To the Edge of the Fringe and Back- Ra

[Brent Smith]

She gave a knock on the door. It was more sensible that what Brent was thinking of doing and kicking it in. He could hear shuffling on the other side of the door as someone moved to it. Judging by the sound the feet made on the floor, he was guessing shag carpet that was due for a cleaning. There was just one being. He could hear the faint click as someone turned the safety off a blaster pistol. There wasn't a peaky hole for whoever was on the other side.

The door opened just hair, and a peering rodien black eye gazed at him suspiciously, "What you want?"

Brent quirked an eyebrow, he could smell the spice on the rodien's body. "Is this Garnet's residence?"

The rodien's snout flared with a snort, "Never heard of him."

His facial muscles relaxed just slightly, just enough for him to have let his guard down.

Brent gave a tight smile, "Ah, my bad then. Sorry."

Suddenly his hand slammed against the door, knocking the man back just a small bit. Brent hit it again, throwing his full weight behind it this time. The door went back, the first had smacked the Rodien in the face, stunning him. The second opened the door wide enough for the pair to get through. Spark stumbled back, wildly raising his weapon and firing off a wild shot. Brent ducked back, dodging the attack.

 

[Riamah]

Gun shots in this area weren't unheard of, but it may still draw unwanted attention to their location. As soon as Brent and Spark had gotten out of the way, Ra dashed through the door, closing and locking it up behind her. Her blaster leveled at the rodian.

He was stunned from the door slamming him in the face, but was coming out of his daze. His beady eyes cleared up almost instantly when they focused on the blaster pointed at his head. Bringing his hands up and dropping his blaster, he looked between Brent and Ra.

"What do you want?"

Ra moving faster than he could react, had him held securely to the point he couldn't escape without hurting himself. He stopped struggling and looked at Brent helplessly. Almost begging him to help and knowing it wasn't going to come.

[member="Brent Smith"]

 

[Brent Smith]

Ra moved faster than Spark could counter, and pinned him to the wall. That was good. The alien looked at Brent. Brent merely looked around the apartment. It was badly kept, horribly dirty and full of second hand furniture. There were dirty dishes stacked up on the small round table that separated the main room from the kitchenette. There was no art hanging from the walls, but against the wall Spark was pinned to, there was a patchy couch that made up for it. Brent grabbed one of the two chairs at the table and carried to to Ra and their captive.

"Here is how this is going to work," Brent said setting the chair down. He carefully set it an exact 45 degree angle that faced Ra and Spark both. "I am going to ask you a question. You are going to deny it. I am going to threaten you and asking it again, then you will still say you know nothing. Then she is going to tear your mind apart."

His tone was casual, informal. He had been through this many times and Brent didn't see a need to beat around the bush.

"So we are going to shorten the process. I am going to ask you, and ask you just this once. So before you answer you better think long and hard or she is going to leave you a drooling mess on the floor," he gave a nod towards Ra again. "Because you only get one shot." Brent sat in the chair, "Where is the Nebuchadnezzar going?"

Spark's face twitched for a second. Brent could see his facial muscles twitch and flinch.

"They are going to Makeb," his voice had risen just a half a step in pitch, only ten hertz. It was indiscernible to most, but Brent heard it. And it was a sign he was lying.

Brent leaned back and gave Ra the nod, "Have your way, my lady."

 

[Riamah]

Smiling inwardly at the calm attitude Brent displayed to Spark, Ra listened to his words and question as well as the threat in them. Taking a seat when he asked his question, Brent listened himself and nodded to Ra. Spark had lied and now it would be her turn to pry that memory from him.

There was the easy way, hard way or her way. Depending on the person and situation, Ra had various ways to acquire what she wanted. However, with those words Brent had said, it indicated she could do as she wanted. In time, the rodian might recover, but it would take a long while.

Holding up a hand, Ra reached into the Force. This was a dark side skill, so even though Ra wasn't mad or angry, her gold eyes took on the glowing yellow-red hue of a sith or user of the dark side. The alien didn't tense up any more than he already was, but by the time Ra finished, only her arm held him up. Letting go of the Force and her hold on Spark, he fell in a lump to the floor.

