| Kat colapsed on the coutch in the liveing area, all the feelings she'd been hideing and holding in finally pouring out. First her parrents, then Master Ja'kan, now Kira. "Why, Kira? Why?" she cried . . . Kat felt the ships before they poped out of hyperspace. She braced herself for impact, the ship shook just after. Admeral Gragan's eyes grew wide, "Take them back to their cells!" he ordered. The storm troopers escorted Kat and Kira off the bridge and were half way to the brigg when they were stoped by a group of rebels. "You there these yours?!" one of the males in the group yelled holding out two lightsabers. In reply Kat and Kira called their lightsabers to themselves and cut down their gaurds before they could blink. "Thanks," Kat replied as she and Kira joined the group. "Don't mension it, now come on! Let's get outta here before we're all in the detensoin block!" the male replied. "Lead the way!" Kira answered. The male lead them through a number of corodors. Kat and Kira deflected blaster bolts from the groups of stormtroopers while the rebels took them out. They made it to the landing bay when they ran into more stormtroopers. Kira motined for them to go to their ships, Kat among them. The rebels ran to their ships, Kat stayed and fought along side Kira. "Go Kat!" she ordered. "No, I won't leave you! Your comeing with me!" Kat replied. "Go now!" Kira ordered useing her strength and more experence in the force to make Kat go to her ship. Kat ran to her ship and ignited the engines, it took more urging on Kira's part to get her to take off. Once in space and among the rebel fleet Kat suddenly felt Kira's presence in the force dicintagrate. All the fisical pain Kira had before she died hit Kat like a two ton duracreat brick. She fell to the floor chocking back tears. -I will be with you always!- Kira told Kat telepathicly right before she died. "Rebel fleet to alien ship, please identify!" a female voice came over the com. Kat gathered her strength and concentrated on answereing, "This is Kat Kariena on bored the Star Dancer." "You the Jedi some of our men ran across?" the voice replied. "One of them yes," Kat answered. "Transmitting rondevous corodnates now," a male voice replied. "Meetcha there," Kat replied werily. "Rebel fleet out!" and the transmission ended. Kat hit the hyperdrive switch and her ship leaped off into hyperspace. Moments after she went into hyperspace Kat colapsed. "What happened out there!?" Lord Vader demanded. "The rebels attacked, and the Jedi escaped, M'lord," Admeral Gragan answered trying to mask his fear. An invisable hand grabed his throat and lifted him off the ground. "But . . . I . . . managed . . . to get . . . the . . . name of . . . the Je . . . di we're search . . . ing for," Gragon pleaded and the grip loosened a little bit. "Continue," the Sith Lord ordered. "Kat Kariena, is the name of the Jedi you want," Gragon weezed. Once he gave that information the infisable hand grabed to his throat agian. With in moment's he was dead. Vader looked at Alchi, his head Hunter. The invisable hand choacked the life out of him too. "Herisha! You're to take Alchi's place! Find that Jedi and bring her back to me!" A tall gray rat steped forward, "Yes Mi'lord." When Kat awoke she found herself in an infermary. She tried to sit up, but when a sharp pain shot through her back she dicided it would be best to stay down. "Ahh! Your awake! I woulden't try and sit up for a while, you hurt yourself pretty bad," a firmillar male voice exclaimed beside her. Kat turned her head to look where the voice was coming from, it was the male that had given Kat and Kira back their lightsabers, "Where am I?" "On bored one of our rebel ships, I'm not exactly sure at the moment," the male replied. "How did I wind up here?" "We found your ship foating in the area, whn you didden't answer the com, we tractor beamed your ship abord, you were inconcience so we brought you here. Your sceduled for the bacta tank in a few hours-" "No need," Kat cut him off. "I can heal myself before any bacta tank!" and before he replied Kat was in a healing trance. Kat awoke an hour later to find the male she talked to before, another male, and a female. She stood up, and ignored the med-droid's protests at the impossable. She smiled, "Toldja that I'd be better before the bacta tank!" then she looked around and noticed that Kira wasn't there. "Ummmm, where's Kira?" "Kira?" the female asked. "The other Jedi-" Kat cut herself off as she rembered what happened. "Never mind." The three looked at each other for a moment, then the female spoke, "We know you're a Jedi, and we know that you were abord that Star Destroyer, but would you mind filling in the blanks?" "Not untill you fill in yours," Kat replied. "What?" the female asked. "I'm not sayin' anything till you give me the date, and your names," Kat replied. "My name is Maranka Kentris," the female answered. "This is General Calder Dentro-" "And I'm Niklan Zentrik," the male she had talked to before introduced