At that moment, I knew that Clipper might not be coming home. I think
it's the kind of feeling a parent gets when their child leaves to
fight in a war. -Prat's Journal
Janua stood in the cargo bay, thinking. All the crates were gone at last, but there was one problem. Where was Jess Jess? No tour should have taken this long. It'd been three days since she left. Where was the captain? They were going to be cleared to leave soon, but they needed someone to keep them organized.
"Any news about Clipper?" Dantien asked from behind her.
She started and turned, wondering when he had come in. "Dan!" she scolded, "you're more worried about Clipper than your friend who gives you your paycheck?"
"He likes me."
She shook her head and decided to answer his question. "No, the Imperials haven't said anything. Maybe we'll hear something from them soon. Anyway, I'm a little hungry, what about you?"
He nodded. "Let's go get something to eat."
On their way to the kitchen, Janua caught a glimpse of a flashing red light in the cockpit. "Dan, wait up, someone's trying to talk to us." That was especially strange since neither of them could think of anyone that they would want to talk to way out here. It must have been the Imperials.
They entered and she flipped the switch to reply to the hail. "*Gungan Vornskr* to Kitzlym IV, what's up?"
A couple seconds went by then, "-ou're on, sir."
"Oh, okay," a second hushed voice replied to the first. She tentatively identified it as General Dalpiez. "Gungan Vornskr, you may leave any time you wish, but I warn you: if you report our existence to the New Republic, you will regret it immensely. We have your captain and your. uh, vornskr." The implied threat startled the two crew members. That would be where Jess Jess and Clipper were. Now, what were they going to do about it?
"Th-thank you for the warning. I think we'll be on our way now," Janua eventually answered a bit shakily. She disconnected the link and jabbed the intercom button to her cabin that she shared with Elibex. "Bex, sorry to do this to you, but we need you up here to fly this thing. Bex?"
There was a small thud, then a drowsy voice came on. "Okay, be there in," she yawned, "a couple minutes."
it's the kind of feeling a parent gets when their child leaves to
fight in a war. -Prat's Journal
Janua stood in the cargo bay, thinking. All the crates were gone at last, but there was one problem. Where was Jess Jess? No tour should have taken this long. It'd been three days since she left. Where was the captain? They were going to be cleared to leave soon, but they needed someone to keep them organized.
"Any news about Clipper?" Dantien asked from behind her.
She started and turned, wondering when he had come in. "Dan!" she scolded, "you're more worried about Clipper than your friend who gives you your paycheck?"
"He likes me."
She shook her head and decided to answer his question. "No, the Imperials haven't said anything. Maybe we'll hear something from them soon. Anyway, I'm a little hungry, what about you?"
He nodded. "Let's go get something to eat."
On their way to the kitchen, Janua caught a glimpse of a flashing red light in the cockpit. "Dan, wait up, someone's trying to talk to us." That was especially strange since neither of them could think of anyone that they would want to talk to way out here. It must have been the Imperials.
They entered and she flipped the switch to reply to the hail. "*Gungan Vornskr* to Kitzlym IV, what's up?"
A couple seconds went by then, "-ou're on, sir."
"Oh, okay," a second hushed voice replied to the first. She tentatively identified it as General Dalpiez. "Gungan Vornskr, you may leave any time you wish, but I warn you: if you report our existence to the New Republic, you will regret it immensely. We have your captain and your. uh, vornskr." The implied threat startled the two crew members. That would be where Jess Jess and Clipper were. Now, what were they going to do about it?
"Th-thank you for the warning. I think we'll be on our way now," Janua eventually answered a bit shakily. She disconnected the link and jabbed the intercom button to her cabin that she shared with Elibex. "Bex, sorry to do this to you, but we need you up here to fly this thing. Bex?"
There was a small thud, then a drowsy voice came on. "Okay, be there in," she yawned, "a couple minutes."