Ask Wax Wings: Yoink!

[Zay Kartan]

Zaylos Kartan strolled down the rear east corridor of the Botajef Shipyards pushing a covered hovercart. He'd spent the last three months getting familiar with the yard's layout working as a backend receiving grunt. His day to day had been a mundane slog of poodoo, but all his patience was about to pay off. Under the cover of his hovercart sat a state of the art nav computer. He rounded the corner, spotting his gateway to freedom at the end of the hall, and his heart nearly burst from his chest.

Kartan could feel a sheen of sweat coating his face as his adrenaline surged through his veins. If he got busted, he'd be totally screwed but he couldn't think about failure right now. He was meters from walking out the door, loading up the console, and finishing the final repairs on his ship. He couldn't believe this whole insane idea had been conceived during a drunken stupor in a bar on Serenno.

Serrenno, 3 months ago...

"Dee, I'll take another Cognac, please!"

Zaylos Kartan was three drinks in and looking to get lost in the sauce. His drink of choice was Dantooine Cognac. A mixture of vanilla, orange, and whiskey coalesced to produce a dangerous drink that was lighting Kartan up. Dee, a female twi'lek with emerald skin, slid him his drink and added it to his tab before returning to the other guests at the bar. Zay took a sip of the drink sighed with satisfaction as it went down.

Drink replenished he turned to his current company and asked, "So, how long have you been a pilot?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Allegra]

She had to admit, tonight was a good night. The music was alright, the lights pretty; she was still running high from her last gig, and felt the happy buzz of some creds in her pocket and a good couple of beers. The kid was kinda cute too, in the fresh-faced sort of way most of them were. At least she thought he was a kid, could be closer to her age but he definitely wasn't older.

At the question, full lips tilted into a saucy grin, blue eyes glimmering in the low light as she eyed him slowly up and down. "Long enough to have plenty of credentials to my name in some circles," she replied lazily, toasting him slightly. "And then some. Why, plan on showing me a good time through the galaxy?" she teased, a dimple flashing in one cheek as she leaned back into her seat, the epitome of contentment.

Hell, she'd give him the time. He was pretty cute for a young guy.

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

Zaylos leaned against the bar returning his new friends saucy grin with one of his own. Normally, he was way too shy and awkward to talk to someone as stunning as his counterpart, but she was easy to talk to. He slammed his drink and decided to switch to beer. He'd offer to buy the next round as she coyly eluded his question.

"Ya know, that's impressively vague," he teased. He considered her challenge for a second as a wild idea began to blossom in the back of his mind. He eyed her appraisingly, but he couldn't.... could he? Nooooo.... but what if?

Suddenly, Zay realized he'd neglected to ask his friend her name. "Wow, I'm a jerk," he offered her his hand, "I'm Zay," he said with an apologetic smirk.

Dee set his beer down and Kartan thanked her. He needed to know if she was really as good as she claimed, but at the moment he couldn't think of an uncreepy way to ask.

"Prove it," said Kartan with a sly smile.

"I've got a job on Botajef that could use a pro, If you're really a pro that is."

@Killa Ree

 

[Allegra]

She smirked, tilting her glass at his calling out of vagueness. "When you spend many years jetting people from around the galaxy, vague keeps you alive," she responded calmly. Just the same as he appraised her, she blatantly appraised him. He was kinda skinny, looked like he hadn't seen any suns much recently. But smart. Smart employers survived the longest, after all. "Here's for specifics; left the Core with honors to my service. I've transported big wigs to quiet locations, and escaped pirates and slugs with nothing to prove but a few carbon scores on my ship. But my ship..." pain touched her eyes, and she exhaled quietly.

Oddly, she seemed misty-eyed. "The ol' gal couldn't take the fast life," she whispered thinly, but then snapped her gaze back to the male, giving a self-effacing grin.

"Allegra. People call me Leggy." For emphasis, she crossed her legs lazily at the ankles, stretching slightly. At his words... the smirk returned, along with a sly wink.

"Them's fighting words, Zay," she teased, , nibbling on her lower lip, eyes trailing down his face slowly... then back up again. "But yeah. I'll prove it."

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

"I'm more of a lover than a fighter, but I guess I'll just have to see you in action," said Kartan as he sipped his beer. Suddenly, this crazy idea was forming into something plausible. Sure, he still needed to make sure Leggy wasn't all looks and big talk, but he had a good feeling about this.

