The Unknown Expanse

[Ordona Vandorak]

Ordona half listened to Kid’s explanation as they walked. The other half of her was worried about leaving the crystals behind to the droids. Still, it was a public space and, except the one she had in her pocket, all of the important crystals had been loaded. ‘Sera’ would get the last crate loaded and lock up the ship. T0-MS and ‘Sera’ knew to lock up tight as soon as it was done, activating security measures to protect themselves and the cargo. Everything should be alright. Ordona still couldn’t shake a small sense of worry, though. She had no reason to suspect anything from her current company and had no indication that she’d been followed since she’d been on this station, but paranoia was well ingrained into the ex-Sith.

Her assessment of Kid matched with the awareness he was showing with his actions and Ordona relaxed a bit. The reassuring weight of the Adegan crystal in her pocket helped. Her sabers secure in the small of her back, hidden under her jacket, helped more.

“Similar story here, though I work for a bigger, uh, group,” Ordona said. There was truth there, her recent enlistment with the Galactic Alliance was the reason for this particular stop. “They wanted the crystals and I had a ship that could fit the cargo. Plus, I’m kind of the low woman on the ladder so I get the boring errands like this.” Ordona listened to the click-clack of the blind man’s cane as they walked, noting that it seemed to tap less when she or Kid were talking. Bain seemed to be proficient in his blindness, suggesting it wasn’t something recent.

Or maybe he’s using the Force, Ordona thought, recalling the spark she’d felt within him. She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t left the pair alone by now. Was she going to try and recruit Bain for the Jedi? For herself? She recalled the last time she’d had an apprentice and winced silently. That poor kid didn’t deserve the death she’d brought upon him. The Sith in her wanted to say it was his fault, that he hadn’t listened. While that was true, she should have been stronger, protected him better. She wasn’t sure she wanted another apprentice, now or ever.

“The Crystal Cup is just up here,” she said, mainly for Bain’s benefit.

“What about you, Bain? What brings you around here?” Ordona asked. They had almost reached their destination and Ordona could finally see the glowing sign for the tapcafe ahead.

[Corren Bain]

“What about you, Bain? What brings you around here?”

"Well you know-" Bain began but found himself interrupted by two things. The first a mouse droid bumping against his foot. He'd barely heard it as it wheeled across the metal floor. He did not stumble, but his pace ground to the briefest of halts as he moved around it with a slight tinge of annoyance at the ache in his toe. The second was his own mind. Corren wasn't quite sure how to answer. What was he doing out here?

"Always wanted to see the stars." He joked before giving a more truthful answer after a pause. "Mygeeto is as far as my ride felt comfortable taking me. Looking to head inward, galactic center. Guess that's why I'm here, seeing the stars." The last part of his explanation was hesitant. The indirect admission of a long lasting obsession, a way for him to truly open his eyes so that he didn't have to rely on the pity of others.

"But, plenty of ships go through. I'll find a freighter sympathetic soon enough" He finished, a semi confident smile raising his lips. He sniffed. The smell of cheap imported teas and spices faintly wafted in the air, combating the artificial taste of the oxygen filtering through the station. The woman was right. They were definitely near food and drink. Corren spoke up again to sate his own curiosity, and in order to move the conversation along.

"I must ask, though you might find it an odd question. What species are you two? It matters little to me, I have no baring to base appearance off of anyway. But I've met many a man and woman claiming to be seven foot trandoshians who in fact were simply human."

[Xerxes Nova]

Xerxes knew by instinct when Ordana spoke the half truth and if he hadn't of been smiling already he may have started to then and there.  He realised that their reasons for being here may very well be more similar than she realised or even he when he first met her.  The smuggling of the Adgean crystals he could understand but, if she was part of a greater group well, that begged the question if the crystals weren't just for profit who were they destined for.  He had no doubt that she had her own suspicions about him but, the only concession to his association he wore openly was on his holster, which was obviously absent.  He wanted to reach out with the Force to scan her to get a better feel but, knew to do so would just reveal himself and that would undo all the good he had done in hiding so far.  When the conversation shifted to Bain he listened carefully, hoping to pick up on any clues.  So intent was he on keeping an eye on Ordana and assessing the lad he had failed to notice the curious pattern of the taps which would have alerted him that Bain seemed to be able to navigate by their presences as well as the stick.  However because of that he picked up on the deeper meaning in the man's words.  He had to say he didn't blame him for wanting to be able to see, as a slave child he had been nothing but a burden in his early years and had striven to became a functional member as soon as possible, a fate he had tried to spare Zwei, Zyanya, Taz and Florence when he had taken on the role of adult at too young an age.  He had been formulating what to say to offer the man passage when he got a strange question and realised it wasn't strange at all, voice was only so much of an indicator in basic, most humanoid mammals would likely have similar voices.

