Dax slowly made his way to the place he called “Home”, even though it was half the home he had back on Naboo.

As millions and million of distant memories started to circle through his mind, things he regretted, he almost thought he was going to start... crying. no soldiers don't cry. Yet, Riqimo. Thoughts cam faster this time, yet Dax wasn't a thinker he was a dreamer.

As he slowly made it passed Saph's room he wondered what was going through her head. Since the last mission Jersh and Dax had probably put her through... a lot. Yet, she had kept her composure, and though she may have gotten mad a couple of times she didn't seem to be agitated... yet.

As he let the thoughts drift to the back of his mind, others crept into there places, making it harder to remember what he was going to do.

Dax walked into his room nonchalantly, quickly sitting down, almost feeling like he was going to go straight through his bed... luckily it was harder than it looked. I want to talk to Doc see if we can get softer beds.

which brought up another interesting fact, did he really miss naboo, or was it the fact they were going to a jungle planet that the thoughts started to creep up in his mind. Or was it because he had that dream about his father, but still what did he mean his destiny wasn't complete? It scared him to even think about it.

“Hey, Dax, you got a minute?” Wicket peaked his head in. looking around almost dumb founded, almost as if he was looking for someone.

“Yea. What ya need?” Dax said. He picked up his helmet and started polishing it. Waiting for Wicket to continue speaking, which seemed like a while.

“you got any extra ammo? Or a gun you aren't taking?” Wicket grinned, or at least what Dax thought was a grin.

“Yea, I have a few things, but if I may ask, what happened to your weapons?” Dax asked looking up with a  puzzled look on his face.

“let's just say I ran into some trouble at the training grounds...” Dax just left it at that and went to the closet to see what he could spare. Secretly he didn't want to loan anything, but dax had known wicket for a while. So it wasn't a problem.”Pick your poison.”

Wicket walked over to the bed and looked at the various weapons dax had laid out. He picked up a sert of knives, which were kinda rusted. But finally decided on a gun that was about half the normal size of a regular Blaster rifle, however it didn't have a name, at least, none that either of them could remember.

“Where did you pick this one up?” Wicket asked holding it up.

“Wouldn't you like to know?” a Grin spread along Dax's face. Not in a million years would he tell, which would stay a secret for a while. At least at the moment.

Dax sat down on the bed in the lonely quitness. Thoughts drifted through his head almost as if he was starting to learn how to think... not dream. to many... memories. it wasn't like he didn't want to remember, it was more like he wanted... to remember the way he thought things had happened, yet he couldn't.

Saph the moment they had shared, but Jersh... He couldn't think about it, the last time he had it almost cost him his life. He did love her, cared about her, but he didn't want to put her through what he had the last time... after all it was his fault. He had never understood why, but still nothing was understandable.

can't think about this, gotta practice. Slowly dax got up off the bed, it was a relief since the bed was hard as a stone, and the room was freezing which made it even worse than it had been before.

As he grabbed his duffel bag a knock could be heard at the door... a little weary he made his way towards it. Hoping to god it wasn't another eclipse member asking for a weapon, if he gave out another...

To his surprise though it wasn't it was Doc, he was looking better now, but still the hurt could be seen in his eyes.

“Dax, I would like to talk to you.” He let himself in, not even asking if he could come in. instead just heading in.

“Okay? What is it?” Dax leaned up against the wall folding his arms, he was hoping he could get to the training room before they had to leave, but it didn't look like that was going to happen. Still he couldn't complain.

“I don't want another incident like last time... no dreaming.” A smile spread across Doc's face, Dax didn't think that was what he had really meant.

“I know... but seriously without it, I don't think we would have them anymore.” Dax said.

“That's not what I meant, and you know it. And yes your right. But still keep your emotions in check.”He stood up to leave, leaving the room just as he had entered.

I will try not to boss, but you know things happen... Yet he didn't want to go through the same thing like the last time. He didn't care even now, all that was on his mind was the mission. He knew though it wouldn't always be this way.

Dax saw the way she hasd looked at him , who knows maybe she could have been annoyed, but he knew with doc being around he couldn't further the problem. He didn't want to either.

He walked made his way briskly to the hangar. Hoping he could make it before anyone else, maybe this time he could get a better spot on the shuttle than last time, course he always did end up sitting in the seat closest to the front, which probably would be the reason he got mad during parts of the mission. I am hot-tempered by nature, I can't help it.

