"Hurry up!" Asha laughed as Mika finished dressing. The young Twi'lek had chosen a slinky black dress that was open along the length of its sides and hugged her modest curves paired with black zip-up boots that reached her knees. Her chan'dar was black leather with gold trim, ending at the base of her lekku so they hung bare.
Danya's eyes widened at her appearance. "Where in the Maw did you get this?!" she asked, fingering the material of Asha's cloak, a long, black cher-silk affair with a deeply cowled hood lined with sable fur. "This is bloody cher-silk! It's worth more than my airspeeder!"
"Um, it fell off a cargo lift?" She grinned.
"Let's hope that 'cargo lift' wasn't from around here," she said, shaking her head. She herself wore snug black pants of a soft dura-fiber that along to her curves, expensive ArchStar sneakers, and a thin white blouse with three unbuttoned buttons at the neck. This accentuated her cleavage, which was assisted by a lacy black bra that could just barely be seen beneath the shirt's fabric. She grabbed her blood-red leather jacket. "Come on, Mika. Let's go have some fun."
"Okay, hold on," Mika said, sliding her own chan'dar on. It completely covered her lekku in warm, white synthsilk, and the sleeves were stitched to the leather headband with golden thread. She reached under her bunk.
"Now, what?" Asha asked curiously.
Danya shrugged.
Mika pulled out a large vibroblade. She no longer had the hold-out blaster since Beriska had confiscated it, but at least there was this. "Never leave home without it," she joked, tucking it into the back of her waistband.
"You know, those are illegal without a license, right?" Danya asked.
"So is slavery."
She laughed. "I like this girl," she said to Asha, hooking an arm around Mika.
Mika grabbed her leather jacket with its spiked epaulet, laying beside Danya. She didn't believe she'd need the knife, but better to have it and never need it than to need it and not have it.
Beriska was waiting for them, standing in the open door of her office with her arms crossed. "You three are up to no good," she said, looking them over. Her eyes widened when she saw Asha's cloak. "Is that cher-silk?" she asked, then held up a hand. "Never mind, I don't even want to know. As for you," she said, turning to Danya, "I expect you to keep everyone out of trouble."
"Of course!" she answered, grinning.
"Don't be coy with me. Stay under the speed limit in that souped-up pod racer of yours."
As Mika walked past Beriska at the end of the line, the Feeorin held her back. "I'm glad to see you at least attempting to fit in, Mika," she said, patting her on the back. "Now, go have fun, and remember to keep these visible." She tapped Mika's collar where a tag had been added displaying the Blue Nebula emblem. Beriska was well-known in the Gnaw, and no one messed with her unless they had a death wish. "Don't try to be a hero if someone is bothering you, either." She gave her a knowing stare.
"I'll try my best," she answered noncommittally.
"You'd better." She gave her a gentle nudge. "Go on, then."
The night air was chill as they stepped out of the back door of the cantina. Asha climbed into the back of Danya's little red SoroSuub CX4-S, it's candy-color paint job shining in the single light over the back door. Mika took the front seat, which enveloped her in burgundy velour that smelled faintly of the fruity air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror.
"If it was warmer, I'd put the top down," Danya said, starting the engine and gunning it, making the airspeeder vibrate.
"If I was a human, my hair would be blowing in the wind," Mika said.
Asha laughed from the back. "Be glad we're a hairless species. Do know how much human women spend on hair products? Pffff. No, thanks. I'd rather spend all that on me."
Danya turned on the heater and defroster to take the chill out of the air, then turned on the radio. Heavy alloy music blared out of the speakers. "Sorry!" she said, turning it down.
"Can we stop at Biscuit Baron?" Mika asked. "I'll treat."
"No way. You're my guests tonight, and if you want Biscuit Baron, so it shall be." She feathered the throttle and the airspeeder shot out of the parking lot, then turned hard into the alley, flying between the buildings at breakneck speed.
Asha let out a screech as she was thrown into the side of the back seat.
Mika gritted her teeth and gripped the armrests tightly to keep from wincing. "Why do you have the grav-chairs turned off?"
"Makes for a more exciting ride, don't you think?" Danya laughed. "Besides, my driving isn't terrible!" She slammed on the brakes, stopping at the mouth of the alley, then let the airspeeder inch forward to see the flow of traffic.
