Chapter 5

The Ebon Hawk

After they fled the swoop track, Gadon had met them a short distance away in a speeder and whisked them off to the Bek hideout. From there, it was a great celebration. Brejik's behavior had been the proverbial nail in the coffin. The Vulkars scattered, and the Beks took home the prizes. While most of the spoils were cheerfully divided up among the gang, the winner's share had amounted to nearly a thousand credits and several useful items. Gadon insisted that Kairi take the Echani armor, too. It hadn't been a coincidence that it had been made small enough to fit her. They returned to their hideout to plat their next move, and things degenerated quickly.

"You don't have a plan to get off Taris yet?" Bastila threw up her hands. "What have you been doing all this time?"

"Trying to find and save you, remember?" Carth was getting quite close to losing his temper at Bastila as she paraded around the hideout. "I'm getting a little sick of your attitude - Jedi or not."

"You seem to forget that I'm in charge of this mission, Commander Onasi. I am a member of the Order, and was put in command of this. Don't forget that."

"You have a lot to learn about leadership, Bastila. A leader doesn't go in and start berating her troops just because things aren't going to plan, and a leader doesn't let her ego obscure the real issues."

"Without my Battle Meditation, the Republic would have lost this war already."

"Your gifts might win us a few battles, but that doesn't make you a leader! Another hint - take advice from your troops, especially ones who've seen more combat than you ever will!"

Kairi groaned. Enough of this, it was giving her a headache! "Both of you, please...this isn't helping."

"Beat me to it, Kairi," Mission said. "Those two have done nothing but bicker since we got here."

They may have retrieved Bastila, but they still were no closer to escaping the Sith than before. Meanwhile, Carth and Bastila seemed oblivious, as every new attempts at a plan led to an argument over who was in charge. Kairi looked at the chronometer on her wrist. Several hours had passed, and the only thing that progressed was the pounding in her skull and the hundred aching muscles from her wild ride on a swoop.

Scowling, Mission patted Kairi on the back. "Hey, I'm no expert on humans, but you look pale. Something wrong?"

"Just sore," she said with a wan smile. She looked up. "If it's all right with you, I'd like to take a walk. Maybe fresh air will help."

"I'll come with," said Mission. "If that's okay."

"Yes, please," Kairi said, the two of them walking out of the apartment.

Carth sat heavily in the chair Kairi vacated. "Well, we can't get hung up on who's in charge if we want to get out of here. We'll have to work together on this."

Bastila finally relented. "I suppose you're right. I've already been a prisoner of a gang, and I'm not keen on becoming a prisoner of the Sith. You had a good idea about the cantinas - they're usually overrun with smugglers, and we might find one who can break the blockade." Bastila's voice trailed off, and she stared at the door for a long time.

"What's on your mind?" Carth asked. "Or am I not allowed to know?"

Bastila shook her head. "Forgive me, Commander. Despite my training, I still act too rashly sometimes."

"Hey, I'm off the ship, so you don't have to call me by rank. Just 'Carth' will do."

She look from the door, to him, and back, as if weighing something in her head. "What can you tell me about Kairi?"

He looked at Bastila strangely. "Me? You hired her, shouldn't you know more about her? Even she can't tell me much about herself. There was a plasma explosion on the Spire. I've seen them literally fry a man's nervous system. She shoved me out of the way and took the hit. Hell, I'm surprised she's alive at all."

"I see, and it caused her to lose her memory? All of her memory?"

"That's right. Even took her to a doc here in the Upper City. According to him, she probably won't ever recover the memories. Thing that gets me, though? You'd think she'd be really bothered about not being able to remember who she is, but...well, I think she's more worried about everyone else."

"I actually had little to do with her actual hire. She was brought aboard because she speaks at least twenty galactic languages. I didn't really she would be able to...Well, I shall have to watch her carefully."

Carth was also watching the door. "Kairi...seems to know how to get under someone's skin..." He shot a glance over to Bastila. "She's pried things out of me that I thought I'd never tell anyone."

She smiled wryly. "Certain it's not her feminine wiles?"

"Not just me, Bastila. I've seen her pry things out of gang leaders, Outcasts, even this Mandalorian the local crime boss put on payroll. She even played this Pazaak shark in the Cantina to a standstill...I think she could charm credits out of a Hutt."

Bastila scowled slightly. "And she usually fights with that vibroblade?"

"Like she was born with one in her hand!" Folding his arms, he looked at her skeptically. "You still say she's just a translator?"

"She manifested none of these things when she was with me on the Spire. Yes, she had basic weapons training..."

"Basic? Bantha pile!"

"Carth, language!"

"That lady's better with a damn vibroblade than most Republic officers! And I know she isn't lying to me -"

"Are you so sure about that?"

It was a crude tactic, but it worked. "Damn you, anyway."

Bastila sighed. "I'd like to talk with her in private. Maybe it will settle some of my suspicions."

"Suspicions?" Carth did not like the sound of this.

"Nothing about her trustworthiness, Carth. It's...other things I see in her that give me reason to be concerned."

****

Mission promised to take Kairi to the best spot in the Upper City to watch the sunset. It was part of the Maze, a daredevil climb on rusted ladders and makeshift ledges. Kairi's bruised muscles still shrieked, but she welcomed the pain somewhat. It brought her back to the present.

