Not the First Time Around the Block

[Ra'a'mah]

Ra had returned to her old profession since her had way more time on her hands than she knew what to do with. It lead her from one end of the galaxy to the other and back. Depending on what was needed of her decided the price and while she would never be rich, she was able to stay above the poverty line. She was even able to continue to care for her pet nexu which she had picked up in an accident a while ago. She wasn't even fully grown yet.

Completing yet another business transaction, Ra left the cantina, her cat at her side. This planet reminded her of the one where she lost her captain, where her life had changed. A part had ended and a new one begun. Random back water place with crime lords and thugs apparently running things.

Hearing the sounds of a struggle, Ra contemplated walking on. Last time something like this happened, her captain had died. She had been too late to save him and she didn't want to meet the same fate. However, he had told her that if it was ever within her power to assist somebody, to give them aide. Doing a mental shrug, Ra pulled on the leash of the nexu and headed in the direction of the fight.

Luckily for her, this time there were no blasters involved, only fists, knives and other various hand weapons. Cowering against the wall was a couple with a small child, bullied by a couple of the thugs twice their size.

Having been working with the cat to train as both a protector and companion, Ra motioned to her to stay there. The nexu laid down and if she needed the help, the cat would hopefully know or if Ra let out a call to come in to assist. Moving as silently as her pet, Ra came up behind the thugs, drawing her saber hilts from her sleeves.

Igniting them directly behind them, they both whirled around to face her. Neither one prepared to face real competition on the streets. The one to her right moved in first with other following. Ra moved to avoid the punch headed her way and as the arm flew past where she had been standing, she cut it off between the elbow and wrist. The thug screamed in pain, the couple with their child ran and the last thug stopped in his tracks after seeing his companion disarmed. He grabbed the first thug and both ran away before Ra could do any more damage to either of them.

The fight was done before it even really began, but such was the way of bullies. As soon as somebody stood up to them, they ran. Shaking her head at the whole situation, Ra walked back to pick the leash up for her cat and turned to continue her journey to her ship.

@Kirx Zyron

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

Kerx was on his way to see an old friend on his home planet of Concord Dawn. As much as he loved his friends, he couldn't stand the place any longer, especially the memories that were staying on the bounty hunter's mind, especially what happened on Tatooine, with Dane..... The Whispering Death did not want to linger on that painful memory any longer. He tried to think about something else but it didn't come to him straight away. He

was walking down an abandoned alley, where he grew up, and now he was thinking of his dead father. Go figure. When he was walking, Kirx heard the sounds of someone getting mugged, and a child screaming. Kerx knew immediately he had to help. Apparently we wasn't the only one who didn't want to stand around. He saw a woman a couple yards in front of him go to where the struggle was being taken place. She was accompanied

by a pet of some sort, when Kerx realized it was a nexu, a dangerous animal that no man wants to go up against. They were agile, and mean. Whoever that woman is, she has a talent. But it did not stop there. When Kerx hurried to follow the lady, he already saw her sneak up to the unfair fight. Kerx saw it was a family, a mother, father and a child. There were two thugs big and hefty harassing them and The Whispering Death had enough of the site.

He went to pull out his D-18 and help the woman when all of a sudden he saw her with two lightsaber hilts. A Jedi? No, that couldn't be it. He didn't think a Jedi would be in these parts unless there were enemies in town, and Kerx was very sure there wasn't. So she had to be something else. He did not think about it long enough as right when he was ready to shoot, Kirx saw the woman cut off one of the thug's arm! He was amazed and a little attracted. Her from was gracious, and Kerx loved a fighter.

After the disarmament, the thugs ran and the lady got her pet can walked casually as if nothing had happened. Kerx ran up to her.

"Where'd you learn to fight like that?"

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

When Ra picked the leash of her cat, she noticed a man had observed the fight and was taking one of his hands off his blaster. Deciding to take this as a sign he wasn't going to attack her, she made no move for her own weapons. He did not appear threatening, but that didn't mean he couldn't be. Ra looked around and behind him to see if anybody else was coming. They were alone for the moment and Ra pulled her cat to heal as she had started to wonder off. With a slight tug and click of her tongue, the nexu returned to her side and looked at Kerx with feline curiosity.

