Lacuna

[Ayessa Kroan]

Nar Shaddaa, Corellian Sector Outskirts, 01:50 AM Local Time
Interacting with [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ I'm a Wanted Man
——————————————————————

[If my treads blow from this, you're paying for it!]

Who else will, Ayessa thought dryly as Rook yanked her along through the crowds that were quickly parting after the 'murder', their new astromech blustering in binary as it practically kicked up smoke. Really the pedestrian reaction was more to a blaster bolt nearly-missing a few people, but it wasn't like dead bodies or even death was a new thing just invented on this planet. Everyone knew to step away and wait for someone with a modicum of authority to inspect the deceased and collect whatever they wanted, then the rats could have them for all they cared.

Surprisingly she found herself not caring much either, beyond the stray thoughts of oh, he can shoot, and, why the kark didn't I see that coming? And, of course, I wish he'd stop cutting off blood to my fingers. The Kiffar stumbled a few times due to incompetently-placed feet as they raced away from the 'scene of the crime' but all in all kept pace with the Corellian guiding her, "How many more of them are there?" It was a question she demanded of the universe, perhaps even the Force, and not Rook, though how was he supposed to know that? Grunting after her foot caught on a particularly snaggly stone in the roadway, it nearly sent her tumbling into him which would have been a humorous way to end their escape (and lives, of course, if the killers caught up fast enough). Thankfully with some minuscule aid from supernatural forces, she maintained her balance.

Running was their plan and she knew her initial assessment was right, they really had no idea what to do. And even still all around she could feel certain hostile elements snaking their way through onlookers and hordes, their intentions not exactly hidden. Except for those I apparently can't sense. This was an absolute chitshow, wasn't it?

 

[Rook Lokar]

Move. Move. Move.

It's all they really had time to do in the current moment, no? Rook's rampant mind ran wild with nothing but the thought of reaching the ship. Attempting to memorise the path taken back to the direction of the spaceport, even questioning whether or not he was in the bowels of Nar Shaddaa or up in the Promenade. This lack of attention to his current surroundings forced the hand of a few actions, though. One, of course, being the over-squeezing of Ayessa's hand within his own. The second happened to be noticeable in the distinct lack of care within his movements. All of those in his path were brushed straight out of the way, and those that weren't capable of being budged out of the way happened to be slinked past.

The Scoundrel kept running, and he wasn't slowing down. Yet, little did he know, he was running directly into an ambush. Several armed guns lay ahead of them, ready to ventilate his form. Suppose having Ayessa here wasn't all that bad, though, now was it? Surely sensing as to who and what was ahead of them. Whether she made use of those powers to avoid a certainty of death was the question.

"More." Happened to be the simple reply to her query.

[member="Ayessa Kroan"]

 

[Ayessa Kroan]

Nar Shaddaa, Corellian Sector Outskirts, 01:51 AM Local Time
Interacting with [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ Hands
——————————————————————

Death is that way.

Almost at once the Jedi stopped dead in her tracks and expended some of her hidden strength, literally pulling Rook back with likewise force that he had used before via their linked hands; stronger than she let on, certainly, her own fingers now white with how much she had to hold on, "No, no, we can't go there." The way Ayessa said that made it sound like it was obvious there was danger and that Rook was idiotic to not see it, but it was mostly her gut reaction talking, her primal instinct to sensing trouble. And it sounded utterly genuine, too. She'd sensed this certain danger enough times to know it, respect it, and have a healthy, healthy fear of it.

"If you trust me, we need to go another way. They're waiting to kill us." Without waiting for his reply her head whipped around, sweeping the crowd, and picked out an alternative route down an alley, "Here, we can get around them, maybe." Now she led them, still not really pausing for his own comment or benefit. Or, hell, he might try and pull her into the crossfire anyways out of misguided stubbornness, he could do it easy enough. Please, put whatever ego you have wrapped up in this aside and let me save us.

 

[Rook Lokar]

Typically, Rook was the kind of man - boy to some - that refused to take the word of others. All too arrogant in his ways, certain that he was right, and there wasn't a chance in hell he could be wrong. It all stemmed from an upbringing of being on your own, to some extent, nobody was there to trust, and so it was your own judgement that got you through that life. Many youthful lives had been taken, but, as luck would have it, Rook made it through to the other side. Onto greener pastures, if you may. Yet, the question of whether or not it was skill or luck, one cannot tell. At least, not yet.

