Re: In the Shadow of the Black Sun

Jerva strolled out of the spaceport, several vials of the andris clinking together in the pocket of his jacket. Even the small amount of the highly refined spice that he carried could fetch several thousand credits, so he had to watch his back. Fortunately, he had a contact lined up to unload his samples.

After a brief walk, he spotted the bar—by its garish lights—and walked into the smoke-filled dimness of the bar, briefly glancing at the denizens that inhabited the den of scum and villainy. He spotted the man by the earth-toned poncho he wore and the the vile cigarra that stood out, even in the smoky reek of the bar. Jerva slid into the booth across from the man.

“Spice up your night,” he asked, giving their agreed on code phrase.

“Gimme a taste,” the man demanded.

Jerva produced a vial and slid it onto the table until the man tossed down a hundred credit coin. When he didn't remove his hand, the man tossed down another hundred credit coin. “A taste,” Jerva agreed, scooping up the money.

“If it's as good as you said, another two hundred for this vial, plus four hundred apiece for any other samples,” the man said, picking up the vial, opening it, and scooping a minuscule sample. He sniffed it and nodded.

Jerva reached into his pocket and began to lay vials of the precious spice on the table. When his pockets were empty, half a dozen vials lay side by side on the table. The man picked them up, weighing each one in his hand. Satisfied, he pocketed them, and slid a pouch of coins across the table. Jerva picked it up shook it. Satisfied with the weight, he tucked the pouch into an inside pocket.

Though the process had taken only a few minutes, both sides felt satisfied with the deal.

“You get any more samples like this, I'm here,” the nameless man said as he stood up to leave the booth. “Have a drink on the house.”

Jerva smiled and nodded, ordering a shot of Corellian whiskey and a Corellian Ale. He tossed down the whiskey, savoring the flavor as it trailed a fireball down to his stomach. He lingered a few minutes longer with the ale, poured down the last of the suds and then stood and headed for the spaceport.

Re: In the Shadow of the Black Sun

She shook her head in a way that allowed her lek to loosely whip one direction and the other before settling in a natural position of resting on the top of her backpack, having followed her head to the dot. The pink wraps not interfering with her movement in the slightest, but bringing her skin tone out more obviously, like a neon sign on a dark background. "Gimmie a moment, gotta get my pilot's ship fixed.” she smiled, nodding thanks to the male before waving to the owner of the building, motioning outside as she approached the counter that nearly rivaled her in stature.

“2-014, um…” she pondered for a moment. “Engines-“she nodded sideways like she gave him some doubt. “Mostly…” She waved a self-dismissive hand. ”Just see what you can do.” she winked and turned on the spot before adding. “Oh! And payment after you finish. We had a botch-job from our last guy.”

The mechanic behind the counter growled inwardly, speaking in another language while he motioned a pair of his workers to begin on the newest job (not like they were doing anything anyway). It seemed like they needed the job because they accepted her terms without complaint, causing her to grin at the older male before latching onto his arm and tugging him - seemingly taken to him. “Gonna escort me to the bar to meet my famous pilot?”

She patiently waited for him to finish what he was doing – and by patient, she tugged on his arm now and again, to remind him she was still there. Once they left the shop, the Twi’lek lead quite impatiently, having to stop now and again to check if he was following. “He said he’d be in a bar…” she mused, looking about before spotting a lit-up sign that made her smile and skip a few steps towards it, before spinning like a dancer as she spoke to her escort. “So, what do you do?” she chuckled, stopping and reversing purposely into him as she let her head set back on her shoulders to look up at him from upside-down. “Other than escort young ladies, of course.”

In the short walk to the bar from where they were, she must’ve asked a dozen or so questions, sometimes not even giving him chance to respond. “Thanks.” she beamed to him, before pushing open the door to the noisy environment, a light fog in the air while her eyes scanned the bar. “Where is he…” she mused to herself, before yelling out over the music. “Oi! Farrell!” she looked about, a male in the bar lowering himself lest too many people notice. “Garrick?!” she yelled once more, before spotting him cringing at the potential enemies in the bar she didn’t know of.

The girl naive of everything around her, jogged to him, seating herself on the stool beside him as she grinned. “Got the ship fixing now.” she explained, glancing about at the looks they received. “Don’t tell me <i>you’re</i> an alcoholic.” she glared, eyeing him up with suspicion, before checking if her friend had followed. “Met a nice guy who helped me out too…” she spoke, while standing up to look for him, though she was planted down quickly by Garrick, making the girl release a kind of ‘oof’ noise, before pouting at her restrictions.

A few moments later, she turned on her stool, spinning back and fourth impatiently for him to finish up his business. “Can I have a drink?” she questioned, after eyeing up his own – in response nodding to the barkeep. “Water.” Joy gave him a funny look, before chuckling. “Who drinks water in a bar?” she motioned to everyone around her, the male human giving her a bland look. “Kids.” she glared at him for a moment, until her glass was placed down, distracting her long enough to play with it in her hands, turning it about before putting it up against her blue lips. It had been rather hot, so a relief drink was worth the wait.

Re: In the Shadow of the Black Sun

The ale felt good coating his throat, the numbness overtaking the burn and a buzz was beginning to form a cloud around his head. A bar was a dangerous place for a pod racer to be hanging out. There was no telling who was a race fan, and what’s worse, no telling who wasn’t a fan of his. One false move, one shoulder bump, even one passing glance and everything could come to an end. A place like this, no one would react to the sound of blaster fire. The poor lug probably deserved it, they would think before turning back to their previous conversations and nursing their drinks. His body would be dragged out a back door, tossed in a refuse bin and long forgotten. And the girl would be left to fend for herself on this planet…

His mind once again wandered back to the young Twi’lek stowaway that had accompanied him to Umgul. She seemed resourceful enough, but could she survive here on her own? She obviously found a way to get by on Nar Shaddaa, so why would this place be any different? Still, he couldn’t help but concern himself with her wellbeing.

Gah, why?! Why was he worrying about some little alien that snuck onto his ship? She snuck on, totally violated the sanctity of his domain! She asked to many questions, half of which were much too obvious to deserve a response other than ‘yes’ or ‘no’. If anything, the only thing he should have been worried with was if he could spare an escape pod to get rid of her or if he should just send her out the airlock!…Then again, she did fix the hyperdrive, at least for the trip that got them here. Joy could prove useful, at least as useful as a preteen Twi’lek could be. And it was nice to have someone to talk to other than himself. Truth was, she reminded him of his little sister Nitsua. Always curious about things, wanting to help and prove she could be trusted with different responsibilities. She had a bright little smile, too…

No! No, no, no! Stop it!

Joy picked up her glass of water and took a big gulp. Garrick briefly questioned how clean the water was and if he should ask her to stop drinking in order to let him inspect it further when an intense itch tickled the back of his neck. It trickled down his back and out onto his shoulders. He tried to shake it off, a sense of discomfort draping over him like a wet blanket.

“Give me a drink of that,” he said, a slight slur in his voice. Joy smiled and held up the glass with her tiny blue hands. They felt cold as he took the water and felt his throat relax. It was good to have something other than Corellian ale in his system right now, but the haze of the alcohol was still hanging over him. He had been waiting for Joy to meet him from the mechanic’s shop and when you’re trying to blend in in a bar full of possible assailants, there really isn’t anything to do but keep your head down and have a glass in your hand. Granted, his heart nearly stopped when Joy shouted his name across the room, but luckily no one had heard her. And anyone that had didn’t care enough to pay attention.

“Not all of it!” she yelped, snatching the water out of his hands. She kicked her legs back and forth, not quite long enough to reach the footrest on her stool. He watched her eyes wander around the bar, soaking in the scenery.

“Where’s this new friend of yours?” Garrick asked with his head down. Joy pointed back toward the front door. Garrick turned his head slightly and tried to spot him out of the corner of his eye, but it was difficult to see through the thick haze hanging near the ceiling. Wait!…Is that…Couldn’t be…

“Which one is he?”

“The one with the beard,” she said, watching her glass being refilled.

Frak! No! Garrick ducked back down, nailing his temple on the edge of the bar. He went down to a knee, holding his head with both hands. The blasted Jedi from the spaceport?! What are the odds?

“What’s the matter with you?” Joy asked.

“The one with the beard?!” he whispered loudly, his eyes watering.

“Yes,”

“Are you kidding me? Do you know who that is?”

“No,” she said, raising an eyebrow, “Why would I know who he is?”

I suppose you wouldn’t, he thought. “We have to leave now!”

“Okay, let me let him know…”

Garrick grabbed her arm and pulled her down below eye level, her water spilling on the bar and dripping over the edge.

“Hey! My water!”

“Shut up!”

A hurt look overtook Joy’s face. Garrick let go of her arm and lowered his voice.

“I’m sorry, Joy. Look, he’s someone I know, someone that may be looking for me. He’s a very bad guy with a very, very bad weapon on his belt. Now if he finds me, he’ll find you and he may hurt you, and I don’t want you lost or hurt or incinerated or cut in half or anything,”

“He didn’t hurt me before,”

“But that’s because he didn’t know you were with me,”

“Garrick…”

“Joy, you didn’t know who he was, I understand that, but if we stick around here eventually he’ll get to us, or one of his other friends will. But if he’s here, that means Aray is somewhere close by. I came here to warn her about Ryann and his associates and that’s what we’re going to do,”

“But why can’t we…”

“Listen to me, Joy, I don’t know who’s side he’s on. I need to see Aray and that’s it. If you want to keep going with me, then I need you to just do as I say, alright?”

His voice was a firm as the look on his face. Joy tilted her head forward, her mouth pursed. She looked up at Garrick, faintly nodding.

“Okay, good girl,” Garrick said. As far as he could tell, no one had found it strange he was crouching down with a young Twi’lek girl. He looked back up the bar and saw what appeared to be daylight from around the corner. “Stay low and follow me,” He began easing toward the end of the bar. He felt her cold hand clamp onto his. He squeezed it tightly and shuffled his feet, staying as low as he could. He weaved his way between the legs of the patrons, the different shapes and sizes and races made it as though he was wandering in an alien forest. Must have been the ale, he thought. As he was crawling forward, his free hand came down into a puddle of something uncomfortably wet. He hoped that was ale too.

“You still with me?” Garrick said over his shoulder, wiping his hand on his pants. He did his best to conceal his dry heaving.

“Yeah,” he heard her quiet voice.

“Okay, just a little further,”

They had finally reached the end of the bar. He glanced around the corner. It was clear all the way to the back door. He turned and faced Joy, taking her hand in both of his.

“Alright, we won’t have any cover on the way to the door, so our only chance is to make a run for it,”

“I think you’re blowing this a little out of proportion,” Joy said, cocking an eyebrow.

“Ready? Try and keep up with me,” Garrick said, moving into a sprinter’s stance. He heard a giggle from behind him. “Shut up and get ready to run,” He turned his head and couldn’t quite see the Jedi out of the corner of his eye. It was now or never.

“Go!” Garrick took off, keeping a hand back for Joy to hold onto, but it slipped out. He heard her little feet pitter-pattering behind him. He reached out with the other hand for the panel to open it. It had never occurred to him it could be sealed or broken, but if he had one shred of racer’s luck left, hopefully it would be used now. His finger grazed the panel. Blast! He missed the button! Garrick paused briefly to allow him to find the correct button, but Joy apparently didn’t see him stop. The door slid open and she crashed into the back of his legs. His arms shot out to attempt to balance himself, but there was nothing stopping his stomach from meeting the ground flush, knocking what little air there was still in his lungs out. He felt the warmth of daylight on the back of his head as he spit bits of dirt and Maker knows what else.

“Well well well. Imagine that,” a gruff voice said. Garrick squinted and looked up, and was met with the ominous smile of Ryann Ravensword. “I thought we were never going to find you,”

“Yeah, wouldn’t that have been a disaster,” Garrick said.

“Who’s this?” Ryann said. Joy dusted herself off and held her hands behind her back, smiling.

Following the Jensaarai

“Umgul. Man, it’s been so long since I’ve been here.” Ryann’s voice simmered into Vekis’ ears as they walked a busy street towards any sort of bar. He had an angry look as he tried to find any sort of the racer that helped him get away from Aray’s crew. Walking with him was his crew; Vekis, the Chiss who seemed to look more human each time Ryann shot up on Sweet Spice; Torin, whose Mandalorian muscles were hidden under clothing; and Lyra, who was walking with Ryann. All of them were armed, but lightly; simple blaster pistols marked their attire, underneath their modern and stylish cloaks.
   
“He frakking ditched, didn’t he? Frakking pod racers…” Vekis spoke, his right hand posed over his hip like he was smarting, but Ryann already picked up that tell from him; he was constantly on alert, more likely due to his Chiss nature…That was another confusing thing. Ryann continued to see him as both human and Chiss; one minute going from a human to one of Thrawn’s people. Torin and Lyra, however, refused to change in his mind, so they remained who they were; Ryann still couldn’t shake the feeling that people around him didn’t just forget that.
   
But he wasn’t going to be rude about it.
   
“This is stupid.”
   
Ryann took a glance at his chrono as Vekis spoke, his accent flowing but rough, a charismatic tone to it. It was a refined accent, but it was one that was ear-catching, and drew attention as he spoke.
   
“Shut up, Vekis. All we’re doing is finding the damn pod racer. And if we do find him, all we got to do is yell his name, and most of the pod fans will kill him. So keep your panties on and we’ll get there eventually.”
   
“You know, I didn’t vote you for Captain.” He said again, following behind, his eyes looking for Garrick as they continued their journey down a busy side-street.
   
“I did.” Lyra spoke up, as they all walked together.
   
“Thanks, Ly.” Ryann spoke up, tapping her shoulder, giving off a grin as they walked. His other hand, in his coat pocket, was hovering over his blaster, never trusting for a second any of the three could turn on him. Lyra, fortunately, seemed to like him a little more than a Captain, so he took the compliment as it should have been; a flirt. However, his hand remained, only for Vekis’ sake. He hoped that it meant a lot to have a blaster pulled on someone, because he had no remaining power cells for his Mandalorian Heavy Blaster.
   
Torin, to Ryann, seemed loyal enough.
   
And, as they came around to the entrance of a cantina, a man tumbled out with a small blue, Twi’lek girl. Ryann, for a second, thought it was another drunk, but as he spat and drew his face up, he immediately recognized the face, a smile non-existent.
   
“Well, well, well…Imagine that.” He spoke, now letting a smile come to his face as he saw Garrick look up at him. He met his gaze, and did not move. Thoughts went into his head about this man; if he really did try to leave him, then he would have to put out a deathmark for him. But, if he didn’t, then he couldn’t trust him because he didn’t bother to seek him out.
   
“I thought we were never going to find you.” He spoke, holding out a hand for him to grab. The racer, hesitantly, took it and brought himself up, speaking lowly.
   
“Yeah, wouldn’t that be a disaster.” He spoke, but Ryann didn’t pay attention as he smiled a bit more brighter, looking at the Twi’lek girl.
   
“Who’s this? Relative?”
   
Before Garrick could speak, the girl spoke up.
   
“My name’s Joy.”
   
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Joy. I’m Ryann. Garrick, we need to talk. Alone.”
   
Garrick nodded, uncertain, but obviously swayed by Ryann’s very stern, and to-the-point glare. Lyra smiled and knelled down, talking with the girl as they walked back in, with Garrick keeping to the side, with Ryann slowly following. A slight beat was in the background as the Cantina seemed more lively, as the day was fading into the night.
   
They found the bar again, with the group hanging with Joy nearby.
   
“One of the Jedi is in here.” He said, very uncomfortably, making a head movement away from Ryann and himself. Ryann saw the bearded and shaggy-haired Jedi look around for a bit, then settling down near a table and order a drink from a waitress. Ryann turned his head back subtly; quick enough to not have his face seen and smooth enough to seem normal.
   
“Okay, we’ll follow him. But, we need to talk.”
   
He turned his head to look at Ryann.
   
“I can promise you sixty two thousand and fifty credits upon completion of the job, and if my employer decides to pay.” He started off, before stopping his talk with Garrick as the bartender approached.
   
“One Corellian…no, Onderon Brandy. Get some ale for my friend here.”
   
The bartender nodded.
   
“…Anyways, Farrell, the bounty is for them alive, not dead. And I don’t want this job. Looks like you were trying to avoid me, but I can’t blame you. Just do me one favor, Farrell, and you make sure you listen. I signed on to do this job, or else my head will roll. You understand me?” He said again, turning his head so he could look right at Garrick with a hard glare.
   
“If I go, you go. But I’m pretty sure all Mal’fey will have to do is just tell pod fans your name and where your ship is. I want you on board. It’s only for one mission, and that’s usually all it takes for you to be put in the good graces of Black Sun. Are you still in?”
   
Garrick gave him a look, a sarcastic one to boot.
   
“Do I have a choice?”
   
“Not necessarily, no. At least, one that keeps your dignity.”
   
He sighed.
   
“Don’t worry; we’re not shooting to kill. And trust me, we’ll…”
   
The bartender placed their drinks in front of the two who were talking, with Ryann turning his gaze to the holoviewer, with Garrick next to him becoming increasingly uncomfortable not only next to Ryann, but in the same room as the Jensaarai Defender Falu. Ryann looked behind him, watching Vekis and Torin and Lyra talk to Joy as they watched her sip on a non-alcoholic carbonated drink.
   
“He’s leaving.” Garrick said, his head nodding towards Vornis.
   
“Okay. We’ll follow close.”
   
Garrick’s hand slapped Ryann’s shoulder, getting his attention.
   
“What about Joy?” He asked, a serious and straight face that Ryann wasn’t use to seeing from the racer up this close.
   
Ryann looked back at the trio plus one, and noticed how easily Lyra was talking with Joy about something; something that at least got the little Twi’lek’s attention.
   
“Lyra can watch her here or something, I dunno. I trust her enough with that, and that’s more than I can say for anyone I know.” Ryann said, before looking at Torin and Vekis, making a come hither motion with his index finger. Vornis just left the bar, so Ryann knew they didn’t have much time. Lyra was about to stand up, but Ryann held out his hand, speaking from across the room. She grabbed her comlink and activated it.
   
“Why am I staying?””
   
“We can’t bring the little girl. Watch her.”
   
“Sure, why not?” She said with a smile, before she re-adjusted and spoke with Joy some more.
   
“Let’s go.” He said with Garrick as they left en-masse, with Torin behind them and Vekis walking next to the racer, his Chiss eyes looking around, but often right at, Garrick. They exited the cantina with a normal pace, looking as if they were just leaving after a quick meeting or something; Ryann didn’t necessarily care. For all he cared for, the people inside could have been thinking Ryann was Garrick’s bodyguard or something, with all of the vile about the racer. Speaking of which…
   
Oh, and Farrell?”
   
“What?” He replied back, still having that feeling of being in a tight, and inescapable, situation.
   
“I always enjoyed watching you race. I like your style; very flashy, very cool. I’m happy I betted on you in the Kaz Rizik race.” He said with a smile, turning his gaze back to Garrick with a cool, but actually genuine, smile, before his face moved forward.
   
And his smile disappeared.

Re: In the Shadow of the Black Sun

This is so stupid. After following him to the door distracted by the thoughts of her complaints, she failed to notice he had stopped and collided into his backside, tumbling forward after him and landing upon the male somewhat luckier than he had. Her head was spinning until Garrick was helped up beneath her, causing her to roll off him backwards to sit up with a sneer at him, brushing herself off as she tried to make herself more presentable, namely smiling and putting her hands behind her back while sweet eyes locked onto him. Something her species had a knack of – melting the hearts of most species. Maybe it was just her. “My name’s Joy.”

She glimpsed at Garricks features, remaining fairly silent as she suspected the rather low-brow or generally illegal activities they had to speak of. She had lived in Tatoonie, after all. Picking up those kinds of vibes were pretty easy. Then out of a corner of her eye someone leaned down to her, nearly causing her to jump back in surprise – instead her head snapped to this woman as she smiled, arms crossed over her knees. “Hey. Neat clothes.” Beaming a obviously fake smile while her eyes scanned across the other two, at least this one tried to feign interest. “I’m Lyra.”

The Twi’lek then smiled back and backed off by a step. “Thanks!” Feigning interest wasn’t that hard. “I like what you have.” She motioned moreover to the boots she had on. “Thanks. So, what are you?” She gave a brief pause. “Mercenaries?” Something was right, because one of them seemed a bit on edge to that sudden question. But this Lyra person didn’t seem phased. “Mechanics, your friend had some problems with his ship.” The woman thumbed behind her, while the males behind her seemed less passive. Joy gave a half nod, smirking as she let her body language do some talking, throwing her hands up in the air. “I know! I had to jury-rig the hyperdrive just to get here, but I’m sure you’d know all about that.”

As the woman twittered on in her own explanation on the matter, Joys attention was elsewhere – namely on the pair that headed into the bar, before flicking to Lyra as she stood, speaking in her comm., before pulling her attention. “Looks like I’m gonna be your friend for a few hours.” Yeah, right. She smiled, glancing back to the quad as they left.

Joy wrapped her fingers around T’chin and cuddled it almost like a doll, softly and against her cheek. “Well. Since it’s just us we could play a game.” As sweetly as possible, the suggestion crept from her lips to make the woman nod with agreement. “Alright, what do you have in mind?” Was the response, littered with a humouring annoyance?

She turned and jogged a few steps, letting her hands fall to her sides to help balance her movements, turning to speak to Lyra who stood behind. “Close your eyes and count to thirty.” And the moment she complied, Joy smirked, sprinting down the road to turn and slow, panting as she grinned. “Where’d he go?” She muttered quietly, looking about as she walked on slowly, when she was grabbed suddenly from behind by the arm, somewhat painful Lyra gripped her. “Gotcha.” She cooed, still giving the aura of playing. But this was hardly anything the sort. Joy winced. “New game!” she spoke quickly, turning and kicking her hard in the shin to let go of her in surprise. “Black market slaver!” she yelled, running from her while she created quite a bit of attention.

There were more than enough non-humans that didn’t like this kind of business, while the Twi’lek ducked, dodged and turned into an alley, staring up at a dead-end before turning around. Lyra wouldn’t be long behind, no doubt. Spotting an access chute of some type, she slid to it and pulled her bag out in front of her, digging about for a hyper spanner as she undid the screws, pulling away the grating to slid her form in.

Oh yeah, she felt like a spy or something.

Re: In the Shadow of the Black Sun

Rawn entered the room wearing a dark outfit with his tail dragging behind him. He nodded as Yara left the office, closing the door behind her. Tarsk Mal'fey met him in the middle of the crest of Black Sun set into the carpeted floor and gestured to a guest chair across from his desk, then retreated to his own comfortable seat.

"It's good to see you, Rawn, but I must admit that I'm quite busy right now– as I'm sure you're aware." It was a dramatic understatement on his part. The scandal he had caused between his company and the Rogues was being highly publicized.

"I was contacted by Ryann Ravensword last night."

Tarsk Mal'fey stared for a second at his majordomo and then pinched the bridge of his furry nose as if trying to relieve the pressure of a headache. "I certainly hope it is good news for once."

The Barabel's scaly expression didn't change. "Well, it is certainly news," he said. "Apparently, he has acquired a contact that will take us to the thieves who have stolen our andris. Ryann is currently on Umgul. The message states this contact is a pod racer or was, I believe."

"A pod racer? And he can lead us to the stolen spice?"

Rawn shook his reptilian head. "I was more surprised than you."

"He knows the crew including Claw himself?"

"So he claims." He nodded. "When Ryann contacted me, I skimmed the name of the pod racer and found out he has quite a record. I am sure if he is deceiving our hired gun, he will never set foot inside a pod race ever again. I can assure it."

Tarsk's initial reaction was concern. His agents on Umgul had not spotted any flag on Ryann or this contact. <I>Who else could be involved aside from the thieves?</i> Had his network on Umgul been totally compromised? No. He pushed those thoughts to the dark places of his mind. <I>Best to focus on what I know rather than what might be.</I>

While the Bothan thought, Rawn slid a datadisc into the player and played the entire transcript of the message he had received. It did little to alleviate his feeling of dread. <I>Either Ryann is being set up for a trap, or this pod racer really wants to help in exchange to serve us.</I>

Tarsk sighed and rippled his fur. Rawn knew the crushing weight of what his Vigo was contemplating. The Barabel shook his head slightly as he responded. "If you wish, I can contact our agents on Umgul to trace Ryann's ship when he leaves with his contact to where our shipment is. Our agents will be heavily armed and ready to bail out Ryann if it is a trap. At the same time, we can then capture the ship with our andris if all goes well."

"My concern is the andris. I don't wish it to be destroyed. It is our only batch that exists after what has happened. We have yet to acquire a sample to at least attempt to synthesize it."

"If anything happens, my Vigo, we can always blame Ryann and make him pay for it." A toothy grin appeared on the Barabel's face.

"Let's not downplay the fact we may risk the andris with such an operation," Tarsk said in a sour tone. "I still say we can have our agents follow Ryann and his contact and have them disclose themselves if things go awry. Not before. Let Ryann handle it first."

"As you wish, my Vigo," Rawn said.

After a moment of comtemplations, Tarsk swept the air with his hand. "The time to act is now. Get our agents online before Ryann leaves to pursue our prey. This action will ensure our ultimate survival as Black Sun."

When Darkness Falls...

Sampling the wears of the merchants along the route to the Starship was tiring.
   
Vornis felt the power of the Dark Side raging within him, almost uncontrollably, and it scared him. He never felt this kind of uncontrollable power in his body, but he couldn’t lie to himself and say it was never there; he always felt the calling. But this time it was really turning, causing the balance within his soul to be off-kelter.
   
Enough to throw his senses off balance.
   
Enough to not take notice of Ryann and his entourage following him.
   
He had visions of a harrowing sort; people strung up by hooks and chains, digging into their flesh; hot irons seering into their flesh. The idea itself was making Vornus sick to his stomach as he approached the space port that held Araay and her companion’s ship. Not to mention the cryptic and odd Jedi Master, the quiet and loner Jerva, and the volatile John. He was composing himself when he was walking down the street again, now getting quieter and with less people running about.
   
This part of the city was a hole. Criminals were getting themselves ready to come out and sell drugs, claim territory, fight and die. The dark energy, however, came not from them, but within. It was eating away at him. A sickness, like a cancer, burrowing through his heart and soul as it ebbed at his energy…and at the present moment, his strength.
   
It took everything from him, his body stumbling as his mind tried its best to stop itself from becoming a tool, but it wasn't strong enough. He felt the blackness that came from long ago, the darkness that nearly consumed him almost eight years prior, but with Amira dead and his revenge complete, the darkness finally had a reason to surface. The balance was broken, and it shook his entire mind and body.

He fell to the ground, against the wall, trying to breathe, not seeing nor hearing the group that was following him coming towards him…

   
White landscapes were always the most beautiful.
   
Vornis awoke within his center world, his ‘Dreamworld’ unfolding and crumbling out smoothly into an endless horizon, light pouring into the white sky. He was wearing silk pants, nothing more, revealing his toned chest, worked on and chistled from years of training. He turned around to see the two forms of his subconscious; the good side of him represented by an…out of character Karumei, and the other a dark and harrowing look of Amira.
   
She was the most different. She wore some sort of loose-fitting cloak that hid her body figure, but he could see the outline of her lightsaber. Her lilthe figure she kept before, however, was turned and appeared more voluptuous, more carnal. Her hair was now black, her hair not in a ponytail but layered, more of a presence than her former.
   
But, then again, she wasn’t real. Neither was Karumei.
   
“Master.”
   
“Vornis.”
   
They both replied, but he was drawn to the transparent view of Amira; she had a beauty to her that drew him in, much more than the close respect and relationship that he and Kar had before they separated and she went with Alvik, the man who first found her.
   
“It seems you’re at the precipice, Master. The edge of darkness and the field of good.”
   
Vornis looked down, and breathed in as he saw his feet standing on a white canyon, staring down into a hole of darkness.
   
“Hmm, seems you’re too far on my side Vornis. I think you need a push.”
   
Vornis’ brow furrowed.
   
“What?”
   
Karumei laughed…but it was harrowing.
   
“It seems you’re out of luck now, Master.”
   
Vornis realized what was going to happen…

   
“What the frak is wrong with him?”
   
Ryann spoke in a low tone as he saw Vornis looked up at the crowd, his hands up, pleading with them not to throw him into the canyon.
   
“Please, no! Not the darkness! I am a follower of light!”
   
“He’s freaking out…Vekis, give me the collar. Let’s see if we can tag him now.”
   
Vekis was leaning over Vornis, his head turning to look at Ryann.
   
“…Are you frakking insane? We can’t take him to the ship with that psycho metal wolf or whatever the frak John is. Not to mention that Jedi! There is no way, even with the reinforcements that you think Tarsk will send!”
   
Ryann looked over to Garrick, and then to Vekis.
   
“You think I had the intention of actually capturing these people?” Ryann started to speak, taking the collar and snapping it around Vornis’ neck, still speaking oddly, his voice getting louder as he talked.
   
“The Gods! It’s dark! It’s void! Sick, painful, darkness…it’s full of evil!”

"What do you mean, Ryann?" Vekis asked.

"I had no plans to capture them. I'm going to tell them that when I see them. I'm no frakking bounty hunter, I'm a smuggler. But, we're here now, and Vornis here will be our bargaining chip."
   
The collar activated, two prongs piercing the skin around his neck.
   
And now he was under the effects of a high-powered neural disruption collar.
   
Ryann pushed his head down and took the password device into his hands, typing in a key only he would know that would safely unlock the device. He felt a little sorry; no being should be forced into these situations, but Ryann needed a job, and he needed to stay off of the grid for awhile.

“If they try to save him, they’ll kill him. It’s not like he’ll stay cooped up for long anyways; ever hear of a Jedi or something as a slave?”
   
“Of course not. It’s those other guys I’m worried about.” Torin spoke.
   
“…Especially Aray.” Garrick spoke up, looking away as Ryann turned to look at him. He was becoming more and more of a hassle, and Ryann began to wonder if Vekis really was right about not trusting the racer, even though he had many assurances on him for some odd reason.
   
Maybe he trusted too easily.
   
“He’s lumbering off into a chemically-induced sleep, not to mention the disruptor scrambling his beta-waves. He’s out until we get this collar off of him.” Vekis reported, letting Vornis fall to the ground as he placed his hands over his head. Vornis continued to talk in what the team thought was tongues, but he began to softly subside, his eyes closed as he relaxed against the wall, still whispering.
   
Ryann, leaning in, stared at Vornis, his hand moving to one of his lightsabers. In front of the group, he gripped the blade’s handle and stared at it as if it was a lost artifact. He turned it in his hands gently and smoothly, treating it like a relic of a age long gone…which, to him, it was.
   
“A weapon from an age of honor and Kings. Often a poetic weapon as much as it was a tool, one to conquer, but the other to divide peace. Made to not only draw the blood of their opponent when used, but to draw their own, for it was not a weapon designed, but a scepter…”
   
Ryann pocketed the two lightsabers.
   
