It was raining. Big, fat drops splattered against the window, smudging the outside world into an indistinguishable mess of grays and blues. Between the drops and the fog of the storm that had risen over the city, Arnaut could just barely make out the garish lights of Lit Lane. What a sight, even in the storm, they were, a neon cornucopia of eye-shattering pleasure. Even in the dim pseudo night of the storm, they made Arnaut squint. He looked away.

The apartment was dimly lit as well, the only light supplied from the gray outside world. Kroh was asleep on the couch. He was silent, almost appearing to be dead. But no, his chest rose and fell regularly. Calmly. His leg was still bandaged from his close encounter with those...things. The insectoid monsters. Arnaut couldn’t get them out of his head. They were so...alien. Terrifyingly alien. It didn’t help that Arnaut had nothing better to do than wait around thinking, and, while the creatures dominated his thoughts, that wasn’t a very enjoyable pasttime. While the rest of the squad went and got themselves into all sorts of deadly trouble, Arnaut was stuck back at the apartment. Supervising. Arnaut knew he shouldn’t, but he really did envy them. Them and their excitement.

Arnaut walked over to the small comm station Ron had set up. He poked a few buttons, looked at a few screens, but didn’t generally understand most of it. Letters scrolled down two of the screens, and incomprehensible jumble of signs, and another two were rapidly scanning...something. Arnaut shook his head. It didn’t make much sense. He was ready to turn away when a screen began flashing. Arnaut looked quickly at it. Detected something or rather on the something or rather.

Arnaut sat down at the chair and punched a few keys. The message grew larger, and, much to Arnaut’s relief, displayed the code that Ron was supposed to be sending. It was coded of course, in more ways than one. But it was out there, riding along the vast array of communications that was the holonet. Someone would see it. Arnaut was sure. He closed down the message and went back to the window. His mind was working. Plans were born, formulated, scrapped, and reborn.

He had to assume that anyone who was coming would be on the planet in two weeks at the most. No doubt Imperial surveillance would have the message before the week was out. Another week and they might have cracked it, despite the precautions. It was just a matter of time. Which is why that, in two weeks, if the other Wraiths weren’t on planet with them, they’d never be.

Ron would have to run surveillance on the incoming space traffic. All registered and unregistered passengers. Quite a job, considering the planet’s size. There was the matter of the two men Arnaut had seen in the spaceport. Arnaut would get to that personally, along with Kroh, and possibly RK. Koll and D-Crowe would set out investigating leads in Ord Mantell. That, by all that Arnaut had seen so far, seemed to be the Wraiths next destination. Just as soon as they were done with Corellia. And that left Jenny.

She was still somewhere. That’s all Arnaut knew. She had a few contacts on the planet, or so she said. Hopefully they would pay off and not get her killed. Going out alone in the city wasn’t exactly safe, especially not in the Lit Lane. Arnaut hoped she was still alive. They would need everyone they could get for this. Everyone.

Which was why making sure that all the incoming, off-world Wraiths made it to Arnaut safely. Maybe he could pass by the spaceport every now and then, while searching for the two men. He might get lucky and spot one. After all, being the largest city and the capital, Coronet seemed like the place to stop for any Wraiths coming to the planet.

Ten days. All of that had to be completed in ten days, and then they were gone. A bit much to ask, but it had to be done, one way or the other.

Arnaut would tell the squad once most of them were back. They wouldn’t be out much longer, with, possibly, the exception of Jenny who was still off in parts unknown. Then they would lay out the plans for the next ten days of their mission. It was coming together, slowly, Arnaut could see now. They could do this. Arnaut leaned back in his chair. Outside it had stopped raining. Thunder roared in the distance. It sounded like a roar of approval.

OOC:

Short-term assignments have been assigned. Have fun! We leave for Mantell at the end of the ten-days in the story (a week is five days). So...y'know, let's post and do stuff and then head to Mantell!

UPDATE: Two pages! Woo!

The speeder turned from the dock and went back to the Jenny’s temporary base at her directions. Jenny heard Mia spoke of Leia being attacked by Ella on Mantell when they were looking for Albatross and Mia being forced into Ella’s will by this poison, the Appealment, or as Jenny would call it Kuri’au. It was only that she defeated Albatross in a battle would she be freed from Ella’s control. She stared at that once shy and serious girl now turn into a speechless zombie, it was rescuing her from Ella’s will that mattered more than killing Ella. And that’s what usually gets me into trouble, still I cannot abandon my friendship with her, she saved me from Wincester’s slug gun blast, took the blast and got several scars on her back, it’s time to repay the favor. Jenny reflected from the past as Mia turned to Jenny with those black eyes and warned:

“The mistress has see fit to let you go back to your mates to explain your actions, but take any longer than necessary or try anything funny and Mia won’t be curable by the antidote I have and you’ll be dead. Filmub’ra, escort Jenny inside and if there’s any trouble, contact me. ” Jenny tried to avoid Mia’s peering eye at her as she stepped outside the speeder, escorted by Filmub’ra and her hidden pistol inside her jacket, which she put on to hide the pistol that might kill Jenny for disobeying orders.

