Private Beneath a Broken Order

[Xian Xiao]

Xian watched Telvaren crumple to the floor after Xuko released him, the Bothan coughing hard as he tried to steady himself against the polished surface beneath him. For a brief moment, her attention lingered there while she weighed the frightened informant against the growing shape of the disaster unfolding beyond the Crucible's walls.

Then her eyes lifted toward Xuko as he turned sharply and started for the exit, already moving toward the next problem before the current one had fully settled. There was urgency in the way he walked now, not reckless panic but focused momentum, the kind that came from realizing the situation was becoming larger and uglier with every passing second.

Xian glanced back toward Telvaren once more, her thoughts moving quickly as the implications continued slotting into place. The Red Ravens operated through compartmentalization for a reason. If Telvaren had missed a check-in or failed to report back, somebody else might already be moving to verify the shipment independently. Worse still, if the operation had already advanced beyond the verification stage, then every minute they spent inside the Crucible discussing possibilities was another minute the relief district remained exposed.

That decided it.

She pivoted sharply and fell into step behind Xuko, matching his pace as they moved through the research wing toward the exit corridors. Personnel shifted aside instinctively as they passed, the atmosphere around them tightening beneath the weight of unspoken urgency.

As they neared the nearby security station, Xian slowed only briefly and turned her head toward the officers stationed there.

"The Bothan stays here," she said evenly, her voice carrying the calm authority the Crucible responded to without hesitation. "Detain him under Diarchal security authority pending investigation into suspected Red Raven smuggling operations. His name is Telvaren Sorn."

The guards straightened immediately at the tone and authority behind the order. One glanced toward the trembling Bothan, still struggling to recover on the floor, while another gave a sharp nod.

"Yes, ma'am."

Xian did not stop to verify compliance. She already knew they would follow through.

By the time she had fully caught up beside Xuko again, her expression had hardened into focused calm, the earlier analytical distance gone now that the implications had become immediate and dangerously real.

"If your theory is correct," she said as they moved quickly through the Crucible's halls, "then this was never really about the weapons themselves."

Her gaze stayed forward, voice low and controlled despite the urgency building beneath it.

"It was about what happens after the weapons appear. A crowded relief district, people already desperate, supplies running low, security stretched thin, and panic spreading faster than facts ever could. One armed group moving at the right moment could turn the entire situation into a massacre before anyone fully understood what was happening."

Her jaw tightened faintly as the rest of the realization settled into place.

"And if the Red Ravens engineered that intentionally, then they are not trying to steal supplies or even profit from the shipment itself. They are trying to destroy trust in the relief effort, in Bastion's security, and in the idea that anyone here can actually protect these people once things start going wrong."

The thought settled heavily between them as the exit finally came into view ahead, Bastion's cold light spilling through the outer checkpoint beyond the corridor.

Xian's pace quickened slightly as they approached it, her focus already shifting ahead toward the district they had left behind.

"Which means," she said quietly, "that if this operation has already started moving forward, then every second we spend behind these walls is giving them more time to light the match."

Xuko Pagoi

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

On one hand, Xuko was grateful to have Xian's help. He strongly doubted that there were any other resources that could- or would- be mobilized quickly enough to circumvent the plot they'd uncovered. On the other hand, having Xian join him as quickly as she did meant that his prediction was most likely correct; thus far, Xian's instincts had proven extremely sharp.

The Zabrak's face stayed neutral as Xian outlined the reasons and motives for the suspected attack, but his jaw tightened ever so slightly; a sign of the growing anger he felt inside. Anger at himself, for being drawn away; and anger at the Red Ravens for their horrific plan. It was an anger that neighbored with his impatience; frustration at the distance between them and the food giveaway. Walking there- even at a steady clip- was not fast enough for Xuko.

"What options do we have for transportation?" Xuko asked, in agreement with Xian that time was of the essence. A pilot he was not, but he wasn't about to let a little detail like that get in the way.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian's expression tightened slightly when Xuko asked about transportation, both of them already moving quickly through the Crucible's outer corridors toward the streets of Bastion beyond. He was right to ask; walking was far too slow now, and every second they lost to uncertainty gave the Red Ravens more time to settle into position. For a moment, she didn't answer, her pace slowing just enough that he would notice the hesitation, a rare thing from someone who had met every other question with sharp certainty or immediate analysis. This was different. More awkward. More personal.

Her boot scraped lightly against the polished floor as she rubbed the toe once, visibly debating whether she actually wanted to explain what she was about to suggest. Finally, she looked over at him.

"I can get us there faster than any vehicle nearby," she admitted.