"I think I'd need to change my microbriefs," Asha said, buckling her seatbelts, "if I was wearing any."
Mika followed suit while trying not to laugh.
"Oh, don't mind her," Danya told her, grinning. "She's incorrigible."
"Cool down. You can't wear any in a dress like this, or they would be exposed on the sides," she said, turning slightly to slap her bare hip through the open side of her dress. "They'd just be targets for some sleemo to grab at."
"Here we go!" She throttled the accelerator and the airspeeder's engines roared to life, causing them to take off like a shot. The vehicle rocketed into air traffic, darting around several taxis and finally settling behind an airbus.
"I think I might need to change my microbriefs," Mika said.
"Will you two old ladies relax?" Danya protested. "I know what I'm doing! Now, where is the nearest Biscuit Baron?" She ducked her head down and looked up and out of the windshield to see the higher levels above.
"There's one on 38 at the corner about two blocks to the left," Asha said.
"What time does Syren start?" Mika asked.
"Eight-thirty, I think." She applied some lip gloss. "We still have time."
"To hell with this," Danya growled, slamming the throttle forward. The SoroSuub shot forward as she pulled back on the controls, putting it into a steep ascent. They rose four levels in seconds as she weaved deftly around traffic with iron reflexes. Several taxis honked at her in annoyance, and in moments, a Biscuit Baron appeared up ahead. She leveled off, pulling in behind an air taxi. "Relax, chicha," she said, patting Mika's hand. "I won't let anything happen to you."
"How reassuring," she deadpanned.
"Let's go in," Asha said. "I'd like to use the refresher after that little ride."
They pulled into the parking lot of the Biscuit Baron, and when Mika set foot on the ground, her knees trembled. She'd never been so glad to stand on solid ground, and took a deep breath, inhaling the smells of fried bantha patties and cool night air.
"All right. We've got twenty minutes or so before Syren starts," Danya said, getting out of the airspeeder and stretching. "So let's be quick, and—Mika, what's wrong?"
Mika slowly turned, looking into all the shadows of the parking lot, into the empty airspeeds, then into the mouths of the alleys. Seeing no one, she shifted her gaze to the Biscuit Baron, and up at the surrounding buildings. Her lekku twitched nervously. She had the distinct impression that she was being watched, but she could see no one actually observing her. When she reached out through the Force, she sensed only a vague malevolence, but couldn't pinpoint its location.
She startled when Danya touched her shoulder.
"Hey, you okay?"
She nodded, her face and lekku flushing in embarrassment. "Come on. Let's hurry."
Inside of the entrance was a duraplast cutout of the Baron, a bearded human wearing a fool's grin and a gaudy crown, dressed in ostentatious clothing that looked like someone had held at blaster-point the designers for Naboo and Alderaanian royalty and forced them to collaborate. There were half a dozen people inside, most by the windows looking out onto the airplane traffic.
Mika walked up to the counter. "I'd like a double bantha burger, extra cheese, and a large gizer ale, please," she told a young human dressed in an ugly brown and yellow striped shirt.
"To go?"
"Yes." She stepped out of the way.
"It will all be one order," Danya said, pulling out an aurodium credit chip with Emeritus Banking written across the top. Underneath that was a strange line of triangles and dots forming a geometric pattern running horizontally across the length of the credit chip. "I'll just have a blue-milk shake and a large order of the Endorian chicken strips."
Something about the appearance of them made her shiver, though she couldn't say why. It had nothing to do with the fact that in order to get an aurodium credit chip from Emeritus, you had to have more money than the slave contract was worth in the bank. "I'll have the Jolly Meal with a large Adder moss chips," Asha said. "Gizer ale, too."
"Really?" Danya asked. "A Jolly Meal? What are you, eight?"
"What?" she asked sheepishly, then laughed. "I want the Clone Trooper toy!"
Danya paid for the meal, then turned to Asha. "Clone Trooper toy?"
"I collect them."
They each took their bags, Asha taking her Jolly Meal box. "Let's get out of here."
Mika followed them back out to the airspeeder, still trying to feel out that secret observer through the Force. Cal Shara hadn't gotten around to teaching her how to fine-tune her awareness through the Force, and sometimes, it still felt like she was casting out a net that was far too loose, so her Force perception was often hit-or-miss.
Once they were in the vehicle, Asha said, "You may want to drive a little slower so we don't end up wearing our food."
