"Girra's Arrival"
By: Girra Xel-Xux Zillar (PC, Smuggler/Bounty Hunter)

Location: Drogen Shipyards, Tae'Remok system, Outer Rim
Date: Lythe 23, 4ABY

***

Girra had arrived on the Drogen Shipyards Station 2 days before. Her ship, a customized and forever modified Corellian Engineering Corporation Space Cruiser that she had named the 'HELIX', sat quietly in its bay. The Helix was almost an antique, in appearance and its style, that is. The Corellian space cruisers were well known and widely used in the last years of the Old Republic. Their design and color schemes denoted a diplomatic arrival, Senators, ambassadors, even Jedi were dispatched within those ships. They were sturdy, speedy, and had ample and customizable state rooms and cargo holds to meet any need, as well as any species' needs and desires for comfort.

The Helix was hardly a relic of the past however. Girra had transformed the dilapidated hunk of rusting bolts into one of the fastest and most reliable vessels in its general class. Girra did almost all the work herself, being a bit of a gearhead as she was. The Helix was definably a surprise to all who overlooked her, and to those allowed on board. Girra had transformed the inside floor plan to suit her needs as a freighter captain, smuggler, gearhead and sometime bounty hunter. The Helix was her pride and joy, it was her life and her home as she traversed the stars.

Girra made her way from her ample living quarters aboard the Helix, to the central foyer. She had spent the majority of the last few days resting, relaxing, and studying all she could find about Drogen Station, the people that ran it, worked there, those ships that made frequent docks. She had even committed to memory, the basic layout of the station, from levels 001-500. She had a few wounds to let rest and heal, mostly aches and pains.

Her last cargo haul was supposed to have been easy and uneventful, with a sizeable fee. However, as happened too often for Girra, the galaxy had other plans for her. Pirates had jumped her, having an interdictor ship to yank the Helix out of hyperspace unexpectedly and quite harshly. Girra had been in her secondary command center just aft of the cockpit when the Helix was forced into real space. She had been flung forward into the bulkhead, and suffered a minor concussion and a nasty bruise to her forehead. The Helix's automatic defenses took charge until Girra got her wits back.

It was pretty much 15 to 1, as the pirates had the interdictor, preventing her from fleeing, 12 fighters of various makes and hodge-podges, and 2 shuttles, no doubt having carried those who intended on boarding and plundering. It was not an easy fight for sure, but the Helix boasted some pretty heavy firepower, state of the art systems and shielding, and not to mention the fact that Girra was a survivor and a fighter. Her will was as strong and durable as steel. She dealt those mangy pirates a blow, sent seven of them back to the basic elements of the universe, while the rest went running to their mommies. Those pirates had picked the wrong ship to jump.

The Helix boasted military grade shielding, with a backup generator with its own internal power source, protected from within. The Helix boasted 2 twin turbo laser cannons atop and on the belly of the ship, a forward repeating carbine, 2 proton torpedo tubes along its sides, a rear concussion bomb launcher, 2 short range multiple rocket launcher sets, and a state of the art sensor and weapons control suite. The Helix could give most adversaries reason to pause.

Girra's ship took some damage, but it wasn't nothing she could fix with a little time. It would cost her employer extra of course. She had already been paid an initial 25,000 credits to take the job, with 50,000 more to be contracted upon delivery and inspection of her cargo. She had sent word to her contact that she had arrived at the Drogen Station, cargo intact and demanded additional compensational costs for damages and the bounties on the 7 pirate ships she had eliminated. She was only asking for another 75,000 credits. She thought it would be interesting to see how it went, especially since her Drogen contact was a Neimoidian by the name of Rux Hrarr.

Neimoidians were tricky, snivelous and cheap in her opinion. But Girra wasn't going to back down, she would let the Neimoidian think he had control, but she new better, and she had an ace up her sleeve as well. She thought about it all as she took the turbolift from her ship's berth down several hundred levels to where she was to meet Hrarr. She inspected her nearly healed bruise on her forehead by way of the mirror in the lift. It would be gone by tomorrow, she knew. Bruises were nothing new, she was surprised her pretty face hadn't taken on some grotesque form after all the abuse she had managed to get in and out of.

She straightened up and inspected her attire, black leather pants, Nerf hide boots, a white blouse covered by her favorite Dewback leather jacket. The turbolift came to a stop and the doors opened up into a brand new world for Girra. She stepped out and joined the crowd of many different peoples and races all bustling about their day.

Girra strode along the promenade of level 34, making her way to a cafe/tavern called Xayled's Abyss. Apparently it was a more classy joint, where the who-is-who of the station could be found at one time or another. Supposedly you had to look like you had the credits to spend at that particular place, she recalled. I know this much anyway, Girra thought to herself. Mr. Hrarr will definitely be giving some credits this day, if he knew what was good for him!

She checked here chrono, she still had about 15 minutes. She always liked to be early. She came upon the establishment and entered. It was pretty nice, she thought, had some class, and a nice layout. She spied the Neimoidian at a table towards the rear, facing the entrance. Time to make a girl some creds! she thought as she made her way to the table. "Mr. Hrarr I assume," Girra announced her arrival.

"Aghh, yes, Girra. Welcome. You are early, I like very much," Hrarr stated pleasingly in his best Basic. Neimoidians were such the business types, valuing punctuality and efficiency. "I trust your ship's accommodations meet your needs yes?" he asked of the Helix's docking bay. Girra had stipulated a private bay as part of her contract. She had planned to stick around for awhile, she had made sure it was reserved for several days until she arrived, and made arrangements to pay for a lengthier stay.

"It is suitable, yes. Now, if you don't mind, I have business to attend to, let's cut to the chase and get down to business here, Hrarr," she stated as-a-matter-of-fact-like. "Just pay me the rest of what is due, and we can both be on our way."

The Neimoidian cocked his wormy head. "Yes, well, you see we have some problem with your requested compensations. Perhaps you were knocked in the head harder than you realize, Girra," Hrarr smarted. "I have taken the liberty of transferring the sum of 50,000 credits to the account you supplied us, for completion of the delivery of said cargo. Furthermore to show our appreciation for your expeditious and safe delivery, we are bonusing you a generous sum of 15,000 credits. We are sorry you were met with an altercation of sorts, and very pleased you are well, with our cargo safe and sound."

Girra sat back in her chair and fumed to herself, 15,000 creds?! She thought the man was delirious. She was going to knock his head harder than he thought. "Preposterous. The altercation of sorts as you so callously put it, was well worth my reasonable fee. My ship took damage in defense of your cargo. Those pirates were more than fringe rogues, Mr. Hrarr. They were a well paid, trained, and organized outfit. Pirates none the less, mind you, but still. It was 15 to 1!" she shot back, recalling the skirmish. "I was jerked out of hyperspace, and swarmed upon by at least 10 fighters, and I blew more than half of them to kingdom come!"

"I am sure you can handle yourself very well, and we did review the damage, per the holos you supplied via Drogen Control," Hrarr retorted. "However, your claim at such a large and formidable group, compared to the damage on your ship leads us to believe you have exaggerated that skirmish with some roguish types, into some far fetched phantom menace."

"PHANTOM MENACE?!" Girra spouted with venom in her voice. Imaginary blaster bolts sizzled into each of the Neimoidians bulbous red eyes. "I do not make up phantom menaces. What happened out there was real, and any other freighter would have either dumped your cargo and ran, or would have been boarded." She snorted. "I am not your average, and the Helix is well equipped. That is all that saved your precious cargo, and I will be paid for my troubles," she demanded, as she sat back and stretched her leg out under the table. The Neimoidian sat straight up and made a pathetic noise as Girra pressed a ceramica blade to his groin with her booted foot. The ceramica blade was none metal, but just as sharp and lethal as any. It was hidden in the sole of her boot, released with a tap to the back of her heel.

"What the hell..." Hrarr started as Girra motioned for him to hush and sit still. "This is an outrage! You will accomplish nothing by your actions!"

"Oh on the contrary, Mr. Hrarr, I shall accomplish your complete attention as you see things my way," Girra explained. "Here is how it is going to be, you snidely, wormy, treacherous, tight assed, nerf poodo," she continued with edge. "You will pay 100,000, since you are being so disagreeable, not to mention you hurt my feelings with all that talk." She slid him a data card and motioned for him to insert it into his datapad.

"What is this, this changes nothing, you...you crazy woman!" Hrarr spat nervously.

"Now, now, name calling may cost you another 25,000 if you're not careful. Who taught you how to talk to lady anyway?" she replied as he brought up the information on the data card. "As you can see, I retrieved some information from the Helix's sensors, on your phantom menaces," Girra explained. "They were real, I assure you. Furthermore that freighter further back came back as belonging to your corporation. And what's even more interesting is the transmission I intercepted, a transmission from your very own partner who contracted me!"

"Nonsense!" Hrarr spat as he reviewed the data. "You cannot possibly implicate me of this, it is preposterous."

"Indeed, I did some checking, the transmission is originated from one of your rival companies, obviously your partner is a two timer. But you are going to pay for his double dealings. You are going to pay me for this trouble. I am very displeased at being caught in the middle of your business affairs, at the expense of damages to my ship and the threat to my livelihood," Girra explained. "That disk is encoded, you cannot save the info, however when I have confirmation of my 150,000 credits, you will receive the pass code to unlock the information contained in that disk. It is well worth it I'm sure."

"150,000!?" Hrarr exclaimed in shock. "You said 100,000, not 150,000. This is blackmail."

"Well, call it what you want, it's all business to me. You have problems, and I need payment. Now unless you don't care to ever know the pleasure of your females again, I suggest you comply right now and we can be done," Girra commanded.

The Neimoidian lowered his head and let it all sink in for a minute. He huffed, "Very well. This has been unforeseen, I shall comply with the agreed upon amount," Hrarr stated with more compliance than he had throughout the entire haggle.

After he had made the necessary transfer protocols Girra stole a look at the data pad screen to confirm, and punched in a new transfer, securing the funds to another account. She wasn't about to allow the Neimoidian to double cross her with a stop payment. Now her credits were successfully secure into a private account that could not be hacked, nor could the Neimoidian retrieve the transaction.

"Wonderful. Now see, that wasn't so hard," she said as she rose from the table, releasing Hrarr from his uncomfortable state. "Pleasure doing business with you," Girra said as she dropped a crumpled napkin in his lap as she passed by.

Hrarr turned and watched her leave, then unfolded the crumpled napkin to reveal a series of numbers. He tapped them into the datapad, and successfully unlocked the data he was unable to save before.

Girra strode out from the Abyss and lost herself into the crowd. Not a bad day if I do say so, she thought to herself as she made her way around the promenade, inspecting some shops she had noticed earlier. Not bad at all.

---

"Rescue, Part 1"
Rylaa Lyssander - Criminal
Issnel Tilat - Trandoshan Bounty Hunter - NPC
Lani Visip - Human Smuggler - NPC

Location: Drogen Shipyards - Various
Date: Lythe 23, 4ABY

***

He wasn't sure how long he had been down here, tied to a chair, but it seemed forever. Total darkness blanketed the room, he did not even know how big or small it was. A thick miasma draped everything, an inescapable stench of sweat, feces, and blood. His blood. He could feel it running hot and thick down his face from the numerous cuts and slices his captor had given him. The blood had been his only nourishment since capture. The Trandoshan came at random intervals, sometimes he was gone for hours, sometimes mere minutes. Every time he brought with him an array of tools and implements with which he practiced his diabolical methods of inflicting pain. Pain... Rylaa shuddered. There had been all too much of that lately. There were so many types of pain, and his captor knew them all.

