Unexpected aquaintances

[Kimiko Taiyou]

The harsh landscape and bright sun-light assaulted her heightened senses as Kimiko surveyed the landscape from her look out post.

Ever since she returned to Kathol space, Ki had been busy. She had been tasked with assisting several of the world's native populations. She had seen this as a punishment for her temporary abandonment of her allies. It was actually quite the contrary. It was their job and position to help any in need, and her newfound skills were just the boost needed to accomplish this collective task.

A sigh escaped her lips as the wind picked up, kicking sand up into her face. Ki turned to pull her custom hood and cloak over herself for protection when her ears picked up a strange engine sound.

It took a moment to spot the source, head tilting in curiosity at the craft. It did not match any silhouette she had seen before, and it bore no markings she could recognize either. Violet eyes followed the craft's descent until it touched down rather silently at the local landing pad.

Not feeling any malevolent intentions from the craft, Kimiko bounded from her location and trotted lightly towards it, hoping to greet any being who came to visit.

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

From space Demonsgate looked like a far less settled world than it was. Volcanic activity had waned slightly over the centuries and it no longer looked as though the entire planet was on fire yet vast continents still gave the impression they were burning. It was a different story on the ground although the planet was arid, it was liveable. Being declared the capitol of The Kathol Outback had certainly helped bring some economic benefits to this once insignificant planet as a host of pirates, smugglers, bounty hunters and whatever else the Outback entertained within their ranks all needed servicing.

Samka pulled herself away from the cockpit of her unmarked shuttle, letting the auto-pilot take over for the landing, and headed towards her mirror. A modest appearance today. Nice clothing, sure, but nothing to make her stand out too much. Some sort of loosing fitting sleeveless white shirt and dress with flat light brown shoes. Her lightsaber and other belongings were in a bag strung over her shoulder. She hated having the saber out of easy reach but there was nowhere on her body to conceal it. Sam wasn't used to wearing the type of clothes worn by the general public, her wealthy childhood put her in very formal clothes and the idea of The Knights of Ren dressing casually for the weekend was laughable. The true reason she checked the mirror though was to make certain her concealment was working. Although Sam was not showing any of the physical deformities which came with the Dark Side it had altered her eye colour to an unnatural red pigment but the concealment was working and her eyes had returned to their natural brown.

A crackle from the terminal behind her made Sam spin around on her heels. A blue figure appeared on the holo. His mask and and robes marked him as a fellow Knight of Ren. "Acolyte," he rasped.

Sam bowed her head. "I have arrived at Demonsgate. I will be landing momentarily."

The figure on the terminal raised his hand dismissively. "I know. I bring word from the Masters."

"They've noticed my work?" Sam blinked in surprise.

"All Knights are monitored, their behaviour reflects on us all. Your results have been mixed so far, Acolyte. You have had some success but various Knights and First Order personal have reported you are difficult to work with. There must be an improvement."

"If I may protest-" Sam started but was immediately cut off.

"You may not. Your actions here represent the Supreme Leader. You would do well to remember that. Discretion is necessary and no squabbling with any Outback personnel. We don't need you to jeopardise our current diplomatic arrangements. Now go, there can be no mistakes this time." Samka watched her ominous contact disconnect then made for the exit. Her mission was simple, three targets suspected of providing their services to Resistance fighters during the battle of Hoth were living in the nearby city. A human billionare, a Hutt arms dealer and a Wookie bounty hunter. She was to destroy them all.

Sam stepped planetside out into the heat. "Wonderful," she muttered under her breath then started to walk down the landing platform however she paused seeing a female figure heading towards her. Perhaps this was local landing customs or.... something. Sam decided to wait for this woman to approach.

[member="Kimiko"]

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

Her cloak hid her body's curious reaction at the sight of the girl who descended from the strange ship. Ki thought she couldn't be much younger than herself, yet, she could feel a powerful pull from the girl. Though as untrained as she was, Ki was not able to place it, but kept it in the back of her mind as she made her final approach.

