Common Mistake

[Darben Skirae]

Darben placed a small box of a new shipment in one of the back room's of Skirae's emporium of Commenori Brandy when he heard a buzz that signaled a customer had entered. Wiping his forehead after lifting the last of the shipments in the back room, he came out to find not one, but rather two customers. At the same time, he heard the stairs creaking as Mute was coming down the stairs. Darben went looking through the computer on the counter as he began to address the two customers.

"Evening, what can I get you two?" he asked. As he did, he thought about what he would do later. perhaps visit [member="Lady Kay"] or something close to that. One of the two approached the counter, while the other looked through the assortment of shelves.

"Information." The first man parted his coat partly, revealing something metal. Darben knew right away what it was, and felt for the blaster under the counter. "We're looking for someone...A Twi'lek. And last we heard of this Twi'lek, she had managed to get with someone. A bearded man. And who described their attire, well it sounded very similar to what you are wearing."

Darben decided to try and play it cool, gently placing a call through his comlink that was under the counter to Kay, hoping that she would only listen. No doubt the second man toward the front of the store also had something.

"And what is it you want with this Twi'lek?" he asked, putting both hands on the counter. He did not want to raise suspicion, and out of the corner of his eye he caught Mute, standing just at the bottom of the stairs against the wall, just out of sight. The first man seemed to have a gleam in his eye, one that Darben did not like one bit.

"Stole something from our employer...We know you have her."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was working in her office at the Senate Hall. She had been spending more time there lately, due to the rocky start that it has had. If only it went as smoothly as the construction of the building. But, beggers couldn't be choosers.

She looked to her commlink as it went off. But there wasn't anyone talking into it. In fact, the voices sounded further off, and it was curious that there was more than one voice. Kay stopped what she was doing and picked her commlink up, placing it closer to her ear.

A Twi'lek? Stole from an employer? Mute. They had to be going on about Mute. It was [member="Darben Skirae"] 's channel that was on. He had his own frequency and it wasn't like him to make a call like this, nor was he a prankster. She furrowed her brows as she listened a little more, chewing the inside of her cheek.

Where were they? She needed more clues...

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben had no idea in knowing if [member="Lady Kay"] could hear everything that was currently going on. All he could do was hope that she heard everything that was happening in his store. With both of his hands on the counter, there was no way he could reach for his blaster if things got really bad. And Mute, she remained still and out of sight, though by how her expression was, she was very afraid. Darben was slowly beginning to understand why.

"Look, no Twi'lek's here. Just me, I live alone here in my store, Skirae's Emporium" he spoke those last words as a possible clue. "So how about you just turn around, forgot all this and there will be no reason for anyone to be sho-"

The first man was getting impatient, as he put the gun on the counter. Or rather, slammed it. A small gun, very small. Explained how it had been hidden under that coat of his. The second man was glancing over, then back outside every now and then. "Skirae...that your name? I doubt you'd want it on a stone just yet. So, give us what we came for. She stole from our boss, and you will be seen as an accomplice by our boss. That ain't something you want." These guys were risking a lot bringing weapons onto Commenor. And, even more by threatening a Minister of Commenor.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay furrowed her brows. [member="Darben Skirae"] was at his store. She had a vague recollection of being there before. Her memories hadn't been fully restored yet and that annoyed her a lot. But for now, she had more important things to do. Yet she couldn't speak lest the people on the other side heard her.

Ever so quietly Kay got up and headed out of her office. She held the commlink at her ear with one hand, and her finger from the other to her lips. She quickly moved down the hall and by the use of really bad sign language, she informed her security to get a landspeeder and go with her.

Four guards followed.

After climbing into the landspeeder, she muffled her commlink with her hand and whispered to one of the guards. "We need to get to Minister Skirae's Emporium quickly. He's in trouble." She brought the commlink back up to her ear, keeping the mic part muffled as the guard saw to it that they would head off into the city.

Their plan was simple. Get in, block all the exits. Kay just hoped that they wouldn't be too late.

 

[Darben Skirae]

Skirae continued to stall then, but he could really tell that the first gunman was getting impatient, and by his partner it was rather unprofessional and not a usual thing. Darben was getting to him, and Darben was not sure if that was a good thing, as it meant all their attention was on him, or a bad thing. Any more impatience, and he could get himself shot. Not how he wanted his life to end, at the hands of some gunman, especially if they wanted Mute.

