Things That Need To Be Said

[Nyx]

Geonosis
Confederacy Capital

She had never seen this world before coming here. Orange sand and factories, as far as the eye could see. Strangely beautiful, but most things were to her that weren't Coruscant or Tattooine, these days. She stood on a bridge overlooking one of these factories, leaning on the railing, her body clad in a grey coat. She couldn't believe she was here, really. She'd never thought to wear it or her guns again, let alone have her light saber clipped to her belt, yet here she was. With her father again.
The man was supposed to meet her here, she had sent someone over to get him. If she was literate, she would have sent a message, but she supposed that was a thought for the future. For now, she would have to continue to depend on others.
But she wanted to talk to her father, and now all there was to do was wait for him. Two years was a long time, and they needed to catch up.

[member="Darth Metus"]

 

[Malok]

"Enjoying the view?"

From the far side of the Bridge would ring a familar voice. A mere look in his direction would greet [member="Nyx"] with the sight of Darth Metus. Today, he had abandoned the beskar'gam that she was so accustomed to seeing in favor of something more...comfortable. A crimson poncho wrapped about his shoulders, veiling the blast vest underneath from view. In but a few steps, the distance between them was closed.

And he opened his arms.

"It's been too long, my little Panda'lor."

 

[Nyx]

A smile graced her face, a rare thing. That voice was a welcome sound to her ears. She turned, brown eyes examining [member="Darth Metus"]. She had hated this man, once. Hated him for seemingly abandoning her, for leaving her alone in that hellhole of an orphanage she had grown up in. Hated him for leaving her to starve on the streets of Coruscant's Undercity, to fight tooth and nail for every last thing she wanted or needed. Hated him, blamed him for her woes in life.
Those days were long over.

She embraced him tightly, something she had never done before. It felt nice.
"You know me, I can't keep myself out of trouble long enough to see the people I care about."
She moved away, still beaming, letting her emotional barriers down, for once. She could trust this man, she knew it. Could trust him with not only her life, but her feelings. The years had shown that.
"You look good. I don't even mind my old man dragging me along on another adventure, this time." She chuckled to herself. "If you're sure you have room for your uneducated ex-con hot-headed daughter in this Confederacy you're building, that is."

 

[Malok]

"If you did stay out of trouble you wouldn't be a Verd. We're known for that lovely trait. Well, that and good looks."

As [member="Nyx"] accepted the offer of his embrance, the Sith ensnared her in his arms. He held her tight, planted a kiss upon her hair, and relished in the moment until she gently pulled away. Years prior, this would have never transpired - Metus would have been trying to bridge the gap and Nyx would be attempting to justify her feelings. Yet time healed this wound it seemed. Time brought them together.

"Well, this is a new body, after all." he said, almost too casually. "And for what I have planned, you being an ex-con is perfect." He took a moment to lean his back upon the railing, staring at her with a smile on his face. "You have skills little one, skills that I could only dream of having. I want you to put them to work here, helping to make this Confederacy better and stronger."

He paused for a moment.

"The Pirate King, [member="Aedan Miles"], and I go way back...and part of our deal is he gets a fleet in our space. He privateers for us, we back him up when he steals from the wrong country. I'm looking to expand upon the Corsair Fleet...and I'd like you to command your own ship. What do you say?"

 

[Nyx]

At first, she was quite surprised by the offer. How could she not be? She had been expecting some kind of ground assignment, or a coddling post on a world free from danger. But this? She wasn't expecting a command, for sure. But, it made her smile even wider, a twinkle in her eye.
"I don't know a damned thing about commanding a ship, but taking other's chit by force is a rather familiar thing to me."
She laughed, almost giddy.
"Hell, Captain Nyx has a bit of a ring to it, doesn't it?" The offer was good, very good. It had been a long time she had something to call her own, since she had prospectives, a purpose. This was perfect for her. Stealing, roaming the stars, taking what she wanted and getting away before the authorities could show up. Just like running a gang back home on Coruscant, just you know. In space. On a ship.
"I got 60 men and women for the crew already. Good people. Loyal. I grew up with them, they're family to me." Then she thought of something, and raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of ship? One of the big ones, a dreadnaught, I think? Freighter? Don't leave me hanging in suspense, old man, it's torture!"

[member="Darth Metus"]

 

[Malok]

"Fortunately, I won't be handing you a ship and expecting you to figure it out alone." he said, delighted to see his child's response. Reaching for his pocket, Metus produced a holo-disc and gave its power button a light squeeze. At once, the azure projection of a Recuscant II-class Star Destroyer appeared before their eyes.

