Private Edge of the Abyss

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

Mistral was looking at her as he spoke. "With the amount of droids and computerrs that rise in places and aarmies I am a little surprised you haven't had as many dangerous adventures." He said it as he was moving aand checked on a few things that Aya had laid out. She waas making piles of what they had to barter and sell and what would be essential in these cases. He didn't see her selling the boat right away until she had something else but coubted there would be a good place to get rid of it. "We'll make it though, I plan to use the credits from this job to upgrade the office. Maybe get something for retirement."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana smiled faintly, following Aya's careful organization of the supplies before looking back at Mistral.

"Most of the dangerous parts of my job happen while I'm sitting in a comfortable chair," she admitted. "If something goes catastrophically wrong, it's usually a server crashing, not a giant spider or a storm trying to throw me into the ocean." She paused, considering the last few days with an amused shake of her head. "This has definitely expanded my definition of 'occupational hazard.'"

She looked toward the horizon, where the sea had finally begun to feel less threatening than it had only hours before.

"I think that's a good goal," she said sincerely. "An upgraded office sounds like money well spent. Somewhere comfortable to come back to after...adventures like this." A small smile lingered. "As for retirement, I hope you get there with enough stories that no one believes half of them."

Glancing around the boat at the eclectic group that had somehow made it through together, she chuckled softly.

"Although if anyone tells them Seastone was involved, they'll probably believe every word."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

"When it comes to retirement, I am just hoping to not be nearr the crazy twi'lek who throws me at a mountain. Those things are not kind." He said it though finding a place to sit as above there wasn't much and there was a viewport there. Where he could look out and was able to see more of the ocean but there was no islands and Seastone was following it as Aya was only looking at some of the older maps. "Well it will be easier, the maps have the islaand about a days travel if we are lucky and the wind is good. We can spare the repulsor engines in case of fuel and sail in under manual instead of electronics in case there is trackers in use on the ship."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana looked between Aya's charts and the endless stretch of open ocean ahead. After everything they'd been through, the prospect of spending a day under sail sounded almost luxurious. Slower, perhaps, but slower had become a quality she appreciated far more than speed.

"I'm completely in favor of whatever gets us there in one piece," she said with a small nod. "If that means taking an extra day under sail instead of announcing ourselves to anyone tracking the engines, it seems like an easy decision."

She settled back against the bulkhead, letting the steady motion of the boat replace the frantic chaos of the last several days.

"My standards have become surprisingly simple," she admitted with a quiet laugh. "I'd like to arrive without being soaking wet, shot at, chased by wildlife, or introduced to any more murderous plants. If we can manage all four, I'll consider this a successful voyage."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

Mistral gave her a nod to that. Getting a few moments and getting there in one piece was the important part as Aya was checking it but had the charts and she took it up to Seastone who was at the held and humming to herself. her lekku were going around her back with a nod of her head. "This is good, we can make it and if we don't no one will be able to say we failed cause they will not know how far we got or how close we were to getting to the goal. So there is that if you are worried about a loss on your record."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana stared at Seastone for a moment, waiting to see if there was another part to that particular piece of wisdom. When none came, a quiet laugh escaped her, and she shook her head. "That is an incredibly creative interpretation of failure." Somehow, she wasn't surprised that Seastone had found a way to turn disappearing forever into protecting one's reputation.

She shifted her attention toward the charts Aya had brought up, considerably more interested in the part where they apparently had enough resources to reach the island. "Fortunately, I'm not particularly worried about my record," she said with a small smile. "I'm much more invested in being alive afterward to complain about how we got there."

Ana settled back again, looking toward the horizon ahead of them. "So let's go with Aya's version," she added. "We make it to the island, find a way home, and everyone gets to know exactly how far we made it." Her smile widened slightly as she glanced back toward Seastone. "You can worry about preserving our legendary records on the next trip."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

"Oh we are getting a sequel... see I knew you were going to join us. Best buddy duo since the legendary Anakin and Obi-wan." Seastone said it when she was moving them aand she was exciting. "Seastone and Ana!" She said it loudly while she was going. "She's an awesome chick, she's a metal case, music's not her thing so I wrote our theme!" SHe was tapping the wheel. "I'm so talented! Copyright in capmando., Seastone and Ana copy and I'll sue!" Seastone was looking as she rocked out a little and Aya was looking over with Mistral and trying to keep from laughing. "...I think that the song should end right here."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana stared at Seastone as the impromptu theme song unfolded, somewhere between bewilderment and laughter. By the time the Twi'lek announced her copyright protections, Ana had given up trying to hold it back. She covered her mouth with one hand, laughing as she shook her head. "I don't remember agreeing to a sequel," she managed. "And I definitely don't remember agreeing to a theme song."