His body was torn and broken, but he was alive, barely. They say that when the body has suffered enough, that the mind will shut down in order to protect itself. He hoped that it would happen soon, he was not sure how long he could remain sane. How long had it been, a week, a month, a year? It seemed as if it had been forever. Time had no meaning in the cloak of darkness. Everything blended together into a mixture of pain and loneliness. I hope he kills me soon.

The sound of heavy footsteps and unbooted claws clicking on durasteel echoed closer. Issnel was returning to begin more of his fun. The door hissed open and light flooded the room, blinding Rylaa. A strong, taloned hand grasped his jaw in a painful grip. Issnel's grinning face emerged from the light, his fetid breath hot against Rylaa's cheek. The hand turned his head from left to right. It was as if the Trandoshan was examining a potential meal.

"You have weathered the last forty eight hours better than I had expected, human," Issnel hissed. "Many lesser creatures would have broken under even the minor treatment I gave."

Rylaa's mind reeled in shock. Forty eight hours? Frag me! This son-of-a-bitch is good. That felt like an eternity. Rylaa smiled inwardly. That bastard fardled up though. Underestimated me. I have my sense of time back and it's going to take more than this to break me.

"But that was only the first two days, my friend." the Trandoshan's crest began to darken as blood infused it. He was obviously getting excited with the thoughts of what he would do to his victim. A single talon caressed Rylaa's cheek as Issnel moved his face even closer. Scaled lips parted to reveal double rows of sharp, very clean teeth. It took Rylaa a minute to realize the creature was smiling.

"Yes, human," Issnel practically crooned. "You have been given to me as payment. A reward. We will have many exquisite hours together. What do you think?"

"Hmmmm... let me think about that," Rylaa sneered. "I think I would rather suck a dead Hutt's asshole than spend another minute in your miserable presence, lizard." Yes, Rylaa, that's it, piss off the Trandy with the sharp objects. What a way to get your point across.

Issnel merely smiled at the weak insult. His talon again caressed his victim's cheek. Then he carefully dug the tip into the soft flesh and slowly tore the skin down to the jawline. Rylaa gritted his teeth against the pain, telling himself that he would not give the bastard the satisfaction of seeing him cry out.

"Good, human, you still have some fire in you." Issnel seemed pleased with himself. "That only makes this more enjoyable for me." The Trandoshan picked up a particularly wicked looking bladed instrument from the metal tray next to him and held it up for his inspection. "You know, some prefer to let droids and machines perform their art for them. A waste I say. Me? I like to get just a little closer to my work." Issnel cackled as the door to freedom closed, plunging the room into darkness once more.

***

The last couple of day had been extremely nerve racking for Lani. Between worrying about Rylaa and the threat of security kicking down the door, she barely seem to have any time to herself. With what time she did have, she usually spent catching a quick nap or powering down a self-heating meal pack. As a result, Lani did not appear up to her normally glamorous par. At the moment she sat huddled on her small couch watching the local holonews channel for a report on Rylaa's body, or that a security breach had been detected. As such, her mind failed to register when Credit wheeled into the room, over to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of Rodian Ale, and wheeled out, until several minutes after the fact. Rodian Ale? Why the hell would he need Rodian Ale?

Lani lurched off the couch and sprinted to the 'fresher in which Credit was supposed to be working. As the door slid open, she noticed two things amiss. First, Credit was no longer tied into the data conduit running from the wall, but into a briefcase sized computer. Second was the gangly looking teenager dressed like a swoop ganger who was sitting on the disposal unit drinking a bottle of Rodian ale, and tapping away on a keyboard. The kid had just started to take a swig of his brew when he noticed her come in. His eyes went wide and he mouthed a silent whoa around the neck of the bottle. Lani glanced down and was embarrassed to realize that she was wearing only her sleeping robe, which was unbelted and open, and nothing else. She quickly wrapped the flimsy fabric around herself, staring hellfire into the boy. He obviously felt the heat of her glare as he colored red and looked away bashfully.

"Alright rustbucket," Lani said to Credit. "Who the hell is he and what the hell is he doing in my apartment?" She stamped one of her bare feet in anger.

"Beep whistle boop boop blip beep whistle," Credit replied in his usual manner.

"You hired a Slicer? I don't have the money to pay for that!"

"Whistle boop."

"Your money? You can't own anything as a droid. How did you manage?"

"Beep blip whistle boop bop whistle."

"Wow, you're good. You managed to set up an account under a false name and transfer money the bank already had? Wish I had thought of that. Ok, so you hired this kid to help you out? Have you at least got an idea of where Rylaa's at?"

The slicer, who had remained quiet, decided that he could explain this much better. "Well, we have a pretty good idea of where he might be. Let me explain. We stole some security holocamera footage of him being held at knifepoint in a turbolift. We then deleted that footage from the archives and replaced it with blanks. Well, Credit did that part. Then he somehow managed to get my private comm number and contact me for my help, no small feat since my comm is pretty heavily encrypted." The teen was beginning to get excited as the spoke. "Credit figured that even though he was one hell of a slicer, and if you want a professional opinion, it would be better if he had someone just as good as he was to help him out. I'm not sure how he decided on me, but, not to be modest or anything, I'm probably one of the best damn slicers on board this shipyard and there is plenty of evidence to support that. So I saddled up my comp here," he patted the computer in front of him, "she may be a bit old but she's still a hell of a lot faster than your average datapad, and head on over to help. Hell, for the cred that your droid here was offering me I would have skipped my happy ass on over and rescued your boy single-handedly from the clutches of evil, whistling the entire time.

"Anyway, Credit here shows me where he got the footage from, but tell me that he's not sure how to set up a holocam trace and that he wants my help in doing so. Now that surprised the hell out of me since I've gotta tell you that the hard and software that this bot's got installed is some serious top-of-the-line shit. So I show him how to set the prog up to sample the holocam footage being flung around the streams to look for certain facial features and to report them to my comp here for analysis. I'll tell you, too, this little bastard picks it up the first time. Now I know he's a droid and all, but damn dude, that's some seriously high level shit!"

"Are you going to get to the point soon?" Lani interjected. The slicer's rambling, though entertaining, was beginning to get on her already frayed nerves.

"Keep your panties on, sweetheart, that is if you were wearing any. I'm getting there." Lani blushed. If Rylaa survived this, she was going to kill him for making her go through this. "I mean, you gotta know the background. If I just gave the info to you, you'd be like 'Hey thanks' and never really appreciate the work that went into this."

"Alright, I'm sorry, go on." If you have to.

"Anyway, Credit sets up the program and sends it out to run through my comp while he keeps an eye out for security and anti-slicing programs so he can redirect them. I, on the other hand, take the dipped data and run it through the analyzer to pick up on what we are looking for."

Lani held up her hand. "Wait a minute, dipped data? What are you talking about?"

The teen looked up from his computer. "If I tell you I'll have to start at the basics. You sure you want to know?"

"Yeah." Lani was getting intrigued. She never really had known much about slicing, always leaving it to the geeks, but this might be interesting.

"Ok, time for Slicing One-Oh-One." The kid's voice took on a more mature tone as he spoke. "Data conduits, like this one, are a lot different than the standard holonet data stream like we are all used to. For one thing, data conduits are always an internal and closed loop system, meaning that the data that flows through them never leaves that system. It is one of the main reasons that they are commonly used in security systems, the downside being only the cost. There is also the way that the data itself flows. A typical holonet transmission is composed of packets of information microbursted at a certain frequency at a specific timeslot. What's a timeslot? Let me go further into that so that you can understand. So much information is passed through the Holonet that transmissions are calculated out in individual nansecond timeslots. The timeslot is the exact time in which the packets are received and passed along. Thousands of different systems can use the Holonet at one time because of this system, but it lags everything down to the point that slicing becomes easy.

"Data Conduits, however, are not limited in this way, as it is always built to meet a certain system requirement. This means that data, though still in a packeted format, flows uninterrupted through the conduit in a continuous motion. Many safeguards are built into systems using Data Conduits to detect the rerouting of data to any other than the specified sources. Usually it is something like a single packet of information that is transmitted out and can be received by only specific systems. If it fails to reach those systems, as it would if the flow was interrupted by something, then an alarm would sound. So as you can see, a Data Conduit is usually a very safe way of getting your information around.

"Now what we Slicers, well, those that are good, do to get around these safeguards is to build what we call a Dipper. A Dipper is a Smart Frame. That means that it is compiled from many different programs and guided by what could be called a minor AI, or Artificial Intelligence."

Lani had to interject. She was becoming very interested and that meant questions. "You mean like a droid brain?"

The kid smiled. "Precisely, only a droid has the ability to learn as well as to adapt to certain situations, markings of a true AI. A Dipper, on the other hand, can follow basic orders, but is supremely stupid when it comes to anything else, and it will never learn from its mistakes. Alright, now how it works. A Dipper is usually programmed to take what we call 'Samples' from the flow of data. These 'Samples' are random bits of data copied from the big stream and sent through an internal analyzer. When the Dipper finds the flow that the information it is looking for comes from, it will continue to sample from the flow only, sending that info over to a non-organic, or something that is outside of itself, analyzer for deeper reading. In this way, the Dipper overcomes the safeguards for Data Conduits by not redirecting any of the information, but by copying it instead. Get it?"

"I think so, that was a lot of knowledge to take in. So, what have these...samples you've received so far told you?"

"That your boy is being held on level 426 in an abandoned tank that used to be used for water storage." The slicer grinned at Lani.

"All that, for that little piece of info? And we are paying you? You must be joking."

"Hey, baby, the hard part wasn't getting the info, the hard part is doing it and not getting caught. Which, I believe since you are not currently in a containment center, worked out fine, right?"

"Call me baby again and I break your fingers. But yes, I have to admit, it did work. So now what, do you know how to get there?"

The kid grinned again and cracked his knuckles. "Way ahead of you there, got a datacard here for your pad so you can find him yourself. Now then, I'm going to go ahead and tidy up here while you go on down and do your rescue thing."

"Hold on a minute, now I'm a little confused. If any interruption to the flow of data triggers an alarm, what happened when Credit cut that cable in order to tap into it?"

The slicer whipped around to stare at the hole in the wall. "Oh shit. We better get the hell out of here... like NOW!" He slammed the computer closed and flung it over his shoulder on a strap. "I don't know why they didn't detect it before, maybe someone was asleep on the job, but they sure as hell are going to find it eventually, and we don't want to be around when that happens. It's going to be worse now that we aren't holding it together."

"Hold on, let me get something on at least." Lani rushed into the bedroom and jumped into a pair of khaki cargo pants. She slipped into a white tank-top and put on her flight jacket. She also grabbed her DL-44 heavy blaster and strapped it to her thigh. At last she snatched up her ID card, with her New Republic rank and permits on it, and jammed it into one of her pockets. "Come-on, kid, let's get the hell out of here now." As Lani, the slicer, and Credit rushed out of the door to her apartment and into the busy corridor, they could hear the sounds of heavy boot feet marching down the way behind them.