"With as little as you're wearing," Danya said over her shoulder, "clean-up should be a breeze."
Mika snorted, trying not to laugh with a mouth full of food.
"Ha, ha. I'm the one wearing cher-silk, remember?" Asha asked smugly.
"That doesn't make you Naboo royalty, chicha," Data shot back, starting the engine and pulling out of the parking lot. She entered the air traffic smoothly, settling behind a cargo-speeder, then pressed a button on the dash, activating autopilot. She set the destination to one level directly above the White Room Club. "Parking is always better just outside the Gnaw," she explained to Mika.
As Danya and Asha chatted and ate, Mika ate in silence. It was exhilarating to be out with some people, even if they weren't quite friends, yet. So much of her life had been in servitude to the Farghul and spent with Kai, and now, she had to leave Danya behind and Asha behind once Beriska found her a way off-planet.
Would Danya be so accepting if she found out that she was a Force user? Or would the Imperial bounty be too much of a temptation for her? The Togruta obviously liked wealth and the trappings that came with it.
"You're kind of quiet over there," Danya said.
"Just thinking," she said, finishing her food. She sipped her gizer ale.
"Don't get all moody, now. We're going out to dance, not brood."
She smiled and put her trash in the bag, then set the bag on the floor. "It will be nice to dance without being required to remove our clothes. Besides," she said, "I'm not that great."
"What?" Asha sputtered, covering her mouth in surprise.
"That's all right," Danya laughed. "Just grab a cute guy, swing your hips around, and give him a smile and a snog. You'll do fine."
Mika looked out the window to hide her awkward smile.
They passed the entrance to the White Room on their way to the level above it, and the place looked packed; there was a line of people waiting to get in. The front façade of the building was painted white and a large black awning hung above the entrance, which was guarded by a hulking Devaronian. Above the awning in large blacklight neon was written The White Room Club.
"Stang! The line is so long!" Asha groaned. "We'll never get in!"
"Lucky for you that I know the bouncer, then, huh?" Danya said, turning off the autopilot. She pulled into the parking garage directly above the club and rolled down the pilot-side window.
The garage was attended by a battered 5YQ protocol droid working behind a mag-sealed pane of glass. "Five credits, please," it said in Basic as Danya came to a stop.
She reached into her pocket and counted out five credits, then tossed them into the collection funnel and rolled the window up. The plastoid barrier painted black and yellow lifted and she flew through.
"How do you know the bouncer?" Mika asked.
"Fane? Oh, he comes in at night, sometimes," Danya explained. "He likes it when I bring him his drinks."
"Fane?"
"You do more than that," Asha snorted. "I saw you sitting on his lap one time, and his hands were—"
"Hey!" Danya interrupted, laughing. "He tips well, so he gets an occasional lap dance." Danya's mortals flushed slightly, though, as she said this.
Mika smiled. She hadn't thought Danya was capable of embarrassment.
"I saw where his hands were!" Asha laughed.
"Anyways," Danya said archly. "Getting in won't be a problem." She parked next to an expensive a deep red Mobquet 3C sedan trimmed in chrome and black. "Careful getting out. My insurance premiums are high enough."
"I can't imagine why," Mika muttered, trying not to smile.
"I heard that!"
They could hear the dance music thumping outside the club as they strolled past all of the people in line, some of whom gave them unpleasant glares. Most of the people were human or near-human, though there were more than a few Twi'leks, Balosaurs and Rodians, and even a Sakiyan.
"Miss Kotaro, how nice of you to come visit me," the Devaronian Fane rumbled in a deep voice, grinning as the tall Danya stood on tiptoe to give him a kiss on the side of his mouth. "And you brought friends?" He grinned, his teeth sharp and several capped in aurodium.
"I heard Syren is playing," she purred, pushing her shoulders back and taking a deep breath to accentuate her chest.
Fane cleared his throat nervously and unhooked the velvet rope. "You owe me, little one," he said around a grin.
"We'll see," she teased, winking and grabbing Mika's hand. "Come on, chichas. Thanks, Fane!"
Inside, it was dark and warm. They walked down a short, narrow corridor, past a droid detector, and then past a set of doors on either side that were marked MALE and FEMALE in Basic, Huttese, and Bocce. The corridor opened into a large, square room with a sunken dance floor in the center, separated from the rest of the club by a low railing on all sides.