​His body jerked backwards, halted in his positioning as Ayessa used an alarming amount of strength to prevent his further progress. At the time, in the moment, he never truly thought much of it. His head snapped left, facing Ayessa, then back to the direction he was previously heading. Maybe if he was given a chance to spit something out in a bid to continue moving he may of, but, Rook found himself being dragged along. Almost stumbling over C4 as it got in his way.

A soft grumble escaped him, and nothing more.

[member="Ayessa Kroan"]

 

[Ayessa Kroan]

Nar Shaddaa, Corellian Sector Outskirts, 01:52 AM Local Time
Interacting with [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ Hands
——————————————————————

Poor Cee-Four merely sped after his wayward masters, clearly not appreciating being almost trampled (Again) but didn't voice much complaint. Ayessa however had an unparalleled level of focus on her face, one probably never witnessed before, now the one really tightly clutching his extremities to keep him right behind her, "I can't believe how many people here want to kill you." Ayessa's comment was offhand and tinted with humor, but it was also genuinely true. There were a startling amount of people thinking of turning her companion to ash. It's just his luck that she was sentimental. Maybe a little fond. She also needed his ship. Well, 'his' ship. And, of course, they were probably trying to slag her too.

Leading him down the alley she pulled him into a sharp left, Cee-Four whistling in alarm as he nearly fell over to mimic the movement. People and crowds were few and far between now, thinning out as they got farther from the entertainment centers and more towards the ports. Normally one would assume it got busier around hangers but it was late and things were slow. It played against them -- They would be in the open the closer they got to the ship.

"Don't happen to have an extra blaster, do you?"

 

[Rook Lokar]

​The sensation, if anything, was strange. Someone else leading the way for him? Nothing he ever truly thought of himself, even if for the briefest of moments. This Scoundrel lived his own life at his own pace, he never had to rely on anyone, and nobody had to rely on him. It made living in this harsh galaxy all the more easier when nothing the happened to anyone mattered except for the man who was seemingly at the centre of it: yourself. A poor complex, truly, but it kept Rook alive. In the act of bailing from that train had he thrown someone under the metaphorical tracks, escaping with his life and his freedom. A new adventure waits at every turn, and they just rounded a corner.

His eyes wandered to the ground for the sliver of a second, almost rolling his eyes and speaking in a tone that reflected that, "You get used to it." Continuing to march on, led by the intensive grip on his hand, even noticing it and casting a glance at the point of contact with an eyebrow raised. "Uh, no." Rook answer the Kiffar's question. Unfortunately, it was the truth.

[member="Ayessa Kroan"]

 

[Ayessa Kroan]

Nar Shaddaa, Corellian Sector Outskirts, 01:52 AM Local Time
Interacting with [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ Hands
——————————————————————

It had been worth a shot. Ayessa hadn't expected him to, but the comfort of a weapon she could actually afford to use would have been fantastic right now. It was left to her wits and whatever hand-to-hand she could recall, then. I really don't like our odds all of a sudden.

"--Yeah, I guess you do." A rebuttal had been rising in her throat and mind but really, she couldn't find a point to disagree on. Slightly annoying, but it was true. Nearly three years of war had left her pretty familiar with the feeling of being hunted. Purged, even, one could say.

Her leading led them to a quiet corner of the docks, where crates were piled high as the sky and morals lower than Hell itself. One couldn't even begin to guess the stories these particular walls could tell, of drug deals and smuggling and murders, no doubt. Psychometry would not serve well today, and she kept her fingers well away from any surfaces -- Well, she still had a deathgrip on his hand, which she was quick to release. They had a reprieve among the hunters, for a time, to figure out how to navigate the open space between them and the parked YT-1500 that was their salvation.

