Chap. 64 - Trust

Icarus was not one to be carried away by hunches, but when Tronda appeared in his office alone, he was very curious to know that he had the strange Twi'lek on his hands. Even so, she refused to talk about it in that place for some reason.

Tronda insisted on going to a place far south of the Oasis. In his own words, a trip that should last at least four hours by speeder. Something that caught the droid's attention a lot, since its instructions coincided perfectly with that secluded forest where he had that inexplicable contact with forces that he was not able to understand. And the fact that Tronda could know of the existence of that place only through her instinct was something to take into account. Maybe... Was she force sensitive?

Icarus analyzed her from head to toe. She was undoubtedly an old woman, and did not seem to have outstanding physical abilities for someone her age. In other words, he was not a Jedi, or any other type of Force user, or at least that the droid was aware of. That conclusion only raised more questions in the Icarus circuits.

But he couldn't waste that opportunity. He contacted Alfa and ordered him to prepare a speeder as soon as possible, without even taking into account the late hours of the night. And apparently, Tronda did not disagree with this. They were both walking towards the garages, when voices intercepted them from behind.

Boil: - Going out at night, General? -

Icarus: - Commander Boil, Miss Numa. -

Numa: - Thunder. What are you doing? -

Tronda: - Don't worry, brat. I know how to take care of myself. -

Numa: - I didn't mean that. -

The young Twi'lek looked at the droid with clear distrust. He may well have saved them just a few hours ago, but the memory of the Separatists' assault on Ryloth during the Clone Wars left marks that would not be so easily removed. Icarus was aware of this, and trying to impose any resolution would only bring negative consequences.

Icarus: - Changing the subject. What is your urgency, commander?

Boil: - General, two days ago one of our contacts gave us very valuable information. -

Icarus: - I hear you. -

Boil: - The message comes from the planet Abafar, located in the Outer Rim territories. A valuable source of Rhydonium. -

Icarus: - That's certainly something interesting, but Abafar if I remember was under the control of crime lord Jabba in Hutt. -

Numa: - That criminal scum does not deserve such important resources, we should immediately go and take them from their slimy clutches. -

Icarus: - Be careful what you wish for, Miss Numa. - The Twi'lek looked at him confused.

Boil: - The Hutt clan is not what they say they are. I understand that you have dealings with the Empire to keep the Outer Rim under control. If we go on a sweeping spree, not only will we have the entire Hutt clan after our heads, but we could also encounter an unwanted imperial visit. -

Icarus: - I see that you are well informed. And tell me, commander. Do you have something in mind? -

Boil: - I think a covert operation would be the best option. Pass ourselves off as a rival gang and not as a resistance organization. Enter the planet incognitos and when you least expect it... -

Numa: - BOOM... Hit them where it hurts the most. I like that plan. -

The clone and the young Twi'lek girl looked at each other and laughed heartily. They had a strong bond and it was easy to decipher just by looking at their faces.

Icarus: - Very good. Commander Boil, you remain in command of the operation. -

Boil: - What!? -

Icarus: - He will take the Delta unit and the Punitive Guard under his charge and infiltrate Abafar to recover as much fuel as possible and help our contact there. -

Boil: - Wait a moment. Aren't you rushing? -

Icarus: - Captain Mirana will help you with the task. She has experience in dealing with criminals. -

Boil: - ¿General? -

Icarus: - Outside of those orders, you are free to choose the crew you want. Can you accomplish the mission? -

The clone was stunned by the situation. He? Commanding an operation? That didn't seem like a good idea. Boil was always a soldier, and although he once led troops in battle and various types of operations he was never at the forefront of the whole picture. He always followed orders. For some reason this didn't seem like a good idea to him, but he had someone at his side who would surely push him to the other end of the galaxy.

Boil looked at Icarus with doubts, but when he saw Numa with that face full of hope he could not refuse. It was a big step for him, and it overwhelmed him. Just remembering the weight his former commander Cody carried made him doubt.

"But no! He was a soldier! A veteran of the bloodiest war this galaxy has ever lived and he came out alive! He had to move on! He had to take the final step and grow as big as a clone could." be! For his brothers! For his 212th battalion! For Waxer!"

