Aboard the Republic Fleet's Primary Station - Carrick Station
Nadia continued down the line of shops, looking at one after the other. She didn't buy anything else until she came to the last shop. Inside was well lit and a young Rodian leaned on the counter. "Hello my lovely young lady. How can this humble merchant help you today?" He asked cheerfully. Nadia smiled at him and looked around. She was about to say 'just looking' when she noticed the items on the walls. It was a strange shop with anything from hold-out blasters to personal blaster cannons and from ancient daggers to a large double bladed vibro-sword. There were armor components and full suits, droid parts and upgrades and numerous other pieces of equipment. In a display just to the left of the counter were nestled twelve crystals. Nadia could sense that they were very strong in the force and undoubtedly lightsaber crystals. She walked straight up to them. "How much are these, sir?"
The Rodian swaggered over proudly. "These are very expensive. Every one of them is a very, VERY rare lightsaber crystal. I have consulted a Jedi friend of mine who told me all about each of them. The two light blue, almost white crystals are called Mantels of the Force. For years there were only supposed to be one of them but I discovered them in an old wreck on Telos IV. The two bronze colored ones are called the Hearts of the Guardians. I found them in the same wreck. That violet one is a Hurrikane crystal found on the world of Haruun Kal. I have never heard of another one like it and neither has my father and he has been doing this for over fifty years. That orange one is a very rare Kibarr lightsaber crystal. It is said to have unbelievable healing properties. Those two white ones are sigil crystals. When coupled with other lightsaber crystals, it is supposed to heavily amplify the power output of the blade. Those two pearls are said to be pretty powerful too. One is from the water world of Dac, also called Mon Calamari. The other is an exceedingly rare kind of krayt dragon pearl. It differs from other krayt pearls in that it is smaller, darker in color and produces a strange shadowy black blade, casting no light whatsoever except around the edges. The last two, I only have a little information about. One is an ingot of ore from Barab I. The blade it produces seems to radiate heat through the containing energy field, causing it to cut through most materials far more quickly. The last crystal is from the world of Sarkhai, your homeworld if I'm not mistaken, lovely lady. I know very little about it but the Jedi said it could cause surges in power. He basically said that if, say, a personal energy shield was hit by the lightsaber, there was a chance that it could cause the energy shield to over load. The force is a strange thing to imbue such items."
Nadia was fascinated. They all sparkled and shined and gave off powerful force signatures. "How much for all of them, sir?"
He cocked a large eyeball and did some hasty calculations. After a while, he looked up proudly and said, "Three hundred thousand credits and no less."
Nadia used her datapad to check her credstick. She was pleased to see that she had way, WAY more than enough. Smiling triumphantly, she paid the young Rodian, whose eyes looked as though they were about to pop out of his pale green head. He seemed to be in a trance as he took a plasteel box lined with velvet and opened the display. Reverently, he place the crystals in the box and closed it. He gave her the key code combination as well. Before she left, clutching the small box to her breast, he called out, "If you know anyone looking for the best weapons ever made, send them here. To this day, no one makes arms and armor like the Baragwin do."
Nadia headed straight back to the ship. It took the better part of an hour to get there. On the way, she ran into Felix Iresso, Tharan Cedrax and Zenith. "Hey if you want Baragwin made weapons, head to the Rodian's shop at the very end of the open market sector."
All three of them looked shocked before turning the already full hover-carts they were pushing and running in the direction Nadia had come from. Naida laughed and headed back to the Defender. By the time she got back, she was a little tired. The ruck sack was full and heavy and the garment bags she carried were too. Stumbling to her room, she set everything on her bed and stretched her arms with a grateful sigh. She locked up the plasteel box with the crystals in a safe but the rest she left. Going to the galley, Nadia saw Qyzen gnawing on a still-bloody haunch of something or another. She herself heated up some noodle and nerf nugget soup and sat down across from him. The big trandoshan looked at her and said something in his gravely language. C2-N2 was nowhere to be found. Nadia sighed and said, "I'm sorry, Qyzen. I can't understand you. Can you teach me affirmative and negative responses? That way we can communicate."
The big lizard nodded. Nadia grinned. "Okay so what is a general affirmative?"
Qyzen made a distinct sound. Nadia memorized it, repeating it to the best of her ability to herself. Since her mouth was not a long scaly snout, it wasn't easy to repeat but she managed. "Okay and a general negative?"
