Good afternoon, everyone! How are you doing on this rainy day of Friday, December 28, 2018? I'm all right, but my head hurts a little, probably from work stress. Good thing that I've only got one more work day after tonight, and then it's five days of relaxing my mind. So, what have you all been up to since last night? I went out to lunch with my brother to get a good Philly cheese steak, and then (reluctantly) watched some Fortnite with my brother before I could write today. I've only got three hours or so before I go to work, so I'd better get busy if I hope to write this chapter in a few days, unless I can write in Florida. Warning, this chapter will involve more build-up to the Hunt for Eeth Koth, but also some good action on Coruscant. I've said too much, so let's enjoy the chapter.

(Saturday, December 29, 2018 Addendum.) Hey, everyone. What's up on this warm evening? I'm a bit upset, as I made a mistake at work today that will probably get me in trouble from my superiors. I only hope that I can keep my job, and learn from my mistake going forward. So, in better news, I've nearly finished my Star Wars historical sourcebook, and it's been a good ride. After I read that book, I might read the last The Witcher book, and that will be enjoyable. Oh, and I'm taking a break from The Witcher 2 to play Assassins' Creed: Origins, and I've enjoyed what I've played so far. Well, I'd better get back to writing this chapter, as I head to Florida in under 48 hours, and I hope to get it done beforehand. May the Force and Iluvatar be with me.

(Sunday, December 30, 2018 Addendum.) Hey, everyone. How are you doing on this warm day? I'm doing all right, as I went to church, and began to read David Limbaugh's latest book, Jesus Is Risen: Paul And the Early Church, and it is a powerful book. I'm also listening to Paul: Apostle of Christ on my Xbox One while I write, as I haven't seen that movie in months. I'm enjoying it very much. So, I haven't heard anything on my job yet, but I'm going to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Anyway, I'd better get back to writing, as I've written over four thousand words on this chapter so far, but I've still got a ways to go before this chapter is done, and I head to work in under 24 hours. By the way, I can't believe that this year will be over after tomorrow night. So much has happened, and I only pray that better things will happen in 2019. I pray to God on that. Well, wish me luck. in writing this chapter.

Two Hours Later

In District 325 of Imperial Center

"I can't thank you people enough for all that you've done for me." Ekria gratefully told Pol Haus, a Zabrak prefect of the Imperial Security Police and second-in-command of Whiplash, and his girlfriend, a Togruta poetess known as Sheel Mafeen. The two comprised the surviving members of Whiplash's original leadership on Coruscant after its decimation in a failed bid to assassinate the Emperor about three years previously.

They had procured the Padawan an experimental CloakShape fighter, which would have her escape the system, and flee to Iridonia in order to find and join the Shadow Alliance in the larger war against the Empire.

"Just thank us by not getting caught by the Empire again, Jedi." Pol gruffly replied, worried about the lack of Imperial activity across his sectors of activity, along with his contacts not reporting in on schedule. Warning his two allies, "I got a feeling we need to go underground again before-"

Before he could even finish his sentence, a series of explosions came off through the underground building, rocking the building to its foundations.

Pol hurriedly pulled out his comlink, and shouted into it, "Can someone tell me what the blazes is going on outside?!"

"It's the Imps, sir! They found us, and we're getting ripped apart out here! Wait… oh, you've gotta be kidding me! They're attacking all of our hideouts across Coruscant, and rounding up all of our cell leaders! There's a bunch of Royal Guards and Red Blades coming for you fight now! You need to leave now if you're gonna- Ghhk!" The transmission immediately cut out with the unmistakable deathsong of a vibro-blade, and the following sound of a man choking on his own blood, much to the three fighters' and their ten-man escorts' horror.

Turning to Ekria, Sheel handed the Padawan a poison pill, and she took it without hesitation. With the endgame for her life set, she prepared to take out as many of the Imperials as she could before she ended her own life, rather than become a prisoner for the Empire a second time.

Grabbing her stolen Inquisitor lightsaber and blaster pistol that Whiplash gave her, she warned the twelve surviving Whiplash operatives, "Take up positions. They'll be here in less than a minute."

