The Depths of The Dark

[Subject 37]

Space
[member="Akeema"]

Arthis sat quietly on the bridge of The Bloodhawk his lips thin, his eyes closed in concentration. The Sons moved all around him, a few of them wandering around the deck of the bridge while others diligently worked away at the organic consoles that surrounded all of them.

No one spoke a word, no one said a thing.

There really wasn't any need to. Thew of the Bloodhawk had been together for years now, trained as Sons of Titan and fighting as soldiers together for over a decade. They had stuck to one another, and through that a bond had formed between them. There was no need for anyone to ask any questions, there was no need to argue or even wonder. Everyone knew exactly what they were doing.

A chirp called from one end of the bridge.

Arthis opened his eyes, the bright green orbs flicking over towards the console.

The screen, if one could call the organic mass that, flickered for a moment and then showed a brief gravitic readout. There was a vessel approaching through hyperspace, cutting directly through the trade route. Arthis smiled, a small smile, but a smile nonetheless. His hand briefly went up, finger flicking forward as he crooked his finger to give an order. The man besides him nodded, then wandered over towards a nearby console.

The Bloodhawk shook slightly as the Dovin Basal's aboard shifted.

The powerful biots immediately squirmed on the vessel, reaching into hyperspace to wrench the passing ship into realspace.

 

[Christie Daae]

[member="Arthis"]

Akeema stared up at the frown on the bothan's face. Kenyaa was the first mate and she eyed the teen's unmade bedroll next to the cargo of caged creatures. She was a first mate, not some babysitter for an odd togruta girl. Akeema followed the woman's stare as it snapped to her face.

"There have been complaints of your....creatures getting out of their cages. Do I need to remind you of what kind of ship we're running he-?"

Kenyaa sputtered and stumbled forward as did Akeema as the Lucky Swift gave a violent lurch. The lights flickered and klaxons blared. Akeema's immediate concern went to the animals. She could feel their fear rising with her own. Orange-tan hand went to one of the cage doors as Kenyaa picked herself up.

"Stay. Here. And keep those things locked up!"

"But...," she couldn't say anything more. The door to the cargo hold sealed closed of the transport vessel as the first mate Bothan left. The baby nexu growled in the cage next to her hands. Akeema turned her attention away from the cold door to her charge.

"It's okay. I'm sure it's just a bump. We'll get off this yucky spaceship soon." Fingers scratched beneath the nexu's chin.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Akeema"]

Piracy had always been a rather easy task. There were few governments in the galaxy that actually cared about policing it, at least outside of their bodies. Due to the way galactic influence actually worked most governments could only protect things within their own borders. They used surveillance networks, patrol craft, even drones to patrol for anything and everything, looking for threats that might crop up and disrupt even the slightest thing.

Yet outside...where they had nothing, no one watched.

The First Order, The Alliance, even the Silver Jedi didn't care.

As long as a Pirate did his work within freespace, where only Planetary governments ventured, then they were safe. It was a sad fact for most merchants and smugglers. They tried in vain to protect their precious cargo, yet along came people like Arthis and his crew. They saw opportunity, they saw plunder, but most of all they saw blood. The Ubese smiled slightly as the Transport was dragged out of hyperspace and into view in front of him.

Send the message His fingers crooked, and the lieutenant besides him nodded.

A few moments later The Bloodhawk sent a single message, a word that would be well understood; Surrender.

 

[Christie Daae]

[member="Arthis"]

The lekku at her back twitched. The teen didn't know about the threat that lurked just outside in the depths. She couldn't hear the arguing of the first mate and the captain as they got the pirate ship's message. However, she could hear the urgent voices just outside her rented plot of cargo space. There were several other merchants on board with precious goods.

It was clear that whatever was happening, wasn't normal.

Fingers withdrew from the baby nexu's chin and she stood. The nexu whimpered, followed by a growl. Akeema turned once, making a sympathetic cooing sound back at the animal before her attention shifted to the door, again. Head cocked, listening to the others outside the door.

The transport didn't really have weapons that would save them in a fight. So, the captain charged up the shields and took over the controls. Akeema stumbled again, as the ship lurched starboard. Little did she know the captain was trying to outmaneuver the pirate ship to get clear to make another jump.

