Stowaway

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

Iziz - Onderon
@Taz @EmilyHuene

​

The city of Iziz was the largest settlement city on the planet. It was also the most fortified. So it was no wonder that after the Mandalorians liberated the planet they set up shop within it's walls. Dax was sadly not a part of that operations but he made up for it by leading the liberation of Ruusan. The council took notice, and gifted him with a ship of his choosing.

So here he was now, on the wild jungle planet to take ownership of his ship. An older Overhead freighter with a few upgrades that offered capabilities like that of his favorite VXN dropship. The old bird had been in storage since the Mandos booted out the Imperial Republic, gods know what happened to the pirate that used to own it but it was Dax's now.

Dax rolled up on Ranger speeder pulling a hoversled with all of his gear including his droid companion.

"A7 get in the cockpit do a full systems check. If everything is green warm up the engines. Got places to see and Sith to kill."

 

[Zalina Morganson]

Tired. Hungry. Cold. Zalina was meany things, none of them good. She had been walking the streets of Onderon for nearly a week now without any shelter. Her home had been destroyed; not that she ever intended going back anyways. Ever since she could remember she lived in service to a Twi'lek Crusader who held contract over the girl's life. She was a slave, a handmaiden. There were worse things, all things considered, yet, it was still cruel to keep someone as property. Zalina's future was held captive and the Mandalorians had returned that to her. Only, she had no way to obtain that future.

She had no skills. She had no money. It was only luck that she escaped the manor before it collapsed. But her luck ended just as swiftly as it came. She could try to find a job somewhere in town, but no one would accept a bum off the streets. She looked like trash and hadn't showered since she ran away. The clothes she had were covered in dirt and soot from the explosions. There were small rips in the sleeves from where she had to crawl through a downed tunnel. No one would hire her in that condition. So much for that bright future.

But maybe she had a little bit more luck on her side. As she snuck around looking for food, she came across a downed Imperial soldier wearing what they would label Enforcer armor. The suit was still in decent condition, save for the hole in the chest where he'd been shot. That could always be repaired if needed. And with the cape, she could hide the hole from anyone second guessing her. Closer inspection -as Zalina began rummaging around the man's sack- was that he still had a full pack of rations and even ammo to his weapons. It even helped that the man was young for his age, and was probably just into adulthood. This would suit her better due to her own small stature.

Making sure no one else was around, Zalina pulled his body into a dark crevice and began stripping him of his clothes. She too got undressed and would lie her shredded rags over top of his body. He wouldn't need it, but she couldn't just leave him half naked. It was...wrong. Even by her standards. It took a little extra effort getting dressed because she had to strap everything as tight as it could go just to even sit on her properly. She wouldn't even bother with the helmet. Then she'd really look out of place. Zalina lastly, strapped the DH-7 blaster pistol into a holster on her hip, and then a vibroblade knife into the belt behind her butt. She'd check out the rest of the pack later.

Walking out of the ruined alcove -with a bar of rationed protein mixture- Zalina headed back to the main street and toward the hangar. This was her best chance to escape this hell. She'd stole away on a departing ship and find a better place she could build her future. There was nothing left for her here. As she walked, she clutched one arm tightly around the cloak to make sure it covered the blaster hole in the chest plate. She didn't want anyone thinking she had stolen the armor...which was exactly what she'd done.

Moving into the port area of Iziz, Zalina found the perfect ship. An old Overhead freighter that seemed to be gearing up to go. The engines were bustling and getting hotter. She didn't see anyone outside the ship, and the ramp was still open. Carefully, she peered up the ramp and didn't see a single soul. Perfect! Zalina looked back over her shoulder; not a single soul was paying her any mind. She stalked up the ship and headed down away from the main deck. She figured there had to be an engine room or some lower repair sections. And sure enough, she found a low-ceiling pathway and sat down in it.

Zalina finished her protein bar as she felt the engines roar with life and the vessel take off. Her hands gripped tightly to a metal railing as the ship took off. She'd never been off-world before. Not that she had any reason to fear going into space. Flying was such a normal thing it was second nature to some. And it took a lot of will power not to head up to a higher deck and try to look out a viewport. She'd give anything right now to see space. Zalina made a silent promise to herself to make sure she could find a job of sorts in her next system that would give her that opportunity again.

Now that things had settled down, she began to look through the pack she'd taken. A few packs of ammo, a spare set of clothes (those would come in handy but she preferred the armor on her back), and some odd looking cylinder. Zalina pulled it out of the sack and rotated it in her hand by twisting her wrist. Then, holding her thumb over a small plate, she slid the switch upwards and both ends shot out of the hilt as pieces of metal expanded and linked together. Zalina shrieked and threw the hilt from her hand as the collapsible staff extended. It clanged against the metal railing and echoed throughout the ship.

