Here We Go Again ...

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin and Vishan danced back to back as their lightsabres deflected a steady rain of blaster fire. They were ridding the town of Trandoshan Slavers, but they didn't anticipate the numbers that came surging at them as they were flanked on open ground. Some of the slavers were on foot, and some where on gun mounted swoops ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

Vishan deflected two blaster bolts with a sideways stance and then spun his lightsaber around to deflect another stray shot from behind.

"Ah'll admit!"

One of the swoops was closing in fast and the Padawan shifted his weight around to square off with the mounted Trandoshan.

"Dis might've been ah bit more den Ah expected!"

The swoop open fired, and he remained unscathed, sending enemy fire back at the Slavers and killing one Trandoshan on foot in the process. As the swoop careened around the Jedi duo, Vishan cleaved off the directional thrust nozzle and watched the swoop spin out of control and crash into the ground, exploding upon impact.

It was supposed to be a nice simple friendly favor for the people of Olot, on the planet Elom. Save the trapped citizens captured by the Trandoshans, who were to be sold to the Empire. Soolin was wary about the ease at which Vishan had thought this mission would go, and a caravan of seven aliens turned triple that amount.

He had to thank Soolin for the grueling training sessions they had over the last few months, helping him to prepare for moments like these. Slowly his mind was letting go of the mundane and realizing there was an endless world of possibilities with the Force. His lightsabre lessons had improved exceedingly well since a barrier of his unconsciousness had been let go during his training on Felucia. He had learned to extend his senses outward, increase his own physical abilities thrice fold, and maintain a sand panthers balance during his spars with Soolin.

Course, the four story fall off one of the mushrooms probably knocked some sense into him too ... Damn slippery mushrooms.

[Grimya]

:: Grimya, for her part, was drawing fire by scampering and distracting, zigging this way, zagging that way. with a mighty charge, she leapt and tackled a Trandoshan that flanked Vishan. The reptile hissed and gurgled as she broke it's neck in her jaws ::

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin's eyes narrowed at the horde, and she broke into a suicide run, cutting her way clear as she rushed towards an oncoming swoop. Force leaping upwards, she landed in a crouch on front of the swoop. The rider croaked in awe, right before she pulped his face with a force-enhanced punch. She leapt away as the swoop tumbled end over end, and she planted like a gymnast as it blew up against a rocky outcrop ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

That left nine Trandoshans on foot and one swoop. Vishan made ready for a defensive counter, but one didn't come. The swoop swung around and picked up one of his buddies and started to make a break for it. The other eight were caught in indecision.

"Soolin! We can't let'em escape! They'll warn th' Empire 'bout us!" He broke into a sprint, but not quite the blur his Master could be. He was still much faster then the stunned Trandoshans who just had their blaster rifles cut in two, before the Padawan clocked them in the head with the hilt of his lightsaber.

Two more down.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Oddly, they were starting to retreat. Soolin hit one in the chest with a leaping spinning heel kick that cracked it's solar plexus, then went after the others in hot pursuit ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

There were five left. Three opened fired at Soolin, who was making a break for it in an attempt to catch up with that swoop. The other two laid down some serious blaster fire to keep Vishan separated from his Master. He was pinned down and had to stop. It was too much for him to try anything offensive. All of his concentration had to be sustained on blocking the bolts speeding at him.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Just as Soolin reached the swoop, she was entangled by a net gun and surrounded by the remaining Trandoshans, who regrouped to beat her into submission ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

His eyes flashed in concern, feeling Soolin in danger. A new sense of urgency overtook the Padawan and his eyes fell into a steely gaze.

Vishan felt his arms come alive on their own accord. He knew it was the Force guiding his actions further as before, but what came over him next was a sensation he had never felt before. In his mind's eye, he could see the very next blaster bolt coming at him as if playing out in slow motion. Each turn of the hand to defend himself was fluid and graceful. It took little effort. Being one step of his opponents gained him a significant advantage, and he was able to close the distance.

Right arc, deflect and sweep: The first Trandoshan lost a leg and cried out in pain before falling. One step forward to dodge the vibroknife, Vishan turned and sliced the second Trandoshan across the chest, midway through his body. His insides had disintegrated where the lightsaber had been and fell over dead.

