Private Where Do Old Secrets Go?

[Braze]

Tags: Kathryn Star

​

Braze was on Naboo, of all places, making a refueling and supply run.

The practical work had come first: fuel cells checked, filters replaced, coolant topped off, fresh med packs counted twice over, and the pantry restocked with enough dry goods to keep the Mud Duck from turning into a flying tin can full of complaints. He had squared away the manifest himself, because trusting dock workers was one thing, and trusting dock workers near his snack crates was another matter entirely.

Once the last crate was loaded and the payment cleared, Braze allowed himself a brief reprieve.

The local cafeteria was tucked along the edge of the spaceport, open-faced to the warm Naboo air, with wide windows that looked out over polished stone walkways and trimmed greenery. The place hummed with the soft clutter of travel: pilots talking over their cups, port workers eating quickly before their next shift, families gathering around trays of fruit, bread, and hot broth while announcements murmured overhead.

Braze settled at a small table near the side, pale hair still a little wind-tossed from the landing field. A cup of tea sat near his elbow, steam curling thinly into the light, while a half-finished plate rested before him. He had a datapad open beside it, one hand idly scrolling through notes on old Jedi sects, obscure archives, and the kind of dead-end historical references that only really became interesting after someone had gone to great trouble to hide them.

 

[Kathryn Star]

One voice stood out amongst the din,

~ "I am sorry Mistress." ~ A silver and gold protocol droid of extremely fashionable taste muttered aloud, ~ "But I must protest!" ~

"No. I must protest C-7. I must protest. You told me passage was booked! The ship already left! Yesterday!"

A tall beautiful woman in an elegant fur jacket chased a hobbling droid between the tables. The droid doing his best to get away.

~ "I am sorry Mistress. Really! But but but... There was nothing Lord Calpheron could do? He simply had to leave for Corellia in the greatest haste! I swear it on my Archetypical Programmer! Really! Ouch! But really!"

The droid stumbled into tables as he quickly hobbled away from the pursuing woman. She clearly wasn't about to give up.

"Oh no! Not this again C-7. We both know that's not true!" She pointed a rough finger right towards the opulent droid's faceplate. Half scowling, half displeased. Almost bowling the droid right over the next able. "...You, TOLD, Lord Calpheron I was going to come along. And you, TOLD, him to leave early just so wouldn't get between him and that new pet woman he's been keeping from..."

~"Mistress PLEASE!" ~ The droid surrendered. Almost bent completely over an unoccupied table. Metal hands in the air in protest. ~"...Goodness. Not here! In public. Gah!" ~

If a droid could have terror in it's eyes. This one would have. The blonde woman was half-craned over the surrendering robot. Her accosting finger only an inch away from the droid's nose. Yet. She relented. Sighing with a loud huff.

They were being, quite loud. After all.

"Fine."

~ "Gracious. Thank you. Thank you Mistress. And, I assure you..." ~

"No! Shut up." She snapped with a clasp of her fingers. Clearly not amused. "You just cost me a discounted trip to Corellia on Lord Calpheron's luxury starship. One, for which, I had already PAID. ...THOUSANDS."

The tall blonde bladed her eyes and poked her lean finger once again into the droid's nose. Tapping it vicariously. Like a knife.

"Now? Where exactly am I going to find another pilot to take me half-way to Corellia on nothing but promises and seven hundred credits? Hm? Hm?"

The droid leaned backwards even more. Almost laying on the table at this point. If only to escape the nosy woman's prying fingers. Then his outstretched hands quickly pointed with a single gesture.

~ "Goodness Mistress! Um..? Um..?" ~

The droid quickly craned it's head to look at Braze . Extending only a single, sheepish finger,

~ "What about him!?" ~

... "Hm?"

Kathryn leaned her head slowly to view the man. He wasn't very far away at all. Clearly, he had heard the whole thing. Still. Together, the woman and the robot, pressed themselves against the nearby table. As if about to fall upon it completely and send it crashing to the ground. Their gaze could not have been more distinct between them. The poor droid quietly crying out, "Help me! She's crazy!" with his fabulous red=and-gold eye sockets. Yet, the woman quietly reaching out with the Force, "No. Don't help him. He owes me a free ride. Ugh."

