Chapter Fifteen

It had been a long twelve days. The captured Imperial shuttle carrying team Bantha and six refugees had been badly damaged escaping Imperial forces and then further damaged when caught in an unknown space anomaly. The primary hyperdrive was not functioning, forcing the rebels to limp along on the shuttle's hyperdrive backup. The slow trip to the planet Fnalla, where the refugees would be granted their asylum, had frayed everyone's nerves and everyone was looking forward to their imminent arrival.

"I still say it was an ancient trap," Said Rathbone Loegin to an obviously unconvinced Leland Archimedes. "it was probably set up millenia ago to interdict travel, like mines channel movement on the battlefield."

"It's always the same thing with you engineer-types, everything has an technological answer." Leland replied his voice dripping with contempt. "What makes you so sure that that beast didn't evolve naturally?

"Well, why is it flyboys seem to have an endless supply of bravery, but you all seem to have to share the same brain?" Retorted Rathbone.

Before Leland could reply the five minutes to realspace alarm beeped, causing both men to look up and smile, argument forgotten.

"Finally!" The two men said simultaneously.

"I was beginning to think that Challis had used some Jedi trick to trap us with those cry babies for all eternity." Said Leland as he began preparing the ship for realspace.

"That would be quite a trick," Replied Rathbone. "but for a change, I'm inclined to agree. This escort mission has turned into the most drawn out fiasco we've ever been involved with."

"Well, we'll be done baby sitting in fifteen minutes." Added Leland as he toggled the intercom. "All hands prepare for realspace in four minutes."

A cheer went up in the main cabin and Carek Argonaut came forward to join the two rebels on the bridge.

"I have never been so greatful to arrive at a planet I've never been to before in my life." Said Carek.

"So, I see it is possible to crack that vaunted Jedi calm after all," Chuckled Rathbone. "that's made the whole trip worth it for me."

"Rathbone, a Jedi is..." Began Carek.

"Save it for later Carek," Interrupted Leland, his hand lovingly curling around the hyperdrive transition control. "we hit realspace in, five, four, three, two, one. Now!"

The shuttle dropped back to realspace with a vivid burst of starlines into the Fnalla system. An area that, when the rebels had been briefed what now seemed like eons ago, was a secure place for the refugee's asylum. The rebels didn't even have time for a collective sigh of relief, when they were interrupted by the comm unit beeping from an urgent hail.

"The system patrol is really on the ball." Said Rathbone. "I'll answer." However, before he could reach the transmit button, Carek intercepted his hand. Rathbone turned toward the would-be Jedi and saw that his face was clouded, as if he were in deep concentration.

Leland uttered a long string of curses, in an impressive number of languages, from where he was performing a quick sensor scan of the system. "I thought this was supposed to be a secure system! You’re right about the system patrol being on the ball, the only problem is: they're IMPERIALS!"

"Halasa to the bridge! Kyle, Ardent, man the turrets; something's wrong and we got TIEs inbound." Said Carek into the intercom from where he was strapping himself in at the navigator's console. "Rath, you better get to engineering, this may get a little sticky."

"Will this farce never end! We'll never get rid of those...those... those Tiberion life leeches!" Rathbone raged through clinched teeth as he exited the bridge.

Halasa barrelled onto the bridge and growled fiercely.

"I don't know what happened!" Leland snarled back. "All I know is we got a flight of TIE/ins on an intercept vector and this tub is only putting out seventy-eight percent of rated sublight speed!"

"Hra rolfgha chak?"

"That's a good question." Answered Carek. "I guess our best course will be to head for Tatooine. Dag Caltare should be able to tell us an alternate hideout. Leland, while I'm doing the plot for Tatooine, can you run a full sensor sweep of the system?"

"All ready done." Snapped Leland. "I'm picking up a Strike cruiser and two squadrons of TIE/ins, lifting from Fnalla Prime where the starport just reeks with Imperial wave band power sources. And in case you're interested, those TIE/ins will be in range in ten seconds."

Just then, as if to confirm Leland's report, the shuttle's turrets began to fire. Halasa corkscrewed up and to the right evading most of the TIE fighter's fire, however the ship shuddered from several hits and the shield's status display flickered briefly from green to amber before returning to green.

"We can't take too many more of those." Muttered Leland.

