I had been a translator, an improvised soldier, a fugitive from one of the Taris gangs, and now I was embarking on a new career: a swoop bike pilot. We had to find a way to approach the prize of the race held by the Black Vulkar gang, led by a man named Brejik. We had finally made it to the lower city, stealing official papers from our one-time friend Sarna, who, I imagined, must have been recovering badly from the evening. However, her alcoholic misadventures had helped our business.
Finally, in the lower city, new contacts had allowed us to carry on our quest. First, we met the leader of the Beks, a local gang rival to the Vulkars, Gadon Thek, thanks to whom we were able to participate in the famous race. On the condition that we brought back a prototype accelerator, which was to be installed on the swoop bike that had been reserved for us. Of course, this was not going to be easy: the part of the launcher was stored in the Black Vulkar base. Who else but us could do the dirty work?
Mission Vao, a young Twi'lek, and Zaalbar, her unlikely Wookie best friend. These two had been a great help to us in our plan to infiltrate the Vulkar base. After a perilous ordeal, we were able to steal the crucial item, which we immediately took to Gadon.
Then, with barely a night's sleep, I was almost forced into a swoop bike, and sent to one of the most dangerous tracks on Taris. I felt annoyed with Carth for not insisting on being Gadon's champion; he was the pilot, after all. But for some mysterious and, to my mind, somewhat irresponsible reason, the Bek leader was determined to have me play the role.
However, against all odds, I won the race and became the Champion of Taris. All I had to do was smile, say thank you, and walk away with the prize.
Though, the operation had completely gone off the rails. I imagined that this treacherous victory, which I owed in part to the installation of the prototype accelerator freshly stolen from the Black Vulkars, would raise some questions at the prize-giving ceremony. Especially since the ceremony rewarding the winner of this race was conducted by Brejik, the leader of the gang from whom my companions and I had stolen the item. And naturally, the cheating had not gone unnoticed, and Brejik and his men engaged in combat against me and also against the prisoner, supposed to be the prize given to the winner, who had freed herself from her detention.
I found myself surrounded by a group of Black Vulkars, eager to take on the cheater pilot that I was. However, I was not one to be overworked, and despite the limited military training I had received, I was a far more capable fighter than these cheap punks. The situation was tough, but I felt I could handle it. Luckily, I had not removed the grey bonnet I wore under my pilot's helmet, which allowed me to partially hide my facial expressions and prevented the Vulkars from anticipating some of my attacks. I fought the thugs with finesse and firmness, neutralising them one by one, as if I were merely repeating the few routines I had learned in a hurry before joining my post on the Endar Spire.
In the distance, I could see Commander Shan, fighting Brejik and two other Vulkars. She, too, seemed to have no great need to strain her skills to dominate her opponents. With the tip of the vibrosword she had picked up after escaping from her cage, she neutralised the two Vulkars in barely ten seconds, leaving her alone with the more challenging leader, but certainly not on the Jedi's level. I couldn't help but glance at the Commander, who was certainly fulfilling her reputation. Faced with a Jedi who - despite an inhibitor collar that had been fitted - was in full control, the Vulkars had no chance of overpowering her. So much so that a number of the thugs, at the sight of the beating they would undoubtedly suffer, fled, accentuating our immense advantage. In spite of this, I still had to deal with a few daring ones, which I always neutralised with the same, somewhat disconcerting ease.
After defeating the last Vulkar, I turned my attention to Bastila Shan and Brejik, whom I had lost sight of a few minutes earlier. The young woman had not finished her duel, which surprised me, since up to that point I had thought that this fight was just a ramble and that she would finish it quickly. Before even thinking of joining the duel in progress, I took a very brief moment to examine the scene. I soon realised that the Jedi was not in trouble at all. The woman still seemed to be leading the dance with an almost insolent lightness.
"Is she having fun?" I muttered.
Indeed, Bastila seemed to be deliberately keeping the fight going, as if to make the most of her superiority and the humiliation that Brejik was experiencing at the time. Moreover, the Vulkar leader was less and less able to channel his fury and his composure was getting weaker by the minute. Nevertheless, he did not seem to show any sign of surrender; he would fight to the end.
