Chapter 9

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"Seriously?" Skye piped up as the companions were near the door of the apartment reading to head out. She was looking directly at Bastila as she said this.

The Jedi was genuinely perplexed.

Skye rolled her eyes. "Sith's blood you're as bad as he was wandering around in a hey fracking shoot me, I'm a Republic' orange bomber jacket. You have a lightsaber attached to your belt. You want to advertise to the bleeding Sith you're a Jedi?"

"I cannot leave it behind." Bastlia protested, "There is however wisdom to your words. I shall endeavor to conceal it."

"Conceal a double-bladed saber?" Skye shook her head, then she chanced to see Mission hovering close at hand.

"Alright, I got an idea about that. Mission, hand me the rucksack we've stashed the gear in."

The girl tossed the bag to her and she in turned handed it to Bastila. "Here sling this over shoulder and stash that attention getter in it."

"You want me to become a pack animal?" hissed the human woman incredulously.

"Oh, I do apologize. I forgot I was talking to a princess." Skye bent low as if in audience of true royalty. "Sling that god-damn thing over your shoulder your Jediness and get over your fracking ego. Mission, you're not using your sword, let Princess here use it until we're clear of this rock."

"Sure thing, Skye."

"I will not be spoken to like that. I am you're commanding officer."

Skye took two determined strides and practically pressed her body into Bastlia's. "I didn't go through all that crap just so you can have the Sith hunt us down like rakghouls the very moment we step outside this door. I've already had that experience thanks to Mr. Paranoia over there, and I'm not going to do that again.

"Everyone by now knows I won the season opener, and they know about the brawl, they also know I won some supposed Republic officer. What they don't know is you're Jedi. The one thing we don't want them to know! Now you're going to play the part of a slave, the slave I won. Now slaves carry their master's crap, so you're going to carry that bag and you're going to shut up about it.

"For the past week or so I made a reputation here. Some of the Sith even know by be my nom de plume: The Mysterious Stranger or MS, the area grand champion. And I'm playing on it. Banking on it. And when the Sith we face on the street see you there are going to be questions, they'll probably try and confiscate you. So, I'm going to lie, cheat and bluff my way out of it. But it won't work if you're being your normal snotty, stuck-up stick up your ass, Jedi Princess. Instead you are going to be a snotty Tarissian noble-born girl. Got it?"

Bastlia stunned by the bombastic barrage of words only nodded.

"Good."

'Skye, not to put fleas in the fur but what sort of slave has a sword?' Zaalbar asked.

"One that is also a bodyguard." came a ready answer. "You know maybe we should have gone with the mettle bikini after all. Bodyguard and body slave a perfect combination for the perfect cover story." Skye smirked playfully.

Bastlia took three steps back, her cheeks once blossomed red with anger she was trying ever so hard to cool now they blushed for a whole other reason. The twinkle in Skye's blue eyes made her stomach flip in a way it hadn't for a very long time. "I will play the part you want Ravensong. But I will not be you're toy. Remember I am still in command of this operation."

The slim smile that etched the Nagai's lips spoke for her. It said: 'Believe what you want Princess. We both know that isn't true.'

Once outside they were almost set upon by a green skinned Twi'lek. It was as if Ravensong had been excepting an ambush for she all but leapt upon the man like a Nabooan tusked panther and practically slammed the fellow into the facing wall with a skull-cracking thud.

"Vulkars are craven but I didn't think they were all so very stupid to attack me at my very door!" the scout hissed.

"I…I…" the man stuttered but he could make no words come from a suddenly parched throat. Or that could be that it was the slender blade pressed against it.

"Out with it man or I will cut out your tongue and have a listen to it as it wriggles on the floor at my boot heel.".

He handed in a shaking hand a data-padd. "I was order…ordered to give you this."

"By whom?"

"Can…" he swallowed hard and Skye eased up on the presser of her honor blade.

"Can? Can what?"

"Canderous Ordo, he works for Davik Kang. He…he wants to meet you as soon as possible."

Skye took the stepped back, sheathed her dagger and took the data-pad from green trembling fingers. She scanned the summons and smirked.

"Go tell Kang's Hound I will be there in my own time."

"But…but he said now…not to make him wait."

"In. My. Own. Time. Now be a good little boy and run off and tell the Hound what I said. Exactly as I said it."

The Twi'lik darted off swifter but with less sure legs than when he had arrived.

"Was that truly necessary? He looked like he was going to soil his trousers." Bastila chastened the older woman.

"Like I said I'm going to lie, cheat and bluff my way out of things. It's all part of the game."

"This is a game to you?"

"Isn't it? Don't get me wrong I take my life and yours very seriously. But if you don't approach all of this with the correct outlook then it seems hopeless daunting. Five against an entire Sith armada? We are not graced with the odds." She handed up the data-padd. "But we might just have found our ship. Kang's Hound says he as a deal that will aid us both."

'This Hound sends a messenger in his own place? Who wants to talk? Kang or his Hound?' Asked Zaalbar.

"From the looks of it, I'd say the Hound."

"Canderous Ordo? Wants to deal? Skye, he has a big rep in the Lower City. He's Kang's meanest, heaviest gun!" Mission exclaimed.

"And he's also a Mandie, you can't trust any of them. But damn it, he's probably our best bet off this rock." Carth added.

Skye nodded. "Let's go see what this Hound is barking at shall we?"

On the street, it was Mission so started speaking. "If we're leaving now to see Ordo why did you tell the messenger in your own time?"

"Because this Hound is a mandie. They don't respect the craven or those jump and obey simply because they were commanded to. Well those outside their own clan's military. We have never tested each other in battle. If I came as soon as summoned I'd never have his respect.

