Chapter 10
Mira was finishing up the last checks of her ship when B.C. walked up.
"I'm sorry for earlier my friend. I let things get out of hand."
"It's ok B.C. I pushed you when I shouldn't have. Are you ready to go get our friends?"
B.C. nodded and then climbed aboard the Commenor's Dream. It didn't take long before they were off and headed toward Thespin. As soon as they were out of the planets hold Mira turned to B.C.
"Ok, so can I at least know what we are getting ourselves into?"
B.C. sighed. She really didn't want to explain the what had happened all those years ago. She wanted to put it behind her and move on, but somehow the past always came to haunt her.
"My gut feeling is telling me it's her. If it is, I couldn't bring myself to harm her then, and I don't think I can now." B.C. said as she looked out the main window of the Commenor's dream and watched the stars fly by.
"Well then, if this person knows all your tricks, then how do you suppose we get around that?"
B.C. turned to Mira, " She know's my old tricks, and what I taught her. She doesn't know yours. Still got those thermal detenators?"
"Never leave the temple without them." Mira said.
"Good, we are going to need them. The one thing that's bothering me though is how she would have known I was alive. You said yourself it took some detective work to find me out. I had set up a rumor that I was dead, many belived it and I would have figured my old self would have stayed that way."
"Only one way to find out.So do you want to lead this mission, since your more experianced on this planet then I am?" Mira asked.
"We work together. I'm going to need your Jedi senses. Thespin is the outer rim worlds version of Ord Mantell. Mostly alot of droid factories, mining factories and the last hole in the ground for scum at the end of the universe."
"I see," Mira stated. " So we can't go in and grab, we have to be cautious about it. Well then we make sure we don't play fair, and we do as the locals."
B.C. nodded and stared off again thinking of what had happened all those years ago on Thespin.
A way's away from the Commenor's dream a tiny ship was following. It wasn't close enough to be picked up in Mira's scanners. In the tiny ship Merak sat at the helm. He programed in the corrodinates and let the ship fly itself.
"Master Skywalker, I will show you I'm a true Knight, and not an arrogant kid. I'll show up that hunter and Mira and bring the four Jedi back myself. The Hunter know's who kidnapped them, so who's to say she isn't leading Mira right into a trap and both of you are to blind to see she's evil. I felt the dark side in her. I will redeme myself and show you all I earned the rank of Jedi Knight." Merak thought to himself. He had tried to meditate in his room as Luke had said, but again meditation wasn't his thing, action was. He kept his ship on course but far enough away to be out of scanner range of the Commenor's dream.
It didn't take the Commenor's Dream long to fly to the planet. Mira opened up a frequency and asked for the nearest hanger on the lie that her freighter was having engine trouble and needed to land. She was given the coordinates for a landing pad. Mira nodded to B.C. who raised the hood on her cloak and made sure her sabers were hiden well. The ship came down for a gentle landing on one the pad and Mira nodded. She brought B.C. over to the locker and took out a few detonators and handed them over. Then it was time to leave the ship. Mira lowered the ramp and then a feeling hit her. One she was all to familiar with. She quickly rose the hood of her cloak and headed out quickly down the ramp. B.C. rose and eyebrow and limped after her friend with Hunter following third in line.
"Hey wait up, what's going on?" B.C. asked loudly.
Mira turned to make sure her ship locked itself up and then looked at B.C.
" That scruffy nerf hearder told me he wouldn't dare, but he did." Mira said with frustration.
"Who?" B.C. asked clearly not understanding Mira.
"Follow me." Mira said as she hurried out of the bay and around the corner.
B.C. rushed to keep up and spotted Mira headed down the alley and turning the corner.
"Hunter Follow her, don't loose site of her." B.C. told her droid who quickly responded and rolled after Mira.
B.C. soon spotted Hunter near the door of a bar. She nodded to her droid and walked in just in time to see Mira walk up to a patron at the bar, spin the person around and slug them hard in the face.
"What the hell was that for?" The guy asked.
"You know full well. You told me you were doing a run in the Core worlds, You didn't say a dam thing about comming here!"
B.C. walked up causiously. Mira was never one to loose her temper, but here she was slugging someone. The crowd around the bar moved away not sure if a blaster fight, which was common would ensue. The guy lowered his hood and looked to Mira. B.C. cautiously put a hand on her own saber just in case. Just then the man rose and Mira and him kissed. Mira pushed away and looked at the guy.
"So what are you doing here?" She asked.
"Was doing business in the Core worlds, got word a star destroyer was headed this way, so I sort of snuck aboard to see what the fuss was about. So I've answered your question, what are you doing here?" The guy stated.
B.C. kept her hood up and was puzzled by the turn of events. She heard him ask and walked up.
"Need to know basis, and right now I need to know what the hell is going on?"
Mira laughed and looked to B.C. Not wanting to give anything away she looked to the guy.
"Well not here. Come on. To many eyes." Mira said.
B.C. followed the two of them out and back to Mira's ship. She then turned around and once again kissed the guy, this time more deeply then before.
"I was worried you wouldn't make it out from the empire's grasp this time."
