A Rogue’s Environment.

[Admiral DaaLa]

Naturally everyone is welcome to join in, post in a character portfolio first. Use mine as a template.

Name: Salina Warner
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Occupation: Smuggler, bartender.
Eye Colour: Blue
Hair Colour: Blonde with red streaks
Height: 175cm
Race: Human
Favourite colour: black
Background: Selina has no particular recollection of her family. Her life began on a ship and she has no doubt in her mind that it will end likewise. She works on the smuggler’s moon Nar Shadaa in the Correllian sector in a bar called The Burning Deck. The bar is renowned for its social class which is primarily Bounty Hunter’s and smuggler’s. Not many rules apply in the Burning Deck except don’t upset the barman or they wouldn't serve you. Salina lives as most of the moons populations does in the upper levels of the spaceport’s city and owns a little freighter called Feline’s Pounce and which all of her friend’s call Cat.


I also added a background on the planet where we are at now...

Background on : Nar Shaddaa
The ungoverned "smugglers' moon" orbiting Nal Hutta, Nar Shaddaa is completely covered by interlocking spaceport facilities and miles-high docking towers reaching to orbit. The moon's all-covering "vertical city" was built over thousands of years, and is protected by often-malfunctioning planetary shields. Though it was once a glorious world of bustling, legitimate trade, Nar Shaddaa quickly lost prestige as the hyperspace trade lanes shifted away. Now quite distant from most galactic commercial centers, Nar Shaddaa is typically allowed to run its own affairs with little Imperial interference. Famous as the birthplace of Jabba the Hutt, Nar Shaddaa is controlled by Hutts and assorted "smuggling guilds" who control various sections of the moon. It is now widely regarded as the center of smuggling operations in the known galaxy, and the pollution, decay, and lawlessness associated with smuggling traffic run rampant on the moon. Sections of Nar Shaddaa's maze-like city include the Duros sector and the Corellian sector, which contains three bars popular with bounty hunters-- the Burning Deck, the Slag Pit, and the Meltdown Cafe, and another corner tavern called the Orange Lady. Most of the moon's 72 to 95 billion inhabitants live in the highest levels of the spaceport-cities.
Nar Shaddaa was originally given to the displaced Evocii as a new homeworld, after the Hutts forced the species from Nal Hutta. The Hutts continued to exploit the Evocii in their new home, buying up their land and using them as a cheap labor source. Now their forgotten, inbred descendants can be found inhabiting the lowest levels of the vertical city. Han Solo and Lando Calrissian both used to frequent Nar Shaddaa during their early smuggling days, and still have associates living there. Before their service to Captain Antilles, C-3PO and R2-D2 traveled to Nar Shaddaa in an attempt to apprehend the criminal Olag Greck. The bounty hunter Greedo and his family lived in the moon's Corellian sector for several years, until an Imperial attack on a Rebel hideout resulted in massive destruction and the collapse of nearly twenty sector levels. Following the Battle of Yavin, Alliance agent Kyle Katarn avoided bounty hunters on Nar Shaddaa in order to find Imperial navigational charts related to the Dark Trooper project. Six years after the Battle of Endor, Leia and Han Solo, searching for Vima-Da-Boda in Nar Shaddaa's lowest levels, were attacked by man-eating vrblthers and the bounty hunter Boba Fett.

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Boy it’s hot in here thought Salina as she took the Gamorrian’s credit in exchange for his drink. She wore a tight cuffed top that showed off her well tanned and toned stomach with a long skirt with huge slits that came up mid thigh, which was covered my her knee length boots. Both top and skirt were made of various parts of lace and were naturally black. Her piercing blue eyes had been underlined with dark black eyeliner to emphasis their colour and her long blonde hair was crimped and out on her shoulders. She felt no fear as each bounty hunter came up to her and ordered the drink she actually felt relieved to be in these surroundings at least she knew here everybody lied, everybody killed and everybody stole. She knew were she stood, and that was how it had been all her life, alone. She looked at the Clawdite on the other side of the counter, she knew it was a shape shifter but what it really looked like she had no idea. She ask in a standard monotone.

“What will it be?”

The Clawdites faces became alert and cringe and then responded.

“I’ll have a Torrikian Whisky, no ice.”

Salina turned around efficiently fixing the drink and taking the creature’s money. Unfortunately the creature didn’t leave it just stood at the bar staring at her or past her either way she buy no means wanted to be in its line of fire. What ever you want to do mate, you better not do it in here she thought knowing all to well how many trigger happy jerks came to the bar. The music started pounding as a new DJ began playing. It was one of her mates Scott, this meant it was nearing 1:30am and the bar would only get busier as more bounty hunter’s would drop by and the moon’s night life would emerge. She had spoken with her smuggling partner and co-pilot earlier in the day, he had said he would drop by which naturally meant that there was a job for them to do. It also meant she could replace her ships well used truster’s and she could update her nav-computer to latest 3-zed one which had come out. She couldn’t wait to see how good it was and after selling her one which was still in prime condition she would have a little extra maybe for some clothes shopping. She went to serve the bunch of Rodians that had walked through the door. They were never good for business, to pig headed and arrogant, they all believed that they were the supreme bounty hunter. One of her usual patrons intercepted her, his name was Triven and he was Snivvian. He snorted as he looked towards the rodians.

“Nice business you got here, Sal *snort* snort* Rodians huh they think they are real bounty hunter’s the way they act here.”

Salina laughed.

“It’s a wonder that they didn’t learn from the mistakes of Greedo and the way Solo did away with him. But what can you say Triv some species never learn.”

She indicated to his right ear which had been burnt off in a recent bounty.

“Hey, hey *snort* at least I got the guy and the money.”

He gave her a toothy grin with a wicked smile. Salina walked towards the Rodians and began to serve them.

[Jeianni]

Name: Kaelia Nevasto
Age: 20 standard years old
Gender: Female
Occupation: Bartender/smuggler
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Height: 5'8
Race:Human
Favorite Color: Red
Background: Born to parents of the Rebellion, she has a fiery spirit and a defiant dertermination. Her parents live on Sullust and she sees them occasionally for holidays. She has no force powers, but a keen intuition and a fast, dry, wit. Her specialty is blasters, bombs, and a knockout rightcross. She also has a certain finesse with computers. She works at the Burning Deck with Salina and also chips in on the smuggling front once in a while. She lives in the upper decks not to far from Salina and they are pretty good friends.

---------------------------------------------------

Kaelia walked towards the bar holding a tray of drinks in one hand, and a towel in the other.

"Salina, who ordered the Star Killer?"

Salina looked up from wiping down the counters and pointed towards a back table, dimly lit, and crowded with several unsavory looking human men. Undaunted, Kaelia headed towards the back table. She rolled her eyes as the table focused on her and cat called her. It was no wonder, she cut a stunning figure. She wore much the same 'uniform' with several variations. She also wore a floor length skirt with slits up to her thighs, only it was red bantha leather that reflected the hazy lighting. She wore black space boots that stopped at her knees, and a short top similar to Salinas, except that it was bantha leather as well, instead of lace. This combination of leather and Kaelia's lean stature and appropriately accentuated curves made her a knockout. In the most literal sense.

"Who had the Sun Killer?"

A gruff looking man in the back of the booth raised his hand. Kaelia mentally sighed and reached across the entire booth, standing on her tiptoes to place the drink in front of the lecherous man who was staring unabashedly down her lowcut shirt. She had better get a huge tip! She sauntered towards the bar, purposely waying her hips, if only for kicks.

"Salina, you off tonight?"

"Yeah, I was thinking of going dancing. Wanna come?"

"going dancing" was the equivalent of going on a smuggling run.

"I'm so in. Just let me get home and change!"

[Admiral DaaLa]

It was 8 hours into Salina's shift and the music was still pounding at her skull like a sense drum. What she needed right now was a cigarette break. She looked over to Kaelia who was mixing drinks.

"Hey babe, I'll be back just gonna take a smoko."

Kaelia looked at her in disgust.

"I thought you said you quit."

Salina pulled on a innocent face and smiled.

"Can you handle the bar?" Salina asked rhetorically.

Kaelia rolled her eyes as she watched Salina grab her smokes and head for the back door yelling.

"You know those things will kill you."

Salina didn't bother replying she just held up five fingers indicating her return in five minutes. Salina walked directly past several bounty hunter's, alot of intoxicated creatures and into the back storage facility of the bar, then she waltzed out the door and down some stairs into a small alley. There she found her usual seat and lent against the wall as she lit up her smoke. The air was cold against her skin and she rubbed her hands and protectively lit up the smoke in an attempt to warm herself up. Her uniform was by no means designed for this environment. SHe breathed in slowly and yet very hard bringing the toxic nicotine into her mouth and allowing it to distribute throughout her lungs. She held the smoke inside for a moment and then passively exhaled. She new she only ever smoked at work it was the effect of the rogue environment on her nervous system and she slumped her head knocking out the butt on the bricks. Then there was a clatter to her left, Salina pulled out of her relaxed daze and her hand went to her garter belt and hidden blaster. A moment later a shot came from no where knocking Salina's smoke out of her hands as she lept behind a near by bin. An awful laugh erupted through the silence of the alley way.

Salian looked at the place where the cigarette was once in her hand thinking, I knew they would kill me, but so soon.

"So miss, tough bartender not so mighty when your not in your domain." The words were partially slurred and the person speaking to her was naturally drunk.

"Shut up fool," came another a brusque reprimand as the shooter evidently retook control of the situation.

"Who you calling a fool?" replied the drunk.

The two began to argue and Salina considered running for the door to the Burning Deck when she felt a blaster to her head.

"Nice work, Borris."

"I bet you thought we were really drunk hahahahhaha...well well looky what we have a pretty bartender. I'll take that blaster."

Salina's glare was not to be trifled with as she glared down the drunk speaking to her. Regaining composure Salina knocked the blaster a way from her head casually.

"How can I help you boys. If you want a drink you got me at a bad time? and plus i never thought you really intelligent aristocratic smugglers...."

"We're bounty hunter's" came a short insert.

"I mean highly skilled bounty hunter's could have intoxicated themselves to the extent where they would try to attack a friend of every bounty hunter on Nar Shaddaa."

The blaster came up again.

"Well boys i am a bartender no less."

Unlike Kaelia skills Salina preferred a more diplomatic approach and spent most of the time talking her way out of problems That could also be because she was no 'hot shot' with the blaster, Salina left that kind of game to her best friend she was no less the pilot.

In a drunk stupor the two men circled Salina blaster's aiming at her directly, But her words seemed to confuse them as she continued.

"Boys lets not argue how about i buy you a drink and we all go inside and have a good time."

Naturally Salina used all her feminine feature's to her advantage as she flirted with disgustingly drunk smuggler before her. She stepped forward gaining the advantage and both of them in her reach she lashed out knocking one blaster out the bounty hunter's hand and then pushing him into his colleague. As they tumbled she sprinted for the door diving and missing the blaster bolts behind her.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

She mixed her drink with out much care, within proportions knowing that each level would be approximately right. A shout came form the door as Kaelia witnessed the return of the rodians. Followed by a driod, immediately she motioned the driod to the door.

"We don't serve your kind in here."

The driod didn't move it just stood there. Not to anyone's real surprise the really intelligent rodian's were under the impression that Kaelia had been talking to them and were offended by her words. MOments later every blaster in the room including Kaelia was pointed at the assassin driod and waited for it to leave the premises. The rodian's got very agitated as they began to back out of the bar. One backed into the driod which stabbed the rodian. The creature screamed in pain as in hovered away from the driod and into its crowd. Kaelia from the bar stood firmly blaster in hand pointed directly at the driod and took a shot.

