Chapter Three

The morning light penetrated through the parted curtains in the bedroom of the horizontal body of the sleeping freighter pilot, Dash Rendar, as he laid there still in his newly bought togs. As the ray of light slowly moved across his stomach, the heat that the light was giving off was causing Dash's muscular frame to twitch and by the time the light had reached his face he had begun to sweat. The heat along with the light which was now in his eyes woke him as he raised up only to be startled by the sight of Leebo seated in a chair next to the bed staring right at him.

' Jesus Christ!' Dash yelled, ' You scared the shit out of me! What in the hell are you doing here, anyway?'

' It's my room too, sir. Don't you remember?' Leebo asked.

' Yeah, but what are you doing seating in that chair watching me? Didn't I just get done telling you yesterday about coming up on me without my knowledge like this. Well! Didn't I?'

' I was waiting for you to wake up to report the progress on the ship, sir' Leebo offered.

Dash raised up further and set on the side of the bed, shaking his head from side to side, ' Okay, how's it coming?' He asked not really caring to hear the answer as he ran his fingers through his hair on the sides of his head tightly towards the back as he took a deep breath and blew out a gust of air.

' It should be done around five o'clock, sir. That's what Shug thinks anyway.' Leebo answered as he got up and moved the chair back against the wall where it once was situated. He then turned back to face Dash. ' Isn't it time for breakfast, sir?'

' Sure,' Dash agreed looking puzzled at the droid.' You coming with me?'

' Of course, sir. I would love to come with you!' Leebo said as he follows Dash out the door and into the street.

' Don't you notice anything about me,' Dash asked Leebo as he struts a little extra in his walk.

' Oh! You must mean the new outfit. Is that right, sir?'

' You better believe it. Isn't these classy?' Dash said proudly.

' Oh! Of course, sir. You look like a commander of a fleet of Imperial ships. Most impressive, sir'

' Alright! Don't over do it. I just thought that I needed some new clothes, that's all. Let's not blow this thing out of proportion.'

Dash checks the time on his wristwatch and decides that the bank isn't open yet and so they signaled a cab. A taxi pulled up, Dash and Leebo got in the back and as the cab took off Leebo started a query with the droid driving.

' Good morning! I'm a LE-B02D9 repair droid from the Cybot Galactica corporation. What kind of droid are you?' Leebo inquired.

' I'm a R1 Astromech Transportation Droid of the Industrial Automaton's Company. I'm a Intellex lll computer series with 2A navigational capabilities, diagnostic and superior intelligent features along with massive communication abilities.'

' Well! You don't have to brag. Just continue driving us to the Meltdown Café, and hurry if you would, please. I've never heard of such a braggart! Oh! And being a droid at that!'

' Okay, Leebo. We can't all be modest. After all, you did ask him.'

The taxi stopped and Leebo got out still ruffled by the droid and his answers. Dash tossed two credits in the canister next to the unit as he climbed out of the cab noticing that the droid didn't ask them to please ride again with it's cab company.

' I guess you must of ruffled his feathers too, Leebo.' Dash told the upset unit as the taxi pulled away faster than usual into the traffic. They crossed the crowded sidewalk toward the entrance to the restaurant with Dash laughing as he looked at Leebo and his more than usual upright walk in disgust.

They entered the café door and the first thing Dash noticed was two freighter pilots seated at a table across the room against the opposite wall from them. In an instant , Dash recognizes one of the two men,' Jocko! Jocko Nazont! Well I'll be.'

Jocko Nazont, was his old buddy from the Academy, peers up from his conversation and answers,' Dash!. I don't believe it. Where you come from? Jocko called out,' Come over here, join us!'

' Jocko! Man I haven't seen you for maybe…..five….six years. What've been doing?' Dash asks as he and Leebo quickly cross the floor and set down at the table on the opposite side from Nazont and next to the other man at the table, who leans back to give Dash some room as Rendar shakes hands with his old friend.

' This is great! It's really great seeing you again. I never really new what happened to you when you left the Academy.' Jocko informed him. ' Oh! This is Lance Stimson.'

' Lance! This is Dash Rendar. One of the best young cadets and best pilots ever kicked out of the Imperial Academy, next to me of course!' Jocko boasted.' Lance here is my new partner in crime and a pretty good man to have around in a fight. Don't let his appearance fool though, he's small but wiry'

Jocko was a strong rugged individual that possessed huge shoulders and an iron like grip. He was once a lumberjack and a dirt farmer before joining the Academy. He has a hillbilly like accent and boisterous voice that overrides any other noise in the vicinity. His stature is equal to Rendar's but out weights him by twenty pounds and much stronger as he competed in several wrestling competitions throughout the galaxy, winning his share.

