Ask [Savareen] Sand In All The Wrong Places

[Raya Kryze]

If Raya heard Matias’ initial protests, she didn’t acknowledge them whatsoever. The Kryze was entirely consumed by her own engagement with Tolbert - her own self of self preservation and survival kicking, as she proceeded to execute the gangmember in the most brutal way possible. She didn’t relent when she started screaming, and she barely paid any mind to the struggle between Matias and Zay - beyond the simple reality the man had done what was necessary by opting to execute his former colleagues.

The Kryze barely had time to roll off of Tolbert’s disfigured corpse - his face burned and half-melted by the fusion cutter - before she heard Matias screeching at her. She immediately whipped around - confusion flashing across her features at once. For a few moments, Raya watched as he kicked and banged around her ship as if he owned the place - her expression progressively hardening into a frigid, harsh mask.

“Because it was fucking necessary.” She said curtly, glaring back at Matias. “They were here to fucking kill us. Both us.” Raya rose up to a stand, arms crossing over her shoulders. “This ship is only so large - what the fuck did you think was going to happen? We could hide until they fucked off? You could talk them off the edge?”

“My cell is empty, and your bike is parked outside. Get real.” As far as Raya was concerned, any ‘plan’ Matias had was blown out of the water the moment people arrived to investigate. Even if they had lived, suspicions would’ve been hide and trying to subtly sneak away in the night would’ve been next to impossible. Killing them quickly merely bought them a bit of time before shit really hit the fan.

Back on her feet, Raya watched as Matias abruptly turned on a heel and booked it towards the exit of the shuttle - not giving so much as a word in response. Was he simply going to ditch her? Run back to whoever was waiting in the village? Raya didn’t know. The only thing she did know, was that Matias knew the location of her Beskar’gam - and she wasn’t going to allow him to simply ditch on her by now. Without a word, the Kryze reached over - grabbing the blaster pistol that was still attached to Tolbert’s corpse. “Where the fuck are you going!?” She barked at Matias, following him down the ramp. She clicked on the stun setting of the pistol - prepared to shoot him in the back and put him down onto his knees if the man looked like he was going to speed off.

 

[Matias Vale]

Raya's words would bounce off Matias like a shield, the man already halfway into a sprint and heading down the hall. With Tolbert and Zay dead, there was no way to find out if the entire camp was on alert or if they were on their own personal looting run. That only gave him one option to discover whether his worst fear became a reality or not in person and quickly. By the time she got to her first question, he was outside of the ship and hopping off the side of the ramp.

Despite the short distance, both Matias' legs and lungs burned as his breathing became ragged not from exertion but from panic. Adrenaline and fear fueled him as his long stride helped him close in on his bike before he practically jumped onto it. Any thought of Raya had completely left his mind at this point, her free and in possession of a weapon barely even measuring up to what was currently rampaging through his mind. With a slam of his foot, he kicked down the clutch before completely twisting the throttle. Practically with no hesitation, as if his bike itself understood the situation, his ride roared fiercely before launching itself like a rocket.

If Raya had made it out of the ship at that point and actually tried to shoot him, she would find him difficult to see as his bike coughed up a large sand cloud and trailed after him. If a shot was fired, then he was prepared for evasive maneuvers if need be. She tried her luck questioning where he was going but the response she would receive would just be the distant roar of his engine.
While her ride to the ship had just left her, it wasn't the only one parked there. Two more bikes had joined the spot where Matias' had been, clearly from Tolbert and Zay. An obvious trail had been left by the rapid departure but Raya had been left free to make her own choice on what to do, no longer bound and finally armed.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Within moments, a string of loud, colorful expletives - alternating between Basic and Mando’a - filled the interior cabin of Raya’s ship. Any faith that Matias was going to live up to his side of the bargain went out the window, and the Kryze could only narrow her eyes as the man bolted for the bikes outside. His plan - keeping both of the men alive - was ludicrous as far as she was concerned, and his response equally so.

As could be expected, she wasted no time in jumping to her feet - firing off a volley of stun blasts into the back of the man in a vain attempt to hit him. Rings of blue streaks through the air, vanishing into the cloud of dust.

Before she could blink, Matias was already blitzing across the sand - going off to fuck-knows-where for who-knew what reason. Raya could only tighten her jaw in response, frustration and anger surging through her at once. In one hand, the Kryze couldn’t have been happier to see him fuck off. It meant she didn’t need to ferry his ass away, she was armed, and could go about her business accordingly. On the other hand, however - and more importantly, Matias knew where her Beskar’gam was hidden. He had taken it, and without him, her chances of actually locating the armor were next to nothing.

