Private Between Port Nowhere and the Next Bad Idea

[Choli Vyn]

Interacting with: Trextan Voidstalker
Armor- x x x x x | Gear x x x x x x x | Weapons x x x x x

"No."

She had been teasing him honestly, because she had traveled around with Chloe and had lived through exactly that. Her time back on Tatooine dealt with working on a barter system, so that sort of style wasn't weird.

"Not weird at all. Although I am sure your gut has a stronger sense of where to go than mine." he was the one with the greater Force Potential.

"I do much the same -- only that I have to be cognizant that while favors are fine, at the end of the day, I still need enough for fuel to be able to hit atmo or get out of a tight spot. I do not like feeling as if I do not have a choice in the matter of getting out of a situation."

For more reasons than one.

"Besides, if we have these abilities, might as well do it and lend a hand. It is not hard to." she admitted with a small shrug.

"Granted, ever since the Convergence, things have been tighter and supplies strained. Pirate activity and Imperial warlords trying to take advantage of it all."

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

TREXTAN

Trextan listened without interrupting, his attention steady on her as she spoke. There was a quiet agreement in the set of his posture, like none of this surprised him.

"Yeah," he said. "Fuel matters."

His thumb brushed absently along the edge of the table, thinking. There again was a small hint of the past she had finally uncovered. The control that had been taken from her. Even her own memories.

"You know... I was pretty scared flying without you at first? I had a pilot droid on loan and took spares but I was pretty used to fighting on two feet on land. Thought of the ship going wrong and just drifting..."

He gave a little shake of his head. A faint smirk followed, brief, before it faded again into something more thoughtful.

"The Convergence made it worse," he went on. "Routes shifted. Supplies dried up. People got desperate."

"Funny really that I was worried about the ship breaking down and not all the stray blaster bolts."

Trextan smiled at Choli. Suddenly it was that boyish smile that had made her breath catchbyears ago. They might have walked different paths, but there was that same common drive.

He glanced down at their plates.

"Wanna go carry on with the ship? Or go see about some cargo? Or...we could find a bit of space and you could show me a little more of what you learned on your travels?"

He'd hardly been watching her technique closely to learn from it as they'd been backed into a corner by a Ren.

 

[Choli Vyn]

Interacting with: Trextan Voidstalker
Armor- x x x x x | Gear x x x x x x x | Weapons x x x x x

Trextan… scared of flying?

The dark slash of Choli's right brow arched just a fraction, surprise flickering across her face before she smoothed it over with a small huff.

"Verree will do that to you," she muttered even as a faint smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "She creaks like she is complaining about existing."

A faint smirk tugged at her mouth.

"But… yeah. Drifting out there?" she added, quieter. "That will get in your head fast."

There had been a few close calls for her as well. Finishing her food, Choli chewed thoughtfully, trying her best to refocus on the original question and not on his smile and how it gave her another whirl of flurries in her belly.

"Cargo first," Choli decided, brushing her hands off. "Get an easy job that provides some fuel or credits and allows me to test the Sunfire. Then we decide if we are heading to Yanibar or not."

Those multicolored slanted eyes landed upon his dark face. A question painted over her olive face, and then she asked:

"What about the Verree?" she tilted her head. "Did you want to fly her or... come with me on the Sunfire?"

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

TREXTAN

Trextan didn’t answer straight away. His gaze lingered on her for a second, weighing the question, before he pushed to his feet and gathered what was left of the food.

“We’ll figure that out,” he said simply. "I'd be good to catch up," he reasoned without offering any more food puns..

"But if the jobs needs both ships..."

He jerked his head slightly toward the far end of the lane.

“C’mon,” he added. “Trade quarter’s this way I think?"

The shift in atmosphere was immediate as they moved deeper into the port. Trextan thought this was going well, even though he didn't want to self evaluate. It was just them reconnecting.

Voices dropped lower, sharper. Stalls gave way to open cargo lots, stacked crates, and flickering holo-displays listing manifests, routes, and prices that changed faster than most people could read them. Deals were being made in half-sentences and hand signals. Everything had a price.

A pair of traders argued over a crate of medical supplies nearby. Another group huddled around a holo-map, tracing hyperspace lanes with tense fingers. A loader droid clanked past with sealed containers marked for off-world shipment.

Trextan glanced down one row, then another, scanning. He hated negotiating and trying to find people to make deals.

