Once again...i do not claim anything except what i started earlier....
Unexpected Allies
"Who would've guessed that this place was so damn far..." Malik huffed as he sprinted behind Kaiba. Taking a brief break while waiting in an elevator, the two contemplated their next move. "OK, we're heading towards the Chancellor's office. I take it there are some aggressive negotiations going on. There are no guards anywhere. I'll go in first, and you'll back me up. There seems to be a lot of tension there." "Kaiba, but--" Malik started to protest, but was cut off as the elevator hissed to a stop. Kaiba hurried ahead, eager to end this problem and search for the princess. Malik sighed and followed.
Walking silently, Kaiba crept up towards the door. Putting his hand on the hilt of the lightsaber, he listened to the conversation taking place. Female and male voices echoed through the corridor. "Let go of me! I demand to be set free!" "I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait." "What kind of government is this?! I am an ambassador, not some rogue Jedi!" At that, Kaiba leapt inside the room, lightsaber ablaze. Malik trudged behind him slowly. Kaiba looked around in surprise at the astonished occupants. A female ambassador in a lovely blue dress sat across from Chancellor Palpatine, obviously discussing something. The ambassador eyed Kaiba warily. "Ahem." Malik said grumpily. Kaiba turned around, and saw his unhappy companion with a 'I-told-you-so' look plastered on his face. Embarrassed, he blushed at his rash actions.
Ignoring him, Malik continued. "Chancellor Palpatine, we apologize greatly for this intrusion, but it is necessary." He paused and took a deep breath. The old man's eyes twinkled. "Do please go on. I want to know why some Jedi apprentices are threatening me and my company with their lightsaber." Thoroughly miserable, Kaiba kept his head down. Taken aback by such a statement, and aware that their reputation was at stake, Malik hastily started explaining. "Well, umm, Chancellor, I, er I mean we, would like to apologize for this interference. We came here on behalf of Yami, the Shian head of Security, who has been mistakenly put into one of your holding cells." The Chancellor eyed the two Padawans suspiciously. "Do you have proof?" He asked. Malik paused for a moment, racking his brain. "Consistency." Kaiba piped up. "When the princess was kidnapped, Yami was already on his way to Courascant. He was accompanying the ambassador, not with the princess. It was a bounty hunter, a shapeshifter that took her, not Yami." Chancellor Palpatine glanced over to Videl. "Is this true, my dear?" Videl nodded sadly. "Yes."
Suddenly, the doors hissed open, and Yami strode in. "Yami!" She exclaimed, rushed towards his side and hugged him. Blushing at such an open response, the two parted. "What do you know of this bounty hunter?" Yami asked. Always the professional and businessman, he was. Malik hung his head, ashamed. "Nothing. And now all of Shi is under invasion!" Videl gasped in shock. 'I must return to my people!" She tried to gather her skirts and leave, but the male company refused to allow her to do so. "Let her go, you shall!" Another voice intervened. The two Jedi froze as once again they heard their master's call. "Master Yoda!" they exclaimed. The small, green Jedi Master glared at Kaiba. "Violence I did not ask for, young Padawan." Feeling abashed, Kaiba hung his head. Turning his attention to far more important matters, Master Yoda smiled at Videl. "She is right, but alone you shall not go." Relieved, Videl sat back down. "And I will go with her!" Yami replied. The old master shook his head. "No, your duty is with the princess. Malik will go instead." Disappointed, but cheerful at being free, Videl ran to the old Jedi master and shook his hand. "Thank you so much, Master Jedi! I will go at once and help my planet!" Grabbing an utterly stunned Malik by the wrist, she bolted out the door. There was a crash as Malik tripped over the over the carpet and collided into the wall. Loud curses followed.
Loud blasts sounded overhead as the two Jedi Knights ran to Shi's aid. Many people had already fled into the forests and mountains for protection while those who couldn't, hid in cellars and other such places. Many armies of droids had already landed, and started rounding up the unfortunate people who could not find shelter in time. Already trying to avoid capture themselves, the Jedi followed the frightened people into the forests. They soon discovered that this was not a good way to go.