"That's it, just a little closer..." Said Kyle from the starboard turret as he coaxed the lead TIE fighter. "NOW!" The twin streams of fire converged with the Imperial when Halasa rolled the shuttle to the right and the lead TIE fighter spun away with its port wing shattered and on fire.

"First blood!" Kyle yelled across to Ardent in the port turret.

"That's only because we rolled right. I..." The rest of what Ardent was going to say was drowned out by the sound of the port turret's twin lasers. "Yah brin Daga! First kill!" Whooped a triumphant Ardent as the TIE he was tracking blossomed into a fireball. "A hundred credits says I'll get the next kill!"

"Don't let one lucky shot go to your head. I'll take that bet! Here they come!"

Kyle never even had a chance.

The shuttle executed a deadman's shuffle to the left and Ardent's fire swept through the lead TIE. The Imperial desperately tried to avoid the twin streams of death and swerved directly in front of his wingman, who was caught with his attention locked on the near helpless shuttle. The motion in the corner of his eye brought the wingman's head around, but it was far too late. The TIEs collided and both spun away wrecked.

"Pay up Hunter!" Ardent yelled to Kyle.

"No deal Merc." Laughed Kyle. "The bet was 'next kill' and neither of those TIEs looked 'killed' to me."

"Why you slick..." Responded Ardent hotly, then he began to chuckle.

"You got me that time. It was on a technicality that only a son of a Hutt would use, but you got me."

"You would have claimed the same 'technicality' if I had left you the same opening and you know it."

"You got me there too."

"Well my targeting scope is showing a two full squadron of TIEs closing in and another squadron launching from that Strike cruiser, I'll bet you a hundred credits per kill and fifty per cripple."

"You got a...hey! No fair!" Ardent cried as he saw the starlines that announced the shuttle was jumping to hyperspace. "I guess the bet's off."

"That goes without saying, let's go see where we're going."

"I have no way of knowing how the safe haven was compromised," Said Carek to team Bantha and the refugees, who had gathered in the shuttle's main cabin to hear the latest information that the displaced

rebels had. "but, Leland's scans of the system left no doubt that the system was completely in Imperial hands. While Rathbone and Lazarus jury-rigged the backup hyperdrive for one last jump, I had time to prepare for an instinctive astrogation. I choose the nearest planet on the Rim where I knew we could find a rebel contact and that just happens to be Tatooine."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Asked Kyle. "After all, we didn't exactly make any friends the last time we were there."

"I agree Kyle, but I didn't have that much time to choose and we don't have any choice now. When I mentioned that Laz and Rath had rigged the hyperdrive for one last jump, I wasn't being dramatic, when we reach our destination the entire hyperdrive will have to be replaced. I can only hope that Dag can help us find were the Alliance is hiding."

"That's if he knows." Said Lazarus. "You all remember how long and roundabout it was to recontact the Alliance the last time we got separated."

"Captain Argonaut?" Nia Glasion asked timidly.

"Yes?"

"What will you do about a home for us?"

"At this point Nia, I just don't know. When we re-establish contact with the Alliance, we'll have to find you a another haven."

"I'll never know why I let myself believe that I would be safer with the Rebellion." Muttered Philst Anond.

"It's not to late for you to rejoin the Empire pretty boy." Snarled Revv through clenched teeth.

"Now see here." Philst snarled back and lurched to his feet. "I've had about enough of your attitude, you unwashed brigand!"

"ENOUGH!" Roared Carek. "I've had more than enough of the lot of you! It will take four days to reach Tatooine and it's anybodies guess as to how long it will take to find a secure safe haven. Until then you will find a way to get along and I better not have to repeat myself again!"

A murmuring growl followed the awkward silence.

"No Merrg," Said Carek softly. "We're not going to leave you stranded. I'm sorry everyone, I lost my composure for a moment there. However I am serious about every one having to get along, we just don't have a choice. Rathbone, how are we set shipwise?"

"Power is only at seventy-one percent. Sublight and hyperdrives are a write off, we'll have thrusters and repulsors to land with. Shields and weapons are marginal. I know that sounds grim, but don't worry, we'll reach Tatooine just fine. We just won't be leaving without a complete rebuild. Also, the ship trap drained every power pack on the ship; blasters, comlinks, everything."

"And to think," Said Leland. "we were complaining that this mission was going to be too easy."

