A Bounty Hunter Named Jade, Part 1

Thrawn shook his head. “Preparing for the Sluis Van attack is the fleet’s top priority at the moment. No, I think we’ll subcontract this one out. I want you to send messages to all the major smuggling chiefs whose groups operate in this area—Brasck, Karrde, Par’tah, any others we have on file. Use their private frequencies and encrypts—a little reminder of how much we know about each of them should ensure their cooperation.” —Heir to the Empire

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Outside the cockpit canopy the starlines turned into stars, and with a lurch the Millenium Falcon exited hyperspace. After three days, they were finally here. “You can say that again, Chewie,” Han agreed as Chewbacca rumbled a comment from where he was sitting in the co-pilot‘s seat. Beyond the canopy they could both see the drive glows of maybe two-dozen other ships, all heading for the dark, rotating cylinder of Obsidian Station. “Look, I don’t like this place any more than you do,” Han added, turning to give the Wookiee a stern look. “But this is where the meeting was set, so this is where we go. Okay?”

Chewbacca responded with a noncommittal growl. Not that Han could blame him. Obsidian Station wasn’t exactly renowned for its hospitality to New Republic officials. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Which was probably, Han reflected, why Par’tah had picked it in the first place. “We getting any funny readings on any of our neighbors out there?” Han asked.

Chewbacca leaned back so Han could see his display. Private freighters, mostly, with one or two luxury yachts thrown in the mix to spice things up. All clearly sporting modifications beyond spec, but not so much to raise any over-inquisitive eyebrows. “Yeah, well, keep an eye out anyway, Chewie,” Han said, returning his attention to the pilot controls. “Just because there isn’t anything suspicious yet doesn’t there won’t be anything later.”

Behind them the cockpit door slid open, and Luke slipped through before it shut again. “I take it we’re here,” he said, casting a look out the canopy.

“We’re here,” Han confirmed. “You ever hear any of the stories about Obsidian Station, kid?”

“Not really,” Luke shook his head, dropping into the seat behind Chewbacca.

“The place makes Mos Eisley look like an Alderaanian ball,” Han told him, “or at least, it used to. It’s been a while since Chewie or I made it back here.”

“Bad memories?” Luke suggested.

Han shrugged. “Let’s just say the authorities weren’t sad to see us go.”

While all this had been going on Chewbacca had been gently easing them towards the dark mass in front of them. Slowly it filled up the Falcon’s canopy till all that could be seen was a black jumble of titanium and durasteel, occasionally spotted by tiny pinpricks of flickering lights. It reminded Han a little too much of his first, close-up look at the Death Star, all those years ago; and the memory made him shiver.

[Corelliyan freiyghter, thiys iys Obsiydiyan Statiyon Traffiyc Control,] their comm suddenly crackled in the singsong tones of the Ho‘Din language. [Iydentiyfy yourself and state your busiyness.]

Han tapped the comm switch. “This is the Millenium Falcon,” he said. Which the guy at the other end already knew; long gone were the days since the Falcon had needed to broadcast a fake transponder. “Requesting permission to land.”

[Permiyssiyon granted, Miylleniyum Falcon,] the response came back promptly. [Par’tah wiyll meet you once you have landed.]

“Did he say Par’tah?” Luke spoke up, and glancing back Han caught the look of surprise on his face.

“I guess we‘re expected,” Han said, turning back to the comm. “Copy that, Control. Falcon out.”

On his display a new light began flashing as Traffic Control activated the beacon that would guide them the rest of the way in. Han typed in a key, and the route appeared suddenly on his screen. Obsidian Station sported a couple of private docking bays along its outer ring (catering to a higher-paying clientele, no doubt), but most ships were routed through the main airlock to one of seven landing areas off the center shaft. It was to the latter that the Falcon had been assigned, to a spot not too far from the club where they were supposed to meet Par’tah. How considerate, Han reflected.

It was an easy task for Chewbacca to guide them through the open airlock/atmosphere barrier and down the central shaft to their assigned landing spot. The area was maybe only half-full, and without difficultly Chewbacca lowered the Falcon’s landing gear and then set them down on the hard durasteel. “Looks like a popular spot,” Luke observed dryly, nodding at the sparse handful of ships outside.

“Yeah, Par’tah always did know how to pick ‘em,” Han agreed, unstrapping himself and getting up from his chair. “Come on, kid. It doesn’t do to keep a lady waiting.”

There was the usual customs officer to meet them, waiting impatiently at the foot of the hatchway ramp. Han wasn’t sure if this was another agent of Par’tah’s or just a particularly incompetent bureaucrat, but after only a few cursory questions the officer handed them a map of the station and then waived them past, moving on to the next ship that had just landed.

“Well, that was easy,” Luke said as they passed through the spaceport arch and entered the station proper.

“I’ll say,” Han said, casting a look around. According to the map they’d just been handed, Par’tah’s club should be down the corridor to their right. “I guess being respectable has its advantages.”

They turned right. The station corridors were almost as empty as the landing area had been, and Han didn’t see more than a handful of people milling around. Mostly more Ho’Dins, although he also spied one or two other species, including what looked like a particularly wide Herglic. All of them were giving Han a respectable amount of room. Maybe it had something to do with the six-foot Wookiee trailing behind him, or else the lightsaber hanging conspicuously at Luke’s belt. Either way, he'd take it. “The locals are friendly, at least,” he observed.

“Like you said, Par’tah knows how to pick them,” Luke agreed. “Remind me again why we’re meeting her.”

“Par’tah’s a pretty big name in smuggling,” Han explained, checking the street signs as they went. “A couple months ago when Chewie and I were meeting with all the smuggling groups, Par’tah’s was the only one that expressed any interest in working with the Republic.”

“Did she take you up on the offer?”

“Not exactly,” Han admitted. “She’s a smuggler first and foremost, and smugglers don‘t trust governments
farther than they can spit. But Par’tah’s got no love for the Empire. If you really need someone to help sneak onto an Imperial base, Par’tah’s your man. Isn‘t that right, Chewie?”

Behind them Chewbacca growled his agreement. By now they’d come to one of the moving rampways that connected their level with the ones above and below. “Come on,” Han said, hopping on. “The club’s this way.”

They were supposed to meet Par’tah at a place called “23”: a chic sabacc casino on one of the lower levels. Han had never been to this particular club, or even heard of it before, though that didn’t necessarily mean anything; he hadn’t been to Obsidian Station in years, and anyway Lando was the real gambler between them. But Han knew Par’tah, and he knew she wouldn’t pick someplace that wasn’t at least a little respectable.

Their ramp reached the bottom, and Han and the others hopped off. The lower levels were even more sparsely populated than the upper ones, if that was possible: other than a couple Twi’lek hanging around near the ramp, Han didn’t see anyone.

Which probably made it all that much easier for Luke to notice their tail. “Don‘t look,” the kid murmured suddenly, “but I think we’re being followed.”

“No kidding,” Han said, trying anyway to glance behind them as casually as he could. He couldn‘t see anyone yet. “How long, do you think?”

“I can’t be sure,” Luke said. “Maybe since the landing area.”

“Hmmm,” Han responded, shifting his head for a better peek. Yes, there he was now: Han could spy someone maybe fifty meters back, hugging the wall on the other side of the corridor. Whoever the guy was, he was good—Han wouldn't even have noticed him if Luke hadn’t pointed him out.

“What do you want to do about it?” Luke asked.

