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The Annoyance That Shadows
Written by Sailor Bothawui
"You want me to kill what?" The Shadow practically yelled. It took all her strength to stand her ground.
"You are a bounty hunter, are you not?" The reply was calm.
She narrowed her eyes at him. She took in his humanly features as he clasped his hands behind his head. She sighed inwardly knowing that she needed this job, even though it was already a pain.
"Alright. Expect the price to be raised if I feel a need to do so." The Bothan turned to leave.
"Remember not to scar its hide too much." The cocky masculine voice reached her ears as the doors shut behind her.
"Of all the jobs that I could be doing, I have to be stuck with this one!" Inga stormed through the third floor of the Neila Embassy.
The computer had alerted Suri that her friend was back and she happily left her room to peek over the inner balcony. When she looked over the railing, she watched the furred girl fiddle with a door and then flung herself inside. The dancer titled her head as she made her way to the second floor and padded down to the room and peeked around the doorframe.
She saw Inga discard most of her stuff on the floor and take off her mask. Suri leaned against the doorframe, whatever was bothering her 'pet' she wanted to know.
"He wants me to go kill a vornskr!" She threw her hands up in the air. "The Bantha Foodo wants to take credit for killing it so he can be the talk of his pathetic life!"
"Why did you take the job?" She delicately crossed her arms over her chest.
Inga plopped down onto her makeshift bed. "Because I want the credits to upgrade my ship and buy new equipment."
Suri inspected her fingernails. "And this is the only job that has come your way in a few weeks."
The furred girl raised an eyebrow. "You don't have to rub it in, you know."
The dancer shrugged her shoulders as she looked at Inga. "So, where are we headed and when do we leave?"
"I am headed to Myrkr." She stood up and started to gather equipment that she would need. "And I am leaving as soon as I get everything together."
The Bothan stopped to glance at the empty doorframe. She then rubbed her paws over her face. "That girl will be the death of me."
"You know, you can come out. I know you were planning to follow me." The bounty hunter sighed as she looked toward some shadows.
Suri pouted as she headed toward Inga. She stuck out her bottom lip as they started walking through the doors and onto the street.
"Did I ruin your fun?" She resettled her pack over her shoulder as she glanced at the tall girl beside her.
The dancer nodded but soon cheered up. "But being beside my fuzzy kitty is fun anyway!" She reached over and ran her fingers through the Bothan's fur.
Inga rolled her eyes, knowing it was useless to try and stop her. They mingled through the crowded streets on their way to the Bothan's ship.
Furred feet were propped up on the consol as they exited Coruscant's atmosphere and the designation had been entered into the computer.
Inga arched her back into the chair as it slowly tilted back to reveal an upside down Suri. "What are you up to? Oh, while your there, grab me a drink would you?"
The purple haired girl stepped back a pace and opened a small cooler and grabbed two drinks. She tossed one to the reclining figure. "Nothing much."
She rolled her head on the back of the chair keeping her eyes on the graceful figure as she sat down. She then sat up and poked a hole in the drink with a straw and started to enjoy her drink.
Suri smoothed out her skirt before she prepared her drink as well. "Is this the peaceful part of your job?"
"Hm?" Inga swallowed a mouthful of the cool beverage as she thought. "If you're talking about traveling, then yeah. But it still can get pretty hectic."
"Oh?" The girl seemed interested, or it was feign interest, the bounty hunter mentally shrugged.
"Yeah, space isn't as peaceful as it seems." Inga nodded out toward glittery stars and bright planets, continuing the conversation between sips. "I've had more than my fair share of space battles."
The tanned girl looked out into the darkness speckled with lights. She then fell back against the chair, sipping her own drink.
"You know about managing stuff," Inga gestured to the controls before her, "I'm going to take a nap." She finished her drink and tossed it behind her as she stood up.
"You're trusting me?" Suri asked as the furry girl reached the back of the cockpit.
The Bothan turned her head to look at a stunned face and smiled. "Yep." She then left the dancer to her thoughts.
Suri was awaken by a blinking light and an annoying beeping. She rubbed some sleep out of her eyes and tried to register what was happening. She bit her lip as she stood up and rushed out of the cockpit.
"Wake up, Inga." The dancer lightly shook the sleeping figure.
