Chapter III


The Nemesis was speeding through space, back towards the flagship of the Angosian Order’s fleet, the Reliant. Joined with these ships were the Liberator, and the Intrepid. The space around them was empty, but the tenseness of the battle filled what remained.

Cid’s HUD battle display was becoming less cluttered, as the red marks identifying Imperial ships using an Imperial transponder code disappeared. Cid was alerted, sending word to Jared.

“Jared, sir, the Imperials are withdrawing.”

“Yeah, I see ‘em.” Jared watched as the last of the ships made the jump into hyperspace.

“Any idea why they left so soon?” Cid asked.

“It’s ‘cuz of my excellent shooting,” Darus interjected, as he strolled into the central area of the ship, removing his gunnery gloves, and looking for compliments. “I scared ‘em, hit their generator hard without the computer’s help.”

“Nah, can’t be it,” Jared stated, as his eyes flashed over the battle reports scrolling before him. “Your gunnery couldn’t scare me, so it definitely wouldn’t scare Anorax. I think the answer lies here in these reports. Look.”

The group gathered around the display, and Max simply clambered off. He wouldn’t be needed here now, so he was going to go power down. The battle was intense for his circuits, and the maneuvers were even a little much for his armored body.

Jared switched to the damage reports. They had lost about one-fourth of their fleet, losing the Hunsock Defiant, all their Z-95s, and their Blastboats were halved. The A-Wings and B-Wings were the only ones that went undamaged. They should let the Rebels know how effective their fighters are in these situations.

“Wow,” Gannon said. “They hit us hard.”

“Yeah,” Cid added. “And they didn’t lose much either.”

“The Admiral’s not going to be happy,” commented Jared, “I’ll be putting the ship down in the bay, so you can expect a committee there to meet us.”

“Oh, great,” Cid stated. He never liked these committees. He had to deal with so many of them when he became Chief Technician. When the Hyperlance Project was finished, he was put on the ship, and he had hoped he wouldn’t have to deal with these “committees”. So much for that idea. Why are there so many bureaucrats, I hate ‘em.

There was indeed a large committee lined up at the end of the entry ramp. The Admiral, Roga Danar, was there, and his advisors. So was Mar Uthat, head of the starfighter division. Also there was D’Tan who was, well, a Jedi Knight.

Gannon was a little wary a seeing such a committee. The last time he’d seen so many officials was when he was fortunate enough to be present in Xizor’s court, when he was affiliated with the Black Sun crime syndicate. However, Gannon was kept out of the way, for the Dark Prince never liked competion. Such arrogance was the down payment on his body bag.

“You...must be the new member,” came a voice from the side of Gannon. Gannon turned, and saw a younger man in the red-and-gold uniform of officials, with his glistening blaster in its holster. The young man didn’t seem to have the stature of an official, though he couldn’t really be sure of that, seeing that many people were made officers easily.

“Yes,” Gannon replied, “And you are...?”

“Donn Loral,” the officer said, extending his hand only to have it briefly glaced at by Gannon, who remained standing with his arms crossed, “But the name’s unimportant. I’m just reposible for bringing you up to speed and making you a part of the team.”

“How nice,” Gannon mumbled, “But...shouldn’t Jared or the Admiral take care of that?”

“Nonsense, the Admiral and Jared both have plenty to do, what with this war and everything. Besides, I’m better suited to brief everyone on their missions. I hear I’m being reassigned to a better spot.”

“Where to?” Gannon inquired. One couldn’t find a much better place than serving on the Admiral’s flagship.

“I don’t know yet. I’m supposed to get the details on that later today or tomorrow.” He paused. “Well, enough about that, let’s get you checked in and get you used to the place.”

“Certainly,” Gannon said, snickering. “After you.”

Gannon followed slowly, gazing around at the spacious and luxurious surroundings. Yes, he could get very used to this.

Jared and the others didn’t ake much notice to the departure of Gannon, having been caught up in the mess of delegates and officers, and with being debriefed in the docking bay. Jared was more concerned about his ship, with it taking more damage. He figured he will make it a point to get a repair team on it right away, although he was curious as to why there wasn’t one there already.

Jared’s thoughts were interrupted a s Mar Uthat, head of the starship division, scurried past Admiral Roga Danar and D’Tan, the Jedi Knight, and up to Jared.

