Open Sorry You're Not A Winner

[Rylee Asuchi]

Another day, another hyperspace lane patrol. This was the lot of a soldier in the Outer Rim at times. Most planets required a jump to hyperspace to get there in any reasonable amount of time but what usually ended up on the doorstep happened to be whatever the cat decided to drag in on any particular day. The Sujimis sector found itself at the end of the line, bordering wild space and meant that any delinquent, vagabond or unknown quantity could appear at any time. The Pantoran Assembly had for centuries ensured that the planets military kept a watchful eye over the sector, irrespective of the Sector Rangers and were keen to lay claim to whatever they could within reason, exemplified by the claims made over Orto Plutonia during the Clone Wars and expansionist attitudes of many Pantorans in recent times. Though today's mission was not one of discovery or expansion, Rylee Asuchi had her orders and she would ensure that they were carried out, one way or another.

"Hey Sunny, conduct a scan of the locality. Command are expecting us to keep it clean out here..." she said, speaking to her trusted astromech droid R2-S1. To her, this little robot was her partner and one of her squadron. It beeped back at her, which she knew to mean Sunny was complying with her request. Rylee peered out of the cockpit of her X-Wing into the stars, watching what was around her. At the moment there was absolutely nothing, you'd never have known there was a hyperspace lane here because there were no planets for some distance.

A crackle came in on her comms, "Hearts, you sure this ain't just a waste of time? There's nothin' here."

"Yes Jag, I'm sure. The hyperspace lane that runs down through the Outer Rim past Tatooine ends up not far from here. If we're going to see any action we should be able to pick it up from here" she responded confidently, "but then you do already know that, we've done this assignment a thousand times..."

"Gee Hearts you're so smart~" he retorted in a tone of faux-flattery. Rylee chuckled. She'd been in a squadron with Jag for years now and knew he was probably just bored. None of them enjoyed waiting around - they wanted to put their fighters through their paces - they were pilots after all.

 

[Casany Praxor]

Music OOC

Spoiler

The Hammer of Anvil​

As Cass’ eyelids played tug of war and she finally awoke, what embraced her world was a familiar cockpit of a light courier. Her very own ship, and that was her co-pilot's very own body hanging over the seat with a hole in her head. Suna's killer, however, had since disappeared.

Out there in the space between planets, the Winged Pike drifted like driftwood in a sea. The ship had been crippled and left adrift, that much Cass recalled from the di'kut's assault. After waking up as though from a drunken stupor, she crawled her hand across the console for a diagnosis of her ship. Her head would have to wait. She would too, given the sensor readings on her location. She was still in Sujimis, still in the middle of nowhere and still alive.

Harboring that last thought, Cass fumbled her fingers over buttons, trying to blink the grogginess away. One more press and the Winged Pike's position flew to the furthest reach. It might take time but hopefully someone would pick up the distress beacon's signal and pay Cass a visit. If her guest was willing then they might tow both her and her ship for repairs. Not so willing and she would have to just shackle her guest and take their ship.

As Cass leaned back in her seat for the long wait, her eyes fell on the Togruta's body beside her. To any newcomer on the scene, the evidence would be clear enough that the dazed Human in a red gold poncho had pulled the trigger. Cass knew better. You, however, did not. You'll regret that, but not yet. Rescue first. Then revenge.



@Bex @Rylee Asuchi

 

[Rylee Asuchi]

After a few moments in which Rylee and Jag shared some small talk, Sunny began to chirp, signalling that something had been found on the scan. Turning her attention to the droid, she acknowledged it's alarm.

"Looks like Sunny's picked something up - good job little guy" she said, praising her companion, "shouldn't be too far from here, let's check it out."

"Ladies first" came the response from Jag as the pilots boosted the engines of their starfighters and set off in the general direction of the blip on their radar. Upon closer inspection however, it became quite obvious that whoever it was they were about to meet was in trouble. The pilots picked up on the distress signal shortly after setting off.

