Episode II- All Karrdes on the Table

NAR SHADDAA

"WHOA! WHOA! EASY BOYS!" Kirkran motions them to lower their blasters, holstering his own. "I didn't like the guy either but was that necessary?"


"Relax. None of you are in any danger." The man holds his hands up, taking a step forward. "I cannot stand weak links. That midget cost us both a lot of money, and he's slipped up like that in the past." He rests his hands on his hips, motioning to the Bimm with his feet.


Two of his mercs step forward and grab the corpse by the legs, dragging him off.


"But where are my manners? The name is Jorj Car'das, I'm the fella that ordered those Gizka." He extends his hand for a handshake, meeting Kirkran's gaze. "Something tells me you're a little more than the average smuggler. Clone Troopers wouldn't be following you around if you didn't have some good qualities."


"Captain Stakes." He takes the man's hand and gives it a firm shake "I smuggled them out of the Core after the Purge."


"Risky, but definitely a smart move." Car'das nods, folding his arms over his chest. "The loyalty of a Clone isn't easily broken... well, most of the time at least." He allows a subtle smirk to grace his lips before he tilts his head. "C'mon, walk with me. We've got a lot to discuss, and I'd rather not waste any more time here."


As Kirkran and the Troopers are led away from the hangar, Jorj takes the lead and his mercs lag behind, forming a very loose ring of protection. "I'm sure you're aware that I can't pay full price for your cargo." The man starts. "But I'm not about to piss off a good smuggler. I have another job I want to offer you, with a lot stronger payment security."


"Agreed." "As long as I can pay my crew and heal my ship's wounds."


"You'll have time to fix up your ship before you're needed, hopefully those nasty lizards didn't cause too much damage." He motions to one of the mercs, who immediately departs, walking down an adjacent hall. "I'll have the cargo removed and the credits delivered to one of your shipmates. You'll also be free to use that hangar as long as you're in-town, it's owned by me." After a short while, Jorj leads Kirkran and the Clones to a small intersection in the hallway, leading to other hangar bays and the building exit.


"Alright, I have two jobs I can offer you, both for the same pay, and similar levels of difficulty. The first will have you transporting weapons through the Outer Rim, and the second will medical supplies through the Colonies. Which sounds more interesting to you?"


Kirkran stood silently, weighing the possible outcomes and issues that may arise. "Which may have less Imperial interference?"


"I wouldn't be putting both jobs forward if I didn't expect the Empire to be involved." Car'das retorts with a grin. "They're both dangerous, but they're both high-paying. 10,000, plus any repairs your ship needs... before and after the mission." He folds his arms over his chest, coming to a stop. "You do one of these jobs for me, you can consider any Gizka-related repair costs null and void. I'll pay for it all."


"Are you saying it's a twenty-k payday?" Asked Kirkran, visibly shocked.


"You're not kidding, Jorj?" Asked Vox.


"Full repairs to your ship before and after, plus a flat ten-thousand payout for successfully completing one of the jobs." Car'das reiterates, his face adopting a more serious expression. He looks at Kirkran with a stern, stoic expression, keeping his arms folded over each other. "But only if you do the job." He adds. "You decline, you'll get the trimmed payment for the animal run, and then you're on your own... and something tells me you can't afford the aftermath of a Gizka eating spree on your own."


"You'd be right." He says, holding out his hand. "Shall we go to the cantina while I mull this over?"


"I'm a bit busy to be cantina-hopping with someone I've only just met," Jorj admits with an apologetic shrug, looking down to his wristpad. "I'm sure I can send someone by to talk with you in the meantime. Just try not to get in any bar fights while you're here, yeah?" After pressing a couple buttons on his pad, Car'das drops that arm and raises the other, motioning with his thumb. "Look, I've gotta go. Take the day to think it over, just let me know by the start of the work day tomorrow. If I were you, I'd seriously consider it."


"Will do." He turns to Jak.


"Have Nakei and Voyla join us in the cantina."


Jak nods and heads back to the docking bay.


"I'll get back to you tomorrow then, Car'das." Replies Kirkran, turning back.


A little later….

"This all seems a little too good to be true, if you ask me..." Voyla murmurs, swirling the drink in her hands. The Moonrunner crew finds themselves in a dingy cantina not far from the landing bay, secluded from the rest of the patrons as usual, though more out of preference than necessity. The pilot's lekku twitch slightly as she speaks. "From what you told me this Car'das guy seems like a real piece of work. Just putting the Bimm down like that in public, in view of everybody... Are we even sure if we can trust him?"



"Do we have much choice? We need money to keep the 'Runner fueled and flying."


"Kirkran. He gunned down do guy che being do weak link. Coo's tah settah he won't do doe same tah u?" Says Nakei incredulously.


"I can't. But I can only hope you guys are faster than he is." Said Kirkran, trying to show his faith in his crew.



"Hope doesn't get you very far in this galaxy." A new voice calls out, drawing everyone's attention away from the table, to a man now standing behind Kirkran. He's a tall, well-build human, around the same age as Kirkran, with messy black hair and noticeable stubble; Talon "Wild" Karrde. "Not as far as a quick wit and a quicker blaster." He adds with a smirk. It's a smirk Kirkran has seen before. When he and Nakei first started smuggling, Wild Karrde was one of their first rivals, a skilled pilot and cutthroat haggler with an upbeat attitude and a nosy disposition. He had a habit of sticking his nose into everyone's business, but also of being a trustworthy and consistent businessman, sometimes even lending Kirkran a hand on tougher jobs.


"Karrde." Chuckled Kirkran, standing up. "Where you been hiding, old man?" Said Kirkran teasingly.


"Jee- jee thought u'd been killed after da medicine run che da jedai went belly tonka." Added Nakei.


"I had to lay low for a while." Talon replies, reaching out to give Kirkran a firm, friendly handshake. "Considering we did that job only a few months before the Purge, I figured it would be best if I stayed out of the public eye until things cooled down. The Empire wasn't being very nice to people who had recently worked with the Jedi."


The raven-haired man pulls a chair from another table and takes a seat with the Moonrunner crew, resting his hands on the table. "But now I'm back on the horse and working with Jorj Car'das. You can imagine my shock when he told me to come down here and talk to some hotshot nobody called Kirkran Stakes."


"Hotshot nobody huh?" Said Kirkran, bemused. "It's good to see you again, Talon. It's been too long."


"Agreed. Ateema kava about u bedwana us do round, huh Karrde? If mee remember correctly u still owe us che last tee-tocky." Said Nakei, grinning broadly.


Karrde lets out a quiet laugh and folds his arms over his chest. "If anything, you owe me. If it wasn't for me recognizing the Moonrunner and telling Car'das about our previous relationship, he probably would have done away with you the same way he did with your Bimm friend..." His voice trails off a bit with this last statement, and he adopts a more serious tone. "... Which is why I'm here. I've been working with Jorj for a couple years now, and I've gotta say, it's been tense. He rewards success, but he also punishes failure. Severely. You stand to make a lot of money doing work for him, but you've gotta be very careful." He motions to himself. "I'm not saying don't take the job, but you have to be sure you have what it takes."


"Kirkran no. Let's just find someone else. I don't like that Jorj. Says Voyla, looking more nervous than she ever has.


"Guys?" Kirkran looks at Nakei and the brothers.


"He still owes us che damages. If his Bimm pateesa had told us choy jee-jee'd been carrying, jee-jee wouldn't be noleeya this situation." Said Nakei bluntly.


"We're with you no matter what, Cap." Replied Vox.


"Look, take the night to think it over, and then tell Jorj your answer tomorrow morning. He'll be waiting near the Moonrunner, most likely." Talon stands up and adjusts his smuggler's jacket. "I'll be doing the mission with you, so if nothing else, you'll have someone familiar at your side."



He takes a moment to look around at Kirkran and his crew, clicking his tongue quietly. "You've got quite the entourage now, Stakes... I really hope they can measure up." With that, he turns on his heels and strolls off, leaving the group to discuss things on their own.


Kirkran sucked his teeth, thinking. "You really don't wanna do this, V?"


"Absolutely not." Voyla replies, folding her arms under her chest and leaning back in her seat. "You saw what this Jorj guy to the Bimm. Idiot or not, in the end we were only short a few Gizka, and the maniac responded by putting a blaster hole in the guy's chest."


"He deserved it." Vox replies flatly. "You saw what his blunder did to the ship. Car'das gave the Bimm exactly what was coming to him. Besides, why are we worried? We're ten times as competent as any smuggler that guy has, as long as we stay calm and keep our heads straight, we'll be fine."


"Okay. Points made." He sits back and thinks. " I trust both this crotchety old Dug and Karrde. And after the last job, I owe him." Says Kirkran. "But if you really don't want to V, I've gotta friend you can stay with."


Voyla lets out a long sigh, leaning back in her chair and looking around at the others. She can sense the anticipation and doesn't make them wait any longer for her answer. "No, if you're going to do this you'll need me." She murmurs. "I'm the best pilot here, and you know it..." With that, she leans forward and places her hand on the table and giving Kirkran a firm glare. "Just don't get us killed, okay Captain? If we end up dying on this mission, I'm going to kill you."


