“Hunter, you know I wouldn’t leave Eponte without giving you the chance to win back all that you lost last night!”
“Who’s your friend?” the female free-trader asked.
“Matt Turhaya of Tatooine, meet my friends — Menise, from Dantooine,” she said pointing toward the woman, “Branak, from Ryloth, and two of the locals, Treimar and Hunter.”
“Turhaya? From Tatooine, eh?” Menise asked. “You wouldn’t by any chance be related to the Turhayas from the Landspeeder Repair, now would you?”
Matt sighed. Lights years away from Tatooine, word had already spread about his big loss to Metallo. “That’s my brother’s shop,” he nodded glumly.
Menise laughed so hard it brought tears to her eyes. “So, Matt, the story I heard last week in Mos Eisley is true?”
“What are you talking about, Menise?” Treimar asked.
Menise rubbed her eyes dry. “Metallo won Matt’s services after he wagered his brother’s business in a sabacc game. I don’t know, Tere,” she said, studying Matt from head to toe, “are you sure you got the best end of the deal?”
Metallo smiled. “I’m sure of it, my friends. Matt’s a great mechanic, and a good co-pilot. He knows more about ships than all you fools put together.”
“Fair enough,” Menise said. “You must’ve impressed your boss, Matt. I didn’t mean to give you a hard time.”
“That’s okay,” he replied.
Hunter smiled up at Matt. “I bet that was the best game you ever lost, son.”
Matt nodded, eyeing Metallo from the corner of his eye. “Yeah, you may be right.”
“So, are you headed back to Tatooine?” Menise asked.
“Not this trip,” Matt said.
“Well, Matt, I think these gentlebeings,” she waved her hand gracefully around the table, “would like a chance to empty my pockets.”
“Yes,” Branak grunted. “Have a seat, Metallo.”
“How about you, Matt?” Hunter asked.
“No, I’ve got some work to do on the Star Quest.”
“That can wait, Matt,” Metallo told him.
“I don’t have a credit on me,” he said.
“That’s okay, I’ve got enough for the two of us. You can pay me when we get back to the ship.”
Matt studied Metallo’s face. He didn’t understand this Riileb female one bit. What did she mean, pay her back? With what? At their port stops she’d given him just enough credits for a drink or two. Well, he thought, I already owe her a fortune, what’s a few credits more?
Two hours later, Metallo had won back nearly everything she’d lent him. Stretching, she glanced around the table. “Well, my friends, our ship awaits. I’m afraid I’ll have to take your credits and depart.”
“You mean we have to wait until your next run to get even?” Hunter asked, grinning broadly.
“My dear old friend,” Metallo said, “how many years have we been repeating this scenario? When will you learn?”
Hunter laughed. “Now, wait a minute. Metallo! I seem to recall that it was me, only six months ago, who wiped you clean!” He smacked his lips, the taste of victory still fresh in his mind. Smiling knowingly to the others seated around the table he told them, “That’s why it took her so long to come back to Kabaira.”
Laughter filled the air, then suddenly Hunter paled to a shade whiter than the snow-wolves that roamed the mountainsides of his homeworld. He stared toward the door of the cantina. Matt looked up briefly but quickly turned his head, covering his face with one hand. His heart raced.
Metallo followed Hunter’s eyes, spotting the Imperial Navy lieutenant and the two stormtroopers who accompanied him. “What do you suppose they’re looking for,” she said calmly, shifting back in her seat and finding to her surprise that Hunter had disappeared. “That’s strange,” she frowned, scanning the room but seeing no sign of her old friend.
“Damn Imperials,” Treimar said softly, trying inconspicuously to peer past Metallo’s shoulder. “Always up to no good.”
Branak cursed an agreement.
“Quiet, you two,” Menise mumbled.
“Yeah,” Metallo agreed, gathering her credits from the table. “C’mon, Matt. I think we’ll leave now.”
Walking behind Metallo, Matt realized the buzz of conservation in the cantina had come to a standstill. All eyes focused on the Imperial visitors. The scrutiny didn’t seem to faze them one bit, the lieutenant in charge walked confidently from table to table scanning faces. Strutting past Metallo, he eyed her with more curiosity than suspicion, oblivious to everyone else for several seconds — until he crashed into Matt.