"Hey, look who your talking to. The empire can't keep me away from you all the time." The guy said.
B.C. shook her head. " Will one of you tell me what's going on?"
"B.C. This is my husband Aren." Mira said.
"Husband? I thought Jedi weren't supposed to love and all that."
"Luke set new rules and precidence when he created the temple. We got married a few years back. Aren isn't a Jedi, but we have a bond a very close one. He's a trader and a spy for us. He can get in and out of places the Jedi can't. He keeps tabs on the empire for us."
"Alright, this is going to take some getting used to. You were the last one I expected to settle down." B.C. told Mira.
Aren laughed. "Mira settle down hardly, It's hard enough keeping tabs on her, worse off getting on her bad side, where I must say I find myself most of time."
"Well love is and interesting thing, and well I just couldn't say no. Well introductions are in order. Aren, this is B.C. Orion. The hunter I told you about a while back."
"Thought she was dead oh well, there are alot of ghost's in this galaxy." Aren stated.
"I'm no ghost. And I'd like to get this mission moving so I can go back to being dead."
Mira nodded and looked to Aren.
" Four of our companions came here and have been kidnapped. Have you heard anything about it?" Mira asked Aren.
"Well they did say they were rondevuing with someone here. Something about a reward. The empire has a heavy presense just a few blocks from here in one of the warehouses. I couldn't get close enough to see without blowing my cover. "
"That must be where their at. Aren, any idea what the Destoryer's name was?" Mira asked, she knew some of the names and that would narrow down who in the empire they were facing.
"Mira, I'm sorry, It's the Vengance." Aren said as he placed a hand on his wives shoulder.
B.C. sensed an imediate change in Mira. She could tell her friend had just heard some bad news and could see the color drain from Mira's face.
" Ok so we are up against the Vengance, what is there you two aren't telling me?" B.C. asked.
" The Vengance is his ship B.C., Let's go, If he's here then we don't have much time. He will know the Jedi will send another group to save their own. Let's just hope he doesn't realize it's me." Mira said, she seemed more determined now then ever to get on with the mission.
"Mira you don't have to face him this time, let me do it." Aren asked.
"I'm the reason he turned Aren. He wants me. He hates you and you know dam well he will take any opportunity he can to kill you. And having let the dark side take over, that could amount to anything." Mira told Aren.
"Then we go all together. I'm not leaving you to fact that madman, and I sure as hell am not going to stand by and worry about you getting into something bigger then you realize." Aren stated firmly.
B.C. just shook her head. "You mean to tell me that wacko survived the war? Damit, now this does throw a kink in the plan. We go together, hopefully we can get in and out without to much carnage. You have your skeleton's here, I have mine. Let's go."
"Alright, but don't get in my way, He want's me and won't hold back, neither will I. If he hurts you Aren I won't be responsible for my actions."
"He hurts you and I'll do what you can't Mira." Aren stated as he kissed Mira one more time.
B.C. headed off to go find the young Jedi. Mira and Aren followed. Aren checked his blaster and looked to Mira who nodded seriously. She checked agian to make sure she had her detonators and her sabers. She then covered her head and followed B.C.
On the other side of the city Merak landed his ship and hopped out. He would need to find his way around by himself. Remembering what Mira taught him he rose his hood to keep his face hidden. He headed toward a nearby pub that he saw some beings enter. He figured he may find some informaiton there. As he walked in he noticed a few storm troopers talking to the bartender. He walked over to the bar but kept away from the troopers. He listened as they asked the bartender about any suspious characters he had seen. The bar tender shook hishead no, shrugged and walked over to Merak.
"What will it be?" The bartender asked.
"Just some information, I'm looking for friends of mine." Merak asked.
The troopers looked over at him and walked over.
"You, state your name and business here." The first trooper asked.
The bartender sensing Merak was busy went to go serve another customer. Merak sighed and looked to the trooper to answer his quesiton.
"Friends of mine are lost here. I'm looking for them to bring them home. Now why is the empire here causing trouble?" He stated calmly.
"That is none of your concern. Interfear with the empire and we will put you under arrest."
"Like that will happen." Merak stated as he rolled his eyes.
"What's your name kid." Anthor trooper asked.
"Merak, and for your information, I'm not a kid, I'm a Jedi."
That was all the troopers needed to act.
"Under the laws set by Lord Scorpious of the empire you are under arrest for treason and breaking Law 2551 of the Jedi relocation code." The first trooper said.
The other troopers rose their blasters on Merak. He was stripped of his lightsaber and pushed out of the bar. He was captured. He cursed himself for being an idiot but didn't know how to get out of this jam just yet.
The Stormtroopers led Merak to the warehouse and pushed him inside. Once they were inside his eyes adjusted quickly. He was taken to the other end of the warhouse and pushed thru a set of doors. The smell old water and dirt hung in the air. He was pushed into an old jail cell and lost his balance falling to the floor. The shield went up and he cursed. When the troopers left he stood up and felt a bit dizzy. Looking across the way he saw to figures in the shadows.
