I watch Sid depart to her office, eyes glancing towards the patrons of the bar. I spin on the bar stool, firmly planting my boots on the ground as I look around the restaurant... I make sure to keep an eye on the door so no one can sneak up on me.

   It's slowly becoming busy as night rolls around, and a pair of scarcely dressed Tongrula stroll about, taking orders on holo pads.

I watch one, with her head tales draped in ribbon, taking an order from a group of men in the middle of the room.

  The most of them seem to be respectful, taking her job seriously and looking her in the face. But one has his eyes on her exposed cleavage. I stand, about to say something, when his friend elbows him, speaking angrily to him. He blushes, apologizing feverishly to their server, who smiles kindly at him. She says something, and the man looks relieved, however embarrassed I'm sure he is. I sit back down.

  I think about Fennec, wondering what she is doing right now. I glance at the young humanoid girls, with their revealing clothing, thinking about how close I was to being there.

  If my sister had abandoned me at a slave dealer, no one would have questioned it. I could have been sold to a gang, or a bar owner, pushed into using my body to pay for my keep. Although these girls are hired, Tech told me they are former slaves, and serving is all they know. It's safe, doesn't take much risk. Although, I notice the blaster on the older girls' belt, I smile slightly to myself, glad she has taken her safety into her own hands.

The minutes tick by on the clock across the room, and a band arrives, composed of a human man and a handful of aliens. They begin tuning their instruments on the stage, talking to the bar patrons.

   Everyone seems to know them, and their small tip jar is soon overflowing with credits. The server girls bring them small cups of water before they start to play, and laughter fills the room as they begin singing happy birthday to a twi'lek in the back, who's face becomes a dark shade of blue as he blushes.

   I smile to myself, playing with my vibro-blade, letting it dance around in my hand like Hunter taught me. I'm not as good as he is-- and I'm not sure I will ever be-- but it gives me something to occupy myself, and nobody bothers me when I am holding a weapon. I wonder what he is doing right now. Probably worrying about me, if I'm being honest with myself.

  My eyes look behind the bar as Sid waddles up to me, and I tilt my head, sheathing my blade before holding out my hand. She frowns, crossing her arms, and I raise my eyebrows.

"No tracking Phob?" I question, frustration lingering in my tone. I want to get on the road, to get moving. The sooner I get this bounty, the sooner I get paid and can return to my family.  To Omega.

  She plays with her hands.

  "Relax, RBF." She says smoothly. "I have a client bringing the phob. He should be here  soon." I frown at her.

  "I thought you said you had it with you." I remark. "I can find him with just the chain code, if you need. I've done it before."

  "No." She snaps, before composing herself. "What can I get you while you wait? A drink?"

  When I don't respond, and she makes herself busy with making me a drink, adding some sort of flavoring powder. My eyes narrow as I watch her retrieve a small packet of white powder from her pocket, quickly dumping it in the drink before hurriedly stirring it together. She hands to me the pink drink, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.

  "I'll be back, I have to go do some work." She says, and I frown.

"Sure thing. I'll be here." I say uncertainly, watching her walk away. I push the cup away from me in disgust, wondering why she would be trying to drug me. It's cold in here.

   I spin in a slow circle, suddenly on edge. The hair on the back of my neck is standing on edge.

  It's suddenly very cold. I glance around, standing slowly. It's the kind of cold that feels like I have been dumped in a bucket of freezing water, an ice-cold fear shooting through my veins. I have the sudden urge to get moving, like standing here, in the open, I'm a target.

  Watching the door, I move around the dance floor, away from the entrance of the restaurant. The bodies obscure the view of the exit.
I creep towards the dark corner, to the tables packed with people. My rifle strapped to my shoulder, they give me strange looks, but don't say anything.

The Twi'lek is enjoying his birthday cake with friends.

  Everyone looks up, and the music stops when he walks in. The entire restaurant is staring at him, and I'm drenched in a wave of fear. I realize I don't have my helmet, and glance hurriedly at the bar, where it sits, out in the open.

  I'll have to leave it. I have a sickening feeling in my gut that he is here for me. My fingers grip my vibro-blade.