---

"Rescue: Part 2"
Rylaa Lyssander - Criminal
Issnel Tilat - Trandoshan Bounty Hunter - NPC
Lani Visip - Human Smuggler - NPC
Various other NPCs

Location: Drogen Shipyards - Various
Date: Lythe 23, 4ABY

***

Lani, the teenage slicer, and Credit raced down the crowded corridor. They ducked around sentients of all sizes as they fled the apartments.

"In here!" the kid shouted as he ducked through an open door. Lani dived through the opening and Credit soon followed.

The small apartment they had ducked into was bare and sparse. It looked as though no one had lived there in some time. The slicer leaned against the wall and slid down into a sitting position, breathing hard. Lani pressed her ear against the door. She slammed her hand over the teen's mouth and held her own breath as the sound of armored boots pounded close. They stopped just outside the door. Lani's heart scrambled for her throat - she was not going to prison again. She slowly unsnapped the black nerf-hide holster and slid her DL-44 Heavy Blaster partially free.

"Contact the Chief," a gruff voice said on the other side of the door. "We lost them." Several boot feet walked away. Lani waited several more heartbeats, as the troopers left, before lowering her hand and breathing a sigh of relief. She was prepared to defend herself, but a shooting match between her and shipyard security would make getting to Rylaa much more difficult.

"Yeesh, that was close," the kid breathed, stating the obvious.

"Yeah, that was," Lani replied. Credit had nothing to say. "It's interesting how such a simple move could fool them. These guys are usually pretty thorough in their searches."

"This room is quarantined with the Ithorian Blood Plague that's why," he replied nonchalantly before beginning to check over his computer.

"What!?" Lani hissed; she had to suppress the urge to yell. "What the hell do you mean this room is quarantined?" She crossed the short distance between them and grabbed the front of the slicer's shirt, hauling him to his feet.

"Well," he stammered, "the sticker that's above the door means that this apartment isn't supposed to be entered by anyone, security included. That is unless they have a full evo-suit. That's why the guards passed by. No way would anyone hide in a place like this."

Lani growled and pulled the visibly trembling teenager closer. If Rylaa or anyone else that knew her well was watching this, they would have gleefully began taking bets on how many words it would take her to verbally flay the poor fool. The slicer just managed to save himself by squeaking, "But we're ok here, it's fake."

That caught her a little off guard. "What?" was all she could say.

"Well," he gulped, "there's not really an Ithorian Blood Plague here."

Lani pulled the teen closer. "Explain," she growled. "Fast."

"This is a safe house set up by the various criminals on board. We slicers do the necessary documentation, while some others suddenly come down with some strange "sickness" and die. It's a pretty closely guarded secret, and I can't believe I'm telling you this. If the Big Lady up top ever found out what we were doing, she'd spend all the cred needed to flash sterilize the rooms. Our safe houses would be gone."

"So we're ok then?" Lani let go of his shirt in one of her characteristic mood shifts. "Good." She turned around and placed her ear back to the door. Traffic outside seemed to be dissipating. That wasn't good, it meant they were clearing people out of the way in preparation for a full scan. "Ok, kid, I think I've got a plan to get us out of here alive. Your gonna have to leave that thing behind though." She motioned towards his computer.

"I can't leave this!" He clutched the bulky object tight.

"Leave it somewhere then, damnit. Come back for it later. They are probably looking for a slicer and that thing just screams power."

He thought about that for a second before coming to the conclusion that survival came first. Running to the back, the kid pressed a hidden panel. A small part of the wall slid up to reveal a hole already filled with junk. He carefully wedged the big computer into the space and let the wall slide back into place. He had a guilty little smile in place as he jogged back. "Ok, I'll follow your lead."

"Good. Alright, try to look scared and tough at the same time. You're playing the part of my little brother so we can conn our way past any guards. Credit," the little droid turned and beeped, "can you make some fake papers? Tourist documents maybe for myself and the kid. Use the name Bron for him and my real name." Credit whistled his affirmation. "Good, here." Lani took a handpad from one of the pockets in her cargo pants and held it out for Credit's dataprobe.

"Bron? That's kind of a stupid name," the kid complained. "Who the hell would name their kid Bron?" Lani glared at him from the corner of her eye.

"Bron really is my brother's name. If you have a problem with that, take it up with him. He's bigger and a whole lot meaner than I am."

'Bron' looked up at Lani's leggy 74 inches and made his decision quickly. "Bron it is then!" he replied with a smile. She smiled back and slipped the datapad back into her pocket.

"Glad you like it. Ok, we're just going to walk down the passage towards the turbolift. If we come to a guard post, as I'm sure we will, let me do all the talking. Try not to look too suspicious, that'll tip them off." Lani took a deep breath and opened the door.

The passageway beyond was deserted. A startling change from the busy place it had been just minutes before. Though well lit, it was difficult to see what might lay further down due to the slight curving. Everything about the situation looked bad. Hopefully luck was still on their side. Lani stepped out of the safe house and walked purposefully down the corridor, slicer and droid in tow. Her heart beat faster the further they went and after a few minutes she was breathing heavy. Despite the well regulated air flow, she was also sweating slightly. What was going on here? She never acted like this in any of the many times she had to bluff her way out of a situation. Was it because her success might impact Rylaa's future survival? Damn him for making her care!

They rounded a corner and came face to face with several heavily armed security troopers in power armor. Though of an obviously old design, the armor looked new and was highly polished. Four troopers crouched behind a portable duracrete barrier. Their E11 blaster rifles were leveled at the approaching trio. Directly behind them stood two more troopers, one with a DLT-20A rifle slung on his back, the other with a pair of pistols strapped to his thighs. Beyond them lay the door to the turbolift and freedom. The trooper with the pistols looked up at them, his black visor gleamed as it caught the light. He motioned for the other trooper to take position behind the barrier before turning. His rank was clearly emblazoned on his chest.

"Hold it right there you three." His deep voice was synthesized and came out slightly garbled. "Let me see your IDs." He walked forward and held out his hand. Some communication must have passed between the man in charge and the rest of the troopers as they no longer focused on them but on the corridor ahead.

"Um yeah, sure." Lani smiled at the guy and fished around in her pockets to retrieve her ID. "What's going on here? I walk out of the 'fresher and everyone's disappeared. And then you guys, well, you know." She handed him her ID.

"Nothing to worry about. We had a report of a dangerous criminal in the area," he accepted her holocard, "but it's contained now." He looked down and scanned the holocard. "Lieutenant, huh? New Republic Navy." He looked up at her for an explanation.

"Retired, if you must know. I did my share of flying with the Alliance. Got to fight a few battles, took out a TIE here and there. Nothing really special. Got out last year." She flashed another of her award winning smiles at the poor guy.

"You got a permit for that cannon?" He motioned towards her DL-44.

"Heh yeah, silly me." She reached into her pocket and pulled out her weapons permit. The trooper took it and scanned it briefly before handing both holocards back.

"You're free to go, Lieutenant," he said and stepped aside. "But watch yourself. There's still plenty of Imperial supporters on board and many of them hold a grudge against the New Republic."

"Thanks alot, I'll keep that in mind." Lani was not one to look a gift bantha in the mouth. She hurried the kid and Credit towards the turbolift doors, smiling innocently all the way. "Bye, guys, see ya later," she called as the doors closed. The button for level 426 was quickly mashed. She leaned her head against the door and turned to look at her companions.

"Are you a Jedi or something?" the kid asked with a bit of wonder in his voice. His eyes were like a pair of dinner plates. Lani found the question so out of place that she began to laugh aloud. After a couple of days of straight tension, a bit of release felt good.

"No no," she said between laughs. "I'm certainly no Jedi. No, I suspect that he was probably a Rebel supporter or even a former covert operative. Either way, it all fell to luck, pure and simple. No background checks, no intensive question, no strip searches. Hell I'm a little disappointed!" She leaned against the wall and slid into a crouch, chuckling. The slicer decided that she had made a joke and laughed along with her. The turbolift droned downwards.

***

Issnel interrupted his sport for a minute in order to answer his personal comm. He backed out of earshot as he listened to whomever was on the other end. It gave Rylaa a few precious moments in which to collect himself. His entire body felt as though it was on fire and he knew he was covered in both sweat and blood. Several bacta patches had been applied to his more grievous wounds, knitting them back together and keeping him alive longer. Everything in the world seemed dim and distant though, it was as if Rylaa was feeling his body from across parsecs. He clung to consciousness as a small child might cling to his mother, fearful of letting go and becoming lost forever. The Trandoshan's hot breath soon returned.

"It seems that you do indeed have friends, my pet," Issnel hissed near Rylaa's ear. "They are on their way now." His heart skipped a beat at the thought of a possible rescue. "But I too have friends, and they will be waiting. Perhaps," Issnel practically purred, "they will join us. I wonder, my pet, if your woman will scream as lovely as you do."

Woman? What woman?

Issnel chuckled evilly and resumed his diabolical art.

---

"Expanding Empires"
By: Nieme Yaresh
Dani
Ferrig Mullerin [NPC+]
Talara Sorenne
Zari Zathmir

Location: Thanatos; Jedi Temple
Date: Lythe 23, 4 ABY

***

Life in Jadda the Hutt's palace had grown boring. Well, mostly. Dani attributed most of the boredom to a lack of suitable toys. Sure they had Ferrig and he was a delicious toy, and satisfied so many of their needs. But they had other needs that one even as talented as Ferrig couldn't satisfy.

Dani sighed dramatically and rolled onto her side. She had been lying upon the one of the two divans in hers and Nieme's rooms in the palace. It seemed appropriate for those of their status. And, dramatic sighs didn't seem quite so dramatic when made on anything other than a divan. She fixed her gaze on Nieme who had been watching her. "We need more toys, my love," Dani said. "We need something new to help pass the time until we rule this cesspit." She glanced down at Ferrig, his tongue working diligently between Nieme's thighs. She sighed airily. "Who would you most like to have as one of our beautiful servants?"

"Talara, of course," Nieme answered dully, wearing a look of poor boredom despite Ferrig's attentions. She idly twirled her finger through his hair. "How did the life of dark knights become so tedious, my love?" Yawning, Nieme circled her leg over Ferrig's head and turned onto her side, away from his probing tongue. She shooed him away. "Why won't Dargus help?" she pouted.

Dani gave her partner, companion and lover a wicked smile. "Perhaps he just wants for us to convince him to help us," she said. "We shall tell him that if he helps us get Talara, he will receive an equal share of her devotion."

Nieme smirked. "And do we really want to do that? You know he'll just ruin her for us!"

"We don't have to define exactly what an equal share is. He'll just assume it's equal to our share. We just want his help. We could even define his equal share to equal time with the two of us. He is quite talented."

"Yes...but after a while, you've just...seen it all." She swatted Ferrig's hand as it slid between her thighs, and sneered. "Go do something useful! Go...go polish our leather!"

"As you wish," Ferrig said, bowed to them, then left the room to do as he'd been ordered.

Dani shifted position, then fixed her gaze on Nieme. "Do you believe you could have seen it all with Tala?"

"We'll never know now," Nieme drawled and dragged herself off the divan to sullenly pad her way to their closet. "This place is stifling! What we need" --she tossed a corset over her shoulder as she rifled through their various garments-- "is a vacation." Nieme spun around, a long, black dress laid over her. "How about this one?"

"I like that one on you," Dani said with a smile. "I should wear a dress too. It's been a long time since I've worn a dress. Where would you like to go for our vacation? Offworld? Oh, let's...it's been so long since we've really gotten away."