Boil: - Sir, yes sir. -

The clone's voice was firm as a mountain, standing at attention in a military pose, clicking heels and saluting his metal commander with pride. He was determined. I was ready to take the next step. Although inside I was quite scared. Numa, on the other hand, was jumping with excitement.

Icarus: - I leave it in your hands, commander. Go to Bay 12 and tell Lieutenant Helgait to assign you "Phantom" for this mission. That's all commander. We count on you. -

And the droid turned around accompanied by the Twi'lek seer, who did nothing but listen with interest to the way in which this droid related to his organic subordinates as if he were another. Every time his interest grew more and more, and he had the feeling that he would soon get answers. Although I was convinced that such answers would only raise more doubts.

And so, Icarus, Tronda and Alpha left the Oasis towards their destination, leaving a shocked clone and a very excited Twi'lek behind them.

Boil: - This... -

Numa: - What are we waiting for? Come on. - His enthusiasm was evident.

Boil: - One moment, miss. I never said I was going on this mission. -

Numa: - Come on now. I've been in the resistance for as long as I can remember, and I know how to deal with these types of people better than you'll know. I'm wrong? -

Boil couldn't refute that. She was right without a doubt. He may be in charge, but he would have to follow Mirana and Numa's instructions and advice if he wanted to succeed in this mission. So he just sighed in defeat.

Boil: - Very good. Tell your friend Lubo and wait for me in bay 12 in thirty minutes. I'll let Delta and Mirana know. See you on the platform, Sergeant Numa. -

The Twi'lek couldn't hide her excitement when Boil called her a military rank. She might be a young girl, but this kind of thing still treated them like that little girl that Boil and Waxer rescued in Ryloth more than ten years ago.

Numa: - Yes sir. - He responded in response to the military salute, and ran to tell Lubo.

And at the agreed time, everyone involved in this mission was gathered, walking through the halls of the hangars to their designated ship. Lieutenant Helgait guided the group towards the ship, whose name made the organics filled with expectations, but what a surprise they were to see the large ship that bore the name "Phantom"

Numa: - Are you serious? An Aurore-class freighter? - He said with disappointment.

Helgait: - Don't be fooled, young Twi'lek. This baby has a good load capacity and adequate speed for its function. Furthermore, its Zygerian origin will not raise any suspicion. -

Numa: - If you say so. -

Boil: - Good. Let's not waste time. Delta, take the controls and prepare everything for takeoff. -

Delta: - Roger. Roger. -

Boil: - The rest. Prepare your things, this will be an interesting trip. -

The crew was really short on organics, and for good reason. He had a plan, but in order to get past the border guard they needed discretion, and a battalion of organics would be a problem. Boil had to leave his armor behind and dress like a bounty hunter, although he didn't like that look very much, but everyone agreed that it looked very good on him. Pretty good actually.

And so they left. Boil, Mirana, Numa and Lubo being the only organic ones on board, although Delta and the Punitive Guard could undoubtedly be considered the beam up the General's sleeve. If he assigned Boil on a mission, it was because he trusted his judgment and abilities.

The trip was quite pleasant, since no one from the Empire paid attention to a Zygerian freighter like the Ghost, so using the main corridors and routes was not a problem. In just a few hours they reached Abafar airspace, where a border guard ship immediately intercepted them.

Officer: - You have just entered the airspace under the protection of the Hutt clan. Any hostile act will be punished with death. Say your intentions and reasons for being here. - He was speaking through the ship's communicator.

Mirana: - We are here transporting "slaves." A request from Pons Ora contacts. -

Officer: - How many? -

Mirana: - Two young Twi'lek. It's just us and my pilot. -

Officer: - Understood. Stop the ship while we do a scan. -

A tense moment in any infiltration scenario. The border guard ship used its scanner that manifested as a blue beam to examine the Ghost, and although Mirana was very confident in this situation, the same could not be said for the rest, at least until the border guard ship stopped scanning them.

Officer: - Correct chaequeo. But we detected other life forms in the cargo hold. - Boil, Numa and Lubo almost scream from shock.