Lance was of smaller frame and like both Jocko and Dash was a Corellian. He was a son of a religious pilgrim who was lured to the planet Ylesia by rumors of a paradise planet where his family could live without fear. His father had gone there alone to check it out but was tricked and turned into a slave and forced to work in the spice mines before he and some other slaves were saved by Han Solo who went there to rescue a young female packer by the name Bria, who later became Solo's love interest.

Lance had blonde colored hair and soft features and was an odd match for the likes of Jocko. He possesses a black belt in the Japanese' art of jujitsu entering and winning several competitions on his home planet until he earned it's highest belt.

' I didn't know you were kicked out, when did that happen?' Dash asked beleaguered. ' About a year after you left. Actually I wasn't really kicked out, but I quit just the same. About the same time as Han Solo. You remember Solo don't you? You and him were pretty close back in those days. Anyway, I realized after you left and then later just after he quit that the service wasn't for me. All the best cadets were either quitting or being expelled, one or the other, and besides that all we ever seemed to do was massacre innocent people of one species or another so the Emperor could take over their Worlds and enslave their young workers. That wasn't for me.' Jocko admitted looking down as if ashamed of the whole matter.

' Who's your droid?' Jocko inquired changing the subject..

' Oh! I'm sorry Leebo!. This is my co-pilot and constant companion. His name is Leebo' Dash apologized, ' Leebo, this is an old friend of mind as you may of guess by the name of Jocko. He and I go way back to the days of my youth when I was a young cadet without a care in the world, but then something happened. A thing called life. My brother got killed in an accident and because he crashed his ship into the Imperial Museum, the Emperor Palpatine took out his revenge on me and my family. But, that's all in the past now. No use crying over spilled milk, that's just life I guess.'

' I didn't know it at the time,' Dash continued,' But I didn't have one, a life that is! I was too busy trying to live the life my father wanted for me and not one that I wanted, so I quit or rather I was kicked out actually. But being kicked out of the Academy was the best thing that ever happened to me. Although, at the time I didn't feel that way.'

' Wow! You said a mouthful, Dash. I feel practically the same way about my time in the service.' Jocko agreed.' The most exciting action I had was that time we ran into that arachnid on Carida. Remember that, Dash? We nearly lost our lives that day.'

Dash shook his head in agreement not wanting to hash through that same event that he had dreamed about two nights before and not wanting to let anyone know that the incident still haunts him.

' Well, getting off all the hearts and flowers. Tell me Jocko, what are you doing on this beautiful rock, anyway 'Dash takes a turn at changing the subject.

' Me and ole Lance here stopped on this crescent moon to delivery a passenger, a business man I guess with a briefcase and everything. He approached us when we were on Kessel and asked if we could give him a ride to Nal Hutta with a stopover here first to meet some guy who had to sign some papers. We've got a load of spice that we've got to deliver after this guy does whatever he came here to do and then jump over to Nal Hutta where we were headed anyway to drop him off and see Durga the Hutt before we take the load to Ylesia. Drop off the load and then we're done!' Jocko explained. ' We're getting paid twice for the same trip. Can't beat that, not even with a stick, right Dash!'

' Hey, you bet. Oh, by the way can you head back this way after you stop on Nal Hutta.'

' Yeah, I guess so. Why?'

' Because I want you to check on something for me, will you?'

' Sure. What's up?' Jocko asked.

' I'm having trouble with Jabba the Hutt. He has my ship the Outrider parked at his spaceport and I just want to know that it's still there. I had to drop a load of his and he said he was going to sell my ship if I didn't pay for it and he knows there is no way I can. I'm waiting for his freighter to get repaired or I'd go there myself. Can you check on it for me, Jocko?' Dash asked.

' Sure, but I won't be back until late tonight. Is that okay?'

' Sure, that'll be great and when you get back I'll buy you and Lance a couple drinks. You can meet me at the cantina tonight. That one across the street. I think it's the only one in town.'

' Alright! We never turn down a free drink, do we Lance?'

' Heck no! Lance agreed.

' He doesn't say much. But what he does say is right on,' Jocko says jokingly smiling all the while at Dash, then looking out of the corner of his eyes at Lance.

About that time, a waitress droid came up to the table,' May I take your order, sir?'

' Well, I hate to leave but it's about time for us to shove off. You guys can have our table, but don't forget the tip!' Jocko joked.

' Okay, have a safe trip and don't forget that little favor.'

' I won't. We'll see you late tonight,' Jocko answered, ' And don't drink all the liquor, save some for us.' Jocko laughingly said as he and Lance got up and went out the door, down the street disappearing into the spare crowd.

Dash turned his head back to the waitress who was patiently waiting for his order.' Sorry about the wait,' Dash said.

' That's alright, I get paid by the hour,' the droid quipped.