A tree stood in the middle of a beaten path, its gnarled woody tentacles writhing in the air in search of enemies. As the Jedi sprinted past it, they were suddenly lifted off the ground. Mace Windu struggled to be free. The whip-like branches squeezed tighter and tighter around them, cutting of their circulation. Trying to get loose, he tried to grab his lightsaber, but was out of luck. Perspiration trickled down his face and neck, and soon the simple task of breathing became a challenge. Oodin had other ideas. Forgetting his lightsaber, he called upon the Force to help him. Calming his thoughts down, he sent little thoughts towards the tree. He was surprised at how much intelligence the tree had. He felt its confusion, and fears at seeing strangers from the outside in its territory. Oodin rubbed his bony hands around the thick branches, attempting to soothe it. It's OK, everything will be all right. We have come to help you. do not fear us. A few moments later, the tree let its prisoners go. The Jedi landed with a hard bump on the ground. Mace stood gratefully in the sunlight, breathing in deeply. However, Oodin faced the tree, giving it a bow of thanks. "Thank you so much. We owe you our lives. May the leaves stay ever green and never fall off!" (a very nice compliment, by the way) In response, the tree shook its leaves and branches in acknowledgment. Walking much more cautiously into the forest, the Jedi see nothing but trees. "Where are all the people?" Oodin wondered. "I sense a great many people here, but I see nothing." Mace nodded in agreement. Without warning, two sharp javelins come shooting through the foliage and land right before the Jedi's feet. Looking up, the pair tried to find their oppressors, but was unsuccessful. Someone shouted in the forest in another language, but when there was no response, it quickly turned to Basic. "Who are you, leras? Why do you come to our forest? Why do you trespass? The üruki surround us and destroy the trees. Who are you?" Taken off guard for a moment, Mace replied. "Show yourselves, we mean no harm, for your guardian at the gate did not kill us." There was no response. "We held up our side of the bargain, now tell us who you are, human!" The two Jedi whirled around in amazement. They did not even hear footsteps nor sense any kind of movement. They stared in surprise at the two tall figures that faced them. They resembled humans in every sort of way, but there was something inhuman about them. Oodin noted that they were at least a foot taller than Mace, one of the tallest human Jedi Masters and their skin and hair was fair and had no blemishes. Their blue eyes were full of wisdom, and their ears, pointed. The two had an air around them that seemed old, but they looked barely twenty in standard years. Pretending that the beautiful creatures did not catch him off guard, Oodin hurriedly introduced himself and Mace. "We are the Jedi, Keepers of Peace. We wish you no harm, but to help you." The other two eyed each other, then laughed. "We don't need any human help, or a strangers. But you are in our realm, and have intruded on our rules. We will take you to our king, and maybe he will sort your gibberish. Come now." Quite abruptly the figure broke off and bound the Jedi's hands and covered their eyes with a strip of cloth. "Do not worry, we will not let you stumble and make you fall, for the roads are smooth. Don't take off the bindings, lest it be your own doom." With that, the creatures took the Jedi and went deeper into the forest.
Cat lay still on the floor, her head spinning. Warm blood trickled down her face. The cyborg stood before her triumphantly. She groaned as she tried to get up, her whole body aching. A cyborg brought her force pike down on Cat. Pain sent her crashing down to her knees. The last thing she remembered was seeing Lesha confronting Joey.
Lesha jumped up happily, as she was relieved to be out of the chair. Surveying her surroundings, she was horrified at the cruel treatment of her former captor. Joey walked up to her, smiling. "I am here at your service, your Highness." Looking over towards Cat, she complained, "Let her go. She didn't hurt me that much....for a bounty hunter." Two men appeared behind her and grabbed her by the arm. "Let go of me!" She protested. To everyone's surprise, she managed to push off the guards. Feeling confident, she yelled, "I'm not getting here without a fight!", her fists up and ready for battle. Joey reached into his holster and put a blaster to her forehead. That confidence feeling soon washed away. "I surrender!" she put up her hands in defeat. Laughing, Joey grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her out into the walkway. "Ta-ta, kitty-cat! Now I get the princess and your ship. Too bad you won't be alive to appreciate it!" With that, he snatched Lesha and wrapped her in his arms, but not before a grimace of pain appeared on his face. Cat's stubbornness had done that much damage. The doors hissed shut as a temporary elevator tube connected his ship to hers sent the two into his ship.
