Aaron made his way quickly and quietly behind Yaoksi, also keeping an eye on Jebbua and Link. Unconciously, his blaster had somehow wandered to his hand...

...and he had to suddenly wonder if this was anything like what Terrin and Galen and the boys and gone through, always stealthing, always running from this threat or that.

Maybe things would have been different if he had helped them out more, been there more, instead of keeping a tight check on Eagle Enterprises and never going anywhere...

Aaron dismissed the thought, and focused his mind on the task at hand. He wondered if they had done anything to repair the blast hole in the entrance, and figured it would probably be pretty foolish if they hadn't done something to it.

Yaoksi slowed down in front of him at last, and Aaron found himself gripping his blaster just a little bit more tightly.

"The entrance?" Aaron queried quietly, not seeing anything yet even though his body's kinesthetic memory told him they were close.

"Ok, so the plan is for Link to slice into the place and what? search for info and Thea or what?"

I took out my lightsaber but left it off, I would probably need it.

Thats when I felt it, or actually felt nothing.

"Uh guys, we have a problem. I might not be as useful as you think I might be. I think they have some yslamiri in there. Trust me me and Dash ran into them and their prederators before. There is a big bubbe of nothing-ness. No doubt that's where Thea is, but I'm about as good as a baby talking with this lightsaber with no force powers."

I whirled about, approaching Jebbua and taking him by his shoulders.

"Don't you see? That has to be where Thea is! Someone has been trying to be cute, and block her in the force, but just by the act of doing this they've practically sent up a flare!"

My spirits reviving considerably, I turned back to the little passageway we had entered and studied it.

"I don't see the hole... but--"

I moved forward toward a place which seemed a little bit... different, somehow. Newer, not quite as weathered, almost as if it had been renewed...

...well, they don't."

A sigil on the pad blinked. He raised an eyebrow and pressed a sequence on the pad. A view from the camera in the back alley came up on the screen. The other eyebrow raised, and he pressed another button.

“Mr. Yaoksi?” he said into the pad microphone, conveying his voice to the speaker hidden above the secret hatchway in the alley, recently repaired. “What a pleasant surprise, man! Have you changed your mind? That’s so awesome, man! I was hoping you’d come, dude, it’s just too hard to figure it out without you in the equation, man!”

Crouching, blaster at more than ready now, I raised my head and looked upward and all about, trying to trace the source of Bon's voice.

"Ahh-- yeah. Yeah," I replied, now sending a fast shrug to the others in the party.
Leaning toward them, I whispered, "They know we're here, get ready..." before turning my head upward again.

"I told you we weren't finished yet; wasn't there something you wanted to tell me?"

"Look, I don't care how dangerous it is; there's a kid in there who's supposed to be under my care. I'm not going anywhere until I have her back!

"Well, at least the door will get opened--" I said in a low voice, before turning around again and raising it.

"All right then, pal, c'mon outta there and let's talk. But I hope it won't take all night, there's a kid in there who needs our help."

“Thanks,” I said. “Get some sleep.”

I left, shutting the door behind me. The hallway was a little dark, just like before, duh. I turned to go back to the room, but paused. Here I was, in some secret base or something, with all sorts of… well, secret stuff to start a rebellion with. I could wander around, check things out… and probably get caught.

Or I could let this bad feeling pass, go back to bed, and stop making myself worry.

Yeah, that sounded all right for now. I turned for the room and took a step.

Then I heard a footstep. I turned around silently and watched Blueberry sneaking down the other end of the hallway. He tapped a panel on the wall and disappeared into a door that slid open for him. I waited a second then padded down the hall and to the panel. It didn’t take a genius to realize that there were only two buttons – OPEN and LOCK. Duh again. I pushed OPEN and guess what happened?

Again.

Whirling, it was to discover the blue Bothan just standing there, a grin planted on his furry little face, looking for all the world like he had come out to announce the winner of the Tattooine Pod Racing Nationals.

I scowled, and moved up to him. Stopping a couple of meters from him, I widened my stance, placing my hands on my hips.

"Don't do that!" I growled, waiting for the others to come up behind me. When a quick glance around ascertained that they had all arrived within this latest cozy little circle I turned back to Bon.

“It’s good to see you all again!” he said. “I was afraid you didn’t want to be involved after all. You see, I sought you out, you and Rico. I spent a long time studying that book, man. Oppression is everywhere, man, and it needs to be fought! So, like, when things were looking down, man, I took it to a psychic. Don’t laugh, man, they’re in tune with the cosmic wholeness of the whole big psychic cosmic… thing. Anyway, I got some useful info from this dude, right? He put his hand on the book and started telling me that the dude was named Panthar, and he was an archeologist, right? But then he goes off on something else, man, something that was just, well, weird. He started spouting off on random stuff like Dark Lords and rebirth and Warriors and Sorcerers and returning from time, and that got freaky. Then he went bonkers and started saying stuff about humans and adepts and threw out some names, man. He said they’re all in danger, man. I don’t know what he was talking about, believe me, but I wrote them down.”

Bon unrolled a small scroll from his sleeve.

I worked my mouth, the blaster lowering without my even being aware of it. Likewise I hadn't a clue as to what the others were thinking at this point, for I sure as hell wasn't the only one to recognize damned near every name the Bothan had just listed.

Slowly it dawned upon me that Bon was still patiently waiting for an answer.

"Y-yeah, I'm Yaoksi--er, that Yaoksi," I muttered, swaying a little. A small sound echoed from the stone walls, the sound a blaster makes when it falls upon something hard. I scarcely noticed it; suddenly I was against the wall, shaking my head in disbelief. After a few more minutes passed in this manner, I finally managed a deep breath, and yanked myself back under control.

Bon just stared back at me, a strange admixture of fanaticism and naivete planted on his face. I stared back a moment or two, and then managed to stand upright, took a step toward him.

"What about these people?" I asked, coming closer, squatting down to meet his eyes straight on.

"What else do you know? Why did this psychic--"

I wonder if it was a Jedi?

"--send you to me?"

Daggers suddenly began burning holes in my back; I waved a hand behind myself toward Aaron and went on.

"Did he say where these people were, particularly the one called Galen?"

Bon showed Yaoksi the paper. On it, below the names, were several dots. Four of the dots were joined by lines.

“I did a lot of figuring and refiguring. I figured these could lots of things, like chemical symbols, molecular structures, or plans for a summer home. But then it dawned on me, man, maybe it’s star positions! So I ran about a billion combinations, man, then found a spot in the galaxy where this combination might take place. There’s a system, man, binary stars, remote area, and the like. Well, I did some more digging, man, but found out that the oppression had already begun there! I asked myself, now why would the oppressors set up ships in a remote part of the galaxy, man? In a place where there’s like no life?”

Bon pointed to the paper.

“That’s my quest, man. That’s where I’m going. And the psychic wanted me to find you, man, and that tells me that you need to go too. Like I said, man, maybe I’m crazy like they say, but it’s all fallen together so far.”

Traveling with Terrin and Galen, the little gal was pregnant as I recall, very pregnant. And they had told stories, weird stories, about the Sith who weren't the sith; I mean, they were not like the Jedi, they were different, and they were after the little gal, and had sent something from hell to rip off Captain Danner's arm, and it was on my watch, dammit, my watch...

I shuddered, struggling against the horrors of that day, trying to remember more of what they had said.

Hadn't Cella said she was after Shayla, that Shayla had been taken from the Praxeum, before it had been destroyed? How did she fit into all this?

I shook my head at the memories, now grown fogged by the passage of the years and being a father to Thea.

Thea.

My eyes flew open, pinned themselves to Bon.
Flicked back to the others, returned.

"Our Jedi here--" I stuck a thumb over my shoulder to indicate Jebbua.

"--was knocked out and imprisoned after Aaron and I left the base; hell, after we escaped from the base you call home. I truly can't see that the little girl who was with us is being treated any better.

"Look."

I drew in a breath, let it out, laid a hand on my blaster, not as a threat, but a promise.

"You help us get Thea out of there, and I'll go with you on your quest. And since I just happen to know my friends here are a touch wee concerned about some of the peeps you named, it wouldn't surprise me if they came along for the ride as well."

I was shocked at what Bon had just said, besides the fact that he had just named a list of names of half i knew.

"You're kidding right." I wanted to turn my lightsaber on and slice this guy.

"I was standing in the foyer looking around and listening to the conversation in the dining room when someone stunned me with a stun bolt and knocks me out. first you invite me in and then you stun me."

With the force I picked up Bon off his feet and dagnled him a foot off the ground.

Oh hell...

Aaron was having a difficult time coming up with anything intelligent to say, considering the list of names the Blueberry had just spewed, and considering the facts he had just spewed as well, unbeknowst to possibly even him. But Jebbua's ensuing actions were enough to get his thoughts back on track.

"Hey, knock it off and let the blue guy talk!!!" He growled Jebbua's way. "I don't know what is going on in there aside from the fact we need to get the kid back...

...but somehow he's telling the truth, dammit. Only Terrin is..."

He paused, closing his eyes, struggling with himself. "Terrin is dead..."

"Sorry."

I sat Bon back on the ground and relaxed my tense shoulders.

"Jebbua, calm down!"

I shook my head a little, waited until there was complete silence at my back. Then I lifted my head again to Bon's beady little eyes.

"Look," I started, pursing my lips as I thought.

"I don't know about any oppression that you keep on hammering on about; there's no oppression that I'm aware of. Ok, so some things have happened, but ya know what?"

I rose to my feet and glared.

"Maybe it's all for the better. The guy with the biggest gun ends on top, right? If ya can't keep up with the Big Dogs, stay on the porch, and all that!"

Suddenly I leaned forward, took Bon by his furry little chest, lifted him up on his tippy-toes.

"I don't trust anyone who imprisons a Jedi, fella! That sounds to me like yet another Big Dog wannabe. Now, I'm not sure who this employer of yours is, but I don't want a damned thing to do with her or your silly little rebellion.

"I want Thea back..., and then I want to go find these people you have mentioned. It just so happens that some of them have gone missing, and most of us--"

I waved my hand grimly at the others.

"--have been hunting for them for years.

"Soo-oo-ooo I'll just have this, thank you buddy--" Here I snatched the paper with the star positions from him, and raising to my full height released the little guy.

"And now we can talk some serious turkey."

How in the hell was this all possible? Who could this little blue squirt have been talking to that could know all of this stuff?

Aaron just glared at Bon. "Allright, furball, since you said it would be nothing more than us taking her if we didn't like what we heard...

...give us the kid, and we'll be on our way..."

I twisted around, leaned into Aaron, spoke in a whisper too low for the Bothan to hear.

"Aaron, he's got no reason to help us rescue Thea if we tell him that we're cutting and running; besides--"

I paused, stared meaningfully at Barnes a bit before turning back to Bon.

"I said I'd help him on his quest if he helps us get Thea back, even if I don't think it's anything either warranted or intelligent. But out there somewhere are two sets of binary stars, somehow connected--"

I rustled the paper that I held.

"And they seem to be the starting point to finding our friends. Massing 'oppressors' or not."

I drew in a deep breath before finishing.

"I just have a reeeeally ba-aa-aad feeling about this Cardissa person; somehow I feel she's not in it to help you. Call me paranoid, but my gut has saved my hiney on more than one occasion, not that you need to know all the particulars about that. And besides--"

I hunkered down into Bon's face, stared deeply into his eyes, searching.

"There's something else going on here, isn't there?" I whispered softly, remembering how the little guy had flip-flopped from Idiot Mittens to Professorial in the blink of an eye.

Yeah. Something weird and spaced out and possibly dangerous but possibly something we could use. Because if what the little guy said was really true, and there really was an inordinate amount of Impys hanging around the unknown worlds indicated within the dots, that fact combined with the other hell I was too aware of only went to prove one thing:

Ships and weaponry and munitions be damned. We were going to need something different.

“First, bullying me will get you nowhere,” he said. “Second, Miss Mitra is not my employer, per se, but a financial backer and comrade in the fight against the Empire, a tyrannical conqueror imposing its way of life upon the galaxy through the guise of bringing forced peace to all. Third, I am at a loss to explain you imprisonment, but I have had no reason to doubt the sincerity and motives of Miss Mitra. There must have been a reason for it, are you absolutely sure you did not try to encroach upon a secured section? As for Thea, again, I have no reason to suspect any foul play, she was tired, she was given a bed. If you would have stayed longer you would have seen this happen.”

Bon sighed.

“I am sure you operate on sort of intuition,” he continued. “Having experienced this strange phenomena first hand myself, I cannot cast doubt upon its validity. However, I cannot take your intuition as hard fact, either. The facts of this mission are simple: I extended an invitation to you to accept a job. Those who wished to stay were given quarters. No contracts have been signed, no currency has changed hands, and all are free to depart. However, since these names apparently do mean something to you, then it would behoove you to accept my proposition and join with me, expanding the scope of this mission to find both my artifacts and your people. If the Empire is also searching for these items, there would be no stopping them if they succeed.”