He had to try something because he knew surrender for most pirates meant certain death for the passengers. Unless there was someone valuable enough to to ransom or sell into slavery. He was too poor and old for either of those options.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Akeema"]

There was no outmaneuvering them.

Though The Bloodhawk was painfully slow compared to the cruiser, it was a Yuuzhan Vong ship. That meant instead of regular engines it utilized unique living biots called Dovin basals. These creatures manipulated gravity itself, and so instead of pushing the ship forward, the Dovin Basal's dragged it forward.

How did this apply, well quite simply the creatures could grasp onto a nearby ship and pull it instead of space.

Take us in His fingers flicked forward once more. Take the ship, don't destroy it

At times they simply chose to destroy a vessel instead of boarding it. The idea was a simple message to the next ship that passed through the system. They would check out the now derelict and destroyed husk of the starship and of course find nothing but rubble. While they were inspecting the other ship The Sons would fall upon them and do their looting.

Standard tactic, simplistic.

 

[Christie Daae]

[member="Arthis"]

"You expect us just to cower like scared lothal cats and let them..."

"WHAT are we supposed to do?!"

".....and one time I heard..."

".....kill us all!"

"Well I'm going to fight!"

"........calm down."

Blue eyes widened as the bird-like marking on Akeema's face stretched and crinkled. Th cacophony of voices outside her door only grew louder and louder. Bare-feet backed away from the door slowly. And she did what any teen would do in this situation, she hid. Cage of the baby nexu was popped open and she scooped the fairly large baby into her arms, cradling his body against her lekkus, careful of the sharp spikes.

"Chiya. Shhh. I'll get us through this. I promise," she whispered against him and tucked herself into the shadow behind the back of the cage.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Akeema"]

The ships shook as they connected, the organic mass of The Bloodhawk entrapping the smaller transport within it's maw. Arthis lingered upon the bridge for just a few moments, his fingers coiling around the odd throne like control chair before slowly he rose from his place.

Without a word the pirate shifted, and then wandered down the corridor towards the hangar bay.

He had never been a man of words, though that wouldn't be too surprising for those that knew his species. Ubese generally speaking did not communicate much, even with one another. Their voices were brittle and half broken, preferring instead to communicate through a complex sign language that each Ubese learned from childhood. It was an effective method, though even to those that knew it there was a certain amount of...mystery to all of it.

The Ubese did not like to talk.

They were silent, deadly creatures.

This became more and more apparent as the door to the transport suddenly burst open, three skull-headed figures standing within the doorway.

 

[Christie Daae]

[member="Arthis"]

The door to the transport was close to the closed-cargo space Akeema huddled in. The Nexu's claws lightly dug into the fabric of her shirt. Her fingers continued to scratch and massage the back of the cat's neck. "Shh. Shh," she whispered. Horned-head turned and she peeked out from behind the crate. The doors to her space were still sealed.

For now.

If the pirates continued to venture forward, they would encounter cells of resistance as several merchants and the captain fired at them with hand-held boasters. Other merchants hid and cowered in fear, within their quarters. But for now, all was quiet as they waited to face their enemies, smoke from the blast to the doors whisping and curling down the corridor.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Akeema"]

There was no stopping The Sons, not with merchants and deckhands.

They had been trained and retrained to be one of the best Corporate armies in the galaxy, their skills were honed to a fine point, and the men they faced were hardly comparable to the Vong Army that they had once fought. Arthis stood at their head, his armor taking glancing blows of blaster bolts, the skull like mask shifting in anger as he grasped onto the nearest crewmember and yanked him forward, hand wrapping around his wrist to pull him closer.

His fist met the mans throat with a muted crack.

The crewman stumbled slightly, then dropped to the floor. A moment later the ship became silent.

The Fleeting resistance of the crew suddenly melted away. Those that were still alive stumbled to their knees begging for mercy, the others all lay dead. The Sons had made quick work of their prey, the odd blue hologram masks shifting as they quickly began to search the corridors of the freighter.

 

[Christie Daae]

[member="Arthis"]

It was eerie when the sounds of fighting stopped and all that remained were muted whimperings. Head ducked back down and shoulders curved inward as she huddled lower. Breath became quieter.