' Okay, I'll have a couple Varactyl eggs over easy this time. A Shaak steak well done with some of that green sauce on it and a couple waffles. Some coffee, black, and a couple slices of toast with Yak jam.

' Please, sir! Your making me sick just thinking about that concoction.' Leebo remarked.

' Well, this might be our last night, so I thought I might as well try the house special!' Dash told his companion droid.

Throughout the whole meal Leebo tried not to watch as Dash down the food in quick fashion. As the breakfast ended Dash pulled out some credits from his pocket and tossed them on the table with a little extra for a tip.' Boy, I better cash this voucher. I starting to run out of money. Come on Leebo, let's go.'

They both got up and went out the door and back two doors to the bank where Dash went inside as Leebo waited outside by the door. Minutes later, Dash came back out putting the cash into his billfold. ' Okay, we're back in business,'

Dash and Leebo took a taxi down the street, this time taking a different route that delivered them to the space port as Dash was wanting to make sure that Jocko and Lance had taken off in time and if not he could see them off. The cab dropped them off just outside the building and they went through a short tunnel that lead to the hanger area.

When they reached the hanger area, Dash could see Jocko and Lance still standing along side a type YV-666 Corellian modified light freighter that didn't have the expanded wings of the ordinary Hounds Tooth model that known bounty hunter Bossk had, but instead possess shorter wings that were angled back almost at a 45 degree angle that gave it a more sleeker, elegant look and improved it's speed capabilities.

' Wow!' Dash said aloud as he closed the distance between Jocko and himself.

' You like it, Dash?' Jocko asked.

' You didn't tell me you were flying a freighter like this! Wow! What is it? I've never seen anything like it in my life.'

' It's new. A modified version of the YV-666 that came out a few years ago. It's a lot lighter and much faster than that older model. It was recently put together by some hot-shot new young Corellian designer a couple of months ago. Yeah, it's brand new. Haven't even broke in the turbo engines yet.' Jocko admitted. ' And guess what! There's a X10-D7 computer hooked up to the propulsion system that is verbally automated so all I have to do is just tell the ship what to do. It's setup to obey my speech patterns and no one else. It regulates the weapons, the thrusters, the hyper-drive and just about everything else. If I want to fly it manually, all I have to do is punch in my personal security code and take over at the controls.'

' That's unbelievable, all you have to do is tell it what to do and it does it? How does it handle?'

' Like a dream!'

' Man, I wish I could go with you. I'd like to see how it performs.'

' Why don't you Dash. After all, you said your ship wasn't going to be finished until late tonight. There's always room for one more and you're certainly welcome. Besides, we can catch up on some old times. It'd be great having you.'

' Really! I'd love to. You don't mind do you Leebo.'

' Certainly not, sir,' Leebo answered.

' Alright, here comes our passenger. About time.' Jocko stated looking at the entrance where Dash entered just moments before, as a man came walking through the tunnel opening.

The man looked to be in his late forties or early fifties. He was short in height with a large bald spot that covered the entire top of his head with thinning grayish brown hair on the sides and back. He was pudgy in size weighting around 240 pounds and was carrying a large attache case that he kept to his side and at times seemed to be trying to hide.

' Sorry I'm late gentlemen, but it took a lot longer than I thought. I had a hard time getting verification cause the darn guy was gone for the day. He said he lost track of the time and thought that we were going to be here tomorrow, not today.'

' No harm now, you ready Dash?

' Oh! I see we have another passenger.'

' Yeah! This is Dash Rendar, he's a close friend of mind whom I haven't seen in quite awhile ;and what was your name again?' Jocko asked.

' Johnstone! Hirum Johnstone, nice to meet you .' He announced in a business like manner.

' Are you ready to go, Dash ?' Jocko asked as Dash gave him the thumbs up,' Okay people, let's get going. Next stop, Nal Hutta.'

Everyone walked into the brand new shiny freighter, seated themselves in the front four bucket seats, strapped themselves in as Jocko flipped several levers that started the powerful engines and as he pushed forward a long stick like lever ,' Okay, fasten your seat belts boys, we've got liftoff.' as the huge freighter raised off the hanger floor and slowly proceeded out the open exit and into the bright light.

Jocko flipped a few more switches and announced to the passengers,' You can now move about men, we are in automatic and the computer is now in complete control of vessel.'

He got up and moved to a cabinet and asked,' Anybody ready for a drink?'

' Sure! Any kind will do, just as long as it's got alcohol in it.' Dash said.

' Ole , why not.' Hirum agreed as he and Lance both moved over to Jocko to retrieve their cups. Several more drinks later and many stories of their past escapades made the journey seem short. Even the business man Johnstone told several amusing anecdotes about some of the events that he was involved in or heard about from other associates that he knew. Each one took his turn at telling a colorful story, several involving both Dash and Jocko and their early experiences at the Academy as well as what happened to each one of them after their time in the service and the hard times they experienced afterward.

