the specific navigation profile into that particular area of uncharted space. I did this independently once, but I highly doubt Cameron would allow the vulnerability I exposed to remain in existence." Slowly, a thin smile returned to Caid's lips as he stepped closer to Athena, allowing a single digit to lightly touch her side. "A curious, recent former apprentice of his though... Well let's just say your presence there would only make sense."

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Things just got curiouser and curiouser. Tall, slender form leaned into him, fingers rising and curling around the side of his neck. An intimate and dangerous gesture, if he allowed her to get that far. And farther still, she would lean in, the side of her cheek and hair brushing agai at his face as her lips whispered against his ear.

"Let's just hope a much younger and independent version of himself thinks as you do about my presence in a place he never mentioned."

But she could see it. Cameron had always been testing her. And why would showing up on some secret sanctuary that belonged to her master be any different. He knew one of Athena's biggest strengths and weaknesses was curiosity. She didn't pull away from Caid.

"I'll need to set my affairs in order. Give me an hour?" Then she would begin to ease back. There were many scrolls to pack. And dresses.

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid didn't react to Athena's body closing in to the point of being nearly cemented against his own. He supposed he had teased her into the action, though his intent had been to coax her into assisting him. At least, that was the excuse he allowed his brain to formulate and cling to.

The only sensation that he really noticed when Athena's face brushed against his own and she whispered into his ear was...warmth. The warmth of body heat radiating against his own skin, and the warmth of desire threatening to spread throughout areas not exactly in direct contact with Athena. Still, the young Centurion managed to maintain some semblance of control, silently releasing a breath he had not realized he was holding when the Omwati stepped back.

What had she been saying about Cameron? Didn't matter. "An hour," Caid said after clearing his throat. The Ren offered the Omwati a curt nod. "I will be waiting."

[member="Athena Heron"]

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

A very small smile snaked its way onto her lips as she walked away from the younger Centurion. About an hour later....

The Omwati returned. Same dress with a pair of feather-grey boots, a bag slung over one shoulder, and her arms overloaded with smaller parcels of scrolls and holotablets. Though weighed down, she still managed to walk like a goddess. Tall form remained straight, long-legs swift and graceful.

The ship was open, so she went on up, voice carrying to Caid. "I didn't pack any food, so I hope you have enough supplies. Where can I put my things?" Feathered-hair fell across her eyes as she shifted the scrolls to look around. Keen-gaze absorbed every detail: systems, vents, escape routes, potential weapons...

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid had returned to his vessel, reviewing the navigational data that he'd stored in the VCX-100's navicomputer. The transit to Corstris was not a particular difficult one, the planet just...didn't exist on any publicly-available data. This made keeping navigational records up-to-date nigh on impossible without continuous travel to the area. The best the young Neophyte could do was pull down the any updates for the passing vicinity and overlay it on top of the routes he'd developed on his own. If there was conflicting information or added information, he updated the flight profile. At the very least, they'd make it to the edge of the system without any real issue.

Now we just have to, basically, hope the system still remains intact.

Corstris was actually quite close to his home planet of Dathomir, so the area was at least familiar to Caid. Years as a Pirate and a subsequent Military Commander had made Caid's study of Instinctive Astrogation a simple necessity. The approach of [member="Athena Heron"]'s presence pulled at the back of Caid's mind once she began ascending the loading platform. Casually, he made his way to the cargo bay, sliding down a steel ladder to the floor below. "Uh. Don't worry. I always have food." Caid allowed a thin smile to touch his lips. "Always."

Motioning with a hand for Athena to follow him, Caid guided her through an open hatch into the adjoining passageway. Turning right down an adjacent corridor, Caid stopped outside of a comfortable enough stateroom and leaned against the molding of the doorway. "You can stay in here. If you need to find me, I'm generally either in the cargo bay training, in the cockpit, or in my own quarters just down the hall." Silver-green eyes watched Athena for a moment before he pushed off the molding of the doorway. "When you're ready, feel free to join me upstairs. I'll get us on our way."

Turning, Caid departed back for the cargo bay to climb the ladder that went up to the flight deck.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Just down the hall. Feathered-brows lofted for a moment at the thought. Her bag was dumped on the floor while the scrolls and holotablets were meticulously sorted through on the bed. Dark-eyes rose to meet Caid's.

