Private You Again?

[Phineas Karr]

"Phin, you still need a job? I need a ship and pilot. This holochip is pointin' to the Outer rim. And well, I kinda sorta put in a leave of absence with the squad. Reckon you might be interested in taggin' along?"

"You've been rich this entire time and haven't told me? Cause otherwise Honey you can't afford to hire me."

Not that he would take her money. Realistically, they needed food and fuel. He had some credits but he wasn't going to waste them all on some crazy hunt to find her family. A bit rude to think, but there were public transports or borrowing her Galactic Alliance service vessel if that was the case. He was trying to build up to something on a short timeframe. Naomi was putting a wrench into those plans.

Naomi Carolina

 

[Naomi Carolina]

"I reckon by the looks of this place I probably could," her gaze slowly slid around his rig and then settled back on his annoying smirk. "No offense, Ferb," she said beneath her breath as she took another sip of tea.

"C'mon. You ain't gotta pretend. You mean to tell me you're seriously happy here? Playing security in Alliance space. Haven't you ever wanted to get out into the wider 'verse?"

Then her shoulder slumped as she drew her knees up to her chest. Too large jacketed arms encircled around her knees.

"I just don't wanna do this alone, Phinny." Chin rested on her propped-up knees as she looked at him. Just another girl who had to grow up too fast in 'verse run by greedy folk wanting to control real estate. "Can you give me at least 'til morning to see if I can scrounge enough credits to get us started?"

 

[Phineas Karr]

"Why do you think I'm here working casino security? So I can see the 'verse and be my own man. The 'verse doesn't come free and it sure doesn't care about folk like you and me."

Unlike Naomi Carolina , Phineas had no desire to find his family. Different circumstances, of course, but he didn't see the overall need to find them. It occurred to him that these folks Naomi was trying to find might as well be dead for all they knew. Wasn't going to tell her that though. That was just being an ass.

"No need to be sad and dramatic. I have credits to at least get us started."

If he guessed, enough for about two months. He was a simple man and ate at the same gulk stall and had the same protein shake every day. His costs had been minimal so far. In his original plans, Phin was expecting to wrap up his work at the casino in the next six months and start his dream. Looked like that dream was on hold now.

"Come on, start the ship and lets go."

 

[Naomi Carolina]

"No need to be sad and dramatic. I have credits to at least get us started."

The red-headed squad leader was out of that hammock and across the small distance between them faster than a crack o'lightning. She went to slam into Phinny, arms flung haphazardly around his neck. Her hug tighter than a Nabooian bear.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou."

The girl beamed as brightly as the top level of coruscant city scape at night. And she planted a big ol' lipstick kiss on his cheek before releasing him and stepping back. Her lips leaving a bright swathy-splash behind on his pale colored cheek. That color he so wanted to wipe off her face when he first saw her earlier that night.

"I swear I'll get you some credits, one way or another," Naomi earnestly promised, a resolute look in her eyes. "Fly now?" Red-brows shot up. "I need to message Grits to meet us here." Her droid would bring her bag, too. The one she'd left with it for safe keeping. She hadn't even gotten a room. Just gotten a one-way ticket on a public transport, figuring she'd get the next steps after her meeting with the broker.

"Plus I ain't wanna get you in trouble. Do you need to give the casino notice?" Naomi took out her comm and fired off a message to Grits. Then she sent one to Judah Dashiell. A quick check-in. She'd been sending him weekly updates. And every now and then he'd send her an update on how her younger brothers were doin.' It was hard for her to type the next message. She never accepted hand-outs from no-one. Weren't her style. She believed in workin' for everything but well, she recognized what Phinny was doin' for her. And she could get over her own pride to ask for help. Specially if it was for family.

'Judah, it's Naomi. I know it's a bit earlier than my usual check-in. Got a possible lead on Ma and my other brother and I'm gonna follow it. Leaving Alliance for a bit and headed to the Outer Rim. Don't worry your feathers, I'm goin' with a friend. You reckon I could get some credits in my account? Or you got any leads on any jobs out that way?'

 

[Phineas Karr]

"No need to thank me."

