Bound at every limb by my shackles of fear
Sealed with lies through so many tears
Lost from within, pursuing the end
I fight for the chance to be lied to again
You will never be strong enough
You will never be good enough
You were never conceived in love
You will not rise above-Evanescence, "Lies"
Tonin kept searching the data files in his memory, searching for a time his friend had been happy as Kirney. It was, understandably, difficult to find. Since leaving the Wraiths she had seemed distant and uncertain. Looking back on that time, the little droid calculated the possibility that she hadn't been happy then and found the odds strictly in favor of the possibility.
Troubled, the mechanical being let his thoughts go into storage.
---- ---- -------- -- --
Myn and Tycho had been searching through the cafs, finding no mention of a pilot called Slane. It seemed for a while that no such person existed. Exhausted, tired, the two continued until they were in the heart of the pilot's block. Five tapcafs existed in this section of the city, and the two took their time inquiring about Slane Shipping.
The name was apparently know, but nobody knew the whereabouts of Captain Slane.
Until they got to the "Unsober Rodent's Nest" just off the edge of the central traffic. In fact, Tycho would have passed it had Myn not seen the sign where it desperately tried to power off and go out of its misery. So they went in, pleasantly surprised to find it clean and large. Just enough room to get lost in a crowd, but not so crowded as to be loud. Perfect place to do business, or hideaway. It seemed as good a place as any to find not only Slane, but a bite to eat. Myn looked to Tycho with a shrug and gestured toward the dining area.
Tycho nodded in agreement and the two pilots moved to the bar.
"Got a menu around here?"
The barkeep nodded and gave a verbal accounting of all items in the back. Deciding it sounded fair, they took seats and chose to stay. When the man approached with drinks and the ordering devices, Tycho took the moment to casually mention Slane Shipping and the search he and his partner were having for the proprietor. "Old acquaintance of my friend here," Tycho explained.
"Slane was here not half an hour ago," the barkeep explained. "Not alone, for once. Rest of the party is right over there." With that, there was a nod to a table in the corner…
Myn followed the gaze and hardly concealed his jaw from dropping.
Because seated around a table was almost the entirety of Wraith Squadron, questioning what appeared to be a sentient ewok.
Myn waited a few minutes, nudging Tycho and drawing the older man's attention.
"I see an old friend I should say hello to."
Tycho glanced and recognized the others. "There a class reunion you hadn't told me about?"
"If so, they forgot to mail me the invitation."
---- ----- ------- ---
Kirney watched Planeth advance on her location with breathless anxiety. Actually, it was more likely that she was breathless due to the effects of his methods. Still, Kirney stood her ground, unable to move for the moment. She met the recruiter head on, defiance clear in her eyes.
"Miss Petothel."
Kirney sneered at the name, spitting at the character. "I'm sorry. Gara Petothel isn't here right now. May I take a message?"
Planeth reacted with vague amusement. "You talk pretty harsh for a delusional agent turned rogue who's stuck to her spot."
Kirney knew there was no sense at all in denying her position, as there hadn't been any reason to deny her identity. This man held all the cards in her deck and was pointing them to her. It was humorous: she'd known it could blow up, but had expected more fireworks somehow. She managed a shrug and let her eyes close. Her head spun, and had to come under control. It ached horribly, and that didn't include the burning sensation she had in her throat and eyes. She ran through a list of possible agents in her stream, and realized she was dealing with something uncommon. Strange. Probably good she was alone after all, so that nobody else was in contact with the item.
"I'm not here to kill you," Planeth assured suddenly.
Kirney considered this revelation and let the data fall in her mind where it may. The answer came to her very quickly. "You're here to recruit me, I take it, then," she offered, knowing that to be the only possibility. "For what agency?"
"Former Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn requests that you join his ranks."
Kirney considered that for all of ten seconds. She was not familiar with Thrawn, but she did know Imperial Grand Admirals. The thought of serving one made her suddenly sick to her stomach, as if all the inner workings of her body twisted. Yet the grimace in her mind never made it to her lips. "Sorry. Not interested. I work on my own now."
"Good." Planeth shrugged. "That means there won't be anyone to interrupt as I repeat the offer."
"I won't help another self serving imperial hound," Kirney warned. She had regained some control of her head, so that it wasn't quite as difficult to think of more than a single thing. Even as she discussed and considered her position, she had regained the ability to assess her position. Tonin was inside, and would hear if she screamed… though she had little doubt that this enemy would get to her first. She had only a single weapon concealed on her person, and that slid into a boot that she might not get to if she had to defend herself…and she wasn't sure if she could move quick enough to do much of anything, the way she was being affected by his "presence."
When I get into trouble, I really seem to get in trouble.
"Please, Agent Petothel. You don't want this to happen. If you get rid of me, then Thrawn just sends another team to try making a deal. If they don't succeed, maybe he sends another. And, in the end, if you won't serve him he's likely to send Noghri. That would be…most unpleasant."
Kirney thought about that. Noghri. The name sounded familiar, but with the pounding in her head she couldn't quite place it. Nevertheless, she didn't doubt that her attacker was right. She had not only to get away from him, but find a way to show she was not worth the pursuit. If she didn't, there was little question this Thrawn would succeed in the long run.
Which left her with only one option at this moment in time.
"I'm not making any promises," she warned, "but if you'll quit giving me a headache I'm willing to talk. I'm a business woman, and a reasonable person."
--- ------ -- -- -- --- --- --
Myn walked up to the table and put his arm around Face. "Well, if dead gorcats don't run amok," he greeted. "How are you?"
Face looked at Myn and let his jaw drop.
"It's Rymin, from CorSec, remember?"
"Rymin, yes," Dia offered. "Syrn has told us all about you."
Myn gestured for Tycho to join him, and soon they were seated at the Wraith's table.
"What brings you to Corellia?"
"Looking for Kirney, actually," Myn added off hand. "Seen her?"
"She went to take care of some business," Face responded with eyes wide. "I'm surprised you came looking for her."
"Well, er… "dad" asked me to come by, and I thought that while I was around it was good to look her up."
Face blinked, and took another sip of his drink. "I actually came to see Kirney myself. I ended up having to cut a job short, and contacted her for an impromptu meeting. We should start back to her ship soon. Care to join us?"
"Absolutely."
"But first, how about one last round of drinks? I'm sure Kirney's just fine, and we've got some things to catch up on."
