"I can't shake him!" Lee cried out as he maneuvered to dodge the incoming fire from two Imperial Tie Fighters on their tail.
"Shields at thirty percent," Denz grimly announced. "If you can't lose them, we need to land."
"Jules, you asleep?! Where's my return fire?!" Lee yelled frustrated. He didn't want to land fearing they would be arrested and forced to abandon the ship.
"I don't have a shot, Tersu!" Jules answered, firing the guns toward the fighters missing repeatedly.
"Gee, with aim like that, they might think we're on their side," Denz joked.
"Shut up Denz!" Jules yelled back.
"We're out of options," Rya ordered. "Land."
"Why? So they can arrest us?" Lee protested as he rolled the ship to the right, hoping to buy them more time.
"Shields are gone," Denz confirmed as the ship shook violently. Lee grunted and sharply turned the ship into the atmosphere of Tatooine.
"Brace yourself for impact!" Lee alerted the crew.
The Stargazer accelerated toward the ground and began to break apart. Lee did his best to guide the ship away from any rocky terrain. The crew gripped their seats as they crashed into the sand.
CRASH!
"Ugh," Denz groaned.
"Quickly everyone out," Rya instructed as the sound of the Tie Fighters grew louder. The four quickly deboarded and ran as fast as they could away from the ship. The Tie Fighters swooped in and relentlessly fired at the Stargazer until it exploded.
BOOM!
The impact of the blast threw the crew forward face into the sand. Luckily no one was injured, but the place they knew as home for the last three years was gone. They looked back at their ship that was burning under the two suns on the dune sea.
"Come on," Rya said standing and dushing the sand off her clothes. "At least we're in the Outer Rim. We can arrange transport to Dantooine from here."
"Where are we?" Jules asked.
"Tatooine," Lee said. "Hutt territory. But there's an Imperial presence."
"Which means there'll be an imperial unit out here in no time to inspect the crash," Rya added.
"Nothing like a bunch of bucketheads playing in the sand," Denz remarked. "Well at least there'll be less of them in town."
The crew made their way to Mos Eisley. The number of Imperial Troopers patrolling the streets wasn't on an occupational level but there were two troopers posted on every major cross street. Most looked bored and unfocused, which worked in their favor. Though in reality the stormtroopers would be the least of their worries. Finding a way out of Mos Eisley was going to be the trick.
"So this is the armpit of the galaxy," Denz said as they turned the corner headed toward a cantina. "Why do they call it that?"
"Because it is the worst place you could get stuck," Jules muttered.
"I can think of worse places," Lee said as he watched two troopers harass a local vendor for his identification. One trooper reached across the stand and shook the vendor violently. Lee gripped his blaster's handle but then felt Rya's hand on his. She shook her head. Lee released his grip and followed the three into Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina.
"Great idea Ry, I could use a drink," Denz said, stretching unfazed by the dimly lit tavern. The others were apprehensive of the other patrons as all eyes turned to them as they entered.
"You sure about this?" Lee asked nervously.
"If I say no, would it help the situation?" Rya sarcastically asked. "Take that booth in the corner. I'm going to contact Mon and brief her on our situation. I'll be back soon. If you see any Imps, get out of sight."
"Want me to come with you?" Lee offered.
"Always, but someone needs to keep an eye on those two," Rya motioned to Denz and Jules who had already broken away and made it to the bar for a drink.
"Be careful," Lee kissed her on the cheek, and joined his crew mates. At a time like this, drinking wasn't the smartest move, but it would calm everyone's nerves while they regrouped.
"What's your poison, Tersu?" Denz asked. "I'll get the first round."
"Whatever you're having," Lee said, scanning the room to make sure there was no one following them. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted another orange twi'lek who was staring straight at them with a frightened expression on her face.
"A dangerous choice," Jules said, sipping her drink and was abruptly grabbed.
"I'll teach you to run away from me you little kung!" a man yelled, pulling Jules away and shaking her.
"Hey!" Denz dropped the drinks in his hands and punched the man. Lee pulled Jules back and stood in front of her. The man stood up to find Lee's blaster pointing directly in his face.
"Back away you moof-milker," Lee said glaring at the man.
"She belongs to me!" the man yelled as the bar fell silent and turned their attention to Lee.
"I belong to no one you pig!" Jules yelled. The man looked at her and then Lee and Denz. He realized he had made a mistake.
"You twi'leks look all the same," the man growled rubbing his chin where Denz had hit him.
