Private Top Gluk

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Hyperspace
En Route to Ammund
Aboard the Bha'lair Maw


"How much longer?" Myra would inquire, looking up from her holographic screen and reviewing the final analysis of what it would take to attempt to decontaminate the atmosphere of Bonadan. The world had been stripped of mined since before the Gulag Virus, and now contaminants were so prevalent that a contagious virus known as the Bonadan Cough originated from Bonadan and caused the sufferer to have a hoarse cough and deep fatigue. A massive weather-control station lay in the mountains to the north of the main cities; it was used to generate sweeper storms that cleaned the polluted air. Despite this, foul-smelling rain and pollution were widespread. That is where Myra came in. It was Myra's task to continue expanding the eco-friendly environmental engineering arm of MaraTibx and Pharmatech.

When L3 informed her that Makai was setting up mining operations on Ammund and that based on his schedule, L3 could ensure dinner in two days should she desire it, Perhaps even be able to combine a few local system meetings and be able to extend the two-day meet-up with Makai into three one day earlier.

Two days' worth of back-to-back meetings and an insane amount of wine later, Myra was now en route to Ammund to surprise Makai. She had informed L3 to ensure Makai did not forget to go to the Arceneau Trade Station orbiting Ammund.

Myra was physically and mentally exhausted and just wanted to spend time with Makai and decompress.

The assistant droid assured her he had relayed the message to Mister Dashiell several times. Makai tended to lose track of time down in the mines or surveying a new mineral field. He became too enthused, and before one knew it, he'd spend the entire day going from one mineral deposit vein to the next.

[ We should exit hyperspace at the edge of the Kumani System shortly. ] L3 informed Myra, bringing over another cup of water and a migraine pain medication. She had to drink far too much wine at the last conference. Thankfully, L3 had provided her with an alcohol neutralizer stim. She could have sworn that Pantoran was trying to get her inebriated with as much wine as he kept pouring into her glass. Myra had yet to acquire Danger's wide range of skill to say no or discretely dispose of her wine without being caught.

"Okay. " tired grey eyes returned to the holographic screen.

[ It is my recommendation that you take some rest, Mistress Arceneau. ] L3 advised. [ Stamina and energy levels increase upon getting a restful sleep. I have advised Mister Dashiell to ensure he is in top physical condition for you. ]

Myra groaned with embarrassment and covered her mortified face with her hands. "Just... stop. There isn't any need for that."

It had been Makai's fault, after all. It all started with the roses delivered not 48 hours after she'd left his home in Palanhi: two dozen pretty long-stem roses, a shade of dusky pink that immediately set her cheeks a flame.


Makai Dashiell Tass Arceneau

 

[Tass Arceneau]

circling back to Tass as the other man worked.

"So why'd you learn to fly these creatures? Just cause?"

Tass was at an age where would have been seriously gratified to be called a man.

"It's what's unique about Ammuud, right? Everywhere I go, I try to spend time with what's unique about a place. Most places that, like, a weird dip for your kebabs. Ammuud's got fething pterodactyls. Went up for an afternoon and loved it, sank a good chunk of my money into lessons. Wasn't as hard as I'd thought to get one circling over a spot on a map or looping around a cloud or something. Been here about six weeks."

He wrapped up with Lady Ringo and finally, finally felt comfortable getting out of the big yellow suit. A whole lot about that suit had just been remarkably and unnecessarily unpleasant.

"Shavvit, I could sleep for a week. Love the pterosaurs but I think I'm ready to get away from here. Heard about this one planet around here, up the Levantine Spur, got low gravity a bunch of coral. Bet Her Ladyship would like it."

 

[Makai Dashiell]

As he listened, Makai thought it was a very Arceneau thing to do ; spend an insane amount of time and money into doing something totally unique, planet hopping without a care in the world. While there had been no doubt about Tass' real identity, if there was his admission of how he spent his time had definitely confirmed he was the real deal.

"Yeah, today has been....tiring, to say the least. The planet you mentioned sounds interesting. Coral? Like the entire thing? When we get picked up I'll make sure the transport takes you and Queen Ringo there first. At least we're close by, so maybe she won't get too antsy."

