The Night Show with Avan Rennagen and Special Guests!

[Vince]

The familiar sound of applause filled his ears, and the for not the first time, he missed the time when that was among the things that really unnerved him. Trix sighed, and smoothed the wrinkles in his dress uniform pants and entered backstage of The Night Show with Avan Rennagen.

It seemed Cael was already there, but Trix barely had time for a smile and a nod before the show's people grabbed him and plopped him down into a chair to begin dabbing makeup and such to allow him to look his best. He suffered it with the dignity that came with familiarity.

Finally, the makeup artist considered him ready to go on the show.

He stood and meandered over to Cael Bathala, whom he hadn't seen in just over two years. But, before he could say anything, Rennagen's voice was heard over the speakers.

"Well, enough of that for now, hmm? We have two special guests for our show tonight. The Imperial Forces are always very important, but it really seems to show just how good the Imperial people are when our icons, the rich, prosperous, and famous, put their careers on hold to help protect us. Please, give your appreciation for Cael Bathala and Trix Idalix!"

Trix let a small breath out through his nostrils, and stepped out onto the stage with Cael. He grinned and waved at the audience, stepping up onto the raised platform on the stage and shook Rennagen's hand, Cael mirroring his action not a second later. He sat and made himself comfortable in the seat provided. He smiled.

"Doing well for yourself, aren't you?" he asked. "I remember when all you guys had was a sofa. Now I'm sitting in a nice chair."

[Cael Bathala]

Laughing along with the studio audience, Rennagen flashed a grin. “That's right – we're moving on up in the world, though not quite as far up as you two! You know, I can't thank you guys enough for being here tonight, I'm sure the two of you must have pretty hectic schedules right now, right?”

Shifting some in his seat - which wasn't quite as comfortable as Idalix made it out to be - Bathala nodded. It was his first time on The Night Show, or on any 'talk show' for that matter, and Cael was fairly certain it showed. At least they hadn't insisted on covering him in make-up.

“Yeah.. something like that. Trix here is an old hand but I'm still learning the ropes, going through a lot of training,” he said with a slight smirk and a sidelong glance at his fellow pilot. “It's hard work, but I've heard it'll all pay off in the end... so long as I make it through basic.”

[Vince]

Rennagen took the statement and made it into a segue.

"Yes, we've all heard about Basic Training, but now that you're here, what was it like? Did they, you know, pick on you because of your past jobs?"

Trix spoke up. "Well, it's certainly like Stormtrooper Corps Basic Training. They overlap a bit you know; calesthenics is calesthenics after all, so why separate the two Corps there? But it's very much intense. It took a bit for me to get used to it," Trix grinned self-deprecatingly, "I got very much used to luxury, it seems. There were a few jabs at me being a 'holomovie star', but in Basic you're just one of many, so no. They made up for that with simulators and tests."

[Cael Bathala]

“I've always been big on keeping fit,” Cael added. “You need a certain level of stamina to race at competitive speed – but training has been.. something else. I got some stick when I first enlisted but, like Trix said, it's all good.. it just makes your drive to succeed, to show them you're worthy of wearing the uniform, even stronger.”

Rennagen nodded encouragingly, leaning forward in his chair. “So you would say it was difficult, shifting from civilian to military life?”

“It was.. challenging, but in my eyes that's good. I like challenges... s'why I got into swoop-racing in the first place, to push myself as hard and far as I could go – and then some.”

[Vince]

"I wasn't nearly as fit as Cael was," Trix grinned, and took a sip of the caf that they had supplied the two guests. It was pretty good; better than the stuff at his present rotation at least. "I learned that on the set of The Undercity. But he's right, it just pushes you to be worthy of the uniform they give you; a few dropped out, but not very many. We were all very motivated to graduate and see action.

"But military life isn't all that hard to get used to," he continued. "Much of it's routine, and once you get into the rhythm, there's not much left but to learn what they have to teach you. It's getting into the rhythm that's the most difficult part."

"How about flying? What's it like to fly a starfighter?"

"It's exhilirating," Trix answered simply. "The first few times, despite all the training in the simulator, it's positively frightening too. But once you get familiar with the fighter, it's quite possibly one of the best feelings ever."