Rubbing the hand that he had been grasping earlier and that she had used with exceptional strength to turn the tables, the Jedi looked up to Rook with a gaze that was equally soft and equally hard, "I'm open to ideas now." Cee-Four whistled softly as he settled into the corner of their makeshift shelter behind boxes and shipping containers, commenting, [I didn't think so many people here could work together for one thing -- Thing being killing you guys, that is.]

 

[Rook Lokar]

"I-" Rook had begun before being interrupted by the electronic whistles and whirs of the Astromech at their feet. The Smuggler had cast an unamused glance in it's direction, squinting his brow before delivering a kick that wasn't too hard. "Where'd you find this thing?" He asked, diverting his gaze back up to Ayessa before shaking his head from left to right, seemingly agitated by the bucket of bolts.

​He lowered his form, squatting down and scanning the area with those eyes of his. "Creep along..." He thought aloud, almost mumbling into a whisper, but it was coherent enough. He hadn't much thought in to this plan, and it was all on the fly. Suppose their hands had stopped being grasped by one another now, at the very least. It wasn't intimate as far as Rook knew, it was survival.

[member="Ayessa Kroan"]

 

[Ayessa Kroan]

Nar Shaddaa, Corellian Sector Outskirts, 01:52 AM Local Time
Interacting with [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ Hands
——————————————————————

Of course it was survival. Anything else was--

"Hey, don't kick him." Ayessa snapped suddenly then, which was amusing to hear whilst she was whispering, it was like an angry cat that had snipped vocal cords. Nonetheless, with narrowed eyes, she explained it like he was five, "Saved him from the scrapper. R2 units are pretty reliable, you know." A soft whistle of agreement.

Then Rook started crouch-walk and, forgoing further explanation, she began to mimic and follow, clearly that leg of the conversation was over. Her movements held a lot more fluidity and grace; soundless moving was her bread and butter, "I don't think they saw us go behind here."

Speaking a little too soon, the Jedi suddenly grabbed Rook's upper arm to keep him from moving on, looking to a distant point via a crack in the boxes. There. Two Trandoshans were standing between them, their cover, and most importantly their ship in particular, scaley eyeballs rolling around as they talked in raspy, low tones. Reptile hands clutching some pretty wicked looking rifles. She breathed a curse and shuffled back a little.

 

[Rook Lokar]

It didn't seem as if there was a singular section of Nar Shaddaa that had something that resembled safety. Suppose it was Rook's fault, though. He could hardly find anyone else to blame bar himself, but his sense of chivalry didn't wish for Ayessa to be harmed in the process. This was his mess, not hers. To have her injured, or worse, killed? That might plague his conscious for quite some time, especially after finding her more than tolerable. He couldn't quite say the same in regards to previous 'crew' members that found themselves upon the nameless YT-1500. In a hint of recollection there was Spark; an assassin droid, Kresh; a retired trandoshan warrior, and Otto; come to think of it, what was Otto doing... ever. Through one action, or another, neither remained on board. It was something Rook preferred, really. Neither of those made for good conversation, nor smugglers. Suppose Vin scraped the bottom of the barrel when placing them with the scoundrel.

​That sensation of being rasped onto the arm felt different this time around. It wasn't the meaty, calloused grasp of an older, larger creature that wanted nothing to do with Rook, no, this time it was soft, small, yet firm. "Oom." He grunted, admittedly startled by the suddenness of it all. In the movement backwards he managed to catch a singular glance of the Trandoshans off to the side. Predators with an excellent sense of smell, thermal vision; they might of heard Rook in the fright he was certainly going to deny ever happened.

"Okay, I got this under control." He claimed in a hushed tone, shuffling backwards to where he could stand entirely by the crates. A delayed turn of his head found itself on Ayessa, and then down to the Astromech. He didn't say anything, but he planted a foot on it's exterior before pushing forwards with it. The Droid rolled backwards, out into the opening, and into the gaze of the Lizards.

An apt distraction.

[member="Ayessa Kroan"]

 

[Ayessa Kroan]

Nar Shaddaa, Corellian Sector Outskirts, 01:52 AM Local Time
Interacting with [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ Hands
——————————————————————

An alarmed squawk left the astromech as it suddenly found itself out and in the open, dome head swiveling. Both of the Trandoshans' heads turned like attack dogs, narrowing on poor Cee-Four.

