A Ranger's Paradise (SJO)

[WelshPsych]

He returned the grin that Cambria offered him. The thoughts of speaking to someone in Ryl was comforting, it had been awhile since he last was able to communicate with someone through a language other than Basic. He could talk Huttese well, due to the need to understand the Hutts on Nar Shaddaa and he was still trying to learn the Mandolarian language and Wookiee speak which was difficult for him. Moving closer to the bar but not blocking her from talking to anyone that she had from before he moved over, Yuroic purchased them both drinks. His was not alcoholic this time as the affects of alcohol were kicking in but nothing he couldn't handle.

Gu Do der bo su'sa Cme'as tenii Do dec kue Gi hiht. Sil Do ohk cei rar ar bee dan nie ba debis anan cea y os. His compliment was something he was trying out as it was never something he used when he learnt the language. Also the alcohol was kicking in and he did have to admit she was attractive. He thought carefully on what he going to say next as some Twi'lek might be offended but he was curious to see what she knew. Jee banpop jahna Yikkuensm joppay nem dah Te rosu. Woy uba banpop cohai da?

The second language was Huttese, although many Twi'leks weren't slaves to the Hutts anymore, a number still learnt the language. He wanted to see if she had, especially if she had been out freeing slaves from the core. He then remembered his slave life and how his ability to talk other languages helped him survive, especially at the fact that his master was an abusive Twi'lek.

[member="Cambria Zadira"] | [member="Arisa Yune"] | [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] | @Jerrit Kolomor | [member="Valkren Calderon"] | [member="Marl"] | [member="Jakkor Kess"] | [member="Ronin Wendigo"]

Spoiler

Translation: Well I lived with many Twi'leks when I lived on Nar Shaddaa. Might I be so bold to say you do indeed look lovely this evening.

Translation: I also learnt Huttese when living on Nar Shaddaa. Do you also speak that?

 

[Marl]

Marl turned to the bartender and asked for another shot of whiskey as Cambria turned her attention to the man who started speaking Twi'leki. Marl knew very little Twi'leki, mostly short phrases such as "do you require any assistance?" Or "Are you hurt?" after all he and his unit contributed heavily to the liberation of Ryloth. What has this guy done? Marl was slightly jealous of the man who's knowledge of Twi'leki was impressive. Jealousy was not a feeling he's particularly fond of. He sipped his whiskey. He thought of what Cambria said about the slaves, Marl hated slavers, however looking back at his time before he was frozen in carbonite, he was a slave. He had no freedom, no choice in life, he was a slave to the Grand Army of the Republic. However, he didn't respond to the woman who was now speaking her presumably native language. Marl wanted to, however the man had her full attention now, and he obviously didn't want to cause a scene in front of the Colonel and the Grandmaster. Marl continued sipping his whiskey, telling himself it would've never worked anyways. What woman would want to be with a man bred for war?

[member="Cambria Zadira"]
[member="Yuroic Xeraic"]
[member="Jakkor Kess"]
[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]
[member="Jerit Kolomor"]
[member="Ronin Wendigo"]
[member="Valkren Calderon"]
[member="Arisa Yune"]

 

[Cambria Zadira]

Cambria listened to what the padawan had to say in Twi'leki. She just shook her head and chuckled softly. Men?! Next [member="Yuroic Xeraic"] tried to impress her with another language - one that she didn't care for, but had been a necessity to learn. Gods how she despised did not like the Hutts and their treatment of slaves.

"Ah Huttese.... You are quite the linguist,, though I think it best if we converse in Galactic Basic from now on. We would not want to bore the others. Another time perhaps we can have a chat," the Rutian Twi'lek nodded with a knowing smiled as her golden gaze went back to her drinking companion, who had ordered another whiskey.

Marl's emotions were projecting, though it was obvious what he was thinking as he slumped over his drink and seemingly felt dejected. Men?!