"I said we don't serve your kind, here."

Was all the patrons could here as they saw only the left over's of the driod on the ground.

[Jeianni]

Kaelia checked the power pack on her blaster as she reholstered it in her garter holster.

"Damned droids......rodians.........slime balls......" She grumbled under her breath.

Just as she was about to deliver a tray of Lomins to a group of suspicious looking Bothans in the corner, Salina burst through the back storage room door , knocking over her tray of drinks.

"Ah come on ! Sali-" Kaelia stopped midsentence as two ugly bountyhunters came bounding in after her, blasters held.

Oh, there is no way!

Salina leaped over the bar as blaster bolts whipped over their heads.

Shoot at my best friend will they? Kaelia knocked over an empty table next to her, drawing her blaster as she went. Before she was even safely behind the table, blue stun bolts, tight beamed from her specialized reconfigured blaster, shot at the bountyhunters. They turned to the new threat but it was too late. Before the rest of the unhappy patrons had a chance to draw their blasters, two stun blasts hit the bountyhunters and their bodies slumped to the floor. Righting the table, Kaelia walked over to the comm unit, stepping over them as she went. Salina cautiously peaked over the bar, and seeing that everything was alright, picked up a couple of pairs of stun cuffs.

Twenty minutes later Kaelia and Salina made their way towards their shared apartment building.

"Did those people know you Salina?"

"No, just some disgruntled customers I'm thinking."

They seperated at Salina's doorway.

"Meet me at Cat's, twenty minutes."

"Sure thing Salin."

Kaelia went into her small apartment. Shedding leather and boots as she went. She hopped into the shower and scrubbed the smell of cigarras off of her skin and out of her hair.

"I'm gonna hide that girl's smokes, I swear it!"

She got out of the shower, towel dried her hair and pulled it back into a tight bun at the nape of her neck. She rummaged through her closet and pulled out a royal blue jumpsuit with cargoe pockets on the sides, and spacer boots that cocooned her ankles. She had, unfortunately, inherited the family weakling ankles. She reached into the back of the closet and strapped on her hip holster and poccketed a few blaster packs. She checked her pockets. Lip balm? Check. Datapad? Check. Oh man! Did I remember to upload those arcade games? Wait, Salin has that whole program on the ship computer, nevermind. Manga sticks? Check, although I should probably pick some up on the way, never can have to many.

Locking her apartment, she walked briskly down the hallway, noting the red light on Salina's door, which meant she was probably already at the ship. "Meet me at Cat's" really meant, "Meet me at my ship appropriately named 'Feline Pounce' ".

Stang her and her long legs, she's probably already there. Kaelia pictured Salina loping to the ship, with her long legs that started at her earlobes and went on to forever.

Kaelia rounded the corner and entered docking bay 39, where 'Cat' was powering up.

And oh what a beautiful ship she is!! Salina, I am soooo jealous!

The landing ramp lowered and Salina's feet appeared at the top of the ramp.

"Come on up Kail, She's gettin' juiced up right now." Kaeli's shortened name rolled off of Salina's tongue in her rich, thick, basic accent.

[Admiral DaaLa]

Kaelia took the co-pilot's ship in the Cat as Salina got clearance from the spaceport. Kaelia looked at Salina with inter rest.

"Boy aren't you looking sexy today."

Salina laughed as concentrated on getting the ship of the ground. Kaelia watched examined her best friends clothing with interest she was wearing black as usual, tight black pants with a singlet top. SAlina concentrated a on her piloting.

"Yes tower this the Feline's pounce thank you for clearance....we should catch up soon Mat."

Mat was an old friend of Salina that conveniently worked in the spaceport's air control. He also had a huge crush for Salina and pretty much would give her anything she wanted.

"So where we headed, Sal?"

Salina looked away from the controls as she began to prepare for a hyperspace jump.

"Nav-comp up all systems ready punch in the coordinate for Mark's joint."

Kaelia raised an eyebrow as she punched in the digits.

"And I thought we were going dancing."

"We are, we are just need to make a stop over to see the boys and plus i think they've got a major run set up for us. He didn't come in today."

Kaelia started laughing Sal was naive sometimes, or was it that the poor girl really loved her x boyfriend. Salina and Mark had been lover's for years and then something had pulled them apart. No one was really sure what it had been but it had occurred on a smuggling run. Now neither of them would fly together, even though they still occasionally slept together. Salina had a soft boy for Mark even though she could very cruel to him and never let him get into her head.

"You really thought he was going to come, he's probably to busy with that new skank he's dating."

Mark had a new girlfriend that no one really liked and it annoyed Salina to hear about it, so Kaelia would always had a go at her.

"uhuh will see what the excuse was today and when i get through with him..." Salina pretend to be strangling someone, as Kaelia punched in the coordinates and they jumped into hyperspace. Leaving the ship on auto pilot the girls went out the back of the ship.

"We've got a small delivery of spice after our stop, where off to Umgul."

Salina knew the planet well it was not far from Naboo. It was a cool, mist-covered world in the same system as Dargul, Umgul sass known as a center for gambling and sports attractions. The planet's spaceport is located in Umgul City, built on the limestone banks of a wide river that attracts numerous pleasure barges. The city is covered with signs and attractions for visitors, though cheating in the gambling establishments is punishable by death. Tourists primarily visit Umgul to see the famous Umgullian blob races, held in an arena carved from rock and ringed with fans to blow away the thick fog. The protoplasmic blobs, bred for racing, are kept in stables and monitored by the Umgullian Racing Commission for any signs of illegal enhancement.

"Sounds good to me Sal, but Marks little job better be worth our time. This spice has to be delivered the week before the main race or were not gonna get paid."

Salina looked at he best bud.

"It will be a quick stop, promise. Want me to make you some food?"

[Jeianni]

Kaelia sat down at the mini bar and grinned widely.

"Ah, a women after my own heart, yes please, make me something!! You got any pasta back there? Oooh! Did Lento load you up with more salad, please tell me you have salads??!!"

"Calm down Kail, I have both, and I made some of that gooy, nut-dough you like so much." Salina set a hefty salad down in front of Kaelia and laughed as her eyes went big an dshe brandished a fork at it.

"Salin, I'll love you forever!" Not only was Kaelia a picky eater, she had gourmet tastes, and ship rations just didn't do it for her.

"I know hun, or at least as long as I feed you."

"No I mean it, this is enough to inspire blind loyalty for years! So do you know what kind of run Mark has for us?"

"Nope, no clue. He hasn't told me much of anything of late."

Kaelia caught the unhappy tone in her voice. "Salina, you need to give this guy up. He's no good for you. You have 'Cat', and me, and a lucrative set of clients already. You're well enough set up that you can forget about him. Go meet some other scoundrel pirate, fall in love, breed lots of small, sticky, children. I always wanted to be an Aunt."
Salina laughed,

"It's not that easy Kail, and trust me, you'll have small sticky children way before I do. And anyways, we can't all be happily single like you."

"Trust me Salina, you're the only reason I'm happy. If I had to eat ship rations, or nothing but Cook's chicken every day, I'd go insane! Don't get me wrong, I love Cook's chicken, but everyday?"

"Don't worry Kail, we'll be best friends forever, even after I'm Aunt Salina."

"Oh you!" Kaelia threw pieces of lettuce at her. They laughed and sat down to eat. About halfway through their meal, the hyperspace warning ring came over the comm system. They finished up and strapped down in the cockpit.

"Looks like Mark could use a little help Kail."

"What's wrong?"

"Check the sensors."

"I can't, they're being...."

"Jammed!"

"Damnit Mark!"

"Well it's not his fault."

"I don't care, he seems like the proper one to curse right now!"

[Whisper]

OOC: say what's the time period for this RPG? Obviously at least 6 years after Endor...but...

[Jeianni]

I don't know, make one up. I was just going along writing a story. It's not really set, I guess you could pretend it to be whenever you want it to be.

What about you Daala?

[Whisper]

OOC: The reason I ask is cuz I have a couple character I like to use, and th etime period is...kinda crucial. I don't like to change ages, as that alters the history drastically.

[Admiral DaaLa]

Yer I pretty easy when it comes to the time period. When do you want it to be??? I what about before SW4 but before 3 or afterr 6 is good too.

[Admiral DaaLa]

Salina was frantic well that's how she always was when things involved Mark. In a split second she was enloped with anger, fear and sheer determination. No one screws with my ex boyfriend but me, she thought stubbornly as The Cat came out of hyperspace.

Mark's joint was a spaceport on the boarder of the mid rim and expansion region, not too far from the planet Gydine which was colonized and become an Imperial Fortress. That meant that he always received the incoming traffic to the Hutts Region, The nearby Bothan Rgion, the Outer Rim planets like Tatooine and Gamorr plus trade from the Gydine itself. Mark was doing very well considering all the brawls he got into with his neighboring Gammoreans and occasional tiffs with the Imperials. Nevertheless the day that Salina and Kaelia arrived the spaceport was under siege by neither factions but from her 'favorite and top smuggling' competitor, Drennon . Neither girls liked their competition because in truth Drennon's group brought shame to smuggling, if that's possible, as they were more pirates and scum then anything else. Eyeing the ships and there makes Salina assertively indicated.

"Those are Drennon's ships,"

Kaelia started laughing.

"he has some nerve coming up against Mark, I mean Mark is so well defended and connected."

Salina was concentrating very hard on her piloting skills and had The Cat at maximum speed.

"Yer, but look over there Drennon seems to have enlarged his enterage and added some extra power."

From where Salina sat it seemed to her that the space station was taking some damage. Salina flew into the middle of the mess seeing the two smaller additions to Drennon's group on the side and immediately taking a few shots. The two freighter's didn't know what him them and Salina smiled as the ships lost all power.

"Re-enforcements have arrived."

Kaelia said with a hearty laugh as she continued to unjam the sensor array. Not that Salina need it she was one of the best pilots of these regions and Drennon's group new it. The com link buzzed as Drennon ship Dragon's Breathe began to disengage form the space port.

"Salina baby, that was a bit harsh. You took out two of my newest freighters. I thought you and Marko Polo had broken up?"

Salina wasn't impressed.

"We did Drennon, what do you want here this is not your scene."

Drennons tone became equally as unnerving.

"Your boy has something I want."

Kaelia raised an eyebrow and sarcastically answered.

"That's nice now go have a cry about it."

Drennon laughed.

"MIss Kaelia, how could I have forgotten your never to far from Sal's side. As for crying well I was planning to just take but because I like you two ladies very much I'll forgive you for destroying my ships and allow you to leave."

"Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww how sweet." Kaelia cringed as she emphasized her utter dislike of Drennon in her tone.

"So girls what is it? Do you tend to resist or will you surrender?

Salina looked at Kaelia with a smile and shrugged.

"Drennon don't be so stupid of course we tend to resist now give us a second."

Salina turned off the com link.

"Well that was an intelligent question,"

She flicked on her com to Mark's main system, they were close enough now to receive any message.

"Salina hun, you know I love you."

Salina smiled warmly, he always made her tingle inside especially when he said the three forbidden words. MArk actually looked worried for a minute.

"They've locked me in I can't get my ship out to attack them properly and the boys have all left for a run though they should be back any second now."

Mark's prized possession was like Salina's it was his ship The Sun's Eclipse was more powerful the SAl's cat but a little slower. It could nevertheless take out Drennon's group with out much of a hassle. SAlina flew around the side to were it was docked obvious for Mark's maintenance repair, which occurred about once a week. Salina flew aggressively through the different layers of the spaceport as Drenno's group attacked her viscously. A few moments later and Saina had done a double take and her pursuer's were now her prey. She pounced with all her might and the ship squealed like an entrapped bird. She turned back to her goal, freeing Mark as she aimed at the leash holding Mrk back . Two shots later and he was free.