"Looks like we might be in for a rescue mission here Hearts..."

Soon enough a ship came into view. It was a BD-510 Stargale Light Cruiser. Rylee knew that this type of ship was often used by couriers but was known to be used by smugglers from time to time. There was a high likelihood that this ship was on legitimate business but with smugglers you could never really tell. The fact that the ship was transmitting a distress signal was also a red flag. If these were genuine couriers, maybe they'd been attacked on their travels. But on the flip side, if they were smugglers they could well have been attacked for getting on the wrong side of someone.

"Keep sharp Jag, there's something not quite right here..." called Rylee to her comrade. Quickly cutting comms with him, she opened communication with the light cruiser. "Attention: Winged Pike. Please identify yourself and state the nature of your emergency."


@Die Shize @Casany Praxor

 

[Casany Praxor]

Music OOC [Recurring]

Spoiler

The cockpit terminal began beeping as Cass’ thoughts spiraled toward nowhere. She blinked herself out of the trance to receive the incoming vessel on the display. It was flying as solo as the Winged Pike was floating, which meant little and less when it came to who was flying it. Still, at this rate we’re one to one and I’m not outnumbered. And my beacon worked. As the other ship came closer, she made out the unmistakable figure of an X-Wing, and suddenly her fate was looking as promising as her odds.

Cass studied the fighter as best she could from her position, noting the movements and the time it spent sizing the cruiser up. Anyone could be in the cockpit but she had a feeling that the pilot did not have aggression in mind just yet. When a female voice came in over the cruiser’s speakers and said its piece, that scenario was proving more and more likely.

"Attention: Winged Pike. Please identify yourself and state the nature of your emergency."

“Name’s Cass. I’m alone.” She replied as she looked away from Suna’s body. “I was attacked by pirates en route. Went off course to shake them and ended up out here during the chase. They took out my engines and cargo and left me stranded. Think you can help me out? I could do with some towing to the nearest station, if that’s all right.”

Cass kept one hand on the console as she spoke, inches from weapons array. Without needing to say all this in person, she could keep explanations simple. Still, I’m a sitting duck right now. Not a bad meal for the hungry.


@Bex @Rylee Asuchi

 

[Rylee Asuchi]

Rylee waited for the reply from the Winged Pike. Once she heard that there was only one person on board, a woman by the name of Cass, she muted her comms briefly to speak with Jag.

"So, what do you reckon? The story is plausible" she said.

"She says she got hit by pirates and they took the cargo. Should check to see if the ship's been breached. Not likely anybody would just let pirates onboard after all" came Jag's response.

"Okay, you check it out, I'll keep talking to her" she said, reverting her comms channel back to the Winged Pike, whilst Jag maneuvered his ship to a better position, "Cass, can you explain the nature of your business? What cargo did these pirates take exactly?"

Without further information Rylee knew it would be impossible to tell if this Cass was legitimate. As much as she hated criminals, she could not in good conscience open fire on a helpless vessel and it's crew, who for all she knew at that moment was just a courier who'd had a tough time.

@Die Shize @Casany Praxor

 

[Casany Praxor]

Music OOC [Recurring]

Spoiler

The walls and windows around her felt like they were closing in and shattering apart at the same time, while the air felt cool. Courtesy of the cooling system still working at least. The Pike had taken blaster fire to her hull after shields failed. That had preceded the forced entry as her raider bypassed the airlock and came aboard.

On that note, there was more than cool air to be thankful for. There had not seemed to be an immediate reaction from the other ship when Cass had given her actual name. Whoever this fighter pilot was exactly, they did not seem to be another enemy who had managed to get too close. No, there’s a code some folk actually live by, and maybe my would be rescuer shares mine, or at least a version of it.

"Cass, can you explain the nature of your business? What cargo did these pirates take exactly?"

“A container tall enough to fit me and strong enough to keep me from coming out. Only there was a Trandoshan inside mine and the group who hit me wanted him. I can guess why since I wanted the reward on his head for assaulting ships on the hyperlane.”

