Landsdown Docks, Aliso City Aliso
The spaceport built to look like it was hewn from the very rock bustled with ships hovering in and out of the docks on their repulsors.
In Dock 23, Zuser Whuloc rummaged through a crate of parts, mumbling and grumbling to himself in Jawanese, sorting parts into indiscriminate bins. It had been a couple weeks since his new team returned from their first series of missions. Since it was too big for atmospheric conditions, the Bright Light was docked in Hellas Fleet Yards. Kalen gave orders to standby as the bureaucracy ran its course, meaning the Obelisk Adherent could return to his home at Landsdown. He had moved into Dock 23 long ago as he felt more at home in the docking bay than at the dorms, surrounding himself with machinery and droids and constant noise.
A tingle ran up his left arm, causing him to pause and turn his head to the back entrance. A group of young children came from around the corner pushing a wheeled cart into the dock, laden with parts, each child wearing a brown poncho or cloak.
“We got a good haul today, Boss!”
“Good work. You weren’t seen?”
“Nope! The market was busier than usual today so everyone was too distracted from noticing us taking their stuff! We even looted a swoop bike for parts!”
About 2 miles north of Landsdown Docks
It had been a cramped ride down from Bright Light one one of the up armoured star commuters they had seized from the Pykes. Kalen, D-3P0 and 23 Ugnaughts were aboard the shuttle as it landed as the Joss Homestead.
Corra and one of her friends were tending the garden on the sunny but cool day on Aliso. She didn’t recognize the ship as it came down in the large adjacent lot next to the small acreage that Kalen had leased. Even so she got up, took off her gloves and over to the low picket fence on that side of the property.
“Hey, my love! I’m home.” Kalen hollered and waved as he exited the side ramp, followed by D and what appeared to be a parade of suitcase and duffel bag bearing Ugnaughts.
“Hi babe.” She said as she walked up and gave him a huge and kiss.
“And you brought some friends I see. Are we going to be entertaining tonight?” She said as she casually waved to the group of Ugnaughts as the shuttle took off in the background.
“Oh, just for tonight, I thought it would take a few of them into town to do some shopping, and maybe do dinner here. But no, these are the new employees, they’ll be tending the orchard and operating the Brewery.”
“Oh, where are they going to be staying?” Corra wondered, they only had one spare bedroom in the house.
“Oh don’t worry about that I ordered a few modular buildings that’ll be delivered to the orchard later this afternoon, and they’re going to retrofit the old Lancer to be used for brewing even more cider. Oh, this is Meel, she’ll be the Operations manager.”
A white haired older Ugnaught women stepped forward nodded curtly at Corra.
“Nice to meet you.” She stepped over bent down and offered her hand which the elderly Ugnaught gently shook.
After Kalen showed the Ugnaughts around the property quickly and told them to stow their luggage in the large shed across of the house, he went and joined Corra and here friend Preeya in the kitchen.
“Hows your dads doing ladies.” He said as he walked in and took his boots off. Preeya was the cobblers daughter who owned a shop just down the road from Corra’s dads tailoring business.
“Dads good, things have been a bit slow since the holidays so I’ve even been able to convince him to take Saturdays off.” Preeya replied sardonically.
Kalen looked at Corra who read his mind, “Not my old man, doesnt matter how slow things are, he only takes Sunday off.”
Kalen double checked his chrono, “So you mean his shop is closed today then…well why don’t we do a little get together here tonight. Get your father over, we got the ugnaughts to feed anyway. A few of my pals(he didn’t want to say underlings or subordinates) from the Corps are in town, I’ll invite them too.”
“Sure, it been quiet around here the last few weels with you and Karra and the droids all out saving the galaxy.” She winked at her fiance.
“About that hun.” Kalen said as he opened the chiller box and grabbed a Peach Cider and twisted the top off, “You and D get on fairly well don’t you?”
“I mean yeah, he’s so helpful around the house, and always eager to chit chat about…almost anything.”
“Ok then, well, why don’t I leave him here with you when we head out on our next your?” Kalen offered.
“Yeah, that’d be fine…when you are heading out again?” Corra asked, hoping she’d have her man around for more then a few days this time.
“Atleast a few weeks from now, maybe a month. The ships going through a refit and a bunch of the crew are going to be taking leave and doing some training courses in the meantime, so I’ll be home for a while.”
“Great.” Corra said, hiding some of her true motivations behind the question, as she looked at Preeya, who smiled.