Zaylos shot a text to his connection at Botajeph shipyards, and as he hit send a familiar silhouette caught his attention. Kartan went cold. He hid it well, but for a split second his cocky veneer faltered. He took a sip of beer scanning the bar. Was he seeing things? Deciding it was more fun flirting with Leggy, Zay returned his attention to her.

"You wanna get out of here? I'm dying to see what you can do," he said pulling on his leather jacket. Kartan finished his beer and threw down enough credits to take care of his bill, Leggy's tab, and Dee's tip.

"I've got a ship at the station here in town. Take me for a ride?" The innuendo wasn't purposeful, but after realizing what he'd said, Kartan decided he'd better just lean into it.

While Zaylos was putting his foot in his mouth, Deraz Milano, an enforcer for the five syndicates, sipped a whiskey and waited for the time to strike. Kartan had given him the slip in Hutt space, but he wasn't going to get away tonight. The Zebrak enforcer sucked his teeth as he examined the tasty little morsel across from Zaylos. Maybe tonight would prove more fruitful than he'd thought.

@Killa Ree

 

[Allegra]

So he was cute, a bit shy and generous. Paying off her tab when she'd just tossed around some vague words? Full lips kicked into a sly smirk, blue eyes glittering coyly. "Oh you, behave," she purred, fingers ghosting up to brush lightly against his before withdrawing. "Be happy to. Gab is all well and good, but I've gotta prove." She added in a wink for good measure, before standing to stretch.

There was a tingle down her spine. An awareness of eyes. You didn't spend more than a decade outside the galaxy and around it and not develop a sixth sense when it came to peepers eyeing you.

The smuggler, meantime, sat back, waiting patiently. Fingers tightened slightly at seeing Zay's face, scowling ever so slightly. That sleemo had slipped him up enough; he wasn't going to let him bargain any longer.

There was a time for waiting, and a time for action. And if the young kids scuttled out of here, he wasn't worried.

Exits were covered. The comm buzzed slightly, and he glanced at the message, sipping the whisky once more. The trap was all set, now the man just had to walk right into it.

The time to talk about it was over.

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

Leggy's touch elicited a bashful smirk from Kartan. He thanked the stars the room was dim because he felt his face flush. She was way too hot to be this coy with him, but right now wasn't really the time for him to fall head over heels for her. He allowed himself to linger in her gaze just a bit longer and then as she stretched he casually cased the room.

Kartan's eyes locked with Milano's.

Kark... he thought as his hand instantly went for the DC-17 hidden at his back.

Deraz winked and lifted his glass. Zaylos frowned as realization crept up his spine. He looked toward the main exit, to the right a mean-looking Zabrak flashed a toothy grin and blaster. His eyes flicked to the back exit, a Rodian with a scar on its snout stood guard.

Zay needed to make a distraction. If he could cause enough chaos he and Allegra might be able to slip out the front. Kartan took a deep breath, looked to Allegra and said, "I promise to explain once we're out of here."

Then he drew back and punched the Duro sitting next to him. The confused being bounced off a Weequay who then subsequently spilled his drink all over the front of a grizzled looking Wookie. The Wookie bellowed in rage and lifted the Weequay over his head and hurled him deeper into the bar, and just like that, a brawl had been started.

"We gotta go!" Zaylos exclaimed making his way toward the Zabrak who was distracted by a raging Gammorian.

@Killa Ree

 

[Allegra]

Oho! So she could not only score a gig, but more than that. Yeah, he was cute. She was a sucker for a pretty face... and his was especially pretty in that young, slick, smart way. But from half-lidded eyes, she saw him stiffen. Something was up, something that made even a bashful kid seem a bit nervous.

"Wha--"

And just like that, there was a bar fight.

Did she just see a Jawa go flying?

"Right."

She didn't need to wait for an explanation. She just knew it was time to boogey, and if it got him spooked she wasn't gonna linger and find out why. From the holster on her hip she drew out her DE-10 a familiar, welcome weight in her hands. She ducked a snarling Wook and sidestepped the aggressive haymaker of a snarling scarred Twi'lek.

Deraz, on the other hand, let out a cursed snarl, shoving back the table with one boot and gripping his own DC-17. The blubbery, squealing Gammorrean was abruptly smacked across the snout with his gun hand, and he scowled in disgust as slime smeared against his hand. The bulk of his opponent swung sideways in both surprise and pain, and for a moment he could see the fast-vanishing back of his quarry.

"No!" he seethed, and began to dart forward, in hopes of at least crossing enough distance to catch up to the slippery couple, if not merely to get a clear shot of his quarry.

