Disclaimer: This is pure fanfiction. The characters and locations of the Naruto franchise are the sole property of Shonen Jump and the series's creator, Masashi Kishimoto. The characters and locations of the Star Wars franchise, all its spin-offs, etc are the sole property of Disney and the varied creators. At no time is this fiction an intent to infringe upon neither their rights nor properties.
ABY: After the Battle of Yavin IV
BBY: Before the Battle of Yavin IV
"Hello" speech
~Hiyas~ thought
Chapter 3
Making his way to the hangar bay, Naruto chuckled as he saw Hinata watching the droids nearby with a sharp gaze even as she directed them on some maintenance on the second ship they had flown to Tatooine, a refitted Corellian Light Transport(1). "About that time," he said loudly over the ruckus.
Hinata turned around, dressed in her full armor minus helmet. Her pale lavender eyes lit up and she smiled, "Just about. Preflight flagged a conduit malfunction. The pit droids already isolated the issue and are almost finished with repairs." she sighed, "It'd be finished already if Yugito-chan would stop getting in the way."
"She's just excited," he replied, chuckling. "Listen, I want you to take The Kurama with you." Naruto said thoughtfully, "I'm not doubting any of your piloting skills, hime. I just want you three back in one piece."
Hinata choked back a laugh as she realized he was serious. "N... Naruto-kun? You're acting like we're about to make the Kessel Run. We're just going to check out a couple of abandoned scrapyards."
"Hear me out, okay?" Naruto asked calmly, "That transport was made for Deep Core to Mid Rim shipments. Not Outer Rim. She's armored up the ass and we upgraded the shield generators, but she's unarmed. I'd worry less if the Kurama was watching your six. Especially if you have to tow whatever you find."
About an hour later, he watched from the balcony as the two ships departed on their scavenger hunt. He wished them good luck and a safe return.
-The Next Morning-
With little to do but train until the girls returned, Naruto prepped himself for a run. Upon reaching the hangar, he noticed a bustle of activity going on around a pair of Landspeeders(2). Spotting Boba Fett in full armor, he walked over. "What's shakin', Pops?"
"Pops…" Boba said with irritation evident in his voice, "really?" He turned to face the unrepentant grin of his adoptive son. His fingers itched to throttle the boy-man but fought down the urge. "Medical supplies bound for Freetown. These four, " he indicated the armed speeder bikes, "are on escort duty."
"Didn't think crimelords did humanitarian work," Naruto said, "No profit margin." he chuckled but stopped when no one joined him."Umm, okay?"
Boba shook his head, sighing, "Remember this: Not all profit is measured in credits." he indicated to the departing speeders, "Raiders have been plaguing the shipping routes since we ran the Pike Syndicate off-world. Instead of hiring mercenaries, Freetown came to me for help. A show of trust as we bled together and spilled blood as one."
Naruto saw how that could be of benefit. "I take it the "Families" here in Mos Espa were properly… educated… afterward?"
One could hear the smile in his voice as Boba answered, "They learned their lesson."
Naruto nodded and followed his father back through the palace. Not saying a word until they reached the main audience chamber. "I want to know something…"
-Meanwhile-
Hyperspace- 30 hours post jump- The Himawari- common area
Fingering her cards, Ino glanced at Hinata, who sat across from her. "So… how long before Naruto goes off?" she asked amusingly.
"I would be surprised if he hasn't by now," Hinata replied mildly, "It's been building ever since we first heard the rumor. Now that it's confirmed…" she shook her head, "It's only a matter of time." she picked up some chips and dropped them into the pile, "Raise. One Hundred."
Ino matched the increase, "Call." She turned her three cards over, smiling, "Nineteen." Her smile grew as her opponent's shoulders drooped. That smile disappeared a moment later when those cards were trumped.
Hinata flipped her cards and replied sweetly a moment later, "Twenty-one. My game." She raked in the chips and joked, "At least we're playing fakes, Ino."
Her no doubt flippant response was cut off as a buzzer sounded, drawing them quickly to the cockpit. "I'll get Tom up and running," Ino said as she turned. Pausing only long enough for Hinata to drop them out of hyperspace. She waited as the BLX labor droid powered up from its sleep mode. "Okay, Tom, we're coming up on an old Imp salvage yard off Kartoosh. Need you on the sensors. Mark any ship that meets the parameters we discussed."
The droid replied in its usual friendly mannerism. "Sure thing. Starting scans in three… two... one."
Ino nodded and sat nearby in silence. Her eyes watched her monitor as ship designs rapidly changed. Not that she paid any real attention. Just made it look like she was. Simply letting her mind wander whichever way it wanted to go. Almost time… Gotta make a choice.
Over the next several hours, Hinata slowly and deftly guided the ship along the avenues of abandoned and damaged crafts. One thing that caught her attention was a pair of heavily damaged Imperial ships. An idea formed in her mind. She hit their comms, "Hey Tom, mark those two Imp destroyers. Something I want to check after." she flicked a switch and resumed following the course they set out.
-10 Hours Later- The Kurama- Common room
The three women sat chatting amongst themselves as they drank their beverage of choice. Waiting for the Labor droid to synch up with the holotable and make a visual presentation of their progress.
A large-scale holographic map appeared and zoomed inward after each sentence the doid uttered. "Grid I-16 of the latest New Republic map. Kartoosh is between Cerea and Riflor along their joint hyperspace lane. The planet is surrounded by a debris field that was turned into a shipyard by the Galactic Republic and its successor, the Empire." A pause, "Based on some of the data gleaned from our scanning efforts, A large number of heavily damaged vessels have been added since the time of the Rebellion."
