...and he immediately reached for his wristcomm, punching in a frequency. "Security, this is Captain Aaron Barnes. I want you to see to it that the TIE fighter in containment under the tractor beam in the main hanger bay has the extra security of two squadrons of gaurds. I also want you to see to it that our best engineers and technicians are allowed to look at the ship, and that the hard drive of her computer is copied, entirely. Orders understood?"

"Yes sir," came the crisp reply. Even as the reply came, Aaron could hear the respondent keying in access codes and orders as he spoke...

...and he knew his orders were being carried out at that very moment.

"I will be making a trip to the hangar bay, to ensure my orders are properly carried out," Aaron ended with before closing the connection and turning back to Nefrai and Manth.

"We should...keep that thing undr wraps," he then said, nodding to the helmet Nefrai still held, "But in the meantime...I feel I must return to the Jedi and my new... guest. You can accompany me for further drinks, or you can retire to quarters to rest as your ship maintanence is being carried out. What is your preference?"

--------------------

--------------------

For while she desired to return with the others, to learn more of this stranger who had come to them from the past, the fact of the matter was that she had just covertly rifled his computer systems.

The information she carried secreted upon her person was too valuable to risk in any manner.

So she let the odd look segue into a nod of acceptance, trusting that her companion would discover all she could about the stranger.

If not, perhaps, more.

She turned back to Barnes with a faint smile.

"Thank you, but I believe I wish to retire..."

To my ship! the thought followed directly on the heels of that statement.

However, not knowing a good enough reason to go to Forbiddance while it was yet in the midst of being upgraded, and not wishing to appear that she didn't believe Hornett's security wasn't as up-to-specs as her own, she finally decided to just return to her quarters.

She let her smile broaden, then fade.

"However, the appearance of this stranger disturbs me a bit; if you would be so kind as to provide some extra security for both me and my ship--?"

The let the words trail, having said all that was necessary, and waited to be dismissed back to her room.

--------------------

"This is Captain Barnes. I want a squad of security guards on Manth's ship as well," he then said.

A crisp "Yes sir" followed, then Aaron punched in another frequency, speaking again.

"I need four security guards from the Red Level in conference room 0915."

With nothing more than that, Aaron closed the connection and stepped up to the conference room doors, keying in the access code that made them slide obligingly open. There he waited for only a minute before the requested security arrived.

"Please escort Ms. Manth back to her quarters, where she can rest. See to it that 4 guards remain there...

...for purposes of her security."

Then he turned to Manth. "Your assistance has been greatly appreciated, and will continue to be," he said simply, stepping to the side and waiting, wondering if Kesh was still going to accompany him back now that his partner had decided to retire...

--------------------

And yet, he didn't.

"I'd venture to guess you will be spending some time here, considering your fighter has been damaged," Shawn began. "You are a man of deep convictions, and you must want to know about the past 50 years you've missed and the universe you now find yourself in. After all, this knowledge will give you an avenue to deciding what you will do here and now."

He paused, taking another drink of his ale.

"I know, trusting my information as a Jedi will be difficult for you," he said, his tone understanding, "But I'd be happy to begin filling you in...

...at least until you can get to sources to validate the information I would impart to you."

[ 05-01-2005 06:01 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Shawn Petrolu ]

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"I'd be grateful for any information you could impart, Master Jedi." It takes a supreme effort to maintain this civility, yet it's made just a touch easier by his own shock at his initial reaction. For a man so accustomed to being in complete control of himself, he's experienced quite a few outbursts since he's been here, none more potent than when presented with the Jedi. A lingering fear rests over his mind, flitting just beyond the realm of consciousness, perceptible only as a gentle unease. The more he thinks about it, the more he realizes that it's not just the presence of the Jedi, nor of anyone else aboard the ship, but rather the... absence... of something.

Setting these thoughts aside, he continues, "Tell me... If there is no Emperor, then there must be no Empire. I'm sure there are holdouts, Admiral Pelleaon for example, and I'm sure that there are some who have become nothing but petty warlords, but neither of these groups hold any significant power. Where then," he asks thoughtfully, "is order? Or has chaos descended everywhere in the galaxy?" As he turns to gaze at the stars again, he realizes that his question was directed out there just as much as it was directed toward the Jedi.

Dat turns again at the sound of the doors to the corridor opening, once again facing the Jedi, but looking past him into the passageway.

--------------------

"-Or has chaos descended everywhere in the galaxy?" Was the first thing he truely focused on. Stepping forwards he could not help but smile. "Chaos, no matter what facade of order those in it may present, has always controlled the galaxy. It is merely part of the balance."

He chuckled quietly, the deep sound echoing inside him for a moment before going silent.

