Nelkf skidded down the rocky slop and landed hard at the bottom. She winced as pain surged through her back and legs. Unlike many alien species, Sklinths looked almost completely Human with a few exceptions. The most obvious of these was her long, furless tail. Unlike a Ranat's, it was not segmented. In fact, Nelkf looked down on creatures with segmented tails, feeling they were inferior. Another attribute was the strangely colored glowing eyes the species tended to have. Nelkf herself had bright green eyes, the same color of laser bolts. Strangely, Sklinths also possessed a quicker working immune system then Humans. Also, average female Sklinths possessed the strength of a well-built Human male. Other then those things, Sklinths looked entirely Human.
Thus, the climb was easy for Nelkf, but Slek was a different story. The poor R2 unit wailed and teetered dangerously on the narrow ledge. He shrieked desperately to Nelkf for help.
"Just let yourself fall, Bucket Boy," she replied with a snicker, "it's not like you can get hurt."
Slek did not see the least bit comforted. He continued to screech and refused to move. Nelkf climbed back up the ridge and sat next to the whimpering droid. The Sklinth let out a strange sniffle-snort and opened her knapsack.
"I guess we should stop for a rest anyway," she grumbled, "I'm not used to this thin mountain air," she pulled some unappetizing concentrates from her bag and nibbled the corner of one. It tasted like a nerf that had fallen into a trash compactor only to be torched by a dying A-wing's hyperdrive engine. After a few moments of thoughtful chewing, she spat the offending matter on the ground. "Sorry I don't have a charger," she apologized to the droid, "but I don't think you'd want these even if I could give them to you."
Slek said something in agreement. From what other organics said, concentrates were the equivalent of dirty lubricants. Once, Nelkf had broken into the storehouse for some of the concentrates and burned the place down. She was never caught, but Slek wasn't so sure that the organics would press charges. After all, like Nelkf had said, "it was for the greater good." He wasn't so sure he'd ever understand organics.
Nelkf went through her survival pack for the umpteenth time. It was still the same; a vibroknife, a bag of concentrates, a two days supply of fresh water, a thermal suit, a hold-out blaster and a ruined commlink. Enough to keep her alive, and if she hadn't dropped the commlink, to call for help. Nelkf cursed the commlink and herself before kicking it off the ridge. She watched it roll along, knocking small stones loose. She hoped it would cause an avalanche and crush a village or something. That would cheer her up.
"So much for that," she said aloud, kicking a few pebbles after it for good measure, "What kind of a place is this outpost anyway?"
Slek whistled mournfully.
"What do you mean?" growled Nelkf, leaning threateningly close to the droid.
The little R2 unit twittered apologetically.
"Damnit!" Nelkf hurled a rock at the tiny droid. "Slek, why didn't you go for your last upgrade?"
Slek whistled angrily at her once again.
"No, of course not. It's never your fault," she said sarcastically. After a few moments she let out a heavy sigh. "I guess you're right. I did tell you to rig Neno's X-wing to smoke. I suppose it is my fault you missed that upgrade."
Slek twittered confidently.
"Don't start getting cocky. I just admitted to what I told you to do. You could have gone later on," Suddenly, Nelkf sat very rigid. Something was moving in the shrubbery to her left and it didn't sound friendly. She snatched up her holdout blaster and set it on full power. Whatever was coming towards her was at least her size, if not bigger.
Had she caught a glimpse of white moving in the shrubbery? She was puzzled. What's white that lives in the green? She wondered. This isn't Hoth or any other ice world. What's going on? She fixed her aim on the white spot and took cover behind a boulder. She trained the blaster expertly. Just like old times.
Without warning, the bushes parted and out strolled a stormtrooper scout. Even if he did act overconfident, he was still armed, and well from the looks of it. Nelkf knew that in her bright orange flight suit, she would be an easy target, running or not. She dare not leave the cover of the rock. An old maxim she used to work by flashed through Nelkf's mind. Kill or be killed.
She leapt out of hiding and snapped off a shot in the stormtrooper's direction. One miss and the trooper shot back. Nelkf was lucky. He was disoriented and surprised, she dodged the bolt easily. A second shot from her blaster soon ended his life. Her intrusion would go unnoticed a while longer. She stood up, coolly surveying the smoldering corpse. Slek twerped urgently beside her.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," she set the blaster on recharge, "Still, I wonder what that Imperial bastard was doing here. Well, if his head weren't melted into a stinking slime, I might ask him."
Slek nudged her with his mechanical arm. He wanted to leave as soon as possible in case the late scout wasn't traveling alone. Nelkf hoisted her knapsack over her shoulder and slid down the rock cliff. "I almost got my tail fried good that time," Slek whistled in agreement, "I think I've had my share of lifetime noble good-bad battles now. Hurry it up Slek!"
The tiny droid wailed and toppled end over end to the next ledge. Nelkf laughed and skidded to join him. "Well, now we know you're no mountain sloth. Get a move on. I want to reach the outpost before dark."
Nelkf moved on ahead. Slek chose the easiest trail after her, let out a mechanical "wait for me" and tottered along as quickly as his wheels could move him.
