Flesh, Bone, & Beskar

Wanted

Nobody ever knew the real you.

You left a different version of yourself with everyone you met, a different chapter to the never ending novel of your life. Nobody was ever able to get close enough to learn more than they needed to know, and you never stuck around long enough to show them. It was easier this way, honestly. Being a bounty hunter was reason enough to keep your identity secret. Being a WANTED bounty hunter was just the extra incentive to be as discreet as possible. You always worked better alone, anyways.

You had spent the last few months hitching rides to different planets in a variety of sectors. You found work where you could, helping repair engines and tending to the local farms. You had a different story for every person who met you, a lie to cover your tracks and hide your identity. It would be too dangerous to even give a hint about your identity, so you moved under the guise of a woman running from home, who needed the credits to get away from an abusive partner. You never gave enough information to be suspicious, and never enough information to be reported. As long as you did your work and collected your credits, most locals would look the other way as you left, swearing to never mention your visit again.

Currently, you were on Kaller, in a farming community bordered by looming, cold mountains. You had found work helping herd the livestock of some local farmers. Once your work was done, you quietly collected your credits, thanked them for the work, and trekked your way into the mountains for shelter. You knew better than to stay with someone, or stay at an inn. Too many people could see you. You weren't worried about getting yourself hurt or caught; it was hurting anyone else that concerned you.

It was the early hours of the morning when you stirred from your sleep. Even under your blankets and in your sleeping bag, your breath came out in puffs and you rubbed your legs together for heat. The morning light started to creep into the cave where you'd hid, making the grey stone turn pink as the sun began to rise. You had already started hearing the birds chirping, and your body was forced to wake up, even though your tired, stiff limbs ached for more rest.

You loved mornings. There was something about being up before the rest of the world and rising with the sun that made you feel safe. It made you feel open to the world. It was just you, the sun, and the fog that hung low in the mountains. It was as if nature could look into you and you into it. There was nothing to hide with nature.

Eventually, you uncurled yourself from the ball that you slept in and quickly folded your blankets. It had already been a few days since you had been on Kaller, and there was no doubt that other bounty hunters would be on their way already to collect a check with your name on it. It was safest to move now, while the world was still drowsy and waking up.

You packed your blankets into your rucksack quickly and pushed them down before shoving your few items on top of them. You had slept in your clothes and boots, so you were ready to move at a moment's notice. You lifted the rucksack onto your back and did a once over of the cave. You ran your foot along the dirt, removing all footprints and evidence of your brief visit. You made it look like the dirt had never been slept on, never moved, never altered.

The world was still quiet and the world was still sleeping when you left the little cave. You began walking through the mountains, taking quiet, precise steps over rocks and away from the scarce patches of grass. If your calculations were correct, you could be back at the shipyard by dusk. By then, everyone would be going home for the evening, and most bounty hunters wouldn't risk getting lost in the mountains just to get some credits.

Your walk through the mountains was quiet and uneventful. You stopped a few times to drink water and to eat a handful of berries you plucked off a bush. You checked your map, and you were doing well on time. You might even be able to hitch an earlier ride, if you were careful enough. You were able to memorize the schedule when you landed with a ship carrying cargo and supplies. Another cargo ship was leaving this evening, heading for Malastare to deliver more wood and mining supplies. If you could hitch a ride with them, you could hide there for a few more days before moving again. Maybe someday you could settle down on a planet desolate enough that no bounty hunters even dare try and hunt you.