Rand, Atton Rand

Chapter 5- A Jedi and a life debt

Atton blinked, secretly hoping that when he opened his eyes he would be safe in his prison cell on Peragus again. He hoped this dream was prophetic. That he would wake and meet her when she was s sweet and charming.

Meet her in time to kill her

Atton swallowed and opened his eyes. He was still there.

"Don't I know you?" Rehla asked the new comer

"Perhaps" she said cautiously "I gather from that thing at your belt, you too are a Jedi?"

Rehla grabbed for her green blade "I'm NOT a Jedi"

"If you aren't, you're a sith" the woman observed

"That's far better than a pompous NOBLE warrior" Rehla snickered

Atton suddenly remembered the Wookie. He turned, and apparently Hanharr had forgotten about him and Mira as well. He was fixated on the Jedi. Mira was lost in thought, yet alert.

Probably adding up their bounties

Atton knew he wasn't hero material, but SOMEONE had to do something. He leant over and began crawling away from the dock.

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Bastila had never been in worse of a situation. On one hand she felt it right to protect the woman from the wookie, on the other she had a duty to keep Atton safe from the exile.

I'm not so sure I can keep myself safe from her, though

Bastila bit her lip. She had seen Atton leave, but she doubted he was coming back. Her mission was to get him to the Sojurn, that was true, but the first step was keeping him alive. The exile hadn't realised he left.

"So" Rehla purred "What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this, Bastila?"

"What?" she tensed

"I remember you, Jedi. You traveled with Reven, correct? Famous for your Battle meditation abilities?"

Bastila brushed some hair from her eyes, trying to seem calm, collected "You are right, and your name is?"

"What does it matter?" she asked

Bastila smiled. The exile liked to gloat, waste time with words

"What's in a name, exile?" Bastila asked

Rehla moved away from the railings "Letters"

"And identity" Bastila insisted, following suit. She raised her Sabre, holding at the width of the walkway "My identity is Bastila, yours?"

"Rehla" she told her

Bastila smiled "I do remember you"

Right then she remembered the others and turned to see the wookie watching, mouth wide open. The woman had disappeared. Bastila felt a huge wave of relief. They were safe, now was the time to fight.

Bastila stepped forwards slowly, one foot after the other, watching Rehla all the time "So" she challenged "What is your expertise? A single bladed or double?"

The exile raised her Lightsaber "Whatever I have"

They were now only a meter apart. One of them was going to have to strike. Bastila collected her thoughts, gathering her force energy "But whatever you have is useless" she pointed out "If you cannot use it properly"

Rehla smiled "You speak the truth; I prefer the single blade, as it can be held quite expertly aside the throat"

Before Bastila could figure out what she meant, she felt a pair of hands grab her around the shoulders, a blade held to her neck

The Wookie

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Mira was afraid. Afraid that if she did nothing the woman would die. Afraid if she helped she would die.

SHE SAVED ME, THOUGH!

The logic didn't matter. Mira was scared. Never the less, she could help her from here, right?

Warming to the idea, she took a scope from her jacket and attached t to her Blaster rifle. She crawled onto her stomach, and watched through. From her position on top of the ship the silver Zephyr she had a perfect shot at either the exile or Hanharr.

Revenge

She aimed slowly, carefully, drawing the sight above the woman's shoulder. She fingered the trigger before settling the view on the beasts head. She said a prayer and squeezed the trigger.

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Atton sprinted back on to the walkway with 6 armed exchange thugs and was shocked to see the Wookie hit the ground for apparently no reason. Mira joined him by the walkway and handed him his two blaster pistols. He smiled his thanks.

"GIVE IT UP REHLA" he called "LET HER GO"

Rehla spat on the ground "What are you going to do, kill me?"

Atton shook his head "I couldn't, that's why I brought these guys along" he added "Just told em you were a Jedi, and it was clinched deal!"

Behind her, Bastila stood and grabbed her Sabre without using it. Atton understood, she didn't want the exchange after her as well.

"Fine" Rehla answered bitterly, and motioned for Bastila to leave

Mira grabbed a nearby Air speeder and started the engine "Trade secret" she winked, when Atton asked her how she had managed. Bastila climbed on

"Now what?" Mira asked

"You're coming with me to the Sojurn" Bastila answered

No one argued

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After chopping the thugs into confetti, Rehla sighed as Kreia approached with Bao-Dur.

"You spared him" she hissed

"Yes"

"He is your one threat" she spat "And he walked away! You knew they were no match for you!"

"I will kill him" Rehla vowed "But not yet"

Kreia shook her head and bent over the Wookie "This beast" she considered "May be of some use yet"

Bao-Dur tapped Rehla shoulder "Can I have a word?"

He led her away from Kreia, who was whispering to the fallen Wookie.

"I'm glad you spared him" he told her "It means you're not totally lost yet"

Rehla sighed "I don't need your advice or psychology!"

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Kreia was amazed such a lowly beast was so highly respected. Trapped in shackles, yet the most powerful bounty hunter on the moon.

Awaken, beast. Hanharr of Kashyyk, welder of the Ryk blades.