Chapter 3

"I was cast out by fools who thought I had nothing to offer. They had no idea what riches I really have. I'll show them, I'll show them what its all really about. My name is Starbuck and I'm here to save the universe."

It has been over a month since I gave up ascension, I haven't regretted it for one minute. Free of the shackles of dull minds, free of their watchful presence. I'm a man of action, and there's a war on, I should never have given up my humanity.

With corporeal existence comes once more a flood of emotions, I had to get used to that. I was on autopilot when I first arrived, taking up the old role like putting on an old pair of shoes, but its starting to hit home, I FEEL again! My perceptions are colored once more by worry and doubt and desire. More than anything else I worry., one nagging question has begun to rise among all others.

What happened to Adama?

"This is a good guy." Slurred Lando, draping an arm over Han's shoulders. "Chewies a good guy too, only…" he leaned over the table towards Starbuck and winked, "he's not a guy. He's a it! No offense it." He said apologetically to Chewie who pointed looked at the ceiling."

"Lando I think you need to take it easy." Said Starbuck, "Tell you what, lets get something to eat. Its on me." He beckoned an exasperated waitress over. She shot a wary glance at Lando but at Starbuck's insistence. "Miss I'm afraid I'm new to these parts, but we're all a little hungry, what do you recommend for my friend here?" he said putting all the charm he could muster into his request."

"A backbone and some self respect." quipped the waitress without missing a beat..

"Hey, sweetie." said Lando, doing his best to enunciate the word to inject seriousness., "I'm Lando Calrissian! Lando Calrissian! Right kriffing here!" he jerked two thumbs towards his face and beamed. "Calrissian doesn't need self respect, self respect needs Calrissian!"

"Lando Calrissian doesn't do pushups," added a new voice, "He pushes kashyyk DOWN."

"Wedge!" Han greeted unenthusiastically, he gingerly removed Lando's sweaty arm, and free of his support Lando sank to the table burying his head in his hands. "What took you so long?"

Ignoring Han's remark, Wedge addressed the waitress, "Just bring us some nerf crisps, its on me." He assured Starbucks who was now eyeing him curiously.

"So Wedge was it? I gather you're the man we've been waiting for." Said Starbuck shooting a glance at Han who nodded. "You got a line on a ship and some workers?"

"That would be me." Said Wedge, "Not many people have needs as… specific as yours." He said "So I'm a little curious why you wouldn't just put out a call for work."

"Well we want this to be a little bit… discrete." Clarified Han, "Word gets out too quickly you know people might get the wrong idea. The empire watches droid activity like a hawk since the Cylon war, and we need to move a little quickly if you know what I mean."

"I really don't." replied Wedge, "But Lando's message was pretty specific, and I think I have what you're looking for. I can have everything you need by the end of the month."

"That's too long." Said Starbuck, "This is a side venture for me, I need the capitol, but I also need to get things done."

"Best I can do." Said Wedge apologetically, "My contacts are committed elsewhere."

"Than un-commit them." Starbuck suggested, "I'm sure Lando explained that this was worth the effort."

"Lando said it 'Might' be something." Said Wedge, "He doesn't look like he's in any condition to provide any clarification, so why don't you fill me in a little more."

"Well.." began Starbuck, but the waitress had arrived. She placed a plate of some deep fried substance before the skeptical Starbuck. Han reached out and grabbed a handful. Starbuck suddenly noticed Han used his left hand to do so, and that his right hand, though seemingly relaxed, was hidden below the table. The hairs on the back of his neck began to rise. He scrutinized Wedge and the man returned his gaze unflinchingly. Starbuck recognized a soldier when he saw one, and he suddenly made a connection.

"You're either military or ex-military." He observed, "Fighter pilot am I right?" Wedge tensed suddenly.

"I thought I recognized you." He said to Han. You were on Yavin with that kid and General Kenobi."

"And you're rebel scum." Han shot back, "Tell me why I don't blast you now and claim the reward."

The distinctive Zing of a ZatNicketel opening drew Han's attention. Starbuck, had adopted a similar position, but to han's chagrin, he couldn't tell who Starbuck had his Zat pointed at. Wedge for his part kept his ahnds on the table. He deliberately grabbed a handful of nerf tips.

