Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars
2
Syron Talo, captain of the Corellian Corvette the Silver Blade adjusted his course a little.
"Do you reckon its true, what they're saying about the Jedi?" his first mate, and lover, Vella Harn asked.
"I've met Jedi. I met that Ikotochi one who was one the Jedi Council, Saesee Tiin. I don't believe for a moment that they betrayed the Republic. Something's wrong."
Vella smiled.
"Well, they were sure gotten rid of hell of a quick."
"Which is his point, I think. The timing was just too perfect. The deaths of the Jedi must have been pre-planned. The Jedi always insisted that the Dark Lords of the Sith were behind this war. It looks like that is the case, as they were all wiped out in a day." Teecee, the ships blue protocol droid said.
"It's wrong alright. I reckon you're right Teecee. Right, let's take this baby in."
And with that, they steered the Corvette into Rogue Station.
Little did they know that the people they had just suspected of being conned, were about to become a very big factor in their lives.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing a slight engine malfunction. We will stop off at Rogue Station to effect repairs." Came the voice over the announcer.
Shaak Ti rolled her eyes.
"Typical. The ship we get on breaks down. Sod's law."
Serra smiled.
"It could be worse. It could have conked us out in the middle of lightspeed. Force knows where we would have ended up."
Whie shuddered, and Serra grinned even more.
"What's Rogue Station like?" Scout asked.
"A hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious." Shaak Ti said.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Rogue Station was certainly a hive of scum and villainy. Bounty hunters, mercenaries, guns for hire, ex soldiers, everyone came through Rogue Station. Shaak Ti led her little group through the dimly lit corridors, avoiding the looks she got from most of the denizens. She watched carefully, for any sign of a threat. This was not the sort of place to let your guard down. Then she felt it. She turned to meet the attack as the mercenary leapt out of an alcove, two thugs behind him.
Serra automatically went for her lightsabers, disguised as belt clips.
"No!" Shaak Ti shouted, as she kicked up, sending one thug flying.
Whie punched the merc in the gut, and then followed up with a kick. Meanwhile, Dyren got Zett and Sanna out of harm's way. Scout punched the other thug in the mouth, and he fell backwards, onto Serra's foot as she kicked up. Shaak Ti was finding it very hard not to use the Force to attack their attackers. Dyren ran into the battle, his fists crashing into the two thug's skulls. He then grabbed the first thug, bent his arm over backward, and then wrenched it out of it's socket. He then kicked the other thug over, cracking his head on the cool steel floor. He then crashed into the merc, who was getting the better of Shaak Ti, and punched him in the mouth. The merc swore and crashed his fist up, but Dyren caught it, twisting it round, it's owner with it. Dyren then yanked hard, pulling the arm out of the socket, and then finished the manoeuvre with a fierce kick that sent the man crashing to the floor.
Dyren dusted himself off, and smiled at the amazed glances of his companions.
"When you've got it you've got it."
Shaak Ti smiled.
"Most impressive. Most impressive indeed."
"Why did they attack us?" Zett asked.
"I don't know. Let's ask."
Shaak Ti jerked the merc awake.
"Why did you attack us?"
The merc glared at her.
"Not telling you nothing."
Shaak Ti sighed. Why did they always want to do things the hard way?
She used the Force.
"Tell me why you attacked us."
"We were ordered to." The merc said, the Force playing on his mind.
"Grobba the Hutt."
"And who is this Grobba?"
"The crime lord in charge of this sector."
"Doesn't have much to do. There is only this station."
"You don't know the half of it. Drugs. Vice. Slaves. Profit. A lot of stuff comes through Rogue Station. And he controls all of it."
Shaak Ti was liking the sound of this Hutt less and less.
"And why did he order us attacked?"
"Two reasons. One, you're new here, so you should be easier to get to. And two, he knows what you are."
Shaak Ti sent an alarmed glance at the others.
"What are we?"
"I don't know. He just told us to attack you. So, we did."
Shaak Ti frowned, then waved her hand.
"Take a nap."
The merc started to snore, and she looked at the others.
"We may be compromised. Come. We need to find a way of this station. If they find out we're Jedi, with the bounty placed by the Empire and by Ventress on my head, I'll have the entire station after me."
She led them away from the three mercs, and looked for a way off this station.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Syron and his crew sat in the Drunk Dug, the main bar on the hangar level. They were engaged in conversation with Fera, the lady who owned the bar.
"Why's that tramp freighter here?" Vella asked.
"Engine failure."
"Where were they headed?" Teecee asked.
Unlike many bars, droids were allowed in here, provided they kept to themselves.
"Nar Shaddaa. If they hadn't stopped here, they'd be stuck in hyperspace."
"Poor guys. Must be rough. No doubt Grobba's mugged them all already." Vella said.
"Yep."
"Is there still no pay?" Syron asked.
Fera looked at him sympathetically.
"I'm sorry, but no. So, is that two runs he hasn't paid you for?"
Syron snarled.
"Yeah, two runs, the Blade's low on supplies, we're short on cash, and the fat slug's not paying up."
The people around them in the red lit bar went silent.
"Keep your voice down. we may have an Emperor in the larger galaxy, but Grobba's the Emperor here. Keep quiet." Fera said.
(Why doesn't he pay us?) Softy the Wookiee asked.
Softy was the best friend you could find anywhere. He was tough, loyal, and always there in a pinch. And he was a big sap, expect when someone threatened his friends. He had become a friend of Syron ten years before, when Syron was just starting out. Syron had saved him from a pirate gang, and softy had in turn saved him from a mad smuggler. They had been inseparable since.