He dodged a couple of Generals, who seemed to not care if they ran into anyone. A couple times Dax had to use his reflexes to swing his duffel bag in front of him, so that it beat against his chest so it wouldn't catch on to anyone.

He eventually realized he was going faster than he would have wanted to.... he wasn't walking any longer.

“DAX!!! wait up.” Dax spun swinging his bag with him, almost taking out a sodier in the process.  Finding out who was following, or calling him. Lucky for him it was someone he was willing to talk to, specially after the recent events.

“Whoa your the last person I expected. What's the matter?” Dax stared at Jelly, who was trying to catch his breath. His hair was dripping with sweat.

“Just... got.. back ... from.. trianing.” Jelly was timing his breaths almost perfectly. Yet, he still needed to catch his breath of Dax might be cleaning him up off the floor.

“Cool, where' your stuff?” Dax watched as Jelly slowly looked back the hall. There sure enough was his duffel bag stuff strewn all over. Which was surprising that nobody had notice. And the halls were stuffed.

“Yea... long story.”

“Is that why you wanted me to stop?”

“Wow you can read minds, I am proud of you.”

“Alright, let's go.” Yea, and now I am going to have to sit up front... wonderful. Instead of complaining out loud though, he decided to just help out. And if he did it fast enough, he still might get to the hangar in enough time. this isn't going that well.

Dax was starting to get fidgety as he waited for the final check up on the shuttle. He really didn't want to sit in front. It was a pet peeve of his. Not to mention I have to contact... the  thought drifted away as he tried to think of the ways he could do that, without doc finding out. Afterall she had contacted him more than once before, he just never told anyone. Now, he last email was the most nerve wracking, but he couldn't do anything about it... until they got back. If he got back.

“Dax, you seem tense.” Jelly said walking past him. The thought registered. The shuttle was ready, and now he was going to get a bad spot. Fierfek

Why did he just swear in mando'a? It didn't matter, he still had to figure out what exactly she had meant in her last message to him. The fact that she even got past VE security was beyond him, but still they both had always been into computers, whether they were a separate race, according to the worlds standards.

“Hey, are you going to just stand there are you going to move.” This time Doc was prodding him to move. Which he didn't like at all.

“I am coming.” Dax slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his datapad. He walked carefully up the ramp so that he could read while walking, which was even a feat at the speed he was going. 

“Get in.” Wicket pulled him in, which surprised him a little considering his size.

“Sheesh, give the guy a break. He's in his electronic state, very gentle.” The shuttle erupted into and outpour of laughter. Dax looked over at wicket who had started the whole thing.  Dax just took his seat at the front of the shuttle... like usual.

He felt like the outcast of the squad sometimes. Like he usual felt  around groups of people. Maybe it was because he was above a normal humans abilities. Sorta like Alater, only part human. I can't take him, I know that, but still I... am not normal.

“What you reading.” came the familiar voice of  wicket, who was hanging over his seat.

“Nothing, just a novel.” Dax quickly threw the datapad into his bag. Which was oddly left open.

“Okay.” Wicket went off like a kid looking for something to do.

what's gotten into him? Slowly He tried to bring the data pad back out. Trying to think of a way to find the IP through it, but unless he had it hooked up to the communications of the shuttle he couldn't access the net. In any shape of form. luckily I know how to.

He got up out of his seat, hoping he could get to the box in the back before the lifted off, or he was going to have a hell of a time explaining why he was thrown against the front wall to doc. As he made his way back, he ran into saph. Who like in the hall gave him the same look, or maybe she was annoyed by something that had happened. What did I do... He just shrugged it off and finally made his way to the back. It was a mess, but this was the easiest way to get to communications. now where do you keep it?

Mako still felt mushy from all of the drinking the night before.  He had left the prisoners med-bay with his newfound information on the strategic advisor for the tribe on Tormar: Gabriel (http://comnet.imperialnetwork.com/topic/8848/page/1/).

He was somewhat surprised that the Captain had spilled so easily in private, she had been so tough in front of her troops.  Perhaps she saw that there was no way out for her now.

He took this information straight into Aphamos’ office and reported it all.  Aph looked at him with strange eyes and simply said: “ Thanks.  I will add it in to my briefing for DD this afternoon.”

