Dark Horizons

[Kiriin Radd]

Nar Shaddaa: the criminal's haven and world. If there was any one place in the galaxy a respectable person would want to be, it'd be here on Nar Shaddaa. Then again, if you were more inclined to forge your own path in life you always wound up here at some point.

Kiriin brought the ship down and set her down gently. He had no problem with air control and he had no need to pay for the landing pad. He was set. Now all he had to do was find his contact and get the shipment of goods onto his vessel. He went to his quarters before going ashore and changed into his black and gold armor. He double checked all his systems and came back out into the lounge.

Italia you can come with me or stay here imprisoned on the ship. It's your choice. Make it quickly.

He wasn't even expecting any type of reaction from her once he stepped back out in his full armor.

[Tal]

Italia raised an eyebrow at his armor....a Mandalorian?...well, she shouldn't have been surprised, she supposed.

I'm coming with you. By the way...nice armor. What's your Mando'ade name?

She asked, standing up. She had already changed into a slightly more appropriate outfit: Long, sandy colored pants, dark brown boots, and a form fitting top, along with the only thing she had left from her parents...a silver upper arm cuff with strange etchings around it.

[Kiriin Radd]

Kiriin just stared at her as she asked about his personal life. He didn't trust her that much yet. He glanced over her outfit, and his helmet picked up on something she was wearing. He zoomed in and noticed Mando'a on the arm cuff.

Did you know that that's Mando'a on your arm cuff? Nevermind, lets go. Time for the hunt. Oya oya.

[Tal]

Italia tilted her head to the side in curiosity.

No...I didn't.

She replied honestly. It was yet another peice to an ever growing, and more maddening puzzle that was her history. Maybe this man could help her with that. As he called out the hunt, she almost found herself saying the words with him, but held herself back....she just hoped he hadn't noticed.

Her sences began to tingle in anticipation of the unexpected....this was the best part of the job.

[Kiriin Radd]

Kiriin used his helmet's internal comlink and dialed up the number he had been given on the datapad. It was some weapons dealer in the industrial sector. Supposedly this guy was well known around this sector. It didn't give any address or name. Just directions on where to be and when. They still had a good four hours before they were to rendezvous with the dealer. Kiriin decided that a cantina was out of the question, know what happened in the last one. If that kept happening he'd have a full ship of passengers by then, or end up dead.

Hey Italia, since your last adventrue in a cantina didn't go so well. What would you say to eating at a local diner? I'm getting pretty hungry myself and ship's rations just don't cut it for me. I know this place about half a block down from where we're supposed to make contact. What do you say?

[Tal]

Italia looked at him like he was insane for a moment, then chuckled and nodded.

Alright...but just so you know, if I have to I can last a week and a half without food....but trust me....I won't turn you down.

She added with a sly smile. Truth be known, she really wasn't very hungery....her stomach was more used to starving than having food.

[Kiriin Radd]

Kiriin led the way as he wound in and out of the busy afternoon traffice of the Indrustrial sector. He kept on the alert the whole time and hoped that the girl wasn't as green as she came off as on a first impression. He located the diner a few stores down and set a B line for it. He didn't care who was in his way. Most people that saw a Mandalorian trudging through a street would at least give him a pathway or get out of the way completely. He approached the entrance and spoke with the droid inside the door.

They were given the table that he had asked for. He sauntered over to the corner table that overlooked the pedestrian traffic outside and sat with his back to the window. Most would think he'd sit with his back to the wall, but that didn't matter when you had 360 degree vision. He allowed the unarmored Italia to post at the chair next to the wall. He looked over the menu set in the table and picked a spicy Twi'lek dish that he favored. For a drink he just order bottled water. He glanced up at Italia to see what she was ordering and, noticing she wasn't getting much put in for an extra dish of food for her.

Her comment earlier struck a nerve in him and made him frown behind his mask. He loved food and loved to eat, second to the Hunt and battle, but he was down right concerned when someone wasn't getting their fill of food. Knowing that he himself could go for food and water for days on end too, was what came with the job. On the other hand, when you could dine and eat when and what you wanted; that was better.

So since it seems that we are going to be working together for awhile until those two that tried to nab you get bored of waiting. Tell me a little something about yourself and why you wear a Mando'ade family heirloom?

[Tal]

She looked up at him, from watching the surroundings lazily. Italia hadn't even known it was Mandalorian to begin with...let alone how her ancestors had gotten it. She shrugged slightly and shook her head.

Not much to say. Grew up on Tatooine, got in with a bounty hunter, and became one myself.

She stated simply, not caring to go into details with this man yet. He didn't need to know her history...not much of it anyway. She had told him the truth, Italia had just 'forgotten' to enter some major details....like she had been a slave for almost her whole life, she had seen her parent's deaths at the hands of an executioner, and she'd not exactly had the best of times on the Ghost Star in the beginning either.

As for the arm band...I didn't even know it was Mandalorian...It was my mothers...She gave it to me before she died....luckily....I almost didn't get it.

[Kiriin Radd]

The serving droid arrived with their food and placed the two orders of Twi'lek cuisine in front of Kiriin and the other lighter meal in front of Italia. He reached up and broke the seal on his helmet. Now this was an uncommon event among most Mando'ade, but Kiriin had nothing to fear. He removed the helmet and placed it in the seat next to him. As the droid was leaving Kiriin pushed the second plate over in front of Italia with a fatherly look on his face. It was one of those eat your vegetables looks.