"So [member="Marl"], when did you come to be with us here in this time period as I assume you are an original Jango Fett clone, are you not?"

 

[Marl]

Marl looked over to Cambria. She was speaking to him, His eyes brightened up. Marl knew he was being unprofessional, but that could easily be put on the alcohol. "Absolutely I'm an original Jango Fett clone, in fact I was apart of the first wave of Clone troopers, even fought on Geonosis. As for getting here, after occupying Umbaara, most of my battalion had to be re-deployed quickly to Alderaan if I remember correctly. Anyways me and the Jedi master I was assigned to, had to make sure that the commanding officer on Umbaara was prepared for the task and capable of handling any uprisings, I took a shuttle while the Jedi I was assigned to took her delta star-fighter. as soon as we were in front of the Republic blockade of the planet, doing the hyperspace coordinates, a half dozen separatist cruisers dropped out of hyperspace." Marl said he sipped his whiskey and continued, he hated this next part.

"Unfortunately, my shuttle was far ahead of the blockade and not very maneuverable and we were captured. Seeing how valuable of an asset I was, knowing many of the republics they took me and killed the others on board. I was transported to Cato Neimoidia in cuffs and frozen in Carbonite. Next thing I know I wake up on a space station on the other side of the galaxy. From what I can tell, my frozen body had been in space all this time until eventually someone found me. So, here I am." Marl said.

Marl was starting to feel a buzz, he decided he still wanted to be able to be an intellectual and decided not to drink any more. he looked over to the bartender.

"You don't happen to serve vine-coffee do you?" He asked. The bartender shrugged and looked in the back.

Marl looked over to Cambria, "So you were born on Ryloth, I presume?"

[member="Cambria Zadira"]

 

[WelshPsych]

That is fine, Basic is less confusing in some ways. But yes, I learnt a couple of non-Basic languages when living on Nar Shaddaa, it was useful at the time. I had a talent for new languages, though Mando'ade and Wookieespeak have been difficult to learn. Yuroic had attempted to study the last two languages in the Temple, but he now thought it perhaps better to learn from native than studying holocrons.

Yuroic noted the wave of jealousy that Marl displayed when Cambria turned her attention from him to Yuroic. It must have been a feeling that Cambria felt as well as she turned their conversation back to Basic. It was not something that he minded much, he was not jealous nor did he strive to gain her favour, he was just interest in conversing with the Twi'lek. He could also feel the annoyance from Cambria after his compliment and realised he must have offended her.

Ako'ohan ko sei tilor icary dan. Cinao, Do vlakan Vi'nilher fic tlaran a enihan ar dan. Do tann ar dey dan velniyo arosy cit. He bought himself another strong alcoholic drink and then moved away from the two, nodding to his Master, Arisa before he sat on a chair in a darker corner. He allowed himself to soak in the darkness and loneliness. Drinking his drink deeply.

[member="Arisa Yune"] | [member="Marl"] | [member="Cambria Zadira"] | [member="Jerit Kolomor"] | [member="Valkren Calderon"] |

 

[Cambria Zadira]

Cambria gave a polite nod to the young padawan at his apology. The Rutian Twi'lek really didn't know what else to say at this point as [member="Yuroic Xeraic"] walked away distraught because she didn't want to talk to him right now? Another time would be perfect when he wasn't drunk and the place was better suited for conversation of this sort.

The Jedi Knight's irritation at how people were acting so silly tonight was only momentary as she closed her eyes and with a deep breath released the feeling into the Force. Not once, but twice so far she'd made a man sulk because of her. Cambria was not used to this and it bothered her.

The Twi'lek then listened thoughtfully to [member="Marl"]'s answer to her question as he told Bri his story. Master Anton Soros made sure that his padawan learner was well versed in the Clone Wars. She had spent much time in the Jedi Library on Coruscant studying that era. Cambria could not imagine being in one present, then waking to another so far in the future. She didn't realize anyone could be preserved that long in carbonite, but he certainly was living proof.

