Chapter 23 - Out the Airlock

The Eravana

Edge of New Republic Space

"Jeez louise, how much more of this running do we gotta do!?" Poe exclaimed, "Are you sure we're going in the right direction?"

"It's your droid who's pointman," Finn replied, "and you need to get into shape."

"Oh gimme a break! I've had a terrible week!"

"So have I, so has Rey, and so has your droid. You are not special in this regard."

"I'm sorry, were you strapped to a table, beaten for a day and then had a Sith play Operation on your brain? No? Then shut up, buckethead!"

"You complain too much, flyboy."

"Oh my stars, Sydow is right!" Rey exclaimed, "It's like impossible for us to get anywhere without you two telling everybody else where we are from like two miles away!"

"Hey, I'm not one who's hollerin' over there, sister!"

"I'm hollering because you are hollering!"

"Would you two stop acting like children?" Finn growled, "It's getting on my nerves!"

"Yeah, you first, Mr. I-can-run-like-two-klicks-and-not-get-tired! Seriously man, that is not normal."

"Poe, I dragged you around a desert with little food and little water. This is easy in comparison."

"Tell you what, how about I drop the two of you on Tatooine and see how you like it?" Rey asked with a smile.

"Bring it," Finn grinned, "I'm not hiding."

"...I don't know what to say to that."

"What happened to that famous Jedi wit, eh Ms. Grease Monkey?" Poe laughed mockingly.

"Don't make me turn around and spear you in your knee caps!"

"Pff, that's like the second most common threat I get from most women."

"What's the first?" Finn asked.

"Um, that one's kind of obvious. Granted, I'm really not sure why, though. I mean, half the time that's why they're there in the first place, y'know? So why damage the packaging?"

"Like I said," Finn replied, "I would just shoot you and be done with it."

"And that's why you're no fun," Poe smirked while Rey rolled her eyes, "what? It's true, y'know?"

"Poe, you ever heard the saying 'Never laugh in the face of Death?'" Rey asked.

"Yeah, but it's 50-50 Death's gonna be a woman."

"Wait, you would actually try to seduce Death?" Finn asked incredulously.

"Well yeah? I'm gonna die anyway, might as well try."

"Would you try if she was a hag? Or some withered but scary old man?" Rey asked with a smirk.

"Ah hell no! I'm willing to alot of things… a lot of things I end up regretting later," he said quietly, "but I'd rather go to Chaos than do that!"

"Then stop tempting fate and-" Finn began before BB-8 came screaming around the corner, blaster fire chasing after him.

Run, you stupid meatbags! Run!

And before any of them could even react, they suddenly had a platoon's worth of B-1's in their face.

"Oh for-" Poe's words were cut off when as they raised their blasters and opened fire. Poe and Finn dropped, drawing and firing their weapons as Rey raised her saber and assumed a defensive posture, blocking and weaving in the blaster bolts before following up with a telekinetic shove that sent the front row flying. However, a sudden whine emanated and the droids were pulled right back down the deck plating.

"Oh you gotta be kidding me!" Poe cursed, "They've got magnetic locks!"

"Eliminate the Jedi!" the battle droids echoed as they advanced and fired in a steady formation, their blasters shooting from the hip, "For the Separatist Alliance!"

"And this is why you don't trust droids!" Finn roared as he pounced like a jungle cat, turning in midair and landing right in the middle of them. Under normal circumstances, this would've called for blaster and grenade work but that would've taken too long. They needed to get through them and get to the hangar as quickly as possible before more or them or worse showed up.

In this, his secondary option came into play, and as he rose, he ignited the lightsaber and immediately went into the attack, lunging into the midst of the droid formation.

The first thing that struck him about the weapon was its weight. Captain Phasma had been a tribal before a soldier, and as such had taught her students how to fight with weapons; in Finn's case, a long sword and mace. Though both hadn't been especially heavy, the saber felt far lighter and somewhat unbalanced. The weight of the saber was concentrated in the hilt of the weapon rather than at the head or along the blade.

This played into effect when he slashed at the droid in front of him, chopping it in half. However, he'd been used to the counterbalance and the resistance of contemporary weapons, and had put too much strength into the strike. The move served to put the blade into the floor and him off balance, though he quickly transferred this into a roll.

The droids to his front were preoccupied with his allies, but the ones in the back were already drawing their blasters on him. With this, he threw technique out the window and let the beast within out; lunging at the horde of droids with an animalistic growl.

He became a whirlwind of movement, slashing and thrusting at some, kicking and elbowing at others, throwing droids to the floor and blasting others with whatever came to hand. In a way, it was a physical release for him; a roaring river of destruction that he threw himself into gladly. Before, he had been minded by conscience and preservation for one reason or another. Here, he threw himself at his enemy with reckless abandon.

