"Arrival At The Shipyards"
By: Daemor'rah - Jedi/Bounty Huntress
Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Saris 13, 3 ABY
***
She took off from the freighter that had given her the lift back from Nar
Shadaa. She was now above Tae'Karada, where in the pasttimes, she had
learned to be a place of refuge from several opposed ones, hiding from
Darker Forces. Here and in Tatooine did former Jedi and their new Padawans
hide from being hunted down.
She took a glance at her trophies. In her belt were strapped four
lightsabers, one of them double edged. And then there was her own lightsaber
with its scarlet blade. She grinned and thought about the past times when
she hunted them down for the pleasure of the kill, for revenge of having
been driven into the ways of those who had wronged her. Well, she had had
her biggest revenge at killing her former master, Kyaraan, but much was yet
to come.
It was harder these days and she had to rely on other prizes such as the
ones with a bounty on their heads. She preferred to hunt the Jedi for
personal reasons. Alas she could compete with other bounty hunters who would
also try to get their hands on prizes. Scum most of them, and not very good
at it. There were a couple of good ones she had crossed paths with but the
best one had been Boba Fett. However, their goals still diverged as he was
obviously more interested in the money.
She walked across the shipyards and felt a disturbance in the Force. Someone
who had influence over it, even if small at that. Probably a Padawan, as it
had not such a large influence. Maybe someone in the shipyards... She
decided it was not totally her goal, as she wanted someone more of a
challenge, and hunting on planet grounds was a lot more interesting than
doing so in a space station. Perhaps she would check it out further
afterwards.
Right now she decided to concentrate on going in after a possible ride down
to the planet's surface. Perhaps as a stow-away or buying her passage.
Perhaps she could even get it for free if she convinced the owner of the
ship that would take her in. As she walked she found that the shipyards
belonged to one Lord Kandran, of the Kandran Syndicate. Perhaps he would
have bounties on his enemies. Also she found that the Empire had marked its
position and they normally paid well for their enemies being delt with.
Surely this would be a good place to collect prizes... She grinned and made
her way to the bar. She could use a drink after that long journey to the
shipyards.
"Starting Over"
By: Maeren "Shiv" Shivral - Smuggler
Location: en route to Tae'Karada
Date: Saris 13, 3 ABY
***
The inky blackness of space could still be seen through the streaking lines
of stars. Travelling through hyperspace had always been a thrill. From the
first jump nearly four years ago up to right then, Maeren Shivral loved to
relax in the cockpit of her ship and just watch. The only problem was there
was little to do in hyperspace and all that nothingness left a girl with a
lot of time to think about things. Two years ago, she didn't mind thinking
about things, especially since she had Lerrah to think about them with.
But, now she was alone in the ship. Not even any droids aboard; she
couldn't afford them and they were annoying besides.
She swiveled her seat to face the nav computer. According to the displays,
she was still on target for her new destination. She'd heard good things
about Tae'Karada. It was practically a smuggler's haven from all the
rumours floating around the rim. And, shipments of any kind could be found
to haul there. It sounded almost too good to be true, but a guy in a
cantina on Triss gave her his first hand account of the place. She would
have credits flowing in her direction soon enough. A slow grin spread
across her face as she imagined the balance on her credit chip rolling
higher and higher.
It would be a beautiful thing. She turned back to watch the daggers of
light racing past the ship. She put her feet up and let her mind wander.
Maybe she'd even be able to afford expensive foods. Lerrah had always loved
a special Mon Calamari shrimp dish, and the time Shiv tried it, she really
liked it. She wanted it again one day; and if things panned out on
Tae'Karada like she was hoping they would, she would soon enough.
It was three hours later when the flashing indicator light signaled her
arrival at the outer perimeter of the Tae'Remok sector. She activated her
comms to signal her arrival to the controllers on Tae'Karada. Once at its
destination, her ship dropped out of hyperspace. Now, running on sublight
engines, she altered her heading to take her into orbit around the planet.
From there, she could figure out where to go.
As she wove Stiletto through the inner system, Shiv noticed a high
concentration of capital ships massing in one area. Her curious side
wondered what was up, but her broke side told her to just go make some
money. She kept her ship on course, and soon found herself gliding
effortlessly in Tae'Karada's orbit.
According to the data in Stiletto's computer, the world had a lot going for
it from a trading standpoint. That made Shiv smile. She'd have an easier
time finding work. Easier wasn't necessarily better, but not having to work
so hard to put creds in her pocket for a bit would be very nice. At least,
not having to compete with ten others for the same job would be anyway.