[Cael Bathala]

“I used to think the feeling you get behind the controls of a swoop was unbeatable - but it's got nothing on being in a 'fighter cockpit.” Cael felt himself fumbling for how to continue, but Rennagen seamlessly picked up where he had fallen quiet.

“You've both mentioned the fact that you feel like you're part of something now: just one of the guys..”

“Right.. it's not that different to when I was with Team Tagge, you know. You get a squad together, set your goals, and then give your all to achieve those goals. ” There was a focus to Cael then, a determination that came on whenever he got into his 'race talk' frame of mind. “The real difference between this and racing is just how much there is at stake.”

[Vince]

Trix nodded emphatically. "There's quite a bit at stake. What with acting, it can give you a sense of isolation, and you start to forget that the galaxy is dangerous for people, and some are trying to make it more so."

Now that things were moving along, he found himself much more at ease with his surroundings, which were feeling more familiar than they had at first.

"That brings us along to my next question." Rennagen was visibly enjoying himself and the happy cues that the stage director was giving him; apparently the ratings estimates were good ones then. "Have you two seen action? There's been speculation, the tabloids have come out with some memorable headlines; there was a bit of news that you had been killed in action."

Trix smiled in amusement as Rennagen nodded at him and the audience murmured some laughter. "I remember that. As far as I can tell I'm not dead yet," more laughter, "but without giving details, I can say that I've fought a few engagements. Pirates, mostly."

"And the Rebellion?"

Trix scratched at his cheek idly. "A skirmish or two. Engagements were nothing like I had expected. It's very chaotic, and you're always reacting. But the Academy does well in preparing us for battle; formations, drills, and all that have saved my life. Facing death like that, it's good to know that my wingman and all the others are there with me, working together to make the galaxy safer."

[Cael Bathala]

Rennagen nodded enthusiastically as Idalix painted exactly the picture that both he and the Imperial command would be hoping for – of the Starfighter Corps as a well-ordered, unified brotherhood. His eyes shifted to Bathala next. “And what about you? Do the new guys get all the boring jobs?”

Cael laughed weakly before answering. “My first mission is... coming up soon, I think, aaand I'm pretty excited about it. Nervous too, but very excited to finally get involved in something that will make a difference, you know?” he added, with a smile.

[Vince]

Rennagen nodded smiling. "Oh, I would say that I have an idea, though the level you are contributing on dwarfs mine."

He turned to the Holocameras. "Coming out in a few weeks - the twenty-seventh - is an extended documentary on the Starfighter Corps, To the Edge and Back Again. It will be aired in theatres across the galaxy, with plans for holonet and other releases afterward. Please thank our special guests, swoop racing star Cael Bathala of Team Tagge, and holofilm actor Trix Idalix!"

As the audience applauded and cheered, Rennagen said the requisite words for a commercial break (over the speakers could be heard the beginning jingle for Biscuit Baron restaurants). "Thanks for coming out to our show," Rennagen said with a smile.

Trix stood with a grin as well, shaking Rennagen's hand firmly. "It was my pleasure, Avan."

He let go of the man's hand and waved to the audience, which applauded and cheered both the men on the stage as Bathala also shook the host's hand and received the man's thanks and goodwill for his upcoming mission.

They both soon exited the stage, where the first thing Trix did was find a convenient sink and wash the make-up off his face. He thanked the stage hand that offered him a hand towel and wiped his face clean.

"What happened?" he asked the stage director. "I thought we were supposed to be a bit longer than that and do a bit of stumping for the documentary?"

The stage director gave an apologetic shrug. "The show received a call from someone saying that there was a threat to the building due to your presence."

He looked to both Bathala and Idalix as he said it. "Probably nothing, but with high profile guests such as yourselves... we didn't want to risk anything, and will probably do another show with the director of the documentary in a few days to make up for it. Thanks for coming onto the show, and have a good night guys."

[Cael Bathala]

“Yeah, no problem.”

