Private Location: Tiaza's Purr, Time unknown. RED-1 meets crew

[RedSword77]

The view lit up on the old Droid, and systems flashed as it started up, while the system checks persisted. Green tabs began to appear as the systems came online and became operational. Everything was a bit fuzzy as his memories came back to him most of the time. To a droid, this was not a problem, but for RED, it was normal. He was not sure whether it had ever undergone a memory wipe.

That was something all droids hated, not that their operating systems and skills were reset, but that their experience or old ties to their former masters were erased. It was like having part of your life being taken away from you.

RED turned its head a few times, going through different modes of vision. It was in a cargo container again. RED was not a happy droid, constantly waking up in containers. Moving a few parts, it took into account its surroundings. Then touched the release on the container. The Droid waited as the sides fell away with a clank as they hit the decking. The Droid looked around, not recognizing the surroundings. Another cargo hold is stuck in the Droid thought.

Standing up, it turned on its search light, looked around, and recorded what I saw for further reference if needed. IT moved its arms and hands, setting everything in place, then took a few steps to test its legs. RED surveyed the other boxes, then moved to the nearest door, of course. It was locked. RED let out a sigh. Rescue droids did have a set of special skills for this type of thing. If they had to rescue someone behind a door, they did not want to always break or cut through it or a bulkhead.

It looked at the pad beside the door, it was a newer version, and thought that odd how long it had been in standby mode. It took a bout a minute to get the door open, RED peard in to the hall, and another presence could be felt. Something was different with this ship and its computers.

RED-1 took a step out of the cargo bay and waited to see if someone would show up.

 

[Meri Vale]

Meri hadn't meant to linger in the cargo hold—she only wanted to verify the manifest tags before the next departure window. But when one of the container indicators flickered from dormant blue to a pulsing amber, her steps slowed.

"That… shouldn't be active," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

Before she could retreat to call someone more qualified, the container's release clamps disengaged with a series of rapid clicks. The metal panels folded outward and hit the deck with a jarring clang that echoed through the hold.

Meri jumped, her notebook slipping in her hands before she managed to catch it against her chest.

A droid rose from within the container.

Not a simple loader unit. Not a courier model. Its frame was older in design but modified in ways she couldn't immediately place—sleek in some places, worn in others, as if many different lives had been layered into one machine.

Its optical sensors cycled through modes, scanning the shadows. When its searchlight swept across the bay, Meri instinctively stepped back into the glow, not wanting it to think she was hiding.

She swallowed, breath tight in her chest, and forced her voice to emerge.

"H–hello."
It came out softer than she intended.

She cleared her throat, trying again.
"Um… are you operational?"

The droid stepped out of the container, steady and purposeful. Meri shrank back a half-step without meaning to, fingers tightening on the worn spine of her notebook.

"This hold… wasn't supposed to be occupied," she added quickly, eyes flicking from the fallen panels to the unit's illuminated sensors. "I—I didn't activate you. I didn't touch anything."

She wasn't afraid, exactly.
Just careful.
Unsure of the proper way to greet a machine that seemed to wake up confused in a place it clearly didn't expect to be.

"If you need assistance," she offered quietly, "I… can try to find someone who knows more than I do."

Her voice wavered slightly at the end.

But she didn't run.

RedSword77

 

[RedSword77]

Reading the voice started analyzing it, checking whether he knew it, and the condition of the person behind it. It was in the galactic basic standard as it identified it. After some analysis, RED picked up that the person was usually quiet and polite. Maybe even shy.

RED stopped, turned towards the voice, and looked at the young girl. RED eyes flickered as it did a passive medical scan. What he could see was that the young girl was slender and soft-featured with narrow shoulders and a delicate build. Her hair is a deep chestnut-black tied back in a simple braid. At the same time, her eyes are a smoky gray that reflects light like polished stone, startlingly expressive. An Epicanthix is considered.

Her features include a heart-shaped face, soft cheekbones, and a subtle melancholy to her eyes. She was dressed in a soft tunic and trousers, with worn boots, but standing with a noble posture. No matter how she tried to hide it. Faint scarring was visible through the scan.

The young girl. She cleared her throat, asking Red-1 a question. It looked at the perimeters of its opening standing. They all checked out except the power, that is why the droid was activated. The power level was dangerously low. "Yes, young Master, I am operational but vary low on power," replied the Large Droid. "I apologize if I frightened you. I will not harm you in any way." added the droid, its voice even being mechanical was soothing in its tone.

