(A/N: Wow, talk about patience. Y'all are amazing. I've had to deal with some serious mental health diagnoses, so my writing has taken a back burner. But I am glad to get this chapter out there, and I hope you enjoy it! I actually had to write a second draft since half of what I had previously written had been erased! I really wanted to get some content out, so enjoy my dears!)
Kai absolutely despised the dust and somehow the sterile halls of the ship that had become her home, seemed more desirable. It was somewhere away from this intense heat and sand, and dry air. She took a swig out of her canteen and fastened it to her belt before taking a knee in the dip between two dunes, and fastened the new scope to her blaster rifle, and she got comfortable before peering through the scope. Perfect. She could spot the group associated with their target, as well as a market and a ship port.
What could she shoot that wouldn't cause damage, but would be enough to catch their attention. There seemed to be a large box full of fruit, and while she despised shooting someone's well-earned harvest, it was either that or some of the fuel tanks around and her goal was to decrease damage.
She pressed her comm device and settled in for the last time. "Alright, I'm in position and I have some things I can shoot for a distraction. It should draw out the target and give you a clear shot. You don't need any proof of the death, do you?"
Layla responded with a short laugh. "I mean, I'd get more money if I did, but if we want to avoid a full-on face-to-face fight, then we'll have to cut our losses. Word will reach my client and that'll be good enough. We should restock here though, if we can get away."
Kai nodded, even if she couldn't see it. "Alright, sounds good to me. I'm ready to go on your count."
"What did you find?" Layla asked. "Any gas canisters, or fuel pods?" She sounded hopeful, and Kai laughed as she spoke in direct opposition to what kai had planned.
"No! If I shot any of those, civilians would get hurt as well, and that's not my goal. That's not our goal. Our goal is one target, and one target only. We don't even have orders to take down the whole group. Unless they find us that is. So, I'll be shooting some fruits. Someone brought in the beginnings of the harvest."
Layla scoffed. "Alright, I hear you. I won't press you. Even if your choice is going to put those farmers out a lot of money."
Kai felt a pang of irritation in her chest and she focused through her scope again, watching. "What do you want me to shoot then? I'm doing the best I can with what I have. I can't shoot a droid, most families can only afford to upkeep one or two during their lives. I already told you I'm not shooting any fuel pods or gas canisters. So, it's the harvest. Alright? We'll buy from the market next time we come around, and make it up to them as best we can."
"Easy…" Layla shot back. "No need to get so angry. I was just making a point."
"Yes, I know you were." Kai responded and took a deep breath. "And I'm sorry for snapping. I'm just doing the best I can for everyone involved, without hurting anyone, and I don't want to be questioned on it."
Layla paused for a moment, her lekku flicking, before she responded. "I hear you. I won't question you on this again. You know you're bolder than you used to be. I like it. I guess I'm sorry for questioning you."
Kai felt herself relax a little at that. Maybe she was a bit different. Who knew if it was just age, or what it was.
"Thanks. I appreciate it. And I guess I just realized I had to bet bold at life, or I wasn't going to make it. Now, do we have a job to do or what?" she teased back and she heard Layla's laughter.
"Alright the area is clear around me, so no one is close. What about you? You clear to start?"
Kai checked her surroundings and the closest person, or animal even was about a klick away "I'm good as well. One your count."
Her finger stayed over the trigger and just like Ozan had taught her she took a deep breath, and held it, ready to press the trigger on her exhale.
"Now."
With that command she let loose her first shot and the crate next to the gang shot into the air, near the pavilion where their target was hidden. She switched her view to the other crates, and they exploded as well, damaged and undamaged fruit rolling away. "Come on, take the bait." She muttered. "I'm going to expose myself soon if you're not quick about this."
She let out another shot, and it hit the doorway next to the bar, and some men hurriedly ran out before taking cover, mostly likely covering for their boss. The man in question ran out next, and before Kai could react, Layla fired a shot that hit the man square in the head, and was most likely faulting him for stepping so far out the door.
With their target down, they needed to go, but unfortunately there were the leader's men to deal with. And they had finally found where her two shots had come from, at least the general direction, and they had their own speeders to chase her with.
"They're coming after me. I'll get rid of them and meet up with you." She shouted as she sped towards the canyons nearby.
"Don't get yourself killed. I'll keep my eye out for you, but don't dawdle. Hurry it up." Layla told her and she suppressed a roll of her eyes, but there was no stopping the sarcasm in her voice.
"I'll do my best to hurry it up, with them following me. In the canyons now." Her comm went silent as she began to weave through the various passageways, and she threw an explosive onto the wall that had been in her side bag, and she heard it beeping, and she could only pray to whoever was listening, that she had it timed correctly.
A blast confirmed the bomb was still functional, and when she risked a look back during a straight portion of the canyon, only one biker followed. "So, it had worked." she thought with relief. "Good."
She twisted and turned for a few more moments before finding a dead end, a small circle of sorts, and she turned her bike on a dime nearly, and faced the man as he came toward her.
She took a deep breath, and just as he began to fire at her, she aimed for his engine, and the explosion rained down metal and dust around her, and she coughed as she covered her eyes.
When the dust and smoke had cleared for the most part, she saw the bike lay in several pieces, as well as…him.
She turned her eyes away and focused on rubbing the dust out of her own. "I'm sorry I had to do that to you. I have to get back, I have…people that need me." She said quietly. "I don't know how much good or bad you've done in your life, and I guess I can't judge. But your leader was a bad man. I hope you realize that somehow."
She hopped back on her bike, adrenaline still surging through her body and she took off back where she came, and back into the sand dunes.
She pressed her comm and as she did that, she saw a gash on her arm, mostly likely from the flying metal. Oh my, now that she thought about it, it did hurt quite a bit. "I'm on my way back. Be ready to take off."