"If I rushed to Ordo's side simply out of fear of his reputation he'd believe I am unequal and unworthy. Even as a Blade I'd have no credible validation. The mandies respected Reven because she proved herself in battle both as a Blade and a Jedi. She was a worthy opponent, even feared. But most of all respected. I will wager all our lives this Hound was in that war. He might have been a squad that stood before the Revanchist and here comes another Blade…" Skye shrugged. "This 'come now' summons is a test to see the strength in my spine. And since he believes I command all of you it's a test to see if you follow your battlemaster or do you allow his dark brutal street-rep urge you into action against my orders."

Carth was about to blurt out she seemed to know a lot about the Mandalorians when intelligence hit him upside the head with a clue-by-four. Ravensong was a bloody scout of course she knew things about the enemy. That was her job.

As they got nearer the lift that would take them to the Lower City, Onasi and Mission both became slightly apprehensive. Neither one of them believed in Bastila's acting skills. They were going to be busted the very moment the Jedi opened her mouth. Her accent wasn't Tarissian it was Talravin.

Skye however turned not for the lift but towards Zelka Forn's clinic. If there was a question upon anyone's lips it wasn't uttered.

As soon as they walked in the ageing doctor greeted them from one of the lab stations. "Ah my young Arena Champion returns. And not limping or bleeding this time. That's a good sign."

"I'm not here for your healing arts this time, Doc. In fact, I'm here to help you." She opened one of the many pockets on her tac vest and withdrew three green phylacteries. I believe you can use these."

"Is that… rakghoul serum!?" His brown eyes widened in utter disbelief and awe.

Skye smiled. "Yep. Here you go. I figure there is enough there for you to animalize it and start synthesizing more."

"My friend! This is beyond words. Truly, I cannot thank you enough. I have little to spare to pay…"

Skye shook her head. "No way, Doc. It's time for karmic payback. You don't charge those too destitute to pay and those from the Lower City that can, you barely charge them at all. It's about time someone did something for you. Just take it."

The man was so jubilant he grabbed Skye into a mighty bear hug. "You have no idea how many lives this will save. Thank you. Thank you!" he let her go. "May your Night Mother smile favorably upon your path." he pattered her on the shoulder as a proud father might his child. "If you won't take some credits perhaps I can offer a discount…"

"Doc, it's a gift alright. I don't want anything. Look we have things we have to do. You take care, alight?"

"And you my friend. And you."

Bastila starred in complete wonder as the Nagai walked passed her and started for the lifts. It was only because of her Jedi training that she didn't start when Carth appeared next to her and began to speak once the scout was out of earshot.

"She's been doing stuff like that the whole time we're here. Jumping in to stop a guy being mugged, she put a stop to thugs shaking down people for Davik by outright killing them or using that silver tongue to make them reconsider their actions. She even put a stop to some poor Ithorian being bullied by some brats. The list goes on and on. She even helped some Twi'lak woman get a dancing gig, by dancing with her. She's becoming some sort of urban folk hero."

"I think it's great." Mission said, there was no mistaking the hero worship in her voice. "She's kinda like a non-Jedi Jedi. Now that you said she has the Force, I'll bet she'll make a great Jedi!"

Bastila found she wanted to agree but another part of her was wary. They had to get off this planet soon before anything more surfaced. The Masters must be made aware of the development.

By the time the rest of them caught up to their wandering leggy scout she was in deep conversation with two of the guards stationed at the lift doors.

"…I'm telling you she not an Orange Coat, just some trollop, daddy had to sell to settle his debts to Kang. Easy way to do that was to sell his darling little girl here to the Vulkers. Apparently, he had a few gambling debts to them as well. Brejik only said she was an Orange Coat to up his very lacking personality. That guy has all the charm of a swap rat not to mention the hygiene of a rakghoul. He needed help to sway the other smaller gangs to join him against the Hidden Beks. Saying he had an Orange Coat sweetened the deal. Come on you don't actually believe that a swoop ganger can be trusted to tell the truth, can you? They don't exactly have a stellar reputation."

"That's true enough." said one of them with a male voice.

"Believe me Yun, Miss Lavin here is nothing of the kind. I wish that it was so. I might have been able to buy myself off this rock by trading her to your CO. Alas it is not to be. Still, I'm going to have fun breaking her in though. Never went for slavery before but this shutta has it coming. Humiliating her is just the start…"

"If you want fun MS, why dally with a Tarsian sleemo when there is someone far more worthy and willing?"

"Hard to resist a woman in uniform Sarna, but unfortunately once I do get passage to leave, you can't come with me. The witless trollup can."

With the full sliver face mask on it was impossible to see the eyes roll but Ravensong imagined Sarna had done just that.

"She's got a point Saran. Alright MS, you can go, have fun down in that pit of Javannar's. Making the Lavin girl slum it, now that's poetic justice."

Skye bowed theatrically. That's me a bard of tragic irony."

'You don't know the half of it.' the thought slid into Bastlia's thoughts as a thief in the night.

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Bastila locked her arms in a fold glaring at Ravensong as they rode down the long length between the Upper and Lower cities.

Skye gave a stymied shrug, "What?"

"I don't like being called a witless trollup."

"I didn't mean it." Offered the scout.

"That was not what it sounded like." Bastila was still frowning heavily. "In fact it sounded like you enjoyed that whole farce."

"You're a Jedi can't you tell when someone is lying?"

"You're very good at it, and you're very convincing."