"C'mon, Kairi! Just a few more rungs!"

"I'm coming...just...just bruised, that's all."

Mission helped Kairi up the last couple rungs. They were sitting on the viewing deck of a very old and mostly abandoned building. In Taris's heyday, this must have been a popular tourist attraction. Now, the stone benches sat empty, and the view scopes had been corroded by rust and age, their lenses opaque. On Taris, the sun set in the east, and it cast an incredible orange-rose glow over the faded city, almost restoring it to the beauty it must have been. Mission smiled.

"I haven't come here since Griff left. Big Z is too big and heavy to get up here, and it's just too pretty to come here alone. Things like this...they gotta be shared."

"Griff...is that your brother?"

Mission nodded. "I'm sorry about getting snappish with you earlier. Guess I'm still a little touchy when it comes to Griff." She hunched over, studying her feet. "Its kinda embarrassing talking about my brother."

"Embarrassing? How so?" Kairi then held up her hand. "If you don't want to tell me about it, that's fine."

"No, it's okay. Zaalbar's a good listener, but it might be nice to talk about this to someone who doesn't respond in growls and grunts. Griff...well, he raised me. Taught me must everything I knew - how to slice computers, pick locks, spot a wealthy mark for a quick shell game...he did right by me."

"Those sound like handy skills to have," Kairi concurred.

Because it's those skills that make this child a useful ally and tool. She will have no use once you depart Taris. You must discard her..a coldly analytical part of her whispered. Kairi shook her head to dismiss the thought. No, Mission had helped too much and asked for so little already.

Mission continued speaking. "Yeah. I remember how we got to Taris. I was only five. We had to smuggle ourselves here in a packing crate. Griff owed the wrong people money...maybe there was a warrant out for him. He gambled, and drank, and was always in debt - borrowing money for some get-rich quick scheme. But that just makes him sound worse than he is." She sighed. "Still, I really miss him. He said he'd be back for me someday."

"Why did he leave?"

Mission shook her head. "Lena's the reason why. She worked at Javier's Cantina as a dancer. Well, Griff could be a real smooth talker, and soon those two were dating. Lena was used to dating guys like bounty hunters or gamblers - guys with tons of credits. That table-dancing tramp gets her hooks on him, and off he went - leaving me behind!"

"That...doesn't sound like a very brotherly thing to do."

Mission shrugged. "Show him a pretty set of head-tails, and he's done for. It wasn't too long after he left that I met Zaalbar, though."

They stared off into the sunset in silence until the sun slipped behind the skyline and the skies began to turn purple. Mission placed her hand on Kairi's shoulder. Kairi almost winced from the contact. It would have been easy enough to chalk it up to the pain she was already feeling, but it was...different, like how she felt at the Sith party. Unlike the choking lust and inebriation, though, she was surrounded by concern, friendship, good cheer...Mission was guileless and open with an unalloyed optimism and trust. That cold part of her didn't like it a bit, and retreated like ice before the sun.

"What's it like, Kairi? Not...not having a past?"

Kairi stared into the fading light in the east. "It's...it's seeing everything like it was the first time. It's knowing things, but not how you know them. And when I try to remember anything that happened...it's like being at the edge of a pit where you can't see the bottom." She looked over at Mission. "It's...safer to just live in the present, rather than try to jump in that pit."

She seemed to understand that, nodding her head. "Hey, you're still a great person, Kairi. You and Carth have got to be the best humans I've ever run into. Most humans just assume that because I have a set of lekku, that I don't have any brains."

"Well," Kairi said, placing her hand on Mission's. "Another good thing about no memory; no preconceptions."

Mission grinned. "C'mon, we'd better head back before it gets too dark, and Big Z starts wondering where we went. He can be SUCH a worry-wart sometimes!"

When they reached the Upper City walkway on the way home, they were approached by a green-skinned Twi'lek man.

"You there, human. You are the rider who won the Great Swoop Race. I was told to deliver a message to you. Take this datapad, please."

She nodded and took it, and the Twi'lek man vanished into the Maze. The datapad was a cheap, disposable model. On it, was a brief message:

Miss Niko,

You know I've been watching you already. That swoop race was the last bit of convincing I needed. Meet me in the Upper City Cantina at the tenth hour. Don't keep me waiting.

- Canderous

When she got back, Zaalbar and Carth were engrossed in upgrading their weapons. Mission hit the kitchen to find something to eat. Bastila was sitting by the window. Kairi approached and sat next to her.

"You look like you want to speak with me," Kairi said.

"How did you...?" She stopped herself and shook her head. "I guess Carth wasn't exaggerating. I'd like to know what happened, though. Between you and Carth crashing on Taris and you finding me. I doubt there were flashing signs pointing in my direction."

Kairi shrugged.

"You also avoided detection by the Sith, discovered I was a Vulkar prisoner, gained the support of their rivals, and became Taris's swoop champion. Quite the list of accomplishments."

"It wasn't all my doing, Bastila. Carth was there, as was Mission and Zaalbar. And you did help with those Vulkars. It was the Hidden Beks' swoop bike, too."

"You're modest, and that's admirable." Bastila said. "But I did talk to the others, and they all confirm that you were the catalyst."

Kairi was confused. "Well...Maybe."

