Chapter 2

The ship was flying through the cold empty space. Buck was impressed at how fast it was. Ru' Bik really had good taste in ships. He sat at the command deck looking out into the black void outside of the marvel of technology.

"So I guess we better deal with… whatever this is." The woman said, snapping Buck back to his current situation. He currently had the Vultan baby of Ru' Bik in his white armoured hands and was heading to Cirasso with two Rebels he knew nothing about.

"Yes," he said. "…we should."

"May I take the baby?" The woman said opening her arms invitingly.

"Oh! Of course." Buck said before carefully handing over the little bundle in his hands over to the woman. She disappeared somewhere in the ship.

"So, where can we drop you off?" The man with long black hair and green eyes asked.

Although it was invisible behind the white helmet, Buck raised an eyebrow to the question. "You're not dropping me off anywhere. I showed you where the ship was, so I'm going to drop you guys at Cirasso and take the ship."

The man was leaning against a control panel of the ship but suddenly stood to full height. "This ship does not belong to you, Trooper. It is by right ours considering we are Rebels and need it more."

Buck did not like the challenging tone of the young man and he lowered his voice to match it. "The fact that you're Rebels means that this ship is not yours, boy. I need it more. I risked my career to save that baby, Ru' Bik told me where to find the ship for the purpose of using it and therefore it belongs to me."

"No 'plastic man' is going to take this ship from us and frankly I'd like to see you try to take on the both of us."

Tensions were rising in the room. Buck's hand was preparing to use his blaster which was in his holster while the other man's hand was preparing to pull out his lightsaber. The room was quiet but you could cut the tension with a knife. Both had been in many combat situations and knew that there was a good chance that one of them would die. Suddenly the woman walked in without the baby and the men involuntarily calmed down a little.

"Whoa! Why do I feel like I just disturbed something?" She said.

"Just a little break down in negotiations. I was telling the Trooper here how this ship is ours because we need it more and we outnumber him." The man said.

"Well that makes sense." She said.

"I gave up everything I hold dear to save that baby. All I have now is this ship." Buck retaliated

"Zack and I don't necessarily have much either." The woman said. "How about this: as soon as we land on Cirasso we'll sell this ship and anything in it that neither of us don't want and we'll split whatever we make three ways."

"Three ways? That would mean that you two get more than me."

"Well... yes, if you add what we get together but remember Zack and I are two separate beings. We're not connected at the hip so I should get my share and he should get his." She said.

Buck thought about it for a moment and finally relented. He knew he was being played but it was the most peaceful resolution to their problem. "Okay."

"So what do we call you? Or is Trooper your real name?" The man said.

Buck took off his helmet, revealing for the first time his dark toned face to his new ship mates. "My name is Buck Johnson."

"Buck Johnson? Meh! If I were you I'd stick with Trooper." The man said.

"What are your names?" Buck inquired.

"Heh, like we'd tell an Empire stooge our names." The man said.

Buck smiled, "okay, you don't have to tell me your name, Zack." Buck said having caught Zack's name when the woman used it in conversation and he saw that it annoyed the man that he knew his name.

"Well you might as well know my name. I'm Lona." The woman said. "Let's try not to kill each other before we get to Cirasso, okay?" She said before leaving the room.

Zack and Buck looked at each other. Neither trusted the other and if need be they would be willing to end the other's life… if need be.

/

It was a day after the attack on Ru' Bik's compound. The rich Vultan was now in custody and many Rebels in the compound were either dead or captured for execution. An inquisitor was sent to the morgue by her superior, the Grand Inquisitor, to inspect some of the bodies of the Stormtroopers who fell during the skirmish.

Inquisitor Saza Ripper looked at the bodies in annoyance. She knew that there was something that she was supposed to see but she did not know what. Most people would not be able to handle the sight and amount of dead bodies but it did not affect her. She had seen and made her own gruesome corpses. She pulled back the sheet that covered one of the dead bodies and saw a peculiar wound on the soldier. His wounds were not common blaster wounds. She saw the same kind of wounds on five bodies after and guessed that she had seen whatever the Grand Inquisitor wanted her to see. She exited the morgue and went to find him.

She saw him speaking to some of the Imperial Generals. His back was turned to her so she could see his black armour, the circular lightsaber that rested at his back and his bald chalk white head. When he was dismissed she approached him.

"Grand Inquisitor, I have my report ready." She said slightly bowing her head.

The Inquisitor looked at her. "Walk with me."

