A/N: I'm alive! Wassup peeps? This took me some time to complete, eh? I'm still a bit dissatisfied, but I decided to put it up anyway. Hope I didn't screw up majorly.. Please excuse any speeling mistakes cuz it's un-beta'd.
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize isn't mine. Anything that makes you go "what's that?" I made up.
"word" Alien language
Chapter 10: Rancor Troubles
"She's waking. Get the neural disruptor ready. And for your sake, you moron, make sure you don't damage her furthur. She's of no value dead."
Bastila groaned and struggled to open her eyes. Where was she? The last thing she recalled was crashing onto Taris... and then.. stumbling out of the wrekage.. and.. I was attacked..
"Ah! The lovely Jedi awakens." A voice said. One could describe it as oily.
Bastila finally managed to open her eyes and focus on the man in front of her flanked by three brutish looking thugs. Blinking she took in the place where she was. It looked to be a cell with a chair and a dirty 'fresher. Returning her attention to the man in front of her, she demanded, "Where am I? Who are you? Why I am in here?"
"Tut tut Jedi, I am the one asking questions. But I shall indulge you. You are in my base, on Taris. I am Brejik, the leader of the Black Vulkars." He said with pride. "And you are here because you are a valuable piece of salvage." He said.
"Salvage! I am a member of the Jedi Order, not an object!" Bastila said indignantly. She supressed a wince as a previously ignored ache in the back of her head came on full force. Focus.. I am a Jedi. I can get out of this.
"Oh, but you are. Unfortunately, I have already put you up as a prize before it was brought to my attention that you are a Jedi. And not just any Jedi." Brejik said with regret. "Had I known you were the Jedi Bastila, I would have kept you. I'm sure the Sith would pay good credits for you. But I shouldn't worry myself. I can get you back later and make a tidy profit after the race. After all, no one wants to keep a Jedi slave, for all your," Brejik leered at her, "-assets."
Despite herself, Bastila flushed as she realized she was scantily clad in her underwear. "You will not get away with this, Brejik!" She snapped haughtily, "The Jedi-"
"Will do what? Rescue you? No one can get through the blockade little girl, even your precious Masters." Brejik taunted. "But enough of this." Brejik turned to his thugs, "Prepare her for transport-"
Summoning the Force, Bastila sent a wave throwing Brejik and his thugs against the wall. She leapt up and dashed out the door. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain lance through her and the world went black.
Brejik picked himself up and grimaced. He had expected her to make a run for it, but not in such a, spectacular, fashion. Taking out his comlink, he ordered, "Shut down the stun field." Outside the door there was a flicker as the field powered down. Gesturing to the unconcious Jedi, he asked,"Did you get her neural patterns?"
"Yeah, boss. I got it." the thug holding a scanner answered.
"Good. Upload them and clip on the disruptor. And make sure it's secure. These Jedi are tricky. Then get her ready to be moved to my private base." he said. Brejik didn't trust his men to keep the Jedi under control. They would probably underestimate her and allow her to escape. "When the transport gets here call me on the comm. I'll be in my private quarters." He turned and walked out of the holding block. How much was the bounty on this Jedi? He made a mental note to check with his informants. It was no matter. The one thing he knew was that it was quite high.
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"There it is." Mission said, pointing to a shimmering field blocking an entryway to a tunnel. She ran up to a console set across it. "Let's see. There!" The force field flickered and died. "C'mon, it'll only be down for a few seconds!" She dashed across the threshold to the other side closely followed by the others.
After several more run-ins with rakghouls, Mission grinned at Revan and Carth then cheerfully anounced they were almost there. "Tell me about this rancor of yours." Revan asked sharply. She had some doubts she could take on a rancor without using her lightsaber or active Force powers.
Mission's grin faltered a bit at Arcana's tone. "It's stupid," she said, "just toss a grenade down a side tunnel and it'll go to investigate. Then we can just run across to the other side."
"That sounds a bit too easy." Carth remarked. He was of the belief that things that should go easily tend to have a habit of turning complicated in the next second.
"It'll be alright! Trust me." Mission chirped.
"I don't trust anybody." Carth muttered almost reflexively.
"Why not?" Mission asked curiously.
"Never you mind, missy." Carth replied.
"We can discuss your issues later." Revan hissed in a low voice. Carth bristled and looked ready to retort when there was a roar that shook some dust off the walls. "That's the rancor I believe." She noticed Mission's suddenly pale face. "What now?" she asked, that couldn't be good news.
"I-it's too close!" Mission exclaimed. She knew that it would still be several minutes until they were close enough to hear it. "We shouldn't hear it from this distance!"
