Written by Shelonei and Alison
Two weeks after Siee got
to Yavin, a scarred up, paint peeling X-wing came to land in front of
the Academy Temple.
Siee, coming back from
her morning jog, saw the X-Wing in the air and, curious, went to the
landing pad to see who had some to visit.
The X-wing came to an expert landing, bare centimetres
from her own, the wings just ahead of one another. The canopy opened,
and someone dressed in a dark flightsuit, and a flashing black cape
about his shoulders, jumped down to land softly beside the fighter.
Then he removed his helmet,
revealing scruffy black hair with silver tinges at the temples. His
bright green eyes scanned over the area almost imperiously.... he had
a slight aura of darkness clinging to him.
From behind him, a cheerful
voice broke into song... "Kypster the Mighty, he is very late, nobody
likes him, he's never had a date... He thinks he's handsome as sin/doesn't
know how much trouble he's in... and he owes me a lightsaber!, he's Kypster,
Kypster the mighty!"
"I do NOT owe you a lightsabre, remember? You changed
the deal," he smirked and folded his arms.
"You didn't hear the
underclause when I was saying that? Oh come on, you're a big bad Jedi.
You should have known better."
"We've been OVER this."
"And under and through."
She crossed her arms playfully. "Doesn't excuse the fact that your
late."
"I had some things to do," he said solemnly as he
moved to the head of the fighter to take his small pack from the compartment.
"So how much stupid
stuff you do?" she leaned against the X-Wing, scratching at her Jedi robes.
"Not quite enough," he answered amiably, closing the
compartment and slinging the small pack over his shoulder. "How do
you like Yavin?"
"Hot, and this robe
chafes." She scratched at it again. "Didn't the Jedi have any fashion
sense?"
"Apparently not. It's supposed to," Kyp adopted the
pose of a reciter. "'Promote greater concentration and discipline',"
he shrugged, "or something like that."
"I still think it could
use an overhaul. I wonder if Wes packed me a hand sewing kit."
"You mean you don't know?" he looked shocked. "I
told you you brought too much."
"All I'm allowed to
wear is this sithin..." she stopped and looked around. "There are no Solo
kids here, right?"
He chuckled and shook his head, "Not yet. They say hello, by the bye."
"Good. All I'm allowed
to wear is this sithin robe that likes to make me itch all day!" she
scratched her back, wiggling a bit. "At least they could have a silk
lining or something!"
"Well, I just wear a thin jumpsuit under mine... it's
hot, but it helps with the chafing," he slung an arm amiably about her
shoulders as the X-wing closed down and steered her toward the temple.
"That's an idea. Maybe
I'll steal one of yours then." She grinned.
"Better my jumpsuit than my sabre," he shook his head
as they walked to the temple.
"Aw man... now you
know my real intentions." She laughed.
"Well, my intentions are getting my pack to my wonderful
little dungeon and trying to find some food."
"I gave up on finding
some food my second day." she said dryly.
"You learn quickly."
"That's what everyone
tells me, but why can't I lift the stupid rock?!"
"Can you make it think it's been moved?"
"I dno't go around advertising
that I can talk to rocks." She said deadpan.
"Fair enough, then that's the first thing we'll work
on," he had lowered his voice as they entered the temple. He started
walking down a little used corridor, in the opposite direction of everyone
elses quarters.
"Working on talking
to rocks?"
He shook his head and sighed, "You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Making me old before my time." He answered with a
smirk in his voice as he led her down increasingly deserted hallways,
an area nobody else went.
"Oh sure, blame me for
those gray hairs. You had them when we first met, Kypster."
"I think I have more now, though," he replied blankly.
Then he smirked, it
was a Solo smirk, the kid was quite good at imitating Han.
"UH huh, yeah. whatever."
She whitles the Kypster theme song as she walked beside him.
"So, you still my sidekick then?" he asked with a
raised eyebrow as he continued walking.. Finally they reached a well deserted
corridor... well, usually well deserted. He walked until they reached
the very end, then pushed open a makeshift door..
"Nah, just going to
my room." She opened the door across from him.
