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The ship hadn’t even fully powered down before the noise found them.
It was nothing but a low hum at first– distant and unrecognizable, but present. Slowly it began to be clearer, and louder. A variety of sounds could be made out; the roar of engines, overlapping voices, metal clanging, machines moving. Layer by layer, the noise rose until it completely enveloped them.
It was like the sound was just as present as the air; like the atmosphere was made of it.
Cayren stepped down first.
She walked onto the pavement slowly– she never rushed anything unless it was life threatening. Her posture was straight but casual. Dark hair was tied loosely, framing a gaze that was calm but not cold. Her demeanour was serious but not formal, her outfit consisting of a black tunic and a black jacket, her boots solid but light on the concrete. She meant business, and she looked like it, but she needed to show she was still approachable.
A diplomat, to be specific.
The docking bay sprawled out before them in organized chaos.
Ships of every kind crowded the space, so many that they almost stacked on top of each other. On the far side, broken ships were being stripped for parts in plain sight, sellers rushing to buy first so they could sell it in their shop later on at a profit. Crates of all sizes and weights moved in every direction, carried by drones of every kind.
Even the people here varied– pilots docking from long journeys, performers looking for another gig to land, bounty hunters and contract workers looking for their next pay. Hell, even rich folks who looked out of place were walking around, as if looking for something.
That’s the thing about this place; everyone is always looking for something.
It’s why you visit the Underworld— to get jobs, to get goods, to get rare items.
Or in Cayren’s case, to get information.
Behind her, something clattered loudly. Which was a feat considering how loud everything else already was.
Cayren didn’t turn, she didn’t need to.
“Try not to break anything before we even get inside,” she said.
“I didn’t break it.”
A pause. Cayren raised an eyebrow, but she still didn’t look.
Then, “It was already like that.”
Cayren finally glanced back.
Miles was crouched beside a small device, a holographic tablet of sorts, near the base of the ramp. She tools— no, parts. Little pieces of gear and wire and random assortments. Something she had either brought in that bag of hers, or found in the last five seconds.
The tablet lay open, its inner workings exposed.
Miles tilted her head, studying it like a puzzle that she needed to solve.
“You see this?” she said, tapping lightly against the casing. “This is sloppy worksmanship.”
“It’s not ours,” Cayren replied.
“I know I know, just give me a sec...”
Cayren sighed but said nothing. When Miles fixated on something, it was really hard to get her out of it. Which was funny considering nearly everything distracted the other girl. Her ginger hair was tied up in a loose ponytail, with a few strands falling onto her face.
Miles hummed, tongue sticking out, eyes locked in. She was adjusting something inside. A flick of her fingers, a twist, and a click. Then a faint, almost imperceptible buzz, her fingertips glowing a faint yellow. A second later, the screen lit up.
Miles leaned back slightly, smiling.
“There,” she said. “He’s all better.”
Cayren watched her for a moment as the other girl fiddled with the tablet a bit. She wasn’t in any particular rush, though she did want to get a move on.
“We should go.”
Miles pocketed the tablet into her bag.
“You’re taking it with you?”
Miles shrugged, standing. “He’s been tossed aside. Besides, he’s got a map of the Underworld, I’m sure he’ll be helpful.”
Cayren said nothing. Miles had a bit of a hoarding problem when it came to tech, but she always found use for it. And she always recycled. She was especially attached to machines that she imbued with her own force energy.
“They feel like a part of me,” Miles had told her once.
Miles spoke about machines like they were alive. Like they had emotions. It was foreign to Cayren, who literally had the ability to read people’s emotions. In that way, they were different.
“Try not to use your force energy out in the open so much. Don’t wanna draw attention.”
“Aye aye captain.”
Cayren noticed a man nearby, eyeing them. He glanced at Miles first, then Cayren, but he quickly averted his gaze when he noticed Cayren was looking. He wasn’t so obvious, hiding under the guise of hauling several crates on a large transport pad. But while his body language could be left up to interpretation, Cayren could sense curiosity and apprehension.
She filed that information for later.
“Come on,” Cayren said, turning toward the exit.
Miles fell into step beside her. As they walked out of the docking bay, they were met with the bustling streets of the Underworld.
Though bustling felt like a massive understatement of what was really going on. It was filled to the brim. No discernable space between shops and structures. As they walked on through, Cayren could make out the sellers locked in screaming matches with the buyers, who themselves were aggressively negotiating.
