Life in the Dark(open)

[Foxfire]

Darkness all consuming and hiding all. From the evil deeds to the holiest of deeds all is consumed. Now Reina is becoming part of that darkness once again. She and Je'Baru had to split do to hunters coming for him. He did not want her hunted as well. So here she is deep with in the under ground of the planet city of Coruscant. Trying to make a living by the only way she knows how, selling her flesh, her voice, and dancing. She was not a slave but often she felt like it.

Another night at the 'Love Shack' a seedy cantina and companion bar. Where those who are in need for companionship or a fading love come to feed their lonely hearts. Reina never had to go work the floor as yet, her voice and her dancing was the biggest draw for most of the beings coming here. Her feet were sore and her voice raspy, due to dancing all day and being around all the smoke. Soon though her 48 hr shift would be over for at least a day then back to work.

Going through her mind, 'when will this end?', made her emoting tattoos purple and lazily wavy patterns that played upon her blackened skin. The music stopped for a short break and a new-be to show off her stuff. Reina did not mind the less she had to dance today the better. Four hours left and she would be heading home. Home a coffin like apartment with infrequent power, at the most she had water for her use. Sitting down she rubbed her feet and tried to sing a song, one of Je'Baru's favorite. The pain slowly faded and a better coloring came back to them and her voice strengthened. All to soon for the new-one got boo-ed off the stage and Reina had to return. At least now she could rest her feet because she did not have to sing while she danced.

The song she picked was one she would often sing to herself when she was lock up in the fighters pit cages back on Nar Shadda. The tone was sad mournful even the crowd sobbed soon they started to order drink like mad trying to drown their sorrows. this made the bar keeps happier for this was big business time.

[Foxfire]

Two hours of singing Reina did before she was called up to the bosses room for her to pay her entertainment dues. Some dues, no honest and good being would have the decency to charge her for her skills. Much less have what her dues entailed. Beings no matter what race or kind were all the same to Reina they cared not what they were doing to her as long as they were getting what they wanted.

Two hours Reina's mind had to be else where while her so called boss used her to satisfy his own desires. She had often thought about Je'Baru where he was and what he would think of her. She loved him. Neither told each other but it was known between them. What was happening to her would result in her not having a job and the verse being rid of one more filthy being. As the two hours ended her world came back to her slowly at first. She would often find herself walking back to her apartment still reeking of the smell of her boss and being pursued by other beings with overzealous noses.

When one would get near to her all she had to do was to give the beings a poke from a slave correction pain stick. The hell stick, as it was so affectionately called, would give the user the choice of either inflicting pain in the muscles or in the nerves or both, short term or for a few hours. The hell stick had four prongs and used right could stage increasing amounts of pain and length to it's target. Many a time Reina would walk away from a group of beings twitching, moaning, and writhing in their own pain.

Then and only then she would make her way home, giving her body a thorough cleaning and pass out till the following evening. This night was just like all the rest. A being had followed her sniffing the air and as the male closed on her. She on unsteady legs turned and hit the male in the left hip region with all four prongs. Leaving it there for ten seconds which that would give her about two hours freedom from this pervert. The Male swaddled in a cloak hiding his race and face twisted and writhed as he hit the walk deck. Froth sprayed into the air as he writhed. Reina simple turned unaffected by the sight and a bit too tired for her mind to see the being before her.

Walking into her apartment and closing the door behind her she stripped off her clothes as she neared the shower. The water was never cold always a luke warm temp. She showered and tried to walk back to her bed before sleep hit her. Most times she would fall to sleep still wet from the shower and not move and inch till late in the morning. Only then would she be now dry and simply roll over to her right side and fall back to sleep.

[Foxfire]

To her own regrets Reina woke up early. Early being the of the night not the next day as she had wanted. Getting herself together for another day at work she placed what few clothes she would need for the next period of work. As she was about to leave to head to work she noted that the floor owner had posted a notice about her apartment and the floor she was living on.

Due to an infestation of midge mites the housing block is being cleansed please leave by the evening of the 20th

Thank you

the management

She looked at her chrono and the date was the 20th. Sighing she turned and gathered the second bag her brought with her. Two bags was all the belongings she had in the verse. A sad way of summing up one life but this was more than she had at any other time in her short life.

