STAR WARS: ADVENTURES OF BUCK RYDUR - BOOK 1 PART 1 FREEDOM'S PRICE

Chapter 5 (cont part 2)

About three weeks after I'd first come to Coruscant, we moved to another of Cash's hideouts so the pirate could lay low after one of his runs. At this time Cash told me he'd found a medic to take out my tracking tag, and all it would take was a five-minute operation.

The medical droid injected some kind of tranquilizing fluid that numbed the area of my ear where he needed to work, but the aching pain afterwards told me Solii's tag was out. My last ties to slavery were finally gone. I was really free! I dove into my new life with renewed energy.

The days passed by so fast I forgot to keep track. Soon my body stopped aching. I could do calisthenics for longer periods. I could dash through any obstacle course in record time. Hard muscles began to develop all over my body, which was no longer scrawny. And I was growing taller.

Each day I could exercise longer and faster than the day before. My street thief skills improved until they were almost perfect, and Ooris had his hands full during our combat practices. One time I even beat him in a wrestling match.

"Not bad," he grunted as he tossed me off of him. "Don't use that hold in a real fight until you're bigger. Opponent could rip your arm off."

Finally, the day came when Robyn decided I was ready. He woke me up around 0700 hours, bubbling with excitement. I was too groggy at first to understand what he was whooping about.

Once I was able to make sense of his racket, I jumped out of bed. I washed and dressed, then we caught what Robyn calls a 'free ride' up to the Uscru district. He led me into a small, run-down building. It would've been space-black inside if it weren't for the windows. The thousands of glowing holograms, flashing transports, and neon signs outside were the only light.

It was dim, but enough for me to make out members of the juvie-gang sitting around casually, waiting.

"So can we go now?" I asked.

Robyn grinned at my enthusiasm. "Let the others take cover first. Everybody's got to be able to see you."

"So we can rescue you after ya screw up," Donor muttered.

Robyn shot him a dark look. "We'll 'ave none of that, mate. Now everybody get goin'."

We flooded out of the alley, Robyn and I bringing up the rear. In a flash the others were out of sight, disappearing into the throngs of people. I was simmering with nerves as we strode along the walkways, listening for the signal that everyone was in position. Then it came; the high-pitched whistle of Maren's pixipipe.

"Right, Buck," Robyn told me, not slowing his stride. "Take off. We'll be around."

With a nod, I turned and began making my own way through the crowds. This was one of the upper levels of the district, the highway between the sophisticated city and the seedy underworld. I walked at an easy, careless pace, heading for one of the most popular attractions in the area; the Revwien Comedy Academy Playhouse.

The massive theater was always open and just buzzing with swanky citizens. I hung around the grand entrances, keeping one eye out for cops while the other looked for a worthy victim. I still felt a little bad about doing this, but I had to prove myself to the gang, to Robyn, to Cash. Like my new friends constantly told me, the rich would always be rich. We weren't doing any harm by relieving them of a fraction of their wealth. Most probably wouldn't even miss it. 

A woman caught my attention as she stepped out of a first-class air taxi. She looked middle-aged and wore a fancy headdress, a load of flashing jewelry, and expensive robes. Four guards flanked her as she glided formally toward the building.

Robyn would probably tell me to pick an easier target, but I wanted to show him and the others what I could do. Taking a deep breath, I ran toward the pretty group and tripped on purpose, falling hard right in front of the rich lady.

She gasped and took a step back. "Oh my stars!"

The guards were there in an instant, staring down at me suspiciously. "Are you alright, child?" the woman asked.

I slowly sat up, blinking as if stunned. "Uh, oh, I dunno."

"Poor thing!" She turned to one of her guards. "Don't just stand there; help the boy up!"

The man bent over and helped me to my feet. I stumbled, pretending to be dizzy.

"Oh, he's going to faint! He's fainting!" The woman reflexively reached out to steady me; with her in front and the guards surrounding us, I was now covered from all sides. Nobody saw me slip a hand into the folds of her heavy robe and pull out a thick velvety pocketbook which I smoothly slid up my sleeve.

But why stop there? Still pretending to be dazed, I concentrated on the many bracelets dangling from her wrists; two of them--one set with red and orange gems, the other
with bright green jewels inset in gold squares, unclasped and dropped right into my waiting hands. Both disappeared into my tunic like magic.

"Are you sure you're alright?" the woman was exclaiming, rubbing my cheeks. "You look weak; maybe we should take you to a medic. Is there a medical institution nearby?"

I pretended to breathe deeply and squeezed my eyes shut for a second.

My reeling stopped. "I think I'll be okay. Just, the fall must've knocked the wind out of me." I rubbed my chest.

The woman looked relieved, then indignant. "Where in the galaxy are your parents? They shouldn't allow such a young boy to be running around the streets! You could have been seriously hurt!"

I almost laughed. "Yes, I'll tell them. Thanks for your help."

I started away, but she caught my arm. "Wait a minute, child."

My heart started beating faster; it took a ton of effort to look innocently up at her. "I am a member of the Imperial Protective Services for Youth, and would like to speak with your parents myself. Take me to them, please."

Suddenly I was in a panic. Now what?

"Uh, I can't," I stammered.

The woman looked surprised. "Why ever not?"

"I um . . ." I was having trouble keeping my nerves from showing. "I don't know where my parents are. See, they told me to wait for 'em in our taxi, but soon as they were gone our driver made me get out and drove away."

"This is completely unacceptable!" the woman ranted. "A child your age should never be left alone in a transport, especially with scum such as that taxi driver around. Why, you might've been kidnapped, or worse! Just wait until I have a word with--"

"Sorry, gotta go!" Before they could stop me, I jogged away, then ran as fast as I could once I was out of sight.

***end of Chapter 5***