Bastila shook her head. "Kairi, I took you on for your skill at languages, and none of us could have expected so much from you. It...it would take a Jedi, drawing heavily upon the Force, in order to get this far this fast."

"All I did was trust my instincts. That's all I have, really," Kairi said. "This talk of the Force, Bastila..."

"The Force works through all of us, Kairi, and it's nothing to fear. As for what to make of it, well if you weren't -" she stopped herself.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm starting to get into things best left to the Council. For now, just know that you've got a gift, Kairi. Between those gifts, my Jedi training, and the skills of our companions, we might just find a way out of this mess."

Kairi smiled. "I think...we may have some help with that." She handed Bastila the datapad.

****

The Upper City Cantina never seemed to have a slow hour. It was just as busy at midday as when she had visited in the evening several days earlier. Sure enough, the iron-eyed man was waiting for her at a table, nodding when she made eye contact. Carth and Bastila walked to a table just out of earshot. Canderous no doubt noticed this, but said nothing.

She slid into the chair. "How is your arm?"

A chuckle from him. "You certainly are a strange one. Cut down a half-dozen Vulkars with barely an eye blink, but the first thing you ask is about a stranger's health." He looked up. "It's healed nicely. Now, I saw you in the swoop race. Very impressive. You seem like you know how get results. That's just the kind of person I'm looking for."

Kairi straightened. "Is that why you were watching me, Mister...?"

"Canderous Ordo is my name. And call it friendly interest. There aren't a lot of people on Taris that get my attention - but you certainly did. Now, I think I have a deal for you, Miss Niko. One you'd be interested in."

"Well, I'm listening."

"You already know I work for Davik. The hours aren't great, and I've nothing better to do. Davik promised me a fortune, and Mandalorian mercs are in high demand."

Kairi leaned in. "But I can tell, he's cheating you - in more ways than one."

"You can tell, eh?" Canderous seemed to take this under consideration. "You're right. He's not paying what he promised, and this job is going nowhere. Figure it's time to get off this planet."

"It's true, then? Davik has a ship that's fast enough."

"Yes, but what he doesn't have is the launch codes - that's where you come in."

"Again, I'm listening."

"I have a plan, but I can't be breaking into the Sith military base to get those codes without it getting traced right back to Davik. However, anyone crazy enough to race like that might just be crazy enough to sneak past the Sith and get those codes. With those codes, we take out the defenses and run the blockade. I figure that Republic man you've got is a half-decent pilot."

"Actually, he's a rather good one."

"A good Republic pilot is only half-decent in my book," Canderous said. "Anyway, you get those codes, and I can get you the Ebon Hawk. We all get off this planet together."

Kairi didn't believe him to be lying. "Sounds fair. How am I to get in the base?"

Canderous smiled. "Janice Nall has a special droid she's making just for that purpose. It'll slice Sith security and get you in. Davik paid for the droid, but I'm the one he put in charge of this job. He won't care how we get those codes.

"So, I steal the codes, you get me to the ship - we steal the ship and we all get off Taris."

Folding his arms, he nodded.

"It's a deal."

"This authorizes you to pick up the droid," he said, handing her a datachip. "I'll be waiting for you at Javyar's in the Lower City - twenty four hours from now. Have those codes, and I'll get you the ship."

The droid shop owner was a Twi'lek woman who was dressed in technician's coveralls, aside from the velvet scarves she wrapped around her head-tails, the subtle colors and soft fabric both eye-catching and indicative of someone that could make the most of modest means. Upon seeing them, she stopped working on the small droid she had on the floor and smiled broadly.

"A customer? Come in, come in! I'm Janice Nall - welcome to my droid shop!"

"You've a nice shop here," Kairi said. "We're interested in a utility droid." Kairi handed over the datachip. "Canderous sent us."

"Yes, indeed. And with the payment in advance. These codes check out. I hope Davik appreciates him!"

She opened the door to the back room that passed as a "showroom," though it most often was used for repairing the droids that came into her store. "Customers are hard to come by sometimes. A lot of Upper Taris citizens won't come shop here, not at a store owned by a Twi'lek."

Mission rolled her eyes. "Ain't that the truth!"

"What is it that they have against Twi'leks, anyway?" Kairi was having trouble understanding the Upper City. She might not remember much, but she knew what got on her nerves.

"Twi'leks are tolerated in the Upper City, but they'd rather see us dancing in cantinas than owning successful businesses. I've learned not to dwell on it. I just stay focused on running my store."

"You'd think people would be a little more tolerant in this day and age." Carth sighed. "Guess stupidity and ignorance will never go out of style."

Janice motioned them to follow, and walked up to the droid in the center of the shop. A meter high at the tallest, it had a dish-shape head and a triangular body. A single photoelectric "eye" was in the middle of its head. The silver-colored plating was lovingly polished. As it moved along on its tracks, it whirred smoothly, a sign of careful maintenance and fastidious craftsmanship.

"This is T3-M4. He's small, tough, and has a surprising amount of firepower!" She beamed proudly. "And there's no better security slicer or code breaker on the planet...not that I condone anything illegal, of course."

"Of course," Kairi said. "And he's certainly a handsome little fellow."

In response, T3 chirped and beeped, his chrome "head" looking up at her.

"And he likes you, too." Janice patted T3 and smiled. "Droids are very temperamental sometimes - like children. They're all very unique, too. Programming and memory wipes can alter it somewhat, but at the core, their personality doesn't change - it's why I like them so much."

