Star Wars - Aliit Nehutyc

Chapter 11: Alone

Darra made her way down the dark alleyway, scanning the walls on either side with her infrared visor. She found the mythosaur skull painted over a small hatch rather quickly and made her way toward it. She softly opened the hatch jumped in, closed the door, and climbed down the rusted ladder into the sewer that ran below. Activating her flashlight, she walked down the tunnel, looking for signs of life that would reveal the Mandalorians that lived down there. She saw some random pieces of armour scattered around on the ground and a few tattered rags of what must have been curtains or capes. Hearing a small noise behind her, she stopped and switched on the infrared. Nothing showed up in her peripheral vision, so she began to walk again.

"Halt," a voice said from behind her. She froze.

"What is your name vod?" the voice asked. She turned around slowly, her hand reaching for her blaster.

"Ah, there will be none of that," said the speaker, and she withdrew her hand, this time going for the darksaber that hung behind her. She unclipped it slowly, then whipped around to face the speaker while igniting it. Two shots were immediately fired in her direction, both hitting her in the gut. Whatever weapon that was used was not set to kill, so she crumpled to the ground, dropping the darksaber, still alive but in excruciating pain. She looked up at the Mandalorian in silver and white armour standing over her holding an enormous stun gun and watched him bend over and pick up the darksaber. His enormous hand consumed the entire hilt, and its blade singed the edges of his gloved hand slightly as he examined it. He turned it off and looked at her.

"And what manner of Mando are you to be carrying such a tool?" he asked, half kneeling as Darra pushed herself off the ground into a sort of sitting position.

"One looking for a place to rest and refresh supplies," she answered, gasping for air as her chest relaxed from the shock.

"I apologize for the rather rude welcome, then," the Mando responded, handing her the darksaber. She clipped it back and stood, holding on to the wall for support.

"May I stay here for a few nights?" she asked. "I saw the signet over the hatch, so I assume I am welcome."

"Well, that depends on what clan you are a part of," he said as he made his way down the tunnel. She quickly limped behind him, still more than a little sore from the shots. "I don't take too kindly to Watch members, nor to any of the subgroups."

"I am a part of no clan," she stated softly.

The Mando stopped and turned to look at her. "You are on your own?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Yes," she replied. "I was discharged from my last clan, so I am on my own for now till I can find a place that will take me. I am used to the wandering though, so this is nothing new."

"Interesting," replied the Mando. He turned a corner and walked over to a curtain that hung across the tunnel. He drew it back, letting golden light spill across the ground. Darra looked in. There was a small living space inside with a pallet in the corner, a low table with a mat to sit on, and a chest in the corner. It was very neat and orderly, but still rather cosy.

"Welcome to my humble abode," he stated and walked in, turning on the small bunt stove that sat in a corner.

"Humble indeed," replied Darra to herself.

"If I wanted your opinion, I would have beaten it out of you," said the Mando. "Now, take a seat on that mat there while I ask you a few things."

She sat down and waited while the Mando started pulling things out of the chest and throwing them into a large pan on the stove.

"First off, what's your name, vod?" he asked, stirring the contents around with a wooden spoon.

"The name's Darra. Darra Jade," she replied, watching him.