Qyzen made another sound. Once again, she committed it to memory. For a half hour while they waited for someone else to get to the ship, she would ask Qyzen what one word meant, usually a simpler one and then learn the sound. Some of them were harder than others since they sounded similar. Suddenly, the door the boarding ramp opened and woops and cries of excitement came in. Through the corridor passed the galley strode Doctor Cedrax, Lieutenant Iresso and Zenith pushing and pulling five hover-carts of weapons, armor, armament upgrades and ship upgrades. Nadia and Qyzen chuckled to each other as the three men ran to the cargo hold with their new toys. Suddenly, Nadia heard their booted feet thundering back up and they burst into the galley. Felix scooped her up and hugged her, saying, "You are our good luck charm, Nadia. Great work on finding the weapons, armor and upgrades. You just got us the best arsenal in the fleet."
Doctor Cedrax kissed her on both cheeks and said the similar things. Zenith just patted her back with a small smile and said, "Good work, honey."
Nadia was grinning ear to ear. She loved her friends and times like these made her feel almost as great as she felt when she was with Master Thul. Suddenly, Qyzen rumbled something. Nadia was happy to realize she understood a few words. Qyzen was asking if they could leave. Nadia looked at her friends and said, "I promised Qyzen I would go out in the space station with him. Have fun with your new toys just don't hurt yourselves."
They all chuckled as she hurried down the ramp after Qyzen. The big trandoshan didn't stop at any of the shops, going straight to a massive area of the station. There were blaster ranges where dozens of soldiers and even a few allied fringers were practicing with blasters and fire arms of different kinds. In another area were dozens of rings where more people were practicing at hand to hand combat and combat with vibro weapons, tech weapons and the like. Nadia's eyes were drawn to the crackling of lightsaber blows and the flash of silver blades slashing against a brilliant blue one. Only a moment of study helped Nadia recognize that the silver blades belonged to her master. Qyzen growled something and they both ran forward. The big trandoshan muscled his way through the crowd of spectators and then gently pushed Nadia in front of him as he was easily able to look over her head while still giving her the best view possible. Master Nedeser Thul was dueling another Jedi Master, one who knew his business around a lightsaber equal to, and possibly even better than, Master Thul himself. The duel must have already been going on for a while as the two were gleaming with perspiration.
Nadia was staring open mouthed at her master. Nedeser Thul was bare chested and his large, corded muscles and his handsome face were glistening. Nadia wondered what it would feel like to run her small hands over the muscles of his arms, shoulders and chest and then blushed, realizing that it was not in any way appropriate to think such a thing of her master – not that she particularly cared. A feminine chuckled came from behind her followed by an impish voice, "That's something to see, isn't it? I'll never complain about seeing two very attractive masters swinging their lightsabers around without their shirts on."
Nadia nodded, her young and over active imaging not focusing on the lightsaber combat at all, just her bare-to-the-waist master as he wielded his weapon. After only a few more minutes, Master Thul lifted his hand and said, "That's good, Alias. You most definitely won this fight."
The woman behind Nadia walked up beside her and said, "I dunno, Barsen'thor – it looked pretty even to me."
Nedeser used the force to summon a towel and began to wipe himself off when he noticed Nadia. He smiled and said, "Ah, Nadia, have you had a good time so far?"
Nadia tried to answer but her words came out in stutters, still flustered by her master's current state of dress. The woman beside her, who Nadia recognized now as a Jedi by the lightsaber at her hip, laughed before saying, "Master Thul, you may want to put a shirt on if you want a straight answer from her."
Nedeser looked down at himself and then looked up, using the force to suppress his own blush before using it to summon the outer vest of his Jedi tunic and strapping it on, obscuring the majority of his rippling muscle. Nadia hung her head and blushed furiously. The woman beside her nudged her and said, "Don't worry. He has that effect on most women. Just look around, there are quite a few soldiers, techs, pilots, fringers and such still staring at him."
Nadia looked up and around a little sharply and noticed that she was right. The woman, a red head with a tiny scar beneath her left eye and an impish smile proffered a slim but callused hand. "Name's Kira Carsen. I'm going to guess you're Nadia Grell, Padawan to Basen'thor Nedeser Thul and also the new senator for your homeworld, am I right?"