[Whisper]

OOC: Well, I think it'd have to be a little before the Thrawn Trilogy. That's around the time when my main character, Jalus "Whisper" Crell, is just going AWOL from the Corellian SpecForces. So we'll go with a year before The Thrawn Trilogy.


Name: Jalus Crell (His nickname was given to him after The Thrawn Trilogy, so it's Just Jalus, or perhaps Jal)
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Force: Yes, but he is not trained in it at all. Most of the stuff is inward. He's faster, a little stronger, and heals faster, etc.
Occupation: Ex-Soldier,
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Military short blond
Height: 6'6"
Race: Human
Favourite color: Dark Colors, doesn't matter. Partial to blue though
Background: Jalus' father, Renn, was a Mercenary. His Grandfather was a Jedi turned Dark Jedi. Jalus uncle, oly known as Jestre, was an evil sumbich. Suffice to say Jalus hadn't the easy life.

He was born in Coronet City, Corellia. But lived in the outskirts most of his life. He joined the Corellian Military just before The Battle of Endor, for a six year hitch. His physical apptitude made him qualify for the Special Forces. He graduated in the top of his Sniper school, and served with distinction in the very few Empire v Rebellion battles in the Corellian System/Sector.

After four years of mostly sitting on his arse, Jalus decided to get the hell out of the Military. After escapeing, an hitching a ride with a Corellian Smuggler, his Wookie Co-Pilot, and his Gambler friend (yes...THEM) he found himself on a spaceport near the Gydine System. (How's THAT for an intro...heh)

*********************************************

Jalus' looked out at the attacking forces. He shook his head, "Whoever taught these guys tactics should drawn and quartered!"

"Whattaya mean?" asked a guy next to him.

"They have damn near five on one, and she's flying circles around them. Now, where I came from, that ship woulda been blown up a while ago. Plus they ain't even tried to land anything! What's the point of this raid? Show of strength? Not very impressive, ifthey get outflown, and outclassed by one ship."

"Maybe they got some people on the inside already?" Another guy said, non-chalantly...a little too non-chalantly.

Jalus smiled, "If so, then maybe they deserve more credit than I'm giving them...no. They're still unable to get that ship out of the way. And now they've freed another ship to fight. Even if they have people on site, if the space battle is lost, then...well, those people would be trapped here."

"Maybe, " The second speaker said, "The people on site are smarter than you? Ain't that right Ghoresin?"

The first guy shrugged, "I dunno man. This guy is making sense if Drennon loses, we're at Mark's mercy. maybe we shouldn't do this Seethers."

If there was one thing Jalus hated, it was stupid Piracy. And these two would classify for Stupid.

Throwing a back hand over his shoulder, he smacked Ghoresin into the bulkhead. Ghoresin's breath was knocked from him, and he slid down the wall.

Spinning he started attacking Seethers. Seethers was a better fighter, than he was a thinker. It was punch, block, counter punch. Seethers, and jalus were almost even in the match, but Jalus had a slight leverage advantage, and eventually was able to get Seethers off balance, and thrown into another bulkhead.

Jalus then relieved the two of their weapons, and used their own belts to tie the men together, in a maintenance closet. Then Jaus went searching for the rest of the squad on the station.

[Admiral DaaLa]

The Cat took a hard dive to avoid the debris of the destruction of yet another pirates ship, but Salina hadn't taken the shot. She looked at Kaelia who had the censor's array up and running again, she was smiling. The boys had arrived and Mark's best mate Trav was leading the pursuit. Salina began to smile as his voice enloped the cockpit.

"Hello ladies long time no see, Looking as beautiful as always Sal not to mention your spectacular piloting display."

Salina looked at Kaelia and did rounded her lips going 'ooooooooooooOoooooo baby." Kaelia shot her an indignant glare, Salina and Mark always indulged in teasing Kaelia and Trav.

"Is Kail there?"

Kaelia huffed.

"Where else would I be?"

"Lovely to hear your sweet voice too Kail as always. I hope everything's well."

Salina was laughing as both her and Trav began to have a little fun with the enemy. Trav was very charismatic and a ladies man in every sense of the word. Unlike Mark, Trav was a smooth talking player, nothing drove Kaelia more insane and yet amused Salina.

SAlina took a protective stance ensuring that Mark got out of the maintenance bay safely as Trav came around the side covering her behind. The fight was even now, 5 ships to both teams, the only advantage Sal's team had was that they were all good pilots and used their brains instead of their egos when they flew, well in these circumstances they did. Mark's voice flowed through the com unit.

"Thanks Sal baby I owe you one, Trav man your a dog nice shooting though."

All four of them started laughing. As the girls watched the Eclipse free itself and move into formation. A strange look crossed Kaelia's face.

"Hey Mark who's still on the space station? I've got readings of a life form "

Kaelia and Salina looked at each other concerned.

"Kail, what are you talking about I've got nothing. How many times have I got to tell you girls to stay away from the spice cargos."

Trav was laughing as he replied.

"Very funny Trav. Mark who's on board?"

Mark's voice appeared he seemed stressed as he concentrated on the work in front of him.

"My staff's on board, some engineer's, mechanics, driods standard and some clients in the waiting room."

Kailea looked at Salina with an 'I don't think so' look. Salina leaned into the com as she took the Cat to the left of the Eclipse.

"Let's finish this dog fight up shall we, it seems we have company abroad."

[Jeianni]

Kaelia pretty mush sat back and watched the dog fight play out before her. Ships were Salina's thing, Kaelia could fly, but not like her. Occasionally she fiddled with the controls, monitoring shields, but mostly she relaxed, waiting for it to all be over. Then she got an idea.

"Salina, is that turbolaser I put in charged up yet?"

Salina didn't even look away from the controls and said in a strained voice,

"Yup, why?"

"Target practice."

Salina smiled at this, Kaelia loved target practice! Kaelia unstrapped out of her seat and sprinted towards the roof turret she had recently installed. It beautiful by her standards, a clear, transparisteel bubble encased the turret, and the whole area had reinforced, separately generated shields. Dropping into the seat she snapped her crash webbing in place and slipped on the targeting display helmet. Her hands wrapped around the joystick like controls, which had been made specifically for her. Having small hands made some things more difficult for others.

Her heads up display had five green blips and now, four red blips, Trav had taken out another of the enemy's ships. Kaelia made a grimace as she thought about Trav. Having known Salina for so long, and thereby Mark as well, she couldn't avoid Traven Kelsar. As much as she might want to, Kail and mark had great fun teasing her about it.

"Kail! Two coming in hot!"

Sure enough, two fighters, old headhunters, had attached to Cat's tail. The pilots flew erratically, trying to evade Kail's shots. She tracked them mercilessly, the turret following their every move. She penetrated the forward ship's shields and stripped them of a sensor array as well as their communications.

"Nice Kail."

"Just gettin' warmed up."

Having amazing hand-eye coordination one of the top crack-shooters Salina had ever seen. She managed to seperate ship from it's engines in an impossible surgical shot. The other ship suddenly exploded and Kail yelled into her comm unit.

"Who was that??!!"

"You're welcome Kail." Trav's voice came over the speakers and Kaelia rolled her eyes in disgust. The last enemy fighter appeared behind Trav's ship and Kaelia pulled the trigger out of instinct. Bright laser blasts traveling perilously close to Trav's shields, hit their mark and the last fighter exploded.

"That wasn't neccissary."

"You're welcome Trav."

A third voice came over the speakers.

"I'll be back Mark, watch your back."

"Count on it Drennen." Mark's voice, unhappy and very angry cut through her headphones.

Pulling her helmet off she make her way back to the cockpit.

"Nice shooting Kail, not very nice trying to kill Trav though."

"To bad I missed."

"Well come on, Eclipse just set down."Salina expertly guided Cat down to the docking bay and set her down next to the Eclipse.

[Whisper]

The odds weren't good for Jalus. He had thought that it was only a small sqad on the station, but it was almost a full platoon of twenty five pirates/smugglers.

Taking the control center from the five man squad was a chore in and of itself. He kept the blaster fire to a minimum. One thing that helped Jalus was that most of the take over people didn't know one another too well. They were hired for a job, and didn't ask who the others were. The only two men that seemed to know each other were Seethers and Ghoresin. And they were already..tied up.

With the Control center taken, Jalus looked through the monitors, using the sensors to trap and then decompress the area, knocking the men out.

Obviously Jalus missed a couple. The four men he faced now were armed, and pissed.

Jalus smiled, "So...your employer abandoned ya huh?" The Ex-Special Forces soldier kept his hands away from his sides, showing that they were empty.

"Don't mean youse is gonna live to say youse won. Drennon didn't say nothing about a security man." One of the Pirate/Smugglers said.

"Nothing in the files said Mark had security beyond himself and that Trav guy." A second said.

"This woulda went off without a hitch if it wasn't for dis guy and that other ship." A third piped in.

Jalus shook his head at the nervous chatter, "You boys sre in't pros, huh? Your talking way too much. Not paying enough attention to the target in front of you. Or the reprogramed Assassin droid, behind you four."

Startled at that the four spun around to stare into a blank bulk head. Acting quickly Jalus drew the blasters he relieved off of the first two, and shot three in the head, then riddled the one that threatened Jalus wouldn't see the fruits of his labor to fruition.

Jalus shook his head, "Rule Number One of Captive taking. Never let your eyes off the mark."

[Admiral DaaLa]

As Salina powered down the Cat, she fumed with concern over her x-lover. She stormed off to find him and was about to punch him, when she realised how shaken up he was, instead she threw her arms around his neck protectively. He held with such a force that she thought he would crush her lungs, nevertheless she didn't resist she just dug her nails deeper into his back pullling him closer. Kaelia and Traven stood and watched form the sidelines both jeering and rolling their eyes. Finally Salina broke away.

"So Mark what have you got for me as far as smuggling goes?"

Mark looked up suddenly alert.

"Its what Drennon wants, your not too open and you'll get it in two days. So you both better take soem time off work for a while."

Kaelia smiled this meant that they were going across the galaxy, she passionately loved these runs.

"Oh damn this means were missing out on the Demons Triads, and I was so looking out to hearing that bad play."

She added sarcastically. Trav gave her a your so immature look and that wasn't funny grimmace at the same time. Salina ignored Kaelia's comment.

"Where are we headed?"

Mark was very blunt.

"I can't tell you...today"

Salina looked at him like he was a competely in the stars.

"You will tell me or you can find someone else for the run."

"Look its not safe.....fine the Corparate Sector is your desitnation, that's all I'm saying."

Salina and Kaelia gave each other a dubious look.

"You better not lie to me Mark, I just saved your but and your buissness."

Salina smile was short lived as the security alarm went off. There were intruder's on the space station.

[Jeianni]

The alarm claxon reverberated on the docking bay walls. Kaelia appeared next to Salina, blaster drawn, and searched the docking bay.

"Well, they're not in here, what say we go find them?"

Mark led the way, Salina, Kail, and Trav following directly behind. They tiptoed quietly through the corridors, the alarm still droning on. Kail's eyes started to cross.

"Hey Mark, any way you can turn that thing off?"

Trav snickered, "What's a matter? Does it irritate you, does it stress you out?"

Kaelia resisted the urge to smack him. "I'll stress you out!"

Mark stopped suddenly, Salina bumping into him, Kail bumping into her and Trav rounding it off.

"Would you guys hush? Mark, what is it."