There. There was an abandoned hydrospanner in the corner. With one hand, she reached for it just as the door to her small space hissed open. The togruta huddled back down again. Eyes wanting to close but willed to remain open. Grip tightened slightly on the nexu as its claws began to dig more into her shirt.

Heavy boot steps came closer. And she waited, hoping she'd be passed over and forgotten.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Akeema"]

Arthis stood quietly within the tiny room.

Since the inception of The Sons he had always lead from the front. A captain was nothing if he did not lead his men, a sentiment that oddly enough many of his pirate cohorts shared with him. For a moment he lingered within the room.

The helmets that all of the sons wore weren't fitted with life sensors or anything of the sort, and the HUDS within were slowly beginning to fail, but the enhanced hearing and vision that came with the helmet was enough for him to spot the tiny bit of movement within the room. The Ubese lingered where he stood, knowing that if he went for whatever was hiding within the corner of the room it would likely scramble and try to get away as fast as it possible could.

He turned.

Two of his men already stood in the doorway, both of them holding weapons. Arthis said nothing to them of course, speaking would have given him away and...well he was an Ubese, speaking wasn't exactly his style. Instead he unfolded his hand, then pointed towards the corner.

 

[Christie Daae]

[member="Arthis"]

Lekkus twitched. Even though they were super trained soldiers, she could feel and sense their movements through the three growths coming from her head. They were getting closer. Had they seen her?

Eyes wildly looked around, trying to find a vent or something. But there was nothing. The only vent was by the door and she wasn't sure if she'd fit through. Plus add a baby nexu to that. As she felt the soldiers approach, much like echo location, her bare feet pressed into the cold, deck plating and she stood, cradling the heavy cat-like creature in one arm, side turned so he was the furthest away from the soldiers and her body was a shield. She held out the sparking hydrospanner in the other hand, pointed menacingly toward them.

Lips set into a thin, determined line full of salt and grit.

If the teen was scared of their skull 'faces,' she didn't show it as she squared off.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Akeema"]

The pirates didn't say a single thing.

The two holding rifles briefly glanced at one another, then Arthis wandered back towards the girl. The odd shimmering skulls within their helmets seemed to shift about slightly, expressions changing to one of amusement, if you could call it that. For a second Arthis simply lingered in front of the girl, glancing towards the Nexu baby in her hand.

They hadn't had much information on this Freighter, at least not as a whole. The ship was carrying a single shipment of rare ore, though it was only one crate of many aboard. Anything else was just good for the taking, and Arthis intended on doing just that. Though things had been good for The Sons as of late there was always more to be had, and the cargo aboard this freighter represented an opportunity, one that he would of course quickly seize upon.

Take her His fingers flicked and crooked twice.

The two Sons flanking him raised their rifles, both set to stun, and fired.

 

[Christie Daae]

[member="Arthis"]

The togruta-teen tensed as the middle skull-spaceman thing walked toward her. Weight rolled to the balls of her feet and her legs parted a bit more to center her balance. Even so, she couldn't help the slight shuffle of her feet back but she bumped up against the wall behind her. There was no where else to go.

The nexu in her arm hissed and she lunged forward, sparking hydrospanner going for the thing's chest as he finished his finger gesture. She didn't get far because in the next moment, one blue bolt of energy hit her down her forearm and the next on her side. Everything went numb and she dropped to her knees, curling protectively around the furry creature. Then her consciousness faded and she slumped to the floor, her lekkus giving one twitch. When they tried to move Akeema, they'd find one very angry baby nexu, ready to leap at their faces with claws and teeth gnashing.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Akeema"]

The Nexu of course wasn't much of an obstacle.

A solid boot to the side of its face sent the little creature flying, a whimper escaping the cat like creature as it went flying against one of the nearby crates. There was a loud crack as the wood splintered, but the Nexu seemed to be alive at the very least. Arthis glanced at it, then paid it no more mind.

He wasn't here for creatures.

With another small crook of his fingers one of the two men snapped forward and grabbed Akeema by the collar of her shirt. With no ceremony or discussion the Pirate began to drag The Togruta out of the small room and back towards where they had breached the Freighter in the first place. Notably, the others who had remained alive received the same treatment. each one of them was knocked unconscious, dragged off of the freighter and back onto The Bloodhawk.

The intent became obvious when a collar was slipped around each of their necks.

Slavery was profitable after all.

