It Only Takes a Pebble to Make a Ripple in a Peaceful Stream (Closed)

[Dragon Fae]

Zarah awoke with a headache that was pounding so hard against her skull that she felt as if it might split open. With a groan, she rose from the bed, clutching her head. Reaching beside her for the drawer, she fumbled for the handle and pulled it open. Reaching for her stims, she knocked a few to the floor as another wave of nausea and headaches came her way. How long had she been out anyway?

Letting go of her head and bringing the needle to her mouth, she pulled off the safety cap and spat it across the floor. Her other hand tapped her forearm before plunging the needle into her skin and injecting the drug. Leaning back with the needle still in her arm, she closed her eyes and let her blood do all the work. It only took a matter of minutes.

Dragging herself from her bed, she knelt to pick up the stims that had fallen from the drawer and stuck them back in before shutting it and pulling a key from her belt to lock it back tight. Moving toward the refresher room, she took only a glance at her face before splashing some water on it and washing off.

Feeling good now that the stim was working, she moved through the corridor, checking the ship, which was still sleeping in the middle of nowhere. She was glad such places as Baltimn existed. It was still only a stroke of luck that she was able to land before she felt the need to pass out. Hitting the music on her way to the ramp, she turned it up, ready to do a few checks as she opened the ramp and stepped out of her ship. A cool breeze was blowing, filled with the scent of some kind of flowers that was a nice change from filtered, stuffy air. She reached back into the ship to grab her toolbelt and then began her inspection.

 

[Enyhk]

The old warehouse showed signs of dilapidation; holes in the roof and walls, broken windows and other indications it was just one more sign of hope overcoming common sense. Enyhk didn't care, it'd been home for the last few weeks. In a corner where the roof didn't leak, an old rusty cargo container as a bedroom and a honest to god unbroken window to let in light it was one of the better places he'd hold up over the years.

Crouched over a worn leather-bound journal resting on his knee, Enyhk wrote his thoughts. Old Habits died hard.

Baltimn, a backwater world to most but to to me it was a place to hide and heal. That last hunter, bastard that he was, got me good. When did barbed harpoon guns get added to the approved list? I'd complain but who'd care? It wasn't a slug-thrower, it wasn't a blaster so it was fine. Besides he got his. I wonder what went through his mind before that cargo container crushed him flat? His skull probably. I don't even remember the name of the ship I stowed away on to get here. It didn't matter. The scar on my leg was just one more reminder, one more badge of honor, one more reason hunt me.

He paused, sitting ramrod straight his keen senses all sharpened by the sudden chill that ran up his spine. He threw himself to the ground only a heartbeat before the wall of the warehouse exploded inward becoming shrapnel. The metal door of the cargo container served as a decent shield.

Enyhk didn't pause to look or even to check himself. The journal swiftly tucked into his shirt he sprinted towards the back of the container, he had all his belongings on him as habit. He folded his arms over his head as he hit the break-away door rolling with his momentum and coming up running. He vaulted through the broken window as he heard voices behind him.

Hounds... I'm rating hounds now.

Enyhk saw no one on this side of the warehouse but he wasn't going to take the time to survey the situation. His sprint speed was impressive and he used all of it now. He had to get to the Downport.

Rounding the corner of a warehouse in better repair Enyhk saw a man, wearing some kind of body armor, a small-bore slug rifle in his hands. He wasn't completely facing Enyhk. His bad luck.

Without breaking stride Enyhk drew one of his Drahka and, using a rusted engine block as a stepping stone, vaulted into the air. When the man turned, his eyes grew wide but no sound emerged. It's kind of hard to say anything with a leaf-bladed Drakha protruding from your chest. The man went down with Enykh atop him.

Taking time to clean off his weapon Enyhk could hear the buzz of a comm-link coming from the corpse's ear. He pulled it free, wincing at the feedback pain but listening to the chatter. Tossing it aside Enyhk rose and continued his run towards the downport praying there was a ship there.

 

[Dragon Fae]

Satisfied with her looking solid on the outside, I took a break and waited as her cells refueled. Heading back into the ship, not caring about the yells I was receiving from the workers about the level of my music, I grabbed a bottle of water and downed it like I had been running a marathon. Stims had that kind of side effect on me.

Propping my feet up on the co-pilot's seat, I gazed out over the dock and grabbed another bottle of water. A smile rose on my lips as I saw some men pointing at my ship. "Just try coming and asking me to turn my music down," I said under my breath, reaching behind me with one hand and turning the volume up louder as I turned back and waited for them to get close enough for me to let loose some steam. It always got them hopping when I did that. Sooner or later they learned and I would be long gone. Besides, I already paid them a fortune to land here. It was highway robbery in the Outer Rim any more.

