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Mistaken Identity Chapter 58 - Black Market Brawl
🕑 Added 2025-04-04 21:03:20 +0000 UTCVelea and Zule walked through a cramped section of the black market, squeezing past food stalls sizzling with grilled meat and vendors hawking tech scraps. Velea stopped at a stall piled with old datapads and power cells, picking up a busted navicomputer and turning it over in her hands while chatting with the owner. Zule ignored her, grabbing a skewer of roasted gundark from a nearby cart and biting into it, her jaw tight as she chewed. She'd been in a foul mood all day, and it wasn't getting better. Men in the crowd kept staring at her, some licking their lips, others leering as they passed.
One human with a patchy beard stepped close, grinning, and said, "Hey, Zeltron, how much for a taste?" She glared at him, swatting his hand away when he reached for her arm. Another tried, a Twi'lek who slurred, "Come on, sweetheart, let's have some fun," and grabbed at her shoulder. She twisted his fingers with her cybernetic hand until he yelped and she heard a crack, sending him stumbling back cursing. Her pheromones were spiking—she could feel it—and she needed a blocker fast. Maybe they'd have something here, she thought, wiping grease from her mouth.
They kept moving, Velea laughing with a stall owner who tried to charge her triple for a set of flux capacitors, haggling him down to half while Zule trailed behind, finishing her skewer and tossing the stick aside. She watched Velea, her mind flashing to that night on the sofa—Velea naked, hand wrapped around Jaden's cock, stroking him while he groaned. Zule's stomach twisted, and she clenched her fists, annoyed at the memory and at Velea's easy chatter. They left the stall, weaving through the crowd, and Zule finally spoke up. "Why'd you leave the Republic Navy? You didn't know Jaden that well—seems foolish to tank your career to follow him down here."
Velea snorted, stepping into a junk store and sifting through a bin of parts, Zule following her inside. "It wasn't that hard of a choice," Velea said, dropping a rusted gear back into the pile and looking at Zule. "I'm a genius, no doubt about that—so much so the Republic gave me my own lab and made me deputy chief of engineering on my first commission."
"What's your point?" Zule asked, her face twitching as she crossed her arms.
Velea giggled, standing up and brushing off her hands. "The point is, I feel stupid when I'm around Jaden."
"What?" Zule said, frowning as they started walking again, heading out of the store.
Velea's voice picked up, excitement creeping in as she talked, sounding a little unhinged. "Don't misunderstand, when it comes to raw knowledge I've got him beat, but that's not what really measures true genius—there are alien species out there with enhanced brains that help them remember everything." She waved a hand, dodging a droid rolling past. "Jaden can form connections and use what he knows in ways I've never seen, ways I couldn't even hope to copy—I can understand his theories and concepts, but only after he explains them to me."
Zule stayed quiet, and they stopped at a railing overlooking more of the market, levels dropping away below. Velea kept going, her eyes lighting up. "I've spent years trying to come up with an alternative to hyperspace travel, and Jaden did it in months—he's incredible, I've never had as much fun or been as mentally stimulated as I have since I met him." She paused, then added, "Not only that, he's helping my dream of exploring the Unknown Regions come true—no rank in the Navy or position in society would ever be worth giving that up." She grinned, almost manic. "I'm with Jaden forever now—you'd have to fight to take me away from him."
"I see," Zule said, her voice flat. They stood there for a moment, silence stretching between them, until Zule spoke again, annoyance clear in her tone. "We should get the rest of the stuff." She turned and walked off, leaving Velea raising a brow.
Velea caught up, matching her pace. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Zule snapped, her words short and sharp.
Velea tilted her head, trying again. "Why'd you stay? Even if you're not a Jedi anymore, you don't have to stick with Jaden—there are plenty of opportunities for someone with your skills."
"I bet you'd like that, wouldn't you," Zule muttered under her breath.
"Sorry?" Velea said, blinking.
"Nothing," Zule replied, picking up her pace as they moved through the crowd. Velea followed, picking up on the tension but misreading it, thinking Zule was just unhappy being stuck in the undercity.
Velea tried to lighten things. "I've got contacts in the Republic—I could get you work or transport off-planet if you need it, you don't have to stay with Jaden."
Zule stopped dead, spinning around and shoving Velea back with both hands. "I fought with Jaden on Jabiim, lost count of how many times we almost died, and he saved my life more times than I can remember—I'd do anything for him, all he'd have to do is ask." Her voice rose, shaking with anger as she stepped closer, pointing at Velea. "You don't deserve to be with him—Jaden deserves better than you." She panted, chest heaving after unloading on Velea, her hands clenched into fists.
