This is the first of the three new chapters everybody! I hope you enjoy it. Let me tell you now, I definitely enjoyed writing it!
"Who could possibly get you off world? I thought your Uncle had banned all space travel." Rex asked, knowing full well how hard it was how to get off a planet when the owners didn't want you to leave. What happened at The Citadel was still quite fresh.
"He had," Giac confirmed, shifting in his seat as he juggled his glass of old scotch. He sent a lopsided grin Rex's way, before he continued to explain. "Which is why only a smuggler could get us off world. After all, they break the law all the time and are very good at finding loop holes in the framework."
"A smuggler? Seriously?" Anakin's incredulous voice diverted Giac's attention, Anakin's doubtful expression making the Selencian King smirk knowingly.
"Not just any smuggler, Anakin. This one was a certain male Baslisk." Giac hinted, causing Anakin to frown at first. However, confusion then turned to realization, which morphed again into evident shock.
"No way." Anakin breathed, eyes wide. Giac just grinned wickedly.
Arcadia Space Port, Selencia, Five days after the Grey Purge
"Why are we here?" Thirteen-year-old Giac whispered, keeping his voice low as he followed Risa's father round crates and boxes, Obi-Wan trailing behind him. "I mean, I know you want to help get us off world, but do you really think the best way to do that is to break into the biggest space port in the centre of the fri'ggin capitol? Which, may I add, is the most heavily guarded and populated space port on the entire planet!" Giac hissed angrily, really not understanding the man's logic.
"Your uncle will assume you won't come back to the capitol but instead try and make your way as far south as you can before stealing a ship from one of the main space ports there. He won't expect you to come back here." Risa's father explained, though it didn't seem to reassure Giac.
"Oh, that's just great then. We have the element of surprise on our side to help us fight the hundreds of guards, patrols and security that is bound to shoot our ship down when we try to leave." Risa's father could practically see the sarcasm dripping off Giac's words because it was that strong, and not for the first time, he silently wondered which parent he'd learnt it from. Force knew the kid had skill to put that much sarcasm in his voice.
"Your uncle has ordered all off-worlders to leave except for the Zygerrians. The smuggler I know is an off-worlder who regularly visits the capitol when on gun runs. If he's leaving, he'll be here."
"Oh that's even better. Maybe the smuggler will hand us over to our uncle before we get shot at!" Giac joyfully exclaimed, still whispering as they made their way slowly to the ships that were docked at the port. His sarcasm seemed to increase with every word he said.
"Can't you be a bit more positive, Giac?" Obi-Wan hissed from behind him, sending his older brother a glare.
"Oh, sorry. I'll try again. How about I'm positive we are going to get killed." Giac cheekily hissed back.
"That's not what I meant." Obi-Wan growled, making Risa's father stop in his tracks. He closed his eyes, desperately praying to the force that they didn't start arguing. Again
"You said be more positive, so this is me being positive." Damn it. Risa's father glared with a passion into the distance, his patience tearing at the seams.
"Don't you trust him?"
"Oh I trust him – it's his terrible plans and smuggler friend I don't trust." Risa's father spun round, sending both of them a a look that shut them up instantly. He silently thanked the force he had two daughters and not two sons.
"Both of you be quiet. You're going to get us killed if you're both giving away our location." Risa's father demanded, making the two boys huff but obey all the same. "Keep low and stay here. Don't. Move. Understand?" He added, looking for confirmation that they had heard him.
"Where are you going?" Obi-Wan asked before Giac could, frowning up at Risa's father.
"To find the smuggler that's going to get you off-world." Giac opened his mouth to protest, but Risa's father quickly caught him. "Not. A. Word." Giac glared at the former Grey Jedi as he left, who darted out from behind the crates towards the huge ships that stood in the vast hanger up ahead.
"Well, there goes our bodyguard." Giac commented, making Obi-Wan send him another glare.
"What?" Obi-Wan rolled his eyes at Giac's comment, moving to lean on one of the crates. Giac just shrugged and would have made a move to join his younger brother, but a voice interrupted him before he got the chance.
"Well, well: what do we have here?" Both Obi-Wan and Giac spun round at the sound of a third, unknown voice. When they came face to face with a tall pale-skinned Nodian, clad in combat gear, Giac instantly reached for his training saber, but the bounty hunter was two quick.
"Pick that off yar' belt kid, and I'll put a blaster bolt through ya'." The Nodian warned, aiming his blaster at Giac. The boy instantly moved his hand away from his lightsaber, though he never took his eyes off the blaster. Obi-Wan stood nervously at Giac's side, also eyeing the blaster with varying degrees of caution and fear.