The silence that followed stretched just long enough for the statement to sound increasingly suspicious, and Xian could feel it hanging between them like a weight. Unfortunately, noticing it only made this harder.

"Look," she said quickly, already sounding mildly defensive before he had even opened his mouth, "I know we just met, and I realize this is probably going to sound insane." She paused, bracing herself. "But trust me." That last part came quieter, stripped of the usual edge, and far more honest.

Then she stopped walking entirely and turned fully toward him, urgency slipping through the calm she'd been holding onto.

"Hug me."

The words left her mouth with enough seriousness to make them infinitely worse. Xian closed her eyes for half a second, as if already regretting how ridiculous that sounded. "It is not as weird as it sounds," she added immediately. A beat passed. "…Okay, maybe a little weird."

There was no time left to explain properly. The danger hanging over the relief lines had already become too immediate for embarrassment to matter. When Xuko finally stepped close enough, Xian's hands settled against him with surprising steadiness, one arm securing around his side while the other lifted outward, her focus sharpening so quickly the awkwardness burned away in an instant.

The air around them shifted.

Not dramatically at first, just pressure, wind curling unnaturally through the corridor despite the enclosed structure. Loose fabric stirred. Dust lifted from the floor. The atmosphere itself tightened around her in invisible currents responding to instinct and will.

Then the ground vanished beneath them.

Compressed air launched them upward so abruptly that nearby security personnel barely had time to react before the two of them shot skyward through the open transit lanes beyond the Crucible's outer platforms. Bastion exploded outward beneath them in streaks of silver towers, suspended walkways, and rivers of traffic lights cutting through the cityscape.

Xian did not fly like someone using machinery. There was no smooth engine stability, no artificial balance. This felt alive, violent wind tearing around them while invisible currents carried and redirected their momentum with impossible speed. Every adjustment came from pressure shifts and controlled bursts of air flowing beneath and around them rather than any sense of weightlessness.

Her grip tightened slightly as she focused ahead, red hair whipping violently through the rushing air while her attention locked onto the distant relief district somewhere beyond the next sector.

"Try not to panic," she called over the roar of wind, sounding far calmer than anyone should while effectively throwing herself and a near stranger across Bastion through sheer Force manipulation.

Then, after a brief pause, perfectly deadpan: "And definitely do not let go."

Xuko Pagoi

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko did notice Xian's change in pace, and did his best to quell the rising sense of frustration he felt at it. Now more than ever, time was of the essence; and for someone who always seemed to be two steps ahead, it was decidedly out-of-character for Xian. It was that realization that forced him to slow his pace to match hers rather than simply grabbing her arm and yanking her along while she thought; as he briefly considered doing.

When she finally did stop walking, her command was the last thing Xuko had expected to come out of her mouth. Xuko stared at her in disbelief. "Now is not an appropriate time for that" he said, incredulously. But as precious seconds dragged by and Xian further committed to whatever her idea was that involved an embrace, Xuko decided to relent. If it meant keeping a much-needed ally on his side for the coming battle, a hug was a small price to pay. Xuko, not one to do anything halfway, gave Xian a tight embrace; using the opportunity to look over her shoulder to where the speeder he was about to steal was parked.

Perfect.

It was in that moment that Xuko's stomach was left behind as they rocketed into the air. She flies, now?

It was not pretty- Xuko holding on for dear life with Xian's red hair getting whipped by the wind into his face- but it was effective. The two of them soared on their way back towards where they had first met, with the ground almost a blur beneath them. He had no clue how fast they were going, and doubted that Xian knew, either. Fast was all he cared about.

It was similarly difficult to talk, as most of Xuko's focus was on not plummeting to his death. Unlike Xian, he could not fly, but he could certainly fall. "I had not considered it" he said, equally serious in response to her deadpan humor.

"Set us down a block away so they do not see us coming" he said, hoping that Xian understood his words over the wind. He did not want to draw unnecessary attention to themselves, and something told him that literally flying in would ruin their element of surprise. Presuming the Red Ravens weren't wise that their plan had been discovered, the two of them would need every advantage possible to head off the attack.

Xuko tightened his grip where it had loosened slightly and tired not to dwell on the enormity of the task ahead of them. Once the assault happened, and Xian would have to discern- with no room for error- the panicked refugees from the disguised Red Ravens.