"I don't know, but I do know this. None of the regulars, who all bring in the stuff he wants, the drugs, the weapons, the slaves…"
"We don't deal in slaves." Vella spat.
"I know. What I'm saying is that his most frequent customers, in other words, people like you, aren't getting paid at all."
"We're only bringing in Arkanian Salt and a few military surplus items." Teecee complained.
"Albeit that are quite capable of blasting this miserable place apart." Vella said.
"Yes, but no one's getting paid. Know wee Ryifty?"
"The Toydarian? Yeah, why?"
"Well, as you know, him and his gang only bring in food. They haven't been paid yet either."
"Who has been paid?" Syron asked.
"No one." Fera said, as she fixed them all another drink.
The atmosphere was quiet tonight. Only the station's regulars, and the few folk unfortunate enough to live here. The air was still filled with smoke and red light though.
"Well, if he doesn't sort it soon, he's going to have a rebellion on his hands." Vella warned.
(What is he doing with his money?) Softy asked.
"That's the question. And I know the answer. For some strange reason, Grobba's hiring every thug, bounty hunter, mercenary and gun-for-hire on the station."
"What for?" Syron asked curiously.
"Who knows." Fera said.
Syron frowned.
"He's scamming everyone, and while he's doing that, he's paying all the thugs this place has to offer. What's he got up his slimy sleeve?" Teecee asked.
"Good question."
Vella looked to the door, to see a Togruta enter, with a bunch of humans in tow.
Fera tapped the two smugglers on the arm. She didn't do it to Softy, as he growled at her.
"That female, along with her human friends, thrashed three of Grobba's thugs. Two of them have dislocated arms, the other had his head split open."
Softy howled in appreciation.
"Good for her. Who is she?"
"Dont know. Must be some kind of teacher. Those kids definitely aren't hers." Fera said.
"They might belong to the cute guy." Vella said.
"Or the even cuter girl." Syron whispered.
Fera rolled her eyes at Softy and Teecee, who shook their heads.
Then, the Togruta came over. Most of the others went to get a seat, while the oldest girl went to the toilet.
The woman sat down opposite them.
"I'll have a whisky." She said.
Syron smiled at her.
"I heard you and your friends beat up a couple of Grobba's thugs."
The Togruta turned to him.
"Do you work for Grobba?"
"Yeah, we bring stuff in for him. Don't worry about it. He tries to mug everyone who comes through here."
"I hope you are right friend."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Shaak Ti looked at the group at the bar with her. The leader was a man, of about thirty, wearing a black jumpsuit. He had brown hair, blue eyes, and a kind smile.
The woman next to him was very pretty. She had long blonde hair, vivid green eyes and a striking look.
There was a big Wookiee beside her, auburn and tough looking.
And last was a small 3PO unit, with a red shell.
Across from her was a pretty landlady, her hair elegantly done.
Her whisky arrived and Shaak Ti drunk it gratefully. Then, she felt a blaster pressed into her back.
She turned to see a tall, brutish man. He had a pockmarked face, grey hair, and a long scar ran from his temple to his cheek.
"Yes?"
The smugglers turned to see what was happening. Across the room Serra and Dyren were looking tense.
"Grobba wants to see you."
Shaak Ti raised her eyebrow.
"Why would I want to see him?"
The man smiled.
"You obviously don't know how things work around here. When Grobba wants to see you, you got to see him."
"If he had asked before he tried to have me mugged I might have agreed. However, I'm not feeling very gracious at the moment. Perhaps later."
She turned back to her drink. The bar was silent. No one had ever stood up to Grobba's thug like that before. The thug grinned, and then jabbed his blaster into her back. Shaak Ti sighed, took the vibroblade out of Vella's sheath, turned around and took off his hand.
He screamed in pain as he bled all over the floor. Silence surrounded them.
"If you ever try to come near me again, it will be your head that you lose. Clear?" Shaak Ti shouted.
"Perfectly." The thug whimpered.
"Good. Get out of here."
The man ran for the door. Shaak Ti nodded in satisfaction, cleaned the blade and gave it back to Vella.
"Thank you." She said graciously.
She turned to the landlady.
"Sorry about the mess."
Fera seemed astounded.
"That's alright. I've had him in here before. He's a right bit of sithspawn. A real bully. Good for you. Have a drink on the house."
Shaak Ti smiled pleasantly.
"Don't mind if I do."
Syron looked at the Togruta.
"That was brilliant."
"Thank you. Scumbag. Now, I need a hotel. What's the best place?"
Before anyone could answer, several things happened in quick succession. A gas grenade entered the bar and exploded, surrounding them all with fumes. There was a scream and people swearing, as someone was carted off from the toilets. And then, someone screamed even more.
Shaak Ti cleared some smoke away, to see Whie and Serra standing there white faced.
"They've taken Scout!" Serra wailed.
"No…"
"Scout? The girl?" Syron asked, but was drowned out by the screaming.
"Yes the girl. Oh no, I failed her. What if they find out who she is? What if…?"
Fera patted her back.
"You'll get her back."
Shaak Ti blinked tears from her eyes.
"You don't understand. There's more at stake than you can know. But I let her get caught. I failed her."
"No you didn't. We'll get her back." Serra said.
"Master…" Whie said.
Shaak Ti glared at the boy, but he didn't notice. He was pointing at the viewport. Shaak Ti gulped.
Two Imperial Star Destroyers had just dropped out of lightspeed. And they were coming straight for the station.
Oh oh. now what? Scout's been kidnapped and theres two Star Destroyers bearing down on us. what happens next? Read on to find out!