“Okay then. Sounds like a plan.”
After showing the Ugnaughts the Leach orchard and the carcass of a crashed Lancer class vessel, a crash that Kalen swears this day was ‘caused by those frackin corvuns’, the the eternally naive Jedi had Meel and one of the other Ugnaughts join him on the shopping trip main street in Aliso City. Corra had made a shopping list for him if they were going to be entertaining that evening, and asked Kalen to check in on her father at the tailors while he was in town. So with a kiss and a wave he set off into town. Before he pulled out of the driveway he quickly copy and paste his prospectus for the Brewery into one of the chat threads on the BroNet, and mentioned that he was seeking investors to help expand their production and distribution of the sweet and sour Pantalomin Peach Cider
When the 40 year old Jedi returned to Casa De Joss, Corra’s father sat next to him in his blue X-34 landspeeder and they were followed by a jollopy-esque repulsortruck with a large caravan style shroud covering the large rear cargo compartment driven by the 2 Ugnaughts.
Corra was standing out front of the house chatting with D-3PO about her plans for what to do with driveway when they were done setting up the garden. When they pulled up. She just smiled, shook her headand put her hands on her hips.
“Hey, its greatyou two are out here, I got a bunch of groceries to unload.” Kalen said as he jumped out of the land speeder.
“What is all this about?” Corra asked as she walked over and hugged her father, who she wasn’t expecting to see today.
“Oh that, I stopped in to check on your Dad and asked if he wanted to come over for dinner tonight, and he said yes, but we wouldnt all fit in the speeder, and then Meel mentioned that we would probably atleast a few farm vehicle for the orchard, so I stopped at the used speeder shop and picked this one up, got a great deal on it to” Kalen went to the back of the speeder and open up the small storage areas in the rear and began unloading baga full of fresh vegetables and meat and other groceries.
The 2 Ugnaughts proceeded to slowly drive through the property, cross the small creek in the back of it and meet up with their kin folk in the orchard.
After Kalen and D unloaded the groceries and Corra and Preeya finished up in the garden, Corra approached Kalen in the kitchen.
“It should be fun tonight hun.” Kalen said after hitting send in a message to the other members of the AOC and inviting them over for dinner. He knew Zuser was nearby at Landsdown and Katrila and Tananae were probably somewhere still in the Aliso system.
“It’ll be a blast.” She said as she walked over and hugged and kissed him. “So listen, I have something to tell you, and before someone else blabs about it…I’m pregnant.” Corra darted a glare at D.
“Oh thank the maker, I have never been very good at keeping secrets. Congratulations Master Joss.” The protocol droid replied excitedly.
“We’re approaching Dock 23, Mistress,” Max, the droid piloting the Star Courier, waited patiently for a reply over the ships intercom.
“Perfect, Max. Thank you,” the petite Togruta replied. Smiling she opened her datapad and quickly sent the pre-written message she typed before she had even left Cilix’s atmosphere.
<a:tie_fighter:942881603393302580> Zuser. Found some extra equipment and parts that we are an abundance of, thought I’d bring them to you since I was coming to Aliso. My brother doesn’t need more projects… or parts to do said projects. Tahiri. P.S. Be there in a few.
Hoping that he at least would have his datapad nearby and notifications on, that way her visit wasn’t even more of a spontaneous surprise than it already was.
Pressing the intercom button, “Max, you should be able to dock there. If not, I already have Dock 17 assigned to us.”
“Alright, Mistress. If I don’t hear a confirmation, or a negative for docking, then I will redirect towards Dock 17.”
Zuser set the new crate down on the floor, having sent the children away to their homes with credits in their hands. He began sorting through the first crate of parts, his tribes saying echoing in his mind.
Finish sorting first, the new salvage will be there when you are done.
Skull’s voice brought him back to the present, the droids morose baritone coming from his wrist mounted comlink.
“Sir, you have a message from Lady Tahiri.”
“Go ahead, what’s she want?”
“She’s offering you free parts, rerouted from her brother to prevent him from starting any new projects.”
The human slowed his sorting as he listened.
“Is Dock 24 open?”
A pause.
“No, Sir. But 22 is.”
“Good. Send a reply. Tell her it would be greatly appreciated, have her dock at 22. Tatl! Tael! Look alive! We’re gonna have company!”
Zuser grinned as he finished sorting the pile, while the two pit droids scrambled around the Banshee, curious as to what Tahiri would be bringing.