Nadia had finally found her tongue and smiled politely as she took Kira's hand. "Yes that's me. It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard many good things about you from the masters on Tython."
Kira laughed and said, "Oh I'm sure you did, right along with several not so wonderful things, too. I was always considered a bit of a loose cannon by the other Jedi there. Anyhow, this is my former master and the fabled Hero of Tython, Alias Ordo."
The master who Nedeser had been dueling threw his shirt over his shoulders and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Nadia Grell. Nedeser has told me great things about you."
He sent her a wink that made her blush. What 'great things' had Master Thul told him about her? Kira strode up to her former master, quite close in fact, and whispered just loud enough for Nedeser and Nadia to hear. "Do we need anything else here, Alias? After seeing you get all hot and sweaty, it made me want go over something with you back on the ship in private – some, uh, remedial training."
Nedeser and Nadia both looked away, a little embarrassed at Alias and Kira's antics. Alias, a tall, lean and tough looking Jedi, grinned and said, "I think we can do that, Kira. I'll meet you later at the cantina, Des. I heard Dren is here too. Maybe we can have a little reunion if Moira shows up."
Master Thul clapped his oldest friend on the back and said, "I'll contact her later. My padawan should get some training done today. Nadia…" he turned to her and said, "you can keep going with Qyzen but when you get back, there are a few things I would like to go over with you."
Nadia nodded, looking forward to the lesson with her master. Qyzen gently tapped her on the shoulder and motioned in another direction. Nadia smiled at her large friend and nodded. Side by side, they headed back towards the shops. Almost immediately after walking in, Nadia ran into a blond woman with a very tight military bun and perfectly fitted uniform that bore a strange symbol on it. The woman was very upset about something and snapped, "Watch where you're going!"
Nadia apologized automatically and the woman seemed to calm a little. With an embarrassed smile and a very cultured accent, the soldier said, "No, I'm sorry, Master Jedi. My bad fortune is no reason to take something out on you."
The accent reminded Nadia of all the Sith Lords and Imperials she had run into. She smiled and said, "I'm not a master, soldier. My name's Nadia Grell. It there anything we can help you with?"
The female soldier suddenly snapped to attention and said rather stiffly, "Sergeant Elara Dorne of Havoc Squad at your service, Senator Grell. I apologize for the unprofessional manner that I greeted you with. I'm sure you have better things to do with your time than deal with one lowly soldier's problems."
Nadia was a little embarrassed at the soldier's reaction. "At ease, Sergeant. Please don't refer to me as senator. I prefer Padawan if any title really needs to be given and simply Nadia if it doesn't. Please allow me to help you, Sergeant. It would be my pleasure."
The sergeant pulled a piece of flimsy from a breast pocket and said rather irritably, "This is a list of medical supplies I need to acquire for my squad but the Selkath in the medical supply store refuses to sell to me because of my accent. I was an Imperial soldier but I defected and joined the Republic military. Apparently, for some people, that's not good enough though because this isn't the first time I've been discriminated against."
Nadia felt herself get a little angry herself for the soldier. Holding out her hand, Nadia said, "Let me see that list, Sergeant. I'll get your supplies. I won't take no for an answer. Our soldiers need supplies and no slimy fish creature is going to hold it from them."
Sergeant Dorne reluctantly handed the list over to Nadia who turned and marched straight into the medical supply store, Qyzen following and chuckling behind her. Behind the counter was a Selkath with pale green flesh and a cybernetic arm. Nadia fixed a tight smile on her face and said, "I have a list of medical supplies that I need to purchase for Havoc Squad. Here it is."
The Selkath made a face that Nadia thought looked like a scowl and said in his watery, "I'm not going to get supplies for that Imp woman. I lost my arm to them during a battle on Alderaan."
Nadia's blue and white face paint made her look very fierce as she glared coldly. "I don't much care for your foolish reasons for not selling to the Sergeant. If you don't sell to me, I'll make sure that someone else will be selling medical supplies on this station."
The Selkath scoffed, "Not even a Jedi has that much pull on this station."
Nadia smiled tightly and said, "My name is Senator Nadia Grell and as a Jedi, I may not be able to but as a Senator, it would be simple. How do think the station administration would feel knowing that you were denying a special forces unit much needed medical supplies? Now fill that kriffing list."
