11 / Alone
Unknown
The lone Z-95 was deep into hyperspace by the time alarms began to blare inside the cockpit. Kata was suddenly jolted from her chaotic thoughts and she sat forward to look at the console, her eyes widening in instant panic when she saw what was happening.
"The hyperdrive's failing!" She exclaimed.
"boo-woow?!"
"I don't know, but I have to drop out of hyperspace now before we get ripped to shreds!"
Kata pulled the lever and they were thrown from hyperspace travel directly into the atmosphere of a planet. Strong wind currents immediately began to buffet the ship and she grabbed hold of the controls, trying to keep it steady. Systems began failing faster than she could register and she killed the engines, allowing the ship to freefall through several layers of cloud until she could see the ground rapidly approaching. When her meter read one thousand feet, she restarted the sublight engines and pulled back on the yoke, levelling the ship out as much as she could, preparing to crash it into the planet's surface.
"Brace yourself, BD!"
"bwooo!"
They hit the ground hard, the ship's landing gear immediately breaking off, the force throwing both Kata and BD-1 forward and she threw her arm in front of her eyes to protect them as the blast shield shattered. They skidded for hundreds of metres, the metal of the ship screeching against the rocky floor below, before finally slamming into a ditch and coming to an abrupt stop. Kata groaned in pain, glad she had been wearing her harness, but definitely feeling like she had whiplash after that.
"BD?"
"boo-loop."
The droid popped his head up from between her legs, having been thrown forward into the footwell, looking a bit disoriented.
"You ok?"
"bwoow, boop-bweep?"
"Yeah, I'm good. Let's get outta here."
Kata pressed the button to draw back the blast shield, but nothing happened. The ship was completely fried and she could see smoke and flames rising to her right. She held her hand up and used the Force to push what was left of the shield straight off the ship, hearing it land to the right somewhere. She unbuckled her harness and grabbed the backpack that was still stashed at her feet.
"Come on."
She held out her arm for BD-1 to climb up and pulled herself up and out of the cockpit. She looked around to make sure there were no threats nearby before throwing her backpack overboard first and hauling herself over the edge to the ground below. The first thing she registered was how sore she was from head to toe; the second thing was the cold. She grabbed her bag and stumbled a bit, her legs feeling wobbly, as she walked away from the ship, just in case it decided to blow up. Once she was at a safe distance, she turned back and examined the wreckage and immediately knew there was no way that ship was flying again. She looked around herself and could see nothing but barren wasteland for miles in every direction.
"Well, looks like we've managed to crash in the middle of nowhere."
"boo-loop."
"I suppose there are worse places to be," She mused, turning to BD-1. "Do you know where we are?"
The droid shook his head and she nodded in acknowledgement.
"Well, we'll figure it out," She looked up at the sky. "Looks like we might be a bit closer to the core than we were, so that's something, I guess. We're definitely not on Alderaan, though."
"wzzrt woop!"
Kata's head whipped towards him, alarmed.
"Blood? Where?"
She started to inspect herself for a wound and found the red patches pooling on her right sleeve. She pulled it up, wincing as it scraped at the sizeable cuts on her forearm, thick globules of blood oozing from them. She realised it must have happened when the blast shield shattered, as she could see tiny fragments of glass on her sleeve and her skin.
"Dank farrick... I didn't even feel it."
She supposed the adrenaline had masked the pain, but she could certainly feel it now.
"boo-doop!"
The droid scurried back toward the ship and Kata stepped forward in concern.
"BD-1, be careful, that thing could blow at any second!" She warned.
"bwoow!"
He disappeared into the ruined cockpit and emerged a few seconds later carrying something on his head which he managed to balance expertly all the way back to her. She reached down and took it, realising it was the trauma kit.
"Oh, thanks, buddy." She praised.
"bweep."
She turned and made her way over to a small rock nearby and sat down on it, dropping her bag on the ground and opening the kit. BD-1 stood by her feet as she carefully inspected her arm for any glass sticking out, thankfully not finding any lodged in there. She cleaned the blood away and applied bacta to the cuts, hissing as it seeped into them and stung terribly.