The cyborg grabbed the unconscious Cat by her hair and hauled her to a table. "Can't wait to see this one go!" she said to her companion. Slowly, but painfully Cat started regaining her consciousness. Her head spinning, her eyelids flicked open for a moment. Neither of the cyborgs noticed. The pounding in her temples grew louder, until she couldn't stand it any more. It took all of her strength and training to not cry out in pain. When she raised her head cautiously, a sharp pain in her made her release her breath in a hiss. The cyborgs looked down at her in surprise. "What th--?" one them never got to finish her statement as a Cat rammed a small dagger in her face. The body and bloody face fell to the ground, twisting and turning in the most grotesque way as life seeped out from her. "That is for me!" Without pausing, she punched the other one in the face with renewed fury. The cyborg fell to the floor and rubbed her face, glaring at Cat. "Your death is at hand, human!" She yelled, charging at Cat. "Not mine, but yours." She replied calmly, her hands glowing, as if on fire. The other faced her, smiling grimly. "Your little magic tricks won't work on me, elf." "Damn", thought Cat. "She knows of my past.' Time to put an end to this. "You know too much, cyborg, too much. I want you to know the meaning of silent as the grave." With that, she unleashed her lethal blasts, obliterating the cyborg. Only a few carbon ashes remained of the cyborg. Astonished, the other cyborg tried to run away, tripping over the body of her dead companion. Without warning, Cat released a barrage of fireballs at her. She had no chance. Her body fell smoking and shuddering, with circuits on the fritz. Cat leaned heavily on the table after she finished her ordeal. Sirens started shrieking, hurting her ears. "Dammit.." she said under her breath, but a good bounty hunter never hesitates. Knowing that if Joey discovered her alive, piloting her ship, he would most definitely blow up both her and the ship. It didn't take a genius to figure out that he had already used and ion cannon on her, freezing the ship's systems. Time for a much more desperate plan. She cautiously, but hurriedly, opened the trap door under the table where she smuggled her stuff. Teá's screaming face looked up at her. 'Glad to see you're still around.' Cat replied, and shoved the carbonite tray over to squeeze though. She closed the door and was immediately enveloped in an eerie darkness. That didn't bother Cat, she always liked the dark. Her pupils dilated to allow her to see. Using her heightened senses of touch, smell, hearing, and sight, she climbed through the honeycomb of vaults and cubicles to where she kept the most secret of stuff. Even if Joey came down here himself with all his fancy electronics, he couldn't find his way through, or any of her loot. Creeping down through the tunnels, after replacing a false bottom to the hideout she made, and half -dragging the carbonized Teá. She thanked the stars that she had added cushioning to muffle the noises. Finally, the dark tunnel came to a dead end. A hatch lay just before her. "Yes!" she whispered gleefully. "I did it, I actually did it!" twisting and turning, air hissed as the pressure was relieved. "I'll come back for you later." She told the frozen Teá. Before slipping through, she ran her super-sensitive fingers across the durasteel wall. She found a hairline crack and dug her nails into it. A drawer slid out, smooth as oil, holding a bag full of something. Anxiously, she opened it. There were hundreds of precious and semi-precious gems as well as very rare bits and pieces of metal along with enough credits to get her stuff. Only a couple of meters above her, footsteps thundered loudly, trying to make sense of all this mess. "Time to go!" Cat slid down the hatch and into a pilot's seat. "All systems are on-line! R-4, close the hatch please!" A red astromech droid beeped in reply, sealing the hatch. The tiny ship broke loose and floated down into space. "Set coordinates for Courascant." She called out. R-4 answered in a series of beeps and whistles, assuring her that they were leaving in a couple of moments. Cat grinned. By the time they realized she was gone, she would've already been halfway across the galaxy by now. The hyperdrive powered up, humming loudly. "Here we goooo!" she yelled as the Jedi starfighter launched itself into hyperspace.