Suddenly, more droids came around the corner and were drawing a bead on him. He promptly grabbed a B-1, slashing off its arms in the process, and whirling around with it held at the neck. The droids fired into regardless, hoping to blast through their comrade to get at the meatbag.

Out of Finn's peripherals, he saw a droid he'd slashed in two push itself up by its elbows and raise its blaster at him. He moved, but not fast enough. The bolt struck him hard in the shoulder, pushing in forward into the advancing firing squad. Finn promptly transferred this moment into a roll, getting underneath their firing arc and chopping the legs off of three of them before he moved in and slashing a droid in half from the hip.

Unfortunately, the droids promptly changed tactics and decided to engage him in grappling than close quarters shooting. They swarmed and grabbed at his arms and legs, attempting to pull him to the ground. Though they had numbers and even weight, these were not experienced grapplers, especially with their shoddy footwork.

Finn dug his heels in, dropping his saber to give him both hands before he dropped low to the ground and kicked his leg to the side, knocking a droid off balance. Trapping its shoulder and torso, Finn heaved the battle droid over his shoulder and into the droid holding his other side. Falling over, Finn managed to wrench himself to the side, sending a push kick into it and launching himself backwards, landing on top of the droid hold him by the throat.

Though the effort was jarring on his back and sent holt needles of pain up and done his spine, the effect was enough to effectively 'stun' the droid, or more accurately send its shoddily build neural network haywire. Finn rolled off of him, diving for the fallen saber and activating it in while coming up on his knees.

He then heard the activation of blasters behind him and he quickly turned around, ready to lunge again into the maelstrom. Unfortunately, the maelstrom had a half dozen blasters pointed at him, and Finn knew he would never be able to make the leap before they gunned him down. As mechanical fingers squeezed triggers and the flash of crimson signalled his death, an amber lightsaber appeared in front of his face and threw the bolts back at their originators.

On his knees, Finn looked up to see Rey grinning at him, "Not bad, young padawan. Well, shall we?"

She then threw herself into the air, almost dancing in flight as she came down point first and skewered a droid in the rear formation. B1's hadn't been made for their tactical understanding, and were caught in a confused logic loop. Finn didn't mind though and took full advantage of it, chopping legs and heads in a great path of destruction.

As he worked through the crowd, he allowed himself a few moments to observe Rey's technique, and he was not disappointed. She was in her element; moving with rhythmic patterns more akin to a dancer than a fighter. Everywhere she struck and stabbed and blocked; never once standing still, always moving with the balls of her feet. Spinning and flipping and skewering in a dance of amber, she made a fine mess of the back rank as Finn finished the rest, tackling the last one to ground and slamming the saber into its chest up to the hilt, producing a satisfying electronic death note.

He allowed a sudden impulse of air, letting the fatigue run through him and out as he brushed away the perspiration from his forehead. Rey then offered him a hand and he took it gladly. When he did, he was met by a knowing smile and rather odd eyes. Yet, in a way, he understood their meaning in the fullest.

"Well, what a fine mess you've made," Poe muttered as he tiptoed around the twitching bodies, "very nice. Can I have a lightsaber, too? It's only fair."

"Get your own," Finn chuckled before he handed it pommel first to Rey. She looked at it for a long moment before she shook her head.

"Hold on to it for now. You might need it later."

Rey suddenly grasped at her head and gritted her teeth in pain. Finn and Poe grabbed her by her shoulders, bracing her, "Rey, you okay?" Poe asked, fearing the worst.

"I'm fine," she groaned, before she sighed in relief, "Ah, I don't believe it that monster is useful for something. He is eating the Ysalamiri. I am beginning to feel the Force flow more freely again."

"Wait, why is he eating those lizards?" Poe asked.

"Think about it, Poe," Finn replied, "they are able to repel the Force around them. By that definition, they are Force sensitive beings."

"Heh, bit of a tiny snack, don't ya think?"

"Well, if you're hungry enough," Finn then whirled around, "where's your droid?"

BB-8 came around the corner, Right here. While you fleshies been jawjackin' here, I went ahead and checked out our path. No more grandpappy stickmen with blasters.

"Oh great. I suppose that makes up for you ditching us when the stickmen starting shooting at us?" Poe scoffed.

Hey, you guys handled it fine. Besides, got to see Ms. Jedi overhear give us a show with them dance moves of hers.

"Y'know, I am really considering just pulling the map from you and turning you into scrap," Rey growled, "can I do that? Would you miss him?"

Poe shrugged his shoulders, "At this rate? Why not."

Nooo! BB-8 screamed in binary as he went running around the corner, I am too young to die!

