Chapter 2: Forges of Ithyari

[Ayingel 24]

"I wasn't sure." Szen looked around and leaned in closer to Kaden. "The locals seem to be wearing a lot of the same colour jackets. I thought you'd like to blend in a little better..." She backed up a little and held up the jackets. "Which one do you like?"

[Mara 29]

Kaden shrugged; he didn't know anything about style. But he picked out the tan one and shrugged it on, seeing if it looked okay with his blue tunic.

Edited October 12, 2007 by Mara

[Ayingel 24]

Continuing her role, Szen praised Kaden for his choice. "I think that looks great on you!" Looking him over, she frowned. "You still need a new pair of pants..." She rummaged through a rack and found a pair that went nicely with the jacket. "Care to try these on?"

[Mara 29]

"Sure." He took them from her proffered hand and headed back to the back room to try them on. He returned with Tak's pants and his own boots (that was one item he hadn't needed to borrow) in his hands.

Kaden glanced down. "Bit more my size, I think."

[Ayingel 24]

Szen looked Kaden over one more time. "Yes, much better." Walking up to the clerk Szen indicated they were finished. "We'd like to purchase the clothes he's wearing." The clerk smiled and walked to the counter. Looking over everything Kaden had on, she rang up the purchase. After paying, Szen turned around and began heading out the door; she stopped and waited at the door for Kaden.

[Mara 29]

While Szen went to go pay, Kaden pulled on his boots again and strapped them on before stuffing Tak's clothes in his bag. He tried to get used to the feel of the new clothes; it was strange.

Checking his boots one more time and putting his bag over his shoulder, he followed Szen to the door. "Where to next?"

[Ayingel 24]

Szen looked over and smiled. "I thought I'd let you pick. There are a couple of restaurants over there," she gestured down the way they hadn't come from, "And more little shops that way too. I thought I heard someone saying something about a park as well."

[Mara 29]

Thinking, he glanced at his chrono. "Some lunch sounds good." It was a little early, but the breakfast on the shuttle before they left hadn't been so satisfying.

Kaden looked around. "That one over there looks promising. Ithyari Cafe."

[Vergere 1]

After some time of just wandering the streets and getting her bearings, Brier allowed Brent to take her into a resteraunt that he said would be a good place to eat and meet up with some other people. After getting a large table reserved for them, Brier grinned as she snatched some credits from Brent's pocket. "Thanks for the play money, darlin."

With a wicked grin on her features, Brier went to a side part of the place where the credit games were located. She found one where she was trying to hit the right spot on a board whenever it came up on the holo before her, making it look like she was dancing. Brent sat at the table while he waited for the others, and just sat back and laughed at her as Brier willingly made a fool out of herself, playing kids games and loving every moment.

[Ayingel 24]

"Well, then," Szen linked arms with Kaden. "Lead on." She smiled and slipped some credits in his pocket to make it look like he was paying.

[Mara 29]

He lead her over to the Ithyari Cafe which was decorated in bright colors to attract customers. Once inside, they were met by a hostess.

"My sister and I would like a table, please."

The woman glanced at the two of them before answering. "Would you like one with a hookah pipe?"

"No, thanks," replied Kaden, looking over at Szen.

She nodded and seated them over to table on the side of the restaurant. "Your serving droid will be with you shortly."

Kaden nodded and sat down across from Szen before keying in the menu set in the table's facade.

[Ayingel 24]

Szen looked at the menu. "What are you thinking of getting?"

[Mara 29]

The menu showed all sorts of various meat dishes plus a few vegetarian ones. It was a sort of chain restaurant, with various locations throughout Ithyari, so they catered to just about ever palate, unlike smaller restaurants that specialized in certain delicacies.

"Oh... maybe some nerf steak. Haven't had that in.. a while."

Edited October 16, 2007 by Mara

[Ayingel 24]

Looking at what Kaden was pointing at, Szen noticed a soup section. "Some of that soup sounds really good." Szen looked at the selection some more. Deciding on a vegetable soup, she waited patiently for the serving droid.

I guess now's the best time to get a good look around without looking awkward. Szen started looking at everyone in the restaurant. There were a few families, some larger groups, and another couple. When the droid finally arrived and started taking Kaden's order, Szen looked past the droid. Across the way, next to the window, was a man sitting by himself. She was so intrigued that she hardly noticed the serving droid asking for her order.

Snapping back to reality, Szen finally ordered. "The vegetable soup and some caf, please."

[Mara 29]

"Yes, ma'am." The serving droid spun away to put in their orders.

Kaden turned to Szen. "Nice decorations..." he nodded slightly to the walls, which had all sorts of knickknacks secured to them.

Stupid conversation starter... He inwardly chided himself.

[Ayingel 24]

Szen nodded. "Uh-huh." Looking back at the other booth again, the man was looking straight back at her. She smiled and looked back at Kaden. "Yeah, it reminds me of a lot of the places we went after work."