The second man finally spoke, and the accent was very...Corellian. Darben recognized the accent, native of Corellia. He had a similar accent, and it gave him more and more of an understanding of who these two were. "She isn't here. Let's get going, maybe we can find her else-"

"She is here!" The first man surprised Darben by grabbing him by the collar and pulling him close. "Listen here, you. We know you have her, you fit the description. And there's nothing you can do about it, your just a simple merchant. Not like you are anyone impor-" He cut himself off when his gaze moved toward the side. Onto someone that Darben wished he never saw. "You-" Darben took his chance, and pushed him off with as much strength as he could muster, than started to run for where Mute was, grabbing the blaster from under the counter and up the stairs, Mute following quickly behind. They went straight for the living quarters he had on the top floor, locking the door behind. That was when he realized...he left the comlink behind. "Stay behind me Mute!" He was never a good shot, but he would protect her, at least until [member="Lady Kay"] got here, and he occasionally glanced to the window, watching for help to arrive.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay overheard it all as the landspeeder hurried out of the Royal Palace grounds and into the city. The driver knew where to go so there was no need to shout out directions. She chewed the inside of her cheeks while the conversation went on over her commlink. Her guards readied their blasters. They weren't in armour, but it was good enough. They were good shots.

As the landspeeder neared, three of the guards jumped out quickly and started to take the exits, one two taking the back while one took the front. The other remained with Kay and wouldn't let her step out of the speeder just yet.

The guard at the entrance bellowed into the building; "This is the Chasin City Security Force! Everyone get your hands up! The building is surrounded!"

[member="Darben Skirae"]

 

[Decker Willo]

(deleted)

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben could hear one of them hitting the door before he saw out the front a landspeeder land by the front of his store. "Give us the girl and we leave!" In all of his life, he never thought anything like this would happen. Darben held his blaster steady, set to stun. There was talking outside of the store, someone ordering everyone inside to put their hands up. There was some yelling outside the door, he could not understand what they were saying.

But then he could hear what sounded like the first man shout angrily at the other. Then, the door hissed quickly open as a blaster was fired at the locking panel from outside. Darben lifted his blaster. Both blasters fired. The man fell down, stunned. There seemed to be a moment of frozen time as Darben regained himself. He'd just shot a man. He did not hear nor see the other man going out of the store, hands up to meet [member="Lady Kay"] forces.

Darben slowly began to stand up, watching the man, just waiting for him to get back up, do something. "Come on, Mute. W-We need to-" That's when he caught site of it. The smoldering wound that had just clipped her shoulder. He quickly opened the window. "K-Kay! Kay, I need help up here!"

 

[Kay-Larr]

Plenty of commotion was going on. Blaster shots were fired from different points. Her guards manhandled one man that came out, slapping cuffs on him when they had him restrained enough. They weren't going to have him travel with the Queen though, so another landspeeder was called for.

And then Kay heard [member="Darben Skirae"] shout her name. She looked up and saw him through the window. She looked to her guard. "I have to go in there. You have to let me."

"It isn't safe, Your Highness."

"Then come in with me." Without a word Kay climbed out of the speeder and ran over to the building, slipping inside with the guard close on her heels. She clammered through the store and ran up the steps at a speed faster than one could guess that a lady in a dress could go. Her steps only slowed as she saw the body lying on the floor, and then she searched for Darben and Mute. "Are you two alright??"

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben held Mute's shoulder, not realizing his blaster was still held in the other hand, shaking. Could have been a rush of adrenaline, could have been fear. He could not say a single word, he was afraid for Mute's life. He did not notice [member="Lady Kay"] reaching the room, not until he heard her voice behind him.

After a long pause, he glanced out of the corner of his eye in her direction. But his gaze was focused on the stunned body on the floor. "I'm fine..." He closed his eyes and sighed, then looked back to Mute. "She's hurt, though...her shoulder got clipped. I think it's shock or something." He did not hear his own voice getting shaky. He was very afraid for her. "Kay...they were after her. I want to know...I want to know who they were."

 

[Kay-Larr]

The guard crouched down at the body. He was still alive, so that was good. He secured him and called for one of the others to give him a hand in carrying him out.

Kay in the meantime went straight to [member="Darben Skirae"] and Mute. Darben was clearly in shock, she saw it in his eyes and in the way that he spoke. Mute was always quiet, but one could easily see that she was scared too. "You did well in protecting her, and we'll find out who they are soon enough." If only Mute wasn't...well mute, then this would be far easier.

She could heal Mute right then and there, but couldn't reveal her Force Sensitivity."Come on. We need to get her checked out. On our way to the hospital, you could tell me about the circumstances of which you two came together." With the holes in her memory, Kay wasn't sure if he had told her before.

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben remained silent as [member="Lady Kay"] spoke to him. All he wanted was to keep Mute safe, And she had been hurt, he couldn't even keep her safe from...whoever these guys were. Eventually, he nodded and went to slowly lift Mute in a cradled position, despite his constantly shaking hands .