"Does that droid ever shut up?" Finn asked.

"That would be like asking him to stop breathin-oh wait, he doesn't breathe. Computing?" Rey asked with a smile, "anyhow, let's get a move on, shall we?"

"Good thing that thing is a bit picky about what it eats," Han mouthed as he and Chewie watched the Terentatek feasting amid a corridor of corpses from the cover of their wrecked hovercar.

"'More like that monster has too much to eat right now,'" Chewbacca countered, grimacing as the Sith-corrupted Rancor sucked down the last of the visible ysalamiri, moving on to start chewing on a dead Wampa, "'So what now?'"

"We make it to the Raptor," Han told him under his breath.

"'Don't you mean try?'"

"Nope, either we do it or we don't."

"'Heh. You're starting to sound like Luke now.'"

"Yeah well, it got the kid far. Now, while that thing is busy munching, gimme a hand with that vent."

"'It's going to be a tight squeeze.'"

"For you, maybe. Should've listened to Mala and lost weight."

"'Har har. Just remember who got you this far in life.'"

"Yeah. Me. Now c'mon and give me a hand here."

They got about halfway through prying the vent housing loose when they heard the Terentatek moving. They dove back under the cover of the car, sliding in as far as they could as clawed hands suddenly appeared over the rim of the car and a long fragment of blood and intestines dropped onto the ground in front of them. They could hear its soft, probing hiss pass through them, sniffing the air and dragging his claws all along the car, producing a shrill grinding noise.

They held their breath, waiting to see what it would do. Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long.

"Damnit, Hevi! Keep it down!"

"You keep it down. I am not leaving Aayla here."

The Terentatek started to chuckle at this; a harsh sounding gurgle that echoed through the room as it slowly turned around.

"Oh hell. Hevi, your gun got us killed."

"Hey, Aayla can get us out of anything! HYAH!" and the sound of a rotary gun spinning up sounded down the hallway, followed by the dozen a second report of blaster fire at cyclic rate. The Terentatek let out a loud roar and charged.

"Now's our chance! Go!" Han shouted, and the two of them ripped the vent from the wall. Han climbed in first, dragging and pulling Chewie in next. Ironically, the haste of the moment proved enough for even the thick and wide Wookie to jimmy his way through the tight hole. Once they were up, they were running. Running amidst the sounds of fire and screaming behind them.

""I don't know about you,'" Cheiwe grumbled, "'but Sydow's boys don't ever seem to die."

"Don't say it."

"'I mean, you shot him and left him in the middle of space-'"

"Damnit Chewie! The man is not immortal!"

"'I'm just saying.'"

"Oh, so you're telling me he can get mauled twice and not go down? C'mon, even I'm not that lucky."

"'Tell that to Lando.'"

"Chewie, that was a matter of skill, not luck. We played the game of cheating and I won."

"'Still lucky you noticed that tail of his.'"

"Ah shut up. Hey turn here."

They came across a blastdoor, but before Han could move to open it, Chewie put up a hand.

"'Listen. You hear that?'"

"Yeah. Got your caster ready?"

"'Always. Got your blaster?'"

"Mmm hmm. Just like old times?"

"'Just don't get me shot again.'"

"No promises."

And they opened the door, finding a group of pirates and a larger group of droids trying to wrangle a collection of panthers, maru and a wampa.

"Oh fer piss sake! Would you gits keep them tangled!? The boss is gonna want them gift wrapped and pronto! What? What are you-oh bollocks."

"Evenin'," Han grinned as he drew his DL-44 and blasted the Corsair in the chest, dropping him like a wet rag. That set off the tinderbox as the Corsairs raised their weapons while also trying to keep the animals contained. It didn't work.

"Keep moving, Chewie!" Han shouted as he and the wookie ran and shot down the supply shaft; blasting droids, Corsairs and monsters alike. The Corsairs were quickly caught in a bind; moving to cover to fire back while desperately trying to keep their tangled monsters from springing loose and killing them first. Han quickly rectified the situation, diving to a fallen crate before rising to a knee and blasting the restraining collar on a wampa. The thing immediately went into a frenzy, affording the pair to sprint down to the hallway.

Han cursed when they reached the doorway, "Damnit, it's locked! I'm gonna have to jimmy it open!"

"Han, the last time that happened, Leia got shot! Do you wish for that to happen to me?"

"Just shut up and cover me!"

"Why did I give the you damn life debt?" Chewie growled as he ducked his head from an incoming blaster bolt, dropping to his knee and returning the favor with a bolt to the chest, sending the Corsair flying back several yards, "All you do is get me shot!"

"Would you've prefered if I left you and your family on Mimbaan? What, do you suddenly want go back to living in chains? I will drop you off at the nearest pound, then."

