Chapter 22

Anakin Solo stood in the Mon Mothma's gymnasium, examining the men in front of him. The commando pilots were older, but not as old as his father or Wedge. "I'm Face," said the shorter one with the scar. "This reprobate here is Kell."

"Face, as in Garik Loran?"

"That's me, why? You're a little young to have seen my holodramas."

"Threepio told us about you in his history lessons."

"Ouch. That hurts, Solo. I'm not that old."

"I'm kidding. A friend of mine loved Win or Die."

"Ah. Hear that Kell? He has heard of me. Hand 'em over pal."

Kell passed Face a handful of credits. "Don't ever get involved in gambling, kid."

"Back to you. We want you to join the Wraiths."

"I'll consider it," said Anakin, thinking the idea over. It sounded good to him. The Wraiths would provide a sense of belonging, which he desperately needed. With Tahiri gone, off on a mission that his uncle had given her, and besides that, he wasn't exactly on her A list at the moment.

"Oh, I've heard that tone before," said Kell with a grin. "Every time Face talks to a girl and gets shot down."

"Shut up Kell. Well? You in Solo?"

"Alright. But before I get burdened down with official duties, I'm doing some hand-to-hand combat practice. Either of you want to spar?"

Kell stepped forward and grinned. "I'm in. Face?"

"Sorry. I've got to meet with General Cracken, he's in charge of the Wraiths and the copycat squadrons he's formed," Face added for Anakin's benefit. "I'll see you two later."

Face headed for the gym's door as Kell walked over to one of the equipment lockers and pulled out two pairs of boxing gloves. Anakin grabbed the gloves Kell offered him.

When both of them had put on the gloves and put in some mouth guards, Kell and Anakin stepped into the boxing ring in the corner of the room.

Kell bowed, and Anakin returned it, and both settled into fighting stances. Kell didn't recognize the martial art from which Anakin's stance belonged, but he resolved to block a few blows first and see if any moves jogged his memory.

This was going to be fun.

***

In the hallway, Face passed Shalla Nelprin, another of the Wraith's unarmed combat experts. The petite woman made Kell look like an idiot in the ring with her gracefulness, and she was still strong enough to toss the large man around like a rag doll.

"Hey Face. Did the kid bite?"

Face nodded. "He's in the gym sparring against Kell."

Shalla grinned. "It's been a while since I've seen Kell get whipped around the ring. I'll think I'll get the rest of the Wraiths down there to watch."

"Go ahead. I've got a meeting with Cracken in ten minutes. Tomorrow we ship off on the Caller."

The Night Caller was a corvette the Wraiths had captured when the squadron was first joined. When the Wraiths had been transferred to Intelligence, the ship had been presented to them as a base of operations. The crew had been mostly removed except for a skeleton crew and some droids, so the Wraiths could operate in secrecy.

Shalla ran back to the quarters the Wraiths had been given on the Mon Mothma, to get the rest of the squad down there to watch Kell get beat up.

***

Kell blocked another blow and returned with a countering kick to the stomach, which Anakin caught with his left hand. He grabbed Kell's leg higher up with his other hand, and spun it, sending the larger man into a spiraling fall.

Anakin's fist shot downward for the finishing blow, and stopped within millimeters from Kell's face. He retracted his fist and stepped back, waiting for Kell to get up. Tainer got up and made a hard left hook that connected with Anakin's nose when Anakin moved forward for another volley of blows. "Oh Sithspit! I meant to stop that! Sithspit! I didn't mean to break your nose!"

"You didn't. Look at me, I'm not even bleeding from it. The CSA techs coated my bones with durasteel. You ready to go another round?"

"No thanks. You win kid."

There was the sound of clapping from the edge of the room. Kell looked around and saw the rest of the Wraiths standing there, grinning at Kell's loss. Sharr Latt held a holocam. "Wait'll everyone sees this," the expert on psychological warfare said. "Big Kell, the boxer, beaten by a nineteen-year-old kid."

"It's not fair though, he's a Jedi!" Kell whined.

"Quit complaining. He beat you fairly," said Shalla. "Look on the bright side. You can say you were beat by a Jedi."

"Oh, that's something to brag about," said Kell glumly.