|
|
Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 9:02:07 GMT -5
Watching the ground forces train, Locar studies each man in turn. Knowing sooner or later he would be sending many of them to their deathes.
Never forget them, least you lose yourself to the darkness of leadership.
The thought unbidden to him, he didn't even remember reading that one.
Puzzled about it, maybe I will ask Nadia if she ever gets thoughts like that.
Moving on with his thoughts as he watches one of his Sergeant Majors training some of the most elite troops on the Dragon outside of Sid's Commando teams.
=============================================================================
Sergeant Major Rico was disgusted by the performance of some of his men this morning.
"You sack of $h!ts can push yourselves harder than that. Or did the best part of you run down the crack of Susie Rotten Crotch before she gave birth to you maggots."
"None of you little $h!ts would last a minute in the pits."
"The fookn Admiral is looking on you boys. Probably figures you all ain't good enough and wants to ship you back."
"UP DOWN UP DOWN UP HOLD IT THERE, DAMNIT JENKINS KEEP YOUR BODY STRAIGHT OR ARE YOU PUTTING YOUR ASS OUT THERE CAUSE YOU THINK I MIGHT WANT TO US IT"
==============================================================================
Smiling as he sees the grizzled veteran work the hell out of his men.
Calling out, "Sergeant Major Rico!"
Snapping around, "Yes, Sir."
Walking up, "Are any of these men worth a crap?"
"Sir I can only work with what you give me, I might be able to salvage them."
Smiling, "Than carry on Sergeant Major, there isn't room for any pansies in your outfit."
"Aye aye Sir"
Locar smartly walks away, counting to ten to himself, smiling as he hears Rico lay back into the group of trainees.
|
|
|
|
Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 9:03:05 GMT -5
"How the hell did they beat us back here?" an expariated Tom Lombardi exclaims.
"Don't matter how they did, means there won't be any fresh apples left when we come through." Captain Paris looks at his men, knowing it was a limited shipment of apples this week. Remembering how the grunts had learned the pilots loved the apples, they took great pride in swiping up all the apples they could leaving one for their SgtMaj to grab as a trophy as he was the last through each time whenever they beat them back from training.
"Who was flying their drop ships today?"
"I think it was Shal and Michael today," pipes up Tom.
"Yes it was, the Commander was complaining how reckless they flew," the newest member of Angel Squadron chimes in. "Flying her wing has its perks of her open mic to me."
"Yes they learn too much from certain Captains I know," as the young Commander looks over at her Captain.
"Sorry Commander, they love flying like that. It's hard to train out, course some could say they get it naturally from you and the Admiral."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hitting the midnight chow line after training the men on asteroid buttaults, SgtMaj Rico notices a pretty wisp of a girl just behind him in line talking with others in pilot uniforms.
Smiling to himself that him and his men made it back before the Angel Squadron that was practicing their close air support with them. It was a matter of pride to beat flyboys back to the chow line. As was his custom of being the last of his men to get his meal it put him right next to one of the newest members of the Angel Squadron.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smiling as he grabs the last apple from the tray, he barely registers the sighs behind him expect for one.
A soft quiet "Dang I was hoping to get one, hadn't had a fresh one in years." behind him.
Glancing back over his shoulder as he moves toward the cashier, he can see the honest sadness in the lady's eyes as he pays for his food. Even as he recognizes the light scar on her neck that so many around here have of being a freed slave.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ah don't worry Vanessa, we will beat them back next time. Jansen and Ducy have dropship duty for the next exercise in a week," the young Captain's smile cheering her some.
Taking their trays to a free table the group sits talking amongst themselves, even as the grunts are loud at the other tables around them. Vanessa feels a bump into her chair as she turns to look she sees the rugged looking SgtMaj yelling at someone named Jenkins for bumping into him. She felt sorry for the young Private the way his face blanched.
Finishing up their meal well after the grunts all leave, they take their trays to the cleaning up line.
Nadia moves next to her wingman, "You should thank him next time you see him."
Puzzled, "What are you talking about Commander?"
"Check your flight bag after we leave. I think our SgtMaj dropped something in it when he bumped your chair. Jenkins was just a good excuse for him. I saw him timing it." As she turns to leave following the love of her life.
