"Well, as far as I know of, nobody!"

Tec chuckled softly and then slowed down his long stride enough so Raven wouldn't have to move too quick.

"If you would like, we could stop by one of the gift shops or something, and you could by something for Mr. Trevelan?"

Raven could only nodd in reply.

He seemed to be particularly interested in her own relationship with Daren. Perhaps he was a bit jellous?

At the moment, Raven wasn't going to ask, since he was on vacation. It might not have been something he wanted to talk about anyways.

But, what to buy a fighter pilot?

Perhaps one of those cheesy t-shirts would work?

Stepping inside the shop, a few seemed to catch her attention.

Keep Staring, I might do a Jedi Mind Trick

No Jedi (Tunics) After Dark

I lost myself. If you should find me, tell him to wait for me.

Runs with lightsabers.

My other ship's the Death Star

But, which one? Or, maybe all of them? Raven couldn't be sure. If only Daren would be here, he'd be able to help.

If only...

He saw the TIE Interceptors before his HUD did, and he managed a blink before the scanner indicated them as Rogue Imperial. Glancing down at his instruments he wondered if he was even supposed to be here. His S-Foils were closed and he was the only one flying in...what harm could he be?

Furthermore, the major had been there only a month ago and security wasn't nearly as tight. Was something happening? Did something happen to Raven?

The two Interceptors were careening from one of the many Imperial-Class Star Destroyers in the area. Never before had Daren seen so many forces defending Bespin...he'd never seen a need. The Tibanna Wars were over, the Mon Cal Republic wouldn't dare face the wrath of the greatest power in the galaxy and the Empire was too busy near the Unknown Regions to deal with Bespin...it was a totally unimportant target. Not to mention the Empire would have a helluva time getting through the Rogue Imperial ruled hyperlanes.

"Attention unidentifed X-Wing, this is Imperial Star Destroyer Vanguard, stand down for inspection and report yourself immediately in the name of Emperor Fearsons."

Oh great...

Daren reached over and flipped the switch to turn on his comms unit. "This is Major Daren Trevelan of Rogue Squadron reporting to the Vanguard. I apologize for any inconvenience...is there a problem?"

"Negative Major, standard procedure."

"Since when? I was here just last month and there wasn't nearly as tight security."

There was a moment of silence. "The Rogue Empire has boosted security with the Varonat Crisis, that is all."

The TIE Interceptors then amde their roaring pass by Daren's X-Wing and he nodded.

"I assure you I mean no harm, I'm just here on a...uh..." he looked down at the flimsiplast picture of Raven wedged into his controls and eased a smile. "I'm here on a vacation."

He watched as the superior starfighters flew back, ripping and roaring their typical ion engine cries as they sped back.

"Roger Major Trevelan, you are cleared to proceed."

"Thank you Vanguard," Daren said as he kicked the boosters again on his XJ Type X-Wing and began speeding toward the planet.


***************************************************


He should not have been surprised by the incredible security Bespin had either. Though the white clouds were indeed beautiful, he had to gulp down his nervousness at the constant Rogue Imperial craft speeding by. All around there were TIEs of nearly every caliber.

One particularly caught his attention. A TIE Defender...the best starfighter in the galaxy. It was fast, it was strong, it could take hits, it could take down enemy starfighters at the snap of their fingers...he would have to put in a request for Rogue Squadron to get some.

The one thing that seemed to catch the pilot's attention the most was the Victory-Class Star Destroyer hovering over Cloud City. He was beginning to grow frustrated. Why here?

"Attention X-Wing...transmit the proper IFF Coding for proper landing procedure."

Daren sighed and submitted the codes. After a quick acknowledgement he found himself landing in Docking Bay 9A46. Then...when he climbed out, he was off to find Raven.

It took her over an hour, but, she found t-shirts for both of them.

For her, it was the Runs with Lightsabers, a black t-shirt with the phrase on the front in white text.

As for Daren.... well, his had pictures of various fighters, which just coincidentally were names of alcoholic beverages, and, in tiny print bellow each fighter, the instructions as to how to make each drink.

Fighter pilots, and alcohol. There wasn't one without the other.

Or, a particular pilot without his jedi?

