? ~PROJECT SAC-1~ ??

Chapter 14 - First Trip to 79's (Part 1) ??

To his sweet relief Talla dropped the awkward conversation they were failing to rescue and fell into a brisk walk alongside him to keep up as he posthaste led the way to the bar, which was several streets over. "The girls told me that this type of drinking establishment has blaring music, crowded floors and bright, flashing strobe lights." He confirmed this description with a short, 'Mm-hm', so Talla asked the obvious question, "Isn't that a recipe for disaster with our enhanced senses?"

Thankfully, he became a bit more conversational with such a safe topic, "These chaotic surroundings are the best way to teach you how to control the enhancement so that you can stay grounded out in the field, and don't experience another sensory overload that hurts you or others."

Talla nodded, understanding his logic. "So how exactly do I control it?"

"One way is keeping focused on the task at hand. In this instance, we're going to focus on getting drinks and keeping an eye on everyone."

Since this tactic had obviously worked well for him after his own misfortunes two years back, Talla had high hopes for Hunter's techniques.

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Approaching 79's, Talla could literally feel vibrations rumbling through the duracrete sidewalk from the loud music inside the cantina.

The flashes of colorful and blinding lights made her wince when they felt like stabs to her enhanced eyes, and newfound apprehension caused her steady stride to falter. "I'm not so sure about this, Sarge." Her tone was brittle, and she considered just skipping the whole lesson and high-tailing back to the Marauder. Talla had no desire to reexperience the incident on Silva, and the hospital being no picnic either. "What if this'll be one of those inevitable times where I lose it and nothing can stop the attack?"

Hunter's look back at her was sparked with determination, "Then I'll get you out of there," He promised, "But either way you're not going to learn unless you try."

"The little green guy they call Grand Master Yoda at the Jedi Temple is known for firsthand teaching all the younglings 'Try not. 'Do' or 'do not,' there is no 'try.'" This little tid bit of information maybe had no stake in the conversation whatsoever, but Hunter's choice of phrasing reminded her of the piece of sage wisdom and caused it to spill from her lips. It kinda made sense.

Hunter had to fight the urge to roll his eyes, because if he was being totally honest he'd rather do anything else too, instead of risk a humiliating meltdown. His senses had been a little out of sorts lately. And his emotions were a little wonky too. Alright, he would admit it, with the second one Hunter had definitely been more than subpar in controlling these days, more outbursts in the last week then in his entire two-year career. "Well let's do it then, because you have to learn one way or another before our next assignment, and it's either my way OR you're going to have to deal with Tech, and Wrecker would be his assistant -" His look was deadpanned as he raised his hand to the access panel, knowing he had made a compelling counter argument, "- need I say more?"

'Tech and Wrecker did just level a skyscraper by using explosions to teach fellow trainees.' This blood-pressure raising fact is what made Talla suck in a steadying deep breath, and reluctantly nod in agreement to do it Hunter's comparably easier way. She meekly followed him into the bar.

As soon as the double doors whooshed open the roar of electrifying music increased exponentially. Talla felt her heart begin to thrum so painfully in her chest that the frantic rhythm coursed through her whole body... or maybe it was just the vibrations from the bass.

Pupils dilated. Her eyes darted back and forth to trying make sense of the hectic party atmosphere, strobe lights flashing from every which way, no relief anywhere from the piercing effect on Talla's sensitive eyes. Potential claustrophobia added more complications when alien species and clones of every rank crowded around Talla as her and Hunter trudged further into the dancefloor to reach the bar counter. Burning alcohol, cigarette smoke, perfumes mixed with the sweat of dancing bodies created such disgusting fumes. People cheered and shouted to be heard above the music. When one too many times she kept bumping into people, Talla's fight or flight response kicked in. In leaps and bounds the overstimulating surroundings were growing to be too much too fast and on an impulse Talla decided that in order to keep herself from spiraling completely out of control, she needed a physical grounding tool.