Mirana: - Arg. Damn rats. I have to do a disinfection in this ship. -

Official: - Aware. I ask that you address that as soon as possible when you land. You can pass. -

Mirana: - Thank you very much. Over and out. -

Boil wasted no time. When he heard the authorization he supplied power to the thrusters and headed for dry land.

Numa: - Really? Rats? -

Mirana: - On a freighter like this? There are always rodents. Let there be no doubt about that. -

Lubo: - I hate rats. - He made a disgusted face.

The plan was simple, although somewhat risky. Mirana would assume command of the group as she was the one with the most experience in this type of situation. Numa and Lubo would act as Twi'lek slaves, something highly sought after throughout the outer rim. Even Jabba himself had a great interest in them. So I had to be careful. and finally, Boil would stay in the rear. The clone was not good in these situations, so he would remain silent as a last resort, and if things got ugly, he would give the order to Delta and the Punitive Guard and take command. Still, the top priority was to go unnoticed.

They finally landed in one of the hangars in Pons Ora, the main city of Abafar, with one of the largest rhydonium mines on the planet. Once they left the safety of the ship, they were in hostile territory, and every living thing or droid in that place was a potential enemy. Mirana took the lead, closely followed by the two Twi'leks, who wore hoods to avoid attracting attention. And finally, Boil in the rearguard. The droids would stay on the ship for now and keep quiet so as not to attract attention. Although he wouldn't hesitate to attack if anyone got curious.

The streets of Pons Ora were plagued with misery and rot. Nothing out of the ordinary on the planets under Hutt rule. The slaves who worked in the mines wandered like vagabonds in the streets, prisoners on a planet they could not escape. The four of them looked at this whole panorama with disgust and sadness, knowing that they could not do anything about it or they would endanger not only the operation, but also the resistance. Innocents suffered everywhere in the galaxy, and this world was one of the many planetary prisons in the Galaxy.

Mirana: - The coordinates are close. Don't separate. -

Or that's what she wanted to say, but it only took a few steps for everything to turn upside down. Numa had to stop suddenly when she felt someone holding her hand. She turned around scared, only to see a Trandoshan looking at her with bad intentions on his face.

Trandoshan: - Look what we have here. A young and valuable slave. - Numa couldn't even speak because of fear.

Mirana: - Hey! Moron! What do you think you are doing with my slave!? - He jumped to his defense.

Trandoshan: - Is it yours? Or... But how interesting. I have an idea, why don't you sell me to these... two slaves of yours. I will give you a good price. Better than you'll find in this entire place. -

Miranan: - That will not be necessary. I already have a good buyer. -

Trandoshan: - Then let's make a deal... I'll give you double what they offered you... -

The Trandoshan stopped talking when he felt the tip of a blaster under his ribs, releasing the young woman immediately.

Trandoshan: - Hey! And who are you!? -

Mirana: - I see that you already met my partner. Now if it's not too much trouble... Get lost. -

The Trandoshan withdrew slowly, afraid that his heart would be shot by the mysterious being that stood behind him without him noticing. So he left the place, but not before seeing the group with a clear challenge in his eyes, as if he had something planned.

Mirana: - Let's not waste time. Follow me -

Numa: - Thank you. - He whispered when the courage returned to his body.

Boil: - Of course. I won't let anything bad happen to you. To nobody. -

A quick thank you from Lubo and they continued towards their destination. Just as Mirana had said, the location was not too far away. It was a somewhat remote place. A small house stacked on top of many others with a metal door. Mirana rang the bell, and a mechanical arm culminating in an optical sensor automatically came out.

????: - What does he want? -

Mirana: - I come from the one who flew towards the sun. -

That was the key to access the place. The mechanical arm returned to its place of origin, and instantly the metal door opened, allowing them passage inside. Mirana entered instantly, followed closely by the young Twi'lek and finally Boil, who looked everywhere before entering to make sure that no one had followed them.

Inside the place were several helpless slaves, who seemed to be receiving some type of food and medical help of some kind. Apparently someone was helping them with the few resources available, and that gave them some hope. As they walked they came to a small room, where there was a Rodian dressed in a doctor's coat, and an individual right next to her talking to her. An individual that Boil couldn't believe when he saw him.

Boil: - It can't be. -