On The Liberty II

Growing up, my Ma was always telling me to try new things. 'course, she mostly said that to get me out of Da's garage and off to the amusement park or clubs with my friends.  She hated that I spent most of my free time with my hands on the guts of an engine instead of...other things.  But she'd be proud right now, 'cuz I definitely got "new things" going on.

Backing up a bit - I went to visit my friend Shara on a ship called the Liberty II. There's some awfully nice folks on board: A pretty medic named Vix and a cute teenage boy named Kalei. (He blushed the whole time I talked to him.  It was adorable.) I also met a nice man named Rival whose wife is somehow Shara's "duplicate" because of an "anomaly"....?  Yeah, I'm still working that one out.

And then there's the captain.  Sweet Stars of Alderaan.  Captain Ian Scarlet, who walks around like sex on a stick with his carefree speech and rugged good looks... 

The man can make a pink girl blush.


*downs a cold glass of water*


Anyway -

They've welcomed me very kindly and I'm learning all about the ship and deuterium and antideuterium and dilithium crystals....  That warp core down in Engineering is a big ol' mass of thrumming energy and I might just take him home with me. 


Back to now - A coupla days ago, the crew got a message that they were being sent on a dangerous mission. I'd never heard of the place but they said bad things happened the last time they were there.

Everybody got scared and worried and it might've been really stoopa of me, but I got the okay to tag along.  Not sure how much good I'll do with all this foreign tech, but I catch on pretty quick.

I'm s'posed to stay on the ship when they all go down for the negotiations, but I wish I'd brought my weapons, just in case.  I got my wrist darts like always and they got good blasters here - 'cept they call 'em phasers - but I'm partial to my own.

I'd have brought my gear if I'd known, but I hadn't planned to leave so soon after getting home.  Then Shara commed and...it had been so long.  I missed her. Didn't even realize how much I'd missed her until I heard her voice.  All this time apart, and I still crave the softness of her kiss and long for the comfort of her bed.  She warms my body and soothes my soul.  (Not to mention that our time alone would inspire jealousy even back on Zeltros.)

The thought of what happened the last time I left for a quick trip makes my stomach twist in knots and I can't really talk about it yet. The nightmares haven't stopped and my sweet Disco thinks I might need to see someone about it.  I dunno.  Maybe.

Or maybe it's because of the nasty affair with the slavers that I need to be here right now.  Not for the stress of the mission, but to be on the fighting side this time.  They say there have been kidnappings and all I can think of is those horrible days when I was held and I want to hurt any  sleemos who'd do that to innocent people.

Whatever happens, I want to help them.  There's no Jedi or lightsabers here, but there's good people with good hearts.  And I think that's really all that counts.

Here and Gone: Conclusion

(Continued from Part Four)

~*~

Yesterday was something called "Thanksgiving" on a place called "Earth." It's a holiday where the inhabitants express their gratitude for the things that they are thankful for in their lives.  

 

Today, back home in the comfort and safety of my own room, I have many, MANY things to be thankful for.

 

Since being rescued, I am slowly getting pieces of the story and putting them together.

 

After we were taken...I don't know who on that pirate ship took mercy on little Lily and gave us the milk and mushed grain for her to eat, but they probably saved her life. She was so hungry and the little sips of water I could give her only made her mad.

I think we were there about a week.  The days all ran together and all my attempts to get out of that hold failed, but it got worse.  Much worse. 

Back on Coruscant, it seems that the authorities caught one of the pirate's operatives snooping around my speeder and they were able to learn that he was affiliated with Thalassian slavers.  It was the first real break in the case and it sounds bad to say, but I'm glad that sleemo was dumb enough to get caught.

 

When word got out that Lily was missing, Echo and Disco's friends descended on the Castle and they all helped out in one way or another.  Barb, Bikoura, Azlyn, Riku...even Cade came home (moons and stars I have missed him!) and every last of one of them rushed off to Thalassia to help find us. 

 

Obi stayed home with Rose and that may sound boring, but I am so very grateful to him for being there for her.

 

When they got to Thalassia, Barb was able to sense Lily in the Force.  I think Bik had a team on the ground and Azlyn had called in some favors, but Barb guided them to the auction house where we were both to be sold.

