Private There's a Lot in Commenor

[Nixie Voidskipper]

Nix smiled at Lyra's joke, and shrugged her shoulders, "I'm adaptable," and after a second added, "and I won't," she promised, grinning as Lyra started her swing. Nix was unencumbered, so she gripped the laces and swung the heavy boot over her head. She let it down to waist height and let go, just as Lyra whispered "Now."

The boot arced overhead. Lyra's boot too, with startlingly similar arcs, but very different targets. Lyra's boot went to the right and Nix's boot arced a path right above and over, and across the path. It was amazing nobody noticed, but then again they were on a different mission. A "CRACK" and a spilling out of their contents rattled their way down a pile of junk.

"Over there!" One of the junkers shouted, and the droids sped off towards the sound, which was still crashing down. Nix saw her opportunity and darted forward, closing the distance. They were quite a bit past her now, and she was able to snatch up her dusty jacket and run. She spared a look over her shoulder to make sure Lyra was following while she tucked the jacket under her arm, but no matter what she had to keep running.

Making a break for the fence where they'd first met, Nix felt every sharp corner under her now socked feet. The boots were - thankfully - replaceable. She'd get a stern dressing down she was sure, but it would be nothing compared to what she'd deal with if she were caught trespassing and thieving from a random junkyard on a Colony world.

She couldn't help but giggle a little bit when their imminent freedom appeared before them, and she slid across the gravel, grabbing the fence and ripping it open to give Lyra a quick escape. If this had been a simulation, she'd have left her friend behind a long time, blown up the objective and failed the mission, but this time, Nix was going to complete every objective.

"Let's go!" she half-shouted. The clatter of parts had only grown in volume. The sound they had created, along with the projectiles had sent one of the droids reeling into a stacked pile of X foils and TIE Foils, bringing it down in a domino-effect collision. The two humanoid junkers were staggering on their feet and swearing, not yet realizing what had just happened. If they played their card right, they were about to get away completely free.

Lyra Ventor

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra's boot left her hand the instant she whispered the word, soaring through the air in a perfect arc that carried it deep into the scrap pile thanks to the weight of the heavy metal she'd stuffed inside.

The sharp, metallic crack that followed was even more satisfying than she had anticipated, echoing loudly enough to mask their own movements.

Knowing the distraction would only buy them a few precious seconds, she didn't waste any time waiting around to admire the success of her throw.

The second the junkers turned their heads and the security droids shot toward the source of the noise, Lyra was already moving with a burst of desperate speed. The gyrocomputer was tucked tightly against her ribs inside her jacket, one arm wrapped protectively around the stolen tech while her other hand caught the jagged edge of a rusted panel to vault herself over a pile of debris.

Gravel skidded and crunched beneath her boots as she sprinted hard after Nix, her heart hammering against her chest.

The junkyard maze blurred past them in a frantic rush of long metal shadows and the orange glow of the fading sunlight. Her lungs began to burn slightly from the exertion, but the triumphant grin spreading across her face was impossible to suppress.

Against all the odds, they were actually pulling this off.

When Nix snagged the jacket and took off toward the perimeter, Lyra followed without a moment's hesitation, leaping over a half-buried landing strut and sliding down the far side in a spray of loose rust flakes.

"Nice grab!" she called out, her voice coming in ragged, breathless bursts.

Ahead, the perimeter fence tore open with a screech of protesting wire as Nix yanked it aside. Lyra darted through the opening a heartbeat later, instinctively ducking her head as the metal rattled and swayed behind her.

The moment she cleared the gap, she didn't slow her pace for even a second; instead, she reached out to grab Nix's arm, pulling her a few more strides down the street to ensure they were well away from the opening before finally letting their frantic momentum bleed away.

Only then did Lyra risk a cautious glance back toward the dark silhouette of the junkyard. There were no alarms blaring. No droids came bursting through the gate in pursuit. There was only the distant, muffled clatter of collapsing scrap and the frustrated shouts of two very confused junkers.

A laugh escaped her then, bright and filled with pure relief.

"Well," she said between heavy breaths, carefully pulling the wrapped cube out from her jacket to inspect it, "that was a successful salvage operation."

She brushed a layer of grime off the gyrocomputer and looked up at Nix with a wide grin, though her eyes quickly traveled down to her friend's bare feet on the cold ground.

"And I believe that officially earns us those fizzies," she added, nodding down the street toward the older districts of Commenor where the city lights were just beginning to flicker on.

"Lucky for you," Lyra said with a playful, sympathetic glint in her eye, "the best place in the city isn't far. But considering you just gave up your shoes for the cause...do you think we should stop and find you a new pair of boots first?"

Nixie Voidskipper

 

[Nixie Voidskipper]

Covered in a layer of dust and sweat, when they finally stopped, Nixie huffed and puffed and shared a laugh with Lyra. "That... that was amazing." She said between breaths. Then she saw Lyra brushing off the gyrocomputer, and put her jacket over it. "Let's not count our fizzies before they're drank," she said and started side-by-side with Lyra towards the old Main Street, where the buildings changed to classical designs.

She stopped to wiggle her toes when Lyra mentioned her missing boots, but she shrugged her shoulders and laughed. "I'm not worried about it." The lamplight provided a glow that made Nix wish she'd gone with something more substantial than a tanktop, and as she folded her arms over her chest to stave off the light chill that now blew in from the night side of the planet, she hopped onto the flatter, less rocky part of the walkway.

"Is your family from here?" She changed the subject, not wanting to concern herself with something as trite as finding a new pair of shoes. Especially since she'd need a regulation pair of Starfighter uniform boots. Instead, she just wanted to enjoy their victory, and bask in the glow of success.