“Probably just another one of Par’tah’s people,” Han guessed. “She likes to keep tabs on things. Anyway it‘s too late to do something.” On their left he had noticed a sign bearing the numbers 23, flashing in big, bright fluorescents over the door of a mid-sized casino. “We’re here.”

* * *

[Message from Ma'nee,] Syl'va reported, listening to the singsong voice coming from her comlink. [Solo and Skywalker have just arriyved.]

Seated in a private booth near the back of the near-empty casino, Par’tah looked up from the data pad she had been reading. [Fiynally,] she said, setting the data pad aside. [Have her show them iyn.]

While Syl'va passed on the order Par’tah cast another look around the casino. Their booth had a good vantage of the place—the reason they’d chosen it, in fact—and from where she and Syl'va were sitting they could keep an eye on pretty much everyone who walked in or out. So it was easy for Par’tah to spy Skywalker and Solo as they suddenly appeared in the main entrance, with Solo’s Wookiee in tow. In front of them Par’tah could see Ma'nee leading the way across the room between the unoccupied tables, depositing them at Par’tah’s booth before returning to her station outside. “Well hello, Par’tah,” Solo greeted with his usual grin as he slipped into the booth on the other side. “Long time no see.”

[Iyt iys a pleasure to see you also, Solo,] Par’tah said, giving him a once-over. Her eyes lingered for a moment on the blaster slung at his side before turning to his companion. [And you Iy take iyt are the Jediy Luke Skywalker.]

“That’s right,” Skywalker confirmed, sliding in behind Solo. The Wookiee, not surprisingly, stayed standing, his towering form casting a long shadow over the table. “Nice to meet you. Han’s told me a lot about you.”

[Has he?] Par’tah asked, her eyes moving to Solo again. [And what iys iyt he has been saying, Jediy?]

“Nothing bad,” Solo assured her. “The kid’s looking for somebody who does occasional business with the Empire. I told him you might be able to fit the bill.”

“You do still do business with the Empire, don’t you?“ Skywalker asked, leaning forward.

[Some,] she admitted cautiously. [When Iy must.]

“Any of that business ever involve the detention center on Dromond?”

Par’tah looked at him for a moment, turned back to Solo. [Iy do not liyke where thiys conversatiyon iys goiyng.]

Solo shrugged. “Then tell us to stop, if you want it to."

Par’tah considered for a moment. [Go on,] she said at last.

“All right,” Skywalker said, glancing at Solo…and Par’tah thought she noticed a look of relief pass between them. “So. Dromond?”

[Yes, Iy have done busiyness at Dromond before,] she said. [Iy deliyvered a cargo of food suppliyes to the faciyliyty there perhaps siyx months back. What of iyt? Iy do business wiyth many people…iyncludiyng the Republiyc.]

“We’re not here to chastise,” Skywalker soothed. “I just need someone who can get me into the facility.”
Syl'va snorted. [Of course you do. And what iys iyt you will do, once we get you iyn? We do not wiysh for any of our people to be put iyn danger.]

“We’ll pay well…” Skywalker started.

Par‘tah sighed. [Iyt iys not the money. Iy have no love for the Empiyre, Skywalker; for years they have been nothiyng but slavers and thugs. I do busiyness wiyth them not because Iy wish to, but because Iy have to. Iyf Iy am caught assiystiyng you, they may revoke my contracts. Or worse, seek retriybutiyon agaiynst my people.]

“I understand,” Skywalker said. “I can promise the Empire won’t learn about your role from anyone at our end.”

[Can you truly promiyse us that?] Syl'va challenged. [Iy have heard many rumors of a leak comiyng from wiythiyn your Iymperiyal Palace.]

“Delta Source doesn’t know anything about this,” Solo tried to assure her. “This isn’t exactly an officially-sanctioned mission. About the only people who know about it are the three of us.”

[Iy see.] Par‘tah wasn‘t sure if that made her feel better, or worse. [How much?]

“Twenty thousand,” Solo said. “In advance.”

Par‘tah was silent for a moment, considering. [That iys a generous offer,] she admitted, and it was; twenty thousand was several times more than they’d ever made on an Imperial contract. [And all we have to do iys get you iynto the faciyliyty?]

“And out again,” Solo nodded. “What do you say, Par’tah?”

[Iyt iys an iyntriyguiyng offer—]

She were interrupted by a click from the comlink at Syl'va’s belt. [What iys iyt, Ma'nee?] the other asked, flicking it on.

[Iyt may be nothiyng,] Ma'nee’s voice came back. [But there iys a Kubaz that has been hangiyng around the casiyno entrance for several miynutes now, and he does not leave.]

Syl'va shared a look with Par’tah. [A Kubaz?]

[Yes,] Ma'nee confirmed. [Iy think iyt possiyble that Solo and Skywalker were followed here.]

“What is it?” Skywalker interjected.

Par’tah looked up at him. [One of my associyates thinks you may have been followed.]

“We definitely were,” Solo said, rising up a little in his seat. “We assumed whoever it was was one of your people.”

[No,] Par’tah’s headtails bobbed as she shook her head, [iyt was not.] She took the comlink from Syl'va. [Ma'nee, thiys iys Par’tah. Has the Kubaz triyed to contact anyone yet?]

[Iy do not know. Maybe. Iyt iys possiyble.] There was a pause. [Do you want us to piyck hiym up?]

Par’tah looked at Syl'va. [Do not bother,] she told Ma'nee. [We are leaviyng anyway. Tell the others to get back to the shiyp. We wiyll meet you there.]

Ma'nee signed off, and Par’tah handed the comlink back to Syl'va. “Trouble?” Solo asked.

[Possiybly. Iyt seems you were followed here by what Iy beliyeve iys an iynformant for the local poliyce. No doubt they are already on theiyr way. We have perhaps fiyve minutes at most before they arriyve.]

Behind Solo, the Wookiee growled quietly. “The local police?” Skywalker repeated. “I thought Atrivis sector was aligned with the Republic.”

[Techniycally that iys true, yes. However, ever siynce the Empiyre revealed iyts new clones our government has been lookiyng for ways iynto Grand Admiyral Thrawn’s good graces.]

Solo’s hand fell on his blaster. “They’re in for a rude surprise, if they think they can take us without a fight.”

[There wiyll be no need for viyolence. We wiyll be gone by the tiyme the poliyce arriyve. So,] Par’tah said, [make iyt twenty-fiyve thousand, and you have a shiyp.]

Skywalker looked at Solo, got a microscopic nod. “Twenty-five it is.”

[Good,] Par’tah said, getting up from the booth. [Then let us go. My shiyp iys thiys way.]

She took them through a door in the back that led to the casino’s various storage areas. Par’tah led the way, with Solo and Skywalker following; while Syl'va and Solo’s Wookiee brought up the rear. The rooms were mostly empty, save for a couple of lonely SE4 servant droids moving boxes around. “I see we're taking the scenic route,” Solo commented. “Where exactly are we taking it to?”

[There are several dockiyng bays iyn the back of the casiyno,] Par’tah called back. [Normally they are used for the loadiyng and unloadiyng of crates and suppliyes. But Iy have an understandiyng with the propriyetor. My shiyp iys there.]

“Great,” Solo said. “What about the Falcon?”

[Unfortunately there iys not tiyme enough to retriyeve iyt,] Par’tah said. [But do not worry. Iy will have one of my associyates look after iyt for you.]

