- Joined
- Feb 5, 2013
- Messages
- 3,852
- Reaction score
- 140
Zonju V had its good days. When the clouds aligned just so to block some of the sun, when the raiders decided to take a day off from robbing and killing, when the Grays and Krashmaws had eaten their fill and decided to rest, when the lightning storms and tornadoes pushed their schedule back. It seems all that had coincided for Ross that day as he looked down on the valley. Truly it was a beautiful sight, the kind that had a historical significance you could see by a glance. The valley's walls had a rigid structure to them a layered nature which showed the history of a world much different but also similar to the one he stood upon. Archimedes had told Ross all about how these layers could be deciphered and dated and that way you could figure out which artifacts and bones were from when, Ross didn't remember asking Archimedes anything about that, but it was just like the guy to spread knowledge when it wasn't asked for.
Deep in the valley a fire was burning. Ross didn't know what it was about, but it looked like a celebration of some kind as people whooped and hollered jumping all around. It did his heart good to see that even in a place like this people still felt the urge to party, to let loose, and to go wild and forget if only for a moment. as he thought about this he realized the Rangers could use something similar. They'd been working hard these past few months and not just in fixing up the base, they'd been up and down this world and beyond looking for trouble and when they found it they took it down and damned if some of em, heck, all of em weren't pretty good at it.
As he began to move from the valleys edge he thought about Hiro's return and what it seemed to mean for the Rangers, there was a new vigor, a new vibe, they had been knocked down but they got up again all the same. Speaking of knocked down, Ross once again sorted through this new deal with the jedi, unlike a lot of others from the old Alliance he didn't see them as the principal cause of their failure though he didn't see them helping all that much either. Still the galaxy worked in mysterious ways and one of those ways was the force. If they were going to be good friends with people who knew how to harness that power, he preferred jedi over sith any day.
Hopping onto his speeder bike and zooming back to the Saloon Ross worked out a great party plan for everyone. There would be music, dancing, smiles all around. Most important of all it would be a total and complete-
"Suprise!"
Ross stepped back as he turned the lights on in the Saloon to find a whole heap of gathered people jumping out at him. Lucky his pistol was secure or his base instincts might have kicked in, but as it was he realized the irony of this sudden commencement of festivities and began to laugh a long while before finally asking,
"What's the occasion?"
Hiro walked up to him holding up a small box wrapped up with his name on it and it slowly dawned on him. Had it really been that long he wondered and Hiro seemed to answer that,
"You really have been working too hard Ross ifn you forgot yer own birthday"
Shaking his head the old, now older, ranger gave a big grin to the assembled group as a compilation of his favorite music began to play. Taking up the offered box he looked to the others and noted even Gray didn't look so gray and so relishing in the moment he began to tear into the wrapping. Shaking the box he figured it for something heavy and in a way it was. Pulling out the yellow and brown fabric interwoven with his initials in red he draped the gift over himself as he tried it on,
"What a lovely poncho" he declared with genuine happiness as he figured it would come in handy on those long scouting missions taking on the desert wind and acting as a blanket on the frigid nights.
Slowly but surely the assembled group dispersed into little chatting groups, dancing groups, and a few even played a few party games. He noted a few new faces amongst the crowd and was glad to see them. Like any family and the Rangers certainly felt like one to him, it was always good to see growth.
Hiro was glad to see Ross liked his gift and he was sure he'd enjoy the other ones and the whole party to boot. Moving amongst Rangers old and new he tipped his hat quite a few times and awaited his guest of honor, the Jedi Knight Leucien Fang, liason between them and the Jedi order. He hoped the Jedi wouldn't mind mixing a little business with pleasure as the party got more lively by the minute.
Vince had readied himself for this day. Truly he had been preparing his entire life for it. With Alfred the Ranger serving droid in the kitchen and he on the bar the old barkeep was prepared for orders of apocalyptic nature. Bring me your custom orders, your rare drinks, bring me your great thirst, and your undying hunger he thought as he mentally prepped himself. Meanwhile Alfred continued to monitor the most important food they had been preparing that day and noted it was almost complete. Nodding the droid continued to flip pancakes, scoop ice creams, and generally move about in order to make sure everyone was satisfied. Truly the droid was grateful to the rangers, he was set to be scrapped before Hiro picked him up and fixed him, he was shocked to find he was a fellow droid and more shocked by the range of freedoms he had. Still despite these freedoms, Alfred was a serving droid and that is what he truly loved to do, so while he didn't enjoy the party per say, he was still enjoying himself quite a bit.
Gray didn't know how to mingle, she was a crappy dancer, so she set outside to do what she did best. Shoot. Setting up some empty bottles she set the sights on her Miscreant pistol and cocked the trigger. A shot rang out and a bottle shattered, she then quicken her pace, cock it shoot it cock it shoot it cock it shoot it. Smash smash smash went the glass as she went down the row. After a few moments she blew on the tip of her smoking pistol and looked out with some satisfaction with the miniature bit of destruction she had done until she saw the lone bottle still standing. Mocking her. Rushing it with a knife she swiftly silenced its mocking tone and when finished she dug up more bottles from a nearby rubbish heap and got ready to shoot another row.
Archimedes was having a swell time amongst his party compatriots. Recently he had begun work on a few improvements to the bases electrical grid and they seemed to be holding rather steadily in the midst of the festivities rather than blowing up and killing them all in a horrible burning death. So that was good. Schmoozing his way through the crowd he approached Ross with his own gift. As he saw the man opened it he smiled as he had worked quite a few weeks on it. Ross was obviously confused by what exactly what it was as frankly before Archimedes invented it it hadn't existed,
"It's a gyroscope friend, you can adjust it to match your guns barrel and it should give you a better read on where the shot will land,"
Ross thanked him after turning over the intriguing little piece and the old man smiled as he turned back to see how rusty he was from his years in the Corelian ballet. Jumping about on the dance floor he became one figure among many forming a party of friends, of compatriots, and of family. Ross looked over the doo hickey Arc gave him again and laughed, he always figured his best birthdays were behind him.
Last edited by a moderator: