Wahoo, one review! Kewl… n e wayz… this chap is kinda a test… will someone be surprised by Showdow today?? Hmmm lets find out…

What Came to Pass: Part VII

Mik gathered the Force around him and leapt up onto the next rooftop in front of him.

Two people after me. How much better could this mission get? He thought sarcastically as blaster fire shot at him from both the ground and the air.  From a speeder on the ground of Zefron's security force and from a blood carver in the air.

Deflecting the blaster fire back to their shooter the Master was able to stop the speeder on the ground from following him.  

Mik leapt up onto a high roof then sharply down onto a lower one catching the driver of the big ship off guard.  The ship veered up sharply to avoid hitting a building, flinging the carver, which was at the open door firing a blaster, out into the air.

Mik ran to the edge of the roof as the carver flew down towards the ground.  Slowing the falling figure with the Force the Master reached out and grabbed the alien's hand as he shot past. 

He pulled back roughly trying not to get pulled down with the carver and hauled him back up to the roof in one fluid motion.

The winded carver looked up from his collapsed position on the sandy roof at him, bewilderment in his eyes. "Thank you." He said trying to catch his breath. "You…"

The Jedi nodded and smiled. "It was nothing." He looked up at the ship coming back around for it's fallen companion. "Got to go."  He took off jumping off of the roof and down an alleyway.  He sprinted out to the main road and shot passed the little shops and cafés that lined the narrow town center. 

People looked after him murmuring to each other wondering what the security was after him for.

After running a good ways from the center of town, towards the outskirts, Mik headed towards the house that the bounty hunter had left the girl at.  Running down the long dirt road it started to rain as thunder roared overhead.

Just what I need. He thought dismally to himself. Stopping in front the small white house the Master's heart dropped to the muddy ground. No. They found her…

The front porch was now empty and the sound of a little girl crying drifted trough the open window next to the door.

"Force no." Mik whispered. "How am I…" he sighed heavily as he walked towards the far away field that his ship was crashed in.

Walking through the woods to the longer field and the tall cliffs Mik thought about his trip so far. As great as it was.

Once Zae-Non was taken from the Temple and almost Obi-Wan too, Mik had left right away for Zefron. The six-day journey had felt like forever since the bounty hunter and the carver tried to kill him numerous times on the ride over.

That bounty hunter Ona and her partner Showdow, the blood carver had almost killed him by making him crash to the planet.  The security was after him because the planet did not allow outsiders into their system and obviously wanted to know why the Jedi had crashed.

Mik had found out that Ona had left Zae-Non on the doorstep of a family and now the family had taken her in.

After spending the night in his crashed ship the Master had contacted the Temple to find out the two teams had been sent out to Zefron, but Ona had stopped them in the worst way possible. She had killed them at a refueling stop.  They had sent out two more teams, but hadn't heard from them either…

 "What in the stars and moons?!"  He ran forward at the half burnt heap that was once his ship. "My ship! Well there goes our way off planet if I ever got it fixed! There was some hope before… dammit!"

Sprinting into the only not burnt compartment the Jedi was relived to see that his communications system was not destroyed along with everything else.  "Well someone out there likes me."

Cleaning out what he could Mik could hear the storm outside growing stronger. "I am going to have to find somewhere to wait this out. And you've really got to stop talking to yourself Mik."

Taking a small bag of what he could save from the wreak the Master made his way back towards the town to find somewhere he could stay to wait out the storm and contact the Temple. 

Crossing over the small field towards the road something caught Mik's eye. Off to his left was a small, old beat up cabin. "It'll work." He said to himself. He sprinted off towards it looking around cautiously with his eyes.

The Force told him he was being watched from somewhere.

The small cabin was cold and drafty. Rain dripped in from various holes in the roof and the wood was half rotted.  Taking care with each step Mik made his way into where an old fireplace was with fresh wood still in it.

Shaking his head he looked around at the two sleep cots in the corner and the little fresher across the small hall that divided the cabin. "It will do for now." He said with a sigh.

Reaching into his small bag Mik took out his communications system and flicked it on praying it still worked.

*****

Showdow rolled his eyes. "You can't keep them at bay forever!" he shouted at Ona through his comlink.

"I can if I need to." She said crisply. "Now go find that damn Master before he gets to the girl."

"I already found him." The carver said coolly looking at the cabin he had watched the Master go into. "What am I supposed to do? Run in there after a Jedi and ask if I can kill him?"

