enAuthors Notes: Hello and welcome to the fist chapter of 'Eyes of the Storm.' This is a personal made fanfiction that will follow the SWTOR Smuggler storyline. The Smuggler story line is one of my favorites. It combines a gritty realism with a fantasy adventure that leaves much open to interpretation. The Smuggler is simply one person struggling against a galaxy that's trying to out the underdog. Something most people can appreciate.
As always, I own none of the character or products of Bioware or Lucas Games.
This story will include a number of scenes that occur between missions, points of views from the various companions and people around, as well as reveling the backstory of my own character, Challeen, who's personality and story belong solely to me.
At the end of each chapter, I will include an explanation for some of the lore included in that chapter. While I will not claim to be an expect of Star War lore, I do research to ensure I get as accurate a setting as I can. However, if I make a mistake, I encourage my readers to contact me so I doesn't happen the future.
As always, reviews are welcome and flames will be ignored. Please enjoy the story.
When Corso had first laid eyes on the Captain, he hadn't known what to think. Well…he'd had a few thoughts, but none of them were ones he'd express to a Lady, especially one he just met. And one whose presence alone had made him shift a bit uneasily. Working with Viidu for the last five years had been profitable and enjoyable. The husky man was like a second father to him. Corso trusted him without question. So when Viidu had told him to work with Skavak, Corso hadn't argued.
Truthfully, he'd never really liked Skavak. The man was an egomaniac and hornier than Devaronian on Spice. But no one could say the man wasn't smart. Despite his lax treatment of the fairer sex (at least in Corso's opinion), Skavak knew his way around the galaxy. Which is why Viidu took him on. Skavak had waved him over, saying he'd arranged a delivery and they needed to prep the landing pad. Corso hadn't asked any question, just trotted out the door with the slick human.
Waiting on the Captain's ship to arrive, Corso had finally though to ask Skavak about the person arriving. Skavak had shrugged lightly and replied, "Just some freighter pilot that happened to get the job. Nobody special Corso. Oh…hey...Head high Riggs. There's our ship."
Corso had lifted his head and watched the cargo starship with interest. Looking back, just seeing how the Captain had handled flying into and landing on Ord Mantell, he really should have had a better idea of who he was dealing with. The XS Freighter class ship had almost looked like it was gliding through the air, floating on an invisible cloud that would keep it airborne no matter what.
Even when laser fire had suddenly shot up from the ground without warning, the ship had smoothly rolled to the side in a surprisingly graceful arch, looking almost peaceful among the hailstorm of death that attempted to bring it down. It was like watching a tree bend in the wind, easily maneuvering around the obstacle and coming to a perfect landing before the two men. Corso had been impressed at the Captain right then and there. Everything that happened afterwards only increased that feeling a hundred fold.
When the ramp had lowered from the doorway of the ship, Corso had waited somewhat eagerly for the exit of the Captain, wanting to slap the man on the back for his gusty and talented flying. His enthusiasm had been paused by the sight of who walked out of the starship. Not a scarred and bitter spacer...but a women. And an alien to boot, a Twi'lek. Corso recalled his first thought when he'd laid eyes on the Captain with some embarrassment. 'That's it? She's so small.' And she was small, a little bit of a thing. But as the Captain had walked towards the two men, Corso's opinion started to change almost immediately.
It was the way she carried herself. Confidence radiated from the petite Twi'lek like light from a blue sun. She held her head high, chin tilted at just such an angle that it looked like she was challenging the whole galaxy to take her on. She wore snug fitting pants that emphasized the lean, toned muscles of her thighs. A single blaster was holstered at her hip. It looked well worn, the handle smudged in places from constant use. A larger scattergun was slug across her back, but it was clear her blaster was what one really needed to pay attention to.
Her torso was wrapped in what Corso recognised as body armor, but it was thinner than any he'd ever seen and didn't diminish from the appealing curves the Twi'lek boosted. Actually, if anything the form fitting protection enhanced her femininity, making her look soft and warm, a temptation just out of arms reach. He remembered that his eyes had lingered on her luscious bosom before his chivalrous nature kicked in and Corso had raised his eyes to her face while fighting down an shameful blush.