“I hear a speeder outside, is that you, Jenny? Goodness I have missed you, how was Azalon?” Arnaut asked kindly as Jenny stepped inside and closed the door, Filmub’ra following close behind, pistol to her back. She answered carefully, lest Filmub’ra pulled the trigger at the wrong word, though she was deep in conversation on the comlink:

“A lot more danger than I thought. Listen, Arnaut, I’m here at your message, but there’s a bit of a problem, Mia’s under the influence of Ella, she’s not herself and the only way to get her back is to have a duel with Albatross on Mantell, he’s expecting me and the shipment to come. It’s a great opportunity to nail him, and we should get going.”

“Ah, we’ll see, once all the squad members have gotten back, including Kand, whose leading people to the base, we’ll then devise a plan. Although your end provides a great chance to capture Albatross, if we were to find him on Mantell.

“Ella’s here, she’s being escorted by Mia.” Just as Filmub’ra finished announcing and putting away her pistol into her rucksack, Mia came into the room, her face still looking grim dark and her eyes still black. Ella came behind, blinking her eyes at Filmub’ra, hers blinking back.

As Jenny saw and Arnaut saw amazed, Ella was wearing differently from the plain clothed Mia and Filmub’ra, she was wearing a beautiful red dress, the right seam of it opened partly to reveal her lovely legs and feet wearing high-heels the color of pink, carrying a medium leather purse with the symbol of her position, the mistress, the mark of which were left behind on her parents’ body, which was also in gold colors on her dress. Ella turned to Jenny with enjoyment and put her fingers on top of the mark as she greeted happily:

“You look amazed to see dress like this, Jenny, and perhaps a little terrified. I know these are not the marks you want to see, for your parents died, bearing them. The police were quite baffled at who left these, for this was not the mark of the Republic, but those who work for them in secret.” Ella then turned to Arnaut, leaving Jenny in thought, wondering what the heck she was trying to cook up. Ella spoke openly to Arnaut, chuckling at him refusing a simple handshake:

“So you must be Jenny’s new squad leader, how are you, I’m Ella, the enemy of your enemy, this last shipment contains a secret weapon just finished by my mentor, Albatross, he will not live to get off the planet. If he does, the Republic and the Empire both will be in danger, for he will release it upon both Republic and Empire planets. He has gone outside of our agreement, and must be killed by Jenny’s sword, for she is the only one who has faced him before, or do you not remember, Jenny?” The memories came back to Jenny, painful, but she replied to Ella, who looked like she knew how much Jenny was pained by it:

“I do, though the memories are a bit clouded, I think we should wait for the others and come up with a plan to trap him.”

“A good suggestion, but Vilman is meeting with us for the shipment instead. Albatross is not coming; I just got the message from him, apparently he still think his loyal pupil is not betraying him under his watch, so much for good judgment. Vilman will be expecting sometime in the next ten days or so, I’ll be tracking Albatross, once he’s dead, Mia will be released, Jenny. Filmub’ra will prove to a loyal ally, seems how she’s yours, and she’ll lead you to the vessel which’ll take you to Mantell. Goodbye, and we’ll keep in touch by your personal comlink in your pack.” Jenny had the urge to take out her vibroblade and hack Ella to pieces, but she resisted for poor Mia, and watched her follow Ella out the door and onto the speeder, speeding out into the busy streets, Jenny looking at it go, tears down her face, Filmub’ra comforted Jenny, hugging her in her arms.

“Mia will be fine, I’m sure, Jenny, I’m sorry about exposing my cover, but Ella had Mia under her will and I couldn’t let Mia die, my last girlfriend had already died by Ella’s poison, and I can’t bear another death by my own creation. I created that potion to cure, not to control and kill at will, I didn’t know Ella would do that, she was my friend, and….”

“You will find that many people share your experience for betrayal by friends who only need you for their own ends, and then you become useless and get throw on the side like garbage when they’re done with you. Let’s wait for the others to come back and formulate a plan.” Arnaut replied sympathized as they sat down, Arnaut lost in thought, and Jenny slowly crying her pain as Filmub’ra held her.

Filmub’ra will be with us as my partner, she’ll guide me to Vilman, who will probably lead us to Albatross, she’s on our side, if you didn’t notice. Remember that she’ll take me to Mantell on a separate vessel once everyone’s back and the plan is dealt out on the table. Arnaut, try not to ignore this post, it won’t effect your plans, I’m sure, it'll just add someone else who hates Albatross and has agreed to help us under her terms, also enters Vilman, if you hate that I can change him to someone else, just say the word and I will.

