The chains wouldn't stop rattling. They never stop. It's one of the sounds that constantly berates my ears. At first I had a migraine that never ended, but then it almost settled into my normal state of mind. Well, that's a lie. My head always hurt. It all started when the day chains got placed on me. The morning my life changed for the definite worst.
'Damn, it seems that reminiscing is my only escape from this fucking hellehole.'
"Tch. Not like it helps any. Godamn the new guys are making such a racket. Not like mumbling will change that."
See I'm a slave in case the chains didn't pick up on that. Captured at the ripe ole age of eleven. My name is Rathe. I don't have a last name. I was dumped on a monastery when I was just a babe. My life there was quiet. Dull if you asked me when I was still living there. I achieved only the rank acolyte so that was my title, acolyte Rathe. Unfortunately for me I didn't reach the coming of age ceremony where I get to take my own name and go out making my path in the galaxy. But then again I don't think I would've gotten that fate. No I was too 'special'. But now he was trapped in an arena. Champion. Not that the title came with any perks. No he just got more matches with increasing degree of danger, and the challengers. Man I must get one every two fucking weeks.
The door just opened up a one of the new guys just got shoved in. Dead of course. Man that guy must've shit himself three times while the called his name up.
"Sigh.. I got dibs on his armor!" I called out to everyone else in the rather large cell that was our home. I got multiple dirty looks that definitely meant a challenge. Standing up I leveled a look that promised that I would be calling dibs once again, only this time over their corpse. The looks disappeared.
"Hmph, that's what I thought." Striding over to the corpse I inspected what was damaged and what was salvageable.
'Hmm this is interesting. He's rather well equipped and new too. Looks republic. The chest plate is shot. Impaled. That's one gaping hole in the stomach, must've been an Acklay, would've matched the sounds I heard.' Thinking to myself I picked at his vambraces and what seemed to leg guards that reached over the knees. They were white. That'll change. Maybe to red. Or maroon.
'My size too! Ahhh my luck does seem to exist. Funny it's showing up now but hey new armor.' Looking at him again I realized that it was only the stomach that was pierced. I could still salvage the the breastplate and the shoulder pad attached. Adding that to my body I felt that it was missing something, so with an extravagant twirl I strode over to the heap of junk where everyone gets whatever the can get to arm and protect ourselves with. God some of this shit was so old, some looked even ceremonial. Like this strip of metal links, what the fuck could that protect you from...
'Thats exactly what I'm looking for! Damn my luck is fucking great today! Ohhh fuck me sideways there is nooo possible way that this'll all bite my ass in the end.' I sighed twice for today and attached the strip of metal links as a kilt that hung between my legs in the front and back. Adjusting the belt that holds the two strips I twirl back around and look at the only reflective source in this whole cesspit. A dirty and disease ridden pool of water.
'I remember being so thirsty from the trek across the desert that I actually drank that shit. God I didn't realize there were so many different types of fluids that can come out of a body.' Shuddering at the memory I focus on my appearance.
'For fifteen cycles old I sure as shit look a lot older. Thanks slavers! Now I can walk into a legitimate bar and order a drink!' I stand at 5'10 with a thin stature, it would border on lanky if it wasn't for that fact that I'm covered with lean muscle and could deal with some more meals. I have blood red hair that's perpetually tousled, not that I actually bother with it, the furthest it reaches is a lock in between my eyebrows. I have a nasty reminder to get the fuck outta the way quicker in the form of a scar that starts on the bottom of my left eye down across my nose and ending at my right side of the cheek. I really need to kill that fuckin Acklay. My armor seems to scream gladiator and honestly I kinda like it. Now if only I coul-
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! I WELCOME YOU TO GREASER'S MOST GLORIOUS ARENA! TODAY WE HAVE AN EVENT THAT YOU'LL BE TELLING ABOUT FOREVER! OUR REIGNING CHAMPION RATHE ALONG WITH A CAPTURED ELITE REPUBLIC TROOPER AGAINST OUR OPPOSING CHALLENGERS DREETO'S DEATH SQUAD!" The announcer...