"I was... born in the city of Kala'din into a lower class clan. My father and brothers worked in the ryll mines nearby. My mother and sister were sold to the Hutts as slaves. Female Rutians..." Cambria pointed to her skin color. "are of high value on the black market. I began showing signs of being Force sensitive by the age of three when I had what they call a Force Tantrum and moved some rocks grown men could not. The Jedi Watchman was notified of my strange behavior and I was tested. I was then taken to the Temple on Coruscant for training to become a Jedi Knight. I took the path of a guardian, and well.... here I am," she offered wth a small smile before taking the last sip of the Lum ale in her glass.

The bottom tasted like soap meaning it wasn't a high quality homemade brew. The best the Twi'lek Jedi had ever had the pleasure of sampling was at a cantina on Ord Mantell called the Afterburner run by an explanted Corellian family.

 

[Marl]

Marl was tipsy now, it was effecting his behavior, he really needed this to end. When the man was walking away, he said 'Vi'nilher​' Which means Marl in Ryl. He didn't catch anything else, so he assumed it was nothing. He knew Vi'nilher, cause that's how the protocol droid accompanying his battalion when they went to meet up with rebels on Ryloth introduced him. ​Vonirkan Vi'nillher​. as for Cambria's life story it sure was interesting. He knew about how Jedi were taken from an early age and it seems 900 years later they still follow some of the same traditions.

After she was done with her life story, he looked over to the bartender, "Do you serve vine coffee here?" as the barkeep looked in the back, Marl brought his attention back to Cambria.

"The Hutts are vile beings. They were worst than the Separatists by every means." Marl said. "Were you ever able to find your mother and sister?"

[member="Cambria Zadira"]

 

[Cambria Zadira]

"I will take a cup of caf also, if you have any," Bri nodded to the bartender before he scurried off to the backroom.

The Twi'lek Jedi usually preferred Sapir tea, though that green-colored, rich tasting hot beverage definitely wouldn't be found in a cantina. She did have some of the aromatic tea leaves stashed away in her quarters at the temple though. Having a cup of the special variety of tea was usually saved as a treat to herself after a long, hard day. It had a nice rejuvenating effect as well as calming.

"Agree... I have not met a Hutt yet that has not been. There is one particular one that I have had dealings with several times. Zorda the Hutt is notorious for kidnapping free people, then putting them to work as slaves in his pleasure palaces. I have been able to free a few, but not enough sadly. The Crime Lord needs to be stopped altogether, but he has deep pockets with high friends. The will is not there from the governments where his businesses operate unfortunately."

When Cambria spoke her braintails would appear twitching tensely as the Jedi's passion for this cause showed, then slumped slightly as the question about her mother and sister was asked.

"No. I have not come across them, but there is always hope, hmm?" the blue-hued Twi'lek offered [member="Marl"] with a small smile just as the bartender returned with two steaming cups of a dark liquid.

"Have you been able to reunite with any of your brethren from the first wave?"

 

[Marl]

"there is always hope." Marl said agreeing to her, he then went on to answer her next question about fellow clones.

"I have, one trooper you might have seen around was RC 212, as for anyone else, there are rumors of a clone trooper working for Lady Kay of Commenor," Marl said. As for the xenophobia, Marl knew what she meant.

"I know how you feel believe it or not. The face of the Republic was the Chancellor, a human. The body of the Republic was the clone army, all humans. When you went to planets that resented the Republic well... let's just say they hadn't had many nice things to say about humans. People we were trying to protect and free yelled at us, telling us to go back to hell, and what not." Marl said, he took a sip of the coffee, hoping that he sobers up a bit.

"As for you're Hutt problem, if you ever require any help at getting back at him. I'm always at you're service, General." Was she actually a general? He didn't know but the word kind of flowed out of his mouth, after all, that's what you would call a master during the war.

