Captain Candy's Starlog, Entry 6

Character Art work by Ana Karenina García Lamas

Chronicles of The Desperate Measures

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This is my record keeping with embellishments of a Star Wars Role Playing Game we played in the year 2020. 

Cast of Characters

Vidar Starhawk - Jedi General. Human.
Jaris Marr - Mercenary. Mechanic. Miraluka.
Candy - Pilot. Gunslinger. Duros.
Mandragore - Hired Gun. Mandalorian. 
Hell Shepard - Demo Expert. Clone Trooper. 
Jess - Force Wielder. Night Sister. 
​Snidely - ID9 seeker droid.

The Story Behind the Game

By this session, we'd gotten to know each other better and were having a great time. We were playing it up in the discord chat, and as all the players were treating me like a human being instead of the experience I had when I was 16 (which was much like being pointed/stared at like TikTokers losing their minds about relationships). Charisma must have been their dump stat. 

Things were going great in this game, and I wanted to give back to the GM who was guiding us effortlessly in his campaign. Thus I made artwork. More art will come. 

​Back to the game...

Some days later after the Post Florn Mission

Jaris heads into the cockpit searching for Candy, knocking on the open door as he peeks his head through the doorway. "Hey Candy you in here?"

Candy turns to the door. "Yeah?"

Jaris reaches behind his back and pulls out a blaster pistol the likes of which Candy would never have seen before, clearly a custom piece with twin barrels stacked on top of one another. "A gift, I created this out of the battle droid arm I took."

"Ohhh!" Candy's red eyes are locked on the blaster. "For me?"

Jaris nods his head. "Indeed, I noticed you use heavy pistols and I know their energy usage can be a problem, this should dish out just as much punishment but with less of a chance to drain the energy cell. Should make those precision shots of yours even easier too."

"Thank you." Candy takes the offered gun, examines it then tests the weight, away from Jaris and the ships instruments. "This will do nicely."

"I hope so, it will look bad on me if it doesn't. Come visit me if you'd like me to modify it more to your specifications, want to match your other blasters as best I can."

"I'll let you know. This is very thoughtful." Candy nods, then smirks. "See, you already know how to impress a girl."

​She can hear Jaris groan before he turns and starts to head back towards the engine room. "Yea yea, I'm a real charmer."

Vidars wanders out of his room in the middle of the night. Eyes clouded in a vision as if he’s seeing something far off in the distance. His footfalls are quiet but purposeful.

Even the pilot sleeping in her pilot's seat doesn't notice Vidar. {I missed my perception roll}

But one crew member notices. Vidar feels a weight in the force as if a pair of eyes has set upon him.

"Can't sleep?" Jaris asks from a doorway. His grease stained clothes smell of the engine room. Jess looks out from behind Jaris, her hair mated to her forehead with sweat and a look of fear and guilt on her face.

Vidar doesn’t respond. He follows another pull. “I am one with the force. The force is with me.”

Jaris tilts his head. "Well you seem busy, have fun with whatever you're up to voodoo man." Jaris bids Jess good night and heads back to his engine room, stepping past Vidar but pauses at the end of the hall.

Vidar looks into Jess. Into her soul.

Covered in sweat and wearing less clothing then normal; a tank and short shorts, she blushes and looks a little afraid but gains herself, taking a flirtatious and teasing stance. "What are you looking at Jedi? Did you go blind all alone?"

“You are toying with something that will cost you your self. Some knowledge costs you who you are.”

She stares now in full confidant airs. "I do not toy with the man... well maybe a little. And trust me I know more then he does."

“I’m not referring to Jaris. I am referring to the Holocron you nearly lost yourself to.”

She stares him down and says mater of factly. "I am not in possession of a holocron, and even if I were I would not loose myself to it..." her tone changes to contempt. "Jedi."

Jess straightens to her full height and with the command of a four star general says, "I am Nightsister Jessazeria Vendesolin, Shaman in Training to be the next Mother. I bow before no force user but the True Force itself."

“Such arrogance gives the darkside a useful way to control you. The holocron is dangerous to your free will.”

"And your arrogance in your view always being right gives it a way to control you!"

