[i]Huff [center]Huff[/center] [right]Huff[/right] Huff[/i] [b]Somewhere[/b] The girl gasped for breath as she bounded a corner nearly tripping on her own feet sleek with moisture and blood. She looked about frantically, a rat in the cage. They were still alone; no crowds to disappear into and the walkway continued to snake forward branching off at several points further ahead. Safety still so far away and she had been running for what felt like hours by this point. The muscles in her legs screamed beneath her as she forced herself forward. Just one more step, one more step. Her arm still blared with pain but she didn't dare try to assess the damage at the moment, the blood would only start making her stomach do flips again. Coming from behind she heard more footsteps and yelling. Still not looking back she could imagine the faces. Three human males dressed in a combination of worn beaten leather and pieces of metal combat armor. All three armed to the teeth. The big giant with the vornskr laugh cold blue eyes, and vibroblade slick with that Duro’s blood heavy footfalls getting closer and closer. They had known about the drop off. How... did Inanjoma sell her out? No that was stupid, if she wanted her dead she would have done it herself. And what was so important about this damn package she was carrying? She pulled to the right down one of the side branches hoping to find someplace a little less open. As she did one of her pursuers let off a shot with his blaster rifle. The bolt soared passed close enough for the girl to feel the heat before it smashed into a wall exploding violently. Those things definitely were not set to stun shots. The side branch sloped downward leading back into the characteristics labyrinth alleyways and sidestreets that made up a large majority of 3033. There were no neon signs or the sounds of people here, it was dark with large rundown tenant buildings stacked close to one another making the path that the girl was following seem crowded and claustrophobic as if the walls were closing in on her. She found a small opening between two of the buildings, the voices getting closer and her legs not able to hold out much longer she took a chance. It was a tight fit even for her having to shimmy sideways the walls pressing closer around her. She fought back a shiver as she felt her lekku rubbed against the grim covered walls. Going as far back as she could into the alleyway, she shrank down trying to blend into the shadows around her. Her breathing gradually slowed even as her heart violently pulsed within her chest. The sound so loud in her own head, she was sure that the brutes would hear here. [i]Badump, badump, badump.[/i] She watched the entrance to the small alleyway with shaking hands dragging out her DH-23 and pointed it down the passageway from where she came watching and waiting. Trying to calm her thoughts she tried to think back to how this whole damn thing started. [center]|~|[/center] [b]Several hours earlier Undisclosed Location, Level 3030[/b] Shakka sat in a small waiting room. A plush carpet beneath her feet greedily sunk in her boots towards the floor. She was sitting on a small chair looking very expensive more like a modern art piece than something of functional furniture, the curve made in such a way that you could never get truly comfortable sitting in it as every couple of minutes she had to push herself up to prevent her entire body from slipping out of it and onto the floor. Across the way a Rodian Female sat at a desk typing away at a computer in front of her. She seemed to ignore Shakka in her entirely, focused on the work in front of her as dextrous long fingers typed away. A little further away standing in front of a large double door two armed guards watched impassively one an Echani and the other a Zabrak both in heavy combat armor and holding what appeared to be T-21 light repeating blasters, heavily modified and very illegal to own. The two never seeming to move except for slight signs of breathing as they looked ahead. A flash of green and a chirping from the Rodian’s computer. She swiped her hand across the screen transition to message which she read quickly before switching back with another swipe of a hand. She turned towards the door and then towards Shakka and repeated the process two more times drawing an almost quizzical gaze from the Twi’lek girl as she fiddled with her hands absentmindedly. Finally seemingly content with the situation she spoke to Shakka in a cool high pitched voice with a strange politeness that was very uncommon in the Undercity. “Mistress Inanjoma will see you now. Go through the doors.” A sigh of relief passed through Shakka’s mouth as the Rodian spoke to her. She had been waiting for the past hour and as the time ticked by she could taste the tension in the room. Wiping the sweat of her palms and into her pants she stood up feeling her boots sink a little bit deeper into the padded carpet. She made her across the small distance as she approached the threshold of the doors, the Rodian called back to her never looking up from her computer busy at work. “Oh and dear? I don’t think that I need to remind you or anything but please be on your beast behavior. I would hate it if any accidents occurred.” The same politeness was in the voice but now behind it was the heavy coldness of a very serious threat. Shakka didn't respond but slowly nodded her head trying to stay cool. She looked towards the Zabrak who give her