2291/On the Beach

On the Beach
Date of Scene:	21 May 2015
Location:	Bayview
Synopsis:	After being asked to tighten up security in Bayview, the beach resort rented by Lute on behalf of the Confederates, Galen Marek and Juno Eclipse show up to check the perimeter.
Cast of Characters:	188, 428, 731

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Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
The town of Bayview is a peaceful place, with waves lapping at the shore and a lighthouse overlooking the southern half. Bayview's southern end is largely devoid of anything but the three rented houses, and go far south enough, and nothing's there at all.

Except for something shimmering in the darkness.

The Rogue Shadow is tucked in between a few pine trees, shimmering to visibility as the stygium crystals are depowered. The belly hatch hisses open, and the ramp descends as ship lights illuminate it.

Sauntering down from the ship's entry is none other than its pilot, in crisp Imperial uniform, carrying an unholstered blaster. She pauses at the end of the ramp, turning and looking back.

"It looks empty, but keep an eye on things with your talents. It's too dark to see anything."

Night's already fallen over the beach, and the moon hangs high over the Pacific ocean. Surf rides into the shore, crashing against dusky sand beaches and large rock formations – it's a beautiful, peaceful area of the Pacific shore, and Juno Eclipse is completely ignoring it.

Lute did say he wanted the security double-checked.

Galen Marek (731) has posed:
As the Shadow lands and uncloaks, Juno leads the way off of the spacecraft. On her heels is the Imperial Inquisitor, Starkiller. Dressed in short-sleeve Sith battle robes, the Inquisitor is the very definition of intimidating. The air around him seems to speak of his power, the trees giving silent respect to the Force at the man's beck and call. He allows himself to sense the area, feeling the minute lifeforms in the area (the larger ones had likely already fled in response to the Shadow) as he steps down the ramp. He appears unarmed actively, though the handle to his lightsaber hangs from his belt. Anyone who knows of the Force, however, knows that Starkiller is never without a weapon, even if someone knocked his lightsaber away.

Whoever managed that would likely be fried to a crisp before they realized the error of their ways.

His eyes scan the darkened copse of trees they find themselves in, nodding grimly. "Nothing yet," he says, "But anyone in the area might be trained to hide from people like me." Not that hiding ever helped. Starkilled always got his mark.

Except Shaak Ti. Mention that at your own peril.

He keeps his senses alight, however, leaping off the side of the ramp to take point. "Keep that thing at the ready," he says, motioning back toward the blaster in Juno's hands. "Anything goes south, and I'll make the area a shooting gallery."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
"They might be trained, but that doesn't mean they're going to get away with it." Juno's eyes flick to the trees, and then to the path that meanders towards the shore. So far, it seems quiet, but for all its purported stealth, the Rogue Shadow is still a starship. Landings are hardly subtle affairs. "Keep your senses open. You'll be more useful than I will if anything comes popping out of the dark."

She shakes her head, though, relaxing a little as the Inquisitor lands in front of her. "You'll probably carve it up with your lightsaber, actually, but I'll do that," Juno quips, wryly. "That's fine by me. I'll have enough light to pick out targets by."

It doesn't take long to reach the shore. Even Juno has to slow to a halt, staring for a moment in uncharacteristically wide-eyed awe, blaster forgotten as her arm lowers. She simply stares at the ocean long enough and silently enough that Starkiller might wonder if something got to his pilot – before she remembers to breathe, taking a slight step, but only to shift her weight and stare some more.

Objectively, it's a bunch of water. There's nothing particularly special about a bunch of water. Kamino and Aquilaris are planets made up almost entirely of water. But...

"It's beautiful," she finally says, hushed. Moonlight dances off the waves as they break on the shore, and the foam gleams silver over the wet sand. Maybe she's not as paranoid as she lets on. After all, what would be stupid enough to try and get the drop on an Imperial Inquisitor, anyway?

Or his pilot. That would probably be worse. Much worse.

Galen Marek (731) has posed:
The Inquisitor smirks darkly, nodding. "You know me almost too well," he says, a tone of snark in his voice. "I'm focused, don't worry." And he is, sensing the life in everything around them. It may be dark, with only moon and starlight to see by, but to Galen the world is as easy to see as it would be by sun. Perhaps it's another one of those unfair advantages that Juno likes to point out he has.

