Out of the Sarlacc's Pit
Posted on Tue Jan 4th, 2022 @ 5:46am by Lieutenant Kor' de'leia & Lieutenant Melvyn Kosta & Flight Officer Tawshiikkyrr & Flight Officer Onyesonwu Zyd
Mission:
Scoundrels, Cuttthroats and Rogues
Location: Hyperspace
Timeline: Day 2 at 2010
The jump to hyperspace came suddenly and Melvyn had to catch himself on a wall as the stars blurred into white lines. It was hard to believe they had actually made it, after so many close calls over the past couple of days.
Not that they were out of the woods yet.
Alright, Melvyn, be positive for once. You're alive, and... and... well. You're alive.
That was pretty much it as far as the positives went. His cousin Elo was dead - or worse, alive and submitted to unspeakable torture. Rebel efforts on Nar Shaddaa had been partly undone, in no small part because of him. And he now found himself stuck on a rebel ship, with people who probably didn't trust him as far as they could throw him. Though, come to think of it, that wookie could actually toss Melvyn a fair distance.
"So, hum." He cleared his throat. "Where are we headed?" He directed his question at the young woman who had entered the navigation coordinates - and who, as far as he could tell, seemed to be calling the shots around here.
Onye glanced at the human – Melvyn? - then focused on him again in a double-take. She held up her arm to cover her nose with her sleeve. After their sojourn through the sewers, he and Tawshii, and that Twilek who'd run off to the gun turrets – stank. She assumed he was asking her the question instead of Tawshii because Melvyn didn't understand Shyriiwook. "We're headed for the Jaemus system. There's a ship reclamation center there. With a bit of luck, we'll find some parts for the Tobuk Chal Lanna. And if we're very lucky, we might find something more…" she raised an eyebrow and looked to Tawshii and Haro.
Tawshii's roar was earsplitting in that confined space of the Chal's cockpit, but it set the tone for Haro's quieter confirmation.
"He says wherever we want," the young man explained, a wry smile catching the edge of his mouth as he felt the inner satisfaction of knowing that, Imp or not, he currently was on home ground with the home team advantage. No matter what this Imp officer's game might be, Haro was confident Tawshii would win any dispute. "And that you owe him for the ride."
The wookiee followed up with a deeper growling sound which didn't really need much translation as emotion bled through the 'words' well enough. A gruff and freely expressed dissatisfaction. From the pilot's seat, the young man offered a child-friendly translated version of the request.
"And," Haro translated. "He says back-off out of here and go find a seat."
Find a seat ? He'd rather find a shower, a bed and a meal, in that order. But Melvyn didn't need to speak wookie to guess that the young man's translation must be somewhat edulcorated, and he held back a grimace. He generally preferred his limbs attached to his body, which meant he should probably his interactions with the wookie to a minimum.
The part about owing them for the ride was ominous though. He didn't know what sort of payback they expected but Melvyn had barely a credit to his name - the funds he'd squirreled away on a credit chip had all but been used up during his escape with Kor. And somehow he doubted that offering to cook and do the dishes was going to cut it.
At that Kor stuck her legs back out of the gunner access tube. The ragged remains of her former cocktail dress had hiked itself up to her hips, but she didn't pay much attention as getting to and from the guns and back into the main deck of the ship was a bit more important than concerning herself with her appearance. Besides, she had good legs, they could deal with it.
"Ya know you could let a girl know before ya just jump like that. I practically fell out of the turret. But good to be away in one piece." she called out rubbing one of her lekku, that she apparently bumped.
Tawshii chuckled demonstratively at the Twi'lek's complaining, well aware even from their short time together that Kor was more than capable of handling a rougher ride and an unexpected jump. In more ways than one, he expected.
She strode across the passenger compartment toward the crowded cockpit. She let out a slightly playful growl at Tawshii as she approached the group. "So what's all this I hear about you taking us to a junk yard?"
That return growl was friendly enough, and offered Kor a little extra information. Basically the Chal was desperate for some key (if minor) parts and Tawshii wasn't about to risk any further Imperial interaction until he'd at least tried to repair his ship.
Judging by the ship's appearance, a junkyard was where it had come from in the first place.
But that piece of junk had saved Melvyn's life so he couldn't well complain too much. He held back a sigh. Defecting wasn't all that it was made out to be.
"What kind of parts are you looking for?" he asked, wondering privately if he should ask to be dropped off somewhere. His odds of survival may be improved if he wasn't traveling in a ship falling to pieces manned by a wookie who had a history of punching him in the face.
Volume helped the translation as Tawshii didn't exactly answer Melvyn's question. GET OUT! Seemed a clear enough message as wookiee spittle from a turned head coated the man's face in accompaniment to a ripping roar and a show of teeth. Haro looked to the deck as he suppressed a smile, but his upward glance met Onye's as he glanced back up.