She glanced toward Aya and Mistral, catching their attempts not to laugh before turning back toward Seastone. "Also, I have several questions about why I'm apparently a metal case," she added, amusement still warm in her voice. "But I'm afraid asking might encourage another verse, so I'm going to exercise good judgment for once and leave that alone."

Aya's suggestion earned an immediate nod of agreement. "I think Aya is absolutely right." Ana settled back, still smiling despite herself. "End it there while it's still a classic." She paused before pointing lightly toward Seastone. "And for the record, if there ever is a sequel, I reserve approval rights over the soundtrack."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

Seastone looked at Ana for a moment and she spoke. "How can you not be... look at those... I know I have been. You got the buns of steel, muscles like beskar and a steely gaze." Seastone said it and Mistral was laughing from below as he came up. "Well you asked." He said it when he was looking at the water but able to see a lot more. The others were there as the wookie had found tools and was making sure the engines were clean and functioning as the wind was in the sails themselves. He was able to find a place though as he would be able to help with the engines if needed and in case anything came after them as he had his knife.

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana opened her mouth to respond, but after a second thought she decided there were some conversations that were probably better left unfinished. The warmth creeping into her cheeks certainly wasn't helping. "You know what? I'm not going to ask any more questions." She shook her head with a quiet laugh and turned away before Seastone could find another part of her anatomy to compare to a particularly durable metal.

Fortunately, there were considerably safer things aboard the boat to occupy her attention. Ana moved toward the opposite side where some of the equipment had been left, checking the lines and fittings Aya had shown her earlier and making certain nothing had worked loose with the constant movement of the vessel. She might not understand boats particularly well, but she'd learned enough over the last few days to recognize the things that needed to remain secured and the places where accumulated seawater or debris could become a problem.

"I'm going to make myself useful over here," she announced, keeping her attention very deliberately on what she was doing. A smile still threatened despite her efforts to suppress it. "Far away from any further discussion about my muscles, my gaze, or anything else Seastone has apparently been evaluating."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

Mistral avoided laughing as he worked with the wookiee inbsulting him every chance he got. The large shark came out of the water aand pulled herself up on the boat as she had some more fish but seemed to enjoy it a lot more. "The water is better here and at least clean." She said it while she was moving though and Aya came out to look at more of it. "Well that is good, the darkwater is at least not spreading out that far and we'll make it." She spoke but was going to the helm as she was speaking to adjust the course. Little by little and she had the sextant that was in the emergency supplies there to be able to manually navigate.

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana looked up from what she'd been checking when the shark hauled herself aboard with another collection of fish. Hearing that the water was cleaner earned a relieved smile. "Clean water, no killer seaweed, and nobody has mentioned exploding in at least a few minutes," she observed. "I think things are finally improving."

She moved closer to where Aya was working, watching with interest as the woman brought out the sextant. Ana understood the basic principle behind navigating by the stars, but actually doing it without a computer handling the calculations was another matter entirely. After everything she'd discovered she didn't know during this trip, she was beginning to appreciate just how many skills people took for granted when technology was available to do the work for them.

"I don't think I've ever seen anyone actually use one of those," she admitted, nodding toward the sextant. Her curiosity briefly got the better of her as she watched Aya make the necessary adjustments. "I've always had a navigation system available. It's strange realizing how quickly I'd be completely lost without one."

For now, though, she was content to leave navigation to someone who knew what she was doing. Ana returned her attention to keeping the equipment on her side of the boat secured and functioning, occasionally glancing toward the horizon. If Aya could guide them to the island without broadcasting their position or burning through the remaining fuel, Ana wasn't about to complain about how they got there. "Just keep pointing us toward civilization," she added with a small smile. "I'm becoming very fond of that direction."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

Aya only looked at her with a small frown as she spun her finger around. "I can point in any directions and eventually find civilization. The goal isn't to just find it though, the goal is to know what you will do once you are there." She said it and was checking the map and area but there was small adjustments. Mistel looked up and over though while he finished and for the moment at least the engine was clean.. he turned it back on for a moment to test it and then off... and then started reconnecting it to the main controls fo the ship for Seastone. He only took a moment to breath between engines when he slipped towards the second.

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana opened her mouth to answer Aya, then stopped and considered the point for a moment. It was difficult to argue with the logic. Pick almost any direction, travel long enough, and eventually they would probably encounter someone. Whether that someone had a functioning port, communications, transportation, or any desire to help a collection of bedraggled strangers was an entirely different question. "All right, that's fair," she conceded with a small laugh. "Civilization that can actually get us home. I'll be more specific with my wishes from now on."

Movement nearby caught her attention just as Mistral finished testing the first engine and started toward the second. His foot came down on a patch of wet decking and promptly shot out from beneath him. Ana's eyes widened as he slipped, and she instinctively reached toward him despite being too far away to offer much help. "Mistral!"