He'd seen his fair share of the tentacle humanoid race, mostly females in Cantina's wearing next to no clothing and swaying their hips in the faces of anyone who'd pay credits for a good time. Looking at the cherry blossom pink skin of the Captain as she approached them, Corso felt a sizzle run across his skin. Her headtails were patterned with black stripes that reminded Corso of a tiger. No unusual, most Twi'lek lekkus had some markings. But it was the facial markings that he found fascinating. Twin black stripes shaped almost like a pair of lighting bolts went from the inner corner of her eyes, across her cheeks and down her neck, disappearing under her taupe shirt. A triangular marking covered her chin, the point just brushing over her lower lip. Corso briefly wondered if that marking would change the texture of her lips before he gave himself a mental kick. No need to be thinking that, they still had a job to do.
Skavak hadn't said anything till the Captain had walked up to them, inclining her head and turning to look over her shoulder at the still firing turrets before smirking to herself like she was sharing some private joke the two men had no right to hear. When she'd looked back at the two men, she'd met his eyes briefly. 'So blue, like clear sunny skies. Beautiful'. She had bright, shining iris's that almost looked to glow and shimmer. Corso swore for a moment he could see the whole galaxy in those cornflower eyes.
Yeah...Corso hadn't known what to think when he'd first met her. She wasn't anything like what he was expecting. And that had only gotten worst as the next few days had rolled on. The Captain had dealt with Skavak in a brisk, professional way, telling Corso right away that she was good at her job. He still recalled the chill up his spine when she'd shook his hand and spoke her name, "Challeen, most people call me Chall."
Challeen...it suited her. The name rolled pleasantly off the tongue and lingered in the ears like a song. Some alien names were harsh and sticky, hard to pronounce and harder still to get right. And in the business Corso was in, mispronouncing a name could mean the difference between a closed deal and a Cantina brawl ending in bruises and broken bones. So he was glad the Captain's name was so easy to speak.
Even seeing the slight lip curl of disgust that Skavak had thrown her way, she hadn't been ruffled or offended. She'd collected her payment for the blasters, ignoring Skavak's obvious distain of dealing with aliens. Corso figured she must be accustom to it, a lot of humans were Xenophobe's. It still made him want to pummel Skavak to a pulp for insulting a Lady, but if the Captain didn't take offensive action, there was no need for Corso to. After all, she was going to be gone in a few minutes. At least...that had been his thoughts at the time.
When the call had come in that the miserable Separatists had high jacked the Land Cannon and Challeen couldn't take off without getting blown to smithereens, her face had shifted from the professional cargo Captain to...something else. Something...dark...dangerous and something that made Corso want to immediately find cover. The expression on her face had been brief, but it had solidified one thing in Corso's mind. He was NOT going to cross this Spacer.
Unfortunately...Skavak had missed that memo. Or possibly ignored it. Corso recalled that resistance the Captain had displayed when told to leave the hanger to disable the Sep's hold on the Land Cannon. He realised now that Challeen may have sense Skavak's intentions, even though she'd only known him for a few minutes. The Captain seemed to have a sixth sense for trouble, an eye for seeing betrayal before it happened. Corso was quickly learning to trust the Captain's instincts. Stars knew that he'd been completely blindsided by Skavak when the Separatists had flooded the hanger and the dark haired human had spun with a smirk, blaster aimed at his chest, "No hard feeling Corso. But I got bigger plans to move onto."
Those had been the last words he'd said. Working with the man for over a year, and he didn't even hesitant to shoot a blaster round into him. Of course, the chest plate he wore absorbed most of the damage, though it still stung like a bitch. The wide arching pistol swung at Corso's head had hurt a lot more.
Corso recalled the rumble of the Freighter's engines firing up though the swirling haze of fighting to stay conscious. He also remembered the extreme silence that had followed the ships departure from the landing pad. Opening his eyes, he blearily saw the trim form of Challeen standing in the open doorway of the hanger, looking at the empty spot where her ship had once been. And saying nothing...
She hadn't flown off the handle, screaming and swearing to the sky at the theft of her ship. She hadn't spun on him, snarling in rage that he'd let Skavak pull the wool over his eyes. No...Challeen had stood before the empty landing pad. Calmly. For a fraction of a second, Corso had thought that she hadn't been upset about the loss of her property. Till she'd turned around and walked over to him, kneeling down to assess him injuries. That's when he'd seen those eyes.
