Star Wars:

Of Heart and Beskar

By Kristopher Rose

Chapter II

Moments later one Mandalorian was leading four teen escapees through the maze of corridors. Her helmet held an overlayed map, her escape route blinking on her HUD. The E-11pointed down, but at an angle to quickly be at the ready. She didn't need any special abilities to know they were being chased.

The lights around the facility had changed, dimmed, into emergency lighting. Klaxons and strobing alert lights blared across the facility, and she saw security doors come down as they proceeded. Whomever was behind the security was falling back into predetermined fail safes, and weren't actively trying to divert her yet. That was okay, her escape route was also suited for this type of situation.

A few days ago, maintenance workers had disarmed one particular door. They were supposed to bolt it shut, till they were working again. However, these particular workers had been irritated by all the security precautions, and constant screenings. So, instead, they had left the door unbolted, to easily come and go.

Mesh'la's contact had included this information as an emergency escape. Beneath her helmet, she smiled. Long ago someone had come for her, and now in a strange twist, she had freed four. It almost made her believe in an ever present Force guiding beings. She had heard the stories, and knew the legend of Luke Skywalker. Her savior had been a simple man, a scientist, and one that had a hidden abilities. Only his heart had been strong enough, large enough to risk his safety for her.

Through the door, blaster bolts erupted from behind her. One blaster shot ricocheted off her gauntlet, to which she reflexively fired back in that direction. Despite the odd angle, and shooting on the run, her shot connected with a pursuer. That one fell, tripping up the others for a moment. It was a moment enough for her to get the teens out, and shepherd them towards her speeder-bike.

Stopping only long enough to grab the rest of her gear, in this case her long range rifle and a cloak, Mesh'la pushed her new charges onward. The teens looked terrified and hopeful all at once, most of all they looked driven. There was no going back for them, this was their chance at freedom. The thought was fleeting, but she wondered if she was leading them to their final destination, discarding that though immediately. She was doing what was necessary and right.

Behind them, the doors to the facility burst open. Two guards ran out, and she took them down with a couple of well placed stun bolts. She was nearly, if not completely out of those. Still, it did the trick, the next guards didn't advance so quickly. By the time they had figured out the coast was relatively safe, Mesh'la and the teens were further long their way.

Wrapping the cloak around her armor, and pulling the hood up, her shape changed. Gingerly she brought the teens close to her, and changing how they'd be seen. A mother or nanny, with her charges, heading to the spaceport. As long as nobody looked close enough, they would not notice the uniform, and prison like clothing the teens wore. Her helmet would give her away, but the hunched posture she adopted would quickly make her dismissed by most.

Mesh'la stole a glance back as they started to mingle with the crowd around the spaceport. Above her, a ship blasted off, its rumble shaking the ground as it leapt into the air. Behind her group, the guards from the facility were desperately searching. She had to play this as a minor victory, as this could still all go horribly wrong. Once they were off planet, she'd consider that a full victory. Now, she just needed to find a way off, and fast.

Normal channels were out of the question, the four undocumented teens would keep that from being available. She had planned on doing it through the back channels, but that would take time and negotiating. They didn't have that, either. If she had her own ship, that would be one thing, but that was just a bit out of reach at the moment. That left "borrowing" a ship. Not her first choice, but desperate times and the such.

Leading her new friends through the populated parts, to areas where less ideal characters roamed. She found what she was looking for in the areas where smugglers normally dwelt. Making a note to check for a bounty after she found a ride, might be able to take care of some credits and get off this rock in one shot.

They hit jackpot, just as noises behind them, told her that the guards had caught up. A lone spacer was arguing with a droid, before it rolled off in a series of squeals, blips and other electronic noise. The spacer was a Zabrak, or Iridorian if you preferred. His bald head held several lines of tattoos, each just off color to his skin, and making it look like a painted sculpture. Dressed in browns and white, he gave off an earthly tone, like he was hewn from the ground.

He would have to do, then. She motioned for the teens to follow, while she pulled her blaster pistol. To his credit the Zabrak noticed them coming, and reached for his own blaster. She was faster, and her weapon was aimed directly at his chest. Realizing this, he stopped, but didn't take his hand away from its position.