"Well fuck me! I shouldn't have even thought anything! Just had to go off about my luck!" I kicked a disabled droid head in frustration and nailed some sleeping guy in the corner, nice shot, but damn it's overcrowded.
"Keep it down you fucking brat! Shout again and you won't make it out there to die!" Some shadow's got a death wish.
'He's lucky that I gotta go out there now otherwise I'd fashion a belt outta his spine. The only upside to this whole thing is that I got an 'elite republic solider. God I hope that's true and not some announcer bullshit or else I'm gonna be fucked. Even if I use THAT. Walking out of the cage on my own was far better than being dragged by those guards screaming like a bitch. I am the champion of this shithole after all and if I'm going down then my blaze of glory will burn this place to ashes.' The chants rose in volume as the walk to the gate progressed and Rathe once again found himself lost in his own mental musings.
'I can't believe I actually hate them for chanting my name. Loyal fans my ass I bet they'd chant the ass of a hutt if it put on a show for them. Walking past an weapon rack I took whatever looked best and not gonna break if the wind hits it wrong. That turned out to be two blasters that would've been the tits nearly six decades ago and a rusty viroblade. Hell I hope they got tetanus shots...actually.. No, I really don't give a fuck.'
The gate was already open and the light from the arena poured into the dark alleyway as if invading the dark reaches and shadows. Shielding my eyes from the sun I stepped into that arena making the same mistake of not covering my ears. Noise blows harder than a spice addict trying to get a fix. My eyes finally seem adjusted to the bright sun bearing down overhead and look around for my supposed partner. After a minute of looking I spot him fifteen feet from me.
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Trooper 2563F was not having a good day. No he was sent to Tatooine along with his squad, they were all relatively new, everyone kept calling them shinies, meaning rookies because their armor was so unblemished. Their mission was a scout operation, their cruiser that was within the system picked up a program from some black channel on Tatooine. It showed an arena and a gladiator hacking his way through droids. Sure the kid had grace and style, but what set off alarms the on board Jedi to froth at the mouth was suddenly the kid picked up a fallen pillar, which looked to weigh about twice that of a troop transport. Oh yeah he also did it with the force. The Jedi began barking out orders of a rescue op and I volunteered my squad to go scout it out. They're six of us, although they all remain unaccounted for.
Grifter is our tech savant. If it had circuits than shit he can use em. He prefers a shock rifle. Says that it can disable droids and start em back up. Always handy when he tinkers with them. Clankers never know what hits them when they start firing on each other.
Then there is Twinkle-Toes, he was melee specialist. We call him that because he dances around you like he's some ballerina. But once you put a blade in his hand nobody is alive long enough to question the way he moves. He hates the name.
Then we got Martyr, he always is volunteering to stay behind, like some sort of valiant last stand kinda thing. He jokes around about getting medals and commendations because the only thing that'll kill him is himself. We use to worry about him because we thought he was sducidal, but nope, he's just fucking Martyr.
Next up is Twitch, he is our close range specialist, armed to the teeth in shotguns and the like. We call him that because in training his had always had a little twitch, the scientist thought about scrapping him from the combat program. But that was before he was given a shotgun. That mans twitch made for a helluva trigger finger, kept the gun pretty steady too. He always has a blaster on him if he doesn't have a shotgun.
Next up is Flashback, our improvised doc. He always is bandaging up us even back in training because we always got hurt more than others. We trained a lot. We want to be the best so we trained like we already were. Every time he patches you up he always starts off with, "remember that time when..." Never misses a single chance to flashback and tell us an old memory.
Finally we have our trooper 2563F otherwise known as Grunt. Grunt is the perfect solider if ya wanna call him that. Perfect on the ground. As far as his training scores said. Never been tested in combat though.