She shrugged, as though all of the above would be enough to explain the nature of her business, but sometimes she wondered where it all even began.

“I’m a bounty hunter otherwise known as Anvil, but few know me. I have tickets to buy my passage, however; hunter credentials, bounty submissions, souvenirs from my marks—you name it. In fact, if not me then I imagine certain Sujimis authorities have at least heard of that Trandoshan drukhead. Park Salal, the one some call Psycho Salal.” Though never to his face. Unless they have no intention of keeping their own. “Heard of him?”


@Bex @Rylee Asuchi

 

[Rylee Asuchi]

Jag's voice came through on comms shortly after Cass stopped talking.

"She's not lying. This puppy's taken a few hits" he said as he examined the Winged Pike from the cockpit of his own X-Wing, "Definitely looks like the work of pirates..."

Rylee did not respond to his message verbally. She was more preoccupied with the other information Cass had imparted. Bounty hunters weren't exactly innocent people. They adhered to a code, that was true, but their allegiances lay with whomever compensated them best. There was no good or evil - only profit. But then that begged the question, what would be the use of attacking Cass, even if she was a bounty hunter, when she had nothing on board to salvage bar the ship itself - which clearly wasn't in great shape - and could quite possibly have been doing the galaxy a favour by handing in the Trandoshan, Park Salal.

"Can't say I recognise the name" was Rylee's response to Cass, "The Pantoran fleet doesn't pay particular attention to individuals unless they happen to be key to an operation. As it happens we're on patrol, helps out the Sector Rangers, but mainly ensures that the Assembly is informed of whats going on in the sector. We make it our business to keep an eye on what goes on in our patch."

Mulling things over as she spoke, Rylee figured that before she made any further decisions, she'd need to ask Cass some more questions.

"This Trandoshan, Psycho Salal, tell us more about him. What would these pirates want with him? He part of their crew?" she inquired, "Any idea who they are or if they're still nearby?"

@Die Shize @Casany Praxor

 

[Casany Praxor]

Music OOC [Recurring]

Spoiler

"Can't say I recognise the name" was Rylee's response to Cass, "The Pantoran fleet doesn't pay particular attention to individuals unless they happen to be key to an operation. As it happens we're on patrol, helps out the Sector Rangers, but mainly ensures that the Assembly is informed of whats going on in the sector. We make it our business to keep an eye on what goes on in our patch."

Pantoran fleet. That makes sense. They were at least one of the authorities besides Sector Rangers and others. And at least one more reminder why the galaxy needs individuals like me. Credits might have been the bounty hunter’s price for doing what she did but greed took more forms than bounty money. Corporations, criminal organizations, governments—everyone was out to get theirs. Pantorans included.

The Assembly had not been the most accommodating when last time Cass had stepped foot on Pantora. Evidently the officials had preferred to save face on the criminal she had gifted them with and declared the bounty hunter’s gesture as out of order. Now here she was with a Pantoran patrol and no bounty to turn in.

"This Trandoshan, Psycho Salal, tell us more about him. What would these pirates want with him? He part of their crew?" she inquired, "Any idea who they are or if they're still nearby?"

It was Cass’ turn to mull things over as she considered those questions. She had to be careful about not only what she said but how she said it, keeping her voice calm and casual even over the comm.

“Salal is a small time pirate looking for big game, and he found it. Word is that some weeks ago he started carving a name in Sujimis for himself and his ship, the Bleeding, by carving up freighters and yachts, then he hit a passenger liner and butchered everyone he did not bind. His crew are a bad bunch with a penchant for maim and murder, which tells you that the guy leading them is both cruel and cunning.”

She paused to let that sink in with her listener and reflect on it herself. I guess I’m not describing anyone so different from anyone else, but in this case this Pantoran patrol may yet have heard of these recent raids even without a name to pin to them.