Bon sighed again.

This was no good, no good at all. What was with this guy's adamancy in disbelieving a Jedi, fer pity's sake, who was standing right under his furry little nose telling him what had happened?

I mean, c'mon here; is it normal SOP to blast a suspect, slam him away in a dark room, without so much as a chance to explain himself? No inquiry? Just -- Poof -- stick him away to rot and go nighty-night?

The hairs on the back of my neck raised up in full force.

"I don't think so. Not without my backup, pal!" I growled. Then before I could stop myself, I yanked my blaster out of its holster and slammed it down on Bun-Bun's fuzzy little noggin. He dropped like a proverbial stone.

"Tie him up, and stash him someplace!" I hissed, keeping my voice low. Then--

"Link, now's your chance."

I nodded toward the place in the wall where the stone looked different.

"I don't think that doorway's broken at all, it sure looks fixed to me, doesn't it guys? Link, get yer sweet lil bod over there and find that control panel, and slice us into that base!

"And Jedi--"

I turned to Jebbua, who was standing a little back, quite unable to keep the I told you so look off of his face.

"Keep sensing, or whatever it is you guys do. You said there's a bubble of blankness in there, or something like that; I'm willing to bet Thea's in the middle of it."

I paused, shot a glance all around, and drew in a breath.

"We slice in, follow Jebbua's nekky-nose, snatch the kid, and skedaddle. If things get rough, well then, so do we."

I waved my blaster for good measure.

"After we get Thea out of there we go find our missing friends. I've got the general position in space; we should be able to figure out where it is. I think our little padawan will change her mind about going willingly with us, when she understands that your missing Jedi, the one she wanted to get back to so badly, is more than likely going to be found with all the other missing peeps."

That drew a couple frowns; I flashed a smile.

"Call it another hunch; now, let's go!

I started feeling around the wall looking fo anything to let me gain access. It didn't take long for me to locate the control panal, and even less time for me to find an access point. I took one of my computer access ports and plug it into the control panel.

"Ok I'm in now to open the door."

The computer code started to appear on my visor, for most people its to complex to understand but I had been working with it for years. With the slightest movement of my hands the gloves interpreted these as commands and maniplulated the code until I got the desired effect. After 30 seconds or so of slicing the wall opened and gave us the way in. I took my computer access port out of the control panel and turned to the rest of the group.

Even in her drugged state, she wasn't used to being so alone.

I smiled grimly, adjusted my grip on my blaster, stepped forward into the doorway, peered down the passageway ahead. Well I remembered our earlier entrance; then we hadn't moved too far along it before Thea had taken off into a room close to us, announcing her presence and life's ambition to a complete stranger.

It also hadn't taken long for the hairs to start standing up on my neck then, either.

Which they were doing now.

"C'mon," I whispered, moving as quietly as I could into the dimness ahead of us, for the lighting had been obviously muted for the night.

"Let's see if we can find where Thea is; Jeb, you sense anything anywhere? Or not, as the case might be?"

...and slitted her eyes at the information it displayed. The front door--the not completely repaired front door--was standing wide open. And the back passageway door had also been opened and was now closed. Smoothly, gracefully, Cardissa slid out of the bed and her feet touched the floor to automatically slide into soft nerfskin slippers. She stood, wrapping a crimson spidersilk nightrobe around herself...

...and pulling a small, elegant blaster from her nightstand. She slipped from her room, closing the greelwood door behind her. Not hearing any blatant motion, she quietly eased her way down the hallways, towards the front door that was gaping open. After all, this most certainly did not fit the status quo.

As she continued to proceed forward, she did hear whispering voices however, in the passageway just beyond, the passageway which lead to the "front door" so to speak.

Cardissa paused where she was, not moving futher, and cocked her head slightly to listen.

It was the voice of the one with the little Jedi girl, she was almost certain of it. Where was Foyagee...?

Cardissa frowned, gripping her blaster more tightly, her eyes turning impossibly darker...

...and then a thought came to mind. Lowering the blaster, she simply waited...

I froze, waved frantically at the others, trying to shush them up without saying anything further, straining my ears as hard as I could. For a long moment all remained silent, the strange, oppressive kind of silence only the tiniest hours of the dead night can bring--

And then there it came again.

Every nerve cell rippled, the hairs on my arm stood up. It wasn't much of a sound, the smallest, slightest nuance of a sound, almost the very thought of a sound.

But a sound nevertheless. Soft, silken, a sleek little rustle of noise in an otherwise dearth of it.

And in case I missed it the first time, it was repeated.

Not wanting to say anything aloud, I just stood there, half-crouched, one hand holding my blaster at the ready, the other one holding the others back from speaking.

My heart lodged somewhere between my stomach and my throat.

Dammit, give me a good fast ship and a back door outta here! I grumbled silently to myself. I never did like subterfuge, it just wasn't my forte.

And maybe it was at that.

Wide-eyed, he looked to where Yaoksi was crouching and everyone else was standing frozen.

Awww, heck, but this wasn't going to work. Sooner or later, if someone was around that corner, they were going to come the rest of the way around the corner.

Where was Thea? Where was everyone else?

Aaron frowned...

...but an idea surfaced. The motion totally silent, he switched his blaster to the other hand, and reached a finger to his wristcomm. Keyed in something very quickly, and sent it squirting off along a very, very secure pathway in hopes for a fairly quick response. Then he switched the blaster back to his dominant hand.

If those symbols of the Blueberry's were charts to any of the distant planets Aaron knew of, he already had their coordinates on hand, back aboard the Hornett...

I procced to the corner and with a snap-hiss I had mt lightsaber centimeters from Cardissa Mitra's face.

"Put the blaster down and no one will get hurt." I said to her and then without taking my eyes from her I called out to the others.

He was out cold, but at least he was safer in here. Nothing was going to come between me and a new ship, dang it! I wasn’t sure what was going on, but Yaoksi sure was mad about something. Could it have been the kid? Did he tell the blue guy to get her, and he refused? If so, why? Ah heck, I didn’t know. I just wanted him alive so I could get my ship, do this job, and be on my way.

Sheesh, how could that guy move so fast--?

I didn't waste any more time in committee wondering about it. Sending Aaron a look, I girded my proverbial loins and took off, soon rounding the corner, blaster first, to find Jebbua standing there, a smug but somehow displeased look on his face, his lightsaber smack in the face of the prettiest woman I've seen in a long time.

I blinked again, feeling my jaw drop. Then I got a grip on myself.

"I'm here for the girl," I said, wincing at how melodramatic that sounded, but the tip of my blaster never wavered from her pretty little pert nose.

Oh well, no more melodramatic than our nontraditional entrance in the wee hours of the morning...

Cardissa batted her dark eyes, her look reading surprise and shock. She offered her blaster out to whomever would take it, playing the part well.

"I...I was alerted to the doors being open. i thought we had been found..."

For a moment I wondered what brought on such a vehement response in me. Then I realized:

She was being too shocked. Too soft and helpless. Too...

Nice.

And nobody is nice when unknown people break into their illegal bases in the wee hours of the morning!

My eyes darkened.

"Yeah, lady, I want to see her. I want to take her with me; she came with me, er us... I mean, there's someone who came here with us who's still here, I mean he's not here now--

"Oh, Hell's Seven Circles, I just need to take Thea home where she belongs!"

Then realizing I could just do it myself.

I picked her up and placed her on her feet.

"Take us to Thea." I pushed her with my free hand to get her going and then leaned back to wisper to Yaoski.

"Once we get close I won't be able to use all my jedi powers because of the ysalmiri so it willmostly be up to you guys to watch her with your blasters."

I leaned back forhead.

"Let's go now. I nudged her gently with the force.

Then, without anything further, Cardissa lead the little group--so full of its own self-righteousness in her opinion--to Thea's room. Keyed in the lock code that opened the door.

"Thea?" she called softly into the room. "Soimeone is here for you, to take you," she said simply. "I know you wanted to stay but it's really best..."

She trailed and waited...

"Keep an eye on her," I hissed, nodding toward Cardissa. Then I simply walked past her and entered the room Thea had been given.

She lay on the bed, looking lost, fragile. Sweat beaded her pale brow, and her eyes flickered beneath their lids in a terrible parody of REM sleep.

It was as if she was having nightmares or something; my heart ached, ached more so as a little ghost traipsed up from somewhere in the deep recesses of my unconscious, gloating and chiding me for what I'd done to her.

She belongs with her family! I yowled back, suddenly enraged. Who I was so angry with, I didn't know.

Or simply didn't want to face.

Later, later--

"Thea, honey--?"

Gently I knelt at the bedside, reached a hand out, one that only ceased its trembling when it laid atop her sweat-slicked brow. She didn't move, didn't budge, didn't make a single sound.

She just slept on, her eyes moving back and forth underneath the lids in a manner that sent chills up and down my spine.

"Thea?"

I shook her a little, then a little harder.

Nothing. No movement. No awakening. Just those rolling eyes.

The chill grew to glacial proportions. Snarling, I yanked back the covers and scooped her slender form up into my arms. One of her own fell limply from her chest to dangle toward the floor, taking with it something she had been clutching to her.

Her bag. And where was her lightsaber, the one she had built and was so proud of?

A glance toward her bag only proved it wasn't there. Neither was it anywhere within casual visual range. Cradling her utterly limp body against me, I patted about the bedclothes, tossing the pillow aside, sweeping the flat of my hand along the sheets. finally pulling the entirety off the bunk, then, grunting, shoving the mattress itself off of the frame.

Nothing.

I scowled futher, laid her on the bared mattress, and ran a quick but thorough search of the room.

She would never be parted from that damned lightsaber, not as much as she considers herself a Jedi. Or one wantint further training.

Everyone knows a Jedi is never parted from his or her lightsaber.

At length I gave up, returned to the slumbering child and hoisted her in my arms again. Exited the room and came to a stop in front of the woman.

"She won't wake up; what have you done?" I hissed, motioning to Aaron and Jebbua that it was time to leave even as the words shot out of my mouth.

But I had always been a light sleeper. After a few minutes of the sounds, the slight vibration of deep voices attempting to be quiet humming in through the wall, I got up. Who, aside from prettyboy, has a conversation in the middle of the night in the middle of a hall and in the room next to mine? I didn't think anyone was there.

Well, perhaps he hadn't gotten to teach him quite well enough...

Just as Aaron was thinking this, his commlink vibrated miniscuely on his wrist so that only he would be aware of something incoming. Never letting go of his blaster, Aaron glanced down at the commlink, moving only slightly to punch the "accept text message" feature.

Upon the comlink's small screen, coordinates for a pair of planets scrolled. Ever the technician that he truly was, Aaron matched them with his fairly good working memory of the symbols Bon had scratched on that sheet of paper.

Suspicion confirmed.

Looking up from where he'd barely been looking to his wristcomm, Aaron muttered quietly to Yaoksi, hoping he'd hear. "Yaoksi...coordinates..."

He trailed, not wanting to say too much in front of this suspicious lady, suddenly becoming even more wary of what was going on. His grip tightened on his blaster even as he began to move carefully at Yaoksi's obvious unspoken suggestion, and he scanned the area hoping the Jedi had the sense to back away from what he may not be able to sense to what he could sense. After all, a ysalamiri bubble only spanned about 10 meters, and Aaron was well aware of their capabilities considering an employee of his still had a little farm of them despite his absence from the Hornett.

...and I would have done everything to grant her that. You would take her from what she wants so dearly? If she is the gifted Force-user that she believes, and if you truly believe her as well...

...shouldn't you be giving her the chance?"

Cardissa paused, her black eyes arrowing into Yaoksi's. "She is a child who will grow to be a strong young woman someday. It would be a shame to have the talents of that strong young woman go to waste..."

Quieting with that, Cardissa merely stood motionless, her mind going back years to the day her Father had begun instilling in her a Destiny that her Mother had been denied to even know of. Of a Destiny her Grandmother had also not been allowed to take part in.

Men always beware of the woman, the one who is strong and able. Her Father had been the only one who was truly wise...

...and these men, well, perhaps they were wise in only one thing. They were wary of the possibilities this little girl had, if she were brought up in jut the right manner. In her manner. Nevermind the manipulation that would be behind it all...

Cardissa's black eyes snapped alert, her look only for the smuggler once more. She suspected what he would do, but then, she was never one to assume anything...

Good luck with that, sister!

Con point one to her.

Here we come along, looped in by Bluebird and his strangely yammering eloquence, and in the doing a totally confused little girl traipses to said lady, spilling her guts about her Jedi dreams... all to a total stranger? And then it's, "oh sure honey, have a seat?" Not, "who's with you, dear," or "where did you come from?" I mean, I hadn't heard anything much other than that as I was backpaddling my way out of here.

Hmmm... con point number two to her, maybe a half to us, just for being there.