They had narrowly escaped capture and come out of it with a rare jewel. The taste of triumph was fresh, and would soon be washed down with a tasty beverage. "Let's go get those fizzies. My treat. After all, you were the one who found it, and you were the one who got it loose." She still had her per diem, and wanted to spend it before it was collected. Not on boots, surely, but on something she'd remember for the rest of her life. She then added off handedly; "You're also picking the spot. You know this place far better than I."

"The way I see it," she said, a handful of credits slipped out of her pocket and glinting in the hollow lamplight. "our night has only just begun."

Lyra Ventor

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra slowed her pace a little as they stepped out onto the older stretch of Main Street, where the jarring transition from jagged scrap piles to smooth stone walkways and warm lamplight felt almost surreal after the relentless chaos of the junkyard. The classical buildings stood tall and familiar around her, their weathered facades glowing with a soft, amber hue in the fading evening light.

For the first time since their frantic run had begun, she allowed the tension to drain from her shoulders and let herself fully relax.

She glanced sideways at Nix, who was hopping along the walkway in her socks, and couldn't suppress the small, genuine laugh that escaped her at the sight.

"I can't decide if you're remarkably brave or just incredibly stubborn," she said lightly, nodding toward Nix's bare feet as they hit the pavement. "Most people I know would have been hunting down the nearest pair of boots the second we hit the cobblestones."

When Nix asked about her family, Lyra's expression softened into something more wistful, the question clearly pulling at a complex web of memories that lived somewhere between fierce pride and quiet nostalgia.

"Yeah," she said with a slow, affirming nod. "My roots are right here; I was born on this world."

Her gaze drifted briefly down the length of the street, toward the distant, inviting glow of the district where the old shops and crowded cafés clustered together in a hum of activity.

"But despite being born here, I didn't actually spend much of my childhood with my feet on the ground," she continued, her voice taking on a rhythmic quality. "Most of my life was spent tucked away on starships with my father, hopping between cargo haulers, grueling repair runs, and the occasional salvage job that kept us afloat."

A faint, knowing grin tugged at the corners of her lips.

"My mother was the true ace of the family, though," she added, a note of reverence creeping into her tone. "She was easily the most talented pilot I've ever seen behind a flight stick."

Lyra glanced back at Nix, her blue eyes bright with the lingering adrenaline and the simple thrill of the evening.

"Truth be told, she's the entire reason I ever developed the itch to end up in a cockpit in the first place."

Then she gestured toward a warmly lit corner café just ahead, its windows casting a rich, golden-amber glow against the darkening backdrop of the street.

"And that," she said with a small, graceful flourish of her hand, "is the specific sanctuary I've been telling you about all night."

A playful, sharp smile returned to her face.

"They serve up the absolute best fizzies you'll find anywhere on Commenor."

She glanced down at the credits clutched in Nix's hand and then back up at her friend, her brow arching slightly.

"So, it's your treat tonight, is it?"

The grin widened into something a bit more mischievous.

"You'd better be careful with that offer; it means you're officially committed to making sure we celebrate this win properly."

Nixie Voidskipper

 

[Nixie Voidskipper]

"Probably a little bit of both," she answered with a merry chuckle, "I've lived most of my life without any shoes at all. I think the Empire might have given me my first pair to begin with." She skipped and spun up the walkway, twirled and kicked her leg up, like a Twi'lek dancer. She was actually pretty good. She'd seen all the classic holos from the days before the plague, back when the Empire was new and Rebels flew X-Wings against giant battlestations. She seemed pretty light on her feet and graceful enough.

Physically she was built like a dancer, and years of emulating those holographs had made her pretty adept, though it was clear she only liked it enough to know how. It wasn't her lifelong ambition. Still, her slight figure and slender, fit body showed through during that brief moment, circling and spinning, and arching her back into a pirouette that became a high kick, far above her head.

She bent forward and placed her hands on the ground, one after the other. Her legs kicked up, then bent down at the knee in a graceful cartwheel that carried her forward, slow and agile, her shoulders and leg muscles rippling in the motion of her body being carried forward. The motion sped her up, so she had to slow her step for Lyra to catch up.

"I couldn't wait to get off of Coruscant," Nix said after that moment of wistful memory. In contrast, Nix didn't really have any memories she wanted to keep ahold of. Just a lot of sleeping in hollow corridors, drenched by rain and sewage, and running from either authorities or criminals. She'd seen every sort of person die down there, and seen whole communities forgotten to die from starvation when yet another level of the high city was built over the old one. In a way, the whole Galaxy was like that, "I'd have to be dragged back and I'd scream and claw until everyone was bleeding if they tried."

"It must be nice living somewhere that you actually want to be, with people you actually like." She finished. She wasn't about to start talking about her family, or her parents. The closest she had to any of that was an Imperial Commodore who saw some talent in her. Nobody had really ever stuck around, which was why Nix abandoned any semblance of a relationship whenever they became inconvenient to her.

She looked where Lyra was pointing and grinned; "It was a big win, after all."

"Race you."

She jumped ahead when the café came into view, one would think her lack of footware would slow her down, or at least make her think twice about running again so soon after they caught their breath, but apparently not.

Lyra Ventor

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra watched Nix's sudden burst of motion with a warm, quiet smile that reached her eyes before it touched her lips. The spin, the kick, the effortless cartwheel across the walkway. It was graceful in a way that felt unpolished but genuine, like someone who had learned movement for the joy of it rather than the discipline.

She slowed a step as Nix finished the cartwheel, letting the other young woman pull slightly ahead while she absorbed the moment.

When Nix spoke about Coruscant, the tone shifted. Lyra could hear it in the spaces between her words: the kind of memories that clung like shadows. Lyra didn't pry. Instead, she let the conversation breathe as they approached the café, the warm lights reflecting softly across the street.

