The Hangar

The inside of the ship, if possible, looked worse than the outside. More than half the wall panels were missing, showing off their tangled collections of wires. A few of the deck plates were also missing, with extra struts bolted into place to allow passage. There was also plenty of evidence that until recently the tangles of cords had been inhabited, along with widespread radiation scoring on nearly every visible surface showing what cleared them out. On the plus side, it was obvious that the radiation itself had been taken care off, as whoever had done the work hadn't cleaned up after themselves very well. The young man at least had the decency to look slightly embarrassed by all this.

-Z'har
The quarters are this way.

Despite how bad the main corridor looked, this side loop showed signs of serious attempts at repair. Most of the worst stains had been scrubbed out. While many of the panels were still missing, it was fairly obvious that someone had been working their way down the hall, sorting the cables, tying them into tidy bundles & labeling them with coloured ribbons. A closer look would show that each of the worked on sections had the colour code chart printed on the back wall behind the wires. roughly half the length of the hall had been cleaned up. Along the 'outer' edge of the half-circle were five doors, each apparently leading to a room. The first had been obviously repaired & refitted sometime in the resent past. The name 'Z'har' was stenciled on it in block letters. The next door was the one the young man led Adelle to. The room shown had military style bunking, there were cots for four people, or twice that number if people camped out on the floor. By the door was also a number of lockers, each large enough to fit a spacer's chest. Like the hallway outside, the room had been fixed up already. The remaining three doors in the hallway looked like they hadn't been touched yet.

-Z'har
You can leave your bags in here. The lockers don't lock unfortunately, but you can still use them otherwise. The common area is over here.

The common room filled in the half-circle area between the quarters & the main hall, with a door leading into each. It wasn't nearly as good as fixed up areas, but it had also received some attention. Mostly in the cooking areas. There was a holoprojector in one corner, but it was probably non-functional as half its parts were spread out in neat ranks on the floor around it.

Only a few minutes later, a pair of figured barreled out of the Temple entrance and muscled their way through the hangar. The larger of the two figures was immense--an armored hulk just a little out of proportion for humanity--cut a wide swath through the morning crowds, and the young woman behind it had no trouble following all the way to the freighter waiting at the end of the bay. When they stopped at the freighter, however, both were stopped short by the fact that there was apparently no one outside to meet them.

The woman peeking out from behind the droid shot a dubious look at the ship. "You're sure this is it?"

The droid's dome flickered, the pretty blond face projected on it switching to a look of amusement. "Na'an, you of all people should know not to judge by appearances." Its bulk turned back to the ship, and when it spoke again, the sonorous female voice boomed across the bay at an increased volume. "Ho, Captain, passengers requesting to come aboard. We sent word three days ago of our destination?"

Na'an scowled, the minor frustrations of the morning finally starting to add to three days' worth of tension. "Leigh, this thing is a nightmare," she said. "You did remember that I need a ship with functioning life support, right? Nothing we talked about will matter if I'm dead three seconds out of orbit."

Na'an's expression did not improve. "This is the--what other woman? Leigh, you're not helping."

In response, Leigh crossed up the ramp and reached for the young captain's hand. Her own hand enveloped his easily, the cold durasteel pressing against synthetic flesh with an equally practiced smoothness. "Thank you, sir," she said pleasantly. "I trust that with our friend aboard, this ship is specced to handle passengers with more organic needs. We can provide for our own sustenance if it's not currently accounted for."

Na'an followed up at a jog. Her eye flicked back and forth between her companion and the dandy of a captain, clearly at a loss as to what to make of this conversation. "Will someone please let me know what's going on, and quickly? I don't like being confused on takeoff."

Leigh wasted no time. "This is our captain, and we will be sharing passage with Miss Adelle Bastiel, at her insistence."

".....What?!?"

The face on the holographic dome blinked, it's blue-tinted eyes twinkling with what could be read, by those with the subtlety to see it, as humor. "Suit?"

With that, she shook the captain's hand once more, then released her grip and made her way into the ship's primary corridor. "I still have the details you sent me," she said brusquely, ignoring the consternation she ubdoubtedly was causing in the mind of their captain. "We will ensure that our belongings are secure, but we should be it."

