Chapter 7 – Déjà vu

Carth entered the Hidden Beks not so hidden base a good half hour after Mission and Zaalbar had returned the accelerator for him. He had returned the journals to the more than grateful Gendar. He had left the settlement as the villagers prepared for their trek, which as Gendar told Carth would take many weeks. As Carth left he also saw a less than happy looking Igear also packing up shop, which made Carth smile to himself.

When Carth entered he was no sooner in than Gadon had called him over.

"Carth my boy, well done!" Gadon congratulated in an elated tone.

He then grabbed Carth with one arm around him and pulled him close to him.

"It was nothing" Carth said.

"What do you mean it was nothing?" Gadon objected to

Carth's modesty. "You rescued our Wookie from Gamorrean slavers"

"What dya mean OUR Wookie?" Mission interjected angrily.

"You know what I mean Mission" Gadon dismissed. Then turning back to Carth he continued "Then you infiltrated the black Vulkars base alone and liberated our accelerator and fighting your way out! I hardly call that nothing!"

"Well I did have some help" Carth replied nodding towards Mission and Zaalbar.

"Oh yes, you did indeed" Gadon said turning to Mission and Zaalbar smiling.

"Ya, we were the brains behind the operation" Mission said proudly.

"Well if you excuse me, I have to go" Carth said yawning. "Its been a long day to say the least and I really need to get back to my apartment"

"Of course and make sure you come to the big race tomorrow! You'll be the guest of honour of the Beks!" Gadon said invitingly.

Carth said that he would indeed go and left to return to his appartment. He walked out of the base and turned the corner to the path down to the elevator when he heard a voice call him from behind. Carth grabbed his pistol from his side and turned to face the person behind.

"Put the gun down Carth, I'm not here for a fight" said the well build man standing behind him. He was wearing full body armour except for a helmet but Carth could tell he was well built. He had a short crop-top haircut and a scar running down the left side of his face.

"I heard you were the man who single handedly broke into the Vulkars base and stole the Bek's Accelerator back for them. I'm Canderous Ordo, a mercenary and I would just like to congratulate for that impressive bit of work. Canderous offered a hand in respect "I'm pretty good myself but I don't know if I could have pulled that off!"

"Eh, Thanks" Carth said slightly embarrassed. He wasn't used to the praise. He shook Canderous's hand.

"How did you know who I was anyway?" Carth asked puzzled.

"I heard a it was a Republic pilot and you're one of the most famous pilot's in the Republican Army, not to mention the only here at the moment. I know well who you are."

"Oh" Carth said half worried. He wasn't sure why a mercenary would be congratulating him when he was sure there would be a price on his head now and immediately began to think he was set up.

Canderous acted if he just read Carth's mind. "Carth, if I can here to fight I think you would be long dead. Like I said well done," said Canderous in a tone-that-should-relieving.

Carth began to pull away "Thank you Mr. Ordo"

"Goodbye Carth, I think you and I might just bump into each other again

Carth entered the lift and before he returned to hid apartment gave a sample of the Rakghoul serum to Doctor Zelka, who thanked Carth like his Birthday had just come early. Carth left and returned to his own apartment for some well-deserved rest.

The next day Carth returned to the Bek's base. He wanted to see this race and needed the Bek's help in finding away off the planet anyway.

Carth stood at the sideline of the swoop track in the excited crowd cheered on their racers on. Carth could see Bastila in a holding cell nearing the end of the track but he wouldn't be able to get her out with everyone there. He turned and cheered on the Bek's racer as the swoop bikes took off. The track was extra-wide as to allow all the racers to race at the one time. There were 5 bikes on the track and they were all speeding toward the end of the track. Two of the bikes closest to the edge were ramming each side-to-side trying to force each other off the track. The bike closest the side lost control and collided with the wall causing it explode into a giant ball of flames and caught the other bike in its wreck along with the middle racer who was just coming up behind it. The crowd erupted in cheers as the bikes were destroyed in bright explosions. They didn't seem to be too worried about the loss of life. It was left between the Bek's and the Vulkar rider now.

They sped towards the end of the track. The Vulkar bike was pulling into the lead but just then the Bek's bike gave an incredible burst of speed from the experimental accelerator and crossed the finish line first. The crowd erupted in cheers with some Boos mixed in.

The crowd congregated around the top where Bastila was being held. There were sounds of a heated argument going on as Carth pushed himself to the front of the crowd.

A black haired, tough looking man was shouting at Gadon who looked very angry.

"You cheated! That experimental accelerator gave you an unfair edge. The Black Vulkars are hereby withdrawing our contribution to the prize pot."

Gadon who was equally angry shouted back "You cheating scum, you tried to steal it but you lost it again and now you're acting like a spoilt brat!"

Suddenly the forcefield around Bastila began to fail and Bastila causally stepped out shaking her head and pulled the neural disruption collar from around her neck.

The Vulkar man stood on the spot in disbelief. "How did you do that?" asked the man in disbelief "That disrupter was strong enough to keep a Sith Lord subdued!"

"Obviously not" said Bastila condescendingly and threw the collar at the man's feet.

The man pulled his pistol at Bastila who quickly knocked it out of his hand with a wave of the force. Suddenly all the Vulkars in the crowd pulled out their weapons and the place became a warzone. Carth sae this and quickly threw Bastila's lightsabre to her. She caught it and without looking at Carth began to mow down her Vulkar attackers while blocking blasts coming at her. The main Vulkar representative began shooting at her which she blocked as she advanced on him. He continued to shoot but when she was close enough she killed him dead with a slice of her lightsabre. Carth himself was shooting at Vulkar members himself and soon enough the battle was over. Many Vulkars and a few Bek's lay dead on the floor but it was obvious the Bek's had one. Gadon approached Bastila cautiously and thanked her for all her help and then asked her not to destroy the hidden Beks.

Bastila assured him as long as she was left in peace she wouldn't.

Then Carth ran up to her and asked if she was alright.

"I'm fine" Bastila replied flatly "Lets GO"

"Yes let's" Carth replied exasperatedly.

"Ya and we're coming with you" Mission said running up to the two with Zaalbar in tow. "You two attract a whole lot of trouble and you're gonna need us to watch your backs"

"Ok" Carth answered "The more the merrier eh?" Smiling to Bastila.

"If you say so" replied Bastila coolly.

"Its sorted then" Mission said with a smile.

And with that they all left for Carth's apartment again.