The large droid took a step towards the young girl. RED-1 is built much like a Zed 501-Police Droid, but is slightly larger. It has a dirty, dark body with dull red markings. RED-1 stands 2.0 meters tall and is covered in a shock-resistant Armor Reinforced Durasteel. Duracrete and Cortosis components make someone think it is a formidable opponent for any problem that comes its way.

"I do not know this ship or crew. I will assume I am assigned to this ship and crew. what is your name Master?" the droind asked politely.

Meri Vale , @ Sorr Kortu

 

[Roark Garnett]

Tiaza's Purr was a fine ship, one of the finest this side of The Max Roark had ever seen. All she needed to be perfect was a cargo hold full of contraband.

And perhaps him in the pilots chair one day. But that was down the road. For now Roark´s job was to get a cargo, something almost legal and lucrative. Yes, his fingers itched to fly the lady himself, it just came natural to him.

One day, perhaps. Stranger things happened in the galaxy.

Until that happened it was safety in numbers in case Leebo´s bone breakers showed up to collect the Rodians debt. Fly under their sensors so to speak, make some credits and have someone around to watch his back.

All things considered the fairest deal Roark had gotten in a while with guys that seemed decent enough and he´ll stick to it for sure.

Roark wandered the ship got to know her and checked out the inventory.

When he went into the cargo bay he found some of the inventory alive and kicking.

Not just the young lady who looked at him a bit like he was a rancor on the loose clearly startled by his appearance.

He had shaved, right? Yes, check.

Blaster tucked away under the coat? Check.

So nothing about him to be afraid of.

There was a droid Roark hadn´t expected either. It just stepped out of a crate and somehow Roark had a feeling this guy had been sort of a cargo, trying to get his act together again.

Didn`t look exactly like a battle droid. That was good news so Roark tried the universal greeting that half trhe galaxy answered to.

"Hey you. Do you come here more often?"

RedSword77 Meri Vale Sorr Kortu

 

[Meri Vale]

Meri's fingers tightened faintly around the spine of her notebook when the droid turned, its optical sensors flickering as though examining something far beyond what her eyes could see. The tone of its voice—gentle despite the metallic undertone—eased a little of the tension coiled beneath her ribs.

"O–operational," she echoed softly, more to reassure herself than confirm anything. Her gaze lifted to the dull red markings across its plating, then up—far up—to meet the glow of its lenses.

"I…wasn't frightened," she tried, though the slight tremor in her voice betrayed her. A pause. "Not…badly."

When the droid stepped closer, she stepped back instinctively, boots scraping lightly on the deck. He wasn't threatening—just large, built of metal and purpose, a creature no one would ever accidentally overlook. Her shoulders rounded slightly, as if trying to make herself smaller in comparison.

"My name is Meri," she said, voice barely above the ambient hum of the ship. "Meri Vale. And I don't…I don't think you were assigned here. You weren't listed in the manifest." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with a nervous gesture.

"We can—um—get you to a charging port. Before your power drops too low."

Before she could say more, the cargo bay door hissed open behind her. She startled visibly.

A human man stepped into the room, casual in a way that felt entirely out of place among fallen crate panels and towering droids. His greeting was… unexpected.

"Hey you. Do you come here more often?"

Meri blinked. She wasn't sure which "you" he meant. Or whether he realized she was standing there, very much wishing the floor would politely swallow her.

"I—um—no?" she answered uncertainly, one hand lifting in a tiny, reflexive wave before she realized she'd done it. "I…just came to check the cargo list. I didn't mean to—"

Her gaze flicked to the droid. Then back to the man. Then down at her boots, as though they might offer guidance. "…interrupt anything." Her voice dwindled into a soft, embarrassed murmur. She had definitely interrupted something.

Roark Garnett RedSword77

 

[RedSword77]

RED-1 looked at the human man, its eyes flickering again with the new person. There was a pause, then the RED-1 unit took a defensive posture. "Master Meri, I am RED-one, a medical rescue droid. I was part of a mentafest at some point. Be careful, the man is armed with a blaster. It showed on my scans of his body. "Informed RED-1, its tone was level and calm, like this sort of thing happened every day.
Brown-haired and blue-eyed, a lanky human man, in old navy boots and a spacer's jumpsuit, wearing an oversized, brown coat. The shiny brass buttons glinted in the light. The coat hid a shoulder holster with his DL-18 blaster pistol. 32 standard human. His Height is 1.87 meters tall. Approximate weight was 86 kilograms, with a few marks indicating a hard life.
The droid just stood there like it was waiting for something, just staring at the man. "Sir, are you part of the crew of this ship?" the droid asked, sounding curious about the man.