Mako thought about this brief response.  Aphamos seemed to have a lot on his mind.  The new trooper had not seen him much, but the two had gained a certain rapport in their interactions.

Aphamos was always the calm hand of persuasion when Mako went astray.  Mako had already had a multitude of interactions within VE, and not all of them went the way he had hoped they would.  He had not even been on a mission with DD yet, so he hoped that this briefing was about announcing some action.  The guys in the barracks were getting a bit restless in the absence of things to do.

That was the issue with soldiering.  You were trained to kill, infiltrate, destroy, make things right.  You were also trained to keep your self and your room clean, but these things were secondary, not brainwork, rather instinct after a while.  Soldiers go stir crazy if you don’t give them something to blow up or shoot at every once in a while.

Mako went and got some lunch at the same Canteena that they had spent their evening in.

It was not the same in the daylight, but you could still smell the stale sweat and spilled booze on hot days.  This day was a bit cooler.  Winter was setting into this section of the galaxy, and Mako was ready for the cold. 

He ate lunch and went back to the barracks to pack his things.  When he arrived, Gates was still sleeping awkwardly on the edge of his bunk.  Mako walked up to his bunk and gave it a kick.  The jarring of the bed did not stir Corporal Gates very much at all.  Mako decided to have some fun.

He got really close to the troopers face and yelled to the top of his lungs:  FIRE!  Gates!  Get UP THERE IS A FIRE!

The trooper startled to an upright position, muttering incomprehensibles at whatever had shaken him, and then saw Mako’s grin. 

“That’s it Sanguin!  You are going to get it!” 

Gates leaped from the bed and went at Mako in a serious, yet brotherly attempt at smashing his defenses.  Mako was taken a back for a second, and then was glad that Gates was still half asleep.  HE was able to disturb his friend’s coordination and set him off balance.  Gates stumbled past him a few steps and decided that now was not the time.

“Well….You are still getting it Mako.  I just need to plan it out better.” Gates said.

Mako was happy to see him in such an aggressive mood. From the little bit that he had heard of Tormar it did not seem like a friendly place at all.

“We have a briefing at 1430.  Better get packed up.” Mako told Gates.

The trooper mumbled something about changing the subject and went to his locker to get ready.  Mako went to his own locker and started getting his gear sorted. HE tried to pack an array of items, but did not know enough about their mission to plan well.

He plugged his C3-POD into his ears and started listening to his music.

Orobos walked in and went straight to his locker.  Mako had not had that many dealings with Orobos, but he seemed like a cool enough guy.  Mako nodded to acknowledge the new entrants arrival and went back to packing.

When the three were all packed, they headed out for the briefing room.  They arrived a few minutes early and saw Aphamos examining his datapad.  HE looked up briefly and said that the briefing would start in a few minutes.

The briefing went on without any major surprises for Mako, other than the fact that they would be going on a mission with Eclipse Squad.  He didn’t quite feel comfortable with this because he hadn’t even been around his own squad long enough to trust them fully, and now he had to meet a whole other team and trust them with his life as well.

HE had heard good things about their squad, though, and could easily make friends when they didn’t introduce themselves by trying to prove their dominance over him.

The briefing described their target as a strategic analyst, Gabriel, who was working with one of two warring tribes on planet Tormar.  The planet was 95% water, and so it didn’t seem obvious why two warring tribes would pay for outside help in their personal skirmishes, but Aphamos used the information that Mako had reported to him and explained this a bit:

Gabriel was a former pirate who had gotten rich off of the slave trade.  He used his money to create a security force that was sold to those with valuable things to protect.

He used his security force to steal secrets and weak points in defenses from his clients, and sold that information to the highest bidder.  Later on he got deeply involved with trafficking goods, and could only stand to gain a safe haven if he was one of the “Heroes” that helped free Tormar from their torment.  He was seeking a trading hub with no rules.

At the end of the briefing a man walked in and shook hands with Aph.  Aph greeted him warmly, but there seemed to be tension at the mention of something..Mako could not hear what. 

He grabbed up his gear, along with his fellow Dragoons, and they made their way to the shuttle bay.  All of the other troops were already loaded and Mako decided that the were waiting on DD. 

He pulled his earphones from his head and walked into the shuttle, head held high.