 

I can't even tell you how horrible those two days on Thalassia were.  They took Lily from me - both of us kicking and screaming about that - and locked me away from her.  I could hear her crying through the door, but they had me bound and gagged and I was totally powerless to help her.  I'd have given anything...DONE anything at that point.  I expected the usual propositions and "deals."  It's no big secret what men usually want from a girl like me and I'd have done it without a minute's hesitation if it would have kept her safe. 

 

On the day that we were to be put on the auction block, they turned the speakers on and I could hear what was happening in the main hall.  The bidding had just started when the first shots were fired.  I found out later that it was Echo, Barb and Bik fighting their way through the crowd to get to Lily.

 

Through all the chaos and screaming after that, one voice rose above all the others.  It was Disco and she sounded fierce.  Never let that mild-mannered sweetness fool you.  Mess with her kids and you'd better have made your peace with whatever gods you believe in.

 

The last thing I remember, before getting knocked unconscious by kriffing stun cuffs, was Echo calling my name. 

 

After that, I woke up on his ship and Azlyn was there with medical equipment and...we were safe. 

 

 

I don't think I'll ever be able to thank everyone enough for coming to find us. And I don't know what I ever did to deserve this wonderful family and these friends who would risk their lives for me, but I love them all and - in the spirit of the Earth Tradition - I give thanks for them.

 

 

 ________________________________________

 

 

Blue's typist note:  High-fives to everyone who participated in this story line!  I'm not even kidding when I say I was on the edge of my seat during the big rescue scene (which was totally improv'd and AWESOME) and I really hope everyone had as much fun as I did.  <3

 

Here and Gone (part four)

Written by Rose Gryphon

(Continued from Part Three)

~*~

Dear Diary,

I have not written to you in a long time, but I have to tell you what happened.  Baby Lily and Auntie Blue were taken by some bad men.  I don’t know why they did that.  Mommy said that some people are just mean.  I hope they get in trouble for it and that they go to jail for a very long time.

It was a really bad week. And scary.  :( :( :(

Mommy cried a lot.  I know she tried to hide it a ‘cause she’d always wipe her face really fast when I came in the room, but her eyes were always red and she wouldn’t eat.  Said her stomach was nervous.  One time, I saw her sitting in Lily’s room holding her blankie and just rocking and crying all by herself.  I didn’t know what to do so I cleaned my room up real pretty.  I thought that might cheer her up.

Daddy stopped smiling.  He usually smiles a lot and picks me up and twirls me around when he comes home from work, but he didn’t go to work and he mostly stayed in his office talking on the comm and watching the news.  And then he got all his guns out and started cleaning them.  I didn’t even know he had so many guns!  I wanted to look at them and he yelled at me.  He never yells, but I think he must have had a nervous stomach like Mommy because he said he was very, very sorry and hugged me for a long time after that. 

Aunt Barb came and went a lot doing in-vest-er-gating with her contacts and she even practiced her lightsaber some.   It’s a different color from Uncle Cade’s and it’s pretty, but she said it was too dangerous for me to hold.  Then she tried to make Mommy feel better and I don’t think it worked, but I think Mommy was really glad she was here.

Uncle Cade was quiet, which is weird for him.  He mostly stayed in his room trying to find Auntie Blue using the Force.  She must have been too far away, tho.

I met Mommy and Daddy’s friend Mr. Bikoura.  He’s a Mando-lorian and he always wears his armor.  Even around the house.  He scared me at first, but then he let me play with a miniature Krayt dragon named Ka'ra.  She’s sweet.  I didn’t see him much after that a ‘cause he and Barb and Daddy would sit in the study for hours looking at the comm and talking. 

That’s when Uncle Obi came over.  :)  He’s soooooooo handsome.  Don’t tell anyone, Diary, but I wanna marry him some day.  That has to be our secret tho.

And you can’t tell anybody about this next part, neither, but --- Uncle Obi says I have the Force. 

I can’t asplain it, but I had dreams about Baby Lily and I could tell when she was sad or happy.  I had a really BAD dream one night that she was all alone in the dark and that she was cold and hungry and scared and it didn’t go away when I woke up.  It made me feel sick to my tummy and Uncle Obi had to use the Force to make it go away. 

