A Grand Sweepstake

[Arda Breaux]

She had spent hours trying to perfect the treat, she wasn't entirely sure what compelled her to try to recall how to make some of her treats from her childhood, but she hoped it turned out just how she remembered. She had taken a few taste tests in order to determine when she created the right batch of thin, sweetened noodles and the garnish and syrups used to give flavor was another project within itself. However, Arda felt accomplished as her latest taste test brought back memories she thought she had forgotten; the Jedi Master scooped them into two bowls in order to share with Crix and headed to his quarters.

Having needing to talk to him anyways, she thought this was an opportunity to share her treat with him as it was rare that she would ever have a moment like this to herself. Her days generally were filled with the rush of mission reports and intel from the far reaches of the galaxy; she was never sure how Hugo was able to do this, and even with those on her council, it still seemed the weight of not only an entire Order but the Rebellion was terribly heavy.

Arriving at his door, she knocked with the bend of her forefinger as she held the two bowls in her hands; she wasn't dressed in her Jedi robes and her hair was down, but casually wore civilian clothing consisting of a tunic, leggings and flats that seemed to communicate it was a lazy day for the Jedi Master. She frowned when he didn't answer right away, her senses reaching to see if he was even present or if he was at his ship, but either way, she would wait a moment longer before checking the hanger.

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

Crix trudged down the ramp of The Rambler. His most recent mission to Lannik was over, but he'd earned himself a few new scars that'd stay with him for a while. He grabbed the power cable and connected it to the XS-250s. The smuggler stepped to the requisitions datapad and filled out the needs of his ship. It was pretty standard stuff: Fuel, a water cycle, and rations restock. He stretched tired limbs and winced when his shoulder protested against the movement. Peetwo rolled down the ramp to join him.

Crix locked up the ship and activated his SSR and made for his quarters. He walked with a hitch in his gait, he'd done something to his knee and it angrily reminded him with each step that it needed attention, but that would have to wait because he needed a bed like three missions ago. Peetwo whistled about going to run a few errands and Crix gave him a lazy thumbs up not fully processing what the little guy was saying.

He looked rough, his scout armor had a number of new blaster burns and his face and arms were equally mottled in blacks and grays. His lip was busted and he had dark circles under both of his eyes. Across his left arm, he sported a painful blaster burn, that clearly neede to be attended, but nothing was going to stop him from getting to his quarters and passing out. Normally, Crix lived on his ship. He rarely chose to use the quarters provided for him, but when he was really really tired he would hide in there knowing anyone who needed him would look to his ship first.

A few minutes later he was in the door, and hastily stripping off his armor. He jumped into the refresher to wash the grim off his body and then tended the wound he could. He pulled on a pair of black trousers with a crimson stripe up the side and threw on a white t-shirt. He collapsed into bed and could feel the welcoming embrace of sleep carrying him off when a small tapping shook him from his slumber. His bloodshot eyes snapped open and he sat up. He scowled at the door and reached out with the force to see if he could determine who'd disrupted his slumber, as soon as he did his eyes went wide with surprise, "Arda?"

The knocking came a second time and he called out, "Uh, one second!"

Hastily he shoved his gear under his bed and quickly scanned the sparsely decorated apartment. He smoothed out his shirt and ran a quick hand through his hair before opening the door. Arda stood in his doorway holding a couple of bowls of delicious smelling noodles. His lopsided grin preceded his response, "Er, hi. Wanna come in?"

smooth...

Crix moved aside and let her enter. He followed her in and asked, "So, whatcha got there? It smells amazing."

@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

He was close and she knocked again, balancing the dishes carefully, her fingers were now uncomfortably chilled from the desert, however, it seemed the second knock did the trick and he yelled something that she couldn't quite catch, but she waited patiently. The door flew up and he stood relatively disheveled and completely obvious that he was thrown off by the Jedi Master's visit, but his grin brought one to her face also, erasing concern she momentarily held as he invited her inside. "Ah...yes, I wanted you to be my guinea pig and tell me how it tastes." she said stepping inside as he inquired what she had brought.