Waiting for Captain Paris to leave as well, Vanessa checks her flight bag and sees the shiny red fresh apple.
|
|
|
|
Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 9:04:01 GMT -5
Dropping the small mouse down, watching with amusement as his baby strill Modo stalks it. Rico leans back on small cot in the room to enjoy the thrill of the strill's hunt.
The Strill squealling with delight as it pounces on the hapeless mouse, munching with delight, "You know in a few years you can go hunting with me Modo."
Finishing its mouse off, it begins sniffing around the bag sitting in the corner looking expectantly in the right pouch. Whining slightly when it finds it empty.
"Sorry Modo, there was a sweet little angel that needed the apple a bit more than you did."
|
|
|
|
Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 9:05:05 GMT -5
"No Modo, not yet. Wait till we get over to the warehouse that little Jawa saw the rat in."
The strill relaxes again hanging on to the shoulder of the grizzled man.
Swiping his card key at the warehouse entrance, slipping in fairly quickly. The strill bounding down to the floor looking up expectantly.
Taking a look at the warehouse's manifest listing he sees nothing harmful to the strill or explosive, smiling looking down at the strill, "Ok Modo. The hunt is on. Go have fun," as he sets up the portable chair.
Proping his feet up waiting for the strill to gain a scent, watching it take off he pulls out one of his cigars lighting it.
'Feels good to relax, Modo will enjoy his hunt here. Never been in this one before.'
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So Tom ready for your party?"
"Will, Nadia's going to kill us all if it's too wild," laughing as he says it.
"I figure we go to that club that the Admiral gave me on Coreilla. Should be a fun time, Admiral said he is flying us in his Bauda."
"Wish I could go, would love to fly that yacht. I'm still debating if I want to go to the shower."
"Why wouldn't you go, Vanessa? Your her wingman after all."
"I barely know her, I've only been with the squadron a couple of months. It was probably only a curtesy invite."
Tom looking up from his hand, "No Nadia isn't like that. If she didn't want you there, she wouldn't have invited you. It's not like there is an overbrimming of friends she has."
"Least not till you cracked that egg," the ruff Macu spouts off. "I nearly won that bet Chef had going. Though I definitely had the wrong guy picked."
"What are you talking about, what bet?" a puzzled Tom questions.
Vanessa giggling, "You never heard of it? I thought you were trying to win it. Apparently Chef started a betting pool on when Locar and Nadia would be a couple. It never happened so it switched over to you when you started pursuing her."
"Her and the Admiral?" His face blanching slightly, "I didn't know they were ever an item."
"Don't worry about Tom, they never were together. I've know them both since they first got the Solar Flare. They both had fun flirting, but I think the Admiral's wildness pushed her away in thinking about pursuing it. Besides he's much older than her. Heck Vanessa here is more his age than Nadia is."
Will's laughter at his joke, ceases as he notices the apple in Vanessa's hand tallwhackered back.
"Ass calling me old," as she chucks the apple from the bowl at his head.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The strill was lounging in the boxes as finished off the fat rat it had found, when it caught scent of another favorite food.
Sniffing the air, it stalks over a few rows spying the group of people around a table. Seeing the bowl of apples on the table side the strill begins it's stalk.'
Seeing the female tossing the apple, the strill makes its leap catching the apple in mid-flight landing on the table scattering drinks and cards everywhere. Before launching itself again into the crates.
|
|
|
|
Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 9:05:42 GMT -5
"What the hell is that?" seemed to be the unison cry as the card players all scatter.
Jumping up giving chase up the crates, Vanessa looks back at the others. "Let's catch it!"
Barely keeping it in sight as she scrambles along the top of the crates, slipping in a rat carcbutt on to her rump as she watches the creature bound away with the apple.
The others finally catching up with her as she sits there watching the creature head towards the entrance in the distance.
Laughing, "what did you slip in there?"
"Ha ha, funny Will. It looks like it's what's left of its last meal." Holding up the remains of a tail.
"What is that creature, I've never seen one before."
The others look at each other, shurging 'I don't knows.'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Petting the young strill as it sits louging on a table in the sun next to him, watching the flyboys practice their hand to hand training with an amusing smile.
"I tell ya Modo, pretty uniforms and pretty ships don't mean $h!t. Hell I think even Jenkins can take most of them."