Kaiba stared at Master Yoda in amazement. "I will go and find the princess, Master, and stop this madness." He said finally. "And I will go too!" Yami added. Hiding a look of disgust and feelings of shame about working with a security guard, he nodded in agreement. "I have some contacts here in Courascant in the lower levels. There's bound to be someone that knows about bounty hunters. And I know just the man. C'mon, Kaiba! I'll show you!" Walking briskly out the door, both young men start on their search. Yami led Kaiba to a small, air taxi, and piloted it himself. Grabbing a mysterious-looking box, he handed it to Kaiba. "Here, put these on. It won't do you any good down here to look like a Jedi. No one will talk to you." Kaiba nodded his thanks and opened the box. Inside, a thick poncho made from some sort of animal hide, a black eye patch, and some strange bracelets. "What the hell is this?!" Yami smiled. "You are going to be one of the tree-handlers that also works for security on Shi. I hope you don't mind, cause that's all I have. Now, sit tight!" Nervously, Kaiba held onto the sides of the air taxi. (similar to the one Anakin and Obi-Wan had) It turned out to be a good idea, because just then, Yami did a plummeting drop about hundred kilometers, down to the lower levels. A bump and a screech of metal later, they finally stopped. "Kaiba, you can let go now." Yami said gently. Kaiba blinked a few times and took several deep breaths before he realized how hard he was holding on to the taxi and that he was holding his breath. "You OK?" Regaining his standing, he replied to Yami's question, "I am fine", in that deadpan manner of his and scrambled out of the taxi with what dignity he had left. "Welcome to the Black Hole, a place packed with information sucked from the outside world. Also a restaurant and bar. Watch your step. These people are not to be taken lightly." Yami said with authority. Kaiba glared at him. "I am a Jedi, I know exactly how to work with these kinds of people. You don't have to tell me anything." Yami sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "OK, but do me one last favor." "What?" "Shut up!" And with that, Yami went into the Black Hole. Kaiba hurried after him.
"How many items of clothing do you posses?" Malik asked Videl, wide- eyed. Piles and piles of garments littered the room. "We are going to war, not to some social dinner. Don't you have any...fighting clothes?" Videl glared at the irritating Jedi apprentice. "Maybe we'll sell them and build an army." She replied coldly. "Why didn't you ask the Senate for permission with the use of the Clone Army?" Malik asked, hoping to change the subject. Videl folded some more clothes before answering. "It takes too long for them to agree on anything. Besides, we're not part of the Republic, and everybody's afraid that we're going to join the Separatists instead. So we're not going to get any help; it's a miracle that we even got Jedi help." "I guess the politics were more complicated than I expected." Malik sighed and grabbed a bag stuffed with who knows what. "Of course. Why else do you think most Senators and ambassadors and other such people get so grouchy all the time?" She grinned and snatched another bag off the bed. Malik wondered if she was flirting with him. "Uhh...what ship are we taking anyway?" Videl's eyes sparkled as she told him. "The Moonshine Express!" she exclaimed dreamily. She looked over towards Malik and his stunned silence. "Wh-what did you say?" "The Moonshine Express. Why do you look like you've seen a ghost spyder?" All the blood vanished from his face. "Why the hell are you taking a luxury cruise ship when we are going to war?" he finally asked when he managed to find his voice. "Well, silly, we had to get to Shi somehow. Look, I have no idea what's buggin' you, but one of my friends, an expert pilot, has volunteered to take us to the planet at one of the stops. Don't worry. I've got everything under control. Sheesh, I thought Jedi were more idealistic than this. I didn't see you offer any ideas. C'mon, you're going to make us late." Videl hurried out the doorway. Malik rolled his eyes. Figures that he'd be put with such a girl. Yells of hurry up convinced him that now was not the time to tarry. To be continued...... Thanks for any reviews...advice is always welcome...