They came to another unmarked door. Par’tah opened it, and beyond they could see what she was talking about. A small docking bay was on the other side, barely big enough for the curved and elegant stock light freighter berthed within. Beyond it, framed through the hazy blue airlock, was the blackness of deep space.
[My shiyp,] Par’tah introduced them, waving a hand. [The Fiyreflower. Iyt iys one of the fastest shiyps iyn thiys part of space.]

“I’ve heard that before,” Skywalker said wryly.

[Iy am sure that you have.] She led the way inside the docking bay. [Come. Iy wiyll iyntroduce you to my crew.]

Around the freighter a group of Ho’Din could be seen scurrying about like busy Ewoks, moving this way and that. [Iys everythiyng ready, Viyr’go?] Par’tah asked as one of the Ho’Din stepped up to greet them.

[Almost,] Vir’go said, hooking her hands through her gun belt and give their visitors a quick once-over. [We are fiyniyshiyng the prefliyght sequence now.] She nodded at Skywalker and Solo. [What are they doiyng here?]

[They are comiyng with us,] Par’tah told her. [Iy wyill explaiyn later. Fiyniysh up whatever you are doiyng here and then get everybody iynsiyde. No doubt the local poliyce are already on theiyr way.]

Vir’go nodded before scampering off towards the Fireflower’s aft engines. [Gentlemen?] Par'tah said to Skywalker and Solo, gesturing at the open ramp.

They all filed up into the ship, and Par'tah led them down the twisting corridors to the Fireflower's bridge. Here everything was only slightly less chaotic than outside. Five or six more Ho’Din were bustling about warming up stations and running through checklists. [The prefliyght sequence iys almost complete, Par’tah,] one of them reported as they entered.

[Good,] Par’tah nodded, indicating to Skywalker and Solo to park themselves in an out-of-the-way corner as she stepped over to one of the pilot consoles. [Ma'nee?]

[All set at my end, Par’tah,] Ma'nee answered, looking up. [Just waiytiyng for Viyr’go to be done reviyewiyng the coolant liynes.]

[She wiyll only be another moment,] Par'tah said, settling into the co-pilot’s seat. Outside the cockpit viewport she could already see the last of the Ho’Din finishing up.

But that wasn’t the only thing going on outside. “Uh, Par’tah?” Solo spoke up.

Par’tah looked up from her display. Past the cluster of her people, and pushing through the main door, marched a sudden group of uniformed Ho’Din. Their light-armor vests and helmets marked them as the local police. [Viyr’go, get iyn here now—] Syl’va snapped into the comm.

[Hold iyt!] one of the police yelled to the stragglers outside, raising his blaster rifle. [Lower your weapons and step away from the shiyp.]

Par’tah’s people did the exact opposite, and there was a sudden crash as both sides opened fire. [Viyr’go!] Syl’va called again, but already they could see Vir’go scrambling for the Fireflower’s entry ramp, her blaster firing furiously at the guards. [How much longer?] she demanded, turning to Ma'nee.

[Iyt stiyll needs another miynute,] Ma'nee said tersely. She yanked her head back reflexively as a blaster shot bounced off the transparisteel canopy outside. [Par’tah…]

“I’m on it,” Solo offered, sliding over to the weapons console. He pressed a few keys, and there was a new flash outside as the Fireflower’s laser cannon started firing. “Looks like they’ve got some kind of repeating blaster out there,” Solo called, checking his display. “Your people better get inside before they finish setting it up.”

Syl’va turned back to the comm. [Viyr’go—]

[She iys iyn,] Ma'nee said. [They are closiyng the hatch now.]

[Seal iyt,] Par’tah ordered. Outside she could indeed see the guards outside setting up what looked like a knock-off of a BlasTech E-web. [And get the shiyelds up.]

“I got it,” Solo assured her. By now the guards had taken cover positions behind the scattered crates and boxes spread across the bay, safe and secure from anything the Fireflower might throw at them. Or not quite. Solo pressed another key on his console, and the Fireflower’s laser cannon suddenly switched direction and started firing at the hazy airlock that framed the bay’s entry port. There was a sizzle and a brilliant flash as the laser fire made contact, followed by a less-spectacular flicker as the airlock suddenly gave out; and then the guards were suddenly screaming past the viewport as they were sucked haplessly into the vacuum of space.

“That should take care of them,” Solo observed, even as from Ma'nee’s board came at last a tiny ping.  [Prefliyght sequence iys complete,] she reported. [The shiyp iys ready for takeoff.]

[Then let us be off,] Par’tah said. [Punch iyt.]

There was a roar as the Fireflower’s sublight engines came suddenly to life, and the ship rocketed forward through the open port. [Any followers?] Syl’va asked as the ship twisted and turned through open space.

[Not yet,] Ma'nee said, staring at her sensor display. [Iy thiynk…wait, yes, there one iys. Comiyng iyn at mark siyx poiynt two.] She swallowed. [Iyt iys a Star Galleon.]

Par’tah peeked over Ma'nee’s shoulder at the display. It was a Star Galleon, all right, coming up from where it had been hiding beneath the station’s main hub. [Then let us get to work on a liyghtspeed calculatiyon,] she suggested, checking the sensors again. The Star Galleon was still three kilometers out, but it was gaining fast.

Solo apparently had noticed that, too. “They’re coming up on us pretty quick,” he noted from where he was still sitting at the weapons station.

[We wiyll make iyt,] she assured him. [How much longer before we can make the jump to liyghtspeed?] she asked Ma'nee

[Iy am stiyll waiytiyng on the naviycomputer,] Ma'nee answered back.

Solo‘s Wookiee woofed a comment. “I thought you said this ship was fast,” Skywalker added.

[Iyt iys,] Par’tah told him, [just watch. Ma'nee: full throttle.]

There was another burst as the Fireflower’s engines kicked in at full power, pushing them back into their seats; and in the rear display Par’tah could see the Star Galleon grow suddenly smaller and more tiny. [Satiysfiyed?] she asked Skywalker.

But they weren’t out of it yet. The navicomputer still needed a couple more minutes, and the Star Gallaeon—not quite content to let its prey outrun it—was at least content to open fire. Green turbolaser blasts started flashing past the cockpit canopy. [Ma'nee?]

[Almost there,] came Ma'nee’s curt response.

It was a couple tense moments as the Star Galleon continued its pursuit. But Par’tah had been right: it was no match for the speed of the Fireflower, and this far away it wasn’t able to fire much more than ranging shots. On the sensor display the distance continued to grow between the Fireflower and its pursuer, until it wasn’t more than a tiny blip on the monitor.

Finally, at long last, the navicomputer pinged. [The calculatiyon iys complete,] Ma'nee reported. [Shall Iy plot a course for Dromond?]

[Not quiyte,] Par’tah said, thinking for a moment. [There iys a small asteroiyd fiyeld near the planet. We wiyll head there fiyrst.]

With a shrug Ma'nee entered the course correction in the ship’s navicomputer. Then reaching over she wrapped her hand around the hyperspace controls and pulled them back; and with a slight shudder and a burst of starlines the Fireflower left Obsidian Station far behind.

A Bounty Hunter Named Jade, Part 2

“Boy am I glad you showed up,” Luke called back, putting as much relief into his voice as the puffy cheeks allowed. “You don’t happen to have some sort of transport handy, do you? I’m about walked off my feet.”

There was just the slightest flicker of hesitation. “Identify yourself,” the scout repeated.

“My name’s Jade,” Luke told him. He gestured at Mara. “Got a gift here for Talon Karrde. I don’t suppose he sent some transport, did he?” —Heir to the Empire

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The brown-and-white-speckled marble of Dromond looked small and distant where it sat centered on the Fireflower’s viewport, less than one-thousandth of a light-year away. From this distance it looked almost innocent and unassuming, even peaceful; nothing like the rumors Han had heard over the years.