"Well I'm no 7ft Trandoshan, not nearly ugly or angry enough" he joked "As far as I know I'm human, bout 5ft 8", male obviously or at least I hope that was obvious, though with the long hair and wiry build I 'ave been mistaken for a tall woman instead of a short guy but, I hope my voice is at least masculine."  He chuckled "My fault really for 'aving a moniker like Kid, no one seems ta know what ta expect when they come looking."  He hoped he said enough to help Bain get a sense of him and by comparison other people after all even if you don't have a reference point it is near impossible to see how someone compares.  He didn't care that he did indeed get mistaken for a young woman sometimes from a distance but, it seemed the best way to help someone who had never seen gauge his general appearance.  "Though Bain I may not know your story but, I got space and nothing but droids fa company, can't afford ta pay any crew but, I wouldn't mind someone ta talk ta while planet hopping through the deep black."  There it was the bait was set out, it was now up to Bain to decide what he wanted to do.

[Corren Bain]

The offer surprised Corren to no end. Nor did he exactly hide the fact it did, eyebrow raised in surprise and head tilted quizzically. Yet he held is tongue. Passage was exactly what he wanted. Hell, needed. Corren doubted he'd be able to find much work on the station. The Imperial authorities wouldn't take him and he doubted the local authorities had much in the way of diversity hire.

"Let's, just have some food. If I may be so bold to ask for some spare credits that is. Little on me asides from enough to get ration paste. Does the trick but leaves an awful aftertaste. Bol feed back on Dantooine has better texture." He joked. Although he could attest to that as he'd so unfortunately stumbled across after a few ranchers from the homestead over had offered him a bowl of it. Claimed it was some of the last nerf meat exported off of Alderaan before its destruction. It was not. However Corren mentioned Dantooine not only for the joke but also so that he was not the only one talking about themselves. Of course, his two current companions could see his scruffy appearance; but they wouldn't be able to know of where he came from. They deserved to know a small bit about him. Especially if one of them was offering space on his ship.

[Ordona Vandorak]

Ordona almost chuckled when Bain said he wanted to see the stars, but stopped herself when she realized it wasn’t meant as a joke. For the first time, she considered what it must be like to be blind, and found herself speechless. The magnitude of what Bain had never experienced struck her as well past overwhelming and into the realm of the unfathomable.

Maybe with the Force, Ordona thought. When he asked what species they were, Ordona did laugh, though it was the mention of people’s claims and not the question itself that sparked her laughter. She started to respond, but cut it short when Kidron responded. She glanced at him as he spoke, matching his description of himself to his actual appearance. What people said about themselves often gave away more about themselves than what was actually in the description.

Her footsteps faltered when he offered Bain a spot aboard his ship. It was a very forward offer to people who had just met. She caught herself, reigning in that train of thought. Had she not been considering the same thing because of the spark of the Force she felt within Bain?

It’s one thing to think it, but another to come out with it, Ordona thought. She wondered what Kidron’s reasons were for asking Bain along. She felt no deception or malice through the Force, and let it go. Bain’s response to Kid wasn’t a ‘no,’ but nor was it a ‘yes.’ It was a very reasonable response, especially from someone who had just been talking about finding a way to hitch a ride.

“Well, it’s good that you’re hungry, since we’re here,” Ordona said. “And as I said, lunch is on me. For your help back there.” She reached out, planning to place a hand on Bain’s arm and guide him into the queue for food. On a station like this, there were any number of sit-down eateries, but despite the name, The Crystal Cup had you order on the way in before the food was delivered.

“I’m average height, slightly shorter than Kid. Got dark hair tied back and relatively small. I’m deceptively strong though,” Ordona said, responding to Bain’s earlier question, ending with a bit of a joke.

“What would you like?” she asked, before reading off the list of choices for him. She waited patiently for his choice, ready to repeat any part he had questions about.