Here eat that. I'm not going to have you starving yourself while you're riding along with me. This conversation is not open for negotiations either. Just eat the food and enjoy it. Seeing that now you know that you have some sort of connection to Mandalorian culture, have you put any thought into learning more about it?

[Tal]

Italia made a face, but didn't argue the subject, as she started to eat.

Why did you start caring all of a sudden?

She asked, tilting her head at him, but taking another bite. She wouldn't be able to eat much anyway, since she was used to not really eating anything beside rations.

[Kiriin Radd]

Kiriin just shoved a fork full of spicy noodles and meat chunks into his mouth and smiled. He had his reasons for "caring." It wasn't the fact that he actually cared for this girl, but more of a business insurance. He would not have her at any less than her top condition. He continued to shovel food hastily into his mouth. He was half way finished with his meal before she even started to pick at her food. He had a veracious appetite when it came to Twi'lek cuisine.

Okay, so I care about someone who I'm gonna have cover my back. I want you in top fighting condition, even if that means force feeding you like a child. If you want your ship back, then it would be in your best interest to follow my lead. I saw how easily you were captured back at the cantina.

[Tal]

She snorted slightly.

That wasn't strength, or lack of it, that was the fact that I had a tranq bolt in me before I even knew the man was there. Unlike you, I don't have 360 vision, and it's difficult to keep your back to a wall when you're trying to get out of a situation without being noticed.

She snapped, taking another bite, and glaring at him.

As it was I was intelligent enough to try to take my leave when I noticed they were going to try and drug me and two others with some packages they gave to the barkeep.

She said with a snort.

[Kiriin Radd]

Kiriin shrugged and smirked. He liked this girl more and more as he traveled with her. She had the passion and spirit of a Mando warrior and came from a line of them. He just wish he knew her clan's name. He finished off his plate and downed his water. Using the back of his glove, he wiped the excess water from his mouth and pushed the plate aside. A thought occured to him, but he still needed to test her more before he would play on his hunch. Then again another idea struck him too. He would send her in to get the shipment.

Hurry up, you need to get to the rendezvous point if you're going to make the pickup timetable. We have a limited window. I need to go check on some things while you get my package from the dealer.

He waited for her response as he picked up his helmet and slid it back on his head. There was a hiss of air as the seal was resealed and his HUD came online again. He reached under the table and pulled out a datapad that held the information on the shipment and handed it to her.

The shipment consists of twenty kilograms of thermal plastice, ten missile tubes, and fifty standard blaster rifles. Here is the cred chips for the exchange there will be no negotiations on the price. If he tries to haggle you know what to do. Now get going, I'll meet you back at the ship in an hour.

He got up from the table and paid for the meals and was gone like the wind.

[Tal]

She grunted, looking over the datapad, and nodded once, taking a few more bites, and then she too was off. Italia didn't bother to ask why he decided to have her go, but she had better be ready for a trap. Walking easily down the street, she was able to cover the ground more swiftly than one would have thought, and she almost seemed to melt through the crowd to the randevous point.

[Kiriin Radd]

It was just another busy day and the next pick up order was running late. Well at least that was the norm around here anyway. Business was good for Squeaky. Yes, his name was Squeaky, all that's to that two timing Hutt, but this sentiment would never be voiced. He had already packaged everything and had it ready for transportation. All he needed was his money and the deal would be successful. He waited impatiently for his contact to show up as he buffed the dirty glass of a display case at the front of his store.

[Tal]

Italia arrived at the shop and walked in lazily, only five minutes late. The Rodian buffing the glass looked impatient, so she put one hand on her hip and waited for him.

Waiting for someone?

She asked in Huttese.

[Kiriin Radd]

Squeaky looked up and then down as he glanced over this human female. He stopped polishing the glass and tucked the rag away in one of many of pockets that lined his jumpsuit. He didn't know who this was or what they wanted, but if they weren't going to buy something he'd kick them out.

Huttese: <Chubba? What do you want? I don't give hand outs. Now buy something or leave.>

His pale green skin flushed a darker who to show his irritation.

[Tal]

She grunted and put a hand on her hip.

On the contrary...I believe you have a shipment for me.

She replied smoothly, handing over the datapad before raising an eyebrow.

...unless you don't want to do business?....but you would be the one loosing out on the credits.

[Kiriin Radd]

The Rodian merchant took the datapad in his grubby hands and glanced over the contents of it. It all checked out, but he was expecting Mandalorian, not weak human girl. He was doubtful that she was able to kill a warrior like them. He tapped the datapad on his other open palm and smiled with his sucker lips.

Huttese: <You're not the person that is supposed to pick this shipment up. I can't allow you to take the shipment. Unless.....you pay three times the price for the shipment. You're not Mandalorian, I was expecting elite warrior and you are just a weak human girl. Now pay up or leave.>

[Tal]

She snorted slightly in the form of a laugh, and in the blink of an eye, a long dagger was to his throat.

Oh really? And a Mandalorian cannot be a female? Now...would you like to take your words back, and accept the credits or shall I take my business somewhere else...though I doubt the Hutt you work for will be very pleased with that.

Italia replied smoothly, her eyes flashing a briliant green color.