himself, cutting Maranka off. Kat roled her eyes, "Kat Kariena, Jedi Knight, smugglar, bounty hunter." "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Kariena-" General Dentro started. "Cut the miss! It's just Kat," Kat cut him off sharply. "Sorry, Kat," Dentro corrected himself, "I'm sorry for meeting this way, we had no idea that there were prisoners abord." "It's alright, ummm, could some one tell me the date, and get something halfway diecet to eat?" Kat asked. The three rebels laughed, and Maranka gave Kat the date, Kat wasn't surprised to find that she had been abord that Star Destroyer for over three months. "Come on, Maranka and I were on our way to the dineing hall anyway!" Dentro replied after he stoped laughing. "Thank you," Kat answered and she slid off the bed she was sitting on. The four of them walked out of the infirmary ignoreing the protests from the frenzied med-droid. They walked along to the dining hall Kat asking her hosts questions, and they asked questions back. It didden't take them long to reach the dining hall, and recieve their meal. "You're Corellian aren't you?" Dentro. "What gave you that idea?" Kat replied. "Well for first thing what Nik told me you did back in the infirmary, you seem rather reckless, and Odds are-" "I have no use for odds," Kat cut him off, giving away her heritage right then and there. "I was wondering something, Kat," Niklan asked. "Shoot," Kat replied. "What happened to the other Jedi? The one you were with," Niklan asked. Kat stoped eating and sighed. Somehow she knew that this was comeing, "Kira died so we could get away." Kat choked back the tears, Not now! she thought, I can cry later, but not now. "I'm sorry," Dentro replied. Sam had tracked Kat down to Nar Shadda, and then to a Star Destroyer. Now it would appear that she was with some of the rebels, He coulden't get here while she was there, so he would wait. She coulden't stay with them forever. Kat stayed with the rebels for a few days, but soon she realized that she needed to go her own way; back to smuggling. "I'm sorry," she said. "But I need to leave, I have a Kessel Run that I'm 3 months late for!" "Alright," Maranka replied, she and Kat had grown fond of each other, but Kat was unwilling to get close to anyone right now, whitch was understandable, but Maranka suspected that there was more to it than just her friend. "Keep in touch." "I will," Kat replied as she walked onto her ship and prepared for launch. Once in hyperspace Kat realized just how lonely the journey had become. She didden't cry, instead she turned on her remotes and started to go over her exercises. Sam watched Kat's ship dissapear into hyperspace ploted a possable corse. Only one system in that terdrectory was Kessel, and since she was three months late for the Kessel Run it seemed the only logical place.unfortunately, Sam had to stop in another system for fresh suplies. That was ok, she also had to stop in at Nar Shadda. He could "rondevous" with her there. Kat was doing one kata after another when they hyperspace alarm went off. She ran to the cockpit , brought the ship out of hyperspace, and started doing her half of the landing work when she realized once agian that Kira wasn't there. She sighed, it would take a while for her to get used to being alone in the ship agian. She landed the ship and went to see Moruth Doole. She knew that she was three months late and that the spice she was suposed to pick up before would be gone, but maybe there would be a shipment that is suposed to go out now anyway. She entered the Rybets office. "You're here to pick up the spice shipment?" he asked, his artifical eye fixing on Kat standing in the doorway. "Wha d' you think?" Kat replied trying to lose her Corellian accent. "I think your three months late!" Doole replied. "'Twasn't ma fault th' Imps were in th' area at th' time!" Kat answered. "I have a shipment that needs to go to Coroscant, you up for it?" "I dun know, lemme think, ummmm yea!" Kat snapped. "D' I look like 'm not? Wha's yer price?" "50%" "WHA'!" Kat protested. "No, no! That's too much!" "Hey, that's not my problem!" Kat sighed, she should of expected this. Doole handed her a small piece of papper, "The cargo is at these corodnates." Kat took the papper and walked out of the room not looking back and gratefull not to have to use that anoying Lemoian accent agian, for a while anyway. She headed stright to the wearhouse and started loading the spice on to her ship. With Jedi enhanced strength it wasn't long before she was done and ready to take off. The trip through hyperspace was boreing, if nothing else, Kat had worked on kata's, tinkered on makeing various wepons that she could use and not give herself away as a Jedi, or just working with her remotes. Kat realized how much she had depended on Kira over the past year almost, and hiw much Kira had worked on keeping her in her right mind. When she reached Coroscant she hitched a ride down in a bigger ships blind spot. It wasn't hard to make