“I fucking hate you.” She growled, her words aimed at no one in particular. There was no decision to be made.

Without another thought, Raya darted for one of the bikes - igniting the engine to begin trailing Matias. While the man had a significant lead over her, the trail of dust he left gave the Kryze everything she needed - in addition to her own training as a Bounty Hunter - to keep tabs on her query. Her fingers still curled tightly around the blaster pistol - almost certain to pop Matias the moment he was within reach.

@Orbit

 

[Matias Vale]

The shots fired after Matias didn't even register as they soared past. He rode like a demon, the handle twisted to full throttle; barely weaving through the pillars of rock that were erected from the sand. Raya couldn't ride like him but because of how ferocious he was doing so, it was pretty easy to track the careless trail that was left. If there was a belief they were heading in the direction of the village, or at least back to Kodo, that notion would be shattered as they practically went in the opposite direction.

Matias maintained the crazed pace for about ten minutes before he finally reached his destination, the base of a small rocky mountain. For the first time, the throttle was eased as he started to slow but not by much, a clear location in mind as cutting straight there. Thoughts didn't even formulate within his mind, Matias was too afraid to let that happen. If he did, it would drift to the worst outcome possible, influenced by the colorful choices that Kodo had made when it came to punishing someone.

Eventually, he closed in at the base, a modest house and open garage nestled in between the rocks, the walls made out of a dirty white stone that had it stand out. It was nothing special from what was seen in the village but most importantly, it was isolated and private. For the first time, Matias finally eased on the throttle while he closed in, merely so he didn't crash into a firey ball as he aimed for the garage.

Almost at the last moment, a handful of feet out from the garage, he twisted the bike into a drift to make his halt quite rapid. Matais, without concern, hopped off and made straight to the door; the bike practically skidding and nearly hitting the wall before coming to a halt after his rough dismount.

The walls were lined with tools and parts, each one holding a happy memory for him but he pushed past without even a glance. Matias drew out his pistol as he approached the door, his golden gaze locked on the crack where it would initially open. Raising the blaster, he aimed it forward, his mind steeled as best it could before he slammed his fist on the button and stepped inside.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Understandably, Raya wasn’t having a good time whatsoever. She knew that Matias was her only method of getting her beskar’gam back - and it meant having to follow the moron as he blitzed through the dry, arid landscape. It didn’t take the Kryze long to realize they weren’t going anywhere near the village or Kodo, much to her own irritation. She hadn’t the slightest clue where Matias was going, and she had little other choice than to follow the man wherever that was.

Umber eyes narrowed as the modest little house came into view at the base of the mountain. It was far from the village and isolated from the rest of the gang - and the way that Matias sped towards it led the Kryze to believe it was his own. Perhaps it was the place the man called home - and perhaps it was where his second passenger was staying, whoever they were. Frankly, Raya didn’t much care.

While Matias was ahead of her by a few paces, Raya trailed close behind - blaster pistol raised and prepared to pop him the moment he was within range. Roughly a minute after he had entered the house, Raya brought her own speeder to a halt outside of the house - coming to skid and drift into the garage. Her leg swung over the vehicle and was pressed off of to begin to march towards the house, blaster raised to respond to whatever was waiting for her inside.

Whether it was Matias waiting for a gun, or some of Kodo’s thugs - Raya was armed and prepared to face it.

@Orbit

 

[Matias Vale]

Fear clawed at both Matias' throat and heart. It became difficult to breathe as the worst outcomes possible ran rampant through his mind. He truly knew what Kodo was capable of and just the mere thought of that made him gag. Both hands were clammy from a combination of sweat and nerves, one reaching for the knob and the other holding onto the blaster tightly. The possibility of what the next step was wouldn't even be fathomable to him until he knew what happened inside. Even with the sound of Raya closing in, she still barely registered a place in his mind as he stepped forward, blaster drawn and at the ready.

When Raya finally arrived, she would find his trail led to the open garage, his bike parked inside. If she followed him and entered through the same door, two men would be revealed to be standing in a small living room. The older of the two would glance over at Raya before noting the gun immediately in her hands, their eyes widening. The man raised his own rifle, more of a rancher's piece than an actual military-grade weapon but it packed a punch. The second of the pair would track the other's gaze, turning his head to do so and revealing that it was Matias. Surprise flooded his eyes at her appearance as he had completely forgotten about her.

Realizing what was about to happen and both possible outcomes being the worst in their own way, Matias stepped to the side and in front of the other man, also serving himself up as a shield in case Raya was jumpy. His left hand gripped the barrel of the rifle and pushed it up in the air, holding its aim to the ceiling. "No. She's with me," Matias explained to the man, both their gazes clashing with steel in both of them.

