Private The Babysitter's Club

[Persephone Dashiell]

APPROACHING JAKKU

Sometimes in life one had to sacrifice quite a bit in order to get somewhere. Persephone was no stranger to sacrifice.

Yet sometimes a line was crossed. During her research during her project concerning the Ashlan Crusade, Persephone had crossed a good bit of information. Objects that could lead to her garnering influence within the archeological and historical community - all before even stepping foot in university. Jedi knowledge was sought out across the 'verse, often leading to big payouts.

She had credits. Reputation was the currency needed.

Which lead to her tracking down some horrible vagabond to assist her with the task. In her mind it would be simple. She the brains and this guy, Darryl or something, would be the hired muscle. Yes, in addition to agreement of Darryl keeping all the credits she also had to pay for this escort service. "Babysitting" is what Darryl called it. Persephone took fencing lessons. Her blaster use needed....work. Zee could only do so much and often overrode sense of adventure with protecting her.

Sitting in the co-pilots chair, Persephone did none of the actions to assist. She didn't even know the basics of flying.

"Darryl, my research states there should be some kind of shed north of the Valley of Eremite. I know you're the professional but I think flying over it will attract undue attention..."

Spoiler

Location and holocron used with permission from Jon. Bounty in progress for this holocron.

Drifter | Brooke Waters​

 

[Drifter]

​

Kalee's Shadow
Persephone Dashiell

Drifter leaned against the bulkhead like the galaxy itself was taking too long to get to the punchline.

Black leather creaked under his folded arms, songsteel plates catching the dim cabin light in cold, sharp flashes. That polished, polarized helm reflected Persephone back at herself, showing a perfect little mirror of her own poised, well-bred impatience, while every angle of his stance radiating unspoken sarcasm.

And then... finally, thank Inari the Revier, she finished talking.

Drifter gave a slow tilt of his head in a deliberate incline, like he was weighing which part of her speech to pick apart first.

When his voice finally came through the modulator, it carried that unmistakable mix of dry amusement and the kind of charm that dared you to be offended through that slight modulated vibrato from the voice modulator of his helm.

[ First off, sweetheart, it's Drifter. Not Darryl. Never Darryl. ]

He gave a pause long enough to let the correction land.

[ Second, there are a few rules if we're running around together. Rule one: I call the shots on where we go and how we get there. Rule two: if you see me draw my blaster or do something you think looks 'unnecessary,' you don't ask questions. You follow my lead. And rule three-- ] his visor angled toward her, catching the curve of her frown in flawless reflection, [ --if you ignore rules one and two, you'd better be faster than me when things go sideways. ]

He straightened just enough to push off the bulkhead, boots ringing against the deck.

[ These are just the basic rules but I may tack on more depending on just how much trouble we get into. Capish, Princess? ]

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"The name" Persephone paused for dramatic effect, much as he did. "is Persephone. Per-seh-fuh-nee."

The teenager phonetically sounded out her name as if she was speaking to her younger sister who insisted on calling her "Ersie". Trouble was Phoebe was a literal toddler who was still learning to speak. This....overgrown man-child was an entirely different story considering his prefrontal cortex was already developed. It meant he was making deliberate choices.

Regarding the 'rules' they weren't entirely unreasonable. Persephone wasn't paying Drifter Darryl to keep her alive. No, she was paying for the escort to the potential artifact. For the chance to really put her potential skills to the test. She was coming to find discovering artifacts was work that required boots on the ground and creative thinking to get there. With those two boxes checked, she would nervously attempt the first step on a long road ahead.

"If you are to draw your blaster am I to draw mine and shoot as well?"

Herself and Zee had did a few test shots in the woods back on Joiol. She could point at a target. Squeeze the trigger. Not guaranteed to hit anything but practice would make perfection.

Drifter | Brooke Waters​

 

[Drifter]

​

Kalee's Shadow
Persephone Dashiell

That polarized helm tilted just slightly, reflecting Persephone back at herself, every hint of her teenage indignation staring right back at her.

Oh this was going to be good. Beauuutiiiful. Nothing like a prissy one that is that fixated on her letters, he mused, watching her as she spoke real slow, like she was teaching a child his letters. He didn't move. Didn't fidget. Just let her have her dramatic pronunciation lesson while the faintest air of amusement rolled off him.

When she finally stopped, his voice crackled through the modulator, smooth, easy, carrying that lazy scoundrel's drawl.

