The Cobalt Family
Kisto sat in the cockpit of his spaceship. He looked at his ship mate. He was a human with fair skin, green eyes and wore brown clothes with a helmet and goggles on top of his brown cap. He was cleaning his rifle and lens scope to ensure he could see clearly through it, which located along the top of the gun.
"That's an interesting rifle," Kisto said. "You a good sniper?"
"I like to think of myself as the best." The green eyes human said as he polished the rifle with the cloth.
"Hmm, you were a bounty hunter before?"
"I find it strange that you're asking me about my past, Kisto no-surname." The man said.
"Geez Jak, I do have a surname." Kisto smiled. "My surname is... the Rebel."
"Awe you're so cool, Mr. The Rebel!" The other green Twi'Lek in the room said. The young Twi'Lek was called Hermes Boon.
Kisto smiled at this, "See, even the kid knows my surname, which is why I'm taking him along with me to meet Cobalt."
"You're kidding right?" The final member of their crew said walking into the cockpit. He was a blue Rodan with big black eyes and, currently, an annoyed look on his face. "So you're going to take Hermes here because he continuously kisses your ass?"
"Hey!" Hermes protested.
"No one in this room can beat me in hand-to-hand combat and I can handle a blaster well," the Rodan began, "and Jak here is a sharpshooter sniper. What does the kid have? Little field experience and seemingly does not specialise in anything."
Hermes grew quiet at the analyses of his skills.
"Your right, the kid doesn't have much experience on the field and his a little green around the edges," Kisto said looking at the sad Hermes.
"So why are you taking him?" The Rodan said.
"Because he's a Twi'Lek." Kisto said which surprised everyone.
"Oh, so you're being racist?" The Rodan said.
"No, but I'm actually counting on everyone else being racist, Friman." Kisto got up and began walking towards the exit. "Even you have to admit, two Twi'Lek's walking down the road is morw inconspicuous than a Twi'Lek or a Rodan or even a Twi'Lek and a human walking down the road."
The Rodan did not look convinced but he offered no counter argument.
"Get ready, kid." Kisto said patting Hermes on the shoulder on his way out.
Hermes looked up to the annoyed and angry gazes of his other crew mates. All he could do is manage a nervous smile.
/
Kisto and Hermes were walking through the town. The sun had long set, allowing the night life, with its bright multicoloured lights to rule.
Hermes kept giving Kisto quick sideway glances before looking forward again. When he did this several more times, Kisto decided to no longer ignore it.
"If you have something to say kid, say it." Kisto smiled encouragingly. "Unless you're just admiring how handsome my face side profile is."
"I'm just wondering why you chose me. I guess I understand what you said about blending in but... is blending in really worth taking in someone as useless as me?" Hermes said. "My inexperience makes me more of a liability in this mission."
"What crap are you talking?" Kisto said. "How are you to gain experience if no one is willing to give you a chance? Don't worry kid, you'll do fine and anyways you have me to watch over you."
Hermes smiled at this. He almost said thank you until Kisto said something.
"Now look alive, we're here." Kisto said stepping up to the door of a square house, closely packed between other houses.
He knocked once and waited. The door opened just a sliver where an eyeball poked out.
"Hello, is the doctor in?" Kisto said.
"Yes," the voice from the other side said before opening the door wide.
Kisto and Hermes quickly entered the house before the door was quickly closed behind them.
"Please, proceed." The female Ithorian that opened the door gestured for them to continue deeper into the house.
Kisto led the way until they came to the living room where an Ithorian sat down. He looked at them gratefully.
"Are you the rebels?" The male Ithorian said in a deep voice.
"Yes, I am Kisto and this is Hermes Boon." Kisto nodded to Hermes when introducing him.
"Nice to meet you," the Ithorian said getting up to full height.
Both Twi'Leks were taken back by the man's size. They knew he was big when he was sitting down but they were not prepared for his full height. The brown Ithorian stood a hole head and shoulders above the two. His hand enveloped Kisto's as he shook it.
"Have you made preparations like we asked you?" Kisto said.
"Yes, we are ready to move at a moment's notice," Siri said.
"Good," Kisto said. The rebel Twi'lek looked around a little confused. "I thought you had a son?"
"Yes, he is still coming back from the academy," Siri said.
"The academy?" Hermes echoed.