Par’tah had Ma'nee take them into a tight orbit around the small planetoid she had identified, swinging them around the far side and finally bringing the ship to a cold stop. How Par’tah had known about this place Han couldn‘t say; but he guessed she’d done a fair bit more business on Dromond than a single delivery six months back. It was a cozy spot for a chat, anyway.

At last Par’tah switched off the ship’s engines and put the systems on standby. [Now,] she said, turning her chair away from the controls, [before we go any further, Iy must know preciysely what iyt iys you iyntend to accompliysh on Dromond.]

Han shared a look with Luke. “Par-tah—”

[You are about to lead my people iynto a very dangerous siytuatiyon, Solo,] she interrupted. [Iy must know why.] One of her headtails flicked closer. [Unless you wiysh for the priyce to be raiysed?]

Han rolled his eyes; but she had them, and he knew it. He let her stew for a couple more seconds anyway, then gave Luke the nod. “All right. Go ahead, kid.”

Luke took a deep breath. “New Republic Intelligence thinks one of its agents is being held in the planet’s detention center,” he explained. “We’re going to break him out.”

[Of course you are,] Par'tah said dryly. [Who iys the agent?]

“His name is Page,” Han said. “You don’t know him, but he knows you; he was with me when we met in Mos Eisley. He’s one of the best.”

Syl'va snorted. [He must not be so good, iyf he has caused hiymself to been captured,] she observed.

Han gave her a look. “Lieutenant Page is part of a select group we’ve been sending undercover into Imperial-held territory for the past few weeks. There’s a theory among the High Command that if we can get a list of all the places Thrawn’s clones have transferred through, we may be able to backtrack his pipeline to its source.”

[And you really thiynk that thiys wiyll work?] Par’tah asked.

Han shrugged. “It’s a theory. We’ll let you know.”

“Like Han said,” Luke continued, “Page and a couple other agents have been spending the past few weeks investigating a handful of sites Intelligence has identified as possible clone transfer points. He was on assignment on Cardooine when he missed his scheduled check-in. Later intercepts of Imperial communications confirm he’d been apprehended and moved to the detention center at Dromond.”

[So you are goiyng to try and break hiym out,] Par’tah finished for him. [Iy see. And how then do you iyntend to do thiys?]

“We’ll have the Fireflower land at the facility pretending to be an independent cargo ship,” Han explained. “You can rig an ID transponder that can fool an Imperial decoder, can’t you?’

[Of course we can,] Syl'va snapped. [We have some of the best encrypts iyn the busiyness.]

[And once we have landed?] Par’tah persisted. [What then? They wiyll not siymply let you waltz iynto the detentiyon blocks.]

“We have a plan,” Luke told her. “When I was stuck on Myrkr a few months ago I was able to deceive an Imperial patrol by pretending to be a bounty hunter named Jade. Han thinks the same gimmick can work here, too.”

“Did the trick on the first Death Star,” Han reminded him. Which wasn’t entirely true, he realized, thinking back to that near-disastrous rescue attempt in the Death Star‘s detention block; but there was no need to tell Par‘tah about all that. “Don’t worry, all you have to do is sit tight until we get back.”

For more than a couple moments Par’tah sat silently, considering. [Iy do not liyke iyt,] she decided. [Iyt iys a dangerous plan, and puts us all at some risk. But Iy wiyll put my faiyth iyn you, Solo,] she added, seeing the protest starting to appear on Han’s face. [And you as well, Jediy Skywalker. Iy hope you wiyll not lead us astray.]

“We won’t,” Luke promised.

Par’tah was silent for another moment. [Good,] she said at last, getting up. [Then let us get to work on your fake transponder. Your liyeutenant awaiyts us.]

* * *

“Acknowledged, Rapier,” the sharp voice of Dromond Flight Control came through the Fireflower’s speakers. “Hold position while we process your identification.”

[Copy, Control,] Syl’va said into the comm as Ma'nee moved the ship into orbit around the planet. Up close, Han decided, it didn’t look nearly as peaceful or as pleasant as it had light-years away. “Now we find out how good your encrypts really are,” he observed.

[Iyt wiyll work,] Syl'va assured him without turning around…and Han was reminded for a second of those few tense moments during their approach to Endor, waiting with held breath while the Imperials reviewed the Tydirium’s outdated clearance code. But this time he needn’t have worried. “Identification confirmed, Rapier,” Flight Control’s voice came back quickly. “You have been cleared for Landing Bay Eight.”

[Landiyng Bay Eiyght,] Syl'va repeated, this time turning around just enough to give Han a smug look. [Copy that, Control. Rapiyer out.]

“We’re in,” Luke said as Ma'nee started to bring them down. “Now what?”

“Now we get you ready for your big performance,” Han told him. “Par’tah, you got anything around here we can use as a disguise, maybe spruce Luke up a little?”

[Perhaps,] Par’tah responded. She looked between them. [Iy stiyll do not think thiys wiyll work. You know the Iymperiyals wiyll not let you enter the base armed, diysguiyse or no. You wiyll be defenseless.]

“Maybe,” Luke said, “or maybe not. They won’t let us enter the base armed with blasters, sure. But when we were on Bimmisaari a couple months ago the Bimms’ weapons detectors couldn’t pick up my lightsaber. The Imperials’ may not, either.”

[That iys an awfully biyg chance to take,] Syl'va noted.

“Maybe,” Luke said again with a shrug. “We’ll have to risk it.”

Meanwhile the Dromond horizon was growing increasingly larger in the Fireflower’s forward viewport. As they got closer Han could see the brown-and-white mass sort itself out into a rocky terrain of mountains and valleys beneath a cloud-scattered sky. Near the top of one mountain, a dark blob on the brown landscape, was the Imperial detention facility. “Here we go,” Han muttered to himself.

Ma'nee steered them towards a small opening on the facility’s far side. Even as they approached Han saw a pair of thick durasteel double-doors open wide to admit them. Like flying into a space slug’s mouth, Han realized. The thought was unsettling, and he pushed it aside.

With skill and ease Ma'nee guided them through the opening and past the doors, bringing the Fireflower down. [Now what?] Syl'va asked as Ma'nee powered the engines off.

“Now we go greet our hosts,” Han told her, studying her closely. He wasn’t great when it came to reading Ho’Din facial expressions; still, he could see the nervousness etched in her face. “Still think you’re up for beating an Imperial encrypt?” he asked her.

A couple of Syl'va’s headtails twitched. [What do you mean?] she asked.

“While we’re gone, why don’t you take a swing and see if you can slice into the facility’s mainframe,” Han suggested. “If you can do some personnel rerouting, we may have an easier time of it on the way out.”

[You are talkiyng of breachiyng one of the Empiyre’s top miyliytary encrypts.]

“Yeah, I know,” Han said. “Are you one of the best in the business, or aren’t you?”

Syl'va stared back. [Iy wiyll see what we can do,] she said, and turning back to her display got to work.

“Great,” Han said, heading for the door. “Then let’s go you prettied up, Luke. We’ve got a show to put on.”

* * *

With the heavy whir of servomotors the Fireflower’s entry ramp lowered to the ground and finally hit the deck with a metallic thunk. Taking a deep breath, trying to fight back the nervous feeling that was building in his throat, Luke started down. Already hurrying across the landing bay towards him was the youthful figure of the deck officer.

