Newest Chapter: 5
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Zekk and Jaina exchanged glances. After traveling to the planet in a cargo hold, they had been transported to a large sand-colored city on the planet of Tattoine. More than once, while their sluggish guards weren't looking, they could have escaped. However, both Jaina and Zekk knew that if they left now, it would be possibly years before they ever caught up with Yurric or the twins again. As tempting as their freedom was, they withdrew from it.
Now they were in a dark room, with countless other alien species. It was hot, sweaty, and slimy. The smell was of sweaty bodies, and Jaina could feel the perspiration on her forehead. They had been separated from Anakin since the landing of the freighter. Jaina was already worried about him, and wondered just how dangerous those podraces actually were.
Suddenly, there was a commotion, and several guards burst into the large, cage-filled room. They were dragging a protesting Anakin Solo behind.
"But I won! Unhand me you morons!" Anakin was thrown into Jaina and Zekk's adjacent cell, and the slavers slammed the door. "Where's my blasted food!"
Jaina walked over to the bars separating her and her little brother. "Anakin, what's going on?"
"I don't know. I don't know why I'm here anyway." Anakin sat down, almost pouting.
"Where are we?" Zekk asked, coming up and putting his hands on the bars.
Anakin looked up at him. "You are a sith-spit. This is the arena."
Jaina and Zekk looked at each other. Jaina turned back to Anakin, who was rubbing his stomach. "How long before the fights begin?"
Anakin scratched his head. "It starts an hour after the races. So I'd guess about now." For once, the old Anakin reemerged, and he looked up at his older sister. "Don't worry Jaina, you guys aren't the first on the list. I think you're like...the seventh. You know, Yurric wants to keep the best for last."
Zekk frowned. "Well that's comforting."
Anakin looked at him, and shrugged.
Jaina paused, wondering just what they were going to do. That's when the wall on the far side of the large room began to rise. The guards saw it and left promptly. From the sandy floor. Mettle pipes started to lift up. It all started to make sense, and Jaina was amazed at the technical ingenuity that it must have taken to conceive an arena where humans and aliens would actually be forced out to the game. There was no rough-handling of jailors, who needed to get the fighters to their stations. It was a cage, either you went out, or you died. However, that little ingenuity just wrecked Jaina and Zekk's earlier planing for escape. Now they would have to face the enemy in the arena.
A giant roar suddenly came to the sand-covered, heat filled fighter chamber. With awe, Jaina realized that it was the crowds outside. Walking over to the other side of the cage, Jaina gazed upon the arena. It was amazing. Thousands of creatures, ranging from Hutts to ragged-looking smugglers filled the stands. She could hear hundreds of voices, alien and human. The arena itself was immense, and filled with sand.
Zekk came up beside her, resting his forehead on the bars. "Since we're supposedly fighters, I would guess they'll have to give us weapons."
Jaina nodded.
"That's how we'll get out."
Suddenly, there was a commotion and a human on a loud speaker announced, "And - from a former champion-owner, Lord Yurric, we have a special treat."
Jaina turned to Zekk, and they both knew exactly what was going to happen next.
The loud phone-speaker continued. "Two captured Jedi Knights! We will pit them against the most ferocious creatures we have in the Outter Rims!"
After a moment of shocked silence, the crowd broke into wild cheering. Jaina groaned. So much for people being thankful that the Jedi saved the galaxy from the Vong. She glanced over at Anakin.
Coking his head to the side, Anakin laughed nervously. "Sorry sis. I guess I was wrong."
Abruptly, the door to Jaina and Zekk's cage flung open, the automatic release having been triggered from far off. With more resignation than anything else, Jaina walked out of the barred cage. Zekk followed her.
"Hey Jaina!" Anakin yelled, coming up next to his bars. He paused, becoming more serious. "May the Force be with you."
Jaina smiled quietly. "May the Force be with you, Anakin."