"Hey, I'm gonna go grab my bag from the ship and toss it in my room. I'll catch you later." Raven told Tec, who was still looking about in the shop.

Then, Raven headed towards the hangar, t-shirts clutched in her hands. She couldn't wait until he saw shirt.

Who knew there was an X-Wing Fuel drink in existance?

Tec nodded and watched Raven walk out of the stoor. Now that he was alone, he started really looking for some stuff for Jerusha. He wondered what kind of things she liked, and then he remembered the old times, and found the exact thing. A brand new blaster. When he got ready to buy it, they asked him if he wanted anything enscripted on it.

He thought a minute or two, and then nodded, and told them what to put. It would end up saying I will love you forever, Jerusha. Then below that it would have his name, and the words Cloud City.

Now that he was done, he took the blaster, wrapped it tightly in some gift papaer, and stuffed it into his robes. Then he walked off somewhere, wandering again.

His eyes focused on the bar ahead of him. The "Steam Off Tavern" it was called, and it seemed like his kind of place. With a sigh, the major pushed open the door and made his way for the bar.

Inside it was musky, like most bars were, but he did not really mind. Rather he welcomd it. His girlfriend was off spending time with some other guy...a Jedi.

Guess they're all too peachy to be around us Force blind people...gah! Stop trying to think of words you don't know Daren!

He made for the bar and sat down at the stool, sighing as a drink was put down before him.

Raven managed reached her own fighter, an X-Wing, and poped the canopy to reach her own bag behind the seat.

She pulled out the bag, and climbed back down the ladder, and opened it, stuffing the t-shirts inside.

When she zipped the bag closed again, Raven picked it up, and started walking out of the hangar when she saw a familiar face.

She was about to shout Daren's name, but, he quickly moved out of earshot.

Something was bothering him, that much she could tell, otherwise, he would've easily spotted her.

Raven slung the bag over her shoulder, and headed after him, barely catching him duck into a tavern.

He had only just recieved his drink on the bar when she entered, and slid in beside him as she sat her bag down on the floor.

" Sorry about not letting you know where I went." Raven murmured, nodding her thanks to the bartender as he served her a drink of water. Must have seen the lightsaber which always hung from her belt.

His eyes gazed over at over at her, and they seemed...pained. He sighed and went back down to his drink.

"Who's the new Jedi loverboy?"

This issue of jellousy was driving Raven a bit batty.

First Taly, now Daren. What was it about Raven that drove them to these levels of insanity?

"Jedi, Tec may be, but he's no lover of mine. We ended up on a few missions together, where either one of us ended up with a near-death experience. We're good friends, that's it." Raven told him, sighing as she finnished her glass of water, and sat it back down.

She then stood up, and grabbed her bag from the floor, slinging the strap across her shoulders.

"Since you're not in a listening mood, and more into drowning yourself, you can find me later once you are." Raven added, as she walked past him out the cantina door.

She was only a couple of blocks away, and around a corner, when she burst into tears, slidding to ground and holding her face in her hands.

Daren bit down hard on the sour-fruit handed to him. The sour taste shot up his body and a tear fell to down his cheek...the sour taste only pushing on the agony of what he had just done to Raven.

Dammit dammit dammit he scolded himself mentally before plopping the sour-fruit into his mouth completely.

"Hey...you Major Trevelan of Rogue Squadron?" the bartender suddenly asked, and the pilot looked up with a sad nod. "Well mack that lady that just stormed out told me to give this to ya' when you entered."

The bartender then reached under the bar and withdrew a shirt and a few flimsiplast pictures. The shirt held a list of ship names that were also drinks as well as the mixtures to make them. The pictures were all of him and/or Raven holding hands or having fun somewhere. One such picture nearly tore his heart in two. It was of them dancing at the Naval Ball just a few weeks prior. It read, "To my baby Daren....Raven ^_^."

His heart suddenly sank and he felt his gut pinge over with guilt. Daren knew when he had to talk instead of pull the trigger, this was one such time.

Leaving some credits on the table, he rose and made his way out of the bar until he found Raven, crying over his stupid actions. Taking one hand from her, he squatted down and kissed the top of it gently.

"Raven? May I sit here?"