Chapter 2

"I really like the idea of the squad having its own ship," Jason laughed as he lean back and put his legs up on the cockpit controls as the ship soared through hyperspace, "I don't have to worry about any rules to follow."

"Please don't tell me you're going to start walking around in your underwear," Jedi replied. Jason shrugged, "Now that's an idea."

"Forget I said anything," Jedi replied. Ita walked in from throwing his few belongings into the crew quarters then grumbled, "Dosii get outta the co-pilot's seat before you accidently put us into a black hole."

"We have Deliah," he motioned to the Zeltron pilot next to him, "She can handle it. We'll be fine as long as Scar doesn't get in here."

"I hate to tell you this babe," Deliah replied, "but you aren't exactly the greatest pilot."

"That makes me feel needed," Jason stood up before walking out of the cockpit and muttering, "You win Fishy."

"Thanks," Ita told Deliah as he reclaimed his co-pilot seat. She shrugged, "Don't think that means I don't like him."

"Wasn't going to ask ma'am," he began checking the auto-pilot. He then announced, "Jedi we'll be getting to Tython soon, you might want to kill time or something."

"I really don't want to be stuck in a screaming match with Jaster, Scar, and Jaster."

"I understand sir. Besides that isn't exactly regulation. There's always sleep." Jedi shook his head, he was extremely exhausted, what he believed to be a consequence of Force-inspired nightmares, but sleep was out of the option. "I don't think I need it."

"You're the boss." Jedi didn't respond for a moment, he just stared ahead at the streaking stars flying past the ship. "Beautiful isn't it?"

"What the stars," Ita looked back out the cockpit. Deliah chuckled, "Why do you think I became a pilot."

"Eh," Ita replied, "It really doesn't grow on you until you're just slowly floating to nowhere and the stars aren't just white streaks."

"I always thought you'd have your face buried in some regulations or something like that," Deliah added, "to notice something like that."

"It's the Corellia in me," he shrugged, "normally it gets me screwed over, why I have to follow the rules, but sometimes it's worked out well."

"That's really deep; I'd expect Jedi to say something like that, being the Jedi after all." Jedi shrugged, "I'm saving it for when we get to the planet crawling with Jedi ruins and any other Force energies waiting to kill us."

"Sounds like a blast," Deliah continued. Jedi shrugged again, "It definitely will be."

"What's it like, being Force Sensitive?"

"What?" Jedi was somewhat startled by the question. Deliah continued, "You know, getting to move stuff with your mind, swinging around a laser sword, minus the fact the imps killed them all you never really wanted to be one?"

"You've thought about this haven't you?"

"I did until I realized there were no emotional attachments, and then it lost its charm."

"Well not all that crap they told you about is being a good Jedi."

"No wonder you're a rebel. So will you tell me what it's like?"

"Honestly, it's a blessing and a curse. One minute you can do so much good and be remembered as a hero, then the next you fall and become the very villain you swore to destroy."

"That must keep you busy. If I was you I really wouldn't be concerned about falling."

"Yeah," Afishee added, "You don't even kill the imp who wants to kill you and steal your girl."

"Well if I did," Jedi continued, "I'd be just as bad."

"C'mon, he's probably committed some war crime we weren't there to stop, we should bring him to justice but you just turn the other cheek."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's just not what we're supposed to do, and it's just not natural. Honestly it's enviable sir, to be so forgiving like that."

"Oh believe me it's harder than it looks."

"You don't have to tell me. Now if you'll excuse me it looks like Dosii did mess something up. If it wasn't against regulation I'd blast him," he turned to Deliah, "No offense."

The Zeltron shrugged, "None taken."

"Is it a major issue?" Jedi inquired. Ita shook his head, "Nah, he's not that stupid, we shouldn't be delayed or even have to drop out of hyperspace, I'll fix it on the way there." For the duration of what little remained of the journey Ita was making sure Jason hadn't tampered with the cockpit controls any further. Soon they dropped out of hyperspace in orbit around the planet.

"Well," Jedi stated, "there she is."

"You didn't tell me you had a gem in the sky," Deliah muttered, "I thought you'd just have a crusty old world full of crusty old guys telling us not to have fun."

"Well I've never seen the planet before. I don't think anyone's been here for nearly four thousand years…"

"At least we get privacy."

"I'll tell Jason you said that," Jedi turned to leave the cockpit to tell the others they were arriving before he felt the ship shake violently. He inquired, "Is something wrong?"

"Imps…" Afishee muttered, "You might want to man a turret."