Together Jaina and Zekk walked toward the blinding sunlight of the arena. Jaina calmed herself, speaking through the Force. Zekk, can we do this?
Zekk didn't reply after a minute, but when he did, the tension was obvious. I hope. Jaina paused. Zekk?
Zekk glanced at her, his emerald eyes sad but determined. What?
Jaina turned to face the arena. I love you.
Zekk sighed deeply, touching her hand. I know. For a moment, their fingers intertwined. However, that moment was short lived. Soon, they stood in the burning heat of the Tattoine twin suns.
"Ladies and gentleman!" The announcer cried, "The two Jedi!"
The enormous crowd booed.
"And here!" The announcer called the crowd's attention to the other side of the arena, where two doors were being lifted. "Is one of our favorites, Tyrannus the Tuscan!"
At this, the crowd became ecstatic, waving and cheering.
Jaina watched as out from one of the caged areas emerged a Tuscan Raider. When she was little she was curious about the dangerous and bloodthirsty nomads of Tattoine. Her uncle Luke would tell her stories of them, with their ragged clothing and masked faces. His stories didn't do Tyrannus the Tuscan any justice at all. This Tuscan was close to eight feet tall, and carried a gaffi stick that was about six feet long. Sarcastically, Jaina wondered when they were going to give her a weapon.
"And over there!" The announcer pointed to yet another door. "The king of the Death Arena! Purprose! The Changeling!"
If the crowd was excited with the Tuscan, they were driven mad with the Changeling.
Zekk took one glance at the Changeling, and moaned. Jaina could see that this particular opponent wouldn't be easy to beat at all. Purprose almost matched the Tuscan's height and width, not to mention the multiple arms that grew out of his shoulders and sides.
"Last but not least!" The announcer wailed. "Trenchi! Queen of the Death Arena, and very good at what she does!"
Jaina paused to look at this last combatant, and was amazed. She was a woman, a humanoid, but about nine feet tall. It was only physically possible through drastic genetic engineering. When the woman came forwards, her ragged clothes fluttering behind her, Jaina didn't have any doubts.
"All fighters come forwards!" The announcer cried. Zekk led the way, and Jaina followed closely behind. All of the combatants came to a halt in front of the main audience box. As Jaina looked up, she saw a large Hutt, and several other important crime lords which sat lazily inside. Last of all, was Yurric, and beside Yurric, sitting on the floor was Shallin and Dannon. The two children looked down on their parents with wide, and sad eyes. It seemed quite obvious to them that these people, who claimed to be their parents, would not live to see Tattoine's twin suns set.
"Fighters!" The announcer cried. "Fight well. If any hesitate or show mercy, they will be shot. That being said, go to your places, and when the signal is sent, come out fighting. If you fight well you live. Go to your places."
Jaina took one last glance at the other combatants, not truly wanting to think of how they would defeat these tough-looking characters. Zekk took her hand, and led her away. As soon as they were again at the other side of the arena, he turned to face her.
"Jaina, do you have a plan?"
Jaina shook her head. "All of my plans ran out about five minutes ago."
Zekk rubbed his forehead. "I'll take on the shape shifter and Tuscan."
"Alright," Jaina whispered. "That leaves the lab experiment to me. I can do it."
"And Jaina," Zekk took both her hands, "I know this isn't what we intended it to be like, and I know I haven't come through in a lot of this. But we've fought eight years on the front lines in the Vong Wars, we can take these guys out."
Jaina nodded. "I'll try to release all the slaves into the arena. That'll cause as much panic as anything else, then we can jump the walls and get the twins and get out."
Zekk nodded. "Right." Although he wouldn't admit it to Jaina, he was planning on doing more than just getting the twins and leaving. He had a debt to pay to Yurric.
It was then that there was a sound of a large bell being rung, and Jaina and Zekk turned about. They faced the three rushing combatants, and then flew into the fighting whirlwind that the Jedi were known for.
