Corellian System

[Dangerous Wave's Corporation]

Ras cast a forlorn look over his shoulder as they walked away from the women. "You know..I just don't know what went wrong there" He stated with a sigh to his companion.

"Maybe it was your hair" Darren offered with a nonchalant shrug as they weaved through the smartly dressed crowd.

"My hair? Theres nothing wrong with my hair!' Ras replied with a frown and glare at his partner. "your the worst wingman in history" he continued, snatching two drink's from the platter of a passing waiter and handing one over.

"Well then its a good thing we're not fighter jockeys isn't it? and grieving survivor? really...don't you think thats a bit...overdone" Darren retorted with an exasperated voice as he downed his drink.

"What?!?..are you crazy - that line always works, she'll come back you'll see, women like trying to fix the wounded" Ras wiggled his eyebrows slightly and cast a look over towards the two women they'd just left - one of whom shot him a glare, winking at her he turned back to Darren "Most women.." he amended.

Darren laughed and clapped his friend on the back "Don't worry Ras..somewhere in this crowd there must be a nurturing women willing to fall for your lame lines"

"Keep it up Dare..." Ras threatened with a grumble "Just keep it up"

"Or what..you'll recruit Nik as your new wingman?" Darren motioned towards the wiry man who was currently engaged in an animated discussion with a group of what looked to be engineers..or scientists..or some other geeky profession. "Or maybe Vidown" He tipped his head in the other direction where the surly guard was fidgeting in his dress uniform and skulking in the sidelines. "Or we could go really crazy here and you could replace me with Bells" Darren took a sip of his drink and then waved merrily at the object of their conversation, who was currently engrossed in conversation with one of the Thruvarans.
"They're probably debating the best way to trash an entire city with the least amount of effort" He continued.

Ras sighed "Theres always Rex"

"Oh yes..so he can educate your prospective conquests on the evils of large scale governments...thats sure to be a big winner" Darren snorted with a laugh.

"He seems to be doing just fine at the moment" Ras remarked with a grin pointing towards the Corellian who was currently having an animated discussion with several women.

In response to this spectacle Darren raised his glass to look at the contents speculatively "well damn..what did they spike the punch with?"

[Aaron Starkiller]

Aaron grinned as his thoughts drifted back to the time Sivan had sent a rancor after him during his training. "Ah, we'll just have to see how that turns out then," he said to Erika, scratching his neck with his free hand.

Turning to Jet, Aaron smiled, putting on a charade of child-like innocence. "Aw, I knew you cared," he said in reply to the remark about disappointing him. "But I have to say that I'm a little jealous, seeing as how you put that dress on for all these people and not just me." Still having Jet on his arm, Aaron swung his hip into her's playfully.

[Dangerous Wave's Corporation]

In one corner of the room a small group had somehow managed to appropriate their own little space and stood huddled around one person and the datapad he held.

"now how the hell am I supposed to hear what he's saying with all you people giggling like ewoks?" Jethro stated to the group - which consisted of several of his Dangerous Waves cohorts "Shhhh! shhh!" he motioned with his hand for them all to be quiet as a voice...clearly that of Rex filtered through the datapad. Telera rolled her eyes slightly "Oh please tell me he did not just say that.." she started to say when Kadar cut her off 'No..no..we can work with that, alright now Rex listen up..this is what you have to say.." Kadar began knowing that Rex would hear him clearly through the earbud.

"I don't even know why we keep trying this" Telera whispered to Ethan who's gaze was skimming the crowd for anyone who might be coming their way, after an all clear sign to Jethro he answered her. 'Would you rather he tried to pick you up?"

'Ugh..force no" Telera replied making a slight face as she motioned to Jethro and the entire group converted to innocent faces and conversation for a few moments until the Officer had passed by. Once in the clear again Ethan responded "Well then shush"

"I'd never fall for these lines anyways" She continued as she heard another snippet of advice to Rex from Kadar. "Well thats good Tel..since I didn't spend any time gathering info on you to give Rex a chance now did I?" retorted Jethro who glanced up to glare at her.

"All right..all right...calm down " chimed in Samir with a sweet voice - ever the peace keeper of the group and who until this point had remained silent. "where's Dare?"

"Oh no worries..he's way across the room with Ras" Ethan confirmed after a quick glance through the crowd. "looks like his drink was bad or something".

"kriff..you all know we're going to hear about that tomorrow" Kadar responded as there was a lull in advice giving.

