Chapter 3: Archaic

[Rogue 4]

"Forget about her. You turned my sister against me." Nat deadpanned. "That's unforgiveable."

[Princess 35]

Nima paled slightly. "Oh she was a willing accomplice Nat. I refuse to take all the blame here. Tell me more about Seela though."

[Rogue 4]

"I was joking. I am capable of making jokes you know." He said, looking over to her. "As for Seela...I don't know what you want to know. She's my younger and only sister. We have two younger brothers as well. Cotan is sixteen, and Darap is even younger. I've done my best to make sure that they've all had a good life, despite the galaxy's and Ryloth's problems."

[Princess 35]

"Ah yes, I do seem to remember implanting a sense of humor when I fixed your leg. Yours seemed a little small. Speaking of the galaxy's and Ryloth's problems, I assumed earlier, by her reaction, that she has a past similar to mine? And when we get on our transport, I'm so checking out your leg mister. It shouldn't be cramping up like that still."

[Rogue 4]

"Great." Nat's lekku bristled at the thought. "Well, yes and no...Seela was captured by a member of the Tarkona clan a couple years ago. They chained her, and herded cattle onto a transport with a couple of other Twi'leks from various other clans." He paused, remembering it. "We're still not sure if my father or any other member of the headclan had a hand in it either, but I wasn't going to let it happen."

[Princess 35]

"So naturally, you stopped it. Natri'amor, rolling to the rescue. No wonder why Seela looks up to you so much." The cab rolled to a stop. "So, how long do you think it's going to take us to get back to Coruscant," Nima asked him as they headed towards the spaceport. She paused as she looked down. "Sithspit! I left my bag in the other speeder! My flightsuit is in it! I can't go back to Starfighter command dressed like this!"

[Rogue 4]

Nat grinned, looking over at her. This was the perfect vengence. "Too bad there's nothing we can do about that now. It's an immediate emergency recall. We need to leave now."

Nat paid for the speeder cab ride, grabbing the protesting Nima by the wrist and dragging her towards the shuttle.

[Andy 60]

Coruscant

Aston was about to reply when his comm beeped. He frowned as he recognised the emergency signal and listened to the message. Triple Zero; that's handy. "Uhh, something seems to have come up. I need to get to the nearest New Republic base ASAP."

He figured he could get transport from whatever the nearest base was to the the rendezvous point. He took the opportunity to comm Bucket and send him the co-ordinates. His designation as a NR-signed droid would get him to the base no trouble.

[Princess 35]

Nima glared at Nat. "The least you could do is lend me a jacket or something when we get back to Coruscant. I'm dressed for the hot temperatures of Ryloth and Arlan will never let me live it down if he sees me dressed like this. Let alone the rest of the squadron."

[Rogue 4]

"You told my sister that you all call me Blueberry." Nat pointed out, sitting in the pilot's seat. "I'll never live that down."

He knew that he was going to end up caving and lending her something, but he was enjoying making her feel out of place, for just once.

[Drake 53]

Near Tyrena, Corellia

The Null-10 flew over the ocean, coming up on the outskirts of Tyrena. The Archaic base was a large complex of underground bunkers hidden, amusingly, beneath a nature reserve and park. The hangar was built into the cliff face and concealed by an elaborate hologram which made it look like just another part of the rock. In addition, sensor scramblers ensured that no one could be sure of the exact location of the entrance, unless they had the coordinates.

Jaing flew through that hologram now. As the appearance of stone passed away, the interior of the hangar came into view. It was a large bay with room for dozens of vessels and hundreds of people. It was fairly empty today, though, so Jaing set down in whichever berth he felt like.

After setting the ship's systems to standby, Jaing left the cockpit and went to the prisoner hold. He opened the door and stepped part of the way inside. He was now in his full armour and brandishing a Verpine shatter gun in one hand. In his other, he gestured Layla out the door with a stun baton. It was dialed down so as to only deliver a shock which would stun for a few seconds.

"Come on," he said. "Let's get this business over with."

[Andy 60]

New Republic Defense Force Headquarters, Coruscant

A mere hour after leaving the undercity, Aston found himself arriving at NRDF HQ. Bucket had already arrived and was waiting in the droid bay, but there were more pressing concerns right now. He began searching for Captain Tunon.

[Drake 53]

After having prepped and loaded his ship, Tak returned to his quarters to pack up anything else he might need, mostly from his cache of equipment and weapons. Everything else, along with the rest of the squadron's belongings was being packed up by base staff. Takeshi was about to leave when he stopped and looked at the haphazardly wrapped present, a life-sized stuffed Ewok toy, that he had gotten for Layla's daughter, Ayana.

Without a second glance, he left it behind. The packers would get it and bring it with the rest of his things. Right now it would only serve as a distraction.

Takeshi returned to his ship, comming Jaim along the way. "Ready to go, Adarra? I'm leaving in five...or you can take your X-Wing. Doesn't matter to me."