In that pause, Raya would have an opportunity to realize that the similarities between the two were striking. Like Matais, the older man had almost unnatural black hair, like a void itself, especially for his age. It was clear he had spent most of his time in the sun, wear and tear evident across his whole body, his skin tanned and basically weathered from the years of abuse. The biggest clue to reveal who he was would be his eyes. They shone exactly like Matais, a mix of both gold and red that formed a unique combination that almost glimmered in the darkness, although his not as brightly. The man was his father and obviously the second person that had been included in the deal.

His father yanked the rifle out of Matias' hand, returning his hard gaze back to his son, confusion in his eyes. Placing the rifle down, he used both hands to sign out a question to him angrily, What the hell did you do son?

Matias stared at his father for a moment before glancing at Raya and then signing back, What has to be done. Go pack your things now. But his father didn't move as a hard line settled on his face. The reality of what Matias had done to do this was hitting him like a truck and he just stared at him. Please, the word added with a soft exhale from his son, basically pleading.

It was the last ingredient needed before his father finally relented and eased the muscles in his body. Casting one more glance at Raya, he finally picked up his rifle before turning around to walk away. Instead of one long gait, he walked with a major limp, the rifle practically used as a cane while he walked off toward his room to pack what he owned.

Matias watched him leave until he fully left the room to make sure that he was actually listening. When he heard shuffling from the other room, he finally tore his gaze away and looked over to Raya. No words came from his mouth and instead, he tore his eyes away from her and began scouring the house with a bag in hand, storing items in it quickly.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Raya couldn’t control the way her teeth grit and clenched together, all the while as she followed Matias into the garage and the adjacent door. He was making her chase and go through all the trouble - and for what? She wasn’t the least bit pleased, and the Kryze fully intended to knock Matias upside the head with the butt of her blaster for it. Naturally, she only cared about retrieving what matters to her - and getting her revenge on Kodo. She only needed Matias for the former portion of that objective.

As she burst through the door, Raya immediately leveled her blaster - martial instinct kicking in as she scanned for Matias. Naturally, the only thing that threw her off - giving her the smallest bit of pause - was the the presence of another, older man in the room. She hesitated, and in that moment couldn’t help but notice the similarities between the two men. Their golden eyes and unnaturally black hair - and the way that Matias clung to the man clearly indicated some relation. Father? Uncle? She didn’t know, but family was almost obvious.

Her teeth grit ever-so-slightly as the older man aimed his rifle, and she only lowered her own when Matias intervened. She watched him carefully - almost predatorial in her gaze - until he finally limped out of the room, clearly bearing an injury in one of his legs. It was only then that her gaze returned to Matias, a sharp exhale flowing through her nostrils. As much as she was irritated, the Kryze couldn’t help but feel sympathy. Her thoughts were torn back to her own father on Concord Dawn - the one she had lost to AMS and seen succumb to the virus. She would have given anything to go back in time - to take him off planet and away from danger. Beau was the only family left in the world for her, and that void had never quite been filled since.

The pain flashed in Raya’s dark eyes for a mere moment - a crack in her iron visage before it fixed back into place. She sighed before turning on a heel. “Hurry the hell up and meet me at the Speeders. We go back to the ship and get the hell out of here.”

She wanted to walk towards the exit. “I’ll see you both off planet and to wherever you choose.” The Kryze’s voice was genuine for the first time - a shift Matias would clearly note. She didn’t like the man whatsoever - and likely would have found a way to ditch him if he was alone. But the sight of his father and the situation struck a cord within her. “If Kodo comes after us, I need to be able to fight back.”

 

[Matias Vale]

Matias rummaged through the drawers closest to him, the entire piece rattling with his frantic nature. Clothes and any other items that were considered necessary were stuffed into the bag with little care as he focused on speed instead. When he first glanced over and saw Raya's blaster lowered, his concern about her completely vanished and was instead replaced with that of his father to fuel him.

Halfway through this process is when he would finally catch Raya speaking to him which made him pause momentarily. Even though it was the opposite of what she just demanded, his golden gaze flicked toward and then fixated on her. The change in her tone was obvious and not unnoticed by him as he crouched down slowly, preparing for the next set of drawers. From where they started, how they were turning out could almost be comical. While they were nowhere near friends, they at least seemed to have found an understanding now.

