Chapter 8

The night was fairly young on the southern side of Corel. This area having the spaceport was not the most glamorous, but certainly the most colorful part of Correllia's capital city. Row after row of warehouses hangars and flight pads only interrupted by Pilots' Row that is in turn nothing but cantinas and dance clubs, some which are legend others whose names change constantly. Thursday night with throngs of students from local universities Pilots' Row becomes an unparalleled den of youthful debauchery and usually stays that way through the weekend.

Wrenga Jixton sat alone at a table in Ma Crosby's one of the legendary cantinas. It was in fact where Wrenga had bluffed his way in underage to get his first drink among other firsts. He had several time parts before his meeting with Vader so he had contacted a companion for a drink and if time permitted, if not there was always after the meet. At this time of day the clientele is less than desirable but that wasn't what had caught his attention. The young woman walking with the bundle held his attention all the way across the room till she sat at his table. She was dirty and her once nice clothes were tattered. The gaunt face and sunken bloodshot eyes of a spice addict had rendered him somewhat speechless. He was not aware that it had gotten this bad. That she was now just a shadow of her former beauty made it worse he decided. His eyes traveled to the bundle she held and widened realizing it was a child.

"It's yours," she started, "I found out a few weeks after you left." It had been almost a year he realized. This last mission had taken longer than anticipated.

"What should we do?" he asked, afraid of her answer.

"Do what you want. I just heard from these black market guys, I meeting them after I leave here."

"Wait, what do you need from guys like that?"

"The child you can get top credit for a healthy child." Wrenga felt chills go up his spine. So it was about the habit.

"How much," he asked coldly. "Five thousand creds" she stated firmly.

Wrenga reached into an inside coat pocket pulled out a wad of credits and counted some bills onto the table. The relief in her eyes sickened him. After she had placed the child in his arms he looked up at her, "What's his name?"

"I didn't name him. I wasn't concerned." That said she turned and walked away. He watched her go straight to the bar talk to a Rodian then walk out. After a pause the rodian followed her out the door casually watching the rest of the bar.

Wrenga shook his head and looked down to the child in his arms, his son. I was not prepared to be a father when I woke up this morning, he thought.

"Well," Wrenga said looking at his son, "you're gonna need a name." Wrenga slowly looked around the cantina. "You know that this has been the location of a lot of firsts for me. Had my first drink here, my first dance out on that floor, picked up my first dancer here which took talent 'cause this place doesn't have dancers, and now my first child." He cocked an eyebrow at his son; it felt right to classify him that way. "Well, what you think about Crosby in homage to the place where you were born, well figuratively any way." Wrenga looked to the door as it suddenly occurred to him that he had to meet with Vader before long.

After hurrying to his room Wrenga had taken medium duffel and arranged it with towels as a way to carry his child in concealment. He had somehow beaten Vader to the meet. After stashing Crosby out of the way he proceeded to insure the abandoned warehouse was secure and sat to wait for Lord Vader.


Lord Vader was in a bad mood the rebel problem was getting worse. There were rumors of an alliance between the different planetary sects. The preliminary meeting between the different sects had occurred on Bespin at Cloud City. There were also the terrorist activities of the Red Hand squadron from Bel Iblis's Corellian faction. He moved ghost like through the streets of Corel's warehouse district using the force to hide his presence. As he approached the decided meeting place Vader immediately recognized Jixton's presence in the force it was the other odd or liquid presence that gave him pause. If it was another dancer or worse so help him Jixton would be punished. No, it was a child Jixton might still be punished.

Vader seemed as always to simply materialize before Wrenga's eyes. "Hello Uncle D"

"I'm in no mood for your quirks Jixton."

"Sorry," Wrenga replied in a noncommittal way. Watching as Vader stalked to the place he had stashed Crosby, and stopped glaring at the bag.

"You should know better than to try and hide such things from me," he looked straight at Wrenga then spoke, "Whose child is this?"

"Well, you see…" Vader in an unusual act of mercy interrupted him.

"It's yours."

"Yeah" Wrenga said defeated. Vader looked back to the bag that cunningly concealed the child. The force was speaking to him about this child, but it was vague as was the child. This child's presence in the Force was fleeting or wispy. The child would be important to him in the future, perhaps follow in his father's footsteps. A thought occurred to him. Vader brought his comlink to the mouthpiece of his mask and activated the secure line.

-"Yes Lord Vader"-

"Have a shuttle with a droid pilot sent to meet me." Then as an afterthought, "Have Dr. Feraan gather her personal effects and accompany the shuttle. Also have the medical supplies for Honoghr placed on board."

-"Yes, milord."-

"Contact me when you have a timetable."

-"Right away milord."- The dark lord turned back to Jix.

"You will be traveling to Honoghr where you will setup commando units with the Noghri warriors." Wrenga raised an eyebrow.

"Honoghr, does the Lady know?" Wrenga asked with raised brows. "She won't like this."

"Leave that to me."

"What's with the doc?"

"I will give a full briefing when the shuttle arrives."

-"Lord Vader"-

"Report."

-"The shuttle should arrive within an hour."-

"Very well, have it meet me at my private hanger."

-"As you wish milord."-

Vader cut the com and turned his attention back to Jix. "You have thirty minutes to meet me at the hanger." Jix nodded before turning to grab the duffel housing a still sleeping Crosby. When he turned back Vader had disappeared. Wrenga shook his head and headed for his hotel room.