[Taaru Masako]

Masako's appreciation for the humor of reversal and juxtaposition is such that he doesn't fail to notice the finer details of Avery and Miko's appearance.

Taking a position next to them and folding his hands behind his back to better display the hard angles of his uniform, he expertly bats Avery's barbs aside and offers his own.

"I owe you an apology Avery. Judging by the exactness of your make-up, lack of a disheveled appearance and the fact that Miko isn't lighting a cigarette right now, I'd say my my original estimation of you as a loose cannon was wrong."

At this, Miko perks up, the realization suddenly dawning on him. He had known Taaru too long to mistake that tone of voice: Something incredibly mean-spirited was about to be said, and he had missed his window to interject.

"It seems you're just a tease," Taaru said, jovially, or maybe not?

Miko, meanwhile, has taken to giving Taaru the evil eye, and squaring his shoulders behind him.

Taaru doesn't fail to notice this either, and attempts a diffusion.

"To answer your question, Ms. Heartshorn, the Corellian Navy is an organization of honorable tradition and looking forward to a bright future. If you care to help them, and by them I mean us, along, I'd suggest attending to the file," at this point, Taaru removes a datapad from a pocket and taps a few commands," that I've just sent you. Your itinerary for the night. I've other things to attend to before things get started, so why don't the two of you have a little fun?"

And, looking directly into the seat of the house of the soul through the window of Miko's eyes and enunciating with the crystal clarity of a newscaster practicing his consonant endings: "But. Not. Too. Much. Fun."

Clicking his heels together, Taaru vanishes into the crowd as quickly as he appeared.

[...]

Casanomi smiles politely at Jet's jest at Aaron's expense, and concentrates his efforts on ignoring Aaron's lack of sophistication. Then again, he reminds himself, this IS Corellia....Ever the paragon of social graces, he also offers an appropriate bon mot.

"As in every case when a ship embarks on a long voyage, I can only wish you what all sailors on warships hope for: A thoroughly uninteresting, unremarkable and routine trip. But, I have a feeling your present company, left to its own devices, will insure otherwise," at this, he turns slightly, indicating the crowd around them, and, more specifically, the direction Taaru had left in. He would've included Aaron in that category, but it was easier to implicate those not present, rather than those that were.

Casanomi was about to continue, but his tongue was rendered inoperable as it rudely conspired to gag him, around the same time that a man rosy with inebriation and wearing a white admiral's uniform clapped him on the back and threatened to fire a vertebral disk out through his chest. Luckily, Rashao hadn't been drinking, because said drink would have most likely ended up on Jet's attire.

Before Rashao can whirl around and verbally assault his assailant, a booming voice announces itself.

"Rashao you salient saurian, how are ya?! blast it's been....what?....4 years?"

Rashao, who's immediate expression had defaulted to rage, relaxed into the face of a partygoer who had suddenly run into someone he would rather not talk to, but was forced to anyway because of some past entanglement or shared history.

This culminated in a rolling of eyes and a heaping helping of facepalms.

"Kess....I saw you just last week. At the barbecue."

"Hell, I don't remember that! There was more whiskey in me than there was in the marinade for the nerf steaks. But damnit, you look good. Haven't seen you this dolled up since the...."

"'...night we did inappropriate things to each other.' Yes, Kess, your colorful and inappropriate attempts at embarrassing suggestion are duly noted. Now if you'd-" Rashao moves to firmly grasp the larger figure of the admiral and maneuver him on a vector charted for distant stars, but his order his countermanded by the Admiral seizing him instead.

"'Cept your tie is a little off. Here, let me help you with that," Adm. Ragnell chuckles, tossing his half full glass at a flabbergasted orderly who barely catches it, and manually assaulting Rashao's neckwear, while Rashao attempts to politely disentangle himself from this mess of a situation before lapsing into an outright argument.

Adm. Ragnell, despite protests, adjusts said article, and silences Rashao with a loving pat on the cheek.

"There ya go, fresh n dandy like a wired mire weasel."

Rashao has had quite enough. He turns, curtly, to Jet, and executes a half-bow.

"Madame Diktat. It has been a pleasure and an honor to meet you. But if you'll excuse me, I am going to sort some details out with an acquaintance of mine, and will then most likely murder him."

Rashao turns again towards Adm. Ragnell, who has, gentleman that he is, extended his arm to escort Casanomi.