For as long as Corso lived and breathed, he never, EVER wanted to see those eyes aimed at him. Those beautiful, cloudless blue eyes had changed. As Challeen had prodded at his wounds, waiting for his head to clear, Corso saw those eyes in all their wrathful and deadly glory. The blue orbs had darkened...holding a rage so intense Corso swore he felt all of Ord Mantell tremble from it. Not longer a clear, crisp cerulean...no...the eyes of his Captain were clouded now. Blackened like an incoming storm, with swirls of grey and indigo looking like approaching thunder. Like he'd just stepped back into his old farmhouse and was looking out the window at an encroaching tempest filled with gales of destructive force just looking for a place to let loose.
Corso hadn't realized he started to shake till the Captain raised those terrifying eyes to him. Those eyes sent a thrill thought him, one that he was still trying to figure out.
He'd learned that Challeen was a medic. One hell of a medic in fact. She'd assessed his wounds within moments, whipping out a tube of Kolto and smearing the healing gel over his bruised jaw before he'd had a chance to protest. Her storm filled eyes had faded slightly during her treatment of him, but the rumble of rage could still be heard in her voice when she spoke. Corso had told her about Viidu and the two had set off once he could stand.
The trip back to Fort Garrick had been...interesting. Challeen had firmly demanded any and all information he'd known about Skavak. Still feeling the sting of betrayal and all too ready to throw the backstabber under the Rancor that was rapidly turning into the commonly Captain, Corso had spilled everything. Viidu had been an assets in tracking the Bantha trash. Corso felt an empty, hollow pain in his chest recalling how they'd found his employer and friend.
It had certainly been a hell of a few days on Ord once the Captain had set her mind to track Skavak. Despite Viidu sending her into deathtrap after deathtrap, Challeen had not only come back in one piece, but she'd come back with every bit of info needed to break through the Separatists lines. And barley had a scratch on her to boot. Knowing she was a medic and tooting a bag full of Kolto could only explain her uncanny luck to an extent.
It was only after he'd insisted on joining her in infiltrating the Sep's main base that he'd learned just how capable and clever his Captain really was. She'd fought against him accompanying her at first, stating that he'd slow her down. Corso figured it was once again one of those times his Captain had sensed a wrongness in the air. He made a mental note to pay a lot closer attention when Challeen got those feelings, she really did have a knack for sniffing out deception.
The trip to the volcano Separatists hideout had gone smoothly. They hadn't met any resistance. Crouched behind a rocky outcrop, Challeen had turned her now storm enraged eyes on him. Corso had shivered from the glance, but felt better knowing that crashing thunder wasn't aimed at him. The Captain was about to step into a warzone, and she knew how to handle herself. Challeen had waved him over, maneuvering him into a standing position before suddenly dropping to her knees in front of him. Corso, being a young male in his prime and having admired the pretty view of the Captain, immediately thought the worst (and best) and had yelped in sheer shock, "Cap-Captain!...really!? Wha-What are you...!"
Challeen, perhaps having expected his reaction and backpedaling, had grabbed his hips in both hands to keep him still and glared up at him, "Riggs! Quit moving! This is a delicate device and I'm not going to have it broken because of your overzealous imagination. Hold still! This'll only take a minute."
Her sharp tone and surprisingly strong grip worked to make him freeze in place. Corso was sure his face had been redder than a Tatoonie sunset, but he'd obediently stood still while the Captain connected a device to his ammo belt. He'd observed her work with curiosity. The machine looked sorta like a Shield Generator, but it was smaller and had more wires. After she'd finished, Challeen had stood up, dusting off her pants and looking as comfortable as could be considering she'd been kneeling with her face at the level of his groin for over 2 minutes. She'd explained the device shortly afterwards.