Jebbua, for whatever reason, doesn't come back with us, stays here instead, winds up knocked out and imprisoned. A pretty tough accomplishment for a lady, considering he's a Jedi, rogue or not. The way I figure, you gotta be a jedi first in order to go rogue, so--

That earned a full point and a half con to her.

Ok, now we come slicing back into her base -- her illegal base, remember that Yaoksi! -- in the wee hours of the morning. Maybe pro points to us as far as the Impys would view it, but from her angle, ok. Let's go a full point con to us.

And now Thea won't wake up...

It set every hair on my head to standing upright, no matter how pretty this lady was, no matter how gracious she appeared. In fact, that just struck me as too, too weird; again, nobody is gracious under the circumstances she was.

"Don't worry about her education, lady; we'll get it taken care of. We just happen to be associated with jedi ourselves, several of them in fact; see? One came along with us now, remember him?"

I jerked a thumb over my back to Jebbua, who smiled not so sweetly to her.

I shook my head.

"Time's a-wasting here; let's go. And lady, you're coming with us.

"Call it insurance."

I nodded for someone to grab her, all the while keeping my blaster trained on her pretty face, right between the eyes.

Fortunately for someone, the weapon was still on stun, and Aaron didn't have quite enough of a good area to shoot towards. The blaster shot bounced off the cracked door with a resounding thunk. The movement stopped.

Aaron grabbed Cardissa. "Let's get the hell out of here," he whispered to Yaoksi. "Fast. I think we're being watched."

And with that he was on the move, weapon in hand, woman in hand.

Nevermind she wasn't wearing anything but nightclothes...

"Get that damned blaster to her head!" I hissed, and watched while he shifted it.

"Nothing personal, sweetheart; let's just say I'm all on edge from no sleep, too much caf, and a lack of food."

And Rico and Stern are still here, somewhere...

...them? You would take me from my home, not even fully clothed...? Tell me you have never suspected this grand Empire with their big guns, their blockades..."

She paused, still forced to keep walking by Barnes. "...and their Reborn?"

I carried him on my shoulder, light as he was, and closed the door behind me. I really felt bad about leaving, but I had to protect my investment and I didn’t have my blaster with me anyway. I’d come back for Cass, as soon as I put Bluebell somewhere safe.

I couldn't help it; no one so beautiful should be so-- so--

So what Yaoksi? Evil? Had she been evil?

Well... she did wham Jebbua, didn't she?

I shook my head, then lifted my face. The open door to relative freedom was just ahead, Link standing anxiously nearby.

As soon as the shots had left the protective bubble of the Ysalamiri, I saw him begin to turn, the force giving him notice that they were approaching. I do give him props for managing to block two of the shots, but they were rather foolish.

Upon the disintigration of the shots, acid spattered out from the sides and gave a small raining shower to the hall, not enough to concentratedly damage, but enough to hurt those in the immediate area.

But the third shot was the main trick. It was beyond the surprised jolt of the Jedi when the third round slipped through his middle finger that was clasped about the hilt of his saber, and slammed into the small powercell and out the other side to explode on the floor, creating a small puddle of acid that boiled on the floor.

"Don't, move you fethwipes." I called down the hall, still in good cover from the door, weapon trained. "Mistress Mitra may be important, but realize that if she dies, there's nothing to stop me from wasting you all. This is a very small hallway, and this is a rather powerful gun."

I moved the gun just slightly to cover over towards Yaoski and Thea. "Let her go, let them both go, and I wont have to call for a cleaning crew, and you two walk out of here with a bit more than pile of ashes for bodies."

I grunted, pressing Thea yet closer to me, arching my body protectively over her as the acid droplets showered around us.

I knew that guy was psycho, I just knew it..

"Th-this goes a helluva long way toward endearing us into believing what you've been saying, lady," I muttered as I froze in place, the door to freedom an enticing couple meters away.

Link, bless her furry little hide, had faded away into the shadows.

I refused to release Thea, however, or my blaster. I just half-crouched there, staring at Cardissa, knowing this sudden change in circumstance would be the one to let her show her true colors.

And I hate going around saying, "I told you so--"

...let alone a little girl. Sounded damnably like another little girl that Aaron's former partner had fallen in love with and adopted as his own...

Aaron pushed the tip of his blaster up against Cardissa's head even more strongly, suddenly not caring one wit about himself.

This was one time he wasn't going to just sit by. Not anymore.

"If you're gonna shoot, then you're killing her while you're at it," Aaron growled,nodding towards Cardissa. "Cause she's on our side of the heavy weaponry, pal."

A, I let them go and they ran off to god-knows where.

B, I wasted the lot of them, but that would be quite redundantw ouldn't it?

C, I wait, and hope that the loud bangs of the Dissuader will draw guards very soon.

D, I surrender.

None of these seemed like the best of given options, but it seemed we had little choice. "Alright, here's how it plays. You let Mitra go, you get away scott free. But if you tell anyone about this, then the gloves are off, and I will come for you. A gesture of faith-"

I moved one hand off the handle slowly, and tapped the slide, the magazine with 6 shots in it falling with a dull thud to the floor. "There. No shots. Let her go."

"Look, all we want is to take the girl with us, ok? We're the ones she belongs to; she was placed into my care for the past three years, and--

"Oh hell, why am I trying to explain myself to you?"

I straightened slowly when I realized the droplets of acid were no longer falling. Cutting my gaze to the trigger happy Stern, I snorted, tightening my grip on Thea.

"Wow, you've gotten yourself a new employer rather quickly, don't ya think, buddy?" I said, further emboldened by his removing the immediate threat of his weapon from our collective faces.

I began inching closer to Cardissa, my blaster still out and pointed toward Stern.

"All I want is to take Thea and go, is that too much to ask for? What in Hell's Seven Circles do you need with her anyway?

"She's a kid, and doesn't know what the hell she's doing. And she belongs with me."

I paused again, my eyes never leaving Stern but speaking fully to Cardissa now.

"Let us go."

Eventually I stumbled across a computer terminal.

"Hello computer."

I plugged in one of my data ports and procedded to download all I could get, I'll decrypt it later if i had a chance after i finished the download i left the data port in just in case and went looking for the others. I found them in about the same place I left them only this time they had a weapon pointed at them, but at least they had thea back.

...we must begin somewhere."

Cardissa paused, closing her eyes, still keenly aware of the tip of the blaster yet at her forehead. "As for taking the girl from here...

...you had but to ask."

Opening her eyes then, Cardissa leveled a dark look on Stern. "Put your weapon away. There is a time and place for everything...

...and the time for that is not now."

At least, not yet.

Cardissa then looked to Yaoksi. "Are you going to let me go...

Yeesh, wasn't anybody listening?!

Opening them, I stared directly into her own, bracing myself against their innate and glistening beauty.

"Lady, I don't give a womprat's hind end for your silly Rebellion, supposed Reborn or no. I have issues of my own to attend to.

"So okay, I'm asking now: let us leave here freely and safely, ALL of us, THIS MINUTE, and with Thea, and you'll never see us again. That's a promise."

Yeesh. If I get us out of here, I'm never coming back to this blasted planet again!

You failed, like your father before you. And you, the one with the Destiny...

She let the door to that line of thought slam closed with a resounding thud.

My lightsaber was worthless and my hand felt like it was on fire.

I had fallen on my knees, but got up and backed up to where the others were.

"I suggest we leave now." I continued backup past them to the door we came through and stopped to see if they were coming.
Oh how I hate ysalmiri. Watch Stern, I'll be back someday. I tried to smile, but grimaced while I thought this.

The Jedi's time will come soon enough.

"Aaron, back slowly down the corridor, and keep your aim on this lady," I said, my eyes now turning to pin those of Stern's. He still stood there, his own weapon now moving from its upward position to thankfully slide into its holster--

--but I still didn't trust him as far as I could throw him. We still had Cardissa, and by all the gods even though it was only a couple of meters, we were gonna get outta this mess or my name wasn't Yaoksi Joao.

Slowly we continued moving backward toward the opened door, Cardissa yet a momentary hostage. A slight grunt and then an extremely logical suggestion from Jebbua broke my concentration; I cut a fast glance to him, returned my eyes to Stern.

"You okay there, Jedi?" I asked, knowing that somewhere in all the preceding fracas something or someone had gotten hit by something.

We moved a little further, and soon something white and furry came into the corner of my vision.

Link, bless her furry little hide, seemed to be unscathed.

"Hiya Link, and thanks for the door outta here!"

Suddenly I was aware that that was exactly where we were: the opened door. Another quick glance about, and into the passage beyond we backed, Aaron and Cardissa first, with me nanoseconds behind.

That's when out of the corner of my eye I caught the shadowy image of someone far too close to us, with a far too nasty looking stick held threateningly. Not only was it held threateningly, logic precluded that it would soon come crashing down on someone's noggin.

This would never do...

"Oh, hell--!"

Not knowing what to do, I pulled Thea's body closer to me, shifting the blaster to where it was parallel and not perpendicular to her body. Hunching over her, I let out a loud whoop and, turning a little sideways, charged into Aaron, the unexpected act loosening Cardissa from his hold and sending her careening into the shadowy figure.

Which proved to be Rico, imagine that.

I didn't plan on hanging around for lengthy hellos or farewells.

"Let's go!" I shouted and nobody uttered anything otherwise. Off we ran: Aaron, me, Jebbua and the little white Link, without whose help we could never have gotten in to retrieve Thea.

Soon we had concealed ourselves in the maze of stone corridors that was the warren of this major Sullustan city, heading toward who knows where, just anywhere that was a safe distance from that base.

Preferably on the other side of the planet!

I let loose with a yell that would have made a dead man turn even more pale. I could have taken his head right off, I’m sure, but I wasn’t going to swing with Cass there. There was some movement next to Aaron, and the next thing I know Cass is flying at me. I let the stick go and caught her as she tripped, holding on to Bluebell with the other arm.

The cowards took off running and disappeared into the dark streets. I seethed, but not being a total fool I took everyone back inside and closed the door, just as the black-clothed troops showed up.

“A little late!” I yelled, kicking one in the butt. "Who the hell is in charge of security around here?!"

I dropped Bluebell into the arms of one of the troops, and held on tight to Cass. I was mad as hell, but something really made me not want to let her go.

"Do you think we can stop somewhere, my hand just got shattered by that one guys gun."

I looked at it and it wasn't a pretty sight.

I looked at the others who had stopped for the moment, but I realized they weren't looking at me. I turned around to see the Trandoshan with a blaster in one hand and a remote in the other.

Why now? could he not have waited? I thought to myself.

As the Trandoshan fiddled with the remote, absolutely nothing happening at that, Aaron did what he was best at.

Only unlike the previous time with Stern, he sure didn't miss.

His blaster still in hand, Aaron merely aimed and fired, stunning the Jedi hunter again. Again he fell to the ground, out like a light for a good long while.

"Something tells me that guy better buy his weapons from a better distributor," Aaron said smugly. "Barnes 2, Jedi Killer 0. Let's get the kriffing hell out of here."

"You, you... where were you all this time...?!?!?"

I'll check it out later; I want to put some distance between us and the base!

That's all I could focus on. Getting somewhere far away, where I could stop and think as to how to deal with the mess we had gotten ourselves into.

Or nearly into, I reminded myself. We're out, aren't we?

Whether for the count, now that was another issue, one that I wanted to do everything in my power to make certain happened. So I kept pushing, ducking down one passage, into another, keeping to the shadows, trying to avoid crowds and more importantly, trying to avoid those nasty little men in their gleaming white armor.

Where to go? Where to go?

The dilemma struck home with a vengeance.

I'm sure as hell not going to risk going to my place; that's a fool's journey, an assured accident waiting to happen.

Our ship is being repaired; I don't know if it's going to be safe to use even after it's repaired.

Look at what already happened. The little blue dude, working for the lady---

THEY BLEW UP MY SHIP!!!

The thought almost made me slam down instinctive brakes, ready to go back and kick some royal hiney. But common sense managed to win the day, surprisingly enough, even over my personal brand of hotheadedness.

Thea... Yaoksi, you have to do everything you can to help Thea.

Dodging down yet another shadowy stone corridor, I cast a quick look down at her. She still slumbered away, her eyes rolling like ships in a heavy sea.

Grunting, I shifted my welcomed burden, kept on going.

"A-Aaron," I panted at last.

"D-do you have any idea as to where we should go?"

Then an idea hit, something he had suggested earlier.

Thank the gods we hadn't gone there then!

A passageway came up, I slid us to a halt at the junction. Peered cautiously around the corner to get my bearings. There ahead of us was an open area, which sported facilities of every kind, dotted with darker rectangles where yet other passageways ended. I squinted, reading a sign across the way, my face brightening as I recognized it as the particular spa where that gal--

Where that tough little gal--

I thrust the thought savagely away, focused instead.