The table beneath the droid began to lean against their weight. Shuttering just a hair to the left. Yet, both. Neatly crowing in anguish. Awaited a silent - or, perhaps - a very verbal answer from Braze.

The droid was clearly a pompous aristocrat.

The woman, was clearly a powerful Force Sensitive.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Kathryn Star

​

Braze watched the scene unfurl, feeling a tidbit bad for the droid. The commotion had been so loud that he simply could not read his boring articles in peace.

True, he was dressed in a Flight Suit today and likely looked more akin to a pilot of sorts, with the funny goggles he often wore.

"You should be thanking that droid…" Braze offered gently, his pale gaze drifting after the poor machine for a moment. "Ladies who tend to travel with Lord Calpheron also tend to disappear. Sometimes from ports... or...passenger manifests. Sometimes even from places everyone swears they saw them only a few hours before."

He glanced back to her, the softness in his voice unchanged, which somehow made the warning sit colder.

"So perhaps this embarrassment was kinder than the alternative. It may have saved you more than your pride.

But if you are in desperate need of a ride to Corellia, it is, in fact, my next stop. I don't mind if you need to hitch a ride… The Haven Suite has several apartment rooms, and only one of them is occupied. I've only my crew at the moment and they have their own quarters... and sevral of teh guest quarters are open...so... we could take an extra passenger. All I would require from you is payment for your meals… which would be…"

Braze paused, glancing aside as if doing some grave calculation in his head after looking hyer figuer over.

"Fifty credits, maybe? I am not running a ferry service, and I am certainly not charging you for a room that would otherwise sit empty."

 

[Kathryn Star]

The blonde woman raised an eyebrow at Braze 's reply. Though, there was no sign of surprise at the content of his warning. Only a mild curiosity at the theater unseen.

She relented from accosting the droid and slowly stood up to her full height. Placing her hands on her hinds and giving Braze a ponderous, dissatisfied look with her eyes. For her thin size the gravity around her body quickly because quite tanky. Almost iron-like, really. Like a warrior. C-7 quickly took the moment to fall upon the ground and escape his - suddenly distracted - captor. She however, happily ignored the robot's crawling.

Suddenly. The air around her body changed from iron to glamourous glee. Suddenly displaying a fabulous, happy smile.

"I accept! Ha!"

She championed the words. Practically beaming with compliments.

"Kathryn Star. At your service."

She did not mention the plot of Lord Calpheron further. Nor did her mind even consider it anon. There were far more interesting things going on today than such simple affairs. Far more interesting things like the pale but sharp-witted man sitting before her. He was clearly the more dangerous opponent.

And she loved, dangerous opponents.

~ "Thank you! Small man." ~ C-7 stumbled his way towards the cafeteria exit. His gold-and-silver glamour gleaming. His tone obvious, ~ "And good travels Lady Mistress! Please. Please! Never come back! Gagh! Ouch! Pardon me ladies! Gagh!" ~

Kathryn gave the droid a sour look of pure fiery death. Ignoring his finally, flailing retreat with some display of passion.

Then she returned to happily doting upon Braze.

"I have servants that can handle my luggage. Easy stuff. Casually. But, more to the point? To what docking bay might your ship call home, hmm? I'll have it delivered superbly."

The strong blond withdrew a small comm and quickly tapped a few buttons. Checking her hair in it's mirror sheen. She was clearly accustomed to a certain style of living that most would humbly call "comfort". However, her presence in the Force was that of a heavy glowing metal. Dense and energetic. Like simmering hot stone. Impossibly weighty and terribly strong.

Still. Imperceptible-perceptions aside. There still remained a fire in her eyes that told Braze that no matter how blissfully pleasant nor bubbly blue she behaved?

This woman was not all that she appeared.

"Remind me your name again? Captain... ?"