****

They got the droid home and Kairi inserted the datachip. Contained on it were schematics and a shift schedule for the nearby Sith base.

"You'd think that Mandalorian was setting up a damn trap," Carth said.

"More like a test," Kairi said, making another check of the base schematics. "He wants to see if we can do it as much as he wants those codes."

"Confirming my theory that Mandalorians are crazy."

"Actually, it surprises me how solid his plan is," Bastila said. "And I sensed no deception from him while Kairi was talking. He does need our help, and it may indeed be the only way off the planet."

Kairi sat cross-legged on the floor. "Chances are, the codes would be in the governor's office." She pointed to the floor grid. "As commander of the base, he's be the ones authorizing ships to land and depart."

"And he has a private hangar, it seems," Bastila pointed out. "The administration level would be easy to access from the roof, it seems. The only problem would be transporting T3-M4."

"Hold on, you go waltzing in there, and you'll be up to your eyeballs in Sith guards," Carth said. "And the only thing you'll get is a nasty death. The droid's programmed to head in the front doors. Between that and the security papers, we could probably bluff our way to a terminal. We get T3 to slice it, and we could probably get the codes and get out before anyone figures us out."

"You know the Sith, Carth," Bastila countered. "Anything of true value won't be accessible on a common terminal. The governor would be the only one likely to have them."

"Both of you have a point, and we have enough people to try both plans," Kairi pointed out. "Carth, if you took Zaalbar and T3 through the front entrance, your plan could work. Even if you can't get the codes, you could certainly cause a distraction. Bastila, T3 can't climb down from the roof, but Mission can."

"I've sliced Sith systems before." Mission said. "Elevator systems and building access codes, mostly. They're tough, but I can handle it."

"Mission, this is quite dangerous," Bastila said. Kairi raised her hand.

"Dangerous, yes, but she has been invaluable. We wouldn't be having this conversation without her help."

Mission blinked twice, as though uncertain she heard that. Then, she started smiling. Kairi's eyes narrowed. "But, Mission. This is not some errand for the Beks or adventure in the Undercity. With this, you will be taking on something much larger and infinitely more dangerous."

She stood up. "I made my choice, Kairi. I'm with you."

Bastila shifted position in her chair. She hated all of this, really. It wasn't the danger, so much. A Jedi's life was often filled with danger enough for several lifetimes. She'd also been on strike teams before, including the one that took down Revan. Yet, staking their lives on a deal made with a Mandalorian mercenary out to betray his employer? Trusting an adolescent Twi'lek with such a monumental task? There was also Kairi herself. What she had taken aboard the Spire was a diplomatic aide without combat or tactical experience.

The Force has been awakened in her...along with what else?

****

They decided they would strike in the middle of the night, when there were the fewest personnel on duty. That left them time to use their earnings from the swoop race to gather supplies.

Stealth belts were a favorite among thieves, and illegal on most planets unless one had a license. This, of course, meant that the Lower City's black market had plenty in stock. A stealth field warped light and sound in a field around their wearers, cloaking them and making them quite hard to detect.

Engaging the belts, the three women slipped in via the hanger. It was a long, steep climb down thin grappling line. None dared look down, seeing the thousand-meter plunge that awaited a misstep.

With the belts engaged, they were able to sneak successfully to past the guard. Opening the door into the base would give them away, though.

That's where Bastila came in.

Mission crept up to the computer terminal and started slicing while Bastila made a small gesture towards the guard.

"You're feeling very tired."

Astoundingly, the guard yawned, stretching his arms and lolling his head as though it were hard to stay awake.

Bastila's eyes were dim and unfocused as she continued her suggestions. "The closet looks awfully comfortable. I'll bet your superior wouldn't notice if you took a nap in there..."

Shuffling to the supply locker, the sleepy guard stepped in and closed the door behind him. Bastila made another gesture, and the padlock on the outside of it snapped shut.

That gave Mission enough room to finish jamming the security on the door. It swung open and the three made it inside.

T3-M4's code undid the lock, and Carth hoped the Sith Security papers and a generous amount of bluffing would do the needed trick. Zaalbar's hands were tied behind his back in a pair of cuffs that didn't shut properly. Oh, well, it was all for looks anyway.

They rolled right up to reception, and Carth threw the papers on the desk in front of the woman on duty.

"Listen, sister," He was layering on the arrogance. "I've busted this alien scum for your bosses, and I expect my damn payment. Just wave me through so I can talk to them!"

She got up and paged through the papers. For a moment, Carth believed it would work, but she looked at him again, and her hand moved away from the door's switch towards the alarm. Carth reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist so hard he hoped he didn't break any bones.

"What? You think because I'm pretty I must also be stupid? Those papers are expired, and there's no arrest warrants here for...for whatever that is behind you. Tell me what you are doing here, or I hit that alarm and call every soldier on the base!"

"Listen, lady. I don't want to hurt you." His hand went for his holster. The frightened woman began to babble.

"Don't...don't shoot! I never wanted any part of this! I would have quit when the Sith took over, but they said they wouldn't let me!"

Carth let her wrist go. "Get out of here. Move!"

She ran out the door like a blaster shot.

T3 rolled up to the reception terminal and gave a set of cheery beeps as he sliced in. Carth pressed his comlink.

