The Afterburner (Eliza Steele)

[Jace Trent]

@[member="Eliza Steele"]
The ramp of the "Defiance" lowered. A gentle breeze lapped at Jace's duster as he stepped off the ramp and onto Ord Mantell. He breathed in deep, taking in mixture of aromas that he had grown to love. Ord Mantell was one of his favorite places in the Galaxy!

He walked through the streets, taking his time, he had a destination, but no urgency. He was headed to his favorite cantina "The Afterburner". It was always his first stop when he landed on Ord Mantell. To go anywhere else first would be a sacrilege!

He walked into the Afterburner and looked around. While there were faces that he didn't recognize, there was always the regulars that Jace was sure never left the building. Jace couldn't help but smile. It had been far too long since he had been here, feelings of nostalgia started to take hold.

He approached the bar and ran his hand across the well used bar top. The bartender approached and asked for Jace's selection. There was only one appropriate drink for Jace and that was Corellian Ale!
Jace made placed his order and placed the required credits plus a little extra on the bar. The bartender returned shortly with the ale and Jace nodded his thanks. He brought the glass to his lips and took a huge gulp. He let out a satisfied sigh and leaned back against the bar and watched the ebb and flow of the patrons of the Afterburner...

 

[Eliza Steele]

Ord Mantell, the heart of the bright jewel, had become Eliza Steele's port of call as of late making most of her smuggling runs out of the Mid Rim planet. It's capital city, Worlport, was like Mos Eisely on Tatooine but bigger and definitely not as hot or had as much sand; more dirt and dust really. The cityscape reminded the spirited Corellisi of her homeworld with the Corellian classic revival architecture; the spires, monoliths, vast rotundas, round arches, and large colonnades.

Having some rare downtime while her co-pilot, a LE series repair droid named "Leeboo" performed some maintenance on her ship, a YT-1930 Light freighter, the petite smuggler made her way from the docking bay at the spaceport where the Corellian Dawn was berthed to her favorite drinking hole she frequented while on planet between runs.

Dressed in her usual spacer attire consisting of a button down tunic/vest combo, nicely fitted trousers with a yellow stripe running down the outside of each pant leg tucked into high leather boots along with her favored weapon a DL-44 Heavy blaster pistol holstered low off her shapely right hip and tied off on her toned thigh, Steele swaggered into the Afterburner Cantina with an air of confidence about her. Dark chocolate eyes scanned the room noting the usual scum and villainy along with the regulars she was accustomed to seeing and a new face; a ruggedly handsome one too. Corellian, by the way he carried himself most likely. They were hard to miss.

Crossing over to the bar, the small yet far from weak young expresso haired woman flashed the older bartender a knowing smile as she walked up to the counter two stools down from the browncoat.

"Hey there, Charlie Dog. I'll have my usual, and um give the fella next to me here another one. I had a good run and I'm feeling generous tonight," Eliza said, giving a friendly nod to the dark-haired younger man as the barkeep placed a Twistler in front of her and another ale in front of him.


@[member="Jace Trent"]

 

[Jace Trent]

Jace smiled as the second round was slid in front of him. He nodded his thanks to the coffee haired woman. He noticed the yellow stripe down her leg. She was indeed a kindred spirit. He immediately regretted not wearing his stripes.
"Thank you, but shouldn't I be buying you a drink?"
He picked up his fresh drink and walked over and raised his glass to her in the attempts to "cheers"
"The name's Jace"
@[member="Eliza Steele"]

 

[Eliza Steele]

@[member="Jace Trent"]

The petite smuggler took in the man as he moved to take the seat next to hers, dark eyes giving him the head to toe as she stirred the fruity alcoholic drink favored by Corellians with the rod that had a slice of fruit on it.

"You are most welcome. I'm Eliza... And you can buy the next round," the brunette smiled back, raising her glass in like, then she took a nice sip of the iced berry colored liquid.

