Crash

[Lucia Nox]

"Energy spiders?" Lucia asked, raising both eyebrows. "Kessel?--the smuggling capital of the galaxy?" She was silent for a moment before releasing a short breath of amusement, blue eyes flashing brilliantly. "Are you trying to turn me into a criminal, Mr. Tarasov, or are you really that lonely for my company?" Lucia was teasing him, but it was all a front.

Beneath her cool exterior, a thousand thoughts and feelings raced through Lucia's mind. She was equal parts repulsed and emboldened by the idea of embarking on such a singularly un-Jedi-like mission. Part of her viewed it as a distraction from her real duties, while the other part of her . . . the other part of her looked at it as an opportunity. It looked and smelled and felt like a chance at freedom. For a moment, Lucia felt the thrill of adrenaline course through her veins.

"Very well," Lucia said after a moment, eyeing the food in front of her warily before returning her sharp gaze to his own. Her next words were serious, but they sounded almost humorous coming out of such a seemingly little blonde. "If I'm going to play big bad bodyguard for you tonight," Lucia murmured. "I'm going to need to rest."

[member="Grigori Tarasov"]

 

[Grigori Tarasov]

Grigori briefed a subtle view of a smirk when the woman, seemingly suspicious about the illegal work, barked her thoughts down. He knew Lucia would be questioning the misconduct of the law, but the freighter was his, and the woman would have no choice than doing what they promised each other. Glitterstim was produced all corners, galaxy-wide ; it had an important role in even the most honored legal businesses. The product itself valued a fair amount of credits and advantageous that even prominent politicians discreetly connect their ties with various cartels. " Not that you think of, though I would enjoy your company. I'll have you know that glitterstim is a prime product around, that even governments risk their opportunities to sell such value in their urban underworlds. " This was the reason why the mind-inducing drug covered and scattered in the suburbs of most capital planets in the galaxy, as corrupt officials would use it for straightforward currency in the black market. " Politicians are never the lawful, keep that in mind. " The fact was already established since then, both between the smugglers and legislators. It was not the contractor's misdeed after all, it was those who were superior in position.

" Plus, you'll get more credits. " Grigori spoke as ashes from his cigar sprinkled the table. His mindset in becoming the mercenary again he had once become electrifies him, knowing that he will be earning that amount after a long time. His eyes snapped to Lucia's neutral expression with the objective of persuading the woman's trust to him, prompting an interrogating stance. It seems that the woman was not fond of the wooing. Grigori said, " We'll be making a few stops after Kessel. Finish up, and get some rest. ". He clearly needed the woman's attention to influence her of altered intentions. He stood from his seat and stretched his hand to Lucia.

 

[Lucia Nox]

From his crisp uniform, to the smoke of his cigar that curled around the well-groomed coif of his beard, Grigori Tarasov was smooth--the kind of smooth that could make routine Kessel runs look like child's play, when Lucia knew very well that Kessel was one of the most dangerous smuggling hubs this side of the Outer Rim. That this man was so plainly good at being bad should have raised a red flag for Lucia, but in a strange, backward way, it almost made her trust him more. He clearly knew what he was doing.

Lucia gave the digworm writhing on her plate one more exploratory poke before giving up. She set her fork down on the table and lifted her tapered blue eyes to lock onto his own. "What's the food like on Kessel?" She asked rhetorically, a faint trace of humor glimmering over her lips as she took his outstretched hand, rising to stand at his side like some sort of noblewoman and allowing him to lead her back to tents.

The cot that had previously acted as a makeshift doctor's table now became Lucia's bed. She gently lowered herself down, relishing the feeling of letting her injured body go as if she were sinking into grand cushions of luxury instead of a rigid fold-out. Her blonde curls splayed out around her peaceful face like a halo, and her soft breathing soon rose and fell rhythmically beneath her chest. Night would come, and with it, Kessel. For now, though, Lucia would rest.