Arriving at the 'Love Shack' she placed her gear in her booth of the dressing rooms. The other ladies were glued to the holo-vid watching the local news. It was blaring some thing about the assault of a high ranking political official who was mercilessly attacked just 24 hrs ago. Reina paid no mind to the news until she was walking by and caught a glimpse of where the attack happened and when it took place. It was the same route she took that night. Stopping she watched the replay of the senator recount the event.

Yes I (snort) was just minding my business when (cough-wheeze) I was mercilessly attacked by a female assailant. It was so dark and she hit me so fast I didn't (snort) know what hit me. (cough-wheeze)

Reina's eye went wide as she remembered those noises. shrinking away from the group she tried to remember the events. seeing the senators face on the vid registered to her. He had been one of the ones just at the edge of the lights drinking heavily. He had also propositioned her on quite a few times when she was not on stage. So she knew him saying that he was attacked was a false claim. But who would take her word for it. She would have been slaved out before the end of business of that day. She needed off planet and fast. Going back to her bags she retrieved a hunters pad that Je'Baru had given her on the off chance she would need reliable help for extraction off world.

Finding the only being close enough to get her off world she sent a transmission VIA Hunters Guild. She hoped that soon he would find her and get her out of here before the senator came back to find her or send thugs to deal with her quietly.

[Vex]

Coruscant.

Home Sweet Home.

Center of the Universe.

Daryn hadn't intended to come back to this planet for some time. He'd been good in keeping that promise to himself after his father had disowned him. The capital of the Republic had been put behind his sublights and he'd never looked back.

Until now.

Daryn had always been a wanderer. Until recently, however, he'd never felt adrift. Things had gotten so very twisted as of late, however. He didn't know what to make of it all. The War, the Mandalorians, or the girl. No matter how he looked at it, everything that had happened and all that he had done had hinged off of one thing. Italia Firians.

Even now, sitting at the control yoke to the Ante, he couldn't get the flash of fiery emerald eyes or the softness of crimson hair. It was all too easy to conjure up the quirk of her smile or the certain way she held herself when she was brandishing a weapon. Such were the blessings, and curse, of that eidetic memory. He couldn't NOT remember. It was bittersweet, but he wasn't certain that he'd truly want it any other way. That was why he found himself here...now, orbiting around the city planet. Coruscant. His home.

He'd needed a port of call to rest and regain his bearings in.

Touching down on the landing pad almost had a surreal feeling to it as he went through the post-flight checks and began powering down his ship. With House running through the last of the diagnostics and updating the required refueling and restocking lists, the lanky man stood up and moved to his quarters to gather the things he'd need.

Shrugging into his holster, he checked the release on it, making sure the action was smooth when his blaster was drawn. Checking the seating of the blaster power pack, he ran a quick check on the power level, safety, and other basic operating functions. Finding it satisfactory, he slid it back home and then moved to pick up his jacket. Shrugging on that red garment with its black accoutrement, he reached out to tuck a few things into the slots on his belt. His hand paused over his pad. He hadn't given it much thought of late and, in return, it had been quiet for him. He was about to pull his hand away when a beeped, a sign for an incoming transmission. Intrigued, he lifted it up. Keying the proper code, he pulled up the message he'd received from the Hunter's Guild. The message within was...highly unexpected.

He hadn't heard from Je'Baru in some time. They had never been close, but he had taught Daryn a thing or two when a young, brash boy had gotten smart enough to realize that he needed to learn a few things about the bounty hunting profession if he intended to stay alive. One good turn deserved another. Whoever this Reina was, she obviously knew Je'Baru. For the help he'd received, he'd given his word to return the favor if ever there was a need.

It seemed that need was now.

---

It took him a few hours to find the place. Despite his wayward youth, he'd never come to the neighborhood that the "Love Shack" called home. As he ducked his head to enter the seedy establishment, he found himself wistfully longing for the stark, honesty way he'd seen on Concord Dawn. Green eyes flashed around, taking in what was around him, looking for exits and anything of concern long before he looked at just what the place had to offer. He shook his head, moving to a table closer to the stage.

