Credits in hand and fully dressed Kyn was impatiently waiting in his dark bedroom for his father to turn off the holo and go to sleep. He didn't understand it; his father rarely stayed up this late. He was always tired from work and would doze off soon after dinner. Of course, he had to stay up late tonight.
"I'll never make it on time to place a bet," Kyn muttered to himself, looking at a digital chrono on his nightstand.
Finally there was silence coming from the living area. He heard his father's footsteps getting closer and then passed by his room. Kyn listened closely for the bedroom door to shut. He waited a few extra minutes before tip-toeing out of his own bedroom. With his hands outstretched to make sure he didn't knock anything over, Kyn made it to the front door.
He knew now he'd never be able to make it on time on foot and didn't want to waste credits on an expensive cab ride to his destination, so he had decided to swipe the keys to his father's speeder.
"They'll never know I took it." Kyn reassured himself.
With that, Kyn jumped in the driver's seat of the speeder and turned it on; all the while cringing hoping the noise would not cause anyone to notice. Although why would they? He was in a large parking garage and no one would assume he wasn't supposed to be driving it.
Soon he was zooming through the Coruscant skies with the wind blowing through his reddish-gold hair. He squinted as the wind hit his eyes and he looked for the safest spot to park his father's speeder. He knew the area he was about to meet Salue in would not be adequate if he wanted to return it in one piece.
Kyn slowed down and parked and hoped out of the driver's seat. He took a quick look around to make sure that the area wasn't too shady. He felt mildly comfortable and headed off on foot the rest of the way to the cantina where Salue would be waiting for him.
"Kyn…" a young voice cried. "Don't leave me."
Kyra had jumped from the backseat of the speeder and was racing towards Kyn. She was in her nighttime robe, ready for bed by the looks of her.
"What the…"
"I knew you were going to try to meet her tonight, I wanted to make sure you didn't get into any trouble." Kyra explained, now at Kyn's side.
Kyn looked at his wrist chrono and sighed. There wasn't enough time to take Kyra back home and even if he did, she would undoubtedly go straight to their parent's room and tell on him.
"I am just making a little bet, that's all. Nothing to worry about." Kyn said.
"I don't trust that woman." Kyra said.
"Neither do I but she is the reason you have your own holo in your room. Just don't say anything. After the race is over on Nar Shaddaa we will be on our way." Kyn said, hustling her to follow him.
"Nar Shaddaa?" Kyra asked inquisitively.
"It's being simulcast at a cantina here. You can place bets with the local bookie and collect your winnings, it's pretty convenient. You can bet on a lot of other things besides just the local stuff this way."
The siblings walked down the ally of the lower city of Coruscant. They got some strange looks, mostly because of the way Kyra was dressed not so much because of how young she was. There were other young children of all species out that night on Coruscant, getting into only the Force knows what.
The ally became dingier and darker as they proceeded. Finally a funky looking neon sign told Kyn that they had arrived at their destination. A bouncer outside stopped them at first but when Kyn handed over a few credits to him, he let them enter.
"Kyn!" Salue's voice greeted them as they entered.
Kyn reluctantly hugged Salue as she embraced him and kissed his earlobe.
"What the…" Salue said, noticing Kyra.
"That's what I said." Kyn answered. "She stowed away in the back of the speeder. Trying to keep me out of trouble."
Salue giggled, "That's what I'm here for, sweetie. But as long as you're here…"
Kyra seemed very frightened of the situation. The crowd around them was none to pleasant and she held onto Kyn's hand tightly as they made their way to their seats.
"I was afraid you would be late, so I made a bet for both of us," Salue said.
They sat down at a round table and Salue motioned to the bar tender for drinks.
"But you don't know who I wanted to wager on." Kyn pointed out.
"Don't trust me instincts, Kyn?" Salue frowned.
"I'm sure we'll do fine," Kyn admitted.
"That's more like it; positive attitude."
An underfed Twi'lek waitress made her way over and put down three shot glasses in front of them. The liquid in each glass was a bright purple with something that looked like glitter in it.
Kyn and Salue drank theirs quickly as Kyra picked hers up and inspected it.
"I don't think so," Kyn said, reaching out and taking his sisters glass, downing it in one.
Salue smiled as she watched the older brother being protective of his sister.
There were several holoscreens stationed around the cantina; all of them were tuned into the simulcast of the race on Nar Shaddaa.
"Who are we pulling for?" Kyn asked.
"Number 9," Salue smiled.
"Force!" Kyn exclaimed. "He's a 100:1 shot!"
"Just think how rich we will be after he wins. I'm telling you Kyn, I have a feeling. I know him."
"You know him? How?"
"Let's just say we used to… date." Salue laughed out loud.
Kyn knew what dating meant when it came to Salue and it was not something he wanted discussed in front of his innocent, little sister. Finally the race was on and all eyes were on the holos. People were sipping their drinks and pounding the tables, cheering on their racer.
"Come on 9!" Kyn yelled.
Salue stood up, crossing her arms looking tense. She bit her lip as the number 9 racer started falling far behind.
"Come on 9!" Kyra said in the same tone that her brother had.
Kyn shot a look to his sister and smirked, at least she was enjoying herself even if he was about to lose.
It was only seconds later when their wager went up in flames, literally. Number 9's engine ruptured and the speeder was on fire.
"Ah!" Kyn groaned.
"Damn," Salue punched the table.
"How much do I owe you?" Kyn asked, pulling out credits.
"I actually, um," Salue stammered.
Kyn looked at her; he knew this routine.