Casanomi glares at him like the twin suns of Tatooine, except instead of suns, his eyes are the distilled liquid torment of a ten thousand souls being rent asunder by daks.

Adm. Ragnell visibly shrinks into himself a little, obviously chilled by the display, and is easily persuaded to follow Casanomi towards the nearest exit by Casanomi's very capable hands wrapped around one of his arms.



Before Jet, Aaron or Erika can react, Taaru magically appears behind them all: "Ah, so I see you've met Admiral Ragnell. Soundest military mind I've ever known. You can't imagine how fortunate we are having him here."

And before they can react to that, he taps a few keys on his datapad and waves it in their faces.

"Itineraries sent."

Winking, he disappears just as magically.

[Jet Almeara]

Jet barely has time to mutter her own - 'yes it was nice to meet you too' before the drunken Admiral is marched off by the Major - something she finds vastly amusing although she carefully keeps said amusement from outwardly showing in order to be polite.

"you know..." she states to Aaron while Erika is still watching the admiral be hustled through the door "I liked that Major Casanomi, he's far to polite...but he's not afraid to hint at murder in my presence. Refreshing."

And here she lets any further thoughts go as Taaru magically appears to startle her for the second time in one night - a record for anyone, a record of survival at least. here he proclaims the drunk to be the soundest military mind he knows, something Jet is not overly surprised by...great minds are often also the most unstable, throws the equivalent of annoying paperwork at them via electronics and then disappears again - something that seems to have become a habit for him tonight. she clicks her tongue slightly in annoyance and looks at Aaron.

"I do believe that man is enjoying watching my misery" she stated with a slight sigh before glancing at her datapad with a bit of trepidation "The question is do I really want to see just how much he wants me to suffer in this endeavor of his? or would I rather just be surprised..."

Given the resulting escapades since Aaron's jealousy comment it seems to have slipped Jets mind to either reprimand or make a nasty retort about the hip bump.

[Avery Heartshorn]

Avery had spun around when Taaru had approached, smiling light-heartedly but as soon as Taaru took his stance, she knew something was up.

'Loose cannon?' She thought, feeling her heart sink into her stomach. A loose cannon wasn't exactly a great reputation to be known for, in fact it implied a long list of things that someone shouldn't be known for. Her jaw dropped a little and she had trouble catching her breath. She didn't realize the next sentence was going to hit harder.

Crossing her arms across her stomach, she immediately looked down to the floor. And when Taaru merrily disappeared she didn't look up to Miko, she just continued staring at the same spot til her eyes blurred- which allowed them to revel in the silence Taaru had left in his wake.

She swallowed hard, pushing the lump in her throat down.

"I'm just...um...going to get get a drink..."

She threaded through the crowd, snagging a glass of champagne off a moving waiter.

When reaching a far enough distance, she quickly wiped her cheeks with her fingers. The tears lasted for a second, but she made sure no one saw. She looked at her glass and sighed, swirling it around.

Maybe she had spun out of control- she could admit that. There was a period after her fathers death when things were confusing and awful- filling the void with work and various men... But things were looking up, things were going well... or at least she thought.

"Loose cannon?...." She whispered to herself quietly, swirling her glass in a particular motion.

[The Thruvarans]

((Oh jeez...now I feel bad.))

Miko saw red, and it took every ounce of his military discipline not to break his commanding officers nose. Resorting instead to clenching his fists to the point of pain as his fingernails dug into his palms, he made his displeasure very well known...an effective method, as Taaru quickly realizes what he's precipitated and makes himself scarce.

Miko follows him with his gaze, still at a loss. For someone who had grown up in a social class above his own, Miko had always figured Taaru to be more cultured. But he chides himself for such a foolish thought.

The only thing distinguishing his level from mine is a deeper appreciation of small cruelties.

Miko remembers something, forgets his rage and looks around for Avery, who has disappeared from his immediate purview. He hadn't even heard her excuse herself.

A little searching shows her to be near the open bar, with her back to the crowd. Miko walks up and lays a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.

"Avery, I'm sorry. I'll deal with him as soon as this is over."

[Avery Heartshorn]

Avery was absorbed into the champagne, watching the bubbles float to the top as the current she was creating pushed them away from the edges.

She felt the warm, caring hand resting on her shoulder and she didn't move, she didn't even flinch.

"I don't want you to deal with him."

She turned and stared him dead in the eye.

"I want revenge."

Something in Avery's mind had snapped, and anyone could see it in those cold blue-grey eyes.