Phin wiped his cheek off, feeling the tips of his ears burning red, embarrassed. He didn't expect Naomi Carolina to have such a reaction to his offer. Again, it was against his better judgement but what could he do? It would be like kicking an orphan when they were down. Despite what others thought, he did have a moral compass, it was just aligned to his own personal code.

Either way.

"I can just message them, don't feel like going back. I'm sure I won't be going back either day.You can do what you want, I just wanted to lie down in my master bedroom. Fly. Wait. Its all on you. Wake me up if I have to do something."

The redhead indicated to his hammock. Shoes slipped off and he grabbed a blanket, easing himself in and placing the fabric over himself. Arm came up to shield his eyes from the lights Naomi was using, but he had slept in far worse conditions. Pretty soon, he would be knocked out cold, still half in his casino work uniform.

Late that evening, Naomi would find some credits in her account and a note to 'be safe' from her benefactor cousin.

 

[Naomi Carolina]

Her pebbledrone, Grits came warbling up with her bag of clothing and other small odds and ends Naomi grabbed before leaving the Misfit base. As Phinny was sleeping, Naomi quickly changed out of the dress and put on some more sensible clothes, though she kept Phinny's oversized jacket on. With exhaustion shredding the last bits of energy she had, she took to the second hammock after shutting off the ship's lighting.

"Thank you," she whispered again, looking across the short distance to where her fellow redhead snoozed in a deep sleep.

Then her own blue-green eyes would flutter closed.

Hope that she hadn't felt in a long time bloomed in her chest and she clung to it tighter than a womprat on a tunnel swoop.

The next morning, she was up before Phinny. As quiet as she could, she scrounged around the ship's cabin and found two packets of insta-porridge. Making both, she set one aside for Phinny and began munching on the other as she tiptoed into the cockpit, warming up the controls of his ship. The glow of her comm lit of her face like those slot machines last night and she smiled, seeing Uncle Judah's message.

They'd have enough to get started.

Grits warbled at Ferb. Naomi rolled her eyes and half-turned, putting a finger to her lips in a SHHHH motion.

 

[Phineas Karr]

Ferb, naturally, did not understand. He immediately started a series of chirps and beeps, quickly inquiring what the body language was that Naomi Carolina wanted to convey. After all, he was not a protocol droid. Sentient subtleties were not his strong suit, although Ferb was never opposed to trying to interpret. Normally for the worse.

Which of course woke up Phinn. He grumbled, still in those work uniform pants and undershirt. Eyes slowly opened and realized he wasn't alone. Eyes widened and he didn't have to look far to see Naomi standing in his ship. In the morning. Making breakfast. Eyes widened even more, alarmed, before realizing he had agreed to help her out.

Still wasn't sure why he did that. Probably because she looked on the verge of tears about this family of hers. Just because he was cynical about his own didn't mean he had to rain on everyone else's parade. Maybe after he did this one kindness he could slink back off into the galaxy at large and start doing what he intended. One last 'assignment' as it was.

"Oh...right...uh, good morning?"

Red hair stuck up in all directions and he tried to smoothly get out of the hammock, stocking feet meeting the cold durasteel flooring. Hand ran through, trying to fix his hair as he shuffled off to the refresher. Again, didn't have to go far. By the time he emerged a short time later, his hair was brushed and his face freshly shaved, so he at least didn't look like a total bum.

"....so what is our first stop?"

 

[Naomi Carolina]

Naomi offered Phinny an apologetic look.

"See what you did, Grits? Now hush." Her pebbledrone gave a bemoaning sounding warble but did quiet down. "You too, Ferb." Naomi stuffed another spoonful of porridge in her mouth. It was maple flavored...one of her favorites.

Fingers began punching in coordinates. The girl was energetic even though a slice of worry refused to give up its talons in her flesh. Nose picked up on the smell of something musty with a hint of spice akin to cinnamon. Reminded her of the suds her Pa used after he took a refresher. That was when they had enough credits for hot steam.

