That evening found Davro, Kayylla, and Jace gathered in the small dining area, steaming bowls of Corellian gundar stew and bread before them.
"I hope you don't mind Corellian food, mom's recipes are about all I have here, the autochef has been on the blink for a couple years and I just haven't got around to replacing it.", Davro said, blowing on a spoonful of hot stew to cool it. "I heard you mention the N-1 earlier. Interesting story there, it was going to be an item for barter. There was a fellow and Dantooine that I met who specialized in old starcraft parts. He said he could get hold of a replacement engine for one of the old Republic corvettes, like I've got in the dry-dock. Problem is, he wants a ton of cash for one engine, and I don't have anything he really wants. All the stuff I can gather from here is too modern and, technically, could be mark him as a Rebel supporter. However, he lacked a very rare craft that he really wanted. A Naboo N-1, in operational condition. So, I made him a counter-offer; I get him an N-1, he delivers ALL the parts I need to finish the corvette. He had to think that one over, but he agreed in the end. So, I managed to find a wreckage of an N-1 back on Naboo, in about 100 meters of water. It took quite a bit of negotiating with the Gungans, but I got their help raising it, disassembling it, and transporting it here. Once here, I reassembled the airframe and went through the systems, one-by-one, testing, troubleshooting, replacing and machining parts, and cleaning dirt out of everything. All that's left is reworking the body plates, replacing the cockpit canopy, weapons calibration, and test flying it. KC will be riding in the droid-socket, to monitor the systems and make adjustments in mid-flight. My big problem; the "Stormrider's' cargo hold is too small to fit a fully assembled N-1 into, and the N-1 isn't hyperspace-capable. They were fast sublight fighters, but they were local defense craft, no need to go to any other systems."
He takes a couple more bites of stew, then continues. "The torpedo launcher was too badly damaged to repair, so I modified an Arakyd Flex-Tube launcher, originally for a Y-wing, and installed it. The original N-1 magazine fed rounds to it okay, minor changes to the fire control programming weren't too hard, and it can now use the new modern torpedoes that are being built. The droids here have been invaluable in their service doing this project. The hull plates should take a couple of hours, the canopy is in my freighter's cargo bay, I'll calibrate the weapons just before the test flight, test it, and give it it's original yellow-and-silver paintjob."
He pushed his empty bowl onto a tray KC had brought in to collect the dishes with. "Thanks, KC. Well, I usually sleep in the pilots' ready bunks, but I think the officer's quarters would be more suitable for such esteemed guests. KC, get them anything they need, I'll go prep the rooms for them." Davro trotted off down the passage at the opposite end of the room, leaving them with patiently waiting astromech droid.
Kayylla and Jace sat at the table glancing occasionally at each other through mouthfuls of stew. "How long were you with the Empire?" Kayylla asked breaking the silence and giving KC her empty bowl.
"Hmm. Well, I went into the service when I was seventeen. I lied about my age, I thought it was what I wanted in life. I excelled in many courses but they saw me take charge of situations more then normal first years. They soon started grooming me to be an aid for many top ranking Imperials. I was General Derricotes aid for almost two years when I received the assignment to contact you. So my service was around seven years, I can't remember most of my time there. Most of the memories gel together, there really wasn't a lot of change from information piled waist high." Jace said while giving the droid his bowl and spoon. "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? I mean your knowledge of the Starfighter would make you as old as some of the oldest Senators. I don't think that knowledge is readily available to anyone. Then there is your energy and physical features," he blushed at the mention of her looks, "make you younger. You don't have to answer if you don't want to." Jace asked while wiping the corners of his mouth.
"I guess it would only seem fair that you know my age. To humans I am around 20 years. In years of the Lasth... oh never mind, forget I said that." Kayylla said a little nervously. She thought he didn't catch the last part but the puzzled look on his face told her differently.
Racking her brain trying to find another topic when she saw Davro giving her a puzzled look as well. Had he heard what she had almost spoken?
"Oh, you're back." Kayylla said rising gracefully out of her chair. "Are the rooms ready?"
"Yes, follow me." Davro said dropping the puzzled look and turning towards the doors head had come through moments ago. "Your rooms are this way."
No one spoke as Davro lead them through the corridors of 'the Rock'
"Jace this will be your room." Davro said as he waved his hand over a sensor and stepping aside.
"Thank you Davro for your kind hospitality. I can hope I will repay you one day." Jace said with out a hint of hardness or sarcasm in his voice as he entered his quarters.
Once Jace's door closed Davro lead Kayylla a few meters down the corridor to a room on the opposite side of Jace. Waving his hand over a similar sensor Kayylla's door opened silently.
Turning to face him she said. "Thank you again Davro. Not only for the hospitality but for the help you have given me." Before she entered her room she gave Davro a quick kiss on the cheek. She didn't wait to see his reaction, instead she slipped through the doorway and into the room beyond.
Davro stood staring at the closed door, mouth open, frozen to the spot, not quite knowing what to make of the unexpected kiss. He closed his mouth, turned on his heel, and started toward the hangar. After going ten feet, he turned and went back, reached up to knock on her door, stopped himself, and proceeded back toward the hangar, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Solo was right, a pretty face can get to the best spacer. This must be what he was going through with that princess he said he was in tight with....", he muttered as he hurried his pace. Reaching the hangar, he went over to the N-1, absently running his hand along leading edge of the body. KC scooted across the bay and chirped quizzically to Davro. "Hey, pal. Go ahead and recharge for the night, I'm going to work on this a little, then turn in. See you in about eight hours." KC rolled off to the maintenance area to recharge as Davro broke out his welding gear and began secure the body plates to the N-1's frame. 'Why am I so drawn to her...', he thought to himself. 'There is something about her....I don't even know what race she is, and I've been to lots of different places.'
Before he realized it, he was placing the last body plate on and smoothing out the welds. He pulled his goggles off, dropped his welder, and walked back to get a shower before going to bed. He finished his shower quickly, went to his usual bunk, and tossed fitfully, his dreams haunted by visions of lustrous green eyes that he couldn't reach.
