Bastila:

            "I might have something to say about that, Brejik!"

            I made a mental note to burn that look of absolute shock and horror into my memory.  That was the face of someone who had overstepped his bounds.

            I used the Force to push the door of my cage open and landed a kick firmly into the base of the nearest Black Vulkar's skull.

            "What?  Impossible!"  The condescension in Brejik's voice cracked for a moment, displaying his weakness.  "You were restrained by a neural disruptor!  How could you have possibly summoned the will to free yourself?"

            I knelt over the unconscious gang member and freed him of his weapon.  A double-bladed vibrosword, not a lightsaber, but if would be effective nonetheless.

            "You underestimated the strength of a Jedi's mind, Brejik.  A mistake you won't live to regret!" 

            A smile happened across my mouth but I quickly suppressed it.  I would kill, but only because I had no other choice.  It was one of the responsibilities that came with defending the less fortunate, it was not something to be taken lightly, or enjoyed.  No, it was merely the duty at the moment.

            "Vulkars to me!"  Brejik's voice was shrill.  "Kill this woman!  Kill the swoop rider!  Kill them all!"

            Brejik fired his blaster into the air and the crowd exploded into chaos.  Spectators scrambled frantically out of harm's way, trampling others in their frenzy to escape.  I found it unsettling that one person could be the cause of so much destruction.

            I wasted no time in dealing with the first Black Vulkar to come my way.  I thrust my blade into his belly and twisted upwards.  It was just me against three more and Brejik.  The swoop jockey, whoever she was, had taken off in a full sprint.  I could have sworn that she sounded familiar, but it didn't matter at the moment, Vulkar number one thought he could best me.

            He lunged at me, vibroblade first.  What kind of idiot's game was this?  I knocked his blade out of the way and watched as he hurtled himself against my sword.  Just in time too, because I was able to pivot his body around to block a blaster shot that number two intended for me.

            I tapped into my telekinesis to fling goon number two into a wall.  His head hit the wall with a sickening thud and he slid to the ground limply.

            That left Vulkar number three and Brejik.  I stared directly into the eyes of the third and final gangster and raised an eyebrow.  The Black Vulkar swallowed hard, raised his blaster, thought better of it, turned and ran.

            It was time to deal with Brejik.  The swoop gang leader was already occupied.  Perhaps it was some unfortunate passerby that he had decided to torment for his own pleasure.  I ran forward and ended his life quickly.  Brejik would never harm another person again.

            "Well, maybe those bloody Vulkars will think twice next time before trying to keep a Jedi prisoner!" I muttered.  For some reason it seemed fitting that I would clean my blade on Brejik's shirt as he had done to me what seemed like ages ago.

            A quick glance proved that Brejik's victim was none other than the winning swoop rider.  I finished cleaning the vibrosword and stood up.

            "As for you," I warned.  "if you think you can collect me as a prize…"

            I glared into the rider's eyes to ensure that I would be understood.  She stared back with those tilted violet eyes of hers and I felt my stomach churn violently.

            Rian Vega stood up, relying heavily on her left arm.  She was no less grimy and sweat stained than she was when I had first met her, but considerably less fragile in appearance.  Unfortunately, I still felt as though I had swallowed a ball of lead and was uncertain if I would ever be able feel differently when that petite woman's eyes fell on me.

            "Wait… I don't believe this."  My eyes fluttered away from her.  "You're one of the soldiers with the Republic fleet, aren't you?"  No, I had more discipline than to be defeated by the mere presence of this woman.  I forced myself to look at her.  "Yes, I'm sure of it.  How did you end up racing for these swoop gangs?"

            "It's a long story." Rian groaned.  She rolled her right shoulder around gently in its socket. 

            She had taken a hit to her shoulder while fighting Brejik and just by looking at it, I could tell that it was fairly deep.  Reaching out to her with the Force, I attempted to view the wound through Rian's perspective and I received an intense image of searing hot pain.  But what perhaps disturbed me the most, was the grin she gave me, a sly twisted thing to be shared between comrades only.

            "Well we don't have time for it now." I cut her off.  "We have to get out of here before the Sith show up to sort out this mess.  Is there somewhere safe we can go?"

            "Slow down a minute." Rian barked.  "I'm in charge here.  Remember, I saved you!"

            I should have suspected that Rian would want to be in charge.  I had to put her in her place and fast before things got out of hand.

            "Save me?  Is that what you were trying to accomplish by riding in that swoop race?"  I bit out a clipped laugh.  "Well, as far as rescues go this is a pretty poor example.  In case you hadn't noticed, I managed to free myself from that neural disruptor without your help."

            Rian's face scrunched up in a livid fury.  Her eyes blazed into mine and I smiled through gritted teeth as I continued.

            "In fact, it's more accurate to say that I saved you!  Brejik and his Vulkars would have left you for dead if I hadn't stepped into the fight.  You're lucky I was here to get you out of this mess!"