"I started on the streets of Courscant and picked up a little here and little there from places and people."

Ra addressed the man that asked her, trying to get a better read on him in the dark. His body language showed his was curious about her, but his face was masked, so she couldn't see what that looked like.

The footsteps and yells of the family and thugs faded into the distance and the normal sounds of the city returned around them. The swishing of the nexu's tail the only odd sound in the area.

"Did you know of them?"

His answer would decide on her course of action. Even if he wasn't threatening, if he was grouped with the thugs, then her sabers would find a new target. If he didn't, then they would stay up her sleeves.

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

After Kerx asked his question, He was very surprised that the woman responded in a manor that did not mean hostility to him. It was probably the first time he had an actual conversation with someone after a long time. Sure he would talk, but to his contacts for business purposes. Never casual talk. The woman stated that she started to learn to fight in Coruscant. He wanted to know by who, but he didn't want to get into the woman's business.

Then the woman asked if she noticed them. This is where it got a little hard for Kerx. He didn't want to draw the woman away. So he kept his response short and sweet and to the point.

"No, but I do know what it was like being the kid. So I wanted to help, give that kid a longer life. Why did you help the family?"

Kerx wanted to return a question to her for the conversation, so it would not go stale.

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

While Ra was not fully empathic, she picked up on his surprise when she answered his question. Why she didn't know why, but maybe like herself was used to more violent reactions from people. He was also still curious about her. These things Ra picked up off his emotions told her he wasn't going to harm her. Relaxing as much as being out on the street would allow her to Ra listened to his own answer and nodded slightly. He wasn't with the thugs and didn't know the family either.

She was silent for a moment or two as she considered her answer for this yet unnamed man talking to her.

"I grew up an orphan, no family to call my own. That child is the part of the future to this."

Encompassing the galaxy in a motion, before looking back at Kirx.

"A dear friend of mine was killed trying to save a family like that and told me to never let the chance pass to help somebody that is in need."

Normally almost unemotional, he might hear her voice grow a little gentler as Ra spoke of her captain.

"Call me Ra."

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

Kerx was feeling even more surprised to how they both had someone dear to them lost. He was glad that she shared some of her story with him. It gave him a sense of closure, knowing he was not alone in his pain of losing Dane. Dane.... That name will never leave him. Kerx had also heard of how she was raised as an orphan and having no family. He felt bad for that. He wanted to help her, but he did not even know the girl.

Was his emotions talking for him? Were they all bottled up and ready to spill on this lady he hardly knew? He did not know.

Then he heard her voice soften a little. That was a first for Kerx. Her name was Ra. Ra.. a nice name for someone like her. He told Ra about himself.

"My name is Kerx, and I was in a similar situation as you. I wasn't an orphan, but I did lose someone dear to me. My father. He died by the hands of a Mandalorian. I never knew my mother. But I always had him." His voice was growing a bit quiet, thinking of his past.

(Note: Kerx never knew he was adopted)

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

With a little person information shared between the two of them and a sort of mutual bond formed in that they could sympathize with the other over losses, Ra would wonder why a Mando had killed this man's father. She had met a handful in her travels and had never met one she didn't at least get along with.

She gave Kirx a half smile as he spoke, "my friend was the closest thing I had to a father. I understand. At least you had somebody though. Made you into who you are today, did he not?"

Taking a step back in the direction she had been heading when she rushed into the confrontation, Ra waited to see if Kirx would follow her.

"Want to get out of the streets? Though I don't think trouble will follow us."

Giving herself a mental slap to the forehead, she didn't know why she offered that action. All Ra knew was she wanted to keep chatting with this masked man in a location where they wouldn't be bothered.

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

Kerx heard the girl spoke to him and asked if his father made him into the man he was today, while wearing a half smile. Kerx was starting to feel happiness. That was one thing that Ra gave him and that was a smile back under his white hood. But for the reply, he did not smile as much. He was more on the serious side when he answered Ra's question.

