Roleplay

[FabulousTrash]

As the ship simply drifted in space, Akira was seated in her small makeshift workshop, making repairs to her armor from her last encounter. It had a bunch of scorch marks from the fire and a few blaster bolt marks, but it was nothing new to her. She hummed along to the music playing in the background as she worked. Her holocomm then beep, notifying her that she had just been paid by her employer. 


Repairs were quick to finish and soon, she had her armor back on and ran a diagnostic. Seeing as that everything was functioning as should, she made her way to the cockpit, flipping some switches. The ship powered on as the nav-computer plotted a course for Coruscant. She was partly excited since she hadn't been there in a while, though the main reason she was heading over was to salvage, something she always did when she had nothing else to do.


Her ship rotated, facing the right direction and Akira smiled. She pulled the lever and hyperdrive engaged, shooting her off towards what she called home.

 

[Squirrel Man Huey]

"Stupid damn Ranat!" Abe groaned as he lifted the meter long hairy body into his arms. "Sure! I'll help you steal a ship! I'll even become part of your crew!" The grumbling continued as he walked through his new stolen XS-1200. "Nope! I won't try to shoot you!" Steam and the smell of burnt hair and flesh still rose from the Ranat's body. He walked to a container in the hold and dumped the body in without ceremony. He walked to the table the lid sat on and grabbed it in a huff, yanking it off like the lid was the problem. "I won't try to kill you and break the deal before we even get onto the the landing pad!


Abe grumbled more as he sealed up the container and marked it for waste disposal and rolled it over to the hover lift. "Get rid of this thing and find a new crew. At least he stayed on long enough to scrub the identity of this boat...What in the black hole am I gonna name this thing?" Abe walked down the ramp with a scowl on his face. He came into the smoggy Coruscant air and cursed once more. "Damn people ruining everything!"

 

[Cup of Mek]

There were better ways to be awoken than having something dropped on top of you, especially when that something happened to be a corpse. Stix had never had the best of luck in life, however, and that day it seemed was no exception. Before she could work out what the hell the big furry thing pinning her was, she found herself spinning as the container she'd hidden in was rolled over to the hover lift. Something had gone wrong. 


Shoving the thing, which she realised from the warmth and feel was a body, off of her face so she could gasp in air, Stix struggled to sit up. Outside the container, she could hear someone rambling to themselves, their voice deep, gruff, angry. Well shit. He thought he had reason to be pissed off? See how he liked being crammed into a barrel and showered in corpses... 


Once she'd freed her left arm, Stix promptly used it to bang angrily on the side of the container. "Oi!" She yelled at the top of her lungs, praying someone could hear her, preferably not the asshole idiot whose stolen ship she'd snuck upon. "I'm still alive in here!" She knocked her fist against the walls over and over, screaming at the top of her lungs, "Let me outta here, asshole!"

 

[FabulousTrash]

The "Oriania" came out of hyperspace and Akira placed the ship into autopilot, shifting her attention to the comm console. A voice was soon heard and it was coming from one of the many Republic Cruisers surrounding the capital planet


"State your reason for entry"


Oh come on, you're gonna deny me access my home?


"Invalid reason"


Fine fine. I'm here to scrap and visit a few places, sheesh


"Proceed"


Akira took the controls, heading towards the surface. She made headway to the spaceport near the Senate Building. Another voice came over the comm


"Stand by for landing instructions.........Proceed to platform nine"


Akira locked onto the platform and the ship took it from there, landing itself slowly. While the ship was doing that, Akira got up and went over to a closet. Quickly, she slipped into her armor but left her helmet deactivated for now. She holstered her pistols and slung her rifle on her shoulder as the landing ramp came down. Quickly, some clones boarded the ramp with their guns pointed at her. She quickly raised her hands, eyeing them curiously


The hell is going on....


Drop your weapons!!  The clones shouted at Akira. 


Is this your new way of checking for hostility?


Drop them! Now!


Stand down, all of you


A new voice was introduced. Calm and smooth. The clones looked at the new-comer, then suddenly dropped their weapons. A male stepped onto the ramp. He wore clone armor over his robes, and a metal cylinder was strapped to his side.


