“I’m not gonna let Matt rot in an Imperial cell. You’ve got friends locked up, too,” Metallo told him. “Maybe we can smoke out your informer in the process.”
Hunter looked at her. “I knew there was a reason why I came to you for help.”
“Look,” she insisted, “I’m only doing this to get Matt — ”
“Sure,” he nodded. “In a rancor’s eye!” Turning serious, he said, “You know, you may never work — ”
“I know, I know,” she said. “Now, c’mon. We’re gonna need more help for this operation. And I bet your people know that HQ building better than they know the backs of their hands.”
“Yeah,” Hunter agreed, holding his arm out so Metallo could help him up.
Grinning, she shook her head. “This is real cute, Hunter. What a pair we make — one slightly obvious female from Riileb, carting around a man with a blast wound. Do you think anyone’ll notice?”
“This was your idea, remember?”
“Right,” she nodded, helping him to his feet. “Let’s go.”
Matt rubbed the knot on the back of his head and grimaced quietly to himself. Sunlight filtered through his prison window. He’d been unconscious for quite a while. Across the cell, one man snored loudly. The third occupant of the cell lay awake, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Matt sat up, placing both feet on the floor. Gripping the sides of the bunk with both hands, he pushed off hoping he wouldn’t fall flat on his face. Dizzy, he pressed the back of his legs against the bed rails to steady himself. He took a deep breath, then plodded across the cell toward the window. Its lower edge appeared to be less than a meter above his head. He stretched, and one fingertip just touched the ledge.
“Can’t get out that way,” the man who’d been snoring said.
“No, I didn’t really think so,” Matt replied, turning to face his cellmate. The man was old, his slicked-back hair was completely white. Wrinkles lined a face that time had not been kind to.
Sitting up, the oldster threw his legs over the side of the bunk. “Don’t think I know you, son. How’d you get stuck in a cell with a couple of Rebel spies?”
Matt shifted his gaze from the old man. Their cellmate still hadn’t moved. He solemnly scrutinized the checkerboard pattern on the ceiling, seemingly oblivious to the conversation.
“My name’s Matt Turhaya,” he told the old man. “You were involved in those explosions last night?”
“Yep. Me and Chaz there,” he pointed toward the wiry teenager. “I’m Blaide, by the way. Yep, old Imps caught the two of us.”
Chaz came to life suddenly, jumping off the bunk. He walked up to Matt and eyed him suspiciously. “Watch it, Blaide. He could be a plant.”
“Knocked him round pretty good for a plant, Chaz,” Blaide grinned.
“That doesn’t prove a thing,” Chaz said. He raked his fingers through the long blond hair that fell across emerald-green eyes, eyes that were filled with experiences far beyond his years.
“Yeah, you’re right, Chaz,” Blaide conceded, “there’s no way we can be sure Mr. Turhaya’s who he says he is. I must be gettin’ old.”
“I’m no spy,” Matt insisted.
“So, why’d they lock you up?” Chaz asked.
“The Imperials were looking for one of your friends. They got me instead.”
“I knew it!” Blaide said, slapping his hand across his leg. “Told you, Chaz, didn’t I?”
“Knew what?” Matt asked, puzzled by Blaide’s outburst.
“Our friend — it’s gotta be Dodger. I told you he got away!”
“Dodger?” Matt repeated.
“Our cell leader.”
“We still can’t be certain it’s him, Blaide.” Chaz’ voice trembled slightly. “Could have been one of the others.”
“Keep your spirits up, young Chaz.” A subtle smile crept across Blaide’s face as he rose from his bunk. He walked toward the two younger men and placed his arm across Chaz’ shoulder. “If Dodger’s still alive, I’d say we have a pretty good chance of gettin’ outa’ here,” Blaide nodded confidently. “Yep, I’m beginnin’ to feel a lot better about this mess we’re in.”
But as the day dragged on, Matt began to wonder if anyone could do anything to help them. He heard the change of guards down the corridor at the security station. The dinner trays had just been picked up, and the lights had been dimmed in the cell bay. The sun had dipped low in the early evening sky. Shadows fell across the cell.
Then out of nowhere, a whining female voice echoed down the hallway.