"Oh, I know," Nieme sighed and threw the garment onto their bed. "But...what of our empire? Who will tend to it if we leave?"

"I don't think we could trust Dargus with it," Dani said as she moved lazily to her own selection of clothing. "Perhaps now would not be the best time to leave. The coast would be nice, and we could still keep tabs on what's happening. We wouldn't be too far away if something did happen." She pulled a dress that was a mixture of various shades of purple that gave it a shimmery look. "How about this one?"

Nieme purred and moved into Dani's embrace. "Purple," she whispered against her lover's cheek. "My favourite. And the coast is a perfect idea." Nieme kissed her briefly as one hand smoothed across the silky fabric covering Dani's chest. "I think it'll be nice to get away from this horrid desert. We should ask Jadda if we can borrow Rae."

Dani grinned. "Ask? She was ours first, and he didn't bother to ask us before taking her away. This is going to be wonderful, Nieme. Maybe it's just what we need, to get away and recharge ourselves."

Nieme giggled as she grasped a handful of Dani's dress. "Recharge? When have we ever needed that?" And flung the garment away to trap her lover in a fervent embrace. "To the coast," she murmured with her lips against Dani's. "And all will be well."

"All will be better than well," Dani purred. "We should build ourselves a second palace there. As a getaway."

"We could rule from there with all our love slaves." Nieme sighed and nestled her cheek to Dani's. "Maybe we could invite Kael, too. I know he still loves us, Dani. I know it!"

"I know he does too," Dani whispered. "How could he not? He's just become misguided, that's all. We should bring Rae with us, and invite Kael to see his beloved wife. Perhaps Rae can convince him to stay longer with us. Perhaps we can convince him to stay longer with us. We just need to get him alone, without the harmful influence of Laedra Vorrel or Koran Darr."

"They're so righteous," Nieme complained. "Why can't they let us have our fun!" Sulking again, Nieme stomped over to the bed to retrieve her gown. "That's it," she announced. "We're leaving today! Ferrig! Get over here and put on your harness." She grinned wickedly at her lover. "We have mayhem to wreak."

"And another love slave to liberate," Dani added. "Would you like to see your sister again, Ferrig?"

As Ferrig was retrieving his harness, he nodded. "I would very much, my mistress."

"Good," Dani said. "Because once we are ready, we're going to retrieve Raeila, and then we're going to the coast. It's time we started having some fun again."

"Some more fun," Nieme amended. "Which means Dargus can't come." She spun around to present the encasing dress conforming to supple curves. Her pale skin-tone contrasted with the black material now, but Nieme hoped, after an hour under the sun, the two wouldn't differ much. "Ready?"

"Very ready," Dani said as she displayed her own dress for Nieme's approval. "Come, Ferrig, get our things. I think you're going to enjoy the coast too."

"Any time I spend with you," he said, "I will enjoy."

"Oh so good," Dani purred. She slipped her hand into Nieme's. "I wonder if they'll mind us just taking over out there? Oh, I'm sure they'll love us as much as we do."

"And if they don't," Nieme stated blithely, "we'll teach them otherwise." Holding out a hand, Nieme's lightsaber soared into her palm. With the manner of lesson she had mind, there was little doubt loyalty would be offered by all they encountered.

***

Dani pouted. She was quite adept at pouting, and usually managed to get her way when she did. It was nearly an artform that she and Nieme had perfected. It was all for naught in finding Raeila, however. So they had set off for the coast without their second love slave.

"I had so hoped to see her again," Dani said. "And, from the bulge in the front of his little leather pants, so did Ferrig. We'll make the slug pay."

"I bet he's taken her on a lovely vacation, too," Nieme mused, idly stroking the swell of her breasts. "I wonder if he's ruined her for us." Her cruel smile found Ferrig. "Do you know what Hutts do to their slaves, Ferrig, dear? How they're violated and forced to dance and give themselves to those he chooses? It's really very demeaning."

"Very demeaning," Dani echoed. "And, it's even worse if the Hutt himself decides he wants a little for himself. They're rather...endowed. Though, you have to get used to the smell and the slime."

"Please," Ferrig rasped, obviously having difficulty with the images their words were projecting in his mind. "Please, I don't want to think about what may be happening to her. I will do anything you ask of me, anything at all, if you can get her away from him. I know I don't have much to offer...please..."

"Oh, but you do," Nieme reminded him with a lazy smile. "You have Talara. You simply must help us get her back, Ferrig. Will you do that for us?"

"If it will get Raeila out of the hands of that creature," Ferrig whispered, "I will help get her back." He hung his head and sighed. "Please, just to get Rae back and out of that...hell."

Nieme narrowed her eyes inspectively at Ferrig, though she used her mind to probe him more than her gaze. "My love," Nieme said slowly, "I believe he's telling the truth." Giggling, she reached between the forward seats to pinch his cheek. "That's a good slave!"

"Thank you, my mistress," Ferrig said.

Dani grinned. "Shall we go retrieve our other love slave then, my love?"

"But, what of our sunlight?" Nieme puckered her lips at Ferrig as she stroked the underside of his chin with one finger. "Though Ferrig doesn't look like he can wait.... Look at him shifting in his seat. Does the thought of Talara make you ache, slave?"

"Very much, my mistress," Ferrig said. "And, I ache to present her to my mistresses."

Nieme moaned happily and gave a sharp swat to his cheek. "To the Temple it is, then!" she declared. "Our holiday must wait..."

Facing forward once again, Nieme and Dani exchanged mischievous grins as the latter wheeled the speeder around and shot off in the opposite direction. Their destination: The Jedi Temple for some long overdue repossession of what was rightfully theirs.

***

The sounds of splashing were loud as the trio approached the small lake. Dani smiled as she heard giggles filtering through the trees, the sounds of two, young exuberant voices. "I think," she whispered to Nieme, "that we are in luck."

Peeking through a break in the foliage, Nieme spied the two young girls tossing sprays of water at one another, exposing unclothed flesh as their bodies sprang above the surface. A flash of golden hair caught her eye. "Oh, delightful," Nieme crooned. "She's new...and desirable." Whipping her head back, Nieme announced excitedly, "I want her, too!"

"Oh yes," Dani answered. "Oh, we shall have quite the harem, my love. Oh, it does appear that Ferrig wants her too. Well, my pet, you can help us train her." She was silent for a moment as she stretched out with her Force senses. "I sense no one else around. This will be simple."

"Ferrig," Nieme sang, smoothing a hand over his bare shoulder. "It's up to you, now. Lure them to us...and you'll be rewarded." She kissed his brow and smiled. "We promise."

Ferrig gave her a loving smile, then slipped through the trees to where Talara and her friend were playing in the water.

He moved slowly, deliberately. Talara was the first to notice him, and for a moment she stopped moving. She stared, almost unbelieving until he called her name. She cried out his name and rushed into his arms. He held her, tears springing to his eyes. It was almost too much.

"Oh Tala," he whispered.

"Ferrig," she answered, holding him as tightly as she could. "What are you doing here? Did you get away?"

He nodded, and looked at the young blonde girl.

Tala noticed the look and indicated her friend. "This is Zari," she said. "She's my best friend."

"It's very nice to meet you," Ferrig said.

"You too," Zari answered and blushed brightly. "I've heard very much about you, Ferrig."

Ferrig held a hand out to Talara and she took it without hesitation. "Come with me, Talara," he said. "Both of you. I have to go somewhere. I made a promise I need to keep. My sister's life, it depends on my promise."

Talara looked up into his eyes. "You have to go back to them, don't you?"

Ferrig nodded.

"I understand," Talara answered.

"Tala?" Zari asked.

"We have to go with Ferrig," she said. "To save his sister."

Zari nodded as well. "Alright. Master Brael won't be happy, but she will understand to save his sister."

"Thank you," Ferrig whispered, and then turned and led the two girls back to where Nieme and Dani waited.

"Well, well," Nieme drawled, "that was easy enough." Her eyes moved over Zari's slender frame, then she extended a hand towards her. "Come with us...and you'll experience more pleasure than you've ever known."

Zari cast a hesitant glance in Tala's direction, then back to Nieme. "We're saving Ferrig's sister?"

Chuckling throatily, Nieme slid her fingers through Zari's and gripped hard. "Of course we are, dear...though we'll have to go and get her."

Zari looked down at her hand, now clasped in Nieme's. "I would like to help however I can," she said. She couldn't help feeling wary, especially at the intensity of Nieme's gaze.

"So...willing," Nieme breathed as her other hand cradled Zari's cheek. "And our dear Tala will be so as well" --Nieme stared hard at the girl-- "won't she?"

Talara gazed up at Nieme. "Very willing," she rasped. "I have missed you, Nieme. And, you Dani."

"And, Ferrig most of all," Dani urged.

"Yes," Tala added, "and Ferrig. I hope I am able to please you again, to make up for the problems I have caused."

Dani looked at Zari and smiled. "You're off to a very good start."

"Come on," Nieme urged. "Before those meddling Masters drop in and wreck our reunion." Tugging on Zari's hand, Nieme turned and stalked off towards the speeder. "Don't worry, dear Zari," Nieme purred. "You'll be so very happy."

Zari scrambled after Nieme, her hand caught in Nieme's vice-like grip. She didn't feel like she was going to be very happy, but something about the way Nieme spoke turned something inside of her. "Where are we going?" she asked as she hurried, her bare feet careful to not step on any sticks or rocks. She couldn't remember ever feeling this nervous or scared before. "And, are...that's a very pretty dress. It looks very nice on you."

"Of course it does," Nieme concurred dismissively. "Just keep moving." She gave Zari a jerk to hasten her. The girl had a familiar aura about her, one Nieme knew well but couldn't place.... "Zari, dear," she asked sweetly, "how long have you been here?"

Zari frowned at Nieme's rough treatment of her. "Only a couple weeks," she answered. "Before that, I was living on Agarra."

"Where they prance around naked?" Nieme grinned hungrily. "I approve of their lifestyle. That means you'll have no qualms about being without clothing, my dearest?"

Zari looked down at herself, then up at Nieme and shrugged. "I don't mind at all. I guess I'd only really mind if I ever got cold, but I never got cold at home and it hasn't been cold here yet."

"Oh, you won't be cold," Nieme assured her huskily and with eyes that expressed unbridled lust. "With me, you'll never be cold, Zari."

Zari couldn't look away, and instead felt that stirring within her again. "I believe you," she whispered.

Behind Nieme, Dani laughed huskily. "Oh, bonding already?"

Nieme yanked Zari possessively into her embrace and grinned viciously at her lover. "I get her first. You can have seconds."

Dani laughed. "Very well," she said. "I will be reintroducing myself and Ferrig to Talara. You can have seconds."

"And thirds," she added with a wink, then planted a firm kiss to Zari's cheek and shot forward at a faster pace, crushing the grass underfoot. A deep chuckle reverberated around them as Nieme caught a scent in the Force. "Seems they've detected us. I'm afraid we simply don't have time for catching up!"

"Time to hurry," Dani said. "Ferrig, make sure Tala doesn't hurt herself. Nieme and I will see to our dear new love, won't we, Nee?"

"I wouldn't dare let anything happen to our Zari." Nieme squeezed Zari around the waist tightly, then fixed a stony gaze on her. "And she wouldn't dare do anything to get hurt, now would she?"

