[T1] Short Cut

[Ash]

Jakob, Angel, and The Centurion checked out cleanly with the stormtroopers at the gates. Jakob did his best to warn the two about the effects the gate had on you, but it was all for naught as he could not actually put the words together in his drugged mind. They didn't seem too illed by the transportation either.

On the other side of the gate was Tier One of Coruscant. The Empire's influence was strongest here, and the mass of secondaries was active. They could hear voices chatting up, a million of them turning into white noise - if you didn’t listen to any of them. There was plenty of other noises. Hissing steam from far away pipes. Elevator type music drifting out of public speakers. The whipping of vehicles through the air in various directions.

Behind them they could hear the broken chit-chat over walkies and comms.

Jakob was not paying attention to any of it, he was simply navigating through the sea of people. Of course, he was used to all of this by now. He has always been used to this noise and the people. Russia had not been a powerful force in his futuristic universe because it was small, it did not lack people for its armies and its work force. It was packed to the gills with humans, orcs, elves, and dwarves alike. This was more than that had been, but it was just noise and body heat.

“Wait,” Angel said, grabbing at the air between her and Jakob. “Jakob, take my hand.” She requested, even though the memory of their make out was still fresh in her mind - even if it brought a warmth to her cheeks… “That way we don’t get separated... “ She quickly gave reason to her request. 

“Okay.” Jakob accepted, lifting his robotic hand for her to grab.

Angel hesitated, despite it being her idea, but took it gently. She watched as he curled the cold fingers around her hand gently, knowing full well that it was capable of crushing her fingers if he wanted to. She gulped but trusted him. 

She then reached over for Cade to take her other hand. He also hesitated, if only because he was not used to ideas like this. But he also took the hand. Angel noted there were at least twenty things different between the two hands but said nothing. Just offered Jakob a smile and a short nod to express she was ready.

Jakob turned away and began to lead the daisy-chain of people through the milling crowd. His steps were slow but precise. He tugged gently as he walked, but absently. Slowly they made their way towards the opposite gate for Vasty Deep. It would have never occurred to his drugged mind that there was an easier way to do this. Several easier ways. They could have taken a cab, they could have walked ten feet the other way in the Nexus. All of this knowledge lost to his numbed cells. 

He carried them through the secondaries, pushing his way through without stepping on toes or even a single elbow to the face. Then again, Jakob had two modes. Savage, and dumb.

The Russian male moved through two people gently, and in response to this, the two figures asserted dominance by crushing the human’s arm between their large masses. This did nothing to Jakob, but it made Angel cry out and pull her hand back from the closing mountains. They, twins apparently, glare in her direction. On the verge of tears, she pulled back.

Cade slid around her and puffed out his chest, ready to take them on but not ready to start trouble. Gurgle sounds could be heard from them, but then they slithered away. “That was close.” He said, turning to Angel who was guarding her hand as if it was harmed. Unable to help himself, Cade took her hand and inspected it while he questioned her. “Did they hurt you?”

Angel whimpered, but the only harm that had been done was the powerful flick of Jakob’s mechanical hand. It left a small but impressively deep bruise on the back. “No.. I’m fine.” She said, truthfully it wasn’t that big of a deal.

“It looks nasty... But I don’t think anything is broken.” He said, his fingers being tender as they prodded at the bone underneath. When she winced and jerked back, he stopped but offered her his best smile. “Sorry.”

Angel felt the heat return to her face as she stared at his attractive face... Why were heroes always so good looking? Was that a standard they had to meet? A requirement? She had to calm herself. “It’s okay. I know you wouldn’t hurt me.” She said, unintentionally a bit dreamily. 

He chuckled, “That I would not.” He assured her. “Now.” He said, standing taller and looking back for Jakob. “Let us… Get… Back to..?” His words trailed off as he found no sign of their guide. “Jakob?” He called out.

They looked left, right, and everywhere between but found no sign of the red-armed Russian. “Jakob!” Angel cried out, lifting her bruised hand to cup around her mouth in hopes of amplifying her voice. “JAKOB!?”

But no matter how many times his name was called out he did not return.

Cade and Angel continued in the direction that they were headed, hoping to catch up with the man. They called and called as if looking for their lost dog. Man, woman, and whatever other gender that was present looked at them with mild disdain as they continued on with their racket. “Jakob! Buddy?” Cade tried again.

Angel narrowly missed a lifted crate with her head, the two holding it lifting it higher as she twists. She gives them a nervous look but manages a thank you and a sorry before turning back around to continue their hunt. “Jakob!?” She called him once more. She turned the other way. “Ja-!!” She stopped dead in her tracks as they saw a similar gate from the one they entered. Its swirling magic teasing them to enter. There was a sign close by: Costa Del Sol. That was the beachiest name if she’s ever heard of one. But… While they found their destination, they did not find their Jakob. “Cade?” She called out