Offering a beaming and rather over-friendly smile as she neared, Ki spoke in cheery tone,"Greeting, traveler! Welcome to Demonsgate and Outback space!", anyone within earshot would recognize her immediately.

Kimiko was always one to be friendly towards all, but that odd sensation this new person radiated, pulled her in. Her original curiosity had bloomed and she was allowing it to lead her on as she stepped closer and closer, nearly being close enough to invade personal space, before she willed her legs to stop moving.

She looked like a bit odd and out of place on the surface of this planet. Her green and white themed cloak and hood kept a majority of her pale skin, along with her ears, hidden from the harsh sun. But for now, she chose to allow her face and violet eyes do the talking, physically, as her single visible tail swayed beneath her cloak.

"Do you require any assistance upon your arrival?", she continued.

And once again her overly friendly demeanor got the best of her...one of these days, it was going to get her killed...

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Sam eyed this newcomer with a healthy amount of skepticism. Her first thought was that they were trying to sell her something as her parents were frequently approached for that when she was out with them as a child but there was something purer about the girl's aura. Something soothing about her presence. She was a pretty one, something Sam could see that close up as the beaming face was directly in front of her. Pretty and naive. How a girl like that was supposed to last in this galaxy she had no idea.

"Yes, actually there are a couple of things." Sam returned the smile as best she could. It never hurt to keep up apperances. "I'll be staying at a hotel nearby for a few days and need my belongings delivered from my cargo. Oh and in the meantime I need directions to Downtown. I've had a few shops recomended to me there."

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

"Hai hai! Leave me with a detailed EDL of what you require, along with where you will be residing, and I shall ensure it is delivered in a timely manner." Ki managed with the wide smile never leaving her face, nor the expectant look in her violet eyes.

So, she was here for pleasure it seemed, simple enough. Though it kind of threw Ki off with her demeanor and way the girl carried herself. She had all the working of an upper class citizen on one of any number of planets, and could have well been, Ki would never care for social status. But, the way the girl was distracted by something ulterior made Ki tilt her head...oh no...

"May I inquire as to the reason for your visit?" she tried to not to sound to forced, but her body language was not helping and being inquisitive by nature was spurring on the worst bout of privacy invasion she's had in a while...

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

"Mhm," Sam made an uninterested noise as she brought out her holopad, passing on information to the girl. She then made to walk off but the girl asked another question.
"May I inquire as to the reason for your visit?"

No you may not was Sam's first thought as the girl's curious face edged closer to her own but asking locals was always a decent source of information and she could frame it as something more innocent. Sam gestured for the girl to follow as she set off on a brisk walk out of the landing zone.

"Can you keep a secret? I hear Demonsgate is a world where one can acquire... goods not sold in other systems." Sam eyed the girl's reaction. She seemed almost too innocent, she had to be connected to some drug dealer or slave trader of some kind. "I'm hoping to meet a Hutt named Martek who sells weapons. Have you ever heard of him?"

[member="Kimiko"]

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

The information had been passed and Ki would ensure the port's labor bots would be by soon to transport the requested gear.

The girl left the scene rather fast, but curiously, motioned for Ki to follow her. She caught up with little trouble, and that's when the first pang of uncertainty crossed her mind. The newest question seemed a bit off, but it would seem reasonable in a place like this. Kimiko was planet-side to assist those who were in transit, staying for any amount of time, and those who actually resided and worked on Demonsgate. Of course those were just secondary objectives to a grander scheme, one she herself was still unsure of.

Her cloak billowed as they walked, and her tail swayed behind and her ears perked up inquisitively at the proposal, but her chin dipped,"I see..." it made more sense now, but she would not argue the private dealings of others.

Ki's demeanor changed startlingly fast as she turned her attention back to the girl, now walking backwards slightly in front of her,"That particular name does not ring a bell with me, I am afraid. But, there has been a recent gathering of rather shady groups here." she spun back to walking normally with her hands clasped behind her, wondering if she should have said that.

But she had let it slip regardless, and her eyes wandered back to the very interesting and unnamed girl slightly behind her, curiosity growing with every passing minute...