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'So yeah my day has been pretty shitty. Just haaaad to open my mouth, oh! We'll take this mission sir! I have a contingency plan if we ever oh I dunno get ensalved! All for some kid. Apparently he's the champion of this pisshole of an arena.' Craning my head towards the sound of an open door I see someone step into the sunlight. The figure seemed to loathe this place especially the noise if his winces showed any indication. Those cheers are getting louder, much louder. It must be starting.
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I making my way over to the solider. He looks like your average dime a dozen grunt, I hope he's got a million credit aim. "Hey! Soldier boy! You gotta name?"
He turns to look at me and I can see from the look in his eye he's gauging how useful I'll be. Hehehe I think he'll be in for a surprise if he thinks I'm not.
"The names grunt kid. Who are you? I thought I was being paired up with this 'glorious arena's' champion."
"That's some sarcasm for a clone soldier boy. Well to answer your question, I'm this glorious shithole's champion. The names Rathe, and yeah we are paired up." The gates began to open on the other side of the arena jamming leaving only the feet of their opponents visible. Motioning to a fallen pillar for cover I pull out my blasters as soldier boy does the same. "Alright look, Dreeto is a techie turned bounty hunter, he uses reprogrammed and repurposed droids as his 'death squad'. Their old federation battle droids, but their combat programs are top notch. He'll hide behind them using them as a shield and a weapon so if we take them out we have a shot at reaching him." Stopping to look over the pillar I see Dreeto and his droids rolling underneath the jammed gate. "Shit. Alright soldier boy tell me you have a plan to get us outta here. You got a squad don't you?
"Yeah I do, we came here with another squad, I think I already know what happened to them." Grunt tells me eyeing my armor.
"I'll explain later, but I can promise you it didn't come from your army buddies." Just then a blaster bolts struck the pillar we were hiding behind. Ducking down further I look towards grunt and say, "Right now we need to win this match. Right then, on three we'll take as many out as possible then I want you to provide cover fire." Bringing up my hand I count down from three. Grunt and I spring from our cover unleashing a volley of blaster fire upon at Dreeto and his battle droids. My initial volley of blaster claimed two of Dreeto's six while Grunt claimed two as well. Ducking back under the pillar due to the droids returning fire I turn to Grunt, "I'll glad that cover fire right about now. I'm going after Dreeto."
After a particular bolt of blaster fire chipping away a chunk of stone in between our faces grunt turns to me before peaking over the edge. "Those droids won't move just because someone's firing at them you're shooting at them, it's like ya said kid, they are his shield and weapon." looking back to me he says, "We could really use a jedi right about now." another blaster bolt hit the pillar sending fragments all across his face. That'll scar, but for now I've got a clone to amaze.
"Just sit tight solider boy and take out those clankers scrapped when I give you the opening." Jumping up I vaguely take notice of his cry to wait, but what he doesn't know is that I CAN USE THE FORCE! Shoving both of my hands out an invisible, but surely real wave washes crashes into Dreeto and his droids sending the whole group skidding across the arena and with a flourish of my hands I separated the droids to the left and right of Dreeto. "THERE'S YOUR OPENING SOLDIER BOY NOW SHOOT!" It seems solider boy knows when to shoot because the droids were made quick work after that, dropping my blasters like the outdated garbage they were I pull my viroblade from the sheathe on my back and charge at Dreeto. What a pathetic shit, ordering his already destroyed droids to get up and shooting wildly. Panic has no place on the battlefield, but the battles over anyways or will be soon. Charging at Dreeto I slash his hand of and following through with a twirl and spin of my body I plunge my blade through his chest. Dreeto looks at me with wide eyes filled with disbelief before I twist the blade and pull it out with a sickening squelch leaving Dreeto to stand on weak knees that soon crumble beneath him. The crowd roars and I vaguely hear the announcer scream out how what an incredible victory, truthfully it was pathetic. The battle barely lasted four minutes and the droids never got a chance to fire of their heavier ordinance, I remember seeing a belt of thermal detonators. Wait, THERMAL DETONATERS! I can take the belt and show it off like some sort of trophy to the crowd! I reach down towards the droid that has the belt on him on my way back to Grunt, grabbing it thrust it up showing it to the crowd with my loudest war cry. Placing it on me I walk back to Grunt and say, "Drop your weapons, we can't re-enter the cages with them."
