***Author's note: Due to story progression, I kept Zaalbar in the party & did not return him to the apartment. I felt it would slow down the story too much. Plus, it didn't make sense to send Zaalbar into the Upper City w/o either Ashla or Carth escorting him. So, for that reason, Zaalbar stayed with the group.***
Chapter 6: The Swoop Race and the Jedi
The Upper Sewers
Ashla, Carth, Mission and Zaalbar continued on through the sewers, searching for the back entrance into the Vulkar base. When they came across the blue forcefield, Mission assured them that they were on the right path. Mission disabled the forcefield, and the group moved further into the Upper levels of the sewers.
"Mission, how many guards do they usually have manning the back entry way?" Carth asked.
"Uhh, usually two… um, but the guards won't be the hard part." Mission said nervously as she opened the sewer door revealing a long grated pathway leading down.
Curiously, there were no Gamorrean guards patrolling this section of the sewers. Ashla crept silently down the long passageway, pausing when she saw a severed arm laying in the middle of the metal corridor. Zaalbar moaned softly behind her. Ashla cast a quick glance toward Mission, who blanched at the site of the severed limb. Carth stood silently behind Ashla, staring down at the gruesome sight.
Ashla bent down and gingerly slipped the datapad off of the limb. As she did, the palm opened to reveal three small vials. She picked up the vials, rotating them to read the label. The vials were marked 'synthesized odor.' Ashla pocketed the vials while she activated the datapad. There was a note, which had been left open on the homescreen. It read:
We have synthesized an odor, which greatly resembles the scent of a favored prey of the rancor species. If placed properly, you can lure the great beast into ingesting it along with something lethal enough to dispose of it.
"What is it?" Carth asked, as he glanced over her shoulder down at the datapad she held.
"A note suggesting how to kill a rancor." Ashla answered. Great, just great. "Mission, is there a rancor down here?"
"There...might be a rancor down here." Mission replied with trepidation, her blue lekku twitching.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Carth mumbled.
"Where's the rancor, Mission?" Ashla asked with a cocked brow.
"Umm... guarding the back entrance to the Vulkar base." Mission said, with a shaky smile.
Couldn't she have told us this sooner, he thought, with a groan.
Well, this complicates things, Ashla thought as she slipped the datapad into her pack as she crept silently down the corridor. Standing beside the closed door, Ashla waited for the others. She remembered the grenades she had placed in one of the pockets on her belt. She fished them out, along with the synthesized odor vials.
"I was able to sneak past it before, but that was just me." Mission said.
"I have a plan," Ashla said, confidently.
"Are you sure about this?" Carth took Ashla's arm, and gently pulled her aside after Mission took the vials of synthesized odor and grenades from her.
"Yes, she can do it. She's much better at sleath than I am. Plus, she's snuck past the beast before." Ashla said, as she placed her hand on his arm in reassurance. "Carth, she'll be fine."
"Yeah, Carth, I'll be fine. Don't worry so much. Geez." Mission said, rolling her eyes.
Carth narrowed his eyes at the teenaged Twi'lek, then finally shook his head. "Fine."
"Ok, Mission. Ready?" Ashla said as she opened the door to the rancor pit.
Mission nodded, and activated the stealth field generator on her belt, rendering herself invisible. Slowly, she crept toward the pile of corpses and bones. The rancor was facing away from her, toward the back wall of the pit. Mission froze as the rancor shifted its weight from side to side. Once the rancor became still again, Mission eased closer to the grisly pile.
Mission placed the grenades inside the jacket of one of the corpses. Opening all three vials of the synthesized odor, she dumped the contents on the corpse. Dropping the vials in the rubble of bones, Mission crept slowly back towards the group waiting in the passageway. Once she was back by Ashla's side, she deactivated the generator, becoming visible once more.
Ashla motioned for Mission to stand behind her as she peered around the door. Carth flattened himself against the wall, and became very still. Zaalbar did the same. Nobody moved.
Ashla held her breath as the rancor sniffed the air. The beast rotated its bulky torso toward the odor emanating from the remains. Loud booms rang out as it trudged toward the refuse pile. The beast reached down and picked up the corpse, and shoved it in its mouth.
