A/N:Okay this is my second story, but it not the sequel to my first story "Fly Now" this is an unrelated story, although the sequel to "Fly Now" , to be title "Strong Now" is in the works, I don't plan on publishing it until this one is finished.
This story is also following a different story dynamic than my last one, who was a slow burn character development story, this is more action/adventure based. Also where as SAbine was the focus of the last strory, I intend to make every crew member of hte Ghost to more or less, get the same level of exposure in the this story.
Discalimer: Star Wars and all it's iterations and characters are owned by Lucas Film and Disney.
Chapter 1
"What makes you so sure you can trust this guy?" Zeb said grunting as he hauled a crate of what he assumed to be either weapons or spice off a speeder. The crates were sealed and despite both Ezra and Chopper's best attempts, would not open.
"I don't trust him, would you trust someone Vizago put us into contact with." Kana said as he followed up behind Zeb. "But this guy is promising a huge payment for this..." he trailed off, and tried to ignore the fact that none of them knew what they had actually taken. Kanan had his suspicions, but given their didn't seem to be a way to open the container without severely damaging it.
As they arrived at the designated meeting area, a moderately hidden clearing they usually used to meet Vizago, and Kanan noticed the corner of another landing craft, with a symbol painted on the side Kanan thought might be the symbol of the Mandolorians. His gut tightened at the thought of possibility having to deal with Mandolorians. The Mando's were impossible to predict as a group as whole, while he worked with Sabine and loved her like family, he knew many were bounty hunters as well, and they price on their head's might result in a fire fight.
Zeb grunted as he moved the crate to its final resting spot. Unlike most "sales" the group did, Kanan had insisted on only himself and Zeb on this outing, much to the chagrin of Ezra and Sabine. But Kanan was erring on the side of caution, given the new contact was an unknown quantity. But now he was wishing he had brought Sabine, if they were Mandolorians, she would of come in handy.
"Keep yourself ready." Kanan said, his hand resting on his blaster as he heard the footsteps of an approaching party. As they rounded the corner of a large stone both he and Zeb raised their blasters and leveled them at the new comers.
"Drop your blasters!" Zeb shouted at what appeared to be storm troopers, as he backed away ready to bolt if he had to.
The Troopers had leveled their rifles at Kanan and Zeb at the same time, while Kanan cursed himself for falling into a trap.
"Lower your weapons you morons!" a voice called from behind the troopers as a man who clearly wasn't a Imperial officer walked in between them. His outfit was largely brown, covered in ammo pouches and utility items with a high fur collar, and his shoulder length white hair disappeared into. Looking from the new comer to the troopers he realized they weren't Imperial Storm troopers. Their armor looked like mismatched pieced of different military units, including both modern Storm Troopers and Republic era Clone Troopers and he thought he might of seen even some Mandolorian and a few piece he couldn't identify.
Slowly Kanan lowered his blaster and signaled for Zeb to do the same. These were clearly some kind of criminal organization or at least some sort of organization that worked off the main path.
The man, who Kanan felt as if he knew from somewhere, spoke to Kanan "Sorry about that, these men aren't exactly chosen from their discretion, but on to busniess, do you have it?"
Kanan was more than a little taken aback by the man's apparent lack of concern over a near fire fight and quick cut to business. "I think I'd like to know your name first, if it's all the same to you."
The man, raised one eye brow as if a bit surprised by this request but apart from this he didn't show much concern, either in body language or from what Kanan could sense in the force. "Of course, my name, is Tyber Zann, and you Kanan Jaruss, have something of my employer's right behind you, and if you want to get paid." He stopped talking but reached his right hand out and was handed a brief case by one of the troopers. Taking it he flipped it around and opened it to show Kanan it was full of high ended credits, much to Kanan and Zeb's surprise.
Neither had time to count, but it was small fortune in Zann's hand. This thing must be worth a great deal to someone for that much. Zann however continued on "You'll hand it over."
Kanan looked to Zeb and nodded and Zeb pushed the crate forward. "Good luck body, we wouldn't get it open, not sure how you..." but Zeb stopped and Zann did something neither he or Kanan managed to catch or see, and the top of the create opened.
Zann reached in and pulled out a much smaller container and flipped it open and smiled to himself. "Good job, my boss will be extremely pleased, now for you end of the deal." Zann said closing the box so neither Kanan or Zeb saw what was inside. He handed the suit case over to Kanan who took it as quickly as he dared to without be offensive. Something about Zann wasn't right, even as far as crime lords went, his appearance and his name rang like a reminder in his head, like something he had been told in passing years ago that never amounted to anything.