“Great job, Commander,” Mar said, nearly out of breath from his little hustle. Mar was in deperate need of som exercise. Mar was always the one who was easily impressed, and who loved to see his ships do well. “You sure showed them out there.”

“No, Mar, they showed us,” Jared said coldly. He had never really cared for General Uthat, since Uthat never took this war seriously, just saw it as a game where he could build bigger and faster ships, throw them into battle. If they didn’t work, oh well, but if they did work, then one would never hear the end of his rejoicing.

“Well, yeah, but your ship hit that Sovereign hard.”

Jared looked down on the grinning Mar. He didn’t share his excitement.

“I still think you’re missing the point. You don’t realize what we lost.”

“Oh, Jared, you’re always so uncheerful. That’d better change, ‘cuz I get to show you the new toy R&D has finished.”

“On the contrary, Mar, you will show me that even if I’m not in a cheery mood.” Jared’s cold glare dug into Mar, sending chills down his spine.

“Temper, temper, Jared. Go spend some time in the Rec Branch.”

“I’ll do nothing of the sort, and...since when do I take orders from you? You will show me what you need to. NOW!”

The echo repeated several times in the docking bay.

Mar silently cursed his ability to anger Jared so easily, for it often resulted in immense pain. Jared was not one to cross, even if it was easy.

“I’m afraid Mar is right,” interrupted a deep voice. “You do need to relax some.”

Jared spun to face Admiral Roga Danar, and brought himself into an upright and rigid stance.

“Admiral,” Jared said, saluting.

“Come, let’s go to the Rec Branch, grab a drink, and have a good time. You need some time off, and our project can wait to be shown to you.” The Admiral chuckled. “You also need to relax, for your cold surface turns away many lovely girls who would love to get to know you.”

Jared grumbled, and the Admiral knew he was right.

“My coldness is a part of me, it gives me character, makes me the man that I am, sir,” Jared replied, as he continued on to the Rec Branch, with the others behind him. D’Tan and Max had gone off in their own direction, as they usually did.

“That coldness was part of what was forced upon you when you were part of the Royal Guard, a persona that is now dead.”

“No. That persona was only scheduled to be killed,” Jared countered, spinning to face the Admiral. “He was freed, and though slightly changed, he still lives, here, now.”

Jared had much anger in him, and it showed in his expression and voice. The Admiral was not fazed, even by Jared.

“If you weren’t such a good friend and ally,” Danar said calmly, “I’d have you court-martialled for your threat.”

“Yes...sir,” Jared said, cooling down to a relaxed state.

“Yet, you obviously weren’t a Royal Guard when you decided to save your friends.”

“It was my trained loyalty, soldiers must protect others if possible,” Jared interrupted.

“No. You had a heart, and it shone through. You sacrificed your arm and would have died if it hadn’t been for your friend’s power.”

Jared remained silent. He didn’t want to admit he had a heart. He was trained not to have one, so that he wouldn’t be emotional, just loyal.

“Come, Jared. Let’s have a drink, shall we?”

-----------------------------------------------------
Cid and Darus were sitting at their bar table, while Gannon was at the sabacc table, obviously making a lot of money. Darus wondered when the Admiral would pay Gannon not to play, ‘cause he was robbing the high officers, who didn’t have a Jawa’s chance in a brawl against him. Of course, Darus would be able to easily con Gannon into at least a small part of the earnings.

Darus noted that Jared wasn’t here with Admiral Danar yet. He found that peculiar.

“I wonder what’s keeping Jared,” Darus said.

“He’s arguing with the Admiral, but he’ll be here...now,” Cid responded.

Sure enough, the door slid open, and the Admiral and Jared strolled through. Darus had always wondered how Cid predicted such things, but he knew it was through the Force, so he didn’t bother to comment.

Jared and the Admiral sat down at the table, relaxed after their argument.

“Jared,” Admiral Danar said, “I recall you enjoy a spiced Starlight Bravado.”

“Especially when someone else is buying,” Jared replied, with a slight smile on his face.

“Of course,” jested Danar. He motioned for a waitress, who came with a smile, a smile that grew as she looked over Jared. Jared didn’t seem to care, and sat it his normal cold stance. The waitress got tense when she noticed the Admiral there.

“G-Good evening, Admiral. What would you like, sir?”

