Ask Taking Flight

Chant Sindhu

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Ring of Kafrene, Kafrene System, Thand Sector
“That’s outright theft!” Shouted the blue Mon Calamari in an orange flight suit. In front of her was a bored Gran in a grayish rags behind a stand filled with metal parts and a few devices. He rubbed two of his left hand fingers and ignored her for a few moments.

“Final offer, take it or leave it lady. You’re not the only flyer here.”

The merchant replied before finally turning his three dark eyes at his frustrated customer. Chant Sindhu scowled in barely held contempt. Subsequently the young pilot turned from the stand and briskly walked away into the sizable crowd inside the makeshift marketplace.

Shaking her head with a groan Chant thought. Unbelievable! I know for a fact what those parts were worth less than that price. The deep blue being forced herself to look ahead and try to navigate her way various bystanders. Admittedly her first trip to Kafrene was not a success so far

Even so determination surfaced in her eyes. Chant wasn’t one to quit so easily. “I’ll just keep looking. Maybe the next section up ahead will have something with a reasonable price.” She walked out of the collection of shoppers into a maze of corridors.

Five minutes later within a rotten alleyway she took a turn to the right...

@Pyrenees
 
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Ines Panteer

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Heavy breaths, her boots tapping against the metallic floor and the muffled sounds of thugs roaring profanities was all she could hear at the moment as all other sounds became secondary. Not only had the Alderaanian been careless enough to wander to the lower level, she had also allowed someone to find out that her family was nobility. Little did they care that the wealth and influence of the Alderaanian upper class was waning - all that seemed to matter was that they had enough money to make the current chase worthwhile. The girl had already lost track of exactly were she was but at least, it sounded like the thugs were falling further and further behind. It was fortunate, because she was getting very tired and could most definitely use some rest.

Throwing a glance behind her, Ines could barely see the thugs anymore - while she was merely encumbered with her stun blaster, they wore both armour and heavier weaponry. Not looking ahead and to the side in intersections was a mistake. Apparently, rest would come sooner that anticipated. At the same time as Ines was about to round the corner, a Mon Calamari did too. At a too high speed and too slow to notice, there was nothing which Ines could do to stop what was about to happen from happening.

Letting out a somewhat pained "Uompf" as the two collided, Ines felt a fair portion of air leave her lungs. Suddenly, she found herself seated, apparently having bounced back from the other woman and landed on her back. Feeling out of breath, she looked back at the incoming thugs, now catching up to her at an alarming rate. It quickly dawned upon the noble why they had stayed so persistent in their pursuit - the maze of the Ring of Kafrene would lay its own traps, all they had to do was to follow.

Ines' resigned gaze returned ahead, staring through the blue alien in front of her whilst she was recovering her breath. "Please..." she said with a hint of desperation and pointed backwards before continuing "They're chasing me, those criminals. I need to get away. Please, help"

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Chant Sindhu

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“Aah!” Chant cried out when she collided into the runner without warning. She fell, with her back on the filthy street. Grunting she opened her eyes saying. “Hey watch where ya goin-

Before the Mon Calamari could finish the sentence noted the stranger was a frightened red haired human. Subsequently she spotted a large party of dangerous looking figures heading this way. Next thing the human pleaded for help.

Alarmed, Chant’s jaw dropped as realization kicked in. Ya gotta be kriffing me? This is the last thing I need right now. As much as she hated the situation Chant knew a quick decision had to be made. The easiest thing to do is run away and leave the redhead to their fate.

After all she didn’t know this person. What if this was con to rob her instead the pilot wondered.

Yet for some reason Chant did not do that. Instead she briefly looked into the stranger’s eyes before swearing out loud in her native tongue. Chant Sindhu sprang up and drew her blaster pistol firing two bolts at the pursuers coming in. They took cover shocked at the intervention.

“C'mon this way!”

Saying all that Chant helped Ines up and began to run, leading her new companion bs l the market she just came from as the thugs resume the chase.

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Ines Panteer

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Hopefully, Ines watched the Mon Calamari as spoke in her native language. The noble had no idea what any of it meant, but at least the person she assumed was a pilot had stopped telling her to watch her step and that kind of stuff. It was a start. Whilst starting to get back up on her feet, the Alderaanian saw the blue alien draw her blaster which quickly cause the human to freeze. Fear spread to her mind as the idea of being turned in by her new acquaintance started spreading through her mind. The fear was short lived, however, as two blasts were fired in the direction of her pursuers. Taking Chant's hand to fully get back up to her feet, Ines nodded "Alright, I'm with!" she exclaimed, eager to have someone presumably more local than her take the lead. At any rate, this one got the bright idea to put some hesitation into the minds of the thugs which the noble hadn't even thought of.