"Yes, science school for eggheads." Kisto said before looking at Siri. "He seems to be following in his father's footsteps. You must be proud, Mr. Cobalt."
"I'd be more proud if he avoided making the mistakes I did," Siri said. "He disagrees with my decision to not help the Empire."
"Hmm..." Kisto simply said.
There was a knock on the door.
"That is probably my son," Siri said walking to the door.
Kisto and Hermes stayed in place and simply waited. There was the sound of a door opening.
"Oh, Agent Kallus!" The deep voice of Siri echoed through the house. "I thought you were my son!"
"Well obviously, I'm not." Another voice that Kisto and Hermes guessed belonged to Kallus said.
"Hide," Kisto whispered to Hermes before they both scattered around the house.
Kisto went to another room and closed the door behind him while Hermes opened a closet door that led to shelves of glass cups and reluctantly squeezed himself in there just as Kallus and his men came in.
"Is there anyone else here?" Kallus said as he entered the living room.
"No one but my wife," Siri said coming in after them.
Siri's wife bowed politely at Kallus who looked around, raising his eyebrow. He casually walked to the closet that Hermes was hiding in.
Hermes gulped nervously as Kallus stopped in front of the closet in silence. The Twi'lek could see him through the horizontal stripes in the door and hoped that the Imperial officer would not open the door. The young Twi'Lek dared not breathe while Kallus was there.
Kallus turned away from the closet and looked at Siri.
"I'm here to tell you that your transport for tomorrow will be ready," Kallus said.
"Transport?" Siri said.
"Yes, it will take you to the site where you will begin your contracted work."
"But I have already said that I do not want to return to work." Siri said. "I'm retired."
"Professor Cobalt, you have a duty to the Empire and as long as your its citizen, as long as you live and breathe in this galaxy you will help the Empire uphold peace and order throughout the galaxy. We are being reasonable now but if you continue to resist us... well, let's just say it will not be good for you or anyone who carries the Cobalt name."
There was another knock on the door. "You better answer that, Mrs Cobalt."
Mrs Cobalt scurried away to answer the door. When she came back, a young male Ithorian entered along with her.
"Father?" The young Ithorian said when he walked in the room.
"Ah, you must be Gido Cobalt," Kallus said. "I've heard about you... or at least your exemplary performance at the Imperial Science Academy."
Gido fixed his eyes on the blonde haired human. "Thank you... uh..."
"Kallus."
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Kallus."
Kallus smiled and nodded before giving the word causing his men file out of the house. He turned back to Siri. "We'll be here tomorrow at first light to pick you up."
Once they were gone, Hermes fell out of the closet and Kisto joined them in the living room.
"Who are these people?" Gido nearly shouted after being startled by Hermes who picked himself off the ground.
"These are the rebels that will help us escape," Siri gestured to Kisto and Hermes. "It seems our time has just been cut short."
"Yes, the Empire is really serious about this." Kisto said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "We'll need to move tonight."
"Its a good thing we're already prepared," Mrs Cobalt said.
"Whoa whoa whoa!" Gido waved his hands frantically. "What is going on here? Father, you're going to run? What about our life here? What about my studies at the academy?"
"For now, there are more important things than your comfort and education," Kisto informed him.
"Figures a rebel would say that!" Gido said. "You people should fall in line like everyone else! You're nothing more than criminals and I'm not going to be part of this foolishness!"
Kisto peeked out of the window and saw a heavily armoured Imperial vehicle.
"This is bad," he said.
"What's wrong?" Siri asked, coming up next to him.
"Looks like Kallus didn't trust you to not take flight and left a patrol of Imperial guards outside." Kisto said as Siri also secretively peered outside.
"Well, this Kallus person seems to be a smart man," Gido said with contempt.
Hermes looked at the boy with confusion and he turned away from the young rebel.
"Do you have an alternative exit other than the front door?" Kisto closed the window.
Siri shook his head no. "There is only one way in or out."
"Maybe there's a back window we could use?" As soon as Hermes made the suggestion he regretted it because it sounded as stupid coming from his mouth as it did coming to the ears of the occupants of the room. Siri would not fit in any back window the small house may have.
"I doubt me or my father would fit through a window, genius." Gido said.
Hermes sighed, ignoring the condescending tone in Gido's voice.
"No, the kid may have the right idea," Kisto said walking to the backrooms where he located a window.