[member="Cambria Zadira"]

 

[Cambria Zadira]

"I have," Bri nodded regarding seeing RC around. "Must be comforting to have him around, hmm?" she added, then brought the cup of steaming dark liquid up to her naturally berry-colored lips.

Cambria blew on the hot caf for a tick before taking a sip. She scrunched her face at the taste while lekku twitched.

"Wow... That is one strong cup of caf! I hope it will not put hair on my chest," the Twi'lek Knight quipped with a soft chuckle, then looked over at [member="Marl"] catching the title he'd given her teasingly; one used back in the Clone War days when Jedi and Clones worked together.

"Well Commander, you will be the first one I call when it is time to give him grief again."

 

[Marl]

He hadn't been called commander, in a while, It certainly made him feel better as it gave him a sense of familiarity. as for her asking about RC, well, RC was a great soldier from the looks of it, and as for reliability, definitely, however as for acting like a clonetrooper, sure he was a clone, looked like one, sounded like one, fought like one, however there was just a more, human component about RC he's never seen before in any other clone trooper. It truly fascinated Marl that a Clone so human chose not to have name. However that was a topic for another day.

"Yea, it is nice to see a familiar face around." He said stifling a laugh. Despite sobering up a bit, Marl still had a buzz going on.

As for her cup of caf comment well Marl looked down at her breasts for half a second to see if she was actually growing hair, before realizing that was rude and bring his eyes back to hers. Figures of speech were not something Marl was use to. he had a slightly sheepish look on his face.

"I'm sorry, Master Zadira, I didn't... I mean..." Marl trailed off and cleared his throat. "Forgive me, for my rudeness. Clones were never properly trained in etiquette." Marl said chuckling awkwardly.

[member="Cambria Zadira"]

 

[Cambria Zadira]

The Twi'lek knew the moment she let that quip about the coffee, hair, and chest pass her lips it was trouble. The line always sounded so much better when her old friend said it. The Corellian Jedi also had a very dry sense of humor too.

Cambria's blue-hued cheeks began to turn a purplish color as she blushed.

"Oh no, Ranger [member="Marl"]... " she chuckled softly trying to get her composure back, breathing in and blowing out before continuing. "No it is I who needs forgiveness. I did not mean for it to come out that way or be misconstrued... It was a joke, poorly executed at best I am afraid."

Putting the cup of caf down, her golden eyes peered around, then back to the clone soldier.

"Well it is getting late in the evening and I have a class to teach first thing in the morning. I think I will take a walk through the temple gardens before turning in to clear my head. Thank you for the drinks, and pleasant company," Bri smiled, then slid off gracefully from the bar stool.

"Goodnight, Commander."

 

[Eugen Aker]

"Oh, it's just Arisa," she said with a pat to Valkren's shoulder. As long as everyone was respectful, she didn't mind if people were more casual about how they addressed her, especially when it came to close associates like Valkren.

Yuroic claimed to be fine answering her question, but he certainly didn't look or feel like he claimed. In that moment, she was reminded of the incident ofJairdain, which elicited to a small o-face as she cringed. She already had a team investigating the matter, but the event had slipped her mind as had so many other things on her plate as Grandmaster. A part of her wanted to forget, as she had made the woman a promise that she would be safe with the Silver Order once more, but in fact, the life of a Jedi was very perilous one indeed.

She felt like taking him aside to decompress, but for a time his attention would be taken by Cambria after the entered the cantina. In fact, she could feel many of the patrons' attention on the Twi'lek. Not her type, but she definitely recognized the appeal. She smiled before she taking her second and perhaps last shot of the night. Boys will be boys.

She'd chase down the shot with an order of an ice cold Palmer - half and half of tea and lemonade - while waiting for an opportunity to speak with Yuoric again. She quietly observed his exchange, finding his command over various languages quite impressive. He was definitely a good asset to have on the Silver's side as she looked to turn her attention on Hutt Space in the future. Less reported than Sith expansions, but just as troubling were the gang wars waged between groups about as well equipped as professional armies.