[ Per-seh-fuh-nee, ] he repeated, as if testing the weight of it. [ Got it. But if we're running from blaster fire, don't expect me to sound it out. ]

He leaned a little closer, helm canting toward her.

[ And to your question, no. If I draw, you find cover first. You don't need to win the fight. You just need to stay breathing long enough for me to win it for you. ]

He pushed off the floor with his boot and had his chair spin him forward with all the flourish of someone with far too much overconfidence in himself.

[ So, now that we are done with this spelling bee, how about you tell me just what kinda artifact we hunting? ] his head tilted back toward her, a grin in his voice, [ 'Ersie. ]

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Ersie. There was no possible way he could know she was called Ersie at home.

She could roll her eyes. Or remind him to call her Persephone. Instead she was going for the resting b.itch face look. The type that was nearly stone and took no amusement in his little quips. Persephone truly didn't and even if she did, it wasn't wise to engage. Dealing with him was like dealing with a petulant Loth-Cat demanding it's owners attention.

"We are hunting a holocron Darryl. It's a small device that Jedi used to record their ramblings. For some reason, they are extremely popular. Well protected and well sought out. Rumors trace it back to this ramshackle shed in the middle of a desert. The rumors could be right or could be horribly wrong. From what I understand, Jakku seems to be a popular planet for them."

Shoulders shrugged.

"If its not here, its on Tython but fairly certain the Sith recently wiped out a good portion of their hidey-holes."

Drifter | Brooke Waters ​

 

[Drifter]

​

Kalee's Shadow
Persephone Dashiell

Drifter leaned back in the pilot's chair, boots kicked up like he owned the place. His voice came lazy, but with that familiar edge of mockery.

[ Drifter. Drift–er. Like driftin' from place to place, where the wind and the credits'll land me. Come on, Ersie, I'm sure your folks paid for a top-tier healthcare plan to keep those pretty ears workin' in perfect order. ]

He snorted, the sound half amusement and half disbelief, rolling his eyes under the reflective visor before turning back toward the controls. Not touching a damn thing, though. No -- he was clearly waiting on something, hands just resting like the ship could fly itself.

[ Oh, I know what a holocron is, princess. And you're in luck, I've been to Jakku. Did a drop-off not too far back. ]

He stopped there, looking around the cockpit in a way that suggested someone else was supposed to chime in. No one did.

[ Sooooo, anytime you're ready, ] he said to the empty air, not even glancing at Persephone.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

EN ROUTE?

Persephone didn't make a comment back to Drifter Darryl despite the overwhelming desire to do so. It was like fighting with a small child - you would never win and in the end, look like an idiot yourself for arguing with a three year old. Instead he turned to the controls and so did she, wanting to observe the procedure. Plus, less motion sickness potential when taking off for hyperspace.

Then she waited. Nothing was happening, not even the sound of the engines warming up. Odd.

Did Darryl expect her to fly? Quite possible. He did seem like a bit of a diva. Despite not knowing how to fly, she would take matters into her own hands. Unbuckling her restraints, Persephone moved to trade places with Zee, speaking as she did so.

"Zee, take my spot and begin take off procedures to Jakku. You know the coordinates, get us close to them but not too close so we can observe before going into the area."

[ Of course Miss Persephone. ]

A bit of an awkward move and Zee was now sitting in the co-pilots chair and she behind, settling in. Once they had taken off she would review the bit of research she had found.

Drifter​

 

[Drifter]

​

Kalee's Shadow
Persephone Dashiell

[ Oi oi oi, no touchie-touchie! ] Drifter barked, wagging a finger at Persephone and her droid like they were unruly kids about to stick their hands in a socket.

Then the cockpit speakers purred to life.

[ Do not touch my controls, ]a husky feminine voice drawled, smooth and low like a Zeltron lounge singer three drinks deep.

Not his fault. That was Kai's doing. She'd been the one to give Alex that voice modulator.

[Yeah, no. Alex doesn't take kindly to backseat pilots,] Drifter said with a shrug just as the ship's systems whirred awake. Engines hummed, sensors lit up, the whole bird giving a gentle shudder as preflight checks rolled on their own.

[ You could've spoken up sooner, Alex, ] he called, leaning back and lacing gloved hands behind his head.

[You were too busy running your mouth. I didn't want to be rude,] Alex crooned back, smug as ever.

