Pit Stop

[Damocles]

The Jiminy Cricket flew towards the planet inside Kat let out a sigh of relief she hadn't realized she was holding. Flying off Ilum she was sure that the inquisitor's ship wouldn't be too far behind but luckily it hadn't given chase. This was of course the second time that she and Shinn had escaped an inquistor and she was starting to wonder if it was luck or something else.

Kamille: why are we here?

Kat looked down at her data pad at the AI image of Kamille, she was starting to think taking him out of that droid was a bad idea.

Kamille: shouldn't we be getting to the church of the force?

Kat: we will but we also need rest and supplies and to lose whoever was chasing us. We may end up having to exchange shis unless you want to lead the imperial remnant right to the church.

Kamille: Good point, well, how are you going to convince them to exchange ships.

Kat started the procedure to land the ship.

Kat: The Roughnecks have a base here. Roughneck base this is Katrina Asuka call sign Xefg02 requesting permission to land at base.

She waited for the reply to come in.

___

In the back of the ship Shinn was sleeping his body was sore but no more than normal after a hard fight. Suddenly he heard something a voice, someone saying help. He sat up slowly looking around "who's there?" He asked her didn't see anything but the useless droid and the crate. "My imagination?" He said lying back down.

Voice: help...

Shinn's eyes opened again, that time he was sure he'd heard something. He stood up as the voice goto louder.

Voice: help...

Shinn walked over the the crate and put his hand near it, the crate started to temple. "What...?" Shinn said confused.

Voice: in here, please help me Shinn Mikazuki

Looking around nervous Shinn turned back to the crate "anyone else in here?" He questioned to be sure be wasn't going crazy.

[Zilfer]

Rylar stood out in the harsh sun of the Tattooine sun holding a hand up to his face to look out into the distance. He saw figures on the far rise moving, though they were being covert about their movements. Apparently Sand People often watched the coming and goings of star ships. Raids were unlikely but if they saw a vulnerable ship sometimes it was known they would attack for salvage. Loren came down the ramp of the ship looking greased up from the work she had been preforming on the ship. She wasn't quiet an engineer but she had been shown enough by Glitch to get by.

"Have they moved on yet?" she asked when Loren came to stand up near him.

Rylar: No, they are still watching but they've been here since we started so I don't think they'll be moving against us any time soon. I think they are just waiting for the next ship to dock. 

"What about that pot shot they took at you earlier?" asked Loren before looking out towards the bridge. Jarlan was up and about though the Rodian seemed to be taking Glitches death a lot harder than the rest of them. In truth she was still in shock they had managed to get away from another Inquisitor. No doubt if that cave in hadn't happened they may not have been here now. "So what now?"

Rylar: Easy, it's just like Jarlan said, we take the stuff find the black market and get the stuff sold. Pay day, and maybe hire another crew member. 

There was silence at that for a good minute as Rylar stopped looking in the distance and met Loren's eyes. "They know," she said without specifying. Rylar nodded slowly before shrugging.

Rylar: They look like they can handle themselves. 

"I guess it couldn't be helped in that situation anyways, though it seems we might want to find a new line of work if things keep going as they are," said Loren. She moved over to a container and took out an apple, and began to eat it. "I'll go and check to see what the other's plans are and we'll go from there. I'm sure Jarlan would appreciate someone other than him taking care of. Business this time."

Rylar grunted. Loren shook her head and then proceeded to find Shinn and Kat. The first person she ran into was Shinn who was looking about an empty room like he was looking for something.

"Are you.... ok?" she asked remembering he wasn't the most, stable of people. "I wanted to check what your guys plans were from here. We are going to unload some of the cargo to some hutt collectors around here, and sell the rest closer to the core were we won't be prosecuted for owning Jedi contraband."

[Damocles]

Kat walked out of the cockpit of the ship after landing going to find Shinn. She was carrying her data pad looking it over as she walked.

Kat: So, what else can you tell me about the Jedi Kamille?

Kamille: Well, they fought a planet of zombies before...

Kat stared at him.

Kat: if you're gonna make stuff up I'm not gonna listen.

Kamille: Hey I was being serious

Kat and Kamille both shut up when they heard Shinn talking, she walked into the hanger just as Loren arrived and looked at Shinn. Shinn turned to both girls "You can't hear that?" he asked them, Kat shook her head.

Kat: Hear what?

"Someone was asking for help" Shinn said to her, he turned back to the crate and looked at it, he bent down and started to fiddle with the lock.

