Authors note:  See chapter 1 for standard disclaimers.    The plot thickens!


Chapter 5                   Murphy's Law

The instrument panel let out a soft whistle to announce the arrival at the coordinated destination. The ship skimmed in to the atmosphere of an outer rim planet, Sevac II. The onboard surveying equipment allowed the captain her first view of the planet below. She drew in a breath, amazed at the unbroken rings of massive volcanoes continually erupting near the planet's equator. A beautiful blue ocean swirled along the coastline and continent sized orange and green colonies glowed with an eerie but beautiful silver light as the planet rotated into the night cycle.

Dakota looked at the planet and sighed. It was one of the most beautiful sights from space. She was well aware that once she reached land her opinion would change. Planets like this one caused her to wish she could settle down and have a life of sanity and a family. Dakota had embarked on her career as a freighter captain when her family had enough money to leave from the mining colony on Isbark. She had received promises of limitless wealth, travel to glamorous exotic worlds, and the ability to be her own boss.

She had found these promises partially true. The work did pay well in fees and commissions. However, the bulk of the untold riches belonged to the greedy corporations that she contracted to. The exotic destinations consisted of dirty space docks on backwater worlds, and as for being your own boss; it too had its drawbacks. No backup was available, and pirates found lone freighters easy pickings.

She looked at the instrument panel and sighed. In twenty minutes, she would be landing at the spaceport of Sevac's capital city. Her ship, Moondrifter, was the only home she had and most of her profits went toward keeping her freighter mechanically sound so that it was fast and efficient. Carrying only minimal weapons, it was built for maneuverability not combat.

The ship was large but the living space was far from luxurious. The navigational area was small and cramped, with two chairs, a console, a jumble of instruments, vents, pipes, and wires. Behind the pilot's seat were two narrow bunks, several storage containers for personal items and food, a small galley, a droid storage area and a shower with a small toilet area. The remainder of the ship was devoted to cargo space.

The Captain glanced out of the observation window and watched the surface of the planet come rushing up to meet her. She radioed Port Control for permission to land and was told to proceed to docking bay sixteen. "Acknowledged Port Control, heading for docking bay sixteen, Moondrifter out."

She dropped the landing gear and slowly eased the big ship into the assigned space. Docking procedures completed, she picked up her paperwork and disembarked her ship. Dakota stopped at the Port Authority's office to leave a copy of her manifest and instructions for stowing the cargo she was picking up.  She was now free to do some much needed shopping for food supplies, some personal items, and parts for her ship.

 This trip was to be a lengthy one with no chance for shopping until she stopped at the next port to drop this cargo. Having made all the arrangements possible, she headed into town.

The Best Laid Plans

One week ago, Jenna Zan Arbor would have said that nothing could possibly go wrong with her plans. She had the universe by the tail so to speak. Then out of nowhere, everything that could go wrong did. Her clone had disappeared, the Dark Lord who was her source of information about everything Jedi, refused to talk to her, and lastly the hired help was being difficult. 

She had specifically told the Clone that he was to communicate with her prior to leaving Coruscant. The whole plan revolved around him. He was always very obedient thanks to the gene altering technique she had used in his creation. Being one day late was excusable, however twelve days was totally unacceptable.

The Sith Lord was her next complication. He had arranged her escape from the prison planet, for a price of course. All of the research information on the cloning process as well as the use of her Qui-Gon Jinn to destroy the Jedi from within was his price. She did not like the idea of owing anyone anything but similar goals was a powerful incentive to join forces.

 The Sith wanted control over her project and he felt she could postpone her desire for revenge on one Jedi so that he could destroy the entire Jedi Order from within. Jenna had left several messages for him to make contact with her but there had been no answer to any of them.

The last and by far the easiest problem was Marcus. The shuttle that had taken Qui-Gon away from Tatooine needed to be concealed so that it could not be traced to her. She selected her home planet of Sevac II, believing that no one would think she would be so careless as to put it there.

Marcus told her just before leaving with the shuttle that he was finished working for her and that he wanted his money. His exact words were, "You're telling me that this is a Jedi. I didn't sign on to get killed. When I get back I'm leaving so have my money ready." Jenna decided that a little persuasion was in order. He could see things her way or she would kill him and get somebody else.

Several times her unwilling guest had awakened before the next scheduled shot. It seemed that less and less time elapsed between shots so another solution was needed to keep the Jedi Master under control. The problem was solved when she hit upon the idea to use a Force collar preventing his access to the Force and then simple restraints would be sufficient to keep him under control.

She started back to the cargo bay to check up on Qui-Gon when she heard the Comm. panel beep, signaling an incoming message. Jenna flipped open the channel to hear Lord Sidious, himself say, "Arbor, My apprentice, Darth Maul is dead at the hands of Obi- Wan Kenobi and your Clone is dead as well. Your plan has failed." She heard him close the Comm. channel ending the conversation.

Shock overwhelmed her and she sat down unable to believe he was dead. When she had calmed herself she remembered that she still held Qui-Gon Jinn in her cargo bay and she could still have her revenge. No matter how or what she planned somehow the damn Jedi always interfered. Not this time she vowed to herself. Settling herself in the pilot's chair, she programmed the coordinates for Sevac II where she would pick up Marcus and make the short flight to her home base.

