Uncommon Acts of Kindness

[Tirtus Vex]

This was not what Tritus had expected when he picked up the distress beacon. It was not often that people got stranded in space, usually because they were either killed when the crash happened or because they were picked up almost immediately. Nonetheless, Tritus followed the signal, and felt glad for once that he'd installed an additional seat in his clawcraft. As he approached the site, he turned on the ship's lights, and began searching the wreckage for any survivors.

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"Wha- No hold up. Stop, stop beeping!" Aboard the floating vessel a woman in an air tight space suit was screaming at one of the various consoles on her ship. Well, what was left. She had been attacked by pirates no less and barely got away to this random patch of space. Though, not before her ship began to fall apart. She was trying, and failing, to put the ship back together enough that she could at least make it to a nearby planet, any nearby planet.

It wasn't going well.

"You stupid piece of-! Why did I take you of all things damnit!" She was completely oblivious to [member="Tirtus Vex"] was floating his way over to her.

 

[Tirtus Vex]

The wreckage was extensive, literally torn apart. Carbon scoring on some bits of debris meant that the attack was fairly new, and matched other reports of pirates in the system. The searchlight darted left to right, scanning for any signs of life. With the about of damage done, it was a wonder that a signal had made it out at all, but whoever sent it could easily be floating away from the site. The flight suit Tritus wore was not suited to exploring the vacuum of space, so exploring was out of the question. Pressing a button on his console, he opened a channel on the comms.

"This Tritus Vex, if there's anyone still alive in the wreckage, please make your presence known. Setting message to repeat."

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"Kark kark Kark KARK KARK!" Asajj let loose a sling of Iridonian curses as she now began to just beat on the console before her. Which, as can be expected when electronics are smashed, fell apart. She roared angrily in her space suit before pushing away from the now broken machinery, glancing up to the stars. "Well, I suppose this is it huh. Ironic. I leave to prove myself and only get killed on the first day. Sorry Vaulk." The Dathomir closed her eyes, as if to sleep and let the cold vacuum of space eventually take her.

"This Tritus Vex, if there's anyone still alive in the wreckage, please make your presence known. Setting message to repeat."

She blinked her eyes open as the voice came through the com in her helmet. Frantically she began tapping at the datapad on her wrist. Her fingers felt numb. She must have fallen asleep for a while for the cold to start settling in like it was. In a shaky voice she began to respond, joy flooding her as she knew she was found.

"A.. Ah.. Yes! This is Asajj Novar, the pilot. I'm currently floating adrift. Can you find me?"

[member="Tirtus Vex"]

 

[Tirtus Vex]

After an hour, Tritus had resigned himself to the fact that there had been no apparent survivors of the crash, then suddenly his console beeped. A faint communication came through, coming from within the debris. That was pure luck, to survive something like this. But that didn't matter now, Tritus had someone to rescue.

"This is Tritus Vex, you're lucky to be alive. Do you have any idea where you are?" That was a difficult question, considering how far out they were, but it was either that or he scour the wreckage again.

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"That's uh. Ah, good question. Um. I can make a light. A heat signature. Can you zero in on a lightsaber?" It was a chance at least. Asajj was incredibly joyous to hear another voice. Perhaps she wasn't going to die here. Hastily she pulled the lightsaber hilt from her waist, fumbling for only a moment before lighting up the orange blade. "I uh, hope to see you soon [member="Tirtus Vex"] !"

 

[Tirtus Vex]

A heat signature would do, and if it were a lightsaber then it would be pretty easy to spot. Turning his ship around, Tritus started once again to search for the woman, who no doubt was losing oxygen at this point. His scanners picked up an energy spike, and then a study heat signature near the edge of the wreckage. That must've been his sole survivor.

"I've got you Miss, heading to your location now. Keep the lightsaber active if you can." With that, he sped towards her presumed location, hoping he wasn't too late.

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"Ah, good. I see you." Asajj was whispering now. She could feel the oxygen running out, giving her a rather lightheaded sensation. "If I do expire before you get here, can you let Vaulk know?" A shame she wouldn't be able to prove her strength to the man she idolized. Still, maybe she could, if [member="Tirtus Vex"] could make it to her in time. Her violet eyes slowly shut as the lights of his ship came into view.

Just maybe she could survive.

 

[Tirtus Vex]

The woman's voice was faint, even though her comm must've been right next to her mouth. She would die soon, and that would render Tritus' efforts useless. His ship stopped a few metres from the woman, and as the hatch opened, Tritus emerged wearing a flight suit and breath mask, a cable attached to the back of him. He had to be quick. Kicking off from the hatch, he quickly snagged Novar's spacesuit, before pulling himself and his newfound companion back aboard the ship and shutting the hatch. Tritus removed the woman's helmet and checked her pulse. Weak but there.

"Miss can you hear me? I'm going to take you somewhere safe."