"I'm already ready to take off. I see you now. Hatch is open, park it in the back." Layla answered, and she saw her ship parked near the edge of a cliff and she slowed just as she went up the ramp. The bike was turned off and she stepped off and stretched slowly from side to side, feeling the ship take off. She walked to the nearby refresher, small but with everything necessary, near the cargo bay.
A dust streaked face greeted her in the mirror and she turned on the water just long enough to clean both her face and her arm. She opened the small first aid kit near her and wrapped the wound on her arm, with double absorbent patches.
After that was done and taken care of, she climbed the ladder up to the cockpit and sat heavily in the copilot's chair.
Layla cast her an amused look. "Glad to see you made it one piece. I'm not sure of that though, now I have to detour to whatever cruiser you want me to put you on."
Kai closed her eyes as she shook her head. "Oh, you'll be fine. When they know it's me, they'll let you land, refuel, and head out. I promise you'll be fine."
Layla laughed. "Ah, so fancy of you, being able to make promises because of the Republic. I suppose you aren't too bad of a friend to have." She teased her, and they entered lightspeed, headed towards the coordinates that the Jedi had given her before she left.
Kai gave her a tired half salute from where she was, and let her hand fall. "Glad to be of help for you." She took a long deep breath as her body relaxed against her will, and she let it. A small nap couldn't hurt, not right now.
Kai startled awake, unsure of what woke her in the first place. When she finally fully came to, she saw the large shape of a cruiser in the distance. So that was what woke her up, the exit out of lightspeed.
"Good thing you woke up yourself. I was about to wake you." Layla commented just as a familiar voice came over the intercom, demanding an access code.
Kai sent it through, and the barrier to the hanger was lowered, allowing them to enter the ship.
Layla set the ship down in a small area near the entrance, not wanting to be too far for escape.
Kai stood up and looked over at her friend with a raised brow as she grabbed her bag off the floor. "Relax, Layla, they're not going to arrest you. I can get your ship refueled and when it's done, you can get out of here. They can't keep you here."
When she picked up the bag, she felt a sharp pain on her arm and she noticed that the scab that had formed had broken, causing the wound to bleed once again. She scoffed and just let her long sleeve soak up the blood. The shirt was trashed anywhere.
Layla slid on a small pistol, and the holster onto her hip and shrugged. "Sorry for not feeling comfortable around the people we technically break the law against. I'll do my best to relax."
Kai grabbed her own rifle and her jacket from the floor, grabbing everything she needed, credits stowed in her bag, before walking down the lowered ramp.
When her feet hit the floor, she turned and saw one of the hanger bay clones, the ones that worked tirelessly to get all the ships up and, in the air, and she smiled. "I'll pay the Republic, if you'll fuel this ship here quickly." She offered, and the clone nodded.
"Of course, ma'am I'll get that right away. Welcome back." He told her before grabbing the hose and connecting it, starting the flow of fuel.
"Ma'am?" Layla questioned with a laugh. "You get the royal treatment here. I don't think I've been called ma'am once in my life."
Kai laughed as she turned on her heel, knowing Layla wouldn't dare leave far from her ship. "I've told them a million times they don't have to but they insist, so now I leave it." Kai explained, and she held onto her backpack strap. "I'm going to head back and get showered. When will the payment come in?"
Layla looked from the clone fueling her ship back to Kai and gave her a small smile. "Expect it by tonight. The person paying me never waits long, so I can wire you the credits fairly quick. You stay safe, you here. And watch your back around here." Her voice lowered. "They may say they're on your side, but they'll never see us as their equals. Just lower level trash." Her lips fell into a frown, and she started as Kai walked over and put a hand on her arm.
"And I will do what I can to change that. Just know that you won't be arrested because of me. I won't let it happen. I promise. Just get out of here as soon as your ship fuels. I promise they won't track you."
Layla look a deep breath before closing her eyes for a moment. When they opened they were as strong and defiant as usual. "I'm holding you to that. Goodbye for now." She gave her a small nod, and walked up the ramp, closing it as she did so. The clone disconnected the fueling line, and closed the hatch, banging on the side as a signal she was good to go.
Kai began walking away, and turned as Layla's ship came to life and lifted off, and she watched it until it was out of sight.
She then turned and began walking back towards her room, her arm aching. Ah, yes, her arm. That would be need to be taken care of, no matter how wonderful a long and hot shower sounded right now. She passed by her room, only briefly stopping to drop her jacket and bag off, before slowly making her way to the med bay.
As she entered the bay, there was an empty bed, with supplies near it, so she took a seat, and grabbed out a disinfectant pad. She hissed as she swiped it over the cut, and suddenly a hand appeared and took it out of her hand.
"Let me." She looked up to the kind eyes of a medic and he, with extreme efficiency and care, and he grabbed a bacta patch and a wrap to clean it completely and wrap it. "There you are. Quick and easy. Make sure it doesn't get infected, and if it does, if it gets red at all, come back in here." He instructed and she stood and gave a nod. "Thank you. Right now, I'm going to nap. I'm absolutely exhausted."
She walked out and her comm beeped and she looked down at it was Rex, a professional message as always.
-I have a planning meeting until tonight. Did you arrive back safely? -
She smiled at his short, but obviously kind message.
-I did. Thank you for checking up on me. I'm headed back to sleep. Want to get coffee in the morning before training? -
-I'd love to. Sleep well. -
She smiled as she pressed the button for her room, and she placed it on the desk next to her, and dimmed the lights completely and flopped onto the bed, pulling the blanket up to her shoulders and closed her eyes, the burn of exhaustion prevalent. As long as she could get some rest tonight, everything would be easier in the morning. She could count on that.