He awoke, set out some fruit and a pitcher of hot drink, poured a cup, and went directly to the hangar. "Morning, KC!", he called out. "Go see if our guests are awake, I'll be working on the N-1."
The little droid rolled off as directed, as he pulled the cockpit canopy from the "Stormrider" and began installing it. Within minutes, the canopy was working on it's servomotors, and he had climbed into the cockpit. "Okay, main generator on, repulsorlift system active, bringing weapons on-line....good. Activating targeting computer, begin calibration sequence."
He eased back in the fighter's seat, relaxing as the computer ran it's tests and aligned the focusing mechanisms of the blaster cannons. He was starting to doze off when KC entered the hangar again.
At the first glance of his room Jace was able to identify it as once being an Imperial base. The decor of the room had changed but not the layout. It was a simple room, big but simple in furnishings. There was a large bed in-between the walls as you entered, the refresher and closet were on the right side, there was also a desk off in the left corner. It was almost like his quarters back on Coruscant. That thought brought about others, mostly of why the Empire attacked them days earlier.
While undressing Jace thought of possible answers to his question. Though the only one believable enough would have to be that the Empire wanted Kayylla or him dead. He couldn't think why though. Had Derricote found out about his plans of leaving. No, he couldn't have. He told no one and never made a record of it. So if the Empire was not after him then they wanted Kayylla. But why would they want her dead? In all his time with Derricote he had never come across any files about her or her strange race. What was it Derricote had called her before? Thrawn?! Maybe, he hated to admit it, Davro might know.
All of these questions though would have to wait until morning. Jace crawled into bed and fell fast a sleep once his head hit the pillow.
Meanwhile Kayylla sat on the large bed of her own room. She too was thinking, though not about the Empire. Her thoughts were on the feelings that were wrestling inside of her. She doubted she would ever understand them or human males for that mater. She wasn't blind, she did notice the way Davro and Jace looked at her. She too found herself staring at them from time to time. Jace with his big physic was probably ever human females dream. His smile and the way he allowed his dimples to show, and those gray eyes, cool yet carrying a warmth within.
Davro on the other hand was different. He cared enough for a stranger to save them and their ship from a terrible fate. He was also ready and willing to help those in need. There was also that roguish nature about him that she seemed to enjoy.
She did not know what these feelings were or how to stop them. The feelings had started once they were in hyperspace after leaving Coruscant behind. She also didn't know why she had kissed them, it seemed and felt right at the moment. Lost in though she had not noticed how late it was getting. While she undressed Kayylla noticed the refresher had a shower in it. Hoping a nice hot shower would help clear her mind, she also hoped Davro did not mind. Kayylla enjoyed the shower, it was one of the nicest she had taken since her rebirth four standard months earlier.
Once she finished her shower she chose what she would wear the next day. Earlier she allowed KC to bring her few belongings to her room. She chose a pair of black tight fit pants, a white blouse and her knee high boots. Once that was completed she was able to retire for the day.
Dispite the hot shower Kayylla had had a fitful sleep. She had awaked many times throughout the night with strange dreams, they were hard to remember but they left her feeling uneasy. She was already away when KC came the next morning to bring her to breakfast. She followed the little droid into the hanger, she knew instantly what Davro had done last night.
She was amazed that he had finished the N-1 already, all it needed now was the paint. Davro noticed her the moment she entered the bay area. The sleep deprived eyes and the hint of black around them told Kayylla he had not sleep well. She hoped the signs of her own sleepless night did not show on her face.
He had hopped down out of the cockpit and headed towards her smiling. She noticed a slight cock to the smile almost out of pride in his work.
"Morning." she called when he reached her side. "I can see you were busy last night. I hope you slept well." She said as he lead her to the dining area.
"Oh, you know, catching a few winks when you can. I Jace not joining us this morning?" Davro asked with a hint of hope to his voice.
"Yes he will, he wanted to shave first and then we will meet us." Kayylla said taking the seat Davro offered her. "How is the N-1 coming along? It looks great. Will you be test flying it soon?" Kayylla asked genuinely interested in his answer.
"I think she's ready to go. Just needs a shake-down flight to test all the systems together and do some target firings of the weapons in space.", he said, just before his stomach gave a long growl. "Let me grab a piece of fruit and I'll be right back..."
He returned a moment later, Jace following at a slightly slower pace. Davro wolfed down the last bite and jumped into the cockpit as KC rolled under the fighter to be pulled up into the droid socket. "You in, KC? Okay, power up the main generator, bring up the BPU, initiate engine startup...."
The cockpit's lights flared to life as the engines began lightly whistling, then increasing to a high-pitched whine.
"Go to full diagnostic mode, KC. Let me know if anything looks bad.", he yelled over the engines, just before he cycled the cockpit closed and began lifting the fighter via the repulsorlift drives. "Let's take her out, slow and easy...". The sleek hull of the N-1 began inching forward as he applied more and more throttle to the main engines. He broke through the force field and dropped out of sight from Kayylla and Jace.
"Test, 1,2,3.....", came over the hangar's loudspeakers. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes, we read you..", replied Jace, sounding totally non-plussed.
The fighter dove through the cavern and burst out into the asteroid field, narrowly missing a large rock.
"Alright, testing pitch and roll thrusters,", he chimed as he rose and dove around debris. "Bringing her to a stop, preparing to test weapon systems." He lined up his sights on a small rock some distance away, and triggered a burst of blaster fire, blowing the rock apart. "Blasters working. Arming torpedo system, locking on, and firing!" The torpedo flew true, striking it's target and throwing fragments in all directions.
Satisfied with his testing, he turned the fighter to head back when a laser shot hit a rock just to his right. "Attention unidentified starfighter. This is Lt. Jaxon Skreed of the 315th TIE Interceptor Squadron based on the ISD 'Vegeance'. You are in a restricted sector and in possession of an armed starfighter. Power down your weapons, and follow us to our star destroyer, or you will be eliminated as an enemy of the Empire. Do you copy?"
