Arrival

[Cora Leera]

Cora looked at the photo that was of her family, all smiling and happy, except for her. It was easier than she thought, leaving them and they didn't need her anyways. A couple nights ago she had snuck out, unseen into the darkness and boarded a cargo ship. It has been a long while since the ship had landed, and now Cora stands on this planet that she knows nothing about. People and creatures of different shapes,color, and sizes. Bustled around not entirely bothered by, her or other people's presence. Cora looked at the photo in her hands, relishing the hatred she felt looking at their smiling faces. She crumbled up the paper and put it away into her only bag she had brought, looking up she felt something inside her. A feeling of uncertainty. Sure, she felt alone when she was with her family, but this was different. Just looking around without any knowledge of where to go or what to do made her feel sick to her stomach, especially here, on this planet. She hated when things were out of her control, but then again she felt like she deserved this as a punishment.
It felt like eternity before she finally found someplace to stay. Cora, without a lot of money, found a cheap place she could stay in for a while. People that she recognized from the ship were going into the building too. It seemed popular among the runaways. A smile appeared on her lips, bleeding from the nervous fit of biting them, as she walked on the sand and stone path, up to the building, made of sandstone. The photo, nestled loosely in her bag's pocket, slipped out of her bag and buryed itself into the sand. Cora didn't notice.
It felt like one of those crazy dreams she had every once and a while. This all seemed fake, dream like, and she was unsure. Unsure about everything. Now here in this place she stood, brushing her hands through her short, dark hair. She reached into her bag to find her photo. It wasn't there. Cora checked again, and found nothing. She let out a low growl, for she wanted to destroy the photo herself. Cora tugged at her hair, another habit she had. Things were already not going the way she planned, but what plans did she make in the first place?

[Rhoden Carbine]

Rhoden disembarked from the cargo vessel. He looked far different than was usual, his hair was a dirty blonde as opposed to jet black, his skin was a well-worn tan rather than white, and his eyes were a fathomless deep brown far from the usual sapphire blue. Likewise his wardrobe had changed, no Imperial uniform, no armor, he wore the clothes of a civilian. He had come to this planet to meet up with underworld contacts, and it never hurt to have a good disguise.

He walked towards an initial contact point, some cheap lodging. Falling in casually behind some girl walking, she was undoubtedly nervous and Rhoden had the suspicion she was running from someone or something. He noticed a piece of paper fall out of her bag, picking it up he saw it was a photo. He saw her searching her bag, saw the slight tightening of muscle. Frustration or chagrin?

"Excuse me miss, I think this fell out of your bag?" Rhoden's voice was not the usual calm and collected, but rather unrefined and tentative. He smiled feebly as he handed her the photo.

[Cora Leera]

Cora, lost in her own thoughts jumped at the voice. She turned around and looked at the man, her hazel eyes piercing into his, she was not in the mood to talk to any one. Cora took the photograph, from his hands and scanned it quickly before immediately crumbling it up, "Thank you." She muttered almost soundlessly as she stuffed the photo into her bag and without a returning smile she put her bag back around her shoulder. She hesitated for a moment, giving him one last glance before she continued walking inside. Sure he was only trying to be nice but, he shouldn't of grabbed that photo. Now Cora has to destroy it herself, at least she gotten what she wanted. With that thought, Cora started to chew at the skin on her lips again, she should've thought this through, instead of rushing the process of leaving.

[Rhoden Carbine]

Rhoden resumed walking, noting with some amusement the girl was rather tense, and seemed annoyed at his returning the photo. He entered the lodging where, naturally, a small bar and several tables waited along with booths along the walls.

Rhoden scanned the room, a feigned look of uncertainty on his face. Then he saw his contact: a hulk of an alien, a Besalisk, waving one of his four arms in welcome. Smiling, allowing a look of relief to cover his face, he made his way over to the booth. Upon entering and seating himself the noise from outside the booth faded and Rhoden knew that no one outside of the booth would be able to hear them speak.

