Welcome!

[Marshall Korr]

Title: Kiss the Sky
Chapter: 6
Cast: Marshall Korr and Kit Calway
Plot: Marshall and Kit take off only to find their ship is not in the spirit for the journey.
Mood: Humorous

With the awkward goodbye behind them, Marshall and Kit set off on their mission to retrieve the captured and presumed harmed Percival Falconius. Really the only dog that Kit had in the fight was his own interference in Marshall’s personal life. Marshall however had a few dogs to fight with. He had a best friend to save, an ex-fiance with an axe to grind and her would be lover in the pilot’s seat.

A healthy dose of paranoia lingered in the back of his mind about Kit Calway. These Calways weren’t what they seemed, he imagined. Could it be that there was some other familial dynasty out there willing to kill to remain on top? The Korr family name did not come without its pound of flesh. The old names of family enemies came wafting back into Marshall’s mind as he sat in the back twirling his blaster methodically around on his finger. It wasn’t dangerous, at least not to him.

A bit of turbulence shook him from his stupor, but not from the action of twirling the gun. “Hey!” He grumbled. “Keep it straight up there.” He growled nearly picking up the roll of tape again. “Eyes on the skies, Casanova.” He spat bitterly.

[Kit Calway]

Up in the cockpit, Kit was piloting the ship to the best of his ability. When they first took off, things had been relatively smooth. Now that they were out of the atmosphere, it was starting to jerk and twist without his hands even on the stick. He furrowed his brow and looked over the dashboard. He expected the problem to be something silly akin to the emergency break being left on, but everything seemed to be in control. That was everything with the exception of a little yellow light in the shape of an oil can.

"Hey, Marshall," he yelled back. He wanted to yell 'hey, genius', but he was feeling like this situation wasn't about to be comical enough to allow banter. "You did oil this bird up, right?"

As he waited for an answer, another little light popped on, this time signifying the jamming of the landing gear. There wasn't much they could have done to prevent that from happening.

"Frakking Endor junk piles..." he muttered to himself as he thought about his options. When they first found the stock pile of ships, it had been a dream come true. Now that they actually started using them- most of which turned out to be disposable after one go- no one was too keen on what they had nicknamed the Aluminum Fleet.

[Marshall Korr]

Marshall glowered to the front, "It's not my job to make sure the ships fly!" When the ship's engines seized and the ship shuddered to a halt he was nearly hurled from his seat. Still that blaster didn't leave his hands. Getting to his feet he shoved his way up front through the swaying boxes and supplies. "What did you do?"

~*~

A short distance away The Connie was hurtling at lightspeed toward Endor. They had to drop this shipment, pick up their due and then get on their way to Hapes. The forest flees on Endor would be better off for their purchase, as would the technically newly wed couple that was Victor and Cassy Magnus.

Victor guided the ship along as he had any other day. It was as if the motions he made were simply secondary actions. Unconsciously he plucked at a few buttons but was jarred from the movement by a beeping on his dash. He looked down to notice the radar was in motion. There was a blip on it.

"Broke down freighter..." He murmured ready to simply fly by it. They were so close to endor, it didn't even register with him what they now saw.

[Kit Calway]

"I didn't do anything!" Kit insisted as he pulled on knobs and push buttons in a seemingly random fashion. "This ship is just a piece of scrap metal!"

As if in reply, the ship lurched forward again, and let forth a sound not unlike a cat being strangled. With wide eyes, Kit waited for another light to go up on the dash. Sure enough, one indicating that the engine was overheating began to blink. It was then that something else started blinking, and just as Kit was about to say his goodbyes, he realized it was the radar.

"There's a ship going towards Endor," Kit stated, and he began the only routine that would save them. "I'm going to hail them."

[Cassandra Magnus]

"Bloody hell, why are they hailing us?" Cassandra asked as she heard the familiar beeping that signified an incoming call. Of course she knew why they were hailing them, the ship was abandoned. That being said, it wasn't really any of Cassy's concern.

Going back to Endor was hardly on her list of interests, but they had to drop off the cargo. After this, Victor had promised a vacation, and she needed that more than anything in the galaxy. The last few weeks had been trying on her, and she was being haunted by ghosts from the past. This stranded ship had no right to muck up her plans. Without asking, she simply clicked the 'receive' button on the dash.

"Yes, what is it?" she barked into the comm.

[Marshall Korr]

Marshall was making his way toward the front when he heard a shrill screech come through the com. The very sound sent a vibration through his ears straight to his brain. "Cassy." He murmured as he pulled the com away from Kit.

"Hey." Marshall hissed into the com. "Wasn't actually expecting you to come back, but since you're here, why don't you pick us up?" He asked rather straight forwardly.

On the Connie Victor turned his head toward Cassy a look of venom in his eyes. He couldn't mistake that voice. THe ship was Endor in origin, the scratch of the voice only confirmed that Marshall Korr was on board. The other voice didn't much matter.

"Go to hell." Victor growled as the Connie neared that ship, as if hoping to skip off of it.

Marshall could see the Connie coming straight toward them. "Uhm...you sure you wanna do that Red?" Marshall asked. "We did have a deal. You can't call it closed if you leave me out here."

"No actually I'm good with it." Victor said with a malicious smile.

"YOU WON'T GET PAID!" Marshall came back with rather quickly, admitting to Calway he was getting weapons from an outside source.