"So what brings you to this port of call, Jace, if I may ask? "

 

[Jace Trent]

Jace took in the sweet nectar of his people and let the refreshing liquor tingle in his chest. He set his glass down and turned on his stool so that he was squared of to her. She was very attractive. Her dark eyes flared with life beneath her espresso hair. Her very presence exuded confidence. She had an air of danger about her. Jace was intrigued.

"I don't mind at all. This place holds alot of good memories for me. And I haven't been here in awhile, it was overdue. I don't have any plans at the moment, I'm just here"
He picked up his drink and took another sip.
"What about you, Eliza? What brings you here? I know it wasn't to buy me a drink" He winked

@[member="Eliza Steele"]

 

[Eliza Steele]

Eliza crossed over one toned leg over the other and leaned onto the used bar top with her elbow, drink in the other hand to face the ruggedly handsome man on the bar stool.

"No, I'll admit I hadn't planned on it... Rather just putting my feet up and letting my hair down tonight, but what's life without a little excitement, huh?" she winked back, then took another sip of her fruity alcoholic drink that she so liked.

"When I'm not hauling this or that, mostly that, from here to there and everywhere, Ord Mantell is my favorite port to do my downtime on. So when you're not letting a Corellisi like me buy a fellow Corellisi like you a drink, what do you do?"

@[member="Jace Trent"]

 

[Jace Trent]

Finishing his drink, Jace caught the bartender's eye and held up two fingers to get another round started.
"I'm actually a professional drink acquirer, I go to cantina's all over the galaxy and have beautiful woman buy me drinks" he chuckled
"But to answer your question honestly, I was a soldier" His face hardened a little
"I served for 16 years, and I was done. So, I bought myself a freighter, and just got her a crew. I'll take any job that comes my way that don't shock the conscience. But right now, I'm here for me" His face softened again
@[member="Eliza Steele"]

 

[Eliza Steele]

Eliza chuckled too at his light quip about being an professional drink acquirer. She liked a good sense of humor.

"Actually Charlie make mine an ale too and give us a shot of whiskey each, ya know the good stuff," she nodded before the bartender started to make another Twistler for her.

The petite smuggler listened thoughtfully to the man's short story and especially took notice to his reaction when speaking about his time in the army. He must have seen and experienced some bad times while serving. Wow sixteen years... With her reckoning then, that would put Jace somewhere in his mid thirties. She herself was just coming up on the big 3-0, but not quite there yet.

"How exciting for you to be captain of your own ship and have a crew too. It's just me and my loyal co-pilot, who is quite quirky as I don't have the heart to have his memory wiped since he's been with my family for three generations."

After the new drinks were placed in front of them, the spirited Corellisi raised her shot of whiskey in a toast. "Chakta Sai Kae," Eliza said in Olys Corellisi then downed the dark amber liquid, relishing it the rich flavor and the familiar yet comforting burn as it slid down her throat and reached her stomach.

"I'm here for me too," Lizzy added as she put the empty shot glass down on the polished yet worn bar top, then reached for the cold ale. "I wouldn't mind taking a gander at your ship. You see I'm a professional ship admirer," she smiled.

@[member="Jace Trent"]

 

[Jace Trent]

"I never had much luck with droids, but occasionally, you come across one that's more than a pile of scrap. Three generations huh? he must have many good stories. Can't say I could bring myself to wipe him either if I were you "
When the drinks arrived, Jace raised his drink and joined her in her toast. He tilted his head back and downed the whiskey. The burn emanated through his chest, the warmth spreading and sending tingles throughout his body. He slid credits on the table to pay for the drinks, beating her to it this time.

At the request of a tour of his ship, he allowed himself a flirtatious grin.
"I'll show you mine if you show me yours?"
He went there. It was up to her now. They were either gonna take a tour of the Defiance, or he was going to be slapped....or shot
@[member="Eliza Steele"]

 

[Eliza Steele]

Eliza's chocolate drop eyes flashed dangerously for a moment holding the browncoat's gaze intensely, then her face turned mischievous as she took a sip of ale.

