Private Edge of the Abyss

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

Mistral gave a nod of his head as he was sitting there and Aya looked over at Ana. "No plan for it yet but we still have a lot, the storms might subside but there is always much much more." She said it but she was also looking over what they had and Seastone was directing the boat at fullspeed. "If it makes you feel better, we throttled the engines so much, if we did get stuck in another swell like that and had to use them there is a good chance we could hit some slight turbulence and then explode." The twi'lek said it as she was there with a small grin on her face when she was easing back and setting it to go forwaard. Her other hand going to bring out the map so she could orient herself and the boat.

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana stared at Seastone for a long moment, trying to decide whether that was reassuring or the exact opposite. Given her track record, there was an uncomfortable chance it wasn't a joke at all.

"I'm going to choose to focus on the part where we didn't explode," she said at last, folding her arms as she watched the Twi'lek confidently orient the map. "I feel like that's the healthier mindset."

She looked out over the open ocean ahead, grateful that the maze and its towering seaweed were finally behind them, even if the storms still loomed on the horizon.

"Let's just keep pointing the boat toward home," she said with a faint smile. "I'd like the remainder of this trip to be as boring and uneventful as the galaxy is willing to allow."

After a brief pause, she glanced back at Seastone.

"And if we're discussing possible explosions, I'd appreciate it if we kept them theoretical."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

Seastone looked at Ana like she had prouted a second head. "You... you want to go back." She made a point of looking at the storm behidn them. "We won't make it." Mistral was looking at her as he spoke. "She meant go back by way of the island theat is closer which is why we came this way." He said it with a look while offering a small moment but was looking at parts of it with interest. "THis is going to be a little boring and that is fine. I miss boring or at least uneventful."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana blinked at Seastone for a moment before following her gaze toward the storm they'd only just escaped. She quickly held up both hands in surrender.

"No," she said with an amused laugh. "Absolutely not. I have no desire to introduce myself to that storm a second time."

She shook her head, grateful when Mistral translated what she'd actually meant.

"Home by the safe route," she clarified. "Preferably one that doesn't involve murderous seaweed, whirlpools, hidden predators, or exploding engines."

Looking out over the calmer water ahead, she let herself relax against the railing.

"And boring sounds wonderful," she admitted with a contented smile. "I've discovered that uneventful is a very underrated way to spend a day."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

Seastone held her fingers up. "On my jedi honor, I had no intention of going through the storms around the dark islands for the third time or running into killer seaweed." She said it as they were going and Aya looked at her while she was moving towards the nose of the ship and looking outwards into the horizon. "We still have time and it will be boring for now. Just relax. Once we get to the island we'll be able to find something and selling what we need for a ship to get back." She said it and Mistral was looking at it but also going into his pockets. "Ahh, I am mostly water logged but have some credits... but if there is a bank I can get to my accounts."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana gave Seastone's raised fingers a skeptical look, though the promise of no more storms or murderous seaweed was enough that she wasn't inclined to question exactly what qualified as Jedi honor in this particular situation. "I'll hold you to that," she said with a faint smile. "Although I'm fairly certain invoking Jedi honor when you're not a Jedi makes the guarantee legally questionable."

Aya's invitation to relax sounded considerably more appealing. Ana found somewhere comfortable enough to settle, stretching her legs as she looked out over the comparatively peaceful water ahead. "Boring is exactly what I want right now," she admitted. "I don't need entertainment. I don't need treasure. I don't even need anything particularly comfortable. Just point me toward civilization and I'll be happy."

At Mistral's mention of credits, Ana instinctively considered what she still had available after everything they'd been through. "Between all of us, I'm sure we can manage transportation," she said. "If there's a bank or even a functioning network on the island, accessing accounts shouldn't be difficult." She settled back a little more, finally allowing herself to believe the worst might actually be behind them. "For now, though, I'm going to take Aya's advice and enjoy doing absolutely nothing."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

"You don't know my life story, what if I am secretly a jedi undercover to arrest the captain for her smuggling. Hmmm didn't think about that did you, maybe all of my skill is really secretly force hoodoo that allows me to do things no one else can." Seastone said it as she was looking at Ana with a nod and Aya looked at her as Seastone whispered loudly not taking it serious. "It is okay captain, we both know the real truth, we'll just tell her this for now and she won't know the difference." Mistral laughed with that though while he was checking on the repulsors to make surre they were clean and not clogged. Aya laughed while checking on some parts much the same.