 

[Enyhk]

Slugs winged and ricocheted around Enyhk. He danced from side to side yet still managed to maintain most of his speed. Through a set of binoculars the man in stylized body armor smiled.
________________
"He's magnificent." He muttered.

"Yes My Lord." said the bald man standing beside him. "He has killed seven Hunters in personal combat, twelve total. No other Hunted has managed such a run."

The hunter spoke into his comm-link "Third Team move to intercept, he's nearly at the starport."
________________

The workers at the port dove to the side. Enyhk vaulted over their prone forms. He had his heart pumping now. The thirst for blood growing stronger with each passing moment.

Three men, armed with slug-rifles, came out of the narrow road between two buildings. They took aim and fired. Their aim was off, Enyhk grinned and drew the second Darkha. He closed on their position through the hail of inaccurate slug-fire.

It was over really before it began. By the time they realized he was coming for them Enyhk was among them. Leaf-blades slicing across inner parts of the elbows or behind the knees. He crippled two of them before the third could bring his weapon to bear. Enyhk knew the Hunter watched. That made it all the more exciting for Enyhk, to perform for someone who could appreciate his skill.

One swift blow severed the man's wrist eliciting a scream. A pivot brought Enyhk beside him as he rested the Second Darkha against the man's throat. Enyhk paused, making the moment last. A signature death was important.

"Bad Dog." Enyhk whispered to the man, and to the man listening in on the comm-link.

The move was swift, faster than most could have seen but the explosion of blood that welled up out of the stump that used to hold a head was ripple enough. Looking around Enyhk spotted a heap of a ship. It would have to do. He took off towards it at a dead run.

 

[Dragon Fae]

Movement out of the corner of the viewer immediately caught my attention. Pulling the bottle away, I watched as a rugged looking fellow in need of a good, long bath, running like the devil himself was after him. A knot began to form in my gut as I saw the men following after him, slugthrowers blazing.

"Shi-," I said aloud, sitting up and watching in rapt attention. Usually, I wasn't this close to the action. Something in the back of my mind told me to go close the ramp door now, but I could not help but watch.

Seeing the man beheaded before my eyes brought on a wave of nausea. I looked away for only a moment before glancing back and seeing the man making a dead run for my ship.

"Oh no you don't!" I cried, vaulting out of the chair and running as fast as I could through the ship. I could see the ramp button just ahead of me. My heart pounded in my chest as I drew my slugthrower from my side holster and slammed my fist on the ramp controller. My eyes darted here and there, gun at the ready to shoot the assassin.

 

[Enyhk]

Enyhk saw the ramp down and praised his luck, praise that quickly turned to curses when it started to rise. Redoubling his efforts he used that speed reserved for the truly desperate moments, moments that he had far too many of.

The opening shrank too quickly. No speed, no human speed anyway would get him there in time. The advantages of being human however is the mind worked faster than the body. His arm came back, launching the Darkha end over end to wedge itself point-to-butt against the ramp and it's sealing lock. Hydraulics complained, the ramp stopped, this bought Enyhk time. He vaulted through the narrow gap, snagging the weapon as he passed through, thus allowing the ramp to all but snap closed behind him. He rolled to his feet hardly out of breath. He saw a woman, the captain judging by her clothes, he also saw her weapon.

"I am in urgent need of passage aboard your vessel, Captain." His voice, deep, gravelly and altogether too calm seemed to rumble from his chest, his eyes met hers with a steady unblinking gaze. "It would be wise if you began departure preparations immediately."

 

[Dragon Fae]

With the gun leveled, I saw the panic in the man's eyes and watched in amazement as he slammed his weapon into place, doing a number on my hydraulics as he pulled himself up. My finger tightened on the trigger as I glared at him.

"I don't harbor killers," I bellowed in a somewhat scared voice. I had, afterall, just seen this man completely behead someone with the same weapon he used to jam up my ship's ramp. "You just back up all nice like and step on out of the ship. You got that?" I asked as I reached once more for the ramp switch, eyeing him carefully. Honestly, I didn't want to shoot him. I also did not want to get caught up in whatever he had after him either.