Grunt drops his weapons and sends me a wayward glance, "I didn't take you for the showboating type." Obviously referring to my little spectacle with the thermal detonator belt.
"I have an idea, we'll talk when it's safe until then follow my lead." I whisper to him quietly before turning towards an awning amongst the crowd. Dropping to one knee with my head down I yell, "I HAVE A REQUEST FOR MIGHTY AND HUMBLE GREASER, THE LORD OF THE ARENA!" God this sickens me worse then the thought of hutts reproducing, I was not made to grovel, I am a warrior not a show pet. I will take his head for this I swear it. Greaser is a Toydarian and the poster boy of disgusting slime ball. I'm not expert on alien physiology, but I'm damn sure that the bodily fluids that leak and pour out that flying pig isn't natural for his species. He is dark blue but is always covered with a sheen of sickly yellow sweat creating brown spots all over him, his body seemed to be covered in blisters full of white puss that cascaded down his body, honestly his repulsiveness could win his own matches if he ever fought in his stupid arena. He looked down at me with a sneer, but seemed thoroughly pleased that someone is bowing down to him.
Grunt looked surprised at Rathe actions because he seems to be quite prideful and has the look of a real warrior, not made to bend knee. Following suit he gets to one knee and looks to the ground as Rathe did, sending a quick glance to his compatriot he was shocked to see the dark look on his face. It was certainly scary to say the least. A dark shadow was sprawled across his face and his eyes were smoldering the ground beneath him with his glare. A dark look indeed that seemed scarily normal for his face. He was blissfully unaware of Rathe's thoughts of severing heads. All of his internal musings were cut short when this Greaser character chose to speak.
"TELL ME MY CHAMPION! TEL US, WHAT DO YOU WISH OF FOR A REWARD OF BEING SUCH A SKILLFULL COMBATANT?!" The foul Toydarian flapped his wings rising him from his throne and flared his arms out grandiosely to the crowd which roared in agreement. "RISE MY CHAMPION AND TELL US THIS REQUEST!" The crowd couldn't seem to agree more.
I stood at his command, clenching my fist tightly to the fact that such a disgusting pig could command me anything. I clear my throat and speak as clearly and loudly as I can to the hushing crowd. Probably since I never had a single request except my freedom. That was the first and last time I requested anything, the scars covering my back from the electro-whip ingrained a message into me I'll never forget, requests are for those who can't achieve it through power. "I HUMBLY REQUEST THAT I BE MOVED INTO THE SAME LIVING QUARTERS THAT THE CLONES ARE IN!" The crowd was obviously confused and even one character, a twi'lek, shouted out, "WHAT KIND OF REQUEST IS THAT?" the crowd seemed to agree and Greaser gave me the simple command to explain. Clenching my fists tightly I explain my reasoning, "WE MAKE A GOOD TEAM, AND THIS CLONES ENTIRE SQUAD IS HERE, IMAGINE THE SHOWS WE COULD PUT ON WITH SQUAD ON SQUAD BATTLES!" the crowd went dead silent for a moment, just a moment before the entire place erupted into the most deafening roar of agreement I have ever heard in all my years being here. Greaser's eyes seemed to gleam with all the credits he would be rolling in. Grunt seemed to be surprised but hid it quickly giving me a subtle nod of approval.