You must be Akira, yes?


How....do you know me?


Shall we discuss that somewhere else?


Obi-Wan smiled as he gestured out of the ship. Akira just raised an eyebrow but slowly nodded, following Obi-Wan, the clones right behind the pair

 

[The Mechanist]

Ishtar sighed as he stepped out of the hangar, casting a glare out towards the bright blue ocean. A content sigh escaped his blue lips as he continued to watch, the sounds of the waves crashing against the station was the most prominent sound around. 


Manaan was the planet that he currently resided on, a beautiful ocean world with a rather strict government and law enforcement, which was what he was looking for. Makes the temptation of earning fast money dishonestly a less likely possibility. Behind him was the engineering department for any ships or speeders that needed maintenance, he would've preferred to work on blasters but a job like that requires a back ground check, a type of history that he would prefer no one else found out about. 


Truth be told he was on break but he was also keeping an eye out for a comrade of his, a mercenary who just like him, took to making a more honest living. The man was a fisher man, but unlike others he preferred to fight against the firaxa sharks that plagued the depths. A crazy man he was but undoubtedly had the capabilities to best then one on one. 


Looking down at his watch Ishtar saw he didn't have much time left, shaking his head he turned and walked back in, grabbing his tools and setting to work on another customers order.

 

[Squirrel Man Huey]

Abe's eyes nearly burst out of his skull. His feet skidded to a stop, stopping the repulsor lift, almost toppling the barrel. "What the crap?" He thought to himself. Instantly he looked around, seeing no one on platform eight and brought the lift and barrel back up into his hold. This was not how he imagined his first week of freedom or how he would celebrate his success at stealing this beauty of a ship. Sure she was bare bones out of the factory but there were infinite possibilities on what he could do with it.


"How are you still alive Ratboy?" He grunted as he closed the ramp to the platform outside. He took the crowbar and pried the barrel open before jumping back and taking out his blaster from its holster, pointing it directly at the opening of the barrel. "Climb out if you can short stuff! I'll shoot you dead again you Benedict Asshat!"


@Cup of Mek

 

[Cup of Mek]

@Squirrel Man Huey


Urgh. So that's what this furry lump was: a Ranat. Stix wasn't xenophobic - hell, if anything she was prejudiced against her own people - but she didn't much care for the way Ranats smelled, especially up close and stuck to her face. Still, at least now she could get away from this damn thing. "You shoot me and I'll freckin' throttle you," Stix said, trying to sound intimidating as she hauled herself out from under the Ranat and proceeded to tumble over the side of the barrel, swearing all seven colours of the rainbow as she hit the floor. "Next time," she huffed, clambering to her feet and dusting herself off, grimacing at the stains of blood on her only set of clothing, "check below before you toss your dirty laundry out." 


Looking up from her ruined attire, she was met with a blaster pointed at her middle. Fear jolted through her, and for a minute she realised how she'd forgotten how she was a stowaway on the ship of a potentially very dangerous man. Her automatic response, once she was done acknowledging that she should be scared shitless, was to puff up her chest and glower at the human man before her. He looked tough for one of his species, older but not so much that he'd be crippled by his age, and grumpy, as though he was the one who'd had a dead Ranat dropped on him. "Get that out my face," Stix said, scowling. "Else I'll report you, sneak thief." She grinned, leaning back and crossing her arms over her chest. "Bet I know quite a few people who'd love to hear all about how their swanky new ship went missing all of a sudden. Couple o' folk who'd love to know who helped escort it, if you get my meaning."


((OOC: Yes Stix. Threaten the man who's pointing a gun at you. Good plan Stix. You got this))

 

[Squirrel Man Huey]

"Fracking stowaway!" There was nothing more worthless than someone who couldn't work their way across space. "What in all the hells did I do to deserve such rotten luck!" He had listened to the young woman's statements after she had tumbled comically out of the barrel, the dead Ranat's feet hanging out of the now tipped over barrel. His bearded face grew slightly red because of her ineffectual threats. "That's it kid, get back into the barrel so I don't have to lift you after I shoot you. Fracking stowaways threatening with the law when they break it." 