Wrenga was five minutes late when he strolled into the hanger luckily he did beat the transport shuttle. That did not matter to Vader who whirled on the operative. "You are not the only member of the empire who is a single parent Jixton. Others don't let it interfere with their duties I will expect no different from you. Consider this your warning."

Wrenga simply nodded his head then looked up to the sound of repulsors as the shuttle descended into the hanger. Immediately after the shuttle had settled on its landing struts the ramp lowered and a tallish woman in a dark blue imperial medical service uniform with cinnamon brown hair walked down the ramp and crisply saluted Lord Vader.

"Lord Vader, Dr. Breanna Feraan reporting as ordered." The dark lord nodded then began his briefing outlining how Wrenga would be training and conducting commando and other missions with the Noghri. He also explained that it would be her duty to see to the health and recovery of the soldiers before and after these missions. He also made it clear that this mission was strictly off the books and that her identity would be erased from all but his personal records. He also explained that this would be a long term duty and she should not accept it lightly.

"It would be my honor to serve in this capacity, am I to assume this is why the learning material on the Noghri was sent to me." She stated.

"Indeed, you will report to Wrenga for anything except his own health for that you report to me. He is in charge. You will also assist him with his child. Make sure he doesn't do anything wrong. This will not be like fleet duty there will be considerable down time. Furthermore, you will likely become Lady Vader's personal physician as she spends most of her free time on Honoghr. I am putting a lot of faith in you Doctor," he pointed strait at her, "Do not make me regret it"

"Understood sir," her eyes widened at the realization of how important this duty would be; turning to Wrenga she asked, "and your rank?" He smiled.

"Master sergeant but you can call me Wrenga or Jixton or Jix. You need to forget your rank now it no longer exists."

Lord Vader interrupted what was sure to be a standoff between a sound minded military officer and a no good scoundrel over rank perceived or otherwise. "The shuttle is programmed to leave in four hours take that time to get anything you might need that has not been supplied. Jixton has credits to provide for such contingencies." That said he turned and strode to his personal fighter and left.

"How is it you're allowed to keep your child with you while on a mission such as this?" She asked Wrenga confused by the comparison of what she had always heard of Lord Vader with what she had just seen.

"I've learned not to ask."


The halls of the garrison that had been left behind on Honoghr were typically silent largely due to the fact that the facility was almost completely empty. Only a spattering of scientist and an army of droids that worked to reverse the damage done by the downed starship occupied the huge fortress. Thus the upper levels of the garrison had been made Amidala's personal residence. She found the solitude and quiet therapeutic in the time away from Coruscant. She would often spend time wondering the halls in the evening. On this particular evening however she could swear she heard the wails of a baby in discomfort and slightly more quite two adults arguing.

As she moved closer the adults' comments became more distinct over the child's wails. "I'm tellin you you're holding him wrong." The male stated.

"How, exactly, would you know? You've been a parent for all of what three days." The woman returned crisply.

"I don't recall you being a parent at all," he returned just before a crash of tumbling items. "Now look what you've made me do."

Further argument was cut off when Amidala rounded the corner and cleared her throat. Both looked up distinctly reminding Amidala of children caught with their hands in a cookie jar. "Mi Lady," Wrenga managed from his place picking up the spilled contents of a hoover sled. The woman attempted to stand at attention. "Dr. Breanna Feraan Mi Lady."

"There is no need to be so formal out here doctor, please relax," Amidala stated as she reached for the child, hopefully, "may I."

"Of course," Breanna replied placing the still wailing child in her arms. "Where is the pacifier, Wrenga?" Jix paused in restacking the contents of the sled to pat down each of his pockets twice before finding the lost object in an inside vest pocket and handing it to Amidala. The introduction of his heart's desire caused the child to instantly stop crying. With the wailing stopped Amidala turned her attention to the pair restacking baby supplies and several duffels on the repulsor sled.

"Wrenga, whose child is this?"

"Mine, his name's Crosby," he stated as he lifted another duffel bag onto the sled.

"I take it the good doctor here is not the mother."

"No."

"Do I want to know the full story?"

"Um," he paused as thinking of how to word this, "well," he started another way, "you see," he gestured at the child, "no," he started shaking his head, "probably not."

"I see," she replied before turning her attention to Breanna after close scrutiny she was convinced the doctor was familiar. "Have we met before Dr. Feraan? You look very familiar"

"Not to my knowledge ma'am."

"Strange, you look strikingly familiar, I assume you're here to replace my former physician," Amidala stated before turning her attention back to Wrenga. "So, Wrenga, why are you here?"

He looked up at her slightly perturbed, "you mean you weren't informed we were coming?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "I am suppose to set up teams-

She halted him with a raised hand. "My husband knows how I feel about him using the Noghri as his personal assassins." She turned and started towards the communications center, before speaking over her shoulder, "Use the upper level medical suite Doctor. I would like both of you in the officer's suites in that area."

"Ah, ma'am, where are you going?" Breanna asked.

"What about Crosby?" Wrenga asked seconds behind the doctor.

"Right now I need to speak with my husband," she waived a dismissive hand over her shoulder, "Crosby is quite comfortable where he is, I'll bring him by latter."