Corellian Rum [open]

[Reisier]

Green – all she saw was vivid green.

Surprise was the first expression that flitted across the Zelosian’s pale feautures. Her mouth dropped open, vivid emerald eyes grew wide. The lightsaber hissed dangerously close to the male’s face, a weapon that the woman had never truly been graced to see. The blade was solid, in a way, and at the same time without mass, glowering at the cowering forms that were the two. She gripped the blaster under the male’s boot, the weight of his body shifting as she slowly pulled away. She didn’t dare to move – afraid of touching the glowing form. She breathed in deeply, tasting the tension in the air.

Amaris was terrified to move, to meet the wielder’s face, but the moment she heard the voice, part of her couldn’t help but look. Eyes flicked up behind the security of heavy lashes, at first unsure – were her ears deceiving her, the image she saw and voice she heard nothing more but a result if a nasty concussion? But the more she focused on the caramel face, the more obvious it became she wasn’t being deceived – the wielder of the lightsaber, the feared weapon that only a selected few could wield, was none other than the happy-go-lucky Tholothian. The very female that crinkled her nose in disgust at curses or was appalled by the bothan’s nakedness -- though she couldn’t really blame her, was the very same woman that now struck fear to her very core.

A clink followed the man’s sudden movement, finally forcing Amaris’ eyes back, the vibroblade he had held in his grasp dropping to the ground. He uttered something, nonsense as far as she was concerned, before he slinked away into the nothingness. Then, there was silence. So this was the powers of the Jedi? They were, terrifying to a point – the mental note was made to never get on the wrong side of their blade. Her heart beat slightly faster as the Jedi closed upon her, but the image Kira had previously portrayed disappeared, dwindling until there was nothing left of it but the original, charismatic persona Amaris had originally met.

“Dying?” She chuckled at the first words, “Oh, believe me,” She winced, pain shooting across her body, muscles taut under the foreign weight. “…that’s not really what I’m scared of.” She was scared of plenty of things, granted, she never really admitted them; hell Kira could attest to that, but at the moment the smuggler was more preoccupied with something else; more specifically, the lightsaber she had previously been completely unaware of. Force users were people that the Zelosian opted to avoid – and yet, somehow here she was.

“So, you’re a Jedi?” She queried, though the answer was obvious enough, glancing down to examine the damage Kira tried her very best to mend. The clothing around the wound was damp, sticking to her skin as the Zelosian continued to bleed, losing precious chlorophyll with every second that ticked by. Kira said nothing, Amaris noticed, her attention fully captured as she continued with the laborious task. Her attention never faltered, eyes never raised nor words spoken to acknowledge the Zelosian. Amaris sat silently, head resting against the wall. She was hesitant to continue talking, mostly as a result of the pain that shook her whenever she did.

Amid harsh breaths, Amaris laughed, the sudden realization dawning on her. The Tholothian was a Jedi – the carefree character was a Jedi. “Heh – you honestly don’t look it.” She looked maybe like a nanny, or a teacher, or something in between, but definitely not this. “Seriously, it’s something you kinda tell people you’re working with.” The pain seized her again as the Jedi continued her work, the bleeding slowly reducing.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

"Yes," Kira confirmed as she could see some firm progress on the wound. The bleeding was stopped, and the green stuff was no longer all over the place. The wound itself was shrinking, taking on a cleaner look to it around the edges, though there was still a little bit of a ripple appearance. It was hard to describe.

"But, if I'd just told you I was a Jedi, would you have helped?"

The Tholothian gave an apologetic look at the prone woman as she continued with the healing. There really were far too many people out there in the galaxy who feared or otherwise disliked Jedi. To be fully honest, that wasn't something Kira could understand.

Kira Jeseledai was blessed or cursed enough to have very vivid memories of her childhood, and she distinctly remembered sitting before the holonet receiver on the weekends, watching Padawan Adventures while dressed in homemade Jedi robes, wielding a toy lightsaber.

She still didn't fully understand why someone could feel anything besides admiration for the Jedi Order. They were so clearly the good guys... Didn't everyone like the good guys?

Well, apparently not.

The dark-skinned woman smiled cheerfully anyway.

[Reisier]

“Point taken.” Unless Amaris had somehow worked with her before or the price was fair, the thought of working with a Jedi would have been dismissed, a scoffed buried into her drink. It wasn’t anything personal, she held no spite against them; but after working in these circles for some time, they learned that Force users always came with some sort of baggage – whether they be from the Order or not. So, the Zelosian learned to steer clear of them, refusing jobs whenever they were involved and never exchanging more than pleasantries with them.

“But, now, neither of us will know.”

The pain was subsiding, the wound looking now as furious gash instead of the remnants of a blaster round. It was odd watching the process – how the once throbbing wound grew smaller by the second, shallower, disappearing under the rippling of her skin. “Huh… that’s a nifty trick.” The absentminded comment escaped her, Amaris wrapping her head around the idea of curing wounds as easily as bacta did. But, this Jedi’s process seemed far less fuzzy. No ointments, no bandages, mere power and concentration – kinda cool now that she thought about it.

“So, this kid; one of your kind then,” Her words were slow, measured, a desperate attempt to not sound dense, but it was clear that the smuggler was failing. She cleared her throat, “…a Jedi?” Trainee, student, whatever they called them; she blinked. Actually, now that she thought about it, what was the word they used? Amaris brow was furrowed, almost confused; but it was no more than a passing expression, the confusion was soon replaced by a new sense of apprehension.

Frak.

She licked her lips, if these people somehow found out of the kid’s origin, they would be less keen in giving him up lest it included a hefty payment of sorts. Even if they were to be forceful, a little bending of the arms, Trandoshans were notoriously famous for holding a grudge – so there went a group she couldn’t deal with again.

Amaris suddenly grabbed the Tholothian’s hand, pushing it away from her wound. While it hadn’t finished closing, it most definitely wasn’t life threatening anymore. “Let’s go. After the ruckus we caused it’s best if we get going.” Especially since they stood so close to the motel.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

"Yes, Rolly is a Youngling he went missing on a field trip. We were lucky to track him here-"

Amaris shoved away Kira's hand from the wound, now small and no longer bleeding. Apparently that signified they were done with healing, a sentiment made even more clear when the Zelosian woman rose to her feet.

