Apollon tried to keep his finger off the trigger of the blaster Koss had given him. The inspector had instructed him to fire through his open window if things got dangerous. That was the signal for Koss's troops to swoop in. But Koss wanted to wait until all the parties had arrived before striking.

A bead of sweat trickled down Apollon's neck as he heard Banquo and his co-conspirators pacing their room. Portia and Desdemona had been sent outside to watch for Imperials. Apollon wondered what would happen if the Imperials caught them first. Would Portia be shot?

There was a knock at Banquo's door. Apollon's heart stopped.

"Mr. Elmor, come inside, come inside?" said Banquo warmly. "Where's your daughter?"

"She didn't want to come," said Elmor. "Here is the donation I promised."

"Thank you kindly, sir," Banquo drawled. "Now, one other thing we need to discuss."

"What is it?" Elmor's voice was terse.

Suddenly there was a loud grunt as several men tackled Elmor to the ground. "'Old 'im! 'Old 'im!" Banquo shouted.

"I am 'oldin' 'im!" Banquo's wife squawked.

"Quick, boys, tie 'im up," Banquo ordered.

"What is the meaning of this?" Elmor roared. "How dare you treat me this way! After I showed you charity!"

"Charity?" Banquo scoffed. "You 'ave a lot of nerve, movin' onto the same planet as me after you kidnapped our charge."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Elmor insisted.

"Don't give me that!" Banquo roared. "I know bloody well your name's not Elmor! It's Siznolon! We 'ave met! You came to my cantina eight years ago and stole our Leesa!"

"I'm telling you, I'm not whoever you think I am!"

"'Ow dare you," Banquo snarled. "'Ow dare you lie to Magnus Tarkay. Yes! That's my name, you son of an akk. Remember me now, Siznolon? Eh?"

Apollon gasped. It couldn't be the same Tarkay.

But he remembered when he had first met Portia. How his ears had perked up when she'd mentioned her father's military service. How he'd been disappointed when she introduced herself as Banquo instead of Tarkay.

It was the man who had saved his father's life.

"I'll tell you what I'm going to do, Siznolon," Tarkay growled. "Or actually, what you're going to do. You're going to pay us fifty thousand credits."

"Fifty thous-"

"And," Tarkay added, "You're going to tell us where you live, so we can get our Leesha back."

Apollon pressed his ear to the wall. If he could get Leela's address, he could warn her the Tarkays were coming.

"346 Amedda Street," Siznolon said with resignation after a long hesitation.

Tarkay snapped his fingers. "Bellona, go fetch the girl."

Apollon jumped to the door- but then he stopped. He'd walked down Amedda Street. There was no 346.

The address was fake.

Did Leela live at 345? No. If Siznolon was clever enough to give a fake address, he'd be clever enough not to place it anywhere near where he really lived.

"Once we 'ave Leeba, we'll let you go," said Tarkay. "Then you'll get us the money and you can 'ave 'er back."

Apollon heard no response from Siznolon.

"Eh Tarkay, kava mu-moulee-rah?" asked one of Tarkay's associates.

"You'll get your cut, Bulga, don't worry," said Tarkay. "I appreciate you four lending a hand."

Apollon sat on his sofa. What was he going to do? He was indebted to a man who was going to extort the father of the girl he'd fallen for. He had to find a way to save Siznolon without betraying Tarkay. If it hadn't been for Tarkay, Apollon wouldn't have even been born! His father would be another casualty of the Clone Wars. Much as the man disgusted him, he couldn't turn him over to the Empire.

Could he?

"'Ey! Careful with that!" Tarkay snapped. "Finger off the trigger! You don't want that goin' off in 'ere!"

"I can 'andle my own bowcaster, Tarkay," growled a voice.

"Just don't blow this guy's 'ead off before 'e gets us our money," Tarkay warned.

"He's awfully quiet, isn't he?" said another voice.

"Eh, leave 'im alone," Tarkay replied dismissively. "What does 'e need to say? 'E's just waitin' patiently for us to let 'im get our money like a good man. Ain't that right, Siznolon?"

Tarkay kicked the chair they'd tied him to. "Yeah," Siznolon grunted. "That's exactly what I'm doing."

Tarkay chuckled. "Lot more cooperative now that we've got Leepa, aren't you. Fancy yourself a father to 'er?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," Siznolon replied through his teeth.

"Yeah, me too," said Tarkay. "Wasn't too 'appy when you came for 'er."

"I told you her mother sent me," said Siznolon. "I paid you good and well for your trouble."

"I didn't say yes," Tarkay purred.

Apollon's mind raced. What were they talking about?

"I know for a fact she hates you," said Siznolon fiercely. "She told me the moment she was out of your care."

"Well, she's grown now," said Tarkay indifferently. "She don't 'ave to stay with us if she don't want to. But I'm gettin' my dues for raisin' 'er at my own expense, at the expense o' my own daughters an' my own son."

"Where is your son?" asked Siznolon. "I've never seen you with a son."

"Shut your mouth!" Tarkay bellowed with a whack.

"Quiet!" said one of Tarkay's partners. "I think that's your missus coming back with the girl."

The door opened. "You gave me a fake address," Tarkay's wife snarled.

"Why you little-" There was a great cracking sound. "'E's escaped!"

"Blast 'im!" shrieked Tarkay's wife.

Apollon leapt back from the wall as blaster shots exploded from the neighboring room. He dropped his own gun in the fumble. Hastily, he picked it up and rushed to the window. He pointed at the sky and fired three shots into the distance. Stormtroopers poured into the building.

Apollon stared at the gun in his hands. What had he done? What if Siznolon was a rebel sympathizer? Would Leela's father be arrested?

He saw the flash card Portia had left on his desk. Look out. Imperials.

He rushed out to the corridor, dropped the card, knocked, and ran.

The stormtroopers came running up. Apollon pushed past them, hoping Sisnolon could escape before it was too late.

Apollon rushed out of the building. Koss ran up to him. "Good work," he nodded. "We'll catch them for certain."

Apollon nodded and swallowed. He put the blaster back in Koss's hands.

Koss furrowed his brow and snarled at something behind him. Apollon whirled around.

Siznolon hopped down from the wall and dashed away, disappearing into an alley.

"One of them escaped through the window," Koss growled.

"That was the victim they were trying to extort," said Apollon. "He's done nothing wrong."

"The Empire will be the judge of that," Koss replied haughtily. "He wouldn't have fled if he had nothing to hide. The troopers were on their way to rescue him."

Apollon didn't dare argue. He was just glad Siznolon escaped.

"Your Empire thanks you," said Koss. "You said your father was Admiral Kondric?"

"Yes, sir," Apollon replied.

"He should be proud to have such a patriotic, responsible son," Koss said. "I imagine he will be pleased to learn of your bravery today."

"Thank you, Inspector." Apollon checked his chronometer. "I missed a class session to lend my assistance. I shouldn't miss the next one."

"I'll transmit a report to IUP," Koss assured him.

"Thank you, Inspector," Apollon nodded before dashing off.