She handed him a bowl, "Its a sweet noodle and nerf-beef mixed with a sour cherry sauce, spices...other things..but it should be good, it was my favorite growing up, different from the fried things you get in the core." Arda shrugged, glancing around his quarters before her gaze fell back on him. She noted that he looked more than just thrown off by her arrival and in fact, he looked like he was in quite the fight. "Are you ok? You look horrible." she asked looking him over, noting the blaster burns and the dark circles under his eyes; Tycho had briefed her on the mission, but clearly he failed to mention just how much of a beating they received in the process.

Arda twirled the fork in her noodles mindlessly, trying to decide if she should order him to spend a couple hours in the kolto tank to heal up or ground him until he has had a good length of rest before sent on another mission for the rebellion. "Are you getting enough rest? Do I need to order you to rest?" she asked him with a coy smile and quirking an eyebrow.

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

A pleasantly surprised frown replaced his grin as she explained the reason for her visit. He felt like crap, but Arda's company was already lifting his spirits. "Well, I'm glad to be chosen." They were awkwardly close in the hallway leading toward the door and he couldn't help but admire her for a moment before taking the bowl. "I can't wait to try it," he said his gaze delighting in earthen tones of her eyes.

He led her to his dining room which wasn't really so much a room as it was a table he'd placed against the wall across from the tiny kitchen in the one-bedroom apartment he'd been assigned. Crix actually loved the small clean space. To most, it would seem barren like a typical bachelor pad. Barren walls lacking any sort of decoration aside from the living room which had a viewscreen that was bigger than it needed to be. The kitchen was the only area of the apt that appeared to be well live in. Crix enjoyed cooking and had taken the time to set up the area just the way he liked it. His wetbar from The Highwind, his original ship, was in the corner and if opened would present a surprisingly diverse bottle collection. The living room was small, but had a large wrap around sofa, kaf table that was centrally located to the sofa, and was the location of his viewscreen.

Crix nodded thoughtfully, listening to her describe the dish. He felt like an unworthy judge on Durasteel Chef, but was elated to try something new. He took a bite and groaned with delight. It was delicious. The flavors perfectly intermingled to create a wonderful experience. Sweet and sour came together belying a lingering heat that punctuated each bite with just enough spice to create a pleasant contrast.

"Oh this is terrible," he said with all of the sarcasm as he continued to indulge in the dish. "Oh yeah, no you're gonna need to test this recipe like at least a million more times," he laughed as he finished a bite and finally admitted, "I'm kidding, this is amazing!"

Crix kept at his bowl struggling to listen as he greedily ate his noodles. Arda asked if he was okay and he shrugged with his bad shoulder like an idiot and winced in pain. "Yeah, I'm good. Took fall after a blaster grazed my arm and landed weird on my knee and shoulder," he said nonchalantly. He chuckled adding, "You should've seen Tycho's face." Crix slipped into a practiced impression of his friend, "Crix, you need to calm down..." The Jedi laughed returning to his food. He literally couldn't stop eating it.

Crix's brow knit into an indignant arc as she teased him about rest, "Well, you have been working me pretty hard recently." Crix lifted his bowl and drained the rest of it's contents. Setting it to the side and leaning forward on his elbows.

"Two missions on Nubia, Two on Ryloth, and One on Lannik, all back to back?" He feigned exhaustion lowering his voice as he closed in, "I just don't know how I'm going to recover," he said with a sly smile playing on his lips.

He watched her curiously, he couldn't believe what he was doing, but on the same hand, he was a gambler and sometimes you had to go all in.

"So, you wanna talk about why you're really here or should we keep pretending?"

@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

He lead her further inside, having spent an awkwardly close moment at in the hall before he decided to have her sit at table with him. She sat down, looking around his quarters, noting the wet bar that looked as though it were salvaged from a ship, he then told her how terrible it was and it caught her off-guard and worry bubbled inside her until she refocused her attention him, seeing that he was aggressively cleaning his plate, and informing she needed to do several, maybe millions more tries it. Slowly her smile grew into a wide grin and she realized she had yet started on her own, eating a bit more slower than Crix. When he told her how amazing they tasted, Arda's eyes lit up and she sat a bit straighter with some pride in her accomplishment.