"I see poor rational runs in Twi'lek species," Gido said under his breath as everyone followed Kisto.
They reached the backroom where a small round window was.
"Do you have any tools you can use to make a hole here big enough for all of us to exit with?" Kisto said pointing to the window.
"Kisto, you are in a house of engineers. Of course we have the tools." Siri beamed.
"Good," Kisto said opening the window. "We can't use your transport because it will probably be watched. Kid?"
"Yes sir?" Hermes stepped forward.
"Help them widen the opening and move their belongings outside," Kisto said as he climbed through the window to the outside.
"Wait, where are you going to be?" Hermes shoved his head out the window to look at him.
"I have a few credits left," Kisto said, "I should be able to get us a cheap transport. Be ready by the time I come back."
Hermes watched nervously as Kisto disappeared into the night. He took a breath to calm himself before turning to the Cobalts.
"Alright, Mr Cobalt, let's make an opening."
/
A few hours later, Siri had created a hole in the side of the house with a laser cutting machine and a grinder. Hermes was also helping him handle the machine while Mrs Cobalt brought all the items they would take along with them to the front of the widening hole in the wall.
Hermes looked at Gido Cobalt with great frustration. The boy was stubbornly sitting down on a bed, not helping in any way.
"You know you could help things move along by helping," Hermes said to him.
"I thought I made it clear that I would not participate in this madness." Gido folded his arms in defiance.
Hermes looked to Siri for assistance but the man was fully focused on opening their escape route. Hermes continued for a few more hours before he tapped Cobalt on the shoulder.
"Sir, I... I think that's enough." Hermes said.
"Enough?" Siri looked at hole. "But I wanted to make it an arch, you know... a more useable doorway."
"Oh," Hermes said.
Siri came back to making the door bigger.
Hermes gathered some courage before tapping Siri on the shoulder again.
"Yes?" The bigger Ithorian sounded a little annoyed.
"I'm sorry but don't think we have time for you to make this bigger." Hermes said. "Remember, we arte pressed for time and except for today we won;t be using this exit again."
"Listen to the boy, Siri," Mrs Cobalt scolded. "There's no need for it to be perfect."
Srir looked at the opening and sighed in surrender. "Fine, I do get carried away sometimes."
Hermes nodded. "Let's move your belongings outside."
After a few more minutes most of their belongings were outside. A transport stopped in front of them and Kisto jumped out of the driver's seat.
"Good, let's load them up." Kisto said in a rushed voice.
Hermes assisted them in loading things onto the transport. Kisto patted Hermes on the back and nodded to Gido who was speaking to his mother.
"Any reason why he's not helping?"
"He doesn't want this so... I think his protesting." Hermes informed Kisto. "I think his mother is trying to convince him otherwise."
Kisto watched as Mrs Cobalt left her son, shaking her head sadly before going to Siri.
"Looks like she failed," Kisto said.
"What are we going to do if he refuses to come along with us? I don't think his mother would eave him... I know mine wouldn't."
"Just leave it to me, kid." Kisto patted Hermes on the back. "Keep loading the things, we're leaving soon."
/
The Imperial transport was still outside on the other side of the street from the Cobalt's place of residence. The onboard communicator begins beeping red; giving the compact space filled with five Imperial soldiers some illumination.
The driver of the transport answered the call by pressing a button, causing a hologram fo the bust of Kallus to come up.
"Report," Kallus said.
The driver looked out his dark tinted window. "There has been no unusual activity, sir. Their lights are still on and no one has come or left the resi..."
"Wait, what?" Kallus said.
"Uh... no one has come or le..."
"Not that, corporal! Did you say that their lights are still on?"
"Yes, sir," the man said in a confused tone.
" Are there any other lights on in the vicinity?"
"Well the street lights are on but the other residences have their lights off... oh." The man said realising what Kallus was talking about.
"If everyone else's lights are on, then that means that they are up unusually late." Kallus remarked. "I suggest you inspect the house."
A few seconds later a soldier ran out from the transport and stopped in front of the Cobalts' door. He gave a knock.
Silence.
/
Kisto walked to Gido who was stubbornly sitting on the bed. As soon as he saw the Twi'Lek walking towards him, he turned his head away with indignation.
"If you're here to convince me to..."