"Team B - we're in!"

Kairi responded. "So are we - east side of the base. Which way has fewer guards?"

"T3 is on it...damn, it's locking him out. Says that the governor's personal codes are needed. Checking..."

The sound of a door sliding open and blaster shots followed.

"Go right! Elevator's at the end of the hall, past the control room," he said before ducking under the desk to dodge incoming fire.

Four soldiers and an officer had poured in, filling the room with a hail of blaster fire. Zaalbar let out a terrible howl and charged right at them, dodging shots with a speed Carth never thought possible for something that large. With a large angry growl that sounded like a curse and probably was, the large Wookiee grabbed the officer by the chest, lifted him up, then spun around to use the unfortunate man as a shield for an incoming volley of blaster fire before hurling the body into the squadron, bowling them over. With another furious swipe of his enormous paw, he clobbered over another guard, his neck bending unnaturally as he hit the floor. The last guard found out what a Wookiee's punch could do.

Screaming with anger, Zaalbar turned around looking for anyone else that was attacking. Carth ducked beneath the reception desk as Zaalbar came charging.

"Hey, Zaalbar, hold it!"

Another shout and Carth narrowly dodged the paw coming for him.

"Hey, buddy! It's me...Carth...Kairi and Mission's friend, remember?"

As if his brain suddenly snapped into place, Zaalbar stopped his charge, and Carth would swear until his dying day that the Wookiee blushed!

T3-M4 warbled a few singsong notes. Carth checked the terminal. The little droid was still plugged in, and had locked down the room. The three of them were safe for the moment, but Carth didn't know how much longer that would last.

"Good job, T3. Now, let's see if we can give them something to worry about other than us."

Mission sliced the lock to the security control room. Unfortunately, the warping effect that made stealth belts so useful also made them impossible to fight in them, as sight and sound were warped in such a way that they wouldn't be able to shoot or strike accurately.

They planned for this, too. Bastila's double-bladed, yellow saber flared to life. Kairi pulled her vibrosword, and Mission had a heavy blaster in hand.

They expected a fight, and they got one.

Three technicians were caught unawares, cut down before any of them could reach the alarm, but they did engage the security droids, and those were even more trouble. Their poor aim was easy enough to work around. Their armor plating wasn't. It took several shots from Mission's blaster to fell one, and Kairi struggled to get an opening to jam her sword into the circuitry. Bastila's lightsaber, on the other hand, sliced their armor like it was tissue paper.

Mission reached the console before Kairi's communicator flared to life again.

"Team A to team B!" Carth's voice was the most welcome sound there could be. "Do you copy?"

"I'm here," Kairi said. "What happened?"

"Tell Mission I got to see what a ticked-off Wookiee looks like. We've got your wing sealed off, but the Sith's pulled the alarm. I can't tell how long we have. You've GOT to get those codes."

Mission looked up. "Got it! I've also provided a little distraction for our Sith friends."

"What kind of distraction?"

Mission snickered. "Nothing much. Just all those security droids are reading THEM as the enemy. Between that and a couple overloaded conduits...I'd say we've bought ourselves a little time. Come on!"

The lift sped them up to the governor's quarters. Compared to the brightly-lit and sterile atmosphere of the base below, the penthouse apartment was richly decorated. Artwork hung from the walls, a soft carpet covered the metal floor. Several large plants thrived beneath the vast skylight, which was above most of the city lights, allowing faint light from the moon and stars. The workstation was in the far corner, and Mission made a beeline for it.

She had just started to reach for the entry pad when...

The lights flew on, blinding them all with blazing overhead light for a moment. Their eyes adjusted to the brightness just in time to see a man stride into the room. He was tall and broad-shouldered, carrying a double-bladed Echani staff. He ignored Mission, looking directly at the other two women.

"Who dares interrupt my meditation? Wait..." He gave a predatory smile. "The Force is strong with you...very strong..."

Kairi stepped slightly in front of Bastila. The man raised his weapon.

"Who would have thought Force Adepts could be found on this insignificant planet?" He chuckled. "I'll enjoy this. Your talents are no match for a disciple of the Dark Side..."

Bastila engaged her saber, the sun-yellow blades flaring to life. "You're only fooling yourself."

He reached out with one hand. Mission gasped, clutching her throat. Kairi's eyes went wide, and she rushed the governor, breaking his concentration and freeing Mission from his grasp. Unfortunately, he smacked her with the flat of his staff, sending her sprawling.

"Killing you three will be just what I need. My master will grant me my lightsaber for this..."

Before he could run Kairi through, Bastila's saber blocked the blow, allowing her to roll out of the way. Clash! Parry! Slash! A priceless oil painting was torn to shreds.

Kairi ran over to Mission, making a quick check. The Twi'lek girl was gasping, but she was still breathing. With a mouthed "Go," Mission pointed to the battle between the Sith governor and Bastila. Unfortunately, the cortosis-weave Echani design was holding up well to the lightsaber and what he lacked in dexterity over Bastila, he made up for in brute strength. Plus, Jedi did not wear armor - the man had no such prohibition.

Blows traded faster than the unaided eye could track, making them both almost a single blur of motion. He raised his hand, and Bastila was knocked backwards. While she was dazed, he lifted his blade and made aim for her neck.