There would finally be a chance, and she would reach out to give Yuroic a light tap on the shoulder. "Join me outside?"

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"] [member="Cambria Zadira"] [member="Marl"] [member="Jakkor Kess"] [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] [member="Jerit Kolomor"] [member="Ronin Wendigo"] [member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[WelshPsych]

As he finished his latest shot, the drink now started to kick in hard and heavy for the young man. He felt the light tap on his shoulder and looked up to his Master, she wanted to step outside with him. Swallowing hard, he nodded. It would have been rude and disrespectful to tell her no and that he wanted to spend his evening alone. So with great effort he rose to his feet, the room lightly spinning as he stepped towards the door.

Stumbling best he could, he held the door open for both Cambria and Arisa as he noticed the Twi'lek leaving too. Although, he held his tongue this time around, he was far too intoxicated to say anything sensible for now and he rather not make himself too much of a fool. Once he reached outside, the cold evening air made him feel even more intoxicated than inside. He wondered why the planet was spinning so quickly. Falling to his butt as he closed his eyes and rested against the wall of the pub he sighed. This was not a good night.

So... Sorry... Not, not had that *burp* that many for awhile. He was feeling bloated, in fact he could feel his skin burning up and knew what was coming. The all too familiar sign of needing to throw up, which he attempted to delay by breathing deeply and swallowing the bile down. Sadly, it was all in vain as he moved to the side and threw up heavily several times. Emptying his stomach of its contents. Poodoo, not done that in awhile. Yuroic fell away from the pool of sick and sighed.

[member="Arisa Yune"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

When she had asked Yuroic to speak, she hadn't quite realized how intoxicated he was, now barfing his guts out right outside. She sighed right along as she gave him a pat on the shoulder once he was finished puking, then beckoned him to join her at one of the empty benches next to the side of the catina.

"Yuroic, this may not be the best time to speak, but I at least wanted to apologize for neglecting you as of late. When I had taken you on as my apprentice, I had done so before I was elected to be Grandmaster. Last thing I expected in a million years." She had to pause to let out a huff over a situation she still found quite incredulous. "Needless to say, it's been something of a balancing act between my responsibilities to you and to the order as a whole. That's not to say that I don't enjoy being your master because I do."

She reached out to him, placing one hand on the back of his palm. "Sometimes I don't always catch things going on with you, so if there's ever a problem, please don't hesitate to seek me out for counsel, or just for a venting session. I am always here for you, not just as your Master, but as a friend."

She already had a good feeling about what was leaving him so distressed, but she'd rather let him approach the topic himself after she had given him and an invitation to do so. So she sat there, waiting to see exactly how he responded.

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"] [member="Cambria Zadira"] [member="Marl"] [member="Jakkor Kess"] [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] [member="Jerit Kolomor"] [member="Ronin Wendigo"] [member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[WelshPsych]

He attempted to move, his body was still sluggish and unresponsive as he attempted to move about. Yuroic sat on the bench and slumped forwards, head resting in his hands. Hearing his master's words on her admitting she had been neglecting her duties as his Master while being the newly appointed Grand Master, he felt a guilt bubble forming in the pit of his stomach. He never wanted her to think that it was her fault that he was in this state. It was mostly his own but no one could have foreseen Jairdain's capture in Yuroic's eyes, there was only two to blame, the Sith who took her and Karl for failing to protect her. Yuroic had been at the debriefing and heard what happened. The anger boiled inside him for days as he thought of how to strike back at the Sith and recapture Jairdain.

Mmm... M, mmmm... Master, His words were sluggish and slow to come out. Fault not yoursh, I dranksh too much and and and, nothing you could'shve done to save her... Taking a deep breath he calmed his stomach which was still turning with upset as he also felt drowsiness increasing over him.

[member="Arisa Yune"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

"Hindsight is 20/20," she agreed. "Though we can use past events as a learning experience to prepare for the future."