Zari stared up at Nieme with wide eyes. "Oh, I wouldn't intentionally! I don't like being hurt. And, I'm used to being barefoot. I hate shoes and boots and sandals. I never wear them."

"My dear," Nieme intoned with a malevolently sweet smile, "what in all hells are you talking about? Now run!"

And so Zari did.

Dani moved close to Nieme as they picked up their pace. "Oh so willing," she purred. "This was a wonderful idea. Now we have three, and all three so perfect. We have the beginning of our harem."

"This one makes me uneasy, my love," she whispered. "She reeks of Jae Dyn Brael."

Dani reached out briefly and nodded. "So, she does. Wouldn't that be tragic though? For us to ruin Jae Dyn Brael's special padawan. Doesn't the prospect excite you? Just imagine... Though, I think I would be very pleased to have Jae Dyn Brael as one of our slaves as well. She's suited to the life."

"I imagine she'd be proud of us right now." Nieme giggled. "We should thank her in advance for her congratulations." With a shrill peal of laughter, Nieme shoved Zari through the trees and into the opening bearing their speeder. "Get in!"

As ordered, Zari scrambled inside, followed by Tala and Ferrig. Once they were inside, Dani grinned mischievously at Nieme. "So, are you feeling like an empress now, my love? I certainly am. Come, our new palace awaits us and our harem."

Nieme waved a hand forward, pointing in the direction that would most expediently get them to where they would rule. "And plough down those Jedi Master-Meddlers while you're at it."

"Gladly," Dani crooned wickedly as she revved up the drive of the speeder. The speeder shot off in the direction Nieme had indicated. Leading the charge of Jedi Masters were Laedra and Koran. The speeder's power plant roared as Dani sent it speeding toward the Masters. Wild laughter filled the speeder as the Masters all frantically leapt out of the way to avoid being run over. Before they could recover, the Dark Jedi were gone, maneuvering through the forest at speeds that only one aided by the Force could maintain.

"They're quick," Dani said, still giggling. "Not easy to run them down when they flee."

"As long as we clipped them." Nieme grinned and emitted a howl of triumph as the speeder launched forward, snapping tree branches and sending up a flurry of leaves behind them. Looking over her shoulder at their three prisoners, she told them, "Hang on tight. This is going to be one fun ride."

Tala grinned up at Nieme, though it could have also been Ferrig's arms around her that were contributing to her mood. Zari forced herself to grin, though she couldn't deny a thrill in what they were doing. She just hoped the feelings of alarm she was experiencing were just overly exaggerated. If not, she...she was in big trouble.

---

"Rescue, Part 3"
Rylaa Lyssander - Criminal
Issnel Tilat - Trandoshan Bounty Hunter - NPC
Lani Visip - Human Smuggler - NPC
Sparks - Human Slicer - NPC
Various other NPCs

Location: Drogen Shipyards - Storage Level 426
Date: Lythe 23, 4ABY

***

"What do you know about this level?" Lani asked the young slicer beside her. They were standing in front of the turbolift doors at the 426th level of the Drogen Shipyards. Dim lighting from old glowbulbs barely illuminated the dusty decking. Several of the durasteel deck plates looked to have been removed and one seemed to have a nest in the wiring. There was a musty smell in the air, as though the air freshers were not working properly. A gentle hum filled the area, the huge machinery of the shipyards working in the background.

"It's largely unused. It was a storage level for some time back when the shipyards were first set up. But since things have died down, everything was mostly taken out." He scratched his chin. "There's a few lowlifes and crims down here, mostly those that can't make it up top. Every once in awhile you'll find a crazy wandering by himself."

Lani glanced at him. "What are the chances of running into something armed?"

"Pretty good. They probably won't mess with us if you've got your piece showing though, blaster fire sometimes brings heat from Security."

"Good." Lani freed the DL-44 from its holster. She reached into one of her many pockets and pulled out a small taclight assembly. This she attached to the underside of the pistol. "I like it that way."

The slicer looked at the massive blaster pistol wide-eyed. "Remind me again why I'm going down here with you?"

"Because I'm paying you a Hutt's ransom." She checked the charges on the pistol. Full Charge. Good.

"Oh... right." The kid grinned. "I almost forgot for a second."

"What's your name anyway, kid?" Lani tested the light on the pistol. "Never know when you're going to get vaped and I like to know who I'm dying beside."

"My pals call me Sparks, seeing as I'm so good with computers and other gadgets. Don't really know my real name, seeing as I ain't got no parents. Hey, do you have a spare blaster bychance?"

"No."

"Oh... uhh... ok." He seemed crestfallen.

She handed him her handpad. The mini-datapad already had the info Sparks had sliced overlaid onto a map of the shipyard. "That makes you the navigator." He took it, but didn't seem happy about it. He'd seen one too many holos and even though Lani was the hero, the sidekick got to play with blasters too. And wasn't he the sidekick? "Come-on, we can't wait all day."

He nodded and they started down the corridor. Some species of vermin raised its head to glare at them as they passed its nest, but they ignored it and kept on walking. The passageway they were in was rather narrow, barely an armlength across, and very winding. It was almost fifteen minutes before they were able to leave the tight confines of the corridor. They rounded a corner and stepped into a vast space.

The space they were in was about forty to fifty feet across and much more brightly lit than the passage they were leaving behind. Determining the beginning and end was impossible, due to the curvature of the station, making it an obvious loop. Plasteel boxes, crates, and bins of various sizes littered the deck. Some looked to have been stacked professional, many higher than a wookiee, while others looked as if they had fallen from a repulsor lift. Piles of junk and scrap dotted the area.

"What the hell is this place?" Lani wondered aloud.

"This is the cargo retrieval and drop-off area. The lifter droids and cargo skims used to come this way. A lot of these boxes still have stuff in them, but most are empty. This runs almost the entire perimeter of the shipyard, with doors to the storage modules being nearest the center. It used to be pretty busy, but nowadays it's really only used by crazies looking for a thrilling repulsorboard race. Occasionally Security comes down here and roughs up a few thugs, bugs the homeless, and make nuisances of themselves. Just to show that they have a presence here."

Lani eyed the kid out of the corner of her eye. "You seem to switch between slang and professional Basic a lot. Mark of a genius perhaps? Just how old are you anyway?"

Sparks blushed a little. "Well, maybe not genius. I learned the slang around here to fit in, and sometimes it comes out without me meaning to, but I mostly like to talk like an adult." He looked up with a smile. "You know, I'll be fourteen here in a few months. That's galactic standard, not local. It's only a guess though, really. My buddy Mikal in medical did some tests as a favor, and that's what they came up with." He consulted the handpad he carried. "Hey, we need to turn left to get there the quickest."

Lani nodded. "Alright." They started walking down the old cargo run. Old instincts began to return to her. She started to notice the little details in everything. The way that space in the boxes could hide a foe. How that huddled mass of rags might have a sentry droid hidden underneath. She began to walk more like she did when she was younger as well. More flowing, graceful. Muscle memory not tapped in years came unbidden to her. As they passed between a rather large stacked pile of boxes, the cold barrel of a blaster rifle was pressed against her neck. She heard Sparks gasp as the same was done to him.

"Don't move, missy," a hard voice said. Lani thought she detected a hint of spice on the man's breath. "The boss wants to talk to..."

No time was wasted. Instincts long since forgotten wrenched control of her body in an instant. Time seemed to slow, and she had all of it she would ever need. Her left leg shot out behind her with blinding speed and she caught the man in the shin, the normally strong bone cracking from the force. At the same time her hand whipped up and she snapped two shots at the human covering Sparks with a blaster carbine. The green bolts slammed into his knee, severing the leg at that location. He had barely begun to cry out and fall when she whirled around to meet her first assailant, who had not even recovered from her first blow.

She placed that barrel of her large blaster pistol underneath his neck and pulled the trigger once. His head exploded in a shower of flesh and bone. Her next cross-body shot took the second man full in the face as he fell. Both bodies hit seconds apart.

Lani froze in a half crouched position. Her senses expanded once again, taking in every minute detail. She had performed flawlessly, every bit of her going into the art she had been training at since she was barely able to walk. Her former master would have called her sloppy, though, told her to train harder. He was never satisfied and always pushed her to top herself in everything she did. Lani ran her eyes over the bodies of the two humans she had just coldly executed. That's what it was, an execution - they were no match for her at that range, their first mistake being to even get that close. By the gear they carried, however, they were probably professionals, not just thugs. That was a standard issue Imperial E-11 blaster rifle, not exactly easy to come by.

Slowly, she began to straighten. Every one of her muscles twitched with the urge to be used. It was an almost frightening display. It was also one of the reasons her callsign had been FIREBRAND. Both for her brilliant red hair and for her ability to seem so calm one moment before exploding into a flurry of activity the next. Firebrand, that name running through her mind sent a cold shiver down her spine and brought her back to reality. Those memories had been quashed for a reason.

She heard breathing behind her and once again instincts took over. She whirled around, ready to shove a hand down the throat of the person foolish enough to attack her. Her hand stopped a mere millimeters from Sparks' nose. His eyes crossed down to look at the fist that almost cleaved his head in two. He gulped loudly. "I thought you said you weren't a Jedi." His voice held a bit of awe in it. Reality finally broke down her old barriers and she began to breathe normally again.

"Like I said, I'm not." She smiled fondly at the boy.

"I've never even heard of someone moving that fast. Except in the holos, and even then it was always a Jedi."

"It's all a matter of training. All you need is focus training, and you can do anything. That's what my old master used to tell me." She bent down to search the bodies, there might be something of use on them. "Grab that carbine," she told Sparks. "It'll be easier for you to handle than the rifle."

"Ok." Sparks slipped the handpad into his pocket. He picked up the carbine and checked it over like he had seen Lani do with her pistol.

"You seem awfully calm for a kid who just saw two people die." She unclipped the two grenades one of the men had on his belt and put them in her thigh pocket. Those might come in handy later.

"I've lived in the underbelly of this shipyard for my entire life. I've seen men die before, and I'll probably see it again."

"Yeah, well you really ought to stay away from this stuff if you want to live to see your next birthday." Except for a few credit chips, nothing else was of use.

"After this is over I'll have enough to go planetside anyway. I've got family down there I can look up. So where did you learn all those crazy moves, huh? I bet is was Rebel Special Forces, right? Like in Sergeant Flash and his Rebel Commandoes! That would have been cool. Fighting the Evil Empire, blasting stormtroopers left and right!" He began to mimic shooting the Empire's infamous white armored troopers with his newly acquired carbine. It seemed that even though his manner of speech implied maturity, he was still a child at heart. Lani pinned him in place with an icy glare.

"I don't like to talk about my past." She fired a quick shot at the rifle still lying on the deck, slagging the trigger assembly.

"Awww, come on," Sparks pleaded.

"No," was all she said. Lani stood up and began to walk back down the lane, keeping an eye out for new danger. She doubted that there would just be these two. Anybody who could take Rylaa by surprise had to be a professional, and professionals tended to come in packs.

"Look, I promise I won't tell anyone. I'll even reduce my fee by 500 credits!" This was getting annoying, but Lani decided that it couldn't hurt. Well, wouldn't hurt him anyway.

"Alright, but you have to promise never to bring the subject up again." He nodded enthusiastically in reply. Lani stopped to collect herself. "I didn't start out as a Rebel. I was CompForce for ten years before I ever thought of joining the Alliance. Hell, I probably killed more rebels than I've ever fought beside. And just as many Imperials."

