You Can't Risk Your Only Fighter; Tekka Goes

You don't like the idea of sending your crew into danger, but you're the only one with any real fighting experience. It has to be done.

"Tekka, I think I know how we can get out of this. I think I can see what's wrong with the engine, but it needs to be fixed from the outside. I have to keep firing; if I don't, they have free reign to keep shooting at us." As if to accent your point, sparks fly as a blaster bolt burns a hole nearly through the cockpit door. "There's a loose cable, but if you reconnect it the engines will start again, and I can get us out of here. Can you do that for me?"

Tekka nods grimly. She looks pale, and flinches every time a Weequay blaster bolt slams into the speeder, but you are impressed regardless. She hasn't shut down or run away. You nod back, press the lever to pop the speeder's hood, and Tekka makes a run for it.

While Tekka digs around under the hood of the speeder, you pop your head over and return fire on the Weequay raiders. The plan works perfectly. You are an excellent shot, and the Weequay in the speeder all duck for cover. Even when they manage to return fire, the shots go wide. You just might make it out of this!

"Uh, Corvin? I can't find the cable! I don't even really know what most of this stuff does!"

Shit.

You hunker down, reach your hand as far into the hole in the cockpit as you can, and point to the offending cable. "It's this one!"

Unfortunately, the few seconds it takes you to do so is all the Weequay gunner needs. A shot screams past Tekka, hitting the engine. You don't know what it hit, but there is a flash of light, an explosion, and the next thing you know you are being thrown heavily from the cockpit.

By some miracle, the cockpit shielded you from most of the damage. You've picked up a few scrapes and bruises from the landing, but otherwise you are none the worse for wear. Tekka... not so much.

Your companion is crumpled in the sand. It's hard to see through the smoke and haze, but she definately doesn't appear to be moving. It takes a moment to register, but when it does, you find yourself filled with a cold fury, and pick yourself up off the dunes.

You see the Weequay celebrating, spinning circles in the sand and screaming like idiots. They don't even notice you up and striding towards them. Your first shot leaves a smoking hole where the gunner used to have a nose. Your second rips through the pilot's arm, causing him to lose control and sending the last passenger spinning out of the speeder. She's struggling to stand when you arrive, blaster aimed between her eyes. "Stupid move trying to steal from Jabba. Even more stupid trying to kill me. Worst of all was what you did to my friend."

"You think you work for Jabba?" Her basic is heavily accented, but at least you can understand. That's what she took from that speech? "I think no. Jabba's shipment has been collected already. I think you work for Naraya, collecting HER shipment. She hired you to help cover her stealing, yes? Now you are in over your head, having second thoughts, I think."

That... actually makes sense. If Naraya was skimming and was about to get caught, it would explain the sudden escalation in taxes, and the need to hire someone like yourself. You may have accidentally crossed the biggest gang kingpin on the planet.

"I can help you! I am Shokka Boz, and -" whatever she was offering is cut off by your blaster. You're done with shady deals and pirates. You might be done with this planet in general.

Dreading what you'll find, you slowly make your way to collect Tekka. You sink to your knees, holding her small blue frame close, stroking her Lekku. You whisper softly to her, even if you know she can't hear. "I'm sorry Tekka. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. I was going to show you the galaxy, and all you got to see was this awful place."

"Yea, you really let me down on that one."

...

...

Gently, carefully, you look down. Tekka looks back up at you, faint smile on her lips.

"You should see your face. I would laugh, but breathing feels like being stabbed, so maybe it's not a great idea."

You quickly check for injuries (like you probably should have done to start), prodding and pressing in a flurry of activity. Several burns, bruises, and scrapes. She cries out softly when you gently press her torso. Broken ribs? You aren't a doctor, you aren't sure. She'll definately be out of commission for a while, but she seems stable enough. You can celebrate her being alive later.

"Listen, this job has gone a little sideways. Long story short, I think we may have accidentally crossed Jabba the Hutt. Right now, I think we need to try and catch a ride out of here, and maybe lay low for a little while."

Tekka points weakly behind you. "I don't think finding a ride will be a problem ."

You see a cloud of dust rapidly speeding towards you, large enough to indicate several heavy speeders. Unfortunately, Tekka is in no shape to run, so there's nothing to do but wait for them to arrive. You stand with your arms raised as the convoy of speeders arrives, loaded down with a motley crew of rough looking customers. They don't identify themselves, or even let you stop and plead your case. Before you can talk, one of their blasters flashes blue, and everything goes dark.