"Bite me, Solo."

"Nah, how about you shoot that giant lizard running at us!?"

"Oh shut up and let me do my job!" and Chewie downed it with a bolt to the head.

"Oh can I? You keep trying to tell me how to do mine, so it's only fair!"

"Y'know, I thought you settling down with Leia would mellow you out. It didn't. It made you worse!"

"Says the wookie who lets his woman boss him around the house!"

"Hey, I'm gone most of the time, so it's only fair!"

"Excuses, furball! Excuses!"

"Shut up, pink skin! I'm not the one who got us hunted around the galaxy for five years!"

"Actually, yes you are! You're the one who talked me into staying with the Rebellion! You and that stupid green muppet you keep yammerin' about!"

"Oh, you best be glad Yoda's not alive to hear you say that!"

"Pfff, way Luke says it, the fool died in his sleep after 900 years. Not me, I'm going out in the Falcon with a bang!"

"Yeah, sure thing, Mr. Drop-the-cargo-at-the-first-sign-of-trouble."

"It was either take the hospitality of the Empire and deal with Jabba, or just deal with Jabba, and besides it all worked out in the end."

"And Leia got a nice bedding costume because of it."

"Oh shut up, and shoot that Reek charging at us!" Han exclaimed. Chewie swung his head back around, his body tensing and adrenaline pumping through his veins, supercharging his senses as the tri horned beast barreled its way down the corridor. His hunter instincts took over, knowing that he would get one exact shot off before the thing closed the distance.

Chewie shouldered his bowcaster, aiming carefully and adjusting for the beasts swaying head. Then, after taking a slow and controlled breath, depressed the trigger, sending the small hunk of metal down range at supersonic speeds. The bolt struck the beast clean through the eye, and as the beast gave its death cry, Chewbacca growled, "Han-"

"I see it," and Han tackled into Chewbacca, pushing them both of them out of the way as the Reek continued its cadaveric charge. Sliding to the ground at the last few seconds, the several ton bull slammed into the blastdoor with a sickening crunch, caving in the entire superstructure under the weight of its dead body.

Han grinned and patted his life long companion on the head, "Nice shooting, buddy. Now let's get the hell out of here."

It should be just around this here corner! The hangar should be… right behind this locked door, BB-8 pulled out his console socket, this'll take me about a minute.

"We could just cut it open," Finn pointed out. Rey shook her head with a grin.

"Or I could just do this. Stand back," and she reared back her arm, palm open and fingers pulled back. She then shot her hand forward, sending a concentrated telekinetic strike that smashed through the lock holding the door in place, producing a fist sized hole where it used to be. She then put her hands together like she was going to clap, and with the motion of pulling them apart, the door opened with a loud screetch, producing sparks as they were forced apart.

Rey let out a breath and smiled gingerly, "I miss doing that."

"Y'know, there is such a thing as using a handle," Poe pointed out. She scoffed and shook her head.

"Who needs a handle when you have the Force?"

"Okay, Miss Snippy Jedi," Poe countered, pointing ahead, "what are we gonna do about that?"

Ahead was the Emerald Raptor, reparked with its front facing them when Han had it moved for repairs. And in front of it was yet another burly brawl. This time, the belligerents were a collection of Varactyls, Maru and a smaller Dragonsnake that had all rallied behind a very large and very angry Acklay, which had a large pike sticking out of its shoulder and was covered in blaster burns.

A large contingent of dorids and Corsairs had surrounded the beasts, using shock staffs and balster fire to slowly corral and contain the collection of monsters, carefully keeping just out of reach other claws and fangs, though a few were not quite lucky and were either bludgeoned and sent flying or in one case, chomped in two by the Dargonsnake.

"Yup, that's a problem," Rey said in a whisper as she and everybody else dropped to their knees, staying out of sight, "so, what you think? Tiptoe around them?"

"Maybe," Poe shrugged, "it's a long way though, and there isn't a whole lot of cover."

"I say we make a run for it," Finn offered, "besides, it's either shoot at us and potentially let those things loose, or not. In either case, if we can get aboard the Raptor, we could put its guns to use."

"Okay, that sounds good," Poe nodded, "but it might also help if we had some kind of distraction before we run in. Rey, do you think you could maybe chuck something or drop something on 'em?"

"I dunno, there's not a whole lot for me to chuck or drop. Maybe one of those hangar lights, but-"

"What is Solo and the Wookie doing?" Finn interrupted, pointing ahead to the pair sneaking through the hangar.

"Are they…? Oh, they're going to run that gravcart right into the middle of them," Poe smiled, "well, there's are distraction. Should make quite a commotion."