“Sir, you also have a dinner invitation to Sir Kalen’s domicile. Shall I respond with your affirmative?”
Zuser muttered something in Jawanese before replying, “Yeah that shouldn’t be an issue.”
Just then Zusers commlink chirped. It was his boss Kalen. As he opened the channel Kalen said, “Hey Brother. Just sent you a text message inviting you to a little get together here at my place in the North Creek subdivision tonight. You interested?”
<@542380450484715522>
“Y’know. It’s funny you bring that up. Skull was just telling me about the invite and I think we’ll be joining you.”
Skull’s morose baritone cut through the comlink. “No thanks. Someone has to make sure Tatl and Tael don’t cause too much trouble.”
“Correction. I shall be joining you. I’ll be flying the Basilisk.”
Kalen replied with a chuckle, “I’m at the eastern end of North Creek Lane pal. Less then 2 miles from Landsdown. I can zip over and pick you up in my speeder if you want. But if you want to fly, you can land in the big vacant lot next to my place.”
Or it was a 15 minute walk down the northern service road leading away from the spaceport, but Kalen refrained from mentioning that and risking his second in command percieving it as an insult.
The Obelisk Adherent waved his cybernetic hand in a ‘no’ motion, even though Kalen couldn’t see him. “Neh. I prefer to fly myself. I’ll be there tonight.” Zuser paused. “… it’s not fancy, is it?”
“No, strictly casual my friend. And too bad for Skull, we were planning to do oil baths for the droid tonight.” Kalen responded, knowing most droids enjoyed the hot oil immersion cleanings.
“Mistress, I’ve received confirmation to land, but it is in Dock 22,” Max reported. “Shall I proceed?”
“If that is where he wishes us to land, then yes, proceed,” the petite Togruta smiled.
“Oh, and Skull says that Master Whuloc says ‘it’s greatly appreciated’.”
Tahiri smiles and makes her way to the ramp, awaiting for her ship to land and she can off board these parts.
Once the ship lands and the ramp is lowered, the Elder pressed a button on the hover cart and gave it a gentle push down the ramp. Her sleek black Vornskr, Zuska, came into step beside her, the two of them headed for the dock entrance. Exiting Dock 22, they quickly went next door to Dock 23, Tahiri pushing the call button at the front door, waited for the door to open, and entered the dock.
Spotting Zuser over sorting bins, the Sith Elder pushed the large cart over towards that area.
“Hey Zuser,” she cheerily called. “Long time. How’ve you been? And how’s the new assignments going under Kalen?”
<@542380450484715522>
Zuser looked up, scarcely glancing at the short Togruta before eyeballing the large bin, that was only just showing its contents over the rim of the bin.
The human pilot stood up from his sorting and began moving toward the bin, his hands staring to wring together in anticipation.
“Yes it has been some time. It has been quite interesting working with him. Utinni…had to shoot some scrap-brained fool during our last mission.”
Zuser dug his hands into the parts, almost burrowing himself up to his neck as he made excited Jawa noises.
The Joss Acreage
As the impromptu shindig got into full swing, Kalen found himself distracted and confounded by a seemingly nonsensical consternation, by none other than his 2 pet Corvuns.
The food, and beverages and merriment were flowing fine. But the unyielding glare of the two force sensitive avian who Kalen swears were the cause of the crash of the Corra V captured him yet again as he and Tahiri stood in the middle of his back yard.
“Self centred winged vermin…” He raised his chin at the 2 birds as they both held their glare at the Sith serving Jedi.
“You still holding that grudge with them huh?” His former Quaester asked as she noticed his attention drift to the long tailed owl-like pets perched mid way up one of the river adjacent evergreens.
“Never should have got them, I can’t even get insurance on the 6 now because of them.”
“So…you know that Corvuns are highly force sensitive right, and extremely intelligent, right?” Tahiri said casually, throwing her naturally naive former underling a bone.
“Doesn’t seem like it to me, all they do is cause trouble, eat voles and attack other smaller birds.” Kalen said as he finally broke his gaze at the creatures.
“So, they caused the crash that led to you planting the orchard for your cider business, and they defend that orchard that they caused you to establish from its pests? And didn’t you say they were messing around scratching up your datalink one day and ended up saving you a bunch of money on permits and land fees while scratching up your desk? Odd series of coincidences don’t you think.” Tahiri smiled as she saw the Corvuns silently glide down and land on the railing of the deck right behind Kalen.