Na'an nodded briefly at the captain, then bolted aboard after Leigh. She followed halfway down the loop, then elbowed her way under the droid's arm, wedging her way to the front of the corridor and forcing her partner to stop.
"So let me get this straight. She's aboard," she said hotly, "She's coming along on this little trip, after everything I told you. I assume I don't get a say in this? Again?"

Leigh's good humor faded somewhat; it was with a serious look that she met Na'an's eye. "I am afraid neither of us do. She is already on the manifest and has taken her leave of the Temple. I doubt she will be dissuaded."

"Well, of all the carking..." Na'an exhaled in a nervous whoosh, breaking into a nervous pace with her fingers at her scalp. "Okay. Okay, then. Soon as we're underway I want to see her. You're coming too. Adelle needs to know what she's signing on for."

*From her perch on the ground, Morgan watched Na'an and Leigh arrive not too much later, also boarding the ship. Morgan almost wanted to call out, say goodbye, wish them well, but the shadow of a smile vanished from her expression as she simply remained still, watching a new friend also disappear into the ship.

She continued to watch, remaining on the ground even as the ship's ramp closed, its engines came alive, and it began to lift off. She only began to move as the repulsed air almost-slammed against her, ruffling her fur and blowing her hair back. She stumbled to her feet and darted after the ship as it began to move out of the hangar. Bare feet met hardened dirt as Felucia's sun greeted her with its warmth, but Morgan continued to run out into the open, stopping and staring up at the ship as it shrank into the sky.

Morgan stood still as the light that was her Mama dimmed. Vainly she reached out into the sky with her right hand, her feelings desperately extending with it. Suddenly, she felt a presence wrap around her, amplifying her spiritual reach, ensuring that her last touch would reach into the sky.

Would give Mama her final goodbye.

The ship disappeared from sight, and the presence from sense. Mama was still there in the Force, but no longer within her reach. It never got easier each time; it was like a sudden severing, not unlike whenever Morgan left Felucia herself. She started to shake with each sob that was no longer suppressed.* "Really?" *she choked out between sobs, reaching up to wipe her tear-filled eyes with her wrists as she smiled mirthlessly.* "I'm eleven and I'm g-gonna cry just cuz Mama's gone?" *Much as she chided herself, she couldn't stop the tear flow.

Yeah. She was gonna cry. Why not? It hurt. Mama had barely been back at all...

Nevertheless, she continued wiping her eyes, to her credit managing to keep her cries subdued to mere sniffling and small sobs; at least she wasn't outright bawling, right? Though she did jump and gasp when something rather heavy nudged her shoulder. Spinning, she looked into the enormous purple eyes of an akk, one that seemed very concerned for her. She relaxed with a sigh and smiled through the tears, once more wiping her eyes before wrapping her arms around the creature's neck.* "I'm okay, Rush," *she assured him as he nuzzled against her.

Rush hadn't come alone; tumbling out of the brush was a large mass of tentacles, stopping and orienting its large, bulbous, multi-eyed head as it saw Morgan. The rathtar tilted its head, making an odd rumbling noise that sounded like an inquiry. For a ferocious, sharp-toothed monster, it was somehow kind of cute, enough to make Morgan giggle softly.* "It's fine, Terror." *She walked past the creature's tentacles and nuzzled against it as well, careful not to touch his eyes. She looked back at Rush, noticing Lokay had taken up his perch atop the akk's neck once more. Giggling at the tailring, she looked up at the sky once more before sighing.* "At least I have you guys to keep me happy..."

*She looked off into the jungle, the territory of her mother Felucia. At least Morgan still had her... She stepped away from Terror and strode towards the jungle's edge. Sure, it was a little early, and sure, she hadn't eaten at all yet, but there was food in the jungle. And she'd feel a lot better out there than in the cold, artificial halls of the Jedi Base. Her mind made up, she looked over her shoulder, eyes still somewhat moist but a smile on her lips as she beckoned her pets along with a nod. Rush padded along after her, Lokay remaining perched upon him, and Terror resumed his tumbling as they all returned into the jungle.*

*A YX-1980 sat in the hangar of the Jedi Base. Its history was a brief but no less wild one, and it began with the fact that it belonged to a handful of eleven-year-olds. There were five of them in this group: Morgan Calmcacil, daughter of the Jedi Base's headmaster; Niam Althacorr, Arkanian boy; Kodagin Vant, Devaronian boy; Delaney Vada, daughter of a Zeltron and a human; and Sylvie, a rare Sylphe individual. They had banded together and created a little "crime-busting unit" as they had fancied themselves. Despite a little friction between teammates, they actually worked together quite well. They'd even gone as far away as the world of Randa to tackle a mission there.