"Ogem," she called over her shoulder. It wasn't OuterRim but it was close enough. And while she didn't enjoy the idea of galloping off to Sith space, she liked the idea of not finding her Ma and brother even more. 'Sides, wasn't like they were going as official Alliance members. Hopefully, they hadn't made so much of a name for themselves with Misfits that they'd be able to slide on by those Sith checkpoints.

Even if they got to Ogem. That planet was more backwards than a wampa livin' on Tatooine. They had a patriarchy society and from what Naomi had read up on, females just didn't have the same rights as men. She was gonna have to rely on Phinny to do most of the talkin' with the local folk.

"Made you some porridge," she called as the ship's engines rumbled to life beneath them and the ship began to rise from the hangar.

 

[Phineas Karr]

"Ogem? Never heard of it."

Being from Koboth way, way in the Tingel Arm he didn't know much of the planets and culture in this area. Needed to know something about the Tingel Arm and Wild Space? He was on it. Word from a former buddy in the S-Corps stated their were several governments popping up around Koboth. Depending on when they got finished with this little jaunt, it looked like he may be called back up for sector defense. Of course he would answer that call if it came.

"Oh. Thanks."

Grabbing the porridge container, Phin sat down in the co-pilots chair as Naomi Carolina navigated from the pilots position. He frowned and crinkled his nose at the breakfast. It wasn't his favorite in the slightest but it was cheap and didn't require much in the way of cookery or heating to eat. A bonus on their little shoebox. Grudgingly he put a spoonful into his mouth, struggling to swallow. As an orphan, he wasn't picky about food, and would eat it despite his displeasure.

A small cough as he forced down another spoonful.

"Not to sound rude but you ever think about putting feelers out around slavers? All these wars disrupting folks make traffickin' easy."

 

[Naomi Carolina]

"Yeah," she glanced over at him briefly, then her attention went back to flying. Clearance checks were passed and she moved them up the atmosphere. A glance out the viewport at the Casino world below. All those flashing lights even during the day.

"Wouldya look at that? Reckon that's a rare site."

Setting in their hyperspace coordinates, she focused on the controls and lit-up panel before her. Sure, she was an ace pilot but always took her a few times to get used to flyin' a new ship.

"There are so many slaver groups and pirates out there. Ain't sure where I'd even start." Eyes that looked more green with flecks of lighter blue in the lighting of the ship settled back on Phinny. "You got any contacts or ideas?" She had to wonder if the lead she'd gotten would end up leading to a slaver's market. She wouldn't put it past the sith for doin' that.

 

[Phineas Karr]

Phin choked down the rest of the porridge at a quick pace as they rose into the atmosphere. He had already messaged the casino while he was in the refresher. Nothing else tying him to the planet, he was drifting out on his own again. Not an unusual feeling for himself. At least this time he wasn't drifting off alone. It was a bigger mission, an assignment for Naomi Carolina to find her mother and brother. For her sake, he truly hoped the pair wasn't deceased.

"I don't know anyone in the Core. Just the Tingel Arm."

As for ideas, he had lots of those. Good or bad though, he wasn't sure. Phineas had never been in this type of position. He had been on raids and busted down doors for the government but never in the intelligence portion of the operation. Just the brute strength. Double checking the navicomputer, he finally spoke.

"Not sure. Maybe, if we find out they are slaves, we can pose as two people who work for a slaver or gang. Say they ran away from our operation and we need 'em back and are willing to pay. Of course we don't have those types of credits but this is me just spitballing. Or....we start getting the word out around refugee camps. Post on their bulletin boards."

 

[Naomi Carolina]

"Ain't been to the Tingel Arm much," she admitted. As Phinny confirmed the coordinates and they were clear, she punched them into hyperspace. The pinpricks of stars outside elongated into the hyperspace highway. Naomi was a bundle of nerves and hope.

Sometimes it was hard to hope.

'Specially when it could so easily be dashed. Since she'd been hoping since her own escape off Barkhesh that she'd see the other half of her family again. After nothing for so long...with this lead? It sparked that hope back to life in her chest.

"You've got some golden ideas, Phinny," she said as she swiveled her chair and stood.

Autopilot would keep them on course until they dropped for the next jump.