He had long ago learned that the best way to enter an uncomfortable situation was to appear confident, yet approachable, if the approach was done right.  He nodded at most of the other troops aboard as he passed them.  Looking down the isle there was a group of soldiers talking excitedly.  They were not all human, which struck Mako as a little bit odd, but Mako decided that they must be Eclipse, as all of the other troopers sat quietly with gloomy looks on their faces.

A strange looking creature (to Mako),  looked up and said:

“Well, if it isn’t the Dark Dragoons!  I am Wicket.  Glad to meet you.”

“Mako Sanguin.  You too.”  He wasn’t sure if  Wicket’s species customarily shook hands, or claws, or whatever, so he kind of smiled and looked around at the other members of Eclipse. 

He saw an empty set of seats behind the squad and moved to sit there.  He tried to look friendlier than he felt as he moved past this strange bunch.

He had heard that they were good, but it must have slipped past him that they were largely non-humanoid.

Mako lit a lung blaster, and shortly afterwards the protocol droid droid shuffled by and asked him to put it out on threat of being forced to extinguish the blaze himself “for the safety of the other passengers.” 

Can’t smoke!?!  Mako thought solemnly as he took one more drag and stubbed the stick out on his boot.  This was going to be a long ride, he thought to himself.

After the round of introductions, they loaded up into the shuttle. Mako tried to smoke, but was forced to stub it out.

"Tough, mate." Gates said kiddingly, lightly tapping him on the shoulder. Mako chuckled, and they waited for the ship to take off. After a while, Gates grew bored. He pulled out a deck of cards and started a game with Mako. Orobis and a couple of the Eclipses joined in. The game had just begun to get good when the pilot told them to strap in unless they wanted to be pasted to the bulkheads.

Gates strapped into his chair, shuffled all of his stuff back into his bag, and replaced his helmet, as much for comfort as for safety.

The shuttle rocketed off, pushing the men back into their seats from the G-forces. Gates made absolutely sure that his DC-15 had its safety 'on' and the same with his E-11. Then he settled back to enjoy the ride.

Mako felt more comfortable now that some of the introdutions were out of the way.  HE was checking his DC-15s blaster pistol and thinking to himself about Eclipse squad.

He plugged his earphones in to a level where he could still overhear what was being said, but could tune it out if he wished.

The man sitting next to him...Dax, he had said his name was... Dax was at least responsive.  He thought Wicket may be a bit overanxious, but still seemed the most open to communication in this bunch.  There were a few others in Eclipse who responded with empty looks if they even gave him that much.

Mako nodded at Doc when he walked down the aisle.  He had not yet introduced himself, but the man looked to busy to care about a new face at this particular moment.  He seemed to have a lot on his mind.  Mako hoped that it wasn't too much.

Mako had heard about the Dark Dragoons curse.  He had experienced a bit of the inactivity himself.  Even though he had been on the squad almost two months now, and had a few other things going for him, this was his first mission with his squad.

He hoped that it wouldn't be too much for them.  He knew that a team is formed through close calls and time spent together, and other than the Orienteuring trip with Gates that had provided their mission target, Mako had not seen much of either of those things with DD.

As he sat quietly listening to his C3POD, he heard Dax and Wicket making smalltalk as they dealt cards.  He waited until he thought Dax was going to glance up and he pulled one of his earphones out.

He thought that playing cards with the other squad members who had been nice to him so far may open up the rest, or at least help him build ties with them, but he thought it may be forward to ask.

He put his pistol away and decided to wait a few minutes.  Looking over at Gates and Orobos, he decided that they were likely just as uncomfortable as he was.  He remembered that he had broght them gifts, and so he shuffled through his bag for a minute and pulled them out.

He said to his fellow Squadmates:

"I know that you guys have probably heard of the curse of DD, but I appreciate you guys making it a point to come along without question.  I brought you both something to do."

Mako handed them each a shiny new gamedroid that he had picked up in the Imperial Center Store.  He knew that it wasn't much, but for a non-smoking 36 hour flight he thought that it may kill some dead time.

The two grabbed their presents appreciatively and started messing around with them.

Mako seemed to be getting the hang of the VE, but he hoped that this mission went well, and that everyone was able to keep up with the demands of working with another squad on their first mission together.

