Episode 3 – The Journeymen
Rebellion on Concord Dawn! In an act of defiance, the House of Rook has struck at an Imperial Communications Outpost, finding records and documentation exposing the Empire's actions in the Destruction of Alderaan as well as the Rebellion's success in destroying the Empire's planet killing Battle Station, the Death Star, sending this information out across the galaxy on the open holonet, inspiring rebellion across the Galaxy! Meanwhile, the Journeyman Protectors, the elite arm of the Empire's local military presence, hunts for two dangerous fugitives on the run from the Empire!
In another part of Concord Dawn…
Two white armored members of the Imperial Journeyman Protectors burst into a family dwelling, weapons raised as the sole inhabitants, a man, and a woman, quickly raised their hands in surrender.
"What is this?! What's going on?!" the man asked as he and the woman were shoved against the wall, being patted down, stormtroopers entering the dwelling to aid in the search while a third journeyman entered but this one had a yellow marking on his shoulder pad, denoting him an officer.
"Is this the right place?" the Officer asked one of the other Journeymen.
"Yeah, this is it. But it doesn't look like they're here." The other journeyman replied. The officer then looked towards the couple as they sat with binders now placed on their hands.
"What is the meaning of this?! We haven't done anything!" the man asked pleadingly.
"How long have you owned this dwelling?" the officer asked.
"We only just bought it from a reliable retailer just a couple days ago." The man replied. The Officer let out an annoyed huff through his helmet and reached for something in one of the pouches on his belt, pulling out an imagecaster. The caster immediately started projecting a wanted poster of a woman in her early thirties with long black hair kept in a ponytail.
"We're looking for this woman. She's wanted on suspicion of having murdered the governor of Concord Dawn. Have you ever seen her before?" the officer asked. The man shook his head.
"Never." He said as the officer leaned in closer towards him.
"She would've been traveling with a girl. Mid-teens. Strong resemblance to her." The officer said. Again, both individuals shook their heads.
"We've never seen them before in our lives." The man replied. The Journeyman huffed again and turned away in frustration just as another journeyman entered.
"Sir, we just got a report that one of our probe-droids to the west got shot down. Its last transmission included a speeder headed west towards Ve'vut Bral. The speeder's occupants featured two individuals matching the description of the fugitives we're looking for." The journeyman said to the officer.
"Mar'e! I want a shuttle prepped and ready to fly immediately! Inform the local garrison there of our pending arrival! Order them to lock down the spaceport!" the Journeyman Officer ordered.
"What about these two?" one of the other Journeyman asked.
"Leave them!" the officer reported, ushering the troopers out of the dwelling.
…
Meanwhile in Ve'vut Bral at the Rook Homestead, Jacki Wolffe sat at the bar with a pair of goggles on and a small handheld device with a glowing blue tip in one hand. She was applying seven small tick-marks in bright blue ink to the left arm of Jexxa Orar while Jan stood over Jacki's shoulder, watching.
"I know I'm not one to talk considering my whole right side is inked but I do question the whole kill-marker idea, Jex. Your arm will fill up eventually." Jan commented as Jexxa took a swig of her drink.
"We each track our kills in our own way." Jexxa remarked.
"Or some of us simply don't care. Now stop moving before I mess this up." Jacki hissed.
"When do I get mine?!" Gia asked as she popped up from behind the bar.
"When you're old enough to not look silly trying on mom's armor." Jan replied to her sister.
"Damn straight." Jayna replied as she passed through followed by Tina carrying a large crate with the Old Republic symbol on the side.
"Whoa what's in the box Alor?" Jexxa asked.
"Spare blasters. DC-15S Blaster Carbines. Grand Army of the Republic Surplus. And no, they're not for sale." Jayna said, picking up one of the blasters from inside the crate and examining it.
"DCs are a good blaster. I have a whole mess of uncles who swear by them." Jacki replied while still tattooing Jexxa's arm.
"Well considering you're the adopted daughter of a clone trooper, that's no surprise." Jexxa replied.
"Uh, Clone Commander. If you're going to be derisive at least show the old man the respect he deserves." Jacki argued. Jan then arched a curious eyebrow towards her.
"Does your old man ever talk about his time in the Clone Wars?" Jan asked, earning a quiet glare from her mother.
"All the kriffing time. I know probably all his old stories by heart at this point. Why?" Jacki asked, adjusting the settings on her needle.
"Did he know any Jedi?" Gia asked, leaning in excitedly. Jacki and Jexxa both looked at her curiously.
"Jedi? You mean those mythical sorcerers? Why would he have known them?" Jacki asked, raising her goggles onto her forehead after turning off the needle, setting it in a case on the bar.
"Well I heard that the Jedi were major fighters in the Clone Wars. Major leaders like Generals and Commanders." Gia said as the two warrior women looked at each other.
"Uh, Jan, no offense but has she been nipping at your mom's cooking again?" Jexxa asked.
"I heard that!" Jayna called from the kitchen. Jacki snickered but turned to Gia.
"I don't think my old man ever fought beside the Jedi. He said his General was some Dorin named Plo Koon. Always talked highly of him but seemed kinda sad whenever he mentions him. The other clones back home call it 'Lost General Syndrome.' They've all got old C.O.s from the Clone Wars they lost. Some miss 'em, others don't." Jacki said as Gia looked at her mother as she came out of the kitchen.
"Are you sure? I mean have you ever looked up who this Plo Koon was?" Jan asked.
"I've seen holograms of him, but that's about it. Seemed like an ordinary Dorin if you ask me. At least on looks that is." Jacki said, putting away her ink-kit just as Giordo entered from the sublevel in his armor, his helmet tucked under one arm.
"Alright Wolffe, you're all set." Giordo said, polishing off a rounded metal badge.
"Ah, thanks alor." Jacki said, taking the badge from him. The badge was chromium with the insignia of the Empire on it and the words "Deputy Law Enforcement" written in aurabesh on it.
"What's that about?" Jan asked, confused.
"Part of the Four Houses' plan to try and fool the Empire. We're deputizing a trusted few while also putting some of our own in to fill the ranks of the garrison to make it appear that we're still a dutiful and loyal city. If it works, we could last this way indefinitely." Giordo explained as Jacki put the badge on the chest plate of her armor.
"Only problem we'll have is if any actual Imperials show up. Hopefully some of the data we planted into the Imperial network during our little raid will fool them." Jayna added.
"Hey I stand by my work." Kaden's voice echoed from down the hall. After a second, an Imperial Scout trooper rounded the corner, flipping the helmet visor up to reveal Kaden underneath. Jan, Jacki, Jexxa, and Gia each burst out laughing upon seeing him.
"Oh this is going in the family blackmail album for sure!" Jan howled, R3-Z7 snickering as he rounded the corner behind Kaden.
"You look fit enough to space, Kaden!" Jexxa laughed, pounding her fist on the bar top. Kaden rolled his eyes and shook his head as Jayna handed him one of the DC-15s.
"I'm one of the few people who could fit in the damn bucket." He grumbled.
"And he's getting paid for it. We're bilking the Empire out of their own credits so it's win-win." Gio said as Kaden nodded.
"Yeah maybe you could get in on it too sis. I'm sure the Empire has a spare interdictor cruiser you could fit those gravity wells into." Kaden sniped, earning a coy sneer from his older sister.
"Brave words from someone wearing cheap plastoid armor. Even braver saying it to a shocktrooper." Jan said as Kaden walked past her for the door.
"I'll live." He replied.
"Not if you're riding one of those 74-Zs. Those things are deathtraps." Jexxa muttered.
"Yeah, honey, don't get on one of those if you can help it!" Jayna called.
"I'm not driving one if I can help it. Maybe there's a nice low-maintenance dewback I can borrow." He grumbled as he made his way out the door.
"I better be going too. Don't wait up for me, Jayna." Gio said, kissing Jayna on the cheek.
"I'll be fine." Jayna said as Gio walked past for the door.
"We'll be going too, mom!" Jan called as she, Jexxa, and Jacki got up for the door as well.
"Be careful out there! Try not to get caught!" Jayna called.
"We won't!" Jan replied as they departed, leaving just Jayna and Gia plus the droids.
"So what about me?" Gia asked.