Makai would have been tired even if there wasn't a quarantine and virus shutting down ports on the planet. A light sleeper, he always woke well before dawn. Mix in travel, contract negotiations, the fake formalities of business life, and he was ready to shut down mentally for the day. Not to mention the terrifying gnawing at the back of his mind about turning back into a fourteen year old. At this point he just wanted to find somewhere to lay down, flip on The Great Bothan Baking Show, and have a beer.

He doubted the miners dormitory had beer. As for The Great Bothan Baking Show if he skipped ahead and found out who was star baker for the week Ellie would kill him. Looked like he'd have to settle for a patch of floor and staring at the ceiling. The sun was starting to set and Makai knew they couldn't sit out in the open valley.

"The mine has ten meter high tunnels at the beginning, before the owners ran out of credits. Perfect for Queen Ringo to stretch her wings out, be contained for the night. There's a miners dormitory and lounge. Won't be the best but its better than an open, cold valley where one of us would have to be on watch. At least the mine securely locks."

Head went down to his comm, checking to see the status of the Salacia vessel coming to get them. It was on the way, freshly launched from near the Corporate Sector.

"Freighter is on the way. They found one big enough thats mostly empty right now. Heading in from the CorSec side but should be here soon enough."

Message was quickly typed out since his comm was in hand.

(( Still stuck planet side. Haven't forgotten I need to visit the ATC station before I go. ))

Maybe that would get L3 off his back.

He headed to the mine entrance, hitting a button for the massive blast doors to the tunnel to start opening. Didn't need to spook the flying lizard that could potentially eat him, so probably best do such a thing while the Queen was far away.

Tass Arceneau | Myra Arceneau Dashiell

 

[Tass Arceneau]

All that sounded practical and intensely appealing, the sleep and locked door parts in particular. Tass set about coaxing Her Ladyship into the mine with the pterosaur treats. Perhaps taking the space as some cavern suitable for nesting and, as was her due, dominance, Queen Ringo settled down in the middle of everything. Tass compiled such materials as might serve her as a nest, dusty sofa cushions in particular, then cleaned all the tack.

It was work. it was a lot of work, and not optional. A pterosaur matriarch had needs. Within a couple of hours, come nightfall, Tass was flat-out exhausted in a first-real-job kind of way.

With only the rudiments of sociability and politesse, he passed out in a very dusty bunk.

Makai Dashiell Myra Arceneau Dashiell

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Up at his usual ungodly hour, Makai carefully crept around the pterosaur matriarch as she sat perched upon sofa cushions and mattresses, eyeing him with a none too pleased look.

He raised his caf mug in greeting.

"Your Highness."

Tass was still knocked out, as most were this time of morning. It was a perfect excuse to flip the power on in the tunnels and do some exploring on his own.

"Ellie didn't respond to me."

[ Mistress Arceneau is still in hyperspace and cannot be reached.]

"Oh, right."

[ The HoloNet systems are also being overwhelmed in this sector,expect delays once she exits.]

"Understood." At the very least, L3 had the Dark Net connected even if his comm didn't. "A reminder to put a Dark Net system in this cave."

[ I have already noted this Sir. According to an overnight report, the Salacia transport is halfway to our location. ]

Caf in hand, it was time to make the best of a bad situation and do some exploring.

Tass Arceneau | Myra Arceneau Dashiell

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Tass Arceneau Makai Dashiell

"The what?" The terse question cut the din, edged with alarm. She sat before her boudoir, her brush hovering mid-stroke against her mahogany hair. A fine tremble began to shake the body-wood brush, her knuckles turning white with the tightening of her grasp.

[ We have received notification of a viral outbreak at the spaceport. ] L3 relayed, using the holoprojector controller to turn on the array in her ensuite for her review.

||
A bioweapon known as a telomeric replicator has caused a spaceport quarantine on the Outer Rim planet Ammuud.
The infection, spread through contact, fluid, or airborne particulates, rapidly de-ages humanoids by an average of ten years, though no known cases have caused physical regression past the equivalent of 14.
Acute acne, emotional dis-regulation, and sudden lack of physical coordination have severely impacted Ammuud's planetary defense and law enforcement personnel. Riots have engulfed multiple nursing homes. The sector's elderly wealthy have been circumventing the spaceport quarantine zone by any means necessary in hopes of infection.
Due to Ammuud's proximity to the ancient worlds of the Sith, it is believed the telomeric replicator phenomenon is connected to the fundamental Sith motivation of aesthetic immortality.
||

