A Small Detour

[Wanderer]

A Small Detour

"This sucks..." Kirik Dankaal, an infamous bounty hunter along the Outer Rim was pissed. He had taken on a mission to eliminate an Bothan intelligence operative for the Imperium, but the mission quickly became complicated. The Bothan was smart. He even managed to lose them at Bakura where Kirik had to leave Iziz and his ship. There had been no time to run back to his ship or else he would have escape. As such the Bothan had still led him on a merry chase around the galaxy until they both managed to crash land here. In the ass end of nowhere in the galaxy. Dathomor or something. His ship was scrap and when he found the Bothans, with no sign of him, it was in the same condition. So it looks like he was stranded for now. He would have to find a city or try and fix his intergalactic comms that had been damaged in the crash. The Bothan was wounded and not able to hide his trail very well, so Kirik was soon closing the distance between them. "Inconsiderate...gunna kill him..."

As he came into a clearing, he paused. The tracks seemed to end here. Just vanishing without a trace. There was no way he could outrun or hide, so...a last stand. The attack came suddenly as the Bothan burst from under the pile of grass and foliage he had been hiding under. He was armed with a vibroblade and was already close, so Kirik's dual blasters were out. He quickly ducked and then dodged, before finding a moment to draw his own blade. Then came a song of clashing steel. For the next hour they fought, the Bothan wasn't bad. There were several close calls, but eventually the wound began to takes it's toll. With a spin and flourish, he cleaved the Bothan's head from his shoulders. As the headless body fell to the ground, so too did Kirik. He was exhausted; mentally and physically. He had been hunting this bastard without sleep for nearly three weeks and then had to fight an hour long duel on top of that. He sat against a tree and took of his helmet, breathing in deep as he rested.

 

[Dóiteán]

Tara heard rustling. Jumping up into a nearby tree, she saw a wounded Bothan. Seeing him hide and a human arrive, Tara became suspicious. Few people came to Dathomir. Watching the fighting, Tara was highly impressed by the human.

She continued to watch as the human decapitated the Bothan and then sat against tree. He appeared to be exhausted. If Tara was there to fight, it would've been far to easy. But she wasn't there to fight. She was there to rest.

 

[Wanderer]

Out of the corner of his eye, Kirik observed movement in the trees. He could pinpoint the exact location or what exactly it was, but he knew he was being watched. He had of course heard stories of the Witches of Dathomir. Though they were just stories to him, magic isn't real. Still they could be dangerous. As he sat against the tree, his head still looking down at his lap, his hand on the other side of his body moved for his heavy blaster pistol and he slowly put back on his helm. Whoever was watching him couldn't see what his left hand was doing, he would have to act fast. Quickly drawing and standing he aimed in the general direction of whoever was watching him. "Alright, who's there? I'm beyond tired and my patience is thin right now. So if you want and try to kill me, let's get this on already."

"If not?" He said with a shrug. "Stop skulking in the shadows and come tell me why you are watching me."

 

[Dóiteán]

Tara chuckled. Dropping from the tree, but still in the shadows, she said "It's never good to get snippy with a Nightsister."

Stepping out of the shadows, she was still watching the human. Her spear was in hand, as it usually is. She observed this human. Most males avoided Dathomir because of her people, and for good reason. Tara didn't think this human would live long if her sisters chose to come after him.

 

[Wanderer]

"Nightsi-I have no idea what you're talking about." Kirik shrugged in his heavy armor. He was honestly surprised that it was a woman, probably one of the Witches. He would watch her carefully. "But as for snippy, I've been up for three weeks with no rest all over the damned galaxy. Plus bounty hunters aren't exactly known for being nice. But I apologize I guess. Is there a city or military outpost nearby? Alliance or Imperium, doesn't matter to me. I work for anyone with the credits."

He stood in the clearing observing the woman from behind his visor. In this wild, jungle world he certainly seemed out of place. Silver and crimson armor, with a cape. Not exactly the stealthiest thing to where, but he never went anywhere without his armor. The woman had a spear. It probably wouldn't be much use against his armor, but he'd rather not test that theory. Her confidence, even after she had seen him fight, was obviously well founded. She was dangerous. He could tell, dangerous people always recognized one another.

 

[Dóiteán]

"There's an imperial outpost 1 days walk away to the east. I'd suggest you go there. Nightsisters aren't known for kindness. We also don't trust men. I especially don't. So consider this you're lucky day."