“As for my attackers, my first guess is that they are Park’s crew come to bail him out. Either that or a rival group with their own agenda. I didn’t get a good look at them and just enough glimpse of Salal being led away before I lost consciousness. I wager they’re long gone by now. They got what they came for and didn’t wait around for what happens next.”

It wasn't an art and it wasn't anything she cared to practice, but Cass had learned in life that sometimes you had to mix some fact with some fiction in order to get the whole story. She had calculated her speech in light of this dictum, though it was still a waiting game on her end for what happens next. Let's continue to tango if we must, fleet lady. I got as long as you do...


@Bex @Rylee Asuchi

 

[Rylee Asuchi]

Listening intently to what Cass had to say, Rylee continued to weigh up her decision as to what she should do next. There had been rumors among the fleet about a band of pirates that had recently started operating in the region. By the sounds of it they were well equipped if they were able to take on freighters and yachts and most likely escaped with a lot of ill-gotten gains. The violence towards the passenger liner was the part that annoyed Rylee the most. It was exactly what she hated about criminals like that and the more Cass told her the more she felt like doing something about it.

She paused her communications with Cass again to speak with Jag. "You getting all of this Jag?"

"Yeah, shame we didn't get here sooner. Sounds like we could have done her a favour" he replied.

Switching comms back to the Winged Pike, Rylee addressed Cass again.

"You say these pirates are operating in the sector. You're a bounty hunter, mind letting us know who hired you? Are you working on Pantoran business?" she asked. It was a question that she had to ask. It wouldn't look good if something happened to an asset the Assembly had hired for a job. Unfortunately for her, the fleet weren't always informed about the hiring of bounty hunters as the Assembly felt it wasn't a good look for them. She began to feel that if Cass was willing to provide more information, she could provide her with more assistance than just towing the Winged Pike to a space station for repair.

@Die Shize @Casany Praxor

 

[Casany Praxor]

Music OOC [Recurring]

Spoiler

Each break in communication between the two ships, each pause of one woman speaking to the other, and Cass was the only one who had to wonder what was happening on the other side. She was the one at the disadvantage, with no ship to fly, no mind to fly it and no one to call for help. Was the patrol relaying everything to her superiors? Did she have another channel open with the enemy? Would she end up leaving the same way she entered or would a light courier be going with her? It was all Cass could do to keep quiet and wait. And keep awake. Keep focused. Stay alert.

"You say these pirates are operating in the sector. You're a bounty hunter, mind letting us know who hired you? Are you working on Pantoran business?"

Those questions were as fair as the others. All in all it was to good development that each query brought this Pantoran closer to committing her assistance. A measure of trust and a reliance on word are what win this game. Information, more often than not, was more valuable than credits. Especially to a bounty hunter and her employers.

“I’m a freelancer. I took the bounty through open channels and figured I’d turn him in to the nearest authority upon capture. Whether that’s Pantora, some other moon or planet or a Sector Ranger liaison, well, that’s a decision that I’ll probably have to make on the way to wherever you take me.”

Cass might have added turning the bounty in to the highest bidder, but this was a bounty hunter with a code of character. And it needs to show, in one way or the other. My ticket out of here is counting on it.

“If you take me, that is. But I give you my word that I am no threat to you. If there’s anything else you need to know, I’ll answer what I can. Fact is, friend, I’ve got a target out there who may be back on the loose and soon he will be back on the hunt. He’s a nasty piece of work and I want to make sure that does not happen."

Not again. With a sigh, Cass looked back toward Suna’s lifeless body, gazing at what she had missed the first time. Her forehead had a charred crater in it, but her eyes were closed. Some peace, at least. Some peace...


@Bex @Rylee Asuchi

 

[Rylee Asuchi]

So the bounty hunter wasn't working for the Assembly. It wasn't exactly easy to trust whatever this woman said, but whether she was lying or not, the situation was that she was drifting through space in a ship that had no cargo and no drive. What was more, if Cass knew the whereabouts of these pirates she could prove a useful informant or accomplice in hunting them down and bringing them to justice. Rylee decided then that she would help her.

