CHAPTER 1
11 months later.
A high-pitched shriek stirred from the lower street and Shadow—standing on the street above—peered over the railing as a tall man raced away from a fallen woman he accidentally knocked over in his haste. Forging a reputation as a bounty hunter wasn't easy, especially when his targets constantly tried to elude capture by running senselessly into crowds.
It didn't make them disappear; instead, they stood out.
"Fool," Shadow scowled lowly as he vaulted over the railing, allowing gravity to pull on him as he sailed down toward the crowd. Someone in the crowd noticed his decent and startled, several people parted and left a decent opening for him. He grinned, using the Force as a cushion.
He landed low to the ground, gathering his strength, and then propelled forward after the towering, reckless man. Shadow jostled through the crowd, eyes searching for the eye-catching golden hair that belonged to his target.
Shadow didn't move as reckless as the other man; he used somewhat subtle pushes and maneuvers toward the ones that got in his way. Some spat curses at him, others glared, and a few only whispered beneath their breath about his impoliteness. He didn't seek their approval. He just wanted to gain prestige from his employer—a loan shark known as Darius Rowne.
But something preyed over him. A fatigue haunted him; he could feel it weakening his muscles. The nightmares of Korribian, the old memories he wished to forget, kept him up nearly every night.
Stay awake, Shadow urged himself, I have to finish this. Then I can go home.
He caught up with his target, reaching out his hand and catching his shoulder. "You can't get rid of me that easy," Shadow spat, dragging the man away from the crowd and toward a narrow alleyway.
"Get your hands off me!" bellowed the man, thrashing in Shadow's iron-grip but he couldn't break free.
Shadow didn't loosen his hold until the darkness swallowed them, and when it did, he slammed the man against the wall and leaned close so he couldn't escape again. "Enough running, Harvek," he growled lowly, eyes narrowed to meet the pale frantic eyes trying not to meet his. "Where are the credits you owe Darius? You hand them over, and I'll make sure Darius doesn't put a bounty on your head."
"Piss off!" Harvek drew out the pistol in the holster beside his hip, finger pulling the trigger and letting a bolt fly. Shadow almost acted too slow, but grew thankful as the bolt hit the parallel wall. It didn't stop Harvek though.
Shadow seized the man's wrist, slamming it against the wall and jarring the pistol away. Harvek's fist smacked against his jawline, the force behind it nearly knocking Shadow aside but luckily it only made him loosen his grip on the man's wrist. Forgetting the gun, he lunged at the bounty hunter, knocking him against the other wall and bringing his knee to smash against his abdomen.
A sharp breath exhaled from Shadow's lungs as Harvek's fist pounded against his torso, bruising the skin no doubt. Another punch sent Shadow tumbling to the ground, but as he got to his knees, Harvek's arm wrapped around his throat.
The attempt to cut off his airway was nearly successful if Shadow didn't know how to get out. His fingers dug into Harvek's arm as he struggled to his feet. Shadow's elbow jabbed against Harvek's ribs, the right spot which made the man's grip loosen. He reached behind him, seizing the older man's shoulders and heaving the tall body up and over him.
His target's back smacked against the disgusting concrete, leaving him somewhat winded, and Shadow reached for him. But Harvek didn't give him a chance to grab him. Already he got to his feet, reached behind him, and pulled out a glinting blade from his back pocket.
"I said piss off you bastard!" Harvek spat, charging forward with the tip of the blade sailing toward Shadow. The eighteen-year-old stumbled back, bumping against the wall as the knife penetrated through his shoulder.
"Damn!" Shadow howled, fighting to contain his rage. As the blade withdrew his fist smashed against Harvek's nose, sending the man stumbling away from him. The adrenaline pumping through his veins made him forget the pain. But in his mind his shoulder felt like something lethal still sizzled where the knife had left.
Harvek was at the ready again, blade swunging deftly for the throat when Shadow ducked, turned his body sideways, and delivered a firm kick against his flank. That hit only startled him, but another kick—this time aimed around the chest—left him winded.
"I'm—" Shadow's fist slammed against Harvek's cheek and sent him flying back toward the wall. Harvek blindly slashed at Shadow. "—tired—" Shadow ducked another swipe, laying several fierce punches against his flank. "—of games!"
Harvek lifted his blade to drive it back into his shoulder when Shadow back-flipped to create a little space between them. He twisted his body smoothly, leg gliding upwards and the tip of his boot smashing against the man's skull. His foot didn't retreat yet. The sole of his shoe pushed the wrist holding Harvek's knife against the wall with such force it jarred the sharp metal from his hand. The satisfying clatter assured Shadow the threat was gone.
"The credits," Shadow growled, now tasting the copper tang on his lips, "where are they?"
