Chapter 11
Skye sauntered into Javannar's cantina, plunked herself down on a chair at Canderous Ordo's booth, rested her feet on the table top and ordered a top-self Tarissian ale on the Manndalorian's tab.
"Very confident of yourself aren't you Whelp?" the man gruffed, though his lips tweaked into a half smile. "Little birds told me you not only slaughtered Starkiller in the ring but the Sith base was recently struck by a terrorist cell."
"Terrorist cell, you don't say." Skye said, taking a moment to snatch the tankard of ale from the server's tray as he approached rather timidly to the table. "So, your little birds say anything else?"
"They said, the terrorists were captured and order relatively speaking restored. I'm guessing the trouble the Upper City is still experiencing with the protocol droids is also your handy work?"
The Nagai took a very long draught of her drink and looked coyly over the rim of her glass but didn't answer.
"You're well informed." Carth commented his arms followed stubbornly over his chest. "I guess being top bitch in Kang's kennel of kath hounds has its payoffs." The pilot thought himself rather clever for coming up with that one. Maybe Ravensong was rubbing off on him.
"I'll take lip from the Whelp here, but not from the likes of bootlicks like yourself, Republic." the older man growled. "You haven't earned the right."
Before Onasi could spout off something in retort, Ravensong held up her hand to stall his words with her own. "He is right though. You are well informed, and your information is almost correct." she held up the coded OSD. "We weren't captured, and I in no way intend to be orderly anytime soon." Putting her feet firmly back on the floor and finishing her drink she starred the Mandalorian directly. "Now it's time for your end of the bargain. After we scuttle this dump, find a safe port we can part ways, until then you and I are stuck together like newlyweds on first night."
Canderous barked out a laugh. "There was a reason I liked you, Whelp. A deal is a deal. I can get you and probably your Jedi friend here into the estate. The rest will have to stay behind."
Once more it was Carth who piped up with suspicions and questions. "Why just Ravensong and Bastila?"
"Don't you ever muzzle your pets, Whelp?"
Skye shrugged.
Snorting impatience the Mandalorian began to spell it all out. "One, the kid here is the face Kang will know, being that she's the Mysterious Stranger, slayer of Starkiller, arena grand champion and winner of the Lower City season opener. Two, Kang will know that a Republic woman was offered up as the Vulkers' portion of the purse and the Whelp won her. None of the rest of you will pass for a billable companion- a Wookie, a Twi'lek street urchin and a grunt from the Republic, how is that supposed to pass inspection? You can't all come; there is no way I can pass that off. And forget about the droid, Kang will know it was to be his. It's the Jedi or just Ravensong. And even that's iffy if the Princess doesn't act the good little submissive slave."
Onasi hated it but the Mandalorian was one hundred percent right, there was no way anyone other than Bastlia could pass as a companion to Ravensong. The dislike of the idea was plainly visible upon the Jedi's face but she knew for the sake of the mission, pride had to be set aside. The scout needed someone reliable, someone she could count on to cover her back when the fighting broke out, and who better than a Jedi in disguise? Onasi may not like the idea but the more Bastila thought about it, the better she liked it, she'd have it no other way.
"So just how are you going to get us into Davik's estate anyway?" Skye asked.
"Davik is always looking to recruit new talent. I'll tell him you won the championship of the arena and of course the season opener on the swoop track. I'll mention that you're interested in working for the Exchange. I'll say I brought you in for him to check you out. He'll put you up for a couple of days, do back-ground checks, that's standard procedure."
"This is too risky, we must find another way." Bastila shook her head.
Canderous scoffed. "You've got a better plan, Sister or are you objecting because you didn't think of it?"
Behind her Ravensong nodded enthusiastically much to the Manndalorian's amusement.
"No, I don't have another plan. I am not so comfortable leaving my life in your hands however."
"I can say the same, Sister. That makes us even. Fortunately, we both want off this rock, right? Besides I'm guessing your girl has a similar plan. I know she was asking about ships…Kang's ship, the Ebon Hawk in particular. While Davik checks you out, we steal the Hawk and escape Taris. Come on, I've got an airspeeder, the sooner we're off Taris the better."
"Of that we are in agreement." Carth uttered.
"Ordo, we will consent to this plan however we will not relinquish the codes until we have the ship and all of us are aboard." Bastila said. To demonstrate her ultimatum, she removed the OSD from inside Ravensong's tackvest pocket handed the codes to Carth.
A brief look of distain crossed the Manndalorian's face. "Deal."
"Before we leave there is a matter I have to see to with Zax." a cocky grin slipped across Ravensong's lips. "He owes me money."
The others watched her disappear towards the bounty hunters' alcove. Canderous turned back to the others with a strange expression on his face. "She can be…forceful, can't she?"
"You have no idea." Carth murmured.
"She knows what she's doing and how to get things done." Mission felt obligated to add.
There was no arguing that. Ravensong's list of accomplishments was testament enough. Bastila was right; though others helped, the young scout was a catalyst for each event, for each accomplishment. Bastila continued to watch the older women with a keen eye. The Nagai's connection to the Force…was staggering. It was to the Jedi as if for the briefest moments, she could see the living Force inside the dark-haired women thriving and pulsating with each breath, each movement. Surely the Masters had to be well aware of this…development. How could they not be?
A few moments latter Skye was swaggering back to the companions tossing what looked like a handful of five-hundred credit chits in her hand. Shoving them into one of her pockets she flashed a very feral grin. "Done and dusted no more bounties on the market. Guess I broke the bank with Starkiller. Got back all the money we spent getting Teethree."
"I hate to admit it but in days to come we very well may need those credits, however distasteful you came by them." Bastila said softly.
"Now if your done dinking around with the Hutts how's about we head for the estate?" Canderous asked already heading for the doors of the cantina. Bastila and Skye hurried after him.
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Taking an aircar to the estate gave the Jedi and scout a good view of the defensive parameter. Skye looked down and recognized the hanger for what it was. Getting out of the hanger wasn't going to be an issue; Kang had his architects design the structure for very easy egress. A line of turrets aligned the circumference of the rooftop, not hard to miss considering they were all trained on them. If they didn't put them out of commission before they stole the Ebon Hawk, they would no doubt be trained on her was they zipped away.
"Since the Sith hit dirt and dug-in, Kang's become paranoid." The Mandalorian explained as he keyed in the codes that gave a sulking look to his companions as he opened communications and said. "Open the backdoor, the dogs come home."
"Really?" Skye scoffed. "That's the code phrase?" She laughed. "Guess I was spot on when I called you Hound."
"I said you earned the right to that sharp tongue of yours Whelp, but don't push it. I'm not big on patients."
"Mandalorians never are."
To that the man snorted but nodded his head. He could not disagree.
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Far above the world patrolling the stars like fraxon sharks the depths of the oceans, sailed Darth Malak's armada. Upon the bridge of Malak's flagship stood the Sith Lord, brooding as he stared down at the planet beneath him. To his left a grey-haired human male wearing the uniform of a fleet admiral approached.
Saul Karath spoke. "You summoned me, Lord Malak?"
The Sith Lord didn't even turn when he spoke. "The search for Bastila is taking too long. We cannot risk her escaping Taris. Destroy the entire planet."