She hurried the few steps toward him, stopping close enough to offer a hand if he needed it. Her concern lasted only long enough to make certain he hadn't actually hurt himself before amusement began creeping into her expression. She pressed her lips together in an unsuccessful effort not to smile. "Are you all right?" she asked, offering her hand. "Because if you are, I'm reserving the right to laugh in about five seconds."

Ana glanced down at the wet deck and then back toward Aya, shaking her head as the absurdity of the last few days caught up with her again. "Apparently she was right about directions too," she added, looking back to Mistral with a growing smile. "Knowing where you're going is important. Especially when it's from one engine to the other."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

HIs movement had been careful he thought at first and slipped on the water. The small gap enough but then Ana was there as he was in agreement with her for it. A little laughter was important in situations like that as he took her hand and got himself back up. Taking only a moment before he was looking around with a nod. "Could be worse but at least falling n here won't mean smashing a rock." He said it as more of a joke in something that might be able to work. as he found a place to sit down and look up. "Thank you." There was a small moment as he breathed inwards and then released it. Letting the ship rock and relax him with a small nod of his head.

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana kept hold of his hand until Mistral was steady again, then let go with a quiet laugh at his assessment. "I suppose we've reached the point where falling onto the deck instead of a rock counts as good fortune." Considering everything they'd encountered since this adventure began, she wasn't entirely sure she was joking.

"You're welcome," she said warmly as he settled down. Ana remained nearby for a moment, watching him closely enough to make certain the fall hadn't hurt him more than he was admitting. When he seemed content to sit and let the rocking of the boat settle him, she relaxed as well. "Take a minute. The other engine isn't going anywhere."

She glanced toward the water still coating portions of the deck and shook her head with a small smile. "And maybe we should dry some of this before either of us demonstrates that particular maneuver again."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

He was looking at it and gave a nod of his head seeing the water slick boat and Aya looked over as she motioned. "There is a cleaner for the deck but mostly it will dry in the sun eventually." She said it while still navigating it but they were cleaning more of the fish and getting some of the crackers to make a platter that all of them would be able to eat and enjoy the moment. Mistral was moving a little but he looked at Ana and she was not wrong that the engines would still be there so he could relax and take a moment as least. He got the chance to sit down though while waiting there. "Good fortune is always welcome when traveling... better if it leads to something useful."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana glanced toward the deck at Aya's explanation and decided that letting the sun handle the problem sounded perfectly reasonable. There had been enough work involved in simply keeping the boat moving without inventing additional chores for themselves. Instead, she settled near Mistral, accepting some of the fish and crackers as they were passed around. It wasn't exactly the meal she'd imagined having when this trip began, but after everything they'd been through, sitting beneath the sun with food and relatively calm water felt surprisingly luxurious.

"Useful would be nice," she agreed, taking a bite before looking toward the horizon. "At this point, though, I'll settle for good fortune that doesn't immediately reveal some horrible downside five minutes later." She smiled slightly, realizing just how low the journey had managed to set her expectations.

Her gaze returned to Mistral as she relaxed a little more beside him. "Maybe that's the useful part," Ana suggested after a moment. "We get home knowing considerably more about what we're capable of than we did when we started." She glanced down at the questionable combination of ration cracker and fish in her hand before adding with a quiet laugh, "And I learned that apparently anything becomes edible if you're hungry enough. That's practical knowledge."

Mistral

 

[Mistral]

Ana Rix

"This is why you buy from Denon, their rations are for flavor and health while ensuring the surviva." Aya said it while she was there but had some of the fish with a grin. "It will be fine, you make everything seem so doomed. The adventure is what makes life worth it, whether we find a fozen dangers or breeze through the most important aspect is knowing that we never needed the feather we were the adventure all along." Aya said it and Mistral looked at her while she sat on one of the sections while leaving the deck how it was. "Just got to be ready for some fun and mystery. Much worse in space, stranger on other worlds. At least here you can see what is coming."

 

[Ana Rix]

Ana slowly turned her head toward Aya as the speech progressed, her expression shifting from skepticism to outright amusement somewhere around the declaration that they had been the adventure all along. "I don't think I'm making everything seem doomed," she protested with a quiet laugh. "I think the killer spiders, murderous seaweed, storms, and everything else have been doing an excellent job of that without my help."

She took another bite of the fish and cracker combination, conceding that the ration was considerably better with something added to it. "And I'm perfectly capable of appreciating an adventure," she added, glancing between Aya and Mistral. "I just prefer adventures where survival isn't the mystery we're trying to solve." Her smile softened as she looked out across the water. Despite all her complaining, there were parts of the experience she knew she'd remember fondly once she was safely home.

Mistral's observation about space earned a doubtful look from her. "I'm not sure 'at least you can see it coming' is as reassuring as you intended it to be." Ana leaned back comfortably, finally allowing herself to enjoy the relative peace while it lasted. "But fine. I'll try to appreciate the fun and mystery. Just don't expect me to start wishing for more of either. We've had plenty."

Mistral