  His cloak is black, swirling around his feet, a light sword hanging from his hip. Armor decorates his shoulders, his chest, up to the neck brace around his throat. His face is a pale white, shaved, with a scar running down his face. Human, but void of any human traits. His eyes are yellow, and he looks like a predator, scanning the room. He is flanked by Commando Clone troopers, their visors highlighted by a ring of light. Eight of them. 

As his gaze nears me, the heaviness of fear only runs deeper. I try to slink back into the darkness, but it's like he senses me. He knows I'm here. When his eyes land on me, I shudder, fear gripping my throat. I can't breathe.  A wicked smile crosses his face, and I'm pulled out of my trance.

  A woman screams as I throw the Vibro-blade at him, and it arches across the room towards his chest. It's a perfect throw, and I'm sure it will kill him, but it stops-- just in midair, it stops, inches away from his chest.

"Now, now." He says, and the knife clatters to the floor. Everyone is silent, holding their breaths. "That is no way to behave."

  I bolt towards Sid's office, and the troopers open Fire. Everyone is screaming, the band has abandoned their instruments in attempt to get to the door. It's a tide of people rush towards the door, but I'm moving away from the current.

  Sprinting through her office, I hoist up the ventilation cover, panic moving through me as I hear the commando troopers charging towards me. Rifle in hand, I drop down, worming my way through the shafts.

  The air pipes are warm, a slight breeze from the outside moving west. I crawl along them, hearing the  clones send a unlucky trooper after me. I make a tight turn, hearing him yell back to his brothers that he's stuck. His bulky armor makes it impossible for him to follow me.

I reach an outside exit, gritting my teeth as I attempt to push off the cover, but it remains firm. Twisting, I kick it off, sliding down onto the ground.

I raise my Comm to my lips as I begin to move, shouldering my rifle and wishing I had my helmet. The alley is dark, but it won't be long before the troopers come searching.
  "Hunter? Hunter, I need you."

  My plea is returned with static, and I slip into the crowded streets, trying to look inconspicuous. Although, that is difficult when I'm trying to evade the freezing cold that seems to be trailing after me. I know the inquisitor is not far behind.

There's a star cruiser in the atmosphere, it's triangular shape blocking out the stars. The passerby stop to stare up in awe at the sky. As I hurry along in the shadows, I hear a shopowner complain that his comms are down.

  Their jamming my comms. I can't call for help.

I hear a commando trooper shout, too close for comfort, and I bolt, elbowing through people and aliens, jumping over carts. My breath is short, coming in pants like a cornered animal.

My legs burn as I push myself to sprint only faster, ignoring the way people shout angrily at me as I push by them. I barrel into a colorful stall, knocking over a display of merchandise. I fall, my foot catching on a crate.

The ground rushes to meet me, and I hold out my hands, dropping my rifle as slam into the ground surprisingly hard, the air getting pushed out of my lungs. I don't let myself stop, regroup, catch my breath. I don't even pause to apologize to the owner, sweat dripping down my back as I push myself up, snatching up my rifle and looking over my shoulder.

  A hand grabs my arm, and I spin around to find Sid. She is surprisingly strong, her nails digging into my skin. I fight, screaming, trying to kick her away from me, but her nails only dig deeper.

I throw a punch in her slimes green face, hitting her in one of her yellow eyes. She yelps in pain, and I try to pull away.

Hitting my rifle, she pulls me with her back towards her restaurant. I watch a man snatch my rifle off the ground greedily, turning away. Another one tries to grab it from him, and they begin to bicker, fighting over it like animals.

That's Crosshair's old rifle. I think to myself. And I lost it.

  "Give me my gun! Help! Someone!"

  Shoppers stop and stare as I try to fight her, screaming, kicking and pushing. Blood seeps through my blacks where her nails impale my skin.

I am washed in cold, and I see the inquisitor stalking towards us from the direction of Sid's shop, the Commando Troopers running towards us.

  "Traitor!" I scream at Sid, continuing to struggle even as the commandos grab my arms, pulling me away from her. "You filthy traitor! How could you?How could you?"

  The inquisitor is carrying my helmet, which he hands to Sid.
  "For your collection." He says, his voice reminding me of a snake. His eyes land on me, and he waves a hand to his soldiers. "Stun her."

I hope you like it!
What do you think is going to happen?

Bye!!!

-Kena <3

(1812 words.)