Harvek reached into his front pocket, throwing them convulsively at Shadow as if the touch of credits was poisonous. "Take them," he begged, slumping to the ground and looking down at his feet. "Take them and leave me alone."
Shadow's eyes narrowed as the word, "Pathetic," dragged past his lips and dripped with disgust. He didn't bother having some pity on him. He got what he deserved. He stepped out of the darkness, returning into the light and avoiding eye contact with the other pedestrians walking the street. With his sleeve he wiped the small trail of blood dribbling from his lip before he noticed a lean figure propped against a wall to his right.
"Good work in there," she mused, sky-colored eyes focused on him with an amused smile. "You really struck some fear in his heart. I would say you came out unscathed but—" She nodded at his shoulder, eying the dark wet stain on the shoulder of his sable tunic.
"Your praise is touching," Shadow said, chuckling softly as he slipped the credits in his pocket. "I think you're getting soft, Kyra." A grin pulled at his lips. "You should have seen him, crying like a baby in there."
"I would I could praise you all day," she mumbled, stepping over to him. "But Darius wants us at his pub—we've got an unwelcome visitor."
Shadow concealed his disappointment, hid his desire to sink into his bed and fall asleep. But a piece of him eased in relief: it appeared more appealing than going home to have his mind muddled with nightmares fabricated from his past.
Kyra didn't bother waiting for his response. She turned around, her long, chestnut hair flying back over her shoulders, and she proceeded to the dark crimson speeder parked several feet away from them. She hopped into the pilot's side while he sat beside her, and without wasting another second she brought the engines to life with a simple push of a button.
The speeder zoomed up and away, the front pointed up toward the sky where the steady pulse of traffic flowed with various ships and transportation vehicles. Kyra had flown along the streets many times, very well-educated on how to get around Coruscant effectively.
Shadow didn't mind the silence as they rode back to the pub, in fact, he used the time to consider what awaited for them. He didn't think whoever stood in Darius's place wasn't dangerous, but a sensation pricked at him.
Don't focus on Kareb, he scold himself when he realized his mind still focused on the ache in his shoulder, he's dead.
The speeder jerked to the left, jarring Shadow from his thoughts, and it descended toward a small building distinguished by a buzzing neon sign. Already the sky gradually darkened, on the verge of bestowing night over Coruscant. Kyra parked the vehicle in a space between two other speeders and the hunk of metal powered down with a dying whirl.
She leaped out of her seat, hand on her blaster pistol as she headed for the door. Shadow followed her wordlessly, ignoring the aches messaging throughout his body and wearing him down minute by minute. When she pushed through the door he only followed, scanning the bar shelves stocked with various ales and whiskeys.
Darius's most trusted bounty hunters stood huddled in the center of the room, grim-faced and dangerous characters who didn't approve of the person—well, boy—standing in the pub. They looked impressed by his presence, but frowned upon the idea of him working with the others in the room.
Darius sat in his favorite chair, a large throne-like seat propped against the back wall of the pub. The man—plump and figuratively weighed down by his riches—stared cold-eyed at the stranger, but when he saw Kyra and Shadow gradually edging toward the circle his stare somewhat brightened.
"Kyra! Shadow!" he shouted, announcing their arrival with his deep, booming voice. He sat up in his seat and beckoned them with a tattooed hand to come closer. "I want you to meet this fool who wandered into my pub asking for a job—" He gestured toward the circle and several bounty hunters parted so they could see.
Shadow eyed the stranger—who looked almost as big as him but several inches higher—and couldn't help but notice scars marring his face. It seemed to say a lot about this man. Poor guy, he thought as minor pity washed over him.
"His name is Aven," Darius pipped up. "I don't think he's worthy enough to work in my pub. But you're my trusted hand, Kyra. I'll let you test him." He folded his arms across his burly chest, awaiting for her to step forward and quickly check out Aven.
She didn't speak right away. From where Shadow stood, she looked almost hypnotized by him, perhaps intrigued at his appearance. Her eyes glanced over him from head to toe, as if mesmerizing each muscle coiled in the brawny frame. She stepped into the huddled group and circled him, like a predator considering whether to make their possible target is weak enough to become a meal. Aven didn't stir. He stood unmoved by her unsettling gaze.
"What skills do you have to offer us, Aven?" Kyra asked, stopping in front of him. She stared boldly into his green pools, as if searching for fear.
"Fighting, organizing, anything," Aven answered. "I just need work." His voice sounded like a pathetic squeak and made the bounty hunters laugh.
"Fighting might do good. It will improve our odds at succeeding our assignments and retrieving the credits others owe to Darius." Kyra abruptly pivoted around, taking several steps away from Aven and gesturing to the other bounty hunters to shuffle back. "We're gonna give you a test. Fight one of our toughest bounty hunters, and if you do well—you can join. If you can't even manage to escape a headlock, your chances of working here will be slim."