In a tone that would be new for Raya as well, one with the harshness and coarseness subsided as he sincerely said, "Thank you." When it came to arming her, there was another pause as it was clear the idea was being mulled over by him. However, that didn't last long as the pair would begin to hear a rumble, one distant but already thunderous as pieces of furniture rattled slightly. They would be able to tell it was closing in and fast.

Matias' gaze snapped to the window, recognizing the sound immediately and one that filled his heart with terror. The bag was released from his grip before he rushed over and past Raya. He yanked the curtain to the side in order to peek out, muttering to himself, "Shit..." With Kodo and the gang in the vicinity, there was no way they were making it to the ship. He didn't doubt that Raya could ride fine but the gang and he had been riding their entire life, knowing their own bikes like the back of their hand and understanding how to push them exactly to their limits.

Backing up from the window, he stepped past Raya and into the garage to immediately slam a fist on the button by the door. The entire room would rumble as the metal door slid down, Matias ensuring it was fully closed before he turned around, "We're not going to make it to the ship." As if on cue, they would begin to hear manmade screams and howls from outside, multiple bikes beginning to circle the house as more pulled up to the front.

Seeing the bike parked outside, multiple bikers pulled out their own blasters before beginning to open fire, believing it was Matias'. After numerous bolts struck the speeder, it simply tilted over on its side and crashed into the sand, oil, and other fluids leaking out from the fresh holes. After a handful of seconds, one familiar voice rang out, "MAATIIIAASS! Settle this all now by dragging the bitch out here to me!" Snickers accompanied his words as Matias' father would stalk out into the living room with all the noise.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Raya kept her eyes fixed onto Matias the entire time, her expression returning to its natural, unamused deadpan. She listened to his gratitude, and responded with a huff through her nostrils. “Whatever, just move your ass,” She said with a shake of her head. “Sooner you pack your shit, the sooner I get what’s mine.” Of course, the Kryze’s attention was promptly drawn to the sound of commotion.

She grit her teeth immediately, gaze lingering on Matias before flicking to one of the windows. She only needed a single glance past the curtain - to see the plumes of dust and the approaching bikes - to know exactly what was happening. She knew there came in full force and what they were looking for, and that their proximity meant there was no escaping it.

While they hollered and fired at the bike outside, Raya few the blaster from her hip - doing a once over of the weapon slinking towards one of the windows. “We can’t face all of them head on.” She grumbled. Her gaze flicked to the living room before back to Matias. “Is there a place you can take the old dude? Bunker? Basement?” She jutted her chin back to the windows. “They ain’t gonna be patient for long.”

@Orbit

 

[Matias Vale]

Matias was frozen in place as he stared out the window and was able to see the shadows of bikes that passed as they circled around the house. His stillness wasn't due to inaction but to allow him to think of an escape route for all of them. One option that was off the table immediately was taking them head-on and risking their lives, specifically his father's. The entire reason they were in this predicament was in order to get him off the planet safely. There was no chance he was going to risk it at this point.

Though that option was off the table, one word that Raya had said echoed repeatedly in his mind; basement. Matias turned to face his father, practically ordering him given the situation, "Go down to the basement and wait there. If me..." A pause interrupted his words which was quickly followed itself by a glance over toward the Mandalorian. They were deep in the shit at this point and that left him no choice but to trust her. "Or she aren't the one to open the door, shoot them." The tone of his words indicated that he was utterly serious; anybody else was free game.

His father glanced at Raya first and then back to him, signing out a question after he rested his rifle against his inner leg, What are you going to do, Mat? No sound came out from his mouth but the concern was still palpable across his face.

Matias let out a humorless chuckle as he began to take steps backward and toward the garage, a shrug coming after from his broad shoulders, "The one thing the planet taught me how to do well. Go to the basement." It was the one aspect of the planet that he was thankful for. Spinning on his heel, he faced in the direction of the garage before casting another glance over to Raya, "You're with me." The gang wasn't interested in his father, they were interested in the two of them.

Entering the garage, he immediately made his way over to the bike and used both hands to grab on the throttles, simply muscling it into the center of the room. There was only one helmet and it was tossed to Raya as he was more concerned for her head than his. A leg was swung over after and he seated himself down on the cushioned seat. Lifting his gaze to stare at the garage door for a moment, he exhaled softly before then swinging it over to Raya and speaking matter of factly, "You ride with me. We'll draw them away."

 

[Raya Kryze]

A few moments passed, and Raya watched the exchange between Matias and his father - umber eyes following their signed conversation without any real understanding of the meaning. All the same, she waited for the older man to vanish down into the basement before turning her attention back to Matias. Whatever desire she had to deck the man square in the jaw, the Kryze knew they simply couldn’t afford to be enemies for the time being. Like it or not, they needed each other to survive.