It was performance time. “Hey,” Luke called, doing his best to put a swagger in his step and a sneer in his face, “over here.”

The deck officer finished his journey across the landing bay and stopped at the foot of the ramp. “You’re the captain of this ship?” he asked.

“Maybe,” Luke said, turning his sneer into a scowl. “Who are you?”

“I am the deck officer,” the other replied with a scowl of his own, giving Luke a once-over. Luke hoped he was satisfied with what he saw. Par’tah hadn’t had much to work with; but with the benefit of a little hair-dye and a facial scar Luke at least looked the part. “Identify yourself,” the deck officer demanded.

“The name’s Jade,” Luke told him, puffing out his chest just enough. “Bounty hunter by trade. But maybe you already heard of me?” he added.

The deck officer’s scowl grew a little deeper. “I can’t say that I have, Captain Jade,” he said. “And maybe you haven’t heard, but this is an Imperial detention facility, not a cantina on Phorliss. Bounty hunters generally aren’t welcome here.”

“Easy now,” Luke suggested, raising his hands, “no need to be nasty. As it happens, I’ve got a little package here you Imperials might be interested in. Something even for Grand Admiral Thrawn himself.”

That piqued the deck officer’s interest. “For the Grand Admiral?” he repeated.

“That’s right,” Luke confirmed. “So why don’t you just run off and tell your commanding officer that Jade the bounty hunter has got some top-quality merchandise. And is looking to get paid.”

For a moment the deck officer was silent, and judging from his expression and the turmoil of thoughts coming off him Luke was afraid he’d laid the last part on too thick. But at last he said, “All right,” and pulling out his comlink he started moving a little away from Luke, “stay here while I get my commanding officer on the line. And don‘t touch anything.”

It took longer than Luke would have otherwise expected for the base commander to finally make it down to the landing bay. When he finally showed up, he didn’t do so alone: six shiny stormtroopers were in tow behind him. “What’s going on here?” the man demanded of the deck officer before turning to Luke. “Captain Jade, I presume?”

“That’s right,” Luke said. “You the base commander?”

“I am Major Nerid; and yes, I am in charge of this facility.” He glanced again at the deck officer. “I understand you have some ‘top-quality merchandise’ you’re looking to get off your hands.”

“That’s right,” Luke confirmed. “If you’re willing to pay.”

“That will of course depend on who exactly we’re talking about here,” Nerid pointed out.

“Fair enough,” Luke allowed. He waited a beat. “How much is Han Solo worth to you?”

Behind Nerid the deck officer let out a slight gasp. Nerid gave him a look before turning round to Luke again, his expression stony and unreadable. “Han Solo,” he repeated, and it was hard to tell in his voice if he truly didn‘t believe Luke or just didn’t want to. “Really? You can’t be serious.”

Luke looked him dead in the eye. “I don’t joke about business.”

“Prove it.”

Luke shrugged; and with a casual gesture waved up into the Fireflower. There was the loud clank of bootsteps coming down the metal ramp…and then from the shadows Chewbacca emerged, his usual bandolier replaced by a much more ornate-looking baldric. Stumbling in front of him came the shackled figure of Han Solo.

It was Nerid’s turn to gasp. “Well, well,” the major said…but he was smiling broadly, too. “I really don’t believe it. General Solo. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Just Solo,” Han told him with forced bravado. “I resigned my commission months ago.”

“Of course,“ Nerid’s reply came back smugly. “I just hope the Republic is still willing to pay top dollar for your return. How did you find him?” he asked Luke.

“Caught him while he was snooping around Ketaris,” Luke said, improvising.

“Ketaris, is it? And what was he doing there, I wonder? No matter,” he added at Han’s glare, “we’ll get the information out of him soon enough. Commander,” he indicated, and one of the stormtroopers stepped forward. “Take our new guest down to the detention block. Let’s find him someplace cozy to wait while we figure out exactly what it is we’re going to do with him.”

“Yes, sir,” the stormtrooper said, starting forward…but Luke raised a hand. “Just hold on a second,” he interrupted, taking a step between Han and Nerid. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

Nerid’s smile disappeared, replaced by a look of anger and impatience. “We’re taking the prisoner into custody,” he said. “Do you have a problem with that, bounty hunter?”

“You bet I do, Major,” Luke snapped back. “You think I’m gonna let you Imperials take my prize and get all the credit? Solo doesn’t go anywhere until I get paid.”

“You will be compensated more than fairly,” Nerid said, studying Luke’s face closely. A little too closely for Luke’s taste. “Fifty-thousand, I believe is the current listed bounty. I trust that is satisfactory?”

“Sure is,” Luke nodded, “just as soon as I get it. Until then, Solo doesn’t leave my sight.”

“I need authorization before I can dispense that kind of money…” Nerid started.

“Then go get it.” And now he rested a hand on the blaster he had tied to his waist. “Until you do, we all stay right here.”

He sensed the sudden tension in the stormtroopers, and certainly saw as they half-raised their blasters in his direction. “I’m not moving an inch till I see every last credit of my fifty-thousand,” Luke added anyway, ignoring them. He paused. “Unless you think the Republic’s willing to pay more?”

Nerid was silent for a moment, considering. But Luke had pushed him just far enough; he could feel the confusion and indecision swirling through the major’s mind. “All right,” Nerid said, and he waved for the stormtroopers to stand down, “all right. A compromise, then. Standard protocol dictates that I take any prisoners into custody immediately. But if you’re really that concerned you can go down with him to the cellblocks, until I receive authorization from my superiors. Is that satisfactory?”

“Yeah, who wouldn’t want to wait in an Imperial cell?” Luke snorted. But he shrugged. “Okay, you’ve got yourself a deal. But no funny business,” he continued, pointing a finger in Nerid’s face. “You try and pull something cute, and my crew here is gonna have something to say about it. You got that?”

“I understand entirely, Captain Jade,” Neri said, glaring at the offending finger. He motioned to the stormtrooper commander again. “Commander, would you please?”

The stormtrooper stepped forward again; but not, this time, toward Han. “What’s going on?” Luke demanded as the stormtrooper came up to him.

“Hand over your blaster, please,” the stormtrooper said in his monotone voice.

Luke scoffed. “You want my what?”

“Your blaster,” Nerid interjected. “Unauthorized personnel aren’t allowed weapons on my base.”

“Look, Nerid—”

“Weapons aren’t allowed, period,” Nerid insisted. “If you don’t like it, you can get back in your ship and take your chances with the Republic. That is, if you think you can make it out of the system before I‘m instructed to take you into custody, too.”

Luke took his best stab at a glare; but with exaggerated reluctance he unfastened his gun belt and placed it in the stormtrooper’s expectant hand. “Anything else?” he asked.

“Commander,” Nerid gestured, and now the stormtrooper stepped up holding a palm-sized device Luke didn’t recognize. Some kind of weapons detector, he realized, though not one of a make he’d seen before. Luke felt a brief moment of panic as the stormtrooper ran it over the length of his body, afraid they’d gambled too far and the lightsaber would be detected. But then came a tiny beep. “He’s clean,” the stormtrooper informed Nerid.

Luke let out a concealed breath of relief. So far, so good. “Good,” Nerid said. If he was disappointed, it didn't sound in his voice. “Now the Wookiee.”

The stormtrooper ran the weapons detector over Chewbacca and received the same tiny beep. “They're both clean, sir,” the stormtrooper confirmed.

“Very good. Now have your squad take Solo and our new guests down for processing. The rest of you, come with me.”

