There's a First Time for Everything: Coruscant

[WhiteSheWolf]

~As Sh'Asur walked over to the Captain, Ena pulled the necklace out of her pocket and rolled the small obsidian ball between her fingers. She frowned as she looked at it. Just holding it made her feel a little anxious; like something nefarious was hidden in the little black stone. Her newfound protector didn't seem to like the item; and wasn't it common sense not to take things from complete strangers? Well, if that was true, then why was she letting Sh'Asur help her? He was as much of a stranger as the other man...though Sh'Asur wasn't frightening at all. He reminded Ena of her father, really, with his calm yet serious demeanor. She looked at the rounded ball of obsidian again. No, she didn't want this. Ena tossed the necklace onto the ground, and shuffled over hear the end of Sh'Asur's conversation with the captain.~

"Oh!" ~Ena said when the captain turned her attention to Ena,~ "That's too kind. Are...are you sure?"

~She glanced up at the captain from behind her hair, eyes on the woman's face without ever meeting her eyes. As she waited for the Captain's answer, for Sh'Asur to tell her where she could go (Ena was good at following directions, if little else, after being one of nine children in her family) the two adults watching her might have noticed a slight deepening of the worried frown on her face, a crinkle in her brow, if they were watching closely. Though Ena knew nothing of the man, Luminous, who watched from afar, she instinctively picked up a new presence in the force as he unshielded himself, and her body reacted to the increased pressure, even if Ena wasn't aware of it.~

 

[FallenKeeper]

"Captain," he said as he dropped his hand swiftly and eased his posture. The years he carried became clear in his face as his demeanor softened. "I dunno who that kid was, but he certainly gave me a sick feeling," replied the Colonel as he looked towards Ena to witness her discard the necklace and then scoot towards him and Bianca.

He gave the woman a smile as he heard her offer to the teen. People like Bianca were the reason why he returned to the Republic Military. Kind people needed to be protected, those that couldn't or wouldn't fight in a war. "That's generous of you," he looked at Ena now, "that does settle that matter for a bit." The teen's face was hard to make out through that jungle of black hair, but Sh'Asur could barely make out a frown. "Ya want to head out now?"

 

[WhiteSheWolf]

~Ena nodded at Sh'Asur. She was exhausted. Maybe after a night of sleep Coruscant would seem less daunting. Maybe then she could do what her parents wished, and see more of the galaxy. Maybe.~

"Yes, if everyone's sure..." ~She squeaked, again glancing slightly upwards at Sh'Asur without making eye contact. Ena hoped it wasn't far to the hotel. She felt tired enough to sleep for a week. She had absolutely no idea what to do after this night; but right now all she wanted was a bed...and maybe something to eat.~

 

[Dmitri]

"He does concern me," said Bianca. "Once, Dark Jedi wouldn't dare make an appearance like this so publically. Now they're getting bolder. That's not good at all." She looked at Ena. "In fact, I think it would be best if we stayed together for now. I still have a couple more days until the Contessa takes off so I'd be happy to keep you company." She gasped in surprise. "I'm so sorry. I realized I never introduced myself. I'm Captain Bianca Lockhart of the Contessa; you can call me Bianca. I see you've already met Sh'Asur Masur."

 

[FallenKeeper]

"That's a good idea, Lockheart," answer Sh'Asur after hearing the offer. He had turned his attention from Ena and now looked about to see if the man truly had gone. Even now he wondered what the guy's issue was. It was a sign of arrogance for someone to walk through a spaceport in broad daylight and try to stir trouble. Such behavior was worthy of disciplinary action in the military and Sh'Asur used the same methods with his men.

 

[WhiteSheWolf]

“Nice to meet you, B-Bianca. I’m Ena Katsumi.” ~Ena dared a small, worried smile at the Captain –avoiding the eyes as always- the general calm and steadiness of both Bianca and Sh’Asur was rubbing of on Ena at least a little bit; there emotions were closest, and so would affect her the most. ~

“Thank you both so much… you really don’t have too…” ~Ena dipped her head, embarrassed. She wasn’t used to any attention at all; but here she had found two people who seemed to genuinely care for her well-being without any ill-intent. Maybe her parents’ decision to send her off had been a good thing afterall? Ena looked back and forth between the two adults, unsure of herself. She stifled a small yawn and shifted anxiously on her feet. The press of minds was certainly wearying; but even now the youth was unconsciously acclimating to the mental ‘noise’ of Coruscant. What would happen now?~

 

[Dmitri]

"I insist," said Bianca. "Besides, it's been boring the last few days. It would be a nice change of pace to talk to someone that doesn't require me saluting them or them saluting me."
She turned to Sh'Asur. "That reminds me, I'm to pass the message that you need to report to base to receive your next mission. Not sure what it's about, I'm afraid."

OOC: Your choice of what the mission consists of. I only did so for plot and have a reason to seek Sh'Asur out.

