"GOT CHA!" I LEAPED ONTO A RUNAWAY SQUID and barely held it down by one of its slimy tentacles. It hissed under my grip and actually tried to bite me. I stood back up and tossed the creature off into the green net. The boys held the net outside the door because we knew after a while it would get too big to fit through the door. Gamergirl guarded the door from any squids trying to make a break for the door.

"What species are these things, anyway?" Abdella shivered as she dropped another squid into the net along with mine and the others

ShadowMaster77 grunted, "Who cares, I just want to know why we can't kill them." The guys tried to hold up the net up, but struggled against the fighting squids, "It'd be a lot easy to keep them in here if they weren't alive."

"We need them alive." I answered. Chasing after another hissing squid, I caught it and threw it to the pile, "These things are going to help us take the ship."

"You're insane, Miss Kale." Sithlord8665 groaned as she as well had to help with rounding up the last of the squids.

I nodded, "So what the doctors told me." I looked up and saw JenthGrek710 put the last squid in the net as she muttered, "I'm never going to look at sea food the same way ever again." Brushing my hands off on my pants, I looked down and saw how slimy they had gotten since our little 'fishing trip' endeavor began. I bent down and rolled up the cuffs to my knees and shrugged. As soon as we get out of here, shower!

The girls and I grabbed onto the net with the guys and helped them lug it down the hallway. When we reached our site, Gamergirl released the net and trained her bow on the door ahead. ShadowMaster and a few others followed up and did the same. We waited there for what felt like forever before AaylaKit, NobleMeta, and JediChick showed up. JediChick nodded to us, while adjusting her belt that wrapped around her hip and shoulder. It was aligned with fireworks instead of ammunition. NobleMeta had one just like it on him. AaylaKit ran up to join us and helped out with holding up the net. "everything set. The entertainment should be on any minute now."

"How long do you think until Emerald.H and Weathergirl get back?" AaylaKit grunted. She struggled, just like all of us, to keep the slimy, angry squids in their place.

"Don't worry, they have the map, so they shouldn't take too long." I replied.


EMERALD.H MOVED HER HAND AGAINST the wall in pitch blackness and sighed. "Don't tell me Hondo's too poor to afford a light switch."

Weathergirl outstretched her arms to stop herself from bumping anything as she shifted her way around to finding a desk. "He's probably got a lamp at least." She got to the desk when her hand barely bumped a long, swirly vase. It crashed to the ground and with it the lights flickered on. "You found the light switch?" she asked as she turned around.

"No..." Emerald trailed off. She eyed the vase and then smiled, "Oh, I know." Clapping her hands twice the lights went off again. "Cool." suddenly a loud, angry growl came from inside the darkness.

"What was that?" Weathergirl squeaked as she froze.

Emerald.H turned back on the lights and exclaimed, "I know that growl anywhere!" She spun around and saw a large cage with a cloth draped over it. Throwing the cloth off, she met eyes with her stolen cat. The feline banged angrily against the cage in an attempt to break out. "Coral!" Emerald squealed. She unhooked the latch and opened the door, "Come on, Sweety. Mama's here-" she picked up Coral and held her in her arms, but the cat hooked onto her with razer, sharp claws, "How about less claws and more love..." Emerald froze, her eyes bulging out while she grunted, "Or more claws. Have it your way."

Weathergirl shook her head and brought the map up from her belt to check off Hondo's office. "I hate being errand girl." she muttered, "Alright, now all we have left is to check out all of the other prison roomfor Miss Kale's crew and then go get 2-2-7." She rolled the map back up, "If we hurry, we might make it back to fight the pirates. Ready to roll, Emerald?" She asked, tucking the map back into her belt.

Emerald slowly took one step at a time as her cat clawed deep into her skin, "She's just showing me her affections..." she whimpered in pain.

Weathergirl sighed, "Or we'll miss the fight..."


