Crystals are a Girl's Best Friend

[Keziah Denko]

Mining was rather foreign to the woman which was probably why she was overseeing the project instead of doing any of the actual mining herself. She had done her homework however after receiving this job on what Cryastium was and how to go about getting. Even though she was the overseer on this little expedition Keziah had no issue getting her hands a little dirty, grabbing a shovel and digging for crystals herself. The sooner they got the needed crystals the sooner they could all get paid and go their separate ways.

The reason she was here was simple, she needed a little bit of time off of the Flotilla. She wanted to go exploring alone and this seemed like the perfect option. The fact that at the end of it they were getting paid only sweetened the deal. A sigh excaped her lips as she waited for the rest of the crew to arrive. Once all parties were at the rendezvous point they could get started on finding the Cryastium which was needed by the client to make something. Keziah didn't know what and didn't much care as long as she got what she needed from this.

@Kung Seilois

 

[Kung Seilois]

Seilois hadn't been sure about this job. The contact was a familiar one, the same one who hired him to build a starship, he relaxed in the passenger seat of the speeder trying to get catch a few minutes of rest before the backbreaking effort began. In the speed, he had brought three 'associates' to aid in the mining and security. In truth, he had no idea who any of them were, but they didn't ask for much which, would normally make him suspicious but this was a small time mining operation, so he wasn't too surprised that they didn't ask for much. In fact, he barely remembered their names, a human male named Krios, the female Twi'lek, Tris, and a large Trandoshan whos name started with a Z.
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The speeder touched down and rocked Seilois out of his sleep, leaning forward; he brought his hand to the bottom of his helmet and wiggled it around trying to get it to settle as it created a kink in his neck. The other three were already out and unloading the speeder, taking out the tools, crates, and camping supplies.

Seilois hopped out of the speeder, willing to let them carry the equipment, while he headed for the woman who he was supposed to work with. Well... technically, he was supposed to work for her as she was in command of this operation. Her name had been in the datapad; he had been given, but he couldn't remember her name, just the basics human woman. As he drew closer, he closed his eyes and let out a sigh, a beautiful human woman. Wonderful. As he often said to himself, there was nothing more dangerous in the galaxy then a beautiful woman who was aware of the fact.

It was odd that such a woman would be mining for crystals, but a job was a job. Seilois closed the distance and held out his hand, looking down at the woman, "Seilois. I am to be your second in this... trip."

[member="Keziah Denko"]

 

[Keziah Denko]

"Keziah," she took his hand to shake a smile on her face. "A pleasure to meet you." She hoped that he wasn't put off by the fact he had to work under a woman. She knew that some men were but she knew how to lead. In order to survive she had learned to take charge and take care of business where and when she needed to. This was all business here today, a job and she wouldn't be using her womanly charm to take advantage of anyone despite being half Zeltron. Everything she did was legit and she wasn't out to swindle anything.

The woman may not be a miner by profession however she had done her homework before coming here. She not only wanted to know what she was talking about when she spoke but also wanted to understand when those under her did. Keziah was supposed to be in charge here so she wanted to play the part.

"The data I have gathered showed a high density of crystals just right of us. I suggest we head that way unless you have found something." She was always open to suggestions and the like from others.

@Kung Seilois

 

[Kung Seilois]

"Keziah, a pleasure to meet you." Seilois lowered his hand back to his side, a little surprised. She was polite. Not mockingly so which is not something he expected. When he saw her, he mentally prepared himself for the worst. Of course, she very well could turn out to be a manipulative, conniving woman as most beautiful women turned out to be, but he was... optimistic which was a little at odds with his naturally paranoid nature.

"The data I have gathered showed a high density of crystals just right of us. I suggest we head that way unless you have found something," Right down to business and she kept hte polite tone asking to see if he had another lead, not doing so in a rhetorical question meant to reinforce her dominate position. He had no real leads as he had been told to act as support for the team leader, so he assumed the team leader would know of where to look, "Works for me," Seilois said ready to get down to work.

"You, men," he gestured to the three men he brought with him, "Grab the supplies and start moving to the East. We got work to do."

The three men grumbled under their breath, but Seilois wasn't paying too much attention to them already looking to the east trying to figure out how much time it would take the five of them to get the required materials. It shouldn't take that long, but the universe had an odd sense of humor.