"We're going into town too. We need to stop by Numbah's Yard about the Juggernaut." Jayna said as Gia grinned.
"I have one request." She said.
"We're not getting you anymore Mando Mix. You're cut off for a while." Jayna said as Gia pouted, following her into the back.
"Aww come on!" Gia whined, R3 snickering in amusement.
…
In town at the Imperial Base, Jil Veska and Krios Geht were stood looking at the console in the Minister's office.
"Well there it is. Our pink-slips from the Empire." Jil commented as Krios growled.
"Giving all the power to the Governors and Imperial Administrators while eliminating any civilian oversight. Nothing says tyranny like centralized absolute authority." Krios said, as the door opened, Giordo entering in his armor with his helmet tucked under one arm and followed by Kes Dameron.
"Well it's not as if we had a contingency plan for this…oh, wait." Jil said dryly, turning towards Gio and Kes.
"Wow with sarcasm like that, why would you need a knife?" Kes asked dryly as he sat down at the Minister's desk.
"Just make sure your get your role down, Dameron. It's your life on the line more so than ours." Jil said as Kes sat back in his seat.
"You don't have to tell me twice, but what's the worst the Empire could do to me at this point? Kill me?" Kes asked with a grim expression.
"Anyway, we're agreed with the plan right? Where's Glebbins?" Giordo asked.
"Had to raincheck. Medical Droid appointment, couldn't be missed. We'll brief him later but I doubt he'll have any objections." Krios said as Giordo nodded.
"So anyway, we have a host of volunteers in Imperial buckets pantomiming the Imperial patrols. Plus we have deputized Mando'ade to fill in the gaps." Jil said.
"And with our connection to the Imperial Data Network established with that little raid on their comm station you and your house went on, we have access to a lot of their information. However some of it is still classified." Krios added.
"I know some groups that would pay top credits for some of this information, encrypted or not." Jil said as Gio shook his head.
"Too risky. Empire could always try a smoker." Gio said, confusing Kes.
"A smoker?" he asked.
"Whenever you have a leaky pipe, for a low tech solution, you use a smoke bomb to try and locate the leaks. In this case, they'd feed different pieces of information to different groups. If information leaks, they match the leaked information to who got what pieces. Narrows the search and may potentially expose any traitors." Krios said as Kes sighed.
"And here I was hoping we could give some of the information to the Rebels." Kes muttered.
"Maybe one day we can. But right now we need to play it safe. No Rebel contact, are we clear?" Gio asked, everyone nodding in agreement except for Krios.
"Does that include you, Rook?" Krios asked, Gio looking towards him curiously.
"What are you suggesting, Geht?" he asked.
"Well considering your wife's past and the rumors circulating about who is leading the Rebels, and the fact that you had to fence those stolen supplies to someone when your previous buyer turned informer on you to the Empire, you'll forgive me for being a bit…suspicious about any actions she may take." Geht said as Gio took a step towards him.
"You let me be concerned about that, Krios. It was the one time and I'll admit, Jayna's been wrestling with some issues about it lately, but that's my family's concern." Gio said.
"It'll become our concern if it ends up jeopardizing our whole operation." Krios said.
"Is that a threat?" Gio asked. Geht sighed and shook his head.
"Never. If she wants to help her old friends, I say let her. Just let her act alone and as her old self so that she doesn't jeopardize our operations here." Krios replied.
"Noted." Gio said just as the desk comlink buzzed. Jil reached over and answered it.
"Go ahead." Jil said.
"Sorry for the disturbance Alor, but we've received a communique from the Empire. It's orders to lock down the spaceport. Supposedly two fugitives were last sighted on their way here. A squad of Journeymen are on their way here to aid in the search and apprehension." A Mandalorian on the other end reported.
"Thanks for the heads-up, send word out among the vode on the secure channels about the Journeymen. I want them watched like shriek-hawks while they're here." Gio ordered.
"As you command, Alor." The Mandalorian replied.
"Two fugitives from the Empire? Might be worth investigating." Kes suggested.
"Depends on what they're wanted for. See what you can pull up. Imps usually put an APB out for any known fugies in the area." Jil said as Kes turned towards the console, plugging his forged code cylinder into the console.
"Let's see here…not getting anything on the official channels short of a description. Humanoid woman, mid-thirties, black hair, accompanied by an adolescent female of similar description. Both considered armed and dangerous and a flight risk. Doesn't say what they're wanted for though." Kes said, Krios looking towards them.
"Now that's unusual. Empire usually plasters their crimes for the galaxy to see. So why aren't there any charges?" Krios asked.
"Sounds like something we're going to need to ask the Dar'Manda when they arrive." Gio said as he put on his helmet.
"We should probably make ourselves scarce then." Krios said.
"Ask your contacts in the neighboring towns. See if they've heard of any manhunts in the area. I want to know who these two fugies are. If they're the wrong kind of criminal, we'll cooperate with the Emps. But the fact that they're not showing up on the official channels is curious." Gio said as the other two nodded.
"Agreed." Krios replied.
"I'm confused now. Aren't we all criminals?" Kes asked.
"Yeah, but we're the nobler kind. If the Imps are hunting serial killers or rapists or something like that, we don't want that kind of ilk around here. If they're wanted for killing other Imps or are Rebel spies or something like that, we'll help them." Jil explained.
"Okay, good point." Kes replied as Jil and Krios headed for the door.
"So now what's the story with you again?" Kes asked. Gio tapped at the deputy badge on his chest-plate.
"I'm your 'puppet' House Leader. As the head of House Rook, I hold a degree of influence over the local clans. Having me in your pocket keeps them in line." Gio said.
"Ah so officially you're my puppet but in reality I'm yours, right?" Kes asked.
"That's right." Gio replied.
"My concern is, are they going to buy it? I mean what if they check my credentials? My chain-code's going to show I'm still a lowly Lieutenant." Kes said.
"We planted some backlogged reports during that raid saying that Minister Marson and the Headmistress had received last minute summons to join the Governor for his conference. Official records will show he is suspected among the dead at Yavin so it will explain his absence." Gio explained.
"But not my being Minister. There was at least one other guy higher up the line of succession. First Lieutenant Nayr, but he got killed." Kes said.
"We thought of that too. Filed a fatality report for an attempt to break up a smuggler's den in the old mining tunnels outside of town. Cave-in killed everyone, including the Lieutenant. We copied down ID codes and filed them. If the Empire goes sniffing for the bodies, they'll find them there. We only burned the bodies of the Minister and the Headmistress. So by line of succession, you're it. You also got a promotion, approved by the Minister before his death." Gio explained as Kes chuckled.
"Guess being a traitor has its perks, huh?" Kes replied, sitting back in his chair with his hands behind his head.
"It can be. Just don't screw it up and don't think about turning double-traitor. There's a key phrase you should've learned before you got shipped here. Ke nu'jurkadir sha Mando'ade! It literally means, 'don't mess with Mandalorians.' Are we clear?" Gio asked as Kes gave a nod.
"Relax. If I were to switch sides, it'd be to switch to the Rebellion. I assume that would be a defection you guys won't mind." Kes said.
"You just do your part and eventually we'll see about helping you join their ranks. You'll need a character reference after all." Gio said as Kes chuckled dryly.
"Thanks." He muttered.
…
In town, Jan and Jexxa were in the marketplace, both sitting in a shaded area that offered a view of one of the city's towers. The tower was effectively a large condenser but had a maintenance catwalk near the top. On this maintenance catwalk was Jacki Wolffe, surveying the city from the vantage point. Jan and Jexxa though were both sitting at a table, a carton of Mando Mix between them, looking up at the tower.
"So how hot do you suppose it is up there?" Jan asked, popping a few kernels into her mouth.
"I'd say about ninety, a hundred perhaps." Jexxa replied.
"Add a couple degrees for the all black armor and I think we'd be accurate." Jan added.
"Nah she added a temp regulator. Probably pretty comfortable." Jexxa replied before grimacing slightly.
"Ah karabast, not this again." She grumbled, sitting forward with a hand to her stomach.
"Problem?" Jan asked.
"Gastrics again. You don't wanna know. I'll be in the refresher." Jexxa said as she got up and walked off.
"Want me to save you any mix?" Jan asked.
