The Seeds of Tomorrow

[Rekha Kaarde]

Rekha stood on the flight deck waiting for [member="Coren Starchaser"] to join her. In her hand she held a datapad that listed out the missions currently on tap.

Three of them caught her eye giving her a little giddy up in her step as she read it.

1. Transponders - you know what we need
2. Endor - Locate and retrieve Damsel flowers - use extreme caution and must be brought back alive.
3. Locate source of Sweetblossom.

Ok so they wanted them to go pick flowers or go steal transponders. What was it about the flowers cause well that sounded like the easiest thing to do. She decided she start looking up what she could find on this before Coren arrived.

Certain he'd get a confused look on his face when she showed him. Probably be like that look she had right now - you know - mouth open eyes blinking in disbelief. What the Feth!

Anyhow she waited, Endor...ewoks....she had a pair of slippers that looked like Ewoks. Did they sell them there?

No location for Sweetblossom. What was it? rare? elusive...what!

Damn frustrating.

As Rekha stood there contemplating and talking to herself others on the flight deck began walking in big circles around her. Concerned glances looked her way as they wondered if the Captain had finally lost her marbles.

She was oblivious.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

It was always good to get out and fly with Rekha. Coren was taking more responsibilities in the Alliance, setting up shop to run training for smuggling crews and the Jedi Order. But that wasn’t all he was doing. Helping with securing some plans for the Alliance fighters, like the E-Wing, and managing part of the Jedi Council, he kept working hard. The fact that he was doing this mission meant it was time to show the kids what he could do, that Hornet still knew how to fly a bit.

He was a Warden of the Sky, and that meant he needed to actually be out there, doing things. Looking at the list that he was handed, he ran his hand through his hair.

“I mean, the transponders are a lot easier to grab than you’d think. Lets get a bit of a challenge today, huh?” He laughed as he looked at his partner. “Sweetblossom? Don’t know much about it. Lets chase it.” He grinned as he nodded. That one.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

"Transponders are needed though." She looked at that flower name again, "Flowers." She shook her head and just wasn't sure about...flowers. Not that she didn't like flowers they had their place. She couldn't remember anyone in the last 10 years giving her flowers. Stupid flowers.

"Ok, Sweetblossoms. They probably stink to the high heavens and they'll cost us a mint." Sour Grapes that's all this was. She couldn't make sense of it so she'd be cranky about it. She sighed, "Well I'll plot us a course to some world of flora and we'll begin looking. Unless you have a preference." She turned on her right heel and followed Coren. A bit of groaning and sputtering still finding its way to be known.

"A challenge yes it is"

Yes it was going to be a challenge mentally, and maybe somewhere down the flight path physically. The pair headed toward the ship that would be their chariot for this adventure. She had packed light and now regretted it.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

It was true, transponders were needed. He could fuel up the Resistance and several units in the Alliance with them. And make these people a bit more deadly. Sneaking around back doors of systems, and taking what was needed. He grinned. “Flowers.” He nodded. Yeah,t hat sounded so threatening, but could they be useful?

“Well, we just won’t pay, y’know?” He grinned as he looked at her. The smuggler in him was ready for this. “You wanna go chasing them through the mud, or you wanna find a distributor? We could cut them middle man and take what we need. Then find a use for ti. It’s a drug right?” He smirked. “Hell, sounds like flowers, maybe we can do a two for one and knick some of these damsel flowers?”

He was always ready for something like this.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

She flashed him a lopsided grin, "you know me I'm a mud wrestling kinda girl. So let's find them. They some kind of drug base Flyboy. Says here that drug can make you completely unaware of your surroundings." She had to think about that for a few minutes her steps slowed a bit as she walked.

"Would come in handy if we had to kidnap someone." Not addictive either was a plus. She began to laugh, "makes a person real apathic this sounds like something we could ...on attacking troops..spike their water, turn it into a spray and hose them down....yeah I can see why someone might want this." Someone selling it wasn't guaranteed a customer since it wasn't addictive.

"forever ago they say Nam Chorios might have it..MIGHT.." She flipped over to something else, "hell that's in the Outer Rim Coren and it doesn't sound very nice" She had to admit looking at this single flower she was starting to get a respect for them. There were links to other 'flowers' which made her turn a few more pages when she realized she had stopped walking.

"Oh" She caught up with Coren. "Why would a guy give a girl flowers Coren? She had thought about it a few times but figured she must not have that type of personality that said flowers.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Coren laughed, the thing with working with Rekha was that it was always a good time. No matter what they did they always had fun with it. Fighting Sith, hunting down artifacts, mud wrestling, it was all a good time. Coren looked up at Rekha as he walked alongside. She was saying the thing he was thinking. It would be useful.

“I mean, that’s one use for it!” He shook his head. What other uses were there? Not many, not unless you really needed some deep trip to break away from it all. He made his way to the cockpit and laughed.