"You think we could pull off posin' for another slaver or gang group? Maybe we could be the Crimson Tide. Maybe the word crimson is too on the credits," standing she motioned from his head of red hair to her own and made her way back down into the small kitchen area.

She took another bite of maple porridge, licking the spoon clean. Back propped against the bulkhead as she faced Phinny. A roll of her shoulders as if she carried the weight of the 'verse on 'em.

"Y'know. We also need to find somethin' for zeltrons. Pretty sure I have an allergy or something to 'em."

 

[Phineas Karr]

"You've got some golden ideas, Phinny," she said as she swiveled her chair and stood.

"Not really."

Phineas stayed seated. There wasn't much room for two people to move around for no reason. He had finished his horrible porridge. Face was clean and shaven, his clothes were...mostly fine. Now it was just keeping himself entertained on the trip. Phineas was used to scrolling through the holonet or reading or cleaning something for long stretches in space. Thing was, he wasn't sure if Naomi Carolina needed constant attention.

Given her personality, probably.

"You think we could pull off posin' for another slaver or gang group? Maybe we could be the Crimson Tide. Maybe the word crimson is too on the credits," standing she motioned from his head of red hair to her own and made her way back down into the small kitchen area.

"That's too easy to search. If we're going to pose as anything, we say we work for one person. Like...oh, we work for Archduke Chiouh and pick some bumfuck planet no one even cares about in wild space or near Chiss space. Harder to cross-reference on the fly. Sounds believable too, at least in my opinion."

Shoulders shrugged, as if to say, I'm not an expert.

"Zeltrons are the least of our worries. I'm more concerned what we are doing once we get to this planet...Ogum?"

 

[Naomi Carolina]

"You tweren't the one in some hellfirescape of a compliant prison that needed help getting back to a ship." Naomi huffed and raised two rusty brows in his direction. It may not be their first worry but it was a big worry on Naomi's list. The young ace pilot didn't like that feeling of being out of control. Scared her right down to her bones. And she wasn't too keen on repeating that experience.

What if Phinny wasn't around?

"Yeah, Ogum," she sighed and turned, beginning to heat up some hot water. She had a hankering for tea. She was still freezing and it did somethin' to soothe the nerves. "Backward arsed planet middle of sith space. They believe females take a back seat to everything. Males rule it all. Females aren't even supposed to speak unless invited by a male to do so. It'll be tricky but I 'suppose you'll be fired up to use that charm of yours. I mean, you ain't think the sith will recognize us or anything? Not like we were that high up on the Alliance rosters."

 

[Phineas Karr]

Phineas blinked at the description of the planet. He wasn't completely sure Naomi Carolina was going to be able to keep her mouth shut and let him do the talking. To be fair, he wasn't even sure what he was going to be doing the talking about. Maybe the other redhead would fill him in and guide him in what to day and do once they got on this planet. Or on the way there.

"Tricky for you maybe. I'm the male, I'll be allowed to talk and continue on as normal. You're the one going to have to stay silent which is...which is frankly impossible."

As for the Sith, his shoulders shrugged.

"No one cares about an orphan. Nor do they care about some teenage girl. We're not Jedi. We weren't even enlisted, or at least I wasn't. I doubt anyone will blink or even look in our direction. Well, maybe mine because I'm just so damned handsome. Other than my adoring female and male followers who bask in my beauty...we should fly quietly under the radar."

 

[Naomi Carolina]

She scowled at him, sticking her tongue out. "Was that why you were so worried last night? Wasn't talking like my usual self." Then a bold wink in his direction and a flick of her crimson hair behind one of her slender shoulders. What he said did make her feel better. He was right. About no one would care about them.

Sure, she was a squad leader.

But she doubted the sith knew. And she agreed that they wouldn't care about some civie corps leader.

Once the water was heated, she began pouring it into a mug, turning around to swipe a tea bag from the shelf before plopping it into the steaming water.

She snorted at his comment.

"Yes, all those women and men folk clambering to get a peck from those lips of yours. I just dunno how I've made it this long survivin' without your lips on my own. Probably taste like hot honey and the devil himself." She harumphed and turned back around, blowing that steam lightly away from the rim of her mug.