"It's this way, c'mon!" I said, stepping out and strolling casually across the large, opened area. To any casual observer I would be simply a father heading home with a little girl, too tired after too many sweets or too much of whatever it is little girls do.

The hour was late. There was no one around. I heaved a sigh of relief as, after passing the spa I moved quietly down a particular corridor. Moved along further, entering one, then another once again, intersections and junctions and stair coming upon us like ghosts in the night.

And then we were there.

I stood before the door a moment, suddenly stumped.

What the blazes was Terrin's entry code?!

Frustrated, all I could do was turn to Aaron and shrug, shifting Thea once more in my arms as we stood there in front of Captain Terrin Danner's own secreted and private little branch HQ for Eagle Enterprises.

...and that whoever it was just might not be him.

"I...I don't..." Aaron started, pausing suddenly as a lightbulb flickered. "Oh, wait," he then ammended, reaching for the keypad and pressing a sequence in. The door opened obligingly...

...and Aaron stepped to the side, waving Yaoksi, who was still burdened with Thea, to proceed on in front of him. Stepping in behind Yaoksi then, Aaron was met with the view of an actually comfortable looking living space with a nice enough looking couch and chairs...

...and a kitchen with eating table, some of the chairs still out as though they had just been vacated...

...and one with a mostly empty Whyrene's bottle on the table top in front of it.

Aaron blinked. "Well," he said, his voice suddenly quiet. "We know that Jasyn was here for sure..."

No more of that stuff, Yaoksi ol' pirate! I silently berated myself, setting Thea down on a comfortable looking couch. It even had a nice blanket tossed obligingly atop it's back; feeling most fatherly and even more at odds with myself, I covered her gently.

Then I plopped into the nearest chair, utterly exhausted.

There was no rest for the weary, though; even though my entire body was crying out for rest, my mind would simply not close up shop for the night. Or at least for what remained of it.

"Aaron," I broke the silence, silence filled with the small noises as he went about tending to Jabbua's wound. Next to the Jedi, a small white form hovered, trying to look tough.

And she deserves it, too; she just proved herself by fire...

I shook my wandering thoughts back on track.

"Aaron, we have to get off-planet, quick... somehow."

He turned a sideways glance my way.

"They've got a base; they're hidden away here right underneath the authorities noses; stands to reason they've got pay-offs at many levels; hell's bells, isn't that how the old New Republic used to operate?

"But whether or not they do or not, the fact remains that they've drugged Thea. We have to get her to a medical unit, and frankly I don't believe it safe enough to go to one anywhere on this planet.

"Oasis is down with a fried hyperdrive, isn't that just the kettle of beans I've been wanting to cook-- ok.

The only problem is I don't know if it will work of if the risk is worth it.

How in blazes had she managed that during the utter chaos back at the base? I wondered, gaping at her openly because frankly, I was too tired to hide the sentiment.

Swallowing, I closed my mouth, but only for a moment.

"A weapon's dealer who might have a ship, but who works for the Empire... oh goody."

I sighed, leaned back, raised my head to the ceiling and closed my eyes, trying to think. I was so tired it was getting harder and harder as time marched on.

Somewhere in her offering, there was something we could use. I knew it, I just knew it.

...we could always slice into them aboard the Hornett, and see to what has happened with Thea. Maybe after we slice the files and find out just what they did to the kid..."

Aaron trailed, his something dark flashing in his eyes, "We could get with that weapons designer and even the Empire, possibly. Because, realistically speaking, I don't think I can just sit back and watch if this lady isn't quiet the idealist she claims to be."

But--!

But...

"Do we have time for that, Aaron?" I said, my voice lowering as weariness began settling even more closely about me. Working my mouth a bit I licked dry lips, strove to keep lids that felt lined with concrete from crashing closed.

"Remember the star positions I took from Bon; you said something about coordinates back there, didn't you?

"What about that responsibility? To Galen and whoever else the little fuzz-bucket was spouting off back there? Don't you think that's a touch wee important, too?

"You know bureaucracy; if we go traipsing off to the Empire, they'll hold us who the hell knows how long."

Falling silent a moment at that, weariness and something else entirely reflecting in his eyes, Aaron wandered to one of the kitchen table chairs and sat, running a hand through his hair, suddenly the most painful look on his face.

"You're right," he then said softly. "I owe it to Galen. And to Terrin and to the guys...

...and to everyone else I let "take care of matters" while I was too busy running the show on the Hornett. And Shawn's out there somewhere too..."

At a small break in her angry rant at Rico there and the guards, he spoke. "Mistress Mitra. They are gone for now. May I suggest you retire to your chambers. I shall set a guard, and in the morning we can decide how to deal with this?"

Her uncle was expecting her... but really, was that fair to the kid? She did so want to be a Jedi; maybe one of them, somewhere, would take her on. Or maybe not.

In the latter case, if she kept getting turned down, maybe she'd see her dreams to be what they really were, just that. Nothing more than idealistic dreams, dreams that were going to be extremely difficult to attain considering the upheaval going on over the past few years, not to mention the destruction of the Praxeum itself.

I let out a sigh.

"I can't go packing her off to her uncle, I can see now that that's the last thing she wants. She wouldn't be happy; I'll be damned if I'm going to make her feel like she has to run away from me any more..."

I stopped abruptly, swallowing thickly.

"I'd like to bring her with us. If you feel uncomfortable having her around, then I'll just stay around Hornett until Devil is fully repaired; then she can continue on with me."

...but I'd think if the kid is going to be a Jedi, she would have to start learning sometime, and she is now approaching teenage years. Petrolu is out there somewhere..."

Aaron trailed, frowning. "And he has the most connections..." Aaron paused, looking towards Jebbua. "Possibly for you both. Now I'll get on the comm frequencies and get us a ship...it shouldn't take more than 10 to 15 standard minutes...

...and we can leave for the Hornett ASAP."

Now he looked to the little Ryn. "You're gonna love her, and the technology at your fingertips...my business partner kept her up to speed. You'll have the equipment to slice into anything you damn well please...

...that is, if you plan to stick around with us? I'm certain Captain Joao or myself could use your expertise."

"I already offerred her a job, but I don't think the ol' Devil can stand up to an SSD..."

The smile still planted on my face, I tapered off, letting myself settle into a state somewhere between being asleep and not-so fully awake.

However they are giving me away out of here and they are nice people, smugglers and a naieve girl, but nice."

...because that gave me time to think about it.

She's right, she's absolutely right. Thea is naive; didn't I just say that to myself?

I dragged an eye open, directed it somewhat blearily at the little Ryn.

"Any, er... street smarts you could perhaps enlighten her with might be much appreciated, when she finally comes to, that is.

I wondered what it would be like to have lived like she did, not knowing the true horrors of the world, of being abandoned on a wolrd that despises you for simply being the race you are, looks down on you for being rescued and raised by smugglers, to being a slicer both wanted for my skills and for voilations of laws by almost every goverment.

I let a moment or two creep silently by before speaking.

"You have a good point, Link. You're welcome to stay with us for as long as you'd like, and not just for Thea's sake, either. I mean, don't get me wrong, I think she's going to need someone her own age too."

It's going to be some kind of ride getting to the Jedi she so dearly wants to join; a kid in a dangerous world filled with dangerous adults alone, well...

I shifted, blinked, stared deeper into the brightness of Link's eyes.

"You did good back there, kid. I just want you to know that; we couldn't have done it without you.

"Thank you."

With that I closed my eyes, rolled back to my original position, stretched out.

"Smuggler, heh," I let out a chuckle as I folded my hands on my lap.

"With me sponsoring her, she can join the Guild..."

Yeesh, how old was the Ryn? Obviously he didn't know the first thing about their age.

He smiled then, nodding politely to the Ryn before he headed out to make a quick comm or two. About five standard minutes later, he returned to where he had been before, reseated himself. "We're in luck," he said. "Tons of EE purchasing options with the earlier blast...

...just got us a nice little yacht for our ride out of here. She'll be ready for pick-up at 0600 hours which..." Aaron paused, scowling as he looked at his wrist chrono, "Is only about 2 hours from now."

She paused at that, scowling. Then she turned to Rico. "And you," she continued, "You will prepare whatever may be needed for Mr. Foyagee's trip...

...and I expect everthing to be ready by 0800 hours. Rebellion is tiring work, and with the little girl's caretaker so suspicious, we haven't the time to dilly-dally."

And we haven't the time to be sitting around here should they discovered she's been drugged. And possibly with what.

"I do hope Mr. Foyagee has all the logistics firmly in place, because we certainly don't have the time to figure them all now..."

If anything, I was annoyed that she had gone and gotten herself captured. Had she not been there in the hall, then it would have taken me a matter of seconds to dispose of the enter grouping of them.

Ah well, Yaoksi ol' pirate, count your blessings that you're here, able to sleep those two hours!

"Ready when you are, Aaron," I slurred, settling a little before turning a final glance Link's way. Surprisingly enough, she was no longer where she had been; a quick look about and I found her, curled up on the floor.

I frowned a little to see how much of her was sticking out from her vest.

Hauling to my feet, I dragged another nearby blanket from its perch and, coming up quietly beside her, covered her with it.

Aaron was out like a light, nevermind that he was sleeping with his head on the kitchen table. He'd gone to find himself a bottle of Whyrene's, not quite able to get out of his head that Terrin, Galen, the guys, Yaoksi, and others had been here, fighting for security and lives...

...and he'd been back aboard the posh Hornett. And she wasn't even his damn ship.

The vibration of his wristcomm jarred Aaron awake. He opened one eye blearily, finding himself staring across the room to the stove, suddenly realizing what an uncomfortable position he was in. Only half awake, he raised his head, and pushed the 'accept' button on the comm. "Barnes here," he said, albeit groggily.

"The Indira is ready and waiting," came the voice on the other end.

Aaron nodded. "Thank you very much. We'll be on our way shortly.

Aaron turned to the others, uncertain if anyone was really awake yet. After all, Aaron wasn't even totally awake. "Yaoksi, Jebbua, Link..." he started, "The yacht is ready. As much as I'd like another six hours of sleep...

"I said I was ready when you are, pal."

Stretching to get the kinks out I got out of the chair, glanced about the room. Thea still snored on the couch, her eyes still rolling, while Cel was still out like a light on the floor.

"Shall we gather up the kiddies and depart?" I said, a twinkle in my eye, for nothing wakes up an old spacedog more than the thought of getting off-rock once again.

“Hold on, sweetie” I said. “First, I was out making sure Bluebell here didn’t get himself killed! He went out there on his own talk with them, and they attacked him and broke in! It was way too easy for them! I'll be happy to tighten things up around here, but why the blue-blazes is security so light around here if this is supposed to be a super-secret HQ of the bloody rebellion?”

Aaron did a good job dressing the wound and I finshed up by healing it in a trance, though two hours wasn't enough time I did mange to stop the pain.

I opened my eyes and got to my feet.

"I'm ready, though two things before we go. You mind if I make a little call to the authorties and tip them off about the little place we were at and does anyone have a blaster I can borrow?"

I lifted my use-less lightsaber in my hand.

"First of all, buddy, right now the authorities around here are the Impys, and since we most certainly want to be departing from this charming planet and not detained for who knows how long, I think it would be a good choice to notify them at a later date.

"Don't worry," I told him as I clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"I've got a pal onboard Hornett who's got so many gizmos and whatnots, you'll be certain to get your lightsaber fixed. Can't see how you're going to need it en route anyway... oops, sorry."

My smile turned awkward for a moment, for I'd forgotten how a Jedi would feel without his lightsaber.

Like I'd feel without my blaster, more than likely, I thought, one hand snaking to my holster to pat it assuringly.

"Anyway," I went on as I moved away from him, now going over to where Link was curled up in a little white ball. Stooping, I picked her up easily, nodded to Jebbua to please take Thea.

"I don't have a handy power cell on me; sorry. Everything I own, such as it is, is back at my place, and I really don't plan on going back there anytime soon."

A noise made me turn; it was Aaron, coming in from the galley area of the little HQ, looking a bit more chipper.

"Are we ready to go?" I asked, feeling like a Pod racer must feel on Boonta Eve.

Just the kind of ship that any Eagle Enterprise guy would have to be out of their mind not to love.

"Let's lock up and get a move on."

With nothing more than that, Aaron opened the little unassuming base's "front door" and let everyone pass through before he stepped out himself, closing the door behind him and locking the place down, making certain to keep the pre-set code...

...just in case anybody ever needed a good hideout. Turning then, Aaron lead everyone back through the tunnels and mazes of Priingsi, unconciously putting a hand on the butt of his blaster, yet keeping it in the holster. Finally, they wound their way through the passages til at length they approached a small, private landing area. They were met by a man who approached Aaron, already seeming to know who he was. And he probably did at that.

"You'll love her," was all the man said, handing Aaron a datapad that had the ship's passcode on it. Aaron nodded, saluting to the other man. "Pleasure doing business with you. If this ship is as wonderful as you're claiming, I just might keep her."