“Well, the Outer Rim isn’t all that far for the likes of us.” He grinned as he started to run the ship through pre-flight for the navigation system. He sat in front of the NaviComp and started to check the paths out. He had a few things to say about one of them but they were pretty well on. “Flowers? They care, apparently there is a whole language of flowers but…” He shrugged. “I just know its when a man cares.”

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

"Oh, really" She slid into the seat a bit puzzled. She couldn't remember getting flowers. This should bother her right? "Hmm if he cares he should give something useful. A blaster, a credit card...a ship...a...know what I mean" She flipped a few switches.

How flipping odd it was what social convention deemed...she had to admit one thing. The flowers were pretty. Maybe that was the thing if a girl liked flowers the guy gave them to make her feel good.

Yeah that would work.

"Nope the likes of us Flyboy we like the black, and we like the creds." She smiled broadly, "clear across the board want me to take it out?" They were off and perhaps not a moment to soon for them to change their mind.

She put her hands on the yoke before Coren said anything, and just waited for him to say yeah or nay.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

There was something o be said for working with someone for years on end. Coren nodded. “I mean, I did that with Spark, and you know you’d be getting repairs done for free on your ship.” A grin crept across his face. He had a lot of time behind him, and more time in front of him. Shaking his head, he looked back at the NaviComp. He knew there were a few things he could change, a few moons he could jump them around. Just what time he’d need to be behind the controls.

Starchaser was a bit more rough and tumble, it wasn’t always the best way to be when you were looking to make connections. Women preferred more than cold metal and rocket fuel. Well, most did. Present company was mostly excluded.

“Yeah, we’re good, lets make some money!”

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

"Fixed for free??? Ooooo so tempting but you know [member="Jorus Merrill"] will take spare parts and booze in trade to fix the Midnight Star. You saying first you would guve me one and two fix it?"

Rekha grinned as she pushed them forward and upwards waiting till she was just beyond the atmosphere to go for speed.

She loved flying a dip right a glide left and nothing but the open air before them.

She looked at him. They had not talked about Spark. "How is Sparkler?" ,

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Jorus was always the type to get in good deals. Coren had his friends on a speed dial of sorts. “Well, I mean you’re a pilot. Its important to keep you flying. Kind of a rule in the Starchaser clan, y’know? Seems like a fair deal, get a ship flying and fix it.” Sure, with he and Rekha, there was probably always more to be traded, but he needed her flying well, just like he did with any Starchaser.

“Kind of a Warden thing too.” But that was something he thought Rekha knew about. Still, if she didn’t she’d find out sooner or later. Why else didn’t most Starchasers have a serious port of call?

Feeling the ship move, he looked to his long-time friend. “We kind of lost touch. A bit war-mongering on my part, then my running away…” He called it exactly what it was.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

There it was. Lost touch. They had all lost touch. He had left. All she could do for the moment was nod. She was at fault for losing touch with Spark but truth was dhe had a hard time dealing with being left. He had run off left without a word. No goodbye. Just gone.

She for a while thought she had done something until she realized he left everyone. He had been close. Not so close he knew her facade but enough that she counted on him. He hurt her by leaving.

She would never admit it she would play it off like a joke laugh about it but later when alone she would let it out.

Can't let anyone know they could hurt her

"Thats too bad about Spark. Im sorry." her friends deserved to be happy.

"What the feth is a warden?" she blinked a few times then turned looking at Coren. "Are you hiding some secret handshake from me flyboy?"

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The galaxy had become a hotbed for disaster and Coren was getting himself too… wrapped up in it. He was pushing himself too hard on things that were temporary. He forgot who he was, what he was. And what he could do. That was why he left. He didn’t want his friends and comrades to fall into the same trap, or follow him where he was heading. The Unknown Regions were a place the Starchaser clan lived in, learned how to survive in. But he didn’t want to risk others to that fate.

He never did apologize, and maybe one day he would, but… He just wasn’t sure how.

“Things with me always get messy, y’know? I couldn’t subject her to that.” He shrugged as he programmed the navicomp in with the new course. The board would light up green for her when were ready to make the jump.

He looked at her a second time. Did Coren never mention he moonlighted as a wandering savior of spacers? “Wardens of the Sky… Never brought them up? They are a group of pilots, who help those who need it, in space.” He shrugged. Sure, that was a really short answer but it was what he had.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

"So. Piloting huh. I know a little about that. You think they would consider me. Unless well. Ya know theres a special criteria like a flying test."

Maybe one day she would ask. Maybe one day he would explain but for now she was glad he was here. She would hang on to that.

"Is this a well club with meetings or quarterly mailings. Whats it take to be a warden?"

She was ready as she engaged and were off. She watched gauges and his face in profile. He didnt look the same he looked haggard again. Was he taking on too much? He did that. He wanted to rid the galaxy of evil. Sometimes single handed.

A glass of wine might be needed.

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

“Yeah, I figured it could be up your alley.” He laughed as he shook his head. “Its more than just piloting though. Its knowing your space lanes. And knowing who to help and who are baiting others.” He shrugged. The life of a Warden was something of service. Not unlike a Jedi, but also nothing like being a Jedi.