"What I just hooked up is called a Stealth Generator. It works similar to a Shield Generator, expect instead of blocking incoming blaster fire, it refracts incoming light waves and reflects them back out, creating an image of whatever's behind you. Now, before you go getting excited Corso, this is not instant invisibility. Its like active camouflage. It makes it so you can blend into the background, become unnoticed by most eyes that pass over you. It has limits. You're not going to be able to stroll past some guards and not get spotted. The faster you move, the more likely you are to be seen, so we're going to be taking it slow. Its best to stick close to walls and shadows when using the Generator. We'll also need to find cover from time to time to let the battery pack recharge. This is a heavily guarded place, less alarms we raise, the more likely we'll be to succeed. You'll need to step lightly too, it only hides your body, not your sounds. Any questions?"
Corso had been beyond impressed. He had a good amount of knowledge about weapons, but he'd never heard of a Stealth Generator before. He'd wondered briefly just who the pretty Captain had as contacts that let her get her hands on that kind of technology. He hadn't had the nerve to ask her then, and still hadn't work it up yet. Infiltrating the Separatists base had revealed a lot about the Captain that Corso hadn't know before.
She was patient and able to move like a serpent through sand. Corso had followed her lead, listening to the near silent steps she walked in front of him, only seeing her because he knew to look for the slight outline the Stealth Generator couldn't quite hide. Several times, she'd held his hand as they crept by a patrol of guards, showing him how to move and keeping him close. His hand still tingled a bit from the touch.
He'd thought they'd be caught for sure when they ended up crouched behind a stack of crates, waiting for the Generator to recharge. Corso had heard the laughter of the Sep's on the other side of their hiding place, mocking the Republic soldiers that fought against them and bragging about their recent civilian kills. His hands had shook in rage, gripping his rifle so tightly he'd thought he might break the weapon. It had be the soft touch of Challeen's hands that had broke his red hazed vision. The warm fingers, warmer than a human hand by a few degrees, had made him pause and look up at her. She'd had a gentle expression on her face, one that almost didn't suit the rough tumble Captain. One of...understanding?
That's when Corso came to realise the Captain was much more than simply first rate Smuggler. She was a women, one who'd clearly been through hell, fought, bled and sacrificed to get where she was. What she'd been through he still had no idea, but she understood what he'd been through. She understood that he was still raw and bleeding from his parents death, still tossed and turned at night, wondering if he could have done more, what might have been different if he'd been at the ranch when the Separatists attacked. She understood his anger, his hate towards the heartless, fanatical rebels that had ripped Ord Mantell, ripped his home, apart. She understood...and her swirling stormy eyes held a promise that he'd have vengeance. It was that silent vow that made him stay still and not burst through the crates to dismember the chortling Sep's.
Once they'd made their way further into the base, things had gotten a lot more hairy. Upon learning that the rebels had be suckered by Skavak, a shoot out had gone down. That had been the first time Corso had seen the Captain in combat. And it wasn't one he was going to be forgetting soon. Challeen had moved like she was born to fight. The first blast she'd shot had blow the head off the nearest Separatists, sending fragments of brain and bone spewing onto his companions. The speed at her draw and gore covering their faces had caused the remaining dupes to pause.
Corso had unslung his rifle and started firing, but his shots were more suppression then actual damage, though he got in a few good kills himself. Cause the Captain had plunged head first into the Sep's ranks and rendered absolute havoc. He remembered watching her with awe. Challeen had used a combination of close ranged blaster fire and dirty fighting tactics, one of which included pistol whipping a Sep that tried to bring her down via yanking on her Lekku. That poor, poor unfortunate soul had received a point blank shot straight to the balls for his trouble, leaving him screaming in pain and curled on the volcano floor.
In a cruel display the left Corso chilled to the bone, Challeen had left that human howling in agony as her heated weapon found other marks, felling the small group before she walked back over to the bleeding, sobbing wretch and put a round in his head with a sneer on her lips.
It had been a gory, brutal display of just how deadly the petite little Twi'lek really was. And a final nail in the coffin of vows Corso had made. Top of that list was, once again, he was NEVER going to cross this women. When they'd found the last of the Sep's cowering in the back, begging for his life and stating that Skavak had run off with some kind of antique droid, Corso felt the old hate rise to the surface. He'd leveled his rifle at the rebel, seeing his families burnt farmhouse in his mind. When the trembling human had blurted out a name familiar to him, the Captain had growled lowly. Corso hadn't even know she knew how to growl, let alone that she could express the sound in such a way that his stomach actually flipped.