"Crait."

It was a simple name, but the location of where their target ship was headed. In her probe, Ra had also learned much more, but that was really all they needed.

[member="Brent Smith"]

 

[Brent Smith]

And just like that there was one more battered person in the wake of Brent's life. But he had given Spark a chance, and he made his choice. The man was a career criminal, and it was rather clear he wasn't about to make a life change so he didn't cry over it. If anything, they were doing the galaxy a service by getting rid of this pest. He watched as Ra used her ability on him. Brent was no stranger to the Force or seeing its strange ways used around him by the Ren, Jedi, and Sith alike. He watched Ra unmoved. But on the inside, he was impressed.

When she had the info, Brent picked up his duffle bag of goods. That was simple. He smoothed his trench coat. He had heard of the Crait. It was nothing, just essentially a large ball of salt without major attractions. He had never been, but at least he wasn't having to go back to Dredd. From behind his shades, Brent's eye twitched at the very thought of that horrible world. His worst nightmares were still filled with the carnage he had to cause in the streets of that planet.

"Sounds like we shouldn't wait around to play games then," he said and moved towards the door without even giving the blathering mess that was Spark a second glance.

He reached the middle of the hall and halted, holding his free hand up for a second. Something was off and he could feel it in his gut. A second later he heard it, the track wheels pulling up the massive weight of the 1 ton metal box and its contents up three stories. "Elevator."

The elevator gave a ding and its doors at the end of the hall opened. Six men dressed in battle armor were there behind its doors, armed with assault rifles and ready. The six of them opened fire, their bullets tearing through the air, headed strait for the agent standing right before him.

 

[Riamah]

"Who's playing games?"

While there was a distance​ between them, Ra felt like throwing a touch of humor in the mix. Giving Brent a wink and chuckle, she agreed they needed to move out. She shut the door behind them and stopped when he raised his hand. Looking in the direction of his gaze, Ra did two things. The first was place a Force barrier around both of them.

The elevator door opened and six men stood there with rifles pointed at them. The barrier around Brent wouldn't last long, but long enough. Sending a Force push at the six men, Ra would grab a hold of Brent's upper arm and use the Force to propel them both into the staircase she had noticed when they got there. Right now, she didn't care if Brent was able to stay on his feet, she would be able to support his weight to the bottom of the stairs.

Moving faster than the gunmen could in the elevator upstairs, they were outside of the building before it would have even reached the first floor again. Narrowing her eyes just slightly, Ra bent the doorframe of the entrance of the building and then let go of Brent.

"Sorry for grabbing you, but we needed to move. Let's get going before they figure out how to open that door."

[member="Brent Smith"]

 

[Brent Smith]

It all happened before Brent could even react. With her Force training, and the Force by her side, Ra moved faster than Brent could even perceive or react, it all moved like a blur around him as she carried him down the stairs and into the open again, leaving his bag turned on the side in that hall. Ra had saved his life, and he knew it. There weren't many who had saved his life, even when he was a trooper. Most of those beings had died long ago, but she had pulled him out of the danger before he could react.

Brent opened his mouth to say something and shut it, thinking better of it. Instead he looked down at his hand and up at the floor they had come down from.

"I dropped my bag," he said in a half-statement, half-wistful desire.

He pressed one of the buttons on the sleeve to his trenchcoat, a massive explosion erupted from the floor where his bag had been, shards of glass rained down from the windows, blasted out by the inferno it created. It would kill several of them, if not all of them.

"Too bad," he said, "That was one of my favorites too."

If there were guards that came after them, especially ones that well armed and armored, that meant they were kicking up trouble, and attention. Brent wasn't sure which it was, but there was a good chance they were on the right path then. He turned to go back towards the ship, pausing.

"And thank you," Brent said in a tone soften than he had used since their evening of passion, "for saving my life."