The Selkath snarled and began to gather items on the list. It was a tidy amount as well and Nadia handed a cred stick over. When all was said and done, Nadia pushed a hover cart, neatly stacked with the supplies back to Sergeant Dorne. The blond haired woman was talking on her comlink when Nadia came out. She hung up and smiled happily, "Thank you so much, Sen- I mean Padawan Grell. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it. I just comm'd my commanding officer and he said to hold you for a few minutes until he got here. He wants to thank you personally."
Nadia looked at Qyzen who nodded his big scaly head. Nadia said, "That will be fine, Sergeant. I hope you got everything you needed. So what can you tell me about Havoc Squad? I'm sure it's not much but I'm awfully curious."
They chatted for a few minutes until two males, a human and a cathar, strode up. The human male was just over average height but was nearly as broad as he was tall. His uniform barely contained his bulging muscle and his face and forearms were covered with scars. Proffering a large, callused hand, he said in a deep voice, "My name is Captain Dren Antilles, Commanding Officer of Havoc Squad. I want to thank you for helping my soldier out. Those supplies are critical as I'm sure you can imagine and it isn't common for someone of your position to interest themselves in the needs of soldiers like us."
Nadia took his massive hand and said, "I'm glad I could help, Captain. Nothing makes me madder than hearing that some bigoted idiot denies people in need, especially our soldiers. It was the least I could do. I'm still contemplating telling the station administration about him."
Captain Antilles chuckled and shook his head, "No need. I'm sure he was just having a bad day and he's learned his lesson now. Well, Sergeant let's get this back to the ship. Thank's again, Jedi Grell. This is our comms frequency. If you ever need anything, let me know. You've made a friend today. Oh and send my regards to your master. Nedeser and I are old buddies."
He handed Nadia a piece of flimsy and the three Spec Force soldiers headed off. Nadia smiled. It felt good to help people out. Qyzen tapped her and pointed towards another shop. It was a droid maintenance shop. Nadia nodded and they headed over the shop. In there were several droids being cleaned, repaired or simply polished up. C2-N2 was just being set to the side to be released when they walked in. "Ah, you've come to pick me up, how kind of you. I trust you are both having a good day."
Nadia nodded enthusiastically and Qyzen said something, "Well if Senator Grell would like to learn your language, I could teach her. One of my functions is education though it hasn't been activated or used in a while."
Nadia liked the idea. They headed back towards the ship, chatting away as they went.
Nedeser Thul felt a small amount of masculine pride. It wasn't the first time that he had caused a woman to stutter, especially with his shirt off, but it was different. He didn't have any special care for those woman. He did for Nadia. With a sigh, he hopped in the shower. His mind went unbidden to a few nights before they had arrived at the stations – the night that she had arrived back aboard the Defender. Immediately, he began to feel the effects of recalling Nadia's pale skin covered only by a very tight, very small sleeping outfit and a thin cotton robe over it. Nedeser groaned. He needed to get his wayward imagination under control before it went somewhere it shouldn't. As the hot water poured over his body, he sat on the floor of the refresher and began to meditate.
Nadia sat at a card table with Doctor Cedrax, Zenith and Lieutenant Iresso as she held the paazak cards in her hands. It was a close game and she knew it. Doctor Cedrax was the best player, mostly because his brilliant mind could keep track of and count the cards and gauge the probabilities of the game. Zenith and the lieutenant were both strategically brilliant and just good card players. Nadia was trying not to use the force but it came so naturally that sometimes she would without even meaning to. Rather than get upset, the other players welcomed the challenges. They were playing for sweets rather than credits. C2-N2 was the dealer and set another round of cards. Master Thul walked in wearing a fresh set of robes. Nadia smiled at him and said, "I fold."
She stood and walked up to Master Thul. "What training will we be doing, Master?"
Nedeser motioned her into the comms room that doubled as a training room. "Alias taught me a couple new combinations. I figured that it wouldn't be a bad idea to pass them on to you to practice too. They are very suited to your style."
Nadia took off her outer Sarkai cloak and drew her weapon. As Master Thul removed his own outer robe, she hoped, in the privacy of her mind, that he would take off the vest and tunic as well. To her mild disappointment, he didn't. Her master gave a chuckle and a most knowing smile, as if he could read her mind. Nadia blushed but then smiled impishly back. "What, master?"
