Leg It!

[Denton Jax]

Denton released himself from the pair briefly, moving around Kallum, patting and rubbing his jacket as he made his way around to the front, pressing a hand on the youth's chest to stop him. Jax hopped back, moving his head from side to side and crouching slightly, framing Kallum in between his thumbs and index fingers as if taking an imaginary picture.

"And a mighty fine jacket it is!" he finally concluded, standing upright again. "However!"

He shuffled forward between the two, ushering them closer with his hands and whispering.

"Can't really get my goods out in public, you know? Might get carted off, you see?"

[Kallum Romanoch]

A practised cautionary glance to the left then to the right then Kallum snatched Denton out of the air before he could flounce away.

"Listen, yeh red-'aired little dren," he said through clenched teeth, his grip on his shirt tightened as he pulled him in close, their noses almost touching.

"Time teh stop messin' around. Where are de goods?"

[Tegan]

:: Tegan caught a rush of movement behind them, and cleared her throat. The Bothans had caught up with them ::

"Kallum, put him down!!!"

:: She took a backwards step ::

[Denton Jax]

Jax landed a wet kiss on Kallum's cheek and sprang back out of range.

"I told you, this ain't the time!" he chided, going up on tip-toes to see what Tegan had spied.

"Aww...frell it!"

He heard the Bothan's bark as they recognised him, and instantly ducked down low. He looked around frantically, spying a row of parked speeders a short run away.

"Viola!" he exclaimed, pushing his hat down firmly on his head, catching hold of the wrists of Tegan and Kallum to drag them away.

[Kallum Romanoch]

The whipping wind was icy where his cheek was wet, it was like a cold prodding finger highlighting his moment of shame and he used the cuff of his jacket to wipe it off furiously. His lovely new jacket. His other hand tugged at Denton's grip but to his surprise the boy whippet was strong.

Angry red flashes whizzed overhead, he glanced over at Tegan who seemed as bewildered as him. They ran the length of the row of speeders when Kallum tugged so hard the trio were forced to stop, his eyes were fixed lovingly on a bright red sports racer with beautiful curves.

"Dat one! I wan' dat one!" he said breathlessly.

[Tegan]

:: Tegan sneered in annoyance. What was it with boys and their speeders anyway, she thought. Then a blasterbolt singed her hair ::

"Frelling Hezmana!!!"

:: She hopped into the passenger seat, frantically petting out the flame on the ends of her hair ::

[Denton Jax]

The crowd erupted into chaos behind them, and Denton whooped loudly, shoving Kallum roughly into the small space for luggage behind the seats and hopping across to the controls. He stooped down, resting his head on Tegan's thigh as he wired the speeder and the engine roared to life.

"Huzzah!" he yelled, putting the vehicle into gear and revving the throttle.

The speeder lurched around violently, running backward into another one with a crunch. Jax bit his bottom lip and cast quick glance at Tegan, flicking a few switches and pulling away from the walkway as more blaster shots came there way and alarms rang out across the street.

[Kallum Romanoch]

"Degads!" Kallum cried from somewhere behind them, "Wha' de 'ell are yeh doin'?"

The luggage space was narrow and cramped. Kallum lied on his back with his knees almost dug into his chest, after the minor collision he propped himself up with an arm on the gleaming chasis. The speeder lurched forward and shot off into a lane of busy traffic with effortless acceleration.

"'ang on a minute! 'ow did dis 'appen?" he barked, stirring from his little pocket of space. He prodded Denton on the shoulder and stood. "Lemme drive!"

Another burst of speed and with nothing to hold onto, Kallum fell back into the luggage well with a string of angry expletives.

[Tegan]

:: Tegan growled as she leaned over and grabbed the wheel with both hands, pulling with all her might to swing them around into a sharp u-turn. Instead of speeding away from the Bothans, they were speeding towards them ::

"THEY SHOT MY HAIR!!!"

:: She stomped on Jax' foot, forcing the speeder to accelerate like a missile. It was frelling personal now ::

[Denton Jax]

Denton whooped again, punching the air a few times as they sped back towards the walkway, narrowly missing numerous collisions. His hat flew off, disappearing into the traffic, but the red-haired cared little, caught in the moment.