C'mon, work… Ashla thought as the rancor swallowed the corpse.
The enormous creature clawed at its throat as the grenades went off inside the hulking beast. The rancor let out a mighty roar as it crashed into the floor, dead.
Black Vulkar Base
Their small group moved as stealthily as they could through the base. As sneaky as a group could be with a Wookiee in it, that is, Ashla thought as Zaalbar plodded behind her. The group had fallen into a good routine. Ashla took the front of the group, while Carth brought up the rear. Mission and Zaalbar flanked the sides, running up to disable any mines in their path.
Ashla paused beside a disabled droid. Bending at the waist, she peered into the droids chassis, nimbly removing the access panel on its back. Reaching into her pack, she withdrew some spare parts she had picked up along the way to repair the droid. Next, she reprogrammed it to fire upon the Vulkars. Happy with her work, Ashla closed the access panel and reactivated the droid.
The droid's photoreceptors flickered as it booted up and came to life. "Ready," the droid vocalized as it began it's patrol. The group ducked behind one of the broken down swoop bikes as they watched the droid begin blasting the Vulkars in its path.
Couched down beside her, Carth whispered, "pretty clever, beautiful."
Ashla winked in response, and motioned with her head for them to move forward.
As they came upon a security terminal, Ashla handed Mission a passkey card that she had picked off of one of the Vulkars that they had just encountered in the hallway. "See if this will work, so we save our computer spikes."
Mission nodded as she entered the passkey card into the terminal. "Yes!" Mission whispered as the terminal booted up and allowed her access.
"Great, download the schematics of the base. And, if you can, use the terminal to override any others to thin out their numbers."
Ashla handed Mission her datapad, and watched as Mission deftly ran her fingers over the terminal's screen. After checking the views from the other terminals, Ashla saw the turrets blocking their path into the garage elevator. "See if you can get those turrets offline, too." Mission nodded, as she handed back Ashla's datapad.
Ashla examined the map of the base. The garage offices or the engine lab was going to be their best bet on where they were keeping the prototype. To get to either section of the base, they would have to go through the garage elevator.
Mission logged off the terminal and they headed toward the garage elevator. Ashla kept her vibroblades clipped to her belt, opting to use the blaster she had picked up from one of the Gamorrean hunters in the sewers instead. Together the small group descended lower into the Black Vulkar base.
Entering the main garage bay from the elevator, Ashla led the small group toward the small hallway. Rounding the corner, they were beset by two Vulkars. Ashla aimed her blaster at the nearest one, while the three followed suit. Mission ran ahead to recover the two mines blocking their path, with Ashla following close behind her.
After locating and securing the garage office, the team searched the room for the prototype accelerator, but only found a few supplies and a security access keycard. Ashla checked her map. This door in the office appeared to open directly into the engine lab, which was where she was betting the accelerator was being kept. Ashla made sure the safety was on the blaster before placing it back inside her pack. Using the keycard on the door, it opened with a swoosh.
Ashla unclipped her vibroblades before edging quietly into the engine lab, with Carth, Mission and Zaalbar following close behind her. They were greeted by a male Twi'lek and his three Vulkar guards.
"Ah, it appears as if we have visitors," the green skinned Twi'lek sneered, in Twi'leki.
Ashla eased her grip on the vibroblades. "You have something which does not belong to you, Vulkar."
The Twi'lek let out a loud laugh. "Gadon sent you to do his dirty work then, huh?"
Mission gasped. "Brejik stole that prototype from Gadon, you chuba-face!"
"Shall I get rid of these Bek scum, Kandon?" the female Twi'lek Vulkar guard said, contempt dripping from her words.
"No, wait just a minute. You're not wearing the Hidden Bek colors, so I'm guessing you aren't a part of Gadon's gang. You must be freelance mercs, then?" Kandon asked.
Ashla shrugged. "Perhaps."
"Hm… Instead of stealing the prototype for Gadon, why don't you come work for us instead? We could use someone of your caliber on our team." Kandon said, slyly.