That’s when he said I had it too. 

I don’t really want it.  It scares Mommy and Mr. Bikoura said someone would come find me if I had it.  Mommy said that she and Daddy would protect me, but I just wanted the bad feelings about Baby Lily to go away. And the headaches.  I got bad headaches when I got bad feelings.

Day-before-yesterday, we got news from a police detective about where Baby Lily and Auntie Blue might be.  That’s when things went nuts with everybody running around and packing things in Daddy’s ship.  Mommy left all kinds of destructions for Uncle Obi ‘cause he was gonna stay and take care of me. 

Daddy even put his armor on.  It’s different from Mr. Bikoura’s and he didn’t put the hat on because he thought it might scare me.  When I kissed him goodbye, his face was all prickly. I guess he was in a hurry and forgot to shave his whiskers, but I didn’t mind. 

Mommy hugged me and cried and I promised to be good. 

Then me and Uncle Obi waved goodbye to them and went back into the house to wait.  He said I could stay home from school  the next day because my head was hurting and we did my work in the kitchen.  And then I taught him how to make Mommy’s sugar cookies.  He did real good with the cooking.  I knew he would. He’s good at lots and lots of things. <3

I had a good dream about Baby Lily that night but my head was still hurting when I woke up, so I didn’t say anything about it. Uncle Obi and I were getting ready to make chocolate chip cookies when the best thing ever happened! 

Can you guess?

Mommy called to say they’d found Baby Lily and Auntie Blue and that they were coming home!  :D :D :D  I’m not supposed to run and jump in the house, but I couldn’t help it!!   I knew they would find them! My Mommy and Daddy can do anything!

I’ve gotta go now, Diary.  I was saving my allowance for a new hologame, but  Uncle Obi said he’d take me shopping to buy Baby Lily some new toys and something pretty for Auntie Blue.

Your friend,

Rose Gryphon  @--‘--,--

(to be continued)

Here and Gone (part three)

Part Three - written by Disco Gryphon

(Continued from Part Two)


Reposted from Flowers and Sugar: The Recipe for Happiness  


~*~

Yesterday was the worst day of my life. I've had bad days and horrible days, but yesterday was the worst. My Lily Blue is missing. My best friend Deliah Blue is missing. They are presumed kidnapped. This is what happened...

Usually, Lily comes to work with me, but yesterday...i had so many wedding cakes to finish that Blue offered to stay home with her. Blue is the best Auntie and godmother a baby could have. She was fixing Barb's ship when she realized that she needed parts. Blue took Lily and went to the parts store, or whatever you call it. While they were at the parts store a robbery was taking place at the jewelry store next to the parts place. The robbers took Blue and Lily. Maybe they thought Blue was a witness, it doesn't matter. They took them and left Lily's diaper bag behind. Her bottle, diapers, toys, change of clothes, blanket...left behind. My baby has no milk, no clean clothes...but she has Blue. Blue will take care of her, will give her what she needs. Lily is still nursing. That worries me.

Trying to stay calm is taking everything out of me. Inside i'm wracked with fear and worry and pain, and a whole lotta anger. Anger at the sleemos who took them. Angry at them for leaving her bag. I have to stay calm for Rose and Echo. Echo is my rock. He's strong and determined and will find who did this and make them pay. At this point I don't care what he does to them. I just want my baby back...now. Rose is being a trooper...she'd like that i called her that. She told us that Lily was ok. If that was an eight year old's way of comforting her mom and dad, or her force sensitivity, doesn't matter. I believe Rose. Lily is ok. Blue is ok. Blue is resourceful and clever, she'll figure a way to let us know where they are.

Barb has been staying with us. She's family and belongs there. The contacts she has in the bounty hunter world are going to help us. and she's trying to find Sarah and Siege to help as well. Bikoura  is back in town. He's used his Mando contacts to find out valuable info. A friends' reunion turned into this rescue mission. Both he and Barb are wonderful and dedicated to helping us. I called Azlyn  ...she's Blue's friend and a powerful Jedi, not to mention a former bounty hunter herself. She has an apprentice named Riku . I know they'll find something. I don't know who Echo's contacts are...but they've been invaluable. They discovered what happened. Why Lily and Blue didn't come home that night...

