In a bar Tex was playing cards with two others with one of them sitting in the dark. G-merl poked his head up and beeped "Right. Like I'd let a gizoid tell me how to play shuffle. I'm in". Tex threw a few rings into the middle of the table, G-merl banged his head against the table. Sonic was at the bar speaking to Ben the Bartender "Hey, it doesn't have to be a big job, Ben. Just something to put fuel in the Hurst and food in our bellies" "Sorry, Sonic. Got nothing. But the stranger playing with Tex over there said he was looking to hire a ship and crew. Go talk to him". Sonic gave Ben a few rings and then walked over to the table where Tex was now playing alone with the stranger "Guess it's down to you and me. Except, haha, it seems I'm all outta rings. So, I'll bet my gizoid". G-merl turned to him in surprise and Sonic shook his head "Whoa. You can't bet G-merl. He's…". Tex showed him his cards, Sonic whistled. Tex smirked "See, can't lose. And you know we need the rings". Sonic sighed "Do it", G-merl beeped angrily. Tex looked back to the stranger "So, do we have a bet?". The stranger laughed "We do" "Shuffle!". Tex put his cards on the table and laughed "I win" "Not so fast". He put down his cards It appears I have an Idiot's Array, which makes you, well…". G-merl banged his head against the table again and Tex growled "And what does that make you?". The stranger leaned into the light revealing a familiar face "Name's Khan. Monkey Khan. Now please, introduce me to my new Gizoid".
Later the group headed back to the Hurst with Khan. Inside Sally was helping Wave work a new Extreme Gear board while Tails was sitting on a crate. G-merl beeped and Tex sighed "I can explain" "Explain what?". Tex just walked past them. Sonic then entered "Sally, Wave, Tails. This is Monkey Khan. He needs a fast ship to move some cargo past the Imperial blockade of Emerald Hill". Khan bowed "Yes. For some reason, this planet has an unusually large presence". Sally glared at the nervous looking Sonic. Khan stepped towards Sally "But are you sure you can get this vessel past the blockade, Captain… Sally, is it" "It is. And the Hurst can mask both its signal and signature. We'll get you past the blockade. What's the cargo?". Khan glanced back to Sonic "I was told o questions asked" "That's fine. It just costs more" "Sonic and I already settled on a price. But I assume he requires your approval". Sally crossed her arms "He doesn't" "Excellent. When the job's done, you'll be paid handsomely and as agreed, I'll return your gizoid". Sally thought she had misheard him "Return our… Gizoid". She looked back and saw G-merl punching Tex's leg "Uh, yeah. Funny story. You see, Khan and I were playing Shuffle, and I kinda… bet G-merl". Sally's eyes opened wide "Tex, G-merl wasn't yours to bet!" "Sonic said it was okay". Sally turned to Sonic who backed away "And you should know better. Gem is a member of this crew!". Khan got between them "Whoa, whoa, whoa. We should go. I need to pick up my cargo and I don't want to keep my supplier waiting. Besides, if all goes well, there won't anything for you good people to argue about". Sally punched Sonic's arm before going to the cockpit.
They left orbit, Sonic and Sally were in the cockpit with Khan sitting behind them with G-merl "Oh, you're quite the pilot. That's the smoothest take-off I've had in years" "And you're quite the smooth-talking smuggler". Khan pretended to look insulted "Smuggler? Such a small word. I'm more of a… galactic entrepreneur". Sonic glanced back at him "That means businesses person" "I know what it means. G-merl, I ned you to fix the signature modulator so we can get past the blockade". G-merl beeped, "Gem's right. He's no longer a part of the crew. He doesn't have to do what you tell him anymore". Khan smirked "I can see you have some things to work out. I wonder, my new friend, if you'd be kind enough to give me a tour of this fine ship". G-merl nods and happily leads Khan outside.
