Logged Sept. 3, 2001
Logged by Ashton
Titled:  Back where it all started
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Characters: 
Merina 
Ashton 
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Aft – Ageis
        A small cargo bay but it has plenty of room to hold the goods it needs 
to contain. The walls are all black in color and there are a few benches set 
into the bulkheads. Over need the hatch going fore appears to be a locked 
storage locker, On the other side of the door appears to be the cargo computer.

As time has passed, and as Coruscant has been left further and further behind, 
Merina has become increasingly circumspect. Shortly after take off, she fell 
mostly silent, lost to woolgathering, deep in her own thoughts. She pulled up 
the hood of her cloak, shielding her face. She's avoided engaging in 
conversation by feigning sleep though she has actually been hyper-alert. The 
facade of confidence she's regained all these days away from Arkania is 
starting to crumble away, revealing a mind-numbing apprehension. She'd thought 
she was over this! Debilitating trepidation grows within her as they travel 
closer, a thing so tangible, she can taste it, feel it, even touch it.

Images she had so effectively deeply buried, erupt unbidden; she attempts to 
intrude on them with more pleasant thoughts, but they just come, one after the 
other, with no rhyme or reason, completely beyond her control. Now that they are 
near their destination, she sits quietly on a bench by the bulkhead, engrossed 
in her own private slide show. Her composure, a sea of tranquility, was it not 
for the fact that she sits there, quietly pulling on her fingers. One after the 
other, first her left hand, then her right, and then back again to the left. And 
so it goes.

Ashton emerges from the cockpit, dressed now in his street clothes. Actually, he 
changed into them last evening, but he still looks fresh as if he rarely needed 
sleep. He notices Moira and Rruka are not present and assumes they're resting in 
the crew bunks. As he reaches out with the Force, he confirms it. As he does 
this though, he senses Merina's trepidation and disturbing thoughts too. The 
ship can be felt settling on the ground as he makes his appearance. He offers a 
smile to Merina, "I've set us down at the main starport. We can catch the 
planetary shuttle to get to Trade City, if we need to go there." He moves past 
where Merina is, then stops at the bulkhead beside the boarding ramp controls. 
"You want to grab a drink? Maybe do some poking around in the city?"

You sense:
        Merina 's mind is a roiling pot of torment. She is paralyzed by her own 
personal terrifying slide show as images bubble to the surface one after the 
other in a sickening miasma of emotion. The domination of these thoughts is 
beyond her control, though she is trying to do just that, rein them in. You can 
sense a visceral need to keep suppressed a bleak, unspeakable, mind numbing, 
horror she's buried deep down. Still, it manages to surface, for just the 
briefest moment, before re-submerging. 
        The images flow: Blind panic as a ship falls out of the sky . Despair and 
dismay at being left alone in a strange city. Smug satisfaction in preparing her 
own brews. Contentment and pride as they are savored and enjoyed. The heat of an 
argument. Pangs of jealousy. Recognition! Laughing with a man several years her 
senior who bears a slight resemblance to her, likely a family member, followed 
by anger toward this same individual, and then intense fear for his safety. 
Dread realization that a gun aimed at her head spells her own death. Pain as she 
is roughly handled. Satisfaction at fighting back. Escape!. Nauseating revolt. 
Dead bodies. Denial. 
        Blind outrage as she struggles to aim a blaster at a menacing Verpine who 
holds a man aloft in its pinchers; draining the life from him. Frenzied concern 
as she kneels by this same man, dead or unconscious, in a puddle of Verpine 
muck. Relief. Abhorrence. The dawning of grim realization that it was she who 
has shot the Verpine. In the head. Denial. Despite an underlying sense that she 
had no choice, and that she has been absolved, she spends enormous reserves of 
mental energy to deny and subdue these last images every time they make their 
presence known.

Merina startles. She ceases pulling her fingers. "What? Already?" she sighs 
heavily...and composes herself. "I would have thought the trip would be longer." 
She explains with a smile. "I'm not in such a rush to go back to trade city, but 
something to drink sounds would suit me down to the ground." She rises.

