‘Stuck in here hiding because I’m not a woman, how did my life turn out like this? I could of been rich and famous’. This thought was followed by the buzzing noise of Karash’s com device; the noise of it lowered his spirits even further.
“Can I come out yet?” Karash asked in his usual manner.
“Just get down here now!” Havock’s voice was audibly strained.
He wasn’t sure where ‘here’ was but he was intelligent enough to realise that any sarcasm at this moment would probably get him imprisoned along with the Viceroy. The meeting between the RAIDERS women and the Watchers must have gone alright because he wasn’t fleeing from blaster fire. As Karash got closer to his destination it sounded like there was a bit of a struggle going on so he increased his pace and prepared himself for a fight.
“Oh dear,” Karash said with an actual tone of disappointment.
There in front of him stood Grahim being restrained by both Jae and Hav; though he was continuing to mumble away in gibberish. This was accompanied by Brightstar who anxiously wanted to get back to the cockpit.
“What the hell has happened here?” Karash asked with a deep sense of curiosity.
“Mesa stabbed her but shesa is ok. Yousa don’t have to help.” Grahim spoke first as he tried to wriggle out of the women’s grip.
“He just flipped, we walked past and he had jammed his knife into the door” Jae said as she grabbed hold of the Gungan once again.
“And I am needed why?” By this point Karash was rather confused by the whole situation.
“Because we just love to have you around,” Havock barked out the words. “You have all the meds, now give him something to calm him down!”
“Yes ma’am” Karash said, not meaning to be sarcastic but it still came out that way.
Karash drew some of the meds into his last syringe and then proceeded to inject it into the Gungan’s flesh, then, almost instantly he went limp in Hav and Jae’s arms. They just put him down on the floor and they were both obviously flustered by the entire experience, though Karash did feel the need for a sit down himself.
“What do you think was wrong with him?” Havock asked after telling Brightstar to get back to the cockpit.
“Your guess is as good as mine, but I would keep him like that for the time being. Oh and that was the last of the meds.” Karash said as he stood transfixed on the sleeping Gungan.
“You had better go and check on the Viceroy, while the rest of us try to get us the hell away from these Watchers.” The squad leader still sounded under extreme pressure.
“Right away and without question,” Karash said smartly as he turned and made his way back to the storage room where the Viceroy was.
‘You know it seems to be a feature of this squad, people going mad. Grahim, you wonder who will be next?’, “Oh don’t start speaking to yourself now, that’s all I need.” The thoughts continued to whiz round in Karash’s head, so much so that he almost forgot where he was going and for what reason. He entered the storage room and made his way to the unconscious Viceroy, laying there unaware of everything that was happening; Karash wished that he could be in the same position, blissfully ignorant of what was happening.
As the old man began to awake Karash felt it best to refresh his memory. “You are currently being held on this ship, you are fine and please don’t talk to me.” Karash put emphasis on the last part of the question.
“Where is the other one, the one who spoke to me in the most dreadful manner?” The Viceroy spoke with an imbedded sense of superiority.
“He’s gone, for the moment at least. Do feel unwell?” Karash tried to keep to the business at hand.
“I am feeling a bit better. Though I must say I do not appreciate being spoken to in the manner he did. You on the other hand seem to be, of better breeding.” This time he really did stick his nose up in the air.
Karash could not help but be slightly flattered, though he still cringed as the man brought back thoughts of his father and childhood; ones that he had desperately tried to forget. “Yes well I had better be off.”
“You know I didn’t want things to get this far, I was only doing what was best.” The man’s face looked scared and even regretful, “How could I let those people take control of the mines, they are nothing but the scum on the bottom of my shoes. The common people do not know what is best for them, my family does and always will do. I have done my duty and I will continue to do so when you people release me, which you will!” The Viceroy began to cough and splutter.
Karash had actually believed, just for a second, that the man wasn’t as bad as others had said. But his second outburst reminded him of what he could have been, what he still could be and what his family was. The sense of revulsion forced Karash out of the room, the man eventually stopped coughing but his deep breathing was still audible. Karash just stood there for a moment and contemplated what had happened and what was still going to happen.