Cursing loudly and quickly she got up and tried to snatch it back up before anyone came looking. Standing up, she tried forcing the ends back together with all her might; not realizing that there would be another button to do so.

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

It took no time at all for Dax to get his things stowed away. Their would be work to be done to the old ship but there was plenty of time for things like that. So he loaded the last of the gear he brought and powered down the Ranger. Then headed for the cockpit of the shit as A7 powered the engines and started to lift the ship from port and close the loading ramp.

By the time he got to the pilot's chair the droid had the ship nearly at the edge of atmo. Dax slid into the chair and assisted his little droid in piloting the ship into open space.

"Clear of the planet, plot a course for Umbara."

"whoop whoop." the droid replied.

Just then a loud clang of metal on metal rang through the corridors of the ship. "Kark is this boat already breaking ?" he shouted as he got up out of the seat, just as it was getting warm and comfortable. Dax then walked back the the cargo bay and looked around. He was not in his armor but still had his utility belt and holstered pistols.

As he stepped down onto the floor of the bay he could hear the noise from behind a low stack of old creates. Dax pulled his quickdraw pistol and slowly peaked over the creates, pistol first.

"Can I help you miss ?"

 

[Zalina Morganson]

Zalina fumbled with the staff angrily, "Kriff! Kriff! Why! Won't! You! Go! In!?"

She tapped the bottom of the staff into the floor while struggling fruitlessly in trying to force the ends to collapse. She didn't even notice the noise she was making or the footsteps of the owner coming around to look at her. When he called out to her she shrieked again and fell back onto her butt. Her staff dropped out of her hands again and clanged onto the metal floor once more.

Zalina's face turned a bright red as she stared up at the armed Mandalorian. "Oh....heyyyyyyyy!"

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

"Speak carefully and quickly, what in the kark are you doing on my ship." he said with a stern tone. The barrel of the pistol still pointed at her head. His face was hard with minimal expression. But his eyes were as cold as the ice on Hoth. This girl would see into his dark eyes and know he had no issue putting two bolts into her brain bucket and casting her out of the air lock.

 

[Zalina Morganson]

The man stood in front of her, gun facing right at her head. Her eyes went wide and for a moment she was frozen in place. She had no response. None he'd like anyway. "Yeah I figured I'd just hop a ride and steal your food?" That would go over real well. So...Zalina did the only thing she knew how to do. She raised her hands up, showing they were empty, and then bowed her whole body forwards in a praying position, or a groveling position really.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!" she bellowed out quickly. "Please don't shoot me! I promise I won't be any trouble! I'll work for you, in trade of a ride? I can clean. Do you like to eat? I can cook?"

Making a face at herself she thought to herself, "Do you like to eat?! What kind of stupid question is that?!"

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

Dax looked down at the bowing woman, confused and bewildered by this woman. Was she bowing to him, begging at his feet. Who does that. Dax wanted to ask or say something but the words wouldn't come to him. He was so dumb struck by the act of her graveling at his boots. Then she mentioned trade, suddenly she smiled.

"I could eat!" he interrupted.

Dax holstered his weapon and put out his hand to help the girl up. "Do me a favor and don't do that thing again." Dax helped her and then guided her to the mess area, a small and modest cooking area. Not the best stocked at the moment but it would be enough for this stranger could make something.

 

[Zalina Morganson]

Relief washed over the brown haired human. She looked up happily and gave him an obedient nod. "Oh shiny! Thank you, Sir!"

Dax would help her up and she then dusted herself off. He then asked her to not do that thing again, and she wasn't really sure what that meant. So she shrugged and replied with another, "Yes, Sir. Of course, Sir." Her reply had been so smooth it would be logical to assume she'd had training. Slave training. He'd be accurate in assuming so. He then started to head out of the cargo area and Zalina stopped only for a moment to collect her pack in one arm, and awkwardly hook the helmet with her fingers. She then picked the collapsible pole up in her other hand and followed suit; the pole was still fully extended.

The two traveled through the rest of the ship and into the small cooking area. Zalina set her bag and helmet near the wall and then clumsily tried leaning the pole against the door frame. It fell twice before she managed to get it to stay. Turning then to the kitchen she rummaged through his food to make him the best meal she possibly could (without completely raiding the cooler and them having to scrounge for food later in the trip).

"Do you have a particular taste for anything, my lord? I am well versed in many recipes."

