Chapter 2
For three days the woman tossed and turned on my bed in an abandoned apartment I'd been living in for the past year.
I learned that the man's name was Carth Onasi and that he was a republic solider that had been put in charge of protecting a Jedi named Bastila Shan. Carth didn't know what the woman's name was.
"If she's alive there's a good chance she being held by the Vulkers." I said. The Black Vulkers were one of the two major gangs on Taris, the other being the Hidden Beks.
"The Beks are the closest thing to good guys on the entire planet. I work with them sometimes. Supply raids, strikes on Sith bases, you know, like Robin Hood. I can get you into see their leader, Gadon Thek."
"I'd appreciate that Miss Solo." He said.
"It's Rachel, and don't mention it. I know good guys when I see them. Now, if we're going to get off this planet, we need a lot of credits."
"We?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, that's right. We."
~~~~~
"Ladies and Gentleman, they've been illegal for over twenty years. But tonight we have a fight to the death! We have Bendak Starkiller out of retirement for one last fight against or current champion, the Mysterious Stranger!"
That last one was me. I know what you're thinking, 'Why is she taking part in a fight to the death?'
We needed a lot of money, fast. Bendak had a huge bounty on his head, but there was no way to get near him out side of the ring. Being the champion I was the only one able to get him out of retirement. I had 1:100 odds against me. So I bet everything I had on myself.
I was about to become obscenely rich.
"Hope your will's up to date Solo." He taunted. I grabbed my sword from the sheath in the back of my skintight combat armor. My skin started turning green and scaly. Blades sprouted out of my wrists and I started growing taller.
"I still have a couple tricks up my sleeve, Starkiller." I said with my newly formed Hork-Bajir mouth.
The fight was bloody. Grenades, blaster bolts, and swords flashed.
I was constantly on the defense. I would need to get in a couple hits to bring down Bendak, but it would only take him one to kill me.
I got close and swung my sword. He did the same. We were locked, neither one wanting to be the first to give. I swung my tail around to hit his leg. He jumped, I swung my arm at his armored neck. I got lucky and hit a weak spot in his armor, slicing trough to his throat.
He was down, but that wasn't good enough. I slashed at his armor with my wrist blades, tearing through with unnatural ease. I grabbed a grenade from his belt. I went to arm it and stopped.
The man was already dead, I had know that. But I wanted there to be nothing left but a skull nailed to a fence post. I tossed the unactivated grenade away and stood up.
It was sickening how far I'd gone. I couldn't blame it on the morph, as ferocious looking as they are the Hork-Bajir are a peaceful race.
Far away I heard the crowd going mad and the announcer saying something about a beautiful victory. I had killed a man for money.
Not for the evils he had commited, but for money.
~~~~~
I woke up in a cold sweat. The fight had taken place almost two years ago but it still haunted me. I got up from the pile of blankets I was using as a bed and walked into the shower.
I came out feeling a little better. I put my armor on followed by some slacks and a tunic.
"Hey, Rachel. Look who's up." Carth said as I walked into the main apartment. Standing there was the woman. She wore a black vest with a lot of pockets over a long sleeved shirt. Her hair was done up in a tight braid.
"My name is Jayden Elias. I'm guessing you're the one who saved me." She said.
"Yeah, the name's Rachel Solo." I said.
"Carth here says you have a plan to get us of this rock."
"As a matter of fact, I do."