"That's sorta the point, isn't it? Sometimes you have to deal in half-truths and hyperbole and outright lies to get the mission done." Skye noted the subtle uncomfortable shift in Bastila's stance. She passed it off as an aversion to the scout's less than savory way of dealing with things, not unlike Onasi's. She continued to speak as if she hadn't noticed it. "It worked didn't? Yun bought it hook line and sinker. Even Sarna did, though I got the feeling she was a might jealous."

"You're on first name bases with Sith?" Bastlia asked clearly stunned.

"Sort of. And not all of them, just a handful and they tend to guard the lifts around here. Look, I'll tell you all about it later. The quick SitRep is that Cath and I needed to get our hands some uniforms. I found the easiest way to do it and did it. Why quibble over details? Be grateful they now think of you nothing more than a whinging witless Tarsian nobleman's' daughter. Being sold into slavery to cover daddy dearest gambling debts with the gangers was a risky lie I grant you, but obviously a believable one."

"It was a billable enough story but still did you have to use the adjective trollup? I am no such thing."

"You? Of course, not. But that nobleman's daughter? A complete slaten." Skye waved her hand dismissively.

Carth, Mission and Zaalbar wisely decided this was one conversation they best stay out of.

"And how do you know this?"

"Ah, because I made up her to be?" Skye became very puzzled. "Why are we arguing over it? You know, I'd swear you're jealous."

"A Jedi is above petty jealousy." Bastila said haughtily.

"Of course, they are." Skye teased. "Good thing there are no Jedi here right, or the Sith will swoop down and catch her up. Swooping is bad."

The others struggled to stifle their amusements. Mission failed and was smirking outright. It seemed no one was spared the Nagai's levity.

"If you made up that 'slaten's' name why did those Sith believe it so readily? They seemed to know the family name of Lavin."

Skye scratched the back of her neck and shifted her feet, mumbling. "Because, I sorta used a real person's name. But she totally had it coming, the insolent prig."

"One cannot be a slaten and a prig at the same time." Blastila pointed out. "What did she do, resist your charms?"

"Pft hardly. That witless wonder Gana, first mistook me for a waiter and then demanded I go fetch her drink for her. When I told her to bugger off I was no waitress she said her father would hear about my insolence and ran off. Then she hired two Rodian goons to kill me and Carth as we walked out of the cantina. After we defeated them she ran off to daddy once more. They way Yun bought it I'm sure she's done that sort of thing before, so maybe daddy had enough and rid himself of the nuisance once and for all.

"Besides does it truly matter what your undercover story is, just as long as the Sith believe it? So what if I made you out to be a trollop? The only thing that matters is that the bad guys bought it."

"True enough but I wouldn't count me slavoring you with kisses or giving you a lap dance any time soon Ravensong." Bastila narrowed her grey eyes, almost daring the Nagai to contradict her.

Skye smiled flippantly. "That's okay, Princess. Since you're not wearing that metal bikini where would I to put the credit chits, anyway?"

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Javannar's cantina was still the pustule piss-pot it was the first day they had entered its dank dark corners. Typical for a dive, Skye had frequented hundreds of them over her career but she doubted the Jedi had even stepped foot in such a place.

To her credit Bastila did not show her distain and there was no hint of her revulsion, but Ravensong swore she could feel it as clearly as if it were her own. The younger woman gave her queer look before she turned away quickly.

Seasoned eyes scoured the immediate area. No doubt the Mandalorian had positioned himself so he could see the main entrance as to spot their approach. She spotted him then seated at a table with his back to the wall as much as it was allowed and still who was approaching from the entrance.

He waved them over almost imperiously. He seemed to be giving them a once over, more than he had the first two times they had met. No doubt the first two times he did not see them as any one of note. Now however was another story.

As for Canderous himself he was intrigued by the motley crew. A Wookie male, a Twi'lek street rat, one puny human male, and two very attractive females: one human the other a Nagai.

It was the last that Canderous gave his attention too. She was tall for a female just shy of looking him in the eye. Of course, Nagai always seemed taller to him because they were so gaunt and lanky. They had elongated pointed ears and sharp angular features. Their hair always seemed to be more mane than not. At least Ravensong's wasn't unruly as typical of her people. Then again it was difficult to tell, seeing that she kept it tied back into a ponytail.

"I saw you in the swoop race. Very impressive. You seem like the kind of person who knows how to get results. Exactly the kind of person I'm looking for." the Mandalorian said in a way of greeting her.

Ravensong crossed her arms in front of her chest, and snorted contempt. "I'm no merc, Hound of Kang."

"So, you know who I am."

"Well you did introduce yourself in the Undercity or did the death of most of your men make you forget that part? You also told me the gangers were stupid to go against Kang's orders."

"You still got a tongue on you I see. And you've got a lot of spunk for a Blade whelp. But yes, I work for Kang and therefore the Exchange. The hours aren't great but the pay is good, and I don't have anything better to do. Mandalorian mercs like me are in high demand. As I said I need someone with your skills and mind."

"What are you talking about?" asked Skye warily. "And for the record I don't do anything that involves children or animals."

"Lately Davik hasn't been paying me what he promised. I don't like getting cheated, so I figure it's time to break the Sith quarantine and get off this backwater planet."

"I since a but in there." Skye said flatly.

"A big one." the merc nodded. "I have a plan to escape Taris but I can't do it alone. I need someone I know can get the job done and that's where you come in."

"Careful," warned Carth, "mercs like this don't have a lick of conscience. They'll betray you in a heartbeat. This could be a trap."

"I aint talking to you am I? I'm talking to your friend here," growled Canderous.

"When I saw how you won that swoop race," he continued "I started thinking. Anyone crazy enough to race like that is crazy enough to break into the Sith military base to steal the launch codes. Without them, any ship leaving Taris' atmosphere will be disintegrated by the Sith fleet's automated defense guns."

