Public Kuat a Distraction

[Tyria Koth]

The bridge of the Atrax was dark and quiet, illuminated by the odd button or interface which might blink on for a moment and off the next. The space was fully enclosed, the outside world (or void) only visible via several panoramic displays which dominated one side of the space. Unlike the design language of many shipbuilders, whoever had designed the Atrax had buried the bridge as far inside the starship as possible, under layers of armour and deflector shield projectors in the hope of keeping the most precious part of the vessel, its crew, safe and sound during engagements.

A single bottle of Naboo Gin floated in the dimly lit room, several droplets floating around it as it tumbled serenely away from the sleeping figure of Tyria Koth, passed out in the pilots seat at the centre of the space. Luckily she had the presence of mind to strap herself into the seat before deactivating the artificial gravity, otherwise when the gravity reactivated she'd have been dropped several feet onto the metal deck plates. Like clockwork, a alert appeared on one of the displays: Exiting Hyperspace - Destination: Kuat.

The alert flashed three times before the ship shuddered, the gin bottle shattering on the deck as the gravity reactivated. Tyria would have sat bolt upright, if not for her being strapped into the seat, instead she jerked violently and groaned from straining her back. For a moment, she groaned to herself, shielding her eyes from the pulsing alert in front of her, before as one, all the bridge lights activated, resulting in a yelp and a curse from her.

"Gotta...do something about those damn lights..." She said as she unbuckled from the chair and got to her feet, stumbling her way out of the room and into the head. Several minutes later she emerged, cleaner and mildly refreshed...as much as can be when stuck aboard a starship for almost two weeks with no resupply. The air was beginning to taste a bit stale, the water...had been recycled almost half a dozen times by now. She didn't even think about the food recycler.

Walking back onto the bridge, she gave the pool of shattered glass and gin a wide berth before settling back into her seat, which sighed slightly as it conformed to her body shape.

"Kuat Traffic Control, this is Atrax on approach, requesting permission to dock at Equator Station, transmitting clearance codes now."

She had been given a particularly lucrative job. Not exactly a bounty, as it was not given to her by the Bounty Hunters Guild. It was a contract handed to her from a private individual on an encrypted channel. They had provided enough information and verification that she decided it was worth the long trip core-ward, they'd even transferred her 15% of the fee ahead of time, an unusual step.

The target was a force sensitive child, human...around the age of 10. Gender was not provided, only a genetic ID. Location listed as living with their parents aboard the Equator Station...part of the massive manufacturing facility in orbit around planet Kuat. It wasn't even a kidnap job, mission parameters stated she was simply to locate the child, verify their identity and await further instructions. Unusual...but Tyria needed the cash...and the entertainment.

The only catch was...she wouldn't be the only one searching for the child.

"Atrax you are cleared for docking berth A43-C1. Welcome to Equator Station."

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Kyrel had heard of the boy, coming back from his time on Exegol. He had decided to test his new found philiosophy for the Ren. Take what it wanted, Kill whomever it wanted. So he started scouring the underworld to see where he could find the prize. The prize he wanted to where he would take part in this way. When hearing of a Force Sensitive. He sought to that immediately. Listening for days if not weeks where this target would be. For if they could touch the shadow they would be perfect to recrute into the Knights of Ren. Upon hearing that the person he was after was a child. It had made things even more interesting.

He had entered Kuat unnoticed. Thanks to the likes of his TIE Silencer. Unless the fighter was seen up close it wouldn't be detected. With the fighter he docked underneath the hull of equator station. Docking underneath the likes of the hatch that led through the trash compactor. He could bypass the ventilation shafts and slip inside unseen. Taking the target if he so wished or kill him. It did not make much of a difference.

The dark armored Ren opened the hatch. With the Force he leaped up into a series of tunnels. Following through the shaft. He only exited out when he thought it was clear. Jumping down in a crouch. Standing up slowly to move in the shadows. One he figured no one saw him he stood up. Reaching out with the Force. The child was close he could feel it.

Tyria Koth

 

[Tyria Koth]

Tyria descended the ramp of the Atrax and headed for a row of turbolifts at the edge of the hangar. A dozen droids approached the vessel, little holographic advertisements floating around them offering premium reactor coolant, fancy laser colours and all sorts of odd extras and add ones. She stopped at a Gonk Droid which shuffled to a standstill as she tapped at its holoscreen. "Just top up the reaction mass, I'll need my water tanks flushed and refilled, foodstuffs restocked and..." She looked at her feet and then around the area for a moment, feeling self-conscious, "three...no...four bottles of Naboo Gin."

The Gonk Droid gonked in response before shuffling off towards her ship. With a squeeze of a small muscle group in her neck, she activated the helmet on her armour, which slid over her head and obscured her face behind a black faceplate with a faint hiss. She then double checked her blaster was strapped to her hip before activating a lift.

The residential areas where thirteen levels up, from there she would have to sense her way closer to her mark. The turbolift doors slid shut behind her with a loud whoosh, and she was once again alone with her thoughts. She used the brief moment of silence to reach out with her feelings, if there was another force sensitive individual on the station, especially a child...it shouldn't be too hard to locate them. Force sensitive children glowed like beacons to her, they were so open and free with their emotions, their feelings unrestrained.

Something however, sent a cold shiver down her spine. She felt the presence of her target, like a warmth several levels above her...but there was also a chill, a malicious cold that was growing closer second by second. Someone else was here. With another whoosh the lifts doors opened up, and Tyria was assaulted by a cacophony of sounds and smells. She stepped off the lift into a bustling thoroughfare, full of being of all races going about their daily business, streed vendors selling food, odds and ends. It was strange seeing the once polished grey design language of the Galactic Empire contracted so starkly with the multicultural market, its colours, sounds and languages.

And not a dozen metres away, a dark presence moved in the force. Tyria placed her hand on her blaster but kept it in her holster. Now was not the time for violence. She withdrew her feelings and tried her hardest to close herself off from the feelings of this dark presence, hoping they wouldn't notice her, and pass her by.