"Yes and no.... He trained me on what it takes to be a bounty hunter, not a lawless mercenary. That stuck with me. But no because his death changed me into something that I should never be. A man with revenge."

After some short seconds of saying that Ra took a different direction. She was heading toward more where the confrontation was. Kerx followed her. He heard her asking him if he wanted to get out of the streets, and Kerx agreed. They started walking together again but towards a closed environment where nobody bothered so they can talk in peace.

Kerx loved chatting with Ra because of similarities they share and how she is willing to talk to him, instead of pushing him away.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Even though Ra was unable to see the man's face, she could tell he liked her. Maybe it was his body language, his tone or even the words he picked when answering her. His voice was serious when he answered, but it was an honest one so she had to give him credit there.

"Bounty hunter, huh. I've never given that field of work a try. Been many other things, but not that."

She kept her tone conversational, not hostile or derogatory. Her gold eyes watched around them until they got nearer to the spaceport and where her ship was berthed. Before walking into the building itself, Ra turned to her companion.

"I only have my ship to offer. This isn't my home so no room to talk in."

Her ship provided what she would consider the safest and quietest location possible.

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

Kerx heard the woman tell him she had never given that field of work a try and that she had been many other things. What did that mean? Was she a used to be smuggler/mercenary/whatever? The Whispering Death couldn't tell and he did not want to ask either. He did not want her bringing up more of her past as it sounded painful enough to him.

Kerx decided to share more of himself in an attempt to get her mind off of her painful memories.

"Bounty Hunting is a thrilling job and a well playing one. But, most people think that bounty hunters are no better than common criminals. They were obviously deceived by public opinion. I became one with my father in an effort to help people, while also helping ourselves if that makes sense."

A little bit more walking and they were at her ship. A YT-1300. It was a nice smuggler ship, had hidden compartments to sneak all sorts of things throughout the galaxy.

He heard Ra say that this ship is the only thing she had to offer to a nice quiet location. Kerx did not mind at all. If Ra felt safer in her own ship, then by all means he would accompany her there to talk.

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Kirx fell into step with Ra, but on the side the cat wasn't on. Her words weren't clear as to what she did, but they were true. She never had been a bounty hunter. Not trying to insult his words, but Ra shrugged slightly when he mentioned hunters were often looked on like criminals.

Looking at him out of the corner of her eye as he finished speaking, Ra nodded thoughtfully.

"I make enough credits to keep from crashing and have a small amount set aside for a rainy day."

When they reached the spaceport entrance, they continued on only pausing when Ra spoke.

"You know, just a few bad apples can make all appear rotten."

Walking out to the hanger, Ra lowered the ramp of her ship and motion for him to follow her up. Once they were aboard, she closed the ramp and looked at him again. Nodding again before speaking, she took her cloak off and hung it up near the ramp.

"Very much like my friend and I. Helped people and us at the same time. C'mon let me show you around."

As she guided him through her ship, they ended up in the galley and he would see this was her favorite place in the ship.

​"Would you like a drink?"

The nexu had wondered of​f when they boarded, now joined them in galley. She laid down just inside the door and took up about a quarter of the room.

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

When Kerx told Ra of him being a bounty hunter, he saw her nodding thoughtfully. Someone, nodding and listening to him, instead of quivering in fear. It took a moment for him. After, Ra had said that she makes enough credits from crashing, and that she has a small amount set aside for if the time comes. When Kerx heard this, he wanted to help her out, giver her more if possible. But he barely knew her, so he did not.

When they reached the spaceport entrance, Kerx heard Ra give him a very valuable lesson. Just a dew bad apples can make all appear rotten. He agreed strongly with that. In his time of being a bounty hunter, all Kerx saw were people looking for money, not seeking justice or making places better for people. Hell, he even knocked out a Rodian because he said he didn't care to what happens to innocents on his jobs, just as long as he gets his credits. Those kinds of guys made him angry. Dane and Ra were basically the only people who knew of doing the right thing.