JEDICHICK AND NOBLEMETA CROUCHED DOWN beside a large meta door with a pile of fireworks under their arms. It wasn't difficult to see there was a party going on behind it. There were cheers and toasts being given on the other side which meant they knew they'd run into pirates this time. Waiting there for a minute, the two heard the music start and it was time to begin. JediChick gave a quick salute to us down the hallway as we watched them silently from afar. They opened the door and crawled in on all fours. For the time being, they were on their own.

"Do you think they can make it?" Gamergirl asked. Aiming her bow at the door.

I, and a few others, gripped harder on the squirming net to keep it in place, but it dang near impossible. "Don't worry about them, they'll be fine. We have enough problems keeping these things from-ouch!" I jerked my hand back and rubbed my finger against the side of my pants, "From biting us-gosh dang it." I seized, "Just concentrate on only shooting them in the shoulders or legs."

"Why can't I kill our captors again?"

I struggled again to regain my grip on the net, "Because your parents would kill me of they found out you murdered someone."

"But technically, it's self-defense." She smirked.

"Gamergirl."

"Sorry...I just wanted to kill a pirate..."


WHEN NOBLEMETA AND JEDICHICK CRAWLED into the room, it was obvious that they wouldn't have a problem staying out of sight. All eyes were on the entertainment Hondo hired for the evening. Six Twi'lek performers danced around the middle of the room with the beat of the music behind their every step while they captivated the audience with their grace. NobleMeta held up the table cloth and ushered JediChick inside. Once in, they crawled down the long table and held their breath from the stench of everyone's feet. Pirates don't bath.

JediChick was halfway down when a fork dropped beside her. She froze, along with NobleMeta. The two of them watched in fear as a hand came down in search for the fallen fork. JediChick, biting down hard on her lip, slid the cutlery towards the hand.

"What the-" They heard the pirate grumble. NobleMeta tugged on JediChick's shirt, motioning her to abort, but it was too late. A face peeked underneath the table, but they couldn't be more relieved. Yaya The Elf looked at them with a shocked expression. She whispered, "I thought that was a hand I saw."

NobleMeta snapped, "Yaya, if you even think about turning us in, I'll-"

"Relax." Yaya drawled, "I won't turn you in, but if you plan on doing anything, I'd do it quick. The shows almost over."

"Yaya, what are you doing down there?" A harsh voice barked from above.

Yaya grabbed the fork from floor and she gave the two of them a smirk. "I lost my fork!" She yelled, getting back up in her seat. JediChick sent NobleMeta a look, but he just shook his head and motioned her to continue down the path.

When they got to the end of the table, they crawled towards the buffet counter before finally making their way behind the stage. With the band playing on a tall podium, JediChick could look up and see the drummer above them. He stayed in tune with the music and remained unaware that two people stood just below him.

NobleMeta steadied the fireworks to where they wouldn't impale the drummer and when they finished she pulled out a box of matches Sithlord gave them earlier. Not caring where she got them, the two each grabbed half and half from the pack and, between them both, they lit the fireworks within seconds. There was no time to sneak away, these fireworks had a short fuse, so the two ran out from behind the stage. Running passed the dancers and even having to shove a blue Twi'lek out of their path, they were halfway across the room when they heard Hondo yell, "GET THEM!"

Looking at the pirate, captain, NobleMeta saw Hono directing an accusing finger at him and his partner. "Don't stop!" Noble yelled.

Men shouted angry and unmentionable words at them as they raised their blasters and aimed for them when the first noise of crackling began. They all froze, except for the two prisoners of course, and peeled their ears.

Hondo stood from his 'seat of honor' and listened, "What the..." he became wide-eyed and he screamed, "GET DOWN!"

Fireworks began to spark everywhere like mini missiles. The drummer leaped from the stage and laid flat on the ground along with the rest of the performers and kept his hands over his head. Shoving people out of their way, everyone scrambled to get out, with the missiles right on their tail. JediChick looked off to her left and saw one rocket land in a plant near a curtain. "This is going to get bad." She mumbled, and pushed more people out of her.