“Sergeant,” the woman was saying, her high-pitched tone grating on Matt’s ears, “what do you mean you have no record of this call?”
Blaide walked toward the bars that separated them from freedom. Chaz sat up in his bunk leaning on one elbow, ears perked. They couldn’t hear the guard’s response to the woman’s question. But her retort was even louder.
“Do you mean that some incomp called me when I’m supposed to be getting off duty and got me over here for nothing!” There was a moment of silence. “Look, it’s right here, Sergeant — 1842 hours — EDO call, prisoner ill, come immediately.”
Chaz groaned, falling back onto the bunk. Matt jerked around and stared at him, then smiled to himself. Groaning again, Chaz writhed on the bed.
“There,” the female called. “I told you there was a sick man here!” She took off down the cell bay.
The stormtrooper pounded the floor right behind her. “You’ll have to wait and let me verify this with the EDO,” he insisted.
Chaz was gagging now. Matt had never seen a man turn that shade of blue before.
“Hurry up,” Blaide yelled from their cell, “he’s havin’ trouble breathin’!”
Matt eyed the short, dark-browed young woman who came into view. A cap hid what little hair was on her head. Her black tunic was sharply pressed, an Imperial uniform with insignia of the medical corp and the rank badge of lieutenant. “Open this door, Sergeant,” she ordered.
“He’s just a Rebel spy, Lieutenant. They’re going to terminate him in a few hours anyway,” the stormtrooper grunted.
“Sergeant, if you want to execute him, that’s fine. But my duty is to make certain he’s well enough to stand up in front of that firing squad. After all,” she said sarcastically, wrinkling her nose at the men behind the bars, “we want to be sure all their friends know that we mean business. Now,” she insisted, “open this door.”
“Stand back, you two,” the stormtrooper motioned toward Blaide and Matt. He keyed the security code into the access panel. With his blaster rifle held ready, the trooper stepped into the cell. The lieutenant was two steps behind him already digging into her medical bag when the turbolift door slid open at the far end of the corridor.
Two shots rang out near the security station.
Reacting swiftly, the trooper turned, stopping in mid-motion when he realized the lieutenant was pointing a blaster pistol at his head. “Drop your weapon, Sergeant,” she said.
Another pair of footsteps echoed down the corridor as the trooper’s blaster rifle clattered to the floor. Matt stared in disbelief as Metallo trotted up to the cell. “Everyone okay?” she asked. The tension in her face drained when she spotted Matt in the corner of the cell.
“Just a few lumps, boss,” Matt told her, rubbing the sore spot on the back of his head.
“Let’s get out of here,” Blaide suggested, bending down to pick up the stormtrooper’s blaster rifle. In one swift movement he straightened, ramming the butt of the rifle into the trooper’s chest. The man pitched backwards and Blaide tackled him to the ground grabbing his helmet and twisting it until the trooper’s neck snapped.
“Was that necessary?” Metallo asked.
“We can use the rifle. Who asked you anyway?”
“That’s enough, Blaide,” the lieutenant scowled.
“Good to see you again, Midget,” Chaz greeted the young woman, bounding down off the bunk.
“Your per
formance was commendable, Chaz,” she replied. She pointed toward the dead man’s uniform. “Now, let’s see how well you play stormtrooper.”
Five minutes later Midget guided their skiff along Eponte’s streets as the sun crept below the horizon. Fog had settled over the city. Street lamps glowed as if a sheer curtain encased them. One burnt-out building still smoldered from the brief battle of the evening before.
Blaide glanced around nervously when stormtroopers stopped them at one checkpoint. Chaz, standing stiffly in the back of the vehicle, held a blaster rifle across his armored chest. Midget handed a datapad to one of the troopers. Cocking his head, he studied the orders it displayed, then slowly eyed her prisoners.
“Experimental research, eh, Lieutenant?” the stormtrooper asked.
“That’s right, Captain,” Midget replied.
“Never saw anything like that one before,” he said, pointing toward Metallo.
“Interesting, isn’t she?”
“What about the other two?”
“I’m just the delivery person, Captain. I have no idea what they’ve got planned for them,” she replied as two other troopers approached the skiff.
Shifting uncomfortably, Blaide bumped into Chaz and knocked him off balance. Alarmed, one of the stormtroopers brought his blaster rifle to bear on the group.