"Should," Finn nodded, checking his weapons as he did, "alright, we move on them. Ready?"

"Always," Rey replied as she gripped her saberpike tighter. Then she froze and went deathly pale. Poe noticed this immediately.

"Uh oh. Where is he?"

"Right behind us."

This was followed by a loud and deafening roar that echoed throughout the hangar. The result was everybody and everything turning in its direction, right as a gravcar accelerating at high speed came hurtling towards them.

"Oh hell! Move!"

The car ran right into the middle of the lot, scattering them as they all dived to get out of the way, especially when its cargo of heavy crates spilled out onto everything caught in its path.

"RUN! GO!" Finn bellowed, and they ran like their lives depended on it, not even bothering to trade fire with the Corsairs. There was another roar behind them, much closer this time. It was coming their way. The Raptor was now fifty yards ahead, with Han and Chewie running to meet them.

"Glad to see you're still kicking, Little Krayt!" Chewie barked cheerfully.

"Tell me that after we get the hell off this ship and away from that thing!" Rey replied, doing everything she could to keep her composure. She could feel the Terentatek in the Force, just it could feel her and it filled her with such terrible dread that she was ready to curl into a ball.

Han felt this within her. It was an instinctual understanding, something only parents possessed. He gripped her tightly, whispering, "Just a bit further."

"Please tell me your droids worked on the hyperdrive while all this crap was going on!" Poe exclaimed. Han shrugged his shoulders.

"Should. Guess we'll see."

They were within twenty yards of the Raptor. Then twenty. It almost seemed to purr at their approach, as though it had been waiting an eternity for them with an eagerness. Then, they heard a much different kind of purr. It passed through them like a cold north wind, and they all turned around just in time to see Terentatek rend apart the blast doors with a shrieking groan.

"Jeh-dai…" it hissed at them as it slowly began to push its way through the opening, smooshing over the corpse of the Reek.

"Run!" Han shouted and he group wasted no time in bolting. As they ran, the pirates began to fire towards the entrance the hover car had come from, the roars and reports of blaster fire hitting their target ringing through the hangar. Rey's head pulsed like a drum as they got closer and closer. Fifteen yards, then ten, the sounds of metal being crumpled and the roars of battle filling her ears.

But once they reached within fifteen feet of the open ramp, Rey stopped with a shuddering breath, pulling everybody back with a telekinetic pull and sending them all to the ground as the carcass of the Reek flew over their heads and slammed right onto the ramp with a dull thud, barring their way with a several ton obstacle.

"Oh you gotta be frickin' kidding," Han grumpled as everybody rose to their feet, turning to find the predator not only through the door, but standing not thirty feet from them. It was glaring at them with a ravenous glean in its eye, like it had just stumbled into an all-you-can-eat-buffet. It grinned, its white fangs sparkling in the light as it spreads its arms wide, hissing all the while.

Chewbacca was the first to react, firing a bolt right into its chest, roaring his battle cry. The Terentatek howled in pain, its spell over them breaking and now all their blasters were drawn and firing. The bolts peppered the hardened armored scales of the beast, smoke emanating from its from; its arms raised to shield its face as it charged.

"How the hell did you Jedi kill these things!" Poe screamed as they all dived for cover, the beast running past them and into the hull of the Raptor, leaving a dent in its wake.

"Every fifty years we went on a great hunt!" Rey screamed back as grabbed a shipping crate with the Force and threw it at the monsters legs, tripping it over, "But that was back when there were thousands of us, not hundreds!"

The Terentatek responded by throwing the crate right back at Rey, forcing her to somersault into the air to avoid getting pancaked. However, another crate was sent her way, this time its doors opening and spilling out its cargo of boxes and satchels in her face. The barrage struck her everywhere at once, pelting and knocking her hard into the metal floor, buried beneath the weight.

Grinning with mad triumph, the beast bagan to prowl towards her when it was knocked on its rear by bolt to the head. Running, Han and Chewie began unleashing everything they had into it, and though hurt, all the Terentatek had to do was curl up into an armored ball and then kick out with its haunches, sending an avalanche of crates their way.

"Chewie, look-" was all Han could get out before the two of them were buried beneath the storm of steel. Across from them, Finn groaned as he rubbed his head. He must've hit something when he fell over.

"Leave her alone, you bastard!" he heard Poe scream, punctuated by the discharge of his blaster pistol and the foosh of a flamethrower. Pilot and droid were playing a deadly game of tag, circling and pelting the the Sith Rancor with plasma and fire, all while rolling and dodging it throwing whatever came to hand.

Suddenly, it ripped a pipe out of the wall, hot tibana hissing out and turning its carapace black in the process.