That was when they had come across this ship, and it was gifted to them after the success of their mission after their previous ship had fallen into... disrepair. This had of course excited the unit, but unfortunately for them, they had to make an emergency stop to examine their failing hyperdrive. On the world of Zerm—which was quite an adventure in and of itself—they discovered that the ship was... not quite in the best shape. The people of Zerm had done their best to get the ship at least spaceworthy again so that they could return home, but they were forbidden from flying it until it was fully repaired and in working order from top to bottom once again.

However, instead of immediately accept help from on-site mechanics, Niam had relished the opportunity to repair the vessel, which had yet to be named still. With the help of Bolt, a green R3 unit belonging to Aerandir Calmcacil but lent to the party, he spent much of his free time in the hangar, scanning the ship and determining what needed work and where. Koda, not to be one-upped by the boy, also lent whatever aid he could, though it was mostly kept to simple tasks and heavier work; even he was able to admit he wasn't capable of dealing with the more technical work. This resulted in the occasional complaining, but, when Niam suggested he simply stop working, Koda stubbornly refused.

Meanwhile, the girls had taken care of personalizing their quarters and parts of the ship, relocating some effects they'd kept in their previous clubroom, which had since been converted back into a standard dorm. Sylvie had seen fit to add a few plants to the galley, consulting with Niam about which ones would fit the most. She'd settled on two shrubs, flanking the entrance of the galley.

The interior was coming together quite well, but there was still a lot of work on the outside. Niam was standing beneath the port engine compartment, datapad in his hands, a readout displayed upon it. Bolt was tending to the superficial features, making sure all was in place while Koda sat on a stack of crates not far away.

Noticing this, Niam clicked his tongue.* "Koda, honestly, those don't belong to us."

*Koda groaned and stood up before immediately folding his legs on the ground and his arms across his chest.

Niam rolled his eyes and peered towards the hangar's entrance as he heard the whine of incoming ships. Three of them, Hammerhead corvettes, one far more damaged than the other two.* "Somewhat primitive models," *he commented to himself, eyes still focused on them beneath his Arkanian blinders. Suddenly realizing something, he returned his gaze to his datapad, pulling aside the reading and skimming through some historical files.* "Knew it."

"Knew what?"

*Niam's turn to groan.* "If you knew your history, Koda, you'd recognize these ships belonged to Gadriel'ya, one of the founders of the Felucian Conclave."

*Koda only scratched the back of his bald, red skull. Niam rolled his eyes and studied the ships a moment more, watching as they situated themselves and personnel left the ship, some seeing to repairs. Surprisingly, two of them looked a little lost. He shrugged, assuming someone else would be coming along soon to aid them, and returned his focus to the ship and to check on Bolt's progress.*

*The sudden enthusiastic greeting caused the heads of Niam, Koda, and even Bolt to turn. Admittedly, Niam was at first not so enthusiastic at the interruption, but he turned to face her anyway, prepared to professionally explain briefly the ship's history and why he was working on it—*

"Well, hello there!" *the Devaronian boy greeted, pushing himself to his feet and approaching her with a grin.* "Who might you be?"

*Niam sighed and shot him a glare.* "Koda, please. She asked about the ship, not you." *Looking away from the now-flustered boy, Niam focused his gaze neutrally upon the girl.* "Forgive his lack of forethought. I'm Niam, and this is our ship. It was... a gift, but as it turned out, it was full of problems that chose not to manifest until we were on our way. Probably nothing you're interested in."

*Niam almost found himself losing patience when the girl seemed to completely ignore the topic of the ship and instead gave her name, before asking for the astromech's name. The little droid only briefly hesitated, as though surprised and maybe perhaps a bit honored that an organic had cared about its name as well as the others. Bolt responded with a short series of chirps, which Niam began to interpret.* "His name is—"

*Niam and Koda were both taken aback at Lana's apparent ability to understand the droid and even exchanged a brief glance. Koda seemed amazed but Niam looked impressed, folding his arms, dangling the datapad from one hand.* "Guess I underestimated you. If you can understand binary, maybe you do care about mechanical stuff."