And it occurred to Zalina just then, that maybe she did have a skill after all.

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

Dax twitch his head when she said Sir. He was a soldier sure and used to hearing it from his fellow soldiers, those under him or less experienced then he. But as far as she knew and clearly from the way she carried herself, she was not a soldier. So the sounds, although sweet sounding, was delivered like nails on a chalkboard. She continued to fire off the word until finally they were in the cooking space.

Dax would watch her, at first like a killer watched his target, his prey. It was instinctual for him, she was an intruder. She was the embodiment of everything he hated about the Sith, they oppressed and controlled. They treated those without power like cattle. At least it's how he himself experienced them.

Then another one of her words brought him back from his examination. "Ok. First, I'm not sir. I call a single person by such a title and she was chosen by our people to bleed our enemies until they have no blood left to give. My name is Dax Rau, clan Rau of House Solus. I am a Mandalorian, not a slaver. And to answer your question. I prefer posta, smothered in sauce and dead animal."

Dax then picked up the staff and tapped the button to retract the bars back into a short, hand held club. Then twisted the weapons between his fingers and around his hand. Not unlike one would do with a knife.

"What about you, what do I call you ? and don't Karking say what ever I like or wish. What is your name."

 

[Zalina Morganson]

Hearing the man suddenly scold her would make her freeze in place. Her hands gripped tightly to the pot she had in her hand so they wouldn't start shaking. She didn't like being yelled at. But her training of servitude prevented her from acting out on it. His words reminded her that she was not to call him as if he were her master. Dax Rau he called himself. Though she didn't know much about clans and houses in regards to Mandalorian culture. The only culture she knew was her own, and that of the Sith.

But his words triggered something else in her brain. He was not her master. She had no master. Zalina was a free person. She didn't have to obey anyone. And the only reason she was even cooking for Dax was because she'd offered, or rather traded that service for a ride. She didn't need to give him any more satisfaction of the deal. Her hands would then stop shaking as she came to that realization and he trailed off from his own soap box to explain the meal he wished for her to cook. With new found insight into the situation, Zalina put the pot back and grabbed a better one for the posta.

"Posta it is!" she said with a cheer and went back to the cooler for the rest of the ingredients.

Zalina could already see the meal in her head: the various spices she needed, the vegetables to grind up for the sauce, and the meat to be simmered on a low heat and cook from the inside out. Yes it was perfect. She gathered everything she needed and then went to work humming to herself a song she'd heard her Twi'lek mistress singing once. Behind her, Dax would then ask her of her name, to which she daringly did not bother to turn around to address him while speaking (such a thing would get her a whip in the back for not being proper back home).

"I was given the name Zalina. Zalina Morganson."

She then went back to humming her tune. As the kitchen heated up, she began to start sweating. Zalina tossed off the cloak she'd been wearing and didn't think twice the fact he might not approve of her wearing Imperial armor. To her it was just a protective plate and a disguise. To him, it was the dress of the enemy. Maybe she should have changed clothes before cooking...

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

Dax leaned on the wall and continued to fiddle with the staff weapon. To no one's surprise, at least none that knew about mandos, he was more of a knife guy. Or rather his beskad. In any case he was paying little attention to anything but the back side of the female stranger. Sadly for him, it was only about an inch shorter then he was.

"Zalina, interesting. Wait, given? That's an odd way to put it. Also you can strip off that armor and out it in the spare bunk room. Won't do you much good with the hole in the breast place and all."

Dax would finally put the weapon down and go to the small cooler unit next to Zalina, pulling two bottles of beer from it. Popping the tops and leaving one next to the cooking stove for her. If she didn't drink it, he would at some point. But it was a peace offering all te same. He didn't know why, but something about her disarmed him. Allowing him to lower his guard a little.

 

[Zalina Morganson]

Her answer confused him, but she couldn't really think of a decent way of explaining it other than the fact. And she'd rather not tell him she'd been a slave. If he was a cruel kind of person, he could report her to....somebody. And she'd be sent back to the owner. Actually, Zalina didn't really know how that worked. But either way, he could also sell her back into the slave trade for his own gain. And she wasn't going to allow that. Even if he threatened her with the gun again. She'd put up one hell of a fight.

He would then offer her to go change out of that armor and a blush came over her face. She turned around and covered her chest like it was exposed. She was about to say something spiteful back at him, when she noticed that he was holding her collapsible staff, and it was no longer at its full length. Zalina began stumbling over her words and then pointed at him accusingly.

"How did you-! The pole thingie! You made it shrink! Explain!"

