Tales from the Fringe Anthology IC

By P-47 Thunderbolt, in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Beginner Game

Vanya nodded to the officers on her way out and as soon as she was out of their sight, she quickly made her way to a nearby tapcafe. Behind her she could hear the droids clambering to keep up, Their nasally voices calling Wait!

She slowed as she approached the doors, entering as calmly as she could. As Vanya entered, a hostess walked up to greet her, but immediately paused when she saw the B1's coming in behind her. Uhh.. hello, can I err.. umm help you?

Vanya smiled, Yes, may I use your refresher before being seated?

The poor woman looked from Vanya to the droids, Um, yes of course, she pointing towards the back wall, Back there, turn left down the hall..

Thank you, won't be but a moment.

Vanya followed the hostesses directions, still followed by the droids.. at the beginning of the hallway, she stopped and turned to the droids. Wait here, I need to clean myself up before I eat. I'll be out in a few moments.

"Uh, we've been instructed to not let you out of our sight... We have to come with you."

Vanya stepped right up to droid so they were face-to-face, Do you understand what refreshers are? They are a place where organic beings may have privacy when conducting certain biological functions. While I wouldn't interfere with your programming, there are other beings in there that would have a problem with you being inside that room, is that clear.. Vanya looked at the droid's number, unit 066378j6?

"Uh-oh. Uh, roger-roger. Um. We'll wait out here then."

Thank you 066378j6. Vanya turned back to the door and walked in, as soon as the door closed, she slumped against the wall and let out a heavy sigh. Alright, first step complete...

Vanya looked around the room and found a widow big enough to climb through, she opened it and made sure it opened into an unoccupied alleyway before dropping her bag and quickly following it. Once she was on the ground, she grabbed her bag and quickly made her way back to the spaceport. She racked her brain for a plan, local authorities were aware of her presence so she had to get off world, that was clear. She still had the desire to get the intel she gathered to the Republic so she could get, in some measure, a sort of revenge on the Confederacy for the massacre of her tribe. That meant she had to go where the Republic was, and that was most likely towards the Core. All that together meant a ship, with a decent hyperdrive, headed towards the Core.. Vanya knew she would have to get access to the spaceport records, or flight plans.. no, the authorities were most likely suspicious of her, hence the escort... and they were most likely to find out the truth of her situation once they get word from the CIS chain of Command, or through discovery of Kor's preemptive memory wipe.. Vanya sighed at the daunting task, how would she be able to aquire the spaceport information stealthily, yet quickly enough to not get caught by the authorities?

As she passed a cantina next to the spaceport when she felt a gentle.. something, in her mind... like a nudge, towards the cantina... Then; inspiration struck! Pilots! Ask around about who is leaving when, where and in what ship.

She slipped inside and approached the bar, slowly surveying the layout and the dissidents that occupied the tables and booths, and was immediately disheartened. The cantina was empty.

Before she could awkwardly turn and leave, the Ithorian behind the bar spoke to her, his reverberating alien language was followed by a more mechanical one. What can I get you?

As Vanya got closer, she noticed the small translation device attached to the collar of his shirt. I'm looking for a ship going towards the Core.

The Ithorian shook his head, Last one is headed out about now.. last one to be authorized. If you hurry, you might catch him.. he's in a small transport in Bay 32, calls it the Sleipnir.

Thank you! Vanya says in relief, she hands him the credits she took off the slavers as payment. She turns and runs out the door..

Good luck! He calls out.

Vanya quickly moves into the spaceport, and headed straight to Bay 32 and peeked inside. The Ithorian was right; the transport was small. It was more of a small troop dropship, little more than a troop bay and cockpit with its an airfoil on either side projecting forward like a two pronged fork. It's pilot was walking underneath one airfoil inspecting it, with just a hint of a limp. He appeared to be human, but it was hard to tell with the billed cap and goggles and the layers of light weight shirts over what looked like coveralls.

Vanya could see a maintenance locker through the troop bay door in the section between the troop seating and cockpit. She planned on masking herself with an illusion slip on board and hide until they cleared the system. Once they were clear, she could deal with the pilot and get on with her plans.

A gentle nudge inside of her seemed to agree, urging her forward.

Vanya moved towards the ship, not terribly worried about noise, she could block that out of the pilot's mind easily enough. She reaches out and slips the illusion in his mind, hurrying passed and onto the ship.

(The pilot raises a hand towards his head, and shakes of the headache like feeling, turns to the ship as an unfocused person rushes past him onto the ship. He wonders he is really seeing this.. person that looks like its made of smoke. He's pretty sure its a woman though. He watches her confidently walk through the bay and into the maintenance closet. As the door starts to close, the smokiness to her dissipates into a very solid young woman, relief is visible on her face as the door fully closes.)