Especially when she'd turned away from him while snarling, "Getting real tired of people on this planet stabbing me in the back. Finish it Riggs...we've got a Whomp Rat to kill."
Corso had been too emotionally unstable to question her order, firing off a round into the pleading Separatists head without hesitation. He felt mildly better afterwards, like maybe his dead parents would rest a bit easier. But it hadn't stopped the wave of uneasiness filling him as he rushed after the Captain and high tailed it back to Fort Garrick. Whether it was luck or skill, they'd arrived just as Syreena was calling Skavak on the Holovid. Corso remembered seeing Viidu's body laid out like a bag of trash, the acrid smell of burnt flesh and smoldering blaster residue.
The Captain appeared to have already made her choice in the matter, leveling her pistol at Syreena while Skavak watched with a disturbed smile. Despite the ache of treachery that Syreena's actions left, the thought of killing her made him feel sick. Syreena was still a women, a Lady, someone that needed to be protected. People could call him naïve, call him stupid or weak. But he just could stomach the thought of killing a women. It just wasn't right.
Challeen didn't seem to agree. Her finger had already been tightening on the trigger, even as Syreena back away with panic filling her eyes. Corso hadn't known what to do. He didn't want to step in-between the Captain and Syreena, but he also did not want to have to witness the execution of someone he'd once called a friend. He hadn't realized he'd spoken till the sound left his mouth, "Captain..."
Challeen's eyes had flicked over to him briefly before returning to Syreena. Corso hadn't had the nerve to say anything else, truly fearing for his own life in that moment. The Captain hadn't had a good time on Ord, being betrayed and beat up wherever she went. His assistance to her had been minimal at best. And he didn't think for a moment that she wasn't cold blooded enough to kill him too if he interfered. But...to his amazement, she'd lowered her blaster from Syreena's face and slipped it back into its holster.
Syreena, to her credit, had wised up and offered two tickets for a shuttle to Coruscant, where Skavak was headed with the Captain's stolen ship. Challeen had waved Syreena away, telling her to stay the hell out of her sights before walking over to Viidu's body. Corso remembered how she'd knelt beside the pudgy human, eyes scanning his cold form. Corso has observed her carefully, watching as she reached out, almost tenderly, to close Viidu's dead eyes.
He realized that she'd regretted not being present, not being able to protect the extravagant man from his own trusting nature. But she'd stood after a few moments and plucked up the shuttle pass, ready to walk out and leave everything behind. It had been that moment that he'd gotten over his skittishness around her. Corso had stepped in her path, stopped her and demanded to accompany her to Coruscant.
And that's how he ended up here. Crammed about a tinny civilian transport heading for the capital planet. Corso leaned back on the metal bunk, scratching idly at his neck scars. Funny how things worked out. Here he was, flying away from Ord Mantell after five years, ready to make a new start somewhere else. Stretching out, he winced a bit when his feet hit the wall. The transport had tiny quarters for sleeping, barely able to hold a bunk.
More like living in a closet, but if it got him and the seven other people, including two Republic soldiers he'd spotted boarding with them, Corso could live with it for a few days. They were due to arrive on Coruscant in 2 days. He hoped that they managed to beat Skavak there. But more importantly...he hoped that the Captain wouldn't abandon him on the bustling core world. Because he'd come to a realization over the cramped shuttle ride about the lovely Twi'lek.
She didn't need him.
Even as the thought crossed his mind, Corso winced. Because he knew it was true. Challeen was a tougher than Mandalorian steel, smarter than Yaka and deadly than a hungry Rancor. She'd been around the galaxy, been through all kinds of hell and was still standing strong and proud. So yeah...the Captain didn't need him to find Skavak or her stolen ship. The only reason he was here was because there had been a second pass to the shuttle. Once the two of them hit Coruscent, there was no reason for her to stay with him. Unless...unless he gave her one.
Corso stared at the ceiling of his itty bitty sleeping quarters, thinking long and hard. Yes, the slight alien Captain still put the fear of God in him. Especially when she was mad. But there was a softness he'd seen. It was rare and fleeting, but it was still there. Corso wanted to see Skavak's face when Chall found him, wanted to see those blue, blue eyes cloud over. Watch the storm rise and fall, hear the crack of thunder and watch the flash of lighting.