"BB-8, don't!" but it was already too late. The droid charged at the Terentatek, throwing fire and now electric bolts into it. The Terentatek responded by swatting him away with the pipe like a cricket bat. BB-8 ping ponged off the ship hull into a crate, lying in a dented heap on the floor.

"BB!" Poe screamed. The rancor grinned maliciously as it threw the pipe like a boomerang, slamming into Poe and putting him hard onto the floor. The Terentatek now seemed to be somewhat confused as it shifted its gaze between the now buried Rey and Poe, almost as if it was deciding which one it wanted to drain first. It never got the chance to decide.

"Chew on this!" Finn roared as he leapt onto the monster's back, his sapphire blade ignited he plunged deep into its body. It let out an shrieking cry, that caused all those nearby to wince, and it thrashed about, trying desperately to throw Finn off of it. Finn however deactivated the saber, dropping and rolling to the floor as he then slashed at its legs and across its knee. Enraged, the beast swiped its oversized talons at him.

Finn however was no stranger to fighting foes much bigger than him, and he put his training to use. He leapt backwards, drawing his blaster rifle as he slid across the floor, then rolling to his side as he began firing short and controlled burst. The Terentatek leapt after him, slamming into the ground and leaving a small impact crater, just as Finn leapt away again.

The Terentatek then grabbed another crate and threw it at him. Instead of trying to roll away, Finn rolled towards it, igniting his saber as he did. The crate sailed over his head, and Finn took advantage of porous metal floor that allowed him to slide right between the beasts legs, slashing and stabbing as he went. The beast roared, turning around and kicking Finn as he tried to roll away again, sending him flopping across the room.

Before the beast could move on the downed prey, it felt another approaching from its side, and it gave a disgusted hiss. No, not really prey. More like an insect that wouldn't die. The Terentatek turned to find an assemblage of pirates with their guns pointed at him.

At their front was the pirate captain that now twice had survived being mauled by the Sith Rancor. Granted, it was doubtful he would survive a third. His armor was torn, his clothes a mess of blood turning them a near black, and his helm had been broken with a deep fracture on one side, showing a manic smile beneath it.

"That's right, spooky," Sydow's smile grew longer, "I ain't so easy to kill. Let's find out about you, shall we?"

And he then shouldered a rocket launcher and fired its munition, sending the beast flying backwards in an explosion that left it a smoking, charred wreck. The Terentatek however, would not die. With a blood curdling hiss, it rose to one knee, starring with murderous intent at the pirate captain. He just grinned even further.

"Hand me another rocket, Mr. Finnigan. I'm going to cook this marvelous beast fine rare."

The Sith Rancor bared its teeth and sent itself forward in a barrelling charge, this time moving on all fours. It had enough of these barely edible insects getting in the way of its real meal. It leapt into the midst of them, proceeding to rip and tear at its prey.

"Ow!" Poe groaned as the badly beat up BB-8 helped him lift the pipe off him, "I think I might've busted a rib or two."

Y'think? BB-8 replied, his voice coming out warped and a little distorted, you look like hammered crap.

"So do you, agh," he rose slowly to watch the carnage from afar. The Corsairs were hitting the beast with everything they had, using trolleys and carts to keep their distance. However, the Terentatek was a fast beast, and overturned quite a few of them, smashing and consuming anything unfortunate enough to get into close quarters.

I don't think we can kill that thing! BB-8 squeaked.

"We don't need to kill it," Poe replied with an iron determination, "we just need to get him off this ship. We'll go with your idea."

How are we going to get him next to an airlock, let alone throw him out?

"I have an idea, but it's a bit crazy and we're gonna need Rey for it."

Across the room, Rey stirred from beneath the pile of detritus she'd been buried beneath. Pain radiated throughout her entire body, like it had gone nine rounds in a boxing match. She was then away of said detritus being moved, and in a moment, Han Solo pulled her from the mess.

"You okay, kiddo?" he asked tiredly. She nodded slowly, feeling a sharp pain in her neck. She looked up, and her heart sank to see the current situation going more or less the way it had been since she'd been knocked cold.

Han then shrugged her shoulder, "Dameron's got an idea of how to get that damn thing off the ship. But we're gonna need your help."

"What can I do?"

"I need you to manhandle that Ackley over there."

A tired smile crossed her face, "Well, it's been a while, but I can certainly try."

Finally, the Terentatek had found a worth opponent among the insects. A burly Besalisk, strong for its species, had not hesitated to engage it in hand to hand when the Sith Rancor had torn its blaster cannon from it. Assuming a boxers stance, the Besalisk had bobbed and weaved under its assault, slamming his four fists repeatedly into its face and staggering it back several steps. The Terentatek wiped blood from its lips, and smiled.

