Chapter 1 - The Interview

So how had I gotten mixed up in all of this? Me, Boas Hunter, average student, damn fine colonial marine, propulsion engineer and, well I prefer the term 'freelancer' but I'm sure there are many other ways to describe what I did for a part of my life.

I had experienced a few life changes along the way, each one standing to shape who I would become. The latest being my recruitment into the Rebel Alliance. Honestly not a move I saw coming until I had a long and interesting conversation with a hidden Jedi who had been tasked to find me and bring me out of solitude and into the fight. A fight where key players would prove to be more pivotal by the day, if not for their own action, then for the new recruits their influence would bring.

Why my mind would choose to settle here, focused on this part of my past, probably just serves to show the importance of the period, if nothing else, then to the situation I had found myself in. And so, where? Dantoine. A rebel base there, nothing more than a hangar and a collection of arms crates. It was in the process of being emptied, for what reason I didn't ask, but the feeling made me uneasy. The cavernous hangar should have been filled with the sounds of jet engines and astromech droids, but instead eerie silence collected in the high rafters, broken only by the occasional clatter of equipment.

I came face to face with an officer who regarded me with interest, her arms loaded with data pads, her eyes quizzical as they scanned me, failing to place me in her mind.

"Can I help you?" She asked, a humorous grin on her face. "You look so lost." Yes, I thought, I bet I do. After all I had been away from civilisation for the last six years. Six? Wow it really was. A whole lot appeared different to me now, but life was still the same. My look didn't help my cause, Renifrum Marine Commando uniform, various armour parts I had gathered over the years, and the hair and beard of a hermit.

"I was told to come here." I said, the sound of my own voice startling me a little. "To get involved. I want to help."

Her smile widened and she pointed off towards a small group of desks where several people were chatting. "Over there. Lieutenant Derice. Nice to have you aboard." She gave me an encouraging nod and continued on her way, so I slowly walked to the group of people.

When I was close enough I started to pick up fragments of conversation. Snippets about something very dangerous, and the Emperor crossing the line. Their attention turned to me when I stepped into the pool of light cast by the temporary stanchions. "Lt Derice?" I asked, and a man with a thick black moustache and white hair peeking from under his cap looked over and nodded. "I'm here to join the fight. A man named Jarrus sent me."

He rubbed his chin for a moment as he pondered what to do with me, then he stood and gestured to two others before facing me and extending a hand. "Great to have you on board, but first we need to check you aren't a spy or something," his face has grim, determined, "Hope you understand." I nodded and he gestured towards a desk not far away. "Take a seat over there and I shall be with you shortly." He said, and everyone in the group watched as I moved away, waiting until I was out of earshot before continuing their discussion, now in whispers.

I watched Derice walk away into the shadows, and when I couldn't see him any longer I simply gazed around the hangar, trying to take in all the details. Most of it was shadows. Lots of clear areas that must have contained equipment and ships, but of what purpose I could only guess. The sound of approaching footsteps from the shadows caught my attention and I saw Derice returning, flanked by two others. They came to me and sat across from me. I watched their faces, trying to read them, but they were certainly not new to this.

"Right then, let's get started shall we?" Asked Derice as he lay out some sheets of paper in front of himself. One colleague, a short stocky man with silver hair and a pained expression followed suit. The other sat motionless, regarding me with cold eyes. Derice motioned toward the latter companion. "This is Keera. Do you know his people?"

I nodded. "He is a Loxian." Derice nodded and I continued. "I recognise his silvery skin. He is an empath." It was not a question.

"Very good." Derice did not smile, and it was becoming clear he would be the only one to speak. "Then you will know he is mute?" I nodded again. "He is going to read you, and because he does not speak, he won't warn any of us if he thinks you are an imperil spy, he will just blast you, and you will be dead. Still want to continue? Last chance to back out?"

It had all become rather tense, but I was ready for the challenge. "Proceed." I instructed, fixing Keera's gaze firmly with my own. I had nothing to hide. The other man scribbled furiously on his notepad, and tapped on his datapad at varying intervals.

"Very well. Name?"

"Boas Hunter."