"Maybe," Lyra said gently, her voice calm but thoughtful as she caught up beside her. "But it sounds like you've already found a place you want to call home."

Her gaze flicked briefly toward the sky above the rooftops, where ships occasionally streaked between traffic lanes.

"Your ships. Your freedom. The places you choose to go."

She looked back at Nix then, the smile returning, a little brighter this time.

"In a way…just like me."

When Nix suddenly called out the race and bolted forward, Lyra laughed softly under her breath and pushed into a run after her.

"Hey—!" she called, amusement clear in her voice. "You started before I agreed!"

Still, she ran anyway, the café lights growing closer with every step.

Nixie Voidskipper

 

[Nixie Voidskipper]

Nix followed Lyra's eyes up to the sky and smiled in agreement, just in time to see a streak of light from either space junk reentering the atmosphere, or an actual meteorite, but the skies still showed a few stars, unlike Coruscant, where the sky was always so bright that the sky seemed empty and void of life - in spite of the Deep Core world being surrounded by stars and black holes whirling around constantly. Nix had always dreamed of piercing that black veil, and now that she had the chance, she would never go back.

She stuttered to a halt right in front of the cafe, laughing. "You lost this one, but don't worry, I won't hold this one against you."

Today, neither of them were pilots, mechanics, Imperials, off-worlders, natives or foreigners. They were two kids, just being kids.

Nix found a waiter droid almost immediately and dropped around six credits on the tray. "Two fizzies for me and my friend," she said, letting her cool blue eyes adjust to the surrounding light, after the dim sun-set glow of the street they left behind, "Extra cold, since we're celebrating tonight."

She took the chance to look around and her smile vanished all at once. Turning into a stern expression with a hint of irritation. At the far corner table, five cadets in Imperial grays and whites sat, drinks in hand, huddled over a small light which bathed the table in a yellow glow. She'd not wanted to run into them, but had forgotten they were still roaming about.

Her eyes flickered when she saw one of the cadets in particular, a young man with yellow, slicked-back hair and a smarmy look on his face. Colton Raith. His father was a Fleet Admiral, and the Starfighter Corps was considered the speediest rout to becoming a Captain. A thing he was very likely to attain. It was clear by the look on her face, Nix didn't like him.

She turned to face Lyra and whispered; "We should take our drinks outside on the veran--" but she hadn't finished when Colton's voice boomed across the cafe.

"Is that little Nixie-Vile? The Major's favorite?" he laughed, "Where the bloody hell have you been all damn day? The boys and I had a bet you weren't going to make it for drills tomorrow morning." He tossed back his drink. It looked like a strong alcoholic drink. The perks, she supposed, of being an Admiral's son. He stood up slowly, his chair squeeking loudly as it settled.

Nix's eyes darted to her peripheral and then back to Lyra. "We should probably find another spot before this gets out of hand." With the implication that it was almost certainly about to get out of hand. Then, she spun around on her heel.

"Oh, Colton, is that you? I couldn't tell. You looked like a week dead womp-rat!" She exclaimed loudly enough for everyone to hear her. Colton stopped in his tracks, a puzzled look on his face. He was a tall boy, well-built, but had the look of someone who'd never done a hard days labor unless it had been a day of hanging fresh recruits over waste vacc tubes in the ship's lavatory.

Colton's eyes dropped to the bundle in Lyra's hands. "What's that, Nixie-Vile? A present for me? You bloody shouldn't have." His eyes shot up to Lyra's face. "Well, aren't you a pretty one. Why are you hanging out with our lowlife Wing Commander, and not a dashing rogue like me?"

Nix muttered, "Well you're half right."

Lyra Ventor

 

[Lyra Ventor]

"Pretty sure she's already found better company," Lyra said calmly, stepping a little closer to Nix to make it undeniably clear which side of the line she was standing on.

Her blue eyes settled on Colton, maintaining a steady gaze that didn't betray even the slightest hint of nerves.

"And if you're trying to impress anyone in this room," she added lightly, her voice carrying just enough volume to be heard by the surrounding tables, "you're doing a spectacularly bad job of it."

A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she watched his reaction.

"Actually…"

She rested one hand casually on the table beside her, her fingers tapping a slow, rhythmic beat against the surface.

"You're a starfighter cadet, right?"

Her gaze flicked briefly over the crisp lines of his uniform before returning to meet his face with renewed intensity.

"Then let's settle this dispute the way pilots have been doing it for centuries."

The room quieted a little as the nearby conversations died down, the weight of a challenge hanging heavy in the air.

"You and me. One flight in the simulators or the sky."

She nodded toward the wide transparisteel window where the vibrant evening sky of Commenor stretched out in a sea of violet and gold.

"If I win, you and your friends leave Nix alone for good, meaning no more games, no more harassment, and certainly no more petty Academy politics."

Then she tilted her head slightly, her expression shifting into something more calculated.

"And if by some miracle you win…"

The faintest playful edge entered her voice, though her eyes remained as cold as deep space.

"…you can name whatever prize you think you're worth."

Her eyes held his steadily, refusing to give him the satisfaction of looking away first.

"But something tells me you're far more comfortable talking a big game than actually flying one."

She folded her arms loosely over her chest, leaning back just enough to project total ease.

"So what do you say, Ace? Do you have the wings to back up that mouth?"

Nixie Voidskipper

 

[Nixie Voidskipper]

Colton looked stunned, and started to laugh but Lyra was on one, and his laugh never left his throat. Nixie looked troubled and reached up for Lyra's shoulder, but then when Lyra suddenly challenged Colton, and Nix dropped her hand before it reached her. This could at least be interesting. Colton tilted his brow, and considered. He was the second best rated pilot in the class, and he had once or twice edged out the top student. More or less, he felt confident he could beat a stranger in a simulation.

