I tightly gripped the steering sticks (as I always liked to call them, I never was much of a swoop racer) and looked into the window where Mission, Carth and Zalbaar waved hysterically, wishing me the best of luck. Gavin said I could ride with the accelerator, considering it could explode during the race. Of course, before I got strapped in, Carth gave me his usual I-don't-trust-these-guys-as-far-as-I-could-throw-them-so-don't-do-this speeches. I, of course, tuned him out for most of his rant and I focused more on the race. The light above me turned red, yellow then finally green as I slammed on the accelerator, feeling the wind rush through my hair. I felt exhilarated as I shouted in triumph, carefully dodging obstacles and hitting speed ramp. My swoop bike came to a progressive halt as I crossed the finish line with an even twenty eight seconds. Not bad for an amateur. I disassembled myself without help and sauntered back to the garage where everyone whooped and cheered.

"You did it! That's the best time," my Ithorian mechanic cheered, "No one is going to beat that!"

He spoke too soon because Redros charged in, screaming in Vulkar that he had beaten my time and there was no way I could do it again. I got in his face and nearly reeled from the smell.

"Oh yeah? Watch me." I dared and slipped on my helmet.

A few mechanics were moving my bike on the track as I buckled my helmet on and pulled the strap, slipping on my gloves and flexing my sore hands. I had gripped the sticks too tightly, so I needed to loosen up. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and when I looked, it was Bastila with a neural restraint collar on. I lost my breath as I stepped towards her when my mechanic grabbed my shoulders roughly and pushed me in the direction of the track.

"Get out there and make us proud," He cheered, "Time to beat is 23:34:36."

I sighed and nervously gripped the sticks as I waited for the green light. I looked back at the observation window and watched Carth talking to Mission with a worried look on his face. Either he was worried about my safety, or he was worried about Bastila's. Jury says...Bastila. The green light blurred in my vision as I sped off to the first speed bump. I narrowly hit it, flinging me into debris. I lurched in my harness roughly, but continued the race, and beat out Redros' time with 22:11:04. I walked back into the garage and took off my helmet, shaking my hair free and smiling.

"I hit debris and still beat your time." I gloated and went over the track coordinator.

He declared me the winner and the prize of the "Republic Slave" until Brejik stepped in.

"People, hear me out! Zerstoren, the woman you thought to have won the race, cheated!"

"You're a damn liar Brejik!" I shouted above the chaos and confusion.

"You cannot redraw the prize Brejik," The coordinator protested, "It's tradition!"

"To hell with your traditions! Vulkars, attack!"

Before anyone could make a move, Bastila snapped out of her trance, killing the guard in front of her and opening the cage. She grabbed his double vibrosword and readied herself. Brejik was in disbelief.

"How...how did you--"

"You underestimate the power of a Jedi, Brejik. A mistake you won't live to regret!"

With that, she leapt to him, using the force to propel her, and dueled with Brejik while I took on the others. I easily cut them down, running to Brejik, who had his back turned to me, and I forced my vibrosword down his spinal cord. He wasn't quite dead when I did that, so I cleaved him in two. Bastila's face contorted as the blood leaked onto her shoes. She looked to familiar, but it feels as if I should hate her. Why? I pushed these thoughts aside as she walked towards me with an air of leadership and arrogance. She prattled on about how she saved me and I should be grateful. Obviously, she doesn't know who she's dealing with.

"Excuse me, princess, I believe it's more accurate to say I saved you, considering you probably wouldn't have gotten out of here alive."

"You also underestimate the power of the Jedi." She remarked and raided Brejik's body for her lightsaber.

She shook off the blood as she brushed past me. I could just cleave that wench in two...

"Whatever Bastila, we don't have time for your nonsense, Carth is waiting."

She seethed at the fact that I said this was her nonsense, but her expression changed when I mentioned Carth.

"Carth is alive? Finally, some good news. Let's get back upstairs and we can discuss where to go from here."

---

Back at the hideout, Carth helped me and Mission break a vibroblade in two so Mission could do my hair properly. Carth watched as I sat on a plasteel cylinder and Mission hacked away at my unkempt and uneven hair.

"Almost done." Mission chimed as strands fell to the floor.

"You said that twenty minutes ago," I growled, "Hurry up."

"Can't rush perfection." Carth added with a chuckle.

Bastila looked pissed in the corner, as usual, considering we were focused on my hair more than the task at hand. We had to find a ship and get the hell out of here before the Sith realize Bastila is here, considering her Battle Meditation, she would be a valuable asset to the Sith. Not like that's going to happen though.

"Could we please just focus on our mission?" Bastila sighed.

Mission stopped cutting and cried, "Ta-da!"

I looked into a broken mirror and gasped at what I saw. Instead of my amazing mid-back length hair, there was hair cut just below my ears.

"What did you do?" I screeched, clutching at the hair.

"I cut it. It was pretty bad." Mission replied.

"I think it's kind of cute." Carth remarked with his usual flirtatious attitude.

Considering his home was bombed and he was betrayed by the person he trusted most, he was kind of light hearted sometimes, which worried me. It was a little out of character for someone like him. I looked at the grime and caked blood on my face and arms and gagged.

"I'm taking a shower." I groaned as I kicked off my boots.

"We'll be here." Mission called back.

I carefully slid off my tattered armor and my underwear. I turned the water on and sighed as I got in, watching my blood and gamorrean, Vulkar, Twilek and Brejik blood run down the drain. My wound from the rancor still bled, but only just a little. I could easily heal it later. I started to feel dizzy as I watched images flicker before my eyes. I think I started to scream, but I can't seem to remember. All I remember is a sharp pain in my head and images of Revan and Bastila dance before my eyes.