When they finally got to the door and ran out along with a few dozen pirates, NobleMeta said, "Time for the fun part." At his cue, we all gladly released the front of the net and let the squids slid across the floor. Being inside the net gave the creatures enough time to create a slimy fluid and I struggled to hold my stomach contents down when they soared down the hallway. "That's disgusting." I heard PurpleWillow mutter.

The pirate's slipped on the slim flowing under their feet and as did NobleMeta and JediChick. They fell on their butts, but knew better than the pirates not to try to stand up. They crawled, or skimmed, their way away from the slip zone. As they were about to make it to a dry spot, a hand grabbed Noble's boot and dragged him backwards. A Weequa sneered at him and raised his soaked pistol just when an arrow shot him in the shoulder. He drew back and clenched his wound with a scream. Noble looked up and Gamergirl grinning from ear to ear as she trained her aim on another pirate. "Keep going!" JediChick yelled.

I smiled as Gamergirl, "Nice shot."

"Thank you." Gamergirl nodded my way, "Now if you wanna see a headshot-"

"Gamergirl." I groaned and raised my blaster. I shot a pirate coming too close in the knee cap and he fell forward. Making a splash when he hit the slim, the squids engulfed his face and body which muffled his screams. "I got a knee cap!"I exclaimed. But Sithlord came up beside me and shook her head, "That was obviously a thigh." She aimed her DC-blaster on a female pirate rushing us, with her blade was held high above herself as she gave out her battle cry. I watched in observation as she shot the female in the knee and the pirate fell just the same as the one before her. The squids giving her no mercy, either. "Now that's a knee cap."

Rolling my eyes, I caught sight of a pirate trying to make a break for drier land and shot him in the shoulder, "At least I know I can hit a shoulder-blade."

"That was an arm."

"Oh, now, you've gone too far!" I exclaimed which made her break out in a chuckle. Over on the other side of us, Monsterhunter came up beside AaylaKit and sliced a squid crawling towards her boot with his Blango Destructor.

"Saved your life." He said, looking around frantically for more squids to squash.

"It was a squid, MonsterHunter." She sighed, "I don't think I'd die."

"It's the only job I have," he replied, "I can't reach any pirate with a close range weapon, so on my terms you could have died."

JenthGrek came up beside Monsterhunter and zapped squid at his feet with her electrostaff, "Saved your life!" she cheered as MonsterHunter gave an 'I told you so' face to Aayla.


"I FEEL LIKE WE'RE MISSING OUT ON EVERYTHING." EMERALD.H sighed as she heard the screams from the upper level, "Do you think they're winning?"

Weathergirl shrugged, "How should I know. How's your cat doing?"

"Good...I guess." She stared down solemnly at her caged cat, "I really hate keeping her in there."

"Don't think of it as a prison...think of it as a cat carrier." Weather mumbled, as she scanned her map. Her eyes flickered from the map to the large door in front of them, "If this is right, which I'm sure it is, then behind this door should be the other holding cell."

Without another word, Emerald pushed the button and the door opened with a swoosh. She gave Weathergirl a wary glance as they entered. The room was dark and had a yellow illuminating light shading the room. Weather fanned herself from the sudden heat. Also, it had that kind of awful smell to it. Like a dozen people who hadn't bathed in forever decided to throw a party,kind of smell. Around the room was all of the 'Question Corner' staff, but they didn't seem too thrilled to see them here. They were all chained up against the wall and dripping wet with sweat on their faces and bodies.

"Don't tell us you're our saviors?" Greg groaned, glaring at them through his bangs. Clearly, he was a little overdue for a haircut. "Two girls and a cat?"

"I'm not picky," John said from beside him and held up his chains, "Just please unlock me!" He held up his hands in despair as he cried, "I'll call my mom, I'll even apologize for stealing five bucks from her purse when I was seven! Please!"

"Cute cat." Mini stared at Coral for a long while, "I used to like cats...before I was taken here."

"Oh, would you shut up, Mini!" Ashley yelled, "I get it, you don't like it here! I get it! We all get it!"

"Do I look like someone who's built for prison, Ashley, huh? No! I was meant to wear high heals and have boyfriends! Don't pester me about your opinion!"

