It was late. The rooms Han and Drionn paid for had two beds in each. Tallis took the bed near the window. Snuggled under the covers she shifted and turned as noiselessly as possible. Drionn was still as a rock on his bed just a few feet away. Intently Tallis starred at him and wondered how he could be so calm. Just earlier he came back to tell the group he had arranged a meeting with Ocubas tomorrow evening. Luke's would-be assassin was finally going to be revealed and stopped. For good. The idea of getting back to Luke and Obi-Wan caused such restlessness now. How Tallis missed her Jedi teacher and the sweet earnest being that was Luke Skywalker. It felt like years already since she'd seen either of them.

"Even Jedi need sleep you know." Drionn said, suddenly snapping Tallis out of her excited, jumping thoughts.

"Sorry," she said softly. "I didn't mean to disturb you."

"You didn't." Drionn turned onto his side, stray light from the window glinted in his eyes. "You worry me sometimes though."

Tallis propped herself up on her elbow. "How?"

"You're sad. You're not the happy, clumsy padawan I remember."

Tallis chuckled. "People change. Look at you, I never thought of you as bounty hunter material."

"I guess you have a point." Drionn conceded.

"Now, what about your friend? What's the plan?"

Drionn sat up in bed. "As long as we don't make sudden moves we should be fine."

"And if we do have to make sudden moves?"

"Tal, you let me handle it okay?" Drionn said with a stern tone of voice. "He's taken down people like you, more skilled too."

Tallis thought about objecting, but before that could happen she also realized this was Drionn's territory. It was even Han and Chewie's more than hers. "Okay," She agreed readily. "I'll follow your lead. Like the good old days."

~~~

"Can't believe you don't like my stuff." Han whined as he and Chewbacca watched Tallis riffle through a clothing rack in the first store they could find.

Tallis laughed. "Well, your clothes are for taller human males. And I'm... well." She gestured to herself humorously.

"I see your point." Han said with a raised hand of surrender. Humor glinted in his hazel eyes.

"Hey, I appreciate the loan, really I do." She said firmly. "But Luke will actually keep and use them."

Han nodded. "The kid doesn't exactly have a choice."

"Yeah..." Tallis mused while moving to the next line of borderline feminine clothing.

"What about this one?" Han said, obviously getting bored of only watching the slow process of a woman shopping.

"Han, that's white."

"So?" Han asked, oblivious.

"White gets filth ridden easily." Tallis explained. "I don't have Leia's skills at keeping clean."

Han snorted in agreement. "Pretty sure they're exclusive powers of hers."

"No kidding. I'd rather something green or brown." Tallis said. "Less easy to get dirty."

"What about blue?"

Tallis glanced back to see Han holding out a dark blue dress. "Maybe." She said, joining her friend to inspect the dress.

It was a dark navy blue with a high tie-up neckline and fitted sleeves that flared out just above the elbow. The skirt was long and rested in folds, promising a very elaborate turn. While it was not exactly Tallis' simple style, the store was offering much worse. "I'll take it." She decided, relieving Han of the dress and going to the cashier to pay for it.

They left the store after Tallis changed in the public fresher. She came out practically glowing with Han's clothes neatly folded and draped across her arm. "I'm never taking dresses for granted again." Relief was thick in her voice.

Han smirked. "You're a funny kid. Now let's get going, Drionn called me while you were in there."

"Show time?"

Chewbacca roared in affirmation, and the trio hurried back to the hotel.

~~~

"I have a bad feeling about this." Han said as they approached the hotel.

Tallis flashed a small grin his way."It's fine, Han. I sense no danger to us."

"No offense to your magic mumbo jumbo," Han said with a roll of his eyes, "but I like to listen to something a little more old fashioned; my gut."

"Fair enough. Just don't get too jumpy."

Chewbacca suddenly let off a few gutural wuffing sounds.

Tallis tilted her head, listening to his words before nodding. "Good idea, Chewie. Although it's not much of a plan."

Han began to tick off their plan. "Well we have a private booth reserved. Drionn takes him in to meet us, we have a little chat and maybe get a recorded confession." He patted the small recording machine in his vest pocket.

"I don't know whether it's simple or simply stupid. We're way too exposed sitting with a killer."

Han shrugged. "We just gotta act convincingly. Which means you keep your mouth shut, Blue."

Tallis raised her hands in acceptance. "No arguments there."

Han pushed the door open and led them into the cantina. Because of the early afternoon patrons were few and loners scattered across the cantina. There was only one Twi'lek dancer entertaining in a far off corner, her music distant. Even the flashing lights were gone and a blue hue rested over the cantina. A peaceful atmosphere and a complete one-eighty from the nighttime partying.

Once they reached the booth they took their seats. It was a circular booth in another far corner. Noise cancelling blinds were folded behind the booth and ready to be pulled into place. Han left them alone for the time being as he took a seat between Tallis and Chewbacca. Now all they were missing was Drionn and the bounty hunter.

Tallis quietly drummed her fingers on the table, at first feeling as patient as one could be under these circumstances. But slowly that calm was slipping towards impatience as the minutes ticked by. Drionn was officially late.

"What if Ocubas jumped him?" Tallis finally spoke her worrying thoughts.

