Private Reconnoiter

[Makai Dashiell]

He read the message, wondering how far out she was. Makai would give her a few minutes.

There were two directions they could go : towards the elevator, which he had considered previously, or back the way he came up by the stairs and into that first odd set of rooms. Ears strained to listen for any footsteps or shouting. There was nothing but a too rapid heartbeat and the sound of water dripping, not exactly helpful in this situation.

The three had come on the elevator, Makai expected them to backtrack their steps and follow suit. Head craned up, looking for any signs of a ventilation shaft or something large enough to for himself to fit in. The corridors were basically rock tunnels with the pipes and wires running on one side, just as he saw before. Nothing traditional in terms ventilation, the rock was clearly too thick.

Instead, for the short moment, he would stick it out behind some storage crates near the stairs. It would give him a better chance of running towards the mining shuttle. Fishing the slave circuit for the vessel, Makai went through and re-started several systems, needing to get themselves into the air quickly. The vessel was built for scanning, not fighting.

Azula Tindara

 

[Azula Tindara]

The elevator slowed to a halt. As the trio stepped out, Azula reflected that this was not quite like the holofilms. The top of the elevator was sealed shut. If Makai had not been down here she would have run. Whoever these people were, they had identified her and that was the real reason Makai was in danger.

She stretched out with the Force to send the elevator down on floor. The buttons didn't work. There was an ID pad next to the controls that was now enforcing access.

"Guess it's the hard way."

She turned her lightsaber to point down and let go over it. The blue blade lit and with a wave of her hand she sent it down and into a circle around her.

The entire piece of metal fell into the elevator with Azula on top of it.

The blade snapped back to her hand.

"You were looking for me?" she called out.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Zuly, where you at? Lets go.

Annoying nickname should bring her out of silence. If there was one thing he had a knack for it was making women mad at him. Seemed like an excellent time to put his set of skills to work. Ears strained as he listened for her, she had a lighter footfall than the trio so it made it difficult to track her through the stone corridors.

Makai was realizing why he preferred doing this work alone, no one to be responsible for. Imagine going back to his father and telling him that by the way, someone had died on his watch on the first day out. Seemed like a recipe to be sent even further into the black to map out mining sites.

A sigh, he had to go find her. Blaster rifle came off his back, leaving the crates and headed back through the corridors.

---

Meanwhile, the trio was closing in on Azula. A human and two barabels, winding through the corridors. The barabels were skilled hunters, using their natural abilities to track even in the cold and closed in conditions. The only thing that was a positive for Azula was the size of the station, her scent getting diluted as she doubled back on her position a few times, making it difficult.

Yet when she shown herself the trio was close, taking only a few moments to show up at the other end of the corridor. The human took the point, beginning to talk.

"Well, well, well. Not sure how you survived that last shot we took." The human, Refi, stated. The two barabels, Los and Hirk, hissed with laughter. They were cautious though, Azula had been slippery thus far and now was no time to let their guard down.

"Gildram is impressed. So impressed he doesn't want to kill you anymore. He wants you back for another job. Now...if you resist..."

Azula Tindara

 

[Azula Tindara]

"Gildram is impressed. So impressed he doesn't want to kill you anymore. He wants you back for another job. Now...if you resist..."

"Resist? The only reason you're not dead is because I want to know what you lot - and therefore Gildram - knows."

Of all the places to land, they'd found a hidden criminal base. They likely used the deep tunnels to hide contraband and distribute it between locations. After they were done here, she would get Makai or Judah to call this in with the local sector Rangers and see if someone would clear them out.

She walked down the corridor with purpose. With Judah, she had found that sense of herself. It was time to stop losing herself in the lies and deception and be who she was.

With just one more little deception to close the distance a few more paces.

"I'm not coming back. If there is a job its payment up front. And from a distance..."

Go on, don't shoot just yet...

 

[Makai Dashiell]

"I'm not coming back. If there is a job its payment up front. And from a distance..."

Refi burst out into hearty laughter.

"Payment? Payment?! You think after slowly draining the accounts of Gildram you're going to come back and get payment? I think this elevation is causing a lack of oxygen to that pretty little head of yours. This isn't a negotiation. This is us bringing you back to repay Gildram through a series of services you're going to be providing. We've already got several heists lined up for you, the Gala hit was perfect and Gildram wants in."

