Knights of the Old Republic

Taris, Swoop platform

Aria Vercet

"How the hell did they talk you into this? You'll be straddling a ticking time bomb! If you don't die crashing into any of the numerous junk piles on that death trap of a track first." Carth had been trying to talk her out of racing since Gaidon nominated her to represent the Hidden Beks. She found it cute for the first few minutes but was ready to throw him off the bridge where all the racers congregated if he went on. Ignoring him she studied the competition. The very best all the swoop gangs had to offer her as a challenge side eyed her right back. She was surprised there were still Vulkars left to compete after yesterday's massacre. Their leader, Brejik, a whiney welch of a man had survived only thanks to his cowardice. Hiding away with his prize until the day of the season opener. Now he strode about with his surviving underlings studying the crowd.

Weapons were holstered but hands could be fast like the bikes they rode; The replusor-lift swoop bikes they had could hit x3 times the speed of a normal speeder bike. Making the average dangerous speeder bike look safe enough for a child to ride. These machines were crude, lacking the finesse of safety regulations that gave their riders the thrill of experiencing light-speed planet side. A cost achieved by stripping every part that slowed down the machine; most were said to be just engines with seats, and she was going to ride the one that had an extra high chance of exploding. The racing suit she was wearing wouldn't provide enough thick padding to survive that.

"I have to be honest with you, there's a reason I'm letting you take the prototype engine. The accelerator isn't stable; there's a good chance it could explode during the race. I can't ask one of my own riders to take the risk.", that's what Gadon had told her. With an overnight rush job integrating the accelerator it wasn't the safest bet, but their only one with hopes of saving…Her. They kept their distance but they both had her in their sights. The fabled key to winning this whole war. The single soul aboard the Endar Spire that the Sith had killed everyone else trying to get. Trapped now within a cage, a neural disruptor keeping her dumb to the world, being displayed as a prize to be lusted over. Her hands grav-cuffed to the roof keeping her up against her will. Aria doubted wet looking tight black leather had been the Jedi's choice. It didn't look bad on her attractive frame, not bad at all, but there was something pissing the smuggler off. Confusing the sadist who could imagine a fun night breaking in a newly won slave.

"Careful there beautiful. You're staring, and company is noticing."
Carth had followed her intense gaze.
"Oh no…Someone hoping to win is eyeing the sexbomb prize. What else are they going to think?", She saw the lines deepen in his brow, "Take it easy Fleet. Just leave it up to me. I'll get our girl." An edge crept into her words. A thin pressure building in the back of her mind had started pressing in creating a terrible ache like a knife.
"Just don't die trying. You'll make the kid cry. Good luck out there.", Carth hissed before leaving her alone as those not racing were asked to leave. The only ones allowed here were the racers, their crew, and a bitch or two to relive pressure between heats. Under that last category he could have stayed, but she held back on saying it out loud. It was the stress of everything they had work for coming down the line winding him up, but she didn't need it. All Aria needed at the moment was to channel her newfound strange growing rage into the race.
'What is it that's gnawing at me?' She wasn't listening to the mechanic go over the dangers of overheating the engine if she didn't switch gears for the umpteenth time. The sound of the first heat began in the background. It was finished before the mechanic was.
Her turn was next.

Climbing onto the swoop bike Aria hooked herself into the harness. The roar of the engine was instant when powered on. The intense vibration rattled inside the cockpit to the point it drowned everything out. A power that threatened to tear itself apart if it wasn't released soon. Bringing the swoop bike to the starting line she stared down the track. Sixteen kilometers of scattered piles of deadly hazards and catapulting speed ramps. The time to beat was 0:38:43 and it was her first time behind the wheels in years. Not being able to remember the last time she had raced, but if they wanted to win it had to be her. If not for the consol display of the ticking countdown lights she wouldn't know when to release the break. The microsecond she did the G-force slammed into her body holding it tight against the back of her seat. If she hadn't been prepared it might have knocked her out causing a crash in the first quarter of a second.