[Cassandra Magnus]

It just figured that the one voice to come out of the tin can was the one she wanted to hear least of all. Cassandra winced at Victor's response, though she knew it was warranted. Victor had no love for Marshall, unsurprisingly. Cassy, however, felt oddly conflicted by the whole thing. Most of her, in fact nearly all of her, would be perfectly fine leaving Marshall to fade into obscurity as they continued their route to Endor. That part became significantly larger when Marshall reminded them that without him, they did not get paid. Jira had not yet been put up to scratch on where the guns had been coming from, and Cassy had no desire to be there when the General found out. For now, the required Marshall to get things done.

"He's right," Cassandra reminded her husband reluctantly, "He's been sneaking around behind Jira's back. If we show up with a delivery of this nature, she's either going to blow her top, or assume its a donation."

[Victor Magnus]

"No." Victor said plainly. "Absolutely not." Victor was dead set on NOT picking up the jackass Rebel Admiral who was now stranded in the middle of space. "They don't get the guns if they ain't got the money. We can start our vacation early." He reasoned, "To hell with him." For the first time in their relationship Victor took a stand against his wife.

On the rusty bucket of bolts that the pilot and the admiral were in, the Admiral was simply waiting for the impending argument. He recalled the moments that Cassy and Victor had been on Endor prior and knew that this would simply be another rung in their relationship that he had to hurdle.

"Who's fault is it that he's been sneaking around behind Presdon's back...?" Victor asked point blank. "I'd rather just tell her myself and get it overwith." He really REALLY didn't want let that creep on his ship. There weren't many things that were his. He had Cassy and he had this ship. Being a man of little territory, he was protective of what he had. "No."

Marshall decided it'd be best to sweeten the pot a bit, even if it meant that he stuck himself out there a little bit, because going back, meant starting over and losing more time. "I have to save Falconius." He mentioned off-handedly. Cassy knew Falconius. Percival had been a meathead of a friend to Marshall, but he was always respectful and proper to Cassy. She'd have no reason to really hate him, other than the fact that Marshall often blew her off to be with him doing some prank or simply drinking the time away. Maybe Falconius wasn't so proper after all.

"I'm asking nicely, Cass. Please." It was nearly sincere. He knew when to lay it on.

Victor remained firm, saying nothing, leaving the decision to her.

[Cassandra Magnus]

It would have been quite a bit of denial on her part not to catch her husband's clear discomfort with the situation. It became clear to her that whatever loose ends she had left untied with Marshall, they weren't as valuable as the sturdy knot she had tied with Victor. Her ex-husband's presence on the ship, for however long, would make him inconsolable, and she for once had to listen to his needs. About to settle the deal by telling off her ex once and for all, the next thing to come over the line distracted her.

Marshall was going after Falconius.

The last time she had seen Marshall, which was actually the first time in many years, he had told her Falconius was missing. While she herself had never been the bosom friends that the two men were, she respected Falconius as a person, and he was one of the few she had never felt the need to throttle. Where her husband found disarray, he found reason. There were many times Cassandra thought that the only reason her first marriage lasted as long as it did was because Falconius had a way of defusing her husband's nerves, and many times he would convince Marshall to return to her. She could only imagine how torn up this had made Marshall over the last weeks.

There was a long silence as she pondered her feelings on the subject. She knew Victor would not be happy, but surely he would be able to understand.

"Victor..." she began slowly, "We have to let them board."

For once, she thought about tact. She though about how to best unfold this information so as to not make Victor think she had any interest in her ex.

"Falconius was a dear friend to me and to Marshall when we were married," she explained, "I don't want Marshall on this ship any more than you do... But I would not be able to sleep at night knowing Percival Falconius is out there being tortured by the Human League. Tortured like they tortured me."

She was opening herself, ever so slightly, and hoping he would use this information for good.

"I promise, you won't even see Marshall. We'll keep him somewhere far away. This ship is big enough."

[Victor Magnus]

Victor's eyes fell away from hers. As soon as the moment of consideration had passed she relented to bringing Marshall on board, Victor's fist slammed the button on the dash that would open the bay doors on the ship. The Connie, thank God, was a rather large ship. All he had to do was stay on the other side of it. Instantly the Endor, Tin Can was swallowed by the craft piloted by the Twi'lek and the lovely Mrs. M. The idea that Falconius was being tortured did nothing for Victor. Who helped them when they were being tortured, when Cassy was being tortured? No one. They had to get away on their own. No. Falconius did nothing for Victor.

But.

Falconius did something for Cassy. For whatever reason she felt like she owed him. This did something for Victor. Getting up from his seat he adjusted the doors so that they would close once the tin can was in position. “They'll be docked in a couple of minutes.” He blinked away the tension on his face and simply offered her a rather stiff but rather relaxed expression. It was only for her. Marshall would get nothing from him. Marshall would get the very least from him. “I'm not going to kill him...” Victor said forcing himself to be 'okay' with this. “Well,” he corrected, “I can't promise anything.”

A confirmation buzz sounded when the ship was docked completely.

Marshall said to Kit, “See. It's awesome being me.” Gathering his things he hit the button that would open the door to the ship, not surprised in the least when it didn't open. Merely a deadpanned expression resided on his long face. “I hate this ship.” He grumbled as he hit the door once, hearing the hiss of the hydraulics release only halfway. He pounded it one more time and saw the door open just a few more inches. Not waiting for more he squeezed through the partially open door and out into the holding bay of the Connie. Yelling in to Kit he teased, “Hey, you can crawl out from under the dash now, I've saved us.”