Ashton nods simply. The flurry of images unleashed on him by a simple sensory 
touch through the Force sets him back a step, but he doesn't miss a beat as he 
uses that momentum to bang on the ramp-release control. The ramp's hydraulics 
hiss as the platform descends to the surface of the Arkanian landing pad. He 
nods again, as if in affirmation. "Trade City can wait for now then. There's a 
tavern just north of the landing pit here in Perave." He extends a hand to her 
out of habit, to help her to her feet.

Merina accepts the offer of help, and rises to her feet. She takes a deep 
breath. The simple act of speaking has cleared her mind sufficiently to grant 
her a modicum of serenity. She uses it to her full advantage. "Trade City can 
wait" she repeats with grim determination. "A tavern sounds lovely, and it is 
better than anything to be found in Trade City, I can assure you of that" It's 
been a long time since someone offered her a drink instead of ordered one from 
her, and she resolves to make the best of the situation.

Landing Pad -- Perave 
The landing pad for Perave City is a vast, open shelf of tundra, protected 
on all sides by 20 meter tall walls to protect from the environment. A magfield 
can be erected across the top of the spaceport in inclement weather. The landing 
pad itself has been smoothed to a semi-clean and glossy nature. Despite heavy 
trade in this sector, the main landing pad manages to stay less than half full 
as the air controllers make use of the numerous landing pits located along the 
outer wall of the spaceport. A sign hangs over the entrance into the spaceport, 
which reads:
                            Welcome to Perave City                            

Merina manages a smile. "and so it begins" she says softly.

Ashton catches that, but doesn't say anything about it. He palms the ramp 
control on the outside of the ship and the boarding ramp begins to rise back up 
to join with the hull of the freighter. He skirts the ascending ramp and joins 
up with Merina, starting off towards the spaceport. "Well, at least we didn't 
come during tourist season," he says sarcastically. As if there is ever a 
'season' for diamond hunters.

Merina cannot stop a laugh from escaping her lips at this last from Ashton. 
"Yeah," she agrees "tourist season, kind of like deer season" Well, she'll say 
this for him; he certainly has a sense of humor. She wraps her cloak closer 
around her. "So lets see what's changed" She answers herself mentally. "not 
much" She puts out a hand to stop Ashton for the moment. "I don't know what is 
going to come of all this, but thank you for your offer of help. It is generous, 
and I do appreciate it, and will find a way to repay the kindness."

Ashton turns slowly as Merina stops him from proceeding. He kind of snorts, not 
rudely, but as if in surprise. "I don't need payment, Merina. Well, there is 
still that offer of some of your specially brewed tea..." he gestures toward the 
city. "Whatever we find out ... here or anywhere else, I want you to understand 
that I'm not only doing this for you. I don't believe in accidents, and I don't 
believe you finding your way to Coruscant was an accident either." He nods his 
head forward once, as if to emphasize the point. "We're on the right path 
here... I can feel it."

Merina chews on the inside of her cheek. "I'll get you that tea," she pats the 
pouch slung over her hip. "and I'll trust you. Maybe it wasn't an accident that 
led me to you, or you to me as the case may be" she adds this last with a small 
laugh. "But still, it is worrying to me, because I feel we will find what I'm 
looking for, but now I am not so certain that I wish to know" She gives a small 
equivocating shrug of her shoulders. "It's awful of me, I know. I should be more 
resolute."

Shaking his head, Ashton says somewhat quietly, "Fear of the unknown is worse 
than knowing the truth if it's bad, but there is some comfort in not knowing as 
you can believe for the best." He shrugs his shoulders. "But if anything, we can 
find out more about what was so important about that shipment and maybe... where 
it went." He nods his head sideways, towards the exit. "Come on..."

Merina follows. There is truth in what he says, better to know and deal with it 
than remain in limbo. She walks out into the spaceport.