 

[Enyhk]

"That won't be convienent right now." Enyhk said in that same even tone. "The Hunter whom those men work for will be on his way here, they will stop at nothing to get to me and I will ensure that you are between me and them. That is unless you prepare to lift off now." Those mismatched eyes peer into hers. "Please." He said, the word felt strange on his tongue and sounded even stranger to his ears but still he said it. He had no idea why but he did.

 

[Dragon Fae]

Keeping my gun honed on him, I backed into the cargo bay, turning to a console and punching a couple of codes in. Immediately, I saw several men making for my ship. My eyes narrowed as I furrowed my brows and glared at him. Finally, I let forth a slew of Huttese curse words and jammed my slug thrower back into the holster.

Turning back toward the cockpit, I hurried to the pilot's chair. "Sit down and and strap yourself in," I yelled back at him, believing I had just made the biggest mistake in my life.

Flipping switches, I began to power up the ship, my eyes constantly looking at the console still tied into the rear security cams. They were shooting at my ship!! "You wouldn't know anything about flying half as good as killing would you?" I sarcastically asked him, wishing he could at least help get me out of the mess he had gotten me into.

 

[Enyhk]

While he followed her up to the Cockpit he got an increasingly pained look on his face. As he passed monitors static appeared on the screens, lights flickered and her speakers got a buzz-like warble to them.

"Alas I do not. Electronics and I do not get along." He said, standing in the door way. "Do you have something less... well further away from your consoles" He held the frame tightly as if she were about to launch at any second.

___________________________

"My Lord, do you want them to breach the ship?" The bald man asked.

"No, but have them keep shooting at the ship. I like it when prey runs." The Hunter grinned as he walked down the hill towards the landing port.

 

[Dragon Fae]

I scowled as my monitors scrambled. I reached out and smacked the monitor a couple of times, watching as even the power grid seemed to go crazy. "Cargo..." I quickly answered as I glanced out the viewer and saw his friends coming hot and heavy with guns blaring.

Once he had moved further away from the cockpit, things seemed to go back to normal again. I sighed with relief as I finished warming my baby up, goosing her as much as I dared on such short notice. Just as the men got close to the ramp, I let her rip. The ship shuddered and groaned as she rose from the landing pad and was peppered with bullets. I was glad I paid more for plating last time I was in the Core. Turning her around, I set my sights on the horizon, changing the viewers to see how many bogies I might have on my tail. My only hope was to out run them.

 

[Enyhk]

Enyhk walked back through the ship, his hands bracing himself on anything solid as he walked. He hated ships and space travel in general. He paused as he entered the cargo bay. The thrum of the engines made the very air vibrate. With a scowl he turned and used his own judgement to find something away from the very things he could distrupt were he to stay near. It turned out to be a small cabin... The Captains judging by the clothing. He took a seat on the bed, it would do. Looking at the floor he saw the stim cap. A frown formed.

"Drugs." He snarled. "I'm on a wretched ship being piloted by a stim-head." He began tossing anything remotely electronic out into the corridor, followed by her clothing the drawer full of stims he promptly shoved into a recycler. After the room was much cleaner and emptier he took a seat on the bed again. "Better."

He curled up on the bed and drifted into the closest he ever got to sleep.

 

[Dragon Fae]

I thought at first that we were going to make a clean getaway, but no escape is ever that easy. Fighters were on my tail and coming fast. Reaching up to turn my music down, I focused with both hands on the controls, giving her all she had. The Sliph was fast, but she was not matched with a fighter.

As the cannon fire began, I had the girl twirling through the air, dancing around the light show like she was dodging raindrops. I was so focused on my flying that I did not hear the assassin messing around my room, touching things that didn't belong to him. I had bigger fish to fry.

As the sky around us began to darken and the ship began to light up a little, I gazed into the black with adoration. I was going home again. Another round of fire came at me, knocking me back to the present. I saw a warning light flash on the console and quickly shut it off, my eyes focused on the blips on the radar instead. These jerks were smart!

"Oh no you don't," I muttered as I pursed my lips and set her into another roll. I hoped my passenger was safely stowed away. Coming up behind a couple of the fighters, I lit them up with rail guns, watching as they began to break off and try to get behind me.

With one eye on the radar as they began to reposition themselves, I began lining up our next destination, trying to enter all the information these blasted hyperdrives demanded these days. I had to pause a few times to dodge some crafty shooting, taking some hits and getting more warning lights pop up on the console. Still, I was not about to give up.

"C'mon, c'mon, baby. Nice and easy," I said, trying to coax the computer to work a little faster.