At a gesture from their commander three more stormtroopers moved into position around Han: left, right, and behind. The remaining troopers followed Nerid as the major marched off. “Be quick about that payment, okay, Major?” Luke called after them. “I want my money and I want it soon.”

“This way,” the commander indicated, pointing towards the door.

Together the seven of them headed out the door and down the main corridor: the stormtrooper commander in front, followed by Luke, Chewbacca, and a shackled Han; and the remaining stromtroopers keeping an eye out behind them. For a moment Luke was reminded of a similar scene not too long ago: with Han and Mara, surrounded by a stormtrooper squad in Hyllyard City on Myrkr.

But no, Luke told himself. This time it was different. This time, they had the advantage. And this time, the Force was with him.

At last they came to a lift station at the end of the hall, and the stormtrooper commander keyed for a turbolift car. While they waited Luke whistled impatiently. “Come on,” he grumbled after a couple minutes, “you think you guys could move things any slower around here?” He noticed one of the stormtroopers looking at him. “What’s your deal?”

The stormtrooper stared at him for another moment. “Your face looks familiar,” he said. “Have we met before?”

“I don’t think so,” Luke said, staring back at the other’s emotionless white faceplate. “You ever done any swoop-racing on Caprioril?”

He was saved from further comment by the arrival of the turbolift car. “Let’s go,” the commander waved them in as the door slid open.

They all scurried onto the lift. One of the stormtroopers hit another key; and off they went. “Hey,” Luke asked, poking the commander on the shoulder…and as he did so he reached a covert hand down and switched on the comlink at his belt. “So where are we going, exactly?”

“Detention center,” the commander responded, “Cellblock E, Level Five.”

“Thanks,” Luke said, standing back—and hoping Par’tah and Syl’va and whoever else was listening at the other end had gotten that. They were in it now. There was no going back.

* * *

Five minutes later they arrived at the detention facility proper. It looked exactly as Luke remembered, even all these years later: the small entry area directly off the lift, with the curved consoles and surveillance cameras; the long, hexagonal corridor leading to the cells themselves. In nine years it looked like the Empire hadn’t bothered to switch up its prison design much.

Luke and the others dawdled off the lift, followed by the commander and his stormtroopers. From where he was standing behind one of the consoles a black-clad lieutenant looked up. “What’s going on here?”

“New prisoner for processing,” the commander said, and the stormtroopers pushed Han forward. “Top priority. Major‘s orders.”

“I see,” the guard said, looking Han up and down. “And what about these two?” he asked, gesturing at Luke and Chewbacca.

“We’re the ones that brought him in,” Luke said proudly.

“Major Nerid has ordered that they be allowed to wait with the prisoner,” the commander added.

The lieutenant considered for a moment. “I don’t like it,” he decided, giving Luke a distasteful look. “But if those are the Major's orders…” He pointed at two of his guards. “You two, take the prisoner to Cell 5306,” he said, and the two guards he had pointed at moved away from the wall and started heading towards Han.

Han glanced at Luke, and Luke gave him the fractional nod: it was now or never. So unhooking the trick cuffs shackling his hands and arms, Han suddenly surged forward, taking a swing at the nearest stormtrooper and knocking him to the ground. The other troopers started grabbing Han by the armpits and pulling him off, joined quickly by the two black-clad guards. With a yell Han kicked out his feet, and together the entire group tumbled in a heap to the floor; with a considerably more impressive roar of his own, Chewbacca suddenly stretched out his arms and dove in after them.

The two of them had the element of surprise, sure. But the Imperials had the weapons. And the armor. And the numbers.

The one thing they didn’t have was a Jedi.

Luke reached a hand up into his left sleeve; and out now came his lightsaber. It burst to life with the usual snap-hiss, and the entry area was suddenly lit up with an eerie green-white light. Luke went for the stormtroopers first, cutting down two of them before they even realized what was going on. The third one went down just as easily, turning a little too slowly as he realized the sudden threat behind him. The stormtrooper commander was last, and Luke pulled his lightsaber free of his jumbled remains just as the first blaster shots went off in his direction. But blasters were all but useless against a Jedi with a lightsaber in his hands. Three shots were fired; three blaster bolts were deflected back in the direction of their origin, and three black-clad troopers fell to the deck. A fourth fell from a shot from Luke’s left; Han, finally getting his hands on a blaster.

Just like that, it was all over.

“Took you long enough,” Han grumbled, rubbing his cheek where one of the stormtroopers had managed to land a punch. “Why did I have to play the prisoner, anyway?”

“Chewie did it last time,” Luke reminded him, shutting down his lightsaber and moving around to the control panel. That lieutenant had managed to get the alarm off before they’d had a chance to take him down, and a red light was flashing on the main display.

“No, I did it last time,” Han said. “On Myrkr, remember?” Behind him Chewbacca urfed a comment.

“He’s right,” Luke agreed, ignoring the flashing light and bringing up the prisoner list. Somewhere on here should be Page’s cell… “That’s not fair. Chewie wasn’t on Myrkr.”

“Well, he’s going next time for sure,” Han said, checking the last of the stormtroopers to ensure they were all out before coming up beside Luke. “You find Page’s cell yet?”

“Not yet,” Luke said. “That lieutenant started some kind of lockdown, and the systems seems to be frozen.”

“Here, let me try,” Han said, pushing Luke aside. He tapped a few keys on the display… “There: Cell 5729. Chewie and me’ll go get him. You check in with Par’tah.”

“On it,” Luke said, even as Han and Chewbacca were already scurrying down the single corridor. “Par’tah?” he said into the comlink. “Are you there?”

There was a slight hiss of static, and then, [Iy am here, Jediy Skywalker,] came Par’tah’s response. [We heard a fiyrefiyght before. Are you okay?]

“I’m fine,” Luke assured her. “Is Syl’va with you?”

[Iy am here also, Jediy Skywalker,] Syl’va answered. [How can Iy assiyst you?]

“That’s going to depend. Were you able to slice into the facility mainframe like Han asked?”

There was some more static at the other end. [Iyt was diyffiycult,] Syl’va’s voice broke through at last. [They are usiyng an encrypt Iy have not encountered before. But Iy beliyeve Iy have sliyced iyt, yes.]

“Good,” Luke said. “Then I need you to activate a full lockdown. Not just the detention center; the entire facility. Especially the turbolift cluster near Cellblock E, Level Five.”

[Iy can do that,] Syl’va assured him. [But how wiyll you get back to the shiyp iyf the turbolifts are locked down?]

“Don’t worry about that right now,” Luke told her. “Just get that lockdown going.”

He replaced the comlink at his belt, even as the sound of footsteps came up behind him. Luke turned around to see Han and Chewbacca returning, followed by a medium-height, utterly nondescript-looking man. “I don’t believe it,” Lieutenant Page said. “Luke Skywalker himself. I feel so fortunate.”

“Believe it,” Luke said, sizing the other up. Page looked a little starved and sleep-deprived, but not much worse for wear. “You fit to go?”

“Yes, sir, Commander,” Page assured him, picking up one of the blaster rifles dropped by the stormtroopers. “Frankly, I’m looking forward to giving back to the Empire as good as I got.”

“Don’t get too excited, Page,” Han advised him. “If everything goes to plan, it won’t come to that. Luke?”

“Syl’va is in,” Luke assured him. “She’s locking down the base now. It won’t buy us more than a couple minutes, though.”

“Then let’s get going,” Han suggested.

