* * *


Wesley tip-toed to the boxes stacked in the corner. Someone had moved them around to conceal the 'forbidden' crate that Espen protected. Wesley set a crate aside, searching for the one he was not supposed to open.

Ten minutes passed, and he was still shifting the merchandise around. "Dammit, where is it?" he muttered, looking around him at the scattered wooden cubes, hands on hips.

Wesley groaned. The crate he sought sat in the corner with a duffle bag. He hopped over the re-arranged crates, then knelt in front of the box of unknown contents. Stretching his arms in anticipation, he did not notice the doors hiss open behind him. Wesley set to deciphering a mode of entry. Although it looked wooden, it turned out to be metal. He discovered that there was a holographic projector in the lid. Turning it off revealed a keypad.

"Password, password, what's the password?" he wondered aloud.

"Want me to try?" Deanna broke in, making her brother jump.

"Don't do that!" he yelled at her.

"What are you doing, Wes? Dad said - "

"I wanna know what Espen's hiding. I don't like that guy, Bushroot."

"I don't like him either, Scruffy, but we have to deal. Dad knows what he's doing." she knelt beside him, and scanned the keypad for fingerprints. "Four, three, eight, six, two," she read off the numbers.

"But in what order?" Deanna shrugged at him. "Well, I guess it's guess and check, then," he sighed.

"You touch that, and you'll be floating among the stars, my friends," Espen replied coolly from the hangar doorway.

The twins got to their feet and spun around. "We're not friends, Espen," Wesley shot back.

"Aw, I'm hurt," he sneered, whipping out his blaster. "Step away from the box."

"Not until you tell us what's in it."

"Scruffy - " Deanna touched his arm uncertainly.

"I will kill your sister without a second thought, Boy."

"Then you'll be the one floating among the stars."

"Brave words coming from someone on the receiving end of a blaster."

They glared at each other, neither one flinching.

"Please, you two, I don't like being the one in the middle," Deanna said quietly.

"Yeah, get out of here," Espen stepped aside, not breaking the eye contact.

She tugged on her brother's sleeve, then exited the cargo bay. As Wesley passed him, Espen let off a shot that barely missed his head. Wesley spun on his heel, and Deanna grabbed his arm to hold him back.

"Sorry," Espen held up his robotic left hand. "It's evil."

"Come on, Wes," Deanna pulled him away.

"My father will hear about this," he called down the hall.

"Indeed he shall," Espen nodded.

Wesley turned around, no longer wanting to face the despised man. "Let's blow him out the airlock," he grumbled.

"I don't think that's a good plan," Deanna shook her head. "How about you just avoid him as best you can for the next couple of days? The Light's a decent enough sized ship."

"I like my idea better."

"Yeah, me too," she shrugged. "But what can ya do?" Wesley grinned deviously. "Other than that," she added.

Wesley laughed.


Espen looked down the hall to make sure no one was coming. Seeing nothing, he carried the duffle bag over his shoulder and the box to his quarters, where Wesley would not have such easy access to it.

"Need a hand, Espen?" Giles inquired.

"Where did you come from?" he did not stop, or slow down for the Captain.

"I just saw my son."

"I hope so."

"He was not pleased with you."

"I expect not."

"Wanna tell me what happened?"

"No."

"Not even to defend yourself?"

"I told him to stay away from my things."

Giles was outraged by this man's blatant uncaring for anyone other than himself. "You do not come aboard my ship and threaten my children over a box of merchandise!"

"Be careful, Giles," Espen set the box down, then entered the code to grant him entry to the quarters he had been assigned. "My employer would do more than threaten."

The Captain watched the man disappear into the room. He shook his head, wondering why he agreed to transport this man in the first place. "Credits, Gerard. You only ever agree to do anything for credits," he muttered, heading back the way he had come.

Wesley stood up, seeing his father approaching. "Well? What did - "

"Wes, listen to me very carefully," Giles clamped his hands down on his son's shoulders. "I don't care how much you despise Espen. You stay away from him. You stay away from his stuff. Get it?"

"Yeah," Wesley nodded slowly.

"Good. Now go to bed."

"But Dad - "

"I mean it, Wesley. Espen is a huge pain in the ass, and I know that, but I - we have to complete this mission. On time. With no setbacks."

"He threatened Bushroot," he was beginning to feel defeated.

"He gave you a fat lip and a black eye," Giles said.