"We're not scum." He said quietly, "We just wanted freedom for all sentients. The Cylons betrayed us."

"I'm sure the Wookiees below understand completely." Snapped han, Chewie growled softly. Han's eyes flicked to him, "You what?"

"he knows we were there too." Said Wedge, "The Empire considered kashyyk an acceptable loss, and in fact evacuated forces they knew they would lose. We came in and did our best to hold the line, but against 20 base stars…"

"First I've heard of it." Han scoffed, but now the wheels in his head were turning. It wasn't a state secret that the imperial information network wasn't always on the up and up, and if Chewie knew about this… Han shook his head.

"How do you think I can lay hands on a boatload of wookiees so quickly?" Wedge asked carefully, "They were evacuated. We lost a lot of good men, and probably any chance of defeating the empire, fighting a holding action we knew would fail. The record speaks for itself Han, one minute we're a threat the next we're gone. We decided our war plans weren't worth sacrificing a planet full of innocent civilians. Can your empire say the same?"

"Alright I'm no patriot," he said at last. He put his hands back above the table. Starbuck did likewise after a moment. "So this crew of yours…"

"We can have them here in a few days." Wedge assured, turning to Starbuck, "If you found what I think you have it might be a second chance for all of us."

"Right." Said Starbuck, maybe during the war you didn't have some of the same.. opportunities as the Empire, you're looking to level the playing field."

"We have plenty of financial resources." Wedge said turning to Han, "You'll be well paid, but we need to get there and take what we can before Thrawn figures out what is going on."

"Lets discuss this somewhere a little more private." Said han glancing coolly around the cantina, "Throw too many of the wrong words around in public and people might start getting the wrong idea you know? Chewie help Lando up."

"Seems a bit out of character for Calrissian to go belly up so early." Sid Wedge, "How many's he had?"

"That's his second." Said Han, nodding towards the tall nearly untouched cocktail, "It is a bit strange I think something's eating him." Han casually tossed some coin onto the table, and Wedge did likewise. Starbuck rose and followed the two men out the door. The waitress moved in to collect the tab and glanced over her shoulder. She froze for an instant, and shook herself. She chided herself, as for a second she had thought she saw Calrissian crack an eye open, more than that she had thought she saw the eye flash yellow for a brief moment. Glancing again she saw him limp upon the Wookiee's shoulder and convinced herself it must have been the light.

***

Chewie was pecking away at a computer terminal in the cockpit, with Starbuck leaning over his shoulder when han found them.

"Deal's all set, in fact we might be able to deliver one of your conditions early." Han said, "Wedge was pretty impressed when I showed him that stone ring of yours. The Rebels are taking this seriously enough that they want to send one of their last frigates to Coruscant with us. A frigate has a reactor which would meet your power requirements and if it does what it says, well after you're done with it the rebellion is very interested. "

"You sure you'd want to just let go of it?" Starbuck asked, "You set it up right you can make enough to save some serious capitol."

"Oh I'll be selling it for some serious capitol." Said Han, "Somehow though I don't have the desire to either saddle myself with a rebellion that's already gotten its ass whooped, nor do I find the idea of building a base around a planet killing explosive appealing."

Starbuck had explained that the Star gate had an enormous storage capacity, Han had immediately asked what would happen if that capacity was exceeded and the answer had prompted him to declare that under no circumstances would it be activated in proximity to the falcon. He had however, been sure to pitch that aspect to Wedge. Unspoken was the implication that properly smuggled aboard, an exploding Stargate could be one of the few things that could take out a death star.

Wedge had not been particularly intent on that aspect however, Wedge had candidly explained that the rebellion needed access to technologies that Thrawn's government still controlled rigidly. Military grade shields and hyper drives that now incorporated advanced technology from Imperial city now lacked many of the traditional weaknesses of Galactic technology. Rebel ships once on part with imperial craft were now at a severe tactical disadvantage which compounded the disparity between levels of manpower and equipment between the two rivals.