And see them for more than what they were in the moment.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian heard the disbelief in his voice and would have laughed if they were not currently hurtling across Bastion at a speed most sensible people would classify as a terrible idea. Instead, she kept her focus on the currents carrying them forward. The city stretched beneath them in a maze of towers, transit lanes, bridges, and lights, the wind tearing at her clothing as she adjusted their course with practiced, almost instinctive shifts of pressure. It was not the first time she had crossed Ravelin this way, though it was certainly the first time she had done it while carrying someone who seemed determined not to fall to his death.

"Relax," she called over the rush of air, sounding far more comfortable than she had any right to. "You are not falling." She paused. "Probably."

The corner of her mouth twitched.

When Xuko suggested setting down a block away, she shook her head slightly, eyes fixed on the districts rising to meet them. "We do not need to. People rarely look up." Especially here. The wealthier districts watched the skies because they expected traffic, visitors, dignitaries, and trouble. The relief lines were different. People waiting there spent hours staring at the ground, at crates, at officials, at the backs of the people in front of them. Their attention stayed locked on immediate concerns: food, medicine, shelter, survival. Almost nobody looked toward the sky.

"Not down there," Xian continued. "They are worried about the next meal, not what might be flying overhead."

The relief district came into clearer focus, and she began adjusting their approach, guiding them along the tops of nearby structures where the skyline would break up their silhouette and hide their movement from anyone below. She knew these rooftops, these alleys, the way the city folded in on itself. She knew how easy it was to disappear in Ravelin when you understood its shape.

"We will approach from above," she said. "If the Ravens have people watching the crowds, they will be looking for security forces, aid workers, anyone coming through the streets." A grim note settled into her voice. "They will not be expecting two people to arrive from the rooftops."

The district finally opened beneath them. Lines stretched farther than they should. Crowds shifted in ways that set every instinct she had on edge. Too much movement. Too many people. The knot in her stomach, tight since the Crucible, pulled tighter still.

"Once we land, we split our attention," she said, all traces of humor gone. "You look for the threat." She paused. "I will look for the people trying not to look like one."

Then she angled them downward, letting the wind carry them in a controlled, silent descent toward the rooftops overlooking the relief lines below.

Xuko Pagoi

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko wasn't certain that he believed Xian when she said they'd go unnoticed from above- the eyes of most humanoids were, after all, attracted to movement- but he quite literally wasn't in a position to argue. The last thing he needed was Xian deciding to drop him unceremoniously from the sky.

As it was, he needn't have worried. The two of them made it to a nearby rooftop without incident, leaving Xuko to sort out exactly where his stomach had gone while listening to Xian's plan. It was as good as any he could come up with, he decided, and it suited their skills best. The Zabrak had to admit that he was something of a blunt instrument when compared to Xian.

Besides, now that they'd seemingly arrived in time, Xuko was able to let loose most of his worries in anticipation of the upcoming fight. He was looking forward to this, he realized; the culmination of the past few hours' boredom, mystery, and misdirection was finally presented in such a way that he could do something about it. The metal cylinder of his lightsaber hung comfortingly on his belt. Soon.

Xuko had already identified a group of three rougher-looking individuals as potential threats, judging by their demeanor when each passing crate failed to bear up under their poorly-concealed interest. It didn't take a body-language expert to understand their growing unease and impatience.

"Here we go" Xuko said quietly, taking two steps backwards from the edge of the rooftop as the three marks neared the front of the line. A short running start later and he'd launched himself off the edge of the rooftop in a graceful front flip that carried him down towards where the first three Red Ravens began breaking away from the line. His first objective was to defend the aid workers. Then he'd help Xian take down anyone else foolish enough to threaten them or the other refugees.

In that brief moment, everything was clear to Xuko; who he was, what he had to do, and where he needed to be.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian stayed crouched at the edge of the rooftop, her gaze sweeping steadily across the relief lines below while Xuko focused on the men watching the crates. She saw them too, not because they looked dangerous, but because their attention was fixed on the wrong things. Hungry people watched food. Desperate people watched aid workers. These three kept watching the shipment, and that alone made them stand out. Unfortunately, they weren't the only ones. As her eyes continued moving through the crowd, she let patterns emerge instead of searching for faces. Individual people lied; groups told the truth. And the truth was beginning to shift. Not enough to spark panic, not yet, but enough for her to notice pockets of movement that didn't fit: people drifting away from the lines instead of deeper into them, individuals more interested in each other than the supplies, small signals and subtle positioning that felt too organized, too deliberate. The realization settled heavily in her chest. There were more than three. Of course, there were. The Red Ravens didn't move weapons across sectors with a single retrieval team.