Kat: Shinn we're not supposed to open the cargo

Shinn didn't listen, instead he pulled out his sword and started hitting the lock with the hilt until it cracked. He opened the crate and stared what was in it before backing up "Kamille, what is this?" Shinn asked him. Kat walked over to it putting her hand over her mouth staring at a girl inside of it.

Kamille: Hmm, so thats what they kept in there that whole time

Kat: You didn't know what it was?

The image of Kamille shrugged about it, Shinn walked back over to it and stared "Whatever it was, it was talking a few moments ago" he said suddenly the girl's eyes opened and Shinn and Kat were both blown back by a tremendous force push. The girl climbed out of the crate her long robes dragging across the floor as she looked for an exit.

[Zilfer]

Loren watched as the scene unfolded with the girl in the package. There were going to be serious problems if they were human trafficking. Jarlan hated slavers she knew, but she wasn't going to say anything in front of Shinn and Kat considering she should at least give them a chance. It seemed they were just as surprised, but that was interrupted quickly by a blast of telekinetic power. The warning had been brief, and she had just barely gotten ahold of an outcropping before the wave hit.

Once she hit the floor again with her feet, she took forth her hidden weapon holding it out to the side and a hiss activated her lightsaber. While she was on the ship she always carried her weapon, and today was no exception. Everyone present already knew she was force sensitive so the lightsaber probably wouldn't come as any surprise. The bright blue blade shot forth blocking off the exit towards the ship.

"I don't want to fight you, but we saved you from whatever was holding you," said Loren carefully choosing her words. More than likely this opponent was dangerous as the Inquisitor. Why did they keep running into Force Sensitives all of a sudden? "Please remain calm, we can talk this out."

[Damocles]

Shinn and Kat started to move standing up.

Kat: okay, what the hell was that?

Kamille: if I had to take an educated guess, I'd say the force.

"She's a force user too" Shinn asked fully standing he watched as Loren made her way in front of the girl, Shinn pulled out his sword as well. The girl stopped in front of Loren and starred at her then the light saber.

Girl: (Force user? Jedi?)

Shinn held his hands over his ears "ow..." He grumbled Kat looked at him.

Kat: what is it?

"So loud, can't you hear her screaming in your head?" Shinn said to Kat who still looked confused.

Kat: what?

Kamille: seems she's talking to them telepathically...

The girl turned to Shinn who looked in pain her eyes had sorrow in them as she went over to him, she put her hands on his face then touched her forehead to his. Kat pulled out her gun aiming it at the girl.

Kat: close enough

Kamille: jealous much?

Kat: shut up kamille...

The girl pulled away from Shinn and looked at Kat smiling at her.

Girl: Ka...Trina. Katrina, I am sorry. I was shocked when I awoke I did not mean to attack. Loren, Shinn I apologize.

Shinn looked at her confused again before eating a piece of candy "okay what is going on here?" He asked.

[Zilfer]

Loren winced at the mental touch to her mind and recoiled from the touch. It was not gentle in any way like Shinn had suggested. She had been told such a connection was possible but as her first experience she had not been ready for that. When the girl went over to Shinn and pressed her head to his Loren kept her lightsaber at the ready, ready to back up Katrina if necessary. Jarlan stumbled into the room on a crutch, and the Rodian captain ended up looking over the scene and shaking his head.


Jarlan: What is it now?


“The package the Roughneck’s picked up contained a girl…” said Loren uncertainly. Jarlan looked back to the girl who was apologizing to everyone, and his eyes went to the Roughnecks, his antennae twitching.


Jarlan: Look, I made a deal with your superior to help you get that package delivered but I cannot abide trafficking of any species. Tell me you don’t intend to turn her over for money….


“I don’t think they knew Jarlan, and I’m surprised their leader didn’t tell you when you asked for help,” said Loren defending Shinn and Katrina.


Jarlan: Your probably right, but I’m not sure I trust this Church of the Force they are supposed to deliver her to.


“Church of the Force?” asked Loren instantly curious, she had heard whispers of such a thing but Jarlan seemed to imply it was real. Why hadn’t he told her? A question for later when things were more private.

[Damocles]

Shinn watched as Jarlan came in and examined the situation. Kat looked at the girl then over to Jarlan

Kat: we had no idea this, umm she was the package, I doubt Adrian did, he hates slavers. What is your name anyway...?

Kat asked turning back to the girl who was hold up next to Shinn, she was now eating candy as well. Kat sighed heavily at this "My name is Alura, I think" she responded Kat scratched her head.