"Oh, hell....KC, redirect weapons power to the shields! We gotta get outa here! I hope our friends are getting all this.....I'm switching all power to rear shields!"
The N-1's shields flickered to life as Davro turned-tail and shot off through the asteroids as quickly as he dared. The TIE's wasted no time in pursuing and firing on him. He began making his way to the edge of the asteroids, rolling and jinking more and more easily as he got used to fighter's handling.
"They're faster and have better guns than me, but are they as agile?", He said, whipping the fighter into a breakneck turn to the left as he balanced the shields. "I have to keep them away from home! If I can wipe them out and keep them from reporting back to their base, Kayylla and Jace stand a better chance of getting out of here undetected.....What am I saying?! Okay, Han, what would you do? Hell, you'd turn give and them a fight to remember you by. KC, power up the weapons. If we buy it, we'll go down with our guns blazing." He pulled up and over, and blasted back through the group of four TIE's that were following him. Cutting back to the right, he lined up on one, obviously less experienced than the others, and blasted him to shreds. Davro rolled left and dove behind a large rock with two TIE's back on his tail, the third heading back the way they had approached.
"Damn, they sent the other inexperienced pilot back to warn the star destroyer. I gotta take him out...."
He went to full throttle, switched to torpedoes, and lined up on him to get a target lock. His shields took several hits from behind, held up, he got the lock-on tone, and fired. The torpedo sped off, it's target hopping up to avoid the shot, unaware that it shifted it's course to correct. The fleeing TIE was vaporized as the torpedo's warhead went off.
"These guys are mad now!", noted Davro, as his pursuers sped up, harrying his attempts to escape. "Aha!", he exclaimed, as he quickly shifted his shields to the rear, applied full braking thrust, and switched to blasters. The rocketing TIE's shot past him, and he wildly sprayed shots after them, tearing the wing panel from one and sending it careening into a large rock. An asteroid struck him a glancing blow, sending him spinning. KC fired the stabilizers to stop the roll and give him a chance to regain his senses.
When he had cleared the dizziness, he saw he was face to face with the last TIE, hovering mere meters away from his left side. The TIE's pilot looked him and the N-1 over, nodded his head, and threw him a quick salute. Davro returned the gesture, looking over the TIE and it's pilot, then muttered "KC, switch to torpedoes." He then returned the Imperial's salute, at which the TIE moved ahead to gain distance. Davro
held his position, swiveled the fighter slightly, and promptly blasted a torpedo into the TIE's back before it could turn and honorably duel with him.
"Sorry, but I had others to protect, and couldn't chance losing that gamble....", he spoke, voice tinged with sadness.
He turned the fighter, and headed back to the safety of The Rock.
Once they heard the Imperial pilots voice over the hanger bays loud speaker Kayylla and Jace knew they could not stay at The Rock much longer. Wishing they had visual to see what was going on she waited nervously for Davro to return.
Seeing the N-1 come through the force field of the bay she let out a sigh of relief. Once the fighter landed and Davro vaulted out of the cockpit Kayylla ran to him and through her arms around him in a hug.
"You're alright." She said after letting him go.
Davro only smiled back at her trying to hide the shock of the hug on his face. The smile faded quickly though and turned to confusion once Kayylla slugged him in the arm.
"What were you trying to do out there, get yourself killed?" she said anger flashing in her eyes.
Before Davro could answer her question Jace came up to them with smirk on his face. He could only guess he saw Kayylla hit him.
"I hate to break up the 'happy' reunion but I suggest it is time we leave this place." Jace said stopping at Kayylla's right side. "Once the Star Destroyer notices its TIE's aren't coming back they'll come looking for them, and will find the debris of the TIE's out there."
"Jace is right." Kayylla spoke before Davro could protest. "I believe the Empire is after me. I knew they would open those crates sooner or later. You can't gyp the Empire and get away with it. I'm sorry I got you both into this mess. I should go before they come back." Kayylla turned to leave but was stopped when a hand touched her shoulder.
Davro held Kayylla's shoulder with a firm, reassuring grip, even as his own throbbed with a dull ache from being hit.
"I'm not about to let someone leave in worse trouble than they were in, especially when part of it is my fault. If they would have blown me apart out there, you two wouldn't have to bolt out of here. Like it or not, we're all in this together. My suggestion; we go down to the supply section and gather what we need in the lines of weapons, supplies, parts, medical gear, and any extra munitions you want. There are a pair of Aratech military speeder bikes down there, if you need them. I'll gather my tools, KC, and some personal effects. Don't worry about space, I'll sleep in the cargo hold, if I have to. I can attach some drop tanks to your ship to increase it's range, if you like. Hopefully, the Imperials will detect a vessel entering hyperspace and give up the search for anything else here."
Leading them down into the depths of The Rock, Davro entered the main storage area. Crates of spare parts, ration bars, medical supplies, and blasters greeted them, followed by a small motorpool area with two speeder bikes that had been assembled from crated parts, and a racing swoop built from an odd mix of speeder and starfighter parts.
"The armory is over in the corner. There is a cargo droid that will load whatever you need...", he trailed off, running his hand over the controls of the swoop. He shook his head for a moment, then pulled his commlink from his belt. "Units 3 and 7, vehicle bay, load these two speeder bikes onto the "Minimizer".". He began walking to the armory, ticking off numbers on his fingers. "KC, go get the cargo sled and meet us here.". He cycled the blast doors to the armory open and stepped in, then began selecting boxes from the racks; two cases of thermal detonators, a case of sequencer charges, 6 blaster pistols, 6 blaster rifles, spare power-clips, and three EVA suits. He next loaded up first aid supplies and rations. He stopped and mentally double-checked his list.
Kayylla and Jace grabbed the boxes Davro had placed aside for their evacuation.