Abe's eyes looked over the young woman, seeing the blood stains and the obvious dirt on her clothes and body. His heart strings strummed some as he saw that she had nothing else to her name in the galaxy. "No Abe, she threatened you!" He thought to himself as he could feel the need to help her come over his stupid heart. Thoughts of the various ways to help her mixed with the ways he was going to kill her.


@Cup of Mek

 

[FabulousTrash]

As Akira was escorted through the streets of Corsucant, she looked over to the well-known Jedi


So....what am I being taken in for?


She got no response as they continued their walk. Soon, the party reached a Republic LAAT Gunship. The clones gestured for Akira to get in and she complied, playing along for now. However, the Jedi didnt board the transport. She couldnt help but smile a little. Without the Jedi, the fight would be much easier. The doors to the LAAT closed and the ship lifted from teh ground, soon flying off in a direction. Akira waited for a while then suddenly dropped down, kicking her feet out and slamming into the knee of one clone. They quickly reacted, but not quick enough. Akira disarmed another by slamming him into the wall, then grabbed his blaster and aimed it at the remaining clones, who returned the favor by point their blasters at her. She just raised an eyebrow, then giggled as she spoke in her childish voice


You wouldnt hurt a lady, would you? 


No response


Ugh, you're all boring


She fired at the door control and the LAAT doors behind her opened. She jumped out, free falling and when she was clear of the ship, activated her jetpack and slowed to a stop, quiclly breaking into a run down the alleyway infront of her

 

[Cup of Mek]

"I saw an opportunity. I took it," Stix said with an indignant sniff, pulling her trousers up by the suspenders. He was still the one with a gun pointed at her. Sucking on her bottom lip, she thought some, then nodded to herself. "Way I see it, this here is a big-ass ship you stole. And you shot your only crew member. Swear you won't make that a habit, and I might just think 'bout signing up." Side-stepping the gun, she walked around and hopped up onto the platform so that they were just about the same height. She stuck out her hand. "How about it? I can fix most shit aboard a ship, and I won't be getting all preachy about your less than peachy morals." With a grin, she gave him a good eyebrow wiggle. "Plus, I'll make the load lighter being out here than in there when you get rid of the murder evidence."

 

[FabulousTrash]

Akira eventually slowed, finding a good hiding spot to rest. She had found herself back at the start, just near the spaceport. 


Right then....seems I'm not welcomed here.


Funny seeing you here again


Akira quickly jumped, drawing one of her two DX-13 pistols, her finger on the rapid fire trigger. Obi-Wan just chucked softly, raising his hands


I mean no harm. I had a feeling you'd try to excape


The hell you want with me Jedi?


Your cooperation


Akira had to admit, she was thoroughly confused. She kept her blaster drawn as she spoke to the Jedi more


What could you possibly want from me?


Well, you are known around the galaxies for some....creative kills, to say the least


Creative was right. But why would some Jedi want her skills?


Please, if you would only comply, you'll see that everything is not as it seems. You're not being taken to jail. Consider you working for the Republic as a way to pay off your time in prison. Of course, if you refuse, I can arrange you to be taken to maximum security


Akira took a few glances around her, then sighed and holstered her pistol


Is it just me or are there others?


I'll leave that up to you

 

[Squirrel Man Huey]

"You have some balls kid." Abe grunted while she wiggled her eyebrows. His blaster was fixed upon her midsection the entire time. Though he knew it wouldn't be that hard for him to hit her, he was a great shot. Some people aim for the head, nope. Loads of room to miss in these circumstances. Aiming for the gut is the biggest target and the best way to debilitate your foe.


"Here are my rules." He listed off the rules on his finger with the end of his blaster.


"Mess with my shit, I kill you. Steal from me, I kill you. Betray me, I kill you. Drink my juice..." He glared at her with the last statement.


@Cup of Mek

 

[The Mechanist]

 Beneath the waves, down in the deep blue sea of Manaan a fierce predator stalked. A creature with strong mandibles and razor like teeth prowled and hunted the native predators of the depths. Firaxa sharks are said to be some of the most dangerous aquatic creatures, aside from the massive underwater titans that inhabit naboo.