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Zekk and Jaina exchanged glances. After traveling to the planet in a cargo hold, they had been transported to a large sand-colored city on the planet of Tattoine. More than once, while their sluggish guards weren't looking, they could have escaped. However, both Jaina and Zekk knew that if they left now, it would be possibly years before they ever caught up with Yurric or the twins again. As tempting as their freedom was, they withdrew from it.
Now they were in a dark room, with countless other alien species. It was hot, sweaty, and slimy. The smell was of sweaty bodies, and Jaina could feel the perspiration on her forehead. They had been separated from Anakin since the landing of the freighter. Jaina was already worried about him, and wondered just how dangerous those podraces actually were.
Suddenly, there was a commotion, and several guards burst into the large, cage-filled room. They were dragging a protesting Anakin Solo behind.
"But I won! Unhand me you morons!" Anakin was thrown into Jaina and Zekk's adjacent cell, and the slavers slammed the door. "Where's my blasted food!"
Jaina walked over to the bars separating her and her little brother. "Anakin, what's going on?"
"I don't know. I don't know why I'm here anyway." Anakin sat down, almost pouting.
"Where are we?" Zekk asked, coming up and putting his hands on the bars.
Anakin looked up at him. "You are a sith-spit. This is the arena."
Jaina and Zekk looked at each other. Jaina turned back to Anakin, who was rubbing his stomach. "How long before the fights begin?"
Anakin scratched his head. "It starts an hour after the races. So I'd guess about now." For once, the old Anakin reemerged, and he looked up at his older sister. "Don't worry Jaina, you guys aren't the first on the list. I think you're like...the seventh. You know, Yurric wants to keep the best for last."
Zekk frowned. "Well that's comforting."
Anakin looked at him, and shrugged.
Jaina paused, wondering just what they were going to do. That's when the wall on the far side of the large room began to rise. The guards saw it and left promptly. From the sandy floor. Mettle pipes started to lift up. It all started to make sense, and Jaina was amazed at the technical ingenuity that it must have taken to conceive an arena where humans and aliens would actually be forced out to the game. There was no rough-handling of jailors, who needed to get the fighters to their stations. It was a cage, either you went out, or you died. However, that little ingenuity just wrecked Jaina and Zekk's earlier planing for escape. Now they would have to face the enemy in the arena.
A giant roar suddenly came to the sand-covered, heat filled fighter chamber. With awe, Jaina realized that it was the crowds outside. Walking over to the other side of the cage, Jaina gazed upon the arena. It was amazing. Thousands of creatures, ranging from Hutts to ragged-looking smugglers filled the stands. She could hear hundreds of voices, alien and human. The arena itself was immense, and filled with sand.
Zekk came up beside her, resting his forehead on the bars. "Since we're supposedly fighters, I would guess they'll have to give us weapons."
Jaina nodded.
"That's how we'll get out."
Suddenly, there was a commotion and a human on a loud speaker announced, "And - from a former champion-owner, Lord Yurric, we have a special treat."
Jaina turned to Zekk, and they both knew exactly what was going to happen next.
The loud phone-speaker continued. "Two captured Jedi Knights! We will pit them against the most ferocious creatures we have in the Outter Rims!"
After a moment of shocked silence, the crowd broke into wild cheering. Jaina groaned. So much for people being thankful that the Jedi saved the galaxy from the Vong. She glanced over at Anakin.
Coking his head to the side, Anakin laughed nervously. "Sorry sis. I guess I was wrong."
Abruptly, the door to Jaina and Zekk's cage flung open, the automatic release having been triggered from far off. With more resignation than anything else, Jaina walked out of the barred cage. Zekk followed her.
"Hey Jaina!" Anakin yelled, coming up next to his bars. He paused, becoming more serious. "May the Force be with you."
Jaina smiled quietly. "May the Force be with you, Anakin."
