Shadows Of Lehon - Chapter One

 Chapter One

 

Taris, a planet of ruin and rubble. So, it was no stranger to the many shouts that plagued the streets. Crime was an everyday factor that only the bored or stunted patrols took note of. So when the cries of a child screamed out for help - no one listened. She probably deserves what she got anyways, probably just another one of those orphan thieves.

“Heeey!!” The child grunted and struggled against the firm grip of a security officer.  His uniform was that of a high end casino guard and spilling out from between her fingers were credit chips - left behind on the filthy street like bread crumbs and swiftly swallowed up by other street rats that scurried and vanished behind them. “Le-Go!”

“Shut it! I'm taking you to the nearest outpost. The Republic can deal wi-” The guard however wasn’t able to finish his threat. Instead his voice cried out in pain as the girl's teeth clamped down on the back of his thumb and her booted foot stomped hard on his shin “Aah! -No-Wai-” he stammered angrily, both at the girl for daring to bite him and himself for losing his grip because of it!  

The girl fell back into a heap on the street quite suddenly when the guard's grip let her go and while her tail bone stung from the fall, she wasted no time to scramble up onto all fours and scrape slippery bare feet against the ground to make a very hasty retreat. Darting down the street,  dislodging anything she could to slow her pursuer down, his angry cry echoing far behind her “Stop! Thief!!”

Triss was an orphan, So she spent most of her time scavenging the streets, thieving anything she could fit under her jacket and pant pockets.  If it could be lifted, she most likely was the one to do it.

Unfortunately, she made one too many enemies here in the middle city of Taris and the many owners that conducted business in these parts were beginning to learn her habits. It certainly didn’t help that today was some sort of celebration which had everyone tightening security more than usual, if this bad luck continues - she would be forced to return to the lower city and perhaps maybe try her luck even in the under-city farther down…. 

Well, whatever. Right? As long as she didn’t get caught she could just try again some other time!  In a way, this was just as exciting and exhilarating as it was sneaking into the governor's gardens to steal fruits, berries and nuts from his prized orchard in the upper city.

Skidding to a halt in one of the main docking bay's, Triss looked around for a good place to hide. There were crates and boxes everywhere, along with several loading droids rolling up and down the ramps as they loaded the cargo into a large freighter preparing for take off.

A familiar shout startled her from behind “Geez! That idiot is still chasing me!?” she scowled and found herself forced to think quickly. Perhaps it wasn't the wisest of plans, but she charged head on into the freighter and crouched behind some of the boxes. 'If I wait here long enough, maybe he will look somewhere else' she thought, her hands shaking with the adrenaline of the chase.

Suddenly a loud ‘Thunk!’ presented a whole new problem. 

Her heart skipped a beat, the docking doors were closing!!! Scrambling out from behind the crates Triss made to run for the exit, but instead found herself pounding her fists into the large bay doors.

“Aah. This...Is not good…”  Triss groaned the obvious as she looked at the durasteel metal in front of her. The sounds of the freighter's engines roared to life, and the ground beneath her moved. 

What now?

She had never left the planet before. Climbing up and down the sewers and shafts to the various city levels was about as adventurous as she ever got. Even the under-city was ‘off limits’ in most cases, she went once and barely escaped alive. And sure, she had heard plenty of stories about space travel and about stars in the sky…but it wasn’t as if she could afford to pull something like that off. The city was familiar. She knew every escape route and which vendors were easiest to steal from. She could sometimes even find a job or two…sometimes. It was more beneficial to stay put and stay alive than to leave and not know what would happen next.

Of course…that didn’t mean she didn’t secretly dream about venturing the star system’s. Secretly wonder what hyperspace was like, other planets, people. There really was no point in fussing over spilled milk now, right? Sure. She was trapped in a space freighter going to who knows where and it wasn’t exactly ideal…but, that guard was no longer chasing her, and she was safe…for now.

It was the grumbling of her hungry tummy that gave her permission to let her current circumstances go. “Mm.” she hummed, emerald green eyes scanning over the many crates and boxes within the compartment “Food…food…”

What luck! Not only were there the basic rations - but also actual food! Blankets, clothing and other various essentials. Essentials and also things that made no sense to her, glass vials and other oddly shaped jars, medical equipment, mechanical and shipping parts… “Eh! Whatever. Might as well have a party of one!” Triss grinned mischievously “Why didn’t I do this before?!” she pondered as she began to pilfer armloads of prizes and carried them to a good spot where she could hide, eat and sleep.