"An Imperial Cadet wouldn't risk his... or her commission," he looked directly at Nix when he said that part, "for a joyride, and not only that, even I could face expulsion if a Civillian got caught in the cockpit of a TIE. Worse, if you crashed and died. It's not some god-awful speeder ride, after all. Even the best pilots in the Galaxy die in an Imperial starfighter."

Colton rubbed his chin, a touch of overgrown blonde peach-fuzz splitting where his fingers drew lines. "Tell you what. One-on-one, no help from our mutual friend here, and you're on."

Nix quietly observed. She hadn't the heart to tell Lyra she wasn't exactly on the right side here, but this seemed like an interesting - mostly harmless - opportunity to see her skills in action.

Colton turned around and faced the other Cadets who were now glancing anywhere but at Nix and Lyra or Colton himself; "Hear that fellows?" There was one girl among them. Purple hair, tan skin, tattooed markings on her cheeks denoting her as a green-skinned Mirialen. Another was a blue-skinned Chiss male who stayed quiet, but from his pips on his uniform was as elite as Colton and Nix.

Cooly he spoke, "Colton, you know she's just trying to bait you."

Colton responded with uncontrolled irritation. "Ourmur, nobody asked you."

The blonde turned back to Lyra. "Not good enough. We're going a bit high-stakes for this one. I want Nixie-Vile to drop out of the Academy if I win, and you." He jutted his finger at Lyra, "to be my personal servant. Polish my boots, steam-clean my uniform, make my bed, for the next stellar year."

Nixie stepped around Lyra at that moment, caught Colton's arm, twisted his elbow taut and dropped her heel on the back of his leg. A series of popping noises crackled from his joints. None of the other cadets looked surprised as Colton fell to one knee, groaning in pain.

"And if Lyra wins, you transfer ten thousand credits - your whole month's allowance - and what else, Colton? Something near and dear to you." She spotted it on his hip. "Is that Admiral Raith's brand new BlasTech Industries SE-14 R-Type Repeating Blaster I see? That too, then."

Nix pulled suddenly on his arm, a move that sent a series of pops up his spine. It actually sounded like it felt pretty good after the initial shock and pain twisted his face. Colton fell to his hands and knees but then jumped up and brushed his uniform off.

"Deal," he said sharply, "We can use the simulator booths aboard the Reven." The Reven was the Interdictor-Class Star Destroyer that Nix and her fellow Cadets had flown in from. Nix looked genuinely shocked he would offer that, but knowing him he had a plan. He was almost as sneaky as Nix was.

Lyra Ventor

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra listened without interrupting as Colton laid out his terms, her expression remaining a mask of preternatural calm even as the stakes climbed to increasingly volatile heights. There was an arrogance in his voice that was almost impressive, a testament to the kind of privilege that had never been challenged by a superior pilot.

When he reached the point of demanding that Nix leave the Academy, however, Lyra's head tilted with a subtle, predatory curiosity before she gave a single, firm shake of her head.

"No, that isn't how this works."

The word wasn't loud, but it possessed a weight that cut cleanly through the stifling tension of the café, silencing the background noise of clinking trays and hushed whispers. She met Colton's eyes with an even, unblinking stare that seemed to see right through his bravado.

"This conflict is between you and me, and I have no intention of wagering someone else's future on a game of flight paths." she said, her tone remaining as steady as a ship in dead space. "I don't have the right to demand she sacrifice her career if I lose, and frankly, I have no interest in doing so."

Her gaze flicked briefly toward Nix, a momentary softening in her eyes, before her focus snapped back to Colton with renewed intensity. A faint, confident smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. A look that suggested she had already seen the outcome of the battle they hadn't even fought yet.

"Not that losing is a variable I'm currently accounting for."

The room had fallen into a heavy silence now, every cadet in the vicinity watching the exchange with bated breath. Lyra folded her arms loosely across her chest, leaning into the challenge as she continued to dictate the terms of her own engagement.

"But I will meet you in your simulator and prove exactly where we both stand on the hierarchy of the sky."

She nodded slightly toward the direction of the Reven, her mind already calculating the logistics of the ship she had only ever seen from a distance.

"If I win, you and your friends will leave Nix alone entirely: no more harassment, no more threats, and no more interference in her life at the Academy. In addition, I want guaranteed safe passage aboard your Star Destroyer; I want the right to come aboard and to leave at my own discretion without a single hand being laid on me."

Her eyes held his, freezing him in place with a gaze that refused to waver. She waited a beat, letting the weight of her demands settle over the table like a heavy fog.

"Grant those terms...and you've got yourself a fight."

Nixie Voidskipper

 

[Nixie Voidskipper]

Colton shook his head and then looked back at his fellow cadets. "She's really serious. Wait until she finds out--" but he cut himself off and shook his head, even Ourmur looked a little perplexed. "No deal," he said, "Nix has to put up something since this is her game, and she's very much involved."

Nix turned to Lyra and put both her hands on the girl's shoulders, "Listen, I know you want to keep me out of this, but trust me I'm fine with it. There's nothing I want to do more than wipe that smug smile off Colton's face, and see him go down in a simulated flaming wreck. Now do you really think you can beat an Ace pilot from the Empire or are you blowing smoke? Howabout this." Nix spun around and faced Colton. "Forget the blaster then. Let's say you win. You get both of us as your personal entourage, and I'll polish your bloody boots so well every morning, you'll see your ugly face in them."

Colton thought about it for a moment, and nodded. "Your terms are acceptable, but what about to that one--" "Lyra," Nix interrupted. "Yes, Lyra. Will that be satisfactory to you?"

Nix turned around again and gave her a look, encouraging her to agree. "The thing is... I need to be completely forthright. Colton has never bullied me. Sure, he's an insufferable twit with his pretty-boy posturing, but truth is... you could say... I've mostly been the one bullying him." She grimaced and gave Lyra a sheepish look.