Kuri’au is a word used to describe the art and practice of seduction to attain a specific goal. Twi'leks are renowned for being an attractive species and have adapted this to suit their benefit by using their powers of seduction to obtain money, goods, services, and information. This practice is also referred to by the Basic term "the Game." A Twi'lek practicing the Kuri'au is not necessarily looking for sexual favors, but is using their seductive prowess to their advantage for whatever means necessary in the way other species use their strength or mental capacity. In this case it’s used by a human.

RK lifted the speeder off of the landing pad, it rumbled underneath them, and joamer almost looked scared. for someone who can fly the biggest ship in the galaxy.... He grinned at the thought.

“So you're one of the original wraiths?” RK was trying to break the silence, specially since he hated silence.

“Yea, I left for a while, then came back, well this would be me coming back.”

“Well, your in for a surprise, after all we are fugitives. I hope you didn't bring attention to yourself with that big ship of yours.” RK said, grinning.

“Nope, I'm just a normal civilian, you did give them my landing papers right?”

“Yea, gave them to him as soon as I got there.”

“ah good.”

RK kept the speeder level as he sped towards the lit lane. He didn't expect to encounter heavy traffic, but you never know in busy planets with people coming and going all the time.

“So we're fugitive?”

“no, but technically, yes.”

RK continued to speed forward, he had increased his speed considerably, but not enough to draw attention. He wanted to get to the hideout fast as possible, but not to fast. After all, drawing more attention to themselves could be deadly.

So, I'm a fugitive, huh, last I checked I was the one who hunted the fugitives. It hadn't hit him until now, but RK had a feeling that this had something to do  with karma; After all, he had killed a bunch of fugitives at one time. yep, definitely Karma

They continued to draw closer to the lit lane, each moment RK felt like someone was watching him. Joamer had been quiet for most of the ride, asking questions here and there, but most of the situation he already knew.

Without thought, RK looked down at the radar, a yellow blimp kept coming up. He couldn't tell what it was,  it could have been a normal civilian speeder, or just a really close animal.  The odd thing was, it was getting closer, and he didn't like that. He double checked by bringing up the rear camera, an option not on normal speeders. As he hit the button a live video feed filled the front view port,  leaving just enough viewing area so he could see in front of him. At the moment however that was the least of his worries. 

“Uhh, what's that?”

“Honestly I don't know, but it doesn't looked friendly.”

RK stared at the screen in front of him. Something was following them, he couldn't tell what, but it was definitely not friendly.
“Looks like a speeder, a very heavily armed speeder.” RK tried to get a closer look. It was black, and it had a flashing red light on top, two cannons were visible. The only thing that wasn't see able was the inside of the cockpit, it had tinted windows.

“I think...”

Before Joamer could finish his sentence flashes of red light erupted from both cannons, flying straight past them.

RK juked to try and dodge, but it didn't help, the second laser braised the top of their speeder. “I don't think they want us here.”

“Yea.”

RK grabbed the control sticks tighter and punched the accelerator. “Hang on!” The speeder sped off.

“Ummm, I don't think going straight for the base is a good idea right now.”

RK turned hard to the right, almost flipping the speeder. “Then let's take a detour.”

'Jennabelle, RK and Joamer are all present and accounted for, they made their own way'

Kanderin read the message a few times and smiled, knowing three people were already safe was a huge relief on his side. He had already sent Ron on his way with directions, which left him just waiting for D-Crowe and Koll. Then, in theory, they were safe. If only he meant that.

He'd made the senior decision that, as D-Crowe and Koll were new and inexperienced, he would escort them back to the base in case something happened. As much as he refused to admit he worried about them being caught and cracking under interrogation, he couldn't help thinking about it. And it was a risk all too dangerous for him to leave chanced.

He only had to wait a few more minutes for them to arrive, from separate ships at other sides of the dock, typically. Luckily Kanderin had accounted for that, and was already sat in the main waiting room, shuffling through a deck of Sabaac cards. As both men walked past and saw Kanderin sat there, they made their way over, involved him in short conversation, before sitting down and playing cards. They both left their luggage in clear site, and all three men tried their best to keep expressions resembling no clear correlation. They'd never met before, and probably never would again, but that wouldn't stop them having a game of cards over a few beers.

"We'll leave in about twenty minutes, going our separate ways again" Kanderin said, not taking his eyes off his own cards. "Each one of us will leave through one of the three exits, and take a taxi. There's a small club on the corner of a street about ten minutes away from here, known as the Garland. That's where we'll meet up again. If anything goes wrong, even if there's the slightest chance of you being followed, get me a message somehow, and I'll come running to deal with it"

"Wouldn't that compromise our cover?" Koll asked, throwing a card down on the table as D-Crowe cursed.

