Ask Prestige and Providence

[Haji Sigidi]

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"Badge number 1214!" Hah, Corran never stood a chance with his oh that's my protein bar. Oh you want to stand in the way and block the hall, Falynn? "Badge number 1214, excuse me." Who's turn was it to use the refresher? Not yours, Gravestone. "Badge number 1214. Take it up with her."

Despite their current predicament, the air couldn't be lighter for Haji. The ship was a getaway from his past and a field trip with his new family. Well, as far as he was concerned they were. He hadn't yet communicated that in so many words. But he felt it through and through. The gravity of the situation didn't matter right now since, well you know since there is no gravity in space. Life was good. Nothing could go wrong. He was wanted. He belonged. They'd be together forever.

Chewing too much of a mouthful of chocolate covered protein bar so that he didn't have to hold anything in his hands but a crumpled wrapper that he intended to throw away at first opportunity, Haji sat in the refresher with a smile on his fat cheeks. He hadn't needed to sit, but he was a sitter. Leisure was the melody of the day. And the squishing of mush in his mouth with a humming through his head was music to his ears. Gravestone wasn't much for jamming, despite everyone needing some mood music every now and then. But Haji, Haji was jamming.

@Kestrel @FireSong @TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

It has been a pleasant journey so far. No ship troubles. No pirate ambushes. No detours. Corran liked the simplicity of a good mission like this. Everything would have been near perfect, operationally speaking, except for the badge-slinging Force-user. With the little twerp finally seeing himself off to the refresher, the male Ranger noticeably gave a sigh of relief. He hooked his thumbs into his belt and gave an annoyed, knowing look to Bast Emblai. "You're going to confiscate that from him when this is over, right?" Corran asked with a furrowed brow. Not that he had anything personal dislike for Haji. Just the energy that a badge gave him was enough to tire anyone out. Corran preferred a little more professionalism in his companions anyway. Officially, at least. Regardless of how Bast answered, if at all, the young man would shrug and proceed to the cockpit. He'd want a good view of their destination and to check in with Gravestone.

Heavy bootfalls echoed against the metal floor as the blond youth made his way to the front of the ship. Once the door opened, Corran entered into the cockpit stiffly. Before he could announce himself, Ranger Gravestone already greeted him without looking away from the forward view-screen, "Ranger Velt." The Chagrian had good ears. Or senses. Or something. Already large in stature already, the horns that adorned the crown of his head made Gravestone that much more towering. The male Ranger cleared his throat, "Lt. Gravestone. How are things proceeding up here?" There was a silence. As the ranking officer, Gravestone didn't have to answer but he chose to do so with a single world, "Optimally." That was good enough for the young man. He decided to take a seat behind the co-pilot's chair and wait. Soon they'd be entering the asteroid field where the mystery beacon of that ancient warship was detected. Then they would be graded.

As people went, Corran got the feeling Gravestone wasn't all that bad. Maybe even disarming in his own way. Sure, he was being curt right now, but he was piloting a ship and being chummy with the examinees was probably frowned upon in his line of work. There wasn't a foreboding aura about the Chagrian, like there was with Ghotti. Gravestone might be the kind of assessor who graded even-handedly, if not strictly. That, Corran could handle.

@Kestrel @FireSong @Styx

 

[Falynn Tikarsis]

Eighteen hours of free, unstructured time. Falynn would take what she could get. Once aboard the transport, she had walked around for a bit to get a feel of her surroundings. Haji was happily taking advantage of his newfound benefits. He had already thrown around the number 1214 three times in a rather short span of time, before going off somewhere else. At times, it could be refreshing to see someone so carefree, and if there was ever a time to display his youthful innocence, better now than once they reached the carrier. Bast and Corran too had retired to various sections of the transport.

Then there was Lieutenant Gravestone. It was too early to tell much about him, as Falynn had had only a brief interaction before he headed for the cockpit. A stoic Chagrin, with acute observational skills, he would likely prove to be an impartial assessor. Or that’s what Falynn hoped for. The medic supposed she would soon find out whether or not that was the case. Satisfied that she wasn’t needed at the moment, Falynn said a quick, “I’ll be in my room if you need me,” to anyone who was within earshot, and headed down the hallway.

A quiet click of the door sliding shut and Falynn was welcomed by the faint scent of cleaning chemicals. Sitting on the bed, she stared straight at the adjacent wall, in thought. Not having anything to do was a sort of strange sensation. It wasn’t that she couldn’t do anything. On the contrary, Falynn could study, sleep, snack, or socialize. The puzzling thing was how nothing required her immediate attention. Falynn wasn’t at home, where she could be productive, but she also wasn’t currently working. She was somewhere in between. Eventually, the medic settled for unpacking and repacking her medical bag. Burn dressings and medical tape in compartment one, bacta spray in two.... There was something satisfying about the repetitive motion. Once all the supplies were put back in place the final time, the medic sat back to muse over the upcoming assignment. Actually being graded on ability added a unique aspect to the mission. Falynn wasn’t sure what to expect, but if it was anything similar to clinical performance exams, she would manage. She had to.

Even though the room was small and sparsely furnished, it was undeniably quiet. The sort of peaceful silence she’d come to enjoy. The calm before the storm. So far so good.

@Styx
@TerranSteel
@Kestrel

 

[Bast Emblai]

After Haji’s umpteenth proclamation of ‘his‘ status under badge 1214, Bast was beginning to regret her offer. The boy was clearly excited, and at first it had been endearing. Now, having snatched Corran’s protein bar and gotten off on a bad foot with the Lieutenant, the female ranger was quickly tiring of his games. Just a few minutes earlier, he had taken the rations she had set out on the table for herself, audaciously claiming that they were made for badge 1214. Her blond partner appeared when the young force-user finally, mercifully, closed the refresher door. Bast let out an audible sigh. “Is Coruscant an ecumenopolis? My ears are already ringing.”

As soon as she was alone, the tired smirk melted away. So much time before the mission. The pressure was mounting by the second with no release valve. Nothing to do. Everything was prepared. Double checked. Triple checked. 17 hours left. The ship’s blueprints were downloaded. Weapons were charging. Bast straightened her badge before pausing at the door to an empty room, staring at the control panel as if her sheer will would open the door. Missions rarely made her nervous, other than the fear that kept her alive. Perhaps she could die, but she would die as a Ranger, for justice and truth. This was a test. Her identity, her pride and joy, could be stripped away.

The tunnel focus was exhausting. After a few seconds of aimless contemplation, she slid open the door and entered the room. It was sparsely furnished but in good order, like the bunks she had lived in during her cadet training. Pacing, the Corellian woman stepped in time to the humming of engines. Eventually, the stress overwhelmed her. Without even taking off her badge, she lay on the bed.

She was lying prone. Everything was dark. Where were the incessantly buzzing lights? Someone pulled her hair sharply. She knew she was supposed to look them in the eye but she could not see anything. They spat. She felt the wetness spray her face. A sharp knee to the gut. Strong hand grabbed her wrists. They were strapped down. A face leered close. She could smell the foul breath. The lights clicked on. When her eyes adjusted, the cold, mutilated body of Ranger Orn lay on the ground. No matter what direction she walked, he would be around the corner or down the hall. Suddenly, someone held her, gripping her roughly. She fought to look away. In response, something hard hammered on her back. “Look. Look.” Her nerves were on fire. Her bones were being crushed. She couldn’t move. She screamed in pain and humiliation but her throat was dry. Bast was utterly and completely alone.

@Styx
@TerranSteel
@FireSong