Tara observed this human closely. She eyed him darkly after he said bounty hunter. She didn't like bounty hunters after what happened during her last encounter with a group of them.

 

[Wanderer]

"I still don't know what that means. You one of those Witches I've heard about?" Kirik asked, he was still holding his blasters and would continue to until he was sure she wasn't going to attack. "Anyways thanks. The Imperials owe me for this bounty, so they should give me a ride back to civilization. But you're wrong not to trust men."

He looked at her through his abyss black visor. "You shouldn't trust anyone. I don't and that's the only damn reason I'm alive. You can't rely on anyone in this galaxy except yourself. You can't trust anyone, men or women. It's only when you do, that you can never be touched."

"Anyways, mind showing me the way? Or just point me in the general direction, my nav equipment is shot and I suck with directions." He said seriously but with a hint of his joking tone showing through.

 

[Dóiteán]

"If you're talking about rumors of deadly witches, yes. On Dathomir there are two groups, the Nightsisters and the Witches of Dathomir. And you'd be wise to learn the differences. We Nightsisters are more deadly."

The human had a pistol in his hand, which she wasn't frightened of.

"I trust my clan, that is all. Men are not worthy of trust after what I've seen."

Tara trusted noone but her sisters, and even them she didn't trust fully. There was something strange about this human, she thought.

"Just head that way. I don't trust imperial troops."

Tara pointed toward the direction of the nearest imperial outpost.

 

[Wanderer]

"Good, thanks for the directions. I don't trust the white-armored bastards either but they pay me. To be honest, I don't entirely trust myself!" He laughed a bit and holstered his two blasters. He didn't think she was going to try something, but he would be ready if she did. As he made his way to the edge of the clearing in the direction she pointed he waved and said, "As for learning the differences of your groups? I won't be here long enough to need to know and I'm not wise by any means. I'm probably one of the most immature, hit-headed bounty hunters out there. And that says a lot! Be sure to tell your people you met the infamous Kirik Dankaal, I know you don;t know who I am and they won't either, but who knows? Maybe my legend will grow."

He made it to the edge of the clearing and stood next to the woman, he nodded in the direction of the thick foliage. "Right this way? Anything I should know? Dangerous animals? Sinkholes? An army of Jawas?"

 

[Dóiteán]

"This whole wilderness is dangerous to the unprepared. You may come across a clan or two. Avoid them if you don't want to have to fight a clan full of Nightsisters. Clan Mothers are the most powerful of my people."

The human had a lot to learn about this planet and her people. Most heard of her people and feared them, for good reason.

 

[Wanderer]

"What would you want if I asked you to be my guide? I have a lot of credits but somehow I doubt that would appeal to you or your people. But I've managed to collect quite a bit of souvenirs and trophies; gems, weapons, paintings. I really want to get back home, so hiring you as my guide would be a good option also..." He said as he yawned. "I'm unbelievably tired. If you tell me your clan is nearby and I can sleep there for the night, it would be much appreciated. I'm honestly surprised I'm standing right now."

He had heard a few stories of the Witches and Nightsisters of Dathomir, but that's all they were to him; stories. Even if half of them were true, Kirik feared nothing. He wasn't trying to be macho or a badass, he just was never scared. They were dangerous, he believed that but then again so was he. He yawned again, "So what do you say...er, right. I didn't get your name."

 

[Dóiteán]

"I won't be a guide. I have all I need or want. And I'd advise you not to go to my clan. They don't like men just as much as me. And my name is Tara."

Tara still didn't trust the male. Her warning about her clan was truthful. After what happened to her, her clan despised men too. While but a Clan Mother, she did have some influence among her sisters.

 

[Wanderer]

"Alright, Tara. Thanks anyways." Kirik shrugged. He hadn't really expected the strange woman to help, but it had been worth a shot. He took a quick look around before spotting a tree a few yards away. It was high off the ground and had large, thick branches. It was in the general direction of the Imperial outpost, but he wasn't kidding when he said he was tired. He made his way over to the tree and quickly scrambled up it. Once among the leaves and branches, he found a spot where he could get slight comfort and laid down. He saw the woman was still in the clearing watching him, so he waved and said, "I'll be fine I suppose. Thanks for the directions. I'm Kirik by the way."