Wesley met his father's eyes. "I never - "

"I'm not stupid, Wes," the Captain continued down the hall.

Wesley stared after him.


* * *


"Captain Lindsey, we've got issues," Breckin stated, trying to mask the panic in his voice.

Lindsey was not really listening, staring out the window. He had barely moved except to shift position in the eight hours they had been traveling.

"Kane?" Nordat pulled the Captain out if his thoughts. He met her soft gaze. "We're not going to make it to Aria."

"Why not?"

"We're out of fuel," Breckin answered, as the engines cut out. He turned around in his seat. "We're dead."

"No, we're not," Simpson said. "I've sent out a distress signal."

"What?" Breckin's expression was panicked. "What if a bunch of TIEs find us? What then? Brilliant plan, Corrina, brilliant."

"Calm down, Lance. It's coded for Alliance reception only. Unlike some of us, I think before I act," she threw a look at Lindsey, but he did not catch it.

Nordat did. "Hey! We had to get out of there, or we would have been killed. Kane did the right thing."

"Kane? You're on a first-name basis with our Captain now?" Breckin attacked.

"Cut it out, all of you," Lindsey cut in. "First off, we are not dead, Bracklin. I know these stars, this is a well-used shipping route. Thousands of smugglers pass this way every day. Secondly, this is a small, confined place, but we have to cope. The longest we'll have to wait is a few more hours. So just relax."

"This coming from you," Simpson muttered.

Lindsey looked away from her angered expression. "Alright, you three work on getting us rescued. I'm going to go lie down," he went into the sleeping quarters behind the cockpit.

"Why did you have to do that, Simpson?" Nordat asked quietly, after the door had slid shut.

"Do what? Snap him back into reality? I didn't see you volunteering," she sat in the Captain's vacated seat.

"Snap him back? He never left! He's never had to leave his crew behind before, Corrina, he's trying to deal with reality!"

"Oh, please stop yelling," Breckin pleaded. "This doesn't help us."

"What do you suggest, my dear?" Simpson arched her eyebrow.

He blushed, and looked away. "Let's...watch for ships."

"If that's what you want," she shrugged.

"Well, uh..." he remembered Nordat.

Nordat shook her head, then joined Lindsey in the bunk room.

"Well, isn't that interesting," Simpson said.

"It would appear that we are alone. Together."

Simpson caught the underlying intention in his words, and she grinned at him. "What happened to watching for ships?"

Breckin leaned closer. "I think we've got some time before anything shows up, don't you?"


Nordat sat on the mattress across from Lindsey. He was lying on his back, tears leaving trails on his cheeks. She tried to think of something appropriate to say, as she moved over beside him.

"There isn't anything you can say, Clar. But thanks anyway."

"I'm sorry, Kane. I wish - "

"We all wish. It doesn't change anything."

A long silence followed Lindsey's words. Nordat put her hand on his, and he entwined their fingers.


"Hey, look!" Breckin pointed out the approaching ship. "We're saved!"

Simpson looked up at him. "There'll be another one." She pulled him back down to her.

"But...what...if...there...isn't?" he managed between her kisses.

"Oh, Lance, you're such a damn pessimist," she muttered, as he righted himself.


"Dad," Deanna spoke over the comm to her father's room. "I'm picking up an SOS on the Alliance frequency."

"I'll be right there."

"You can see the ship outside. They're dead in space. Should I call them back?"

"I'll do it, hang on. Slow us down, so they know we're going to stay awhile."

"'Kay. Bridge deck out."

Wesley stepped through the doors onto the bridge. "What's up, Bushroot? Any sign of the Ugly Jerk?"

"No. I think he's retired for the night."

"I wish he'd retire for good." Wesley sat down at the communications board. "Are you aware that we are receiving - "

"A distress call? Yeah, I know." Deanna pointed out the window at the small craft gradually drawing nearer. "It's from them. They ran out of fuel trying to escape some Imperials."

"Well how much does that suck."

"Dad's on his way up here to call them back, as it were."

"What affiliation are our stranded guests?"

"Alliance."

"Oh, great. I thought we were staying neutral in this stupid war?" Wesley shook his head.

"We are," Giles replied.

"Helping the Alliance kinda puts us on their side, as far as that Emperor guy's concerned, Dad."

"Well, then I suppose having an Imperial smuggler aboard evens it out."