“You going to sell those, Mister Poet?” Torin asked, looking over his shoulder as no one came to them, but in the alleys he saw people stare, licking their lips, as if viewing someone easy to rob or murder. Some blue, some yellow, some alien.
   
“No. I’ll probably give them to Tarsk…well, one of them at least.”
   
Vornis looked up, eyes half closed.
   
“No…”
   
“Hmm?” Ryann asked, pressing down on a button along the collar’s band, the Jensaarai arching his neck and breathing more heavily, a sign of pain, before he slumped back against the wall, his energy drained from him. Ryann looked over to Vekis, who appeared visibly distraught by the action, but so did everyone, even Ryann. A former honorable man, biting his lip as he saw the man wither. In the background, the man himself flickered onto a large holoscreen, wanted by the Empire for terrorism against itself.

He looked headstrong in the holo, but here, in front of the Jensaraai, he looked wounded, gaunt. A pillow of sadness on a bed made of tears.

Nothing like the man he was barely a month ago…but the crew surmised that Imperial Intelligence interrogations would do that to people.
   
“Let’s head to the Spaceport. Get Lyra on the line.” He spoke, standing up, then looking towards the Spaceport itself, worried on how he would survive. Especially with a pissed-off claw-man wanting his head.

Re: In the Shadow of the Black Sun

This was insanity.

Garrick’s stomach tied in a knot as he watched them drag the tremoring Jedi’s body away. This was all too much for him, and it had to stop now.

“Where are you taking him?”

“We’re going to get him ready for interrogation,” Ryann said, half distracted by a datapad he rapidly tapped away at.

“You’re interrogating him? For what?”

“In the meantime,” Ryann ignored his question, “You’re going to help us find the ship he came in,”

The Second Hand? No, Ryann was wrong. It was time to find the rambunctious little stowaway he was stuck with and get the hell off this planet. What was he thinking? Was he just going to stroll up to Aray and the others and say ‘I know I lead these mercenaries here and they’re most likely going to kill all of us, but I changed my mind so would you like to go out sometime?’? It made no sense! Sure, pod racing hardly made any sense either, but at least when you strapped into a pod, there was a fraction of a chance you may step out alive. There had to be a way. He had to slip away, just for a moment, and warn the crew of the Second Hand. But how?…Garrick’s eyes lit up. Bingo.

“Racer?” Ryann shouted, his voice gritty with annoyance. “Shall we?”

Garrick smiled, “We shall,”

— — —

Garrick led the group through the crowded spaceport, crews hauling equipment and other materials onto their respective ships, yelling orders and sharing hearty laughter. Where was happiness when he needed it?

“Vekis, have you gotten a hold of Lyra yet?” Ryann said over his shoulder.

“She’s on her way here, but she lost the girl,”

“Lost her?”

Garrick cocked his head, listening to the conversation going on behind him, careful not to give any indication he was paying attention. Joy had gotten away?…Joy was being chased? He swallowed the lump in his throat and kept his eyes forward, scanning the ships in the port. It had to be around here somewhere…When he found it, the plan was to completely ignore it and take the mercenaries further down the port. There was enough foot traffic to at least attempt a separation from the rest of the group. Hopefully they would be so caught up in what they were doing, they would forget about the poor old pod racer they were following.

“What happened?!” Ryann was getting a little upset.

“The girl climbed into a vent or something…”

His mind wandered once again to the young Twi’lek, when he saw the carbon scored exterior of the Second Hand, tucked quietly in a corner port. No one was walking in and out. No one was loading equipment. It looked empty. Garrick didn’t know if that was good or bad. This was his chance to redeem himself, to try and help those he had unknowingly betrayed, even if it cost him his life. A small cantina was jutting out into the middle of the walkway, the perfect place to slip inside and watch the mercenaries walk right on by. All he had to do was—

“Hey!” Vekis shouted over the crowd, “Over there!”

A bucket of cold shock hit Garrick in the face and he slowly turned around. Vekis was pointing at the Second Hand’s port. Damn. Ryann grabbed Garrick by the sleeve and they made their way to the side of the walkway, out of the foot traffic.

“So what happened? Did you forget where they were?”

Garrick stuttered, “There was…there were so many ports, so many people, I just walked right past it. Sorry,” His voice was almost as feeble as his excuse.

“Did you see that?” Vekis poked his head over Ryann’s shoulder, staring daggers into the pod racer. “I think I saw a little bit of regret in his eyes,”

“Really?” a sick smile cracked half of Ryann’s mouth, “You having second thoughts, racer?”

“No, I just…I forgot…” Someone bumped him from behind and it pushed he and Ryann closer together. Garrick made the mistake of glancing over his shoulder to see who it was, when something hard and square jabbed his ribs. His shot a glance back at Ryann, and didn’t need to look down to know a blaster rifle was primed and ready to blast his guts out.

“You forgot?” Ryann seemed unconvinced. Not good. A moment passed. Garrick’s breaths were becoming stilted and ragged. Vekis moved quietly to Ryann’s side, blocking the view of the rifle from the walkway. “I think I’ve had just about enough of you,” This was it…

Ryann’s hand slammed into Garrick’s chest, stunning him. Garrick instinctively brought his hands up to defend himself, but instead of Ryann’s arm, his fingers wrapped around another thick handful of credits.

“Get out of my sight before I waste a blaster round on you,”

Without another word, he and Vekis turned their attention to the Second Hand. And just like that, he was free. The mercenaries moved away, leaving Garrick standing alone, with a handful of empty credits.

— — —

He held his head with his hands, the credits stuffed unceremoniously into his pocket. Garrick had been trying to come up with something, some way to warn them or to get onto that ship. But nothing was coming to him. His head was filled with regret, turning over and over, trying to make himself feel better about anything, but there wasn’t any way he would be able to overcome this feeling of helplessness. What the hell was he doing here? He was preparing for another round of scorning himself when a metallic rumble broke his concentration. It was faint at first, but it grew louder, more fierce, like someone was holding a large piece of sheet metal and shaking it back and forth. And it suddenly stopped. Garrick looked up, expecting to see some obvious source of the noise. But there was nothing there. No one.

“Hey you!” a little voice echoed above him. Garrick’s eyes cautiously scanned the skies above. Was it the Gods? “You wanna give me a hand out of here?”

Across the street, about eye level, a little blue hand was sticking out of a slotted vent cover, waving back and forth. Joy’s bright eyes shone through the slots. Garrick scrambled to his feet and made his way across the street.

“What the hell are you doing in there?”

“Less questions, more get-me-out-of-here!”

“Okay, just give me a second…” Garrick spun around, looking for some sort of tool he’d be able to use to pry the vent cover open. Suddenly the hair stood up on the back of his neck, a chill ran down his spine. He glanced at Joy. “Was that you?”

“Huh? Can’t you just pull it open or something? I’m all dusty…”

“No, I just…”

Down the street, from the opposite corner of the Second Hand, he saw him. The man from the space port on Nar Shaddaa. The one with the claws…They locked eyes.

“Hang on, Joy, this is going to be bad…”

Re: In the Shadow of the Black Sun

I strike a match off the hull of the Second Hand, and lit the cigarra in my mouth.  I puffed it a few times, the warm glow showin my face for the character now talkin with Aray. I put out the match on my hand as I take my first long drag.  No lie, getting burned, even a small burn like that hurts.  Being burned, really burned, is probably the most pain a man can be in while still conscious.  I’m not big on pain, but I’ve handled my fair of it over the years.  Still, why am I burning myself?  See, 10 feet in front of me Aray is negotiating with the “Big Fish” of the spaceport we just landed in.  Or at least he thinks he is anyway.  Well, Aray isn’t the most intimidatin figure around, though she’ll hold her own in a fight.  She discovered a while back though, that if she brings a man with her, even to just stand behind and watch, these guys give her a better rate fer dockin.  She didn’t like it, but figured it was just easier then pitchin a fit after every landing.  Jerva and Vornis had already left.  Kite was meditatin, or as I saw it, he was taking a nap sitting up.  Danner was sleeping off the night shift, and the Ryn was well a Ryn.  Not much value to this situation, if you know what I mean.  Plus, as Aray put it, “If I didn’t know you, you’d scare the shit out of me, so you’ll do”, she knows just how to sweet talk a guy doesn’t she?  Could I help it if I wanted to help get her the best rate possible?