“Sorry,” Matt mumbled.
The young lieutenant glared at Matt, then frowned, a most peculiar expression on his face. “Have we met before?” he asked.
“No, I don’t think so,” Matt said, not bothering to stop.
The lieutenant grabbed Matt’s arm. “No, you do seem familiar. What’s your name?”
Staring past the officer, Matt saw that Metallo had stopped in her tracks, her antennae twitched noticeably. The band had stopped playing, and the room was still, except for the two stormtroopers who seemed to be moving in slow motion toward the lieutenant. His heart pounded in his ears. “Name’s Jamie Brightstar,” he said, wondering if anyone else could hear the slight tremble In his voice. “You must be confusin’ me with someone else.”
The officer cocked his head to one side, his eyes narrowing as he studied Matt in the dimly lit cantina. Raising one brow, he finally shook his head and released Matt from his grip. Without looking back, Matt scooted past Metallo out the door into the cool early evening air.
Fog blanketed the city, a fog as thick as the shadows that haunted Matt. Walking toward the bay where the ship was docked, he couldn’t bring himself to look at Metallo, his eyes fixed on the ancient brick-lined streets of Eponte. He clenched his fist, mentally punching himself.
Metallo finally broke the silence. “You know,” she said, “if that officer knows his Old Corellian, it’ll come to him — ”
“Huh?” Matt asked.
“The name you used — Brightstar.”
“Oh, yeah,” he said, scuffling his boots on the pavement. “I — I just couldn’t think fast enough.”
“Well, hopefully we’ll be long gone before he figures it out,” she said.
Matt nodded, shivering as a light breeze blew in from the mountains to the south.
“You gonna tell me where he knows you from?”
Matt looked at her, a lump forming in the back of his throat. All the old memories of Anii and Alex — yesterday’s shadows — stirred deep within him. “Yeah, I guess you should know,” he began, “I was in the navy — ”
“And you left, shall I say, under circumstances which the navy might find inappropriate?”
“I deserted.”
Metallo nodded. “It’s gonna be impossible to avoid the Empire at some of the ports we hit, Matt. Guess you’ll just have to stay out of sight on those occasions.”
Matt stared wide-eyed. “You mean you’ll keep me on?”
“Well, of course.”
“No questions asked?”
“No questions — ”
Suddenly, blaster fire echoed through the streets. An explosion rocked a building two blocks to the west.
“C’mon,” Metallo shouted, “let’s get to the ship and get outa’ here!”
“Right behind you, boss!”
Running the last block to docking bay 10, they scrambled for safety as another explosion lit Eponte’s skyline.
Metallo activated the Star Quest’s hatch release. “Let’s hope they haven’t shut down flight ops,” she said, slowing down to duck so her head wouldn’t rake the entry as she bounded up the ramp into the freighter.
“Maybe it’s just some local trouble,” Matt added, breathing heavily.
“Awfully big explosion for local trouble,” she replied, swiping a hand across the panel to close the hatch behind them. “You m
issed Treimar’s comments last night about Rebel activity here. They’ve been getting bolder in the city. Could be they’re up to something.”
“The Rebel Alliance?” Matt asked, two steps ahead of her, as he headed into the cockpit.
Metallo nodded. “Yeah,” she said, coming up behind him, practically jumping into her pilot’s seat. “They’ve been stealing medical supplies from the Delgas Corporation right here in Eponte.”
“Are they crazy?” Matt cried, as he keyed up spaceport control. “All the Empire has to do is send in one Star Destroyer and wipe ’em all out!”
“You sound like you’ve seen that happen before.”
“Yeah,” he said, his voice filled with pain. “I’ve seen too much.” He wondered if he would ever be able to tell Metallo the whole truth about his past. Frustrated, he slapped the comm panel. “Spaceport’s denying us clearance, boss.”
“Not surprising,” Metallo replied. “Guess we’re stuck — ”
A loud crash reverberated through the ship.