Jocko put the vessel on automatic and used the voice automated control system to show Dash how the ship performed. Jocko had the ship maneuver in a zigzag pattern, turning every which a way just by the command of his voice, going in and out of some debris that was in the ship's path , upside down and around in a huge circle end over end until Dash and the rest of the crew pleaded for Jocko to stop. Jocko looked at Hirum and saw that he was turning a shade green and both Dash and Lance were holding their stomachs. ' Oh! Sorry about that. I get a little carried away about showing what this thing can really do. I guess I better just level it out and just cruise straight for awhile until we get to Nal Hutta. But isn't she something?'

' She's a fine ship, Jocko. You can be real proud of her.' Dash assured him as they continued on their journey.

Several hours later the weary passengers were all laid back in their chairs nearly asleep after several rounds of drinks and the now mundane journey for which they pursued.

' Jocko, we're coming into view of the spaceport.' Lance said as he was climbing into his seat,' Maybe you had better put the ship back into manual, sir.'

He was joined by Jocko, who did take the ship out of automatic and took over the controls. Dash came over to the pilot's chair and stood behind Jocko and Lance looking out the windshield over the approaching spaceport. All of a sudden, Dash spotted the indescribable Millennium Falcon leaving the terminal of the landing platform for which they were headed.

' Isn't that the Millennium Falcon coming towards us?' Dash asked.' I didn't know Lando Calrissian was in this part of the galaxy. I thought he was spending most of his time at the sabacc tables on Bespin. I heard he was practically making a living off the poor fools he was able to sucker into playing against him. I know I would never set down at a table with him unless I was the one that was dealing.'

' That's the Millennium Falcon alright, but that's not Calrissian. That ship belongs to Han Solo now, didn't you know. Lando lost the Falcon to Solo months ago. I guess they were playing sabacc, and Lando put up the Falcon as collateral in a high stakes hand. Han Solo laid down a pure sabacc of all sabers with the exact total of twenty-three that just beat out what Lando had and the Millennium Falcon changed hands just like that.'

' I can't believe Lando would take that kind of a chance with the Falcon. He absolutely loved that ship,' Dash told the two men.

' Yeah! But you know Lando. That guy is the craziest smuggler that I've ever seen. Nothing worries him. He'd bet his life on the roll of the dice and he really loves that game of sabacc. He plays that more than anything else these days. He hardly ever get away from the planet Bespin. He's there every night playing that goddamn game twenty-four-seven.'

' You're right about Lando, he's one crazy son-of-a-bitch,' Dash agreed , ' Do you know what Han Solo is doing these days?'

' Well, he use to have a place in the Corellian Sector in the Vertical City on Nar Shaddaa. He even had a house droid named ZZ-4Z that he won from my old sergeant back at the Academy, you know, Mako Spince.'

' You've got to be kidding, Mako!' Dash said puzzled,' Man! I can't believe it. It sure is a small world isn't it. But what happened to him? I thought he was one of the chosen ones at the Academy. It seemed he was always pulling pranks at the Academy, but he always got out of trouble because of his father's status as a senator.'

'Well, he did for a long while, but one day he stole a gram of antimatter from the physics lab and blew up the Academy's mascot moon when he was trying to blow up the Academy's official seal. Some how his prank backfired on him and the whole moon exploded. He tried to get out of it but the superiors at the Academy had had enough. Even his father couldn't keep them from expelling him that time. I like old Mako but he was a little hard on us cadets that were in his platoon, and all the time playing pranks. He didn't care who he played them on either.'

' What about Solo. You were telling me about Solo. What happened to him, does he still live on Nar Shaddaa?'

' I don't think he still has a place there. He and Mako were working with Roa's gang, back when Roa was a smuggler. He has his own import-export firm these days, all respectable and legal you know. Anyway, Han got involved with Shug Ninx, before he had his repair shop, and this gal named Salla Zend. Him and her had a real big thing going for a while. But you know Solo, a woman isn't going to tie him down. Not for long, anyway. I guess she got serious and he sort of got tired of the whole thing and left.'

' Yeah, I just met her and she asked me if I knew Han. She sounded like she wasn't over him yet. She was there working at Shug Ninx's space barn where I had that freighter that I was getting repaired back on the smuggler's moon.'

' Whoa! I guess you were right before. It sure is a small world.' Jocko retorted.' Anyway, yeah! Han and Salla broke up just within the past several months. I think he's making spice runs for just about anybody that is willing to hire him. He's been working for Jabba the Hutt and Moruth Doole here lately. Making runs from Kessel to Ylesia and back to Nal Hutta. Just now, he was probably finishing up his last spice run and heading back to Kessel or something, I imagine. Every once in a while we run into each other on one of the planets and have a couple of drinks together talking about the old days back at the Academy.'