The figure stirred, rolled over, and went back to sleep. The purpled haired girl frowned as she tapped her chin with a finger. She then smiled. She backed up some steps and then catapulted herself onto the Bothan.
"KITTY!" She wrapped her arms around the now awake Inga.
"I'm up, I'm up! You can let go now." When the pesky girl snuggled closer, she sighed. "What is it?"
"Huh?" Suri looked up to furry face.
"Why did you wake me up?" Aggravation was heard through the hunter's voice.
"Oh! Your ship is alerting you to something."
Inga pried off the dancer and quickly made her way to the cockpit, making sure to grab her mask.
She jumped and landed in her chair as she pulled her bounty hunter's mask on, surveying the warnings. "Suri, sit down, now!" She pointed to the chair off to the side.
Suri quickly and silently obeyed as she watched the commanding figure. Inga flipped some switches and glanced out toward space. She then pushed some buttons and an image of a reptilian humanoid popped up on a screen.
"What is it?" The Bothan demanded.
There was a silence for a few seconds as the creature looked her over, "Have you run across a ship run by two Wookies?"
The Shadow rested her chin on her hand. "Now, why would I indulge that information willingly to you, without you even telling me what is going on?" Her voice was now cool and somewhat playful.
Orange eyes studied her, she heard a voice off the screen, and the reptilian nodded. "I see. It's really none of your business."
The Shadow shrugged. "Guess I can't help you, then." She reached to end the transmission when she heard a noise uttered by the Trandoshan. "Yes?"
"You're a bounty hunter, right?" With a nod, the large creature continued. "We could provide information, in exchange." He was obviously at a loss.
The Bothan leaned back in her chair. "What could I obtain from you that I would benefit from?" She crossed her arms over her chest.
"The Hutts," he began with what sounded like a stuttering, "They have added a few more big bounties."
She raised an eyebrow, "Oh, really?" She slightly nodded as she thought about it.
"The Wookie ship?" he probed, obviously anxious.
"Oh, yeah, that. I'm sorry, but I haven't run across any Wookies." She was glad she was wearing the mask for it hid her smile.
The Trandoshan was at a loss for words, she could see anger welling up inside him. She then heard that voice again and he appeared to smile. That puzzled her.
"I will give you the information about the Wookies I am after, if you see them, give me a call." The male was quite pleased with himself.
She sighed as she saw the information being provided to her, the Wookies and his information. "Okay, I'm out."
She ended the transmission and removed her mask. She stood up and stretched as she turned to look at Suri who was sitting quietly to the side.
"That could have been worse." Inga yawned.
"Worse?" The slender figure twirled some purple hair.
The Bothan nodded. "We could be exchanging blaster bolts right now." She then plopped back down into chair. She turned toward the consol and fiddled with some switches.
"Are you going to help them out?" The dancer stood up from her chair and moved to a closer seat.
The bounty hunter shook her head, "I never kept that information he gave me. That was probably a spat between them and the ones they are pursuing. Trandoshans and Wookies have never gotten along, always at each others throats or something like that. But it does sound like I have to visit the Hutt's, I might find something there."
Suri nodded, and then shook her head, obviously lost in thought.
"Are you about ready?" Inga shuffled through her pack one more time, making sure she had everything she wanted. She then checked her blaster and power packs. She then settled the pack on her back and went to see how the annoyance was doing.
She found her looking at four different sets of shoes. The Bothan sighed as Suri looked up. "Oh, yeah, almost ready." She slipped a pair of high heeled shoes on and placed a more sensible shoe choice into her pack. She then slipped the bag onto her back and smiled. "I'm ready."
Inga nodded as she lead the way out of the ship into the docking bay and then onto the streets.
"So are we really going to a forest?" Suri gazed at the buildings they passed.
The Bothan nodded. "Ever been in one?" A slight smile crept over her furred face.
She adjusted some bracelets. "I guess I have, don't really like it though, too many bugs and icky things for my tastes."
Inga rubbed a paw over her cheek. "Then why come?"
"I wanted to be by my kitty!" The dancer then elegantly shrugged a shoulder. "And I would have been bored, and this sounded fun!"
A sigh escaped from the short girl. She shook her head as she looked ahead at the approaching forest. She then looked at the slim girl's choice of footwear. "Why did you even wear those shoes?"
