Private What's the First Rule?

[Evelyn Shaw]

Amea was concerned, which wasn’t entirely surprising. But there was something about this that even caught Evelyn off guard. She knew about Amea’s work, familiar enough with it at least. But there was a side to it that the Echani had never touched.

There was some form of Underground Fight Club that Amea had been trying to track down for ages. Long enough, that it had become an outright project in of itself. Every now and then Evelyn would hear a string of curses, noting a moment when the target had slipped from Amea’s radar once more.

From what the Echani knew, the fight club only showed up for one night. They put on a series of fights, and then poof they suddenly disappear without a trace. Eventually reappearing on the other side of the galaxy, rinse and repeat.

Amea had speculated they used hidden hyperlane routes, but it was just that, speculation. Until she could actually get some solid intel, there wasn’t much to run with.

That was until one day, they struck a jackpot.

As they were drifting through hyperspace, Amea got a tip that the fight club was set to appear. The planet just so happened to be one they were going to pass by. However, Amea had no agents that were within a reasonable distance. As much as she could infiltrate and do her work, Amea needed a second set of eyes and ears on the ground, or rather in the cage.

Thus, Evelyn volunteered.

It surprised the Echani just how vehemently Amea was against the idea. The thought had crossed Evelyn’s mind in the past, but this made it clear that if this had been anyone else, she wouldn’t have hesitated to call them in. But with Evelyn, she just couldn’t.

Eventually, they hit a middle ground where Evelyn suggested she’d disguise herself. An Echani kinda stuck out in that kind of environment, but if she adopted a cover then there would be a greater chance of avoiding that kind of attention. It seemed to alleviate Amea’s concerns, but only by a small margin.

Besides, Evelyn was due for a haircut, so why not give it a little dye work too?

That was where the Echani had been for the past few hours. Locked away in a room where a modified stylist station was. Amea’s work, and honestly if it weren’t then Evelyn wouldn’t have trusted a droid with her hair.

Eventually, the doors slid open and Evelyn stepped out. One haircut, dyed, contacts placed and a new outfit, and the Echani was ready to fight.

“So…” She began, a hint of nervousness in her voice. “Whatcha think?”

Amea Virou​

 

[Amea Virou]

The thumb between her teeth hurt from the pressure that was attacking it from both sides. Under most circumstances this sort of stress was her bread and butter, but this was not just some overpaid low-life risking their life for the whims of Amea’s curiosity, it was the underpaid center of her entire world. They had talked about this for a few moments longer, maybe an hour or three ago. Amea had argued against it, that this UFC was not by any means something Amea really needed. Yes, it was an obsession, but no obsession was ever worth this much risk.

She glanced at the perfectly made bed, at her own reflection in the mirror from a nearby wardrobe before she glanced back at the doors to the walk-in closet. Evelyn’s insistence had been the ultimate shift in the scale for this. With the soft, but very determined words ‘you can’t stop me’ they’d found the matter settled. There was no arguing with an Echani once they set their mind to it, or at least not this particular Echani, and Amea knew that. She didn’t agree with the reality of their words, but she understood the sincerity behind them.

The doors slid open and Amea turned on the spot to look at a whole new, previously unseen version of the woman she loved. A small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as her finger fell into the cold embrace of her crossed arms.

“You’re beautiful.” Amea whispered with a soft voice as she stepped up to place both of her hands on Evelyn’s shoulders. “Always are.”

And yet the twitch of her eyebrows betrayed her continued lingering fears. The uneasiness wrote itself across the subtle scars in Amea’s face. She swallowed spit, she felt the corners of her lips continue to twitch as she still struggled not to object. Her hand swept across the Echani woman’s neck in a caress that folded her hair back behind her ear.

Deep breath.

“Are you absolutely sure?” She exhaled as she peered into Evelyn’s eyes hoping to find a ‘No’ hidden behind those crimson contact lenses. “This ring won’t be a fair fight. They will hurt you by any means possible.”

It was the same two lines she had spoken when this all started.

 

[Evelyn Shaw]

The Echani ducked her head slightly, feeling her cheeks burn with a blush. It didn’t matter how long it had been, or how close and comfortable they had gotten with one another. Those kinds of compliments always got that kind of reaction. And she knew the vice versa was true as well. Evie muttered something, a term of affection in her native tongue.

She looked up as she felt Amea’s hand brush against her neck, travelling up to touch her newly dyed hair. There was no hiding the concern and fear in the brunette’s eyes, hell in her whole face. But Evelyn was determined to help her with this, no matter what.

That, and she knew what Amea was like. Obsessions had a way of taking over rationality. Especially ones that were quite vexing and elusive. And yet…

Amea had made it quite apparent that she was fine with letting the lead go. Sure, it would be annoying to do so, but there were risks at play. It was a moment where Evelyn saw the difference in the brunette. Compared to how she had been ages back, when Amea had called upon her help. Albeit, that was less because of an obsession, and more due to a nasty situation she had got caught up in.

It became increasingly apparent they had rubbed off on each other. Amea had grown softer, whereas Evelyn had grown more stubborn. Although, part of the Echani wondered if it went deeper than that. Was this because she felt like she needed to help Amea? After everything the brunette had done for her?

“I’m absolutely sure.” Evelyn looked her girlfriend in the eyes, determination burning through those crimson contacts. “And I know, I’m not exactly unfamiliar with playing unfairly.”

