Yay, the next chapter! sorry they're a bit short. I re-read the first one and realised how bad it was so i will hopefully be updating it as soon as i can! Oh yeah i forgot to mention that i don't own any of the star wars characters/places/etc (wish i did!) but credit for that goes the the genius George Lucas and the writers of the star wars novels. I do however own my characters! Thanks!

Gem

Chapter 2: Rescue.

She knew that she was being tracked. Her father had trained her to be wary of anyone and everyone and tonight her wariness was justified! Not that that was a good thing for her! She was being followed by two. One she had seen in the cantina, lurking in the shadows with another human male. The other was not human and was gaining on her with immense speed. The latter of the two was the one that she was worried about. She was in deep Bantha dung if she didn't do something and do it fast!

'Alright, Cam!' a cold little voice said with delight inside her head as she spared a quick glance over her shoulder. 'Get yourself out of this one!'

She leaped high at and caught hold of the top of a duracrete wall shifting her weight and swinging first one leg up and then pulling herself up. She leaped again and came down with a thud taking a layer of skin from her hands and knees and cursing in Huttese. She pulled herself back to her feet with an effort and continued to run as fast as her aching lungs would allow. The night streamed past in flashes and Cam was suddenly aware of a grey flash that was keeping pace with her in the next ally-way along that ran parallel with hers. She stopped and traversed making a run in the other direction but the grey slash landed in her path. Only then was she able to see the yellow tinged eyes gleaming from underneath the silver hood in the moonlight. Two long horn-like protrusions thrust themselves from beneath the shadowy shroud and Cam was suddenly immobilised by a deep fear in her gut. The blood in her veins turned to ice. She stumbled backwards and fell landing sprawling on her back.

The grey flash laughed a deep, melodious, sinister laugh.

"Do you know who I am, Camilly my dear?" it asked in a purring voice.

He sniggered from the shocked look on her features. "Yes that's right! I know who you really are. You covered your trail well, I'll be the first to admit, but it was inevitable that you would be found sooner or later."

Cam shook her head, as if unable to comprehend what was happening, and clutched the vibro-blade that she always carried strapped to her back underneath her cloak and shirt. She clutched it so hard that her knuckles shone white and her nails dug hard into her palm drawing more blood from the broken skin. The grey ghost laughed again and took a step forwards.

"I am afraid, Camilly, that I am the bearer of ill tidings. I am your Angel of Death, Camilly, and you and your little 'family' have evade your death sentence for quite long enough, don't you think?" he reached down a three fingered hand and grabbed her wrist. Sharp claws as long a Cam's forefinger dug into her wrist and caused her to breathe in sharply.

Suddenly, a snap-hiss filled the night's calm air and Cam's attacker glanced to his right to investigate. Cam saw her chance and slashed out with her vibro-blade catching the being across the chest. He let out a howl of rage more than pain and Cam struggled free of her cloak, scrambling backwards on her elbows. The attacker came after her again but another figure stood in his path. The figure was the other one who had been following Cam and he held a burning shaft of purple light in his hands. Cam closed and rubbed her eyes but when she opened them again he was still there. She watched as the grey figure backed away, slowly at first, and then turned into his wild gallop over the roofs and out of her sight. She flopped off her elbows to lie flat on her back and gazed up at the stars as they winked like diamonds from the velvety blackness with splashes of grey cloud scudding across them. Cam shuddered at the thought of that colour! It brought back images of the grey attacker.

"Are you okay?"

Cam opened her eyes that she hadn't realised had been shut and stared up into a face. The face seemed to float a good six-foot above her edged with slight concern. She found this amusing and would have laughed if not for her burning lungs that screamed through lack of oxygen. She offered him a weak half smile instead and propped herself up on her elbows. He crouched down and rested his elbows on his knees and stared at her half quizzically and half warily.

"Thanks." She breathed pulling herself to sit cross-legged and attempting to tug her skirt so that she was half decent. "You saved my skin."

"You were in danger. I had to help you. It's my oath." He replied in a cool tone.

She grinned.

"What are you? A Jedi or something?"

He returned her grin.

"Something like that."

Cam nodded and held her hand out firmly. Kyp took it and shook hands.

"Camilly Freelancer." She said with a bold grin. Kyp sensed that something was amiss but nodded instead and pushed the twinge aside. She was Caith Freelancer's only daughter, his deal negotiator and, according to Kyp's information a stunning gunner with deadly aim.

Kyp was brought out of his own thoughts by the girl's expectant gaze.

