The Life and Times of Jarik Solo

Chapter 10

Slowly, carefully, Jarik raised his arms up above his head.

Unbeknownst to Xaver, Xista, and the guards, once the initial shock of the double-cross had worn off, Jarik had formulated another escape plan. All he needed was a distraction....

And a distraction he got. Xaver approached him in a way that was not dissimilar to how a large predator might approach its next dinner.

He sneered. "We knew who you were the moment you told us your name, Jarik. Our intelligence sources are quite proficient, and do not be so foolish to believe that a child might get past our radar."

Jarik had half the nerve to look indignant.

Just then, Xaver turned his back to Jarik, as if revelling in his magnificent speech.

Cautiously, Jarik bent his right hand forward until he could finally feel the cool metal of the stingbeam grip against his palm. He then decided to do what could be considered either the stupidest or cleverest move of all time, depending on your point of view.

"Look out!"

All heads simultaneously turned to look where Jatrik was currently pointing his left index finger towards.

Oh, wow, Jarik thought with mild bemusement, I did not think that would work.

In a split second, he whipped his stingbeam out and, after pulling him into a headlock, poised it directly at Xaver's temple.

Of course, the stingbeam was set on the stun setting, but nobody needed to know that.

Pulling Xaver with him, Jarik backed up a few steps in order to have all the guards in his view. He could see Xista straight ahead, wearing a look of betrayal that probably matched his own a few minutes previous.

He smiled. How does betrayal feel now?

Jarik plastered the most intimidating look he could muster on his face. "I'm going to walk out of this alley right now," he said. "And unless you want your boss to die, I would suggest that you not follow me."

Jarik didn't believe for a second that the guards wouldn't chase him once he released Xaver, but he'd worry about that when the time came.

Half-dragging a swearing Xaver, Jarik backed out of the alley, the guards guns still trained on him.

Once safely out of their lines of fire, Jarik pulled the trigger on the stingbeam. Immediately, he collapsed to the ground, stunned. He'd come around sooner or later, but Jarik had bigger things to worry about. He ignored the gaping passerby around him.

Before the guards found out what happened (apparently they had been too scared to follow him out), he broke into a sprint.

He could hear the guards clamoring behind him as he pushed through the crowds. Jarik was at an advantage here; the guards couldn't just fire blindly into a large crowd unless they wanted a huge scandal-and civilian casualties.

Ducking behind a rather large Neimodian man, Jarik jumped behind some dumpsters in the next alley. A few moments later, Jarik saw the guards, led by Xista, rush past him, completely oblivious of his presence.

Once he was completely sure it was safe, Jarik stood up, subtly brushing himself off, he made his way out of the alley and towards the south docking bay, opposite of where Xista had gone.

Freedom at last.

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