Either way, it serves him well enough. He's survived where others would be overwhelmed.

He chuckles in a low tone, "Hey, I can't be expected to do all the work all the time, Eclipse. You can hit a couple with the blaster before I get to them all I'm sure." She likely won't be able to see the grin on his face, knowing that she'd have some sort of snarky retort in store. It was how they operated, and it was a good partnership.

As they reach the beach, Galen stares out across the water. He had seen oceans before on his missions for sure, but there was something a bit different about this one. Mostly that he wasn't littering the area with bodies right now and could properly appreciate the majesty of it. Another was that there didn't seem to be any immediate threats, and so he could recognize its majesty.

"It is," he notes, boots stepping across the sand. Even though they allowed him to get through any terrain, they scarcely left prints in the soft material. "It's different being able to see a beach without having to turn the sand red," he adds after a moment, his keen senses still surveying the area.

Whoever would attack them would be in dire straights no matter their target. It would be far worse for them to go after Juno, though. There are so many ways to incapacity, after all. And he was well-versed and practiced in their use.

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
Juno doesn't answer those off-handed comments, merely glancing back over her shoulder with what almost seems like a troubled air. Sometimes she wonders about that part of himself he fights so hard to reject; that darkness that she holds at bay for him. She wonders, sometimes, if maybe her efforts aren't enough to stem the tide... and then he'll do something sweet or shy, clumsy but affectionate or otherwise proving of the good still left in him, and she'll curse her own second-guessing nature.

It's a vicious cycle to live in. Rather than retort, she only shakes her head, mute. That might be indication enough that something's bothering her, or perhaps she's just distracted by the ocean.

She's never seen the ocean before. Any ocean. Corulag didn't count, because she was busy piloting a TIE fighter in practise manoeuvres, and Callos certainly wasn't much to look at, considering it would be toxic sludge a few hours after the point which she'd seen it. That too had been from the cockpit of a TIE bomber; no more than glimpses and impressions of a great blue vastness on the horizon.

This is different. It's... real. It's personal. She isn't separated from it by a shell of durasteel and clear plastoid; isn't screaming over it on fine-tuned ion thrusters.

She's standing in the wet sand of the Pacific, with waves lapping around the treads of her polished boots, and she can smell the salt air as it teases at her hair and her uniform jacket.

It's cool out, but she hardly notices that.

"Yeah." She folds her arms, glancing over her shoulder to the Inquisitor. At first she seems like she's going to say something else, but only studies him for a long moment. Something's bothering her; that much he can feel rippling through the Force, but she doesn't yet speak.

There's no need to ask her. She does so eventually.

"I received orders from Lord Vader today. We're to report to an asteroid field off the Hydian Way tomorrow afternoon. I've already configured the coordinates into the navcomputer. There's a rebel base Lord Vader wants destroyed in that area." Her eyes turn back out to the moonlit waves. "You were to support in the operation, and see to the base interior. I'm to monitor traffic, and report back the numbers and makeup of their fleet. We'll have support from the I.N.S. Retribution."

She grins, a little sourly. "Funny. I actually served on that ship after I graduated from the Imperial Academy. I wonder if that's a coincidence?" Sighing, she shakes her head. "He specifically ordered you to support. I wonder if Lord Vader thinks there's a Jedi aboard the station."

Galen Marek (731) has posed:
As silence falls between the two of them, Galen's senses are lambasted by a strange air from his pilot. He closes his eyes, trying to stretch past it and keep on guard, but it troubles his mind, and soon he senses nothing else. It worries him, though his face remains as mask-like as ever, the serious look of a man on a mission hiding the conflicted war in his mind. He was so steeped in the darkness of his job, and yet it had not consumed him. He would not let it consume him, no matter what. It was a strange dichotomy to live in, steeping himself in blood and turmoil on Imperial command and yet still retaining a certain positiivity through it all.

A spark of Light in a world of Darkness. And as Juno stand on the beach, illuminated by the moon and stars, staring out across the beach, he realizes that it may one day become a fire, an inferno, a tempest of flaming light that would banish any sort of darkness.

Perhaps one day, but that day is not today.

