Beauty and the Beastual(OPEN)

[Foxfire]

Felucia has it's own beauty, but for every beauty had it's beastual side. The wilds of Felucia where one Reina made her home was more beastual. The fungal trees were in full sporing and the air would get choaking by dusk. The crystalic feather ferns glistened and sparkled in the early morning, as the wilder of the planet's wild life roamed and hunted. A wild bull rancor roared in the lower levels.
-
On a platau above the deep jungle sat a well worn home of native spore trees and duracrete. It's roof was made of blast armer from a junked capital ship. The land about it had seen better days. A garden could still be seen patchworked around the house. Splotches of black power, about thirty feet in diameter dotted those areas and some walkways what they were only the owner and Reina fully knew.
-
The slave pain stick's effects had worn off long ago and Reina was back to herself. Her thoughts were toward Je'Baru, how he was, what he'd been through, and why he was returning. She also wondered if she was going to be first. Being first worried her for Je'Baru had placed many a booby traps. Till that time she was still safe and cuffed to her flight chair waiting the landing.

[Agent of Greystone]

Darvek shook his head, trying to keep himself awake. He was having a good nap when his ship's auto-pilot beeped loudly and puttered out. He half-awoke to find that his ship had dropped out of hyperspace, and was veering off into an asteroid field, forcing him to do some sharp steering to maneuver his way out. He looked back to his "captive", and saw that she was still sound asleep, handcuffed in her seat. Only as they neared Felucia did she begin to slowly awaken.

From the lack of resistance she was putting up, Darvek had already decided that she either had just given up trying to get away from her captors and accepted her fate, or she knew where she was going and she knew, or thought she knew, who had requested her presence, which was more likely. What stumped Darvek about this whole situation is why whoever he was taking her to did just swing by and pick her up himself, and instead decided to hire a dangerous assassin and bounty hunter to kidnap her.

Darvek set his ship downwards in a straight line through the atmosphere. The spaceport he wanted was still a ten-minute flight away, and Darvek could hear the girl moving around behind him in the co-pilot seat. "So..." Darvek said awkwardly. "About this guy who's having you kidnapped...this isn't some drawn-out kinky sex game that you're playing with your boyfriend, right?" Darvek asked, a little nervously. "Cause I charge extra for that kind of thing."

As they began their descent through the atmosphere, Darvek pulled a gray dufflebag out from under his seat. "Oh yeah, and before we get there, while you were out I went back and got most of the stuff in your apartment. Yes your shock stick is in there. Don't you dare taze yourself again though, 'cause I can't...quite...reach you." As he spoke Darvek made a swipe at Reina with his left hand, but came up short a few inches from her.

The ship flew for a few minutes more once it was inside the atmosphere, then it finally set down at their destination.

[Foxfire]

Reina looked at her captor narrowing her eye Je'Baru wouldn't sent for her using any ordinary hunter. Ones without scrupples he would not have a need for, but a hunter who fears not the wilds was.
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'Are you an honest hunter or one for profit? If for profit then I suggest you drop me here and leave you'll be paid by wire. If not the I shall give you warnings when you leave the ship and hand me over. The choice is your's but choise wisely, life or death is ahead.'
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She giggled in a young female's style knowing at least one of the posible out come was coming for the hunter. How Je'Baru would react she knew but when she did not.

[Agent of Greystone]

Looking outside the window, Darvek remembered why he loved worlds like Felucia. Full of danger and unknown, monsters that were bigger and tougher than any rifle alone could help you beat, and no mob bosses and contractors to bug you.. He could see himself having a stint as a hermit here when he was older. But he was immediately pulled back into the present when he heard the voice of his "captive" ring out from behind him in the co-pilot's chair.

"Are you an honest hunter or one for profit? If for profit then I suggest you drop me here and leave you'll be paid by wire. If not the I shall give you warnings when you leave the ship and hand me over. The choice is your's but choose wisely, life or death is ahead."

Darvek opened the cockpit and stepped out into onto the flora. He turned back to his ship and reached inside, unlatching her handcuffs from the chair. "I am a hunter of profit, and my profit is the hunt. So I could say I am honest, but I might not be as honest as you think." Darvek replied to her as he extended his hand to help her out of the ship.

"But Honest or not, no good Hunter would let his prey go free after taking the time to track them down. And no lady should be left to endure the harsh wastes of such a chaotic field alone.

Darvek opened the storage compartment on his ship, pulling out a large black suitcase. He unclipped his suitcase and pulled out parts of his Sniper Rifle, which he then pieced together. "Plus, if I leave you here, and you don't make it to the destination, and whoever paid for this tells my boss, my ass is dead. So let's get moving."

