Private Spider Senses Tingling

[Saul Whesai]

As Saul walked through Centerra's spaceport, his duffel bag over his arm as the cyborg looked around. It was just another day in the life of the in-flight mechanic, looking for jobs. Traveling all the way to the Unknown Regions was his best way to start over, to have a new beginning. After the Diarchy, it was best to make distance, try to find a safe place away from everything that was going on in the core. And so he was on Centerra, a place that wasn't going to be bombarded anytime soon.

Walking up to the job boards, he scanned them for jobs. Out here, work was few and far between, but he was surprised to see ships posting for a run to the... Farworlds Alliance. Huh, he had never heard of that place before... Must be a new startup that was created while he was traveling. Saul thought that he might have to learn more about it if they required all this shipping. Little did he know he was about to meet one of the creators.

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Saul Whesai

​

Braze was on Centerra to pick up supplies and whatever new hires he could ferry with him to Refuge.

When the time came to leave, it seemed he had only one passenger left to collect, someone who had signed on for one of the listed jobs. A brief interview would be useful; it would give Braze a chance to see what skills the fellow had to offer before they ventured too far from port.

He went to greet the newcomer near the Mud Duck's boarding ramp, dressed for travel in a close-fitting bodysuit beneath a weathered leather spacer suit. The outer layer bore the soft creases and scuffs of frequent use, its straps and fastening clasps secured neatly against his slight frame. Jade-green eyes studied Saul with open curiosity.

Braze offered him a small smile.

"Hey, stranger… I'm Braze. Welcome aboard the Mud Duck. Did you bring any luggage you'd like to settle into one of the rooms?"

 

[Saul Whesai]

As the jade eyes looked upon him, Saul couldn't help but shiver a bit. Being stared at like this... reminded him he was normal... That he was a strange oddity, and he hated that feeling more than anything else. Saul didn't blame Braze for this, though... The white-haired young man seemed kind enough, even cute-looking if Saul went so far.

The Cyborg remembered the Braze had asked him a question and coughed, having probably been caught staring, "Umm... Thanks... I just got the bags that I have... I'm Saul by the way, but I'll... get aboard so we can get going..." And as he pulled the hood of his cloak over his head to hide his two neon blue, unblinking eyes, he scrambled aboard, trying to recover his breath after being seen through.

Settling in his cabin near the engine room,, Omen caught his breath and looked around at the ship's construction. She was a good ship, made well. Like its Owner apparently. But that was something that could be explored for another time. And as he settled in, the Cyborg thought this would be a good future.

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Saul Colsan

​

Braze offered to assist him with his bags, carrying some of the luggage he had brought aboard to one of the guest rooms. He set everything down gently at the foot of the bed.

It was one of the few passenger rooms aboard the ship, arranged much like a modest hotel room with simple, common amenities. The space was compact but comfortable, with enough storage for his belongings and a private place to rest during the journey.

"The mess hall is on the middle deck, near the center of the ship. You can't miss it," Braze explained gently. "Once you've settled in, we'll be taking off soon. Captain Vesperis will let you know when."

He gestured toward the small communication panel beside the door.

"We'll have dinner around eighteen hundred. I'd like to speak with you about your skill set, so that seems as good a time as any. Should you need help before then, press the door comm here, and one of our crewmates may answer. I reside in the forward room on the middle deck, just below the cockpit."

Braze offered him a small, reassuring smile. "Should you have any questions, you're welcome to come and find me."

He presumed the man's odd behavior might merely have been nerves brought on by moving somewhere unfamiliar and speaking with a potential new employer. Braze chose not to press him. Instead, he wanted his guest to feel comfortable aboard the ship, allowing him the privacy to settle in. He then departed leaving Saul to his own devices as Braze made the final checks he needed before departure.

Once everything had been squared away, the ship lifted from Centerra and began its journey toward Refuge.

 

[Saul Whesai]

Saul would pause at the offer before reluctantly letting Braze take the duffle bag full of clothes and assorted baubles that was his life, keeping his tool bag around himself. Trusting Braze with his bag was like trusting Braze with his life. Said a lot about what he already thought about him.