Master Thul shook his head and drew his lightsaber, igniting one of the silver blades. They both took a fighting stance and slowly went through the motions. After going through them in slow motion a handful of times, they went through it with Master Thul making an attacking motion for Nadia to react to with the combinations she had been taught. After an hour, Master Thul put his hand up and said, "Very good. You never cease to impress me with your quick learning."
Nadia smiled with pleasure before saying, "Want to spar for a little bit? I know you had a good match before but I didn't and I'd like to if it's okay."
Master Thul grinned and nodded. They stepped apart a little and both ignited their weapons. It was an enjoyable match for both of them. Nedeser was quite impressed with his padawan's talent and praised her whenever he felt she deserved it but also admonished her and corrected her when necessary. After another hour, he lifted his hand again. "Well done, Nadia. Oh, by the way, I'm going to be meeting some old friends at the cantina. While I'm gone, I would like you to work on finding creative ways to use your special talent and practice them. I don't have to tell you to be careful so I won't."
Nadia giggled, "I guess that's your way of telling me without telling me."
Nedeser's intense blue eyes twinkled and he said, "Of course not. I just told you that I don't need to tell you."
They were silent again but this one was a little more awkward. They both wanted to talk about the kiss of the other day but just bringing it up would be too uncomfortable. Finally, Nadia just shook her head and chuckled. "So… I think we both want to talk about something – the same thing I mean – and neither of us just wants to bring it up."
Nedeser laughed and said, "Yes. Well what do we want to do about it?"
Nadia sat down on the couch and patted the spot beside her. Nedeser felt a little like their rolls had reversed – as if she was guiding him through this and not the other way around. It was a little strange. He went over and sat by her. "Well, how was the kiss?" she asked, sounding perfectly nonchalant. Nedeser blushed and looked down, unable to focus enough to use the force to keep the color from his face. "For me, it was… well… it's kind of hard to describe something like that without sounding childish."
Nadia giggled again. "Oh so it was amazing, wonderful, fantastic, heart stopping or maybe just plain great?"
Nedeser laughed, a little more at ease. "Well I don't exactly have something to compare it to you know, but yes. All those perfectly described it yes. Though technically there was more than one kiss. What did you think of them?"
Nadia smiled and said, "Not bad for your first time, Master. I'm quite impressed."
Nedeser smiled, a small amount of the masculine pride welling in him from her comment. Nadia scooted closer and said, "It this something that we want to try…" she hesitated and then surprised him by saying his given name, "…Nedeser? It's at least against the order if not the Jedi code – though I don't think that love goes against the code. We could get in trouble or worse. Would it be worth it?"
Nedeser didn't answer right away. He didn't know how to ask her how she felt or if she was sure this is what she wanted. Nadia smiled at him and said, "It definitely bares thought and meditation for both of us. However, I still want you to bare something in mind. We're both definitely attracted to one another and we both obviously care about each other. I think it would be worth it to give it a try. Also…"
Nadia scooted closer, gently took her master's head in her small hands and pulled him into a gentle but earnest kiss. Nedeser was going to resist but as soon as one of her hands went through his increasingly shaggy gold hair and the other pulled him in behind the ears and jaw bone. Instead, he pulled her up against him and deepened the kiss. They sat that way for several minutes, exchanging kisses and smiles. Whether this was going somewhere or not, they were certainly enjoying it. Suddenly, a low ruk ruk ruk came from the room entrance. Qyzen stood there, grinning widely. Nadia was about to jump up but Nedeser chuckled and said, "Oh he already probably knows, Nadia. Trandoshans can smell hormones, pheromones and other such chemicals and I'm willing to guess you and I have been reeking of them."
The big trandoshan nodded his head and said something. Nedeser said, "Thank you, Qyzen. Your discretion would be appreciated."
Qyzen said something else and then left. Nadia looked back at Nedeser and asked, "Where were we?"
Nedeser gave a pained look and said, "Qyzen said the others were almost done with their game and would be moving around again. Besides, I'm afraid I need to leave to meet my friends."
Nadia understood even though she was disappointed. "I'll talk to you when you get back, Master. Have fun."
Nedeser smiled and patted her leg before standing and heading down the ramp.
Updated May 23, 2016