“It’s okay,” Chaz said. “I’ve got everything under control.”
“You’d better, Sergeant,” the captain replied.
“If you don’t mind, Captain, I need to move on,” Midget said.
“One moment, Lieutenant,” he replied.
Matt threw a worried look at Metallo. Calm and cool, she turned slightly so her hands were hidden from view. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Blaide behind him, nodding subtly at Chaz.
The captain turned to one of his subordinates. “Sergeant — ”
Before he’d had a chance to say another word, blaster fire lit the checkpoint station. Midget fired her pistol at the stormtrooper captain. Metallo whipped her own blaster up and took out a second trooper as Chaz exchanged fire with the third.
“Get us out of here!” Metallo shouted.
Midget gunned the controls as a blast ripped into the back end of the skiff. Blaide got off one last shot, hitting the stormtrooper that Chaz had missed.
“I knew I shouldn’t have taken that shortcut,” Midget said.
“It’s okay, Midget. We’re all safe,” Metallo told her.
“Incompetent idiots,” Blaide mumbled under his breath.
“Lucky for us,” Chaz said.
“Hey, Midget, where are we headed anyway?” Blaide asked
“Docking bay 10.”
“No sign of pursuit,” he told her as the skiff whipped down the street past a row of darkened warehouses. “What happened to Dodger?”
“He’s waiting for us.”
“Told ya’, didn’t I, Chaz?”
“Yeah, you were right, Blaide,” Chaz replied, breathing a sigh of relief.
“Docking bay 10,” Blaide repeated. “Are we goin’ somewhere?”
“I’ll be glad to take you offworld if you don’t think you’re safe on Kabaira,” Metallo said.
“You’ve got a ship?”
“Yep. It’s an old Suwantek freighter. I usually transport supplies, but I think I can smuggle out a few Rebel spies without any problem.”
Blaide nodded. “Good,” he said quietly. He aimed his blaster at Metallo. “I think that’s all I need to know.”
“Blaide?”
“Sorry, Chaz. Maybe I’m just an ol’ fool. But I plan to be on the winnin’ side when all’s said an’ done.” Shrugging, he squeezed the trigger on the blaster rifle.
“No!” Matt shouted, diving toward Blaide just as the rifle discharged. Struck by the blast. Matt collapsed as the skiff swerved sharply around a curve. Chaz stumbled headfirst into Blaide. Blaide shoved him aside, trying to regain his balance. He pulled himself upright. Wide-eyed, an expression of disbelief on his face, he found himself staring down the barrel of Metallo’s blaster. She fired. Clutching his belly, Blaide gasped for one last breath and fell to the floor of the skiff next to Matt.
Metallo knelt beside Matt. “Don’t you die on me, Matt. Not after all the trouble I’ve gone to!”
“I’m all right, boss,” Matt grimaced, sitting up slowly as the skiff rounded another curve in the road.
“What were you tryin’ to do? Get yourself killed?”
“He just nicked me, boss. You’re not gonna get rid of me that easily.”
Metallo smiled, squeezing his arm. “Thanks, Matt,” she said as the skiff pulled up to docking bay 10.
Hunter emerged from the ship greeting his friends at the bottom of the ramp. Smiling, he grasped Chaz in a bear hug. “Thought I’d lost you, son,” he said.
“I’m okay, Dad,” Chaz whispered into his father’s ear, hearing the sharp intake of breath as the older man winced in pain. “What about you?”
“Fine. Everything’s fine now.”
Outside the docking bay another skiff screeched around the corner.
“We’ve got company!” Midget shouted.
“Time to leave, friends,” Metallo said, heading up the ramp into the ship with Matt right behind her.
Hunter slapped the hatch release as soon as everyone was on board. “Go, Tere! Get us out of here!” he shouted toward the cockpit.
The ship lifted slowly off the duracrete floor of the landing bay. Kicking up dirt, it left a cloud behind as a dozen stormtroopers rushed into the bay.
“Matt, can you handle — ”
“No problem, boss. Plottin’ us a course straight away from here,” he told her, feverishly punching keys on the co-pilot’s console. “Spaceport’s hailing us. They’re ordering us to turn back.”