"FOR MY GREATEST CHAMPION I WILL GRANT YOU THIS ONE REQUEST!" Greaser shouted basking in the approval of the fans, I swear that pig is almost as much of slave as I am to them. Death will be his freedom. "REST NOW RATHE! YOU'VE EARNED IT!" we bow to one knee once again before we head off to the open gate, Grunt makes a move to speak but I beat him to it.
"Not now. Later, when we are away from prying ears and eyes, they tend to be everywhere except our humble slums." Grunt closed his mouth and nodded as they walked until the darkness of the cave consumed them both, it was a short walk to their holdings accompanied by guards, but a quick look showed that they were more occupied with ogling the female slaves. Some of them were so broken that they flaunted themselves others shied away in disgust, personally I find someone who offers their body disgusting. The most alluring species to me is Pantoran, I find the shade of the blue that is their body perfect. Heh it seems that for all my disgust these woman can still affect me, for a moment I forgot all about my surroundings and though exclusively about a nude Pantoran…and maybe his own spaceship. Maybe a Charger c70 retrofit or a Arquitens-class light cruiser. Oh the things I could do with such ship. And a crew, troops even. I could rival the force and effectiveness of the Mandalorians. With this war waging it would be perfect! Though I'd need a base… I suppose it's settled with what I'll do once I leave this place.
BANG! "OWWW bloody fuckin hell that hurt! Why is this pipe so fucking low!" Damn that's going to bruise, I know it. Eh I suppose I shouldn't be dreaming about the future.
"Hehehehehe this kid's the champion here? Must be some arena." said a solider who was sitting resting his arms on his knees. He had a cog and gear shaved into his hair on the right and left side of his head. I sent him a look, but all he did was burst into a fit of snickers.
"Can it Grifter, that champion you're laughing at is our objective, and he's got a plan to get us outta here."
All the soldiers eyes landed on me and looked at me as if they were judging the worth of a speeder. Another solider stood up from his sitting position and walked over to me, this clone had angel wings shaved into his hair. "So you're the force kid that General Fisto sent us after, yeah you don't look like jedi material, you look more like a warrior. A soldier. Do you even believe in peace?" he asked me incredibly skeptical seeing me as a jedi, which I totally agree with, I'm not one for peace. My plans of becoming a mercenary are a dead give away, but I'm no warmonger. Merely an opportunist.
"Eh, it has it's uses I'm sure, but personally it's never worked for me. Not saying that I am affront to it." I shrugged before giving them my answer. The clones seemed to accept my answer before another asked me a third question. This one had three arrows shaved into his hair going backwards with the middle arrow being the longest. Again like his clone brothers the design was placed on each side of the head.
"Do you have any intentions of going back with us to General Fisto and accompanying him back to the order?" I turn my head to him and took notice of the green shoulder pads he had on, then I realize each person had a different color to their shoulder pads. The man with angel wings had a deep purple, the man with the cog and gear had yellow. Grunt had a deep blue on his and the last two were in a corner. One had had a shoe shaved into his hair with a wing sprouting from the heel, his armor had black on it. The last one was a man with a twitchy hand, his hair had a lightning bolt shaved into his head and he had brown shoulder pads. Quickly realizing that they were waiting on my answer I turn to the man who originally asked me the question.
"Honestly no, I plan to start up a mercenary group after I escape." Apparently my answer didn't agree with them, especially the one with angel wings. His face turned into a snarl and he approached me with a fist raised. He obviously was going to give me a piece of his mind whether I want it or not.
"You'd become a hired gun?! You're just a killer!" His snarling made it hard to hear him, but I'm fairly sure that's what he said. Another approached and tugged on his shoulder this one was the one with green shoulder pads.
"Enough Martyr! Nobody is going anywhere right now because as you can see we're all brothers in binds now. Although I agree with you, a force sensitive warrior becoming a merc is disconcerting." He looked to me with a sharp calculating gaze and I realized that I should appease them before this gets out of hand. I raise my hands in a placating gesture so they could allow me to speak.