He didn't know how to go with this, and it felt awkward for him to try and not give into what he felt and not go too far. But he at least owed her his thanks at least, and probably much more.

 

[Riamah]

It didn't go unnoticed by Ra that he was going to say something before changing his mind by closing his mouth. When he did speak, it was to mention his bag which he had dropped. Saying it was one of his favorites and then having it explode the floor they had been on. If it didn't kill the troopers it would certainly slow them down.

"Nice thinking there, it'll keep them for a while at least."

Brent paused a moment, but didn't look at her when he spoke. When he did, all the coldness that had been there before was gone. The tone he used was more akin to what Ra felt was his natural self, the one she had met originally and taken into her home. That pin on her cloak allowed her to read his emotions to a greater extent that what she could normally.
​
"You're welcome, Brent."

What it picked up on was​ he still felt attracted to her, but maybe even something more. That pin, nobody knew what it did except herself.

Like she had done on Umbara, Ra held her hand out to him. It wasn't an offer to train him, that had already been accepted. This time it was the offer of a chance. A chance to break down both of their barriers. As fearful as Ra was, she felt ready to take that chance. It was up to him if he was as well.

[member="Brent Smith"]

 

[Brent Smith]

"Nice thinking there, it'll keep them for a while at least."

He nodded, that was Brent's plan. He slaved the various explosives on hand in his bags to his trenchcoat with it secrets and wiring abilities. It made blending in easier, and it made his job that much more efficient.

She said he was welcome. He could tell by the way her tone had changed that his state and turmoil hadn't gone unnoticed on her. When she extended his hand, he looked at it for a second. If he took it, he knew that it was going to mean a lot more than just a simple hand grab. He didn't know if he was ready for that. But he didn't know if he wasn't. Part of him wanted to seize her up and kiss again. Brent knew that was partially fueled by the adrenaline still in his system from almost dying. But it wasn't like that urge wasn't there naturally.

He tentatively took it, swallowing as his fingers wrapped around hers. Her skin felt good, smooth to the touch. It was natural. He needed to just relax into it and let this happen.

"You know what you are getting into?" he asked pointedly.

 

[Riamah]

Their eyes met for a moment and then Brent looked at her extended hand. Looking at it for even longer, he did take a hold of it. Their fingers wrapped around each other's felt right. When the contact happened, something within Ra welcomed it. That fear of being hurt was still there, but time would tell if it happened. The fear of getting close enough to somebody to get hurt. Maybe she feared love, but she didn't fear him.

Brent then asked quite clearly if Ra knew what she was getting into. Her heart felt like it skipped a beat and her breath caught in her throat. She looked directly at him before she spoke. Clearing her throat and taking a deep breath before she did, she answered honestly. Nothing but the truth between them.

"I never have gotten into anything like this. Do I have an idea? Yes. Do I know? No, I don't. I want to try though."

What Ra felt wasn't love she didn't think, but it was more than lust. More than friendship, the sith actually cared for Brent. And she could see a future together with him.
​
[member="Brent Smith"]

 

[Brent Smith]

She had an idea, and that was enough for him. The tension in her facial muscles told him that she was aware she was fully exposed and going into something dangerous, but at the same time she was very ok with it. Her words added to it. She knew what he was after all. That was one step forward that Lucy hadn't had. She wasn't about to find out what he did and leave him. She knew what his job took and what he would be doing during those long hours out at work. She wanted to try. He could try too.

"Alright."

Brent took a step closer to Ra, the burning floor of the building behind him cast strange light on his face, giving flickers with it that were brighter and more vibrant than the sun above.

"Because the last one left because she thought she did, but didn't really," he said. It was the most he had said about about his ex, and as much as he wanted to say, "The work was too much for her. So if your sure," his hand caressed Ra's face, sliding down the side of her neck to cradle it from behind, "Then there is nothing I can do to stop you."

