We approach the landing port we were instructed to go to; this place reminds me of the old movies I would watch as a kid. The hangout for Pirates and brigands. The city is on a giant plateau rising above a jungle, and as we closed in I realized that this may have been a mistake to come here. standing up I go to the weapons room and pick out a Majah-tu pistol and holster.
I grab three more as well as holsters for us and head back to the bridge, putting them down on my chair. Hal gets the idea taking one of each strapping it on, as do I. Lahí frowns at us. "Why are you arming yourselves?" Jahní glances at us and sees what we're doing nodding, in approval of our choice.
Jahní deftly stations the Morning Star on the ground moorings, that hold it in place. The open air docking bridge locks on the the ship and we are... parked. Jahní unstraps herself from the seat taking the holster and pistol, but she can't get it around her waist. instead she throws it over her shoulder causing me to smile. She looks like a bandolero from the old west.
She's waring a lose tunic and dress for her pregnancy and the pistol and holster with belt, just make her look interesting. Soft, but dangerous and I kind of like it. "You know Jahní, you would fit in to a certain time in Earths history, where the rule of the gun was law." She looks at herself and chuckles.
"Lahí reluctantly accepts the holster and pistol. "I don't think it's really that necessary to take these, but if it makes you feel better then I will." Good or she was going to stay if she didn't.
"Alright listen up; no wandering around alone stay close to us, that is not negotiable." I look at Lahí in particular, because she is very independent. "The closer you are the easier it is to help you if you get into trouble."
We head out as a group crossing the docking bridge, to our surprise there is an armed Majah-tu escort waiting for us. "Welcome." Says the lead officer in the escort team. "Welcome to Barahtur." Jahní inclines her head, as does Lahí. "Please my Lady Princesses come this way, But your man servants will have to stay on the ship." He looks at me and the Gunny.
"They are not our man servants, they are our companions." Lahí corrects the commander. He notices the ring that Jahní and I have Looking at us with a certain amount of... disbelief is what it seems to me. He inclines his head motioning for us to follow him, which we do.
He approaches Jahní. "My Lady Princess, may I inquire why you and this." He turns looking me up and down. "Person wares a pledge ring that is identical to yours?"
Jahní stops turning to face the Commander. "If you have something to say then spit it out, or hold your tongue before you lose it." Lahí puts her hand on her sword eyeing the Commander coldly.
Tension rises as the Commander instinctively reaches for his pistol, though before he or his men clear their holsters I have my pistol pointed at his head. Hal covers the two guards that are with him. Jahní smiles at the interesting turn of events. "Were you truly going to pull your weapon against my sister and I?" The Commander slowly takes his hand away from his weapon holding his hand up, and his men follow his example. "Most wise of you Commander."
He bows deeply. "Please forgive me my Lady Princess, for my impertinence of presuming above my place." One of his men says something under his breath and he turns pounding him in the face, with his fist! The man falls to the ground unconscious. "Forgive his ill manners my Lady Princess." Bowing once more.
"You must teach your men to hold their tongues as well I see." The Commander averts his green eyes from Jahní. I've only seen her like this once with that cold expression, and icy stare that would send more than one cowering.
He bows several times before Jahní lets him go. "Yes my Lady Princess, please come this way." He continues to show us the way to where ever it is we're going, but I hope that it's to a nice safe place at least. The city is bustling with activity; people bartering at every different shop for the many diverse products that can be bought here. The one thing I did quickly pick up on is the unsavory characters, that seem to be everywhere in this place. I was right in my initial perception, of this town.
We walk through this densely packed market and I stick close to Jahní, as Hal does the same for Lahí. I don't take my eyes off of her for a second, since many stare at both Jahní and Lahí's direction. My hand is alway on my pistol, while Jahní and Lahí both shop and barter for the things they fancy. The folks around here know what the silver eyes mean, so they try to soak them.
But, our girls are sharp as tacks and they don't let themselves be played or hustled, by the merchants. I smile at how shrewd both Jahní and Lahí are at picking out the lies and talking them down, from their exorbitant prices. I turn and spot a couple of shady characters that I saw further back down the street; I look to Hal and he nods in confirmation of my suspicions.
Hal and I move closer to the girls to from a protective screen, though this doesn't bother the guys tailing us one bit. In fact they get even closer. That's when I tell Jahní that we need to go now.
"Lahí." Turning to Jahní her smile fades as she is told of the men following us. "We must get to the safety of the base quickly." The four of us and the escort head out of the market and into the winding streets, of this town. It's almost like a maze here before I know I've lost track of the turns we've taken. I have to get a map of this place and study it for a day or two, then I'll get my bearings. However, there will be another time for that.
We turn a corner and just what I wanted to avoid is about to go down, as seven shady men are there obviously waiting for us. Plus two probably three behind us, so that's ten. The escort Commander steps up. "You there, clear the way!"
"Now is that any way to greet people when they meet?" this rather large brigand says. He has red skin with a white beard and blueish eyes. "We just want to talk and make a business deal!" Deal he says.
"What kind of 'deal' are you taking about?" I step in, which makes the Commander look at me with anger. But, he stays silent.
"Well." the brigand starts. "We want to buy those two exquisite beauties you have there. We'll pay a good price for them." Ah, so that is their intent.
"I'm sorry, no deal!" He smiles laughing looking at his men, as they join in the mirth.
"As I see it you don't have much of a choice do you." I glance e behind me and like clock work the three scum bags are behind us. "So what do say there young man?"
I get in front of Jhaní and Hal with Lahí my hand is already on the pistol is twitching to draw and pull the trigger. I look around at my surroundings and to the right is an arched door way that's recessed, and that is our way out. I look at Hal glancing to the door and he gets the message. "I don't know. I think we have a few options."
He laughs even harder than before. "You have no way out of here, so what options do you think you can exploit now?"
"Oh I don't know, maybe I'll just shoot you first and then figure something out from there." His smile fades real fast then and he looks at my face realizing that it's not a joke. He reaches for his side arm, but I'm faster. I put a hole in his chest while Hal takes a couple of the others out before they even clear their holsters, and then the fire fight gets serious.
I push Jahní right to the arch and I blast a hole in the lock kicking the door in, with Hal and Lahí right on our heals. "Go, go!" I shout. "To the front of this place!" I watch as the Commander and his men hold the door giving us the chance to make our escape. We get to the front and it's a bar full of more shady men, who stop what their doing and stare at us as we hurriedly move the door.
That's when a tall red skinned man gets in our way. "Say there what's your hurry?" Jahní and I both point our pistols at him, causing him to put up his hands. he gets out of the way and we get out of there fast. The Majah-tu Commander makes it to us shaking his head, but we don't even have to ask about his men.
"This way!" He points up the street, and we don't even question him. We go as fast as our feet can carry us, only pausing to give Jahní a breather. She is strong and I so proud of her; I look back spotting those thugs from the other street, at the corner trying to decide the direction. We start moving again to stay out of sight when another group of Majah-tu soldiers see us.
The Commander informs them of what is happening and they surround us, to keep us safe. These guys are more numerous, so I don't think that those guys will try to get in our way now. Finally we get to the base. Once there I look back and sure enough those scum are way back watching us enter the base, see you when ever.
The inside of the base is not very luxurious. Instead the simplicity of decorations stands out, but you can't ignore the peace either. It's very clean and neat with military perfection, which makes me simile. Jahní sits down at the first availble chair she finds. "Are you ok Jahní?" She nods and I relax a bit knowing that she is good even after the run.