 

[FallenKeeper]

"This is my last day of leave," answered Sh'Asur flatly, "when I go to drop off my assessments I'll report to receive the mission." He'd been expecting a mission assignment for some time, but to receive one while on a four day seemed a bit suprising. As the vet wondered what it could be, he smiled down at Ena. "Friends already, and with a Captain. I'm sure Lockhart will be able to help you out quite sufficiently."

 

[WhiteSheWolf]

~Ena returned a small, half smile of her own to both Bianca and Sh'Asur. Her head of black hair nodded up and down in agreement with the Colonel's comments.~ "I hope so!"

~Ena looked at the Captain. She seemed to self-assured, so confident. A Captain of a whole starship! Ena wished she could be so sure of herself. Under the layer of stress caused by her surroundings, Ena wanted to impress the Captain. She would seem to perk up a little, skin a little rosier, eyes a little brighter - but still worried - as she looked at Bianca.~

"I guess...where do we go now? Is the hotel far?"

~Ena didn't want to be an inconvenience, but she was awfully tired.~

 

[Dmitri]

"Not really," assured Bianca. "In fact, I booked the hotel that's down the street from the military outpost. We can all go there together." She glanced at Sh'Asur to see what his opinion was.

 

[FallenKeeper]

The Colonel nodded in agreement and let a warm smile tug at the corners of his lips. The idea was convenient, both financially and socially. After spending his leave with his wife and daughter it was welcoming to join the company of Ena and Bianca. "Well, shall we call a cab," he asked in a rather refreshed tone.

 

[WhiteSheWolf]

"Sounds good to me," ~Ena said, feeling a little better about her time spent on the city-planet the longer she stayed with these two. She watched the crowds and cabs milling about the busy city square in front of the spaceport. Certainly hailing a cab wouldn't be too hard at this time.~

 

[Dmitri]

"No need," said Bianca. She pointed at the Lamia at the entrance. "Barrel can give us a lift."
Bianca went to talk to Barrel to arrange for him to drive them to the hotel. Barrel agreed after a small persuasion, and a nervous glance at Sh'Asur.
"Well then," said Bianca. "Grab your belongings and we'll be off."

 

[FallenKeeper]

Sh'Asur started towards where Bianca was, beckoning for Ena to follow with a shrug of his head. The sound of speeders zipping by slowly increased as he paced forward, a sign that the afternoon traffic was about to overflow with all sorts of vehicles. For Coruscant the traffic was the weather forecast, and it was Something the aging vet needed a firm understanding of in case... He ever had to wage a battle here in Galactic city. Something he dreaded. Urban combat was the most challenging form there could be.

 

[WhiteSheWolf]

~Ena nodded. Her belongings? Oh dear! She had left her bag against the wall of the spaceport in all the excitement earlier. As she glanced back, she spotted the bag, no worse for the wear. Phew. It wasn’t like Ena had anything worth stealing; her wallet was in her pocket, and her bag consisted mostly of clothing. She trotted through the crowd to retrieve her bag and returned to where the Captain and Colonel stood. Not wanting to hold things up, she hurried into one of the passenger seats of the vehicle, glancing back and forth between Sh’Asur, Bianca and the driver – Barrel was his name? As she waited to be off, bag in her lap, eyes peering cautiously at the streets beyond.~

 

[Dmitri]

Barrel started the vehicle. The Lamia looked back at the others.
"So, where to?" asked Barrel.
"The hotel," said Bianca. She glanced at the others. "Unless either of you want to go someplace else first."

 

[FallenKeeper]

"Base, so I can quickly get my orders." Sh'asur spoke as he walked to Bianca, using the weight of his words carefully. If the mission was urgent then it was likely he would get a lecture upon receiving orders. Sure, they were long and tedious at times. But the bonus was he wouldn't be beat while hearing them. Even now, more than twenty years later, he carried with him the mental scars of his previous life as a slave. Everything he had now was earned because he summoned the courage to earn his freedom. And now he would fight for others once more. Margeth, Salma, even Ena, these people were why he fought.

With a hefty grunt the Colonel loaded himself into the vehicle first and shifted further towards the inside to await the two women.

 

[WhiteSheWolf]

((I'm already in the vehicle))

~Ena didn't have anywhere else she needed to be. She shook her head, first in agreement with Bianca's assertion that they visit the hotel first, the second that no, she didn't have anywhere else to be. Ena hadn't been much of a talker before the force bloomed in her; so she certainly wasn't now. She waited patiently for them to be off~

 

[Dmitri]

Bianca relayed the orders to the driver. Barrel drove them to the military base. Bianca showed her credentials to allow them inside the perimeters. Barrel parked near the entrance.
"We'll wait for you in the lobby," offered Bianca.

 

[FallenKeeper]

Sh'Asur exited the car and strode across the durasteel floor to the main doors. Ena and Bianca would have time to get better aquainted, something he had yet to do. The Captain was relatively a stranger to him as well, but he knew of her. She was fairly young but was in command of a vessel already. No small feat. As he made his way to receive his orders he could only think of his family.