Old Friends

Maligaant hated hyperspace!  One thing he'd learned since he left his home world was how much NOT at home he was in space.  Nothing settled his stomach or his nerves like the feeling of soil under his paws.  However, if he had to travel between worlds, he'd decided doing so on a YT-1300 wasn't too horrible.  Something about the ship helped to comfort his uneasiness in hyperspace.  He'd paid the captain of this freighter very well, much more than was usual as he didn't wish to make such a long voyage in his personal ship 'The Ripper' (a Firespray class gunship) forget the fact it lacked the space required.  He had been given permission to travel to the Academy and pick up his five new squad members, old friends of his from Togoria who Praetor Mannix Michaels had managed to secretly transport from Togoria and who then personally arranged for their training. Toby, Jerex, Kraspen, Rosh and Nils were going to make fantastic additions to the squad. They had packed out the freighter's passenger compartments not to mention making the captain a bit nervous.  Maligaant didn't think he was used to having so many massive beings on his ship. 

"Your move"  Ariaale said.  She was pretty for a human female and currently stomping him in this game of Dejarik. She didn't seem to have any issues with Togorians and if she was intimidated she wasn't showing any signs. She was a mercenary and the ship's only other crew besides the captain.

Looking over the board he saw few good options left to him, refusing to surrender and simply call the game he made his move as a snarl escaped his lips. "You may only have full use of the one eye but it would seem to have had no effect on the sharpness of your tactical decisions." He spoke in a low growl.

Ariaale allowed a small smirk to crease her face but only for a moment.  Looking up at the massive Togorian across from her she reached to make her move ... 

"Mal"  Toby's paw grasped  his shoulder, "there's someone named Jarvis asking to speak with you over comms."

"Toby do you mind taking my place at the table while I handle this?" Mal stood and walked quickly to the comm station.  Toby smiled briefly as he took Mal's seat and then looked back up in Mal's direction hollering, "Don't you mean take your place in the grave you've dug?"  Looking back at the table and Ariaale Toby grimaced saying, "let's get to it shall we."

As Maligaant looked at the comm display a familiar face looked back at him. It was Jarvis, captain of the "Bucket of Bolts".  

"Hey there Mal! How you been?" Jarvis spoke quickly, not waiting for Mal's response, "Listen bud. I'm in a bit of a bind. Triumvirate have confiscated my ship to cover my fine and placed me on a shuttle out of TC space. They're not even gonna try to sell her Mal, their simply gonna scrap her for parts!"

Maligaant blinked and looked down at the plating in the ships floor. "I'm sorry to hear that Jarvis. But you did bring this on yourself, I tried to tell ... " 

"Yeah yeah I know," Jarvis broke in interrupting him, "I know it was my fault but they are going to SCRAP her Mal!!!! If they do that I will have zero chance of ever getting her back. ZERO!  Man I hear you have connections now. You know people! Could  you help me out? Is there anything you can do? Anything?"

Turning away from the comm display he walked back and forth for a time, as Jarvis continued to plead with him over the channel. Looking back at the display, Jarvis quit speaking as if waiting to hear what he had to say. "Listen Jarvis. I don't know what you've been told but I'm just a soldier. I don't have any real influence over such matters but I will see what I can do ..."

"Oh my god! Thank you Mal!!!" Jarvis broke in again, "I knew you would come through for me..."

"Jarvis STOP talking!" Maligaant roared into the comm station, "I'm not saying I can do anything. But I will see if there is anything that CAN be done." With that he slammed his paw into the end button cutting off the connection. Looking over into the common area he noticed everyone's eyes were on him.