"We'll take you at your word, but be warned, any funny business and you'll lose any assistance we decide to give you" she said firmly, before moving to reposition her X-Wing so that she could initiate the sequence to tow the Winged Pike. On hearing this Jag also maneuvered his fighter alongside Rylee to assist in the task at hand. The two Pantorans then fired up their engines and set off in the direction of the nearest space station.

"So, Cass, what other intel do you have on these pirates?" she asked as they began their journey, "Given that you captured Park before, you must know more about where he might run off to."

@Die Shize @Casany Praxor

 

[Casany Praxor]

Music OOC

Spoiler

"We'll take you at your word, but be warned, any funny business and you'll lose any assistance we decide to give you"

“That sounds fair.” Cass agreed. “Personally I’ve had enough funny business for now. I’ll save the rest for my bounty.” With that, she waited until the fighters were in position and her courier was tethered to them, then relaxed her hand on the console before engaging the comm. "Thank you." Finally, the Winged Pike was on the move once more, though not with her own wings. Not the most dignified form of travel, friend, but we’ll get you fixed up soon enough.

As the ship and her captain began to drift through space dragged behind an X-Wing, the gravity of the situation pressed down on Cass. She rolled a coin between her knuckles as she watched the Togruta’s eternal rest. They got my guide, got my bounty, left me groggy and my ship out of commission. It was all worse than that and she knew it. They’ve also got Salal.

"So, Cass, what other intel do you have on these pirates?" she asked as they began their journey, "Given that you captured Park before, you must know more about where he might run off to."

Fortunately, it was the Pantoran pilot who had just opened the door for negotiations. She sounds ordinary enough. Maybe more. At the rate Cass was going, she needed more than repairs to her ship if she was going to catch Salal in time. And apparently we pair of pilots have something the other lacks.

“Besides how much of a di'kut each one of them is?” She replied plainly. “Well, Park and his crew are made up of a few Trandoshans with a mishmash of species more. Otherwise run of the mill pirate outfit. I haven't seen much of them in person but I have seen footage of their gunship—the Bleeding—raiding a corporate transport. That and a few of the ranking members have bounties of their own.”

She paused, debating whether to count from her fingers, irritated how she ever would. “Kette Klea, female, Trandoshan; Zon Bellod, male, Clawdite; Ollux Jeede, male, Gran.” Her pinky came down. “They’re no more savory than their captain, perhaps the only one keeping them together. Park's removal alone would likely disband whatever crew was left, and pay just one bounty hunter quite well.” A Mandalorian bounty hunter, namely.

“Anyway, that’s if it was Park’s crew who rescued him. If it was another group who wanted him for themselves then who knows? Salal has made a few enemies over time and they are not the forgiving type... Which means that our best lead right now is our easiest lead. So, assuming that Salal’s crew did free him, they would go to…”

She trailed off, glimpsing stars as they passed by, all so far away. Every other moment, she might have sworn that she could hear them singing. “...Go to…” If he’s with Salal then would they go where he would go, or where Salal would go? She rubbed an eye and flipped the coin toward the cockpit’s ceiling, catching it in her hand to turn it over on her wrist. It was tails. Druk. “Sullust.” Cass declared. “They might run off to Sullust.”



@Bex @Rylee Asuchi

 

[Rylee Asuchi]

"Jag, put a call back to command and update them on the profile of these pirates. Other patrols will need to be on the lookout for this scum" said Rylee as the three of them traveled through the sector. It may not have been Park's crew that had rescued him from his captors but that didn't matter, they needed to be dealt with regardless. On the other hand, if they were responsible, Rylee would make sure that slime would be wiped from the galaxy for good. It seemed that Cass had some idea of where they would run to if they had retaken Park and it would be a good place to start even if they hadn't. A raid of their hideout on Sullust could still yield valuable information.

