Smuggling Not Snuggling

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

His eyes scanned across the viewport, spotting a small figure crawling out of the same crack that he and Kinsey had used to exit the Kinrath hive.

The figure was already tiny due to their altitude, but he could just barely make out the man screaming and waving his arms. Behind him a dozen of the venomous insects began to pull themselves out of the crag, their intent more than clear as they lashed out and whipped their tendrils towards the man. Alistair couldn't help but cringe slightly, shaking his head and scowling as he turned away and direct his attention towards the control panel instead. "Nasty way to go."

He commented to himself quietly.

The ship took a slight bank to the left as Alistair pulled them up and through the atmosphere, half turning his head back towards where he knew Kinsey would be when she spoke. He frowned for a moment, considering just ignoring her now that they were relatively safe.

"What is it?" He asked finally.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

Shoulders finally relaxed as they passed from upper-atmosphere to space. Fingers shakily unsnapped the crash-webbing as she closed up the satchel. There was no mistaking the find. Some of the pieces had gotten a small layer of rust that could be easily polished off. It was a huge discovery and almost made this whole trip worth it.

Even if it wasn't the Eye of the Beyonder yet.

Thoughts got lost in the things she could do with the credits once she sold the pieces off. She wouldn't even have to worry about fixing up the u-wing. She could buy her own new, karking ship. Kriff, a fleet of 'em if she wanted. She could start her own proper exploration business.

She could....

Fenn's voice crackled over the headset.

And the young explorer was reminded of what she had to do. What she should do. Even if she didn't really want to. Even if she felt like she didn't owe him anything. He was a professional and apparently, Felix had paid for everything. Alistair Fenn had held her with nothing but disdain and contempt since they met. Even when things hadn't been her fault.

Kriff, she was pretty sure he'd almost wanted to shoot her. Multiple times.

She peeled the headset off and swore. Sighing, she quickly scaled the ladder before changing her mind and made her way to the cockpit. She carefully swung the bag off her shoulder and let it drop in the seat next to the smuggler.

"There," she spoke quietly. "Remember that abandoned ship I went in the first time we met the kinrath? Found something you might be interested in. Just drop me off at the closest shadowport and we can go our separate ways."

Feet shifted slightly.

"Thanks for not selling me out to the hunters." She knew it wasn't like Fenn had a selfless heart. But Kinsey meant the thanks all the same. Couldn't exactly trust too many folks in this 'verse anymore. It wasn't like she could trust Fenn per se but she could trust him enough to finish a smuggling job.

And that was actually quite something.