Kat: she thinks?

Kamille: Kat let me run a scan on her box...

Kat took kamille over to it and he started scanning it.

Kamille: looks like lover boy over there screwed up the systems here when he forced the crate open, her memory is more than likely damaged.

Kat: lover boy?

She looked over at Shinn who had a blank expression on his face while Alura played with his hair.

Kat: stop it...

When it was asked if they were going the turn her in for money or to the church Shinn shook his head "no we aren't" He replied walking towards the exit of the ship with Alura following him. Kat sighed again and started following.

Kat: where are you going?

ShInn looked back at Kat "to contact Adrian and find out what our next move is" He told her.

[Zilfer]

Jarlan: Loren you go with them, and find out if they still need a ride to their destination. I'll get Rylar to finish up the repairs.

"But what about--" Loren started to protest but Jarlan lifted a hand and then pointed with the crutch the way out of the ship.

Jarlan: There's plenty of time to get our bounty sold, and we won't need to take on another job for awhile. Enjoy some shore leave.

"Alright," said Loren turning to follow the others, and the odd girl who seemed growing very attached to Shinn. Loren wasn't sure how any ordinary person could be that way around Shinn with him being so cold and distant but then again, the girl was anything but ordinary. As they proceeded outside she waved to Rylar and shrugged at his confused look before following the others off into the hot sun of Tattooine. She kept her lightsaber on her, but deactivated and hidden within her cloths. She would feel safer with it. 

---

After they were off the ship Jarlan knelled down to the box, and took a look at the damage done to the device. He was familiar with the technology, and there was a possibility he would be able to fix it. He hadn't always been a mercenary captain, hell he was getting the feeling that old problems were starting to follow him. Once upon a time he had been an imperial spy, and he had employed a technology similar to this in order to wipe his own memory of mission data. 

Those had been precarious days, every month or so reinventing himself, coming to spy on the Rebel Alliance. Had it already been thirty years? Time flew, he thought right before sitting down and getting to work on the device. Perhaps he could use it again to forget... 

[Damocles]

Shinn walked with Alura by his side and Kat following, Kat turned to Loren who she noticed was following them now as well.

Kat: sorry about this, we really didn't know what or rather who was in that crate. I just hope we get this figured out soon.

Kamille: Yeah before you blow

Kat: The hell does that mean?

Kamille: nothing, nothing at all. They do make a cute couple though right?

Kat looked up at Shinn and Alura she was on his arm. Kat's eye twitched slightly as Kamille laughed.

Kat: I will break you on the nearest rock.

Kamille: sorry.

Soon they came up on a large building that had guys outside wearing the same jacket as Shinn and Kat. Shinn turned to Kat "Hey, take Alura to get better clothing she sticks out like a sore thumb" Kat nodded and grabbed Alura's hand though she struggled to stay with Shinn "I don't need new clothing, I think it would be better if all four of us stuck together" she said

Shinn looked at her "it's fine, I have to talk to our boss then we'll meet back up her" He assured her handing her another piece of candy. Alura nodded and turned to Kat.

Kat: Let's go girl in the box.

"Loren, you're with me" Shinn said going in the base. He walked to the communication area before sitting down. He sighed heavily hoping he could get a signal out "Adrian come in, you there?" There was nothing but static "Great" Shinn said someone walked over to him.

Man: Shinn!

Shinn turned to the man "Kira" Shinn said to him. "What do you want?"

Kira: Word on the holonet is Adrian poster boy botched his last job. Ran a foul of some remnant. Word is they are offering a big reward for you, Kat, some green chick and a crate with something important in it

"You want to make something of it Kira? Or do you want to keep breathing today?" Shinn asked him Kira smirked and backed away winking at Loren.

[Zilfer]

Loren nodded and smiled back warmly at Katrina’s apology. “It’s no big deal really, I figured you guys didn’t know, it’s just Jarlan can jump to conclusions easily, he doesn’t trust people he doesn’t know or can’t understand,” said Loren thinking back to all the times that Jarlan had been suspicious of a deal or a job. She couldn’t really blame him in this line of work because who knew what would happen when large amounts of money were involved.

Soon they came to a building of the Roughnecks and ended up splitting up. She almost felt sorry for Kat having picked up on what the AI had been hinting at. She frowned for a moment and followed behind Shinn. “I know you said you’re not ‘With’ Kat in that way but I’m not sure she knows it. Looks like she watched out for you most of the time so I could see where she might grow attached,” said Loren as they continued. He pulled out a communicator, and she was about to suggest he let her know his feelings when he failed to get a signal but someone else came up to them.

