Private Unexpected Flight

[Valoria Elryne]

Jedi Temple, Tython
Temple Hanger
Tag: Kaelen Varrin


This wasn't working for her anymore.

Everything had grown so conflicting. She didn't understand how she was supposed to carry on after what had happened.

The constant reminders and memories she found in the halls of the temple were doing no good for her. It was impossible to heal when you could find the very thing causing you grief everywhere you looked.

It wasn't that she didn't want to be a Jedi. Her whole life had been dedicated to that. It would be pointless to throw it all away now, would it not be? Maybe not. Valoria wasn't certain.

Regardless, she needed space to breath. She couldn't stay here. That much she knew. If it weren't for her occasional trips off Tython with a close friend of hers, she would've made this call a long time ago.

She'd left a hastily scrawn note for Kas Larsen , explaining what was going on, and thanking him for the aid he's given her. Valoria wasn't sure at this point if she'd ever see him again. But, for what it was worth, she hoped she did.

After grabbing a few belongings, she started through the halls of the temple, headed towards the hanger. Her heartbeat was loud in her ears as she walked, certain that any moment now someone would catch onto her intentions and call her out for it. But of course, that never happened. She was fully authorised to be within the temple. No-one would so much as glance back at her.

The doors to the hanger slid open as she entered, her eyes immediately scanning the space for an unoccupied ship. Eventually they landed on one that seemed devoid of anyone aboard.

Perfect.

Valoria crossed the hangar, avoiding crossing paths or colliding with anyone else in the area. Droids moved back and forth, but they, much like everyone else, payed her little attention.

She knew her flying abilities were less than commendable. But she understood the basics, and could successfully fly from one planet to the next. Valoria was more scared than anything. The prospect of flying was no longer a positive one for her. Considering last time she did so was after.... That.

Valoria shook the thought off. She'd be fine.

Heading up the ship's ramp, she didn't stop to consider checking the rest of the ship before heading through to the cockpit. If she had, perhaps she would have noticed them sooner.

Settling herself in the pilots seat, she took a moment to glance over the controls, trying to recall the brief lessons in flying she'd been given. Soon enough, she'd managed to get the ships power on without causing it to blow up.

That was a good start.

 

[Kaelen Varrin]

It wasn't often he was caught off guard in much of any situation, honestly. Even less so when it was a question of safety or intrusion of his sanctuary, his very ship. So when he heard the telltale creaking of the the panel to the left side of the entry to the cockpit, he sat upright from where he had been lounging. Technically, he should have been triple checking the patch job on a coupling he had done. But... Ya know... Naps, and even more so other things, yeah...He rolled and dropped stealth like to the catwalk, striding through the bowels of the ship without a bit of a rush to his stride. As he turned into the cockpit, corellian longcoat swiling like a holovid hero, his custom blaster came up in one hand, the pistol uttering a raspy hiss and then begin to buzz like an angry insect cloud as he leveled it at the one in front of him.

"The ignition is on the top left panel, third button down from the hyperdrive sequencing lights... Now.. Most important... What are youI doing on my ship..?"

Valoria Elryne

 

[Valoria Elryne]

Valoria slowly lifted her hands from the control panels upon hearing the blaster a few mere inches away from her head. Right. She should have checked no-one was aboard the ship, but her mind had been too focused on getting out that the thought never even occurred to her. The options on her next course of action were very limited now.

Her hands itched to reach for her lightsabers, which only served as a reminder that she didn't have them anymore. Which meant she was, more or less, defenseless. Which obviously was less than ideal.

Turning slowly, she faced whoever it was who had caught her red-handed. For a moment, she couldn't give him an answer. What could she say?

'Yeah, look, so I was planning on stealing your ship and likely landing it in a ditch. Thanks for being so understanding.' Because that would go down well.

There really was little choice. But she had to say something.

"That is... a long story. Really not worth your time. At all. Something about maintenance checks on all the ships in the yard or something. Good news, your ship appears to be in peak condition." Valoria tapped one hand against the dashboard. "All approved and all that. So, no need for the hostilities."

She glanced towards the blaster. "If you could lower the blaster that would be great. Real great. Thanks."

Kaelen Varrin
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[Kaelen Varrin]

He spun the blaster as if to lower it, and then stepped fluidly back and to the side, the barrel coming back to trained on Valoria, and his form now solidly between her and the exit of the cockpit.

"That, while a good line, is still a line of bantha fodder. You really need to learn not to hesitate at the beginning of your story, and to not act so confused or uncaring. Particularly if you're masquerading as a functionary enacting red tape policies. Those kinds are all about the tiny details and the small stuff. You'll get there though, with practice. Now, let's skip your denials of my statements, and get to the part where you explain why you were stealing my ship. Or I can take out one of your arms or legs in a very painful fashion and call the Temple Guards in to sort this whole mess out. I have a spltting headache and am low on patience, so decide quickly. Please"

The eyes gave it true. He didn't want to hurt the woman in front of him. Or anyone, really. Well, no one on this port on the planet. But the rest of it was utterly true. He would shoot her and call the authorities without question if it helped speed him on his way. But, by the same token, honesty and clarity would probably buy her significant stock in his world.

Valoria Elryne

 

[Valoria Elryne]

The last thing Valoria wanted was to have the Temple Guards involved. Wouldn't that look great on her records? Plus, she quite appreciated having arms and legs. Life would be quite difficult without one of them.

"Look, I'm not trying to cause any trouble or anything." She began, without a clue what she'd say next. Perhaps there was only one thing for it. The truth.

But the full truth was messy. A tangled web that she wasn't sure she ever wanted to untangle. Truth was hard. Painful.

So not the truth then. A half-truth.

"I just needed a way off this planet. I'm... Temporarily restricted from access to the Order's ships, and I don't have one of my own, so, yeah."

She shifted her weight, subconsciously moving a little further away from him. She brushed the fabric of her coat aside slightly, enough so that he could see her empty lightsaber hostler.

"I'm unarmed. I truely didn't mean to cause any problems. I thought this ship was unoccupied. You can just let this slide, and I'll be on my way, and we'll never have to see each other again."

Kaelen Varrin
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