"We're at the bridge, you two be quiet!"

Kaelia and Trav glared at each other for a second and Kail crossed her arms over her chest. Mark led the others into the corridor, Trav walking backwards covering the rear. The flattened themselves on the corridor wall as Mark palmed the bridge door controls. The doors swooshed open and the bright lights glaring out of the bridge momentairly blinded them.

Jalus heard the doors swoosh open and turned around to see Mark and Salina standing in the door way, Kail and Trav right behind them, both with blaster pistols trained directly on him.

"Jalus, what are doing here?"

"I'm trying to shut off this damned alarm."

Kaelia smiled, "Thank gods!"

"Yeah, but what are you doing on my space station?"

Jalus looked at Mark,

"Well......."

[DarthFlip]

Name: Luke Straywalker
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Occupation: Smuggler
Eye Colour: Green
Hair Colour: Purple
Height: 179cm
Race: Human
Favourite colour: Green

The proud son of Layher and Hanspolojr, Luke quickly learnt the ways of the force from his father. Luke is now moving from planet to planet to track down and face his father who is now the evil sith lord Darth Flip for one last time. The last know place Flip was seen at was here.

[Whisper]

Jalus shrugged at the question, "I thought I was doing you a favor Mark. I mean, you wanted a safe place to, i dunno...land, maybe? If not, I'll just wake up all the guys they had on-station."

Mark's head tilted, "All? How many?"

"Around twenty five. And, yeah, some were your people. And most of your...customers were Drennon's as well. But I got them all. May need a little cleaning up, butat least you still have a station to clean."

[Admiral DaaLa]

Salina started laughing hysterically and was only put into her place by Mark's gaze. Jalus seemed to smiling at her as well.

"I'm Sal and this is Kail."

To which Trav added.

"Pilot (pointing at Salina). Gunner ( pointing to Kaelia."

"Nice to meet you lovely ladies. I'm Jalus."

He said coming towards Slaina and shaking her hand followed by Kaelia's.

"Nice flying there Sal, where'd you learn to skim like that?"

Salina smile wided with pride and even arrogance.

"oh here there and evreywhere, thou I think I should congratulate you Jalus 25 men down is no easy task."

Jalus grunneed and shrugged off the compliment.

"Oh it comes with the military training."

By this point Salina had had a good look at Jalus. He was very fit probably even a six-pack under that shirt and he had a hard, ruff and yet clean cut kind of face that Salina thought was kind of attractive. From the corner of her eye Salina could see Kaelia's smirk and Trav'swaery gaze. Then she marched forward into the command room. SHe immediatley took over the controls, being an x girlfriend she had been on the station enough times to know how too work it properly. The alarm turned off as Salian typed in all the direct commands intot he computer highlighting the were abouts of the prisoner's and then doing a follow up of Drennon's ship's at the same time. SHe laughed and yelled to Mark.

"I love your long range sensor's."

To which he smiled.

"They're in a neighbouring system probably waiting for the ground crew to do their damage. SHould I tell him to stop wasting his time?"

Mark and Salina shared a warm gaze as his arm fell around her waist warmly.

'No they've wasted our time leave them be."

To which Salina looked at him sudectively biting her lower lip and saying.

"Of course Captain."

Her tone changed as Kail came to the computer system and Mark's hand moved away from Salina's side.

"You and Trav gonna take care of those nuisances?"

Kail looked up and shrugged replying.

"Suppose so."

[Jeianni]

Kaelia turned from the mushy lover's reunion and headed towards the door. She hopped up the stairs from the lower bridge, her glossy brown hair swinging in a pony tail. Trav stood and followed her into the corridor. Kaelia looked at him and kept walking,

"You can go back if you want, I can handle this myself."

Trav snorted, "Sure, and if one of them wakes up while you're binding him, what are you gonna do about it, all 5'8" of you?"

Kaelia narrowed her eyes down to slits and glared daggers at him. "Just stay out of my way."

"Sure Babe."

"Don't call me Babe!"

"Right, whatever Princess." Trav added under his breath.

"I heard that."

They rounded a corner and came upon a bound and gagged intruder, laying unconcious on the floor, his eye bruising and turning purple where Jalus had hit him. Kaelia went to drag him by his arms when Trav bent down and swung the intruder over his shoulders.

"Show off."

They deposited him in the brig behind old fashioned titanium jail bars. Kaelia clipped the remote keys to her belt and she continued on down the corridor. They entered a cargo bay and found two assailants laying on the ground, also unconcious.

"Geeze, what did Jalus do?"

Trav shook his head. "I don't know, he packs a powerful punch though. I'll take that one, you take this one." He pointed to the smaller of the two, a female bothan. They each dragged the intruders back to the brig. Trav stood next to the cell as Kaelia deposited the Bothan into the cell, when a crimson blaster bolt skimmed past her ear.

The wind was knocked out of her as she landed on her back, Trav flattened out on top of her, his blaster trained on the rodian standing in the doorway. She heard another 'thunk' and saw out of the corner of her eye the rodian fall to the floor. Trav's heavy breathing sounded in her ear and his shoulder length, surprisingly soft, brown hair fell across her cheek, and she found herself looking into green eyes a little to close for comfort. She could feel his heart pounding through his shirt and hers. He rolled off of her and stood, offering his hand down to help her up. Trav's face lit up with an infuriatingly, charming grin.

"You're welcome."

Kaelia's cheeks turned bright pink and she glared at him again, then turned and walked out of the brig. Half an hour later they had all of the scum intruders in their own respective cells, awake, and unhappy. Kaelia headed towards the galley and scowled when she noticed Trav following her.

"Traven Kelsar, you're the scourge of the galaxy."

Trav moved to walk next to her. "I'm contagious too."

Kaelia rolled her eyes and walked into the galley. Stepping behind the counter she reached into the cold cabinets and pulled out some Fizzy juice and a couple of sandwhiches. Setting them on the counter she began to devour the sandwhich, but she stopped when she looked up and noticed Trav watching her closely.

"What?"

Trav grinned ingratiatingly. "Can I have one too?"

Kaelia couldn't help but smile a little and reached into the cabinet again, tossing him a sandwhich and a fizzy juice before he could ask. He stook and walked towards the door.

"Thanks babe, you're a doll." He dashed out the door before the salt shakers she had thrown at him could connect with his head.

"Don't call me babe!!"

[Admiral DaaLa]

She had been concentrating so hard on the scrambled computer system in front of her that Salina forgot what time it was. Jalus was under the desk near her right leg trying to re-wire a conduit as Trav walked back into the room. She looked up blaster in hand only to see him by himself with out her best friend. A cheeky smile escaped her lips as the thoughts of those two alone and played out a very humorous scene in her mind. Salina's attention was only brought back by Jalus's head hitting the table as he tried to stand up. He rubbed his head as she gave him her hand, which still had a blaster in it and consequently scared the wits out of him. Putting it away while laughing heartily Salina helped Jalus up.

"Where is she Trav?"

Trav walked towards them in his charismatic manner grabbing her playfully around the waist as he always did.

"You know Sal your such a hunny, Mark's lucky to have you."

Sal gave him a grin and playfully pushed him away.

"I don't know which part of that statement should make me laugh harder, you calling me hunny or Mark having[i] me."

"I meant as a smuggler of course."

Salina laughed as Mark called Trav to him she concentrated back on the screen and on Jalus who had silently watched the exchange.

"Where old friends,"

"I know."

He gave her a wink as she laughed again this time playfully nudging him.

"Now with those conduits, I've managed to go around the main driver for you Sal. That should help everything settle down a little."

Salina was staring at the screen.

"Yer I noticed that, I've got all air systems up and running one dock needs some repair but I have a link and I have all surveillance up. Mark you want anything else things seemed stable here."

"Yer could you run a diagnostic on the loading systems and check the cliental list for anything suspicious."

Salian typed in the necessary commands to run the diagnostic and brought up the list as Mark headed for the exit.

"I'm off with Trav to fix the damage to the dock bay. See what you can get out of that list."

"Done and done, diagnostic seems fine checking the list keep your radio up ok hun?"

She hadn't called him hun for a long time and it was only in times of stress that they became so close.

"Sure thing darling."

The standard stressed response left Mark's mouth and left a smile on both Salina's and his lip's. She looked at Jalus.

"You know any of these mercenary's?"

[Whisper]

"No. I'm not a mercenary. I'm a soldier. I used to be in the Corellian Special Forces. But I hate rules and regulations, to a point. CorSpecForces have rules up the wazoo. So I...got out." Jalus shrugged, "Not legally, and that's the reason I'm here. Got a ride here, but the people I hitched with could only get me here. Lookin for work. CorSpecForces freezed most of my money. Luckily I had some other accounts on other planets. Not much, but it's been enough for the last year. But I am running low on the cred."

[Admiral DaaLa]

Salina listened to Jalus as she looked down the list of alias that Trav and Kaelia had put together.

"So your new at this buisness, I must admit that was some work you didi putting out all these people. I mean you knocked out Sorris and everyone knows he's master at hand to hand combat. He used to fight in combat rings I watched him a couple of years back andif he's still as good as that, well that the force be damned your a bloody good fighter."

Jalus seemed to plus and glow at Salina's praise.

She looked down at the portfolio's picked another three mercenery's and left the rest as free lances who didn't associate in the relms of Nar Shadaa. In all Jalus had taken out Sorris, Harth, Menin Lakita and Marlus Crem not to mention the other people Salina couldn't identify just from theses statics she could tell Jalus was once a very gifted soldier. Kaelia came through the door a little agitated.

"Do you know who's down there?"

"Hey kail hun don't screm yer I got your list. Marlus Crem's down there and Sorris."

Salina began to laugh in an evil way.

"They aren't going to be happy about this."

Kaelia smiled at Jalus.

"You sure know how to make a great impression on people, you've made some pretty nasty mates pretty quickly and I bet you haven't even been to Narsh (Nickname for NArShadaa) yet or where we work."

The girls exchanged an all knowing look as Salina slapped Jalus gently on the shoulder.

"You know I think I like you already."

All three of them started laughing heartily. Then Kaelia spoke up.

"So when we headed for our dance? We got shifts tommorrow at the Deck but I think we can take some time off after that."

"Yer should be good, damn Mark hasn't even hinted on why Drennon attacked or why he wants to come dancing with us. I reckon two weeks of is enough, worst case scenarrio a month."

Kaelia raised an eyebrow.

"I'm gonna miss our bounty friends, excuse me as a tear falls from my cheek."

She was grinning sarcastically, Salina looked away roolling her eyes.

"We should get going soon, they're nearly step up here and Drennon wouldn't return I hope he's not that stupid but then again that's wishful thinking."

The three of them laughed as Mark a Trav came in a bit tired from the repair work.

[Jeianni]

Salina and Kaelia bid Jalus their goodbyes, and then turned towards the doors, hopping up the stairs. Mark and Trav had just entered,having just comlpeted repairs. Salina smiled at Mark and Trav, stopping in front of them.

"We're headed back to the diner, we've both got shifts tomorrow, but then we'll be back in about two standard days."

Mark smiled and pulled Salina into a bear hug. Kaelia shoved her hands into her pockets and looked nonchalant and inconspicuous. ........... Too late, Trav followed Mark's lead and wrapped his arms around Kaelia, squeezing her tightly. She heard Salina s****** in the background. Her head came up to his chin and she found herself trapped between a set of decievingly lean arms and a rock solid chest. She reluctantly put her arms around his waist, not wishing to prolong things. Her head was turned to the side, so that her ear lay against his chest, she could feel a faint dampness through his shirt. She could smell a faint scent of sweat on him, but it wasn't overpowering, or even very unpleasent. His heart beat sounded loudly through her ears and she wondered at it for the second time that day.