Several shop owners were shouting at them, waving to get their attention.
Cayren simply faced forward, keeping a straight face. Though her eyes swept around, searching with focus.
Miles, on the other hand, was thoroughly distracted. She approached nearly every shop, fiddling with the trinkets, touching the scraps, prodding at the different items. Whether it was tech, food, or just a random quirky item, she inspected each one for no more than a few seconds then hopped off to the next.
She was like a kid in the candy store.
But at least she wasn’t slowing Cayren down. If Syna had been with them, the girl might have socialized with every vendor.
There were people as well waving merchandise and paraphernalia of a hooded figure with the Eye of Providence in the middle. Some even prayed by shrines that had the poster up.
Cayren stopped as someone handed her the very same poster, pausing to read what was written.
“The Broker will provide. All Hail The Broker. Bless the Underworld. Join the Uprising.”
Cayren read the poster with interest and apprehension. Who was this Broker? Why was he so important?
She was shaken out of her thoughts by a loud shout behind her.
“Hey! You gotta pay for that!”
Cayren instinctively looked behind her and saw Miles holding a small droid. It was small, easy to hold with two hands. It was black and looked old, its exterior full of scratches. But despite how beaten up it looked, it suddenly beeped to life, floating in the air in front of Miles.
“It was calling to me.” Miles said with a pout as she looked at Cayren.
“They all call out to you.”
“Yes, but this one actually did.” Miles raised a hand, as if swearing she had heard the droid whisper her name.
The shopkeeper scowled. “You gotta pay for that! I was hoping to sell it for parts!”
“How much?” Cayren asked.
“10,000 credits!”
Cayren frowned. “A bit much, isn’t it?”
“It was 4,000 before your friend here tampered with it. Now that it’s fixed, its value has doubled.”
“Technically, she fixed it. Not you.”
The shopkeeper reached for his waist, the handle of a blaster peaking out from his hostler. “Are you trying to scam me?”
Cayren’s expression remained neutral, but her eyes darkened, and she projected a wave of fear and killing intent into the vendor’s mind.
The shopkeeper’s eyes widened, before he raised both his hands.
“F-fine. You can take it.”
“No, we’ll pay. 10,000 right? Maybe you can shave 5,000 off for bad customer service.” Cayren said calmly.
The shopkeeper nodded quickly. “5,000 is no problem!”
Cayren pulled out a small circular device, tapping it onto a similar device on the counter.
“There. Thank you for your business.”
Cayren walked away without another word. She grabbed Miles’ hand as she went.
“Thanks for that.”
Cayren said nothing. She just continued to drag Miles through the crowd. She didn’t wanna risk the girl accidentally buying something more expensive.
“I’m sorry you had to pay.” Miles tried again.
“I’ll pay for it. Just…can I pay in installments of 50…”
“I think it’s an old ID10 seeker droid. These are pretty handy—”
Her voice got cut off as she slammed into Cayren’s back.
“Ow! I said I was sorry!” Miles pouted.
Cayren ignored her, looking up at the wooden sign.
Tal’s Tavern
“We’re here.”
When they stepped in, the place looked like what you’d expect given the exterior. It looked like an actual tavern, with wooden floors and stone walls. Even the tables and chairs were wood.
In the corner was an actual fireplace, and near the far end there was a Besalisk playing music, its four arms juggling both a stringed instrument and a percussion set up. Another sang with a low tone, giving the entire place a relaxed atmosphere.
The place felt warm. The kind of place you’d find in a rural town on nature-filled planets.
It was such a sharp contrast to the grungy, dark, and hi-tech environment that the rest of the Underworld had. It was like stepping through a portal.
There weren’t many people inside. Enough that it feels filled, without it feeling crowded. It practically felt like an oasis.
Which is why Cayren was on high alert.
There was no such thing as paradise in the Underworld. Everything had a price.
“What is this place?” Miles asked.
“Hopefully, where we’ll find what we’re looking for.” Cayren answered.
They approached the bar area. Behind it, an older woman was making drinks, pouring strange glowing liquids into shot glasses.
As soon as they got to the bar, she handed them each a glass, pouring one for herself as well.
“Welcome drinks,” she said. “They’re free for first-timers. I like to share a shot with new faces. Helps keep everyone honest.”
Cayren hesitated. Miles just looked at the glowing drinks with interest, but didn’t dare to drink.