"If that's all..." Kanan began, knowing that it wouldn't, these types never left without trying to get something else out of it for themselves.
"Oh no, by all means, go." Zann said smirking at him, like he knew something Kanan didn't, which Kanan felt he might.
Kanan turned to Zeb and nodded, and they both turned to head to the speeder they had "borrowed" for the occasion.
Then he heard it, the tell tale sound of a TIE fighter squadron. Looking up and over his shoulder, Kanan saw the squadron making it's decent towards them. Kanan's eye's then fell on Zann and his men, who had level their blaster's at him and Zeb.
"Did you rat us out?" Zann said leveling what was either and oversized blaster pistol or undersized blaster rifle at them.
"NO!" Zeb shouted having raised his own blaster.
Zann looked from Zeb to Kanan before lowering his own blaster and turned with his men to run to his ship. Kanan not wasting any time made a break for his own escape vehicle.
As he and Zeb neared the speeder, the Fighter's made a pass over head, and blasted it into a pile of scrap. Kanan and Zeb had just managed to avoid being blasted by the explosion by dropping to the ground. A secondary blast told Kanan that Zann's ship had been hit as well.
"Hera, we need an emergency pick up!" Kanan shouted into his communicator. "Empire got wind of sale, we lost out speeder!"
"Copy Kanan, on our way, just hold on for a little while." Hera's voice carried over the communicator.
Kanan and Zeb retreated back to the rock formations for cover, Kanan noticing that Zann and three of his men had the same idea, firing at the TIE's.
"Well, it appears we have to means of exit." Zann said as he covered his head from a spray of rocks. "I hope that pilot of yours is on her way."
Kanan was about to question how he knew this before being cut off by death scream of one of Zann's men being hit by one of the fighters shots.
Kanan then noticed out of the corner of his eye, a Imperial troop shuttle landing troops to apprehend them on the ground. Kanan sighed as the situation just seemed to get worse and worse.
Another scream told him another one of Zann's men had taken a hit, this one however didn't die instantly, but languished on the ground, clutching his side for a few moments before expiring.
"What good are you if you can't even take out simple Strom Troopers?!" Zann shouted kicking the body out of the way as he raised his own blaster and jumped from the cover of the boulder to the next, firing mid air, and what Kanan saw left him wide eyed and astounded.
Whatever type of blaster Zann had, Kanan was sure it was Black-market tech. It fired a massive scatter shot of first sized bolts with a spread pattern so wide and tall it wiped out the entire battalion of Storm Troopers, tearing them to shreds.
"Well, that bought us a few minutes." Zann said lowering his smoking blaster, and popping a cartridge out and loading a new one in. "It'll be another minute before I can fire again, I hope you boy's can handle the rest." Zann said smirking.
Zab and Kanan exchanged glances before returning fire on the remaining Troopers. Kanan was now certain, this man was either the Lieutenant of a Crime Lord or some kind of under boss, and it probably wasn't a local like Vizago either. That type of Tech was highly advanced and questionable legality.
Kanan had never seen anything quite like it, it's sheer power was beyond any scatter gun he had ever seen.
With the ground force decimated, the TIE Fighter's were coming back around for another pass. "Hera, I need and ETA, how far out are you?"
"Another two minutes, can you hold on for that long?" Kanan heard the concern in her voice. "We'll manage." he said eyeing Zann's blaster, it gave him and idea.
As the TIE's passed overhead the last of Zann's men took a blaster bolt to the head, which disappeared in a flash of sparks, smoke and gore. Kanan could smell the burning armor and flesh, but could faintly smell the burning hair as well.
As disturbing as the sight was, Zann's reaction was what really put Kanan off, he didn't seem at all affected by the deaths of his men, and this was reinforced by Zann's off handed comment.
"We'll their goes the last one, suppose it saves credits." he said examining his blaster.
Kanan's eye shifted from Zann to the TIE fighter's making another pass, then back to Zann's blaster. Without a second thought, Kanan reached out with the force and pulled it out of Zann's hand and leveled it at the approaching fighters.
Squeezing the trigger, Kanan felt a hot flash cover his hands as the spread pattern flew towards the fighters. One took a direct hit, shattered the transparisteel windows, killing the pilot, and sending it crashing to the ground. A second TIE's wing took a few bolts, but managed to avoid crashing, but it had the wanted affect, the fighter's scattered and retreated to what they assumed was a safe distance.