The female, unfortunately, was now dragged into this business. Affiliation with such a sly bounty was a crime unto itself, after all, and no one cheated Deraz for long.

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

Everything was a blur. Kartan ducked bodies, vaulted a table, and slid under a haymaker thrown by a raging Wookie. In a fluid motion, Zaylos stutter-stepped into a swift knee that planted itself directly between the distracted Zabrak's legs. The Zabrak's eyes went wide as he grasped his mashed berries and uttered a high pitched squeal before collapsing to a heap. The beings around them winced releasing a chorus of sympathetic groans as Zay slipped out the front.

Zay quickly scanned the street and spotted a supped-up M-68 landspeeder.

"Bingo, follow me!"

Kartan dove into the driver seat, popped off the console covering, and started pulling wires. Deraz stumbled out of the bar holding the side of his face, and scanning the street for Zaylos and Leggy, he spotted them and screamed, "KARTAN!"

Zay didn't waste time looking back at him, he located the two wires he'd been searching for and with a crackle, the vehicle came to life. Zay thanked the stars made sure Leggy was ready to go and slammed the throttle forward.

They tore off down the street, but their escape wouldn't be that easy. Kartan glanced at the rearview mirror and sighed as two other speeders pulled into the road. Blaster fire erupted from the lead car and Kartan ducked reflexively.

With a sardonic smirk, he said, "Alright, test number one, let's see you handle that blaster!"


@Killa Ree

 

[Allegra]

Well, at least this wasn't a boring adventure. Hijinks, hotwiring, and firing plasma; could a gal ask for a better time? She barely managed to jump into the speeder when he suddenly jetted off, and she let out a yelp, legs dangling over the edge of the frame. One bolt flew a bit too close for comfort near her leg, and she scowled.

"Just keep the speeder level," she answered back brightly, "and I won't become a red smear on the pavement. I'd like that to avoid being a--" another shot whined past her head, "--that."

With that, she leaned over Zay, using her body as a shield.

The first blue bolt streaked out, clipping a Rodian on the shoulder, the second catching one of the drivers in the ear. He howled and the first speeder suddenly bucked, careening down for impact. The other, however, was a bit slippery. "Hold on," she murmured, tongue snaking out to poke out the corner of her mouth. An old focus habit. If that speeder could just get a bit closer...

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

Kartan gripped the steering wheel as he maneuvered through the late-night traffic. Leggy pulled herself into the speeder just in time to avoid losing a leg and told him to hold the vehicle steady. Normally, holding a landspeeder steady wasn't an issue, as a matter of fact, it was downright simple, of course, that's only when someone isn't leaning over you firing a blaster.

"I-uh, I really appreciate the effort here, but how am I gonna—" Kartan whipped the speeder left then back right as he blew past a bulky transit speeder. "Wait, how in the hell are you hanging on?"

Blue plasma ripped past his head and he recoiled from the sudden heat. He'd been shot before and didn't recommend the experience to anyone. He glanced back in the rearview and saw the first speeder go down. A smirk danced across his lips as he regarded Leggy. She was hot and could handle her own. He was pulled from his revelry by Illuminating break lights.

"Uh-oh..." he murmured glancing back at the rearview. One speeder remained. It was a truck with two thugs firing blasters and one driving. The cars ahead were getting closer.... closer.

"HANG ON!" Kartan yelled. The brake lights were coming to a stop because of a five-way intersection, the vehicle behind them wouldn't be able to maneuver around the other speeders to get after them if Zay could make this turn. Kartan hit the emergency brake and whipped the wheel to the left. His muscles strained against the wheel as he struggled to hold it steady. The M-68 shook as the repulsor safety features protested the maneuver. Time seemed to stand still, as the speeder drifted across multiple lanes of oncoming traffic. Horns blared, obscene gestures were thrown, and blaster bolts lit up the world around them, and then it was over.

Time crashed back into Kartan as he whipped the wheel the other way, straightening out and zipping down the avenue. A wild grin tore across his lips and he howled with excitement.

"You still back there Leggy?"

A few minutes later they were pulling into the main parking deck of the spaceport. Zaylos found an open spot clear of prying eyes and pulled in.

"You're hired," his crooked smirk tugged on at his lip before he added, "I mean if you're still interested. Obviously, it's not gonna be easy..."

@Killa Ree

 

[Allegra]

Blaster bolts sailed past her head; she could feel their heat, the dangerous sounds zipping overhead. She had been lining up her shot carefully. But Zay's words filtered, and she glanced over her shoulder at him, wind whipping blonde hair away from her face.

