5Chapter Two: A Solitary Republic Welcome.
Akki followed the brown robed woman through the Republic base, taking turns and going down corridors, trying to keep track of where they were going but everything was passing in a blur; left, right, straight, left, right, right, left, straight. Soon she eventually lost track through what seemed to be an endless maze of twist and turns.
I don't envy the Republic soldiers that work here. Anyone could easily get lost in here. Maybe it is this way in case the base gets overrun? Akki was lost in thought, biting her lip and looking at the ground as she followed the robed woman.
"Where are you going?" Came the sharp voice of the woman.
Being jerked out of thought Akki turned around to see that the woman stopped at an elevator door and was pressing the down button.
Backtracking to the woman Akki tried to take her in. Noticing the black belt around her hips. Is that… is that a lightsaber!? So she is a Jedi!
Taking notice of where Akki's gaze was on the woman smirked. "You seemed to have realized what position you are in. Don't go wondering off, or there will be more trouble for you than what you are getting. Consider yourself lucky, I don't see what my Master sees in you. He said this was an important mission, but didn't delve much in to the matter… Forgive me, I tend to judge people to quickly, my Master says that I need to work on that."
So she is a Padawan. Raising an eyebrow at the Padawan, Akki shrugged. "No offense taken. By the way where are we going?"
The elevator finally dinged and reached their level, opening their doors and the Padawan and Akki walked in, settling against the wall as the Padawan pressed the floor level for floor B2.
Turning to look at Akki the Padawan took out a datapad in her side pocket and began to scroll through it and then read out loud. "You are being assigned as last a minute edition to the crew aboard a ship called: The Endar Spire. You will be working as a mercenary, mostly as a stand in republic soldier. Your job is to take orders from any one of the commanding officers, and making sure that the task is done properly and orderly as soon as possible. You will be working as a Republic mercenary until the mission is complete. Failure to comply, desert your post, or escaping will cause the Republic to hunt you down and send you into a life time of imprisonment. If you happen to succeed in the mission you will be considered a Republic hero and receive honor for your service. All transgressions and criminal records will be deleted."
So I'm the Republic's dog until further notice. Akki thought for a moment but then realized something important. "Hey you didn't say what the mission was or how long it would be going on! You also didn't specify anything but the terms and conditions."
Sighing and almost giving what seemed to be a sympathetic glance the Padawan shrugged. "That's all of what the datapad says, I don't know more beyond that. Sorry that I can't be much of further help. But there still some things you need to know."
The elevator door dinged again and opened up into a large hangar bay with a cargo ship in the middle of the hangar. Republic soldiers seemed to be running to a fro carrying boxes and loading up the cardo ship. Droids were around the ship setting off sparks here and there as they did some last minute diagnostics.
Stepping out of the elevator Akki tried to take it all in at once. There was a tap on her shoulder and she turned to look at the Padawan as she was handed a bag and weapons. "This is where I leave you, Akki. Here is a Republic standardized short sword and blaster. And also your clothes and belongings from Jardon's ship. From what we could tell from the sweep of the ship, all weapons were illegal and had to be impounded. But we managed to gather up your clothes. We are also giving you a personal communicator, a datapad, fifty credits and a stealthfield generator."
Akki took the bag and rummaged into the bag making sure everything was there, she took out the personal communicator and placed the ear piece in her ear. She also took the time to put a the stealthfield generator onto the blaster's holster before putting it on like a belt and place the short sword against her back, with the hilt of the sword sticking just over her left shoulder.
"Thank you," She stated to the Young Padawan. "I didn't have much belongings anyway, everything was Jardon's."
Taking a short bow to Akki the Padawan started to go back into the elevator. "The datapad holds all the information you need. The Republic wants you to go the Medical Bay on the Endar Spire so your information could be put into the Republic's crew information. It also states where your room quarter is located. The ship is about to leave so you better hurry up and board, it will take you directly to the Endar Spire. May the Force be with you."
The elevator doors clothes and Akki looked down at the datapad for a moment. Everything seemed to be in order, especially the information on why she needed to go to the medical bay. Looking at the ship Akki couldn't help feel a benefit of the doubt. Why do I feel like this is going to be more trouble than its worth? She shook that thought away as she took her first step toward a new life. Maybe things will finally turn around. Who knows, this may become a permanent job.
Boarding the ship with the help of a Republic soldier, Akki took a seat inside the passenger portion of the ship and watched from the window as the ship began it progress to take flight. Watching as the ship left the hanger, leaving the world of Alderaan and closing in on the Endar Spire.
