reborn § cal kestis

17

Cries of confusion replaced cheers of victory. A few rebels grabbed ahold of their blasters, just in case.

"No," Sadira whispered. "This wasn't supposed to happen. They weren't supposed to come."

To her dismay, Cal heard her, and looked to her in confusion. "What do you mean? What's going on?"

Sadira gaped wordlessly at Cal. She didn't know what to say to him, to any of them. She thought she had dealt with this. She thought she had redeemed herself.

Cal stepped forward, searching Sadira's eyes. "What did you do?"

She shook her head. "I...I didn't mean- I didn't think that-"

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Jase started. His voice seemed to be amplified by a speaker. A few rebels groaned as the feedback penetrated their ears. "I believe that you have something I want; something that the Empire wants."

The entire Mantis Crew glanced at eachother, all sharing a single thought: they've got us. Jase walked forward as he spoke. In one hand, he held a datapad, which projected photos of the group. "Cere Junda," he read. "Greez Dritus. Merrin. Cal Kestis." His eyes darkened. "Sadira Carrino."

  Sadira turned to the others. "You guys need to go. Get to the ship, get everything you need. I'll talk to him."

  Merrin's brows knitted together. "You know him?"

  "I did...a long time ago," she replied.

  Cal's eyes widened. "Jase. He helped you and your dad escape."

  Sadira nodded. "Yeah, that's him. Now go, I can distract him for a while."

  Greez, Merrin and Cere did as they were told, pushing their way through the compact crowd. Cal stayed behind. "No, I'm not going. He could kill you."

  "Cal." Sadira brushed her hand against his arm. "He needs us alive. Now get out of here, I'll meet you at the ship."

  "Do you have a plan?"

  She bit her lip. "Not really, but I'll work it out."

  Jase's loud voice reverberated through the air once more. "If you could be so kind as to hand them to me, no one will get hurt, I promise." Sadira smiled reassuringly at Cal, then he ran off in the direction of the ship. "If not..." Jase continued. He gestured to the Hunters surrounding him. "...my friends here will shoot one of you at a time until we find them ourselves."

  There was only silence. The rebels stood, paralysed by fear. There were more of them compared to the Guild, but they were a lot less experienced and trained than Bounty Hunters. It wasn't a fight that they wanted to be involved in.

  Dark eyes scanning the crowd, Jase poked his tongue into his cheek. "Very well then," he said, then lifted his hand. The Hunters poised their guns. Screams of terror filled the air.

  Sadira stepped forward. "Jase!"

  "Stop! Stop," Jase ordered, and the Hunters lowered their weapons. He grinned slyly. "I knew you'd be the brave hero who steps forward at the last second," he mocked. "You're so predictable."

  "We had a deal. A promise."

  Jase placed his speaker onto a hook on the wall of his ship. He walked forward and hopped off the ramp. "Yes, we did. I believe it was something along the lines of no one getting hurt."

  "Clearly that was a lie," Sadira sneered.

  Jase shrugged. "Half a lie. If you and your friends give yourselves up, no one gets hurt. And if you don't...well, I made that clear earlier."