"Crazy is as crazy does, ehe?" Skye prompted. "And why should I do this?"

"Here's the real deal. Once you get those codes, I can provide you with the ship to make it off Taris. Davik's flagship, the Ebon Hawk!"

"Yeah just one problem with that Mandalorian, just how in the hell are we supposed to break into a Sith base. Even with stealth genitors we need to get through the door, slice into computer terminals that more than likely have firewalls upon firewalls that prevent tampering. One wrong slice and bam the whole bloody thing shuts down and the core locked."

"Right on all accounts. Getting in won't be easy: it has a top of the line encryption system. It would take a state of the art droid to slice through it. Fortunately for you, Davik was having one custom built by Janice Nall. Just tell her Canderous sent you and she'll give it to you. Normally I'd do this myself, but everyone knows who I work for. If I broke in, they'd send an army down on Davik's estate. That's why I need you."

It was their best shot. Hell, they planned to steal the Ebon Hawk anyway. It was according to Holden and now confirmed by Canderous the only ship capable of breaking the blockade.

The Nagai gave a glance to her companions, she read it in their eyes without asking. There didn't seem to be much of an option here. "Alright Canderous, you've got a deal," said Skye. "But I don't hand the codes over until we're in orbit." She took out her honour blade and much like she had with Gadon and Zaerdra she slid her palm against the edge of the knife and waited for the Mandalorian to do the same.

"I don't sense any deception from him, which is surprising. This may be exactly what we need," said Bastila hopefully.

"This help?" the large man said sliding his own palm against the knife's edge. The bargain had been struck. A blood promise made over a blade was as sacrosanct to a Mandalorian as much as it was a Nagai.

"I'll be waiting here in Javannar's. Once you have those codes, come find me and we can get off this rock." Said Canderous.

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"What is it with you and blades and blood?" Carth asked once they were outside the cantina.

"Maybe you missed the pointed ears, pale skin, and dark hair?" Skye said. "That should sort of explain things; if not go check an anthropological database that will clear everything up."

"You have a cheeky response for everything, don't you?" He asked

"Pretty much. Look, why you two go and get that droid from Janis, I've got something I have to take care of."

"You have 'something you have to take care of'?" Bastila questioned. "And what may I ask is more pressing than completing our current objective?"

"Nothing has more power or stronger than a promise kept. I intend to keep one I made to the Outcasts."

"What promise?" Bastila demanded.

"One I made to Grandfather Rukil of the Undercity. I'm going to return the journals to him."

"While that might be good sentiment we truly do not have the time."

"I made a promise." Skye said flatly. There was a grunt of approval coming from the Wookie. He at least seemed to understand the weight and value of keeping one's oath.

Skye took from Bastila the backpack, withdrew the three journals she and the others had found within the sewers then handed the pack to Mission. "I'll meet you back at the apartment." Saying nothing further she headed in the opposite direction of the others.

It only took a moment for Zaalbar before he too was trailing after the woman he had sworn a life dept too. A hairs breathe later Mission started to follow though Skye stopped her.

"No Mission, I want you to stay with those two. Keep the poachers off of them. Get a good deal out of Janis. You know how to talk the talk. Don't worry about Big Z, I'll keep an eye on him."

'I am not a cub Ravensong…' Zaalbar started to growl in protest then stopped as he received a pointed look from the scout. Ravensong's words were not for his benefit or lack of appreciating his skills but to put Mission at ease. 'We'll be back before long, Mission.'

"Yeah. Okay." the girl sounded deflated. She liked Skye a lot, she wanted to be with her and not the stogy old guy and the stuck-up Jedi. Skye was fun and she had a wicked since of humor. "But you owe me for babysitting those two."

"Deal." Skye clapped the girl on the shoulder. "Dinner on me."

"Okay then." the girl brightened up a bit. It wasn't until Skye and Zaalbar had gone from view that she realized Skye was always buying the meals "Oh! She shafted me!" Shrugging indifferently, she returned to Onasi and Bastila. "Let's go get this fancy droid of yours."

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An hour a half latter three dejected people left Janis's shop, "Two thousand credits. Can you believe it?" Carth complained. "I thought Ravensong sent you along so we could get a good deal."

"Two thousand is a good deal that droid is worth at least three times that amount. Canderous's name got us what we could. If you two play the bully human card, she might go down another five hundred but were still going to be two-fifty short." Mission said. "But Skye won't like it."

"Nor would I approve of such tactics." Bastila said. "We shall endeavor a way to find way to resolve this. Seven hundred and fifty short, surely we can devise a way to lay claim to such."

"There's always pazak. I can make at least a hundred if not a little more in the upper cantina. And if we go back down to Javannar's maybe another hundred." the little scoundrel offered.

"That's two fifty; we're still five hundred short." Carth pointed out. "Even if we sell the excess weaponry that still won't be enough."

"Wait what about the purse from the swoop race?" Basilia asked. "Surely there is enough."

"Afraid not. Remember? We traded it for your guaranteed release should any of the Beks or Ravensong win." Carth said. "The swoop bike she ran was had a temperamental experimental accelerator. We're just damn lucky it didn't blow she was on it. Knowing it could she made the Beks swear one of her blood oaths you go free and they get the purse."

"Yes, I recall Mission saying something about the prototype and blood oath. I hadn't realized she bought my freedom from the Hidden Beks."

"I wouldn't say so much as bought it as guaranteed it. Gadon seems to be an alright guy but if it came down to protecting his people over your freedom from the Sith, I doubt he'd hesitate and choose his people. I hate to say it Bastila but to him you're nothing but something to barter with."