"There'll be no objection from me." He replies in a joking tone. "I guess I'll go let Car'das know. Nakei you're with me, the rest of you head on back."


After meeting with Car'das and informing him they'd do the Colony run he and Nakei returned to the ship to see the loading was already underway.


"Good. Sooner we get this done, sooner we can leave." Jorj's subordinates have already started unloading the Gizkas out of the Moonrunner, and there is a small handful of engineers and mechanics working on repairing the damage caused by the blunder. It will be some time before the ship is ready to go, Kirkran has a few days to kill. What will he do?



"You guys go and relax. I'm gonna help with the ship." Says Kirkran.


"U?" Snorted Nakei. "Noah noah noah. Mee'm doe damn engineer. MEE'LL stay um make sure they hagwa screw tonka doe adjustments um modifications mee've made.

"Nakei." Said Kirkran firmly. "No. I have no desire to stay here any longer than I have to. I will stay. You and the others take some time off."


"Alright. Mee'll get doe others." Says Nakei, relenting.


Nar Shaddaa hasn't changed much since Kirkran's last time on the planet. It's still an urban cesspool, sprinkled with poverty and the downtrodden, the underworld sinking its roots deep into the city, filling it with crime and intrigue. One can only imagine what's going on outside the Moonrunner, what nefarious activities. Even inside the ship, the corrupt aura of the planet permeates within. It's no wonder Car'das is working here. There's plenty of opportunity for a smuggler to make a small fortune... or to wind up dead.



Kirkran sat in the lounge alone, playing Dejarik against the computer. "I hate coming back to this scum hole. I thought being a pilot takes you away, not bring you back." He sighed and switched off the table, standing. Kirkran left the ship and decided to go for a walk. It'd been years sense he was home. He'd never strayed from the ship when docked on Nar Shaddaa.


"Ki-Kirkran?! Kirkran Stakes? Is that you?" Called a voice that made him instinctively freeze and reach for his S-5.


"Whoa easy, buddy. It's me." A man not much older than him walked up and looked at him.


"Bade." Kirkran said, looking him over. "Where's Galus?"


"Dead." Said Bade hesitantly. "Gunned down by a pirate on Ord Mantell."


"What? Galus? Really?" Said Kirkran in shock.


"Let's take this somewhere more private." Bade began to walk to another docking bay. Docked there was Galus old ship, a YT-1930.


"The Nighthawk " Said Bade as they approached it. "Though she's had quite a few changes made.

She's not a freighter anymore."


"No?" Said Kirkran quizzically.


"Bounty ship." Replied Bade. Kirkran stood there rooted to the spot, visibly shocked. Bade folds his arms over his chest, switching between looking at the Nighthawk and looking at Kirkran. Even beneath his tinted glasses, his narrow and careful gaze is clear, probably full of questions for his younger companion. He stuffs his hands into the pockets of his smuggler's jacket, before speaking.


"Why are you here, Kirkran?" He asks, chewing the inside of his cheek as he talks. "Last time we spoke, you told me you'd never come back. And now here you are." He reaches up and adjusts the brim of his hat. "Are you in some kind of trouble?"


"No. I'm doing a Colony run for Car'das, Bade. I'm a smuggler." He admits. "Not the most honest work. But it pays."


"Car'das? As in Jorj Car'das?" Bade turns his gaze to Kirkran and raises an eyebrow, a smile on his face but an otherwise cautious look in his eye. "Look at Mr. Bigshot, moving up to the major leagues. Next you're gonna tell me you have Jabba the Hutt's personal number."


He clicks his tongue and drops his arms, resting them on his hips. He nods quietly, looking down. "What about Nakei? Is he still hanging out with you? I can't imagine he's very happy about the kind of danger smuggling can bring to your ship, the old krong."


"Yea he's here. I picked up a couple more people too. A Twi'lek named Voyla and two clones named Jak and Vox."


"Clones, eh?" Bade clicks his tongue quietly. "Seems like you've got yourself quite the band of misfits. I can't imagine they're very easy to reign in." He chuckles quietly. "Then again, you were never easy to reign in either. Head in the clouds, so desperate to get off this rock. "


He allows this statement to hang in the air for a couple moments, before bringing his arms back up over his chest. "You should get going." He murmurs to Kirkran. "I'm taking off in a few hours, some parole- jumper's in the system, and I've gotta collect if I'm gonna afford fuel this month."


Kirkran nodded. "Keep safe out there." He turned and started to walk away, feeling slightly better having met an old friend.



Despite the pleasantness of seeing Bade again, Kirkran is still on Nar Shaddaa, and he's going to be here for a while. The next few days pass by sluggishly and uncomfortably, with nothing to help break up the monotony besides helping Car'das's technicians and getting blind drunk at the cantinas... There's no place like home, isn't there?


Finally, after about a week of repairs and mild tuning, the Moonrunner is once again back at operational status. The interior is even a bit cleaner than before, some of the technicians having taken the liberty of sweeping and mopping the place. Kirkran and his crew find themselves in the lounge area, chatting quietly, when they receive a ping notifying them of someone at the entry ramp. There was one place above all others he was hellbent on avoiding, his childhood home, they memories were just too painful.


"Car'das, I don't mean to rush but when can we get underway? The longer I sit the more I lose." Asks Kirkran tersely.


Jorj and Talon enter the Moonrunner and meet with the crew in the lounge, freshly geared up and looking ready to go.


"We'll be heading out in just a couple hours, Kirkran." Car'das replies, motioning to Karrde. "Karrde's in charge for this mission. I'll let him brief you before you head out." With that, the senior smuggler takes one last look at the younger crew before turning around and leaving them to their business.


Karrde quickly takes over, clasping his hands together. "Alright!" He says. "There are three freighters on this run. You guys in the YT-1250, a YU-480, and me in an Action-IV, with an escort squad of Skipray Blastboats. We're moving tydirium ore and medical supplies to Manaan. Normally they could just rely on their own kolto reserves for first aid, but the Empire's been sapping them dry lately. Anything you need to say before we get moving?"


"How well armed are the 480 and A-4? Are their crews good?" Asked Kirkran, standing next to Karrde.


"They'd mo gootu be." snarled Nakei. "Last tee-tocky jee-jee did do group operation, doe 'Runner had tah carry everyone through."


"Yea. Took the twins and I a week to get her flying again." Added Voyla coldly.


"The A-4 crew is my crew, so you'd better watch what you say." Karrde gives Kirkran a jokingly offended look, placing his hand on his chest. "I can vouch for them personally, they're a crack bunch of smugglers. As for the 480, they're also part of Car'das's group, and I've flown with them before. They'll do their job, and they'll do it well..." Talon's voice trails off a bit as he turns his gaze back to the rest of the Moonrunner crew, clicking his tongue. "What about your crew, Kirk? They look the part, can they play the part?" He pauses a moment, before shaking his head. "Ah, I'm sure they'll do fine. Do whatever prep you need, takeoff's in two hours."


"Right." He turns to his crew. "Jak, Vox, make sure the weapons are fully functional and the targeting computer can tell between friend and foe. Nakei, keep that damn coil from failing again. And V---"


"Yeah, yeah I got it." She says, walking away.


After two more agonizing hours on Nar Shaddaa, Kirkran and the Moonrunner crew are finally permitted to pull out of the spaceport and take to the sky, leaving Nar Shaddaa behind them for what will hopefully be the last time. Before long, they're out of the planet's orbit and up into space, where the rest of the smuggler convoy is waiting for them.


"Glad you could join us!" Karrde says through the comms. "I'll send you the coordinates now. We're going to meet with our suppliers at a pre-determined rendezvous point, and then take the cargo to Manaan. If all goes well, we'll be there and back before the weekend."


"Copy that, Karrde. Waiting for your transmission." He switches of the comm. "Nakei, prep the hyperdrive."


"Already on it." He says, walking away.


Karrde's Action-IV is at least twice the size of both the YU-480 and the YT-1250, making both ships look like lightweight escorts flanking a bulky mothership, the whole convoy teeming with snub fighters. It's far too much firepower for a freighter convoy, but with any luck, they wouldn't have to explain their reasoning to anyone. After a short period of preparation, the smugglers are pulled out of realspace into hyperspace.



DEEP SPACE

Sometime later, Kirkran and the other smugglers exit lightspeed in an empty sector of space, isolated blips against the darkness of the void.


"Alright, this is the rendezvous." Karrde says through the comms. "We're ahead of schedule, our contract should be arriving in a few minutes. You'll need to make space for about 40 tonnes of cargo."


"Copy." Replied Kirkran. Jak, Vox, you and Nakei go put what little we have in the corner."


"Kava'd mee know u were koona tah ask je?" He asked, hobbling off with the twins.


"So who's our contact, Karrde?" Asked Kirkran over the comm.