Trav watched Mark pull Salina to him, and Kaelia standing off to one side, trying not to be noticed. She stood tall enough for a women, but was absolutely short next to Traven Kelsar, tall as a wookie, and strong as one too. Kaelia's shoulder length, chestnut brown hair was swept into a side part pony tail, but small wisps fell out to frame her aristocratic face. Trav studied that face for a moment, following the long, straight nose, up to a set of captivating, blue, cat eyes. Long lashes graced them as Kaelia looked at anything but the hugging couple in front of her. Trav wondered at the texture of her deep, honey colored skin, imagining what it actually felt like. But then Trav's eyes returned to Kail's, and his body acted on it's own accord, reaching forwad to embrace her. He laughed inwardly at the shocked and annoyed look on her face. But when he pulled her against him, all thought fled and his senses took over. The very top of her smooth glossy hair grazed the bottom of his chin and her head pressed nicely to his chest. Kaelia, where've you been all my life?....

As if hearing the redicuolously cheezy comment, Salina coughed loudly, and Kail's and Trav's eyes sprung open, not even having been aware they were closed. They quickly disentangled themselves from each other and pushed away from the unintentionally long goodbye. Trav coughed and stuck his hands in his pockets, ducking his head down to cover the growing smirk of satisfaction, although unsucessfully. Kaelia's cheeks flushed a bright pink that quickly spread to her impishly, semi- pointed ears. She mumbled goodbye and gave Mark a quick, much abbreviated version of her previous hug, and then unceremoniously high tailed it to the Cat.

Salina turned to follow and headed towards the doors, her back to Mark and Trav. Trav elbowed Mark in the ribs and Mark rolled his eyes, exasperated.

"Sal, wait."

"Yer Mark?"

"Well, you uh, told me about that little attack at the Bar, and I, well I want to make sure you're going to be alright."

Salina smiled. "I'll be fine, anyone wants me they have to go through Cook first, then Kaelia."

Mark smiled slightly, "Yeah, I know hun, I just want to be sure."

Trav spoke, "Well, I guess I could go with you guys to make sure everything goes well."

Mark resisted the urge to snort, You should since you suggested the idea to me in the first place. Salina shook her head.

"No really, we'll be okay."

Mark frowned slightly for effect. "But I want to be absolute sure. I can't go myself or I would, but I have to stay here and "clean" stuff up here before the authorities arrive for our little prisoners below. Just take Trav with, he's house trained, I swear, and he doesn't bite.......very hard."

Salina smiled and relented, "Alright, he can come, but it's Kail I'm worried about, she does bite!"

Trav smiled, "I think I can handle it. Just let me get my stuff."

"Meet me at the Cat."

Salina headed off to the Cat and Strated up the power sequence, Kaelia sat in the Gunnery turret, checking the equipment after it's first use. Salina's voice came over the speakers.

"How's it going Kail?"

"Fine." Kaelia uncharacteristcally monosyllabicly answered.

"Sure, what's eating you?"

"Nothing, just checkng the gunnery systems."

"You can do that from the bridge."

"I want to do it up here."

Salina caught the edge in her voice and went back to the startup sequence. Just then Trav loped up the landing ramp and tossed his stuff down in the passenger seat.

"Don't go near the top laser turrets."

"Why?"

"Rabid female....."

Trav snorted and sat in his seat, thinking of Kaelia's famous wit and temper. Though not easily incited, her rage was as hot as a gas giant. And her dry sense of humor only threw gas on the flame. But for all her sarcasms, she was an overall pleasent person to be with. Especially when she was wrapped in his arms.....

Kaelia sat musing in the top turret, not really watching the power flow readings on the control board. Her thoughts drifted to Traven Kelsar and his scheming ways. Having known him almost as long as she'd known Salin, she was regularly pondering his irritating behavior. He fancied himself a ladies man, (whatever), and for some reason had targeted Kaelia as a testing device for new flirtations. She was not amused. He was so arrogant! Always walking around, professing his innate intelligence, irritating her, calling her 'babe'!. (She shuddered at the thought.) And now this business with the hugging. It had unnerved her. Getting pulled into his arms she had resisted at first, but then...... She quickly shook the thought away, refusing to acknowledge that maybe, deep down inside, she didn't really dislike Traven Kelsar, scourge of the galaxy, half as much as she thought she did.

Twenty minutes later, finished with the powerup sequence, Salina called Kaelia down from her perch in the turrets.

"Kail, come on down, need you for liftoff."

"I'm coming, I'm coming....." She grudged, and several minutes later they heard her footsteps in the corridor. She turned into the bridge, the doors swooshing open, and stopped dead in her tracks, staring at Trav. Trav smiled ingratiatingly back and Kaelia resisted the urge to turn right back around and return to the turrets that coccooned her so nicely.

"What is he doing here?"

"Mark sent him with us, Mark wanted to make sure we would be okay, and that more bounty hunters like the ones at the bar didn't show up again."

"Right, and what's this doofus going to do? We can take care of ourselves."

Trav spoke up from his chair, "Why I'll push you out of the way of a blaster bolt. Shielding your body with my own, taking injury and even death if only to save a life so much more precious than my-"

Kaelia silenced him with a look that could singe the suns. " Fine, whatever. Just remind me to pummel Mark to death next time I see him!" She dropped into the copilot seat, bringing up shields and contacting the spaceport ATC. "Hey Joss, see you in few!"

"Later Kail, clearance granted!" The station's air traffic controller sent off the familiar pair in the often seen Cat. Most of the trip was spent in silence. Trav went back to the sleeping quarters, and Salina found Kaelia in the galley, munching on gooey wahala dough, made from wahala nuts. The sticky doughy substance stuck to her fingers as she plopped pieces of it in her mouth.

"Aw, come on Kail, he's not that bad! It's only for two days."

"Two days of my life I'll never get back."

"I'll make you some salad with the green leafs, and some tasty pasta."

Kaelia, momentarily appeased, sat at the breakfast bar and watched with eager hunger as Salina made some tasty looking goodies that she only made for Kail when she was angry. Salina set a plate full of food in front of Kaelia, and waited a few moments before speaking.

"So what was that all about?"

"What?"

"Come on Kail, you know what I'm talking about. You, Trav, on the bridge, hugging!"

"Yeah, so, it was nothing."

"It wasn't nothing!" Salina was beginning to get annoyed. "You two didn't move for like, a minute! What's going on?"

"Nothing's going on alright! He just gave me a hug goodbye, you know he fancies himself a ladies man."

"Come on Kail, tell me the truth! I'm your best friend, you can tell me anything, I wont laugh or tease, I promise."

Kaelia had just short of demolished her food, and sat twriling her fork in one hand, her head held in the other. "I don't know Salin, he just, he bugs the hell outa me, ya know? But then he'll do something like that and, I guess being around him so much has weakened my immunity to his 'charms'."

"Kail, he's not that bad!"

"Compared to what? Wampas?"

Trav himself chose that moment to enter the conversation, walking intio the galley. He had been walking towards the galley and heard his name. Spying an oppurtunity, he had spent the last few minutes listening in on Kaelia's dissertation of his shortcomings. I'll just have to get her alone and convince her otherwise, it's a small ship.

[Whisper]

'What the hell am I going to do...'Jalus thought to himself as he looked out the viewport on the stations bridge.

A Noise behind him brought the ex-soldier out of his momentary reverie. Judging by the heaviness of the footfall it had to be the stationmaster, Mark. Jalus turned and found his assumption proven right.

"Well, I don't believe we've truly been introduced. I'm Mark, lord and master of all that you see before you."

Jalus snorted, "If that were the case, half you loading crew wouldn't have been Drennon's."

Mark nodded, conceding hte point, "Granted, but that's my usual line for welcoming people. When you got to the station a couple days ago, you stated you needed something...transported for you. What would that be?"

"That would be me. I need to get onto Coruscant. For my own reasons, " Jalus stated, forestalling any other questioning along those lines. "And I can't do it the legal way. I didn't leave the CorSpecForces under the best of conditions. Should I be caught going into Coruscant, I'd be shipped back to Corellia. I've been told I have a nice dirty cell awaiting me. Obviously I don't want to end up there."

It was Mark's turn to snort, "Who would? How would you pay for this?"

"Well, that's another sticking point. After a year of getting here, I'm damn near out of funds. So..."

"You figure you can try an earn the funds necessary?" Mark paused, "Under normal conditions, I'd have you leave. Perhaps via the nearest air lock. However, you helped me immensely earlier by taking out those pirates. So...let's get down to Level B, Section Four. Got a good Cantina set up there for my customers. Excellent stock. We'll discuss the details there...."

[Admiral DaaLa]

Trav walked into the mess room and the two girls stopped talking and looked up.

"You know I really need to do some galactic shopping on this run, I need some more clothes."

Salina and Kail exchanged a glance or two as Kaelia grabbed some fizzy juices from the cooler.

"Want a drink Trav?"

"Yer, I'd like one if that's not too much of a problem."

Kaelai passed the drinks out to Trav and put one on the table that SAlina was sitting on. Salina kept on flicking through the diagnostics report.

"SO how much we getting on this run Trav, Mark better not being pulling our leg."

Trav smiled at Kaelia's hard tone and then SAlina continued.

"Yer, you 've got quite a trip set out for us, but I looked into he payment plan hun and they are compensating us for all the mice that will run into."

Trav took a long swig of his drink.

"When you feeding the Cat."

Salina smiled.

"SHe'll be fine for the run we've got two days to put her into shape. SHe took on Drennon's guys without any problems this shouldn't be to hard. Kail make sure when you get that break you re-stock I['ve gotta visit Tessim for some parts and other interesting accessories we might like."

Kail nodded with a smile.

"ooooooooooOooooooooo sounds good a new set of earrings or turbolasers either way i'm happy."

All three laughed. Salina grabbed some paper work.

"You two be nice I'll be in my room got get some Id's and clearances organized not to mention checking out the rest of these documents. Kail before you complain and give me a face, can you please tell me when where landing we don't have time to replace any repulsor engines this time."

Kaelia's jaw dropped as she snickered at her best friend who laughed as she left the room and went into her private quarter's. Salina had been referring to a time many years ago when Kail had had to do an emergency landing and landed so awkwardly that the ship nearly had tilted and she hit the side of the docking bay. The damage to the bay hadn't been as bad as too Salina's ship who had to replace a while repulsor engine and then pay the repair's of the ship's bay. In total the price that they had paid for Kail's little flight experience was something neither girls wanted to do again and even though Salina had forgiven her and paid for everything she always through in a quick jibe.

The door's slide open as SAlina walked into her room. All the paper's went onto the desk and she grabbed a red pen as she started to indicate the best possible travel route. She switched on her hyper-com system and called an old friend of her's. His face appeared, It had really been a long time since they had seen each other.

"Tessim the Cat need's to pounce again."

A smile lit his face.

"Hello Salina, what kind of a collar are you looking for?"

[Jeianni]

The Cat landed on Nar Shadda a couple of hours later and Kaelia loped down the boarding ramp, Trav keeping pace behind her.

"Salina's coming isn't she?"

"Yeah Trav, she'll be coming in a few minutes, she's getting things ready."

"Alright. Where're we going?"

"I'm going back to my apartment to shower and change. Where are you going?"

"I'm coming with you of course. I came with you and Salin for a reason, to make sure you two were safe."

"Then why are you coming with me, why don't you stay with Salina?"

"If Salin isn't safe on the Cat, she isn't safe anywhere."