Velea stood there, taking it in, then stepped forward and pulled Zule into a hug. Zule stiffened, caught off guard, her arms locked at her sides. Velea leaned back, looking at her. "Want to talk about it?"
Zule stared at her, reluctant, her jaw tight as she considered shoving her away and storming off. She stayed silent for a few minutes, weighing it, then finally muttered, "Yes," her voice low and grudging.
___________________________
Jaden chuckled to himself as he kept walking through the market, still grinning, and didn't notice the guy in front of him until he barged right into him. "Sorry," Jaden started, but froze when he felt a blaster barrel press into his side.
"Don't move," a rough voice said.
Jaden looked up and saw a human staring back at him, face filthy with a crooked grin, wearing patchwork armor that looked like it'd been scavenged from a dozen different fights. "Our boss has been looking for you, Mr. Shan," the guy said, jabbing the blaster harder into Jaden's ribs.
Another blaster pressed into his back, and a second human stepped into view, this one taller with a scar running down his cheek. "Quite a few people been looking for you," he said, his tone flat.
A third guy moved in from the side, shorter but stocky, his blaster aimed at Jaden's chest. "You got our bosses up in a tizzy."
"Big boss lady been tearing the undercity apart for you," the first one added, smirking.
"Now come with us," the scarred one said, reaching out and ripping the hood off Jaden's head, exposing his face to the dim market lights.
Jaden chuckled nervously, glancing between them as the mask dangled uselessly around his neck. "Ah, kriff," he muttered, realizing he was boxed in.
The first guy grabbed his arm, yanking him forward while the other two kept their blasters trained on him. Jaden stumbled but didn't resist—not yet. He scanned the crowd, looking for Velea or Zule, but they were nowhere in sight. The trio hustled him through the market, shoving past vendors and buyers, heading toward a side alley where the noise faded and the shadows thickened. Jaden kept his head down, mind racing for a way out, but with three blasters on him, options were slim.
Darren watched it all from a distance, his helmet tracking Jaden's tag as the group moved. He frowned, confused at first—who were these idiots muscling in on his target? Then it clicked: lowlife bounty hunters, probably hired by someone else chasing the same prize. He didn't care who they worked for; they weren't taking his payday. He picked up his pace, cutting through the crowd at an angle to intercept them before they got too far.
Jaden's captors dragged him into the alley, stopping near a stack of crates where a speeder bike waited. The stocky one kept his blaster on Jaden while the other two started arguing about how to tie him up. "We need him alive, boss lady wants to do it," the scarred one said, pulling out a set of binders.
"Boss lady don't care about a few marks," the filthy one shot back, shoving Jaden against the crates.
Jaden stumbled against the crates as the filthy guy shoved him, the stocky one still holding a blaster on him while the scarred one fumbled with the binders. He straightened up, flashing a grin, and raised his hands. "Hey, fellas, no need to get rough—let's talk this out, yeah? I mean, you're all clearly pros, dragging me off like this, but you ever think maybe we could cut a deal instead?" He winked at the scarred one, who paused, binders dangling. "Come on, you don't wanna haul me all the way to your boss lady just for her to yell at you for scuffing me up—how about I make it worth your while?"
The stocky one snorted, lowering his blaster a fraction, and the filthy one chuckled despite himself. Jaden kept going, leaning in like he was sharing a secret. "Seriously, I've got a stash of credits hidden not far from here—more than she's paying you, I bet—why don't we split it and call it a day? You guys look like you could use a break, maybe hit up Chalmun's Cantina, get some drinks, live a little!" The scarred one laughed, shaking his head, but the filthy one swung a fist at him. Jaden ducked, stepping aside with a quick, "Whoa, come on, man, I'm just trying to help you out here!"
He flicked his wrist, doing a sleight-of-hand trick, and a handful of credits appeared between his fingers. He held them up, grinning wider. "See? I'm full of surprises—stick with me, and we'll all be laughing our way to the bank!" The stocky one smirked, but the scarred one growled, "Shut up, clown," and grabbed his comm, trying to call their boss. He tapped it, frowning when static buzzed out instead of a voice. The filthy one tried his too, shaking it. "What the kriff? Why's it not working?"
