A Beginning Shrouded

[Kita_Ikari]

Kita looked at Mercy as she looked distantly at Jacobi. When Jacobi looked back at Mercy giving her a look, the women's reply came fast. Yea, no, were good. Kita was confused on Mercy's sudden reaction but shrugged it off. She could always ask her later what was going on at a better time.

As the trio continued, Kita had to hold herself back from laughing as Jacobi's foot fell through an old tree. Of course it only got worse from their. She muffled her laughter with her hand as the old wood fell apart in his hands and covered his body halfway with the muck. She never seen anyone get so riled up over something so small. Watching as he threw the wood away, he didn't look back as he moved forward. Kita didn't understand how someone could be so angry all the time.

As they finally arrived at their destination, Kita looked at the old rusted city. She didn't get how anyone would want to live in an old rundown place like this or even on this planet for that matter. Hold here. "I don't like this at all…" she whispered to Mercy. As the speeders grew closer in the distance, Kita noticed as Jacobi rested his hands on his pistol. Then she remembered that it was mentioned this place was filled with perverted criminal scum. Quickly she rested her hand upon the gun on her belt, but kept a watchful eye on how Jacobi was going to take care of this situation. She didn't know what to expect. But hopefully she wouldn't have to use her weapon.

Watching as Jacobi talked to the lookouts, she did look away briefly to notice them bringing a cage with them. We’re here to see K’cuf. Split it amongst yourselves. I just want to see the Doctor. Curiously Kita watched as he picked up something from his pocket, not noticing he had shown them a tattoo of his before tossing a pouch their way. Their silence was confusing. What did he give them? She thought.

As he continued speaking to them, Kita's eyes went wide as they tried to convince they get into a cage. Already have been in a containment unit through this whole flight, she would have rather been in that again then a cage like some animal. The lookouts tantrums had worried her. That gem is worth more than that entire frakking town you live in and ten others besides, give over the bikes or I take the kyber back - preferably pried from your cold dead fingers. Kita had a feeling Jacobi would follow through with that act. He was very determined today with getting into the town, and it was obvious he wasn't gonna have these guys get in his way.

Once the outlookers agreed to let them take the bikes, Kita sighed in relief and removed her hand from the hilt of her weapon. She watched as Jacobi pushed a bike Mercy's way before climbing atop the other one. Let's go Kita. She stared at Jacobi in surprise. He really hadn't called her by her name this whole time since leaving Tibrin. And if he did, it went unnoticed. Her surprise quickly turned to annoyance however. Unless you want to stay in that slop!

Calm and seemingly considerate and then BAM! He has to be a total Jerk again. If he thought she was a pain, well he wasn't a walk in the park to her either. Kita glared at him before approaching the bike. After climbing on she tightly wrapped her arms around his waist to keep from falling off. "What gem did you give them?" She asked.

[Jacobi Wylcott]

Instantly he flinched and almost jerked himself away from her - as sure as he knew the treachery of the Sith he could just see the girl snatching the combat knife from his belt and sinking it into his kidney. But it never came and to his great confusion her arms were around him for support. Was this some trick? His eye darted around for something - anything. Was she holding him tight that he couldn’t move and a sniper would shoot him down? Perhaps she had a vest on with micro grenades strapped on and she was about to send them both to oblivion!? Still nothing came.

Suddenly he noticed he’d been holding his breath - he let out an exhale and played it off without a word as he settled back into the saddle of the bike and gunned the engine, streaming off with a tail of nasty filth in their wake. For a brief moment he pulled the bike up into the air and above the misty fog, escaping the gunk filled air and into what could be considered fresh skies - still filthy but far more breathable - after a moment he dove back down and swept in behind the flatbed speeder and he watched them carefully as they jeered and rattled away about the wealth they’d just received.

Jacobi leaned back to answer her, “A kyber crystal.” He stated blunty as if it was nothing big but in truth just one such treasure like that was extremely rare. Why he’d given it to them though was seemingly off - just to purchase passage? “These people are the type to go to any length to get ahead. There is nothing they will not do. But if you dangle something precious in front of them it’ll distract them just long enough.” His tone fell into something more dark, “Filth like that doesn’t deserve to live, but if I want the doctor to do his thing willingly, I can’t go around smoking his thugs. That’ll have to wait until we’re done here.” Without saying as much he’d just given it away that he very likely intended to get his gemstone back - and it was likely such a transaction would be paid in a high price.

They arrived at the scrap city finally - streets of mud and filth with trash piled and burnt in great heaps, there were shacks with tin walls and roofs, shanty shops with peddling merchants that were not only armed for their own security but had thugs nearby with rifles to dissuade thievery. Along the streets were rotten wood decking used to walk above the wet slop. It smell no better here than outside.

This place was disgusting in every aspect of the word.

In the middle of the town lay a large building, once it had been a biodome, used for the growth of food and possibly large amounts of greenery. The dome had holes in it and was obviously no longer used as a greenhouse. Now it had a dozen or more beings surrounding it - standing guard or patrolling. Each and every one of them was armed and armored. “That’s the place.” Jacobi announced and followed the flatbed in.