“Some green chick?” asked Loren with a raised eyebrow. She now folded her in the direction of this “Kira.” Shinn had winked at her but unfortunately had no idea what he was trying to imply. Did he want her to hit him? She already didn’t like him but he hadn’t done anything wrong. Loren decided to try a different tactic. “Sounds like word travels fast, around here. I’d like to know more if you’d be willing to share.”

Loren stretched her arms above her head and then behind her back pretending nonchalance. In fact she was focusing on gently pushing the man to give them more information. No doubt the Remnant might have put something out on them but how the hell had they known it was them? They hadn’t left anyone alive…. Had they? Her thoughts then went to the Inquisitior they buried under the ice. He couldn’t still be alive… could he?

[Damocles]

Kat walked with Alura to the armory of the base, she looked around grabbing some gear for her. She tossed them to Alura who stared at the clothing "What are these?" Alura asked.

Kat: Umm body armor, like the one me and Shinn wear.

"Ah okay, where can I change?" Alura asked her, Kat walked signaling for Alura to follow. Kat sat down as Alura was changing her clothing, she sighed some thinking about what Kamille had said, she had enough of his mouth and turned the dumb AI off for the time being.

Kat: Alura.

"Yes?" Alura said sticking her head out of the changing room.

Kat: Weird question, I mean I know you've only been awake for umm maybe an hour. But why are you so attached to Shinn? Not...not that I'm jealous or anything. I just want to know.

"Well, its because of how pure he is" she said stepping out of the changing room, she spun some before putting a hood on her head. Kat stared at her.

Kat: Pure, are we both talking about Shinn Mikazuki here?

Alura went over to Kat and sat next to her "Yes we are, you haven't been in his mind. He has very strong emotions, positive emotions and he only cares about one thing." she said Kat laughed some.

Kat: Let me guess, candy or his orders?

"No, he cares about his family. You and Adrian, I guess I just latched on to that feeling. Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you" she said, Kat laughed some blushing, she looked away.

Kat: Its fine, we should go catch up with Shinn and Loren.

____

Shinn looked at Loren when she talked about Kat "Kat wears her emotions on her sleeve" Shinn said about her. "Thats all that is, she'll be fine soon enough" he said to Loren, "This isn't the first time she's acted like that, you didn't notice the way she looked at you when I caught you on Coruscant?" he asked Loren figuring she hadn't noticed. Shinn stood up walking away motioning Loren to follow "The Roughnecks are one organization with separate Sects, we try not to interfere with each branches work, but that does mean sometimes we end up on opposite ends of jobs" he said to her.

"That guy Kira, I ruined one of his jobs before, he doesn't like me. As far as the bounty goes I'd say we should leave soon." he looked down for a moment "The Roughnecks have taken jobs from the Remnant before, our branch stopped it years ago, but there is no telling if the boss here still does or not" he said.

Voice: Shinn Mikazuki!

Shinn looked up seeing a man with long black hair in a nice suit standing on a balcony Kira was with him "Durandal" Shinn said under his breath. "We were just leaving" Shinn said to him.

Durandal: Leaving? Why so soon? We would like it if you could stay for dinner, you and your little harem. Boys go find Katrina and the other girl that came in with them. Make sure they don't leave.

Kira nodded walking off with a few other guys "You don't want to do this Durandal, trust me, I'm not in the mood" Shinn said to him. Durandal smirked.

Durandal: Adrian isn't here to protect you this time boy. And the bounty for your head is quite hefty...all the scum on this planet will want it, but low and behold you have come right to us. Take them, dead or alive, it doesn't matter all that does is we find that package they are smuggling.

Several of Durandal's men started to pull out their weapons Shinn reached for his sword before putting a piece of candy in his mouth.

[Zilfer]

"So it sounds like your boss won't care if these guys wind up dead, right?" asked Loren as she pulled her own heavy blaster out. She knew if she pulled her lightsaber she was going to have to kill everyone who saw her wield it so that was the last option. There was no use in drawing unneeded attention if they could get out of this with blasters, and swords. "Shinn think you could do that thing you did before?"

She kept her words unspecific but if he managed to push or distract even one of them, she'd be ready for shooting, and a jump behind containers nearby for cover. She also had a Stun grenade she'd leave behind for anyone stupid enough to remain in the open. "Just going to let you know now if so much as fire your weapon, I will kill every last one of you." 

