Hey guys! Sorry it took me so long to update. My classes have started up again, and let us just say Lit. Crit. is going to kill me. If I don't update next week you'll find my hermit self in the library.

The ride to Courscant was a long one from Florrum, even in hyperspace. Kellen had made the executive choice to take Tens, the Admiral, and Longshot (as he later introduced himself) to the Republic first before going back to Tatooine, picking up Maree's sister and dropping the two of them off at Courscant.

One trip to Courscant wouldn't have taken that long, but with Tens condition Zarina didn't want to risk waiting any longer than they had too.

With the ship smoothly gliding through hyperspace, five out of the seven people who had signed on for the job were gathered in the cockpit, along with Longshot, the clone who wasn't injured.

Zarina hadn't left the little 'infirmary', she was probably taking care of Tens and the Admiral, and Aldo was simply too big to fit with six people in the cockpit. The lack of chairs left Stark and Longshot standing, both neither seemed to mind.

Maree had changed out of the blue dress she had almost destroyed, and was now back in her white pants and tan top, though Stark had noticed she kept the elaborate braided style and had replaced the diamond clip with a cheap black one.

Now, the blue thing was resting on her lap, the hem caked with layers of dirt. She tried to scrape the stubborn mud off with her nails, but it barely had any effect on the poor dress.

Sighing, she felt her attention go back to Stark, who had just finished debriefing the crew on their arrival to Courscant. She figured she would just stick to Aldo and it would be fine.

"We all got that?" Stark was saying. Mare nodded, joining the mumbles and other head movements of the crew.

Stark raised a hand and ran it through his hair, not really messing it up as much as it should have. Maree then noticed that his hair was already messed up from Stark doing that, she had just never seen it any other way then hand-run-through-it style.

"Now can someone explain to me exactly what happened back there? " Stark ask, more exhaustedly then angry.

Shane was the first to respond.

"It was a pretty normal job at first, like any other." Suddenly, the door opened, revealing Zarina. Everyone turned to her. "They'll be okay." There was a unified sigh of the crew. Longshot looked especially relieved. "I just came to check in." Zarina added.

"Then why don't you start with the story of what happened?" Shane suggested. Zarina nodded. "Okay, sure. I'll start where Shane did. It was a pretty normal job at first…"

Earlier...

After Shane and Zarina recklessly left the ship, Solaris had to light job to catch up to them. The building was long and wide. Running didn't make any sense to Solaris; it would just waste needed energy.

Zarina and Shane soon realized this as they slowed their pace to a walk when Solaris caught up with them.

"So, what's the plan?" Shane asked, to no one in particular.

"We don't have a plan?" Zarina asked.

"We have a plan. We get in, get the hostages, and get out."

Shane snorted through his nose. "Good plan." He found his eyes drifting to Zarina's belt of her shredded brown pants. There was some kind long blade in a tan red holster. It was big enough to be worn on someone's back, but it was obvious with her black bag it wasn't going to be possible. Zarina caught him looked and smiled at Shane, then patted the blade.

"It's Torgruta blade. My father gave it to me. My people aren't too fond of blades but ever since the war started it seems they're becoming more and more common. What kind of weapons do to yield?"

Shane grinned. "I have a self-modified DC-17 hand-blaster. I modified them to increase the power output. It doesn't compare to a heavy blaster though."

Solaris could tell he was lying about something, but he decided to let it go. It would make things much more interesting.

It got extremely quiet after that, except for the sounds coming from the base. Even from all the way outside the base, the tri could hear the cheers and shouts of the pirates.

"I wonder what're they're doing." Shane asked.

Zarina scrunched up her face. "Probably fighting. I hope they have a good doctor."

"With these guys I'm sure there's no such thing as injured. Just alive and dead."

Zarina made almost an alarmed fast and Shane put an arm on Zarina's shoulder. "Kidding. I'm sure they have a great doctor."

Solaris could also tell Shane was lying, but for the sake of ending the conversation he said nothing.

It was only a matter of time before they reach the back entrance, unguarded and clearly barely used. It faced the backlands of the plant, blobs of yellow could be seen running around. The animals, Solaris assumed.

However, a problem emerged in the non-existent plan when they were greeted with a door the was blaster sealed.

Shane swore quietly and leaned in to investigate the red ray blocking the outside from the inside.

"Great. This wasn't part of the plan." Zarina said.

"There was no plan." Shane sighed.

Solaris inspected the area. Something caught his eye. He pointed upwards at the wall. It was an air vent, extremely tiny, but it looked unsecured. They probably assumed no one would be able to fit.