"Well I asked to see yours first so showing me your baby is on the agenda for tonight," the spirited brunette winked, then took another pull from the cold bottle.

 

[Jace Trent]

Jace nodded his head.
"Yes, yes you did. Once we're done here, I'd be happy to give you a tour" He finished his drink and waited for her to do the same. It was a crime to waste good liquer. The amount of drinks he had was not even close to effecting his sobriety, but the tingling felt good.

@[member="Eliza Steele"]

 

[Eliza Steele]

It didn't take long for the two Corellians to down their drinks as they passed the time with easy chit chat. Eliza was by no means drunk as she could hold her liqueur well thanks to hanging around her father and his buddies growing up. Right now, she was just feeling in a good relaxed state of mind and planned to enjoy the evening, come what may. Though, the spirited Corellisi wasn't leaning one or the other on that front just yet.

After finishing off the last of her ale, Steele slid a cred chip over to Charlie for a tip, then stood from the bar stool and readjusted her holstered blaster slung low off her shapely right hip.

"You driving or should I?" She asked, flashing a lopsided grin Jace's way.

@[member="Jace Trent"]

 

[Jace Trent]

@[member="Eliza Steele"]
Jace stood up from his stool and nodded his thanks to the bartender.
"I'll drive, for now" He winked
He led the way outside, dusk was just beginning to set on the city of Worlport. They walked the streets, as they headed to the hanger where the Defiance was berthed.
Arriving at the door, Jace keyed in the code into the control panel to unlock the bay doors. As it opened, Jace gave a wry grin
"She doesn't look like much, but she's got it where it counts."

He led the way up the ramp and into the lower deck which was the main cargo bay.
He spread out his hands and his voiced echoed of the walls as it reverberated up into the enormous hold
"This is the money maker, this is where I haul most of my cargo, haven't had the need to use the other holds yet. This way" He nodded towards the lift at the back of the hold. They took the lift to the upper deck, saving the middle deck for last. They toured the crew's lounge, the dining hall, and briefly through the computer and sensors room. Having showed her the highlights, they took the lift down to the middle deck.
He started with the engine compartment so she could see how his boat ticked. Though the Defiance wasn't Corellian made, Eliza carried herself like she belonged on her.

Next, Jace showed her the technical bay and the gun turrets. She hadn't turned up her nose yet which gave Jace a bit of confidence. They moved on to the empty passenger cabins and the passenger lounge. Continuing on, Jace commented.
"My crew is currently on a Captain ordered R&R leave on Zeltros, so their quarters are not on the tour." He looked towards his own quarters and hesitated. He never let anyone in there, not even his own crew. He liked Eliza, but more time would have to pass before he would compromise on his personal rule. He pointed forward towards the cockpit.
"And for the moment you've been waiting for..." He gestured forward, allowing her to lead the way.
He followed her in.
The cockpit had a decent amount of room, there were seats for six.
"She's not much, but she's mine all the same." He gave her time to look around "So, what do you think?"

 

[Eliza Steele]

As they made their way through the tour of the Defiance, Eliza took in the ship from more than just a surface view. On the outside, yes, the L4000 Transport did look like a bucket of bolts, but on the inside the ol 'girl came alive. There was a spirit of days gone past and whispering of times to come. Ocassionaly while the petite smuggler looked over something, her hand would almost lovingly caress over it whether it was a simple part of the engine, the hull, sensory array, or even the captain's chair at the end of the table in the crew's lounge. Ships and droids to her were as if they were real beings, and she treated them as such.

When Jace had shown her where the crew quarters were, she internally smiled that he hesitated for a good long second in showing her straight to his cabin. It meant that he wasn't just aother space cowboy wanting to put an addtinal notch on his bunk post. Steele respected that in the man, and it had scored points with the spirited Corellisi as she never allowed herself to be such just because.