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

She was indeed innocent. A shame, someone with feelers in the underworld could have been useful. When Samka had started walking away the girl had bounded back at quite some speed and now was in front of her walking backwards as she spoke.

"Shady groups? Surely that's nothing particuarly unusual for a world like this? What makes them special?" She asked in her

By now Sam had left the landing zone and was crossing into the sandy town ahead. It appeared the girl was so engrossed in speaking with her that she had left her post. Why was this stranger so infatuated? Sam took a quick moment to reach out with the Force and scan the girl. Ah. Inside was the unmistakable taint of the Light side. It was mostly untamed and untested. To those who walked the Light path out of ignorance, the Dark side was seductive. It was highly unlikely someone like this had ever met a Dark Force user before and the Darkness within Sam must have been enough to pull the poor girl in. Perhaps this could be fun.

Sam turned to properly face her inquisitive follower for the first time. She flashed her most charming smile and gazed into the pretty girl's violet eyes. "My apologies I've been incredibly rude. My name is Sam and I'm delighted to meet such a friendly face, miss. Would you mind being my guide around this city? I can easily see myself getting lost."

[member="Kimiko"]

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

"Special? I could not say. I am not part of the local security, nor do those sorts of activities particularly bother me." Kimiko spoke, enthusiatically,"I am currently here for more humanitarian purposes, but, going out the way to assist you in your endeavor would be more along those lines, yes?"

Her smile faltered and she lost the spring in her step for a mere moment as a certain feeling felt as if it had passed through her. She had felt this particular sensation before; once during her first battle and during her training. But she could not place it as she continued her path slightly before her follower, demeanor returning to it's typical brightness. She perked up even more hearing the girl's proposition.

The proposition delighted the woman to the highest extent. She had made many friends in her time, but more would never hurt nor cause Ki any troubles,"Not rude at all. I only presumed to show you to your temporary residence and part ways. This does sound a lot more fun." she removed her hood, flowing white and purple hair falling just above her hips tied into twin low tails as her ears stood tall above her head.

Returning the smile with her own, flashing teeth along with it before playfully bowing,"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sam. My name is Kimiko, but most just call me Ki."

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

"Oh," Sam blinked in surprise as [member="Kimiko"] removed her hood. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude but I thought you were human." It was simply a surprise, certain members of The First Order were xenophobic but the institution overall valued practicality and Samka was no different. There was more to be gained through toleration of other peoples than rejecting them. At the very least it meant more loyal bodies in uniform shooting at the enemy.

"​Do you know where about these suspicious groups were sighted? It could be worth taking a look." Sam flashed a reassuring smile. "I know how to handle these types and I have some powerful friends. We'll be quite safe, I promise." Letting Ki take the lead, Sam strolled along behind her, holding her bag strap over her shoulder in an attempt at a casual civilian pose. It felt awkward but she didn't let it show.

"So where does such a sweet young thing like you come from, Ki?" Sam figured she could use the walk to find out more about the Force user besides her. Knowing her past, how she came to be, would make... games more fun later.

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

Her face reddened and her gaze turned down at the mention, tail going sadly limp,"I-It's okay. I tend to keep it hidden, I am a bit of an outcast, even here. But there are those who have accepted me for who I am." she warmed up immediately, thoughts of those closest to her running through her mind.

Ears twitched curiously as Sam pressed for more information about her quarry. Ki would give her a high mark for persistence if she could. It couldn't hurt to show her, right?

A slender finger tapped her chin as she thought, scanning the rather crowded plaza of the capital,"Hm, I do not think openly telling you would be good in a place such as this...I could ask to show you when I do my next check-in." the comment on self-defense caused her gaze to become quizzical, but she responded with determination,"I have trained for more than just healing." shooting a wink to her guest.

"I...do not know where I am from, or what I am, to be honest. All I remember is being a slave for most of my life..." Ki shared, looking a tad solemn after she spoke, but she was never afraid of sharing her story with others.

"How about yourself?"

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Sam was surprised to see [member="Kimiko"] appeared ashamed of her species. She was an attractive near-human, not some grotesque insectoid or fish, so there was little reason for such self consciousness. Maybe she'd faced discrimination in her past, useful information to latch onto.