Meri Vale Roark Garnett Brinna Dara Sorr Kortu

 

[Sorr Kortu]

Sorr snored inside of the Captain's Quarters. It had been a long trip across the stars with the crew doing multiple jobs just to maintain the hyperdrive which was leaking for the past month. The last thing Sorr wanted was to be stuck in the middle of the Unknown Regions something which Brinna Dara was insisting in going to because there was supposedly more credits to be made. Sorr wouldn't risk himself nor the crew especially given the craziness that's been happening in the Galaxy lately well..... crazier than usual. With Alliance collapsing and the Sith Empire on the rise, the last thing Sorr wanted was to be in the crosshairs of some crazy Sith.

He and Brinna argued over the logistics of taking more high paying Smuggling gigs but Sorr remained firm in his stance which was a miracle considering that he found himself as a spineless wimp. Sorr tossed and turned on his bed, he'd been asleep for about 10 hours now. Being a Captain was hard work especially when there's new crew to greet and show around the ship...... But once Sorr is rested he'll introduce himself to the new crewmates..... eventually.

Meri Vale RedSword77 Roark Garnett

 

[Liin Terallo]

I had put out an anonymous advertisment on the holonet for offering my services as a scientist for hire. Knowing that the Black Sun was looking for me, as well as plenty of others; I needed to be as discreet as possible. Fortunately my face is not widely known. Nor is my name, for the most part. I am one of the billions of unknowns that has slipped through under the radar of most of the Galaxy's superpowers. It certainly helps that I have not participated in any of the wars.

My advertisement was answered almost immediately. And while not knowing if it would be the only one that responded to it; I decided to take the offered position. Now what it entirely entails is unknown to me, yet I am confident that I can back out if ever I need to. However, I am in desperate need of the credits to fund the final phase of my research. That, and to have credits on hand to pay off any bounty hunters that stumble upon me here. The last thing that I need is for my research to fall into the wrong hands.

I did not tell Vex Drakkon what I was doing, yet I had left him a note telling him where I was headed. If he could keep a watchful eye on my laboratory, that would be wonderful. Yet the Jedi was his own man and not hired by me. So he was free to do whatever he had wanted. I had secured all of the necessary components of my research in a hidden cache; so I am not worried about anyone stealing it. Even him. Only decoy notes and decoy vials were visible should anyone try to steal my work.

Now I find myself staring at a ship who's hull has seen better days. In my old life I would of looked into bio-enhanced durasteel in what might be a complete retrofit. But I am not in that line of work no longer.

Quietly I walk up the ramp, dressed in what would be considered casual for me; a blouse, long skirt, boots, and a long coat. In either hand I carry two cases; one with spare clothing and the other with some of my laboratory equipment.

The ship looked just as derelict on the inside as it was on the outside. Could they even afford to pay me? Hopefully looks were deceiving.

I heard some voices up ahead, their sounds echoing through the corridor. I began towards them; adding to them with my own voice, calling out with a distinctive; "Hello?"

Tags: RedSword77 Meri Vale Roark Garnett Sorr Kortu

 

[Meri Vale]

The moment RED-1 shifted into a defensive stance, Meri's breath stopped short in her throat. The droid's calm warning—be careful, the man is armed—hit her harder than the words themselves, as if cold water was poured down her spine.

"A–armed?" she whispered, instinct pulling her back a small, trembling step until her shoulders brushed the nearest crate. Her hands tightened around the notebook she carried, the familiar shape grounding her enough to keep her from bolting outright.

She dared a glance at the man the droid had identified. Lanky. Blue-eyed. Harmless-looking at first—until she followed RED-1's meaning and noticed the way his coat sat unevenly over one side. Not dangerous, not overtly threatening…but definitely armed. Definitely a stranger.

Her heart fluttered unevenly.

" I-I don't…I didn't know anyone else was aboard," she managed, her voice small, barely carrying over the hum of the cargo bay. She wasn't accusing him—just overwhelmed, caught between two unknowns and a droid who sounded far too clinical about blaster scans.

RED-1's question—Sir, are you part of the crew of this ship?—hung heavily in the air.

Meri swallowed, gaze flicking between them both.