"No, I don't think so, Kandon. I know all I need to know about you Vulkars." Ashla wasn't surprised by the Vulkar's offer. So far, Gadon had treated them with respect and honesty, she didn't think the Vulkar's would do the same.
"Be smart! Gadon is a blind old fool! His time is ending, Brejik will soon take over the Lower City gangs! You'll want to be on the right side when that happens!" Kandon countered.
"No deal. Surrender the prototype to us." Ashla held her ground.
The Twi'lek sighed. "I can see that there is no swaying you. That is most unfortunate."
"Now can I kill them, Kandon?" The female Twi'lek simpered, pleased with this turn of events.
"Yes, my dear, kill them… Kill them all." Kandon sneered.
Blaster shots rang out as Ashla leaped at Kandon, bringing her blades down on him as she landed. In this close range, she used one of the blades to block his blaster arm, while thrusting with the other blade. Kandon landed with a thud, as Ashla whirled on his female bodyguard. Ashla slashed her blades in a quick upward motion, in fast succession. The two bodyguards slid to the floor with a groan. Blaster shots assailed the female Twi'lek, as she fell to the floor, lying beside Kandon.
"Everyone okay?" Ashla asked as she reclipped her vibroblades. Ashla gripped her arm where blaster fire had grazed her. Carth and Mission both held their sides, while Zaalbar seemed to have come out of the battle unscathed.
Ashla opened her pack. After rummaging around the pockets, she found where she had stashed the medpacks. "Carth, check your pack for medpacks. Mission, here… let me help you." She crossed over to Mission, and handed the girl the medpack.
"Thanks," Mission said as she took the kolto syringe from Ashla and injected it into her thigh.
Ashla looked around the engine lab. Around the corner, she saw the accelerator laying on the floor behind a mine. "Zaalbar, can you disable that mine and grab the accelerator?"
Zaalbar gruffed, "sure." He set to work disabling the mine, while Ashla looked over Carth for injuries.
"I'll live, beautiful." Carth said as he used one of the kolto filled medpacks. "You should let me look at that arm, though."
Ashla nodded. "I will, once we're back at the apartment. I'll manage until then. It's not that bad," she said as she injected a medpack into her thigh.
Mission and Carth were both standing a bit taller as the kolto took effect. Zaalbar handed Ashla the accelerator to put in her bag. After stowing the prototype, she nodded towards the door.
Upper City Apartment
Once they had gotten back to the apartment, Ashla had tended Mission's wounds. After cleaning and dressing the wound, the exhausted girl had fallen sound asleep on Ashla's bed. Zaalbar stood at the workbench, cleaning his bowcaster and making small repairs to the weapon. Carth, now showered and changed, reminded her she needed to tend to her own wounds.
"Alright, beautiful. Let's see how bad it is." Carth said bluntly, as he pointed to the blackened rips on her jacket.
Ashla arched her brow as she unzipped her brown jacket, and pulled it off. Her sleeveless white undershirt revealed the angry reddened gash on her shoulder. Brown scorch marks riddled the left side of the white shirt.
"I thought you said that you weren't that hurt," Carth said, as he pointed out the blaster scoring on her shirt. Stubborn woman, he thought.
Ashla looked down at the side of her shirt in surprise. She hadn't felt the blaster shots that had zinged past her. The gash on her shoulder had hurt like hell as they left the engine lab, but she had pushed the pain away, focusing on getting back to the Upper City instead. "Perhaps it was the adrenaline… I didn't feel it," she shrugged, as she set her jacket on the table.
Opening the medkit, Carth took out the cleaning solution and kolto salve. He poured a generous amount of the cleaning solution on a sterile cloth and pressed it on the wound. Ashla winced as the alcohol mixture saturated the laceration. She pressed her hand over the cloth after he released it. After checking to make sure it hadn't started to bleed again, Ashla ambled off, stopping to pick up a fresh set of clothing before going to the refresher to shower and change.
Once in the refresher, she stripped off her soiled clothes. Turning her left side to the mirror, she saw several scratch marks, but the wounds were very minor. Showering was going to be unpleasant though, she thought as she looked at the angry abrasion on her shoulder. After getting out of the shower, she put on a clean undershirt and undershorts before pulling on the blue robe.
