(Rishi System) Humbling Beginnings

[Vash Windrider]

The air touched the back of his throat like frozen fingers. Vash coughted and suddenly sucked in deeply as life and reality reached out to him and slapped him back to consciousness. Vash moved his head to look around and his eyes struggled to ajust. Finally focusing on the control panel before him. A look of confusion washes over and then past him as the realization of what happened returns to him.

Vash had aquired a poorly pieced together Uglies fighter from a pirate and was shortly there after under fire from the rest of his friends. The fighter manuvered like a brick, more transport then assault craft. Shields were gone in the first hit, craft was done in the second, and the last thing he could remember was slamming into a mountain.

Vash shook the cobwebs from his head and then focused. Using the force to split the shell of the fighter from around him and then crawling out from the wreckage. The Exile then got to his feet and looked around. He seemed to be at the edge of a stand of trees, still on the mountain judging by the vally below that seemed to be hundreds of feet down. He reached back toward the craft and called his weapon to his hand.




@EmilyHuene

 

[First Mate Midnight]

"Find him find him find him!" The captain called into the PA system.

The rough reptilian voice was law around this ship and the pirates aboard would obey. One such member was a young woman by the name of Cora, though she'd had a nickname all her life as Midnight, due to her dark hair. Midnight was not a member with this crew, not exactly. She was hired in by the Hutts and working contract hits for them. She hated it. She hated it so much. Oh how she wanted to do her own thing again. But she needed the money.

Midnight took the co-pilot seat alongside a Wookie who was flying one of the speeders that shot Vash down. The Wookie landed them in the trees and Midnight walked out onto the land. She was probably the worst person to come and track down this man as she -being a normal human- had no extra senses to help her. All she had was her eyes and her gut. Strapped to her back was a sniper rifle, and to her hips were two repeating pistols. Midnight wasn't the best shot, so the more bullets she fired usually meant one would hit its mark.

The girl climbed up onto the trees and took her rifle out to see through her scope. She didn't expect to find their target anywhere, but she did find his ship easily enough. She whistled to the Wookie below and pointed him in the right direction. She'd then climb down and sigh when she realized her partner had left her to go hunting.

 

[Vash Windrider]

Vash was still a little dazed. It was by sheer will and the force that he was not dead. But every fiber of his being was screaming at him. It was a feeling that all to clearly reminded him of his own last days before Ilum. The memory sent fear and anger coursing through him, filling him. It pushed him to move to find a way off of this god forsaken rock. He was using so much energy and will of force to keep on his feet that he didn't realize he was prey.

He knew the irritating pirates would be searching for him sooner rather then later. He was simply unaware of how much sooner. Vash had been wondering aimlessly, not just now but for months. Rumors were abound as to the growing empire of Exiles under the unified control of a powerful Exile, Andrasta. The force trembled as her movement grew, and as she made powerful moves like building an alliance with The Hutt's. It was enough to pull Vash out of his whole in the Outer Rim and make moves of his own, perhaps even to fight under this Warlord's banner. But first he had to get himself off this rock.

 

[First Mate Midnight]

Midnight would follow after the Wookie as best as she could. He'd already made his way quickly toward the run down ship and was preparing to find Vash in a firefight. Midnight used what little tracking she could to keep up, but it wasn't like she could read the trails or see where his foot prints were. She knew the sight of the ship and headed straight for it. She figured that was what her partner had done. Only she didn't know he was a more experienced hunter and had gone in an arch to flank the man. Little Midnight was heading into this fight alone...

"Um....guys?" she would call over her mic. "Anyone else heading this way...?"

 

[Vash Windrider]

The sound of voices snapped Vash out of his daydream and possible concussion. Turning to find the source of the voice, his head suddenly started to spin and a thunder rolled between his ears. He was off balance and flat footed when the fur covered tree trunk of an arm caught him in the chest and sent him sailing for a few feet. Vash landed with a cough, and quickly rose to an elbow. His attacker leaped to crush him with what Vash assumed were his feet but vision was to blurred to be sure.

Fear and fight or flight impulse to over him. Shooting a hand out to will the force to shove his attacker with the power of a a gale wind. The furry blur was sudden thrown from view. Vash got to his feet one more and looked to find what he now assumed was a Wookie. As the pirate wook got to his feet the wounded exile reached out with the with an invisible hand and smashed the head into the tree he was using to brace himself to stand. Closing the hand around a mop of fur he continued to the assault until the Wookie stopped making noise.

Killing the Wookie seemed to fuel him, the dark side within him fed on he fear and the hate building within him and pushed past his injuries. It was not true rage, at least he didn't think so. But it was certainly helping. Vash used it. quickly closing the gap between himself and the last known area of the voice. If he could capture this one, he might find out where the other ships were, and maybe have a chance of getting out of this system.