He recalled all the missions he had gone on, her suggestion he needed rest was met by a wince as he tried to give her a shrug and the Jedi raised her eyebrow that told him she was right and he needed to probably slow down. He mimicked Tycho in his best impression and Arda quickly covered her mouth as she nearly spat out her food across the table in laughter; it sounded just like Tycho and Arda could easily picture him telling Crix that. Quickly swallowing her food, she cleared her throat, giggles still popping up as she tried to speak, "That sounds just like Tycho." she told him, watching him push the empty bowl out of the way and lean forward, questioning what should be done about that and Arda surely caught the sly grin.

Looking down at her own dish she gave him a shrug as he confronted on the real purpose of her visit, "Pretending what?" she asked him a low voice, showing she was just as good at playing the coy game also, "I just thought, a friend who I care very much for would enjoy some food..." she scraped the last of the stew and popped it her mouth before sliding the bowl to the side. Mirroring how he sat, she also rested her elbows on the table and lean forward some, "This friend, he probably needs some much needed rest as much as he needed a good meal." she smiled.

"Though I would like someone to come with me, need some extra eyes," she paused, finding herself studying his face and eyes,"Your eyes are really pretty," her cheeks turned a slight shade of pink as she felt herself look too long into his eyes and forcing her thoughts to drift, but in her realization, she looked away, her attention falling onto the wet bar, "So, do you want to come?" she asked again, forgetting what she had been saying moments earlier, "To Mon Gazza."

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

Arda’s retort hung between them as much an answer as it was a question. Crix was a seasoned pazaak player and right now he’d bet everything he had on the signals they were both guilty of exchanging. The Jedi found himself unable to control the dopy grin that had settled on his lips, and as she continued the game, it widened causing him to suck air in surprise as his busted lip protested.

“This friend of yours must be quite the guy...” he said stretching his tired bones as if suddenly remembering his exhaustion. Arda complemented his eyes and without thinking, he said, “Thanks, they pale in comparison to you.”

Sensing she was about to ask him to go on another mission he stood and hobbled over to his wet bar. He pulled out a bottle of Dantooine scotch and poured himself a finger and then another. He grabbed a large ice cube and dropped it in the glass stirring as he watched her while considering her pitch.

“I don’t know, I’m pretty tired,” his smile still lingered on his lips as he lifted his glass and took a sip. The smokey burn of the drink was relaxing and he wanted nothing more than to collapse into his bed, but if she’d come all this way then it meant she needed someone she trusted. So, he decided to play hard to get.

“But, you might be able to convince me,” his lopsided grin returning as he sat back down.

“So, what’s in it for me?”

@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

He was quick to downplay her compliment and she shook her head and frowned, completely disagreeing, she always thought they were like mud, nothing too special. For her the colored eyes always were intriguing, probably because she disliked her own, but her thoughts refocused as he continued the game, smirking away her bashfulness as her gaze followed him to the wet bar. He fussed through the glasses as he played coy and settled on a bottle of scotch, pouring himself a glass while he considered just how tired he was.

"Hm, that's too bad." she frowned as he ruminated on his exhaustion and stood up, curious to what else he had in his bar, "Convince you?" she said approaching as he started his way back to his seat. Arda guided his glass to her own lips, taking a sip also and nodded in approval, "I don't know, I can just order you can't I?" she quirked an eyebrow, taking a step closer, "But that could compromise the whole mission if your heart isn't set in it." Arda frowned in her thoughts, she was entirely very close as she looked back up into his eyes, "And a scoundrel like you, there has to be something rewarding, right?"

Arda closed her eyes and pressed her lips against his, a short kiss, but enough to also tastes the scotch that lingered from his sip and then stopped, "Shame, I always thought you helped because you had a good heart." she whispered, looking back into his eyes, there was no hesitation in her gesture, no interruption of the Jedi Master as it just was Arda who knew exactly what she wanted.

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

His lopsided grin widened as she stepped forward. He cocked a sarcastic disapproving eyebrow as she stole a sip of his drink, but he reveled in her attention. Crix scoffed when she teased her position of power and he retorted, "You could try."