When they got to the hangar, Ra beckoned him in. He obliged and came in after Ra and the Nexu went in first. Ra took off her cloak and set it aside. She told Kerx of how her and her friend would help people, and even help themselves out. That was a nice thing to have.

Ra have the bounty hunter a personal tour of the ship and before they knew it they ended in the galley. Ra asked if Kerx would like a drink.

"Yes, thanks. Do you have any ale?"

Kerx loved the stuff.

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Ra pointed out different areas of the ship along the route to the galley. Motioning to the table there, Ra went and poked her nose into the fridge in there and pulled out two bottles. He had asked for ale and these were a special kind. Instead of the normal brown ales, these were made with fruit. Opening the bottles, she brought them over to the table.

"Give this a try and let me know what you think. If you like it, I'll tell you where you can get them."

Taking a seat at the table with him, Ra held her bottle up in a small toast.

"To family."

Even if her captain hadn't been official family, Ra felt the relationship had been good enough to call him that. Taking a sip, she set the bottle down on the table and looked across at her guest.

"What brought you here? I highly doubt it was for sight seeing."

In her own ship, almost as safe as she could be, Ra let down her neutral façade in front of Kirx. She still kept her emotions close, but the look on her face soften slightly and she was never good at keeping her eyes from showing what she felt. Right now they were filled with curiosity about the man sitting with her.

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

Before Kerx could take a drink, the mask. He had to take it off. When Ra got back with two bottles on the table, Kerx took his mask off. He put his right hand on the border where his chin was, and took it off like nothing. What showed was Kerx's real face.

The man had short black hair, some stubble on his face, accompanied by a right eye that was left totally blind due to a bounty which required the killing of a Cathar murderer, and a left eye with a cybernetic implant that left a faint red glow.

When he took the mask off, he didn't think about how Ra would react, considering how she would respect it. Kerx grabbed a bottle and Ra held her own up in the air, toasting to family.

"To family." He replied back.

Oh man, he loved the ale. So sweet and it just feels so nice going down your throat. After another sip or two Ra asked why he was on the planet. He could see the curiosity in her. He replied like normal.

"I was going into town to see a man who knew my father. He was one of my dad's partners. They were just like brothers. But I never met him and I wanted to meet him so he can tell me more about my father. He wasn't expecting me for another two days but I wanted to surprise him. It's alright though. It just feels weird being back on the place where you grew up and trained. It really gets the nostalgia going through you."

Kerx returned a question back to Ra.

"What are you doing on Concord Dawn?"

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Before the toast happened, Kirx took his mask off. Under it, he appeared as human as Ra. Older and with a cybernetic eye. She made no comment on this and gave the toast. The first sips shared, she sat back in her seat to listen to his answer.

Nodding at his words, in a way she was glad to not have a family past. These things she didn't have to go and do relating to that. Then again, she didn't know anything at all about her actual heritage, family or past. Only what had happened in her life.

"I will sometimes return to Coruscant and remember my childhood there."

One of her last times there, she had gotten into a confrontation with an enemy and been stabbed in the stomach for it. She had not returned since. Not because of that incident though, she just hadn't had the time to go back.

"Wrapping up a business transaction. I'm not a smuggler, but provide transportation of goods or passengers."

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

After the toast, Ra told him that she sometimes goes to Coruscant to remember her childhood. Coruscant, she must have lived in the lower levels. It was a truly horrific place to love in what with all of the criminals and disease, especially for a child. Kerx felt bad. He wanted to make her forget about all of that.

Then Ra said she came to Concord Dawn to wrap up a business transaction. She said she wasn't a smuggler, but does provide transportation of cargo and people alike. Now Kerx was pretty curious. He wanted to know more about what she did. If she claimed of not being a smuggler, then what was she?

"Business here on Concord? If you don't mind me asking, what type of business did you provide?"

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Now that Kirx mask was off, Ra could get a better read on him. After she spoke, it seemed he may have felt sorry for her. Even though it was unvoiced, she gave him a small shrug. Her life made her who she was and there wasn't anything she would go back and do differently. After she finished speaking, he showed his curiosity about her work.