Vanya breaths a sigh of relief as the door closes before the pilot is even aware that she was ever there...

It felt like an eternity for the ship's engines to start up and filled the small ship with vibrations, loose fittings and panels rattled violently at times.

She could almost feel them leave the atmosphere, most of the vibrations and rattling tapered down to a mechanical hum. The sensation of the ship entering hyperspace was like remembering to breathe again.

Alright, she thought. Now to deal with...

The gentle rapping knock on the metal door interrupted her thoughts.

You can come out now, little lady. A male voice said. I figure you know we've entered hyperspace, you're safe from what ever you're running from. I assumed you were a Jedi, but from the information I just heard, and what I could see through your little trick, I think I know what you are. I brewed some caff, join me in the cockpit and we can decide what comes next.

Edited by RuusMarev

Part One: Vanya Urai.
Chapter Three: A New Beginning
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Vanya carefully extricated herself from the locker, unsure what she would find, this pilot claimed to be able to see through her Force ability. She decided to test it as she silently approached, she cast the illusion and immediately saw the pilot react with a slight flinch. He slumped his shoulders and sighed, You did it again , didn't you?

As Vanya stepped between the pillot and co-pilot stations in the cramped cockpit, his head turned to stare right into her eyes, his hand reached for one of the steaming mugs on the control panel and lifted it to her hand. I'm guessing this is some-sort of mindtrick, right? He asked, Something to camouflage yourself.. Turn it off, take a seat and enjoy the caff, or.. I guess you could kill me and take my ship.

Vaya hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took the offered mug as she let go of the illusion and took a seat in the co-pilot station. Are you Force sensitive? She asked, sipping the beverage.

The pilot laughed, I doubt it, but I did have and accident last year.. That could have something to do with it.. He took a sip from a dented mug. Where you headed?

Vanya looks at him from the corner of her eye as she took another sip. Pretty much anywhere towards the Core, I need to get into contact with the Republic.

The pilot cocked his head to look at her. What would a Nightsister from Dathomir want with the Republic?

Vanya spit her mouthful of caff across the controls in front of her Wha-- ?

The pilot laughed, So I was right! he grinned.

How did you know ? Vanya asked, mentally running through her options in almost a panic.. Things were not going the way she had planed at all.

The pilot handed her a datapad, Here.. and the name is Tapper by the way, who are you?

Vanya hesitantly takes the datapad and glances at the screen.. Vanya... As she looks through the data, she notices the Republic Intelligence classification markings.. The report detailed rumors and second hand intelligence about a CIS fleet action on Dathomir and the possible attack on the inhabitants there. There were a number of side notes attached with minor history and known individuals connected with the report. Nightsister, Sith, Zabrak.. Talzin.. Where did you get this, are you a spy?

The pilot.. Tapper seemed to mull the question. Well.. it wasn't what I was born to do, but I suppose that it's partly what I do now.. So, what's your business with the Republic?

Vanya handed him her datapad as she scrolled through the intelligence report... She was a little amazed at how detailed the report was.. After the massacre of my tribe, I wanted to even the score.. she told him, as he took the pad and started scrolling, letting out a low whistle.. Tapper looked up at her for a moment, then continued reading, These are their battle plans for the next two months.. How did you get these?

Vanya shrugged thoughtfully, I was trained to be a spy, I suppose... she glanced along the readouts on the control panel, Where are we going?

Tapper's grin grew, To meet up with one of my brothers, he said, indicating Vanya's pad, They'll really want to read this!

That.. feeling was in the back of Vanya's mind again.. she got the sense of encouragement.. and amusement.. It was a very odd sensation...

One? she asked, Do you have many brothers?

Tapper laughed uncontrollably for a moment. You could say that.. He lifted the goggles from his face to sit above the bill of his cap, then removed that as well.. The right side of his face had a series of small scars, that ran from cheekbone, past his temple where they disappeared into his hairline. It seems like I have hundreds sometimes, He said, his voice full of humor and gave her a small half hearted salute. RC-7746, at your service...

After they talk for a while Tapper advises her to take a rest, as they'll be exiting hyperspace before too long, and she might not get a chance for a while, depending how things go. As she drifts off to sleep, she feels the whisper again...

She sees a small light, and thinks that is where the whisper is coming from. She steps towards it, but whenever she gets close, it darts away as if it's scared of her, never letting her get close enough to really hear what it's saying. She gives into frustration and yells, and the white light flashes, briefly showing an image of the severed heads of the slavers. The light then fades, and she feels the same presence she felt the last time she slept...

