I'm stuck, Qi'ra realized from behind her rocky hiding place. Maul was probably already at the rendevous point with the goods waiting for her. If I mess this up, I won't have a home to go to anymore, Qi'ra thought to herself, I could end up dead or worse. I don't-
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Qi'ra could see her hands slipping through his - Han
He had left her behind and promised her he would come back for her.
The same image passed through. Her parents. Her aunt
"Just service for a little while more Qi'ra. Either your parents will come back or the business will pick up and the money will come in and I'll buy you back. I promise."
She remembered watching the same aunt begging before using that money to buy herself spices.
No one is coming. No one is ever coming
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There was a loud roar and a beast screached.
"Oh no he's got the seargent. Assemble men. Now dive, dive dive!"
Qi'ra was bewildered to see the whole squadron of storm troopers activating their jet packs and diving into the canyon. She couldn't believe her luck. She would need to train harder so next time she would be prepared for a situation like this. If they found out she was here, then the trading ability and authenticity of Crimson Dawn as a collective would be questioned. It would shift their legality from welcome to hunted.
She had only just won her prize. Qi'ra could not give up. She didn't have a home to go home to so she would create a place where she and others could be safe.
Her stride lengthened as she neared the landing dock and smoothly sprinted inside. She moved to the cockpit and activated the ship's cloaking device. And not a moment too soon as some storm troopers jetted past the enterence to the cave. Qi'ra opened a comm channel and Maul's impatience was apparent.
"It's about time, my dear."
"My liege there is a fresh squadron of stormtroopers patrolling."
"So did you give us away? Will I have to find a new head to fit atop the body that is Crimson Dawn?"
A thrill shot through Qi'ra as she imagined his lightsaber cleaving through her. She paused to level her voice so she could match his cool indifference. "I'm afraid not. Or at least, not yet, my lord."
Maul patched through the coordinates and Qi'ra maneavered the ship through the mines. There were jagged crags and crevices that required her to spin and dip around. Occassionally a stalagtite or stalagmite would break lose and she would narrowly miss banging against it. Once a storm trooper flew next to her close enough to touch the ship or even feel the breeze generated by the ship, but the person diverted his engine upward and Qi'ra was home free.
Maul was irritable when Qi'ra finally found him. Although on the bright side, all the containers of coaxium were untouched. Meaning, they hadn't exploded. Qi'ra opened the ship's hatch so Maul could load in the cargo. They both quickly set the containers in the ship's cooling area before Maul took the pilot's chair.
Qi'ra took the breathe that she had been holding in.
"So-"
Maul busied himself by running something through the navi computer. "They're going to ask us for codes up ahead."
"And then-"
"I'll leave at the First Light. You can go on gambling, gaming, whatever-you-would-like as long as the profit is mine."
Qi'ra shrugged. "The sounds like you want some entertainment after all of this business, my lord. I am well equipped to service your every need. Name it."
"Perhaps."
Qi'ra's eyes met his for the first time. "You acceot my invitation, my lord."
"Are you looking for a weakness, little Tooka? I could kill you whenever I want. I really could. I could mar your pretty face so much no one would want to look at you anymore."
"How would I find out more about my lord otherwise? I could serve you better."
"You know nothing of service yet, my dear. I should teach you that more. But I do have other ventures. I'm sure the Pykes have need of you still. Solve their little dilemna for me, then I'll take your offer fully."