Take to the skys! (Aliya)

[Malick Raine]

Malick's modified Naboo fighter sat on the black landing pad situated somewhere on the dry plains of Danuta. It was a heat wave outside about ten degrees above freezing. Well it was a heat wave for the under the radar imperial planet of Danuta anyway.

This planet was just another mining planet on the way to Kessel that no one really ever noticed. Which is what made it the one of the ideal location for unsanctioned fighter pilots to hold illegal dog fighting arenas? It was one of six locations on a galactic circuit. Danuta was phase two of the circuit, Rhommamool had been phase one. Each phase had three dog fights and the winner of two out of three fights or winner by decision of the fans in case of a tie moved onto the next phase. The losers of each phase stayed on the planets they lost on and waited for the next start up where they would get a chance to move onto the next phase again.

All new pilots to the game started on Rhommamool. Malick had started on Rhommamool and won with a three and zero record which had moved him here to Danuta. He had already fought the first dogfight here and narrowly won against a Bothan pilot named crash in old Jedi Whitecloak fighter.

Malick was doing his pre flight check before the second dog fight of phase two commenced. As where the other five pilots in this fight that Malick had to watch out for. There was crash in his Whitecloak fighter, a Human named Bando in his rusty x-wing, a duro named Flash Outcast in his homemade fighter, a rodian named Frono in a Chaos fighter, and a human female named Tracy in a Cutlass-9 patrol fighter.

All of the fighter pilots where a tuff bunch to go head to head against. Yet Malick knew the opening conflict none of them had much real battle experience so he would use the scramble against them. The scramble was the opening part of the fight where all the fighters in the sky closed in on each other and there was mass chaos at first. Often times in the scramble the fighters would just fire without picking a specific target which eliminated the competition quickly leaving usually two fighters in the end.

Everything seemed in order as Malick looked over his controls one last time before the start countdown would start. Malick hit the engine warm up sequence just before the automated countdown to take off started.

Computer: "Ladies and gentlemen take off will commence in 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5."

Malick's hand grasped onto the take off control tightly ready to push.

Computer: "4. 3."

Malick’s thumb moved to the button on the side of the take off control that would ignite the buster thrust for takeoff.

Computer: " 2. 1."

Time to go Malick thought to himself as he pushed the button and slammed the control forward. The busters came to life in a burst of blue flame and the Naboo fighter lifted off in to the pale blue sky over the plains of Danuta ready to engage the enemy. Over his comm he spoke to a someone on the ground.

"It was a good take off and she seems to be taking the cold better than last time. I still wouldn't want to test her in space though."

[Nicky Raine]

The cantina/gambling den on the ground was packed to bet on the dogfights this week. Nicky sat at the table off in the corner where several patrons where coming to make bets with her against her racer. There was also the occasional drunkard trying to make pass at her. The racer she took bets for was of course her older brother Jason or Malick as he went by now. She was in the middle of negotiating a bet when the race start and her comm ear piece rang to life. She wasn't watching the vid screen to see his take off but replied to him anyway.

"It looked good from down here as well. Also lucky for us we won't have to worry about space until phase four of the circuit. If we even make it that far because I here there are at least two ex imperial pilots flying stolen tie's in phase three."

She knew her brother really wanted to get to phase three so he could bet for one or both of those ties. Until then they would only bet in imperial credits and only in his first fight on Rhommamool had they bet the Naboo fighter as collateral to get them started. As she finished up a small bet of fifty credits with a local she noticed a Bothan female making her way to her table.

"What is your bet this time Sarik?"

Sarik:"The whitecloak for your naboo. What do you say?"

"First off crash already looked over the naboo before the first fight. He didn't like the control set up cause it modified to imperial standard. So why would you even want to make that bet?"

Sarik: "So we can part it out after we win today of course."

"Make a more reasonable bet or stop wasting my time. Your whitecloak isn't even worth are Naboo on the black market for parts or as a whole."

