Smuggling Not Snuggling

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

He knew what the little beasties were, and he knew that dying at their...claws was about as unpleasant as you could get. The things generally tended to leaver others alone though, unless you happened to be running around in their nest.

The smuggler glanced about for a moment, looking at the creatures that were gathering behind him and then quickly crawling forward. The blaster didn't leave his hand, mostly because he was still pretty sure one of the arachnids would jump on him at any moment and try to eat him. Someone might have called him paranoid for that but...well he'd never really wanted to die at the hands of something that had a smaller brain than he had. It was sort of a mark of his personality.

Eventually he managed to squeeze himself, through, coming to stand alongside Kinsey.

"Kark me." He said quietly.

His head shook and he felt goosebumps run along his skin as he thought about getting eaten by the Kinrath. The idea was wholly unpleasant, and made his stomach flip once or twice. He frowned, and then glanced down at whatever Kinsey was looking at.

"Huh." The Smuggler said. "Wonder how that got down here."

That opening didn't seem big enough for the freighter.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

"I dunno," she said quietly, the girl already stepping forward toward the abandoned craft, like a Wookiee drawn to a tree. Hard to hear any clicking noises of them being followed above the roar of the falls. Could barely hear her own footsteps on slick rock. Blues darted to the pool of water worriedly as she skirted the edge. She'd have to get mighty close to get into the half sunken and grounded ship.

Gave her more chills to think about the water than death by those arachnids. Head tilted up at the opening high above them. Lips thinned. Digging in her pack, she took out a grappling hook gun with rope and offered it to the rogue with the five o'clock shadow.

"Maybe you can work on a way of getting us out while I check that ship? I have a feeling the arachnids will be back. This might be their water source."

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

"You're kidding right?" He pointed to the giant hole in the ceiling. "You have a gun that shoots rope. The answer isn't really all that difficult here."

He took the gun from her.

"We shoot this up there, do some climbing, then get to that city." He glanced down at the ship for a moment, considering just what they might find in there. Of course his thoughts weren't really about treasure or any of that nonsense, but rather what they needed to get off this world in the first place; a hyperdrive.

Would the ship have one?

Would they even be able to get it out of here if it did? He considered for a moment, then coiled the rope at his side for a moment before glancing back at Kinsey, then towards the opening that they had taken to get here. It was really only a matter of time before those things followed them, they would have to hurry.

"We need to get out of here." Alistair told her. "Sooner rather than later, and that's our way out."

He pointed to the open ceiling.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

"Well then, start shooting. Seems like something you're good at anyway," she offered him a lopsided grin over her shoulder as she edged closer to the ship, nearly behind the falls. It's spray was already making her clothes, skin, and hair damp.

"Cover me, I'm going in."

There was a gap of that dark water she'd have to straddle.

She gulped but straddled anyway as she manually opened the door that was already cracked. Looked like not a ton of water had gotten in though. Which was good for ship parts and anything else that might be inside. She gave Fenn one more look before stepping off the safety of the rock ledge and disappearing inside.

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

"If those Kinrath swarm you down there I'm leaving." That wasn't being rude or mean, that was just sort of logical.

His blaster packed a punch, but it also had a limited supply of ammo. He'd only brought along two powerpack for the thing and...well there generally tended to be a hell of a lot more Kinrath than just two powerpacks worth. That and he also didn't think it would do any good.

Alistair shrugged as Kinsey ducked down, spooling up the grappling gun.

The weapon was fairly standard, a trigger, grappling hook, and that was that. He turned for a moment and inspected the hole within the ceiling, considering it for a second before he aimed towards a spot in the far left. A small glanced down the sights and then he squeezed the trigger. There was a pressure of recoil in his wrist, and then the hook shot out and coiled around a small outcropping just to the right of the opening. Alistair grabbed the length of rope, tugging it once or twice.

"Good." He said making sure it was secure. "Now I just have to have the upper body strength for this..."

The smuggler grimaced.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

Luckily, she didn't hear him about the leaving part. Though, she didn't need to. She knew he would.

The lower end of the ship was filled with water. Boots slid and slipped along the grated floor. Hands reached along the ceiling, steadying herself so she didn't slide further down into the parts she'd have a hard time getting out of. Eyes spotted one of the couplings they needed.

Squatting down, hands went to her toolbelt, taking out a hydra-wrench and prying to item free.

"Found something!" She hollered from inside the ship, not sure if Fenn could hear her. More to make herself feel better. Kinsey knew they didn't have much time. That nudging in the force? Time to go.

A bag caught her attention in the corner. It was small. She nabbed it, then headed toward the door. Thing was? By the time her head poked out, the Kinrath were swarming in.

"FETH."

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

By the time she called out Alistair was already sitting on the inner rim of the opening at the top of the cavern. His expression was a neutral one, though he'd watched the Kinrath begin to swarm the small ship that Kinsey had made her way inside of. There was nothing he could really do, though he did think about just leaving for a few moments.

