Very new muse, I blame others, I have no idea what I'm doing.

[either_ors]

Lady, you are making the mother of all mistakes...this is coming from a former double agent.

I worked both sides of the Imperial fence and I can tell you've got some strength, but do you really think you can manage me?

Wrong.

The only right answer is no, but I'll make you a deal. See, I'm a sporting woman by nature so how about you go study some of my life. There's lots of holos out there about me, and some info files I'm sure floating around. You get caught up on those and then we can talk.

I know you know Leia, talked to her here in the head space, but I'm nowhere near the politician or diplomat she is and I'm not jedi. This isn't going to be easy, I'm like Coruscant, no one's really sure just how deep it all is or just what you'll find down there.

So we work and play nice and you'll understand why Jan Ors is a name others respect.


Most of the time.

Ok, some of the time.

Respect or get buried, I give options.

Comments

[sulon_jedi]

Jan!

[He bounded towards her, almost tripping over a badly placed stone - an amusing thought even to him. The high and mighty Jedi Master brought low by something so simple. He knew she'd be thinking something similar.]

[When he reached her, his arms went around her waist, spinning in a circle and lifting her off the ground in a moment of sheer joy. For the moment, he has no other words. No other words at all.]

[either_ors]

They training you at the Academy to become one with the rocks now too?

[She chuckled but her laughter was brief, arms sweeping you up like that tended to forestall sarcasm and humor.

Her arms rested on his shoulders and she just grinned at him for a moment, her forehead coming to rest against his] I missed you too.

[sulon_jedi]

If they do, I promise I'll let you throw a few at me. I trust your aim.

[He just smiled at her for a long moment, then shook his head]

I'm, uh, not even going to pretend I haven't missed you every day.

[either_ors]

Damn right you should, I'm probably the best shot you know.

[She wasn't alive because of her looks, brains and skill all wrapped up in that package too.]

No one's asking you to pretend, it's been too long Kyle.

[sulon_jedi]

Probably? I seem to remember you blasting some TIE Bombers off of me, through Nar Shaddaa traffic, no less. You're the best shot I know from a blaster to a proton torpedo.

[He grinned at her]

I never gave up hoping you'd make it here. It's...strange. But that's our stock in trade, isn't it?

[either_ors]

I have some marketable skills, and you keep me in practice. Someone has to watch your back.
[And she wouldn't have it any other way, but Kyle, you're getting scruffy. She grinned and toyed with his beard]

Hope is what we have. I might not be Force sensitive like you, but I have my own faith; most of that centers around two things; doing what's right and you. If keep on that course I'll always make it home.

[sulon_jedi]

[Her familiar touch feels better than anything he can imagine, really. But he wouldn't be him - they wouldn't be them - if he didn't have a little fun with her statement]

You certainly do. You could be the universe's only espionage agent who moonlights as a theater dancer and mechanic.

[And oh, he'll brace for the inevitable punch in the arm for that one]

You've kept me on the right path just as much as the Force ever has - more, even. If it weren't for you I'd still be an imperial soldier - probably a dead imperial soldier.

[either_ors]

[She doesn't think of herself as predictable, more reliable. That punch is a sharp one right in the shoulder.]

I did what I had to along the way, I've even flown the 'Crow a time or two and that's worse than either of those jobs.

[Hit him where it hurts, his ship]

You were meant for more than that, I saw it in you almost from the first moment. So maybe we can accept that we're good for each other and work on making that a more permanent arrangement.

[sulon_jedi]

[He laughs, even though he rubs his shoulder, in a certain amount of pain. And he winces at the reference to the old Crow]

I still miss that ship. One day, we have to go back to Ruusan and get her in working order again.

[Her next statement, however, takes him thoroughly off-guard]

Wait a minute - I must be hearing things in my increasing old age. Correct me if I'm wrong, Jan, but that sounded an awful lot like a proposal.

[either_ors]

[She packs a punch, but she's a fighter, always has been.]

This time you pay. I've sank enough into that ship to retire.

[Well look at that, caught the jedi by surprise. This was getting good for her ego, but she waved off his statement casually]

We talked about things happening someday, one day when things weren't looking like we could die any time. But...come to think about it I haven't been shot at in weeks.

[sulon_jedi]

[He took her hand when she stopped waving it.]

We did. And the way our lives go, things will keep happening. But Luke's got me roped into teaching - meaning that, for the first time in a long time - nobody is actively trying to get me killed.

[He stepped closer, his free hand touching her cheek]

So would you do me the honour of insuring I wind up a contented old man?

[An old private joke between them, reversed in this case]

[either_ors]

So you'd settle for me trying to kill you?

[Half hearted joke that fell flat; she swallowed when he stepped closer and touched her cheek. He knew she wasn't weak but he was still so gentle with her. ]

I thought that's what you'd do without me.

[sulon_jedi]

[He was because, in the end, life hadn't been gentle to either of them. They worked in a very hard line of work that exposed them to near-constant danger and harshness. This was the only part of his life that could ever have been described as 'soft' - likely hers, too. Thus, he saved his tenderness for her.]

I was misinformed back then. But I'm considerably smarter these days. And I know not to let you slip through my fingers, Jan.

[He smiled at her for a long moment, then tilted her head back to kiss her]

[mercjedi]

You always did know how to sweet talk someone, Jan.

[either_ors]

I've always been a deeply diplomatic person, you know that Kyle. [yeah, that's only funnny because they both know what she's like.]

[mercjedi]

[He wouldn't have her any other way.] Which is why Mon Mothma always sent you to handle the difficult negotiations.

[Like persuading a bunch of stormtroopers to vacate their base.]

[either_ors]

[That’s good because she was getting too old and set in her ways…ok at least too set in her ways to change now.]

Some things require a special touch.

[She has excellent people skills…with a blaster.]

[mercjedi]

Especially explosives, or me.

I almost can't believe you're really here. I was starting think I'd never see you again.

[either_ors]

And the explosives are the easy part.

[A smile curled at the edge of her lips, she only picks on him because she cares.]

Don’t sound so hopeful about not seeing me again. [She playfully wagged an admonishing finger at him.] You know me better, I’ve been down, but never count me out.

[mercjedi]

Wouldn't dream of it, but I know how mundanes can be. Mentioning that I really need to get on this case about letting me out, it's really starting to get stuffy in here.

[either_ors]

Kyle Katarn with no place to go? And you’re sitting still for that? I’m surprised.

I’m new to this mundane, she has no idea what to do with me I think.

[mercjedi]

I rattle the cage every now and then, but the guy complains about having to have a life and lack of time. Maybe though I can get through to him this time, thick as he is. At this point I wouldn't even mind going to this "City" he's so fond of. I'd be stuck on one planet, but it's got to be better than this place.

And your mundane better let you out too. If she has any sense anyway. You're dangerous enough as it is, but time on your hands and bored? That scares even me.

[either_ors]

All this woman does is work, and it's not ever exciting work. So what's this 'city' all about?

She has no idea really. She barely knows anything about me, I keep waiting for her to scream when she finds out some of the things we've been through.

[mercjedi]

Don't remind me of all we've been through. My hand still hurts from that time I punched out Jabba's kell dragon.

As for this city well, it's "The City" actually. Real inventive name I know. He tells me the situation is some crazed AI likes to pull people from all sorts of universes and brings them there to play hero, or villain sometimes. Plenty of nicer places he could send me. Then again plenty of worse ones too.

[either_ors]

You're the one who decided it was the best option.

It sadly doesn't sound any more strange than half the things we've done before.