"Let's try that apology again," Lee held his stance. The man squinted his eyes as he glared back at Lee.
"I'll do no such thing," he growled.
"Hey Yex! Your twi'lek! She's over here!" another man yelled and pointed to the twi'lek he was looking for. Yex rushed over and grabbed her. The twi'lek shrieked in horror as her owner collected her.
"You! You've embarrassed me for the last time," the twi'lek pleaded asYex dragged her to the center of the dancefloor. "No! Please! I won't run away again."
Yex took out a blaster and shot the twi'lek in the heart. Her body went limp. She was dead. The room was silent for a moment until the band continued to play their instruments as if nothing had happened. Everyone in the bar returned to their business except Lee, Denz, and Jules. Jules's eyes were fixed on the dead twi'lek as her body was carried out of the bar. She closed her eyes tightly and thought of her sister, of her parents, and her people. What good had fighting in the rebel alliance done if her kind were still so easily discarded? She felt the sorrow and anger boiling up within her until she felt Lee's arm wrap around her.
"Let's take the booth in the corner." Lee said, guiding her away from the crowd with Denz following. The three sat in silence hoping Rya would return quickly. Mos Eisley was more than they had bargained for.
"I must say the decor of some men is quite deplorable these days. But again that's Mos Eisley for you," it was Lando Calrissian standing at the head of the table with three glasses. He placed them on the table. "Here, on me kids."
"How nice," Denz surprised by the kind gesture and reached for one of the glasses.
"No thanks," Lees said and stopped Denz from taking the glass. "We're not thirsty."
"I see," Lando looked at Lee trying to place his face. "A rare thing on a desert planet, stranger."
Lee wanted nothing more to do than to curse Calrissian out, but he was halted by the sight of stormtroopers entering the bar. The three rebels turned their faces and stared at the table.
"Might I suggest a game of sabacc to lighten the mood?" Lando suggested as he noticed the group's awkwardness. "I'm Lando Cal–"
"Calrissian," Lee cut the gambler off. "I know."
"Lee, maybe we should get going," Denz warned. Lee turned his face to make sure Lando got a good look at him.
"Please I insist you stay," Lando presseed. "I'd love to get to know a bright young man who is aware of my reputation. What's your name son?"
"Lee. Lee Tersu," Lee said as he watched the stormtrooper beginning to approach the booths in the bar.
"Tersu," Lando rubbed his chin. "That sounds familiar."
" You played a game of sabacc against my father once on Lothal. Though I'm convinced it wasn't entirely legit," Lee refreshed the gambler's memory.
"I'm a professional son. Even the luckiest of men stand no chance against me," Lando smiled at the group."But I do recall your father was an exceptional player, for a farmer anyhow. How is the old man?"
"Dead," Lee abruptly announced.
"I'm sorry," Lando said. It was the only time the man had sounded genuine to Lee. "I insist, take the drinks. We can toast in remembrance to your father–"
"Riv," Lee corrected him.
"That's right. Riv," Lando said as he began to question why he had walked over in the first place. Originally he thought the group would be an easy target for a gambling match as they had entered the bar. They looked like a bunch of Peedunky youths looking for a quick thrill. But he had read them wrong, which was a first. Though perhaps the meeting would still be fruitful,"So what brings you to Tatooine, Lothalite?"
"Bad luck," Lee said, keeping his eye carefully on the stormtroopers moving closer and asking for identification. He looked at Jules and Denz knowing they needed to leave.
"You and half the scum in here," Lando took a sip of his drink.
"Yes, well hopefully we can change that," Lee stood to leave.
"Perhaps I can be of assistance," Lando offered.
"I doubt it."
"Come on Tersu," Lando pressed. "Let me help."
"Why? What's in it for you?" Lee questioned.
"Can't a man do a good deed for his fellow citizen?" Lando said as he motioned to the stormtroopers who were right next to them. Lee nodded and followed Lando out of the cantina and into the streets of Mos Eisley.
"I take it you three have something to do with the crash landing out in the dunes?" Lando asked, chuckling.
"There's four of us actually," Denz said.
"Are we that obvious?" Jules responded still shaken from the bar incident keeping her arms warped around herself protectively.
"Not to the common thief but definitely to a professional like me," Lando winked at her. "So am I safe in assuming you need transport of this dustball?"
"You got a ship?" Lee asked.
"I did," Lando said. "A real beauty. But it was taken by a pirate."