"Uh huh, and what makes you think I'm so incapable of my own personal safety."

"Nothing, I'm just your added precaution."

"More like my added pain in the....." she trailed the sentence off under her breath. The arrived at her apartment and Kaelia plopped her bag down on the table, heading straight for her room, but then stopped abruptly, Trav running into her.

"You may not follow me in here."

Trav smiled abashadley and went to sit on the couch in the front room. Kaelia came out twenty minutes later, scrubbed clean and in her "uniform", only to find Trav sound alseep, sprawled across the couch. She smiled to herself,

"Finally, I can have some peace."

She turned and walked towads the door, and reached for the doorknob. Kaelia jumped as Trav's arm reached around her, he had managed to soundlessly and silently get up from the couch and stalk up behind her.

"Peace is way over-rated."

"Funny, you're lucky I'm not armed."

"Where're we going?"

"I'm going to go and get some spare components for the Cat."

"Cool."

Kaelia snorted, As if you have a choice in the matter anyways.

They rounded the corner and entered into the main causeway of the Northeastern Habitat. Nar Shaada was so unpleasant that even the hutts couldn't stand it for long, and had built giant habitats for housing and trade. The Northeastern had been sold to a developer and turned into a trade center for smugglers, pirates, and other unsavory characters. Kaelia and Trav now stood in the center of the activity. Trav had of course been to Narsh many times, but he obligingly followed. The entered a well known establishment, The Driveyards, run by a respectable Bothan named Lissk Yu'reya.

"Kaelia, what can I do for you today? Who is this handsome rogue you brought with you? Your new mate?"

Kaelia rolled her eyes at the kooky Bothan. "He only wishes. This is Traven, Lissk. I need some stuff for the Feline Pounce, can you help me out?"

"That all depends on what you need Miss Kaelia."

"Do you have any dampening-elctro magnetic-converters for a J2-3000 impulse drive unit? And also an ion-matter reverser for a series K5-200 deflector shield unit?"

"I'll see what I have, be right back."

Kealia leaned on the counter and saw Trav watching her intently.

"What?"

"Nothing, you just know a lot about the Cat for being it's gunner, not it's pilot."

Kaelia raised an eyebrow. "Who do you think keeps the Cat running? Salina the cook?"

Trav laughed lightly as Lissk brought back the parts se asked for. They payed him and left, walking back to the Cat. Once they arrived, Trav and Kail headed straight for the cockpit.

"Sal, I got those parts you asked for, when are you gonna be done?"

"Hold on Tessim, it's Kail. Kail, I'm almost done. Put the spare parts in the cargo compartment right next to the engines manifold. I'll be ready by the time our shift starts." She turned back towards her console and continued her conversation with Tessim.

Kaelia and Trav left the cockpit and headed towards the bar. Kaelia was already dressed in her red and black, bantha leather outfit. They got to the bar and Trav entered a little after Kaelia, moving to sit in a back booth where he could keep an eye on the entire place. Salina arrived and presently it was time for their shift and Trav watched as they deftly served drinks to the many specied patrons.

[vodo]

Name:Tarfan
Age:60(Standered Years)
Species:Wookie
Home Planet:Cocrusant
Occupation:Bounty Hunter
Breif History: He was forced to be a wookie communicator for the Empire when the war ended he travelled to cocrusant where he was too under the wing of a gang leader. Tarfan Was taught the ways of living dangerously. Skilled in many forms of unarmed combat and very skilled with a bow caster. Tarf is now working as a body guared for a Hutt and has all but given up being a bounty hunter.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Tarf walked into the bar. His fur was matted and blood stained after being in a fight with a combrade at work. A few men at the sight of the wookie backed away and the ones thatt didnt soon did after Tarf gave them a flash of his teef. He sttod by the bar towering over the bar.
"WHES THE BAR MADY"

some men in the corner let out a shriek after the wookies call and one ran out the door.

Tarf reached over the bar easily with his long arms and grabbed the nearest bottle he could put his paws on. He raised it into the air and made a large roar
"Party"
After that the bar seemed empty the only person that had not left had fainted.
Tarf shrugged to him self an bit the cap of the bottle. The liquid was vile and lef a bitter tang in his mouth. The wookie made what was his equivelent of a cringe and then reached for another bottle of the liquid.
"Party"

[Admiral DaaLa]

Salina smiled as the overgrown wookie walked into the room. Tarfan a memeber of an SS squad was bloodstained as usual and hadn't cut his fur in an endless amount of years. It was more then obvious to Salina who where the real bounty hunter's and smuggler's in the room, as to those who weren't ran out like scared woompa's, well each crowd had their try hards. Trav had only vaguely lifted an eyebrow to the wookies rabble as Kaelia tired to both shut him up and settle him down. Salina walked over cloth in hand and drink on tray to Trav.

"Nevermind him its Tarfy he's always loud and aggresive after he's been hunting two drinks will settle him down not to mentiuon a chat with Kail, they get along marvelously well."

Traven raised an eyebrow watching the little plump rounded woman stand up to a wookie who probably considered her a dwarf. Well he himself barley reached the creatures shoulder's Tarfan was one well built wookie.

"Yer, I'm assuming standard crowd."

Salina laughed.

"Something like that except we do a lot of dealings with wookies they are very trust worthy and have a lot of honor which makes them wonderful allies and impecable foe. Plus Tarfy hates Drennon so we have something incommon. Anyway his your splice you ordered enjoy."

She watched Trav take a sip give her his cojmliments on the proportions and then she walked back to the bar. Kaelia was talking to Tarfan.

"Force, yes I know your in a rowdy mood, He is such a load a poodoo I don't know why you bother with him. You should just give him a look at the end of your cross bow and get it over with."

Salina lifted an eyebrow as Kail served andother customer both listening to Tarfan's grumble's.

"Who are you too ploting to murder this time?"

Tarf growled.

"OH Sal chill its Rarian again being a pain in the behind. You know you should give him a smell of the Cats hyperdrive in full trust that woudl teach him to keep his tongue."

"You two are a worry, Kail serve those Sullustans will ya. So Tarfy long time no see fluf ball? SO Kail fixed you with a drink what are you here for."

Tarf began to growl and reached out lovingly patting Sal on the head and destroying her hair.

"Thanks sweetie."

"Anytime Salina, I'm in town for a while just looking for extra credit you wouldn't need anyhands right now? Rumour has it that your going to do a lot of dancing pretty soon and then there's way you took out Drennon well... congratulations."

Salina looked up interested as a smile corssed her face she looked directly at the wookie as her hands concentrated on the glass and cloth in her hands.

"Rumour's?? about me I never would have guessed and I take a lot of pride in kicking Drennon's behind."

"He'll come back."

"Pff let him, as for extra hands that depends on how long our chauperone stays around."

A patron motioned for Salina's assistance and was nearly knocked out cold by the wookie.

"hey you so bad for buissness, come by later or talk to Kaelia about it. RIght now I've got to work."

The wookie roared as Salina served a Mandalorain hunter.

[vodo]

Tarf downed his seventh thing that he found from beind the bar. He found that once you had more than three it stopped tasing bad but that might be beacuse he had no taste buds left. It was nice to be in the bar again after a hard days work. Every thing seemed ok. Suddenly Tarfs nose seemed to twitch. He smelt fear and alot of it. He followed the sent through the bar almost nocking Salina over as he stood.
" Hey watch it you walking carpet"
The words rolled over Tarfs head as he was too engaged in his task. The sent came from out side. He brought his bowcaster to hand and cocked it. The entrance to the bar slid open and Tarf walked out ducking so he wouldnt bang is head on the small door frame. The streets were empty there was no one in sight. He walked further out into the street and tured to see Salina in the door holding a a blaster in each hand. Frustration was no enveloping Tarf and was slowly turning to Rage. Where was he fear coming from he thought The sent was getting stronger and then he saw it the cause of the fear. Running down the street ahead were hundreds of people. They were nocking each other down and still running franticly trying to escape but from what. Anew smell entered Tarfs nose it was the mell of burning ozone from a blaster. Something was very wrong

[kopernikuz]

I'd like to join if I may

Name: Deek WohaV
Age: Unknown
Gender: Male
Occupation: Bounty Hunter
Eye Colour: Deep Reddish Brown
Hair Colour: None
Height: 201cm
Race: Duntarian
Background: Deek WohaV's background is shrouded in mystery as is his entire race. Duntarians are believed to be predecessors to the Duros and Nemoidian species. While the Duros became spacefarers and the Nemoidians horde commerce, the Duntarians are an extremely secretive and hermit-like race. While they are highly trained in combat and technically adept (like their cousins the Nemoidians and Duros), their skills are generally only used to protect their homeworld and they rarely venture outside their own star system. Deek however is very contrary to his species nature... he craves excitement. He is one of few Duntarians to ever leave their star system. Other than his thirst for adventure, Deek retains the Duntarian mistrust of other species and generally works alone. He is well armed, and makes a living capturing bounties for various thugs throughout the galaxy.

[Jeianni]

"Tarfan! Tarf! Come back here you nerfherding shag carpet! Tarf!!" Kaelia yelled after the lankie wookie. Sighing she pulled her blasters out, ready to follow him. She saw Salina doing the same and the girls stood next to Tarf, blasters drawn. Kaelia looked over to Trav's booth and shook her head almost imperceptibly, motioning for Trav to stay where he was. Tarf loomed in the entryway, bowcaster drawn, his nostrils flared suddenly.

"What Tarf? What is it?"

Tarf roared indelicately next to Salina's ear. *People are running this way. They're scared of something, I can smell it.*

Trav sat at the booth, shifting uncomfortably as he watched Salina and Kaelia watch anxiously out the doorway. But he stiffened as he heard a sound so deadly familiar that he dare not move. Laser blasts, of the starfighter kind. He jumped up from the booth and dashed to the girls' side.

"We gotta go, now!"

Salina looked at Trav like he was crazy.

"What for? To get trampled?"

Trav glanced towards the back entrance, looking for an escape route, but stopped dead in his tracks as he saw two rodians with blasters walk through it, obviously looking for a target.

"Run damnit!" The heat in his voice got across to Kael and Salina, and they ran after Tarf who plowed through the crowd, clearing a path for them. They ran with blasters drawn, doing their best to keep from getting trampled. Salina risked a look back right as two dilapidated headhunters came upon the bar, tearing it to shreads. Tears streamed down her face as rage and pain came over her.

Those *******s will pay!

They made it into a major underground shopping mall and stopped to take their breath as the crowd thinned out into the relative safety. Kaelia looked questioningly towards Salina and asked what was wrong.

"They destroyed the bar Kail. Cook's gone, everything's gone!" Kaelia didn't have time to be shocked though. Tarf growled something.

"What do you mean coming this way? Let's get out of here and get home." Salina and Kaelia started towards the exit but Trav caught them by the arm.

"Stop! If they know where you work, then they know where you live. We have to get back to the Cat!"

"If they wanna tangle with me bring it on! Let's go Salin!" Kaelia, furious, drew her blaster and tugged away from Trav's grip.

"NO!" Trav yelled. Kaelia stopped momentarily, "I came here to protect you, both of you, you can't go back to your apartment! Whatever you left there can be replaced, we can't replace you Kail. Let's get to Cat before they do!"

"He's right Kail."

Kaelia nodded, and followed as Tarf led the way towards a side entrance, away from the commotion. They made it safely to the Cat's docking bay. Salina triggered the boarding ramp shut, but jumped back as red blaster bolts splashed through the crack right before it closed completely. She and Kail ran towards the cockpit.

"Strap in, we're lifting right now!"

