Chapter Two: King Kanortine

Tenel Ka and Jacen had been "escorted" to a large, busy metropolis called Ruswin situated on a regular sized planet, with a temperate climate. Their ship was guided to a docking berth near the "palace" of King Kanortine. The "palace" wasn't really a palace but it was still a fairly elegant building, an enormous black sky-scraper that grew much narrower near the top, like a needle. The inside was like that of an upscale, fancy hotel, adorned with richly coloured carpets and pots of exotic plants, with walls composed of white and black-speckled marble, and many formally clad, sly-faced employees, all carrying their blasters loosely at their hips, that would opened doors for Jacen and Tenel Ka with mocking smiles.

"I'm beginning to think we should have tried to fight our way out of here when we had the chance," Jacen whispered out of the side of his mouth to Tenel Ka as they were marched through the palace flanked by heavily built armed guards.

Tenel Ka acknowledged him with a slight nod of her head, but she didn't reply. Jacen guessed that she must have been considering the same problems he was. Jacen wore his dark brown and tan Jedi robes, and Tenel Ka was wearing a completely black Jedi robe that stood in deep contrast to her fiery hair. Both had kept their lightsabers, knowing that the weapons would probably be useful, maybe even save their lives in the near future and for that matter, when did a Jedi ever leave behind her weapon? The security guards had let them keep them, assuming that Jacen and Tenel Ka would never be able to get out of the planetary system with their ship in such bad shape. So Tenel Ka and Jacen both looked like the young Jedi Knights they were, and Jacen was willing to bet that any person with half a brain would recognize at least one of them for who they were, a Hapian princess (and heir to the throne) and the oldest son of the New Republic's Chief of State. He wondered what the races the one pirate had mentioned would be like and if Tenel Ka and him would both have to take part, or only one of them. He wasn't really worried about his own safety, but he scolded himself for doubting Tenel Ka's safety. He knew she would hate that, she was a Dathomiri warrior, a stronger and more skilled fighter that he would ever be, even with her left arm severed at the elbow.

Still, he didn't think he would ever forgive himself if something happened to her.

At last the group reached a set of double-doors, carved with intricate, detailed flowers out of a deep red wood. Two arms guards stood on either side, with long sharp viroblades and lethal blasters at their sides. The baggy navy pants and the sleeveless red shirts that revealed bulging muscles and the metallic jewelry that adorned them reminded Jacen that these men were indeed buccaneers and they looked the part.

"These two are to meet with his Majesty," said one of the guards who had been escorting Jacen and Tenel Ka.

The door guards looked speculatively at them for a moment, before bowing slightly and opening the doors.

The room that the two Jedi stepped into wasn't the grand and opulent chamber they'd been expecting. Instead, the room was about the size of the large office Jacen's mother worked in as Chief of State. There were floor-to-ceiling windows in the wall facing the door, and the white stone of this room was pure white, with no black dotting the surface. Seated on a chair made of the same red wood as the door, with a hand lazily draped on top of the armrest, was a man that was undoubtedly more of a pirate than a king. He wore loose black pants and dark violet shirt made of a shimmering, soft fabric, not too mention a tasteful amount of jewelry. His skin, hair, and goatee were black, and one of his eyes was mechanical, silver metal with a red glowing iris.

When Tenel Ka and Jacen entered and moved to stand side by side in front of the throne, the man had stood, a clever smile unfurling across his face.

"I am Kanortine, king of pirates and thieves and buccaneers. I am very pleased that you are here, as you come at a most needed time," said Kanortine in a voice that was smooth and slippery, laced with deceit and cunning.

"And what, your Majesty, would that need be?" asked Jacen calmly and carefully.

The king's smile spread, showing his gold canine tooth, and a set of otherwise perfectly white teeth. Jacen got the feeling the gold tooth was for show.

"My "kingdom" of sorts, is a racing ground, a dangerous collection of speedways and delicately chosen battlegrounds. People, disreputable and underground mobs though they are, come from all areas of the galaxy to witness this spectacular gauntlet of races and battles, thrilling in the reckless, barbaric chaos of it all. Every week, there are new contestants that apply and are accepted to participate in this fun, and there must always be twelve applicants, always twelve, or else the contest is delayed until the appropriate number is filled. The first race was scheduled to begin today, however, it seems that one of my choices has had the misfortune of getting himself blown away in a blaster fight. So, you can imagine my predicament in looking to fill this position. What was I to do? Then, conveniently, you arrive in my system, two able young teenagers, and now, one of you will race."

"Why do you want one of us to race?" Jacen asked, though he suspected he knew the answer, trying to bargain for their freedom, "Surely there are more capable contestants?"
Kanortine smirked and his right hand stroked his goatee in a self-assured, arrogant manner. His eyes gleamed devilishly. His answer came in an insidious tone, "But why, I ask, would I want an average ruffian in my contest, when here I have two young Jedi Knights. The only question is, my unwilling guests, which of you will participate in the contest?"

Jacen opened his mouth to reply, but Kanortine cut him off, going on in his sly voice, "Actually, I think I have the answer to that question."

Jacen waited, his heart starting to beat faster with the anticipation that something unpleasant was about to be said.

"You, Jacen Solo," Kanortine said, pointing his finger at Jacen and grinning at his own brilliant deduction, "You will fly in the contest. Princess Tenel Ka Chume Ta' Djo will stay here with as my prisoner. You can take her back and leave this system freely when, and if, you win the contests."

Jacen's eyes widened, "All of the contests?"

Kanortine smiled in self-satisfaction, nodding, "Or else she will stay here with me."

Jacen swallowed nervously, I wish Jaina were here. She'd win every single one of them without a hair out of place.

He looked to the side, seeing Tenel Ka's eyes narrowed dangerously at Kanortine. Even when she was angry, especially when she was angry, with her fine-boned face, cool grey eyes, and tanned brown skin, she looked beautiful to him. He knew she would probably insist that he not attempt the fatal races, insist that he go on and save himself, not to worry about her. She might even be angry with him for taking such a stupid risk. But there was no choice for him. He would rather die that let her come to harm. When everything was on the line and death was staring him in the face, he could always admit he loved her, he could admit that they were more than just friends. Somehow afterwards, they would always retreat back to the way things had been before, always afraid to take the plunge, never daring to bare their emotions. He told himself that if they survived this, things would be different. In the meantime, he would do anything to save her. He took a deep breath, firmly settling his direction in his mind.

"I'll do it," Jacen said in a solemn voice, looking straight ahead of himself, not seeing anything.

Beside him, he heard Tenel Ka cry out.