Kira mutely followed suit, debating protesting, but instead not arguing. Amaris didn't seem like the type to argue with. Usually when you tried to take a different stance from someone that opinionated... Things could get a little awkward, and Kira didn't like conflict. Not outside holonet programs.

With no need to keep her cover, the Tholothian woman telekinetically grasped the blaster pistol on the ground and levitated it up to Amaris before resuming her forward progress towards the cheap hotel, her boots stepping on pavement that was inexplicably wet, with neon lights reflected in standing pools.

Kira furtively looked to Amaris before voicing a complete non sequitur.

"So, you had green blood. Are you a plant?"

It seemed like chlorophyll to her, as silly as that sounded. But maybe there were species of sentient plants? She seemed to recall hearing about one. Started with a Z? Not Zygerrian... Zelonian? No...

[Reisier]

Younglings! That was the word! “Eh, I get yah.” Jedi took greater risks compared to others, so it didn’t surprise her that even children were exposed to this world; granted, the Zelosian didn’t agree with it, but it wasn’t her call. If they chose to expose little kids to potentially dangerous situations, there was little the smuggler could do or say; hell, it wasn’t her problem – though, it still amazed her.

A glint caught the smuggler’s attention, causing her to turn, only to see as the heavy blaster she carried floated to her side. She raised her brows, surprised at the sudden display, but did little but stare. Amaris took the weapon in her hand, examined it carefully to make sure it wouldn’t misfire, before lowering her arm. Her blaster grazed her side, making the woman cringe suddenly with the touch. Alright – that was definitely going to get annoying.

Amaris glanced down, frowning at the mess – her shirt was ruined, beyond repair. Hell, even if she somehow managed to get the chlorophyll sap out of the fabric, the blaster round had charred the clothes where it had hit. The smuggler studied the roughly abraded skin that poked out from beneath the fabric. Other than the stained and tattered blouse, there were no obvious signs of a struggle. When she got back to her apartment, she would finish tending to it – otherwise that innocuous-looking wound could prove to be a pain in the a** in the future.

“More or less…” Amaris said, picking at the shirt before she glanced momentarily at Kira, “…I’m a – what’s the word – flora-based organism from Zelos II.” At least, that’s the explanation they had given her when she was in middle school. Their specie, Amaris had noticed, was generally taken for granted, assumed to be nothing more than another of the countless of human-like species that inhabited the Galaxy.

“I guess you’d know us as Zelosians.”

She shrugged, shifting herself to keep her weight off the wound. The blaster was returned to its holster, secured, and abandoned for the time being. Her sight flicked across the alley, eventually settling on a lump that lay forgotten not ten feet away. She spat out a curse, the crudeness in her words contrasting the guilt that wrenched her gut. Maiming was one thing, killing was another; contrary to popular belief, the Zelosian did not like conflict, she tried to avoid it whenever she could. But her mouth was faster than her brain and sometimes worsened already touchy situations. It was a nasty habit, no doubt about it, but she couldn’t help herself. Amaris sighed, averting her eyes from the body, instead focusing on the motel ahead.

She walked slowly, the sudden strain making her cringe, but the pain was quickly overcome, replaced instead by a smug smile. “Come on, Jedi, let’s get you your kid back.”

The motel was definitely never going to be the Zelosian’s first choice. It reeked of cigarra and pi**, a stench so heavy that she was sure she could taste it in her lips. Amaris scrunched her nose as she glanced about the dimly lit entrance. The walls were yellowed, floors grimy and tacky – by what she didn’t even want to know – making her boots stick unto the surface. Eventually her eyes fell into the front desk, where a small fan sat, comforting a rather nasty-looking klatooinian. Amaris looked at Kira before she motioned to the male – well, it was time for the Jedi to work her hoodoo before Amaris got herself shot again.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Zelosians! That was it!

How it had eluded Kira's thoughts, she didn't quite know. Sadly, if there was some Force-technique to make the brain work properly, the dark-skinned woman didn't know it. Besides, if there was it was probably restricted to Masters.

They had all that wisdom to live up to after all.

The unlikely duo moved along, swiftly reaching the hotel and entering the lobby, which was as dingy an affair as the outside. it smelled of tabac and urine. Why it was that it smelled like urine Kira could only guess at, frowning as the pungent aroma caused her nose to wrinkle.

The Tholothian woman blinked a few times as she realized Amaris wanted her to take point on the whole issue, but ultimately she put on her toughest face and swaggered up to the table, laying down the law old school.

"All right wise guy, I'm looking for a pair of Trandoshans. You can fight me all you want, but I'll never stop until-"

"Room 27," The clerk replied in a disinterested voice.

"I'll just keep- Wait. Oh." Kira's tough voice faltered and she resisted the urge to giggle awkwardly over the fact everything went better than expected. "Thanks Mister."

The Jedi wandered towards the stairs, slowly climbing up them as she decided to plot strategies with the Zelosian, like some kind of Republic General devising battle plans to repel the Sith.

"All right. We knock on the door and say it's room service and-" The Tholothian woman stopped short and blinked a few times as she realized this wasn't exactly the kind of place that offered room service.

"OK, we feign a gas leak? Tell them they won the Wroonian lottery?"

[Reisier]

Amaris almost regretted sending Kira to ask the question – the whole charade the Jedi was pulling, well, it was one step below ridiculous. Her swagger, if one could even call it that, seemed almost caricaturized, right out of a cheesy holonet scene. The meaness in her voice was pitiful, sounding more like a mother reprimanding a child than someone trying to extract information. Amaris pinched the bridge of her nose, half-expecting the male to laugh off the Tholothian’s approach. But when the room number was given up without so much as a fight, the Zelosian’s mouth hung wide. “Huh…” well that worked, strangely enough. She brushed past the reception desk, still completely confused at the display.