“Sure thing,” Luke said, stepping up into the hexagonal corridor. “Come on, Page. Back this way.”

He started leading the way back down the corridor, with the others trailing close behind. “With all due respect, Commander,” Page started, “the main entrance is the only way in or out of the detention block. Uh,” he broke off as a new thought suddenly occurred to him, “you’re not taking the garbage chute again, are you?”

“No, Page, we’re not taking the garbage chute,” Luke told him, smiling to himself. Their unorthodox escape from the Death Star detention center was something of a legend among the New Republic military. At the time it had been an act of improvisation, even desperation.

Of course, back then Luke hadn’t been proficient with a lightsaber. “Stand back,” he told the others as they came to the end of the corridor. With another snap-hiss he switched the weapon back on.

“What are you going to do?” Page asked.

Behind them down the corridor came suddenly the echo of distant clanks. “Sounds like the Imperials have finally managed to break into the turbolift shaft,” Han noted. “Come on, kid, we need a hole here.”

“I’m on it,” Luke said, and with the tip of his lightsaber started carving a hole through the wall. It only took him a couple seconds and a few quick cuts to fashion something large enough for even Chewbacca to squeeze in. “Let’s go,” he said, switching the lightsaber down.

One-by-one they passed through. “What now?” Han asked when the three of them were all safely on the other side.

“I’m not sure,” Luke admitted, taking a look around. They appeared to be in some kind of maintenance tunnel, used mostly for droids and service techs. “This way,” Luke decided, pointing toward the right.

Han peered down the dark passageway. “Okay,” he said, starting down the tunnel. “I hope you know what you’re doing, kid.”

“Hey, it’s me,” Luke retorted, flicking on his comlink. “Par’tah, we have Page and we’re on our way. I need the Fireflower prepped and ready to go by the time we get there.”

He got an acknowledgment and the comm went dead. Meanwhile, coming through the thin hole behind them, Luke caught the barely-audible buzz of laser cutters. “They’ve almost breached the lockdown,” he observed, replacing the comlink at his belt.. “Let’s get moving.”

A Bounty Hunter Named Jade, Part 3

“Get behind me,” Luke snapped to Han and Mara, stepping back to the gap between the two northern pillars and focusing on the mass of Imperials standing and crouching between him and the southern pillars. They were suddenly aware that they had an unexpected threat on their flank, and a few were already starting to bring their blasters to bear on him.

With the Force to guide his hand, he could have held out against them indefinitely, blocking their blaster shots with the lightsaber. Mara had been right, though: the ysalamiri effect did indeed extend this far outside the forest, and the Force was still silent. —Heir to the Empire

----------------------------------------------------

They could hear the faint blare of klaxons as they stumbled out into one of the main corridors. Luckily the alarms seemed distant and far-off; Luke and the others must have gone several hundred meters from the detention block by this point.

The corridor was empty as Luke scrambled after the others through another hole he had cut in the service tunnel wall. “Okay,” Page said, casting a look around. “Which way?”

“Left,” Luke said, thinking back. If the limited schematics he’d been able to review before they’d left Coruscant were correct, there should be a lift about one hundred meters further down the corridor. “Come on,” he added, switching off his lightsaber and hooking it to his belt. “We better hurry.”

They half-jogged, half-ran down the hallway. They didn‘t come across anyone as they went, except for a solitary MSE-6 repair droid rolling along in the opposite direction. “Everyone must be converging on the detention block,” Page observed.

“Or else they’re busy setting up an ambush,” Han countered. “You picking up anything, kid?”

But Luke’s Jedi senses couldn’t detect anyone nearby. “We’ll just have to hope it’s the former,” he said. “Look, there’s the lift.”

There it was, all right, waiting for them at the end of the corridor. “Par’tah?” Luke called into his comlink as they came to a stop. “Syl’va? Is anyone there?”

[We are here, Jediy Skywalker,] Pa'rtah replied. [What iys iyt?]

“We’ve reached the lift back to the docking bay,” he told her. “We need you to unlock the turbolift cluster for—where are we?” he asked the others.

“Unit one-six-four,” Page offered. “Did you get that?” Luke asked.

[We got iyt,] Par'tah confirmed. There was a brief hesitation. [You are aware that once we unlock the turboliyfts iyt wiyll alert the Iymperiyals to your locatiyon.]

“That’s just a risk we’re going to have to take,” Luke said, reaching out again with the Force. There was still no one nearby. But further back down the corridor… “And you better make it quick. I think someone may be approaching.”

There was an almost-sigh of defeat at the other end, and then a quiet beep as the lift came on. [Turboliyfts unlocked,] Par'tah said.

Chewbacca pressed the key to summon a car. “We’ll be there in ten minutes,” Luke said, and signed off.

It was a tense couple minutes as they waited for the turbolift car to make its way from the main hub to their station. There was no mistake about it now, Luke realized as he probed down the corridor with his senses: someone was definitely approaching. Four or five someones at least. “Come on,” he muttered under his breath, trying to will the car to arrive faster.

Finally the door slid open; the lift had arrived. “Let’s go,” Luke said, waving the others on.

Hurriedly they all crowded onto the lift. Han keyed for the landing bay level, and with a whirr they were off. “How much longer before they realize we’re not in the detention center, do you think?” Page asked.

“I think there’s a good chance they already do,” Luke said. “Right now I can sense maybe half-a-dozen groups fanning out from the detention block. They’re still distant; but they’re getting stronger. We’ll be lucky if we make it to the ship before they do.”

A moment later the car came to a halt. “Here we are,” Luke said as the door slid open again.

Everybody filed off. Luckily this corridor was as empty as the one below it; but Luke knew that couldn’t last. Par'tah was right; unlocking the turbolifts was like announcing their location to the base commander. Nerid probably already had a couple squads moving in on the landing bays, and it was only a matter of time before they got here. That was time Luke didn’t intend to give. Leading the others, he hurried down the corridor towards Bay Eight.

They didn’t encounter any more Imperials by the time they reached the doors to the bay and ducked inside. What they did encounter was an impatient-looking Par’tah waiting at the foot of the Fireflower’s entry ramp. [Come!] she waved them on urgently. [You must hurry!]

“What’s the rush?” Han asked sarcastically.

[Syl’va has sliyced into the Iymperiyals’ radiyo chatter,] Par’tah explained. [Neriyd has iynstructed all forces to converge on our posiytiyon. The lockdown has slowed them, but only a liyttle. They may already be on thiys level.]

“Don’t worry, we’re ready to go,” Luke assured her. “Come on, everybody inside.”

Even as he said it he felt a change in pressure on the back of his neck, and heard behind him the sound of the bay door swooshing open. Spinning around now he turned, just in time to see not four or five, but a full twelve-man squad of stormtroopers burst through the opening. “Stop that ship!” one of them ordered, and simultaneously they all opened fire.

The lightsaber was out and activated in an instant, flashing angrily in Luke’s hands as it moved almost of its own accord to intercept the incoming blaster bolts. Meanwhile over his shoulder he could hear the sudden cacophony of Han's and Chewbacca’s blasters as they returned fire from where they were crouched behind the ramp. “Go on, get going,” Luke called, diverting as much of his attention as he dared from blocking the stormtroopers’ shots. “I’ve got this under control.”

[You have what?] repeated Par'tah incredulously.

“It’s okay,” Han told her, placing a hand on Page’s arm. “Come on, Page, Luke can handle himself.”