The biggest surprise was Cade. Out of nowhere he appeared with groceries. Just turned up at the door, like he'd been gone an hour, rather than 8 months. There will be time to talk to him later. We need to find Blue and Lily. Cade is connected to Blue. He can sense her. Hopefully the combination of Echo, Bik, Barb, Az, Riku and Cade will bring them home safely.

(to be continued)

Here and Gone (part two)

This story sets up events that will continue in role play by members of the Star Wars twitterverse, starting on Nov. 5, 2010. 

Part Two

(Continued from Part One )

~*~

Pain. It was the first semi-coherent thought to congeal out of the fog that was swirling around in my brain. 

I opened my eyes slowly, choking on the smell of stale air and sewage.   My head felt like it had been stuffed with rocks, or at least bludgeoned by them, and the last thing I remembered was...

Was...

"Lily!" I cried out, struggling sit up. It was dark and everything was blurry and I couldn't hear her crying.  She'd been crying when -

I crawled forward, ramming straight into a wall.

- when whatever had happened to us.  There had been men in helmets and they had guns.  Guns pointed at me and Lily. 

Ignoring the sickening pounding between my ears, I yelled louder, "LILY!" My voice echoed so I had to be in a room of some type.  Frantically, I started feeling along the grimy walls.  If I could just find a door or a light panel, maybe I could -

"Ow!"  I jumped back, grabbing my shin, which had just struck something short, and hard that whimpered. 

Whimpered? 

"Lily?" I lurched forward, hitting my shin again on the edge of what turned out to be a crate, and reached inside.  My fingers touched baby skin and if I hadn't been kneeling already, I might’ve passed out in relief. 

"Oh, sweetie!" I scooped her up and sat back, laying her in my lap.  "Are you okay, baby?" 

She squirmed and I figured that was a good thing as I patted her down gently, feeling for injuries.  She started crying then, but it wasn't a hurt cry, just a scared one and I lifted her to my chest, holding her close.  "It's okay," I whispered, stroking her back.  "It's okay. Auntie Blue's here.  I've got you."

We sat there on the floor and the room slowly came into focus in the dim light as my eyes adjusted.  It was a hold of some type.  Probably a ship, from the feel of the vibration in the walls.

I rocked Lily until she fell asleep and then I kept rocking, more to comfort myself than anything else.  How in the seven hells of Corellia had I let this happen?  It was supposed to have been a simple trip to the store and now we were Force-knows-where, trapped in a cargo hold by Force-knows-who.

The pounding in my brain kicked it into some higher-functioning gear because I suddenly remembered the carry-all bag I'd packed.  There was a comm in there!

I placed Lily carefully back into the crate - it looked and smelled pretty much clean on the inside - then I stood up and started picking my way around in the semi-darkness.  The stench was coming from an exhaust port in the floor that smelled like it was venting from a refresher somewhere. Ugh. 

There were a few more empty crates scattered around, but no bag with my comm or Lily's stuff.  It must have gotten knocked to the sidewalk in the scuffle before we'd been taken. 

Stang it!  I kicked the wall in spite of my sore shin and that made me just plain mad.  What kind of lame ass crime outfit kidnaps a woman and baby?  Kriffin' sleemo sons of murglaks in their kriffin’ sleemo fake beskar'gam. They wouldn't get away with this.  I'd get out of this room and hijack their ship, and then I'd call some real Mandos I know and get this strekking outfit busted right up.  Not to mention what would happen when baby Lily’s Daddy got his hands on them --

Halfway through my mental tirade, the door opened and a dark-haired woman came in.  She was shorter than me and wearing that same knock-off Fett armor that junk dealers sold to people who couldn't afford replicas of the real stuff.  She tossed a few ration bars and a skin of water on the floor and started to leave without a word.

"Hey!" I called after her.  "Look...lady," I was trying to sound nice.  Didn't figure it would do me or Lily any good to mouth-off right away.  "I don't know you and I got no bad business with you.  And I certainly ain't got no money, so I think what we’ve got is some mistaken identity here."  See?  Nice.