"These will do well. Though be warned, I've been known to sleep walk. You may wish to lock your door."

There was a flicker of a mischievous smile Few knew about that habit, not even her old master.

"I'll see you in a moment."

Clothes were hung and all her other accessories were put neatly away. Near-silent footsteps brought her to the ladder. She moved up with the grace of one used to heights.

On the flight deck, she stared out the viewport, letting herself marvel at what was to come with takeoff. Her favorite part of flying. For once, the always-calculating glint to her eyes softened. Shoulder blades rippled.

"So what have you been up to, my dear Caid, besides tracking secrets of your family's past?"

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid rolled his eyes slightly at Athena's declaration of being a sleep-walker. "Come now Athena. If you really want to get in my bed, you needn't make-up excuses." A thin smile of amusement lingered on Caid's lips, returning the jest just before he turned to depart.

Returning to the cockpit, Caid called in for departure clearance before engaging the repulsors. About the time as the soft vibrations began to rumble through the hull of the vessels, Caid began applying thrust to the repulsors as the sublight bank activated at idle power. The soft voice of Athena drifted to his ear from behind him, but he didn't remove his attention from what he was doing.

Instead, Caid merely shrugged lightly. "Spent a bit of time investigating various organizations out near the Rim. Difficult to strike out on your own when you find your father has literally had his hands in everything the galaxy has to offer."

The young Centurion paused as he dipped the freighter's left wing and adjusted power to the appropriate repulsors. The walls of the spaceport began to grow bigger as the vessel continued spinning around rapidly. Just when it looked like they might collide with the wall, it was replaced by the vastness of space and Caid applied full military thrust to the sublight drive. The moment they re-entered the void, he deactivated the repulsors and adjusted thrust so as not to exceed port speed.

With his right hand, Caid quickly entered a series of commands into the navicomputer. "So," Caid immediately resumed their conversation. "I elected to stop fighting against that reality. I've settled myself into the First Order as Ciardha Ren, a name once used by my father in the very same organization, with every intent of making it my own. His time is in the past." Caid only...halfway believed that, knowing that one day...he would indeed confront the man if for no other reason than to prove to himself...that he was better.

The moment the freighter had rocketed into hysperspace, Caid turned in his seat slightly to regard Athena with a mischievous smile. Thoughts of revenge and irritation faded completely. It was high time he lived his life in the vein of cutting out all of the erroneous crap that people obsessed over. "Do you want to keep up with the idle banter?" Casually, Caid came to his feet, drawing within a foot of Athena as he gazed down at her. "Or would you prefer to pass the time in a more enjoyable nature?"

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

"I cannot deny the very large...presence your father has in the verse. But you are your own man. You have nothing to prove to me or to your father. It would only be to yourself."

She didn't usually encourage people, nor did she expect Caid needed it. But it was oddly natural with him. She knew all too well how easy it was to focus on revenge. War. But with Caid, she felt different. And it wasn't just for something...physical.

Although, that was a plus.

"You do realize banter is an art form of war?" A wicked smile matched his mischievous one. A single, powder blue hand shot forward, fingers curling around the fabric of his shirt as she tugged him closer to eliminate the small space left between.

"What did you have in mind?"

She knew the answer. And if he said something else, she was going to smack him.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid's mischievous expression faded just as quickly as he ceased Athena's lithe body into his grasp. No words passed between his lips as he hefted Athena's body into his arms, carrying her only far enough to cement her back against the nearest flat bulkhead. There was a physical attraction there, to be sure, evident in the speed with which clothing was removed, the lack of care shown for sake of primal desire, and the subsequent intensity of purpose towards fulfilling every pleasure.

Yet the young Centurion had been physically attracted to many women in his past. He did not attach any real emotion beyond the present to his physical interactions with other women. A consequence of his family and upbringing on Dathomir, perhaps. No, the greater truth was that what Athena had said spoke to the core of his being, the person he really was. To be sure, Caid was nothing if not enthusiastically devoted to conveying his thanks to the Omwati...wherever the interaction carried them.

When I let go of what I am...