"We got this," Haro told Melvyn. "But you need to get out. When we come outta hyperspace into the junkyard, it'll be... busy. Lotta space debris." He wasn't about to give these strangers a blow by blow rundown on the state of the Chal's innards and Tawshii needed some time to calm down. "How bout I make you a hot drink?" He offered. "Maybe you want a shower? We have a little time."
Onye had been quietly appalled by the cheekiness of their guests. "Yes. Please," she chimed in. "All of you need a shower."
"I'm game!" Kor blurt out. "A shower sounds about perfect. Would you happen to have any spare clothes too? Mine are a little soiled." she stated her long fingers tracing her curvaceous torso.
"Yes, a shower sounds good," Melvyn agreed, unsurprised by Tawshii's hostility and keen to stay away from the big furry creature. No one liked a traitor - and wookies had better reasons than most to dislike Imperials, even when they had defected. "Spare clothes too, if any are available." He pointedly did not stare at the display of skin Kor was currently making. "And something to eat, if I'm not overstepping." His last real meal had been... shortly before his desperate escape, almost two days ago now. No wonder he was starving.
"I suppose I might have something that would fit you, Kor," said Onye reluctantly, looking the much taller twi'lek woman up and down. Her supply of clothing was both limited and practical. Kor probably wouldn't consider anything she had worthy of… being shredded. "Just go easy on the refresher, it's been acting up."
Ushering them out of the cockpit with an overt need to move swiftly, Haro followed Onye, Kor and Melvyn into the wider space beyond that access corridor. From here in the common ground that served as a working space, an entertaining space and somewhere for guests to simply sit safely while in transit, led shorter paths to staterooms, the engine room and the main airlock. Tawshii's grumbling followed them out and Haro exhaled once they were clear of that cockpit door seal.
"Wait here," he instructed Melvyn. "I'll get you something you can wear." Haro looked to Onye, checking the young woman had Kor's needs covered, while sliding his gaze over the Twi'lek unashamedly. Kor didn't seem to have any issue with eyes on her slinky and very voluptuous form and it was, Haro considered, going to be a shame to not see so much of it.
"Wait here, okay?" He reminded their Imp passenger. "I'll be right back."
Kor followed the pair back into the passenger lounge. She wasn't piloting the ship, so there wasn't much use for her in the cockpit anyways. She liked the relatively safe feeling she got from being in hyperspace. The wookie was a rebel, so chances were that this could work out in her favor, and that was good enough considering how the last two days had gone. She noticed the young human noticing her. she gave him a little smile and flashed her violet eyes at him. That should get his hormones pumping.
"So who gets to get cleaned off first... or are we saving water." she said with a wink.
Haro walked back into the common space to be greeted by that apparent invitation from the Twi'lek rebel. He held a pair of olive green cargo trousers and a dark grey shirt, both loose enough to fit himself or Melvyn, and he handed them over to the Imp by way of temporarily ignoring Kor's teasing words.
"Here you go," Haro said, giving Melvyn a look so as to not have to stare too long in other directions.
"Thanks," Melvyn said as he took the clothes. They looked clean and roughly his size, and it would be a relief to get out of his torn, burnt, stinky uniform. He tried to ignore Kor's antics - he'd already seen her nearly naked before - but the twi'lek was not making it easy.
The attention of every male – obvious and discreet - on Kor's display of partial nudity amused Onye, especially Haro's reaction. "Haro needs a shower too, if you share with him he can show you how to operate the controls." She gave her crewmate a sly smile and signed, have fun. To Melvyn, she said, "The galley is fully stocked. I'd steer clear of the roasted porg, though. That is a favorite of Tawshii's."
Haro gave Onye a look that blatantly said 'Seriously?!!' without any need for actual words.
Amused despite himself by Kor and Onye's teasing of Haro, Melvyn bit back a snort. He was probably the least popular member of this ragtag crew and he didn't put it past the wookie to toss him out of the ship - without a space suit - so it was preferable not to bring any attention to himself.
"I'll make enough for everyone, in case anyone is hungry", he offered, keen to make himself useful.
Kor slinked up very close to Onye, looking down into her eyes. "Ya know, there's room for three if you like. Well there is probably room, if not there's a lot of soap. It'll be fun." she said giving the human a devilish smile.
Onye snorted and pulled the front of her shirt up from beneath her coveralls to defend her nose. "I haven't been rolling in Nar Shaddaa's sewers, or cleaning out the 'Chal's external vents. You all stink." Besides, Kor wasn't her type and Haro was practically her sibling.
He couldn't lie, internally, all he could currently think about was just exactly - like every tiny detail of such - a shower with Kor would actually play out. Wet Twi'lek. Wet soapy Twi'lek.... Yeah... That was definitely going to keep him awake at night in a really good way. But, she was joking, right? And the thought of Onye, his adoptive sister, being in the mix was an easy route back to normality and simple celibacy for the most part.
"I can show you how to work the shower, Kor," Haro said, with a small smile. "Though I'm sure you could figure that out without me." Then a more impish grin threatened to commandeer his features as he indicated the direction of said washroom. "If you need any assistance though, please, just call out my name." Even imagining that scenario was making Haro a few degrees warmer.