"I'm sorry if we startled you," she offered quickly to the man, more out of reflexive politeness than anything else. "RED-1 just…woke up. And I didn't mean to intrude either, I was only checking the manifest—"

A new voice echoed faintly through the corridor.

"Hello?"

Meri froze again, her shoulders tightening as her eyes darted toward the open hatchway. Another person. Her pulse climbed sharply. She pressed back slightly against the crate, not hiding, but trying to make herself smaller, less of a target or obstacle.

Her voice, when it came, was barely above a whisper. "O–over here…"

She wished it sounded braver. She wished she didn't sound like a frightened child. But she stayed. Even afraid, she stayed.

Liin Terallo Sorr Kortu RedSword77 Roark Garnett

 

[Roark Garnett]

Roark raised his hands in a defensive gesture

"Nice to meet you RED-1. And likewise a pleasure meeting the young lady. No worries, Yes I´m part of the crew. The name is Roark. Roark Garnett and the blaster I only a safety measure because not everyone in the galaxy is as harmless as I am."

He looked at Meri, tilted his head slightly and tried his most disarming smile.

"Take it easy miss.. I mean you no harm. You look like you´ve seen the ghost of Emperor Palpatine or worse his grandmother. Surely I can´t be so bad.Welcome aboard. Who do I have the pleasure with?"

Before the young lady could answer another voice made itself to be heard.

"Hello?"

The guest list was growing rapidly fast. So was the tension of the young lady. Roark didn´t like to see that even if it wasn´t his fault for once.

Something soft and furry brushed against its legs. Fizz had joined them, looking first at the young woman and then at the source of the "Hello?"

"Pfurr…"


Liin Terallo Sorr Kortu RedSword77 Meri Vale

 

[RedSword77]

Changing position and taking a protective stance, RED looked like a mountain of immovable machine power as it faced both newcomers. The droid stood between Roark and a woman who had come through another way. RED was not looking for a fight; it was the opposite. It's shown as relaxed but ready to act.
"Sir Roark, I find it hard to know who is telling the truth. Master Meri said she is part of the crew but does not know you, and you did not recognize her either." RED was interrupted by someone new saying hello. It had been known someone was there, and a woman, in fact, after the hello.
"But by law, I must protect the Young girl standing now behind him. Can someone call the ship's captain? Or whatever their rank is. And what ship are we on, and the year, please?" requested the Droid RED one-hatted, not knowing who was who. It gave him flashbacks just after the Clone Wars.
Roark Garnett Meri Vale Liin Terallo Sorr Kortu

 

[Roark Garnett]

"This is 902 ABY and yes, you are right. I´m the new guy aboard. Captain Kortu is putting together a new crew. Carrying a blaster does not make you a bad person. It just means you are being realistic."

Roark started to wonder what the galaxy had come to that he was explaining himself to a droid that had just climbed out of a crate after what seemed like a long period of deactivation. Well, he was protective Roark had to give him that. A good guy bucket of bolts.

"We are all friends here. Lert´s keep it that way, shall we?"

Meri Vale Liin Terallo Sorr Kortu RedSword77

 

[Meri Vale]

Meri hadn't expected so many voices at once.

Roark introducing himself, RED-1 questioning identities, someone calling "hello" from farther down the corridor—it all layered together faster than she could track. Instinct pulled her a small step behind RED-1's solid frame, not hiding entirely, but placing something steady between herself and the sudden attention.

She tightened her hold on her notebook, grounding herself with the familiar texture beneath her fingers.

Roark's warm smile found her next, earnest and disarming. She tried to return it, but it came out as more of a thin, uncertain curve.

"I… I didn't think you were harmful," she said quietly. "Just unexpected."

Fizz brushing against her leg made her jump lightly before she realized what it was. The soft creature helped ease some tension in her shoulders; she lowered her gaze briefly toward it, then back to Roark.

When he asked her name, she nodded once as though reminding herself she could speak.

"I'm Meri," she said, barely above a gentle murmur. "Meri Vale."

RED-1's confusion about crews made her blink, then lift a hand slightly toward him in a small, careful gesture.

"I never said I was crew," she clarified softly. "I… just came aboard to check the manifest, and then RED woke up, and then—"
She caught herself before the words spilled too quickly.

A breath. Reset.

"I'm not part of anyone's crew," she repeated, quieter, steadier. "I'm only here by mistake."

She shifted slightly, not stepping away but not stepping forward either—caught between courtesy and caution.

"I don't want to cause problems," she added, voice dipping again. "I just didn't expect so many people at once."