“What the krazschr!” Metallo shouted, climbing out of her seat back toward the ship’s hatch. Pulling her blaster, she pressed the hatch release and cautiously headed down the ramp.
Blaster fire sounded much closer. An armed transport zipped past the docking bay, screeching to a stop less than a block away. Quickly scanning the bay, Metallo caught sight of the prone figure lying beneath her ship.
“Tere, please — ”
“Hunter? Good skies, man, what happened?”
“Help me!” he pleaded. “Please — ”
“C’mon, Hunt, let me get you inside the ship.”
“No, no — not your ship,” he gasped.
Matt came up behind up them, recognizing Metallo’s old friend. “What the — ”
“Matt,” Metallo called, “give me a hand here.”
“Right, boss.”
Together they helped Hunter up the ramp into the Star Quest.
“Matt, I’ve got him,” Metallo said, leading Hunter toward the aft cargo hold. “Get the medpac.”
“Tere, you shouldn’t be doing this — ” Hunter grimaced as a pain shot through his shoulder.
“Quiet, old friend. Just tell me, what’s going on?”
“The Imperials discovered I was working for the Alliance,” he told her as Matt rushed back with the medical kit.
“You? A Rebel spy?” she asked, more surprised than ruffled by his announcement.
Hunter nodded weakly.
Matt looked anxiously toward Metallo. How could she be so calm? Her entire career as a free-trader could be on the line. Matt hated the Empire, and knew Metallo had no fond thoughts for anything Imperial. But getting tied up with the Rebels was not something that had ever crossed his mind. Of course, he’d been too drunk the last few years to even think about it. But what would she do?
Near the cargo hatch, Metalio keyed a special sequence of numbers into the access panel. One of the deck plates popped open, revealing a concealed storage chamber.
“Matt, get him fixed up,” she said as they gently lowered Hunter into the tiny room.
Matt pulled burnt clothing away from flesh. Hunter nearly passed out from the pain.
“He’s in bad shape, boss,” Matt said, applying salve to the blaster burn on Hunter’s shoulder. “He could use a bacta tank.”
“No, I’ll be okay,” Hunter grimaced. “The others — ”
“What others?”
“Must help — ” he coughed, “my friends — ”
“You’re not goin’ anywhere, Hunt,” Metallo told him. “Now just lie back there and rest.”
A metallic rapping sounded on the hull of the ship. “Open up in there!” an authoritative voice shouted.
“More company,” Metallo sneered, rolling her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Tere,” Hunter said. “I didn’t mean — to cause you trouble.”
She shrugged. “Hey, what are friends for?” Grinning, she pointed a finger at him. “Stay quiet until I come back. C’mon, Matt.”
Hunter grasped Metallo’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “Thanks.” Sealing the deck plate to the concealed storage chamber. Metallo gave a sidelong glance toward Matt. “Never imagined this trip would be so exciting, eh? You know, Matt, I don’t want to drag you into this,” she said, turning to head up the corridor. “But Hunter and his friends could use our help. It might put us on the run — ”
Matt took a deep breath, released it. “It’s okay, boss. I told you I was in the navy. I saw things the Empire did — things I could never condone,” he paused by the doorway, closing his eyes briefly to shut out the old pains. “I guess I didn’t think there was any way to fight something so big,” he said softly. “Maybe I was wrong.”
Metallo placed her hand on Matt’s shoulder. “Shall we see who’s knockin’ on our door?” she asked.
As the hatch opened, Metallo caught a glimpse of white armor. “Stormtroopers,” she said quietly.
Without thinking, Matt followed her down the ramp of the ship.
“Is there a problem?” Metallo asked, approaching one trooper, noticing a second one poised near the aft cargo hatch of the Star Quest.
“We have orders to search every ship in the area,” the stormtrooper told her.
“What’s going on? I’m carrying legitimate cargo for an Imperial general on Ord Traga,” she told him.
“Rebel spies were seen headed in this direction,” another familiar voice said, stepping out from behind the stormtrooper. “So, you won’t mind showing us your supply manifest and orders.”
