Smuggling Not Snuggling

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

Alistair offered her the bottle of pills.

"I care." The medication wasn't anything too strong, or illegal, just some standard pain pills that would at least allow Kinsey to run around without keeling over every five steps. Alistair generally had them around for the minor injuries that he sustained. Scratch marks, blaster strafes, that sort of thing. He had some bacta patches too, but not knowing about Kinsey's ribs he didn't offer that to her.

"Just not a great deal." The smuggler said with a smile. "It's proportional to how much money I'm making."

Certainly true.

This run wasn't going to make him rich or anything, but at the very least it would ebb down his debt with the Cartel.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

She laughed but quickly stopped, taking the bottle with one hand and eyeing it suspiciously. "Well. If we find what I think is in the cave, then you'll be pretty well off. Might even become rich. Maybe replace a whole lot more than those few broken bits in your ship. Or get a new one."

While Kinsey could certainly use credits herself, she had always been more interested in the hunt. The discovery. Not to say she wouldn't be a little happy to pay off some of her old debt. Maybe break free from the vagrant fleet. Fix up that old u-wing finally.

Now, she was pretty certain Alistair wouldn't just ditch her. Plus, she couldn't risk ignoring her injury anymore. Which meant, she had to take a look at it. Back turned to him. "Can you turn around for a sec?"

She didn't wait to see if he would. She wasn't shy. Just preferred privacy sometimes. Fingers gingerly lifted the hem of her shirt, eyes tracking to her lower ribs. Not like she was flashing him anyway. Didn't have to go that high.

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

Alistair turned around, eventually.

He first cocked an eyebrow, glancing down at her bare stomach and catching a hint of the large bruise that was forming at the bottom of her ribs. He frowned for a moment, then did as she had requested. The Smuggler may have lacked most morals, but he wasn't a complete mongrel. "I have a bacta patch."

Actually, he had three, but she didn't need to know that.

There was still a part of him that thought about himself and only himself. At the end of the day that was what mattered. Sure he wanted to keep the Cartel from cutting off his head, but if it meant getting off this planet? He'd throw Kinsey right off the edge of a cliff. That wasn't selfishness, that was just common sense. He came first, always.

"Right." He told her with a roll of his eyes. "Your treasure of magical mysteries."

Alistair took on an amused smile. "For all you know it's cursed."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

Shirt was tugged back down. She popped one pill before handing him back the bottle. "Bacta patch? Yeah, just add it to my tab."

Well, Felix's?

Pained smirk widened in his direction. "Whoa, whoa. Didn't take you as the superstitious type, Fenn." She didn't exactly believe in that. Sure, there was bad stuff out there but usually it was sith Magic. Like the talisman she kept from Sage Bane that turned the wearer into a nexu. She didn't believe in curses, though.

"Something happen to you as a kid beneath the twin Suns?"

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

He pulled the bacta patch out of his pack, fingering the other two for just a moment to make sure that they were still there. After a moment he offered the patch to Kinsey over his shoulder, not bothering to look back but instead speaking without looking at her. "I figured since you believed in buried treasure you believe in all other sort of nonsense."

Tatooine had it's fair share of mysteries, but they weren't magic.

There were plenty of superstitious folk on his homeworld of course, though most of that was either held by Tusken Raiders or Spacers that had one myth or another. For Alistair it was all silly nonsense that had no real business in the galaxy. There was nothing magical in ancient temples, nothing mystical found in deep forests. It could all be explained away by a simple wave of the hand. People wanted to believe in something more, but the truth of it was the galaxy just did what it did.

Always would.

"I believe in what I can touch and see." He told her. "Nothin else."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

"I've seen some pretty wild things...," voice trailed off thinking of the time she was brainwashed with Sage Bane. How he'd taught her to create illusions with the darkside. His manipulation over tukatas. And the not so somber memories. Astral navigation. Meeting the Aing-ti monks.

Fingers brushed against his for a second as she took the patch. Turning around, she lifted up her shirt again and gingerly applied the wrapping.

