Chapter 42:

Aww, man, oh man. Gotta love it when I upload one of these things and in the upload I loose my formatting. Sorry about that guys! All cleaned up! (Until someone else sees something I missed. :P)

Wow.. What the actual feck?! I have tried to fix my scene separations over half a dozen times now and every time, it won't save when I upload it to FF or when I export the file to edit it. Maybe I am going to stop being yanked around with this system and go to archive or our own. GRAH! Fine, FF, ugly ass lines then, since NOTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE ALLOWED! GRUAH!

Torian had lost count how many drops he had done on the Mantis. The cargo bay opened and he lit up his HUD and walked to the edge.

It began measuring relative distances, speed of motion, registering temperature and even reading the air for any flora that might interest Torian. He waited until the comm link was confirmed with Gault and Mako.

"See you soon." he said as soon as the channel's encryption was confirmed.

Mako relaxed in the cockpit and sighed over their open channel. "Bring her back."

"Always do."

Mako sighed and smiled to herself. "Yea, that's why I send you."

Torian gave her a thumbs up through the cameras and ignited his jet pack. He stepped off the ledge and disappeared from Mako's view.

Mako circled around once and then found a safe location for waiting it out. She parked the Mantis but kept the shields on.

Mako shivered and curled up in a ball for warmth in the pilot's seat. She looked out of her window and watched the lights bounce off the ice and snow that enveloped her surroundings in silence. She reached for her comm link headset without averting her gaze from the ice.

"I want status updates every 15, even if you don't have anything to report. No more losing comms."

"Got it." rung back to her in stereo as both men responded.

Mako wrapped her arms around her knees and began to count as she waited.

"Where did you lose her?"

Torian heard Gault groan as he got up from where he had been lying in wait.

"Ah! Good grief! What's with all the lights?"

Torian hit his left chest plate and the lights all turned off. Gault rubbed his eyes as he sat in the snow. "Well, there goes my night vision."

Torian rolled his eyes as he walked up to the edge of the cliff Gault had been hanging out at.

"Sure you'll live."

Torian stayed behind the natural barrier that had kept Gault hidden, but looked out at what looked like a campsite. There was little activity to report. Torian looked back at Gault.

"How many?"

"Five, maybe six, but woah! Hold on, there! There are at least twelve more where these guys came from, and they'll be back any minute."

Torian exaggerated his shrug so Gault would see it. "Target practice."

Gault frowned. "No. No, don't do it, Tor. Torian! Get back here!"

Torian ignored Gault as he whisper yelled for him, and advanced on the camp, lights off and light-footed. He took extra care with every step because ice and snow could be deceptively loud when frozen over and broken. It was at a crawl's pace, but once in the camp, Torian unhooked his electrostaff from its hook on his backplate.

The staff vibrated to life and hummed as Torian made his rounds. One by one, he snuck up on the unsuspecting men in the camp and knocked them out, they were scattered so it was as easy as shooting fish in a barrel. Once the area cleared, Torian signalled to Gault. Torian met Gault at the camp fire.

"That was easy."

Gault snorted. "You're just lucky the others haven't shown up yet."

Bang, bang, bang.

Both men veered on a crate as it shook from within. Gault lowered his blaster rifle as he sighed. Torian glared at the crate.

"Hate surprises."

Gault sighed. "You and me both. Let's see who's inside, maybe we can get them to pay us for our troubles."

Torian looked around. "Make it quick. "

Gault holstered his rifle and with his arms in the air approached the crate. " I know, I know. You gotta go save her. Trust me, she's fine, and this'll only take a minute."

Torian crossed his arms and waited while Gault walked over to the crate and knocked on it twice. Whoever was inside, they knocked back. Gault bit his lower lip as he held a back a laugh.

"Boy, would I be sorry if I got locked in one of these cramped things."

Torian snorted. "Don't give me any ideas."

Gault reeled on him, index pointing. "No. Bad Mando!"

Torian chuckled silently as his helmet swallowed his laugh, but Gault could see his shoulders shaking. He opened the crate and out rolled its captive; a Corellian man. He took a deep breath of fresh air as he got up and walked away a couple of steps from the crate. Once he got a good look at his saviors, he stretched.