Karath's astonishment over the declaration is evident upon his lined face. Over his years in the wars both the current one and one waged against the savage might of the Mandalorians, Saul had seen many things, carried out suspect orders and even gave them. He had seen the destruction of so many planets by the Mandalorians hands and raged for such atrocities. "The…the entire planet, Lord Malak? But there are billions of people on Taris! We'd be slaughtering countless innocent civilians. Not to mention our own people still on the surface."
Malak did turn then, only his eyes betrayed his emotions. His distain so very clear in his dark orbs. "Your predecessor once made the mistake of questing my orders. Admiral, surely you are not so foolish as to make the same mistake."
Saul knew of the man the Dark Lord referred to. Admiral Evin Keals died by being chocked to death when the orders to annihilate Telos were questioned. The deaths hadn't stopped there. Two of the man's sons and his only daughter were all serving aboard the same ship had been executed to drive home the notion that Darth Malak would broke no refusal to obey orders. The manner in which they died was severe.
Keal's daughter, a bridge officer was beheaded by Dark Jedi's lightsaber. The platoon Keal's sons belonged were made to stand in formation with their fellow soldiers. Every tenth man was singled out and then executed by the remaining members of the platoon. It was Karath as understood a tactic first instituted by Darth Revan. Only the troops she had executed with such tactics were Dark Jedi. It was a sound practice; the fear of failing to carry out orders was more potent than facing any enemy.
Service and obedience to the Sith Lord was awarded, disobedience was swiftly and equally award by death. Karath felt his heart hammer loudly behind his chest. Fear swam through him like a virulent disease. "Of—of course not my Lord. I will do as you command. But it will take several hours to reposition the fleet around the planet."
Malak's eyes narrowed darkly. "Then I suggest you begin immediately. You are dismissed Admiral."
Saul bowed low. "Yes, Lord Malak."
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Davik Kang dressed immaculately in the finest silks of Alderaan, bore the expression of a man very accustomed luxury and lavish extravagance. He welcomed his leashed bounty hunter in the main audience chamber with a sardonic tone to his voice. "So Canderous, I see you've brought someone with you. Most interesting, if I do say so myself. Usually you fight alone. But then again, I can see why you'd wish her company: she is quite the astounding beauty, even for a Nagai and so is the doleful human at her tail."
"It's not like you to take partners Canderius. You're getting soft." Calo Nord baited Ordo with a smug twist to his thin lips. Behind his goggles that covered most of his upper face he continued to stare at the Nagai.
Canderous took a menacing step forward, his teeth gnashed together in a snarl as he growled. "Watch yourself, Calo. You may be the newest kath hound in the pack, but you're not top dog yet!"
"Enough!" Davik barked. "I won't have my top men killing each other. This is not good business." An oozing misogynistic smile crossed the older human's lips. "I'm sure Canderous has an explanation as to why he's not willing to go solo anymore."
"This is a special case, Davik. I'm sure the Exchange will want to recruit this one. This is Skye Ravensong, you may have already heard of her exploits, one I know you saw."
"Aw yes, now I recognize you, they call you the Mysterious Stranger. Killed Starkiller in a spectacular show of finesse and determination. And you won the big swoop bike race. Very impressive as was your display in the rather heated battle afterwards."
"It was nothing I couldn't handle." Ravensong said shifted gears into a more potent assassin mode. Making sure she gave a more foreboding presence one that demanded respect and touch of fear as if they were facing a tusked panther tethered on a very thin, very short leash made of rotten leather. It worked. Davik and Nord and even Canderous took an involuntary step back. Bastila was especially interested by what just happened. Whether Ravensong knew it or not she had tapped into the Force and used it to project the image.
"And this is your trophy? That Republic woman…" the tone of Kang's' voice was a tad more respectful than it had previously been.
"Yes and no." Ravensong stood near the Jedi her back slightly towards Kang as she whispered so softly the Jedi had to strain her ears to hear it. "Sorry, this isn't going to be big on dignity." Her hand slid sensually along Bastlia's cheek and her breasts as if she were stroking an animal at a fair, before planting an even more sensual kiss upon the human's shocked lips.
The thing about most sentient males was they grew quite incited and aroused when they saw two women sexually interacting with one another. The kiss heatedly and passionately lingered a bit longer before Ravensong abruptly ended it. Her words were intoned with the notes of dominance and possessiveness. "My trophy, my woman but she's not Republic any more than you are Kang." Ravensong crossed her arms over her chest. "Some minor noble got in debt with the Vulkers usurers with bets in the arena. Story is he paid them off by selling his daughter to them. The noble bastard lost a possible heir but I gained a delicious pleasure slave."
Behind her Bastila still flushed from the kiss managed to gain her wits about her stretched out with the Force instituting the idea into the criminal boss's mind that was indeed what she was and no more than that. "My new mistress has been very gracious to me." Bastila said using a thick Tarissian accent.
"Your new mistress is very gracious to you." Davik repeated the words implanted in his subconscious by the Jedi's mind trick. "Had you been my trophy, you'd have a restraint collar on that pretty little neck of yours as soon as I had you."
"I have my own methods of slave braking, Kang. It's efficient, it works and I don't need help. Thanks anyway. Now you know my abilities, what do you say?"
"A lot of spirit in you, Nagai and a clever tongue. I like that in my minions as long as they remember their place." The tethered tusked panther flashed in his mind. To have such a dangerous creature in his hold as with Ordo and Nord would become a powerful weapon. He had to have her. Her, Ordo and Nord at his beck and call, he could easily gain far more status within the Exchange. "With a recommendation from Canderous, and through vetting you might just make an excellent member of the Exchange. You'll stay here as my guest while I do a background check. If everything checks out you're in, but I warn you now if there is something I don't like I'll have you killed." He couldn't allow his tusked panther to feel she was unleashed. He brought Ordo and Nord, his kath hounds under the collar; he'd bend the panther to his will as well.
"Now how can I refuse such a delightfully intriguing offer like that, Davik?" Skye unfolded her arms and unleashed her most charmingly cocky grin.
Kang threw back his head and laughed. "Good. You can keep your pet, but if you want to sample my stables, I have a nice selection of my own pleasure slaves. They are at your disposal they might even give that one of yours a few pointers to better please you. Trust me my girls are very talented." He leered.
"I'll take that under advisement." Skye said. She turned to Bastila, "sometimes her performance is a little lackluster. Some extra training might do me some good."
Again, Kang laughed and it was echoed by Canderous even Cord had a smirk on his face. Bastila stifled the urge rally against the slight, she had a role to play and she would not slip and allow her baser emotions of incensed rebellion to control her reaction.
"I will make the effort to please you, my mistress." she whispered in the humblest voice she could manage attempting sound subservient. "You liberated me from the Vuklers, I owe you much."
Skye's eyes warned the Jedi she was playing it a little too thickly. Kang and Nord both scrutinized the woman one with deep suspicions the other with distain.
"Come with me, I'll give you the five-credit tour." Davik said leading the way out of the audience chamber.
They were shown the trophy room, which housed many mounted heads from a rancor monster, to a wampa, a krayt dragon, and a dewback amongst many others. And there were several sentient beings including a Gunggun from Naboo. Ravensong couldn't fathom why anyone would boast about killing one those gangly clumsy buffoons. She understood thoroughly why you'd want to shoot one, as a race they were annoying in the extreme, far much more so than any Jawa could ever be. Still to put one their heads on a wall seemed so petty, it'd be like mounting a wamprat and declaring it was a fearsome and terrible battle.