[Foxfire]

The plateau had those odd power black spots in quite a few numbers. Reina guided them after the hunter pieced his gun together. She knew now as they walked that they were not exactly safe.

Hey big fella, if you don't mind avoid the black spots. If it was I think it is it would be very bad for your health.

Reina knew some about Je'Baru's pet. Not as much as she would have liked she feared. She knew that the adults were fine but the young they were very....carnivorous at this stage of their natural life cycle.

The hollowed roar of a rancor gave her shivers.

We need to make for the house I think that bull is near by. We've been fighting it for quiet a while with no luck. It has always been .... to smart and odd.

No more did she finish than the bull rancor raised it's ugly head over the far edge of the plateau. A black patch was at it's nose as it tried to stand. His footing must have been loose because his head slammed back in the middle of the black patch. A thick cloud puffed and was inhaled, what wasn't clung to it's face. The power then started to eat it's skin. While it seemed to melt it gave out another hollow roar. Raising it's head it looked into the sky. As it stretched upward showing it's stomach it moved on it's own accord. A small hole that was gooish green could be seen on the lower part of it.

Well you won't have to handle that thing by yourself. Yet we still need to reach the house if who is there is there then I'll be safe and you'll be paid. So how fast can you run.

Starting off at a quick pace with nibble feet and agile legs she headed to the house.

[Agent of Greystone]

Darvek cautiously surveyed the area as they made their way across the plateau, and almost accidentally stepped on one of the many black spots, before he was warned away by his companion. He lifted his leg back slowly, away from the spot. Man there's a lot of dangerous stuff on this planet. Even the decorations are evil.

They kept going, and Darvek started to get a bad feeling, like a cold chill going over the back of his neck.

We need to make for the house I think that bull is near by. We've been fighting it for quiet a while with no luck. It has always been .... too smart and odd.

Darvek had just enough time to say, "Bull?" Before a rancor lifted it's squashed, tusked face over yonder ridge. Darvek was a little late on the draw, so by the time he managed to look over at it, it had already bashed it's face into the edge of the plateau, snorting up a black spot as it did. It's face and body leaked green ooze as it let out several bellowing roars of pain.

Well you won't have to handle that thing by yourself. Yet we still need to reach the house if who is there is there then I'll be safe and you'll be paid. So how fast can you run?

Darvek stumbled a little as he attempted to catch up to his companion, and carry all of their combined luggage at the same time. As he began to match her speed, he yelled "You're not gonna make me fight that thing, are you?" Over the rancor's roars.

[Foxfire]

Reina was nearly to the front door when she turned on her heal and shouted back.

The black toxin will liquidfy that thing from the inside out and the haired slugs will eat the rest. So... move it and watch where you step. It'll be over shortly and I'll fmake you a thank you meal. Oh and welcome to my home. Isn't great!

Turning back on her heal with a dancer's grace she giggled and banged the front door open and held it open waving him on. Reina was watching the dying rancor just on the off chance it made for the door way.

[Agent of Greystone]

Darvek grimaced at the girl's response. Looking back at the animal, he scrunched his nose. He realized that what he had mistaken for noises of anger, where actually bloodcurdling cries of pain, and he couldn't help but feel pity for the poor beast. To be half dissolved by black puddy, and eaten by slugs was not the most honorable way to go out in his mind. Though this was nature taking it's course, Darvek wouldn't have any of it.

He set down the luggage, and hoisted up his rifle. Taking aim at the animal, Darvek zoomed in on it's teeth. It would be a tough shot because of the distance, and how the rancor was flailing wildly in vein, attempting to claw the black goo from it's nostril. Still, Darvek propped the rifle appropriately against his shoulder, let out a slow, deep breath, and squeezed the trigger.

With the makeshift silencer Darvek had applied to the end of his rifle, instead of a thunderous roar, the sound which erupted out of the end of the barrel sounded more like a loud firecracker. Out shot a bolt of crimson, fast as the eye could register, and straight through the roof of the rancor's open mouth, with the intent of putting the beast out of it's misery.

With that done, he let the gun fall onto it's strap, and retrieved the luggage again as he turned to the door to follow her lead.

[Foxfire]

Watching in horror for dying pain of the rancor Reina, sadness swelled up in her. So when a gun was raised to end it's misory she averted her eyes. Her body twitched knowing that the explosive release of the weapon was very near. Yet her lekku sensed some thing more, some thing dangerous and familure.

