Wes walked out of the hanger bay, looking around at the sights from the upper levels of Coruscant. It had been a while since he had come back to visit his friends... a long time.
Much had happened in his life. Too many battles... too many scars. Most of the scars had healed over the years... but a few still tended to tear open now and then.
It had been a year now since he had resigned from Rogue Squadron and gone home.... one long, hard year. And it wasn't until he was gone that he realized just how much he truely missed it.
He went home because he thought he was needed. His mother was getting old, and his older sister, Mia, was married and raising her own family. Wes had gone home to help... only to find out that she really didn't need him anymore.
Seems even his mother knew when it was safe to move on. Wes chuckled, imaging the look on his face when he heard that his mother was getting married again. Turns out one of the farmers who had lost his wife years ago... well, he knew that they had been friends, but it was wierd seeing her with another man.
Wierd... but nice. He was sure his father would want his wife to be happy, to move on since he could no longer be there. But Wes' mother wasn't going to do anything unless she had her blessing from her children. Mia and Siee already knew and had given it... as did Wes when he learned.
The wedding had been small an simple. Siee hadn't been able to attend because she was on a mission... but there wasn't much. You don't need a big display to signify the bonding of hearts... that was a simple pleasure best reserved for private moments.
So, with the farms merged, and Mia's husband Marco helping run both places... the only Janson son was sticking out like a sore thumb once more. And all he could think of was going back to the Rogue.
After all... Rogue Squadron was more his home than the farm was anymore. There he was wanted... he was needed.
And so there he returned... and walked towards Downtime, wondering
who he might run into.
SHAWN LOVELETT:
Shawn: ::Black boots were folded one over the other. He just got done visiting his Uncle, and things didn't exactly go as planned. A great example was staying up way too late. His head was lulled back, and he was snoring rather loudly.::
R2 Unit: ::The droid's head swiveled from Shawn, then back to Wes. Deciding that this was the perfect time to wake Shawn up. He extracted his shocker, and plunged it against Shawn's side.::
Shawn: ::He gave a yelp, and fell backwards from his seat. After a few moments of rolling away from his chair. He laid there a moment feeling a burning mark in his side. He slowly got up, and glared at the droid. He then turned to see Wes, which he quickly went to Salute. Then returned back to his seat.:: I hate droids..
WES JANSON:
Wes chuckled. "No need to salute. I'm not an officer anymore." He
nodded to Shawn, then looked around. "Place seems pretty quiet these
days..."
DANA HOGAN:
A chance meeting was all that it would take. A miniature holoprojector passed off between a few people, and then left in the most of obvious places for those whom knew where to look. Of course, it would have been easy enough to recognize once spotted; Dana had always left something there when she wanted Wes or Gavin to see it first.
Once activated, the device would display a small image of Dana, recently recorded by her look and the ambient noise. The figure would bring up in a salute still crisp as ever before beginning to replay the sound.
"Well, it has been a long time, hasn't it?" The figure's smile spread a little. "I cannot truely recall the last time we flew together, but I do know I have missed all of your comraderie. I still cannot talk about why I had depart. Not yet, anyway." The figure pulled back a bit of hair out of her face. "There's a little place on Coruscant I've found, the GhostDive, and I'd be willing to meet ya there. Of course, any intel agents you have wouldn't be too welcomd. And I'd like you to not tell Gavin. Atleast, not yet." A grimace passed over her expression, before she regained composure. "I'll explain why a little later. For know, just know that I'm in the area if any of you still wanna have a chat. Hogan out."
The image vanished as suddenly as it would have appeared, always ready for a
replay if needed and otherwise waiting to be digested.
GAVIN DARKLIGHTER:
Gavin walked through the streets of Coruscant. He had been in Coruscant for 3 days now, though he had 2 more before he was to report back to base. He had taken a 6 month leave on a family emergency. He had gotten a message from home. There had been an accident back on Tattoine, two of his younger siblings had been in an accident. Lee(8) and Danielle(6) had been hit by a speeder fleeing from local authorities while his mom and dad where in town to do some shopping. It had been 5 years seen he had seen either of them except for the occasional holo they sent him. Danielle made it, though at the cost of her leg. Lee was that lucky as he had barely managed to push Danielle out of the way. The whole ordeal had shocked him severely. He didn't know why it bothered him so. He had seen death, he was used to it. He had seen friends die on cover missions, destroyed in starfighter battles, or shot, or with Krytos. It seemed wrong that someone that young could die, he'd forgotten how dangerous the simplest thing could be. After the funeral he spent the rest of his time on Tattoine helping the authorities catch the people responsible, and helping out around the farm. But no more, he had to go.
He shook his head and looked to see where he had wandered. He had stopped infront of Downtime. With a sigh he decided to walk in, he could use a Lominale. By habit he checked to see his blaster was set to stun and went towards the bar. He sat down and ordered his lominale. Rei had stayed behind for the time being.
WES JANSON:
Wes saw Gavin and quickly pocketed the message from Dana he had discovered. He knew, even after being gone for so long, that he had to respect Dana's wishes, and there was still some time before he would lose the chance to catch up with her.
