Xieb would never get used to it. The bright lights streaming around, all leading to a point in front of the shuttle, it was a sight to behold. That was hyperspace. A dimension not fully understood, existing just beneath real space allowing rapid travel from one part of the universe to another. Right now, they were about half way between Duros and Corellia.

"Are we there yet?" Storsek asked for the fifth time. "No." was the fifth answer. Storsek went to answer back when the helm went dead. Looking around him, Xieb noticed that all the other controls were dead also. Leda came running from the back with an expression that said the same had happened in the stern also. Xieb thought for a second. "That's not good."

As he finished his words, a computer-generated voice began to speak.

"10"

"What the slag?" Storsek shouted.

"9"

"Why is it counting?" Leda demanded.

"8"

"I don't know."

"7"

"It must be a bomb or a self destruct device somewhere on the shuttle." Xieb offered.

"6"

"Well then, let's look for it!" Storsek shouted again.

"5"

Try as they might, they couldn't find the source of the voice.

"4"

They began to search more desperately as the counting continued.

"3"

Storsek began tearing at the hull plating on the floor.

"2"

"1"

"I don't want to die!" Storsek screams.

"0"

As the counting stopped, the trio waited for the explosion. After a few seconds they opened their eyes and realized that they were still alive. As they tried to gather their wits, a hologram materialized in thin air. The picture was that of a humanoid, roughly 1.7 meters tall, wearing armor and a helmet. Xieb recognized him as the bounty hunter from the briefing. Before anyone could speak, the hologram did.

"My name is Gunn. All you need to know is that Lull is my hunt and my bounty. Get in my way and you'll find more than this practical joke waiting for you." And the hologram disappeared.

"Great." Leda said exasperated. "Just what have you gotten us into Xieb?"

Xieb looked as if he were going to faint.

Storsek looked at his two partners wondering what he was doing on this mission.

This was not his day.