The young strill purring in delight of the belly rub in response.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Macu larger size allowing him to gain the upper hand on Will, as he commits to the wrist lock holding Will in place.
Will tapping out, as he stands he turns as he hears cursing from the viewing stands.
Turning he sees SgtMaj Rico charging out of the stands cursing like a demon at them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What kind of happy horse$h!t was that, Captain? You should have flipped around and clamped your legs onto his neck to snap it."
"SgtMaj that would have snapped my wrist to complete that move....."
"Son, you train like your going to fight or your just training to lose. If his ship flames out an engine are you going to take it easy on him," pausing just a second. "No your going to take him out of the game and than take out his partner. Don't worry about snapping a damn wrist, that's what they give us bacta for."
"Next time I see you half-butting your ground training, I'll take it over and beat you senseless. Every single one of you could be shot down one day." Looking around at the gathered pilots, "And I be damned if I'm going to risk my men pulling your sorry buttes out of the muck if you can't even take care of yourself."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vanessa looks on from her spot on the sidelines watching the SgtMaj rip into her fellow pilots when she notices the curious creature stealthfully approaching a nearby table with fruits on it.
Watching it from the corner of her eye, while paying attention to the SgtMaj's tirad, she can see it hop quietly on to the table with the fruit bowl between it and the crowd.
Licking his lips, Modo begins quietly munching on the fruit. It's juices running out of its mouth as it tries to devour the whole bowl.
Licking it clean, Modo looks around seeing the one pilot looking at him, also sees in her hand an apple. Eyes widening as he slowly starts stalking towards the female.
|
|
|
|
Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 9:06:00 GMT -5
Holding the apple up closer to her chest, she can see the creatures eyes following it even as it creeps along the floor.
Smiling to herself, knowing now what the creature wanted.
"Is something funny there miss?"
Shocked back to the SgtMaj as his finger presses square into her chest, her hand shooting up instinctively grabbing the hand across the top. Her thumb pressing into the top even as her delicate fingers close around the side twisting the hand back around with her other hand dropping the apple on the ground joining mirror her first.
Twisting the hand backwards over the forearm even as her thumbs dig inbetween the veins of the SgtMaj's hand. She can feel bones cracking in his hand as she fully exerts the hold........
Than the sensation of falling back, her hair being yanked as she is taken to the ground smacking her head, her last vision that of the knife coming at her thoart as she blacks out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seeing the girl knocked out, he stands up facing the younger pilots.
"See she knew exactly how to continue the hold. Now someone take care of her while I go get my hand a bacta batch."
The entire time the Squadron looking at the grizzled veteran's hand as he waved it at them and how you could see the bone sticking out the palm.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As her teammates approach the unconcious Vanessa, they are greeted by a curious creature next to her.
Growling as they approach, Macu starts to grab at his combat knife before Captain Paris stops him.
"Careful, we don't know how it will react. It looks like the same thing from the Sabaac game the other day."
Laying on top of her, the strill licks her face as she is coming back to conciousness.
"What happe......" jerking back as she sees the strill eye to eye its tongue lolling out as it licks her cheek.
Will starts to reach out to help her up when the strill turns quickly snapping at him as it clings to Vanessa's flight suit.
"It's ok Will I don't think it wants to eat me."
Reaching over on the ground grabbing the fallen bruised apple, holding it out to the creature, she now how the strill's full attention.
Licking its lips it paws out to her hand with the apple it, one of it's claws gently hold of the apple pulling it from her hand. As it sits on her stomach eating the apple.
Reaching out slowly scratching it behind the ear, she can feel the vibration of what was best described as a purr.
Smiling at it, "I think it likes me."
Than it's ear's perk up as it quickly bounds away.
|
|
|
|
Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 9:06:16 GMT -5
Most of the pilots in shock staring at the blonde beauty.
"Holy hell did you see that? She broke his hand."
Will kneeling over her, "Alright you all back to training. And no half-butting it unless you want one on one with the SgtMaj."
Helping Vanessa up to a bleacher seat, "You ok tiger? You smacked your head pretty good."
Rubbing the back of her skull feeling the knot and small spot of blood there, "I'll be ok, what happened? Last I remember is the knife coming at me before I blacked out. I don't even remember what all happened."