Threats usually went a long way to deterring someone from entering into a fight with you, and despite looking like it was going to go down she still had to give it one last shot.

[Damocles]

Durandal laughed at loren's threat to kill anyone who tried to shoot them.

Durandal: you think my men are afraid of your threats girl, have you any idea what these men do for a living? Kill them and make it quick.

The men started to pull out their weapons. Shinn looked at Loren when she told him to do what he did last time. He nodded and unscathed his sword right when the men started to fire their guns, Shinn deflected a few bolts to give Loren a chance to take cover before he went on the offensive. His speed increasing Shinn ran through the bolts from the blaster dodging most of them and knocking three rest away. Durandal's eyes widened in shock as his men screamed about shinn's inhuman speed. Shinn swung his sword cutting through several of the men firing at him.

A smirk etched on shinn's face as blood flee everywhere. He turned around cutting another man in half and leapt into the air landing on someone else stabbing him.

Durandal: so this is why they call him adrian's beast...call everyone in.

Man: everyone, what do you mean everyone?

Durandal: EVERYONE!

____

Kat and Alura were walking back from the locker room when they heard the commotion alarms going off "What's going on now?" Alura asked Kat sighed closing her eyes.

Kat: you were probably right about us splitting up.

Suddenly Alura pushed Kat down as several blaster bolts flew past them "you okay?" Alura asked, Kat looked up seeing Kira and several men there.

Kat: I'm fine thanks. Kira what the hell?

Kira: boss wants you and your friends dead. So we're here to kill you. Though if you two surrender I'm sure we can find work for you as dancers.

Kat: like hell I'm dancing for you

Kira: ah well tried

He started to fire again but stopped suddenly splitting in half from the blade of a green light saber his friends all collapsed too. Kat stared on in shock as Alura walked back to her deactivating the saber "We should find Shinn" Alura said to Kat.

Kat: Holy shit how'd you do that?

"That? That was a piece of candy" she said, Kat sighed again her astonishment gone.

Kat: Cake Alura the saying is a piece of cake.

"I like candy better" Alura responded Kat sighed again.

[Zilfer]

Loren's stun grenade hit the floor right next to two of the thugs, blasting them back. Loren slipped from her cover loosing a bolt into each one of them, and then spun around guided by a sense of danger behind her. A heavy blaster shot plastered the foreign alien's head against the wall. "We warned you," said Loren jumping out of the way of more incoming fire. Apparently they had called in reinforcements.

"Shinn your going to want to find cover!" said Loren as a man in heavy armor and a heavy repeater stepped out into the room. The room was soon filled with blaster fire as the man indiscriminately laid down fire blasting, and burning everything in it's wake. Loren was down taking cover when she noticed she had a shot at the man's legs. "Shinn, get ready....... NOW!"

Her blaster bolt shot true slamming into the man's armored leg. It didn't blow it completely off like it would any unarmored target but it managed to make the man stumble. She hoped it was enough to give Shinn time to deal with the man. Three men entered in from a side door and Loren aimed down through her legs blasting three of them in quick succession. Power cell dead on her blaster she holstered it and jumped sliding across the room for one of the Merc's blaster rifles.

[Damocles]

Shinn slashed at another merc his arm went flying he ducked back when one tried to hit him with the butt of his gun. Shinn spun his sword stabbing the man, he looked over when he saw the man in the heavy armor Shinn ran behind cover as per loren's instructions. When she fired at the man Shinn sprinted out and jumped on the man'said back he spun his sword and stabbed in between the armor where the guys neck was exposed. He collapsed over coughing on blood Shinn turned around as more men entered the building.

"At this rate your won't have enough people to keep your sect open Durandal" Shinn said to him Durandal growled some.

Durandal: stand down everyone stand down!

Shinn smirked putting his sword away "Just remeber Durandal, Adrian wasn't protecting me, he was protecting you" Shinn told him just as Kat and Alura entered the room. Alura walked over to Shinn standing next to him "Messy, you should work on that" she said to him

Kat: And Durandal should work on keeping his mouth shut. Hey as payment for this transgression against us we want speedster bikes 4 good ones.

Durandal: go to hell.

Kat: Shinn could you be a dear and

Shinn leapt up to the catwalk with Durandal and put his blade to the man's neck.

Kat: We'll take those bikes now.

Durandal: fine they are out back, just call him off.

Kat: thank you, let's go guys...

She walked out with Alura following. Shinn smirked at Durandal backing away with his sword still drawn to cover the girls