With my sword still in my hand, I approached the two fighters very slowly, aware that my Commander did not need my assistance. Out of the corner of her eye, Bastila seemed to notice that I was approaching, and decided to put an end to this duel that was lasting forever. With a quick and precise movement of her vibrosword, the Jedi finally dealt the final blow to her opponent. At that moment, I forced the pace a little more, to join my superior as soon as possible. Only a few tiny steps away from her, I realised that she was making new offensive gestures, apparently directed at me. It would have been wise to remove the bonnet before going to meet my superior... As she brought her blade straight down on my person, I took a saving step to the side, and declared urgently, before she had time to engage in a new attack on me:
"No, no! Commander! Commander!" I shouted, letting my weapon fall heavily to the ground, both hands now raised. Seeing that my attitude had slowed Bastila down in her assault, I took advantage of this brief moment of calm to put a knee on the ground, to definitely reassure the woman of my intentions.
"Commander?" The Jedi questioned, perplexed, who had then lowered her blade, supporting my gaze.
"I am one of the survivors of the Endar Spire, Commander. I am here to rescue you."
Bastila raised an eyebrow, ironically amused. I saw her glance widely at the environment around us, the ground littered with inert bodies and debris of all kinds. It was carnage. "Well then." She merely said in a dejected voice. She turned her gaze back to me, still on one knee, patiently watching her. With a disillusioned wave of her hand, she invited me to get up. I obeyed without delay, nodded my head in thanks, and finally removed the bonnet that had put me in a very awkward position. When this was done, I reflexively ran my hand through my messy black hair. Bastila had a spasm, seemingly surprised by the identity of the man who had come for her. She examined me for a few short seconds, and seemed to regain her usual coldness.
"Ah. You." She said with her famous haughtiness. "The distracted translator. I shouldn't even be surprised, considering the way things have turned out here." Like any good soldier in front of a superior, I decided not to confront her. I knew she was a tough nut to crack, and I had already paid the price for her touchy personality. I ignored the Jedi's words and announced:
"Madam, we must leave quickly, before the Sith arrive. We are holed up in an abandoned flat in the upper city. You'll be safe there."
Bastila looked up at me, questioning:
"We? Are you implying that you are not alone in this high quality plan?"
Once again, I put aside my superior's rude comment, and simply answered the question that mattered:
"Since the crash of our capsule, Lieutenant Onasi and I have been working hard to find you. We have also been able to enlist the help of people who know the lower city well."
"Carth Onasi is alive!" The young woman exclaimed. "Finally some good news. Let's not delay any longer, we must join him."
I nodded approvingly, but I wasn't quite ready to leave this place yet. I glared at the Jedi, which she noticed effortlessly.
"What is it?" She asked in annoyance, which made me feel even more uncomfortable.
"Madam..." I began hesitantly. "How can I say this...? Taris is very populated, and it's not always easy to go completely unnoticed. Not to mention the Sith who are looking for you. Before you go, you might want to... Cover yourself."
Indeed, the Vulkars, in their finer tastes, had outfitted the Jedi in an ensemble that was very close to the body, and that clearly left no room for the imagination of those who would lay eyes on the woman. At this remark, Bastila took a breath and stared at me sternly. For fear of having offended this ruthless superior, I could not help but justify myself:
"Commander, what I mean is that in this outfit you are likely to draw the eyes of others to you, and that will eventually raise the curiosity of the Sith." I then removed the thick pilot leather I was wearing and handed it to the woman. "At least put this on."
Bastila continued to stare at me, with that same stern look on her face. She reached out and grabbed the jacket I offered her. As she was about to put it on, she added with a smug and utterly insincere smile:
"Amazing." She began in a deceptively warm voice, her eyes sealed in mine. "Really amazing, this ability you have to state the obvious. You are a constant wonder, Midshipman." She finally put on the jacket and said with sharpness: "You think I'm used to being dressed like this? Of course, I have to cover up. Now take me to Carth Onasi."
I didn't react, I was totally stunned. I knew perfectly well that she was not easy to deal with, but I had not imagined the extent of it. I then realised that, in any case, whatever I said or did, Bastila Shan seemed to enjoy finding the slightest pretext to make me appear a complete idiot. I could have just as easily not let it happen and confronted the Jedi, but this was certainly not the time for such bickering. I was going to take it easy, at least until we left Taris.
We didn't talk any more, and set off in the direction of the flat where Carth Onasi was, but also Mission Vao and Zaalbar, who had helped us greatly in finding Bastila Shan.