"boo-woo-woo-woop?"
"Don't worry, I'll live." She assured him.
She wrapped a bandage around her wound and pulled her sleeve back down to cover it, doing her best to get the blood out. As she was setting the trauma kit on the ground, the ship's fuel tank finally decided to explode. She ducked with a surprised yelp, covering herself, and BD-1 hid behind one of her legs. Luckily very little debris flew in their direction, and they were far enough away to be safe from the explosion itself. Kata panted as she looked up to see the ship even more on fire than before.
"Blast..." She swore. "Well, we're definitely not flying outta here in that."
"bzzrrt."
As she sat and watched the ship burn, her mind finally started to catch up with her body. Her thoughts began to spiral, dwelling on Tanalorr, on the invasion, on Cal and Teelo and Merrin and Greez. She saw the faces of her fellow Padawans who had fallen in battle. She saw Nells and Porro. She saw the Younglings and Master Gidun and Vader. She saw Maven and it made her burn inside. Everything had happened so fast it was all a blur; she couldn't make sense of any of it. Her face fell as she became lost in the painful memories. She sighed deeply and buried her face in her hands, despair threatening to overtake her. But she had no more tears left to cry, exhausted as she was in every sense. She gripped her head like that was the only thing that would hold it together.
"I couldn't stop it..." She whispered.
Her vision that she had been so sure was the key to saving the people she loved from a terrible fate had turned out to be nothing more than a warning, after all. For all their efforts to circumvent it, the Empire still invaded, hundreds of people still died, and Cal and Teelo...
She couldn't think about them now. If she thought about them, she would lose her senses completely, and she couldn't afford to lose her senses. She was alone, stranded, with no ship and no idea how she was going to leave. She had to keep her wits, at all costs – her very survival depended on it now.
"wooo?"
Kata peeked at BD-1 through her fingers, then she sat up and sighed again. She patted her knee for him to jump up, which he did, looking at her inquisitively.
"What do we do now, BD?" She asked him. "Tanalorr's gone, Merrin and Greez are gone, Cal and Teelo are..."
She stopped herself, hearing her voice catch in her throat. She cleared it and took a deep breath, closing her eyes.
"wooo..."
"We have to find Merrin and Greez, wherever they are, but first we have to figure out how to get off this rock," She turned to BD. "How do we get off this rock?"
"brrrt kzzoot-wam."
"Right. I'm a Jedi, this is what Cal and Merrin trained me for. I can do this," She looked out at the emptiness around them, her voice falling to a whisper. "I can do this... how do I do this?"
"wooow."
Kata sighed in frustration, feeling utterly directionless.
"Well, the ship is toast, I don't think even Greez could fix this thing now," She gestured towards the burning heap, then she closed her eyes and lowered her head, trying to think through the noise in her brain. "Ok, we can't fix the ship, so we need to find another one. Should be super easy, right?"
"brrtrrt."
"Right."
Kata stood, still a little wobbly after her ordeal, and knelt down to open her backpack, inspecting it to make sure all its contents were still there. She pulled her cloak from it and fastened it around her shoulders, feeling the chill in the air.
"I don't know about you, BD, but I have a bad feeling about this place."
"boop-bweep?"
"I saw a city on the way down, but it's probably crawling with Imperials. At least the Empire doesn't know my face, I don't think," She turned to the droid. "But they might know yours."
"bwoop?"
She opened up the backpack and held it out to him.
"I know it's not your favourite thing in the Galaxy, but we can't risk drawing attention to ourselves."
"bzzrrt."
The droid protested, but he hopped in the bag and Kata closed the flap loosely, then hauled it onto her shoulders.
"Keep your head down, I'll protect you."
"bee-deep."
Kata turned in the direction she had seen the city from the sky and took another deep breath before she started the long walk across the wastelands.