Though Nord took the credit for kills, Skye knew they had been corralled and downed by less than honest means. But she wasn't going to argue after all she brought down Fido with synthesized scent glands and a pack full of frag-grenades. Why quibble over favorable results?
The penultimate stop on the tour was the hanger. "And there she is the Ebon Hawk, my pride and joy." Davik sounded as if he were talking about his first-born son. "She's the fasted ship in the Outer Rim. State of the art security system I installed to protect her, the shields are completely impenetrable. Nobody can get past them without the codes to try and steal my baby. Unfortunately, the Sith blockade had grounded my vessel. The Ebon Hawk can outrun any vessel in the galaxy, but even she isn't fast enough to avoid the autotargeting laser cannons of the orbiting Sith fleet.
"I'm working on acquiring the Sith departure codes so that I can come and go as I please. However, progress has been slow." he gave a meaningful contemptuous look to Canderous. "But we should continue our tour."
Ravensong and Bastila both exchanged a look, as they followed the crime boss out the hanger, the scout leaned into the Jedi and whispered. "Wasn't it a bit strange he just blurted all that out about his security systems and getting the Sith access codes?"
"Maybe he was inspired." Bastila whispered back.
"You didn't?" Skye grinned.
The Jedi shrugged but gave no other answer.
Kang ended the tour in front of a set of rooms. "These will be your accommodations. The slave quarters are down the hall if you need anything during your stay, food, drink, a massage, you want your girl to pick up a few tricks. You can feel free to call upon their services." He leered once more, thinking about naked women licking, kissing and writhing together. With a cough, he continued. "If all goes well with your vetting you'll be invited to join the Exchange. I'd advise you accept the offer when it comes or suffer dire consequences of refusal." His voice intoned exactly what those consequences were. Join or die, background check passes or you die. Not a lot of options.
"I'm looking forward to working with you Davik or rather I should say the Exchange." Ravensong said not shaken by the threats and making sure Davik knew it.
The crime boss gritted her teeth, resenting he had not intimidated her as much as she had him half an hour before. Putting steal and coldness in his voice, Kang snapped out the orders as crisply as he could muster. "You will stay in these rooms as my guest for the next few days. I will not accept no for an answer. I must warn you that if you are found anywhere outside the guest wing during your stay or if you bother my other guests my security forces will deal with you most harshly."
"Yes so you said gratuitously before." Skye said unfazed by the bullying tactics. "I got it the first time you gave the threat. And frankly, it's beginning to bore me. You wouldn't be entertaining the notion of my recruitment into the Exchange if you thought I was that thick. You'll find I'm not easily cowed so why not stop with all the inane chest pounding, paranoia and promising threats.
"Leave them behind for someone who might be more impressed and intimidated. I came here for opportunities within the Exchange not to play games or engage in pissing contests. If that is all you are, Kang then I'm leaving now! I know exactly what I'm getting into; I wouldn't have agreed to come here with Canderous if I wasn't. Now are we serious or are you going to frack around some more?"
"Very well." Davik gave a tiny bow of his head. "You are correct; you are not the archetypical merc that normally gains the attention of one of my men, wishing to sign up with the Exchange. Those men are good for security detail and not much else. I have become more accustomed to dealing with their ilk. The woman who slew Starkiller…obviously is very comfortable with the treat of death. "
The woman seemed to have the same haughtiness as the Mandalorian and Carlo Nord had, but then Blades were always that way. Blades were hardly impressed with death threats considering their monks of that witch-goddess of theirs were all assassins. Death was just a form of worship to a Blade; Kang had practically forgotten that bit. He knew he had just lost a great deal of her respect with his standard spiels, of that he was certain. Trying to cower her had the exact same effect as it had on Canderous and Nord which is to say completely negative. She was also the type of woman that rarely crossed his path, most he easily subdued and made subservient as with his slaves.
Ravensong admitted an interest in the Exchange, not working for Kang himself. He knew she was using him to get her foot in the door to the rest of the Exchange and from there make her own way in the organization. Had it not been for the Sith blockade she'd be on her way talking to another boss and offering her services to him, Kang had to make certain that didn't happen. A Blade loyal because of a blood-oath was better than even a Mandalorian merc, they never turned. In this day and age such a thing was a valuable asset. The only thing more sure than a Nagai's blood oath was a Wookie's life-debt. Trick a Blade into a blood oath and she will find a loophole in the wording as not to become an oathbreaker. She'd rail against the spirit of the oath for the letter of the oath, where as a Wookie will serve the life-debt irregardless because his honor demands it. He may be ordered to do things he might consider unspeakable and unforgivable because you demanded it and he is honour bound to serve you until the ending of his days.
"I will return after the investigation of your background is completed. Until then make yourself comfortable, Ravensong. The entire guest wing is at your disposal." Kang said in a less confrontational tone, then turned and left the companions.
"Way to make an impression there, Whelp." Canderous barked out a throaty laugh. "I don't think Kang had been spoken to like since he first hired me. Of course, he only tried that shit once with me. Told the day he rides a basilisk war droid into the atmosphere of a planet is the day I take his threat serious."
"You rode a basilisk into atmo?" Skye asked astonished.
"I'll tell you the whole story some other time, kid. Right now, all we have to do is figure out a way to get past the Hawk's security system, and we can get the rest of your group and get off this planet. The sooner the better, no since waiting around here, though."
"You wouldn't happen to have the codes to the systems?" Bastila queried.
The merc shook his head, "I don't know where they are, but there are techs who might know: the security chief, if we can get to him."
"I suppose Holden isn't conveniently on the property. Surely the Ebon Hawk's pilot possesses the codes." Skye said.
"Yeah he does but he's still held up at Javannar's. He aint the only pilot the Hawk has. I know the other one's here, Kang had him thrown in the brig."
"Considering what Holden is like, I'd hate to think what this man did to warrant being tossed in the clink." Skye muttered. "Then again given Kang all he probably did was step in an out-of-bounds area."
"Something like that" Canderous answered, "To get to him we still need to get into Security. Look, I need to get kitted up before we start looking for trouble. It won't take me long. You can take a look around see if you can dig anything up, the boys might be more willing to talk to the Mysterious Stranger. The slaves may know a few things as well; drunken flyboys and higherlings tend to have loose tongue especially after they had a tumble. I'd start there. You're a little more subtle when it calls for it than I am."
"That's less confrontational than I expected out of you, Mandalorian." Bastila challenged.
"I'm Mandalorian so that means I have too blast everything first?"
"Your people do have a reputation." she said haughtily
"So, do yours. I heard a rumor that the Vulkers' captured you without much of a struggle. It must be embarrassing to be bested by a handful of street thugs."
She was already in a foul mood. Being fondled by the impetuous rouge even if it was all a part of the role she was supposed to be caring out was just the start of it. Being forced to play the part of a pleasure slave…it was humiliating! Now a thug was taunting her? Had these people no respect for the Jedi? "There were extenuating circumstances and I assure you it took far more than a handful of Vulkers to subdue me!"
Chidingly Skye added. "Yeah, I'm sure there were twenty of them. I mean fifty…no…wait a hundred!" she giggled adding salt to the mockery.
Ordo snickered causing Bastila's face to scrunch up into a bitter grimace. "Whatever you say. All I know is that if we had more Jedi like Bastila fighting against us in the Mandalorian wars, my side might not have lost."
"Bold talk from a broken down mercenary who was serving at Davik's heel. I'd call you his pet kath hound like the others, but hounds have enough loyalty not to turn on their masters."