"That's not true. Before the Sith Occupation when the Mandalorians held Taris he helped the Jedi Zayne plenty. You know the one that the Masters of the academy here blamed for the padawan massacre. Gadon even protected him and his buddy the Snivvian with the same name as my brother against a Jedi master. He wouldn't turn on someone he calls friend. He might even loan us the credits we need if you make him some kind of a promise to somehow pay the Beks back like food, medicine stuff like that."

"Mission, if they wouldn't help you rescue Zaalbar what makes you think they'll give us any more aid than they already have?" Carth asked.

"Because Gadon's a pragmatist, he stands to gain something." Mission said. "We should at least try it."

"It's worth keeping in mind." was all Carth said. "For now, let's head back to the apartment and meet up with Skye. She may have a few ideas of her own. We may well have to resort to the three of us playing pazak." the pilot gave a look to Bastlia. "Four if you're any good."

"No not really. I never cared for cards."

It was nearly three hours later when the door to their apartment sounded with the coded knock they had devised. Mission rushed the door and opened it to see Skye and the hulking Zaalbar behind her. He was practically looming over the scout as protectively as he did with Mission. The girl wondered if something had happened on their way back to make her Wookie friend so very weary.

When Skye dropped a few blasters on the table the answer was self-evident. "A few Vulkers decided to jump us." Ravensong explained when all eyes fell on the newly procured firearms. "There are a few less of them now in the lower city."

"No loss." Mission jibbed. "Sometimes you just have to take out the trash."

"Indeed." Came the Nagai. "Well all the Outcasts left for their Promised Land. Apparently, it's a one way trip. Purposely designed that way apparently to keep it safe and apparently hidden from incursion."

"Wait you are you saying those journals were genuine?" Carth scoffed.

"Every last word." Ravensong nodded. "Hopefully they can have a far better life there than eking out their minimalist survival on the fringes of society. Oh, and Dia had returned to her home in another part of the city. In all the commotion, I forgot to stop by and tell her Holden isn't after her anymore."

"Yeah I forgot about her too." Carth admitted. "Bet she was relieved."

"She was. Insisted I take payment for my trouble."

"Please tell me you took it." Onasi said plaintively, gaining odd looks not only from Ravensong but the Wookie as well. Seeing their expressions, he quickly followed up with an explanation. "We're seven hundred and fifty shy of getting the droid. Right now, we can't afford to be chivalrous."

Skye nodded. "Alright…so no droid. And yes to answer your first question I did take her payment, she was very insistent." Reaching into a pocket within her vest she pulled out a necklace and showed it to everyone else in the room. "An heirloom from her mother's mother. She pleaded for me to take it. I felt bad not to, so I honored her request."

"I hate to ask but how much is it worth? Can we sell it?" Onasi questioned.

"Probably." Skye said slipping the jeweled item back into her tac-vest.

"Then do so. It had no sentimental value to you Ravensong and we need all the credits we can get." Carth ordered.

"I'm not selling it, not yet. Not until I can figure it out."

"What's to figure? Its gaudy piece of costume jewelry…."

"No, it isn't." This response came not from Skye but from Bastila. "Skye let me see it."

The scout obeyed and took it back out of her pocket and tossed it to the Jedi.

"Did you feel something?" the human woman asked.

"Yeah, it was weird. Almost as if it was whispering to me, well to my body, not to my mind. It seemed familiar and a stranger all at the same time. "

"That's the Force. The gem in the center setting is actually a focusing crystal used in lightsabers, a bondar if I'm not mistaken." She took the steps needed to cross the room and personally hand the necklace over to the other woman. "You are right in not selling it, outright. Perhaps if we can remove the crystal and sell the gold, it will bring us something on the black-market."

The scout nodded her acquiescence. "You know about these things, you go ahead and perform your surgery on it, then I'll sell it." Sighing tiredly Ravensong spoke softly. "I'm bushed. I'm taking a shower, and hitting my bunk. As for the credits, I've got an idea. The last of the bounty's will payout big."

Mission frowned. "I've seen the dossier, Skye. That's Bendack Starkiller. He never leaves the Upper City cantina. He even has a room there because of the bounty on his head! How are you going to get him? You pull a blaster in there or your blades and the Sith silverbacks will stromtroop in!"

The Nagai only smirked. "I have my wily wily ways, Mission. Which is why I'm getting some shut eye."

'You mean to challenge him in a death match.' Zaalbar grumbled.

"Look at the bright side, if I lose, your life debt is a very short one."

Bastlia didn't understand Sheraroook nor did Carth but in hearing Skye's response they knew or at least very accurately surmised what his half of the conversation was.

"Skye, you can't do that!" Mission wailed. "Even if you took out Fido. Starkiller's…he's…he's good in a very bad way!"

"You mean he cheats." Skye said. "Well so do I. This is why I'm going to ask Big Z here to make a low yield thermal donator with a magnetic lock so it attaches to his armor. I sling that baby at him combined with a cyro-grenade and I'll have him. He's watched all of my matches. But he hasn't seen all my moves."

"This is insane even for you!" Carth yelped. "I can't…"

"We don't have a choice, Fly-boy." Skye cut off his rant. "Yes, it's a death match which means Ajuur will be forced to pay out a rather large purse. And then there's the bounty from Zax: double pay. We'll have all the credits we need to get the droid and then some. Especially if there is betting on it. Despite your protests, Onasi on the morality of betting on matches, do it on this once. We need a bet down that Starkiller dies, not necessarily that I win, but that he dies."

"A death match is not right!" Bastila said. "It smacks of the Dark Side."