By the time they reached civilisation, night had fallen and the streets were dimly lit by the occasional lamp. Kata made her way through the outskirts, keeping her head down, trying not to make eye contact with anyone she passed, though the streets weren't exactly alive with activity. The further into the city she walked, the worse she began to feel. The energy in this place felt dark and hostile, many of the buildings around them tall and sinister-looking, and all of them in a decrepit state. As she walked, she saw Stormtroopers, Bounty Hunters and what looked like gang members or Syndicate goons roaming the main streets and back alleys alike, but thankfully none of them seemed to pay her any mind. She stopped at the end of an alley as something to her right caught her eye: big, yellow letters graffitied on a wall.
FREE FERRIX
Her eyes narrowed as she recalled the planet's name.
"Well, at least we know where we are now." She muttered.
She looked around, seeing the various forms of life drinking, shouting and going about other shady business in the streets. A fist fight broke out between a Duros and a Rodian that was quickly broken up by Imperials smashing their blasters into their faces.
"We have landed in a bad place, BD."
"woo-woo?"
BD-1's beeps were muffled by her backpack.
"Between the Imps, the gangs and the Bounty Hunters, it'll be a miracle if we get off this planet alive."
"boop-bweep."
Kata turned her face away as two men passed her, staring at her for a moment, but thankfully they didn't stop.
"Keep your head down," She whispered behind her. "I gotta find us a ship, and quickly."
"bwattat?"
"No, we are not gonna steal one!" She hissed, then contemplated for a moment. "Ok, maybe we'll steal one, if we have to."
Her eyes searched around and she saw a very shifty-looking bar across the street with one sad neon sign with half its letters out stating that it was called "Rix's Piss". Charming, she thought. But if anyone would know where she could 'commandeer' a ship, they would be in a place like that. She crossed the street and entered the establishment.
There were more people inside than she'd expected, though there wasn't a lot of merriment being had. Most were either drinking alone at the bar or smoking and conversing quietly in the booths while weird music played in the background. It was certainly nothing like the energy she was used to at Pyloon's. She pulled her hood around her face, not wanting people to take one look at her and see she was definitely not old enough to be in here. She kept her head down and approached the bar casually where a large droid had their back turned, mixing drinks. They eventually turned around, took one look at Kata and laughed.
"No, no, no," They waved their hand. "Not in here, kid."
"Easy," Kata held up a hand. "Just lookin' for some information."
"You got somethin' to trade for it?" The droid put a hand to their hip.
Kata shrugged.
"The pleasure of my company?"
"Ha! I knew you were jailbait."
The corner of Kata's mouth pulled up in a smile and she leaned forward.
"I need a ship. Know someone who can help me?"
The droid also leaned in, narrowing their eyes at her.
"I'll tell ya this cos I like your guts," The droid nodded toward the back corner of the bar. "Geezer over there, he can help ya."
Kata turned to where the droid had indicated and saw a human male sitting alone in a booth who definitely looked like the wrong kind of shifty – or the right kind, in her case.
"Might be less trouble to steal your own ship, though."
Kata looked back at the droid.
"I'll take my chances."
"In a lotta trouble already, huh? None of my business, just make it quick. The boss catches you in here, he'll turn you over to the Empire without a second thought."
Kata half-smiled at the droid, pitying them having to work for a man like that in a place like this. They reminded her of Monk and it made her sad.
"Thanks." She nodded.
She left the bar and headed towards the man in the corner. He also had his hood up, lit spice pipe in his mouth, and was sitting in such a way as to take up as much of his side of the booth as possible. His eyes flicked up to her as she approached.
"Whaddaya want?" A gruff voice asked.
"You Geezer?"
"Might be. Who's askin'?"
"I was told you might have something I need?"
"Might do. Siddown, kid."
Kata hesitated before swinging her backpack off her shoulders and slumping it under the table, not too hard, wary of BD-1 inside it. She sat across from him, her guard up, right hand instinctively on her lightsaber hidden under her cloak, other arm resting on the table.
"What's a pretty little thing like you doin' in a dive like this talkin' to a guy like me?"
That sentence hurt Kata's head a little. His voice was unfriendly, and by his accent and dress Kata thought he might've been Corellian. Though she knew the Corellians only by reputation, and it wasn't a good one.