He leaned in for the kiss. As their lips met, the building behind them cast it in a unique light, bathing them in golden yellow, and orange from the flames. The inferno found something combustible in one of the rooms and set it up in a ball of fire that belched out a fresh ball of flames from the windows.

"Come on," Brent said with a smirk at last when the kiss had ended. "Let's get you into something less covering and more comfortable."

 

[Riamah]

Accepting her answer for what it was, Brent took that step closer to her. Ra locked her eyes with him as he spoke of his past. There was a difference between Ra and his last woman. She hadn't known really what he did. The dangers he faced and the dangers he could bring to those he loved she couldn't accept, but Ra did.

His free hand caressed her face and moved to cradle her neck. He said there was nothing he could to stop her. She didn't want to either, but wanted to allow nature to take its natural course. If it worked for her, then she could hope it would for Brent as well.

Their kiss was gentle, but the flame between them grew. In unison the building behind them continued to burn and new balls of flame erupted from different windows now. It was as if that fire started upstairs had been carried outside by the two of them. The kiss ended and he suggested they get out of there, including a change of clothes. Chuckling, Ra nodded in agreement.

"Lead the way, my dear."

[member="Brent Smith"]​

 

[Brent Smith]

The journey to Crait was a lot less frigid and a lot more enjoyable than the trip to Nal Hutta. Brent spent more time with his clothes off during this leg of the journey than he had before. Brent had dove into this head first. He didn't see much of a reason in keeping back now. There were still moments where fear seized him. Mostly in those very private seconds he had. But he wasn't about to give them sway over his thoughts and they were growing more and more distant between episodes.

When they arrived at Crait, Brent reluctantly clad himself again. They were here for something and as much fun as it was, they would have to get back to it. There was a strong chance there'd be plenty more where that came from later. Standing at the cockpit, he did a scan of the planet for all settlements large enough to land a ship the size of the Nebuchadnezzar. There weren't many on a plant this size, two came up on the map. He did a brief cross reference on the legal history of both. One had a lengthy history of being an upstanding mining colony. The other was shrouded in semi-truthful tales that were hardly spun at all, and was owned by a dozen shell corporations. That would be the one they needed, Brent decided.

"We have our target settlement," Brent said as he brought the ship down towards the surface, "Its named Reliance. You probably will want to get dressed now."

 

[Riamah]

Their journey to Crait was enlightening, entertaining and quite enjoyable. There were times when Brent grew fearful, but those times grew less. Ra pushed her own fear to the side, but even with her there were a few times when she wondered if she made the right choice. This really was new to her. In the past, she had closed herself off to this, now she felt she was ready.

Taking the hint from Brent, Ra gathered up her belongings- clothes and weapons and started putting them on. Listening to what he said, he may sense within her the return of the business façade she wore. While at the same time, there were her growing feelings for him. Instead of denying them or pushing them away, Ra welcomed them.

It did not take her very long to get herself into her gear of choice and joined Brent in the cockpit of his ship. Once they landed, she grabbed her cloak and waited at the port of his ship for it open and they could really begin their quest for finding this cult.

"Did that book give any passcodes or words for safe entrance?"

[member="Brent Smith"]

 

[Brent Smith]

Brent donned his trench coat, under it he wore his black slacks and dress shirt. As he buttoned the coat, he became the professional agent once more who was efficient and calculated. He walked the short distance to the armory and grabbed one of his black duffel bags, loaded with weapons and tools. While he was there, the man went ahead and loaded his trench coat with blasters and a force pike. He didn't know what this held, but he had a hunch that things could end badly. Especially in light of how things had gone down on Nal Hutta. If someone was after these people and they were caught in the cross fire, then he wasn't about to be flat footed in that.

A side thought of worry crossed his mind. If they were running a chance of getting ambushed, then Ra's very life was also in danger too. He knew in his mind that she could take care of herself. She had the Force training on her side that he didn't have. She would probably end up saving him again before all of this was up. But still, it was only natural for him to feel that way.

He pushed off, out of the armory, the door closed and locked behind him. He met Ra at the loading ramp. He gave her one more look over as he plucked his sunglasses from his pocket.