"Got any good contacts?" he asked.

 

[Choli Vyn]

Interacting with: Trextan Voidstalker
Armor- x x x x x | Gear x x x x x x x | Weapons x x x x x

"Contacts?" Choli echoed, glancing at Trextan before the corner of her mouth perked up and she gave a small shrug. "A few."

She tipped her chin slightly toward the pair arguing near a few crates, the aurabesh sigils on the plascrete sides letting her know they were medical supplies. She knew how to read and write now. A skill Chloe had painstakingly taught the former Rogue so that she could live independently on her own.

Those colorshifting eyes narrowed and then she just moved. Never say Choli was one to sit back and let others take point. She read the room. The fact that no one had taken that priority shipping meant one thing -- either the flight window was tight or the pay was not worth the trouble.

The agitated Rodian broker stood over the console as he cycled through the manifest. Choli gave a quick wave to get his attention, only to glance back at the holographic console to get an idea of where the drop off was at.

It seemed like it would be a short hop. At least it was within the system. Which also meant what was the catch? So she swiveled her attention to the broker.

"Need help moving that?" Choli began, nodding towards the crates, trying to see what the Rodian would provide or let slip.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

TREXTAN

Trextan was remarkably oblivious to what Choli was doing. He watched, with keen interest, as she looked around and weighed up the stands.

They had both changed. It was almost as if they both felt more comfortable in their own skin. They didn't feel out of place everywhere.

He kept pace as she strode straight toward the agitated Rodian broker without hesitation. Once she made up her mind, she was direct. It was one of the qualities that he found most attractive in the pilot.

Still, he stayed alert, eyes scanning their surroundigs and mind open to the Force. A short hop within the system sounded simple enough on the surface.

"Chuba wamma boopa, dee shipper skutta wit ten percenta da fee, ke chuba?"

Trextan let the Force stretch out. The rodian was actually telling the truth.

Would you believe my shipper ran off with a ten percent payment and left me here?"

 

[Choli Vyn]

Interacting with: Trextan Voidstalker
Armor- x x x x x | Gear x x x x x x x | Weapons x x x x x

Choli leaned her head back and lifted her brows as if to say, yeah that is crappy luck.

"That would be the start of a bad day," She added, placing her hands on her hips as she did some quick calculations in her head. She let her attention swivel to see just how much cargo they were looking at to ship.

"Is this all of it?" she asked, gesturing to the five stacks of large crates.

"Yes -- but the items are time sensitive. Can you move it fast?" The Rodian replied, wondering if perhaps he might have found a way to get his shipment delivered.

"If it is local, can do. My ship is not far from here and I can fly out now."

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

TREXTAN

Choli Vyn

Trextan watched Choli take charge with that familiar lift of her brows and the confident set of her hands on her hips. He had to fight down a small smile.

She looked completely in her element, calculating cargo and timelines while the rest of the hangar buzzed around them. It never got old, seeing her like this.

He mentally weighed up the cargo. Five large stacks. Not impossible for the Sunfire, but it would fill most of the cargo bay. Time-sensitive medical supplies in a place like this usually meant someone was desperate or someone was cutting corners. Either way, it paid to be careful.

"Anything we need to be aware of?" Trextan asked, nodding toward the Rodian. He didn't want to interrupt Choli's business but stretched out with his senses as he asked.

The rodian shot him a sharp look.

"Yes, no meddling with any temperature controlled boxes."

He turned back to Choli. The question was enough. The rodian wasn't hiding anything in particular. Because the criminals getting the cargo moved hadn't told the rodian enough.

"I can get a loading crew to your ship in the next hour..."

The rodian weighed this up for a moment and then offered half of what he had agreed with the crew that had ditched him.

 

[Choli Vyn]

Interacting with: Trextan Voidstalker
Armor- x x x x x | Gear x x x x x x x | Weapons x x x x x

Normally Choli would have tried to haggle a better price, but this was a test run and the Rodian needed a solid. The Warden gave a solid nod, and they shook on it.

"Send the crew to Dock Seven," she told the Rodian. "The Sunfire."

By the time Trextan and Choli got back to the ship, the Rodian had already sent over a loading droid with the goods. Choli began a light job back toward the ship, boots ringing lightly against the deck as she then turned to Trextan.