"All systems seemed to be working fine. Life support is at full power, and the security, shields, defense lasers, turbo lasers, hyperdrive, everything seems to be working at one hundred percent. We'll be ready to head to Taris as soon as the last cargo ship docks, Sir."
Carth turned around and looked at the monitor. Around him the pilot crew of the Endar Spire was working the last preparations and setting up the coordinates for hyperspace. It would take them at least two weeks in hyperspace to get to Taris and he wanted to make sure everything was going well on their first leg of the journey.
"When do you think the cargo ship will dock?" Carth asked rubbing the stubble of his beard as he looked at some more monitors and pressed a few buttons to change the screens to get some more information.
The Republic soldier who stated the diagnostics of the ship turned around in his chair, resting an arm against the console. "The cargo ship should be here any moment now. And from what I hear Bastila is on her way to the bridge."
So the young Jedi on her way? I wonder how she will fair against her first commanding position.
There was a triple beep against the communication console that jerked Carth out of his own thoughts. He looked down at the console its light blinking red.
".:This is Cargo Ship A32F1 to Endar Spire. Come in Endar Spire.:."
Carth moved his hand to a button on the console that brought up a microphone.
"This Carth Onasi from Endar Spire to Cargo Ship A32F1. Reading you loud and clear. Go ahead."
Carth waited a few moments before he heard a reply.
".:This is Cargo Ship A32F1 Requesting permission to dock with supplies. Over.:."
"Rodger so far. What are the contents aboard Cargo Ship A32F1? Over."
".:Contents of the ship contain the extra medical equipment such as medpacs and stimulants as requested. There is also twenty assistant droids and utility droids also as requested. Over:."
Carth pushed the button to speak again after glancing at the data on the screen to confirm the information from the order that the Republic sent in last minute. "Rodger that. The Endar Spire grants…" Carth stopped speaking as the beeping began again and the voice of the cargo ship came back.
".:Cargo Ship A32F1 also has one passenger. Over:."
One passenger? What? Carth was taken aback. The datapad didn't say anything about a passenger!
Carth pushed the button, hiding his surprise. "Endar Spire to Cargo Ship A32F1 say again. Over." Maybe I heard it wrong.
".:Affirmative. Cargo Ship A32F1 has one passenger. Over:."
"There must be a misunderstanding. The data given to the ship on the request of the medical and droids was given yesterday at 0800 hours. There was no request for a passenger. Over."
".:Wait two, over.:."
"Copy that." Carth sat down in the chair and waited for the two minutes to pass by as the pilot of the cargo ship gathered the information needed to relay on the mysterious passenger. He took little notice as the bridge doors opened and closed.
".:Sending you the updated data as of today at 1400 hours. Over.:."
"Copy that. Wait five. Over." Carth pressed a blue flashing button as the data was received. It was brought up on the screen stating:
Requesting the transfer of a female mid-twenties mercenary.
Expected to help out with various duties on the Endar Spire. Has explored far reaches of the Outer Rim worlds, used to smuggle spice and blasters along the Corellian Run, and knows a number of alien dialects.
Request transfer made by: Bastila Shan
"I see that my request was accepted and put through." A woman's voice came behind Carth. Carth turned around in the chair to see a Jedi in a coral brown robe. With a double bladed light saber at her hip.
"Bastila! You made this transfer? Why?"
Putting a hand on her hip and gesturing with the other to the console. "I can't delve that information Carth. I just need you to accept the ship. As this is a high priority transfer."
Showing some irritation Carth turned back to the console and pushed the button speaking into the microphone. "10-4. Permission granted you may board the Endar Spire in Hanger bay two. Over."
".:Copy that. Out:."
The transmission ended and Carth turned back around to see that Bastila had walked off to the other end of the bridge to talk to some other soldiers.
Just what is the Jedi up to? Carth thought with a bit of mistrust. This goes against protocol. You don't make a last minute decision like this without any information upon transfer. He turned to look at the screen that still showed the transfer request. Well she should be on her way to the medical bay. Soon there will be a report on her just like all the other crew members of the ship. I think I shall go and see what this commotion will be about. News travels fast on a ship, everyone will know we got a last minute edition to the roster.
With that thought Carth got up and made sure all the preparations was done. He looked around the Bridge, he made eye contact with Bastila and he gave a nod. "Preparations are complete. We are ready to go when you are."
He watched as Bastila turned to face the bridge front windows. "All ahead full to Hyperspace. Destination Taris." She ordered briskly.