With that, the two ran, making their way into a relatively busy market. Desperately, Ines tried to stick close to the Mon Calamari, allowing one or two people to come in between them at most. "If they are better at making the masses make way for them than we are, we might be in danger" she said. Throwing a glance back, she could see that the thugs had just arrived and were staring to wade their way through the crowd. While Chant and Ines were relying on people stepping aside or being able to slip past people, the thugs took a more violent approach and physically shoved those who wouldn't move to the side. "Got any ideas on where to go? Maybe the law enforcement could help if we got to the upper levels" she suggested when she got back behind her new ally after the two had been split up by market goers for a few moments.

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Chant Sindhu

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It can be sufficient to say that Chant had not intended to spend this rotation running from thugs with some strangers. Yet here she was, getting into something that others may say is stupid and get herself killed for nothing. Shaking her head, the young pilot instead focused on getting through the crowd. Behind her and Ines the thugs were making swiffer progress with their brutal style.

Grimacing she dodged from colliding with a offended Gotal in a yellow robe who shook his fist at her. At Ines’ words Chant swear again in Mon Calamari. She hated it but the human was right. Upon being questioned, the flyer confessed as they ran past a makeshift food stand, serving raw monkey lizards.

“I just got here! But I know the way back to my ship. Maybe we can lose them from there.”

Suddenly Chant several more armed men coming up in front. Seriously who is this girl? They really want her. Seeing a back door on the right side, Chant gestured for her new associate to that direction. Busting through they discovered a warehouse, filled with towers of metal boxes lined up in several rows.

Closing the door and blasting the lock. “That should buy us a little time at least.” She commented to herself. Running into the middle of the formation of crates Chant subsequently asked.

“Why are they after you?”

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Ines Panteer

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Apparently, Ines' rescuer was not a local. Even though it shouldn't be, the noble found it somewhat surprising. It made sense - why would a local ever cross whoever was chasing her for a stranger? It wouldn't make much sense. In any case, the girl was glad that she had someone to help her and did her best to keep up. Although the streets were crowded, there were no more than two people who got between the Alderaanian and the Mon Calamari at any given time. "A ship sounds good" she chirped, whilst dodging the arm of a particularly tall humanoid.

The two women made progress at a relatively rapid pace but it was becoming more and more obvious that their pursuers were catching up and there was little which could be done to slow them down in such a crowded place. The newly appeared thugs didn't make things any better. Entering some form of auto-pilot, mostly moving where there were space and trying to stick close to her new ally, Ines barely recognised the gesture towards the back door. Staying together with the pilot, Ines soon made it into the warehouse. Her eyes quickly scanned the locale before turning to lock the door. It never got that far, however, as the Mon Calamari blasted it, ensuring that it would remain closed for some time.

Where there had earlier been a constant buzz from the crowded alleys and street, the most prominent sound was now the industrial-scale fans in the distance. What had previously been chaotic and rushed now carried a calmness which was highly appreciated after the chase. Walking further into the room, looking for another exit, Ines mumbled "Yeah" to her friend's comment, barely even turning to look at her as her eyes darted between different rows of containers. The Alderaanian's shoulders fell as the one who had just saved her asked why she was being pursued. Her letting someone know that she was noble was the reason that she got into trouble in the first place. Looking back at the other, Ines sighed "They think my parents are rich." she said rather simply and added "I don't know. Maybe their socio-economic position have made them desperate enough to consider kidnapping." The noble shrugged, not minding bringing the theorising to a slightly more abstract level.

"I am Ines" she said, still seeming a little absent minded as she looked for exits other than the one they had come through just recently. "Thank you for helping me" she continued whilst her eyes fell on a hovertruck. Biting her lower lip, Ines mumbled "No keys" lowly. "So, exiting through the main port and loading bay or the side office next to it" she stated, concluding that those were they options. "The side office is a bit more discrete" she said, hinting towards her preference.

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Chant Sindhu

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Chant didn’t fail to notice that her human acquittance’s reaction to the question. The way Ines explained her side of the story made the pilot skeptical. Especially her use of the term socio-economic. For the time being whatever this stranger is, they need to find a way out.

“Chant Sindhu. I wouldn’t be thanking me yet though.” She replied to Ines’ introduction, while scanning for the nearest exit. She coughed from the massive amount of dust that filtered in the air. Better than smelling a Hutt’s back tube at least.