"I can't go around town looking rugged and unrefined." Suri gasped at the thought of walking through town with her well worn calf length boots.
The bounty hunter uttered a small groan as she held her head in a paw.
Once Suri changed from her blue high heeled shoes to her plain boots, the couple made their way into the forest.
Inga's ears picked up the different sounds around her as her eyes adjusted to the dimmer surroundings. The purple haired girl was already swatting at bugs.
They carefully walked around massive trees, through the tall grasses, and ducked under some unique vines. The Bothan did have to credit to the dancer, she was as quiet as the hunter would have hoped for and didn't complain as often as she imagined. A rustle in some bushes not far ahead made Inga stop, Suri almost crashed into her.
Gray eyes watched the furry figure proceed ahead and stopped to hide behind a tree. She copied Inga and slinked behind a nearby tree. She peeked from around the trunk and watched her kitty move stealthily to confront what was hidden behind the thick bush.
Inga pointed her blaster at the bush in front of her as she used her free paw to pick up a fallen branch and part the greenery. Her ears picked up fluttering wings before she saw a bird-like creature swoop over her head and behind her, headed toward where she saw Suri's purple head.
"Drop!" The hunter yelled as she aimed for the feathered creature and fired.
Suri fell to her knees instantly as she watched the multi-colored bird creature fall from the sky and drop to the ground.
Both their eyes widened as they viewed a swirl of red, purple, and green smoke rise from the clawed bird and took a much larger form. It towered above their heads as it let loose an earsplitting screech.
"Uhh... Inga?" The kneeling girl scrambled toward her furry friend. "What is that? What do we do
now?"
Inga put a comforting paw on the girl's bare shoulder. She looked at the large feathered screaming bird and smirked. "A monster, and we transform."
"Transform?" Realization was seen in her gray eyes. The two girls stood up and faced their enemy.
"Bothawui Planet Power Make-Up!" Inga held a black gem in her paws and was soon surrounded by a black mist. Once the mist dissipated, Sailor Bothawui stood.
"Berchest uplift me!" Suri had grabbed a bell from her bag and rang it. Orange light formed around the girl and vanished, leaving Sailor Berchest.
They moved to stand back to back, turning their heads to watch the bird creature. "We are Sailors Bothawui, senshi of silence and sorrow, and Berchest, senshi of water and crystal. We are here to vanquish you!" Their voices chimed together. Neither one took time to think that their speech and how they delivered it, was weird.
The feathered creature yowled and charged at them, both the girls jumped out of its way. "Ever fought before?" Sailor Bothawui asked as went to grab for a dagger that wasn't there and cursed.
"No, not really." Sailor Berchest jumped a razor sharp feather that was thrown her way. "What is it?" She turned to glance at her ally.
"My material weapons are gone." She back flipped over a blast that was aimed at her. "Guess I have to rely on other means. At least you have the dodging part down."
"Yeah." The purple haired girl ducked an incoming attack. "Have any plans?" Her voice was hopeful.
"Well, have any attacks?" The Bothan jumped and grabbed a tree branch, she swung herself forward and kicked the creatures lowered head. She then propelled herself up to sit on the branch.
"Umm... yes... maybe?" Sailor Berchest replied uneasily.
"Great." Muttered Bothawui.
On the outskirts of the battle, a figure materialized near another figure. The one that had been there looked at the newcomer. They locked eyes for a moment then turned their attention to the battle.
Sora My'ka was the first to speak, after a few moments. "The girls are doing well, considering it is one of their firsts."
Seiki Nihen kept her eyes forward, never looking at the senshi beside her. "A very opinioned thought."
The former Sailor Bothawui leaned back against a tree. "Well, what is your thought?"
The former Sailor Berchest snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. The Bothan shrugged, turning her full attention toward the battle.
"Well, my one attack won't help us now." Bothawui jumped across some branches to settle above the other senshi. "It causes silence."
Berchest, keeping the tree between her and the bird creature, flinched when a blast flew past her. "But, you have been doing physical attacks, right?"
The multi-colored haired girl sighed. "Yes, but I don't think I even wore it out any." She leaned over the branch she was crouching on, "You could help too, you know."
"Uh, I've never physically fought anyone, or anything before. I wouldn't know what to do." She looked up at the furred figure and sheepishly smiled.