As the ship neared the spaceport, Jocko proceeded to land the craft on the open air landing pad that was completely clear of any pedestrians or workers who waited out of the way for the freighter to set down before they unanimously proceeded to the ship to lock down the ship's girders.

The exit platform lowered and the four men rose up out of their seats and proceeded down and out the ramp onto a long cement walkway that led inside the spaceport.

' Well, thanks for the ride Jocko, and you too Lance.' Hirum Johnstone told them, ' It was nice meeting you Mister Rendar, maybe we'll run into each other again sometime.'

' Yeah, nice meeting you too, sir ' Dash responded.

' Well, I've got to go see Durga. Come on Lance, I'm sure he's expecting us. We'll be gone for at least three hours. I guess we'll see you a little later, Dash,' Jocko said,' Let's figure on meeting back here around ten o'clock. That'll give us about five hours each to do what we got to do. If you get done any earlier you might be able to find us either at the Crescent Moon restaurant or the bar called the Hound's Tooth in Evocar,'

Evocar was the main city on Nal Hutta, which means ' glorious jewel' in Huttese. The city was about the same size as the Corellian Sector of the Vertical City on Nar Shaddaa, not as tall , but with just as many inhabitants as that portion of the city. About a third of the total population as the Vertical City itself. The restaurant and Huttese bar mentioned by Jocko was in the middle of the square on the spaceport side of the city.

Unlike the Industrial and modern Vertical City, Evocar is an old fashion metropolis with buildings similar to Mos Eisley on the planet Tatooine. Evocar is situated in a grassy marshland surrounded by bogs that consist of wet, spongy ground and insect infested marshes. Most of the buildings are cement and rock huts with rounded roofs and the roads are dirt or gravel covered streets. The tallest structures are merely four stories high as the city covers a larger land mass than most larger cities.

Dash looked around and spotted a maintenance man , went over and asked him where he could rent a land speeder. The man told him of a place just down the street towards town and Dash thanked him and went out of the hanger area through an opening leading to the city.

A taxi found the rental place that Dash was told about and ten minutes later he rented a brand new SoroSuub XP-38A , Sport Land speeder, which he piloted to Jabba the Hutt's palace. Jabba's residents was located several miles outside of the city through intertwined stinking bogs, stagnant scum-covered puddles, and patches of sickly marsh grass inhabited by thousands of insects and spiders. On the way, Dash saw flocks of hundreds of large, clumsy birds feeding on the insects in the swampy fields and several hunters in swoops shooting the birds as they fly skyward.

As Dash parked the speeder to the side of the entrance a large door opened and out walked a tall Twi'Lek by the name of Bib Fortuna and two Gamorrean pig-like guards with small horns, up turned tusks and green colored skin. They were armed only with large axes and wore armament on their heads and shoulders with wrist plates.

Bib Fortuna carried his large twin head tentacles loosely around his neck and is of human flesh color. He has no hair and his eyes are orange in color due to the darkened side of his planet, Ryloth, from which most Twi'Lek come.

Bib Fortuna has been in Jabba the Hutt's employment for nearly forty years and is his chief lieutenant and majordomo. Bib has learned to be obsequious to the Hutt when he's had to be and in that way has moved up in prominence in his importance and his position in the Hutt's service. He has used his position as Jabba top aide to began a plot to one day killing Jabba and taking over his business, but that day is a long way in the future.

' You want to see Jabba?' Bib Fortuna ask.' I'm sure he wants to see you, young Rendar. Go ahead, Jabba is waiting for you. Let him pass!' He told the guards.

Dash went inside a short corridor into a room where the large Jabba the Hutt moved across the wide floor towards him. ' Ah, Dash you came to pay me for the spice load you lost, it's good to see you.'

' Not quite, Jabba. You know I don't have that kind of money and where's my ship? I didn't see it when I went by the landing platform outside, did you move it?'

' Oh, my young friend. I knew you would not be able to pay me , so I sold it.'

' You what! You weren't suppose to do that! You said I had a month. We had an agreement!

' You were suppose to deliver my spice load to Ylesia, that was our agreement! You lost my load and I lost your ship!' Jabba answered.' There's nothing more to be said. Take him away!' He told his guards.

' I have your freighter! Don't you want it back?' Dash screamed as the guards dragged him away.

Jabba started laughing in a loud boisterous voice,' Y-o-u, have my freighter. I think not!' The large slug revealed still laughing loudly as his guards threw Dash outside the confines of his domicile.

Now Dash knew that something was up and that he needed to get back to Nal Shaddaa, but than he decided that it was important to find out what happened to his ship, the Outrider. The best place to find out that kind of information was at the cantina in the city where loose lips and information could be bought for just a few drinks.

