Private Loud Cargo

[Vetru]

The Azimuth reverted to real space at the edge of the system. Vetru's hands went gliding across the controls to orient the slim vessel towards the asteroid belt.

Vetru didn't like the look of the two cruisers holding position just beyond the belt. He briefly considered abandoning the job.

Even though he had a fake transponder running, it would burn a code he had paid for if this went badly. A snub fighter might get close enough to properly ID the ship if things went south.

"Which won't happen if you don't get into trouble on the ground," he told himself. He steered the ship towards his destination. The asteroid field was spread out. If there were regular collisions then the ring would have been destroyed long ago.


Ring of Kafrene

Kinley Pryse

He wasn't bothered on the landing, but he did note an increase in security forces on the ground. Soldiers in black uniforms patrolled the busy streets, which meant plain clothes officers would be watching too.

Vetru had taken many jobs where he had to slip someone into a dangerous zone. He had a fast ship for evading patrols.

This was the first time that he had to get someone out of trouble. Vetru took what jobs he could take. He saw himself as something of a semi-reputable infochant. Others did not. They saw him as rash and not particularly dependable.

So he took the jobs that came to him.

 

[Kinley Pryse]

You've been hit by... you've been struck by...

I'm not a bad guy, I just owe worse guys
​

The air on Kafrene always tasted like rust and recycled sweat. Kinley Pryse sat hunched in the corner booth of a decrepit canteen wedged into the lower spine of the mining station. Overhead, the hum of exhaust vents mingled with the low drone of machinery, as if the station itself was trying to drown out her thoughts. A busted holopanel flickered on the far wall, displaying a grainy weather feed from a planet no one had cared about in decades. She kept her head low, the collar of her synth-weave coat pulled tight and her hat pulled down low to cover her face. Her fingers drummed against the table, a nervous habit, involuntary now. Somewhere in the deeper levels, a pipe burst. No one flinched.

Kinley had made mistakes. The kind that didn't get you arrested, but buried. Credits skimmed off the wrong job, a partner she should've double-checked, and now a bounty riding high enough to make even the cleanest port rats sniff for a quick payday. She wasn't just running, she was evaporating.

She just hopped her savior would get here sooner rather than latter.

Vetru

A Smooth Criminal

 

[Vetru]

Looking up was always a mistake. There was another connected planetoid. Even down the dark streets he could see the buildings hanging above. His eyes argued with his other senses about which way was up. As a pilot, he was used to defining his own set of up and down inside his head, but it wasn't usually challenged so unexpectedly.

He stumbled, but regained his balance before anyone noticed. He brushed down his coat as he walked.

Vetru went to the meeting spot. He stepped up to the canteen bar and offended the server by ordering a particularly colorful drink in a tall glass.

He returned to a small table and pulled a bright orange drink umbrella and set it in the glass. If the package was nearby, they would approach him.

For obvious reasons he had very little information about who he was picking up.

Kinley Pryse

 

[Kinley Pryse]

You've been hit by... you've been struck by...

I don't dodge trouble. I charge extra for it.​

Kinley kept her hat low, shadowing her eyes as she surveyed the bar's patrons. When a man walked in and ordered an umbrella drink, her chocolate-brown gaze narrowed. That was the signal. She watched him for a beat as he took a seat and sipped casually, waiting to see if anyone followed. No one did. Smoothly, she slipped out of her booth and crossed the room, sliding into the seat across from him without a word.

Her own drink, untouched, thudded softly onto the table. She cast another glance around the bar, scanning for watchers or listening ears.

"Nice umbrella," she said at last, the phrase a quiet confirmation. Her eyes, no longer drifting, fixed on his. "I'm looking to get off this rock."

Vetru

A Smooth Criminal

 

[Vetru]

V E T R U​

Vetru had a streak of arrogance. He smiled as someone approached his table. He pushed the opposite chair out towards her.

"Nice umbrella," she said at last, the phrase a quiet confirmation. Her eyes, no longer drifting, fixed on his. "I'm looking to get off this rock."

He was glad to meet the contact so quickly, but also slightly dissapointed.

"You know nice umbralla probably wasn't the best code word. Someone might have just said that to wind me up. Or to start flirting..."

Back to business, he decided. He took a sip of his colorful cocktail. For a bit of a dive bar, it was a fairly refreshing drink.

"I didn't catch anyone watching the private docks too carefully. Hopefully we can walk carefully and get off this rock without a bother..."

 

[Kinley Pryse]

You've been hit by... you've been struck by...

Every mistake I've made bought me time, and I'm still buying
​

"You know nice umbrella probably wasn't the best code word. Someone might have just said that to wind me up. Or to start flirting..."

Kinley smirked, eyes scanning the cantina. "Who says I'm not doing both, with just a few well-placed words?" No one seemed to be watching her. That helped. She'd feel a lot better once there was a galaxy between her and this trainwreck of a job.

"I didn't catch anyone watching the private docks too carefully. Hopefully we can walk carefully and get off this rock without a bother..."