The bartender chuckled at their wary expressions. “You saw me pour it in front of you. I’ll drink first, so you know it’s safe.”
She took a shot, drinking every drop of the liquid. Then she gestured to the two of them.
Cayren and Miles looked at each other, before downing the drinks as well. It tasted sweet, but not in a terrible way. It was more fruity. Not Cayren’s style, but she didn’t mind.
“It’s called truth serum.” The bartender smiled. Cayren’s eyes widened.
“Yes, it does exactly what you think. Don’t worry, it’s harmless.”
“You tricked us.” Cayren’s eyes narrowed.
The bartender shook her head. “No. I never lied. I said I take a drink with new faces because it helps keep everyone honest. It’s true. Technically, I took one too. So I can’t lie either.”
Cayren used her abilities to sense if the woman was lying, but she sensed no deception. She was telling the truth. And apparently, so were they.
“You look hot.” Miles suddenly blurted out. Then she titled her head. “Wow, I was trying to say you look terrible but my honesty won over. It works.”
The bartened laughed. Cayren almost rolled her eyes. Miles tended to speak her intrusive thoughts anyways. It wasn’t that big of a difference.
Cayren, on the other hand.
She needed to thread carefully. While the bartender was also bound to speak the truth, she understood why she gambled that. While the bartender may have secrets, there’s a chance the other person has better, more impactful ones. She’d come out of every conversation with the better deal.
Smart, Cayren thought. She’s an intuitive one.
“Are you Tal?” Cayren asked.
The woman smiled. “Well you’re perceptive aren’t you? I thought you’d mistake Tal for a male.”
“I did,” Cayren nodded. “Until you locked the three of us into a stalemate where no one can lie. The kind of gamble an experienced informant would know to do.”
The woman’s smile widened. “Very perceptive indeed. I respect it. The name’s Tal; short for Crystal.”
“You know who we are, I assume? Or you wouldn’t gamble all that on the wrong people.”
“I had an inkling. I’ll admit I’ve been wary. I had my people wait at the docking bay and keep tabs on everyone that’s been arriving.”
The man earlier, Cayren remembered. She glanced around and saw the same man mopping by the live band.
“I see.”
“So…the Order sent you, huh?”
Cayren nodded. “What are your ties to the Order?”
Tal started making another drink, grabbing a bottle and pouring a richer brown liquid onto a mixer. She began to stir while speaking.
“I was a pilot for the Republic. A lot of times, I was assisting royalty and rich folks. Every now and then, I’d get the chance to fly a Jedi. Of course, they are far and few in between, but whenever it was needed, they availed of my services. You could say I owe them a lot.”
“Why did you stop?”
Tal smiled sadly. “I loved my work and the people I served, but living in the bigger cities is expensive. It was hard to maintain. When my mother got sick, and I needed more money, I decided to move to the Underworld to save on costs and look for opportunities.”
“So you made a tavern?”
“No.” Tal shook her head. “This came after my mother’s passing. I worked jobs shipping cargo for the Underworld’s vendors and dealers. Eventually, I gathered enough network, intel, and people, to start an intelligence agency. So trust me, I know things.”
Cayren looked around with realization. These weren’t customers. They were agents. The entire tavern was a base of operations.
“It’s impressive,” Miles nodded with approval. “Although the tavern looks basic, like it’s all just made of aged wood and cracked stone, the walls are lined with technology. Every inch of this place has technological marvels of every kind. There’s even veiling tech…people can’t detect this place unless you want them to.”
Tal nodded with an impressed look. “The force is a lot more impressive than I thought.”
So she knows they’re Jedi.
“We’re not in trouble, are we?” Cayren asked, deciding to be straightforward.
“You’re safe here.” Tal reassured Cayren. “What you’re here for is information, yes? As I said, that I have in abundance.”
“We’re looking for “The Broker.”
That seemed to get the attention of everyone in the bar. While people didn’t look, they didn’t need to. Cayren could tell their attention was on her and Miles.
The name had power, just as she guessed.
Tal smirked. “You’re pretty spunky, being daring enough to say that name out loud in the Underworld of all places.
“I like to get straight to the point.”
Tal nodded, before handing a drink to each of them, pouring one for herself as well.
“It’s just whiskey, don’t worry.” Tal smiled.
Cayren took a sip. It was delicious. Perfectly balanced.
“The Broker,” Tal began. “Is the unofficial leader of the Underworld.”