Maybe she should try that sometime; though, knowing her luck, she doubted it would all work out like this.

Amaris followed Kira up the stairs, hearing the crazy ideas that rambled through the Jedi’s head. Did she honestly think this was a spy show or something? Hell, these people weren’t the brightest, but they were definitely not stupid – well, not stupid enough to fall for something like that. A desperate sign escaped her lips, a brow quirked as they stopped outside room twenty-seven. She listened on to Kira’s words, hand running through her hair. Her eyes flicked towards the female at the mention of a better plan, to which Amaris responded with a grin. Her fist pounded against the door – shrugging her shoulders as the Tholothian shot her a look. “What? We were wasting time.”

Amaris could hear movement coming from behind the door, hesitant footsteps taken towards them. The woman pulled the blaster from her holster as she heard the door unlocked. As the door creaked open, the face of a Trandoshan now visible, Amaris did not hesitate to bring her arm down, the grip clobbering down on the alien’s face. He yelped, staggered back, and the Zelosian rushed, arm wrapped around his neck in a chokehold. She pushed him forward, blaster now resting against his temple. From over his shoulder she could see a second Trandoshan on his feet.

He snarled, “Sit down; sit down – now.” Amaris’ voice dripped with venom, each syllable a clipped staccato. A minute dragged by, the male glowering at the shorter woman – his eyes flicked to the right and towards the Jedi before refocusing on Amaris once more. “I won’t say it again.” She warned. Slowly, the Trandoshan sat and after a few seconds Amaris released his companion, who soon joined him.

“Don’t even think about it.” She warned, nodding at the blaster the second Trandoshan was reaching for. Amaris motioned towards the Tholotian, “On the floor – kick it to her.” The male hissed, fangs bared, but the smuggler seemed unmoved. In fact, when faced with the thread, Amaris repeated the order, further supported by the safety on her blaster being unhinged. His jaw tightened as far as the woman could tell, his partner’s eyes shifting nervously between the two. But eventually the male gave in, his body slumping over as he placed the rifle on the floor. “And kick it.” So he did. The blaster slid across the dingy floor, stopping abruptly at Kira’s feet.

“Good boy – you’re not as slow as you look.”

Her eyes scanned the room, a dimly-lit hole-in-a-wall with barely any furnishings, that is, if one were to ignore the two beds with sunken mattresses and a single bedside table between the two. There were no lamps, just a single light fixture that hung from the ceiling, its yellowish light drowning the area. But even in the dimness it was clear to see that there was no boy to be found. Her jaw clenched, but the Zelosian smile, instead opting to plop herself across the more volatile male, legs crossed, blaster cocked towards his chest.

“So… how about we talk?”

“What makes you think we want to talk.” His voice was low, raspy, barely above a whisper – void of any form of emotion, that of a man who enjoyed this lifestyle. “Well, considering your current situation,” She interrupted, “I really doubt you have a choice.” The Zelosian crossed and uncrossed her legs, cringing slightly as she did.

“Heard you have something that doesn’t really belong to you.”

“Oh?” Was the response, the male leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees, fingers intertwined. “And what might that be?” His eyes narrowed, bore right into her. She felt her muscles tense slightly, but she refused to find herself intimidated, leaning forward herself, “A kid – ‘bout ten. Dark hair, eyes, has a silly little grin; ring any bells?”

He chuckled, leaning back until he sat up right, glancing at his partner momentarily before he spoke, “No. Don’t believe we have that in stock.” There was a smugness in him that the female did not like, and Amaris had to fight every urge in her not to blast his head off.

“Oh poodoo,” She growled, fist slammed unto the table, “…I know for a fact that he’s here.” All she really needed to know was where. There was a rattling that made Amaris shift her gaze and towards its origin – a door on the far left, disappearing into a small hallway – the ‘fresher, she guessed. “Over there, check.”

“You know, you’re going to make my employer very upset...” Amaris heard him call, making the female cringe at the thought. If her name got out, if they somehow managed to figure out who she was, there went her reputation. “…they don’t take well to disappointments.” A nasty stain like that could cost her everything, especially in this line of work. Amaris grimaced, but she didn’t skip a beat. “Looking forward to hearing from him.”

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Before any strategizing could take place, Amaris had knocked on the door, poked a blaster in the Trandoshan's eye, and taken charge of the situation. All without Jedi reflexes.

"Or that I guess," Kira said nonchalantly as she stepped into the room, lightsaber in her hand but not yet activated. The cool metal cylinder was kept tucked carefully into her palm, long and slender fingers wrapped around it.

"You know, I get this idea that maybe you're just a little into action. Like, prompt action?" Kira giggled, prompting stares of confusion from both the Trandoshans, who exchanged looks as if to question what the hell was going on.

The dark-skinned woman reached out with her senses and was headed for the refresher even before Amaris got the location of the child out of them. Of course Kira could also tell they were lying even faster, as she could clearly sense a young force-sensitive in the room.

The door opened to her touch, and inside was a frightened young boy sitting on the floor in dirtied Jedi robes, tears still fresh on his cheeks. Instantly Kira's heart just went out to him and kneeled down onto his level, running a hand through his hair before pulling him to her breast in a hug.

He saw the lightsaber in her hand and became instantly more chipper. Within seconds they were both on their feet and backing out the door.

Kira shot a look at Amaris, as one hand rested on Rolly's shoulder.

"I don't suppose you have a cunning escape plan in mind? I mean, it might come in handy and all, because I get the feeling they're going to come out of that room at any minute, angry. I am right, right?"

[Reisier]

“Prompt?” Well, that was definitely a nicer way of putting it. “I suppose you could say that.” Generally the Zelosian’s actions would have been described as foolhardy, rash, and undoubtedly stupid, as described by Jacobson many years ago. Granted, this ordeal really was starting to fit the whole ‘stupid’ bill. She glanced black as Kira disappeared to the ‘fresher,’ before her attention was captured by the Trandoshan’s voice once more.

