A short chapter, but, it gets us where we need to go… pun intended.
Also, we had our first twist last chapter about First Brother. Expect another one before the story is over.
The Traveller, Lokori, the Gaulus Sector, Outer Rim Territories
15BBY
The metal grate that covered the engine room had been pulled up, and Corrin stood in the bowels of the ship, covered in grease and sweat. He'd not been in any ship in years, let alone one the size of Avethelia's.
"Alright, all done!" Dax said loudly, climbing out of the ship (with the help of Corrin's back). "Should be good to go."
Avethelia was crouched on , watching Corrin work and offering advice. Dax picked up Avethelia's poncho and began wiping his hands clean.
"I don't like you messing with my ship," Avethelia said to Dax, snatching her poncho away from him.
"I don't like you messing with my Corrin," Dax retorted. He glanced back into the hole in the floor where his best friend was still working. "Who is she, anyway?"
"Avethelia Elysar," Avethelia said loudly and slowly.
There was a clank as Corrin put the toolbox back up onto the metal grill Avethelia and Dax stood on. "Jedi," he said to Dax.
"What, like, an actual Jedi?" Dax asked with a laugh. "Are the two of you breeding?"
"Fat chance," Avethelia scoffed.
Dax let out a loud guffaw. "Ouch, sorry mate," he said to Corrin.
"Shut up and help me," Corrin grunted. Dax leant down and offered a hand, which Corrin took, pulling himself up. Corrin began wiping his hands down on his pants, looking to Avethelia. "You know how to fly this thing, right?"
"Of course – what sort of question is that?" Avethelia asked, seeming slightly offended.
"So, you just crashed for the heck of it?" Dax smirked.
"It's not meant for one pilot," Avethelia snapped. There was a moments pause as Dax and Corrin exchanged a look. Well… Dax did know his way around a speeder better…
"You can handle it, right?" Corrin asked.
"Sure," Dax said, laughing as he followed Avethelia to the ladder at the front of the ship. "It's just a speeder with an up-y/down-y switch."
"You're talking about the yaw," Avethelia called as she climbed up the ladder. Dax glanced up, watching her climb, until Corrin thumped him on the arm.
"Right, what am I saying?" Dax said, winking at Corrin before climbing up after her.
"I've got a bad feeling about this…" Corrin murmured, placing a foot on the bottom rung and following Dax up into the cockpit.
It was nothing short of intimidating – to Corrin, anyway. He could manage a speeder, sure. Maybe even a starfighter (with some time and patience), but something of the size of… well, no chance.
"What's this called, anyway?"
"The Traveller," Avethelia said from her seat on the left. "Lateral stabilizers," she pointed to switch beside Dax's seat. He flipped them and then began examining each button and switch and handle. "Alright, there?"
"Just getting my bearings," Dax said, his eyes flitting over the board.
"Can you prime the thrusters, please?" Avethelia asked. Dax nodded and, clicking his tongue, found a small switch, flicking it up. "No."
"What do you mean, 'no'?"
"As in, you've not prime the thrusters."
Dax looked down at the switch and bit his lip. "Really?"
"Really."
Another pause. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure.
"What, did the Force tell you that?"
"No, it's that button right there-" Avethelia leant over to point, but Dax slapped her hand away.
"I know which button it is!" He insisted, his hand hovering by his face as he looked to where she had been pointing. Corrin leant down and pointed to the white button on the right, which Dax pressed. It turned green and the starship spluttered to life. "See? What did I tell you?"
"Wonderful," Avethelia said. "Okay, I'll close up the landing gear- Corrin, you might want to take a seat."
As Corrin did as Avethelia instructed, he found himself realizing what was about to happen – what he was going to see. He smiled and readied himself for the sight.
"I love this part," Corrin said as they began to soar upwards into the sky of Lokori. Dax was thrown back into his seat as she blue sky faded until there was nothing but star-studded darkness. The empty and reaching void of space, littered with worlds.
"We got a route?" Corrin asked.
"Yeah," Avethelia replied, standing up out of her seat to type on the computer overhead.
"Is… something going to happen?" Dax asked.
"Yeah," Corrin said, "you could say that."
"Punching in a course for the Sanbra Sector," Avethelia said, "we'll be hopping between the Corellian Run, the Trillian-"
"Hopping?" Dax asked.
"Can't we just charter another route?" Corrin asked. "There's got to be a quicker way – one with less Imperials…"
"The Traveller's flying, but she's not fixed," Avethelia said, "at least we won't end up in an asteroid field this way."
The ship levelled out as Corrin nudged Dax from behind, pointing forwards. "I love this part," he said. The ship whirred and the stars became lines. The ship bolted forwards and suddenly they were in a vortex – a tunnel of light. Each white speck of the blue waves was a different planet, a distant world. Corrin turned to see Dax in awe – utterly gobsmacked. His mouth was agape as his eyes grew wide, witnessing the single, greatest moment of his life.
"I'm going to be a pilot…" Dax murmured to himself. It made Corrin smile.
Okay, so, next up, we're back to Xyras. I'll try and update over the weekend. Only 7 more chapters to go with a pretty… interesting ending.
R.