Kanan had guessed right, they didn't want to risk attacking in a bunch group any more. In the distance he could see the formation break and the fighters wheel around for another pass, this time from several angles.
Before they could get close enough however, blaster bolts collided with them, blowing them into piles of scrap. Kanan and Zeb looked behind to see the Ghost flying in low and hot.
While he was looking, Kanan felt something yank the blaster out of his hand. Turning he saw Zann next to him, scowling. "I said it took a minute before I could fire again, now." he said examining the blaster "It's shot, this isn't going to be cheap to fix." he said heading towards the Ghost as it turned lower the ramp to allow them up.
Kanan, for a moment considered pulling Zann off the ramp and leaving him for the Empire, given the impression he had given, but something told him that Zann had a bigger role to play in their rebellion, and let him board first, followed by Zeb and then Kanan himself.
As they ran onto the ship, Ezra meet them, before giving Zann a confused look. But one sneering look made Ezra turn to address Kanan.
"Kanan what happened? Who is this guy?"
"Later Ezra." Kanan said running to the cockpit to man the rear gun.
This left Zeb, Ezra and Zann alone in the cargo hold. Zeb and Ezra looked at each other each, clearly uncomfortable with Zann's presence.
Zann however only looked at his blaster, appearing to mourn the loss. Popping open a compartment on the blaster Zann started pulling pieces out, and Zeb and Ezra were greeted with the smell of burning ozone.
"I hope that Jedi of yours has the credit's to get this fixed." he muttered as he looked up at them.
Zeb, finally out of the firefight, now stepped forward. "We've just saved your hide buddy, I'd say that's worth more than a stupid blaster."
Zann just sneered "This blaster was a custom piece." he said shaking it in their face. "If you don't replace it..."
"You'll what? You're stuck on our ship, with a busted blaster, against six people, you ain't gonna do squat." Zeb said shouting back.
Zann, however didn't yell back. He just smirked, and reached into his coat and pulled out the small box they had delivered him. "This, right here will guarantee your compliance. My boss wants' this very much, and paid you a small fortune for it and if he doesn't get it. He'll come looking for you, and given your known stomping grounds, I don't think he'll have a hard time getting to you."
Zeb snorted "Who's you boss? Some back water no name crime lord? Some old friend of Vizago's" Zeb leaned forward to the look Zann right in the eye.
Zann just continued to smirk. "Oh, I think you'll know his name, have you ever heard of Jabba the Hutt?" Zann said in a tone of voice that oozed arrogance.
Zeb's expression changed almost instantly, and he even stepped back from Zann, who's smirk didn't break.
"Ezra, stay here, I need to talk to Kanan." and with that, Zeb shuffled off the cockpit.
Kanan slumped into the seat next to Hera. Another narrow escape, but an escape none the less, turning to the panel Kanan started a search on Tyber Zann, the name seemed so familiar he couldn't help but try and find the information.
"What are you doing Kanan?" Hera asked looking up from the controls.
"Looking up our guest I can't help but feel I've heard the name before." he said search through the HoloNet. "Yes, here. Tyber Zann, born on Anaxes , Parent's owned a successful corporation "Zann Ramification" , attended the Imperial Officers academy on Carida, and was the persona protégé of Admiral Thrawn. " Kanan was starting to feel incredibly uncomfortable, and Imperial Officer in training was bad enough, but one to be the personal protégé of the notorious Admiral Thrawn made him an individual to be leery of, but he read on. "Was expelled from the academy for rumor of illegal activities, no charges were filed however." Well that might be good news at any rate, he at least did not seem to be on the Empire's side.
But the final entry was what really concerned him "Recent rumors on the criminal underworld indicate Zann had started working as an under boss for the notorious Jabba the Hutt."
Jabba the Hutt, was probably one of the most powerful being's in the galaxy, only the Emperor and Vader were his superior and Prince Xizor of the Black sun was his only peer in the Criminal Underworld. That means, whatever they had stolen, and essentially already sold, was for Jabba. Kanan knew that eventually, in the line of work they did, that sooner or later they'd run into the Crime Lord in some capacity. But he had hoped it would of been under more ideal circumstances.
His thoughts were broken when Zeb rushed in, a distressed expression on his face. "Kanan, Hera, we got a problem, our guest.."
"If it's about his connection to Jabba the Hut, I already known." Kanan said indicating the screen.