Jaden watched them fiddle with the comms, thinking to himself that he'd landed in deep shit this time. Normally, he'd reach out with the Force, grab all three of them, and chuck them off the platform into the market below, but he couldn't risk it—not with that Sith out there hunting him, probably waiting for any slip-up to pinpoint him. He sighed inwardly, wondering why so many people hated him lately—first the Sith, now these goons, all piling on right as he started figuring out who he was. "Jeez, my personality can't be that bad, can it?" he thought, chuckling under his breath.
The stocky one caught it, stepping closer. "What you laughing at, huh?"
Jaden covered his mouth, shaking his head. "Nothing, just thinking of something funny."
The scarred one, clearly the leader, shoved him hard against the crates again. "Oh yeah? Tell me what it is—I love a good joke."
"You sure you wanna know?" Jaden asked, tilting his head.
The leader punched him in the stomach, making him double over with a grunt. "Tell me."
Jaden coughed, straightening up slowly. "Alright, don't say I didn't warn you." He took a breath, then said, "Knock knock."
"Who's there?" the leader said, crossing his arms.
Jaden pointed behind them all. "Him."
They turned just as Darren dropped into the alley, blaster rifle already firing. Blue bolts streaked through the air, catching the stocky one in the chest—he crumpled without a sound. The filthy one took a hit to the shoulder, spinning and crashing into the crates as blood sprayed. The scarred leader dove for cover behind the speeder bike, shouting, "Ambush!" but Darren kept unloading, forcing him to duck as bolts sparked off the metal.
Jaden didn't wait—he pushed off the crates, grabbed a pipe running along the wall, and swung himself out of the alley. Darren stepped forward, tracking him, but Jaden planted both feet on his shoulders, using him as a springboard. He flipped backward, landing on a lower platform a level down, and shouted, "Thanks, pal!" as he hit the ground running. Darren cursed loud enough to echo, slinging his rifle and leaping after him, boots slamming onto the platform edge before he gave chase. The scarred leader popped up from behind the speeder, yelling into his comm, "He's getting away—get reinforcements down here now!" as he fired wild shots at both of them, missing wide.
Jaden bolted through the marketplace, shoving past people and leaping over a stall piled with droid parts, his boots skidding as he landed. Darren chased after him, firing his blaster rifle, bolts sizzling through the air. Jaden let out a high-pitched yelp as one shot zipped close to his head, ducking the next one and grabbing a durasteel plate from a nearby table to block another. He tossed the plate like a disc at Darren, who sidestepped it, and the store owner—a burly Rodian—yelled at him, waving a wrench and demanding he pay. Jaden pointed at Darren, shouting, "Put it on him!" before taking off again.
He sprinted through the massive market, pushing through crowds of buyers and vendors, elbows jabbing into ribs as he went. He jumped up, grabbed the edge of a stall roof, and hauled himself up, flipping over the top—the metal rattled under his weight but didn't give. Darren followed, clearing the jump in one smooth motion, landing steady and raising his rifle. Jaden spun around, pulling his own blaster first, and fired a shot that hit Darren's rifle, sparking it out of commission. Darren dodged to the side, cartwheeling over a table, and yanked a pistol from his hip, firing back as he came up.
Jaden rolled to the side, realizing too late he'd screwed himself by coming up here—nothing to hide behind, just open space and flimsy roofs. He came up from the roll, stripping off his cloak mid-motion and throwing it at Darren, who growled as it flapped in his face. Jaden jumped, grabbing one of the loose cables dangling everywhere, and swung himself onto a higher level, landing with a stumble but keeping his feet. Darren ripped the cloak off, glaring up at him, then triggered his boots—jets flared briefly, rocketing him upward in a single burst, not enough for real flight but plenty to close the gap.
Jaden saw him coming and muttered, "Oh shit," right before Darren tackled him mid-air, sending them crashing through a row of stalls on the higher level. They smashed through a table of circuits, then a rack of fabric, rolling apart as they hit the ground. Jaden scrambled up at the same time Darren did, dusting off his pants. Darren aimed his pistol, finger squeezing for a stun shot, but Jaden grabbed a string of sausages hanging from a food stall and whipped it at the gun, knocking the shot wide. They both froze, staring at each other, then Jaden swung the sausages again, wrapping them around Darren's wrists and yanking so his next shot missed too.