Arda stepped in closer and Crix suddenly felt like he'd played into her hand rather than the other way around. Since the mixup in her quarters, he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her. He wanted to tell her, to just say what he was feeling, but now standing in front of her he found himself speechless. The dim tungsten glow of his apartment painted her in soft golden light that was breathtaking. She looked into his eyes named him a scoundrel and before he could argue, she kissed him. All pretense faded away as the taste of her lips played across his.

Everything felt very hot all of the sudden and as she asked about his heart he smiled replying, "...and I thought you said you were just bringing me food."

He reached out and tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear and stepped in stopping centimeters from her lips and in a breathy whisper said, "I guess I'll come along."

Crix kissed her cheek and started gathering his gear. He lifted his comm and hailed Peetwo. He asked the little guy to get The Rambler ready and after some mild protest, the astromech agreed. The Jedi tossed his armor into a bag, pulled on his boots and clipped his gunbelt around his waist.

"So we busting up a spice ring or something?" He asked slipping his bag onto shoulder signaling he was ready.

@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

The Force shifted, something felt different as he commented on her just bringing food, she lost him for a moment in the kiss as he leaned in closer again conceding to her request to come with her. He pushed her hair back behind her ear and Arda reached up to hold his hand against her cheek as he leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the other; she grinned widely as he hurried to gather his things and asked what specifically they were going to do.

"No...podracing." she said rather nonchalant, watching him quickly gather his belongings, but before he could ask further questions, the Jedi left to gather her own belongings and met him at his ship.

______________________​

It took some convincing to get him to sleep on his ship as she sat in the cockpit with his droid, Peetwo, first with several bouts of denial until she did use her commanding power to order him to rest until they arrived. The trip to Mon Gazza was shorter, but by the way things went on his missions, Arda was positive Crix could have slept twice the length of time, but has he rested, she prepared for the race, studying the maps of possible routes for the race. She had certainly no longer looked the part of a Grandmaster, her dark locks were now shined with a violet luster and her clothing had been exchanged for those more appropriate for underworld criminals. There was an old comfort to them, not having worn anything similar since her time living on Corellia, before the days she had started her Jedi training.

The droid chirped and Arda sat up, putting away sketches and deciding to retrieve Crix from what she thought was a pretty cramped sleeping quarters. The Jedi knelt down rest her head on her arm and she used her free hand to comb her fingers through his hair, "Hey, we're here." she told Crix softly.

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

"Podracing?" Was all he got out before Arda took off. He sighed and pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his nightstand and shoved them into his back pocket. With his gear bagged up and his gunbelt on his waist Crix made for The Rambler. The XS-250s was actually undergoing the restocking he'd requested and as he walked up the requisitions officer had him sign off on what was done.

"Headed out already?" Asked the Officer.

Crix leveled him with a flat smile. "Yup," was all he said as he started a walk around on the ship, he lit up a cigara and finished double-checking his ship. Everything was in order as he expected, but he was surprised at how quickly it'd been taken care of, but decided not to think about it. He took one last puff on his cigara and put it out. He walked up his boarding ramp and into the ship. Peetwo pretty much had the ship ready to go and Crix collapsed into his captain's chair draping his right leg over the chair's arm.

Arda showed up ready to go and ordered him to bed. Crix resisted, he didn't like being pushed around and liked taking orders even less. She pulled rank and he really didn't like that, but he relented. He knew Peetwo wouldn't let anything happen to the ship and he was exhausted. He entered his room and fell into bed. He slept for a few hours and woke up to Arda's fingers running through his hair. His head pounded and his eyes were weary, but her touch was more than welcome. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been woken up gently. He reached up and took her hand in his. He brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed her knuckles.

She let him know they were here and he asked, "So what's the job?"

He stood and began prepping his gear for the mission. He put on his vambraces and strapped on his leg armor. While she spoke he'd put on the rest of his armor, his leg still hurt like crazy, but it was too late to complain now.

"If we're here to race, I'm driving."

@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

She should have let him sleep longer and probably could have him sleep through the ordeal, but she knew he would want to help, having dragged him into this in the first place. Letting him kiss her hand, he inquired what the details were of this job; Arda stood up, letting him get up in order to finish getting ready, "No, I'm racing, you're my extra eyes." she told him with a small smile, checking her own belt to make sure everything was in its place.