Yes...he wanted to stay with the Captain. But to do that...he need to give her a reason to keep him. Grunting to himself, Corso pulled himself from the bunk and shouldered his rifle. It was time to have a chat with the fair Twi'lek he'd been paired with.
Challeen had always known the galaxy was a harsh place. She'd learned from a very young age that there were few people she could rely on. Not that she was a complete cynic, she did try to give people the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes it worked, other times it bit her in the ass. Regardless, Chall had persevered and was well on her way to earning a small name for herself among the underworld.
The job on Ord Mantell had paid well enough and she'd made sure to collect before leaving her ship unguarded. Skavak may have been a low life son-of-a malnourished Hutt, but the man had to have some serious tech skills to have maneuvered past her locking mechanisms. She'd installed and upgraded them personally. And she knew her work wasn't shoddy. So Skavak either had some talented fingers or he'd been well prepared. Either way, the rouge in her was impressed. Angry as hell and itching to blast the bastards smug smile straight to the Pit, but impressed none the less.
She reflected back on her leaving of Ord. The arrival of the hired guns by Rogun was concerning. Even though Viidu had done what her could to draw the man's attention away, he'd still found time to put a price on her head. Challeen made a note to watch her back. It wasn't the first or even only bounty she'd gain, likely wouldn't be the last. But she'd at least like to have some moments where she wasn't jumping at shadows or expecting a blaster to be pressed into her spine.
Riggs had handled himself well considering. When the Farmboy had demanded to join her, Chall hadn't thought he'd last long. Not that she was intending to throw him into the fire, but she wasn't anyone's babysitter either. In her mind, you learned to stand or you fell down, that was how the galaxy worked.
Corso had managed to impress her. Not an easy feat, but the scarred, dreadlock haired human had done it. He was cool under fire, taking time to pick off available targets rather than shooting widely and hoping to hit something. A bit more reckless than she'd like, but given some of the stunts she'd pull, Chall really couldn't say too much about that. She wondered briefly at the scars on his face and neck. They didn't bother her, but curiosity had her wondering how he'd gotten them.
Chall tucked her arm behind her head as she stared at the ceiling of her cramped quarters. This was defiantly something that she didn't miss. Civilian transports. Before she'd been taken onto the Waylander by Maxir, Challeen had spent a good chunk of her time on these tiny vessels. At least it had taught her not to be claustrophobic, but she still hated them.
The pink skinned Twe'lik felt a small smile tug at her lips as a memory rose in her head. When she'd boarded with Corso, the taller human had inclined his head towards two individuals walking up the ramp. Soldiers...clearly Republic. One human male and one tawny colored Cather. Challeen had briefly wondered why the two armored officers weren't on a military ship till she remembered where they were. Ord Mantell probably didn't even have any military issue starships, let along a transport vessel.
Challeen smiled at the memory. It was sweet that Riggs thought to warn her about the soldiers. Like she was deliberately going to go out of her way to gain their notice. She'd seen the Cather eye her a few times when they'd passed each other in the halls. Jorgan...she was pretty sure that's what he was being called. There wasn't usually much in the area that she didn't pick up on. She had a knack for noticing things...sensing events and trouble before they happened. Maxir had once commented that she might have some Force Sensitivity. Chall had shrugged in response. She was no Jedi or Sith and was just as happy not being one.
The hum of the shuttles engines was calming to the Twi'lek. Familiar and steady. The shuttle had a decent hyperdrive, so they'd made good time. Coruscant wasn't far now. Chall ran the tips of her fingers over her blasters handle. Corso had offered her one of his weapons a few days ago, a short barrel pistol he called 'Flashy'. She'd never really understood the need for naming one's weapons. A weapon was a tool, something to be used. Giving it a name didn't change that. But she'd felt slightly bad for the kid and a spare blaster was never a bad thing to have. If she intended to use it, she'd need to practice with it a bit . Ever weapon had its quirks. Picking up a new weapon and expecting it to act just like the last was a mistake rookies made. And she was no greenhorn.