"Insults? Maybe your masters had trained your lightsaber to be as quick as your tongue you could have escaped those Vulkers, you spoiled Jedi Princess."
Bastila shot a scathing look at Skye show shook her head and shrugged, seemingly stating that she had not told the merc her pet name for the Jedi.
"I was not spoiled, despite what you both think! I was given the same training as everyone else in the Order! You are nothing but a…." she took in a heavy calming sigh. "No I must not do this. There is no emotion, there is only peace."
"That's the problem with you Jedi." Ordo sneered. "Always chanting about peace and control, never up for a good fight. Well except Reven, I guess." He gave a sidelong look to Ravensong—thinking.
Bastila didn't miss the look he gave the scout, "Enough Mandalorian. I won't rise to your taunts. This game is over."
"You know the Revanchist they were nothing like you. They were a true Jedi; the ones stories talk about. And Revan held Manndalorians' respect. And there was another…not Malak but another general. A woman-a half-breed Blade, there were more than a few Mandalorians wanting to prove themselves as warriors by facing her. Malak might have been Revan's right hand kath hound but she relied on this general far more. That half-breed had this ability in battle, I never seen anything like it before. It was like she could directly control the flow of battle."
Bastila frowned. She knew only little of Meetra Surik. Surik was said to be a mediocre Jedi at best but Bastila knew this was falseness. Surik was what was called a muscle mimic. The Force had given her the ability to mimic without fault any physical action she saw. Though she hid it for she did not wish to be singled out as Bastila had been. Nor did she have a desire to be used by the Council as Bastila was. There was a part of young Shan that understood Surik's reasoning, why she rather have been seen as a middling Knight rather than have the full attention of the Council.
Revan had held her in great regard, not only because of her skill, but they had become good friends during their initial training as younglings on Corrisant. Of course, that was before Meetra became apprenticed to Master Kavar and he transferred to Dantooine. Why Master Kavar helped his Padawan conceal her gifts, Shan did not know. Even Master Vima Sunrider who became the Exile's master after Kavar left to earlier fight in the Mandalorian wars hid her talents. But there had to be a reason. Another skill the half-blooded Nagai held and this widely known was that Meetra made Force Bonds with others easily and readily. Anyone she connected to on a personal level slowly seeped into a Force Bond with the Jedi.
There was one more thing, another secrete…and this Kavar and Sunrider didn't even know.
Bastila knew that the Mistress of the Archives on Corrisant had been Meetra's secrete forbidden lover. This Bastila knew only because of Reven…had whispered it to her when she questioned their relationship.
'You should not worry so, Love; if we are breaking the Code merely by expressing what we hold, it would be hypocrisy should say a certain Master speak of it."
'What do you mean…?'
'Master Atris and Knight Meetra Surik share a bond. And I'm not talking about the Force Bonds Surik easily creates. So, you see even in the Code there is room for interoperation. Selfless love is essential for a Jedi. Bastila the love we share is selfless, so there is no lie, only valid truth. We are in each other's souls, Bastila. Fear is of the Dark Side, so do not fear to love as we are meant to be together. Obviously Master Atris and Knight Meetra have done so why should we not? '
'But to keep such secretes…it is a betrayal, isn't it?'
'Three masters keep Surik's secretes, two her abilities the last her love, we are doing nothing they have not set the precedence for.'
When Revan went to war, Bastila had been devastated just as Master Atris had been when Meetra followed her. Not long after the departure of the rogue Jedi, the archives mistress had closed herself off from others, devoting more and more of her time to the ancient holocrons within the archive vaults.
When Surik returned after the war, she was said to have had a trial. Rumours said the Council had cut the Meetra off from the Force, confiscated her lightsaber and exiled her. She disappeared in the Outrim territories. The Jedi do not execute their guilty though it probably better had Meetra died on Malacor Five. To Bastila it was better to be dead than to have the Force ripped away from you. Death would be a comparable kindness to such a fate.
Skye's own reaction to the name Surik stirred up far different memories. The name Surik was one of great renown and respect amongst the Nagai people. The Suriks had a long, long legacy of being one of the great families of the Nagai. Phantom shadows the Suriks assassins were, swift and deadly and utterly devoted to the Night Mother. So much so that any Surik that was Force sensitive was kept from the Jedi Order and given to the Monastery to be raised as a disciple to the goddess.
Meetra being a half-blood was therefore ineligible to be dedicated to the Night Mother as a full sister. Still the blood of her ancestors ran strongly through her, the testament of her gifts was clearly evident. Was it any wonder that a pureblood Nagai Jedi Knight like Revan saw the potential in her kith and desired Surik to be at her side? A muscle mimic who not only had what sounded like battle meditation but possessed the ability to forge Force Bonds was an incredible asset to hold.
How much of Revan's successes have been due to her abilities to lead and strategize and now much was it due to Surik's battle meditation? If it was the latter, was it any wonder that Malak wanted another like the rouge Jedi general at his command? He had seen first-hand what Surik as capable of, of course he desired Bastila. Suddenly it became all the more clearer why the Jedi woman was so very valuable to both sides and why she was so actively pursued.
They had to get off Taris. Bastila had to be returned to the Jedi Order. Should Shan fall to the Dark, the Republic may well never recover; it would mean the rise of the Sith Empire.
"Well this had been fun but there's work to do." Skye piped up. "Like you said Old Hound, the sooner we're off Taris the better."
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Talking Ordo's advice Skye and Bastila headed for the slave quarters.
The room contained four beds, three whirlpools and two tables heavily laden with delicacies, fruits and pastries as well as meats. In the far end of the room near the whirlpools was a door that might have led to a walk-in closet or maybe an ensuite.
"Welcome to Master Kang's estate fair mistress." a young Twi'lek bowed low at the waist. "I mean no disrespect fair mistress, but perhaps one of the male slaves could better serve your needs." The Twi'lek nervously said looking to her counterpart for support should this newest addition to Davik's band of mercenaries prove volatile.
"Of that I doubt." Skye answered dryly. "There is nothing of interest in the male quarters."
The two Twi'leks shared concerned expressions. Their lukuus curling slightly around their throats conveying their mutual uncertainty of having to service a lady guest of their master. Davik probably didn't even know the woman was a sly.
Skye knew well the silent sign language of the Twi'lek race and felt she had to put these two at ease. "I'm sure Davik would be far more than pleased to know how well treated we all were."
This brightened both slave girls. "Praise from a guest is a highly-coveted commodity." Ald'rehuna said losing some of her nervousness. Though she didn't know how to service
a sly in the manner they were accustomed, she knew her own body well enough to make the attempt. This fair lady no doubt had no lack of lovers; perhaps even the dark-haired human with her was to be a body slave. Perhaps the fair mistress expected her own slave to become instructed in the arts of pleasuring a master.
"Do we really have time for this?" The human said, her voice laced with poisonous scorn or perhaps it was merely jealously that caused her voice to become so bitter.
"Davik said his servants were talented in the skills of massage. After the few days, I've had I could use one. Tussling with a rancour, rakghouls, grammarian thugs and swoop jocks not to mention leaping off an exploding swoop bike and being slammed repeatedly into a durasteel wall by a crazed Mandalorian and Sith governor as well as dodging lethal volleys of grenades, nearly gutted by a vibroblade and blaster shots leaves a body a bit banged up, Princess.