"I've never met them personally, but they're people Car'das has worked with in the past." Karrde replies. "They do these kinds of runs all the time, shipping supplies and provisions to planets undergoing an embargo. It'd be philanthropic if they didn't mark up the price so much." His voice is accented by a sarcastic tone, as well as the mild warble of the communication emitter. Just a few moments later, a ship pulls out of lightspeed in front of the smuggler cargo, a narrow Lancer-class Frigate. The fear of it being a possible Imperial ambush fades when Kirkran and Voyla see how worn and weathered it is, possessing many carbon marks as well as a distinctly non-Imperial insignia on the side.


"That's them." Karrde confirms. "Right on time, as usual. Moonrunner, move on up with the 480, prepare to dock."


"Copy." He looks at Voyla.


"Yea, I know, Kirkran." She says harshly, beginning the docking sequence.


"V, I said you didn't have to come." He says softly.


"And I said I'm coming; I don't want you four getting killed."


The actual transfer of cargo goes smoothly. The clients don't bother too much, allowing the smugglers to load at their own pace, not getting in the way. They don't engage in much conversation, mostly keeping to themselves and only speaking when spoken to. Their behaviour, though a bit cold, is definitely common practice for most smuggling jobs, which gives the exchange an air of authenticity. Perhaps things will work out alright after all. It only takes the two freighters an hour or so to finish loading their cargo, and as they finish packing up and disconnecting from the Lancer, Karrde gets in contact again.


"There, piece of cake." He muses. "C'mon back to the Action-IV, I'll take some of that cargo off your hands. We want to travel light in case we're caught off-guard."


After docking with the Wild Karrde, the 480's and Kirkran's crew unload a portion of their cargo, making final preparations for the next leg of the run.


"Where the blazes did they get a Lancer?" Asked Kirkran.


"Eh. U hagwa exactly pick wompa tonka at do used ship lot." Said Nakei warily.


"How does anyone get anything in this Galaxy?" Vox muses.


"They probably stole it or lifted it from a scrap heap. It's not like it's in very good condition."


Once all of the cargo is set and Kirkran's crew is back in the Moonrunner, both it and the 480 pull out from the Action-IV, getting ready to make the jump. So far, it seems that things are going smoothly...


... Of course, that never lasts. Suddenly, the Moonrunner's scanners start blinking.


"Incoming ships!" Voyla manages to say, before a third party enters the scene, a Carrack cruiser.


This one is most definitely an Imperial vessel, clean and spiffy.


"Schutta!" Karrde exclaims through the comms. "Nobody move, it looks like a sector patrol ship! We're not guilty until we act guilty!"


"You guys know what to do." Says Kirkran quietly, as if the Imperials were standing a few feet away. Voyla nodded and began programming the navi-computer. Nakei waited for the order to activate the hyperdrive.


As far as sheer firepower is concerned, the smugglers hand the Imperials are on even footing. A squadron of snub fighters, two heavily-modified freighters, and a small command ship are a fair match for a single Imperial frigate and TIE escort, especially with people like Voyla and Talon at the helms.


However, there never is just one Imperial frigate. Its presence here means that there is at least one other Carrack nearby, and there's also the possibility that it's part of a larger squadron. It isn't long before the Imperials reach out to their suspicious acquaintances, hailing each ship individually.


"YT-1250, submit your credentials and state your business out here." A common but effective tactic. They're hailing each ship individually so that one pilot can't make up an excuse without the possibility of it being totally different than the others.


"Transmitting credentials now, stand by." Replies Kirkran. "We suffered a coil failure and are working to replace it."


"Says here the ship is called Pioneer's Requiem based out of Corellia. Captain's name is Val Corren." Says an officer to the Imperial captain.


The captain of the Carrack is an older man, probably in his late forties or early fifties, with salt-and- pepper hair and a slender physique. "And what of the other ships?" He asks, to which the fleet ensign replies. "Similar stories, sir. Something about a mechanical failure and needing to stop and fix it."


The captain takes this in for a moment, before a coy little grin crosses his face. "Well let's help them out, shall we?"


It's a tense few minutes before the smugglers receive a universal reply.


"We have plenty of supplies on the ship and would be happy to help. Maintain your position and prepare for docking." A sweet- sounding offer, but with an obvious undertone. The Imperials are suspicious and want to come get a closer look.


Kirkran receives a transmission from Karrde immediately thereafter. "Kirk, I've got a plan. Are your engines fired up?"


"As is the hyperdrive. What's in your head, Talon?"


"The Carrack is above us." Karrde starts as the Imperials lumber closer towards the group, the TIEs cruising leisurely alongside it.


"The Action-IV has reinforced armour plating on the nose. I'm going to have us ram into the frigate, see if we can wound that underbelly a bit. That should give you an opening to peel out and counterattack with the 480 while our fighters engage the squints." His tone quickly changes, becoming more tense and serious. "Stakes, I'm not doing this out of the goodness of my heart. I expect you to follow up on the window I give you and to have my back. If you bug out and make the jump to lightspeed, you'd better pray I find you first, because Car'das will take his time with you." Normally, Talon would never think to doubt Kirkran and Nakei, but this is literally life or death. He needs to be sure.


"Since when do I bail on friends, Karrde?" Replies Kirkran. "Jak, Vox, man your stations. Charge the guns."


Tension hangs in the air as Kirkran and the Moonrunner crew rush to their stations, preparing for the inevitable dogfight. The Carrack grows ever closer to the small smuggler squadron, sliding within the three kilometre range, than two, its threatening and imposing. The TIEs swarm around like gnats around a carcass, just itching for the chance to do something. Talon Karrde gives them that chance. Without warning, the Action-IV changes direction and zooms towards the larger Carrack, moving faster than a ship its size has any right to.


"Transport, what are you doing?!" An Imperial barks through the comms, but he receives no reply. Before the larger frigate can even turn the power up on its engines, Karrde's ship slams into its undersize, its powerful thrusters forcing the ship to turn upwards away from the smugglers.


"Crazy bastard." Said Voyla in shock.


"Vox keep an eye on those bogeys, Jak, target the Carrack's engines!"


Frantic shouting and livid commands from the Imperials come blaring through the Moonrunner's comms, but Voyla quickly disables them as she changes course, putting herself in position to sweep across the Carrack. The TIE Fighters quickly surge forward, but the faster and more powerful Skiprays come to meet them, forcing the squints into a violent firefight around their mothership. A few stragglers manage to get through, though, and this what Jak finds himself facing. They zip to and fro in his line of fire with sluggish but nonetheless difficult speed. Meanwhile, as Vox focuses his attention on the Carrack, he finds the shields still a bit too strong to punch through. Talon's ship has started to take fire from the frigate, but it holds its position, pressing its ram.



"480! This is Captain Stakes! We need help gettin' this Carrack's shields down!" He called over the comm. "Jak, focus on the TIEs to give the 480 a window!"


"This sa insanity!" Yelled Nakei as TIE fire splashed against the Moonrunner's hull. "Break ovv um head che safe doma toma! Jee-jee can't get moolee-rah if jee-jee're DEAD!"


"We're on our way, Moonrunner!" The 480 replies, breaking off from its minor sweep and heading for the 1250. With Jak handling the squints, the freighter is able to easily pull alongside the Carrack and open fire. With both freighters focusing their laser cannons on the lightweight command ship, the shields eventually come down, and the shields are peppered with raw laserfire.


With the frigate dead in space, the Action-IV begins to pull away, its nose scratched and dented, but the bulk of the ship still intact.


"We just picked up a transmission from the Carrack." Karrde says over the comms. "It's calling for help, and help's gonna get here fast. Mop up the rest of those TIES and prepare for the jump to lightspeed."


"You got it, Karrde." He replied a little less tense. "I'll move us out to give give Jak a clean line." Replied Voyla as she wheeled the freighter away from the Carrack.


"Nothing on scope yet, Captain." Added Vox, watching the scanners intently.


The limping cruiser continues to fire its ventral laser cannons upon the Action-IV, but its shields and sturdy armour plating absorb most of the damage, allowing it to continue its descent away from the larger ship. The Skiprays, likewise, swarm back towards the smuggler command ship, breaking off from the substantially diminished TIE squadron as they prepare to make the jump to hyperspace. At that exact moment, two more Carracks pull out of lightspeed, filling up the space above the battle. TIE Fighters are already swarming out of the hangars, making a beeline towards the smugglers.


"Now, make the jump now!" Karrde cries, the sound of his demand filling the cockpit and Kirkran's ears.


"Punch it, V!"


Voyla frantically pulls the lever back as the Moonrunner's hyperdrive hums to life, the freighter vanishing in a flash, along with the Action-IV and the 480. Nakei hobbled in looking pissed.


"DA was peetch close, Kirkran. WAY tah close."


"Now hold on." Said Kirkran. "You said we needed to take this job because Karrde owes us."


"GUYS." Said Voyla, cutting in. "You're both right. But it's too late to change our minds now."



MANAAN

A short time later, Kirkran and the smuggler convoy pull out of hyperspace into Manaan's orbit, several kilometres away from the Imperial sector force. Luckliy, they seem to have arrived before any news of their run-in with the Carracks, and they're allowed to touch down without incident.


Shortly after arriving, Karrde has Kirkran come with him to meet the buyers. Upon leaving their ships, they're met with a small congregation of Selkath, the leader of which seems quite pleased to see them.



