Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OCs. Star Wars belongs to Lucasfilm and Disney. So sorry for the long delay, live stuff has made it hard to upload. The next chapters should go up much faster, since me and my cowriter are almost done editing them. Anyways, enjoy this latest chapter and feel free to drop a review.

Rating: T (sci-fi violence and language)

Soron arrived in the cargo hold, the rest of the crew, minus Cholmon, already ringed around the crates that they had risked their lives for. He nodded to BX, who bent over and helped him pull the lid off the first container.

"Now then, let's see what we have...here." Soron's voice faded as he examined the contents of the crate.

The only sound in the cabin hold was the deafening vibrations of BX letting the crate lid crash to the floor as the crew stared in utter horror.

Food.

That was it. Food, some basic weapons that you probably find lying around in the street in an only slightly better condition, and some clothes.

"No, this can't be right." Soron muttered, scratching behind his left ear, his breathing increased and Nek's morbid chuckling became an unpleasant background noise. "Check the next one BX."

"Captain there is no error. These are the goods Dordo hired us to collect." The droid responded dryly. "And no, my circuitry does not need to be checked." He said to Lerti, cutting the Mandalorian off as he saw her mouth open to argue.

"But… what? Why would he have us risk our lives for some damn fruit!" Soron exclaimed, only to be met with howls from behind him. Nek was curled into a ball on the deck of the hold, laughing to the point of tears.

"Just what the hell is so funny about this Nek?" Lerti barked, fists clenched in anger.

"The Empire wanted FRUIT!" Nek laughed as he stood up, wiping tears from his eyes.

"Can it. Both of you." Soron ordered, rubbing his temples. "Alright, let's reseal this crate. How long until we reach Basteel?" He asked Cholmon over the comms.

"Thirty minutes or so." Came the reply.

"Everyone suit up. Be back in here fully ready five minutes before landing." Soron commanded before climbing the ladder towards the upper decks and his own room.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The Raving Titan landed on the large landing pad of Elardo City, cold winds lashing its hull. It was placed in holding in one of the many caverns of the subterranean city, its gangplank lowering and allowing its crew to enter the bustling bazaar.

Slinging his 9118 heavy carbine across his back, Soron turned to his fully armed and armored crew. On Basteel one could never be too careful, even by Outer Rim standards.

"Cholmon, go find whatever parts the ship needs to keep flying, and add fuel to that list. Lerti, see if you can sniff any jobs out of our usual clients. Be sure to check up with old Leatherface in Lynwood Cantina. BX, you're with me. And Nek, you're staying with the ship this time. Try not to wander off."

"Aye aye captain." Nek drawled, plopping himself down onto the gangplank.

"Alright people, let's get this done smoothly and we can leave this cave." Soron said as he began to push the automated cart that held their cargo. BX fell into line behind him, right hand resting lightly on the hilt of his vibrosword as the rest of the crew fanned out across the bustling market place.

Soron and BX made their way down the main roads for the good part of an hour before arriving at the front of a dilapidated warehouse. Emerging from the crowd the two made their way towards the entrance, two human guards leveling their blasters at them. Both eyeing the droid nervously.

They waited for only a moment before a grainy voice called from inside.

"It's alright, let them in."

The doors were heaved open from the inside as Soron pushed past the guards, not paying them any mind. BX briefly stared at one, and judging by the reaction he got the guard almost soiled himself. If a droid could smile, BX would be split ear to ear.

The old warehouse seemed to stretch off for eternity in the darkness that enveloped the inside of the building. A few lights near the front of the room shone down on the posi surrounding and guarding the lone Dug reclining in the center of the room. Dordo looked up from the datapad in his foot and and with his free appendage removed the cigarette from his mouth.

"Greetings friends, it's been a while." He called, gesturing grandly with his hand-like feet.

Soron's fist came down on the nearest crate.

"Dordo, I am not your damn grocer. Please explain those." Soron growled, pointing an accusatory finger at the crates beside him.

"Ah yes, I was looking forward to your reaction." Dordo laughed.

"You think this is funny!? My crew and I risked our lives for those crates and THEY'RE FILLED WITH FRUIT!" Soron bellowed.

"Soron, I was conscripted to transport those supplies to a Rebel planet. One that was under Imperial blockade. The ship you scavenged from was shot down, I'm guessing the Empire came back to finish the job." He finished, replacing his cigarette.