 

[First Mate Midnight]

PEW!

A blue laser bolt flew past Vash's head and burnt a small hole in a tree behind him. Following the sight of where it came from was a young girl who was barely out of her teen years. She had long black hair and a ribbon keeping it behind her neck to match. She wore a white coat over a cute top that only covered her chest; the pants were skinny and tucked into tall boots. She had two gun holsters on her hips which held repeating pistols. There was also another strap around her frame which had been holding a sniper rifle until she had used to find Vash originally.

The girl appeared to be in some for of distress, though what she was saying was not clear to Vash as the distance between them too great. She had crouched down behind a tree and aimed her rifle right at the man, yet still missed her target. She fired again, this time would strike him for sure unless he did something to deflect the bolt or dodge it relatively. Once he'd done so, she'd swear again and continue to fire at him until the distance between them closed.

Dropping the rifle she got to her feet and quickly started backing up without watching where she was going. She pulled out the pistols and firing off as many rounds as her finger could pull the trigger. Each shot let off a burst of three. Surely one of them would bring the man down. After all, she'd just watched her large and ferocious partner get bashed into a tree repeatedly. There was no way Midnight would survive in a fight against this man. She prayed her guns would do the trick. Otherwise-

Slip.

Midnight shrieked as she tumbled on a tree vine and fell onto her back, her guns went off in either direction. She hit her head on the ground and groaned loudly. She could see stars dancing in her vision. That was never a good sign. Midnight reached out on either side of her hoping to grasp at her guns but she couldn't feel them, nor could she see them with her vision currently all blurry and her head spinning.

"Owie....."

 

[Vash Windrider]

His vision was starting to clear, and he could once more see things as more then a distortion or blur. No sooner did he feel better about his situation then a blue bolt vaporized a tree branch not more then a meter from his head. muscle memory took over and Vash ignited his weapon in time to bat away a following bolt, followed by several more. Now he was angry. Calling apawn the force, he willed his legs. Closing the distance between himself and the shooter in a few short seconds.

The sniper, poorly executed as she was, was at least smart enough to switch to close quarters and was going to attempt to unleash hell on him but managed to trip over a vine or twig. To his advantage she also managed to lose her weapons. He was atop of her now as she reached for a pistol. Vash shifted his will over the force, using an invisible hand to shove the weapon away and well out of the snipers reach.

His saber still activated he swung and pointed the edge of the plasma blade till it was only inches from the girl's throat. " Make so much as another move and I'll part your head from that pretty petite body of yours and leave it here for the vermin to feed on. Call you're friends, tell them I died in that crash and to call of the search."






@EmilyHuene

 

[First Mate Midnight]

Midnight was frozen with fear. The man was over her and waving a laser sword at her throat. A lightsaber. She'd get a pretty penny if she could return that to the Hutts. She'd never have to worry about money again. But that wasn't her first priority. First...she needed to live.

" Make so much as another move and I'll part your head from that pretty petite body of yours and leave it here for the vermin to feed on. Call you're friends, tell them I died in that crash and to call of the search."

Very carefully she nodded her head to show she understood. "My...my comlink is in my pocket....?" It was more of a question than a statement. If he allowed her to move she'd reach for it and turn it on. "Um.....Hello? Oh. Sorry. This is pilot Midnight. Um, Midnight Black. Yeah the target is down. My partner Chud.....the Wookie...yeah. It looks like he took the guy out. I'm going to go investigate. I'll radio back in a moment."

Midnight looked at the man over her to see if her lie would be well transcribed or not. It also gave her at least another few minutes to live. "How was that?"

 

[Vash Windrider]

Vash deactivated his lightsaber but held it ready to switch it on and cut the feline in two if she tried anything. He was still towering over her as he used the force to send out a feeling of despair and fear, in hopes of making the young pilot less likely to do something stupid. Unless she was trained to resist mental attacks she could do little else then fall victim to the emotions as they would rise within her.

"Midnight is it ? tell me Midnight how many ships and men are in this little group of yours." His voice would start to ring in her head, aided by the force to continue the feeling of fear and intimidation.

 

[First Mate Midnight]

As if she wasn't already afraid enough, now the man was pushing more of it into her mind. Her hands began to shake and her ears twitched nervously searching for signs of predators and the like who might be snooping in the shadows.

"Midnight is it ? tell me Midnight how many ships and men are in this little group of yours."

Midnight shook her head and stuttered through her words, "I I I don't know.....the carrier has six in reserve. There were at least four of us. Maybe five.....I'm not sure if all six were deployed."