Instead he called out. "I'll throw the rope down to you!"

It was just about the only thing he could actually do.

"Take it!" From it's holster he pulled his blaster. "I'll draw them away."

The idea of leaving her behind still appealed to him more than anything else but...the Cartel still remained in the back of his head. Thus he shifted slightly on the ledge, pointing the blaster towards the very end of the cavern and letting out a heavy sigh. He really hoped that none of those creatures were running around in the surrounding forest, because if he did he was about to bring the fething things right down onto his head. He shifted one last time, aimed, and then began to fire.

The blasts would strike all around the Kinrath, pushing them from the ship and hopefully herding them away from Kinsey.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

He was still there.

Surprising.

Climbing up the slick craft, she was able to reach the rope, hands grasping around the twine. "Got it!" She grunted, the bag around her shoulder shifting wildly. She grimaced as the climbing tugged on those bruised ribs. Waves of pain lanced across her face.

OuchOuchouchouchfethitKinseykeepgoing

Rope wrapped around her ankles and she began inching higher and higher. She risked a glance down, headlight spotting on the swarming bodies below. Up above, it was nearly dark. The sun had long since set, only its fading light her and Alistair's only source of brightness.

"Coming," she grunted, biting on the inside of her cheek hard enough to draw blood.

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

Two more shots.

The creatures screamed, one of them fell, but Alistair stopped shooting.

Kinsey had by now made it about half-way up the rope, and The Smuggler knew from experience that Kinrath weren't much for climbers. The things could be annoying on the ground, they swarmed and killed their prey as fast as they could, but unlike energy spiders and other arachnids they couldn't shoot webs or anything. He frowned for a moment, changing the power-pack on his blaster and tossing the old one into the abyss of the cavern. As soon as it struck the ground the Kinrath swarmed it.

"Hurry up." He told Kinsey, watching as she climbed higher.

The sun had set, and they still needed to make it to that city. Knowing that the Kinrath were about meant that camping most definitely wasn't an option, and heading back towards the ship would be all but impossible in this dark. Best to take the safest option.

Especially considering he only had one power-pack left.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

"You try doing this with a bruised rib," she grumbled, half gulping. But she finally made it up, not letting herself expend any sort of energy by looking down again. She pulled herself up and over the ledge and promptly collapsed next to Alistair.

"I just need a minute," she grumbled and curled halfway into a ball.

"Just add your powerpack to my bill," she added, flashing him a brief and tired smile. She had to make light of a situation because it's what she did. She'd learned to look at things positively. But she wasn't naive about it. She tried to be realistic and positive. Didn't always work out.

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

He glanced around for a moment, then slowly leaned over and began to pull the length of rope up. The Kinrath wouldn't be using it to climb, obviously, but if there was one thing he had learned on Tatooine it was that nothing ever went to waste. The rope was still good, and he had no idea if they would be needing it later. Best to retrieve it. Once the length of wire was neatly coiled onto the ground The Smuggler pinched it and placed it into his pack.

"It's dark." The Smuggler said, pointing out the obvious. "We'll have to head to the city and hope to find some shelter there."

Almost as if punctuating his words a crack of thunder rang out behind him. He frowned for a moment, glancing towards the dark sky. There was no moon present within it, thought whether that was because of clouds or simply because this planet lacked such a thing Alistair had no idea.

Best not to find out though. "We can make it there within an hour or so."

Judging from the distances they had already traveled.

He seemed almost entirely unconcerned with how tired Kinsey was, or mention of her broken rib. For him this was obviously about nothing more than survival, something only punctuated by the raving horde of Arachnids that were crawling around below. "Do you need me to carry you?"

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

Forehead pressed against the dirt, rock, and grass. Vibrant blues squeezed closed. "What?" Carry her? Xin Boa had offered the same thing and she'd defiantly refused. Then promptly passed out with him carrying her in the end, after all.

To be fair, her arms had just been scratched and raked by nexu claws.

Another story for another time.

"No," she groaned. "I'll be fine." But she made no move to stand-up. "Just a second."

Just needed a second. There was another rumble of thunder ahead and a flash of purple, lancing lightning. Slowly, very slowly, she began to uncurl and unravel her limbs. Very slowly.

Oooooo-ouch-ouch.

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

Alistair glanced at her, slowly squatting down besides Kinsey and nodding.

The Smuggler may have had a rough exterior, and a rough interior for that matter, but he wasn't entirely heartless. Kinsey could have her minute or two of rest, as long as they got going before it started to rain. He still wasn't entirely sure if those Kinrath were only in the cave, something reflected by the fact that he was holding his blaster again.

He only had about seven shots left before he was completely out of ammo, a prospect that made him feel rather ill at ease.

"So." Alistair mused for a second as he waited for her to recover. "Find your treasure?"

