Private Started From The Bottom Now We're Here?

[Jorrann Lanchur]

Jorrann Lanchur awoke.

The freighter began to shudder a little though enough to disturb him from his slumber. Looking around, Jorrann could see the many boxes surrounding he and his girlfriend: Scerra Cohl as shaking a bit. Scerra slept soundly placing her head against his chest, a small smile was formed on her pale face. Jorrann couldn't help but smirk at his childhood friend now lover having a good night's rest after spending time worrying about what they were going to do. Jorrann and Scerra grew up together in the lower levels of Corascant, specifically level 1313. The place was high enough to form a "civilized" society but low enough to where the Galactic Alliance and the New Jedi Order couldn't afford to stretch their already thin assets to patrol the streets. That meant the only people that ran level 1313 were gangs from the Hutts, drug dealers, to Bounty Hunter organizations and orphans like Jorrann were caught in the middle.

To say it was a tough life would be an understatement, everyday Jorrann had to take any job that he could. Whether it was spying for rival gangs, or selling Deathsticks in the streets at night or valuables from innocents. If it weren't for Scerra, then he would've lost his mind years ago, he found stable work as a low level smuggler recently. It turned out Jorrann was pretty good at it, smuggling some drugs among gangs or more importantly information. If there was a few things that Jorrann had besides Scerra, was his charm and being a crackshot with a blaster pistol. Smuggling thankfully provided both and he saw it as a ticket to make lots of credits for him and Scerra. For too long, the pair have been nomads without a ship sneaking in the back of freighters trying to eek out a living.

Right now Jorrann accepted a job from a merchant who lived in Ord Mantell to smuggle items to the Galactic Alliance. If Jorrann succeeded, he would receive the biggest payday of his life of course he was going to get in on the action. "Hey," Jorrann leaned in and kissed kissed Scerra's long magenta hair. "We're almost to Ord Mantell."

 

[Scerra Cohl]

It was rare for Scerra to sleep so soundly, especially considering she expected Zartax to put a bounty on their heads. The idea that they would spend the rest of their lives one step ahead of death plagued her, and most nights it kept her awake. Stirring, the young woman rose from where she had dozed off behind the freight.

“I really wish we’d gone to Nar Shaddaa,” she grumbled. “I’d rather steal a ship than try to do these jobs to get one. It’s a waste of credits when we can just grab one.”

Despite her fear of conflict, Scerra’s logic was sound. She just wanted away, honestly. And even though she claims to want to go to Nar Shaddaa, the truth was that Scerra wanted to escape to the farthest ends of the galaxy. Somewhere she’d never be found. Alas, that wasn’t an option.

Scerra leaned upward, palm raising to cup his face as she snared his lips in a kiss. Her heart pounded in her chest and she wondered if he could hear it. Getting back off the ships they stowed away in was just as terrifying as getting on the ship, and every time they switched, she thought she was going to fall apart. She was in a special sort of agony, and only Jorrann could keep it even remotely under control.

“When are we getting off?”

 

[Jorrann Lanchur]

Ever since her job with Zartax failed, Scerra was paranoid at the fact that the minor Hutt could find her and Jorrann and kill them. It was the major reason why the two fled Corascant and are on the run. That and Jorrann had plans in expanding his Smuggling career, for too long he did work strictly in the lower levels of Corascant but with Scerra's run in with Zartax it gave Jorrann the excuse to finally leave the planet. The young man chuckled ruffling Scerra's long magenta hair. Scerra didn't like her natural color combined with the fact that she wanted to disguise herself from Zartan and found a malfunctioning hair stylist droid to dye her hair blue before they left. The Droid mistranslated it to magenta and it ended with Scerra cursing the droid out until Jorrann told her that he liked it.

"Nar Shaddaa?" Jorrann chuckled kissing Scerra on the forehead. "The Hutts control that planet, you'll have a higher chance in killing a Rancor with your bare hands than getting a ship in Nar Shadda without getting caught."