Spaceport -- Perave 
        The spaceport has a stone exterior over a reinforced durosteel frame. Many 
of the inner 'walls' of the corridors and the main concourse have huge plasteel 
windows to offer magnificent views of the Arkania landscape. The walls around 
the city are unusually tall, and rise about fifteen feet into the air. The 
spaceport is roughly circular, and sprouting from the top is a cone-shaped roof. 
The roof is made of the same stone as the walls, with the same durosteel girders 
supporting it.
        The main corridor connects the concourse with the terminal and customs - 
which is really just a checkpoint with four armed guards at it. Apparently, 
there's not a lot a spacer can do here that would upset the balance on this 
world of tundra and canyons. Small shops stretch down the center of the 
concourse, offering souvenirs and travel items.

It's busy here. It's ALWAYS a flutter of activity. Everyone seems intent on 
their own business, and so no one takes much notice of Merina and Ashton. Except 
for a few vendors hawking their wares. Merina gestures to the main exit. "this 
way then?" she asks, but it isn't really a question.

Ashton nods, keeping Merina close to him as he makes his way through the many 
vendors. Most seem to stay well away from Ashton, despite his civilian attire. 
Maybe it's the look on his face that steers them away. Or maybe he just doesn't 
look to have any money. Either way, it's welcome. As the pair step through the 
exit doors and out into Diamond Square, he almost sighs as he notes the touristy 
appearance of this entire section of town.

Diamond Square -- Perave 
        A rather confusing name for this area of Perave, as the square is not 
square in shape, but more shaped like a diamond. The cardinal exits to the 
outdoor bazaar are at the corners of the 'square' rather than along the sides. 
In the center of the square, solidly fixed into a stone foundation, is a massive 
gem that is easily 50 meters tall. The gem is not diamond colored, but a dingy 
yellow color. A plaque at the base of the monument indicates this was the 
largest diamond mined in the first 100 years of mining on this planet.
        Around the square are multitudes of shops and merchants, hawking their 
wares and 'goods' to new arrivals. This is the center of Perave's tourist trap. 
Anything from fake diamonds to fake holo-pictures of the tourist standing over a 
hoard of diamonds are sold here. The road to the east leads up a hill to a 
public shuttle station for travel across the continent.

Merina shakes her head. "It sure isn't Coruscant, is it?" she says to her 
companion. "And it isn't Corellia either...either Coronet or Ascella."

"No, but to be honest, that's kind of a good thing," Ashton says as he heads 
toward the tavern. He re-adjusts his jacket so the bulge in his back doesn't 
show and pulls the heavy doors back to open them for Merina. "At least we aren't 
getting a neck-ache from looking up or down," he says with a grin.

Merina smiles inwardly at this. Despite her trepidation, she has not completely 
lost her sense of humor. And she's distracted. This is a very good thing. "Well, 
I'm going to miss all that neck craning" She smiles as he holds the door, 
walking through with a polite bow like nod of her head. "you don't see that much 
on this ball of ice" she says. "manners are an extinct species"

Gold Digger Tavern -- Perave 
        The upbeat music of a quartet band is the first thing you notice when you 
enter the tavern. The interior is circular, and the floor is crowded with round 
tables and chairs. Along one wall is the bar, complete with stools and a pair of 
tall, thin Arkanian bartenders. Aliens, humans, and creatures of every stripe 
imaginable mill about the tavern, which is crowded at all hours, day or night. 
The West Side of the tavern has a sectioned off area where patrons can go to 
look out onto the open tundra of the planet, day or night. The din of 
conversation is all around, as people speak in dozens of different languages and 
drink all manner of exotic beverages.

Thankfully, it really isn't too busy in here today. There are numerous open 
tables and the bar is nearly empty of patrons. Probably quite different on the 
other side of the continent in Trade City, but that was good for Ashton and 
Merina. He gestures towards a table near the back where access to the bar is 
easy. "What would you like?" he asks as they make their way down the bar towards 
the table.