Controls thundering in her white-knuckle grip. The vibrations threatened to throw her off with the pain being felt in her bones. Pulling them quickly one way then the other with micro adjustments she avoided the great many blurs of obstacles. Forcing more G's unto her body as she managed to hit two ramps in succession. Hurling her even faster past near death several times over. Only her quick reflexes managing to switch gears at the last possible opportunity kept her alive for another tenth of a second more. The finish line was in sight and then the automatic brakes were already on as she crossed it. Only the harness kept her from launching through the glass of her cockpit. Feeling like a soften stun blast to her chest that slammed the air out of her lungs. There were cheers from the surrounding watchers waiting at the finish line. Sweat gleamed her forehead, forced controlled breathing kept the nausea at bay, Aria glanced at her time.

0:35:59!
'That Jedi is mine.'

Audience stands

Mission Vao

Her voice was one of thousands lost in the cheering. Mission couldn't stand still, gripping onto Zaalbar's arm as she jumped up and down. "SHE'S AMAZING! DID YOU SEE THAT!"

Her best friend, rooted as a tree despite her excitement, growled out that he had in fact been watching the same thing. Carth seemed to be the only one among the trio to not be jumping for joy. Still with a stick up his ass he reprimanded her, "It's just getting started. Don't think we've won yet."

"Do you understand how amazing that time is on her first Heat? Rookies never set a winning time like that their first time! It's in the bag for her now.", The young twi'lek explained already exasperated by him. The old geezer couldn't even support his friend a little bit. Mission recognized the fear in him. She saw it all the time down here. People too skeptical to believe that good things could ever happen to them. So why bother enjoying the little joys in life? Her brother had been the complete opposite and taught her how to avoid falling into that same defeatist attitude. Griff always showed her how to make the best of the worst, and where to find windows of opportunities everywhere. If he wasn't going to show Aria the support she needed, then she would pick up his slack.

Aria was risking her life for someone she didn't even know. The same thing she had done for her when she saved Big Z. The mysterious stranger wasn't like anyone she met before or would again. Mission thought back to the previous night after they had returned with the prototype-accelerator engine. Still unable to believe that it had really happened. She wished there was something more that she could do than just cheer from the side lines. Deciding she was right then and there she took off. Ignoring the calls from Carth to stay there. Mission was going to the mechanic bay to find Aria.

Swoop Mechanic Bay

Aria Vercet

Back in her bay the Bek's Mechanic greeted her with applause, "You did it! You got the top time! You just beat racers who've been doing this for twenty years! Someone who's never ridden a swoop before today comes in here and…" A pause that caused a drop in her stomach. "Wait a minute. I don't believe this, look at the board!" Followering his gaze Aria cursed reading 0:30:26 light up the board. The Mechanic threw a tool against the wall, "One of the Vulkars! Who…ah, it was Redros. I should have known…" The ithorian looked over her bike and attempted to be more uplifting, "That's okay, the day ain't over yet and the accelerator's still holding together. Just get out there again and show them how it's done."
"I'll wipe the floor with my next heat, but first I need a walk to clear my head while you tweak that engine. The negative power coupler is bleeding excess juice." She left putting the blood flow back in her shacky legs.

Going over the track in her mind. Maneuvering mentally where she could chain the speed ramps where she had seen them. Shaving off quarters of seconds in her head. Aria made her way through the racer bay. Other racers made some comments while she passed by.
"Good job out there, Rookie!"
"I got money on you crashing right at the end!"
She ignored them all focusing on the next route finalizing in her head. Running the odds of the accelerator prototype lasting more than three heats safely. Over the noise of racers competing, and crashing, she made her way over to the end of the bay where there wasn't many either. At first, she couldn't hear the familiar friendly voice call out, "Aria! Over here!"
Mission was jumping up and down trying to catch her attention. Something easy to do in the tight black mid riff she wore with the words 'Go Stranger Go!' in bold white spray painted aurebush. It looked hand made with a liberal use of scissors having been used to cut a deep plunge. Aria had seen the girl's pushed up blue cleavage before the supporting message.