"I'll cut to the chase," She said, trying to keep her voice even. "I need a ship."
"Pilot too, I'd wager."
"Did I say I needed a pilot?" She shrugged nonchalantly.
Geezer chuckled and took a long drag of his pipe.
"Ya got spunk, kid. I like that. Young thing like you would make a killin' 'round these parts."
Just the very thought of what kind of killing she could make around here made Kata feel sick to her stomach.
"Thanks, but no thanks. I need to get off this rock as soon as possible."
"Empire trouble?"
"What do you care? Can you get me the ship or not?"
Kata tried her best to match his energy, to show that she wasn't intimidated, even though she knew she was way out of her depth here. Geezer sat back in his seat and put his foot up on the edge of the table.
"Well that depends on what kinda ship you need," He answered. "Single-pilot flyer? Freighter?"
"I just need anything that will fly and get me as far away from here as the Galaxy goes."
"You don't even know where you are or where you're goin' do ya?"
"Does it matter?"
"Not so much these days, no," He blew smoke out of his mouth straight at her. "Everywhere you look is Empire turf now."
"I've noticed."
Geezer grinned and it made Kata feel very uneasy.
"Sure, I can get ya a ship, but it'll cost ya."
"Name your price."
"I have a feelin' you can't afford me, sweetheart."
If Kata wasn't trying to avoid attention, she would've put a blaster hole in him just for calling her "sweetheart".
"A trade, then." She suggested.
"What could you possibly have that I want?"
Kata reached down to her backpack under the table and felt around for the object she wanted, accidentally batting BD-1 in the eye, which he had the wit not to react to. She grabbed hold of the object and produced it, holding it out in her palm. Geezer put his foot down and sat forward, his eyes fixed on the double-bladed lightsaber she held.
"Well now that's certainly a pretty thing, innit?"
"It belonged to a Jedi Knight name of Dagan Gera during the time of the High Republic," She explained. "It's over two centuries old; could be very valuable to the right person."
"Could be at that," Geezer nodded. "Why d'you know so much about it?"
"The guy I took it from me told me about it."
"And where's he now?"
"Where d'you think?"
Geezer smiled slyly and chuckled again, a low, gravelly sound. He took another long drag of his pipe, making direct eye-contact with her which was making her more uncomfortable by the second.
"What's your name, kid?"
Kata glared at him.
"C'mon, if we're gonna be in business together, I should at least know what to call ya?"
She hesitated a moment longer.
"Tayala."
"Where you from, Tayala?"
"Birren, originally."
"Never heard of Birren."
She shrugged.
"It's a big Galaxy out there."
"Smaller every day."
"Do we have a deal, or not?" She demanded.
Geezer seemed to be mulling it over, smoke slowly flowing from his chapped lips, eyes flicking between her face and the saber she held.
"Yeah, I'd say we do."
He leaned forward and started to reach for the saber, but Kata snatched it away.
"You think I'm dumb enough to let you make off with this, pawn it and take my ship off-world?" She asked. "Not a chance – ship first, then you get paid."
Geezer grinned again.
"Y'know, I gotta give ya credit, you're more switched-on than ya look. Smart enough even to give me a fake name."
Kata narrowed her eyes, not knowing how he knew that. She didn't know why she'd given her mother's name, she just knew it wasn't safe to give her real one.
"Ship first, then," Geezer agreed. "Let me meet with my contacts, call in some favours... meet me back here in, say, twenty-four hours?"
"You've got six. Deliver by then, or I'll find someone else who will."
Geezer grinned widely at her and looked her up and down, the action making her feel violated. She didn't trust him at all, but she also didn't know what choice she had. She had to get off of Ferrix as soon as possible, and there was a very strong chance this guy knew of avenues she didn't. Geezer stood and leaned down toward her, getting so close to her face she could smell the booze and smoke on his breath.
"Pleasure doin' business with ya, Tayala."
