Assassin (A Star Wars Fan-Fiction) Book 3

Chapter Ten

From that point on, Denali made sure that Padme was with her at all times. She'd gotten distracted last night by all the excitement and Gerg and it was unacceptable. Denali was thankful to have a job with Padme, to have an honest way of earning her keep without having to kill anyone in the process. She'd never been so grateful for something in her entire life. So it was rude and disrespectful of her to abandon her boss. Especially in the middle of a bounty hunter base filled with people who'd love to have Padme's head on a stick. Very rude of her, very rude indeed.

That morning, to make it up to her boss, Denali decided to take Padme down to the base's kitchen for breakfast. If her old Wookiee friends Tint and Heff were still in tight with the Rancor Slayers like they'd been when she was a child, they would probably be there, head-chefs. Running the show and making even more amazing food than they ever had before. 

Tint and Heff weren't like the other Rancor Slayers. They didn't like killing for a living, their true passion was food. Always had been, always would be. And they were amazing at it. As a little girl, every year on he birthday, they'd make the most amazing cake for her in the history of the galaxy. The only kind of birthday cake she ever got. Her father surely didn't care enough to even get her a gift, and the Jedi Order never celebrated birthdays. So when it came to that special occasion, Heff and Tint were always the best at giving her something to remember.

The cafeteria wasn't as busy as they originally believed it would be. Maybe because it was so early. After all, the two women were so used to getting up before the crack of dawn that it never occurred to them that maybe the rest of the galaxy slept in a little later. The cafeteria was around the size of the training room at the Jedi Temple, with fifty or more big tables scattered throughout the joint that could seat ten people. Small tables sat around as well, little things that could only seat two people pressed against the walls. Except the farthest wall to the right, there weren't any seats over there due to the kitchen taking up that space.

The kitchen was separated from the main room by a wall with large windows breaching the gap between the two, each window with a counter displaying an abnormal amount of gorgeous, beautiful, amazing, hunger-inducing food. 

Since this was breakfast, up for grabs right now were pancakes covered in heaping piles of whipped cream and berries, waffles topped with syrup and stacks of butter, scrambled eggs, over-easy eggs, Gumba bacon, Rancor bacon, and pretty much any other kind of bacon you could think of, donuts topped with as much whipped cream as the pancakes along with other pastries, and the list went on and on and on and on and on.

It was like stepping into a dream. A beautiful, sugary dream. 

"Oh my goodness." Padme muttered from beneath her red bandanna tied around her mouth and nose. Denali was silent, eyes wide and mouth watering. Well, until one little phrase left her lips.

"Race you to the buffet."

* * * * * * * * * *

It was an entire hour before they finished eating. And by then, a mountain of plates had gathered on their table that towered over them, taunting them to keep eating more. And the two women would've kept eating if they had the stomach room, but Denali knew that if she had one more bite, she would've exploded. They would've had to hose her remains off the walls.

"Now that-" Padme covered her mouth with her hand to hide a small burp. "was amazing." An enormous grin covered Denali's face. They hadn't seen Tint or Heff yet, and she was alright with that. She'd find them eventually. Just not right then, she was too full to even stand up. "How did they manage to fit so much cream inside such a small pastry?" Denali just shrugged.

"I have no idea... But I really want another one."

Padme's eyes widened from across the table and her hand lifted up to make sure her bandanna was still secure on her face.

"What? Who is it?" Denali whispered from her spot, knowing that the person behind her couldn't see her lips moving or hear her.

"I have no idea. But he's enormous. And he's headed this way." Padme whispered back. Denali didn't need to be told that the man approaching was huge, she could feel the floor vibrating with each step the guy took in their direction. And if she tapped into the connection she had left with the Force, she knew he wasn't just over-weight, he had muscle. And lots of it. But he didn't sense threatening, either, which meant they had no reason to be scared. Denali loosened up a bit and shook her head, letting Padme know that this guy wasn't bad. Padme's nerves calmed. But only slightly.

"Woah, you eat more than me!" A thunderous voice boomed, followed by the merriest laughter either woman had ever heard. Denali's heart stopped. She knew this voice. She'd grown up hearing this voice, watching this man, learning from this man, fighting like this man when she worked with the Slayers. This man was her idol, her hero, her everything. She slowly turned her head around to face him and her jaw dropped. He had his lower two fists resting against his hips, while his right upper hand scratched the back of his head and his left was extended out to her for a friendly handshake. Arlon Amino. Arlon Amino, the professional fighter. Arlon Amino was talking to her. "I've wanted to meet you for a while, Ms.Bleway. Your brother's told me lots about you."

Denali stood up and shook his hand, which made hers look like a doll's in comparison. She couldn't believe this was happening. This was unreal. 

"I..." She cleared her nervous throat. "I've wanted to meet you, too. I saw your fight last night and it was absolutely amazing. That guy never stood a chance." Denali fawned like a typical fan would. Arlon grinned and nodded.

"Thanks, they never do." He let out another laugh that echoed through the cafeteria and shook his entire body. Denali was practically giddy with joy. Here she was, standing with her hero, having a conversation. This was what happiness felt like. "So, Denali- can I call you Denali?"

"Of course." She replied, her face beaming with joy.

"Great. Denali, I know this probably sounds like an extremely stupid idea. It probably is. But when I found out that you're back, and that, statistically speaking, we'd be an even match for each other, I was wondering if... maybe... you'd consider going a round in the ring with me?" Denali was in shock. Absolute shock. Did this walking embodiment of strength just ask her if she wanted to fight him? "Its fine if you don't want to, I understand completely. You just got back and you probably want to settle in before you jump into anything crazy. I get it-"

"No, I want to do it." Denali chimed in.

"Uh, Denali, are you sure that's such a good idea?" Padme asked from her seat at the table, still there even though no one was paying attention to her. Denali looked back at her with pleading eyes, begging eyes. She would've pouted her lower lip, too, if one of the macho-est men in the universe wasn't standing less than three feet away. 'Please?' She mouthed. With a sigh, Padme just threw her hands up in the air and shook her head. 

"Yes, I'll do it." Denali told him, taking that huff from Padme as a reluctant yes. Arlon grinned even wider, his smile taking up his entire face and lighting it up like a billboard. 

"Great! This is fantastic!" He bellowed and clapped her on the back with his enormous paw-like hands. "I'll tell the officials and they'll start publicizing our match immediately! Denali Bleway, ex-Jedi, against Arlon Amino, the king of the ring! This'll help out your brother so much! I'm so happy you've agreed!" Suddenly, she was being crushed in a full-on four-arm hug. The kind that lifts you off the ground and spins you around. 

But she didn't mind. It wasn't like she was planning on winning the fight or anything, she wasn't going to dethrone her idol. Denali was determined to put up a good battle, but in the end, she'd let Arlon take the victory. It was already enough of an honor to be considered his equal. And after she explained that to Padme, her boss was a little more understanding of why she had to do the fight. 

She had to fight, she just had to.