The space port was nothing more than a flat concrete expanse surrounded by wire fence. A fence which was cut and fixed regularly in a long-standing cat and mouse game between enterprising smugglers and the local law enforcement playing customs check. As expected two officers in ill-fitting gray uniforms stood guard. Already grasping the prepared bribe to not be stopped the gray man paused. The gate behind the guards was closed.
Having slowed before rounding the final corner he easily stepped back into the side street. Brought to a stop by his raised hand the girl collapsed against the alley wall. Small frame shaken by her lungs desperate fight for oxygen as the exertion caught up with her. Mustering her with concern the gray man's gaze left his charge as the high pitched whine of an approaching speeder reached his ears.
Racing down the street toward the space port the battered rusty vehicle was dangerously overloaded. Hovering just centimeters above the ground. Crammed into it were the gang members from the bar. Eyes following them to the gate the gray man noted the absence of surprise from the guards. There was no mystery how they knew which of the four space ports held his ship.
Resigned he turned to the girl, "They're already here."
For a moment her hectic breathing grew still. Stolen by the inevitability of fate closing in around her. When it continued there was a new urgency to it. Yet despite the fear clouding her eyes that glimmer of determination remained.
"I'll take care of them." He pulled the blast pistol from his belt disengaging the safety. "Go back down the alley and wait there until I call for you." Putting the weapon into her small hands he gently turned her back to where they had come from. If he was right in his estimation of the gang leader then he wouldn't need the pistol. If he was wrong then he would need both hands free anyway. But most importantly it would give the girl a chance should someone stumble over her while he was occupied with the gang.
Stepping into the open he walked towards the gate. There the gang had already dismounted. Their leader was agitatedly speaking to the two guards. Raising his voice the gray man called out, "You should not have come."
As one the gang whirled around raising their weapons. But seeing his lowered arms and empty hands none of them fired. He took note of the ones who had reacted first.
"YOU!" Shouted the espirion as he barreled towards him heavy cloak trailing behind. "Where is the girl? Give her to me and you'll still be able to walk after we're done!" Ignoring the threat the gray man watched as the rest of the gang split to the left and right. Ensuring they wouldn't hit their leader should they need to shoot. The guards remained at the gate content in showing false pity as the scene unfolded before them.
Starring into the murky yellow of the espirion's eyes the gray man stated calmly, "You can still walk away, Cax. Forget the girl and never again try to meddle with forces you don't understand." It was a clear provocation and a veiled warning. A warning which fell on deaf ears as the espirion only laughed in response. But then he had expected it to. All what the gang leader was seeing was an old man without a weapon. An old man which had punched him before his gang and "stolen" something from him. Even if not for his bruised ego Cax needed this fight or else he would lose his authority. Resigned the gray man waited for his answer.
"You're to funny gramps," shaking his head the espirion pulled the inquisitor lightsaber from his cloak, "but every clown must know that the show ends at some point." A red blade burst from the grip in his hand accompanied by the angry hiss of barely contained plasma. The sound stabilizing into an rapid drone when it stopped growing at almost a meter. Smirking he held the weapon before his chest leveling it at the gray man. "So, the girl or your legs."
He didn't answer having focused his undivided attention on the lightsaber as soon as it appeared. An action he was sure would look to the espirion like he had frozen in fear. Having not exerted his will in a long time it took him a second to reach for the weapon. Brushing against it his mind felt no resistance. Its wielder lacking talent as well as training to guard it. Using the gesture of closing his fist to focus his intent he pressed down on the weapon. Below his immaterial grip a button descended.
Again the angry hiss of plasma shooting forth disturbed the night. Looking down the espirion's eyes widened in horror. A second blade had extended from the opposite side of the saber's grip. Right into his torso. Around them the gang members cried out for their leader some immediately jumping into action.
The gray man met them with a charge. Pulled by his mind the lightsaber was ripped from the esipirion's grip into his waiting hand. Caught of guard the gang members rushing to their leader's aid faltered. Running past them he simply swept the saber from side to side taking an arm from one and a leg from the other.