"Not that anyone could prove it," she murmured lightly, "Which is why he's so upset. Not only am I a better pilot, a poor girl from the slums, but I've made his life a bloody living hell for nearly two straight years. He just has too much pride to admit it."

"So if you want to beat him, you shouldn't be the only one to throw yourself to the massifs. Got it?"

Lyra Ventor

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra stood perfectly still while Nix gripped her shoulders, listening to the explanation that followed without offering a single interruption. Her eyes moved with a steady, thoughtful rhythm between the cadets gathered around the table, Colton's smug posture, and the heavy tension that had settled over the café like a storm waiting to break.

When Nix finished speaking and asked the question, Lyra turned her full attention back to her.

There was no hesitation in her gaze.

"Yes."

The answer came calmly, without drama, yet carried a quiet certainty that cut through the room more sharply than raised voices ever could.

"I can beat him."

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice so only Nix could hear the next words.

"And I would never let you put yourself on the line like this if I wasn't absolutely sure of it."

Only then did she straighten again, releasing a slow breath through her nose as she turned back toward Colton and the watching cadets.

The corner of her mouth lifted into a faint, knowing smile.

"You two really are unbelievable," she said quietly, the dry amusement in her tone making it clear she had already begun to understand the dynamic between them.

Her gaze settled on Colton, studying him with the same clinical calm a pilot might give a rival before a race.

"And just so we are perfectly clear," she added, her voice steady and level, "I am not the one who went out of my way to start this little game."

Then she glanced briefly back at Nix, that faint smile returning.

"But if you have that much confidence in me," she said softly, "it would be a shame not to make use of it."

She shifted her stance slightly, making sure both Colton and the rest of the cadets could hear every word that followed.

"Alright then. Let's stop talking and settle this properly."

Her eyes locked onto Colton again.

"If by some miracle you win, you get your entourage for the year."

She paused deliberately, letting the weight of the stakes settle across the room.

Then her tone sharpened just enough to remind everyone present that she wasn't bluffing.

"But when I win, you will transfer the ten thousand credits, hand over that blaster without argument, and you will finally stop chasing Nix around like a spoiled bantha who didn't get his way."

She folded her arms loosely across her chest, relaxed but unyielding.

"And you will guarantee me safe passage aboard your Star Destroyer."

Her gaze didn't leave his.

"I come aboard, I leave afterward, and neither you nor your friends cause any trouble."

The confident smile returned, sharper now.

"Because something tells me you're going to want witnesses when this story gets told."

She tilted her head slightly, offering the challenge like an open door.

"So… shall we head to those simulators and see what you're really capable of?"

Nixie Voidskipper

 

[Nixie Voidskipper]

The waiter-droid finally arrived with their fizzies, and Nix took them from the tray, handing one to Lyra, and sipping her own through the intricate straw they'd provided. The day wasn't quite going as expected, but an adventure it had certainly become.

Colton folded his arms over his chest, feigning consideration but he had already decided. "Very well, it's a deal. Ourmur, you and Leevi will ready the shuttle. I've got a bet to win." With that, the cadets scrambled, and Colton was leading the way to the shipyard, casually joking about his plans on how to torment Nix and Lyra with chores, and possibly as footstools. Nix was fuming but she kept the appearance of calm for the most part, aside from chewing on her lip while they walked.

She was suddenly conscious of her bare feet but no one had mentioned it yet, so she wasn't about to try and draw attention. Instead she kept behind the squadron, beside Lyria. "And you're sure about this?" She whispered, looking mostly for affirmation, because her confidence was still high. Lyra had kept pace with her after all. Nix already thought she'd have been a good wingman if she wasn't so opposed to joining the Empire.

Nix had a moment to look around. They were headed back towards the newer part of the city. Fabricated buildings, and the looming landing port, awfully close to the Junk and Shipyard - where the Lamda-class shuttle sat waiting for it's crew's fin stuck up above the ruddy and ill-maintained building. One of the few that weren't meticulously cared for by the Mayor.

Finally they arrived at the spaceport and the landing pad in question. Ourmur - the Chiss in white - and Leevi, the Mirialan in gray climbed up into the cockpit. The other three who hadn't been given names yet, followed suit, strapping themselves into the seats in the small cargo hold. Colton turned about to face them. "Not too late to turn back and admit defeat, young ladies." He said, beaming and overconfidently forgetting he was about the same age as Lyra and not much older than Nix.

He then ushered them both in and left them the last two seats, but waited for them to strap in before he himself buckled up.

Nix leaned towards Lyra and rolled her eyes. "A real gentleman, that one."

Lyra Ventor

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra accepted the fizzy from the waiter-droid with an easy nod of thanks, the cool glass settling comfortably into her hand as she lifted the straw and took a long, unhurried sip. The drink was sharp and sweet, the cold cutting through the lingering dust and adrenaline of the junkyard chase.

She glanced sideways at Nix as Colton made his declaration, the faintest smirk touching her lips.

"Well," she murmured quietly, "at least he's confident."

Lyra walked beside Nix as the group made their way toward the spaceport, the glow of the city shifting from the warm, older streets to the sterile lights of the newer districts. She sipped her drink again as they went, utterly unbothered by the tension in the cadets ahead of them or by Colton's increasingly elaborate predictions about their future servitude.

When Nix leaned closer and whispered her question, Lyra turned her head slightly, the corner of her mouth lifting.

"Completely sure," she replied calmly.

She took another slow sip of her fizzy.

"He's already flying the race in his head," she continued in a low voice, glancing briefly at Colton's swaggering back. "Talking about victory, planning the celebration, imagining the story he'll tell afterward."

Her eyes flicked back to Nix.

