They were down the loading ramp and halfway across the landing bay before Dianna stepped out of the ship. "What are you going to do about the parts?" she yelled.
"We'll think of something," Raezyr called back.
"Don't do anything stupid. Oh, and Trychon?" she added.
"Yeah?"
"Next time you refer to me as 'doll' you better have a weapon in your hand!" Dianna turned on her heel and strode back up the ramp without waiting for his reply.
Once they got outside to the street, Trychon turned to Raezyr. "I guess she didn't like being called 'doll.' Maybe I ought to kiss her now."
Raezyr rubbed his jaw where Dianna had punched him. "I'd think twice about that, if I were you."
"Yeah, you're right. Better you getting punched by a girl than me."
"You probably couldn't handle it, anyway. Besides, that's no girl. Di is a pure she-vornskr," Raezyr retorted.
"Hey, you're the one who gets into fights with women, not me," Trychon said with a grin.
"You're working your way into it pretty quickly, though." They both laughed as they walked down the street, before Trcyhon changed the subject.
"What was she talking about when she asked about the 'parts?'" Trychon asked as he double checked his lightsaber, making sure it was hidden, but still easily accessable.
"She wasn't able to get ahold of the parts we needed. The XT-74 is military grade, so it's a little hard to come by sometimes. We'll have to go pick up what we need ourselves," Raezyr explained.
"Wait, if we can just go pick it up, then why couldn't she do it herself?" Trychon had a bad feeling that he wasn't going to be impressed with the answer.
"Because it's locked up in the Military Academy's supply depot," Raezyr said as if he had just suggested stopping in at a cantina for a drink.
Raezyr stepped to a public directory and entered his search into the terminal. "We can check item one off our list. There's a spirits merchant just down around the corner."
-----------------------------------
Coruscant... the Upper City - Nal Talla - Raezyr
Jedi Knight Nal Talla sat on the sand, leaning against a rock and meditated. It was her favorite spot. Secluded, and relatively quiet, with almost no chance of being interupted.
Her new leg had healed well, yet the sand that touched it felt somehow synthetic, as if she were only imagining what the sand felt like.
Unfortunately the jet propulsion mods that were contained in the leg meant that the leg was not covered with synthetic skin, but was exposed. She didn't mind the cyborg appearance it gave her, or the stares she receive because of it. It was the clanking sound when she walked that unnerved her. The reverberations felt unnatural in her body when she strode across the many metal and stone decks around Coruscant.
Suddenly she was aware of another presence nearby, searching for her.
She opened her eyes, sat up and looked around her. A blue and orange fish darted away from her face, startled by her movement. She stood up and pushed off of the sand at the bottom of Coruscant's Galactic Aquatic Aquarium and shot upwards toward the surface.
On her way up, she activated the jets in her leg, propelling her faster than she could have swam on her own. She shot several feet out of the water and with a flip, landed on deck next to the gigantic aquarium. She slicked the water from her head tails, then the rest of her body. Her two piece water suit was designed to dry off within moments, and she was able to pull on her tunic and boot, just as Master Taisun, a Cathar, entered the area.
"There you are, Nal. I thought I might find you here. You are aware that they don't really like you in here during business hours, right?" he said.
"I am, Mastah Taisun," Nal responded. "I try not to do dis very often. Dey've told me dat da rich folk here in da uppah city don't like it much to see a sentient in wit da fishes."
"Well, as long as they don't make any official complaints, then we aren't going to stop you. Just be aware, and try not to overstay your welcome."
He paused for a moment, but Nal just waited for him to continue. She fell into step beside the lion-like Master Jedi as they walked out of the Aquarium.
"The reason I've come is that we've recieved a message from Masters Barbagar and Centar. They've tracked the Sith Lord to a remote world called Igollon, but they lost his apprentices. They'd like you to choose a partner, and begin an investigation here on Coruscant. Find out what they were doing here and see if you can track them down," he instructed her.
"Why did dey choose me, Mastah? Surely dere must be Jedi more suited to dis dan me," Nal asked.
"They chose you because you looked those Sith in the eye and fought them. You know what their presence feels like. Le-Ek Auklar is still recovering from his wounds and has other matters to attend once he is better, so this task falls to you."
"I shall give it my best, Mastah Taisun," Nal said and gave him a slight bow before getting into her speeder.
I need to go see Caecilian Kostek, she thought as she headed out to go see her old friend. He had been like an older brother to her and Nylan, and luckily he was here at the temple.
She gunned the throttle and speed across the cityscape toward the Jedi Temple.
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