The man merely returned a grin. "Typical EE leadership, keeping ships for themselves."

A rueful smile crossed Aaron's face at that, for he knew well that Terrin had bought another nice little yacht from this man, one he'd kept for himself as well. The ZZ'Shq, Aaron recalled. Heading for the private landing area then, Aaron was met with the sight of a beautiful 5500 Horizon-class Star Yacht, much like the one Mara Jade's Jade Shadow. She was pristine, with 2 laser cannons, 2 concussion missle lauchers and a retractable blaster cannon. Armed nicely enough, but not too conspicous or overly loaded with weaponry, her outer hull was a nice shade of deep green, which would make her a little less blaring against the darkness of space while not appearing too covert.

Aaron's jaw nearly hit the ground at the sight of her. "Man, no wonder Terrin liked to buy ships from here!" he managed, glancing to Yaoksi and Jebbua with a 'Hey, definitely can't complain!' look.

He headed for the hatch of the ship, keyed in the passcode he had been given, and was rewarded with the hatch opening smoothly, the interior of the ship already beckoning Aaron to come in and see what she had inside. That was all the encouragement Aaron needed.

She's well apportioned enough, that's for certain, I thought as I continued along the passageway, Jebbua on my heels, as we hunted for somewhere to place the kids.

Not too enormous, yet not too small--

High on glitz... she's sure not Devil--

I smiled to myself at the instinctive reaction the gleaming greelwood bulkheads I was passing by had triggered, compared the softly carpeted deck beneath my feet to the honest, cold durasteel of Devil-May-Care's decking.

But then, she's not meant to be a smuggler's ship now, is she?

After a short distance I came upon another passageway, which led me a touch deeper into the yacht. There I came upon a compartment which was obviously meant to be quarters: several bunks were lined neatly up in the center, there was a tiny fresher tucked into a corner where two bulkheads met, while overshadowing the lot a row of good-sized portals displayed the view without the ship.

Nice--

I laid Link quietly on a bunk, still wrapped in the blanket from the headquarters where we had taken refuge. A slight rustle revealed the Jedi following suit.

I turned to him, a finger to my lips, and backed quietly from the compartment into the passageway beyond.

"Let's go find the bridge and see if there's anything useful we can do. Otherwise--"

I grinned, now moving back toward the main companionway.

"I believe a trip to the galley would be in order..."

...and this is our beginning."

Pausing at that, she then looked to Foyagee. "For future reference," she continued then, "Going out to greet anyone in the wee hours of the morning--familiar or nonfamiliar--is out of the question. At any rate, however, we will not be here. I want all systems shut down, all computer files copied and locked, and everything else locked down tighter than a Toydarian's cash register."

Once more she eyed Foyagee. "I trust you have the coordinates to our next destination? The ship is ready and waiting, now that we have a crew.

When 0900 hours arrives, I expect to be leaving the surface of this planet, crew aboard, and to the place where you think we will find miraculous ships."

The Communications ensign paused a moment, coming up for air from beneath the mounds and mounds of data that had suddenly turned his boring stint aboard the destroyer left in Sullustan orbit into one in which there simply weren't enough hours in the day to get everything done.

I'm cursed, that's it, he scowled to himself as his fellows gave him a frown for stopping.

I wanted something to do...

And he had gotten it.

It was about a standard day after he had made that thoughtless comment to himself that General Ahem's order had come in. He was en route, due into orbit within the hour, and he wanted his orders completed by the time he arrived.

The ensign checked his chrono.

It's 0750, he thought, cutting a nervous glance to his fellow officers, who had been working nonstop over the past couple days since the order had come to them:

Check id, ownership, and if possible, destination and last planetfall of every yacht that was sitting on Sullust.

Every blessed last one.

Everywhere.

The ensign shook his head, frowned back at his peers who were frowning at him in turn, and went back to work. Finding the yachts themselves wasn't too difficult. Most had landed in the main Piringiisi spaceport. There were a few dozen who were docked at private yards; fortunately the Empire had good relations with Sullustan officials, coming in as they had in the wake of the Aelly Ssyn Affair, and so through them they were given as much infomation as they required about all private yachts not sitting in governmental yards.

But knowing the names and sigs and shipyard of origin was one thing, the Ensign muttered to himself as he began tracing yet another ship's information.

Finding out which was truthful, and which was forged... that proved to be more difficult.

But if anyone traced back far enough in anybody's history, or in the history of anything, there was always a Nexus. A crux. A basis, from which truth either continued to flow or otherwise turned into fraud.

So far he had personally traced the information for 150 yachts. 146 of them panned out; the other 4 were suspect, sitting alone by themselves while he waited digital images of ship buyers to come across the immensity of space into his terminal.

He still had 78 to go... and his fellows had who knows how many "clean" ships, how many suspect, and how many yet to investigate.

He took another glance at his chrono, and sighed, sending yet another ship's sig to another officer who would follow up with the destination its captain needs to give before it can be given an escape vector to leave port.

And then we have to follow up on those, too...

Pursing his lips, he went back to work, keenly aware of the ticking of the clock, counting down the moment of Sormontonto's arrival.

I walked over to her.

"Thea?"

It was no use she was still knocked out. But she was tossing and turning as if haveing a nightmare she couldn't wake from.

"Thea it's ok, you're safe."

I put my hand on her head and focused trying to see if I could help in anyway. I'll I was able to do was see what she was seeing.

She was running, but I didn't know what from, or what to.

I removed my hand and sat beside her.

"I'll be here when you wake up."

I closed my eyes again and went back to healing my hand while waiting for Thea to wake up.

Aaron reached for the comm then, knowing what would have to be done next. "Sullustan ground authorities, this is Captain Aaron Barnes requesting clearance to depart, escape vector to Sluis Van."

Finishing the request, he pushed the "send" button on the comm unit and went back to inspecting the Indira's systems while he waited, suddenly finding himself wanting a drink, and some time to be with the people who were going to help him find his employees and friends.

What the--?! I thought to myself, turning to go peep into the quarters we had only just vacated.

Sure as there's womprats on Tatooine, there he was, sitting next to the slumbering Thea, looking for all the world like her guardian angel.

Or a reasonable fascimile thereof. Ok, maybe not so reasonable-- sheesh, when did he change his tune about her anyway?

I frowned a little. I mean, sure, maybe it's a good thing for the kid if the jedi takes a sudden interest in her, helps her fulfill her dreams...

But Yaoksi, do you really believe that? He's sure a fair-weather type, seems to change his views a lot...

I knew there was a reason I didn't cotton up to these mystical muckers much.

I stood there in the doorway a moment, debating whether or not I should go in. From how the kid looked, she wasn't going to be waking up anytime in the near future, either. She was still pale, sweaty, and her eyes were still rolling around in her head like marbles.

I hope the medical droids on Hornett can figure out what the hell is wrong with her, sheesh, she's almost acting like she's been drugged or some-

"Over."

Oh, I hope something isn't going on with the kid. Where's the Jedi?

Aaron quirked a brow Yaoksi's way, and nodded for him to take a seat in the nice, plush copilot's chair.

...until it was evenly supporting every inch of me.

"I don't know about that Jedi," I began without preamble, taking a sip of the bottle of something cold and pink and fruity I had snagged from the galley en route.

"All of a sudden he's got this interest in Thea; he's back there sitting next to her--"

I stopped.

Yaoksi... are you jealous?

I snorted, shoved that thought deeply away, and went smoothly on.

"I'm worried about Thea anyway, Aaron; maybe that's clouding my feelings. But the way that she's so pale, and sweating like it's a tropical jungle in here, and her eyes won't stop rolling around and she just won't wake up.."

I trailed, took another swig. The liquid rushed down my throat, cool and refreshing, knocking away the dregs of yesterday's errors.

"Aaron, I think she might be drugged," I said flatly, staring straight ahead and gripping the arms of my seat.

Aaron paused, the look in his eye darkening a touch. "Way back when, after Terrin was...

...gone, he came to the Hornett with Galen. He and his buddy, a guy by the name of Kelderon, were supposed to be helping her out with...

...something...but they never could seem to get it quite together. Jasyn was angry that they seemed to miss obvious injuries and needs, and I can't deny that they did just that. When Galen took off from the Hornett on her own, presumably to go to K'eel Doba, Jasyn and Kelderon had a clash of sorts. I don't know exactly what happened, but Jasyn and Matt blasted off after Galen on their own, Jasyn feeling that Kelderon had threatened him. Dehutt seemed to just make excuses for Kelderon's actions...

...and now here he is, again saying he wants to help, and yet admitting that he was interrupted from his and Kelderon's promised help before by "family matters."

Aaron shifted a bit in the pilot's chair, his mood suddenly sinking. "I frankly don't trust him, not yet. Not the way he acted down there threatening every person who might have gotten in our way. I mean...

...that's not always a good solution, and is most certainly not what I would think of as very Jedi-like, Rogue or no."

Another quiet moment, and Aaron glanced to whatever it was Yaoksi had in his hand. "Ahhh...I'm parched, and we're set for take off in..." he trailed, checking his wrist chrono, "5 standard minutes. Think I have time to grab something, or might you be interested in piloting this sweetheart outta here?"

"Would I!" I smiled, turning toward Aaron and unfastening my blast harness.

"Go on, get out of here, get yourself something to drink; hell, get yourself a seven course breakfast!

"Sure as there's granite slugs on Coruscant, I'd love to be the one to get us off this god-forsaken rock!"

Damn, but I hope his Devil is fixed soon. A smuggler without his ship is like Kessel without the mines.

"I'll be back," Aaron said then, giving Yaoksi a little salute before wandering to the galley to find a nice enough array of beverages, both alcholic and non...

...and settled upon remembering that it was still morning. Aaron headed for the caf maker, set her to brew, and leaned back on the greelwood cabinetry, waiting for it to perk. For a long moment he just stood there, arms crossed, mind lost in thought...

...and then he headed back to find the sleeping quarters. Thea and Link were still out cold, and Thea was admittedly looking rather sweaty and lost in an unrestful sort of rest...

...and there was Dehutt, eyes closed, sitting right beside her.
Sheesh, it's not like she's gonna walk off the ship when she wakes up! Aaron couldn't help but think to himself. And besides, if the Jedi was really concerned about her condition...

...shouldn't he be doing something for her, instead of meditating?

Aaron frowned, then spoke up. "Hey, want a cuppa caf?" he asked in Jebbua's direction. Then, "Can't you do some of that Jedi healing stuff on her, or something?"

"And as for the healing or doing something I can't. All I know is that she is drugged. Yes she was drugged. All we can do really is get to the Hornett as fast as we can and maybe they can do something."

I looked at my hand. It was feeling better and no pain at all. I looked at Thea and then finally looked up at Aaron.

"How long will it take to get the the Hornett?"

"Sorry last time I woke up in a different place then I fell asleep it was a prision."

I took a quick scan of the room and came to the conclusion that I was on a vessle of some kind. I also came to the conclusion I was very hungry.

“That’s a heck of while away in my book, and if everyone’s so concerned that Yaoksi and crew will try to get the Impies on us, why aren’t we setting these goons to work on cleaning up and getting ourselves off planet now? I mean, you just said it’s ready, right?”

I finally noticed what Cass was wearing, and had to smile.

There is a time to hurry, a time to be efficient...

...and a time to be certain everything is taken care perfectly before simply dropping everything and leaving.

0900 hours, or perhaps a little sooner, is what our departure time will be. I will not leave something behind here for anyone to trace us...

...and I will not leave here like this. We leave in but a couple of short hours."

Saying nothing further at this, Cardissa turned and headed back to her suites, opening own of her nightstand drawers and pulling a false-bottom open to find a favored pilfered item:

Thea's lightsaber. Hitting the ignite switch, Cardissa held it out in her right hand, making a graceful arc with the weapon, her black eyes watching the blade as it moved. Then she turned it off...

...and headed to her dressing area, not coming out for several minutes until she had donned a form-fitting one-piece red flightsuit, its leggings edged on the side in gold. Attached, she wore a weapons belt with a blaster attached on one side.

She still held Thea's lightsaber in her hand.

I might not be a Jedi, Cardissa thought darkly, But even I can learn how to manipulate a weapon to kill, at the appropriate moment in time, of course.

Amazing how so many forget that last addendum...

Stepping back out from her suites, Cardissa now headed for her office to make back-up files of the most important information in her office, keenly aware that, despite Rico's complaint, time was short.

The frown remaining on his face a moment longer, Aaron then turned to Link, his expression lightening. "Ahhh, don't worry about being trigger happy, as long as you don't shoot. I'm sorta used to it; us EE guys can tend to be that way ourselves. As far as whether there is anything around here to eat, if the rest of the ship serves as any indication for what the galley will have to offer, it's fully loaded."

He smiled at Link, then motioning for her to follow him to the galley area. "Shall we see what she's got? We probably should get somewhere and take a seat anyway, we should be taking off any minute."