"Don't get smart with me! Just find a way to kill him. Don't come back till you have or I'll-"

Showdow cut the bounty hunter off before he could listen to her ranting. "Remind yourself why you took this job again?" he asked himself. "Oh right cause your really dumb minded at times." 

The alien made his way up on to the porch of the falling apart cabin silently and crept inside.  Stopping in the hall he looked to his left and saw the Jedi Master standing in front of a hologram of another dark skinned Jedi sitting in a chair.

"Mace," the Master said with a small bow. He stiffened a moment and turned towards the hall. Showdow leaned up against a wall so he could not be seen. "I am glad I could reach you. I'm sorry I did not contact you as soon as I could."

"It is all right, but what is the situation there?" The hologram said leaning forward in the seat he was sitting on. "Is something wrong?"

"I believe someone followed me." Came a whispered response. "But that is unimportant at the moment. I know where Zae-Non is, but a family has already taken her in.  The security force is after me so I am afraid I cannot show myself to the family till they quite looking. That could be a while from now."

"Is she safe at least?"

"I believe so."

Mace sat back and sighed. "Master Slavon, this is turning out to be a more grim situation than we have expected. The two teams that were sent out earlier were caught by Ona and we believe they crashed on a small planet not far from here.  No survivors were found."

The Jedi shook his head. "You cannot keep sacrificing our own to get to us."

"But we can not leave you there."

"You may have to Mace. You may have to."

Mace shook his head. "We would not." He said sternly. "We will find a way to get you off that planet."

Showdow leaned heavily against the wall and let out a long breath. From what he knew five Jedi teams were dead because of him and Ona.  Sure Ona could be heartless, but the carver felt remorse.

He hated Jedi with all his heart, but keeping that Master and the girl on the planet was not his idea of revenge for what they did to him.  Not killing the Master either…

He had something better in mind. But that something wasn't going to work out if he and Ona were to keep the girl and Master Slavon on the planet.

Who knows how long they would be there for? Weeks, months…

Years.

And the Master had saved his life.  Not cause he needed to, but because he could. 

I was trying to kill him! Showdow thought in amazement. And he goes and saves me from being flattened.

Leaning forward the carver looked in to where the Master was still talking.

"You cannot send anyone out here Mace."

"We must." Came the stern reply. "We are not going to let you be stranded there. Master Ketsew is to leave in the morning."

Fear passed over the wet Jedi standing in front of the hologram. "No!" he said hotly. "You cannot send Sage!"

"Master, please-"

"No Mace!" Came a short yell. "I am not going to let Sage get killed because of me! I do not care what you say, but I do not want you to send anyone else out here till I say so."

"I will not allow that." The dark skinned man said his patents leaking away. "Sage will not let anyone else leave, but her anyway."

"Then forbid her to leave."

Mace looked skeptical. "Mik, I cannot let you stay there with Zae-Non. We are not going to abandon our own."

"I am asking you- No I am demanding that you do so. I will not be responsible for the death of another Jedi unless it is myself!" His voice calmed a bit. "Mace please…"

The other Jedi leaned forward again and rubbed his temples. "I…" He sighed heavy before looking around at someone else next to him then back towards the patiently waiting Master. "We will tell Master Ketsew not to leave until you say so."

"That is not what I said. I am not going to let anyone come out here."

Another sigh. "All right." It looked as though the two words were painful to speak.

"Thank you." The Master bowed before looking over his shoulder quickly. "Mace I will contact you later I have to go." He said hurriedly and flipped off the communication before his friend could reply.

Whirling around Showdow's stomach knotted as he saw the Jedi's hand rest on top of his lightsaber. "Do us both a favor and just show yourself." He said softly. "I know your hear." His hands came off his saber.

Showdow stepped out into the room slowly and stared at the Jedi. "I am not going to hurt you. Even though that is why I was sent here."

"I know your not." The Jedi walked over with a warm smile. "I'm Mik." He held out a hand.

"Showdow…" The carver said taking the Master's hand hesitantly. "How are you so open to me? I was trying to kill you a little less than two hours ago."

Mik laughed. "That does not mean I hate you."

"Why did you save me anyway?"

"Because I did not want to see squished carver on the ground." He smiled again. "Even if you were trying to kill me."

Showdow let an unsure laugh escape. "I just want to thank you."

"I thought you came here to kill me…again."

"I did…" He rolled his eyes. "I can't. It is just that you are the only person I know that actually has showed they cared."