the operators of the ships believe they saw nothing. Kat sighed, if they were strong willed and strong minded they would proably be with on of the fractions of rebels. Kat landed her ship on one of the deeper levels of Coroscant. She had done runs here before, and hated the place. Her white fur gave her a look of helpless innocents that she didden't have, so she always dyed her fur so she didden't have to put up with putting the males in a trace that they would never some out of, unless by pure accident some one spoke the awakening words. "Katrin Mantris?" a deep male voice asked as Kat steped out of her ship, her fur died black. "Were you expecting anyone else, Rikon Malanox?" Kat asked. "In you bissness, who knows," the male replied "Good point," Kat replied good naturedly. "Well, come in and enjoy yourself, as all smugglars know the getting into Coroscant is easy, but getting out while your tiered is not," Riklon invited. "Always the gentleman? I thought all smuggler males were rude and inconciderate!" Kat laughed. So did Riklon. "Lets put it this way, so far your the only one to make it in and out of here more than three times, and a smugglar that can do that is a good thing to keep around!" Rikon replied. "That's enourageing!" Kat answered wryly. "Let's go, we can talk price inside," Rikon jerked his head towards his establishment. "After you," Kat gestured for him to go before herself. Rikon lead the way. Once inside he lead her to a back room, the room was empty of people, and the table in the center had a varaity of entres on it. "Have a seat," Rikon gestered towards some of the pillows on the floor, and sat oppisite of Kat. "Thank you," Kat replied kneeling on the pillows. "Now, before we talk bissness, may I ask where your acomplis is Kirta I believe her name was?" "Three months ago we were on our way to Kessel and were intersepted by Imps, we spent thee months in the detencion block when rebels raided the ship and accidentaly freed us, Kirta died returning the favor," Kat answered, sounding as casual about it as she could. "I see," Rikon sissen't know how to reply so he turned the subject to bissness. "How much for the cargo?" "Enough to make Doole happy and me happy," Kat replied. "Uh oh! How much he asked for this time?" "fifty percent," Kat answered pokeing the nerf steak that was put infront of her. "Tell you what, I'll give you 50,000 and transfer another 100,000 to your account, how bout that?" "Works for me." "Good, now eat! Eat! We don't need you getting cought on your way out of here!" Rikon ordered and laughed. Kat chuckled and starting eating, the food was good, she had to admit that, she didden't have any of the drink though. Something was wrong about this whole set-up. Kat ate quickly and prepared to leave. "I thank you for you hospitality," Kat told him on her way out the door. "Please stay, enjoy yourself for a little while," Rikon replied trying to get Kat to stay. "No," Kat politely refused. "I'm afraid I must leave." "Bu-" "No 'but' I need to leave," Kat cut him off and walked out the door. Rikon grabed her arm to stop her and got a surprise when he got thrown out the door with the slight foreward movement of her arm. He looked at Kat with surprise, no feline he had ever met had ever done that to him before. "What planet did you say you were from?" he asked in surprise. "Ravine VI, it's a heavy gravity planet on the very edge of the unknown regions," Kat replied. Rik shook his head both trying to clear it and understand. "Now, if you'll excuse me I need to leave," Kat continued and walked past him. She walked onto her ship, unloaded her cargo took the money that Rikon finally stoot up to gave to her, and took off. When Kat made her way off Coroscant she set corse to Nar Shadda. It would be good to get back to the over crowded moon and take a small break from doing anything. She could pack her things and go to a small quiet planet near the center of the galaxey for a while, of corse if everyone on Nar Shadda found out she was a Jedi by now she would have to make it a quick stop . . . a very quick stop. She was starting to get used to being alone on the ship agian and started to look foreward to coming out of hyperspace. She checked the data banks for the latest bountys in the area and was slighty surprised that her name was on there. But then agian the inmp did know my name when we were on the bridge, he coulda told one of those Sith Lords of theirs, Kat thought, That means this is gonna be a real quick stop! "This is the Falcons Wing to Nar Shadda Traffic control I'm connin' in!" Kat reported in. "Falcons Wing you are cleared to land in docking bay 223," a voice replied. "Alright," Kat replied and started her decent. Kat's landing was quick, but when she came off the ship she saw Kalex and Tabby standing by her landing space. "What?" she asked. Tabby just glared at her, "You shouldn'ta come back, you got ev'ry bounty hunter and smugglar on the moon lookin' fer ya! Your lickey Kalex owes me a favor other wise