"We don't want a fight. There's nothing you can take from us." Giac raised his hands in an effort to show peace, but the Nodian was having none of it.
"I don't want your stuff kid. I want you. After all, you two are those renegade princes, are you not? Cause if ya are, I heard yar' fetching a high price, dead or alive." The smuggler grinned maliciously, just as the sound of his blaster powering up echoed towards the two brothers ears. When Giac gulped, the smuggler only grinned wider.
"We don't know what you're talking about." Giac stated calmly, though his eyes never wavered from the blaster. The Nodian cocked his head to the side, as if considering Giac's words before he replied.
"Ya' see, that sounds lot like a lie, kid. Plus, people tend to say anythin' when a blaster's pointed at their 'ead." The Nodian took a step forward, just as Giac and Obi-Wan mirrored him, both taking a step back as he advanced. It made the Nodian snarl in anger.
In fact, both boys were afraid the smuggler would shoot them then and there, but something happened that stopped the Nodian from doing anything else. The sound of another blaster powering up filled the air, one, which was pointed directly at the Nodian's head.
"Lower your weapon Bengo." The holder of the blaster ordered, who was a large, male Baslisk clad in combat gear, with other blasters strapped to his waist ready for if he wanted to use all four arms. The Baslisk's eyes were narrowed, his voice hard, making his intentions perfectly clear.
"Don't you know who these kids are Dex?" The smuggler asked, although he did lower his weapon, which Giac couldn't help but noticing. The Baslisk did not reply, eyes narrowing further. It was then that Risa's father came into view just behind the Baslisk, making no attemps to hide the lightsaber that was strapped to his belt. Now it was the Nodian's turn to gulp in fear.
"Get out of here, Bengo, or I put a blaster bolt through your skull." The Baslisk threatened, gesturing with his blaster for the smuggler to start moving. After a few moments of tense silence, the Nodian did just that, even though he sent the Baslisk a few glares on the way out.
"Fine, keep the scoundrels. Probably would cause me more trouble than they're worth anyway." The smuggler muttered, though he continued to walk away. When he was gone, the Baslisk lowered his weapon, before turning to Risa's father.
"If we're going to leave, I'll need to leave now. Bengo is a traitorous bastard – can't trust him for anything. He'll alert the authorities that they're here in hopes of getting a reward."
"You're right. Staying here for long wouldn't be wise." Risa's father agreed, nodding his head. It was then that Giac made himself known.
"Sorry, can we just wait a second? I mean, who in the Sith Hells are you?" Giac gestured to the Baslisk, who seemed to raise an eyebrow.
"Giac!" Obi-Wan hissed, elbowing his older brother in the side. Giac let out a yelp of pain before turning to his brother in an instant.
"What?"
"You could have said thank you! He just saved our life!" Obi-Wan stage whispered, gesturing to the Baslisk.
"We were doing fine!" Giac indignantly protested.
"What is wrong with you? Do you have any self-preservation instincts at all?" Obi-Wan looked angry now, his voice rising with his mood.
"Of course I do." Giac frowned, offended by the comment. Obi-Wan just raised an eyebrow, mimicing one of his mother's infamous looks.
"Really? You sure about that?" He asked, his tone mocking while Giac continued to glare.
"Look, I don't know what you're trying to say but I can tell you now, you can be just as bad as me."
"At least I know getting shot at isn't a good idea!"
"Yeah, but you watch. I bet you'll be just like me when you're older." Giac defended after a few seconds. Obi-Wan just stared at his brother for a really long time.
"You do realize you just insulted yourself at the same time you insulted me, right?" Obi-Wan pointed out. Giac opened his mouth to protest when he realized that Obi-Wan was right. Of course, the Baslisk realized at the same time Giac did and instantly roared with laughter.
"I like ya', kid!" The Baslisk ruffled Obi-Wan's hair with one of his huge hands, still laughing uncontrollably. Obi-Wan smiled up at the Baslisk, who towered above him because of his young age. "However, can't say the same for ya' brother. At least, not yet." The Baslisk sent Giac a warm smile, before offering one of his huge hands out for Giac to shake. "Dexter Jettster is ma' name, but everyone calls me Dex." Giac's eyes widened a little, remembering his friend Dexter who he had no idea if he was alive or not. Grief clung to his heart and it must have shown in his eyes, for Dex frowned a little when Giac shook his hand.