--------------------

That statement just sounded rather like something Shayla would have come up with...

Squelching the thought, Shawn's greeny-blue gaze turned to Nefrai, his next words perhaps for him as well as Dat.

"There is a natural order to life, one which exists in that which we call the Force..."

He paused a moment as another thought crossed his mind, ...and in something even greater, according to some...

"During the times of the Republic, after the Emperor's death, the people were allowed to be the democracy and thus they governed themselves. And even now, even with the rise of the new Empire, people still have freedom to rule themselves...

...and honestly...particularly since Actar's strange disappearace from all things regarding the Empire...I have seen little change from how things once were. The Empire's eye remains steadfast and perhaps more quick to respond to threats...

...but other than that, the galaxy seems to remain at peace."

--------------------

Once the dialogue fades, however, his eyes stray to the other individual in the doorway, the person in whose hands his fate rests. Aaron's stoic silence is unnerving, to say the least. Why does he let them prattle on like this? Why doesn't he say something? Dat's gaze finds the other man's eyes, a calm acceptance of whatever may come filling the look.

--------------------

Was this guy even aware of what he had onboard his fighter? Was he aware of how deadly it was...

...and furthermore, did he even care? Dammitall...

Aaron shook himself from his momentary reverie and sat...

...only after ordering a Corellian Ale. All the while his eyes never left Dat's, and with each passing moment became increasingly more unreadable.

"Your ship will take some time to repair," he started up quite suddenly. "Though Eagle Enterprises will be able to come up with the parts to its rather outdated class, you will have to be patient."

He paused, pursing his lips before continuing. "That is, of course, if you want EE to repair your ship at all, or if you would prefer it to be repaired elsewhere..."

--------------------

Dat is well aware of the presence of the Jedi nearby, as well as the... other... though his focus rests squarely on Aaron. "I understand completely," Dat says, nodding to the Captain. "...Just as I understand your... reservations." His face still holding that genuine smile, he continues, "Since this is a business, however, I don't know how to repay you. I'm sure that any credits I might have would be next to worthless now. You must have some idea of how I'm to 'pay the bill.'"

The smile fades from Dat's visage as he speaks again, "...And then there's the question of me. What will you do with a soldier who's far beyond his time, whose war has been over for decades? Some might throw me in the brig, but you don't seem like the type. Of course, who knows? Where I come from, I'm universally feared and hated. That branding might even hold true now." He cocks his head to the side, peering over the rim of his drink. "What I'd really like to do is get out of this flight suit and into a clean uniform. I don't think you'll find anything in my cargo pods useful to the repair process, and nothing would feel better right now than a fresh set of clothes. Is there any way I could return to the ship to retrieve some things?"

[ 05-02-2005 08:12 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Dat Cyprios ]

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...or the Hornett's former Captain, for that matter. Aaron did a fairly decent job of masking any reaction he had to Dat's request, however.

"Our technicians are currently looking at your fighter to see what parts it will be needing...

...however, I'm certain someone there will be more than willing to bring up your essentials."

Saying this, Aaron waited for nothing further from Dat before he keyed a frequency in on his wristcomm and notified those in the main hangar bay to bring up some of Dat's things. Knowing the order would be carried out per specification and immediately, Aaron then turned back to Dat.

"I'm also assuming you may want some quarters where you may rest while you wait. And, as for paying your bill...

...I'm certain there is some sort of an arrangement that we can work out. Some of your "outdated" memories and information are still highly valuable ones..."

[ 05-02-2005 08:46 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aaron Barnes ]

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His eyes glow with mirth, though the mind behind them is examining every possible option. Can they know? And if so, do they hold it against me? Do they even care? It might be just as outdated as the fighter... "Information, Captain? What could I possibly know that could help you? Unless you want to trade ship parts for firsthand history lessons." He chuckles and sips his drink. Perhaps this joviality is just his way of "coming to terms" with his new situation...

"...But we can talk about that later. I think, with your permission, that I'll take you up on your offer of a place to rest. We can take care of all the details later, when I'm well-rested and up to the task." With that, he finishes his drink and sets the empty glass on the bar.

[ 05-02-2005 09:02 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Dat Cyprios ]

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...that I can do."

With yet another short command over his wristcomm, the doors to the dining area slid obligingly open, revealing a squad of Red Level gaurds. Aaron stood, and walked to them.

"See to it that the Major is taken to some quarters..."

He trailed for a moment, "...and gaurded by four men should he need anything."

--------------------

An overzealous guard, anxious, perhaps, because of the identity of this newcomer (rumors fly faster than light aboard ship) and angry, perhaps, because of his comment, bashes Dat viciously between the shoulder blades with the butt of his blaster rifle. Dat stumbles slightly, but doesn't fall, his eyes burning brightly with pain and rage, then fading away. Instead, he stares forward, moving through the passageways as directed with a neat, perfect military bearing that makes the security detail appear downright slovenly in comparison.