Together Jaina and Zekk walked toward the blinding sunlight of the arena. Jaina calmed herself, speaking through the Force. Zekk, can we do this?
Zekk didn't reply after a minute, but when he did, the tension was obvious. I hope. Jaina paused. Zekk?
Zekk glanced at her, his emerald eyes sad but determined. What?
Jaina turned to face the arena. I love you.
Zekk sighed deeply, touching her hand. I know. For a moment, their fingers intertwined. However, that moment was short lived. Soon, they stood in the burning heat of the Tattoine twin suns.
"Ladies and gentleman!" The announcer cried, "The two Jedi!"
The enormous crowd booed.
"And here!" The announcer called the crowd's attention to the other side of the arena, where two doors were being lifted. "Is one of our favorites, Tyrannus the Tuscan!"
At this, the crowd became ecstatic, waving and cheering.
Jaina watched as out from one of the caged areas emerged a Tuscan Raider. When she was little she was curious about the dangerous and bloodthirsty nomads of Tattoine. Her uncle Luke would tell her stories of them, with their ragged clothing and masked faces. His stories didn't do Tyrannus the Tuscan any justice at all. This Tuscan was close to eight feet tall, and carried a gaffi stick that was about six feet long. Sarcastically, Jaina wondered when they were going to give her a weapon.
"And over there!" The announcer pointed to yet another door. "The king of the Death Arena! Purprose! The Changeling!"
If the crowd was excited with the Tuscan, they were driven mad with the Changeling.
Zekk took one glance at the Changeling, and moaned. Jaina could see that this particular opponent wouldn't be easy to beat at all. Purprose almost matched the Tuscan's height and width, not to mention the multiple arms that grew out of his shoulders and sides.
"Last but not least!" The announcer wailed. "Trenchi! Queen of the Death Arena, and very good at what she does!"
Jaina paused to look at this last combatant, and was amazed. She was a woman, a humanoid, but about nine feet tall. It was only physically possible through drastic genetic engineering. When the woman came forwards, her ragged clothes fluttering behind her, Jaina didn't have any doubts.
"All fighters come forwards!" The announcer cried. Zekk led the way, and Jaina followed closely behind. All of the combatants came to a halt in front of the main audience box. As Jaina looked up, she saw a large Hutt, and several other important crime lords which sat lazily inside. Last of all, was Yurric, and beside Yurric, sitting on the floor was Shallin and Dannon. The two children looked down on their parents with wide, and sad eyes. It seemed quite obvious to them that these people, who claimed to be their parents, would not live to see Tattoine's twin suns set.
"Fighters!" The announcer cried. "Fight well. If any hesitate or show mercy, they will be shot. That being said, go to your places, and when the signal is sent, come out fighting. If you fight well you live. Go to your places."
Jaina took one last glance at the other combatants, not truly wanting to think of how they would defeat these tough-looking characters. Zekk took her hand, and led her away. As soon as they were again at the other side of the arena, he turned to face her.
"Jaina, do you have a plan?"
Jaina shook her head. "All of my plans ran out about five minutes ago."
Zekk rubbed his forehead. "I'll take on the shape shifter and Tuscan."
"Alright," Jaina whispered. "That leaves the lab experiment to me. I can do it."
"And Jaina," Zekk took both her hands, "I know this isn't what we intended it to be like, and I know I haven't come through in a lot of this. But we've fought eight years on the front lines in the Vong Wars, we can take these guys out."
Jaina nodded. "I'll try to release all the slaves into the arena. That'll cause as much panic as anything else, then we can jump the walls and get the twins and get out."
Zekk nodded. "Right." Although he wouldn't admit it to Jaina, he was planning on doing more than just getting the twins and leaving. He had a debt to pay to Yurric.
It was then that there was a sound of a large bell being rung, and Jaina and Zekk turned about. They faced the three rushing combatants, and then flew into the fighting whirlwind that the Jedi were known for.