"Really?" The Master looked sympathetic. "I am sorry to hear that."

"It is kind of a new revelation for me." Showdow looked down. "Is there anything I can do to repay you?"

"No way." Mik began to walk towards the door. "I did it on my own will."

"No please." The carver reached out and grabbed his cloak arm. "I feel I need to."

"You do not have to." He waved his hand threw the air dismissing the request. Grabbing his cloak back he walked out the door and down the porch. "Take care Showdow. You can do that for me and yourself."

Showdow sigh and ran after him. "No wait! Please." He ran up to the Jedi. Rain began to pelt the two as it feel in sheets from the black sky. "Anything? For you, or Zae-Non? Or anybody?"

Mik began to shake his head then stopped. "I can take care of Zae-Non and myself, but…" he hesitated. "My friend Sage is supposed to be the next Jedi sent here to come and rescue Zae-Non and myself.  I cannot let her die because of me. I would never be able to forgive myself."

"I know what you mean." Showdow said remembering his family. They had died because of himself… and the Jedi. "You don't want Ona to kill her?"

"It is the last thing I would want to happen to her."

The Carver knew what he meant. "Your friend will not get hurt. I promise you. It is the least I can do. I mean you saved my life…"

The Jedi frowned. "People do care you know."

"I know at least one person that does." Showdow smiled. "We aren't going to see each other much if we are on opposite teams huh?"

Figures just as he made a friend he would have to be his enemy as well.

Mik smiled as he reached down into his pocket clipped onto his belt and brought up a chain with an arm bracelet in it. He reached out and took Showdow's hand.  He placed the bracelet in his hand and closes his fingers around it. "I'll be back for this."

With that the bright green-eyed Master walked off through the pouring rain towards the cabin again.

Showdow stared at him then down to the arm bracelet in his hand. "That day my friend may not be for a while."

*****

Mik shook out his soaking wet cloak and hung it from a nail jutting out from the wall. He shook his head and looked around the small area. "I can fix it up."

Suddenly the comm. Unit in the one room began to beep. "What the?" Mike went over and flipped it on. A hologram of Mace appeared his face full of frustration.

"Mace…" Mik quirked an eyebrow. "Something the matter?"

"Yes." The Master said trying to keep his voice steady. "Sage will not listen to us. She is leaving tomorrow unless you can stop her somehow."

"How over is she?"

"About to denounce her Jedi oaths I believe were her words."

Mik sighed. "Is she there?"

"Yes," Mace gestured to his side. "Be my guest."

Sage appeared fury written all over her features. "Mik Slavon!!" she yelled. "How in Sith's hell do you mean you forbid me to come out there! You seriously think I am going to let you stay on some roped off planet with a little initiate and two crazy kidnappers?!"

"Sage…" Mik said with a sigh.

"Well your crazy! Absolutely crazy-"

"Sage."

"I don't get you sometimes Mik. Honestly, You should know better than to tell me of all people not to come when you are in trouble-"

"Sage!" He said more loudly, but to no avail.

"To think I would sit here when you are there. Your ship crashed and a bounty hunter trying to kill you. I swear when I see you-" She stopped to take a breath…

"SAGE!" Mik screamed.

"WHAT?!"

"Listen to me! For one second shut your mouth."

"Depends." She said coolly "Maybe I will and maybe I wont."

Mik gritted his teeth. "I am not going to let anyone else come out here and get themselves killed! Five teams have already died. Did you hear me?! Five teams! I am not going to let one of my closest friends get killed next!"

Sage's fixed stare didn't change. "I am coming Mik."

"No Sage you are not!" He frowned. "And if you do I will make sure it is me in front of the blaster of the bounty hunter not you."

Her expression suddenly turned soft. "Mik…"

"Sage I am sorry. But staying here is all I can do."

"No, it's not-"

"Yes, it is." Mik sighed. "I'm sorry."

Sage looked to her side and sigh. "Just promise you won't be away to long?"

Mik smiled. "I cannot promise anything, but know I will think of you everyday."

"And I will you." She stepped aside with a small bow.

Mace reappeared and shook his head. "I don't know how you do it Mik."

Mik sighed. "I will contact you later then?"

Mace nodded. "May the Force be with you my friend."

"And you." Mik turned off the communication and sighed heavily. "Bye…"

Well… were u surprised?? I wanna kno… lol. Till Later~

Peace Out