"Now listen here, this is my ship and you aren't hijacking it," he said. "I'm also not helping a kidnapper"

"Get moving," Mesh'la growled.

"Please, sir, there are bad people after us," Aayla said coming up behind Mesh'la. "The scary lady is actually helping us escape."

The Zabrak inquisitively looked between the two, before shrugging, "Okay, Darling. Ramps down, you and your friends get a move on." Then turning to Mesh'la, "We're not done yet, but c'mon. You can call me, Dalen Minlak. Now, if you will, follow the kids up the ramp."

Mesh'la motioned with the blaster, "After you, and no funny business."

Dalen laughed, and went toward his ship. Right behind him the Mandalorian woman followed a step behind. He motioned for the kids to head to the lounge area, while he headed for the cockpit. Followed by the woman in armor, he started the ship up. The engines warmed and in the meantime, Dalen switched on the intercom.

"Listen now, kiddos," he said. "This is your captain speaking. Strap in, and absolutely no drinking during take off!"

In the copilot chair, Mesh'la groaned audibly. For his credit, Dalen shot her a sheepish smile. Shrugging, he pulled back the elevation controls, lifting the craft off the ground. The sleek ship flew off into the atmosphere, just as a band of ragged guards barged into the docking bay.

Soon the blue of the sky gave way to the star specked view of space. Out of one view ports, a swirling nebula appeared far off in the horizon. None of that caught Mesh'la's eye, as she kept her watchful gaze on the pilot. To his credit, he set up coordinates and pulled back the levers to engage the hyperdrive.

"Alrighty then, now you and I need to have a talk," Dalen got out of his seat and began to head back to the lounge area.

Mesh'la followed, incredulous at the man, "Where do you think you're going? The ship needs its pilot!"

"It's fine, we have a few minutes before we exit hyperspace. Now, you owe me an explanation, and one that doesn't involve a blaster in my face!" Dalen shot over his shoulder.

"Just wait one minute, I should blast you where you stand," Mesh'la growled.

The pilot smiled as he turned away, "You won't, or you would have just taken my ship. By the way, she's brand spanking new. One of the new YT-2600's, fresh from CEC's shipyards. Named her, the Thunderbird. Sleek, fast and fully customized, she cost me a small fortune. Worth every credit thought."

"Just a moment, are you daft?" Mesh'la thought it was just her luck to hijack a completely crazy pilot, and then she saw the blaster on her.

Dalen steadily said, "I'm guessing that armor has some chinks in it. Now, the young Twi'lek said you were rescuing them."

"It's true, she got us out of those cages," Aayla interjected. "Before they did tests on us."

"Why?" he asked not taking his eyes off the Mandalorian.

Years melted away, and she was a small girl again. Scared and confused, she trusted in someone who was kind to her. He got her out of the complex, and took her away. He was warm, caring and she would always be grateful to him. She had to leave him at some point, taken in by the clan that would train her.

"Let's say I've got issues with lab coats experimenting on kids," she answered back.

Dalen lowered his blaster, "That makes two of us. You know, leading with that might have earned you some help."

"Would you have believed it before I put a blaster in your face?" she shot back.

The Zabrak man laughed, "Of course not, it's a wild story. Not sure I believe it right now. Still, the kids seem to think you're saving their bacon. Don't let me find out this is one big scam. Now, there is some food in the galley, you and the kids are welcome to it."

"I need you to take us to the Dantooine system," Mesh'la said. "I have some contacts there that might be able to help us."

Dalen nodded, "Sure, I'll set the navicomputer. Stay here with them, you can trust me."

"He is being truthful," Mace said, his voice cracking.

Mesh'la looked at him for several moments before Depa explained, "He can see patterns, and truths and lies show up in those patterns."

"Sometimes it seems like I can see what would be needed to destroy a thing, which point is its weakest," Mace continued. "It comes and goes, but rarely wrong."

"Like I said, stay here," Dalen moved off, as if unsure about his new passengers. "I'll get everything set and then I'll be back. Maybe we can get a game of Dejarick to pass some time."