Refi and the two barabels stepped closer, blaster rifles raised. One barabel had switched to stun, the other remained with his blaster set to kill. There were no chances this time, Azula was getting drug back.

"So, I'm charitable, one last chance to quietly go with us. Gildram really doesn't want that face messed up and I'd rather not hear his bitching."

Makai crept forward, listening. Finger had moved to the trigger of his blaster rifle, waiting. He had enough sense to know that Azula was either one, planning something or two, going with them. Showing himself too early would ruin both plans in his mind. He wasn't overly surprised to hear Refi's words - Azula had already mentioned being a thief. If she didn't go with him, then it would be even more interesting, another layer to someone he thought he had figured out.

Azula Tindara

 

[Azula Tindara]

Azula took a deep breath and let herself sink into the Force. He had taught her so much about the Force, but pretending to be 'Azula the Jedi Master' had taught her even more.

There was a limit to how far vague philosophical mumbo-jumbo could get you. She had been forced to learn quickly and teaching actually reinforced her own knowledge.

More recently, Azula had learned a more singular focus. She was going to be more direct in getting what she wanted out of life and stop closing off her life to everyone else.

"Last warning back at you," she replied. "You didn't bring enough muscle to show your hand."

She knew there were plenty more around the base and she didn't have the time to let this draw out.

"This one looks like he's begging to be shot," she said, looking at the barabel on the left. That was for Makai's benefit.

"Put down the weapons and make an offer. Gildram took his money back so really I'm owed for the work I've already done. Keep threatening me and you will die within three steps of where you are standing."

 

[Makai Dashiell]

"The weapons ain't being put down honey." Refi shook his head. "Looks we're doing this the hard way. A shame."

Makai was dense but not so dense he didn't understand Azula's words. He hadn't paid attention when she mentioned the Force and Jedi but it was clear she knew his presence without seeing him. Idly he wondered if the barabels knew his presence as well, yet they seemed focused on the Togruta. No doubt he was just a mere annoyance once the trio got their prize. He and Azula were out manned and out gunned so it most likely brought a great deal of confidence to the Hutt's gangsters.

The last time he had to take out a living creature was a burrowing exoboar while he was mapping not too far back. It had been nerve racking for the mere fact he had been alone and if one of the tusks would have speared him that would have been the end of Makai Dashiell. This time it was still a life and death situation ; they really only had one chance.

Just as the left barabel lunged forward, Makai made his presence known, heavy blaster rifle firing in the upper torso of the barabel known as Hirk. Makai knew barabels were immune to blaster fire but no one was immune to the StarAnvil series, the barabel crumpling with a scream.

Meanwhile blaster fire erupted from Los,pushing forward toward Azula. Refi took a different approach ; a slugthrower, knowing Jedi had a difficult time anticipating and blocking the slugs. The human wasn't stupid, using Los as a shield as he did so.

 

[Azula Tindara]

"Coward!" hissed Azula.

Her blade worked back and forth, deflecting bolts upwards to avoid putting Makai in danger. He was an independent young man and quite capable, but this was her fault. If she got Judah's son killed on the first outing she would never be able to show her face.

A slug shot skimmed past her shoulder.

The blaster rose from her hip on its own. It floated off to her right and the trigger was pulled. The barabal was remarkably resilient, but Refi wasn't. She didn't need to be accurate, just provide enough of her own cover fire to keep Refi hiding behind the oversized lizard as they advanced.

"Still enjoying the hard way?" she called out.

One more bolt and she swung upwards to cut the end of the barrel from the barabel's gun.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

One barabel dispatched made things easier to deal with. Now it was more a one-on-one situation, not that Makai was feeling overly confident that these two were the only ones nearby. More like dispatched to see how things went and then call for backup as needed, or if they didn't show with Azula in a set timeframe. Makai knew they would have to be quick to leave, perhaps even using several microjumps to hide their destination.

Azula was handling the barabel-turned-shield and that left him completely free to do what he wanted. Refi was so focused on Azula that both Hutt gangsters had forgotten about him. Heavy blaster rifle was raised once again, this time aimed for Refi. Trigger was squeezed and bolt went straight for Refi's torso, cutting clear through much like the injury that happened to Azula some months ago. The man crumpled, angering the barabel, the giant lizard lashing out despite no longer having a blaster.

Azula Tindara