Open Space and Hyperspace

While Erly carried out her orders Adrien walked to the garbage disposal unit and opened the door, then closed it without actually throwing anything in. Then he walked to the cargo hold refresher to quickly wash himself off in the sink and gather himself enough to function properly as captain. He turned on the water and took his gloves off, shoved them in his coat pocket then let the water run into his cupped hands. He just stared at the water now flowing over his thumbs and down into the drain, it was rather peaceful actually. After a few minutes had gone by he splashed the water in his face and rubbed his eyes, which were still red and slightly puffy, ran his fingers through his hair, slicking it back before it fell down toward the sink again, and he did his best to wash all the blood off his face. He repeated this several times before he shut off the water, took a deep breath and stared at himself in the mirror. Again a few minutes passed and he knew that he was about as collected as he could be at this particular moment and he walked back out and back over to Erly just in time for her to ask him a question.

Natural lie detectors? Adrien would remember that. Adrien was a rather talented liar himself so this little revelation didn't really bother him. "Then don't lie." He said directly, not his usual cocky self for obvious reasons. "If they ask just say that she's been taken care of and not to worry about it." It wasn't perfect but it wasn't a lie, "And if they push for more say 'something had to be done with her so what do you think?' and then let them imagine their own answer." His plan was to dump the trash before they jump again and let them conclude that as their explanation.

"Come on," he said as he turned to head out of the cargo hold, "Silas said they needed me on the bridge." He walked out of the hold and past the med bay, glancing in for a moment to see who was in there and noticed a stunning redhead who happened to be baring it all for some reason. It was only a quick glance as he passed of course, and he naturally assumed that she was just one of the rescued slaves.

As he rounded the corner, walking in tandem with Erly heading for the common area he glanced down at her thoughtfully, only for a moment and then returned his eyes forward, "Did you get a head count on how many slaves were rescued?" He wanted to know for multiple reasons of course, not the least of which was that he wanted to know how many lives he had traded Connie's life for, "I need to know how much food I'm going to have to replenish and it will help me pick a place to offload them."

I'm not really big on eavesdropping, so usually I tune down my hearing, an ability I know more by instinct rather than a conscious knowledge on how it works. The problem with not knowing how to control my gifts and powers is that when I'm tired, worn and on edge...like right now, I can forget to do certain things, or just accidentally lose control of everything, which is how, despite my distance and their volume, I could hear the Captain and his conversation with Erly. I'm just about to get up, now that I've finished with the Wookie, to talk to them about something I should have remembered right away, when...


"Huh?" I get distracted by the query, because I'm a little surprised by the form of the question when I remember that he couldn't have heard them coming the way I did. And I'm about to answer him when he notices them himself.



Yeah...no wait! I practically fly off the ground for a second, when I remember myself and land again, but not before catching a sight of Trent. Did his heartbeat just accelerate a little bit more? Is he scared? Excited? What's wrong? I mentally shake my head and remind myself to stay focused. I put a hand out to sort of stop Trent, but it's like a little too late, as he speaks, then I give a momentary pause for Adrien to respond, before I say what I should have mentioned earlier. It's more than likely he doesn't know about the Sunflower.

"Excuse me, sir..." I say, "...I'm sorry, but I couldn't help overhearing you just now, when you asked Ms. Ryzer about doing a head count, and how much food you might need..."

I interlace my fingers with one another, looking down at them, before looking up (he's freaking tall! Compared to me, that is) to him in the eye, "...well, if you need, I've got a Corona-class Unarmed Frigate, called the Sunflower. Right now, I have it following us at a distance of ten lightyears behind. It's fully stocked, and capable of sustaining your ship as well as all the passengers aboard most comfortably. There's a much better medical facility, provisions, and a center for operations. I'm sorry I didn't bring it up sooner, kind of forgot about it in all the excitement."

I give him my most apologetic look, and my best puppy-dog eyes, as well as a hopeful expression. It's just that given all that's happened, I want to make things better, as much as I can.

Much to Adrien's surprise he was met halfway to the cockpit by the pilot who had apparently become impatient waiting for him, not that Adrien could blame him. Naboo wasn't the first place that Adrien would have thought of but it was certainly a great place to drop their passengers, especially knowing that they will be safe there. Adrien gives little thought before he nods to Weston, "Good call, make the jump." And no sooner than he had answered Trent did Krystal speak up about her having a ship following them.

Adrien jaw tightened as he listened to her go on about this ship. He wasn't sure who to be irritated with, Trent for not detecting it, Krystal for not revealing it, or himself for not being more attentive to their situation. A ship following them meant that his stealth systems weren't doing their job or that someone had sabotaged them or she had some sort of tracking device on her, not one of those situations was Adrien thrilled about. His whole business relied on him not being able to be tracked. And to add insult to injury she was stating how much better this ship was than the Shadow, Adrien's home. It was quite clear by his expression that he was not happy about what she had just said and he had a few questions that needed answering right now.