"Probably" Kanderin nodded, smiling at the card on the table "But more important than our cover is to make sure that every member of the squad gets through this alive. Besides, I don't like to brag, but I'm a dab hand at assasination myself. If anyone's following you, I'll make sure they have an unfortunate accident with a speeder not long after, alright?"

"Haha, alright sir" D-Crowe smiled.

The man shook his head, a long, drawn out shake that dropped more loose hairs onto the table’s already covered surface. Arnaut brushed them off disgustedly, leaving a small hill of the white hairs lying on the floor. The old man stared at him, but said nothing, his sad, sunken eyes shining dully in the stark light of the spaceport.

“Well...thank you anyway. If you find anything, you know where I’ll be,” Arnaut said, finally looking back up. He turned off the datapad he’d been holding for the man to see, and, for a second, the ghost after-image of Adareem Talos, former Major in the Serellian army turned rogue, burned on the screen. Of course, Arnaut had no idea what his name was, what rank he’d held, or how he was connected to Serrell in any way, shape, or form, other than that he’d been seen with Albatross on the planet. It had been hard enough to try and find the picture. The old man gave no sign of knowing anything either. He stood up, shaking out a few more hairs from his near balded head, gave a curt nod, probably his idea of thanks for the fifteen credits Arnaut had paid him, and left.

Arnaut leaned back in his chair and stared out at the loading bay. A shipment of medical supplies had just landed and crewmen pushed and shoved their way to be the first to unload. They were all sodden and wet, the rain having drenched them long before. Arnaut sighed, looking back down the hall, in the direction the old man had went off in. Three days. Three days of coming to spaceport, three days of frustration. Not a single person knew about the two men that Arnaut had seen the first day on Corellia. Not one. Not so much as a glance in passing as the two men walked down a hallway. It was like they’d never come, never been in the building at all. Out of all the staff that Arnaut had interviewed – ticket salesmen, janitors, security guards – no one had seen them. And it was getting risky. Word was getting out that Arnaut was looking for someone, and, if the two men were still in the city, the word might spread to them.

Arnaut looked around the empty room he was in, a lowered extension of the food court overlooking the spaceport below. Didn’t look like there’d be many more clientele today. He stood up, wrapping his coat around him, and headed out through the spaceport and into the city.

Immediately, despite his coat, the rain soaked him to the bone. He shivered as a cold gust blew down the crowded street. All these businessmen, Arnaut thought to himself. They’d still be walking through town even if it were raining fire. Arnaut pushed his way onto the street, narrowly dodged a speeder, and made his way across to the other side. Kroh, who had inconspicuously been reading a newspaper at a stand, paid the squat stall-manager, and fell into step with Arnaut.

“Anything? You pulled out early.” Kroh indicated toward his chronometer.

“Not a single person, again. I’ve nearly worked my way through all the staff, and most of the travelers still there haven’t been around since we landed.” Arnaut gave a half groan, half sigh, and stared at the sky. The rain hit him in the face, but he didn’t much care.

“It’s like...” Arnaut said, turning to face Kroh again. “Like they simply vanished. Completely. Either they’re very good at what they do or...or I didn’t see them at the spaceport. But that’s impossible, they were there, I know they were there!”

“Maybe, maybe not. We’re running out of time though. We have other things to do, like securing transportation to Ord Mantell, or making sure that any...” He stopped as a pedestrian got within earshot. The man walked by without looking up. “Making sure any Wraiths that are coming get here.”

“I guess you’re right...” Arnaut conceded. “I’ll come out tomorrow, and then I’ll get to work on the other stuff.” He rubbed his eyes tiredly. He hadn’t gotten much sleep in the past few days.

“You know a place where I can get a nice, hot cup of caf?” Arnaut asked. “And maybe get out of this rain?” Kroh smiled.

“I might know a place or two. Follow me.”




On the other side of the street, standing just in the darkness of an alley, the old men watched them go. The fools. For all their sneakiness and precautions, they still would’ve been incredibly easy to track down. The man turned around, smiling to himself, and ran smack into Talos. Talos grunted and shoved him back.

“You wanted to see me, Barnaby?” Talos said, his face giving nothing away. Barnaby smiled as obsequiously as he could, a large toothy grin from ear to ear, and motioned for the door.

“Shall we?” A few of the Barnaby’s white hairs fell lightly on Talos’ boots. He shook them off with a  grimace and went through the door. Barnaby sneered at Talos as his back was toward him, but followed without another word.