"Good thing I'm not a Jedi yet, then isn't it?"

Bastlia glowered at the older woman. "That is no excuse to dabble in it. It is a dangerous path to tread Skye epically for someone as Force sensitive and with the raw power you have…" The human seemed to will compose into herself. "It is very dangerous."

"Then I will tread lightly." Skye said smartly. She leaned in close, whispering so only Bastila heard. "I am a servant of the Night Mother, Jedi. Apparently, self-righteousness allows you to forget your vows, but a Nagai never does. Ever. Even if the price is one's own soul."

Bastila pursed her lips but said no more. She could not even look the other woman in the eyes. She turned and reclaimed her spot on the other side of the room and sat down on the bed. Though no one heard the words whispered it was exceptionally obvious they had extraordinary weight upon the Jedi for her to react so.

"Skye, I'll place a bet for you." Mission blurted out trying to ease the tension growing between the two women. "I know a few bookies that will work with me" Mission offered. "I don't like it either, but like you said we don't have much of an option, here."

"You're underage, Mission." Carth pointed out. "You have to be eighteen, you're only fourteen. I hate it; I disagree with it but alright. I'll put down a bet, Skye." He knew that if he didn't the young Twi'lek would run off to her bookie 'contacts' and put down money anyway, despite his orders not to. She listened to Skye not him. If the Nagai wanted credits down on her match, Mission would make sure there was.

Ravensong's words suddenly echoed into his mind. 'Starkiller dies, not necessarily that I win.' Hold on. Hold on! "What do you mean not necessarily that you win, but Starkiller dies?"

"I thought it was evidently clear. I may not win this battle, but he is going to die nevertheless. It's difficult to escape the blast radius of an even a small yield thermal detonator. Starkiller won't leave the ring. I may not either. It doesn't matter the only thing that does is that Bastila gets off the Taris and back to the Jedi." Skye faced Carth practically nose to nose. "Our lives are nothing. Hers is everything. We will do whatever it takes to get her to them. That is our only duty, our only goal. Now enough, the die is cast we play the game as it is rolled!"

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Sleep came but it was not restful.

"Catar!" Revan uttered, her voice carried the sounds for a broken heart. "They've taken Catar!"

"Revan, calm yourself." Bastila softly counseled her lover. "If your mind is clouded by rage you cannot think clearly. You will give the Dark Side a foothold."

"I am thinking clearly emma lath. You think I go to war for glory? Then you are so very, very wrong. Battle isn't glorious, it's not beautiful, it isn't even heroic it is merely doing what is right. Even if you have to do it again and again and again until you bleed your soul out! I don't matter, none of us matter, they do! The innocents matter! I will do whatever it takes to protect them! Even if it is soul-price I will pay it."

"That is the Dark Side talking, you don't mean it!"

"Not the Dark Side, Bastila. It is the voice of a true Jedi! We mend the broken; make strong the weak, protect those that cannot protect themselves. We took the oath! I will not shirk my duty for the voices of the aged and cowering sages."

"The masters are not cowering. We must trust in their wisdom. You are a knight but you are no master! You do not hold their wisdom or foresight."

"Stay, then. You are still only a padawan and you are not mine. You have not yet faced the Trials. After you have faced the harrowing, perhaps you will be ready to do what is right rather what is easy. That is a decision only you can make padawan. I will take only the knights loyal to the oath they swore when their braids were cut. Knights like Meetra and Alek. And they in turn will take their padawans as will I will. We will go and do our sworn duty as peacemakers and protect the galaxy from these insidious maliciousness…soulless warmongers."

"This is hubris and folly. Beware Revan it will destroy you. I cannot be you're emma lath. Not like this." Emma lath. It as Nagai for my heart…it was a secrete forbidden endearment, but one Bastila once loved to hear, once loved to whisper. Now it was a curse.

Revan grabbed the younger woman and kissed her with all of her passion, her heart and her soul. It was the last kiss Bastila had ever tasted.

Bastila woke. The memory of the kiss still on her lips. Lips, she touched with the tips of her fingers. "Revan…" she whispered to no one.

In fear, someone might have heard her startled waking the Jedi looked frantically about but they were all sleeping. All save one. Ravensong. The scout was in what seemed to be a Jedi meditative trance. Bastila knew this of course not to be the case. Jedi do not mediate completely naked, nor do they utter words in pray. Before her were the scout's honour blades crossed.

Bastila watched in fascination she witnessed the ancient ritual take place. She had never seen a Blade cleansing ritual before but she had heard of it. Wine was poured over the honor blades before the finger tips ran the length of the blades, drawing blood. The blades were then taken in hand and allowed to drip the remnants of the Blade's blood into a vessel, one that also contained inks or dyes taken preferably from natural substances.

A smaller blade, a throwing dagger called the 'Voice of the Mother' was then dipped into the mixture and drawn against the skin in what the Nagai called the Vallaslin-blood writing. Crude yet beautiful tattooing to be sure and one of great sanctity.

Bastila watched as the scout drew the blade against her insides of forearms, marking her skin with blood an ink, all the while uttering words to the Night Mother the goddess of the Nagia people. To the Blades a vow must be fulfilled even if the vow leads to death.

Bastila recalled speaking to the Nagai scout briefly before the mission on the Endar Spire.

'Vow on your Night Mother you will see the mission through.' the Jedi demanded of the scout, standing proud and headstrong before her and the other Jedi in her company.

'I so vow!' And a blade was drawn against her palm.

'I should have known better.' Bastila chastised herself. She had committed the woman to this path. She knew that no Blade would betray an oath once given and she had meant to use that against the Nagai…against a legacy that was not Ravensong's but Revan's. 'I made her promise then I chastise her for keeping the vow. Oh. Masters, I have made a right mess of this.'

