Chapter 8: Ace in the Hole
Location: Coruscant, Central city outskirts.
"Wake up Leanne, it's time" Leanne jumped up and rubbed her eyes, startled awake by Foawr.
It was a clear and beautiful morning, birds chirped and there was a gentle breeze wafting through the woods. But Leanne was in no mood to enjoy it. They hurried and packed what meagre supplies they had and hopped onto Growd. He took off quite smoothly this time, and the first part of their journey began.
Growd flew fast despite having three passengers and the landscape zipped past below them, they were all silent as they travelled. Each one lost in their thoughts, Jon wondered what fate had intended for his life as he sat behind a princess on a Drakon….a Drakon! Leanne sat quietly and mourned for her father and kingdom. Foawr hunched, eyes closed, one hand on Growd's neck the other on the reins.
Growd flew from sunrise to noon stopping only once to hide when an imperial dropship and two fighters were spotted. They hid in a dilapidated warehouse and waited for the ships to pass over them. Two more times they encountered imperial presence and evaded them successfully. As the sky turned purple from the sunset the group neared the industrial sector of Coruscant.
The word 'sector' did not do it justice, it was a metropolis of factories, refineries and warehouses bordered by a haphazard collection of building which served as the housing section of the working populace. Two imperial frigates floated over the city as silent reminders that this was no longer free land.
They landed beyond the outskirts of the city in the hills where Growd left them at the bottom, "Here, wear these" Foawr pulled out some clothes from Growd's saddlebag and gave it to Leanne "Can't have you running around in silks."
Leanne nodded "Where…" Foawr pointed to a cave above. Growd took her to the cave and after a few minutes she came down wearing a simple pair of khaki pants and a green shirt under a black leather coat. They left the egg in Growd's saddlebag as it would be safer in a cave than around people. As they walked to the road leading to the city Growd flew back up to the cave that was well hidden.
"Those ships are a problem. We might run into imperial troops, are you sure we should go there?" Jon eyed the floating ships.
"We have no choice. Besides, we're going only to the outskirts not the heart of the sector so it will be relatively safer." muttered Foawr as they trudged along the road.
"Where are we going and who is this ace pilot? Can't we just steal a ship and leave, do we even need him?" moaned Leanne as signs of civilization in the form of tented peddlers along the road appeared.
"Her name is Insa and we're going to a bar that she frequents. We need her because none of us have the skill to break out of an imperial blockade." He looked at her "or else you could volunteer for the task."
"Fat chance! I've never even sat in a cockpit. Can she do it?" Leanne asked,
"she did it once already" replied Foawr.
The group finally entered the outskirts and wound through the alleys, hiding in the crowd of people in case any patrol passed by.
After an hour, two attempted muggings and a dead pickpocket later they finally stood in front of a grey decrepit building "welcome to the 'hole' m'lady" Foawr said mockingly
"I don't think we'll find anything but piss and shit here. are you sure our ace pilot is here Foawr?" Leanne wrinkled her nose as the smell of cheap booze, sweat and cigarettes wafted through the doorway.
Foawr chuckled and walked in followed by a hesitant Leanne and a curious Jon. The place was poorly lit, loud music blared from an invisible source and sketchy looking characters filled the place. Foawr led the others to the bar and looked towards one of the alcoves around the place. "wait she's not alone." Foawr nodded to the alcove. Leanne saw a pink skinned Twi'lek woman sitting in an alcove and talking animatedly to a dug.
The dug banged his foot on the table and said something to Insa that quieted her down, she nodded and took out a credit chip and threw it on the table. The chip was swiped by the dug and he got up, said something to Insa and left. Insa sat down and buried her head in her hands
"something's wrong…c'mon let's meet our pilot." Foawr murmured worried, he got up followed by Jon and Leanne.
As they approached the alcove Insa raised her head "what do you want?" she croaked and saw Foawr "Foawr! How are..?"
"Shhh not so loud Insa we're on the run." Whispered Foawr as he and the others sat down around the table.
Insa smiled " Ohhoh looks like mr royal guard got on the wrong side of the empire. How did you survive? I thought the entire palace guard was eradicated along with the king and princess in the attack." She said smugly unaware that the princess was in front of her.
Foawr threw a nervous glance at Leanne before forcefully saying "that doesn't matter, I'm here to hire you"
"No,no,no im not for hire, the planet is blockaded Foawr. There are too many ships between here and freedom, its too risky!" hissed Insa.
"we'll pay you." Said jon pinching his fingers.
"Are you deaf or just stupid? Foawr who is this idiot? I told you its too risky. It cant be done." Insa half shouted and half table-banged her tirade.
"You owe me Insa." A wincing Foawr said.
Insa bit her lip and frowned, then sighed closing her eyes "Fine! There, you happy? Now, I'll also take the money when we, If we reach…. Where are we going again?" it seemed Insa had deflated since her earlier tirade
"Tython." said Foawr simply,
"O.K, when do we leave?" she asked curious now that she heard the destination.
"Now." Replied Foawr curtly
"lets go." Said Insa, just as curtly.
She and Foawr stood up and shook hands " If we survive, we're even Foawr." He nodded then motioned to Jon and Leanne. They followed Insa out of the bar. In one of the frigates above their heads the emperor smiled
A/N: Pls don't forget to review.