"Cass, I've got a proposition for you" said Rylee, turning her attention back to the pilot of the Winged Pike, "You've already provided us with a good deal of information. I've got no reason to believe you're lying - at least not about the pirates - and if I were in your shoes I'd be mad about losing a bounty after the work I'd put in to get it. So the way I see it, we can help you out. We can get your ship patched up on the condition that you take us with you to find this scum. We'll help you get your bounty back, you'll be free to hand him in wherever you see fit and in the process, we'll get to deal with the rest of his crew. Sounds like more than a fair deal to me and if there's no funny business, maybe we can put in a good word for you with the Assembly..."

These days it was unusual for Rylee to make deals with somebody who could well be a criminal herself, but she felt Cass should be found innocent until proven guilty. There was still time to change her mind, but if Cass was telling the truth she was proving to be a useful informant indeed.

@Die Shize @Casany Praxor

 

[Casany Praxor]

Music OOC [Recurring]

Spoiler

​

Silence, again. Still, this far in and out, Cass could afford it—almost welcome it. Her listener had to digest each bout of spiel, calculate and encrypt, if not report to someone else on some other channel. The bounty hunter was fine with that. She was, ultimately, at the mercy of her rescuers, so she was hardly in a position to dictate beyond spectate. Fill ‘em with the deets, Anvil. Let ‘em flush what’s left.

By the sound of the female’s voice at the other end, Cass was in a position to be heard even as she was getting towed by an authority arguably greater than herself. She began to have no doubt that her savior was as Pantoran military as she claimed; out for the greater good of nation and state. Granted, costs could come with such notions, but right now the price did not involve Cass’ own life. Heck, good word with the Assembly? By the stars, I just may end up needing it…

“All right,” Cass deliberated. “I’d say you got yourselves a deal.” It was a bold statement, if open in meaning. To the wrong listener, a ‘deal’ could mean any number of things besides nothing. And it really doesn't matter if you’re wearing a badge or not. Again, though, she was reminded of the mercy she was at with this Pantoran fighter pilot, the latter of which represented a government that could use one less thorn in their backside before they ever felt it. In the best case scenario, then, the two captains really did have a thing or two to give the other. Worst case scenario, I end up dead. Which is an everyday scenario, I guess.

“One thing, though…” Cass drifted off, looking from the stars to Suna, Suna to the stars. “I gave you my name, captain...” She coughed, still on comm before she realized and cleared her throat. “...What’s yours?”


@Bex

 

[Rylee Asuchi]

"I'm Rylee, but you can call me Hearts, it's what I'm known by in the squadron" was the Pantoran's response. It had been a fitting nickname and grown to have more meaning after the death of Chari - the man she had always felt for but had never plucked up the courage to tell him. His death had opened the flood gates for her, after years of military service and seeing people she cared for perish at the hands of enemies and criminals, she decided she would take the law into her own hands when they crossed her path again. They would pay for what they did to Chari, but she did what she did first and foremost out of a desire to protect the innocent people of the galaxy and give back to those less fortunate back home on Pantora where times could be very hard. "My colleague here is Jag, by the way, one of the squad" she added.

Thanks to Cass' complicity, Rylee would have the chance to hunt down some more of the galaxy's filth and put a stop to them. She knew that reputation was important to bounty hunters as it was what enabled them to take on certain jobs in future. Like any business person, you didn't want a bad reputation ruining your chances of making a profit. Putting a good word in for her with the Assembly would be doing her a good turn so long as she didn't turn traitor. Hopefully the help she was giving the bounty hunter would be enough to ensure that didn't happen, but Rylee knew she'd need to be on her toes. She'd need to ensure Cass didn't make a deal with a third party and turn on her. To do that she'd need to keep her end of the bargain, prove her worth and possibly sweeten the deal further if the situation demanded it.