Hopefully this time tho food isn't toxic and sends me into another coma.

Ahh, here they come now, I thought as a series of values began suddenly scrolling along my board. I nodded, and quickly input them into the navigational computer.

Lessee, out a couple billion klicks -- wow, must be heavy traffic; that's about fifteen minutes on impulse! -- and then revert to hyperdrive, following said coordinates.

And then it's Sluis Van, here we come!

I finished typing in the last value when a green light blinked quietly at me.

0800. Time to go!

Then, frowning to herself, Cardissa reached out and pressed a button on the ship's comm unit, connecting her to Bon Foyagee's frequency. "Foyagee, it is time you collect your team and we begin preparing for departure. Recall, you need to bring the coordinates we will be using along with you, we will need them later when we revert to realspace and reorient ourselves.

While we are enroute, we will further discuss our plans once we have reached our intended trajectory.

I expect to see you on board in a few short minutes. Mitra, out."

Sending her message on its way, Cardissa leaned back in the co-pilot's chair, finding herself waiting once again.

“We’ll be aboard in two shakes of a nerf, your grandness!” he bounced. He tapped again then looked at Rico.

“Can’t keep the lady in waiting, man!” he said. Rico merely grunted.

They arrived at the ship, where Stern was already waiting, scowling at the three crewmen waiting with him. The crewmen all looked relieved at Bon’s arrival.

“Like, don’t just do something, stand there!” Bon laughed. He skipped up the entrance ramp and into the ship.

I guess I was the pilot, so I went on to the cockpit. I smiled when I saw Cass, and hoped she wasn’t growing on me, but it was probably already too late. I plopped down in the pilot seat, turned to her, and flashed a big grin.

“Just like the old days!” I said.

Sormontato slid gracefully from hyperspace not far from Sullust. Indeed, it was due to the mass of the enormous incoming SSD that departing ships had been directed to not engage their own hyperdrives until well away from the Sullustan system.

That would certainly have boded them no good, Ahem thought idly to himself as, standing yet on the Observation Deck, he sipped his ever-present cup of tea, the planet coming into view in greater detail now as the massive ship brought itself into a high, geosynchronous orbit above Piringiisi.

It's never a good idea to engage hyperdrive close to a large body, and it doesn't necessarily have to be a planet or moon, either...

His thoughts drifted away into the complex calculations regarding the proper SOP for lightspeed jumps, then cut off as a tiny light soared up and away from Sullust.

He slapped his comm, raising the bridge.

"Was that a yacht?" he asked the deck officer before he scarcely had the time to reply verbally to the hail.

"Bridge-- ah, yessir. I mean, no Sir; that was a smaller, private craft."

Ahem nodded, took another sip of tea. Then--

"Please reinforce standing order F4587. We are hunting for a yacht; any and all, especially those departing this planet, are to be considered suspect until either cleared by standard investigative procedures, or until we find that blasted Aelly Ssyn."

He hesitated a moment longer, debating to himself over his cooling tea before he went on.

"Every yacht departing is to be given extra-system hyperdrive reversion coordinates, and is in turn expected to report full clearance request information. Then all the above is to be followed upon. Furthermore, every departure trail is to be scanned and logged; I don't want any error in this.

"Let me know immediately if there is anything out of the ordinary; do I make myself clear?"

There was no pause whatsoever.

"Yes, Sir. Bridge out."

Ahem nodded in satisfaction and turned back to the immense viewing port. His scowl grew almost as black as the cooled lava covering Sullust, but there was, as with that volcanic planet, a hint of something molten peeping out from his gaze. His tea grew tepid, forgotten in his hand, as time ticked on, bringing with it the question of whether the days ahead would finally take him to the elusive, suspected head of Black Sun or not.

She paused a moment, shifting to look at Bon Foyagee, "...I trust you have. All the pertinent information from the base was copied onto datachips, but that information was stored in a safe location on Sullust, for later retrieval. You have the coordinates, do you not?"

She quieted a moment, her black eyes arrowing into Bon's. She looked back to Rico for a brief second. "Go ahead and request the departure vector."

Then she looked back to Foyagee, merely waiting, expecting for him to deliver the answer she required.

"Well, there's no meat to speak of here other than stuff in a package," Aaron observed, "But there is some fruit and bread, and I've made some caf."

He paused, quirking a brow towards Link. "What suits your fancy?"

I quickly started devouring the assortment of bread and fruit I grabbed with little disreguard to propper manners and etiqute.

Then he turned to get a mug and pour himself some caf, taking a moment to take a sip of it right then and there.

"Mmmmmm," he said then, "A nice cuppa caf is almost as good as..."

He stopped himself, looking to the Ryn then grinning and finishing his statement with, "...ahhh, nevermind, you couldn't have any of that, you're too young."

"Would I ever!" I exclaimed as I unbuckled my blast harness and got to my feet. Turning away from the forward screen, which was all wrapped up in showing us the beautiful star-smears of hyperspace, I joined Aaron at the entrance to the small but efficient bridge.

"That pink stuff was only good to get my innards rumbling; I'm starved!"

We chatted amiably as we moved down the companionway, soon coming to the wardroom and the accompanying galley.

"Hi Link," I greeted the Ryn, who looked up but was too busy gulping down her breakfast to reply immediately. I just nodded and smiled, heading to the galley to make myself something tasty and hot. It didn't take long before I was back in the wardroom, finding a seat across from Link and setting the steaming plate I held down on the table.

"Mind if I join you?" I chuckled, for indeed there were no other tables save for the one at which she sat, one lined with seating for perhaps sixteen individuals. Taking a seat I dug in, savoring whatever it was that I had found and had tossed into the nearest pan to sear.

I didn't care if it was the left little toe of ol' Palpatine himself -- it was HOT and it tasted GOOD.

After all, the only meals I had managed to ingest during the last cycle were liquid ones...

I got up to see if there was any food and saw Aaron, Yaoski and Link all eating and chowing down.

Yeah, just like the old days.

“Sullustan ground authorities, this is the pilot of the ship Rasia requesting clearance for departure, and requesting escape vector to Kati'Shyn."

I had to fight back a smile on that last word. Can’t say that I’d ever been there before. Ah well, time for an adventure, I guess. I hoped Bluebell knew where he was taking us.

I turned to Cass, after switching off the transmitter.

"Sure," I said. "Food's in the galley, help yourself."

I jabbed the air with the fork, indicating a door in the back of the wardroom which led to the galley next door. Then I went back to eating, now turning my attention to Link.

"So..." I swallowed, sent her a smile. Not one too big, for I knew she'd only think that phony. I didn't want to seem condescending, either; just wanted to start getting to know her better, getting us both off on an honest level with each other.

"What's your story, kid? How did someone at your tender age manage to rack up the skills you seem to have?"

Sheesh, she's better than most adult slicers I've known, although to be truthful there haven't been that many who have crossed paths with me.

Like most things, he had memorized the drawings from the psychic and the coordinates of the strange system. His mind was never still, and he thrived on facts and figures, retaining the smallest details.

He had finished calculating the jump distance from Kati’Shyn to two other points, and the time involved in reaching the final destination, and had moved on to estimation Rico’s life expectancy when he finally realized he was being spoken to.

Wishy washy little Jedi, he thought a bit off-handedly. Not that I should be surprised though, the way he up and left the mission of looking for Galen before. How exactly did he split from the group originally looking for Galen anyway, I'm almost positive he was with them when they called from Sullust, all befuddled and mixed up. Maybe he left then...?

I took another bite of food and quickly swallowed it, then continued with my story.

"If you ever been to the run then you already know that not only smugglers frequent there, but also assasians, crimelords, mercinaries, techs, and slicers. You would be suprised what you can learn when you just act pretty and stupid, they basicly tell you everything you wanted to ever know. Eventually I just became really good at slicing and with being a ryn I'm virtualy ignored by all society which means if I steal a worker uniform and act like I'm fixing something while I'm slicing into a computer, no one cares."

I looked up at Yaoksi taking my eyes off my food.

How much should she know? I thought to myself as, with a sigh, I suddenly surmised that in the very near future she and Thea just might end up having much in common with each other.

I swallowed, focusing on the intently waiting little Ryn again.

"Well-ll," I began slowly, setting my fork down to marshall my thoughts.

"She's been with me on Sullust for what now, a couple three years? Yeah. I took over her care from a Master Shawn Petrolu, who was supposed to teach her to be a Jedi, I guess.

"She's always wanted to be a jedi; I mean, that's all she's ever really mentioned to me when it comes to her background. I guess she started out at the Jedi Praxeum, before it was taken over--"

Another pause, this time to frown.

Even though the slowly rising governmental system this New Empire seemed to be emplacing seemed benevolent enough, was that gesture at all necessary? Was it crucial to wipe out the majority of the jedi, their students--?

I shook my head a little bit, then continued.

"She, ahh-- she started out at the Old Praxeum, and went out with a couple other jedi on a quest to find someone, someone a very bad person had taken. From that moment on Thea's not had a very normal life; she's whispered hints of being sent from person to person, being taken from those she cares about -- one of them the person we're trying to find now, among others -- put aboard some kind of dark and nasty ship someplace--"

I paused again, wondering as a shadowy sense of impending doom wafted from nowhere, washed quietly down along my spine, sent every nerve ending to tingling, then just as mysteriously trickled away.

"Anyway, she came into my life aboard Mr. Barne's ship Hornett, where we're going now. There were no jedi to teach her anything, and Master Petrolu thought that now was not the time to tend to her teaching. In fact, I don't know when the time would ever be right--"

Lessee. When we find our missing comrades, overthrow the seemingly omnipotent New Empire, destroy this dark Graysith lady, somehow corral the rising thread of the Sith--

Yeah. Then we can turn our attentions to Thea's formal education.

Right.

"Anyway, we didn't know about her parents, so he handed her over to me. I finally found a relative of hers, an uncle, and had made arrangements for her to go off to live with the closest blood relative she had when everything seemed to break loose on Sullust.

"And you know the rest."

With that I silently picked up my fork and turned back to my breakfast, though thoughts triggered by this little soliloquy continued to whirl and flit like Coruscant Shadow Dancers in my head.

"Yes?"

"Bridge here, Sir," came the instant response.

"Per your standing order, this is to inform you that Air Traffic Control advises a yacht is standing by for departure clearance, stated destination being Kati'Shyn," the Deck Officer announced before falling into a respectful silence.

Ahem frowned.

Kati'Shyn? He wondered to himself for a fraction of time before replying.

"Copy that, Bridge; please inform ATC to provide them with the standard clearance coordinates they have been using prior to our arrival here. In addition, as a precautionary measure have a fighter escort them to their destination, and let me know what you get on the ion signature of it's impulse trail when leaving Sullust.

"Ahem, out."

He turned back to the viewport, staring down at the tumultous planet which roiled blackly beneath the great SSD. Taking another sip of his tea, he frowned, for by now it was quite cold.

"Roger Rasia, this is Imperial Air Traffic Control, acting per emergency agreement with Sullustan government officials.

"We have you at 05deg 22'28"N by 76deg 23'09"W. Depart vector zero alpha niner, apical turn along 54-27-19Z; follow on impulse through to 0.0015ly distant, then 76% port yaw with Z-rotation of eight degrees to seven-seven-niner-ought; reversion to hyperdrive a roger that point, ETA Kati'Shyn 00512 four point three standard cycles hence.

"Be under advisement acts of piracy have been reported in that sector; as a precautionary measure we are sending a fighter escort to assure your protection to destination.

"This is Imperial Air Traffic Control, turning you to private runway 337, Rasia to depart six standard minutes.

"Over."

After settling down in the cockpit I took a quick look at the scanners and saw the imperials orbiting the planet. Great just what I need, even with the permits to leagaly own and transport almost any weapon in the galexy somehow the imperials demanded to inspect his ship and then make a "special request" for his servises.

In reply to Phoenix hail:

"Roger, Phoenix, this is Imperial Air Traffic Control acting in emergency coordination with Sullustan officials.

"Ah, negative your departure vector as requested. Please advise destination to receive clearance and shortest route to destination of choice.

"This is Imperial Air Traffic Control, over."

Piracy in that sector? Yeah, right. Just another way to tighten their fist even though it would someday all slip through their fingers...

Cardissa turned to Rico, arching a brow slightly. "Simply tell them that we are heading there to look at the real estate...

...which is not entirely true, but not necessarily untrue either. They will know, at some point, that we are up to something other...

...especially considering that they intend to follow us out, and Foyagee has already commented on Imperial ships surrounding our true destination. For now, we play their game. But only for now. Is this ship ready for departure?" she queried then, not deigning to say anything further for the time being.

"Get them back online and find the best route for correllia. then relay that to the officials."

Sometimes I really need to retire.

"I suppose that could work. Though if they don't believe you, we'll be dead in an instant." I gave a slight stretch, uniform hot, but not bothersome after having spent so much time wearing it over the years.