There was a small beep from the cockpit. A warning that they'd be exiting hyperspace soon. "What were you doing at the casino anyway? Savin' up to start your own companion business?" Rusty brows wiggled pointedly in his direction.

 

[Phineas Karr]

"Yes, all those women and men folk clambering to get a peck from those lips of yours. I just dunno how I've made it this long survivin' without your lips on my own. Probably taste like hot honey and the devil himself." She harumphed and turned back around, blowing that steam lightly away from the rim of her mug.

There was a small beep from the cockpit. A warning that they'd be exiting hyperspace soon. "What were you doing at the casino anyway? Savin' up to start your own companion business?" Rusty brows wiggled pointedly in his direction.

Figuring it was an easy going moment, Phineas set about making himself a cup of instant caf since Naomi Carolina had hot water going for her tea. He listened to her teasing as he poured the powder into the mug and stirred it around. It wasn't his favorite but it was far better than the porridge she prepared that morning. It wasn't the taste, more the fact he had to eat it every day as a youngster for breakfast in the orphanage. If he never saw porridge again it would be too soon.

"You've been kissin' the devil?"

A frown in her direction as he took a sip of black caf. He couldn't figure out Naomi. Not that they had spent a lot of time together alone. It had always been in the squadron groups. This was an interesting side of her. He slid back into the co-pilots chair as she continued to harass him.

"You couldn't afford me honey."

He debated on telling her. He wasn't sure how she would take the news and Phineas wasn't in the mood for Naomi to be shitting on his ideas. He was still a little upset they were now quite delayed, even though logically he knew helping her was important. This was bigger than him.

"My own security firm. Bodyguard work, consulting. That sort of thing."

 

[Naomi Carolina]

"You couldn't afford me honey."

She felt her pale, freckled cheeks betray her as heat crept into them. Eyes dropped to the steam lifting out of her cup as she shifted uncomfortably. She wished she had a quip primed on her tongue but felt herself falling horribly flat as she became self-conscious.

At least he responded to her other question seriously.

Taking a sip of tea, she wandered back to the cockpit and slid into the seat next to him.

"I recon you'd be good at that, Phin." There was no questioning her serious tone. She wasn't joking. "What sparked your interest in that line of work?"

Out of all the 'verse had to offer, she was curious. Was it something he just saw as a good way to make credits? Or was it a passion of his, too? She set her tea down as the warning light in the cockpit signaled they'd be dropping out of hyperspace in the next few moments and into sith space.

 

[Phineas Karr]

"What sparked your interest in that line of work?"

"Just credits. Nothing profound or life altering."

Phineas wasn't stupid, he wasn't going to get anywhere without putting in some serious work. He had done hours of research and body guard work paid well, especially if he took high paying assignments. Those were normally dangerous but it wasn't like anyone was waiting at home for him besides Ferb should something go sideways.

Black caf was set down as the warning lights came on and he assumed position as co-pilot. They dropped out of hyperspace and....nothing. Still, he tossed up a little more power to the shields and focused heavily on trying to looking through all the onboard sensors. If they were about to get blown out of the sky he wanted to know.

"What about you? Going back to the Squadron after this or spending time with your family? I can't really see you going back if we find your Ma or something. You'll probably settle down close to her or something. Girls seem to do that."

 

[Naomi Carolina]

"I dunno. Recon I'll make decisions like that when the time comes." Setting her tea carefully done, she eased her hands on the controls. "Don't think I could give up flyin.' Just what I love." A one-shouldered shrug at him as she flew them closer to that planet.

A voice crackled over their comms, asking for their flight ID. She sent over the ship's info as the viewport began to fill with the planet's terrain. There were a few major cities. But most of the planet was covered in jungles and caves. "The information broker said we should try and find the Blue Sun group. Rumors are her facial scan was seen a few months ago. I just hope..." a glance in Phinny's direction as her stomach churned.

It was a dangerous thing to believe in hope.

She didn't finish the sentence and instead set her jaw, young freckled-face tense as she took them to land in one of the major space ports.