"Wedge seemed grimly interested in particular, with the intergalactic transport possibilities." Said Han, "I have a feeling the Rebellion sees the writing on the wall, and given the opportunity would seriously consider a complete withdrawal."

"Well the universe is a big place." Said Starbuck, "I could probably suggest a safe harbor or two to check out…"

"For a finder's fee." Han finished for him, "And of course a management fee for myself."

"Well Chewie's been telling me a little bit more about this rebellion, and I'm not so sure I want to bankrupt these guys to line my own pockets you know?" admitted Starbuck. Han focused on the terminal Chewie was working on.

"Now I know you're not foolish enough to be looking up the Rebel alliance." He began.

"No no, nothing like that." Answered Starbuck, "I'm looking up some old friends of mine, one in particular."

"Under myths and legends?" Han asked sliding into his chair He watched Chewie performing a search for the name Adama.

"Well I'll just keep that part to myself for now." Said Starbuck, "You'd probably think I was crazy anyway, but rest assured Han, if it was anything I thought would even remotely put you guys in danger, I would come clean in an instant."

Han held his tongue. Starbuck's story obviously didn't add up. He claimed to come from a galaxy far away, where his people had been exterminated by the Cylons, yet everyone knew the Cylons, unlike the goa'uld and the Vong weren't FROM another galaxy, there had been legends of a great war with them millions of years ago and scuttle but was that the Rebellion had found and reactivated derelict cylons before being betrayed, sort of a deal with the devil gone sour. Starbuck also slipped up on occasions such as now, and made references to people and places that had long ago vanished into legend.

"You know…" he said cagily, "I'm sure this has nothing to do with what you are looking for but that Adama character…I was doing a little checking of my own into the legends of Coruscant, and they did mention an Adama,.."

Chewie gave a startled bark of realization.

"That's what you were thinking of huh big guy?" said Starbuck sourly. He patted the Wookiee, "Don't worry you'd have remembered sooner or later."

"Well it was just a line in a poem but someone or something was going to go looking for the Exile of Dagobah." Said Han, "Interesting coincidence though that was the home world of the Goa'uld wasn't it? Nothing but rubble now."

"Where exactly is this Dagobah?" asked Starbuck/

"Opposite side of the galaxy, " said Han, "More, it was the stronghold of Anubis, What's it worth to go there?"

Starbuck weighed his options for a moment. "never mind," he said at last, "It could just be a wild goose chase."

"What's a goose?" demanded Wedge coming up the corridor, "Han your fresher needs an overhaul."

"I'll add that to your bill." Said Han snidely.

"Starbuck, that gateway of yours can it go anywhere in the galaxy?" asked Wedge.

"If we can rig up an interface and there's a receiving gate, then sure." Said Starbuck, "Say that gives me an idea, how do you guys feel like running a little test."

"Not on my ship." Warned Han

"Well no, its crammed in the hold so tight it would blast a hole in floor." Said Starbuck, "But once Wedge's friends come around we can fire it up in a cargo hold or something. If there's a gate on dagobah, maybe I can take my trip without any delay."

"Where's Lando?" Han asked suddenly.

"That's why your fresher will need to be overhauled." Answered Wedge smugly, "He went in after me. Anyway why don't I hitch a ride with you guys to the rendevouz point, Starbuck can show us how that giant ring works."

Han debated it for a moment and then sighed.

"Fine give me the coordinates, and then everyone get out." He commanded, "I'm getting a little tired of all of these partners."

After Starbuck and Wedge had left Han checked to be sure they were gone and turned to Chewie.

"you're getting awfully chummy with that Starbuck fellow." He accused, "And what's this about you having ties to the rebels?"

Chewie clarified he did not have "Ties" any more than han did. Starbuck seemed like a surprisingly decent Human but there seemed to be a lot he wasn't telling. Chewie had decided to balance Han's suspicion out by displaying trust in Starbuck.

"A little good cop bad cop eh Chewie?" snickered Han, he began running a pre flight check on the falcon. Chewie opened his mouth to disagree and clarify but at the last moment thought better of it. Han turned back to him. "Listen Chewie, its always been just you and me. All these partners are making me nervous, things didn't go so well last time. I want to rig up a little insurance so we can make a clean get away if we need to."