Torian took notes, black hair, green eyes, and dressed mostly in black. His armor was light and mostly concealed as part of his civilian looking getup. He did not wear a proper uniform. Torian's eyes narrowed at the newcomer.

"Hello gentlemen. You wouldn't happen to know which part of the prison I am in right now?"

Gault looked at Torian sidelong then back at their new-found friend. "Depends, how much is it worth to you, friend?"

Torian switched his weight from his left leg, resting state, to his right leg, alert state. This new person had a distinctive way of speaking, yes, it was Corellian, but it also stank of the Republic. Torian did his best to make the movement natural and benign. Gault noticed it though.

All of Raidre's crew had started learning basic Mandalorian customs, at least for the battlefield. They worked, and kept everyone alive. So the movement caught Gault's eye but he did not let it show in his face.

The newcomer frowned. "Aww, come on, guys."

Torian's movement was swift. Before their newcomer had the chance to move towards Gault, the electrostaff was under his chin. The two men stared at each other, and Torian had to hand it to him, he kept his stare even and did not seem unnerved by the lack of an actual face as he glared back at Torian's helmet.

"Spill." said Torian.

"Name is Arvitish Strean. I was here on a job with my companion, Akaavi. We we're split up by a prison riot on our way to cell block 923-A."

Gault looked between the two men. "Okay, so I think we might have an opportunity here."

Torian looked back to Gault, then pulled his electrostaff away from Arvitish. Gault rubbed his hands together as he stepped towards the other two men.

"How about this, Arvitish, was it?"

"Yep."

"You're looking for a lady, we're also looking for a lady. Since you already owe us for freeing you from these thugs, you can help us out with finding our friend."

Arvitish frowned. " Failing to see where this is mutually beneficial?"

Gault rubbed his chin. "Pretty sure I didn't say it was."

Arvitish rolled his eyes. "Yea, thanks, but no thanks."

Torian looked at the newcomer one more time. "Your friend. Akaavi. Is she from clan Spar?"

Both men looked back at Torian, Gault narrowed his eyes in dismay, while Arvitish's eyes widened.

"You're Mandalorain."

Torian snorted. "No, just like to dress like one."

Arvitish nodded. "Alright, yes, she's from clan Spar."

Torian took off his helmet and his blue eyes met Arvitish's green ones. For a moment they looked at each other without a word. Torian looked at Gault.

"He's good. Let's find the girls."

Gault's jaw dropped. "What?! But-"

Torian frowned. "No. Bad Devaronian. No swindling."

Raidre woke to the sound of a fire crackling. She could smell the smoke and embers and feel the heat radiating towards her face, warming her. Her eyes opened and she saw that she had been laid down on her left side. She tried to sit up and found herself biting her lower lip as she fought against the pain.

"It was dislocated, I set it, but I don't know how long your shoulder was like that."

Raidre looked towards the person who spoke to her. Black eyes met hers, then looked back outside from a windowsill. Raidre had never met a Zabrak woman before, so she found herself staring a little. She admired the red and black markings, the shaved scalp and the horns were very distinctive. This woman also happened to be huge, tall and imposing. But her voice was soft and quiet.

"Thank you." she said.

The Zabrak looked back at Raidre and asked. "Which clan do you belong to?"

"Lok."

The woman's eyes widened. "What?"

"Clan Lok, daughter of Artus." Raidre said.

She looked back away. "He'd be disappointed."

Rage rivaled the pain. Raidre stood as she processed the emotions. "Easy to say when you weren't there." She picked up her helmet.

The Zabrak scoffed. "Sit back down, they're still around."

Raidre paused. "How many?"

"Only 6 right now, but they divided in search of you." she looked back at Raidre. "What did you do to piss them off?"

Raidre shrugged with her good arm. "My job is to put them back in their cells."

Raidre starred out and realized they were at the top of a broken down tower. Thanks to the natural foliage of this jungle-zone, not even their fire gave them away, and even if it did, they wouldn't have a way up without jet packs, which Raidre knew they did not have.