Tables dotted the raised area, and along the wall on the right was a long bar staffed by several well-muscled human males wearing tight white shirts and black pants. Along the left wall were booths, and the along the back was the DJ booth and band platforms. Dozens of people were on the dance floor, hands in the air and grinding against each other as the lights flashed in time with the bass line. More people were scattered amongst the tables and booths, and a dozen or more lined the bar.
"Oh, there he is!" Danya shouted over the music, pulling Mika over to the bar were one human was pouring a drink for a Rodian woman.
Mika had to admit he was cut, with short dark hair and eyes. His arms were large, and his chest was very well-defined. She was suddenly very self-conscious.
"Hi!" Danya said, grinning at him. "Uh, is there somewhere we can put our things?" She slid a ten-credit note across the bar.
He smiled, pocketing the money. "Sure is." He took their things and set them on the shelf behind the bar. "So, what'll it be?"
"Comet duster for me. Put it on my tab." She handed him her credit chip. "Theirs, too."
"I'll have a nova-bomb," Asha said, grinning at him and making no attempt to disguise where her eyes were looking.
"And you?" he asked Mika.
"Uh, just a Bespin Lite in a bottle," she said, smiling.
He set out a bottle of the pale amber beer in front of her, then made Danya's comet duster and set it in front of the Togruta. Asha's drink came next; he poured beer into a tall mug, then poured a single shot of a bright red liquor into a clear shot glass, and dropped that into the mug of beer, making it foam.
Asha downed it in one go as Danya and Mika watched agape. "Wow!" she gasped afterwards. "That kind of burns!"
They all laughed.
A voice came on the loudspeakers. "Ladies and gentlemen," it said in Basic, "the White Room Club is proud to present the galactic sensation, Denon's very own Syren!"
The crowd erupted in loud cheers as the music began.
"Whoo!" Danya screamed. "Come on, girl!" She grabbed Mika's hand and made a bee-line for the dance floor before Mika could take more than a sip of her beer.
Her blush deepened as she felt Danya's hands on her hips, pushing her one way and then another, forcing her to dance. She could smell Danya's expensive perfume as her hands seemed to rove rather freely. She took Mika's hands and lifted them up, holding them above their heads as the crush of the crowd pressed them together.
Syren, a purple-haired human woman that was shorter than Mika and lithe, wore a black jumpsuit with white-striped shoulders that glowed in the ultraviolet light. Her vocals were full of echo reverb, giving them a haunting quality, and were laid over a hypnotic, repetitive beat. The song was called, "Rule the Night," and it was one of her favorites.
Asha stood behind her, grinning. "Not great at dancing, huh?" she laughed.
Danya grabbed Mika's hips again, guiding her movements on the next song. "There you go!" She spun and backed into Mika, grinding on her.
"Hey!" Mika laughed, blushing.
Asha put her hands where Danya's had been on Mika's hips, holding her glow behind. "This is great!" She threw her head back and let her lekku flail, twitching them in time with the music.
As Syren sang, she fell into the rhythm of the song, the beat of the music pulsing in hypnotic syncopation. She closed her eyes as more bodies pressed against her from people flooding the dance floor, and focused on the music. Feeling Asha's hands on her hips again, she placed her own on Danya's to keep track of her as the Togruta ground against her. The bass beat in her chest as she danced in time with the music, and it surprised her to find that she was actually enjoying herself.
Danya turned to face her and put her arms over her shoulders as a new song came on. "You little liar!" she laughed. "You got better rhythm than I do!"
She felt heat rise to her face as they both continued to press against her. "I need a drink!"
"No you don't!" she said. "Asha and I aren't done with you, yet!"
"You can't hold me hostage!" she laughed back.
"Just watch me!" the Togruta scoffed, pulling her back between Asha and her.
They ended up dancing for the entire two hour set that Syren performed, though it seemed much shorter to Mika, who'd managed to work up a sweat in the process. Danya and Asha would occasionally pull a random guy into their midst for a song or two, and then push him away with a laugh. Asha seemed to find Mika's nervousness amusing as Mika had never danced with a guy before, let alone so many cute ones. She'd never danced with other women, for that matter, either. Her face stayed warm with a blush the whole time.
Finally, after cheering for Syren at the end of the set, they returned to the bar for fresh drinks. This time, Mika was determined to enjoy her beer, which Asha also ordered. Her legs ached, and it felt great to sit and catch her breath.
