Into the dark of space (Syra)

[Nallia Oberon]

A week had gone by since leaving Syra's home. Nallia was back up and moving on her own. Brittany and the girls were helping her put weight back on and Brannoc had spent several days apologizing for not being a better protector and teaching her better.

It taken several days before folks stopped tiptoeing around her, but things had finally started to settle back into a routine.

Today found Nallia wandering the ship, once more relaxing in the knowledge that, at least here, she was safe. The girls were getting dinner ready and, once more, had showed her the door when she offered to help. She had no idea where everyone else was. She had last seen Syra when he'd left her in the office to finish going over the books to see where they stood. That really would determine how big a risk they'd need to consider for what kind of pay off.

Thankfully, Ileana had covered every expense from their visit. She even deposited enough credit in the Grossetto accounts to cover the fees they'd paid upon landing and the replenishment. Nallia guessed it was partially due to Colin nearly killing her.

Not wanting to bother Syra, Nallia took off for a gander down to the cargo bay. Her lover had hinted she should still be taking it easy and stay put. But he hadn't actually told her to remain in the office.

She glanced over the railing at the myriad of cargo crates and smiled. How long ago had it been since she'd been tucked between some of those crates, or some very like them, trying to escape her home? Moving down the ladder, she headed for the punching droid in the small corner of the bay that had been turned into a makeshift gym. Taking off her over shirt, she untucked her t-shirt for mobility and took a couple jabs at the bag. Resetting the controls to a slightly less dense setting, she balled up her fists and began a slow tempo staccato on the stuffed apparition.

She winced with each of the first few hits as she figured out her positioning, but then kept a steady pace as she moved slowly in a circle around it.

Left, right, left step...
Left, left, right step..
Left, right, right step...
Right, right left step...

Once she had her hand right, the pattern and steps began to mix up so there was no discernable pattern.

[Syravari Elik]

After checking the navicomputer, Syravari rose from his chair in the bridge and turned, heading toward the lone entry. The previous crew that had attempted to leave with cargo from the Sarrelon system had run into all sorts of problems, one being a rival smuggler and his crew that had tipped off Customs. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure now if the local authorities had claimed the goods, or if someone else had. Only one way to find out, he mused. Leaving the bridge, the pirate captain traversed the long hallway, then descended the stair, hand gliding along the top of the glass banister topped in richly lacquered wood. Most runs that they had done had been fairly straightforward, but this may prove a bit more interesting. Conniving his way into a warehouse owned by Customs wasn't totally foreign to him, but every official had their own strengths and weaknesses.

Sighing, he knew most of this was pointless until they arrived in system, so distracted himself with his crew and the yacht they called home.

*******

Rihana entered the cargo bay and noted Nallia working out, the stance a bit faulty, but she understood as the woman had only just recovered a fairly serious fight. Quietly watching as she approached, the ebon haired weapon's specialist moved to Nallia's right. "Wanna close your fist just before the moment of impact," she informed. "And I'm sure Brannoc mentioned it, but you aim beyond the target."

Watching, she could also tell that Nallia was tired already, which was probably another issue.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia jumped as she heard the voice. Realizing her hands were red and swollen again, she tried to clasp them behind her back. "Sorry, didn't hear you." She quickly smiled once more. "Yeah, it started that way. I mean, guess it's time to stop." She moved over to sit in the bench the guys used for weight lifting. It was more of a collapse, but she maintained her composure.

"Just feeling useless wandering the halls. Brannoc won't work out with me again till Syra gives the ok. And he says I'm not ready yet." She looked down at her hands and laughed. "Guess he's right."

She nodded to the bench beside her. "Will you stay and talk a bit? I mean, till Syra figures out I'm not in his office, anyway." She scooted over slightly. "How's he doing? Syra I mean. He barely sleeps and he tiptoes around me like I'm going to slip into a coma, and not wake up, any moment now. Was it really that bad? I still don't remember much."

[Syravari Elik]

Rihana followed toward the bench as she listened, understanding the sentiment. Though a bit harder in nature, the ex-mercenary wasn't totally ignorant of being in love. She grinned, turning and sat down beside Nallia as she studied the girl's beaten knuckles. "He seems to be doing fine," she shrugged," eyes now raised to Nallia's own. "I haven't been around him as long as you guys, but I do recognize someone in love when I see it. You should enjoy this as long as you can." Rihana's gaze drifted to the weights on the one end of the bar. "Not everyone finds that one that they could settle down with," she chuckled lightly, glancing to the brunette. "Especially in this line of work."