"Jumping off that bike dislocated my shoulder and I had to ram it back into place only to have it dislocated again by Starkiller. I can do with a bit of a massage. I don't have full range of my left shoulder to tell you the truth and if Ald'rehuna can do something about it then yes, we are going to make time. Go over there at the table, eat a bit of fruit and keep your teeth together if you don't have anything constructive to say." Skye said vehemently. She had about had it with the Jedi Princess's haughty arrogance.
While they were playing master and slave-girl she was going to take advantage of the opportunity to shut the stolid woman up if only for a moment. The Night Mother knew when an opportunity would present itself again. No doubt once they were free and clear of Davik and Taris, Skye would surely get an earful about the proper way to respect one's superior officer and a Jedi. Right now, however, she had the upper hand on Bastila.
Bastila was more than shocked to hear about the list of injuries this woman sustained in her several days trying to find her as well as those compounded after the Jedi's rescue. The Jedi was impressed and admired Skye for all she had suffered.
Strange Carth didn't seem to have as many injuries as Skye. Ravensong never said a word of complaint over all she had suffered. Carth said she had been pretty banged up by the crash, suffering a near lethal concussion as well as several blaster burns and lacerations.
It was about three days before she was even coherent let alone mobile. Mission had said Skye was the bravest person she knew for taking on a rancour monster by herself. When they traversed down into the sewers it had been Skye who had distracted the Grammarians so that Mission and the Wookie could escape. Of course, Skye had lead the pigs right into a nest of rakghouls with the intent they take out each other, but she got caught up in the crossfire had had to fight both sides.
Ald'rehuna gave another glance to her sister with an expression of reprieve. The Twi'lek had nothing against slys but she couldn't help but feel a bit of relief in the obvious naiveté in the warrior before her. Ravensong had not understood the connotation of what 'massage' meant and expected something in the lines of physical therapy.
Skye turned her attention back to the slave-girl. "If I strip down to the waist, in my experience most males have a reaction that isn't befitting of a…massage therapist, if you take my meaning. And I could do with a full body massage, so you can understand why I have no desire to go to the males."
"Of course, fair mistress. Forgive me for assuming I could not service you as you needed."
"No problem." Pointed with her chin Ravensong gestured towards beds. "Aren't they a bit low for proper therapeutic massages?"
Ald'rehuna wasn't sure if the fair mistress was this naïve or she was deliberately being obtuse for their sake. "The beds tend to be more comfortable for the guests." The Twi'lek offered on this preconception that this beautiful woman truly didn't understand that massage was an illusion for sex.
"Partitions rise between the beds for privacy." She tapped a button near the headboard of the furthest bed from the door. She then went to a small end table on the lee side of the bed collecting a few crystalline bottles. By the time, she turned back to Mistress Ravensong, the fair woman was stripped of all clothing save for her undergarments. Ravensong removed her sports bra and lay belly down on the bed.
The Nagai's back was defined in streamline muscles of a gymnast. In fact, her whole body was refined as any Nightblade trained in the Nagai monasteries. One of the first things Ald'rehuna noticed were the brilliant tattoos that nearly covered the whole of the warrior's back. One was an ice dragon the other a great saber-toothed panther. Under the tattoos were obvious scars and slightly puckered flesh that marked the healing from ion fire. Even with the scars that blemished the flesh, Ravensong was beautiful.
"Is there anything you are allergic topically to that I should know about before I apply the oils?"
Ravensong shook her head. "Not that I know of."
"Good. I have ointments that will sooth your bruises and abused muscles."
"Sounds good to me, thank you." Skye said in a rather muffled voice, as her head was resting on her folded arms.
Ald'rehuna at first was unsure of how to even begin the massage. The bruises some were days old, some fresh were expansive in purple, green-yellow splotches of colour. There was sign of kolto patches on her body because those areas were mercifully free of contusions. "Are you injured on your lower extremities?
"No. Well…a few bruised and scrapes but not as bad as my back or shoulders."
"I will attend you with care." Ald'rehuna straddled the fair mistress's shapely arse, mindful of the bruises she saw marring the legs. Now that she was so close the Twi'lek recognized who this woman was. This was the Mysterious Stranger! Now the comment of crazed Mandalorian made since. The Mysterious Stranger had killed Bando Starkiller in a spectacular display of martial combat. Armed with only blades she had taken on the Mandalorian who was intent on painting the arena with the Nagai's innards. Ald'rehuna had seen the death-match when she had accompanied Davik in the arena. It was no wonder this fair warrior was covered in bruises. Not to mention the account of battles she had berated the human body-slave with. No wonder she longed for a massage.
Pouring oil in her cupped palm Ald'rehuna began to knead the knotted muscles, down the spine and back up once again. She couldn't help but truly admire the refined corded muscles under her fingers. At once Ravensong flinched. Ald'rehuna could see the muscles tightened at the merest touch.
'She must be in such pain. That was far more than a mere wince, yet the fair mistress didn't utter a sound.' Ald'rehuna spoke softly. "Please fair mistress, if you must tell me if I cause you discomfort."
"Deal." She muttered sleepily. "Only I'm experiencing difficulties in deciphering what is pain and what is pleasure. It's all mixed up." She snickered.
Ald'rehuna continued to work the knots out of each muscle. Applying more oils to sooth the bruises she felt the tension of the woman beneath her evaporate. The oil she was using was less for clients than it was for the Twi'lek slaves when Davik's guests became more physical than they ought to be. The ointments soothed deep bruises, tired and abused muscles and eased bone deep pains. Her 'client' didn't seem to mind the fact the oils weren't exotic but rather appreciated its practicality and its restorative properties.
Ald'rehuna thought about the woman under her care. How could she be paradoxically so dominant, confident, captivating and yet so vulnerability innocent all at the same time?
"Whatever you're using is wonderful. What is it?"
The Twi'leks exchanged a look of near panic—what if the fair mistress grew incensed at the idea of being treated with slave-oils? "It…it is for more athletic applications-for us after we see to the 'needs' of our master's guests." she admitted in a subdued worried tone.
"Well it's wonderful." Skye complemented. "If you could give me the formula I'd appreciated it. By the Night Mother you could make a fortune if you marketed this to the military, Jedi training academies or sporting arenas or all the above."
"That's worth a thought," Ald'rehuna whispered.
"If properly done, say covertly one might be able to make enough credits to buy one's freedom." Bastila said echoing Ravensong's train of thought.
It never occurred to the slave-girls that their oils were profitable. So profitable that freedom could be had. But it was such a strange concept for a bid at freedom coming from a person owning a slave and said slave spoke of freedom as if she had never lost it. Of course, if the slave wasn't a slave and only pretended to play the role that would explain quite a lot. Normally the slaves were used to actively get information out of the loose-lipped libidinous and drunken guests typically after being used for sex, but neither Twi'lek wanted to betray this woman.
"If…if I might ask, how did you become so injured?"
"I imagine you're not meaning the resent bruises?"
"Please don't take offence." Ald'rehuna said nervously terrified she had overstepped the line.
"No I didn't, don't worry about it. It's a long story…"
At this point Bastila perked up, leaned forward on her elbows that rested upon knees listening intently. She had seen the scares on her companion's back when Skye had stripped down. She had no idea the past two weeks had been such a toll on the young woman, relevantly speaking Bastila had suffered minor wounds. But then she hadn't tangled with spiced-up gangers, rakghouls, Grammarian slavers, rancour monsters or exploding swoop bikes.