"That was fun!" Danya said, smiling. She put a hand on the small of Mika's back as they left the dance floor.
Mika grinned back. "I can't believe we actually got to see Syren! They're on the HoloNet all the time!"
"Let's go back out there!" Asha said. "I see a guy I wouldn't mind snogging!"
She laughed at her brazenness, and sipped her beer. "You two go—" she started to say, then froze as her eyes widened.
Danya noticed it immediately. "What is it, Mika?"
Her smile fell as she suddenly felt the presence of that malevolent gaze again, stronger than ever. Whomever it was, they were here, in the club. Icy dread tingled down her spine as she reached out with the Force and spotted him immediately. A tall human wearing tight-fitting black pants and a red tunic stood on the opposite side of the dance floor, looking for her.
"Kiff!" she swore, ducking down, fear making her heart race. "We've got to go!"
"What? Why?" Danya asked in confusion.
"Give us our stuff!" she shouted at the bartender. If that human wasn't a Force user himself, she'd eat her chan'dar. She grabbed her jacket. "We're in danger!"
Asha grinned. "She's joking, right?"
"No, she's not," Danya said, reaching for her coat. "Do as she says, Asha! It's time to go!"
"Stang! I hope he didn't see me!" Mika muttered, tossing Asha's cloak and purse to her.
"Who?"
"Human male in black pants and red shirt. Other side of the dance floor." Why did he have to show up now? she fumed. He'd ruined what was going to be her first perfect night in—well, ever. Everything had been going so well for a change. It's not fair! she cursed, and could almost hear Cal Shara laughing at her, telling her life wasn't far. Her only focus now was to ensure that he didn't follow them back to the cantina. If he caught them, he'd probably figure out the location of their owner, and then Beriska would be in danger as well.
"The dark haired guy? He doesn't look so tough," Asha said, fastening her cloak. "Who is he, anyway?"
"A bounty hunter," she half-lied, pushing them towards the exit.
"A bounty hunter! What in blazes would he want with you?"
"It's a long story. Now, move!" She could still sense him back there, searching for her. That wouldn't last long, she knew; he'd home-in on her with the Force because she wasn't skilled enough to mask her Force presence as well as she should be able to. Besides, what in the void was she going to do with a vibroblade against a lightsaber? Too bad Beriska hadn't let her keep hers; it would certainly be handy, now.
She felt his glare zero on her, then heard not one but two snap-hisses of lightsabers igniting. Panic fluttered in her stomach, and she fought to control her fear as the crowd began screaming and stampeding towards the exits. "Move!" she shouted, pushing Asha ahead of her and out the door. Hand locked around Danya's she pulled the Togruta through with her.
The Force user had to be an Inquisitor, and he was none too gentle about cleaving a path through the crowd to reach her. As Mika and her two new friends ran out onto the street, she could feel him calling on the Force to push people out of the way, breaking bones and injuring many. Her only concern was getting her friends safe, knowing she didn't really stand a chance against him.
Half-way down the alley, she stopped. "Get home! If I don't return in an hour, tell Beriska to get everyone out!" She drew her vibroblade and turned.
Danya stopped and started to run back. "No! You're coming with us! You can't face him!"
"Go!" she shouted back, her vision blurring. "It's me he wants, not you!"
The Togruta hesitated, reaching for Mika.
Her heart broke as she forced herself to snarl, "Go, damn it all!"
Danya grabbed Asha's hand and they ran around the corner.
The Inquisitor appeared at the mouth of the alley. "Your running is over, Mik'aventuura," he said quietly. "Surrender or die."
Her eyes narrowed in anger. "E chu ta, chuba D'emperiolo stoopa!" she cursed, calling him an Imperial fool.
"As you will," he snapped and charged at her.
Fear paralyzed her, and she struggled to stay open to the flow of the Force as she watched him draw ever closer. At the last possible moment, there was a flicker in the Force, so small it was barely perceptible, but she opened herself to it fully. She ducked and stepped aside as he swung his two crimson lightsabers through the space where her head had been a moment before.
