Homecoming

[Coren Starchaser]

There was work to be done.

The trick was, the ship was on the Dawn Treader and it was very rare that a newcomer came to the nomadic vessel. The fact that Coren was still calling it nomadic was something else though, the Treader had been spending months around Laekia working to bolster the Levantine Sanctum’s defense fleet, since the fall of Annaj. Coren truly missed home but lately he’d been spending time aboard the Ruisto-class Event Horizon that was working to develop the Blood Trail. The vessel was marked as an Exploration Vessel from the Sanctum and most of the time, she was left to her own devices by anyone in the Regions.

But in an effort for some R&R, and to kind of open a little more of his enigmatic (well, he was hoping he was) history to [member="Spark Finn"], he made the offer to bring her around Laekia, and to show her the place he always referred to as ‘home-ship.’

Life aboard the vessel was simple. A small PMC really, was what Warbird Wing was. The visit was going to be short, but Coren’s brother needed to look at the Tachyon Rising, and it’d probably take a day or two. And there was also the delivery of the WhisperDrive. And Coren was very excited for that. Pulling the Rising into the hangar he made to grab his flight jacket, the dark maroon Warbird Wing jacket, and looked to Spark.

“So, you ready? Ship needs repairs, shouldn’t be here longer than a standard day, two at the most.” Plus, sort of Christmas.

****

Three Weeks Prior

While Coren was adventuring around the Unknown Regions and running missions for the Underground, it was obvious that he needed to fix a situation. Spark Finn, his new (and hopefully permanent) co-pilot and techno-mage didn’t have her own ship. Now, it didn’t see to bother the girl, but Coren was part of a nomadic vagrant vessel. For him, not having a persona ship was a life sentence into exile. Even the young members of the ship’s families were given vessels for their Odyssey.

And that was what started him thinking. There were several drafts of ships, with concepts and modules drawn up in the main chamber of the Tachyon Rising, but he kept coming back to a few things. While he could procure most things, call a favor from the Merrill family for a lot of it, psychometricize the rest of it, he needed a few purchases. And the first was the crown of the vessel. That was the engine. The most important piece.

He found himself in the Techno Union space, name and ship disguised. He was Kyle Topol, and the Rising was merely Hawk, his old squadron. Still, he made his meeting on time and was waiting for the sales representative. It was a contract, but it was also, most importantly, a point of sale. And he knew the big wigs in the Techno Union would take his money.

It was good.

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

These days, it was rare for Finn to spend time apart from Coren. The Galaxy was fethed up and therefore, had plenty of missions for the duo to go on, sometimes with other underground members and sometimes without. Regardless, they worked well as a team and their work with the Khommite refugees and hyperdrive building confirmed it.

Coren had finally earned the blond's trust....mostly, minus the few things she still had to talk to him about. But they had a rhythm together and the rest of the stuff would come up eventually. She wasn't in a rush. Overall, it seemed natural to take a visit to his home-jam. And the R and R time couldn't hurt. Some annual leave was always a good thing.

She even managed to tear her eyes from the datapad that seemed glued to her pale fingers.

"Yeah. Stang Coren, home ships always this big?" She grabbed a small backpack and went to follow Coren out on his home turf. She didn't own much and always traveled light. It was easier that way. Most her nerd tech took priority and room over fancy clothes, anyway.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Three Weeks Prior

There was a lot going on in the galaxy, and Coren knew that. It was why he had found himself on Hypori, and in the Santhe Office. What he was doing was making a deal here. He had a project that he was working on to help someone he was working to protect. And that was exactly what he was going to do. Give them the best he was capable of. When the woman approached him, a dark haired thing, with an Imperial lilt to her speech, he nodded.

“I’ve been told to come here when I want the best of the best.” Was how Coren began. He had his eyes on the WhisperDrive, obviously, and that was exactly what he was going to purchase. When the woman smiled, she looked at the terminal and indicated Coren step forward.

He took a seat at the desk as she started typing on keys, small talk to warm up to the man.

***

Current Day

[member="Spark Finn"] was one of those people that just seemed to have her stuff together. Coren could feel it most of the time, maybe it was the fact that they had a rapport that he felt she had her things together. A bit space brained, but when she got into her zone? You could be damned sure things were going to be done and done right.

