OOM: Everybody's dancing and the band's top volume

[acertainpov]

CODE BY

It should have been a simple intel gathering exercise. Slip unannounced into the shipping traffic surrounding Scipio, use stolen codes to land, get to the dropbox, get the datachip, leave.

The first problem is that it isn't Obi-Wan's contact, it's Depa Billaba's contact, and she arranged the meeting. But Depa Billaba then went into battle against General Grievous, andd is now in a coma, so Obi-Wan has been dispatched instead. He has the negotiating skills, he could make the connection.

The second problem is that the dropbox doesn't contain the datachip, but an invitation to a ball, and a flimsi that says I'll meet you there.

And the third problem is the name on the invitation is Jynna Lora.

"You're good at undercover work," Cody says to Obi-Wan, "but I don't think you could pass as a 'Jynna Lora.'"

"I suspect you're right there."

"So do we turn around, signal for a female Jedi?"

Obi-Wan considers this, and shakes his head. "No, I think I shall go to the ball. Wait there, Cody."

And on that, he heads through the door to Milliways.

Comments

[acertainpov]

"I hope so," Obi-Wan says, with absoltuely no idea if it will or not. "If it doesn't, I can translate, at least. It won't harm your disguise to be a mysterious noblewoman who refuses to sully her tongue with Galactic Basic."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Typical Lora," she replies, dry.

"I think it should work, at least in a short range around me. Normally, these fish aren't directly in our ears, right? Just around the bar, and that works just fine."

She hopes their little friend is up to the task.

[acertainpov]

"Exactly," Obi-Wan confirms. "And we can try it out before we have to go to the ball anyway.

"Speaking of which," he bows deeply and gestures to the door. "Is there anything else you'd like to know in advance?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"Hmm, let's see," she considers the question. "I am Jynna Lora. The Lora are one of the elite ruling families of Imarr, a rather isolationist world on the far side of the inner rim from the outer rim and Scipio, where I -accompanied by my chosen Knight Sir Dash Cardon - have come to attend a ball being held by Jafan Typho. We may not know each other personally, but we share a disdain for the corruption of the Republic, and strong Separatist sympathies."

Her assured look checks for a moment, and she peers speculatively at Obi-Wan. "They call themselves Separatists?"

[acertainpov]

He nods: "The political entity is the Confederacy of Independent Systems, but 'Separatists' covers the ideology of breaking from the Republic as well as being a helpful word. When talking about the other side you would talk about 'the Republic,' and 'the Jedi' as the religious order that heads the military."

[sunbaked_baker]

Jafan Typho. Scipio. Imarr. Confederacy of Independent Systems.

"Good to know. I didn't want to somehow give us away by using terms they wouldn't," she smiles. "Can't think of anything else to ask, just now."

[acertainpov]

"If you do, I'll be here," Obi-Wan says. "But I have absolute confidence in your ability to talk banthashit. Shall we?"

He gestures and then leads the way to the door, which slides rather than swings open on a small gunship. Standing there - not waiting, but with the attitude of someone who's just seen a door closed and was expecting it to open again immediately - is Fives.

Actually, not Fives. This man is older by a few years, his face carrying scars and no tattoo, and his armor, as well as having a number of differences in form and shape, is orange and white rather than blue.

He looks at Rae with zero recognition but also with only a fraction of the surprise one expect for a strange woman appearing in his ship from out of nowhere.

"Jinna Lora, I presume?"

His voice as well could pass for Fives if you weren't paying attention.

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine doesn't disguise her amusement at the universality of talking bullshit, whatever form the bull takes, chuckling as she follows Obi-Wan onto the ship. The difference in the feeling of the place as she steps through the door is palpable to her in some way, though she would be hard-pressed to describe it adequately. Amid the delight at the adventure and the newness of the experience, she only has so much attention to pay to it. In any case there is an unfamiliar clone before her.

"That would be me," she affirms with a friendly smile. "Since Obi-Wan apparently didn't make the cut. You must be Cody."

[acertainpov]

"At your service, my Lady," Cody says, with a smart salute. Obi-Wan smiles warmly between them.

"Commander Cody, this is Rae, the baker."

That earns a double take, and an almost instant dissolution of military formality.

"The cinnamon buns lady?"

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine laughs, delighted. "That would also be me. It's good to meet you, Cody."

Remind her to send Obi-Wan home with more food to share, going forward.

[acertainpov]

"The General brings them back occasionally," Cody tells her. His demeanour stays respectful, but there's a sly smile there, sharing a secret tolerance for his general.

"I expect you might have to make him eat them while you watch, otherwise he'll just keep bringing them back for the men."

[sunbaked_baker]

"That is good to know," Rae remarks, raising an eyebrow and glancing in Obi-Wan's direction. Where did all of those pilfered Chocoholia get to, anyway? Is the charming Jedi eating right? Getting enough rest? Hmm.