He was young, a bastard, an ignored offspring, and a mere shadow of his father.

I become what I might be.

The future.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Little black feathers were shed throughout the ship as the couple explored different rooms. The cockpit, the training area, Caid's quarters - she lost count. Black-eyes fluttered open to see the streaks of hyperspace above. A thin blanket was wrapped around her form and she found she was curled into Caid's bare chest, sprawled on his lap.

But they weren't in the main cockpit. A missile launcher sat at her hip. Her knees knocked into a joystick. They were in the cockpit of a much smaller fighter. Pink lips curved slightly upward.

She didn't even remember getting here.

The Omwati began to untangle herself from the young Centurion. He would see the two long scars running down each shoulder-blade. He had certainly seen everything.

"I think it is time for clothes," she whispered. There was a mixture of amusement and regret in her tone.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid slowly stirred as Athena whispered into his ear. He didn't open his eyes immediately though, instead shifting his body slightly as if he was still holding on to whatever dreams drifted through his mind. Just as his body was about to settle once more, his foot kicked the switch to activate the master battery power in the spacecraft. A series of lights immediately illuminated, removing whatever vestiges of darkness still existed beneath the steady blur of hyperspace. An audible tone soon followed. SYSTEMS INITIATING. STANDBY FOR AUXILIARY POWER UNIT ACTIVATION

Silver-green eyes shot open immediately as Caid's body was practically vaulted into action. With more awareness than was possible without extensive hours at the controls of spacecraft, the Ren bolted upright and immediately leaned forward to deactivated the spacecraft's power. When he did so, he barely even registered the fact that Athena's lithe form was still draped across his own. Or at least...it was.

As systems began powering back down, Caid glanced in the direction of the young Omwati. "Feth. I'm sorry I didn't even... I mean... Wait." The fog of the previous nights activities and the subsequent slumber slowly began to lift from his mind. "What are we doing in here?" A quick glance at their respective exposed forms brought a thin smile to his lips as he reached out his hands to help Athena up. "Dumb question."

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

The Omwati was just about to pull free when she ended up on the floor, instead. Launched by Caid's reflexes. The same reflexes she knew intimately. Flecks of gold shown like the dying sun in the black depths of her orbs. But a smirk remained on her face as she was pulled back to her feet.

She wrapped the blanket around her form like a towel. "Well," she clicked her tongue against her teeth, unabashedly giving Caid a once over. "We did so much so many places. It was hard for me to keep track, too." The honey-gold flecks faded.

"I think we deserve a food break. Wouldn't you agree?" Mischief danced on her face as she glanced over her bare shoulder, making her way back into the main ship. The blanket covered enough for now. Caid on the other hand would have to find his own. If he asked nicely, she might even share.

 

[Caid Centurion]

[member="Athena Heron"]

Caid smirked at Athena's retreating form. Food. That was...forever the magic word. Unlike Athena, however, Caid did not maintain any illusion of modesty. At this point, it would have been a pointless exercise to him anyways. Then again, the culture of his family was one such that very little clothing was typically adorned among the villages of the Morte Clan.

After ensuring everything was secure within the small spacecraft, Caid made his way back into the main freighter. As he walked, he found a trail of clothing. Scooping up individual shoes, socks, and various other garments, he quickly realized that he was only carrying roughly half of his own outfit and probably less of Athena's by the time he returned to the cargo bay of the VCX-100. Depositing what he had collected just outside his stateroom, Caid continued into the modest kitchen. Silver-green eyes quickly found the form of Athena once more, desire threatening to swell throughout his body as he went about getting some water.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

She beat Caid into the cantina by a few moments, even with her sauntering. When he arrived, as nude as ever, she was already pulling out any snacks she could find. The Omwati was certainly no cook. But she could put a bunch of stuff together: cold cuts, cheeses, salty snacks.

She did eat like a bird, a lot of small amounts all day long. It was how her people were, how she grew up, even after the slavers arrived. Before she murdered them.

Of course, she had no idea what Caid liked. But she had the utmost confidence that he'd figure it out. Putting a bunch of odds and ends on her own plate, she offered a blank one to Caid before sliding into a stool.

No small feat while keeping a blanket from slipping off her light blue skin.