Not even a moment later, the ceiling above the custom CloakShape fighter was blown apart, burying the fighter underneath a pile of rubble, while two-dozen Inquisitor Troopers came down, firing stun blasts at the Whiplash operatives, immediately catching two of them in the chest, knocking them onto the ground from the energy blast.

Upon hitting the deck, the Troopers threw smoke and flash bombs in their faces, taking cover and shooking as they moved. The ten remaining Whiplash members did the same, ducking for cover in the seconds before the bombs hit, blind firing into the smoke and dust while using the Troopers blaster shots to trace their locations.

Before they could advance on the enemy as the smoke cleared, they heard the familiar hum of virbo-blades and force pikes tearing through the roof as the vibration currents split the material by the atoms like a hot knife cutting through butter. In seconds, a hole was made and six Royal Guards were upon them like red shadows of death.

With the smell of ozone and blood, and the screams of dreadful pain, the Guards commenced their grizzly work. Limbs and heads flew everywhere as the six pikemen tore through their blaster wielding foes with supernatural speed, and in the eyes of the Padawan Ekira, it was almost like trying to shoot at flowing mist.

Before she even realized it, the blaster in her hand was sent skyward and she immediately ducked to the side, conscious of a lock of her long hair falling to the floor as the vibro-blade kissed her cheek. She couldn't afford to stop though, so she rolled with the motion and came up on the balls of her feet, lightsaber in hand.

"Come on!" she growled, taking her saber in both hands as she waited for the Guards to attack. As one, the Guards advanced, their pikes held at the ready as they closed the distance until they were well within kicking distance. They raised their pikes high as though to pierce her from above as one when a deep and commanding voice rang out in the fighter, "Stay your hands, Guardsmen. The Jedi is mine!"

The voice was calm and collected, in-perfect control of its emotions, and in that moment Ekira felt truly afraid. The voice reminded her of Darth Vader, but it wasn't him. The voice was smoother, almost sweet yet venomous, like a poison velvet cake.

"Oh, you have reason to be afraid, Padawan Ekira," the voice said again, "for I am not here to take your life, but instead to deliver it to my Emperor."

With the whine of a descending cable, the black and red armored form of the Sovereign Protector, Bahl'al, landed in the midst of the slaughter, "And his majesty does not take no for an answer."

"He'll have to," Ekira snarled, "I am not going back!"

"Oh, but you will," she could practically feel the satisfied smile in his voice as he paced about her defensive line with his pike held loose at his side, and a sword in his scabbard, "you ran far and fast, but that was near enough. You and your allies fought valiantly, but that was not enough either. So here we stand, you and I. You will fight, you will lose, and you will embrace the true master of the universe. Willingly or not."

"I will die before that happens."

"Then why do I hear doubt in your youthful voice?"

With a scream, Ekira threw herself at Bahl'al, her blade swinging for his head. Bahl'al merely stepped to the side, and the Padawan stumbled right past him onto the floor. Ekira expected to feel a blade in her back or her shins but she didn't. Instead, Bahl'al gave her a mocking bow.

"Yes, come at me. You want to kill me don't you, for I have butchered your friends and slew your insignificant cell."

Ekira obliged, hammering away at him with a series of cleaves and thrusts, given power by pure rage and desperation. So swift were these strikes they appeared to be blurs of pure energy, and yet Bahl'al deflected each with as little effort as though she were merely an insect to be swatted.

With a roar, she threw herself at him, but she was suddenly on the floor as Bahl'al struck out at her legs with the shaft of his pike. With her back to the deck plating, she stared the length of his humming blade as he pressed it within an inch of her eye.

"Interesting. I was mistaken, considering I thought you wanted to kill me."

She growled, "I will kill you!"

He backed off again, his pike held at his side, "Then do it," he then spread his arms wide, presenting his chest as a target, "If you truly want to kill me, then do it."

She stood back up, her breathing ragged and her eyes wild as she brandished her saber tightly in both hands, "I will!"

Abruptly, she heard the voice of her fellows, "Ekira, don't! He's baiting you."