He hopped into his land speeder and headed for the Hound's Tooth, the bar where Jocko told him to go if his business with Jabba ended quickly. Dash soon arrived back at the rental place dropped off the speeder and caught a cab to the cantina hoping that it was a busy night. When he went through the door, he noticed that Jocko and Lance were already there seated at a table at the side wall. It looked like they had already had several drinks as there were several empty glasses in front of them. Dash went over and joined them , sitting opposite his friend once more.

' Hey! Old buddy have a drink!' Jocko said loudly,' Hey Mack! Over here, get my buddy a…. what'ya having?' Jocko called out to a passing waitress.

' Give me a Rangoon fizzer ,' Dash ordered, ' No! Make it two!'

' Alright, it's time to party!' Jocko shouted.

' I thought you two were itching to get to Ylesia and drop off your load.'

' Change of plans ole buddy. They're unloading us as we speak. I guess Durga sold the load to Jabba so we don't have to go to Ylesia. We get paid the same anyway and we get done a little bit earlier. We even got a back load. It works out great!'

' A back load, ' Dash asked.

' Yeah, we've got to take some freight to Garos lV, ' Jocko explained, ' It's a little out of our way, but what the heck, they're paying top dollar. '

' That's great! Here, this round's on me. You can get the next one, ' Dash replied as the bar maid delivered the drinks.

The alcohol flowed generously as the three men 's conversation drifted back to the experiences of the two friends with each one trying to remember an embarrassing moment of the other that was comical to everyone who saw it and telling Lance so he could get a laugh out of the situations. Hours past as more rounds of drinks were ordered with each one taking turns paying, and each time someone asking who's turn it was to buy the drinks.

The crowd in the cantina seemed to have doubled as the hours got later and later and the noise in the smoke filled room got to the point where the patrons had trouble hearing their conversations with each other. Music from the jukebox against the wall added to the din as the songs being played were hardly recognizable, but helped smooth out the chatter from the large gathering.

Just then Dash noticed a figure seated alone across the room in a booth against the wall opposite them in the dark crevice provided by a remodeling of the room and an overhanging beam that blocked the blue-purple strove light. It was Saelt-Marae, the same Yak Face creature that he had seen at the cantina two nights earlier on Nal Shaddaa. The known informant of Jabba the Hutt that would sell his own off-springs if the price was right.

Dash got up, told Jocko that he would be right back, and walked across the room to the creatures table and as he sat down greeted him,' Hey, Yak Face what you know?'

Saelt-Marae said nothing as Dash slide over next to him and told him,' I need some information and I think that you're the right man to give me it.'

Again Saelt-Marae said nothing, but now seemed more intent to listening to what Dash wanted to know. ' I want to find out what happen to my freighter, the Outrider. It was parked over on Jabba's landing pad and now it's not there. Do you know who took it? It's worth a lot of credits to you if you do.'

Finally, Saelt-Marae acknowledges the insistent privateer, ' How many credits?'

' Then you do know the answer, right?'

' The ship you inquire about was sold to a certain gentleman, who transported the vessel to his home planet yesterday. I know because I was there when the deal was made and I saw your ship leave Jabba's that morning.' The Yak told Dash. ' If you want to know the man's name and where he took your ship, it will cost you three hundred credits, no less!'

' Deal!' Dash remarked as he pulled out the credits from his pockets.

' Careful!' Saelt-Marae cautioned as he pushed Dash's arm down underneath the table,' There are eyes everywhere!' He warned,' Give me the money in my hand, but don't let on what's going on. Jabba has eyes and ears everywhere and if you want to live, you must leave this place. I heard that Jabba has put a bounty on your head .'

Dash placed the money in his hand under the table and as he did the Yak revealed the information,' The man who bought your ship isn't a man at all but a droid called IG-88 and I believe it was headed to the planet Ord Mantell, where it seems to hang out the most these days. I've heard that IG-88 has a fortress there somewhere in the surrounding regions. Be careful, he is very dangerous!' Saelt-Marae warned.' Stay a few more minutes with your friends before you leave. It will help throw off suspicion that you got any information from me,' He pleaded.

Dash got up and headed back to Jocko's table. On his way through the crowded room, Dash bumped into a Rodian. When he looked up he discovered that it was a Rodian by the name of Greedo. A known bounty hunter in the Outer Rim Territory.

' Watch where your going, human,' Greedo snarled.

' You too snout face,' Dash replied not taking any guff off of the insolent Rodian.

Dash pushed off of the green skinned Rodian and continued to Jocko's table, ordered another round of drinks and told Jocko and Lance what he had found out.