Sarik: "Fine then one thousand imperial credits that crash beats your pilot? What did you say his name was again?"

"Deal and I never did give his name now go away."

Sarik pouted and stomped off as the beat was put into the computer at the table. Sarik had been trying to dig up Malick’s name from the first dog fight. It was part of the plan though Nicky played the bet woman and her brother played the mysterious pilot. It seemed to bring bigger fish to their table hoping to uncover the mysterious pilot’s origins. She then sent a message back to Malick in the sky.

"A thousand from crash's camp. Flash's camp hasn't placed bet yet today though. I wonder what they are up too."

[Aliya Vahlshalynn]

Vahlshalynn was here by herself since Shooter was still sleeping off the effects of being drunk as dren from last nights romp through the taverns. they were supposed to be here watching the contest since that was why they were here. To talk trash and boast which one of them could fly circles around these wannabes. But no. Alcohol 1. Bette Davis 0. On a positive note, she had all of Shooter's credits to bet on and have fun without needing to put down a cred of her own.

Now true, as good loyal Imperial fighter pilots, they really shouldn't be here since this was completely, unabashingly, illegal. However, it was fun as all hell and many Imperials went incognito to have some fun here. As long as their debts didn't rack up to cause issues where they had to owe favors, the Empire turned a blind eye on the whole thing. Course there were also the occasionally Imperial that manage to smuggle their way into the contest with fake ID's. She wanted to see if she could spot them.

So far this Nabooian fighter was a wildcard with an unknown human pilot. He had done exceptionally well on Rhommamool, failing to be beaten. 3000 credits on him seemed like the idea bet. That and she didn't like that Flash fellow. Was scum and fought dirty. He was the likely favorite today ...

As the electronic trill alarmed that the contest began, Aliya found herself being accidentally shoved into a chair behind her as gawkers filed in front of the monitors like a mindless bantha herd. She turned around with a sincere apologetic face to the young woman sitting at the table. "Sorry about that... Damn animals running around here."

[Malick Raine]

"Wow a thousand not bad I would have haggled it up two. As for Flash my guess is they are playing hardball this in hopes that he wins. That way they can drive up bets for the final run. Either that or there sure they’re going to lose."

Malick spoke calmly over the comm as the engagement of him and the other contestants began. It was his way he could maintain and odd calm even when adrenaline was pumping hard through his veins. The engagement began in clash of wildfire from five the contestants. While most were firing Malick didn't keeping his finger on the fire button he chose to pick his shots.

He flew the naboo straight through the center where everyone was meeting up throwing it into a spin so that if he did get hit it would only be a knick shot. Since knick shots didn't affect the whole ship he would still be in the fight. Only a direct hit would take him out of the fight and spinning greatly reduced that chance making him a hard target to hit. Spinning through the middle would also cause a slight distraction hopefully unfocusing a few fighters.

As flew through the center Frono took notice and started firing on him exclusively. Thankfully Tracy took note of Frono biting into the distraction as she fired on him with direct Ion blast forcing him out of the fight. Yet unfortunate for Tracy Flash hit her taking her out in the same instant. So after the opening moments there where only four people left Flash, Crash, Malick, and Bando. Malick spoke over the comm again to his sister on the other end.

"Down to four I guess it's time to actually start playing this game now."

[Nicky Raine]

"Yeah..."

Nicky cut her comment short as message came in through her ear piece from her brother. Oh so now he was arguing that he could make them more money. The ass was just like his father thinking he could do things so much better than everyone else. She would remember to punch him in the nose when he was back on the ground for his arrogance.

"Fine next time you can be down here on the ground dealing with these people while I fly. Since you think you can make so many better deals then I can ass."

She cut off the comm and turned her attention back to the woman that had bumped into her table. Nicky eyed the woman for just a bit taking in a few visual notes of her. The woman had a weird attitude in the way that she acted that was slightly familiar but Nicky couldn't put her finger on it.