Miles fiddled with her tablet as she listened, while Cayren faced Tal head on.
“Like a criminal overlord?”
“To some? Yes.”
“What does that mean?”
“The Broker is complex. No one’s ever seen him. Even his most loyal followers, who revere him almost like a god, haven't seen his face. Those who have been in his presence say he’s a masked and hooded figure.”
“A god? What has he done for him to even have followers?”
“Like I said, The Broker is seen differently by people. To some, he is an opportunity to make a living. The Broker creates businesses— by growing the popularity of the Underworld, folks from all over the universe have identified it as the place to go to find all kinds of things you’re looking for. I’m one of the people that benefited from that, which is why this is the perfect place for my business.” Tal gestured around.
“To some,” Tal continued. “The Broker is a savior. His most loyal followers run the Underworld alongside him. They enforce the system here. They take the lead in providing services across the universe for all kinds of people– yes, even those in the Republic.”
Tal took a big gulp of her drink. “And lastly, to the heads of the Republic, The Broker is an enemy that threatens the system they’ve built and have been benefiting from. He is stealing business from the rich, commanding commerce in nationless planets and reducing the need to avail from the big businessmen and women of the Republic. And anyone who has dared to stop him? They were dealt with.”
Cayreen took everything in with rapt attention. Miles was still working on her tablet, but she appeared to be listening as well.
This was the most information they’ve received about The Broker since the name first came to be known by them. It seems Jorin and Sera’s mission was well worth it.
“So…is he here?” Cayren asked.
Tal smiled mysteriously. “He’s always present in the Underworld.”
Cayren studied the older woman carefully. She knew Tal wasn’t lying. She could still feel the serum’s effects, and she detected no lies in the statement.
And yet…
“I see.” Cayren responded carefully, standing up from the stool. “Well then…I believe that’s all the information we need. Not much we can do from here, I suppose.” She glanced at Miles, who nodded and also got up.
“How much do I owe you for…” Cayren trailed off, gesturing to the drinks and the conversation in general.
Tal waved her off. “Consider it paid. This is me holding up my end of the IOU that you were granted.”
“Right.” Cayren nodded. “Well then, we appreciate your time. We must go. We have to catch the ship before it leaves. A long journey back home and all that.”
“Alright. Good bye and good luck. The Underworld can be chaotic, but also…endless. Sometimes it feels like you’ll never leave.”
Cayren nodded and grabbed Miles’ hand, pulling her out of the tavern.
Cayren didn’t stop. She just kept walking, stringing Miles along. When they were near the docking bay, she darted into an alley, changing their route. She kept walking until she found a smaller alley with junk they could hide behind.
“Did you get in?” Cayren asked as soon as they were hidden.
“I did.” Miles smiled proudly.
“And we’re cloaked? No surveillance?”
“Of course. I’ve been jamming them since our conversation started. They can’t tell where we are. Keeps changing.”
Cayren nodded, before letting out a deep breath. She’s been on the edge the entire time, struggling to keep her composure.
“Worried that she knows we’re onto her?” Miles asked.
Cayren shook her head. “I fed her with feelings of overconfidence and reduced her anxiety and doubt. That helped her see us as naive and easy to manipulate.”
“Well you were very convincing, don’t worry.” Miles assured Cayren.
“I thought you struggled with human emotions?” Cayren asked.
Miles shrugged. “I do. Machines are so much more straightforward. They function as long as you help them stay healthy, they speak as long as you make a connection, and they all have quirks that make them unique. But I realized from listening to you, that people are the same. Just more complex. I’m learning.”
Cayren nodded. She was touched that the other girl had been listening.
“Is that the truth serum speaking?” Cayren teased.
Miles laughed. “Like I’m not always brutally honest?”
“Just checking.”
“How did you know she’d turn on us?”
“I didn’t,” Cayren shook her head. “While I’m not necessarily sure if Tal is an enemy, I knew there was a chance at least that an informant could also be paid to do the opposite of what we asked for— get info on us, and lure us in to keep tabs on us.”
“And you realized it earlier?”
Cayren nodded. “It was the way she skirted around words, leaving them open to meaning. When she told us we were safe there, she wasn’t lying. Her shop was our only oasis; as soon as the conversation was over and we went out, the hunt was on. And when she said, The Broker is always here, that confirmed for me his surveillance of everything going on.”
