The Girl made her way swiftly through the crowd, careful to keep her face hidden underneath her hooded cloak again. The size of the crowd helped conceal her from the stormtroopers, who were positioned at nearly every block now. The Girl's hand never left the two bottles that she'd stolen. She wove past a collection of Twi'lek merchants who were shouting about power converters, and to an area where it was slightly less public behind a stall.
Walking down the alley, The Girl looked around as though she were disinterested. It was shaded and cool compared to the boiling sun, and very inconspicuous. She glanced behind her where there was no one, and quickly ducked behind a stack of crates. No one outside of the alleyway took notice of the teenager. She sat for a while, waiting. She tensed at any sound of Imperial Stormtroopers, who didn't even glance her way, but otherwise she remained still.
Eventually Notho, the boy whom she had sent off, emerged around the corner that lead away from her original entrance. Brown hair everywhere, he crossed his arms, an annoyed expression on his face.
"You know, you shouldn't attack every trooper that comes your way."
The Girl stood up and crossed her arms. "Only if they're in my way."
Notho took a step forward. "We would have gotten away easy anyways. Those imperial idiots are slower than protocol droids." Taking another step forward, he and The Girl were nearly nose to nose. "It was an uncalled for risk and you know it, Mozane."
Mozane narrowed her eyes. "Even then, it guaranteed that you got away. And don't forget who's in charge here, Notho."
Notho rolled his eyes. "'In charge, in charge.' That's all you ever say now."
"Because you act like you need to be reminded every day."
At the moment, a group of stormtroopers passed by the alley, causing the two to drop their conversation. Mozane shouldered past Notho. "Come on, we've got better things to do."
The day went by fast as the two ran around and over dome shaped roof tops, eyes checking for patrols below. They moved swiftly, Notho in the lead. They passed shops, homes, and schools until they arrived at what could only be described as the shady part of town. Houses no longer glamorous looked on the brink of imploding while litter and long shadows decorated the small streets.
Mozane looked down across the street to a small house that was nearly identical to its neighbors. She gripped the bottles tightly in her hand, and narrowed her eyes. "Stay here. I need a lookout." She said to Notho.
He laughed. "As if. I doubt you need anyone." He was being rather loud.
Mozane glanced over her shoulder, blue eyes glaring at her companion from underneath her hood. "You want to keep it down? A little louder, and the both of us have a one way trip to the nearest work camp before you can say 'Gungan'. Now, be quiet or else I will sock you in the jaw." She whisper-shouted.
He nodded, suddenly solemn. "Just be fast. The others will be getting worried." His expression was concerned.
Mozane did not answer, but instead backed up to the edge of the flat roof where they stood, and took off at a run. At the last possible moment, she bent her legs and jumped high. Far higher than she should have. Notho raised an eyebrow grudgingly.
She landed soundlessly on the house she'd observed, and quietly jumped down to the ground with a slight grunt from the impact. She stayed around the corner from the front door for a moment, glancing down either way of the street. She then looked up to Notho and raised her eyebrows. Notho looked both ways and signaled. Quickly, she ran to the front of the door. Extracting the bottles, she placed them silently on the threshold. Glancing either direction again, she knocked rapidly against the dirty wooden door.
Mozane ran back to her original position and waited. The sun had begun to set, casting long shadows across her face. The door creaked open to reveal a weary looking man in industrial dress.
The man looked around, confused. "This doesn't… I could have sworn-" he saw the bottles positioned innocently on the steps. His eyes widening, he grabbed the bottles and read the labels. "Leona! Leona come here!"
Mozane moved so that half her face was visible around the corner as she observed the man, whose hands were shaking. A woman with red hair in a bun became visible beside him, curiosity etched on her face
The woman, presumably Leona, looked over the man's shoulder. Tears welled up in her brown eyes. "It's the medicine, Kanu! It's the medicine for Trent!" She looked wildly around, not seeing Mozane, who was watching with a vulnerable expression. "Who could have gotten this for us? For our boy?"
The man smiled. "I don't know, but I hope they know how much it means to us." The woman began to cry as the walked back inside, the sound of a coughing child calling them.
Notho's expression was stoic. His eyes looked over at Mozane, who was still watching the front door, completely oblivious to her surroundings. He whistled. She looked up at him, blinking. He tapped his wrist, then pointed at the darkening horizon. She nodded, and began her ascent to the roof. She was almost there when the sound of hovercrafts came from around the corner. Notho motioned for her to speed up. She did so and made it to the roof. Down the street, a vehicle carrying twenty stormtroopers, all very armed, rode past, followed after by a carrier full of canisters, as well as another twenty troopers. Mozane and Notho watched from either side of the street with great interest.
As soon as the vehicles had passed, Mozane made another far jump to where Notho was, waiting. She stayed crouched down as she turned the direction that the imperials were going. "Where do you think they're up to?" She asked.
Notho shrugged. "I dunno. Probably grain shipments. They're common enough around here." He turned the opposite direction.