Khan was examining art on the wall when G-merl handed him a drink "Why, thank you, G-merl". Tails and Tex were watching them with the latter looking annoyed "Can't believe the little bolt bucket's actually waiting on that guy" "I can't believe you lost him. I'm glad I wasn't there. You would have bet me" "No one would have wanted you. Besides, I think he cheated. I don't like him". Wave entered and walked over to Khan who smirked "Wave, I understand this is your work. Reminds me of Jaynor's protest paintings on Bith". Wave smiled "Janyor of Bith is a major influence" "Well, you work is even more stunning in its simplicity". Tails crossed his arms "I said it was good" he muttered to himself but "Yeah, but you didn't know why?". Tails was surprised but before he said anything Khan looked back to Wave "Milady, that's not fair. He's just a child with no experience of the galaxy" "I, um… don't suppose you'd like to see my more impressionistic pieces?" "I happen to be an impressionistic connoisseur". He looked to Tails "That means-" "I know what it means!" Tails said back. Khan shrugged and left with Wave. "I don't like that guy" Tails said to Tex.
The hip jumped out of hyperspace near another ship. Khan re-entered the cockpit and got on the commlink "Merchant-One, this Khan. Requesting permission to dock" "You have the goods?". Khan grinned "Always" "Ah, then permission granted".
Khan walked with Sonic and Sally through the docking bay "Now, whatever I say, just play along" "Wait. What does that mean?" Sonic said concerned. They waited at the door "I hope you have a backup plan in case something goes wrong" "No fear, Captain. If a comet hits, this ship has escape pods" "That's not exactly what I had in mind". The door opened and they were led through the ship by two guards. They entered a room where a brown weasel wearing glasses and an orange suit and hat. Khan smiled "Good to see you again, Wes". Wes was eating food from a tray being held by a servant robot. He glared at Khan "I have what you ordered. What do you have to offer in return?". Khan pushed Sally forward "Her name is Sally" "What!?" Sonic yelled as Sally stared confused. Sonic grabbed Khan's shoulder "You can't do this!" "Trust me" "Sally!". Sally stood up straight and glanced back at Sonic "A deal's a deal, Sonic". Wes stared at Sally, examining her "Hmm, the trade is acceptable". Sonic stepped forward and Khan grabbed his arm.
Sally looked back and bowed her head "Thank you, Lord Khan, for delivering me to my new master. I must find a way to repay you". Khan stepped forward and ignored the death glares he was getting from both of them "Please don't let it concern you". Wes rolled his eyes "Enough prattle. You disturb my supper Take your cargo and go" "As always, Wes, a pleasure doing business with you". Khan pushed a crate with Sonic following. They got back onboard the Hurst where Wave was waiting "Where's Sally?". Sonic stopped "Tell her about Sally, Khan" "Sally is following the plan, which is what we should be doing if we want to get her back". Tex then entered "Where's Sally?" "And what plan is she following?" Sonic added. Khan shrugged "I told her to take an escape pod" "You never told her that" "I did, actually. Weren't you paying attention? Besides, Sally strikes me as very capable. We are lucky to have a captain like her". He pushed the crate as Sonic followed "What'd you mean we?". Wave crosses her arms "Quite a day you're having. First, you lose G-merl, now Sally". The ships detached and the Hurst flew away. Khan brought the crate into the cargo bay where Tails stared at it "What's in here?" "Sophisticated mining equipment". A noise came from the crate "Uh, sound like your sophisticated mining equipment is snoring" "Just don't open the box. And whatever you do, keep it calm". Khan left, G-merl gave a mocking salute to Tails and Tex before following him.
Wes was messily eating fruit when he noticed Sally staring at him "You need food" "I seem to have lost my appetite. But perhaps you'd like me to serve you" "Yes, yes, yes. Good practice for you. Uh, serve me". Sally stepped forward and took the tray from the robot. She smiled and held it in front of Wes "And perhaps you'd prefer to dine alone?" "Mmm. Oh, yes. Leave us" Wes said to his guards who left. Sally smiled "Take the whole tray" "What'd you mean?". Sally hit him over the head with the tray twice knocking him out cold. Sally steps outside and looks to a guard "The master desires a little more alone time while I change clothes in my quarters". The guard led her away and then she hit him in the back of the head. Sally walked on her own with a smug look "This is a very useful tray". She ran for the escape pods and quickly got in one.