Darren roared, "Enough of this!" and a blade snapped out from his gauntlet, slicing through the sausages in one swipe before he lunged at Jaden. Jaden sidestepped the stab, pivoting around Darren, grabbing his arm, and hurling him through the wall of another stall. metal splintered as Darren crashed through, landing in a heap among scattered tools and parts.
The store owners, still reeling from the chaos of two guys plowing through their setups, started shouting, climbing over broken tables to get at them. A human with a greasy apron waved a vibro-axe, yelling about credits, while a Twi'lek pulled a blaster from under his counter, demanding they pay up. Jaden backed off, hands up, and muttered, "Oh kriff—could my day get any worse?"
Footsteps pounded behind him, and he turned to see the gang members from earlier—the scarred leader and his crew—running up with reinforcements, a dozen more armed thugs spreading out to block the exits. Jaden sighed, shaking his head. "I should really stop opening my fucking mouth."
Jaden raised his hands, stepping back from the stall owners as they closed in, and started talking fast. "Hey, look, no need to get upset—this is all his fault," he said, pointing at Darren still buried under the rubble. "He's the one who smashed through your stalls, shooting everything up, I was just trying to get away from him, so if anyone owes you credits, it's that guy right there!" He grinned, hoping to talk his way out, but without his cloak and mask, his face was exposed. The Twi'lek with the blaster squinted, then shouted, "Hold on—you're Jaden Shan, you've got a bounty on you!" Jaden muttered, "Shit."
Darren roared, bursting out of the debris, shaking off wood and metal as he charged Jaden. The gang members tackled him before he got close, pinning him down, while others fired stun blasters at Jaden. He ducked, diving behind a stall, grabbing a skewer of meat from a table, and shoving it in his mouth as he ran. The gang members, stall owners, and random bounty hunters in the crowd took off after him, firing blue bolts and yelling. A stun shot grazed his shoulder, making him stumble over a railing. "Shit," he grunted, grabbing a cable mid-fall to slow himself, then hitting the ground and rolling across the duracrete.
He got up, clutching his numb shoulder, and saw them all circling him—gang members, vendors, and more piling in, blasters and weapons out. The Twi'lek leaned over the railing above, shouting, "Don't let him get away—that's Jaden Shan, his bounty's in the billions!" Jaden straightened, surprised. "I do?" He looked at the growing crowd. "Shit, I do..." He raised his hands, facing them. "Easy, guys, think about this—you could let me go, be the bigger person, feels good, right? Better than credits!" A gang member snorted, "No." Jaden sighed. "Shit." He thought he had no choice now, not with this many after him. He tucked his hands together, channeled the Force, and released a wave that knocked everyone around him flat, blasters clattering as they hit the ground.
Jaden bolted, running through the market as they scrambled up and chased, some firing stun shots, others aiming to kill. He ducked a bolt, grabbed a smoke grenade from his belt, and tossed it back—smoke exploded out, clouding the air as he darted into a cluster of stalls. Three gang members burst through the haze, one swinging a vibro-axe, another firing a blaster, the third lunging with a stun baton. Jaden sidestepped the axe, grabbed the guy's arm, and twisted it to slam the blade into the blaster guy's chest, dropping him. He kicked the baton wielder in the knee, snatched the baton as he fell, and jabbed it into his neck, sending him twitching to the floor.
He kept moving, jumping onto a table of droid parts and running across it as Darren cleared the smoke, firing his pistol. "Stop running, you coward!" Darren shouted. Jaden leapt off, grabbing a cable overhead, and swung over a gap, landing on a platform where two vendors—a human with a club and a Rodian with a slugthrower—rushed him. "Oh, come on, I'm the victim here!" he said, ducking the club, sweeping the human's legs with the baton, and using the Force to yank the slugthrower free, catching it and firing a slug into the human's foot. The Rodian tackled him, but Jaden rolled with it, flipping him into a stack of crates.
Darren jetted in with his boots, blade gauntlet out, slashing at Jaden. "I'll carve you up!" he snarled. Jaden dodged, grabbing a tray from a food stall and blocking the strike. "Whoa, watch the face!" he said, bashing the tray into Darren's helmet, then tossing it aside and running through spice stalls. Four bounty hunters cut him off—a Zabrak with dual blasters, a Trandoshan with a net launcher, a human with a vibrosword, and a Weequay throwing a stun grenade. Jaden dove under the grenade as it popped, blinding them. "Flash sale—everything must go!" he yelled, swinging the baton into the Zabrak's wrist, grabbing a blaster, shooting the net launcher loose, then firing at the human's sword arm. The Weequay charged, and Jaden hooked his leg, slamming him into a counter.
