Muaha, I just had to do more!

Chapter Nine

"Luke! Luke!" Saera ran towards him, the dress flowing back as she moved across the landing platform. She jumped into his arms and they laughed together as he held her and stroked her hair.

"I've missed you so much, and everyone thought you were dead, but you're here! I've found you!"

They kissed, pure bliss, and wrapped their arms even tighter around each other. But when she looked into his eyes, she saw not Luke's dreamy bright blue but Glynn's darker hue, laughing like they did so much. She looked and saw that it was Glynn's face brushing hers, his arms holding her to him.

"What?"

There was a loud buzz, and Glynn opened his mouth to speak--

"Transaddinn III ETA in half a time part." Glynn's voice cut into her dreams sharply from the inter ship comm. Jumping to answer, startled by her dream and then the sudden tearing away from it, Saera quickly replied.

"Um, uh, OK. Thanks." She flopped onto her bed. What a weird dream. She hadn't dreamed for, oh, a month and a half, not since just after she'd met Glynn. That, she remembered, was when she'd still thought Luke was dead...

Come to think of it, neither of those dreams was very positive towards her relationship with Luke. Maybe something in her subconscious was trying to tell her something.

Or it was a coincidence. She shoved those thoughts out of her mind, instead choosing to dwell on the anticipation of seeing more people. In the past near-month it had taken to reach Transaddinn III (it was on the other side of the galaxy, and the Gaellia was really ploddy, to be honest) Glynn and Saera had been unable to breach the subject of that night on Bothawui. They'd mostly avoided each other in the beginning, which was a shame since she did enjoy his company. But it was a small ship, so that didn't last for very long and they saw each other all the time anyway. They talked of anything but that night, and still it hung over her thoughts every now and then. As for Glynn, she couldn't say. He had a naturally cheery disposition, despite his awful childhood that she was slowly learning more about, but he did seem to be holding something in, something that wanted to be out in the open.

Force. Here she was, thinking about Glynn, even when she was meant to be preparing to come in contact with Luke again. Well, people who would tell her where to find Luke.

"Don't get your hopes up," Glynn had said. "These places are generally just underground recruiting facilities, not actually the main military base where your boy's gonna be."

"He's not 'my boy,'" she'd stuck in quickly, embarrassed.

"Whatever." Glynn had shrugged.

Why did she feel so oddly about Luke when Glynn was around? And why couldn't she stop thinking about the captain of the Gaellia?

Because he's the only person you've seen for the last three and a half weeks that wasn't in a Holovid.

Saera glanced at the wall chrono and saw that ETA was now only 20 minutes.

Get ready.

--

Glynn was right about the rebel 'base' on Transaddinn III. Just a recruitment office disguised as a bank, it was practically a dead end. He and Saera would both have to go through a lot of 'training' and background checks and physicals before they'd be allowed to gain permission to fly with the rebel fleet, let alone the coordinates to the new base.

"I just don't get it. They should be welcoming us with open arms, and yet they're basically turning us away," Glynn sighed.

"How do they ever manage to recruit anyone?" Saera remarked as the exited the hidden facilities after hours of pleading and sorrowful story telling to no avail. The leaders here, unlike the slummer Glynn had swayed on Bothawui, were not going to be taken in by fast-talking offworlders. Either they went through the entire process or nothing. Or, they could hang around until the rebels were convinced they were Imps and sent some soldiers to take them off to one of their strongholds. And that didn't sound very promising.

"Well, what you have to remember is that we're trying to get into the fleet and ultimately the military base. 'Rebels' out here usually just sit on random worlds, steal supplies, and wait for news of real Rebel activity. Oh, and occasionally they'll really try to wipe out the Imp government on their planet and end blowing themselves and a lot of innocent people up. They don't bother with that too often.

"You make it sound so...unimportant. Useless."

"Well, in a way, some of it is."

"Wait, what about Luke? He'd have to go through the checks and everything, wouldn't he? So he'd still be in one of these recruitment camps, and we just have to find the right one."

Glynn sighed. "Saera, do you watch the Holonet at all? Because really, feel free, that's what it's there for. Luke Skywalker is wanted for treachery against the Empire, destruction of Imperial property, and aid in escape of a Rebellion leader. He rescued a princess, one that the rebels like very much, apparently."

"Princess?" Saera felt a twinge of jealousy, which she immediately felt stupid for.