“Picking up several signals, Matt.”
“What are they?” Hunter asked, scanning the skies as the Star Quest left Kabaira’s atmosphere and headed toward the star-studded blackness of deep space.
“Three Headhunters,” Matt replied. “Probably the local space patrol.”
Chaz came up beside his father in the cockpit. “Did I hear you say Headhunters?”
“Yeah.”
“You got a fast ship. Captain?” Chaz asked.
“She’s pretty good, young man,” Metallo replied.
“Shields up,” Matt reported. “Thirty seconds ’til we jump.”
Metallo studied the ship’s sensors. The Z-95s were gaining a little ground on them. “Fancy flyin’ time, boys. Better strap yourselves in.” she told them as the Star Quest banked sharply to port. She winked at her co-pilot. “Remind me, Matt, when we reach a safe port, we need to do some engine mods if we’re gonna stay in this line of work!”
Matt smiled. “Right, boss,” he said as the ship twisted through a series of curls. Several shots whipped across the bow.
“Time?”
“Five seconds.”
“We’re away,” Metallo called, pulling back on the hyperdrive.
Mottled stars filled the viewscreen as the Star Quest made its passage into hyperspace. Matt watched the stars blur into starlines, marvelling at the incredible beauty of it all. And for the first time in longer than he could remember, he felt whole again. He wasn’t sure what the future held in store, but for now it was a beginning, a new passage in his life, with new friends, new battles … and new enemies.
Matt Turhaya
Type: Free-Trader
DEXTERITY 2D+2
Blaster 6D, dodge 3D
KNOWLEDGE 2D+1
Alien species 4D+1, cultures 4D, languages 3D, planetary systems 5D+2, streetwise 3D+2, survival 4D
MECHANICAL 3D
Astrogation 4D, repulsorlift operation 5D, space transports 4D+2, starfighter piloting 4D+2, starship gunnery 5D+1, starship shields 4D+1
PERCEPTION 3D
Bargain 3D+1, gambling 3D+2, search 4D, sneak 3D+2
STRENGTH 3D
TECHNICAL 4D
Comp
uter programming/repair 6D+1, first aid 3D, repulsorlift repair 7D+2, space transport repair 7D+1
Force Points: 3
Character Points: 6
Move: 10
Equipment: Blaster pistol (4D)
Capsule: Matt Turhaya is the son of the late Corellian Arada Turhaya — a hero of the Clone Wars and commander in the army of the Old Republic. Matt had always dreamed of a career in the Imperial Navy. Encouraged by his childhood sweetheart, Anii Degarienne (who later became his wife), Matt attended the Imperial Naval Academy and graduated at the top of his class.
Unfortunately. Matt’s accomplishments at the Academy were overshadowed only weeks prior to graduation when Anii died in a freak accident at a weapons manufacturing facility where she worked. Though he was devastated by this loss. Matt was determined to make a life for himself and the young daughter Anii had left behind.
Leaving his little girl with relatives on Janara III, Matt reported for his first assignment aboard the Star Destroyer Relentless. There he came to despise everything the Empire stood for. He was disheartened by the ship’s involvement in subduing local populations through the use of brute force. Disgusted by what he witnessed, Matt deserted.
A year later, Matt made his way to Janara III, hoping to begin a new life with his daughter. But he discovered the Empire had arrived ahead of him and razed the town where his family lived. This was the final blow for Matt. With nothing to live for, he turned to drinking, moving from spaceport to spaceport, taking odd jobs. Now, more than two years after Anii’s death, he has ended up on Tatooine, where his brother Jamie watches over him.
Tere Metallo
Type: Free-Trader
DEXTERITY 3D
Blaster 6D, dodge 5D
KNOWLEDGE 3D
Alien species 5D, cultures 5D, languages 6D, planetary systems 5D, streetwise 5D, survival 4D+2
MECHANICAL 3D
Astrogation 5D+1, repulsorlift operation 5D+1, space transports 6D+1, starship gunnery 6D+2, starship shields 5D
PERCEPTION 3D+2
Bargain 6D, command 5D, gambling 7D, hide 4D+2, search 5D, sneak 5D+2
STRENGTH 2D+1
Star Wars - The Adventures of Alex Winger 2 - Passages Page 3