"Seems that Rico caught you paying attention to that creature," nodding his head in the direction it bounded off too, "than him chew our collective buttes out."
"When he poked you, you snapped and broke his hand....."
Her face going white, "I broke his hand?"
A small glimmer of fear in her eyes, "What did he do to me?"
"He used his other hand and slammed you to the ground knocking you out when your head smacked down. Though you did hold onto his hand causing it to open fracture even after you went out. His knife was out of his boot so quick and to your throat before any of us could react. Once he saw you were out cold he got your hands off of his, chewed us out some more waving his hand saying thats how you do it."
"O my I didn't mean too, I need to tell him I'm sorry. I just don't like being touched."
Holding his hand up, "Slow down there tiger. Do you know your the first person to get a hand on him like that since I've seen him training us. Outside of the ring he is nearly untouchable by most of us even with suprise. I think he is pretty pleased with you. You would probably just piss him off if you apologize....."
"But his hand....."
"No buts, now get over to medical and get your noggin checked out. You know the rules you can't fly until your cleared after you knocked out."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later on a group of pilots breaking into a certain young pilot's locker grab a flight helmet there.
Putting it all back, the only difference being a stencil of a tiger with a hand in it's mouth being placed on the helmet.
|
|
|
|
Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 9:06:31 GMT -5
"What do you mean four hours to fix it? Damn worthless droids."
Even as he submerges his hand into th bacta arm bath, he sits and watches the droids go to work repairing the damage done to it.
Thinking to himself, 'Stuck here for four hours. Ugh. How the hell that girl move that damn quick? Ah well, least they got one real fighter in the bunch of them. She did do a number on it, hadn't been hurt like that in some time now.'
Leaning back in the chair doing what all soldiers do with down time, he closed his eyes and relaxed.
|
|
|
|
Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 9:06:51 GMT -5
Walking into the med clinic, the young pilot tells the attendent droid that she is to have her head checked out to be cleared for flight status.
The droid walks her over a row of beds seperated by thin curtains.
"The doctor will be right with you, Lietuant."
As all paitents waiting for doctors through the centuries, the boredom is almost immediate as she looks around the room, glancing over at the edge of the curtain she spies a familar furry face looking up at her from under the curtain.
It scampers quietly up the side of her medical bed purring at her as it rubs its head along her chest.
Instinctively rubbing its ears, "Going to have to give you a name you keep following me around."
"His name is Modo, Lietuant," the rough familar voice sounds from the other side of the curtain.
Fear welling in her as she realizes the SgtMaj is on the other side of the curtain.
"I'm sorry about your hand....."
Reaching over pulling the curtain open with his good hand.
"Don't be apoligizing for what you have been taught. That's why we train you knuckleheads. Your instincts were good, and your quick. You just let your mind start thinking and thats why I was able to knock you out with the slam."
Seeing his hand in the bacta bath, getting up moving towards him startling the strill as it jumps off her onto her bed.
"How long are you here for?"
Suprised at concern from the pilot, "ah its just four hours in the bath this time. Not like you stabbed me a half dozen times with a Tsoandian Dagger. I'd be here for a month again."
Her face in shock as he calmly talks about getting stabbed.
Sputtering out, "I've never have had that many bacta baths."
Laughing, "Nay I imagine a pretty thing like you wouldn't have had a need to. The Hutts had me fighting in the pits since I was Jawa sized. When you win a lot they will spend money on bacta for you."
"That's awful....."
"Bah I'm sure your horror stories are worse than mine," pointing at her old neck scar.
"At least they let me fight." Seeing her cring away from him when his finger pointed at her.
"Hey now, I ain't going to hurt ya. Modo likes you. And he don't just warm up to anyone."
She looks down and sees the strill has climbed onto Rico's bed, looking at her expectantly.
"He probably wants another apple."
"O that reminds me, thank you for that apple the other day."
As she scratches the ear of the strill.
Glancing around, "you don't let that get around now. People think I've gone soft. Gotta a reputation to uphold around here."