He stopped, then turned at the door after tossing
his bag into the room. "You're kidding."
She held the door open
for Kyp to see the two pilot bags in the room, items spilling out of
it. "You think i could drag those bags here with my mind... yet?"
"Why did you choose a room way down here?"
She shrugged. "They
told me to room where I felt like it. I felt like it here."
"You didn't want to be out near everyone else?" He
tilted his head and looked at her as though she'd grown an extra one.
"I like privacy, but
there was something about this hallway that called me." She shrugged.
"I promise not to play my music too loud to keep you awake at night."
She grinned.
He rolled his eyes and disappeared into the room across
from hers, kicking the door shut behind him so he could change. He
spoke to her as he did so, "Well, just be careful, there's a reason
I'm down here too.... It's not exactly innocent."
"Is it because you're...
let me guess." She cleared her throat. "A lone wolf who no one should
trust within a mile of themselves and family?" She smiled at the door.
"Yes." he said with complete conviction.
"You know what I said
to that?"
"What?"
"I told them they needed
to get their minds out of the Force and actually get to know you beyond
your past actions. I mean, Han trusts you with the kids... as long
as you're gagged from talking...."
A hoarse chuckled floated through the door. "Yeah,
I need to work on that. I keep talking like a smuggler much longer,
and I'll be locked up for sure."
"That or someone's gonna
have to wash your mouth out with bacta."
"Eew, Bacta," he shuddered. "Cant you just use industrial
soap?"
"I think it's a better
threat myself."
He soon reappeared, his hair still messy, but now
wearing an almost-black robe. "I agree... they need different wardrobe."
He reached back in and grabbed his shiney black cloak. He put it on then
sighed, "that's better."
"Kypster the mighty...."
she started with a grin on her lips.
He struck a heroic pose.
She did a dog whistle.
"Strut it boy!"
That made him laugh, "You're bad for my ego."
"Ego, grey hairs...
they even each other out."
He smiled and laughed at that.
"So, we going to take
our ships and get some real food?"
His eyes twinkled with michief. "You *do* know that
hanging around with me will be very bad for your social image...."
"Well, Corran can teach
me to make people see stuff and I'll just turn you into a cute ewok
as we walk down halls and stuff." She grinned, "And people will ask, where did you get the Ewok? And
I'll tell them about my brother's obsession with Lt. Kettch."
"I'd rather remain the subject of hate and loathing,"
he started walking down the corridor. "You coming?"
"I can make myself into
the cute ewok then.... hug your leg and everything." She teased.
He snorted, "I can't decide if that's better or worse."
She kicked his leg gently
at the knee. "We'll figure that out later." She grinned.
"So, where do we go to eat? Dathomir? Ithor?"
He paused, "Wait, not
Dathomir."
"Why not? Don't you
want to get attacked by women and made into a sex slave?" She chuckled,
"I've had to hold back han's travel "brouchures"
from Wes."
He just shook his head, and turned almost the same
colour as his lightsabre blade.
She leaned in playfully.
"Pink is so your color."
He blushed harder and pulled the hood of his cloak
up to hide his face.
"Kypster is em-bare-assed,"
she teased.
"I swear, you're alive just to torture me."
"Well, thank Wes, Jagged,
and Hobbie for letting me continue to live... as well as my mom and
Dad."
"Don't worry, I will."
"Must make mental note
to hide all weapons from you on our next trip back to Coruscant."
He snorted and his shoulders shook in silent laughter.
I usually don't
laugh this much.... it's kinda nice.
She had learned a little bit
about emotional reading. She now understood when Jaina said that Kyp's
force was "happy." It was happy now, and she was glad she caused that.
He was really 'sad' when he landed.
"How serious were you about flying off for some real
food?"
"I've been on Yavin
for over two weeks now... how serious do you think I am?" Her eyes twinkled.
He turned right back around, grabbed her wrist and
pulled her back to their dark corner of the temple, he them pushed
her toward her door, "Put on your flightsuit." Without waiting for her to respond,
he went into his room and quickly set about changing back into his
own.
