Private The Last call

[Dash Ryken]

ATTIRE: Link
EQUIPMENT: Pistol
TAGS: Holly Starstorm


Bunker 30 was a classic dive bar, the kind of place that only served one class of patron: soldiers. Not flyboys, not navy, not marines, just the guys that pounded the dirt. No bouncer at the door, just people on the inside that could bounce anyone out should the need arise. It had the classics in the form of Dejarik and Pool. Several holo screens were showing random sports from podracing to huttball. It was the classic place for those who spent their lives largely risking them to go and unwind after missions. This particular bar was popular more with the commando teams than the rest.

That was why Dash and the rest of the Rough Rats were there. They'd just gotten back from Canto Bight, rescuing a pretty, little Jedi that had gotten herself in some hot water. Hadn't gone bad or anything. In fact, by all accounts it was one of the best outcomes they'd had on a mission: saved some kids, saved the Jedi, and Dash got to punch a Sith in the face. Not much better than that. Although he was still in trouble for ignoring orders and chasing after the guy. Damn latrines.

Still, off duty, he and the others hung out all the time. Brute, the Esoomian, was about as simple as they came: give him food and beer and he was content. He was really only in the unit because he could carry heavy ordinance and was very good at point and click. Zero and Fuse were a married duo of Nagai. They always sat cuddled up in a booth by themselves. Sarge was a human like Dash, though he never said where he hailed from. Something about keeping the past in the past and not wanting to dwell on it. Dash didn't pry. Sarge was a good dude even when he was getting mouthed off to.

While the others were doing their own thing, he was playing a round of pool by himself, just practicing his shooting skills. It had been a while since he'd had enough time to play, and the bar was a bit quieter than normal, which left him ample space to play alone. Sarge and Brute were drinking at the far end of the bar, watching a huttball game and he didn't care for sports that much, other than fighting sports, so he'd wind down his own way. Who knew, maybe something interesting would happen while he was there. If not, he'd drink a few beers, shoot some pool, and then go crash at the barracks.

 

[User]

Tags: Dash Ryken

Holly was in a bit of a mood as she entered the bar with her Bothan cameraman Fin. By now Fin had learned to just go with Holly's mood swings, particularly when it came to not getting assigned a story she wanted. As if on cue with this thought the blond reporter bristled and folded her arms.

"The parade! How can the chief think I'd want to cover that?"

Fin rolled his eyes and held up a hand to the bartender, indicating they needed drinks. He grabbed them both and lead the grumbling reporter over to a booth. "It's a popular event Holly. I imagine it will be front page news and people will want to hear about it."

"It's only front page news if we are too busy writing about it and ignore everything else happening! It's the same every year. Blah blah the band was great blah blah orphan donation.. blah blah floats... There has to be something better!"

As if searching for clues she looked around the bar. There were several commandos in tonight. Holly liked to hang close to them sometimes and see if she could catch a whiff of a story.

"Have you given more thought to going back to school? Maybe a career change?"

"Ha Ha. Funny. My career is going great thank you very much!"

Fin rolled his eyes. "Look I'm going to throw darts. Drink that. It might take you out of your mood." He let out a low whistle and got up, heading over to the dart board where there were some pretty looking army ladies who were in need of a good time. Holly watched him go and let out another bristle of annoyance.

Seriously the parade?

 

[Dash Ryken]

ATTIRE: Link
EQUIPMENT: Pistol
TAGS: Holly Starstorm

A duo entered that were definitely not army. Dash recognized the girl, a reporter, almost immediately, but the Bothan with her he didn't know. Probably a crew member? Either way, they weren't supposed to be there. The others seemed to notice them as well, though none of his team did anything to stop them because they didn't really care. Reporters were normal for the commando scene. Anytime some exploit happened they wanted to get an interview so they could support the war effort and keep up morale.

Except the ones that were anti-soldier. Those ones were annoying.

There were a couple of regular ground pounder types in the bar, though, and they did take exception, at least to Holly. Maybe they didn't want to tangle with the Bothan, he didn't know, or maybe the Bothan was former military. Dash put the 8 ball in the corner pocket while watching as a couple of guys made their way over to her booth, one of them leaning on it and looking at her.

"This bar is military only," the Kiffar said, staring at her. "Your kind aren't wanted here."

"Yeah, get out," his Lasat buddy said.

Dash put his cue down on the table and made his way towards the trio. Sarge raised a hand towards him, but he waved it away and gave a thumbs up, indicating it was all good and he had it. The man nodded and settled back into his seat to drink his drink, leaving it be. If he needed backup, his team would be there, but he wasn't going to need it. He stepped over and slid into the booth across from Holly, staring not at her, but at the duo that was bothering her.

"Relax, fellas," he said, putting his arms up on the back of the booth. "I invited her. Go back to your drinks and let it be."

The two looked at him, noting the tattoos on his arm that indicated he was a commando, and a Rough Rat, then backed away.

"Sorry, man. Didn't know she was here on invite."

The Lasat and the Kiffar moved away, and Dash watched them go before turning his attention to the woman sitting across from him. They actually were correct, she shouldn't be there, but he didn't like how they'd approached the situation, and frankly, she wasn't hurting anyone since it wasn't busy.

"Kind of bold making yourself at home in a soldier only bar, Ms. Starstorm."

 

[User]

Tags: Dash Ryken

Holly was about to mouth off to the nerf herders when she was saved by one of the army guys. Holly tended to go a lot of places she was not welcome so it didn’t phase her, but she probably didn’t need another altercation for her boss to complain about so it was lucky someone came to her rescue. He seemed to know who she was, which she was also used to. She’d done a few galaxy wide broadcasts after all.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Bold was certainly a word that suited Holly just fine.

“Thank you for stepping in. I really didn’t want to have to knee someone in the groin this early in the evening.”

 

[Dash Ryken]

ATTIRE: Link
EQUIPMENT: Pistol
TAGS: Holly Starstorm

A chuckle passed between his lips when she spoke. A compliment it had not been, but that was fine. She clearly knew what she wanted and went for it regardless of the repercussions. He could get behind that. Wasn't far off from the way he did things either. She could ask Sarge to confirm it. And, well, kneeing people in the groin wasn't exactly the best way to handle things.

"I'm glad you didn't have to do that," he said. "I'm sure you can handle yourself, but those guys wouldn't handle you nicely in return."

A bar fight wasn't exactly something he was looking to handle anytime soon. They happened from time to time, usually as a result of Navy guys showing up and trying to invade the place. They made a point of doing it often to remind the soldiers that it was the Navy that got them around, and that they couldn't do anything without them. Not exactly untrue, but he was sure most of the army guys could pilot a ship if they really needed to, especially the tankers. Those guys could fly or drive basically anything.

He put his fingers in his mouth and whistled towards the bar. When the barkeep looked up, he signaled a two for drinks and then turned his attention back to Holly.

"What brings you into our humble hidey hole?"