"A mission so soon, and without being relayed to me first?" he asks, puzzled, "That's out of the ordinary. Usually Lord Vader lets me know of missions well before you know what's happening." He doesn't say that to be rude, but it's a fact. When Vader hands down an order, he usually knows. But this... he felt something was off. But perhaps he had just been too busy to contact.

Strange.

When she adds that she had served on the escort ship that would be accompanying them, his face sours for a brief moment. "Yeah. Coincidence," he says, returning his mask look to his face. "If there's a Jedi, then it should be a quick mission. No doubt that is the threat he wants eliminated." Which made it all the more peculiar that Vader hadn't told him.

Not that he's going to concentrate on that now.

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
Juno watches the ocean for a few long moments, letting the sound of the surf shake lose her apprehension and her exhaustion. It's been a very long time since she's seen something to inspire such peace in the turmoil of her life... but something about this particular ocean is soothing, even to her frayed nerves. Some of that anxiety fades, at least.

It almost seems like all of the strain and worry are building to the breaking point, lately; but every time she thinks that, she finds some inner reserve of strength and resilience that she hadn't known existed within her. Sometimes she finds that on her own, and sometimes Galen seems to help her to find that; drawing strength, certainly, from that spark of light in the darkness.

His resilience is inspiring. Heartening, too – she isn't sure she'd have the strength to bear it if someone that meant so much to her crumpled before that overwhelming tide of darkness. And the thought of losing him is almost more than she can endure.

Juno turns her back to him, looking out to sea. The horizon is a thin strip of black, lightening to blue, to a faint ring of hazy cloud around the bright silver moon. The light makes her hair seem almost white, or silver; softens the edge of her black Imperial uniform.

"That's what I thought." She shakes her head, frowning. "Ordinarily you're the one telling me where to go. I found the missive in the Rogue Shadow's computer; I thought it was odd that it should be routed to the ship rather than sent directly to you."

Sighing, she shrugs, holstering the blaster she'd brought with her. "I'll have the ship ready to depart by twelve hundred hours. It should take half an hour to reach the coordinates between the Hydian Way and warpgates." Folding her arms, she shakes her head. "I doubt there's anything here. You would've sensed something, and I saw nothing out of the ordinary on all of the Rogue Shadow's sensors." She makes a vaguely annoyed sound. "I think Lute just wanted to get me out here."

Lute (188) has posed:
Speaking of Lute.

He is, currently, walking down the beach, towards the direction of Juno and Starkiller. He's not really walking towards them, in specific, but just in their general direction. He is holding a leash. On the end of it, an I-Class Destroyer. An Abyssal ship about the size of a dog, shaped like an elongated chunk of metal with teeth.

But, as he starts getting closer, he squints, looking at the pair. In the dark, he doesn't recognize Starkiller. Yes, he met Starkiller before, but do you really think Lute is the type to commit a man to memory? Especially one he only met once, for any length of time, during the middle of a mission? But Juno? Yeah, he can tell who a woman is, even that far away, in the dark. Still, he isn't entirely certain. And he'll have to confirm it.

As such, he approaches, slowly. He knows the locals are scared of his I-Class Destroyer, so he has been careful in his approaches. Imima is a bit frightening, after all. Lute speaks, rather cheerfully and inquisitively, "...Juno, is that you? ...And is this the boyfriend who you said you didn't have and yet you are here with anyways?" As he gets closer, he can certainly tell it is, in fact, Juno.

It's going to be a few seconds after he says this that he suddenly realizes it is, in fact, Starkiller. It finally hits him.

Galen Marek (731) has posed:
It's not long before Galen's senses pick up something moving in. However, it's not a threatening presence, so he shoves it from his mind for now. "I'll be ready," he says to Juno, shrugging, "Maybe this is some sort of test Lord Vader wishes to thrust on me or something. Either way, seems like a pretty open and shut mission if you ask me." He crosses his arms, eyes eventually turning toward where Lute is approaching. At Juno's thought, he chuckles. "I'd imagine that's the case," he says, "Maybe he thought you'd show up in a swimsuit or something." He rolls his eyes. The waves are pleasant enough to watch, but the warning buzzer of his brain is starting to pick up intensity.

As Lute speaks up, Galen's response is smooth, fluid, and practiced. His hand sweeps down, grabbing and igniting his lightsaber in a single motion. It flicks up behind him as he takes his combat stance, despite the fact that he recognized the voice. It could always be PROXY expanding his battle protocols, after all. As he spots the thing that Lute is walking, however, he relaxes a hair. Just a hair, though.