"Go on and guide them into the cargo hold. I will get the fasteners to secure the crates." She instructed as she hit the ramp control, the boarding ramp lowering with a faint hiss.

"Did you want to leave the Verree here?"

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

TREXTAN

Trextan gave a quick nod as the deal was sealed and fell into step beside her on the way back to the Sunfire. By the time they reached the ship the loading droid had already arrived, hovering patiently with the first stack of crates.

"Got it," he said.

As he passed her on the ramp he let his fingers brush lightly against the small of her back, a brief, warm touch that lingered just a second longer than strictly necessary. The contact sent a familiar spark through him, reminding him of how close they had been in the engine room barely an hour earlier.

He paused at the top of the ramp and glanced back at her, a small crooked smile pulling at his mouth.

"Yeah, the Verree can stay here. I'll go pay up dock fees. Oh and get a change of clothes in case we need to do some repairs."

Trextan turned back to the droid and began directing it into the cargo hold. While the droid manoeuvred the heavy containers he kept half an eye on Choli as she gathered the fasteners, watching the easy confidence in her movements.

"Need any supplies or spares or fuel when I go sort things?" he called out.

 

[Choli Vyn]

Interacting with: Trextan Voidstalker
Armor- x x x x x | Gear x x x x x x x | Weapons x x x x x

There it was, the way the tiny hairs at the nape of her neck seemed to rise at the tiny brush of Trextan's touch.

"Clothes would be helpful," She shot back, trying to keep it light and joking, even if her mind couldn't help but wander.

"Extra food." she chirped back, forcing herself to think past thoughts that made her face slightly flush and instead made her break out in a wide grin.

"You would eat me out of my galley if left to your own devices," She teased, only to turn and focus back on securing the crates.

It would just be him and her and Arr-Four, who would likely make a few sassy remarks here and there. Speaking of, he should be done charging up by now.

"Remind me to stock up on more food whenever you come to visit."

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

TREXTAN

Trextan let out a low chuckle at her quick retort, the sound warm and genuine in the echoing cargo hold. He guided the final crate into place with the droid before turning to face her fully, wiping his hands on his trousers again.

"Are we still doing food puns?" Trextan called back. "Cos if you want to be in the galley when I...."

Trextan paused, having embarrassed himself.

"...too crude," he said in an apologetic tone. He laughed under his breath and decided it was a good time to get going.

Trextan glanced sideways at her as he spoke, letting his gaze linger on the curve of her neck and the way her hair had fallen loose from its tie during the loading.

He turned and headed out to get tasks done before he could embarrass himself further. She was probably not trying to work out what he meant. Oh heck, he hoped she didn't need it explained when he got back.

He made his way to his own ship, filling a rucksack with spare clothes. Rather than waste time shopping, he emptied most of his store cupboard of cans and frozen goods into a second bag. He headed to the control station and paid up front for a few more days of fees.



He was back in only twenty minutes.

"Hey!" he called out as he made his way up the ramp. "Are we good to go?"

 

[Choli Vyn]

Interacting with: Trextan Voidstalker
Armor- x x x x x | Gear x x x x x x x | Weapons x x x x x

Choli still felt the heat on her neck well after Trextan left, still half cursing herself that the man had managed to get her with that bit of innuendo... and bring back memories again of their times in that tiny galley on the Verree.

She hadn't missed how he had studied her either before he left.

Was it a good idea to bring him with her? she mused, biting her lip. Part of her wanted him here. Another wondered if she was lonely and seeing him again, trying to see where they were again, and all the mix of emotions and rush of her body needs were what were coloring her decisions.

No, she told herself. It wasn't that easy to explain. But did it need to be?

Take it day by day. That was all they were doing. They were adults. Consenting... adults.

With a curse, she continued to secure the straps. By the time Trextan came back, Choli was halfway into the engine bay when he called out, one arm braced overhead as she leaned into the open panel, checking the final readouts.

"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, not looking up at first. "We are good, unless you broke something in the last twenty minutes."

She pushed off the bulkhead and stepped back out into the main hold just as he came up the ramp, eyes flicking briefly to the bags he carried before settling on him, unable to help the faint smirk that tugged at her mouth.

"Stocked up?" she asked. "Or planning to survive a siege in my galley?"

She couldn't help the way her gaze lingered a second longer than it needed to before she turned away, reaching up to secure a loose strap on one of the crates. She tightened the strap, gave the crate a firm shove, then nodded once to herself.