Unexpected Allies
"Who would've guessed that this place was so damn far..." Malik huffed as he sprinted behind Kaiba. Taking a brief break while waiting in an elevator, the two contemplated their next move. "OK, we're heading towards the Chancellor's office. I take it there are some aggressive negotiations going on. There are no guards anywhere. I'll go in first, and you'll back me up. There seems to be a lot of tension there." "Kaiba, but--" Malik started to protest, but was cut off as the elevator hissed to a stop. Kaiba hurried ahead, eager to end this problem and search for the princess. Malik sighed and followed.
Walking silently, Kaiba crept up towards the door. Putting his hand on the hilt of the lightsaber, he listened to the conversation taking place. Female and male voices echoed through the corridor. "Let go of me! I demand to be set free!" "I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait." "What kind of government is this?! I am an ambassador, not some rogue Jedi!" At that, Kaiba leapt inside the room, lightsaber ablaze. Malik trudged behind him slowly. Kaiba looked around in surprise at the astonished occupants. A female ambassador in a lovely blue dress sat across from Chancellor Palpatine, obviously discussing something. The ambassador eyed Kaiba warily. "Ahem." Malik said grumpily. Kaiba turned around, and saw his unhappy companion with a 'I-told-you-so' look plastered on his face. Embarrassed, he blushed at his rash actions.
Ignoring him, Malik continued. "Chancellor Palpatine, we apologize greatly for this intrusion, but it is necessary." He paused and took a deep breath. The old man's eyes twinkled. "Do please go on. I want to know why some Jedi apprentices are threatening me and my company with their lightsaber." Thoroughly miserable, Kaiba kept his head down. Taken aback by such a statement, and aware that their reputation was at stake, Malik hastily started explaining. "Well, umm, Chancellor, I, er I mean we, would like to apologize for this interference. We came here on behalf of Yami, the Shian head of Security, who has been mistakenly put into one of your holding cells." The Chancellor eyed the two Padawans suspiciously. "Do you have proof?" He asked. Malik paused for a moment, racking his brain. "Consistency." Kaiba piped up. "When the princess was kidnapped, Yami was already on his way to Courascant. He was accompanying the ambassador, not with the princess. It was a bounty hunter, a shapeshifter that took her, not Yami." Chancellor Palpatine glanced over to Videl. "Is this true, my dear?" Videl nodded sadly. "Yes."
Suddenly, the doors hissed open, and Yami strode in. "Yami!" She exclaimed, rushed towards his side and hugged him. Blushing at such an open response, the two parted. "What do you know of this bounty hunter?" Yami asked. Always the professional and businessman, he was. Malik hung his head, ashamed. "Nothing. And now all of Shi is under invasion!" Videl gasped in shock. 'I must return to my people!" She tried to gather her skirts and leave, but the male company refused to allow her to do so. "Let her go, you shall!" Another voice intervened. The two Jedi froze as once again they heard their master's call. "Master Yoda!" they exclaimed. The small, green Jedi Master glared at Kaiba. "Violence I did not ask for, young Padawan." Feeling abashed, Kaiba hung his head. Turning his attention to far more important matters, Master Yoda smiled at Videl. "She is right, but alone you shall not go." Relieved, Videl sat back down. "And I will go with her!" Yami replied. The old master shook his head. "No, your duty is with the princess. Malik will go instead." Disappointed, but cheerful at being free, Videl ran to the old Jedi master and shook his hand. "Thank you so much, Master Jedi! I will go at once and help my planet!" Grabbing an utterly stunned Malik by the wrist, she bolted out the door. There was a crash as Malik tripped over the over the carpet and collided into the wall. Loud curses followed.
Loud blasts sounded overhead as the two Jedi Knights ran to Shi's aid. Many people had already fled into the forests and mountains for protection while those who couldn't, hid in cellars and other such places. Many armies of droids had already landed, and started rounding up the unfortunate people who could not find shelter in time. Already trying to avoid capture themselves, the Jedi followed the frightened people into the forests. They soon discovered that this was not a good way to go.