She sensed Xuko's decision before he moved. The moment he took those two steps back, she already knew what was coming, and a quiet sigh escaped her—not out of disagreement, but because she had known him long enough to understand there was no stopping him once he committed to something. "Of course, you are jumping off the roof," she muttered to herself just as he launched into the air. For a heartbeat, she watched him descend toward the gathering trouble below, then shifted her attention elsewhere, because while Xuko focused on the obvious threat, she was looking for the hidden one. Her black eyes swept the crowd again and found it: a woman near the rear of the line who wasn't watching the commotion, a man by a cargo hauler repeatedly touching the same side pocket, another already drifting toward an exit route. None of them reacted to the distraction. They were positioning themselves.

Xian rose smoothly to her feet as the Force stirred around her like a gathering storm. "You're not the only ones here," she murmured, the observation quiet but certain. Then she stepped from the rooftop, not falling, but descending as air curled beneath her feet and carried her toward a nearby cargo container overlooking the aid station. From there, she would have a better angle on the crowd and, more importantly, on the people preparing for the moment the first distraction erupted. That was the part that worried her. The Red Ravens had hidden weapons, but the weapons were easy. People were harder. And right now, she suspected the most dangerous individuals in the district were the ones who still looked completely calm.

Xuko Pagoi

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko took advantage of the three Red Ravens' momentary surprise to make sure he was only facing off against the three of them. He had no desire to be caught between a hammer and an anvil, because if the files he and Xian had seen were any indication, there was definitely another layer to this attack.

He would show the Ravens what they expected to see- someone rallying to defend the supplies and the aid workers- essentially serving as bait for the Ravens' trap. Xuko was aware that it was a dangerous part he was playing, but it was one that suited his strengths- and left Xian free to leverage hers.

She, in many ways, was the crux upon which their successful plan rested; but if the past couple hours had taught him anything, his trust was well-placed. She'd gone to an awful lot of trouble to get them this far, after all, despite them starting this adventure as complete strangers. He vaguely sensed her floating elegantly down to a nearby cargo container, but his main focus was on the three brutes in front of him.

Two Trandoshans, and a human with a face that looked like it had been repeatedly introduced to a brick; all with a sudden array of melee weapons that belied their guise as refugees. Xuko's lightsaber springing to life with a satisfying snap-hiss slowed them, but not nearly as long as Xuko had expected. Either these Ravens were particularly brave, or incredibly foolish.

That, or they'd known in advance about his presence.

The Red Ravens were already dangerous. But if they'd been informed about the presence of a Jedi, and still chose to attack? Xuko was starting to have a very bad feeling about this. Unfortunately, there were three very obvious threats bearing down at him in the moment.

He'd have to trust Xian with the less-obvious threats.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian landed silently atop the cargo container, one knee touching the metal surface as the currents of air that had carried her across Bastion dissipated around her. From this vantage point, the relief station spread out below like a living map. Aid workers moved among supply crates, volunteers directed long lines of exhausted civilians, and security personnel were already reacting to the disturbance Xuko had created. To anyone else, the center of the conflict was obvious. Three armed attackers had revealed themselves, a Jedi had ignited his lightsaber, and every eye in the district was naturally being pulled toward the confrontation. That was exactly why Xian ignored it.

Her black eyes swept methodically across the crowd instead. She wasn't looking for weapons. She wasn't even looking for criminals. She was looking for people whose reactions didn't fit. Fear was predictable. Curiosity was predictable. Panic was predictable. What stood out were the people who weren't reacting at all. The woman near the back of the line hadn't turned toward the commotion. The man lingering beside one of the cargo haulers seemed far more interested in the surrounding streets than the fight beginning to unfold. Another figure farther away who had already started drifting away from the relief lines altogether. Their attention wasn't on the attack. It was on each other.

That was when she saw the pattern begin to emerge. Small gestures. Tiny movements that would have been invisible to anyone focused on Xuko's battle below. A sleeve adjusted. A hand briefly touching the side of a neck. A subtle nod was exchanged between two strangers who were pretending not to know each other. Across the station, scattered individuals began moving with purpose. Not toward the fighting. Not toward safety. Toward predetermined positions. Toward exits, maintenance corridors, and cargo access points. The realization settled into place with cold certainty. The three men confronting Xuko were never supposed to succeed. They were bait. A distraction designed to seize everyone's attention while the real operation unfolded elsewhere.

The more she watched, the clearer the shape of the plan became. If the relief distribution descended into violence, civilians would scatter, security would rush toward the obvious threat, and entire sections of the district would suddenly become unmonitored. In that chaos, the Ravens could recover hidden caches, reposition assets, move personnel, or disappear entirely before anyone understood what had happened. The weapons shipment had never been the objective. The panic surrounding it was. Xuko had unknowingly stepped into the role they expected a hero to play. The difference was that the Red Ravens hadn't known there would be someone else watching the board instead of the pieces.

