Take it off...

[Mara Tallen]

There's a place downtown,
Where the freaks all come around.
It's a hole in the wall.
It's a dirty free for all.

When the dark
Of the night comes around.
That's the time,
That the animal comes alive.
Looking for
Something wild.

And now we lookin' like pimps
In my gold Trans-Am.
Got a water bottle full of whiskey
In my handbag.
Got my drunk text on
I'll regret it in the mornin'
But tonight
I don't give a
I don't give a
I don't give a...



The beat of the music was blasting in her ears, likely annoying every other officer with quarters in this particular hallway aboard the Challenger. But she just didn't care. This one time, she jacked the volume up as far as it would go and danced around her quarters without a care in the world. Well, that part wasn't entirely true, she mused, but for the next thirty-six hours, she had nothing to do.

Nothing.

No meetings, no drills, no hellish workout sessions...absolutely nothing. She didn't even have to keep her office hours or do anything related to paperwork.

No...she and the men under her command, the eight SpecForce soldiers from her own 6th Regiment, had thirty-six precious hours of leave. An almost unheard of prospect, but with the Challenger joining the Wheel, it afforded everyone just a tiny bit of breathing room. A trip surface-side to the nearest city with a cantina was just what they needed.

Mara especially, given the lack of time she'd had to even think with everything that happened. The botched mission, the inquest on Bothawui, her subsequent 'reassignment' back to the Wheel and out of Dorn Force...not that she really wanted to think about it. Or John.

Bah...she was doing it again. And she refused to let it ruin her leave. Mara had every intention of letting loose for the next thirty-six hours, alongside whoever tagged along for the shuttle ride down. One last glance in the mirror (http://i55.tinypic.com/vimu6w.jpg) and she deemed herself ready to go. Tight lather pants, stiletto heels, and a halter top that was more string than fabric...if this didn't get her the attention she wanted, there was something seriously wrong with the balance of the 'verse.

Auburn locks gleamed and she left them loose, running her fingers through them as she walked. A leather jacket dangled over one arm as she made her way through the ship to the docking bay where the shuttle was ready and waiting.

[Carré Inirial]

Out of reflex, she walked around the perimeter of the shuttle, the fingers of one hand trailing along the hull. She gave a bit of a wave to the shuttle pilot who shook his head and rolled his eyes in mock exasperation.

A pilot's routine and reflex was a hard thing to break.

Carré sauntered over to the short ramp and peeked inside, tossing her wrap and clutch onto one of the seats. Both in a soft, shimmering gold, they matched the bracelets she wore and the accents on her high heeled shoes. Turning to face the entrance of the hangar bay, she grinned as Mara came through the door.

"Didn't think you were doing this without me, did you?"

"Hell no...but I expected to see the Commander with you. Or at least, an escort of his to keep an eye on you, missy." Mara retorted.

"Ha! I don't even know where the man is, if I'm going to be honest. I doubt he's aware I'm here, or that I got leave he didn't have to grant." Carré muttered, shaking her head and muttering briefly in Alderaanian as her fingers smoothed out the delicate pleats of her grey silk mini-dress (http://i54.tinypic.com/2yxg11h.jpg). It was snug to her figure and save for one knotted strap, backless, which framed out her tattoo (http://i45.tinypic.com/2cypugo.jpg) perfectly.

[Kelly Perris]

tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.

The sound of a brisk pace ripping through the hangar bay, underlaying the tall, well-built frame of one distinctive man. One man who, admittedly, had been severely scarce as of late. To make matters worse, it was something of which he could not speak. It'd be hard to redeem himself in a certain pair of lovely eyes, as disappearing without a word rarely meant anything pleasant... unless she could understand what it meant for something to be 'hush hush'.

The Major, nonetheless, appeared to be on a mission as his pace slowed and he crept up the ramp just as two women exchanged pleasantries. One of whom was the very woman he sought. He checked the buttons of his suit jacket and set his eyes on one Carré Inirial, barely managing to keep his jaw from dropping at the sight of her. He swallowed, loudly.

"I'm well aware of where you have been and where you're intending to go, Miss Inirial." His deep voice rushing into the silence after hers as he stood in the entryway at the top of the shuttle ramp. He hesitated to smile too much, a thin one on his face, awaiting a reaction. Any reaction. "And I apologize if you have not been aware of where I have been."

[Carré Inirial]

"Perris." Mara inclined her head and headed up the short hallway to check in with the shuttle pilot.

Carré spun quickly on her heel, very nearly unbalancing herself as the warmth of his voice rushed across her senses. A smile lit her features as her breath caught in her throat. It was absolutely amazing...the man had the most impeccable timing, and the innate ability to frustrate her puny little attempts at rebellion.

But there was one thing she understood, coming from a traditionally military family. The ones left behind almost never knew where the others were going. And though Carré didn't entirely like the fact that she couldn't keep tabs on Kelly, she understood it.

Gods, he was a sight for sore eyes...

It took her about half a second to fling herself across the distance that separated them. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she kissed him soundly.

"Missed you." she managed. Eventually.

[Kala'ndryl Ryj]

Hearing about the excursion was a complete accident for the young Jedi, but a fortuitous one at that. Preparing for it had occupied her thoughts for the last two days as she wrangled a reason to be on the Challenger instead of the Whaladon at the right time.