"I'm sorry, wha---aaaeeee!"

The question morphed into a startled yelp as the speeder suddenly drifted; she began sliding sideways, gripping onto the back of his headrest with one hand, the other gripping her blaster as she cursed up a blue streak in a language that would have even made a trader blush.

When he corrected again, losing the truck, she slumped into her own seat, running fingers through her hair. He was a nut. Plain and simple. But... he could handle himself. He had some moxie. A wry grin tugged on her lips, and she blew out a sigh, holstering her blaster.

If she had dropped it, they would've had to go back and find it, an' she wasn't gonna lose it anytime soon.

At his words, she slanted a sideways glance at him... then leaned forward.

A sly smile touched her lips as she looked at him, blue eyes glittering with a mischievous light.

"If I wanted easy, I would've stayed in that bar... Boss," she teased, giving him a small wink and a chuckle. "But ya gotta outline it to me; whatcha need an ace for? I'm guessing not a pleasure cruise."

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

Zaylos felt himself getting lost in Allegra's baby blues, and almost forgot to respond.

Clearing his throat he smiled and said, "I'm glad to hear that. Let's take this to my ship."

Botajef, present day...

Kartan was about a meter from his goal. Just on the other side of the blastdoors ahead of him, Allegra would be ready to swoop in, in his BD-510 and they'd make for atmosphere. Everything had gone off without a single—

"That's far enough, Kartan," bellowed a familiar nefarious voice. Kartan whipped around toward the voice, cutting on his comm as he did.

"Deraz, I was just coming to see you—"

"Save it. No more games, step away from the cart."

Kartan slowly raised his hands and took a large step from the nav computer eyeing it warily before turning his attention to Deraz. The scoundrel was holding a nastly looking blaster and wore a scowl deeper than the oceans on Mon Cal.

"Easy, pal. What do you think I'm doing this for? I'm pulling this job then bringing you, you're money."

"Rancor skat, you poodoo sucking swindler."

Kartan appeared affrounted, "Poodoo sucking swindler? Rude."

"You've put me through hell, Kartan. I'm gonna enjoy tearing you apart."

Zaylos glanced back toward the blastdoor then back to Deraz completely abashed.

"Well, if you tear me apart how're you gonna get your money back?"

Deraz sneered, "I'll take the loss."

"Well, I'll be a monkey lizard's aunt."

Deraz cocked an eyebrow, "What?"

Kartan looked back at the door, then back to Deraz, then back to the blastdoor, before repeating in a louder voice, "I said, well, I'll be a monkey lizard's AUNT!"

Sweat slid down Kartan's temple, where was Leggy? He'd dropped the magic words twice, was he going to die? If she didn't blow open the blast doors with his BD-510, Deraz was literally going to tear him limb from limb....

@Killa Ree

 

[Allegra]

He was right there. The money was almost in their hands, so close she could practically kiss it. Just a blast door away, and ultimate freedom. But then the words. The first time, she was priming the light cannons, leaving the droid Baby to man the ship. At the second time that he yelled, it was practically into her ear through the comm.

Wincing, she pressed to reply. The light cannon was primed and ready to go. But Zay would get the message in time.

Or at least, the meaning.

"Duck."

She flicked her thumbs over the controls, and a sudden burst of the light cannons bit deep into the blast doors. The time for stealth was up, the ramp was lowered and that kriffer was coming onto this ship. And maybe she could even get a shot in against the jerkoff that was harassing her boss, that would be some sweet revenge.

The blast door crumbled from the assault, and her voice pinged straight into his own comm.

"Get your ass in gear, bossman, this ship ain't gonna fly without ya."

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

BOOM!

The astonished surprise plastered across the grizzled face of Deraz Milano would go down as the single best thing Zaylos Kartan had ever seen in his entire miserable life.

The shockwave of the explosion rocked the building and set off the alarm. Zaylos was prepared. As the explosion went off he slapped the emergency brake on the hover cart and used it as a barrier. He thanked his lucky stars for Leggy's heads up.

Once the initial forces of the blast had passed, Zay went into action. He released the brake, grabbed the handle, and pushed with all his might! Deraz bellowed curses and fired off pop shots, but he might as well have been a stormtrooper with his helmet on backward.

Zaylos burst through the smoking wreckage as security droids and personnel started to pour in. The space between Kartan and Leggy, lit up like a life day celebration. Plasma of all colors adorned the air with their superheated luminescence as Zaylos ran for his life while screaming like a monkey lizard in a rancor pit.