“Got lucky I guess.”
“Or maybe you should stop for a second and listen to them.” Tahiri grinned as Corra walked over and Kalens former boss engaged her in a chat about her pregnancy and how lovely the place was.
Kalen, smiled along as the girls gabbed…
But when he glanced about to check on the parties others attendees, internally dismissing Tahiri’s overt insinuations, there they were. The Corvuns, drilling a hole through him with their piercing predatory eyes.
Kalen had his senses open, tapping into a channel of the Force his training hadn’t fully readied him for unintentially.
“Go ahead then birdies, I’m listening.” He said sarcastically.
“We have chosen you, and know your essence is pure Kalen. I am Roger, and my mate is named Sandy.” The larger male Corvun spoke directly into Kalen mind.
After darting his head over each shoulder and taking a step forward towards the birds, intuitively sensing the telepathic contact Kalen fumbled for a response, “Wait, no….” he said aloud.
“We wait for nothing, and yes…you can speak to us through simply through the Force and thought.” Roger said telepathically as he shook his feathered shoulders.
“Like this?” Kalen said in his mind.
“Yes, Darth Oblivious, like that.”
“Huh, what did you call me?”
“It matters not. We will be here, we will not interfere. You may accept our advice or reject it. But we have chosen you. Honour your promises, lest you lose face.” Roger said before nodding and abruptly taking flight, flapping his nearly 2 metre wingspan to soar up and over their ‘home tree’.
Sandy, the smaller female Corvun, simply cooed light twice before donning what Kalen recognized as a smile and leaping into the air, following his mate off towards the setting sun.
Kalen looked down at the nearly empty bottle of Peach cider in his hand.
“Either this cider is too potent, or I got a bunch a research to do….promises?…” Kalens mind mused to itself.
,
Zuser took a pull from the chilled bottle of cider, letting the flavors roll over his tongue before swallowing. He had dropped Skull off to get his promised oil bath, grousing the whole way saying he would try not to be too much of a burden. His Mandalorian helmet sat on the bar counter as he drank, watching the party guests mingle and mix. He raised an eyebrow at Kalen staring at his two birds, bottle raising as he finished the bottle. Deciding it was none of his business, he turned his attention outside, the skyline of Aliso City in the far distance only a cluster of small lights, thinking of the repairs needing to be made to Landsdown Docks.
As Skull, Kaycee, and D-3PO came walking back down the lane way infront of the acreage, all looking clean and shiny after their oil baths, Kalen turned and his gaze landed on Zuser. He immediately realized what promise the meddlesome Corvuns(or his own alcohol incited delusion, whatever the case may have been) had been referring to here.
As he stepped out up onto the patio, he noticed a chromed out YT-1300 freighter come swooping down out of the sky theb swiftly and expertly parked in the vacant lot next to the little homestead. After a moment the ramp lowered and Treel, Karracca, R3-E5, and troupe of 4 more Ugnaughts emerged. As they came walking down the lane towards the large group in the backyard, Kalen waved over his fiance and cleared his throat.
“Everyone, if I could have your attention for a quick second.” He looked at Corra, smiled, and kissed her. “Should we tell everyone?” Kalen whispered.
“Of course babe.”
“Alright, I got a few announcements. First, Corra’s pregnant! We’re gonna have a baby, everybody!” After the cheers and applause died down, he continued, “and I got few promotions and awards to issue aswell. Zuser, and Treel, front and centre.
As the two approached the patio deck Kalen walked down the steps and met them both.
"Its my honour and pleasure to hereby name Zuser Whuloc as the Duke of Katavros Reach. It’s a large belt of Nebulae and star systems that we have manintained influence over for several years. Ooteenee na friend-o.” Kalen reached out to shake his deputies hand, hoping he had pronounced the Jawaese words for -congratulations my friend- correctly.
“Mister Treel, I have been authorized, in light of you and your team volunteering to serve with the AOC, to offer you a Commission in the Ascendant Legion with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. I have spoken.” Kalen said with a grin plastered across his face.
“On the proviso that I retained the right to resign said Commission whenever I so choose. I accept.”
The diminutive old Ugnaught said with a curt bow.
Zuser slammed his cybernetic arm to his chest, the sand-colored beskar clanging in response as he bowed to Kalen. Upon rising he grabbed Kalen’s hand and clasped his flesh hand on his bicep and gave it a hearty shake, a half toothy grin plastered on his scarred face.