"Pilots who do that usually stop paying attention to the flying part."

The shuttle loomed ahead now, its Lambda fin silhouetted against the night sky. Lyra finished the last of her drink and handed the empty glass to a passing service unit before stepping up the ramp.

Inside the cargo hold, she slid into one of the last seats, buckling the harness across her shoulders with practiced ease.

When Colton delivered his final smug remark, Lyra met his grin without flinching.

"You're right," she said evenly.

A beat passed.

"It's not too late."

The faintest smile appeared.

"You can still save yourself the embarrassment."

Then she leaned slightly toward Nix, lowering her voice just enough that only the girl beside her could hear.

"And he calls himself a gentleman."

Lyra's eyes flicked briefly toward Colton again before she settled back in her seat, completely relaxed.

"Let's go win a race."

Nixie Voidskipper

 

[Nixie Voidskipper]

Nix laughed as the cargo door closed behind them, the causeway retracted and drew back into the ship, and the Lamda shuttle lifted off on repulsors. The thrum of the engines were the most comforting sounds Nix had heard in a while, and as the shuttle climbed and it's wingfoils extended from the tip of the fin, out to the base in the shape of a Y, it started it's climb into the night sky where the Venetor-Class Star Destroyer was waiting.

"I know I'm a fighter pilot, but it must be something else entirely to fly one of those," Nix mused quietly. Meanwhile, the two young cadets were easily piloting the small craft up and towards the docking bays, which glinted blue from the ever-present forcefields that allowed craft to come and go. A pair of TIE Interceptors were just leaving on patrol, when they radioed in to the docking ship, which they responded to by flipping a button to transfer the command code.

A voice over the speaker responded; "You are clear to dock, shuttle."

Leaving them to gently come aboard. The ship folding foils and settling down neatly in the bay. The platform extended again and the bay doors opened, and the cadets and their guest disembarked to a clean white imperial hangar. Black droids marched about along with pill helmeted Imperials, maintaining ships and repairing damaged ones. Hanging above on a rack were a series of standard TIE Fighter pods.

AT-AT and AT-ST's also hung from similar racks. It was incredible to see such large machinery just hanging precariously above them. A planetary invasion force available at all times to a single Imperial Star Destroyer.

A pair of black droids carried a leg of an Imperial Walker just past them, as a Major by his insignia came down to meet them. "This is unexpected, Cadet Raith, Cadet Voidskipper. You're back early, and I see you've brought a guest? It's hardly regulation to pick up strays, you know." He said in that cool Imperial affectation. "What exactly is the meaning of this?"

Colton stepped forward, at attention, his arms folded behind his back.

Lyra could see the rest of the cadets had joined suit - including Nixie. Feet apart, arms folded behind their backs. Nix's jacket was open, revealing the tanktop beneath. The unnamed Major eyed her first. "At ease. You're technically still on leave, which is why I was so interested in your arrival."

They all relaxed at once, and Colton spoke first. "Pardon us, Major Gazer, a native has made a friendly wager with us involving the simulator bay. Our dear Nix has also wagered her services if the native fails."

This part actually drew some interest from the full fledged pilots, mechanics, and even the droids. Unrelated, a mouse droid skittered past Lyra's foot squeeking and buzzing as it went along it's duties.

"You've peaked my interest, Cadet." The major snapped his fingers and a patrol of armed Stormtroopers diverted from a passing patrol unit to flank him.

"Shall we all go then?"

The Major whispered to one of the troopers who nodded and split off from the detail, likely to spread the word.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Come now," said the Major as he started towards the big doors that led into the greater ship. He led them through corridor and through tunnel, down turbolifts, into the belly of the ship. The simulators were near the cadet's quarters - which made sense - and was a dark room with several of the enclosed boxes lined up all facing the same direction.

The Major stopped to stand before them. "The rules shall be simple. The first one to ten points is the winner. If you shoot down the other fighter in pursuit of the ten points, you automatically win. There will be no simulated allies, so you are on your own. You will both be flying simulated Baktoid Armor Workshop Rogue-class Porax-38 starfighters so as to keep things fair. You will depend only on your ability to fly, your familiarity of the controls and weapons will have to be gained as you begin the simulation. There shall be no quarter. If you are shot down by the computer or your fellow pilot, you lose. End of story."

A mixed crowd of Imperials were already gathering, some of them taking or making bets with the Major. He drew a glowing pad from his pocket and appeared to start taking notes.

Colton climbed into the first cockpit and strapped on his helmet, which Ourmur passed up to him. "Better put yours on too. These things simulate every bump and jump. First time Nixie-Vile was ever in one of these, she came out covered in bruises." He grinned and slid into the seat, strapping himself in and reaching up to grip the controls.

Nix walked over to Lyra and reached out, gently taking the gyrocomputer from her arms. No one else had mentioned it. No one else seemed to care. "I'll keep it safe, I promise. You'd better blast him out of the sky, got it?" In exchange, Nix grabbed the helmet off of the prop arm and pushed it into Lyra's empty arms. "You've got this. Just remember what we did in the junkyard, understand?"

The Major spoke again, this time adding "The course will be randomized. Random setting. Random number of enemy ships, from ten to fourty, random number of capital ships, cruisers, and destroyers. You will not know whether you begin in an asteroid field, above a planet's atmosphere, or even navigating the Maw. It is entirely up to the computer to decide."

"As soon as both pilots are seated and ready, the game will begin."

Lyra Ventor

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Lyra inclined her head politely when the Major addressed them, remaining neither nervous nor defiant, but simply acknowledging the authority standing before her without making an unnecessary spectacle of the encounter. The growing crowd, however, did not escape her notice as they progressed through the facility.