“The hills and mountains around the house,” Raya began, glancing down at the pistol she carried - ensuring it was loaded and prepped for the coming firefight. “If we fight them out in the open, we’re dead. You lead us into the hills and away from the house - force them to follow - and we’ll have a better chance of survival. Force them single or double file and limit exposure.” She said matter-of-factly. As she entered the garage, the Kryze took the liberty of sniping a tire jack and knife from the equipment Matias had stashed. He’d taken her arsenal, and she had to make due with whatever was available to her.

“I don’t need anything blocking my line of sight,” Raya tossed the helmet right back at Matias, proceeding to climb onto the back of the bike. Her legs wrapped around the vehicle and an arm reached forth to stabilize herself, while the pistol was firmly held in her opposite hand. “Now.”

The moment the garage doors opened and Matias began darting forth, Raya raised her blaster pistol towards the gang assembled outside. They were outnumbered heavily, but the Kryze had the benefit of Mandalorian training and a lifetime of warfare. She was, quite frankly, quicker on the draw and a better shot than most of the men waiting. Three bolts were fired off in rapid succession - the first two aimed at two different men, the closest to her, while the third was deliberately fired off towards Kodo. His thick head wasn’t difficult to pick out amongst the group.

But it would be incumbent upon Matias to get them moving and away from certain death.

@Orbit

 

[Matias Vale]

Matias expected to be hit with a wall of insults and complaints, specifically at both riding with him and riding into his former gang all together. To his surprise, he received neither and instead, Raya appeared to be fully behind the plan. At least, she seemed aboard with her own modified one compared to his. The entire time he would be silent, whether in agreement or in disagreement, couldn't be deciphered.

The helmet was tossed back at him and he caught it with one hand, holding onto it for a moment only to toss it right on the ground. As Raya mounted the bike and it shifted to her weight, Matias reached into his jacket pocket, commenting, "If you're not going to wear that," his hand would pull free from the pocket and with a comm piece. He glanced back at her before offering it over, "At least take this." The helmet had its own comm but as long as she possessed one, he didn't care. While she spoke and fitted the comm piece, he reached to his own and texted a quick message before refocusing.

"I would hold on," Matias suggested to her calmly, his gaze trained ahead as he began to rev the engine of his bike. After each twist, the roar from his bike grew louder and louder, like it was a caged animal knowing it was about to be released and unable to contain itself. Both of them were able to feel the power of his bike rumbling beneath their legs and a hint that the build wasn't standard. As the garage doors lifted, both of them would be able to hear shouting on the other side, specifically Kodo, "Get on your fucking bikes now!" There was a worry to his voice not present before.

Though Matias' viciousness had helped him maintain his spot within the gang, that wasn't the primary reason why. When the metal door opened just enough that they would be able to fit, he fully twisted the throttle and they would launch out from the garage like a rocket. There were about ten men present and Raya's first shot would find its mark and kill the rider. The rest however would be too affected by the sudden change in speed, at best grazing both.

Instead of going wide, Matias drove right at them and right where they were parked with their bikes. They would be able to hear screams and shouts as he gunned right for them. Almost at the last moment, he would lower himself and perform a zig-zag through the makeshift blockade, even scaping and grinding against one of the bikes on the final turn before they shot out, even knocking a few over. There was no stopping and Matias twisted the throttle even harder as a flame erupted from the engine, propelling them to new speeds instantly. If Raya wanted to try and shoot, she would more likely fall off the ride as Matias barely seemed to recognize she was on the vehicle with him. "Stay with me," he whispered not to Raya but to his bike as he pushed her to the max.

As they closed in on a rock structure, he would lean to the right and to the point that the bike tilted and had it to where their knees were only inches above the sand. They would turn sharply again and practically right against the structure and ride the corner as only one misstep was needed for either of their heads to be taken off. When they finished and whipped around at a continuous breakneck speed, both of them would be able to see the formation of hills and rock structures ahead.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Raya couldn’t help but grin as her first shot found its mark - yellow plasma slicing through the air and punching clean through the skull of a gang-member. “Eat shit,” She muttered loud enough to be heard. The Mandalorian was a trained killer and no stranger to the sight, but dispatching Kodo’s men brought a different level of satisfaction. A great deal of the men had participated in her beating, and the Kryze didn’t even attempt to hide the fact that she enjoyed picking them off, one by one.

“You think?” The Kryze quipped back at Matias. With the way he was driving, Raya didn’t hesitate to latch onto the other man tightly - keeping herself stabilized on the bike despite his wild and twisty driving. It kept the men off their tail and forced them deeper into the narrow, mountainous passages - though it left her with little opportunity to lean back and fire on their opponents.