"No time for warm up Kail, cold start, hope that newfangled power coupling you just installed can take it!"

Kaelia landed in the copilots seat and threw on her restraints. "That coupling can take on a Rancor, let's go!"

Cat fired up just as a portable quad laser appeared.

"Company Salin, we gotta go now!"

"I hear you Kail! Just a sec!"

Suddenly the red bolts shot from Cat's underside, exploding the portable quad laser and sending small bits of super heated metal in every direction.

"I got you covered girls, let's get out of here!" Trav's voice sounded from the underbelly turret.

Salina grinned madly, "Thanks Trav, we're out!"

Cat shot up out of the docking bay, screaming for space. Two headhunters came up out of the atmosphere, but to far away to catch up to it's escaping prey. They went into hyperspace, and Kaelia and Salina got out of their chairs, grief stricken and shocked, and headed towards the mess as they always did. Trav came into the main hold and seeing them dripping with tears, pulled them to him in a fierce embrace. Salina and Kail wrapped their arms around Trav and each other, silently shaking as the true impact of the scene came upon them. Trav held them protectively to him. He wasn't kidding when he said he would protect them- by the Force he would, and the Makers save the beings who try otherwise.

"Sshh, it's okay. You're safe now..... you're safe." Trav said quietly, kissing the top each of their heads in turn and then gently resting his head on top of Kaelia's. He closed his eyes, he would never let anyone hurt them. Salina and then Kaelia pulled away from Trav's tear stained shirt and headed to the mess, Trav and then Tarf following. Kaelia pulled fizzy juices out of cold storage and tossed one to Sal and Trav. Tarf sat on a bar stool and gulped down a jug of water. Salina went to the food prep and set to cooking a huge meal, as she did when she was troubled. Kaelia shook her head.

"Why? Why would someone kill so many people, just for us? Why are we so important?"

Salina pulled things out of cupboards and shrugged. "I want to know how they got past planet security."

Trav snorted mirthlessly, "It's Nar Shadda, planet security can be bought cheaper than two pounds of spice."

"I guess you're right. But why us? Why so much trouble for us? Why did they have to take Cook and half the bar to? And not just that. All my clothes, my stuff, mom's necklace. It's all gone bacause I can't go back. I can't go home." Tears streamed freely down Kail's face. A crash sounded from near Salina, she had accidentaly knocked over her fizzy juice and gotten purple juice all over the floor. Kaelia moved to help her but Salina waved her away.

"I don't know why Kaelia, but I intend to figure it out. We're headed to Ord Mantell, Mark's going to meet us there."

Trav nodded and Kaelia went towards the bulkhead.

"I'm gonna go think about some stuff, call me when you need me."

"Sure Kael."

Sixteen hours later they docked at the Ord Mantell main shipdocks. The boarding ramp lowered and Salina bounded down the ramp and into Mark's arms. Mark and Salina held onto each other for a few moments, and then broke away.

"Let's go to my room and we can talk."

[Whisper]

*12 Hours earlier*

Mark walked down the corridor to the room he had let Jalus use, knocked and waited a second, then entered.

"You always enter rooms without waiting for a response?"

"No, not always, only when it's an emergency."

The Ex-Soldier canted his head to the left, "Drennon's back?"

"No, THAT I'd handle. You up for a trip to Ord Mantell?"

"Ord Mantell...well, yeah sure. What's up?"

"I'll explain on the way.

*Now*

Jalus nodded as he heard the story told. "What did they want?"

Salina shrugged, "I haven't a clue."

Jalus took a chug of his Whyren's Reserve, then shook his head, "That makes no kriffing sense. They killed your cook, as you said as well as half a bar, perhaps more...there HAS to be a reason."

Kaelia snorted, "Of COURSE there's a reason...but we don't know it."

Jalus nodded, "Calm down. You said Rodians right? Well Rodians rarely act like that without money involved. Whoever did this has to have major contacts with Rodians, and then hired them. Any ideas? Perhaps you smuggled something to someone that someone else didn' want smuggled to, and he decided to off you for his annoyance?"

The room was quiet for a moment, then Salina shook her head, "I can't recall anything like that."

Jalus nodded, "And even if it were the case, I doubt the party responsible would send you a holocomm saying anything. I say you and Kael go rest in the bedroom. We'll talk more when everone is refreshed, and somewhat over the events."

Mark nodded, "Good idea.While you two sleep I'm going to check out a couple contacts I have here on Ord Mantell, get inquiries going about the identity of your attackers."

Jalus nodded, "Take the Wookie with you. As for me, i'll stay here with Trav. Make sure the base camp is secure."

Mark chuckled, "Base camp?"

Jalus shrugged, "Force of habit."

[Jeianni]

Kaelia and Salina rose from Jalus's couch and walked morosely towards the door. Mark and Tarf followed, but Mark turned and spoke once more,

"Hey Trav, on second thought, I want you to stay with the girls and Tarf can stay here with Jalus."

"Sure Mark."

Traf shrugged and roared nonchalantly, ruffling Kaelia's hair as he loped towards the couch. As they left Jalus's room Mark spoke to Trav.

"I'm sorry, I just trust you more than Tarf, a half drunken wookie, to watch over Salina and Kail."

"Yeah, no problem Mark."

The two caught up with Salin and Kaelia as they reached their reserved room/ suite. With two bedrooms and a bath, it was good enough. Salina turned and gave Mark a hug while he secretly whispered something in her ear. Then Kaelia gave him a brief hug and slipped inside after Salina. Mark clapped Trav on the shoulder before he could follow.

"Keep them safe Trav."

"I will Mark, I promise."

"Thanks."

Mark left and Trav closed the door after him. He turned only to find a pillow and blanket fly at his head. He caught and sent a menacing look at Kaelia who looked grimly smug as she walked towards the bath which was already filling with steaming hot water.

"Sweet Dreams Trav." She shut the door and Trav sank into the couch, watching as Salina set about concocting something at the mini kitchenette. Although it was still daylight, the girl's internal chrono said it was late dinner time. Kaelia came out of the washroom in her blue with white pinstriped pajama's. Her hair was stuffed into a bun at the top of her head and her skin was still freshly pink from scrubbing.

"Your turn Salina."

Salina sighed and headed to the washroom. Trav knitted his eyebrows into a frown.

"Hey, what about my turn?"

Salina took her slipper off and threw it at him.

"Ladies first!"

Jeianni took a bowl of Salina's Bantha stew and some bread and sat on the couch, picked up the remote and clicked on the holonet. Trav came and sat next to her and they quietly munched and watched the news. A few minutes later Trav got up and took their bowls to the sink and came back. He stopped at the couch and hesitated as he saw Kaelia sitting stone still, staring at the holonet. He sat back down next to her and finally saw what she was watching. He jumped up and searched desperately for the remote to turn it off. Images of the 'Burning Deck', the bar that Salina and Kail both worked at, getting destroyed played over and over as a news caster repeated the same monologue in several different languages. Finally he shut it off and turned to Kaelia. She'd pulled her knees up to her chest and shut her eyes against the tears that escaped and rolled down her cheeks.

"Oh, Kail."

Trav wrapped his arms around her and pulled her towards him; resting her head on his shoulder. He rubbed her arms with is hands to break her away from the terrible images. She snuggled down into his comforting embrace and wrapped one of her arms around his waist.

"Kaelia, It'll be alright. Don't worry, you'll be safe, I promise. I'll keep you safe...."

Traven Kelsar had never felt so at peace and so angry all at once in his whole life. Kaelia sat next to him, huddled in his protection. Her head barely reached the top of his chin and he could smell the crisp clean soap she had used. Briefly he gave in to his senses and kissed the top of her hair. Strangley he felt whole and content. He wanted to stay like this forever, keeping Kail safe within his arms, whether she wanted him to or not. He also wanted to hunt down each and every scumball who had tried to kill two of his best friends, and then give them a terrible, slow death.

Kaelia wrapped her arm around Trav and snuggled her face down into his neck. She barely noticed that it was Traven Kelsar: Scourge of the Galaxy, that held her so close to him. Or perhaps she did and she was just too tired to care who she was sitting next to. She hadn't gotten to see the bar explode like Salina did. Until it started flashing on the Courascant standard holonews channel repeatedly, she hadn't realized how devestating it really was. It kept repeating itself, and she saw cook, and all of the rest of the bar patrons, innocent in their own right, parish over and over. Trav had managed to break through the shocked pain she had pulled around herself and now she welcomed his warmth.

Salina came out of the washroom and stopped short at the couch. Kaelia and Trav were curled up on the couch fast asleep, Kael in her pj's and Trav still dressed. Salin smiled and considered getting a picture for future blackmail, but decided against it. Instead she picked up Trav's discarded blanket and spread it over the sleeping beauties, and then ate and went to bed herself.

[vodo]

Tarf couldnt remember a tme he had been so hungry in all his life. He paced the room looking for anything that could be though of as edible which to a wookie of his size which was big for a wookie.
Jalus sat and watched for a while as the giant fur ball runmpled through anything he could find until the wookie stopped and sharply raised his head sniffing the air. Jalus was told how the wookie had sensed something was wrong on Nal Hutta mayby he sensed the same thing here. Jalus couldnt speak wookie so he though he best follow him.
Tarf ran out of the room at an amazing pace following his nose whereever it took him.


(sorry guys I cant continue this right now I have to leave the computer. One of you can carry the story on if you like)

[kopernikuz]

Deek WohaV sipped a bit of Nemoidian ale as he sat in the bar of a hotel on Ord Mantrell. He winced as he choked it down... the stuff was nasty.

Consider the source, he thought and grinned slightly. Nasty or not, it did the trick.

All manner of beast and being made up the crowd in the bar, but Deek still felt as though he stuck out like a sore tentacle. He was still one of the few Duntarians in the galaxy to venture out of his own star system. Occassionally he'd catch a look from a patron here or there, but when he made eye contact, they'd quickly look away.

He choked back the last of his glass of ale and set it down on the bar. The barman snatched it up quickly and had another planted in front of Deek before he could say he wanted to clear up his tab and get to business.

Deek stared for a moment at the new glass, the thick grayish liquid inside looked disgusting. Finally, he shrugged and took a swig. The grainy liquid hit his throat and he winced again, squinted and swallowed. It didn't take long for the effect to kick in.

Woozily, Deek turned to scan the bar again. Apparently his new potential employer had stood him up. He was supposed to have arrived an hour ago. Though he didn't know his name, he knew that the man had work for him. He wanted someone retrieved and transported, but that was as much as Deek knew... that, and he was willing to pay top credit.

The wooziness flowed out of him quickly and suddenly and he scanned the bar again. The one thing about Nemoidian Ale... it packed a kick, but the effect was extremely temporary to his Duntarian metabolism. As his vision cleared his eyes fell upon the lobby.

A tall wookiee burst off of the lift and marched around sniffing the air. A human followed, watching the wookiee with some concern mixed with bemusement.

Deek watched the wookiee for a moment. The wookiee stopped in the middle of the lobby and growled something to his companion.

A commotion in the back of the bar then caught Deek's attention. As he turned three ruffians drew blasters and left their table.

It only took a moment for Deek to make the connection.

"You the Duntarian?" a sleazy bearded human spat at him.

Deek smiled slightly. "You're quick. Many people mistake me for an Ewok."

The man glared "You're a dead Dun-"

He couldn't finish the sentence because in a flash, Deek had slammed his ale glass into the man's nose. There was a pop as the nose broke and pointed sideways. The other two ruffians looked astounded. Without hesitation, Deek yanked the blaster from the hand of one of them and clocked the other across the head. The clocked ruffian fell to the ground.

