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Chapter 4
Akiva sat impatiently in a finely carved black wood chair. Before her stood a polished ebony desk with several downsized statues of some sort sitting on the black, their reflections gleaming on the shining desk surface.
A soft click and a smooth electronic whine became audible as the durasteel doors to the elaborate room slid open. Akiva swayed her head toward the source of the sound to find that the man she had learned to call Brev, entered.
He walked in a nonchalant gate to take his place in the delicately carved, cushioned, semi-circular chair opposite Akiva, behind the desk. He settled himself in his seat, placing his elbows on the desk surface and interlocking his slim fingers.
“Welcome to my office…” Brev greeted, trailing off in mid-sentence.
“Akiva,” she finished for him.
“Akiva,” he echoed thoughtfully. “Cute name.”
Brev had this strange tone in his voice that somehow made others, Akiva, at least, feel indignant, inadequate.
“Erm, thanks,” she muttered wearily. “I thought you said business here wasn’t luxurious,” Akiva said, surveying the intricate design in the office.
Brev chuckled lightly. “I said the business wasn’t luxurious. I never said the base couldn’t be.”
Akiva nodded. “I see,” she said quietly, trying to sound composed, despite the fact of her anxiety.
Brev let out a short sigh. “All right,” he started. “Now for the business at hand. You said you need a job, correct?”
Akiva shook her head yes, biting her lip unconsciously.
“Well, I’m usually willing to help someone in need…Especially if it’s a young lass like yourself.” He grinned diffidently, sensing Akiva’s slight uneasiness.
She shrugged, trying to seem a little lively. “Hear me, Brev…Is it ok if I call you that?” she asked.
“Go ahead.”
Akiva nodded. “As I was saying, I’m in need of a job that gives enough pay that would let some one with, well, nothing, to get by. Are there any positions I might be able to fill? Even if it’s only temporary—I’ll take anything.”
“Actually, Akiva, there is. That Trandoshan you saw once was one of my assassins. But, he was reckless and took the life of an erroneous person.” He said coldly. “That’s intolerable.”
“I understand,” Akiva answered irresolutely, unsure of what exactly to say in response.
“You said you’d take anything. I’m in short supply of assassins, would you be ready to take that job if I decide on hiring you?” Brev asked, his gaze shifting around at the different holo artwork in the room.
“Of course. I’d be chiefly good in that area, in fact,” Akiva replied.
Brev, again, looked unconvinced. “How about, before I hire you, I see you in action…Deal?”
“Deal,” Akiva said, eager to show him what she could do.
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Brev walked briskly down the ship corridors, with Akiva in step close behind. She gawked at the ship’s detailed interior, contrary to the tarnished outer plating.
“What kind of ship is this anyway?” she asked at last.
“A tremendously modified Bulk Cruiser. Ideal for smuggling work,” Brev responded.
Smuggling, so that’s what his business is, Akiva thought. “Interesting,” she said.
“Indeed. Don’t let its exterior fool you.”
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They entered a small chamber, dimly lit. It had several combat droids scattered around the floor.
“Well, Akiva, here we are. This is where we send the weak and unfortunate…Well, that’s where we send the weak and unfortunate,” he corrected himself, gesturing to a corner of the room where a diminutive torture machine was planted. “Anyway, this doubles as a sort of “auditioning” room for aspiring assassins and likewise.”
Akiva nodded in understanding, glancing timidly at the affliction mechanism.
“And, those there-,” he waved a lazy hand to the inactive droids, “-are combat droids. Designed for hand-to-hand warfare. Think you can handle it?”
“I can handle anything,” Akiva replied with poise.
“I’m sure you can,” Brev said, almost amused by her confidence. “OK, on my count: three…two…one.” His fingers grazed a switch on a console attached to the rigid wall.
Akiva watched as three of the droids’ eyes lit up with life, their jointed bodies unfolding from their self-contained, squatting position, into a straight, bulky, droid contour. They shifted into a combat stance with a soft electronic whine. They were in a triangle formation, the the droid at the apex was farthest from her, either of the other two droids standing in a vanguard position.
Akiva stood for a few moments, marveling at the droids’ smooth movements. Then, she prompted herself, and charged to the right most droid. The machine reacted almost immediately, its reflexes slowed ever so slightly by its dawdling electronic relay. She flipped over it, and kicked it from behind. The droid, not completely turned to face her yet, staggered backwards some, but regained its poise and threw a mighty fist at her shoulder, she dodged it, and while still in a crouch, spun around, her leg outstretched and catching the droid square in its torso. The droid fell backward toward the ground.
Akiva hazarded a glance at Brev, who, again, swept his hand athwart the console. She looked down at the droid to find its once brightly lit eyes, slowly fading into nothingness.
The droid at the center had now started to advance her. Akiva jerked her attention away from the lifeless droid and shifted it to the oncoming one. This particular one tried a different approach, using its weak repulsorlifts to stealthily sail over Akiva’s head, landing practically on top of her, then he punted at the back of her knee. Her joint locked, and she started to fall, but she turned the fall into a roll and jumped up, kicking the further droid in its metal skull. Its neck wrenched to the side a bit, but it kept progressing.
I wonder if I should use the Force…, Akiva contemplated. I’d have a better chance…no lightsaber, though…She didn’t have forever to think, so she just did what instinct told her to do.
She turned to face the progressing droid, and pushed it back with a strong Force wave. The droid ruptured as it hit the cold wall, and its eyes also faded into black.
Akiva spun around, ready for the remaining droid, but it failed to budge. She looked up into its eyes circles, but their light, as well, was deserting them.
Befuddled, Akiva turned to face Brev, who encompassed a mildly flabbergasted expression across his face, his hand at rest on the console switch.
“What happened?” Akiva asked naively.
“I believe it is you who should answer that,” he retorted, his grip on the console loosening, and his hand fell to his side.
Akiva pondered on what he was talking about for a moment, but then her memory caught up with her. This might be a little hard to explain.
“The Force,” she said hesitantly. “You have heard of it, haven’t you? It’s not exactly rare.”
“Ah, yes,” he stuttered. “Of course.” Brev’s gazes drifted to the wrecked droid slumped against the wall. “But, how did you learn to wield it?”
Might as well tell him. He seems trustworthy enough, I hope…”Eh, ex-Jedi. Life got a bit boring over there. I wanted a taste of the real world,” Akiva said, attempting at a casual tone.
“A Jedi, you say?” Brev inquired.
“Ex-Jedi,” Akiva corrected him.
“Well…” Brev started, still in the process of soaking it all in. “You’re right. You do have skills.”
“So…am I hired?” Akiva hazarded.
“Certainly.”
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Yeah, so please, try not to be too harsh. This is the second fiction I've done, after the Hoth one. And, like I said, I never intended on posting it, since I'm not really a good writer.So, it's all Lisa's fault! 
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