Rathbone had been absolutely correct about the shuttle reaching Tatooine safely. Aside from a violent shudder coming out of hyperspace, the trip had been uneventful. Not wanting a repeat of the spectacular crash that claimed the Tigershark, Carek had vetoed trying to avoid sneak past approach control via the desert. A lethargic approach control didn't challenge the rebels and Leland was able, with Halasa's help, to nurse the battered shuttle down into an equally battered docking bay.

With a last gasp that could not be completely attributed to pressure equalization, the shuttle wheezed to a halt and the rebels all but stampeded out into the unrelenting heat of the twin suns, greatful to finally able to set foot on a planet, even one as inhospitable as Tatooine.

"This place just never gets any better." Said Kyle, who along with Halasa had won the lottery to be first out of the now much hated shuttle.

Halasa sniffed the air and then whuffed his agreement.

"Enough of the chit-chat for Diety's sake already." Snapped Leland. "No one's shooting at you, so get out the way so we all can bask in all the glory 'Dustball' has to offer."

The rebels all disembarked with obvious relish, despite the oppressive heat and moved into the nearest shade.

"That will be five hun'ert credits." Said a begrimed man that had wandered out from the docking bay's office. "Up front and in cash."

"Five hundred credits!" Blurted Rathbone. "Do you think we just fell off the repulsor truck an hour ago? That's out and out piracy!"

"Goin' by the shape that there Imperial shuttle is in, you should'na go 'round sayin' that there word Pie-racy too loud, young feller."

"You sir, are obviously a man of the galaxy, my name's Kellen." Said Kyle slipping his arm around the man's shoulders and steering him back toward his office. "I bet you know where some...travellers, that are...down on their luck might be able to trade in a...previously

owned shuttle for a less conspicuous ship with no questions or bureaucratic involvements?"

"If'n you ain't got the nerve of an Ewok tryin' to crash a Wookiee family reunion." Smiled the grizzled mechanic. "My name's Parn, an' I might just know someone, who might know someone, that's willin' ta trade wid ya, but you better have some cold hard creds to go with that warm heart an' smooth tongue."

"May I speak with my companions for a moment? I need to see just how big a contribution to your employer's pension fund we can make."

"Employer's pension fund? Oh, I got ya. Sure go ahead."

"He's willing to deal," Kyle said as soon as he rejoined the group. "but it has to be in cash."

"Okay guys," Said Carek. "what are our critical shortages, besides blaster packs?"

"I've got to have at least five hundred credits if I'm going to be able to repair that med droid, Three-emm, and Sam." Said Lazarus.

"The blaster packs should run us about two hundred more." Added Ardent.

"And just to be safe," Said Leland adding furiously. "three hundred more to cover all other expenses. So let's call it an even thousand."

"You heard him." Said Rathbone counting out his meager supply of credits. "Are we going to be reimbursed for this?"

"Sure Rath, I'll make sure I get a receipt." Growled Kyle. "This isn't the time to start worrying about itemized deductions."

"That's it?" Muttered Leland after seeing the depressingly small total that the rebels had scraped together.

"We haven't been to pay call since we started this farce," Said Kyle. "how much do you think we're supposed to have?"

"Never mind." Responded Leland. "Is that going to be enough?"

"It's going to have to be." Said Kyle over his shoulder as he headed back to Parn's office.

"Cut to th' creds. I've taken a liken to ya, but I ain't got much use for being buttered." Said Parn before Kyle could open his mouth.

"Okay that shuttle is worth a quarter million credits new, give me fifteen percent of that and I can throw in two thousand credits."

"Now who fell off of the repulsor truck an hour ago. I'll give you five percent an' I want ten thousand."

"Fourteen and twenty-five hundred."

"Six an' nine."

"Give us a break Parn. I can go twelve and three."

"That thing's as hot as the Dune Sea an' you know it. Seven an' seven."

"Ten and thirty-five."

"Eight an' six. That's my last offer."

"I can accept eight percent," Said Kyle pulling out the rebels entire fortune. "but I can only go thirty-seven fifty."

The play of emotions on Parn's face wasn't easy to read, but Kyle had been making a living by judging people's faces for years and it was plain to Kyle that Parn wanted to help.

"Th' Imperials will toss me in the spice mines if'n I get caught with that thing, but I ain't gonna send you packin'." Parn said after a long thoughtful pause. "I got an old scout ship out back, it's a Vangaard Pathfinder that's had most of its cargo bay converted to crew quarters. It's got room for eleven an' twenty tons o' cargo. I can give it to you for that there hulk an' thirty-seven fifty. That's the best I can do. Deal?"