"Hm, I do not think openly telling you would be good in a place such as this...I could ask to show you when I do my next check-in."

"Then show me," Sam stated firmly yet not unkindly. "When you can," she added with a smile.

If it was odd for a 'casual' newcomer to seek out the rough elements, Ki took it all in her stride. Still she would do well to do more 'normal' things.

"Oh dear. That sounds... rough." Sam had personally overseen slave labour before, she decided not to share this detail with her new companion. "As for myself, that's a long story. Perhaps one to tell over a good lunch? What's your favourite place nearby? My treat." Samka flashed another smile as kindly as she could make it. Money was no object, she had enough funds to last her a month here without outside contact and Sam doubted things would take anywhere near that long. She may as well use this moment to get closer to Kimiko and uncover as much information as she could.

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

Noting the time on her wrist chrono, she made a mental note to inform the watch commander of her intent. Ki knew he would not object, with some sweet talking on her part. She began to drool once she looked up and the words sank into her mind, thinking of all the fantastic options there were in the city, with her favorite being...

Ki startlingly grasped Sam's hand, her eyes twinkling with excitement as she looked up to the other," Oooh I know a place! Follow me!" without any time to object, she dashed off, with Sam's hand still firmly within her own.

She led Sam down the street surprisingly fast, the whole time laughing and generally care-free. She seemed almost like a child chasing a small animal...almost if it weren't for her cloak blowing back and revealing what was hidden beneath.

Ki's outfit was nothing to flashy, but it was designed for practicality, offering flexibility for her in all scenarios. What stood out the most were her two blades at her left hip. Emerald and black sheaths topped by their twin green hilts, a longer blade above a shorter one bounced with each step.

Her destination was in sight and she loudly exclaimed as the duo neared the meat and noodle shop-front,"We're almost there! You'll love it!"

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Sam was taken by surprise by Kimiko's sudden turn of speed and excitement. It apparently didn't take much to get her going. She was even more surprised by how the girl tightly seized her hand and pulled her along through the streets. She was saying... something but Sam was finding it hard to concentrate. All she could do was stare at how their hands were clasped together.

It was unfamiliar, the warm feeling of another. A thousand different thoughts entered her head. 'How dare she? Strike her down! Now!' One was saying. 'Let's not cause a scene. Just.. try and gently shake her off. Let her know you're uncomfortable,' said another. But the voice which stuck out the most was saying something completely different: 'This is what it's like. The touch of another being. You've missed it, haven't you?'

It had been years, that was for sure. When she couldn't remember but it was long before the First Order, before the Knights of Ren. An encouraging pat on the shoulder from a trainer for a job well done was the only affectionate physical contact she could recall in that time. Curious... she'd not dwelled on such things before. The journey to wherever Ki was taking her didn't register. Blurred movement and vague awareness of running somewhere was she had but suddenly Ki was grinning at her in front of a restaurant.

"Hm?" Sam shook her head clear from her thoughts. "Ah, this place? Let's get a seat then."

Glancing at the menu as she sat down, Sam quickly found herself overwhelmed. Too much choice was indeed a real thing. She let her eyes go to Kimiko who was as joyful as ever. "You know best, what would you recommend?"

[member="Kimiko"]

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

Ki giddily sat beside Sam at the long counter. She already knew what she desired, and what she should order for her new friend. She was just waiting for...

"Oi! Kerb you big goof! Where ya at? I brought a guest!" Kimiko exclaimed suddenly, her tail flicking from beneath her cloak to match her mood.

The interior of the diner was somewhat quaint, cute even, to most a passerby. Booths, that could fit anywhere from four to six patrons, depending on size, lined a majority of the window space. On the floor were various sized tables that could sit any number of guests, and be moved around for parties of course. The center of relatively rectangular dining area, surrounding the kitchen area, was the counter-top eating area, surrounded evenly by bar-stools.

This is where the two young ladies were perched, with Ki leaning over the counter and trying to peer back into the kitchen. She had a wide smile on her face and her body continued to shake in rhythm with the movements of her tail.