"Can you outfly them?" Ita nodded and Deliah remarked, "I'll take 'em for a ride."

"Good," Jedi said as he thrust his helmet on as the blasts began to shake the ship again. He ran back to the main hold where the rest of the squad had been congregating and felt the assault. He barked out, "We've got imps, let's shoot 'em down. Dosii, Meshla, Kani," the three Mandalorians quickly sprinted to the turbolaser batteries as Scar muttered, "I'll just let the fierfeking Mandalorians deal with the fierfeking imps."

"No," Jedi retorted as the ship was rocked by another blast, "Go to the cockpit and help fly this bucket of bolts, if you want to come with us you better be prepared to carry your weight."

"I thought you do that!"

"Only when you've been shot up enough that you can't do it on your own." Scar gulped nervously. Jedi added, "Well go!"

"Alright just blast the kriffing sleemo!" Scar ran into the cockpit as Jedi manned the last turret. "Alright," he said as a fighter streaked across his line of vision, before he promptly blasted it into oblivion, "Let's blow these plastic boys to smithereens, just like target practice."

"Tie Fighters; in this deep space?" Sami came over Jedi's comm., "Where are they coming from?"

"Don't ask just keep blasting," Jason replied before screaming in triumph as he blasted a fighter into dust as the Ita and Deliah threw the ship into a barrel roll to avoid a strafing run from a pair of Imperials. Jason angrily yelled, "Whoa! Undesii! I'm going to lose my rations!"

"Hey she's giving you that ride you always want so please shove it," Afishee yelled back over the comm. Jason just blasted another Imperial before muttering, "Geez Ita never knew you followed me around like that," as a starship flying right into his sights was shot out of the sky. He yelled, "Thanks for stealing my kill!"

"Sorry, I didn't think you were paying attention," Sami bantered back, "Are we keeping score?"

"I'm up by three," Jedi stated calmly as another blast violently shook the ship. He furiously turned the turret to face the onslaught of three fighters as he forced his fingers down on the trigger, "Make that six. I guess that makes me a fighter ace."

"Actually you have to be flying to do that," Ita added in a matter of fact tone. "We count six more on radar."

"I'll handle them."

"Well if you want to double your tally now's the time," Jaster interjected, "but I'd prefer that I get them

"Too late," Sami replied as she blasted the first trio into oblivion. Jaster took out the last three easily before putting in, "So is that what you guys while I try to advise you?"

"Pretty much," Jedi stated as he slouched back into the gunner's chair relieved the ambush was over, "Ita we got any more hostiles?"

"Clear as day," was the reply. Jedi nodded, "Kandosii. Rossas, Ita, please put this thing down before we fall apart or any more plastic boys come."

"Do you really think I'd let us fall apart," Deliah sarcastically spoke before she brought the ship down into the atmosphere.

Meanwhile an Imperial shuttle began to land as well. Inside there were a dozen Imperials minus the pilot, ten dark side acolytes, chosen by the Emperor specifically from his Force-sensitive servants, to discover the dark secrets of the Jedi Order's birthplace, an officer sent to co-ordinate the expedition, and an assassin, sent to make sure the acolytes succeeded in their task. The assassin thrust on his Mandalorian helmet, the polished gold reflecting in even in the dim light of the shuttle. "Looks like we got rebels," the Mandalorian snarled, "Let's kill them."

"Major Kyram," the officer spoke, "Is it really wise? We should get what we need and hope the rebels don't try to stop us."

"What's the matter coward?" The dark siders gathered around the officer. The officer sensed his dilemma and attempted to talk his way out, "I am only doing what is best for the Empire; losing men the Rebels will not help us."

"Crushing the scum will," Davik Kyram spat back at his commander. Some of the servants of the dark side muttered their agreement. The officer flicked out a grenade as he realized he was about to be ripped from limb for the sadistic pleasure of the psychopaths he had been ordered to serve. He was about to be betrayed. "D..don't try it," he muttered, "I will bring this ship down."

"Shame then," Davik replied as he lashed out and twisted the officer's arm out of its socket, forcing the grenade to drop harmlessly into Davik's other hand, "coward."

"Kill him," he threw the officer his corrupted allies, as the officer soon was impaled by a searing red lightsaber blade. "Now that I'm in charge get the relic the Emperor wants and kill the rebels, as painfully and slowly as you can."

Notes:

Well I don't have any real notes for this chapter so if you read this far, your eyesight is fine and I hope you enjoyed! Reviews and suggestions would be greatly appreciated