Arani Jakal was not ready to be stranded on an unfamiliar planet, causing her whole life to change. But in the chaos, a friend or two popped up - seemingly from nowhere - wishing to help. Ari gladly accepted and quickly became part of a small town...
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DUSK HAD FALLEN BY THE TIME the small group reached the gates of the village. Dust and smog littered the air, somehow it the yellow-green haze of night it was much more prevalent. Five guards were perch atop the wall, scouting through the fog and trees. They knew what was about to happen. They were watching for a dangerous Jedi.
Quietly, Ahsoka gestured that now is the time to act. She would go first. Ari and Din would stand in the trees, blocked from blaster fire.
In the few seconds they had, Din took Ari's hand in his, squeezing it. The ex-pilot looked up at his helmet, wishing to see something. A gleam of an eye, a curve in his lips, the arch of a nose. But all she see was her reflection staring back. She hated it.
"We've gone through this before, we'll be okay."
She wished she could believe him and discard the fear that was boiling in her chest. There were only three of them this time and they didn't have an array of weapons at their disposal.
"Ari . . ." Her gaze snapped back to Din. "Don't think, just do."
The young woman nodded.
A shout from one of the guards echoed and the sound of a gong shook the ground, alerting everyone of the invader. After a moment, the alarm stopped and all that was heard was blaster fire. Then the gong fell and rolled, banging against stone, making Ari jump.
"It's alright," comforted Din and handed Ari a blaster. "Are you ready, mesh'la?"
Ari ignored the sporadic thumping of her heart. "No, but I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
"You can still take the kid and go back to the Crest."
"I don't think so." Wrapping her arms around Din's neck, Ari glared at him. "You know I hate this - flying"
Bringing her in closer so she was secure, Din fought the want to roll his eyes. "You were a pilot."
"There is a big difference between a jetpack and a ship, Din Djar-" Ari was cut off by her own yells. Without warning, Din had taken off. They flew over the wall and landed on the roof of a house, crouching down to keep cover.
"I hate you," Ari muttered as she fidgeted with the blaster.
"I love you too, but shut it."
If Ari's looks could kill, Din would have been dead on the spot.
Ahsoka was talking with the Magistrate, Din's pauldron lying on the ground between them. "Your bounty hunter failed. Tell me what I want to know. Where is your master?"
"Kill her," ordered the Magistrate.
The guard who had showed Arani and Din out when they left a few days ago stepped foward. "Love to." Lang aimed his blaster and began to shoot at Ahsoka, but each shot missed. The Jedi jumped high into the air and landed on the roof of a house. She ran along the roofs and disappeared, making a large number of guards to chase after her.