"Deal." Said Kyle as he shook the old man's hand.

"Ship's in docking bay seventy-three. You take good care of her."

"That I will."

Two hours later a dispirited Carek, Halasa, and Leland were sitting in a small tapcafe poking at the remnants of their lunch after failing to find any trace of Caltare. Rathbone was aboard the new ship, that Kyle had named the Misplot, giving it a complete inspection and keeping an eye on the refugees. Lazarus had gone to find his much needed droid parts, while Ardent and Kyle went for the equally needed blaster packs.

"I don't understand," Leland grumbled. "we went to every one of Dag's hangouts and nobody would even admit to knowing who he is."

Halasa growled out a short reply.

"I know he's got a price on his head," Leland replied a little too sharply. "or are you forgetting that I was there when the Imperials first tried to capture him, lo those many centuries ago. I'm telling you, this wasn't someone covering for a buddy, this was actual fear."

"I have agree with Leland, Halasa." Said Carek looking up from his cup of wortleberry juice. "I could sense fear everytime we mentioned his name, fear and something else I've been trying to put a name on all morning. I'll be spaced if I can..."

Carek's voice trailed off when he noticed that the tapcafe had gotten quiet. Turning he saw why, three toughs; a Human, a Rodian, and oddly enough, an Ithorian had bulled their way into the tapcafe. His fledgling ability to sense other's emotions, for once, clearly alerted him to their intentions.

"Bounty hunters!" He yelled as he jumped to his feet.

Halasa reacted instantly by swinging their table in a wide arc that caught the Ithorian off guard and knocked the hammerheaded alien cold. The other two bounty hunters responded by hitting Halasa with a hail of stun bolts that sent the raging Wookiee to the ground as well.

Leland took full advantage of the hunter's natural inclination to concentrate on a Wookiee and pounced on the human, the two falling to the ground in a tangle of limbs, each trying to gain control of the blaster. Leland managed get a solid grip on the human's blaster and wrenched it away. When the human lunged at Leland he ran directly into a stunbolt and dropped like puppet with its strings cut.

As Leland struggled, Carek paused to reach out with the Force and return Halasa to the waking world. The Rodian, thinking the motionless human was of no danger, closed into hand-to-hand range with what he thought would be an easy target. Carek sensed his approach and began trading blows with the Rodian. Halasa looked up from where he had come to and saw Carek struggling with the stronger alien. Springing to his feet, Halasa snatched the Rodian off his feet and bodily slammed him into a table, ending the fight.

"Let's boost before anyone thinks to call security!" Leland yelled from over his shoulder as he made his way for the rear exit.

"Good idea," Carek said following Leland's lead. "Halasa grab one of those hunters. We need answers!"

The rebels ran through the back alleys of Mos Eisley for several blocks, only stopping when they had found the unoccupied, battered remains of an abandoned docking bay.

"Gra-rahaargh?" Huffed a winded Halasa

"How am I supposed to know 'what that was all about.'" Gasped Leland, between ragged breaths. "I'm just as in the dark as you, but your little bundle of joy there is going to provide the light."

Leland kicked the still groggy human in the ribs, taking great satisfaction in the hunter's croaked curse.

"As a matter of fact, my parents were legally married when I was born." Said Leland. "However my ancestry is not the issue here, I want to know what you and your obviously amateur buddies were trying to pull."

"AMATEUR!" The man snarled. "I'm Thag Pierson and I've bagged twenty-seven marks! Don't you dare call me an amateur!"

Leland snatched Pierson by the scruff of the neck and pulled his face close to his own. "Look pal, if you don't pipe down and answer my question. The only 'bagging' your going to be doing is taking a tour of the inside of a body bag."

"Halasa can you look after Mr. Pierson for a minute?" Interrupted Carek stepping between the two men. "Leland and I need to talk for a moment."

"Leland," Said a grim Carek once they had moved out of earshot. "since we haven't had time to find power packs for our comlinks, I'm going to have to try and contact the others through the Force. I know we need answers, but I will not stand for any brutality while I'm occupied. Is that clear?"

"Don't worry, I won't do anything to offend your dainty little Jedi sensibilities." Said an equally grim Leland. "You go ahead and work your Jedi magic while I sweat this guy, like I said he's an amateur it won't take much to get him to crack."