"We can use that." Solaris said. Zarina squinted at it. "That's too small. Who can fit in there?"

Shane and Solaris glanced at one another and then at Zarina. Who tilted her head, then widened her eyes at it hit her.

"Whoah, what!?"

"You're the shortest one, and skinniest." Shane said.

"Are you kidding? I'm a 140 pound five foot ten Togruta!"

Shane nodded and grinned. " Exactly! Solaris is like an inch taller than you and I'm 6 foot 2. You're tiniest. Besides, your people are used to adapting, right? Just climb through the vent, get out at the first turn and let us in. Simple as that. I'll hold your bag and blade."

Zarina looked a little panicked. "What if I get stuck? What if it has scanners that detect lifeforms?"

"You'll be fine. Here, I'll give you a boost." Shane got down on a knee and put his hands on it.

"Fine." Zarina muttered. "I'd better get paid extra for this." She added under her breath. She dropped her bag and blade gently on the ground and walked over to Shane.

She lifted one foot and put it on Shane's hands, resting on his knee, then the other one. Shane grunted, but didn't cripple under her weight. She used her slender fingers and wrapped them around the vent cover and yanked as hard as she could. The metal groaned, but then popped off. Zarina dropped it on the ground next to her.

"Don't forget to put that back." She warned them.

"Right! Just go!" Shane said. He lifted his hands, trying to get into a standing pose to lift Zarina up properly. She got in halfway before Shane could stand up. Using her arms she pulled herself forwards, kicking her legs to give her the momentum to get into the vent.

There was a thud as Zarina did one last kick to get herself in the vent fully.

"Ow! You just kicked my head."

"Sorry! I'll take a look at it later." Zarina called back, and then turned forwards.

The vent was just big enough to squeeze her in. She could move fine as long as it didn't get any bigger. It was uncomfortable and she couldn't put her arms at her side at the risk of getting stuck.

She crawled, using her elbows and wrists to move forwards, like she had seen some clone troopers do while training on Courscant while she had been there. She wasn't quite sure she was trooper material, but her form put a little smile on her face.

She wrinkled her nose as the smell hit her. It was like a musty, damp sheet. It took all her power not to sneeze as she crawled a little faster. She tried to turn her head to look behind her, but she couldn't see how far she was crawled.

It was probably less than two minutes before Zarina found an exit, but it felt like more. Carefully, she bent down and looked through the vents. She didn't see anyone, so she crawled just past it, and then brought her right foot down, breaking open the small cover. She crawled backwards and left her legs and torso hang out of the duct, then finally her head. She dropped down roughly onto the floor.

She was in.

Aldo interrupted. "So, then what happened?'

Zarina looked a little miffed she had been interrupted.

"I was about to get to that. "

Stark rolled his hand in a "go on" type of way. "You were saying?" Zarina cleared her throat. "Right. Anyways, I dropped down from the ceiling…."

Zarina fell onto the floor roughly, trying to land on her feet but falling to her knees. She stood up and looked around carefully, then trotted a few yards to the door. Shane and Solaris where waiting outside, Shane holding her bag and blade.

"Great job, Zarina!" Shane gave her a thumb up. Though she had originally been pissed, Zarina couldn't contain her excitement either.

"Right!?"

Solaris couldn't help himself as a tiny smile crossed his face. "Okay, now let's go find the hostages."

Shane frowned as he handed Zarina her bag and blade.

"I'd guess that way-," he pointed to the right. Zarina was rummaging around her bag, trying to find something. "What makes you say that?

"There's a sign right there." Zarina looked up from her bag and looked to where he was nodding to. There on the wall in some kind of rough paint job it read

"Prisoners Block C"

"Huh," muttered Zarina. "What do you know?"

Shane laughed. "Yeah, okay. Solaris and I will go check around for guards. Zarina, why don't you head towards the block through the vents? There's got to be some in the cell right?"

"Unless the door is ray shielded as well." Solaris pointed out to Shane, who shrugged. "Oh, well. Let's go, Solaris."

The three of them walked the distance to where the vent was opened. Zarina glanced up at it. It was nearly ten feet out of reach. Solaris looked at blonde haired Shane.

"You're the 6 foot two one." Shane sighed and got down low on the floor.

"Stand on my shoulders, Zarina."

"Are you sure?" Zarina said hesitantly.

"Yes." Shane encouraged her. Zarina shrugged. "If you say so." She dropped her bag and blade again and hefted herself up onto Shane's shoulders. Shane was wobbly as she positioned herself to be steady. Solaris was holding up Shane, helping keep the support.