He tapped his spice pipe out on the table and pocketed it, then he wandered out of the bar. Kata sighed deeply, relieved that unpleasant interaction was over. She looked down at her hands to find they were shaking slightly. She stashed the saber back in her bag before anyone saw it and stole a glance over at the barkeep. The droid caught her eye and jerked their head toward the door. Kata nodded in acknowledgement, grabbed her bag and headed back out into the street. It had started to rain while she was inside and she put her head down and started up the street.
"I don't know what just happened, BD, but it looks like we might be getting a ship."
"bwee-brrtrrt?"
"Not as far as I can throw him, but we don't have a lot of options here."
"bwoop."
"So now we just have to lay low for six hours and stay out of the way of the Empire, the Syndicates and the—"
She gasped and ducked quickly into a doorway as she saw two armoured Bounty Hunters and a heavy battle droid approaching. She had seen the symbols on their armour and knew what that meant.
"Blast! Haxion Brood."
"bwoop!"
Kata was surprised there were any more of them left after their latest run-in with Sorc Tormo had left their numbers basically crippled. She was almost starting to feel grateful now that Cal wasn't there.
"It's fine, we just have to avoid them without looking like we're avoiding them."
She pulled her hood up further and leaned against the doorway casually, waiting until they passed her. They didn't look at her twice and she exhaled in relief.
"We need to get off the streets. Any ideas?"
"bwee-dee-boop?"
"No, you cannot come out to do a scan, what if someone sees you?"
"frrrt!"
"Ok, fine, just make it quick."
BD-1 popped his head out of her backpack just enough to poke his sensor out and scan the nearby streets and buildings.
"woo-woo-woop!"
Kata looked up in the direction of the rooftops.
"Yeah, that could work. Get your head down."
BD disappeared back in the bag and Kata waited for a few Stormtroopers to pass by her before she headed up the alley. Once she was out of sight of the street, she scaled the building as quickly as she could and hopped up onto the roof, grateful now for the countless hours Cal had spent over the years teaching her to climb. She saw what BD-1 had found: a small alcove that seemed to be protecting some kind of vent. She headed over to it and ducked under the cover. It was big enough for her to crouch in as she removed her bag and set it down in front of her.
"It's safe now, you can come out."
BD-1 popped his head up once more and climbed his way out of the bag, shaking his whole body like a cat would. Kata sat back against the alcove on the other side with her knees up and pulled her cloak around her body, feeling the damp chill in the air. She could see her breath when she exhaled. She realised the vent she was sitting next to was blowing out slightly warm air and she held her hands up in front of it, trying to warm her frozen fingers.
Having finally stopped to rest, her mind began to wander again. It was only just that morning she had woken up on Tanalorr, after one of the best nights she'd had in weeks, feeling refreshed and ready to take on the Galaxy. And now here she was, stranded on a strange planet full of enemies, with no plan and no clue what to do next. It made her head spin to think about how much had happened in only one day – her entire world had been turned upside down. She found herself thinking of her parents and her home on Birren. Thinking of the day her Papa had taken her and run, the day the Inquisitors had killed her Mama. Now her home had been destroyed, again. Her family had been ripped apart, again. Even with all her time spent in solitude on Nova Garon, she had never felt so helpless and alone.
"bwoo..."
BD-1 shuffled closer, seeing her lost in her thoughts, wanting to comfort her. Kata tried to smile at him and wiped the tear from her cheek that she hadn't realised had fallen. She patted her knee and the droid climbed up her leg. She reached out and petted him.
"I'm glad you're here, BD-1." She said.
"boo-woo-wa-woo."
Kata huffed a sad laugh.
"Yeah, you did promise him."
"wooo."
"Don't worry, buddy," She soothed. "We'll find the others somehow, and we'll make him proud."
"bwa-boop."
Kata smiled at him again, then she crossed her arms, pulling her cloak tighter and sat back against the alcove. BD-1 got comfortable on her legs and they both settled in. Despite her spiralling, chaotic thoughts and the faces of the people she'd lost flashing in her mind, exhaustion eventually won out, and she fell into a restless sleep.