“Oto’yodo, it’s my honor, my friend-o. Your accent is good, you’ll be speaking Jawanese with me before you know it. And utinni to you and your family.”
“Thanks. You’re always welcome here.” The Jedi patted Zuser on his shoulder, before turning to Karracca and Reece.
“What is that thing? Looks like one of those hero ships from those cheap straight-to-holonet vids.”
“She makes point one six past light speed and has a magazine of multi-lock missiles and and after market 4 cannon bro. Beast of ship, picked it uo for about 130k.” Reece whistled and booped as he rolled past Kaycee, D-3PO, and Skull who were fresh from their oil baths.
“What you looking at? Golden Geezer.” The astromech said to D.
“My word. He’s always treating me this, very disrespectful.” The protocol droid said to his new friends.
“Shut up dork.” The R3 droid beeped as he rolled himself up the laneway, intent on going to get his own oil bath down the road.
“You’re a very efficient protocol and servant droid D. My circuits just can not compute why he should have such disdain for you.” Kaycee, the old reprogrammed Rebel Security Droid that acted more like a kind nursemaid and butler, though it still retained lethality in combat situation.
“What about the Corra VI?” Kalen returned to his line of questioning about where his ship was.“
"Don’t worry, it’s parked in orbit, with the rest of the crew. Reece, Treel, and I made a nice score on our trip to Arx, decided to pitched in together and buy the Century Hawk.” Karracca said as he opened the cooler and grabbed 2 peach ciders, offering one to Kalen.
“Nah, no thanks, I’m gonna take a break from the booze for a bit, you know with Corra pregnant now and all. So you guys are quitting, and gonna operate your own ship now?” Kalen didn’t mention the main reason for his abstinence being him hallucinating and having telepathic conversations with Corvuns a half hour before.
“We’re all co-owners of the Hawk, but we’ll still man the Corra for you when we’re on missions. When does the AOC sail again?” Karracca asked.
“A couple weeks. Doing a first contact mission to a few star systems that have been charted deeper in the unknown regions.” Kalen replied.
“We’ll come with you. This just means you have a bigger fleet now Brother Kalen” Karracca growled before downing both bottles of cider.
.
“Wanna go see the orchard?” Kalen asked the group.
“Nope, I’m off duty.” Karracca yawned, grabbed another cider and trundled over to the hammock he had set up in between two evergreens by the creek.
“It was pleasure meeting you all.” The wookie waved at the Ugnaughts who all waved back the same way in unison.
Kalen gave the wookies hairy back an incredulous look.
“He’s 300 years old babe. Let him sleep.” Corra said lightly as she gave Kalen a kiss on the cheek.
Hearing the happy news that Corra and Kalen were having a baby caught Tahiri slightly off guard, almost placing a hand on her own stomach. She shook her head and smiled, going over to the happy couple to congratulate them, shaking Kalen’s hand and then both of them, except a little gentler with Corra.
“I’m so happy and proud of the both of you,” the Togruta looked between the two of the them. “If there is anything either of you need, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do my very best to help where I can.”
She also congratulated Zuser and Treel.
Later in the evening, just before leaving, the Elder motioned for Kalen to follow her outside.
“I saw your face, Kalen, I know that the Corvuns finally spoke to you. Listen to them and you’ll go far. Trust in their judgement. They are more connected with the Force than even we are, and can see things before we can.”
Pausing, Tahiri folded her arms and looked out over the homestead. The Elder watched one of the two avian’s dive down into the grass after prey. The other watched the two of them. Tahiri nodded to the creature, and it just stared, before nodding back.
“Their advice can go both ways, it can either help or harm. Don’t look at them as ‘pets’, see them as true companions, and respect them as such. If you can do that Kalen, you will go further, than even the leaps in your life you’ve already taken since you found the Brotherhood and Plagueis. Trust me, Brother Kalen Joss. And trust in the Force.”
With that she bowed to him and shook his hand again. Smiling that signature fanged smile of hers, before walking off into the night towards where her ship was parked. A dark shadow joined her side, as both figures disappeared into the twilight.
Kalen let out a long slow exhale before he turned and started back towards backyard where the party was winding down.
“Well atleast I’m not going crazy, and I don’t need to have the cider analyzed for potential hallucinogens…” he said aloud. ‘More connected to the Force then we are? With precognitive abilities…Help or harm eh? Maybe the 10k credits they cost was a bargain after.’ He thought to himself.