The blue eyed girl gasped as her friend suddenly screamed and fell forward. She quickly jumped down and caught the tanned girl in her furry paws. She looked up and saw the edge of one of the sharp feathers poking through the tree. She bit her lip as she carefully laid the dancer face down. She saw the puncture wound on her back, it started to bleed heavily.
"Suri, are you with me?" Bothawui ripped off one of her glovelets and used it to gently apply pressure to the wound.
"Yeah, but I hurt." She whimpered and stifled a yell as the Bothan worked.
"Good, now keep silent for a minute." Inga closed her eyes and rested both her paws over the wound. She concentrated on the patient lying in front of her as sweat started to drench her fur. She then took a deep breath and sat back. She lifted up the cloth that covered the wound and saw that the bleeding had stopped and the body had started to close the puncture.
Berchest looked quizzically at her healer. "What did you do?" She started to slowly sit up.
"I healed you, not fully though, but enough. Your wound was deep. Now, stay sitting and you'll be fine." At her friends look, she explained. "I have some Firrerreo blood in me. I have been teaching myself to heal others as well as myself. It has taken quite a lot of work." A thrown feather interrupted further conversation.
Sailor Bothawui had had about enough. She strongly wished for some sort of weapon as she crept to the tree to view the monster. She felt something well up inside her as she stood up.
She inhaled deeply as she walked away from the protection of the tree and toward the bird. Sailor Berchest watched wide eyed as the black clad senshi started running straight at the multi-colored bird.
The furred girl reached her right paw out to her side. "Sorrow Dagger!" A black mist appeared around her paw and formed into a long dagger. She tightened her hold on it as she used a log to launch herself at her enemy. She brought the dagger up and plunged it into the bird's forehead.
She pushed off the creature with her feet and flipped over to land on the ground in front of the bird. She stood to watch as the bird monster cried out. The black dagger wrapped black tendrils around the large body and soon disappeared. The bird suddenly whimpered as it collapsed onto the ground.
"What is that sound?" A voice startled the furred senshi. She turned and saw Sailor Berchest slowly making her way up next to her.
"I told you to stay sitting." She turned toward the bird once again and tilted her head. "It's crying."
As they watched, thinking what they should do next, the bird was wrapped in a whirlwind and was destroyed. The girls looked toward the area where the attack originated from.
They both saw a blue skinned girl in a sparkling fuku. The new senshi jumped down from her lofty place and landed in front of the girls.
"Name's Sailor Wroona." She smiled as she smoothed her skirts.
"Sailor Bothawui, thanks for your help."
"Sailor Berchest."
"Maybe we will meet again, sometime." The blue girl grinned.
"Count on it." Sailor Bothawui nodded.
The two senshi watched as the new senshi disappeared into the shadowed forest.
"I think I like her." Suri commented as she powered down.
Sailor Bothawui thought as she powered down as well. "I think I might too."
A bagged lump was thrown onto an office desk. The man sitting at the desk looked up at the closed bag then up to the black clad female in front of him. His frown changed into a small smile as he pushed back his chair and fumbled with the bag to open it.
He pulled back the covering and viewed the gray fur and the opened mouth that held many sharp teeth.
"You will notice that there isn't a scar on its hide, now for payment." The Shadow kept her blue eyes on her employer.
"Very nice work." He walked around to stand beside his desk. "Besides the large sum that I have already agreed to, would there be anything else?"
The bounty hunter nodded. "I would like an additional 300."
The man slowly nodded and fished out what he needed to pay her from one of his desk drawers. "There's actually an additional 500 in there." He tossed what he owed over to The Shadow.
She caught it and put it away. "Nice doing business with you." She bowed her head and walked out of the room.
A bag clanked near a bare arm. A hand picked up the bag and gray eyes found the bounty hunter leaning against the doorframe, with her mask down around her neck.
"What's this for?" Suri asked as she spun around on her bed to face the furred girl.
"You did help out with catching that vornskr, even though you were an unintentional decoy. There's 500 credits in that bag." Inga smiled.
Suri slowly stood up and set the bag on a table, then spun around to face her friend. The Bothan looked at the girl's face and started shaking her head.
"No, no, you don't..." She quickly backed out of the doorframe and tried to run down the hall.
"Kitty!" The dancer quickly caught up with the short furred girl and jumped on her back, sending them both to the floor.