The Cyborg muttered to himself as he looked around the room. "Better than I usually get..." Usually, he just got whatever space he could hang a hammock from. Getting an actual room... it was unusual for him... Guess this Farworlds Alliance liked to fatten their workers up before putting them to work. Brazes voice shook him out of his mind, and he passively nodded at what they said. "Good thing I don't have much to put away." Such was the life of a cyborg vagabond.

Skill set... Well, at least that was easy to answer. "I'm a... mechanical engineer. I mostly work on Starships and little design projects now and then. I used to work for Si Tech as a drawing board artist till the company started their migeration. Guess I'm following them." He knew roughly where this Alliance was, and it seemed to line up with where the company had drifted to. Maybe they would reunite somehow.

When Braze turned to go, the Cyborg's voice made him turn back around. "Hey Braze... Thanks... for the welcome." Saul mustered up the best smile his tired face could produce. When the Jedi finally left, he let out a sigh and collapsed on the bed. He didn't remember introductions like that to be so exhausting. Liin really had taken a chunk of him when he tried to change himself for her... At least he had time before he had to see the tiny cat-like Jedi again. Wait, what was that control panel over the bed? Might as well find out. With the first button push, he looked up in surprise as a band of anti-grav generators came out of the wall. As the cyborg started to float, he decided that picking up this job wasn't the worst thing he had ever done.

Opening his electronic eyes at the dinner bell, Saul reluctantly shut off the tractor beam and grunted as he hit the bed's soft surface. It was the best sleep he had had for a while. Slowly, he got himself ready for dinner and let his legs march down the freighter's hallways to try and find the dining hall in this massive hulk of a ship. If this ship were a woman, she certainly had some curves on her.

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Saul Whesai

​

Braze offered him a welcoming nod before departing…

When dinner was served, most of the crew gathered together, while one or two loners slipped elsewhere into the ship with their hot meals and cold drinks. Braze, however, seemed intent upon sharing his dinner with Saul Whesai .

"Would you like to join me?" Braze asked as he settled into one of the booths, setting his tray upon the table. "So Si tech huh?" Braze asked curiously. "What was working for them like?" He asked curious to hear about Jonyna Si 's work form some one who worked inside the company/

More often than not, Braze served as the ship's cook, particularly when they were away on missions. Preparing dinner for the crew had become something of a routine for him.

 

[Saul Whesai]

Well, this was a surprise... Saul raised an eyebrow at Braze wanting to sit with him. Guess this boy had an interest in figuring out what he was. He slid into the booth across from Braze. "It's more or less like another other company. The only difference is that we were working for a Jedi Master with the hope that we were making ships for good." Instead of the usual corporate atmosphere of oppression, it didn't exist there, at least not what he had seen, up until the end.

Spooning a bit of soup into his mouth, the Cyborg's mouth was a flat line as he gave it a taste test. It was good but... "Needs more pepper..." Taking a spice shaker out of his tool bag, he sprinkled some onto the food and took another spoonful. "Better." Cooking wasn't something that was fun for the Cyborg, it was about survival. If you can't live well if you can't eat well. And if it tasted good, that was a bonus.

After a bit, his neon eyes turned to Braze. "So... Tell me about yourself. Other than your a Lothcat given human form. And you can ask what you want... I know I'm not... normal..." Well wasn't that the truth. His cybernetic hands flexed under the table as he tried to keep himself busy. Without an engine to fidget with, he was utterly helpless in conversation. Espessially with a someone as good looking as Braze.

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Saul Whesai

​

Braze watched him add pepper to the miso soup and quirked a brow.

"Me? I'm a pretty busy person… I keep my hands from being idle, from cooking and baking, to martial study, to furthering my knowledge of the past, the Force arts… physics studies and the like… and teaching my students how to be the best they can be." He popped open a set of metal chopsticks and picked at a bowl of ingredients and rice, starting to partake.

"I'm more curious about what drew you toward wanting to work this way… You're good with tech, aye?"

