Desert Blossoms

[4ND-R0]

[member="Veronica"]

Jakku. A worldwide desert much like Tatooine and Blenjeel. The only prospects here, however, were the valuable pieces of scrap. Not just any scrap, either. Remnants of centuries old Imperial Star Destroyers, New Republic X-Wings, and numerous other vehicles that lay waiting in the sand. They were probably some of the few remaining relics from a long era ago, during one of the last battles between Palpatine's Galactic Empire and the fledgling New Republic born from the Rebellion. How much times have changed in the galaxy...

A Mandalorian starship touched down upon the sandy surface just outside of Nima Outpost. A tan, Kom'rk-class fighter / transport. Long ago, such a ship had been used to move troops and supplies. Now, the pilot of the vessel used the extra space to haul cargo, namely animal products and even live beasts. Today, it was the former, the hides, bones, and teeth from a hunting excursion on her adopted homeworld of Myrkr. While primarily a scrapping community, Mirdala had found that there was a booming market for items that she sold. Particularly the so-called "richer" members of Jakku society who wanted something bestial yet flashy to adorn themselves with. She pulled out back of her ship, hauling a repulsorlifted cargo container with her pet anooba by her side. The canine companion sniffed the air and barked happily. The anooba appeared to be in its element. Mirdala clicked her fingers, gesturing her bloodhound to follow her, her eyes always wary behind her helmet. She was always seemed ready to pull out one of her blaster pistols.

Such was Jakku. A great place to sell your goods. So long as you could defend yourself from the bandits...

 

[Veronica]

[member="Mirdala Betna"]

Who would ever want to come to Jakku. Heck, why would anyone want to come back to it after leaving it?! All Jakku was, was a giant dust all of sand and rock. It's sands did harbor the fallen relics from ages both long since past and very recent. But other than the giant metal constructs that loomed upwards from the sands…their was no reason to go to Jakku. Not just because of the heat and bare terrain, no. Jakku also held a few drug cartels and criminal groups upon its sandy surface. After all, where better to hide out than a forgotten dust all its self? No police nor law enforcement existed out this far, because their were no laws save for those 'set' by the drug cartels and their thugs. Within a few decades time, Jakku would just become another Tatooine…only, far less developed.

A YT-2400 swept across the sky of Jakku, its hull was battle scarred hinting that it had been used recently. Only…well, it was actually a 'pre-owned' YT-2400. The paint job upon the hull used to be a deep onyx, or at least what little was visible under all of the dirt and other materials planted to its hull. The freighter was a good many years old, yet still in prime condition…save for the few times something broke. The Freighter in particular tucked down upon a sand flat as to land.

Veronica whisked herself down the ramp, a look of determination upon her young face. After had recently leaving Jakku for the first time, Veronica was all swept up in it all that she forgot what was important to her. Justice. As, when she had previously lived upon Jakku…trying to stand up to the drug cartels…only it led with her either running away or getting beaten. Veronica knew how it felt to be spit upon, as if you were nothing. And she wanted to change it. Sure, she couldn't do anything big…but maybe, just maybe…taking out a small Drug Cartel outpost would do the trick.

Her upper body was draped within a white Tanktop which hugged to her lean athletic build. Her light cinnamon colored shoulders were covered by a pair of leather straps on either side, connecting to a leather chest plate which covered the front of Veronica's chest and the small of her back as well. A wrap of bandages ran down her right arm starting from her elbow before covering her hand and leaving her fingers exposed. Veronica's lower body was clothed in a pair of dark jeans with leather knee pads covering her knees followed by a leather holster on the outer side of her thighs which held each a blaster of some sort. They…were sent to stun of course. Veronica wasn't a person to kill somebody, but was ready to knock them senseless if they landed a lucky blood upon her.

——————————————————————

Veronica trudged along the sand slowly and quietly, taking in the environment around her. Which…mostly consisted of sand of course. Though, it did hold an overhanging edge of an imperial star-destroyer which was currently offering Veronica cover from the blazing sun overhead. After a few more minutes of walking, Veronica crept up a small sand dune before laying flat upon her stomach and looking out upon the horizon. Her voice followed out as well as she sighed in disappointment.
"Darn it! Where is…that outpost! And here I thought that I could find something on this planet even though I've lived here all of my life......guess that I can't after all…but maybe…"

 

[4ND-R0]

[member="Veronica"]

Mirdala walked back inside of her ship, driving out a Lancer-class combat speederbike that she had recently purchased from a shop friendly to Mandalorians. The machine hovered some as she dismounted it and activated a minor tractor beam to tether her cargo to the bike. She remounted, whistling for her Anooba to follow. The bike whooped to life as she sped off towards Nima Outpost. As she got closer, she approached a patch of dunes. She had to make a quick turn, thankfully noticing a young woman in front of the path she was going. She stopped her bike, her aggression flared. "Haar'chak! <<Damn it!>>" She cursed rather loudly in Mando'a, "Could have hit you!"