She walked out of the refresher to see Carth had his shirt off and was applying a thick layer of kolto salve on the wound on his side before covering it with a large bandage.
"Is it very bad?" Ashla asked as she joined him at the table, where he had the medkit opened.
"It's only a flesh wound," he replied as he tugged his shirt back on. "Come on, let's put this salve on your shoulder."
Ashla pulled her arm out of the sleeve of the blue robe, as Carth applied the kolto salve on an applicator. Gingerly, he administered the salve on the wound before applying a bandage over it.
"What about your side?" he asked, as he held the sleeve of her robe up, so she could slide her arm inside.
"Scratches mainly. I'll be fine," she replied, as she rose to find an extra blanket. She noticed that Zaalbar had found a cozy corner of the apartment, and was sleeping peacefully. Wrapping the blanket around her, Ashla sank into the chair. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. The day's activity caught up with her as she relaxed in the chair. Her eyes drifted closed as she nodded off.
Carth moved quietly around the apartment, putting up the medkit and packs. He turned around to discuss the plan for tomorrow with Ashla to see that she had fallen asleep in the chair. He gently unwrapped the blanket from around her, and picked her up tenderly, leaving the blanket draped over the chair. He cradled her in his arms as he crossed the room to lay her in his bed. He swept the long strands of damp hair off of her brow, then pulled the blanket over her. Using his old flight jacket as a pillow and Ashla's discarded blanket, he laid down on the floor and fell asleep.
The sunlight streamed into the apartment, casting a pale glow. Ashla woke slowly, wondering how she came to be in Carth's bed. She ran a hand over her face, moving her hair out of her eyes. She sat up slowly, and looked around the room in confusion. Mission was still asleep in her bed. Zaalbar was snoring lightly in the corner. As she scanned the rest of the room, her eyes lit on Carth, asleep on the floor. He must have put me to bed last night after I fell asleep in the chair.
She laid back down and pulled the blanket up over her eyes. Soon, they would find Bastila. The swoop race was coming up soon. After Bastila joined them, surely it would only be a matter of time before the Jedi would figure out a way to get them offworld. Then, they would go their separate ways. I have to stop these feelings from developing any further. After we get back to the Republic fleet, I'm probably not ever going to see him again.
Sometime later that morning, the group headed down into the Lower City. Ashla carried the prototype accelerator in her pack to return to Gadon when they reached the Hidden Bek base. Mission walked beside her, while Carth and Zaalbar walked a few paces behind them.
"So, Ashla…" Mission started to ask a question, then quickly glanced behind her at Carth to make sure they wouldn't be overheard. "How long have you two been together?"
Ashla snapped her head around to look at the young Twi'lek, who smiled sweetly at her. "What? Do you mean how long we've been working together?"
"No, silly! I mean, how long have you been together… y'know… as a couple." Mission giggled. "I noticed he slept on the floor last night. I thought perhaps you two had an argument after I fell asleep."
"Oh, no… We're not…" Ashla glanced back at Carth, swallowing hard, before continuing, "we just work together. That's all." She blushed at the thought of Mission's assumption.
"Ha! Well, ya coulda fooled me! I mean, the way he's always like, 'sure, beautiful.' I thought for sure you two had a thing going!" Mission's lekku twitched as she giggled.
"That's just probably how he talks, Mission. Some men are just like that." Ashla said, glancing away.
"Ookay, whatever you say, Ashla." Mission laughed.
They rode down the elevator in silence. After the doors opened, Ashla and Carth walked out together, while Mission hung back to walk with Zaalbar.
"So, what did Mission find so funny?" Carth asked.
Ashla felt her face burn as the blush spread across her cheeks.
"Must have been something interesting to get you to blush like that, beautiful." He said with a deep chuckle.
"Mission thinks… thought… that we…" Ashla paused before continuing, trying to figure out the best way to respond.
"That we what?" Carth asked, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Ashla nodded to the Bek lookout guard as they entered the Hidden Bek base. At the back of the large main room, Zaerdra whispered to Gadon. Ashla was saved from responding as Gadon called out, "so, you've returned! I've heard some rumblings about somebody breaking into the Vulkar base last night."