"By the Progenitor, it's good to see you." She says, clasping her three-fingered hands together. "And so early, at that! You must be the fastest pilots Car'das has."


He nods. "I'm Captain Stakes. This is Jak and Vox." He gestures to the Clones behind him and Karrde.


The Selkath turn their gaze upon Jak and Vox, and many of them become visibly uncomfortable at their presence. "You'll have to forgive us." The leader says. "Many of us are still a bit weary around clones, after the war... We'll go get your payment." With that, the delegation turns around and strolls off, leaving the smugglers to their business.


"Kirk!" Talon calls out as he approaches, a relieved smile on his face. "I suppose that could have gone worse, eh? A bit of a hairy encounter up there, but we otherwise came out unscathed." He rests his hands on his belt and looks back to the Moonrunner. "That being said, how is the rest of your crew holding up?"


"Everyone's fine. 'Cept for Nakei." He says. "Ranting as usual. He'll shut up once we get paid. How's the Action-IV? That was pretty gutsy."


"She'll be fine. A bit bent around the nose, but that's nothing an afternoon of maintenance can't fix." Talon folds his arms over his chest as he continues. "Like I said, I didn't do that out of the goodness of my heart. If I thought for a second you wouldn't have my back, the plan would've been much different..."


After a moment or two of silence, he speaks again. "But you did have my back, and that's all that matters. Anyway, we're gonna be posted up here for a day or so, then we're heading back to Nar Shaddaa. Car'das will have your payment wired to your account by sunset, feel free to do what you need to until then. you did good work out there, Stakes."


He dismisses the brothers and waits with Karrde for the Selkath to return.


"They seem a tad jumpy with Jak and Vox here. Mentioned something about Clones after the war."


"Oh, it's the typical sort of story on these kinds of planets." Karrde explains. "Manaan sided with the Separatists during the Clone Wars. The Republic hit them pretty hard near the end of the war, right around the time the Empire was formed. The Separatists pulled out, but the Imperials kept fighting. Most of the Selkath settlements underwater were destroyed, they were forced to come up here to Ahto City." He adopts a slightly uncomfortable expression as he continues. "The city had been abandoned for centuries, it wasn't equipped to handle so many Selkath. Thousands of them died, and those that didn't have been turned in to slaves in everything but name..." He turns his gaze back to the Moonrunner. "As you can imagine, the army was entirely made up of Clones around that time."


"Ah." He says uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his head. "I just have them with me out of habit. Security, you understand."


"Hey, you don't have to explain anything to me. I'm not Selkath." He takes a look around at the hangar, where the amphibious denizens of Ahto City mull about carefully, looking as if they're walking on eggshells, doing their best not to be noticed or to upset anyone. "And boy, I sure am happy about that. "Clearing his throat, he changes the subject. "Anyway, I'm going back to the Action-IV. I don't really care what you do now, just try not to stir up any trouble until you're paid, okay? You're technically still an employee of Jorj Car'das until he completes the transaction."


"Soon as the Selkath return with the payment we can get out of here and back to Nar Shaddaa."


"It's going to be a while." Talon reiterates. "A couple hours at least. Now might be a good time to take a look around the city or do whatever else you do to pass the time. I'm going to address the damage done to the Action-IV, see how much it's going to cost."


"Need any help? I can send Nakei over." Said Kirkran.


"No, that won't be necessary." Karrde gives Kirkran a hand-wave, taking a step back. "I'll see you later, Kirk." With that, the other smuggler cuts the conversation short, leaving Stakes to do as he wishes.


For the next two hours, Kirkran, Nakei and the brothers go over the Moonrunner, making sure nothing needs fixing.


"Stuka just do few laser burns um do lost panel. Nopa peetch hard tah come by."


All in all, things had turned out pretty well for Kirkran and the Moonrunner crew. The ship had been repaired for free by Car'das, and they were well on their way to a double payday, enough money to fuel and supply the ship for weeks, and to payout the crew on top of that.


It's the perfect time for something to go wrong. As Kirkran finds himself in the cockpit, doing whatever it is he does to pass the time on slow days, he hears a commotion outside in the hangar. It doesn't sound like any of his crewmen, rather it sounds like one of the Skipray pilots Car'das had hired. Outside, Jak, Vox and Nakei were making some adjustments to the ship's cannons.


"Uh oh." Says Jak, turning to see what the commotion was about, nudging Vox to look too.


"If they hagwa shut da shit down ree quick doe Empire's gonna swarm doe hangar." Says Nakei as he looks toward the door.


"Guys what's happening?" Asks Kirkran as he joins them.


Kirkran sees a pair of human starfighter pilots being confronted by about half a dozen Selkath just outside the Moonrunner, the two groups chattering and bickering loudly to each other. The two men look quite frustrated, and the Selkath look absolutely livid, though their anger is subdued by an overtone of fear. It's difficult to hear what they're talking about from inside the Moonrunner, but they're being quite loud, loud enough to be heard at all through the ship's hull. It's the kind of argument that's sure to attract Imperial attention if something isn't done to quiet them down soon.


"Alright, alright!" Yells Kirkran, firing two blaster rounds skyward. "What's all this about!?"


The sound of Kirkran's blaster letting loose a round makes everyone in the hangar jump, turning their attention towards him. The two pilots withdraw their blasters defensively, but quickly ease up once they see who it is.


"These fish are nuts!" One of them exclaims, frustration in his tone. "They won't leave us alone; they're accusing us of all sorts of nonsense!"


In response, one of the older Selkath begins shouting, but the Selkatha language isn't one that Kirkran can recognize. Luckily, one of the younger Selkath, a woman, is able to translate in Basic.


"These men are scoundrels and thieves!" She exclaims. "They cheated my father out of a lot of money! They must repay us!"


"Do you have proof?" Asks Kirkran kindly.


"Oh c'mon, man." Groans one of the pilots, a taller man with buzzed hair and a beard. His shorter friend, looking just as frustrated, speaks further in protest. "You're really going to listen to the fish people on this one? If you ask me, we should just throw 'em overboard, the Empire won't even miss 'em!"


Contrary to Kirkran's human coworkers, the Selkath seem quite content at his inquiry. One of them withdraws a datapad and hands it to Kirkran. "The security feed from our restaurant." The woman explains. "It shows them swapping cards with each other during a sabaac game."


Suddenly the shorter male finds Kirkran's blaster inches from his face, Kirkran's own livid. "Jak, Vox. C'mere." The two brothers jog over and stand.


"Yes Captain?" They ask simultaneously.


"Make sure these Selkath are kept from harm." He orders, accompanying the one with the datapad a few feet away and watches the recording. Both of the pilots step back when Kirkran withdraws his blaster, only barely stopping themselves from raising their own. When Jak and Vox step into the scene, the two accused exchange weary glances with each other, clearly not liking where this is going.


The security footage reveals much of what the Selkath had been saying. The two pilots are sitting at a table with a few others, mostly other humans, but also an older Selkath. Clear as day, the two men exchange cards with one another under the table.


Kirkran walks back after borrowing the datapad, clicking his tongue. "So you guys like to play dirty Sabaac, hm? Lucky for you you weren't playing against my boys here. Vox doesn't take kindly to cheaters. Fork over your winnings and go back to your ships."


Vox noticed there was a small child among the Selkath, hiding behind her dad but watching curiously nonetheless. He gave her a smile before turning back to the conversation. The small Selkath blinks when Vox waves, raising her three-fingered hand and gently waving back. The girl's father extends his hand and moves her further behind his back, looking at the Clone with a weary stare. There's no hate or anger in his eyes, but he does show paternal protectiveness.


The pilots, on the other hand, are quite scornfully glaring at Kirkran. "You're really doing this?" The taller one grumbles. "They're just a bunch of overgrown guppies. What would Car'das think if he saw this?" It's not phrased as a threat, but the intent behind it is clear.


"Think of what?" Said Kirkran coldly. "Of you two screwing this poor girl's father out of money? They've already been abused by the Empire and the Separatists."



The shorter pilot rolls his eyes, clearly not responding well to Kirkran's moral chastising. Nonetheless, he withdraws a pouch from his flight suit and nudges the taller man, who follows suit.


"Whatever, man." He grumbles, the two dropping their credits in his hands, making a show of being impolite about it.


"Car'das is gonna hear about this." The taller pilot says, pointing a finger in Stakes' face. "Mark my words." With nothing more to say, the two men turn on their heels and retreat to their ships, not having enough fight in them to pick on two veteran Clone Troopers.


"Thank you." He smiled, turning and giving it and the datapad to the Selkath female. "Tell your old man to quit gambling."


Cautiously, the Selkath woman steps forward and scoops the credits out of Kirkran's hand, pulling the small chips close to her chest. "I don't know why you did this, but... thank you." She nods her head, stuffing the credits into her pocket and taking a step back to rejoin her family. She hesitates for a few moments, before speaking again. "If... if you and your Clones are hungry, you're welcome to come by our restaurant for a free meal, if you don't mind seafood. It's not high-end, but the portions are big and the food is hot."


"Boys?" He looks at Jak and Vox. They just grin as Jak speaks up.