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

Asajj curled up as she felt the artificial gravity, hugging herself for warmth. "Ah, yeah. I hear you. Thanks." She trailed off, still speaking in a whisper as her body continued to shake from the cold. Her violet eyes opened up to glance to [member="Tirtus Vex"] as she forced a smile. "Really, thank you." No doubt in her mind she was dead if he hand't picked her up when he did. Not that she felt all that lively at the moment. Her eyes closed again as a sudden urge to sleep came over her.

"Where you gonna take me?"

 

[Tirtus Vex]

Tritus lost focus for a moment as he looked at the woman. She was rather beautiful, though now was not the time for such thoughts. He seldom had such thoughts, often he was too busy to involve himself with such, however she seemed different. Climbing back into the pilot's seat, he brought up the navicomputer. There was a space station nearby, a short hyperspace jump away. And it was either that or take her back to where she came from, but that most likely wasn't what she'd want.

"There's a space station close to here, I'll take you there and wait until you recover. What were you doing out here?"

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"Got caught by some pirates on my way out." Her shaking wasn't as bad anymore. The warmth of [member="Tirtus Vex"] 's ship certainly helped to defrost her. She sat up, hugging her midsection as she sat in the seat next to him. It was now that Asajj finally noticed he was a Chiss, causing her to blink in surprise. She'd never actually met one before. "They uh, shot me down. I got away, but it tore apart my ship. A space station would definitely be a welcome sight compared to the vacuum of space."

 

[Tirtus Vex]

Looking back at the woman, he saw her confusion. The chiss were still a rare sight in the galaxy, even with the ever growing influence of factions. There was a reason for their absence though, isolation had kept them safe for a very long time, however maybe if more of them left the homeworld, the rest of galaxy wouldn't forget about them so easily.

"Where are my manners, I haven't introduced myself. Vexrium'tritus'hzebi, though most call me Tritus Vex. I didn't catch your name earlier."

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"Asajj. Asajj Novar. It's a pleasure..." She paused, thinking about making an attempt at [member="Tirtus Vex"] 's name before pushing the thought from her mind. The Dathomir was only gonna mess that up. "It's good to meet you Tritus. I remember your name from your announcement when you picked me up." She gave a kind smile. The man didn't have to help her, and certainly didn't have to take her to a space station. She was defiantly lucky.

"So.. What do you do?"

 

[Tirtus Vex]

"That is a good question. I guess I'm a mercenary, I go across the galaxy and help train militia forces in space combat. I was heading to one of those groups when I found you, some kind of lucky."

It had truly been a stroke of luck, considering he'd contemplated using a different hyperspace route a few hours earlier, only electing not to due to the presence of New Republic forces in the area. He was glad he had made that choice.

"What about you, what brings you out to this part of space?"

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"Heading to uh.." There was a pause as she just about said her intentions before knowing which side [member="Tirtus Vex"] was on. Her violet eyes glanced him over for a moment before Asajj continued. "Heading to Commenor to help against the Sith." It was certainly a risk if the Chiss Ascendancy was still allied with the Sith. They had been during the One Sith era, until their betrayal and eventual subjugation. Times changed far to much for her to know for fact though.

"Should be interesting to say the least."

 

[Tirtus Vex]

Fighting the Sith was a worthy goal, even if Tritus was still on the fence as to where he stood. He had fought against the New Republic once, under leadership of a woman who he considered tactically gifted, however that was different.

"Interesting is a word for it. Maybe I'll join you in that endeavour, could make for a good story." In the years since he'd left the Ascendancy, he had rarely been given the chance to fight a foe in proper combat, and he would lying if he said he didn't miss it. Maybe by helping this woman, he could find new purpose.

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"You'll do.. What?" Asajj blinked slowly at [member="Tirtus Vex"] as she heard her response. She was expecting either apathy or hostility, not assistance. The Dathomir couldn't stop a smile from forming as she glanced out the glass to the stars they passed. Idly she drummed her fingers on her chair, still shivering ever so faintly as the chill of the void still clung to her shoulders. Truthfully she wasn't sure what to say here. Should she discuss plans? Discuss what he'd do? No, not yet at least.

"I appreciate it. More then you know Tirtus."

 

[Tirtus Vex]

"You're welcome, I understand the need for trust, more than most people." After abandoning his home, he had felt an overwhelming sense of doubt and loneliness. Working with people once again would be a good way to reconnect with what made him feel whole, and perhaps he could find a new family among these still unfamiliar stars.

"What do you plan to do once you get to Commener?" Maybe he was prying a little too much now, but he liked to know if things were worth running into or not, he hadn't forgotten that part of himself just yet.

[member="Asajj Novar"]

 

[Asajj Novar]

"Fight the Sith till they get the message and leave." That was the extent of the woman's plans at this point. There was obviously more specifics, but there was still so much unknown to try planning outloud. Galaxy news certainly wouldn't cover all of what was happening on Commenor. Not if the Sith had anything to say about it. "Who were you going to train? If you don't mind me asking. I'm sure that sort of stuff is better left hushed huh." The Dathomir scratched at her head, laughing. "Maybe it's best we forget I asked that."