Disclaimer: **WHILE SINGING** oh, I don't own sat wars, I don't own Star Wars, cause if I owned star wars, I'd be really rich!
A/N: Thanks for reading guys, the serious story line is a bit from here, but the action is picking up here in the next chapter!
-Out of the Darkness-
Chapter 8: Disappearing Act
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Mission
We had finally reached Telos. For such a small planet, it seemed very busy. We landed in a very busy spaceport, it was full of people, loading and unloading goods for the last stages of reconstruction. So many different People, it seemed like a very place to get lost in. T3 plugged into a nearby information port, and loaded any information he could about the planet, which may have been pointless, since we happened to have a Telosian in our party.
"From the looks of it, Revan, the Dokata 400 is today…"
"In BASIC, please, Mission," Revan whined.
"The Dokata 400 is a race-one of the biggest annual swoop races that Telos has. The purse tends to be huge-how much is it this year Mission?" Carth responded. We just stared at him for a few moments.
"What? I grew up here, I think I would know about the Dokata 400."
"Well, Carth, lemme put it this way, in all the swoop races I've ever seen, I have NEVER seen them give away this many credits-EVER."
Revan perked up, and jumped down from the table she was sitting on. She had a fire in her eyes, a burning vigor that only a fool would try and stop. She had been baited on the idea of riding the swoop, and now she was hooked, and quickly being reeled in.
"Well what are we waiting for, then? Lets get to it!" she yelled, "Mission and Canderous can get the bike down to the track, while I go sign up. Hey, don't pout, guys, I have to sign up I'm the driver! And you think I'd trust one of the others ten seconds with the bike? Lets face it, they probably couldn't tell the difference between a particle accelerator and an ashtray. I don't even wanna hear it Jolee! You're too old to handle it! As for the rest of this fine crew," she said turning to the others, "you're free for the day-just meet back at the track before the race starts." With that, she quickly disappeared down the loading ramp, and Carth quickly tried to escape as well.
"Where are you off in such a hurry Carth?"
"Well, Mission, I'm home for the first time in years, I've got some business to take care of."
"Fine-just don't be late for the race. It's been a while since Revan's been in the cock pit of one of those bikes, I'm sure she wants you there for support."
Carth turned around, a twinkle in his eye and smiled at me, "Mission, I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"So are you gonna help me find a way to move this bike, or are you gonna sit there goofing off and talking to Mr. Republic there?"
I turned around quickly, no doubt blushing the deepest shade of purple imaginable, to find Canderous leaned against the edge of the bike, looking irritable. I suppose I should have been more concerned with work than Carth, but somebody's gotta make sure he keeps his act together. If he missed that race, Revan would flip.
"OH, in the name of the force! It was only a minute, Canderous! Patience is a virtue, ya' know!"
"Stuff it, you're starting to sound like those damned Jedi."
"Are all Mandalorians this obnoxious?"
"Nope, just me, now we've got some serious work to do. We're gonna take this bike, and hook it up to one of those speeders that we rented…"
"Or I could ride it down there…"
"No way, Blue, that little things a fine piece of work, no way in heaven or hell will you ride that baby down to the track."
I pout in vain, as we hitch the bike up to the speeder, and in no time, we make it to the track. Its huge, I think, to have been built within the past 5 years… We unhook the speeder, and head down to the track, and it wasn't long before we were greeted by a tall green Twi' lek man with a pair of rather ugly Gammorian bodyguards. For such a rich man, you'd think his bodyguard would be able to afford a bath. Maybe it was their smell that kept the bad guys away, I wouldn't wanna touch those guys with a 10-foot bantha prod.
"Excuse me, but I was instructed by Kalbunta to lead you to your racer's temporary garage. This way please."
"Pssst! Who the heck is Kalbunta?" I whispered to Canderous.
"He's a Hutt who runs 'things' down here on Telos-back before the quarantine, I got a few bounties for him-one scary slug, lemme tell ya'…"
We were led to our garage, which was a little more than a hole in the wall, where we found Revan, sitting at the door, waiting. But what shocked me is that she was sitting there with a sewing kit, meticulously working on something that sat in her lap. Her form was bent over it, as her eyes were squinted and focused on her fingers as she gingerly dipped the needle over and under, over and under, in a repetitive cycle. Her messy hair hung in her face, veiling her eyes that did not once leave her work. In her focus, she had begun to chew her lower lip, a strange little quirk that we had all noticed over our time together. We watched her another moment, as she focused all of her attention on making each of the stitches as evenly as possible. I sat there, wondering what was going on, while Canderous had another method.
"REVAN? What in the hell are you doing? Sewing a lovely little quilt to make the Ebon Hawk a little cozier? Sewing while Blue and me are over here, busting our asses off loading the swoop down here? I hope you have a decent explanation for this, cause odd doesn't even begin to explain how weird this is…"
"I'm working…she mumbled, her eyes never once lifting from her work. An instant later, she pulled the thread up to her mouth and cut it in her teeth, and help up the old swoop racing uniform she had worn for the Hidden Becks a lifetime ago on Taris. Only…it was different…certain things had been removed, added, patches had been replaced, but there was no doubt in my mind exactly what that was.
"Alright, woman, you've been working on the uniform, why?"
She put on a ridiculous smirk, and replied sarcastically, "well, ya know, I tried it on and it kinda makes my but look big."
Canderous busted out in rolls of laughter, "hey, I never had a problem with it, plenty to look at." Revan chucked a data pad at him, smacking him Right Square in the nose.
"What the hell is this?"