Miles nodded with a bit of awe; she’d always been impressed by Cayren’s ability to not just read people, but anticipate them. It was something she struggled with— machines were simpler, and operated on function.
Cayren looked up. In the Underworld, there was no sky. Just endless machinery. Flying cars drove high overhead. Buildings so tall that it disappeared into fog. The world above was unseen. No stars. No light.
A world buried in darkness, a place for the forgotten. For the people that got thrown out. That was how Gaela described growing up here.
Cayren felt conflicted at everything they had learned. They were sent here to get information about The Broker, to figure out how to take him down. And yet, all around them, the people of the Underworld revered The Broker, sharing praise or even outright praying to him. To these people living in these conditions, he was hope.
But also, Cayren understood the gravity of The Broker’s influence. He was a growing power. Not through force alone, but through ideals.
Despite Cayren’s conflicted feelings, one thing became clear: He’s a threat.
This was bigger than what they realized.
“We need to get out of here.” Cayren told Miles. “This…we can’t face this guy alone. Even now, I can feel him looking for us.”
Tal had said The Broker is always present in the Underworld. Cayren thinks she really meant it. He had eyes everywhere, and they were trapped in a massive city under his rule.
Miles nodded; she knew Cayren was right. This wasn’t some enemy you took down, it was almost like the city itself, its entire machinery. Besides, she wasn’t sure yet how she felt about it. Not when she knows what it’s like to have lived on the outskirts.
They both stood up to leave, diving deeper into the darkness.
Miles used her map of the place to find alternative routes to get back to the docking bay. They needed to blend in and make sure no one notices them. Once they got on the ship, they’d technically be home free.
They managed to avoid the main streets, moving in alleys to get back to where they came from.
They arrived at the end of a small pathway. Beyond this point, it was open spaces. Though supposedly, they could hide in the busyness of the area outside and inside the docking bay. But it was still risky.
“We need to find a way through.” Cayren whispered.
“Patch,” Miles suddenly said.
“What?”
“Ssshhh” Miles put a finger to Cayren’s lips. She looked at the other girl, squeezing her lips suddenly. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
Cayren shook her head and backed away a bit. “Who’s Patch?”
Miles gestured to her back, as circular light suddenly glowed faintly. The next thing she knew, a small droid detached from her armor and began to fly.
The ID10 seeker droid from earlier.
“You named it Patch?” Cayren asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Yup.” Miles beamed. “Her name is Patch, short for Patricia. But also, patch work. Get it?” She giggled.
Cayren rolled her eyes, but gave a small smile at the silliness of it all.
“What are you planning?”
“I’m gonna have Patch here scan the ships to see which one is most viable for us to board. She should be able to go in undetected. I re-activated her camouflage capabilities and re-calibrated its efficiency. Even added signal jammers. It’s not full cloaking, but she won’t appear on any radar or scanner.”
Cayren was impressed. Miles really did have a talent for inventing. She did all that in the time she bought the droid, to their conversation with Tal.
Miles gestured to the droid. “Patch, find us a way off this hell hole.”
The little droid beeped, before cloaking itself and zooming off, presumably to the docking bay.
“Okay, now how do we get out of here too?” Cayren asked.
Miles typed a few things into her holo-pad, before looking up at her with that dangerous glint in her eyes, the one Cayren always felt apprehensive about because it usually meant a crazy idea that involved chaos.
And she was right.
“We need to cause a riot.” Miles smirked.
“How exactly does this work?” Cayren whispered to Miles.
They had moved a little closer, just before the opening to the docking bay. They hid behind a crate, peering through the gaps.
“We need to cause a riot.”
“Yes. You said that already. How?”
Miles gestured to Cayren.
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to make people antsy, make them irritable, and influence aggression. We’re going to wind them up, then trigger them.”
Cayren nodded. She understood the strategy. A docking bay full of agitated, triggered individuals was just the distraction they needed to disappear.
She raised a hand, focusing her mind to reach out to the crowd in the docking bay. She hasn’t tried doing it for such a large amount of people. She wasn’t even sure she could. But she was hoping she could make a chain effect— trigger a few, domino into the rest.
Influencing emotions was never easy. It sounded broken, but it came with a cost: she had to experience it too. It was muted for her, less potent and less intense, but she felt it nonetheless. Swaying emotions is easy if the emotion is easy, or the person is easy to move from one emotion to another. It gets harder the more people she has to do.
