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The conflicting presences that flowed in such close proximity began to cause Ki some physical discomfort: her tail fell limp and ears drooped above her head.
The mixed one directly behind her, although the familiar of the two, coming from the one she loved, had always been received with a bit of sadness. Ki had hoped all the shared feelings between them would eventually lead Nate from his darkness. Yet, he would always slip back into the void. But she would continue her attempts, for his sake and her own.
"Nate...enough. Please..." she managed on a whisper, her eyes straining as she turned to him.
The other was emanating from her new-found companion. Ki's instincts and feelings clashed within her head. It was a very dark flow she was hardly prepared for. But she accepted it for what it was as she returned her gaze to Sam, looking over the girl as quick as her pounding head could allow.
"S-Sam, I will not ask...but, you too...stop." Ki strained out again, moments before the pain took over, and she gripped at her head in agony.
[member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"][member="Samka Derith"]
If there was any doubts before, it was all confirmed now. This newcomer was trouble. He had not been dissuaded by her actions and had instead tried to counter them by emitting a power of his own. Had he meant to send memories with them? Sam had very little experience with telepathy as a Force power and wasn't quite sure what to make of the fuzzy images appearing in her mind. They weren't distressing as such but there was an uncomfortableness she couldn't place. They were too distorted for her to make full sense of but one thing was reappearing, the stench of death, and beyond that a hatred associated with something very familiar. For Sam the familiar thing was comforting, it felt like home, but through this man's emotions she could tell it was the target of intense hatred. It could only be the First Order. Typical, she thought. Of all the friends you could've had, Ki. It has to be the one with the grudge.Technically, she was not part of the First Order. The Knights of Ren served the Supreme Leader, not the Moffs and politicians who made up First Order leadership but the people beyond their borders didn't seem to see a distinction. They were all 'the First Order' to them.
"The pleasure is all mine, Nate. Short for Nathan?" She spoke her pleasantries though a false smile but before they could get better acquainted something strange came over Kimiko.
Reducing the darkness within her to little more than the size of a nut, "What's wrong?" She asked, looking between Kimiko and Nate and hoping the older man knew what it was. Was she truly so sensitive to the dark side?
Another buzz came from the holo in her bag, with a frustrated grunt, Sam reached in to pull it out, once again it could only be from intelligence.
Did you see this? Scary stuff out there.
I know you can take care of yourself sweetie but I worry about you travelling alone
Stay safe
Love Dad
An attachment had been posted with it. A bounty for a rodian named Seebo said to be armed and dangerous. Wanted for murder, spice smuggling and arson. Last seen on Demonsgate. Sam took a moment to decipher the message's meaning, partly distracted by keeping one eye on the distressed Kimiko in front of her but it hit her not long after. This must be the Wookie bounty hunter's target and if he struck this rodian now, the wookie would disappear. She had to act before the bounty was complete.
"I-I'm really sorry, Kimiko." Sam stood up suddenly. "I have to go, emergency. You remember the hotel I'm staying at? The Gratz? I'll be heading there after I'm done. I'd love to see you there." Sam shot the girl the best smile she could manage as she left the credits to cover their meal. Taking another look at Nate as she left, Sam flashed him a look which said take care of her and made for the exit.
[member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"] [member="Kimiko"]
As Ki spoke, he would instantly withdrawal all of those emotions, once again retaking the appearance of a cold, lifeless man on the job. But of course, on the inside he would be colorful, mostly now concerned about the young girl beside him, but feeling nonetheless. When she reached up to take hold of her head, all of his focus would snap right to her, making her the only thing he could see in his newly acquired tunnel vision. "My apologies... it wasn't intended to give you a migraine." Meeting Sam's gaze, he would return the smile, but it never reached his eyes. "Yes... As I no longer go by my surname, I use it with a nickname I earned a few years back."
Then the chime of a datapad caught his attention, eyes traveling down the the length of her arm and onto her bag. Somebody's got mail. As he heard the girl give her reason as to why she had to leave, he would step aside, giving her more room if she were to walk past. He sensed that she had a certain task she'd been assigned, but the implications to so were unknown to him. "Don't go and cause trouble Sam, At least not in my region." After the woman made her way out of the establishment, he would stay standing behind [member="Kimiko"], his fiery eyes resting on her lighter ones. "Making friends I see?"