He would hunt her down in a bit... but first he motioned with his
head towards Gavin, then left Adam's company to stand in front of the
table. "Sheesh, you look like someone stole your toy bantha," he
spoke, looking down at the young man he hadn't seen in a long time.
GAVIN DARKLIGHTER:
The lominale, swirled around in his tongue as he stared at the glass. Memories of being at downtime came rushing back as he swallowed the drink and took another long sip. Sitting at the table with his squadron mates, memories of Wes, Wedge, Tycho, Mike, Hobbie, Rei,Dana and the others, all laughing or talking... Dana. His heart still ached from her sudden disappearence. He let his thoughts wander with everything that happened in the last 2 years.
A familiar voice brought him out of his trance. "Nah, they just broke it." A smile crossed his face as he looked to see Wes standing in front of him.
"Its good to see you Wes, real good." The young man stood up and offered his hand to his friend. "Its been to long since I've seen that mug of yours." He let out a chuckle.
WES JANSON:
"Hey, need to create sparsity... increase my market value," Wes
smiled and pulled Gavin into a manly hug, slapping his back a few
times. "Good to see you too, Gavin. You look like you've actually
grown up a bit." He smirked.
GAVIN DARKLIGHTER:
::He grinned and returned the hug then pulled away after a couple of slaps.::Well we all have to grow up sooner or later, though in your case I'd say the later. ::Lets out a chuckle:: "Seriously, how have you been?"
JAG FEL:
-=Walks into the downtime room his hands in his pockets and his head looking down at the ground. This was his first time into the downtime room since he had arrived only 2 days ago. His hair was longer than he normally kept it and the streak of white hair above his right eye where his scar was had enlarged. The razor stubble on his face was getting pretty long from not seeing shave in a few days. His flightsuit was now a faded black and worn. The material in the knees and elbows was almost torn through, and stains of blood and oil could be seen throughout. His lip was cracked and eye was bruised from a recent scuffle he had gotten into on his way back.=-
-=He walks around the other pilots and staff in the room keeping
towards the outside. He makes his way to a small table in the back
and sits down and pulls off his gloves. Still looking down he orders
and drink and begins the spin a credit on the table awaiting it's
arrival.=-
WES JANSON:
"I've been doing ok," Wes told Gavin, smiling, a sincere smile, not haunted as it had been when he was last on Coruscant. "Figured it's time to visit."
He took a good look around Downtime, memories of long ago flooding
his mind. Then his eyes stopped at the newcomer. He stared a
moment, then turned to Gavin and motioned with his head. "Is that
who I think it it?"
GAVIN DARKLIGHTER:
:: Gavin looked over to who Wes had been refering to. Squinting his eyes a little bit to get a clear view his eyes widen suddenly with recognition.:: I'm not sure but I think your right. Lets go say hi. ::a smile spread across his lips::
WES JANSON:
"Not sure if HI will be one of my words of choice... but yeah," Wes
walked with Gavin, smirking.
JAG FEL:
As the coin spun rhythmically on the table his mind began to wonder back to a time when life was much simpler. Back before he met Wes on Coruscant after Wedge and the others had left. Back before laying eyes on Siee in the downtime room brainstorming about the virus that had affected Rogue Squad. And before they had gotten together on Borleias. And before that awful mess on Tralus where he was nearly killed. That was the last time he had seen Siee, huddled in the corner of the turbolift holding onto his arm.
He sometimes wishes that they would had let him die. It would have been easier that way. They wouldn’t have been able to do whatever it was they did to his mind in that prison cell. Whatever they did he could feel it; way back in the recesses of his brain. A dark spot trying to claw it’s way out. He had been able to control it to a point. But he knew that soon there would be no way to resist it.
The credcoin lost is momentum and the spinning began to die as the coin got lower and lower towards the table. He could feel the approach of the two men. His eyes looked up at them his face unchanging.
“Gentlemen.”
GAVIN DARKLIGHTER:
::Gavin blinked and looked over at Wes, then back to Fel, as he sat down to the right of him. Drink in hand he took a sip. So far he'd seen Wes, Adam and Fel. He wondered who else he would run across here, though secretly there was only one person he wanted to see, he hoped against hope to see her soft face, but knew that would never be again.:: You know, I've always wondered how you do that.
WES JANSON:
Wes sat next to Gavin. "You look like shit, you know that, right?"
Wes asked, but with his natural grin on his face.
JAG FEL:
He tosses Gavin a quick glance then moves his eyes over to the left and locks them on Wes. Out of all of the members of Rogue Squadron he had known Wes the longest back from when Wes took over Rogue Squadron while the others had quit in protest of a corrupt New Republic government. And it was no secret that he and Wes would never be seen together at a holodrama, bar, or even in the same room if they could help it. A lot of that animosity came from those first few weeks that they had worked together. And it didn't help anything when he started seeing his baby sister. So Wes' approach caught him somewhat off guard.
He felt Gavin sit down to the right of him but he kept his eyes on Wes as the older pilot sat on his left. Through the fog in his head he heard Gavin talk followed by a remark by Wes.
"It's a gift," Fel replied to Gavin, not really knowing what he was talking about but not having enough energy to ask what he meant.
"And, it's a gift," he said in response to Wes.