"Don't worry. I'm sure you can swindle enough to get a new one," Lee sassed. He didn't entirely trust Lando even though he seemed intent on helping them. If Lee had learned anything up until now was that gamblers always needed the promise of a payoff.
"It's not about the means, it's about the principle," Lando stopped abruptly and looked Lee square in the eye. "But I do know a pilot that can get you where you need to go and under the radar of imperial eyes. But she does cost."
"Figures. Lead the way," Lee said.
The four walked in the hangar to see a GAT-12h Skipray ship and a tall short-haired woman working on it.
"Kina! How lovely to see you," Lando greeted.
"Wish I could say the same for you," Kina grunted and tossed her tool into a bag. "To what do I owe this annoyance?"
"Hahaha that's what I always like about you Arde," Lando laughed. "Always having a unique point of view about things. Gentlemen and Lady, this is Captain Kina Arde of the Revenant."
"Howdy. Now, what's with the daycare?" she motioned to the three rebels standing behind him.
"We need transport to Dantooine," Lee interjected.
"What the hell is on Dantooine?" Kina asked.
"Our employment," Lee said vaguely.
"Uh huh," Kina nodded knowing there was more to the story. "If that's the case, the civilian transports are just a few gates over, kid."
"We'd like to avoid any imperial entanglements and other unnecessary check points," Lee explained, trying his best not to blow their cover. Kina scuffed and turned her attention to Lando.
"How many other pilots did you ask to take these nerfherding rebels to, before you came to me Calrissian?"Kina asked, offended.
"Just you," Lando responded as an R3-series droid rolled down the ship's ramp beeping. "Well if it isn't my favorite droid. How are you R3?"
Beep beep beep, the droid responded with an unhappy tone.
"How was I supposed to know they tried to use you as a bar droid?!" Lando defensively said to the droid. R3 then blew a raspberry at him and rolled over to Kina's side.
"Can't blame him. Last passengers you brought me trashed the Revenant thinking it was a luxury cruiser," she said, patting her droid on the head.
"We wouldn't do that," Denz assured her. "None of us have been on a luxury cruiser."
"Great, I'm convinced," Kina mocked. "But Dantooine is one my way–"
"We're not headed to Dantooine," Rya said entering the hangar. "New Orders. We're headed to the F'tzner System. If you could provide transport you'd be doing the galaxy a great service."
"I do live to serve. But that little detour is gunna cost ya," Kina said. "8,000. All up front."
"8,000!" Denz and Jules exclaimed in unison.
"Let's not forget the finder's fee," Lando added as Lee shot him a dirty look.
"I'm afraid that's out of our price range," Rya admitted.
"Well better luck next time, sister," Kina turned to walk up the ramp.
"We can do 6,000. Four now and two when we arrive," Rya offered.
"That's quite a cut for my services," Kina remarked.
"Lando will put up the remaining 2,000," Lee said abruptly.
"What?!" Lando yelled.
"You said you wanted to help your fellow citizen didn't you?" Lee reminded him.
"I brought you here," Lando clarified. "That's the extent of my help."
"Well perhaps you should take it as an opportunity to right your past wrongs," Lee said as the group grew confused by Lee's statement.
"Who is this kid, Lando," Kina laughed. "I like him."
"He's no one! Some kid whose father I'd beat out of his life savings years ago," Lando yelled.
"Beat or stole? How common is an idiot's array? And yet it popped up twice on Lothal." Lee asked. Lando's eyes grew. "We lothalites might be simple but we look out for our own, and talk. I know you had the same hand dealt at Old Jho's Pit Stop. It'd be a shame if your professional gambling reputation came into question."
"You can't make that stick," Lando argued.
"Fine, try me. But I got the info from a very unhappy droid who was the prize of the game," Lee smirked thinking of Chopper from the Ghost crew who recounted the story to the protocol droids on base.
"That's what I hate about these small farming planets, everyone's a gossip. Even the droids," Lando rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll cover the extra two."
"Fantastic!" Kina said as R3 beeped. "Well kids, welcome aboard to the Revenant!"
"Strange name for a ship," Jules said while boarding.
"On the contrary sweetheart, this baby has died more times than I can count. But she keeps coming back," Kina said, winking at Jules flirtatiously.
"That's not very reassuring," Denz remarked as R3 rolled over his feet. "Ouch!"
"Don't fret too much, Calrissian. I'm sure you'll make it up on your next venture," Lee mockingly saluted him and boarded. It felt immensely good to see Lando standing alone frustrated with his cape fluttering behind him as they left the hangar.