Shimmy shimmy cocoa pop!

[Jamie Pyne]

"Everyone in the galaxy deserves freedom and protection." She admitted. "But I am one person." She shook her head slightly, allowing blonde strands of hair to bob side to side. "There aren't enough souls to protect everyone, everywhere." Jamie was careful not to simply dismiss the needs of others, but she wasn't about to concede that her home was equally important to her as say, Mimban.

"My home is most important to me. It has a modest defense force and is out of the way for many, and insignificant to many more. It's not that I would turn down a plea for help, by any means, but my family and my home come second to none. That's just not something I could let go of."

Hopefully that came off as respectful and honest as possible. Jamie wanted to help others, but if this was save Naboo or save some planet she'd never heard of, well, the choice was easy for her.

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"] | [member="Kaileann Vera"]

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"] [member="Jamie Pyne"]

Initiate Rohn was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

A rock, because he really did not want to be caught and accused of breaking and entering but having to stay because he had been assigned to look after Kaile. And a hard place because the woman in question was being quite distracting bending over that hyperdrive engine as she was -- and he was just a budding teenager at that.

It wasn’t fair.

Despite being brought to the New Jedi Order, the whole studying to be a Jedi and the like held no control over his hormones -- or imagination. Needless to say, he was stuck vacillating between reminding himself he was supposed to be guarding to trying not to have his eyes drift down to the mesmerizing little wiggle those hot shorts were making.

“Looks like it dun burnt out this powercoil right here.” Kaile’s muffled voice would echo from within the bowels of that hyperdrive engine. A small grunt, and she shoved herself even more forward, and the subject of Rohn’s current woes suddenly arched up a few inches and he had hold back a groan.

“Get me that servodriver will ya!?” Kaile called out, wildly gesturing towards the table where the tools were set.

“And thats spare powercoil!”

Powercoil?

What was a powercoil?

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Jamie Pyne"] [member="Kaileann Vera"]

"I've been a little unfair I suppose. You'fe a good person and I made the decision we could train you some time ago. Still, it's good to know where someone's priorities lies I suppose."

Their waiter returned with some food and Jacen sat patiently as it was placed down on the table. He asked for some of the hot sauce to add to the cheese whilst it was still good and molten.

"So how did you meet your flirty friend then? We crossed paths a while back and she seemed to have mechanical problems then."

 

[Jamie Pyne]

A gracious smile slowly made its' way across her lips at Jacen's words. "You did?" She was somewhat surprised by his response given her stance on the galaxy as a whole, her views of the Force and what she thought of it, and how she felt where she came from was more valuable to her than anything else. If anything she was expecting a polite turn down from the Jedi Marshall.

"I hope that what I said isn't too discouraging to hear. I wanted to be honest about my feelings though. I don't feel it would be right to deceive."

The girl took a peek at the Juna Berry Salad placed before her while her sense of smell was greeted by the warm, spiced cup of soup to the side. If it weren't for the chatter of other patrons and the ambient noise of the room Jacen very well may have heard her stomach grumble in eager anticipation.

"Flirty frie-?" She paused right there, realizing exactly who he was referring to. After all, Kaile had actually intended on flirting with Jacen, and, well actually much more than flirt, but that was beside the point. Instead she was off with a student doing who knows what. The blonde just hoped Kaile could keep herself from getting into trouble. She did tend to be a bit flirtatious even without noticing. Or perhaps she did know, and just gave off the appearance of innocence, Jamie really wasn't sure. "Oh, you mean Kaile! Bespin. She was about to get into some rough times with some spacer thugs that were running an illegal race. For some silly reason I tried to pretend like I was a Jedi to scare them off. Instead we both ended up running. That was kind of how our introduction went." Jamie laughed, thinking about the situation and everything that lead up to them reaching Sullust. "There's much more to it, but I'm sure she would rather be here for it. I'm not much of a story teller."

A few bites into the salad and another sip of her water and she thought it would be rather cute to break the silence with a bit of light hearted chit chat. "She likes you, you know. I mean, she's into you."

[member="Kaileann Vera"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Jamie Pyne"] [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Here was the problem.

To tell her that he had no clue what a power coil was or to walk over to the table and idly hope that he managed to get the right thing? There was a big struggle with the whole pride thing of a growing teenage boy and the fact that he did actually want to help her.

Rohn decided he could wander over to the table and simply say, "This?"