As they approached the rock structures ahead, though, the Mandalorian immediately knew what was to be done. Without a word to Matias, Raya leveled her blaster upon the narrow rock formations above - unloading four shots into the stone in rapid succession as they approached - chipping and melting away at the narrow stone that held it all together. Within moments, the boulders and stone began to crack and splinter at the weak point, finally breaking and beginning to tumble down the hill.

Given their speed and trajectory, Matias and Raya passed the structure long before the several tons of stone rolled down the hill. Those behind them, though? Weren’t so lucky. As they attempted to pursue, two of the men were caught up in the sudden avalanche of rock - knocked off their bikes as they were mercilessly crushed. The men behind them had to swerve and cut wide paths around the boulders to continue the chase - additionally granting Matias and Raya a bit of distance on the attackers.

Raya couldn’t help but grit her teeth, her fingers sinking into Matias’ side as she gripped him tightly to keep herself on the bike. It changed very little between them, and the Kryze was just as likely to take a swing at the man when the right moment arose.. But for now, they worked together and hanging onto him meant survival. “There!” She pointed towards one of the narrow passages. “It’ll force them single file.” Not only would it make them easier to pick off, but it would continue to slow the advance of the rest of the men.

 

[Matias Vale]

With another twist of the throttle, Matias' bike roared hungrily while they gained speed. It seemed counter-intuitive as they closed in on the pillars of rock but he placed enough trust in his own skill. After he weaved and ducked through the first assortment of them, he felt Raya shift behind him before he then saw the blaster out of the corner of his eye. Quickly picking up what was happening, he kept his speed and trajectory stable so her shot wouldn't be affected.

The swath of bolts Raya fired would find their target as they easily melted through the stone and caused structural damage. Both of them would pass easily as they would hear the pillar groan out in pain before beginning to topple over. Matias didn't even glance back as he had no intention of wasting the opportunity the Mandalorian provided to them. They would be able to feel the earth rumble from the collapse for a brief moment, the distance helping them avoid the worst of the aftershock. Still, it caused the bike to wobble temporarily as he felt Raya interlock her arms around his waist to hold on. While he would have loved to, no comment would be made but she would be able to feel the tenseness in his muscles as he was more focused on keeping them upright.

Eventually, he got them to straighten out as Raya pointed out one of the passages. Matias gave it a simple glance but that was all it received before he committed a sharp turn to the right, the completely wrong direction. Instead, he took a narrower path, quickly riding the corner in order to manage the sharp turn before they launched out of it with blurring velocity. As they went down the new passage, both of them would be able to see a cave at the very end of it, the entrance completely covered in darkness. Using one hand, he flicked on the headlight of his bike, the intensity of the beam compared to the sun, and to not leave them utterly blind. Without hesitation, they speared through the darkness that attempted to defend the cave as they caught air for a little before slamming onto the ground.

Almost immediately, Matias would begin weaving, avoiding stalagmites erected from the ground that was a similar size to a smaller human, a small and unmoving army. With the darkness and how fast they were going, it almost seemed unnatural that he was able to catch each one last second to avoid, yet he was doing it. In truth, it was practice as he hadn't been lying to his father about what the planet taught him well. This was where he honed his skill, on possibly one of the most dangerous courses in the galaxy as each rock blurred past too close for comfort. As they went deeper, holes in the ceiling would appear, allowing shafts of light to penetrate and illuminate the room somewhat.

About more than halfway through the tunnel, Matias would finally ease the speed of his bike before he slammed on the brakes. They slid a few feet from the abrupt change in speed but eventually did come to a halt. He breathed heavily, almost relieved himself he could get off his bike for a second and stand on his legs. More importantly for Raya, she would be able to catch a crack in the nearby wall, one wide enough for her to squeeze through as it seemed it led to another cavern.

Matias dismounted from his bike, pulling off the stowed-away rifle on it as he slung it over his shoulder. He turned to face Raya while his gaze rested on her, clearly experiencing an internal battle as he debated what to do. In the end, he relented, for the survival of both himself and his father. "We can't outrun them forever. They know the mountains just as well as I do. They'll eventually cut us off." Matias then directed his gaze to the crack, "Your armor is through there, end of the passage." Peering back over to Raya, he gave a slight shrug, "Your decision."

