Private Going Down to Xo

[Rabbit]

Location: In Orbit Above Xo

As usual, while her partner of today was gearing himself up for the mission, Rabbit had to busy herself with repairs. Her hand was sticking, and in this situation, that was not exactly going to fly. They were here to do something on the world’s surface with one of the Sith involving the native population. She wasn’t too sure, honestly. Geerus, her latest traveling partner, hadn’t told her much. But that seemed to just be par for the course, these days. They never told her much.

She tightened the bolts on her hand, her lips pursed in thought. These Sith seemed nice enough. Well, maybe nice wasn’t the right word. Rewarding appropriate work? Was that the right word? It would have to do. Words weren’t her specialty. Rabbit wasn’t meant to think about these higher concepts, all these politics and galaxy-altering events. It was above her head, above her pay grade. She just wanted to not have to fix herself two to four times a day, for once, and have a little adventure. And maybe her own place to sleep. That would be nice.

Geerus grunted as he finished strapping on his armor, and nudged her with his foot.

“Sith said she’s meet us at the hangar. Let’s go. Last thing we want is to be late, yeah?”

She muttered an affirmative, grimacing as she re-attached her hand to her arm. It would have to do. She gathered her own pistol belt, and slipped on her jacket to cover the wires and parts all along her left side. Her heart was pounding like crazy, and she honestly didn’t know what she was going to do if this turned to violence. She would defend herself, and the Sith, like she was paid to do, but she was still haunted by recent events. Firing her blaster. Ending another beings life. It was. . . horrible. Unthinkable. But this galaxy seemed to be a very, very violent place. And if she was going to survive, it looked like she was going to have to get used to violence.

Rabbit and Geerus waited in the hangar of the larger ship, by a shuttle. Waiting for the Sith that was to be their charge for the mission.

Amur

​

 

[Amur]

Of all days why did it have to be today that her mind had to flair up, everything just raked across her mind like an agonizing claw screeching on metal, every sound grated and sensation agitated the Sith as she found she couldn't find the peace of mind she desperately needed. She needed to find a retreat where she could bask her mind in silence and darkness, and cure it of the over stimulation she was currently experiencing. This level of noise in her mind thankfully wasn't an everyday occurrence but today she wanted nothing more then to just rest her head and fade.

The Sith Empire however didn't care for such things and the machinations of politics must move on. So she was ordered to carry out her current mission, results were everything and personal difficulties be damned. Trying to conjure up the details once again in her mind only for it to get loss in the whirring of turbines and the haze of decaying lighting she couldn't focus, and so had to resort to something desperate. A clang arose from the wall as the Sith slammed her hand into the wall with great force now feeling it writhe in pain. The fresh stimulus sending a new wave throughout her mind as she used it as a focal point, breathing deeply and trying to focus heavily on the sensation feeling it wax and wane. With it she could finally feel the noise recede in her mind and now she had a new sense of clarity. Xo, meeting with Zanibar, Mercenary escort. Pursing her hands quickly together before suiting up she got ready to disembark.

A few minutes later the Sith would head down to the hangar bay marching her way to the readying shuttle. Her earlier distress now hidden away under the typical Sith air. She could see the small group of... escorts waiting for her. She eyed the two noting the older man who looked typical for the job, you could have placed him in any merc group and no one would notice anything out of place, the other though was, much more interesting atleast visually so. Her eyes couldn't help but scan over the cybernetics. It wasn't the simple fact that it was a implant opposed to skin and bone, it was the ramshackle macabre nature of it. A series of questions of possible answers was going to occupy the idle thoughts of the Sith as she would wonder why a soldier of fortune wouldn't just use a proper cybernetic. Still she suppressed the urge to ask about it. That could come later, besides in her experience getting constant attention over something like that grew old rather quick.

"You must be the mercenaries? I won't bore you waxing poetic. I'm knight Amur, you'll be escorting me today. We'll be negotiating with the leaders of a few large Zanibar tribes that control much of the planet. There really isn't much to it than that but I'll be going into further detail on the shuttle trip down."

She said looking down to the two. If they raised any concerns or question she would have been ready to answer. Otherwise she turned ready to board the shuttle and begin their descent into the planet of Xo.

Rabbit

 

[Rabbit]

As she waited for the Sith, Rabbit took the time to do some last minute repairs on her arm. Tightening a bolt, redoing a wire, just making sure it was ready for the mission ahead, which she was sure was going to be a doozy. Geerus, while she didn't think was lying to her, was pretty obviously hiding something from her. He know more than he was letting on, and she didn't like it. What if it was something dangerous? She was pretty sure it was something dangerous.

Then the Sith arrived, and the cyborg scrambled to her feet, replacing her tools in her bag. She knew it was important to try and impress a Sith, especially as some random merc. The woman was rather intimidating, she had to admit. In her dark armor, and dark helmet. Rabbit straightened her back farther, and tried to puff out her chest and come off as more intimidating, though she doubted it worked.