A tree stood in the middle of a beaten path, its gnarled woody tentacles writhing in the air in search of enemies. As the Jedi sprinted past it, they were suddenly lifted off the ground. Mace Windu struggled to be free. The whip-like branches squeezed tighter and tighter around them, cutting of their circulation. Trying to get loose, he tried to grab his lightsaber, but was out of luck. Perspiration trickled down his face and neck, and soon the simple task of breathing became a challenge. Oodin had other ideas. Forgetting his lightsaber, he called upon the Force to help him. Calming his thoughts down, he sent little thoughts towards the tree. He was surprised at how much intelligence the tree had. He felt its confusion, and fears at seeing strangers from the outside in its territory. Oodin rubbed his bony hands around the thick branches, attempting to soothe it. It's OK, everything will be all right. We have come to help you. do not fear us. A few moments later, the tree let its prisoners go. The Jedi landed with a hard bump on the ground. Mace stood gratefully in the sunlight, breathing in deeply. However, Oodin faced the tree, giving it a bow of thanks. "Thank you so much. We owe you our lives. May the leaves stay ever green and never fall off!" (a very nice compliment, by the way) In response, the tree shook its leaves and branches in acknowledgment. Walking much more cautiously into the forest, the Jedi see nothing but trees. "Where are all the people?" Oodin wondered. "I sense a great many people here, but I see nothing." Mace nodded in agreement. Without warning, two sharp javelins come shooting through the foliage and land right before the Jedi's feet. Looking up, the pair tried to find their oppressors, but was unsuccessful. Someone shouted in the forest in another language, but when there was no response, it quickly turned to Basic. "Who are you, leras? Why do you come to our forest? Why do you trespass? The üruki surround us and destroy the trees. Who are you?" Taken off guard for a moment, Mace replied. "Show yourselves, we mean no harm, for your guardian at the gate did not kill us." There was no response. "We held up our side of the bargain, now tell us who you are, human!" The two Jedi whirled around in amazement. They did not even hear footsteps nor sense any kind of movement. They stared in surprise at the two tall figures that faced them. They resembled humans in every sort of way, but there was something inhuman about them. Oodin noted that they were at least a foot taller than Mace, one of the tallest human Jedi Masters and their skin and hair was fair and had no blemishes. Their blue eyes were full of wisdom, and their ears, pointed. The two had an air around them that seemed old, but they looked barely twenty in standard years. Pretending that the beautiful creatures did not catch him off guard, Oodin hurriedly introduced himself and Mace. "We are the Jedi, Keepers of Peace. We wish you no harm, but to help you." The other two eyed each other, then laughed. "We don't need any human help, or a strangers. But you are in our realm, and have intruded on our rules. We will take you to our king, and maybe he will sort your gibberish. Come now." Quite abruptly the figure broke off and bound the Jedi's hands and covered their eyes with a strip of cloth. "Do not worry, we will not let you stumble and make you fall, for the roads are smooth. Don't take off the bindings, lest it be your own doom." With that, the creatures took the Jedi and went deeper into the forest.
Cat lay still on the floor, her head spinning. Warm blood trickled down her face. The cyborg stood before her triumphantly. She groaned as she tried to get up, her whole body aching. A cyborg brought her force pike down on Cat. Pain sent her crashing down to her knees. The last thing she remembered was seeing Lesha confronting Joey.
Lesha jumped up happily, as she was relieved to be out of the chair. Surveying her surroundings, she was horrified at the cruel treatment of her former captor. Joey walked up to her, smiling. "I am here at your service, your Highness." Looking over towards Cat, she complained, "Let her go. She didn't hurt me that much....for a bounty hunter." Two men appeared behind her and grabbed her by the arm. "Let go of me!" She protested. To everyone's surprise, she managed to push off the guards. Feeling confident, she yelled, "I'm not getting here without a fight!", her fists up and ready for battle. Joey reached into his holster and put a blaster to her forehead. That confidence feeling soon washed away. "I surrender!" she put up her hands in defeat. Laughing, Joey grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her out into the walkway. "Ta-ta, kitty-cat! Now I get the princess and your ship. Too bad you won't be alive to appreciate it!" With that, he snatched Lesha and wrapped her in his arms, but not before a grimace of pain appeared on his face. Cat's stubbornness had done that much damage. The doors hissed shut as a temporary elevator tube connected his ship to hers sent the two into his ship.