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia laughed at Rhianna. "Well you may not have been here long, but you are family. Never doubt that." She leaned to nudge the woman's shoulder. "And I wouldn't count yourself out yet. This job has a way of putting people in your path you never imagined." She glanced back over her shoulder in the general direction of the rest of the ship.

Glancing at her hands, she bit her lip. "Will you help me clean up? I better get these washed off," she glanced at the swollen knuckles with small drops of blood where the scars had broken from her assault on the bag. "Then will you please help me convince the others I am not so fragile I can't help with dinner?" She laughed slightly as she made cute pleading eyes at the woman beside her.

[Syravari Elik]

"Of course," she replied, standing once more. "Battle wounds are very familiar."

Moving toward the entry, Rihana led Nallia toward the nearest refresher upstairs, meandering through several rooms until they reached two that separated the dining room from the large living room. Entering, she turned on the water and began helping Nallia clean up her hands. "Must've been mad," she commented quietly as they worked, noting how badly beaten the skin was. Once clean, she added a healing accelerant and then wrapped the hands, keeping the fingers free. "There," the ebon haired girl stated as she put everything away.

[Nallia Oberon]

"Thanks, Rhianna," she said when they were done and she flexed her hands. They weren't feeling any pain anymore, but she knew the skin would be stiff if she didn't keep them moving.

"So let's go see about helping with dinner. I'm sure there is something I can do that won't be too taxing in the eyes of you guys." She laughed and l led the way to the kitchen.

After much pleading with Brianna, Nallia was finally set at the small table in the room with salad fixings before her. Mostly it was things to pull apart. But the few things she had to chop weren't horribly difficult or required much dexterity. After a while, when the girls realized she wasn't going to break while sitting there, things slowly got back to normal. Soon they were laughing and joking like before. It wore Nallia out a bit faster than she expected, trying to return to normal, but she refused to admit it. Grateful to be sitting, she laughed and teased like the rest, occasionally getting a good retort in that would send them all into fits of laughter again.

[Syravari Elik]

"Only thing I know how to cook up are improvised munitions, which I'm sure Bethany and the others wouldn't want me doing in the kitchen," Rihana stated as she followed.

Entering the female arena, it seemed, the ex-mercenary relegated herself to setting the table instead, leaving the cooking and baking to those more qualified.

*********

As dinner was called throughout the yacht, everyone gathered in the dining room and as Syravari entered, nearing his chair, he finally took his seat at one end and eyed Nallia as the others sat down as well. Noting the wrapped hands, he knew she wasn't one to lay back and be cared for for long. She needed to be a part, regardless of how often most of the crew protested that she needed to rest. Stubborn, he mused with appreciation.

Serving themselves, as normal, Brannoc eyed Nallia, glancing to her fists, "How'd the other one fare in that fight," he asked, grinning. A comment that garnered the attention of everyone else.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia smiled as Syra sat beside her. Even in the same room, without physical contact, he gave her a sense of peace and protection she'd never considered before. When he glanced at her hands, she froze. Like a small creature cornered, unable to judge if they'd been seen. As he smiled again and asked about the opponent, she relaxed and smiled. "I'm pretty sure that practice bag will think twice before looking at me again."

She reached over and touched his arm lightly. "I'm ok. Just kept going a little longer than I should have is all."

**
Dinner was its usual grand affair. The laughter and joking keeping everyone going to the serving dishes were practically empty. As they began to wind down, Nallia looked at Syra. "Do we have another job, yet? I've been so out of it I hadn't thought to ask yet." It wasn't really loud enough to for everyone to hear, the rest already breaking into smaller groups and starting to clear the table.

[Syravari Elik]

Everyone separating off into their own groups, some joining Brannoc and the others at the card table in the living room, Syravari strolled into the hallway and turned to Nallia, then nodded at her query. "Yeah, mom passed on the job that another crew had failed. We're to try and get the cargo they lost. I'm hoping that Customs hasn't picked it up, but we'll find out once we get there."

He looked down at her hands once more, taking them gently into his own. "You don't need to beat yourself up to prove anything to us, you know," he smirked, his eyes rising to her own.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia smiled as she had Syra headed for his personal office. "I can track the items, if we have a manifest. See if they are with Customs. Depending on the location, that guy, what's his name?" She thought about it then nodded, "Niles... remember him? I managed to befriend him on Drifter's and I am willing to bet that for a bit of sweet talk, he may be able to tell us what the status is with the cargo. But I'd need some kind of information to give him to track it."