But on this day the Firaxa weren't the hunters, on this day they were the Hunted. In his wetsuit, Lance in hand Maccus was in the prowl; he had been keeping an eye on an alpha, and finally he diminished enough of the population to hunt it without worry. Drawing ever closer the large beast came into view, brown armored skin with black splotches. It was beautiful, also insanely dangerous. Smiling Maccus swam ever closer, sneaking up on the creature, raising up his Lance he struck.

 

[FabulousTrash]

Obi-Wan slowly lowered his hands, then from his belt, pulled out a small comm and handed it over to Akira, who in turn, took it and looked at it curiously


I suppose this is how I reach you if I accept the job?


You're quite the bright one. Yes, that is how you can reach me directly


Obi-Wan turned, waving softly and using the Force, jumped off and was gone. Akira looked around and attached the comm to her side, walking out of the alleyway and merged into the mass crowd, essentially disappearing. She headed back towards the space port, needing to get a few things from her ship


@The Mechanist @Cup of Mek @Squirrel Man Huey

 

[The Mechanist]

Ishtar yawned as he wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, "days almost up and then I can..." he was interrupted by an explosion behind him followed by an array of swears in the ishi tibb language.


Sighing he turned around, and looked at the engineer who was now surrounded by the other workers. The foreman even came out from his office, he was large burly Besalisk, lazy as well. "Oi what the bloody shite happened out here? Hm?!"


Ishtar only sat and watched, waiting to be called on as always. The Ishi-tibb only laid there and groaned. "Ishtar? Come over here and figure out what went wrong!"


Sighing the Chiss got up and approached, before he even got a good look he knew what happened based on the debri and the one part that was still on the tray. "He put the fusion rod in before placing the dampening coil. Look see, the rod it's completely fubar." He gestured to a shattered glass tube that lay with green fluid leaking out....well half of it that is, the other half was more than likely still in the receptacle port in the ships thruster. "And this..." he approached the tray and picked up the dampening coil, "this is still out here, nice and clean, not even touched yet. I'm amazed he's still alive, probably using a cheap and weak fusion rod, another mistake." The foreman nodded, "I see....someone drag this green bastard to a hospital, everyone else back to work, good job Ishtar." With that last statement he walked back into his office, Ishtar only sighed, "another day in the hangar." With the coil in hand he went back to his work station, continuing repairs.


______________


The Lance struck true but bounced off the sharks armored hide, causing it to spin around angry. Maccus swam and latched onto the beasts face; immediately it tried to shake him off, violently shaking its head. He held onto dear life, eventually launching himself off as he withdrew his spear once more, charging at it. The creature opened its mouth as it charged, and Maccus went deep into the creatures maw not looking back as its mouth closed shut with him inside.

 

[Elephantom]

"Damn!" Skeet exclaimed, jerking his head towards the direction of the perpetrator. His feet dashed against the rocky floor as he vaulted over his chair, going after the sprinting thief. The thief — an unsuspecting pot-bellied individual in his late thirties, only slightly disheveled, and possessing a queer, flashy yellow raincoat — had mustered up enough guts and bravado to try to steal a bounty hunter's bounty right from under his nose, or to be more precise, right from his chair. In any other situation, the man might've gotten away with it, but in this case, the person whom he stole the credits from was Skeet. Skeet was nimble on his feet, as many learned it the hard way. Whenever an ultimatum has to be reached between two person and their conflict, only one has to survive. Blunt truth, it is.


Thieves were something Skeet liked to loathe, but couldn't do so properly. Few men possessed the foolishness to steal from armed men. Skeet borrowed Flint's rifle and attention, mumbled with both renowned distortion and zeal, panting ever so slightly while squinting in fury, he ran. The better weight of those emotions made him shift his shoulders to the leftmost side too, if it even mattered, that is. To top it off, the hunger that existed within him a few minutes ago — as was in accordance with his mundane, humane schedule — died. He had to avenge it.


Anyhow, who could blame a thief in a land were thievery and larceny are commonplace? If it wasn't him, it would've been another man. The Coruscant underground was the exact kind of place were you'd better mind your own business and cash — much like a brackish tub of water, which neither you drink nor you serve. Skeet failed to do any of them. Of course, there existed within Skeet the underlying suspicion that karma might've had something to do with his misfortune. Earlier this day, he had kicked a stray dog and his man, a hobo. Perhaps, it had something to do with it. Perhaps. It was a bipolar shift. 