@Die Shize @Casany Praxor

 

[Casany Praxor]

Music OOC [Recurring]

Spoiler

Rylee. Jag. Cass had not yet the opportunity to exchange voices with the other fighter pilot but evidently it would come her way sooner or later. She tucked both names away in her mental vault, though its lock and key were melting things at best as her muddled mind meandered. The stars seemed to be whistling now, long and lethargic, slow and steady, and she could not help but wince. Was it the blow to the head? The gas? An injection? She felt her neck, pulled up her sleeves, but short of a full strip search there was no telling where a needle’s mark might have been left. If any. It was no use at the moment. She would surely recover full faculties as time went on, and unlike her passenger she was still very much alive. For now, that was enough.

“Nice to meet you, Hearts. Jag.” Hearts. Anvil. She didn’t know if “Jag” was an actual name or a call sign or what have you but the two others clearly had monikers they adhered to. Perhaps one sounded heavier than the other but Cass had a sneaking suspicion that her Pantoran conversationalist knew how to hold her own in combat. Between the stars, maybe, and maybe on the ground. She better if she plans on not just towing me but towing with me.

“Hearts…” She repeated the name, first to herself in the cockpit, then over the comlink. “Hearts… They call me “Anvil” because that’s what my bounties sleep on after my hammer knocks them out... Eh, so one story goes, anyway. But how’s a starfighter captain of the Pantoran military get a squadron calling her “Hearts”?” Got a lot of heart, I guess…or maybe she’s just that good at stopping them.



@Bex @Rylee Asuchi

 

[Rylee Asuchi]

"There's a few reasons" was the response from Rylee. She let the subject sit for a moment before continuing, "But I was originally given the nickname as a cadet, I joined the military because I had a crush. The other cadets found out about it and teased me for it, but the name stuck and over time it's just taken on more meaning..."

Her mind started to drift somewhat, remembering Chari and her younger days. He had been a handsome and popular boy, the type of guy every schoolgirl would have wanted to go to a dance with. They had gone to the same school, but Rylee did not at that time have the confidence to really get to know him. Their relationship, if it could really have been called that at the time, was more distanced. Rylee would daydream about him asking her out, to the jealousy of the other girls, or write about their minimal interaction in her diary but that was all.

When she found out he had signed up to be part of the Pantoran military towards the end of their schooling, it had prompted her to do the same. She loved flying and had a thing for pilots and it was this shallow reason she was in her profession. She'd not once considered what being in the military would entail, the horrors of battle, the fear of losing your own life and that of your comrades. Rylee had done it simply to fulfill her dreams of flying across the galaxy and get closer to her childhood crush.

It was no wonder the other cadets teased her for this when they found out. Many of them came from families with proud military traditions or had at least the appetite for what it entailed. She had needed to work very hard at first to earn their respect. Through her keen interest in flying she managed to win them over, developing excellent piloting skills and once she had won them over and proven she was up to the task, the cadets finally treated her as one of their own.

Snapping back to the present, Rylee reminded herself that she was a military veteran now, with several tours of duty under her belt. She had slogged to earn the respect of her fellow soldiers and senior officers. It no longer mattered why she was called Hearts originally, because if anyone had seen how passionate she was about fighting for what she believed in, protecting the vulnerable and the innocent and proudly representing her homeworld, they would tell you they called her Hearts because hers was made of fire.

Jag's voice came over the comms channel to both herself and the Winged Pike.

"Oh yeah, forgot you're only here because you were chasing boys" he chuckled.

"Be quiet Jag. If a girl that looked like me was draping herself over an X-Wing you'd have signed up quick as a flash. And don't protest, I've seen some of the calendars you guys hang up in your quarters" she said, with a little smile on her face.

"Guilty as charged" he laughed.