Cayren could feel the exhaustion already, and it hasn’t even fully started. Feelings of agitation, irritation, and even anger flooded her system. She did her best to stay on top of it, to maintain control and calm despite the rising tension she was building.
Outside, most of the crowd nearer to them started to frown, their expressions growing more and more annoyed. They began to complain, and began to provoke other people. Some of them started walking up to the ships on the dock, badgering them for taking too long. Some began to accuse the sellers of scamming them. The sellers fought back, talking about how the buyers were lowballing.
The voices that were speaking in normal volumes began to increase. What was already a loud area began to get even louder. But it wasn’t just volume. Their voices carried anger and aggression.
Cayren herself was struggling, feeling the weight of the heightened emotions. Her breaths were short and she wasn’t sure how long she could take it.
Suddenly, a hand slipped into her own. Cayren’s eyes suddenly opened, and she glanced at Miles who was looking at her.
“I may not understand emotions well, but I can still take them. Share the burden with me.”
Cayren stared at her, not saying a word, but eyes speaking from her heart.
Are you sure?
Miles nodded.
Cayren allowed the burden of the emotions to flow from her to Miles. Miles flinched but held Cayren’s hand tightly. She was surprised by the sheer weight of handling so much emotion at once.
Green and yellow light began to come from their intertwined fingers. Gradually they balanced out the energy between them. With a look and a nod, Cayren increased the intensity even more.
People were outright pushing each other now. Some pulled out blasters. Others held fight-ready stances.
It was a stalemate. Whoever fired first, would trigger it all.
“They’re all wound up.” Cayren said between breaths.
Miles nodded. She grabbed a bottlecap in her other hand and it began to glow yellow as she imbued it with more and more energy. It floated in her palm, spinning around; slow at first, but gradually increasing in rotation speed.
Miles pointed at the crack between the barrels, aiming at one of the members in the crowd. With an exhale, she fired the bottle cap.
It hit a civilian squarely on the back, the energy it contained enough to shove them forward. The man immediately turned back, screamed, and punched the guy behind him.
Then, all hell broke loose.
The docking bay was loud and crazy. Blasters fired back and forth, items and junk flew through the air. It wasn’t just an aggressive discussion, it was a violent uprising.
It was indeed a riot.
“C’mon we gotta go!” Miles shouted to Cayren, this time being the one to pull her along.
“Where are we going?” Cayren shouted over the noise.
“Just follow me!”
They ran through the fighting crowd, avoiding and escaping between all kinds of fights.
Cayren struggled to keep up with Miles. The only reason she could still follow is because their hands are intertwined.
The swarm of people was like a wave, and Cayren was struggling to stay afloat.
Suddenly, something crashed into her and their hands broke free. She fell to the ground.
“Miles!”
Miles disappeared into the crowd. She couldn’t see the other girl anymore but the time she stood up.
She looked at who had crashed into her, and was surprised to see the man mopping the floor in the tavern. One of Tal’s people.
She got up and narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?” She eyed the mop warily. Why bring a mop outside?
“I’m afraid we can’t let you leave.” Tal stepped in from the right. Cayren looked around her as three more people stepped in, circling her. Around them the docking bay continued to riot and fight, ignoring the stalemate they were in.
Cayren grabbed her saber, holding it in her right hand.
“How’d you find me?”
“Your partner was clever, cloaking you from surveillance. However, truth serum has a distinct glow to those who can see it. It stays in the body for a few hours. Enough to leave a trail in the air. Built-in to the recipe, in case criminals run free during interrogations.”
“Is that what I am? A criminal?”
“No. Just a person of interest.”
Cayren straightened her posture, activating her saber. The green blade sprung to life; thin and straight with a slightly curved handle. A tool for precision.
The 4 men and Tal raise their mops, and the wood crumbles away like it was just a coating. Underneath, its true material was revealed: a polished reinforced steel. The ends began to crackle with electricity.
They charged at her, attacking all at once. She jumped high as they thrust, incapacitating one of the men by slicing his hand off. He used the force to push the other one into some creates, before blocking the strikes from the remaining two. These were more heavyset men, Cayren could feel their strength overpowering her.
She’d lose in a battle of attrition, she needs to avoid hits.
They swung at her wildly, trying to combo her, but to no avail.
Finally she intercepted one, forced it to get stuck to the ground, before spinning around to take care of the last guard. He repeatedly slammed the staff down onto her, forcing her to block each one.