Han looked grim. "That's a possibility. But give him a bit more time. Bounty hunters aren't always punctual if money isn't involved."

Tallis smiled at the attempt of reassurance, but nodded in agreement to wait a few more minutes. After all, her danger sense was not ringing. Everything was fine. The Force said so. And why would it lie? Everything was going to be fine-

A small stinging sensation suddenly blossomed in her neck. Tallis swatted at what she assumed was an insect, but her hand grazed something hard and immobile. Tallis grimaced as she grasped the tiny object and pulled it from her skin to see a small, metallic dart. Not one she had ever seen before. Furrowing her brows, she found herself at a loss to understand what this dart was doing in her grasp.

Han was faster to react than she was. "Shavit!" He spat. Suddenly he upended the table onto its side. Grabbing Tallis, he pulled her down and took the small dart from her fingers. "Blue? Blue you all right?" He asked, voice a tone of urgency.

Tallis blinked. She shook her head but found it foggy and her vision unclear. The Force was hazy. Han's voice sounded obnoxiously loud and then distorted as if they were underwater. Even the soft blue lights were are too bright. "We're in trouble."

"Ya think?" Han asked with grim sarcasm. Readying his blaster, Han peered over the table. The man the single Twi'lek had been dancing for was now standing. The Twi'lek was nowhere to be seen and the human had a small blaster in his hand.

"Chewie, got your crossbow?"

Chewbacca roared an affirmative while hefting the massive weapon off his back.

"Blue, how you doin'?" Han glanced back to their Jedi friend.

Tallis nodded groggily, one hand already holding a lightsaber. "I'll be fine."

"Just stay back. Chewie and I have dealt with worse." Han said as he turned and watch their foe approach.

"That's close enough!" He snapped at the hunter. His blaster leveled and ready to shoot.

The man stopped. In the blue light his features were slightly obscured, but Han could easily peg this guy as a sadistic bounty hunting brute.

"Not another step or Chewie here will blow your head off."

Chewbacca growled ugly, emphasizing Han's threat.

The hunter barked a laugh. "I have no doubt. But I also have no worries."

Han smirked. "And why's that?"

"Because you need me." The hunter said confidently. "Something about how you've been framed, and you need someone to take that guilt off you."

Chewbacca grunted and glanced at Han in question. And suspicion.

"And who told you that." Han asked slowly, but a heavy rock was starting to settle in his gut. Ocubas was here. And Drionn was nowhere in sight.

"Mutual friend." Came the reply.

"What did you do to the Mando?" Han demanded to know, glaring at the hunter from behind their cover.

Ocubas smirked. "If you think I killed him, I can assure you he's alive. We just cut a deal."

The Force though hazy suddenly blared in warning. Twisting around Tallis flung her hand up. The blinds behind them shattered and smashed into the other booths and wall. Along with them was a Mandalorian.

Han did not hesitate to fire. Ocubas was faster and found shelter easily. He was ready to return the volley of lasers with his own.

Tallis got to her feet and forced herself over the booth before Ocubas could shoot her in the back. Igniting a lightsaber she moved towards the prone Mandalorian.

"What the hell, Drionn." She hissed, staggering towards him, pure will keeping her knees from buckling.

Slowly Drionn raised himself on an elbow. "You wouldn't get it."

Her head began to pound loudly. But Tallis ignored it and focused her intentions upon one thing. Ignoring all else. "I think I do. You want Han's bounty. This is a trap for him."

A dry chuckle emitted from Drionn's vocoder. "You're hilariously smarter with poison in your veins."

Tallis did not get a chance to reply. Drionn raised his blaster pistol and fired. The laser bounced off Tallis' blade, just barely avoiding her body. The sudden movement however caused a new wave of weakness through her limbs. They felt like jelly as her knees gave out abruptly.

"What did you do?"

Drionn stood. "It'll pass in a few hours." Slowly he approached.

"Don't you touch me." Tallis growled, grabbing onto the wall to pull herself back up. Drionn raised a foot and kicked her squarely in the chest.

Her lightsaber dropped and the blade sputtered out as Tallis hit the floor on her back, wheezing from the sudden impact.

Drionn knelt beside her. "Believe it or not Tal, but I'm not looking to hurt you." He explained, voice almost gentle.

Tallis swallowed audibly, feeling sick as she raised a fist. Drionn grabbed her wrist before she could even throw the punch. "Solo and the wookiee are coming with me." Drionn said lowly. "The Falcon will still be in the docking bay. Take it and go back to your rebels."

"I'm not let.. letting you take them." Tallis said. She wished she had more conviction in her words, and strength to match them. But Drionn's concoction had done its work. The girl was weakened beyond immediate repair. Her body could just barely respond to her commands as she glared daggers at the man she once called brother.

"Why are you doing this? We're friends. We're-"

Drionn suddenly lashed out, his hand slapping Tallis across her face. The sudden snap sent a more intense wave of numb agony spreading through her head. The Force was gone. The darkness of unconscious rest was creeping towards her. And there was not an inch of resistance to give.

And as it took her, Drionn's voice drifted far away. Just barely did she hear his warning.

"Follow me and I'll kill you."