It would enjoy taking this beasts life. With this effort, he struck forward with a single powerful punch, sending the Besalisk hurtling backwards into a wall, caving it in. It then leapt upon him, and proceeded to slash on his arms off with its taloned paws before picking it up and slamming it into the wall again, preparing to chomp off his head. It was then that it heard it: the roar of a monsterous challenger, and from the sound of it, the Rancor knew what it was.

The Terentatek dropped the Besalisk, and turned to face the approaching Acklay, the green crustacean shrieking at it aggressively jutted its two front spiked legs aggressively at it, leering its long tongue its way. The Terentatek peered curiously at the beast, feeling something strange about it. Then it turned its gaze to the right, and saw why.

"Jeh-dai…" the Rancor hissed with a manic smile, but before it could do anything about the puppeteer, the puppet attacked. The Acklay struck forth with its legs, punching holes into the deck plating as it tried impaling the beast again and again. The Terentatek shuffled back, dodging each of its strike before it grabbed the Acklay's leg and pulled it into its mouth, chomping down with a sickening crunch.

The Acklay shrieked in utter pain before it decided to return the favor, reaching its long down and chomping into the Terentateks shoulder. The effort made the Rancor release the Acklay's leg, and the crustacean did not hesitate to buffet it aside and then skewer it through chest. Blood splattered from the wound as the Sith Rancor was forced to its knees. Yet despite even this, it refused to die!

It grabbed the Acklay's leg impaled in its chest with both paws, using it awesome strength to literally lift and throw the thing away. Crumpling onto the floor, the Acklay struggled to get up with its wounded leg, allowing the beast to start hurling objects at it and keep it down. The Acklay wasn't in any hurry either, its gaze looking dull and confused.

Across from the action, Rey sat crossed leg; her face pouring with sweat and her eyes closed as she hissed through clenched teeth, "It's… fighting me! I can't…" then the rest of her words died with hyperventilated breaths.

"Chewie, get that thing off the Acklay!" Han shouted, "Dameron, Finn! Get the airlock ready!"

At the sound of his voice, several of the Corsairs raised their blasters and began firing on his position. With a curse, one of the pirates was knocked to the floor as Sydow growled, "I do not pay you lads to be stupid. Especially you, Mister Cyaz."

"But Boss, they're right there!"

"And so is the monster. Tell me, which is more a threat to us?" he then pointed across the room, "That fool of a smuggler actually has a good plan, for once. Now, drive that beast towards the airlock!"

"With pleasure, boss!" Hevi roared in tandem with his rotary cannon, "AHH! Aayla is hungry!"

Under the torrent of fire, the Terentatek was forced to curl into a ball again, slowly retreating step by step. Rey let out a breath, the Acklay now rising to its feet and charging into the turtling Rancor. With a great heave, it tossed it backwards, rolling it like a ball towards its destination. Then everything went horribly wrong as Rey's eyes suddenly snapped open, her body petrified to the spot, her mouth agape and unable to breathe.

"Rey, what's-" and then Han saw it. The Acklay had stopped moving, and then a moment later it collapsed onto the floor, the Terentatek holding its bloody head. Rey in turn fainted, collapsing on the floor.

"Oh come on!" Poe exclaimed.

"Drive it forward, lads!" Sydow shouted, "Drive it out the airlock!"

But before they could make good on their efforts, the Acklay's corpse was sent hurtling at them. It crashed not only into them, but into the collection of shipping crates behind them, causing the whole lot to cave over and create an avalanche of metal. Han promptly scooped up Rey and hoisted her onto his shoulders as the metal storm came hot on his heels, running harder than he'd ever had even as a young man.

As another of the crates came to crush him, he dolphin dived forward, the effort damn near throwing him into unconsciousness. Through the sudden pain engulfing his chest, he fought his way back to his feet, checking the still unconscious Rey when he felt the chilling sound behind him. The Terentatek was prowling forward over the debris, grinning with a cold satisfaction.

"Jeh-dai."

Han drew his blaster, snarling, "Over my dead body, you son of a-"

There was a loud roar and the Terentatek was sent sprawling over onto the hard floor. Then he was struck again, and again, rolling backwards as Chewbacca marched towards the monster, firing his bowcaster from the hip.

"Chewie! Get away from that-"

"No more!" Chewbacca snarled, "Do you hear me, you abomination!? No more!"

He poured round after round, knocking the monster back step over step towards the airlock, its front being turned black with the no doubt hundreds of blaster wounds marking its body. Then there was a loud hiss, a cycling noise, and the fire stopped. Chewbacca cursed, ejecting the cartridge and reaching for another on his bandoleer.

