A Jedi's Grace

Chapter IV: Ghosts of the Past

The ignition sound of a blaster was heard behind the Jedi, confirming her suspicions. Hivall turned around to meet the indifferent gaze of Ashake, holding the gun in her direction without a single trace of regret.

"This isn't personal Jedi, but credits are credits. I'm sure you understand with all of your Jedi compassion." An unapologetic tune was carried on her voice, she did not regret this choice at all. The logical part of Hivall knew this was going to happen the moment they shook hands; smugglers don't like others getting on the way of their money.

"You don't have to do this."

Ashake's tight lips formed into a malicious smirk. "Oh, I do."

In a swift movement, Hivall kicked the blaster before freely grabbing the togruta's arm and with the other hand Force-blowing her against a metal bookcase. The books fell directly on Ashake's head as she groaned and got up, one hand reaching for her blades.

"The person who hired you only wants to bring evil back. The Empire. The Sith. Why else would they want anything from here?" Hivall asked before Ashake charged at her and knocked her to the ground, one of her blades almost hitting her if she had not moved her head to the side.

"The Empire, the Republic, the Jedi. It matters not to me or the others, we still had to survive by ourselves without any help." The Jedi could feel the hatred behind Ashake's words, but this was a live or die situation and feelings wouldn't be spared.

"This time-" Hivall replied through an exasperated breath and kicked her face, with a Force Push threw Ashake backwards . "things will be different!"

Ashake cleaned the blood dripping from her nose, her jaw locked in place with the corners of her mouth pointed downwards in a disgusted move. "That's what they all said."

A grey with golden marks blade dropped from her sleeve and into a firm grape on her hands as the togruta spun around with a quick attack. Hivall stepped a foot back and reached to a small statue near her, slamming it against Ashake's head. This gave her extra time to make distance between them to think of a good approach.

Hivall failed a punch, allowing Ashake to set her arm around the Jedi's neck and spined her until her feet gave up and she fell to the ground with a loud thund.

"The title of Jedi means nothing if you cannot stand for yourself, Padawan." The smuggler spat out.

Hivall crawled away and with a foot on the ground, she tried to get up while using the Force to block the continued attacks of Ashake. A sudden and burning wound on Surike's arm distracted her, and the girl hissed in pain, her mind giving up for a single moment. On her knees with a flushed face, her chin was lifted up by Ashake, who was staring down at her with a condescending gaze.

"I could kill you right here, pretty girl." She said, although her voice was calm, there was a threatening layer to it. "But bringing you alive will triple my payment."

The truth had been revealed; Ashake was a bounty-hunter, and by the looks of it, Hivall was her target. It all made sense now, she was too naïve to see it. If the person who hired her knew about the chamber, they also had to know about how to open it, but then again, they'd have to know who Hivall was, and she had no idea how that was possible. Nobody besides her mother knew of their family's past.

Unless she told someone.

"Now I just gotta get you and the big guy over there," She waved her blaster to the frozen Sith. "back to my ship. My client's happy, I'm happy with the payment I'll receive and, well, not you since you lost this round." Ashake shrug her shoulders. The girl could not understand how she was so natural with this. Had she done this before? Betraying someone who was unarmed and trusted them? "I still need to get two other artifacts, so we'll stay here for a while. Try not to give me much trouble 'right?"