"You look good," he complimented her as he placed the shades on.

He strolled out onto the surface of the planet, getting a feel for it as he scanned the area with a critical eye. It was your typical, aged mining community. Dilapadated but rugged buildings stood along either side of the main dirt road way that made the small town up. A trio of massive silos stood on the other end of the town, where the refinery was. He could see the landing pad where they had landed was designed for ships much bigger than their own. Brent knelt down and examined the duracrete under them.

"These launch marks," Brent pointed to the scorched black spots on the surface, "Are for ships our size. The latest landings have been smaller vessels, nothing large enough to warrant carrying a cargo load of ore or elements."

He rose to his feet, dusting his hands off. He listened for a moment, "The refinery isn't active. Its very quiet. The streets are to empty," he looked to Ra, "They aren't moving elements here. And we are not welcome."

 

[Riamah]

Just as the ramp opened, Ra would appear to vanish. She did this within sight of him, so he would know she was still there. Brent would likely be able to pick up her location and that is what was important. She also stealthed herself within the Force. The only sign she was even there would be a rippling of the light around where her body was. She bent the incoming light and that was all anybody would see if they had a keen eye.

They exited the ship together and to a casual observer, he would appear to be alone and talking to himself as he pointed out the marks on the landing pad. He stated the refinery wasn't active either. It was obvious to Ra the streets were empty and at the moment there wasn't anybody here. Brent did see her location while she was in stealth and looked directly at her.

Don't look at me like that. I'm going to go a head and look around. Keep talking to yourself like though, the thoughts should reach me. If you need to communicate directly focus and well just think really strongly.

Her voice was calm in his mind. Ra gave herself a mental kick. She was supposed to train him in using the Force and so far they had only gone over the codes. After they finished their search here on Crait, she would start teaching him. Hopefully her little crash course lesson would be enough.

I will remain within line of sight the whole time. You watch my back​ and we'll be fine.

Moving off like she said she would, Ra approached the first bank of buildings. If he was watching her, the only thing he would see was that slight rippling of light. She cast no shadow, but did leave foot prints of her path.

[member="Brent Smith"]

 

[Brent Smith]

Brent had more than once had a Force user use telepathy on his mind. It was unsettling no matter how often it happened. It reminded him that his mind was exposed to them like an open book. It was uncomfortable, but efficient. He trusted Ra more than he trusted the other Force Users that he had run into.

"Alright, will do," he muttered to himself.

If he looked at her, he could see Ra. When they were close he could still faintly feel her body heat, but as she gained distance from him, it was gone. He could still smell her pheromones and vaguely see the shadowy expression of her outline by the way that the light waves bent around her. He took a few more steps to the edge of the duracrete platform and knelt to the ground again. She told him to just think hard. It sounded easier said than done, but if he was going to start learning to tap into this Force side of things, he would have to start somewhere.

He withdrew a pair of tweasers from his pocket, plucking some yellow granules. "Startric acid, used in battery components," he set them down, plucking sour smelling blue grains, "Nitric Oxide. Used in coolant." he dropped them as well. There were three green stains from droplets of liquid that had been deposited there over a few weeks. "Lemnarium. Used in fertilizer."

Brent rose to his full height once more, "The only thing that all three of these have in common is being used in--"

"Freeze," a voice cut him off. Brent turned around to see a man with a heavy blaster pistol aimed at him. The man looked rugged, like a local, and judging by the stained nails on his hands, it confirmed Brent's suspicions.

Drugs, Brent thought as loud as he could. He hoped it reached Ra. Specifically, Methophetamine.

Brent raised his hands, he had been so caught up in his examination, and keeping tabs on Ra, he didn't hear the person coming up behind him. "We want cake. Don't you agree, John?"

"Who are you talking to?" the man demanded.

"Yes, John, stranger is nice, good stranger will give us cake," Brent said, continuing his rambling ruse.