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana merely shrugged, looking entirely unconvinced but willing to entertain the possibility for the sake of the conversation. "Maybe you are," she conceded with a faint smile. "I've never actually met a Jedi, so for all I know, this is exactly what one looks like undercover."

Her gaze shifted briefly toward Aya before returning to Seastone. "Although loudly informing your captain that you're secretly investigating her might need some work." She settled back comfortably, amusement lingering on her face. "But what do I know? Maybe that's part of the Force hoodoo."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

"Is it, or it is so out there and unexpecting it circles back around to being genius. FOrce power." She said it and her hands came out as she made a point of pointing at Anaa with a laugh over all of it. Mistral was looking at her and then as Ana with a small laugh as he was walking away and towards the hold to head down. The wife was the goal and it mattered less as he came down and looked at her. The wookiee wiping her head off. "How is she doing." The wookie roared for a moment as Mistral gave a nod of his head. "Well that is good, we can hopefully have her able to walk when we get to this island." He spoke as the wookie looked at him. "I don't know, whatever happened saying you were with them might be more dangerrous."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana watched Seastone's dramatic gesture with an expression that suggested she wasn't buying it, though the corner of her mouth betrayed her amusement.

"See, that's exactly why I don't think you're a Jedi," she replied. "I always imagined they'd be... quieter." She gave a small shrug. "Then again, I've never actually met one, so maybe they're all like this."

As Mistral disappeared below deck, Ana's attention followed him for a moment before the Wookiee's roar echoed back up from the hold. She couldn't understand a word of it, but Mistral's response was reassuring enough. The injured woman was improving, and after everything that had happened, that felt like one piece of genuinely good news.

The comment about claiming to be with them drew a soft laugh from Ana. "I suppose that's fair," she admitted. "If anyone asks, I think I'll just say I was an innocent passenger who made a series of increasingly questionable life choices." She glanced toward Seastone before adding with a dry smile, "It's also considerably more believable."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

Mistral was loloking at her and gave a small nod of his head. "Questionable decisions rule the day but there will be a lot more. Hopefully there is a bank there I can give some account number. I doubt the identifications I have are working after all of that water for now. Just need to holocall Kono and get him to be able to explain it or have some sort of ship for us." He spoke while Aya was looking at some of the equipment on the ship. SHe was opening more of the cargo crates with a look over them. "There isn't much we would be able to sell if we had to barter, some of the clothing might go a little but it will be better to make contact. Then it is just a matter of having a connection."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana nodded thoughtfully. She had been quietly taking inventory of the same problem. Between soaked equipment, uncertain communications, and a borrowed boat, credits alone weren't enough if they couldn't prove who they were.

"Getting in touch with someone is probably our best option," she agreed. "Banks tend to appreciate people proving they're actually themselves before handing over money." A small smile crossed her face. "I imagine walking in soaked, without working identification, and asking for access to an account is a conversation they've had before... just not one that ends quickly."

She glanced toward the open cargo crates as Aya searched through them. There wasn't much of value beyond practical supplies, and what there was would be more useful to them than as bargaining chips. "I'd rather keep what we have if we can," she said. "Replacing clothes is easier than replacing transportation, but I'd still rather not arrive home wearing whatever happens to fit after bartering away half the cargo."

Looking back out over the water, she allowed herself a small measure of optimism. "A holocall, a bank, and a ship home," she said. "Those are wonderfully ordinary problems. After everything we've dealt with, I'd be perfectly happy if the rest of this trip consisted entirely of waiting in line and filling out forms."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

Aya had a grin to that when she was looking over the rest of the cargo. "There isn't a lot you could barter here. Might be able to have a few upgrades or resupply but it would be a waste. THis isn't a long term vessel it is meant for quicker trips in and out. I need to get my baby back or a newer version of it. The beautiful style of it was so lovely and everyone liked it." SHe was speaking while going over some of the cargo and it wasn't much as Mistral came over looking at it. "Are all of these crackers?" He asked it and she looked at him. "Ration crackers, a little water and they get larger and you can use them as a filter. Dunk them in the water and let them dry out. The crackers will absorb the particulates and salt."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana watched Aya speak about her ship with a smile that was difficult to miss. It wasn't just transportation to the Twi'lek. It was something she had poured herself into, something she trusted. After the last few days, Ana could understand that attachment a little better.