The Padawan stopped and looked at the Prefect and his girlfriend, and she realized what had happened. She stared wild-eyed in absolute horror at her hands, at her saber, at the bodies surrounding them, and finally at Bahl'al himself as he continued to stand there with his arms spread wide.

She took a deep breath and released her rage into the force, the haze lifting, "Get out of here I will buy you some time."

Bahl'al let his arms drop to his side, "Poor girl, trying so hard to be that which she cannot be," he shook his head at her, drawing his pike, "you cannot hope to buy them even a second."

"Let's find out."

She leapt at the Sovereign Protector, her blade aimed for a thrust through his wretched heart. This time, he met her with a dexterous parry, sidestepping her strike as his blade locked onto hers. He brought her around as he grabbed her by the wrist, then with a sickening snap and a scream, he broke it like a twig as her saber dropped to the floor.

To her credit, even through the pain and the tears, she refused to drop. She plucked the blade up with her left hand and charged him. Bahl'al put aside his pike, and grabbed her by her sword hand and then by her throat, lifting her off the ground as he slowly squeezed both the air and her grip out of her.

As both she and the saber fell to the floor like a cold fish, Bahl'al turned to the couple who stared at the monster with a paralyzing fear.

Barely able to breathe, Ekira choked out one last gamble, "Please take me! I'll go with you, just let them go!"

Bahl'al gave her a look, and shook his head, "You are in no position to make demands padawan," he turned back to the couple, "besides they are traitors to the Empire and shall be treated as such."

The Zabrak and Togruta pulled out pills, and were prepared to ingest them. However before they could they were suddenly yanked out of their grasps. The pills hung in the air for a minute and with the same unseen force were crushed into a fine dust before being allowed to drift away in the breeze.

"How unfortunate. You were prepared to do what this little girl couldn't and I took it away from you."

"Ekria," the prefect gasped, "you can't save us! Don't let them-"

"Take you?" Bahl'al mused softly, "Is that what you are so afraid of, traitor? Very well, then," he turned to Ekira on the floor, bending down on knee to face her, "go ahead. Fulfill their wish… if you have the courage."

Ekira stared at him in utter horror, but eventually the cold realization of the life that awaited her gave her the fire to do what needed to be done. She put her hand in her pocket and procured the poison pill. She took one moment to look at it before she closed her eyes and then swallowed it.

"Interesting. You're braver than I gave you credit for. But it is not enough."

Suddenly, he reach out his hand to her. Ekira had no idea what he was doing, but it didn't matter. The poison would kill her in seconds as it reached her bloodstream. It would be painless, it would be… nothing was happening.

Twenty seconds had gone by, and nothing had happened. A minute went by and still nothing, "What did you do?!" Ekira shouted.

"What is poison but just a complex series of reactions triggered by one spark?" Bahl'al chuckled as he moved his hand down, and Ekira had the sensation of something moving down her body into her stomach, "There, that should be the end of it."

"How?" she gasped.

"Simple. I know the poison you use, and the triggering mechanism. I just ensured the trigger was never pulled. Your stomach acids did the rest," he then rose to his feet, and shook his head at her, "cheer up, girl. I just saved your life."

"You doomed me to something worse than death!"

"All a matter of perspective, Padawan. In due time, you will learn to see the truth as I have.

"I don't want your lies!"

"Then I won't lie to you, you've been lied to long enough." he turned to the guardsmen, "Take the Whiplash leaders to interrogation, I will deliver Padawan Ekira to his majesty personally."

"Of course, sir."

"Now, young Padawan, you are going to answer a very important question for me. It will either be here, or in the presence of the Emperor. Who helped you and your fellow Jedi escape?"

"Go to Chaos!" she spat as Bahl'al grabbed her by her hair and dragged her to her feet.

"Don't you know, Ekira? I'm already there... and it is glorious."

Six Hours Later

On Iridonia

Within The Lucky Dancer's Used Ship Dealers

Ragdon was impatiently waiting the arrival of the team of Jedi that would guard his family until Mira gave birth to her daughter.

He was keeping a vigilant eye out for any unordinary individuals approaching him, when he noticed a Kiffar male who had the gaze of a man who saw too much in his lifetime approaching him.