Merina is happy to sit herself down at a quiet table. She considers for a 
moment, deciding what to have. "Just some tea, really. I'm not of a mind to have 
anything stronger." And this is true. Meri's aware enough of her tenuous grasp 
on her emotions to know that the fragile balance could be tipped by strong brew. 
And right now she's got it under control. Her order gives her pause. Maybe she 
should have gone for something like and fruity, but no, tea will be soothing; 
just what she needs. "I'll have that blend you were telling me about, if they 
have it."

Ashton nods at Merina, but his face shows doubt. Who knows though... it wasn't 
like a cantina or bar like Trade City might have. He moves up to the bar and 
checks with the bartender, who looks at the Jedi in disbelief at first until 
Ashton drops something on the bar top, and then shrugs as he says something to 
the Knight. Ashton nods and then moves to the table, without the drinks. He 
flashes a quick grin as he sits down. "He's going to make some. Hasn't had 
anyone order it in here for some time."

Merina looks suspicious. "that doesn't sound so good" she says. She knows of 
what she speaks. "I think we're likely to get something that tastes stale." 
She shrugs, it isn't of any import. "I can do something about that if it happens. 
I can enliven the taste, but it will still be different from what you are 
expecting." So much for avoiding a subject, it's down to brass tacks. she looks 
directly at the Jedi, with a forthright expression, he likely hasn't seen from 
her before. "so what else is it I need to tell you, to help you figure out the 
next step. I don't even know if we've any sort of plan" She isn't sure if it is 
proper to ask such questions, but what can be the harm in asking. Back now on 
Arkania, she can feel some of her old defenses coming back to her, as well as 
some of her hard edge attitude. It was how she had managed to survive.

Ashton chuckles at that statement, his good nature shining through to Merina. 
"I suppose I should tell you that you're being pessimistic, but you are an 
herbalist. I never learned much about the growing process since I was taken to 
Coruscant before I could even read or write. So we'll just see I guess." He 
leans back in his chair as the bartender brings over two glasses of green-
colored liquid with ice in it. Ashton raises an eyebrow as the bartender 
departs. "Well, it's the right shade of green anyway..."

Merina bides her time. Let Ashton taste it first to gauge his reaction. She's 
got a good idea on what the taste will be, but even so, she waits. She examines 
the contents of the glass. How can he be so sure of the color in THIS light. It 
is green though, she'll give it that. A tentative sniff indicates that, while 
the leaves may be past their prime, they, wonder of wonders have been stored 
properly. She raises the glass to take a toast, but pauses short of her mouth. 
He's avoided her last question, she'll get back to that, but first to the tea. 
She looks expectant. "and so, does it pass muster?"

Ashton lifts the glass to taste the drink, and actually nods right away. "That's 
not bad. I think better than the Spires on Coruscant." He grins slightly as he 
watches her take a drink of the tea. "It's probably the water here though. 
Atmosphere is much cleaner, so the water is too." He sets the drink down before 
him, fingering the glass as he contemplates the question. It wasn't easy asking 
someone to relive bad experiences, but she /did/ ask. "After the crash... right 
after the crash - what happened then? Where did you end up?" 

Better than Coruscant? because of the water? True enough about the purity of the 
water, but she isn't sure it can make up in taste what these leaves may lack in 
flavor. She's pleasantly surprised at her first taste. She lets the liquid sit 
on her tongue, savoring it, before swallowing. Fine enough to not need a deft 
pinch of this or that. She takes another sip. Better and better. Meri wraps her 
hands around the glass and sets it back on the table. She steels herself. She's 
distanced herself from the images that flooded her mind on the freighter, but 
then there had been nothing else to occupy her mind. Still, she wonders if she 
can do this. She takes a deep breath and begins. 