 

[Saul Whesai]

Saul watched Braze's reaction like he should be put into some facility, and wondered what was wrong. And then the cyborg looked down at the soup he had put the pepper in and decided that he probably should be. Braze might even hear a muttered "Well, there goes showing I'm smart... What was I thinking...?" from Saul's mouth before the conversation pushed on. And still the cyborg ate the soup because of his inner thoughts screaming at him that he couldn't leave Braze's soup to waste.

Tasting his new horrible creation and trying not to cough on the new spices, Braze's responses were a welcome distraction. "I can tell you're busy. You help run a whole Jedi council, from what I hear on the news. It's even more impressive that it hasn't all fallen apart yet." Putting something big together like this took a lot of willpower and what he most admired. "And yet you don't have any bags under your eyes. You are going to have to tell me what makeup you use because I would look a mess if I were you." Helping run a whole council definitely wasn't for him. If it were, getting out of bed every day without looking disheveled and having coffee stains on his clothes would be impossible to avoid.

The Cyborg decided that Braze could take his joke. Despite him probably being wrong and risking his upcoming job, he executed this gag as he said. "With tech and..." Suddenly, he had Braze's lightsaber in his hand and was looking it over. "Never think I've seen this design before.... Is it a rapier...? Seems like a chore to have on your belt with all this guard poking into your side." Saul gently tossed it back while Braze was probably still figuring out how he got it in the first place. But he had illustrated his point. The young man was a lot more than just a technician. If Braze didn't get that just by seeing him, then the Jedi wasn't as smart as he seemed.

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Saul Whesai

​

"You can get another bowl if you want… or something else. I made plenty, so there are generally leftovers," Braze offered gently, seemingly not thinking poorly of him for that. "Are you used to artisan fare?" he asked curiously. "If you prefer something else, I don't mind making you an alternative…" he said, seemingly concerned his would-be guest wasn't happy with his meal.

"A council…? I don't run a council… at all…?" Braze half asked, a little confused by that sentiment. "If anything, I'm more of a Jedi outcast, because the New Jedi Order wasn't happy with me, and I ain't too thrilled with the Order of Shiraya trying to re-title themselves as the 'whole' of the 'Jedi Order'. It didn't sit too well with me… I tried my best to give them the information they needed and asked for help, and found them lacking in drive… Theed's aristocracy built a strange pseudo-republic out of royal institutions, dressed it in senatorial language, then militarized it with no real standing or ready military or navy to speak of…"

He took a few more bites, enjoying his meal before glancing up. "Oh… no, I haven't had much good sleep as of late. The trick is not to rub your eyes, and to wash your face gently…" he offered softly.

Braze indeed could take a joke… but stealing his sabers was no joke. The moment Braze saw his weapon in the other's hand, he moved with terrifying speed. The hard, solid heel of his boot slammed forward, planting itself directly between Saul Whesai 's legs and grinding in where it landed. His chopsticks were twisted, and the metal tips driven through the very top of the table, trapping Saul's hand that had previously been holding it, with a chopstick crossing just above his wrist on either side. His wrist was left unscathed, each chopstick embedded into the table where the crossed sticks were tightly locked just above his wrist, not allowing Saul to pull his hand free with ease since the gap was so small.

Braze drew his smaller saber and turned it on, blue light cutting clean across the table as he rose. He leveled the tip toward the other's neck, his wide jade eyes fixed beneath furrowed snowy brows.

"Explain yourself. Quickly."

The softness had left him all at once. Whatever gentle host had been sitting there a moment ago was gone, replaced by the Half-Echani warrior beneath it: wary, wound-tight, and paranoid for good reason. A stolen saber was not a joke. It was a threat, and Braze moved as though he meant to answer it before it could become anything worse.

 

[Saul Whesai]

Saul managed to smile guiltily as he tried to look more idiotic than he already had demonstrated. "No, it's fine. I should have looked down before I started pretending I'm smart. Besides, I don't like wasting food." The Cyborg tried his best to take polite spoonfuls as he answered. "Let's just say the most Artisan fare I get is usually an instant cup of noodles." His diet was mostly bad choices anyway, so why not admit to it?

