15

Wrecker's wide hand pushed Saedii's head down as the blaster fire started. Angling his body between hers and the incoming fire, he pulled her behind the nearest cover – a long, thin alleyway that backed into an empty street. The deafening blasts of Hunter's and Crosshair's blasters echoed in the empty air.

Next to her, Phee was strangely at ease.

"You said we wouldn't get caught!" Saedii barked at her. A faint pink glow lit along her cheeks as Omega pulled out her plasma bow, aiming it at the other end of the alley.

"No, I said it would be dangerous if we got caught. Not exactly a lie." Phee had a blaster of her own in hand. She kept it close as they ran down the other end of the alley, towards the empty street behind them.

"Tech," Hunter's voice ordered on comms. "Get the ship ready. We're coming in hot."

Tech's answer was a sigh. "I wouldn't have expected anything less."

Saedii gave her a look. Phee's nonchalant tone made it easy to read between the lines. "You knew this would happen."

"I made an educated guess." Phee hung back as Echo scanned the street. "Frankly, I'm surprised we made it out of the palace. The Spice Queen keeps an uncannily close eye on her possessions."

"That's why you wanted me. You thought I was going to have to fight our way out."

"You were my insurance policy. Just in case."

Saedii's teeth ground together. If they made it out of here alive, she was going to toss Phee out the hyperlock.

"We'll lay cover. Saedii, get Omega to the ship," Hunter's voice ordered on comms.

"Copy," Saedii replied.

From behind them, Hunter and the others were slowly making their way backwards, towards Saedii and the others. The buildings on either side shook with the force of all the blaster fire.

Something skittered down Saedii's arm. She turned, feeling the draw of the Force just as three stall vendors turned the corner onto the empty street. All with blasters raised.

"Echo," she warned.

"Keep low." He stepped into the path of their fire, firing off several shots with all the precision of his ARC trooper training. "I'll lay some cover."

Saedii pulled Omega close to her and ran in the other direction. Behind her, the sound of blaster fire was growing – more guns.

"They're closing in from the south and west," Echo relayed.

"We're cut off on the east," Crosshair reported. "If they outflank us to the north, we'll be surrounded."

"Feel free to pull out those glowsticks anytime now, kid," Phee said as Hunter and Crosshair joined up with Echo. Wrecker's intimidating form headed straight in their direction. Saedii instinctively slowed to let him catch up.

"I can't," Saedii snapped. "I'm a wanted fugitive. If someone sees –"

"You're about to be a dead fugitive if you don't do something."

"And whose fault is that?"

Around her, the Force was growing frenzied. It showed her what her eyes could not – the dozens of armed guards and vendors that were quickly pressing in on their location. Filing down side streets and forgotten pathways to cut them off from their ship.

With a sickening twist of her gut, Saedii felt as the path ahead of them was closing. Guards from the palace raced ahead to take away their only escape route.

They were about to be surrounded.

"Saedii?" Omega asked uneasily as Saedii reluctantly reached under her robes and grabbed her lightsabers.

There was no choice. If they wanted to make it to the ship in one piece, Saedii would have to pitch in. "Omega, cover our six. We're about to have company. Phee, I sure as hell hope you know how to use that thing."

"It's not for show. I can promise you that," Phee said with just the slightest trace of sarcasm.

"Good. You can cover our nine."

"Military terms are no good to me."

"Shoot left."

"Why didn't you just say that?"

Saedii engaged both lightsabers as one of the Spice Queen's guards appeared before her. With two flicks, Saedii batted away her blaster shots and sliced right through her blaster, knocking her out with a swift blow to the head.

Behind her were two others. Saedii's body moved on instinct, lunging forward to cut through their attack. Clearing the path ahead of them as all around them, they were quickly being surrounded.

Pink and blue light exploded behind her as Omega and Phee tried to protect their flanks. They'd been joined by Wrecker who swung from left to right, providing support where he could. In the back, Hunter, Echo, and Crosshair were very slowly making their way back to the rest of the group, but their advance was slow. With all the blaster fire, they kept having to stop for cover.

Wrecker pulled Omega down as a shadowy figure began to fire from one of the buildings above them. The shots scorched the dry ground only inches from where Omega had been standing.

Saedii struck out with the Force, wrapping a cruel hand around the figure above them and yanking. There was a terrible scream as the person fell three stories, followed by a sickening crunch once they met the ground.

"They're cutting us off!" Echo shouted.

At Echo's warning, Wrecker pulled Omega and Saedii behind the jutting edge of an old Starfighter. A rush of warmth passed by frighteningly close to Saedii's arm as a group of vendors swarmed out of one of the side streets. Effectively cutting off Hunter, Crosshair and Echo from the rest.

Hunter's quickened voice demanded, "Saedii?"

"Hang on!"

Saedii wrapped the Force around the crumbling remains of a nearby freighter. Sweat beaded her brow as she flung it backwards, launching it into the crowd of blasters pressing forward.

"Jedi!" someone screamed, but too late.