He could perish the thought, the young Ren would make certain she acted so very discretely. The bazaar was only a short walk away, it was easy to find even in a crowded area like this. A high street filled with small stalls maned by a variety of species selling an equally diverse number of goods. Sam pretended to be window shopping, smelling foods, feeling the fabrics of clothing and blankets and even making small talk with a couple of the people running the little stalls. All the while keeping her eyes peeled for either the Wookie or the Rodian he was hunting. It didn't take too long for her to hit success.
The Rodian, Seebo, was there. The shortness in stature marked him as the same man as the one in bounty notice she had received, he was loudly arguing with a store owner over prices causing a minor disruption in the crowd. For a wanted man, the fool knew nothing of discretion. If she had found him so easily it was only matter of time before his hunter did too. Sam walked a little way further down the street to look around, making certain to keep Seebo in earshot, and couldn't help but let a small smile cross her lips as her target appeared among the crowd following the unmistakable sound of a Rodian's speech. The Wookie was covered in jet black fur and girzzled features. He towered over everyone else, the intimidated crowd parting to give him a wide berth. Turn back on her heels, Sam set a quick walking pace to reach Seebo.
The Rodian was still arguing with the store owner who was looking more exasperated than the last time Sam had seen them. Clearing her throat, Sam tapped Seebo on the shoulder and said, "Seebo? A friend. Just telling you that they've found you." The Rodian drew back a few steps, she found the face of the species difficult to read but the body language was human enough. He was panicked. Using the Force to influence his mind, Sam pointed at a nearby four story building. It looked as though it had once been a shop of some kind but it was out of business now and appeared deserted. "You'll be safe in there," she told him. Seebo looked between her, the building and something over her shoulder then gave a panicked nod and dashed for the abandoned shop.
"Hey thanks, that guy was-" the store owner began saying but Sam dismissed him with more mind tricks.
"You didn't see me," she said, not even bothering to look at the man as she waved her hand in front of him.
"I didn't see you," the man repeated as she walked away.
Loud thudding footsteps came from behind her and soon after the Wookie hunter ran past, drawing some sort of electrostaff from a holster on his back. He'd clearly seen Seebo take off into the building and gone in pursuit. All as she had planned. The hunter had taken the bait and now there would be no witnesses to what would come to pass.
The young Knight of Ren followed the two aliens inside the derelict building. It was empty inside, completely lacking in furbishment of any kind. Nothing but a single large room with a staircase at the side. Banging and thudding noises came from above her and Sam jogged up the stairs to the second floor. It looked no different than the first, still empty. Now blaster fire erupted from above and she quickened her pace. The third floor was yet more emptiness with a few singed blaster holes on the walls so she hurried to the fourth and final floor.
Reaching the top of the stair she was greeted by the sight of the Wookie standing over Seebo's dead body, taking a picture with his holo device. The scuffle had been minor with the Wookie completely overpowering the Rodian. A few blaster holes on the walls were the only things to suggest a fight had taken place, the Wookie himself seemed completely unharmed.
He looked up at her in confusion as she entered then growled and gestured for her to leave in his native tongue. The Wookie language was so crude. "I'm sorry," she replied reaching into the handbag over her shoulder and pulling out her lightsaber. "I don't speak beast."
As the blade ignited and the humming filled the air the Wookie drew up to his full height, realisation dawning on his face. Her casual, youthful appearance hid her true nature well.
"You know why I'm here don't you?" She asked, dropping her handbag on the floor and beginning to circle him. He nodded in response, drawing his weapon as he did so. "You didn't think you could aid our foes and escape without consequence did you? The power and influence of our Supreme Leader grows by the day. There is nowhere safe in this entire galaxy for the likes of you anymore." With that she commenced her attack.