"I was in the back" Merina says softly, "tending to some programming issues on 
the cargo computer." Here she gives a laugh. "Far be it for Ric to take me with 
him if there wasn't something I could do for him" She stops herself "and 
suddenly it was all alarms. I don't know how he got her down, but he did." she 
pauses again. "there was smoke everywhere. I don't remember how we got out. And 
then there we were stood outside, and the Ocicat was in one piece, but a great 
big gaping hole rendered in the side. There were some of the cargo containers 
spilled out in the ground too." she closes her eyes. "they looked ok to me, I 
don't think even the seals were broken" She puts a hand to her mouth. Ric was 
familiar with where we were. We hiked it over some rough terrain, and ended up 
with where we were. We hiked it over some rough terrain, and ended up at trade 
city. He got me in through the blast doors, and then just left me standing 
there. And he never came back"

Ashton nods, "How long ago? Can you pinpoint a date or a week?" He has the mind 
to put Moira on finding out about outbound flights and any ships that might've 
skittered past the computer-controlled takeoff/landing logs. "And I remember you 
saying you went back to the Ocicat after he didn't come back. Can you find the 
location again? Even if the ship isn't there anymore?" He lifts his drink to his 
lips and takes another drink. He does notice the slight change in flavor, but 
it's not enough to worry about. Likely the bartender just had very old packages 
of the stuff. From the taste though, he did actually break a seal or this would 
taste much worse.

Merina closes one eye as she thinks. "It was" she mentally does the math "the 
better part of three months ago. And it wasn't me who went back. Someone went 
back for me, and there was nothing left. And all that was salvaged was a crate 
of blasters." she looks at Ashton. "but I know the spot."

"Okay, well it's a starting point." Ashton furrows his brow as he thinks of 
another question he doesn't want to ask. Well, the more he had to go with now, 
the less he'd have to inquire about later. "Okay, so Ric picks up a cargo on Nar 
Belsa? and you stopped over on Corellia?" He's pretty sure that much is what she 
told him before. He hadn't been thinking about that aspect of the story before, 
so enhancing his short term memory wouldn't help. "So most likely, since you 
weren't attacked, you weren't shot down. Most likely a charge detonated on board 
the ship... probably picked up on Corellia is my bet." He thinks a bit more, "So 
if Ric went back out into the tundra, there might be a chance he moved the 
cargo... or tried to." He's formulating his plan even as he murmurs through the 
recap. And now the question, "What're the chances that Ric was responsible for 
downing the ship intentionally?"

Merina alternately nods and shakes her head through this. He's got it mostly 
right. "Yeah, we picked up the cargo in Nar Belsa. It was meant to be medical 
supplies, heat and light sensitive so sealed to inspection. I don't know what 
the destination was. I can't recall. Doesn't matter though because even if I 
knew, it would have been from the manifests, and those had been stolen. Or 
counterfeit. She doesn't offer where this information has come from. We stopped 
in Corellia first off, and that was where we had that visitor. I think He's the 
one who sabotaged the ship. And yes, I think Ric may have gone back out for the 
cargo. And I think he had someone help him. And I know who that likely was. In 
any event, it's not out there, and all that was salvaged, according to...my 
sources...was a crate of blasters. But we had a full cargo load."

Ashton waves off the information as if what she was told may not be the truth. 
"We'll find out... one way or another." Finishing up his tea, he sets the glass 
down. "Tell you what, the bartender says they have a decent lunch. Why don't we 
get something to eat here and stay for a bit. Once things settle down outside, 
we can go get some supplies and then tomorrow, maybe head out into the tundra 
and see what we can find out. I'll run over to Trade City tonight and see if I 
can find out anything about the ship being recovered by anyone."

Back to the Tundra. She had hoped they'd not have to go there so quick. Still, 
better that first than trade City. She takes a breath. She CAN do this. 
"Alright." she wonders if she should offer her contacts up, but maybe now is 
not quite the time. "that sounds good. I know I can find the spot. It had a 
rock formation near it that won't be hard to miss"

"Great..." Ashton offers her a reassuring smile as he senses the concern about 
the tundra. "Well, let's see what they actually have to eat..."

END OF LOG