"This is the Recuscant II. It's the backbone of the Confederate Navy. 1,700 meters, solid complement, and most of its systems are automated. One of these beauties will be yours. Between your loyal sixty and the standard, Droid crew you'll be just fine, Captain."

He grinned.

"Captain Panda has a better ring to it."

[member="Nyx"]

 

[Nyx]

"The galaxy shall tremble at the utterance of the name 'Captain Panda'."
She laughed, examining the projection. It certainly looked intimidating, and large. It would be good to have something to call her own. Very good. A purpose, a meaning, something not tied down to anything. A ship, all her own.
"Clankers, eh? Guess I shouldn't be surprised, considering where we are. Well, I'll command 'em good."
The idea of commanding a ship still took her by complete surprise, but she was getting used to the idea of it as time went on.
"Just a few years ago, I was running a street gang in the Undercity, and now I'm a ship captain. That is not how I saw my life going, at all. Thought I'd be long dead, by now, yet here I stand." She shook her head, laughing.
"Thank you. For trusting me with this. It means a lot to me. I'll do you proud, I promise."

[member="Darth Metus"]

 

[Malok]

*** Several Days Later ***​

GEONOSIS

A grin played upon the Sith's features.

From behind a port of glasteel did he bear witness to the behemoth. Hundreds upon hundreds of feet in length, armed to the teeth, and emblazoned with the seal of his nation was the fulfillment of a promise. Beside him, a Captain would be setting her sights upon this beauty for the first time. She, along with as many of her crew as they could pack into the shuttle, were on final approach to their new home.

"What'll you name her?" he said, draping an arm around his daughter's shoulder.

[member="Nyx"]

 

[Nyx]

Her eyes bugged out of her head as she stared upon the ship- her ship. Even days later, it was still sinking in. She doubted it would feel real until she stood on it, and given her first command. It was a beautiful sight, a behemoth of durasteel and guns. Excessive firepower was amazing, and she loved it. If she was going to get a ship, she was quite glad it was a ship that could unleash a thunderstorm of plasma-fire. Hmm. Thunderstorm.

Her arms were crossed across her chest as she continued to examine the ship, her face turned into a chit-eating grin. Nyx Verd, ship captain. Captain Nyx. Captain Verd? She supposed both were correct, so either would work. She felt her father wrap an arm around her shoulder, and she chuckled. It was nice to not be constantly fighting with him. It had taken her a long time to accept him as her father, but she was glad she had finally found it within herself to understand that she had been unfair to him. But the past was the past, and she could do nothing to fix what she had done, except to try and do better in the now.

"What do you think of 'Thunderstorm''? In the Undercity, I was always fascinated with rain. Hardly any of it made it down to us. Seems right to name this new chapter of my life after my dreams in my old one."

[member="Darth Metus"]

 

[Malok]

For once, the Sith had everything he wanted.

He didn't realize it it first, not until his child began to speak. Not until he heard the sincerity and strength in her voice. For once...there wasn't an edge to her voice. For once, there wasn't reservation. For once, there wasn't a question of "would any of my children truly see that I'm trying?" Out of his small legion of offspring, at least Darth Metus could say that he had broken through to one of them. He could finally say that one of his children loved him. And, as they looked upon the Thunderstorm together, he couldn't help but give her shoulder a squeeze.

"I couldn't think of a better name. It suits her like a glove." he began. "I'm glad that...You came back. I'm glad that we're writing a new chapter together. You don't know how much all of this means to me Nyx."

There were more words he could have said, but, the shuttle had came to a halt within the Thunderstorm's hangar.

"Come, it's time you take the helm!"

[member="Nyx"]

 

[Nyx]

Nyx Verd had killed more people than she could count, because she could not count very high at all. She had killed men, women, children, human, aliens, the whole bunch. She had looked many of them in the eye as she put a blaster bolt between their own. She had done it for credits, for survival, for the sick perverse pleasure of it. She had stared into the Darkness that threatened to consume them all, and took it for herself. She had murdered, lied, cheated, stole, and probably a whole host of other crimes she could not even begin to name.

Nyx was a hard woman, and she most certainly did not get emotional. The emotional smile on her face was simply from viewing her ship, not from the parental love she was receiving. Yes. That was it. It had to be.

"I ain't one for familial groups, but for what it's worth, I'm glad I came back too. Sure as hell beats sittin' on my ass not doin' a damn thing."

Then they were in the hangar, and she gave an excited whoop, exiting, running- only to come to an awkward halt as she came to a realization. She turned back to [member="Darth Metus"] with a sheepish grin.

"I don't have any idea where the captain-bridgy-thingy is."