Hopping out of the seat, he pulled Tegan across to she could take full control, standing with one foot on the passenger seat and one foot lifted onto the bodywork of the speeder, jutting his chest out proudly and saluting to the Bothans that were fast coming closer, resting his free fist on his hip.

"Flee, comrades!" he yelled. "Hell hath no fury like a lass with singed hair!"

[Kallum Romanoch]

"Tegs..."

The voice was muffled. Kallum scrambled onto his knees and leaned forward. His lips were inches from the girl's ear and his eyes were fixed on the rapidly approaching Bothans. A hand felt at his hip for his blaster, he'd use it if he had to but starting a shootout on Cloud City was a really stupid idea. So was this, he shook her by the shoulders.

"'ave yeh lost yer mind? Tegs! Tegs! Stop! It's just 'air!"

[Tegan]

"SHUTUP!!!" she scolded.

Her eyes narrowed as she plowed through the Bothans, pitching them into the air like matchstick men. One managed to cling for dear life to the front of the speeder, terrified as it stared into the whites of Tegan's eyes.

Gleeful and bloodthirsty and temporarily crazed, she steered the speeder towards a big stack of food crates. She intended to smash through it with ramming speed, with the unlucky bothan as a hood ornament ::

[Denton Jax]

Denton danced a short jig, sliding down the bonnet. He ripped the Bothan's coat from him, in the hope that it would have something of some value inside, before crawling back towards the seats.

"Please keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times!" he sang, pushing Kallum's head back down into the well before hopping into the cramped space on top of him to take cover from Tegan's wild driving.

[Kallum Romanoch]

She's as crazy as him, Kallum thought, floundering around under the weight of the red-headed lad. The vehicle shook violently and there was an almighty crash. His heart raced and he flailed every limb to be free of Denton's writhing body, not caring if he shoved him overboard. He called out.

"Tegs! Are yeh alright? Gerroff me! Tegs!"

[Tegan]

:: Tegan had bonked her head, and was out like a light ::

[Denton Jax]

Denton hauled himself out of the well, pulling on the Bothan's coat and standing behind Tegan's seat. He crouched, placing a hand on each side of her face and tilted her head up.

"What a woman!" he grinned gleefully.

The speeder was wedged amongst a mess of crates, the Bothan having disappeared beneath them somewhere along with the front end. The vehicle was angled upwards - it's butt in the air - with the engine having cut out.

"Move! Security coming through!" came a distant shout, pushing through the stunned crowd.

"Awww...why now, you silly girl!?"

Hooking his arms under her shoulders, Jax dragged her out of the seat as a flustered Kallum emerged.

"Come on, boy wonder. Do something useful, will ya?"

[Kallum Romanoch]

"Tegs!" he cried out, met with the sight of Tegan hanging limp in Denton's arms.

He scrambled out of the speeder and threw open the door on the driver's side. Crouching down, he cradled Tegan's face in his hands and shook her gentley, repeating her name. There was no response but she was still breathing. He hooked her arm over his shoulder and quickly hoisted her out of the vehicle with the help of Denton. Behind him, he heard the sound of the parting of an alarmed crowd and the clunk of heavy boots closing in on their location. They had to move fast.

"Take her down dat side street der!"

[Denton Jax]

"Righty-o, captain!"

The pair hobbled along as fast as possible with Tegan hanging limply between them, Denton having to repeatedly blow her hair out of his face so he could see properly.

"Is she always so wonderfully dangerous?" he asked with a grin as they slipped into the secluded alley.

[Kallum Romanoch]

"No," he answered coldly, staring into the darkness.

Once in the alley they found a place to set her down; she was sat unceremoniously slumped against an overflowing trashcan. Kallum looked down at her helpless form for a second before turning to their red-haired accomplice. He drew his blaster and in one smooth motion, the safety was off and it was aimed at Denton's chest. Kallum's eyes glimmered with malice in the dark.

"Yeh 'ave ten seconds teh reach de udder end o' dis alley an' be outta me sight. Gorrit?"

[Denton Jax]

Denton raised his hands defensively, having never even owned a shooter.

"Whoa, easy there, Trigger" he replied, stifling a laugh. "What's got you so riled? May I remind you, my good man, that you chose the horrendously fast speeder, and that she drove us into this here situation. I'm the only innocent party here" he quipped.