"Hmph," he says, narrowing his eyes at Lute. "Forgotten me already, have you?" he says, "Good to know my hard work in helping you secure those rancor eggs is well appreciated." He shakes his head, keeping the lightsaber lit for the time being. "And with the wrong idea, no less."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
"Maybe." She looks offshore, where the ocean laps around a rock formation in the water; moonlight touches the froth around the rock's base, limning it in silver. It's a pretty, calming sight, and Juno can't help a sigh, though it carries a touch of resignation with it. "I've got a bad feeling about this, but maybe you're right."

At Galen's comment on Lute, she reaches up and pinches the bridge of her nose. "Ugh..."

The pilot's senses aren't nearly as keen as her companion's. Before she has a chance to recognise who's approaching, she spins on her heel, boot digging a divot into the sand. The blaster pistol snaps up to bear with a click, and it doesn't so much as waver, cast in red by the light of Galen's lightsaber. Before she can thumb the safety off, though, she recognises the voice, sighing through her teeth.

"Lute, I almost seared your face off. Don't sneak up on me again. And he's not my boyfriend," she snaps, blue eyes blazing. "I told you that I asked the Inquisitor to check the grounds for you. I've already done so from the ship; the sensors turned up nothing unusual, unless you're afraid of crickets. Or deer."

She folds her arms, and it's only then that she seems to take note of the Torpedo On A Leash. Juno stares for a good five seconds at the thing, somewhat blankly, as though she weren't quite computing what she were looking at.

What.

She might have barked a negative response to Lute, but there's no fooling Galen's senses; or the embarrassed amusement she doesn't allow to show in her face. Lute's on the money, but Juno's not about to give him the satisfaction of knowing.

It could be her life on the line, and Galen's, too.

"Forgivable," she asides, to the Inquisitor. "You're not a woman. He'd remember you if you were an attractive lady wielding a red lightsaber, I think."

Of course, Lute's weirdly perceptive when it suits him, so maybe he suspects the truth after all. He knows, at least, that she's fiercely independent, and fiercely protective of her vulnerabilities. She has to be, to have lasted so long in the Empire. He knows she'd probably vehemently deny any attachment she might have; and he might perceive the slight glance she flicks sidelong at Galen.

With something grumbled under her breath, she holsters her blaster, folding her arms. "I'd ask if you were walking your dog, but that thing..." Looks bizarre. Seems to be a droid. Has unsettling teeth. "...is not a dog."

Lute (188) has posed:
Lute remains quite calm, despite the fact that someone so murderous that people call him Starkiller is brandishing a lightsaber, in a combat stance. The only reason he can remain so calm is because he knows that one false move and the guy might live up to his name and kill one of the rising stars of the Confederate military. IE, Lute. The fact that Juno is scolding him too is not helping, nor is the fact that Juno is right on the money with the reason why he didn't recognize Galen straight off.

He speaks, calmly, though with obvious signs of anxiety that two as observant as Galen and Juno are likely to pick up immediately. "...I apologize for not recognizing you, Starkiller, sir. It is very dark, sir, and the only reason I recognized Juno was because I asked her to come here. Asking her to come here for patrol was in no way just a flimsy excuse to get her some time off either. I apologize if it might seem as such." He says this, despite no sign from either of them that this is a concern. He's just panicking and covering his bases. He pauses, for a moment, before saying, "Also I apologize for sneaking up on you two. I mean no harm and please put the lightsaber away."

And then Juno looks at Imima. OH! She hasn't met her before. Lute smiles, trying to remain casual, as he motions to the I-Class, "This is Imima. She's a member of the Abyssal Fleet. An I-Class Destroyer. I've been raising her, and using her as backup in naval missions. She's been pretty useful."

He takes a few deep breaths. Remain calm. He has been befriending Juno. He does not want the guy who he half-expects to kill her to know that he is befriending her.

"...So. Did you two find anything in the sweep of the area?"