"So, you got a name?" asked Raidre.

"Akaavi. From clan Spar."

Raidre swallowed the bile of her previous rage.

"Nice to meet you." she walked away and looked at what of her belongings.

Raidre shook her head, she was running on reserves now. She pushed on her right thigh plate and it popped open. Inside were her reserves of stims and kolto. She pulled them out and inject herself with both. She took a deep breath and let her system adjust to the stims. Once she was good she took ahold of her left hand and began to move her arm and tested her range of movement. She sighed.

"It's not in fully."

Akaavi looked away from her surveillance of their enemies and back at her with a frown. " It popped."

Raidre groaned and glared back at her. "Off medic here, I can feel that it's not in right. Just pull please."

Akaavi rolled her eyes, stood and walked over to Raidre. She took ahold of Raidre's arm. Raidre looked her in the eye. "Don't be gentle."

Akaavi's lips tilted upwards a smidge. "I never am."

She yanked once, hard and in a dry motion. Raidre's arm popped out and then snapped back in. Tears streamed down Raidre's face and she tasted blood as she held back the primal scream of pain. Akaavi nodded at Raidre.

"Well, look at that. It wasn't fully back in the socket."

Raidre inhaled, deep, both air and tears were sucked in. "Yea." she said her voice weak. "Thanks."

Raidre massaged her arm and let the kolto do it's job. She pulled out her reserve rations, broke it in half and threw the larger half at Akaavi. The Zabrak caught it and took a snif. Raidre began to eat.

"So, what brings you to Belsavis."

Akaavi took a bite. "Same as you. Work."

"Ah." Raidre nodded and ate. "Did you come alone?"

Akaavi shook her head, her face now pinched. "No, we got separated."

Raidre continued to nod. "Ah."

They ate in silence. Every attempt at conversation was halted at best and stifled at worst. After an hour of this Raidre grew restless and began to pace.

"Do you have to do that?"

Raidre groaned. "Some of us need action to pass the time."

Akaavi snorted. "Useless."

Raidre frowned. "Listen, I appreciate what you did, but I don't have the time or the patience for your obvious disdain for me. If you're so much better than me and couldn't be bothered with my osik, why even bother to help?"

Akaavi sighed. "Because you're still one of us."

Raidre nodded. "Right, so how about we try this again?"

Akaavi rose a delicate eyebrow at Raidre. "What?"

Raidre walked up to Akaavi and held out her right hand. "Hey, Raidre Lok. Look forward to working with you."

Akaavi's head tilted two degrees to the left, her eyes blinking a couple of times. She shrugged and took Raidre's arm and they held each other's forearms. Her eyes widened just a touch at Raidre's strong grip with her injured arm. She looked Raidre in the eye and nodded.

"Let's do our best."

Raidre nodded back, her knitted brows easing. "Alright, so we need to find your partner, and get me in touch with mine, because Mako is going to kill me for being out of contact for as long as I have been. If she hasn't already sent Torian at me."

Akaavi's eyes widened. "Torian? Torian Cadera."

Raidre smiled. "The one and only."

Akaavi smiled. "He's a good one."

Raidre shrugged. "Most days. I'm just lucky he likes to stick around and work with my crew."

Akaavi's eyes softened. "He always watched the children when the clans would gather for ori'skraan."

Raidre's expression softened as she smiled. "Yea, that's him in a nutshell. Warrior by day, babysitter and child-whisperer by night."

Akaavi chuckled at that, but her mirth was short lived. "It was unfortunate what happened with his clan, but I am glad to see that he is restoring honor to his name."

"Me too."

The girls munched and watched.

"Really? I had no idea that The Gand were so addicted to salty flavors."

Arvitish chuckled. "Yea, that one got us on their good side, and they ended up helping us rather than turning us into the authorities. I always carry salty rations on me now."

Torian watched from where they were perched. Behind them the six prisoners were tied up and gagged. They watched and waited for the rest of the gang to come back. They would either have Raidre or know where she last was sighted. It would narrow their search, and they were due back any minute. Quicker route to their urgent task.