"Yeah there all a bunch of animals but I love taking their money."

Nicky gave smile to the woman. As some the crowd member all of a sudden went to up roar as there pilots got eliminated from the fight. They always seemed to get pissed and throw their betting tickets to the ground. Swore losers the whole lot of them to the point there would no doubt be fights breaking out after the action was all done. Then Malick once again came over the comm in which Nicky promptly gave him a bitchy reply.

"Yeah maybe you should fracking do something and leave me alone. Can't you see I'm having conversation with a woman who may be interested in betting?"

She cut him off again knowing he would probably soon be asking her questions on how attractive this woman was. He was idiot always trying to get her to be the middle man as he attempting to hit on the pretty ones while he was in flight. She then pointed out her ear piece to Aliya.

"Sorry I honestly don't have Tourettes. I'm talking to the idiot I have for pilot, names Nicky by the way."

[Aliya Vahlshalynn]

Half smirking, Aliya had to note that the person she was talking to couldn't really see, but at least she explained the talking to thin air thing going on. The Imperial was curious though about that ear piece. Easy to come by in most cases but you needed a decent amount of creds to purchase them on or off the Black Market.

As she came around to see Nicky face to face, she took note of the model. "Aliya," she said with a full smile this time, mainly because it was curious to note that the ear comm was pretty decent grade. Probably did well with all the betting she did with her partner, the Pilot.

"Hopefully your pilot wasn't one of the two that just got zapped outta the game." So far her guy was still in the game and from some of the replays, she had to admit that she like his cautiousness. It was keeping him alive ... So to speak.

[Malick Raine]

Shit Malick was in a pinch now Bando was on his tail trying to get a lock and Crash was at his front trying to the same. They both wanted to take out the winner of the last game because taking out the naboo would rake them up bets and up there favor in the final round. As for Flash, Malick wasn't sure where the green basterd was hiding.

Hell with it Malick though as he pulled back on the stick causing lift and at the same time he hit the reverse thrusters. This made him go in an end over end spin sometimes referred to as the crazy Ivan maneuver. As he was in his spin his comm opened to the last comment his sister made.

"Yeeeeah may...be I should. I'm only pulling a few G's here but it seems the stabilizers are holding this time thankfully. The real question is she hot?"

Malick gritted his teeth as he was speaking. He had to be real careful here or else he would really die since he was in a head over ass back spin veering straight at Bando. Malick was counting in his head and spoke out aloud to himself at the last second.

"Bando should have a lock now!"

He screamed forgetting the comm was still on. He put the naboo belly up by hitting the ground thrusters. With acceleration caused by coming out of the spin he speed right under Bando's fighter as he fired scraping belly to belly causing sparks to fly. The shot missed but hit crash dead on taking him out of the fight. His sister was cussing at him over the comm now for screaming.

"Sorry sis it was the heat of the mo....." Malick stopped his chatter as now he could see Flash and his homemade ship that was hiding in bando's wake. "Oh that crafty basterd."

Flash was now playing the same game Malick had played in the start with one exception. Flash had a trick up his sleeve that would now take out Bando leaving only him and Flash. Flash's ship wings opened up splitting in pairs of two like and x-wing with one exception. Flashes wings where hiding six drones that where now taking flight to shot down Bando.

[Nicky Raine]

"My pilot is the pussy who hasn't taken a shot yet."

She said but then she looked up at the screen to the situation Malick had gotten himself into. That dam moron got himself caught in a pickle, what was he thinking. He should know that people would be gun for him and that he should have avoided such a situation.

"Then again he may be out soon enough. He is the one in the Naboo; not exactly his forte for flying but it works for now."

She looked up again as the crowd went into eww and awws. She saw that malick had forced himself into an end over end spin. Just then the comm broke open with some more pointless chatter. She didn't say anything in reply but she was glad the stabilizers where holding.