Though he tried to be polite and hide it, Bathala wasn't exactly unhappy that they'd finished early. The brief interview had been easier than he'd thought, though he suspected that was down to Trix's presence, but he wasn't at all eager to go through it again. To perform in front of a camera had never been one of his pleasures in life and he was about as good at it as Avan Rennagen would be at competing in a neck-breaking swoop-race.

Escorted to a side entrance of the building, where they could leave without being noticed, the pair climbed into the speeder-car that was waiting for them. As he dropped down into his seat, Cael breathed a sigh of relief. It was dark outside, or at least as dark as it could be in a city like Coruscant. Still, the distant glow of neon lights was dim in comparison to the harsh lights of Rennangen's set.

“So... where we going?”

[Vince]

Trix shrugged as he leaned back and unbuttoned his dress shirt a bit; he'd always been a bit uncomfortable with completely buttoned shirts. “We've got a free night now, I suppose,” the former actor replied, before grinning.


“And I don't feel like heading back to the squadron right now. How about a few drinks?”

[Cael Bathala]

“..You read my mind.”

The suggestion eased the hard line of stress from Cael's shoulders and brought a lop-sided smile to hi slips. The speeder's engine purred to life as the driver hovered the car into the air.

“Alright, hotshot. Where's good an' cheap?”

[Vince]

“Alright, hotshot. Where's good an' cheap?”


“If you guys don't mind,” the driver said, looking back at them with a grin. “I think I might know a place you might like.”


“Oh?” Trix asked, looking forward to get a look at the driver.


“It's not all that large, but they serve pints of Corellian ale for five creds each. It's Datunda today, so they should be doin' a special sale, four creds for the first drink, and three for each after it.”


“Do you work there part time?” Trix asked with a grin. “I don't think I've ever heard a pitch like that from a customer, and I've worked in a few bars.”


The driver grinned in return. “Nah, but a year long thing is if you bring friends who order two or more drinks at the Laughing Nerf (that's what the place is called, he said as an aside before continuing) you get a meal with a special discount. I was going to head there later tonight after you guys headed out, so this works perfectly for me.”


Trix chuckled, “Charitable self-interest, I see. Well, I'm sold. How does that sound to you, Cael?”

[Cael Bathala]

“Sounds like you're getting the first round in, Idalix.”

The speeder-cab weaved its way into a narrow lane that passed between busy streets. All along the sidewalks, people were laughing and shouting, spilling in and out of bars and clubs. The driver eased to a stop in front of a shop-front with a neon sign hanging about its door, the image of a cartoon nerf with its eyes screwed shut and its toothsome mouth wide with laughter. Odd, but the simplicity made Cael laugh too.

Paying their fare plus a respectable tip, the pair stepped out onto the sidewalk – the sounds and smells of the strip collided with their senses. A line weaved out of the door to the Laughing Nerf, entering only when someone else came wobbling out from the bar, into the street.

“It's full?”

[Vince]

“Nah, just popular. Can't have more'n a certain number of people in there or the Health and Safety Commission'll revoke the permit, so they take their chances with angry people and low-ball the amount of people allowed in. But don't worry, just follow me,” the driver said, walking up to the door.

Opening the door usually left to the drunks who staggered their way out, Trix saw a large man standing in front of a door at a podium, looking down and writing something. The bouncer noted their entrance, and seeing the driver, nodded.

“A bouncer?” Trix asked, and driver laughed.

“No, a host!” the driver replied, as a pretty young brunette with a ponytail entered and smiled, pulling a few menu datapads from the pockets in her apron. 'Calista' was written in basic on her name tag, just beneath the caricatured laughing Nerf.

“Zahn,” she said. “Ah knew you'd be comin' in t'night.”

Zahn grinned. “Calista, only for you. Why do you keep me hanging all the time?”

She laughed, her eyes darting over Trix and Cael. “Well, this way fellas.”

They entered the Laughing Nerf proper, and were surprised at how normal and relatively quiet it was despite being nearly full. Despite the line outside, it was merely a very large, multi-floored pub.

Calista grinned. “Here we are, fellas. Here's the menus (she handed them the menu datapads in her hands), and can Ah get ya somethin' ta drink?”