The Unknown Regions would still be there two days later and the Underground could (most likely) survive without them for a few days. It’d be, what? Four days tops with travel time? Depending if the new ship could keep up with the paces Coren would be throwing her through, keeping up with the Tachyon Rising was not an easy feat.

Coren was basically the Steve McQueen of Star Wars.

The one thing that the man did like to chase, and was always a sure thing, was adrenaline, and it was obvious in the way he flew. But here? Home-ships? He knew of a few groups, Vagrant and Migrant fleets out there that lived like this. “Dawn Treader is unique, she’s an old girl, but still home. Shes an old Imperial-style destroyer, 1600 meters of war ship turned hybrid for living space. Care for a tour?” How long had it been since he was back? How long since Kelly was gone?

He know he’d run into Lily, and Scall, probably Jared. Oh that last one, that was going to be tricky.

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

She nodded, trying to get that nuna in the speeder-lights look off her face. This place was huge, which meant, they would probably run into other people living there. For some reason she hadn't factored that in.

Socializing.

GULP.

"Lead on, Captain," she tried to sound brave as her thin fingers tightened their grip around the strap of her backpack. She could always sneak back on board here....hide and come up with a perfectly good excuse to tell Coren in the meantime.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

That was the trick, wasn’t it? Having the blonde around him while he was here. People knew that people moved on, and he wasn’t sure how much his former ship-mates would be thinking this was that, and… not whatever it was. What was it between these two, anyhow? It didn’t matter, not right now, maybe not ever. Though he was curious as to her thoughts. It was standard practice for Coren to not try to gleam anything off the people on his team, unless they knew what was going on, or it was life or death. He’d get it in Spark was shocked, but besides surface… murmurs? She was pretty guarded, or he just kept back.

Captain, though? Was that standard for her? He couldn’t remember right now. The feelings of being home, that was new. And well, he was part of the like… governing piece here, unless Jared was around, then his son would supersede him, due to not being active in ship issues. Coren was… away. But not exiled.

She could stay on the ship, but… well, the food was better on the Dawn Treader. “…Hungry?” Right, for once, Coren Starchaser was awkward.


Three weeks prior

Coren, or shall we say Kyle Topol, was not awkward here. He was charming. He was everything that was needed when you were discussing purchasing a very expensive, high end engine for a starship. He made the small talk and had perfect reasons for the need of the engine. He was creating a vessel that would allow safe passage of someone who would much rather not drawn attention to themselves. And that was true. He didn’t want attention drawn to [member="Spark Finn"].

The vessel? She was being created, and it was easier buying parts from the source. Simple.

That was really all that came up there. The ship would go into Santhe for servicing of the engine every six months. Sure, it would, of course, and actually, it probably would. He’d have to see if any of his connections could keep the ship secret, though. Not that he had anything to hide, he just didn’t want to ruin anything for her pilot.

Simple.

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

She followed Coren out of the Tachyon. The edge of her shoulder brushed against Coren's arm but she didn't seem to notice. Blue-eyes beneath glass lenses were too busy soaking everything in. Head tilted at an uncomfortable angle as she looked up the roof of the hangar.

"What?"

Attention slowly came back to the man, himself. What did he ask her? Speckled-face blinked up at him.

"Oh--food," she immediately lowered her voice, realizing it carried in the vast-space. Pale-cheeks flushed. "Yeah, let's eat. Who else is here, Coren," converse-clad feet shifted nervously next to the spacer.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Was this her first time on a war ship? He was noticing, because this was home, it was second nature to him, it was where he was from and with Corellia gone the only place he would defend with his life. Place, not person. But still, this was where his heart truly lie. The ship, like the ones of sail on seas, had so much that made them a ship. But what made them YOUR ship? That was love. That was you putting your heart and soul into a vessel. The Tachyon Rising was his, the Dawn Treader’s was his family’s the whole extension of it.

He felt her bump into him and grinned, shaking his head a bit. So, she could look away from the datapad. Good to remember. He only hoped that the ship’s system allowed for the new datapad to hit the holonet from here. He figured it would, but… sometimes it got cranky with certain models. How much of a scare would that give Spark?

“What do you mean, who else?”