Recognizing the man from the files that Tau had sent him, he walked over to the Kiffar, and coolly inquired, "There something I can help you with, stranger?"

Before the mysterious stranger could respond, Ragdon quietly whispered, "Good to have you here, Master Vos. I assume that the rest of your compatriots are nearby?"

"They're with your family while me and Master Hett keep an eye on you for the next couple of days." Quinlan answered.

"I don't need the protection, Jedi. It's my family that you need to look after. Compared to them, I'm just an expendable starship dealer."

"And we will. But we have orders to get all of you out of here, and we won't leave anyone behind if we can help it. Besides, I won't let another family be torn apart from dark forces." Quinlan staunchly countered as he vividly remembering his parents' brutal deaths when he was a kid.

Guessing that this man had a past beyond that of a typical Jedi, Ragdon nodded in understanding, before adding, "Well, if you and A'Sharad are gonna be looking after me, then you'll need to blend in. I trust that you guys know how to repair starships?"

"We did our fair share of mechanics during the War, sir." A grizzled voice spoke from Radgon's half-dismantled Z-95 Headhunter. Seeing a human man with a series of intricate tattoos across his face, the Zabrak knew that this was the second Jedi assigned to be his bodyguard.

A'Sharad, eager to keep busy to distract himself from the anxiety of facing off against the fallen Anakin, asked Radgon, "What's wrong with this fighter"

"Ah, burnt-out engines and stabilizers from a flyby outside the city. It's a shame, but it'd cost more credits to fix it than to salvage it." Ragdon disappointedly stated, sad that such a vintage fighter had to be retired.

"Mind if I attempt to repair it, sir?" A'Sharad politely inquired.

"Ah, sorry, Hett. I don't have the necessary parts to repair it, and I don't have the time to order any refurbished ones." Getting another idea on keeping A'Sharad busy, he suggested, "But, I do have a Consular-class cruiser that needs a new navicomputer installed, and I don't have anyone to spare for it. I'll give you a hundred credits to get it done in the next three hours."

"I'll do it in two hours for free." A'Sharad promised the ship dealer, while Quinlan rolled his eyes in amusement over his compatriot's eager attitude.

Two Hours Later

Within the Koth Residence

"I appreciate the help that you guys are giving us." Eeth gratefully spoke to the four Jedi that were assembled in his home's living room.

"We would not abandon anyone to the Sith's madness, Master Koth." Zao spoke up.

"I'm not a master anymore, Zao. Just call me Eeth."

"As you wish, Eeth."

"Anyway… Where are you taking us once Daina's born?" Mira spoke up, feeling like a sixth wheel with all of the Jedi present. In spite of her people's propensity to explore the Unknown Regions, she was fearful over the potential dangers in the treacherous galactic territory, and was perfectly comfortable living on her people's ancestral homeworld.

"We have a number of fortress worlds in the region for you to choose from, Miss Koth." An'ya politely told the civilian.

"Good. I don't want our daughter to be hunted across the galaxy by anyone." Mira passionately warned everyone, before she screamed in pain, feeling her water break that moment.

Eeth, sensing his wife's distress, reached out with the Force to sense his wife begin to go into labor.

"We need to get you to a doctor." Eeth worriedly stated, shaking his head, "but we can't risk going to one of the city's hospitals."

"Do you have a medical droid on your ship?" Eeth hoped any of the Jedi.

"I have a few squads of my men undercover in the city, and some of them have medical training." Rahm suggested, with Eeth nodding in agreement, a desperate plan taking shape.

"I've got an idea. Rahm, has the team that was sent to extract Micah Aphra and his daughter arrived here yet?" Eeth began.

"They should be arriving within the hour. Where are you going with this?" Rahm asked before he realized what the ex-Jedi Master was planning, and said, "Well… it would keep Vader and the Imperials away from the main cities."

"CAN WE TALK ABOUT YOUR PLANS WHEN I'M NOT IN LABOR?!" Mira shrieked from her pain.