A shift from an extremity, that of self-satisfying triumph, to that of chaos and destruction. Skeet's schedule, ruined in two bitter seconds. Bittersweet seconds. Enveloping the thief in ruination was gradually becoming a sport to Skeet. A temporary sport. A sport to satiate his hunger and slain schedule.


Flint was left agape and too relaxed to break into action. Trying to escape the galactic rat race left him numb and boorish. Even then, the sudden change in scenario left him dazed and his senses drained. He looked back to and fro as he gathered whatever was left of his shattered senses, picked up his pistol, and darted across the spacious road after Skeet — who left thick clouds of dust in his wake, so fast he was. Flint couldn't help but rub his eyes. Too much spice does that to men, he thought. Nevertheless, bigger matters remained at hand. That he could perceive with his more-than grainy eyes. Grainy vision. Everything was a blur. A green man wearing absurd clothing. A fat punk with a penchant for stealing. What was going on? Thud, clank, stomp. Stony bed, the road before him. Confusing.


"Shit, that bag's got all our credits. He gets away widdit', he gets damn rich. Ya' hear me, Flint? Damn rich." Skeet spoke as he jumped over a fallen barrel. The words were right enough to break Flint out of his mental slumber.


"He probably," Flint spoke, his voice recovering, "doesn't deserve it."


True, that. Men had to die, and today, the thief had to die. Had to maintain life's balance. One man, or one grievous thief, disappearing from among billions wouldn't matter, wouldn't matter at all. Especially if he was a grievous thief. Especially that.


"Argh," Skeet growled, "I'm gonna fillet that bastard!"


Few people took Skeet's words with a modest amount of seriousness. This fact infuriated the Rodian to no bounds, and as such, he often made sure to make his actions impact more than his words; he could seldom be seen without the glint of his guns. As of now, the fact that he was dashing maniacally —his borrowed rifle brandished, and raised over his head, both hands occupied with keeping it in balance, whilst howling and heaving out personal war cries that Flint had no way of deciphering — made his reputation cement itself in the minds of the ignorant, should they care to observe. Rest assured that it was far from playfulness — fury being only a small sliver away from downright seeping out of Skeet. Skeet's rifle was serving the purpose of a rudimentary club, much like the sand people of Tatooine — them and their much respected cudgels. 


Thank the maker that slugthrowers are known for their rugged build.


While Skeet was a thorough speaker, Flint on the other hand spoke little, and whenever he did, he made sure to keep his words right on point. He is, as you can imagine, very laconic. Deception was never his forte, and probably never will be.


Flint stomped on the seat with his right foot, before throwing his left foot over it. The sudden appearance and dispersal of weight made the chair groan and creak in pain. Flint jumped down on the floor and made his way towards Skeet and the thief, the latter of whom had made is way into a thin passageway. He was fat, but he wasn't as stocky and thick as Flint. That gave him an advantage, though not over the green man. Certainly not over him.


Flint slid into the darkened alley after Skeet who, being naturally lean, navigated with ease. It was difficult for Flint, to say the least. For the first time ever, he found himself cursing his own brawn. He tried to shrug off the cramped space. Didn't work. It seems as if he had to let Skeet handle this one. It wasn't real good, but on the other hand, it had its pros, which Flint really wasn't sure of. He had yet to discover them. For now, all he could was scratch his head. Stare at the passageway too, if no one minded.


In the meantime, Skeet followed the credit-laden trail of the thief. The streetlights that were scattered across the underground districts did the exact opposite of what it was supposed, that is lighting the dark streets, instead it casted several dusky shadows over the many corners and obstructions. Contrast, painful contrast. Skeet was the first to fall victim to it, as his rifle collided against a sharp turn in the wall within the thin passage, forcing him to fall back on the ground on his rear.


"Ya' won't get away from me, Ya' frackin' Bantha fodder!!!" Skeet cursed. Spit flew from his mouth and hit the ground, as he pounded on it in a fit of rage. 