Her eyes lowered toward the floor tiles as if they were easier to hold a conversation with, though she remained present, small, overwhelmed, but listening.

Roark Garnett RedSword77 Liin Terallo Sorr Kortu

 

[Brinna Dara]

Objective: Wake up
Location: Tiaza's Purr
Outfit: Sleeping Attire
Tags: Sorr Kortu | Roark Garnett | RedSword77 | Liin Terallo | Meri Vale

Brinna was dreaming that she was at home, her workshop more specifically. She was still in bed, but she was not alone. "Miss Brinna," came the voice of M.O.M., the crew's Ai assistant, softly brought Brinna out of her slumber. The Thyrsian woman groaned and felt the empty side of her bed, hoping that Shoan Dystra would actually be there next to her. She knew it was impossible, if the dream had been real Shoan would not be on "his" side of the bed.

"What is it M.O.M.?" Brinna groaned as she rubbed her eyes and stretched.

"There is activity in the cargo hold," M.O.M. responded.

Brinna shook her head still trying to wake up. They had taken on new crew and some cargo on a recent stop. "You woke me up for activity in the hold? You know that there are a whole new group of people on the ship, right? They are probably just looking around. You better have notified the Captain before waking me up M.O.M.

"I respond to you Miss Brinna. Captain Sorr, I believe is still resistant to an Ai assistant. I have limited access to the Captain's quarters, where I believe the Captain is still sleeping," M.O.M. answered in a steady artificial tone.

Brinna grumbled and sat up at the edge of the bed. "Alright. I will go get him, and then see what is going on. I definitely am going to have to dial down your alert level though. I don't want you waking me up every time someone goes for a walk…"

It was the beginning of a new run. They were at a waypoint in their "mission". Picking up and dropping off was done in many different times and places. Brinna knew where they were ending, but she didn't know all the stops that would be made. She didn't know if everyone who was set to be onboard was already onboard. With just slippers and her oversized sweater on, Brinna made her way to the Captain's quarters. She pushed the door alert five times in quick succession. "Captain, the crew is not respecting our sleepie time. Some have gathered in the cargo hold which caused M.O.M. to wake me. Since you hired them all, perhaps you'd like to join the meeting…" Sorr knew Brinna enough to know the tone was not really a request.

The dark-haired woman turned and made her way to the cargo bay. When she arrived she blinked at the number who had gathered. There were more than she expected were needed. But she really wasn't sure what the job was, so maybe it was the right number. "Hello folks. I am Brinna Dara, co-pilot, slicer, second in charge. I know you were contacted by Captain Kortu. He will be here shortly. If you aren't supposed to be here I would leave now. M.O.M. has been programmed to deal with trespassers quite harshly."

 

[Liin Terallo]

"O-over here." Such a timid voice that shadowed my own timid nature. I was not always so wary of others. Yet recent experiences had taught me to be that way.

I followed the voice that was soon accompanied by a few others. And they did not match the voice that I had heard. Nor did their personalities. And when I came upon where the voices were coming from; the people gathered there were not what I had expected. It was simply a rag-tag group of anonymous characters that looked more like they had gotten lost during their individual journeys and had somehow stumbled upon this ship. Were they hired in the same kind of manner that I was?

Slowly I set down my cases beside me, which probably made me look more like a tourist than anything else. And just as I was about to speak; another woman arrived. Her hair was all dissheveled as though she had just woken up. Her attire said as much as well. I could never allow myself to be seen in public like that. However, I knew that I was raised differently than everyone else here. Neither of them held the distinguished grace that was born into me from childhood.

"I do believe that I am supposed to be here. Or at the very least, the message that I was sent detailed as much."

Tags: Meri Vale Sorr Kortu RedSword77 Roark Garnett Brinna Dara

 

[Ran Serys]

Tiaza's Purr - Cargo Bay

"Trespassers will be treated quite harshly," Ran repeated after Brinna Dara. "And how will the cargo be treated?" Ran asked the motley group only somewhat flippantly while referencing her own status on the ship. Having made an arrangement with Captain Kortu, the woman was technically a passenger and not cargo, but her point remained. She and the droid weren't technically part of the crew. Or were they? What would M.O.M. do then?

"I hope with care." Ran continued as she removed herself from the cargo bay's adjoining doorway and sauntered over to the droid and the teenage girl. Her love for antique droids and her desire to protect the children of the galaxy took over her, although it was subtle. The Jedi Master was statuesque and held great poise. The lightsaber that hung from her belt was an indicator of exactly who she was, and what the crew could expect from her. She winked at the girl as if to say - I've got your back.