“The thing is,” The Trandoshan spoke, Amaris eyes locking his narrow amber eyes, “…you won’t be hearing anything.” He chuckled, shifting his weight as he rose to a stance. Amaris watched him closely, blaster following his every move. “What’s that phrase? Ah, yes – actions speak louder than words.” His eyes flicked towards the Zelosian’s direction, her muscles tautening under his cryptic words. Amaris Sataj silently cursed her luck, knowing this threat was a promise above all else. These people did not like getting screwed; sure, even if the Youngling was taken away, even if the Jedi escaped, that still left her in a world of people looking to make a pretty credit quick.

“Heh,” A chuckle broke through the room’s oppressing silence, the Zelosian narrowing her eyes, “Sorry to disappoint you or your boss,” She started, arm pulled back, blaster rested comfortably against her shoulder, “…I don’t scare easily.” A bluff, one that she hoped neither of the males would pick up on.

“I guess we’ll have to see that, now won’t we?”

“I suppose we will.” She quipped. Her head snapped up, the sudden interruption of Kira and Rolly’s footsteps couldn’t come at a better moment. Amaris stood up, feeling more at ease to see the child unharmed – maybe disoriented, scared, but without physical injury.

“Didn’t have that in stock, huh?” The woman grimaced, glancing up at the Trandoshan before returning her attention to Kira once more. “Get him out of here, I’ll join you shortly.” There was little objection for room as the woman began to walk, guiding the boy out the cheerless room.

“Well, it’s been a real pleasure,” She spoke simply, the Zelosian becoming painfully aware of the seriousness of the situation. There was no way these guys were about to let them walk out that door without a fight, especially if this client that was continuously mentioned had offered a high price. Amaris walked back, blaster still pointed at the aliens, any movement and the trigger would be pulled, there was no question about that.

Even as she exited the room, joining the Jedi and child, Amaris couldn’t help but feel nervous. Her feet carried her quickly across the hall, and down the stairs. Amaris knew she would have to act quickly before she became just another victim of unfortunate circumstances. Until they were out the motel and on friendlier territory, their lives were disposable, threatened by the two Trandoshans. She glanced back at Kira as she posed the question – that’s a good question, what exactly was the plan? “Actually, I was thinking about running like hell and not looking back,” And, of course, hoping for the best.

The sudden banging of wood, hissing and yelling echoing from within the motel walls, made Amaris quickly cringe. “F-f*ck!”

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

If Amaris had been a Youngling, Kira would likely have chastised her with some strong words, like 'bad' and 'no' over her choice of language. However, she was most distinctly not a Youngling, so the Tholothian woman merely winced a little and kept walking briskly, Rolly in front of her.

"Yeah, running sounds like a very good idea," Kira admitted with a grimace. The sounds of angry Trandoshans were growing steadily louder, and Kira had to admit she was genuinely tense. Her heart was pounding behind her rib cage, and her stomach felt all wibbly-wobbly. Or was it butterflies? She didn't know exactly how to describe, besides saying she felt nervous.

In fact, Nervous. Nervous with a capital N, just to demonstrate the low level of anxiety she had. But she realized a stand had to be taken. It was time to be the hero she'd been dreaming of and preparing for ever since she was a wee child in home-made Jedi robes, watching holonet shows on the weekends.

Kira dug into her pocket and tossed her datapad and a bag of credits to Amaris, providing clipped instructions.

"Follow the map back to the docking bay, take Rolly to Daria, I'll hold them off."

With that distinctive snap-hiss, her lightsaber shimmered to life, a green blade cutting through the air with a crackle. She took up a Niman starting stance and had a few seconds to wait in it before a pair of very angry Trandoshans emerged in the hall.

Kira didn't notice whether Amaris had gone, or whether she'd stayed. She was wholly focused on the kidnappers.

"Look here, another Jeedai. She'll fetch a nice price on the black market."

The dark-skinned woman wore a look of fierce determination, and she leapt into action as soon as the first Trandoshan raised his blaster. Telekinetically she grasped his arm and jerked it around to point at his colleague, just as his scaly claw found the trigger. The second Trandoshan toppled to the ground limply, hit by a powerful stun beam.

The first overgrown Lizard switched to a lethal setting.

"Now I'm going to enjoy killing you."

[Reisier]

The Jedi was crazy – cuckoo crazy, served with a hefty side of irrational and a dash of foolishness; Kira really was thinking about staying behind and fighting the two Trandoshans? Amaris could not believe her ears. The Zelosian had met all sorts of people before, including those who had the blinding aptitude of a nerf, but they all knew their limitations unlike her. Kira was being ridiculous, Amaris would admit, but before Amaris could open her mouth and make her thoughts clear, she was interrupted. A datapad was chucked in her direction along a bag of what she could only assume were spare credits.

“W-what?” Amaris fumbled, her hands grasping unto the datapad and credits as if she were holding unto them for dear life. “Are you insane?” The Zelosian growled, eyes snapping back as the Trandoshans hissing became more and more distinct. “In case you haven’t noticed, those two are not guys you want to mess around with.” They were experienced, cold, and calculating, males that had, without a doubt, killed a fair share of species, some of which, the Zelosian didn’t doubt, included Force users. But there was nothing she could say, nothing she could do to change the Tholothian’s mind.

“Come on.” Amaris’ hand coiled around the young boy’s wrist, “We got to get out of here.” And so they ran, away from the Jedi Knight now drowned in green light and from the two Trandoshans that nipped at their heels. Running was exhilarating – it was terrifying. It spoke to primal instincts, of the desire to survive and the terror of losing control. It dripped with desperation, with vertiginous nightmares that folded upon themselves. Every synapse is awake when running, every muscle alert with dread.

Her mind was flashing. She could feel the wind rushing past every bit of exposed skin, tugging at her clothes. The weight of her body, feeling so suddenly unsupported, yielded to speed, making Amaris feel as if every second she went faster than before. The world around her became a flash of colors and lights, barely recognizable. Her mind kept going back, however, to the promise the Trandoshan had made, the threat of hearing from them again. She clenched her jaw, hands coiled into tight fists – just her luck.