[member="Grigori Tarasov"]

 

[Grigori Tarasov]

As Grigori led the peculiar woman's path in her way to the council tents, his thoughts booted on the humorous words Lucia blurted out after abandoning the wriggling creature she would have digested. Kessel only had enough raw resources to utilize the needs of the incoming spice traders and smugglers. Although the main port had dozens of galactic-prominent food service branches, they constantly always were out of stock. Fortunately for them, Grigori stored much more presentable food items in his refrigerator inside his conversator, not including freakish digworms. " We'll be stuffing our own. You're in luck of the food in the freighter. " Grigori answered Lucia's question just after few minutes passed.

His hazel brown eyes hid a glance of faith as he escorted Lucia, " Go get some rest for now. I'll be expecting you at the shipyards later. ". In a closer look, the woman's bruises gradually healed in a short span of time from the bacta patches covering the affected areas. Grigori's experience in standard first aid at least became helpful for her now-relieving condition. He exited, swaying the tent's curtain with grace. As he approached the shipyards, she was waiting for him. Tarasov's B-7 light freighter was standing in the platformm, as Kamarian technicians of more intelligence greeted their council leader as he inspected. " She'll be fine with us, Tarasov. But, will you give us pay? " the head engineer of the group asked with a buzzing accent. " Better repair those loose wires or you'll receive not even one-fourth. " Grigori said in a nonchalant, albeit enigmatic way.



[member="Lucia Nox"]

 

[Lucia Nox]

Meditation for a Jedi healed wounds in hours that would take a normal lifeform days to heal. When Lucia awoke, the sand burns did not feel quite so raw, the lesions no longer bled, and the soreness that had made itself at home inside her muscles and bones was beginning to fade away. She stretched like a small cat, sharp blue eyes adjusting to the dim light of the tent and registering that it was nearly nightfall. Kessel awaited.

What am I doing? Lucia might have asked herself as she rose from the cot, straightening out the voluminous folds of Grigori's clothes that still swathed her lissome form. I'm getting myself off this planet, she thought, answering her own question. Without further thought or hesitation, Lucia stepped outside of the tent and into the night.

Twenty minutes and one agitated Kamarian later, Lucia managed to reclaim her lightsaber from the insectoids. She hooked the elegant silver hilt to the belt slung low around the cinch of her waist and sighed, briefly closing her eyes and feeling the return of her precious weapon as if being reunited with an old friend. When she arrived on the platform to meet Grigori moments later, she felt whole again at last.

"Lucia Nox, reporting for duty," She quipped, tossing her proud blonde head to regard his freighter with an appraising glance. "Nice ship you have there." Lucia turned her attention back to Grigori. "It took some charm and persuasion, but I got this back from your friends." She placed a slender hand on the lightsaber at her waist. "I might be small, but this thing has taken out creatures twice the size of energy spiders." She offered him a wry smile. "You're in good hands, officer. Let's get going, shall we?"

[member="Grigori Tarasov"]

 

[Grigori Tarasov]

As Lucia manifested that she was armed in private, the Jedi weapon shone its metallic finish. Grigori did not believe it at first - a weapon of his childhood nanny tales, thinking it was nothing but a metallic cylinder disguised as a lightsaber. He knew the woman's abilities will be much more dominant than his. " Just make sure you don't turn it on behind my back. " Grigori muttered while smoke puffed out from his lips. The moonlight was visible on the night sky, looming over the the tk'skqua's lit-up compound. Kamar sand rolled across the ship platform as Grigori answered the adventurous woman, " We're Kessel-bound, then. ". He approached a series of chests near the cargo documents, unfastening the lock, revealing a Stouker concussion rifle, and a bolo knife inside. The rifle was powerful, ranging up to thirty meters, and had devastating effect to those close from its blast. It was pretty effective against anything, even a rebellious force-sensitive.

Grigori gestured his Kamarian minions, bringing the cargo documents inside the B-7 freighter with haste. The technicians checked the ship compartments, organizing their final repairs. The engines started to rumble, dust flowing from the ground below. The initial takeoff was to start, and Grigori gently guided his visitor inside the ship as the door hatch closed. He knew this was not a jolly vacation, lives again will be at risk from those arachnid abominations, whatever a man even has to burn those things.


[member="Lucia Nox"]