' Your going to need some help at Ord Mantell aren't you, ' Jocko paused, ' Let me and Lance offer our services to you. Garos is in much the same direction. We'd be glad to follow you to Mantell, wouldn't we Lance? '

' Yeah sure, ' Lance agreed.

' Are you sure? I hear this IG-88 character is very dangerous and your lives could be in jeopardy. I have to risk mine but you guys don't.'

' Of course! We're not little kids you know, of course we're sure. It's been a long time since I've seen any action around here and to tell you the truth I'm getting bored of all these boring hauling jobs I've been doing. This could be the first excitement I'll have since those days at the Academy and I not going to pass it up. So I'm helping and that's it. How about you, Lance, you up for some real excitement. '

' You bet, Jocko. You can count on me. When do we get started?' Lance said excitedly.' I've been hearing that story about you two guys and that arachnid for years. If your going to get some more of that kind of action, than I'm in. I wouldn't miss it for anything. You can count me in, definitely.'

' Well, let's get back to Nal Shaddaa. We'll pick up Leebo, get some supplies, get a good night 's sleep and head for Ord Mantell in the morning.'

' Fantastic!' Jocko shouted, ' It's going to be like old times, you'll see.'

About that time the businessman Hirum Johnstone came hurriedly through the cantina door. He spotted the three men setting at the table and before they could get up, he rushed over to the table and shouted excitingly,' You guys got to help me! They're out to kill me! '

' Who?' Jocko asked.

' I don't know, but I think Jabba sent them.'

' What you got to do with Jabba the Hutt?' asked Dash.

' I was putting together a deal for Jabba and it backfired on me. Now he has sent someone to kill me. I've got to get off this planet or I'm dead. You've got to help me, please! I 'm willing to pay you, please!' Hirum pleaded.

' Well, your in luck, we were just leaving anyway, but you can still pay us..'Jocko said as the men rose from their seats.

' Can we go out and back or something. I think they followed me. They're probably outside, waiting for me to come out.' Johnstone told them as he looked around behind him for the killers.

' Lance. Check outside and see if you see any suspicious thugs hanging around. On second thought, never mind, everybody in this place are suspicious looking. We might as well go out that side door and take our chances. I'll go out first, then you, and then Dash you bring out Hirum. Wait until I tell you the coast is clear though, then bring him out.' Jocko directed the group.

They all moved to the door and as planned Jocko went out followed by Lance. Dash waited a minute with the door partly opened until he saw Jocko motioned for him to follow. As Dash and Hirum entered the dark alley, they could see several people walking past the alley's entrance on the busy street as it was near midnight now and the streets were vaguely visible and only sparsely lit with numerous dark shadows at every alley and corner. The four men cautiously moved down the street eying over everyone to whom they met as well as those walking on the opposite side of the street and glancing behind them to make sure they weren't being followed.

This area in the city was the most populated , compacted and densest, with all of the tallest buildings. The streets here were covered in a red colored cobble stone and were very narrow barely allowing for two-way traffic with cement sidewalks on both sides of the roadway. The buildings and shops were close together which caused shadows on a main portion of the streets. Several of the buildings had narrow walkways between them that lead to side doors or to the other side of the block, as well as several other wider alleyways that contributed to the maze of routes throughout the marketing district. These thoroughfares were dark passageways that were perfect areas for robbers and thugs, and accounted for most of the locations where crimes were committed.

This was the main commercial district of the city and featured a cantina or a bar on nearly every block which also meant that it was the area in the metropolis where most of the derelicts, thieves, and the homeless hung out. This also was the district with the most crime, the dirtiest and most dangerous part of the city. There was no curfew on drinking as the bars and cantinas staid open twenty-four hours a day. It was the part of the city that never slept.

It was still surprising though how many people were still walking the streets at this late hour. Mostly men of just about every species. Several on both sides of the avenue walking rather slowly as if they had no place in particular to go. Each one suspicious in appearance and each one looking at the four men as they approached as if to attack them at any moment. There were several people sleeping in the dark corners on the ground and underneath some of the stairwells that lead up to the apartment buildings entrances. There were also many prostitutes standing on the corners as well as several bums looking for handouts along with a few groups of thugs gathered at different locations all down the street.

Dash followed Jocko and Lance with Hirum in tow as they led the way checking out every possible ambush area where someone could jump out at them. They cautiously traveled three blocks down the street turned the corner and went two more blocks when all of a sudden some laser blasts broke the din of the street noise and scattered the four men. They all started running down the dark now deserted street as everyone else on the sidewalks ducked for cover.

In all of the excitement, Dash and Hirum, found themselves trailing further behind losing ground to their comrades ahead of them.. When they past a darker then usual separation between two buildings, they were all of a sudden attacked by two Rodians with knives.