The cyborg grabbed the unconscious Cat by her hair and hauled her to a table. "Can't wait to see this one go!" she said to her companion. Slowly, but painfully Cat started regaining her consciousness. Her head spinning, her eyelids flicked open for a moment. Neither of the cyborgs noticed. The pounding in her temples grew louder, until she couldn't stand it any more. It took all of her strength and training to not cry out in pain. When she raised her head cautiously, a sharp pain in her made her release her breath in a hiss. The cyborgs looked down at her in surprise. "What th--?" one them never got to finish her statement as a Cat rammed a small dagger in her face. The body and bloody face fell to the ground, twisting and turning in the most grotesque way as life seeped out from her. "That is for me!" Without pausing, she punched the other one in the face with renewed fury. The cyborg fell to the floor and rubbed her face, glaring at Cat. "Your death is at hand, human!" She yelled, charging at Cat. "Not mine, but yours." She replied calmly, her hands glowing, as if on fire. The other faced her, smiling grimly. "Your little magic tricks won't work on me, elf." "Damn", thought Cat. "She knows of my past.' Time to put an end to this. "You know too much, cyborg, too much. I want you to know the meaning of silent as the grave." With that, she unleashed her lethal blasts, obliterating the cyborg. Only a few carbon ashes remained of the cyborg. Astonished, the other cyborg tried to run away, tripping over the body of her dead companion. Without warning, Cat released a barrage of fireballs at her. She had no chance. Her body fell smoking and shuddering, with circuits on the fritz. Cat leaned heavily on the table after she finished her ordeal. Sirens started shrieking, hurting her ears. "Dammit.." she said under her breath, but a good bounty hunter never hesitates. Knowing that if Joey discovered her alive, piloting her ship, he would most definitely blow up both her and the ship. It didn't take a genius to figure out that he had already used and ion cannon on her, freezing the ship's systems. Time for a much more desperate plan. She cautiously, but hurriedly, opened the trap door under the table where she smuggled her stuff. Teá's screaming face looked up at her. 'Glad to see you're still around.' Cat replied, and shoved the carbonite tray over to squeeze though. She closed the door and was immediately enveloped in an eerie darkness. That didn't bother Cat, she always liked the dark. Her pupils dilated to allow her to see. Using her heightened senses of touch, smell, hearing, and sight, she climbed through the honeycomb of vaults and cubicles to where she kept the most secret of stuff. Even if Joey came down here himself with all his fancy electronics, he couldn't find his way through, or any of her loot. Creeping down through the tunnels, after replacing a false bottom to the hideout she made, and half -dragging the carbonized Teá. She thanked the stars that she had added cushioning to muffle the noises. Finally, the dark tunnel came to a dead end. A hatch lay just before her. "Yes!" she whispered gleefully. "I did it, I actually did it!" twisting and turning, air hissed as the pressure was relieved. "I'll come back for you later." She told the frozen Teá. Before slipping through, she ran her super-sensitive fingers across the durasteel wall. She found a hairline crack and dug her nails into it. A drawer slid out, smooth as oil, holding a bag full of something. Anxiously, she opened it. There were hundreds of precious and semi-precious gems as well as very rare bits and pieces of metal along with enough credits to get her stuff. Only a couple of meters above her, footsteps thundered loudly, trying to make sense of all this mess. "Time to go!" Cat slid down the hatch and into a pilot's seat. "All systems are on-line! R-4, close the hatch please!" A red astromech droid beeped in reply, sealing the hatch. The tiny ship broke loose and floated down into space. "Set coordinates for Courascant." She called out. R-4 answered in a series of beeps and whistles, assuring her that they were leaving in a couple of moments. Cat grinned. By the time they realized she was gone, she would've already been halfway across the galaxy by now. The hyperdrive powered up, humming loudly. "Here we goooo!" she yelled as the Jedi starfighter launched itself into hyperspace.