"About a year and a half ago I was in my shuttle tearing through the Kessle Run on assignment when I was shot down by Sith raiders. I managed to keep control over my craft long enough to find a planet and enter atmo without burning up. But most of my instruments weren't responding and I wasn't able to pull out. All I could do was to control the crash. I plunged into the forests; the wings of my craft were shorn off by the great trees. They weren't the massive trees on Kashyyyk but big enough do tear my ship apart. Anyway, the shuttle hurtled to the earth in a bone jarring, teeth shattering dead stop. I would have died if not for my beautiful angelic rescuer."
Bastila drew in a breath. "Angelic rescuer?"
"Yes." Skye's voice dripped in a pleasured reverent memory. "She was so beautiful. Her face porcelain pale, her eyes held the greyness of a storm-riddled sky. A voice so pleasurable to the ears one would weep to hear it: so refined, so eloquent." Skye chuckled. "It's almost like yours Bastalia if it wasn't so sharp and critical."
"I am neither sharp nor critical." The Jedi snapped.
"You're right not sharp one bit." She giggled causing the slave-girls to laugh as well. Skye winked. "Chill your retro thrusters Princess, I was only teasing you. Anyway…she saved me. She pulled me from the wreckage of burning metals to give me life. I was barely breathing, hanging onto life with a whisper of desperation. I felt her mind mingle with mine, her heart meld with mine until she commanded her own heart to beat for both of us. Her lungs breathed life into mine. She pushed back the fell and fierce dark of death and gave me life. I think she swore an oath as a Jedi Knight I would not die that day but live to face the future come-what-may. Death quailed to hear the dread oath of a valiant Jedi bent on saving a life and Death held back its hold. I would not meet the Void of the Night Mother's embrace that day. She would ever be my angel."
"That is so romantic!" Ald'rehuna declared
Bastila lost all colour in face, her voice a shaky whisper. "Do…do you remember her?"
Skye shook her head sadly. "Alas no. Not clearly. I suffered a concussion and my sight was blurred but her soul that I know well. Her soul is purity, her face beautiful, her heart generous and noble. She is very image of grace."
"What…what happened next?" Ald'rehuna asked her voice wistful.
"I don't recall. I remember waking in a Republic hospital or medical center. She must have carried me there. There was a novice Jedi healer there. She restored my broken body. They didn't have a kolto tank but I was given kolto injections from a dozen different medical kits. The healer was apologetic that I would always bare the scares of that day. I remember telling the healer that I didn't mind the scares so much because upon looking upon them I would always remember my angelic saviour.
"Being slightly prideful I got a few tattoos to cover up them up. Not because of shame but the memoirs are mine to keep and I would not have others look upon their nakedness out of context. Let others think of battle and war when they see them but I will remember my beloved saviour because they are marks of a second chance." Skye smiled dreamily. "I love her. I think I always have."
"You…you love her?" Bastila asked incredulously.
"Does that sound so unbelievable, Princess that a Nagai scout can find love? I might be brash, outspoken and foul-mouthed, but I know love! She will always have mine." Skye's eyes became fierce. "I have been in love before and most likely be again but she will always carry a part of my heart."
"Oh, that is such a wonderful tale." Avid'ar cooed softly. Until now the younger of the Twi'lek slave-girls hadn't said much as she had little to say but the story of heroic rescues and unrequited love had moved her. And she found she could not stay her tongue from voicing her thoughts. "How beautiful and how tragic."
"Excuse me…"Bastlia nearly leapt up from her seat. "I…I…need a moment…"
Avid'ar pointed to the ensuite located in the corner of the room. "Right through there."
The Jedi shook her head, "I think I will return to our quarters." She said too quickly.
Skye tapped Ald'rehuna leg indicated to the Twi'lek should dismount off her backside so she might rise from the bed. "Hang on, let me get dressed and I'll join you."
Bastila found her throat tight and unable or rather unwilling to allow a sound to escape; she was left with only the ability to nod.
"Did you ever met with your angel again?" asked Avid'ar still enthralled by the tale.
"Sadly no. I asked after her, but the healer said she had to leave. I asked for her name but I was told it wasn't given to them to tell me." Skye said shirking on her tunic. Smiling as she now had full range in her battered shoulder.
"What…what would you do if you ever encountered her again?" Bastila asked softly.
"I'd thank her for my life. I would tell her that she resides in my heart. I would tell her I know she is Jedi and cannot return my affections even if she had sly tendencies. I would tell her I know she couldn't enter into a personal relationship and I don't expect one. I would acknowledge the love she shown that day she saved my life was born out of the platonic love Jedi hold in their hearts for life around them.
"But she would know of my gratitude. And I have tried to pass on her generosity, her care for others. That was a great lesson she taught me that day. I would tell her this is how I can express my love for her by paying it forward." Now fully dressed, Skye approached the gobsmacked Jedi. "Come on Princess lets go see what Canderous is up to. Thank you, ladies for a pleasurable time."
Ald'rehuna rushed up to Skye handing her a vile of the oil. "A gift, fair mistress." She said bashfully. "And...and…if I may. It is clear you've never owned a slave and she is no slave. Davik might have not notice right away but he will. Please Mistress Bastila if you play the part of a body-slave you must be humble…"
Skye chuckled. "Then we have the luck of a shaved Wookie."
Bastila frowned.
"Keep your head down when in the presences of others, stay two paces behind your 'mistress'. Forgive me, but you carry yourself with great pride and it will give you away."
"A newly forced slave will have pride if she's not broken." Skye said softly. "As you know from Davik, Bastila was the prize at the swoop race, so she's going to be contemptible."
"This is true. But you, fair mistress, do not speak to her as you did to us as equals when that is…not so."
"I've played a lot of parts as a scout, being a slave master wasn't one of them. Thank you for the hints. Being deliberately cruel to someone isn't something I'm comfortable with. Besides other than Hutts, I don't find any sentient beneath me not even the Tof-long enemy of the Nagai. However, I will take your advice and apply it. I'm pretty adept at role-playing." She leaned in to the Twi'lek's ear whispering. "Oh and I knew exactly what 'massage' meant. You were at ease when you thought I didn't. If I'm to take comfort in the pleasurable company of a woman, Miss Ald'rehuna, she must be first willing not ordered to do so. And secondly she has to be at least inclined to the sly ways." Pulling away the Nagai winked.
Ald'rehuna giggled. "Thank you for that." Her lukuus fell almost limply at the sides of her neck "I wasn't sure you did know that we are…used for…"
Skye took the woman's hand. "I have no intention of taking advantage of you or your sister or anyone like that. And your body is your own Miss Ald'rehuna. In two hours, be at the hanger where the Ebon Hawk is docked. No questions asked for none will be answered. Be there if you want to be free. Do not fear reprisal from the old man or Nord, there won't be any." Still holding the other woman's hand, Skye poured on the charm, portraying a dashing rouge they no doubt imagined her to be from her story. "The others…not guests but Kang's own men talk to you, perhaps just I had just done."
Ald'rehuna nodded. To her surprise, she found herself craving the touch of this enigmatic woman. "Many times, yes. What do you wish to know my fair mistress?"
Skye caught the emphases on the word my and allowed a softer sympatric smile to spread across her lips. "I believe you know the sort of person I need to talk to, say someone who can aid in the liberation of a metal bird." she let go of the hand she held and took a small step back.