"Are you sure you'll have enough room for all of this?" Jace voiced his concern after looking over the amount that would have to be loaded aboard the 'Minimizer'
"My ship does have secret compartments you know. How else could I have gotten my last shipment aboard in the first place. Besides if the boxes don't fit we can always take the contents our and store them easier in smaller places. I can always buy a new ship at some shipyard on our way. Now lets hurry." Kayylla said in a quavering voice. She picked up a box of rations, before she was able to place it on the cargo sled she spilled the contents across the floor.
"Are you all right?" Jace asked kneeling by her side. He noticed her hands were shacking uncontrollably. "Let me finish doing this, you go and get your belongings from your room." Pulling her to her feet Jace lead her out of the storage area.
Jace walked over to Davro's side as he was taking inventory of the weapons they would take with them. Davro acknowledge his presence with a raise of his eyebrows.
"Look, I know we don't get along much but we both have made some sort of agreement with ourselves to protect her in any way we can. I don't know why the Empire is after her, it could be the gypping of merchandise but they wouldn't go this far. The Empire also has her scared more then anything. She's afraid of them to find out something about there. At least that's my guess. I guess what I'm trying to get to is, can we put aside our differences towards each other and help her get through this?" Jace asked with what sounded like real sincerity.
Davro stared at Jace a moment, then hung his head. He snapped his head back up, looking Jace squarely in the eyes.
"Okay, MAJOR. Lets get some things straight, you already have two marks against you in my book; you were an Imperial officer, and second, you turned traitor and ran from your own side. I'll completely trust you when you saved my back in some way. Until then, I'll keep the general peace with you. But mark my words, if you make one wrong move or turn on me or her, and I'll burn a hole through you with your own blaster. Now, it's only fair that I level the playing field with you. This goes no further than you! I left Corellia when I was a wet-behind-the-ears kid when I signed on with the first starship that would take me. It happened to be a pirate vessel looking for new crew members. For years, we raided the shipping lanes, hitting only food and medicine shipments, and dropping our cargo at backwater planets by running blockades and picket vessels, you know, those things that make life interesting in the Imperial Navy. Our captain did this to help the sick and starving on dozens of worlds, places the Empire wasn't concerned about helping because they weren't tactically important or rich. We never made any profit above what it took keep the ship running and pay the crew. After the captain retired, he sold the ship and paid the crew with equal shares, I used mine to buy my freighter and started my own shipping career. I took jobs from whoever needed my services, Imperial, Rebel, whoever. Then the Empire decided that I was a suspicious vessel. I was boarded, beaten up, my cargo confiscated, and told to leave the system or be arrested and have my ship taken away. My cargo was foodstuffs and important medical supplies to fight off an outbreak of disease on the surface. Hundreds died because my ship wasn't allowed to make it's run. I swore to never let the Empire stop me ever again. I armed my ship, and began running guns and explosives to make money for outfitting for war."
"The captain I served under treated us like we were the lowest form of life in the universe, he led us from the front, and we admired him for it. He taught us that you stick to a cause no matter what. Well, I've made Kayylla's safety a sort of a personal cause. Now, if you think you can live with yourself for dealing with a rouge, a scoundrel, a pirate, a mercenary, a rebel, whatever else you might think of me, then I suggest we get going.", he finished, thrusting his hand in front of Jace, who cautiously shook it, almost expecting Davro to try and pull his arm off.
They separated, and went back to loading the cargo sled, eyeing each other with a mixture of doubt and suspicion.
Kayylla finished packing her belongings into her small pack. She had been able to pull herself together by the time she had reached her borrowed room. Making sure she left nothing behind Kayylla pressed the door release and stepped out into the corridor.
She walked quickly to the docking bay and reached it at the same time as Davro and Jace. They had finished loading the sled and Davro was guiding it to the 'Minimizers' ramp. She noticed the stern looks on both men's faces, she knew they had had an argument of some kind. 'They'll have to work it out themselves, they are both adults.' Kayylla thought to herself.
Walking to her ship Kayylla threw her pack onto her back and headed into the ship. Inside the hold are she started opening her hidden compartments making sure they had enough room inside. Once all the compartments were opened they started loading the supplies into every available space. It was difficult to move around the speeder bikes but they managed.
Once all the supplies, rations and med. kits were loaded they all went back out into the bay to make sure they had everything. They double checked every room they had been in to make sure they had left nothing behind.
They were now ready to leave. Kayylla and Jace stood back as Davro said his good byes to KC and his crew. She wished he could take his droid but she knew he would be better off her on 'The Rock.'
All three boarded the 'Minimizer' and strapped themselves into their seats. Kayylla in the pilots chair, Davro next to her in the copilots and Jace in the Navigation chair. She noticed the hard looks Davro shot at Jace through out the flight into open space. 'This is going to be a long trip.' She thought.
"We are heading towards Kuat at the moment." Kayylla said once they reached hyperspace. "I want to get a bigger ship that also has bunks. If we are going to be together for sometime we are going to need some place else to sleep then the holds floor."
Both men only nodded at her suggestion. "If you two don't mind I'm going back to try and get a few winks in before we drop out for a new course correction." Kayylla said as she stretched getting out of the pilots chair. "I also don't want you two killing each other while I'm gone." She said green eyes blazing then left the cockpit.
Clearing a space for her, Kayylla laid down and was soon fast asleep. Her dreams were filled with images of her home world Lasthunia. She stood on the green hills of grass, watching the animals graze, and seeing the small cities dotting the horizon. It was a peaceful planet, she wished she could be there now.
The plains started getting darker and darker, then out of the sky red bursts of laser shot through the sky. Looking up a scream caught in her throat, there above her sat three star destroyers. Their triangle shaped forms gliding across the blue cloudless sky. Each one opened fire on the hills around her. The cities were disintegrated by the turbo lasers shots and women with blue and green eyes like hers running trying to hide. The shuttles came down soon after, loaded with stormtroopers. Each one taking aim at the women as they ran by. Kayylla was finally able to find her voice she screamed in terror knowing no one would come.
She had woken herself with her screams, she was now sitting up drenched in sweat, her auburn hair plastered to her face and her blankets were in disarray around her. She stopped screaming long enough to hear booted feet coming towards her.