Shirt and hand still covering her nose, Onye hurried to her bunk to find something Kor could wear, though from the way the twi'lek was offering open invitations to her shower, Kor might not need clothes for the duration of the journey. After two years surviving on Nar Shaddaa, Onye could not imagine propositioning a stranger - especially multiple at the same time – even if Kor was only teasing.
The Twil'lek brushed a lekku back over her shoulder and gave Haro a devilish grin. "With any luck, I'll be calling it out a bunch before this trip is done." She turned toward the washroom rolling her eyes a little once she was out of view.
The boy was turning a little red. He was not out of trouble if they were going to be cooped up on this ship all together, with how promiscuous Kor liked to be - or at least, liked to appear.
"Well, let me know when the shower's available," Melvyn said. "I'll be in the galley. Unless you'd like to make room for me," he raised an eyebrow at Kor, his natural playfulness winning over his desire to keep to himself.
Kor looked back at Melvyn. "There's always room, if you do backs well." she said with a wink. While most of the crew kept their distance from the Imperial officer, she wanted them to know that she trusted Melvyn.. mostly. Besides, she could kill him easily even in the shower if she wanted.
Melvyn smiled at Kor and it was barely even strained. Out of all the crew, she was the only one who treated him more or less normally. Not that he expected to be welcomed with open arms by the others, but it was nice nonetheless.
"As appealing as the notion is, I think I'll fix some food first. But don't take all the hot water."
The thought of sharing Kor's shower lost a lot of its appeal at the open invite for the Imperial officer, and Haro took a step back, thinking with his right brain now. She really wanted to take them both into the bathroom? Was the Twi'lek that promiscuous, was she making a point or was this all an act? Remained to be seen, but now the young man was distracted from that initially tempting offer, he looked to Onye and rolled his eyes. Fingers signed - sorry, I was stupid! - to his adoptive sister.
You aren't stupid, Onye signed back to Haro with a full-body smirk. Just... human.
Kor was looking around the washroom for a towel, when she heard someone open the door. Maybe one of the crew had built up the courage and audacity to join her. So much for any chance of 'alone time'. She sighed briefly then replaced the annoyed look on her face with a seductive smile as the door swung open to reveal... the mechanic girl Lonely or whatever her name was.
Onye returned and handed a bundle to Kor. Most of her clothing was too small for the Twi'lek, but she'd found pajama shorts, a tee shirt, and a wrap-around skirt she'd never worn that might fit. "Some clothing if you decide to wear some."
Kor held up the bundle of clothing, looking at each piece. Not really the quality she preferred, but it certainly looked comfortable, and would show a lot of leg. "These should be adequate. Thank you." she said. She arched an eyebrow at the young woman. "You don't happen to have any perfume or oils, not sure a shower will completely get eh smell of Nar Shadda off me.
She regarded the other woman thoughtfully. Despite all those seductive invitations, the twi'lek was in the refresher about to take a shower alone. Kor was difficult to read, adept at controlling her unconscious body language. Whilst Onye did possess a small bottle of very dear hair oil she used to prevent her fine curls from drying out, she wasn't about to hand that over to the hairless twi'lek. In the language of lies she answered drily, "We may be able to spare some servo lubricant, and of course there is cooking oil in the galley."
Kor looked at the young woman thoughtfully and laughed. "I think I will just scrub harder and hope for the best." Kor was accustom enough to lying, habitually, that she could sense it in others. She considered it was probably good for the Galaxy more beings weren't like her. She gave a slightly envious smile to the young woman.
Onye turned to leave, but hesitated at the door. She both signed and spoke, for emphasis and to convey truth. "You are our ally, Kor. Regardless of who you shower with or whose bunk you share, you are safe on the Tobuk Chal Lanna." Before she closed the door gently behind her she added, "Well, as safe as any of us are from the Imperials."
"I had best be getting to cleaning myself up. You are of course welcome to stay." she told Onye, sliding the filthy shredded remains of her once elegant dress off her shoulder, allowing the entire outfit to drop to her waist, where she needed to ease it down from her well rounded hips. She stepped clear of the rags lightly nudging them off to the side of the washroom with her toe.
She looked back to see if Onye had remained, before stepping into the shower and letting the stream of water spray across her shoulders. Her eyes closed gently feeling the sensation of the water trailing across her body.
Her leg was still tender from where the bacta had stitched it back together. Her mind wandered to the trauma of the last few days. The smell of seedy cantina, the explosion of blaster bolts dancing about her, her ship spinning out of control, a stormtrooper's surprise as she slit his throat. The feel of blood flowing over her fingers as her knife opened deep gashes in another trooper. The stench of the Narshadda sewers as they sped from one ambush into another.
She silently caressed her lekku as the water warmed up. She let her knees slowly bend until she was sitting on the floor of the shower, the hot water spattering against her head and chest. She wrapped her arms around her knees. And wept.