Samka was always a performer at heart and her technique in battle reflected that. She twirled, weaved, hopped and jumped during a duel, turning a fight into a dance. Her attacks were fancy jabs and flicks, made to weaken a foe not deal a decisive blow and the speed of it was proving too much for her lumbering opponent. Twice already she had broken through his defence, a stab to the shoulder and cut to the shin both causing the Wookie to bellow in pain. A sadistic grin spread across the young girl's face, she worked so hard to keep this side of her in check but her in the heat of battle it was near impossible to control the part of her which took pleasure on the suffering of others. But pride came before fall, she had allowed herself to get arrogant and took a hit for it. With the mighty strength only a Wookie possessed, he struck her across the face with the back of his fist. The lightweight girl was sent hurdling across the room in a daze. She staggered to her feet, struggling with a concussion as once more the Wookie attacked.
"Y-You dare?" She snarled in rage as the wounded Wookie forced her into the defensive. Letting the anger wash over her, she basked in the dark side's power. "I'll turn your pelt into my coat!" She yelled and and explosion of Force energy knocked the alien back She threw an bolt of Force Lightning at him as the Wookie tried to recover. The attack was strong enough to singe the Wookie's fur and send it backwards in sheer intensity, faint smoke coming from her victim's flesh. It was time to end this, a powerful kinetic push blasted the Wookie out of the window and sent him hurdling down into the street bellow. With the injuries he had received in their fight, falling such a distance spelled certain death.
Sam took a moment to regain her composure, panting heavily in the fight's after math. She was bleeding from the mouth because of the nasty punch she'd received. Wiping the blood away from her face, she left the scene, packing her lightsaber away into her bag once more.
As she left the building she was confronted by a human man in the same uniform as the man she had met earlier, Nate. "Watch Officer Wulnis, miss are you okay? What happened?"
For the third time today, she reached out to touch a man's mind. "The Wookie and the Rodian killed each other. That is all. I was never here."
The Watch Officer repeated what she had said as Sam walked away. She had to get to her hotel and clear up any injuries she had. Taking a glance backwards she left the scene, she could spy the Wookie's corpse sprawled on the street. It only just occurred to her that she had never learned his name.
One down, two to go.
[member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"] [member="Kimiko"]
OCC: Hope I don't come off as rude not waiting for your post, Ki! I thought as neither of you were in this scene and it's quite long I should write it out when I had the spare time
Ki nodded along with a hum for an answer as her vision cleared and her eyes followed Sam out of the establishment. The conflict of auras between her lover and new friend had nearly made her collapse. She recovered though, with them gone and immediately brought her attention to Nate, giving a reassuring smile. The curiosity within her threatening to take her entire being over.
"Indeed I am. She seems interesting to say the least and I was just showing her around..." her eyes widen in realization before a heavy sigh escapes her lips,"...I did leave the port. It's not completely unattended though I promise!" she pleads.
Her senses pick up a strange sensation and she looks intently towards the door as her ears twitch atop her head. Her gaze is focused and full of worry...she does not know what nor whom for though.
Ki stands quickly, moving to place a soft chaste peck on Nate's cheek, never the one to abide by no PDA in uniform, before moving towards the exit,"I'm sorry Nate, I told Sam I'd show her a location just south of town. I'll let you know when she is at her hotel, I promise!"
She was quickly out the door and moving fast towards the source of the disturbance she felt earlier...Don't let it have anything to do with you...
[member="Samka Derith"][member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"]
"We were expecting you an hour ago, Miss Kythas. Your father ordered the second penthouse suite arranged for you then."
Sam raised her brow had the hotel receptionist's tone but quickly buried it under an innocent smile. "I was caught up in other events, your planet is just fascinating to me."
They'd had her listed as 'Samka Kythas' on the hotel system, she wasn't infamous that her first name would ring any alarm bells yet, the youngest of a wealthy Tarisian family here to explore the system on Daddy's wallet. It was clear the receptionist didn't respect her for that and she viewed Sam with a large amount of scepticism.
"Well here's your key anyway, Miss Kythas. Do try and show on time in the future. I'm obliged to tell you that you're invited to Mr Gratz's charity ball in the main dinning room tomorrow evening. Another sum of money passed from your father just this morning to pay for your entry. You may even bring a guest if you so please," the receptionist said as she extended her hand with Sam's room keys just out of the teenager's easy reach.