"There's an importer that when he orders stuff he has me deliver the items. He was an old client of my friend I mentioned earlier so when I took over, he kept up the business with me. It's not very often I get this way actually."

In a way she was glad since it reminded her of that night what felt like a lifetime ago. Shaking off the thoughts, she focused on her guest again.

"I always thought mandos were the ones with honor. Guess the random bad apples happen every where though."

Taking another drink before speaking again, her gold eyes looked at him. There was nothing about him that yelled danger or that she couldn't trust him. Having just met him though, she was still nervous about letting her guard down fully. She was just glad they were off the street and could speak freely about whatever they wanted to.

"You know how to fight too?"

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

Ra had said she has a contact, an importer that she delivers for him. After more talking, Ra asked if Kirx fought. Then the memories came flowing in. The Warehouse, Dane, The Reaper and the Collector, all of it. He took a second or two to pause and think what he was going to say. he did not want to be too revealing as he only met this girl a couple hours ago. When the response was ready, Kerx stated:

"Ya. I was taught when I was 6 years old and it ended at around 16 or 17. Good times. That friend you mentioned before, did they teach you how to fight?"

Kerx was wondering if he was getting a little bit too curious with his questions, but he shrugged it off. He was fiddling with his bottle, taking another drink before thinking about the things Ra could do right this second. It's not like he did not trust her, he did. It was just that he was betrayed on a lot of jobs, so he tries to keep his guard up most of the time. But with Ra he felt more safe in her ship than out on the streets on the poor part of town.

That made Kerx lowered his guard substantially, but he knew it and he let it. He really liked Ra. It's not everyday you get to talk to a person and actually have a nice conversation in the galaxy. Kerx was starting to wonder what is going to happen after all of this ends. He would really like to tag along with Ra, as he thinks they make a good duo, but he can't leave his ship on Concord Dawn. he knew too well that on this rock, any sort of criminal will try to steal whatever and sell it....

@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Her question had him thinking for a few moments. Ra couldn't tell what, but it was probably memories. When he finally did answer, it appeared he had more professional training than she had. She had learned on the streets though where it was survival of the fittest or be crushed like a bug. Not knowing which was better, she almost wondered if she could beat him in a spar.

She shook her head in answer before she spoke, "no, I already knew how to fight before I met him."

It was a simple answer and the truth. He had taught her other things though. About piloting, taking care of the ship and being in business for herself.

With a little bit of drink in them and a quiet place to talk, they both relaxed considerably around each other. She could read it in Kerx body language and when he released his pent up tension, so did she. It's not like they were going to pounce on each other. If he tried, Ra had her nexu and her weapons were still up her sleeves.

"What does it take to be a hunter?"

Shortening it to the more common word, Ra hoped he wouldn't take offense at it.

[member="Kerx Zyron"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

So she must have been alone before she met her friend thought Kerx. After drinking a bit, Kerx was really laid out, sitting back more. Then Ra asked a question. She asked what it took to be a hunter. Kerx was astonished to hear that, and not offended by any means. He sat up more straight to give her a straight and simple answer. He was also wondering in the back of his mind if she wanted to be a hunter. With him..... Anyways, Kerx had replied:

"Courage, Good fighting skills which you already have, and patience. Lots and lots of patience because you never know what might happen in a job. You might get captured, get caught in a bargain battle, and lots more. Some people think you go around and just kill people all day, but it is way more than that."

Kerx felt good talking about what a hunter was. He just wanted to get the right information to the right person. Ra was strong, and if she was asking what it takes to be a bounty hunter because she might want to be one, The Whispering Death would not hesitate to offer her some great adventures on many distant and alien worlds. All she had to do was say the word. But if she did not, Kerx would understand. Sometimes he wish he wasn't a bounty hunter. But hey, he was raised into it and that was the only thing he was good at.

The bounty hunter did not even know what time it was. He did not know whether it was either the drinking or his body, but he felt a little drowsy. Not too much to make a person sleep, but he was feeling it alright.

@Ra'a'mah