As the two girls got into a fight, John cried about all the things he promised to do if they let him go, and Greg refused to make eye contact with either of them, Weathergirl and Emerald.H became wide-eyed. Emerald gave the coo-coo sign and her friend agreed. These guys had been confined to this prison way too long.

Weathergirl said, "Okay, let's unlock those chains." and clasped her hands together. The faster these guys were free, the faster they could get away from each other.


Abdella swung her electrostaff down hard on a hissing squid and then rose to swing it at a running pirate. Hondo's crew was beginning to reach them. But, for the few that had long range weapons, they used the party room as a cover after the fireworks settled down. Gamergirl turned to me and yelled, "I can't touch the guys in that room without using a head shot, Kale!"

I crouched behind the wall that lead to the other hallway and barely peeked around the corner before having to duck a red, laser bullet. "Then keep your eyes on the on the ones outside. I know how to get them out." I reached for my belt and pulled out a grenade beside my knife. A few items I had acquired from the weapons depot.

Gamergirl watched me as I prepared to throw it into the room, "So I can't shoot them, but it's okay if you blow them up?"

I rolled my eyes, "Watch and learn, and prepare to shoot when I say so." I charged out from my hiding spot only for a second to launch the grenade into the party room and then ducked behind the other wall. Upon the grenade reaching them, the pirates immediately spilled out of the room in a hurry. They screamed for their lives and landed in all the fluids when they were out. "Now!" I yelled. ShadowMaster, Gamergirl, Sithlord, and I shot of every shoulder, arm, thigh, and knee cap in sight, and before you knew it, they were wallowing in pain within the slimy fluid. The squids flourished around them almost instantly.

"You forgot to detonate the bomb." Gamergirl informed me.

"I call it a warning."I replied, grinning wickedly as I changed my clip.

"Gosh!" Gamergirl exclaimed "You're insane!"

"I've heard that before..."


"Alright, this is our last stop." Weathergirl said, wrapping the map back up and tucking it into her belt. "2-2-7 should be on the other side of that door." her hand reached for the button when Greg, the security guard, stopped her.

"Don't you think you should be more prepared before you decide to go in there?" Greg asked, as he rubbed his raw wrists. They still throbbed from the time they were in cuffs.

Emerald eyed him curiously, "Everyone's at the party, so he should be unguarded."

"Droids usually take care of the dismantling projects," he sighed, "so no. Unless droids go to parties, he'll be guarded."

Weathergirl became wide-eyed, "dismantling?" She drew her blasters and opened the door. Inside stood two droids that took a step back in shock at the sight of her. She killed them both with four shots up their torso's and they crumbled to the ground with a metallic scream. Cautiously, she stepped in further; keeping her pistols high in case there were any others. When the coast was clear, she put them back in their holsters and scanned the room once more. "Well, this was a bust." The area was completely empty.

She was turning to leave when Emerald stopped her. "He's here." she pointed to the scrap pile on the table and groaned, "Miss Kale's going to be crushed."

Michael, the mechanic, came up to the pile of parts and scanned the tools on the tray they used to dismantle him. "I can fix him." He nodded, "He won't look so pretty afterwards, but at least he'll be alive."

Looking solumnly at what was left of the comical droid, she nodded, "We'll come back for him after this fight is over. But we have to keep moving." she tried leaving again, only to be stopped by Greg. He asked, "Aren't we escaping?"

Emerald.H ran past him, lugging her cat along with her like an oversized suitcase, "No. We're taking over the ship."

Mini solumnly turned to Greg and shook her head, "I have a bad feeling I'll be seeing that prison room again." They followed the girls around the ship. The older one kept glancing at her map every now and then. When Michael would ask, she'd say that there was a war zone they were suppose to meet up at afterwards and they were only a few klicks away. When they reached this so called 'war zone', there was no fighting to be heard of at all. But when they got closer they saw the rows and rows of pirates tied up from head to toe. Only the rope was not rope, but slices of cloth and the pirates shirts were torn.

"See, there's always something." I said. I put my hands on my hips as I gazed down at the pirates with pride, "I knew that girls scout class would come in handy someday."