I watch the small burn scab and healed over, and grinned to myself slightly as I took another long drag of smoke and held in my mouth.  Out of all the drawbacks and benefits of what’s been done to my body over the years…the ability to smoke a cigarra guilt free is right up there with being shot, and living to tell about it.  I let the smoke seep out of the sides of my mouth.  The guy was already eyeing me with some interest, so for my final part in this little act, I flashed my eyes red for a second.  That small glance was all it took I guess, cause Aray was suddenly thanking the “Big Fish” went quickly back to his nice safe pond.

Aray turned to me, and put her arms on her hips and asked  “What did you do?  We were negotiating, and then he just agreed to my terms.”

“That a problem?”

“Not at all, cept I remember you begrudgingly coming along.” She added as she walked towards me.

“You comin to a point somewhere off in the distance Red?” I replied shifting the cigarra to the other side of my mouth.

Aray grinned at the new title that John had started calling her since she dyed her hair.  “My point is, that if you didn’t want this to become one of your tasks while being a part of this crew…” she said closing the distance between us, “…then you probably shouldn’t have done such a good job.”

You see, this is what happens when dealin with a woman.  The wrong brain starts making decisions.  I could fight it of course, say no, but fightin losing battles ain’t my thing.  ‘Sides it ain’t a bad gig.  Look menacing fer 5 minutes.  I could handle that every now and then.  I shrugged, puffed on the cigarra and said , “Fine…but no more dishes”.  Maybe I could at least get out of that crap job.

Aray just shook her head, “This isn’t a negotiation, I’m the Captain.”

Uh huh, cause that’s gonna work.  Two puffs and a deadpan stare was my only reply.

“We’ll talk about the dishes” Aray said throwin her hands up.  

I chuckled a little, each laugh joined by a puff of smoke.   

“Enjoying your smoke?”

“Yeah actually, they were in the pocket of the jacket, ain’t half bad.”  I replied.

“Oh, can I try?” Aray asked reaching a hand out.

I jerked my head back a little and replied “I dunno, I’m not really the sharing type darlin.”

She raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms, then quick as a flash she had deftly taken it from me.  

“Hey…!”  I yelled.  It’s not smart to part a man with his cigarra, and I’ve knocked people out fer less.  

Aray didn’t look worried, and thinking about it, she had no reason to be.  I watched as she put the cigarra to her lips, drew in deeply.  I expected to laugh as she started gagging, like most new smokers do, but instead she just made an “O” shape with her mouth, and puffed out three smoke rings that floated lazily into the air.

Not many things surprise me anymore, but seeing that sure did.  “Didn’t expect that.” I dumbly uttered.

“Ha, whose cigs do you think these are?”  Aray said tossing her hair back.  “I only save them for special occasions, so I figured you could use a few since yours were torched.”

It still felt a little strange havin this person who cared about me.  I figured that I’d just lucked out with the cigarra’s, but it was her.  Livin the kind of life I’ve lived since my escape, no one gives you anything.  People who have family don’t realize how much getting a few cigs in your pocket from a friend can mean to some people.  The “thanks” I uttered barely seemed adequate.

My face must have been showin more then I wanted it too, cause her’s started to soften.  I quickly changed the subject.  “So where’d you learn to do that?” I asked pointing to the smoke.  

“You’d be surprised at all the extra skills a girl can pick up hanging around shady spaceports for most of her life.” She declared with a sly grin.

She was flirting with me again.  “Well you got me with the rings, but I don’t surprise easy darling.  What else you got?” I challenged her with a smile.

 She got a sultry look in her eye and moved closer till she was standing right in front of me.  “I bet I can show you how to share a cig?”

“Oh yeah?” I said as she took a drag.

Aray didn’t respond, but just reached up and kissed me.  Our lips locked, her scent filled my nose, and our bodies melded.  Then as quick as it had begun it was over, and I was exhaling very sweet tasting smoke.  She looked a little apprehensive, but I just smiled.  Then our lips were locked again, my hands lifted her up, her legs wrapped around my body.  I twisted around, so that she was up against the ship.  Her hands ran threw my hair, her scent was delicious.  I let out an involuntary growl, and then I feel her hands on my shoulders, her lips break from mine, and she says “Wait…”

Now this is something I’ve never understood about women.  They can be sexy and hot one minute, then they can flip a switch or something, and be totally calm.  What they don’t understand is that men, especially men with part Shivasten  in them, don’t have this ability.  So when she said “Wait…”, she has no idea the amount of willpower I’m usin to not take her right there, consequences be damned.  

Eventually reason wins this round, and I reply “Yeah?” I answer, my voice quickened, some part of my brain still hopin that she just wants to pause for a mint or something.

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry, I…I just can’t…” Aray said as she broke the embrace and started to walk away.  

I swear, I think she’s trying to give me the biggest pair of Chiss colored balls ever.  What’s with this girl?  “Can’t do what…make up yer mind?”

Aray turned to face me and answered, “I can’t be that type of girl.”

Why do they always have to think that we’ve somehow been able to follow them through their murky confusing minds, and know exactly what in the galaxy they are talking about?  Even if I did, which I don’t, there is about the same chance of me being a Jedi as there is of us being on the same page.  So in my complete confusion I ask, “Will you please explain, in plain basic, what the frak you are going on about woman!”  At this point, patience, never exactly a virtue of mine fer starters, has completely left orbit.

Aray sighed in frustration and looked down.  “Listen John, I’m the Captain of this ship, and I cannot just have flings with my crew or anyone else.” She said in frustration, running her hands through her hair.

“That a new rule?” I asked.  I mean, in the last hour we’ve kissed twice.

“No…it’s my rule” Aray said straightening herself.  “And it’s not one I’m going to budge on.  I thought I could…I don’t know…you and I,  and then…but no, we’re not going down that road.”

I stare at her vacantly.  I don’t have another response.  “What do you want?” maybe I’ll get something resemblin a straight answer this way.

“What do I want, what do I want?  Well, let’s start with what I don’t want.” Aray stated as she cleared her throat.  “I don’t want a one-nighter, I don’t want to wonder if the person’s going to ditch me the next morning.  I don’t want to be used, manipulated, promised lies, or anything else.  I just want…a partner.  I’m sick of the game.”

“Ok, first, I haven’t done any of those things to you, nor was I planning on it.”I started.

“John, stop…” she interrupted.  “…I’m not accusing you, or saying you would, but come on.  Knowing even as little about you that I do, can you honestly tell me that you haven’t done any or even one of those things?” she said much more calmly then I’d have liked.  Ok, so in my defense, most of the woman I “dated” for lack of a better term were psychos at the bottom rung of the ladder if you catch my drift.  But she’s right, I’ve been no saint in my day.  She sounds like she’s talking about marriage, but I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want to marry me.  Maybe she wants a boyfriend, which I haven’t been since I was 15.  Ugh, I’m getting a headache.

“We just want different things, so whatever this is between us…it stops here.”

“Don’t I get a say…”

“No, you don’t.” she said ending the conversation right there.  She started up the gangplank, but then she paused.  “Here’s your pay for being a crewmember on this ship.  It’s not much, but it’ll get you a new pair of boots.  I’d go with something sturdier than last time if I were you.” She said as she tossed me a very small bag of creds, and marched back up the gangplank.