"The sooner, the better," she replied, pushing her untouched drink aside as its smoke curled lazily into the air. She tugged her hat lower, hiding her hazel eyes just as a grimy factory worker shuffled in and made his way to the bar.

Vetru

A Smooth Criminal

 

[Vetru]

"No discounts for flirting," Vetru mused, "Just potential perks."

The smuggler and occasional infochant thought he was far more smooth than he actually was. His best laid plans usually crumbled, his attempts to broker deals usually led to chaos.

Vetru's gaze followed the newcomer to the bar.

"I was never one for patience so let's get moving," he said. He laughed softly and smiled inappropriately before pushing his drink aside. The atmosphere in the room was muted, but their conspiritorial whispers were a little obvious.

"Don't pull your collar quite so tight. Don't want security stopping you and slowing us down."

Vetru pushed his chair back. He set a small credit chit down on the table for a tip.

 

[Kinley Pryse]

You've been hit by... you've been struck by...

Your Eyes Can Deceive You; Don't Trust Them​

"No discounts for flirting," Vetru mused, "Just potential perks."

"Mixing business with pleasure rarely ends well." Kinley's smirk came easy, but it was just part of the performance. Truth was, she mixed everything—business, pleasure, danger—because pretending it was all under control helped her get through the day. When Vetru suggested they head out, she didn't hesitate. She dropped a credit chip on the table, covering her own tip, though her drink sat untouched, just another prop.

They exited the Cantina together, Kinley forcing a casual stride even as nerves skittered beneath her skin. She wasn't usually this jumpy, but her ex-partner had royally botched the assignment, and now the fallout was all hers to deal with. Her boots struck the pavement in steady rhythm—thum, thum, thum, while her hands remained buried in her jacket pockets, fingers tightening around the vibroblade hidden inside. As they rounded a corner, Kinley spotted two swoop bikes parked outside a grimy industrial bar and faltered. She knew those bikes. The swoop gang they belonged to didn't work cheap; they were often hired to sniff out high-value targets.

And if they were here… things could get complicated fast.

Vetru

A Smooth Criminal

 

[Vetru]

V E T R U​

"Mixing business with pleasure rarely ends well." Kinley's smirk came easy, but it was just part of the performance.

Vetru lowered his gaze and smirked at the floor. She was right. He was going to get himself into trouble for a fair face and it wouldn't be the first time.

They stepped outside but something cause her to pause. Vetru followed her gaze towards the two bikes.

"Friends?" he muttered.

He took the back of her sleeve and kept her moving. He veered them away to cross the street. They needed a crowd. Without her hat they could vanish into a large group.

Vetru sensed, before he saw the two people following them.

Not a crowd then, somewhere quiet.

"Alley?" he mumurmured. He pressed his forearm to his jacket, feeling the reassuring weight of the blaster there.

 

[Kinley Pryse]

You've been hit by... you've been struck by...

​

Be Like Elsa. Let It Go

Kinley watched as his gaze dropped to the floor, and a lopsided smile tugged at her lips. Was he... shy? Maybe she was misreading the moment, but it was adorable all the same.

A lifetime ago back when her life had still been hers to plan she'd spent her days watching shockboxer matches and dreaming about the kind of man she'd marry. Someone sweet, the type who'd treat her right. A prince, like every girl imagined.

But that was before Flint. Before Black Sun.

Marriage, children, a future, those dreams had all been swept away, scattered like ash on the wind. Now, the only goal left was survival. Her time with men had become transactional: drinks, laughs, a night in a warm bed, maybe some lazy pillow talk, and then an awkward goodbye before she slipped out into the night. That was her love life now. And she knew there was no going back.

Still, that shy glance of his had earned something rare from her, a real smile. It cracked the hard mask she wore, even if only for a moment.

They walked fast. She saw the swoop bikers at the same time he did. He glanced her way, questioning. She gave a subtle nod that yes, she saw them too. Together, they ducked off the main walk into a side alley, shadows swallowing them whole. Her eyes adjusted to the gloom as they moved deeper. She flicked a glance his way, giving him another slight nod to indicate she was ready. Then she spun, drew her blaster, and fired without hesitation.

One of the gang members dropped.

She didn't look back. She just hoped her partner was as quick on the draw as she was


Vetru

A Smooth Criminal

 

[Vetru]

V E T R U​

Kinley Pryse
He could hear the pair behind them. They walked in lockstep, almost making themselves conspicuous by trying to shadow them quietly.

Vetru tried to slow his pulse. He'd always been quick to mouth off, quick to draw. It had often placed him in deep trouble. He thought briefly of that genuine smile and imagined that, too, could get him into trouble.

He wasn't supposed to ask what she was running from, but they had two days of flight to get far from this sector and he knew he would.

She turned. Vetru planted his left foot and span. A gentle squeeze of the trigger the moment his aim was settled and it was done.

He didn't stop to check they were dead, he turned and ran.

"They'll know about that soon enough. I've changed my mind, let's take the back alleys. They're clearly out lookin'."