The smells of cooking, especially what seemed to be a stew, wafted up to meet him as he moved through the door. Barnaby closed it behind him, and the cook looked ‘round.

“Oh, jus’ ole Barnaby. Lotta ruffians about these days; yuh nearly gave me a heartattack. The room’s ready, if yuh be wantin’ it...‘Course yuh do. Yuh woulda used the front door if yuh didn’t.” Barnaby thanked her kindly and moved trailed Talos to the left, through the kitchen, and to the back room the cook had had prepared for them.

Talos sat down in the sole chair, leaving a disgruntled Barnaby standing on the other side of the table. Barnaby kept his annoyance out of his face.

“This had better be good. You don’t know what it takes for me to get here without being seen.”

“Oh it is,” Barnaby said, putting on his best smile and nodding enthusiastically. “It seems someone know you’re here. They’ve been asking around, showing pictures, trying to find you.”

“Why are you smiling? Wipe that ridiculous grin off your face. This is a bad thing! A bad thing!” Talos cursed loudly and Barnaby went back to frowning.

“How?” Talos said after a moment.

“How wh--?”

“How do they know!?” Talos snapped, whipping around to face Barnaby.

“I...sir...I have...well...”

“Oh, stop your blathering,” Talos said disdainfully. “Was he with anyone else?”

“No...well, yes, but when I saw him he wasn’t, but after the meeting he...uh...” Barnaby had just noticed the threatening way in which Talos was looking at him. He pulled at his collar, sweat pouring out from his forehead.

“What I meant to say is that he met someone after he left the spaceport. Big tall guy, muscular. Couldn’t be sure, but he looked a bit like Kroh...”

“Kroh?” Talos asked suddenly, eyes widening ever so slightly. He leaned forward. “As in Vankrius Kroh?”

“Like I said, can’t be sure, but that’d be about right.” Talos was silent, staring at the table. Thinking about important stuff, no doubt.  Barnaby let his eyes, and mind, wander off to the austere walls of the windowless room, enjoying the moment’s respite from Talos’ harsh scrutiny. It was nice and quiet in the room. Nice and...

“Did he leave you any way to contact him?” Talos’ voice made Barnaby jump.

“Who, Kroh?” Barnaby asked hesitantly, wits still a little frayed.

“No, the person you actually talked to!” Talos yelled. He came up out of his seat a little and, for a moment, Barnaby thought he was in danger of taking a fist to the face. But Talos sat back down.

“He said if I found something, he’d be in the same spot. He’s been there for three days, far as I can tell,” Barnaby said, still cringing for the blow that never came. Talos nodded slowly.

“Go to him tomorrow and bring him back to the alleyway. My men will meet you there and kindly take him off your hands.”

“But how can I do that?” Barnaby asked anxiously.

“Tell him you have found something. Lie. I’m sure you can think of something.” Talos stood up and headed for the door.

“Hey! What about my—” Talos flicked a credit chip at him. It hit him squarely between the eyes before dropping leadenly to the ground. Barnaby scrabbled for it greedily, holding it right up to his face before flicking it on.

“Aw, only twenty? I got almost as much just from talking with that guy!”

“You’ll get more when you bring ‘that guy’ to me. If you bring him to me. Do not fail.” With one last threatening look, Talos was gone, leaving Barnaby sitting alone on the room’s floor staring longingly after him.

Well, there was nothing to be done for it. Money was money, no matter how it came about. Barnaby stood up, pocketing the measly amount of cash, and made his way back out onto the streets. Another day, another payment. Nothing to be done.

Koll scoopd up the goods from his most recent win at sabaac. He hadn't played much before in his life, but Kanderin seemed entirely intent on losing his month's wage. Crowe didn't seem to happy about the outcome of the cards match either. He shot a subversive glance over at the man that was watching them. He knew by now that he wasn't just some homeless man on the street; if he were, he surely would have tried to peddle some credits off the Zabrak. Koll, in keeping with his newfound confidence in the game, stretched as he leaned back in his chair once more. He heard a slight beep from his commlink at his belt. He rested his hand at his belt, attatching his Imagecaster to the link, and turned it up just loud enough for him to hear it. A blue hologram of Ron appeared, broadcasted under the table.

"Hey, uhh, guys, this is Ron. I'm kinda stuck in the middle of nowhere in a Hutt's ganghouse with an angry Rodian outside that wants my head. As much as I hate to admit it, I need your guys' help. So, uhh, help."

The image and sound cut out at the same time. Koll began gathering his credits. "Good playing with you guys today, but I gotta go. Places to go, people to see, you know how it is." Koll stood up and began walking towards an alleyway. Once he was certain he was out of view of the 'homeless' man, he stripped off the jacket, gloves, and pants he was wearing underneath his armor and donned his helmet quickly. He activated the stealth mode of his armor and disappeared. As he expected, the 'homeless' man followed him. Koll snuck up behind him, slammed a solid fist into the back of his head, and caught him, lowering him to the ground softly. Nighty night, Koll thought, deactivating his armor and donning his proper clothes once more.