If you’re ever in need of a planet to sulk on, you couldn’t ask for a better one then Umgul.  Under a nearly constant cover of clouds and rain, the locals escape the damp cold mist filled streets by going inside to gamble.  Didn’t matter on what really.  Pod races on other worlds, rotatin seasons of sports, but the most popular though was Umgullian Slug racing.  Gambling was so much apart of the way of life here that it’s the only world that I know of where cheating gets you an official death sentence.  Course that doesn’t exactly stop people from trying, which is why Umgul is also the world where they consider the death penalty too lenient.  How do I know this, well let’s just say I’ve had more then one job from Umgul.

Now, I like a good slug race as well as the next guy, but that wasn’t the reason I was walkin through the streets near the space port.  Out of all the crazy frak that  had come out of Aray’s mouth, she was right about me needing shoes.  Hopefully I’d been able to find ones with a durasteel toe, I found a shop down a ways from a brightly lit bar.  Now this wasn’t exactly a high end show store, more of a supply shop, but it would do.  

I entered, and within 2 minute heard the high pitched woman, “NO SHOES, NO SERVICE!  GET OUT!” the woman screamed at me, and then turned to her customer and said very calmly “Thank you, come again”.

“You still here?!?”  she screeched as the last customer brushed past me.  

“Of course I’m still here.  I haven’t bought anything yet.” I said calmly.  If this lady thought she was having a bad day, she was about 2 sentences away from having the worst day of her life.  “Look, I’ve had a bad day, and I just need to buy a pair of…”

“I Don’t Care!  I tell all of you bums, all day, no shirt, no shoes, NO SERVICE!” she yelled again, and pointed to the exit.

Now sure, I could have cursed her out and left.  I could have found another place, but that would be me using my head.  Instead I started to feel my eyes burning and my metal teeth starting to grind.

“You get out now, or I call police!” she demanded backing away a little.

“I JUST WANT TO BUY A PAIR OF SHOES!” I yell as loud as I can.

“Whoa there John!” I hear a familiar voice say behind me.  I feel a hand on my back, and I turn to strike, but Jerva’s scent hits me first.  I stop myself just as I see his face.

“What are you doing here?” I asked

“Stopping you from attracting every lawman in the area” he whispered.  “Perhaps I can help miss, I believe my friend here needs some shoes.” Jerva said is the friendliest voice I’ve never heard.  My eyes stopped burning at this point, and I managed to relax my jaw.  The lady seemed unconvinced and kept staring at me, and honestly I couldn’t blame her.

“Please excuse my friend’s behavior, he’s…special” Jerva explained.  I swear I snapped my head at him so fast, but the look he gave me back told me to shut up and calm down.  Under normal circumstances, I’d have balked more, but the fight had gone out of me.  

I tossed him the cred bag, and said “Durasteel toed boots, size 12” as I walked away.  I sat on the curb outside, arms on my knees.  I’m not exactly one for self-control, but I don’t go round looking to skewer shopkeepers; especially when I’m wanted by the biggest syndicate in the galaxy.  I held my head in my hands and shook it.  This, whatever this is, is not good.  

*Spit*

“Women” I said to no one in particular.  My reply was a pair of black boots dropping next to me with socks in them.

"They only had black, but I think you’d mind."  Jerva said.

"Thanks" I replied gruffly.

"So are you going to tell me why you're here trying to get us all caught, or should I just chalk it up to the fact that your insane?"  Jerva asked while I put on socks and boots.

"Thanks for socks."

"No problem, even if you're insane, you should still take care of your feet."  responded Jerva.

I stood up and turned to face him,"You done?” I asked.

He just grinned and replied, “For now."

"Change?"  I asked.

"You owe me 10 credits."

"Shoulda skipped the socks” I said as I started walking back to the space port.

We walked in silence for a while.  I was grateful to Jerva for his help, and for not pressing too hard.  It didn’t seem like him, but I wasn’t going to question it.  Of course the “For now” meant we’d be having a fun conversation later.  I shook my head, and decided to deal with that later.  

“I’m gonna grab a quick bite, you in?” Jerva said heading towards a blob candy stand.

“Not hungry” I replied, “I’ll meet you back at the ship.”

“K… oh and John.” Jerva said pausing before he split off.  I turned, “Yeah?”

“Try not to kill anybody on the way.”

“No promises” I said turning away and heading for the spaceport.  I reached the section number where the Second Hand was docked.  The wind changed suddenly, and I caught a whiff of a familiar scent.  Turning quickly I saw the pod racer, what was his name, ah who cares.  He was on Nar Shadaa, and he must have followed us!

“YOU!” I shouted.

Strangely, he didn’t even run, I closed the distance, and rammed my metal fist into his gullet.  

“What the FRAK are you doing here?!” I growled to him as my claws sprang forth and came to within an inch of his coronary artery.

Garrick was still trying to breathe, when I heard another voice.  “Hey!  You leave him alone!”  I swung my left hand around with my head, and found myself pointing at a small twilek girl inside a pipe.  Too many questions came to mind from this scenario, so I just said “Pipe down girl, this doesn’t concern you”, and decided to deal with her later.  I bent down close to Garrick, and sniffed him.  He stank of fear, but there was another scent mixed in with his own.  I concentrated, and then it hit me.

I grabbed Garrick off the ground, slammed him up against the wall with one hand, and pointed my claws at his throat.  “WHERE IS HE!?!”

Garrick had his hands up now, “Listen, I’m….I’m sorry, it’s not my fault, just please don’t kill me!” he pleaded.

As I was holding him there, I heard blaster fire in the distance.  Both Garrick and I turned towards it.

“That’s them isn’t it?  ISN’T IT?!” I demanded as I shook Garrick.

“Yes yes yes!” he shouted.  As a reward, he got a metal lined fist across the face.  He slumped down against the wall.  I didn’t know what to do with the girl, or how much she was or wasn’t a part of this, so I made a snap decision.  I punched the top and bottom of the pipe behind where she was.  This trapped her where I could find her later.

“HEY!” she protested, but I was already running towards the ship’s hangar.  As I sprinted into the gate, I heard the engines start to spin up.  The gangplank was being raised, and one of the hijackers was guarding it.

“Someone’s coming!” he yelled as ship began to rise.  He took aim at me, but I didn’t slow down.  Two shots followed, but the jerking of the now lifting ship threw off his aim.  I leapt onto the gangplank, my weight forcing it into an open position, and slammed my body into the guard.  We hit the ladder that linked the gun turrets.  I felt the burning in my stomach before I heard the blaster shot.

The guard fell down the ladder into the gun turret.  I couldn’t tell if he was dead or just knocked out, and I didn’t care at the moment.  At this moment right now, I was tryin to deal with the blaster wound in my stomach.  My body was telling me to lay down, my mind telling me to scream in pain.  Instead my will told both of them to stuff it, and commanded that I stand up.  I stood weakly, holding my stomach, I took two steps, and felt pain explode on my back.  I fell back onto the open gangplank.  “NO!” I screamed and dug the claws of my right hand into the gangplank.  The same bounty hunter from Nar Shadaa, the one who had let me fry, stepped into view.  

“You know, you have got to be the hardest to kill Brix in the entire galaxy.  I can respect that, heck I even admire it.  You’re a survivor.  Still, that don’t change the fact that if I stun you, bring you on board, I can bet without a doubt you’ll be a lot more trouble then you’re worth to me.  That, and I am kinda curious what a point blank shot to the head does to someone like you.” He stated pointing his gun at me.  “FRAK Y..”   
I don’t remember finishing that sentence, or hearing the blaster shot, and I have no memory of the fall either.  In fact the next thing I remember is pain in my shoulder, and me waking up screaming.  Jerva is stepping back from me.  I’m tied down, “WHAT THE FRAK!” I scream.

A bucketful of water is thrown on me, and it shocks me into silence.

“You done being an animal, so I can untie you now?” Jerva asks.

I nod slowly.  As he untied my wrists I ask “What happened?”

He finishes untying me, and I sit up.  We’re on a ship, it smells like Garrick.  Or it could be that I’m smelling the Garrick that’s unconscious and force cuffed to a pipe in the corner.  And then I see the little girl tied to a chair and gagged.