"Right." Eeth sheepishly replied while he and Celeste helped Mira onto her feet, and used the Force to ease the woman's pain.

An'ya, keeping her cool, contacted Quinlan and A'Sharad, "We need to move at once. Mira's going into labor, and we're heading to Morai to lessen the civilian casualties."

"Understood. We'll tell Ragdon about the change in plans, and join you as soon as we can. Vos, out."

One Hour Later

On Taris

"Is that everything?" Temia Syn asked her husband, four children, and three grandchildren, as they packed the last of their essential belongings before they fled their makeshift home for the rendezvous point that their oldest son, Peccati, sent them when he warned them of the Imperial death squads coming for them for his treason.

For the past two years, the family had been working at a refugee camp for the disaffected of either High Human Culture or Imperial expansion, and had acquired a modest sum of money from many grateful donors. Most of it was given back to those in greater need, helped support their growing family in these trying times.

Everyone nodded in confirmation, and the nine Syns', with the coordination of their fellow priests and staff, quickly fled the refugee camp, leaving them without a home for a second time.

They only hoped they could make it to the agents that were awaiting their arrival, and would take them to Peccati, knowing the often unscrupulous nature of a majority of bounty hunters.

Thirty Minutes Later

On Iridonia

In the Town of Morai

"Hey, Dad! We've got visitors!" Chelli Lona Aphra shouted to her neglecting father, who was too engrossed in his hunt for the Ordu Aspectu to answer, leaving the daughter to groan as she went to the door.

Ya know, I wish that old coot would grow the kark up, and realize that there are more important things out there than finding some lost relic! Oh, wait. He can't, because he let Mom take me to a remote world, and let her die in a bloody ditch! Chelli ranted, wishing for her mother back with all of heart.

As she opened the door, she saw a site that made her gasp from shock: A Mandalorian in green armor that the girl knew could only belong to Boba Fett, a tanned-skinned man with a trench coat, custom made armor based off of Clone Trooper armor underneath, and two blaster pistols attached to the man's hips, and a female Cathar.

Chelli could hardly believe what she was seeing, and all she could say in response was, "Whoa." Immediately beaming with hope to get away from this place, she energetically asked, "Mr. Fett, can you guys kidnap me and take me on as a protégé?"

Fett looked down at her, tilting his helmed head in slight confoundment, "Um, what?"

"Y'know, grab me, scoop me up in a bag and then train me to become an intergalactic bigshot? Please?"

"No," Fett shook his head, "where's your dad?"

"Ugh, figures. He's in the back… what about the rest of you, though," she pointed at everyone else, "I thought Boba Fett worked alone?"

"Since when?" Fett asked, "I've always worked with partners, at least since the clone wars ended."

"Is that what you guys are, then?"

"Something like that." The other human male confirmed before Chelli allowed the three guests to enter the stone residence. Jasmine turned to the clones, holding her hand out to stop them for a moment.

"Listen, I think you should stay outside and let me talk to him. I don't want to agitate the man anymore than necessary."

"Why?" Fett asked.

"Because we're clones, and he's a Jedi historian, Boba," Rex shook his head, "maybe a bit off his rocker too. Last thing we need is him trying to shoot at us the moment he sees our faces."

"Fair enough," Fett grumbled.

"Are you here to collect my father?" Cheli asked, "Why didn't you say so!"

Boba shook his head, "What kind of idiot do you have to be to make your kid hate you so much? Maybe I should take notes to avoid this with my daughter."

"Yes, you should," Rex nodded as he took the young Aphra by the shoulder, "yes, we're here to collect him and you, but not for the reasons you think. You two are in danger and we're here to get you someplace safe."

"Can… can you just take me?" the girl asked, her voice close to breaking.

"Sorry, but we need your dad for important things," Rex sighed, remembering the last time he had to deal with children was back in the war on Saleucami, "look, if you want, when we get you to where you need to go, we can seperate the two of you and you can go to a better family."

"Hold on one second," Fett growled, "I don't approve of the way her dad is raising her, but taking her away from him?"

"Well, he's not exactly dad of the year."

"Rex, which of us is an actual parent?"