She feels the presence closing in around her, but she can't see it. Every time she tries to get away, she feels it behind her, stalking her. She whirls around and her bow appears in her hand. She fires at where she thinks she feels the specter, but the energy bolt falls harmlessly to the side. She hears a sound like something inhaling deeply, and a slight giggle, then a tap on her shoulder. She whirls around, but this time there is something there, backing away from her and shrouded in living shadow. She looses another bolt from her bow, striking the head of the apparition. The shadow swirls around the path of the arrow to reveal Vanya, with bloodstained hands and glowing yellow eyes. At a gesture, the shadows reach out from the apparition, clutching Vanya around the throat and lifting her from the ground. The apparition laughs as Vanya struggles against the shadows, gasping for breath, but then abruptly drops her and fades away...

After a minute, the light reappears. The whisper is stronger this time. She reaches out towards it, still gasping for breath, and this time it draws closer. It stops within a few feet of her, then gradually expands. Vanya feels warmth as the light encompasses her. She hears whispers, several voices now, almost humming, but telling her something. She sees a waterfall, a boulder leaning precariously over the edge, she hears the whisper, calling her there... Then more loudly, more clearly, calling her name...

"Hey, kid. Vanya. Wake up." Oh. That wasn't the whisper. Vanya groans and glances towards the door of the tiny alcove, hearing the knock from the other side. "We're about to drop out of hyperspace."

Almost nine hours after they left, Sleipnir exits hyperspace over Taris, the might of the Republic's Tenth Sector Army arrayed before them. They are immediately hailed, but Tapper has the proper clearance codes and they are allowed to pass. It isn't long before they have landed on the surface in an out-of-the-way starport. Run down, but not too much the worse for wear. The message from Tapper's "contact" told them to meet him at a Lower City tapcaf called the Ion Burn.

Edited by P-47 Thunderbolt

I'm up, Vanya murmurs.. Remembering an image of a waterfall from her.. dream? It seemed too real to be just a dream.. A vision , perhaps? I.. I think I had a vision of a waterfall....

Tapper adjusted his cap on his head and started to bring the goggles over his eyes, but paused. Vision? Like a Jed- I mean.. through the Force?

She nodded, I think so... it was as if something wanted me to find it.. to go there.

Tapper seemed to study her a moment. I can't claim to understand it, but after we drop off the intel, maybe you can.. use the Force to find it. He suggested, waggling is fingers to emphasize the Force .

Perhaps.. Vanya said thoughtfully. She looked up at Tapper. I could use a ride, she said.. Something seems to want me to have you tag along. She waggled her fingers at him with the mention of something .

Tapper smirked, Sure thing kid, could be interesting. He indicated for her to follow, placing his goggles over his eyes. Come on, I'll introduce you to my brother.

Vanya pulled out the battered tarp from her bag and cut a slit in the center, pulled her hood up and slipped the make shift poncho over her hood. Let's go.

They journey from their berth in the Middle City down several levels into the much seedier Lower City. They proceeded without much incident to the tapcaf, denoted by a flickering neon sign. Upon entering, the Siniteen proprietor glances them up and down before he gruffly asks, "What can I get for ya?" A nondescript man slumped in a corner booth lifts a hand in greeting before sipping his drink and sighing loudly. His face is hidden under the poncho, but Tapper recognizes him instantly.

Two ales to the table over there please. Tapper says as he ushers Vanya to the booth. He motions her to take the seat close to the wall and he takes the seat next to her. Good to see you brother, Tapper greeted the man across the table, Vanya, this is my brother Cabur..

Cabur.. Vanya repeated, then seemed to think on it. Isn't that Mandalorian?

The hooded head nods, We were trained by a couple Mandalorians.. it means guardian or protector.. I tend to have a protective streak, so he named me Cabur... the head shifted slightly under the hood, So you're Vanya, eh? Tap says you have some interesting information for me....

Yes, I.... She is interrupted by the service droid delivering their drinks. Vanya wait for it to leave before continuing, sliding her datapad across the table. I managed to download this from the Planetary Defense Force on Quelli.

Cabur picked up the pad and scrolled through it for a moment, then his other hand came out from under the table, placing a compact pistol behind a napkin holder. He then reached down and brought out an end of data cable, plugging it into the pad and tapped a couple buttons to transfer the data. Vanya could see his eyes flicker towards her, Analog transfer is much more secure than transmissions, he explained. Can't be too careful in our line of work.. Once the transfer was complete, Cabur unplugged the device and handed it back to her and retrieved the pistol. I'll take care of it from here. By tonight I'm sure Command will have a couple surprises waiting for our Clanker friends.

Vanya couldn't help but think of poor Kor. As long as it hurts Dooku and Grievous..

We can hope.. Cabur said, he turned his attention to Tapper as he sipped his ale. Where you headed to know, ner'vod?