Saph was one of the last ones to actually get on the shuttle. Securing her duffle in it's proper place she latched it tight so it wouldn't fall off in the flight over there. Not that she was paranoid but it was a a bad thing to have weapons fall off and rattle lose on the floor.



I hate these long flights...

The Twelik thought to herself, pushing past her squad and glancing over at the un-familiar faces that had joined. Of course she new what group they  were but it mattered little to her at the moment. Her lekku twitched with what appaeard to be unreadable as her silver eyes flickered over them for a moment more before she took  a seat.


It wasn't long as she setteled comfertably when she noticed someone runing up the ramp as it closed. The person in question was their newest Squad member into Eclipse.

Xenos I think it was

She thought for a moment as the  kid about stumbled up and tossed his pack on the shelf.

"Hey, Secure your gear better..." Saph leaned over and snapped.  The rest of the Squad rumbled a laughter and muttered a few words relating to fresh meat from the grinder.

"Oh.. ah.. Sorry.." Xenos replied and went back to tightening his  duffle down.


Saph shook her head and looked over to her right and saw Dax. The Echani felt her eyes on him and looked over, giving her a questionable smile. Saphira, gave him a lift on her lips to forma smile and was about to say something when her head snapped up to a whomping sound.


"Hey.. let go!" Xenos was tackled into a hug by Wicket and the newbie looked to be in shock.

Well.. isn;t this intresting

Wicket had dropped his cards and left the game to tackle the newbie.

"Yo, Wicket.. let him breath man.. He's not Doc!" Came Dax's voice in amusement.

SHe arched her eyebrow as a few chuckles from random members came up. To her left Saph felt the approacj of Alater. The lizard  was giving an odd look as she gave the predator a smile before looking back over at them. Wicket let go of Xenos who looked liek he was in outright shock.

"You  seem to like making friends rather quickly WIcket.." Saph replied. The Sullestion smiled.

"Heck ya I do.." He turned his head back to regard Xenos. "You can sit next to me on the the way over."


Xenos looked over at the new faces. Resting on Alaters, as if asking for help. Saph couldnt help but let out a chuckle as she felt Alaters clawed hand touch her shoulder and then pull away.

"You humans need to deal with this on your own." Alater rumbled before looking at Saph. Their eyes ment and then he turned and went back up to the front of the ship. Apparantly satisfied that no one destroyed anything yet.

More so to let DOc know that Wicket found a new pal..

Saph thought before lookinng again to Dax. She smiled and nodded for  him to come over to her. The whole Jersh and Dax thing was hopefully over as it seemed the man was on indefinat leave for now.

Dax let his reflexes kick in, he tried to grab as many cards as he could, they were moving in slow motion to him… almost. normal old wicket. He thought to himself as he got up and walked passed the duo that almost seemed like they had been reunited from a long lost past. Dax knew what that was like all to well. Why do I get the dumb dreams?

Though Blackout knew they were more like visions, but they still were in the form of dreams which at the moment wasn’t that bad, after all it was sometimes cool know what was about to happen, it was easier to save people.

He made his way up to the front of the shuttle to get his gear, he needed something to do, and it looked like wicket wasn’t going to be playing any more cards anytime soon.

He dared quickly to look over where saph was siting, she gave him a smile back. After all that had happened on the last mission, this time he knew something was going to be different about this one, specially with Jersh missing.

Dax weaved through the various people who were standing up to get his way to where saph was sit. She had motioned him over and he thought it couldn’t hurt to see what she had to say, or maybe she just wanted company after all she was sitting alone, he had hoped she just wanted to talk.

“Hey.” Blackout muttered, unintentionally, but he still had muttered it out. Which wasn’t far from being what he wanted to say.

“Hey sorry about the hall way, I was being pressed upon… if you want to call it that.” She said, a small grin starting, something rare even for Saph.

“It’s alright, I know.” Dax felt more comfortable with the passing seconds, he found himself sitting next to her now, his senses on high alert just in case something might happen, considering how many events where going on in the past few minutes.

Time was starting to pass slower every second, Dax or saph hadn't said anything for almost two standard minutes. Saph was starting to look agitated; Dax was starting to get nervous. Come on you moron, think. He hadn’t been good at striking conversations, yet he was trying to think of one now, and at the moment he wasn’t having luck.