Her anooba stopped a moment, sitting and panting, its tongue lolling about from its mouth. Mirdala sighed, and attempted to relax herself. "Kad'ika." She addressed the anooba, "Come. Need to get to Nima." She kick started the speederbike once again, and redirected her path around the girl. She accelerated slowly so that she could give a helmeted glance. Behind the owl-like T-visor of her helmet, there was the feeling of a frustrated glare. She went a little faster, staying cautious as the terrain became a little more difficult and to keep her cargo becoming detached from a tractor beam error.

 

[Veronica]

[member="Mirdala Betna"]

Veronica was taken aback by surprise as she heard the sound of a speeder-bike come cruising by. Veronica cursed to herself under her breath as she turned her heads towards the direction of a noise which sounded strangely like a speeder-bike. Damn it! What is it now? Right after thinking that, Veronica stumbled backwards before catching herself which stopped her from falling just as a speeder-bike came into full view in front of her. Atop of the speeder-bike sat a rather aggressive looking Mandalorian. The stance of the figure alone was enough to tell Veronica that this person was rather aggressive and was just trying to get from Point A to Point B.

Though, what stood out most to Veronica was the voice of the figure and the upper abdomen of the figure. The upper abdomen extended outwards a little, easily suggesting that the figure was, in fact, a female. Which, only proved more in line as Veronica heard the voice of the figure in question. At first, she didn't understand what the person was saying, hinting to her that the person was fluent within another language. Though, once the person did speak basic, Veronica did have to guiltily admit...that voice sounded pretty sexy. Though...she knew better than that...and she also didn't quite like the persons attitude at the moment.. Though, Veronica couldn't ask the woman anything as she soon afterwards sped off around her to who knows where, sending a sideways glance towards her. She couldn't help but suppress a slight blush of embarrassment from the encounter before turning around and walking over the sand dune with her head down, contemplating what had just recently happened. Ugh, here I am...walking alone in a desert...and then here comes a woman who sounds kind of sexy...but still she nearly hit me with a speeder!! Gosh...don't wanna see her again...
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"Ahh, there it is...the outpost! Hmm, let's see...about 240 yards. Damn it! By the time I get there...the predators are going to be coming 'round. Hmp...might as well start now!"
Veronica half whispered to herself as she tore away a pair of electrobinoculaors from her face before setting it down within a bag which was resting on top of her left shoulder, the bag part was resting down towards her right hip as the strap was going diagonally downwards. Veronica walked forwards a few steps downwards before hearing the rustle of sand behind her before being thrown off her feet and tumbling down the long slope a few meters before stopping abruptly with the use of her right hand as to stop her from going further downwards. Pain like a raging fire was surging through her right shoulder as she got to her feet slightly shakily before turning briskly to gaze behind her. Her blue eyes, like a crystal blue ocean, swept over the terrain behind her...like a broom, trying to catch everything. She couldn't see anything behind her, save for the heavy movement of sand particles throughout the air as if something was running downwards. But...how...I only know of one predator that lives here, and they...they live in those crashed ships for shelter! Ahh, chit...am I bleeding? Veronica shuddered slightly as she saw sand get swept up with even more ferocity as whatever was running towards her was getting closer. Whatever it was...it was big, and wasn't slowing! In a quick panic, Veronica turned and sprinted down the slope, it wasn't easy due to the slippery sandy slope but it was bearable enough as it was currently.
"What...the...Hell?!"

 

[4ND-R0]

[member="Veronica"]

The Mandalorian woman finally made it to Nima Outpost. In many ways, it was not much different than any other trade town. Tents erected all across the flat sand. A flurry of different peoples, species, and cultures. All in a buzz of various dialects and languages as they tried to sell their wares to the other people walking about. Mirdala was no different. She hauled in her cargo into the town, setting up a temporary vending stand.

She opened up her cargo box, revealing various furs, hide, bones, and teeth. She had many people come up to her stall, mostly higher class. Well, as higher class one could get on a arid pit of a planet could spew out. Animal parts were often reworked into garments, jewelry, and other accessories to denote a primitive form of high style.

Her anooba kept thieves at bay. Every time some pickpocket tried to snag from her stall, Kad'ika would either growl or bark or snarl to get his mistress' attention. This usually ended up with the thief being met with the end of a blaster pistol and couple of harsh words to scram. Never fired her weapon. Just intimidation to keep them from trying anything. She knew if she became hasty with firing a blaster, it could turn into a shootout. Nima was just like Mos Eisley. Volatile.