He sprinted toward a rickety bridge, leaping onto it as Darren and the gang members closed in. A bolt hit the plank ahead, splintering it, and Jaden jumped the gap, grabbing the railing and flipping over to the other side. Two gang members followed, one with a chain, the other with a blaster rifle. Jaden ducked the chain swing, grabbed it mid-air, and yanked the guy forward into his buddy, knocking them both off the bridge. He ran on, spotting a platform with fuel canisters, and kicked one loose, shooting it with the stolen blaster—the explosion roared, scattering pursuers as he darted into an alley.
A vendor with a vibro-knife and a gang member with a stun pistol ambushed him from the sides. Jaden parried the knife with the baton, kicked the gang member's wrist to disarm him, then spun and elbowed the vendor in the throat, dropping him. He grabbed the stun pistol, firing it at a bounty hunter climbing down a cable, sending him crashing into a stall below. Darren tackled him from behind, pinning him against a wall, but Jaden twisted free, grabbing a coil of wire from his belt and looping it around Darren's legs, yanking him off balance. He bolted again, jumping onto a droid hauling scrap and climbing to its top as it rolled through the crowd.
Three hunters—a human with a flamethrower, a Twi'lek with a shock whip, and a Duros with a scattergun—cut him off. Jaden leapt off the droid, tossing a flash grenade that blinded them, and landed rolling, coming up to disarm the Twi'lek with a baton strike to the hand. He grabbed the whip, cracked it at the Duros to snag his scattergun, and pulled it free, blasting the human's flamethrower tank—it sparked but didn't blow, forcing the guy to ditch it. Jaden whipped the shock tip at the Duros, stunning him, then ran, using the Force to shove a stack of barrels into Darren's path as he jetted closer.
He reached a narrow walkway lined with stalls, where a gang member with a vibroblade and a vendor with a crowbar charged him. Jaden ducked the blade, grabbed the crowbar mid-swing, and used it to hook the gang member's arm, flipping him into the vendor. He kept the crowbar, running onto a platform with hanging signs, and used the Force to drop one on two hunters below, pinning them. Darren cleared the barrels, firing his pistol, and Jaden then threw the crowbar at Darren's hand, knocking the gun loose.
Jaden jumped up, grabbing a pipe overhead, and kicked Darren back, channeling the Force into his legs to add power. Darren's armor took the hit, glowing faintly as he skidded back a few feet, boots scraping the platform. He pulled a small cylindrical object from his belt, flicking it open into a full-length staff with a metallic snap. Jaden raised his eyebrows, muttering, "Okay, that's pretty cool, I'll give you that." Darren rushed him, lunging forward and thrusting the staff at his chest. Jaden stumbled to the side, stepping inside Darren's reach, and slammed his knee into Darren's midsection, but the armor absorbed it, and Darren grabbed him with his free hand, hurling him across the platform. Jaden flew a dozen feet, twisting mid-air to right himself, and landed on his feet, sliding to a stop near the edge.
He frowned, realizing he couldn't sense Darren's moves—no nudge from the Force, no warning. He raised his hand, trying to grab Darren with the Force, but the armor lit up red, and his grip weakened, slipping off like water on oil. Darren smirked behind his helmet, twirling the staff. "Immune to Jedi tricks, Shan—try harder." He charged again, closing the distance fast.
Jaden braced himself as Darren swung the staff low at his legs. He jumped over it, landing and throwing a quick jab at Darren's face, but Darren tilted his head, catching the punch on his helmet's side, and countered with a staff thrust to Jaden's ribs. Jaden twisted, taking the hit on his hip instead, and grunted as pain flared, stepping back to regain balance. Darren pressed forward, jabbing the staff at Jaden's shoulder—Jaden blocked with his forearm, shoving the staff aside, and snapped a kick at Darren's knee. Darren shifted his weight, letting the kick glance off his shin guard, and swung the staff up toward Jaden's jaw. Jaden ducked, feeling the air whistle past, and lunged, ascended from his shoulder, slamming his fist into Darren's chest, but the armor took it, and Darren grabbed him, throwing him back a dozen feet.
