Once there was a slovenly Hutt and a lethargic Bear, neighbors within the same woodland. To consider them friends would be an overestimation of how much they cared for each other, but they were at least on good terms. One day, the Hutt arrived at the Bear's door with a proposal.

"Bear, there is a magical fruit that grows on a tree nearby, which grants one immortality. I aim to obtain it."

The Bear, who had just roused from a long slumber, rubbed at his eyes. "I have no need for immortality," he said. "I'm just a Bear."

"The fruit is next to a hive of honey," said Hutt.

"I'm in," said Bear.

The two ventured into the woods where the Hutt had mentioned this special tree. Now, this tree grew tall, taller than either creature could easily climb. Bear, hoping for a quick snack, felt bitterness at being tricked into actual work.

"So what are we supposed to do now?" asked Bear.

Hutt contemplated for a moment, then was struck with a thought. "Stand beside the tree, Bear, and I will climb on your back!"

Hutts are not typically known to be good climbers, and this one was not a difference to this rule. As the Hutt attempted to clamber on to the Bear's back, his mucus caused him to slide back down. The Bear groaned in disgust, and stopped the Hutt from making another attempt.

"Wait, let me try," said Bear.

Bears are more typically estimated to be good climbers, however this one was not. As the Bear tried to scramble up onto the Hutt's back, his claws scratched up the Hutt's shoulders. The Hutt roared in pain, and stopped the Bear from making another attempt.

"Stop! Stop!" shouted a voice unfamiliar to the two creatures. A slender Grey Jedi had appeared. "You must work together to solve this," they said. "Use your intellect!"

Both creatures looked to the other, then to the Jedi.

"I think we need a hint," said Hutt.

"I think we're out of ideas," said Bear.

The Jedi put their face into his hands, then went to work instructing the two to create a rudimentary pulley system. Bear collected rocks from the stream while Hutt collected vines from the nearby trees. It took them all day to do, and they finished by torchlight. Once the device was made, the Hutt was the first to test it. Bear considered it out of character for the Hutt to show such bravery, but he wasn't going to.

"Hoist me up!" ordered the Hutt.

"Take a torch," said Bear, offering one. "To smoke out the bees."

Bear and the Jedi pulled on the ropes, sending the Hutt into the tree. However, the slimy Hutt decided to grab for the fruit. Tugging the fruit from the vine caused the bees to wake, and they soon surrounded the greedy Hutt. Hutt howled and fell from the tree, tearing the pulley system down with him and squashing the fruit under his bulk. He jumped back up with surprising speed and ran into the woods with bees trailing behind him.

Though Bear considered following his acquaintance, he noticed the hive had fallen from the tree as well. Thus the Bear gorged on honey, forgetting all about the Hutt. The Jedi looked on with a wearied sigh.

[Foothold]

Alarms blared in increasing volume with Vreva's return to consciousness. She felt hot blood drip down the back of her neck and clutched at a sharp pain hidden among her dark braids. Though a sharp whine of tinnitus drowned out most else, she vaguely heard Paumgon's low tone urging her to move. Move.

Move!

The Zabrak jolted upright and fumbled for the harness keeping her strapped to the pilot's seat of the Revenant. The Ghtroc Light Freighter was on fire. Smoke stung her eyes, and the scent of something particularly electric caught her nostrils. "Where are-?" she managed, before the Herglic's heavy hand brought her head down.

Slugs pierced the windshield and tore apart the seat where her head had rested moments before. Vreva ducked low and allowed Paumgon to drag her from the chair to the floor. Her rifle was thrust into her hands once she managed to pull herself up into a low crouch, and she slung the weapon over her shoulder. Instinct and adrenaline compelled her limbs to propel her forward after her companion.

The others - Luka, Diyrian, Alex, Sprocket - were nowhere in the cockpit. Whether they had gone on to continue the mission or were laying in the cargo hold dead, she did not know. She would ask Paumgon later. For now, she had to keep her own hide.

Most of the hull was still intact, and none of the Collective soldiers had yet to board the ship. Though she knew it was only a matter of time before they flooded the crash site. The sound of their footfalls surrounded the wreckage of the Ghtroc.

"How many outside?" She shouted over the sound of the alarm.

Paumgon gave her a stoic look that told her all she needed to know. Vreva loaded her rifle.

"Hold 'em here or rush 'em?"

"After you." The Herglic tossed out his Portable Wall. Hopefully the energy field would disperse any blaster fire from the Collective's droids, but it would be useless against the slugs.

"Ladies first, right?" Vreva gave a crooked smile before drawing her blade.

A *harumph* of mirth from him. "Ladies first."

Collective soldiers, connected through their wireless network, stopped in unison at their company leader's order. Their weapons were trained on the hull of the ship as each watched for movement within the smoke. A shout near the landing bridge brought their attention, each turning to witness a splash of blood and black ichor spray from a fatal wound as Vreva cut the first soldier's throat. As he fell, she moved to the next in a wild frenzy. She was not alone. Soldiers scattered as blaster fire from an MWC-35c Repeating Cannon covered her charge.

"Focus the gunner!" shouted the Collective company leader, pointing at the Herglic. Vreva turned her ire upon him. Red encircled her golden irises as she roared her challenge, rushing him with little care for the few blaster bolts that singed her skin. She launched herself at the man, her first thrust jarring against his armor, though the second found space between plates. Though she was too far gone into her rage to hear him, the blood he coughed up that splattered the inside of his helmet was enough for her to move on to the next opponent.