Galen Marek (731) has posed:
Galen narrows his eyes again. He's not unsettled by Imima at all: after the things he has seen and fought, a piece of metal on a leash seemed tame. He keeps his eyes trained on Lute, though, not looking unlike an attack dog ready to strike. "You talk too much and give away your intent," he says, voice placated, almost bored. "It doesn't TAKE a Force user to detect your intent, and I'm not exactly pleased that you're making such... advances... upon my pilot. Last thing I need is to fire her for fraternization and have to bring on a new one." He smirks, but it's a fierce gesture. He's not unused to having to intimidate.

Especially in this case.

He clicks the lightsaber off, placing it back on his belt. "Be glad that I'm not in full alert. Had I been, you likely would've been a footnote in a report as 'collateral damage'." Crossing his arms, he shakes his head. "Nothing, until you showed up. Area's clean, unless someone is just that well-trained to hide from me. Either way, if they were to show themselves now it would be a grave error on their part." He glances down at Imima, smirking slightly. "Nice pet," he says, "Fits right in with the rancor and that giant crab, doesn't she?"

The Sith Inquisitor remains on his guard, despite the fact that, in most situations, the threat would have likely revealed themselves at the first sign of relaxation.

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
There's something intrinsically pathetic about watching Lute scrabble for composure. Although her senses are mundane, she can still see that the man is anxious and trying to avoid blundering into any pitfalls, adopting a suddenly deferential air towards the Sith assassin.

Juno doesn't so much as crack a smile. Her training as an Imperial officer has served her well over the years. Not so much as a muscle twitches out of place... but Galen might sense the sudden stab of mirth from her. She wants to laugh, but she knows better than to spoil a good humourous situation by giving it away.

"'She?'" Juno raises a pale brow, but she otherwise doesn't comment. She's not very fond of mechanical beings, considering the only droids she's worked with thus far she hasn't trusted not to slip their programming and try to kill her. PROXY is very polite and helpful and also incidentally has the programming of a psychopath. HK-47 is... well, HK-47. "What can she do?"

When Lute seems to put an extra effort into staying calm, she remains outwardly bland, but there's that damned mirth again. There's something hilarious about his bleeding distrust and fear of Galen. Maybe he's taking the assassin's codename to heart, she reasons.

"Nothing." Juno shakes her head. "Sensors aboard the Rogue Shadow turned up nothing out of the ordinary. I've checked all bands; both detailed and broad-range, and I haven't found any life signs beyond local wildlife or residents, and I've found no materials or topography out of line from what I might expect in a place like this."

When Galen gives his smirk and his threat to Lute, she works her jaw; not because she's insulted, but because she's trying to bite down on her laughter.

Oh, she wants to laugh. She so wants to laugh.

Instead, she keeps a bland expression, blinking a few times to clear away the last vestiges of mirth. He just looks so pathetic, bowing and scraping, and she wants so badly to reassure him that Galen isn't going to kill him. Probably. The rational part of her mind is gibbering about letting down her guard again, though; only exhaustion had driven her to it before, and the impaired judgement that came with not nearly enough sleep to maintain oneself.

"I'm his eight pilot," she finally amends, just so Lute doesn't take things too badly. "It takes time and effort to adjust to a new pilot, and the Rogue Shadow is hardly a standard ship; it does require a certain acclimation to its handling and controls. I can understand not wanting to repeat the process eight times." She smiles, a little, as though to indicate nothing horrible is really going to happen to Lute. "Despite Inquisitor Starkiller's rough edges, he's not going to hurt a Confederate Ally. Is he?" she adds, glancing to him with that half-smile still in place.

Lute (188) has posed:
Something catches Lute's attention. Something that makes him frown a bit. While he actually does understand the issues with fraternization, what draws his attention more is the fact that she'll be fired for it. He has talked to Juno in the past about the pilots dieing. Juno is trying to be reassuring, but it's not doing much to help Lute's attitude about Starkiller.

He speaks, his tone cold, "...Well. Eight pilots is a lot. And it'd be a shame to lose one as skilled as hers. I've heard lots about the Empire. This... isn't really a job where you can be fired, and then find future employment later, is it?" He casually looks out at the ocean. Frowning. He doesn't want to sound too threatening. But he has to be a little bit so. "Well... If for some reason the Empire decides they don't need her anymore, I'd be more than willing to hire her. She's not the type to just throw away, after all. I'd be... incredibly displeased to hear if she had to retire from flying more permenantly."