"Home world?"

"Renifro"

"Oh, beyond the outer rim?" His expression softened.

"Yes, in the Usam cluster. I served in the marines out there."

"I can see that from your uniform. What other experience do you have? Tell me about yourself."

"When I left the marines an officer found me a position on Corellia as an Engineer. I spent time designing propulsion engines at first, and later on weapons tech."

He pondered this for some time, as if it would be of some use. "And after that?"

"I became a..." I shifted a little uncomfortably. "Freelance."

"Ok, doing what?"

"Anything I could get myself into. Corellia is that kind of place. Robbery, heists, procurement, smuggling, mercenary, bounty hunting and..." I trailed off but he waited so I continued, "assassin jobs. They paid well."

There was a murmur from across the desk but Keera remained fixed, impartial. When he was ready, Derice continued. "So what happened next?" He asked, curiosity becoming more genuine.

"Well I went into isolation, which is where I spent most of my time until a few days ago." I said this slowly, contemplating the long six years.

"And why did you go into isolation and leave the freelance world? I would expect that was most lucrative."

"Yes, it was. But I had a job go very wrong. A lev train on Bourba, innocent people died, I couldn't face the loss so I spent time searching my soul."

"Until Jarrus found you?

"Yes."

"Do you know him?"

"I didn't, but it didn't take me long to figure out what he is."

"And he convinced you?"

"Yes. Lets just say I understand his point of view."

Derice looked genuinely surprised and looked to Keera who nodded. I was telling the truth. The other man continued to make notes so Derice pushed on. "And it was Jarrus who convinced you to join the rebellion just because he's a Jedi, you're a Jedi..." He trailed off.

"No. I may be force sensitive, but I'm no Jedi." I said quietly.

"Then why would you come all the way out here to join with us?"

"I've fought on both sides of this war, mostly for pay." I tried not to be defensive, "and I've seen what the Empire is doing to the galaxy. Destroying everything it touches. I feel like it won't be long until it learns how to destroy entire planets."

Both men regarded me with curious suspicion, while Keera continued to simply stare with no emotion. Then, just when I expected to be told the rebellion had no room for a lost soul like me, a figure came out of the shadows and approached. She was young, late teens probably, long lilac hair in a braid, uniform arranged in a neat, proud manner. She whispered in the ear of Derice and both he and the other man stood and stepped away from the interview, leaving just me and Keera.

I was suddenly aware that I could feel his presence inside my thoughts as he moved around, searching for deception. He was like tendrils of smoke, or mud clouds in thick water, drifting and constricting around my very mind. His silver wrinkled skin seemed to gleam and his eyes had a shimmer, almost indigo on top of the pure black. I inwardly flinched, just to see how he would react, and he jumped a little, his concentration broken momentarily. During that time I felt my mind relax and saw his trigger finger twitch just slightly. That was almost a very stupid thing to do. So I decided to let him back in.

Those smoky fingers were massaging the inner workings of my brain when Derice and his companion returned, without the girl. They didn't bother to sit. "Corporal Holdo has just informed me she has just spoken via transmission with commander Jarrus, and he has vouched for you." He extended his hand. "So I guess this is welcome."

I took his hand and shook it as I stood. Keera remained seated but was now smiling a wide smile. Ok, it seemed I had passed my audition. Derice placed his hand on the shoulder of his colleague, who had scooped up his notes hurriedly. "Gantz here will give you the details of your assignment." And with that he strode away, waiting a second for Keera to follow.

"Um, this way." Said Gantz, nervous. I followed, convinced he would drop his papers, but he somehow managed to keep it together and led me to another desk, this one covered in papers. He handed me a couple of sheets. "Mal Malakan leads Sabre squad, they are based on Corasco and they lost a member last week. Details are in here, you can catch a transport most of the way from here."

"Ok, thank you Gantz." I said, offering my hand which he shook weakly. "Maybe I'll see you again some time."

"Maybe." He replied and walked away. But then he stopped after a few paces and turned to face me. "Welcome to the war." He said, and again turned, this time without stopping.

I looked down at my assignment. Corasco. I wondered what kind of planet that would be.