Kaile stuck out her head from the hyperdrive, a smear of grease now on her cheek. Good thing they gave her bacta pills and stuff for the pain. Otherwise she'd be pretty dizzy right now with all the blood rushing to her head. She did get a rather nasty knock there.

"Oh." sunny smile ensued and Initiate Rohn felt a bit of pride then. "Yeah that!" she exclaimed, holding out one grimy hand for it. Taking the servodriver - at least he knew what that was - he came back to the perky Lorrdian and handed them both to her.

"So...uh.." Rohn began, shifting on his feet. "What exactly are you doing?" he asked.

The question brought another glance up from Kaile, who blew a hot puff of air to blow her bangs out of the way. There it was again, that disarming smile.

"Fixin' this here powercoil. It got burnt out during our little altercation earlier..." Okay, maybe shouldn't go THAT into the details. "Normally we'd be able to work our way round it, but with it burnt out, rather actually put in a new one." her wrist started to twist frantically as she began to take out some bolts.

"You ever put in a powercoil there Initiate Rohn?" she flashed him an amused smile.

Rohn's adam's apple bobbed.

"No, Miss Kaile."

A broader grin and she suddenly gave a scoot to the left. With a pat and a nod, she indicated for the teenager to join her. "Well come on over. Ain't too hard."

That was a matter of opinion....

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Jamie Pyne"] [member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Yes, right, hmm," Jacen replied. He'd been a soldier for nearly a decade. Back in those days he'd been perfectly comfortable with forward girls. Now he was a Jedi Master and found himself a little flummoxed and unsure of himself. There were appearances to keep up, self control to maintain. She'd sent him off kilter enough the first time they'd met.

"Four years," he murmured under his breath. "Anyway I should probably have a think about who we should get you working with. How do you tend to learn best?" he asked.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie may have been young, but she knew when someone was flustered by something that was said or insinuated. Though to be honest she hadn't quite expected that level of unease out of someone like Jacen. If Jamie was able to destabilize him that quickly, he was simply out of luck with Kaile around. She began thinking that the idea of sending her along with the student was more intentional than it was coincidental. But now she had a bit of leverage. He'd pressed her no more than a few minutes ago about answering his questions. Now she wanted her curiosity sated.

"Yes? Right? Hmmm?" She started, her tone dancing more towards the inquisitive side with each word. "That isn't quite a response to her, let's call it interest."

The girl smirked, her eyes then fell to the cup full of soup and took a few spoonfuls first before answering his own question. "But as far as learning, I like to read, mostly."

[member="Kaileann Vera"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"] [member="Jamie Pyne"]

“Uhh… so… here?”

“Try a little to the left…”

“Here?”

“No, just a bit to the left, slip it in nice and easy.”

“LIke that?”

“Oh! There you go! Now push forward until you're flush….”

“I… I don’t think I.. fingers are too slippery.”

“Hey.. hey.. It’s alright. Just adjust your fingers 'round it. Don’t worry.”

“Okay…I.. I think it’s all the way in!”

A distinctive click confirmed it. Initiate Rohn and Kaile were bent over the Hyperdrive Engine side by side, with Kaile directing the teenager how to install the new power coil. His hands were a bit unused to being covered in grease, but he was doing well -- if sweating profusely in nervouness.

“Lemme get you the bolts so we can torque that down.” she told him, bending down to go grab them. “We’ll get them finger tight first then use the hydrospanner.”

“Okay.”

If only Master Voidstalker could see him now...

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Jamie Pyne"] [member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Your friend is very pretty and remarkably forward. Though I'd assumed that was just her way," Jacen replied. Once more unlikely to be an answer Jamie was angling for. He at least managed to keep his discomfort from displaying on his face and mostly prevented his mind from wondering. Poor Rohn was likely in trouble by now.

"You learn more by reading and studying than by participating?" Jacen asked. He already had someone in mind. Someone who just loved answering questions. "Are you planning on staying now? I'm happy to get you set up in the novices quarters tonight and to try and find someone to introduce you to tomorrow. Someone who could take you under her wing and show you around."

The words devoted to Jamie's training over her friend were quite telling and showed which conversation Jacen was more interested in continuing.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

The blonde shrugged. If the forwardness of Kaile and Jamie's blatant telling Jacen of her intentions wasn't enough to convince him to make something of it she wasn't going to pursue the matter any further. His business was his own in that regard. Besides, she was sure Kaile would make due. How old was Rohn anyway? With any luck his mannerisms and self-control wasn't being held over the fire. She could only imagine the kind of torment she could put a boy like that through.