Lute points out to sea. Well. Juno did ask what Imima can do. Imima seems to recognize this signal as well. The I-Class Destroyer opens her mouth, a cannon errupting from it. It fires a shot forward. At sea, there is a rock jutting out of the ocean. Or, more accurately, there was. The night sky lights up as it explodes into rubble, scattering stone and parts of birds that were sleeping all over the place.

"I am glad the place is clean. Both of you are welcome to stay until such a time that you must leave. If there is some sort of emergency. Well. Imima here will be sure to help us. And I've got Mr. Crabs out at sea, as well. ...Yes, the two of them, and the Rancors, do fit in quite well together. I've got quite a powerful force together."

Lute is beginning to wonder if he might be laying on the slightly threatening aura a bit to thickly. But he pauses, smiling at the two of them again.

"At the very least, may I at least retain Juno as a friend? I have no romantic aspirations for her, if you are worried."

Galen Marek (731) has posed:
The Inquisitor maintains his evil smirk, amused to no end by Lute's speech patterns and explanations. He can sense the same in Juno, though she maintains her professional air. "You catch on quick. No, she would likely not be able to find future employment. Corpses rarely do." He knows that she knows he would defend her against any actual execution, but Lute doesn't know that. Probably. "So, despite that show of goodwill, it would be a vain effort." He widens that smirk, giving him a much darker appearence. "You and I both, Lute. I detest having to train new pilots."

If Lute was looking to intimidate Starkiller, he wasn't succeeding, even after Imima's power display. "Impressive," he says, as a spark of lightning dances across his fingers. "If it weren't clean, it would only take a moment to fix that. Well, more actually, to restore the damage." He closes his hand, allowing the spark to die. "Of course I'm not going to hurt him, Eclipse. I'm not some sort of madman."

He lets the smirk drop ever so slightly. "Hey, it's her life. She can have all the friends she wants as long as it doesn't take away from her duties. And, well, Eclipse here is a professional. I don't really need to worry about THAT happening." He relaxes his shoulders a bit, running a hand across his head. "You really need to stop talking so much. People might get the wrong impression."

An errant bolt of lightning strikes the ground nearby, despite the sky being clear. A twisted form of glass smokes on the sand in the bolt's wake. So strange.

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
The pilot shifts somewhat uncomfortably, and she feels ice coiling in her gut. While it's admirable that Lute would stand up for her like that, the fact of the matter is that if she didn't trust Galen completely, Lute's words alone could have been damning. If he's so willing to talk to a complete stranger like this, a complete stranger who far outranks Juno herself, what would he say to the Imperial brass?

Juno swallows, throat dry, and Galen might sense her sudden apprehension as her thoughts scatter like a school of panicked fish. It takes her a moment or two to regain her composure, reaching up to adjust her uniform cap into place. Once she calms, she studies Lute for a moment, speculative.

His threatening and posturing is touching, because she knows it's done for her sake, but it's also dangerous. He's stupid enough to think that he can stand up to the Imperial war machine, an entity that spans an entire galaxy, but that's not what worries her; what worries her is that he thinks that his bluster alone won't spare her from an ugly fate if he says something like this to the wrong people. She knows Galen is anything but a threat – but Lute is reckless enough to go talking to anybody who might listen, as far as she can tell; Lute doesn't know Galen, and yet he's willing to make these half-cocked threats.

"Mind your tongue and tone, Lute," she says, very softly. There's something cold and steely in her voice; something he might recognise as a hint of command, and something Galen might recognise as raw fear. Had she made a mistake in confiding to the Pokémon researcher? She's beginning to think she might have. "Inquisitor Starkiller is no stormtrooper. There are only a handful of Inquisitors, and their skills are all highly valued within the Empire. He's not going to simply dispose of me; I've flown with him for several years, now, and I've stuck to the job longer than any of his other pilots."

There's a chance that Lute might connect the dots with that information in mind, but he might also miss the subtle clues. She's not sure where that line might fall, and she doesn't have the opportunity to chase down those thoughts any more than that.

Suddenly, a rock explodes. She flinches back, reflexively throwing an arm over her face to shield her eyes; something she's been sensitive about since that shinki infiltration. Slowly lowering her arm, she blinks, and then stares at the hole in the oceanside skyline.

"Impressive," she states, blinking and looking down at the little torpedo mutt. "Very impressive. I wasn't expecting that..."