Kartan’s goal was the slowly lowering cargo bay of the Stargale light courier, but as bolts began to bounce off the hover cart he began to doubt whether or not he’d make it. Suddenly, the flitter of wings caught his eye and he spotted Darry brandishing his battle rifle.

"Hurry up, Kid!" bellowed the toydarian as he took cover just behind the boarding ramp.

Zaylos redoubled his efforts and made a b-line for the finish line. He hit the ramp and the sudden change in elevation slammed his stomach across the bar he was pushing, ignoring his lack of wind, Kartan struggled up the ramp and into the ship. As he secured the hover cart with his shiny new Nav Computer, Darry darted in.

"Get on the guns, I'll take care of this!"

Zaylos nodded and scrambled down the corridor. He slid down the ladder and hastily threw on the headset, "Leggy, I'm in, punch it!"

@Killa Ree

 

[Allegra]

The waiting was the most agonizing part. Every second that ticked by was a test in personal restraint; there were creds on the line, and her life as well. And she was rather fond of her life.

The second she heard Zay, she let out a quiet sigh and her voice in a low, silken murmur to him over the comms.

"Bout time, handsome."

Engines whined to life as she began closing the ramp, making a lift and turn maneuver to begin gunning it out of harm's way. It was time to bug out and make it quick.

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

Zaylos' face went crimson as Leggy's voice purred over the comms. "Ran into Deraz, I wish you could seen— Incoming!"

Botejph security was starting to coagulate on the main security breach while droves of droids fired from the ground. The ground fire wasn't anything to worry about and as Leggy put them into the air, Kartan set to blowing some of the droids to smithereens. That is until they activated the starfighters.

Three CT-O Auto-Pursuit Starfightrers streaked across the sky looking to cut them off.

"Three incoming, I'll be honest, I'm gonna need a drink after this."

Derry's gruff baritone barked across the comm, "I'm jumping on the port guns. Let's get the hell outta here!"

Kartan chuckled and set to tracking the closest starfighter, but it snaked away from his targeting system. He had a feeling these ships were gonna be a pain in the ass, but he knew Leggy could out fly them with her eyes closed.

@Killa Ree

 

[Allegra]

A low, throaty chuckle parted from her lips, as her hands tightened on the controls.

"After this, I'll let you buy them. Let's get out of here alive first though."

With that, she sucked in a breath, eyes narrowing. The starfighters were faster and had better maneuverability, but they lacked in finesse and sheer ramming power. Such things were more of a hit-and-run; dodging would only get so far. She gritted her teeth, but a dangerously feline look of delight glinted in icy blue eyes.

"Get ready and hold onto your harnesses, boys!" she chuckled, and ducked the ship into a spinning dive, before sharply angling the nose back up. Narrowly, shots rumbled and screamed past portside; she could almost feel the heat as it barely punched past the nose.

"Two on our eight o'clock," she barked out, then gave another sharp turn before arcing up again. "The last one's in the rear somewhere; we'll shake 'em on the next dive." Hopefully, Bossman and his cronie could get a few good shots in to make the escape easier. Regardless, they were still moving up to get out of the atmosphere, so that was a bonus.

@Zay

 

[Zay Kartan]

Zaylos felt the ship lift from the ground, his targeting system came online and his seat safety disengaged and he could feel it sway in response to his movement as he acclimated to the controls.

The pursuers were closing in with a couple of shots skimming across the freighter's nose. Leggy deftly evaded direct shots as Kartan began honing in on the ship dancing just outside the center of the lead pursuer. He fired off three shots tracking his enemy's trajectory with ease as the droid failed to realize the danger it was in.

The ship exploded and shrapnel clipped the second flank flying ship. Smoke began to pour from the right-wing and Derry wasted no time picking up on the wounded ship and turned it into scrap with a few well-placed shots.

One enemy remained, Leggy was living up to her reputation as a professional pilot by handling the situation with ease. Zaylos grinned from ear to ear as he felt his body press into his seat. Leggy's voice came across the com alerting him and Derry that the last ship had lined up on their rear and was closing in.

Seemingly aware of the imminent danger it was in the final droid ship went into full evasive maneuvers deftly slipping in and out of Derry and Zay's fire. Kartan began to pick up on the droids pattern though and with a little patience, and far more luck than he'd like to admit, Zay clipped the ship's left-wing which sent it spiraling out of control.

"Leggy, I could kiss you!" Crowed Kartan as he pumped a fist in the air. He couldn't believe they'd actually karking done it.

@Killa Ree