As many times as they had tried...

Sitting up then, Aaron finally had something in the silence which now passed between them all. "I know of how it can be on Corellia," he first said to Cel, "It is my home planet. Many times those who are different are underestimated, and believe me, we are very glad you were able to take advantage of this cruelty."

Pausing at that for a moment, Aaron pursed his lips, wondering how he should say what was on his mind now, hoping he wouldn't offend in doing so. But he had to ask. "And you know, if Thea has been sent away from the Praxeum and you've tried to send her home only with no success...

...perhaps home is not where she should be? I mean, I've been around the galaxy enough and seen enough things in the past few years to most definitely believe in the Force, amongst other things..."

Here he trailed, his look momentarily dark. "Maybe the Force is trying to guide her back to finish what she started, or is guiding her to something else entirely?"

"Pfft," I snorted through a mouthful of breakfast, then swallowed.

"Now, I'm not saying there's not anything strange and weird going on in the universe, because pal, have I ever seen a touch of it. But as for the Force guiding her to become a jedi... pfft.

"I'm not certain what she was doing back on Sullust, or how she got mixed up in all the hoopla we left back there. But brother, I can promise you sure as there's sandcats on Tatooine it wasn't any Force got her plopped back there.

"Probably a hyperdrive motivator; it's always a hyperdrive motivator..."

Buddy, you can call it the Force if you want to, but I'll just call it...

Circumstance.

Shaking my head slightly, I laid down my fork and spoke to him.

I turned my head to him.

"... It depends on what kind of drug they gave her."

I got up and cleaned up and then went and sat back down with the others.

...and you think there should be 'no worries man'???"

"Listen. She may be tossing and turning, but she is phyiscally alright. When we get to the Hornett they'll fix that. No worries, because she'll be alright. If you get all caught up in worring you loose concentration on the task at hand! You loose focus! She'll be ok!."

I turned to Aaron.

"As for my statement eariler. I'm not a good jedi, nor evil. I don't follow the Jedi code, nor the sith code. I follow my own code. I don't do it for money, I just do what I think is right. Now you're gong to get some kind of idea about me, but I don't care. This feels right. I want to be here. I want to help. I'm sorry I left and didn't help find Galen. But I'm here now and I swear I won't leave til Galen hugs you and is safe." I half screamed at them.

I put my hands on my head and backed up taking a couple of deep breaths.

Where the hell did that come from? I thought.

"Hey, listen pal, no worries, like you said," I said in an inane sort of manner, immediately reverting to the soft shushing tone of voice I used to use when Thea's night terrors would come to haunt her.

Only those weren't nearly as physical, or with forces coming to their side as potentially deadly as what this guy could undoubtedly wield. Slowly, ever so slowly, I rose to my feet, reaching out a hand to Jebbua.

"Calm down, pal; we get your drift," I said, not wanting to launch myself at him, nor wanting to vacate the premises. Either action would probably be taken as other than what would motivate it; thus, I simply moved beside my chair and stood quietly, keeping one eyeball peeled toward Jebbua and the other casting a pleading sort of look Aaron's way.

Aaron could literally read the look in Yaoksi's eye, suddenly feeling that he'd better help by saying something that could calm this guy down before bad went to worse.

Yeesh, was it always going to be like this?

Aaron dismissed the thought, and looked to Jebbua, adding to Yaoksi's words."Yeah, nobody here is judging you for your choice to be a Rogue Jedi one way or another. Gods know the Jedi code is reported to be staunch and over-bearing...

...I don't blame you for feeling you need to follow your own path, and you wouldn't be the first of that variety I've known. Look--"

He then trailed, trying to figure out how to word his next statement the best. "How about we just start over with what we probably should be doing now and start working on plans for finding Galen and the guys? And while we're at it, perhaps we should consider what, in fact, we should do about a lady that drugs innocent little kids who want to be a Jedi?"

"Yeah. I suppose you're right."

I took my seat again and waited in silece for a minute or too. The only thing that could be heard was the hum of the hyperdrive as we continued on to the Hornett.

I finally spoke up.

"So... This lady witht he drugs. She wouldn't stay on Sullest, or not for long then. You think she would go to those location Bon was talking aobut. If so, I bet that's where we would find her."

I pasued before continueing.

"...As for Galen, I don't know where she would go and be. You know her better then be."

Now me, I never really had any trouble with those guys. I mean, sure, maybe they were a little imposing… ok, a lot imposing. And they did have a knack for sticking their noses into things. But they never stopped me from doing my business, and they tipped well. I ran a few legit cargo runs to outposts here and there, delivering mundane crap to troopers who missed their fruity crisps or their home-planet magazines, so my name should be on file with them as at least being an honest businessman. Well, we’ll see…

“All right kiddies, bang the walls and grab your – um, seats. We’re blowin’ this joint!”

I followed the Impie’s instructions, and in a little bit we were leaving Sullust to its fiery self. The fighter escort was waiting, and I was almost relieved when they didn’t start blasting right away.

“Hello, boys” I said into the comm. “This is Rasia, thanking you for the company and feeling a whole lot safer now.”

I continued on the vector given to me, and assumed that they’d either form on my wing or something military like that, or blast us.

...if those guys aren't honest about what they're up to, they'll be found out. And that aside, there is no kriffing way they are going to get into Sith space without the Empire's blessings."

Pausing at that, a little black demon popped up and made an addendum. And you aren't going to get there without the Empire's blessings, either...

He strayed from that thought, going instead to Jebbua's next few statements to then reply to them. "The last probable known destination for Galen was K'eel Doba, although I haven't ever heard from Jasyn or Matt to find out if she got there, or if they even got there for that matter...."

He trailed for a moment, suddenly recalling something, kicking himself for not remembering it before. "Wait a minute," he then said, "I did hear from them once, after they went to look for Galen."[/i]

He frowned at this, angry with himself for not remembering such a critical issue. So many things had happened in the past few years, it was all really becoming a jumble of events.

Aaron couldn't imagine how it was for those who actually experienced those said events. "They were on..."

He paused a moment, thinking back, "--well, Sullust, actually, at the hidden base we just left. Jasyn said they'd crashed the Raptor on K'eel Doba, and that Galen had crashed the Eagle, which was Terrin's old lambda, but she was okay. I'd forgot how mixed up and befuddled they were...

...none of them could remember a kriffing thing about the Sith. And that was the last I heard from them..."

Trailing again, Aaron sat his caf mug on the table, put his elbow on the edge, and ran a hand through his hair to then rest his temple on it. "How the hell did I forget something like this?"

"Roger Rasia, this is Imperial fighter FJ-845. You will proceed through vector as given to point at approximately two billion klicks; from there to continue with maneuver assuring your safe arrival Kati'Shyn space. At point of engagement, all vessels will attain hyperspeed simultaneously, along pre-assigned vector.

"This is Imperial fighter FJ-845, out."

Cutting off any further outgoing transmission but leaving his boards open should Rasia wish to say anything, the pilot smoothly moved his sleek little fighter to a position just above and slightly behind the yacht's forward deck. The other two moved equidistant along her flanks, this time a slight bit below her midline.

Together, the yacht framed by three points of an equilateral triangle, the ships moved off and away from the roiling, fiery planet that was Sullust.

They burst back into life, in vivid three-dimensional and kodachromatic glory.

"Consider yourself lucky, pal," I muttered darkly, for those were memories I would dearly love to forget. I sighed then, and turned fully to face him.

"Looks like we will be heading off to this, er-- what did you call it? K'eedalba? Whatever; but hey..."

I paused a moment, shrugging my shoulders and waving both hands out to either side.

"This baby is too... refined for that; from what I know of the Sith you mentioned, we're going to need bigger guns.

"I'm more than willing to offer the services of Devil, assuming of course that K'kihl has her repaired by now."

And Yaoksi ol' pirate, what a question. Of course he has her repaired; he'd be positively mortified if it took him more than three days to get her back to her usual two hundred percent efficiency...

I smiled and turned to Cass.

“Now, should we hold hands with our buddies or make other plans? Of course, doing that will give us away, and if Bluebell is right about the Impies having an interest in that area we're ultimately headed to, well...”

I bit my tongue.

...but then I hope the plan I have in mind will at least temporarily keep them from us."

She frowned then, her eyes turning distant, thoughtful. "Dealing with them when we get where we are going and they have all their grand capital ships at hand, will be quite a challenge on its own."

She paused, finally making a small admission. "I'm not sure what we will do yet at that point...

Here he trailed, frowning. But something was beginning to come to his mind, something that just might solve the little thing that was now presenting itself as a very large problem for their future plans.

For all I know they are just being over protective of thier families secret recipies.

...or even implicate that it might be worth something, the time will be worth it. After all, we may not be able to entirely decrypt the files regardless of the tools you already have at your disposal and the ones the Hornett will have.

"Phoenix forget about getting clearene, fire up the engins we're leaving."

The ensign at ATC whirled in his seat, his face appearing to strobe in the yellow warning lights now flashing across his boards.

"Sir--!" he began, but got no further. The Control Coordinator was by his side, staring over his shoulder to consider this little bright spot in an otherwise boringly normal day.

"Contact Sormontato; we have a runner," he said mildly before reaching over the Ensign's shoulder to flip a button. Immediately the klaxons ceased to yowl, the lighting returned to normal.

"No need for such theatrics now, is there?" he commented lightly as with a nod of his head he returned to his post, from there to watch over proceedings in general that Air Traffic Control was dealing with.

ABOARD SORMONTATO...

"Sir!"

The young officer needed not call out as he did, for already had the Officer on Deck arrived at his station. There he paused, peering over his shoulder to read the information now scrolling across his boards.

"Interesting," the Officer mused, a slightly chilling smile now creeping across his face. He straightened, cut his eyes to the immense viewscreen ahead, which was showing a small ship now trying to pick up momentum and leave Sullustan space altogether.

His smile grew even icier.

"No need to bother the General with this; we'll merely follow SOP for such incidents."

He nodded to another officer, who immediately began playing his hands along his control panel.

Within moments the great super star destroyer had engaged its gravity well generator, that the obviously fleeing ship would not be able to slip away into hyperspace. This was followed a split second later by a tractor beam, which lanced out and snared the ship, latching firmly upon it.

"Shields up, double strength," the Deck Officer continued, his voice still mild.

"Bring this one in to docking bay 87; I'll go inform General Ahem as to what is happening."

He gave a brief salute to the chorus of "ayes" that followed in the wake of that order, turned on his heel, and left the bridge. Behind him, concentration divided: part to keep an eye on the comings and goings of ships in this vicinity, the remainder now focused on bringing the captured ship into their own, immense one.

"Phoenix stop powering up weapons, even if our countermeasures did work we still have the gravity well to deal with. Power down all nonesential systems and lock yourself down."

I made my way back to my quarters aboard the ship and placed all my weapons in their proper place. Opening the one special locker in my room revealed my old Correllian Defence Forces Dress Uniform. It took only a few minutes to put it on and straighten everything out. The uniform itself was a dark blue coat adorned with all the awards and honors I managed to amass during my time in service, the finishing touch was the cerimonial saber that I wore at my side. I decided to forgo the usual sunglasses I wear, letting them see my eyes.

"Time to say hello I guess."

(((OCC: Aaron, Yaoksi, Cel (Link), and Jebbua jump to The Dream of Those That Wake in the Empire and New Republic forums, thank you.)))

Nothing happened.

The Master-at-Arms stiffened further, cocked his head slightly sideways to address a younger officer who stood with equal rigidity at his elbow.

"Has there been any further communication yet?" he inquired, now nodding infinitesimally toward the freighter. The younger officer merely shook his head.

"Negative, Sir," he replied, checking the padd he was carrying.

"Logistics state she has remained quiet; no protest to our tractor, no attempt to escape. She shut down all impulse the moment we snagged her, Sir; to all appearances she's on autopilot."

The Master-at-Arms merely frowned.

"That is highly unlikely," he said, one hand going to rest lightly on the butt of his blaster. He didn't draw it; no need for that yet. Now was not the time for theatrics or overplaying one's hand; now was the time for cool logic to win the day.

And cool logic stated they wait to see if the pilot of this craft would continue to remain stubbornly silent.

"Hail them again," he directed, and in moments the call went out.

"Phoenix, this is ISD Sormontato. In response to you departing from Sullust without clearance, you have been tractored aboardship. You are hereby... requested to present yourself for inquiry as to the reason behind this illegal and dangerous act.

"Sormontato, over.""

I keyed in a quick command and the boarding ramp lowered allowing me to exit.

"Phoenix lock things up until I get back and DO NOT FIRE at any of the Imperials unless you have to."

I casually walked down the ramp seeing the master-at-arms, and an Imperial officer. I cafefully walked up to the Imperial officer and offered him a salute.

"Colonel DarkSaber, Correllian Defense Force retired."

