Aphra's POV

It had been five days since they had left Naboo and she was downright bored.

No Vader, no Fett, and absolutely nothing to do.

She was sitting in Mos Eisley's lousiest cantina, waiting for her daily shot of caffeine, when she heard the shrill beep of her comlink. None too soon.

She pressed the answering button.

"I was starting to think you'd never call."

"I'm a busy man, Doc." Fett rasped gruffly.

"Got news for me?"

"Yes. Meet me at hangar 6 in half an hour." With that, he ended the call.

She exited the cantina to find 0-0-0 and BT1 waiting at the door.

"Come on boys, let's not be late."

They left the slums of Mos Eisley and headed for the spaceport.

Little did they notice they notice the tiny probe droid following them from a distance.

Boba Fett met up with them at the appointed time. He was relatively tall (though not as much as His-Grumpiness, she noted) and wore his characteristic outfit, a sand-beaten armour with a green helmet and cuirass, together with a worn out khaki cape.

"Mornin' Doc." He greeted tersely.

"Can't say I'm glad you're taking over, but there you go." He handed her a small data pad, which she quickly switched on as he updated her.

"Milo Saphix. Seems he left the Rebellion and settled down on Shu-Torun about a month ago. Not very savvy, if you ask me. Apparently, he served in Red Squadron at the same time as Skywalker. "

That was a good start.

"Why Shu-Torun?" she inquired.

"Just do your homework and read the pad."

With that remark, he boarded his ship and Aphra exited the hangar, speedily walking back to the Ark Angel with Triple-Zero and Beetee on her heels.

Aphra sat down in the cockpit and ignited the thrusters. As soon as the jump to lightspeed had been made, she saw a green diode light up on the instrument panel, signaling an incoming transmission. She picked up the holo-call and Vader's mask appeared on top of the dashboard.

"Hi, boss. Missing our talks?" she grinned mischievously.

"They are mostly your talks, Aphra, not mine." She couldn't help but notice he did a good job of dodging the question. She had expected a very plain NO, and his response came as a bit of a surprise.

"Report," he added briefly.

"I'm heading for Shu-Torun as we speak. It seems Fett located a former Rebel who served with Skywalker. I'm making it my job to extract whatever information he has."

"A sensible move," he commented.

"Mistress Aphra," Triple-Zero interrupted, "if I may be so bold, I believe this situation to be a wonderful opportunity for you to put to use the full extent of my capabilities."

"Yeah, we'll see…"

"How kind of you to consider it, Mistress. I must confess I was starting to fear that you…"

"Hush, now," she cut him off. "We're having a grown-up conversation here," she added derisively.

"Of course, Mistress Aphra." Triple-Zero was actual proof that even droids were capable of hypocrisy. She repressed a scoff.

"Anything else, Lord Vader?"

"Yes. Commander Karbin has been tasked with tracking Skywalker down. We must find the boy before he does."

"I'm on it. I'll contact you when I get the info."

"See that you do. I will await your transmission."

"Copy that. Aphra out."

She put and end to the transmission and pulled the data pad out of her jacket. She had to learn every detail about this Milo Saphix.

Vader's POV

Vader stepped out of his quarters and headed for the bridge with a touch of anxiety. That rabid crustacean could not be allowed to get his hands on his son. All he could do was hope that Aphra would soon find a tangible lead to follow. She was capable; she would succeed. It truly was a pity that she was expendable. She deserved a job in the ISB, not summary execution, but they had to be prepared for the latter.

Even so, Vader was not one to let his misgivings show. Having reached the bridge, he stalked his way to the viewport, in front of which Tagge was expecting him.

"You summoned me, General?"

"As I said before, that's Grand General, Lord Vader. And yes, I did. You are to go back to the Executor and patrol the Chommell sector for any rebel activities."

A patrolling mission? That was beneath him! But it would also allow him to sneak out of his flagship without raising too many questions. Under the circumstances, this was just what he needed, but for the sake of appearances, he put on a display of submissive resentment.

"If you wish to waste my abilities on such a trivial matter, then so be it."

"Your opinion is of little importance, Vader. As it is, you are but a tool in the emperor's scheme."