"What's wrong with a little belief? Belief can be a powerful thing. You saying you don't believe in the force?"

Wasn't always for good. Belief could be manipulated and twisted. But there was always the other side of the credchit.

She tugged her shirt back down and squinted behind the trees. There were some large copper outcroppings up ahead. Hard to see between a wall of vines though.

"I think we've just found our entrance."

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

The force? Nonsense.

"I believe in what I can see, and what I can touch." Alistair repeated once again. There were plenty of things in the galaxy that people claimed to be the force. He'd once seen a pirate claim to be a Jedi Knight of some sort, lifting tables in a cantina and throwing around cups. Of course it had turned out that he'd just been using some sort of special glove made by a corporation in order to do those tricks. Alistair figured that was what most "jedi" and "Sith" actually did.

Tricks.

In a way Alistair could respect that, he was after all a bit of a scam artist himself. That was part of what a smuggler had to do, trick people into believing him when he said something. There was an art to it, and he could find respect in that. A shrug rolled over his shoulders. "Even if it is real."

He began.

"It's not exactly the center of the universe is it?" He was certain that they liked to think so, but it just wasn't. "That would be money."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

"Yeah, money and power," blues rolled as she stepped forward, already feeling better with the pain meds and the bacta patch. She began picking her way further down the hillside and toward the outcropping of rocks in the distance. He wasn't exactly wrong. It really all was about money and power. First Order and sith wanted power. Had to stroke their egos.

Everyone else?

Fed off the wars for money. Pretty simple. Hard to find any decent people life in the 'verse. Maybe that's why she'd been so surprised to meet Brak and Xin in the Vagrant fleet. People like Judah Dashiell, too - though he had the money part well checked already. Even Felix. Not that he was exactly decent but well, he could've fed her to the gangs - happily. And he didn't.

Kinsey frowned for a moment.

"Well maybe when you're holding the Alderaan royal jewels, you'll become more of a believer," she called over her shoulder and stopped at a wall of vines. Hands came up and began tugging at the brush, trying to clear some of the wall. "Wanna help with this?"

It was already getting dark. They wouldn't have long until they lost light completely. Maybe she'd be able to tell where they were for sure if she saw some of the stars in the sky. Hopefully, it'd be a clear night.

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

Alderaans royal jewels?

The thought made him smile, though not because he actually believed it. Wild stories and conjectures were all too common in the galaxy and he could count on...well many hands just how many times he'd been told about some treasure or hidden trinket that would make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. He'd even once heard that an entire treasure fleet existed out in the galaxy somewhere, a pirate king having lost it long ago due to slave-rigged hyperdrives.

All nonsense of course.

If such things actually existed there would be more proof than a single map or some other trinket left over. The galaxy was a place that required evidence, and Alistair was no different. He couldn't listen to these tales and just believe in them, otherwise he'd be the greatest fool in the galaxy. "Why?"

He asked when she prodded him for help, a smile of amusement settling on his face.

"Don't treasures have to be found by the 'pure of heart', or some nonsense?" It was clear he was still not done mocking her. "In that category you're asking the wrong guy."

Nevertheless Alistair stepped up and began to strip away at the plants.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

"Don't worry Alistair, I know who you really are." Fingers tightened around a vine and tugged, bringing it down. Reaching over, she went through the process again and again. She knew who the type of man he was. Something he made perfectly clear. And a type she'd grown up around. Worked with before.

Like he said, center of the verse was money. That's all she imagined he wanted. And nothing else. She didn't fault or judge him for it. Was what it was.

By the time they'd cleared the vines from the wall, a thin sheen of sweat glistened along her skin. Sleeve wiped across her brow before she stepped up closer to the wall. Some old carvings decorated the rocky surface. Looked like an ancient language.

One she'd studied a bit before.

"Hmmm," she nudged Alistair lightly out of the way with her hip and shoulder as she moved closer to scour the rock. "Just have to find the opening mechanism."