Without knowing what she looked like, he flagged down the nearest woman wandering through. After gently turning down her "offer", he ordered a drink and asked about Reina, saying that he'd of her. Settling himself at the table, he leaned back, continuing to watch the room while the girl left to get his drink and locate who he was looking for

[Foxfire]

As the night started Reina was still worried about when her help was coming. It was settled when another female companion that was working the bar came to her and told her that a male was asking about her. Reina's heart jumped in her throat. Quickly she went to the monitoring screens and had her pick the male out. It was him, sighing with relief, she sent him her companion card and gave word to him that she have to sing for a bit to keep up appearances, then she would be with him and talk more.

Changing into some thing sexier that would pull all eye to her she then made her way to the main stage. A golden Zeltronian shimmer dress hugged her body like a hutt to money. It reflected the spot lights yet brightened her emoting tattoos. As she ascended the ramp of the stage her emotions were all over the place and was seen by the rapid color changing her skin was going through. A soft Oooo and aaawwww came from the crowd nearest to the stage.

Lights dimmed and a soft twi'lek love song started to play. Reina tried to look out into the crowd to find her rescuer but the main lights were to bright and in her eyes. Her body gently shook so slightly that made the shimmer dress move with life all it's own. She could not sing to one she did not know so as so many night like before she sang to her lost love some where in the vast darkness of the verse, Je'Baru.

The song consisted of not just lost love but the missed opportunities to express it and how they seemed fated to be forever apart. Her heart ached to be back in his arms. Her eyes flowed with tears. Then nearing the end of the song the gratifying meeting of the two on a planet made just for them. Yet the song also ended that forever together was still and unstable question hidden in the vast veils of time.

After to other songs meant to get the customers drinking Reina got her break to come from the stage. Walking up to Daryn she held out her and and said....

If you would follow me.

Gasps of astonishment and weepings of why not me came from those around Daryn and Reina as she waited for his response.

[Vex]

Daryn leaned back, admiring the women that were walking around and doing there work. It was a good enough excuse to keep tabs on the rest of the room. Considering that he'd been called here as a favor to get Reina of here, he had to expect something to be wrong and amiss. He still wanted to know exactly what had happened to his old colleague as well. Some things just didn't jive well with him and that was making him uneasy. Uneasy was an unpleasant sensation when you tended to border on hyperactive.

Flashing that trademark Destrell grin, he acknowledge a flirtatious smile by a young woman as she passed by, but waved off her offer of companionship. After all, he wasn't here for amusement... and he was pretty sure that if he did, somehow, he'd be the recipient of five feet of red-headed fury.

It was about that time that the lighting shifted and the song came on, signifying Reina's arrival. Turning back to the main stage, he whistled to himself.

Well...he could certainly see why Je'Baru liked the woman...though that brought on the question: what did she see in him?

His light, bemused thoughts bled away as he let her singing wrap around him...the physical beauty of her form in that illustrious shimmer dress was matched by the powerfully aching resonance of her voice. She was...exceptional...she should be singing for the royalty of the galaxy...not in a backwater cess pool such as this. He was completely enraptured by her performance...profoundly disappointed when at last it came to the end.

There were no tears though...oh no...that was simple smoke from the other patrons that was affecting his eyes. He manfully wiped them away.

When she walked up to him, he acted just as surprised and shocked as those around him. Smiling as though he had just won the lottery, he pushed back his seat, taking that hand. Standing, he moved next to her, playing the part of an amorous customer, his hand moving to rest at the small of her back.

"By all means...lead the way."

[Foxfire]

The feeling of nervousness spread through her like a cold wind. An ice blue pattern glowed to life upon her back. It ran down the length of her spine with sharp hard angles. Yet when her contact placed his hand upon the small of her back flares of rose red swirls and pink star bursts erupted around the area.

She rushed them to a dark corner of the building and found a female zeltron and a happy bith coming from that direction. With a shiver of revolt and pale green blotching upon her arms she pushed past them. A cleaning bot was just leaving the booth. With out grace she climbed up upon the couch and around to the other side of it. Sitting with her knees to her chest she looked back into the light of the main rooms.