[Grimya]

:: Grimya whined, then snarled, making a beeline straight for the slaver holding the net. She leapt gracefully, paws forward, to knock him down ::

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin rolled, cutting her self free as her sabre sprang to life again. Then the dropship darkened the sky above them as it opened fire ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

He charged at the swoop that was coming around for another pass at Soolin. The Padawan disengaged his weapon and started to flank them and with three well placed hops, he elbowed the Slaver off the back and took his place.

"Heyas!" He grabbed the driver and smashed his face into the steering console. Taking control of the handles, Vishan kicked the brake on and popped the swoop upwards and opened fired at the drop ship.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin looked up, just to see her impetous companion do the frelling impossible. Somehow, the shot turned the dropship into a tumbling, burning, heap that crashed to the ground. The ground burped, and all she could do was watch in disbelief as he came around for a landing ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

As the swoop hoovered in the air, Vishan could only think he hit the engines before the shields got up all the way. It was a bulky rectangular ship that didn't look much bigger then a Jawa Transport, but it had some defenses. Then again, who would have thought Vishan would take over the swoop and open fire?

In awe of his own handiwork, the Padawan came down for a landing and slid off the swoop, the former pilot still slung over the side like trophy. "Um," he started, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, "Nice shot huh?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin was still in awe at the antics before finally uttering words ::

"You are crazy."

:: Then she laughed in spite of herself and put her sabre away ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Heh, guess some o'tha' ol' crazy pilot in me came back," he said apologetically, but then brightened up in a smile when his Master started laughing. She had a really pretty laugh that wasn't privy too all that often.

"Well," he coughed and got the conversation back on track, "Least th' Slavers won't be 'ere fer awhile. They need some serious resources ta git back up an' running again befer they try 'ere again. If they t'ink it's worth it."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"I think we should go now."

:: She pat him on the shoulder as Grimya rejoined them ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Yeah," Vishan kicked the unconsciousness Trandoshan off the swoop and mounted it. "What're we gonna do wit the live ones?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"Put them in the lock up. I have questions."

:: She signaled the Rocinante through the com and started gathering up the prisoners ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

There were four survivors and one by one, Vishan grabbed the Trandoshan prisoners, hauled the dead weight over his shoulder, and threw them in the cage. They were a lot heavier then they looked and the Padawan had a nice layer of sweat glistening his face and causing his shirt to stick to his chest from the effort.

He flew the swoop in gentle over the cargo ramp and put it in park. With a few modifications and some polishing, it would be a nice transport vehicle for the two of them.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: After they secured the slavers, Soolin sat at a table, frowning at the encrypted device she'd taken from them ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

Vishan sat across from his Master and put his feet on the chair next to him. Clearly she was upset about something by the look on her face. "What's up?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"I need your help with this." she replied, hinting at his Imperial background. Code cracking was an area she was deficient in.

[Vishan Korogoth]

He scratched at his chin in thought and looked a bit wary at the device. "Well, might take sum time. Remember, dis ol'boy was ah fighter jockey. Not ah slicer."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: She thought for a moment, and sniffed in distaste as she dismissed it ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Soolin, it's not ah grawl," he said with a laugh and picked up the slim 7 centimeter long device into his hand. As the Padawan spoke, he tossed it up occasionally, watching his Master's eyes go up and down with it. "Ah'll try tho. Mebbe Ah kin get sumtin' off o'it. If not, Ah'm sure we kin pay off o'slicer to git th' info."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"Thank you."

:: She gave him a scratch on the back before heading off to cook something ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

His lips creased into a smile and did a very un-Jedi thing. He shifted around in his chair to rest an arm on top of it so he could get a very nice glimpse of his Master's rear.

Vishan convinced himself it was only for motivation. Just for even trying to break the code on this little bad boy, he got a small display of affection. Maybe he'd get more of a reward if he was able to tinker this device into submission.

He stood up with a wry grin and went to the cockpit. The Padawan would need to use a decent computer to read the general file, then he could try and hack it. With any luck, he might be able to scratch the surface but without a decent homemade computer that those slicers use, he was going to be aimlessly searching in the dark. Without a flashlight too ...