Jaden hit the ground, rolling to his feet, and frowned—Darren's armor was throwing him off, no Force warnings, no grip. Darren rushed him again, staff spinning. Jaden dodged a horizontal swing, stepping inside and elbowing Darren's throat, but Darren shrugged it off, grabbing Jaden's arm and twisting it behind his back. Jaden spun out of the hold, kicking Darren's side, and Darren staggered, the armor flashing red. Darren swung the staff at Jaden's head—Jaden ducked, grabbing the staff mid-swing, and yanked it, pulling Darren forward. Darren stumbled, and Jaden kneed him in the gut, but the armor held, and Darren headbutted him, cracking Jaden's nose.
Jaden stumbled back, blood dripping, and wiped his face as Darren thrust the staff at his chest. He sidestepped, grabbing the staff with both hands, and twisted it out of Darren's grip, tossing it off the platform. Darren roared, tackling Jaden, and they crashed into a stall, splintering wood as they hit the ground. Jaden rolled free, kicking Darren's helmet as he stood, and Darren grabbed his ankle, yanking him down. Jaden landed hard, scrambling up as Darren swung a fist—Jaden blocked with his arm, punching Darren's ribs, but the armor absorbed it, and Darren elbowed Jaden's jaw, sending him reeling.
Jaden caught himself on the platform's edge, feet dangling over the drop, and pulled himself up as Darren charged. He ducked a punch, grabbing Darren's arm, and flipped him over his shoulder, slamming him onto the platform. The surface cracked under Darren's weight, and Jaden stomped his chest, but Darren rolled, grabbing Jaden's leg and pulling him down. They grappled, Jaden locking Darren's arm and twisting it back—Darren grunted, breaking free with a knee to Jaden's stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
Jaden gasped, rolling away as Darren stood, drawing a blade from his gauntlet. Darren slashed at Jaden's chest—Jaden leaned back, the blade grazing his shirt, and kicked Darren's wrist, sending the blade spinning away. Darren tackled him again, pinning him against the railing, and punched his ribs. Jaden took the hit, grabbing Darren's helmet and slamming it into the rail, denting both. Darren shoved him off, and Jaden stumbled, catching a pipe to stay upright as Darren rushed him.
Jaden sidestepped, grabbing Darren's arm mid-punch, and twisted it behind him, slamming him face-first into a stall wall—wood shattered, and Darren spun free, kicking Jaden's knee. Jaden buckled, catching himself on a crate, and Darren swung a fist at his head. Jaden ducked, uppercutting Darren's chin, snapping his head back, and followed with a knee to his groin—Darren grunted, doubling over, but grabbed Jaden's leg, flipping him onto his back. The platform groaned as Jaden hit, and Darren stomped at his chest—Jaden rolled, the boot cracking the duracrete where he'd been.
Jaden sprang up, tackling Darren into another stall, smashing through a table of circuits—they landed in a heap, Jaden pinning Darren's arms and slamming his helmet into the ground. Darren bucked him off, rolling to his feet, and threw a punch—Jaden caught it, twisting Darren's wrist, and kicked his shin, dropping him to one knee. Darren grabbed a broken plank, swinging it at Jaden's head—Jaden blocked with his arm, wrenching the plank free, and cracked it across Darren's helmet, splitting it. Darren roared, lunging, and they crashed over the platform's edge.
They fell, grappling mid-air, and Jaden twisted, landing on Darren as they hit a lower level, crashing through a canopy. Dust billowed as they rolled apart, Jaden scrambling up first, clutching his ribs. Darren stood, helmet cracked, and charged, swinging wildly—Jaden ducked, grabbing Darren's arm, and threw him into a stack of barrels, toppling them. Darren shoved them off, rushing Jaden, who sidestepped, tripping him into a cart—metal crumpled, and Darren sprawled across it, panting.
Jaden backed off, breathing hard, blood trickling from his nose, shoulder numb, ribs aching. Darren pushed himself up, glaring through the cracked visor, and reached for his belt, but Jaden kicked his hand away, stomping his chest to keep him down. "Stay there," Jaden muttered, limping back, scanning for an exit as the platform above creaked, hunters and gang members shouting, closing in again.
...
Velea and Zule sat on the balcony overlooking the market, silence stretching between them as Velea waited for Zule to speak, but Zule just stared at the railing, unsure where to start. Velea broke the quiet, leaning forward. "How long have you been in love with Jaden?" Zule stiffened, turning to her with a scowl. "I'm not in love with him—Jedi don't love, it's a path to the dark side."
"That's sad," Velea said, then smiled. "But in any case, you're not a Jedi anymore."
