Brother, Is That You?

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Cassiopeia wasn't particularly surprised by the drugs and poverty. She hadn't exactly grown up in wealth herself. It was mainly luck that her family was able to get a small freighter and that she even still had it to this day. It didn't seem to faze either Milo or Freya, neither of which surprised her. They had been through some things.

Cassiopeia also sighed at the Twi'lek. She seriously wanted to deck the portmaster. It didn't exactly surprise her that he asked for money, but like most, her patience was thin. They were close - really close. It had Cassiopeia on edge - with excitement and suspense. Milo reacted fast enough, and they were on their way to the slaver's ship.

She nodded, "Sounds good." She quietly checked her weapons & took a breath. 3A. It only took them a few minutes to get there, "What exactly is the plan, though?" She asked quietly as they approached the entrance. She could shoot, but she never really knew how to fight one of the slaver's species though.

[member="Milo Ren"]

 

[Milo Ren]

"The plan? Get in the ship, find the lizard, and make him squawk. Don't kill him. I don't know how detailed his records are. Or if he even keeps records."

They were at the ship, parked right at Dock 3A. Before moving forward, Milo reached out with the Force, feeling the vessel itself for any life. The lizard was there, all right. He could hear his clicks and hisses to himself. There were some other lifeforms in there as well, trapped in cages. Low growls and whispers emanated from them.

While Milo was doing that, Freya turned to Cass with her usual scowl in place and spoke, offering advice in a somewhat harsh tone.

"Listen up. Trandoshans aren't easy targets. Their scales are natural armor, and they're strong enough to take on a Wookiee barehanded. Don't underestimate them. Or do. I don't really care either way."

Milo turned back to the women, with a furrowed brow directed towards Freya.

"Are you done bickering? Good. He's in there. So are some slaves, by the sound of it. Ready? Let's go."

Reaching with the Force again, Milo would activate the loading ramp's hatch release from the inside of the ship. It lowered with a hiss, and the three stepped forward, weapons at the ready.

[member="Cassiopeia Caranthyr"]

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

She nodded as Milo spoke. That sounded like a good plan. Don't kill him. She wished she knew more about Trandoshans biology, but she was relatively unaware of their weak points. She'd have to rely more on Milo and Freya in this situation.

She listened to Freya, despite her attitude. Cassiopeia had given up on them liking each other - she was just glad that they weren't arguing with each other. Or that Freya wasn't trying to kill her anymore. She nodded as Freya finished her advice.

Done bickering? She hadn't even said anything! She almost mad ea comment but let it go. They had more important things to worry about.

The hatch released and the three stepped into the ship. Cassiopeia held her blaster, carefully watching her surroundings. It sounded like it would only be the Trandoshan - and he probably already knew they were coming onto the ship. She took a deep breath as they carefully crept onto the ship.

[member="Milo Ren"]

 

[Milo Ren]

Milo lead the way, creeping slowly up the ramp. The two women were in tow. Immediately in front of them was a dim-lit trophy room. Pelts and various body parts of animals and creatures adorned the walls and floor of the room. The former Ren recognized a few of the trophies. A kath hound's head. A Wookiee's pelt. The room itself was quiet. Much too quiet. Hssksk had no doubt heard the ramp descend. He had to be expecting them. Milo continued with extreme caution. Trandoshans were hardy and more than capable hunters. He would be a challenge to take down, perhaps even more so with their need of him to be alive.

"Stay alert," he whispered to Freya and Cass. The young woman didn't need to be told twice. Her knives were at the ready, primed to unleash a deadly whirlwind of hurt.

Wham!

A spaded claw shot out from a corner of the room, heading straight towards Milo's face. If he didn't have a moment of precognition, his head would've been skewered. Instead, the Trandoshan's talons missed him by mere inches.

"Filthy Humanssss aboard my sssship..."

Leaping back, Milo escaped the range of the lizard's grasp, forcing him to step out of the shadows. Hssksk lumbered forward. He was a giant, even for a Trandoshan.

"I'll mount your sssskin upon my wallsss!"

Silently, Milo unclasped his lightsaber. It came to life in a white hum.

"Come take it."

Meanwhile, Freya had snuck towards the slave pens. Her knives couldn't do much against the Trandoshan's scaly skin. But her mind and quick thinking could cause some damage.