"Th... FRACKING HELL YOU TURN OFF YOUR DAM FREAKING COMM IF YOU ARE GOING TO SCREAM. I WILL RIP YOUR NADS OFF AND FEED THEM TO A RANCOR IF YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN. APPOLOGIZE NOW JERK FACE."

She stopped just then and gave a Blank stare in Aliya direction as she realized she had just started screaming at thin air again. She turned red do to the total embarrassment of what just happened. Then the crowd went into an uproar as several new events happened on the vid screen. Malick had just gone belly to belly with Bando as Bando took out Crash. Then everyone got a look at what Flash was hiding in the wings of his ship. This was not such a good turn of events as dread hit Nicky's face.

"Ah crap..."

[Aliya Vahlshalynn]

"Eh, sometimes it's better to sit back and wait. Find the right shot while everyone else is trying to take each other out." It was a valid point, one in which Chipper had used on many an occasion. She was more of sit back and don't waste the ammo kinda gal, unless someone was frelling with her wingman. Then all bets were off.

"'Sides, I think your pilot still has the odds in his favor. I don't like betting on a loser," she said with a wink. Aliya was suspicious that he had some military training and that roll only proved it further when it was coupled with the statement that the Naboo wasn't his preferred fighter. Just meant he wasn't military from Naboo. This was all running through her mind as Nicky yelled at her pilot again, but then her face grew grim.

Aliya checked the monitors and failed at hiding her surprise. "Drones? You can have drones?"

[Malick Raine]

As the drone's swarmed around Bando Jason had to wonder if it they where even legal. He was guessing Nicky was going through the rule book right now trying to find out. Either that or she was slamming down another Balmorra vodka shot. Either way she wouldn't find the answer until after the fight was over.

Bando went down quick as the drones made a halo around him and rained Ion fire on him. They went for a bit over kill as it seemed as Bando limped away from the fight his ship was severally damaged as smoke spewed from the cockpit. Malick was just playing keep away for the moment trying to stay off of Flashes radar as much as possible. The drones soon though went into hunt mood searching for the Naboo. He was using higher altitude clouds as his cover a little game hide and seek never hurt.

"If I drop my main ion engine how big of a spread could I get? Also can my secondary hold up to finish the fight?"

Malick called over the comm but no response came back so evidently his sister had shut off the comm. To hell with he thought as he slowly descended from the cloud he started to fly right for one of the drones searching for him. Yet instead of flying right for it he flew past it, he wanted it to gather all its little buddies to surround him.

He flew all kinds of zig zag patterns to avoid locks until all the drones where on his tail. He then started to slow his pace as he moved into position that would put him directly in front of Flash. In his head he was counting again keeping track of lock times. The swarm of drones started to surround him in the same Halo.

"Flash you and your drones have lock right about..." He paused for a second. "Now!"

Without a second thought he dropped his main engine and the naboo dropped like a rock as they all fired. All there fire connected on the lock they had on his main engine causing an Ion explosion which took out the drones that where in close proximity.

On the Camera's the people on the ground where left standing in puzzled and confused looks. The real question was did Malick get taken out of the fight in the explosion or was he the explosion. The camera's where confused themselves as the Ion blast had knocked out there long range radar finders they were having a hard time keeping track of Flashes fighter let alone trying to find the Naboo which for the moment was unseen.

[Nicky Raine]

Aliya's first answer made Nicky wonder if this woman was a pilot. She seemed to know a bit about piloting in fight. Then again most people probably knew a little if they were here watching the dog fights. Nicky herself knew how to pilot but nowhere on the level of her brother. No she wasn't the best pilot but she knew how jury rig and fix ship after her brother did stupid crap to them.

"Oh he would like you. You seem to know a bit about piloting and you don't think he is loser. Then again I don't think he has very good taste in women no offense. I'm not say there isn't more to you than that, I'm just saying that all he would care about."