"Colonel," he said as he then turned, one arm out to the side to indicate their guest step out in the desired direction: toward the hatch leading into the outer corridor, where yet another escort stood waiting for his arrival.

"If you would go with them, Sir," the Officer continued politely, now indicating a group of four finely tuned soldiers, who might have been anything from an honor guard to a police escort. Nodding in dismissal then, the Officer backed off and motioned to the Master-at-Arms to follow them; then with another slight gesture he caught the attention of the next rated officer, drawing him off to the side and out of earshot of the newcomer.

"Do not attempt to board this vessel until you have express orders to do so," he said curtly.

"Being of a military background, this Colonel should have understood so simple a thing as the proper SOP for planetary departure; the fact that he chose not do follow such leads me to consider him with some suspicion. Any idiot would know his ship would be tractored aboard after so blatant a gaffe; his vessel may be booby-trapped."

The younger officer snapped to a smart attention, saluted.

"Aye, Sir," he replied, then barked an order equally sharp to the others. The merely came to arms, and spread themselves out in an arc about the flank of the YT-2000, barring anyone from entering or exiting it.

The older Officer nodded his approval, then whirled upon his heel, quickly departing from the docking bay to follow in the wake of the others. He couldn't help but smile a bit to himself, though, at the thought of how surprised the Colonel was certain to be in the very near future.

It wasn't just anybody who was brought directly to General Ahem, after all...

...if not more so. Cardissa had to at least give the Empire credit for that.

Cardissa turned to look at Bon Foyagee, who was daydreaming once more. "You need to give the coordinates of our destination to Captain Riven so he can program the navcomputer ahead of time. We're going to be in for a quick entrance and exit at Kati'shyn...

...unless of course anyone else here has a better idea."

“Stars and stars, man, that’s what it’s all about. But when one knows the stars, one only needs to open one’s eyes to find the length of a jump. Never been to the planet, man, never been. But I know the system, man, I know the paper the psychic drew, and I know the coordinates, man.”

Bon turned and walked to Stern, fire seemingly dancing in his eyes.

“Like I said before, we got our brothers everywhere, man! Even in the ranks of the oppressors, man! How you think we got the order in to deliver goods to an SSD? How you think we got news of the blockade? Man, it’s all about who you know, and what you know, and how you think they know what you do. The oppressors been heavy into this, man, and their own computers figured out what the psychic meant, man! I know where we’re going, man, and I know how to get there!”

Bon turned back to the couple in the pilot seats.

“You telling me you know right where to jump to?” I asked. “And there is a Imperial blockade around the system? And we’re just gonna waltz right in and do our business like they’re not there?”

I slumped back in my seat, holding my head.

...and we need to think a step ahead of them. There is no possible way to jump from one hyperspace point to another, not unless you are knowledgeable enough to read the stars within hyperspace to make an immediate jump. Furthermore, even if you do know the stars within the hyperspace continuum enough to take such a risk, we'd still need to realign or destination...

....although it certainly seems to me you believe you can read and know the stars enough to get us to our true destination with no difficulty."

She paused, frowning. "We could crash into our escort if we aren't careful. We'll have to shake them, somehow. I doubt that our connections from within the Empire are quite powerful and influential enough to get us redirected to our intended location and through that blockade without attracting unwanted attention."

Pursing her lips in thought then, she turned to Rico. "I don't think the Empire will go for the idea that we lost a researcher where we're headed. Perhaps your idea has some possibilities however...

...I do have some ties that may be of use. My grandfather is known by the Empire, and his name will be of interest to the powers-that-be, unless they are totally uneducated in such matters.

"If they do know of him, this may help me get us where we want to go, if I can make our visit down to these Sith worlds somehow mutually beneficial...

...at least by all outward appearances."

I shook my head, not quite believing what I had gotten into.

...if it was going to work at all. "I like the idea of following course and hunkering down on the planet," she stated aloud. "But just randomly arriving in system where there is a massive Imperial blockade and playing innocent..."

She trailed, pursing her lips again and turning to Bon Foyagee. "What do we know of the ships on those two worlds the Imperials are blockading, exactly...

Bon smiled, but was greeted with a wide-eyed look of total disbelief from Rico.

“So you mean to tell me that all that techno-hoopla you spouted off back there, and this massive galactic bantha-hunt was all based on ONE STUPID PICTURE in a book that you can’t even TRANSLATE? Ah, man, that’s it.”

I pulled blaster and pointed it at my head.

“Just pull this trigger right now,” I said. I banged the blaster on my head and put it down.

“All right, all right. So you got a book that has a picture of a ship, and things that might be weapons, and the book was found in an abandoned dig site on an unknown deserted planet somewhere. And you got a psychic to draw you a map of some star system, which may or may not be the place this book was found. And now you got the potential name of the potential archeologist, and here we are hurtling through space to explain to the Empire why we want to go through their blockade.”

I stopped, something suddenly making sense. I hate to admit that part, but like I said before, I get those feelings.

“Now, why would the Empire have a blockade around this supposedly deserted system?”

I shrugged, not knowing what else to do.

Pausing at that, she chewed her lip in thought, that plan of hers still trying to spring forth into something useful. "Coming against the Empire with anything, at this point, is going to be difficult with that blockade. We can say we have a lost researcher there, as has been suggested...

...or we can come up with something even more interesting, something which would make the Empire feel sending us in would be to their advantage. So we got the picture from some archeologist's abandoned dig site...

“Man, the craziest thing. It was a long time ago, man. A year? Two? Guys get drunk, man, they hyperspace out into nothing, man, suicidal. CRAZY! But they make it out of hyperspace, right? They stop in a system, maybe not even a system, too close to a planet, right? So they have to land, BOOM! They walk, they explore, they sober up, they find this dig, right? All scorched and blasted, nothing but rocks and melted tools and equipment, but they find this box, right? And in the box is this book. And on the box is that name. Then they go back to the ship, take off, get drunk, and hyperspace somewhere else. This time they come out near one of my ships, they take them in, trade, get the story and the book. Good thing, too, because next thing you know, the suicidal CRAZIES hyperspace into a star, so I heard.”

Bon leaned back.

Cardissa paused and pursed her lips, her mind spinning. "So what if we offer to work with the Empire and give them the book? After all, they will stop us at the blockade and possibly investigate us anyway. So why not be openly honest, keep our enemies close at hand...

“Heck,” I said. “Sounds like a good idea to me! When we get to where we’re going, let’s buzz around the planet a bit, then set a course for the place BlueBonnet laid in.”

I glanced over at Cass and gave her a wink. God, she was nice looking…

Anyway, the little furball in the back didn’t say anything else, so I put my hands behind my head and leaned back, ready to let the time pass and hope the person next to me got sleepy and wanted to lean this way.

We came out of hyperspace in a flash, just outside the reach of Kati'Shyn. I sighed in relief as the fighters came out of hyperspace with us, I really didn’t want them to disappear on me and get me on the 10 Most Wanted List.

"Rasia this is Imperial... escort. Please send coordinates of intended landing site; over."

The smile still curling about his lips, he contacted the others in the escort, warning them to be prepared for anything. For the Empire, though a spanking brand new one with oxymoronishly new-yet-old ideas, was the Empire after all, and its men found their lives within it to be uncannily truncated ones if they themselves couldn't show at least a modicum of wits and intelligence.

I settled back in my seat.

“My favorite, of course, is the Depressed Cosmic Dust. Any other ideas?”

“Golden Galaxy, eh? I had a dream once of goin’ there. Never thought it would come true.”

I plugged in the coordinates and sent it over the com. Then I tapped the switch so I could talk with our new best friends.

“Hope you boys wore your clean shirts. See ya planetside.”

I took my finger off the send button, put the ship into approach mode and set her into motion. I looked back to make sure everyone was ready before I began the descent, and noticed Bon really fidgeting.

“Bathroom’s in the back, Blueball. But I suggest you hold it, we’re almost there.”

He shot me a look that was less than friendly, I guess he was not too happy about this delay. I couldn’t help feel a little sorry for him.

“Hey, I didn’t think they’d agree to it. Impies never drink on duty.”

Hmmm.

I turned to Cass.

...or they could accept, and see just what the hell is going on. They are obviously doing the latter."

Saying nothing further than this, Cardissa then sat back in her seat, redirecting her eyes to the forward viewscreen as stars shifted into dusky atmosphere. As that dusky atmosphere became clearer and clearer, a small group of ships on a landing tarmac came into view below. Nearby the landing tarmac was a large building-not overly opulent on the outside but yet not simplistic either; its decor implied a sort of stateliness in an otherwise grim atmosphere.

The Rasia touched ground. "The Golden Galaxy," Cardissa muttered quietly, her eyes still forward. "Shall we see if the Imperials have made a safe and acceptable landing as well?"

Then, the maneuver one not only displaying the unexpected finesse of each pilot but blatantly meant to remind others just who it was who had indeed arrived, they settled in complete unison about Rasia, coming down from the skies as lightly as a grouping of feathers, their bellies alight as they slowed their descent with their braking thrusters. In but moments they hit tarmac, still in the encapsulating arrangement they had used to escort the larger ship, and there they remained, silent save for the humming thrumm of their yet-engaged engines.

I unbuckled the belt and slid closer to Cass.

“I really didn’t expect them to take me seriously, you know. I mean, it’s kinda like a polite goodbye. With pilot banter is like ‘hey, thanks for the help, let me buy you a drink’ and ‘thanks, but gotta get back, catch ya next time’ and all. But hey, new experiences, right? Never ate in a nice place like this, and never called an impy pilot ‘buddy’.”

I stood, kicked the button to open the hatch, and took the lead onto the tarmac.

I hoped I wasn't getting a bad feeling. Maybe it was just hunger.

I waved towards one of the fighters and gave a thumbs-up.

"Sir, we have information on the ion signature of the departing yacht. It is not the same as the one purportedly to have taken Aelly Ssyn off-planet, but is one fairly similar. We hazard the proposition that it is the same model of ship, out of Kuat Shipyards, but one newer than the one you are seeking. Sir."

General Ahem closed his eyes briefly, feeling the onset of a headache. Wishing heartily for some nice hot tea, he forced himself to overlook the rising pain behind his eyes and quickly typed a reply.

"Bridge, this is General Ahem. Notify escort to remain standing by, and to remain in constant contact with us.

"This is Ahem, out."

Sending the message with a flip of a switch, he blacked the screen altogether and then returned his gaze to the waiting Josiah Darksaber. Folding his hands atop his desk, he leaned forward.

"Welcome to the Sormontato, sir; may I inquire as to what urgency might have possibly occurred to provoke you into attempting an illegal departure from Sullust?"

Saying nothing further than that, Cardissa stepped out of the ship behind Rico, then stepped in front of him, looking towards the Imperial escort fighters and waiting quietly for them to make the next move.

"B-4738, disengage engines. Disembark ship, and stand guard on Rasia until further notice; VY-2254, remain engaged, all weapons trained on Rasia; at no cost is this ship to leave dirt without the full escort assigned to it.

"I'm heading out to see what it is they're up to, if I can. Keep a watch out over the fighters, boys. I will contact you when I return, or if anything unexpected should turn up."

Quickly then, he cut his engines, setting them on stand-by which yet allowed them to vent excess heat and energy. But another thought struck him before he departed from his ship; quickly he opened another link and sent off a final command.

"B-4738, VY-2254.. keep an eye peeled, fellas. If I'm not back within half a cycle, of if these bozos show up without me...

"...waste Rasia and notify Sormontato of my decision. I will take full responsibility, should it come to that."

With that he quickly finished disembarking protocol and making certain his armor was fresh and gleaming white, stepped out of his ship to approach and then come to a silent halt in front of those people he was meant to escort.

“I don’t think anyone will give us grief about the way we’re dressed, not with that light blinding everyone.”

I walked forward to meet the pilot. I started with a salute, then stopped, not sure of what the impy salute is. I then extended my hand.

“Nice of ya to join us, cap’n.” I said, grinning. “And thanks again for the escort. I felt much safer knowing you were out there. And I admit, I’m happily surprised that you could come get that drink with us, I didn’t know the empire would allow that sort of thing. Maybe you could tell me a little about life in the Empire, might be an interesting career path someday.”

"As to the reason of my hasty departure the honest answer is boredom, and my ship the Dark Phoenix has major personality issues."

As slowly as possible I reached into one of the pockets of my uniform and pulled out a few data cards and set them on the general's desk.

"Colonel."

Saying no more the General reached smoothly out to the cards Josiah had cast down before him. He let his hand merely touch them a moment, taking the opportunity to study the man who was so free and easy with what he offerred, before picking them up from where they lay. Not one to waste any further time, he quickled riffled through them--

All seemed on the up and up, normal, nothing out of the way...

--before casting them somewhat impatiently back on the desk again. Folding his hands he leaned forward, studied Josiah.

I took a moment to adjust myself from the position of parade rest to something more comfortable.