"I hope you don't mind Corellian food, mom's recipes are about all I have here, the autochef has been on the blink for a couple years and I just haven't got around to replacing it.", Davro said, blowing on a spoonful of hot stew to cool it. "I heard you mention the N-1 earlier. Interesting story there, it was going to be an item for barter. There was a fellow and Dantooine that I met who specialized in old starcraft parts. He said he could get hold of a replacement engine for one of the old Republic corvettes, like I've got in the dry-dock. Problem is, he wants a ton of cash for one engine, and I don't have anything he really wants. All the stuff I can gather from here is too modern and, technically, could be mark him as a Rebel supporter. However, he lacked a very rare craft that he really wanted. A Naboo N-1, in operational condition. So, I made him a counter-offer; I get him an N-1, he delivers ALL the parts I need to finish the corvette. He had to think that one over, but he agreed in the end. So, I managed to find a wreckage of an N-1 back on Naboo, in about 100 meters of water. It took quite a bit of negotiating with the Gungans, but I got their help raising it, disassembling it, and transporting it here. Once here, I reassembled the airframe and went through the systems, one-by-one, testing, troubleshooting, replacing and machining parts, and cleaning dirt out of everything. All that's left is reworking the body plates, replacing the cockpit canopy, weapons calibration, and test flying it. KC will be riding in the droid-socket, to monitor the systems and make adjustments in mid-flight. My big problem; the "Stormrider's' cargo hold is too small to fit a fully assembled N-1 into, and the N-1 isn't hyperspace-capable. They were fast sublight fighters, but they were local defense craft, no need to go to any other systems."
He takes a couple more bites of stew, then continues. "The torpedo launcher was too badly damaged to repair, so I modified an Arakyd Flex-Tube launcher, originally for a Y-wing, and installed it. The original N-1 magazine fed rounds to it okay, minor changes to the fire control programming weren't too hard, and it can now use the new modern torpedoes that are being built. The droids here have been invaluable in their service doing this project. The hull plates should take a couple of hours, the canopy is in my freighter's cargo bay, I'll calibrate the weapons just before the test flight, test it, and give it it's original yellow-and-silver paintjob."
He pushed his empty bowl onto a tray KC had brought in to collect the dishes with. "Thanks, KC. Well, I usually sleep in the pilots' ready bunks, but I think the officer's quarters would be more suitable for such esteemed guests. KC, get them anything they need, I'll go prep the rooms for them." Davro trotted off down the passage at the opposite end of the room, leaving them with patiently waiting astromech droid.
Kayylla and Jace sat at the table glancing occasionally at each other through mouthfuls of stew. "How long were you with the Empire?" Kayylla asked breaking the silence and giving KC her empty bowl.
"Hmm. Well, I went into the service when I was seventeen. I lied about my age, I thought it was what I wanted in life. I excelled in many courses but they saw me take charge of situations more then normal first years. They soon started grooming me to be an aid for many top ranking Imperials. I was General Derricotes aid for almost two years when I received the assignment to contact you. So my service was around seven years, I can't remember most of my time there. Most of the memories gel together, there really wasn't a lot of change from information piled waist high." Jace said while giving the droid his bowl and spoon. "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? I mean your knowledge of the Starfighter would make you as old as some of the oldest Senators. I don't think that knowledge is readily available to anyone. Then there is your energy and physical features," he blushed at the mention of her looks, "make you younger. You don't have to answer if you don't want to." Jace asked while wiping the corners of his mouth.
"I guess it would only seem fair that you know my age. To humans I am around 20 years. In years of the Lasth... oh never mind, forget I said that." Kayylla said a little nervously. She thought he didn't catch the last part but the puzzled look on his face told her differently.
Racking her brain trying to find another topic when she saw Davro giving her a puzzled look as well. Had he heard what she had almost spoken?
"Oh, you're back." Kayylla said rising gracefully out of her chair. "Are the rooms ready?"
"Yes, follow me." Davro said dropping the puzzled look and turning towards the doors head had come through moments ago. "Your rooms are this way."
No one spoke as Davro lead them through the corridors of 'the Rock'
"Jace this will be your room." Davro said as he waved his hand over a sensor and stepping aside.
"Thank you Davro for your kind hospitality. I can hope I will repay you one day." Jace said with out a hint of hardness or sarcasm in his voice as he entered his quarters.
Once Jace's door closed Davro lead Kayylla a few meters down the corridor to a room on the opposite side of Jace. Waving his hand over a similar sensor Kayylla's door opened silently.
Turning to face him she said. "Thank you again Davro. Not only for the hospitality but for the help you have given me." Before she entered her room she gave Davro a quick kiss on the cheek. She didn't wait to see his reaction, instead she slipped through the doorway and into the room beyond.
Davro stood staring at the closed door, mouth open, frozen to the spot, not quite knowing what to make of the unexpected kiss. He closed his mouth, turned on his heel, and started toward the hangar. After going ten feet, he turned and went back, reached up to knock on her door, stopped himself, and proceeded back toward the hangar, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Solo was right, a pretty face can get to the best spacer. This must be what he was going through with that princess he said he was in tight with....", he muttered as he hurried his pace. Reaching the hangar, he went over to the N-1, absently running his hand along leading edge of the body. KC scooted across the bay and chirped quizzically to Davro. "Hey, pal. Go ahead and recharge for the night, I'm going to work on this a little, then turn in. See you in about eight hours." KC rolled off to the maintenance area to recharge as Davro broke out his welding gear and began secure the body plates to the N-1's frame. 'Why am I so drawn to her...', he thought to himself. 'There is something about her....I don't even know what race she is, and I've been to lots of different places.'
Before he realized it, he was placing the last body plate on and smoothing out the welds. He pulled his goggles off, dropped his welder, and walked back to get a shower before going to bed. He finished his shower quickly, went to his usual bunk, and tossed fitfully, his dreams haunted by visions of lustrous green eyes that he couldn't reach.