“So after this mission is over, want to get a couple of drinks.” you idiot, great talk future tense, and the mission hasn’t officially started. Dax was always fighting with his dumb side, he could at times be smart and instantly think of something to say, but considering the conditions.

“That’d be nice.” Saph said. All of a sudden dax noticed she was moving closer to him. He didn’t mind.

well your not a total idiot.,/I> Dax said a small laugh rising in his head.

Moments started to pass again, and nothing was being said… finO kallly though Saph spoke up.

Saphira could tell that Dax was edgy on being near to her. Yet like her he couldn't stay away. Saphira knew that Jersh wasn't around and there was talk that he was probably going to leave the VE.  Part of her wasn't happy with the aspect of it all but at the same time the man was growing distant from everyone. Including her.

Face it. He's going to just walk away. You have Dax here in front of you. DOn't be a fool

Naturally though, there was still the love triangle withen the squad. Saph had one other that was  in her life and  that was all she needed to know for now.  So she had agreed to his nervous ranter of  wanting to go out for a few drinks afterword.

"Don't worry about Jersh." She added. Dax looked up to her for a moment as she  reached over and touched his hand for only a moment.

"I wasn't worrying.." He replied.


"Yes you were.. and don't worry.. I think I have had it with him anyway. He needs to grow up more and for all that I can't deal with it." She replied grufly.


Her head snapped p to look over at Xenos who now seemed to have a cool attitude over what had just happened. He looked liek he was studying the squad. Saph let a low growl loose from her throat.

"Hey... Xenos.. Park it.. We arn't a museum display!" She growled. Xenos  jumped and looked over at her with a challeneg in his eyes.

Wicket who returned to his card games and knew the look  that Saph was giving swallowed and looked over at the newbie.

"Id listen. Shes not just a  Sergeant ya know.. Saph has no problem tearing out a persons heart  and eating it." The sulleston chipped in with a shudder. He remembered what she was capable of and more.

Xenos looked over at her with slighty open eyes. As if he didnt' believe it.

"Trust me.. Saphs not one you wanna piss off..Even DOc can't control her.. the amout of EMI shes been given and still outranks me.." Dax added witha  grin.

The group from Dark Dragoons was a little green. Alater had originally been placed in the Dark Dragoons squad, but had been changed out. He only really knew Orobos, who he know outranked anyway. They still carried that old curse, trudging along slower than any other squad. You had to give them credit though, the newbies were trying.

As for his own fresh meat, the man was in no way under his expectations of a stormtrooper. He was tall, well muscled, and kept well enough to himself. Wicket, as always, had managed to make a muck of the trip and disturb the greeny with one of his infamous hugs. Alater had chuckled at that, leeting the recruit get a feel for what it was like to be a member of possibly the most prestigous and best squads in the Corps.

During the trip Alater kept to himself as usual. Ever since he had gone through some of the most intense training of his life, he had changed. Life had taught him not to get attached, that a single rocket or shell could rip those you care about away from you in a single instant. As he had fired those guns, he hadn't been thinking of what could happen to himself. Though being the highly trained killing machine he was, it was his duty to protect his squad and provide for them the covering fire they needed, it didn't meen he would always be there.

What to do though, about Doc and Saph. Doc was his Brother, and ment more to him than any living being ever had except maybe his Hatch Mate. Saph...well she was just something else all together. Together they formed the only people that got close to him, snuck up on him with his back turned, and stole something from him. Something he had always tried his best to keep locked away and under control. They understood, accepted, and lived with who and what he was, but was that ever enough? Could he just let them go? Maybe.

His gear was strapped right behind him as usual. For this trip he had brought a little of everything. His favorite sniper, a good ol' rocket launcher, and a few other nasty tricks for the enemy. If anybody was going to try and pull something with his squad it was going to take a lot to take him down. Never without a fight. As the shuttle began its descent Alater waited for Doc to come out and give whatever prebriefing he was bound to have prepared.

Gates chuckled at his friend's jovial attitude. Gotta break the ice somehow, and it was a good thing that Mako was along. Those Eclipse guys were certainly tight-knit, and they were tough on even their own newbies. Not that he could blame them. The new man was like a stone, stoic even for a stormtrooper. He was actually quite different from the rest of his squadmates - several weren't even human. While that was incredibly rare amongst the Old Empire, it was somewhat common here. Why deny a non-human rights to enter the armed forces when they could do better?