[You're both dead, when I get over there!]

The droid had been snapping at Ayessa and Rook, but how were the hunters supposed to know that? For all the Trandoshans knew, this random astromech unit was trying to start chit. One let out an amused, raspy laughter, the other grunted passively. Cee-Four, meanwhile, only squeaked in trepidation, trying to shuffle back behind their cover. Ayessa had a hand over her mouth -- Both to hide an amused smile that was starting to poke out, but also in reaction to him callously using their new friend as a distraction.

Well. Her new friend.

"Please tell me your plan involves your blaster." Her voice was low, extremely low -- She didn't want to risk the approaching enemies hearing her and changing course from Cee-Four, who kept squealing in fear like a hog being tied down as the two born predators stalked closer. One finally hissed out from behind sharp teeth, "What did you sssssay?"

[NOTHING.]

 

[Rook Lokar]

"I have this under control." Rook furthered in his hushed tone, inaudible to the Trandoshans that began to draw near. He was confident in the fact, and in truth, he always was. He didn't seem to smile in the moment, knowing that he hadn't a Lightsaber to fall back on in time's of emergencies. Only his wits and a trusty Blaster; the very one he held tightly within his right hand now. The scoundrel had his back pressed against the crate, his eyes upwards in their sockets as if he was trying to look over them. All it was, however, was simple hearing. Their footsteps were loud, their vicious claws clanged against the metallic flooring. It was easy to tell where they were, and when.

In one quick and decisive action, he began to traverse around the crate, waving for Ayessa to follow him into the narrow area as to fall from the possibility of being within the Lizards' line of sight, and into their blindspot. Now, all they had to do was edge all the more closer. Opening more possibilities to the smuggler that played the scenario by hand.

[member="Ayessa Kroan"]

 

[Ayessa Kroan]

Nar Shaddaa, Corellian Sector Outskirts, 02:06 AM Local Time
Interacting with [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ Hands
——————————————————————

Do you? Something snarked in response but it was in her head; she didn't want to even dare to breathe anywhere near the Trandoshans, lest they somehow sense it. She'd heard rumours. They'd captured Padawans during the War and hunted them for sport. That spoke enough to their culture, the Jedi figured, for what was coming to be more than justified.

Rook relied on his senses, Ayessa fell back on training -- Their presence in the Force was dark and warped, killers, creeping ever onward. She didn't even need to turn her head or move her eyes to feel where they were, getting closer and closer to her droid, who whistled in trepidation and kept attempting to awkwardly shuffle backwards and away from the approaching reptilians. Silent like a ghost she followed him around, as a slowly-panicking Cee-Four produced more and more distracting, worried noises.

[Please don't eat me.]

"Oh, no. I've been meaning to find a new trasssssshcan."

"Can we focusssss on finding that Corellian insssstead of playing with toys?" The other one finally spoke, the sound of something meaty striking metal was heard, and brave Cee-Four let out a series of chirps and wails, and then an even larger metallic clanging noise came from their side of the crates. Divining what it meant wasn't hard; clearly, the R2 unit had been tipped over.

 

[Rook Lokar]

I don't make mistakes, I create opportunities.

Rook managed to keep the creeping on, his left hand running along the crate whilst his right hand firmly held onto the Blaster Pistol within it. It was within one sudden and impulsive action that Rook burst upwards, however. The Smuggler's arm was thrust forwards, almost entirely straight if not for the slight bend at the elbow. His finger squeezed down upon the trigger not once, not twice, not thrice, not... How many times? Rook just kept on firing into the backs of those Lizard's until they dropped.

Their reptilian flesh seared as they hissed violently in response, snarling their teeth in his direction upon suddenly turning around. It was a fearful experience, especially being so close to them. It didn't seem to matter much, though. Rook simply had the drop on them.

One final, deep exhale departed his lungs, his cheeks returning to their normal size upon removing the slight inflammation of oxygen. Rook's left hand lowered itself to his hip, resting on the belt as the thumb found itself on the inside of the pants. "I told you I had it under control." He confirmed, rolling his head over his shoulder, but then turning it to the Droid after squatting down in an attempt to lift it back up. "You did great." His tone was as smarmy as it came.

