The Quarry

The Quarry - Part 7

Author's Note: Mention of past physical abuse in this chapter, so proceed with caution if that subject matter is upsetting or triggering.

A gentle shaking caused Din to stir from his sleep. He opened his eyes under his helmet to see Versa standing over him in the early morning light. She was gripping his shoulder and gently trying to wake him. "It's morning, Din. Karga just commed. The ship is ready and loaded up. Time to go." He groaned as he straightened. His joints protested as he shifted on the bed. He'd been so tired by the time Versa relieved him, he hadn't even bothered to take any of his armor off, and it had not made for a comfortable sleep.

As he sat up and twisted his neck to try and relieve some of the stiffness, he saw her standing at the window. She had her blaster drawn and was practically vibrating as she stared out intently through the slight gap in the curtains. "Something out there?" he asked, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up slightly.

"I'm...I'm not sure. There's a guy down there that's been begging on the corner for an hour or two, but there's something not right about it. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something's off."

Din strode over to stand next to her. He immediately spotted the person Versa was talking about. "Get packed," he said quietly. She nodded without argument, moving to place her things in her bag. He continued to stare out the window, watching the guy sitting on the corner. A couple paused near him, dropping a credit or two into the bowl near him. He acknowledged them with a nod and some words that Din couldn't hear, but he could immediately see what Versa was talking about. "He's definitely watching the front door of this building. He's looking for someone."

"There's a back entrance out of here. We can work our way through the alleys to the ship."

"We have to assume there'll be more there watching it."

"Yup." She stared straight ahead for a few minutes, and Din could tell she was thinking hard, her brow furrowed and her leg bouncing nervously.

"I should go alone," she said finally.

"What? Are you out of your mind?"

"No, listen. It's like Grenn said last night, they want me, not you. The guy on the corner isn't someone I recognize, which means Farr is sending out new people, people that I don't recognize and people that aren't veterans in the organization. That guy's making rookie mistakes down there, giving himself away. I think they'll be so eager to grab me that they won't even be looking for you, which is great since you stick out like a big shiny beskar sore thumb out there. I'll go ahead, you follow a few minutes behind me. Just stay out of sight. I imagine they'll try to grab me once I get near the ship. They're probably berthed near you. Just don't be too far behind, and you'll have the drop on them."

"And if they nab you before I get there?"

"I'll have a few tricks up my sleeve," she said, grinning. "Now, can I borrow your vambrace and gauntlet?"

-----

Versa strode through the alleys quietly, a cloak pulled around her shoulders and a hood over her hair. She wasn't being followed yet, but she knew that danger was lurking nearby. If all was going to plan, Din was going to walk out the front of the inn any second now and walk in the opposite direction of the ship, working his way back towards it once he was certain he'd lost any tails he picked up. They were hopeful that no one knew he was travelling with her, but they'd decided to play it safe just in case. Her comm buzzed in her pocket, and she answered.

"He's on me," came Din's gruff voice. "Picked me up as soon as I stepped out the front door."

Versa cursed under her breath. Apparently luck wasn't on her side today. "Alright, lose him and head this way. I don't have any tails yet."