Saza Ripper walked side by side with The Inquisitor while she gave her report. "Most of the Stormtroopers died by common blaster fire but some have wounds resembling lightsaber cuts. I assume that they were killed by a Jedi."

The Inquisitor smiled, revealing his jagged, white teeth which were whiter than his pale-white face. "A Jedi or a Force-sensitive with a lightsaber. Your mission is to convert or eliminate this individual."

Saza bowed slightly, "As you wish, Grand Inquisitor."

/

The spaceship arrived at a space port on Cirasso in the town of Tanik. Zack looked at Buck in his white armour. "Don't tell me you're going to wear that, Helmethead. You'll give us away."

Buck looked at his uniform. He had actually slept in it because he had no other clothes. "I don't have anything else."

"You can use one of Ru' Bik's clothes." Lona said.

Buck agreed and to the back of the spaceship. When he re-emerged into the control room he wore a maroon robe with silver trimmings, that was small for him as evidence in the way it ended just above his knees, exposing his dark skinned, harry legs. He was greeted by laughter from both Zack and Lona.

"Why didn't you wear a robe that fit you?" Zack said between laughter.

Buck was getting visibly annoyed with the two laughing at him. "This was the biggest one!"

Lona tried to stifle her laughter and it came out as giggles. "Fine… fine, it will have to do."

They got out of the ship and entered the town of Takin with Lona carrying the baby and covering her with a purple silk to protect her form the harsh sun.

Tanik was a bustling market and busy town. Although it was not as lavish as some of the core world cities and towns, it was impressive with fine buildings and great facilities. The rich and middle class lived in close proximity to each other and the poor were few and far between.

Buck, Zack and Lona walked through the town trying to find the Bik family. Someone finally pointed them in the right direction and they ended up in front of a two story building. Zack knocked on the door and seconds later it was opened by a teenage Vultan.

"Hello. Is this the Bik's family residence." Zack asked.

"Yes." The boy said looking over at a strangely dressed Buck and Lona who had a baby in her arms. He looked back at Zack, "I'll call my father."

The boy disappeared and moments later an older version of him came to the door. "Can I help you?" The father asked.

"We were sent by Ru' Bik." Zack said.

The Vultan man looked at the humans. "Please, come in." He said giving them space so that they could enter.

The three humans entered the house and were lead to the living room area, where they sat down. The boy who had initially answered the door waited besides them, quietly waiting for his father. The father walked in. "You said my brother sent you?"

"Yes, he said you would protect and take care of his daughter." Buck said gesturing to the baby that Lona was cradling.

The Vulatn looked at Buck's attire and crinkled his nose in disgust. "Why would he send his daughter to me to protect? Has something happened to him?" The Vultan said gently taking the baby from Lona.

The room grew quiet and Buck was the one to break the silence. "He was arrested for… helping Rebels."

"No, impossible! Ru' Bik would never… why have we not heard anything about this." The elder Vultan asked.

"The Empire may want to keep it quiet so as not to warn any Rebels that your brother has helped." Zack offered.

"Are you Rebels?" The Vultan teenager suddenly said.

"Don't speak such things! My family will not deal with Rebels. We are loyal to the Empire and its Emperor!" The father scolded his son.

An uneasy glance passed between Lona and Zack. "Do not worry, Mr. Bik, you can trust us. We are no friends to the Empire." Zack said.

"And speaking of which, is there any way we can contact the Rebels…" Lona said.

"No… no! I will not be as foolish as my brother. I will not tolerate this kind of talk in my home. Thank you for delivering my niece but I no longer want any of you in my house." The Vultan got up. "You will show yourselves out. Son, come!"

The Vultans began to leave the room prompting the three shipmates to also leave the house. Zack turned to the Vultan who was heading upstairs, "regardless of what you think of the Rebels, if you want to protect your niece, I suggest you don't tell the authorities that she is your brother's child." Zack said before he left. The three humans were once again outside, albeit without Ru' Bik's child.

"Well, that's a smart man." Buck remarked.

"Hmf! I beg to differ." Zack said under his breath.

Lona lightly elbowed Zack and gestured for him to look behind him. Zack looked behind and saw the Vulcan, Bik teenager peeking from behind the wall. Zack looked at Buck who was walking a little ahead.

"The kid may know something but I don't trust Buck." Zack said quietly.

"Then talk to him alone. I'll go with Buck to sell the ship. You know, keep him busy." Lona said.

