Jorus Merrill
is mek bote
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“This is a bad idea.”
“Look, Mara, I know you’ve been chewing on this for a while. If now’s the time, then go ahead and lay it on me.”
“All you know about this guy is that he dragged you out after you called down a fething airstrike on yourself.”
“Not true; I know he’s Corellian. Next objection.”
“Sure, because his Brotherhood’s made inroads with the SSC and you helped found the Sanctum and you’ve got his name and so you’ve got his record, because of course you do. And that record tells you he was exiled from Corellia for multiple counts of murder.”
“He was a kid, and that was a long time ago. Next objection.”
“You’re mainlining high-grade kolto to stay on your feet, and you still need me to gorram fly for you, you’re that torn up. And he’s ke'dem - a Dark Master.”
“He’s apparently real pragmatic, and I’m fine. This kolto is better than export. Energy’s low but I’m pretty much patched up, and the prosthesis is all clear. Next objection.”
“You’re not fine if this turns into a fight.”
“Remind me to tell you about the time I-”
“Not another story, Dad. For real: if this goes south, you’re toast.”
“Two counterpoints. Number one, this is a first contact scenario, and that’s what I do. Number two, I’ve got you.”
“We’re pretty screwed if my presence is supposed to deter him. I’m like one-ten soaking wet.”
“And you were taught Makashi by the best, and more importantly, you’re a Lorrdian-trained half-Zeltron empath. If he’s a problem, you’ll know it long before I will. Next objection.”
“The Dark Side’s getting strong around Rishi.”
“Sure is. But it’s right at the mouth of the Rishi Maze, and what’s all through the Rishi Maze?”
“Silk’s HALCYON space train transit network, RimSAR evac support, and some real ornery Reardon miners who owe you a drink.”
“Yup. Next objection.”
“...I don’t want you to go.”
“Well, that one I take pretty fething seriously, Mara, but look. The guy pulled me out of ground zero and didn’t ask a thing in return.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I know. All right, we’re coming up on Rishi.”
“Do your thing.”
The Gypsymoth, an old, modified, and much-abused YV-929, decanted from a blistering FTL speed. Mara’s course shifted toward Rishi’s barren moon, and Jorus’ instincts agreed. The flying brick slipped down into the moon’s shallow grav well. Mara leaned over the comm panel as she flew. “Rishi moon control, this is the Gypsymoth looking for Alcohor Centaris.”
“Alkor,” Jorus muttered.
“Looking for [member="Alkor Centaris"].”
“Yeah?”
“This is a bad idea.”
“Look, Mara, I know you’ve been chewing on this for a while. If now’s the time, then go ahead and lay it on me.”
“All you know about this guy is that he dragged you out after you called down a fething airstrike on yourself.”
“Not true; I know he’s Corellian. Next objection.”
“Sure, because his Brotherhood’s made inroads with the SSC and you helped found the Sanctum and you’ve got his name and so you’ve got his record, because of course you do. And that record tells you he was exiled from Corellia for multiple counts of murder.”
“He was a kid, and that was a long time ago. Next objection.”
“You’re mainlining high-grade kolto to stay on your feet, and you still need me to gorram fly for you, you’re that torn up. And he’s ke'dem - a Dark Master.”
“He’s apparently real pragmatic, and I’m fine. This kolto is better than export. Energy’s low but I’m pretty much patched up, and the prosthesis is all clear. Next objection.”
“You’re not fine if this turns into a fight.”
“Remind me to tell you about the time I-”
“Not another story, Dad. For real: if this goes south, you’re toast.”
“Two counterpoints. Number one, this is a first contact scenario, and that’s what I do. Number two, I’ve got you.”
“We’re pretty screwed if my presence is supposed to deter him. I’m like one-ten soaking wet.”
“And you were taught Makashi by the best, and more importantly, you’re a Lorrdian-trained half-Zeltron empath. If he’s a problem, you’ll know it long before I will. Next objection.”
“The Dark Side’s getting strong around Rishi.”
“Sure is. But it’s right at the mouth of the Rishi Maze, and what’s all through the Rishi Maze?”
“Silk’s HALCYON space train transit network, RimSAR evac support, and some real ornery Reardon miners who owe you a drink.”
“Yup. Next objection.”
“...I don’t want you to go.”
“Well, that one I take pretty fething seriously, Mara, but look. The guy pulled me out of ground zero and didn’t ask a thing in return.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I know. All right, we’re coming up on Rishi.”
“Do your thing.”
The Gypsymoth, an old, modified, and much-abused YV-929, decanted from a blistering FTL speed. Mara’s course shifted toward Rishi’s barren moon, and Jorus’ instincts agreed. The flying brick slipped down into the moon’s shallow grav well. Mara leaned over the comm panel as she flew. “Rishi moon control, this is the Gypsymoth looking for Alcohor Centaris.”
“Alkor,” Jorus muttered.
“Looking for [member="Alkor Centaris"].”