“I have seen far too many tempted by what the dark offers of power, to want to see the destruction it brings to friendships and lives.”

"Either kiss or give it a rest both of you.” Jaris says from the end of the hall, watching the proceedings.

“Wake the captain up and none of us will hear the end of it. She says she does not have it, I believe her."

“Someone opened it. Someone nearly lost themselves to it. Who else would or could have done so?”

Jess smirks. "Holocrons tend to affect the weak minded first... sooo…"

"She has a point, are you truly so certain that you are right about that, that you can't entertain the possibility things aren't as you perceive?" He hurriedly amends, “Oh, not the weak minded part, I meant the arrogance bit." Shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head.

"I may have said things I didn’t mean just to hurt you.” Jess back-peddles. “I am defensive like that."

“You were afraid of something.” Vidar focuses on Jess for the first time, seeing the person and not her actions. “I felt it in you. What scared you?”

At that even Jaris looks on more intently, apparently curious to know this as well.

She looks at Jaris then back at Vidar and motions to herself. "Jedi are judgmental and may jump to conclusions... "

“You think I care who others sleep with? I think you are being judgemental yourself.”

Jaris tilts his head to the side as he looks on, the Miraluka equivalent of raising an eyebrow.

"I have yet to see a Jedi prove me wrong," she sighs. "Jaris has been nothing but kind to me since we met. He at least does not judge."

From down the hall, opposite of Jaris, Candy says, "Oiy, General, be kind. She's being patient with you."

Jess turns her head shocked, then smiles softly with a small chuckle under her breath.

"It's no business of anyone's who sleeps with who.” Candy crosses her arms. “Stick to the point."

Jess turns back to Vidar. "May I retire now, or do you have more... Master Jedi?"

“And yet you keep judging yourself. What do you expect to happen when you decide to put someone in a box whether they belong in said box or not? If you don’t want to be judged, don’t judge others. You have been judging me since we met. Judging someone harshly tends to be reciprocated.”

"I’ll keep that in mind." She nods at Vidar and turns back into her cabin and closes the door.

Jaris slips into the engine room for a moment, returning to lean against the wall that separates the engine room from the rest of the ship. "Well, did that go like you imagined Vidar? Or did you have other questions? You jumped to a couple conclusions there about her and I."

“Someone opened the holocron.” Vidar turns to Jaris. “We need to find it. And, I don’t care who you sleep with she presented that all on her own. What I do know is the holocron opened. Someone has it. And that is bad.”

Candy snorts. "You think the red glowy payday opened? How do you know?" Candy stands and comes down the hall.

Vidar turns to Candy. “I felt it happen.”

"Then feel where it is."

“It… it’s somewhere over there.” He points to the back of the ship.

If Jaris could glare he would be doing so then, it was clear from the look on his face to his emotions in the force that he was noy pleased with what had just gone down. "Yes Vidar, feel where it is." He said as he reached into his bag and withdrew the red shiny payday Candy had mentioned, the holocron.

"Ohhh! You have it."

Jaris nods.

"Well, better in your hands then." Candy raises a hand to cover her yawn.

"I thought so, sorry for lying to you Candy but I didn't want it messing with you."

Candy shrugged. "The general seems to be worried about it, but you seem levelheaded."

Vidar crossed his arms. “So what you are saying is you could have avoided all this trouble if you had been open about having it. I don’t necessarily want it. but I want to know where it is, and it should be locked up. It is dangerous.”

"People lie, General.” Candy waves a casual hand. “They don't necessarily want the argument or the judgment that comes with what they feel they need to do."

"General I don't know you. What I know of jedi come from stories mostly and the few I've seen from a distance back home when they visited the temple there. When you barged in accusing Jess, well I thought it would give me insight into you as a person, not as a jedi."

“I didn’t barge in. She came out here and was judgmental and fearful even though I have never done anything to her. And behaving in a suspicious manner.”

Jaris puts the holocron into a box with a secure latch which he locks, then slips it back into his bag. "I feel I've learned something. Anyways, I have it and intend to keep it safe. If you want eyes on it this box will be in engineering."