Apparently he didn't feel like explaining himself and set it down next to him on the table. He walked past her and into the cooler to grab them both a beer. He set one down for her and she stared at it. Was he...offering it to her? Or was this some sort of test? She stood there for a moment, debating the options. Then, she grabbed it and took a sip thinking it was something in the ways of soda.

She could not be more wrong. Zalina spat out the sip she took then put down the bottle with a loud, "Uh-uh. Uh-uh. Uh-uh. Nope."

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

Dax wash already about halfway through his beer when Zalina attempted to take her "sip". The following protest from her was so amusing the the mandalorian so much that he starting shooting a little beer out of his nose. It burned and Dax dancing around as if he were being tortured. "Ohh..oh that burns. Have you never drank alcohol before ?"

Finally done, Dax whipped his nose clean. Then looked over the shoulder of his new passenger to watch the meat of her or rather HIS posta burning. "So if you burn the meal, does that forfeit your payment?" , he mused. Then returned to finishing his drink. He didn't really care if it was slightly burned. Dax's usual meal was bar food after all. But he was enjoying this little exchange with the young woman.

 

[Zalina Morganson]

Zalina gasped when she heard him shoot the liquor out of his nose, and gave him a worried look of concern. She wanted to go check on him, so she moved a step closer, just in case. When she saw he was fine, she relaxed a little, but was still looking at him uneasily. He'd then ask her if she';d ever drank the stuff before to which she would shake her head slowly. Judging by the way she'd reacted and how he was reacting, it was apparent she'd never drink it ever again.

"Uh-uh. The mistress never let us have any."

Unknowingly, she'd just admitted to be in service to someone. Though, she had not directly said the word "slave", it was pretty heavily intended by the meaning of mistress. Then again -in her defense- she merely could have worked in say a home or manor and been paid for her time. That was always a possibility -however unlikely- in this messed up universe they all lived in.

Her attention would then be brought back over to the food behind her which made Zalina shriek and turn around back towards the stove. She quickly flipped the meat in and pan muttering a few swear words to herself. Zalina didn't have the slightest clue if he was joking about her payment being "forfeit" but she wasn't about to risk it either. She started scolding herself internally from looking away from the stove in the first place. Alcohol had never led to anything good. She knew that then; she knew that now.

"I'm sorry," she would say once she got everything back under control. :I promise your meal will be satisfactory. I only lost a little of it. There will still be plenty left for you."

What she wasn't saying, was that she hadn't made enough for the both of them now that she had to cut away the black bits she'd ruined. A few more minutes would pass and she brought him his bowl of posta and sauce, the meat mixed in with it to give it just the right sort of flavor. Now even if he claimed he didn't like it -for people had different pallets sometimes- he couldn't lie that she was indeed a good cook and knew her away around the kitchen.

Setting the bowl down in front of him, Zalina then took a few steps back and crossed her hands in front of her patiently. "Is it to your liking?"

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

Dax understood then. Or at least assumed to understand what her issue was. She was or used to be same manner of servant to the Empire or Sith. It was their way to treat those around them as less then. To treat those without power as beasts of burden to be driven into the ground. On one hand he hated them for that, for treating his people as such. But on the other, he could think of others that were not Mandalorian just the same. As objects in the way of his war with the wizards.

"Well, your mistress was a fool. Fortunately she's probably dead." he said smiling.

Dax then sat after he previously joked about the cooking. They were already in the sky and on their way to Umbara. Not that she seemed to care where she was going. Zalina seemed to hang on his every word and take him literal at them as well. It was something he was not used to. As most members of the clans were well versed in sarcasm and innuendo.

When the bowl reached him, he eat like an animal. One hand pawing the bowl like he was clutching a fresh kill. While his other used the fork to stab the food like he was shiving a man in Imperial lockdown, before shoving food into his face like he was afraid it would be taken from him.

The bowl was empty in a manner of a few short moments and Dax chased it with the last of his beer, then burped into to the side as not to do it into the girl's face.

"oooh, if you can do that with scraps I can't wait to see what you can do in a base facility. Soo good."

 

[Zalina Morganson]

To his comment about her mistress being a fool, Zalina visibly flinched. She stood still for a moment, unsure whether to speak about it or not. Could she be dead? It was possible. The Mandalorians were ruthless when they attacked the Sith. But then again, if Zalina and the other servants got out, who's to say their mistress wouldn't have done the same. She was a Sith crusader after all. It would take more than a few bombs to get rid of her.