Kairi was quicker, striking for his unarmored legs from behind. He dropped as she jammed the sword into the back of his knee. He tried to keep his balance, but the armor impeded that and he fell backwards. Kairi granted him a swift death with a quick stab to his throat.

Bastila quickly shook off the stun with the governor's demise. She assured Kairi she was all right. They then looked up to see Mission at the terminal, looking down at the now-dead governor. She shuddered and held up a datapad. "Got 'em."

Getting out of the base was easier than getting in, especially since Carth, T3, and Zaalbar had cleared the way for them. They already knew they'd not be able to go back to the hideout after this - fortunately, Mission's knack for knowing all the hiding places came in handy a last time as they spent the next few hours dodging the patrols charging after them as they escaped deep into the Lower City, not stopping until they were quite certain they had lost any pursuers.

Now, it was time for Canderous to live up to his end.

****

High above the planet, the Sith fleet hovered. Aboard the Leviathan, flagship of the Sith fleet, an imposing figure watched the planet below. His face was covered in a metal half-mask and his shaved head was decorated with vibrant blue tattoos that stood out against his ashen skin. His cold eyes had the look of dead stars.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gray cape draped over his right shoulder, his red bodysuit standing out vividly among the sea of gray and black Sith uniforms and polished silver armor.

Approaching him was a man with graying hair and the rank bars of an Admiral. It was not the first time he addressed the Dark Lord directly, but a part of him often worried if the current approach would be the last.

"You summoned me, Lord Malak?"

Malak's voice was processed through a synthesizer on the mask, but it still held a blatant cruelty that no droid could ever match. The search for Bastila is taking too long. We cannot risk her escaping Taris. Destroy the entire planet."

"Lord Malak? The...the entire planet? But...there are billions of innocent civilians on Taris, not to mention thousands of our own troops on the surface."

Malak's eyes grew colder as he stared down the admiral. "Your predecessor made the mistake of questioning my orders, Admiral Karath. Surely you are not so foolish as to repeat his mistake."

Karath put up his hands in a placating gesture and backed away slowly. "Of...of course not, my Lord. I will do as you command, but it will take some time to get the fleet in position. I will begin immediately."

"Very well. Dismissed, Admiral."

Karath turned to the communications officer. "Hail the other ships, and tell the helm to get the Leviathan into position."

***

Canderous was waiting for them, right on schedule, in the back room of Javyar's Cantina. He apparently expected her to bring the whole party, as he had staked out a large table.

"I figured you'd be back," he said. "None of us get off the planet unless we all worth together. I know you got into the Sith Base last night. And I know you've got the codes. So, what do you say? I've got the speeder parked right outside. We can go to Davik's base and right to the Ebon Hawk."

"What's your plan from there?"

"Davik's always looking for new talent for his organization. He had a front row seat to the swoop race. Too bad we had to leave just as it got entertaining." He was looking Bastila up and down and smiling knowingly as he said it.

Bastila ignored him – or pretended to. Canderous turned back to Kairi.

"He's been asking about you. That's why I got the idea in the first place. Once we're in, it'll be just the two of us. The rest of your crew can wait at my home - it's a block away."

"It sounds risky," Bastila said.

Kairi nodded. "I have the codes. You just get us to the ship."

"And the sooner we get off this rock, the better," he said.

****

Davik appointed himself like a king. A vast "throne room" sat in the middle of his estate, and large wings branched off from it. The "throne" itself was an imposing chair with an elaborate set of controls attached for monitoring and controlling various aspects of the estate.

Davik himself was a balding man in his late sixties, someone who likely obtained power by starting as a hired gun and either working or killing his way up the ranks. Calo Nord stood to his left, the scarily odd little man evaluating Kairi carefully.

"So, Canderous...I hear you've brought someone with you. Most intriguing if I say so myself. You usually travel alone."

"Not like you to take on partners, Canderous," Calo Nord said. "You're getting soft."

"Shut up, Calo. You may be the newest kath hound in the pack, but you're far from top dog."

Davik glowered at both men. "Enough! I will not having my top men killing each other - it's bad for business. I'm sure Canderous has a good reason for taking on a partner."

"Davik, this is Kairi Niko. I managed to convince her that there could be a place for her among the Exchange."

He walked right up to Kairi and grinned broadly. "Ah, yes. Good judgment, Canderous. I had a fine view of the swoop race, and the brawl afterwards. Very impressive." He smiled down at her. "Just what is your background anyway, young lady? Swoop gang? Freelance mercenary? Former soldier?"

Kairi throughly disliked this man. She remembered Leto. She remembered what Zelka told her. While she was able to bite back the urge to argue with him, her voice still came out sharper than she wanted. "I'm a translator, Mr. Kang."

Davik's eyebrows almost hit his receding hairline. "That so? Well, aren't you the surprise? An elegant fighter with top of the line brains. Not too often you find a combination like that." He took her hand and kissed it. Canderous was stone-faced, but Calo glowered at her skeptically, a bolt of suspicion and jealousy from the small man.

"Canderous was right, Miss Niko. The Exchange is always looking for new talent - and with a war going on, times are good. You could have a bright future with us."

****

Davik gave them a tour, and the centerpiece of it was the Ebon Hawk herself. Kairi was stuck by the sleek lines of the freighter, the efficiency of its flat design and the strength of construction it suggested.