His tone of voice indicated that he was mocking her once more. The likelyhood of anything having survive in that ship was extremely low. It had been sitting half submerged for force knew how long, not to mention that it had to have crashed here centuries ago in order for the opening to grow over with roots and all that again. A part of him wanted to know just how long it had been, but he knew that finding out was likely impossible now. Especially with those Kinrath.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

The young Starchaser finally willed herself to roll over on her back. Arm wrapped across her stomach, hand pressed against her side. Other hand fumbled with the headlight switch, turning it off. Needed to conserve whatever power it had left. Her eyes would get adjusted to the darkness they were currently getting deeper into.

Sharp pains were easing into dull throbs.

Not bad. Certainly wasn't her worse injury to date. She grinned up at the man's face that held shifting shadows. There was the weight to the bag she'd found in the ship. Wasn't sure what was in it and wasn't going to check until they found shelter.

"We could bet on it," she half-joked. "But I want to know if I've been the hardest smuggling job you've ever had."

She was buying time even if she was a bit curious.

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

"Not even close." Alistair said matter of fact.

This was an interesting adventure to be sure, and if he'd been a smarter man he probably could have written a memoir about it, but it wasn't even in the top five most difficult jobs that he'd undertaken. The career of a smuggler was often an unpleasant one, and so far...well most of the hardship had fallen on Kinsey and not him.

It was a fact that he wouldn't be pointing out any time soon, mostly because he felt as though that would just be inviting bad luck onto himself. The truth of it was that while Alistair didn't believe in nonsense like the force, he was still somewhat superstitious. It was a natural thing for most spacers and smugglers, small things that each of them believed in. Some things caused bad luck and others good. It was best not to talk about it of course, and even if asked he would deny it.

Only natural for someone like him.

A shrug rolled over his shoulder. "You'll have to try harder."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

"Well, that's good." She eased up and slowly stood. "Won't feel so bad then." She offered Ali a fleeting grin.

She didn't really feel THAT bad. Maybe a teeny bit. Fingers tucked tousled ribbons of hair behind her ears.

"I'm ready." It was clear she was tough. She could take a lot, probably because she'd been through a lot in her short 22 years. Course these days, the verse didn't leave anyone unscathed in some way or another. Stretching out a bit, she shifted her satchel and began heading back toward the path they'd left earlier. They'd come back out a bit ahead, closer to the abandoned city.

There was a howl in the distance.

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

His hand fell to his blaster almost immediately.

The howl was a stark reminder that they were on an abandoned world, in a place they didn't know, with creatures they had no idea about. Kinrath were nasty, but they had absolutely no clue what the hell else was out there. Goosebumps ran up his spine, lips thinned, and his cybernetic eye slowly filtered over the woods. There was a slight twist to his iris as the vision mode of his eye changed, a thermal filter falling over his gaze before he glanced at Kinsey.

"Let's say we get out of here." He told her. "Yeah?"

No more waiting around.

It wasn't exactly that the smuggler was paranoid or anything, but he really didn't want to get eaten by anything. Without another word Alistair set off, heading towards the south where he knew the abandoned settlement lay. As he wandered his hand firmly remained glue to the handle of his blaster, ready to pull it at any moment.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

"Yeah, try to keep up," she quipped dryly over her shoulder, leading the way down the dark hill and woods. Headlight was switched back in as it grew darker. It's beam danced across trees, branches, and bushes making it look as though beasts loomed behind every shadow. But the howl hadn't bothered her.

She had a pretty keen sense of danger and right now? The bells weren't ringing.

Soon, the woods thinned and they found themselves back on the path. Just over the hill, she could make out the looking shadows of the abandoned city. "Your eye. How'd you get it?" Fingers brushed against the device that powered a small shield around her wrist.

 

[Alistair Fenn]

[member="Kinsey Starchaser"]

"How did I lose my eye?" Alistair repeated. "Or how did I get the cybernetic one?"

They were obviously connected, but separate stories.

Neither of them were something he really minded telling all that much, they were after all known by half a dozen other people besides himself. At one point he had tried to be more secretive about the whole thing, but that had been before he'd learned to take proper advantage of it. Stories like that could get you a free drink or two easily enough, especially if you embellished just a little bit. Perhaps that was exploitative, but since he was the subject of the story...well he supposed it didn't really matter.

A shrug rolled over his shoulder.

Kinsey was probably more interested in the former question rather than the latter, most generally were.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

[member="Alistair Fenn"]

Her light beam flashed across an expansive area as they came to the top of a hill. Looked like they were at the start of the abandoned city. Hopefully they'd be able to find some kind of shelter. She wasn't worried about those howls. She was worried about the stuff they couldn't hear.

"Both," hands came up to adjust the bag on her shoulder.

The path widened so she could walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the Tatooine native. They'd have to look for ship parts when they had more light. Right now it was all about the shelter. Blues that seemed to match the light of the stars above flitted to the smuggler. There was another flash of lightning as darker clouds continued to move in and blot out the heavens above.