"I hope your right, I'm getting tired of being clueless."

"You and me both."

Twenty minutes later team Bantha had regrouped aboard the Misplot and were in a heated argument over what Thag the would-be bounty hunter had revealed.

"I refuse to believe it." Said Lazarus for the fifth time.

"Laz, I don't understand it either," Responded an exasperated Rathbone "but I ran a full chrono check as soon as Leland got back to the ship, what that bounty hunter said checks out. Even though to us we were trapped for only twenty-two hours, somehow two years passed for the rest of the galaxy."

"But that just can't be." Lazarus insisted.

"Look Laz," Added Leland. "I've re-synchronized our ship's chrono with approach control three times, there's just no way to get around it, two years have passed and in that time the Empire has been cracking down on the Alliance hard. According to Pierson, Dag was arrested a year ago and there's a standing bounty on anyone asking for him."

"I can get that last part verified." Said Kyle. "I can check the official Imperial bounty postings."

"I think Kyle has an excellent idea," Said Carek, speaking for the first time since the debate began. "besides, keeping busy will take our minds off of recent events. Laz, how much progress on repairing the droids have you managed to complete?"

"Uh, I've got them all functioning after a fact."

"'After a fact.' What does that mean?" Asked Ardent.

"Well, Sam's lower leg servos are still seizing up; Three-emm's graspers only have sixty-seven percent range of motion; and the med droid needs programming, aside from that, they're okay."

"How much programming?" Said Carek.

"The only thing left is the hardwired core medical functions. That droid doesn't even know its serial number. I'm guessing eighty plus hours of programming to bring it online."

"Good work Laz," Said Carek. "keep me updated. Leland, Rathbone, you stay with the ship and the refugees, we may need to boost out of here fast and I want the ship manned and ready."

"We'll be ready." Chuckled Leland. "You know how I feel about Tatooine, the best part of the visit is leaving."

"That is an attitude, I can concur with wholeheartedly." Kyle added.

"Let's get this done."

"Carek?" Asked Ardent when the rebels were halfway to the regional government office which was where bounties were posted in Mos Eisley.

"Yes?"

"You've mentioned this 'Dark' and 'Light' side of the Force several times. Does that same concept of good versus evil apply to non-Jedi as well?"

"I'm not sure I follow your question."

"It seems to me that we have fought for the 'good' side for what seems like centuries and despite all our hard work, 'evil' is just as strong as it ever was, if not stronger. We have willingly stood against evil, even when we had nothing personal to gain. We have all suffered immensely in the defense of the greater good. And we have never wavered in fulfilling our half of the bargain. So then, tell me why, what should be by all indications, such an easy mission is turning into such a impossible quest?"

Carek had to pause for several moments before he could answer.

"Ardent, I guess if had had the opportunity to finish my training with Master Havsoltek I could answer that question with all the wisdom it deserves. As it is, I can only answer with what my own personal experiences have taught me."

"This ought to be good." Said Lazarus.

"Shut up!" Kyle responded. "I want to hear this."

"I agree that, under normal circumstances, we should have been able to finish this mission without all this extra effort. However, even though we have done more than what the average person, maybe even more than what most people, would do in the service of the greater good, evil also has allies that never take a break.

"Our only advantage over Evil is, that Evil can only inspire its minions through fear. Evil rewards success by granting dominion over others. Failure results in being dominated by someone more successful. It is the fear of being dominated that causes the followers of the darker path to be willing to do anything, to both enemy and friend, to avoid that fate. Thus, there can be no trust, as that gives dominion to someone else, without trust there can't be any sharing of goals or true cooperation. There can be alliances, but those can only be temporary or else you risk being dominated, instead of being the dominator.

"It is this fear that is Evil's weakness. Evil can only be as strong as the single most dominating person. This individual at the top of the pyramid, by the very nature of how he or she got there, must always spend a large portion of their time and energy guarding their position, for if they falter at any point, they will no longer be the most dominating person. It is my belief that, this lack of cooperation is what gives Good the strength to defeat Evil.

"Good, rewards success by sharing whatever bounty there is amongst all. The followers of the path of light, are thus willing to do anything for their comrades, for by doing good, all benefit. Since there is no fear, we can trust and that trust is the backbone that allows us to form a true alliance that is far stronger than anything built on fear. So, I guess it's true that the basic concept of Light and Dark does apply to non-Jedi as well as Jedi. Does that answer your question?"