"One Leia Organa of Alderaan, or former Alderaan, I guess. They're blaming her for the destruction of Alderaan, but everyone with a brain knows better. Man, is she a piece of work."

He grinned irritatingly over at her. Saera gave him a withering look, mostly because she knew it was true. Saera had seen holos of the Alderaanian royal family when they'd studied the core worlds in school. Leia Organa was very striking, even as the 15-year-old in the holo.

"Let's get back to your ship so we can figure out what to do next."

"Ooh, 'my' ship, no 'the' ship. Touchy, are we?" he mocked, grinning.

"No, but I will be if you don't shut up."

"Ok, ok, moving." Glynn started trudging through the calf-deep Transaddinn mud in the direction of the ship, Saera close behind. But even back in the confines of the Gaellia they couldn't figure out a plan of action concerning the rebels' base.

"Why don't you send in some fan mail and ask him to get you clearance?" Glynn suggested, smirking, as they brainstormed in the rec/dining room.

"If you're not going to be any help, you can just leave," Saera said from her position on an armchair, bent backwards with her face to the ceiling and her eyes closed. "And I don't care that it's you ship."

"I can see it: Dear Lukie, I love you! Tell me where the base is, please, so I can come visit you? Thank you sooooo much for blowing up the Death Star, that was so cool! Love from your biggest fan, Saera." He stood up, mimicking in a girly voice.

"Sit down and stop being a childish jerk." Saera said indifferently.

"Yes, mother." he plopped into a chair, "But I'm the captain of this ship, remember?"

"Yes, but I'm the one who's paying, remember?" He chuckled.

"Actually, I'm surprised you didn't jump down my throat for that one."

"Not enough mental energy. Too drained from thinking. I'll kill you tomorrow. And believe me, you deserve it."

"Thanks, but that's one honor I'll pass on."

"Whatever. Sleep now." She slowly got up and shuffled to the guest room, dragging her feet.

"Goodnight," Glynn called, chuckling again.

--

After a while day of lying in the same chairs in the rec/dining room, saying the same stuff, exchanging the same irritating banter, and coming up with the same conclusion that all their plans blew, Glynn and Saera finally thought of an idea that maybe didn't blow as much as the other ones.

"It's the only way. I have to buy a ship and become a member of the Alliance. They need all the ships they can get, so sooner or later they'll have to give me an assignment to the base or something."

"Saera, we both know it's crazy. You can't pilot a ship!"

"You can teach me."

Glynn sighed. "It's not that simple. Look, why are you so intent on finding the Skywalker kid anyway?"

"Why do you call him that? You don't even know him and you're calling him 'Skywalker kid' like he's nine or something! It's not 'funny,' either. Luke acts more mature than you a lot of the time, and he's only a year older than me!"

"Well, why are you so intent on finding him. I mean, if he cared about you that much, he'd have told you where he was!" Glynn knew he had cut with that remark from the hurt on her face. She'd obviously been worrying about that herself. "Look, I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."

"No, you're right," she replied icily. "He hasn't tried to talk to me. If it weren't for you and the Holonet 'awards for capture' I wouldn't even know he was still alive." She strode out of the room to the guest quarters and was locked the door, crumpling in a corner. Glynn was right. Luke didn't care about her. He'd never cared about her. This whole trip was a stupid idea. She should've just gone to Coruscant.

But is that what you really want? To go and live on a planet with more people than you're ever seen and yet you know none of them?

No. She still had to find Luke. She had to tell him, tell him everything. She'd never be able to rest until she found out whether or not he cared. Maybe...maybe....

That was it! Luke was trying to protect her! He didn't want her to become wrapped up in this terrible war. That must be it!

But somewhere inside, she knew it felt wrong.

--

Saera spent a whole day locked in the guest quarters, mulling things over. Glynn tried to reason with her through the door in the first few time parts, but she wouldn't have any of it. He could have opened the door from the main controls in the bridge, but thought better of it. Let her have her privacy. He settled for pushing her meals through the air vent connecting her room and the supply closet.

Glynn spent a lot of the time that Saera was in her room on Trasaddinn III's muddy surface, in the cantinas and bars, listening to idle gossip. Transaddin III was by no means a highly populous world, so news got around quickly of newcomers. Most people were curious, not knowing about the secret rebel camp or any other reasons the humans might be here. Most left quickly or settled down on this world, and the stranger and his woman appeared to be doing neither.

