Sandstorm

Author: Pilgrim
Title: Sandstorm
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Star Wars characters or movies (unfortunately) and am not making any money from this (even bigger unfortunately)
Feedback: Please! First time fan fiction writer and desperate for tips, tricks, advice, stuff me full of info please! I want to improve and take over the world with my genius mwhahaha! Lol, only kidding but feedback would be fantastic, send it to raukarwen_deomene@yahoo.com!

Chapter 6

Arsha leapt towards the back of the building only to see the corner of a cloak disappear out of the door. She frowned in annoyance; she hated it when she didn’t get to interrogate suspicious people. Especially when those suspicious people were sniffing around her private business. Kneeling down, Arsha dragged the ‘secret’ bag from underneath the broken counter. It was a similar style to the one that was already in the speeder: simple, black and understated. It wouldn’t draw attention.

Tucking the envelope into an outside pocket, she resolved to check through the gear at a later date when the Jedi was not awaiting her return. Tossing the bag over her shoulder, Arsha left the building with a final glare at anyone who dared to hide in her shadows.

Obi-Wan smiled at her return and watched silently as the second bag was delicately placed next to the others. “You have everything that you require?” Arsha nodded and slipped back into the driving seat.

“All that is being left here are memories that are best being left. I leave behind nothing that I should regret leaving.” Well, that was a downright lie. If it was up to her, half of that wall of weaponry would be in close proximity and they would be seated in the opulent luxury of the Shadowed Dagger, already well on their way to Coruscant. Instead, clothing and a concealed lightsaber were the closest things at hand, as well as whatever mysteries the new bag concealed. Arsha doubted that whatever secrets that bag was hiding would make up for what she had left behind. Therefore, there was a hell of a lot being left behind that she regretted leaving.

:/

The starfreighter chugged noisily; Arsha wrinkled her nose at the ugly looking ship. There were enough of them built, so why couldn’t they have been made more attractive? Obi-Wan held out her ticket. She knew that she should have felt guilty that he was spending the small amount of credits he had when she had an almost infinite source, but that wasn’t her forte. Guilt didn’t come in her job description and she took the ticket without a second thought spared on it or it’s cost.

“I believe that this is our transport. In dock twenty-seven.” Obi-Wan shouted over the raucous noise of the port. Life from all origins milled about the port, some proclaiming to sell trinkets to ward against pirates. Others offered amulets and charms to stave off imaginary space illnesses that they made up as they shouted and bawled across the crowds.

Arsha followed Obi-Wan through the crowds towards the starfreighter until she was knocked violently side-ways by a Nelvaanian. She glared at the canine like male; her patience was begging to be broken as Obi-Wan tugged at her arm. The Nelvaanian hadn’t paused in his stride, obviously determined on his mission. Arsha gave in trying to get vengeance for the bump, and let herself be tossed and bounced by the crowds as Obi-Wan clasped her hand tightly and dragged her through.

Finally, with bruises in places neither had thought existed, they reached the starfreighter and its temporarily chilled interior. It was obvious though, that once the ship took off, with the amount of people crammed into every corner the heat would increase rapidly to unbearable proportions. Expecting Obi-Wan to settle in a random corner, Arsha was surprised when he continued in his lengthy stride up several decks of the ship.

“I thought this might make the journey a bit more bearable.” Obi-Wan shouted over the roar of engines and conversations of a thousand worlds as he tugged a key from his pocket. Slamming it into a door and twisting, he swung it open and ushered Arsha inside before shutting and bolting the door on the intrusive noise.

Finally, they could hear their own thoughts once more in the quieter room. Arsha dropped her bags on one of the beds and glanced about the small room. There were two sparsely made beds with pillows that might as well have been sheets, a roughly crafted sink and toilet tucked behind a wall, and a small chest-like object at the end of each bed. Obi-Wan wriggled past her and sank onto the unoccupied bed with a sigh. He gave a wistful smile. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t afford two rooms or a better single.”

Arsha glanced back at him, surprised at his apology. “I wasn’t expecting you to be able to afford a room as big as this one. I thought we would have been camped with the refugees in the lower decks of the ship. This is luxury compared to that.” She mimicked him and sank into the bed, only to find that it wasn’t that easy to sink into. Metal, covered by a bit of padding and a sheet, the epitome of luxury in this accommodation and clearly not intended for ‘sinking into’.

Flicking her legs up, Arsha reclined lazily on the pathetic excuse for a bed. It shuddered violently underneath her, causing her to bolt back upright. Obi-Wan smiled in amusement. “It’s alright, just the engines firing up. Nothing to worry about.” Arsha glared at him before resuming her previous position.

“I am not accustomed to this kind of space travel.” Arsha responded curtly. Obi-Wan cocked an eyebrow and attempted valiantly to hide the amusement he felt at her obvious disapproval of something so crude.

:/

Night and day, one and the same in space. There was no light, but for the glaring luminescence of the artificial and no air but for the stuffy heated substance that insisted that it was in fact air while all the time choking them. Arsha swore that it was thick enough to cut through. Three days they had existed on this ship and already insanity was setting in. There were no windows, so even the stars could not glitter promisingly at them, reminding them that there was a world and galaxy outside of the shuddering, smelly and swelteringly hot can. Finally, it became too much.

Arsha glanced at Obi-Wan. He was asleep, a data-pad resting at an odd angle on the tip of his fingers and his chin on his chest. Somehow, the man managed to look dignified even in sleep. Deciding that enough really was enough, Arsha rose and headed out of the cabin making a careful note of which one it was and on which level. She turned to the path that would lead her to the deepest, darkest depths of the ship, her intention glowing brightly in her mind’s eye.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

SORRY FOR THE DELAY WHICH HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THINGS BEYOND MY MORTAL CONTROL. BACK TO REGULAR UPDATES SOON I HOPE!

THANKS TO Judo Chops FOR THE REVIEWS, REALLY APPRECIATE THEM AT THE MOMENT :) WELL I APPRECIATE THEM AT ANY TIME LOL BUT NOW IS A REALLY GOOD POINT!!!