She chased him down
the hall, stripping and rushing to FIND a flightsuit in her pile of clothing.
Kyp soon re-emerged and knocked on her door, "Ready?"
"I can't find my flightsuit!"
He pushed her door open, "I'll help you loo- oh!"
he turned purple and quickly exited to his own room. He soon reappeared
with a flightsuit outstretched in one hand, and his other hand over his
eyes.
Siee didn't even get
a chance to hide. She was also a bright shade of purple as she took
the flightsuit from him. "Uh... thanks." she said in a 'manly' voice.
He nodded, his hand still over his eyes, and banged
into the door on his way out. "ouch..." he waited out in the hallway,
rubbing his nose.
She quickly got dressed
in the larger than herself flightsuit, and came outside staring at the
ground. "Dinner?"
"Ithor, Dathomir, Wayland, Agamar, or Myrkr?" He
was looking up at the ceiling, trying to stop his nose from bleeding.
"What kind of food on
Myrkr... I've never been there."
"Well, roast Vornskyr, among pretty much anything...
it's a smuggler's hangout." He kicked at the floor, still trying to stop his
nose from bleeding, "But the Force is blind, there.... We'd have to be
careful they don't find out we're Jedi types."
"I'm used to not having
the Force... I can live." She shrugged and handed him a hankerchief.
"Thanks," he wiped the blood from his nose and closed
his eyes to try and concentrate and see if he could close off the lacerated
capillaries.
Siee snezed really loudly,
holding onto the wall for balance.
"Bless ya," he said, putting the bloody kerchief in
his pocket and holding a hand for her to join him walking down the hallways.
"If we leave now, we can be back by midnight."
"We're gonna get in
trouble for leaving grounds?"
"I might, you won't. Don't worry about it. Real
food is more important thatn my earning Master Skywalker's ire."
"Did anyone ever tell
you you have this whole 'bad boy' attitude?" she grinned
He shrugged, "Amn't I one?"
"My momma always told
me that I shouldn't hang out with bad boys."
He smiled, "Blame the guy who practically raised me then."
"Yeah, blame Han all
right."
"I meant before that," he refrained from sticking
his tongue out at her.
"What Kessel spice spider
gets the honor then?"
"A smuggler, real nice guy. Goes by the name Booster."
"Booster Terrik?!"
"Yeah, you know him?" he canted his head to one side
and looked at her curiously.
"Know him!" She grinned
and grabbed his arm. "Come on, I'm in mood for a dinner cruise."
He stumbled along in her wake, "A what?"
"You'll see. Come on
slowpoke!" She took off running to her ship.
He couldn't help but grin. Yeah, that last trip to
Coruscant was definitely the best one he'd ever taken.
*
When they'd hit hyperspace, Kyp still
hadn't an answer on where they were going. She'd transmitted the coordinates
to him, and that was all he knew. He sighed, she could be so exasperating.
Siee, meanwhile, turned her hypercom to
a specific frequency. HPC> Little Bird calling Big Venture. Big Venture,
you there?"
HPC> This is Venture.
HPC> Who'm I speaking with today?
HPC> Terrik, I feel like answering
my own Comm sometimes. Who's this?
HPC> Your favorite baby Janson girl.
-=she smiled=-
HPC> Siee! You coming to visit
me?
HPC> Yeah, and I'm bringing a friend.
Can you get a private hanger ready for two X-Wings, and just you meet
us. No observers?
HPC> What do you have up your
sleeve, *this* time?
HPC> Nothing a little spice won't cure.
HPC> Sure... I'll have that hangar
for you, Lass -=sounds befuddled, but amiable=-
HPC> See you in ten then.
HPC> See you in ten. Terrik out.
Siee turned off the link to the Venture,
then flipped to Kyp's frequency. C> They're expecting us now.
C> I hear you, Lady Wraith -
I don't know what You've got up your sleeve, but I hear you.
C> Trust me... you'll love it
Kyp just sighed over the comm and
waited to revert to realspace. Soon they did so, and he habitually broke
away at the sight of the Star Destroyer, C> Look out!