[ Yeah, yeah, ] Drifter snorted. [ Anyway, she'll get us where we're goin'. Just sit tight and let her work. ]

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"I didn't know your bucket of bolts needed that long to start up. My apologies."

The droid brain of the ship, Alex, was most likely following orders from Darryl. Persephone just hoped if they were getting shot at or a lightsaber thrown at them then the vessel would move faster. It was difficult to tell - Darryl seemed the type to find it funny by cutting it close for no reason. Perhaps he was suicidal. She, however, was not and self-preservation was vital in this case. Perhaps a little more vital than the holocron they were about to attempt to recover.

Given she was now quite literally in the backseat, the teenager pulled out her datapad to watch ZikZok holos on silent. Darryl shouldn't need to bother her on the trip.

Drifter​

 

[Drifter]

​

Kalee's Shadow
Hyperspace
Persephone Dashiell

[ Whoa, whoa, whoa! ] Drifter threw his hands up, twisting in the pilot's chair for that polarized visor to glare at Persephone like she'd just insulted his own mother.

[ Do not call Alex a bucket of bolts. Respect her, okay? Dead serious. ] His visor tilted toward her, and for once, the joking tone dropped. [ Last thing I need is her reminding me this is exactly why she doesn't want me takin' these gigs. ]

From the speakers came a throaty harrumph, rich with indignation in that same seductive voice.

[ Hmmph. Somebody around here needs to learn I'm particular about who I let in my ship. ]

Drifter sighed, shaking his head as if Persephone had already lost the argument.

[ See? You've gone and wounded her pride. Which means I'll be hearin' about it for the next three parsecs. ]

The ship gave a low rumble as the stars stretched thin, hyperspace swallowing them whole. Drifter leaned back again, arms folding behind his head.

[ Anyways… ] he dragged the word out, letting it hang while the hum of hyperspace filled the cockpit. [ You still haven't told me much. Where on Jedha, what're we expectin', and what kinda holocron we're after. Some of those things can be bad. Or good. Or just downright terrible. ]

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Slowly, and looking extremely annoyed, Persephone looked up from her silent ZikZok holo. Was Darryl being serious? The very first words out of her mouth had been the location they were after. She had been expecting him to input the coordinates and make a plan from there. Persephone was realizing perhaps she should have hired a more competent bounty hunter for this job. A hazard of trying to do things cheaply.

"You must have the attention span of a gnat." Disappointment colored her tone and was written all over her face. "As I mentioned at the start of this, when I first sat down on this illustrious vessel, that the location is a small shed or shack north of the Valley of Eremite. Given it is a holocron, we can expect Jedi to try to stop us.

Drifter​

 

[Drifter]

​

Kalee's Shadow
Hyperspace
Persephone Dashiell

[ Wow. Aren't you just a bucket of sunshine. ] Drifter replied back. Not the kind of personality he wanted to hang around. They were paying him to get her there, make sure she lived, and get her back. Fine. Things could be left at that.

Without further ado, the man drew his feet off the piloting console and set them on the floor. He immediately goes to his feet, and with two fingers, has a goodbye salute.

[ Good to know. You can just stick around here until we get to Jedha. If you are hungry, there is the good o'l brown bag in the galley you can eat. Standard sandwich, bag of chips, and some dried fruit. Sorry, no fruit juice box for you, Princess. But there is plenty of recycled water. ] he informed her, already making his way out of the cockpit towards the corridor. He'd much rather go searching for what he knew from his own databases than try and pry it out of Lil Miss Hoity Toity.

Seriously. Some rich kids were more little brats than those born to royalty. And he should know -- he's was one 'em.

[ Toodles. ]


Hours Later...

Kalee's Shadow jumped out of hyperspace just at the edge of the Jedha system. Thanks to gool o'l Princess, Drifter added the approximate coordinates and let the rest of the mapping get processed by Alex.

Took another hour or so before the Shadow's engines sent billowing clouds of sand, grit and dust in the air as it shuttle settled down. The Hunter picked the typical set of necessities needed -- which was really a little bit of everything.

'Cause unlike what Ms. Know-it-all said -- it wasn't just Jedi that went deep diving for holocrons. It was Sith too. And any good treasure hunter looking to make some extra credits with loot.

[ Alright princess, here we go. Get your gear and your pink water bottle. We heading out. ]