Vader swallowed hard and clenched his fists. He would have crushed the man where he stood were it not for the emperor's orders.

"You are free to leave whenever you see fit. You can go now," Tagge said with a dismissive hand-wave. Vader turned away furiously and made his way to the hangar.

Aphra's POV

Aphra had landed on Shu-Torun and got out of the Ark Angel. She couldn't believe that people would willingly choose to live there. The air was so hot and loaded with sulfur that she could hardly breathe.

According to Fett's data, Milo Saphix's uncle owned a small family-run ore-factory. Their output was no match for the ore-barons, none of whom regarded them as serious competition. Aphra entered said factory and knocked at the director's door.

"Good evening, Ma'am. You're early. I wasn't expecting the delivery until tomorrow. I was about to leave, but I can sign the bill before I go."

"Good evening, Sir. I'm actually here for Milo…"

"Oh, alright… he's not very well these days but I'll call him for you. Please take a seat while I go fetch him." Poor man, he had no idea what she had come for.

He came back moments later followed by a frail young man with black hair and grey eyes. The boy must have been twenty at most and looked extremely nervous.

"Well there he is. Shall I leave you two? I've got to check on the furnace before I go home."

"Actually, no, I'm gonna need you to stay here," Aphra answered. She could see more sweat forming on the young man's brow.

"Alright guys," she told the droids, "don't let them out."

"What? Why? What have we done?" the owner asked with confusion.

"It's not something you have done, uncle. She's here for me."

"But you… what have you done?"

"Your nephew served in the Rebellion. I'm here to get him to talk."

Triple-Zero was now holding the boy from behind while he desperately struggled to break free.

"What? No! You can't torture him… Please, please don't! He's… he's all I've got left…"

Aphra trembled in disgust at what she was about to do. But orders were clear: no witnesses. She nodded at Beetee. The blastomech took the cue and shot an electric bolt at the begging man, who collapsed on the floor, dead. Tears sprang out of the boy's eyes as he contorted in pain. He tried to reach for Aphra's blaster but Triple-Zero held him back.

"Don't make it harder, kid," Aphra warned him.

"You ain't gettin' nothing out of me!"

"I'm afraid you don't get a say in it," she said grimly.

"Oh, Mistress Aphra, I am quivering with anticipation. Can I proceed?"

"Go ahead, Triple-Zero." She left the office and stood watch next to the door, each muffled sob, each gut-churning cry of agony echoing in her head. It was a good thing there was no one else around. She did her best to ignore the pang of guilt that washed over her. This was all for a higher purpose, she told herself. She had seen the results of the Republic's weakness. It could not be brought back. The Empire had to win, no matter the cost.

After what felt like hours, Triple-Zero came out of the room.

"I am happy to report that the victim is ready to confess," he stated proudly.

She followed him inside and turned to Milo's bloodied frame: "Tell me everything you know about Luke Skywalker."

"Luke? I don't know him that well you know…" He paused to let out a cough. "He's a hell of a pilot and a deadly shot. Keeps ranting about the Jedi and how he wants to be one of them 'like his father'. He's nice, though…" So Vader used to be a Jedi? Interesting…

"Where is he now?"

"I… I don't know for sure. The Rebellion decided to scatter just before I left."

"I'll bet you know more than that."

"They were building their main base on Vrogas Vas. If he's still part of Red Squadron, then that's were Luke must have gone."

Vrogas Vas was a desolate rock with no native life forms. No one ever went there save for a few smugglers and pirates, which made it a perfect hideout.

"Thank you, Milo. Triple-Zero, finish the job. Quickly."

"Mistress Aphra, I must protest. There are plenty of pain receptors which I haven't stimulated yet and…"

"No," she stopped him. "Be quick."

When it was done, they burnt the building down and got back to the ship. It had been a tough day, but it was over, or at least so she thought.

She contacted Vader and told him everything she had just found out.

"If you are right, then we must not delay. Karbin is scouring the sector as we speak. It is only a matter of time before he gets to Vrogas Vas."

"How soon can you get here?" she asked.

"I'm on my way now. Get your ship ready."