Tags: RedSword77 Meri Vale Roark Garnett Sorr Kortu Brinna Dara Liin Terallo
​

 

[Sorr Kortu]

Sorr continued to snore this time he was laying on his stomach his entire face smushed against his pillow. His mind was still in a haze but his body submitted to the comfort of sleep. "Mmmm," Sorr muttered through the tucking himself behind his large blanket. "It's so cold out there but I don't want to leave my nice, warm bed."

After weeks of randomly flying the Galaxy, it was nice to land in a space port and just relax. No need to worry about smuggling, or shooting bad guys, or welcoming new crew members. "Wait a minute....." Sorr's heart jolted into rapid beats. "I WAS SUPPOSED TO WELCOME THE NEW GUYS!"

Flying from his bed, Sorr rushed towards area where everyone was supposed to meet.... all while in his pajamas. "Excuse me!" Sorr skid to a stop. "Hi guys! My name Is Sorr Kortu! The captain of the Tiaza's Purr! I-I was just doing important captain things! Don't mind the PJs!"

He stared at Brinna and smiled. "I see you met my co-pilot!" Sorr smiled sheepishly. "She helps with the logistics and all that stuff!"

Brinna Dara , Ran Serys , RedSword77 , Meri Vale , Liin Terallo , Roark Garnett

 

[RedSword77]

Looking at the young Captain, RED-1 seemed to pause. "Captain? Sure, not the son of the captain?" RED-1 asked, looking somewhat disappointed. "This is a joke, correct?" asked RED-1 with a serious tone to it. The droid's eyes flickered for a moment. "You're about 18 cycals old, and just woke up! Someone must be playing a prank on you, young sir." RED-1 stated out loud to the group.

Then it snapped its head to the Jedi in the room as RED inspected the Jedi master. Then hastened. "Master Jedi, is this another test for this ship's crew or for this old droid? Have I not proven my service for over 100 cycals to the Jedi?" the droid asked, almost sounding defeated. It sighed. "This happens every time I activate," the droid said, now sounding stressed.

Sorr Kortu Ran Serys Liin Terallo Brinna Dara Meri Vale Roark Garnett

 

[Roark Garnett]

Roark furrowed his brow slightly.

He had heard that such things could happen to droids if they did not get regular memory wipes. They developed personalities, became quirky, they became alive in a way.

Some became real nuissances too...

Where´s a Java when you need one?

"Look, nobody is testing you." Roark tried to explain (somehow he did not have high hopes that it would work with thisa one) "We did not even know you were in that crate. Seems we don´t know each other to begin wih. "

He turned to Ran with a respectful nod of his head.

"A rare privilige to meet a Jedi Master."

Ran Serys RedSword77 Meri Vale Brinna Dara Liin Terallo Sorr Kortu

 

[Meri Vale]

Meri felt the room tilt slightly under the weight of too many voices.

She stayed close to RED-1, notebook held tight against her chest, eyes flicking from Brinna to Sorr to the Jedi Master and then back down again. Everyone seemed to be speaking at once, and the droid's distress threaded through it all like a high, anxious tone she couldn't ignore.

When RED-1's voice wavered, something in her chest tightened.

She took a small step closer to him — not in front, not blocking anyone — just close enough that she could be heard.

"RED-1," she said softly.

Her voice was quiet, but steady.

"I don't think… I don't think this is a test."

She glanced briefly at Sorr, then back to the droid, choosing her words with care.

"I don't know much about ships, or crews, or captains," she admitted, a hint of apology in her tone, "but no one here seems to be trying to trick you. I think… everyone just woke up at the wrong time."

She hesitated, fingers tightening around her notebook, then continued.

"You've been very helpful. You warned people. You protected me. That seems like… service to me."

Her eyes flicked up toward the Jedi Master for half a second, then back down again.

"And I don't think anyone expects you to prove anything right now."

She shifted her weight slightly, grounding herself.

"I'm Meri Vale," she added quietly, as if that mattered somehow. "I'm not crew. I was hired for… research. I think. But I don't feel like a trespasser."

A small pause.

"And I don't think you should either."

She fell silent after that, retreating just enough to give the droid space again — heart still racing, but hopeful that her words had landed where they were meant to.

Roark Garnett RedSword77 Sorr Kortu Ran Serys Liin Terallo Brinna Dara