"Relax, I do intend to fight with your enemies. I know the republic has you clones, but I'm not one to swear away my allegiance to anything. If I tie mine to money then if there comes a need to break it the only thing I lose is a paycheck. Besides would it surprise you if I said I want to help? I'm to battle harden to accept the jedi way of peace and all that crap." That seemed to work really well because everyone's shoulders lost their tense edge and a look of understanding seemed to light up their eyes. I lower my hands seeing that the need to defend myself is no longer needed.
Grunt steps in between me and the two clones, one now identified as Martyr. He looks around before speaking, "That's a good point Flashback, we are all stuck here and like I mentioned earlier, Rathe here, our assignment, has a plan to change that."
The clone with purple shoulders and angel wings, now Martyr cut in at that point to say, "I can stay behind and hold the-" Again he was cut off by a symphony a groans. He looked ready to defend himself before another silenced him.
"Awww shut up Martyr, we get it, your selfless, but the amount of times you offer to stay behind I'm beginning to think you're just plain stupid." Grifter looks straight towards Martyr and his input seemed to silence him. Grifter motions me to get on with it so I step forward and talk in a hushed tone.
"Alright look, I managed to take a belt of thermal detonators off one of the droids last match, it has eight of them and should be strong enough to break through a wall. Tonight when the guard rotations switch we'll lure the guards into our cell and lock them in here. That'll require someone to taunt them to the point that they'll come in here to beat said person, that's when you guys jump them and knock them out. We'll strip them for anything useful and you'll plant this belt on the far wall that's located in the room two rights and a left from here. The wall is incredibly weak and on the other side is the garage for the crowd, I'm sure there is a vehicle we could use to get away." The entire group seemed to nod and I continue to ask if anyone is exceedingly annoying and good with insults. Everyone's eyes fall on Grifter and even the grin on his face could be considered annoying, that settled that quickly enough.
A clone with the lightning bolt noticed the unease on the face of the one left to him, the one with black shoulder pads and a winged shoe in his hair. "Hey Twinkle-Toes, what's the matter? The plan is pretty solid." Everyone gave the duo their attention as the one now identified as Twinkle-Toes nods.
"It is, but what about our ankle bracelets, I'm sure the guards won't be able to remove them and I've seen how the work as a bear trap. Blades pierce the ankle at every 45 degrees. Limping alone with that in will be a bitch, plus what do we do when they know we're gone?" His question seemed to point out some obvious flaws and everyone looks back to me for an answer.
I nod to everyone before saying, "It's true, those are some valid points. I won't be going with you to the weak wall where you detonate the grenades. I'll be heading up Greaser's office to get the release switch for our bracelets, it'll remove everyone's so even though they are in cells it'll promote chaos all the same. Chaos we can use to slip out." After finishing I realized that I still hadn't answered the question about what will the clones do after they escape. Grunt who seemed to be the leader of the squad was the one to ease the clones.
"We can head up to the rendezvous point, the trek from the arena to the pick up will be a four hour ride and we are breaking out tonight. This'll be perfect, we'll make in time for the pick up and we'll be off this desert rock. Kid, are you sure you don't wanna come with us?" he looks to me with sincerity in his eyes and I offer him a gratifying smile.
"No thanks solider boy, but if my plans for the future go smoothly then maybe we'll fight along side each other again. We all know this war will take it's sweet time to end." Everyone nods except Grifter who just snorts out a laugh pointing at grunt calling him 'soldier boy' that got a punch from Grunt, but he only laughed harder. With that we all went to sleep to prepare for the coming storm. Settling in to a corner furthest from the gate I let my head rest and close my eyes not even realizing how quickly I fell into sleep.