"Free food? Count us in!"


"You've just invited two black holes into your restaurant, just so you know." Says Kirkran jokingly.


"I do have two other crewmembers if that's okay." There is brief hesitation, but it's quickly replaced by acceptance. "I don't see why not." The woman says. "We should have enough to feed a small army."


Fortunately, the family seem good on their claims. Kirkran and the Moonrunner crew are treated to a veritable feast at the Selkath group's diner, a meal of such quality and quantity they had likely not seen in quite some time. Thick planks of fish fillets, racks of steamed crustaceans, deep bowls of seafood chowder, and endless biscuits, just to name a fraction. All spiced and prepared to the quality only an intimate family restaurant can manage.


And Kirkran learns some about this family as he and his crew eat. They had come from a long line of aristocratic chefs, catering to the upper crust of Selkath society for several generations, even during the Clone Wars. When the Empire took over, they had managed to secure for themselves mild freedom by opening up a restaurant in Ahto City, opening their skills to the wider galactic community. Of course, loose servitude is still servitude, and they have lost much of the status and wealth they had during their heyday.


"This food is exquisite!" Said Voyla as she enjoyed her food. "I see why you cooked for the elite."


"As someone coo sa ree picky um hard tah please, mee have tah agree. Mee know konchee tah come che food on Manaan." Said Nakei as he took a drink.


"Thanks for inviting us into your place." Added Kirkran gratefully. "Not every day we get to eat like this. I appreciate your hospitality."


"It's not every day offworlders extend us a bit of courtesy." Says the Selkath woman, whom Kirkran has learned is named Chelaa, the current head chef and de-facto head of the household. "Not many are outwardly hostile towards us, but many of them have been silent bystanders and benefactors of what the Empire has done to us. Very few have the confidence to offer us a helping hand anymore."


"We shouldn't need help..." Grumbles Orloth, the older Selkath who had gotten into the gambling issue in the first place. He is the grumpy but well-meaning elder of the family, your typical conservative grandpa. His Basic is rudimentary, but understandable. "Before the Empire, Manaan helped the galaxy. Before bacta, kolto was the best healing chemical. I want those days to return..."


"I can understand completely. I remember being an honest freighter captain. I had just started when the war broke out."


"Eh. Then doe Empire came along um forced most freighters tah doe Outer Rim tah take decent jobs without all these regulations um wamma cuts." Added Nakei.


Chelaa opens her mouth to speak but is interrupted by the sound of the restaurant's front door sliding open, followed by a cascade of footfalls. The Moonrunner crew's modest banquet is interrupted by an Imperial army officer and a small cadre of Stormtroopers, a squad of ten led by a sergeant. Just behind the Imperials, Kirkran can see the tops of two heads, which he immediately recognizes as the pilots from earlier.


"I hope we're not interrupting anything." The officer muses, the badge of a Lieutenant on his chest. His smooth, fair-skinned face gazes over the room thoughtfully, a professional grin on his face. "We've heard some startling reports of gambling being run in this establishment. As you all should know, gambling is illegal on Manaan. I'm sure it's all hearsay, but I'd like to investigate nonetheless."


Kirkran scowls, visibly livid at the two Skipray pilots. "Sleemo." He looks at Chelaa apologetically.


"Who said that? These two?" said Vox, eyeing the two pilots. "Yes, I'm sorry but you've been duped. these were the two swindlers conning people out of their money by playing dirty Sabacc in the hangar."


The officer listens to Kirkran and Voyla talk for a few moments, before raising a hand and shaking his head dismissively. "Thank you for your input, citizens, but leave the investigation to the professionals." He turns his gaze to Chelaa. "I'll need your family to come with me to the garrison base."


"Please, our guests speak the truth." The Selkath woman pleads, clasping her hands together in a subservient position. Despite her requests, the Stormtroopers fan out throughout the room, apprehending the family one-by-one and corralling them near the entrance. Orloth puts up a fight, resisting being detained, which prompts one of the Stormtroopers to smack the back of his head. Kirkran and the Clones immediately jump up, the tension in the room having reached a boiling point. The sudden movement prompts all of the Stormtroopers in the room to raise their blasters, taking aim at Kirkran and his clone bodyguards.


The army officer raises his hand, motioning for his men to hold their fire. "Your comrades are quite the jumpy bunch, aren't they?" He muses. "None of you smuggler types are in trouble here, just the fish."



He steps back, bringing his hands down behind his back as he continues. "I will give you one chance to leave and let us do our job. I assure you the Selkath are not worth your time." As he speaks, Chelaa and the others look to Kirkran with worried expressions, unsure of what's about to happen.


"Tell you what, lieutenant. You let them go and take ME instead." Says Kirkran. "These Selkath are innocent."


"Kirkran! Choy about doe job che--!" Started Nakei but stopped immediately when Kirkran shot a look that'd kill.


"What do we tell Talon?" Asked Voyla.


"I fell behind. Simple as that." Said Kirkran, dropping his belt and holster, holding his wrists out. "You're captain now, Voyla."


The black-clothed officer hesitates for a moment, giving Kirkran a perplexed, confused expression. "Why in space would you-" He starts to say, but eventually he sighs and waves his hand. "I don't have time for this. I'm supposed to arrest someone today, it doesn't matter to me if it's Selkath or not. Take him away."


With that, the Stormtroopers let the Selkath go and quickly converge upon Kirkran, taking hold of his arms and hoisting him out of the restaurant. Everyone watches him with shocked, fearful expressions, especially the two snub fighter pilots standing behind the Imperials.


As they try to leave, they're seized by two hands and pulled back as the door shuts. "I hope you're happy!" Snaps Voyla, glowering at the two pilots as Jak and Vox hold them in place. "Because of your stupid need for revenge, Kirkran is on his way to the garrison base."


"Mee should skin u alive gee myo hydrospanner!" Growled Nakei.


Chelaa was cleaning up the leftover food, feeling horrible, as if she were responsible. "It's our fault."


"You stop." Said Voyla calmly as she walked over, thinking. Chelaa continued, picking up a napkin, her saddened expression changing to shock. "Voyla..... Look. " She said holding it up for her to read.


"Get them out of here."



MANAAN – IMPERIAL BASE

"I don't like you." A gruff-looking man glowers at Kirkran through the jail bars, sitting in the cell to the right of the smuggler's. His dirty hands clutch the metal poles, his glossy eyes contorted into a threatening glare, his nose upturned in disgust. He's dressed in some kind of tattered doctor's apron, stained with splotches of red in several places.


"You better watch yourself, pretty boy!" He says with a threatening point of the finger. "I'm a wanted man. I have the death sentence on eight systems." The only thing more unpleasant than this man is the stench that permeates throughout the small jail, a sort of rotting fishy stench, wet and salty.



"Right. Yeah. I'll be careful." Kirkran reclines against the wall, thinking of his next move.



The mad doctor grips the bars tighter, pushing his face right up against them. "You'll be dead!" He exclaims, following this threat with a burst of loud, maniacal laughter.



CHELAA’S RESTAURANT

"It obviously means Kirkran wants us to get Chelaa, Orloth and their family off-world." Said Voyla as she read the cryptic message.


"First jee-jee gotta tell Karrde um finish this job." Interjected Nakei. "Da has become more complicated than that damned Gizka wompa!" He added in annoyance.


"Off-world?" Chelaa and Orloth say in unison, expressions of shock and discomfort on their faces. Chelaa is the first to speak independently. "W-we can't leave the planet, not now. We... Our family has been here for centuries, this is our home."


"It isn't right!" Orloth adds, his tone much rougher and more assertive than that of his daughter. "The Empire digs its boots into our backs and we're the ones that have to leave? That's preposterous, it's dishonourable!"


"Chelaa, Orloth " Starts Voyla. "Home is where the heart is. I grew up on Ryloth but was enslaved by the Black Sun. Kirkran bought and freed me. My family is Kirkran and the others."


Voyla's words seem to lessen some of the Selkath family's worries, but they still seem apprehensive, hesitant to give up and go offworld so soon.


With a gulp, Chelaa speaks again. "We will need time to think about this, and to prepare. " She says. "But we wish to see Kirkran before we leave. Please, rescue him from the Empire. We will do whatever we can to help."


"Don't worry, Chelaa." Says Voyla softly, resting a hand on her shoulder. "We have it covered."


Chelaa clasps her hands together and nods, letting out a quiet sigh. "We'll gather what we can and wait for you." She says.


Orloth still looks firmly opposed to the idea, but he says no more on the matter, keeping his mouth shut and his hands folded over his chest. After a few moments of further silence, he speaks.


"Whatever you have planned, it would be best to do it via the ocean." He suggests. "Many areas of Ahto City can be accessed via underwater tunnels and chambers that the Empire doesn't yet know about. One of them is the prison."


"Um u know this KAVA, Orloth?" Asked Nakei, cocking an eyebrow.


The fishy old fellow's lips curl into a cocky grin as he replies. "Oh, come now, I've been around for a long time. You don't think I went exploring when I was younger? Scuttling around old abandoned Ahto City was a popular pastime for young Selkath before the Empire showed up and made us move back in. I could probably show you the passages myself if you have a deep diving or deep space suit."