Ashla approached Gadon, placing her pack on the desk in front of him. "That's the word on the street, then?" She grinned as she opened the pack to retrieve the prototype.
"It is," Gadon responded.
"Well, I suppose that they are right." Ashla set the prototype accelerator on the desk between them. "We kept our end of the bargain, now it's time for you to honor yours."
"Don't worry, I'm a man of my word, Ashla. I promised I'd sponsor you to ride in the big race, and I will. I'll even go one further. I'll allow you to ride the swoop with this accelerator installed on it. You won't stand a chance without it."
"I thought you said it needed to be tested first, Gadon." Carth said, tersely.
"So it does. I'll be honest with you. There's a possibility that the accelerator could explode during the race. Now, I can't risk one of my own men riding the swoop bike with it installed. If you complete your runs before it overheats, then you'll win the race. If it explodes and you die, well then, I still have other riders competing who have a chance at winning."
"Hmph. Sounds like you've covered all of your bases." Ashla said, crossing her arms.
"Well, you don't get to be a leader of a swoop gang without knowing how to work all the angles." Gadon replied, confidently. "C'mon, we'll need to let you two practice to see who will ride in the big race."
The swoop bike platform was mostly empty, aside from the janitor who was grumbling under his breath as he cleaned up after a set of racers practicing their runs. Ashla listened intently as Gadon's mechanic went over the basics of riding a swoop bike. Carth sat in the rider's seat of the swoop bike that Gadon allowed them to use for their practice runs, while Ashla looked over the controls.
"So, it's easy really… just try to not crash into anything while you're on the track. When you hit something, you won't crash due to the dynamic deflector systems. Now, there's debris and obstacles all over the course, so watch out. When you hit something, it will shake you up and slow you down. So, avoid hitting them at all costs. Next, you'll notice that there are accelerator panels built into the track." The mechanic pointed out the panels on the track. "Those will give you a big boost in speed. So, try to hit those when you see 'um. When the engine starts running hot, switch gears. It'll shoot you a warning first. Other than that, just hang on."
Ashla handed Carth a helmet, then backed away from the swoop as he started it up. She stood back on the platform by the mechanic as Carth made his first practice run. She thought he would be the better one to compete in the race, since he was a pilot. Carth wasn't so sure. Swoop bikes are a lot different from starcraft, he had said. After looking over the controls of the swoop bike, she was inclined to agree. She winced as he hit a pile of debris on the course, causing the swoop bike to shake, then failed to hit the accelerator panel. When his run ended, Ashla glanced up at the time clock. 28:05 it read.
The mechanic beside her murmured under his breath. "Hmm. Not bad for his first run, but to win that race, he'll have to do a lot better than that."
Carth jogged back to them as the mechanic looked over the bike, making a few adjustments. "Your turn, beautiful." He grinned as he tossed her the helmet.
"Alright. Watch as I beat your time, flyboy." Ashla teased him as she slipped the black helmet over her head, and tightened the straps.
The mechanic motioned that the bike was ready. Ashla slid into the rider's seat, and looked over the controls. Gingerly, she placed her hands on the steering controls, found the gear shift, and nodded that she was ready. Above her was a series of lights, once the third one lit up, she slammed on the accelerator. Dodging the debris in her path, she aimed the swoop bike for the accelerator panels in the track. Going over the first one, she felt the swoop bike lurch forward as it picked up speed. Quickly, she shifted the bike to the right, flying over the next one. Before she knew it, she was soaring past the finish line. She eased the swoop bike to a stop, and then climbed out. The mechanics began towing the swoop bike back to the beginning of the course. She jogged back to where Carth and Gadon's head mechanic waited.
"Yahoo! Lady, that was some swoop riding!" The mechanic whooped, as he slapped her on the back.
Ashla checked the time clock. 25:05 it read. "Not bad for my first time." She grinned as she handed Carth the helmet back.
"Beginners luck, beautiful." Carth said playfully as he readed himself for his next practice run.