" Any word from Makai?" She asked immediately, swinging that anxious, stormy gaze toward the Protocol droid. Her brush was set on the desk in front of her, immediately coming to her feet. The whisper of the emerald green lashasilk dress shuffled against her legs. A few steps had her standing in front of the holoarray, her face bathed in its cerulean glow, overseeing the projected image of Ammund, its spaceport, and the Arceneau Trade Station and fuel stations orbiting the world.

[ The holosystems are overwhelmed with traffic. We have yet to receive confirmation on Mister Dashiell's whereabouts and condition. I am in the process of syncing data through the Darknet to confirm with my counterpart Mister Dashiell's status. ]

"What do we know about the quarantine?" Her heart raced with a potent mix of worry and determination, but it was swiftly eclipsed by determination. Delicate brows narrowing, she turned to L3.

[ From the first string of reports, the quarantine has been poorly enforced around the port and the city. It appears many are eager to become exposed to the infection and return to an age of teenage angst and hormonal imbalances. ] L3 replied, giving a pause to add. [ Additionally, I am getting reports of raiding of local markets, specifically the toiletry sections, with many looters holding armfuls of colorful loofahs in their arms.]

Of all the blasted...

"Get me connected to the Arceneau Trade Station and Port Authority commander. I want to know the situation on the ground. Start pinning El-Three-Thirty-Seven's location. He will be our best bet if we cannot contact Makai. Reach out to Salacia Consolidated through the Darknet and inquire if Makai has reached out to them and, if so, to relay any information to us directly. " Myra's thoughts echoed with plans, strategies, and an unshakable resolve to reach Makai.

Twin orbs of hardened slate fixed upon L3.

"Once he is found, get us planetside as soon as possible."

 

[Tass Arceneau]

Upon waking, Tass discovered that Her Majesty had granted him a bequest. He found the closest thing to a shovel and deposited the pterosaur droppings outside the blast door. Queen Ringo maintained a cool reserve. For the moment, she wasn't clamoring to get outside.

Such matters occupied Tass's attention completely for longer than he'd like. When he finally felt ready to engage on a sapient level, he hauled out his bag and sterilized the shavvit out of it all over again. Then he got out his map case, sterilized that, and sealed everything up again. He was losing track of what he'd cleaned and when.

He opened the case on the break room table and started laying out partial maps - of the area, the planet, and nearby worlds like Cadomai, Ession, Wgah'nagl, and Malachor. He was loosely aware of Makai Dashiell poking around the mine complex. Next time Makai came around, Tass whistled from the break room.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

"I mean, of course let her know where I am, seems like she's heard the news in some form or fashion. Just let her know I'm delayed by more than a week now and it's not looking promising to visit the ATC Station before I go. I'll have to circle back to get whatever she wants. Oh, and tell her not to worry."

[ Of course Sir. I'll relay your messages now. ]

As far as he knew, Ellie should be back home on Chandrila or at least close to at some Arceneau Trade Station in the Core. Sharing his location was fine, especially if it meant that the Trade Heiress could worry less. As far as he was concerned, the virus was turning out to be a headache in terms of delaying his schedule greatly. That and the gnawing fear of regressing into a skinny, cracking-voiced, clumsy teenage boy once again.

All this was being handled as he walked up from the tunnels,back inside the main area with the soaring ceilings.He had lost track of time by complaining to L3 the status of the quality of construction used. They had even come across a side emergency tunnel that had collapsed at one point - hard to tell considering how long the place sat empty over the years.

It was probably for the best, Makai didn't want to disturb Tass if he was one of those sleep-til-1PM type of guys.

Whistle came from the breakroom and he entered, setting that caf mug down. Iced topaz caught the maps spread out across the table, smelling of strong disinfectant and sealed tight in bags.

"Hey, you finally got to them."

The half-Galan approached, leaning over a map of Cadomai.

"Always wanted to go, far too cold for me to. Can't believe they've roped people into thinking its a tourist destination."