The Rodian planted his feet on the ground and got up, stumbled through the sharp turn, and regained his previous posture. He kept it in mind to lower his rifle to a more usable, stable position. No use trying to flaunt it for the world to see. On clearer point, following the thief was hardly difficult. The narrow alley seemed to be leading to one way, and hopefully, it did so all along the way. 


At any rate, this debacle was getting increasingly greater. So was Skeet's anger. The alleyway finally ended with a dead end. A bit spacious than its route, but still a dead end. Good enough for a bit of shoddy shooting. Good enough. The thief glanced back only momentarily, before unceremoniously attempting to climb the wall that divided this road, and the one beyond it. 


Skeet grabbed a rotten suitcase — left haphazardly lying around — and flung it towards the fleeing thief. It struck him in the back of his shoulder, and sent him reeling towards the ground in a flurry of muddled motion. The thief groaned and cursed, to no avail. Lying only a few spans away from the wall that led to his sanctuary. Must be difficult to digest this information. The thief coughed up specks and slivers of blood, rendering the floor and his jacket full of filth. Bloody mess it was, though Skeet had seen worse.


"Say your prayers, shitbag." Skeet spoke, in a highly one-sided conversation that the thief probably didn't hear. He strode forward, and pressed the barrel against his cheek. The thief let out a pathetic whimper. Pathetic it was, no doubt about that.


A shot, a distinct blend of noises, rang throughout the streets. The slug dispensed itself from the gun and tore through the thief's head, effectively ending his miserable life.


"I'll be takin' that, thank you." Skeet ripped off the bag from the corpse's hands, before going off to where he came from originally. This, the miserable life and end of a filthy thief. A quick, early death is all what they're entitled to the moment they steal.


Flint scratched his head as he waited for Skeet to finish the deed. Uncertainty plagued his mind. Just as he was about to try yet again to enter the passage, Skeet appeared, rifle and the bag in hand. The latter of which was bloodied. This only put forth more evidence towards the obvious. 


Flint raised his eyebrows.


Skeet snickered in response. "Let's go now.


"Sounds just about right." Flint replied. A lot of work had yet to be completed, precisely, wracking his head over the way back to the ship. 

 

[Dirtbear]

Ah, Level 1313. How grand and magnificent it was, shadowed by towering metal shooting up to touch the fingertips of the black space beyond. The lovely Level 1313. With its endless supply of ruffians and thugs looking for any way to make a fast credit. No lack for originality here. Though the purpose of NIan's stay in the grand underworld of Coruscant was not to pursue work. In fact, he had his mind set to pursue other luxuries that resided within the shady lower levels of the planet. There was nothing he craved for more than the doting of a fine Togruta under Lashaa silk in a dim lit room. Their innate prowess for being warriors excited Nian greatly and their companionship was truly remarkable. Though, it was a costly venture and quite rare to find a Togruta willing to render her services. So there Nian was, prowling the streets for a fix of his carnal vice. Few recognized the pale man, it was quite rare to see Echani off their homeworld, even more so in a lawless underworld such as this. Giving Nian some renown, even if it was just the usual visit to the brothel in those parts that would service his desires.


Nian walked through the threshold of the place of business belonging to Lady Firi, madame of the wonderful scantily clad women in this part of the level. He was enveloped by the sweet, thick fragrance of honeyblossom burning in the incense burners around the building. His senses were heightened to nostalgia of this place. Many a night he spent here throwing his credits to carnal desires he could know no where else.


His eyes were closed as he took it all in for a moment. The sounds of soft, alluring music and the giggles of the women with their patrons. It was as if he was being held by the Divine Mother herself. He was broken by the spell once the Lady spoke up to greet Nian.


"Ah! If it isn't my favorite boy toy. How marvelous to see you in these walls of mine." She glided through the room to him with the grace of a fine woman.


Nian smiled, " Talla smile on you, Lady Firi. It's been a while since I've seen such a beauty." He bowed and kissed her hand.


The human woman smiled zealously, " Oh you. Such flattery is always welcome." She looked him up and down and winked slyly. "What brings you here today? Looking for Sodash?"