 

[Vash Windrider]

Vash stood a moment, staring at the ground a moment at the thought about his next move. If he were in better condition the odds would be easily in his favor. But he wasn't, the force was the only thing keeping him on his feet at the moment. Vash decided to play this a little more to his weakness, bribing her. Hope that her greed as a pirate would take over.

"Pilot right? Not a fighter that's for sure. Sooo smuggler by trade if I had to guess. So cartel? Cartel means you answer to one Vigo or another, I'm sure that Vigo gets a cut of what ever it is you guys are doing here so I tell you what, I'll cut you a deal. Just you and me. I'll give you 10 thousand credits to get me off this rock and back to Nar Shaddaa ?" He said calmly. Not using the force this time. He wanted to play to her greed and gain her trust now. But it was the last of his money so if she didn't take it, he might have to end her as well and go it on his own.

 

[First Mate Midnight]

"Pilot right? Not a fighter that's for sure. Sooo smuggler by trade if I had to guess. So cartel? Cartel means you answer to one Vigo or another, I'm sure that Vigo gets a cut of what ever it is you guys are doing here so I tell you what, I'll cut you a deal. Just you and me. I'll give you 10 thousand credits to get me off this rock and back to Nar Shaddaa ?"

Ten thousand credits?! To betray the smugglers she was working for? Her brain couldn't process it. She looked down at his feet, trying to figure out a plan. If she said no, he'd likely kill her. He could find her ship easily enough. He may even be able to pilot it himself. His skill was hard to judge considering they were the ones who shot him down. But she could never face them again if she took the deal. Though......who said anyone had to know?

Her mind was working fast. If she took the deal, and he didn't betray her, she'd be 10K richer and have enough money to vanish for awhile. Or she could pocket the 10 grand, return to the Hutts and say she was forced to do as he said. He kidnapped her or something or another. It was risky. She'd figure out a better lie later. But there was still one thing she needed to be sure of...

"How do I know I can trust you?"

 

[Vash Windrider]

" You don't" He said simply. "But you also don't have no other choice pilot, greed or death." He continued flatly. Then re-lit his saber again for emphasis. The choice was simple, make money, get off world. It would be much easier with her than without but perfectly doable either way. With her would simply take less effort.

 

[First Mate Midnight]

" You don't. But you also don't have no other choice pilot, greed or death."

Midnight flinched when his saber lit up again. Her eyes were wide with both fear, and understanding. She knew there was no other way. If she was going to die later, she would have maybe a good hour or two to figure out how to prevent that. But for now, the choice was very clear indeed. She would have to do as this man said.

"Ok. Ok alright. I'll get you off world. My ship isn't that far."

Once Vash backed up enough for her to move she;d get back to her feet. She never looked too far away from him in fear of being stabbed in the back. That seemed like something he would do. But then...why not just kill her already? Her mind began planning her own death. She saw herself in front of her ship and being stabbed. Or she started up the ship and he would come up behind her and snap her neck. Or worse, once the ship got to hyperspace he'd lock her in the airlock and drop her.

Midnight gulped. What a horrible way to die. She moved to her guns and very deliberately put them in her holsters. She didn't want him thinking she would turn a wrong way and shoot at him. Midnight was taking no chances. Once she'd collected her things she made her way back to the ship. Unfortunately for Vash, she might have lost her way a little, but otherwise got them there after correcting her course and turning slightly to the left once it came into sight. Unsure of what he'd do next, she hesitantly opened up the cockpit and made her way to the pilot's seat to start everything up.

 

[Vash Windrider]

This experience had taken much more out of the former Jedi Shadow then could of been expected. The years of laying low and allowing the cold war to pass him had taken it's tole on him. That and nearly being killed in the crash that would of most likely taken his life had he not been protected by the force. Even so he would need weeks of rest. As such he was glad that this pilot took his deal, it would save him the last reserves of is stamina and force ability. Still it was a far trek to get to her ship. At one point he was sure they were lost.

When they finally made it to her craft he resided to sit himself into her back seat. Pulling a pouch from his utility belt her took out a some of credits. "Half now, half when we get to Nar Shaddaa", he said and then handed her the money. Vash really would relax and sit back as they took off. Even managing a nap as they left the planet and set a course for the Hutt moon.

Later they would arrive and land on a small pat in one of the lower levels of the city. Midnight seemed to be afraid that she might get killed if she was seen with a Jedi. But the former Jedi Shadow knew better. The new Overlord of the growing Exile Empire had done the impossible, forged an alliance with the Hutts and word was even the Republic. Vash scoffed at that thought. Then paid Midnight as promised. Then left the ship and vanished into the shadows of the city.


"I need a drink"


END.