"His childish comments deserve something....special."

She smiled, both corners of her mouth turning up devilishly.

"Do you know what room he'll be staying in?"

[The Thruvarans]

"Um....yes, but....," Miko stumbles, so surprised is he by this sudden transformation. He really wasn't expecting this, but attempts to diffuse it.

"Look, what he said was terrible, but.....Avery...I don't know what your understanding is of military culture, but I can't do what you're asking. Let me deal with it my way."

[Avery Heartshorn]

"Fine, deal with it how you feel is best."

She tipped back the champagne, downing it in one gulp before setting it on top of a platter walking by her. She rested one arm around her middle, while rubbing her forehead with the other hand. Sighing, she spoke.

"Look, I'm pretending it didn't hurt, his comments are rough."

She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.

"But he's right... Whether we want to admit it or not, he's right."

She smiled a little and extended her hand to him for a handshake.

"Hi, I'm Avery, and I'm a loose canon."

[Dangerous Wave's Corporation]

From across the room a sharp CRACK! suddenly filled the air and Kadar winced slightly 'ooohhh...that had to hurt..." he remarked as Telera glanced back to give him an 'I told you so' look. Poor Rex it seemed had taken a misstep in what had until this time looked like a promising endeavor and was now reeling backwards holding his cheek with an astonished look on his face.

"well..you know I don't think that was really the proper time to make that suggestion" chimed in Samir who had a sympathetic look on her face for poor Rex.

"Oh yeah well when would you have suggested it?" Kadar challenged her and Samir shrugged slightly about to respond when Jethro interrupted her "Alright alright...no time for that now, what do you guys think can we salvage the situation?"

The group peered towards Rex and the two girls he'd been talking too...one of them was angrily storming towards him while he tripped over his own feet in an awkward attempt to get out of her path. they all looked back at Jethro and shook their heads.

"Right!..abort mission! abort mission!" Jethro spoke hastily into the ear buds and Rex turned to hightail it, disappearing into the crowd - no longer interested in trying to repair the damage.

_________________________________________________

A little ways off Darren looked towards the sharp crack and then back to Ras with a shrug before finishing his drink.

"and the world returns to normalcy...guess theres nothing wrong with the drinks after all..." To which Ras nodded in agreement and downed his own drink which he had previously been peering at suspiciously.

[Aaron Starkiller]

"Far too polite," Aaron asked Jet after Casanomi had excused himself and the Admiral. "Are you saying you'd much rather someone that acts like me filling a leadership role?" Aaron raised an eyebrow at her, the gesture behaving as the question mark.

Aaron glanced over the itinerary on his datapad, which had materialized from his inner chest-pocket. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily. "He's got me scheduled for second shift janitorial duties," he said, holding up his datapad so Jet could take a look. Aaron was Aaron, of course, and was able to find the humor in any situation. Although what he said next wasn't just the typical humor one was accustomed to, assuming one wasn't accustomed to Aaron Starkiller. "He could've at least put your room on my list. Then we could've finished this date properly while I worked."

[Jet Almeara]

"No Aaron...your the other end of the scale, somewhere in the middle might be nice. In any case its a moot point" Jet responded finishing her drink and setting the glass on the platter of a passing waiter.

"Maybe you should have been nicer to Jorunn" she suggested mildly, inferring that such a duty might be some form of mild revenge and letting her gaze run over the crowd speculatively "although you still stand a better chance of doing anything in her room then you do mine" she finished deadpan as she flashed an amused look at him. "Now find us some more drinks before I decide to start being a leader again and find out why Rex just got slapped, a goodly potion of my team is gaping in a corner,Miko is ticked and Avery is upset"

[Aaron Starkiller]

Aaron eyed Jet thoughtfully. "Wait, you just got through making a point that I don't stand a chance of properly fulfilling my escort duties," he pointed out, before his eyes opened wide. "But you want me to get you a drink..."

After a brief moment Aaron slipped his arm away from Jet's and stood in front of her, holding his hands up in a halting gesture. "Wait right here," he said manically and melded into the crowd.

[Jet Almeara]

Jet watched Aaron dash away and rolled her eyes slightly before turning back to the crowd, letting her gaze rove over the assorted people with mild interest. just to torment Aaron she made sure to wander a little bit and found herself a nice Pillar to lean against as she regarded those around her with a pleasant expression , exchanging pleasantries with those who happened past and chose to brave speaking with her long enough to introduce themselves.