 

[Veronica]

[member="Mirdala Betna"]

Within the distance stood Nima Outpost, the main 'central hub' you could say, of Jakku. It was where everything was happening. Venders of all sorts ranging from deaths ticks to exotic animals to even simple herbal remedies and such. It was always alive and teeming with people of all sorts of races, religions and personalities. And…well, it was the place that Veronica was currently running towards, not intentionally of course. With everything that was currently going through her head, couldn't exactly think clearly at the moment. From trying to not get eaten by whatever was chasing her, to trying to not lead the monster into Nima outpost.

An Idea popped into Veronica's mind at the sight of a half buried star-destroyer with large chunks of debris scattered all about the terrain around if. Now, if I could just lead it into that area…that is if I don't get eaten. Veronica growled slightly to herself, which was something she usually wouldn't do save for in situations such as these where she got particularly ticked off. She then lunged her leg muscles forwards with a push of speed, pushing her developed legs muscles earned from running to her hardest. A flash of pain erupted in her legs as her muscles contracted against the force and speed at which she was going. Veronica, she was going faster than she had ever done previously and pushing herself as well…making her muscles ache under the pressure.

Though, it all paid off as Veronica shot forwards a few more feet ahead of the creature chasing her, giving her a slight head start. Her right hand went downhill heroic quickly before trying to change the setting in a hurry. Which only caused her to drop her gun in panic, causing the creature to trample over it as it ran after her. At the moment, Veronica was thinking some many unsavory and rather rude comments about what she had just done before reaching down to try again with her other blaster. Though, this time…she was actually able to switch the setting to kill and then began to fire backwards at whatever was chasing her as she ran. Which allowed her full view of what was chasing her.

It…was a Krayt Dragon. Nevermind how it got onto Jakku, it was gaining rather quickly an……

"Oh, KARK!!"
Veronica yelled to herself as she stumbled over her foot while in the process allowing the Kray Dragon to nip at her foot which shot upwards from the momentum of falling. The next thing Veronica knew, she was lying back on top of the ground, slowing crawling backwards as the Krayt Dathon inched closer and closer. BZZIN! A blaster bolt shot off from the blaster currently within Veronica's hand, causing her to get a lucky shot off of the Dargons face. Though…it only seemed to enrage it more… Veronica's mind was currently blank with what she should do. She didn't know how to kill a Krayt Dragon, yet alone how it even got on Jakku. She had never heard about them living here…but that was the last of her concerns at the moment…

 

[4ND-R0]

[member="Veronica"]

Mirdala was driving her way back towards her ship, her speeder carrying her cargo container, now filled some with the trinkets and credit cards that were payed to her for all of her wares. As she made it halfway to her ship, she heard and animalistic sounds in the distance. The blue haired girl from before. But now she was being chased by what appeared to be a krayt dragon. Probably some invasive species brought to Jakku as a exotic pet and being released after getting too dangerous for captivity.

The Mandalorian woman turn her speeder, firing some shots at the dragon to get its attention. Thankfully, it did, and the animal changed course from the Jakku native girl, charging at Mirdala. She kept the dragon running in a serpentine pattern, trying to disorient it. As she did so, she pulled her energy bow from her back, activating it. She pulled back the string and let loose an energy arrow at the beast. Right in one of its eyes. Less likely to see now, but also more irritated.

 

[Veronica]

[member="Mirdala Betna"]

Veronica sighed out in relief once the same woman from before, who almost hit her, had come around and was not shooting at the Krayt Dragon. She couldn't believe it. The woman…she actually came back around and saved her? Normally, Veronica was used to people who mostly kept to themselves and who didn't help others while they themselves had problems. After all…on Jakku, it's you first…others last. Save for it being the opposite for Veronica. She was just so paralyzed by fear and that the woman saved her, she didn't actually know what to do at the current moment in time.

Veronica wanted to help, she truly did. But…she couldn't. Her weapon would only irritate the Dragon more and it barely did any damage. Suits her right for buying two cheap blasters from a Shady-looking weapons vendor. Though, their was another reason as well. Veronicas right foot had been nipped by the Krayt Dragon, meaning that now her ankle and heel was all bloody and slowly letting her blood drip on yo the warm sand below. Plus, her right shoulder had been scratched rather harshly by the Krayt Dragon, showing three long and semi-deep cuts running lengthwise down upon Veronica shoulder, both onto her collarbone and back as well. She just hoped that the woman…while she was, tried to help her some rather than just leave her to die there…