"You guy's brought the most dangerous Crime Lord in the Galaxy's underboss along with you!" Hera, near shouted at them, making Zeb shrink back.
Kanan however, looked confused "Yeah, didn't I tell you?"
"No, you said you ran into him, you didn't mention you brought him along."
"Oh, yeah...sorry about that, but it looks like it's gonna work out for us, now Jabba isn't gonna think we double crossed him." Kanan said, trying to smile at the scowling Hera.
"Kanan, whatever he's got, Jabba wants' bad, we can't get that hutt mad at us, taking on the Empire and the Hutt cartel is suicide, especially given Jabba is pretty friendly with the Empire. We got to at least get him somewhere he can get back to Tattoine, if we don't bring him their ourselves."
"Zeb..." Kanan was shocked at how shaken the Lasat looked, he was normally fearless "I didn't think Jabba would scare you so much."
Before Zeb could respond, a voice came in drifting in from behind them "Oh Jabba is nothing to be afraid of, so long as we get this to him." Zann said appearing in the door way, said brandishing the box again "not only will he spare you any misfortune, but I dare say he'll pay you a nice reward for saving me and it."
"I told you to stay in the cargo bay!" Zeb said in a raised voice.
"No, you told the boy to stay, you said nothing of the sort to me."
Zeb paused with his mouth opened, thinking about what he had said, and shut his mouth, realizing Zann was right.
Hera spoke up this time. "Look this is my ship, now we can bring you to Tattoine if you want, but don't think you can start making demands or tell us what to do and where to go."
Zann simply nodded. "Of course, I wouldn't dream of it." although the smirk on his face said this wasn't true. "But, if it's all the same to you, I'm much rather you take me to Ryloth."
This, caught Hera by surprise, and clearly made her uncomfortable. Ryloth was the Twi'lekk home world and was a slave trade center. And despite being her home planet, the place only filled her with the nastiest sort of feelings.
"Yes, I have a palace there, I told Jabba that is where I planned to meet him, and he'll be expecting me in the next few days. I do hope that you can get me there quickly, putting up a Hutt can be and expensive affair." he said with an air that made it sound like he didn't really care, but was still conveying a need for urgency.
"Zann..." Kanan began.
"Please, please, call me Tyber, all my friends do." he said not breaking his smirk.
"Ryloth." Kanan continued on, "isn't exactly the next system over."
"I'll reimburse you myself if Jabba doesn't, but I need to get their soon." he face getting more serious.
There was pregnant pause , as the Zann stared down the three rebels. "Fine, we'll take you to Ryloth, but I sincerely hope you guys pay well." Hera said stubbornly sitting down in her seat.
"Oh, we do trust me. At any rate I will enjoy helping to fund a group that makes it their life's work to give the Empire no end to grief."
"So, your against the empire." Kanan said, his suspicion confirmed. This man was dangerous, but he may be a useful contact in the future if he really was anti-empire.
Before, Kanan could continue on this line of conversation the door opened again. This time Sabine and Ezra entered.
"Oh, who is this...a Mandolorian?" Zann said looking Sabine up and down "of sorts." he added looking at her paint splattered armor.
Sabine crossed her arms in offense and Ezra took a step forward to say something, but caught Kanan's eye, which told him to back off.
"One more thing." Kanan said, causing Zann to look back at him. "What is it you are carrying? WE tried to open the crate but never managed to, and I would like to know."
"Sorry, but that's not on the table I'm afraid, I don't think you can be trusted with that information."
Kanan, still wanting to know, but decided not the press the issue.
"Where will I be staying while I'm on this ship at any rate? I saw this I won't bunk with any one, I can't stand children and apes." he said casting his eye's from Zeb to Sabine and Ezra. All three looked ready to attack but restrained themselves.
"Sabine, you can bunk with Ezra and Zeb for the next few days." Kanan said.
"What, Kanan, seriously? I'd rather sleep in the cargo hold than bunk with those two, the smell."
"Then do that." Kanan said in a tone that made it clear with was final. Sabine left with a huff, followed by Ezra, who looked torn between being offended at the Sabine smell comment, and pleased with having her as a temporary roommate.
"You know Sabine, you can have my bunk and I'll sleep on the floor." he said chasing after her.
"Excellent, well, I'll follow the children and get myself settled in." Tyber said following after Sabine to her room.
"Kanan, I don't like this." Hera said
"Me either, there is something wrong with that guy." Zeb added.
