The Negotiator and the Fire Fang

Raiders of the Sand: Plunder

Now that the woman and her child were safe, Shan looked around for anyone else who was stranded in the chaos.

On the opposite side, pinned in by fire, was a group of three Jawas timidly peeking out behind some crates. She rolled her eyes as one reached up pocketed some free goods left abandoned on top of the stall. Little thief. She personally had no problems with Jawas, most were kind and honest, but she knew there were many that could be a nuisance to the shopkeepers, like overcharging them or stealing from their tables during a crisis, for instance.

"Come on." she said, motioning for them to come to her while they still could. One shook his hooded head no, his eyes glowing bright from the darkness beneath it. She sighed. Shan slunk over to them, hitting the ground once to avoid getting impaled by sharp flying shrapnel.

"Trust me. I'll get you out of here." she said once she had made it to their stall. They muttered amongst themselves for a moment before giving her the ok. The Gray motioned to move, but stopped.

"Return the stuff you stole first." she said, pointing at the sticky fingered Jaws. He protested for a moment, insistent that he hadn't taken anything, but pulled the items out of his pocket after a raised eyebrow from Shan.

"Good. Now let's go." she urged. She poked her head up again. She gave a yipe as a bolt almost burned a hole in her forehead. The battle was starting to move her way. They didn't have much time.

She stood up tentatively, a little higher than before, and began to move with the Jawas on her heels. She gave a gasp as a blaster bolt flew her way. She stopped suddenly as the shot flew past her, causing a Jawa to run into her leg. Luckily, the impact from the little guy did no more than push her forward a bit.

She got them moving again quickly before the tide of the battle changed again. She led them to the alleyway the woman and her child escaped down.

"You're safe now. Go!" Shan told them. One of the Jawas grabbed her hand with his small ones, one on top and the other on her palm. He thanked her for helping them before they took off down the way.

She looked out. Her side was clear thankfully. Across the way, Obi-Wan was helping his final civilian. an elderly Rodian, out of harm's way.

Once the male was safe, the former general gave her a nod, indicating they were good. Sahrea looked to her droid, who was hiding very efficiently behind a pot.

"Ender, go to Obi-Wan. Be careful though! You do look imperial." Ender flashed his sensor irritably at her imperial comment before rollling out towards Kenobi. He made it over quickly and uneventfully.

Once he was safe, Sahrea poked her head out once again to see if the path was clear. The Tuskens and imperials has pushed their fighting northward; Not what she had expected.

Once they started maneuvering down another street, Sahrea dashed across the way as fast as she could to her Jedi before the fighting pushed back to their square. She reached out and slammed into the wall, barely missing barreling into Obi-Wan. He put a hand on her shoulder as she turned her attention towards him.

"We've done all we can do. We have to get out of here before more stormtroopers come to reinforce." Kenobi told her. She nodded in agreement. It wouldn't be long until they came.

The two sprinted down the nearest abandoned street, taking a long, roundabout route to their speeder. Ender wheeled along, keeping up decently well.

"Ahh!" Shan yelled as she tripped oven herself in an attempt to come to a stop without smacking into Kenobi.

"Obi-Wan!" she cried, steadying herself. He had stopped dead in front of her, eyes shifting from the alleyways to the roofs, back to the road before them. Shan wasn't angry with him; she knew that if he stopped, he must have had a good reason. She just hoped that reason didn't include Raiders or stormtroopers. She hoped too late.

Up ahead, a group of Tusken Raiders stepped out to block their way. Some blocked the alleyways. More came from behind them, encircling them from all sides. They were cut off.

"Why us?" Shan asked as she and Kenobi stepped toward each other. She was right. Out of all the people they could have cornered, they chose them. That was no coincidence.

"I'm not sure, but I'm certain we are about to find out." he replied. The Raiders growled to them, anger pacing their voices. She looked to her droid. He translated without her even having to ask. He told her they were to be taken to the tribe's chieftain and should prepare to be detained. She and Kenobi looked at each other.

"Why are we being taken to your leader?" she asked. The Tuskens did not answer. Two merely stepped forwards, binders in their hands. Ender said they commanded them not to resist. So they didn't.