I open my eyes to sunlight, it's damp, they're sounds of birds that I never heard before within the trees. Wait, they're no trees on Tatooine. Getting up off the ground I take a look at my surroundings. They're fallen stone pillars everywhere slowly being covered by the forest as if trying to absorb it into the brush. The ground is stone as well, tiles that are cracked and moss covered with grass growing form every crevice possible. It all looks like ruin. There is a stone statue up ahead surrounded by what seems to be fountain full of stagnant water. The statue is that of a man, he had a mask on and a light saber angled down in his left hand. He was standing up and had his right hand out and the moss hung from the hand draping off of it. The statue stole my attention for a few breathless moments before I let loose the bated air. Walking past the statue I seem a path that leads to an old pyramid that had varying degrees of moss on the old stone the forest noise went still for a moment and on the current of air I heard "Yavin 4"
I scramble to my feet as I gasp for breath. Sweat clung to my face like morning dew to a field of grass. I take huge gulps of air greedily as I try to even out my breathing. Clutching my head to soothe the searing pain throbbing from there. Yavin 4? That's a planet in the Outer Rim… looks like I found my destination. Shaking myself back to reality as I shake each of the troopers signaling them that is time. We all nod to each other one last time before Grunt walks up to me and grabs my forearm for a shake.
"Stay safe out there kid, we'll tell Genera Fisto that you didn't want to come along but I doubt anything bad will come of it. To be honest this is a first. Not sure what the protocol is." Grunt looks at me with an confused face as I shrug my shoulders.
"I dunno either, but if they get all antsy tell them I'll meet up with the peace lovers in a year, there is somewhere I gotta go first." He looks at me with a questioning gaze before shrugging his shoulders realizing that's all he's going to get from me. We all move to our positions and nod to each other to begin Operation: Get The Fuck Outta Here.
Grifter struts up to the bars and puts on his most annoying grin on his face and presses his face in between the cells he looks at the two guards and his grin seems to widen when he see's one of them is as fat as a gamorrean pig. "Hey! Hey fatty! Yeah you that can't touch his toes!" one of the guards looked at his fatter compatriot and doubled over laughing hysterically. The guard who "Can't Touch His Toes" or guard C.T.H.T face got red with embarrassment and rage. He took altogether five seconds to think of his incredibly witty and smart retort which would forever go down in memory as Grifter's one true loss at insulting someone. His retort was sweet and simple, it was, "Shut up you… SLAVE!" The whole room went silent and until Grifter said in a flat tone of voice, "Wow, you really suck at this. You'd be better off coming in here and fighting me if that's what your insults are like." Of course this wouldn't stand with guard C.T.H.T such an insult would require a swift and harsh response. That response was, "Can it you little shit!" Grifter's grin couldn't get bigger, as if he was the cat who ate the canary. "Well sure compared to the shits you take I must be pretty little, how does it feel coming out? Must feel the same as what your little butt buddies push into you hmm?"
All laughter stopped there and in five seconds the guards were tripping over themselves to get to the cell. I smirked admiring the wittiness that Grifter had, god help this world if he ever reproduced. The guards finally reached the cell and within moments of fumbling for the key to the cell door the door was open. Rushing in to beat Grifter as he fell back towards the wall I waited for the one that doubled over laughing to reach my dark corner, in one quick move my hands wrap around his head and a snap is heard throughout the room. The rest of the group took it as a queue and the fatter guard was taken down within moments although he was merely knocked out. I search around the guard I killed and take everything valuable, his blaster, viroblade, comm link, and about 600 credits. Must've won them betting on my match. Smart man. Walking over t the clones I hand Twinkle-Toes the belt of thermal detonators before turning to the group as a whole. "Remember guys, two rights and a left. The wall is already crumbling, make it out, I wanna fight alongside you all again." receiving a symphony of good luck I ran off to the exit on the left. Getting into a crouch I advance slowly up the hallway and hear a group of people drinking. Peaking over the corner of the hallway I see three men all with their backs turned to me sitting over a table. Looking around I see a rock that could prove much use to me. Waiting for one man to get up from the table I