"Cargo's locked and the temp controls are stable," Choli said, brushing her hands off as she moved toward the cockpit ladder. Those colorshifting slanted eyes flicked back to him, that familiar spark there again.

"My spare cabin is a bit still in the works but we share a sonic until I can fix the second one." she told him, gesturing for him to follow her. She had her own main cabin, with a berth type for crew that she had gutted because she wanted to customize the layout, but that also meant the only other cabin was right next to hers.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

TREXTAN

Choli Vyn

Trextan came up the ramp with the two heavy bags slung over his shoulders. Choli would hear the cans and packets moving around in his bag. He caught her halfway out of the engine bay, one arm braced overhead, and the sight of her like that - lean, capable, and focused - sent a familiar curl of warmth through his chest.

"Stocked up?" she asked. "Or planning to survive a siege in my galley?"

He set the bag of food down just inside the hold with a soft thud and gave her a crooked smile.

"I am trying to say something without it sounding like a food pun," Trextan said after a moment.

"Best to have spare, rather than run out," he said, looking pleased with himself.

There, success, he thought to himself.


Trextan followed her up the ladder, locking his gaze straight forwards. He had missed her, but that wasn't an excuse.

"Better than bunks," Trextan said as he drew alongside Choli.

His gaze flicked over her for a moment, taking in the faint sheen of sweat at her temple and the way her shirt clung from the work. The thought came unbidden: the narrow sonic stall, steam curling around bare skin, her back pressed against the cool bulkhead while water ran between them. He swallowed once and pushed the image aside before it could root too deeply.

He glanced through her cabin door. That bed. Perhaps not this flight, but one day that might be where he had her. It wouldn't be a quick and awkward moment. He would take his time to make her feel - with every fibre of her being - what she meant to him.

"I'll get my things in the spare cabin," he continued. It was hardly a difficult job; he simply tossed the heavy bag onto the spare bed.

"Ready when you are, Captain."

 

[Choli Vyn]

Interacting with: Trextan Voidstalker
Armor- x x x x x | Gear x x x x x x x | Weapons x x x x x

There was no helping the green shine of amusement in Choli's eyes as soon as Trextan said he was trying his best not to do a food pun.

"What? How dare you? Here I thought food puns were your new way of flirting," She shot back, flashing a grin at him even as he looked pleased with himself.

"Do not stop on my account. I find it fascinating that food is still a subject you completely focus your attention on." The man had a hearty appetite after all.

Considering the direction Trextan's mind was drifting towards sonic showers and their tight proximity, it was a good thing that Choli had no clue about his current set of fantasies.

"Oh so eager to relive a shaking ship as it exits atmo?" Choli teased him before crooking her fingers to his gear. "At the very least... secure it. I've been having issues with gravity maintaining itself, and the last thing you need is your bag full of..." She glanced up to the ceiling, thinking back, "Let me guess, blaster rifles, pistols, and scatterguns accidentally knock you in the head."

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

TREXTAN

Choli Vyn

"No, I think..."

Trextan gesticulated back and forth between them with both hands.

"...somehow we got trapped in this food pun cycle and it seems there is no way out."

Trextan's attention was - for once - most definitely not on his next meal. Or perhaps it was, if the food puns refused to stop.

"Let me guess, blaster rifles, pistols, and scatterguns accidentally knock you in the head."

"I only brought a couple of my favourites," he protested as he chased his bag into the room.

He opened the bag and took out just two blasters and a small box of spare power packs. He set about locking those in a cabinet. Then he would turn to stuffing his spare clothes into a drawer.

"Is it... Really going to shake that much?" he asked.

 

[Choli Vyn]

Interacting with: Trextan Voidstalker
Armor- x x x x x | Gear x x x x x x x | Weapons x x x x x

Choli flashed Trextan a half smile, then gave a roll of her bare shoulder.

"Eh, the food puns are not bad. At least they are not those... what are they called? Dad jokes?" she shot back, only to give a bark of laughter at the display and genuine natures of Trextan showing how he had only brought over his favorites for the trip.

"Ah, only your favorite firepower." Choli crossed her arms over her chest, pursing her lips in a half-amused downward curl as she gave a nod that was meant to humor him with her teasing.

"Well, good to know you are packing enough to make sure we make a statement," she joked, pushing her boot off the wall so she could start making headway towards the cockpit.