When he mentioned her hands, she bit her lip. "I've been invalid long enough, Syra. And I can't have everyone coddling me any more. I need to be able to take care of myself better." She looked up at him unable to say that in light of things happening with Collins, she worried that they may put themselves in harm's way just to protect her. Or keep her locked up every time something might go sideways.

[Syravari Elik]

He knew she was right, the care that everyone had been giving her no doubt was getting old. She was very independent, which was fine, he mused. So was he. Nodding, he grinned. "Okay, not a problem."

Thinking on the contact that she had made, he straightened again. "Orem Syne was the captain. His ship is the Dorlin Dragon, a modified HT - Twenty Two hundred. They left the port area over ten days ago, so." Hoping Nallia could come up with something would be great, keeping them from having to do an overly large amount of work when they could just go to the source of the cargo instead. Much quicker. "Let me know what you find out and I'll alter our course if needed."

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia's love for Syra rose as she realized he wasn't going to coddle her. "I'll send the message now." She said as they entered the office. Her first destination, though, was the bar. She used to fix him his drink before things had gone sideways. Being here, getting that chance again, she took advantage of it. She put some ice into the glass and poured his favorite liquor to the halfway point and moved to bring it to him, a smile, bigger than he'd seen in a while, lit her face. "It's nice to get things back to normal."

She touched his hand lightly then moved to his desk to send the missive.

A bit later, she sat back and sighed, rolling her neck slightly and rubbing her abdomen. "It's sent. Could take a day or two, but hopefully it will be worth it." She watched him and wondered if everyone else was having as much trouble as she was, putting it behind them.

[Syravari Elik]

Watching her pour him a drink, he grinned as she brought it to him and then took it, "Thank you," he replied meaning every word of it. He took a sip and moved into the office with her and as she sent the message, he watched and admired her. Few would put up with so much and stick around, especially the life of a pirate. Most that he had known in the past only enjoyed the romantic version of this life, not the real thing and even though his crew weren't cutthroats and mean like those portrayed in holovids, they definitely took care of one another when it mattered.

Nodding, he noticed that she was still sore from the fight with his cousin. Setting the tumbler on his desk, he moved around behind her and began massaging her neck and shoulders. She was still tight, he mused. "I'm sure you'll get something back that'll help out." Gentle, but firm, he did his best to help her relax a bit more.

Eventually, he looked down at her as he was about done, "You sure you're okay?"

[Nallia Oberon]

She tipped her head to kiss his hand. "You are right. I guess I am just worrying too much." As he began massaging, she let out a soft moan of pain and pleasure. Her shoulders were more tense than usual. "I'm ok, I guess. I actually got hurt worse when..." she shook her head refusing to remember her childhood on the station, "Well, a long time ago. I guess being forced to trudge on thru it means I didn't remember it hurting so bad for so long."

She reached up to put her left hand on his right. Tilting her head back, she looked extremely tired. "Come sit on the couch with me a bit, please. I don't want to be holed up alone in the room again, yet. Please?" She guessed he had been staying away to allow her to sleep without cuddling and risking hurting her. But the downside was he was into the bed after she was asleep and up in the morning before she woke. She was missing their time together. She was missing his touch, even if it was just leaning on him.

[Syravari Elik]

"Absolutely," he replied, then walked with her to the black leather couch and sat with her, placing the drink on the table before them. Placing his left arm around her shoulders, he relaxed a bit more with her. Knowing their time together lately had been only in nursing her back to health, he had missed her as well.

"We get this cargo and return it to where it's supposed to go, may give us a bit more money to put into the upgrades we had talked about. Bodil's ideas of the hidden missile launchers was a good one," he grinned. "The thought of another pirate crew thinking us an easy target makes me laugh," he chuckled. "Selling ships is another way to make credits, and I know a fence on Ord Cestus that does all the paperwork as well as taking care of the transponder codes as well."

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia followed easily with her hand in his. As he settled down and she nestled into him, with a soft hiss and wince, she laid her head on his chest. She laughed softly as he spoke of someone mistaking them for an easy target. "Anyone who mistakes the Grossetto and her crew as 'easy' is space dazed. Even without additional ammo."

Unable to get comfortable, she sat up and pulled her shirt up and began unwinding the wrapping around her. "As to selling ships, where would you find them? I mean, having papers for them still means getting them on one end and passing them off on the other end. That doesn't include fix ups and such." Her words were stilted with pauses as she fought the overly long strip of material the t-shirt kept getting in the way of.