Rex stood up and whispered to him, "You've read the reports, you've seen what she becomes if she remains in this kind of environment."

"Then we help Micah become a better parent. Unless he's truly abused her, as in he's actually beaten her," he emphasized, "then there is a chance."

Rex sighed, "Look, I'm just trying to think of the options here, and neglect is a form of abuse."

"It's not like he was being malicious about it. Yes, he deserves a smack upside the head, but until I know the full extent, I'm not going to advocate for taking a child away from their parents."

"Fett it's only temporary until he can show he's willing to take responsibility for her."

"Define temporary."

"A short amount of time?"

"How short?"

"Look can we not have this discussion here?"

"Hey, I'm standing right here!" Chelli exclaimed, "Can I have a vote in all this?"

"No!" Fett exclaimed.

"Yes!" Rex exclaimed at the same time, and the clones of Jango Fett just glared at each other. Rex sighed, and knelt down to her, "Look, this is complicated stuff. Once we're off planet, then we can figure out what to do about all of this."

"Yeah but…" Chelli sighed and shook her head, "it's just... my dad hasn't been the same since my mom died. All he cares about is his stupid Jedi Cult and their stupid quest for immortality and," she suddenly look up at Rex, "wait, is that why you're here?"

"Yes," Fett answered, "the Empire wants what your father found and they will hurt you if it means getting it."

"Hold on, Jedi looking into immortality?" Rex asked, "That's not unheard of but that's not what the order was about. This can't be really a Jedi cult."

"It's… complicated," Chelli scratched the back of her head, but before she could answer, they all felt a presence at the door and they turned to see Jasmine and Dr. Micah Aphra standing at the door.

"Um, hey dad, uh-"

"What are these murderous abominations doing in my house?" Micah asked with a deadpan look, crossing his arms as he did.

"Well that was harsh." Rex said to no one in particular, "Jazz, I thought you were going to tell him about us?"

"I was getting to that, but he got excited and-"

"The Jedi can stay, but you need to leave my house," Micah growled.

"We'll just be outside." Fett nodded, and the two clones stepped outside, "hurry up, Jasmine. We don't have much time."

"Chelli, go to your room and stay there until we finish talking," Micah ordered, but Jasmine quickly cut in.

"Actually it might be a good idea if she starts packing." Jasmine told him.

Micah gave her a worried look, his arms coming to his side, "What do you mean, Master Jedi?"

"I mean the Empire's found out what you're doing here and they've come to take you, your daughter and whatever research you have on the Ordu Aspectu to the Emperor."

"How do you know about my work?"

"That's complicated to explain, and we don't have the time. All you need to know is that the Alliance has agents in the Imperial Hierarchy, and they've informed us that Vader himself is coming here."

Micah paled like a bedsheet. Barely able to breathe, he turned to stare at his daughter, at the being he'd helped bring into the world, and then he collapsed into a chair.

"What… what have I done? What have I… oh Force," he clutched his head with both hands, "my wife is dead and my daughter… no no no, I won't let that happen to her."

Jasmine was as sympathetic as the great trees of Cathar, but they needed to move, "You've been a fool, but we don't have time for that right now. Get what you need, get what research you can, destroy what you can't and get on the ship. After that you two can have a long heart to heart that you both desperately need."

"Alright," he took a deep breath and nodded, "Chelli, dear? Get your things. Only take what you need."

Chelli looked between her petrified father and the serious Jedi, and nodded, "Okay."

"And dear?" Micah called her and she turned to face him, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of this. I… I love you."

Chelli stared at her father with a dumbfounded expression, but then nodded and took off to her room. Micah rose to his feet, breathing to get the ringing drum in his ears under control, "Alright, Jasmine, I'll need your help. Come with me."

Outside, Boba and Rex suddenly spotted a CR90 corvette and Consular-class Cruiser approaching in the distance, and Fett's comlink activated.

Pulling out the comlink, he gruffly spoke into it, "Go ahead."

"Fett, have you found the Aphras?" Quinlan Vos asked.

"We have. Jasmine is handling things. You're supposed to be searching for your ex-colleague. What changed?"