The droid spoke from his position opposite them, "Scans have been completed on forty-eight percent of the yard. Seven ships meet the parameters you outlined. All of them are built at the Correllian Shipyards. Sixty percent is intact or higher. Thus far we have discovered and scanned: one Defender Class Corvette, two YT-1930s, a YT-1760, and three YV-560s." Each ship lit up blue as he indicated them, then another ship lit up, this time in yellow. "This one, however, is an anomaly. A matching YV-560 with mild to no damage shown by both initial and deep scans."
"Such an obvious trap." Yugito deadpanned with a sweatdrop.
"They could have at least tried to disguise it." Hinata agreed with a show of amusement.
Ino chimed in, "It's like they expect us to just rush in without taking precautions." she shook her head, "In fact, I bet that's exactly what has happened in the past. Enough times that they have gotten lazy."
"First order of business, ladies." Yugito said calmly, "Tom? If we strip parts from two of the YV's, can we patch up the least damaged of the three enough to make her space-worthy? Do you estimate we could do a full and proper refit if we salvage the other two completely?"
The droid tilted its head in a gesture of consideration. The hologram phased out the rest of the shipyard but the four ships in question. "Based on the scans alone, there is a fifty percent chance of a successful repair. Less if the hyperdrive cannot be activated or repaired. Taking into consideration the lack of proper facilities and equipment, I estimate less than a thirty percent chance for a refit. However, if you neutralize the obvious trap vessel and claim it for yourselves, there is a ninety percent chance of success. Again, depending on the status of the hyperdrive and relevant piloting functions."
Hinata thought over this and queried, "I take it that a physical inspection would grant a more fine-tuned estimate?"
Tom turned towards Hinata a moment later to answer, "It could, but I do not believe my estimates would be altered by any significant degree. I must also point out that there is still more of the shipyard to be scanned. Other options may present themselves."
Yugito found herself nodding, "A fair point. Although, the opposite is also a possibility." she drained her cup and said, " I want to hear your opinions. Go for it, strip and refit, or move on?"
Hinata considered everything and said simply, "Let's go in cautiously. Re-breathers on to prevent any gaseous exposure. Maybe have Tom enter first and run atmo checks as the cyclers spin up. "
Ino added her thoughts, "Make sure to have the radiation meter going, just in case. Cover our bases before we even go through the airlock."
Yugito nodded, in agreement, "That makes it unanimous." she concluded and thumped the table, ending the discussion phase. "Ino, wake up the 'Family'. I want all eight of them stripping those other YV's and loading the pieces inside the Himawari's Cargo holds. Hinata? Position her in a good spot for them. Tom, you are coming with us to that 'anomaly' and taking point. We don't enter unless you give us a green light. Let's suit up and get this ball rolling!"
Twenty minutes later, the Kurama was nestled up to the other ship, the hatches aligned and the extendable airlock secured. Watching the humanoid droid enter the suspicious ship and closed the airlock behind it. Their hearts ramped up a second level as the droid turned and locked the hatch from the inside.
Yugito spoke over their internal comms, "Tom? What is it?"
"There is an increasing level of spice particulates in the atmospheric readings." 'he' intoned. "Twenty percent and rising." the droid extended its data port and began doing something. "I have shut down the recyclers and begun venting the contaminated air supply." After a few tense minutes, he removed his data port from the ship's access point. "All atmosphere has been purged from the ship in its entirety. You will each need to change from a re-breather to a steady oxygen supply. Also, a beacon has been activated. Presumably to inform others of our entry to this ship."
Ino turned and sped off to get the supplies while Yugito and Hinata discussed options. "I think we should spread out in the corridor here and just beyond the next bulkhead. Lure them in."
Hinata hummed in consideration. "Use our armor as well to distract them. Once they get close enough…" she shrugged before hefting the smaller model bowcaster all three were carrying.
Yugito nodded in agreement and saw Ino returning with three carry bags. Each holding two bottles of air(3). "We go in, get settled, and wait for our hosts. Sprawl out far enough apart to get them to separate. Keep our breathing slow and even. We'll have about two hours' worth that way. Make sure to cover up the tanks so they don't get suspicious." With the plan laid out, Yugito turned and gave the order, "Open up Tom… Settle down off to the side here and don't attract attention. Notify us on comms when they arrive."
Tension grew and nerves increased over the following thirty minutes before they each heard a quick blip on their comms. They had company. Eyes narrowed as they heard the new arrivals get over their surprise at finding three females. Anger blossomed at their callous conversation about how best to dispose of their 'corpses' and melt down their armor. Fingers tightened on triggers as a fresh beep from the droid gave them the signal they had waited for…
Outside the ship, where the empty depth of space waited, eight BLX droids toiled unceasingly. Unaware of the death of five raiders to multiple bowcaster shots to their heads and torsos.
A/N:
(1)- YT-600. A light transport that looked like it was built for speed rather than combat situations. This would also be the same ship Naruto mentioned in the previous chapter.
(2)- X-34. The same model as the one Luke drove to Mos Eisley with Obi-wan and the droids.
(3)- Similar to the oxygen tanks Han and Leia wore in Empire Strikes Back.
This chapter is a little shorter than the others as I have had one hell of a couple of months. My main computer crapped out leaving me with an older laptop. Then I had some personal issues to take care of out of state. Then that same laptop dies while I'm waiting on parts to repair the computer. Which turned into a full discard and build from scratch. Soooo, yeah. Nuff said.
Anyways I hope folks enjoy this latest installment now that I'm back up and running.
A/N 2: If anyone is interested in being a beta reader for this story, please PM me. Also too, I am thinking of posting a series of one-shots to fill in a few side stories for this one. Let me know what you think.