She kept talking as she wrestled with it. "As for additional money, you know between my own unspent creds and what your mother gave us, we can already get that locator program upgraded. The one you wanted because you could read the transponder codes from a greater distance?" She bit her lip, "And I think we can probably get that extra hull pocket carved out and outfitted. We should have enough for both." She glanced back over her shoulder to see what he was thinking.

[Syravari Elik]

Watching her wrestle with the bandages, he did his best to help while listening to the ideas that she had. Nodding, "Bodil'll be excited to do more to the ship. Next port we get to that has a big enough salvage yard or vendor, we'll have to pay them a visit and see what they've got. Many things get registered when you make modifications, so we'll have to make sure whatever we do get isn't something that'll get everyone's attention. Drifters will give us an opportunity to get work done that's not on the books. Those engineers and techs there have a knack for hiding mods well."

He had already had one appointment there on the station, so knew the quality of the work.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia nodded her thanks as he helped her with the divesting of the final vestige of medical care she sported. Leaning back into his embrace, she nodded at his musings. "Bod will be happy, indeed. And yeah, Vaago at Drifter's is probably the best bet." She smiled as he mentioned going back. It had been long enough, if she stayed out of the Cantina, she was less likely to be seen and run into trouble. There was plenty to be done on the ship that staying aboard to oversee it was a viable possibility as well. "Let me know what you are looking for and I'll send ahead before we go. I'm assuming some things may take a moon or two to come up with." She didn't want to spend more time than they had to at the station. She was tired of being penned in. Space was all she craved now.

Perhaps fifteen minutes later, while discussing more refits and wish lists, there was a chime on Syra's console. Nallia kissed his neck, "Enjoy your drink, I'll see what's up. It's probably the intel." She rose up and moved to the console. Tapping out the codes to make sure it wasn't private for his eyes only, she opened the message. A moment later, she smiled. "He came thru. The cargo wasn't taken. He's sent the information on where it's at, the local patrol rotations and the codes to the known transponders of the patrol ships he has." She moved back to the couch and knelt straddling his lap with a smile on her face. It was the first real, genuine smile she'd had since the cabin back home. She set her hands on his shoulders and grinned. "I can see great things in your future, my Prince." She laughed and relaxed more than she had in a long time. Life was good... and she was finally able to enjoy it again.

[Syravari Elik]

Watching her get up, he took another sip of the drink and then listened to the exchange as she translated the reply. Glad that they may have a cleaner chance of getting the cargo, he began formulating another plan to actually get to it. His gaze fixed to the table before him, the welcome interruption as she sat in his lap, facing him, he looked up as arms instinctively wrapped around her waist. Grinning at the title that had only been used on Ord Cestus, Syravari chuckled also. Leaning in, he kissed her. "As you say, your Highness," he winked. Though a ring and vows hadn't been exchanged yet, in his mind she already possessed that place at his side. Something else that needed to be remedied, he mused.

**********

Hours later, Syravari called a meeting with the crew in the dining room and once everyone assembled, he cleared his throat. "Nallia was able to get the information we need for the cargo. It's still on Rendili and stashed in a warehouse at the moment. We've got the patrol information as well, so once we arrive," he glanced to Tomas and Givon, "Check us in as a representative of that company. We'll need some forged documents," he mentioned, now eyeing Bethany. "To make all this legal."

The brunette grinned and nodded. "You got it."

"Once all this is in place, we just do our part and grab the cargo, then leave."

Brannoc eyed the group, arms crossed. "Just be ready for anything to go south," he glanced to the captain. "From experience," he grinned.

"Agreed," Syravari nodded, shifting his weight. "You all know the drill, so."

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia had spent an hour with Bethany helping her with the necessary documents they'd need. The rest of the crew had individual alternate identities already. This was Nallia's first set. The woman used Nallia's actual info as much as possible to keep alarms from going off when the id was run.

Afterwards she reported to the cargo area to work out and spar with Brannoc. He was teaching her more hand to hand and escape tactics as well as more knife work. Pistols were no good in close quarter situations and in most cases, the places they went to didn't allow weapons of any kind. After her last kidnapping, Brannoc had taken a keen interest in making sure it didn't happen again. He had settled into a role of bodyguard and protector for his Captain's woman.

Heading back to the room she shared with Syra, she took a quick shower, still wincing a bit as she felt the lingering stiffness from the workout along with the healing ribs. She came out wrapped in just a towel and settled on the bed to brush it her hair. Her eyes were closed and she was humming absently. Things were finally settling back to normal.