The Zelosian’s footing faltered, the previous speed reduced to a sudden stop. “Damn.” She couldn’t do it; she couldn’t leave the Jedi behind. It was a death wish, sure, if the Jedi couldn’t take the two on, what else could a smuggler do? But Amaris didn’t have it within her.

Amaris breathed heavily, lungs hungry for air. Her chest rose and fell under irregular breaths, “Why – why are we stopping?” The youngling gasped, making Amaris look momentarily back. Honestly, she didn’t know. She didn’t know what the hell she was thinking, why the hell she was considering going back. Did she want to die? Hell no. But she also didn’t want to run away, tail between her legs.

“Look, kid…” She started, straightening up her posture as best as she could. She chewed on her lip, what did she want to do? Her brow was knotted as she grabbed the boy by the arm, leading him into a nearby alley and pushing him between two large trashcans, “…you, stay here…” She spoke, hands reaching to the blaster by her side. Pulling the gun out, she thrust it on the kid’s open hands, securing it within them. “If those two guys get near you, you pull the trigger… This thing there.” Amaris straightened up lightly, pointing to her head, “You shoot here.” Her heart, “Here.” Hand traveled to her side, “And here.”

She shifted uncomfortably, the weight of her actions beginning to take a toll – yeah, if she died that day, she had no one to blame but herself. “If we don’t come back in fifteen minutes, you go into that store there,” She motioned to a liquor store with a well-lit interior, “…and you call this number. Say you’re calling for Efad Nay’tey.” She explained abruptly. “Remember that name, alright?” There was a nod, “Efad Nay’tey – he’ll get you back to your friends if we don’t.”

And with that, Amaris doubled-back, unarmed, hurt, and terrified at what she may find.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Find your center, find your calm...

The Trandoshan's taunts washed over her, and Kira instead focused on the Force, allowing it to flow through her. It would control her actions, allowing her to see more than she could alone, to feel what could not be felt. It would allow her to fight, and if need be die.

Death was the last thing on her mind though. She was very much concerned with life. Admittedly everyone died. She'd learned that long ago, and while the Tholothian was hardly thrilled by it, she recognized the inevitability.

The Trandoshan squeezed the trigger and a blaster bolt shot forth. Like lightning, her lightsaber dipped to meet it, and the bolt ricocheted off the blade and struck the wall, leaving a gouge.

It was joined by a second and a third, leaving further scorch marks in the corridor. That might have instilled confidence, but Kira honestly wasn't thinking out the battle very much. She was simply reacting, trying to stay alive. There was no room in that for getting cocky.

The Trandoshan cackled, a rude and cruel sound if ever there was one.

"Very pretty so far Jeedai, but let's see how you do on automatic."

He flipped a switch and the blaster rifle spat out a dozen shots, and the dark-skinned woman frantically tried to block them all, succeeding with the first half, struggling with others, and finally losing control and taking a hit to the shoulder and a hit to her right arm. The lightsaber fell from her hand and she stumbled backwards, falling over onto the ground.

She could console herself with precisely one thing. Rolly and Amaris had made it to safety. She'd done her duty as a Jedi, and Kira Jeseledai would be remembered for it. That was enough for her, and she felt strangely peaceful about her imminent death.

"That'll take care of you," The Trandoshan hissed as his comrade stirred again and rose to his feet.

"Tie her up, I bet a Jeedai Knight will fetch a good price on the black market."

Weakened by the blaster bolts, and dizzy with pain, Kira barely resisted as she was bound by rope and her lightsaber was confiscated. At some point she even passed out, though when she couldn't say. What happened next she didn't know.

[Reisier]

It was a madhouse. Loud, violent, unpredictable – complete and utter chaos. Amaris watched helplessly as the show went on, the Jedi pivoting her lightsaber to stop the oncoming blaster bolts. She needed to do something, anything to help. Maybe step out, call out the Trandoshan’s attention.

And then what?

The desperate thought throbbed within the Zelosian’s mind, her heart skipping a beat in the process. Outrun them? Outsmart them? Hell, disappear? What exactly was her brilliant plan? If freedom and her spared life is what she wanted, Amaris would have a far better chance of finding it if she were to let the Trandoshans run off with their captured Jedi. But she didn’t want that; she couldn’t let the Jedi suffer for her mistakes. Her instinct for survival and her need to what was right were at war; on the one hand she wanted to live her life to an old age, a comfortable life, a good life, but on the other she was aware that Kira was in this situation because she didn’t think things through.

It wasn’t easy to weigh her options while the Tholothian was under attack, even less as the smuggler saw how her movements were becoming sluggish, as if struggling with the onslaught. The Jedi was taking a real battering and it was beginning to worry Amaris. If this goes on any longer, she’s not going to make it. The shrill whistle of misplaced shots echoed through the alley, their distinctive light flashing around becoming a slightly disorienting shower. With the Jedi and the Trandoshans otherwise occupied, Amaris decided it was the one and only opportunity she would have to do something incredibly stupid.

Amaris glanced up, the sight of a forgotten and rusty fire escape catching her attention. Jumping, the Zelosian was barely able to hold onto the ladder’s last rung. The Zelosian held to a grunt as she pulled herself up, her muscles shaking in protest of the sudden exertion. Damn, I’m out of shape. Ignoring the pain, the smuggler managed to pull herself up, climbing up the ladder and reaching the first landing. Amaris fumbled, but remained undeterred, even if it meant to feel around blindly in the darkness. She felt her way up the fire escape and to the building’s roof, a short two stories above where she had originally stood.

By now, the blaster bolts had stopped, an ominous silence stretching about. Amaris partially hoped it all had ended, that the Jedi had somehow managed to overcome the two, but as the Zelosian peered over the edge, she noticed that it wasn’t the case. The Trandoshans still stood; and the Jedi was – dead?! She clasped her mouth in horror, eyes wide, she was too late. The Jedi was gone. She had barely met the woman, but Amaris felt guilty as she watched her still form on the ground.