a once over before nodding and turning around pressing her hand into a panel. There was a humm as the hand was scanned and the signature recognized before the twin doors ahead of her slide open without a noise. Taking one last look around Shakka took a step beyond the threshold. [center]|~|[/center] Inanjoma’s office was more like an observation platform than anything else. A large circle room with big heavily reinforced windows serving as the walls whose opacity was set as high as possible at the moment serving as silent black monoliths. A desk was shoved in one corner of the room made of a rich dark colored wood, the floor made of the same carpeted material as the waiting room outside. What took the main stage was a large circular bed resting upon a dais in the exact center of the room. Currently three bodies occupied the bed sitting up and facing the door and Shakka as she walked in. One was Inanjoma herself body covered in a silk robe that ended just below her knees and left very little to the imagination, her blue body practically radiating pure sex appeal. To one side of the Twi’lek woman was a human female with black hair and blue eyes and a series of complex tattoos. To the other side was a Zeltron female with deep crimson skin and dark blue hair. The two clung to Inanjoma on either side both stark naked. Inanjoma gave a small catlike smile as she saw Shakka and whispered to the two other women. Disappointment flashed through their eyes but they stood up and walked down the dias towards the door. They giggled as they walked past Shakka not so subtly brushing themselves against her as they passed and disappeared through the doors. Shakka herself seemed much less phased about the situation than one might expect given the circumstance. But truth be told in her time working with Inanjoma Shakka had figured out how the older Twi’lek worked in some cases. Inanjoma liked playing games like a Krayt Dragon playing with a bantha before it went in for the kill, she liked being in control and throwing others off balance in any way possible. And if you let her phase you well you already lost and she already have her jaws over your neck ready to kill the poor dumb little bantha . [i]<>[/i] Inanjoma said in her singsong voice in Ryl. The two always talked in the language of their people it felt more natural that way. As she continued to speak Inanjoma stepped down to the bottom step of the dias. She reached a hand out towards Shakka as her Lekku twitched in a way that Shakka recognized as [i]follow me.[/i] Not wanting to show any form of weakness Shakka took her hand as she lead her up to the Dias leading her to the foot of the bed where the two of them sat down. [i]<>[/i] Shakka replied feeling the smoothness of the silk sheets beneath her hands, trying to subdue her own reactions as Inanjoma moved her hands to her shoulders and slowly shrugged her out of Vyso’s Jacket leaving it on the behind. One hand rested on her leg as the other fell on her back. [i]<>[/i] Inanjoma explained as Shakka could feel the warmth of her breath on her neck as her hand on her back began to slowly move in lackadaisical patterns up and down. [i]<>[/i] Shakka responded still unimpressed and apparently unphased from Inanjoma’s current tactics to try and throw her off her mark. The older Twi’lek was enjoying this, Shakka could see it on her face but she wasn't going to break not here and not now. Her lekku laying down in a direct I’m not impressed. [i]<>[/i] She explained trying to keep her voice straight as Inanjoma practically chuckled at her serious business response as she leaned closer pressing her body against Shakka hand still brushing on one of her lekku as she whispered into her ear. [i]<>[/i] She asked sternly turning to face Inanjoma her day eyes looking expectantly into hers. The other Twi’lek give another predatory smile as she spoke looking almost hurt. [i]<>[/i] She voice transition from the silence to the avalanche deathly cold and serious. The hand tracing her Lekku closing around one of them with a forceful grip sending shockwaves of pain through Shaka's body almost sending her barreling over off the bed in pain. Then she released her grip, her point made. It was obvious though that playtime was over and that Inanjoma had concluded their business for now. Shakka got up in silence grabbing her jacket from the bed and shrugging it back on as she stepped down from the dias and moved towards the door. As she neared the door the voice called out to her back to its singsongy quality. [i]<>[/i] [center]|~|[/center] [b]Some time later Neutral territory drop-off , Level 3030[/b] Shaka approached the designated area that was marked on her datapad when she left the Siren’s base. It was a small intersection of a couple of dirty side streets near the center of 3030. Oddly enough a place like this which would of been a major artery of traffic at most times was dead empty. She assumed that the Black Stars must have cleared out the area for the drop. The Black Stars men were waiting near the center of the intersection. The leader a Duros dressed in a black pilot suit reminiscent of the standard imperial variant looking impatient and to one side an Aqualish handling a vibroaxe and with a blaster pistol strapped to his belt and on the other side a Devaronian missing one horn and carrying a heavy blaster rifle. As Shaka approached them he called out in Basic to her. “You Inanjoma’s delivery girl? You’re late the meeting