He waltzed back out past the cafe he was just at and addressed the two men with a look of chagrin. "My business is actually this way, one of my friends called." He smiled at the two; Kanderin seemed to know what was going on. Koll walked across the street and hopped on his speeder. He kicked it started, shot off, and hit the proper altitude. After a good ten minutes of biking through Corellia, he took out his commlink. Cracking it open, he rerouted a few wires and circuits, seeing if he could reverse its functionality, if only for a few seconds. He hooked his datapad to the device and turned both on.

We're in, he thought as the glow of his screen pinpointed the relative location of Ron. He saved the data and quickly undid the work he had just finished. "Kanderin, sir?" Koll asked as he activated his comm.

"Read you loud and clear, soldier. Good work, by the way," Kanderin returned over comm.

"It was nothing, sir. I'm sure you would have done the same as well. However, Ron appears to be in trouble and needs our help; I'll send the coordinates right away." Koll sent the coordinates through his datapad, hopefully to the datapad Kanderin had on the other side. "I'll see you there, sir. Koll, out." Koll then kicked his speeder into gear and shot off for the Hutt's base.

Somewhere, someone was laughing uproariously. A child cried. Two selonians struggled with their bags through the customs check, under the intense stares of the human patrons around them. A man was escorted into a back room by two guards. He didn’t look happy. A tech ran up and down the masses of people, in a rush to be somewhere. Two pilots shared smokes in the shade, away from the crowd. Such was the state of the spaceport as Arnaut walked in. He saw all of this, and yet he noticed nothing. He was still a bit tired. Leadenly, he raised his cup of caf to his mouth...and immediately spat it out cursing. He was definitely awake now, he thought bitterly, rubbing his burned lips.

A passer-by gave Arnaut a funny look. Arnaut simply smiled sheepishly and rubbed his splatter of caf into the pavement with his boot. Taking a more hesitant sip of his drink, Arnaut strolled into the spaceport proper. So began day four of his wild nuna chase. Arnaut sighed, stripped off his damp jacket, and made his way to the food court to, once again, sit by himself and get nowhere. It came as surprise, then, to find the old man from the previous day sitting there when he arrived.

“Can I...help you?” Arnaut asked, setting down his cup and draping his jacket over the back of the chair.

“I...” the man looked around, eyes darting to every corner of the empty room. He leaned in close and lowered his voice to a whisper. “I found something.” Arnaut sat down.

“Well...well, that’s...great!” More than great, in truth, but Arnaut still wanted to hear the old man out before seeing whether he should be happy or not. Three days of nothing made him skeptical of anything that arose on the fourth. It could be a trap.

The man looked around again. “Could we walk somewhere?” Arnaut nodded, and regathered his stuff.

Once back out on the streets, the old man began whispering again. Arnaut leaned over and still strained to hear him.

“Alright, I...I saw the man you showed me. He was walking down the street. I...followed him.” Arnaut glanced at the man, and he shrugged. “Discreetly,” he continued. “He didn’t see me. I was sure of it.”

Arnaut nodded, half-listening. Silently, with his other hand, Arnaut tried to signal Kroh to follow him. It was always good to have back up. On the first day, Arnaut and Kroh had worked out a crude system to communicate, using transmitters on the undersides of their chrons, just in case anything went wrong in the spaceport. This was the first time they had had to use it. Arnaut hoped Kroh remembered what it meant.

“He goes to this hotel, every day, or near to it. Not at the same time each day, but the same time depending on the day of the week.  I talked with the cook after he left. That what she says. So if today’s...Datunda, he should be there right about now.”

“Today’s Natunda,” Arnaut said evenly, stopping his walk. He took the break to look over the other end of the street, in the hopes of catching sight of Kroh. Nothing.

“Oh...well...that’s good, he’s there the same time today as he is on Datunda,” the old man said, flustered.

“Does he meet anyone there?” Arnaut said, continuing on down the street.

“No...erm, not always. Sometimes. There’s another person, sometimes I mean.”

“Who?”

“Who?” the man asked, jumping slightly. He rubbed his scalp. “Uhh...dunno. I never saw him. Anyway, here’s the place.” Arnaut whirled around, took one look at the building, and grabbed the man by the arm, dragging him into the nearby alley.

“What? What’s wrong?” he asked quickly.

“Did you see that building?” Arnaut hissed. “The entire front might as well be made glass. We could see everyone in there, and they could see us. I think my questions about this guy might be raising suspicions and the last place I need to be seen is at the hotel he frequents.” The man's eyes narrowed with the last sentence, but he spoke up again.