"Nah, help yourself. You got too much of the blue salt for my liking!" Jexxa called back. Jan chuckled and kicked back, popping another couple of kernels into her mouth and crunching down. As she did, she heard the scream of a speeder pull up nearby. She looked and immediately paused her chewing with a scowl. The speeder was a K79-S80 Imperial Troop Transport or ITT but this one had the markings of the Journeyman Protectors on it. Four Journeymen disembarked the speeder, looking around. The Locals all seemed to notice them and either turned away or gave them a wide berth.
"We'll start looking here. Fan out and ask around." The officer said. Jan quietly went back to her mix, ignoring the four Journeymen as they spread out, leaving the officer by himself but with his subordinates lingering nearby. The officer scanned the small crowd at the mix stand before his gaze seemed to settle on Jan. He started approaching her.
"You there, a moment." He said as he approached her. Jan gave him a disinterested look.
"Problem, officer?" she asked.
"I just need a moment of your cooperation, citizen. I need you to look at this hologram." He said, presenting a hologram of a woman with black hair kept in a ponytail.
"I'm assuming you're asking for an identification? Never seen her before." Jan replied without even glancing. The officer tilted his head slightly.
"You didn't even look. How'd you know it was a her?" The officer asked.
"What else do you shebs buy'ce ever bother looking for?" Jan replied flippantly. The officer snorted in contempt, pocketing the hologram.
"Watch it citizen. Such disrespect is quickly making you a figure of interest. Don't make me run you in to the detention center. You'll find that we Journeymen have authorization to use all sorts of…tactics…to secure confessions." The officer said. Jan felt a hand groping her left breast, causing her to freeze, anger flashing across her face as she glared at the officer. She could almost see his smirk through his helmet.
"Let me see your identification." The officer commanded, taking his hand away finally and pulling a datapad from his belt. Jan shifted her jaw, reaching into her pocket. Her first instinct was to reach for her knife but given that his three comrades were nearby and she wasn't in her armor, the odds weren't good for her if a fight broke out. Instead she pulled her ID card out, handing it to the officer who scanned it.
"Janie Rook, aged seventeen. Arrested three times for disorderly conduct." The officer said, pressing a button and saving her information. He then looked back down at her as he handed her card back to her.
"You know, you resemble one of the fugitives we're looking for." He said as Jan gave him a blank stare.
"Check the residence logs and try again." Jan argued.
"Getting quite flippant with me, aren't you? I think we need to bring you in and teach you some respect for the law." He said, pocketing the datapad and was about to reach for her when…
"Lieutenant?" a filtered voice said from behind the officer. The officer and Jan both looked to see a stormtrooper with an orange pauldron on his shoulder and carrying a T-21 Light Repeating Blaster.
"What is it Sergeant?" the trooper asked.
"The Minister wants you and your squad back at base, ASAP. Something about more information on the fugitives." The trooper said as the officer let out a frustrated growl.
"And why didn't he contact us over the comms?" the officer asked.
"We've been having communications problems ever since our array suffered some damage a few days ago. Not all frequencies are covered. We're having to rely on chain-comms for now." The sergeant replied. The officer looked at Jan briefly before turning back to the trooper.
"Very well. Journeymen! Back to the speeder! We're needed back at base!" the officer barked to his men who quietly returned to their transport. Jan looked to the trooper who gave her a subtle nod.
"Thanks." She whispered.
"Don't thank me. Thank an eye in the sky." The trooper said. Jan smirked and looked towards the tower, spying a light flashing as Jacki flashed an illuminator towards her. Jan gave a nod of appreciation and the flashing stopped just as Jexxa emerged from the refresher.
"What did I miss?" she asked, noticing the departing speeder and the departing stormtrooper squad.
"A dead-man walking." Jan muttered.
"Huh?" Jexxa asked, sitting back down.
"We've got Journeymen in town." Jan replied. Jexxa immediately scowled.
"Great. This on top of my gastric problems." Jexxa muttered.
…
Meanwhile across town at Numbar's Yard, Jayna was looking at a hologram of the juggernaut with different sections of it highlighted. Jayna was sat at a holotable across from Numbar in his office.
"She took some damage in that firefight-that-I-know-nothing-about but its minor repairs. The biggest problem we're looking at here is the firepower. We're dealing with one of the smaller troop transport models, not the real turbo-tanks used by the Grand Army of the Republic. So she's not gonna be very well armed." Numbar said as Jayna nodded.
"That's why we brought her to you. We're looking to get her fitted with some new teeth." Jayna said as Numbar sighed.
"Well, I can do the fittings for sure…if I had them." He said.
"Didn't you have suppliers for this kind of thing?" Jayna asked curiously.
"I did but they've gotten kinda skittish lately. Some of them are flat out refusing to sell to me." Numbar replied.
"Any reason as to why?" Jayna asked.
"They're wanting to reserve their good stuff for a certain pan-galactic insurrectionist group that just blew up an Imperial Battle Station. Can't really say as I blame them but it does hurt my uh, 'side-business' a bit." Numbar said.
"So, if you can get the parts, you can make the modifications?" Jayna asked as Numbar nodded.
"That's right."
"Would it be possible to get a list of the parts you need?" Jayna asked as Numbar gave a nod.
"It is. Might take a while to do an inventory but I should have one for you by day after next. Should I transmit it to your dwelling?" he asked but Jayna shook her head.
"No just notify me when you have the list." Jayna said as she stood up.
"Right. A pleasure as always, Lady Rook." Numbar replied as Jayna bowed to him.
"Likewise, ner vod." Jayna said before turning to leave. As she stepped out of his office, Gia and R3 were waiting outside, and Gia was getting accosted by an Imperial Scout Trooper.
"For the last time, I need to see your identification." the trooper said, a hand on his blaster pistol.
"I'm a foundling, I don't have an ID." Gia replied, her arms crossed, and a scowl planted on her face towards the trooper. Jayna though was nonplussed and just stared at the situation blankly. The trooper turned his attention towards Jayna.
"You, ma'am, do you have identification for this child?" the trooper barked. Jayna calmly approached the trooper and shifted her jaw.
"Jokes over Kaden." she replied. Gia arched a startled eyebrow and stared at the trooper who was staring back at Jayna.
"Ma'am, I don't know what you're saying but I'm gonna need some identification. Name, age, weight, and-...uh~h..." the trooper stammered as Jayna loomed over him, glowering down at him.
"Do you really want to go this far with this joke, son?" she asked. The trooper fumbled for his mask, raising it to reveal Kaden underneath.
"Kark Mom I'm trying to keep up appearances!" he replied in a terse whisper.
"No, you weren't. You were pestering your sister." Jayna said as Gia scowled at Kaden.
"Di'kut!" she spat, kicking him in the shin.
"Ow! Hey!" Kaden yelped, hopping on one foot briefly while cradling his left leg. R3 though was chortling in amusement. Jayna though was smiling in amusement as well now.
"Smart idea adding a voice modulator to the helmet speaker." Jayna said as Kaden shrugged.
"Thought it was. But seriously, just so people don't get suspicious..." Kaden said, pulling his helmet visor back down.
"...I really am going to need to see your identification." He said as Jayna rolled her eyes and pulled her ID card, letting Kaden scan it.
"By the way, got a message from the network. We've got Journeymen in town." Kaden replied, pretending to look over Jayna's information. This made Jayna look down the street suspiciously.
"Routine inspection?" Jayna asked.
"Not sure. Dad knows the score." Kaden replied, handing her card back.
"Alright. Be careful. I don't like the fact that Journeymen show up so soon after you-know-what happened." Jayna said, pocketing her card.
"Yeah. Anyway, I'm off on my patrol. Move along, move along." Kaden said, waving the three away. Jayna couldn't help but quietly chuckle and shake her head with a smile as they walked on down the street. Gia shot him a scowl as they passed. R3 then beeped something to Jayna as they went, causing her to roll her eyes with a smile.
"Thirty-nine and one-fifty pounds even when last I checked the refresher scale, and that was after a shower." Jayna replied, earning a startled look from Gia.
"Wow I thought older women were really uptight about their age and weight." Gia said but Jayna just smiled at her youngest.
"Only women who lack humility. A humble spirit, my young Padawan, is a strong defense against the influences of pride and avarice." Jayna replied, earning a curious look from Gia.