"Mission? I guess there wasn't a chance you wouldn't have snuck in."
"It's not exactly top-notch security around here." Mission played it off like it hadn't been hard, but Aria had made note of the gangs guarding their maintenance bays. Weapons were banned but that didn't stop them from busting lips at best. Her fan was shyly playing with her hands, "I just wanted to tell you how awesome your run was. Big Z had me up on his shoulders so I could see over the crowd. They were going crazy! Even Carth let out a cheer!" The Twi'lek's enthusiasm was infectious. Giving her a nice break from the stress if for but a moment.
"It's crazier seeing it from the seat. Nothing in focus and everything is already past you. I'm amazed people actually survive this suicide sport."
"Well you make it look easy!"
"Thank you, but I'm wondering if I can pull it off.", The two glanced at the winning time, "I'll have to get a win under half a minute. Seems impossible with the limited number of safe uses that protype has."
"Nothing's impossible. Only hard to do. Everything you've done so far has been more than that, and I've seen you take down harder. The way you climbed to the top of the dueling ring, how you saved Zaalbar, and took on an entire Vulkar base…" Mission timidly, looking for permission if it was fine, put a hand on Aria's chest. She chewed on the bottom of her lip, "You're kinda terrifying…In a good way! That's a compliment. I'm complimenting you."

Aria thought it was cute how she shifted weight from one foot to the other. "Thank you, Mission.", She said warmly holding the girl's gaze, "I really did need to hear that."
The girl melted, "I-uh yeah you're welcome…" She took back her hand holding it close to her own chest. Looking conflicted on what she wanted say next. So Aria decided to make it easy for her, "You know Mission. If you keep being so nice to me, I'll start bullying you."

"Bully.", She repeated with a blush. Aria took a step closer and boldly stroked both of Mission's lekku. Grabbing them like a leash and pulling them so the girl was forced to stand on her tip toes. Their faces were close now. Aria's voice was throaty and low, "I told you last night. It's how Mommy show cute little cunts I like them."
She pressed her up against a wall. Holding her up off the ground by her shirt. Pressing one of her legs in between Mission's thighs as she did. "You're happy to be used as some stress relief."
The arousal on Mission's face was unmistakable. Her eyes dilated so much they were like mirrors.

Showing a reflection of Aria and the surrounding few people passing by giving looks. She didn't give a damn about a single one of them and what they thought.
Mission giggled happy to be bullied, "Please use me, Mommy~"
"How about using that sweet mouth and-", A bad feeling suddenly hit her. Something she saw in the reflection of Mission's eyes. She sat her down quickly and spun around seeing only a few mechanics running around. After a moment they were alone in the mechanical area. Her girlfriend caught on fast putting her skilled perception to use.
"What did you see?", She asked hands at her side ready for a fight.
"I don't know…It was a brief second but someone with a killer intent about them…I think it's time I walk you back to the stands."
"But!", Mission started only for Aria interject.

"I can take care of myself. I still need to win this, and no matter what they throw at me, it won't change the fact I'll win."
Mission huffed, "Fine! I see how it is. You're just like the Beks after all. Don't worry about walking me back. I know the way!" Before Aria could say anything, the young woman ran off leaving her behind. It was for the best, but she still didn't like that she had hit one of Mission's nerves. Unfortunately, she didn't have long to feel sorry for herself. As soon as she started going back to her bay the bad feeling returned. The crackling of a stealth generator turning off followed right after by stun baton charge up didn't give her any time. Aria's survival instincts took over dropping her head out of the way of the hit. Only dodging it be a fraction of a second. The crackle of energy burning the hair on the back of her neck.