Kaiba stared at Master Yoda in amazement. "I will go and find the princess, Master, and stop this madness." He said finally. "And I will go too!" Yami added. Hiding a look of disgust and feelings of shame about working with a security guard, he nodded in agreement. "I have some contacts here in Courascant in the lower levels. There's bound to be someone that knows about bounty hunters. And I know just the man. C'mon, Kaiba! I'll show you!" Walking briskly out the door, both young men start on their search. Yami led Kaiba to a small, air taxi, and piloted it himself. Grabbing a mysterious-looking box, he handed it to Kaiba. "Here, put these on. It won't do you any good down here to look like a Jedi. No one will talk to you." Kaiba nodded his thanks and opened the box. Inside, a thick poncho made from some sort of animal hide, a black eye patch, and some strange bracelets. "What the hell is this?!" Yami smiled. "You are going to be one of the tree-handlers that also works for security on Shi. I hope you don't mind, cause that's all I have. Now, sit tight!" Nervously, Kaiba held onto the sides of the air taxi. (similar to the one Anakin and Obi-Wan had) It turned out to be a good idea, because just then, Yami did a plummeting drop about hundred kilometers, down to the lower levels. A bump and a screech of metal later, they finally stopped. "Kaiba, you can let go now." Yami said gently. Kaiba blinked a few times and took several deep breaths before he realized how hard he was holding on to the taxi and that he was holding his breath. "You OK?" Regaining his standing, he replied to Yami's question, "I am fine", in that deadpan manner of his and scrambled out of the taxi with what dignity he had left. "Welcome to the Black Hole, a place packed with information sucked from the outside world. Also a restaurant and bar. Watch your step. These people are not to be taken lightly." Yami said with authority. Kaiba glared at him. "I am a Jedi, I know exactly how to work with these kinds of people. You don't have to tell me anything." Yami sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "OK, but do me one last favor." "What?" "Shut up!" And with that, Yami went into the Black Hole. Kaiba hurried after him.
"How many items of clothing do you posses?" Malik asked Videl, wide- eyed. Piles and piles of garments littered the room. "We are going to war, not to some social dinner. Don't you have any...fighting clothes?" Videl glared at the irritating Jedi apprentice. "Maybe we'll sell them and build an army." She replied coldly. "Why didn't you ask the Senate for permission with the use of the Clone Army?" Malik asked, hoping to change the subject. Videl folded some more clothes before answering. "It takes too long for them to agree on anything. Besides, we're not part of the Republic, and everybody's afraid that we're going to join the Separatists instead. So we're not going to get any help; it's a miracle that we even got Jedi help." "I guess the politics were more complicated than I expected." Malik sighed and grabbed a bag stuffed with who knows what. "Of course. Why else do you think most Senators and ambassadors and other such people get so grouchy all the time?" She grinned and snatched another bag off the bed. Malik wondered if she was flirting with him. "Uhh...what ship are we taking anyway?" Videl's eyes sparkled as she told him. "The Moonshine Express!" she exclaimed dreamily. She looked over towards Malik and his stunned silence. "Wh-what did you say?" "The Moonshine Express. Why do you look like you've seen a ghost spyder?" All the blood vanished from his face. "Why the hell are you taking a luxury cruise ship when we are going to war?" he finally asked when he managed to find his voice. "Well, silly, we had to get to Shi somehow. Look, I have no idea what's buggin' you, but one of my friends, an expert pilot, has volunteered to take us to the planet at one of the stops. Don't worry. I've got everything under control. Sheesh, I thought Jedi were more idealistic than this. I didn't see you offer any ideas. C'mon, you're going to make us late." Videl hurried out the doorway. Malik rolled his eyes. Figures that he'd be put with such a girl. Yells of hurry up convinced him that now was not the time to tarry. To be continued...... Thanks for any reviews...advice is always welcome...