Sparks flew as it raced along the ground, plowing through the crowd. There were terrible screams as it cleared straight through, cutting a swath big enough that Hunter and the others were able to get to their feet and rejoin them.

Once they were safely reunited, Saedii pushed out into the Force. Pooling it around the Starfighter on their left. With a grimace of determination, she pulled it, feeling as the foundation gave and the ship slid over pavement. Sweat dripped down her neck now as she continued to push, arms shaking with the effort of sliding the ship a mere ten feet to the left. Just enough that it blocked off the narrow street, cutting them off from their pursuers.

With a gasp, she let go of the Force. Arms shaking, she swiped at her sweaty face. "I don't know how many more times I can do that."

The Force around Hunter was swarming with anxiety. This was exactly what he hadn't wanted to happen – getting caught in a hot extraction, Saedii being forced to reveal herself as a Jedi and use the Force. If they made it off Talthera, rumors would spread across the galaxy about what had happened here. Inquisitors could soon be on their trail once again.

Once again, the group was in danger. Because of Saedii.

"Come on." Hunter nudged her in the direction of the Marauder. Their only chance at safety.

On the outskirts of the city, Tech was waiting with the ship. He leaned heavily on his good leg as he stood at the entrance ramp, shrewd eyes watching their approach.

"We're all-over Imperial communications," Tech said bitterly as they came within hearing distance. "Troopers will be here within the hour."

"Well, we should probably say our goodbyes, then," Phee said lightly.

Saedii's lightsaber swung up, blocking Phee's escape towards her own ship. "Not until you pay us."

"I'll send you a check."

"You take one step, and I swear to the Maker, I will gut you."

Despite Saedii's threat, Phee looked amused. "Are you threatening me, Jedi? I thought your lot didn't do that."

"Why not?" Saedii demanded. "You blackmailed me."

"She's right. You're not going anywhere." Crosshair was suddenly at Saedii's side. His blaster was level with Phee's heart and still as stone.

For the first time, Phee suddenly looked nervous. "We don't have time to argue over this. I'll send you coordinates for us to meet up –"

Echo and Wrecker's blasters were suddenly trained on her as well. Behind Saedii, Hunter's voice demanded, "You're coming with us."

"Hell no. That wasn't part of the plan," Phee insisted.

"Neither was stealing from the Spice Queen." Hunter's voice was brutally angry.

Phee swallowed. "Look, I get you're mad, but –"

A wall of heat and light suddenly exploded to their left. Saedii stumbled with the force of the blast, covering her eyes with a raised arm. Beside her, Wrecker stooped over Omega, shielding her.

When Saedii looked up a moment later, all that remained of Phee's ship were burning pieces of scrap metal.

Overhead, a very ramshackle Z-95 swooped past. Saedii got a glimpse of Shiveen in the pilot's seat.

Now, Phee had no choice. Her only way off Talthera was with the Batch.

"I suggest you all board before we are blown up," Tech said casually as the Z-95 turned back in their direction.

Not looking happy, Phee made her way on board.

Inside, Tech hobbled to the pilot's seat, guiding the Marauder up as soon as they were all safely on board. Saedii held tight to one of the landing seats as the ship shook from an incoming blast.

"You can drop me off back on Ord Mantell," Phee said, though her voice wasn't nearly as confident.

"We're not a shuttle service," Crosshair quipped. "And you're not going anywhere until you've paid us."

Something like uncertainty passed Phee's face. "Yeah, about that..."

Icy cold rage filled Saedii's stomach. She knew what that look meant.

So did Hunter. With outrage, he demanded, "You weren't planning on actually paying us, were you?"

"Not exactly," she admitted.

The ship banked sharply, sending Omega and Wrecker scrambling for a seat. Echo ran for the cockpit to help out as an alarm began to blare.

But Saedii, Crosshair, and Hunter stayed exactly where they were. Weapons still drawn. Suddenly, Saedii didn't care that they were in a desperate race off world to escape Inquisitors and the Empire yet again. Because all of this had been for nothing.

"You told me we would get two and a half billion," Saedii said slowly.

"I said the job was worth two and a half billion. Not that I'd give it to you," Phee said tightly. Then, with a shrewd smile, she added, "You should have read the fine print."

"So we did all of this for nothing?" Omega asked in dismay.

Saedii was so mad she was nearly seeing double. "What did you steal?"

"Nothing of consequence."

The low buzz of Saedii's lightsaber echoed in the small space as she swung it up under Phee's chin. "Show us."

Reluctantly, Phee pulled out the small stone from the ring. It looked like a piece of frosted black glass, no bigger than Saedii's thumb. But at the sight, Crosshair hissed a breath.

"That's arminite," he said.

"Arminite?" Wrecker asked.

From the front, Tech's voice supplied, "Arminite is a finite resource with an immense energy yield. On the black market, it can go upwards of ten billion per pound. The Republic used it to power the shields of their most important command sites, like Coruscant, during the war. When utilized in a shield projector, it can create an impenetrable and indetectable field around a ship or planet."