"Look, pal--"

Brent's left hand snapped, quickly straitening to face the man who held him at gunpoint. Out of his sleeve, a J1 pistol snapped into his fingers. Brent's fist squeezed on the palm-size weapon, the shot tore through his assailant's chest, dropping him in the dirt.

We are minus one, but chances are they are going to start to figure this out sooner than latter.

 

[Riamah]

Doing his best to appear to be alone, Brent spoke to himself and then through the Force to Ra as she progressed to the buildings. However, her eyes were forward to where she was going and his were on the ground. He was caught by surprise and when he shot the guy questioning him, Ra whirled around to see had happened.

Drug dealers? Are you sure this is the correct order...maybe this isn't a location for them, but the crew of Nebuchadnezzar could be dealing with more than just them.​

The sound of that shot going off excited those hidden within the complex. Several came pouring out of the buildings and lined up nicely with guns pointed at Brent. However, with Ra in stealth, they didn't even know she was there. Reaching into the Force yet again, her eyes glowed for a brief moment. Under the feet of these people a large pit opened and the fell.

Inside that pit was what Ra thought of as hell. The ground closed up around them and silence filled the compound again.

Hope they send somebody out soon to parley or something.​

There was humor in her thought to Brent and indeed one person was walking forward. Coming from further in the town. Hands at his sides, he appeared to be a miner, but one full of confidence of somebody in charge. He looked at Brent, but without any open hostile intentions.

"What do you want here? Half my team is gone now."

[member="Brent Smith"]

 

[Brent Smith]

Drug dealers? Are you sure this is the correct order...maybe this isn't a location for them, but the crew of Nebuchadnezzar could be dealing with more than just them.​

Its the only reason I can think of to bring Lemnarium to this barren rock. There isn't a chance at all of growing anything on this rock.

The hoard of attackers came out and aimed their weapons at Brent, primed and ready to fire. He dropped his hold out pistol with a sigh and raised his hands again. He wished there was another way out of it, but he didn't have a lot of choices. The ambushers soon found themselves in a pit, without a chance to get out. He could guess that Ra was more to thank for that than geological activity.

"What do you want here? Half my team is gone now."

"I'm just here to ask questions," Brent said with a shrug, "You give me answers and you get to live. We both know your a lot more than just miners here. Mining colonies don't handle that level of weaponry," he gave a nod to the pit that had closed itself. "And if you answer fast enough, they may just get to live to see another sunrise."

The man shrugged, "Alright. Fair enough."

"A ship named the Nebuchadnezzar came through here. I want to know where they were going. What they were carrying, and how long ago they left," Brent said simply.

"That ship," the foreman said, his face twisting into a scowl, "they came and took one of my best guns. They were cashing in on a bounty, they claimed to be here to buy some of our secondary services. But they took him, held us at gun point and even killed a few more in the process." He shook his head, "My best guess would be one of the legal outposts in a nearby system. Ol' Frank had a number of systems angry around at him. They left three days ago."

Brent studied the man's face as he spoke, and his voice. He wasn't lying, and that was all that Brent needed. "Thank you for your cooperation."

He made his way back to the ship, careful to keep his eye on the foreman the entire way.

Do you know of any systems around here they could cash this bounty in?

 

[Riamah]

Observing the question and answer session, Ra clearly heard both of them from where she was standing. After the man answered, she thought about dropping him as well, but Brent had said he would live so she let him live. He walked back to the ship slowly enough that he and Ra would enter at the same time. It gave off the illusion that he was here alone.

This way if the foreman did report this visit, she would not be included in the report.

Once aboard the ship and the door closed, Ra came out of stealth and took her cloak off. Looking at Brent, that business façade went away and she gave him a smile.

"Nice work out there. We make a good team. Oh dear."

Closing her eyes for just a moment, the sinkhole she had made opened again so the people that had been swallowed could be retrieved. There was a chance that in time they would recover if they had lived in the first place.

"Let's take a look at a star map and we can narrow it down from there. I'd suggest taking off first though."

[member="Brent Smith"]