Metallo hid her frown, eyeballing the Imperial lieutenant she recognized from the cantina. “No, of course not, Lieutenant,” she said.
“Yes,” he continued, confidently walking up to face Metallo, “the Empire does not look lightly upon treason.”
“Treason?” she asked. “What are you talking about?”
Pushing Metallo aside, the lieutenant approached Matt. His hand reached out, lifting Matt’s downturned chin. He nodded self-assuredly. “Really, Matt,” he said, shaking his head, “I was almost convinced you weren’t my former classmate from the Academy.”
Matt glanced toward Metallo.
“Yes, I had always wondered what happened to the number one graduate of our class,” the lieutenant continued. His voice reeked with sarcasm. “When I’d heard you had deserted. I was quite shocked. After all, we’d expected you to captain your own ship one day.”
Matt’s face reddened. He clenched his fist, and took a swing at the officer. He didn’t see the stormtrooper’s blaster rifle butt that came down across his head.
“Search this ship,” the lieutenant instructed his subordinates.
“Yes, sir.”
“Then take the deserter to the detention center at Imperial headquarters,” he ordered. Turning, he faced Metallo. “You have no problem with that. I presume,” he said smugly.
“No,” she replied, knowing there was nothing she could do to help Matt — at least for the moment.
“Report to sector headquarters in the morning, Captain,” the lieutenant said. “You may be able to convince them that you had no knowledge of your crewman’s crime. Perhaps then you will be allowed to leave Kabaira.”
Metallo nodded as the two stormtroopers emerged from the ship.
“No one else on board. Lieutenant,” one of the stormtroopers reported.
“Have a nice evening, Captain,” the lieutenant said. “Let’s move out, men.”
Metallo pursed her lips and watched them drag Matt’s unconscious body away. Outside the docking bay, there were no transports racing by, no blaster fire. Eponte’s streets had turned deadly quiet.
“Feeling any better,” Metallo asked when Hunter woke up. Groaning, he tried to grin. “Being dead couldn’t feel much worse,” he said, rolling his shoulder to relieve the stiffness that had set in. “What’s happened? How long have I been out?”
“Two hours. I found out that a half dozen of your friends were killed. Two
others are in the detention center,” she told him.
Hunter looked away, burying his face with his hands. “Six killed,” he repeated quietly. “Someone tipped off the Imperials. They knew exactly where my people were meeting.”
“Is that why you rushed out of the cantina?”
He nodded. “But what they didn’t know was that I would be late.”
“Because you were playing sabacc with me.”
“Yes,” he said. “If I’d arrived on time, I doubt I would be here now.”
“It’s been a long time since things seemed this bad,” Metallo grimaced. “I’ve got a wounded Rebel spy hiding out beneath the deck plates of my ship. And my co-pilot’s been arrested.”
A puzzled look furrowed Hunter’s brow. “Matt was arrested?”
“Do you believe this? Out of the millions of planets with Imperial troops, we ended up in a port where one officer recognized him.”
“What’s he wanted for?”
“He’s a deserter,” she said.
“Since when did you take up with wanted criminals, Tere?”
“I didn’t know Matt had been in the navy until a few hours ago. Speaking of criminals — since when did you take up with the Rebel Alliance?”
He smiled. “Almost three years now. We’ve been doing little things here on Kabaira. You heard Treimar.”
“He’s not one of yours I hope — ”
“No, no. Talks too much,” Hunter laughed, grimacing when another pain ran down his arm.
“So, stealing medical supplies — ”
“And weapons,” Hunter added. “The medical goods have been shipped offworld to the Rebel fleet. They desperately need our help.”
“And the weapons?”
“We were storing them here to use against the Empire.”
“You think someone in your organization is a traitor?”
“Certainly looks that way,” he nodded.
Thoughtfully, Metallo ran her finger along the scar on her cheek. “Any ideas?”
Hunter’s eyebrows raised in question. “A jailbreak? Aren’t you in enough trouble already?” he asked her.
Star Wars - The Adventures of Alex Winger 2 - Passages Page 2