He knew however that reloading a bowcaster was a time consuming operation, and the Terentatek was getting right back up. In his mind, the wookie knew the beast would be upon him before he had time to reload, but it did not scare him. He was instead filled with a terrible rage, a primal calling deep within his bones like a wolf trying to tear out of him. He put aside his weapon, and with a blood curdling roar that reverberated throughout the hangar, Chewbacca bared his fangs and charged.

Finally, the Hunter was unleashed. The wookie slammed into the Terentatek like a mag train, knocking the wind out of the product of eldritch magics, and with a great roar, lifted the creature off its feet and tackled it through the hangar. Pulling it up by his legs, Chewie pushed and shoved the beast closer and closer to the hangar door.

The Terentatek roared as it tried to stop the overzealous wookie, raining thunderous blows on the wookie, but Chewbacca wouldn't be deterred easily. This thing had hurt his best friend, and tried to kill the human he considered his niece. Nothing short of death was going to stop him.

"Chewie!" Han shouted, his muscles tensing every time he saw the Terentatek land a fist, claw, or elbow on his companion. He couldn't risk trying to take a shot, as he was damn sure he'd hit Chewie first. Finally the Terentatek manage to plant its feet, and rotate so Chewie's momentum carried him past it and around. Chewie skidded to a stop, then with a mighty roar and with the full rotation of his body, slammed his fist directly into the temple of the Terentatek head causing the beast's head to snap to the side.

The blow had been jarring, and for a moment the Rancor had been stunned. With this, Chewbacca hefted the several ton mass like a strongman and threw it forward, right into the now opening airlock.

"See ya later, ugly!" Poe exclaimed as warning lights sounded the opening of the outer doors, the void shields dropping in the process. As Poe and Finn strapped themselves to the wall, vacuum started to seep out with the onrush of air, dragging the Terentatek backwards right into the the opening. Soon, it would be pulled out into space. The beast however had other ideas.

With its tremendous strength, it lashed out with its claws, digging into the plas-steel walls until it finally grounded to a halt. Then, with purchase, it leapt forward and dug it claws further up the airlock, slowly but surely pushing its way through.

"Finn!" Poe exclaimed, "Close the door on this side!"

"What does it look like I'm doing!?" he shouted back, the warning lights finally flashing above as the doors began to slide close. Before they could, the beast shot its hands forward in a wedge, grabbing onto either doors, pulling itself forward as it pried them open in the process.

"Oh, would you just give up already!?"

"It is too stupid to die!" Chewbacca roared as he slammed himself into the Terentatek with a flying tackle. The Terentatek flew backwards, only holding on with claws pressed against the doors; its weight causing the metal to start bowing in.

"Fall, damn you!" Chewbacca growled as he threw a haymaker into the beasts face, followed by another. Then to his horror, the Terentatek launched its face forward and chomped down onto the wookie's extended arm, biting just below the elbow. The teeth sunk deep into the flesh, pulling but not tearing. After all, this was now the beasts teather.

With a howling scream of pain, Chewie braced his feet against the door and tried to pull himself away but the Terentatek just sunk his death further, blood pooling and being sucked out into space. Finn and Poe grabbed onto the wookie, trying desperately to prevent him getting sucked into space along with the Terentatek biting his arm. Still, it was a losing battle as the doors continued to cave in.

All of this flashed in Han Solo's mind as he and slid across the hangar bay, landing feet first against the wall, clinging onto Finn as his mind raced on how to save his friend. He immediately considered taking his blast and shooting the thing in the face, but he shook his head. The terentatek had shown itself to be insanely tolerant of pain, and its stubbornness was just a bonus. It would not let go, especially if it could take Chewie with it.

Han's eyes met Chewie's, and he nodded once.

"I'm sorry for this, buddy," and Han immediately grabbed the lightsaber hanging from Finn's belt and ignited. With a howl of pain and a flash of sapphire, the Terentatek flew out the airlock, taking with it a large chunk of the doors… and Chewbacca's arm still clamped in its teeth.

Han and Chewie fell in after it, but the void shields came up with seconds to spare followed by the outer doors. With a loud and painful thump, the two career smugglers bounced off the shielding, slumping onto the floor with audible groans.

"Air Cyclation complete," the PA system announced, "normalizing pressure."

"Chewie," Han groaned as he felt for his friend, "you okay?"

Chewbacca felt for the still smoldering stub. Despite the intense pain, he didn't show, and allowed a tight smile, "Had... worse."

"Get you a new one," Han grumbled.

"Long… as it's made… good Kashyyyk Wood."

"Ain't you picky?" Han managed a tired smile, "I dunno about you… but I'm getting way too old for this."

"Thinking… of… retiring?"

"...nah. Let's get the hell of this boat."