Candy grimaces. "Not sure I want this thing on my ship for long if ya'll can't behave around it."

But Vidar continues his conversation. “Of course I questioned that.”

"I can still find a buyer." Candy chuckles.

Jaris too ignores the Captain, continuing the conversation with Vidar. "I seem to recall you staring her down and accusing her of everything short of bloody murder. And I agree Candy, the sooner we get to the jedi temple and hand this off, the better. Maybe if we're lucky we will get a finder's fee." He smirks at that and makes the sound of credits clicking together.

"General, Jaris, enough now. You're going to beat this to death. It goes to the temple. I'm getting us there early. We'll all be fine. For stars sake let me sleep. Candy eyes Vidar and Jaris "Goodnight."

"What did I say? A Captain without her sleep is a dangerous thing indeed. Sleep well Captain."

Candy waves to Jaris as she goes back to the ships helm.

Vidar turns away and goes back to his room.

Jaris follows Vidar with his force vision until he shuts himself into his bunk. "Well, that was rude of him." He takes one more look at the closed up holocron then returns to his little corner of the engine room, placing the box in his storage chest.

After rest, studying star charts and learning more about jedi from reaper, Candy goes to find Vidar Starhawk and find him writing on a board in the Galley. When he finishes writing he turns to her and asks, “Do you know where Hell Shepherd is?”

Candy looks at the board. It’s clearly a memorial board of the fallen. "Ah, I had wondered what you might do for the lost soldier."

“I think Hell Shepherd should put up his soldiers name. I didn’t get a chance to know them as he did.”

"How long have they been with you?"

“This was my first mission with them...”

"Oh. Then, let's learn about him through their eyes."

“That was my thinking.”

Candy nods in approval and they go in search for Hell Shepard. As they walk, Candy asked, "Was Master Crix your teacher?"

“Yes. He died when we encountered a fallen Jedi leading a separatist attack.”

"I am sorry to hear that. What was Master Crix like?"

“Wise, Patient, Compassionate. Expected your best. Followed the will of the force.”

"Sounds like big shoes to fill."

“Add on being made a general when you were never really taught how to lead troops. But are expected to. Too much blood shed. And some of the other Jedi treat the clones like droids and then fall to the darkside... I have seen enough to tell me the darkside is not a toy. And while I think some jedi are too dogmatic I don’t think one should be casual with the darkside.”

"Seems to me that the lightside has its own pitfalls. As you pointed out."

“It does. I think largely in dogmatisms. Inflexibility. And likely a bit of arrogance.”

​"Then let's not happen to you, yes? We'll pay our respects to the fallen and honor their memory."

Mandragore picks the bunk bordering the cockpit and the exterior of the ship. He thinks it is likely to be the quietest. He then gets a plasma cutter and burns a permanent, "Do Not Disturb" sign into the door, deciding against adding "Violators might be shot" just below it. He then goes in and attempts rest and repair his gear in piece.

As Candy goes in search of the noise she finds the marred door, wipes a hand over her face and mumbles, "I'm thrilled they all feel at home. I'm thrilled they all feel at home. I'm thrilled they all feel at home. Breath, Candy. They all are young, dumb and full of cum." Candy breathes and stares at the door in disbelief and anger at the defacing of her ship.

Vidar steps out from his room, eyes the burned door, eyes Candy and said, “I apologize for the rude guest.  I will have the republic remove the graffiti. A flimsy plastic sign would have been fine...”

"No, it's fine.

“Some guests are like Kath Hounds and must pee on everything...”

"At least I know he's staying. Do me a favor though, if he wants to go headlong into danger first, let him."

“If he wants to get eaten by a Sarlacc who am I to stop him...”

Jaris walks by at that moment, stopping to stare at the impressions the mando had made on the door with his torch. In his arms he can be seen carrying three distinct lightsaber hilts, one of which appears to be two lightsabers stuck together at the ends. "Well, that’s interesting."

Candy looks at the lights sabers in Jaris’s arms. "Yes, it certainly is."

"Do you want me to add materials to repair that to my requisition list once we get back to the capital?"

Candy turns to Vidar and Jaris. "Do any of you remember what guns and explosives he had on him?"