"Erm, yeah. Kyp. Kyp Durron. Nice to save you." He said and Cam smiled at his jibe at her.

"So why the hell are you following me?"

The young, dark haired and somewhat alluring Kyp Durron gave a thin smile and pulled out his data pad and a data chip.

"I know who you work for." He said and Cam raised her eyebrows and stared at him waiting for a further answer. "And I know what it is you are doing!"

When she received no further explanation she replied.

"That's it?"

He gave her an unsure look suddenly realising how weak his answer had sounded and nodded.

"You followed me because 'you know who I work for'?" Cam burst into an infuriating laughter that made Kyp both angry and suddenly captivated with her. He stood and dusted his tunic off in a self-defensive manner. "Listen, Sparky, its not like it's a big secret that I work for my Dad. Is that why you were watching me in the cantina?"

"You saw me in the cantina?!" Kyp asked, a little ruffled that she had spotted him when he had thought he was being stealthy.

Cam nodded.

"Yeah, you were with that other guy in the pilot's jumpsuit. Yeah, I saw you. My Da' was a bounty hunter when he was younger! Taught me well, you know! So what's so important about who I work for?"

Kyp shook his head too astonished with her openness to discuss her father and their line of work. Something wasn't adding up and he couldn't for the life of him work it out. Kyp was brought back to the present by Cam's movement. She chattered away as if she'd known Kyp for her entire life. It was refreshing to be around someone so open. She was like an icy sea breeze after the heat of the desert sun. She certainly didn't seem the type to deal in the slave trade, yet Kyp reminded himself that appearances could be exceedingly deceiving!

" . . . Tolou is going to have Bantha cubs if I don't get back soon. You here for long?" She paused and looked at Kyp.

"Not really. Just tonight while I wrap up some…business." He said feeling inexplicably nervous.

Cam cocked her head to one side and placed her hands on her hips.

"No way. Too bad. I would have shown you around the place a bit. It's not all scum and ruffians, you know? I could've shown you a good time!" she gave a fluting laugh. "We ship out tomorrow and I've got some more…ah, errands to run for my Dad tonight." She paused again and her eyes glazed over slightly. "I guess this is where we go our separate ways then. But maybe we'll meet again. You never know. Sometimes the briefest meetings end up being..." she paused, not finishing her sentence and blushed glancing at the floor as if she had imagined something concerning them both, some future possibility. "Well, thanks again and it was nice to meet you Kyp Durron. If you ever end up in the Outer Rim again in search of a good time look me up, yeah?"

"Yeah." Kyp replied, slightly dazed, and shook Camilly's hand once more before she took off at a run again. Kyp felt slightly bewildered and more than a little confused. He'd just had the daughter of one of the most wanted smugglers and slave traders in the galaxy in his grasp but he'd let her go because he'd been, what? Shocked? Nervous? Attracted to her? Well, what ever he'd been he had just lost the best chance he had ever had at catching the notorious Freelancers. Cam had almost been handed to him on a silver platter and she'd been willing to meet him again!

Still shaking his head and running his conversation with Camilly Freelancer over and over in his mind, Kyp wandered back to his assigned docking bay and the rest of the Dozen and Two Avengers.

"You alright Boss?" Miko said from his perch on the canopy of his X-Wing where he sat polishing the transparasteel. Kyp ignored him and threw himself forcefully into the seat of his own fighter.

Why had she been so open about Freelancer being her father?

"Kyp?" Miko popped his head over the lip of the X-Wings cockpit and rested his elbows on it. "Bad night? Our girl show you a rough time?"

"I'm just a little confused that's all." Kyp replied placing his copied data chip into his on-board computer and scrolled through the data. It was all there! The quantity of slaves, the price for each head, two thousand credits extra for the seven young adult males. Even the written agreement from Rant the Bartender stating his sworn secrecy!

Miko pretended to be reading over his shoulder but Kyp knew that he was trying to decipher what was wrong through the force. Kyp blocked himself off from his apprentice, locking up his feelings and giving Miko the signal that if he wanted to talk about it he would do so of his own accord.

"Alright, man! I was only concerned!" Miko huffed hopping down from the X-Wing and Kyp sighed.

He was just frustrated. He shouldn't be taking it out on Miko just because he'd failed to take Freelancer into custody!

"Miko! Come back!" he called reluctantly and his apprentice's face appeared within seconds wearing a wide and mischievous grin.

"C'mon, Boss! Spill the gory details!"

Miko really knew Kyp too well!

-ooooo-

Yay another chapter finished! Any comments or criticism would be gratefully received!