"Is that my favorite white-maned pup?" came a bellowing voice that was quickly matched with an elderly, and robust, orange Twi'lek male, who's demeanor brightened upon his eyes seeing Kimiko wagging about at the counter,"Kimiko! How have you been? It's been some time since you've graced my diner with your brightness." he finished his greeting and held his arms open standing a few feet back from the counter as if expecting...

With a excited yelp, Kimiko leaped over the counter and embraced the Twi'lek happily,"I am so sorry Kerb. You know how Nate and BB like to keep a tight schedule."

"Ah that boyfriend of yours keeping a sweet thing like you busy still?" he adds a nudge and a playful wink to the end of his jab to tease the girl.

Ki's face turns immediately red and she pouts as she returns to her seat,"K-Kerb! Not in front of guests!" she motions to Sam,"This is my new friend Sam! Sam, this is Uncle Kerb, he runs this diner with his family."

The atmosphere was light and comfortable, and Kimiko seemingly forgot the troubling thoughts from earlier.

[member="Samka Derith"] [member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Samka glanced around at the other patrons of the restaurant as her companion yelled and soon after leaped across the counter. In any establishment she'd been too, such actions would be the cause of disapproval yet nobody here seemed to care much. This was an odd planet indeed.

Sam nodded curtly at the twi'lek man. "Hello... Mr Kerb," calling a stranger 'uncle' was outside of the question. "Do you usually let your guests climb over your food counters? She could get hair everywhere," she smirked at [member="Kimiko"] so the girl knew it was in jest. "You have a lovely place here, you and your family should be proud," Sam addressed Mr Kerb and flashed him her most charming smile.

Once Kimiko had ordered food, Sam turned to address the other girl again. "Sooo... you seem popular." A teasing smile crept onto her face, "If Mr Kerb's remarks were correct, very popular indeed. Do tell," Sam rested one elbow on the counter and let her chin relax on top of her fist. She was leaning in towards Kimiko and maintaining close eye contact. Truth be told, Sam wasn't the type to care for the meaningless gossip of people she just met but she needed a delaying tactic to avoid talking too much about herself. At least that's what Sam told herself. Being around Kimiko was a fascinating experience. She'd been around people strong in the Light Side before but none quite this innocent. There was a relaxing aura about the girl, something reassuring and uplifting in its purity.

Once more Sam shook herself free of such thoughts and remembered her training, remembered her mission. She pictured the grisly scene which awaited the three targets she was assigned to destroy and felt the satisfaction that would come with their deaths. Even if it didn't seem like it now, things were slipping into place and Sam was more and more confident as time went on that the Force had brought the two girls together.

 

[Nate Phantoms]

Demonsgate, he had spent too much time there as it was, once fighting a horde of sithspawns, and now doing Watch Duty as the WC. It wasn't bad, but the heat was, and his black military fatigues only absorbed the warmth, making him nice and toasty. His eyes resembled a miniature inferno, raging in his irises.That, and the fact that he was armed to the gills brought him a lot of attention, but most shyed away once they recognized his face. He'd only be here under important circumstances, and was clearly working.

Approaching the restaurant, he nodded at a fellow on duty officer, one whom was watching over this particular establishment. Walking through the door, all eyes snapped to him, but he just offered Kerb a half-salute, before his his eyes came to rest upon a young girl, one he knew, one who'd had been through hell with him. @Kimiko. A faint smile touched his face as he nodded at her, continuing his work. Reason why he didn't stop and say hello? He knew she had only good intent, and it would've been unnecessary to ask her anything, so he had moved on.

It was then he felt that all too familiar tug when there's a unknown force sensitive nearby. After making his way to the back, he would turn, meeting eyes with [member="Samka Derith"], and he didn't know whether or not if she was some type of padawan, or an assassin of some sorts. He knew her alignment of course, he felt her darkness all they way over where he was. Better yet, she appeared to be friends with Ki.
Perfect.