[Ayingel 24]

Coruscant

As the taxi pulled up, Szen jumped out and threw some credits at the driver. Once inside, she headed over to the receptionists. They directed her to a lift and she made her way to the waiting area. No surprise...I'm the first one. Szen found a chair and waited for what felt like hours.

[Princess 35]

Transport

"It's a girl thing Nat. You wouldn't understand. Now, since the base was compromised and we're on an emergency recall, I'm guessing that we're going to have some combat ahead of us, so let me see that leg. Have you been doing your exercises?"

[Mara 29]

Artie tweedled as they came close to a large room. Hearing familiar voices, Kaden stepped in the doorway and cleared his throat.

"Uh... sorry to interrupt..."

[Ender 8]

"I've got my own transport, LT. White Riot is finally in service again. Appreciate the offer, though. See you at Triple Zero."

Jaim stowed his gear in the hold and began his pre-flight checks, eager to get off of the station at long last.

[Vergere 1]

Brier held up her comm. "The recall?"

[Mara 29]

near Tyrena, Brier's family's estate, Corellia

Kaden nodded and smiled wryly. "Just when I was getting used to time off, too..."

Edited May 30, 2008 by Mara

[Rogue 4]

Transport

"Yes, yes. I've been doing all the exercises." Nat insisted, turning to her once they had entered hyperspace. "It's been fine. I think it was just the gravity change. Ryloth's is heavier than that on Altagak Base."

Near Tyrena, Corellia

"A shatter gun and a stun baton? Is that all for me? I'm flattered...it's like a Zeltron holiday in here." Layla stood with a sigh, fixing him in her granite gaze and placing her hands on her hips. "Sure you can't just dial that baton up to max and zap me a good one so I don't have to go through this? You know---just high enough to permanently stop my heart would be great."

[Drake 53]

"This is for you," Jaing said, waving her forward with the stun baton again. "And I'm afraid I can't do that. This," he waved the shatter gun, "is for mercs who try to get fresh. Argos said I could shoot anyone who tried to lay a hand on you...before him. Now let's get a move on."

***

Outer Altagak Moon orbit

Takeshi piloted his Black Ops transport, the Shadow Runner, out of orbit of the moon which was once home to the secret Altagak Base. After a few more minutes, he was well enough away from the gravity well of the gas giant to make the hyperspace jump to Coruscant.

As the swirling vortex of hyperspace flashed past, Tak sat back and removed a holographic imager from his pocket. He had taken it from his room before he left. When activated, a picture of him and Layla appeared. He had an arm around her and she had both of hers around him. They had taken it a couple months ago.

Tak stared at the picture and began to think of how he could get her back.

[Pandora 77]

Archaic Headquarters, near Tyrena, Corellia

Deign Argos paced the width of his office, buried deep within the hidden compound. At last, Layla Nasrin was his again. The officer in the landing bay had only informed him moments ago that the bounty hunter Jaing had exited his ship with his target in custody. How long had it been since he'd last seen Layla? Mere years? He thought back to his last personal memory of her, of the fire. Could she possibly buy the yarn he intended to sell her, that it had hurt him more than her to watch her suffer?

He caught that familiar scent an instant before the door chime sounded, halting Deign in the middle of the room. He steadied himself before hitting the key that unlocked the door. He would not allow this, this.... subhuman to have the satisfaction of toying with his emotions again. No, the simple fact was, Layla and Sena had brought this on all by themselves. After all he'd done for his family, Sena included, she had the nerve to betray him like this, and Layla's deception had only made matters worse!

The high doors parted, and in stepped the still-beautiful figure of his once-beloved Layla Nasrin and her "escort."

He looked Layla up and down before facing the bounty hunter. "Good work, Jaing. My secretary will arrange for your payment."

If Jaing left the room as suggested, Deign didn't even notice. "Layla. How I've missed you."

The words didn't even sound affectionate to him.

Edited May 30, 2008 by Pandora

[Vergere 1]

near Tyrena, Corellia

"Eh, I'm sure you'll get used to it again soon. So, are you wanting a ride back to Coruscant then?" Brier smiled faintly.

Edited May 30, 2008 by Tyche

[Rogue 4]

She wavered for a moment as she looked up to him. She had hoped that maybe karma would have worked against him over the years, and was disappointed to notice that it hadn't. Deign Argos was as handsome as ever with his dirty blond hair, and piercing, intelligent violet eyes. They were the same eyes that had stared at her the night that she had been condemned to death. Not being restrained, she set her jaw in defiance before walking forward, and slapping him hard.

"How dare you---and then to sit here, and lie to me, like I can't tell the difference?!"

[Drake 53]

Jaing was still in the room, of course. He smirked inside his helmet as Layla slapped Deign hard in the face. She almost had a Mando spirit.

Interrupting for a moment, he said, "If you need me for anything else, you know how to reach me." With that, the bounty hunter backed out. The office door promptly locked behind him.

He went out into the lobby and spoke with Deign's secretary, arranging to have his large payment wired directly to one of his many private accounts. Once finished, he left to wander around a bit. He had been given the permission to come and go as he pleased. A perk for doing such exemplary work.