Way of the Sith

Chapter 4 - Nal Hutta

Nal Hutta is exactly as Rapax remembered it from before. It's as hot and humid as before, with nothing but swamps covering the entire surface, except for a few towns and capital city located near each other. All things considered, the population on the planet is pretty small, and that will make their job easier.

She didn't remember her way around, but finding a holomap of the capital city, Bilbousa, was easy enough. There's hardly any places of significance anyway.

She moves silently through the street, with Mara trailing along behind her. Her robes would make her stand out if anyone knew what Sith were, but apparently they don't, so it makes it easier. Hiding the explosives in clothes like this is simple enough. No one casts them more than a sideways glance.

Okay, almost no one. The only... glances she's getting undoubtedly have more to do with the fact that she's a Togruta than anything. Everyone knows the status of most Togrutas, after all. And wandering around alone is generally never a good idea, even if one is free. Not as if that's a concern for her. It only disgusts her, and she's itching for action.

"There's the next tower," Mara observes quietly, stopping.

"Go on," Rapax nods, and they continue forwards. The fact that they're trying to remain hidden is unspoken – they both know it, anyway. It's best not to attract attention to themselves lest they cause a scene.

She throws a calculated glance around, to make sure no one is watching before moving to lean against a nearby wall, pretending as though she's just watching and waiting for something. Not as if people don't do that all the time. Mara takes a position a short distance away, and Rapax discreetly slips a bomb out from under her robes, maneuvering it across the ground with the Force, then lifting when it reaches the foot of the tower, fixing it in place.

If they're going to free the slaves, all the towers that control the slave chips must be destroyed first.

Out of the corner of her eye, she can see Mara setting one of her own explosives. As soon as they've gotten all of them in position, Rapax starts off down the street again.

Only to nearly run right into a half-drunk human. His gaze focuses on her instantly, and he stops walking. He spews out something in only half-coherent Huttese as he reaches for her. Anger and sheer disgust fill her, and she kicks him hard into the wall next to them. He lets out a furious exclamation, catching his balance and lunging at her again.

Fine. It's not as if people like this deserve any mercy anyway. They're the kind she came to eliminate. She tackles him, slamming him against the wall, wrapping her hands around his neck. And maybe she uses a touch of the Force as she snaps it, letting his body fall to the ground before turning away.

"Come on," she calls, looking back to Mara.

The younger girl nods determinedly, and the two take off down the street again.

If anyone saw, no one will question it. The entire place is full of mercenaries, bounty hunters, and other such scum. It would be strange if people weren't murdered in the streets all the time. It does make this part of their job easier, though.

Time to finish these towers.

***

Getting into the main communications tower is going to be more of a challenge, but planting the bombs so far has almost been too easy. No one noticed anything. Rapax and Mara should be able to handle the rest of the towers.

Following his father, Luke stealthily makes his way towards the main tower, reaching into the Force to see if anyone is watching. No one is close by, and none of them seem practically interested in them. It's not a fail safe method of making sure they won't be caught, but it's a good way of doing it without looking suspicious. Not that they couldn't fight off anyone who attacked them, but his father was adamant that they don't want to make a scene – they need to get in and out without being noticed. If they're spotted, it will only lead to more unnecessary resistance.