Their weapons met, and he pushed her back, Cayren decided to loosen her defence and cause the other guy to fall forward. She slipped out and stabbed it into his back.
She turned back to the last guy pulling his staff out, and flung him up and across the room.
Chaos continued.
Tal sighed at the sight of her men being tossed around.
She pulled out a small metal rod, but it quickly expanded into a staff. Its color was darker than that of her men. Almost greyish.
Cayren’s eyes widened. Her staff was made of Beskar.
“Information really does get you interesting things.”
“I’m surprised the Mandalorians haven’t gotten your head.”
“What they don’t know won’t have to hurt them.” Tal smirked, before swinging for Cayren’s side. She blocked it with her saber, and as expected, it didn’t cut the staff at all.
Damn saber resistance.
Cayren broke off running deeper into the docking bay, and Tal gave chase.
Cayren led them somewhere with less people, where she wouldn’t have to be distracted.
Tal raised her staff in challenge, before charging. Cayren did the same, and their weapons met, sparks flying.
Cayren was the more skilled fighter, her moves more refined, the attack speed superior. But the use of her force abilities earlier left her weakened and a bit nauseous. She only had enough energy to meet Tal’s attacks, but she couldn’t overpower her.
When their weapons met again, Tal used the other end of the staff to slam into her foot. The pain distracted her, and Tal managed to whip her across the face and send her flying.
Cayren groaned, her cheek feeling wet with blood.
“So you’re on The Broker’s payroll.” Cayren groaned out.
Tal smiled and shook her head. “I’m on anyone’s payroll if the price is right. Though please don’t take it personally. I actually really enjoyed our conversation.”
“Too late, talking it pretty personal now that you slashed my face.”
“Don’t sweat it,” Tal said as she approached. “You’re still a pretty face. Exactly my type.” She knelt down in front of Cayren. “A shame I have to arrest you, I’d much rather be spending the night together.”
Cayren narrowed her eyes. But before she could respond, a figure suddenly dropped down, kneeling beside Cayren’s head and right in front of a surprised Tal.
“Hey lady,” Miles spoke up, her hand glowing a bright yellow as she reached out towards Tal.
“Back off.”
She tapped Tal’s shoulder, and Tal immediately flung back, flying through the air like a bullet. She disappeared into the darkness, presumably crashing into multiple objects given the sounds of wreckage.
“Miles,” Cayren croaked out. “That was crazy.”
“No time to explain.” Miles said quickly. “We gotta go.”
Miles helped Cayren up and led her to a small ship at the back of the docking bay.
They hopped in, not caring about making it to the seats. They slumped on the floor in exhaustion.
As the hangar doors closed, Cayren could see a figure in a dark area beside one of the ships. There were no people around, and the figure stared straight at them.
On its mask, the Eye of Providence.
The Broker, Cayren thought to herself, before falling asleep.
The next time Cayren woke up, she was being shaken awake.
“Cayren…we gotta go. We’re here.”
She lifted her head, realizing she was leaning on something. She looked and saw she had been sleeping on Miles’ shoulder.
That spurred her awake.
She sat up, coughing awkwardly as she checked the sides of her mouth for drool. “Uhm sorry.”
“It’s okay. “ Miles laughed. “It was cute.”
“Right.” Cayren blushed.
They both exited the ship, looking out onto the city ahead.
“We’re in Naboo?” Cayren asked once she recognized the sight.
Miles nodded. “We were lucky to find this. Patch was a huge help.” She gestured to the droid docked in her back. It beeped in response.
“Why here? I’m sure we could’ve gone to Coruscant.”
Miles looked at her, a concerned look in her eyes. She reached out to touch Cayren’s cheek.
“What are—”
“You’re hurt.”
“A little.”
“I’m sorry I left you.”
“It’s okay.”
“I feel…like I’m responsible. I don’t know why.” Miles said sadly.
“You’re feeling guilt. Which you don’t have to. It isn’t your fault.”
Miles nodded, before hugging Cayren.
“Uhm…wow.”
“Sorry,” Miles said as she pulled back. “I’m learning to give hugs more, especially to people I really admire and appreciate.”
Cayren blinked a few times, but smiled a small smile.
“You’re hugging people now huh, not just machines.”
“It’s a work in progress.”
They laughed.
“So…why Naboo anyways? We don’t have business here.”
“Gaela and Syna are here. I sent out a call to the others. We’re all meeting here.”