Without hesitation, she reached out through the Force to touch him, nearly gagging at the darkness she found therein. It was like a mouthful of oily filthy, and only through sheer determination was she able to keep her focus. As he spun, she pushed as hard as she could, and he flew sideways into a dumpster with a loud crunch, leaving a dent in the metal. As he fell to the ground, she moved towards him, knowing that one of them would have to die. She'd never actually killed anyone before, but she knew that she would not hesitate now. The realization in the split second it took to ready her next attack filled her with a quiet resolve that was startling in its tranquility. There was no dread, no fear, just action.
She launched the vibroblade without thought, calling on the Force to speed its flight. It streaked towards his chest as he was standing up, and only his Force-attuned reflexes saved him. He rolled out of the way and it struck his left shoulder with a bone-jarring impact, and only the blade's tang kept it from going all the way through.
He roared in pain and dropped the lightsaber in his left hand.
Before the lightsaber even touched the ground, she was already reaching for it through the Force, and it flew to her hand. She ignited it and struck, but he was faster, deflecting her slash with his other lightsaber. He pushed back, but she rolled with it and hit the side of the building, though not as hard as the Inquisitor intended.
"You Jedi scum!" he snarled, his rage palpable. He jumped up and pulled her vibroblade out of his shoulder, then cast it aside. "I'm going to enjoy killing you, and then I'll see to your friends as well!"
Rage pressed down on her, threatening to engulf her with visions of fury; the mention of hurting Danya and Asha gave her renewed strength. She launched a series of slashes, but they were awkward and badly timed, and her lack of training and expertise were apparent. He parried and blocked them, and countered, but she, in turn, parried and blocked as well. Their lightsabers flared and sparked with each block. He came in high, and she turned it aside, causing his blade to sheer off a corner of a dumpster in a spray of sparks as the metal crashed to the pavement.
Asha screamed.
Started, she cursed her friends for being foolish as she lapsed onto the defensive. The Inquisitor grinned and stepped up his attacks, and it was all she could do to keep his flashing blade at bay.
"Go!" she screamed back over her shoulder. Only the fact that she sensed them finally fleeing gave her some peace. She would sell her life dearly if she must, and it wouldn't be in vain.
The Inquisitor was faster than she was, and it would be only a matter of time before he was able to break through her guard, but she would not give a single centimeter to the darkness that already tainted her. She'd nearly given into the Dark Side when she'd tried killing Nerah; to do so now would be a betrayal of all those she held dear.
As his lightsaber drew closer and closer, she felt the end rapidly approaching. This is it, she thought sadly. She turned his lightsaber aside one last time, but at the last possible moment, sensed a twinge in the flow of the Force. She lashed out with a fist, striking his left shoulder as hard as she could.
He screamed and jumped back. "You bitch!" he roared, then ran at her.
Giving herself over to the Force, she spun and stepped to one side, whipping the lightsaber around behind her in a scarlet blur.
The Inquisitor screamed again, though this time, it was a gurgling roar of pain.
She spun again, and crouched in a defensive stance, coldly watching as the man staggered two steps and dropped his lightsaber, which shut off. Blood sprayed from the side of his neck, spattering against the side of the building as he turned to glare at her hatefully. His mouth worked as if he were trying to say something, but only blood came out. He fell to his knees as his hands went to the side of his neck. He collapsed, and lay still.
For a moment, there was only her ragged breathing as the corpse lay bleeding out, and the smell of scorched flesh hanging in the air. The enormity of killing him fell on her with crushing weight. This would attract the exact kind of wrong attention, and put them all in danger. Tears came to her eyes as she tossed the lightsaber away and looked at her hands in horror. She wiped them on her pants as if they were dirty from touching something that belonged to him.
She looked up and down the alley, then staggered away in a daze as the tears fell from her eyes. Overwhelmed with fear and unsure if she should even go home, she leaned against the side of a building and retched. She knew on some level that the guilt she felt was illogical, but that did nothing to dispel it. He would have killed her, and then he would have gone after Danya, Asha, and Beriska, and killed anyone that got in the way.
Another part of her mourned the fact that Danya and Asha would never look at her the same again; they would only see a Force user, a Jedi. Maybe they were on their way to pick up the bounty on her head right now.
She chose turns at random as she ran down alleyways, and was at least half a kilometer from where she'd killed the Inquisitor, but she stopped and leaned back against a building, then covered her face and wept. Things could never be the same. Did she dare return to the Blue Nebula? Did she dare not? Beriska would come looking for her, and the collar that she couldn't remove would give her away, and if she didn't stay within only a few kilometers of the Blue Nebula, it would explode.