[member="Cassiopeia Caranthyr"]

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Cassiopeia carefully followed Milo and Freya. She needed to be careful, stay relatively out of the way, maybe fire some shots. She could feel her heart beating in her chest. She was slightly frightened - they had been fighting out in the open, plenty of room. This was small, cramped. And creepy. Hopefully, they would be able to take the Trandoshan down. Although, she was worried that Milo or Freya would be hurt by the large guy. She could only hope for the best in the meantime, though.

It was disgusting to see the trophy room. It made her a little sick, especially seeing the Wookiee's pelt. They were sapient, people, with families, lovers, and dreams. She glanced towards Milo for a moment with a small, nearly inaudible sigh. What did it mean?

She naturally jumped back as Milo leaned out of the way. She jumped down to aim her gun. Maybe there could be a way for them to use some of these trophy's to their advantage - she hated it, but the Wookiee pelt was strong and could be used to tie him down. Or at least his pelt maybe.

She took a few shots, but ultimately was careful to make sure nothing would ricochet or hit Milo indirectly. It was going to be close combat and that was not her forte.

[member="Milo Ren"]

 

[Milo Ren]

"Rrrragh!"

Hssksk leapt forward towards Milo, talons outstretched, ready to maul and maim. The former Ren stepped backwards and attempted a counterattack, aiming for the Trandoshan's arms. The speed of the lizard's attack and the close confines of the ship worked to his disadvantage, however. The slaver skillfully dodged Milo's telegraphed attacked and used the opening to charge forward. With a shoulder rush, he knocked Milo down, sending him flying through the trophy room, knocking him against a display case. His lightsaber left his grip and deactivated, falling into a dark corner of the ship. The Trandoshan ignored the blaster bolts wildly flying about and moved in for the kill.

"Cass! Freya!"

Hssksk clicked in laughter and loomed forward.

Meanwhile, Freya had reached the slave pens. There was one noticeable being there. A Wookiee. The giant saw Freya and stood up in his pen, banging his head against the low ceiling before speaking in a series of grunts and growls. Freya didn't speak Shyriiwook, but a lot of it was vocal inflection and emotion. She could tell that the Wookiee was pleading with her to let him out. Hopefully he knew Basic.

"I'll let you out. But we need help with Hssksk. Can you help us?"

The Wookiee nodded his furry head in affirmation.

With a press of a button, the gate to his cage swung open. Hopefully the giant was a Wookiee of his word.

As Hssksk got close to Milo, a deafening roar rang through the ship. The Trandoshan looked in the direction of the slave pens with a certain unease upon his face.

[member="Cassiopeia Caranthyr"]

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Cassiopeia stopped shooting, holstering her gun. The gun wouldn't do much good anymore, especially at how close range Milo & Hssksk were at this point. She grabbed her knives though, prepared to take throw one if she could. Maybe if she could get him in the eye, she could dig it far enough back to hit his brain. That would require a lot of force, especially for a throw. After a seconds thought, she decided against it - it was too dangerous.

That, however, quickly changed as the Trandoshan send him flying down the trophy room. He went on the opposite side of the room, but past her. She cringed as Milo yelled for her and Freya, her skin crawling as Hssksk laughed. "Milo," she whispered quietly. She hoped he was okay. In either case, she had two knives ready. Hssksk seemed fairly intent on Milo for a moment - Milo was down, he could be an easy kill, after all.

She had to go in and once he was slightly past her, she jumped onto the huge Trandoshan's back. She ewas careful to avoid the points on his head as she pressed herself against him. In her left hand, she tried to impale his neck, but the blade only slipped due to his hard armor. In her right hand, she aimed for his eye. She missed the first time. The second, though, went straight into his right eye. It had lodged in his eye well, providing Cassiopeia some stability on his back. Too bad it didn't go deep enough to kill him.

From the moment she landed on his back, Hssksk began to try to shake her off. He shaked his body violently. Reaching above his head, latched his claws onto her shoulders, creating 3 deep cuts on each shoulder, slicing up as he tried to yank her off. Cassiopeia held off groans of pain as her clothes ripped & blood began to trickle down her back. After he pulled his arms back down, he trapped her against a trophy case, using one of his arms to finally grab her and throw her towards the opposite end of the room with a loud thud against the wall.

Disoriented, she tried to get her blaster back into her hands before he went either for her or back to Milo.

But then, she heard a roar through the ship and even the Trandoshan looked a little afraid for a moment. Was that a Wookiee..?

[member="Milo Ren"]