"Jak? Vox? Says Voyla, looking at them.



They look at each other with an expression that says "Crap."


"We'll get our gear." Replies Vox.


"Oh, I hate this." Adds Jak.


Vox murmurs as he squirms in his vacuum-sealed suit, his hand pressed up against the side of Ahto City, doing his best not to look down. The Moonrunner crew find themselves underwater, scaling the side of the city, following Orloth's lead. The older Selkath effortlessly treads through the water, no need for a suit or any aquatic equipment.


"I hate this, I hate this, I hate this. " Vox does his best not to squirm and complain too much, but it's exceedingly difficult. The clone rarely talked about his service during the Clone Wars but had at one point mentioned serving during the Battle of Mon Calamari. Water is clearly an uncomfortable experience for him.


"I'm right beside you brother. And be glad there are no Karkarodon in these waters." Said Jak, hoping to relieve his stress.


"Don't you dare jinx it, brother." Vox teases in reply, giving the fellow Clone a light nudge in the shoulder.


Despite the fears of being ambushed by strange aquatic creatures, the waters surrounding Ahto City are suspiciously empty, only a few small fish daring to swim near the metal hull.


"All the pollution from the city is scaring off the fish." Orloth explains. He has a small device pressed against the nape of his neck, an aquatic comlink that allows him to "speak" to the others through their own comlinks. "Not to mention all the fishing we have to do for their hefty banquets."


"Well, that's one thing the Empire is known for, greed and gorging themselves." Says Jak, annoyed.


"The pollution doesn't affect you, Orloth?" Asked Vox curiously.


"Of course it affects me." Orloth replies with a matter-of-fact tone. "The same way it affects people that live in the smog of an industrial plant. If I were to hang out here too long, I'd probably develop breathing problems or other illnesses." He points up towards the water's surface. "That's why we spend our time above water these days. The Empire keeps the air in Ahto City nice and clear."


"To keep you guys more compliant." Said Vox.


"How so, brother?" Quizzed Jak.


"Think about it. The Empire could just as easily poison the air and wipe out Manaan." Said Vox.


"They could, but then they would lose all their slave labour." Orloth says, waving his hand dismissively.


The topic seems to be upsetting him, so he moves on ahead, putting some distance between himself and the Moonrunner crew. This doesn't last long, though, as they eventually seem to reach their destination. The small group finds themselves in front of a large metal door, a circular airlock portal divided in the middle by a tooth- pattern seam. Orloth runs his hand against it.


"There's a trick to this. " He murmurs, going quiet as if trying to remember something. "Any of you good with computers?"


"Yeah I'll get to it." Said Jak as he moved up to the console. "You and Vox keep watch. Even though it's unlikely anyone'll come along."


"Try to be quick about it, will ya?" Orloth grumbles, folding his arms over his chest. "We don't know how much time your buddy in there's got. It is an Imperial prison, after all."


"I'm going as fast as I can." Says Jak as he works on the panel.

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

Kirkran suddenly hears his cell door sliding open, drawing his attention to the doorway, where the Imperial Army Officer is standing. He enters the room, followed by two Stormtroopers, each with their blasters set to stun. The Officer looks down to his datapad, clicking his tongue quietly. "What did you say your name was, Captain?" He murmurs, his tone sounding absent-minded and relaxed.


"I didn't." Replies Kirkran shortly.


"Oh, no worries." The Officer says, a smirk crawling across his face. "I think I have it here... Was it Ratrin Vhek, Captain of the Dynamic?" The room goes cold. This is one of Kirkran's aliases. "Or perhaps Dash Rendar, Captain of the Outrider?" Another one of Kirk's aliases. "Or maybe Val Corren, Captain of the Pioneer's Requiem, which just so happens to have had a recent scuffle with an Imperial cruiser in this sector?" He hands the datapad to one of his Stormtroopers, taking off his glove and flexing his now bare fingers. "Or maybe I'm getting my YT-1250s confused. After all, so many YT model freighters are used in smuggling these days. That's what you are, right? A smuggler?"


"I prefer the term entrepreneur. I try to do honest work but you Imperial types put fees and tariffs on everything." Sneers Kirkran.


"Such is the price for peace and security." He steps towards Kirkran and takes off his glove, clenching the leather article in his hand firmly. "Of course, you criminal types thrive off of chaos and anarchy, don't you? Everything the Empire fights so hard to destroy." Without warning, the Officer swipes his arm forward, smacking Kirkran with his glove. The act makes a fierce grin crawl across his face. "Now, I have some questions for you. Who are you working for, and what contraband have you brought into my fine city?"


"You'd have to speak to my employer." Replies Kirkran snidely.


This elicits another haughty chuckle from the Officer, who lowers his head and looks down to his hand, patting his glove against his palm. "I don't think he's getting it, boys." He says, tilting his head to look back to the Stormtroopers behind him.


Without further prompting, they step forward and converge upon Kirkran. One of them takes hold of his arm as the other delivers a quick, rough punch to the stomach, followed by a second to the chest. They might not be good with words, but they're heavy hitters to be sure.


Used to things going rough, Kirkran recovers and fights back even though his hands are in binders. "I told you that you need to speak to my employer!"


Despite Kirkran being bound up, he manages to put up a good fight against the Imperials. It takes them a while before they can manage to hit him again, his thrashing and bucking keeping them at bay for a few moments, which is more than most people can manage against fully-trained Stormtroopers. Still, they eventually manage to land another hit, this time punching him in the face.


"Oh yeah?" The Officer muses. "And who is your employer, hmm?"


"Moff Tarkin!" Spits Kirkran, his lip bleeding.

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

"I got blueprints from the base computer. I have a good idea where they're holding the Captain." Says Jak over the comm.


"Good. Sooner we get outta the water, the better." Replies Vox.


The tunnel that Orloth had led Kirkran's crew does in fact lead them into the Imperial base, but unfortunately, the way in leads them through the waste receptacle. The old Selkath leads the two Clones through what is essentially a septic tank, until they eventually come out into a sanitation chamber.


"Oh thank the Progenitor." He murmurs, stepping forward and turning it on. The three are immediately doused with warm water and sanitizer, cleansing them of the saltwater and waste they had just dredged through. However, their bath is interrupted when a cleaning droid walks in, probably part of the sanitation procedure.


"Oh!" It exclaims. "You're not janitors. What are you doing here?"


Vox quickly jumps the droid and shuts it off as it screams a fading "Nooo...."


"Let's hope he didn't alert security." Says Jak.


"Agreed. Orloth, we can't ask you to go any further. You've risked enough." Adds Vox. "Go back and get your family out of here. If we're not back in an hour, tell Voyla to take off and tell Karrde."


"Hey, you don't need to tell me twice." Orloth muses, waving his hands in a submissive manner. He turns back around and gets ready to leave, but before he does, he turns back to the Clones, looking at them for a few moments. There's a certain compassion in his eyes, one that wasn't there before. He opens his mouth to speak, but decides against it, turning around and walking out.

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

"I'm getting rather tired of this, smuggler." The Imperial Officer says, his wolfish grin having changed into a frustrated, impatient scowl. "You don't work for Governor Tarkin, you don't work for Mas Amedda, and you certainly don't work for the Emperor!" He steps forward, looking down upon the battered and bruised Kirkran. "You'd better start giving me some real answers soon, or we'll have to get really violent."


"Okay." Says Kirkran with a cough. "The Empire is nothing but a bunch of thieves and murderers. It's a dictatorship run by an absolute lunatic and a 7 foot cyborg with breathing issues."


Kirkran can almost hear the Stormtroopers' eyes rolling beneath their helmets. This is likely something they've heard dozens of times before, from people that had been in the same position he's in. Emotions flaring up in the heat of an interrogation, only serving to make the situation worse for the prisoner.


Suddenly, a mechanical wrenching noise can be heard, which catches the attention of everyone in the room.


"What was that?" The Officer asks, turning towards the door.


One of the Stormtroopers walks over to the door and pushes some buttons on the panel, sliding it open to reveal...


"Hi!" Jak and Vox say simultaneously, stunning the troopers, leaving the officer at gunpoint.


"Beginning to think you weren't comin'." Says Kirkran as he spits some blood from his mouth.


"Well, Nakei almost convinced us by to make him captain and leave you here." Vox kids, smirking.


"Oh ha ha." Kirkran laughs.



Three minutes earlier….

"Okay, according to the schematic, the detention cells are directly overhead." Says Jak to his brother as he scans the layout.


"Good. This smell was making me nauseous." Replies Vox.


"Well, the bad part is we'll be leaving this way...." Says Jak apologetically.


"Damn…. Alright c'mon." Vox quickly begins climbing the ladder to the hatch. Once disabling the sensor on the hatch, they climb into the deserted corridor. "Let's try this way." Jak says, pointing down the corridor.


"I'm getting rather tired of this, smuggler. You don't work for Governor Tarkin, you don't work for Mas Amedda, and you certainly don't work for the Emperor! You'd better start giving me some real answers soon, or we'll have to get really violent." Comes a voice from behind a door.