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

"Sure." Alistair said as he took a step back.

The thing about ancient locks and old doors was...they were just that, ancient, old, and completely and entirely unprepared for modern technology. It was a nice little thought, and meant that a shortcut was available to them. Though apparently Kinsey didn't quite see it.

"Step to the side will you?" The Smugglers said as he drew this blaster from it's holster. "Don't want you accidentally hit you."

He checked the power level to make sure it was at maximum.

The blaster he had was one of Naboo design, something he'd picked up during a run in with the planet security forces. They had been chasing him due to some contraband he'd taken aboard, and when a scuffle had ensued one of them had dropped his weapon. Alistair had scooped it up, and rather surprisingly he'd found he rather liked the weapon. He had kept it after that, mostly for the memory as well as the strength of the blaster. "Hurry now."

Alistair said as he raised the weapon and pointed it towards the 'door'.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

Sure.

What was he 'suring' about? Feet edged up on tiptoes. Fingertips followed the curve of a rust-colored line. Blues squinted as she leaned in closer to the rock's surface. Wait. Did he just say hit her?

"What are you on about?" She looked over her shoulder, blues widening slightly.

The explorer stepped to the side on instinct.

"You can't just go waving your blaster around and go blasting things!"

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

Alistair didn't really listen to her, mainly because the instant that Kinsey was out of the way the Smuggler squeezed the trigger. There wasn't even really any thought put into the act, it was natural, instinct. He wasn't about to spend his night sitting around an empty cave trying to figure out how to open a 'magic door', especially not when he could get into that cave with just one simple act.

The blast surged from his weapon, crashing into the stone and sending tiny pieces of rock spraying everywhere.

"Sorry." Alistair said as he let the smoke clear for a moment, glancing down at his weapon and then at Kinsey to make sure that he hadn't inadvertently fried her. When he found that she was alright he continued on with his rather sarcastic tone. "I didn't hear you."

Smoke wisped away, and a neat hole was now sitting where solid rock had once been."This thing is a little loud."

The blaster spun on his fingertip, and then neatly slid into his holster.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

Head ducked. Form was buffeted with smoke and rock grit. Head lifted and ears rang slightly. Hand waved through the air as she coughed and sputtered. "Great. If anyone didn't know where we were they will now."

Blues rolled.

"Are you done now?" More of a quip than a question. Blaster was back in his holster. From her bag, she pulled out a headlight and fixed the strap over tousled ribbons of sandy-brown. Flipping on the switch, she squirmed her way through the hole in the rock.

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

"Who the hell would know we're here?" Alistair looked around as if he were half expecting to see someone. The idea was ludicrous of course, they had crash landed on this world that hadn't seen anyone for...well probably centuries. No one had followed them and everything else was abandoned.

That was the problem they had.

If someone was here they could ask for help or steal something to fix the hyperdrive, but being isolated was sort of the problem that they actually had. He sighed slightly as the woman wiggled her way through the tiny opening in the cavern, rolling his eyes. A part of him still couldn't quite believe that she was buying into this little myth so hard, especially considering that it was all just a massive waste of time. They needed to fix the ship, they needed to get out of here.

Not chase legends. "Hurry up then."

Alistair told her as she finally made it into the cavern.

Instead of repeating her rather silly escapade however The Smuggler backed up for a moment and then kicked at the side of the rock. With a few forceful impacts of his foot the old stone crumbled away, and a moment later he managed to squeeze his way into the cave simply by ducking.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

"Maybe the natives that ran the original population off?" She whispered over her shoulder. No point in whispering now, though. This karking man would be the death of her. It wouldn't be the sith. Not the tu'katas. Not the dangerous flying. Not that speeder accident from years ago. Not those two gangs. Not the galaxy's wars.

It would be this man.