Mozane scoffed. "Grain shipments don't require forty troopers during transport." She started to walk the way they had gone. "Come on, let's go check it out."
Notho shook his head, looking at her. "You want to follow the imperials? After curfew? Are you crazy?"
"Probably."
"Why?" Notho raised his hands in exasperation.
"Because. I've got a…..feeling about this. Trust me." She took off without another word, leaping and dashing after the stormtroopers.
Notho was left, shaking his head. "I swear, she wants to be caught. " He began running as well, panting slightly.
…
Night had long fallen by the time the troopers had stopped at the imperial landing area, the pair of pursuers right behind. The area was loaded with everything from supply carriers, prisoner transport vehicles, and TIE fighters. Everything was lit up dimly, grey shadows everywhere. Mozane and Notho both peered over the body of a TIE fighter, watching the troopers.
The lead troopers, both sporting orange shoulder guards, approached a man wearing the grey clothing of an imperial officer. The man was large, with dark hair and exuded an air of importance. Peering down at the stormtroopers, he sneered.
"Officer Rasque, we have the shipment." The trooper on the left said, his voice uneven.
"I can see that, dimwit." Rasque said, his arms folding across his chest. "Get the canisters onto the ship fast, Troopers, or I will have you reprimanded." He gestured to the imperial transport ship around 15 yards away.
The troopers seemed very nervous. "Um, alright." One said, swaying from one foot to the other. Rasque raised a threatening eyebrow. "I mean yes. Yes, sir!"
They bowed slightly to Rasque before turning back to the rest of the stormtroopers. "Alright! Get those canisters on the ship quickly! Time is everything, troopers!"
Mozane watched the exchanges with interest, smiling at the nerves of the intimidated troopers. Suddenly, a movement near the ship's loading ramp caught her eye.
Near the ship door, four figures were looming in the shadows, all with their faces covered. They stood with their backs against the side of the ship, appearing to have just popped into existence. At the motion of the farthest person, they all quickly boarded the supplies transport ship, unnoticed by the distracted troops.
Mozane's eyes narrowed. She elbowed Notho, who hadn't noticed the figures, in the ribs. "Ow! What was-"
She placed a hand over his mouth quickly, cutting him off. Keeping her hand in place, she jerked her head towards the ship. Notho looked over, but the figures were gone.
He yanked her hand away. "What am I supposed to be seeing?"
Mozane glanced back at the ship, her eyes cautious as the Stormtroopers were taking the mysterious canisters aboard. "I don't know…"
"I trust they are in pristine condition?" Rasque inquired as another canister was carried past him, the stormtroopers all seeming flustered.
The head trooper straightened beside him. "Fresh from the mines, sir, and ready for the factories."
Rasque nodded, but his expression remained displeased. "Fine."
A trooper tripped on the edge of the ramp and fell over, causing the canisters he was transporting to fall with a crash on the ground. Notho and Mozane both jumped at the sudden noise.
Rasque growled as he made his way over. "You idiot! What were you thinking?! I'll have your helmet for this, trooper!" His voice rose with anger, and his eyes glittered gloatingly.
Before the terrified stormtrooper could explain himself, another trooper came over. "Officer Rasque, all of the containers are now aboard. Permission to-" Blaster fire cut through the night like a knife, causing everyone to freeze. Officer Rasque and the stormtroopers were blown away as the engine of the transport ship suddenly roared to life, and the boarding ramp closed.
"Them. They were who I saw." Mozane said to Notho.
His eyes didn't leave the aircraft. "Who are they?"
She shrugged. "Anyone who has the guts to steal a ship from The Empire is good in my book."
Officer Rasque stood up, red in the face with rage. "What are you doing, lazy bucket brains?! Fire! Don't let these insurgents escape!" The stormtroopers then opened fire on the ship, not hitting any vital points.
One of the head troopers called to the ones near him as the carrier sped into the night. "Grab the TIE fighters! Go, go, GO!"
"Okay, now we REALLY need to leave." Notho said, turning around. He jumped from the TIE fighter to the roof of the cargo warehouse.
Mozane nodded. She jumped as well, but her black cloak was caught in the TIE fighter's door. She hung by her cloak on the back of the TIE fighter, gasping for air.
"Mozane!" Notho cried, alarmed.
The stormtroopers were getting closer. Mozane waved Notho off. "Go! I'll catch up!" She wheezed. Notho paused, hesitant.
The stormtroopers spotted him. "Hey you! Stay right there!"
Notho turned and ran, leaving Mozane concealed but endangered. She swung herself slightly until she was able to grab the wing. She unhooked her cloak and gasped for breath.
A head trooper began to climb aboard. With one arm, she tore the cloak off and threw it on the ground. She stayed still, hiding from the trooper.
In his rush he didn't see the girl clutching to the side of his fighter, and climbed in. Before she was able to jump off, the TIE fighter was in the air, and began to pursue the rebels.
Mozane held on for dear life. "HELP!"