"In fact, I am. She isn't too occupied today, is she?" Nian asked.


Sodash came through the veiled doorway leading to the lounge and bedrooms beyond. Her skin was white, a shade darker than Nian, with pale purple striping her long lithe body. Her lekku and montrals were similarly patterned. She was layered in the Lashaa silk that NIan loved. Her black eyes looked upon him fiercely, sizing him up. She strode through the floor with swiftness and threw a flurry of blows. Nian was caught off guard and the first two punches struck his jaw and chest, pushing him back a few feet. Sodash pushed the attack, swinging a kick low and coming up with the opposite elbow to crush into Nian's exposed ribs. He was aware of the kick but didn't react fast enough for the elbow and received it full force in the sternum. He bowled backward out the door into the streets, laying gasping for breath as he looked at Sodash standing in the doorway.


She sneered, "How dare you come here! I should rip your throat out, you lying pig! Did you think I wouldn't find out?"  She stared at him, "What? Loth-cat got your tongue?"


Nian looked up on his stomach and coughed out, "Wha-- Sweethea-- *cough* Darling. I swear, you're the only light in this darkness. You're my fierce warrior queen ---" He was interrupted when she screamed out in anguish.


"YOU DARE INSULT ME?! I ever see your face again, I'll shove that vibrosword so far--- I hope she was worth it!" Sodash turned and went back inside.


Nian picked himself up from the floor and rubbed his chest, looking at Lady Firi with sadness in his eyes. She cast a downward look on him and shook her head before following Sodash inside, sealing the door behind her, Nian sighed and looked to the sky, where it would be past the pipes and metal. 'Trul, forgive me. Such a fiery warrior in her. Truly as beautiful as Echan herself.' 


He frowned and moped his way from there, thinking of the human woman's name that caused all this. Nian couldn't remember... damn him and his lack of control. Almost had a warrior queen, damn the stars. He brushed himself off and wandered to a bar where reputable mercs found work. He was gonna get off this rock before Sodash came after him and followed through with her threat.

 

[Squirrel Man Huey]

"You have some balls kid." Abe grunted while she wiggled her eyebrows. His blaster was fixed upon her midsection the entire time. Though he knew it wouldn't be that hard for him to hit her, he was a great shot. Some people aim for the head, nope. Loads of room to miss in these circumstances. Aiming for the gut is the biggest target and the best way to debilitate your foe.


"Here are my rules." He listed off the rules on his finger with the end of his blaster.


"Mess with my shit, I kill you. Steal from me, I kill you. Betray me, I kill you. Drink my juice..." He glared at her with the last statement.


@Cup of Mek

Abe grunted through the assent of the kid. He proceeded to package up the damned stinky Ranat and cart it down the ramp to the trash disposal. Two hours later and a cantina visit, Abe had his first cargo of spice. Only one crate, but it was a start. By the time that the regular stocks of food and drink were loaded Abe had already reached a boiling point with his new crew member. He yelled but didn't mean it, he screamed but shoved her verbally into the co-pilot seat. They took off and Abe grumbled as they did. The jump into hyperspace was met with Abe complaining about the incompetency of new crew members. It was a long trip but they finally made it to the hanger on Manaan.


"Get the load ready kid." Abe grunted as he loaded up the com details into his receiver.

 

[The Mechanist]

Maccus groaned as he caught of whiff of the inside of the beasts....well insides. Utilizing his natural night vision he looked around, rather cramped but he knew he was inside its esophagus. "Now to find the heart..." it would be a short swim since the creature is about the size of a whale, and all he had to do was follow the thumping. 


He continued to move forward, using a flawed webbed hand to feel for the strongest pulses. Eventually he found the lining that was right next to the thoracic cavity that led to heart. It was too deep, and the water was too salty for him to use the electrode on his vibro Lance, but the blade itself was still sharp. With one good jab he stabbed the blade deep, cutting open the pharyngeal lining. Immediately he felt himself being drawn in from the vacuum of the gas bladder. Forcing him downward and smack dab onto the heart. He could feel the creature panic as the "walls" were violently contracting. Shaking his head he dug a claw into the creatures pulsating hurt for support. With his other hand he drove the Lance deep into its heart, and for the first time he heard what a screaming shark sounds like.