Tapper grinned, tilting his head towards Vanya. Chasing waterfalls..

Cabur openly stared at Tapper, then looked at Vanya, who shrugged. I had a vision and Tapper offered to give me a ride...

You hear a roaring outside as a trio of swoop bikes screams down the street, coming to a stop outside the tapcaf. The group swaggers into the bar, and in response to the query from the Siniteen, the Nautolan who seems to be the group's leader laughs and pulls out a blaster pistol. "All your money would be a start. Then some drinks!" the other two swoop gangers pull out their blaster pistols and cover the room. One of them starts going around the room, collecting credits from the patrons in a small bag he holds out in one hand.

Tapper looks at Cabur and grins, reaching over and grabs the blocky napkin holder. GRENADE!! Tapper bellows as he tosses it at the gang leader's feet..

Here we go.. Cabur sighed..

Wait.. wha-- Vanya stammers.

The Siniteen swears fit to burst and dives behind the counter as the napkin holder sails through the air. the other patrons scatter in the confusion, ducking behind tables or jumping over the bar, some making a dash for the door. The swoop biker collecting the credits screams shrilly and ducks under the table as the Nautolan bolts for the door. The other one starts to duck, but realizes what was thrown and shouts to his allies, "It's just a napkin holder!"

Tapper stands and sets his carbine to stun, getting out of the line of fire of Cabur and Vanya. He opens fire on what appeared to be the groups leader; the Nautolan. He scores a hit, the Nautolan reels and staggers from the effects of the stun bolt.

Cabur stands, scowling as he switches to stun. He takes aim at the other gang member in view and fires a shot. The gang member slips on a spilled drink, trying to avoid the incoming fire, dropping his pistol. The stun bolt barely misses his shoulder and impacts one of the civilians making a attempt to get out of the line of fire..

The man scrambles for his blaster and makes a dash for the door, passing the Nautolan who is steadying himself and raising his blaster.

Vanya is taken aback at the effectiveness of the clones as they seemed to instantly know what the other was a bout to do and in complete silence. The shear amount of things happening all at once was like her senses were momentarily overwhelmed. As she processed the events, time seemed to slow as she saw the Nautolan raise his blaster at Tapper. Unsure of an attack that would please the whisper that has captured her dreams of late, a strange thought occurred to her.. She reached out and almost instinctively adjust her illusion to the Nautoan's optic nerve.. as if convincing the beings brain that it could not see.. She hoped that this was in line with what the whisper would approve of... It certainly disproved the way she handled the slavers.

The Nautolan's yell catches in his throat and he hastily fires off several shots, one of them grazing Tapper's leg. He then turns and stumbles, tripping and falling against the curb. He bangs his head hard and lies very still. The man under the table runs towards the door, firing at Vanya. He hits her hard in the chest, and she slumps back against the booth, instinctively clutching at Cabur as she slumps back unconscious. He runs out the door and jumps on his speeder bike, trying to kick it into action, the bag of credits still in his hand.

Tapper watches the gang member with the money run to his swoop and follows him out the door. He switches from Stun an Aims at him as he mounts the Swoop and fires. Sending a hail of bolts into his torso, the placement of the shots were so close together that they charred his body and started a small fire from his clothing.

Cabur followed his brother out the bar, switching his blaster from Stun as well. He aims and fires on the other gang member, hitting him in the side and shoulder, causing him to drop his blaster..

He leaves his blaster and hops on his swoop, starting it up and trying to get away.

Tapper swings the carbine around and fires a couple of bolts into the fleeing gang member, dropping him, the swoop slows and coasts into the side of the building, crumpling the steering vanes.

After checking the street for any more gang members, he walks over and retrieves the bag of credits. As he passes Cabur his brother shakes his head. Even after all this time, mongrels still baffle me.. he gestures to the bag, How much do you figure is in there? I doubt it's worth the hassle to steal a hundred credits or less from a hole in the wall like this place..

Tapper hefts the bag as the enter the bar, Easier to steal from the weak, ner vod. Tapper tosses the bag to the bar tender. Hand that out to the patrons, got it?

He nods and expresses his thanks, then begins distributing the credits.
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Vanya feels the pain in her chest begin to fade as she slips back into the… vision realm? She’s not quite sure just what to call it. Is she dying? She feels a comforting warmth as the light grows bigger, enveloping her like a blanket. She can feel the presence lurking just outside, exuding animus towards her. The whisper is silent, but she feels… approval? The light soothes her as she drifts back out of the vision. She wakes up back in the tapcaf to see Tapper and Cabur standing over her looking concerned. She can barely move, and feels a painful burning sensation where she’d been hit.