He awoke, set out some fruit and a pitcher of hot drink, poured a cup, and went directly to the hangar. "Morning, KC!", he called out. "Go see if our guests are awake, I'll be working on the N-1."
The little droid rolled off as directed, as he pulled the cockpit canopy from the "Stormrider" and began installing it. Within minutes, the canopy was working on it's servomotors, and he had climbed into the cockpit. "Okay, main generator on, repulsorlift system active, bringing weapons on-line....good. Activating targeting computer, begin calibration sequence."
He eased back in the fighter's seat, relaxing as the computer ran it's tests and aligned the focusing mechanisms of the blaster cannons. He was starting to doze off when KC entered the hangar again.
At the first glance of his room Jace was able to identify it as once being an Imperial base. The decor of the room had changed but not the layout. It was a simple room, big but simple in furnishings. There was a large bed in-between the walls as you entered, the refresher and closet were on the right side, there was also a desk off in the left corner. It was almost like his quarters back on Coruscant. That thought brought about others, mostly of why the Empire attacked them days earlier.
While undressing Jace thought of possible answers to his question. Though the only one believable enough would have to be that the Empire wanted Kayylla or him dead. He couldn't think why though. Had Derricote found out about his plans of leaving. No, he couldn't have. He told no one and never made a record of it. So if the Empire was not after him then they wanted Kayylla. But why would they want her dead? In all his time with Derricote he had never come across any files about her or her strange race. What was it Derricote had called her before? Thrawn?! Maybe, he hated to admit it, Davro might know.
All of these questions though would have to wait until morning. Jace crawled into bed and fell fast a sleep once his head hit the pillow.
Meanwhile Kayylla sat on the large bed of her own room. She too was thinking, though not about the Empire. Her thoughts were on the feelings that were wrestling inside of her. She doubted she would ever understand them or human males for that mater. She wasn't blind, she did notice the way Davro and Jace looked at her. She too found herself staring at them from time to time. Jace with his big physic was probably ever human females dream. His smile and the way he allowed his dimples to show, and those gray eyes, cool yet carrying a warmth within.
Davro on the other hand was different. He cared enough for a stranger to save them and their ship from a terrible fate. He was also ready and willing to help those in need. There was also that roguish nature about him that she seemed to enjoy.
She did not know what these feelings were or how to stop them. The feelings had started once they were in hyperspace after leaving Coruscant behind. She also didn't know why she had kissed them, it seemed and felt right at the moment. Lost in though she had not noticed how late it was getting. While she undressed Kayylla noticed the refresher had a shower in it. Hoping a nice hot shower would help clear her mind, she also hoped Davro did not mind. Kayylla enjoyed the shower, it was one of the nicest she had taken since her rebirth four standard months earlier.
Once she finished her shower she chose what she would wear the next day. Earlier she allowed KC to bring her few belongings to her room. She chose a pair of black tight fit pants, a white blouse and her knee high boots. Once that was completed she was able to retire for the day.
Dispite the hot shower Kayylla had had a fitful sleep. She had awaked many times throughout the night with strange dreams, they were hard to remember but they left her feeling uneasy. She was already away when KC came the next morning to bring her to breakfast. She followed the little droid into the hanger, she knew instantly what Davro had done last night.
She was amazed that he had finished the N-1 already, all it needed now was the paint. Davro noticed her the moment she entered the bay area. The sleep deprived eyes and the hint of black around them told Kayylla he had not sleep well. She hoped the signs of her own sleepless night did not show on her face.
He had hopped down out of the cockpit and headed towards her smiling. She noticed a slight cock to the smile almost out of pride in his work.
"Morning." she called when he reached her side. "I can see you were busy last night. I hope you slept well." She said as he lead her to the dining area.
"Oh, you know, catching a few winks when you can. I Jace not joining us this morning?" Davro asked with a hint of hope to his voice.
"Yes he will, he wanted to shave first and then we will meet us." Kayylla said taking the seat Davro offered her. "How is the N-1 coming along? It looks great. Will you be test flying it soon?" Kayylla asked genuinely interested in his answer.
"I think she's ready to go. Just needs a shake-down flight to test all the systems together and do some target firings of the weapons in space.", he said, just before his stomach gave a long growl. "Let me grab a piece of fruit and I'll be right back..."
He returned a moment later, Jace following at a slightly slower pace. Davro wolfed down the last bite and jumped into the cockpit as KC rolled under the fighter to be pulled up into the droid socket. "You in, KC? Okay, power up the main generator, bring up the BPU, initiate engine startup...."
The cockpit's lights flared to life as the engines began lightly whistling, then increasing to a high-pitched whine.
"Go to full diagnostic mode, KC. Let me know if anything looks bad.", he yelled over the engines, just before he cycled the cockpit closed and began lifting the fighter via the repulsorlift drives. "Let's take her out, slow and easy...". The sleek hull of the N-1 began inching forward as he applied more and more throttle to the main engines. He broke through the force field and dropped out of sight from Kayylla and Jace.
"Test, 1,2,3.....", came over the hangar's loudspeakers. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes, we read you..", replied Jace, sounding totally non-plussed.
The fighter dove through the cavern and burst out into the asteroid field, narrowly missing a large rock.
"Alright, testing pitch and roll thrusters,", he chimed as he rose and dove around debris. "Bringing her to a stop, preparing to test weapon systems." He lined up his sights on a small rock some distance away, and triggered a burst of blaster fire, blowing the rock apart. "Blasters working. Arming torpedo system, locking on, and firing!" The torpedo flew true, striking it's target and throwing fragments in all directions.
Satisfied with his testing, he turned the fighter to head back when a laser shot hit a rock just to his right. "Attention unidentified starfighter. This is Lt. Jaxon Skreed of the 315th TIE Interceptor Squadron based on the ISD 'Vegeance'. You are in a restricted sector and in possession of an armed starfighter. Power down your weapons, and follow us to our star destroyer, or you will be eliminated as an enemy of the Empire. Do you copy?"