"Is that the truth?" BX questioned, earning a glare from Dordo.

"What is it to you droid?"

"This is simply unexpected from someone in your profession. I was simply curious why someone as pragmatic as you would take up a relief mission." BX replied impassively.

"Well, I have a saying. 'I will do anything if the price is right.' And the price was more than right."

"Then why hire us? You know we prefer not to get tangled up in rebel activity." Soron asked, folding his arms.

"Unfortunately, the rebel's price has been right several times in the past and I can't afford the Empire tracking any of my men's ships back to me."

"And there's the Dordo we all know and love." Soron cut in, earning a slight chuckle from said dealer. "Now, I believe we have upheld our end of the bargain. Time for you to do the same."

"Straight to the point as always. Here." Dordo answered, holding a stack of credits.

"Where's the rest? This is not the amount we agreed to." Soron growled in displeasure.

"Well you did open one of the crates when I did not give you permission to do so, so your pay was reduced. So take the credits I am so generously offering you or go back to your ship with Imperial contraband. Your choice." He finished with a sickening grin.

BX let out a growl-like sound, one hand reaching for his vibrosword, the other going for his E-5 blaster. Soron grabbed the droid's arm as the various guards aimed their weapons at the two.

"Not this time." He muttered under his breath, right eye narrowing slightly.

BX took a step back, hands off his weapons.

Soron angrily snatched the credits out of the Dug's hand, stuffing them into his pocket before turning on his heel. "World keeps on turning Dordo."

"That only matters to the people on the Rim." Came the reply.

They kept walking.

"You would think you would've learned by now it doesn't seem to matter how much you pay or how much you gain, only that you become limited the further you string yourself along down that path, you lose your freedom."

Only a few steps from the warehouse entrance.

"What are you? A Jedi?" He laughed under his breath, "Are you sure you wouldn't like to take some of the 'special cargo' to feed that pretentious attitude?" Soron growled as the doors were heaved open.

The sound of stormtrooper's order flew through the opening.

"OPEN FIRE."

Soron and BX dove to the ground as blasts rained through the warehouse doors. The two crawling to opposing sides of the wide door frame and readying their weapons as they listened to the rhythmic sound of stormtrooper formations closing ranks on the building's only opening.

From inside, the two watched as the Gotalian hunter nearest to Dordo grabbed the Dug by the throat and placed a charged blaster to his head.

"Sorry boss, but you understand. 'Whatever pays' right? I know you're afraid but don't worry, the Empire won't hurt you as long as you tell them what they need to know." the Gotalian yelled into Dordo's ear above the firefight.

One of the guards turned to open fire from his hiding spot.

He screamed as five blasts hit him head on.

His body fell near Soron. The look of shock instilled in his face became mirrored in Soron's as he and BX slowly looked at each other from across the doorway.

"Shoot diagonally and use Dordo's capture as a distraction?" BX spoke.

"Took the words right out of my mouth."

From the door frame the two crewmates opened fire from their low point.

BANG BANG!

The Gotal was dragging Dordo from his chair.

BANG BANG BANG!

The Gotal stumbled forward with the writhing mass fighting in his arms.

BANG!

He stepped through the doorway.

BX aimed and shot at the hunter's leg.

"AH!" The burn mark smoked at his flesh as he fell to the ground.

"Why?" Soron asked as he jumped to his feet.

"The longer he has to drag Dordo to the transport ship the longer we have to run."

"Makes sense…" Soron watched as two stormtrooper ran over to assist the wounded hunter and his prey, "Wait for it… Now!"

The two ran out firing at the surrounding stormtroopers. Soron reached for his comm.

"Everyone! Back to the ship! Cholmon we need a pickup near our location now!"

The remaining posi emerged from the warehouse now firing back at the surprise party. BX grabbed at the vibroblade on his back.

Jumping from the ground, the battle droid swiftly jabbed the blade at the troopers as he came in for impact before landing and swinging the side of his body out to slash across the next bunch.

"BX! WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE!" Soron howled as he watched an Imperial ship landing in the loading docks, probably filled with more stormtroopers.

The droid turned from his calculations of mass slaughter to process Soron's words before throwing a trooper across the field by his bucket head and began his sprint towards the captain. Soron and BX made their move towards the market place.

