Chapter 2: The Corellian Run

"Just trust me. . ." Suhlak said to the tense Kite.

"Trust you? I hardly know you. Not to mention you come off as a real jerk."

"Ok, ok, just trust me some at lest. You've seen what I can do. You're instincts are keen and you know I'm true to what I am saying."

"It's a risk. . ."Kite still whispering as the old man kept his blaster up against Hawk. The man growled lightly, "What are you two mumbling about over there?"

Suhlak bit his lip, "Its now or never."

Kite gripped his hands together as he leaped to the side for the sword, "This better work!"

The man turned his head to watch Kite take off giving Suhlak his chance. He used his hands to spring himself back to his feet, even with his injury. His hand stretched out as he called upon his force powers to take away the blaster from his hand. Suhlak was frightened that his powers would slip away and this gamble of his would fail. It was a moment before the blaster was jerked from the man's hand and into Suhlaks'. The man quickly pulled Hawk in front of him as a shield just as Suhlak had taken aim with the blaster.

"Ha, ha, kill me and you'll kill your friend here."

"Oh I never planned on killing anyone. That was you."

Hawk kept a smirk on his face the entire time. He mostly was enjoying himself now. Suhlak didn't get why he got a kicked out of this, that was something to ask later. The old man was backing up for the door with Hawk when he stopped suddenly, feeling his back his a sharp object. The cold blade of the sword could be felt through the mans dirty rags and he stopped in his tracks.

"It would be wise to let my friend go," Kite said in an angry tone. The old man opened his hands up letting go of Hawk. The old pilot just walked away some before turning around and getting a punch in on the old man, knocking him out cold.

Kite stared at the old man out cold on the ground while Suhlak slapped his forehead, "You idiot. You weren't supposed to hit him."

"Well no one else was going to shoot or hit him. Might as well get some action in for me," Hawk said as he spitted on him.

"Was that really necessary, Hawk?" Kite said as he rested the sword he had down in the sand, leaning on the handle.

"You kidding? Of course it is. You have to show fear whose boss, not to mention the guy hasn't seen water in ages. I gave him a gift."

"From your mouth?

Suhlak was in his swooper getting his bag, "You two are amusing. Not to mention idiots."

Hawk turned around and looked at Suhlak, "And do you suppose we want to be some up tight swoop racer who can be as moody as a rancor during mating season?"

"Hey! I'm no rancor."

Hawk smirked, "Could have fooled me."

Kite waved his hand, "Ok come on now. We all have are quirks here."

Suhlak took a deep breath, "He has a point."

Hawk rubbed the tip of his nose, "Well I suppose he does. Though I believe you have some explaining Suhlak. There's more then there appears to be."

Suhlak threw his bag over his shoulder, "I'll tell you later. How about a trip off this dust ball? You have a ship right?"

Hawk nodded as he pointed to the hanger outside, "Sure do. Why? Are you inviting yourself for a ride?"

Suhlak nodded, "Sure am."

Hawk sighed though it soon turned into a chuckle, "Well how about you kid? Ready for a ride out of here?"

Kite smiled lightly, "Yeah."

"Well follow me young adventures."

Hawk led the two back outside and down the long empty path. The storm was calming down some and Kite could actually see in front of himself. He had no clue how Suhlak could race in this kind of weather. The hanger was further then Kite had thought and he was tripping a lot in the deeper sand. Suhlak caught his arm several times to keep him standing with his quick relaxes. Kite appreciated the help as he stumbled along the sandy path with Suhlak. The two followed Hawk's lead until they came to one of the many hangers. Hawk inputted some numbers on the panel and the door came hissing open on command. They stepped through the doorway and found themselves standing before a sleek spacecraft. It was obvious a custom job. Kite had never seen such design on any kind of craft of its kind. It was long and slender, having turrets on the top and bottom for defense. Though it had no shine to it and in some sections it was different colors. It looked as if someone had put it together using scrapped metal.

Suhlak laughed lightly, "Wow, what is this thing? It looks like a large magnet that attracted a bit of metal in the garbage heaps."

Hawk laughed, "Well she isn't much to look at, but she's fast and holds up well in a fight."

"I sure hope so."

Kite followed the two up the ramp. He never had been on a ship such as this one. He's been on shuttles, but other then that that was it. He still had the sword from the hanger with him as he ducked his head down some as he stepped fully inside. Kite took a glance around and found the inside wasn't much better. Suhlak looked back to Kite with a light smile, "Thought there be beauty on the inside?"