"We found him and his family, but his wife's just gone into labor. We didn't want to risk the Imps capturing us at a hospital, or the massive civilian casualties from when Vader comes for us, so we decided to change the battlefield to a more remote location." Quinlan explained to the Mandalorian.

"Makes sense." Boba grudgingly approved, "Where do you want us to meet?"

"I'll feed you the coordinates once you're airborne. Contact me when you are. Out."

"Right," Fett grumbled, "I don't like this."

"Yeah, what's the phrase? 'No plan ever survives contact with the enemy?'"

"We haven't even made contact with the enemy yet."

"Maybe, but we've both been in worst spots, and look where we are."

"We also didn't have an entire government about to crash down on us, either. I'll gladly take the War over this."

'Touche, Fett. Hey, here they come. What the? What are you doing with that tibana tank, Jasmine?"

The Jedi set the canister down in the living room, levitating another to the kitchen. Micah appeared with severals duffle bags and his daughter in hand and provided the answer, "I can't take most of my research, but I also won't let the Empire use it for evil."

"In that case," Fett produced a timed explosive and set the detonator for fifteen minutes, "Jasmine, set this on the biggest set."

"Already on it, Fett," the Jedi nodded, "what is Vos' ships doing here?"

"There's been a change in plans. Mira's gone into labor and they'll need our help."

"Great. What's the phrase?"

Rex laughed, "No plan survives contact?"

"No, not that one. FUBAR or something?"

"FUBAR?" Chelli asked, "Is that like a bear or something?"

"Heh, no," Rex chuckled, "it's um… we'll tell you when you're older."

"It's what the Remantise people say when a battle has gone to hell," Jasmine elaborated, "funnily enough there has been no battle yet. Who would have thought, bringing a new life into the world is just as damaging to a plan as a massive loss of life."

"Heh, yeah. Tell me about it," Fett shook his head as he took out his comlink, "Dengar? Yeah, it's Boba. Bring the ship around, we're ready for pickup."

One Hour Later

In Hyperspace, 60 Hours Until Reaching the Iridonia System

Onboard the Raider-class Corvette Indomitable

The four members of Delta Squad were preparing themselves for their mission with examining their weapons and making sure that their equipment was functioning at optimal capacity.

While they were finishing up with their communications gear, Fixer heard a Ping! come from the his comlink. Glancing a look at the frequency, and he gasped at the user ID: It was RC-1207, nicknamed "Sev", Delta Squad's original sniper.

The three other squad mates took notice of Fixer's gasp, and Scorch nonchalantly said, "What's eating you?"

"It's just a minor drift in power from the hyperdrive core. I'll just go fix it up right now." Fixer evasively lied, getting up to head to keep his lie intact, with Scorch quickly following him.

"What's going on, vode? There's no way that the hyperdrive's wonky. You fixed it up yourself." Scorch suspiciously asked.

"It's Sev." Fixer quickly said, catching his brother's attention.

"What?" Scorch breathed out, unable to comprehend what he just heard.

"Sev's alive. He's on Kashyyyk, alive and well." Fixer ecstatically explained, before continuing, "He's helping the Wookiee resistance on the world, and is contacting us for help."

Scorch was speechless at the revelation, and nearly went to Boss right then and there before realizing that Rede was still on their team, at least for a little while longer.

"Then we'll have to move forward with the plan once we reach Iridonia." Scorch resolutely said after regaining his voice.

Let's see the Empire try and stop us now! Scorch thought, regaining his drive at the prospect of reuniting with the final member of the original Delta Squad after four years of thinking him dead.

Well, that ends another filler chapter of my story! What did you guys think of the fall of Whiplash, Mira beginning to go into labor, and everyone convening at the Aphras' residence at Morai? I hope that I got the details, fights, and characterizations of everyone good enough. So, how are you doing on the evening of December 30, 2018? I'm doing well enough, and hoping for the best at work. So, I'll be heading to Florida tomorrow afternoon, so I doubt that I can get it done before the New Year rolls around. Well, I'd better get this chapter sent to Squasher for editing. May the Force and Iluvatar be with you all at the end of 2018, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!