They stepped into a mid-sized room and looked like there was another tunnel that lead deeper in. Thick cobwebs clung to the corners and ceilings. Bones from different species littered along the floors by the corners in the room. None of it seemed to bother Kinsey at all. She spun around and faced the smuggler, rather abruptly. His form was slightly back-lit by the waning light behind. Her headlight may accidentally blind the rogue as one finger came out to poke him in the chest.

"Feel free to, you know," poke, "wait," poke, "out," poke, "side."

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

Alistair grabbed her finger to stop her jabbing.

"No." Again, his concern was with his own head. He had no idea what the Coratanni Cartel wanted with this girl, or what they thought about her, but if she ended up as a corpse out on some no name world he was sure he'd end up paying for it.

That wasn't about to happen.

"Go find your treasure." He told her, blinking rapidly. "I'll be right behind you."

It was clear now that he was getting more than a little irritated.

She was pushing his patients, and although it probably wasn't really her fault, the truth of it was this sort of thing exasperated Alistair beyond all belief. He hated hearing rumors of stories that could suddenly turn ones life around, he hated the ideals of those who looked for nothing but 'hope'. The Smugglers own views were based in reality, nothing else. He was the type of man that took what he saw, that believed in what was in front of him. Nothing else.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

Kinsey had been through a lot. She'd had to learn to grow-up fast. Kidnapping and brainwashing usually did that to a girl. Being forced to fight in a war and made to believe she liked it. It's why she stayed away from the major powers. Why she hid her force signature so well, sometimes she even forgot she could use it. Why she didn't even let her Uncle know where she was or if she was alive - or her cousins.

Then why did she have any hope at all? Belief in the unknown? Because she was a Starchaser. Because she'd seen things she could never explain and found things behind those tales and tall stories.

"Okay," she said quietly and ducked her head, careful not to get her light's glare in Fenn's eye...wondering if it bothered his artificial one even more. "You can let go now." She drew her hand away as soon as he did and turned to head into the tunnel.

Looked like they'd have to crawl.

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

He rolled his eyes.

This was starting to to be more annoying than it was actually worth. What was the point of any of this? So she could find some treasure that didn't exist? Why did she even want treasure? Was it money? If she was connected to the Cartel she couldn't have been that hard up for cash.

Though of course, Alistair knew little of Kiney's actual background.

When they reached the small opening within the cavern that lead into a smaller tunnel he frowned for a moment, lips thinning as he heard silent clicks echo off of the cave walls. For a moment he said nothing, and then slowly his hand fell to his blaster. "Quiet for a second."

His voice was terse, quick, but not mean or sarcastic. He wasn't trying to silence her because he was sick of her making noise, but because he was trying to hear something else. A lull went on within the cave, no noise coming from either of them, and then suddenly Alistair heard it again. A series of small clicks echoed throughout the cavern, and this time The Smuggler grabbed his blaster and pulled it free from his holster. He frowned and glanced at Kinsey.

"We need to leave." He told her quietly. "There's something in here."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

Head cocked to the side. Blues squinted in the partial darkness, her light casting funny shadows along the painted cavern walls. From tugged upon a set of lips. Turning, she nodded to Alistair, careful not to blind the man with her light. One booted foot took a step forward. Only thing was?

The clicking noise grew louder. Spindly legs shuffled along rock. Heat looked back the way they'd come. The way she was heading toward. Light cast upon the bulbous heads of the arachnids filling up the way out.

"Aw, kark,"'she spun around and dove for the smaller tunnel. "Come on! Should be another way out ahead."

She hoped. Cause they weren't going to make it back the way they'd come. Knees and palms scrambled slong the floor. Luckily, the tunnel wasn't long and it quickly opened up into a larger tunnel. Hopefully the beasts would be too big to follow. "Come on!" She yelled over her shoulder as she tumbled out of the tunnel and into the larger cavern with stalactites and a streaming waterfall cascading down from a small opening in the ceiling above.

Half beneath the falls rested an old freighter, wedged between rock and water. The ship sported faded colors but with a closer look, she realized they were at one time, the Alderaan navy pattern.