"That was pretty profound for someone who doesn't have the training of a Master." Ardent replied after a moments thought. "I don't know if I agree with you or not, but does give me plenty to think about."

"And on a more practical note, it killed the time it took for us to reach the regional office. After you. Oh wise and beneficent Leader." Lazarus added as he opened the door to the dreary building. "Good is stronger than evil, what a load of Rancor fodder. If that were true, the Old Republic never would have collapsed, my family would still be alive, and my shoes wouldn't be full of this delightful Tatooine sand. So, why don't you do me a big favor and space the philosophy so we can get this over with."

"As you wish Laz," Said Carek looking thoughtfully at his troubled comrade. "but even if I weren't a Jedi, I can see that blazing anger is choking the life out of you."

"At least it keeps me warm at night."

Inside, the dreary building was occupied by a dreary man whose face was set in the perpetual scowl that only a lifetime of civil service can produce.

"May I help you gentle...ahem...men?" He sneered without even bothering to try and hide his contempt for the group.

"I'm a licensed hunter and I'm trying to verify a posting." Kyle sneered back not bothering to hide his contempt for the overbearing little bureaucrat.

"And which posting is that? Mister...?" Said the clerk retreating from his initial attitude, since it obviously wasn't working.

"Just call me a loyal and concerned citizen of the Empire. I'm looking for more info on a Dag Caltare and the standing bounty connected to him."

"I see, if you'll just wait a minute while I call up the dormant files from the archive, I'll be able to tell you everything you need to know."

There was just something in the way he said that last part that instantly put Kyle on guard. "This guy is stalling!" He thought, lashing out with a blindingly quick strike to the man's nosebridge. The nameless little bureaucrat crumpled to the floor without a sound.

"Have you lost your mind!" Snapped Lazarus drawing his blaster and moving to where he could cover the entrance.

"He was on to us." Kyle shot back as he grabbed the clerk's datapad and started downloading information as fast as the station's computer would process. "I don't know how, I just know he was stalling us."

"Well, is he right Jedi?" This from Lazarus.

"I've told you before Laz, there are extreme limits on my ability to read the thoughts of others. I didn't have time to get anything."

"Great. The next time remind me to stay and prep the ship and let Rathbone deal with this Jedi nonsense."

Just then the building was pierced with an ear-splitting alarm and an automatic voice recording blared out from the computer's speaker.

"UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY DETECTED! SYSTEM LOCK DOWN INITIATED. LOCAL AUTHORITIES CONTACTED!"

"Kyle, what did you do?" Asked Ardent from where he was trying to get the rear door unlocked.

"Tripped a watchdog program." Said Kyle sheepishly. "I'm not sure how much data I got."

"Tell us something we don't know." Said Lazarus. "Half the bloody city knows you tripped an alarm. Can't you shut that infernal racket off?"

Kyle drew his blaster and silenced the alarm with one well placed bolt. "Are you happy now laughing boy?"

"I'll deal with you later." Said Lazarus to Kyle, to the rest of the group he said. "We got company. Four speeder bikes, local police. I'll take the two on the left."

"Wait. If they're only locals, we should be able to bluff our way out." Said Carek.

"Whatever." Lazarus responded tersely. "Just remember, I got the two on the left."

The four officers entered with weapons drawn. As Carek moved forward, he found all four weapons pointed at him. Undaunted the Jedi apprentice continued on with his plan.

"Freeze where you are! You're under arrest!" Barked the lead officer. "And don't any of you others try anything either."

"Officer, I guess central screwed up again and failed to notify the watch sergeant that we would be testing the system today." Said Carek, careful not to make any sudden moves.

"That was no test. You're all under arrest. We'll straighten this out at..."

The officer never finished his sentence, as first Lazarus and then the rest of the team opened fire. The local police just weren't prepared to handle the level of resistance that an Alliance special operations team was able to dish out. Despite being on guard and having their weapons already drawn, none of them managed even a single shot before they all fell stunned.

"Good shooting guys," Said Carek as he headed for the front door with the team close on his heels. "they sure weren't buying my story."

"You got that right." Laughed Ardent. "I hate to be the one to tell you this, but that Jedi code of yours makes you stink as a con man. On the other hand, your lack of fast talking ability did induce them to provide us with transportation." He said indicating the speeder bikes.

