Star Wars - Shadows Of The Outer Rim

15. | Dust Hollow

Much to the dismay of Kiera, the screeching of the train's axles remained a persistent, high-pitched wail throughout the rest of the journey. Every few miles, the entire carriage shuddered violently, the floorboards groaning as if the metal were finally ready to surrender to the rust.

Beside her, Rynn finally had succumbed to exhaustion. Her head slid down, settling firmly against Kiera's shoulder. Kiera held herself perfectly still, terrified of disturbing the girl's rare moment of rest. She felt fragile, her warmth seeping through Kiera's cloak. Leaning down, Kiera rested her cheek atop Rynn's head, her dark hair was unexpectedly soft, carrying a faint, sweet aroma that felt terribly out of place amidst the grime and grease of their surroundings. Across the aisle, Selyne and Kodo were huddled together, their voices lost to the wind howling through the window gaps. Their faces were grim, illuminated by the rhythmic, flickering orange of the cabin's dying lights. Whatever they were discussing seemed serious and felt like it carried an unspoken history, a shared past that Kiera wasn't yet privy to. "...She deserves to know." Kiera caught the end of Selyne's sentence.

Just as Kiera leaned in, her curiosity getting the best of her, the train lurched. It slowed with a violent, screeching hiss of steam as they pulled into the outskirts of Dust Hollow. Rynn stirred, blinking blearily as she tried to make sense of the landscape. The "town" was more of a blemish on the earth than a settlement. It was a jagged collection of rusted misshapen metal and neon signs that hummed with a low, dying buzz. It looked as if a great storm had swept through a junkyard and dumped the remains in a heap, leaving behind the skeletal town that now lay before them.

"Listen close," Kodo hissed, his voice low and dangerous as they stepped out onto the platform. The air lingered of a thick oil and the smell of desperation.

"This is the hub for everything moving into the Badlands. It is no place for young women. Keep your hoods up, eyes on the dirt, and stay behind Rex and me."

Kiera's jaw tightened, her pride stinging. "I can handle myself, Kodo. So can Rynn."

Kodo turned, his eyes hard, reflecting the harsh neon of the station. "I know you're capable, Kiera. But they don't know that. Out here, being a threat gets you killed faster than being a victim. Right now, you aren't warriors. You're baggage. Play the part and fall in line."

Before she could snap back, Kodo reached into the pile of gear Rex was lowering from the train. With a grunt, he shoved a heavy, oil-stained rucksack into Kiera's chest and draped a smaller, frayed satchel over Rynn's shoulder.

"Carry these," Kodo commanded, his voice loud enough for the loiterers on the platform to hear.

"Keep up and keep your mouths shut," he snapped, his tone cold and transactional. "I bought you to carry the gear, not to lag behind. If you can't manage the weight, I'll find an auction block and trade you for someone who can. Move!"

He didn't look back to see if they were struggling, stepping out with the brisk, arrogant stride of a man who viewed the people behind him as mere property. Kiera caught the bag, the weight of it nearly knocking the wind out of her. She looked up at Kodo as he continued forward. Kiera couldn't help but think he was enjoying this.

As they moved through the main drag, the sound of a blaster shot cracked through the air. A few yards away, a gang in mismatched armor stood over two figures in the dirt. One man lay slumped, a smoking hole in his chest. The other was face down next to his friend, two men holding him down as he wailed. The gang leader, a man with a cybernetic jaw, looked up as Kiera's group passed. He let out a low, wet whistle, eyeing Kiera and Rynn with a predatory grin. Kiera's hand twitched toward her lightsaber, her blood boiling at the man's amusement, but Rex's massive shoulder blocked her view, forcing her to keep moving.