They landed in the courtyard, or what could be called such, and they dismounted the bike. The thugs from earlier scampered off into a large bay to the side after the Ithorian snapped off a shout and wave at a few guards who approached Jacobi and Kita and spoke to them in Huttese. The pair began to follow the guards, both were hugely muscled Gran, three eyed aliens that had mouths full of sharp teeth and voices that seemed to be trifold in their speech pattern.

As they marched closer to the biodome, just as Jacobi had warned, many eyes fell on Kita and muttering could be heard, even some brandished weapons at the dream of what profit they could make. Not just in the perverted means of selling her as a bikini clad dancer but some wanted to cut her up and sell her perfect pink and health organs on the black market. But as some would take a step forward they or their buddies caught sight of Jacobi and aside from him being imposing as hell, those that saw that tattoo on his shoulder put two and two together - identifying the man they saw that once spent much time in the dank places of these shady worlds on behalf of his very wanted status - they nearly recoiled at his sight and those that didn’t - Jacobi gave them a welcoming look that promised horrible things and that alone froze their vile intentions. But - if they knew she was Force Sensitive - not even Jacobi Wylcott’s tenacious reputation would have stopped them from making the attempt.

“Wait,” Jacobi barked at the Gran leading them into the old biodome, “I’ve got one more coming.” The engines of Mercy’s bike flared in the distance, he wasn’t about to leave her out here too. Though it wouldn’t hurt for her to stay outside and fly cover - he just didn’t want to chance it. She, like Kita, belonged to him - and no one harmed his minions except for him.

[Slade Xandir]

It was almost uncanny how often he threw them in hell’s gate and told them this was their destination. Because apparently, it wasn’t too long before they were noticed and circled. “Ergh,” the brunette gave heatedly in aggressive agreement with the girl. She had no problem showing her dislike of the vermin with both hands easily slipping the weapons from their holsters.

As Jacobi did his ambassador thing, she minded her own business by minding all of theirs. The second any made a move, her daring glare gave them all the rope in the world to hang themselves with. It wasn’t long before they got some agreement and some rides with the bastards steering off into the mess of hole they came out of, and their little group having two bikes of their own.

Jacobi called for Kita and a raised brow couldn’t hide behind her lack of curtain this time- it was clearly illustrated in all of its questioning glory, minor smirk coming along with it. But hastily she straddled the bike and went about following orders as he threw them out.

Following a flank until nearer the city, she did a roundabout and finally came to halt where they were meant to momentarily hold a meeting with some Doctor of Obvious Importance. Jeez she hated this place. She parked next to his bike, kicked the engine off and legged it to the pair.

[Kita_Ikari]

Noticing Jacobi flinch, she figured maybe he thought she would hit him again or something. "I'm not gonna hit you again." She muttered gently. As he turned on the bike, she felt unsure at the fact she would even be able to stay in her seat at high speeds. When the bike stood on it's back wheel to lift them briefly, it only made her realize she COULD slide off the bike easily. Please just get back fully on the ground...LIKE RIGHT NOW! she thought. While burying her face in Jacobi's back, she held on tighter trying to not think about the possibility of plummeting to the ground.

Once on full ground again, Kita gave it a moment before she loosened her grip a bit to see the scenery quickly pass them by. Her long blonde hair blew back as they sped on towards the old city. A kyber crystal. Remembering her training session earlier, Kita's mouth almost dropped at the thought that he gave the crystal to them at all. Especially if they were so rare. But his explanation for why he gave it to them made sense. However, it worried Kita. If they had that crystal, and it was used in the past for powerful machinery...then that definitely was not something that should be under the Hutts hands.

She was about to voice her opinion on his idiotic decision until he said...
Filth like that doesn’t deserve to live, but if I want the doctor to do his thing willingly, I can’t go around smoking his thugs. That’ll have to wait until we’re done here.
Kita might of been blind to alot of things, but she wasn't stupid. It was obvious Jacobi meant to do something in order to get the crystal back. And she wouldn't of minded that so much since it was from criminals on this planet...if he hadn't said it in a dark manner.
She shook her head. It was moments like that, when she wanted to throttle him for creeping her out.

Once they reached the city's courtyard, she hopped off the bike and stared at the buildings current structure. How is this place even standing? she wondered. Sticking close to Jacobi, Kita knew the Gran were staring at her. She didn't have to look their way to know this. She felt their stares easily upon her. Perverts.

Once Mercy arrived, Kita was happy to see her finally join them again as she parked the bike. Though, she kept silent as to not attract anymore attention then they both already were.

[Jacobi Wylcott]

Mercy caught up with them soon enough and Jacobi nodded to her in approval, she’d not only established a quick recon of the area but she hadn’t run off either and the Force knew that she could have ran further into Nal Hutta and vanished from his clutches, hopped the next freighter off world and truly disappear forever - but she didn’t. He wasn’t about to show gratitude in a moment like this though and he simply nodded - then looked forward into the depths of a sick man’s lair and off they went.

Behind them the thugs and bandits followed at a lax distance. Inside the depths of the Dark Side of the Force - Tormentous laughed.

---Continued in Taken - GRP