Stormtroopers, pilots, mechanics, and even droids paused in their routines to watch the group move through the hangar bay. Rows of TIE pods hung suspended above the polished deck like waiting predators, while the massive forms of walkers held in maintenance racks cast long, jagged mechanical shadows under the harsh glare of the Imperial lights. The entire bay hummed with a sense of disciplined, cold efficiency that was as impressive as it was inherently dangerous.

While most people might have found such an environment intimidating, Lyra only felt the familiar, rhythmic tightening in her chest that always preceded a flight. To her, a crowd simply meant the presence of witnesses, and witnesses ensured that Colton would not be able to twist the narrative of the coming trial to suit his own ego afterward.

She walked beside the other cadets as they moved deeper into the Star Destroyer, maintaining a relaxed posture even as the spectators grew in number. Stormtroopers fell into a rhythmic step behind them, mechanics paused with tools in hand, and veteran pilots leaned against the high railings to watch the unfolding spectacle with analytical eyes. By the time they reached the simulator chamber, the ambient tension in the air had sharpened into something almost electric.

Lyra studied the enclosed cockpits with the quiet, intense curiosity of a natural pilot, noting that they had been configured as Rogue-class Porax-38s. An interesting and unexpected choice for this exercise. When Colton made his smug remark about the helmet, Lyra met his eyes with a brief glance that held far more genuine amusement than it did concern.

"I'll manage," she replied smoothly.

As he sealed himself into his own cockpit, Lyra reached up and lifted a helmet from the rack beside the simulator, turning the heavy piece of gear once in her hands as if weighing the unfamiliar equipment before finally settling it into place. It was then that Nix stepped up beside her, gently taking the wrapped gyrocomputer from her arms to lighten her load. Lyra blinked once in surprise, then offered a light shrug of her shoulders.

"We got it for you," she said, her voice carrying no grand drama or performative gesture, only a sense of quiet certainty. "It's yours."

Her gaze shifted back toward the simulator pod where Colton was already settling in, the faintest hint of a confident smile returning to her lips. "Don't worry," she added in a low voice to Nix as she began her climb into the cockpit.

The seat seemed to mold around her form the moment she strapped in, her fingers settling naturally over the unfamiliar controls as if the machine had been waiting for her touch. "I promise I'll blast him out of the sky."

The canopy lowered with a soft, pressurized mechanical hiss, sealing her into the dim glow of the terminal as the simulator hummed to life and the starfield began to manifest around her.

Nixie Voidskipper

 

[Nixie Voidskipper]

SECTOR CHOSEN; ANOAT SECTOR

Overview of Anoat Sector:

• Location: Outer Rim Territories, northeast of the Corellian Sector and near the Rimma Trade Route.
• Notable Features: The sector is dominated by vast asteroid fields, icy worlds, and isolated colonies. Its harsh conditions make it ideal for covert operations and guerrilla-style skirmishes rather than large fleet engagements.
• Major Celestial Bodies:
  • Hoth: An icy planet known for its Rebel Alliance Echo Base.
  • Vega Major: A sparse mining world with strategic supply depots.
• Navigation Hazards: Dense asteroid belts and unpredictable stellar weather patterns such as frozen ion storms complicate navigation and combat maneuvers.

Strategic Significance for a Space Battle:

• Ambush Potential: The numerous asteroid clusters and nebulae provide natural cover for starships, making it perfect for ambushing larger fleets.
• Tactical Maneuvering: Limited hyperspace lanes and narrow asteroid corridors require skilled piloting and precision strategy.
• Resource Nodes: Mining outposts on Vega Major and surrounding moons could be objectives to control, supplying critical materials for prolonged engagements.

Battle Environment Description:

"Amidst the icy void, Rebel and Imperial starships weave through jagged asteroid spires. Holo-sensors flicker as frozen ion storms disrupt communications, and plasma torpedoes ricochet off floating rock clusters. Commanders must balance aggression with stealth, using the sector's labyrinthine asteroid paths to surprise foes while securing the supply depots vital to sustaining the conflict.

"You will be providing escort for the larger capital ships. Do not let your opponent destroy your carriers and destroyers. A point lost can be regained by blowing up one of their ships, if one of yours is defeated. Once you destroy your opponent or gain and RETAIN a total of FIVE POINTS, you will be victorious."

"Number of ships; 30 ships on each side. 2 capital ships, 3 destroyers, 25 fighters. Fighters take one hit (except for your craft, which takes 3 hits), Destroyers take 5 hits to destroy, and Capital Ships take 7 hits to destroy.

A PRECISION strike with a PROTON BOMB can cause 1-6 damage. Be sparing with these, as you only have three each.

You may only engage one ship at a time. Capital ships and destroyers are only a single point, to keep the focus on dogfighting and protecting your squadron."

(Engaging in a complex maneuver can add a point to your attack. This is a note for the players involved. If you make an impressive maneuver, the computer will score accordingly)

"Pilots! Get ready! ...BEGIN!"

 

[Lyra Ventor]

The canopy sealed with a soft, pressurized hydraulic hiss that effectively cut off the noise of the hangar, and in an instant, the world beyond the transparisteel cockpit dissolved into a featureless, absolute darkness. For a fleeting moment, there was nothing but the rhythmic, quiet hum of the simulator powering up around her, a low vibration that thrummed through her flight suit.

Then, with a sudden and blinding brilliance, the stars ignited.

The cockpit sprang to life in a synchronized burst of light as holographic instruments flickered across the console, casting a steady blue glow over Lyra's focused features. Radar grids expanded to their full diameter while the targeting systems began their high-speed calibration, and flight telemetry scrolled across the primary display in quick, jagged bursts of Aurebesh before finally settling into a steady, readable stream of data.