"Espen's Imperial?" Deanna's mouth hung open.

"From what I can tell, he may as well be."

"That makes so much more sense now," Wesley said.

"I'm going to call them now, so don't talk. I don't want to freak them out with the youth of my crew," Giles grinned at his children.

"Hey, we are a more capable crew than any of those dumb Alliance people," Deanna snapped.

Giles chuckled, "I know, but they don't need to. I like my crew just the way it is, and I don't want to lose you."

"Aw, thanks, Dad," Wesley grinned cheesily at him.

"Yeah, yeah. Shush." Giles tuned the radio to send a reply to the SOS call from the battered ship hanging in space to his right.


"Captain Lindsey, we're receiving a transmission from the ship right next to us," Breckin called over his shoulder.

Lindsey joined him and Simpson in the cockpit. "Let it through."

"No kidding," he muttered.

A man's voice took over from the silence in the ship, "Alliance ship, I am Captain Gerard Giles. My ship, Watcher's Light, is capable of carrying any members of your crew to Coruscant, or any nearby planet. I need to know how many you are, and if anyone is injured. Please respond using this channel."

"Like they were going to use another one," a younger male voice broke in sarcastically.

Giles sighed, "Don't mind my son. He's in another of his moods."

"Put me through, Brecklin," Lindsey stated.

"It's Breckin."

"Sorry, Breckin."

"Talk away."

"Captain Giles, this is Captain Kane Lindsey of the Alliance Interstellar starfighter, Angel. Your assistance is much appreciated, let me assure you," he chuckled.

"Nice to make your acquaintance, Sir."

"And yours. We are four, no injuries."

"Excellent. We will connect with your cargo bay to pull you to Coruscant."

"Actually, we were on our way to Aria. If it's not too much trouble - "

"Oh, no, of course not. I'm sorry, I forgot that that is not a place that would welcome Alliance affiliates."

"Exactly."

"Aria is not out of our way, not really. But we are on a bit of a schedule, so we'll have to hurry."

"No problem. Thank you, Captain Giles."

"Umm..." Breckin tapped on the console nervously. "I found a problem."

"Excuse me, Captain," Lindsey bent over to better see what he was indicating. "What, Brecktin?"

Breckin huffed, but held his tongue. "We didn't run out of fuel. The system's jammed."

"So...?"

"So, it just ignited. We have about three minutes before we are all engulfed in a great ball of fire."

"That's not good," Giles said. "We can bring you aboard. We'll have to bring you aboard."

"That would be absolutely great, Sir," Breckin replied. "Two forty-five left."

The ship shifted slightly, as the other ship docked with theirs.

"Deanna, go meet our guests," Giles said, heard over the radio.

"Everyone to the cargo bay, now," Lindsey ordered.

"Already there," Breckin followed Simpson out of the cockpit, after cutting the communication with the other ship.

Lindsey poked his head into the crew quarters. "Come on, Clar. We have to get off the ship."

She sat up in bed, bewildered. "Already?"

"Yeah," he held out his hand to her. "Right now."

Nordat took his hand and followed him off the ship.


Deanna unlocked the cargo bay doors, then traversed the room to meet the newcomers. She was looking forward to meeting that Brecktin guy. He has a sexy voice.

The first to enter Watcher's Light was a blonde haired woman. She looked around the bay, taking in the crates and boxes stacked all over the place.

Deanna stepped forward, and introduced herself.

"Corrina Simpson," the other replied, a slight edge to her voice. "What is your ship called?"

"Watcher's Light," Deanna answered amicably.

"Really," Simpson ran her fingers along the edge of the nearest crate.

The girl decided she did not like this woman. Something about her put Deanna's back up.

Right behind Simpson was a man, not much older than Deanna, she guessed, with blond tousled hair and blue eyes. She tried not to sound flustered as she offered her hand and introduced herself.

"I'm Deanna Giles. Welcome to the Light."

He shook her hand, "Lance Breckin. Looking forward to my stay."

"I can show you around the ship after." she offered.

"That would be good." he nodded.

"Okay."

"Okay."

Simpson latched onto Breckin's arm. "That would be very kind of you."

Deanna looked away. "Right."

Lindsey and Nordat joined the others on the other ship. Deanna sealed the hatch, then called to the bridge that they could leave.

"Twenty-five, twenty-three..." Breckin counted down the remaining seconds.