All he could remember about Mute and his meeting was that she had arrived to his store back on Corellia, and when some brutish thugs had come into the town looking for her, he had gotten out of there, knowing they would somehow connect her to him. And from there, she had always stuck by his side. "It was back on Corellia. I think...they said something about her having stolen something. When I met her, some rather dangerous looking people were after her. She could have been from a passing hutt ship, or a gang on Corellia. I really have no idea." He looked down at the young Twi'lek girl, thinking about this himself.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay watched [member="Darben Skirae"] as he carried Mute, looking to be sure that he wasn't shaking and wasn't going to drop her at all. It wasn't as though she thought he was weak, but he was clearly in shock.

She led him down the stairs and out of his shop towards the landspeeder, talking with him along the way. "Have you ever tried to get her to write to communicate?" Kay remembers seeing her holding datapads before. But whether or not Mute could read or write, let alone understand Basic remained to be seen.

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben thought about this. They had learned a sign language between themselves, it was tough at first. However, he had never asked her about her past. "Sign language. We learned off each other...experimenting...I never asked her about her past, didn't want to intrude." But now, he was thinking he should have. He wanted to find out what was going on, why had they come for her? They would no doubt have answers, but he wanted to get some of his own as well. And he knew some people on Corellia who could help him.

"K-Kay...Is it possible if you could organize a type of meeting with Corellia's government?" he asked after he settled Mute into the speeder. Her breathing was steady, but she was still shaking. "Will you help me to find out who is behind this?" He hadn't noticed, but his voice had grown slightly darker. They threatened his and Mute's life.

 

[Kay-Larr]

"I think now that you should ask her." Kay echoed his thoughts. If Mute was a target for something earlier, it was now clear that her past had caught up with them. And that past was a dangerous one.

She raised a brow slightly as [member="Darben Skirae"] asked her about contacting Corellia's government. Kay just nodded a little in her response, her gaze drifting to the small form of Mute cradled in his arms. "Yes. Given both of our positions, that'll make it easier for us to start an investigation on their world. It's not exactly our jurisdiction, but they attacked the both of you, and that's a crime of a different sort. Once we see that she's healed, we'll head out there." Of course Kay had every intention of going along, unless of course she was told not to.

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben made sure that Mute was comfortable, or at least looked comfortable. [member="Lady Kay"] said exactly what he was thinking, but not yet. She was in enough shock, and could go unconscious at any moment. She was only a child.

"Thank you...It means a lot to me." And to Mute. He would make sure those responsible were held responsible for their actions. Hutts, small time criminals, some gang. No matter, he would get them. No one attacked him, no one attacked Mute without repercussions. He unconsciously lifted his hand to Mute's head, as if trying to soothe her by patting down her head tails like one would to comfort a child. "To think...I barely know anything about her..." And yet he cared so much. As if she was growing on him, more and more. "When she first came into my store back on Corellia, I planned on contacting the police forces, thinking she were a thief."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay watched as [member="Darben Skirae"] kept a close eye on Mute, caring for her as though she was his own daughter. She smiled a little as he spoke of their past and how they had met. "What made you think that she was a thief? Is it because she seemed to be running scared and hiding?"

Just what was it that Mute had that others were desperate to have? Whatever it was, it had to be small. Perhaps a datachip or something. Or maybe it was that she had witnessed something that she wasn't supposed to see.

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben glanced at [member="Lady Kay"] for a thoughtful moment, then back down to Mute. "She was hiding behind the counter, and looked rather poor...growing up to be a merchant, I was taught to be wary of anyone who was not meant to be behind there." Yet she had turned out fine. Stolen nothing of value, except Darben's old life. But, if he was to be honest, it was a rather boring one, and was beginning to get repetitive. he was still rather young, and deep down the childish sense of adventure lurked. "How much longer?" he asked impatiently to the driver.

 

[Kay-Larr]

The almost fatherly love that [member="Darben Skirae"] had for Mute was quite evident. They were lucky to have one another. They needed eachother. And she was going to do everything that she could to help them.

As Darben inquired about an eta to the hospital, the driver piped up; "Just pulling in now, Minister." And they were. As everyone got out of the speeder, Kay helped Darben with Mute. The hospital was a bustle of activity, filled with people with the usual injuries, some with the flu. Upon seeing the small group, they were all ushered in.

"It shouldn't take long, Darben. She'll be okay soon."

 

[Darben Skirae]

As soon as it landed, with [member="Lady Kay"]'s help Darben got Mute in. She was ushered in, and asked to remain outside while they did what they could. He wanted to go in, but he would not pester them. Kay assured him that she would be safe, and will be okay. And he was comforted by that fact. He sat there, staring at the floor. "How could I let this happen...I had a clear shot..." His hands continued to shake.