Having Watched and Waited (Ask)

[Ols]

"I'd probably worry about me too, so that makes two of us," he said as he stood up and walked over to another stowage locker, this one containing a small refrigerator and a flash cooker. He took two sealed bowls from the fridge, put them in the flash cooker, which literally heated them in a flash, before stooping to find cutlery, salt and pepper and whatever else he needed. He added a little seasoning to each bowl before handing one to her and keeping one himself, sitting back down.

"Careful," he said, "it's very hot. Those flash cookers are handy things, if only there was a way to heat it so it didn't burn your tongue..." He took a forkful of the food and tested it. For spacer food, it was good, a new brand he was trying, better than the old ration kits he used to rely on, much better in taste and, he hoped, ingredients.

 

[Emma Lou]

She placed the bowl on her lap and let it cool for a bit before trying to take a bit. She hated when her tongue got burned and then hurt for the rest day.

"So tell me about yourself...none of this cryptic stuff either"

She smiled, picked up her bowl, and pulled her legs closer to herself.

 

[Ols]

"It's a very vague question to ask," he replied, after swallowing another mouthful, "but I guess I can give you a brief summary. I was born on a planet that's condemned to the records, nothing much of the world, barely touched by civilisation. It was there I bumped into this force person," he paused, but as though pre-empting the expression on her face, he added, "not a Jedi, mind you, just someone familiar with the force. He taught me a few things, and got me offworld in his ship. From him I met some people at ARC and eventually, through meeting people who know people who I was meeting I managed to land this job, and a fair few credits. Now it's your turn for your life in sixty seconds."

 

[Emma Lou]

Yael knew that was coming after she asked about his past. She might as well tell him the truth...well the condensed truth.

"Well, I was born here and raised somewhere else. My parents are famous in their own right and that meant that I pretty much had to follow in their footsteps. I don't mind, but it's not the greatest job. I guess I am just sticking with it till the right time come around. I don't wanna live on ships for the rest of my life and I don't want my children to not have a home either."

She didn't have much else to say about her short twenty years of life. His seemed more than twenty years worth.

"How old are you?"

 

[Ols]

"I couldn't tell you exactly, I fell out of contact with my parents before they could tell the people that raised me when my actual birthday was, but I'm pretty sure I'm still on the right side of forty, not by a huge amount, mind you," he paused, "still well in the prime of my life. I reckon, even at the beginning of this Hutt problem I've got a good two or three galactic crises in me yet," he smiled, "you're probably too young to remember the last, the Alsakan issue? It seems like a lifetime ago...well I guess for you it pretty much is," he paused again before adding, "eat, I know I said it's hot but at the rate you're going I'll have to reheat it in a minute."

 

[Emma Lou]

Yael nodded and took a bit automatically. It was good and she hadn't realized how hungry she was till just then.

"Thank you for the food"

She took another bit and smiled at him.

"I don't remember it, I was born right towards the end. I'm glad I wasn't around then...I might have ended up like my parents more than I already am"

 

[Ols]

"Really? Your parents were involved? What are their names, I may have heard of them?" Forte asked, genuinely intrigued at the reference. She was dropping her guard, for sure, maybe the alcohol, or possibly something else, or maybe she just was starting to feel at ease around him. He added, "and your parents can't be that bad to not want to be like them that much."

 

[Emma Lou]

Yael could tell that he was taking advantage of her guard being let down and she told herself to be more careful from now on. It was going to be hard though because she liked being able to talk to something...even if they didn't know each others real names.

"That's not important. They pride their privacy, sorry"

She took another bit of the food and then looked around the ship.

"I kind of hope we don't have any more Galactic problems...it's stressful"

She let out a laugh and gave him a smile.

 

[Ols]

"I tend to make more of a living from these problems than when the galaxy's in peace," he replied, between mouthfuls, "an unfortunate truth. But it shouldn't be causing a legitiate civillian like yourself too much stress," he smiled wryly before taking a final bite of food and setting his empty bowl on the table and taking a sip of firewhisky to wash the food down. He added, "then again, I suppose the threat of war will give anyone worry lines if giant warfleets and scary people are out roaming."

 

[Emma Lou]

Yael took another bit, chewing it slowly before swallowing.

"I'm not scared of war or scary people, I just don't like it. Why can't everyone just get along and be friends?"

She sounded like a little child who was being bullied in school and complaining about how life isn't fair.

 

[Ols]

"Because people can't always get on, even in places like the senate where they're all meant to be working for the benefit of the people as a collective they're constantly arguing and threatening and complaining," he paused, "people often will put the needs of themselves, their families, or subjects, or factions, above every other and that's why there's all this conflict. You could say it's almost human nature to fight each other," he took another swig of the drink, "this time it's the Hutts, next time who knows what the problem will be. Corellian insurrection? A warfleet of Jawas? Who knows?"

 

[Emma Lou]

"A warfleet of Jawas?"

A laugh escaped her before she could suppress it.

"That's something that would be interesting to see"

She finished up her meal and looked over at "Francis".

"What's your real name? I know it's not Francis. I work with enough people to know when someone is lying about their name"

 

[Ols]

"I suppose it won't make any difference if I tell you now," he replied, "my name is Forte Viro. Most of what I told you was true though, I work for a legitimate corporation, in an illegal way, and I am usually involved with resolving problems."

He looked at his watch and checked the time, "I should probably inform you, Ms Furtificis - yes I do know who you really are - that the food you've just eaten contained a drug that will be sending you into a deep, dreamless sleep within the next twenty seconds. Don't panic, I'm not here to harm you. Just sit and relax, and fall asleep. I'm so sorry, and I mean that. It is a sad state of affairs, but unfortunately all children are born under the sins of their fathers." She had barely five seconds before she would be now, she had done well to last this long, but the effects would be heavy on her quickly. And he hoped she didn't spend the next few seconds trying to escape, he genuinely did not want to have to harm her.

 

[Emma Lou]

Yael knew she would not be able to escape in the little time she had left. Her eyes were sad as she looked up at him and bit her lip again.

"Just when you--"

Her words dropped off as her eyes closed and her body slumped over to the right side of the couch.

 

[Ols]

Forte sighed, there were some parts of his job that certainly reared their ugly heads to remind him of his choice in life. Not that he had had a great deal of choice in his profession, he had been bred for it. As soon as he was sure she was out he stood up and began stripping her of weapons and armour, and anything else short of her clothes, and even then he removed the bulkier items that may contain hidden surprises, she was her father's daughter after all. Unconscious, in just her underwear, he put a cloak over her, for her own warmth and for her dignity, before he cuffed her wrists and then her ankles, and sat her in a chair in the main hold, strapping her in securely. He then took all of her gear and stowed it in a portable footlocker. Satisfied that his passenger was secure, he cleared the debris from their meeting away and switched on the pilot droid in the cockpit.

"To Coruscant, as fast as possible."