Lyra's hands rested with a practiced lightness on the controls as the simulated void of the Anoat Sector unfolded around her in a staggering display of celestial scale. She found herself staring into a field of hundreds of asteroids, jagged expanses of ice and stone that drifted through the black like the bleached bones of some ancient battlefield, their long shadows stretching out across the frozen light of distant, indifferent stars. Far beyond the reach of the floating debris, the faint blue glow of ion storms pulsed through the darkness like slow, rhythmic lightning trapped forever within clouds of frozen gas.

It was an inherently difficult environment to navigate, yet it was undeniably perfect for a pilot who possessed the instinct to know exactly how to move through the chaos.

The Rogue-class Porax-38 fighter hummed beneath her as its internal systems finished syncing with the simulator's mainframe, locking her into the digital reality. While the specific control layout of the starfighter was unfamiliar to her touch, the underlying logic behind the machine was a language she spoke fluently, from the thruster arrays to the vectoring stabilizers and the intricate weapon groups. It was a different ship than she was used to, certainly, but she reminded herself that it was ultimately the same sky she had spent her life chasing.

Lyra flexed her fingers once across the cold controls, carefully gauging the interface's resistance and sensitivity to ensure she knew exactly how the craft would react to her commands. Finding the responsiveness to be exceptionally sharp, a faint, confident smile touched her lips just as the countdown began to crackle over the comm channel.

At the count of three, Lyra eased the throttle forward slightly, allowing the simulated engine vibration to run through the cockpit seat and settle into her very bones. As the timer hit two, her eyes moved rapidly across the shifting asteroid field, her mind already mapping out complex routes through the narrow, treacherous corridors of drifting rock.

When the count finally hit one, she whispered softly to herself, her voice remaining calm and steady against the rising roar of the systems.

"Alright, Colton," she murmured as the engines roared to life with a ferocity that shook the frame of the cockpit. "Let's see what you've actually got hidden under the hood."

The very second the simulation began, Lyra punched the throttle forward with a decisive movement, sending her fighter darting into the jagged heart of the asteroid field like a polished blade slipping between the ribs of an unsuspecting giant.

Nixie Voidskipper

 

[Nixie Voidskipper]

Two fighters pursued Lyra, coming out of the glare of the single Sun of Hoth, speeding through the space between them as they dodged fire from the destroyers and capital ships that were Lyra's allies. They followed swiftly behind her, but she led them into an asteroid field. The first fighter dodged through the refuse smartly, but the second caught a chunk of rock against it's wingfoil and collided with a silent explosion against a larger asteroid.

"One point, Lyra!" Shouted the Major over the coms, which both Lyra and Colton would hear.

Colton saw Lyra leave the hanger first, then throttled forward roughly, causing the heavy starfighter to skip and throw sparks across the docking bay floor. Lyra was already in the asteroid belt and had drawn a pair of enemy fighters, so Colton knew that when he took off, he would expect two enemies to follow him as well. His fingers flipped on sensors, armed weapons and proton bombs, and zoomed through the empty space past an icy moon which he noted for future strategy. There was a planet near enough to see, but Colton wanted to get the jump on Lyra. He grabbed the stick and aimed his starfighter at the other end of the asteroid field, where he expected she'd come out, but his radar spotted the two fighters flanking him. Instead of fleeing though (unlike Lyra, he didn't have space debris to hide behind) he pulled a "cobra" maneuver by reversing his thrusters and firing them hard to flank his two pursuers.

His targeting screen locked and he fired. Colton would have been an Ace after all, and was trained for combat. In all likelihood, he'd be the favorite. The betting was already commencing in the real simulation room on deck of the Venator. They were favoring Colton five to one. Nix had decided to throw a few credits in as well... though who she bet on was a mystery. Neither Colton nor Lyra could tell, but by the look on the Major's face, she might have been the only one betting on Lyra. Smug satisfaction curled his mouth.

Colton fired his laser cannons, hoping to take one of the fighters out and gain his first point.

Blat! Blat! They fired, rocking the wings of Colton's fighter as he shouted; "Gotcha!"

Lyra Ventor

 

[Lyra Ventor]

Inside the simulator cockpit, Lyra barely registered the Major's announcement over the comms; her world had narrowed down to the glowing tactical display and the hum of the engine. While the score flickered. One point in her favor. But her focus remained absolute as she guided her fighter through the asteroid field's thinning edges. Clearing the last jagged cluster of drifting rock, she felt the Rogue-class Porax-38 respond beautifully to her touch, its thrusters vibrating through her flight suit as she adjusted the pitch and rolled the craft into the predatory quiet of open space.

That momentary silence was short-lived, however, as a sharp flare of light signaled a new contact on her sensors. A single fighter was vectoring through the debris belt behind her at high speed, and Lyra's eyes flicked across the readout to confirm the signature even before the computer could finish its classification.

Recognizing Colton, a faint smile touched the corner of her mouth. "There you are," she murmured, her voice lost in the rhythmic thrum of the cockpit.

She eased the throttle back just enough to let the fighter drift into a more advantageous position, rotating the nose slightly while the targeting reticle recalibrated across the display. Through the cockpit canopy, she could see the distant, strobe-like flashes of green laser fire where Colton was currently engaged, deep within the asteroid field.

Seizing the opportunity while he was busy, her fingers danced across the weapons controls to cycle through the fighter's armament until the targeting computer finally rewarded her with a soft, melodic chirp. With the lock confirmed, the very instant Colton's fighter burst through the edge of the field and into her firing arc, Lyra pulled the trigger.

Twin laser cannons erupted from the nose of the Porax-38, sending brilliant bolts streaking across the black void toward the incoming Imperial cadet. "Welcome to the fight," she added, rolling the fighter into a tight bank immediately after firing. She kicked the thrusters to starboard and accelerated hard, intentionally forcing Colton into a split-second choice: execute a desperate evasion or fly straight into the heart of her barrage.

Nixie Voidskipper