Taking up Arms

After Sgt. DuBois had left, James & Steve were rather quiet. "What do you think we should do?" Steve said after a few moments of tense silence. "Well, look at it this way. If this is going to be as big a conflict as the good Sergeant says, then there will probably be a draft, & we all know how well draft soldiers are trained."

"Yeah," Steve responded, "I'd kind of like to come back to this place." After another moment of silence, Steve posed the question he knew they were both thinking about: "So who do you want to leave in charge of the Mines? Please don't even tell me that you were considering that nephew of yours?" "Why not?" James asked in his best hurt voice. "Sure, he's a little rough around the edges, but I mean he's a good kid, & at 18, he's really not much of a kid anymore."

"True," was Steve's response, "But do you think he'd be wily enough not to get ripped off by the Pirates & Smugglers? Sometimes we have a tough time doing that!" "What do you suggest then? Unless you have a better choice then Seamus, I say we leave it to him. Besides, our wives can look over his shoulder. That is until De'Luca has our kid, of course." "Well," Steve said, dragging out the "L," I did have someone in mind, but you're not going to like it." James hit himself on the forehead & dragged his hand down to his face. "I don't like where this is going…"

Later that day

James & Steve had taken the turbolift down to the Miner's quarters near the bottom of the Cloud City platform. James always hated going down there, as it has a musty smell that burned the inside of his nose, but Steve never complained about it. "Now listen, James." Steve began to say in a low voice as they approached a door marked '3221'. "Nikoli is the best Pit Boss around. He's tough but fair on the miners & he doesn't take any Bantha Fodder from anyone. He's a prime choice to run the show while we're gone on this damned fool's quest." "I still don't like it much, but do I really have a choice? You're right about Seamus, he's to naïve to run the company, & I guess Nikoli is a pretty good choice."

Steve knocked on the door once, & a tall man with a crew cut opened the door. "Mr. Steve, Mr. James," He said, nodding at both of them in turn, "Is something wrong down in the mines?" "Quite the opposite," James began. "We need you to do us a favor…a pretty big one." Steve finished.

Nikoli invited them in & offered chairs at the kitchenette table. "Would either of you gentlemen like something to drink?" "Nothing for me." Steve responded. "I'll just have some water, if you don't mind" was James' answer. While he was getting James' water, Steve started dropping hints as to why there were there. "You know, Nikoli, you're one of our best Pit Bosses. You have a spotless record, & we know that you're good at what you do." Nikoli set the water on the table in front of James. "Thanks, Sir, but what is this all about. I mean, I doubt you just dropped by to tell me that I'm good at my job." James Sighed, he never liked beating around the bush. "Look, Nikoli, we were contacted by an Officer in the Republic's Military. They need us for something, & we can't really tell you what it is. We're going to be gone for a while, & we want you to run the Mines while we're gone."

Steve glared daggers over at James. "You know, I was going to ask him a little more gently." "Relax," James countered, "It's done now." Turning to Nikoli, he asked "So, what's you're answer?"