            Rian snorted and turned on her heels.  She stalked away from me, her injured arm hanging limply.

            "We don't have time for this." she spat, almost as an afterthought.  "Carth is waiting for us."

            So Rian wasn't by herself.  Carth Onasi was an honored and well-reputed soldier.  A good man, albeit he liked his caffa with far too much sugar.  If Rian was working with Carth, there was no way a man of his caliber would let her boss him around.  That thought calmed my frayed nerves as I ran to catch up with Rian.

            "Carth Onasi is alive?  Finally some good news!"  I let trained warmth filter into my voice.  I expected Rian to be astute, but she lacked training, so I doubt she picked up on it.

            Rian didn't stop.  If anything, my mention of Carth's name made her speed up her step.  I had presumed several things regarding that woman's reputation, but for her to behave like a petulant toddler was not one of them.

            "He sent you to save me?"  If I had to work with her, so be it.  "Maybe I misjudged you.  Carth wouldn't have sent you if he wasn't confident in your… abilities."

            Rian finally stopped.  She turned to give me a bland look as she crossed her arms.  I could vaguely sense a wave of blinding agony emanating from Rian's shoulder.  My stomach heaved cruelly.

            "Forgive me, despite my Jedi training, I still tend to act a bit rashly sometimes."  I tried to offer her a smile, but I couldn't look at her.  "Please take me to Carth right away.  Between the three of us I'm sure we can figure out some way to get off this planet before the Sith realize we're here."

            "Yeah whatever." Rian grunted.  She trudged forward, not bothering to see if I followed or not.

            Rian kept herself several feet from me until we reached an elevator.  Once inside, she leaned against the wall opposite me.  She busied herself with rotating her shoulder again.

            "You're hurt." I said.

            "I'll live." she replied.

            "It looks bad." I prodded.

            "Let me worry about it." Rian snapped.  Her eyes flashed dangerously, like a cornered animal.

            "I could help." I offered.

            "You've got bigger problems than my busted shoulder."  Rian smiled darkly.  "Like how you're going to reach the apartment in the Upper City without being recognized by a Sith trooper."

            "You are in dire need of advice when it comes to rescues." I retorted, but I could feel the muscles in my shoulders and neck stiffen.

            "Take your hair down."  Rian gave me a considering look.

            "What?"

            "Take you hair down." she repeated.

            "Why?" I demanded.

            "Well, you're already dressed up like a trollop, so that's what you'll be."

            "I beg your pardon!"

            Rian groaned and reached for one of my braids with her left hand.  Despite my protesting, she tore the bands around my braids free from my hair.

            "I guess we should be grateful I look like a little boy." she grumbled.  "Here's our story, I scrounged up enough credits from Daddy to pay you to make me a man."

            "I hardly see how any of this is necessary." I protested.

            "Your hair's down, so you can use it to cover your face from a distance." Rian continued.  "But you need to stay close to me in case a Sith guard comes near enough to identify you.  If that happens, I'm going to pull you into a lover's embrace of sorts and you're going to like it.  Got me?"

            "I don't like this at all."  A wave of heat swept over my face and I shook my head.

            "Do you have a better idea, doll?" Rian asked as she wrapped her left arm around my waist.

            I tried to shove her away, but the door opened.  Rian pulled me out of the elevator as she sang a vile drinking song loudly.  She proceeded to drag me through the streets of Upper City Taris to what I hoped would be a quiet apartment.

            In the midst of my struggling, Rian stopped abruptly.  She nuzzled her cheek into my shoulder and announced, "What's the matter, darling?  You don't seem to be enjoying yourself."

            "Do you honestly know all the words to that blasted song?" I demanded when I was finally able to gather my wits.

            "Not really." she admitted.  "But it usually works just fine when I use 'ferglutz' in place of the missing words."

            "What does that mean?"

            "It's Quarren." Rian explained.  "It's just a fancy way to say 'damn it'."

            With her mad antics, Rian managed to get us from one side of the Upper City to the other without incident.  I kept tugging at my hair consciously until Rian pointed out the apartment complex.  I breathed a sigh and hurried towards it.

            "Hey!" Rian called after me.  "Hey!"

            I was not in the mood to play her little games anymore.  The apartment was right there, all I had to do was step through the doors and I would be safe.

            Rian ran in front of me cutting me off.  Just in time, apparently, as I caught a glimpse of silver-white armor looming behind her and stopped in my tracks.

            "Sith!" she hissed in my direction.  Then she bellowed loudly, "Sugar bottoms!  Don't go running off on me!"

            Before I could scowl, Rian reached up and grabbed me by both of my ears.  She walked her back into a wall and jerked my head towards hers.  My lips fell limp against her own as I stood there frozen in horror.  After a few seconds that lasted far too long, I heard a muffled sound.  Was she laughing at me?