@Die Shize @Casany Praxor

 

[Casany Praxor]

Music OOC [Recurring]

Spoiler

Crush. Cass grinned. I suppose there are worse reasons for enlisting. The Pantoran’s nickname definitely got a point for being more passive. Though I guess I get a point too for that same reason. Yet, besides smashing her opponents, there was another reason for “Anvil” of which she felt as heavy as one right then. She was glad to be flown by someone else so that all she had to do was stay slumped in her seat thinking about “Hearts” and hearts. Maybe in another life she had become a bounty hunter for something like that, maybe losing a lover to a criminal and spending the rest of her days hunting them down for great justice. Yeah, there you go, Anvil, always circling violence back into your story.

The male Pantoran’s voice had arrived with perfect timing, his laughter prompting a chuckle of Cass’ own and now for more than one reason. As the two X-Wing pilots bantered with one another, reminiscing on home and history, the Mandalorian remembered her own. She could see from the window of the Lost Forge, gazing out the freighter’s window upon Kad-Stor, with the abandoned mining station still filled with life upon its asteroid. Not many of us, perhaps, but quality over quantity all day any day. She could hear the hammer on the anvil in the station, again on the ship, see the forges and the fires, the helmets and the visors, the faces and the eyes. And the closed eyes, never to open again.

Cass coughed, clearing her throat before she returned to comm. She was looking for a change in subject and the newer voice had given her one. “So, Jag, right? What about you? How’d you get that name? Piercing enemy ships?” She joked, though it would not have been a bad way.


@Bex @Rylee Asuchi

 

[Rylee Asuchi]

"My full name is Jagres Songsi so it's just a nickname" was his response to Cass' question, "Not everybody has nicknames with as much meaning as Hearts here."

Rylee had not been a cadet at the same time as Jag. He graduated a few years before and was already an experienced pilot by the time she'd joined the squadron. It just so happened that she was chosen to captain it ahead of him and the others when their original captain was promoted. There was nothing wrong with his professionalism as a soldier but his penchant for making jokes made it seem like his leadership skills were perhaps not as good as her own.

"I don't suppose you have any nicknames of your own, Cass?" asked Rylee, "Or seeing as how you're a bounty hunter, an alias of some kind?"

It was usual for those who dealt with the galaxy's underworld to have more than one name. It helped keep activity hidden if you used different names which for a bounty hunter was good to do when pursuing a target. You didn't want them overhearing that a renowned bounty hunter was looking for them after all.

As the three of them spoke they got gradually closer to the nearest space station. As she waited to hear Cass' response, Rylee asked R2-S1 to notify her when they were close enough to request emergency landing permission from the port master.

@Casany Praxor @Die Shize

 

[Casany Praxor]

Music OOC [Recurring]

Spoiler

Jagres Songsi. Pantoran name. Of course. At Jag’s speech, Cass began to wonder just how strong the bond between the two pilots was, and that meant nothing more than camaraderie. Had they fought together? Bled for or upon one another? It didn’t feel like the time to ask but that may yet come up. Will they die together? She sucked on that thought as she eyed the Togruta.

"I don't suppose you have any nicknames of your own, Cass?" asked Rylee, "Or seeing as how you're a bounty hunter, an alias of some kind?"

“You mean besides “Anvil”? Not really. But that moniker, well...I’m not even sure how I got it anymore. One person said it’s because my weapon might be the hammer but my armor is the anvil, and what’s more important to a Mandalorian? Well, that’s probably mostly true, anyway… I grew up taking hammers to anvils. My clan prides itself on smithing. We would repair armor and forge it, day and night. It was…”

She blinked, realizing her eyes were still on the body sharing her cockpit. She was beginning to feel tired or close it. “...It was how we survived, in part. We did what we could. What we had to. Actually, maybe that’s when I got stuck with this alias of mine. Who knows? But I wear it as another set of armor. In fact, most people don’t even know my real name. I gave it to you given the circumstances, I think...”

She trailed off, realizing she was at least on the verge of rambling if she had not already begun. “Casany Praxor. Cass for short. It’s a name I...seldom say or hear out loud...now that I think...think about it…” Those stars again. Since when did stars start singing?


@Bex @Rylee Asuchi