Mission and Zaalbar watched as Carth and Ashla took turns making their practice runs, shaving seconds off each round. Ashla found herself laughing as she and Carth exchanged jabs at each other after each practice heat. Mission cheered Carth on as he made his final practice run. Ashla caught Zaalbar, who had been so very stoic, roaring with laughter when her time beat Carth's yet again.
"Well, I think your girlfriend should be the one to ride in the race tomorrow." The mechanic teased Carth as Ashla finished her last practice run coming in at 21:38.
Beside him, Mission stifled a giggle and hid her smile behind her hands as Carth stuttered and shook his head, "no, she's not…"
Ashla jogged up about that time. "So, who's running in the race tomorrow?" She held the helmet out to the mechanic. Carth planted his hands on his hips as Mission fell into a fit of giggles.
"You are, beautiful."
#
Gadon offered to let them stay in the base overnight since the race was in the morning. Mission showed Ashla the way to the women's dormitory, while Carth headed toward the men's, as Zaalbar followed close behind him. Zaerdra had given her a fresh pair of clothes and a racing suit in the Hidden Beks' colors for tomorrow's big race.
After cleaning up, Ashla found the bunk Zaerdra had pointed out to her earlier. She lay restlessly, staring at the bunk over her head. She could hear the faint snores from the other women and girls sleeping in the dormitory. Ashla rolled over and tried to get comfortable, but the mattress was thin and lumpy. It felt as if she had been tossing and turning for hours when she finally was able to doze off and fall asleep.
The next morning dawned early for Ashla. She rose, and after a quick shower in the women's refresher, she donned the Hidden Bek racing uniform. In the mess hall, she ate a quick breakfast before Zaerdra hurried her out, saying she had to get to the platform before the race began. Her eyes met Carth's from across the mess hall as she left with Zaerdra and the other Bek racers.
#
Bastila Shan hobbled between the two street gang thugs as they hauled her from the cramped cell she had been forced to reside in for the past few weeks. She had managed to use a force mind trick on the thug assigned to give her daily dose of sedatives. However, after weeks of being kept sedated and having to wear a neural disruptor collar, the effects were slow to diminish.
One of the thugs stopped suddenly before a large metal cage. After he opened the cage door, she was roughly shoved inside as they slammed the door closed, locking it behind them. Bastila lay on the cold floor, squeezing her eyes shut, pretending to have passed out. Just a little bit longer… then I'll be free.
Javyar's Cantina was all a buzz with excitement as the big season opener for the Great Swoop Race was about to begin. Carth stood at the bar, drinking a Tarisian ale while Mission chatted beside him. Zaalbar stood silently beside the pair as they watched the holo screen as it streamed live coverage of the swoop race. Carth's hand tightened on the pint glass as he recognized Bastila inside a metal cage on the swoop platform. The same platform he and Ashla practiced their runs yesterday.
Mission cheered for Ashla as she started her first run of the morning. Carth watched as she managed to dodge each obstacle, and hit nearly each accelerator panel. She finished the heat in 21:08. Faster than she completed her final practice run yesterday, and so far, she had the fastest run of the morning. Mission whooped loudly as the announcer placed the Mysterious Hidden Bek rider in first place.
Ashla saw her name in the first place position. She felt elated. Soon, this would be over. The Bek mechanic pointed as Redros, a rider for the Vulkars, had finished his run, just barely beating her time. She strode determinedly up to the race coordinator, and asked for another run. She waited patiently as they got her swoop bike in the ready position. Checking to make sure her helmet was firmly in place, she strapped herself in the bike. Once the markers signaled ready, set, go... Ashla pressed the accelerator down hard as she whipped the bike from the right to left, barely missing the obstacle that was in her way while instantaneously hitting the accelerator panel. Seeing the flash of red on the panel, she quickly changed gears, and hit another accelerator panel, giving her an additional boost of power. She breathed in deeply and felt herself becoming calmer as she exhaled, avoiding the obstacles and flying over the panels as she zoomed past the finish line. She eased the swoop bike to a stop and unbuckled the straps, leaping out of the bike to see her time. 19:20 flashed in quick succession as her name went from second place back to first place. Jogging back to the race coordinator, she ran past the cheering Hidden Beks.