Scerra was a talented thief capable of slipping in and out but the Hutts were ruthless even their minor crime lords were more feared than the average ones. "I've told you Scerra," Jorrann said. "This is the first time I've got a smuggling mission that's off planet, this person: Rodrick has some valuable items that he wants to smuggle to some high ranking officers in the Galactic Alliance and the best part is. He has connections and he pays well our road to poverty ends at Ord Mantell I can just smell it in the air."

The young man raised an eyebrow. "Better yet that's just your perfume," he chuckled kissing Scerra back. "You look very nice Scerra," he said. "Then again I say that everyday. Love your attire."

Another shutter was felt as entire ship began to rumble. "Looks like we're entering the atmosphere." Jorrann mumbled hugging Scerra. "Won't be long until we reach the surface."

 

[Scerra Cohl]

Scerra rolled here eyes at Jorrann, but hungrily accepted the kiss as she sat up. Yawning, the youth jumped to her feet and stretched.

“I smell about as fresh as the inside of a tauntaun, and we both know it,” she remarked, wrinkling her nose. She peeked around the edge of the storage crate they were nestled behind. Her heart skipped a beat or two in her chest.

“What if we get there and it’s just a trap or something?” Scerra whispered. “Zartax is smart enough to dangle credits in front of us like that.”

The girl’s voice trembled slightly as a whine threatened to creep into it. She snorted, pressing a kiss to his jawline. “You say that every day too. Its charm seems to be wearing off though.” A groan moved through the walls of the ship as it entered Ord Mantell’s atmosphere, followed a by a second, more jarring shudder.

Scerra barked in surprise and lost her balance, landing with a thud on her rear. She slapped her hand over her mouth, then whispered a moment later, “Yeah, well, maybe I’d get lucky then and win something. About as good a chance of that as this man paying you anything, you’re worth. Especially when he realizes you gotta drag some dumb girl around with you everywhere that’s scared of her own shadow.”

The words were spat in her best imitation of their most recent employer, mocking the woman with more than a little bitterness. “Let’s face it. You’d be better off if you didn’t have to drag me around like dead weight.”

It wasn’t the first time she urged him to leave her behind, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. Scerra hated the anxiety that crept through her whenever conflict arose.

 

[Jorrann Lanchur]

Jorrann remained sitting while he watched Scerra getting up and stretching. Every part of her looked beautiful even the mundane things like stretching always made Jorrann smile. The two of them didn't become attracted to each other until the beginning of their teenage years, it was something that was called hormones heightened their emotions. Which Jorrann found odd considering that species such as the Zeltron would use their hormones to kill their targets. Reports of Zeltron administering death by ecstasy to their targets, one of Jorraan's and Scerra's old bosses died that way after she failed to pay off her debts.

"You smell wonderful," he said picking himself up and hugging his girlfriend. "Remember you bought that perfume the moment we were about to leave Corascant? Or rather you stole it?"

Jorrann winked at Scerra, she was a talented thief capable of going in and out of a place without being detected. Before leaving, Jorrann and Scerra saw a bottle of perfume un a local store. He wanted to buy her the perfume but ultimately couldn't afford it. That perfume bottle costed more than what the total amount of credits Jorrann and Scerra made throughout their lives combined. Scerra devised a plan to steal the bottle while Jorrann distracted owner, it took around 5 seconds for the mini heist and she celebrated by spraying the perfume bottle all over herself.

"Let me tell you something about Rodrick," Jorrann whispered smiling as Scerra kissed his jaw. "He hates the Hutts, they've constantly ripped him off on smuggling deals and when he resisted, they've captured and enslaved his wife. By the time Rodrick found her she was already been killed having been sold to a Trandoshin to serve as target practice."

She was right in that they should be cautious after all, this story could be set up to gain Jorrann's sympathy making it easier for him and Scerra to be set up for a trap. Still the moment, Rodrick showed the number of credits that he was willing to give to him, Jorrann couldn't resist. "Really?" Jorrann said as Scerra fell down due to the ship's shudder and landed on her butt. "You are not dumb," Jorrann said sitting in front of Scerra he lifted his hand to caress her soft cheek. "You are an amazing woman Scerra for get what Lya said to you. She doesn't know anything! The moment she said that I felt like blasting that Gossam in the face. You may not see yourself as useful but everything I do including taking risk to move off planet for the first time in life, I'm doing this for you Scerra because you deserve better."