"You were an Imp? Emperor's Balls, didn't see that coming. So what made you have a change of heart?"

"Let's walk and talk, huh?" They continued down the cargo lane. "My squad had just finished pacifying a large town on a planet called New Avalon, a backwater world on the other side of the galaxy. I was called Firebrand then, a callsign I used for many years. We were sitting on the rubble of what used to be the local cantina eating our rations. Now, Stormtroopers always get the glory when it comes to fighting, as they like to die valiantly in mass numbers. But when the going gets tough, the tough call in CompForce. We are the specialists when it comes to this sort of thing. Always in the thickest of the shit, smiling the whole time. We were tough, we were badasses, and damnit, we made sure everyone knew it.

"Unlike a stormtrooper, though, a CompForce trooper is actually like a security agent, with CompForce as a whole more like a police organization. Our priority was to protect the citizens of the Empire, even from themselves. And we did do a lot of good most of the time. Saving planets from pirates, rebels, that sort of thing. But every once in awhile we were called upon to do something like this. A Pacification Mission. Basically, leveling a city, mostly from orbit, and then sending us in to clean up, since we were the urban specialists. I ate the Empire's propaganda. Yeah, I turned a blind eye to many of the things we did. I even ignored what we were really doing that day, since I was the perfect CompForce trooper. Then everything turned around." Her mind replayed the events as she spoke. Memories she had never again hope to think about surfaced.

"A little girl happened to walk into our camp. She could not have been more than four Galactic Standard years old. She had no way of knowing that we were the monsters that had just assisted in destroying everything she knew and loved. She came to us because her parents were good, honest Imperial citizens and had told her to find the police if anything went wrong. Well, we were usually the police, but not that day. One of the troopers who was sitting next to me calmly pulled out his sidearm and shot her in the head without looking. Nobody said anything, nobody cared. Our orders had been to pacify everything left living. What had just happened opened my eyes to everything that I had never seen. To how the Empire really was, and how foolish I had been to believe in them. I deserted the next day, simple walked away and never returned. By the end of the week, I was off planet and on my way to Corellia. Within a couple months I was an active member of the Alliance. I never looked back." Lani felt drained, as if she had just bared her soul.

Sparks looked touched, as if he realized the seriousness of what he had just heard. "So how long were you a rebel?"

"Four years. That last four of the Rebellion really. I left just after the formation of the New Republic. You may not have heard about it, but I fought on Hoth. If you haven't, look it up, it's in the holos somewhere." She weaved her way around a pile of debris. "But enough of that, I'm tired of talking about it. How close are we?"

Sparks fished out the handpad and glanced at it. "Should be just up here. It looks like it's an old liquid storage unit. I wond...urk." Lani slammed her arm into his chest. She maneuvered him behind a box and crouched down. The line of plasteel crates in front of them looked like a barrier. That was unusual, and it smelled of trouble.

"There's probably some trouble up ahead. Let me take a look. Cover me with that carbine of yours, huh?" As Sparks crouched behind the box and brought his carbine up to his shoulder, Lani duck-walked cautiously forward. Almost as if on cue, three men, a Rodian, and a Bith popped up from behind the crates and opened fire. Blaster bolts splattered around her and she dove for cover behind a large pile of stacked boxes and crates. Several green bolts flew back at the attackers as Sparks did his job in covering her. Blast! This is probably going to being the whole damn Security force down on us.

Lani pressed her back against the boxes and leaned out a little. She could she the Rodian and one of the men crouched behind the barricade firing at Sparks. She carefully aimed her blaster at the Rodian and fired, but the green skinned alien moved enough that her shot flew harmlessly over his head. The shot brought the attention of the man next to him, who happened to have a light repeating blaster, and a stream of bolts began to eat their way through the plasteel of her cover. There was more than one way to play this particular game. Frag it, Security will probably take its time getting down here, so let's go for broke.

She slipped both of the C95 Fragmentation Grenades that she picked up earlier out of her pocket. Looks like I was right, they are going to come in handy.

The grenades where a pair of silver spheres with a digital display and an arming stud. The display read <<30 SECONDS>>. Perfect. She depressed the arming studs of both grenades, crouched down, and rolled them both towards the barrier of crates. The little metal spheres rolled unnoticed up to one of the boxes and rested gently against it. Lani counted down in her head.

10... 9... 8... 7...

A raspy voice cried out in pain, sounded like a Bith. Sparks must have gotten one.

4... 3... 2... 1...

Boom, she mouthed silently.

Fire bloomed from the grenades. Shrapnel from the blast shredded both plasteel and flesh. Boxes and crates shattered from the concussion and shards flew screaming past Lani's cover. A quarter-inch piece of plasteel popped out from the box mere centimeters from her ear. Lani eyed it carefully. Fortunately, she had just managed to get her hands over her ears, but still they rang like the blast had gone off next to her. The world sounded like a waterfall rushing past. When the maelstrom calmed down, she poked her head out from behind her broken cover and peered through the smoke to survey her handiwork.

The explosion had torn a hole easily six feet across in the deck, the various wires and conduits previously hidden there were sparking angrily at the intrusion. Most of the barrier had been destroyed, the plasteel not being able to hold up to the force exerted by ten pounds of Mesonic explosive. Those boxes that did survive were now strewn about. One of the still smoking rubble piles moved a little and groaned. One of the thugs must still be alive.

Big boom.

"Frag me," a voice said behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Sparks standing there, carbine in hand and gaping at the destruction she had wrought.

"The whole damned station probably knows we're here now, come on!" Her hearing began to clear as the effects of the blast wore off. "I can practically hear the alarms ringing now."

Lani took off at a brisk jog towards the door Sparks had indicated previously. Along the way she booted the human emerging from the rubble heap in the head, knocking him cold. Hopefully he'll die from his wounds.

The durasteel door slid open as they approached, revealing exposed piping and another door at the end of another long corridor. Lani and Sparks carefully entered, prepared for anything. The sudden scurrying of a rodent rushing across the floor brought a flurry of blasts from the slicer. She looked at him. He looked back with a sheepish smile on his face. "Sorry, got a little nervous." She rolled her eyes at him and shook her head.

"Let's go." They walked cautiously down towards the door on the far side.

***

There was a rumble and the deck shook. It sounded like a large explosion nearby, but it was muffled by the thick layers of durasteel and insulation. Issnel hissed with pleasure.

"Or perhaps your friends won't be joining us after all." He chuckled to himself. "A pity." He backed off and brought out his commlink. "Alik, Nitch, status." Static. "Alik, Nitch, report your status, now." More static. Issnel hissed evilly and said several unsavory things in his own language.

He glided close and brought his face next to Rylaa's. He was breathing heavy and his breath still stank. "You have become quite troublesome these past few hours, you and your friends. I've made up my mind to kill you." There was the muffled sound of blaster fire and several bolts splattered against the door. "But first I will allow you to watch your friends die."

Before Rylaa could say anything a dirty cloth was shoved in his mouth, while another was wrapped around his mouth to complete the gag. Issnel pulled a large, wicked looking vibrodagger from a sheath on his leg and faded into the darkness.

---

"Rescue, Part 4"
Rylaa Lyssander - Criminal
Issnel Tilat - Trandoshan Bounty Hunter - NPC
Lani Visip - Human Smuggler - NPC
Sparks - Human Slicer - NPC

Location: Drogen Shipyards - Storage Level 426
Date: Lythe 23, 4ABY

***

Lani and Sparks stood on either side of the door leading to where hopefully Rylaa's captor was, maybe even Rylaa himself. Lani reached up and thumbed her taclight on. The bright lance of light was almost blinding even though it was pointed up. She was breathing heavy as the suspense built. Go for it, damnit! She looked over at Sparks, nodded, and the slicer hit the door release. The door slid open with a slight hiss and Lani snapped the pistol up, the light shining directly on the struggling form of Rylaa Lyssander.

He was completely nude and tied securely to a chair, his hands behind him and tied with a rag. Rylaa looked like hell. Dark, dried blood covered much of his body, covering many of his wounds. Whole strips of skin had been peeled away from several areas and red muscle shone through wetly. He jerked against his bonds, surprise and pain evident in his eyes. There was something else there as well... fear.

Lani began to pay attention to her surroundings, knowing that something must be coming. She scanned slowly back and forth, taking the old holding tank in. The only light in the room came from her taclight and the meager light coming from the doorway. Water and some other, darker substance pooled in several areas on the deck. A flicker of movement, Lani jerked her head to the right, narrowly avoiding the full arm thrust with the knife. The blade hummed as it slid by her ear. There was a meaty thock and a gurgle behind her as the blade drove itself through Sparks' neck. He had come up close behind her when she froze.

FUCK! A cool rage washed over her and the old instincts came to her again. This time, however, she had complete control of her body. She reached up to trap the arm over her shoulder, but the green scaled arm was already gone. It was almost silent, the only sound coming from Sparks' still twitching corpse. It took a couple seconds, but in her heightened state the darkness seemed to give way. A shape coalesced.

Lani's hand whipped up even as she dove to one side. She snapped two shots at the shape in midair, but it moved impossibly fast to avoid both the blaster bolts and the light. The bastard was good. A quick sweep of the chamber with the taclight revealed nothing. A flicker in front of her. Lani bent backwards, her head brushing the floor, as a green scaled, naked Trandoshan dived over, claws outstretched. Issnel twisted in midair and swung his foot down as he passed overhead, connecting squarely with her chin. The force of the blow knocked her to the rest of the way to the ground and sent her sliding through one of the pools of water. DL-44 flew out of her hand and spun over to the wall, the light shining down the center of the chamber. Lani kicked up and slid down into the Forraderi position of Teras Kasi, a fluid stance from which a fighter could move in any direction.

"You are good," Issnel said as he slipped into the Riding Bantha stance.

Lani licked the blood running from her split lip, savoring the coppery taste. "I'm better," she replied, then launched herself at the scaled alien. The Trandoshan avoided her initial jab only to be caught in the jaw with an elbow as it came spinning around. He brushed off the blow and sliced upwards with his knife. The serrated blade caught the flesh of Lani's arm and tore a chunk almost the size of her thumb out. The pain only seemed to invigorate her as she chopped the blade out of Issnel's hand, catching the handle before it reached the ground. From a sheath on her back, Lani brought out a second blade. She spun to face the Trandoshan, a smile on her face. The alien looked relaxed, standing with his arms by his sides.

"Echani is almost a dead art," he hissed and crouched down, ready to spring.

"Yeah, I know a little," Lani replied and she too coiled for a spring. They both launched at each other and began their dance of death. Punches, kicks, jabs, thrusts, and bites were exchanged between the pair. Blood flowed freely on both sides and claws and knives found their targets. Issnel soon managed to knock both blades from Lani's hand, but he made a mistake. On the kick that followed, he left his leg hanging in the air a fraction of a second too long. She seized on the opportunity, rushed in to shoulder the leg, and slammed the trandy on his back. The blow knocked the air from his lungs. Lani wrenched the knee painfully to the right and heard a pop as it came out of its socket. Issnel hissed in pain and jerked upright.

Lani slid behind him and wrapped a surprisingly strong arm around his neck while placing the other on his head to hold it in place. Both of them were breathing hard and blood from Lani's nose mixed with the blood from the deep gash on Issnel's shoulder. Sweat ran down her face in a torrent, it matted her hair to her head. Drops sprinkled the Trandoshan as she leaned down near his ear.