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

She had begun giving her guest a rough draft of her story upon the question, while they awaited their meals,"Well, I was held by a group of slavers until they traveled to Kal'Shebol, that's when Masters Nate and Bryce found me. They freed me and took me with them and I've been a with their group since."

She was smiling as she reminisced, warm feelings of the changes that happened in her life. Ki was pulled out of her train by the appearance of the current Watch Officer, and closest friend...among other things. She beamed, unprofessionally, before she recovered and nodded respectfully. Happy he was here during his rounds, so she could give him her updated SITREP before departing.

With a renewed glimmer in her eyes, she returned her attention to Sam...who seemed to caught Nate's attention and vice-versa as well,"S-Sam...is everything alright?"

[member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"][member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

"Fascinating, it sounds as though you owe these gentlemen a lot." [member="Kimiko"] seemed to be in a world of her own. Whatever she was thinking of, it clearly gave the girl happiness. That much was etched all over her face which only got brighter as she looked over at something else.

Sam followed the older girl's gaze to a newcomer. A tall man in a uniform had gotten the attention of the entire restaurant, judging by the reaction to his appearance he was likely acting as law enforcement or whatever could pass for such a thing on a world like this. Then their eyes met. She could feel him reach out with the Force, apparently Force sensitivity could be found even here. She could feel both the light and the dark within this man, an unnatural mixture if there ever was one, and unlike Kimiko there was refinement behind it to signify the man had been well trained. This one was dangerous.

She let the power of the Dark Side flood out from her. The longer he kept eye contact with her, the more fear, despair and darkness would wash over him. Hopefully it would intimidate him away from any foolish ideas. She'd done nothing wrong after all. Yet.

Kimiko's worried voice was suddenly in her ear, tugging Sam back to her. "Oh I'm fine. I suffer from migraines from time to time, it's nothing to serious," she flashed Ki and reassuring smile but scolded herself internally. Kimiko could have picked up on the dark aura she had been purposefully emitting just now.

Before anything more could happen her holo buzzed and a short message appeared onscreen. Discreetly shielding it from the girl besides her, Sam could tell the message was from intelligence.

Hey Sam!​

I just saw your hairy friend in the bazaar! You should go say hi, I'm sure he misses you!​

Catch up in person soon xx​

Cenri​

​

'Hairy friend' could only refer to the wookie she'd been hunting. She turned to Ki, "Sorry, had to take that. Looks like I'll have to get going once we've had our meal but I'd love to swap contact details with you​," the Force was telling her this girl was important for some reason or another. Eliminating the target shouldn't too take long so hopefully they could get back together by the end of the day even.

[member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"]

 

[Nate Phantoms]

He had finished his rounds, eyes locked with the woman beside [member="Kimiko"] not shortly after, she was sizing him up, much like he was doing to her. Her intent was unknown to him, but he noticed the soft chirp and holo message. That usually meant one thing.
She was either very popular with the boys and they were calling for her, or more realistically, she was here on some type of mission.
That was valuable information, and he approached the counter, his black military fatigues in stark contrast with the tiles around him. Stopping behind Ki, he would cross his hands behind his back, feet shoulder length apart, and smiled at Kerb.

"I take it you're treating my... friends here with the best of your hospitality?" Moving his hand, he would place it on Kimiko's shoulder, squeezing gently. "Only the best for her. Right?"

Removing his hand, he would turn to the woman beside her, darkness rolling off of her in waves, a mix of emotions within. She was showing her strengths, hoping to be intimidating. It was a good show, but it took slot to scare him. Now his turn, he would let both his light and dark pour off of him, all of his memories and emotions going with it.
The slaughter of his family.
The death of his master.
The hate, and sorrow from the death of his wife-to-be.
His hatred for all those who wronged him, including those slavers...and none other than the First Order.

He of course, would not know she was here because of that very same "order", but she would now know that he had no patience for her "kind", and when and if he realized who she really was, he'd tear all of the information he needed right out her, until she was nothing more than an empty shell.
"It appears I wouldn't recognise your acquaintance." Giving her a slight bow, he would smile faintly. "Pleasure to meet you. The name is Nate."

[member="Samka Derith"]