The Twi'lek's lukuus curled about her shoulders, revealing her excitement. "Hudrow, he was the Hawk's primary pilot. You need to get to him."
Avid'ar spoke up. "He greatly angered Master Kang. He's in the special guest quarters."
"Special quest quarters?" Bastila pressed. "I was lead to believe he might have been placed in the brig."
Both slaves shook their heads, nervous lukuus curled protectively around necks. "That place is…terrible. Master Kang likes to call it special guest quarters because…because he likes play with the words, toy with the poor people he puts in there."
Ald'rehuna. "The only reason you are sent there is…is to be tortured."
Bastila and Skye exchanged a look of great concern, "How long as he been in there?" the scout asked.
"Nearly a week, just after the Sith blockade."
"He may not be alive." Bastila said clinically, trying not to allow her disgust show on her face. "We will have to find an alternative method to accomplish our goal."
Ald'rehuna shook her head, "No, I think he still lives. Master Kang likes to…prolong things." Both her voice and body trembled for the memory of her own very personal encounters with her masters' perverse pleasures he took in his torments others.
"Tell me how to reach him." Skye said dropping a bit of sternness into her voice, "And I will make sure you and your sister are free."
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"The special guest room?" Canderous puffed out a breath of hot air. They had met up with the man shortly after leaving the slave quarters. "Even if he is still alive, his mind will be addled by what Davik's torture droids. If you mean to rescue him then we better double time it."
They sprinted down the corridor of the of the guest wing through the audience chamber. Here they paused for the next door would lead to open conflict with the security detail. Canderous now decked out in blue and silver Mandalorian armour, over his shoulder was a virtual cannon, he drew it over his head and held it firmly at his hip. The distinctive snap-hiss of a light saber and the slick-slack of metal being drawn revealed the women were equally ready for the assault.
Skye pressed her back against the wall; Bastila flanked the other side near the access panel for the door. As soon as soon as the Jedi opened the door, Canderous fired his cannon directly into a Rodian's chest. What was left of him splattered his compatriots and the walls with green-black viscera.
The reaction was immediate. Sith troopers hesitated because one of their 'own' turned on them. Kang's men already trigger happy let loose a barrage of blasterfire without a second thought. Sweeping the room, the Companions pushed forward under a barrage of gunfire. The fight would have been over right then if it wasn't for their body armour and energy shields.
Energy bolts ricochet wildly through the comm-room as Jedi and scout moved in. The hum of the lightsaber swirling sent the bolts directly back to those who fired them. It came as a great shock to two of the thugs when bolts flung back into their sculls. Skye sprinted forward; hit the deck into a forward shoulder roll. Honour blade in the left hand, sword in the right. She slammed the smaller blade into the boot of merc pinning him to the floor, his body reflexively lurched forward and with an upward sweep of the long sword she took off his head. It was done before the man finished his scream.
Bastila cut through the onslaught like a light dissolving shadows. The arch of one blade was immediately followed by its opposite twin, severing one man in twine and the other lost an arm. Three of the enemy combatants dropped to the floor.
With the same precision formation, the companions ventured into the next chamber that according to Canderous should be the 'Special Guest quarters.' They were fired upon almost instantly, not by any sentient but by mounted security droids.
Again, the team split, Jedi and Mandalorian taking on the droids, one reflecting shots back, the other blasting through the defensive shields and pulverizing the chaises with repeated fired. Skye sprinted to the control panel, sliced into it attempting to shut down room's defences and the hovering containment cell.
Quick fingers made short work of the interface and shut down the force cage, a shower of sparks over the scout's shoulder indicated much the same had been down with the droids. A quick flick of the wrist Bastila had sent her lightsaber into the hull of the droid; it whirled with a whine, stuck and boomeranged back to her. She caught with a deft hand…and a smirk.
Hudrow fell to his hands and knees coughing and moaning as the aftershocks of his torture rippled through his body. Bastila moved towards him swiftly. Her compassion for the tormented man guiding her actions, stretching out with the Force she felt it course through her body and out her fingertips. The pilot's body shimmered in a pale blue; using the Force, Bastila was able to actually physically heal the trauma the prolonged electrocution had caused.
"Thank you! Thank you!" the man wept. "Thank you Master Jedi."
"I am Knight, not a Master yet. But you are most welcome." Shan said with far more cordiality Ravensong had ever heard her speak with.
"Whatever, just thank you. All of you. You have no idea what it was like in that cage. I have nothing to give you in award for what you did for me. Nothing tangible anyway, but I've got information that could be worth a fortune."
Skye's lips curled into a very piratical grin. "You were the Ebon Hawk's former pilot right?"
"Yeah exactly! How'd you know?" Looked to the scout and shook his head. "Doesn't matter. But yeah, I was until the kriffing Sith came. I had to drop my cargo before they boarded me. Davik didn't like it." he gestured to the cage behind him. "You get what his reaction was. The thing is, I've got the codes to unlock that damn ship. You can take it right out of that fracking hanger. Sell it, ransom it back to that sleemo—whatever you do you will make thousands."
"We'll take it. Now if I were you, I'd get out of here and as far away as possible." the Nagai said.
"You don't have to tell me twice." Hudrow answered back. He didn't give a second look as he darted from the chamber, presumably to speeder bay to take a car back the city proper.
"We got what we came for, we should get going. The hanger bay will need to be spliced open first though." Canderous said
"On it." Ravensong rushed back to the computer terminal she had used to free the pilot. Opening it back up, she downloaded the codes for the hanger's interior security systems causing the locking mechanisms to disengage. She then sliced directly in the camera controls. "Bunkers and Spice lab are full of thugs. Taking them out shouldn't be a problem." She smirked. "Let the fun begin."
Deft fingers worked over the interface: one overload here, another there…"Oh don't you just love the paranoid?"
"Whatever do you mean?" Bastlia demanded.
"Only that Kang went a little overboard on securing his little pleasure dome of idiocy. Kang the genius that he is installed toxic-gas systems in all the ventilation ducts. We can take out most of his men in one fell swoop." keying a few codes the ducts the barracks, and labs opened causing poising to filter through what should have been clean air.
The camera showed dozed of men clutching desperately at their throats chocking on the very air they breathed, dieing in their own vomit. The Nagai preferred her kills to be by the blade but there was something to be said about proficiency in the battlefield. Above all else Ravensong appreciated efficient and effective methods when dealing with the enemy.
"We should have a clear run to the hunger." Skye announced. "Let's not waste any more time.
Outside blasts rocked the estate.
The companions gave a look to each other and ampped their speed. No longer sprinting the three made a mad dash through the halls towards the hanger. Whatever was attacking the property had a hell of a lot of a power, and relentlessness. But the spread of the bombing was too wide spread to be a direct assault. This had to be an orbital bombardment.
The one word that went through all three minds without ever being voices was: 'Shite'.
Just outside the hanger Skye spotted Ald'rehuna and Avid'ar. Both cowered before the door, with panicked expressions, too terrified to flee, to desperate to escape not to cling to Skye's promised hope of freedom. The scout singled they should stay down knowing the next few moments were going to be exceptionally instance.
Another blast shuddered the domicile causing plaster to fall from the ceiling.
"Damn those Sith! They're bombing the whole planet! I knew they'd turn on us sooner…." Davik stopped mid-sentence when the companions stormed in. "Well look what we have here! Thieves in the hanger. You figure you can just get away and leave me here while the Sith turn the planet into dust? Sorry, but that aint going to happen."