"You called me Padawan." she said.
"That's right, I did." Jayna replied with a smile.
"Isn't that a Je-MUPH!" Gia yelped as her mother quickly clapped a hand over Gia's mouth.
"That word cannot escape your lips Giana. Not in public." Jayna said softly, Gia nodding understandingly. Jayna then removed her hand and they continued on.
"So does this mean you're going to tell us more about your past?" Gia asked as Jayna gave a nod.
"In time. I also intend to teach you a few things as well." Jayna said as Gia grinned.
"You mean I could become a... you-know-what?" Gia asked.
"Potentially, although it's not at all fun and games. That kind of life requires a serious dedication and discipline, potentially harder than even learning the Way of the Mandalore. I would say that it's fraught with danger but then I forget you're a Mando'ad Foundling so that's not a viable deterrent." Jayna said as Gia giggled.
"It can't be all bad. I mean, you're pretty amazing a buir." Giana said, earning a smile from Jayna.
"If you're angling for a carton of Mando Mix you're still cut off." Jayna said as Gia pouted.
"Aww come on." she grumbled, Jayna laughing.
"But as a compromise, what about we stop at the milk stand for a Blue Bantha?" Jayna asked, Gia looking at her curiously.
"With the cookie?" she asked.
"With the cookie." Jayna replied, earning an excited grin from Gia as they continued through town.
…
Back in the City Hall, the four Journeymen, led by the officer, were shown into the Minister's office where Dameron sat at the desk, Gio standing just behind him over his shoulder in full armor with his rifle in hand, his Imperial Deputy's badge shining and attached to his left breastplate. The four Journeymen stopped and saluted, the officer in front.
"Captain MP-544 and squad reporting as instructed, Minister." the Journeyman officer replied. Dameron quietly checked his desk's display screen, pretending to look at something before tenting his fingers in front of him with his elbows on the desk.
"Captain, I don't want to remind you about protocol. Imperial Regulations clearly state that any and all officers must check-in with the local authorities. Further, I am getting stacks of complaints asking why we've been asked to close our one and only spaceport." Kes said in as haughty and authoritative an air as he could muster. The Officer didn't say anything at first but his reactions indicated frustration and impatience with having been called in.
"I take full responsibility for breaching protocol, sir. We've been in pursuit of a couple of fugitives for the better part of a year sir. A recent tip indicated that they were headed for this region. We have reason to believe they may be here. Some of the probe droids in the area didn't respond to our pings, something we believe the fugitives may be responsible for." the Captain explained. Gio then cleared his throat before Dameron could answer.
"One of the locals was recently arrested for that crime. She'd been using the droids for nighttime target practice. That is probably the reason for the lack of pings from the droids." Gio replied.
"Then perhaps that is our quarry. You mentioned it was a female?" the Captain asked.
"Umbaran adolescent. She's a local, has a record. We've dealt with her before for smaller infractions." Gio replied as the Captain let out a grunt of annoyance.
"Perhaps our jobs would be made easier if we knew more about the fugitives you're looking for. We seem to be having trouble pulling up any records as to the fugitives' identities. Perhaps you could elaborate?" Kes said with a curious expression. The Captain paused for a moment before reaching into a pouch at his side and pulling out an imagecaster, activating it to show the wanted poster image of a mid-thirties human-looking woman with black hair kept in a ponytail, with three black stripes tattooed on each cheek in a tight square pattern.
"This is all I've got. This and their last known position. I do have confirmation though that they have not made it off-world." The Captain replied.
"I see. And what might the charges be for these two?" Kes asked.
"Assassination of an Imperial Official. In this case, Governor Purton Lenovar." The Captain replied as Kes sat back in curiosity.
"Karabast." He remarked in surprise.
"Indeed. Official reports said he was killed in a shuttle accident last year." Gio commented.
"That wasn't the case, sir. I know. Each of us were under his direct command at the time. That's partly why we've been pursuing these culprits for as long as we have." the Captain replied.
"I see. Then I suppose there is little more we can do to detain you from your pursuit. We'll notify the rest of the garrison to keep an eye out for your fugitives." Kes said as the Captain gave a nod.
"Thank you, sir." the Captain replied, leading his squad in a unison salute.
"You're dismissed Captain." Kes replied as the squad of Journeymen turned and filed out of the office. Kes and Gio waited a moment before Kes took a deep breath and a sigh.
"Well done, Dameron." Gio commented.
"Thanks. It helps that I did some acting for an amateur production of the Lady and the Scoundrel back on Alderaan while in school. Played the Scoundrel." Kes dryly rambled with relief as Gio leaned over the desk, checking something on the console. As he did, Veska and Geht walked into the office, both wearing deputy badges on their armor.
"I assume you both were watching from the surveillance office?" Gio asked.
"Yeah, and if those four Journeymen are legit, then I'm the borking Emperor." Geht said as Veska snorted in amusement.
"And we all know that Journeymen and legitimate is an oxymoron. Kudos to you, Gio, for not blasting those Dar'Manda on sight." Veska commented.
"It was tempting but I wanted to know more about what they're doing here first." Gio said, still looking the monitors over.
"So, what do you think, Field Marshal? We going to work with the fugitives or the Dar'Manda?" Geht asked.
"I'm not sure yet. I want to hear the fugitives' side of the story first before making that decision. But the fact that the Journeymen are after them makes me more sympathetic to them." Gio replied.
"That's assuming they're even in our area. If they've been pursued for the better part of a year, then they may try and avoid population centers." Geht said.
"Debatable. They could also try and blend in with the crowds." Veska added.
"Regardless, inform our vode that they're to keep an eye out for the fugitives as well. Distribute copies of the wanted poster for the older female but that they're to stun, not kill." Gio said as the two senior Mandalorians nodded.
"By your command Field Marshal." Veska replied.
…
A while later, Jayna, Gia, and R3 pulled up to the outside of the Rook Family homestead on Jayna's speeder, stopping out front.
"Alright remember our deal at the milk stand. You get in there and start cleaning the moisture vaporators." Jayna said as they climbed out of the speeder.
"Can I turn on the music player while I do it?" Gia asked, R3 beeping his own support of Gia's request. However, Jayna was distracted by the sight of fresh but foreign shoeprints in the dirt leading to the front door of the dwelling. Her instincts were immediately warning her of danger.
"Actually, I need you to do something first. I want you go through the garage and make sure TN-4 is activated before you begin working on the vaporators." Jayna said, turning her right side away from the homestead, subtly putting a hand on her holstered DC-17 Hand Blaster.
"Tina? But why-." Gia started to argue.
"Just do it. She may be helpful in cleaning things up." Jayna replied, winking but without a smile. Gia began to get her mother's implications that something was wrong and gave a nod.
"Oh, right, okay." Gia replied.
"R3, go with her so we don't have another Psusan Cameo." Jayna said, R3 swiveling his head towards her in surprise, beeping a confirmation before following closely after Gia. Jayna however headed for the front door, walking casually towards it. She had noticed there were footprints leading to the door but not leading away from it. She didn't need to unlock the door to open it, something she knew validated her suspicions. As she walked in through the front door into the dwelling's small foyer outside the old cantina room, she reached behind a decorative flower basin by the front and pulled out a retractable stun baton, shifting it to her right hand while holding her blaster in her left. The lights were off, just as she had left them but she knew something was still off. She cautiously stepped into the main room, her eyes carefully scanning the room for anything unusual but her Jedi senses were warning her of danger. As Jayna rounded the bar towards the door into the hallway leading towards the living areas, she paused when she heard a tell-tale clicking sound. She quickly ducked just in time to dodge a blaster bolt that struck the doorframe over the hallway.