She stood there looking uninterested, but Zeltrons are naturally empathic and I could feel her uncertainty beneath that cool gaze.

Holding up my hands in a non-threatening pose, I tried again.  "Everybody makes mistakes.  Just drop me and the baby off at the next spaceport and we'll forget this ever happened."

"Can't."  She shook her head.  "You've seen us." 

Seen what? I wanted to demand.  A failed amateur attempt at a robbery?  I'd crewed with pirates and bounty hunters before.  The real deals.  She was putting up a good face, but there wasn't enough hardness in her to stomach half the things I'd seen and done to earn a credit in my life. 

But she wanted to play it that way? Fine. I tried We’re Friends next, letting off a wave of pheromones that only a Force-user would have been able to resist. 

"Okay. That’s true.  I've seen you, but the baby hasn't.  And even if she has, who's she gonna tell?" I smiled a winning between-us-girls smile.  "Just let me get her safely back to her parents and then you can do…whatever you need to do with me."

The woman glanced down at Lily in the crate and then back up at me. "It's not yours?"

Oh, for the love of - 

I dropped the nice act and scowled at her, motioning very pointedly to the very white-skinned baby and then to my own very-pink complexion.  "This ain't body paint, lady. Does she look like she’s mine?"

The lady blinked like she'd suddenly figured something out and then she frowned at me.  "So that means you can't feed it."  She was actually frowning at my chest and it was my turn to have a sudden stupid moment before I realized that she thought I'd be able to breastfeed Lily.  

I gritted my teeth.  "No. I can't feed her." 

The fact hit me like a punch to the gut. I had nothing, absolutely nothing, for Lily to eat.  I wanted to scream and cry and lash out in anger, but I could tell anger wouldn’t touch this woman.  

Taking several deep breaths, I spoke slowly and clearly.  "I had a bag.  When you found me."  When you found me sounded better than when you screwed-up and nabbed the woman who is going to end your miserable life if anything happens to this baby. 

More small words and so many pheromones that she'd had to have been on drugs not to be affected by them later, I pleaded calmly, "If you'll bring the bag to me, there's food and supplies for the baby in there."

Her expression went blank again before she shrugged and turned to leave.  "Didn't bring your bag on the ship." 

And then she was gone and I was left shouting threats and profanity at the closed door.

The noise woke Lily and she started fussing and kicking the inside of the crate.  I picked her up and bounced her gently until she calmed down.  Standing in the middle of the dark room, I kissed her soft head and murmured over and over again, "It'll be okay, sweetie.  It'll be okay."

I hoped to all the stars in the sky that I was right.

(to be continued…)

 __________________________________________________

Author’s note:  This is where the story will pick up in role play on Twitter.  The objective is to get Lily home to her parents.  If and how that happens will depend on the Gryphon family and their friends.

Please contact me or @discogryphon if you are interested in participating as your existing character or creating a new one for this SL. All un-named characters in this story are up for grabs so far, including all of the above-mentioned Bad Guys.

This SL will not require all players to be online at the same time (yet), as we anticipate that it will play out in various locations and various side stories. Once we get going, we’ll work out a method for keeping everyone updated.

And always remember to HAVE FUN!  :D

Here and Gone (part one)

This story sets up events that will continue in role play by members of the Star Wars twitterverse.

Part One

~*~

Of all days to run out of hydraulic fluid.  

Wasn’t a bad day, but I was elbow-deep in the guts of Barb's ship and was finally starting to make some progress on the disaster she'd landed in my yard.  She said she was running from a bounty hunter but, from the looks of it, I'd have thought she'd escaped a fleet of Darth Krayt's Star Destroyers.  I’m thinking it’s only because she’s a good pilot (and got sturdy crash webbing) that she even walked away from the mangled wreck.

I’m a mechanic and a supply run ain’t a big deal, but I was also spending the afternoon in the company my favorite six month-old who was busy blowing spit bubbles as she bounced in her baby seat.

It's kind of a long story, but I live with my best friend Disco, her hottie trooper husband Echo, and their two beautiful daughters, Rose and Lily Blue.   You guessed it - the "Blue" in Lily's name is after me.   I'm a very proud 'aunt.' 