She thought about moving, but her muscles didn’t react, so she instead watched as the Trandoshans drew near the Jedi, carefully examining her. They exchanged words, too low for her to discern, but as they began to tie the Tholothian, it all became clear. “Oh thank the Force, she’s still alive.” But, now she was torn – there was no way Amaris could get away without helping Kira, it just wouldn’t be right.

“Dammit.”

Her hands held unto the neon sign, helping the Zelosian balance herself up, eyes focused on the Trandoshan that stood below. “I’m going to get myself killed doing this…” She laughed nervously, leaning slightly forward to measure the fall “…or at the very least, break my neck.” But the only way to do this was to catch them by surprise – and what better way to do it than fall out of the sky?

“Well, here goes, stupid.” She stepped off the ledge. Her body tingled at the foreign sensation of falling – terrified at the pain that was waiting for her at the end. She felt the wind rush past her faster than she had ever experienced before. The Zelosian barely had enough time to process what was going on in her head – the regret, the fear, she could have done something else, thought of a better plan. Hell, anything was better than this. But no, she had to do it, she acted without thinking, and now she was falling. And just as quickly as the idea had crossed her mind, it all ended with a booming crash. Her body felt like it caved in, folding into itself as she came to a stop, on top of the collapsed Trandoshan.

Amaris felt like a sack of bricks was used to beat her senseless. Amaris groaned, stirred slowly, coughing as the sudden impact had forced the air out of her lungs. “F*ck…” She grumbled, ears ringing as she sat up. Well, at least the Trandoshan had taken most of the impact, as he lay just as stunned on the ground. But the Zelosian had no time to recover. Just as quickly as she had sat up, the Trandoshan who found himself busied as he tied Kira spun around, and charged.

It was mostly surprise that drove her to grab the Trandoshan’s riffle from the ground, and pure instinct that made her shoot. The Trandoshan paused in mid-air, deterred by the impact. Amaris shot off around round of rapid fire, catching him in the thigh. He fell to the ground, snarling in pain, his whole body heving with the collapse.

The smoke from the riffle evaporated. Amaris, at first convinced that there was no other threat to their safety, pushed herself off the ground. She staggered sideways, collapsing against a trashcan, but still holding dearly to the weapon.

“You…” A voice heaved besides her, “…you are really starting to annoy me.”

Amaris turned, faster than her body would have liked, only to be met by the shaking form of the first Trandoshan. It was clear to her that he was just in much pain as she was, though perhaps looking a bit worse – his chin was split open, a gash stretched across the side of his face, and one of his fangs seemed to have chipped. He stood, a bit crooked, but enough to cause the woman to cock the blaster in his direction. Well, so much for the lack of threat. “How pleasant, you’re still thinking about me.” Amaris grimaced, wincing at the pain that shot through her body, “Now, unless you want a hole in your chest, I’d suggest you step back…” He narrowed his eyes slightly, but did as he was told. “Good.” Well, at least she got a blaster to back her up.

“The Jedi,” she spoke, “…untie her now.” Now, what the hell was she going to do? Her leg was shaking from the pain, it was a miracle she hadn’t broke it in the process, so there went any chance to run away and the Tholothian was passed out. Fraking. Great. The Trandoshan seemed to read Amaris’ mind as he let out a chuckle, “And what? You’re planning to carry the Jedi away with a gimpy leg?”

“Or I can just shoot you like your friend over there and then go away with my gimpy leg.”

Think, Amaris, think.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Kira regained consciousness, cognizant of the searing pain, just as the Trandoshan was talking to someone else. Hazel eyes followed the gaze of the lizard to-

"Amaris!" Kira practically squeaked, shocked at seeing the member of the fringe back after she'd been told very clearly to move on.

The Tholothian woman winced at the rope that dug into her blaster-wound when she struggled, and she remained quietly bound and still as she gave a truly hopeless look at the Zelosian woman. Why had she come back? Had she left Rolly alone on Nar Shaddaa? Shaddadada- Drat.

A movement so subtle that it hardly registered was taking place in the hall. The Trandoshans were, in unison, reaching for concealed weapons. The one standing abruptly threw a wickedly cruel knife straight at Amaris, when just as abruptly it stop in mid-air and went flying straight back at him.

The Trandoshan let out a squeal as the blade lodged in his throat, making a gurgling sound before he expired on the floor.

The second slaver pulled out a blaster pistol just in time to be struck by a blue lightsaber that came streaking past Amaris, cutting deep into the lizard, who passed on with a grunt.

Kira looked up to see a Miraluka woman striding towards them with a frown on her face, a Youngling hot on her heels.

"Are you both deranged?" She asked with exasperation in her voice as she started untying Kira's bonds.

"You could both have been killed, or worse," Daria said seriously, the Jedi Master's invisible gaze directed on both women, like a schoolmaster rebuking an unruly child.

Rolly waved as he sheltered behind Daria's leg.

[Reisier]

“Don’t worry, we’ll get out of here soon.” The Zelosian assured, though, how they were going to do that was still being decided by the woman. They were running out of options here, reaching a stalemate of sorts. Either they could all part their ways, knowing well-enough that it was a matter of time before the slavers came back; or Amaris could shoot them in cold blood and walk away while ruining any form of self-respect she still had for herself. Her eyes shifted, turned to look at the Tholothian, trying to find any form of escape – but she couldn’t, there was no outcome Amaris could be potentially happy with.

The next sequence of events were barely processed by the Zelosian. There was a scream, followed by a gurgle as the Trandoshan closest to her dropped to the floor, a knife lodged nicely through his throat. A blaster round shrieked through the air – there was a blue flash, a grunt, and then a thud as a second body hit the ground. Amaris barely had enough time for her mouth drop open in surprise, their little party crashed by Kira’s companion from the bar, the Miraluka, and the very same child they had rescued not half an hour ago.

“Deranged?” Seriously? What in the flying hell did that mean? They had been looking for the kid, Amaris had gone out of her way to help find the kid. And, need she mention, get shot and jump off a roof in the process. Sure, these had been the result of her own doings, but give the Zelosian a minute and she sure as hell could connect it back to the Jedi. Well, ignoring the fact that they almost got killed in the process, the Zelosian couldn’t help but think about all of the possible things she placed in line for this – her job, her reputation, her family. All of that could have been lost in the blink of an eye, and yet, here was this Jedi, talking down to her as if she were nothing more than a snotty child. Who in the flying hell did she think she was?