"I know, but we can always use the extra credits, and if we can avoid angering the Hutt cartel that's a bonus. Besides he hates the Empire, they slighted him when they expelled him from the Imperial Academy, maybe he can be useful later, so let's try not to anger him more than necessary."
"Well, you're in charge, Kanan I hope this doesn't turn into anything more than a quick mission."
"I don't know why he has to get my room" Sabine muttered as she picked up a few necessities, as well as pulling the mattress off the top bunk to bring into Ezra and Zeb's cabin. "He better not mess up any of my art."
"I wouldn't dream of it." the eerily elegant voice of Tyber, drifted in behind her, she only sneered at him as she looked up from her things as he walked in.
"You have talent, did you do this yourself?" Zann said putting his hand on the wall looking at the piece.
"Well yes." Sabine said, feeling slightly more positive towards the newcomer.
"Yes, I assume you've never had any official training, it's raw and emotional, lack's the finesse of formal training, but screams of passion." he said examining more of it.
"You really like art huh?" she said, feeling like the analyses was like him getting him getting to close to her, and she now had conflicting feelings of appreciation, for his views of her art, anger, for him taking her room, and some third thing she couldn't quite identify in her stomach, but she felt it had to do with his analysis of her art.
"Yes, where I grew up, you had to learn about art, high society and all that, most of it is horribly boring, but this is rather interesting." he said finishing his examination "I won't keep you, you must want to get to bed, goodnight." he said closing the door on her.
Sabine turned and nearly ran into Kanan as she did. "Sorry about this, but you're the only one with your own room, this way we aren't displacing two people, and it's only for a few days."
Sabine knew he was right, but still couldn't help but feel a little upset.
"It's fine Kanan, I know we don't want him against us, but really I don't want to be around him, he makes me feel weird, like he can see through you, it's creepy, does he have any force sensitivity?"
Kanan gestured for them to move away from the door. "No, Sabine he's not force sensitive, I think he's just very good at reading people, some people can do that, especially with training, and he might of well gotten that when he was at the Imperial academy."
This didn't make her feel much better, but at least he wouldn't be any more invasive than he already was. Part of her like him for his flattery of her work, but he just gave off a vibe that wasn't quite right. Be dressed like a thug, but his mannerisms and speech pattern where of someone fairly high class. And she still could identify the unknown feeling he caused in her stomach, but it felt familiar, like it was somehow related to something she knew or saw when she was a child, something that had scared her or hurt her in some way, like the monster under the bed.
She wanted to dismiss the notion, given all she had been through, the feeling felt ridiculously childish, but it still lingered in the back of her thoughts, refusing to go away.
Going into Zeb and Ezra's room, she noticed the painting she had done some time ago, and it made her smile. She supposed she could deal with it for a couple days, so long as Ezra didn't get any ideas.
Ezra however was making plans of his own, that for a change did not involve impressing Sabine. Zann was hiding something in that box, and frankly Ezra had wanted to know what they had been transporting every sense they had managed to steal it from an Imperial convoy. The constant failure to get into the crate had only heightened his desire to see what it was. Now that it was in such simple container, he'd be able sneak into Sabine room tonight while he was sleeping and get his sneak peek.
He had it all planned out, when everyone was asleep he'd slip into the ship's air vents, into Sabine's room and snatch the box. Take his look, and depending on what it was, either take it to Kanan or put it back, and Zann wouldn't be any the wiser.
He just hoped he didn't keep it on his person while he slept. While he was certain he could pick pocket it from him while he slept, he didn't want this to be any harder than it had to be.
Taking the spare mattress from Sabine's room and laying it on the floor in his cabin, making a make shift bed as Zeb and Sabine both got ready for bed.
Lying down, he waited for Sabine and Zeb's breathing slowed to the point where he was certain they were asleep.
Getting up, hr quietly made his way out of the cabin to check and see if Kanan and Hera were in their cabin. A quick circuit of the ship told him this was indeed the case. Chopper had been left to monitor the ships auto pilot.
Smirking he made his way to the vent, took off the panel and climbed in. He moved a quickly as he could without making too much noise. Soon he found himself looking into Sabine's room, and Zann looked fast asleep, and quietly Ezra popped the panel open and climbed into the room.
A/N: End of Chapter one. Leave a review and let me know what you think.
I'm also going to ask for more reviews in this story, as I got so few with the last. I won't stop writing for a lack of reviews, but it is nice to know that my work is being read and if people like it. So I'm asking anyone who follows or Favorites this work, to leave at least one review.