"Leave you alone... with him?" Zack whispered.

"Don't worry, I can take care of myself." Lona said pulling her jacket back slightly to reveal her blaster.

Buck stopped and turned around to face the two. "What are you two whispering about?"

"Nothing. I have things of my own to do on this planet. You and Lona can go and sell the ship. I'll meet up with you guys later."

Buck looked at the two suspiciously. "Okay."

Lona and Zack nodded to each other before the group went their separate ways. As soon as Zack was sure that Buck and Lona were out of sight he walked to the hiding Vulcan teen.

"Hey, I need to speak to the Rebels. You know of any way I can contact them?" Zack asked.

"I knew you guys are Rebels." The Vultan excitedly whispered. "There's a bar called Ground Haven. Apparently a Rebel called Kisto frequents the place."

Zack nodded, "thank you."

/

Buck and Lona walked along back to the ship where they would meet a prospective buyer. The walk had been mostly in silence until Lona decided to talk.

"May I ask you a question, Buck?"

"Sounds like your question is going to be intrusive. You can ask your question on the condition that I ask on of mine after."

" do you feel obligated to help Ru' Bik?"

"In my youth I lived on a poor planet. Our planet's ancestors had practically stripped it clean. It was barren, we could not plant crops for the soil was dead from centuries of mis-use, we could not mine any precious minerals for all the mines lay barren. All we could do was starve to death; that is until Ru' Bik came. He had a terraforming machine which brought our soils back to life in our region of the planet. He gave us food while we recovered our own food stocks and he ensured that all children were educated. Without him I doubt I would have survived my teenage years. He saved me. He saved my people."

"It must have been very hard to arrest him."

"Yeah, turned out it was too hard because I didn't even go through with it." Buck said. "Now I get to ask you a question."

"Yes, but I can't promise that I'll answer." Lona said.

"What? No fair I answered your question." Buck complained.

"I only asked for permission to ask a question, I did not say you had to answer it."

Buck sighed. "You Rebel-types are tricky. Fine, did you know that Zack was a Jedi when you met him?" Buck asked.

"I can't answer your question because it's flawed. Zack is not a Jedi."

Buck was confused by this statement. "But he has a lightsaber. How can he not be a Jedi."

"Huh huhhuh, Buck Johnson, you only had one question." Lona said shaking her finger. "And anyways we've arrived." She sadi as they entered the ship yard. "Hopefully we can get a good deal for the ship."

/

Zack entered the Ground haven bar. It had a lot of unsavoury looking types. He strolled confidently to a bar stool and called out to the bartender. The bartender was an Itochi.

"What can I get you?" A voice came from the seemingly mouth-less creature.

"I'm looking for someone called Kisto. Ever heard of him?" Zack whispered to the being on the other side of the bar.

"I may but it will cost you." The Itochi said.

Zack grumbled as he searched himself for credits. He had very little. He would have to spend all of his and Lona's money. He placed his credits on the bar counter top.

The bartender raked the credits into his palm. "Kind of little."

"Well, it's all I have."

The Itochi grumbled. "Fine, wait here."

Zack waited until a Twi'Lek appeared in front of him. The Twi'Lek was green and tall. He had on simple brown trousers and jacket. He took a bottle from the bars range of beverages and placed two glasses in front of him. He poured a generous amount of the green beverage in the glasses and slid one over to Zack. Zack grabbed the glass and looked at the Twi'Lek who took a big sip out of his own glass. "I heard you were looking for me." The Twi'Lek said.

Zack took a sip out of his own drink and grimaced at the bitter taste. "You're Kitso?"

"In the flesh. What do you want?"

"I need you to deliver a message to the Rebels." Zack said before following Kisto's lead and taking another sip of his drink to look inconspicuous.

"Whoa whoa whoa, your speaking of dangerous and forbidden things, kid. How do I know I can trust you?"

Zack began feeling a little drowsy but he tried to blink it away. "I'm a Rebel."

Kisto giggled before he took another sip. "Can you prove it? For all I know you're an Imperial spy."

Zack began to feel even drowsier. His vision began to blur. He could not see anything in his peripheral vision. "I'm not a spy… hey, I don't feel so good." Zack said when he began struggling to keep his head up.

"Oh! That's probably the tranquilize I spiked our drinks with." Kisto said.

"What? What do you mea—" Zack slurred before his vision went black and he lost consciousness. His head fell hard on the bar counter top and hit the wood with a thud. He was now at the mercy of Kisto.