Sam leaned over the desk and took the key from the receptionist, shooting the woman a disapproving glance as she did so. Oh if she wasn't undercover... "Thank you, I'll be sure to attend."
Leaving the reception, she took the lift all the way up into the penthouse. She couldn't help but grin at the elaborate sight in front of her. A regal looking king sized bed lay on an elevated platform on the left hand side of the room and on the right was a holodesk for entertainment and communication with a large comfy looking sofa in front of it. On the far end was a windowed door leading to a stone balcony overlooking a view of the city. The room was dotted with portraits, exotic flowers, decorative lamps and rugs. Most of all though, there was space. Sam bounced into the room like an excited school girl and spun around several times dead in the room's centre. She'd grown up rich as a child but that was a long time ago now and it was an amazing feeling to be back in luxury once more. She couldn't help but let out a giggle and, with barely a thought taken into what she was doing, sent [member="Kimiko"] an update. Letting the girl know she had arrived at her hotel safely alongside another apology for leaving so abruptly.
After testing the comfyness of the bed, she headed to the bathroom. That too was luxurious, an elegant stone design for the shower, bathtub and sink. She washed her face in the mirror, there were traces of blood left on her face from her brawl earlier. Perhaps that was partly why the receptionist had acted oddly.
Once she left the bathroom, Sam swept the room for bugs. She checked everywhere that came to mind. Beneath the bed, desks and within the lamps. It was all clear. With that she entered the Knights of Ren's secure channel using the hotel's holo.
Bowing before the masked Ren that appeared on the holo Sam updated him on the mission so far. "I am ahead of schedule. Already the Bounty Hunter has been dealt with." There was no need for pleasantries, best to get directly to the point.
The Knight on the holo clearly agreed. "Good," he said. "We have secured you a place on Mr Gratz's ball."
"So I am told," Sam replied. "Am I to take him out there?" Gratz was the hotel owner, a man who grew rich on selling cleaning water on a world where such a necessity was rare. He used that fortune to supply resistance movements against the First Order and thus was another one of her targets.
"It would be the best opportunity," the Ren nodded. "But he will be well protected, dealing with him discreetly shall be a challenge. It would be best if he were left til last which means you would be wise to kill the Hutt by tomorrow evening."
Sam frowned, "I was supposed to be given weeks for this. Now I have two days?"
The Knight held up a hand to silence her. "This is how events have unfolded. You adapt or you fail. Do not complain to me for I am powerless to change them."
Sam snorted in indignation but did not object further, she saw his logic even if it was a harsh one. "I may have a lead on the Hutt," she started slowly. "I have... befriended a local girl. She seemed aware of something to do with him when I asked her."
"Excellent. Don't get too attached though, kill her if she learns too much."
"You need not worry about such things. I've known her a mere few hours. She means nothing to me." On the surface she appeared strong and confident but something inside of her was unsure. The idea of driving her blade through Kimiko's back was unpleasant somehow, Sam hoped it wouldn't come to that.
"We'll see." The Knight simply said as the holo disconnected leaving Sam to dwell on the changing situation.
The sudden show of affection made him smile, but the high only lasted about five seconds. Fiery eyes watched as she exited the establishment, leaving him alone in front of the bar. "Yeah... I guess I'll see you later." Speaking softly, his demeanor visibly diminished. Back to his runs, maybe something would come along to at least bring him back down to earth.
After flipping some credits on the counter, he pushed open the door, his gaze literally burning into people as he listened to the comms. Regulation said that the matching black and grey patrol cap was to be worn at all times outside, but the gleaming silver insignia on the labels of his jacket made most shy away from him. That and his flaming eyes made hims a lot more intimidating. Luckily, the one that he was warming up to saw right through it, loving both sides of him. As his thoughts once again made their way back to [member="Kimiko"], alerts lit up all over on his datapad. "Damn... a shoot out...two dead, and one...said to have left the crime scene." If there was one thing he remembered form his bounty hunter days was the shoot outs. And apparently a fellow on duty officer gave a description of a young woman. One who Nate soon identified as [member="Samka Derith"]. "Great."