[member="Keziah Denko"]

 

[Keziah Denko]

Keziah was unaware of her beauty or how she looked to the outside world. According to those she interacted with during her travels she was a beautiful person whom could get anything that she wished. It wasn't how she operated though, she worked hard for what she had and that was how the woman wished to keep things. She wasn't the type to take advantage of others even if that would make things easier and she knew it would. The young woman wanted to be respected and as such she treated other with respect. She knew at times that confused people.

She ignored the grumbling men and did her best to not roll her eyes. They ought to just be grateful that they had a job and were being paid. "If the five of us all pitch in we should be done in no time. Yes, I plan on helping." She stated as she began to walk east towards where the crystals were supposed to be. "They are over this hill according to what I have."


@Kung Seilois

 

[Kung Seilois]

"If the five of us all pitch in we should be done in no time. Yes, I plan on helping." Seilois looked over at her, she was an odd one. Almost like she was out to prove herself, yet confident enough to give the feeling she already had. Odd combination, that was for sure, "Happy to have your help," Seilois said trying to make sure the conversation stayed polite as this job shouldn't take long; he could afford to be polite during it to make time move by faster.

"They are over this hill according to what I have." Seilois followed behind her a step, as the three men followed behind them, one holding a crate the other two holding various tools from chisels, pickaxes, and small hammers, "Keep up," Seilois said looking back at the three earning more grumbles.

Coming over the hill, Seilois stopped to stare at the large crystals sticking out of the ground. They were the largest things he had ever seen. Almost... beautiful, "Ready when you are," Seilois said looking at Keziah. She was in command, and he wouldn't undercut her authority by giving out the order to start mining.

[member="Keziah Denko"]

 

[Keziah Denko]

The crystals were beautiful and Keziah wished that she could take one home with her just to have. She didn't have pretty things like this at home but taking some for herself would be unprofessional of her so she wouldn't. Keziah would do the adult thing and be a good example for the group.

"Alright, let's get started. Be careful not to break the crystals as your digging," she stated as the workers set down the crate. They seemed displeased about being here which was driving her nuts. She kind of wished to say something but decided it was not worth her time to do so. She was better off letting it go as long as they were going to work.

Grabbing a pick axe she began chipping away around one of the bigger crystals.

@Kung Seilois

 

[Kung Seilois]

"Alright, let's get started. Be careful not to break the crystals as your digging," Seilois pointed to a nearby crystal, "You heard her. You three get started on that one. I want your crate filled the crystal," he didn't wait to see if they would start grumbling before taking a small chisel and a hammer from the pile of tools.

He moved over to the Crystal she was working on a little curious on how much these crystals would be worth if he sold them as they were quite useful in the production of various items even if they were just inserted into cheap jewelry it would still earn him some credits. Moving over to Keziah, he squatted down and started to chip away at the crystal, loosening large chunks to make it easier for her to pull them off with her pickaxe.

[member="Keziah Denko"]

 

[Keziah Denko]

"They are so beautiful," she mused as she pulled out a large crystal and set it down beside her. Upon pulling it out she saw a few smaller ones underneath it in the ground. Getting up she grabbed her own chisel and hammer before plopped back down to began working. Her work was slow but Keziah didn't want to risk hurting the crystals.

She doubted the guys with her saw the same thing as she did, the beauty of the crystals. Keziah imagined that they saw credit signs while she saw something pretty that could be a necklace. It was tempting to mine more than was needed.

It wasn't too long before she had a nice little pile of the crystals next to her of all shapes and sizes.



@Kung Seilois

 

[Kung Seilois]

"They are so beautiful," Seilois grunted at that. Beauty was treacherous and deceiving. Beautiful things tended to draw you in to make it easier to kill, but if she wanted to admire the beauty, he wouldn't stop her. The pile next to him was smaller then hers, but their size was uniform as he was rather... compulsive enjoying them all being the same size and shape thus of equal value making it easier to calculate in his mind. He had no intention of selling them as they had already been purchased, but he did enjoy doing it as it was something he would keep in mind should he ever need to make a quick credit.

So caught up in his work, he never noticed the other group had stopped... or that they had never really started... or that their crate wasn't empty at all.

[member="Keziah Denko"]

 

[Keziah Denko]

The only reason Keziah looked up from her work was because the three workers were not grumbling anymore which she found strangely odd. As she glanced up she saw a blaster pointed at her and than two pointed at him. She figured they saw him as more of a threat.

