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]

"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?"