Khan and the others were in the cockpit and spotted the pod "In a pod, as discussed. You really should have more faith in our captain" "Our captain?" Sonic said. Wave rolled her eyes "We'll prep the airlock". The pod docked with the ship "Sonic, she's aboard" "We best make ourselves scarce" "One of us should". They jumped to hyperspace as Khan and Wave met with Sally. Khan smiled and walked over to her "You played that perfectly. Thank you" "Oh, you're welcome". She put her hand on his shoulder and punched him in the groin. He gasped and started to cough. He put his hand up and his voice was high-pitched "I deserved that. But can we get back to the job at hand. Flying us past that Imperial blockade. Otherwise, I don't have to pay you or give your gizoid back". Sally sighed "What was in that crate?" "Come on. I'll show you". Tails and Tex were both staring at the crate "He said not to open it" "That's exactly why I want to" "Yeah. I'd prefer not have us look any worse". G-merl stepped forward and pressed the button opening the crate. Tails and Tex both jumped back as G-merl stepped away. A small yellow creature stepped out "Uh, kinda cute, whatever it is". Tex leaned forward and the moment the creature got a look at him it squealed and ran away "Catch it!". It ran through the ship and was spotted by the others "That was what was in the crate. I told you not to open it" Khan said calmly. G-merl moved next to him, crossed his arms and shook his head blaming Tails and Tex for opening the crate. Khan chuckled "Make sure not to scare it". Tex caught it "Got her" "You're scaring her" "No I'm not!". The creature suddenly blew up like a balloon until it blocked the entire hall". Khan came up the other side "You see? You scared her". Sonic came in from the cockpit "What is going on?". Tails turned to him "It's a, um-" "Forget it. I don't wanna know" he went back into the cockpit.
They arrived near Emerald Hill "We've reached the blockade. I could really use Sally on this side of the pig right now" "Yeah, I don't see that happening" Tex replied. On the other side of the creature "Any idea what the Imperials are hoping to find with this blockade?" Sally asked. Khan shrugged "Insurgents?" "Beside that?" "Unauthorized mining equipment, perhaps". Sally raised her eyebrows suspiciously "And why would they be looking for that?" "Maybe because I tried smuggling some here a week ago. Don't worry. The Imperials are scanning for equipment, machinery. But our girl here is 100% organic. Their scanners won't detect her, so long as your ship can mask its signature" "You know it can't until you ask G-merl to fix it". Khan laughed "You're catching on. Alright, my friend. Would you like to be a hero and fix it for me?". G-merl nodded and went to a different room. Sonic was flying the ship near a Scarship when a voice came over the commlink "Cargo ship, prepare for scanning" "Yes, Captain". Sonic looked down; the masking signal seemed to be working. However, the moment they were scanned the mask deactivated "What?". The Scarships released TIEs which came after the group. Sonic took evasive action "Sonic, what's happening?" Sally asked, "The masking deactivated. I don't why". Khan sighed "Wes must have been smarter than we thought. He must have had something planted something on the ship". Wave ran to the back turret and fired back at the TIEs. Sonic hear Sally "Sonic, find cover. Head for the clouds" "Right". Sonic dived down towards the planet and into the clouds. Out of sight of the TIEs Sonic turned the Hurst around and fired on them "Good call, Sally. I think we're clear. You know, your job's a lot harder than it looks". Khan grins "Nice. He finally appreciates you", Sally rolled her eyes "Alright. Enough with divide and conquer. You think by setting us against each other, you'll keep us off-balance enough to get what you want". She pushed him "But what you want depends on my crew working together in sync. Is that clear?" "As crystal, Captain".