“And for consideration? I’d not bring it up. Not really a public group, but we find those who we know could do well with it. We end up being the stuff of campfire tales late at night in spacer bars, y’know?” Simple, that legend was their cover. “Its mostly about helping those that need it.”

And flying, and a few other things. He looked at Rekha and sighed as he fell into the chair. Not sighing at her, just at the general… life-ness of everything. “Its more relaxing than fighting a war."

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

"Well when you say knowing your space lanes, you mean where they are, what the ins outs and troubles of them are so you can steer clear?" She thought she knew about them, she kept up on news that affected where she flew but she had run into a few problems, namely asteroids that had found their way in, and pirates who thought they could board her.....haha she had news for them.

"helping" she said it softly she liked helping she had done some of it without anyone knowing because well she didn't want them to know. What good was doing something nice if everyone knew about it. She shook her head yeah she got that part.

"Flying is always more relaxing than war. War is...well war." Rekha got quiet as she thought about it so no meetings no secret handshake, just the satisfaction of flying and helping.

"flying and helping..." She set the auto and turned to Coren, "You know me a bit..if you think I'm worthy of it...let me know. I need something drink...want something?"

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Nodding, he tipped his head to the side and bounced again. “Mostly. I mean, for someone like me, its about the Force, but I know you have the instincts to write your own path through hyperspace. But a big part of it is knowing who or what is operating where. If there are pirates, say the Ta’Jar, you’d want to steer people clear of that area.” Rekha knew what she was doing, and in his own way, he thought she’d make a stellar Warden.

“It is relaxing. I’ve been telling myself I need to get away from it. I’m more set up to watch out for people, and hunt the dark side, but engaging in full war? Not my cup of whiskey.” He grinned. “I definitely need a drink.”

“And for what its worth, I’d say you’d make a wonderful Warden. Its just a matter if you feel comfortable doing it. Helping others, getting them where they need to be, and doing what is needed to protect them.”

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

She was listening to him as she moved about the cabin, helping people.

She smiled he couldn't see it but helping was what she enjoyed too. But her kind of helping was secret no one knowing sounds like being a Warden folks might know, but...maybe she'd use a different name then. Her problem was getting attached to folks.

She let the smile fade away as she turned to look at Coren, "Get away from war Coren, before it kills you." She added in her own thoughts and kills me too. "I'll get you that drink...I hope you don't care what it is cause..I only brought a bottle of Corellian Whiskey." She knew he was Corellian and might enjoy a taste of home she really did enjoy the smokey taste of the whiskey.

"I think I can do it Coren. I think I'd be good at it cause....well we both know I obsess easy and would be mindful of always doing it right." She found the bottle and brought two glasses.

Sitting down she handed him one, while she balanced the other between her knees with a quick twist the top came off. That first smell of whiskey filled her nose, she loved it. Wouldn't burn going down either it was smooth..real smooth.

She poured Coren about 3 fingers worth, and then her own. Lifting the glass, "to flying free."

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The big part of it, of anything in this galaxy, at all, was that one was supposed to help another. There were always going to be wars, that was how this galaxy worked meant there was always a war to be fought, and people to fight it. What wasn’t always sure, was that there were people who were making their way through space, and were going to lend a helping hand. So many vessels were armed, but so many more were unarmed.

“There are a few Wardens who are more open than the rest, but many just tend to keep to themselves, swooping in to save the day every so often.” He smirked as he watched Rekha. Nodding to her he continued. “You’d do well, I’ve flown with you, and I know you’d make the right calls, and do what you could to help those in need.”

He grinned as he took the glass. “To flying free!” He smiled as he clinked against hers.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

She did something that she rarely did she got serious. "How or." She smiled trying to make sure she worded this right. "How do I know when I've met another Warden unless they say something like you did?"

Especially with no secret handshake or special pin or anything that remotely screamed SECRET. Yeah serious lasted long enough for her to ask the quest. She glanced at the NavCOMP they'd be exiting their leg of the journey in about an hour so all her questions she'd have to ask quick.

Course now...could she just call herself a Warden now? Was it that simple? Oooo she leaned forward with her glass anticipating whatever it was Coren would say to her.

waiting.

waiting..

impatience building....

key big cheesy grin

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

 

[Coren Starchaser]

That was the real trick with the Wardens. “Well, most you won’t know. But there are a few of us out there who are a bit more public.” Himself and Jorus for starters. “And we tend to keep track of who we know are Wardens, or Warden-esque people. And if something needs doing, we’ll be there to help everyone out.” He smirked.

“Just need to be ready for what goes on. But mostly, its working on your own, to help others.” He looked at her, then back at her drink. “The big trick is…”

“Do you want to be a Warden?” Didn’t take much more than her saying yes, and he’d link her into a few comm frequencies he thought she already had. But a few more that she may not.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]