A faint smile touched Xian's face as she rose from her crouch. They had planned for one problem. They had not planned for her. A controlled burst of air launched her from the cargo container, carrying her across the station in a low arc that drew little attention amidst the growing confusion. She landed atop another stack of supplies near the eastern perimeter and immediately spotted one of the operatives moving toward a maintenance access corridor. He wasn't running. He wasn't fleeing. He was executing his assignment. Another figure was already moving toward a separate route on the opposite side of the district. A third was positioned near a service entrance. The network was activating.

The first operative never saw her coming. A focused blast of compressed air struck him from the side with enough force to send him crashing into a stack of containers before he could reach beneath his coat. Nearby civilians jumped in surprise, but by the time they looked for the source, Xian was already gone. She crossed another rooftop, tracking movement rather than individuals, watching the network react as pieces began to disappear from it. The Ravens were disciplined, but they were still people. Once one piece failed to arrive where it was expected, others would compensate. Once they compensated, they revealed themselves. Every adjustment gave her more information.

Below, Xuko remained the center of the story. The Jedi fighting armed criminals was dramatic, obvious, and easy for everyone to understand. Security forces were moving toward him. Civilians were watching him. Even many of the Ravens were watching him. That was exactly what made the arrangement work. While the district focused on the battle everyone could see, Xian quietly dismantled the operation nobody was supposed to notice. The Red Ravens had prepared for a Jedi to interfere. They had anticipated courage, intervention, and resistance. What they hadn't anticipated was someone standing above the entire situation, asking a far more dangerous question. Not who starts the fight, but what happens afterward. And now, one by one, the answers were beginning to come apart in front of her.

Xuko Pagoi

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko's brain immediately sized up his three opponents; the human seemed more than willing to let the two Trandoshans do the dirty work, brandishing his shortsword-sized vibroblade in solidarity but hanging back from the initial combat. It seemed that the human was an opportunistic fighter- some might say cowardly- who only made a move when he knew he had the upper hand.

The smaller Trandoshan twirled twin virboknives, snaking out a forked tongue to lick one of the blades before activating it. Xuko guessed that they would not the the first to attack; their joy was in the art of the kill more than combat itself. That left the larger Trandoshan, who wielded a section of metal pipe as if it were a toy. A bevvy of scars spoke to their resilience and also to their simplicity; they were a blunt force in every sense of the word. While blasters might've been more effective weapons, the melee weapons would undoubtedly magnify the brutality of their assault to anyone unlucky enough to witness it. The Red Ravens really had thought of everything.

Correction: almost everything. Around him, Xuko could vaguely sense Xian as she went about her work; quietly and skillfully dispatching the less-obvious threats, and in doing so, beating the Red Ravens at their own game.

Xuko's focus snapped back to his present as the larger of the two Trandoshans charged, swinging its pipe horizontally with enough force to cause severe blunt force trauma upon impact. Xuko ducked under the strike and rolled to the side in order to avoid any flailing limbs, his lightsaber flashing as he did so. He was rewarded with a howl of pain and dismay as the pipe clattered to the ground; still clutched in the large Trandoshan's severed hand. Xuko might've let the Trandoshan limp away, but the reptilian chose violence; striking out with its remaining arm and attempting to gouge him with its claws.

Xuko swayed backwards this time, feeling the rush of air as the deadly claws missed by centimeters. Before the Trandoshan could recover, Xuko followed up with a riposte, plunging his lightsaber into the chest of the larger Trandoshan and swiftly dispatching the humanoid. Then he was immediately engaged by the smaller of the two Trandoshans and was forced on the defensive; desperately parrying vibroknife strikes and almost tripping over the dead Trandoshan as he gave ground.

Of the three opponents, the smaller of the two Trandoshans- although still a good head taller than Xuko- was the most accomplished combatant. Xuko realized that he had erred in his initial assessment; this Trandoshan only attacked second because the first one tended to charge in first, swinging a blunt object. This reptilian humanoid was, in practice, the most dangerous of the three. For several seconds, Xuko was hard pressed to keep the flashing virbroknives at bay, until a quick Force Push bought him enough time to reestablish his defensive position.