It was mid-morning and Echo was working, Rose was at school, Barb was out shopping and Disco (who is a re grancha cook) had gone to the bakery she owns, so it was just me and baby Lily left alone to make messes in the garage. 

Too bad I couldn't use drool as a lubricant in the ship, I thought, grinning down at Lily. We'd have been set for weeks. 

I peeled off my work gloves and started assembling the gear I'd need to take Lily with me to the parts and supply shop.  For anyone who doesn't know, there is no such thing as a "quick trip" when little kids are involved.  I'd learned this the hard way.  Just leaving the house is a production when an infant is involved.

Once before, I'd taken an even younger Lily with me on a supply run with nothing but the baby carrier.  She'd been sound asleep when we left and we'd be back in less than an hour...right?  Well, that’s what I thought.  Wouldn’t you know it - my usual supplier was out of what I needed that day.

Four hours, three stores, two traffic jams and one very hungry baby later, I brought Lily wailing home to her parents.  On top of running off without any baby food, I'd also forgotten the diaper bag, so not only was Lily starving, but she was soaked in all the things that a full diaper can no longer contain. 

I'd have fired me as a babysitter right then and there, but Disco never even scolded me and had Lily cleaned, fed and smiling in less time that it usually takes me to pick out clothes in the morning.

Hands on hips, I scanned the pile of Lily's Stuff and tried to decide what to take for today's run.  Not the baby carrier, for sure. It was bulky and Lily’s feet were almost hanging over the end now.  That left me with the stroller and the harness-style carrier that could hang on the front or flip around to serve as a kid-toting back pack.  I opted for the harness.  Nobody else uses it much and I’d attached some sequins to the straps.  I mean, a girl’s gotta have her sparkles.

One carry-all bag packed with instant formula, diapers, clothes, toys and the harness later, we were ready to go. I left Disco a note telling her where we'd be and when we'd be back, just in case she got home early.  That was something else I'd learned the hard way: never leave the house with another woman's child without letting her know where you’re going.   Even if that woman is your best buddy and you’re taking her oldest daughter out shopping for Mommy’s Birthday Present.  Just trust me on this one.

"You ready to go, kiddo?" I asked, walking over to Lily's seat. She held her chubby arms up to me even before I got there, just like she knew we were going for a ride in the speeder.  Did I mention that she's bright?  I picked her up and she babbled something that would some day sound just like, "I love you, Auntie Blue,"  but for now sounded more like, "Ga ga."   It was close. I could hear it.

***

The owner of my favorite parts shop greeted me at the door.  He was an older guy with nice eyes and he reminded me of the man who’d taught me how to be a fixer. His young male clerks came stumbling wide-eyed to the counter as he keyed in my order.  I smiled. They blushed. I’m a Zeltron.   That’s normal.

He shoo’d them off to load the back of my speeder with cases of hydraulic fluid while me and Lily headed down the sidewalk to do some window shopping.  

It was warm and sunny and I had Lily strapped to my chest facing front so she could look around.  She squealed and reached for everything shiny - which was a lot of things.  I didn’t birth her, but I swear she takes after me. Baby knows her bling. 

We were stopped at a gems dealer admiring the jewelry when a couple of hollering hooligans came crashing through the storefront.  I side-stepped to get out of their way and ran right into what had to be the rest of their gang as they came pounding around the corner. 

"Move!" The closest one screamed at me and I wrapped my arms protectively around Lily. I don’t normally back down from a sleemo picking a fight but he was getting way too close the baby.  I turned to run but he shoved a blaster in my face and pushed me toward a vehicle that appeared out of karking nowhere behind us. 

"Get in!" He yelled from beneath his battered wannabe-Mandalorian helmet. 

Like hell I would!  I reached down and grabbed for the hold-out blaster hidden in my boot and felt a sharp blow behind my left ear.  The world went white as I fell backwards. 

(to be continued)

 __________________________________________________

Author's note: There will be one more part posted before we are ready to pick it up in Twitter role play.  Please contact me or @discogryphon if you are interested in participating as your existing character or creating a new one for this story. All un-named characters in this story are up for grabs so far.