"You like it, Miss Niko? I'm glad," Davik said. "The Ebon Hawk is the my pride and joy. She's the fastest ship on the Outer Rim, and just as strong as she is fast. My girl's born to run blockades - even the gun turrets are Aratech top-of the-line...better than the Czerka trash the Sith contract with."

Kairi was checking the layout of the hanger as she watched the ship - noting that the hanger security was just as tough. Automated turrets and ceiling-mounted cannons lined the bay. Without proper codes, she and Canderous wouldn't last more than a few seconds without meeting a nasty end.

"The Hawk was born to run, but she's been grounded by the blockade. Progress in getting the launch codes to override the Sith automatic turrets has been slow going. With those, I could come and go as I wished." He motioned her to follow. "But we should continue the tour."

Davik showed them the slave quarters, the guard barracks, and the lavish entertainment room. This place was mind-numbing. Corruption, greed and defeat covered the walls like an invisible grime. As they toured the northwest wing, Kairi started to feel sick. From behind one of the few doors Davik didn't open, Kairi could hear the faint sound of human screams from behind it. Canderous elbowed her ribs and nodded to the door when Davik had his back turned. Kairi nodded a reply, already plotting the fastest routes from there to the hanger in her head.

The last stop was the guest wing. With instructions not to disturb his guests or trespass in unauthorized areas, Davik and Calo Nord left the room. The door closed, leaving Kairi and Canderous alone.

"All right, we're in. Now, all we have to do is override Davik's security and get off the planet. No sense in waiting here, though. Sooner we're off Taris, the better."

"Calo," Davik said.

"Yes, sir?"

"It's about Canderous. That Mandalorian's got something up his sleeve, and the woman he's with...as much as I like her, I wouldn't trust her, either."

"Want me to kill them, sir?"

"Not yet. I'll force them to make a move. It won't be long. When they do, you and I will be waiting in the hangar for them."

"They're going to try and steal the ship?"

"I know Canderous. He's already got those codes. All we have to do is pry them from his cold hands."

"I will render them cold, Mister Kang. And I'll enjoy it."

Canderous and Kairi had planned for this to be a rather simple affair. No sooner had the sound of Davik's and Calo's footsteps faded than Kairi's ears pricked up.

"Do you hear that?" she asked. "That high-pitched whine?"

"Tayja!" Canderous swore and dove for the ground, shoving Kairi down with him. Less than a second later, the trap went off, razor spikes shooting out from the ventilation and striking the wall rather than their heads. "Besom'ad! That Hutt-spawn must have figured out about the double cross! Come on!"

Sure enough, they had to battle their way through the corridors. Davik must have sent out the alert and intended to kill them. Just about every mercenary and guard on the payroll showed up. Canderous saw the high odds and started to grin. The old rush of battle hadn't lost a damn bit of charm.

He had his blaster cannon on him, and Kairi added her sword, slicing through the incompetent Rodian wannabes and the petty Tarisian gang members Davik kept at court.

Kairi was busy with three of them, parrying their vibroblades and dispatching them with quick efficiency. Canderous knew what her style certainly looked like, but his eyes had to be deceiving him. Despite her size and grace, she eschewed the dancing style of the Echani. No, this was a bit too direct. It almost looked like...

BOOM! The entire room shook. The power flickered.

"What in the -" Kairi looked around. "I don't think that was Davik's doing!"

"I've a bad feeling about this," Canderous grumbled. "Come on. This way."

In the far northwest corner was Davik's other guest wing - the one for unwanted guests. The room would have met with a Sith Admiral's approval - two torture chambers, and an array of pain inducing devices neatly displayed on a rack - electro-whips, laser scalpels, shock batons...apparently, Davik was one to prefer pain to blood as Kairi didn't see any of the cruder implements like knives and leather whips on display.

Two torture droids wheeled out from the wall, their spidery bodies displaying blasters, drugs, shockers, and other nasty appendages. Kairi ducked a syringe and hacked off the arm. Canderous took out half the head of the other with the blaster cannon. Kairi took off another couple arms before Canderous blasted the rest of it to bits.

With the droids gone, they could see the only occupant of the room. In a torture cylinder, was a pale-looking man. Kairi yanked the cage release. He shuddered and leaned against the wall.

"You...you have no idea what it was like in that cage. I...I don't know how long it would be before I went mad."

"I can't watch someone suffer," she said.

"My...my name's Hudrow. I tried to quit, and Davik threw me in here. I can't give you anything tangible as a reward." He smiled wanly. "But I've a better way to hurt Davik. Here, do you have a datapad?"

Kairi pulled hers from her belt pack, and Hudrow punched in a quick entry, handing it back.

"Those codes will take out the security system around the Ebon Hawk! I used to be her pilot. Use those codes to steal it. Then you can do what you like with it."

Kairi nodded. "Thank you. Now, go! Get out of here as fast as you can!"

Hudrow nodded and ran out the door, vanishing into the darkened corridors.

"We've got what we came for. Let's get out of here," Canderous said.

CRASH! The halls seemed to tilt and the explosion sounds were getting more frequent. More than once, they had to climb over rubble to get to the next door, but the hangar door opened smoothly and Kairi put in the codes.

At the door on the other end of the hangar, someone else was making a break for the Hawk - Davik Kang and Calo Nord.