"Don't have enough to cover your own bet… That's fine, I guess. I'll cover you this last time."
Kyn's shoulder was then pushed abruptly and he looked up and saw a very angry Rodian staring at him.
- Show quoted text -
"Do I know you?" Kyn asked.
"I would hope so," he said through a translation device attached to his mouth.
"All you Rodian's look alike, sorry." Kyn said offensively.
"Maybe I should refresh your memory?" The Rodian replied, pulling out a blaster and digging it into Kyn's head.
"Trying to rob me again?" Kyn asked, acting as if he were not intimidated in the least.
"Just collecting," the Rodian shot back. "Your woman here wagered five-thousand credits… for each of you. That's ten-thousand total."
Kyn smiled, "I can add, thank you. I don't have that much on me. I'll have to bring it to you tomorrow."
"Or I can just follow you home and you can give it to me tonight." The Rodian replied.
"Impossible."
"Oh, don't say that." The Rodian said, cocking his head.
"Just give him the credits, Kyn." Salue begged.
Kyn pushed the blaster away from his head and looked at Salue.
"I can't believe I was dumb enough to fall for your act. Took you a year but you finally put one over on me. This will be quite a little score for you and your gang?" Kyn said, staring at her.
"My gang?" Salue replied.
"Yes, your gang. You are the one who tried to set us up on the ship; you are the one pulling the strings now. This Rodian does what you say, not the other way around. Isn't that right?"
Salue laughed evilly and began to stalk Kyn, walking around him in circles. "You should have figured that out before now. Either way, I still get your credits."
Salue pulled out a vibro-dagger and grabbed Kyra by the arm and held it to her neck.
"Let go of her," Kyn demanded. "I'll give you every credit I have. Just don't!"
"Ah, so your bravery diminishes when your sister is in danger. I just love chivalry in a man. Maybe that's why I liked you Kyn. Either that or you were so easy to take advantage of." Salue said.
Salue began to trace the blade around Kyra's neck, teasing death. While she was distracted Kyn reached into the belt of his pants and pulled out a blaster of his own.
Without warning Kyn shot the Rodian in the arm which sending him flying through a table and knocking him out. The blaster was now pointed directly at Salue; it was a pure hostage situation now.
"Are you quick enough to shoot me before I dice her, Stud?" Salue laughed, picking Kyra up with unforeseen strength and holding her up to head level.
"Put it down, Kyn." A soothing voice said.
Kyn glanced behind him, but no one was there.
"Put it down, I'm here now." The voice said, even more soothing than before. "She'll be okay. I won't let anything happen to her. I promise."
Kyn couldn't explain it, but he tossed the blaster on the ground. "Now let her go and we will go get your credits."
"Just to make sure you know I mean business," Salue said, as she started to carve a giant gash in Kyra's forearm with the blade.
"No!" Kyn yelled.
For a second it was as though the entire cantina stood still. Everyone was watching the interaction but it was as if they had been frozen. Then everything speeded up again, much faster than normal. Salue had been flung backwards and crashed against the wall, dazing her. Kyra had fallen into the arms of a cloaked stranger.
"Zafii!" Kyra yelled, looking into the eyes of the hooded figure.
"Let's go!" Zafii demanded of Kyn and he did not argue.
The three of them were now running down the dingy ally back towards Kyn's speeder.
"This way," Zafii said, pointing to her own transport.
"I have to get my father's speeder. He'll kill me." Kyn explained.
"No, that vile woman and her Rodian slave will kill you." Zafii reminded him.
It was such a rush. Zafii had been thrust back into their life just like that. Kyn and Kyra had not seen her for over a year and now here she was, saving their skin.
"You take Kyra then," Kyn said. "I'll meet you back at our apartment complex."
Kyn knew Zafii wanted to argue with him but there was no time and she agreed to his request. He heard his sister call out his name as the two girls took off without him.
"There he is!" Salue yelled.
Kyn had just got his speeder in the air when he felt two blaster bolts fly by his ear. He jerked the steering mechanism and almost flew into oncoming traffic as he gained altitude.
He could see Zafii and Kyra several kilometers in front of him as they neared the apartment complex. He breathed a sigh of relief only to gasp when he saw their speeder go out of control as it began to enter the garage of the complex.
"Zafii!" Kyn yelled. "Kyra!"
He could see sparks flying in the air as he flew in behind them into the garage. Their speeder was still mainly intact but something had happened to cause them to crash.
Kyn parked and ran on foot towards them. When he approached he saw that Kyra was conscious but bleeding from her forehead.
"Are you okay?" Kyn asked, picking her up and removing her from the speeder.
"Zafii," Kyra cried. "She just passed out for no reason. I grabbed a hold of the steering wheel and tried to save us."
Kyn put her down and rushed to Zafii's aide now. She was unconscious, but alive.
"Did someone shoot at her?" Kyn asked.
"No, nothing like that."
"Zafii, wake up!" Kyn shook her, then realizing it wasn't a good idea.
He picked her up with a little more effort than he had shown for Kyra and drug her away from the flaming speeder.
"Get away from it, it might explode." Kyn instructed.
Kyra ran to her brother's side as he began to check for a pulse on Zafii.
"Is she… is she okay?"
"Yeah, I think she just got knocked out from the crash." Kyn said.
"No, I told you. She passed out before." Kyra retorted.
Kyn shook off her words and picked Zafii up into his arms. Her dead weight was tremendously heavy enough though she was not that big.
"We have to get her up stairs." Kyn said. "Go ahead of me and open the doors."
Kyra did as her big brother said and they rushed their Jedi friend up to their apartment.