Lightning. Juno flinches for the second time in the evening, and Galen might feel through the Force how dangerously close to fraying her nerves are. It was exhausting, she had confided to him once, aboard the ship, to work for the Empire and still sleep at night; to hide herself away from her Imperial allies, and to hide their own relationship from the likes of their Imperial superiors – especially Vader, who could sense the Force as well as Galen, if not better. All that exhaustion adds up.

"Enough," she snaps, to both of them. Maybe she can shake them out of their posturing. "Play nicely, boys, or I'm going to take the Inquisitor back to the Empirical. We're all capable of speaking like civil adults, here, and it's too pleasant an evening to waste squabbling like children. Lute, I appreciate the thought, but really, I'm capable of taking care of myself, and you talk too much. Inquisitor, remember that you're still representing the Empire, even off-duty." It's not the best thing to hit Galen with to get him to behave, but she can't really threaten him with anything personal without tipping her hand. Folding her arms, she resolutely turns to look out to sea, frowning at the hole where that rock was. "Good grief..."

Lute (188) has posed:
Galen confirms what Lute already knew: Being fired is death. And, what is more, Starkiller is threatening Lute back. Lute doesn't realize that his own urges to protect Juno could get her hurt, either. He is used to an atomsphere where he, and he alone, would be blamed. As the lightning strikes, Lute is actually beginning to clench his fists a bit. It's obvious. He's planning to punch Galen.

Lute does sometimes have trouble reading through the lines. But, one thing does hit him. A couple of specific words. 'You talk too much.' From that, he has enough of a guess. Speak too much, and her life might be on the line.

His fist unclenches. He looks at the ocean. Juno is his friend, even though he has only met her a few times. He barely knows her. And yet, Lute is impulsive, and treasures his friends. The fact that he considers her a friend is enough to cause him to fight the whole Empire, by himself, if he felt he had to.

But for now, he will defer to Juno's logic.

"...I'll calm down. I apologize for losing my cool. I'm in a poor mood at the moment, and looking to take it out on someone, is all. I heard some friends of mine were attacked earlier today, protecting one of the Abyssal Fleet bases." He hopes that will work as enough of an excuse to keep Juno out of trouble.

Galen Marek (731) has posed:
The ruse worked to a T, if Lute's response is anything to go by. Galen's connection to the Force has him backing off his position even before Juno speaks up. His muscles relax a bit more, smirk softening into something more normal rather than intimidating. "My apologies, Eclipse," he says, "Perhaps even I am human at times." He smiles in earnest, trying to convey his understanding without saying anything to Juno. He glances at Lute's hands, watching them clench in anger and unclench in what he guesses is understanding. "Sorry you're in a poor mood, though," he offers, "It's a shame." He's not much of an empath, granted, but he can understand the sentiment a little bit.

He uncrosses his arms, letting them fall to his sides. It's at times like this he hates the fact he has to keep the connection between him and Juno secret, that he can't just be open about everything. But the threat of death is real in both their cases, and even if Lute would fight the Empire alone for Juno's sake...

Galen would be required to fight until his last breath.

He smirks, though, looking around. "Fairly nice place," he adds as an afterthought.

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
Thankfully, the hostilities between Inquisitor and Confederate seem to have died down. The anxiety and distress coiled in her gut die down a little, and Juno finds herself breathing normally again. Without even looking she can sense the tension drain away from Galen, and some of it, with more conscious effort, from Lute.

She finds herself watching Lute for a moment, as though deep in thought over something, gaze just a little unfocused.

Part of her wants so badly to let him into their confidance, to tell him what it is that he's really blundered into. Rather than being the one to execute his pilot, Galen Marek is the one man who would protect her life within the Empire; and he's the only one in the whole of her galaxy she's trusted her heart to. She trusts him absolutely, without a second thought.

Yet caution and fear have her making him out to be as much of a threat as Darth Vader, albeit on a much lesser scale. What irony, that they would both strive to free themselves from Vader's long shadow.

She sighs, shaking her head vigourously, as though she were reaching an internal decision. Her eyes turn out to the ocean, seeking calm, before she tilts her head to regard Lute again.