"Oh, hell....KC, redirect weapons power to the shields! We gotta get outa here! I hope our friends are getting all this.....I'm switching all power to rear shields!"
The N-1's shields flickered to life as Davro turned-tail and shot off through the asteroids as quickly as he dared. The TIE's wasted no time in pursuing and firing on him. He began making his way to the edge of the asteroids, rolling and jinking more and more easily as he got used to fighter's handling.
"They're faster and have better guns than me, but are they as agile?", He said, whipping the fighter into a breakneck turn to the left as he balanced the shields. "I have to keep them away from home! If I can wipe them out and keep them from reporting back to their base, Kayylla and Jace stand a better chance of getting out of here undetected.....What am I saying?! Okay, Han, what would you do? Hell, you'd turn give and them a fight to remember you by. KC, power up the weapons. If we buy it, we'll go down with our guns blazing." He pulled up and over, and blasted back through the group of four TIE's that were following him. Cutting back to the right, he lined up on one, obviously less experienced than the others, and blasted him to shreds. Davro rolled left and dove behind a large rock with two TIE's back on his tail, the third heading back the way they had approached.
"Damn, they sent the other inexperienced pilot back to warn the star destroyer. I gotta take him out...."
He went to full throttle, switched to torpedoes, and lined up on him to get a target lock. His shields took several hits from behind, held up, he got the lock-on tone, and fired. The torpedo sped off, it's target hopping up to avoid the shot, unaware that it shifted it's course to correct. The fleeing TIE was vaporized as the torpedo's warhead went off.
"These guys are mad now!", noted Davro, as his pursuers sped up, harrying his attempts to escape. "Aha!", he exclaimed, as he quickly shifted his shields to the rear, applied full braking thrust, and switched to blasters. The rocketing TIE's shot past him, and he wildly sprayed shots after them, tearing the wing panel from one and sending it careening into a large rock. An asteroid struck him a glancing blow, sending him spinning. KC fired the stabilizers to stop the roll and give him a chance to regain his senses.
When he had cleared the dizziness, he saw he was face to face with the last TIE, hovering mere meters away from his left side. The TIE's pilot looked him and the N-1 over, nodded his head, and threw him a quick salute. Davro returned the gesture, looking over the TIE and it's pilot, then muttered "KC, switch to torpedoes." He then returned the Imperial's salute, at which the TIE moved ahead to gain distance. Davro
held his position, swiveled the fighter slightly, and promptly blasted a torpedo into the TIE's back before it could turn and honorably duel with him.
"Sorry, but I had others to protect, and couldn't chance losing that gamble....", he spoke, voice tinged with sadness.
He turned the fighter, and headed back to the safety of The Rock.
Once they heard the Imperial pilots voice over the hanger bays loud speaker Kayylla and Jace knew they could not stay at The Rock much longer. Wishing they had visual to see what was going on she waited nervously for Davro to return.
Seeing the N-1 come through the force field of the bay she let out a sigh of relief. Once the fighter landed and Davro vaulted out of the cockpit Kayylla ran to him and through her arms around him in a hug.
"You're alright." She said after letting him go.
Davro only smiled back at her trying to hide the shock of the hug on his face. The smile faded quickly though and turned to confusion once Kayylla slugged him in the arm.
"What were you trying to do out there, get yourself killed?" she said anger flashing in her eyes.
Before Davro could answer her question Jace came up to them with smirk on his face. He could only guess he saw Kayylla hit him.
"I hate to break up the 'happy' reunion but I suggest it is time we leave this place." Jace said stopping at Kayylla's right side. "Once the Star Destroyer notices its TIE's aren't coming back they'll come looking for them, and will find the debris of the TIE's out there."
"Jace is right." Kayylla spoke before Davro could protest. "I believe the Empire is after me. I knew they would open those crates sooner or later. You can't gyp the Empire and get away with it. I'm sorry I got you both into this mess. I should go before they come back." Kayylla turned to leave but was stopped when a hand touched her shoulder.
Davro held Kayylla's shoulder with a firm, reassuring grip, even as his own throbbed with a dull ache from being hit.
"I'm not about to let someone leave in worse trouble than they were in, especially when part of it is my fault. If they would have blown me apart out there, you two wouldn't have to bolt out of here. Like it or not, we're all in this together. My suggestion; we go down to the supply section and gather what we need in the lines of weapons, supplies, parts, medical gear, and any extra munitions you want. There are a pair of Aratech military speeder bikes down there, if you need them. I'll gather my tools, KC, and some personal effects. Don't worry about space, I'll sleep in the cargo hold, if I have to. I can attach some drop tanks to your ship to increase it's range, if you like. Hopefully, the Imperials will detect a vessel entering hyperspace and give up the search for anything else here."
Leading them down into the depths of The Rock, Davro entered the main storage area. Crates of spare parts, ration bars, medical supplies, and blasters greeted them, followed by a small motorpool area with two speeder bikes that had been assembled from crated parts, and a racing swoop built from an odd mix of speeder and starfighter parts.
"The armory is over in the corner. There is a cargo droid that will load whatever you need...", he trailed off, running his hand over the controls of the swoop. He shook his head for a moment, then pulled his commlink from his belt. "Units 3 and 7, vehicle bay, load these two speeder bikes onto the "Minimizer".". He began walking to the armory, ticking off numbers on his fingers. "KC, go get the cargo sled and meet us here.". He cycled the blast doors to the armory open and stepped in, then began selecting boxes from the racks; two cases of thermal detonators, a case of sequencer charges, 6 blaster pistols, 6 blaster rifles, spare power-clips, and three EVA suits. He next loaded up first aid supplies and rations. He stopped and mentally double-checked his list.
Kayylla and Jace grabbed the boxes Davro had placed aside for their evacuation.
