Tarkay rubbed his hands impatiently. "When's Mona gettin' back, eh?"
"I'm sure it's any minute now," replied his wife.
"Wata shees ateema," Sebulga pointed.
Desdemona jogged into the alley where the gang was huddled. "Where's your sister?" Tarkay growled.
"She's thrown 'er lot," Mona replied disgustedly. "But I followed 'er to the place she's staying, an' you won't believe 'o lives there."
"Won't I?" Tarkay smirked and rubbed his hands. "Let's 'ave it, Mona."
Desdemona grinned. "Portia's livin'… at Leela's 'ouse."
"'O's Leela again?" Duzavog grunted.
"She's not important," Tarkay chuckled. "It's 'er father we're interested in. 'E's the one we tried to squeeze fifty 'atoo out of."
"'E's rich," said Desdemona. "'Is 'ouse 'as got to be loaded. It's a regular mansion."
Tarkay glanced at each of his associates. "Tonight, we sack the old man's 'ouse an' ditch this place. If 'e's loaded enough, we'll see if we can't make it on Canto Bight, eh?"
Tarkay's associates chuckled. Desdemona furrowed her brow. "What are we goin' to do about Port?"
"To hell with 'er," said Tarkay. "More credits for us."
Tarkay's wife pursed her lips. "I don't want to leave my little girl behind."
"I'll miss 'er too, dear, but we've got another one," Tarkay shrugged, jerking his head at Desdemona. "She's no daughter of ours if she won't stand with us. Besides, dear, think of the credits. You weren't this choked up about droppin' the boy."
"'E was a brat," she shrugged dismissively. "You 'ated 'im too, 'e was always whinin' 'is 'ead off."
"Well, I don't know about yours, but mine still works if you ever want to try for a few more girls," Tarkay winked.
"Not on your life," she snarled.
"Worth a shot," Tarkay grumbled to himself. "Alright, Mona. When it gets dark, you lead us to the house. Right?"
Desdemona nodded. "Yeah," she mumbled. "Yeah."
Apollon took a deep breath. He tapped the holoprojector and it began to hum. In a few moments, his father appeared in it.
"Hello, son," said Admiral Kondric.
"Hey, dad," Apollon swallowed. "Hey… there's a couple things I should tell you."
"Yes, of course," his father smiled, folding his hands.
"I…" Apollon took a deep breath. "I don't believe in the Empire anymore."
Admiral Kondric's brow clouded. "Don't believe in the Empire?"
"I haven't for a while now," Apollon confessed. "Studying on Pasir, I've seen how the Empire treats its citizens."
"The Empire treats its citizens especially well on Pasir!" said Apollon's father. "You should be proud to be part of it!"
"It treats its human citizens well," said Apollon. "But what about nonhumans? There are no rich aliens here. I've seen stormtroopers arrest Rodians for grilling in their own front yard. Aliens get paid less than you send me from home, and yet the humans working the exact same job under the exact same supervisor get a fair wage. The number of times I've seen a stormtrooper approach an alien and walk away from a corpse…" Apollon shuddered.
"Son, that can't be," said Admiral Kondric. "Pasir treats aliens very well. It's a Core World. Many alien senators are from Pasir."
"Don't you get it, Dad?" Apollon replied. "That was the Republic! This is the Empire! I know you think they're the same, but they're not!"
"These are treasonous words, boy," Kondric growled. "You had better watch yourself. Stop this right now."
"No, Dad," said Apollon. "The Empire is rotten to the core. I'm going to do my part to see the Republic restored."
"I didn't serve in the Clone Wars for my son to turn traitor and try to undermine everything I fought so hard for!" Kondric shouted.
"Oh, yeah, there's something I need to tell you about that too," said Apollon quietly.
A vein pulsed in Admiral Kondric's temple.
"I found Tarkay."
Kondric's eyes widened; immediately his tone changed. "Did you thank him for saving my life? Have you repaid the debt?"
"Not exactly," said Apollon. "Do you remember me telling you about the Banquos?"
"Yes," said Kondric disgustedly. "I thought I told you not to talk to them. Lazy, good-for-nothing scum."
"Banquo… is Tarkay," said Apollon.
Kondric glared at his son. "First you tell me you're a rebel and now you lie to me."
"It's true!" cried Apollon. "I overheard him confess it himself! Portia confirmed it! And she said he didn't save your life, Dad. He wasn't a soldier, he was a scavenger! He was stealing from the battlefield! He was trying to rob you! The only reason he said he saved your life has to be because you woke up. I've seen the kind of stuff he does now. He tried to hold a ransom and extort credits out of an old man! He kicked his two-year old son out of the house. Two! He's a sleemo and a liar and a thief. You don't owe him anything and neither do I."
"How dare you such a disgusting lie to my face," Kondric whispered, his rage seeming to cause the hologram to flicker. "You are a disgrace to this family and to my position. I have no son."
The hologram flickered out, leaving Apollon to stare at the lifeless communicator.
He sighed, kneading his temples with his fingers. "I honestly don't know how I thought that was going to go."
He tossed the projector onto the couch and laid back. "That's alright," he sighed. "I didn't want an inheritance anyway."