"Take it outside!" The barman yelled.

"You thun-of-a..." the man with the broken nose gurgled through his bloody nose as he raised his blaster. He fired, but Deek spun to the right and came up behind the man. He then pushed the man into the other confused ruffian and they both collapsed on top of the unconscious one.

As they struggled to get up, Deek put some credit notes on the bar. "Sorry for the trouble, barkeep." He said. "Keep the change."

The entire bars attention was on the commotion at the bar now.

A sharp pain etched through Deek's shoulder as the steel fingers of a beat-up bounty droid dug into his skin. Deek fought back the pain and deftly yanked his own blaster from his hip. He aimed it behind him and fired a blast right into the faceplate of the droid. For a moment, the grip loosened and Deek capitalized by jumping away.

One of the ruffians grabbed at his ankle and tripped Deek slightly. Deek stumbled forward towards the exit of the bar and smacked his face right into the furry chest of the wookiee. Deek looked up at the hulking wookiee and smiled nervously.

"Little help, here?" Deek asked.

The two still conscious ruffians had gotten to their feet and aimed their blasters towards Deek, the wookiee, and the man.

"Take it outside!" The barkeep growled again and reached under the bar for a weapon. Patrons were diving beneath their tables. "This is a respectable hotel!"

"Kill dem all!" the man with the broken nose said, pointing at the trio in the doorway.

[vodo]

Tarf found it funny that his search for food had landed himinto a bar brawl then realised that it wasnt the first time it had happend and probably wouldnt be the last. As for the creature that seemed to be attatched to his fur he had never seen one of his species before or heared of them but the strange alien looked like he needed his help and whever he cared he seemed to be in a situation with the three men pointing blasters and vibro blades at him.
Tarf uttered a grunt to Jalus and then yanked the strange alien onto a shoulder. The alien squirmed and cursed but in Tarfs eyes it was better if he fought alone. Tarf turned to walk out the door Jalus behind him and allmost as soon as he had gotten out the door the three men followed. Tarf threw the alien behind him and forcfully nudged Jalus to the floor. The three men had now circled around him branding blasers.
"ARRRRGH" Tarf let oout a wookie battle cry and with oune long hand swiftly grabbed one of the mens arms pulling him towards him with a powerful yank. Tarf had intendid to use the man as a sheile but when he found that all he was holding was the mans arm it made no difference to him. The man directly infront of Tarf raise his blaser aiming it at Tarfs head. He was about to pull the trigger when tarf threw the severed arm towards the man bowling him over then ducked to avoide a slash fom a vibro blade. Grabbing the latest attacker by the legs Tarf effortlessly lifted the man upside down. The man he had bowled over with the arm was getting to his feet when Tarf swung the man around like a club sending one man across the room and the other being nocked unconciouse.
Tarf tood in the lobby one man dangled upside down in one hand another man over his shoulder and another over the other shoulder. Jalus was holding the arm of Tarf's first unfortunate attacker very far away from his body.
The strange alien was now getting to his feet and was marching towards Tarf and He didnt look like he was going to thank him for his Dareing rescue. The alien stood at around Tarfs stomach looking completely dwarfed
2What do you think you are doing.........." The alien dropped to the ground after a blow from Jalus.
"Lets go see the girls hey"
The wookie grunted and set off to the turbo lift.

[kopernikuz]

Deek rubbed his head.

Gee, try to thank a guy... he thought.

At any rate, he could hear the sirens from the local security patrols heading for the hotel.
This place would soon be swarming with gray boys and Deek and the law didn't mix well.

He wondered who had sent the three thugs to take him out, and assumed the bounty job he'd come to learn about was just a ruse to get him there. Whatever was going on, he was clearly in trouble. Someone was out to get him and he didn't know why.

He watched the wookiee and the man enter the lift and his eyes narrowed. No doubt the patrols would have the place surrounded by now, and the barkeep was coming towards him with his blastrifle charging. What Deek needed right now were friends, and even though their introduction ended with a bump on his noggin, those two were the closest thing he had right now.

He cast a wink at the barkeep and took off into an open lift. The barkeep ran, but the doors shut quickly. Deek didn't know where the two were staying, but he'd try to find out.

[vodo]

The lift doors were closing as the strange aien jumped through the door and slammed into Jors nocking him to the ground. Tarf laughed as they both squirmed around on the floor.
"Little help here" Jors managed to say.
Tarf bet down and pulled the alien of Jors and with his free hand pulled Jors to his feet.
"Thanks" The alien manged to say before Tarf pinned him to the wall of the lift.
"Whats your name"
The alien squirmed and couldnt pronounce anything so Tarf slacked of his grip but just a little.
"Deek my name is deek"
"Why were those men after you?"
"I dont know I swear they just attacked me"
Tarf belowed a growl to Jalus*can we trust him*
"I dunnno Tarf can we trust him"
"Yeah you can trust me"
Tarf let of a lowed growl that made Deek wince.
"Cool it I wont hurt u I promise trust me"
The lift doors opend and deek fell through the doors as Tarf relised his grip. The door to a room opend and SALINA WALKED OUT HEY WHATS THE COMOTION

[Jeianni]

Kaelia smiled dreamily in her sleep and rolled over, snuggling down into the warmth. Strong arms encircled her and her eyelids fluttered as the evening sun streamed through the- ............ wait a second.... strong arms, what? Her eyes snapped open and she found herself staring straight into a muscled chest. Her eyes traced upwards and she found Trav, pretending to be in a deep sleep. She looked around and saw that sometime during the course of her slumber she had been moved into the bedroom. She scowled and pushed against him, but he only tightened his arms around her. She pushed harder and and finally she stopped struggling, appearing to settle into the situation. She saw Trav simle slightly in triumph and loosen his grip on her. She brought her knee up sharply and gave him a good hit in a quite painful place, quickly scrambling out of his embrace and out of the room. She looked back to see him curled up in a ball on the bed, eyes crossed in pain. Salina looked up and smiled at Kail, then frowned as she saw the smug smile of satisfaction on her face.

"Kail, what did you do?"

"Nothing Salin, what's for dinner, I'm starved?"

Just then they heard roaring from the corridor ans Salina got up from the couch, going to investigate. She reentered moments later, Tarf and Jalus in tow. But after all three had entered, an alien followed them in. One they had never seen before.

[Whisper]

"Can I keep him? He followed me home." Jalus said, then smiled as Kaelia was about to answer.

"Funny...very funny." Salina said, then turned to the newcomer. "So who are you and what are you doing here?

Tarf let out a series of grunts growls and ended with a roar.

"Okay so while you were looking for food..." Salina said, and repeated the rest of Tarfan's explanation.

Jalus snorted, "Mysteries abound today. First there's the attack on Nar Shadda. Then there's this here situation. Seriously this is just shy of 'annoying'."

"No arguement there..." Kaelia said. "Though for me it's well beyond annoying, and is borderline whizzing me the kriff off."

"I couldn't tell." Jalus replied, but kept speaking, forstalling any responce from Kael, "Anyway, any word from Mark while Tarf and I went on a food hunt?"

Trav answered from the bedroom door, his voice still slightly high pitched, "No, not a word yet. Frankly, it's not like him. He may not be one hundred percent reliable, as Sal can attest too, but if it's something important..."

Jalus walked to the window of the hotel room. "I told him he should have taken Tarf with him." Turning he looked at Trav, "Where would he have gone?"

Trav sat in the corner chair, "Gone..." He let loose a slow exhale, "In this situation I think he would have went to see Krillian. He's the Ord Mantell information man. One of them. But it's his best contact for that type of thing on Ord Mantell."

"Where is the location?" Jalus asked, drawiung his blaster and checking the sights on it, being careful not to aim it at anyone.

"Hold it...we have someone we don't know in the room...maybe we should get some info out of him before you go out all half cocked?" Kaelia said alternating glares at Trav and Jalus.

Jalus smiled, "I never go out half cocked. My weapons are always at their finest and ready to be used in a micron's notice. But you are right." Jalus looked at Tarf...who was now standing right behind the tag along.

Tarf lifted the alien up a half foot.

Salina laughed. "Oh my, you talking distracted not only him, but us. I had forgotten about Tarf, no offense...seems our company did too!"

"Please, give me some credit. I was Special Forces...not your average ground pounder." Jalus looked at Trav.

A couple moments later the tag along was in the chair Trav had occupied, one leg tied to the chair's leg. Tarf remained behind him.

"So..." Jalus said, "Who are you? And why were those guys trying to off you?"

[kopernikuz]

Deek eyed the human for a moment, shifted his leg against the bindings to test their strength and affected a smile.

This one had said he was Special Forces, and to Deek, that much was clear. But the man's demeanor told Deek that those days were over, and from the looks of his current situation and compatriots, his departure from the special forces was less than amicable.

Deek looked around the room. Yes, they were all running. But from what?

They didn't trust him, and he supposed he had no reason to trust them either... except for one thing... one of them had mentioned Krillian.

"My name is Deek WohaV," Deek said. "And I was trying to thank your hairy friend here..." (Deek jerked his head towards Tarf who growled) "...when he clocked me over the head"

"And your friends?" Jalus asked. "I suppose they were just trying to thank you for something?"

"Not sure," Deek said. "I was called here for a job. Guy never showed. Next thing I know I'm a target."

Jalus looked at the others. "Great, just what we need, a target smack in the middle of our camp."

"Camp?" Deek said.

Trav shook his head. "Never mind. Just what kind of work do you do?"

Deek smiled. "I specialize in the advanced location and containment of wanted or missing individuals."

"A bounty hunter," Jalus said.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Deek said. "Your furry friend here knows a thing or two. I've competed with him for bounties... though he's never known it. Though now the bounty appears to be on my head."

Tarf growled something.

"Back off there fluffy," Deek said. "You won't be collecting any bounties on me. You've got more important things to worry about."

Tarf reached to throttle Deek, but Jalus put a hand out to slow him.

"Hold on," Jalus said. "What do you mean?"

Deek stayed silent for a moment.

"Your friend was going to see Krillian you say?"

"Yes."

"Well, Krillian will vouch for me if you ask him. We go way back." Deek said. "But he's going to tell your friend that the ladies over here have a bounty on their heads."

"What?" Salina said.

"How do you know this?" Jalus asked.

Deek peered into this human's face. He decided he liked this one.

"Because when I was looking for work, he told me about the job. I almost took it. But the one I came here for promised to pay better." Deek chuckled. "I should've taken the first job, though my visit here would be much less amiable."

"How do we know you aren't here for the bounty on us to begin with?" Salina asked.

Deek smiled. "You don't."

Tarf growled again and looked at the door, sniffing the air.

"But right now," Deek continued. "Your wookiee companion there has caught the scent of the local security patrols, checking the rooms now... looking for me."

"Maybe we should give you to them," Jalus said.

"Maybe," Deek replied.

Tarf lifted his weapon and roared at the door.

Suddenly there is a loud explosion somewhere in the floors below that causes the room to shake violently. Deek whips out a blade and releases himself from his bonds.

Jalus reaches out to grab him, but he dodges away.

"That wasn't the security patrols," Deek said. "Someone else is here. Your friend Mark is in danger, and so are we. Now we can stay here and argue motives, or we can blast our way out of here."

"I don't trust you," Jalus said.

"Nor I you, friend," Deek said. "But under the circumstances, I'm willing to take a chance."

Another explosion rocked the building.

Tarf roared again.

"We don't have much choice here," Trav said.

Jalus and Deek stared each other down a few moments while the others began grabbing their things and arming up.

Tarf was becoming increasingly agitated.

"They're getting closer," Deek said.