"Okay." Zarina whispered.

"Alright. Three, Two-,"

"Wait, on one or after one?" Solaris asked.

"After!" Shane exclaimed. "Three…Two…One…Lift!"

Both boys used their legs and backs to extend Zarina into the air. She pulled herself up into the vent, kicking her legs, and yet again Shane's head, in the process.

"Ow!" Shane hissed. "Sorry!" Zarina called from the vent.

"Toss me my bag!"

Solaris looked around on the floor and then bent over, picking up the black sack. He made sure it was closed shut before throwing it up with precise aim through the vent. Zarina must have caught it and threw in front of her, because it landed with a thud.

"Keep my blade. It won't fit up here." Zarina said, poking her head out a little. Solaris nodded. "Got it."

Shane groaned and leant back, keeping his hands on his lower back. He cracked his spine with an audible crunching noise then sighed. "Whew. Okay, good luck Zar."

Zarina nodded again, then lifted up the vent cover and disappeared into the vents.

Shane turned to Solaris. "Let's see what we can do, shall we?"

"So what did you do, Zarina?"

Zarina taped her long fingers on her thigh. "Oh, I got lost after that"

"Seriously?" Stark asked her as his eyebrows rose, a trick he had no doubt picked up from Kellen.

"I wandered around for a bit until I found the room. It was easy enough after that."

"That was incredibly dangerous, wandering around like that, Zarina." Kellen warned Zarina, who pouted a little. "I didn't know what else to do."

Finally, Solaris spoke up. "I think it's time I finished this part of the story."

Zarina nodded at Solaris. "Go ahead."

"BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP."

Zarina jumped like a surprised Loth-cat. "Uh-oh."

"Uh-oh? What do you mean, 'uh-oh?" Shane said, tensing.

"Uh, don't freak out!" Zarina said, mostly telling Longshot who looked like he would shoot somebody any second. "I'm going back to the infirmary. Maree, come with me?" she asked the blonde, who looked up, startled, then she relaxed and nodded.

"Awesome. Just keep us on track, and, uh…" Zarina was backing out of the room slowly. "Don't panic." She turned around and dashed out the door, Maree trailing behind her.

The door remained open after they left, so Aldo would be able to listen in and talk.

Stark frowned deeply and crossed his arms, leaning on the wall. "How far away are we from Courscant?" he asked Kellen, who looked at the little device on the dashboard.

"A while yet." Kellen said. Stark sighed, defeated.

"Why don't you go ahead, Solaris?" he asked the pale kid with the white hair.

"Alright. It all got strange when we found the tiger…"

If someone wants to do my paper for me, feel free to. Please. I have no idea when I'll be able to update again, most likely when I'm done with the stinking thing.

Okay, finally we can get this done right!

Review Replies:

LifesAstory78: Why thank you. *winks*

ShinBP: Ditto. She's a guest character my friend created, so I felt she needed a place in here. She'll be gone by the end of this arc. Also, *puts on sunglasses and grins like a fool with you * Shane.

Elinor Nightshade: Again, Maree is just a guest character. She is pretty Mary Sue, huh? Zar/Shane? Maybe a pairing? *wiggles eyebrows* Ha-ha just kidding Zarina is wayyy older then Shane. It'd make things awkward. I really like Tens, he's going to be *cough* super important later…

Nefertam: That was probably what happened with Shane and Solaris! Also, Maree won't be showing up for a while, and yes, Shane is very much reckless. You also right about Tens being important! You're actually quite on about this arc… is it that obvious? *gloom*

PuellarumAmica: You're so sweet! Stark and Shane are definably two of my favorite characters in this arc. Just wait until the rest of the crew shows up…

MysteryAgain: Thank you! Any tips for me?

KingOfStories01: You're right on all accounts. Stark is a prick. Thanks for your support! ^W^

Okay, I'm still excepting, so just PM if you're interested! Form on my profile, along with rules!

Does anyone here watch Star Wars Rebels? It's actually super good! I was totally shocked. High hopes that Ahsoka is Fulcrum! *fingers crossed* Kanan (whose name is very similar is Kellen?) I bet, used to be Sith or a dark knight! Pm if you want to theory craft together! If you haven't seen it, it starts with a movie like Clones Wars, called Spark of Rebellion. I love the show! I binged on all the episodes while I was working on my paper (which was not productive)

Questions for this chapter!

How do you think Tens is?

What are your thoughts on Shane and Zarina now? Solaris?

Do they make a good team? (Solaris, Shane and Zarina I mean)

Okay guys, I'll see you in the next update!

Peace and Mist,

Rlb190