It took a while but Maccus was able to haul the large creature onto his boat, and drove it all the way back to the port.

 

[Squirrel Man Huey]

@The Mechanist


The new model would have caused a stir among any kind of mechanic. It was one of three new cruisers from the CEC.


"Yes, your Jawa milk is here in hanger 14." Abe muttered the phrase with a frown. Stupid clandestine phrases. What ever happened to, 'Hey idiot, here are your drugs.'


"Roger. It will be on the dock. Hurry otherwise it will spoil." A loud groan sounded throughout the cockpit as he stood up. He rounded through the ship to the cargo Bay and opened the ramp to the fishy world of Manaan. His first destination as a free man. He stepped into the hanger with his hands on his hips and a grimace which passed as a smile for Abe as his solo crew member unloaded the crate.

 

[The Mechanist]

Maccus smiled as many had gathered around his skiff to see the large creature, which he was currently filleting. "Come everyone plenty to go around, not too expensive even the poor man could afford this one on life time chance to eat an alpha firaxa!" Once more he tossed another fillet onto the grill, all to happy to be impressing and cooking at the same time. As well as earning credits while doing it.


__________


Ishtar sighed with content as he punched his card, he was done for the day and wanted to go relax. Of course upon exiting the engineering deck he saw a lot of people rush to the docks. "I wonder what's going on?" He asked himself, changing his path from home to the pier. 


As he drew closer he recognized the sail of the skiff that had drawn the crowd. Upon getting closer he saw Maccus doing his usual canter to father the crowd for fresh meat. Of course what really drew his attention was the now cut up and gutted alpha firaxa shark that "lay" across the deck of his skiff. It was more like being hung off the skiff but he knew it wasn't going anywhere real soon.


Getting closer he called out to his comrade, "Maccus! I see you finally killed it!"


The Karkadon peeked up upon hearing his name be called, "Ishtar! Yeah finally got it! A years worth of work and let me tell you it was worth it! This fillet is delicious, come up here and try some!" Nodding the Chiss climbed aboard and took the plate that was offered and began to eat.

 

[Squirrel Man Huey]

@The Mechanist


The deal went smoothly. The patron had come for their milk, the credits were handed over smoothly and dished out between himself and the one crewman. He grunted his way through the credits and left the ship.


There was a commotion just outside of the hanger heading to the pier. As he walked out through the gray-blue corridors, he could smell the scent of the most fragrant and delicious smelling fish. Abe closed his eyes, breathing it in and walking forward, shoving his way between people. There were few things he enjoyed as much as fresh caught, grilled fish.


"How much fellas?" Abe said with a stern face but eyes full of last for the meat on the grill.

 

[The Mechanist]

Maccus eyed Ishtar as he ate. 


"Well...you were right, this meat really is delicious, I didn't realize large creatures tasted this good...." he swallowed the bit he had in his mouth and continued. "We should hunt on naboo, see if we can find anything worth eating there too."


The Karla don only laughed but was cut off as a gruff man appeared, "how much you ask, well friend first you gotta tell me how much meat you want? I'm selling it cheap today, so that way even the poor man can afford a sizable meal for the day."


Ishtar looked down at the man, there was something about him that felt awfully familiar, a mental image flashed that reminded him of his days as a gun runner. This man most definitely had the look of a business man with questionable business practices.

 

[Squirrel Man Huey]

@The Mechanist


"Enough for a meal and fresh food for a day's travel." Abe kept the same expression throughout. Though while he stood there, saliva started forming in his mouth. He had only quarter rations for as long as he could remember. Indentured servitude wasn't the midst glamorous or filling of jobs.


"I'm also looking for hands for my crew, experienced is preferable. Know where I can find any?"

 

[The Mechanist]

Maccus nodded at the mans request, "I'll get the meat, talking my partner Ishtar here."


Ishtar approached the man as Maccus set to work cutting out ten pounds of meat for the man. "A crew you say....for what kind of business?" He crouched down, looking at the man from the edge of the skiff, "you look like the kind of guy who belongs to a....certain group of people I did business with. You understand my meaning?"