C> Come about, Kyp! That's where we're
going!
C> That's a Star Destroyer!
He warily came up on her wing....
C> Not all Destroyers are owned by the
Empire. You trust me, right? Then sit back and follow me.
Kyp muttered a few of the more
colourful curses he'd learned and did as she suggested.
Siee guided them in for a landing at the
Venture, then popped open her canopy when it was clear. "Ah, recycled
air. I missed the smell."
"Well," a voice came from below, "Well,
well... if it isn't little Siee Janson, How are you, lass?"
Kyp was still muttering to himself
as he shut down his 'new' x-wing.
"Going out of my mind and needing some
fun, Boost. Figured I'd bring an old friend along."
"Welp, any friend of yourse, is
a friend to me," he turned to look as a young man hopped down from the
X-wing and looked about the hangar warily. The dark hair and green eyes
were familiar, though the white streaks in the hair were not. That wary
look, however, was indellible. "Kyp Lad? Is that you?"
At the sound of his name Kyp looked
to the speaker. He was a bit older, but his figure was unmistakable.
"Booster!" He cried out and pure joy lit his features as he ran up and
hugged the man.
Siee smiled and hopped out of her X-Wing,
leaning against the wing and watching.
Booster hugged him back, then held
him out at arms length. "You grew."
Kyp hastily wiped tears from his
cheeks, "Booster, I thought I'd never see you again. I missed you so
much."
Booster patted his shoulder, "I
missed you too, lad. I was sorry to hear about what happened though,"
he gave Kyp a long look in which the boy looked away. "But I know things
are right now, so I won't turn you over my knee like I should."
That made Kyp laugh and he looked
back up at Booster again. "It's good to see you."
"Agreed, I must say, though, it's
interesting to find you in such company," he held a hand out to beckon
Siee over to them.
Kyp ran a hand through his unkempt
hair, "Well, I told her to blame you for my being a 'bad boy', and she
decided that we were going somewhere - I never thought it would be to
see you."
Siee smiled and walked to them. "I am
full of surprises, you know."
In unison, "We know." They laughed.
Impulsively, since that's really
the only way Kyp naturally reacts, Kyp pulled her into a hug, "Thank
you," he whispered to her as he hugged her tightly, "Thank you so very
much."
Siee shook her head. "If I'm not careful,
people are going to start comparing me to my brother."
He let her go and stepped back,
"Why?"
Booster laughed and draped an arm
around each of their shoulders, "Come on, food's waiting."
"You don't wanna know," Siee replied, and
let herself be led by Booster.
They laughed and talked quite a
bit during the eating, but Booster was called away to answer an incoming
comm, and left the two to their own devices.
"Siee?"
Siee brought her attention back to Kyp
from where she had been looking. "Yeah Kypster?"
"I just wanted to thank you again.
You really made my life, today."
"Is your Force happy then?" she asked in
a kiddie voice, then laughed.
He chuckled, recognising the twin's
way of describing things. "Ecstatic," he affirmed with a firm nod.
"Well, I'm glad to make you happy. I don't
like it when friends are blue."
"You consider me a friend?" he
looked at her curiously, hopeful. He'd figured she was just being nice
to him because he'd helped her out.
She blinked. "Of course. You think I'd
waste my time teasing you if you weren't?" She grinned.
"I wouldn't know." He smiled then,
"I guess I have that to thank you for, as well."
"Thanks for what, being a friend?"
"Yes." he answered simply. "For
being a friend to the Murderer of Carida."
Siee put a hand on Kyp's shoulder. "Your
past is the past. It makes you into the person you are today. The way
you mold it is the true essence of your personality. You took a bad
moment and made yourself good from it. That's a plus in my book."
"If I thank you again, you're going
to slug me, aren't you?"
"Maybe."
"I'll risk it. Thanks."
She punched his shoulder playfuly.
"I knew it!" He shook his head
and chuckled. "Oh well, I guess I won't do it again."
"Oh come on, one punch and you back down?
Wimp. Kypster the Wimpster..." She started to sing and skip away.