[member="Ayessa Kroan"]

 

[Ayessa Kroan]

Nar Shaddaa, Corellian Sector Outskirts, 02:06 AM Local Time
Interacting with [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ Hands
——————————————————————

Ayessa didn't even flinch as Rook fired rather mercilessly. Her calm eyes watched the corpses produced afterwards as she stood up straight from behind their cover.

[I'm not an actor.] The droid whistled a little pathetically, which only made the Jedi grin, "Could have fooled me. Are we going to get out of here before more come or no?" Cee-Four, once positioned upright, swivelled his head a little, deployed his third tread and started rolling off in direction of the YT-1500, clearly not waiting for either of them. Bruised ego, perhaps?

"And, yes. You had it perfectly under control." It was decidedly un-Knightly to step over the corpses so Ayessa kept a radius, not wanting to go near them for other reasons anyhow -- Mainly she wasn't interested in revisiting their death through telemetric encounters. True, she had to lay hands on them, but the temptation had been rooted in her since her arrival to Kiffu. So, if Rook wanted something off the bodies he could damn well get it himself because it was clear she had no intention of getting within a meter of them.

 

[Rook Lokar]

Look, Rook may have been a no-good, good-for-nothing, smuggling scoundrel with a penchant for causing more drama than he's ever truly been worth. However, he's above digging through the freshly created corpse of his own kill, let alone any other figure he may forcefully drop dead in the street. In truth? He wasn't eager on touching the harsh, warm scales of a Trandoshan; what if it wasn't dead? It suddenly rose up, tore at his throat with a hand-full of claws and sliced it right open? Be a bad way to go, that's for sure. Even the imagining it wasn't exactly desirable. His eyes only seemed to watch as C4 sped off into the direction of the YT-1500 that was around here somewhere, then turning in the direction of Ayessa with a grin that oozed his own confidence. He hadn't really had a plan, just a carefully considered one second ahead of where he was in the moment.

"Should be close now." That smarmy smile of his hadn't faded.

[member="Ayessa Kroan"]

 

[Ayessa Kroan]

Nar Shaddaa, Corellian Sector Outskirts, 02:10 AM Local Time
Interacting with [member="Rook Lokar"] ~ Hands
——————————————————————

"Seems like our R2 unit knows the way."

Admittedly, Ayessa was lowering her guard after this particular success. Perhaps she felt a little better knowing they were close, there wasn't as much to worry about; maybe Cee-Four speeding off made her think things were safe; or maybe she was just tired of being hunted and almost-killed. What she was especially tired of was being unable to just whip out her lightsaber and solve all these problems.

But she had to be tactful. And tactful translated to tired pretty quickly.

Letting out an exhale and not daring to inhale until she was clear of the awful scent of roasted Trandoshan, the Jedi took off without waiting for Rook and his sarcasm, only muttering, "Just-- Come on, so we can get off this rock." To try and press him along. She moved as if ready to duck and roll at any second, or collapse, who knew -- She was still singed in the shoulder and the pain there hadn't magically gone away over the short period of time since being shot at.

 

[Rook Lokar]

In truth, Rook hadn't even been aware in the slightest of her injury. Otherwise? He was certainly to be less... himself. More akin to someone who showed sympathy and concern for others. Rook was rather selfish, yes, but he wasn't as far to let someone suffer for no good reason, or at least someone who knew to some degree. Ayessa and himself were nothing more than compatriots at his point in time, there was no connection, they hadn't clicked, and it was more than likely she walked out on him in the next few days than anything else. He knew it, she likely knew it, maybe even C4 knew it. It was simply how these Corellian Scoundrels were. All sass, no class, and sass didn't last long once it stopped becoming amusing. There'd need to be something beyond it if they were to remain partners in this industry, let alone survive. A friendship, of course.

​Rook's smirk had faded upon noticing the wound in Ayessa's arm, turning to a face of worry and uncertainty. He managed to jog up alongside her ask, "Are you alright?" Clearly gesturing to the wound itself. His head sticking forwards, grasping a look at the wound that was on the opposite side of her body. It didn't look good, but when did it?

[member="Ayessa Kroan"]