"Need some help?" Lerti's voice came across the comms.

"Lerti? Sorry kinda hard to hear your voice above all the screaming and panic." Soron said as he began to shove his way through the quickly moving crowd with BX and at least ten stormtroopers close on their tail.

"Understandable. Just meet in the center square! I hear Cholmon is letting Nek borrow his baby."

Soron smiled.

"Well that is good news then!"

Running into the market square the trampling panic and fearful shouts suddenly turned quiet as the sound of blaster being loaded erupted from all directions of the square.

Troopers surrounded the square coming in from every street corner and roof top.

Soron and BX lowered their weapons as they watched the skies.

From behind him, Soron heard a man whispering to himself.

"Please. Not again. Please. Not again."

Soron turned to the blonde haired human starring at the dozen of stormtroopers, seemingly paralyzed. In the distance Soron heard the approaching sound of ship engines.

He grabbed the man by the shoulder.

"I would duck if I were you."

The wind gusted about as The Raving Titan suddenly veered overhead. The gangplank open to reveal Nek standing at the ready with Cholmon's Z-6 rotary blaster cannon and a huge smile stretched across his face.

"I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY THIS THING!" Nek shouted from the ship as his hand went to the trigger.

Soron, BX, and the human fell to the ground along with most of the crowd as Nek demonstrated just how terrifying it can look when a Devorian shows off their devilish appearance behind the barrel of a gun. All around them the shouts of troopers rang out, quickly followed by another order to open fire.

Closer ranged blasters echoed behind them as Lerti stepped through the crowd.

"Hey guys! Lovely evening, right?" She fired again.

"Another day out on the town!" Soron grabbed his blaster.

"I take it you two are being sarcastic?" BX stood and joined the firefight.

The crowd began to thin out as everyone ran for their lives in every direction. The blonde haired man continued to stand close, revealing a small hand blaster concealed on his belt he quickly took aim and began to shoot off concise bursts towards the bucketheads.

"Not that I'm complaining for the extra help but shouldn't you be off cowering somewhere?" Lerti shouted towards the man.

"I am no coward and ze say third time's the charm right?" The man's harsh accent seeming to erupt over the shots. "And it seems anyone attempting to run isn't having luck with your man or the troopers so I'm good here."

From the ship, Nek continued to rain down punishment on the troopers, his hands seemingly unfettered by the rapid overheating of the weapon. He ceased for a moment as the ship lowered further to the ground and the crew made its way for the open plank.

The captain, Lerti, and BX climbed onto the ship, Nek ushering them in. The ship began to rise steadily into the air. They were going to make it!

A blast rang out.

Nek screamed.

The three watched as he went tumbling over the edge of the rising ship's gangplank.

"NEK!" Soron and Lerti ran over to the edge while BX stood watching and waiting.

They saw him sprawled out on the ground below. A clean hit had torn right through his shoulder, blood seeping out of the large wound.

He began to twitch and struggle to his feet as trooper began to make a run towards him.

"We need to leave." BX spoke.

"No way! We are not leaving without him!" Lerti screamed as the started towards the cannon.

"Cholmon keep the ship low! Nek's down!" Soron spoke into his comm.

"Wait down there or, like, down, down!?"

"BOTH!"

Trooper were closing in.

Lerti cocked the gun.

They watched as Nek moved painfully slow for his double bladed vibroblade.

Two shots fired and they all winced as someone screamed.

They looked down to see the blonde haired man had stepped in front of Nek and had opened fire on the trooper while taking a direct hit to the thigh. Crumpling to the ground, the man continued to fire nearly shielding the Devorian with his own body. The troopers kept firing but each shot missed its target despite the two being only feet away. Lerti rained down aimed fire with Cholmon's baby before the ship lowered itself to near landing position.

"Let's go." the man nearly whispered to a half conscious Nek.

He leaned over to hoist the smaller alien up only to find him much denser than expected. Suddenly two lanky robotic arms lifted the crewmember from the ground and hustled back onto the ship, causing the man to flinch. Flanking the man, Soron and Lerti grabbed an arm and began nearly dragging him onto the ship.

"You know where we can find a decent healer?" Soron asked the man between breaths.

"I am one." He nearly whispered.

Lerti smiled.

"Welcome aboard."