In the distance, she could hear sirens. Cold, frightened by the prospect of being discovered by the Imperials she slid down and hugged her knees to her chest. The part that hurt worst is that she'd blown her chance at having some actual friends.
An airspeeder came into the alley. She tried to hide in the shadow of the dumpster she was huddled next to.
It stopped on the other side of the dumpster and someone got out. Glimmick music could be heard coming from its stereo. "Mika!" Danya's voice called out.
"Danya?" she whispered in disbelief, wiping her eyes and carefully peering around the side of the dumpster.
The Togruta was standing just outside of her red SoroSuub, one leg still in it as she scanned the shadows for her. "Mika!"
Asha sat in the front passenger seat, and Mika didn't need to reach out with the Force to sense the fear that was clearly written on her face.
Fear froze Mika in place—would Danya turn her in for the bounty?
Danya spotted her. "Mika! There you are!" She jumped out and rushed over.
"What's wrong, chicha?" she asked concernedly. "We gotta go! That alley is crawling with Imperials, and there was a tracking beacon on my airspeeder." She took another step towards her. "Let's go, babe. I'm not gonna turn you in. The money isn't worth it, and I have way more than that just on my credit chip!" she laughed. She grabbed her hand lightly. "Let's go, girl."
Danya had way more than the bounty's value on her credit chip? That raised more questions than anything else, but it would have to wait. "You aren't mad?"
"I got a few questions, but those can wait. Why would I be mad?"
"What about Asha?" she asked, standing up.
"What about her? She's just as spooked as anyone else would be, but neither of us are going to turn you in, or say anything to anyone." She squeezed Mika's hand warmly. "Trust me for once, okay?"
She let Danya pull her back to the airspeeder. "I'm sorry, Danya, I should have told you, but I didn't know who I could trust with that."
"It's okay. We're all still friends." She pulled her seat forward so Mika could get in.
She climbed into the warm interior, shivering as she shook off the damp cold. She looked up sheepishly at Asha.
The younger Twi'lek smiled at her. "You were like some old Jedi Knight out of a holovid!" she laughed nervously, shaking her head.
Danya got in and the door hissed shut. She feathered the throttle and the airspeeder rocketed forward. "I can't believe those blasted white hats tried putting a tracker on my speeder," she growled.
"You saved our lives," she said. "Thank you."
"Does this mean you still want to hang out with me?" Mika asked.
"Hell, yeah!" she said quickly, grinning back over her shoulder at Mika. "Now, I at least know that if any sleemo tries anything, I've got a Jedi to kick him square in the choobies!"
Danya snorted. "I don't think it works like that," she chuckled. She turned into the air lane, eliciting a horn from the taxi she cut off.
"Now that I know you can do all that cool stuff, it occurs to me you were holding back on Izzie."
"You could say that." She'd held back on Isara, afraid more of killing her and feeding that rage. She didn't want Isara to be the one that drove her to the Dark Side out of stupidity.
"You know, I wasn't even supposed to use my abilities." She gave a brief description of how Beriska had caught her in the warehouse and swore her to stay quiet until she could find a contact of hers to get her off-planet.
"Hmm," was all Danya said.
"Wait, so you have your own lightsaber?" Asha asked. "What color is it?"
"Green. It's in Beriska's safe."
"That explains why you were so moody the other night," Danya said. "Did your sister know?"
"Yes."
Two police cruisers went shooting past in the opposite direction, their sirens blaring.
"You really stirred the hornet's nest, Mika."
"Go big or go home," she replied with a sight, her stomach knotting.
"Well, we won't say anything to Beriska, and hopefully, the corpse will be just another imperial who wandered down a wrong alley. I'll make sure we don't have any tails."
Mika was glad she hadn't lost her friends and hadn't brought danger to the Blue Nebula—there were no witnesses to know what happened, and the only one who might have known was dead at her hands. With a little luck, she might make it off Denon a free woman and could pick up the search for Kai once more.
While she didn't want to leave her friends behind, they were safer with Beriska because it was her they were after, not the Blue Nebula. Nothing prevented her from maintaining discreet contact as well, once this was over, and who knew? Palpatine was old and would die soon, and hopefully, take his ridiculous ideas with him.
Relaxing a bit into the plush leather of the airspeeder, she grinned and found herself looking forward to the future for once.