"You know, for a friend, you can
be such a Slika some times." He got up and chased after her.
"Slika! Slika!" she said in her kiddie
voice and took off running.
"Oh no you dont!" He shouted as
he chased after her.
Kyp chased her over half the Errant
venture.
Siee, of course, knew the Venture like
the front of her hand. She didn't know it enough to be like the back
of her hand though.
Kyp still had to use the Force to
aid him in his capture. and he did eventually catch her, tackling her
to the ground with a *thud*. "Got you!"
Siee winced and rubbed her head. "Man,
you need to lose some weight," she joked.
He got up and held a hand down to
help her to her feet. "Sorry, got lost in the hunt," his eyes twinkled.
"So you're a hunter now, eh?" She hunched
over like a primative. "Me Kyp. Hunt beast. Big meal!"
"No, not beast, elusive Siee," he
hunched over in imitation, "No meal, just laughs. Howlrunner give good chase, me like
chase. ugh."
"Well, now that you have me, what you gonna
do?" she grinned.
He stood and scratched his head,
"Me no think that far."
"Give gift of friendship?" she asked, her
mind on a certain object.
"No lightsabre." He grinned.
She wiggled in his grip. "Then what?"
He shrugged in response, let her
go, and poked her forehead with a finger, "Howlrunner have to get Hunter
first." With that, and a quick laugh, he dashed away, using the Force
to lend speed to his feet to give him a lead.
Siee grinned. She knew exactally which
hallway he was going down. Turning around, she went the other way, planning
to cut him off at the pass.
He stopped halfway down, sensing
her presence cutting him off. He put on a desperate lurch of speed
and leapt over her head to continue down the hallway.
"CHEATER!" She shouted. She took off after
him.
His laughter floated in her wake.
He'd finally found an inner child, whether it was because of his joy,
or the memories returned of chasing with Booster around Kessel when
they weren't working or too tired to play, he didn't know. But, he was
sure he had a whole lot to make up for.
Siee grabbed a rope from a mechanic table
as they ran through a hanger. She quickly made a lasso like Wes had
taught her back on the farm. "Hey Kyp!" she shouted, then tossed the
rope to snare him.
He looked over his shoulder at her,
and was so shocked at the cable flying toward him, he didn't think to swat
it away with the Force. He was caught, and soon fell to the floor with
a REALLY loud *thud*. "Ow..." he groaned.
He looked up at her as she approached,
"When did I land on Dathomir?" he asked with a groan. He'd really hit
his head but good.
She walked up beside him, coiling the rope
around her arm. She pulled his legs up into the air and put a foot on
his chest. "Will you stay put or do I need to Gamorr tie you?"
He struggled to roll out from beneath
her foot... just to see if he could.
She pressed down on her heel tighter. "Trying
to get away from me, huh? Don't make me brand you."
He stopped struggling, then looked
at her as a grin blossomed on his face. Siee began to rise into the
air. He rolled
over onto his back and looked lazily up at her, ignorant of the slight
pink tinge to his left temple.
"Oh, you are so a cheater," she stated,
pulling on the rope to raise Kyp's legs up in the air with her.
He reached to his ankles and worked
at the knot, having stopped her upward ascent.
"I don't think so!" She whirled the rope
around to snare his hand too. "Want to go for a full gamorr tie?"
"Stang, I'm beginning to think I'd
have had better luck on that Dominatrix planet!" he struggled against
the ropes, lowering her to the floor as he did so in frustration.
From their positioning, she landed right
on top of him. She noticed the pinkness on his temple. "You got a boo
boo." she stated.
"A what?" he grunted as he struggled
in his bonds.
"A boo boo... a bruise... little point
of injury under the skin." She pressed her finger on the pink spot.
"Ow!" he jerked his head away from
her. "Don't do that," he frowned.
"Ooo, Kypster got a little boo boo... maybe
Siee make it better." She smiled.
He looked at her curiously, stopping
his struggling. "Alright, Huntress... what are you planning?" He raised
his eyebrows.