The Besalisk let out a hearty laugh, "Rhoden, my friend! I'd thought you'd left me for good, m'boy!" Rhoden smiled genuinely, "I'm afraid not, Darnik. I was surprised to hear you were still alive." he said, noting out of the side of his eye that the girl from earlier was loitering around looking uncertain herself. "And what is that supposed to mean, eh?!" Darnik said with exaggerated indignation. Rhoden raised his eyebrows, "I believe that upon my leaving your ship was--quite literally--held together by industrial grade airtight plaster." Darnik grunted, a dry exhalation from his nose that shook his gullet. "That was one compartment, and besides, it was just as good as any repairs we could have payed for!"

Rhoden raised a hand to his face and spoke through it, "Oh, just one, eh?" he removed the hand and looked up sharply at the man "And how many is that now?" Darnik shifted in his seat, "Er... well.. none." he said. Rhoden leaned back, surveying him silently. Darnik shifted again and mumbled, "She.. er... might be sitting in a repair bay with a hole blown through her."

"Well then." Rhoden said, "You're in luck. I've come to offer you a deal." Darnik looked shrewdly at him. "What deal would an Imperial officer give to a smuggler like me?" he said carefully. Rhoden smiled once more, "Oh nothing as bad as you seem to be thinking." he said, "No, me and my.. ah... team, well, we require information. You," Rhoden raised his glass in gesture to the man, "Will provide us with that information." Darvik nodded, smacking his large lips. "And what," he said "Do I get in return?" Rhoden raised a single eyebrow, "Well for a start we're going to get your ship flying again, you're no use if you're grounded." he said, "You'll also be payed a reasonable amount of credits for any useful information you can provide to us." Rhoden continued, "And most importantly, I don't doubt, you will receive a full pardon for any crimes you have been charged with." Darvik sat up straighter and brought a hand up to his chin, Rhoden looked sharply at him "That pardon, and my influence, can only get you out of so much, so don't go trying something stupid." he said.

Darvik continued to sit in silence for a minute. Rhoden again noticed the girl remained, was it paranoia or had she looked at him? Her body stance remained guarded. Rhoden would have to keep an eye on her after his present business was concluded. "Allright, I'll do it, not that you were going to give me a choice." Darvik said at last, "Excellent, I'll be along to your current place of residence to discuss further details two days from now." Rhoden replied. Darvik opened his mouth, perhaps to ask how Rhoden knew where he was staying, seemed to decide better of it, and closed it again. Giving another smile Rhoden stood and left the booth.

Walking back towards the girl he paused, as though thinking, and walked up to her. "Er.. miss, are you lost?" he asked in his false voice once more. "Do you.. er... need something?" he asked, looking around as though concerned.

[Keas Jong]

As he arrived on a freighter he had hitched a ride on he walked off the ramp and went to a local haunt that he knew his contacts frequented and as he walked in scanned the room looking around and then seeing his contact he walked towards them. "Darnik, those pirates you sent me after to track down and keep an eye on shot my ship." He sits down roughly.

Darnik looks at him surprised. "When did you get in I thought you were dead. You Mandalorians just don't die easy do you."

Keas chuckled. "We Mandalorians pride ourselves on our stubborn refusal to just lay down and die on someone elses whim. Now..." He crosses his arms as he leans back. "about my ship and the payment you promised me to tracking them."

Darnik smiles a big grin. "I have it if you have what I asked for."

Keas nods slightly. "I do but its in a safe location for now."

Darnik frowns and leans on the table making it groan from the weight. "No data, No payment."

Keas sighs under the helmet. "Fine, No payment, No data. At least that's what your saying."

[Cora Leera]

When Cora entered the lodging she looked around. She looked at the small bar where people sat and at the booths that ran across the walls. It didn't bother her that she was alone in this place but, it did make her feel a little awkward. She scanned people's faces, guessing what those people were feeling. There were some that wore smiles, thin lips, grave faces, or just no expression at all. Cora ran her hand through her short hair again, wondering if she sit down or something. She looked at the tables and booths, suddenly seeing him. He was talking to someone and though that was none of her business she kept looking.
They're emotions as they talked seemed mixed,but she looked away from them, knowing that if she stared too long he or the person he was sitting with would spot her. She put her hands on the strap of her bag, her mind wondering back to the photo and then to her family. They probably didn't even know that she left and if they had they probably didn't care. Her sister was their prized possession, not her so they cast Cora off to the side.
Again she was lost in her thoughts, that she didn't see him come up to her. When he spoke, she gave a slight jump, "No.." she paused, "No, I'm fine, I'm not lost." She said so he would be able to hear. She looked at him in the eyes again, hands tightening on the strap of her bag. Watching him look around she wondered about just walking away and finding another place to stay. What other place is there though? She didn't even plan out anything so this was her fault, her punishment. She glanced at him again, "I'm not lost. If that's what your thinking." She muttered, noticing her grip on her bag she put her hands at her sides.