"Are you sure you'll have enough room for all of this?" Jace voiced his concern after looking over the amount that would have to be loaded aboard the 'Minimizer'
"My ship does have secret compartments you know. How else could I have gotten my last shipment aboard in the first place. Besides if the boxes don't fit we can always take the contents our and store them easier in smaller places. I can always buy a new ship at some shipyard on our way. Now lets hurry." Kayylla said in a quavering voice. She picked up a box of rations, before she was able to place it on the cargo sled she spilled the contents across the floor.
"Are you all right?" Jace asked kneeling by her side. He noticed her hands were shacking uncontrollably. "Let me finish doing this, you go and get your belongings from your room." Pulling her to her feet Jace lead her out of the storage area.
Jace walked over to Davro's side as he was taking inventory of the weapons they would take with them. Davro acknowledge his presence with a raise of his eyebrows.
"Look, I know we don't get along much but we both have made some sort of agreement with ourselves to protect her in any way we can. I don't know why the Empire is after her, it could be the gypping of merchandise but they wouldn't go this far. The Empire also has her scared more then anything. She's afraid of them to find out something about there. At least that's my guess. I guess what I'm trying to get to is, can we put aside our differences towards each other and help her get through this?" Jace asked with what sounded like real sincerity.
Davro stared at Jace a moment, then hung his head. He snapped his head back up, looking Jace squarely in the eyes.
"Okay, MAJOR. Lets get some things straight, you already have two marks against you in my book; you were an Imperial officer, and second, you turned traitor and ran from your own side. I'll completely trust you when you saved my back in some way. Until then, I'll keep the general peace with you. But mark my words, if you make one wrong move or turn on me or her, and I'll burn a hole through you with your own blaster. Now, it's only fair that I level the playing field with you. This goes no further than you! I left Corellia when I was a wet-behind-the-ears kid when I signed on with the first starship that would take me. It happened to be a pirate vessel looking for new crew members. For years, we raided the shipping lanes, hitting only food and medicine shipments, and dropping our cargo at backwater planets by running blockades and picket vessels, you know, those things that make life interesting in the Imperial Navy. Our captain did this to help the sick and starving on dozens of worlds, places the Empire wasn't concerned about helping because they weren't tactically important or rich. We never made any profit above what it took keep the ship running and pay the crew. After the captain retired, he sold the ship and paid the crew with equal shares, I used mine to buy my freighter and started my own shipping career. I took jobs from whoever needed my services, Imperial, Rebel, whoever. Then the Empire decided that I was a suspicious vessel. I was boarded, beaten up, my cargo confiscated, and told to leave the system or be arrested and have my ship taken away. My cargo was foodstuffs and important medical supplies to fight off an outbreak of disease on the surface. Hundreds died because my ship wasn't allowed to make it's run. I swore to never let the Empire stop me ever again. I armed my ship, and began running guns and explosives to make money for outfitting for war."
"The captain I served under treated us like we were the lowest form of life in the universe, he led us from the front, and we admired him for it. He taught us that you stick to a cause no matter what. Well, I've made Kayylla's safety a sort of a personal cause. Now, if you think you can live with yourself for dealing with a rouge, a scoundrel, a pirate, a mercenary, a rebel, whatever else you might think of me, then I suggest we get going.", he finished, thrusting his hand in front of Jace, who cautiously shook it, almost expecting Davro to try and pull his arm off.
They separated, and went back to loading the cargo sled, eyeing each other with a mixture of doubt and suspicion.
Kayylla finished packing her belongings into her small pack. She had been able to pull herself together by the time she had reached her borrowed room. Making sure she left nothing behind Kayylla pressed the door release and stepped out into the corridor.
She walked quickly to the docking bay and reached it at the same time as Davro and Jace. They had finished loading the sled and Davro was guiding it to the 'Minimizers' ramp. She noticed the stern looks on both men's faces, she knew they had had an argument of some kind. 'They'll have to work it out themselves, they are both adults.' Kayylla thought to herself.
Walking to her ship Kayylla threw her pack onto her back and headed into the ship. Inside the hold are she started opening her hidden compartments making sure they had enough room inside. Once all the compartments were opened they started loading the supplies into every available space. It was difficult to move around the speeder bikes but they managed.
Once all the supplies, rations and med. kits were loaded they all went back out into the bay to make sure they had everything. They double checked every room they had been in to make sure they had left nothing behind.
They were now ready to leave. Kayylla and Jace stood back as Davro said his good byes to KC and his crew. She wished he could take his droid but she knew he would be better off her on 'The Rock.'
All three boarded the 'Minimizer' and strapped themselves into their seats. Kayylla in the pilots chair, Davro next to her in the copilots and Jace in the Navigation chair. She noticed the hard looks Davro shot at Jace through out the flight into open space. 'This is going to be a long trip.' She thought.
"We are heading towards Kuat at the moment." Kayylla said once they reached hyperspace. "I want to get a bigger ship that also has bunks. If we are going to be together for sometime we are going to need some place else to sleep then the holds floor."
Both men only nodded at her suggestion. "If you two don't mind I'm going back to try and get a few winks in before we drop out for a new course correction." Kayylla said as she stretched getting out of the pilots chair. "I also don't want you two killing each other while I'm gone." She said green eyes blazing then left the cockpit.
Clearing a space for her, Kayylla laid down and was soon fast asleep. Her dreams were filled with images of her home world Lasthunia. She stood on the green hills of grass, watching the animals graze, and seeing the small cities dotting the horizon. It was a peaceful planet, she wished she could be there now.
The plains started getting darker and darker, then out of the sky red bursts of laser shot through the sky. Looking up a scream caught in her throat, there above her sat three star destroyers. Their triangle shaped forms gliding across the blue cloudless sky. Each one opened fire on the hills around her. The cities were disintegrated by the turbo lasers shots and women with blue and green eyes like hers running trying to hide. The shuttles came down soon after, loaded with stormtroopers. Each one taking aim at the women as they ran by. Kayylla was finally able to find her voice she screamed in terror knowing no one would come.
She had woken herself with her screams, she was now sitting up drenched in sweat, her auburn hair plastered to her face and her blankets were in disarray around her. She stopped screaming long enough to hear booted feet coming towards her.