"Told you I'm better." Issnel, sensing what was going to happen next, began to scramble. His claws sparked against the steel deck of the tank as she twisted sharply with all her strength. The snap of his neck breaking echoed through the chamber, a death knoll. Lani looked down at Issnel, looked into frightened red eyes that stared unblinking. The Trandoshan regenerative powers could not heal this in time, and within several minutes, the body shuddered and the life faded from its eyes. She lowered the body to the deck, one gesture of respect to what had been a worthy opponent.

Lani stood up slowly, blood oozing from her wounds. Her lip was already beginning to swell and one of her eyes would be black in an hour. Adrenaline left her, leaving a bone weary exhaustion in its place. As her breathing returned to normal she looked over her shoulder at the body of the teenage slicer that she had barely met that morning but had agreed to fight along side her anyway. He lay facedown in a pool of water red with blood. She then looked over to Rylaa. He looked back with curiosity evident on his face. She smiled slightly and hurried over to untie him.

The gag came of first, and much spitting followed. "I was wondering when you were going to remember me," he joked weakly. His voice was tight with pain. Lani bent to retrieve one of the lost vibroknives.

"Well, you were sitting so quietly, I almost forgot you were there," she replied as she sliced through his leg restraints.

"I didn't want to interrupt your dance with the lizard." He rubbed his wrists as she sliced through the bonds holding his hands. "Or your little revelation that you really can kick the crap out of every blasted person on this planet."

She smiled and looked at him with bemusement. "Always with the jokes, even at a time like this."

"It keeps me sane." Rylaa, slowly and in obvious pain, got to his feet. Flakes of dried blood drifted from his body, giving the impression he had really bad dandruff. "See if a jumpsuit is over there, willya? And maybe a trauma patch, I could use the tranqs."

Lani shook her head slightly and muttered something about the stubbornness of men. She walked over to where her pistol lay in a bloody puddle and picked it up. After a quick swipe against her pants to clean it off she used its light to find a pair of workman's coveralls hanging on a bolt. A quick pat-down revealed several trauma patches, thin strips of plastic with an adhesive on one end, they slowly released tranquilizers and painkillers into the bloodstream. The coverings came off of two of the patches as they were slapped onto the back of Rylaa's neck. He sighed as the painkillers kicked in.

"Who's the kid?" Rylaa asked, motioning towards the body of Sparks. More dried blood flaked and fell off.

Lani looked down at the body again. "He was a friend. He's the one that found you."

"Sorry, I can only hope that he wasn't close."

"He wasn't. Let's get the hell out of here, troopers will be coming down soon. This isn't exactly a sanctioned operation you know. Can you walk?" Lani holstered her pistol.

Rylaa took a couple of experimental steps. "Yeah, those trauma patches are working like champs. Don't expect me to do anything else though." He worked his way gingerly into the coveralls, which were several sizes too large. "What about him?"

Lani glanced down at the body again. "He'll be better off here, at least this way they can get word to what's left of his family." They walked out the door slowly, trying not to give off any sound. She could hear the sound of armored boots hitting durasteel in the distance. "Ok, we go this way." A little bit of smoke still hung in the area that her grenades had gone off, and they picked their way around the rubble.

"Where the hell are we going? Those bastards can catch us easy." Rylaa looked over his shoulder at the approaching bootsteps.

"We'll think of something. Maybe we can blend in, become one of the crazies that have down here." Lani started to look around.

"You're nuts. I don't know if you realize this, but we both look like we took a meat bath, while the meat was fresh and bloody. Not to mention you look as if an insane T'surr decided you would look best in rags."

"Alright, we'll hide somewhere until it passes over. Maybe in one of these boxes?"

"Sure."

They began to search the larger boxes for a suitable hiding spot.

---

"E & E"
By: Rylaa Lyssander - Criminal - PC
Lani Vissip - Smuggler - NPC+

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Lythe 23, 4ABY

***

The better part of the last hour had been spent evading the security patrols looking for them. The two bloody and battered fugitives had so far managed to elude capture by ducking into boxes, under piles of scrap, and into all the nifty hiding places an old storage area has to offer. At one point they had disturbed a PHS addict, who screamed loudly and forced Lani to clobber him with her blaster butt. Spark's map of the shipyards, still loaded into Lani's handpad, provided them with an invaluable resource as they worked their way to one of the lifts. Speed was primary, however, as blood loss and exhaustion were taking its toll.

"Careful up here to the right," he murmured. Lani's hand shot out as they hurried past a stacked pile of crates, catching a dirty Nikto waiting to mug them with a pipe. Her fist caught the alien in the chin, knocking him out cold. Rylaa's natural instinct, as well as a generous dollop of luck, had also become an invaluable tool.

"I still don't understand how you do that," Lani whispered as they passed the peacefully sleeping Nikto.

"The Force is strong with me," Rylaa responded in as mystical a voice as he could muster. Lani couldn't help but snicker.

"You don't actually believe in that nonsense, do you?"

Rylaa looked up, surprised at her response. "I thought all you Rebellion types believed in the Force? All the 'May the Force be with you' malarkey and stuff."

"Not all of us. You know me, I believe in the self. Anybody can do what they want with the right amount of training and self discipline."

He chuckled. "Spoken like a true student of the martial arts. But tell me then, miss know-it-all, what about all the nifty things Jedi were able to do? I saw one in action once, and I don't seem to recall you throwing guys around with the wave of your hand."

"You just weren't looking hard enough," she quipped. They'd had this conversation several times before, she always won.

"Bah." He dismissed her with a half-hearted wave of his hand, another win. "How much further anyway?"

Lani consulted the handpad. "Should just be up here around this pile... Sith Spit!" Lani dove behind a fallen pile of green plasteel crates, grabbing Rylaa as she went down. Up ahead, guarding the door to the lift, was a pair of shipyard security guards. They weren't anything special, like the guards she had encountered earlier. Just a couple of grunt troopers assigned to a door and looking bored about it. Rylaa peered around the side of a crate and chuckled.

"You ever notice how guards always seem to come in twos? You never find the lone guard anymore. It's never the one skinny, nervous new recruit that we get but a pair of veterans."

"This is no time for jokes, Rylaa. We've both lost a lot of blood and won't last much longer. I'm surprised you're still going." Lani slid down the crate to sit next to him.

"I'm a lot tougher than I look, you should know that. Besides, that stim you gave me is going strong." He looked out at the oblivious guards again. "So, how are we going to get past tweedledum and tweedledummer?"

Lani thought about it for a minute before a rather sly smile stole across her face. "Are you up for a little acting?"

"I'm always up for a little acting, you know that. Oh I get it," Rylaa grinned, "You want to try our old favorite. I go out and act wounded, not much difficulty there, while you sneak around and clobber the poor saps." He chuckled evilly. "Nothing liked the tried and true, huh?"

"Yeah, same routine we used on Kandrit IV."

He picked himself up and dusted his coveralls a bit. Blood had seeped through the thick fabric in several places. "Alright, let's do this." Rylaa lurched out from behind the boxes moaning like a banshee and clutching his arm. He stumbled towards the pair of guards who, upon seeing him, had raised their weapons in the classic guard reaction to everything. He moaned and took several more steps. "It's awful back there, just awful! I need some help! Come on!" The guards were well trained though, and they didn't budge. So he a took a dive, right into the very hard decking. The impact broke open several of his wounds and the blood added to the effect. Finally the men put their weapons down and came jogging over to help. They hadn't gone very far when Lani's hands reached up and slammed their helmeted heads together, making a sound reminiscent to a pair of coconuts falling off a large building. Rylaa couldn't help but wince.

Lani stepped over the bodies of the unconscious men and kneeled down next to him. "Are you alright? That looked like it hurt." A moan escaped from his lips as he took a mental inventory of his new aches and pains.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just got a bit carried away." He struggled to rise to his feet. "Help me up here, huh?" After she had helped him to his non-to-steady feet he took a deep breath and looked up at the beautiful redhead. "Thanks... for everything."

She smiled. "Thanks huh? That's not a word I usually hear from you."

"Yeah, well... don't rub it in, alright. I really appreciate what you did for me, not many people would have. I uh, I'm just not used to saying thanks. That's all."

"Why, Rylaa, my dear, I do believe you're blushing." And indeed he was.

"Silence, woman! Blast, I can never have a moment of peace." He grumbled good naturedly and limped towards the lift doors. Lani, with a private smile, followed him. The doors flooshed open cheerily and they stepped in. Rylaa slumped against the wall and to the floor, exhaustion taking over and his stim patch finally wearing off. "Holy Shit, talk about a crash. I've come off of three day binges feeling better than this."

"Don't worry, we're on our way to medical. I know of a back way in, just be prepared to pay some real cred. It's for rich snoots with nothing better to do than take up a whole lobby by themselves."

"Oh, ok then," he mumbled. "I'm just going to take a nap here for a minute." His head lolled to one side and his eyes started to close. Then he suddenly snapped awake and looked around. "Where the fuck is my droid?"

---

"An Unexpected Ally"
By: Rylaa Lyssander - Criminal - PC
Lani Vissip - Smuggler - NPC+
Mikal - Doctor - NPC

Location: Drogen Shipyards
Date: Lythe 23-24, 4ABY

***

As the lift slid to a halt, Lani toed the slumbering form of Rylaa. He snorted awake and look lazily up at her. "Are we there yet?" he asked with a yawn.

"We've only been in the lift for a few minutes, Rylaa." She reached down to help him to his feet. "It's not as if these things take forever."

He took the hand and hauled his considerable weight up. Lani didn't budge. "Huh, could have fooled me. Emperor's Balls, you have any more of those stim patches? My head feels like I've got a wookie tap-dancing on it."

"Come on now, you can't have another one. They're not good for you and one more will probably send you over the edge." She took his arm and helped him out of the lift. "The entrance to medical is just around this corner and down the hall a little. Can you make it that far?" Lani let go of his arm and watched him stumble.

"Yeah yeah, I'm fine. I can do this," he replied uncertainly. "Hey, do me a favor."

"What?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Call someone and tell them to stop the room from spinning." Then Rylaa's eyes rolled back and he slumped to the floor. The events from the last few days, annoyed at having been kept at bay by stims, had jumped him in force. Lani, feeling the affects herself, sighed knowingly. It was always up to her to drag his big ass out of trouble. Well, might as well get to work. She hadn't gone through all this trouble just to have him die on her.

Lani knelt down and scooped up Rylaa's arm. Throwing it over her shoulder, she stood up and hauled the squat man to his feet. It wasn't that far to walk, but in her exhausted state, her body screaming for rest, Rylaa's 250 lb. bulk seemed like a ton. She dragged him around the corner and started down the passage to medical. About 30 feet down, a set of doors was being guarded by a pair of hired security guards. I hate it when he's right.

The guards, resplendent in their navy blue and red uniforms, eyed the two battered humans with ill regard towards them. These did not look their normal clientele, so therefore they could not have the credit that was required to use this exclusive entrance. The older man, an old Imperial veteran, was quite satisfied with this knowledge and made no move to help the struggling figure. The younger man, a rookie with only a few weeks in the company, took an involuntary step forward before he was nailed into place by a look from his senior. Lani couldn't believe her eyes. Rylaa was dying right here in her arms and these assholes wanted to act like thy didn't notice.