She then pulled out a data pad and quickly typed in the word drone into the search. The search would take awhile there was something like eight hundred rules because pilots where notorious for cheating where ever opportunities presented themselves. So not only where there eight hundred rules they were all written by Imperial lawyer in lawyer speak.

"I don't think there is a rule on drones but I'm checking."

Her attention was away from the screen when the Ion blast went off as she was focusing on the drone issue. So she didn't see what had happened but she looked up as the camera's went all wacky and started trying to find both flash and Malick in the Sky.

"What just happened? What did I miss?"

[Aliya Vahlshalynn]

Aliya blanched and didn't know what to say to Nicky. I mean, loosing a bunch of credits on bet was one thing, having someone loose their life was another mess entirely. "Um ..."

She shook her head and went back to focusing on the screen, trying to find a speck of the Naboo fighter. The cameras were still at a lost. All that was displayed was several cut screens; one displaying the general field, another was focusing on a new dogfight, the other two were trying to pan all over in a panic to find the fighter.

"... Not sure if ourr boy made it." There was regret in her voice. "They're still trying to sort out the mess..."

[Malick Raine]

A few moments passed as the long range sensors reset themselves and reassessed the battle field. The camera's finally got full lock on Flash's fighter but where still scan for or at least what might be left of Malick's fighter. The scanners worked quickly trying to find the Naboo fighter but nothing conclusive was being found.

Then on the same camera that was focused on Flashes ship a few people noticed it then everyone in the bar noticed. There where roars of rage and others of cheers as the Naboo came down from the higher cloud cover and quickly descended down on flash's ship. It was almost like a scene out of a movie everyone thing the hero was taken out then he came up from behind his enemy.

It wasn't long and Malick had a lock on the modified fighter whose sensors seemed to still be knocked out. Thanks to the few imperial modification Nicky had done to the Naboo its instruments could break through the fuss of an Ion blast quicker. Malick got the lock and fired on the ship flash's ship taking Malick straight to the winners circle. He was giving a speech to Nicky over his comm not realizing the Ion blast had pretty much fried its little circuits.

"To all my peeps on the ground that's what it takes. If you don't got that don't sit your butt in the cockpit."

He was slapped the dash screaming in victory but again his comm was out so no one could hear him. The former Imperial found himself pretty damned impressive and downright ingenious. As he flew the Naboo to the winners landing pad he did a few neat little tricks to impress the crowd on the ground.

"That’s right Woooo!" He laughed as he went into a death spin and pulled out just above the pad then went around in loop to lop coming to a smooth landing. "I'm the best damned pilot in the Galaxy."

[Nicky Raine]

Nicky's eyes were glued to the screen in worry as the events of what happened played over and over. Soon the sensors came back online and started scanning the sky for any sign of the Naboo. Nicky turned pale showing the pilot was more to her then just her pilot for hire. No Malick or Jason as she knew him better was her older brother and as much as he frustrated her she still couldn't imagine life without him.

"Come on; come on where the hell are you!"

The quivering in her voice on the near edge of tears and the water could be scene lining the edge of her eyes. Soon though as the camera's got full lock on flash a few people noticed it then the den was in uproar as the Naboo appeared behind the Duro's ship. Nicky stood up from her seat immediately slamming her fist on the table as her tears went away. She dang near jumped over and hugged Aliya in the same instant. Nicky was such a mix of emotion at the moment she also screamed out in a bit of rage.

"That Mother Fucker!" It really wasn't clear what the woman might do next. She was both overjoyed and pissed her pilot survived. Most pissed because her brother dang near brought her to tears but overjoyed he was still alive. She looked to Aliya with an embarrassed smile.

"Sorry about that." She began to straighten herself out and pull her emotion back in. "It would seem you won yourself some creds with my pilot surviving and taking the win and all. He is probably giving a speech or something right now not realizing his comm is out." She looked up at the screen her look turning to one of scorn as she saw her idiot brother trying showing off.

"Moron, would you like to meet him?"