Looking further into the hand made shelter she saw the shadows seemed deeper, darker. Her keen shined eyes which often helped with her night vision had a hard time getting anything that would give her that feeling. Her nerves were starting to get the best of her till she noted a vase of Rylothian flowers.

'Je'Baru.'

Was the quiet words that were on her lips when she jumped at the sound of the gun going off.

Turning back in time to watch the rancor fall to the earth and birble it's last roar. The hunter whished past her while she stared as a young haired slugs slithered out it's nose to feed on the black slime that had ran out. Shutting the door she pushed the thoughts back and away.

'I'll go get you some thing to drink. Oh there is your money.'

Reina noticed now beside the flowers a leather bag of credits. Also there was a fur wrap of glo wolf pelt.

[Agent of Greystone]

Darvek entered the house as quickly as all of the items and boxes he was carrying would permit. When the door closed behind him, he looked around the seemingly handmade home, and found an out-of-the-way corner for him to set down all of their belongings. As she made her way past him, Darvek reopened his suitcase and, taking apart his sniper rifle once again, placed the pieces in their respective foam cutouts. Clipping the case closed, he stood up when she approached

[I'll go get you some thing to drink. Oh there is your money.]

Darvek accepted the bundle of credits with a grunt, and barely glanced at it as he skimmed it over. He didn't get the feeling that they would cheat him out of his money after all this. But being a bounty hunter didn't allow you to be trusting, and the offer of a drink after payment usually should be taken with a grain of salt. It wouldn't be the first time a person had poisoned him to get out of a payment.

She might be planning something, or I might just be paranoid. That seems more likely though. So while she was away, Darvek meandered about with his hands in his pockets, looking for anything that looked incriminating.

[Foxfire]

Reina entered the kitchen and drew up water for an herb drink that always calmed the nerves. Nearly finished her lekku started to tingle. She felt the watchful eyes upon her from the shadows. Turning she looked to the shadows smiling she quietly said.....

Good to see you again love. Thanks for calling me back. Is every thing ok?

A figure moved from the shadow. The noghri who's name is Je'Baru Nargruk moved toward Reina staring at each other for a few seconds. Then they embraced each other and a kiss the noghri told her of coming events and for her to move. To search out a place to live and word while he was away. The words saddend her a bit but a relief washed over her. She wondered if the other hunt would be up to taking her away.

The look in her eyes must have shown to the noghri because he warned her of other hunters and bigger money. She nodded and turned away from Je'Baru to make the herb tea. when she turned back he was gone even her eyes which were use to seeing in near darkness could not find him in the room. A few minutes later the pot whistled and she gathered the tea and two beakers and moved back to the main room.

Tea is ready if you wish. Oh and thanks again. If every you need a place to stay this place wi well hidden and by the fog ten months out of the year.

[Agent of Greystone]

A mixture of keen senses and straight paranoia alerted Darvek that he was no longer alone with the Twi'lek. He didn't move from the spot on the floor where he was sitting. He didn't say a word, he seemed to freeze in place. He waited there for several seconds, trying to decide if he was imagining things. Then, very faintly, he began to hear whispering.

The girl was startled at first, but soon she lowered her voice to but a whisper. From what he could make out, she knew whoever she was speaking to. She knew him. They stopped for a moment to kiss before continuing. Beyond that, he only made out a couple of words. His left hand moved, slowly so as not to attract attention, to grip the Ripper which he kept holstered to the back of his waist and under his coat. But he didn't need it, and whoever the guest was soon departed, back into the shadows.

Immensely relieved, he loosened his hold on his gun, letting his arm fall to his side. The girl returned to main room with the beverages, and Darvek took one, though it was mainly to be polite and he wasn't really thirsty. So who was that? Darvek thought about bringing her visitor up, but he decided it was safest to feign ignorance. Whoever it was didn't seem to want Darvek to see him, and it was best to let him think he was successful.

After a few sips the girl spoke, thanking him for his help. She went so far as to offer him a place to stay here as an under-the-radar hideout. Darvek was going to politely turn her down, but it occurred to him how useful a place like this could be to someone in his profession.

"I might very well take you up on that offer at some point. But a favor like that would require payment, and I do not take handouts." As he spoke, Darvek lifted his things and moved to the door. Cracking it open to peer outside, he turned back to her. "So if you're ever in any trouble, if you ever need help with anything..." He pulled a card from one of his inside pockets and handed it to her, his contact information scrawled on the front and back. "...do not hesitate to contact my Agent."