Tass Arceneau | Myra Arceneau Dashiell

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Tass Arceneau Makai Dashiell

“Delayed more than a week?!” Stormy grey eyes hardened into orbs of slate. The absurdity of the claim was enough to stir her ire.

“Just where is he at that he will need more than a week to make it to the trade station?” She asked with incredulity.

Contact with Arceneau Trade station has been quick; connection to the dark net had allowed the expedited messages to take priority. Thankfully the station had taken measure to quarantine and lock down any ships that had flown from the port city around the time of the outbreak. While there were no recorded instances of an outbreak on the station, the issue was trying to stop travelers from trying to make it into orbit towards the city. One cruise yacht carrying seniors even crashed as the passengers had overrun the control center to try and reach the infected.

It had taken another few hours before they could reach the port authority. A summary of that was laughable, as security was virtually non existent. For those seeking to relive their teenage years, this was the best opportunity to do it.

[Thirty Seven has confirmed the status of Mistrr Dashiell. He is situated at the recently purchased outpost and mines bought from the Authority and local clan. Last known coordinates are being transferred. ]

L3 manipulated the holo array to show the location of the outpost outside of the city limits.

[ It is confirmed that Mister Dashiell is safe and uninflected. Preliminary readings suggest that he is fully functional and unharmed. However, I do have curious information that a Tassander Arceneau is with him. He claims to be a distant Arceneau relative. ]

Myra brought her fingers up to pinch the bridge of her nose. Of all the…

“Send word to Salacia that we will pick up Makai. Get me what information you can find out about Tasander. Find a place to land near those coordinates Thirty-Seven gave us” her lips pursed then with a frustrated tapping of fingers, sent the following comm message to Makai.

(( Waiting more than a week is not option. ))

The comm message he’d sent relayed he was stuck planet side. But it was L3 that told her what was going on. She learned more from L3 than from Makai! Why was he deliberately hiding information from her?!

She did not power through two days of conferences, meetings, and the blantent attempts to get her drunk by a sleazy Pantorian to give up on extra day she managed to scrounge together on top of two days he’d promised her.

 

[Tass Arceneau]

"Always wanted to go, far too cold for me to. Can't believe they've roped people into thinking its a tourist destination."

"Nah, they're nice enough hotel complexes, you only go outside if you want — hoverski, hot springs, ice sculptures. The Snivvians put on some of the best art festivals in the known universe. They pull in artists from half a dozen sectors. I got some pictures last time, I'll show you. Anyway, yeah, Cadomai's not amazing but parts of it are pretty great."

He shuffled maps vigorously.

"Nathema, this one's shavvit, terrible food. Uh...oh here's one I haven't seen at all yet."

It wasn't a map so much as a schematic, depicting a huge ring-shaped structure, both in isometric view and in cross section.

"The Ring of the Rapture. Built around a black hole not too far from here."

Makai Dashiell Myra Arceneau Dashiell

 

[Makai Dashiell]

It wasn't the tourist-y parts of Cadomai he would want to see - save for the hot springs - but the caverns and subterranean systems themselves. That would mean venturing out into the freezing cold still, but he would keep the suggestion in mind. Granted it would be at the bottom of one things to visit, but still, it was nice of Tass to give him some insights.

"The Ring of the Rapture. Built around a black hole not too far from here."

"Never heard of it and I've lived out in the Tingel Arm most of my life. Do you know anything about it? If its built around a black hole I would assume it is some sort of power array?"

Comm buzzed in his pocket and he looked at his chrono at the message that popped up. Brows furrowed, wondering what had gotten under Ellie's skin now. Perhaps it was just the stress of the virus, mixed with missing their time together, mixed with both of them working too hard. He couldn't be sure as he fished out his comm for a reply.

(( Well, I have to wait on Salacia for my transport. Then take your cousin to where he needs to go, then back here to the ATC station and pray I can get in to do whatever you wanted me to do. A week is actually a stretch. Not ideal I'm aware. ))

Comm slid back into his pocket and he looked at the schematics once again.

"Wonder how they built it. Sections? I can't see how they would piecemeal it in place considering gravity concerns."

[ Sir, I've been given word your Salacia transport has been cancelled half-way to our location. ]

Makai raised an eyebrow and typed another message.