"I was pretty good racing speeders through Coronet just to have you know." she said shaking her head, "But, I'm certain I will win, don't worry about me, worry about everyone else who is going to try to sabotage me." she told him as she headed back to the cockpit, watching the stars settle back in the sky and the busy world of Mon Gazza came into view. She typed in a transmitter code, waiting for their pass to be approved in order to land and glanced at Crix, "The Hutt who is sponsoring this race is a slim bucket, unsurprisingly, he is deep in the slave rings and enjoys keeping his own slaves to eat later, experiments with how to feed and care, then decides when to feast." the Jedi explained with utter disgust.

The console chimed, clearing for them to land, "I have no qualms about financially ruining this slug." she told Crix and pulled out a pair of gloves from her jacket pockets and fitted them to her hands.

"Call me CUR while we are down there, ok?" she asked giving him her old alias name.

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

"Lame," he complained as he was relegated to lookout. He'd been piloting since he was fifteen and before that, he was a notorious speeder thief in Coruscant's undercity. Going fast was practically a part of his being, but as he shifted his weight onto his injured leg he winced and relented. Crix bobbed his head, accepting his place in her plan and said, "I've got you back."

"Gross, he eats them? Like, we know that as a fact?" He asked, even though the disgust he felt from Arda answered his question. "Yeah, this psycho is due for some bad luck."

"Okay, you call me Eagle." he said with a little sarcasm in his tone, "What's the name mean?" he asked sensing there was more to the alias than she was letting on.

Crix, clipped his gunbelt around his waist and pulled on his leather jacket tucking his lightsaber into the interior breast pocket. He was ready to go, and so was Peetwo. The little droid wheeled into his room warbling his case and Crix smiled, "Fine you can come, but no wandering off." Crix smiled at Arda admiring her lack of earthen hue robes. "Violet looks good on you," he commented with a little smirk.

A few minutes later the trio exited The Rambler and Crix locked it up. Mon Gazza was known for two things: Spice and Podracing. Both of which were incredibly dangerous and addictive. "So where's the race going to be?"

He'd heard of a number of popular tracks on the planet, but if this race was sponsored by a Hutt that ate his slaves, the Jedi had a feeling the slug would pick something brand new upping the danger significantly.

@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

He accepted his position as her extra eyes, she knew he would have tried to argue, but he wasn't the only one that enjoyed going fast. When she gave him her alais, he gave one back and Arda had to do a double take, "Eagle?" a coy grin crept across her face, "Just don't start making bird calls, ok?" she laughed nudging him gently with her elbow, "I like Falcon better...but whatever you will answer to will be fine for me." Arda said as his droid rolled up, "CUR was my tag name on Corellia." she quickly added as he made his agreement with the droid to come with them, finding his way to slip in a compliment about her hair, which made Arda extra aware of how it looked, quickly combing her fingers through and found her way off the ship.

As they headed to their meeting point, Crix asked about the track itself and Arda pulled out a datapad, showing him a map of the track, "Mon Gazza Maze." she was hesitant to tell him, if he knew any about pod racing, this was one of the more dangerous courses with dead ends and traps, everything a seasoned podracer desired.

Their meeting location with the rest of the team was a short trip, a garage that faced across the road from the entrance of the track and inside was the repulsocraft that Arda was going to fly. The garage was certainly busy with activity as several engineers made last minute fixes to the vehicle; one of these was a cathar female who wrapped an arm around Arda's shoulder's and took a glance Crix, "Cur, my favorite pet human, what do you think?" she asked with a purr.

"I bet it flies as smooth as your fur, Nia." she said with a grin, "I'll catch up with you later." she patted the cather's back and glanced at Crix to follow her.

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

Crix chuckled liking the feel of the callsign she'd come up with. "Ya know what, I like the sound of that. Falcon it is."

The seasoned smuggler wasn't thrilled with this whole plan and when she reluctantly revealed the location of the race he leveled a grim smile in her direction, "Oh, so just one of the most dangerous courses in the galaxy, great."