The radio crackled to life, Gault held it up as they all waited in silence to hear what was about to be said.

"Hey, Gridow, hope you made the stew!"

Gault rolled his eyes and clicked the radio on. "Yea, yea, just get back already!"

Gault handed Arvitish the radio and got his blaster sniper rifle set up. Torian put his helmet on and got on the edge of thier window.

"See you when the dust settles."

Gault waved at him. "Just stay out of my line of fire."

Torian jumped and was down on the ground just as the sound of speeders coming around the bend was heard. Arvitish put Gault's comm link headset on.

"Torian, you have 6 men on speeders, two Trandoshans, one Houk and the rest are human. They're lightly armored but have blasters. Oh, and Akk dogs? Why Akk dogs?"

"To track." Torian responded through their link.

Gault loaded a fresh blaster cell and waited. "On my mark. Three, two, one."

Gault began to shoot the incoming men. As soon as he did, Torian rounded them off by attacking them from the opposite direction. Torian kept their attention on him, while Gault took them out from behind. The skirmish was over in seconds, Gault shot the last man in the leg to facilitate Torian's capture. Arvitish frowned as he looked at the way this team operated.

"Why kill them, but keep these guys alive?"

Gault holstered his weapon. "Well, we're getting paid to put prisoners back in their cells, if we don't bring back some of them, we won't get paid."

Arvitish frowned at Gault's answer as Gault walked over to their prisoners to check them.

"Come on."

Arvitish followed Gault down to meet up with Torian. Torian carried a beaten and bruised Houk man. The Mandalorian threw him to the ground.

"Geez, his face looks like raw meat."

Both Torian and Gault looked at Arvitish, it made him squirm. Torian crossed his arms. "Raw meat doesn't stab you in the back."

Gault clapped his hands. "Amen to that."

The Devaronian crouched down to the Houk's level. "Hey there.", he poked him on the cheek. "Still awake?"

The Houk groaned. "Argh… what?!"

Gault smiled, his teeth pearlescent against his ruddy complexion. "Did you happen to come across some ladies while you were out and about? 5'9", black and grey armor, nasty predilection towards punching people in the face?"

Arvitish crouched down too. "Or a Zabrak lady?"

Torian kept a hand on the Houk's collar, he teetered, his eye-lids heavy and swollen. Gault frowned and tapped his cheek.

"Hey, no sleeping. We need answers."

Torian's grip tightened and he shook the Houk. "Answer."

The Houk's eyes widened as much as his swollen eyelids would allow. He looked between the three men. After a moment he looked back at Gault and Arvitish.

"No Zabrak, but we were chasing a Mandalorian chick who got all uppity on us."

Gault clicked his tongue against his teeth. "Uppity huh? You might not want to say that with him around." Gault pointed at Torian, cupping a hand on his mouth as he spoke in a whisper to the Houk. "They're kind of a thing. He doesn't take it well when people bad-mouth his lady."

The Houk kept looking back between Gault and Torian. "Oh."

"What about Akaavi, did you see her?"

The Houk looked back at Arvitish. He shook his head. "No Zabrak lady."

Arvitish sighed and fell back into a seated position. Torian pulled the Houk back on his feet with one arm, he took his time so that the Houk could appreciate the force and control of the motion. Torian looked him in the face for 3 whole seconds, eyes to visor, before speaking. "Where?"

"I think we're good. " Akaavi said. "It's been almost an hour since they came back."

Raidre stood, stretched and tested her shoulder. "Shoulders still osik. But it'll do. Team's probably already here."

Akaavi began to pack her things. "I hope Arvitish is ok."

Raidre pulled her helmet from the ground. "Your partner?"

Akaavi nodded and put her helmet on. Raidre synched up their comm links and put her helmet on as well.

"How much did that charge your system?"

Raidre checked her seals on her system. "I have 15%."

Akaavi pursed her lips and grunted. "Not much."

Raidre shrugged so Akaavi could see it. "Any more and it would drain too much of your power. One of us needs to be fully charged."

Akaavi nodded. "Stay behind me then."

Raidre nodded.