"I expected something a bit better. . ."

"Ah, will you two stop expecting something from the republic? Suhlak come up and help co-pilot. Kite can assist in the turrets if there's a problem," Hawk turned on his heel and headed up to the controls with Suhlak close behind. Kite turned in the opposite direction and crawled up the narrow latter to the top turret. He took a seat and pulled a head set over his ears, "Alright I'm up."

Hawk was already seated and turning the engines over, "Alright Kite, stay on stand by."

Suhlak was familiar with some of the controls as he began to work on turning the rest of the engines on. He turned in his chair to face the navigation computer, "Where are we going?"

Hawk shrugged, "I thought you had something in mind."

Suhlak face was grim for a moment as he stared at the map silently. Hawk took note to the boys' sudden change in expression. His face was white as if remembering something that had pain him greatly. Suhlak pointed to a planet as he turned to look at Hawk with his clear blue eyes, "Can you go here?"

Hawk leaned over some to see where he was pointing at, "Dantooine? Why there? There's nothing, but farmers there."

"I have. . .a reason to. Now can you go there or not?"

Hawk turned to check the control panel for a moment, "I don't have enough fuel to get us there. We need to go to Corellia first and then we can make the trip to Dantooine."

"Then so be it. Get this hunk of junk up."

Hawk shook his head as he began the take off cycle, "Yes, yes if it isn't one thing its another."

The ship slowly creeped up from the landing bay before it blasted out of the outpost to the atmosphere of the planet. With great speed they soon entered the quiet darkness of space. It was a smooth journey and quick to Suhlak surprise. Corellia was just in there eyesight after several hours of flying. Hawk leaned over to see what Kite was doing, "Hey kid better wake up there. It's going to be a tough ride down."

Kite rubbed his eyes as he pulled the headset closer, "Huh, why?"

"There's been some pirate trouble of late. We have to get past a few ships that they have lingering around."

Suhlak stretched his arms up front, "Let me pilot. I'll get us around."

Hawk switched over the controls, "Have fun. I rather sit back any ways."

Suhlak smirked lightly as he got his hands on the controls. The warning light blinked some, "Alright we have a few ships in range. Get moving on them with the turrets their Kite."

"Gotcha," Kite replied as he turned the guns around and began to take fire.

Suhlak gripped the controls of the ship, "Alright lets see what she can do."

He made a sudden dive right down under one of the ships as they started taking on heavy fire. Suhlak was maneuvering right through the pirates ships strong hold. He made quick turns and then dove away from the range of fire. Swing around to attack again. Hawk had his arms cross as he watched, "Ah, so is this your version of around them?"

"Did I say around them? I mean right through them," Suhlak said as he swung around one of the larger ships. Both ships were taking on heavy damage.

Hawk leaned over to look at the read outs on the shields, "Hmm. . .we're losing power to the rear shields. Such a reckless one you are."

Suhlak looked over to him, "Just need to get around this last ship. And you probably do the same thing old man."

Kite's voice was over the speaker, "The shields are lowering. I don't know how much more it can take. . .oh no I'm losing power I can't . . .ah!!" His voice was cut off all of a sudden. Suhlak was so impulsive that he leaped up from the controls and ran to the turrets. Hawk jumped to the controls just before they hit the tip of the larger ship. Suhlak ran down the metal hall and up the ladder to the top turret. Kite's turret had overloaded and exploded. Leaving burn marks on his hands and head, but other then that he was ok and conscious, "Suhlak?"

"I thought you were dead. Here grab a hold of me and I'll carry you down."

Kite nodded and crawled slowly onto his back. Suhlak carefully walked down to the ground and carried Kite up front to a seat in the cockpit. Hawk glanced to the two as he glided the ship down to Corellia after using a quick thrust of the engines he had manage to sprint out of harms way, "Well we broke through and now we're happily on our way to Coronet. Oh, ho looks like Kite saw some action. You ok?"

Kite nodded, "Yeah I'm fine."

Suhlak took his hand and looked over the wound, "Just some burn marks. Should heal in time."

Hawk patted Kite on the head, "Good shooting. Though our pilot here is going need to spit some credits up for repairs."

Suhlak grabbed the medic kit from the side wall ignoring Hawk, "Oh don't worry I have a plan."