The Jedi knew there was no talking her out of this. If CUR had made her mind up about the job there was no talking her out of it. She led him to a garage and they entered, Arda was greeted by an old friend and Crix nodded a greeting. The Smuggler couldn't help but let out a low whistle as he got a look at the Pod. He ran an admiring hand down the left engine's dorsal air scoop. Arda and Nia parted ways and Cur gestured for him to follow, so he did. The garage was surprisingly expansive with various pod parts scattered throughout.

"So, how long have you been hiding your pod racing fetish?" he asked watching for the glare she was about to send. He loved teasing her. He shouldn't, it was dumb both for his career and his life expectancy, but he couldn't help it.

"Also, where are you taking me?" He asked as she led him to a room in the back.

@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

"I'm full of surprises." she said with a coy smile, knowing he was teasing her about the podracing, "There's a lot you probably would never have guessed about me prior to joining the rebellion." she said softly, certainly a younger Arda would have never have dreamed of becoming a lost order's leader, or find herself as the beacon that would light for others to follow in the war against the Sith.

"I do love going fast though." Arda nodded, "Wind in your hair, feeling everything as you outrun thugs or Imps while they give chase." Her smile grew as she reminiscence on her past, they were good times, though dangerous and unpredictable, but things she would never wish to give up or forget. Her attention was pulled back to present as Crix asked where they were going. Having reached the door, she pressed her thumb against it, unlocking the door, revealing a room of computers and cables, "So this is where the real action will happen." she told him letting him, there were others in the room, a green Twi'lek rose from his seat as Arda locked the door behind him, "Who would have thought in all these years, CUR was still alive." grinned the Twi'lek as he folded his arms.

"Ah, Falcon, this is Remmy, he is leading this operation." she introduced Crix to the Twi'lek, "He and go a long way back, one of the first people who helped me navigate the streets of Coronet." she smiled. Remmy also grinned and nodded in greeting to Crix before sitting back down at a computer.

"We are nearly in, we just need you to win, CUR." he said and Arda waved him off.

"I'll win, don't worry," she turned to Crix, "So, when the winning credits are being transferred, that's when they will get into the Hutt's systems and finish draining his accounts," she hooked an arm into his, "We'll get you a speeder, because I need your help to win this." she said leading him back to the garage where the repulsor craft sat, "I need someone just ahead on the track to clear out anyone who wishes to make it difficult, because you know there will be." Arda grabbed a comm set for him to use and fixed the closed channel, "I'll be able to talk to you also with this." handing him the comm, she cupped her hands around his and then leaned in to kiss his cheek but paused, and instead gave him a quick kiss on his lips.

Someone called for Arda to help get the podracer ready and she hurried away, glancing over her shoulder as she joined Nia to haul the craft to the racing ring.

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

"So I'm learning," he said his own coy little smile playing across his lips. He knew she was more than just some super powerful Jedi overlord, but seeing her in this habitat really drove that home, and even though he was sore all over he wouldn't have missed this job for anything.

"I don't know about you loving to go fast," his grin widened, "I seem to recall a perfectly safe landing on Atollon that turned your stomach!"

While he teased her he could tell by her description that she genuinely enjoyed racing. She could hide it all she wanted the lustful urge to climb into the pilot's seat was already tugging at him and knowing she was going to get to race through the Mon Gazza Maze only made it worse. He wouldn't hide his jealousy, but he wouldn't begrudge her, he'd just make her tell him every tiny little detail when she got done. That seemed perfectly fair.

They made it too the room and Crix was introduced as Falcon to a twi'lek named Remmy. He grinned and bobbed his head in a polite greeting as Arda and Remmy exchanged pleasantries. Cur broke down the plan and Falcon interjected, "I've got a jumpspeeder on the ship, will that work?" No need to steal when he'd finally been able to afford his own transportation, besides so many moving parts in a plan always caused trouble.

Crix looked down to the astromech that had been suspiciously quiet this whole time and said, "Peetwo, you wanna help steal from a slimy Hutt?"

The Jedi smiled as Peetwo bugled his approval and Crix looked to Remmy, "Careful with him. He's been with me since I was a kid, don't let him take over the planet or anything."