"I wouldn't say I learn more by reading than participating, everything has to be put into practice after all, but I do prefer to read over listening to someone explain things. Books offer references to look over whenever needed. A person isn't always on hand to refer back to."

Jamie hadn't become one of the best fencers on Naboo simply by reading. She practiced every day for years. But she always found that learning forms and strategy came better from reading material than by any one person offering their advice. The same could be said for her schooling. The girl always preferred to have her nose in a book, rather than listen to a professor speak.

"I suppose it couldn't hurt to stay a while."

[member="Kaileann Vera"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Jamie Pyne"] [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

"Now, grab these wire clippers." Kaile instructed, handing them over to Initiate Rohn. "You're gonna want to clamp it down on the end of those wires."

Initiate Rohn was battling an intense struggle for concentration. His forehead was dotted with sweat, lips pressed tight as he grappled with the wirecutters. He was now in the midst of learning how to properly safety wire, and well, there was a trick to it.

"It's all in the wrist there, " Kaile told him, showing him with a finger. "Once they get all clamped up, you want to pull on that lever in a nice smooth motion... you want that there coil to twist smooth. No kinks."

"Okay." he managed to reply, taking one hand to hole the wirecutters in his hand and then the other at the tip. With one smooth motion, he pulled back the lever, watching the safety wire start to spin.

"There you go... all the way to the end!" with a grin, once he was done, Kaile gave him a pat on the back. Rohn wouldn't even care about the grease marks, there was a note of pride on his face.

"Not to shabby there Rohn!" She flashed him a sunny grin -- and his heart flipped flopped again.

"Not too bad!"

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Jamie Pyne"] [member="Kaileann Vera"]

Perhaps it was Jamie's errant thought, or maybe Jacen sensed the padawan's emotions flaring. Either way he looked up from his meal, covering his mouth with the back of his hand, and said: "I should go and check on Rohn in a little while. Sheltered lad, I'm not sure he's quite up to dealing with your friend."

Placing the sandwich back down on the table, he absent mindedly brushed some crumbs from his hands back onto the plate.

"I think Aela - Master Talith - likes books," he mused. "You'll like her, she's good fun," he lied.

Jacen had only caught glimpses of Aela with her guard down. He knew well enough that her serious exterior didn't run to her core. At times that calm cracked, but he'd never thought of her as particularly outgoing. Then again it had taken a long time for the trust to build after she'd bundled him to the ground and cuffed him for calling on the dark side of the Force.

"You should ask her whether she thinks the dark side of the force can be used for good!" he exclaimed. His own private mischief.

About as exciting as the life of a Jedi Master gets, he thought to himself as he tried not to think of Jamie's bubbly friend.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

The blonde smiled. If Aela liked books then she could already agree that it was a good enough fit. She spoke not a word, but gave the older man a tip of the head of appreciation.

Unsure as to whether or not Jacen was giving her a suggestive tip to sate her curiosity of knowing more about the dark side or throwing her into a bit of a trap by asking Aela what she thought of it the girl opted for a more neutral response by just nodding along.

"Okay. I will get her opinion."

It wasn't as if the younger girl expected much of a difference in opinion given that she was, after all, at a Jedi temple. She assumed that if one Jedi felt that the dark side was an abomination that the rest would likely reiterate similar viewpoints. If she wanted to find any alternative views on the subject it was likely that she wouldn't find them here. There would have to be a bit of digging to find more answers. That was of little importance at the present time.

Jamie had nearly forgotten about Rohn when Jacen had mentioned going to look for him. Kaile was with him. Alone.

Oh boy!

"We...Should probably go find those two sooner rather than later. Rohn might need rescuing from innocent temptation."

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"] | [member="Kaileann Vera"]

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"] [member="Jamie Pyne"]

"Not too bad right?" Kaile said to Rohn, flashing him a wide smile.

"Ahh.. y-eah." poor Rohn's voice cracked then, flustered at the sudden attention. His adam's apple bobbed, and he stammered out. "So n-now what?"

"Now?" Kaile echoed, brows moving up and into the strawberry blonde hair. "Just clean up. This should do it just fine." she told him, moving up against him, much to Rohn's discomfort -- mainly because he swore his knuckles ended up brushing against the side something terribly soft.

Yeah. Rock and a hard place. His face practically almost exploded with the amount of blood that rose into it.

"I ah, I'll take care of what is down here." Rohn immediately said, doing his best to get down and away from the hyperdrive engine. He half almost tangled himself in his robes; blessed robes than thankfully had plenty of fabric to hide his shame.

