Cantina Chaos on Batuu

[Markus Tane]

PART 1:

CRASH!!!

I felt my body tense as the tray of drinks I was carrying fell to the floor. The whole room went silent as I felt what was almost the whole cantina turn to stare at me. Their gazes shooting right through me like a battalion of blaster bolts...

It had been a while since I arrived here, and since I've been trying to keep a low profile... But even public enemies in hiding need to make a few credits... Black Spire Outpost was the only place I could think of where I could hide among the smugglers and pirates. It's worked so far... I've gotten through without incident...

Until now...

"TANE! GET OVER HERE!" The loud voice booming from behind the bar drained the blood from my face. I slowly turned around as the patrons went back to their business. My hands were shaking as I walked over to the large Dowutin behind the bar.

"What... Was... That?" He asked, his large hands leaning on the bar as he looked down at me.

"I... I'm sorry, Hugo..." I say, my eyes staring down at the floor.

That was quickly followed by his large hand moving up to my neck, his grip choking me hard and blocking my airways.

"LOOK AT ME WHEN YOU SPEAK!"

"Yes... gasp Hugo...* I say, gasping for air.

He drops me and throws a mop down, hitting me in the head.

"Clean up your mess and get out of here..." He says. "That's coming out of your pay."

"But I'm here until sundown! You said..."

"You WANT to argue with me?" He glares.

It took all of my inner strength not to slug him right in the jaw... though doing that would probably break my hand. I got up with the mop clenched in my hand and started mopping up the spilled drinks.

Just as I was finishing up, the door to the cantina opened. I would've ignored the sound, but this time something felt different.

I looked up and saw the men clad in white armor. The blasters in their hands brought back a flash of memories. I felt the mop slipping out of my fingers but quickly grabbed it, looking back down at the floor as they entered.

Even over the music I could hear their footsteps nearing... closer... closer...

I quickly finished and headed to the back to avoid them, getting out of there as soon as possible.

My heart was beating a mile a minute, I was losing my balance as the memories came pouring in...

(TO BE CONTINUED...)

 

[Markus Tane]

PART 2:

REWIND:

"Try again. You need to stay sharp. ."

I groaned as I picked myself up from off the floor, pulling my lightsaber back into my hand as my master stood across from me.

"It's impossible..." I say to him. "How do I know when you're going to attack if I can't see anything?"

"Focus your mind, Markus. Feel the Force around you, how it flows and moves." He says.

My Master, Dorian Graw and I were on our way to Kessel to investigate a possible Separatist outpost near one of the main spice mines. Just because we're going on a field trip though doesn't mean I'm not learning. I closed my eyes and ignited my saber, the blue beam of energy whirring as the world around me went dark.

"Good. Now, deep breaths. With each breath, extend your reach into the Force..."

Deep breath in... Deep breath out... In... Out... In...

I quickly turned around and blocked an incoming attack, followed by a few exchanges before I slipped the lightsaber out of his hand and into mine.

"Good job." He says as I open my eyes. "Take a short break while I go talk to the Commander on our status."

I nodded my head and headed back to my chamber.
______________________________

The blaring alarms woke me from my sleep. What the hell?

I got up and just as I was about to leave, the door to my chamber opened.

Two troopers enetered, though I could tell something was up.

"What's going on?" I asked.

They raised their blasters at me and I quickly blocked both of their shots, sending them right back and taking them out.

I threw on my comm link and got out of there.

"Master? Come in Master! What's going on?" I say, running through the halls of the Star Destroyer.

"My Padawan... Something has gone wrong... There's no time to explain, but just stay alive and make your way to the main control room..."

As soon as he hung up, a small group of clones rounded the corner and immediately started firing at me. I deflected a few bolts and took cover, entering one of the artillery rooms and sealing myself inside.

I couldn't breathe... My hands were shaking... This wasn't right...

I looked down at the floor and tried to calm down but images... voices... started replaying in my mind...

That's when I heard the slicers starting to break open the door.

I looked for a way out but the only way I could think of was through the vents. I climbed up and quietly snuck up into the vents just as the door burst open.

"Search every inch of this place for the Padawan..." I heard them say. "The Jedi cannot escape."

I backed away and remebered my Master's instructions. I made my way to the main control room as quickly and quietly as I could.

Eventually, I neared the room, but the vents were too small to continue any further. My only option was to escape through the hallways. I didn't know how many clones there would be though...

I had to though... If we were to escape, I had to go...

I closed my eyes, sensing if there were any clones near my position...

As soon as the coast was clear, I cut open the vent and sprinted to the control room.

My Master was there waiting for me and we sealed the door. "What's happening? Why are we being hunted?"

"We are apparently traitors to the Republic... Master Obi-Wan has already sent out an urgent message not to return to Coruscant..."

My heart sunk... My mind went blank... "What now?" I ask.

He looked at me and sighed. "We go into hiding..." He says, pushing a few buttons on the hangar door console.

"We'll have to take shelter... There's a planet on the other end of the galaxy only known to house pirates and smugglers." He says. "Batuu is the only Planet I know of that is safe enough to hide us..."

"How do we get there? We can't take the Star Destroyer with us!"

"That's why we have these." He points to the bombers out in the hangar.

"How do we get there without alerting the clones?"

"We don't..." He says. "As much as it pains me to say, these clones' only will is to kill us. We must do everything and anything to survive."

"But..."

"Padawan... Listen to me..." He grabs my shoulder. "Get to your ship as fast as you can. Do not stop for me. Your life is more important than mine..."

"Yes... Master..." I say, my body shaking in fear.

"Now... Go..." He opens the door and we go as fast as we can to the hangar.

As we neared the bombers I could hear them yelling at us. "FIRE!!!" Blaster bolts fly by our heads as we push through. I jump up and ignite the engines on my ship, hovering and aiming my weapons at the clones, taking most of the squad out so my Master could get in his ship.

"Head for Batuu, now!" He yells though the comm link.

I turn and take off, seeing him right behind me. I set a course and fire the hyperdrive.

Just as I take off a feint explosion appears behind me.

My heart drops as I blast off, leaving the Star Destroyer, the clones, and my Master behind...