The distorted voice coming through the helmet sent shivers down her spine, and she did her best to not avert her gaze from the Sith. She was direct. Authoritative. No nonsense. And obviously ready to go on this mission. Beside her, Geerus only grunted, and the three of them got onto the shuttle. As it went down, Rabbit couldn't contain herself much longer.

She looked at the Sith.

"So, is it true you guys never take your helmets off? Or smile?"

Her merc partner rolled his eyes, muttering something about idiot kids. But she was curious, and didn't know better.


Amur

 

[Amur]

There was one thing the Sith appreciated about the act and costume that came with her new Sith life was the way it motivated people. You never wanted to look just mediocre in front of a Sith and you always took one seriously. It was one of the small eye opening tastes of power she was afforded. At least she wouldn't have to deal with getting some lip from some twit with a ego big enough to generate it's own gravitation field. This two so far seem to be trying to at least act like they possessed competence.

Descending down she pursed through the datapad one more time as her gaze traced down to the red planet below. Her eyes drifting back at her crew as she studied them wondering if they appearance of toughness and bravado would hold up. What was on their minds she wondered? Except well the answer would come very quickly for the girl with the ramshackle arm. Amur was taken slightly aback by her direct question. The Sith looked at Rabbit as she leaned her back against the wall of the vessel and gave a shrug. Meanwhile the more experienced man appeared seemed to be regretting his choice of companion.

"The helmet is more for your sake then mine, trust me you don't want to see want to see what's underneath. As for smiling well, we'll see." She replied with perhaps a strong hinting of suggestion laced into her tone. Perhaps it give the young woman something to think about on the trip down, though now thinking it over she figured she add a bit more food for thought.

"Careful who you run your mouth off to, Most Sith wouldn't be as receptive as I am." A warning that she hoped her companion would take to heart. Still as the air briefly hanged in the air the shuttle would be jostled a small degree as the craft now found atmosphere. The Sith's mind snapping to attention and getting ready to disembark.

"We'll be landing soon. A small liaison will be waiting at our landing point. They'll be taking us to a nearby pyramid ruin that's apparently a holy site for many on Xo. Hopefully we'll just have a polite exchange of words and not have to shoot a single blaster bolt. Still the Zanibar have a reputation, be wary of their bite. Any questions?"

Rabbit

 

[Rabbit]

She almost hadn't expected the woman to answer her question, but she was she did. At least, Rabbit thought she was glad. The answer was about as intimidating as she thought it would be based on the Sith's appearance, but there was an underlying sadness to it, she felt. Something about the way she answered about the helmet. It made her curious. Concerned.

"Well, I can't imagine what could possibly ward me off from wanting to see your face. I'm not judgmental or- ow!"

Geerus kicked her leg, glaring at her. Okay, fine. Apparently it was time to shut up. She didn't really appreciate his tendency to shut her up, but there wasn't much she could do about it, really. He was a lot bigger, a lot stronger, and a lot more experienced. So she had to sit there and take it.

Wait a minute. Reputation? What reputation?

"They have a reputation? Reputation for what?"

Geerus looked uncomfortable.

"They're cannibals."

Rabbit's eyes widened.

"Cannibals?! What?! You didn't mention anything about that!" Her gaze turned to the Sith. "Is that true?"

Amur

 

[Amur]

Amur as she listened to the young woman found that her left hand was grasping her right hand in a death grip. Growing stronger and stronger as her hand cried out a small portion in agitation. A course of frustration now beginning to form as her curiosity was start to dig at the Sith's mind. It made her feel all the more freakish, knowing that she had to wear that slashing burn mark underneath along with the other scars, and the questions it may conjure. Always the questions and the pity. It felt fake to her. Still thankfully a kick to her leg got her to shut up. She let go of her hand now, feeling the pain from earlier return to it after being squeezed so tightly. She could exhale.

Her gaze looking down at Rabbit's arm as she relented any further scolding then that kick the man Geerus had given her. She just seemed naive and that could always be worked on. Though that naive quality was quickly confirmed as she quickly raised lip about the fact the Zanibar were cannibals. Completely taken aback at such a thing. It appeared that Rabbit was kept in the dark about this. Amur's eyes looked as the sky went from inky blackness to a more yellow hue realizing that they be landing soon. She had to act to quick. The last thing she needed was a cannibal sniffing fear and deciding that was their next meal. Besides she had personal experience with being lied to.

"I won't pull the wool over their eyes. It's true. I'm frankly appalled that you didn't know that was what you signed up for." Amur's sight briefly turned from Rabbit to Geerus as she let the silence in the air speak for her. Before turning back to Rabbit, now with a softer tone to her voice. "Listen, We're going to be landing soon. The Empire fully intends to stomp out their cannibalism. Today is just a means to that end, but that won't happen unless you do your part. I just need you to act and look tough, don't talk to them, don't make eye contact and you'll be fine. Trust me. I know it's not what you want... but sometimes we have no choice." The sound of rushing wind and the feeling of turbulence was now becoming more evident, soon the ground outside the shuttle become more definable as small details became large terrain features and buildings. Their landing point was drawing near.

Rabbit