Carth looked out the bridges front window as the stars around them blurred and felt a jolt as the ship went into Hyperspace. Turning around he headed toward the door leading to the elevator. Stepping into the elevator he pressed the Medical Bay button and the elevator began to move. I must find out more about this.
"Your name?"
"Akkiarn Kieran."
"Age?"
"Twenty-Eight."
Akki stood in the Medical Bay as a doctor, a blond haired man with glasses, sat in the chair typing her information into the system While a medical droid was moving around her getting her height, blood pressure, and weight.
It didn't take long after arriving in the Hangar Bay two for Akki to find the Medical Bay. All she had to do was the follow the crate of medpacs and stimulants on the way here.
"Any allergies or medical conditions that need to be known?"
"None." She replied as she looked around.
The medical Bay was huge. On each wall there were Kolto tanks full with green healing liquid. None being used at the moment but she was pretty sure that through the mission she will be on, that these tanks my soon fill up with crew members if things turn for the worse.
A medical droid moved in front of her, the small orb floating in the air, it flashed taking her picture and sending it to the screen of which the doctor was inputting her information.
"Any emergency contacts?"
"None. I have no family." Akki replied with a small sigh. She didn't quite remember her family to well. Something which bothered her a little bit. Whenever she thought back to her childhood she couldn't quite remember what her mother and father looked like. At some points she would think she got through the foggy memories and could make them out a little bit. But all she could remember of them was screams and the smell of blood. Thus she knew her family was dead.
The doctor turned around pushing his glasses up his nose. "Well everything seems to be normal. Blood pressure, weight, heartrate. You seem very active. And you're not over weight. You are free to leave, come back if you have any health related problems."
Akki more than ready to leave the Medical Bay, turned around and started to head out the medical bay doors. Looking down at her datapad.
She walked out into the corridor and ended up colliding into the chest of a Republic soldier. Knocking them both down in the process and dropping her datapad.
"Ow that hurt…" She grimaced rubbing her hand against her face as few tears of pain welled up in her eyes. "I'm so sorry." She looked over at the fallen man who seems to look of bewilderment on his face.
The man was in the standardized issue of a Republic red and black uniform. He got up and Akki noticed how tall he was, he was somewhat handsome in his mid-thirties with light blonde hair and blue eyes. He bent down and took her hand and helped her up to her feet. He smiled down at her. "That's alright, no offense taken. My name is Trask Ulgo ensign with the Republic fleet. What's your name?"
"Akkiarn Kieran, but you can call me Akki for short." She stated with an embarrassed smile. She looked to the ground and bent to pick up her datapad.
"You must be the new transfer to the Endar Spire fleet. I already heard a lot about you. How you used to smuggle Spice and Blasters along the Corellian Run, and how you've explored the farthest reaches of the galaxy. You've visited Planets I've never even heard of. I guess since the Republic couldn't capture you, they might as well hire you." Trask said enthusiastically as if she was something to be in awe over.
Akki winced inwardly as he stated her smuggling history out loud and she looked around the corridor.
"Don't worry. News travels fast on ships like these. It won't be any surprise to anyone. You're not the only mercenary the Republic has hired for this war." Trask went on saying.
"Oh is that so?" Akki seemed to ask feeling a little bit better. She didn't really like the idea of people knowing about her shady past of being a smuggler, it makes it hard for them to trust her.
"Well, anyway, I would like to welcome you aboard the Endar Spire. And believe it or not we are bunk mates here on the Endar Spire, I just received the information on my datapad not to long ago. So I figured I come down to the Medical bay to show you where our quarters are, seeing that you're new and don't seem to know your way around the ship yet. Though we work opposite shifts so you won't be seeing me much from time to time." Trask said in matter of fact tone. "Come on let me show you around."
Laughing in agreement, Akki followed Trask down the corridor. "Thank you, knowing myself I would get lost easily." As they turned the corner Akki noticed a orange color from the corner of her vision. She looked back down the corridor to see a man in an orange jacket walking into the medical bay.
That's odd. I thought all Republic soldiers were supposed to wear uniforms. Pushing that thought away she continue to follow Trask and what soon to be a fast growing friendship.
Hey everyone sorry for the long wait. I finally was able to type down and edit this chapter from my rough drafts. It been a while so I hope everyone likes it. I had to get a new computer, before i could upload anything. I also takes me a while to gather up the game dialogue. But with my new computer everything should be a lot easier. I love game computers. lol
on a side note i try to keep this story. some what realistically so i used the type of dialogue you heard in the militart when you recieve messages. like rodger and over. sorry if it confusing!
Anyway be sure to leave a review! And don't forget to hit the follow button for more updates!