(( Make that two weeks, transport was cancelled. ))

"Looks like we're going to be best friends by the end of this Tass. Maybe we can't rely on getting a ride out of here...I'm not above liberating a vessel for personal use."

Tass Arceneau | Myra Arceneau Dashiell

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

(( Well, I have to wait on Salacia for my transport. Then take your cousin to where he needs to go, then back here to the ATC station and pray I can get in to do whatever you wanted me to do. A week is actually a stretch. Not ideal I'm aware. ))

(( Make that two weeks, transport was cancelled. ))

Myra's datapad gave two quick subsequent buzzes. Reviewing the message made the heiress take a deep breath.

Calm down. Breathe. In the past, she'd been quick to pop off imagining all sorts of situations, what-ifs, and maybes that all indicated that Makai was trying to ignore her. She had to constantly remind herself now that it wasn't the case.

He said he loves me. That he wants to be with me. That he wants to spend time with me. Myra told herself repeatedly, reminding herself that Makai had suggested moving in together to spend more time with each other. She also chose to reject that suggestion and ask for time.

Saffron had taught her that in order to manage the mine-filed arena of the business world, she would need to rein in her desires to say what first came to mind and instead take a breath before responding. Myra, after all, was her own worse enemy when it came to overdramatics.

Her first reply to Makai had been impulsive; she had been fraught with worry, exhausted, and had been trying to contact all applicable resources to locate Makai, only for him to skim over details and say it would be more than a week before he'd be able to see her. It struck her hard, and she couldn't help how she responded.

Musing it over now, she could have done better. Myra took another deep breath and a subsequent heavy exhale that made her cheeks puff out. Bearings acquired, she then sent the following message.

(( Yes, it was canceled. I told them to. I'm in orbit on Ammund. We are locating a suitable area to land with the Bha'lair Maw. Please assist L3 and provide us with coordinates. ))

She sent it. There was a pause, and then she added another message.

(( Surprise. I worked overtime to finish a day early. I missed you. ))

 

[Tass Arceneau]

"Never heard of it and I've lived out in the Tingel Arm most of my life. Do you know anything about it? If its built around a black hole I would assume it is some sort of power array?"

"Believe it or not, it's a temple. The whole thing hits hyperspace in a circle and the locals get hyperspace madness or whatever it's called, on purpose. I've never really had a problem looking at hyperspace but I've done a lot of traveling."

"Wonder how they built it. Sections? I can't see how they would piecemeal it in place considering gravity concerns."

"Now that, I've got no clue. Maybe...yeah, no."

"Looks like we're going to be best friends by the end of this Tass. Maybe we can't rely on getting a ride out of here...I'm not above liberating a vessel for personal use."

Makai's frequent and escalating device usage didn't faze Tass, who'd had a similar relationship with his datapad until an unfortunate incident with a pterodactyl nest.

"I mean, this is a nice setup, but I too am not above that kind of exit. I've never exactly stolen a ship but I've come close, I guess. If it gets me off this rock...wait, how long are we talking about?"

 

[Makai Dashiell]

"Yeah, I've been traveling in hyperspace for awhile now. Never gone mad from it. Maybe it's one of those power of suggestion things. Maybe cult activity. Not sure I want to get close enough to find out anytime soon."

He turned the schematics more towards himself, curious as how to the structure was actually put into place. Didn't have a burning desire to visit to find out though, seemed like it was asking for trouble.

Comm buzzed in his pocket and he looked at the messages. Surprise indeed. Makai hadn't expected to see her so soon.

(( We're in a valley. Plenty of space to land, just going to be in the rough. L3 should be sending coordinates now. ))

(( I've missed you too. Best kind of surprise possible, see you soon. ))

"Hey L3, send our coordinates to Ellie. Looks like she's orbiting the planet now."

Makai wasn't sure why L3 didn't transmit his coordinates sooner but no doubt the droid would have a snarky comment if asked.

[ Understood, transmitting now. ]

"Looks like we should be rescued in the next thirty minutes. Ellie...uh, Myra, is in orbit and looking to land."

Makai would never get used to having to call her Myra but there was absolutely no choice. It wasn't as if Tass could just assume who he was speaking about.