"Oh okay!" Kaile said -- not oblivious but figuring that the poor guy didn't need any more embarrassment. Poor guy, couldn't even pitch a tent without fearing for his morality.

Jedi were so weird.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

"Innocent?" Jacen asked with an emphatic raise of the eyebrows. He'd met flirty girls before, especially when going out on the town near the officer's school. He'd actually married one of them and that marriage had lasted an inevitably short amount of time. Young back then, foolish. Pained on the inside and cocksure and outgoing on the outside.

"I wouldn't worry too much. The lad will run away in fear before too long, trust me."

Jacen slid his plate away and wiped his hands down on a napkin. "I'm glad you're going to stay with us for a while Jamie. Whatever you might be thinking about us, there are good teachers here. People who will make sure you can learn these abilities and how to use them safely."

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie shrugged. She didn't want to outwardly say that Kaile was a bit of a tease, even if it were true. Of course the idea of Rohn fleeing for his life, or, rather, his dignity, did arise a bit of a laugh from the blonde as she too pushed away the dish and tapped the napkin against her lips and placed it gently atop the discarded dishware.

"I appreciate your letting me stick around. I'll do what I can to not be a disturbance or cause a fuss."

That wouldn't likely happen. She was a rather quiet girl, mostly kept to herself. The worst she might do is knock over a shelf of books in the archives while not paying attention. No real harm there, just funny looks.

"If there's anything I can do for you in return please let me know!"

She hardly expected to be given access to a teacher and pool of knowledge for nothing. Nothing was free after all.

[member="Kaileann Vera"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Jacen Voidstalker"] [member="Jamie Pyne"]

The clean up didn't take long -- well, save Initiate Rohn asking to excuse himself to the refresher a bit. Amused, Kaile gave him directions, giving a muffled chuckle when the teenager scampered off as if the Nine Hells were out to get him.

A puff of hot air blew her messy bangs away from her face. Her nose gave a slight scrunch as she peered down at her arms and legs. Yup, gonna need some time in the sonic.

“Hey Rohn!” she called out, “See if you can pick up all the borrowed tools and send them back, kay?!”

She heard a mild sound of affirmative. Likely because he wanted to rush out as fast as he could and hide his embarrassment.

Another chuckle. “Why Jedi are so stuffy over natural things is beyond me…” she mused.

Time for a saunter to the fresher!

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Jamie Pyne"] [member="Kaileann Vera"]

As they sauntered back towards the damaged ship Jacen reflected on Jamie's chances of causing trouble.

"We've had, let's see... We had a rather trouble and powerful Padawan give her entire block nightmare about being eaten by some kind of vong formed spiders. Someone in my class needed two artificial fingers because his sparring partner tinkered with his training saber despite all warnings not to...

"I'd think I'd be surprised if you caused us any real trouble Jamie."

Particularly if studying under Aela, he added to himself.

"Now where has your friend gone with my Padawan I wonder?" he mused, seeing a very lonely ship on the landing pad.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Reaching Kaile and Jamie's transport and noticing that it was void of both Kaile and Rohn, a modicum of nervousness shot through Jamie. She turned to Jacen, her lips folding inward as if she knew the answer, but was hesitant to say what exactly she was thinking. Then again, it was entirely possible that Jacen was thinking the same thing, or maybe not. She wasn't in his mind after all. All Jamie could recall was that Kaile wanted to do some flirting with an attractive man, that had been Jacen, but perhaps she settled for the poor initiate.

"If they're not on board, Rohn might be the one needing saving."

She considered for a minute the possibilities of where Kaile would have gone, or taken Rohn, or anyone rather, for something more private.

"Are there any nearby visitor stations that house guests? Or where do the apprentices like Rohn typically stay? Maybe we should start there. They couldn't have gone too far."

[member="Kaileann Vera"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Jamie Pyne"] [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Said Initiate Rohn had taken to Kaile's suggestion to take the tools back to the shop. The pair looking for Kaile and Rohn would have barely missed him.

Sadness.

Or not, depends on the point of view. Either case, the shop in question wasn't too far at all. Down the docking bay and towards the right, where one of the hanger bay's doors were open for anyone to enter.

There the flustered Initiate would carefully turn in the rest of the tools that he'd been tasked to do. Part of him wanted to hurry. Another part wanted him to delay.

Women were odd, odd creatures. And Miss Kaile was by far in her own category.