The sound of a very soft woman's voice lifted in whispered song touched the Jedi nearly causing her to openly weep if not for her Jedi control over her emotions.

'When you see the black eyes, even if you don't want to you will fall in sadness. If you have no strength just pray in whisper. The challenge is set by the last night. Death is not waiting it is pushing forward life. If there no more moon in the night sky just pray in whisper. Vows are made. Vows are kept the Mother of Night listens to whispered prayers.'

Bastila in her youth had learned the beautiful language of the Nagai just so she could secretly converse with Revan. Forbidden secretes of forbidden love were whispered in the Blade's own mother tongue. Once Revan had been …everything to the young Jedi's heart. She knew the prayer that Ravensong now spoke to her goddess. She had once even heard Revan sing it as it was meant to be heard, just before she faced the Trials to become a full knight of the order. When she asked what it meant, Reven smiled sadly and simply answered. "A prayer of the devout warrior monks of the Night Mother before they face a great challenge of body and mind. Think no more of it emma lath, put it far from your mind. I am a Jedi. Loyal to the Order I should not dally in a heritage that isn't truly mine anymore. A heritage I don't even recall I was only three when I was taken. Come our masters will be waiting for me."

Bastlia shook the memory from her mind and pretended not to watch as the other woman dressed herself.

Skye said nothing as she strapped various sheathed knives to her person a set of throwing knives to her forearms. On her calves were stilettos. Along her hips her honour blades, next to the holster of a blaster she rarely if ever drew. And across her back were the twin vibroswords she favored. Bastlia noted the Echani design of the blade but the hilts were Nagai. They were made to interlock so two blades became one double-blade sword. The Jedi knew the swords were something the scout had picked up here and adapted with either found or recovered mods to suit her needs.

When she had finished arming herself, Skye broke her fast with a high protean, high carb from the synthesizer to fuel her body for the coming trial.

Only after she had finished eating did she look at the Jedi. "I suspect you'll be staying here during the fight."

"Why do assume that?"

Skye didn't answer.

She didn't need to Bastlia already knew that the older woman was thinking. 'You're ready to reap the benefits of someone else dabbling in the Dark Side but you won't sully your hands to escape. Go on your little merry Jedi way and leave the dirty work to those who are willing to what needs to be done. And save your lectures for padawans.'

"Princess." The scout said at last as if that one word summed everything up

"You said Princess not Jedi."

"I've seen the Jedi who fought against the Mandalorians. Sometimes they got their hands dirty for the greater good. You're not like them. Stay here, stay clean." Skye headed for the door of the apartment. "I have a man to kill so you can get off this planet." She said nothing more as left the apartment.

Bastila moved to follow but did not leave. She placed a hand upon the threshold. 'I know more about dirtying one's hands than you could possibly know. It tears at me every time I look upon you.'

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The companions save one made their way into the arena. They were lucky and got near ringside seats. Mission was beyond anxious. It was just as she had been when she came rushing up to crying out that Zaalbar had been taken by slavers.

Zaalbar watched, measuring the woman he swore a life debt to. Carth like Mission seemed to be apprehensive. But why should he be? They had been in dozens battles now. Hell, she killed a rancor and rode a swoop bike that nearly blew up with her on it. This somehow seemed more visceral and Onasi could not say why.

Perhaps it had to do with Bastila. She had joined them in the area but as soon as she took her seat she closed her eyes. He half expected the Jedi to be berating Ravensong for this gladiatorial event. But she said nothing. Onasi wasn't even sure if she was aware of the announcer's annoying opening.

It took him a moment to realize Bastlia was deep in meditation. She was in battle meditation! She was going to help Ravensong defeat the Starkiller. But why? Ravensong was an exceptional duelist and once more she had thermo detonator Zaalbar made. So why would she need the Jedi's help?

Carth half expected Ravensong to bolt from her entrance alcove once the announcer had finished prattling on. But she made no such move. Starkiller was the first to move, two no three concussion grenades followed by volley of blasterfire. Most seemed to have missed their mark those few that hit became absorbed by the energy shields.

She sprinted forward, zigzagging ever faster towards the Mandalorian. The crowd roared, cheering at the apparent suicidal dash.

"She's going to do it!" Carth heard someone who sounded a lot like Kelba yelp in excitement.

"Shoulder leap! Shoulder leap! Shoulder leap!" the audience cheered the Nagai on. How they loved that move. The chance to see it now with true conciseness had the crowd in a lather a near full blood frenzy of excitement. Their chants became deafening.

Starkiller was expecting it. He spirited ahead making sure the Blade couldn't get the upper hand on him. If she didn't have the distance she couldn't gain the momentum and she couldn't make the leap. He continued firering even as he changed her. Most of his shots were going wild; many hit and skimmed her armor.

Skye dodged and jinked, leaping into the air, spinning around. He couldn't get a lock on her any more than she on him. All of a sudden, she skidded to a halt; she spun on the balls of her feet her back now to the enemy. She dropped immediately to one knee, one sword feel before her feet the other her drawn and pointing outward behind her body bracing for impact. A fraction too late, Starkiller realized his mistake. He barreled directly into the blade skewering himself on the sword with all the speed and force of his greater size.

Before he fell on top of her she tucked into a forward shoulder roll, taking the dropped sword with her. She meant to spring up spin around and behead the Mandi with the next instant. She never got the chance. Something stuck the side of her head. Hard. So hard, her left ear was bleeding. Her head ringing, her eyes blurred making her see triple.

