Private Bye Mom, Bye Dad!

[Lucien Kenston]

-Jasun B. Poltin Memorial Space Station, Aria, Colonies-

Everyone remembers their first time at the Station. The mere presence of aliens alone is enough to excite the average Arian, but theres something magical about being this high above the safety of your beloved home planet. Lucien eyes are glued to the window, soaking in a moment he won't soon forget.

"Lucien!", Marc shouts, "Get over here we're almost next in line"

Lucien is not alone for his first visit. His best friends, Marc Martins and Tre Bolton, have joined him. They're not here for no particular reason either, all three have been accepted into the spring internship program at Gold Grove Financial on Corellia. While all seniors at Donak Preparatory School are required to intern somewhere for their final semester, few choose a business off-world.

"Yeah whatever," Lucien responds, "Are you guys even seeing the view over there? Never thought I'd see the day"

Tre shoots an incredulous look towards Lucien, "You're acting like we haven't been looking at pictures of this place on the HoloNet for months Luke, relax"

Some additional banter continues between the three before they reach the guards at the checkpoint. Guards on the station are human, just like everyone else on Aria, but they're contractors from off-world. They're paid well to follow protocol and keep the station secure, and the President appoints a senior General from the Arian Army to live on station and oversee their operations. They ask the three one by one for their identification and reason for visiting the station. A valid ID is the most important part, most people can get away with saying anything for their reason, but the three made sure the guards documented they were leaving for work on Corellia.. just incase anyone checked up on it.

After the ID check and pat down you can simply walk right into the station, luggage isn’t scanned at all for outbound travel. Knowing this, Lucien, Tre and Marc all made sure to pack a significant amount of firepower before they took the shuttle up to the Station. Lucien also made sure to bring some other items he could sell quickly. Arian electronics are worth a great deal off-world, and some stock certificates for his father’s company should prove valuable as well. Technically those shares were a gift for his 18th birthday but.. Lucien needs credits now, not for retirement.

 

[Lucien Kenston]

Marc looks down at his data pad to check their shuttle departure time, “Looks like we're gate 74.. . and we still have two hours to fuck around before we head out"

Tre excitingly takes in the alien surroundings, "Lets hit that bar that everyone talks about, whats that place called?"

"Zanzai", Lucien responds, "Place is apparently unreal, we have to check it out before we leave"

Marc starts walking towards down a corridor to the right motioning the others, "Well then lets go and get a table, place is open all day and night"

The three try their hardest to act normal, but this is the first time they've seen any other sentient species in-person. Other-worldly looking shops line the halls of the station, the shopkeepers offering samples of strange goods and cuisines. There are plenty of humans around, but their eyes are naturally drawn to the new and unknown. Lucien recognizes almost all of the species he sees: Twi'leks, Cathar, Chiss, Ithorians, Gran, Neimoidians. Strange robots dart around the station, some modeled after non-humans and some simply astromech models only available off-world. Lucien had been preparing for this trip for months now, and so far its been exactly how he'd expected it.

The three approach the club Zanazai and are greeted by a burly bouncer of a species Lucien remembers seeing in a picture book as a child. The club looks pretty busy, but, then again, it is only 11 in the morning.

The bouncer gives the group a thorough look, "You'll have to leave your luggage here before going in, 50 credits for the cover, each"

Marc budges to the front and interjects, asking how many credits for a table.

The bouncer chuckles, “You human kids never fail to make me laugh, how old are you three? 15?”

“Fuck off ”, Lucien gives the bouncer a look, but it fails to wipe the smile off his face.

“3,000 credits. And don’t take it so personally kid, you’ll get a lot more shit once you leave this station”

Lucien transfers the credits over at the booth just past the entrance, and the three are led to their table by two scantily clad Twi’leks, red ones at that. Marc and Tre proceed to make use of their time, downing their drinks with reckless abandon and pumping their fists to the music blaring throughout the club. Lucien is wearing a smile, but he can’t help but dwell on what happened with the bouncer. He was right, some species are just always going to be bigger and badder than them. No human is going to command any respect at their age, and thats going to be a big problem where they're going.

 

[Lucien Kenston]

Lucien eventually let himself loose and had a few drinks. He figures he should be treating this like a mini vacation before shit hits the fan. The shuttle to Corellia will take around 12 hours, then they'll have plenty of time to figure out how to get to Nar Shaddaa.. thats when it all gets serious.

When the time came to head to their gate, Lucien practically had to drag his friends along. They drunkenly babbled about cancelling their shuttle and getting one later, and how they could have spent the night at the Station instead.

"Just shut up and take your seat once we're on, I swear I will fuck you up if you get us kicked off this shuttle"

Marc responds with a laugh and boozy hiccup, "Re-laaaax Luke, what are they going to do? Arrest us? We'd be out in an instant"

"Not on Corellia we wouldn't..." Lucien lets out a sigh, "Just don’t mess everything up before we're even out of this sector"

Tre and Marc shoot each other a grin, "Sooooo serious", Marc says before the two burst out laughing

Thats would Lucien would have to deal with for the first few hours of the shuttle before those two passed out. With some peace and quite, he took the time to map out their plans when they get in. First order of business is to take some holopics all dressed up in front of Gold Grove Financial. After all, they can't return home with 0 proof of their "internship". After that, they need to find a place to stay for the night before heading out to the entertainment district. Lucien figured he could find a pilot or two there that will be wiling to fly them to Nar Shaddaa the next day.

Lucien deliberated some more on his plans before succumbing to the urge of sleep. Corellia awaits...