"By all means." Carek said with a chagrined look on his face. "I have no problem with adapting to what providence has provided."

The Misplot lifted less than three minutes later, leaving a highly incensed departure control to deal with her unscheduled and, by now, highly unauthorized violation of Tatooine's airspace. Again the local police was too slow in reacting to the rebels and took too long to contact Imperial forces allowing the Misplot to jump to hyperspace without being intercepted.

The rebels had had to depart without any real destination in mind and ended up choosing the site of the destruction of the first Death Star, the moon of Yavin as a rally point, since it was known that the system had been abandoned after that momentous event and was unlikely to be monitored.

Lazarus sat down with the ship's main computer and began the laborious task of reprogramming the med droid. It took seventy-three hours to bring the med droid, now know as 2-1-B-TED, back to full sentience.

TED's certification test was replacing Rathbone's shattered fingers with bionics. Rathbone was not happy being the test subject, but that opinion changed once Two-onebee-Ted successfully built him a fully functional set of fingers.

Once the anesthesia wore off, Rathbone put Sam, Three-Emm and his new fingers to use to decode the partial data dump retrieved from the computer on Tatooine. It took the engineer and the two droids slightly over twelve hours to break to code and read the information they had captured.

The news recovered was not good. The Alliance had been driven from a frozen planet called Hoth in full retreat and had gone even deeper into hiding. And to make matters worse, Captain Han Solo, one of the heroes of Yavin had been captured by a bounty hunter working for Jabba the Hutt.

The only bit of information that was of any use to team Bantha, was the name of the prison that Dag Caltare had been sent to: Rezick's Loft. Ardent was all too familiar with the name, as it was where he had been taken after being captured at Cypryn.

After spending two days orbiting Yavin the rebels had finally decided on a course of action.

"So it is agreed then?" Carek asked the assembled team and refugees.

The group nodded their assent without comment. All debate had taken place during the time they had been orbiting Yavin.

"Okay then, flight crew prepare for hyperspace."

The rebels would return to base station Heracles to try and find a safe haven at their old base for the refugees, once the refugees were secure, they would then go to Rezick's Loft to free Dag Caltare. It was hoped that once Caltare was freed, he would have some way of recontacting the Alliance. It was thin, but it was the best plan that all could agree on.

The flight time to Heracles was forty-two hours in the Misplot, and with the tension onboard, it was going to seem much longer.

"Heracles approach control this is the independent scout Misplot requesting permission to dock." Said Leland. "It's been a long time since we've been here. Are Shrellian drum fruits still in season?"

Leland turned to face Carek. "You know this is not going to work, that recognition code is more than two years old now. No one is even going to remember it, let alone approve it."

"Base station Heracles to Misplot..." The speaker finally squawked.

"Here it comes." Said Leland.

"Give it a chance." Was Carek's response.

"I don't know anything about drum fruits," The tired voice continued. "but you are ordered to assume orbit at Lagrange point three, pending inspection of your ship."

"Understood. Has there been any sign of those repo specialists that were working this area?" Leland added in desperation.

This time there was a long pause before approach control answered, and when they did it was a different voice.

"Independent scout Misplot, are you returning from the Corporate Sector?"

"That's the response!" Exclaimed Carek and Leland simultaneously.

Leland toggled the microphone. "Negative. We're just passing through and needed to get our phase inducers adjusted."

"Roger Misplot. You are clear through to docking ring D."

"Aye aye Heracles, see you in five. Misplot out."

Halasa growled to Leland.

"Yeah, I recognize the voice too. I just don't remember the name that goes with it."

"Ra'gnayrr." Said Ardent entering the cockpit. "He's the Quarren that took over after the Alliance pulled out the last time we got separated."

"Right." Said Leland snapping his fingers. "I never could pronounce that name right. So, do you think we're still welcome?"

"That, my friend is the sixty-four thousand credit question." Responded Ardent.

When the boarding ramp of the Misplot lowered, Ra'gnayrr was waiting to meet them.

"Greetings, my long lost friends." Said the Quarren. "I had figured you all had made the final jump, when word reached me that you were missing and presumed dead two years ago."

"The story is longer than you would want to hear and longer than we really have time to spare." Said Leland leading the team and the refugees down the ramp.

"It's still a story I would like to hear later when you do have the time." Said Ra'gnayrr looking the eclectic group over. "How can I help you now?"

