Aftermath Session XI

[baronsamedi]

I never learned to fly a ship. Back on the Forest Song such duties were performed by just a few, and after the crash we had no safe way to learn. I have thus felt somewhat powerless in the past few days, though the herd seems secure…for now.

After we arrived at Omwat, Sigma and Greegan as well as Nika’s Pit Droid Tau-1 worked at getting the surveillance devices off. Greegan seemed pretty confidant he got rid of them, and I trust his judgment in the matter. We then left, immediately and without docking, for Arbra, a planet with a small smugglers base on it. Ero thought it would be safe enough. It was allegedly a short distance away, though the trip seemed long.

We traveled for about a day. I found myself helping Elili get things set up in the kitchen, discussing diet and such. I think some people may think Elili and I are having a relationship, we spend enough time alone together, but that’s really not happening. We chat a lot and I help her with stuff. I am learning a little more about cooking, and she is learning a little more about non-Twi’lek diets.

I was snoozing in the lounge when I awoke to find Jek, Khayall, and Morn talking. They discussed a different alias for Morn, and I suggested Lodo Oban. I am not sure if Morn liked that, but eh, the others just seemed almost surprised I was there. There was other discussion but I was in and out. The base is apparently called Tebraal. Jek and Morn played several rounds of chess, in which Morn was the victor at first, but Jek managed to overtake him. I did not manage to stay awake though any given game.

After Morn returned to his room, Greegan reported to me with an almost eerie cheerfulness I usually only hear from Sigma that Morn’s Astromech Droid is not a threat. I did not ask any questions, though I did overhear Morn complaining later his Droid was not functioning as well as usual.

Probably nothing.

We arrived on Arbra. Tebraal Base was teeming with activity. Now, I have been to a few cantinas and walked around Ryloth, so I was expecting something a little more…seedy. The base I would have mistaken for a military base had I not known better. There were some light freighters, sure, but also a number of Republic starfighters. A pair of what I would have guessed to be officers showed up, one wearing a uniform with what appeared to be a modified Jedi symbol. Khayall told me afterwards that symbol was essentially indicating they served in a special force under the Jedi, the Antarian Rangers. The uniformed one, Darvin Serek, was human, the other, Kista’zurai, was a Verpine, an insectoid race I had heard about but never seen. I am unsure if it was male or female. It was very interested in fixing the Sunrise’s light damage from leaving Susevfi. He (or she, or it, or something) set about doing so with Greegan, while the rest of us followed Darvin to the commander, a Mon Calamari matron named Ibtiba Retrosh, who was apparently also a former Antarian Ranger. Jek and Khayall were kinda the talkers, and Ibtiba was clearly keen on the Jedi, but Jek did not want to spill too many beans. He made it clear without coming out and saying it we knew where a Jedi was…so Ibtiba led us to a more private room.

Man Jek is always getting in the ladies private rooms. You know what, I need to start taking notes at what Jek does to keep turning the ladies' heads.

Anyway, we went back and essentially gave her some information about Master Paelle, and the fact he may be crazy and/or dangerous. She gave us some information that really did not ring any bells for me but was significant to Jek and Khayall I think. She asked about Paelle’s apprentice, and we were…evasive, but I believe she was pretty sure it was Namri. She kept looking at Namri anyway.

Of course, Namri is pretty cute.

Anyway, we finished up there after negotiating a small payment for repair materials and headed back to the Sunrise. Kista’zurai and Greegan had gotten the Sunrise in good shape, so we headed out. The trip back to Omwat was faster, almost 15 hours faster, I had just gotten Aya into my room and was getting her comfortable when we were arriving.

Now, I am not dumb. I was ready for trouble, and so was Jek. And boy, did it come. As we came in and prepared to land both Jek and Namri got to being on guard…and when we tried to pull out, the ground demanded we land. Quickly we found ourselves under the gun from some V-Wing fighter and cannons from the ground. I think I caught a glimpse of Kaine’s shuttle as well, but it did not engage and may have been a similar craft. We moved to try and lose them, and Sheela sprung into action on the V-Wings tail, taking one down. Sigma also did some excellent shooting and took another down, and I took one down myself. We managed to escape…but Jek was not done with Omwat.

You see, Omwat had that mysterious signal in the forest, and Jek is…intent…on finding it. Enough he arranged to have the ship landed so we could investigate it, even with Ero’s business doubtlessly crushed under the Empire’s heel. When I came back from concealing the ship I saw Sigma was also rather enthusiastic to find it.

Well, I hope they know what they are doing.