About a time part before he was going back to the ship, a native in the bar approached Glynn. Transaddinnians were almost tadpole-like, probably from all the swamps and mud pits scattered across the planet's surface. Black, smooth, hairless skin was spotted with orange and yellow. Transaddinnians produced a poison in glands on their necks, useless on most humanoids but very effective against the predators that had once hunted the species. They had big red, glowing eyes on the sides of their heads and a large flat snout with a long mouth full of tiny, sharp teeth.

The Transaddinnian grunted at Glynn as it sat down across from him in the booth. "I have a message for you."

"Oh really? And who might this message be from?" Glynn dropped his hand below the table casually, feeling down his holster for the butt of his blaster.

"Please keep your hands above the table. I assure you I mean no harm, I am merely here to give you some advice. I come unarmed." The native held his hands out to show that he posed no threat. Glynn obliged with his request.

"What kind of...advice are you talking about?" The Transaddinnian leaned in and lowered his voice.

"Advice about the rebels."

Glynn looked at him, surprised at the native's knowledge of such things. "Go on," he said cautiously.

"My...er, employer is very sympathetic and apologizes for not being able to reveal base coordinates to you. He also had trouble acquiring the location of the last base, and by the time he did, it was too late."

Glynn had no clue what was going on, but he put on a sabacc face and continued with the conversation. "And...?"

"The Rebels are getting suspicious of our friend. That is why he had to turn you away, and why sending me to speak was necessary. He decided that your dispatch is the best chance he has to inform the Empire of the situation. He's been waiting for you for quite some time."

Suddenly it all clicked. They thought he was an Imperial spy! They wanted him to deliver a message to the Empire. He must have said something to someone...

"Well, what is it?" He decided to play along. This could be what he needed to feed the rebels for the base location.

"As well as this camp, Mr. Jorris has discovered the location of another like it."

"You're not a very good messenger, dropping you employer's name around like that in such a public place." Glynn glared at the native. Inwardly, he grinned with glee, having seen an office labeled 'Trane Jorris' in the 'bank.'

"Apologies. Though it is doubtful that anyone could hear us above the racket in here. But, the camp is located on--" the Transaddinnian's eyes darted around the room and he leaned closer "--Parsnil."

"Ah, yes." Glynn stroked his chin. "We've suspected activity on Parsnil for some time."

"The employer suggests you break in and complete your mission there. It is too risky with your face already on the security discs to do it here. He also asks you inform the superiors of the change of plans."

"Affirmative. Thank you for your services to the Empire. You shall be rewarded for your loyalty." Riiiight...

"Thank you." The Transaddinnian got up. "Oh, and one more thing. Dispose of the girl. The employer is confused as to her presence and feels she could be a liability." Glynn felt his blood run cold.

"Understood."

--

"Saera?" Glynn banged on the door of the guest room.

"Gods, Glynn. Take a hint and go away!" came through the door, muffled.

"I think you're gonna want to hear this though. I've gotten a big breakthrough in our problem."

"Yeah, like what? I really should write him fan mail?" Even after being stuck in her room for a whole day she was obviously still determined to be angry.

"No, no, I talked to someone on the surface. They gave information about something on Parsnil. It sounds very promising, but I'm not going to yell it through a door all day." Patience. Patience is a virtue... Sure enough, Saera unlocked the door and he dashed in before she changed her mind.

"I swear, it sounds authentic." he quickly blurted out the story while it was still fresh in his mind, omitting his orders to kill her, not wanting to upset her further.

"I don't know, it seems a little suspicious," Saera said, sitting on the bunk, when he'd told her everything. "I mean, isn't it an awful coincidence that they're waiting for this spy, then you say something to the right person and they assume it's you?"

"Yeah, I'll admit it's kinda convenient. But who would want to set a trap for us? This is the perfect opportunity to gain sympathy on Parsnil, by telling them about Jorris. We'll tell them...we'll say you're pregnant with Skywalker's child! That'll be why you need to know where he is."

"Ok." Saera blushed.

"Then it's settled. Parsnil." He began to exit, then turned. "Look, Saera, I really am sorry about that I thing I said, you know? It was pretty low..."

"Yeah, I know, she replied quietly. "I guess I'm just a big baby for shutting myself up for so long..."

"Well, uh, sorry." He walked away.