Really, it was an honest question.

***

As “Kyle” was signing the paper work, he made sure to contact the Event Horizon, the Ruisto frigate that would meet the shipping vessel. Apparently they’d be able to get as far as Bespin, but not beyond that into the (sadly, Andrew, SADLY) former Fringe Federation Space. They’d make delivery of the engine within three days. Which gave Coren plenty of time to take in the Techno Union.
And that meant he was going to spend a few days here, then take delivery, meet the Dawn Treader and transfer the engine to his little work shop.


[member="Spark Finn"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

Spark would have a fricken-eh heart attack if she couldn't access cyberspace on her datapad. Luckily with force wizardry combined with her natural slicing skills, that was rarely a problem. Luckily even more, she wasn't thinking about that right now.

"I mean," she picked nervously at blond hair. "This place is ginormo. I imagine there are others living here. Or, do you keep it all to yourself?"

 

[Coren Starchaser]

He looked around the pretty empty flight deck. Shift change, and the fighters were out on patrol. He figured it was better than bringing her in when the full Wing was here, drinking at the Aerie just off the hangar floor. Still, in the distance a few TIE Exalts were seated, one was specialized for Coren, another, painted matte black, was for the Ship Commander, Lily Ardellian. Shift change though, they weren’t on any kind of mission, and just training patrols for the pilots, so it was pretty empty.

“She’s got a full complement of staff, a bit less than the normal Star Destroyers of her era, but we’ve also made this into a bit of a home. Non-combatants are aboard ‘er a well. Families.” His kids were born here, after all. Oh that was going to be a fun topic. “She houses a three full squadrons of TIE Starfighters, about two dozen personal shuttle craft, and several floors are designed to mimic a city, in a way, holographic ceilings and the like. Hardly can tell you’re living on a space ship.” Mostly.

“But food, then I got somethin’ to show you.” And to avoid a topic.

He nodded down the hall off the hangar, one he’d walked after so many triumphant returns home. He touched a holo on the hallway wall, without evening thinking. The first Warbirds, the ones who returned and made this ship a home. The ones who lead them from ‘Emperor’ Larsen and into Chiss space, and freedom.

***

The ship’s engine arrived right on time, and Coren was there, in the Rising, running a screen near the delivery vessel. The crew of the Event Horizon knew what needed to be done. Take delivery, pay the man and organize a meet with the home-ship. The majority of the staff on Horizon were from the Treader and seeing their home, and bringing the pair of vessels together would be something they waited on.

It was a bit off, but not, they were a migrant people, warrior-nomads, and some were more interested in the exploration and safe passage of a space lane, that was why they were selected. They’d never keep the Treader out of their thoughts, and would return from whatever mission they were on to defend her. That was how they worked.

After spending a bit of time scouting, and linking up with criminal organizations, in the Techno Union, he was happy to be back, and to be heading to Laekia. Plus, he figured he had a lecture to give.

Work, work work.

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

She usually lacked intuition about feelings and emotions - so opposite from Coren. But, she couldn't shake the feeling like he was holding something back. Nose crinkled slightly in thought. "So, this is a like a mini-floating city?"

She was torn between checking systemy-things on her datapad and feeling out the systems of the destroyer through the force and mechu-deru. She stared at the holo he touched for a moment, before scurrying to catch up with his lengthier form. "How long did you say you lived here?"

She was curious now and oddly talkative and bursting with questions. But she couldn't quite shake the shy-lilt in her tone. The tip of her nose caught the smell of something good.

And her stomach grumbled in anticipation.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The ships, Treader and Horizon had met outside the Galactic Core, opposite of the Sith and Republic active war zones. It was a quick movement for the vessels, meet, take a jump, then two and arrive outside the Bespin system. From there, a few days of shore leave, seeing loved ones and families that were separated by the two vessels. Once the ships had secured themselves from scanners, they made the move of the supplies, some from the ImpStar and to the Ruisto and others the reverse. Coren had acutally followed the warship-home-ship with the Rising and docked, getting the ship that was being constructed ready for the engine.

And then he had to get back out there, there was work to be done, planets to scout.