"Who's there?" He asked cautiously.
"Depends, who are you? What did you do?" One of the other figures asked.
"My names Merak, I'm a Jedi knight." Merak stated as he looked around the cell for a way out. As he did a voice from a bit farther down the hall shouted back.
"Please tell me Master Skywalker sent someone a bit older then you to help get us out of here. Did you come with anyone else?" The voice asked.
"No I came alone, but I'll get you out." Merak replied. He put a hand to the force field and got a rather nasty shock. He then continued to look for a weakness.
"Did they just forget about us, or did they stop caring all together, why just send one, when they can send an army. There has to be a reason." stated one of the other voices with frustration.
"And to send a young knight at that. They must be getting desperate." Said another.
"Enough, so your all the Jedi that were sent here right? " Merak asked.
"Great, and Master Skywalker couldn't even send a bright one at that. Is this your first mission kid?" The guy in the cell next to Merak's asked.
"No, if you must know it's my second." Merak stated as he followed a clear plastic tube to the front of his cell
Groans echoed down the hall.
"Well kid, then there's no use, things just got worse." Said an older man in the cell across from Merak's.
"Why don't we use the force to get out?" Merak asked.
"We can't, see those tubes above the cells, The creatures in there are ysalamiri. They create a force bubble that hinders our ability to use the force. So we are not able to use the force, or we would." The older Jedi said again.
"I see. Well I don't see it as getting worse. I know your all safe now, so that's a plus, Master Skywalker knows where you guys are at, so it's only a matter of time."
"Yeah before he sends outhers."Said another Jedi from down the hall.
Merak continued to look for a way out, but wasn't finding any.
Outside in the streets B.C. was leading the way followed by Mira and Aren. They came up on an ally that ran up to the warehouse.
"That's the place." Aren said. They watched a group of storm troopers walk past the alley while on patrol.
"We need a diversion." Mira said as she looked to Aren who shrugged and then to B.C.
"Leave that to me." B.C. replied as she called Hunter over. "Hunter will you be so kind as to draw those troopers away."
The droid beeped and rolled off down the alley, before he exited he trasformed into the scorpion and climbed up the wall. As he went around the corner two large blasts were heard. Then the four troopers ran again past the alley toward hunter. Blaster fire and shouts could be heard.
"That's our cue. Thanks B.C." Mira said as she and Aren headed down the alley. They were more nimble then B.C. who took her time being careful. She still walked with a limp which made her conciderabley slower then Aren and Mira.
Mira and Aren were the first to get to the warehouse. They ducked behind just as two troopers were running past, pursude by Hunter who was now apparently having fun with target practice. B.C. shook her head. She watched them run off and then motioned for Mira and Aren to enter the warehouse. Mira found a side door and using her saber cut the lock. The two of them slipped inside. B.C. on the other hand went to the front door and looked both ways before letting herself in. The inside of the warehouse was dark. Mira and Aren were careful to navigate around some crates but couldn't get a clear view. B.C. raised her eyepatch and activated her night vision. She could make out Mira and Aren on the other side of the room, then she saw a door to the rear. She slowly tried to make her way toward the door, as did Aren and Mira. Then they heard the door slam shut. B.C. looked aroudn quickly and was blinded temporily when the bright lights of the warehouse lit up. She quickly coverd her eye with the eyepatch and looked ahead. Mira was ready with her lightsaber and Aren had his blaster.
"Well Well well, what has the spider caught in his web." A dark sinister voice stated.
B.C. tried to look where it was comming from and found him.
"Mira, up top." B.C. called to her friend.
Mira saw him standing there. Her blood ran cold. She knew this day would come again, she just always hated the suspense.
"Jayce, why don't you come down here, we can talk about this." Mira said.
"You always were a fool Mira, taking him rather then me. You always pushed me away, but today is my day Mira. For you see this is the day you come to my side, either wilingly or not, I don't care anymore." Jayce said evily. "Oh and look you brought along extra baggage, no worry, He'll make for good target practice. And who's the other. I figured Luke would only send two. No matter."
"Jayce I'll never go to your side. You've let the dark side cloud yourself for all these years. Your a madman and I won't take yourside ever again. The friend I knew is gone, I know that now." Mira shouted back.
"Oh but you will Mira, for you see I have the chips on my side. I have five of your friends, and I'll make you a deal. I'll spare their lives and let them go, but only if you agree to stand by my side and give up the Jedi forever."
"Mira won't do that, and I won't let you take her that easily." Aren yelled to Jayce.
"Ah but you don't have a choice in the matter. If she can't love me, then I will make sure she doesn't love anyone."Jayce answered back, grinning evily.
B.C. just shook her head and backed away a bit.
"Come on Jayce, this is between you and me. Let the others go. Then we can talk this over."
"NO, you agree to my demands or I start taking them out one by one."
"Jayce you know I won't do that. No matter how many times you try, I will not agree to your demands." Mira replied.
"Fine I told you I'd have you come to my side one way or another. " He said angrily. "But before I cone down to show you the error of your ways and how strong the dark side really is. Let's see how well you do against some of your own."