"Smuggler." Whispers Vox. "Gotta be the captain." Jak nods and raps sharply on the door once before drawing his blaster. "Stun only."


"What-" Is all the Officer can manage to let out before Jak and Vox converge upon the scene, dispatching the Stormtroopers and leaving him thoroughly outnumbered. Without any fuss or fight, he reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a set of keys, tossing them over to the Clones and raising his hands, stepping back in surrender.


"You-you won't get away with this, you filthy criminals!" He bites, seething with anger. "You'll never make it off the planet, not before you're cornered and blasted to bits!"


"We will if you don't open your trap!" Growls Vox before punching him in the nose, breaking it and knocking him out as his head hits the wall.


"Ghk-!" The Officer barely has time to grunt before he's knocked unconscious, falling to the ground in a heap, blood dribbling from his now broken nose.


With Kirkran now free, it's simply a matter of getting out of the prison and offworld… Easier said than done, with Ahto City firmly under the Empire's control.


Suddenly, Vox's communicator goes off, Voyla's voice coming through. "Vox, do you have Kirkran?" She asks. "Could you put him on for me?"


"I'm here, V. What's the problem?"


"Something's up with Karrde and the others." She murmurs, as if trying not to be heard. "They're packing up and getting ready to leave way ahead of schedule. They keep looking over at the Moonrunner. I can't hear what they're saying, but it can't be good, that's for damn sure."


"Do you think they suspect something?" Jak queries, but Vox shakes his head.


"They couldn't. We haven't told them anything."


All the same, the mood in the cell is tense and anxious, and the two Clones look to Kirkran for guidance. "What's our next move, boss?" Jak asks.


"Chuba. Chelaa and her family. They're suspicious of them. Voyla, go talk to Karrde." He orders before turning to the Clones. "It's time we take our leave."


"You don't have to tell us twice, boss." Jak nods, and with that, the three men make their way out of the cell and into the hallway. They march hurriedly through the small Imperial prison, making their way back towards the airlock, where hopefully they can return to the ocean without issue...



... However, they have no such luck. As they round the corner, they find that the way they had come in is surrounded by a squad of Stormtroopers, nine regular troops and a Sergeant. The smugglers are almost seen before they manage to duck back around the corner and out of sight.


"Blast it!" Vox whisper-yells. "I was hoping not to get into any more fights today."


"There's a shock." Teases Jak.


"Shut it!" Snaps Vox. "Since you've got a schematic of this dump, find us another door!"


"There is no other door!" Jak replies.



"There's the front door, then there's the door we came in through, and I bet you all the droids on Geonosis they won't be letting us just waltz out the front!"


As the two Clones continue to bicker amongst themselves, the Stormtroopers continue to search and keep watch in front of the door, no doubt aware that something isn't right. They outnumber the smugglers, but they're out in the open, and Kirkran and the Clones have the element of surprise.


"Why not just take 'em? Sure, there are seven of them and 3 of us, we're quicker on the draw. That's been proven time and again." Asks Kirkran rhetorically.


"You think?" Asks Vox.


"Course I do." Says Kirkran as he sets his S-5 on stun. Same as before, no lethal shots. We've got heat already."


"Got it." Replies Jak as he and Vox do the same with their pistols.


If they're fast, they might have a shot at this. Imperial Stormtroopers are usually quick on their feet, but these men are distracted, their attention turned away from any would-be attackers. Kirkran and the Clones have the element of surprise, and if they don't waste it, they could end this before it can get out- of hand.


"Wait here with your blasters ready, I'll get their attention." He grins, walking back towards the corridor intersection.


"He's crazy." Says Jak as he and his brother draw their weapons, still on stun.


"Crazy, yes. Without a plan, never. He knows what he's doing."


Kirkran walks out into open and looks both ways calmly before turning to face the troopers and sergeant. "Hey!"


The sergeant looks over, quickly assessing the situation. "Prisoner escape! After him!"


Kirkran ducks back around the corner as the troopers draw their blasters. Rigid Stormtrooper training kicks in, and the troops respond to Kirkran's diversion as one would expect. Following their sergeant's lead, most of the squad rushes forward to try and catch him, raising their blasters and opening fire with stun blasts, a couple bursts missing the smuggler by just a hair.

Two troops stay behind, which complicates matters, but it shouldn't be an issue if the Clones are quick enough. As the Stormtroopers round the corner, one of then turns his head just in-time to see Jak and Vox waiting there for him, tensing and raising his weapon.


"What the-" Between the three outlaws, they're able to stun the sergeant and four troopers.


"Two stayed behind, think you two can handle it?" Asked Kirkran, smirking.


They aren't given much time to find out. The sounds of struggle immediately notify the two remaining troopers.


"Stay here and call for backup." One of them says as he begins his approach, stepping forward and raising his E-11 cautiously. The other pulls out his comlink and powers it on, leaving the smugglers with mere seconds before the whole base is notified of their presence.


Kirkran dons the helmet of a trooper and pokes his head out. "Belay that order. The sergeant has the escapee in binders. come over here and give us a hand."



The approaching Stormtrooper skids to a stop, tilting his head in perplexity at the ruse. "That fast?" He mutters, walking forward and keeping his rifle up, clearly still cautious and suspicious. He glares at Kirkran through the scowl of his helmet, inching closer and closer, moving ever nearer to the Clones' line of sight.


Kirkran had his hand visible to Jak and Vox, counting down with his fingers. "It was a smuggler. Nothing difficult."


The Stormtrooper comes to a stop just short of the corner, keeping his gaze on Kirkran, looking away from where Jak and Vox are standing. He leans forward and looks a little closer, lowering his blaster but remaining in a cautious position. "Who are you? What is your identification number?"


"032393." Kirkran lies, feeling nervous. "You gonna give us a hand?"


After a few more moments of hesitation, the Stormtrooper finally relents, stepping forward and moving to help Kirkran with the lie he's just spun. He comes out into the hallway, putting himself right into Jak and Vox's sights.


"Surprise." Grins Vox before they stun the trooper.


"Ugh." Can't see crap in this thing." Says Kirkran as he pulls the helmet off, shaking his head. "Let's scram."


The last remaining Stormtrooper raises his blaster to defend himself, but is quickly dispatched by the Clones, falling backwards and sprawling out onto the floor. With the last of the Imperials dealt with, Kirkran and his crew are given the window they need and make their escape.


They return to the hangar bay to find that Karrde and the smuggler pilots are gone, leaving just the Moonrunner.


Voyla is the first to greet Kirkran when he returns, her face a mixture of relief and despair. "Kirk!" She calls out. "Karrde just left, he didn't call us or tell us what the plan was."


"Are Chelaa and her family on board?"


"Yes, Captain." She replies, turning her gaze back to the old YT-1250. "They're still not sure about this, but they know there's no going back now. Let's get out of here before something else goes wrong, okay?" There's a hint of anxiety and urgency in the Twi'lek's voice, her typical over-cautiousness.


"I agree. Get us into hyperspace then I'll contact Karrde. I need to figure out what the hell's going on." He says on an unusually authoritive tone, heading inside.


The mood onboard the Moonrunner is tense as Kirkran enters. Cheela and her family mostly keep to themselves, undoubtedly overwhelmed at the circumstances, at having to leave their ancestral home. After being cleared by hangar personnel, the Renegades peel out and make their way into orbit, intent on closing this tense chapter in their history.


That's when it happens. Almost immediately after leaving atmosphere, the ship is brought to a wrenching halt, the unmistakable pull of a tractor beam. Looming before the ship is a hulking cruiser, about the size of a Procursator Star Destroyer, with a blocky but intimidating design profile; A Keldabe-class Battleship, bearing the markings of Jorj Car'das.


"Car'das." Growls Kirkran. "Keep Chelaa and her family out of sight."


"Mee tinka jee-jee've been had." Says Nakei.


"How?" Asks Voyla.


"Someone told Car'das u got nabbed. Ateema he's worried u'll botch doe job." Answers Nakei.


With no way to free the Moonrunner from the tractor beam, Kirkran and the crew are forced to watch as they're pulled into Car'das's battleship, uncertainty and anxiety filling the cabin.


Given how he treated the Bimm for what had been an honest mistake, one can only imagine what he does to people that deliberately complicated a job, even if it was for benevolent reasons. They're going to find out soon enough. Almost as soon as the YT-1250 is pulled into the Keldabe's hangar bay, mercenary militiamen swarm the ship, surrounding it and securing a rough perimeter. A few minutes later, the Moonrunner is pinged, a request for the loading bay to be opened. Kirkran lowers the elevator, scowling at whoever might be waiting, Chelaa and her family hidden in the non-operational escape pod.


Kirkran is met by Car'das and a squad of mercenary guards, five man on each side of him, their weapons presented and their expressions stern, almost accusatory.


"Leaving so soon?" Jorj asks, a devilish smirk curled across his lips. "What's your rush, Stakes? I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye."


Kirkran’s temperature was rising, as was his anger. "Oh I don't know Car'das. Maybe I'm trying to catch up to Karrde 'cause he up and left without warning?"