“There’s...a side door. Maybe that’ll work?” Arnaut looked down the alley they were in. There was a door a ways down, just one, shrouded in shadow. He couldn’t make out much else in the alley, but it looked deserted. Still...better safe then sorry.

“What are you doing?” the man asked suddenly.

“Calling in some support,” Arnaut grunted, pulling out his comlink.

“No!” the old man snapped. “I mean...he’ll be leaving soon. There’s no time.” Arnaut looked at him incredulously.

“It’s a risk I’m willing to take,” Arnaut said, still fiddling with the small, white cylinder.

“I can’t let you do that.” Arnaut looked up. The man was dead serious. Things were getting real bad, real quick.

“Why not?” Arnaut asked, flicking on the comlink quickly. He scanned the sidewalk across the street, hoping to get a glimpse of Kroh. Still not here. There was a cold sensation of metal pressing on the back of his head, and Arnaut went rigid. He hadn’t even heard the door open.

“Because,” the old man said simply, “of him.”

“Shit,” Arnaut muttered.

* * *

Arnaut hit the ground leadenly, coming down hard on his right shoulder. His chest and stomach hurt. They hadn’t been kind to him on the journey out. He groaned and pulled himself to his knees, the rain drenching him quickly without his coat on. A boot came down hard on his back, crushing him flat against the mud.

“No standing.” It was a hard voice, thick and gruff. No surprise, considering the size of the boot that was crushing Arnaut’s back.

“I...wasn’t...standing...just...kneeling,” Arnaut grunted.

“No kneeling.”

“Look, if it’s money you want, I have loads of money! Just...not with me. I can make you guys rich. This is not really worth killing a guy over!” Arnaut was babbling, quite purposefully. He had no intentions of ever paying these street thugs. They’d be lucky if they came out of this alive. He was just getting them off their guard.

“We don’t want your money,” the man said. “Though if you have anything on you right now, we’d be more than happy to...relieve you of it.” He laughed, a big booming roar, which was joined by two other men. None of the laughs was the laugh of the old man from the spaceport that had sold him out.

“Then...why are you doing this?” Arnaut asked. He tried to look up, maybe catch a glimpse of his captors, but all he could see was wet grass and mud.

“Because dead men tell no lies.” Arnaut’s blood ran cold. These were more than street thugs out to make a pretty penny, then. If they were worried about him talking, and Arnaut knew exactly what they'd be worried about, then they were most likely from Albatross or his associates. Like the unnamed guy Arnaut had been tracking. If that were true, which Arnaut strongly suspected it was, then that meant that that man already knew were the Wraiths were. Which meant that they no longer had ten days to sort things out. He had to get back to the city, right now. Now or never.

Arnaut had been stripped of all his weapons. All but one. They’d left his leather bracers on, for no other reason than that they’d had the time to search them properly during the short trip out of the city. They’d made a mistake, and they were about to learn from it.

“Do it,” a second voice said. Arnaut heard a click. Now or never. He rolled.

The shot went past his ear, exploding a small bit of the ground. Arnaut worked without thinking. He lashed out with his left foot, knocking the man off his feet, and brought his right fist straight for the man’s throat. His hand clenched, the pressure triggering the blade he’d hidden away to slide out of his bracer. It hit its mark. The man choked, tried to say something, and then flopped backward. Arnaut was already moving.

The next guy fired off two shots and then Arnaut was on him. He sliced, cutting through the man’s jacket, shirt, and flesh. The guy dropped his gun, howling in pain, a howl that was cut off abruptly as Arnaut shoved his thin blade through the bottom of the man’s jaw. It made it clear into the skull. The third man was firing now. Two shots popped dully on the dead man’s back. Arnaut yanked and, instead of getting his blade, got a broken stub of metal where his blade used to be. No time to retrieve it. He dropped the body, jumping backwards onto the speeder and over the other side. He jumped in, thankful that they’d left it running, and began to speed off, door open and shots pinging off the hull.

The city wasn’t far, and, soon enough, he was engulfed by its lights again. He raced through the streets, finding his way back to Ron’s apartment. Kroh’s absence was troubling. If they had Kroh, and had found Arnaut, then they probably knew where they all were staying.

Arnaut sped up to the hotel rather quicker than he would’ve liked. He slammed on the brakes, propelling himself forward in the speeder. He didn’t notice. He jumped out and ran inside, dashing up the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator. He knocked aside a guy, who gave him a stern look with his piercing blue-white eyes. Arnaut apologized quickly and kept running.