Shaking the sensation, she forced herself to focus. Starkiller with a sword stuck hilt deep in his gut was so high on stims he didn't even know he was dead. His body moved not in lurching jerks but with the locomotion of a rabid gundar.

Suddenly her throat was snatched in a vice grip, her own instinctively clutched at the hand around her neck. He was still charging, screaming in rage. Skye felt her back collide with wall of the arena. The only thing that spared her from losing her wind was the fact she had exhaled before impact. He spun and her back hit the wall again and again. She couldn't reverse the grip on her throat; her whole body was numb from the continuous abusive slams. She felt her teeth rattle in her skull; she would not be able to take more. He spun meaning to ram her again up against the wall. She raised her legs, with draining strength and kicked outward with both feet into the pommel of the sword still jammed in Starkiller's chest. He screamed and dropped her. And fell to his knees.

Skye rolled away. Most expected her to have a blade in her hand, not a blaster. She raised the gun and fired two shots into the Manndalorian's head. He tottered forward and fell face first into the dirt of the arena. Skye staggered forward. The blaster still in her right hand, she lowered it, placed the muzzle directly against the back of his helmeted head and fired, twice more.

She couldn't even hear the roar of the crowd cheering and booing surrounding her. All she could feel was a great searing numbness. In what felt like slow motion she turned, holstered her weapon and went to retrieve her lost sword. The other was still sticking up like a mast in the body of her enemy.

The crowd was still shouting 'Mysterious Stranger' even as she emerged into Ajuur's court. Blood dripping from her ear, matting her long dark hair she looked every part the Bladed Demon of the Night Mother, from the legends.

"You will pay what is owed." She said in Huttese as soon as she stood before Ajuur's great form.

He laughed. "You will be paid the same price as all other matches."

"No." Skye snarled. "A death match warrants more."

"You will get paid noth…" He stopped the blaster pointed at him.

"You will pay what is owed. One thousand credits! Or I tell everyone your matches are fixed. Once more I will kill you, I will claim my purse and your cousin Zax will take over. Or maybe someone else will. I don't care. With the Sith blockade in place you have no power, slug. You are impotent! How long do you think it will take for others to figure that the Hutts on Taris are nothing but excrement to be scrapped off the boot?"

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Try me."

"Take your blood money and get out of my club! You are no longer welcome here 'Champion!'

Skye snatched the thousand-credit chit from a trembling protocol droid and marched out of the private club into the cantina proper. She was practically mobbed by her fans as soon as she was spotted. Her body abused, swore and bloody didn't deter them from wanting to touch her, buy her a drink or offer up sex.

The only thing that stirred the waves of people was a sudden and very loud roar of a Wookie. The sea of people parted and four newcomers came forward. Bastila and Mission reached Skye first. Gaining envious and near murderous looks from the fans, Bastila sidled up to the wounded scout and slid her arms around her waist.

"Come, we will get you bathed and fixed up," she said in a very passable Tarsian accent. Skye dumbfounded only starred at the Jedi. What astounded the scout more was the kiss suddenly planted on her cheek. "Zaalbar, let's get our mistress home."

There was a barking answer and with the crowd still parted the great Wookie and Carth lead the way back out of the cantina. They continued this way almost until they reached the apartment complex. Skye was still starring at the Jedi.

"Was that not billable enough?" the Jedi asked still using the Tarissian accent.

"Ah. Yeah." Skye said stupidly.

"It is not wise to underestimate a Jedi," Bastila grinned for the first time in a long time.

"Ah. Yeah. Dumb thing to do."

"I think that kiss knocked her in the head harder than being backhanded with the side that blaster riffle." Carth laughed.

"Is that what I was hit with?" Skye reached up and touched her throbbing head. Her skull felt of ten kinds of pain. Taking her hand down she saw it stick with blood.

"I fear you have concussion." Bastila said in a soft whisper. "And you're left arm is out of socket. We'll have to put it back in."

Skye nodded. Her head was still swimming. At least she knew it wasn't the little peck on the cheek but it was a fun fantasy. "I'm gonna need your help, Big Guy." she addressed Zaalbar.

'It will hurt.' he said.

"I know."

He moved to stand in front of her knelt and put his hands into position to pop her shoulder back into lace.

"Shades! Zaalbar, Mission's right. You do need some mouth wash." the next moment she screamed in chorus with the sickening cracking sound of a joint clicking back into place.

Her body shuddered in lancing pain, nearly causing her to black out.

"You can't." Bastila said. The words seemed to echo within her mind or perhaps they were said there first and echoed into her ears. "Here, this will take the edge off." Again, the words became a soft blanket surrounding her. Skye felt something go into her thigh and almost instantly the pain reseeded two more epi-shots followed.

Kolto swam in her bloodstream; Skye practically felt the miracle drug work its magic on injured and abused body. Only now was it safe for her to drift off. Only she didn't. She willed her body to stand, to walk. She wanted to wash the blood from her before succumbing.

Stumbling into the ensuite, she shed her blood-stained armour and the sweat soaked clothing and stood naked before the mirror. She started when she saw the reflection. The blood on her dark hair left a strange red and black pattern so likened to the death mask of the Revanchrist, Skye gasped to see it.

The blow to her head did more damage than she first thought if she is seeing shades of the dead Dark Lord in mirrors. "Bloody stupid Jedi kisses anyway." she grumbled teetering on unsteady feet into the sonic shower.

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AN: If anyone recognizes certain words in the Nagai vocabulary it is no wonder. Yes, it is Dalish from Dragon Age. And the prayers Ravensong/Revan use is from the song 'Rambler of the Slaves' from Divinity II. If you do not have the game youtube it under that title and you can hear it.