"I'm going to head out to greet her. Let's hope Queen Ringo doesn't want to act up."

Tass Arceneau | Myra Arceneau Dashiell

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

(( We're in a valley. Plenty of space to land, just going to be in the rough. L3 should be sending coordinates now. ))

(( I've missed you too. Best kind of surprise possible, see you soon. ))

[ Understood, transmitting now. ]

With the coordinates confirmed, it was a matter of getting planetside. The Bha'lair's Maw was a Pathfinder-Class exploration vessel designed to go for long excursions into unknown territory. This particular one had been outfitted for trade expansion into Otherspace. While not armed to the teeth like others in its class, it allowed for comfortable travel along the Tingel Arm and, should it be required, would allow enough supplies to last two and a half years. Its cargo hold allowed plenty of space for small freighters or shuttles if needed, and in this instance, a Sterope-class Shuttle.

Realizing the impracticality of her dress now, Myra switched to dark brown breeches and a white button-up top modestly buttoned. She swung a soft Crosh leather jacket, leaving it unzipped at the front. Nerf-hide calf-length boots finished the look. Practical and still stylish. Or, more aptly, it still looked good. Regardless of how weary she was and how much powder she used to try and hide the exhaustion from her eyes, she still wanted to look pretty for Makai.

From start to finish, the whole endeavor from departure from the Pathfinder class towards the coordinates was about twenty-five minutes. It took more time to find a suitable location to land. Finally, the shuttle landed on the clearing Tass and Makai had mentioned would be a good spot.

With a hiss, the exit ramp to the shuttle slid out, coming to rest on the ground with a quiet hum.

[ Mistress! We should finish our scans to ensure there is no chance of infection. Please do wait until they are complete! ] L3's voice could be heard, imperatively wailing in an attempt to hold Myra at bay.

It didn't work.

"Makai!" Myra called out as she stepped onto the ramp; the wind sent her mahogany hair flying. It didn't take long to spot him. He'd made his way from the mine to come to greet her. There, he stood tall and poised, a portrait of patient anticipation.

The weariness and anxiety of the whole ordeal the past two days seemed to melt away. A broad grin split the young woman's face, and she ran down the ramp. It was not the most becoming sight for an intergalactic conglomerate trade empire heiress. Still, it was evident that Myra did not care at this point.

No, her focus was simply on the dusty young man with a shaggy mop of dark hair, laughing ice-blue eyes, and a familiar little boy's smile slowly spreading across his lips.

Tass Arceneau Makai Dashiell

 

[Tass Arceneau]

Half an hour was a best-case scenario. It just barely, barely provided for Tass to pack his maps and saddle Her Majesty, who was growing restive.

As Makai Dashiell and Myra Arceneau Dashiell reunited, Cumolonimbus' Lady Grey HDK MBD NBSS, also known as Ringo, burst from the mineshaft in the fullness of her glory with a majestic RAWWWWWWWWK. Tass trailed uselessly.

"She thinks the shuttle's a rival matriarch!" he yelled above the screech.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Half-way through his reunion kiss with the Trade Heiress, an ear-splitting, yet majestic RAWWWWWWWWK came from the mineshaft. He reluctantly broke away from her lips, confusion written all over his face as Tass trailed behind looking lost. Tass yelled something about a rival Matriarch, and how the shuttle was apparently one. Could these pterosaurs not tell one another apart? No sense of smell or better yet, eyesight. Now Makai really was surprised he hadn't been eaten yet.

Mother Queen Ringo (ahem, her theme here) really,really did not like the shuttle Ellie had come in on. The ramp was still down as the vessel tried to pull away from the ground, struggling with an angry and hormonal overgrown lizard. L3-37 had been standing near the open ramp door, still bemoaning the fact that it was not safe and she should promptly remove her lips from Mister Dashiell. With all of his fussing, L3-37 had no time to brace himself, jostling around the open ramp until Queen Ringo smashed into the struggling shuttle hard.

[ MISTRESSS ARCENEAAUUU ] L3-37 screamed as he fell from the shuttle to about thirty feet onto the ground below, landing with a sharp thud.