The door was open when he got up. He walked forward and instinctively reached for his pistol. The pistol that was no longer there. Down in the speeder or left lying on the ground in the field no doubt. He put his fists in front of him. They seemed weak and feeble, but they would have to do. He pushed his way inside, quietly.

“...and so then...Arnaut?” Kanderin turned around. “What...are you doing?” Arnaut looked at his fists, and then at the way that the squad was looking at him.

“Uh...the door was open. I...assumed the worst.”

“It was open because we only just got here. Where’s your coat? You’re soaked! And is that blood?” Arnaut followed Kanderin’s outstretched finger to his shoulder. Sure enough, there was a hole and a good deal of blood oozing out. He hadn’t even felt it but, now that it’d been pointed out, he did feel a bit dizzy. And it hurt. Like hell.

“Just...just a flesh wound,” Arnaut said waving off Kand’s hand.

“Maybe you should sit down.”

“No!” Arnaut said, the dizzy spell passing, “We need to get out of here now. Listen to me, that guy from the spaceport knows we’re here. He—” Whatever Arnaut had been trying to say was lost in the gunfire. The door exploded sending woodchips flying through the room. Arnaut dove forward, scrambling across the floor and smoke to his bed and his A280.

A hard, round cylinder flew through the door. Kanderin, nearest to it squinted at it for a second and then hastily kicked it back out through the door. It exploded just outside of the doorjamb, fracturing the walls and sending even more smoke into the air.

“Grab what you can and let’s go! Arnaut ordered, getting to his feet. He grabbed his kitbag, basically the only thing that he really owned in the room other than his rifle, and moved toward the door. The bag went to the ground; it was only clothes, he could afford it. He checked the clip on his rifle, and then gave the bag a good kick out the door, following it a split second later.

The man tried to re-aim, his first shots having uselessly broken the ground around Arnaut’s bag, but Arnaut blew him off his feet. He slid down the wall, his black bodysuit smoking and slick with blood. Arnaut moved over to the body, checking to see if there was anything of note. As he crouched down, he gasped out loud. It was the man from the stairs. He would recognize those eyes anywhere. He was carrying nothing.

“Hurry up! I don’t think he would’ve come in alone,” Arnaut hollered down the hall. The squad sprinted out, guns drawn, heading down the stairs. Ron was last, hefting two large bags of equipment and read outs.

“Good to see you made it out okay,” Arnaut said as Ron passed.

“It’ll take more than a few smugglers to take me down,” Ron grinned, already sprinting down the stairs after the rest of the squad.

Arnaut hopped in his speeder as soon as he was out. Ron, Koll, and D-Crowe followed him. The rest of the squad was, presumably, in the other speeder, already off toward the spaceport. Arnaut flipped on the speeder and sped off in that direction as well.

“Ron, you’ve been monitoring the traffic in and out of the spaceport. How many freighters are en route for Mantell that we could get on in, say, the next twenty minutes.”

“No need. Joamer has a ship, apparently. He can – take this left here – can take us. Apparently it’s not that nice of a ride,” Koll explained.

“Anything spaceworthy is good to me. Which hangar?”

OOC:

To Mantell! Everyone was back at the apartment in my post, so we're all heading to the spaceport together. Mantell begins Phase II of our mission. Be ready! It'll be fun.

Oh yeah, Datunda and Natunda are days four and five of the week, respectively. Search 'calendar' on Wookiepedia.

Joamer had walked to the engine room and engaged the core, it sprang to life and a soft hum started sounding throughout the ship.

"That's my girl, that's my good girl." He mumbled as he walked towards the bridge.

  Keying a mic as he sat down and began flipping controls he said " Welcome about the transport Si'rnty, I will be your captain for this flight. Please keep arms and legs inside the ship at all times, the weather outside is not pleasant."

"Flight control, this is the transport ship Si'rnty, requesting clearance for takeoff and departure."

  A tense moment occured then, between everyone, would they get a nice clean takeoff, or would the usual happen. Would they make a run for it, in a ship with minimal shields, and no weapons. He had his hand on the VTOL controls ready to liftoff even if they said no.

"Ship Si'rnty, clearance granted, the sky is clear, have a safe journey."

  Flipping the last few switches he engaged the VTOL jets and the ship lifted off without so much as a shudder, she rose gracefully into the sky, flipping the switch for forward flight, she gained forward momentum quickly and soon the vast blackness of space filled every view port.

Joamer set a course then punched in the data for a Ord Mantel hyperspace jump. A few long moments later the board lit up green.

"Passengers, we are now making our hyperspace jump towards Ord Mantal, While we travel the long distance there feel free to browse the galley, or watch a view holovids, I seem to remember putting a few tapes about some ship called Serenity, apparently she was a firefly class just like this vessel."

  Pulling the hyperspace levers the star field expanded, and the ship jumped towards the Wraiths new target.