Then it was time to go on the attack. Xuko didn't think- he left his instincts take over, dropping into a lightsaber cadence that his brain had forgotten but his muscles clearly remembered. Overhand right. Overhand left. Backhand. Backhand side. Forehand left. Now it was the Trandoshan's turn to give ground as Xuko began raining strikes down; the Zabrak was fully in the flow of battle. One of the vibroknives clattered to the ground, sparking and compromised, and still Xuko pressed his attack. He'd pushed the Trandoshan back past where their fight had begun when the Force surged in warning.

The human.

Xuko threw himself to the side as the human's virboblade whizzed past his ear in a strike that would've separated his head from his shoulders if not for his desperate lunge out of its path. The dive cost him both his balance and his advantage; now both Red Ravens leapt towards him; intent to finish him off while he was still supine.

The human arrived a split second before the Trandoshan did; a fatal mistake. Xuko parried the vibrosword strike with his lightsaber while his feet caught the human square in the chest; preventing the attempted tackle and steering the man's torso into the Trandoshan's descending virboknife. Brickface died with a betrayed gurgle and was quickly tossed aside by the remaining Trandoshan; its remaining vorboknife still buried in his back.

Suddenly, the fight entered a new phase; a desperate grappling match on the blasted grounds of Bastion. Xuko's lightsaber extinguished as his wrist was twisted painfully and it dropped from his hand, while the Trandoshan's other hand clamped around Xuko's throat. Spots danced in the Zabrak's eyes as it slowly began crushing his windpipe. Xuko tried to fight back, but the reach advantage- and the weight advantage- lay with the Trandoshan. Xuko's strikes with his free hand caused minimal damage while the Trandoshan restrained his right hand and slowly squeezed the life out of him with the other. Xuko could see the light of victory in the Trandoshan's eyes when his free hand- flopping around ineffectively between wild strikes at the Trandoshan's arm and wrist- brushed against something cold, metal, and solid; the metal pipe.

Grasping the blunt object, Xuko swung upwards as hard as he could, and was rewarded with a solid clunk as the pipe made uninterrupted contact with the Trandoshan's skull. The vise-like grip on his windpipe and wrist immediately loosened and the reptilian slumped over like a sack of potatoes; unconscious. For a few seconds, Xuko could only suck in grateful lungfuls of air, wheezing painfully through his bruised trachea while a half-dozen other bruises and cuts from the battle announced their presence.

Ow.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

The moment Xuko threw himself from the rooftop, the entire relief station reacted exactly as the Red Ravens had intended. Cries of alarm rippled through the waiting refugees as the snap-hiss of a lightsaber cut through the air, aid workers instinctively moving to shield civilians while frightened families pulled children behind them. Every eye was drawn toward the confrontation unfolding in the middle of the distribution line. That was the point. Xuko had become the center of the battlefield, the obvious threat, the obvious defender, and the obvious distraction. From her position atop a nearby cargo container, Xian barely watched the duel at all. She only needed to know it had begun. Instead, her black eyes swept steadily across the crowd itself, studying reactions instead of combat. Panic looked one way. Confusion looked another. Experience had taught her that people rarely revealed themselves by what they carried, but almost always by what they chose to pay attention to.

Most of the civilians behaved exactly as she expected. They backed away from the violence, gathered loved ones close, or simply froze as uncertainty overtook them. The aid workers rushed to restore order despite the danger, shouting for people to stay calm while trying to keep the food lines from collapsing into chaos. Those people were not her concern. The ones she sought behaved differently. A woman near the middle of the line reached beneath her oversized coat, not to protect herself, but with practiced purpose, her attention fixed on the relief workers rather than the fight. A broad-shouldered man quietly abandoned the queue altogether, drifting toward a stack of supply crates instead of away from danger. Two more individuals separated from the frightened crowd without exchanging so much as a glance, naturally taking positions that overlooked the distribution point from different angles. They never acknowledged one another, which only confirmed Xian's suspicion. Telvaren had been telling the truth. The three thugs attacking Xuko had never been the operation. They were simply the bait that allowed everyone else to move unnoticed.

Xian stepped from the cargo container without haste, letting a gentle cushion of air slow her descent onto the awning of a nearby shelter before continuing forward at a brisk walk. There was no reason to rush. The Ravens still believed their deception intact. The first operative had only managed to draw a compact blaster halfway from beneath her coat when a sharp burst of compressed air twisted her wrist. The weapon spun harmlessly across the pavement before the woman even understood what had happened. Xian closed the remaining distance in two quick steps, driving the heel of her palm cleanly into the woman's jaw. She folded to the ground unconscious without ever firing a shot. By then Xian was already moving toward the second target. The broad-shouldered man had just produced a compact slicing device beside the supply crates when another focused gust slammed into his side, throwing him off balance and sending the device skidding across the duracrete. As he stumbled into a support column, Xian arrived beside him, swept his legs from beneath him with a quick, efficient motion, and pinned his hand long enough for nearby security volunteers to rush in and restrain him. She did not linger. Neither opponent required defeating once they could no longer complete their task.