One of the other faster gang members started shooting at him. Aim fouled by adrenaline the gray man easily sidestepped the first bolt. Letting the lower blade collapse back into the hilt he continued his advance. The gangster fired again and again. Expression gripped by sheer terror as each shot was deflected away by another precise twitch of the demonically red glowing blade. Fully closing the distance the gray man let the lightsaber dart forward destroying their heart.
Raising the blade back to the guard position he pivoted towards the others. Dead body dropping behind him. Frozen the gang members just stared with trembling weapons. The gray man took a step towards them shattering the silence. Crying out in fear they opened fire. Not deterred the gray man continued. Walking right through the deluge of blaster bolts. Lightsaber darting out in short precise arcs. Reflecting just the shots which might hit him. Which were not many as his opponents were panicked untrained thugs.
They broke when another two were cut down. Fleeing every which way desperate to survive. Some dropping their weapons in their haste to get away. Seeing them retreat he paused. They could doubtlessly describe him. Had seen him fight and probably knew his ship. Instincts honed over years of flight spurred him on to deal with the witnesses. To ensure the bloodhounds wouldn't find him. Yet he just watched them hands stayed by a slowly crystallizing realization. Paying them no more mind than the two guards who had abandoned their post in terror.
Until he saw one of the fleeing figures turn sharply. Running for safety in one of the side streets. Breaking into a sprint he raced after the lavender woman. By his estimate he would reach her just after she entered the side street. There was little chance she would even made it halfway down. Yet even little was to much a risk. He threw his hand forward mind reaching for the fleeing women. Feeling the connection snap into place he closed his fingers ready to pull back.
The sharp twang of a blaster pistol drowned out their hammering footsteps. Instinctively raising the lightsaber his mind's grip on the fleeing women slipped. Not that it mattered as the blaster bolt had clipped her side. Impact throwing of her step she half turned before hitting the ground. Either to surprised or in pain to land properly.
Slowing down the gray man didn't pay much attention to the screaming women. Sowing only to jab the blade into the pistol which had hit the ground beside her. In an instant the weapon flashed to red hot. Exploding into half molten pieces as the energy cell within ignited.
Few could ignore another being when they were in obvious pain. Even more so if one was responsible for it. For that one had to be either born with a cold heart or have it extinguished by the normalcy of it. The blond girl standing just inside the side street clearly lacked either trait to shield herself from the reality before her.
Still holding the blaster pistol she starred at the curled up women sobbing in pain on the ground. Eyes widened so far their pale blue had almost entirely been swallowed by the darkness of her pupils. Her healthy pale skin turning ashen. The color draining from it as he watched.
Extinguishing the lightsaber he slowly approached her. Deliberately blocking her view of the crying women. Kneeling down he gently took her hands. Clammy fingers offering no resistance as he pried the pistol from them. Despite the pulse hammering frantic beneath the surface her skin was terribly cold. Cradling her hands he spoke softly, "It's okay. You are okay. It's safe now."
A jolt ran through her entire body. "I-I I didn't meant- I just- I'm sorry. I" She apologized chocking the words out between quicker and quicker breaths.
Knowing shock for was it was he squeezed her hands to stop her. Repeating, "It's okay. You're safe now. You are okay." Giving his words time to sink in he continued, "We need to get to my ship. Is it okay if I carry you?"
At first it seemed like she hadn't heard him. Then she jerkily nodded. Wide eyes still starring through him.
Slowly pulling her close he hefted her up against his shoulder. There was a sharp tug as she grasped his clothes. Tightly clinging to him she burrowed her head in his shoulder. It was a purely instinctive reaction. To seek comfort when in distress. Yet the girl clamped down on every sniffling sob which escaped her. As if afraid of being heard.
With the ease of decade long experience the gray man kept his body relaxed. Even if the realization angrily clawed at his insides. Leaving the alley he spotted the theelin. Alara, he recalled. Desperate to flee she was crawling away. One leg uselessly dragging behind her. While quite painful it looked like the wound wasn't deadly.
Remembering her behavior in the bar his steps slowed. It would only take a moment to ensure she could never touch a child again. As if in response to his contemplation the shaking of his charge intensified. Giving the lavender woman a last look he turned back towards the space port.
Minutes later displaced air howled in protest as a small freighter departed towards distant stars.