Carth watched in awe as Ashla's swoop bike shot down the race track, narrowly missing each obstacle and hitting each accelerator panel in her path. When her final time flashed on the screen, Mission jumped for joy, cheering loudly. 19:20 the announcer called, We have a winner! The Mysterious Hidden Bek Rider wins the Tarisian Season Opener! That's the fastest time we have ever seen on this track! Wow! Suddenly, the live stream quit as the holo screen cut to black.
"Carth?! What's happening?" Mission asked, breathlessly.
"I don't know, Mission, but it's probably not good." Carth replied. "Ash said she'd ping my communicator when she finished the race. Let's wait here until we hear from her."
Carth glanced down at the young Twi'lek. He patted her on the back. "She'll be ok. You'll see."
Mission nodded as Zaalbar gruffed quietly behind her.
The Hidden Bek mechanic slapped her on the back as Ashla jogged up to the race coordinator stand. "You did it! I haven't seen anyone handle a swoop bike like that in years!"
Ashla grinned inside the black helmet, "thanks."
"Alright! All that's left to do is to go collect your prize!" The mechanic said as Ashla hurried up to the race coordinator.
"Through your skill and courage, you have brought honor to the Hidden Bek gang! Now, here to present the Champion's prize, Brejik!" The Race announcer began clapping as Brejik, leader of the Black Vulkar gang approached. Ashla's palms itched as she wished she had brought her vibroblade with her.
"People! Hear me! Before I present the so-called Champion of the Beks with her prize, there is something you must know! The winning rider cheated!" Brejik raised his fist up into the air. Gasps could be heard throughout the crowd.
Ashla glanced around the crowd. Angry jeers were cast her way as Brejik motioned for the crowd to quieten.
"Your swoop bike was using a modified accelerator. That's clearly an unfair advantage! Due to the Beks' treachery, I'm withdrawing the prize!" Brejik sneered.
The race coordinator looked taken back by Brejik's announcement. "You can't do that! You know the rules! No one can withdraw a prize after the race has been completed! It goes against all of our traditions!"
"You old fool! Your traditions mean nothing to me! If I want to withdraw my prize and sell her on the black market, I'll do so and nobody can stop me!"
Bastila's cage door swung open and the neural disruptor collar snapped off. Using the force, she pulled her lightsaber, which had been clipped to Brejik's belt, to her. "I might have something to say about that!"
Ashla used the momentary confusion to her advantage as she slid quietly behind one of the Vulkars and pulled his blaster out of his holster. Checking to make sure the weapon was charged and ready, she moved slowly into an open area.
"Vulkars! To me! Kill this woman! Kill the swoop rider! Kill them all!"
Bastila whirled the lightsaber in a large arc as she slashed it down a Vulkar standing closest to her. Ashla aimed the blaster at Brejik and opened fire. She fired directly upon him, blasting out the red streams of energy as she moved closer to the coordinators stand. She kept firing on him as he staggered backwards from the energy blows. When the last Vulkar was down, Ashla lowered the blaster and turned to Bastila.
"Well, those bloody Vulkars will think twice about keeping a Jedi prisoner! And, as for you! If you think you'll collect me as a prize, well, think again!" Bastila said scornfully.
Ashla pulled the black helmet off. As she did, a spark of recognition flashed across Bastila's face.
"You! You're…I don't believe this! I recognize you from the Republic fleet! But, how did you end up racing for these swoop gangs!" Bastila said in disbelief.
"It's a long story. Carth and I were trying to rescue you!" Ashla said, as she tossed the helmet aside.
"Carth Onasi is alive?! Finally, some good news! And, he sent you here to save me? Perhaps I misjudged you. Carth wouldn't have sent you here if he wasn't confident in your… abilities. Take me to him at once!"
Carth felt his communicator go off. He waved to Mission to get her attention. "Let's go. C'mon!" Mission and Zaalbar trailed behind him as they left the cantina. Once outside, Carth opened the channel on his communicator.
"Onasi here."
"Enroute to home base now. Meet us there as soon as you can." Ashla said, breathlessly.
"Copy that."