"Damn those Sith. They're bombing the entire planet. I knew they'd turn on us..."

Upon noticing them, Davik sneered at them. "Well what do we have here? Thieves in the hangar. Let me guess, you're here to steal my ship for your get away and leave me while the Sith bomb this place to dust?"

Canderous shrugged, and did Kairi detect satisfaction? "That's about right."

"Your plan, wasn't it, Canderous? Should have figured you'd do this."

"You should have known better than to cheat me, Davik. Consider this collecting my back pay."

"I'll take care of them, Davik." Calo's voice still didn't break monotone.

"Make it quick, Calo. The Sith mean business. If we don't get on the ships and get out of here, their bombs will kill us all."

"This should do it." Calo Nord brandished a thermal detonator, but before he could activate it, the Sith got a lucky shot, caving in a portion of the ceiling and trapping the smaller man under a pile of permacrete. The detonator was knocked from his hand, sailing into the air. Davik pulled his gun and shot Canderous narrowly dodged the blast and brought up his cannon to return fire.

What Davik failed to notice was that Calo's detonator rolled from the wreckage to land right behind him. An ear-splitting explosion rocked the hanger. Canderous barely kept his feet. Kairi dropped to the ground. If there was anything left of Davik Kang after that, it wasn't bigger than a bottle cap.

The explosions were getting closer and closer together. Through the open hanger, they saw fire raining from the sky, the tops of buildings blowing apart and debris flying everywhere. A chorus of screams and panic reached their ears.

Canderous started preparing the Hawk for takeoff.

"I'll power up the ship. You take the speeder and get the rest of the crew." When Kairi was about to ask if he'd wait, Canderous answered for her. "I swear on my honor - warrior to warrior - that I will not leave unless there is no other choice."

Kairi nodded and ran back down the ramp, powering on the speeder and driving like she was in the swoop finals.

****

Aboard the Leviathan, Saul Karath reported to Darth Malak. He was watching the assault glumly, staring past Malak and onto the green-blue surface and the vast gray of the landmass - now being turned to ruins.

"Taris is defenseless before our assault Lord Malak. They offer no resistance. The City is in ruins."

"Resume bombardment, Admiral Karath," Malak responded, sweeping his hand angrily. "Wipe this pathetic planet from the face of the galaxy!"

****

"He swore on his warrior honor," Kairi said. Her face was twisted as if in pain. "And I believe him."

"We're as good as dead, then," Carth said.

The bolts of red and green cannon fire rained down on the city like the wrath of a mad god. Screams and shouts pierced the air with the sound of falling rubble and the sudden collapse of buildings. Orange and red flames swept the city like a flood - consuming and charring anything it its wake and making the air thick and hazy.

Mission was shell-shocked, eyes wide...seeing it and unable to respond. Her mouth was half-open as though she wanted to make a sound - scream, cry...anything. Zaalbar pried her away from the window and forced her to bury her face in his chest, arms wrapped protectively around his friend as if trying to protect her from the hell exploding around her.

Kairi pulled into the hanger, not even bothering to cut the engine. Sure enough, the Hawk was there. She herded them up the ramp - Zaalbar carrying Mission, Carth leading Bastila. T3 rolling up the ramp after them, and Kairi in the rear. She slammed the ramp control shut after all were aboard.

"Canderous - GO!"

The ship lurched beneath her feet.

Carth and Bastila ran up to the cockpit. Canderous relinquished the pilot seat to Carth. "Kairi tells me you're a pilot - get in and fly!"

Carth wasn't in a position to argue, taking the controls as Bastila jumped in the co-pilot chair. "And where are you headed?"

"The guns. We're going to have to shoot our way out of this one."

Kairi signaled the bridge. "I'm in turret one. Who's got two?"

"Our new warrior friend," Carth said. "Hold on, everyone!"

The launch codes cleared, the engines fired, and the Ebon Hawk broke atmosphere, speeding right between two Sith battleships.

"We've got fighters incoming. Hold them off while I get the jump coordinates in!"

There were a dozen of them. Sith fighters were of an odd design - their silvery bodies resembling more a dart than a ship. They dove and shot, but their speed was only overcompensation for their frailty.

Over the headset, Kairi could hear Canderous laughing. This was like a gigantic game for him - never mind the life and death stakes!

Swinging the cannon in a high arc, she fired and a snub fighter went up in a satisfying ball of white. Another snub dove and veered. Kairi cursed as she missed it and its shot hit one of the generators. Grimly determined, she swung the canon until she got it in the crosshairs.

Nailed it!

As another prepared to make its dive, she clipped its wing and the tiny craft spiraled, helplessly crippled. The fourth made two passes, blasting one of the shield generators before it could be destroyed.

The sixth made a suicide run for the ship, only for Kairi to land a direct hit before it came close.

That was when the blackness around them streaked and blurred. The Ebon Hawk was in hyperspace. They had escaped.

As soon as they were safe, Kairi shakily climbed down from the turrets, stumbling into a cramped little room that was likely the ship's medical bay. She barely made it to the fresher before her stomach reacted violently. Heaving until she was spent, she flushed the contents, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her skin was ashen and her eyes glassy.

Crawling into the main room, she had only enough strength to hoist herself onto the treatment cot before blacking out.

What's happening to me?