Velea tilted her head, watching Zule. "You obviously have feelings for him, even if you've buried them deep." Zule paused, looking down at her hands, then muttered, "I think I do."
Velea smiled wider, resting a hand on Zule's knee. "It's okay, it's understandable—after everything you went through on Jabiim." Zule shook her head, pulling her knee away. "It's not because of that—I feel for him because of who he is, because of how strong he is, how he never gave up on any of us, how he sacrificed himself for a planet that wasn't his in a war that wasn't his." She swallowed, feeling a flutter in her stomach as she spoke. "He saved so many people and asked for nothing in return."
Velea nodded, her smile softening. "He is amazing." She paused, then added, "I like him too." Zule stiffened again, and Velea held up a hand. "But in truth, it's your fault we've been getting physical."
Zule frowned, turning to face her. "What?"
"Your pheromones," Velea said. "They've been affecting all of us." She giggled, leaning back. "Don't get me wrong, I would've pounced him regardless, but I doubt he'd have gone for it without that extra push—he's too work-oriented. I got lucky."
Zule clenched her fists, cursing her own body for stirring this mess. Velea grabbed her knee again. "Listen, Zule," she said, then paused before continuing. "I think you should try and see how things go with Jaden—tell him how you feel."
Zule blinked, surprised. "Why? Don't you want him?"
Velea nodded. "I do—he makes me feel things I've never felt before, and I'd never give that up—but there's no reason one of us has to be miserable. You deserve some love after a lifetime of suppressing it."
Zule frowned, confused. "So we'd both be with him?"
Velea nodded again. "It's not too uncommon, especially with races where males and females aren't equal in number."
Zule hesitated, then spoke. "I feel anger in my chest, a sinking feeling when I look at you—every time I look at you."
Velea leaned closer. "That's jealousy—it's the fear of not being able to have Jaden, that someone else has taken the person you love. But I haven't taken him. He's taken me, and he can take you too. Don't let jealousy stop you from getting what you want."
Zule sat there, thinking it over. "Would Jaden want me?" she said, lifting her cybernetic arm. "I'm not whole—I'm not beautiful like you."
Velea smiled, cupping Zule's face with both hands. "You are very beautiful, but don't worry—I can help you a bit with the arm."
"Help me?" Zule said, tilting her head.
Before Velea could answer, a crash echoed above, and Jaden fell from the platform, slamming into a stall below with Darren on top of him, wood splintering everywhere. Velea and Zule jumped up, staring down. "Was that Jaden?" Velea said, grabbing the railing. Zule nodded, wide-eyed. "Yeah, that's him." They climbed over the balcony edge, jumping down to the lower level, boots hitting the ground hard, and rushed over to Jaden, who was limping away from Darren, clutching his side.
Jaden turned, spotting them, and grinned through a bloody nose. "Oh good, glad you guys are here—perfect timing!" Velea reached him first, grabbing his arm. "What happened?" Zule stepped up beside her, looking him over. "Yeah, what's going on?"
"No time to explain," Jaden said, ducking as blaster shots rang out from the gang members closing in. He grabbed Velea's hand, pulling her along, and waved Zule to follow. "Let's move!" They ran through the stalls, dodging bolts, and crossed a wide bridge leading to an exit, feet pounding the creaking planks. A figure in black robes landed in front of them, blocking the path, and ignited two red lightsabers with a sharp hum.
Jaden sighed to himself. "I was wondering if this could get any worse." He turned to Velea and Zule, voice firm. "Run now—I'll be right behind you." Velea opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off. "Now!" Zule started to protest too, but Jaden reached to her belt, pulling her lightsaber free. "Mind if I borrow this?" he said with a wink, then pushed her back. "Go!" They hesitated, exchanging a look, then turned and ran, boots echoing as they headed for another exit.
Jaden faced the robed figure, igniting Zule's lightsaber—the blue blade snapped to life, casting a glow across his face. He squared his shoulders, staring down the Sith in front of him, the air thick with tension as the gang members' shouts grew louder behind him. The figure stepped forward, lightsabers humming, and Jaden tightened his grip.
(AN: So Jadens harem is progressing nicely if I do say so. While it can be a bit unrealistic I think maybe Velea being a Twi'lek would make things a bit better as the first girl as I feel like she wouldn't be jealous. Shit was that racist? It definitely sounded racist or stereotypical but ah well. Can't be racist against a race that doesn't exist... that didn't sound right either. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter.)
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