Braze could probably hear the dial-up tones in Saul's head as he jumped into Jedi politics. What experience or knowledge would he have of the subject? He was just a fast technician, not a Jedi Librarian. "Well... It's fun to create something new. I hope we build something good together." To be fair, he hadn't heard good things about Order of Shiraya either (the whole mando controversy), but it was better than having a Sith order breathing down all of their necks.

Maybe he should have expected what happened next. Maybe if he had known Braze was cooked before he had stolen the blade, he wouldn't have tried it. But he again had decided to be dumb. And was shocked when the consequences came. As he tried to give the blade back, the chopsticks slammed through the table at a speed he wasn't even used to operating at. The look on his face was one of genuine shock as the blade rattled onto the table. "Once, it's just me showing off my skills... Sorry if it made your radar go off." But the makeshift handcuffs didn't hold for long. Saul's wrist pushed against the metal chopsticks, Braze hearing his servomotors whir as he bent them apart to give him enough space to get his hand out. "I'm... gonna use the bathroom..." It was the only excuse he had to get out of the situation for a bit and try to straighten himself up.

This Ship really was a maze, with the Technician having to ask other crew members to figure out where the head was. Once the door swung open, he walked over to the sink, turning on the tap and rubbing water over his face. "What is wrong with me...?" It was a question he had been asking since he always pushed too hard in these opening conversations. Guess he had some self-reflection to do as he wondered if they were still in orbit and he was still able to jump in an escape pod.

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Saul Whesai

​

Braze blinked as he heard the servo motors go off… Maybe… Saul wasn't really a person, at least not in the traditional sense. Maybe he simply didn't understand social cues.

He didn't seem to be trying to pose a threat, and so Braze extinguished his shoto-sai saber and let him free himself. He stepped back, drawing his blade from the table with a small use of the Force; it slid across the surface and into his hand, where he secured it upon his ventral mount once more.

He gave Saul space to step away, then looked to his table with a sigh, knowing full well he would have to pay for the fixes himself.

"Perhaps… ask for permission before touching another person's weapons in the future…" he mused aloud as Saul stepped past.

Braze tried to take slow, steadying breaths, easing his own body down from the sudden adrenaline spike coursing through his veins. When Saul left his side, Braze moved to dispose of his meal, no longer feeling hungry. The surge of adrenaline left him feeling unsettled, his stomach turning from the effects of chemicals he did not usually need to weather.

Had Saul simply asked to see his weapons, rather than taking them, Braze would have been more than happy to let him hold them, give him a closer look, or answer questions about them.

The truth remained that their new hire was… perhaps… not the usual type of person. Maybe he was more machine than man, and not yet adjusted to typical society.

 

[Saul Whesai]

Saul tried to keep to himself during the trip. He kept to himself and didn't trouble others for the fear that he would get the same reaction Braze had shown him. The good thing was that the Captain of the Vessel reported that the ship's engines and hyperdrive seemed to be significantly better tuned for some reason, like someone had waved a magic wand over them and made them faster. The Captain was calling it a thing, a miracle with how many ship systems had been of old sicknesses. Maybe this metal man wasn't so bad after all.

Sometimes, when he was feeling more sociable, Saul played simple games of chance with the ship's crew. His favorite was putting a credit under a plastic cup, merging three cups together, and spinning them around in a blur, letting the crew guess which one the credit was under. Most of the time, he won out. Maybe the next time Braze saw him, he would be laughing with the other crewmen over his latest victory.

Braze

 

[Saul Whesai]

On the day they touched down at their destination, when Braze opened up his cabin door to a pot of ornamental yellow and red lilies. On closer inspection, the flowers were made from spare metal, painted to look like the real thing. But whoever had made these flowers was long gone, with the hallway filled with the usual people that Braze already knew as they prepared to unload the supplies from the freighter.

Saul stretched out his metal arms on the ground, having disembarked after any tasks that had been given to him were done. He knew the flowers wouldn't help with the awkwardness between him and Braze for a little while. Only time could do that. But at least he had tried to end their interaction on a good note. Now he tried to focus on the bustling new city before him and wondered where he would sleep tonight.

-End of Thread-​

Braze