In a blur of motion Aria swung her left arm in a deflecting block as she spun around. Meeting against durasteel vambraces that pushed down with hard to resist strength. Her attacker didn't let up. Throwing the stun baton to her free hand and aimed for the exposed skin of Aria's neck. Aria stopped it by catching the downward motion at the wrist. Leaving them in a struggle as both women now face to face grappled with each other. One Arai recognized from studying Zax's bounty board.
Through gritted teeth she grinned, "Selven! I was beginning to worry you'd never come crawling from your hiding spot."
The Assassin smirked, "So you're just a bounty hunter after all. Quite a gambit you've played. Was Starkiller not enough of a prize for you?"

Selven struck out sharply with her knee, intending to knock the wind out of Aria, but she leapt away. Hot on her hell Selven pursued her with a deadly flurry of kicks Aria could only block, before needing to avoid the stun weapon again. They circled each other like predators sniffing for any opportunity to deliver the winning strike. Selven showed no sign of slowing, but the smile on her targets face sowed some hesitation.
"You'll laugh, but it's not credits I'm after with you.", Aria explained, "It's just good old-fashioned revenge on behalf of a friend who can't collect on it."
The Assassin did laugh, "A stupid reason as any to die for. It doesn't make a difference to me." Selven struck again with a variety of slashes Aria dodged or blocked. Only managing to counter a few times with a glancing jab across Selven's cheekbone. Adrenalin was pumping like a rushing river through her blood stream. Slowing time down where all the details of Selven's moves could be observed.

Still the woman was more armored and highly skilled. If it wasn't for the fact that blaster fire would draw unwanted attention, and Brejik more than likely wanted to do the deed himself; It was likely Selven could have killed her already. Aria was slowly being pushed back to a railing. Where it overlooked one of the racing lanes that swoop bikes zipped through. Selven didn't give her a single out, any attempts to circumvent her were denied.
"Seems like you could use better friends.", Selven taunted her not noticing the shimmer of light coming up fast behind her.
"I don't know…I have some pretty good ones.", Aria grinned. Amused at the confusion she saw flash across Selven's face, and then the wide-eyed surprise as Mission cracked an oversized borrowed wrench from one of the bays over her skull.

They didn't give her a chance to recover. In tandem the two pounced on the stun Assassin. Aria's hard right hook landing into Selven's jaw as Mission once again slammed the wrench into the back of her skull. Catching the falling stun baton the Assassin dropped Aria reunited it into Selven's forehead. The built-up overcharged electric currents finally released! Producing the smell of cooked flesh where it made contact. There wasn't enough time for her to scream as only smoke convection substituting in its place bellowed out of her agape mouth. Her body rigidly standing up due to the muscles contracting went slack and the infamous assassin was dead.

Victorious Aria could only feel the sweat she had broken out in drenching her body. The satisfaction of avenging had yet to really sink in, but a new-found respect for her little girlfriend did. The Twi'lek didn't drop her guard. Eyeing the cooked corpse as if Selven could spring back to life.
"Relax Mission, she's not getting up."
"I've seen too many horror vids.", Mission let her shoulders drop along with her improvised weapon. Exchanging concern with a cheeky smile, "But I bet my acting was better than what you find in them."
Aria laughed hoarsely relieved to hear the confession, "You knew she was there didn't you?"
Mission grinned proud of herself, "I'll teach you how to spot a stealth generator later, but yeah. I'm sorry I couldn't help right away. I was afraid she would have noticed."
"Don't be.", Aria winked at her, "You did that perfectly, and after this is done, I'm rewarding the fuck out of you." Making her little blue girlfriend hop with giddiness.

Kissing Mission and sending her with a hard slap on the ass, Aria proceeded with dealing with the Assassin. Searching the body discovering the stun baton had damaged the stealth belt but was able to pull a sonic grenade along with a slim spring-loaded blaster Aria fitted under her sleeve. Selven only had a few emergency credits on her, but money wasn't a problem with a quick call to Zax. Claiming the second impossible bounty on Taris to the Hutts' amusement. The overgrown slug only lamented that there was no more such exciting game for her to hunt. She disagreed, "Furthest thing from the truth Hutt."

From her spot she could see the main ceremony area. Where Bastilla's cage awaited to be opened by the winner.
"I've one more to take."