"We are now landing in Ord Mantell please remain seated until the pilot gives the all clear sign."

"Well that's our queue," Jorrann said happily. "Let's go hide behind some boxes and wait for a chance."

Scerra Cohl

 

[Scerra Cohl]

The youth responded with a wrinkle of her nose and lifted her arm to sniff herself. It wasn’t a ladylike move, but she didn’t seem overly displeased. At least she wasn’t covered in bantha manure again.

“I mean, you can hide if you want. I’m climbing in and letting them carry me like a princess,” Scerra remarked, smirking.

She tried not to think about what Jorrann said as she pried open the top of a crate and slid inside. It was full of eggs. What kind, she wasn’t sure but hey. That was this life—and as complicated as it was, she was better for it. Perhaps Jorrann was right. Maybe she did deserve better.

“The next one has enough room for you, but you better hurry!” She heard boots moving toward the cargo bay and tugged the lid down over her. It was not unlike being buried alive, and that too was something that Scerra suffered once for failure. Jorrann didn’t know about that though; she hadn’t told him. He asked though. He saw the bruises on her, and she passed it off as a fall. Only she was an awful liar and her story changed often.

Scerra held her breath, doing her best to ignore the heavy beating of her heart as the crate rose. Unaware of how they might be transporting it, the youth took no chances. Her breaths were shallow, as if she only had so many left and she was counting them careful.

Anxiety wracked her, tearing her mind apart the entire trip from dock to warehouse, and when the units were dropped into the storage room, Scerra waited in trepidation. Sometimes, they checked their shipments. She’d been caught once that way too. Fortunately, the footsteps moved away, and she heard the security gate engage with a flash of energy.

A moment later, she burst out into the open, taking a deep gulp of fresh air. Claustrophobia was not a good trait for a smuggler. She turned her head, gaze sweeping the room in search of the other crate.

“Jorrann?” Scerra called. The melodic timbres of her voice carried a hint of horror. She couldn’t see far; the room was so dark. What if he was put in a different room? What if they were separated? Her heart pounded in her chest, and she murmured under her breath.

“Don’t do it. You got this Scerra. You’re okay… JORRANN!!” Her voice raised sharply as she yelled for him, risking being found for the sake of knowing she wasn’t alone.

 

[Jorrann Lanchur]

Jorrann smiled at Scerra when she mentioned that she would rather be whisked away by the guards like a princess. "Now wait a minute sweetheart," he chuckled. "Those men ain't nothing compared to my touch." Jorrann used to carry Scerra all the time when they were younger, she would enjoy often laying her head against his chest. Now and days though, Scerra would cling onto Jorrann in more of a place to calm herself down rather than for comfort.

There were sounds of disgruntled workers opening the large shaft three men came in all of them tall and burly and dressed in light armor. "Haskill isn't paying us enough for this job," one of the men complained as he began to lift one of the boxes. "When we're done," another man said. "We'll ask Haskill to raise our pay. This menial shit is beneath us we ought to be out blasting some fools."

Jorrann then felt himself being pushed into a box by a panicked Scerra. "Wait Scerra!" Jorrann whispered as he saw his girlfriend fit herself inside while he did the same. The young man found himself surrounded by raw onions, the stench penetrated his nostrils while Jorrann fought to control his tears that were forming from the Onion's stench. He was more worried about Scerra, whenever she was uncertain where Jorrann is, Scerra tends to panic often drawing the wrong kind of attention.

"Scerra?" Jorrann whispered hoarsely through the cracks of the box hoping that she could hear his voice. She wasn't always like this but ever since her dealings with Zartax went south, she found herself clinging on to Jorrann. "If you can hear-"

"JORRANN!!”

"Who the frack?!" One of the men shouted. Jorrann could hear him drawing out his weapon as he kicked open the door running towards Scerra and hugging her tight. "I'm here!" he whispered. "Don't worry."

"Who are you?!" the man said to the couple his Blaster pistol aimed at Jorrann's head.