"I knew it!" Carth said with a sigh. Why do these things always have to be complicated?
"Be quiet!" Revan snapped. She frowned for a moment, thinking. "What could have driven it away?" she asked Mission.
"Well um, I don't know really... Lack of food, I guess. Theres not much to be had around here except rakghouls and Gamorreans." Mission answered. "And the occasional Vulkar patrol."
"Vulkar patrol? How do they get past that thing?" Carth asked gesturing in the direction of the rancor.
"I heard they had some sort of phermone thing goin'. Doesn't smell nice to a rancor. Amazing since I didn't think rancors would mind bad smells!" Mission said cheekily. "But sometimes the stuff doesn't work and the Rancor makes a meal outta them."
"Where do the patrols pass? Maybe we can ambush one." Revan said.
"The northern tunnels. This way," Mission pointed and started running down a side tunnel.
After a few minutes they came upon a Vulkar patrol. A very dead patrol. Several corpses of rakghouls adorned the tunnel they were in, a testament to the desperate fight of the gang members.
"Seems the phermones don't keep away rackghouls." Revan remarked to nobody in particular. She began to search the nearest Vulkar corpse. Taking her lead the rest of the party followed.
"Eeeeew!" Mission suddenly exclaimed. Everyone looked at her in time to see her stumble back from a corpse holding a small bottle as far away from her as possible while holding her nose. The putrid smell drifted out and filled the tunnel. Carth gagged and Zaalbar clapped a hand over his nose, while Revan followed Mission's example.
Getting a hold of himself Carth remarked, "I think you found the phermones, kid. Damn that stinks."
"I ain't no kid!" Mission shot back irritably, her nose still firmly in between her fingers.
Revan bravely removed the clamp on her nose. "If it can," she took a breath, "-gah!- get us past the rancor we'll just have to put up with it. Let's go." Walking forward she took the vial from mission and started heading back toward the rancor's position.
Reaching the tunnel containing the rancor, Revan indicated they should wait. crouching down she edged towards the opening. Peeking out she saw the rancor at the far end. Taking out the vial Revan hurled it towards the middle of the room.
Within a minute the vile smell permeated the crosstunnel. The rancor started sniffing the air then violently scratching at whatever passed for a nose on its ugly face. After unsucessfully trying to rip its nose off, it lumbered away down another tunnel. Revan hoped that wasn't where they were supposed to go. She waved at the anxious group behind her. "All clear, except for the smell."
"Which way did it go?" Mission asked. If it had gone back to its old stomping grounds they would still have to deal with sneaking by it.
"That way," Revan pointed to where the rancor disappeared. She saw Mission relax. Hopefully the way is clear now.
Mission grinned, her cheerfulness restored. "We go the opposite way!" and started walking down said tunnel, almost skipping.
Revan sighed and hurried to follow. What else can go wrong? she wondered to herself. Unfortunately fate always hated that line. There came a roar behind them.
Carth, being last, glanced back. His eyes widened. "The rancor's heading this way!"
"Run!" Revan barked out. Taking her own command she bolted down the tunnel, followed by a panicking Mission, then frantic Wookiee and Human, spurred on by another roar they increased their speed.
Rounding a corner Revan halted, Mission nearly running into her. "Go! Get out of here!" Revan snapped.
"But-" Mission protested.
"No buts!" Revan snarled. "Stupid child! Just obey! That goes for you too!" That last was directed to Zaalbar and Carth.
"What-" Carth started, but was rudely cut off as she grabbed their packs. She then shoved him down the tunnel.
"Protect Mission." Revan said curtly, knowing Carth's sense of responsibility that came with having morals would force him to do it.
Without waiting for an answer she ran back the way they came. The moment the rancor spotted her it let out another earsplitting roar and lumbered straight for her. Drawing on the Force she nimbly dodged aside from its swipe and took off for the other tunnel, the rancor hot on her heels.
While she ran Revan searched in the pack for a grenade, hoping that Republic soldier thought to buy some frags. Poison...concussion...adhesive...ion... But no frags. Blast that flyboy! Revan thought viciously. She thought about her lightsaber, but decided to use that as a last resort. If anyone got it into their head to follow... best not to risk it.
Rounding another corner to a larger room Revan whirled around and set herself. This wasn't going to be easy.
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Carth frowned worriedly as Arcana disappeared back around the corner. Damnit! That was a rancor not just some hired thugs or gang members!
"W-we've got to help her! Tha-that's a rancor in case you've forgotten!" Mission exclaimed bravely, echoing Carth's thoughts. She started after Arcana, but was halted by Carth grabbing the back of her shirt. He was about to reprimand her when Zaalbar beat him to it.