“Wait a minute now, if it weren’t for us, the kid would’ve stayed lost.” Amaris countered, arms crossed defiantly over her chest. It was true, if they thought about it; partial truth, perhaps, but true nonetheless. She shifted her weight, jaw clenched as she bit back a groan – she definitely was going to get a drink after all of this was good and over. “If anything you should be thanking us, not calling us deranged!” She chewed on her cheek, suddenly aware of how the riffle’s weight threatened to pull her arm out of her socket – yeah, that definitely was going to be sore in the morning.

Besides, if this could be reduced to be anyone’s fault, it most definitely should be Kira’s. Amaris wanted to outrun the Trandoshans, get on friendlier territory where they could find help. But, no, the Jedi knight wanted to be a hero, stay behind and take the two slavers on. Amaris was being unfair, the smuggler knew that, but currently, she didn’t care. She was a full-grown woman that got herself shot at, threatened by a smuggler, and nearly stabbed. Amaris deserved to be a little short-tempered. Then again, they had just saved her life and eliminated all lose ends the Trandoshans had created. She sorta, kinda, needed to be thankful about that.

Amaris pinched the bridge of her nose, a desperate attempt to regain her composure. Remember, Amaris, Jedi have that nasty fire sword, her mind chastised, eyes fluttering close for a minute. She breathed out heavily, eyes fluttering open as they fell upon the Tholothian, the child, before finally fixing on the Miraluka. “Alright, look.” She started simply, shrugging her shoulders as she reached towards her own blaster, still secured tightly on the boy’s hands. “This whole charade has been great and all, but, I’m tired.” She pointed over her shoulder, “Think I’m just going to, ah, call it a day.”

She was right all along, these Jedi were a real pain.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Kira wilted like a flower under Daria's condemnation, but before it could grow any worse, the Miraluka woman embraced Kira gently and pulled the headdress off of her head, revealing chestnut hair pulled up into a bun, that Daria rubbed vigorously before replacing Mister Tentacles in his rightful place atop the Tholothian's head, albeit slightly askew.

The Knight endured the display of affection, though she was still wincing over the raw pain of the blaster wounds to her shoulder and arm, which hung limply by her side. She turned her attention to Amaris though swiftly.

As did Daria.

The Miraluka woman was fully prepared to become mother bird for the Zelosian as well, and in fact she did unleash that aspect of her personality quite promptly.

"Amaris, you are very young and very foolish. But the Jedi Order is in your debt, and I will not allow you to go without treatment for your injuries. You will come with us both to our shuttle, and we will take good care of you."

Rolly handed Amaris her pistol once more, and Kira walked over to stand by Daria, picking up her lightsaber and clipping it to her belt with her left arm. She looked tired and pained.

(OOC: Here begins me taking a few liberties since you're not around to consult with as I write this)

Daria had secured transportation, and on the ride back to the shuttle, Kira fell into a pained sleep, not in danger of death, but merely as a pleasant change from the pain.

The Miraluka woman stripped her former Padawan and plunged her into a kolto tank, with all the lack of care for her nudity that a mother would have over her infant child.

Revealed, Kira's body was not precisely what most would refer to as 'sexy.' It was uniform in color, a dark caramel, and was long and lean, with very modest curvature, unlikely to draw much attention for reasons other than nudity alone. It was really her hair that drew the most attention, solely because it hadn't been seen on a daily basis since she was a Padawan.

Daria stood by the tank, looking over Amaris' injured leg like some kind of expert doctor, though she was anything but.

"Sprain I think. I lack the ability to heal it promptly, but I can give you something for the pain and apply a bandage."

[Reisier]

Her head was throbbing, threatening to explode. All Amaris wanted to do was to sit down, leave this insanity behind, and get a drink; not alcohol, no, something stronger was in order. She needed sugar; a sweet elixir that would drown the stiffness away, relax her muscles, and let her sleep soundly. A fizzy drink, maybe a soda of sorts, one that when pressed against her lips, she could feel bubble and tickle at her sensitive skin. It wasn’t anything complex or utterly horrific, just a soda; hell, she’d even settle for a lemonade if she found protest. ‘Sides, it wasn’t like she was going to have a chunk of cake – no, only a soda today.

Then again, a chocolate cake would hit the spot right about now.

She could see the Miraluka talking, but Amaris really paid no attention. Her mind was occupied, delving deeper and deeper into the realm of chocolaty goodness. Sure, some Zelosians would argue that Amaris was, perhaps, overdoing it, but after tonight, she sure as hell deserved it. She wanted to consume so much sugar she could barely see straight, enough to numb her body so she didn’t feel the pain rushing through her legs.

You will come with us both to our shuttle, The words came as a sudden surprise, shaking the Zelosian from her dreamlike state. “Wait, what?” She was flabbergasted, completely confused. This was supposed to be over – she was supposed to be going back to her apartment, to get plastered and call it a night, not – this! Well, whatever the hell this was. Amaris shook her head, lifting her hands in a sign of obvious contempt, “Look, I -- ” The Zelosian protested, but there was little that could be done or said to change the Jedi’s mind. Amaris was ushered into the shuttle, half pushed, half pulled, leaving the Zelosian with no opportunity to make her decision voiced.

Amaris felt defeated to a certain extent; no matter what she said or how she tried to say it, these people simply weren’t listening. They were taking charge of the situation and, quite frankly, Amaris didn’t like it. For the most of the trip, the Zelosian remained with her arms crossed, a pout adorning her full lips – a almost childish endeavor to demonstrate her displeasure. She thought about complaining in more than one occasion, but quickly referred from it, mostly because the Miraluka now tended to the Tholothian’s wounds, something, the woman admitted, that required immediate attention. Instead, Amaris found herself interested in her surroundings, studying the shuttle as it creaked away, carrying its precious cargo to wherever the hell they were going.