"Hey, dickwads! Call for some fardling help! Echuta!" She called over to them.

Rookie eyed his partner again. Veteran, seeing that the rookie didn't know what to do, decided to take the first action. He raised his gloved hand out and called, "Halt! This entrance is for exclusive members only." There, now these vagrants would take themselves to the other gate, where everyone else had to wait. When the tall redheaded woman didn't stop, he couldn't quite comprehend the situation. When he was a guard for the Imperials, civilians always did what they were told. With a nasty comment for his boss's now-obvious lack of intelligence, Rookie reached behind him and slapped a blue button. These people needed help, whether or not they had the cred.

A klaxon went off somewhere nearby and within minutes a team of medics rushed out the double doors. Lani, upon seeing the white coveralls of the medics, dumped Rylaa rather unceremoniously to the floor. Finally, they were really safe. Her last thought as she fell into sleep's gentle hands was that she hoped they wouldn't squeal on them. Then the floor rushed up to greet her.

***Medical***

It felt like he was floating. In what, he didn't know. But whatever it was, it was warm and felt so very very good. There was a tingling sensation over his body, as though millions of tiny soldiers were marching their way around. He briefly wondered where he was, what he could be doing to feel this good. Had he taken drugs without knowing it? Perhaps he had been hit on the head and this illusion of floating was his mind's way of coping with the fact he was face down in a gutter somewhere. Or perhaps he should just open his eyes and find out. Yeah that was a good idea.

Rylaa opened his eyes to a world of liquid blue. Startled, he quickly scanned the area and found himself to be suspended in a tank of a gel-like substance. A large mechanical breathing device was strapped to the lower portion of his face and cool air was being supplied from oxygen tanks. Bacta, he realized. I'm in a bacta tank. Lani must have dragged my big ass all the way to medical. Damn her eyes, now I have to make up for this somehow. After a couple of minutes, his eyes adjusted to the warm liquid and he could see past the glass.

Lani was sitting naked on an examination table having her arm stitched together by a large Mon Cal. The blue skinned alien was wearing the white robes of a doctor that are common with his race. Seeing Lani's naked form however, had an immediate reaction on Rylaa's body. The female technician standing in front him, who had been taking readings on the tank, took a step back with her eyes widening in shock and appreciation. He almost felt embarrassed... almost. The woman reached out to press a button on the control panel. He tasted something briny as an inhalant was administered to him. The world swam and his vision grew cloudy. Then he was asleep again.

***Medical (Lythe 24)***

When next Rylaa awoke, he was in a bed. A very comfortable bed. He opened his eyes to find a huge yellow eye staring at him. Surprised, he blinked. So did the eye. He was unsure of what to do. Hopefully the owner of the eye would back up upon realizing that Rylaa was awake. It did and he recognized the blue skinned Mon Cal that was helping Lani.

"Ahhh good, I see that you are finally wake. This is good," the alien said in excellent Basic. "I am Doctor Mikal, and you are Rylaa Lyssander. Right?"

Damnit, he wished Lani hadn't used his real name. He was wanted in several areas and this could give him away. Well, he was too late to lie. "Yeah, I'm him."

"Excellent. I wish to let you know that your associate Mr. Ambrose has paid a very generous sum for your care. Your, shall we say, discreet, care." The Mon Cal leaned back and chuckled.

Mr. Ambrose, who the hell was that? An associate? Of what? Too many questions, and none of them he could ask here. "Good. Um, did Mr. Ambrose leave any other message for me?"

"Yes, actually. Other than letting us know that your lady friend would take care of you, he wanted me to let you know that your ship is fueled and ready for whenever you leave." The doctor blinked his huge eyes and made a quick entry into his datapad.

His ship was fueled and ready? Who the fuck was this "Mr. Ambrose" and how the fuck did he know Rylaa was on board? Furthermore, how the hell did he find Rylaa's ship since it was never officially registered under his name? This was getting weirder and weirder. "Thanks, Doc. What's the good word, anyway. How am I?"

The Mon Cal checked his datapad before answering. "Well, you had many deep wounds and were very dehydrated. You could have been treated without the aid of a full Bacta immersion but Mr. Ambrose was adamant that we get you on your feet as soon as possible because of some important work you had to take care of planetside. We estimate a full recovery. You should be out of here just after noon." The fish-like alien smiled. "Be sure to thank Mr. Ambrose for his generous contribution to our staff when you see him." With that he turned and walked out the door to the small, private room. A minute later, the door opened up and Lani stepped through. She was wearing a brand new set of cargo pants and a tight, form fitting blue shirt. She stepped over to his bedside and crouched down.

"How are you feeling?" she asked in a concerned voice.

"Better now that you're here," he answered smoothly.

"Don't start that crap now. Who the hell is this Ambrose character and how does he know us?"

Interesting, and rather unexpected. "You don't know either? I've been trying to figure that out since I woke up. He's obviously a man that can throw cred around like it's nothing. What his interest in us is, I have not a clue." He ran a hand down his face. "Doc says I'll be out of here by noon, what time is it?"

"About six in the morning. You were only in the tank a few hours."

"Good. The Doc gave me a message from this Ambrose saying that my ship was fueled and ready for me to go. That worries me. I didn't register my ship in my name when I landed."

Lani look puzzled. "That's strange. It seemed as if this guy knows all about us. But we don't know a thing about him."

"I think we're going to need somewhere to hide out for a little while. First because I want this incident up here to blow over, and second because I have no idea who the Ambrose guy might be and I'm not really sure that I want to meet him." Rylaa grabbed the glass sitting next to his bed and took a long drink of the greenish substance inside. It tasted slightly fruity and very sweet. "Any ideas? There must be some criminal element on-planet that we can contact. Hell, they might even give us a job."

"I can think of two off the top of my head. First there's Jadda the Hutt. He's like most Hutts, fat, slimy, and cunning as hell. He owns a pod racing circuit on one of the continents, though I forget the name of it right now. The other is Dargus Kandran. He's supposed to be a very smart, and very dangerous, man. I'd personally say that the Hutt is our best hope, since Dargus is an unpredictable element."

"I agree, but that last thing I really want to do is work for a Hutt. Can you get in touch with this Dargus fellow? I doubt beseeching him for assistance will work, so let's see about the job angle. If he's been around Coruscant then I know he's heard of Rising Thunder. Every criminal around there has heard of Rising Thunder. Maybe I can use that to my advantage." Rylaa stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Use what to your advantage, the fact that your criminal empire was overthrown and that went into hiding for several years. Then emerged and have so far only found one failure after another?"

"Good point. Though you didn't have to sound so smug. Ok, well. You know anything else about this Dargus guy?"

"Well, the word on the streets is that he's Jedi trained. Or at least that he carries around a pair of lightsabers."

"Not really a factor, the lightsabers. I knew a guy that carried around a lightsaber on his belt. Used to walk around telling people he was a Jedi until one day he actually tried to use the thing and cut off his own leg. But you know, if this guy really is Force trained, Jedi or not, he's doubly dangerous."

"The Jedi are indeed deadly with their weapon of choice, but I doubt the Force has anything to do with it."

"Well, whether or not the Force is real, and whether or not Dargus can use it, it won't matter if people believe he can. Belief is a powerful element and if Dargus is as smart as you say he is, he could manipulate those beliefs that suit his will. It doesn't take much to control the populous. A popular saying among con men is 'People Are Stupid,' which boils down to, 'People will believe what they want to believe, because they want to believe it.' "

"So what you're saying is that he might not even be able to use the weapons he carries. He just uses them as tools to convey the belief that he can use the Force."

"Correct. But on the other hand, he might actually be able to use the Force." After a look from Lani he hastily added, "That is if such a thing exists. It still makes him dangerous."

"Alright, we've spent all this time talking about how dangerous he is. Should we attempt to contact him anyway?"

"Unless you want to work for a Hutt." Rylaa allowed disgust to creep into his voice.

"Not really."

"Then go for it. But let's wait until we're off this floating rust bucket and on some real terra-firma. Which reminds me, do you have a ship?"

"No, I had to sell mine when I first got here."

"Looks like you're going to be riding with me. You're lucky that the Getaway is the older model Z-95. It's got the back seat still installed. It's going to be cramped though, the hyperdrive takes up quite a bit of room."

"That's fine, I've probably been in worse. So after your discharge at noon, let's head straight over there. We'll land in New Plouton, one of the largest cities, and grab a hotel room. Then let's get some decent clothing and a bite to eat." At the mention of food, Rylaa's stomach grumbled alarmingly loud. Lani smiled. "Guess I'm not the only one that's hungry."

"That plan sounds good to me. Now let me take a nap. Be back here just before noon." Lani agreed and left as he rolled over in his comfortable bed and went soundly asleep.

***Hanger Bay (later that day)***

Rylaa had been discharged from medical quickly and his records destroyed. Clients got what they paid for. His sleep, along with the Bacta treatment, a shower and a good shave, had done wonders for him. He was full of energy and wearing a new set of flight coveralls provided for by the medical staff. Him and Lani had made their way to the hangar without incident. When they stepped into the cavernous bay, they were greeted by a familiar figure that rolled up to them and whistled happily.

"Credit!" Rylaa exclaimed. "Where the frag have you been?" He kneeled down and gave the little R2 unit a hug. Credit whistled and beeped happily at being reunited with his master. Then he said something in binary that Lani couldn't understand. Rylaa, however, had been speaking binary since he learned to slice and understood the droid completely. "That's ok little buddy, we'll talk about your adventures when we get on planet, for now let's get the hell out of here."

The trio walked over to the Getaway, which was parked exactly where Rylaa had left it. In the few days he had been gone, the Getaway had been repainted, cleaned, and polished. She was a million times better looking than when he had first brought her in. He had only asked for fuel when he landed, so he could only assume that the cleaning and repairing was a product of their mysterious benefactor. He just hoped this 'Mr. Ambrose' didn't want anything in return.

"Alright gang, load up." Flight Technicians, who were on hand and ready for their departure, scrambled to get the ship ready. The techs on call were probably another of Mr. Ambrose's gifts. Credit was quickly hoisted into his slot on the wing of the spacecraft and settled in with a cheerful whistle. Lani climbed in next, squeezing into the cramped back seat with some difficulty. Rylaa placed a loving hand on the fuselage of his ship before climbing into the cockpit. She wasn't big, and she wasn't much, but she was his. Once inside he popped his earpiece in and keyed the mic.

"Drogen Control this is the Getaway. Request permission to enter the departure queue."

"Getaway, this is Drogen Control. Permission is granted to depart the station. You've been expected, Captain, and your clearance has already been passed. No need for the queue, take off at your leisure." The controller was female and seemed overly friendly towards him. Another of Ambrose's buyoffs? This guy was starting to get annoying in his own way, and Rylaa hadn't even met him yet.

"Roger that, Drogen Control. This is Getaway departing through gate one one seven, hangar five. Have a good day and thanks."

"Roger, copy gate one one seven, hangar five. Good luck out there, Getaway. Drogen Control, out."

The Getaway lifted off smoothly on repulsors and glided towards the gate. The tech working the forcefield gave them a thumbs up and they rocketed away. Rylaa cranked the throttle to max and opened her up as far as she would go. He flew by the control tower window and gave a 'wing waggle' in thanks before turning towards Tae'karada and, hopefully, a job.

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