[Xerxes Nova]

Xerxes nodded and shrugged “Yeah, I understand can’t make a decision like this on an empty stomach.” He turned and nodded to Ordona, “Since the lass here has offered ta cover ya, I’ll leave ya in her hands fa now, I’ll grab a table.” He knew helping Corren would take a bit of extra time and he really didn’t have the necessary experience to do so. His eyes had darted over the menu but, as usual there wasn’t much there he could physically stomach. Years subsisting from nutripaste and gritty water meant his stomach even after two years of freedom couldn’t handle much. Luckily for him most of these types of establishments had some bog standard dish meant for the perpetually strapped for cash. Here it seemed like his best bet was a stew, it usually was, cheap and often the best way to use of few ingredients. “Spacer’s Stew an a water fa me thanks” he kept the accent uncertain how good the hearing of his companions were and handed over the credits to the man “I’ll be seated with the beauty and the brave back there” he said as he took his ticket and slipped into the establishment proper. He quickly spied a square table with the prequiste four seats, he didn’t bother looking for anything seated for three, there rarely was, everywhere he’d gone to was even seating or loners for the most part, with the latter found on bar stools normally. He took a seat that gave him a good view of the front of the café and the main entrance but, he couldn’t put a wall at his back as he normally would which made him feel exposed. Though he endeavoured not to show this on his grinning face and relaxed leant back sitting posture his hand never strayed too far from where his blaster was normally holstered. He waited for the others to join him with a great smile on his face.

“Wasn’t certain w’at was best fa ya Bain, so I thought I couldn’t go wrong with a place with some space” the table was in the greatest space he could find so it should pose any obstacle for the man to take a seat nor would he have to worry about tripping others with his stick unless they made an effort to get to close. “Sa w’at is ta country lad havin’ then” food and drink he had learned was one of the easiest openers for conversation. No matter who they were or what they did people needed to eat and everyone had their own preferences and there was no safer a topic to start with, even in the mines where food had been scarce and mainly the same thing day in day out and fights could be started over the smallest thing the topic of food was always a safe one. It also seemed that the best bet for ingratiating the woman into a conversation was by using the less threatening Bain to coax her rather than being bull headed and talking to her directly, strike up an easy conversation and let the time roll on. Maybe he’d end up with a new crew member, a potential recruit or maybe she’d whisk him away instead. Something about him seemed familiar though so the more he managed to learn the more Xerxes could discover later.

[Corren Bain]

Corren was becoming increasingly unsure of how to feel. He appreciated the thought and hospitality of the pair and even felt he didn't deserve it for an act so small and insignificant. Yet it also rang somewhat true to being overbaringly generous. He'd found that often occurred back home, especially around his aunt. She'd sheltered the young blind boy as much as she could, always treated him well and tried to protect him from the dangers lurking in the the grassy plains. Kinrath or even a rare Dantari native survivor. He loved his aunt and her affection but it could be overbearing. There was shelter, and then imprisonment. His uncle had taken a different approach.

"I just got something simple, I won't overextend the lengths of your generosity."

The question of food from Xerxes Corren shook him back to his senses, as did the rumble of his stomach and listing of foods from a menu. The smells of food that lingered in the air helped that along, and so when he finally took the seat he was directed to having made his simple order of imported stew he was quite peckish. As far as he knew Mygeeto had little in the way of cultural dishes. The only local fauna he could think of were the whiteworms, their crystal structure and hides probably wouldn't make for an edible snack. He let the stick rest by his stool, but it never left his near proximity. Corren's hand twitched at its resting place on his lap; fingers ever ready to grab reach for its safety. There he was, with a small but strong woman and a man with flowing hair. Despite the idle interest he'd expressed, he cared little for what they looked like. He asked many he met out of polite courtesy but mostly to stop the myth of the blind feeling people's faces to see what they looked like. Not an unheard of practice true, however Corren found it strange. He for one wouldn't want some stranger padding their hands all over his face. He would remember them from their sounds, scents, small details otherwise undetectable to those not looking. But most importantly their actions.

"Crystals is your haul this jump, what about you Kidron? Any cargo of particular value here?" He asked, his head tilting in the direction of each as he referred to them.