was supposed to happen an hour ago. The Black Stars don’t appreciate it when little Twi’leks can’t keep to a timetable.” He easiered in a higher pitched but smoothed voice as if coming from some sort of noble heritage or the like. “Yeah well you didn't have the track all the way across the damn level and not take any major roads to avoid being spotted now did you? Or would you have prefered we all have gotten ambushed and killed?” Shakka rolled her eyes as she stepped closer not impressed but the impatient Duros. “Hmph.. well do you have the package or not?” The Duros asked as he straightened his flight suit looking at Shakka impassively. The two stars to either side rising their weapons as Shaka reached to her side, trigger happy and expecting a weapon after waiting for so long. But much to their disappointment instead of bringing out a weapon she brought out the datapad and waved it in the air. “Yeah here it is. Now do you have our payment?” The Duros’ nodded reaching for a large heavy metal case that was at has feet and making a show of it slowly brought it up and opened it up displaying it to Shakka showing it filled to the brim with credit chips. And as the Duros closed his suitcase there was a sound of a struggle further away, a single blaster shot and the sound of footsteps approaching. The four of them all turned towards the left most path where out from the shadows walking calmly up was three humans heavily tattooed, devilish intent in their eyes. Pures. The Duros held a hand up signaling for his men to hold positions as they approached. Instinctively Shakka moved backwards putting the Stars between her and the Pures as they approached. Two of them were dressed head to toe in combat gear but the one in the middle was more elegantly dressed in a crisp and finely tailored suit that you would expect to be worn high above by the nobles. His blonde hair was shaved except for a short finely kept mohawk, light blue eyes twinkling to his own private joke as he stepped forward. He dwarfed his other two companions easily and was clutching a large vibrosword in his hand looking what should have been used in two in one easily. He spoke in a deep voice where all was needed to listen to the intent. “And what’s going on here. A transaction and we weren't invited so very rude. Well at least it's between dirty aliens, I’m surprised they can even talk to one another with words.” He spoke as he stepped closer his two thugs laughing as they got closer. The Duros and his guards held their ground showing now fear as Shakka slowly slipped the datapad back into her jacket pocket. Ready to run at any moment but waiting for the right opportunity. “And if it isn't Daxar Leone, one of Beccou’s lapdog enforces. You stupid or something human or do you just want to die early? Because I would gladly collect the bounty on your head. Jenala and Jondevo may even promote me for doing such a service for the community.” He spoke without an inch of fear in his voice. The tension grew and the two groups were just waiting for the first to make their move. “Oh I’m not stupid, I’m just here to pick up a package that a little birdy told me would be delivered here. But you know killing you is going to be an added little bonus. The boss is paying extra for bug face scalps this month.” And with a snap of his fingers two hidden snipers that had been trained on the Duros men fired. The two dropped almost instantly the heavy rounds piercing their armor and finding purchase in the center of mass. The Duros reacted with surprising speed pulling his blaster from his holster and firing two rounds at Daxar. The first shot was mostly absorbed by Daxar’s armor but the second hit exposed flesh. The shot though did not even stagger the brute as he charged forward goring the Duros on his vibrosword going straight through his chest blood splattering outwards and getting on Shakka behind him. Daxar withdrew the blade and as the Duros fell to the ground he whispered to Shakka. “Run....” Not waiting for any more advice, Shakka turned and ran in the opposite direction away from them. As she turned and fled one of Daxar’s men took a shot the bolt did not hit dead on but still tore across her left arm. The pain sent her staggering forward almost upon her face before she was able to catch herself and before they could get another shot she slipped down an alleyway and continued running and Daxar’s men proceeded to follow after her and the hunt was on. [center]|~|[/center] [b]Present[/b] Shakka seemed to have sat in the small alleyway with her blaster drawn for a long time. Three times they passed by the opening and all three times they did not find her even as her heart froze. She still waited another hour there alone with her thoughts terrified to move. She waited making sure that she heard no noise and no sound. And finally she slowly made her way out of the small alleyway making her way back in the small alleyway. Looking around and getting her bearings she made her way back towards a port in the storm that she knew that Pures wouldn't dare to look for her. She was going to need to at least have a couple of minutes to tend to her arm. She took out the datapad and looked down at it looking at her reflection looking back at her coated in the Duros’ blood. Wondering what in the world Inanjoma had gotten her into. After a moment of recollection she stowed the pad away and made her way down one of the winding alleyways. [i]Just another day......[/i]