Departure (Chapter Two)

Ben threw himself into the pilot's seat, Gwywir taking the co-pilot's chair. They had previously announced their soon-to-be departure from the hangar, and were given the all-clear. One hundred tons of chak-root had been discretely loaded into the cargo hold.

"Good afternoon, Ben, Gwywir." It was Tracinya, or, more precisely, Tracinya's computer system, Traci. The voice was calm, soothing. A voice that would belong to a beautiful video.

"Afternoon, Traci." Ben replied quickly.

"Afternoon, Traci." Gwywir said, as a hologram projected a human version of Traci. She had chosen to be a Twi'lek that day.

"The chak-root has been secured in the cargo hold, and coordinates pre-set for Abo Dreth. Once you leave Coruscant space, I will activate, and hyperspace travel will commence."

"Thank you, Traci." Ben said, as his hands flew over the ship's controls. A whirring filled the hangar, as the engines began to warm up. "We'll be headed to Abo Dreth soon, my friend. We can pick up another run there."

"That's become our routine, hasn't it?"

"For approximately two-and-a-half years." Traci said.

"That long?"

"That long."

The engines had reached their peak, and Ben flipped a switch. The repulsorlifts activated, lifting the ship. He eased the throttle forward, and the ship drifted out of the hangar. Ben then pulled back on another lever, angling the ship upwards.

"Here we go!" He shouted, and jammed the throttle to max. The Tracinya soon reached her max of one thousand kilometers per hour. Coruscant's atmosphere raced past. Gwywir felt himself get pressed to the seat, and glanced over at Ben. He seemed completely at ease. His face held a silly grin, his straight, white teeth showing.

"Ben! Ease up. The Tracinya barely had five minutes to warm up. It shouldn't exceed five hundred kilometers an hour!" Traci shouted. He ignored her. "You'll damage her!" That got him to slow. The meters soon lowered down to a more reasonable five hundred kilometers per hour. The pressure on Gwywir's chest slowly dispersed. The traveled at that speed, avoiding Coruscant's atmospheric dampeners. Soon, they pierced the final layer of atmosphere, and the edge of Coruscant space wasn't far off.

"Soon, we'll exit Coruscant space." Traci announced.

"Good, I can't wait to get out of here..," Gwywir muttered.

"I killed four men today, protecting a woman."

"So you've got authorities after you, possibly?"

"Yes."

"That's news." Traci said sarcastically.

"What do you mean?"

"We've always had authorities after us. We're smugglers."

"See? As I said earlier." Ben exclaimed.

"Okay, okay." Gwywir conceded. "But, I still don't like it."

"Whatever." Ben snorted.

"Who do we deliver this order to?"

"Some noble, he'll transfer the credits to our account."

"Sounds good."

"Better than nothing."

"We've reached end of Coruscant space." Traci announced.

"Activate the hyperdrive." Ben said, matter-of-factly.

"Activating hyperdrive." Traci said. Then, "Hyperdrive activating."

The well-known hyperspace tunnel opened in front of the Tracinya. As she approached, the nose stretched into the tunnel, followed by the rest of the hull. Soon, the entire ship was engulfed in the hyperspace tunnel, and was traveling at hundreds of times the speed of light.

"Activate auto-piloting system."

"Way ahead of you, Ben." Traci said. "Best get some sleep while you have the time."

"Good idea." Gwywir said. "I'll be in my bunk room."

"And, I'll be heading to mine."

Both of the young men stood up, and bid Traci a farewell, before heading to their separate dorms. Gwywir walked through the halls of the ship, passing doors to empty rooms. "If only they could be filled." He thought.

"Oh, but they will." A voice inside his head.

"Who is there?" He asked allowed, reaching inside his jacket for his blaster.

"I am not there, per se. I am within you. You have talent, to be able to communicate this way."

"What do you mean by 'talent'?" He was intrigued, or insane.

"You will find out soon enough."

He felt a presence leave his body. He shuddered, but continued on his way. "I must be more tired than I thought." He mumbled, but, suddenly, the prospect of sleep did not seem so inviting. Nevertheless, the continued to his room. He would at least have something to distract him there. The door slid open as he approached.

The Tracinya had been his home for the last few years, and this room had been his safe haven. Though, it did not feel so safe anymore. The room was rather large, but he liked it. He had an advanced safe, closet, bed, desk, bath room, armor stand, weapons rack, and a small refrigerator. At a glance, he could tell that his armor had been resized, and his weapons had had maintenance. He checked his closet, all of his clothing had been cleaned and pressed.

"You're welcome, you know?" It was Traci, she had access to every room in the ship.

"Thank you, but sometimes I wish you couldn't get into every room."

"I need to, it is a safety protocol."

"Safety protocol, or not, please alert me before coming."

"I'd have to come to alert you…"

"Oh…"

"I'll let you go now."

"Thank you, Traci."

"You're welcome, but you'd best sleep."

"I will."

"Now."

It wasn't a question. She tapped her foot impatiently. He stripped his jacket off, and tossed it onto the back of a chair. He changed his shirt into something more comfortable, as well as his trousers. He threw himself onto his bed, ignoring the covers, deciding to sleep in the coolness of the ship instead.

"Good night, Gwywir"

"Good night, Traci."

"Good night."

Gwywir bolted upright. It was that voice again. "What do you want with me?" He asked his mind. Silence. "At least tell me something…"

"Good night."

"What do you mean?"

"Good night, what else could that mean?"

He already hated the voice, and questioned his sanity. He leaned back slowly, expecting the voice to return again. It did not. As he fell into sleep, the Tracinya approached Abo Dreth. Far off, a clone of Sidious , one of the few that had produced their own abilities and personalities chuckled to himself. He had found his Apprentice.