"Special rules in the Dokata 400, check out article four, paragraph three…"
"What the…"
"Some of the things on my uniform are considered illegal in this race, and so I had to make a few modifications or else we'd get disqualified!"
"Oh…." I replied, "Well, ya did a fantastic job."
"Thanks-but there's more unusual rules-in this race, I only get one heat- if I screw it up, then I loose-plain and simple."
"One shot? That's crazy!"
She smiled, "hasn't everything we've done been a little crazy?"
She was right-we had been through more insane things in the past-heck, the first race she ever rode in was over a matter of life and death-the prize was Bastilla. I still think we were cheated-if anything, Bastilla should have been given to the loosing team-worst prize that I ever heard of. Then there was our whole mess with star forge. Come to think, the idea that having one run in a swoop race was out-of-the-ordinary, was almost appalling in retrospect. I suppose she can handle it. I toss the swoop jacket at her, aiming at the back of her head, but before it hits the target, she reaches behind her and catches it, with out even looking up.
"Nice try, Mission"
I sigh. I suppose it was stupid of me to try and pull a little prank like that on a Jedi. I start polishing the hood of the swoop bike-though it is a pointless effort, since it is already shining like a mirror. A loud voice rings out over the intercom, "All swoopers please report to the starting line to receive the order in which they will be racing."
Revan tossed the jacket right back at me. "Mission, there are two metal rings on the right shoulder-could you please remove them? I don't have time to right now."
"Sure thing."
"You know, Revan, if the uniform is illegal, I know another option that you might wanna try."
"What's that, Canderous?"
"Drive naked."
She threw a box of bolts right square in his face, and jogged down to the track. I picked up her sewing kit, and tried with little success to remove the metal rings without ruining the cherished garment. Canderous whined and complained about me being lazy, and slacking off to do easy jobs, but I didn't listen to the old Mandalorian. I just sat there in the back of the tiny garage, trying to make my stitches as evenly as possible-I had never learned to sew, on Taris, if my tunic got ripped, it would stay ripped until I could afford a new one. An hour later, Revan reappeared.
"Luck is with us guys-we drew last run…"
"Hey, 'we'? The only people who should ever use the word we are kings and people who have worms, and I know you're not a king…"
"Hey Mission-SHUT YOUR FACE!" Revan laughed, "the races start up in about an hour, so Canderous, you should start prepping the engines or something-Mission, you can go with me to get changed."
"What, is she gonna go to watch or something? No fair, I'm comin' too…"
This time I threw something at him. We began walking to a closed off area where she could go to put on her uniform. We would have used a locker room, but since there are so few female racers, they didn't have one.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, "I know you must kind of enjoy swoop racing, but surely there's some reason-it can't be for a thrill, with all you've been through lately, swooping must be like riding a merry-go-round by now."
She smiled, "Its for you guys. When I ride in these stupid races, everyone, even Jolee gets filled with this energy, this light…just seeing all of you so exited is enough to make me want to race. Of course, the great big prizes never seem to hurt either…"
"Hey, I think Carth is even impressed by your flying skills-as a pilot, it's to be expected though."
She blushed a bright shade of red, and quickly zipped up the jacket all the way up to her neck. She fidgeted as she pulled the bottom of it down to where it fit her properly, and she slipped on her driving gloves, and put on a pair of black racing boots.
"Why would I care what Carth Onasi thinks?" she said, her voice shaking slightly, in fear that I may find out what was o obvious, afraid that I would learn what I already knew.
"Oh, Revan, don't even get me started. I've sent the way you two look at each other."
"What are you trying to say, Mission? The Council discourages attachments…"
"Bantha Crap! In the name of the republic, you're starting to sound like Bastila! You and I both know that you don't give a crap what the Council thinks."
"What is this an interrogation?"
"Just say it, and I'll leave you alone."
"Fine then, Mission, I've fallen in love with the man, ok? I'm absolutely crazy about him."
"I thought so." I said with a smile.
"Congratulations. You get a cookie. Oh, no I better head down to the track-I'll meet ya after the race!"
"DON'T FORGET YOUR LUCKY "JERRY THE CUDDLY EWOK" DOLL!" I yell at her laughing. She never turned around; she just made an obscene gesture with her hand, and then a quick flick of her wrist. I felt an unseen force sweep under my legs like a mighty wind, and it knocks me flat on my rear. It was really, really stupid of me to make fun of a Jedi.
She ran off to go find Canderous and the bike. I stood there for a moment as she ran further and further away. I hope to the force she wins. I run off to meet up in the stands with the others, when I see Bastila waving her arms like a child, trying to get my attention. I flop down right next to her.
"What's the time to beat?
"52.22"
We all jump up and cheer when we see Revan approach the staring line. I feel my stomach tighten up as the tension builds. Revan hops into the swoop, then turns around and winks. That cocky little womprat. The lights start to blink, and the bike takes off. I hold my breath and cross my fingers as the bike accelerates faster and faster, and the seconds slowly tick away. We watch as she dodges, bobs and weaves, piloting with a beautiful accuracy, like a swan in the water. She crosses the line, and I check the clock. 45.45. The crowd explodes. We scream with joy, and rush her to shower her in our congratulations. We give her hugs, and totally flip with excitement. I look around at our smiling bunch, but I notice we are missing one. Where is Carth?
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A/N: YES! YES YES YES! I AM ON SOMEONE'S FAVORITE AUTHOR'S LIST! YEE-HAW! THANK YOU OZZIEGRL5, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEW AS WELL! Thank you arrow maker! I can always count on a review from you! I will be posting the next chapter soon, I think I've done a good job of getting them up, don't ya think?