Matias started to walk past her and the bike and without really giving her a chance to speak, he stopped when they were shoulder to shoulder before adding, "If you leave, at least take my father with you. A planet called Bakura. I can keep them off you for a while." The tone was matter-of-fact as if he just accepted and expected she would. He stared into her eyes for a few seconds before just giving a simple nod and walking on.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Were she any other woman, Matias insane driving - weaving through the narrow mountain roads and dodging stalactites - likely would’ve caused her stomach to turn, to the point of emptying its contents into the man’s back. Fortunately for them both, Raya practically lived behind the controls of her starfighter and ship - and it meant the Kryze was more than accustomed to such maneuvers.

The moment Matias yanked the speeder to a halt, Raya threw her leg over the other side - practically bolting off the vehicle. She didn’t need Matias to tell her, in order to know that they were being followed. She was prepared to make their final stand in that cave, regardless of the result.

Everything changed when Matias revealed where her armor was hidden.

The Kryze turned her head to stare right back at Matias, completely silent. She said nothing in response to his request to spirit the father to safety, or that any of this was her choice. Instead, the Kryze merely turned on a heel - vanishing down the passage in the wall without a second of hesitation or farewell.

Minutes passed, and Matias would have no indication that Raya hadn’t left the chamber all together. Silence filled the network to tunnels, until it was broken by the rumble of several speeders approaching. There was nowhere to run or hide, and the rest of the gang were rapidly closing in on the spot where Matias had chosen to make his final stand.

In the low light of the cavern, only the glow of headlights further down the tunnel would be visible.

 

[Matias Vale]

No words were shared between the two but that didn't stop Matias from preparing for what came next as Raya left. First, he pushed his bike out of the way and behind the cover of a couple of stalagmites. Even though he could possibly die here, he wasn't going to let his ride perish with him if he could help it.

After that was done, Matias walked through the erect stones, eventually finding one that was wide and big enough for him to use as a nest. Crouching down, he pulled out both his rifle and blaster to place them on the rock and within easy reach. He fixed his gaze ahead to the one entrance they had to come through, finding the firing angle suitable enough that he could stay there. All that was left to do was wait after that and he did just that by sitting there patiently.

As he waited, his mind couldn't help but drift to Raya, wondering what she would choose to do. Their partnership had been rocky, to say the least, and she would owe him nothing really when she finally put on her armor. Maybe he should have waited before giving her armor but he was through testing their luck and more importantly, it was too late to do anything about it now. Either way, whatever option she chose, if she could be trusted, included his father making it off the planet and starting fresh. He pictured both him and his father together but he could die fulfilled knowing he got his family off.

The convoy of bikes could eventually be heard as they approached the caves, each engine producing its own vicious roar as they closed in. Matias would quickly prepare, seizing the rifle and quickly slipping it into the socket of his shoulder. The blaster pistol would be placed in front of him and aimed out toward the entrance too.

Kodo and the rest of the gang spilled through the entrance of the cave, skilled enough to avoid the stalagmites but at a reduced speed. It gave Matias an opportunity to line up a shot, although unable to see who any of the riders were because of the headlights. Slowly tracking one rider that was closing in, he shut one of his eyes to steady his shot before finally squeezing the trigger. One red bolt would soar through the air and strike the rider right in the chest, causing the man to fall off and his bike to ram right into one of the rocks, exploding almost instantly as it lit up the entire cavern in an orange hue for a moment.

Almost immediately, each of the gang members locked in on where the bolt came from before beginning to fire randomly. Even though they weren't exactly targeting Matias, the volume of shots caused him to duck. Chunks of his rock and those beside him would begin to fly off, Matias returning fire where he could.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Minutes passed, and Matias wouldn’t hear from or catch any glimpse of Raya. For all he knew, the Kryze had snagged her armor and fled from the cavern, or was intent to remain hidden until Matias was dead and the gang was gone.

Meanwhile, the hail of blaster fire didn’t cease. Chunks of rock were broken and torn apart by streaks of plasma, showering Matias in shards of stone and small splatters of molten earth against his clothes. All the while, the gang continues to close in - bikes forming a semi circle around the gangster’s own. He could’ve been the best shot in the world - but the simply reality was, Matias was outgunned by almost a half dozen others.

“COME OUT, MATIAS!” Kodo boomed, “Put your fucking hands where we can see them, and we’ll make this quick for you,” He said, though the voice was devoid of any genuine inflection. Chances were, there would be nothing quick about any of it - and he could only guess what would be done with his father.

Matias would only have a moment to respond before the men started to draw in closer. Just as they did so, he would catch a glimpse of something just off to his peripheral. The headlights of a bike caught against something reflective, and cast the briefest flash of metallic bronze within the chamber. There would only be a half-second to consider exactly who it was.