"Osik!" an unfamiliar girl's voice cursed as Jayna spun around, blaster raised in time to see a figure ducking back down behind the small table by the curved booth seating at the front of the room. Jayna was about to fire a shot when her instincts kicked in and she leapt back just in time to dodge a downward swing by another figure armed with a blunt object. The figure tried to swing at Jayna a second time but Jayna knocked the object from their hand with the stun baton. The figure quickly ducked back behind the dining table just as the other figure popped back up with a blaster pistol, firing at Jayna who dodged the shots, Jayna firing back as she leapt up onto the dining table as the other figure turned and ran for the kitchen but Jayna leapt over them and landed between her and landed between them and the kitchen door, startling the figure who slid to a stop. The lights in the dwelling suddenly flashed on, revealing the figure to be a humanoid woman in her mid-thirties with straight black hair kept in a ponytail, and a pair of black tattoos on her cheeks in the shape of three black stripes in a tight square. This didn't stop the intruder though as she dropped down in an attempted spin kick but Jayna evaded the attack, bringing the stun baton down towards the intruder but she dodged it, only for Jayna to lunge forward and push her against the dining room table, pinning her right arm against her back and with the blaster pistol pointed to the back of her head.
"Lyn! Run!" the woman yelled to the other intruder, a teen-aged girl with similar hair, who quickly popped up from behind the booth table, hurrying to the front door, only for a towering wall of duranium plating to suddenly step into her path and grab her by the throat, lifting her up into the air.
"Intruder alert! Subject apprehended, awaiting termination orders." Tina's monotone and deep combat mode voice stated as the younger intruder struggled in her grasp.
"No! Let her go! Don't kill her!" the first intruder pleaded in a panic.
"Do you surrender?" Jayna asked, pressing the blaster pistol to the back of the intruder's head.
"Yes! Do what you want with me but let my daughter go!" the woman replied. Jayna looked to Tina, the younger female still struggling in the super-battle droid's vice-like grip, gasping for air.
"Tina! Drop and stun!" Jayna ordered.
"By your command!" the droid replied, dropping the struggling youth before raising its left arm towards her and firing a stunner bolt, knocking the teen out cold before raising its right arm blaster towards the intruder. Jayna quickly retracted her stun baton and clipped it to the back of her belt before patting down the intruder, tossing away a blaster pistol in a thigh holster on her right side while a matching holster on the left was empty.
"R3! Binders!" Jayna called, R3 soon rolling in with a pair of binders dangling on one of his manipulator arms. Soon Jayna was sitting the bound intruder down in the booth, the unconscious teen now roused from her stunned stupor and similarly bound while Tina stood guard with both blaster arms trained on them. Jayna sat at one of the cantina bar stools her blaster trained on the two as well, while holding her comlink in hand.
"Jayna? What is it?" Giordo's voice rang through the comlink.
"Gio you need to come home right away. We just had a break-in. Two intruders, both apprehended. Thought you might want to deal with them personally." Jayna said.
"Karabast, that's just what I-...wait did you say two intruders?" Gio asked.
"That's right. Two females, one mid-thirties by my estimate, one teenager. Both humanoids." Jayna replied. There was a pause before Gio responded.
"Black hair?" he asked. Jayna arched a curious eyebrow at this. The intruders both just glared at her but she could sense a wave of apprehension in both of them at this question.
"Yes. I suspect something more to this?" Jayna asked.
"We'll be right there. Bringing Geht and Veska for an interrogation. We'll decide from there. We're on our way now. Giordo, out." Gio replied as the comlink deactivated, Jayna setting it down on the counter and keeping her blaster trained on the two.
"While we wait, I think I'll interrogate you a bit myself. I'll start by saying that it wasn't very smart of you to break into the home of a Mandalorian House Leader. You must be either very foolish or very desperate to have done so. But I like to think I'm a fair-minded person and I know my husband can be as well. So, if you cooperate and answer my questions truthfully and I like what you have to say, then I may beg for leniency on your behalf. I'll start with something simple, such as your names." Jayna said but both women remained quiet. Jayna then noticed the tattoos on the older woman's cheeks.
"I recognize the marks on your cheeks. That's a Kiffar qukuuf if I'm not mistaken. The mark of the Vel clan, correct?" Jayna asked, earning a curious and surprised look from the older.
"You know Kiffar clan qukuufs?" the older asked.
"I'm something of a woman of the galaxy. I've worked with Kiffar before, although mostly one of the Vos clansmen. But that's irrelevant. What might your given names be?" Jayna asked as the older let out a sigh.
"Sintas. This is my daughter Ailyn. I'm full Kiffar, she's a mix. Her father's a human." the older replied.
"I see. What then motivated a mother and daughter to break into my home?" Jayna asked.
"Hunger, mostly. We've not eaten in three days." Sintas replied. Jayna didn't react for a moment before looking to Tina.
"Tina, go fetch that tray of portion bread from the breadbox in the kitchen. Bring it here and then give them each a piece before resuming detention mode." Jayna instructed. Tina lowered her arms, her sensor light turning pink.
"Right away mistress." Tina's feminine voice replied, mildly startling the two Vel women as the droid walked into the kitchen.
"You're giving us food?" Ailyn asked, confused.
"You're answering my questions honestly. Consider this a reward for your honesty so far. Besides, in the end it doesn't really matter whether you get blasted with an empty stomach or a full one." Jayna said as Tina returned with a tray full of small lumpy bread rolls, setting the tray on the counter before picking up two pieces and bringing them to the two women. Their hands were bound in front, so they were able to take and eat the bread more easily. Ailyn wasted no time, biting down on one of the rolls with a near ravenous hunger.
"Slowly now, you don't want it to come back up." Jayna advised before looking to Sintas.
"My turn to ask a question. How do you know my answers are honest?" she asked as Jayna gave a light shrug.
"Let's just say I consider myself a good judge of character. Now then, from the looks of you, I'd say you are a capable woman. These blasters are custom modified. Clearly not something cheap you'd pick up in a blaster shop, and they've seen some wear. Also found this in your pocket." Jayna said, picking up a card from the counter. It was an ID card with Sintas's face and name on it, but a membership number printed on it.
"I've seen these before. It's a registration card for the Bounty Hunter's Guild. However, from the looks of it, it's not been renewed in a while. So, I'm guessing you're either retired or have been preoccupied." Jayna said, looking at Ailyn as she continued chowing down on a roll.
"Well, when turning yourself in as a bounty becomes a thing, you find it hard to find credible work elsewhere. And...I have also been preoccupied." Sintas replied, glancing at Ailyn briefly.
"So, you weren't here pursuing a bounty then." Jayna asked, Sintas arching an eyebrow.
"Why, there someone valuable here?" Sintas asked but Jayna scowled at the question. Sintas sat back at this.
"Sorry, poor taste. I've not hunted anyone for a few years. Ailyn and I've been ducking from one place to the next across the whole planet trying to outrun anyone pursuing us." Sintas replied.
"That would account for your not having eaten in a while. Alright, who's hunting you? Empire?" Jayna asked.
"Kinda-sorta. It's a long story that goes back at least a decade." Sintas replied.
"Give me the short version then." Jayna said as Sintas sighed.
"Well, to put it simply, I'm accused of murdering Governor Purton Lenovar." Sintas replied as Jayna arched a curious eyebrow.
"Official reports say he died in a shuttle crash. Always suspected that was a cover up." Jayna said as Sintas nodded.
"It is. He died trying to kill me and my daughter. I have something of a history with the Lenovar family. Starting with his bastard son, may they both burn in Corellian Hell." Sintas hissed.
"I assume he did something to warrant such a reaction?" Jayna asked. She sensed a wave of apprehension and fear within Sintas but she hid it well as she looked towards Ailyn briefly.
"You could say that." Sintas replied softly. Jayna sensed this was something she didn't want to elaborate on.
"Then I'll ask this. Did you kill the Governor?" she asked.
"Yes, but in self-defense." Sintas replied.
"I believe you." Jayna said.
"Are you going to hand me over to the Journeymen?" Sintas asked.
"I haven't decided yet. But you've answered honestly so I will be pleading leniency on your behalf." Jayna said, holstering her blaster.
"You will? On my word alone?" Sintas asked.
"I told you. I consider myself a great judge of character." Jayna replied with a small smile.
…
Back in town, the Journeymen were walking the streets, still searching for any sign of their targets.
"Captain, we're getting nowhere. The locals haven't seen anyone matching the fugitives' descriptions." one of the Journeymen commented.
"Yeah. And is it just me or does something about this whole town feel off to you?" a second journeyman asked. The Captain then turned to them.
"Explain." he said.
