Scene 12 – I Am Not Left-Handed Either

Vacy re-tightened her ponytail as she jogged through the pointlessly convoluted halls of the Senate Tower and out the door, heading toward the cantina just beyond.

"Woah, Captain, hold on a sec!" called a familiar voice.

She turned, surprised, and smiled. "Hey, Riggs. Figured I'd meet you back at base, so to speak."

He caught up to her a moment later, and lifted his shoulders. "I toldja I'd wait for you," he said.

"Yeah, but I thought you meant – well, never mind. We need to get back there pretty quick so's we can armor up before heading out." She headed off again, and he followed.

From behind her, she heard him chuckle. "Speaking of which – you won't believe who I saw head in just before you came out the door."

Vacy grinned. "Oh… I dunno about that. I think I might believe you."

"Oh yeah?" They rounded the corner and headed down the stairs. "It was the dancer from the cantina we were at earlier."

Vacy nodded and turned down the hall, heading toward the lockers at the back of the tunnel. "Yeah, I know. She busted in on Darmas and me." She pressed her thumb into the ident pad, and the machine rumbled and buzzed, and a drawer slid forward and opened. "Blast, Riggs, I don't know how you can wear this stuff," she groused as she pulled out his heavy armor and passed it to him. "It's so clunky." She pulled her jacket on and sighed contentedly, wiggling a bit until it settled in just right.

Corso took a bit longer to fasten his straps and latches. "Uh-uh, Captain, I ain't lettin' that one past. It's 'Darmas' now?"

The gloves were a bit awkward for some reason. Vacy found herself concentrating very, very hard on getting her fingers to go where they were supposed to. "Ah, yeah. You know. Since we know each other better, an' all. Cuz of the sabaac game." She studiously avoided looking at him. "C'mon, let's head to the cantina."

"Okay." And that was all he said, but Vacy still cringed inwardly.

She jogged back down the hall – it was nice to be cradled in her leathers again, with the reassuring weight of her shotgun at her back – and headed through the archway into the cantina. "You want something to drink? What they got here's much better."

When she sat down, Corso frowned. "Wait – aren't we heading over to the other'n?"

"Oh, we will," Vacy replied with a chuckle. "Just gotta wait for backup."

Corso took the stool next to hers, but rather than facing in, he leaned back against the bar, looking out over the room. "Ooookay."

Vacy nudged him with her elbow. "You still ain't said what you wanted to drink."

He scoffed. "Captain, I really think we oughta call it quits on that score for tonight. You're gonna end up on the floor at this rate."

"Riggs, you are just freakin' adorable, lookin' out for my well-being like that," Vacy chuckled. She unbuttoned a small pocket along the seam of her greaves and pulled out a small med unit. "Check it." She pressed one side of it to her finger, hissed, and then watched the screen. "Thee?" she said, finger in her mouth. "Point-oh-two-two. I'm FINE."

Corso just stared at her. "You really, truly, honest-to-goodness carry a metabolizer counter with you everywhere? And how the blazes are you managing to stay that sober? Is it some kind of Mirialan thing?"

Vacy just tilted her head back and laughed for some time. Finally she sighed, and looked at him. "Remember how mad I got when my drinks were cleared before I'd finished 'em?" She grinned, leaning back and propping her elbows on the bar. "All part of the plan."

Corso still stared, his brows pulled together. "Then – how did you know Darmas was going to call?"

She shook her head. "I didn't. But I was in gang territory among a buncha folks I didn't know. So while I was looking for a good time, I wanted to make sure it was on my terms, and not anybody else's." She shrugged. "I've toldja before: I can take care of myself."

He smiled wryly. "Guess you don't really need me around, then."

"Nope." She looked over and winked. "Riggs, I don't keep you around cuz I need you. I keep you around cuz I like you." She was silent for a few moments, just looking at him, and then she took a breath. "There aren't that many folks around that I trust much at all. Finding somebody I can trust completely? I wasn't expecting it… but it's kinda nice."

This time, when all he said was, "Oh," Vacy didn't feel nearly as rotten as she had before.

"I might almost take that as an insult," murmured a voice beside them.

Corso's hand was already on his blaster as they both looked toward the speaker. The familiar sand-brown hood of a Jedi hid the face of the newcomer, but Corso didn't relax until Vacy laughed.

"Aw, Arri, you know you're one of the few," she said, standing and wrapping an arm around the other's shoulder.

Arri smiled, and reached up to pull her hood back, revealing a by-now familiar smile and pair of blue lekku. "Good to know we're still on friendly terms. I was a little worried, what with you shooting at me and all."

Corso looked at Arri, then looked at Vacy. Now back at Arri. Now BACK at Vacy. "Okay. Wait. Stop." He lifted both his hands. "Will somebody please tell me what's going on here?"

It didn't help one bit when they both burst out laughing.