[ How unfortunate. I imagine his servos are quite damaged. ]

Makai rolled his eyes, wanting to point out it was his droids split personality that had fallen out of the shuttle, so technically it was himself that had the unfortunate luck.

"37, go on and help yourself off the ground. See if we need to repair him."

He stepped back from Ellie just slightly but didn't move far, slipping an arm around her so they could stand side-by-side to watch the continued destruction of the shuttle, Queen Ringo screaming very loudly as she ripped a piece of durasteel off, flinging it into the tall grass of the valley. Hand rubbed her upper arm, giving a squeeze of comfort.

"On the bright side we're together."

Makai glanced over to Tass.

"Sorry about Queen Ringo....uh, the maps weren't on her saddle, were they? Cause if they were...your luck is horrible."

Tass Arceneau || Myra Arceneau Dashiell

 

[Myra Arceneau Dashiell]

Everything went to shit.

So much for a cut scene straight out of Outworlder, instead, it was one out of Mesozoic World .

"Oh no." Myra began, gasping. Both hands came up to cover her mouth in aghast, watching the burning fury of the shuttle and the wrath of Ringo as she grabbed another panel and flung it to the side. They were lucky that the shuttle had traveled on autopilot to lessen exposure to the crew of the Bha'lair's Mawl.

"Oh nono no, nono, no no no!." another sharp cry as L3 fell with a thud on the floor. Of course, Makai would think it hilarious. Meanwhile, L3's counterpart would sigh, then waddle down to try and inspect the damage.

"What the hell is that?" Myra yelped out, only to return her attention to the ship and cry out, "My shuttle!" She had just bought it too with her own credits. It was just about that time that Makai commented on the condition of maps. Sure, he also said at least they were together, but the type of together did not include being stranded on a mining outpost!

She wanted a comfortable bed, pajamas, hot cocoa, and watching the Great Bothan Bake Off. Not... not... this!

"Maps?! What about my shuttle!?" she gestured aghast as Empress Ringo flared her wings wide, threw her neck back, and then shot her beak forward to exclaim her superiority in a stretching squall.

At about that time, Tass Arceneau 's bright red hair caught Myra's attention. Okay, this one looked more like an Arceneau than she did. Wait, didn't L3 say he claimed to be her cousin?

Did he have something to do with the flying beast tearing up her shuttle?! Her eyes narrowed into a glower. Or better yet, will the bloody thing come and attack them instead?

 

[Tass Arceneau]

"Sorry about Queen Ringo....uh, the maps weren't on her saddle, were they? Cause if they were...your luck is horrible."

"Maps?! What about my shuttle!?"

Her eyes narrowed into a glower.

"The maps are safe! The maps are safe!" That was what mattered, right? Tass flinched as Her Majesty tore into the shuttle. "Hi," he said over the din. "I'm Tass Arceneau. You must be Makai's texting buddie Myrelli. Nice to meet—"

"RAAAAAWWWWWWK!"

"Alright, alright!" That sounded like a hungry rawk as much as a territorial one. Tass fished out some pterosaur treats and started attempting to lure Ringo away from the shuttle.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Seeing his words of positivity about at least being together had fallen on deaf ears, Makai decided to at least try to be helpful. Comm was removed from his pocket and a holo taken just as Queen Empress Ringo decided to throw her neck back and exclaim her superiority.

The holo would serve two purposes : one for insurance and two so the guys would believe him. There was no way anyone else would believe this otherwise. He certainly wouldn't.

"Maps?! What about my shuttle!?"

"I'm sure insurance will cover it. We will get you a new shuttle."

Makai watched as Tass tried to lure the creature away from the already badly damaged shuttle. It seemed futile in his opinion, given the beyond repair state it was now in. On the upside ; some salvage for Salacia, right at their doorstep.

Eyebrow raised as Tass held the treats at arms length and dance around the wreckage, trying to get the Matriarchs attention.

Gaze fell back on the shocked woman beside him, feeling bad for her. First, she looked exhausted from working so hard over the last few days. Then add on top the shuttle and the fact they wouldn't be able to sprawl out and watch Bothan Bake-Off like planned was no doubt crushing.

A loose plan of trying to convince her to spend time together was forming, although Makai could tell it was going to be one of those long game strategies.

"Is Tass really your cousin? He seems... different."