Arda stepped forward and took his hands in hers. She palmed a comm into his hand and smoothly placed a kiss on his lips. He could get used to this. His mind drifted from his weary body and he reveled in her affection until a mocking whistle from Peetwo ruined the moment. Crix glared at the little droid, and then laughed, "Good luck, Cur," he said as she left him to attend to her pod. He watched her go drinking in her curves and thanked the force for the undercover nature of this mission.

The smuggler had his instructions and he left Peetwo under the watchful gaze of Remmy as he returned to The Rambler to pick up his speederbike. Crix carefully eased a leg over the seat and fired up the machine. It roared to life and the hum of the engine brought a smile to his lips. Arda might be getting to drive a pod racer, but at least he got to bring this baby out.

Falcon connected his personav to the appendage on his console. He took the comm Cur'd given him and connected it to his helmet before sliding it on. Crix lowered the loading ramp on his ship and drove the bike out, raising it as he exited. He set his heading and shot off. It took him a good thirty minutes to get into position. Not only did he need to look like he belonged, but he also wanted to avoid any unwanted attention from the other spotters who were on the same mission as he was.

Falcon brought his bike to rest and surveyed the area. As he stepped around the corner a group of dug were gathered at the edge of the cliff overlooking the first turn. Two held what looked like explosives and the other two held blasters. He slipped back around the corner and activated his comm.

"Heads up the first corner is gonna be rough, watch out for the dug. I have a feeling they're looking to win this at any cost."

Without waiting for her response he stepped out from behind cover, his Quickdraw blaster behind his back and a smile on his lips, "Hey there fellas, you guys trying to skip out on tickets too?"

@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

Arda and her team moved the craft to the racing track, making last minute preparations as the Jedi familiarized herself with the controls and where everything was located. It was much like the speeder bikes she rode back on Corellia, but now her engines were in front, much like a chariot race often seen as entertainment with high class Imperials, but this was racing for everyone else. Arda slid down into her seat, the engines warming as her team waved her off, signalling she was ready when the light would permit them to go; she tied back her hair and adjusted her goggles and smirked in the thought of about to be completing one of the most popular races outside Hutt space. The engines around her revved as the announcer listed their sponsors and greeted the spectators and drivers.

The young Jedi Master inhaled deeply and let out a long exhale, her senses reaching into the Force as the sounds of engines and cheers seemed to fade around her. The blinking light caught her attention and she watched and waited, her grasp slowly tightening until the signal was given.

Most shot off when the light signaled, some had engine failure as soon as they crossed the start line, but Arda was certainly not one to be left behind. The challenges of the race would pick off the novice racers quickly, and within the first few minutes, the group of fifteen was down to only half and it would continue to decrease as the race neared the finish. Arda kept up with the leaders and her comm buzzed with Falcon's voice, warning her of the dugs. She recalled her encounter with a dug thief not so long ago and now assumed they couldn't be up to any good as long as they walked on their hands as they did. Tapping her comm twice, hearing his his warning, her senses stretched out as they came up to the corner. The Dug racer didn't seem to slow and Arda exhaled, feeling waiting for the split moment of an opening to get herself head of two other racers and trail the dug, who immediately pulled back on his thrusters as though anticipating something was to happen at this corner.

The maneuver nearly took out her own engines, however, as she came to the corner, she hoped Crix would distract them long enough for her to pass unharmed to move onto the next challenge.

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

"Chicka dio bewla, poodoo." growled one of Dug as they began to spread out.

"Well, that's not very nice." Crix retorted eyeing each of the thugs as they attempted to flank him. His trigger finger settled on its namesake as he prepared for the worst. Time wasn't on his side and a prolonged altercation meant trouble for Arda. He set his jaw and called the force into his free hand gathering the power as the tension between him and the Dug became palpable.

Two taps came over his comm and he knew Arda had heard him. A wry grin tore across his lips as reached out and snagged the closest thug to him with the force. In a single motion, the startled Dug yelped as he flew through the air and into the Jedi's grasp. Crix wrapped the slimeball in a practiced headlock and pressed the business end of his hidden Quickdraw to the beings head. "Move, and it'll be your last buddy."