Shadow remembered the first time he came to Darius to join in his group. Kyra had the chilling voice, but she didn't give him any test. She already witnessed him several months ago him fight five drunkards in one sitting. She recognized his skill. He highly doubted Aven would pass the test if he fought against the deadliest fighter in the room.
"Shadow!"
Kyra's voice caught him off guard.
"I think you can handle this kid easily." Her eyes focused on his as she neared his side, a confidence glowing somewhere beneath the icy depths of her eyes. It gave him some how, but it also made him feel a dread. "I know Harvek roughed you up a bit, but you are actually one of the best fighters here."
Shadow nodded and shouldered past her, biting down his tongue and suppressing the urge to spew curses from his mouth. He stopped when he stood a couple of feet from Aven, and when the circle closed he raised an eyebrow toward the newcomer. "Show me what you got," he urged.
Aven raced forward, fingers tightly furled in his palm and his knuckles grew a stark white. He swung a mad punch but Shadow used a hand and directed it to meet nothing but air. Before Aven could adjust a firm foot smashed against his flank and sent him tumbling sideways.
"Pathetic," Shadow growled. "And you expect to get a job here?"
Aven's jaw tightened and he threw himself at the bounty hunter, fists swinging madly. Shadow didn't need to tense. Instead he allowed the Force to flow through him, and like a river maneuvering around rocks, he eluded the punches. With an open hand he smacked the newcomer's cheek with a stinging slap.
"You gotta do better than that," Kyra called from the edge of the make-shift battle ring. "At this time, your target could have you down on the ground, or perhaps even kill you." Her eyes narrowed, unimpressed by his effort. "You're wasting our time—"
"No, no!" Aven begged, his looking toward Kyra. "Just give me another chance! This time I won't let you down!" The boy's knees wobbled, but he refused to let himself collapse in front of the others in the room.
"One last chance," Kyra said. "You mess up or don't do good enough, you're out for good."
Shadow's eyebrows furrowed together, somewhat angered by her words. The fight could have ended and he could have returned home. But most importantly, he wondered where in the world did she have this reasonable side.
Aven turned back toward Shadow and advanced with more quick, and practiced, punches. Shadow put up his fists, blocking a few hits and ducking some others. He even tried to exchange some blows of his own but the boy managed to mirror his technique: he blocked and ducked.
The fight began picking up the pace, now composed of smooth kicks and rolls equally coming from both sides. Shadow tried to preserve his energy. He hoped to last longer so he could figure out a way to end this. Aven's foot smacked against his jaw, sending him stumbling back but he didn't completely lose his footing.
Shadow suppressed a grimace as he straightened his posture, rushing forward and swinging a couple punches—one to the cheek and the other to the abdomen. He backed up and propelled up, his body flipping over Aven, and when he turned to face the boy, he had his foot lifted and striking against the exposed backside.
Aven tumbled to the ground. Shadow knew the fight would draw to a close. Prepared to end it, he turned the scarred boy on his back but what happened next wasn't anticipated. A fist slammed against his wounded shoulder, conjuring a pained gasp from Shadow. Aven pushed him back, heaving himself to his feet and lunging at the bounty hunter.
In the man's eyes Shadow saw no mercy, a fierce determination not only in his stare, but also behind the punches raining down on him. Knuckles slammed against his face, upon his chest, and worse of all his shoulder. It seemed never-ending until a single word slowed time.
"Stop!" Kyra shouted above the struggling grunts.
As Aven retreated Shadow's foot slammed against the boy's abdomen and sent him tumbling back toward Kyra. His eyes searched the faces of his co-workers, knowing each stood in shock not at Aven's success, but Shadow's inability to protect himself. The fatigue settled in as Shadow got to his feet, but the defeat never ebbed. It just couldn't.
"Well done," Kyra praised, a smirk pulling on her face as she stared at Aven. "Welcome to the group." All the other bounty hunters snapped from their amazement and went to congratulate the group's new member. Everyone stepped around Shadow, unable to make eye contact with their defeated comrade.
Shadow noticed Kyra's eye on him and quietly he proceeded to her side. "He caught me by surprise," he admitted to her. "That's why I didn't have time to fight back—"
"Cut the crap," she snapped, a gingerly hand resting on his shoulder. "Everyone's been noticing your exhaustion lately," she went on. "I just wanted to test their rumors. Go home, get some rest. You're gonna need that for a couple of days."
Shadow scowled. "If I don't work, I don't get an income," he growled. "I have no choice but to work."
"Sooner or later you'll be fired for your sloppiness," Kyra retorted. Her eyes softened a bit from their normal, icy state as she said, "I'm just looking out for you."