Dash blocked the attacker that assaulted him, grabbing the Rodian's arms as the force made Dash stumble backwards. He felt a powerful force from the attacker's right arm more so than his left. He now realized that the Rodian held a knife as the blade now caught the light from a street lamp, as fear now overcame him and adrenaline built up inside of him as he fought from his attacker.

He continued struggling with the creature trying to prevent the sharp knife from reaching it's target, his chest. Dash and his attacker bounced back and forth, first slamming into the side of the building and then back against a pole as Dash and the Rodian were of equal strength and neither one was able to overpower the other as they fought, with each one forcing the other backwards and forwards in their powerful demonstration of brute strength.

Johnstone wasn't as fortunate as his attacker stabbed him in the back before he could react. His Rodian attacker was the first one out of the dark fissure and caught him by complete surprise. Hirum immediately crumbled to the ground mortally wounded. Before the Rodian could join his fellow attacker, who was struggling with Dash, he saw that Jocko and Lance was returning. So he turned and ran back through the opening from which he came. The other Rodian, ,seeing that their job was finished, broke off his attack against Dash pushing him with one mighty blow, forcing him to the ground. He then followed the other Rodian into the darkness and disappeared..

As Jocko and Lance reached them, Dash got up and started to follow the two attackers through the narrow opening when all of a sudden two lasers shots exploded at the corner at which he was headed and Jocko grabbed Dash's arm and pulled him back. The three men scurried for the cover of a cement stairway, as their bodies slammed against the darken barrier. Dash started to scramble to his feet to chase the two killers, but Jocko again grabbed his arm and held him back.

' Don't! It's too late now, they got what they wanted.' Jocko told him as the men hid in the shadows against the cement structure.

' I don't think whose ever shooting at us wants us to follow,' Jocko explained, 'Come on, we're out gunned, anyway. Let's get the hell out of here.' Jocko told Dash as they both looked over at Lance who had crawled back and was checking Hirum for any sign of life.

Jocko and Dash peeked over the cement for the shooter, but saw nothing. The street was completely deserted now as they raised their heads higher in short spurts fearing further gun fire.

'They're gone. That was only a warning shot. They weren't after us, just him.' Jocko announced.

Jocko and Dash now righted themselves, went back and stood over the crumbled body. They gazed down at Lance as he looked up and shook his head no, telling them that Hirum didn't make it. The three men left the dead body in the street and cautiously went back to their ship. They wanted to get off that planet in a hurry just in case the authorities tried to detain them or the attackers decided that they might want to kill them as they were witnesses to their crime.

As they reached the hanger entrance, the attendant told Jocko that he was all loaded and ready to go. Jocko slipped him some credits and thanked him as he headed for the ship's ramp that was lowering as the men made their way towards the vessel.

Dash reached into his pocket and discovered a key with a tag that read locker 217 hanger two. ' Wait a minute!' Dash told the two men,' Look at this! Hirum must of slipped this into my pocket. Remember that attache case he had earlier. Well, he didn't have it when he came to the bar. Maybe he left it here in locker number 217.!'

' Let's check it out. Maybe Hirum left some money in it. Those Rodians were after him for something, maybe that's it.' Jocko said as he started looking for the 217 locker among the numerous lockers that are provided at the hanger for travelers to put their belongings while they go into town.

' Here it is, Dash!' shouted Lance.

Dash went over and unlocked the locker, took out the suitcase and opened it. To their surprise, it was full of money. They looked around and decided not to count it now but get airborne in a hurry before those Rodians decided to come back.

There was a noise toward the entrance of the hanger bay and as the four of them looked around Dash closed the suitcase and locked it back up. He then drew out his blaster and held it to his side as he watched three men enter the hanger deep in conversation. A sigh of relief came over the four men as Dash slowly slide the blaster back into his holster. Jocko and Dash looked into each others eyes and grinned at what they thought might be the Rodians returning.

The three men who had entered the hanger continued through the door opposite them to the connecting hanger next door as they continued their conversation not knowing how close they came to being blasted to pieces by the edgy Dash Rendar. The four men resumed walking toward the ship as they all started busting out laughing, except for Leebo, who looked puzzled. They looked at one another aware of each others edginess.

'I don't see what's so amusing.' Leebo stated not knowing that the others all thought that the strangers who scared them were the Rodians they were expecting.

' You would if you were as scared as we just were.' Dash laughed.

They piled into the freighter and before long blasted off for Nal Shaddaa and safer quarters. As they lifted off, Jocko pointed down at the landing platform and cried out, ' Look! There they are. '

Four Rodians were running out onto the platform shooting at the ship with their blasters, even though they were out of range.

' Shit, now there's four of them, ' Lance shouted out.

' Wow!, ' Dash announced, ' That was close. I guess we left just in time, huh Jocko? '

Jocko just knotted in agreement and then leaned back in his seat and sighed, ' Shooo! '