"Ahh... maybe.. a little bit." she replied truthfully as the pilot called over her shoulder. "Not as bad as the Verree or that shuttle we absconded with back on Polis Massa. She's a bigger girl so she can take a bit more damage and vibration. Nothing that will get you throwing up... but I can find a bucket for you just in case?"

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

TREXTAN

Choli Vyn

Trextan followed her toward the cockpit with an easy stride, a low laugh rumbling in his chest at her teasing.

"Dad jokes? Low blow," he said, shaking his head in mock offence.

It wasn't "dad jokes" he suffered at the hands of his father. Instead, last time, he had still been making light fun of their drunken indiscretion. Given that Jacen hadn't make a joke for over a year after that night, he'd either decided Trextan was too delicate or that he was too embarrassed himself.

"Only the essentials. A man has to be prepared, especially when flying with you. You do tend to attract exciting detours."

He glanced in her direction, daring her to point out that he was the cause of their most exciting



Trextan stepped into the cockpit after her and dropped back into the co-pilot seat. He turned to watch her settle in, his gaze lingering on the bare curve of her shoulder and the easy way she moved. He glanced around and familiarise himself with the space.

"A little bit, hm?" he echoed, voice warm with amusement. A tiny bit of colour drained from his face at the memory of the polis Massa escape.

Trextan reached over and brushed his fingers lightly along the back of her hand where it rested near the controls, a brief, warm touch before he withdrew.

"I trust your flying." His eyes met hers with quiet heat. "And more."

He settled properly into his seat and gave her a small, encouraging nod.

"Right. Confirming exit with tower...and there is your vector. Free to leave heading one one five."

 

[Choli Vyn]

Interacting with: Trextan Voidstalker
Armor- x x x x x | Gear x x x x x x x | Weapons x x x x x

You do tend to attract exciting detours.

That caused Choli to shoot Trextan a doubtful expression, one brow arched high. She gave a snort.

"I would say that is not the case. Out of both of us, who has the most experience regarding your so-called exciting detours?" she shot back, only to add, "Okay, it does not count if I was traveling with Chloe. That generally means one is expecting four different detours into some unknown world or astral object."

Which was true. It was always some surprising with Chloe when one traveled with her within the Aurora Hawk.

The brush of his warm hand distracted her, however, and her gaze fell to it before darting back up to his face. She noticed he was becoming a lot more touchy. Deliberately so. A difference from before when he wasn't so confident in what he could do or act.

And while it wasn't unwelcome, it was just another new facet of the discovery of who Trextan was now.

"Well, the goal is to keep us in one piece even if the Sunfire does not." A pause, then she added, "Obviously, I trust what I have done so far to survive getting us out atmo and the like."

She just wanted to make sure he understood that.

With the vector added, Choli flashed Trextan a crooked grin, then added, "Well then, strap on tight Navigator."

And with that, she turned towards flipping toggles and activating buttons, the engine coming to life under her hands. A vibrating hum that didn't sound normal immediately began to resonate around them.

"That's fine... just give it a few seconds," it was as if the ship's very bones were trying to settle with all the creaking, and true to Choli's words, it soon faded away.

"I had some aftermarket hull reinforcement attached for protection, so that's just the extra weight settling in."

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

TREXTAN

Trextan settled deeper into the co-pilot seat as the engines rumbled to life beneath them, the low vibration travelling up through the deck plates and into his bones. He gave a quiet laugh at her arched brow and quick retort, shaking his head.

Trextan thought back to his detours. There had been painful lessons along the way. Jacen had said something that had stuck with him.

Falure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.

Failing was learning.

He watched her hands move over the controls with practised ease. His own expression tightened just a fraction as the worst of the vibrationsnpassed.

"I trust you," he said simply, "But I didn't expect the rattling before we took off!"

Now the persistent sound was almost like being inside a sonic refresher. He swallowed once, an image vivid enough to send a slow curl of heat through him passed through his thoughts.

"Strapping in," he murmured.

"I'll enjoy the view... and the company."

His gaze stayed on her profile as the Sunfire settled. It was a long time since they had travelled together. Looking back, it was one of the best periods of his life and a chapter he had started to think was long closed.

He turned forwards slowly. He did not know what the future would be, but this felt a little bit like starting a new story with Choli.

He grinned, even as his hand gripped the console a little tightly.