[Ordona Vandorak]

Ordona sidled into the seat across from Kid. Despite the growing ease she felt being around the pair and her certainty that they weren’t trying to mess with her shipment, some habits die hard. Keeping what was likely the more dangerous of the pair in direct sight seemed like a good option to her. She had ordered a small plate of grilled nerf steak, opting for a more meaty selection than either of the boys had chosen. Ordona leaned back in the chair and crossed her legs at the ankle, seeming at ease.

Despite appearances, Ordona took the opportunity to probe the pair more deeply in the Force. Their chatter had little to do with her directly, giving her ample opportunity to simply sit and listen. She opened herself to the Force, feeling it flow through and around them, and let it roll of their words, giving each a distinctive flavor and texture. Almost instantly, she was getting the conversation through sensation instead of actual words. They crested and fell like waves on an ocean, calm but present.

She stayed that way for a bit, listening to them and slowly expanding her awareness outward. Soon, the whole cafe was present within her mind, the ebbs and flows of many conversations almost overwhelming her. At the same time, they created an almost comforting presence. The sounds and feelings of a society functioning well enough, free of looming or immediate threat.

Ordona relished it for the brief respite it was.

Then, she sat up as she felt the food approaching their table. It was carried by a boxlike droid on three roller wheels with a tray on top. A prehensile limb lifted from the middle of the tray and deftly deposited their selections in front of them before rolling away with a series of titters and beeps.

[Xerxes Nova]

Xerxes nodded in reply, it seemed the blind man even had trouble accepting this kind of charity. Pride was a sin for a reason but it was also a virtue to many. His own first meal after gaining freedom had been given to him by the kindness of others but, he had had no such qualms about accepting it. Then again the gnawing ache in his stomach and the throbbing cut behind his right ear probably had something to do with that as well. The inevitable question he knew had been coming sailed right past him a moment later and he almost missed it. His haul, officially it was vanadium ore, nothing special, in truth he was smuggling meleenium, the small quantity of the ore hidden in shielded containers within the far cheaper and less crucial ore, same in essence to what the miss was doing only he was dealing in ores not crystal. Though he also had a slicer pod filled with encrypted communications that Tex was patiently trying to crack, he had no plans as yet to sell that information, or if any of it was indeed worth anything. It was mainly an exercise for Tex who seemed to enjoy the task.

"Nof'in special Bain, vanadium ore, durasteel may corner tha market on much but, sumthin's don't need such durability. Steel still has its uses and ya can't make high quality strong steel without a little vanadium." He heard the beep of the machine and turned to see their food arriving, he took it without much thought and then continued. "Dock Hoppers like meself are the best way ta transport it, we don't charge much and can carry a reasonable load. Larger freights would draw attention don't matter what they carry, since the ore ain't precious enough to risk a large ship smaller couriers like me who take on all the risk are preferred. After all the ore would be worth less than the cost of the fuel somethin like an Action V might use to transport it. Anyway don't let me keep ya from yar meal, yar barely skin and bone as it is." He took a mouthful of his stew and his eyes flicked over the room but returned to the woman, he realised that she was the only one of the group not to give her name as he remembered and something like that seemed oddly suspicious to the pirate. Though if she had any wants or warrants out it made sense and that was why many of the spacers Xerxes had met used pseudonyms, their true names were too much trouble.

[Corren Bain]

Corren forgot his manners for a moment as he hungrily dug away at the stew placed before him. His movements were at first slow; having to feel the outline of the bowl and the utensils for eating from it. But gradually as his familiarity and appetite grew he went through the food quickly whilst listening to Kid. The name did seem bizarre to him, but what he know of the galaxy? The woman hadn't introduced herself either. Perhaps they both didn't want to properly reveal who they were. Corren didn't mind this. He wasn't experienced in the ways of the galaxy, but he wasn't entirely naive to some of its realities.

"I'm not one for worrying how I end up looking. I'm sure my, natural charm and good looks shine through anyway." He joked as a light smile once more brushed his features. He took two big spoonfuls of the stew and his fingers adjusted the strip of cloth over his eyes before shutting them. He felt the sensation of his eyelids closing over lifeless eyes, but of course the sea of darkness around did not alter in the slightest. There was something oddly calming about doing it; built in by biological nature. He realized he hadn't taken much time to simply rest himself in these strange and exciting new surroundings. Corren attuned his hearing more carefully, head tilting downward as he focused on the environment around. The gentle breaths, the careful words, the droids wheeling back and forth.

"Thank you, both of you. But- don't feel obligated to stay if you want to get your haul underway."