She turns back to give Cody a slight smile and a sincere, "Thank you for your service."

[acertainpov]

Obi-Wan smniles back at her, curiously, while Cody just says:

"Oh, no need to thank me, my Lady. It's what we're born for, I'm sure the General's told you..."

[sunbaked_baker]

Cody's response makes her smile grow, and she nods a little. She has been told. "I mean for looking after Obi-Wan," she clarifies, chuckling.

She loves her friend dearly and is glad that he has someone looking out for his well-being on this side of the door, but doubts the best training in the galaxy could adequately prepare anyone for it.

[acertainpov]

"Aaah," sayys Cody, with a wry smile. "In which case, you're welcome. Someone's got to do that."

Obi-Wan looks between both of them, the tilt of his head making up for what his masked face can't show through expression alone.

"Why do I feel like I should be insulted?"

[sunbaked_baker]

"I've no clue," Sunshine replies breezily, smiling fondly at Obi-Wan. "You've got people who'll watch your back and are looking out for you. If only everyone were so fortunate; the galaxy would be a better place."

[acertainpov]

Obi-Wan looks at Cody, trying to look insulted still, but the Commander just smiles. "She's right, General, you're lucky."



"Alright," Obi-Wan concedes. "I know. Are we ready to go to the ball?"

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine looks herself over, looks Obi-Wan over, and steps forward to brush some imaginary dust from his shoulder, giving a nod and fond smile. "Ready when you are, Sir Dash."

[acertainpov]

He bows to her, deep and ... well, dashing, and offers her his hand, as if she needed the help to even step down from the gunship.

To Cody, he says: "Keep the engine running, Commander. And... call us some transport?"

"Already on it, General," Cody says, and when they descend from the ship they find a sleek black airspeeder waiting for them.

Obi-Wan glances over his shoulder to Cody, who shrugs like sourcing expensive airspeeders is the simplest thing in the galaxy.

[sunbaked_baker]

For all Rae knows, this is normal for them, but it is so beyond the bounds of her experience - beyond the experience of anyone in her world. She's not bothering to attempt to hide the quiet wonder in her expression at every new little thing and the delight running through her. She nearly forgets to watch her step as they step down from the gunship, distracted by the open sky suddenly above them. She would never see that color in the skies of her own world. No one else from her world has ever seen skies that color, nor will. She doesn't even know the name of the star whose light she feels on her face.

She blinks hard, pulling her attention back planet-side, and beams. "Breaking out the limo, I see. Loras arrive in style."

[acertainpov]

Obi-Wan, of course, has her back. And her hand. Just before she would stumble he squeezes her gently and refocuses.

"No expense spared, of course," he says.

"But we have time, if you wish, before we depart."

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine squeezes his hand, appreciative. "I'll... be fine. No reason to arrive at the party anything but fashionably late."

That sky. Another star's light, another world's air.

"...It's just a lot. There are nearly four billion people on my world and fewer than a thousand have really been beyond its atmosphere. Only small handful have walked on our moon, and none of them were coffeehouse bakers."

It can't be a big deal to Jynna Lora, so Sunshine is letting herself process the wonder of it now - as much as she can manage to - so she can ignore it later. This visit is an enormous gift, even without the party, the amazing outfits, or the thrill of espionage.

"Thank you."

[acertainpov]

Before they get into the speeder, Obi-Wan wraps an arm around her shoulders and turns with her to look up at the descending sun.

And he pauses for a second, drinking in her wonder and reveling in it alongside her - indulging himself with the sensation most people only get to experience once, and many never remember: the first time they see another world's sun. He burns through his life so quickly sometimes he forgets to stop and appreciate the Galaxy around him.

"Thank you," he says and holds the airspeeder door open for her.

[sunbaked_baker]

She can feel the star's warmth on her skin, its unfamiliar light filtering through her lightly-closed eyelids, casting red-edged shadows of the tiny blood-vessels within. The shadows thrum in time with her heartbeat; it's a bit fast - excitement, trepidation, wonder - but steady. The tension in her drains like water, leaving lightness behind. She opens her eyes, looks once more at the sunset no other person in her world will ever see, and turns to follow Obi-Wan into the airspeeder.

She is walking taller again, her back straight as she steps into the speeder, seeking to set aside Sunshine's wonder and excitement for the Jynna Lora's more experienced and comfortable expectation. If she's to be believable, she has to commit to the part.

("From the feet up, baby.")

"Are we far from our destination?"

[acertainpov]

"Not far at all," Obi-Wan says, checking the on board navigation. "But far enough that no one will no we came from a Republic gunship. You can relax for a bit more - when we see the city, you'll know."

He turns around, waves cheerfully at Cody, and starts the airspeeder, taking off as high in the air as a small earth based plane.