There was more she could say, but it looked like Yuroic was just about to pass out. While Arisa herself was far from even being tipsy, she decided she was probably done for the night as it concerned the cantina. She really wasn't in the mood to continue on with the night while her apprentice was in such a poor state.

"Come on," she said, rising from the bench. "I'm taking you home."

Home was more than 20 minutes away on foot, but she would call upon a speeder by neural link, then gingerly guide him into the passenger seat. She would give the cantina one last look before slipping inside the driver's side and pulling away for the Silver Temple.

[member="Yuroic Xeraic"]

 

[WelshPsych]

Tiredly blinking as Arisa spoke, he slipped backwards off the bench and fell into a pile on the ground. He started crying slightly in sobs. Yuroic had never felt so alone before, he had everything he ever wanted one day and now, now he lost it. It was a sobering feeling and he hated feeling so isolated from the world. Feeling Arisa lift him and guide him to the speeder, he looked over to her. Tears still leaking down his face.

I heard her. She called for help, and I chose those damn Wookiees. I could have gone to save her! I didn't even find the head of the slavery ring, they're in Hutt space! I failed her Arisa, I failed her. Yuroic slumped into the seat, his body just unresponsive and depressive. I... I killed a slaver Master, I choked them to death, it felt empowering. I was so angry and they wouldn't tell me what I wanted. I didn't even want to be there, I wanted to go save Jairdain. I snapped and I used my anger, demanding I get answers with it.

Bowing his head in shame, he dared not look at her. He was confessing to crimes he had sworn on the day to never tell her, he missed it out of his debriefing. Yuroic couldn't own up to the fact he had committed something completely out of order for a Jedi to do. To use anger in such a destructive way.

[member="Arisa Yune"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

The colonel had finished a few more drinks at the bar, before turning to take in the atmosphere. The young man was happy to see everyone in one place. His idea of bonding was working, as he saw Rangers and Jedi alike chatting and sharing drinks with one another. Valkren caught Arisa taking Yuoric outside out the corner of his eye, making the officer see a golden opportunity.

He had been requiring some new ink for some time now, something assuring his men of his loyalty to them and to the rangers. The timing couldn't be better. He pushed himself from the bar, and almost as if he hadn't had a drop to drink, he moved over to Jerit with perfect posture, grasping him by the shoulders and pulling him from his 'fun time.'

"Come on, kid. Got some fun to have." He'd state as he turned him around and pushed him toward the door. On the way he'd lean into Marl's and Cambria's conversation.

"Sorry to interrupt, but could I borrow my Lieutenant for a moment?" He politely asked, holding a probably-tipsy Jerit still while he waited on Marl's confirmation to want to tag along. He wanted to get out with the young Jedi before Arisa came back around to spot them. Even with their blood thinned due to the alcohol, he knew of a ranger in one of the nearby barracks that had the proper equipment to give the best of tattoos to even the most intoxicated grunts.

[member="Jerit Kolomor"] | [member="Marl"] | [member="Arisa Yune"] | [member="Cambria Zadira"]

 

[Cambria Zadira]

Golden orbs flicked from the Clone to [member="Valkren Calderon"] as the CO of the Antarian Rangers stopped by to ask if he could borrow his lieutenant, who Cambria had just called Commander endearingly for old times sake.

"You have good timing Colonel as I was just saying goodnight to our friend, Ranger [member="Marl"]," Bri smiled, then looked between the men with a knowing glint in her eyes. "Take care, you two... I do not want to have to bail either of you out of the brig later," she chuckled softly, then turned on her booted heel and walked to the entrance of the cantina where a very green-looking [member="Yuroic Xeraic"] was holding the door open.

"Arni'soyacho," the Twi'lek Jedi said simply in her native tongue to the young padawan thanking him, then she continued walking towards the Silver Temple though taking the path that would go through the beautiful gardens illuminated by the light of a seemingly bright waxing gibbous.