Zalina thought about this while Dax ate his food with vigor. It brought a smile back to Zalina's face that he was enjoying it so much. Her mistress never gave that kind of pleasure when she ate. Maybe that was because she expected as much out of her servants, and she was used to being given the best of everything. But to Dax, he ate like this was the finest meal ever presented to him and Zalina couldn't help but get a little red in the cheeks.

As she sat there, arms curled in her lap, she tried not to think about how hungry she was. She'd had the rations down below, but those did not compare with real food. She secretly scolded herself for being careless again, lest she could have shared this meal with him. This was her own fault. Next meal she'd make extra. She wondered how long it would be until he was hungry again. Zalina could probably go and make something for herself, but she didn't want to risk this one's temper.

Dax finished his meal in no time at all and then graced her ears with a belch. In some cultures a belch was a compliment. In high society it was rather looked down upon. That's the class that Zalina had grown up around. So his burp made her eyes go wide and sit back in her chair for a moment. Surprise was written all over her face. He then complimented the food out loud so as to show his appreciation of the cuisine. Even though he'd called his food scraps, she had to admit if she had a more well stocked kitchen she could have done a far better job with the menu. But, she was glad that even his low quality ingredients were enough to satisfy his belly.

"I am so glad. With your permission, I'm going to go change out of these clothes. I'll do the dishes when I return..."

She'd then get up to leave unless he had anything else to say about the matter.

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

It should of drove him crazy or made him feel bad that he eat, while she...just sat there. Truthfully he consumed the food to fast for him to realize she was sitting there, watching him, growing opinions about him. But it was gone and so was the possibility of a feeling.

Although she was taken back at first, the quickly seemed pleased by the fact Dax enjoyed the meal. Then got up an decided that she needed to finally get out of the old gear. "I'm a little surprised it took you this long. Just use one of the empty bunks, drop your and make yourself at home." He said with a little humor, and almost dismissive.

Dax would would take a moment to return to the cockpit and check A-7. The droid was humming away. Dax watching at the little astromech was bouncing between nav calculations and a holonet drama show. Dax just rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Just get us to Umbara without crashing into a start." He told the droid.

With nothing else to do and a pleasantly full belly Dax decided to retire to his own bunk. IT would only be another couple of hours before they reached the edge of the sector so it was the perfect time for a short nap.

 

[Zalina Morganson]

"Well I wanted to cook for you after all," she admitted to his comment about it taking so long to get changed. "I'll be off then."

She left the kitchen then, first grabbing the bag she'd brought with her (the staff still left on the table), and then tried to find an empty bunk he'd specified. She turned a corner and put her finger to her lips. She didn't really want to go searching the ship for the right room. Turning to the first room she found, Zalina didn't even bother looking around to see that the room she'd gone into was occupied. Moving like she'd done a hundred times over, she dropped the armor and everything else.

Then, she began to dig around the bag looking for clothes. She pulled out a long tee that would fit her more like a night gown. She held it up, examining it with disgust. The shirt was dirty and really didn't smell all that great. With a sigh, she tossed it aside and looked for another. The bag held another shirt, but it was much in the same disrepair. Zalina groaned again and instead had another idea. She put her finger on her chin and looked around.

Now she realized she was in Dax's room. The place looked about as much as she expected. Nodding, she turned to his clothes closet and looked for a shirt that would be more her size. Good thing Dax was short for a guy. A good thing indeed. She pulled one out and nodded, knowing this would fit much better. She had no idea that someone behind her was watching....

 

[Dax Rau (TL8)]

The ship was a decent size for a light freighter, but even so. Dax managed to cross it in little time and without thinking that his stowaway would lazily wonder into his room. Hell he barely knew his room. Sill he opened the door and walking in as if he owned the place, cause well, HE DID.

Zalina seemed to not notice that he was now standing in the doorway of the room. Eyes dancing over her everything as she tossed one shirt and then the other. Dax managed not to laugh but could not hide his pleased green. For an underfed and neglected slave, she had an amazing body.

Finally she reached into his closet and traced her hands back and forth over his shirts. "Don't take the grey one, that's my favorite."

 

[Zalina Morganson]

"Holy mother of-!"

Zalina shrieked. Hearing the voice behind her made her jump and spin so hard her foot slipped on the metal floor and she fell backwards into his closet. The rack was knocked off it's hinge and everything came crashing down over her, burying her in clothes and jackets.

"....ow..."

Trying to rifle through the mess only made it worse and she ended up getting more tangled in the mess. She gave him a defeated look and whined slightly. "I'm so sorry," she'd say. Apologizing to him for some reason. "I'll clean it up right away...only...I seem to be stuck."