"I hope you get it back," she said sincerely. "Or at least something close enough that it still feels like yours. It would be a shame to lose something you clearly care about that much."

Her attention shifted as Mistral questioned the crates. Ana picked up one of the ration crackers, turning it over curiously between her fingers. She raised an eyebrow at Aya's explanation.

"So they're emergency food, water filters, and apparently bricks if you throw them hard enough," she observed dryly. "I have to admit, that's more impressive than I expected from something called a cracker." She gave it one more skeptical look before setting it back in the crate. "Let's just hope we only need them for the first two purposes."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

Aya gave a nod. "It is beneficial if you are stuck in the ocean. THe filtering isn't perfect and the water will still be salty but you can at least survive better and will have food. Use it correctly and with a little filtering from the sunlight you can survive being stranded." Aya said it while she was looking at more. "There is also waterproof patches for preventing predators. It might not have been great but at least whoever stocked this planned for survival." Aya was speaking as she checked the other crates but was looking at Mistral. "Though these will be helpful if there are any problems. Last resorts but they are floatation rings, so you won't drown but they won't do much else. Just get them around your limbs to keep you on the surface."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana looked over the emergency supplies with a newfound respect. When she'd first seen the crates, she'd assumed they were little more than spare rations. Instead, every item seemed to have been chosen by someone who had spent enough time at sea to imagine every possible way things could go wrong.

"I have to admit," she said thoughtfully, "whoever stocked this vessel was either incredibly pessimistic...or incredibly experienced." She picked up one of the flotation rings, turning it over in her hands before setting it back where she'd found it. "I'm hoping we don't have to test any of this equipment, but I'm glad someone assumed we might."

Her gaze drifted out across the ocean before returning to Aya with a small smile. "It's funny. I spend most of my life making contingency plans for computers. Backups, redundancies, recovery procedures." She gestured toward the crates. "This is the same philosophy, just for people instead of data." She paused for a beat before adding dryly, "Although I still prefer restoring files to floating in the middle of the ocean eating crackers."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

"I don't know if it is every possible. THis is just the practical things that are needed. A boat without them isn't going to make it very far. Same with the spare fuel and power cells it has set up in the other compartments." Aya said it while she was going and they had cleared a place that the wife was able to be laid out and she wasn't awake and aware yet but he body wasn't as stiff and unable to be moved as it had been. SHe could be propped and covered at least to protect her eyes and body before Mistral was walking. "THe time getting there will hopefully also give her some chance to recover enough to move."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana glanced toward the recovering woman, relieved to see even small signs of progress. She wasn't awake yet, but she looked more comfortable than she had before, and that alone felt like a victory. Between Mistral, Aya, and the Wookiee, they seemed to know exactly what to do, adjusting blankets, watching her condition, and giving her the time she needed.

"I hope so," Ana said quietly. "She's already looking better than she did." She watched them work for another moment before letting out a small, self-conscious laugh. "Watching all of you has made me realize something."

She folded her arms loosely, shaking her head at herself. "I am spectacularly out of my depth out here." There wasn't any embarrassment in her voice, just an honest assessment. "Give me a malfunctioning computer or an encrypted network and I'll happily spend all night solving the problem. Put me on a boat with an injured person, and I'm mostly useful for staying out of the way."

A faint smile returned as she looked between the three of them. "I think, once I'm home, I'm going to enroll in a proper first aid course." She glanced back toward the woman resting under the blankets. "I'm hoping I never need it... but I'd rather be the person who can help than the one standing there wishing she knew how."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

Mistral looked at her and gave a nod of his head. "That sounds like a plan that can be done. I would recommend it as well as anything else you might think but you did better then you might think. No one was expecting all of that... or at least could have prepared for it." He said it with a grin though while walking and had a cracker with a look at it. "THis tastes like cardboard and chalk but I guess any food is good food." He said it while going and there was the fish that had been sliced as he was putting some fo it between the crackers and taking a bite. "Well that helps a little with the flavor and they absorb some of the juice so it isn't entirely dry."