Kisto put his hand up to assure him to silence. "I already know about your refusal to cooperate. To be honest, I kind of admire you. It takes a brave man to stand by his values no matter what."
Gido slowly unfolded his arms and smiled. "Thanks! So that means I can stay?"
Kisto nodded his head. "We can't force you to come along. But just to let you know, it is foolish to believe that the Empire will allow you back into your academy when your parents, people who you live with, become fugitives. To be honest, you'll be lucky if you end up in an Imperial prison."
Kisto began to walk away, leaving a shocked Gido behind.
/
The Imperial soldier outside knocked again, this time more strongly and with more authority.
"Cobalt!" He shouted out.
Silence still.
/
"Mr. Kisto..." Mrs Cobalt said when Kisto reached her and her husband.
"Please, it's just Kisto." Kisto waved his hands.
"We can't leave without our son," she said.
Kisto looked at Siri who just shrugged. "Don't worry ma'am, we're not but we can't beg him, it would take too much time. We need... you need to practice some tough love."
That was when they heard the loud knock and someone calling their name. Everyone; Kisto, Mrs Cobalt, Siri, Hermes and even Gido stiffened at the sound. They looked at Kisto for direction.
"Alright, Mr and Mrs Cobaltr, I suggest you get in the transport now." Kisto said.
"What about our son?" Mrs Cobalt said as her husband quickly led her to the transport.
"I'll handle it," Kisto said.
/
The soldier knocked again and shouted louder.
Silence again.
The soldier gave a signal to the transporter before he withdrew a blaster. He kicked the door once...
/
"Kid, leave whatever you haven't packed!" Kisto said.
"But I'm almost done."
There was another loud kick against the door.
"Okay, I think I'm done." Hermes dropped whatever he was carrying before he rushed into the transport vehicle.
"Start the transport, when they get here it will be shoot first ask questions later!" Kisto said, loud enough to be heard by Gido.
"What?" Gido said. He suddenly jumped when there was another kick.
He watched as Kisto got on top of the transport. "Alright, kid, let's go!" He tapped the roof and the transport hovered above the ground, causing a loop of dust to spread out from around it.
The two eyes at the side of Gido's head went wide with panic as he heard another loud kick, however this one sounded different.
/
The soldier successfully kicked the door down in his fourth try. The other soldier, other than the river, were behind him, prepared to support him if there should be a fire fight.
The soldier entered, letting his training take over as he moved in a zig zag motion to hide behind cover while scanning the area with his gun pointed forward.
/
The transport began hovering above ground, causing Gido to run for it.
"Wait! Wait for me!" Gido waved running to the transport. He dove in as the imperial soldier stepped into the room with a hole in it.
He rushed out to see a transport about to leave.
"Punch it, kid!" Kisto said jumping on the roof.
Hermes made the transport pull away while the soldier aimed his blaster at the transport. He gave off a few shots, which caused Kisto to dive down and press himself close to the roof of the transport.
The laser fire sailed harmlessly above Kisto's head or burnt holes into the transport, however, they did not stop it.
When they were out of range, Kisto saw the soldier run back into the house.
"Whoo! That was good, kid!" Kisto said, shuffling to the edge and looking at the front of the four seater transport. where Mr. and Mrs Cobalt were sitting at the back pair of seats while Hermes and Gido at the front, with Hermes driving.
Kisto took out his communicator.
"Good Boy to Motley, come in!" Kisto said into the communicator.
"This is Motley here." Friman answered.
"We're coming in and we may be coming in with fire on our tails," Kisto sais.
"You were discovered?"
"It couldn't be helped," Kisto said.
Friman and Jak exchanged looks.
"Alright, we'll prepare the ship."
"Alright," Kisto said before disconnecting. "Hey, you were suppose to take the left back there!" Kisto scolded Hermes.
"I'm sorry, I'm know this place." Hermes took the next left. "Should we exchange places so that you can drive?"
"Uh... no."
"Why? Are you doing some tactical stuff back there?" Hermes asked.
"No, because the imperial transport is following us." Kisto stood up onto the roof and looked at the transport that had been watching the Cobalt house earlier but now, was chasing them down...
Author's Note
Hello everyone. Geez, I haven't written fanfiction in a while because I thought no one was enjoying it. But a review made me think, hmm... maybe I'd being too hard on myself. So I will continue this story and try to finish it.