“Well, I was right behind you remember, I found these two, and then heard the ship taking off.  I arrived in time to watch you fall, and it blast into orbit.  So I stunned her, and dragged to all to Garrick’s ship.  Oh and by the way, what the hell do you eat, you weigh a frigging ton.” Jerva said as he sat in a chair.

“And you tied me up why?” I snarled.

“Oh, so you didn’t stab me when I set your dislocated shoulder.”

“Ah….thanks.   How long?” I asked.

“A couple of hours.  Hope the trail isn’t too cold for the rescue mission.” He said checking his blaster.

“Rescue mission, never thought I’d hear you say that.” I responded with a slight chuckle.

“I didn’t get my cut yet.” He deadpanned.

And suddenly my world made sense again.  Now all we needed to do was wait till the other two woke up.  Then we could all have a nice chat.

Re: In the Shadow of the Black Sun

<i>That's it!
"Joy, Super-Spy Mechanical Extraordinarie."</i>
She propped her fists on her hips as she stood upright, like a super-heroine. Though lacking any sort of cape. Or a trenchcoat - or whatever it was that Super-Spies wore. Her dirty finger moved to her lower lip as she pressed it in to let her eyes flutter upwards to the short cieling above for thought.
<i>Maybe a jumpsuit…? OH! Super-Suit!</i>

Her hand thrust up as a fist while the other remained squarely on her hip, another super-hero pose - lasting a full quarter of a second after she punched the cieling and recoiled in the pain. She'd quickly drawn her hand to cradle her shaken bones and whimper as she stomped in place, while dust fell from the cellar cieling and caused her to splutter and then sneeze. Great, she'd look more black than blue after this. At least she could look forward to a relaxing bath.

Another few moments and she shook off the feeling of her hand being stunned, flexing it a bit she smiled to herself of her recovery. "'Nuff games." The tone of her voice commanding, trying to keep her thoughts focused and intense on the job at hand.

<i>Wonder if I could get a job building gadgets and stuff…</i>

Truthfully, the place was long-since abandoned. Dust covered every part of the room with white sheets over crates just shorter than her. Dusty backpack hung from her shoulders, t'chun-t'chin both comfortable curled from the back of her head and rested on the flat-top of her pack, sprawled like hair ontop of one another before dangling off one side. She glanced back to the vent upon hearing some scuffing noises of footwork, female grunting annoyances and swears - causing the young lady to duck behind one of the crates as the woman peered through on all fours, then raised her hand to her comm to speak through it clearly.

"Yeah. I'm here." she's winded somewhat, perhaps from a fight or just running in circles for the traces of a dirty little wretch. "Lost the girl." She stood up, not making her movements quiet as she kicked loose earth into the opening. "Down into grating or something." She grumbled and moved off, talking into her communicator and caused Blue to peer out towards the bright opening, carefully moving out from cover and continuing her croutched walk and duck behind cover incase she was being lured out. Though, after a few minutes she grew confident once more she was free. Right until she came to a solid metal wall. "And me with no plasma-cutter." She told herself, examining the blockade with bright eyes while her fists pressed on her hips. Off the corner of one eye, something different. A grin spread across her features as she dusted off her hands and moved towards her escape.

<i>Spy Time!</i>

She moved to the corner of the closed room and reached up for the grating covering the vent, feeling the cool air that made her certain it led to the outside, the fan beyond the visible grate no longer functioning. That was another good sign. Though, she was too short. A quick leap with her arms raised and fingers outstretched recieved reward, though only one hand managed to get a grasp she hung for a moment, having expected to have landed back on the floor with a grate in one hand. Peering up, while hanging an extra foot off the ground she grasped with her other hand and swung her legs up, causing her body's motion to go from dangle to a gentle swing. Fine. She did so again, but this time during mid-swing she came down quick and hard, landing on her backside.

"Ow ow ow!" She groaned with brief pauses of regret and a tune of whining to her song. "Okay, Mr.Vent. No more happy Joy." She glared up at the open shaft that was now left exposed, before tossing the cover-and-fan aside to crunch and bend out of the way. She leapt up once more, pressing one hand to the inside of the vent and the other to grab a lip that connected two adjoining parts, while her legs searched quickly for something to get a hold of, before pinning her boots upon the lip where the vent mouth was, pressing her backside up against the vent wall behind her with a soft yelp, still sore from the fall. Moving her weight forward, she kept one hand behind her back and moved one foot to the other side of her first, giving her a mobile place that didn't involve bruising her backside more.

Suffice to say, her pink outfit was ruined by now. More like a grubby bunch of ribbons banded together in knots than a artistic piece of clothing worn by her kind. Tears forming in the more broad parts of her dress. She sighed as she banged the back of her head on the metal frame, causing it to vibrate intensely and send more dust and dirt down. "Ugh. I quit being a spy!" She roared out, looking up in frustration to the situation before going neutral in her expression. Light was pouring in just a few feet above her.

With a burst of excitement and happyness you get from possible escape, she was up to the grating in no-time. Though, now she had to turn about. With a bit of difficulty, she managed. Afterall, it's just a matter of footing and shifting yourself about before you're facing the right direction. Now she had to get her backpack off to- Wait. Garrick was there. She booted the vent infront of him as he peered up to the sky like a plonker. The shaft vibrated uneasily from her stomp, causing it to echo to her rather painfully for a few moments while he still looked clueless.

"HEY YOU!" She yelled, able to get one arm to stick out of the spacing of the vents grill to wave to him. Though her skin was darkened by the ammount of dust upon her, her eyes were still as bright as ever. Pink cloth now looked grey rather than the cute-colours it had once been. That'll take quite a bit of washing.

It's said, the first question in an encounter is the stupidiest… or most redunant and simpliest. Same thing? "What the hell are you doing in there?” He asked, bluntly with a frown across his big brows lowering.

Her arm flopped in response to hang out of the grating while she kept herself supported in place. “Less questions, more get-me-out-of-here!” She screamed in response, eyes disappearing for a moment while she closed them in annoyance, before weaving her arm back through the gap so she was mostly concealed once more, before he mumbled. She didn't quite know what he babbled about, but she knew he was looking for something to open it with. “Huh? Can’t you just pull it open or something? I’m all dusty…” She gave a fake and forced cough to try and <i>compell</i> him to hurry up already.

She blinked, sitting up in the vent to try and get a better view upon whatever Garrick was on about. Did that woman find her? Within moments, the vent shook and she nearly lost her footing. She could hear someones voice along with Garricks…. less than heroic replies. Well, someone had to be the sidekick in this adventure. "Hey! You leave him alone!" She demanded, yelling through the grating as he looked to her, taking in the new sight before retorting to make her frown.

<i>Why. If I wasn't in this pipe…</i> She fumed for a few moments, considering what <i>exactly</i> could she do to a guy like that… Kick him in the shins? Yeah. That'd show him. Great, now she was being sarcastic to herself while the two conversed. Suddenly, the grating below her crunched, then above. She was trapped. "HEY!" She yelled out, realizing it was the thing that was scalding Garrick like a bad puppy.

"Okay!" she called out, seemingly encouraged by the guy moving off that they could escape now. "Now's our chance!" She waited for a brief moment before trying to position herself so she could see properly. At least she could stand on a sloped surface now. "Garrick?"

<i>An hour passes.</i>

She flopped onto the ground, dusty and undignified as she sat up quickly and kissed her tool of choice. "I love this thing!" She praised it for a bit, raising it with both hands before shoving it into her backpack and shouldering it once more, the grating pryed open with the screw-driver like item, it was then she noticed Garrick was out cold, moving to press her hand to his throat to check he was okay. Well, he was at least.

"Okay, wake up then…" She looked about for something to use, before being grabbed by the wrist - it was pretty painful, the other hand moving to her mouth to keep her from making a scene.

And then she was tied to a chair and yada yada.

Totally not cool for a <i>Super-Spy</i>. For now, she'd pretend she was out, wait for Garrick to wake up. Most noticably, she remained calm…