To say it was difficult would have been a bit of an understatement. After everything that had happened on Lethe and with Akasha still recovering, people had a tendency to hover over them both. Mostly asking how Akasha was or how Kala felt with her abilities finally waking from their dormant state. She swore she'd do the very un-Jedi-like thing and smack the next person who asked.

Silvery-blue fingers smoothed out the soft fabric of her favorite top (http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=29890696) as she walked through the hangar bay towards the shuttle. There were others boarding as she approached, leather pants gleaming even as her stilettos clicked across the decking. The tall heels added nearly five extra inches to her five-foot-ten frame, necessitating that she duck as she walked up the ramp as it rose.

The pilot's voice bid them to find a seat and strap in just as Kala found one off to the side and looked around at the other passengers. Hoping to see a familiar face.

[Mara Tallen]

Mara sat back, glancing out the nearby viewport as they approached the landing pad. It had been a smooth, relatively quiet flight, save for the healthy amount of ribbing she endured from her men. She had, naturally, given as good as she'd gotten, which stunned the newest member of her team, Brent.

All well and good, however - the man was a Corellian, and it didn't take long before he'd joined in.

The Captain didn't feel quite right however, as even the short jaunt through space and atmosphere bothered her. She slipped out of her crash webbing before it was advisable and shifted into her massive feline form, giving herself a good, vigorous shake. Her team had witnessed her shifting before, but a scant few of the others in the various seats had. She winked a dark eye at them before flopping down on the floor to wait for the shuttle to land.

At least, Mara mused, she wasn't the only odd genetic creature aboard.

Soon enough, the shuttle's engines shifted perceptibly, and the familiar sound of the landing gear deploying reached all of their ears. One more shake of her auburn fur and she shifted back to her human form, standing just as the shuttle's gear hissed and the ramp began to lower. She shared a grin with Carré as everyone scattered in half a dozen directions.

A few of them stuck together, Kelly and Carré included, as they searched for a place to suit their needs. One caught their eyes, a bright neon sign proclaiming it 'Namana's Haven', while the line outside and the music filtering through the air pronounced it a good place to go. Looking like they belonged there, they strode to the front of the line, where a faint purr and a sly cred chit got them past the Devaronian bouncers to the dismay of those still waiting outside.

[Maxx Elgrin]

It was crowded at the bar and one particular patron nudged and budged his way to the front. He wanted his andorian sunspot and he wanted it now. Hair tussled from the wrestling required to get into the front lines, Maxx Elgrin still managed a killer white smile with a stim cigarette dangling precariously off his bottom lip.

"Hey Re'gi'ld!" Maxx was a regular here and knew all of the staff personally. Long as he could get their attention on a busy night, he got what he wanted. Always.

The burly Trandoshan slurred out a few insults, but that was when he worked his magic. Drinks at the Namana's Haven tasted far more bitter, or sweet depending on choice, when Re'gi'ld was mixing while drunk. He flagged a server and grinned. The human waitress got the message loud and clear since they were no strangers to each other. She'd bring Maxx his drink and since it was close to her shift ending, perhaps something more later.

Slipping away, which was far easier then muscling his way through the wall of thirsty patrons, Maxx took a moment to straighten out the black leather coat as if a preening bird. The lapels were twisted and unsightly and his red shirt had become untucked. Not the sight he wanted just yet!

Collar in place, shirt stuffed below the belt and a hand through his hair, he felt human again and sauntered towards a table that a group of young humans and zeltrons had given up to go dancing. Kicking out a chair, he sat down and used the free one across from him to relax his boots. His eyes wandered, as they always did. Men, women, aliens! It didn't matter. Whatever caught his fancy and made him lust ended up being the challenge for the night - or lack there of depending on the individual.

And right now his entire focus and reason for being here paused on the door as a delicious trio of female morsels came inside the club as if they owned the place. One scrumptious vixen stood over six foot tall and clad in leather.

Maxx liked. He really liked.

[Kala'ndryl Ryj]

Losing herself in the press of sentients had proven far easier than she'd initially thought. Mara had headed straight for the dance floor and soon had a collection of...people...surrounding her. Of course, given the way she was dancing, Kala was surprised it wasn't more. Carré had disappeared with Kelly in tow, likely headed for the shadowed second level of the club and the scant privacy it offered.

She was alone, and given some of the looks she was getting, that pleased her a great deal.

Kala strode across the floor, weaving through the tables and chairs as she headed to the bar. The sheer mass of thirsty patrons looked impenetrable at first, until she found spot to insinuate herself into. She smiled apologetically to the man she'd bumped into, gazing up at him through shimmering lashes. He smiled back and reached out to toy with one of her silver curls, before tossing his own cred chit to the bartender.

Eventually, she found a glowing pink concoction in a tall curved glass in her hand, that made her lips and tongue tingle with the first sip. Kala winked and thanked him for the drink, slipping out of the press of sentients just as his date returned to his side and cast her a glare. It made for a rather amusing sight, given that he was taller than his petite date by a good foot at least.

Smiling still, she sauntered back through the tables and found herself a perch near the dance floor, sitting back in an empty chair and crossing her long legs as she watched those patrons already dancing.