"Coo's doe wise guy!?" Yelled Nakei from somewhere inside the ship. "They knocked da newpa coil loose whao they grabbed us!"


"Karrde left because I told him to." Car'das retorts, pointing a finger up to Kirkran. "I didn't tell you to leave. I haven't wired you your payment yet, so you're still technically operating under my employment. You were supposed to lay low on Manaan until you got paid, and then you'd be someone else's problem." He takes a step forward, resting his hands on his belt. "But now I find you trying to leave the system, and there's a buzz on the Imperial network about a prison break in Ahto City. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you Stakes? I'd hate to find out I hired someone unreliable."


Kirkran stood there with Jak and Vox feeling quite unintimidated with his arms crossed. "Yes, it was me. I've still got your cargo, don't I? Want it or not?"


Jak and Vox stood there, their eyes scanning the men around them. "If it's all the same, you can have the money. We've already been paid. Sooner you take your cargo, sooner we can get out of your way." Finishes Kirkran.


"Oh, I'll definitely be taking the cargo." Car'das answers. With a snap of his fingers, he has a few of his mercenaries step forward, holstering their blasters and getting ready to unload the supplies. "But I'm not done with you yet, Kirkran Stakes. I don't think you realize the situation you're in right now."


He brings his arm forward, revealing a small holocom resting in his palm. "Your getaway was messier than you thought it was. The Empire knows exactly where you are, and they'll be coming to get you within the hour. I can call the governor and tell him to call them off, but you'd owe me..." He motions to the Moonrunner. "Unless you feel like condemning your Selkath friends to a life of hard labour in the spice mines of Kessel."


"You've got a lot of nerve, Car'das. A lot. How about we just wait till they get here. You think your little governor friend will pull your ass out of the fire if I tell the Empire who you are? I'll also let them have your cargo. Says Kirkran. "I'd imagine your rap sheet's a parsec long by now."


"The Empire knows who he is, you idiot!" One of the mercenaries exclaims, eliciting a laugh from the others.


Car'das cuts them short with a stern glare, then continues. "I'm not some small-time cargo runner, Kirkran. The Empire knows we're here because I have allowed them to know. I have eyes and ears in almost every sector in the Inner Rim, including here on Manaan."


He runs his thumb over the holocom, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. "I may have nerve, but I also have the resources to back it up. You're welcome to put that to the test if you want, or you can do the smart thing and stand down while you still have a leg to stand on. I'm patient, but not infinitely so."


"Don't do it, Kirkran." Whispers Vox. "He just wants to keep you under his thumb. Keep you owing him, I mean."


Kirkran stood quietly, not only worried for his crew, but the refugee family on the Moonrunner.


Clock's ticking, Stakes." Car'das reiterates, resting his free hand on his belt, his lips holding a confident smirk.


A quiet beeping fills the hangar bay, to which one of his subordinates looks down to a datapad and explains. "Proximity alarm, sir. There's a ship approaching, Victory-class." Time is quickly running out.


"Fine! Answers Kirkran through gritted teeth. "But not now! I've got stuff to do. You can call on me in the future. But after, we're done. Deal?"


Car'das seems displeased by this counteroffer, but he nonetheless relents, allowing Kirkran some leeway in this. "Fine. Aside from this catastrophic blunder, you've done good work for me. I can at least give you some breathing room." He presses a button on the holocom and hands it off to his subordinate, who steps back and calls off the approaching Imperials. Once that's out of the way, Car'das steps forward and raises a finger. "Don't make me regret this, Stakes." He warns, his voice adopting a stern growl. "Don't try to run or hide from me. Your ship might be fast, but I have eyes everywhere. You may have a long leash now, but until your debt is paid, you and your crew are mine." He waves his arm. "Now get off my ship."



Kirkran remains silent, biting his tongue as Jak and Vox scowl beneath their helmets. The trio board the Moonrunner via the cargo elevator. Kirkran uses the intercom to contact Voyla.


"Get us the hell off this scrap heap, Voyla. Jak, go tell the family it's safe to come out."


It takes some coaxing, but Jak is eventually able to coax the Selkath out of the escape pod and into the lounge, where they sit close together around the dejarik table. They're visibly tense, but they seem to slowly be reaching a more relaxed state, especially as they feel the ship pull out of Car'das's hangar and out into space.


"What will happen to us now?" Chelaa asks, her arms wrapped around her youngest child. "Our family has lived on Manaan for untold generations, we've never left. What will we do? Where can we go?"


"We'll find you a home, safe from the Empire. I promise." Says Kirkran firmly.


"Car'das better hope we never catch him alone." Says Vox to his brother. "Pump his carcass full of laser."


"Easy brother." Says Jak calmly.


"Cap, I might have a safe place Chelaa and her family can settle." Says Vox hesitantly.


"Oh?" Replied Kirkran in a curious tone. "Where?"



"Mon Calamari." He says. "We helped Generals Skywalker and Fisto liberate it."


"Mon Cala..." The Selkath look at each other, their mood becoming less worrisome and more optimistic.


"The Mon Calamari have no love for the Empire, we could be safe there." Cheela murmurs, her oceanic eyes flickering with hope. "It's no Manaan, but I think it will be good. It might be the best chance we have."



MON CALAMARI

The trip to Mon Calamari is tense, but upon arrival, Cheela's family is brimming with excitement. On the surface, they make sure to thank Kirkran and the Renegades one last time before departing, heading off to their new life in the waters of Mon Cala. Though the Moonrunner crew finds themselves trapped in the sway of a vicious crime lord for the time being, this brave family of Selkath has been bestowed with newfound freedom, all thanks to them. The Renegades and Chelaa's family stand by the ramp as Kirkran lowers it.


"We hope you'll be happy here, Chelaa." Says Kirkran, smiling.






NAR SHADDAA

"Kirkran. He gunned down do guy che being do weak link. Coo's tah settah he won't do doe same tah u?" Says Nakei incredulously.
(Nakei translated: "Kirkran. He gunned down a guy for being a weak link. Who's to say he won't do the same to you?")


"Jee-jee thought u'd been killed after da medicine run che da jedai went belly tonka." Added Nakei. (Nakei translated: "We thought you'd been killed after that medicine run for that Jedi went belly up."


"Agreed. Ateema kava about u bedwana us do round, huh Karrde? If mee remember correctly u still owe us che last tee-tocky."
(Nakei translated: "Agreed. Now how about you buy us a round, huh Karrde? If I remember correctly you still owe us for last time.")


"He still owes us che damages. If his Bimm pateesa had TOLD us choy jee-jee'd been carrying, jee-jee wouldn't be noleeya this situation."

(Nakei translated: "He still owes us for damages. If his Bimm friend had TOLD us what we'd been carrying we wouldn't be in this situation.")


"U?"
(Nakei translated: "You?")


"Noah noah noah. Mee'm doe damn engineer. MEE'LL stay um make sure they hagwa screw tonka doe adjustments um modifications mee've made."
(Nakei translated: "No no no. I'm the damn engineer. I'LL stay and make sure they don't screw up the adjustments and modifications I've made.")


"They'd mo gootu be." snarled Nakei. "Last tee-tocky jee-jee did do group operation, doe 'Runner had tah carry everyone through."
(Nakei translated: "They'd better be." "Last time we did a group operation, the 'Runner had to carry everyone through.")


DEEP SPACE

"Kava'd mee know u were koona tah ask je?"
(Nakei translated: "How'd I know you were gonna ask me?")


"Eh. U hagwa exactly pick wompa tonka at do used ship lot."
(Nakei translated: "Yeah, you don't exactly pick one up at a used ship lot.")


"This sa insanity!" Yelled Nakei as TIE fire splashed against the Moonrunner's hull. "Break ovv um head che safe doma toma! Jee-jee can't get moolee-rah if jee-jee're dead!"
(Nakei translated: "This is insanity! Break off and head for safe space! We can't get paid if we're DEAD!")



"DA was peetch close, Kirkran. WAY tah close."
(Nakei translated: "THAT was too close, Kirkran. WAY to close.")


MANAAN

"Stuka just do few laser burns um do lost panel. Nopa peetch hard tah come by."
(Nakei translated: "Looks like just a few laser burns and a lost panel. Not too hard to come by.")


"If they hagwa shut da shit down ree quick doe Empire's gonna swarm doe hangar."
(Nakei translated: "If they don't shut that shit down real quick the Empire's gonna swarm the hangar.")


"As someone coo sa ree picky um hard tah please, mee have tah agree. Mee know konchee tah come che food on Manaan."
(Nakei translated: "As someone who is very picky and hard to please, I have to agree. I know where to come for food on Manaan.")


"Eh. Then doe Empire came along um forced most freighters tah doe Outer Rim tah take decent jobs without all these regulations um wamma cuts."
(Nakei translated: "Yeah. Then the Empire came along and forced most freighters to the Outer Rim to take decent jobs without all these regulations and pay cuts.")


"Sleemo."
(Kirkran translated: "Slime-ball.")


"Coo's doe wise guy!?"
(Nakei translated: "Who's the wise guy!?")


"They knocked da newpa coil loose whao they grabbed us!"
"They knocked that new coil loose when they grabbed us!")