use the force to lift the rock and draw the unsuspecting man to the shadows of the hallway. Backing slowly into the dark embrace of the hallway concealing myself I guide the brutish man towards me with a slight movement of the rock. He utters an intelligent 'huh?' before being swallowed up by the hallway. Unsheathing my viroblade that I picked up off the corpse I drive it through his throat and ease his body to the ground. I rush myself searching his pockets due to his absence may raise the alarm, not that the cones getaway won't. I find about another 200 credits, another smart man, and some clips of ammo. I look back to the group and debate my next course of action. "Awhh fuck it, they'll find out sooner or later. I need to get to Greaser before the clones escape." Pocketing my loot I push my hands out sending a wave of force sending the two remaining guards flying across the room. I run after them giving them no heed of when and where they land and pounce on the one on the left he just landed hitting his face into the wall. I give him no chance to recover and drive the blade through the back of his skull. Turning on my heel to face the other I see that he is dead with his neck bent at an awkward angle. The table must've slammed into his neck after he impacted the wall. Turning back around I search the first dead man and find only 50 credits and a computer spike. Hmm I'm no good with computers, but I bet this baby is. I completely bypass the other dead man not bothering to move the table to search him and continue up to the door. Greaser is right behind here… finally. Revenge. No.. justice. I feel a fire burn deep within me I pull out a blaster for my left hand and hold the viroblade in a reverse grip. I shoot the lock and the door springs open to see Greaser counting credits.
"W-what the!?" He sputters in shock before narrowing his eyes at me. "Rathe ehh? Well little slave it's time for your reminder. Again." He reaches for his slave ankle control, but I blast it out of his reach before pointing it at him. He throws his hands up in the air and shrieks, "GUARDS! G-GUARDS GET IN HERE!"
"They're dead Greaser, something they have in common with you." I pull my blaster up to shoot him in the head when he shrieks again and begins to babble about how he can give me all I want. After he mentioned woman a blaster bolt could be seen flashing up the room. A thud later and a smoking hole can be seen between Greaser's eyes. I rush to the slave ankle and press the release button and with a click mine and everyone else's in this shithole are gone. The whole place goes still before roars, howls, shouts, and more echo throughout the lower levels. Not ten seconds later the whole complex shakes with a giant boom and dust falls from the ceiling. The clones. Good, they better make it out of this or I will not haul ass back here to save them. I ransack his office and find much of value, so much that I let loose a giggle or two. Totally warrior-like though, yes a warrior giggle. I find an better quality blaster, looks like it belonged to the clones. It's got notches in them. I'll return it to them when I see them. I find codes to unlock a ship and a safe. A honest to god safe. Turning to his table for a key I pick up all the credits he was counting, 2,300 credits from just today's shows. I hope the safe holds even more. I find the key taped under the desk and turn back to the safe. Inputting the code the door opens with a loud clink, then clank and finally a creak. Swinging the door open I feel my eyes widen and my jaw slacken when I lay my eyes on 7,000 credits! But that's not else, there is no back panel. It keeps going on. I take out the shelves and crouch to fit in the crawlspace and continue along the path, using my stolen comm link which is being lit up with all the pandemonium down below as a poor excuse of a light. Although its need isn't for long because I reach a door with a small latch, wasting no time I open it to realize that my luck must really be chan- fuck. I'll pay for that later. But before me is a ship. A small junky one, but a ship nonetheless. It can take me to Yavin 4! I rush to enter the codes and the door to the ship opens up, with a groan. I run up the ramp and slide into the seat turning it to face the controls. Entering in the coordinates and firing up the engines I pause knowing that all I got to do is grab the controls and I'll be off this rock. I won't be a slave anymore. I'm finally taking control of my life. I pull up the controls and ship takes off before I rocket away. I breathe out a breath that I didn't know I was holding for the past four years.
"Finally, freedom. But now I gotta see what's up with that ruin. It calls to me and feels powerful. Power. That's something I need if I am to get anywhere in life… but power consumes. I must be strong enough to control whatever power I find there. It's the only way."