Up until this point, Eliza had remained relatively quiet, though now they were in the cockpit and that's where she gladly chimmed in. "May I," she asked, then sat down in the pilot's couch, again running her hands with tender care over the instrument console and grabbing the yoke with a firm yet delicate touch.

"My My... I am truly impressed, Captain. If I wasn't already in love with the 'Dawn so much, I'd sweep this one out from under you. This ship is definitley a keeper and I can just see all the possiblities for improvements that will make the Defiance shiny indeed," Eliza offered sincerely with a pleased gleam etched in her dark eyes.

@[member="Jace Trent"]

 

[Jace Trent]

Eliza looked good in the pilot's seat. She was definitely easier on the eyes than Defiance's actual pilot. Her hands ran across the controls and deftly griped the yoke, she truly knew her way around a ship.

The gleam in her eye said more than her actual words did. Jace couldn't stop the smile that was stretching across his face.
"I'm glad you like her" Then Jace did something that surprised even himself. He moved over and sat in the co-pilot's seat. "Well, what are you waiting for, take her up!"
@[member="Eliza Steele"]

 

[Eliza Steele]

"Really?" the petite smuggler grinned wildly. "You don't have to tell me twice! Strap in. I promise to handle her with TLC in a Corellian manner of course," she winked, then attached her crash webbing and donned the pilot's head gear, calling in to get departure clearance as fingers nimbly flipped switches and pushed buttons on the control console to get the engines fired up and bring the ship's systems online.

As soon as the board was all green, Eliza lifted the L4000 transport up on it's repulserlifs to clear the docking bay, then feathered the controls with well practiced ease to take the Defiance up over Wolport, then up into the atmosphere.

"She's a nice ride, pretty responsive, good thrust... So where to, Cap'n?"

@[member="Jace Trent"]

 

[Jace Trent]

Her hands moved across the console with smooth precision. She seemed like she was right at home. She lifted the Defiance out of the hanger bay and they soared towards the stars.
Jace caught himself staring at her. Attraction had elevated to a whole new level. She was gorgeous, she was Corellian, and she was flying his ship like it was her own. Jace couldn't hide his smile.
"You're the pilot, take us somewhere" He gave her a wicked grin.
@[member="Eliza Steele"]

 

[Eliza Steele]

Eliza thought for a moment, then turned the Defiance in a gentle arc as she used one of the moons' gravity wells to sling shot them around the Ord Mantell to the other side of the planet where a space station was in free orbit.

"Ever been to the Jubliee Wheel? The Bet's Off tapcafe there has some of the best spiceloaf, well I think so at least as it's just like my mom used to make when I was little girl. It's comfort food at its best. My treat," the dark-eyed brunette smiled as they came up along side the space platform where the docking bays were located.

@[member="Jace Trent"]

 

[Jace Trent]

Jace didn't think it was possible for this woman he had only just met to be more amazing then she had already proven to be. But then she mentioned spiceloaf...
"Girl after my own heart, it's a date" He gave her a flirtatious grin.
As they neared the station, Jace hailed the station and received docking clearance. @[member="Eliza Steele"]

 

[Eliza Steele]

"Mhmm A date, huh… Does that include dessert with dinner then 'cause I have quite the sweet tooth. It can be ravenous when temped with the right treat," the spirited Corellisi grinned back in like, then busied herself with the landing cycle as they approached the space station.

After docking the L4000 with well-pracaticed ease as if the Defiance was hers and not his and doing the post-flight, Eliza slipped off the headgear, then released the crash webbing and rose from the pilot's couch, straightening her holster with muscle memory. The petite smuggler stretched for a moment, then made her way to the cockpit hatch and waited for Jace.

"I'd have to say, the ol 'girl is a ten so far in my book."

@[member="Jace Trent"]