Only then did the remaining operatives understand that something had gone wrong. One reached instinctively inside his jacket, his expression changing the instant he realized the retrieval team had vanished almost without a fight. Xian never saw the detonator itself. She saw the motion. That was enough. The Force answered before the Raven could. The small transmitter tore free from inside his coat and shot through the air into her waiting hand. She glanced at the device only briefly before breaking the antenna beneath her thumb. "So that was your insurance policy," she murmured, tossing the now-useless transmitter onto the roof behind her. The operative hesitated for a fatal second, and when he finally turned to flee, a ribbon of compressed air caught his ankles mid-stride. He struck the pavement hard enough to stun himself, allowing aid workers and the first responding security officers to throw themselves onto him before he could recover. Around them, the carefully orchestrated attack was already collapsing, not because every Raven had been defeated, but because none of them had managed to accomplish the job they had actually been sent to do.

Only after the hidden threats had been neutralized did Xian finally allow herself to look back toward Xuko. The timing could scarcely have been worse. She saw Brickface collapse beneath his own ally's blade, watched Xuko's lightsaber torn from his grasp, and then saw the remaining Trandoshan's massive hand tightening around his throat. There was no possibility of reaching him in time, so she did what came most naturally. One hand extended toward the struggle as a concentrated blast of compressed air struck the Trandoshan broadside. It was not powerful enough to hurl the massive reptilian away, nor was that her intention. All she needed was a moment. The sudden shift in footing loosened the creature's grip for the briefest fraction of a second, and Xuko seized the opportunity immediately. He wrenched himself free, found the fallen length of pipe by instinct alone, and brought it crashing upward with a crack that echoed across the relief station. The Trandoshan slumped lifelessly to the ground as Xian finally released the breath she had been holding. Around them, Bastion security poured into the district to find the Red Ravens already disarmed, unconscious, or pinned beneath civilians who, only moments earlier, had believed themselves helpless. The Ravens had planned for panic. They had planned for confusion. They had planned for everyone to watch the fight. Xian never had.

Xuko Pagoi

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

As soon as he was able to, Xuko got to his feet. A quick glance told him that Xian's plan had worked. All around the relief site were Red Ravens in varying states of consciousness or captivity; none were a threat anymore. The square now swarmed with security. Xuko's eyes darted around until he found Xian's unmistakable red hair; she appeared to have made it out unscathed. He beckoned her over, curious where her thoughts were now that the fight was over.

"Your plan was successful" he said, when she was close enough that he wouldn't have to raise his voice to be heard. Nearby, the unconscious Trandoshan stirred. "It probably is not enough to bring down the organization, though." Xuko guessed that none of the leadership had been present, which ran the risk of the Ravens simply replenishing their losses and continuing their work. However, winning a battle- if not the war- might be the best that the two of them could do in the moment. Most likely, though, Xian was already thinking ahead.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

The relief station gradually began settling into something resembling order again. Bastion security moved efficiently through the area, collecting discarded weapons, securing prisoners, and separating genuine refugees from those who had only moments earlier revealed themselves as Red Ravens. Aid workers resumed directing frightened civilians back into orderly lines, their voices calmer now that the immediate danger had passed. Around them, conversations had already begun, witnesses recounting the battle in excited fragments while medical personnel hurried toward the wounded. It looked, from the outside, like the crisis had ended.

Not everyone had been caught.

From the shadow cast beneath an elevated transit platform, a lone Nogri remained perfectly still, its dark clothing and natural skin coloration blending almost seamlessly into the surrounding steel and concrete. Unlike the other Ravens, it had never moved to retrieve supplies or attack civilians. Observation had always been its assignment. Narrow eyes followed Xuko first, lingering on the bruised Zabrak who had held the center of the battlefield against overwhelming odds, before shifting toward the unmistakable figure with crimson hair moving calmly through the aftermath. The Nogri committed every detail to memory. Height. Build. Hair. The unusual use of the Force. Their coordination. Jedi. Dangerous ones. It made no effort to interfere, simply fading back into the maze of Coruscant-like architecture surrounding Bastion's streets. The organization had lost today's operation, but information was often worth far more than supplies. The leadership would know exactly who had ruined their plans.