Once upon a time there had been a young Echani girl who had a fury and rage burning within her. One wrong comment or jab set it aflame. Fortunately, she had the right people around her to stop her falling down a bad path. But even then…Evelyn was reminded of a moment much more recent.

That of an Enclave, of Jedi, and a helpless little creature that needed healing. And a person threatening to burn the innocent little Hoshi along with the tree…

If things hadn’t played out the way they did, Evelyn had no doubt she would have beaten the man within an inch of his life, if not outright take it.

Amea Virou​

 

[Amea Virou]

Evelyn Shaw

A small exhale curled Amea's lips into a smile. There was truth in what Evelyn was saying even if Amea didn't quite want to agree. The two hadn't exactly met under peaceful circumstances to begin with, but even so it would seem that the edge-seeking, death-defying adrenaline freak which had put her in the situation in which she had met Evelyn and Hoshi had begun to dull. Not so much out of a lack of work as much as the fact that she had a new set of priorities for herself.

Death didn't seem all that inviting when you had people waiting for you at the end of the day.

"I know you're not," Amea whispered and glanced away in guilt or even shame for having implied it. "It's just a stupid obsession, I can let it go…"


They both knew that wasn't true. These stims had been making waves across the network of all people in Amea's field. The fact that she hadn't yet embedded an agent in the ring was almost a miracle, but then it also seemed as if these people kept a tight seal on things exactly because of people like her. Not out of spite but more because they knew that once a secret hit the brokers it was just a matter of time before the unknown became known became shut down.

"I haven't been able to make a play here." Amea said and let Evelyn go to slowly reach down and pick up Hoshi and cradle him in her arms for comfort. "We make contact, but beyond that I… I don't know."

 

[Evelyn Shaw]

Evelyn knew that look in Amea’s eyes, and she didn’t hesitate to pull the woman into a hug. She wrapped her arms around her, enough that she could soothingly run a hand down the brunette’s back.

“It’s not a stupid obsession, these people are doing harm and you want to stop it. Ain’t nothing stupid about that.”

The Echani felt a nudge against her legs, and Amea parted from the embrace to pick up Hoshi. Evelyn smiled as she watched the brunette cradle the little guy close. He was ever a magnet to when they were feeling down, and his presence was a warm beacon to ward it away.

“We’ll figure it out,” she said. Typically they had a plan when going into these things, from start to finish. But this had too many unknown variables to make a solid strategy. Evelyn was worried too, but she was also confident that together they’d put a stop to this fight club charade.

Her thoughts turned to Hoshi though, realising they’d be leaving him alone again. Not like it was something new, but this would be the first time they didn’t know how long they’d be away. Evelyn’s mind drifted to the scrapheap they had piled up in one of the garages.

Okay, maybe that was a harsh way to put it. It was more of a…collection of bits and bobs they had picked up on their travels. Stuff they felt would make nice pet projects to work on. Although the inevitable happened, and they wound up with collecting more than they actually finished.

But there was one particular item that crossed Evelyn’s mind.

“You know…we do have the rusty old HK unit…” She began, pausing to realise she hadn’t given context. “We really ought to get some kind of babysitter for Hoshi when we’re both away.”

Was Evelyn suggesting they turn an assassination droid into a babysitter for an adorable little creature?

Yes, yes she was.

Amea Virou​

 

[Amea Virou]

"We will." Amea sighed and nuzzled Hoshi closer, her nose against his ear with a gentle rub back and forth. She let in a breath and hugged him closer. It wasn't until Evelyn started talking about their old rusty HK-unit that Amea's brow slowly rose, her eyes opening not too soon after.

"A HK unit, Evelyn?" She grinned and let out an amused exhale. "Kind of perverse wouldn't you say?"

"... I love it."

Evelyn Shaw

 

[Evelyn Shaw]

Her grin split into a laugh at Amea’s agreement. Evelyn already had ideas in mind, but had to be saved for later. She walked up, giving Hoshi a scratch behind the ear as he snuggled into Amea’s embrace.

“I’m sure we won’t be gone for too long, Hoshi can hold down the fort until then.”

Not like it would be the first time he was left alone on the ship. Give him plenty of his favourite fruit, and he’ll happily munch away at it, then likely nap somewhere.

But this was one occasion where they’d both be away for a potentially extended period of time. It all depended on how well this operation went.

“Hmm, we still have a bit before we exit hyperspace right? I should probably get some gear together.”

Amea Virou​

 

[Amea Virou]

Hoshi gave a quick but determined salute as Evelyn made it clear he would be holding down the fort until the duo returned. Amea meanwhile let herself melt into the warm embrace of her small family until Evelyn decided to break off again.

“Gear is a good idea.” Amea said and nodded along as she shuffled the small creature in her arms around to get a better hold of it. “I should probably stock up on some more fruits while you are out there doing your thing.”

It would be a lot more suspicious if Amea was seen close to Evelyn in the coming days anyway. This separation would undoubtedly leave her more out of the loop on the ongoings in the club, but then that was also most likely for the best. Hoshi leapt from her arms and left a big cold spot in his wake. Amea shook her arms by her side and thrust her hands into her pockets as she began to wander ever so slowly towards where Evelyn was assembling her kit.

“Are you bringing the purple dress or are we still saving that one for date night?” Amea asked to lighten her own mood and approached the wardrobe. “Keeping the, uh, weather in mind and all that? Warm? … or cold?”

Evelyn Shaw