Jaris thinks to himself for a moment. "I don't believe he had any other explosives on him that we knew of, but I do remember plenty of blasters."

“I think he had a vibrosword... I did not see any explosives but as I recall grenades are small. Hellshepherd would be a better judge. Also, I think he had a flame thrower...”

"Was there anything that would wreck my ship if say... I were to lock him in his room like the angry teenager he is? Surely this is an act of a 16 year old."

"You know we never did ask him his age or to take his helmet off, for all we know he is 16 years old. Not impossible."

“Not any 16 year old's I have met... but I admit my experience with 16 year old’s is highly unusual”

"I'd like to have a chat with him but don't want to get shot. Anyway we can weld the door?"

“I could have reaper scramble his lock code…” Vidar summons his droid over and has him scramble the lock code.

"There's only one sure way that he won't be disturbed."

"Do it Vidar." an evil grin spreads across Candy's face.

Jaris inspects the damage done to the door more closely, running a gloved finger along the ridges. "I believe so, might take me a bit since he cut letters into it but not too difficult. Also perhaps you should try talking to him first, before you try more outlandish methods."

"Oh, I plan on talking to him, Jaris. Everyone is going to hear my one-sided conversation."

The lock clicks and reaper beeps in affirmation the job is done.

"What happened to talking first?"

“Talking will happen. But he will pay attention now.”

"What I have learned is that teenagers need a cool down period. This is to make sure no one gets hurt, and that he has no choice but to listen. He will have the opportunity to come out at any time he wants." Candy looks to Reaper. "Reaper, guard Easy's door. Don't let anyone in. If you hear a knock from the inside, let him out. Claustrophobia is no joke. Got it? No one goes in, but he may come out."

If Jaris could roll his eyes he would have, so instead he tilts his head to the side and just looks at the two for a moment before taking out a lightsaber hilt with a crossguard. He lines it up with Reaper, measuring out how it might fit within the droid's body. "Could work." He says before adding the hilt back to the set of three cradled in his arm.

"Thank you Jaris, we'll try talking to the feral first."

Reaper beeps and boops in questioning code.

"Oh, just an idea I had Reaper, can tell ya later."

Reaper stands guard at the door.

"Excellent. Let me deal with my teenager first."

Candy looks to Vidar. "Will you come with me, general?"

“Yes.” Vidar follows candy.

"Thank you." Candy marches to the cockpit. "Please, if you will, general, if he comes out guns blazing, I don't want to get shot."

“I have you covered.”

As they leave Jaris remains standing there for several moments, unsure exactly what just happened. He eventually just shakes his head and mutters. "Did they even check to see if he is even in there?"

Once Candy gets to her helm she lifts the receiver of the ship. "Hello residents of Desperate Measures. I hope you're all comfortable and feeling at home. We'll be arriving at Coruscant in a day or so. Those who wish to stay on the ship during docking are welcome. One of you in particular, Mandragore, have expressed in no uncertain terms that you don't wish to be disturbed by DEFACING MY SHIP, so we have posted a guard and locked your door in compliance to your wishes. Any time you wish to leave, please knock on the door twice WITHOUT ANY BLASTER FIRE or explosives, and we'll gladly open it for you. I'm pleased you feel at home on MY SHIP, and I'd like to express my apologies for anyone in our party that made you feel completely threatened and in turn having to act out as any pouting sixteen year old by WELDING your warning onto MY door. Please know that I, as Captain of my ship, won't allow harm to come to you while on board. If you wish any more modifications to your room, I would appreciate them not being permanent. Thank you everyone. And please, if you wish any modifications to your rooms, let's talk about them together for the best course of action."

Mandragore knocks twice on the door. When it's opened by the guard, he asks to speak with Candy in place private in any room she wishes. His gauntlets are off, although his skin is still covered with long gloves. His cape and weapon belt have also been removed. He spins with his hands up to show the guard he is unarmed.

Mangalore finds Candy in the cockpit. She looks at him and waves him to come sit with her. "So, you're staying?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. I'm used to being in places where cutting tools are easier to find and more commonly used than art supplies. I'll pay to fix the damages." He hands his head and folds his hands. After a short pause he asks solemnly, "Do you know why I always where this helmet?"