"It's alright, this time. I appreciate your concern." Juno manages a wan smile, shifting her weight, although the gesture brings her half a step closer to Galen. Maybe Lute might pick up on the fact that she's comfortable around the Inquisitor; maybe not – but she never seems quite comfortable around people, otherwise. "I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling so well this evening, and I'm sorry about your friends."

"It is a nice place. I've... well," she adds, almost embarrassed, "I've never seen the ocean before. I mean – I've seen oceans. I've flown over them in TIEs. Even a mission or two piloting the Rogue Shadow, for Inquisitor Starkiller. But I've never been on a shore before."

Lute (188) has posed:
Despite how dense he is, Lute does notice that Juno takes a step closer to Galen. This actually surprises him. While he does not in fact assume it means dating, he is guessing that it is a sign of trust. If Juno stepped away from Galen, towards him? That'd be a definite sign of discomfort fro her. But instead, she is... comfortable with him? At the least, he's beginning to wonder if he might be as skilled an actor as Juno is. But, he doubts it. And this whole experience is leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He hates the fact that he has to consider options for if Juno is killed. Dragon Balls? ...That'd be a year out, and might piss off his fellow Feds.

He looks down at his feet, and he kicks the sand a bit. Imima stays close to him. She noticed the anger in Lute, but didn't act due to a lack of orders to. Lute leans down, petting the I-class on the top of her head. Still frowning a bit. Finally,he turns to Juno and Galen.

"I... appreciate your concern. But. If I am in such a foul mood, I best leave you two be. I am glad that you both have managed to scout the area out, and shown it safe. Should you two wish, you can rest at one of the Beach Houses. Both have plenty of food as well. ...But. I better get going."

He turns, and starts walking. He isn't sure if he should give a proper goodbye. He's beginning to realize he might have put Juno's life in danger. And that worries him.

Galen Marek (731) has posed:
As Juno steps a little closer to him, Galen keeps his head level. Even if the pilot trusts him, Galen is suspicious of Lute. He sees the researcher as a threat, and not for the reason people might think. He's afraid that if Lute got too close, he could betray them to the Empire or the Confederacy, and try to spin it in a way to make Juno look innocent just to get Galen out of the picture. He keeps all of this under th surface, though. He had Juno to think about, and that was more than enough to keep him busy.

"Yeah. Always nice to know people are watching Eclipse's back," he says, "Eighth time has always been the charm in her case, and I'm not willing to train eight more to try and find another one." No one could replace Juno. They both knew that. "I hope your friends end up being alright," he adds.

As Lute turns away, he has a conflicted feeling. It's clear that the researcher is concerned for her, but at the same time they've had to keep this hidden. That isn't going to change in his mind until it has to, and when it has to, the Empire would rue the day.

"Thanks for the generousity," he says, inclining his head. "I am a bit hungry."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
Juno lowers her head as though to look down at the surf. It doesn't quite threaten to wet her boots, but it does saturate the sand underfoot. Her eyes flick between the two for a long moment, mulling over thoughts she doesn't share with either of them.

Someday, she promises herself, when she's free to, she's going to talk to Lute and clear this mess up for him. It hurts that she has to obfuscate things this badly, to the point where he's genuinely angry for her well being. It's touching that he would – but it hurts that she has to be so unfair to him for the moment.

Her head tilts just slightly when Galen mentions training another eight pilots to find another gem in the rough. Her face gives nothing away, so it's hard to say what she means by that subtle look.

"If that's what you want to do." Juno looks up as Lute excuses himself, but the arch of her brows suggests a slightly worried expression. "I'm sorry."

For what, precisely, she doesn't say. Or, perhaps she can't say.

Sighing as Lute turns his back on them, she shakes her head and reaches up to rub at the bridge of her nose once he's out of sight. It's a gesture of weariness and frustration, both in equal measure. Juno Eclipse is an honest person, and it galls her to have to mislead people like this, especially when they only have her own well being at heart.

"Go ahead," she murmurs, quietly, tilting her head to indicate the beach house and its free food. "Bring me back anything you think looks good, but I think I'm going to back to the ship. I'm tired." Again, as before, the word seems to indicate so much more than physical weariness. With a look up and down the strand, ensuring that no one's watching, she reaches out to touch Galen's hand; a brief but affectionate brush of her fingers. With a brief look and a wan smile to the Inquisitor, she'll turn to head back to the ship, so long as he doesn't stop her.