--------------------

--------------------

...but it's for everyone else's safety as well."

Trailing at that, Aaron took a sip of his Corellian Ale, frowning as he did so. "Tell me...what was it you meant a little while ago, about blaster fire not being the only thing that killed troops on Endor during the Death Star battle?"

--------------------

He thought for a moment. "In a way, I've been in most battles. I don't know how, but it was always instinct to "join in" and thus i have through history. I was on a craft for the battle of endor, I believe one of the largest in the battle. I disappeared just before it crashed into a larger ship."

--------------------

It was then that Dashawn took to a stand, shifting off the comfortable bed covering, which rubbed across his back like a Twi'lek's massage. Heading toward the door, he watched as the mechanics of advance science went about, forcing the metal door to slide to an open. Heading into the corridor and then the hallway, he went on his mission. Searching for any sign of the Jedi, and through the small comments and questions he had with the many other occupants of the base it became ever more clear where the man was.

After a momentary lapse of silence as he walked down his final corridor, passing a man and a few guards, he came to his stop. Inside there was an urge that plunged through his very soul, pushing him to step forth at the door. The simple notion at a forward head would open the door, but such an unexpected entrance would be rude...or atleast it had proven to be in the past.

"Is Shawn Petrolu in there?!" The young man yelled, his eyes piercing forth, as if searching inside. Hopefully the man was there, maybe some peace would come out of there meeting.

--------------------

Yet, he was a boy, so hope was somewhere within. The harsh grasp of reality hadn't tarnished his being enough, though his father had tried numerous times with his own hands. However, he was realistic, so as the wind blew, so did he. Jamel was out the door before midnight, which was suprising to the bartenders who had on a number of times asked for his help around the place for a few credits. On the streets he was just another boy, another face in the mixture of aliens and critters that came all alike and different. There was much to learn for Jamel and when to give up was one of them.

Clicking in the frequency as he walked across the streets, he requested another response from the Eagle Enterprise comm unit. Maybe this time...just this once, he'd find out something that'd get him closer to the presence of the Jedi he met on that fateful day, Shawn Petrolu.

--------------------

"What is the nature of your business?" the officer queried then waited, wondering what the reply might be.

-----------------------------

In the room where Deshawn had begun to bang insistently on the metal door, a group of unsuspecting EE employees remained totally unaware of the janitor's presence, as the doors had been designed specifically for soundproofing. Therefore they continued their work, unaware of the man's insistent knocks...

...and would remain thus until he discovered the commlink connection just beside the door.

--------------------

...and perhaps even feeling a bit nervous. He shot a sidelong glance at the quiet Jedi, whose look was obstinately unreadable.

"Having this man, Major Cyprios, on this ship is a major risk. However, it could be a major advantage...

...but pursing that possibility would include a taking a major risk. This guy has fighting prowess, knowledge of Imperials--however outdated--and he has plans aboard his ship I'd like to get a copy of and wipe from his files before he realizes it. Therefore, I need a distraction."

Pausing at this, Aaron rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I know how Manth feels about Cyprios...

...but tell me, if we pointed out that having him under the observation of a Jedi and Kesh would be in everyone's best interest...

...do you think we could convince her to have Dat on the mission team? That is, of course, if we can convince the Major to even go?"

[ 05-07-2005 12:10 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Aaron Barnes ]

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The target being a simple man at a desk, far, far away...

"This is Jamel. I'm searchin' for a Shawn. A Shawn Petrolu. My buisness is contacting him. I heard he has some sort of affilation with the E.E"

The finger of the boy rested from the comm. unit. His eyes trailed off, awaiting, in thought. There was a point of contemplation resting in his aura as he took to respite against the wall, his eyes traveling to the sky in await. There was a darkness above, but it was to be expected on a planet like this. Yet the star riddled night sky seemed to be a reflection. A reflection of Jamel and his mind.

--------------------

It ran itself along the young Dashawn's face, wrinkling the smoothness of his cheeks. The content rays which emit from his eyes took within as they closed, a satisfactory coming to his aura in a sudden rush. There was an accomplishment in there air, but was completely disfigured by the misdirecting of the young man's newly formed features. Opening his eyes from a calm close, he reached down, touching the comm. link beside the door that he had missed previously.

Activating the transmission after a solitare moment, he sighed. Slowly leaning forth, he dipped his head, feeling his bangs slap against his forehead and rest for a second before his words pierced through the lull that ran through the corridor.

"This is Dashawn E'bnnwing. A janitor. I'm hopin to see Shawn Petrolu."

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