And on that note, as they were getting closer to Coruscant, she needed to start thinking about who to talk to about tracking Skavak. Challeen had a few contacts on the core world, favors she could call in. She'd need to get in touch with them. Thinking back to the last image she'd seen of Skavak, her rage renewed. The slicked back hair, smug smile and boldly tattooed face. And worst of all...that mocking, know-it-all voice. Like he won some great game by out maneuvering her. God, she hated that pile of shit. Had from the first moment she'd seen him.
Her fingers traced the handle again, coming to rest on the comfortable and familiar grip. A dark smirk lifted the corner of her lips. Skavak didn't have a damn clue who he was fucking with. She was truly going to enjoy showing him.
Challeen heard the door to her quarters open with a faint hiss. She'd heard the footstep of Corso approaching, so she didn't move as he stepped into the room, continuing to stare at the ceiling with thoughts of Skavak's soon to be death lingering in her mind. Chall heard the door close and Corso shift a bit before he spoke, "I sure hope that look on your face is for someone else Captain. Otherwise I might just decide to take a space walk. Probably live longer that way."
Challeen turned her head towards the human. He was shifting around nervously, scratching the back of his neck and darting his eyes around. She knew the country boy was still jumpy around her and quite frankly, she didn't have any reason to discourage that reaction yet. Corso was an interesting boy and he'd helped her out. Didn't mean she trusted him. Not by a long shot, given everything that had happened. But she did sit up on the bunk and turn to face him,
"Riggs...if you ever put that look on my face, you won't have enough time to ask if its aimed at you. Just thinking about Skavak and how I'll be tracking him on Coruscant. Should be making the landing soon. Probably by tomorrow, if these engines are any good." Challeen stretched her back a bit, hiding a slight wince as her muscles protested. Fighting Separatists, droids and local wildlife for 3 days with minimal sleep and only a few stims to boost her stamina had defiantly gotten to her. Her right Lekku was still tender from where the moron from the volcano based had pulled on it. One would think the galaxy would have learned that you didn't pull on a Twi'lek headtails unless you wanted to get painfully stabbed in the pelvic region. Or in her case, castrated with a blaster before being mercifully executed.
Corso had breathed a little easier at the Captain's casual reply. She wasn't mad at him. That was a good place to start. "Been thinking about that myself. Viidu, rest his soul, told me about an old pal of his on Coruscant. Darmas Pollaran. He's an info broker. Works outta the Old Galatic Market. Bet if anyone can find Skavak, it'd be him. I can ring him up once we land. Arrange a meet...if you want Captain."
Challeen looked up at him. Corso was easier to read than an open datapad. Ever little emotion was reflected on his face. Ever fear, joy and insecurity. He certainly won't be winning any games of Sabacc anytime soon. 'He thinks I'm going to leave him'. That thought flitted across her mind as she looked at Corso's face. He was scared. Scared she was going to abandon him on some bustling, unknown planet with nothing but the clothes on his back and a rifle for company. And the real problem...she wasn't 100% sure that wasn't what she would do.
The few moments of silence that followed Corso's offer were the longest he'd ever endured. Challeen had gone quiet, thinking over his words with that impassive face she was so good at displaying. He felt his mouth go dry and attempted to swallow, almost gagging on his tongue in the process. 'She doesn't need me.' It was the only thought that his brain seemed to be able to come up with. Because it was true.
Challeen finally exhaled after a few moments and looked up at Corso with a small teasing smile, "You know I'm not military like those two Troopers, Corso. You don't need to call me 'Captain'. If I recall, I did tell you to call me Chall...didn't I?"
The Ord native shifted a bit, but managed to quirk his lips back at her in response, "Yah...well. You own your own ship and can fly better than most soldiers I've met. So...that kinda makes you a Captain in my book. Don't think I'll stop calling you that...but I can try...Chall." Her name felt odd on his tongue, like he hadn't earned the right to say it. And maybe he hadn't yet.