Hunter was staring at Phee. "What do you need arminite for if you weren't going to sell it?"

A heavy silence filled the Marauder. In it, Saedii could feel Phee's emotions pouring off of her – anger, reluctance, resolve...and a bit of fear.

"You're hiding something." Saedii's comment wasn't a question.

Phee hesitated for only a moment before begrudgingly admitting, "Not yet. But I'm trying to."

The ship shuttered as another shot shook the hull. Behind her, Omega gave a little squeak as she held tightly to her landing seat.

"My planet isn't registered. We stayed off the Republic's radar during the war, and now that the Empire is in power, we want to keep it that way." All the amusement had dropped from Phee's face, and in its place was an iron-clad resolve. "This arminite is going to be used to build a cloaking shield and make sure we stay invisible."

"If the Empire catches you," Hunter began, but Phee held up a hand.

"I know what the consequences are. That's why I was planning on leaving before you lot ever found out what I'd stolen."

"Blackmailing me wasn't enough. You were planning to steal, too?" Saedii grumbled.

Phee flashed an anxious smile. "If it makes you feel any better, kid, I never planned to tell the Empire where you were."

"You said –"

"I implied, but I swear, I was never going to –"

Crosshair edged in closer to Saedii's side. "You expect us to take your word for that?"

"Hunter!" Echo called. "We're all over the comms! A description of the Marauder is making its way around the channels!"

"Which channels?" Hunter demanded.

"All the public ones!"

The public channels which went to every known corner of the galaxy. Which meant that, even once they got off planet, Ord Mantell wouldn't be safe until the chatter died down.

Saedii exchanged a look with Hunter. They sure as hell couldn't go back to Teth with Phee on board, either. Not with the Rebellion hiding out there, along with the other remaining members of the Jedi Order.

They were trapped with nowhere to go.

The Marauder banked sharply, avoiding enemy fire. Tech's voice was more pointed now as he demanded, "We need a destination to jump into hyperspace."

Omega looked between Crosshair and Hunter. Silently begging one of them to do something.

The damage alarm went off as another blast hit the ship. Tech desperately tried to keep the ship steady while Echo did what he could to shut the alarm off.

"You know, Pabu isn't connected to the public channels," Phee said slowly.

"What's a pabu?" Wrecker asked.

"My home planet. The one that isn't registered with the Empire. It could be a good place to lay low for a bit. I can give you the coordinates –"

Crosshair huffed a laugh. "Do you really think we trust you after this?"

That smug smile from before was back firmly on Phee's face. "You don't really have much of a choice."

The damage alarm still blared. Echo cursed as a small puff of purple smoke erupted from the navicomputer, followed by a shower of white sparks.

"Look," Phee said sharply, "I know I haven't given you much reason to trust me, but you can trust my will to survive. I'm not dying on Talthera. Pabu will be safe for all of us."

"Safe until you decide to call the Inquisitors yourself," Crosshair said.

"No one on Pabu is calling the Empire. We're trying to stay off their radar." Phee crossed her arms. "It's the best option you've got right now."

Hunter was quiet. Thinking it through, apparently.

Saedii looked at him with indignation and said, "You're not really thinking about this, are you? After the stunt she just pulled?"

"I'm not a bad person," Phee said patiently. "I make tough decisions for the people I want to protect. That includes you since our fates are tied up at present."

"We don't even know that Pabu exists. For all we know, it's another lie."

"I'll give you the coordinates."

"So we can blindly fly wherever the hell you want us to? No thanks."

Phee looked to Hunter. "We don't exactly have time to argue about it. Are you in or out?"

Wrecker and Omega were watching Hunter now, too. Wrecker had a protective hand around Omega's shoulder, holding her close to his side. From the other room, the red flashing light of the emergency damage sensor played along the ridges of his face, casting his eyes in shadow.

Very slowly, Hunter lowered his blaster. "Give Tech the coordinates."

Saedii's mouth dropped in surprise. "Hunter, you can't trust her!"

"We don't have much of a choice. If the Inquisitors are on their way, we need to make sure you're hidden," he said reasonably.

"That will be hard to do if she hurtles us into a star," Crosshair griped, though he, too, put his sniper down.

"I trust her enough that she'll protect herself." Hunter pulled off his helmet. His expression was weary. "For now, she'll do what she can to keep us alive and off the Empire's radar."

"At least one of you is reasonable." Phee's voice was entirely too smug for Saedii's liking.

As Phee slipped into the cockpit to give Tech the coordinates, Hunter lowered his voice and ordered, "Cross, keep an eye on her when we land. Be prepared for anything."

"So you don't trust her?" Saedii pressed.

Hunter's jaw tightened. "Not entirely."

"That makes two of us." Crosshair's voice was a low hiss under his breath. At his side, he loosened his short blaster in its holster just as the ship gave the telltale hum of entering into hyperspace.

Saedii disengaged her lightsabers, but hung them on her belt. Within easy reaching distance.

Ready for whatever was waiting for them at the end of hyperspace.