Xian crossed the remaining distance toward Xuko after noticing him motion her over, her attention briefly lingering on the unconscious Trandoshan beginning to stir before settling on the battered Jedi himself. Aside from a few scuffs on her clothing and the faint flush of exertion across her face, she appeared largely unharmed. Her eyes drifted over him with quiet scrutiny, noting the bruising already beginning to form around his throat. She said nothing about it immediately. He already knew how close that fight had been.

"It was successful," she agreed, following his gaze across the relief station. "But it won't bring them down." There was no disappointment in her voice, only realism. "Organizations this large don't collapse because one operation fails. If our research was even close to accurate, they'll replace everyone we arrested today and adjust whatever plans come next." She folded her arms loosely, watching security escort another bound Raven toward a waiting transport. "Criminal networks survive by expecting losses."

Her expression softened just slightly as she looked back toward the people once again receiving food instead of running for their lives.

"For today, though..." She allowed herself the smallest hint of satisfaction. "I hope we've convinced them that Bastion isn't worth the effort." Her eyes lingered on the aid workers handing supplies back across the tables, children cautiously returning to their parents, and volunteers slowly relaxing now that the danger had passed. "If they decide there are easier worlds to prey on..." She nodded once. "...then that's enough for me. Thank you."

For now, at least.

"Do you want something to eat after that?"

Xuko Pagoi

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko shared Xian's assessment about the Ravens; they would be back eventually, or else they'd take their operations elsewhere. Still, for today at least, they'd blunted the tip of the spear that was the Red Ravens. Xuko took a moment to look around, taking in the aftermath of the fight that could've been so much worse. A few minor injuries here and there among the refugees was nothing compared to the bloodbath that could've been.

Xian's question brought him back to the present. He didn't have to think hard about his response. "Yes. Is there a local place you enjoy? I was told my credits will be accepted here." He had little use for his modest Jedi stipend, and besides; Xian had started in the food line, either for herself or for others. Given how much she'd risked and contributed in order to neutralize the threat, paying for a meal was the least he could do.

"Lead the way" he said, but not before catching her eye. "Once we get there, I will look forward to hearing about how you are able to fly."

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian's smile brightened immediately.

"Yes, actually." She turned and started walking, confident enough that he would follow. "There's a little food stall a few streets over that makes the best roast nerf in the city. At least, I think it is. I've never found anything that beats it." She glanced back over her shoulder with a grin. "And before you ask, yes, I have done extensive research."

The walk carried them away from the crowded refugee district and into quieter streets that had weathered the Diarchy's fall a little better than most. The scars were still there. Empty storefronts. Buildings waiting for repairs. Even so, Bastion felt alive again. People had begun returning to the streets, and for the first time in a long while, there was something that resembled hope. "There's also a quiet place nearby where we can eat," she continued. "It's tucked away enough that people usually leave it alone. I can get us in." She caught the skeptical look on his face and immediately raised a hand. "I promise it isn't dark and foreboding at all." With complete sincerity, she crossed a finger over her heart. "It's actually quite nice."

A laugh escaped her as they continued down the street. "As for flying..." Xian smiled a little. "It's mostly air." She glanced at him. "I don't really think about it anymore. I just... ask it to carry me." She frowned thoughtfully. "That probably doesn't explain it very well."

Her smile returned, a touch sheepish this time. "I can show you sometime, though. That's a lot easier than trying to explain it." She looked ahead toward the familiar market district. "Just don't ask me to explain it while I'm doing it. I think that would make both of us hit the ground."

Xuko Pagoi

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko tagged along after Xian, eventually walking alongside her as she led the way to a local hole-in-the-wall place that had survived the Diarchy's fall. The Zabrak was learning to see the signs of resilience and regrowth amidst the shuttered storefronts and boarded-up businesses that first drew his eyes. A mechanic's shop momentarily brightened by a shower of sparks, a call of an older Twi'lek summoning a younger to help carry heavy bags, the smell of some kind of meat cooking over an open flame; Bastion had been damaged, but some of its connective tissue remained.

Xuko also pondered Xian's explanation for her flying ability, seeing both similarities and differences compared to the Force. At the very least, Xian was similarly attuned to the air around her, although her skills seemed more like bending the element to her will than opening oneself up to the Force, as Xuko's instructors had labored to teach him. Regardless, her ability to harness that connection in order to fly was nothing short of impressive.

"Did you discover that ability yourself, or did you have a mentor?" Xuko asked as they turned down a new street. If he had to choose a location for a restaurant he wouldn't have chosen this neighborhood, but Xian led the way confidently and so the Zabrak followed.

Xian Xiao