"You were a girls scout?" Purplewillow asked.

"No, they wouldn't let me in. Something about being too insane, I'm not sure." I chuckled, "Now we just have to figure out where Hondo's slithered off to and then-"

"Miss Kale!" a person behind me exclaimed. "What happened to your hair!"

At this, I turned around and saw her. Her blonde hair was in knots and her clothes were soaked with sweat, but I'd never seen a sweeter sight in my lifetime, "Ashley!" I ran towards her and hugged her close, along with Mini, and Michael, and John. They were sweaty and I was slimy, so neither of us really cared for hygene. "You guys are okay!" I smiled at Weathergirl and Emerald.H, "Thank you." I said. Greg kept his distance and eyed we cautiously as though I'd bite. It could be the fact that I'm bald, but I didn't care. Nor, did I venture on to ask for a hug because that wasn't Greg. He'd need time to work out whatever was going on in his head by himself. It's just how he liked it. Privacy. I sent him a curt nod and he barely exchanged that with me.

"Miss Kale, we've got incoming ships!" The microphone boomed across the halls, but the voice trailed off before kicking in again, "Roger, roger."

"Who's that?" Emerald asked.

"That's Poison1234." JenthGrek710 replied, "Miss Kale sent her up to the bridge along with AngelAxeinf to watch for any Republic ships."

"How do I lower the shields?" the Poison asked.

JenthGrek shook her head and walked away saying, "My job is never done. I'll help her out."

"Hey, great job out there," Monsterhunter praised, "Thanks for saving my life."

"And the same to you, my friend."

Weathergirl and Emerald.H looked out at all the tied up, angry pirates and sighed, disappointed. "So we missed everything?" they whined. Releasing my crew from our death grip hug, I wrapped my arms around both of the girls and nodded. "But don't worry, I'm sure we'll get kidnapped again someday."

"Promise?" Emerald said. Looking up at me with big round eyes.

"Promise." I patted their backs approvingly, "Though, I am sorry you missed it, but hey, you guys were the rescue team."

"Yeah...about that, 2-2-" Emerald trailed off when Gamergirl approached us. She asked, "Did you get my tablet?"

Weathergirl immediately facepalmed when she realized her mistake, "That's what I forgot!"

"You forgot my tablet! How could you forget?!" She dropped her bow in surprise, "You had it on your to do list."

"Well, I didn't get a chance to write everything down." Weathergirl replied, "I'll go get it now." I stopped her in her tracks and shook my head. I said, "I'll get it. After this fight I'll need a little walk to clear my thoughts."


Without further explanation needed, she handed me the map, "Here." and I walked off with a wave to the others. A lot of my crew wanted to tag along, but I needed to do this alone. This was the first time I'd get a break from all this chaos, and I wouldn't pass it up too quickly. Following the maps directions, I walked for a long while and realized I didn't have to think of a stragedy or be confined to a room like an animal. Given, I was keeping my blaster near by just in case Hondo jumped out, but by this point he was probably in the hanger bay making his escape. There'd be no way I could catch him on foot and I didn't plan on waisting my time chasing after the pirate if it only meant failure in the end. I wanted my freedom and I got it, that's all I needed...for the time being. Does this gun even have any ammo left in it? I wondered. I reached for the clip and upon pulling it out, I saw it was empty. I shook my head in amazement, I can't believe I'm out. I thought, but at least I had my knife on hand.

I came to Hondo's office and when I opened the door I found it cold and pitch black. I shivered. Just like the first time I came here. Dark and eerie. I scanned my hand across the wall in search of a light switch, but found nothing. Going further into the room, I found zilch. I put both of my hands on the wall this time and moved around. Where is it? I wondered.

A snapping noise happened and the lights flickered on. I froze. Ever so slowly, I turned around and found Hondo on the other side of his desk. His braids were coming undone, the goggles laid loose around his neck, obviously cracked. his coat was wet and scorched at the ends and there were red, sucking marks on his forehead and cheeks. "You." He sneered. Pulling his dripping, wet braid behind himself as he reared around the desk.