"Hello Ra'gnayrr," Said Carek bowing at the waist with his arms crossed across his chest in the way of the Quarren. "to get to the point, we have five political refugees in need of asylum. Our original destination was compromised by the time we got there."

"Two years late." Ardent interjected.

"We were unable to deliver them to an alternate location," Carek continued with a glare at his comrade. "as we have again lost contact with the Alliance. We have a plan to regain contact, but it will require going further into harm's way than I am willing to risk with them with us, so we would be greatly in your debt, if they could stay here until we return."

"It isn't going to take two years is it?" Asked Ra'gnayrr.

"Before this mission started I would have said of course not," Carek replied. "but at this point, I can only promise to return as soon as we can."

"Fair enough, not only can I can put your friends up, I can return something you left here so long ago."

"The Carthesian Hawk is still here?" Exclaimed Rathbone.

"Yes my friend, still here and I might add that she's in better shape than your 'Misplot' here."

"Carek, we can sell the scout, then we can use the money to pay for the refugees, buy a cover cargo, and refit the 'Hawk." Rathbone said excitedly. "We can transfer the laser cannon from the scout to augment the Hawk's firepower, we can..."

"Slow down Rath, we don't want you to getting too far ahead of yourself," Leland laughed. "Ra'gnayrr, is what Rathbone suggested within your powers to make happen?"

"As base administrator, I have pretty wide latitude." Responded Ra'gnayrr. "I can arrange everything."

"Thank you once again. I don't know what we would do without you." Said Carek.

"You haven't seen the bill yet."

It took the rebels two days to get the Carthesian Hawk fully ready for the mission ahead. The majority of that time was integrating the laser turret from the Misplot into the Hawk's power grid and then reprogramming the fire control computer to handle the added load.

The refugees were assigned fake IDs and set up in a little used sector of the station. None of the refugees were happy with the arrangements, but all understood just how dangerous rescuing someone from an Imperial prison would be and except for a few grumbles from Philst, they all moved into their new quarters quietly.

The rebels made their goodbyes and jumped for the Dorthandis system and their rendezvous with Rezick's Loft.

Chapter Sixteen

"This is free trader Carthesian Hawk to Rezick's Loft approach control, requesting landing permission. Over." Said Leland in what he hoped was a neutral tone of voice to the microphone, to Halasa he said. "You know this is never going to work."

Halasa whuffed out a short growl.

"No. I don't have a better idea."

There was a fairly long pause before there was a response and when the it came it was not in the usual no nonsense manner that was typical of an Imperial installation.

"Uh, whatever Hawk...you're cleared to...uh land. Just follow the beacon and park it where ever you can. Uh...over."

"What was that all about?" Said Carek from where he was sitting at astrogation. "Are we in the right place?"

"You're the one at astrogation. You tell me." Leland replied.

"Sounds like a trap to me." Said Ardent over the intercom from the newly installed ventral turret.

"I disagree," Said Kyle from the dorsal turret. "a trap would have sounded perfect, to lure us in, not that pathetic transmission we just heard."

"I have to agree with Kyle." Said Leland. "A con job would have been smooth as synthsilk. What do you say Carek?"

"I think Kyle is right on target. Leland take us in."

The rebels followed their instructions and parked in the first docking bay they could find, all the time expecting the worst, but not meeting with any trouble. The landing area consisted of a dozen docking bays, four occupied by TIE fighters, in a huge hanger and an administration building. There was also a landing platform just large enough for a single landspeeder or cloud car off to one side, that was the only means of reaching the actual prison two kilometers away.

The customs inspectors were every bit as cursory and half-hearted as approach control had been. After a quick check of their cargo with a weapons scanner and an admonishment not to even think of exiting the ship with a weapon, the psuedo-traders were given free reign of the landing area.

Dumfounded by the lack of security, the rebels pressed on with their plan. Leland and Lazarus would sell the cover cargo, while Carek and Kyle, led by Ardent would try to find Dag.

Entering the prison's information center the three rebels found the guard missing. On the desk they found a poorly scrawled note stating that the guard was "out to lunch" and would be back by 1330 hours.

"Well it's 1500 local time." Said Carek taking a quick look at his chronometer. "It looks like we have us a window of opportunity. Get cracking Kyle."

"Here, let me." Said Ardent slipping behind the computer console before Kyle could respond.