"I-It's a pleasure to meet you sir." Giac stammered at first but soon recovered. "Thank you for dealing with that other smuggler." Giac added, silently hoping Dex would take the misdirection for what it was. He really wanted to change the topic now, to think of something else. He didn't want to think about Dexter any longer, or Mulak or even-
…Or even them.
"You're welcome, kid. Well, whayda you know, they do teach ya' manners don't they?" Dex leaned back, placing two of his hands on his hips, while the other two hung at his sides. He grinned down at the two boys, who tried to smile back, if not half-heartedly. It seemed the memories were still far too fresh.
"Just because I said thank you doesn't mean I trust you. Trust has to be earned, and you haven't earned that trust yet. So tell me, why would you help us?" Giac crossed his arms
"I may be a smuggler but I have my own code that I stick by. I have a rule against hurting kids, always have." "I ain't a monster and I sure as hell don't like bullies."
"That good enough for you, your highness?" Obi-Wan mocked, making Giac glare down at his younger brother.
"Good, because like it or not, you need to leave now. We've got company." Risa's father nodded his head to the hanger entrance where the Nodian smuggler, Bengo, was talking to two Selencian guards.
The armor of the guards was made up of dark blacks and deep, blood reds, their elegant, rounded t-visor helmets concealing their faces, which no doubt harbored glowing sickly-yellow eyes. When Bengo pointed over to the four of them, the guards instantly looked in the direction the smuggler pointed too, right to Giac and Obi-Wan. Upon seeing the two fugitive princes, the guards instantly started to advance, their hands reaching towards their darksabers and blasters.
"Yeah, definitely our queue to leave." Dex commented, already starting to move, two of his hands reaching for his blasters. "Come on, get movin'." He ordered, nudging for Giac and Obi-Wan to do as they were told. The two boys did, slowly breaking into a run as they headed towards Dex's ship. Risa's father followed, running beside Dex as they made their way to the smuggler's ship, a giant red and white freighter that loomed over most of the other ships.
Dex lifted one of his right arms as they ran, bringing his com unit closer to his face so he could speak into it. "Kenn, lower the ramp, we're coming aboard!" He ordered, a voice immediately answering from the other end of the com.
"Sure thing, boss."
The ship's ramp began to lower seconds later, the engines started to power up at the same time. The four of them sprinted for the ship, Obi-Wan and Giac running up the ramp and into the ship without a second thought. Behind them, Dex raised his blasters, firing at the dark-clad Selencian guards that were now in full pursuit. When the bombardment of blaster bolts flew past them, the Selencian guards ran for cover, shouting over the blasterfire for reinforcements into their coms. As blaster fire was returned by the reinforcements that filed into the hanger, Risa's father stayed next to Dex, his white lightstaff igniting and deflecting every blaster bolt that came their way.
The barrage of bolts became to much though, and within seconds both Dex and Risa's father ducked behind some crates that stood near the ship, both panting for breath. Bolts flew over their heads, bouncing off the ship and mechanic equipment that was around them.
"Dex get to the ship! I'll hold them off while you get the boys out of here!" Risa's father yelled over the blaster fire, crouching down behind the crates so he wouldn't get shot.
"I ain't leaving you here, Rackhoff!" Dex shouted back, his face angry. However, it soon softened, his lips curling up into a crazy grin. "You still owe me for the last time, ya' old laserbrain!"
"You and I remember our meetings much differently. I thought you owed me!" Risa's father grinned back, both men laughing even in their predicament. Dex grasped the old Grey Jedi's forearm, Risa's father doing the same back.
"Good luck, Rackhoff."
"Good luck to you too, Dex. Keep the boy's safe and give Obi-Wan this." Risa's father pulled a slim, circular device out from the folds of his cloak, Selencian runes etched into metal. "Tell him to activate it when you get to The Gateway."
"Why the kid?" Dex asked, dodging a bolt that flew past, way too close for comfort. His height was making it hard to stay hidden. Time was running out.
"Our technology only responds to Selencian DNA. You won't be able to activate it." Risa's father explained, placing it in Dex's open hand. "It'll get you offworld." Dex closed his large fist over the object, looking up at Risa's father.
"I will look after your princes, Rackhoff." He promised, with determination, making his old friend smile.
"I trust you on that, Dex. Just try not to turn them into smugglers like you." Risa's father joked, grinning again.
"I'll try my best." Dex smiled, nodding in respect. Risa's father nodded back, igniting his lightstaff once again.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Ready." Dex confirmed.
Risa's father immediately leaped over the crates, deflecting the bolts and engaging in duels with the Endarkened soldiers while Dex sprinted to the ship. When made it to the ramp, Dex raised his arm to speak into the com.