"I'm not really sure Alor. There's something off about the locals. Yeah, we get the usual suspicious looks from them, but they don't feel right. Like they're not afraid of us like normal." the second journeyman replied as they headed into an alleyway near the cantina, stopping to converse among themselves privately.
"Yeah, and the garrison too. I feel like every time we pass a patrol, they're watching us more so than the locals." the third journeyman added.
"I've noticed that too. Something is off about this town." the first commented.
"Your concerns are noted but we're here on an assignment of our own. Local affairs are not our concern, not when we have a chance to make some credits off the head of that schutta who killed Lenovar." the Captain said.
"I know sir, but the local garrison isn't on the payroll. I checked. Their new minister, Dameron, hasn't been oriented yet and none of our old contacts here are active anymore." the second journeyman said.
"We're flying completely blind here, sir." the third added.
"Perhaps it's time we gave up. Just post the bounty on the shadowfeed and let the local hunters do the work for us." the first commented. The Captain sighed heavily.
"I hear you. It still pisses me off to think that the schutta will get away with killing the boss. Besides, command has been increasingly anxious for us to report back to HQ in the capitol for reassignment the past couple of days. Some kind of Imperial business. So, I'll put it to a vote. Anyone want to head back and let the schutta go?" the Captain asked, all three of his subordinates nodding.
"Then we're agreed. Alright, fine. I'm tired of the hunt just as much as you guys are. We'll head back tomorrow morning. Tonight, let's blow off some steam." the Captain said before noticing Jan walking past on the other side of the street towards the Cantina, Jexxa Orar walking with her, the two conversing as they went.
"And I think I know just the pressure valve." the Captain said as Jan and Jexxa walked into the Cantina. Inside, Jan and Jexxa both headed straight for the bar counter. The bartender was a human man with tanned skin and a cybernetic right eye.
"Hey Doc, business good tonight?" Jan asked as she and Jexxa sat down at the bar.
"Little slow tonight. Haven't seen some of my usuals in lately." Doc replied, cleaning a glass.
"Speaking of usuals..." Jan said as Doc chuckled.
"A Bespin Fizz and a Slug Slinger?" he asked.
"Go light on the slug slime for me today, Doc." Jexxa added, earning a concerned look from Doc.
"Gastrics again?" he asked.
"I've been the scourge of the public 'freshers all day." Jexxa replied as Doc snorted in amusement and went about fixing their drinks as Aska walked over with her tray.
"Doc, I need two Hyperdrives for table four." Aska said as she approached.
"Got it, two hyperdrives." Doc replied as Aska looked towards Jan.
"I haven't seen my peedunkee pateessa in lately. Is he alright?" Aska asked as Jan chuckled.
"Yeah, he's fine. He's just working right now. Gotta make those credits if he's gonna support a baby. Can Twi's and humans have kids?" Jan asked as Aska blushed furiously.
"I am not-! I am not pregnant!" Aska hissed as Jan chuckled.
"You're sure?" Jan asked with a smirk.
"Positive. I tested this morning. Twice. Both negative. Besides he never-." Aska whispered tersely.
"Relax Skirata I'm just yanking your head-tails. And if you're worried Kaden kissed and told relax. He didn't. Mom and dad busted him trying to sneak in the other night. If he said anything, it was under duress." Jan said as Aska breathed a sigh of annoyance with the older Rook.
"Well...let him know I'm worried about him." Aska said as Jan gave a nod.
"I will, don't worry. You have my word." Jan said as Doc placed a pair of colorful beverages on the counter, Aska placing them on her tray.
"Thank you." she replied before walking off. Jan just chuckled as Doc placed hers and Jexxa's drinks in front of them, Jan immediately taking a sip of the red fizzy beverage.
"Wait, did Kaden and Aska finally-..." Jexxa asked.
"Apparently." Jan said as Jexxa grinned.
"Way to go, Kaden. Guess he has a pair after all." Jexxa replied, taking a swig of her drink. Doc then noticed something that made him frown.
"Oh great." he grumbled as he saw the Journeymen squad enter and approach the counter.
"Can I get you four anything?" Doc asked, clearly not eager to serve them.
"Not at the moment. We're here on a follow-up with a prior suspect." the Captain said, looking towards Jan and approaching her, the squad following him over. Jan and Jexxa both pretended they didn't see them.
"Your identification, miss." The Captain said to Jan who looked up from her drink with an incredulous look as she turned towards him slowly.
"You have got to be joking me. You accosted me back at the Kettle, and now you're bothering me again?" Jan asked as the Captain gave a light shrug.
"New evidence has come up against you. Our orders are to bring you in for questioning back at the base." The Captain replied. Jan shifted her jaw in annoyance with a growl. Doc was quietly eyeing a scatter gun hidden under the counter while Jexxa's hand was inching towards her own blaster pistol.
"Alright, you know what, let's settle this then. I'll play along. Take me to the base." Jan said, one of the journeymen immediately producing a pair of binders, starting to cuff her behind her back.
"What? Binders? Are you serious?!" Jan asked.
"Standard procedure." the Captain replied, noticing that the patrons were watching, even the armored bouncer, Manui, was watching, all watching with looks of suspicion and disdain for the Journeymen.
"Go back to your drinks! Imperial business." the Captain barked to the crowd, but it did little to sooth them as Jan was led towards the door.
"Jan?!" Jexxa commented from her seat.
"Get my buir on the comm! He'll straighten this all out!" Jan yelled as they left the cantina. Aska, who had seen it all, quietly stepped into a quiet corner of the cantina, pulling a comlink from her apron pocket.
"Kaden, Kaden it's Aska! Pick up! It's an emergency!" Aska said into the comlink while Jexxa pulled her own comlink from her pocket.
…
Outside the Rook dwelling, Gio, Veska, and Geht rode up on separate landspeeders and came to a stop, Gio quickly leaping from his vehicle with his rifle in hand, running for the front door, hurrying inside with his blaster rifle raised in preparation.
"Jayna?" He called.
"We're fine, Gio. Just having a pleasant conversation." Jayna replied as Veska and Geht both entered, Veska carrying an ACP Scatter Gun, and Geht with a cycler rifle.
"A conversation? Hah, leave it to you to sit a home invader down for tea." Veska chuckled, the Mandalorians lowering their weapons upon seeing the bound Vels. Gio approached Jayna, removing his helmet.
"Are you alright?" he asked, kissing Jayna on the lips.
"I'm fine. Gia's fine too. She's listening around the corner in the hall despite my telling her to stay in her room!" Jayna said, turning slightly towards the hallway door in time to see the black and blue haired foundling poke her head out from around the corner with an innocent smile.
"Gia! Out!" Gio barked, motioning down the hall. Gia immediately flinched and fled to her room, the sound of her door slamming shut in a panic being heard. Gio then turned to the two captives.
"Alright, I gather you two are the reason we have Journeymen in Ve'vut Bral." Gio said as Sintas gave a nod.
"They've been pursuing us for nearly a year." Sintas replied.
"Their breaking in was out of hunger and desperation. They've been cooperative. I beg for leniency on their behalf." Jayna said as Geht chuckled, sitting down at the bar top, facing the captives with his rifle on the counter.
"You would." he muttered, getting nudged by Veska to silence him.
"Then maybe they won't mind answering some of my own questions. There's something about these Journeymen that doesn't set well with me. They've not been acting like the normal Journeymen we usually get coming through town." Gio said as Sintas gave a nod.
"They're not. They're scum. They're the last of Lenovar's holdouts. They were squadmates with my ex when he killed Lenovar's son." Sintas said as Gio gave a nod.
"Ah so this is personal. That explains a bit. Journeymen are just Imp enough that they usually check-in whenever pursuing a suspect. This explains why they didn't and why there was so little information about you." Gio said as Sintas nodded.
"That's right. They don't like to share." Sintas replied.
"So does this mean we could deal with these journeymen without repercussion?" Geht asked.
"Could always just say these two killed them and each other or something." Veska said.
"It's a possibility." Gio said as Jayna stood up.
"I would again ask leniency on behalf of the Vels. From what I understand of the circumstances, they're the victims in all of this." Jayna said as Gio gave a nod.
"That's why I am only mulling a punishment for breaking into my home." Gio replied.