[Rhoden Carbine]

Rhoden just looked at her for a moment, she was at least attempting to look relaxed. "Alright then... sure." he said, turning and walking up the owner Rhoden rented a room. "Name?" grunted the man, "Makor Durn." Rhoden replied, taking the access key he walked up the stairs and entered. It was, mercifully, clean by relative standards. Sighing he took out his comm and keyed it on.

"Hello?" an airy voice asked, Rhoden turned from the comm and stifled a laugh, "Carbine here." he said, "Shut up." Haly Sopol said, her voice returned to normal and sounding rather annoyed. "I didn't say anything." Rhoden said defensively, "I can hear it in your voice." she replied, "No, no. You're imagining things." Rhoden said.

Before she could reply again he said, "You saw the girl I was talking too?" He could almost feel her rolling her eyes, "Yes, of course." Rhoden nodded to himself "Well, keep an eye on her, something seems off..." There was a brief pause, "Allright, now get the hell off this channel before someone hears you." there was a click and Rhoden smiled as he lay back in the surprisingly comfortable bed.

[Keas Jong]

He glanced out of the corner of his helmet visor and just now noticed the lady that was just standing there. "Hey Darnik, Who is the lady over there?"

Darnik shrugged. "I don't know. Why not go over and ask?"

Keas chuckled. "Why so you can make an exit without a guarantee that I'm going to be paid for my troubles?"

Darnik laughed. "I'll still be here. At least until my drink is gone."

Keas nodded and said skeptically "Right. Well, I'll be back then."

Keas got up and walked over towards the lady. " Are you alright miss? I noticed you looking around looking for someplace to sit. Would you like to sit with me and a friend? You don't have to talk or anything, it's just so you don't have to deal with some of the more unsavory people in here."

[Cora Leera]

Cora watched the man leave. She was glad he did. What was his deal anyway? Her hands clenched into fists, this was so annoying and now she knew that they would meet again. Cora took a deep breath trying to calm herself. She looked around the room again, the same people sat at the bar and at the tables but, some had left or were leaving. Cora looked at the door as people walked inside. They sat down and Cora watched them for a split second before turning back to whatever the hell she was doing. Cora grasped her bag and was about to leave, when a man walked up to her. When the man asked if she was okay, her eyes narrowed. She looked at him, wondering who he was. Her eyes moved from him to his table, "I'm okay.." she paused, "And thank you for offering but, I was just about to leave." She muttered walking away so he didn't have time to respond.

Cora walked up to the owner and rented a room, taking the key she walked to her room and went Inside. She immediately locked the door, and threw off her bag. Cora growled, trying to keep out a full scream. Everything led back to to her damn family. This was all their fault. Cora reached into her bag and grabbed the photo. Without thinking she started to rip the picture into tiny pieces.

Cora looked at the pieces of the ruined photo one last time before laying on the bed. She took a couple deep breaths, to calm herself before closing her eyes. She hoped tonight would be dreamless.

[Rhoden Carbine]

Haly pinged Rhoden several minutes later with the girl's room number, and some surprising information. "What's he doing here?" Rhoden said as she explained the bounty hunter's presence. "Don't ask me, ask your four-armed friend." she said, clicking off the comm before he could respond.

Scowling Rhoden stood up and pulled out a small package. Undercover or not, he thought tearing open the package, I'm not going without my tea. Two minutes later, having chosen to ignore the murky look of the water, Rhoden had his cup of tea. Pulling out a datapad Rhoden began making arrangements for the follow up meeting with Darnik and ran a background program to find out some more about the strange girl. Rhoden didn't know what it was about her, but she had set off warning bells in the back of his mind, and he'd be damned if he wasn't going to look into it.