Always work to be done, and he couldn’t let the Horizon get all the glory, so it was back at it. That was three weeks ago. Still, he left his brother with instructions to have the ship he was dubbing Paladin ready. She wasn’t officially named, not yet.

That was three weeks ago, when he met with Santhe and secured the engine.

***

He looked at Spark as they were walking. She was… what watching? See? He didn’t really realize he was doing things. Probably left over from before he took his chill. That was still and odd bit, how that happened, he was getting some gleams. But not enough. Maybe it was a good thing he was here. It was like he was remembering a few years, but… not. Time was still fethed for him, and that was a probably for timeline continuity with the writer.

Sort of.

“Floating city? Sort of. I mean, we bring in a share of traders every so often to help spice things up, but its… paramilitary, survival and what not. Empire isn’t good to everyone that served.” The Wing and Nightstingers were a clear example, living on this ship, going between worlds and along the starlanes.

Right, how long did he live here? Lily said a few years, but he wasn’t sure if she counted like… everything. Eighteen he entered military service, according to his personal datacron. Met Kelly, served for what, total of eight years before Jared came ‘round, two years later got Kaia, then it was… now. Or like… the Rapture.

They were walking towards the mess hall and that was when Lily showed up. Great. Perfect timing, NPC o’ Corey and expander of the story.

“Starchaser, here, has been with us since the beginning of the Wing, that was… what, ten years before everything went south? But got him back…” She waggled her hand. “More or less intact.” And Coren was staring at the woman, not sure what the hell she was going to bring up. But the pale, dark haired woman gave Coren a hug before turning to Spark. “And you must be [member="Spark Finn"]. Admiral Lily Ardellian, retired, of the Dawn Treader. Jared mentioned something about Coren bringing someone ‘round. Dinner’s just startin’ to be served. Help yourselves.” She smiled at Coren before making her rounds again.

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

"Thanks. Erm, Lily. I mean, Admiral Lily!" Spark promptly sealed her lips. Yay, more fun social awkward interactions for the slicer!!!!!!

"She seems nice," keen-eyes followed the woman as she left. Small talk to build up to her next question. "Alright Coren. Spill. What's the wing? Things going sour? Jared?"

Eyes lowered a bit. Back to the tops of her sneakers. "But if it isn't my pace - just tell me." Eyes lifted again to meet his.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Why did he feel like he was taking a girl home for the first time, all of a sudden? Right, because Lily was, well, at one time a lover of his, they were both fighter pilots, all those sorties together? Yeah, you couldn’t and didn’t want to help some things. It was like thrice. Maybe. Still... Spark, in typical Spark fashion was being her awkwadorable self.

Co-pilot, Coren. Co-pilot.

“She is. Tough sumbitch, though. One of the strongest protective Force users I’ve ever met.” She was a master of throwing walls up, mentally and physically. He was pretty sure she almost was able to nullify the Force sometimes.

He nodded to the mess line. Gesturing for her to move first, as they started walking he began. “I’ve told you about my past, haven’t I? Worked for the Empire, well, an Empire?” He was fairly sure they went over the strike wing, nomadic war vessel. But… he could be mistaken.

The Jared bit, he’d wait to tell her about that until they were both seated.

[member="Spark Finn"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

"Protective force user. I can understand that." Slipping into the line first, she got a tray and began taking a little of everything. The slicer ate like a bird, little bits throughout the entire day. But she also liked to try new foods. Mostly.


"Yeah. Paramilitary stuff," index finger came up to shove the slightly askew black-rimmed glasses further up the bridge of her nose. "But you never talked about someone named Jared. Or stuff going....south." The glasses fixing hand came up to air quotes as she got to the end of the line and picked up some kind of liquid that looked like juju berry juice.

It was clear she wasn't going to drop this.

"Where should we-uh, sit?"

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Coren had his favorite meals, the chef team on board did their job well, and he was happy to see some of his old favorites. He wasn’t an announced guest, and Lily had done her best to keep it quiet, but every so often a pilot or officer would walk up to him, not necessarily in line, but while the pair were going about their activities aboard the Dawn Treader with a ‘hello sir’ or a salute, some muttering his callsign of ‘Hornet,’ something he earned a long time ago for his flight style. Fly in, close the gap between your target and stay to their blind spots. Light them up with laser fire, save missiles for when you really needed them.