The young man closed his eyes and gave a large sigh, things never went smoothly for them had it? "We're just travelers," Placing Scerra behind him Jorrann turned around raising his hands. "Simple people trying to make their way through the galaxy."

"The frack?!" Two other men ran towards their position both armed with Blaster Rifles. "Who are these kids?!"

"Corpses." the man in the middle replied.

"Maybe slaves." the other man sadi. "Haskill has been wanting slaves to sell to the Hutts."

"How about neither," Jorrann said smiling. "I got a credit chip in my pocket just let me and my girl go and I'll give it to you."

In reality he was trying to reach his blaster which was tucked into his front jacket pocket.

 

[Scerra Cohl]

Scerra’s mind shut down, all thought process coming to a screeching halt as Jorrann shoved her behind him. The mention of the Hutts and slavery sent a shiver through her spine, teasing her that fiery temper she once had. That spurt of bravery only lasted long enough for her to pull her pistol free. Peeking around her boyfriend, she saw the pistol aimed at his head and lost it.

Before she was broken, the girl often acted as if there were a fire beneath her. Fierce, loyal, and ready to die for someone she loved, there was a time where she wasn’t such a damned coward. Right now, she felt another burst.

Perhaps it was craven in its execution, but the waif of a woman aimed her blaster around Jorrann’s side. Without a word, as he reached for his own, she shoved herself against him as hard as she could and fired from the hip at the closest of the guards. It was a lucky shot, striking him through the eye and killing him instantly. The remaining two returned fire without wasting a single moment. Scerra buried herself against Jorrann, fully expecting him to tug her out of dangers way as one of the blasts seared the flesh on her right arm.

Shock swept through Scerra, and she rolled to the side. Leaping to her feet, she grabbed Jorrann by his arm and yanked him as hard as she could. If there was one thing Scerra was good at, it was running.

“We have to get out of here. I can’t go back, I won’t. Jorrann,” she cried. The guards fired another shot, though they were more focused on her than her boyfriend. He wasn’t the one that shot their friend.

She pressed against him; her eyes open wide. Scerra wasn’t against stooping however low she had to if it meant surviving, and so she suddenly screamed out over the blaster fire.

“Stop! I’m pregnant! I’ll come peacefully!” Only she wasn’t. Thank god for that. This wasn’t the kind of world for a child to grow up in. Fortunately though, kids were often a soft spot.

 

[Jorrann Lanchur]

Well that escalated quickly.

It was Scerra who fired first, taking her blaster pistol and shooting at one of the men in the eye. The laser penetrated through his eye reducing it to white gooey mush while it fried his brain. "Shit! Aldo!" One of the mercenaries yelled out as smoke slowly came out from his eye the rest of his body crumpled onto the ground. For a brief moment, Jorrann thought that the confident Scerra returned however fear started to show from her eyes and she pulled him further into the Freighter.

"Frack!" Jorrann heard the sounds of blaster fire behind him feeling the red bolts grazing at his jacket, hair and skin his eyes rose up in fear as he saw Scerra get seared in the arm by one of the bolts. "We're just further trapping ourselves Scerra!" He said shouting through the barrage of blaster fire. "We need to-"

Jorrann skidded to a stop seeing a blast door with controls on it. "Damn it!" Jorrann growled. "He can slice into it no problem but the issue lay with those to arseholes trying to kill them."

Scerra skidded to a stop and yelled at the men that she was pregnant and that she'll come down peacefully. Jorrann let go of Scerra's hand and remained still. This was an old trick that she and Jorrann used while they were on the streets of Corascant often pretending to be young parents trying to gain credits for their unborn child. This would elicit sympathy for the victims in which they donated a healthy amount of credits for the child that doesn't even exist. "You know what queen?" the mercenary said while Jorrann slowly reached for his blaster. "I don't give a frack! Shoulda thought of that before you killed my-"

Before he could finish his statement a yellow blaster bolt pierced the man's neck rendering him unable to speak or breathe. Before the other man had a chance to react another blaster bolt collided with his head knocking him off his feet. They were both dead milliseconds of each other. Jorrann held out his blaster pistol sighing heavily. Barely landed on his first planet and all ready getting to trouble, placing his pistol in his holster he gave Scerra a kiss on the lips while taking out a bacta vial. "Here," he said. "For your arm now rub it on and let's get the frack out of here."