The Capital City of Sevac II was a dirty little spaceport far beyond the rim of outer planets. There was no law here and no one would bother her. It was healthy to mind one's own business if you wanted a long life span. She felt safe here both from the Jedi and from Lord Sidious in the event he sent somebody to find her.

Jenna entered the cargo bay door and found the Jedi still sleeping from the last sedative. She slipped the Force collar around his neck. That will hold you until I return, she mused.

Marcus had told her he would be waiting in a small tavern just beyond the spaceport. A blaster at her side, she walked rapidly through the busy streets finding the tavern exactly where Marcus had told her it was located.

She pushed open the dilapidated door and entered the dimly lit room. Once inside the room the small hairs on the back of her neck began to stir. The argument in the rear of the building caused her to pause and she decided to remain near the front of the place. She ordered a drink and looked around hoping Marcus was already there but all she saw were two beings arguing among themselves. One of them sounded like a Wookie. Well no contest there, anyone crazy enough to anger a Wookie deserved what he got, she laughed at her caustic joke.

The argument between the Wookie and the Space Pilot continued to escalate until the Pilot pulled his blaster and fired three times. His first shot went into the wall and the resulting scramble for cover was instantaneous. His second shot went wide of its mark ricocheting off the metal railing and hitting Jenna Zan Arbor in the center of her forehead. The third shot went harmlessly into the floor. The Wookie had no trouble subduing the Pilot but Jenna Zan Arbor's planning was forever finished.

A wiry man entered the bar and stopped just inside the door of the noisy establishment. His large wide set eyes scanned the faces of the patrons looking for his employer. He fidgeted and looked nervously at his surroundings watching as two medical droids began the process of removing a body from the room. He saw no sign of Jenna and he wished that she would hurry. He didn't like being here. This place could be a trap and he had no intention of being caught here at the end of nowhere. Marcus just wanted his money and a quick transport in any direction. He caught the bartender's eye and ordered a drink while he waited for his employer.

The drink arrived at same moment as the medical droids moved the body past him and toward the door. On He was unable to believe it was the body of Jenna Zan Arbor, his employer, floating past him. On her face was a look of haughty denial. He dropped onto the stool next to him and emptied his drink in one swallow.

Marcus had almost no money and he was trapped here on this dismal world; he needed a plan of action NOW. The shuttle was where he could get to it but he didn't know if had been stolen. It was better not to count on it even if he could sell it because somebody could be trying to trace the Jedi.  He was not going to take the blame for this one. He was just the hired help.

Zan Arbor may have enough money aboard her ship to pay me he thought, and then again she no longer needs the ship so why shouldn't I just take it? All things considered, Jenna's ship seemed the most logical answer to his problem. He remembered too that the Jedi had not seen him so he had no worries about being caught. Just get rid of the Jedi and he would have a ship and money. His problems would all be solved.

Qui-Gon was still chained in the cargo bay of Jenna's ship. Killing an unarmed helpless individual was not something he wanted to do. Marcus ordered another drink to help him get up his courage. At last he headed out the door of the bar and down the street to the Port Authority where he located the ship in docking bay fifteen.

Marcus entered the transport and began searching it for anything of value; ownership papers and credits would be ideal for his purpose. He had been searching for about an hour without finding much other than the papers for the ship when he noticed the blinking red light on the Comm. Panel.

The message left by Darth Sidious filled him with elation. The Clone was dead so he wouldn't have to deal with him either. Now only the real Jedi was left and since he had never seen Marcus' face why not just dump him in the spaceport out of sight, take the transport and leave. The ship could take him far enough away to be sold for enough money to get him to the other side of the galaxy.

Quietly he opened the door to the cargo bay and looked to see if the Jedi was still chained to the floor and in a drugged sleep.  The tall Jedi Master was on his back and still in his chains. Marcus quietly crossed the floor and checked to see if he was awake.

He unchained Qui-Gon, hoisted him up on his shoulder, staggered down the ramp and into the docking area never noticing the addition of a collar around his neck. He was almost to the next docking bay when he heard a Security Detail checking ships and dark areas.

In a panic he stumbles up the loading ramp of the next ship; his heart beating as though it would burst. Security was just outside, he could hear them talking and he scrambled farther into the ship. "I'll never get him out of here," he mumbled, "He' just too damn heavy." Suddenly it hit him, why do I have to get him out of here?  Why not just hide him in here and by the time he comes to nobody will be able to connect me to this.

 Marcus looked for a likely spot to leave the Jedi and he found the perfect place, the droid storage area. Placing the Jedi in a sitting posture Marcus closed the door and departed the ship feeling as though he had solved all his problems.

Dakota Rains hated shopping. She did it as infrequently as possible. Hurrying though the little store, she places the order to be calculated and delivered to her ship. She completed her shopping and assumed that by this time all the cargo had been loaded. She returned to the docking bay to find that indeed her ship was ready to go. Since her bonuses and contracts depended on the delivery of her cargo on time; she hurried through the storage of the supplies and commenced take off procedures. Within the hour, she was blasting off into space very unaware that she had acquired a very unusual passenger.