This wasn’t was flight holo-game where you got bombs by flying through them. No matter how badly Star Fox was almost a thing here.

He filled up his tray and waited… Right, South, Jared. That meant Kaia too. Great, not exactly something he was looking forward to.

Nodding over to a table, Coren saw a few people get up. He nodded to one, a male. “Lieutenant.” One of his son’s wingmen, was what that was.

“Okay, well, where do you want me to start? The names? The South? The beginning?” This was not going to be fun for him.

[member="Spark Finn"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

Scooching in across from Starchaser, bony-shoulders shrugged. She felt very much like a foreigner here. Everyone clearly knew Coren and respected him a lot. She, of course, didn't know anyone.

It didn't bother her; it was just an observation. It made her, unconsciously, stick a little closer to Coren's side. She ate a scoopful of greens and finished a quick munch before answering.

"Why don't you start at the beginning?"

 

[Coren Starchaser]

A foreigner? Everyone was here for their own reasons, some were here because they ended up here, others because they just found their partners here. Still others? They needed a job and this was a place for misfits. This was his home though, he was formerly part of an experiement by high command. A unit full of people with other skills, and non-Sith dark siders.

He sat and looked over at her and nodded. “Right.”

Looking at his food, he started to munch at a few fries, simple for now. “Well, I mentioned the unit, Warbird Wing. We flew together, a bunch of misfits with insubordination records, and a few skills beyond flying.” Criminals with Imperial training, some of them. Him included, smuggler and all that. “Received some Force training. Dark side. Some Sith stuff, but only enough to know they’re mynock-chit crazy. Hence why I go after them. Jedi ain’t all they say, either but that doesn’t matter here.

“Anyway, we were working for this warlord. He claimed himself the full Emperor, whatever. Then we kind of had to split. There was a price on us all, and we made for the Unknown Regions. That’s when things started to go a bit… odd. Met Kelly, things were going normal.” Right and he was going to stop himself right there for a second.

First comes love, seconds comes baby, then third comes another baby and fourth comes a cryo nap.

[member="Spark Finn"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

She listened quietly. She was good at that. He had told her about the darkside stuff, maybe a little more cryptically than what he was saying now. With her history, she couldn't judge him but she still had to work hard from cringing. She agreed with him on the jedi even if it was partly due to her memories being mind-frakked without her knowledge.

She finished off the greens and went for some of the grilled nuna.

"Go on," voice was soft as if she was scared that a reminder of her presence would cause him to stop talking, to stop sharing about his past.

Plain and simple, she cared about Coren with all those missions together. She didn't know what those feelings looked like. But she definitely cared about him.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

He didn’t want to scare her off. There was something about the girl that… well, he felt find around her. And that was something new. He felt he could be himself, even if that wasn’t always the best thing. But still… There was talking to be done, and not keeping secrets from his trusted co-pilot-tech-expert? Yeah, that didn’t seem like the thing to do. As for the Jedi? Anyone who got too crazy, they needed to be taken down a peg. Or seven.

Right, fried potatoes (not boiled, mashed nor stuck in a stew) were finished off. And seafood was his main course. A bit odd on this vessel, but it meant that the last supply trip was less than 24 hours ago. Greens and seafood would be freshest. Not chilled.

Yeah. “So, I guess I could skip ahead. For a moment. Stuff happened between meeting Kelly and now, but it… kind of didn’t?” In a way. “From what I’m regaining, there was a battle. A Sith had tried to take down this ship. Kelly and I pursued him. Something happened and I woke up… what? Lily says 17 years later? World was all sorts of different. Started flying with the Fringe, keeping the Unknown Regions locked down. Meeting Jared, meeting Kaia.” He waggled his hands.

And now he stepped on that issue.

You were supposed to tear band-aids off fast, right?

Right, after this, could they please go see what he'd been working on for her?

Completely a normal thing, to build a girl a starship, right?

[member="Spark Finn"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

She stopped eating in an attempt to tune-in more on what Coren was saying. He was throwing out a bunch of names that she had no background on, except the one she just met. She did take a sip of the juju juice.

"Kelly, Jared, Kaia? And what do you mean - you woke-up? Were you cryo'd?"