The tiger striped Twi'lek flexed her legs and stood up from her bunk. Corso couldn't help the way his eyes traced the lean muscles as they lifted her form. She moved with such grace, effortlessly. With a fluid motion that no human could ever hope to replicate. Catching himself, Corso quickly raised his eyes, feeling a blush color his cheeks yet again. Chall noticed Riggs attention and smiled to herself. Men would be men, regardless of the species. His admiration of her body didn't bother her, so long as that was all it was. She had no interest in a relationship now. She had a ship to reclaim.
"I've got a few favors I can call in on Coruscant myself." Corso's shoulders slumped at her words and she tilted her head to the ceiling, trying not to sigh out loud. Someone had clearly done a number on this boy's self confidence if he could become so dejected that easily. She kept talking, "Believe it or not Riggs, this isn't the first time someone's swiped the Waylander from me."
Corso's eyes had snapped back to hers in shock, "Really, Captain? Someone's stolen your ship before?" Chall nodded in confirmation, "Yep...now last time they didn't make it off world. Just shifted her to a different spaceport. Wasn't a pretty picture when I caught up to them. The business you and I are in...doesn't always end well."
Corso could only imagine the swath of chaos the Captain had left behind last time her ship got taken, "Man...you must attract a lot of trouble Captain. Or get out of a lot. Either way, color me impressed. That's your ship's name...the Waylander? How long have you owned her?" Corso maneuvered around the smaller Twi'lek, moving to her bunk and taking a seat. He realized now he could still smell sulfur and blaster fire in the room.
Looking over, he saw the Captain's clothes were still dirty from Ord. The transport didn't boast a lot of basic equipment, including refreshers or cleaners. It was gritty, mean to travel from point A to point B. That combine with the fact that he'd only seen the Captain briefly at meal times told him she was still recovering her stamina. Now he felt guilty for disturbing her.
Challeen moved aside when Corso walked deeper into her quarters. Not that they could really be called that. The kid had been straight with her, at least as far as she could tell. The slick ones were always the hardest to detect, Chall had learned that the hard way many times before.
Still, he was talking and she was in a rare mood to reciprocate. Or maybe it was just him. "Waylander's been mine for over 3 years. Most of the creds I earned on jobs went into fixing her up. New hyperdrive engines, upgraded guidance system and a custom security system. Which I'll need to rebuild once I get her back. In any case, I don't blame you for letting Skavak jack her. You got burned, same as me. If you wanna contact this Darmas when we touch down, I'm all for it. More ears to the ground the better."
Corso had grinned broadly when she'd accepted his request...till he'd realised she'd said to contact him...not that she wanted a meeting. Was she telling him to contact Darmas so he'd have someone to go to when they landed? Corso couldn't tell. His heart sank a bit. She still hadn't said he could stay with her. Part of him was tempted, really tempted, to just flat out ask if he could join her. The other part, the part that had seen her stare at the sky as her ship flew off, watched her tear through Separatists like flimsy paper and seen her eye blacken with the incoming tempest, was petrified of what she'd say.
Corso was not a stupid man. He knew that he wasn't so valuable or meant so much to her that she wouldn't hesitant to put a round in his skull if he pushed to hard. He'd like to think she wasn't that cold hearted of a merc, but honestly...he didn't know her that well.
Challeen watched as the naïve Farmboy forced a smile on his lips and stood from her bunk with a cheerful chirp, "Sounds like a plan Captain. I'll ring up Darmas on the holo when we land. Till then, you should get some rest. Still looking a little tired from everything. I'll let you get back to it. Sweet dreams...Chall."
She nodded in response, watching as he exited her room and listening to his footsteps head towards the main meeting area. Probably to grab some chow, which was something she really outta do as well. Looking back at her bunk, Challeen rolled her shoulders, feeling the tense muscle protest. Later maybe, she get some food later. Right now...she needed some sleep and to think long and hard about whether Corso Riggs was worth the risk of keeping near her. After all...everyone else that got close to her ending up dying. Was she really willing to risk that curse on another person again?
Twi'leks: A tall humanoid species whose most striking feature was a pair of long tentacles protruding from their skull.
Lekku: The Twi'lek name for the tentacles on their skulls. Headtails is also a common name used to describe them
Kolto: A green liquid know for its healing abilities. It is the most common substance used to treat wounds.
Yaka: A race of near-human cyborgs that were implanted with a cybernectic brain at birth, giving them genius level mental abilities.