Suddenly, the remaining three gangsters lost their mettle and began to panic, Crix quickly took control. "Easy there fellas," he said pressing the gun into his hostage roughly. He had no intention to harm the being, but they didn't need to know that. The roar of the podracers was growing ever closer and he needed to maintain their attention for just a little longer.

The ringleader spoke up in Dug, cursing Crix from here to Tattooine, and the Jedi rolled his eyes retorting, "Uh, c'mon that the best you got?"

The greyish-blue pallor of the Dug's skin went indigo with rage as it stamped it's hands angrily on the ground demanding the release of his companion.

"Now why would I do that?" Crix's smile turned devious. The leader started glancing toward the edge of the cliff and Crix knew he was going to try and make a move. As the podracers appeared on the horizon the thug lunged, but Crix was faster. He shoved his hostage toward his friends and took two shots with the dual bolt spitting weapon. His first shot went a little wide, but the second struck the Dug's leg. He collapsed and the others were surrounding him to make sure he was okay.

Crix watched as the racers passed harmlessly underneath and he took that as his queue to get the hell out of there. Without a word he slipped back around the corner and jumped onto his speederbike. He rocketed off heading for the fourth turn. Realistically he wouldn't be able to help her at every turn, but that didn't mean he couldn't help as much as possible. He just wondered what was in store throughout the rest of the track.

@GABA

 

[Arda Breaux]

With the dug racer anticipating for his buddies to make good on their end, he had fallen behind in the race while others including Arda now were leading; the jedi smiled as nothing happened when she rounded the corner, Crix did well and grin crossed her features thinking about him. The next obstacle of the course was splinter pass, massive totems meant to challenge the awareness and agility of the racers, most didn't do well under the pressure of the actual race and that usually meant death for them. The Jedi relied on her senses to maneuver though the poles, an explosion behind her signaled one of the racers failed but within no time, CUR exited, cheers over her comm signaled that Nia and the others were watching. The next corner was a bit trickier, not in the sense of the course, but Arda had caught up with one of the leaders, battling for the spot in second. The massive turbine engines of the pink racer impacted against her own, trying to send her spiraling off course.

The Jedi reached within herself, the slightest nudge in the Force from the master Jedi was enough to push the craft in the opposite direction, now forcing the pink racer to focus getting back on course or else lose their craft and their chances of finishing.

Next were the doom pipes, where racers had to pick the right one to exit on the other side while many of them lead to dead ends. The Jedi like the others were uncertain of which were closed off and which were open, they changed every race, making it even more riskier as pilots had to play on guess work and luck. Like the others, Arda slowed down, trying to decide which were the the ones that would not end in death; it was rare to follow others as each racer took their own chance in order not to meet the same fate as the unlucky pilots. She let her instincts guide her, choosing her path, she disappeared into the darkness of the pipes.

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan (TL8)]

Crix made it to an outcropping overlooking the Dust Gaps. Anxiety gnawed at his core as he realized racers had entered the Death Pipes. He tried to control his nerves, reminding himself Arda was a Jedi master and could interoperate the force in a way he'd never seen. She was going to be fine, but logic was overcome by worry as he was forced to wait.

His gaze swept the final portion of the track and he knew the greatest opposition would be the other racers here. There was nothing he'd be able to do, Arda would be alone in this final stage. Movement, out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Crix's brow furrowed as a figure down by the exit of the death pipes came into view.

Crix sent his jumpspeeder into motion closing in on the exit. As he neared he identified the figure as another Dug. Another one?! Man, this dude really wanted to win... Oh well. As he closed in he reached out with the force and grasped the beings prominent arm and pulling it out from under him. The Dug let out a slew of swears as it inverted and then landed on its own head. Crix pulled up in front of the being and shook his head in the negative. The being scrambled up retreating while shouting curses upon Crix's family. The roar of engines reverberating off the tunnel made it impossible to tell how close the racers were. Seeing no other option he pulled off clearing the area, hailing Arda.

"Heads up there's a trap set at the exit of the Death Pipes, but I don't have time to find it," his voice was calm and collected, but he didn't feel that way in the slightest...

@GABA