"Seems fair. The thought of turning over anyone to those Dar'Manda turns my stomach." Geht said as Sintas blinked in surprise.
"Wait, you're not turning us over?" Sintas asked.
"Is there a reason we should?" Gio asked.
"No, I'm just not used to this kind of...mercy. Most people fear the Journeymen more and we've had people flip on us on a decicred. Forgive me if I'm just a bit skeptical." Sintas said.
"The Journeymen are not a concern to us. We here are True Mandalorians. We aren't like the Journeymen. We follow the Way of the Mandalore here. The True Way as outlined in the Supercommando Codex. You're safe from the Journeymen here. However, you owe my House a debt for your trespassing. Consider yourselves in the custody of House Rook for the time being." Gio said as Jayna smiled with a quiet sigh of relief. Gio then turned towards her.
"Is that spare room made up?" he asked.
"It's not been dusted in a few weeks but its ready." Jayna replied. Gio nodded back.
"Then I'm placing them both under your authority for the time being." Gio said as she nodded and stood up.
"Yes sir." Jayna said, motioning for the two Vels to approach her. Sintas and Ailyn both approached, Jayna producing the key to their binders, unlocking the binders as they approached.
"Can I ask one thing. Why? Why do this for total strangers who crossed you?" Sintas asked.
"A simple act of kindness, can fill a galaxy with hope." Jayna replied as she finished unlocking Ailyn's binders.
"Well, whatever your reasons then, thank you." Sintas said. Gio's comlink then chirped, Gio pulling it from his belt.
"This is Giordo." he said into the comlink.
"Alor Rook! It's Jexxa! The journeymen snatched Jan!" Jexxa said over the comlink, Giordo immediately straightening in alarm. Sintas and Jayna both looked towards him in alarm as well.
"They WHAT?!" he barked, his head snapping towards Veska and Geht who immediately grabbed their weapons and started checking them.
"They said they needed to interrogate her back at the base. We watched them leave but they didn't turn towards the base! Jacki's trying to follow them but her jetpack's low on fuel and I'm not fast enough to chase a speeder!" Jexxa replied.
"Keep on them, and alert Dameron in the base of the situation. I want all patrols looking for those bucketheads!" Gio barked into the comlink. Sintas glanced towards Jayna.
"Jan is your daughter?" Sintas asked as Jayna looked towards her curiously.
"Our firstborn." Jayna replied. Sintas took a deep breath of consternation.
"Then I'm sorry for what those bastards intend to do to her." Sintas said. Jayna's eyes widened in shock, her mouth falling open with a quiet gasp of revulsion.
"No, you don't mean..." Jayna said but Sintas nodded with a grim look on her face. Gio's head snapped towards her at this. He and Jayna exchanged looks for a moment, Gio's hand at his side starting to shake with suppressed rage.
"That tears it! Jexxa, stand by!" Gio said, starting to enter something into his comlink controls. Veska and Geht started to mutter something in terse unison under their breath.
"Kandosii sa ka'rta, Vode an. Manda'yaim a'den mhi, Vode an." they sang softly yet tersely as Jayna came in on the second verse.
"Bal kote, darasuum kote, Jorso'ran kando a tome. Sa kyr'am nau tracyn kad, Vode an." she and the others sang softly as Gio set his comlink down on the bar counter, a holographic projection showing roughly a dozen wave forms while a Mandalorian Mythosaur Skull insignia rotated in the center.
"This is Giordo Rook, Alor of House Rook to all members of Houses Rook, Geht, Veska, and Glebbins! By the authority of the Four Houses, I call all Vode to arms! I ask of my Vode that they immediately locate the four Dar'Manda Journeymen within the City of Ve'vut Bral and treat them accordingly! They have my daughter, Janie Rook!" Giordo said into the comlink as Geht and Veska approached him.
"This is Alor Veska, House Veska answers the call." Veska said.
"Alor Geht, and House Geht answers the call." Geht said, clapping Giordo on the pauldron supportively. Another wave form then appeared on the projection.
"Alor Glebbins here. House Glebbins answers the call! This is the Way!" Glebbins said over the comms.
"This is the Way." Gio, Veska, and Geht each replied in unison before cutting the transmission.
"What's going on? What was that singing?" Sintas asked as Jayna checked her blaster pistol.
"That was a war song. We're going to war." Jayna replied before looking at Sintas.
"You want a chance to end it once and for all?" Jayna asked her as Sintas gave a determined nod.
"Let me at them." she replied.
"Arm up but if you betray us-..." Gio said Sintas grabbed her blasters off the counter.
"You want a show of gratitude, you'll get one. Else you can space me." Sintas said, holstering her blasters.
"Right! Mando'ade! Oya!" Gio barked as he, Jayna, Geht, Veska, and Sintas hurried to the speeders outside, leaving Ailyn in Tina and R3's custody. Sintas was riding with Veska while Jayna rode shotgun with Gio, their three speeders turning and screaming back towards the city.
"Any chance that Force of yours can find her?" Gio asked as Jayna closed her eyes and took a deep breath, entering a meditative trance. Gio glanced at her but knew enough to let her work as they sped over the dirt roads.
...
Back in the city, the Journeymen's troop transport pulled into a warehouse on the edge of town. The warehouse had been left open and had several shelves of cargo meant to be shipped off to and from the spaceport nearby. The Journeymen disembarked the transport, dragging Jan out with them.
"Hey, wait a minute, this isn't the base." she remarked, realizing that something was very wrong.
"That's right. We're stopping here for a little...group interrogation." the captain said as Jan looked at him, picking up on his meaning with a look of growing shock and horror. She immediately started to struggle, but with her arms behind her back, her mobility was limited.
"No! No get your hands off me!" she yelled as they started to drag her into the warehouse towards an area where there were several large crates forming a makeshift enclosure. She tried to cry out, but the Journeymen didn't seem to mind.
"Don't bother. There's nobody around to hear you scream." the Captain said as they threw her into the enclosure, sliding a crate into the gap as a makeshift gate, the four outside with Jan laying on the ground inside.
"Alright, who's first?" the Captain asked, pulling out a set of four chance cubes from one of his pouches. Inside the enclosure, Jan was struggling to try and get free, but the binders made it impossible. She soon gave up the struggle and began looking for some kind of tool or weapon she could use but the enclosure was empty, not even a loose bolt. She rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling as she could hear the journeymen making betting calls with the cubes to determine who would assault her first.
"Isn't there anyone who can help me?" she asked softly.
"Janie..." a voice whispered in her ear, a voice she didn't recognize.
"Who said that?" Jan asked.
"Janie..." the voice whispered again.
"Who's there?" she asked softly.
"Stretch out with your feelings to those around you." the voice whispered as Jan recalled what her mother had done the other day, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to calm herself as best she could. Soon she could feel it, a strange connection to the world around her. She could also feel her brother, sister, and mother, connecting to them as if they were close by.
Not far away, Kaden was rushing through town in his scout trooper uniform, looking around feverishly when he suddenly paused, a strange feeling washing over him.
"Jan?" he asked, surprised, looking around until he turned and spotted the warehouse, spotting the transport inside and then charging towards it and full speed. At the same time, just outside of town, the three speeders carrying Gio, Jayna, Geht, Veska, and Sintas started to cross the city limits. At the same time, Jayna's eyes opened, looking straight ahead.
"Jan..." she whispered before looking to Gio.
"The warehouse near the spaceport! That's where they have her!" Jayna said as Gio looked at her once and then put a hand to his helmet.
"She's at the warehouse near the spaceport! All Vode converge on that location!" Gio barked into the speeder comlink, the speeders turning and roaring up the streets towards the spaceport.
"How can he be sure?! Did he get some kind of a tip?" Sintas asked Geht who glanced at her.
"No but his wife has a good huntress's instinct. We've learned to trust it." Geht replied.
Back in the warehouse, Jan still had her eyes closed when she heard the crate being moved out of the way and looked to see one of the journeymen regulars entering the enclosure, cracking his knuckles.
"Let's see, where to start." he said to himself as Jan snarled at him, kicking at him but he dodged, producing another pair of binders.
"Oh, now let's take care of those first then." he said, grabbing her right ankle. Before he could do anything though a blaster shot rang out and a bolt struck one of the taller containers making up the enclosure, the blast letting off a shower of sparks from the impact, causing the other journeymen to flinch in alarm.