"Come with me, I'll take you to the bridge, so you can meet the Captain." Deanna took the lead, scowling at Simpson as she passed her.

"I think someone's jealous," Simpson whispered to Breckin.

He blushed, but said nothing.


"And we are outta here! Thank you, thank you," Wesley was saying as the others entered. He turned to face them. "Please, don't get up."

Lindsey arched his eyebrow at the young man seated at the piloting controls. He noticed that they were already far enough away from their smaller ship not to be affected by the explosion.

"One," Breckin concluded the countdown right on time.

Wesley turned to watch the ball of fire erupt among the stars.

"Good work, Wes," Giles patted his son on the shoulder.

"I know," he grinned. "Told ya I was the better pilot."

"Wow, Scruffy, your head actually fit through the door? I'm amazed," Deanna berated her brother.

"Don't start with me, Bushroot. I just saved our lives. You just navigated the corridors. Now, I ask you, who has bragging rights?"

Giles laughed, "Oh, come off it, you two. I'm surprised your high horses don't buck to throw you off." He offered his hand to Lindsey. "The man behind the voice, hello."

The other Captain shook. "Thank you for your hospitality, Sir."

"Please, call me Gerard."

"Kane,"

"You've already met my daughter, Deanna. My son, Wesley," he gestured at his pilot. "And Espen is asleep."

"Where we hope he will stay for a long time," Wesley put in.

Lindsey introduced his three crewmates, then left with Giles for a tour of the Watcher's Light.

"So, how did you guys come to be stranded like that?" Deanna asked.

"It's a long story," Simpson stated flatly, hoping to kill the subject. She examined one of the control stations beside Wesley.

"We were attacked by Imperial fighters. They destroyed our ship, killed our crew," Breckin explained. "We're all that's left."

"And Lou, wherever the hell she is," Simpson muttered.

"And Park, Jenkens, and Taggart," Nordat added.

"Right. Forgot about them," Breckin nodded.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Deanna apologized.

"Yeah, well, I guess it would have impacted me harder if I actually knew anyone else," he shrugged.

"Did you say Park?" Wesley asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"He helped me to my feet after an evil monster attacked me."

"Oh,"

"You're lucky he didn't run away." Simpson scoffed.

"Well, he wasn't much help, anyway."

"That's our Park alright." she muttered.

Wesley furrowed his eyebrows at her, but dropped the topic.

Breckin asked Deana, "What about you? I mean, big ship like this, and only the three of you runnin' it? Must be hard."

Deanna and Wesley exchanged uncertain glances.

"Captain Dad gave the others some time off," Wesley answered. "For personal time. We're picking them up in a couple of days."

"Oh," Breckin nodded.

"Yeah. So, do you want to see where you will be staying for the next day or two?" Deanna offered.

"Lead the way."

"With pleasure."

"You comin', Cor?" Breckin asked Simpson.

"Umm...sure," she followed the two out into the corridor.


Giles keyed in an access code, and the Hydroponics Garden doors slid open for he and Lindsey. "So, Kane, you said that your ship was called the Angel?"

"Yes," the other answered sadly.

Giles sensed Lindsey's distress. "You captained her for a long time, did you?" Lindsey nodded. "I recognized the name before, but it has only now come back to me where I heard it. I encountered three of your crew the other day on Léonna VI. The one - Park - quite possibly saved my son's life."

Lindsey raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Are you sure it was Park? I mean - that's not like him, sticking his neck out for other people. Not that he's a jerk, or anything, he's just... passive."

"I see. Well, that's how he introduced himself, Mortimer Park. Strange little fellow, anyway."

"Who else was with him?"

Giles thought back to that day on the planet surface. "Jenkens, and...I can't recall the other one."

"Taggart?"

"Maybe,"

Lindsey shook his head. "I'll kill them all if I ever see them again."

"They didn't tell you they left?"

"Well, Taggart told me they were leaving, and not to follow or try to stop them. He didn't say where they were going." There was a pause, and Giles waited for Lindsey to collect his thoughts. "Dammit, why didn't he tell me they were going to Léonna? I would have just taken everyone along."

"I see there are some unresolved issues between the two of you."

"His wife was murdered there, he must have gone to search for the spy." Lindsey shook his head. "I would have gone with them."

Giles patted Lindsey on the shoulder, as he ordered drinks for them from the synthesizer.