She'd welcome a tough job, as long as she got it. Actually, she'd welcome
any job as long as she got it.
She opened a comm channel to the planetary defense controller. "This is
Stiletto, unaffiliated trader, seeking permission to pass through the
planetary force field."
The voice that came through on the other end was pleasant enough, but there
was definitely an edge of arrogance in it. "Karadan Control to Stiletto,
what is your purpose on Tae'Karada?"
"Freight hauling," Shiv responded. "My destination is the spaceport in
Commerce City."
"Please transmit your ITL credentials now," the operator asked.
Shiv rolled her eyes and transmitted her freight hauling codes. The light
blinked green once he was in possession of them.
"Please wait while we run a check on this data."
Shiv was about to respond when she realised he'd already cut the line. Her
brow furrowed and she sat back in her chair to wait for him.
It was fifteen minutes before he turned to the channel. "Your access has
been granted. Adjust heading to oh-two-one, and proceed through the opening
in the shield."
Shiv smiled. "Thank y--" The channel was dead already. Her brow furrowed
again, and she adjusted her course to the one he gave her. "Welcome to
Tae'Karada," she muttered under her breath, the sarcasm dripping from each
word. She was just glad the channel was closed.
Shiv couldn't see the hole in the defense shield, but Stiletto's sensors
were picking it up. She passed through without incident. Though, it felt
like the screen nearly chopped the back half of her ship off when it dropped
back into place.
She shook her head and angled Stiletto toward Commerce City. The freighter
dropped through the atmosphere, the heavy whine of turbulent winds sending a
shudder through the deckplates.
Time to climb up out of the pit I've gotten myself into, Shiv thought. Time
to start over.
***
It was another hour before Shiv was able to dock Stiletto in one of the
available berths at the Commerce City spaceport. After paying the
exorbitant docking fees, she started wondering if this trip was actually
worth it. She reserved a berth for a week. Any more than that would leave
her no money, and if she hadn't found work within a week, this was the wrong
place to be.
As she walked down the ramp of her ship, she checked the balance on her
credit chip. Damn, she thought, I need to find something and really fast.
The local drinking establishment was very close to the spaceport, and Shiv
figured there was probably some sort of deal between the two locations. She
slipped inside and moved to the bar.
"Wenderaan spiced ale," she said to the bartender, fixing him with a look
that said she meant business. She wasn't sure if the look worked or not,
but he got her the drink anyway.
"He don't like being ordered around," said a voice behind her. She turned
and looked. A human with scars across his face sat down on the stool next
to her. He was looking her over, appraising her. "He's the kind you gotta
be nice to. If you're nice to him, he treats you nice."
Shiv narrowed her eyes at the stranger, and then nodded. "So, do you kiss
his ass when he wants it?"
The stranger laughed. "You're a feisty one, I see," he said. "The feisty
ones don't last long around here. They don't like feisty around here."
"They don't like my attitude, they can go somewhere else," she snapped.
"I'm not changing because some flyboy can't handle me not being a sebracat
for him."
The stranger laughed again, though there was something mixed in with the
laughter that sent a shiver down her spine. He slid off his stool and moved
a step closer. "I think you'd like to come back to my ship with me."
Shiv laughed. "And, I think you're wrong."
The stranger stood taller, he was at least a quarter meter taller than she
was. She looked up and shook her head, trying to tell herself this wasn't
happening.
Her first move was fast as lightning, and the look on his face was worth
whatever trouble she found herself in over this. The long thin blade
pressed against his inner thigh startled him. She could see the fear flash
through his eyes. One of his hands involuntarily tried to push the blade
away,
but he pulled it back, a slick line of blood darkening his palm.
Her other hand flipped another blade free and pressed it to his abdomen. "I
think it's time for you to go...alone," she hissed at him. "I don't want to
ever see you again, and if I do, I'll make sure you get a good, long look at
your entrails. Now, go."
She pulled the blades away and took a step backward. He stared at her for a
long moment. The hate in his eyes was palpable. She could see the rage
working from deep in his groin, all the way up until it erupted in a
guttural shout from his scarred lips. He grabbed her drink and threw it on
the floor. She brought her knives up defensively, but he only glared.
Then, without a look back, he stormed out of the bar.
Shiv looked at her drink on the floor, and then back to the bartender.
"Another," she said. He moved instantly, and she could definitely see the
fear in his eyes that time.
The new ale was placed before her and Shiv took a hesitant sip. She gave
the bartender a smile that seemed to alleviate some of the fear. Once he
was busy getting drinks for a Rodian at the other end of the bar, she took a
bigger drink. With a sigh, she thought, so much for starting over.