Further sarcastic thoughts were interrupted when they came upon a hover truck.

Quickly the human found there were no keys and next pointed out their two options of either using the exit to the side office or by the loading bay. However, moments later armed figures stormed through the side office door.

“Got ya schutta!”

The goon, in front shouted before Chant drew her blaster pistol and fired a bolt. With a surprised cry the thug collapsed backward grasping his new wound in the left shoulder. The others scattered and took cover behind crates and machinery. Soon they returned blaster fire, forcing the two women to run and and duck as the bolts whizzed around them.

Meanwhile the door where they originally came from was smashed through. A dozen more rogues poured in, shouting and cursing at their prey. Looking back that direction Chant groaned in frustration. Breaking into the truck she handed her pistol to Ines.

“Cover me I need to hotwire this thing!”

Whatever the human chooses to do Chant hurriedly began to pull out the necessary circuits and work on them. Most of the gangsters who had stormed in from the side office kept shooting at the ladies’ direction but one of them, a scarred up Transdosen hissed at them.

“Watch your damn shots! We don’t want to lose our meal ticket.”

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Ines Panteer

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Trouble! It seemed like they wouldn't get away from the thugs just as easily as Ines had first hoped. First, they came through the side office door, quickly causing her to seek shelter by the nearby truck. Then, they broke through the door which the two young women had come through a few minutes ago. Chant's shot did not go unnoticed and prompted the Alderaanian to bring out her own stun blaster. Still, she refrained from plopping out from cover as bolts were whistling about with more than a few passing by, right over her head. Soon, the Mon Calamari hopped into the truck and was soon followed by the girl. A little surprised, she received the blaster pistol and let out a stressed "Uh-huh" as she looked about. There were many thugs, more than she could count in her current state.

While the truck did keep them rather well protected from any direct hits, it was only so long until it would start to break and a few thugs were making their way towards the cabin in which they sat, threatening to exposing them by simply opening the door. After a few moments of hesitation, the noble opened the door slightly and leaned out and brought up her stun blaster. Firing three shots, she saw how two of the incoming thugs fell to the ground - they were at a relatively close range and ran in a straight line, which made missing a rather hard task.

Smoke began to appear from one of the sides - what the thugs were doing was working. "I hope you're about to bring us away soon." she said, throwing a nervous glance at Chant. Remembering why the foes were there in the first place, Ines got an idea. She started to point at the engine and then made dramatic hand and arm gestures to signal that there was a risk of an explosion. It took a bit of time until the thugs saw her, and then a little bit longer until they realised that the person they wanted to kidnap might die if they damage the truck badly enough. Their leader apparent rushed in front of a few of the others, making them stop whilst swearing and screaming.

While it did give them a moment of respite, it also meant that a large number of people were now running towards the truck to drag its two occupants out. "We need to go, now!" Ines had some desperation in her voice as she spoke, hoping for the pilot to come through. If not, she was ready to use her blaster if someone managed to open the door.

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Chant Sindhu

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“Working on it!” Chant retorted back while sizzling her hands after attaching an extra wire with the other ones pulled out. When she had recently left the royal flying corps the Mon Calamari did not believe she would be shot soon after that. This is becoming dangerous as patrolling in hostile territory.

Keeping that thought to herself, Chant continued working. Meanwhile Ines’ efforts were paying off. The thugs were hesitating. They hated the human girl and her fish friend for all the trouble the pair had given them so far but the former was the key to their new ‘get rich quick’ scheme. They will kill Chant painfully and slowly for interfering.

After seeing Ines’ performance the Transdosen leader signaled and loudly ordered his men to halt their attack on the truck. That hesitation paid off as Chant finished her task with a spark that shocked her left hand. Grunting but pleased the pilot turned on the truck. Seeing it come to life the thug leader roared and rushed forward, not wanting to lose the prize.

He leaped for the rear of the hovertruck but in that very moment Chant ignited the engines. The force of the activation violently knocked the Transdosen back several feet and broke his neck. Subsequently Chant on the controls pressed the truck forward at full speed toward the thin shutter door and smashed through it. The aquatic alien took a hard right onto the street before scattering all passerbys around them and smashing stalls and plastic signs.

Chant drove the truck on even as they entered a mostly empty road. Cheering at their success she remarked to Ines. “By the tides we made it!” Not too long after Chant Sindhu dropped off her new associate at the spaceport and they went their separate ways...

OOC: The End
 
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