He punched Mako on the shoulder. "They seem to like their gifts. And thanks for the Game Droid."

They continued their conversation for a while. "hope we find some of those mercenary scum to put out of their misery," Gates remarked.

Mako only nodded. He was almost certainly thinking about putting a few rounds through their skulls, perhaps some particular person's head.

They still had some time left, so Gates, with a few last remarks to Mako and Orobos, leaned back against the bulkhead and drifted off.

She was starign out at nothing. Her eyes almost a blank stare when she felt Dax's eyes not leaving her. The guys calling him back over to his game as she turned to look at him.

"You don't have to go back to the game.." SHe started to say.

"Why's that?" Dax asked, scooting a little closer. Saph then tensed at his sudden movments and he stopped. Not wanting to push her or ehd up having his head on backwards. 

"I.. " she started, but couldn't figure out the words to say. Being nice was so not her in front of the others. "Well.. Wicket cheats at cards..." She said instead.

"I heard that.. and I don't cheat.. I have the touch.." Came the Sullestons reply. Dax grinned and rolled his eyes as Saph seemed to ignore that comment.

He didn't believe for a second that she met that. More so that he hoped she wanted him near her for now. It was hard as things were anyways.

"You mean something else.." He started and clamped his mouth shut.Idiot.. way to go being smooth.. Saphira tilted her head slighty to the left. Giving him a blank expression that didn't give him any relief. Instead he started to back away slowly as if from a predatore that hadn't spotted him. Instead her right hand shot out and garabbed his left wrist. Hiddenbehind the  box that held his gift. The movement subtle but it was enough.

"Stay..please?" She strained the words out. barly above a whisper so ony he could hear them.


"Hey.. you joining back in or not?" Chipped Wicket back again.


Gates looked up  over at the pair with a questionable look. He wasn't to sure what to make of them and noted the way the female was moving that she was one to watch out for.

"You two alright?" He asked?

Xenos chuckling to himself on Saph’s empty death threats already felt the tension between her, and seeing such a women would not be to afraid to shoot him in the back of the head in combat he didn’t press on. Seeing the whole deal would be one epidemic after another he just saw it as silly banter.

Watching a man named “Mako?” start to speak out to them throwing gifts of a pleasant surprise of boxers, something that he was no running short of and wouldn’t trust to wear from anyone handing them out on this flying bus. He watched the boxers tossed to him into the air and land short bundled up on the floor at his feet. They seamed to look up at him telling him a message to pick them up and keep them as an endowment of appreciation.

He kept a straight face half of his face hidden in shadow, as it had been the whole ride. Turning the slightest into the light scares screamed across the right side of his face almost reaching to the corner of his eye as if a the claw of some beast had ruined his face marking him a dead man.

Memories flashed to the burning house. Fire adjacent him… His lungs suffocating with a dark aroma of smoky perfume as the fire flared and chortled and cracked in his eyes. Darkness protruding forth from the room as his fait fell that day and his heart was licked by the fire into ash.

He blinked twice noticing closeness between Saph and Dax. Looking away he could not help but frown. He seamed to be the most distant of the group.

(OOC: sorry so short  got to run)

Orobos sat back and watched the next few events with interest. ako threw out boxes with boxers in them. Then the Twi'lek commented on them being her size. When she said that the human next to her gave Mako a cold stare with a clear message in it.

At that Orobos buried his face in his hands and laughed. He was nearly crying when he stopped.

"Take it easy there big fella" Garyll said looking at him with an eyebrow raised.

Orobos breathed out long and slow and grinned. He hadn't laughed in a while with all the seriousness and tension and it was just good to let it all out.

A few Eclipse members were looking at him concern clearly on their faces as though they feared for his mental health. He didn't care though.

He looked over at Wicket who was shuffling. He was even looking at him funny.

"What was that?" he asked,

"It was nothing.. nothing,"

"No tell me. What were you laughing at?"

"No.. it doesn't matter.

Wicket turned back to the card game looking a little disappointed but i wasn't long before he was smiling at everyone again.

Orobos moved back to his seat and watched the continued card game for a while. He felt the shuttle jerk a bit and tilt forward.

"Looks like we're coming in to land," he thought to himself as he went through his bag for about the twelfth time that trip.