"Sure, it is." Skye snapped back." her hand going for her blaster.
"I'll take care of them Davik, I've been looking forward to this for a long time!" Carlo Nord sneered looking at Canderous, then to Skye.
"Make it quick Carlo, the Sith mean business. If we don't get to our ships and find somewhere safe, the bombes their dropping will kill us all!"
"Does he not see us here?" Skye shot over her shoulder to the others and fired at the same time.
Davik spiralled around as his shoulder was hit hard; the Echani energy shields absorbed most of the blast. But it staggered him enough to send him whirling to the ground. The next few seconds of the battle were utter chaos. Skye's team pushed forwards, scrambling for cover. They had to fan out quickly before enemy crossfire could pin them down in a single location. The hanger echoed with the staccato recoil of assault rifles and the sharp zip-zip-zip of bullets ricocheting off the metal walls.
Sprinting to a nearby support beam, Skye felt an all too familiar shudder as her energy shields repulsed several shots that would have otherwise found their mark. She hit the ground and rolled as a line of bullets stuck the floor just in front of her, disintegrating the cement and sending tiny showers of dust into her case.
She came to her feet spitting out the foul grit, instinctively checking the remaining power on her shields. She was down fifteen percent—not nearly enough to give her fighting chance if she had to make another run through direct enemy fire. The others no doubt were in the same situation. Still they were holding their own.
Nord was good, really good. He was also overconfident, relying too heavily in his grenades. He barely had enough time to throw before Canderous shot another volley at him making the tiny man fall back and run for cover.
Spitting out blood, Carlo coughed trying to regain his feet. "You may have me outnumbered and outgunned but if I'm going down, I'm taking all of you with me! This is a thermal detonator will blow us all to bits!"
The Sith had the same idea.
"Damn the Sith! They're bringing down this how hanger down around us!" Davik cried out apparently temperately forgetting his second-best man threatened to blow him up. Fear overrode fury he made a dash for the Ebon Hawk, but never made it. His inglorious end was met at by the weight of an I-beam falling upon his body crushing it.
That same I-beam had Carlo pinned, presumably buried and dead under all the rubble. Even with the dust and debris raining down it wasn't too difficult to make out there would be no more movement from the psychotic little man.
Canderous snatched Skye's arm, yanking her "Whelp, come on! Let's get this ship fired up, we'll pick of the rest of your friends then we have to move our asses of this planet"
"Right" The scout looked over her shoulder to see the two slaves huddling together near the door, fear planted roots in their feet. "You two into the ship, or die here. MOVE!"
"Hurry." Bastila added nudging them with the Force.
There were five rushing for the gangplank.
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Far overhead Admiral Saul Karath walked with the gait of a man burdened by fear and the small part of him that still maintained a conscious. "Taris is defenceless against our assault, Lord Malak."
The dread Dark Lord overlooked the burring remnants of the mega city world, "Resume the bombardment commander. Wipe this pathetic planet form the face of the galaxy!"
Karath bowed, turned to the gunners and gave his master's orders.
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Radioing a head telling the remaining companions to meet them in the plaza just outside the South End apartment complex was answered with an affirmative form Carth. When he was asked how much interference there was going to be with the panicked citizens of the Taris he had reported enough most that those that had not somehow secured offworld transports, the blockade be damned most were flooding the Lower city. Ironically enough from what Mission has said about the Beks most of the Lower City citizens were rushing to go into the Undercity. The place where they sent all unwanted people was now their sanctuary, rakghouls aside.
They had a window however small; it must be taken advantage of. It was regrettable they could not save more lives, but as soldiers they knew their mission was the only priority. Gods be damned it was hard, to turn your back on thousands of lives all screaming out to be saved.
-KOTOR-KOTOR-KOTOR-KOTOR-KOTOR-KOTOR-
Antifighter flack flashed on all sides. Even louder than the clatter of shrapnel and the snarl of the Hawk's sublight drives, the cockpit hummed and rang with the near hits from the turbolaser fire of the Sith ships crowding space around them.
From the cockpit Bastila, Skye and Carth watched and the Sith armada continuously bombarded the planet. Rays of energy blots showered down decimating the city into rubble.
"Here they come!" Bastila announced. "Get to the turrets; take out those fighters. You need to buy us time to plot a course to Dantooine."
"Aye, aye," Skye nodded and sprinted to turret bays. Canderous saw her passing through the comm-room and rushed after her taking the secondary bay.
Few sites are as overwhelming as a Centurion-class battlecruiser spewing scores of Sith interceptors. Small, light-weight and fragile, they were the physical manifestation of Sith philosophy. They were mass-produced and thrown at the enemy with little regard for the pilots, as long as they accomplish their gaol, the Sith lords care little for how many causalities the pilots of Sith intercepts sustained. With Sith pilots' willingness to throw away their lives made it likely that even sturdier Republic craft would suffer devastating losses during engagements. It was difficult to battle against those willing to martyr themselves for the cause of their masters.
The starfield wheeled around Skye as the interceptor raced toward her and then swung overheard to vanish into the distance. The scout fired at another fighter, and its pilot nearly slammed his engine through its mountings as he fought to avoid the powerful energy blots. As he did, his hurried manoeuvre brought him under and around to the other side of the Hawk directly into Canderous's cannons.
Carth was alternating his attention between the instruments and the tracking screens, while Bastlia strained to separate stars from nearby assassins. Two fighters drove simultaneously on the twisting, spiralling freighters, trying to line their weapons on the unexpectedly flexible craft.
Another enemy bolt struck the fighter forward and was barely shunted aside by its deflectors. The cockpit shuddered violently, and gauges whined in protest at the quantity of energy they were being asked to monitor and compensate for. Another fighter unloosed a barrage on the Hawk, only this time the bolt pierced an overloaded screen and actually struck the side of the ship. Thought partially deflected, it still carried enough power to blow out a large control panel in the main passageway, sending a rain of sparks and smoke in all directions. Teethree-Deefour started stolidly toward the miniature inferno as the ship lurched crazily.
Then an interceptor floated down on the damaged frigate, right into Canderous's sights. His mouth moved into a grin, he fired at it. The incredibly agile little vessel darted out of his range but as it passed Skye picked it off instantly, and commenced a steady following fire. Without warming the fighter erupted in an incredible flash of multicoloured light, throwing a billion bits of superheated metal in all directions of the quadrant.
"We got two more of them out there." Bastila called out. "They're targeting the starboard deflector shields, it's down thirty percent. You need to buy use more time to initiate the hyperdrive."
Sith interceptors seemed to materlize out of nowhere, energy bolts reaching out from it them. Its companion crept came up of the frigate's other side and Skye round herself firering steadily at it, ignoring the immensely powerful energy it threw at her. At the last possible instant before it passed out of range, she swung the weapons' nozzle minutely, her fingers tightening conversely on the fire control. The Sith interceptor turned into a rapidly expanding cloud of dust. The other fighter apparently considered the shrunken odds, turned and decided to ram the enemy at top speed.
Skye intuitively spun the turret gun ninety degrees and fired. The proceeding explosion was a phenomenal phosphorescing starburst. Six had fallen but more were on their way. The port side of the great cruiser opened vomiting out more interceptors. Just at that moment the Ebon Hawk burst into hyperspace.
Next stop: Dantooine.