"Mission! The Human Arcana can take care of herself!" Zaalbar roared at her. Though he was young by Wookiee standards, he had seen much. And what he had seen of Arcana told him that she would not risk anything that she was unsure of making it out alive.
"But-but Zaalbar! Are you sure?" Mission asked uncertainly. She trusted her best friend's instinct, but sometimes instinct can be wrong.
"Yes, Mission I am sure." Zaalbar rumbled reassuringly.
Carth was looking back and forth between them. "What did he say?" He hated being out of the loop.
"He said we shouldn't worry about Arcana." Mission told him. "He said she can take care of herself."
Carth sighed. "I know she can... but I can't stand waiting here doing nothing!" He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I'm going after her." He declared. He turned and jogged out.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Mission made her second attempt at leaving only to be stopped short once more, this time by Zaalbar. "Zaalbar! Let go!" She tried to stop the whine from coming though, but failed a bit.
"No, Mission. They can handle themselves." The Wookiee rumbled reassuringly.
Mission chewed her lip and pouted. "Well, if they get themselves killed 'cuz I'm not there to bail them out, don't blame me."
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Carth ran, following the trail of the rancor. It wasn't hard with the occasional twisted rail and dented flooring. An enraged roar and a massive crashing sound echoed down the tunnel he was in. He increased his speed. Damn that woman! Is she insane? Taking on a full grown rancor and confident she could win?
Carth's mental tirade halted the moment he turned into the chamber room where Arcana and the rancor were in. A dead rancor. He stared blankly at the corpse, mouth slightly agape. He finally was able to tear his gaze away and looked at Arcana. She was breathing a bit heavily, and he could see her right arm was bleeding.
She finally spotted him and made her way around the corpse, limping slightly. "I thought I told you to stay with Mission and the Wookiee!" she snapped irritably. She halted at the rancor's head and reached down to get something. She put her foot on its head and pulled. With a slight grunt her vibroblade came loose.
Carth was at a loss for words. "How...What-" He shut his mouth at the cool look she directed at him.
"I told you I was capable of taking care of myself." She snapped at him. "I do not need help in everything. Now come on, I feel like we're running out of time." She started walking back while applying some kolto patches to her wounds.
Carth ran after her. "Hey!" He caught up to her and grabbed her shoulder.
She whirled and glared at him angrily. "Don't touch me!" She hissed at him, brandishing her vibrobalde.
Carth hastily let go and backed off, hands spread placatingly. "Sorry," he said in a soothing voice, then his demeanor changed slightly, "But just exactly who are you? Not many can take on a rancor alone and live to tell the tale! Especially not a new recruit!" He snapped out. He eyed her, his suspicions growing by the second.
Revan gave him a sly smirk. "Not everything is clear cut. There are things that are beyond anyones comprehension, much less an old, simple, soldier such as you." She reached out to the Force and gently 'encouraged' him to forget and focus on the insult. She knew she was successful when Carth began to protest the comment. It was a temporary thing, Revan knew, since his distrust was so deeply ingrained. But hopefully it would hold until she was able to grab the Jedi brat and be long gone from his vicinity.
"Be quiet already." She grabbed him and dragged him along, effectively cutting of his whining. When she was sure he was keeping up she let go. As Revan continued on she was musing on her decision to lead the rancor away from the group. If she had ordered Carth to do it, he would've done it without hesitation, his 'hero complex' was a bit too strong. Revan snorted mentally. She was glad she got rid of hers... Didn't she? That wasn't why she went after the rancor by herself. After all, Revan liked challenges, and taking on a rancor without Force powers was a test of skill. She relaxed after that last thought, assured she wasn't going soft.
An excited squeal broke Revan out of her musing. "Arcana!" Revan stiffened as a blue blur came at her and tackled her. "You're still alive!" Mission grinned at her. "I thought you were gonna die for sure."
"I'm not that easy to get rid of." Revan replied curtly and freed herself.
Mission didn't seem fazed by her rudeness and merely turned to Carth. "So what happened? Bet you got a cramp while fighting, old man."
Carth scowled at Mission, Arcana's comment still fresh in his mind. "At least I have experience to back me up, not a kid who doesn't know one end of a blaster from the other."
"Hey!" Mission exclaimed indignantly, "I'll have you know that I got a lot of experience. And I know how to handle weapons!"
Revan, who had been discussing the security of the base with Zaalbar suddenly stepped between them. "C'mon kiddies, play nice. We still have to get past the guards. You can stick your tongue out at each other after we leave." She strode past them towards the tunnel leading to the base entrance, leaving behind the two.
After giving each other a final glare they followed, Zaalbar trailing after as usual.
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