Scerra Cohl

 

[Scerra Cohl]

Scerra watched the first man fall from her blaster fire, the claim of pregnancy still warm upon her lips. She did not like combat, but she didn’t want to risk everything either. When the blaster laser grazed her arm, the young woman grimaced. She didn’t cry out; she rarely did. She might have a huge lack of bravado, but pain was something she could handle.

When the second fell and Jorrann spoke to her, offering the vial and telling her to use it, she obeyed. His soft kiss grounded her once more, reminded her that she wasn’t alone. Sometimes, that was all a person needed. Scerra reached for Jorrann’s free hand and clasped it tightly.

“Well, you better decide where we’re going fast then, ‘cause you know I’m not gonna be the one that picks the right way,” Scerra remarked dryly.

 

[Jorrann Lanchur]

Jorrann felt Scerra's soft touch against his, sometimes all he needed was a simple touch by his girlfriend to keep him focused. As the Smuggler took her hand as the ran from the freighter they've snuck into and blended into the large crowd. "Like I said before," Jorrann whispered to Scera. "We're heading for the Galactic Alliance Embassy base. From there we'll meet our contact who will explain the details of what we need to smuggle."

He remembered his reaction when he saw the amount of credits being offered when Jorrann first took this job. Scerra was very cautious and frightened as usual when Jorrann told her about it. However even she was floored when Jorrann told her the amount. "I can't wait to get the credits!" Jorrann said smiling. "The first thing I'm going to do is to buy you something nice!"

The young man kissed Scerra on the forehead as they continued to walk through the crowd. "What do you want Scerra?" He said his tone rather giddy. "Name it and I'll buy it! No more scrounging around for food! No more taking low paying jobs and no more looking over our shoulder."

Jorrann gave a huge grin. "After this job we decide our destiny Scerra!" he declared.

 

[Scerra Cohl]

“Maybe our own ship,” Scerra replied dourly. She as still concerned about the details of this job. It was too good to be true. Way too good. As he kissed her forehead and they slipped through the crowd, she moved nearer and nearer to him. It was almost as if she were afraid someone would take her by the arm, recognize her as the one that just lied to and shot someone.

It was little more than a delusion—Scerra was aware that no one cared enough to notice her most times. Only Jorrann, who’d been there for her for so long. She felt useless. Like a leech, to be more precise.

“Jorrann, what if it’s all a hoax? You know I have debts that aren’t paid. What if it’s an attempt to hook us in so that they can punish us? Me, specifically.”

 

[Jorrann Lanchur]

"A ship sounds good," Jorrann said bringing Scerra closer to him as they evaded passerbys. Ever since the incident, Scerra hated to be touched by anyone except Jorrann. The young man made sure that nobody lay a hand on her but it wasn't easy considering Scerra's flighty personality at times. "It's no hoax I guarantee it!" Jorrann said smiling. "This is a legit job! This ambassador has had a reputation of being one of the more reliable clients in this side of the galaxy!"

In a world of smuggling where trust is important, It was tough to get people to cooperate. It was like the Sith Empire full of backstabbing fools. Jorrann made sure to keep his wits about him and always double check. It was not for his sake but Scerra as well. "This man doesn't care for the Hutt that's hunting for us," he said. "In fact he informed me that he'll be pulling strings to take care of her if she tries to interfere with our job."

 

[Scerra Cohl]

Scerra remained skeptical about his words but took his shielding all the same. She edged closer and closer as they walked, following him with every step she took. She didn’t like thinking about the Hutts, she didn’t like thinking at all if truth be told.

“Fine, but how much longer? I’m tired and that whole exchange back in the freighter… I could have done without it. I need a drink. Maybe something more. Got any clue where we’re sleeping tonight? Because I wouldn’t mind an actual bed.”

 

[Jorrann Lanchur]

Well it was something that Jorrann didn't think of, where would they sleep and eat? He only bought a handful of credits but it was barely enough buy a cup of Coffee. "Don't have anything yet," he lamented. "All that matters now is reaching the embassy." Maybe Jorrann could convince the client to give them a down payment so they can at least get a place to sleep and eat before starting the job. He and Scerra had spent months sleeping in street corners or shady Motels where gang wars often took place.