They all scurried up into the Fireflower. Meanwhile Luke returned his full attention back to the barrage of blaster fire that was coming at him. Par'tah had good reason to be concerned, of course: the stormtroopers by now had moved into deep cover positions behind various crates and consoles scattered across the bay, and their blaster fire was intensifying. But Han was right. With a lightsaber in his hands and the Force to guide it, Luke could have held out against them indefinitely.

Fortunately, he didn’t have to. “Han!” he called back.

From where he was hiding at the top of the ramp, Han understood. There was the sudden whirr of servomotors as Han activated the controls and the Fireflower’s entry ramp started lifting up. Luke could sense the stormtroopers’ sudden desperation as they realized their prey was going to get away—but there wasn't much they could do about it, either. Luke held out another couple seconds; then spun, and turned, and with all the speed of Force-enhanced muscles sprinted up the ramp after Han and the others. Then the ramp was closed, and they were safely inside, and Han was busy sealing the hatchway. “Let’s go,” he said to Luke once he was finished. “Par’tah’s waiting for us on the bridge.”

Par’tah was indeed waiting by the time they made it to the Fireflower’s bridge, along with Chewbacca and Page and everybody else. Ma’nee already had the repulsorlifts fired up, and the ship was lifting up from the deck and heading towards the exit. There was only one problem. “Uh, Par’tah?” Han started.

[We see iyt,] Par’tah assured him, staring out the viewport at the huge metal entry doors that were currently sealed shut. [Syl'va?]

But Syl’va shook her head. [Iy cannot get the door commands to respond,] she said, her headtails bobbing. [Iyt seems the Iymperiyals have fiynally managed to kiyck me out of theiyr system.]

[Then we wiyll just have to do iyt the old-fashiyoned way,] Par’tah decided. [Ma'nee: fiyre.]

There was a shudder, and then a pair of proton torpedoes went streaking away from the Fireflower. There was a spectacular flash as the torpedoes made contact, followed by the deep symphony of multiple explosions and disintegrating metal; and then the smoke cleared, and they could see the dark skyline of Dromond through a jagged hole in the doors.

[And there’s our exiyt,] Par’tah said. [Punch iyt.]

Ma'nee kicked in the sublight engines, and again the Fireflower went rocketing through the opening. Once they were in the open air Ma'nee did a tight one-eighty, whipping the ship in a tight loop around the base and then blasting off in the opposite direction in an attempt to throw off any potential pursuers.

Fortunately there didn’t seem to be any. “Is that it?” Page asked as Ma'nee brought the engines to full throttle and the Fireflower started climbing for deep space. “Are we clear?”

[Not quiyte,] Syl’va said darkly, pointing at her scanner. Luke leaned in to see what she was talking about. On the center of her scope, sitting in high orbit where it had just come out of hyperspace, was a Victory-class Star Destroyer. “Explains why they didn't bother launching any ground forces,” he noted. “Any idea where it came from?”

Chewbacca barked a suggestion. “Yeah, or else Nerid called it in,” Han guessed. “Can we outrun it?”

[We can try,] Par’tah said; but she didn’t sound convinced, and Luke took another glance at the scanner. At that high up the Star Destroyer could easily move into any intercept position it needed and come down on top of them. Indeed Luke could see their captain was already moving to block the Fireflower’s current escape vector. He looked at the estimate on Par’tah’s display… “We’re not going to make it, are we?” he asked softly.

[We may yet,] Par’tah said. [We shall see just how fast thiys shiyp iys.]

They all stood quietly for a moment as the distance between the Fireflower and the Star Destroyer grew smaller. “Freighter Rapier,” the comm suddenly crackled, “this is the Star Destroyer Adamant. We have received word that you are carrying an Imperial fugitive onboard your ship. Shut down your engines and prepare to be boarded.”

Nobody on the Fireflower’s bridge bothered to respond. “Freighter Rapier,” the Star Destroyer tried again, “we have you on an intercept course. You cannot escape. I repeat: shut down your engines and prepare to be boarded.”

“Would somebody shut him up?” Han asked.

With a jab Syl’va switched off the comm. On her display they could all see the Star Destroyer gaining ground. Standard Star Destroyer tactics were typically to lurk behind the planetary umbra and then come up on its prey from behind. But this one was moving in at an almost ninety-degree angle, cutting directly across the Fireflower’s vector to block its escape. And it looked like it was going to work: Ma’nee’s estimate still had the Adamant in position before the Fireflower slipped past. “Doesn‘t look good,” Han muttered in Luke’s ear. “Maybe we should have brought the Falcon after all.”

And then, unexpectedly, the estimate on Ma’nee’s board suddenly recalculated. [What iys the new ETA?] Par’tah asked nervously.

[Twenty seconds,] Ma’nee answered, her voice just as nervous but with a tinge of hope. [Iyt may be enough.]

Outside now they could see the angled front of the Star Destroyer moving in on their left, while on their right blazed the bright horizon of the Dromond sky. Ten seconds… [Here we go!] Ma’nee called. [Iyt wiyll be close!]

The Fireflower shot across the Star Destroyer’s bow, rocketing past its forward batteries. Through the viewport the Star Destroyer’s prow loomed uncomfortably close, so close Luke could make out the tiny windows on its side; then somehow, miraculously, the Fireflower was past, speeding away on its original course with the Star Destroyer behind.

“We made it!” Page exclaimed, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Don’t break out the Menkooro just yet,” Han suggested, stepping over to Ma’nee’s display. “Are they moving to follow?”

[Iy do not thiynk so,] Ma'nee said, her voice strange…and Luke took another look at her display himself. He could understand her confusion. With its prey now safely past, the Star Destroyer was indeed altering its course, spinning around on its axis to bring its prow along in pursuit. Or rather, trying to. “What’s going on?” Luke asked.

[Iy am not sure,] Ma'nee admitted.

“They’re caught in the planet’s gravity well,” Han realized, the traces of a lopsided grin starting to appear on his face. “They cut too close to the planet. See?”

Luke looked down at the display again. Han was right, he realized. The Star Destroyer was turning too sluggishly, pulled by the force of Dromond’s gravity well. Already it had fallen several kilometers behind. “So that’s it, then?” Page asked.

“So that’s it,” Han confirmed, watching as the Adamant fired its engines at full throttle in an attempt to pull itself out of Dromond’s gravity. “Unless you feel like going back and saying goodbye to your friends?”

“No, thanks,” Page said, settling down in one of the nearby seats. “By the way, thanks for coming after me.” He turned toward Par‘tah. “You, too…”

[Par‘tah,] she offered for him. [And there iys no need for thanks. The twenty-fiyve thousand your Republyic has paiyd us iys more than thanks enough.]

“Twenty-five thousand?” Page repeated, an embarrassed look on his face. “I had no idea I was worth that much.”

“You aren’t,” Luke teased him, looking at Han. “So what‘s next?”

“First, we head back to Obsidian Station and get my ship,” Han said, and beside him Chewbacca growled his agreement, “assuming the local police haven’t already impounded it. Then we get to Coruscant just as fast as the Falcon can take us there. Who knows what Grand Admiral Thrawn’s been up to while we’ve been gone. Par‘tah?”

[Of course,] Par’tah said, nodding at Ma‘nee. [Ma‘nee, plot a course for Obsyidiyan Statiyon.]

Ma‘nee got to work. “Sounds good,” Page said, getting up. “In the meantime, I could use a shower. You got a ‘fresher on this ship, Par’tah?”

“Not so fast, Lieutenant,” Han said as Ma‘nee finished laying in the coordinates and activated the hyperdrive. “First, we’re gonna need your report.”