Your concern is touching, he thought angrily, but not necessary!
Shadow kept his mouth shut, grimly nodding instead before he moved away from her hand. As much as it angered him, he felt like she had a point. If he didn't face his problems now, he would encounter more issues in the future, such as a source of income.
The walk to his apartment was a brief one despite how far he actually was from Darius's pub. He took a shuttle ship which only lasted a couple of minutes, and from there he edged his way into the dimly lit apartment building. He counted the seconds the elevator took to reach to his floor, and when he stepped outside the sliding doors he proceeded to the first door to his left.
He slipped the keycard from his pocket, swiped it into the card reader, and the door whooshed open. Shadow limped into the dark space and as his front door closed he stripped off his tunic and proceeded to the bathroom to assess and bind his wounds.
He didn't bother turning on the lights since he preferred the dark instead. But when he arrived at the bathroom he flicked on the light and looked at the discolored blotches all over his skin. Shadow scowled again, especially when he saw the dark red clustered around the small puncture in his shoulder.
It wasn't as bad as he had expected, though it still pained him. He splashed some cool water and washed it using the refresher, and with some long bandages he owned beneath the counter he wrapped the shoulder gingerly. The bruises all over him would have to go away over time.
Shadow exited the bathroom with the light clicking off behind him, and without thinking about dinner, he proceeded to his bedroom at the end of the hall. He pushed through the door, expecting to encounter an empty bed when a dark figure seated on the edge made him stiffen.
The lean figure stood up and wandered over to him, and as he met the gave of soft aquatic eyes he relaxed, and a genuine smile formed on his lips.
"Welcome home," he whispered, wrapping his arms around the feminine form.
"It's good to be home," Ahsoka whispered back, her fingers caressing the his dark hair. She stared at him momentarily, as if breathless by his features before she leaned up and met his lips for a longing kiss.
Shadow accepted the embrace, his heart thrashing in his chest because of her presence. The war had kept them apart for several months, and their future reunion was unknown to the both of them, but when she ended up in his apartment he knew she could stay for a few weeks before being sent off again.
As they parted from their kiss, Shadow couldn't help but laugh. "How'd you get in here?"
"The balcony" she answered. She nodded toward the curtains gracefully billowing to his right. "You don't really lock the door." One of her hands had dropped down along her shoulder, and when she felt the bandage she froze. "What's on your shoulder?"
Ahsoka uncoiled from his arms, walking over to the wall and turning on the light. When she saw him, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. She didn't know what to say, or even what to think what happened to him.
"Look, I just got a little roughed up today," Shadow admitted. "It's nothing to worry about, alright?"
"Did your employer do this to you?" Ahsoka questioned, nearing him and inspecting the forming bruises.
"No," Shadow said, getting a little defensive. "I fought with two guys today. One pulled a knife on me, managed to catch me in the shoulder. The other I had to fight because he had to pass a test...they both got me pretty good—"
"You can't sleep, can you?" Her eyes softened as they met his stare, hoping deep down it wasn't true but nothing could deny the dark circles accentuating beneath his eyes.
"No, I can't. I'm trying to but nightmares always turn up." Shadow shook his head, sitting on the edge of his bed and hanging his head.
She sat beside him, her hands gingerly touching his shoulders. "You need to forget about Korriban, Shadow. What happened there is affecting your mind," she said. "It's hard to forget, I understand that. But it's affecting your work."
"I just can't seem to get a good night's rest when you're not around," Shadow admitted, lifting his head to gaze into her eyes. "It pains me every time you're not beside me."
"I know," Ahsoka whispered. "It hurts me too, but we have to live through this for now. At least we're able to spend time together; I'm not even suppose to be here with you, but I come anyways. I love you. But when I'm gone I want you to pretend I'm with you all the time, okay?"
Shadow took her words into consideration, and several minutes later he agreed. "Okay," he said, managing to grin as he leaned closer to her. "I'll pretend just for you."
She smiled back, her forehead against his. "You must be tired," she mused, lips brushing against his ear. With a flick of her wrists the lights powered down and she gently pushed Shadow down on the bed. "Sleep."
He took a deep breath and shifted toward the pillows, getting beneath the bedspread and letting Ahsoka take the empty spot beside him. Shadow longed for a good night's rest and knew he would get it with his love laying next to him. As he closed his eyes all he could see was Aven's scarred face, and a sense of dread mingled in his chest.
A mystery surrounded Aven, and that much to Shadow was clear.
And that's the end of chapter one! What did you guys think? Reviews are greatly encouraged at this point now that we're started to move forward in the story already.
Chapter 2 will be published May 7th, 2014! Be sure to mark your calendars because I'm sure the next chapter will be just as exciting as this one!
Have a good rest of the week, everyone!