"Raise the ramp, Kenn! Get us out of here!"
"Already on it boss!" Came crackled reply, the connection buffering. The ramp instantly began to raise again, the ship taking off. Dex only had seconds to catch a glimpse of Risa's father still fighting before the gap closed for good.
Obi-Wan watched Dex's pilot, Kenn, who was a scruffy looking Duros, all blue skin and red eyes, struggle with the ship's controls as the engines roared to life. As it became airborne, turning to the exit, Obi-Wan could see many Selencian guards were sent diving for cover as the ship nearly smashed them to pieces. Giac had already ran off to operate the guns for Kenn, and Obi-Wan guessed his brother must have finally worked out the controls, for seconds later blaster bolts were sent after the Selencian guards that still stood, showering down on them mercilessly. Obi-Wan gathered Giac was pissed about Risa's father staying behind.
"Hold on kid, it's gonna be a tight squeeze!" Kenn yelled, the ship lurching forward as it gathered speed. Obi-Wan followed Kenn's worried gaze to the giant hanger doors that already beginning to close. Tight squeeze indeed.
Obi-Wan instantly strapped himself into the nearest chair, eyes never leaving the gap they were supposed to get through, a gap that was quickly getting smaller.
"Hold on!" Kenn ordered with clenched teeth, yanking the controls to the side so that the ship turned so it was flying on its side, making it slim enough to get through the gap. Obi-Wan held onto the console for dear life as gravity made him slip sideways, the speed doing no favors of calming his churning stomach. He didn't realize he was holding his breath until it was over.
The ship flew through the gap just in time, the sides scraping the doors as it sped past. Then they were out, the Selencian sky overhead and the city below them. Kenn instantly righted the ship so it was level again, already turning the ship to the sky. Dex then arrived through the doors, his blasters holstered on his belt.
"We home free yet, Kenn?" Dex asked, coming to stand at Kenn's side. He looked out the glass at the sky, clouds shrouding their vision.
"Not yet boss. We haven't got past The Gateway yet." Kenn pressed a few buttons as he spoke, his concentration not wavering. He had a fair point too, as the Gateway was the only way in and out of Selencia. Planetary shields always surrounded the planet and The Gateway was the only place where the shields were lowered to allow ships to pass through. It basically was a massive hole in the shields guarded by a huge sky station equipped with turrets and star fighters that made it virtually impossible to get off the planet if the authorities were trying to stop you. On occasion, the hole could even be closed sealing the exit. Their only hope was that surprise was on their side, and they could jump to hyperspace before they were shot down. Giac certainly had argued about the insanity of the plan earlier and Obi-Wan was now finding himself losing faith too. They were so going to die.
"As soon as we get through, Kenn, jump to hyperspace." Dex ordered, the Duros nodding in confirmation. Dex then turned to Obi-Wan, as if noticing for the first time. "Where's your brother?"
"Operating the guns." Obi-Wan quickly answered.
"Right, I'll go join him. We're gonna need all the firepower we've got." Dex turned to leave before stopping mid-step, spinning round to face Obi-Wan again. "Right, almost forgot. Catch!" Dex threw something at Obi-Wan and without thinking, Obi-Wan caught it instinctively. When he held it out to look at it, he instantly recognized the flat disc shape.
"Where'd yo get this?" Obi-Wan eagerly asked, eyes widening.
"From Rackhoff. Said you'd be able to activate it. Why, what is it?"
"Its a military-grade Selencian Shockwave disc. Once activated, it'll fry any technology in a five mile radius. I think its been modified to only work on Selencian tech." Obi-Wan explained, examining the device. He rubbed his thumb across the runes that were etched into the metal, his touch making the runes glow a dazzling silver.
All Selencian tech could only be activated by the natives, which only made the tech more unique. Any smugglers who tried to sell on the tech could never get a high price for it, even if it was some kind of mega weapon, as no one could use the tech. Many people had tried to change the frequency on the DNA recognition, but the programming was practically incorruptible.
Kenn risked a glance at the device, taking his eyes off the controls for a second as they widened in shock. "That's an SSD-4? Man, I thought those things would be huge - it's barely bigger than your hand!"
"If you think this is cool, wait till you see the Selencian Morph Armor." Obi-Wan grinned at Kenn, waving the device at him. Dex only shook his head, a small smile on his face.
"That nerf herder. I should have know he'd have a trick up his sleeve." Dex commented, still smiling as he made his way out the cockpit. "Activate it when we get close to The Gateway, Obi-Wan. With any luck, this will be easy." Kenn snorted in response to Dex's comment, shaking his head.