[Soolin Anjhurin]

SOMETIME LATER

:: Soolin returned with hot food and drink. Grimya was busy chowing down her share in the corner ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

Vishan was left unawares to any food ready for him. He had barricaded himself inside the cockpit. Part of the console had been popped opened to allow ease of access to the innards of the ship's computer. Two wires had been jacked into the device and the Padawan was in deep concentration, staring at the computer screen at garbled symbols and binary.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin sat down at the table, setting Vish's plate where he could fetch it when he wanted to ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

He shambled in some time late, eyes bloodshot from staring at the computer screen and micro equipment.

"Hey ..." he put on his best smile and fell into the chair where the food had been placed. With a mighty yawn and arm stretch, Vishan picked up a fork, speared something meat like and dug in. His stomach growled happily that something was coming down the pipe.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"You look tired." she said. "I'm thinking it can wait until after we speak with our contact."

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Yeah, Ah can only do s'much honestly. Far as Ah got was sum trade routes bu' if we rendezvous wit th' Rebellion, Ah'm sure they can crack th' rest o'it."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"Thank you, Vishan."

:: Soolin was unaware of it, but the expression on her face as she looked at him was one of deep affection. She looked like she wanted to say more, but took a bite of food instead ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

Vishan cocked his head to the side with a wry grin. He knew that look. It was a look his wife had given him a long time ago before she had died. Now it was on Soolin's face for the first time. "You OK, Soolin?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin tried not to smile back as she chewed her food politley, and she felt caught in her emotion by the look on Vishan's face ::

"I'm fine." she replied shyly, reaching for another morsel.

:: She wasn't fooling him for a second. The blush on her cheeks betrayed her ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

He popped some sort of vegetable in his mouth and as he spoke, Vishan had a big bally cheek that made him look like a chipmunk. "You're a bad liar."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"I am not." she blurted defensivley, then realized the clever word trap she fell in to.

"Not lying." she corrected herself. She had to avoid eye contact with Vishan or she was going to lose it.

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Uh huh," he hummed out and finished chewing his food before speaking again. "Then why are ya actin' all un-Jedi like?" he countered, pointing out blushing cheeks with a finger.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin blew the air from her cheeks in annoyance and bolted from the room. Grimya gave a curious whine as she looked at Vishan ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

Vishan scratched his head and looked down at the She Wofl. "OK! Wha' th' frell jus' happened?"

He leaned back in his seat and flipped a fork away in annoyance. "Ah was jus' havin' a bit o'fun."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin cursed herself for feeling foolish, and returned to her quarters. She left the door open though, to let Vishan know he was free to enter ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

After nibbling his dinner quietly, his mind was debating whether or not to go after Soolin. Vishan wasn't sure if a cold shoulder waited him or scolding.

"Ah, frell it." He threw down his fork and walked off towards his Master's quarters silently, as if that would somehow not alert Soolin of his presence. To his surprise, he spotted the open door.

Only a hand was visible, waving back and forth. "Truce?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Her back was to him as she lay on the bed, but she rolled over to look at the door way. An uncomfortable silence passed between them, until she reached out with her hand. Her eyes told him more than words could. She wanted him to come lay with her ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

He didn't heard a word, or a breath. Not even the rustling of sheets to get a hint that Soolin might want to acknowledge his presence. Cheeks puffed outwards and slowly shrank. He rather be fighting off those slavers again then confronting his Master, his friend, his ... Well, he didn't know. That was the problem.

Slowly he peered into the opened doorway and saw the back of Soolin's frame. He felt dejected but it wasn't like Vishan blamed her. He had been teasing her pretty badly.

He was about to make a quiet getaway when he heard the cot creak and found himself staring into welcoming dark eyes. Mesmerized by what he saw, the Padawan crossed the threshold and took Soolin's hand in his own before settling down next to her smiling, seeing that any fear or confusion that had been there before had vanished.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin looked at Vishan with girlish innocence as she squeezed his hand, and lay silently as she faced him. It was something he'd never seen in his Master before, but she felt safe enough now, not to hide it from him anymore. Leaning close, she initiated a kiss ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

Eyes widened in surprise, but they soon closed and returned the kiss slowly. She allowed his hand to trace her cheekbone before fingers ran through raven hair. Vishan wasn't sure what prompted this acceptance, but he wasn't going to deny Soolin, he would just have to be cautious and move at her comfortable pace. The last thing he wanted was to spook her again and force distance between them.