"We should approach the embassy within an hour," Jorrann said smiling at Scerra. "Don't worry we'll be set after this job."

 

[Scerra Cohl]

“You keep saying that, so I guess I have to just trust you then,” Scerra remarked, her tone a little dry and stuffy. She was moody, but that was common when she was stressed out. And she was definitely stressed out now. Her lips pressed into a thin line and she was quiet for the rest of the walk to the embassy, occasionally moving closer to Jorrann. His presence made her feel safe, and sometimes that was all she could ask for.

When they arrived at the embassy, she felt trepidation about entering. She looked at Jorrann, as if she were almost asking his permission to enter; really, she was waiting on him to do whatever. She’d rather be running in the opposite direction.

 

[Jorrann Lanchur]

It was a long walk to the embassy, Jorrann and Scerra arrived at the entrance with the Smuggler allowing Scerra to lean against his arm. They felt out of place in what was a rather elegant looking building. Large marble walls, the Galactic Alliance symbol shining over them with the picture of the Chancellor below. There were many employees walking past Jorrann with some staring at them raising an eyebrow at the clothes they were wearing but most kept to themselves. Jorrann and Scerra saw the receptionist: A blue Twileak motioning towards and the young man shyly walked to her.

"Jorrann Lanchur?" The young Twileak motioned her R2 unit to scan the both of them. "Viktor will be seeing you soon please have a seat."

 

[Scerra Cohl]

The entire exchange, as brief as it was, did little to assuage Scerra's anxiety. She tugged on his arm, almost in a hurry to take a seat. She didn't like standing either, and honestly if her wildest dreams ever came true... she'd be the most boring girl in the galaxy. To Jorrann she wasn't though, and that's what mattered. All she needed to get from one day to the next was his love, and somehow she'd kept that despite her vices.

Scerra pulled away then, with a gentle tug, toward where she wanted to sit. Away from anyone else waiting, and where she'd least be recognized as existing: a far corner of the reception area.

"Viktor?" she nudged, curious about who that was.

 

[Jorrann Lanchur]

"Not sure," Jorrann said his blood starting to run cold. Not even a minute into the job and there's already a snag. Usually things go wrong for Jorrann at least in the beginning stages of a job. This is happening before the briefing, it was a world record for Jorrann. "Excuse me ma'am," Jorrann said to the receptionist who was typing away at her Holo Computer. "Might I know who is this Viktor?"

The Twileak remained silent, continuing to type while Jorrann continued to hold Scerra close to his arm. Maybe she was too busy with her work? Jorrann cleared his throat. "Excuse me ma'am?" he asked. "I was told to look for Rodrick?"

"Rodrick is very busy dealing with Alliance citizens in trouble with Ord Mantel law," the receptionist replied though she did not look at Jorrann. "His partner Viktor will be handling your affairs for now. Please take a seat, I'll let Viktor know you are here Jorrann."

"O-of course," Jorrann stammered, the normally confident expression he put for himself quickly shattered into a nervous wreck. In other words just like Scerra. Pulling his girlfriend close to him, Jorrann forced a smile at Sccerra as they headed to the farthest seat from the public. The Alliance embassy building felt large, Jorrann's and Scerra's feet tapping against the sleek, stark marble floor. Though there were people, it was eerily quiet as though the two of then were there only ones here.

Jorrann found a white seat and began to sit only to nearly fall. "Chit!" he said. "This seat is really low to the ground."

 

[Scerra Cohl]

"Harder to get up that way," Scerra murmured almost inaudibly. Her hand reached for his, desperately seeking the heavy comfort of rock. They were either about to get lucky, or they were the dumbest criminals this side of the galaxy--and Scerra didn't want to be the last. She sucked in a long, slow breath as if she were grounding herself. Whatever she said next could get them into more trouble than either really wanted to be. Or, they could run. And this was where Scerra always ran.

"Jorrann," she breathed, her heart pounding in her chest. "What do we do?"