Candy nods her head in approval. "Don't get the door fixed. Get spray paint. Lots and lots of it. Cover the ship in paint all you want." She lifts a finger. "But do not spray in anyone's quarters unless given permission. Now, young one, tell me your story. Why do you always wear your helmet?"

For a moment he is silent. Then he breathes and says, "Because this is the face I chose. We do not choose the face, or the hands, or the skin we are born with, and yet for our entire lives we are judged by them. We are judged for those that gave us life, not what we made with that life. I was constantly judged for what people saw on my face, not in my actions. No matter how hard I worked, no matter what I made of myself people only ever saw me for what I was born. Then I met the Mandalorian's. They made their faces, and when people looked upon them they did so with awe and respect. So, I vowed to join their ranks. They accepted me as an equal to all initiates. They made my life hell at first but it was an equal hell to my fellows and I knew earning the right to be called a Mandalorian would require great suffering. Mandalorian's are not born you see, they are made. When I took the oath and donned my helmet, I vowed to myself I would only ever be judged for what I became, never again for what I was born. And so, I became immensely private, people often expect that of a Mandalorian. But it was not just for show. The minds of living things cannot be erased like a droid's, and I knew once my birth was seen they would never again judge me by my true face, only my birth one. I still know that. I do wish to make it work with this group and for that reason I must ensure there are no accidental walk-ins while I am exposed. I am not used to being on such a nice ship. Most of the ships I've been on stink with the piss of a thousand species and look even worse. No one cares about some burns on a door. At least they know one part of the ship that was sterilized recently. I will better abide by the rules of your ship and seek to repair the damage to both it, and my relationship with this group. I only ask that my privacy be respected.”

Candy nods in understanding. "I am more upset that you would think I'd allow anyone to impinge on your privacy than the markings of a door. New ships have not undergone their time in battle, but I do love and trust Desperate Measures with my life. She is the ship I broke into my initiation as Traveler. Take your time, if you must repair the door. I like that you've marked it as home. I only wished the option of spray paint less the integrity of the door. You are welcome here, Easy." Candy's lips up turn into a semblance of a smile. "Easy to join us. Easy to want to punch." She cackles. "No one will dare open your door." She taps her chin. "If Jaris for some good God reason stumbles into you exposed, remember he's blind. Errr... he has no eyes."

"Thank you." He nods and walks back to his room.

Vidar comes into the cockpit and sits at one of the stations.

Candy cocks her head, inviting him to speak.

“Candy I have a question. I have heard some Duros referred to as Traveler. But I don’t know what gives one that appellation or what it means. I do know Duros were among the first to use hyperspace.”

"Yes. It's an honorific given to Duros. It's a high compliment but earned." Her lips curl. "Some use it as a gesture of good will, others use it in... other ways."

“How does one earn it? Can it be misused?”

Candy's lips turn down. "It can be earned by finding a new space route, a new planet or by demonstrating extraordinary flight skills. As for being misused, well... flirting isn't what I'd call misuse. How would you feel by me calling you venerable or honorable one?"

“So finding a new route from Tatooine to geonosis for example?”

"Oh, yes! Do you have a new route for me?" Candy rubs her hands together like a greedy child.

“The honorifics we use among the Jedi are Padawan which is a student. Knight which is what I am and Master which is what those on the council and who are training Padawans.”

"Hmmm."

“I am sure I have a route you have never been on. But that is to a private sacred place of the Jedi. Unfortunately I am at the beginning of my experiences. Likely more travelled than some but not as travelled as others...”

"I would love to hear your tales, Traveler."

​Candy's lips curl up.

“Have ever seen a planet of crystal and ice? One of the most beautiful sights. And we jedi all hear a unique song...”

"Oh, that sounds beautiful. Is it far? Is it only for jedi?"

“Very far. And Sacred to the jedi. But maybe one day you could go...”

"Maybe one day I'll find it." She smiles knowingly.

Whew! That was a long one! Next is Mission of Hoth. Hoth was also one that I'll not forget! 

Until next time...
...happy reading! 

​~ Stephy