She leaned forward towards him, then pulled
out a bacta patch and slapped it on his forehead. "That should help."
"Ouch, you didn't have to hit it so
hard," he frowned. He tried to bring his hands up to rub at the sore
spot, but he couldn't because he was nerftied for branding.
She sat on his chest. "So what have you learned
today?"
"I learned you're a nerfherder?"
he smirked.
She wiggled on his belly, putting pressure
on his chest. "And?"
He groaned, "and not to let my
guard down and get surprised by you."
"Better." She stood up and untied him.
He rubbed at his wrists as she untied
his feet, "You...." he sighed.
She tuck her tounge out at him while coiling
the rope up. "I had better keep this for another time."
He chafed at his ankles, "Is it
possible to be exasperated to death?"
"I dunno... we can try." She smirked.
He fell back on the floor, "maybe
I'll just stay here with Booster."
"Then I guess I'll have to stay here too.
After all, you are my teacher, right?" she grinned.
He unclipped his lightsabre and
tossed it at her, before draping an arm across his eyes. "There."
Siee held the lightsaber. "OK. Have fun
on the Venture.'" She walked away.
He peeked from beneath his arm,
and watched her walk away. "Bye." He draped it back over his eyes.
She kept walking... all the way to the ship.
"Prep her up, Wiley."
"Have fun!" he shouted at her, not
looking, arm still draped over his eyes. Then he yawned. he'd been
up for about two weeks now.... that was too long for a teenaged brat.
er... teenager.
She hopped up into her X-Wing. "See you
when I come back to visit in a few months." She closed the canopy.
He didn't move. He'd fallen asleep.
Siee pouted. Her ruse wasn't working.
She opened the canopy and slipped out, leaving the lightsaber in the X-Wing.
She walked to him and nuddged him with her shoe. "Kyp?"
He groaned and turned over, obviously
fast asleep. Then
he blinked and looked up, "Huh?"
She smiled softly. "You fell asleep."
He sat up and chuckled, "Sorry.
I'm not supposed to fall asleep when you're giving threats, am I?"
She held her hand out, helping him up.
"Come on. We'll find a place to crash here and go back to the temple
in the morning."
"That's probably the best thing
I've heard since I was caught, Siee." He yawned mightily. "It's been
a long time since I've slept."
She put his arm around her shoulder and
helped him walk back into the main area. She motioned to Wiley to turn
off the ship and lock it back down, then left to find a place for Kyp
to get some sleep.
Booster directed them to some rooms,
and Kyp soon disappeared into one. He was asleep before his head hit
the pillow.
Siee chuckled.
"Sure Kyp... you take the bed. I can spend the night on the couch."
He, of course, didn't answer. He'd figured she'd
take another room anyhow. He was fast asleep, a soft snore escaping his
lips.
"Oh great, you're a snorer too!" She sighed and went
to find some pillows and blankets.
She finally returned with some blankets and pillows and
set up a bed for herself on the couch. She then went to the bedroom
and put the blanket on the floor. "Ok Kyp, you might want to take your
boots off at least."
Of course, there was no answer.
She growled. "I'm SO not changing you, so you had better
wake up now and do it yourself."
In answer, the unconscious lad just turned over with
a slight groan, stopped snoring, and settled deeper into sleep. He
hadn't really slept in nearly two weeks.
"I'm so going to get revenge on you for this," she muttered
and grabbed his boots, pulling them off.
He had on black socks, with little moons and stars
on them. how cute.
"Han must have given him those," she said as she jumped
up onto the bed. She straddled his chest, unzipping the flightsuit
from head to crotch. "I know Booster is taping this somewhere... I
must get the tape later."
She then grabs the flightsuit and pulls it off so that
he could sleep in his underclothes.
Kyp's wearing two pairs of Boxers... one black and
silver moons and stars, the other leapord print. The waistband of the leapord print
shows above the waistband of the other... and through all of this, Kyp didn't
even stir.
"I don't think I want to know." She grabbed the blanket
and tossed it over the sleeping guy. "See ya in the morning."
"G'nite Vima..." he mumbled in his sleep.