he'd be after you to!" "I didden't know-" Kat started. "Just go back into your ship and dye your fur, alright?" Kalex snapped angrely at being decived. "Alright, alright," Kat replied and went back into her ship to dye her fur like Kalex ordered. She dyed her white fur black and came back out of the ship. "This better?" "Much, now let's go!" Tabby replied yanking Kat's hand. They ran to three small modified land speeder bikes. "Get on," Tabby snapped. Kat got on the speeder bike and followed Tabby and Kalex through the streets of Nar Shadda. When they stoped Kat found herself at an old building that seemed somewhat farmillar. "Remember this place?" Tabby asked. "It seems farmillar, but it dosen't jar any memories, why?" Kat replied. "This is the place you handed over a bounty a while ago," Kalex answered. "Oh yea! I remember now, I was is compitision with Fett at the time wasn't I?" Kat asked sarcasticly. "Well now your gonna see just how much of a chalange you can be for him, he's been all over Nar Shadda and Nal Hutta lookin' fer you!" Tabby replied. "Great, just great!" Kat answered as Tabby and Kalex lead her into the old building. Once inside Kalex suddenly started scolding Kat, "Why didden't you tell me you were a Jedi?" "Think Kalex, I'm here on Nar Shadda, smugglars, bounty hunters, and everything else here would be out for me if I told anyone! I told Tabby on accident!" Kat replied. "I woulden'ta told anyone!" Kalex retorted. "When yer sober! You know what happens when you get drunk every now and then! You woulda told the whole moon!" Kat answered. "Ok you two, what's done is done, right now we need get Kat off this moon . . . agian," Tabby broke into the conversation. "Mo we've found a smugglar that is willing to take you off planet." A tall white furred cat stepped out of the shaddows. He had a calm air about him. He looked about a year or so older than Kat, and a smile that really annoyed Kat at the moment. "And you are?" Kat snapped. "My name is Svrem," the male answered. "What about my ship?" Kat asked turning back to Tabby and Kalex. "I'm gonna 'steal' your ship and meet up with the two of you," Tabby explained. "Where we gonna meet?" Kat inquiered. "A small relitivly undiscovered planet on the rim," Svrem explained. "The Amazons rule there so you'll have no fear of being turned over to the Imps." Kat glared at him, "I wasn't asking you!" "Lighten up! They didden't know where I was going till just now!" Snowii teased. "I'll need my things from my apratment," Kat told Tabby. "I'll get them, you have your lightsaber?" Tabby replied. "Never leave my ship with out it!" Kat replied wryly. "When do we leave?" "As soon as your ready," Snowii replied. "Great, now get going!" Kalex snapped. "Right this way Miss Kariena," Snowii motioned towards his ship. Kat rolled her eyes, "Don't call me that, it's Kat, just Kat." "Alright Kat," Snowii lead the way into his ship. Once inside his ship Kat looked around, even though she didden't show it she was impressed. "So where do I hide?" she asked. Svrem walked over to the wall and pressed a part of the wall, a secreat compartment poped open on the floor right beside Kat. "There," was his only answer as he walked back over offering his hand to help Kat down. Kat ignored his profferd hand and jumped into the hole. Kat was expecting to land on hard dura-steel but landing on something soft caused her to loose her balance and she fell onto a pile of pillows and cuitions. The slight grin that Svrem gave her annoyed her so much tha she actualy threw one of the pillows at him. That made him laugh, and annoyed her more. Svrem covered the hole that Kat was hiding in and walked into the cockpit. Putting the ship through a fast preflight, and takeing off. She's cute, he thought while leaving the atmosphere. A little hard around the edges, but cute. Once in hyperspace he let Kat out of the cmpartment. "Was it fun down there?" "What do you think?" she snapped. There's that smile agian! she thought as a smile spread across Snowii's face annoying her farther. She growled, there was no way for her to take her furustration out on her remotes since she wasn't on her ship. "Where's your 'fresher? I need to get this dye out of my fur!" Svrem pointed to a small back room, watched Kat walk towards it, and went to the front of the ship When Kat came out about an hour later he was mildly surprised to find she had white fur, "Uhh you missed a spot on yer tail." "No I didden't, the end of my tail is naturaly black," Kat replied calmly, she felt much better now that she'd had time to cool down and start thinking stright. "Look, I'm still annoyed, I'm used to hunting the hunted hot being the hunted, I did avoid things so I woulden't be hunted. Oh well, By th' way how long is this trip suposed to take?" "About a month," he replied casualy. "A month!?" she exclaimed "Uhh yea, were kinda going from one end of the galaxey to the other," Svrem explained. "Uug!" Kat let out in more frustration, she would go crazy by then! |