Laughing as he does.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The two continue to talk for hours as the med droid determined a possible minor concussion and instructed her to sit up and not sleep for a few hours. Vanessa grabbing a fruit tray from the pbutting dinner cart sharing it with Rico and Modo.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As they part ways later that evening leaving the med clinic with brief shy good-byes with Vanessa giving him a quick peck on the cheek before walking in the opposite direction.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A lone sentry seeing the exchange, can't believe his eyes when he sees through his night scope the young hot pilot of Angel Squadron giving the rough gruff Sergant Major of Roughnecks 2-3 a light peck on the cheek as she says good night to him and the redness of his cheeks as he turns into the light.
|
|
|
|
Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 9:08:06 GMT -5
"I'm telling you I saw it with my own eyes, she kissed him."
"Ah sure ya did, I got a lakefront property on Tattoine to sell to ya too."
"I'm not kidding. I saw them coming out of the med clinic together."
"Yeah right, Sarge never goes to medical. Now we know your pulling a Hutt Leg on us."
"Lets go ask Chef, he would know."
Minutes later the cluster of men are at the galley door waiting for the gossipmonger of them all.
"Chef, do you know if Sgt Rico is dating anyone?"
"Are you boys putting me on? That son of a rancor dating someone? Yeah right."
"Keco here swears up and down he saw some pilot kissing him outside the med clinic last night."
"Well Keco, my lad, you'd best be telling me which of them pilots it be. And if you tell me it's Nadia then I'll flatt'n you and Rico, but good!"
"I don't know her name, its one of the new ones."
"New ones ye says? Hmm, ye canna be talk'n about the wee lbutt that's flying on Nadia's wing? She's a friggn goddess of beauty. What the hell would she see in ol' Rico?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 9:08:14 GMT -5
Sharing a quiet glbutt of wine together, they can hear Modo chasing one of the warehouse mice in the distance.
Laughing as she hears the strill bang into something than growl.
"He's after a smart one this time. He usually catches them by now."
"Well it will keep him busy for awhile," as she reaches up putting the holodisc in the player setup on the crate in front of them.
Groaning slightly inward as he sees the opening credits, Tattonie Sunset.
"What's wrong, don't like the movie," a nervousiness creeping in her voice.
"No was just hoping for something like Hoth Pirates or something, ya didn't say anything about a chick flick," laughing as he says it. "It doesn't matter, I haven't watched a movie in years."
|
|
|
|
Post by Yeti on Dec 3, 2013 9:08:31 GMT -5
Walking her to her towards pilot's quarters, her arm intertwined with his.
Feeling his alertness, "You know you can relax some, I hear the crime rate is pretty low even with the Admiral inviting anyone to come here."
"Sorry force of habit, too many years on one planet or another worrying about it all. I'd rather be ready than suprised."
"One day I'm going to make you take a vacation where you can't worry about anything."
"Sure ya are, and Modo will be a vegan." Even as they both laugh as Modo catches the scent of something and bounds off.
"You know I got a call sign the other day, I think I have you to thank for it."
"Me?" Wondering what in the galaxy he would have done to make a call sign stick to her. "What is it, dare I ask?"
"Tiger," she says with a smile. "Seems they painted my helmet the night I broke your hand after Captain Paris called me it."
Sigh with a bit of relief, "Could have been worse. Someone could have called you something else to have them hang it on ya."
Stepping around in front of him, her small frame blocking his way.
"O and what else might you have called me?" Her looking questioning him as only the woman your dating can.
"What o nothing, just I've heard worse moniker's attached as call signs." Taking a half a step back in mock safety.
The scene itself comical to any that would dare look on the two late at night, her small five foot body causing the large six foot two inch frame to back away.
"Besides I like Tiger," as he takes up her arm again quickly moving them along. "After all, not every man can handle wrestling a tiger."
Feigning mock shock, she gives him a playful punch in the arm that holds her close. "Maybe if you behave yourself you can try match one day."
Giving her a long kiss good night, saying good bye to her as she walks to the pilot's quarters. Even Modo bounds up to her rubbing against her before dashing off again into the darkness.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"See I told ya they were dating now pay up." Pointing excitedly at the security monitor.
"I'll be a son of a ronto," the old chef mutters as he counts out the credits.
"Wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it myself," two other men say together as they count out their credits. One in a pilot's uniform the other in an infantry jumpsuit.
|
|
