Chief was growing tense. The lack of news didn't give him confidence the mission was going all that well. He wanted a recaps every six-hours. Afraid to venture outside, Chief remained in his office as the workers in his warehouse clocked out leaving him to hide under his desk. He sent his secretary home too. A part of him wasn't as paranoid to let the others go out and live their lives. Letting them catch the next train back to their homes and hug their families. It's been two days since he's been home.

The thought of an imperial sniper camping atop a neighboring skyscraper facing the warehouse dominates his mind, cautiously he peered his head above the window to see darkening smoke consume more of the block by the minute. His workers turned and ran back to the building, Chief was happy to give them asylum. He just didn't know how long he could provide it.

The warehouse was stacked the brim with weapons like he wished. The imperials are here and the people do not have the means to defend themselves.


Returning to Thebeska Mykle noticed the presence of imperial destroyers and roaming TIE fighters. Fortunately, Mykle wasn't the only one trying to get in (or out) of Thebeska, others took up the attention he'd otherwise draw to himself, allowing for a swift sneak through the back. He checked to see if Organa's daughter was tightly secure, she'd been guilty of rummaging through his belongings and playing with the various weapons left on the ship by Dekker and Camila.

"Get out of there!" He'd bark at her as she tried to climb into the air vents - for whatever reason. She didn't talk much, all he knew was her name, but that was by chance. Eventually the news tabloids found out the girl's name, publishing it for all of the universe to see. Leia remains silent, not even a yelp as the imperial ships came into sights. It honestly was starting to creep Mykle out.

"So... Uh... you're the Senators' daughter?" He knew of course, he just wanted to hear her say it. Frankly, he wanted to hear her say anything. He wasn't used to this much silence. The girl didn't respond, she pulled hard to break the strap which kept her confined to her chair. Mykle made sure to wrap it around her chest extra tight, having escaped twice already.

"Not a talker, eh?" He says dryly. The corner of his eye catches her index finger dancing a top the sharp dagger. Where in the universe did she get that? And how fast until she hurts herself with it. Leia tried to cut herself free, only to have Mykle intervene. She hissed as she broke the strap and ran off. Seeing as landing was imminent, Mykle sighed and decided to just let her go. It's not like she could get far.

But wherever Mykle requested to land, he was met with hostilities that matched Leia's fury. He had enough to pay the landing fee, what's the problem? The city and rural area fires tipped him off something was horribly wrong. Settling on landing inconspicuously in the forest, he called for Leia so they could depart... only she was no longer on the ship. Within moments of the ship touching land, the girl managed to dash not only out the door but a considerably distance as Mykle remained seated in the cockpit. His eyes nearly bounced out of his head. He hastily left his belongings to chase her down, but for a little girl she was fast and undaunted by the fog that no doubt hindered her vision.

As he gave chase, the consequences of picking up a habit of smoking three deathsticks a day really picked the worst time to rear its ugly head. His lungs weren't pumping in the amount of oxygen he was accustomed to in his younger, more agile days. He huffed and puffed, his legs growing shakier than a plate of jello. He needed a respite even though he couldn't afford it. And there was this girl, young, jumpy, showing no signs of slowing down. Mykle was able to will himself to civilization, he knew Leia was here, probably taking refuge in one of the saloons. Well... whichever ones that still stood. The whole town was burned to a crisp, even the grass made sizzling sounds when the bottom of his shoes made contract.

The whole setting made Mykle not want to shout the name of the girl he was looking for, afraid it'll attract unwanted attention. He kept his mouth shut, his steps as quiet as can be and searched high and low for her, finding her under a table at a saloon where at least a dozen bodies lay motionless. The sight sent a cold chill down Mykle's spine. He's seen dead bodies before, many times. But to see a little girl, her innocence robbed was another thing. He bent down and spoke softly.

"I'm not going to hurt you, I'm going to protect you and get you home." He looked into her doughy eyes, her puffy cheeks were pale from the fear. "I promise." Perhaps the lust to rediscover something honest in the world, Leia believer Mykle at his word. From this moment he'd have his cargo by his side. But soon Stormtroopers made their presence known, rows and lines of them marched towards the town. They ducked out before they could be detected, running across the bridge to the next town who's population was more frantic than the other. Many people ran like their hair were on fire, the empire was here and apparently was in the middle of pushing the locals out of their homes. But for what? Mykle clung to the slim chance it wasn't for Leia.

Deciding it was better to not waste anymore time, Mykle found a parked speeder, picked its lock and hot-wired it to start, never minding he was stealing. The situation demanded a grey area. It didn't stop Organa's daughter from asking.

"I was told stealing was wrong." She said innocently, yet sharp. Mykle, in no mood to preach decent, wholesome values, sarcastically quipped how she should never do what he's about to, before flooring it.

After numerous failed attempts Mykle finally reached Chief, his tone wasn't jovial like before when he told him he was going to take the job. It took Chief a while to understand Mykle was on the other end of the call.

"Meet me at behind warehouse in Foulke Town." In no time Mykle was there. He had Organa's daughter's tiny hand in his, expecting Chief to be overjoyed but only found a tired, dreary expression.

"What took you so long?!" The red lines in his eyes signaling stress were prominent.

"You're friends are snakes in the grass, that's what held me up." Mykle said.

"What?"

"Dekker and Camila sold you out to the empire." Fardi cursed himself, he was always too trusting.

"Explains why the empire is here..."

"You think they squealed?" Mykle felt stupid for not even considering that possibility.

"Either that or this is just an amazing coincidence. We had to evacuate numerous warehouses and cede control to the imperials."

"Well we gotta get this girl home ASAP." Mykle refocused the conversation.

"Leave her with me, when enough time's passed we can transport her to Alderaan." But Mykle felt there was another way.

"Why not just purchase a transport off the planet? Dress her up, maybe dye her hair, change her face and send drop her off?" He proposed. Honestly, Fardi did not consider this and decided that to be the best course of action.

"I can hardly think with all this drama unfolding before me." He confessed. "I'll get right on to that. You better get home." Fardi sounded more like a concerned parent than a boss. Mykle turned to walk away, leaving the vehicle for Fardi to use. "Hey, Moe!" He called to him, the young adult turned his head. "Thanks for staying loyal. I'll make sure you don't regret it."

Usually, the apathetic Mykle would have made a sarcastic quip about how he just wanted to get paid. There wasn't a bone in his body that doubted Fardi knew he had to empty his pockets already. Instead, he just smiled and left. A brief showing of what he once was in a time that was more hopeful and optimistic. He brushed with the Galactic Civil War and managed to come out the other side clean. That's all you could ask for in this crazy galaxy lacking in order and law.