"Wait. Wait. Let me get this straight." He began, "You have a ship out there following us? For how long? And do you have any idea how much that compromises the security of this ship?" He paused for only a moment before continuing with more evident irritation in his voice, not allowing a word in edgewise. "And it's unarmed? What good does that do anyone out here? This ship is plenty capable of defending herself but shes no escort ship, how do you suppose we'd fare if some pirates came along?" His tone had become unusually harsh at this point and his furrowed brow only showed his increased anger. "You put everyone on this ship in danger pulling a stunt like that and what gives you the right?" He bent down so he was now nose to nose with her, then he said with rather grim snarl, "Call it off. Now."

He straightened up still staring at her with fire in his eyes, "Weston!" He turned to look at the pilot. "Lose that ship."

He then gave another look in Krystal's direction before he turned and walked with large purposeful strides toward the cockpit to his cabin. He really wasn't sure why he was so angry about the ship or why his mood had shifted so suddenly but he knew that right now what he wanted was to be alone. As he entered his cabin he locked the door behind him and sat down at his desk, noticing for the first time since he had awaken that his wounds were still not completely healed, and were in fact bleeding from all of his moving around. He took his shirt off and checked his injuries noting once again that they didn't hurt, at all, and he wondered what kind of problem that could be. He sighed and leaned back in his chair as he decided to do nothing about it, instead he pulled out a bottle of Dorian Quill and a glass from his bottom desk drawer then filled glass and started to drink.

I want so very much to try and make right an obvious mistake on my part, but I guess this is where I can safely label this as beyond recovery. I rightfully wither under the captain, feeling no need or desire to get defensive. Inwardly I'm cursing myself, I mean, what was I thinking? I basically insulted him and did everything imaginable that would be considered so utterly wrong in something like this. No point explaining to him that the Sunflower has stealth technology of its own, is very fast and so well shielded and armored it could take the attacks of a determined Star Destroyer and still have some left over. Not that I fancy getting shot at. It still hurts...a lot. But right now? I think getting shot by angry smugglers would have hurt less than the look the captain is giving me. I shudder.

I know I deserve it, so I just do my best not to flinch or offer any excuse when he finally finishes, I am ashamed by how weak my own voice is, "I'm sorry..." I clear my throat and try a little loudly, "...I'm sorry."

Leaning back against a bulkhead, I realize my feet is off the ground, I must have started flying once Adrien came nose-to-nose with me. no wonder I didn't fall when I leaned so far back the way I did from him. He's so freaking big! Pulling out my communicator with Limey and open a channel. To my amazement it works despite us being in hyperspace. Well, as long as it works. "Limey?" A grouchy warble, "Yeah, I think they know you're there and are trying to shake you off."

The green R2 series droid starts offering a whole barrage of complaints and protests that I should be in the Sunflower instead of these disreputable folk. What does that make my father? I hear Ms. Ryzer from the cockpit, or bridge, and I just nod at her. She'd probably be surprised if she learnt I can hear so well. Heck I can hear behind closed doors. I don't even need to look through the walls to see that Captain Draykon is drinking, and he's so...upset. I feel like kicking myself, but my Code forbids any harm, even to myself. So instead I just tune everything out and focus on making things right with the people here. If they don't want my ship, then no ship it shall be. "Yes Limey I know. Limey...Limey! Please stop and do as I say. Just...just...stop following. No, Limey, Limey!"

Ashes, he can be so stubborn and obstinate! I grip my communicator as tightly as I dare without risking damage. "LIMEY! WHISKEY-TANGO-FOXTROT, ALPHA-DELTA-ZULU-NINER! Cease and obey! Take the Sunflower and park it back in...in..."

I feel intense pain in my head as I try to name a planet I just thought about. The only thing I remember before I fall to the ground screaming at the top of my lungs is that is my home. My true home, where my family lives, where I was stolen from and torn to shreds. I think I managed to name it before the communicator falls out of my hands so I can grip my skull, which feels like it's burning and breaking open. After that, I can still see, but I can't move, can't speak, can't tell anyone this private hell I'm suddenly trapped in. I don't remember even what I was thinking as I lie there. Just the pain. Only the pain and nothing else...

*Stormacht looks at Azoth*
stormacht: "Put in coordinates for kashykk"

Azoth: "understood sir" 

*Azoth starts punching the coordinates*
 
Azoth: "Sir isnt the place your from destroyed?"

Storm: "Indeed it is but something is telling me to go there"


Azoth: "understood"


*The ship accelerates toward kashykk *