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

[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.

[sunbaked_baker]

"I am relaxed, just... processing. Jynna Lora can't come across as some easily-awed space-tourist from the back of beyond," she grins, wry. So maybe she is holding on when she doesn't exactly have to. "So I have to hide the easily-awed tourist in me."

[acertainpov]

"Well, you can process for a while as well," says Obi-Wan without missing a beat.

"Be the tourist until you're ready. It will be a shame to waste your first time on Scipio."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Trust me, there's no danger of me wasting it, not in the way I think you mean," she assures him, chuckling as she tries her best to take in every sight, every color. Rae can feel herself trying to memorize the way the air tastes slightly different, in ways she can't describe. Faintly sharp, more a feeling than a taste or smell, but not at all acrid or unpleasant. "The only way to waste it would be to mess things up."

If anything among the things that could go wrong does go wrong, she just doesn't want it to be because she wasn't convincing. Obi-Wan is her friend and he has asked her to help, so she wants to help, not inadvertently hinder.

"Do you know who you're looking for, when we're there? The contact?"

[acertainpov]

"I've seen a Holo from Depa," Obi-Wan says, "a handsome looking Zabrak gentleman. I suspect when he notices you aren't she, he'll be shy but curious. I shall field any information from him."

He turns away from the driving to offer her a smile. "You just need to enjoy yourself."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Way ahead of you there," Sunshine grins at Obi-wan, that delight still bubbling under the surface, before looking out again at the alien world. "We'll be fine."

Even though she is only mildly curious about the intel this venture could give them, she is still invested in this war far beyond her world, if just through her friendships.

[acertainpov]

The city eventually looms ahead of them - tall rounded towers stretching up into the clouds from the desert base, and even at their height, Obi-Wan has to angle the speeder up towards one of the taller towers: rich golden light spilling out from a round structure near the top of the tower, from which another speeder - shining chrome, this one - is taking off having dropped its passengers on the the platform.

"Are you ready, my lady?"