Before a single word was spoken, the silence was broken by a rocket streaking through the cave - loosed from the dark corner of the cavern. The man barely had time to notice before it slammed into the cave ceiling with a deafening explosion, blowing free several large chunks of rock and kicking dust to fill the room. While only a single man was crushed beneath the falling rocks, all of them were confused - and it gave Raya the opening she needed.

Pressing off with her jetpack, Raya lunged through the air - closing the distance between herself and Kodo. With her gauntlet buckler activated, the Kryze brought her armored knee up to slam directly into the gangleader’s chest - sending him flying backwards alongside herself, further into the dust and debris.

 

[Matias Vale]

Being outmanned and outgunned, upon all their firing on his general location, all he could do was hunker down. Where at he first he was firing back, he was now basically curling into himself to avoid being struck by a stray. With the amount of bolts, there would only be a split moment of darkness before his vision filled with red and the cycle repeated after. Molten and pieces of rock struck his limbs and such, causing cuts here across his body and there but he still refused to budge.

After Kodo called out once again, Matias couldn't help but roll his eyes, despite the predicament he was in, and gave a shake of his head as he replied, "Fuck youu." The words came out almost song-like but in his gruff tone, his reply instantaneous as he caught the lie before he even uttered the second word. He'd been on the other side when Kodo had made that exact promise to others and it was best left in Matias' mind to either die before he experienced the man's fantasies himself or leave those memories behind along with the planet.

Despite the fight in him, he had to obey to what reality offered to him and he was simply outgunned. Matias rested his head back against the rock as he thought to himself briefly, accepting his fate. It appeared that Raya got what she wanted and hightailed out of the caves. He couldn't blame her, she landed in a shit situation and he used her as a tool for escape but life wasn't fair. Ironically, he guess it played it's hand here. Thankfully though, there was still only one way off the planet and that was the ship. His father had already been comm'd to meet there, so the best he could at least die believing was that his father made it out like he wanted. That was enough for him to greet whatever gate or darkness he would find once this was through. With one hand, Matias gingerly wiped the sweat off his face as he exhale before he reached for his pistol.

Taking a quick breath, Matias stood up after and with the rifle drawn, a fire in his eyes as his finger was ready to hold the trigger down. But, when he stood up, nobody fired as he saw each gangmember staring in a completely opposite direction from. Matias was only able to turn his head halfway, catching some bronze armored figure barreling through the sky. The possibility of who it could be was one and he recognized it immediately. But any chance to join the fight or make celebration was cut short as a missile was released and slammed right into the ceiling. The entire cavern shook as rocks, dust, and other natural debris cascaded down, a cloud of sediment created.

Matias lost his footing from the impact as he fell straight onto his back with a thud, losing both his weapons as they skidded away. His throat was clogged with dust, a fit of coughs naturally eliciting from him as he stumbled to his feet. Able to retain the image of bronze armor in the air, he glanced around in the sky at first, able to hear the burn of the jetpack as he only caught Raya's legs before she disappeared in her chase for Kodo.

His tracking either way would only last for a moment as he would be tackled out of the blue nowhere, the air taken out of his lungs as the two rolled through the dirt together. The biker had been close enough to hear the coughs and it left Matias preoccupied and Raya on her own.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Whatever grievances Matias might’ve had with the gang, Raya was equally out for blood. The Kryze had been brutally beaten and spat upon under Kodo’s orders, and Gods only knew what else the man would’ve tried. It was only now that Raya had an opportunity to get her hands on the man responsible - and she wasn’t about to squander it.

With her jetpack, Raya carved through the air with a flash of bronze. Her armored knee collided right with Kodo’s chest - knocking the wind from his lungs and sending the gang leader careening into the dust. The Kryze deliberately didn’t relent - following him to the ground.

She wasn’t going to give him the chance to pull any bullshit.

While the majority of them were blinded from the debris, Raya had the advantage of her Mandalorian HUD. Thus, Kodo remained acutely outlined within her visor - regardless of where he went. Without a word, the Kryze leveled her vambrace right upon Kodo’s chest - activating the flamethrower with a downward gesture of her wrist. In a split second, a gout of fire erupted from her vambrace - attempting to roast Kodo where he stood.

Matias, meanwhile, would be left to content with the man that had tackled him into the dust. The burly gangmember landed on top of Matias - knees planted in the ground on either side of him. The moment he found his bearings, the man drew back his left hand and slammed it downward - along with the pipe gripped between his fingers.

He attempted to bludgeon Matias’ face in with the thick piece of metal, likely not going to stop until the traitor had been turned to pulp.