I didn't realize until now that I had self-consciously pressed myself up against the wall; trying to keep a distance between us. He didn't look like the normal Hondo anymore. I'd never seen him so in tuned to blood-lust before and it wasn't a pretty sight to behold. I reached for my knife and pulled it out threateningly, but this didn't faze him. He marched over to me like I were holding nothing but cardboard. I bit my lip and I went for it when he was about three feet away. Lunging the tip of the knife towards his abdomen, he stopped me by the wrist and clamped down hard on my it. I cried out in agony and was forced to release the weapon. He grabbed my head and smacked me against the wall behind us. I yelped and plummeted to the ground, taking in deep, greedy breaths.

"You ruined everything!" He growled. He smacked a vase to the ground and it shattered at my feet. I shielded my eyes, and felt shards cross my arms. My brain swelled inside my skull like it wanted out, and it was all it took just to see straight. He picked up my knife and drew closer. Looking around, I found nothing to shield me from the lunatic pirate. But I went the more creative route and snatched a piece of glass by my black boot. Adrenaline rushing my veins, I gripped the sharp glass with a vengeance and stumbled to my feet. My hand shook horrible, but I never took my gaze off of him.

"Poor unfortunate womp rat." He chuckled, but I didn't pay any attention; I was too busy noticing the two of him. Great! Which one do I hit?! I thought. I brought my hand to my forehead and cringed. Focus. Which one looks more annoying...

I sliced my knife across his chest, assuming I'd make some type of skin-contact doing so, but no. I misjudged the distance and thus never even grazed him, but he managed to grab my hand again and, this time, he spun me around to clasp his blade to my neck. He put my arm behind my back and I screamed under the pressure my joints were going through. "Hondo...your beaten." I grunted, "But...you just don't...know it." I struggled to no evail. Slithering my hand to the desk beside us, I scanned for something razor sharp. Or at least anything with a tiny point to it, "We've called the Republic and they know...where you are." I felt a pen at my finger tips and wrapped my grip around it.

"You think I care, Kale!" The silver blade pressed harder against my skin and I felt blood draining. Instantly, I drove the pen deep into his thigh and he cried out in pain. He released the knife, which clanged to the ground, and I gasped and put my hand to my neck. I wanted to fall down and take a break; let my head come too, but I couldn't call for a 'time out'. Not while he still holds the upper hand. "It's miss Kale!" I spun around and gave him all the force I had left in me with a right hook. He fell back and banged his head against a nightstand in the way down. He no longer moved.

I dropped to all fours immediately. The adrenaline leaving me, I felt nothing but pain and water all over me. Gazing down at myself, I saw it was all blood, seeping from my arm and hand like a punctured hose. I watched Hondo's motionless body and dropped my head. Call me crazy, but I didn't want him dead. Yes, he deserved every ounce that death had to offer him, but I couldn't do it. That as someone else's job; not mine. Whether it be man or nature that took care of him. Because I can't handle blood on my handles. I thought, but stopped myself and brought my hand up to view. The fluid came out dark red and I meekly smiled, How ironic...

The sound of the door opening came before a startled scream. "Kale!" It rang in my ears and made my brain shatter. Though I'm positive it wouldn't of hurt that bad if it weren't for my head condition. Sithlord crouched beside me and put a hand on my shoulder, "Are you alright?"

I sighed, "Tolerably well..." I gestured to Hondo across the room and asked, "Is he dead?"

She got up and approached the pirate cautiously before taking hold of his wrist, "He's got a pulse." she turned back to me and shook her head, "You are insane. I mean, fighting him, without a blaster?" I opened my mouth to reply, but shut it again. Truthfully, after she said Hondo had a pulse, everything started going black for me. My mind felt like it was full of pins and needles and I didn't think I could stay awake any longer. My eyes grew heavy and I strained to see my hands in front of me through this dark, thick fog. The next thing I knee, I collasped, only to hear the voices of more panicked people entering the room. Someone asked if I was dead and I wondered so myself.