[Vergere 1]

Brier finally came back to sit with Brent, tired and out of breath, but content and happy. She returned the credits she didn't use. "So, how much longer till the others show?"

Brent looked at her and shrugged, smiling in quiet amusement. "You know our kind. Whenever they arrive is when they'll be here."

[Mara 29]

"Oh, your last assignment?" Kaden asked.

Edited October 16, 2007 by Mara

[Ayingel 24]

"Mmmhmm. But I'm not quite sure if we should talk about that here." Szen smiled at his curiosity.

[Vergere 1]

About five minutes later, a motley crew of people come over to the table, all human or near-human, variously dressed in very nice native clothes to things that match and they seem happy with that, but all seemingly blend in to the crowd.

One of the few girls in the group come over and hug Brier from behind, "Hey there sweetheart." She smiled and took a seat next to Brier, and the table was filled with chatter and gossip, and no one paid the group any mind. However, as they started talking, Brier just listened to the gossip and the news that some of them were letting her have in seemingly innocent conversation. Others in the group didn't know her, or at least her alternate personality as Brent's young, rarely-seen sister Terae. Instead of freely offering information to a stranger, they were instead continuing the conversations about the stuff a few other people in the group were mentioning, unknowingly helping Brier out.

[Mara 29]

He smiled. "Of course, Kilee."

Then Kaden leaned forward a bit. "Let me know if I do anything out of character. I was an only child, so I never had siblings..."

Just then the serving droid came to their table with her soup and his steak, so Kaden had to sit back straight. He quieted and quickly dug into his food.

Edited October 17, 2007 by Mara

[Bad furday 57]

"Anything from the serving droids?"

Jya looked up from the slot machine.

"A lum, please!"

Arlan chased after one of the serving droids to order drinks.

He wasn't too keen on gambling, but Jya had said that this would be a good place to

eavesdrop on the locals' and tourists' conversations. Sometimes people under pressure

inadvertently let information slip out.

Jya's reason for avoiding playing sabacc was that the security cams would be giving her a

more thorough scan. Security rarely glanced at the slot machines; they were often rigged,

and the odds of winning were poor compared to the sabacc tables.

That didn't mean she was ignoring sabacc altogether. Jya had picked a row of slot machines

close to one of the tables. From her vantage point, she could listen in on the conversation between

several Imperial officers playing at the nearby table. All they would see would be a pretty lady trying

her hand at the slot machines, one of about sixty beings in that corner of the room.

"I got us both a mixed drink called a...a Blended Ewok, because the lum is all gone."

Jya looked up at Arlan quizzically, before grinning.

"But why is the lum gone?!" she asked.

They both laughed, as they had watched Pirates of the Corellian System in Jya's room

back at base.

Arlan struck a pose before setting down the drinks and sitting at the machine next to Jya's.

"I'm Capt. Edwards, most feared pirate hunter on the high seas!"

The pair laughed again, recalling how much they had enjoyed Spirates!.

The Imperial officers were talking louder now, either through the effects of alcohol or trying to

cause the others to make a mistake. Jya pulled the lever and pushed buttons, as she listened in to their conversation.

"...Yarin City..."

".....that's right, HAX droids..."

"..malfuntioned or something..."

"-Never seen anything like it..."

She turned to look at Arlan, her eyes wide. Before she could mouth the words to anything, the slot machine

signaled that Jya had won the jackpot.

I've always wanted to win the jackpot, but this is the worst possible time!

A bell rang, and credits poured noisily into the collection tray, clattering against the sides and onto the floor.

Lights flashed and confetti rained down from the ceiling, drawing everyone's attention to where Arlan and Jya were sitting.

One of the parlor managers (a Gotal) came over and enthusiastically congratulated Jya on her winnings.

Poor Jya thought Arlan, she looked like she had overheard something important.

It was noisy enough inside the gambling parlor that Arlan hadn't heard nearly as much as Jya had. With Jya winning, it was unlikely that she'd get anymore information from that group of Imperials.

I hope they don't take her picture...that will really blow our cover!

[Ayingel 24]

Szen sipped on her soup. "Mmm..." she smiled. "Yum, this is pretty good." She quickly finished her soup and looked at the menu again. "Hey, this place has deserts!" She looked through the menu and then stopped. "Maybe I shouldn't...need to watch my figure, you know." Szen laughed and waited for Kaden to finish his food before deciding on anything.

[Mara 29]

Kaden forked the last part of his steak in his mouth and took a sip from his fruit juice before looking up at her. He smiled. "Don't tempt me with dessert..."

He took a glance at his chrono. "When are we supposed to go back to... to the House?" Kaden hoped that if anyone was listening, they would assume he meant home, not the Planetary House where they were going later to meet the other Revenants.

[Ayingel 24]

"I think it would be safe to say we can go back home once we've eaten desert." Szen smiled sweetly and looked at the selection of little cakes on the menu. "I don't think I could eat all of this one by myself." She pointed to a white cake covered with flakes of different colours.