Stopping she put her hands in the air. Being a Force user she might have been able to do something however with her limited abilities she didn't wish for him to get shot on her watch. As she stood frozen one of the men collected up her pile of crystals.

Keziah wasn't going to let them just walk away but now was not the time to act. She needed to be patient and wait. Hopefully he would be too.

@Kung Seilois

 

[Kung Seilois]

The hairs on the back of his neck stood, and he noticed that Keziah had stopped working and was looking towards the other group. Slowly raising as his instincts were screaming at him that something was wrong, he slowly turned to see two blasters pistols pointed at him. He fought the urge to draw his own blasters down as he wouldn't be able to draw them before he was littered with bolts, and they were smart enough to stand just out of reach. It seemed the third was aiming his blaster at Keziah which made sense as Seilois was the larger and better armed one here.

The human, Krios stepped forward flashing a smile, "Sorry about this, but we are taking the crystals. Our ride should be here soon, so lets just sit tight shall we?" He lowered his pistol that was aimed at Seilois and went to sit on the crate while the Twi'lek and the Trandoshan kept their guns trained, "What to do about you two though... She," he motioned to Keziah with his gun, "Is pretty enough to make some lazy slob a very nice slave, but you," He said jerking his head at Seilois, "I don't see much use for you. And you were just such a charming and friendly guy that I really just want to help you out," he finished, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

[member="Keziah Denko"]

 

[Keziah Denko]

"I say we give the girl to the Captain as a present and we just kill him," one of them nodded licking his lips and running a finger along Keziah's cheek. "She would make the perfect bride just needs to be trained."

She had to get out of here, there was no way she was becoming anybody's slave. Keziah was a free woman now from everyone and that was the way that it was going to stay. Once one of the men turned their gun from [member="Kung Seilois "]to pick up the crystals she knew now was her chance to do something.

It was at that time of course that a ship began descending to their location. She guessed this to be their ride.

Using the Force she picked up two of the pike axes which she threw at the two with the guns. The third was next on her list. She hoped her partner would help.

 

[Kung Seilois]

"I say we give the girl to the Captain as a present and we just kill him," Seilois eyed the man as he touched Keziah, being killed was not very high on his priority list, "She would make the perfect bride just needs to be trained," Then again, neither was watching someone get forced upon. There were many things he was willing to tolerate, but rape was one of the few things he was not. It was crass, primitive, and revolting which was hypocritical coming from a man who had killed children before, but he had not enjoyed it as it was a job, so the one who ordered him had truly done the killing, or so Seilois often told himself.

Seilois looked up to see the gunship coming in, they had impeccable timing, he looked down just in time to see the two pickaxes fly into Keziah's hands, a Jedi.... Seilois had run into them before, but he did not suspect she was a Jedi... Sith... whatever they wanted to call themselves; he was getting rusty. His instinct took over as the second the pickaxes touched her palms, he was drawing his pistols, when she threw them; he was already taking aim at the one by the crate, and when they impacted, impaling the chest of the two men with their guns pointed at Keziah and himself, he had pulled the trigger, the powerful bolts tearing a hole through Krios' chest and sending him tumbling back.

"Get to cover," Seilois said as he slid behind a crystal. With luck, the gunship would touch down to investigate, but if it was still in the air and saw them... it would open fire on them, and he did not like his chances with just pistols and a Jedi that didn't seem to have her lightsaber.

[member="Keziah Denko"]

 

[Keziah Denko]

Good, he knew how to protect himself which meant that this was not his first rodeo. This was good as she was far too inexperienced to be able to anyone too much. Nodding Keziah slipped behind a crystal herself in hopes of not being seen by the incoming ship. They would be no match for a ship that tried to attack them.

Staying as quiet as she could Keziah watched as the ship first landed and the ramp came down. Nobody came out at first which was what she had expected. She figured that they were to just grab the three men and run. It was only a matter of a few minutes till two men came out blasters up to scout the area and see that their plans had gone bad.

She didn't want to kill anybody that she didn't have to. The Jedi only killed if she had to which in this case she believed knocking them out and taking the ship would do the trick. Using the Force she picked up the box to knock out smuggler one and two. It took a couple swing but she got the job done.


@Kung Seilois