 

[Christie Daae]

[member="Arthis"]

Akeema woke up with a headache. This was worse than the time she'd fallen asleep in the grassy-plains on her homeworld during the hottest part of the day. She'd been so dehydrated. Falcon-white marked face grimaced. Orangeish lids began to pull back, blue-orbs trying to focus on foreign surroundings.

Her animal. She couldn't sense him! She quickly sat-up but it was a little too quickly. Fingers came up to gently cradle her agitated head. But they didn't quite make it there because there was something foreign around her neck. Eyes tracked down as if she could see it. It was cold and just as foreign as her surroundings.

She tugged at it frantically, trying to find whatever held it in place. She wanted it off. Offoffoffoffoffoff. Off.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Akeema"]

The room they had all been tossed into was, like all rooms on The bloodhawk, organic.

The Yuuzhan Vong ship was entirely made of bio-material, meaning there weren't any walls to claw at, there was nothing to bend of break. Instead the inside of the cell, if one could even call it that, was an organic mass that seemed almost skin like.

The Bloodhawk was not a slaver vessel, not really anyway. Generally speaking they didn't set out to sell slaves, nor capture them, but they were a way to augment profit. Some people would have disapproved of course, but Arthis didn't particularly care. Slavery was common enough in the galaxy, and in certain cultures it was even profoundly just, though of course for him it was little more than another way to keep his people going as fast and best he could.

There was no need to justify it.

Of course unbeknownst to him, the little Nexu that Akeema had with her had managed to sneak aboard the Bloodhawk, hidden away in the depths of the ship.

 

[Christie Daae]

[member="Arthis"]

"Akeema," Kenyaa whispered to her as she saw the girl stir. Lekku-covered head turned toward the voice, wincing slightly. "Thank the stars you're okay, girl."

"I dunno if this counts as okay," Akeema muttered, arms hugging each other. Nose crinkled at how the floor felt and looked. Like it was moving and breathing. Alive. Her Ithorian adopted father told her stories about ships like this once. The name eluded her. Something that started with a V.

She took a closer look. The captain wasn't there. Must've been killed along with several of the other merchants. Only the first mate, three of the others, and Akeema were left.

"Just follow my lead and we'll get out of this. Together," Kenyaa squared her shoulders but Akeema didn't miss the tremble in the woman's lower lip. With the collar and this room...the togruta was beginning to realize that the pirates wanted them alive and that most likely meant to sell for slavery. Akeema found her feet and began wandering the perimeter of the room, hands trailing along the 'walls,' looking for something. Anything.

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Akeema"]

Arthis wasn't aware of the girls plotting, mostly because he didn't care. As soon as they had taken the cargo from aboard the freighter and made sure all living beings had been transferred over they had destroyed the vessel and almost instantly jumped to hyperspace.

Though Piracy was easier out here within the void, there was still a danger to it. If a patrol just happened to go on by, or something moved in just the right way, things could go disastrously wrong. The Sons had only a single ship, they were not a fleet, and 'allies' they had would come when called. So it was best to do their business and move on. They had what they needed from their victims, and thus they would now be heading back to their base.

Of course, that was if no one interfered.

There was still quite a ways to go, and The Sons didn't have a base to call their own. They instead used a shadowport within the ethos of the Hydian Way, crafted from an ancient broken star destroyer and hidden within an asteroid field.

It was there that they would sell their 'cargo'.

 

[Christie Daae]

[member="Arthis"]

Akeema finished her third pass along the walls. But there was nothing. Her mother would be so worried when she didn't make it back to the vet transport as planned. The teen also knew she was on her own, despite the words of the first mate.

And she didn't know if there was a way off this ship. They were outnumbered and out gunned. Maybe another opportunity would present itself once they were sold. Maybe she'd be sold to a fool.

There was a chance and maybe some hope.

Maybe.

SoMething in the first mate seemed to snap. She stood and walked to the opposite wall to where Akeema was resting. Fingers curled into fists and she began pounding on the odd texture. And then began kicking at it.

"LET US OUT!!!"

Akeema's eyes widened as she watched the other woman begin to lose it. The other merchants shifted uncomfortably. She continued to yell the same three words. Was she losing it though? Or was there a strategy here?

Lekkus twitched as she watched, tension building in her own shoulders.