I cursed as one of the fighters managed to slip beside me and turned around to come at me in a headon. I lit it up, sending the ship flying as I forced the ship into a hard turn to port, nearly stalling her. The computer warned me of being out of alignment with the charted course as I cursed again and pulled her back into line, finger hovering over the button.

As soon as I got the green light, I punched her.

 

[Enyhk]

Enyhk felt what was going on, judging by the moves the ship made. Ultimately he didn't care. He knew the Hunter wouldn't let him be killed by hounds, certainly not on a ship. He was too valuable for that. In the end after some bracing for some of the more dramatic spins Enyhk settled back down as he felt the ship groan and complain but go into Hyperspace.

"Finally." He muttered and sat up, removing his shirt intent on getting some rest. The Journal hitting the floor caught his attention. He picked it up and put it on the table. He wondered if every Hunted had one. He'd wondered that often. Standing up he looked at his mark in the mirror. So elaborate, so annoying but still all his.

 

[Dragon Fae]

Once I was sure we were okay, I began to run diagnostics and find out what all I had blown. I ran a hand across my face as I waited for the computer to compile the results. Leaning back in the chair as it let out a squeak, I glanced over my shoulder toward the corridor.

Looking back at the computer and seeing her still working, I double checked the time it would take us and then got up. Slowly walking back through the corridor, I saw something up ahead that looked suspiciously like my clothing cast carelessly on the floor. I stopped for just a moment and scanned the rest of the corridor, seeing my datapad and a few other knicknacks littering the floor.

Instantly I felt the heat rise as I walked purposefully toward my quarters, being careful to not step on anything. Bending down to grab my favorite shirt, I then wrenched the door open.

"Just who the hel-" I began, but stopped as I saw his back. I quickly recovered as I went further into the room, holding my wadded shirt up in my fist before him. "Does this look like the cargo bay?" I asked furiously and then threw the shirt down on my bed and turned on him, my finger pointed at his chest. "Just who do you think you are? You walk right in her like this is your ship and make yourself right at home."

Normally, I'd never talk to a man I saw kill someone as easily as he had in this manner. I have too much respect for my own life. Still, he had said he had trouble with technology. It was this "trouble" and my anger that gave me the boldness to stand up to him.

 

[Enyhk]

"This was the only place that was not too close to important systems of the ship. The cargo bay is too close to the engines and you need them. Considering how far we are from other worlds the hyperdrive will need to be running. Were I to stay in the Cargo hold for the entire trip your engine systems would be slagged and I little better." He gestured to the pile of things in the corridor "I removed the portable items and your personal effects." He turned to face her "I also found some weapons in the drawer, needles of some kind and to show my intentions I placed them in the Recycler. I would not want you to fret over me using them on you in your sleep." He managed not to smile at his words, he knew a tornado was about to rip lose.

 

[Dragon Fae]

"You had no right!" I yelled as I looked to the recycler and saw it had not been activated yet. Pulling it open, I plunged my hand into it to pull out the unused needles, not caring what all I got on my hands. I needed them. Slowly, I pulled out grimy needles, still covered in their protective caps and began to make a pile. Getting the ones I could reach, I rounded on him, glaring fiercely as I gathered them into my hands and went to the refresher. Washing them off as best as I could, I felt my anger rising further and further. I should have shot the creep when I first met him.

 

[Enyhk]

"You must need them to dig through garbage to reclaim them. I wonder what else you would do to get them? What part of your soul remains yours and what parts have you already sold?" His head was cocked to the side as he spoke, looking at her with those eerily unblinking, mismatched eyes. "Perhaps it is best they remain where they are, if you are to have any soul left."

Part of him hoped he reached her but another part of him wondered why he was trying. She was no one, nothing to him, a means to an end and nothing more. Why did he care?

 

[Dragon Fae]

I said nothing as I finished washing them and then cradled them against my chest, soaking my clothes. Then, brushing past him, I headed for the shirt I had thrown upon the bed and dropped them onto the shirt. Picking it up and cradling the bundle once again against my chest, I once again stood before him.

"Touch them again and I'll see that you never see another starport," she warned him in a low menacing voice. "Those I could not retrieve I'm adding to your bill. Once we get to the first port, you are out of here," she said before turning and heading for the door.

 

[Enyhk]

He shrugged "Whatever you say, you're the Captain." He didn't seem very moved by her threat and he didn't bother telling her he had at best a couple of credits on him. It would just upset her.
He took a seat on the bed, removing his boots.

"My name is Enyhk." He said "I will do my best to not damage your vessel with my presence though eventually the feedback loop will begin to have a toll on your ships systems. For that I do apologize."