"Yeah, right. With our luck the bloody device won't activate." He muttered mutinously, pressing buttons a lot more aggressively than before. The clouds were beginning to dissipate, their altitude increasing by the minute. Obi-Wan grasped the device tighter as they waited for The Gateway to come into view, his body waiting for hell to break loose.
Giac kept his eyes on the sky, his knuckles white from the amount of strength he was using to hold the ship gun controls. Dex had recently arrived to operate the other guns on the ship's side, but Giac had ignored him. The baslisk hadn't said a word either, somehow sensing that the Selencian Prince knew what he was doing. More or less any way.
Sirens wailed suddenly, lights flashing on Giac's controls. Star fighters were in pursuit of the ship, obviously sent to shoot them down. The Gateway came into view at almost the same instant, and a second after that the ship spun in a acrobatic move to avoid the energy blasts that were aimed at them.
Giac immediately leapt into action and returned fire, his force sensitivity giving him an advantage compared to Dex. He rarely used the targeting system, relying on instinct alone to shoot the fighters out the sky. Even at a young age, his aim meant he rarely missed, fighters engulfing in flames as soon as he got a critical hit. In fact, Giac soon found himself grinning, whoops of excitement escaping his lips at every successful shot.
Now if only he was flying as well, then he could really enjoy himself.
Of course, it only got stressful when the fighters just kept coming, swarming after them. The turrets on the ever approaching Gateway became a problem too, and before Giac knew it he was cursing as well as celebrating every now and then. They only had to get a little closer...NOW!
"YES!" Giac fist pumped the air as the electrical shockwave from the device spread through the 5 mile raduis, completely frying the Selencian tech. The fighters dropped like dead weights, the guns and engines shutting down, the ships plummeting to ground far below. The turrets on the The Gateway were disabled, obliterating the last defense available, as well as shutting the Gateway itself down, stopping them from closing the shields and preventing their escape.
Giac leaned into his chair in relief as he heard heard Dex scream his excitement down the corridor. He watched as the ship flew through the Gateway at top speed, breaking out of Selencia's atmosphere. Seconds later, they jumped into hyperspace.
Shakai Kenobi strode into the operator's bridge of Arcadia Space Port, guards lowering to their knees as he passed. Holographic screens surrounded him on all sides when he stopped in the centre of the room, all of them showing the escape of the two princes from different camera angles. Shakai's hands clenched at his sides at the sight, his lips twisting into a crooked snarl.
"How exactly did they escape?" He growled, addressing the two Selencian guards that stood awkwardly to the side. The dark King didn't even look at them, his yellow eyes solely trained on the images the holograms showed.
"The had help sire. They took us by surprise." One guard managed to explain, gaining enough courage to speak. The poor guard exchanged a glance with his comrade when Shakai didn't respond, instead staying unnaturally still.
Suddenly, the Selencian guard that had spoken began to scream, his hands going to his head in excruciating pain as his helmet was crushed by the force, his head still in it. Shakai then turned around just as the guard fell to the ground, still screaming in agony. Still, Shakai said nothing, but his left hand, curled up and clenched in a gnarled shape as it mirrored the force's action, spoke for itself.
Then the screams stopped.
The Selencian guard looked down at his dead comrade in horror, his skull completely crushed by the dented helmet. When he looked back up to Shakai, the dark King's face was still set in a barbaric snarl.
"Who helped them?" Shakai spat, his yellow eyes flashing. The guard gulped behind his helmet, quickly shuffling over to the screen controls.
"It was a Grey, sire. Expertly trained, sire." The guard pressed a few buttons, pulling up a video of the Grey Jedi deflecting the blaster bolts of the guards, as well chopping them to pieces when they got too close. His skill was impressive, that of a master almost definitely, and his hood was up, obscuring his face but that didn't matter. Within seconds the guard had the image zoomed in on, revealing the Grey Jedi's face in perfect clarity.
Shakai leaned in, his eyes narrowing on the man's face. The Selencian guard let out a breath he was holding, Shakai's snarl disappearing, only to be replaced by a deep frown.
"Have you had a match yet?" Shakai asked, referring to the facial recognition system.
"Not yet, sire. We believe the Grey may have been retired, which would make sense for why he survived the Purge. His identity make take longer to acquire." The guard explained nervously, waiting for the King's response.
"Have his identity found by dawn. I want the man dead by sunset, along with any of his family. I want him made an example of." Shakai ordered, turning to leave. He didn't wait for the guard to answer - the man knew what would happen if he failed.