Chapter VII
The Truth

The two men stared at each other for several short moments. Captain Ost was tall, lean and muscular. His short, auburn hair fluttered with the breeze as the wind blew between the buildings. He had indeed dropped his Imperial uniform; however, he looked as if he had not yet fully joined the Rebel Alliance.

Dashal Freestar was taller than Vobe. His short spiked blonde hair stood motionless as the wind moved small amounts of black dust through out the streets of Ostium Vepres. He looked like he would put up a fight, if Vobe was to attack Captain Ost; however Vobe knew any attack on him would be useless, because he would not stand a chance against three armed men.

The last man, Jerryfar Du'cana was bald with a light black goatee. He was Vobe's height and build. He was also no longer in Imperial uniform. He was now donning black slacks, a white shirt, solid black boots and a black gunman's duster which flapped in the wind.

"Now, will you drop your weapons, Vobe?" Isea said as he examined Vobe carefully from head to toe.

Vobe did as he was told as he said, "How do you know who I am?"

"Why else would a bounty hunter of your caliber be all the way out here on Socorro? This is a haven for crooks and criminals."

"Maybe I was on a job."

"I know you are. You are here for me. I am not stupid. I am surprised it took Sarguillo this long to send someone."

"How did you know I was here for you?"

"Because of him," Isea said as he pointed to the body of Jaeron still lying in the street.

"But how do you know who he is or should I say was," Vobe said with a slight chuckle.

"Usually, if Jaeron is fully armored and armed, then he is usually on Sarguillo's bill."

"He was here to kill me?" Vobe said with an astonished look.

Dashal broke in the conversation saying, "Did you think you were going to receive full payment for killing someone as respectable as Captain Ost? How much did he offer?"

"One million," Vobe replied.

"One million?" Jerryfar said with his eyes open with amazement. "Maybe I will take him up on that offer." He continued laughing.

"A new record for him," Isea said as he examined Jaeron's body.

"But he did pay me half up front," Vobe continued.

"It is probably no longer in your account," Jerryfar said.

"You've been set up," Dashal said.

Vobe slowly walked to the wall and slid down sitting on the ground with hundreds of thoughts running throughout his mind. It was all a set-up. It had been formulated since square-one. It was a trap since I landed on Corellia. "How do you know all this?" Vobe said to Isea.

Isea walked over to Vobe and began to speak. "Let's talk somewhere else."

Inside a nearby building, Vobe sat in a chair with his head in his hands trying to contemplate the events of the evening. The fact that he had been set up was the only thing he was thinking about. Jerryfar and Dashal stood along the wall watching Isea pace behind Vobe, who raised his head as Isea began to speak.

"For months I have discovered certain truths about my former superior. His torture of innocent civilians for information. His executions of those who he feels are not working up to their expectations. These are just a few of the injustices I have uncovered. There are hundreds of things that the Empire does that will change if the Rebel Alliance wins this war. Did you know that the Empire funds the Trandoshan enslavement of the Wookiees on Kashyyyk?"

"I knew about Kashyyyk."

"I cannot stand idly by as the Empire crudely mistreats the systems of this former republic. Now, I know that your parents were murdered when you were young. As were mine; however,"

Vobe cut him off before he could continue, "My parent's murders have nothing to do with the situation at hand, Ost."

"I am afraid to tell you it does"

Vobe's face changed not a muscle. What is he talking about? What do my parent's murders have to do with all this? "What are you talking about?

"Well if my information is correct, you parents were murdered by a gang on Tatooine close to the palace of Jabba the Hutt. Am I correct?"

"Yes." Vobe said softly.

"Then I'm guessing that you never discovered very much information about the killings?"

"No."

"But you would like to know who was behind it all?"

"Of course I would, but why should I believe anything coming from you?"

"I didn't say you had to believe it, I am just telling you what I have uncovered. You can believe it if you want."

"Tell me what you know," Vobe said as he sat back in the chair with much curiosity on his face.

Isea walked to a small table and sat down on top of it as he began to explain the murder of Vobe's parents to him. "Twenty five years ago, there was a murder in a cantina in Bestine on Tatooine. The man was a top associate of Jabba."

"Okay," Vobe said as he began to slowly comprehend the story that was being explained to him.

"The murder was witnessed by two people…" Isea said as he looked directly into Vobe's eyes.

"My parents," Vobe said softly.

"Correct," Isea said as he continued. "The murderer realized that if Jabba learned of the murder of his associate, he would exact his revenge. He knew your parents where friendly with the crime lord. He would have figured that your parents would inform Jabba of the murder which would put a death mark on his head. So instead of running planet to planet always looking behind him, he decided on a simpler method."

"Having my parents murdered. What ever happened to the murderer?"

"I'll get to that in a moment. However, his brother became my superior."

Vobe's mouth opened with surprise. "Sarguillo?" Isea nodded in agreement as Vobe continued. "But, I still don't understand why Sarguillo wants me dead."

"Eventually as it always happens, Jabba gets his way. Deja, the Admiral's brother, was captured by a few of Jabba's minions and brought back to the crime lord. Jabba tortured Deja for days before feeding him to his rancor. The Admiral personally blamed you, the sole survivor of the ambush that his brother rapidly organized. He felt that you were responsible for his brother's torture and death."

"So he hired Jaeron…" Vobe said softly.

"Precisely. He hired him to get revenge on his brother and to take me out which would get us both off his list."

Vobe stood up and began to pace. After a few moments, he let out a furious scream which made Dashal and Jerryfar jump and grab for their weapons in response. Isea stood up and watched Vobe as he angrily kicked the table's leg which collapsed.

"Vobe!" Isea said as he tried to get his attention. "Listen, I understand your anger. I know you are a good fighter, I know of your abilities. Come with us to meet with the Alliance High Command."

"Why should I want to join the Alliance? All I want to do is get Sarguillo." Vobe said angrily.

"We can do that. I know his schedule." Isea said with a smile. Vobe stared at him trying to decide what to do. "Listen, I know this is a tough decision. If you join with us, you can hurt more than just the Admiral, you could help cause a rupture into the Empire itself. You are worth a lot to the Alliance if you join, Vobe. You are more important than you think. Together we can recruit more people into this struggling coalition and end this Civil War."

"What if I do not join? Are you or your fellows over there going to kill me?" Vobe said as he nodded to Dashal and Jerryfar who stood watching.

"If you do not join, Vobe, I do not hold it against you. I will have no harm befall upon you, however; since you didn't kill me, do not doubt that the Admiral will spare your life. He is sure to kill you since you have failed to do what he asked."

"So either way, I'm doomed." Vobe said with a cheery, sarcastic sound.

"Not necessarily. If the Alliance wins this war, things will definitely change for the better in this Galaxy." Isea paused for a moment. "Listen, if you decide to come with us to the Alliance, meet us in the rear of the cantina in two hours."

Isea walked over to Dashal and Jerryfar and said something Vobe could not hear. Isea seemed like a man who kept his word. Vobe watched as the three men walked to the door. As the first two exited the building, Isea looked back through the door. "Two hours." He then walked out the door and Vobe was all alone in the small building.