The Hurst arrived at a small camp; the crew walked out with the deflated puffer creature "This time try to keep it calm" Tails said. Sally was staring at the camp "This is yours?" "Bought it off a guy called Shellbreaker". Sally couldn't help but smirk at that "Perfect. But why was it so important to get this pig here?" "Because a puffer pig has a nose for precious minerals. It can do the job of a dozen mining scanners. And the Empire doesn't want private landholders mining Emerald Hill". Sonic stopped "We're done here. Pay us and we'll be on our way" "He has other debts to pay". Wes stepped out holding a blaster along with his guards. Khan frowned "Wes" "You forget I introduced you to Shellbreaker. I knew where you were headed and my jammer on the hull of your ship slowed you down long enough for me to get here" "What do you want?". Wes stepped closer "My demands are simple. I want my pig back and I still get you as compensation for my trouble" he said to Sally. Wes then grinned "I'd also like to bury Khan" "Yeah, yeah, I understand the feeling. But no" Sally said. Sonic stepped forward grinning "We could just give him Khan" "I've ran out of patience. Get them". The guards fired and the group ran for cover. Tails took out his lightsaber and Sonic grabbed his shoulder "No. We can't-" "Don't worry". Tails held his lightsaber like a gun and the side fired a blaster shot which hit one of the guards. Sonic was opened mouthed "Mine doesn't do that" "My saber skills might need work but I can shoot". Sonic smirked "Kid, you continue to impress". G-merl looked up from his cover and realised that he was standing behind a fuel cannister which he started pushing. Sally then had an idea and kicked the pig making it run "Tex. The pig! Scare it!" "What? How?" "Just be you!". Tex rolled his eyes and faced the pig. He roared "Hey, pig!". The pig screamed and blue up, "Stop firing! I don't want that pig damaged" Wes yelled. Everyone but Tex ran around the pig and fired on the guards while they were distracted. Tex was keeping watch to cover when a blaster suddenly poked his back. He sighed and put his hands up. Wes laughed "New terms, I get Khan, and this one live along with the rest of you" "Deal" Sonic said but unconvincingly.
Sally smirked "As tempting as that is the answer is still no". Suddenly the Hurst's turrets moved and fired at the ground behind Wes and Tex knocking them both down. Tex quickly got up and pointed his sword at Wes. The others looked to the Hurst where G-merl was waving. Sally walked over to Wes "My terms, you and your men leave now, and we let you live. Start walking". Tex kicked his backside making him walk and his surviving guards followed. Khan shrugged "I like everything that just happened except that you let Wes live. That'll be a problem for me later" "I think you have a problem now. You don't have the credits to owe us, do you? In fact, you never did". Khan kneeled down and patted the now deflated pig "But I will once my baby's worked her magic" "You mean, if she finds what you're looking for. And you've minded and smuggled it off-world" "I can give you back your gizoid". G-merl beeped in a sad tone. Sally crossed her arms "That won't satisfy your debt to me. Not after what you pulled" "Then how about we settle that debt with a little game of Shuffle?" "Then you'll just have to owe me one". They walked away from Khan back towards the Hurst. Khan however stopped G-merl "Don't worry, my small metal friend. We shall meet again". G-merl pushed him aside and kept walking. Sonic was next to Sally "So that's it. We just walk away without the rings?" "Well, we got Gem back" "I'm looking for positives". Sally smiled "There are a lot of things we couldn't accomplish without him. You should appreciate that more". Tails was walking with Wave "You know I appreciate you, right?". Wave rolled her eyes "Yes, Tails, I know". They got in the ship and closed the door "We still need food and fuel". They then saw that G-merl was standing in front of a fuel cannister and some crates "He stole Khan's fuel" Wave said grinning. Tex was surprised "You mean he was playing Khan the whole time?". Sonic chuckled "Good job, Gem. Anyone that fools Khan is okay with me".
Khan petted the pig "Of course I knew they took the fuel. That's why I didn't pay them. A gambler never shows his cards". He waved at the Hurst as it flew away "Until we meet again!".