With out looking at him-Thank you for coming. I hate to put you in this situation but I need outta here like tonight. Je'Baru said you were one to turn to if he could not help me during his run.

Oh you might want to know what is going on that he was not coming here for me. A Republic bounty has been issued for him. His is being mistaken for another of his kind who, from Je'Baru's guess is working for the Sith. So he is having to run and hide till he is able to clear it up.

Looking at him with disquieted fearful eyes...-I would have been fine here but the perverts here come in all class and races. If you have not seen the holo-news of a Senator's attack then you would not need too. For it is all a lie he was following me drunk and ........ . Well you guess the rest. So I did not know who he was so I hit him with a hell stick and dropped him like a back of rice. Which leads us to this moment. So can you get me off this planet or what I can pay now if you need it?/color]

[Vex]

Given just how happy that Bith had seemed to be, Daryn was pretty certain he didn't want to sit down on that couch no matter how many cleaning robots went over it. Moving to lean his shoulder against the wall, he kept those bright green eyes on her while she clambered up onto the couch and crouched there like a terrified animal backed into a corner. Crossing his arms over his chest, he cupped his chin in one hand, eyes moving to linger on the ground. One train of thought was idly wondering what some of the stains were that he currently saw on the floor. Another was idly going over the inventory of consumables and perishables that were currently on the Ante Up, making calculations based on having two people living off the rations now...at least until he could get her to another planet of her choosing. His head tilted slightly while he listened to her story...what was happening with Je'Baru and what had happened more recently to get them to this particular situation.

A Senator could be tricky. Once off planet, things would likely go easier for her. Most wouldn't span a galactic trek just to find a woman so they can assuage their bruised ego. It would be better for her to be able to start a new life. New paperwork, new name, new job...things to separate her from her old existence. Identification, travel documents, galactic credit....she needed a trail to make things seem more legit. It would take some money...a little time...and the right people. Fortunately, he knew the right people and he could get the money.

Getting her off planet would give them the time.

Chuckling lightly to himself, he let it trail off in a sigh. "Je'Baru, you must be desperate if you decided to send her my way if things got bad..." He spoke the words to himself, shaking his head. Finally, he'd look up at her, catching her concerned eyes.

"I should be able to get you off of the planet without too much issue," Inwardly he cringed, having a feeling that the Force was going to punish him for sounding that flippant. "I know some guys that can arrange for a new identity for you. We'll have to travel to Mustafar to pick up the tangibles. From there you can either stay and be on your merry or we can choose a final destination for you. Don't worry about payment...this is me returning the favor he showed me when he taught me the ropes of the business. I might know some people that can help with his situation as well...but we'll talk about that more once we're in hyperspace." Glancing out the door, he'd turn back to her. "We can go whenever you are ready."

[Foxfire]

Reina had gotten so nervous her lekku were twitching and wild colors were flaring in broken pattern upon them. Her heart seemed as if it was out of control, yet his words calmed her down. Her vision of what was next was clearing before her. She had to move now out and way from here to a part of Coruscant that she had never been to to throw the senator and his goon off her trail.

Turning to look at him with eyes longing to be any where but here.

Nervousness to her voice-Really anytime? Then the sooner the better. Come with me!

Rushing past him she grabbed his left wrist dragging him with her. They took a quick yet noisy route through the kitchen to the dressing rooms. Throwing the door open she let Daryn's arm go. Girls shrieked an the intrusion of a male in the door way. Reina turn into a dressing booth near the farthest wall near the exit. As some of the girls half naked fled into their booths as a wall of red hair blocked all but a small bit of view.

The hairy female wookie growled insults and death threats at Daryn as she reached out to shove him back away from the door. Though the wookie was impressively strong she was no match for Reina, especially with her back turned. A buzzing sound along with a static popping noise could be heard over the outcries of the wookie female. The wall of hair dropped to the floor and there stood Reina with her hell stick in hand surrounded in a cloud of smoke that was made by burnt hair. This way they should be coming soon for us. Turning she bolted for the outer exit door.