"What the-?!" the Captain yelped as another blaster shot struck one of the journeymen in the head, the shot going clear through his skull, killing him instantly.
"Haar'chak!" the Captain exclaimed as they looked around, one of them spotting a white blur fly past one of the shelves.
"Over there!" one of the journeymen called, the remaining two joining up with the Captain and starting the pursuit. They then heard a loud crash and clattering sound from the other side of the warehouse, the three giving chase, leaving Jan alone in the enclosure. After a second she heard rapidly approaching footsteps and saw a scout trooper appear at the entryway holding a DC-15S, stopping once he saw her.
"Jan! You're okay!" Kaden said in an urgent whisper. He'd unscrambled his helmet's speakers. Jan smiled with relief.
"Kaden! I never thought I'd be happy to see a bucket head in my whole life!" she said as Kaden quickly ran in with a binder key, undoing the binders behind her back, Jan immediately scrambling to her feet.
"Are you alright?" Kaden asked.
"Hand me a blaster and I will be." she said, a murderous glint in her eyes towards the enclosure entrance.
"I only have this other one though." he replied, pulling a scout trooper blaster pistol from his holster, Jan snatching it immediately.
"It'll have to do." she said as they exited the enclosure, hurrying towards the warehouse entrance. They were just passing one shelf of cargo when a blaster shot struck the wall ahead of them, causing them to slide to a stop and take cover behind the cargo.
Jan glanced a peek through some of the cargo on the shelf and saw that the three Journeymen had taken up a position behind some of the crates.
"They've got us pinned." Jan commented.
"And I'm wearing this damn duraplast garbage." Kaden grumbled as Jan looked up at the shelving.
"Alright, plan besh." she said, motioning for him to follow.
"There was ever a plan?" he asked, confused, following her back the way they came. Jan motioned upwards towards one of the shelves, Kaden seeing what she was thinking and giving a nod, climbing up onto the shelves as Jan continued back towards the enclosure, taking cover around corner as the three journeymen rounded the corner. Jan immediately fired at them with the pistol, the troopers taking cover behind some of the crates, returning fire but Jan was well ensconced. The Captain motioned for one of them to move up, the regular at the back moving forward, taking cover behind a crate near the edge of the shelving only to get shot in the side of the head by Kaden who turned and leapt clear to the other side, Jan seized the opportunity to scramble over another row of crates, to another aisle.
"Haar'chak! After them!" the Captain exclaimed as they ran after the two siblings, crossing over to the next aisle, running towards Jan as she rounded the corner ahead of them.
"We've got her cornered!" the regular commented only for the Captain to be struck by something from behind, the Captain spinning around to see a scout trooper helmet laying on the ground, still rocking from having landed. The Captain was then tackled to the ground from overhead by Kaden, the two beginning to struggle. The regular spun around to try and aim his blaster at Kaden only to suddenly be jumped by behind and put into a garrote by Jan using the binders. The struggle continued for a moment before Jan managed to snap the Journeyman's neck, his body falling to the floor. Jan quickly picked up his blaster rifle just as the Captain threw off Kaden and spun towards Jan who fired at him, striking him in the chest but his armor made a loud metalic clanging sound as the bolt ricocheted into the ground. Jan hissed in frustration as she realized the captain's armor wasn't duraplast like the others but was Besk'ar. She immediately turned and ran back around the corner, the captain giving chase as Kaden climbed to his feet but ran the other way, looping around and meeting up with Jan in a neighboring aisle, the siblings rushing towards the exit together.
"His armor's besk'ar! How is it besk'ar?!" Jan asked.
"I forgot officer Dar'Manda get besk'ar armor while the rest get duraplast!" Kaden replied before both instinctively dodged to the side, narrowly evading a blaster shot from behind by the Captain as he chased after them. The two rounded a corner that took them towards the exit. Before the Captain could do the same, he felt blaster shots hitting his armor from overhead. He spun around and looked up, locking eyes with Sintas who had one of her blasters trained on him.
"You." The Captain hissed.
"Give my regards to your boss in Hell!" Sintas spat, firing at him but her shots just ricocheted off his besk'ar armor. Yet this didn't deter Sintas as she opened fire with both her blasters, the Captain struggling to raise his rifle towards her. Just as he managed to, someone grabbed him by the right arm and spun him around to come face to face with Giordo just as he reared back a fist and smashed it right into the Captain's visor, a knuckle-plate vibro-blade shooting out and piercing the visor screen, causing the Captain to gasp and stiffen, blood starting to trickle out of the visor before the blade was retracted, the Captain's lifeless body slumping to the ground. Gio stood over his corpse for a moment before leaning down and stabbing the blade into the Captain's throat to be sure. He then took a breath and looked up at Sintas who stared at the Captain's corpse, holstering her blasters before leaping down to the ground.
"Good job, Vel. I'd say this almost makes up for trespassing." He said as Sintas watched him pass by.
"I didn't do it for you, Mandalorian." She said as she stood over the dead Captain, staring down at him.
"I know." He replied as they entered the large open area near the front of the warehouse where the Journeymen's Imperial Transport was parked. There, Kaden stood leaning against the transport while Jayna had her arms around Jan, almost on the edge of tears with relief.
"I'm so glad you're safe. They didn't do anything to you, did they?" Jayna asked as Jan nodded.
"I'm fine, Mom. Kaden stopped them before they could do anything." Jan replied as Jayna looked at Kaden with a proud smile. Gio walked over, clapping his son on the shoulder.
"You've cloaked yourself in kote today son. Well done." Gio said before pulling Kaden into a hug.
"Hey, we're family. Jan would've done the same for me...I hope." Kaden said as Jan chuckled a little.
"I like to think I would, yeah. One just never knows until they get the opportunity to do so." Jan said as Gio removed his helmet.
"Well regardless, I'm glad you had their scent and were able to get to her in time." Gio said as Kaden's smile faded a little.
"Yeah, about that. I didn't really know where to look for her. Jacki lost them near the spaceport, and I just happened to be nearby. Then...I dunno what happened but, it was like all of a sudden, I just instinctively knew where to look. Then I saw their transport and ran in as fast as I could." Kaden explained. Jan then looked towards him.
"Yeah, I felt that too. I heard this voice and just kinda tried to reach for you all in my mind. It was almost like I could feel you and mom, even Gia. It was bizarre." Jan said as Jayna and Gio exchanged looks, Jayna give him a nod as if confirming a question on his mind.
"Come. We'll talk about this some more at home." Jayna said, putting her arms around both her children and leading them out just as Sintas, Geht, and Veska emerged from within the shelves.
"I've called off the hunters. Told them the good news." Geht said as Gio nodded.
"Thank you, each of you. House Rook is indebted to Houses Geht, Veska, and Glebbins it seems." Gio said as Veska and Geht both exchanged glances.
"Let me have that officer's bes'kar armor and we'll call it even. Smelting it into some proper armor for the vode will be my top priority." Veska said as Gio gave a nod.
"I'll take the Dar'Manda's gear. The armor's rubbish but the blasters aren't the usual stormtrooper trash and may be worth something. And I think Glebbins' would be satisfied with their transport, unless you want it for yourself, Alor." Geht said as Gio gave a conceding nod.
"We could use the transport for our own operations but officially Glebbins can have it. We'll have it taken to Numbar's yard, see if he can work some of his magic. Now as for you, Ms. Vel." Gio said but Sintas just smirked.
"You already thanked me enough. Sparing mine and my daughter's lives and getting those sons of womp rats off my back at long last is more than I could have ever wanted. I owe you if anything." Sintas said as Gio nodded.
"I already had no intention of rewarding you further. I was actually about to put you to work. We need someone with experience as a bounty hunter and the contacts to gather information for us that we lack. We'll fill you in on some of the details of our operation, but I want to know what any long-term conditions would be on your end." Gio asked as Sintas scratched the back of her neck.
"We'll talk. For now, you need to be with your daughter. She's had a trying time, and she's a very lucky woman." Sintas said as Gio gave a sympathetic nod.
"As my wife likes to say, 'there's no such thing as luck.' And I'm inclined to agree." He replied as they headed for the speeders together.
End Episode