“Where are we headed anyways?” The Zelosian suddenly interrupted, glancing momentarily at the Miralukan Jedi that examined her leg. “Eh, no worry about it. I’ll get someone to look at it tomorrow.” The lack of adrenaline no longer there to drown the pain, besides, all wasn’t miserable; maybe she could get away with dropping Fosu’s job.

“…but, I’ll take that pain killer, if you don’t mind.”

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Daria obliged and brought Amaris a pair of pills and a glass of water, setting them down for the woman. She also brought a bandage though, and started taping up the leg, with or without permission.

"It's not in my nature to withhold help," The Miraluka said only semi-apologetically, occasionally glancing at the kolto tank and Kira, floating in there like it was the womb all over again.

"And to answer your question, we are flying to a pair of rendezvous points to pick up the other four Jedi who were searching. When they are onboard, we will return you to your home."

With the excuse provided, Daria set about fishing her Tholothian former-apprentice out of the tank, pulling her out, reviving her, and giving her a bathrobe all quite promptly.

Feeling considerably more chipper, the Jedi Knight sat on a comfortable chair, dripping onto the floor. Her shoulder-length chestnut hair was visible now, and loosed from its bun to dry. Her headdress and a fresh pair of robes were resting a few feet away on an end-table.

Strangely enough, Kira had just one thing to say.

"Like, you saw me naked? Breasts and everything?"

Her voice was one part incredulous, and one part horrified, but mixed with the curiosity of a child who didn't quite understand.

Daria nodded and looked to Amaris.

Kira facepalmed and groaned.

[Reisier]

“Don’t see it as withholding,” Amaris spoke casually as the woman returned, a glass clasped on one hand and, what she assumed were pills, on the other. A small thanks rolled off the female’s lips as the glass was set down besides her along the two, bright blue pills. Without hesitation Amaris reached towards the tablets, plopping them absentmindedly into her mouth. “…just see it as me being too, ah, ‘deranged’ to accept the help.” Amaris chuckled, rolling the pills on her tongue before taking a swing of water. She cocked her head back, swallowed before releasing a sigh. Well, while the pills would provide eventual help, they certainly didn’t prepare the woman as the Jedi yanked her leg away.

Amaris cringed at the Jedi’s sudden intrusion, an audible curse leaving her lips. Pain, sharp, unbearable pain; even with the painkillers she had taken, Amaris could not find comfort in their embrace, she was left on her lonesome to deal with the ache. “You could’ve warned me!” She snapped, hand coiled into a tight fist as she pounded on the chair – a desperate attempt to lessen the pain. Her jaw was clenched, muscles tightening and relaxing as she tried her very best to ease the pain away. Just relax, Amaris, relax. Slow breaths were taken to even out her beating heart, which, she swore, threatened to burst out to her chest.

“Ah, I see…” She groaned after a few minutes, head tilted back; the pain was lessening, though whether it was as a result of the medication or her body becoming accustomed to the ache, the Zelosian was still unsure. But, whatever it was, she was honestly thankful for it. Emerald eyes flicked towards the Miralukan who continued to work, wrapping the Zelosian’s leg under a thick array of white bandages. An unnecessary precaution, she figured with a frown, but being in no mood to argue, allowed the woman to do as she pleased – she could tear them off once she got home. “And no need, I can walk once you’re done picking up the others.” Though, after this little encounter, she was seriously reconsidering her words – maybe being dropped off wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

The Miralukan’s sudden movement caught Amaris’ attention. Unwavering eyes followed Daria as she crossed the shuttle towards the Kolto tank that Kira had been resting in. It was a bit awkward to see the Jedi in this damning situation, completely bare for the world to see. Yet, it wasn’t the nakedness that particularly bothered the Zelosian, she was a woman – it was nothing she hadn’t seen before – nor was it shame, she didn’t find women attractive in that particular way, but she was amazed. “Huh…” Kira couldn’t be older Nahlia; perhaps, she was even younger than the Zelosian’s sister. Her curious eyes followed the pair, as the Miraluka pulled the Tholothian out, her body willowy and lithe – at least just by sight. She was revived of her comatose state, her shivering form promptly covered by a fuzzy bathrobe of sorts.

While most women would have seemed unmoved by the sudden exposure, especially when it was only with those of the same gender, Kira seemed mortified at the thought. Amaris quirked her brow as Kira buried her face within her hands, shaking her head the smuggler spoke, “Uhh, sunshine, in case you haven’t noticed, it’s nothing new.” Well, it really was true. Considering the sight that Efad had provided earlier, this would seem almost mild. “Especially since the three of us having similar…” How could she put it nicely? “…assets.”

“Anyways,” Amaris added, quickly changing the subject, “…you’ve got hair?” Like, actual hair. As stupid as it may seem, the Zelosian had been nearly convinced that those dangly feelers were the Tholothian’s locks.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Kira blushed.

There was a little more to the story than the surface told. While a Jedi didn't have emotional attachment, it didn't mean she had no attraction, and the Tholothian was always troubled by her propensity to find people of both genders attractive. So for her, having the same 'assets' wasn't really a guarantee of there being nothing sexually interesting there.

Granted she buried that deep down, but it still affected her thoughts on nudity.

The hair comment though prompted a giggle.

"Well yeah," Kira said with a laugh. "Of course I have hair. Don't see too many near-humans without any hair."

As if to accent the fact she did have hair, the dark-skinned woman pulled at it and waved it around, pulling it off her forehead, getting an unruly bang off her eyes. But the hair could only be played with for so long before she remembered that a conversation required some interaction.

"Daria gave me the headdress when I became a Jedi Knight at the beginning of this year. I've worn it ever since. I don't think my mom had one, but I know my grandmother wore hers all the time. I saw her in pictures growing up."

The Miraluka woman who was mentioned had vanished away, making herself scarce somewhere as she left the two rescuers in the medbay together to talk.

Kira beamed, picking up the headdress and holding it on her lap, idly playing with the tendrils of 'Mister Tentacles.' Really she was just as amused with it as any Youngling, though one Rodian boy had been scared of it once.