“First, dispense with the titles. Second, get my friend here a Starlight Bravado, and I’ll have a Corellian Twist.”

“Of course, right away.”

She turned with a smile, and a twinkle in her eye directed at Jared, and left.

Darus chuckled.

“Wow, Jared, did you notice her--”

“What about her?” Jared interrupted. He knew he’d begin a conversation involving his need to melt his cold self, and show some interest in the opposite sex. But his quick comment caught some off guard, especially Darus.

“Well..uh..she was looking at you with some interest and...uh...from what I can tell, she...liked what she saw,” Darus stammered.

“Well good for her,” Jared said, “She can idolize me if she wants. I don’t care either way.”

“Oh, come on, Jared,” Cid jested, “You could at least lead her on. It’s always fun to do that, give her a thrill to tell her friends about.”

“Yeah,” the Admiral said, “but the only ones who show interest in you are low-life technicians, so you aren’t one to say much.”

The others chuckled at this comment, but Cid just took the insult. In a time of war, there were things of more consequence.

“Yes, I could always toy with women,” Jared said, “But that’s low on my list of priorities.”

“Fine with me,” Darus said, stretching back to kick his heels up onto the table. “Just as long as you send ‘em my way, I’ll be happy.”

Jared laughed.

“Just what kind of twisted girl would go your way? Even those low-life technicians are smarter than that.”

“That’s the spirit, boy!” Admiral Danar exclaimed. He knew Jared could be sociable if you broke through his stone surface. He always had such good comebacks, and they always had been something to laugh at, unless they were laughing at you.

Darus was a little hurt, but only for a moment. He’d prove them wrong. The waitress returned with the drinks, and flashed her useless smile at Jared. Darus decided to take the initiative.

“So, what’s a sweet girl like you do in her time off, when you’re not working?”

She glanced at him.

“I was thinking I might have gone back to my quarters tonight, and enjoy some company,” she said, smiling at Jared, “but it’s been said that Duros don’t make good bedfellows, and I think you only support that statement.”

Jared half grimaced, half laughed, but in his attempt to prevent either, he snorted. The waitress took no note of this, but Darus did.

“Here’s your drink then,” the waitress stated, “and here’s your bill.” She turned and left, having done not only a good job as a waitress, but a good job of making a fool out of Darus, which might not have been that hard.

“Ouch!” Cid said, chuckling, “She slammed you like a heavy lifter droid gone awry.”

The group took much enjoyment at Darus’ misfortune. Gannon stumbled over to their table, carrying his sack of credit chips, having run all his competitors out of money.

“Hey look, guys!” Gannon boisterously said, “Donn gave me a bunch of hazeard pay, and I just tripled it back at the table in a short time!”

“Ya know Gannon,” the Admiral said, “You should just take your ship and go where the gamblers are tougher. You obviously have enough to gamble with, and my officers would be able to afford what they need.”

“Yeah,” Jared chimed, “and we’d be able to spend some time without you hangin’ around.”

“Are you tryin’ to get rid of me so soon?” inquired Gannon. “Don’t forget that you invited me along.”

“No,” Jared jeered, “But do you know how many fights you’ve caused by beating good players? I’m tired of savin’ your ass.”

Jared did have a point. Even though he had only been with them for about a week, he remembered the fights on Rodia, Coruscant, and even here, earlier today. And then there were all the fights he caused before he teamed up with Jared.

“Well, I always make more than enough to pay my way on your precious ship, or even to get that damned thing out of impoundment.”

Jared liked the direction of this conversation.

“Speaking of hazard pay, my ship wouldn’t be in this rotten shape if you hadn’t of put us in a hazard. There was a lot of damage done to the lower side of the ship as well, and as I recall, you were supposed to protect that side. So...with that evidence, I think that pile of credits should amply take care of it.”

Gannon always valued his credits.

“No way. It’s not my fault. I’m a gambler, not a gunner. I..I had no idea what was going down. You should have filled me in more. It’s...it’s your fault. You put me there...You’re...you’re NOT MAKING ME PAY!”

Gannon ended his line by drawing his blaster on Jared. Jared, of course, knew for one he wouldn’t shoot, and for two, he wouldn’t hit him. No one could hit him.

The room fell silent, as all turned to look at this crazy loon, with his blaster drawn. Jared took note that the security guards weren’t as quick to their blasters, they were only drawing them now. He guessed he’d be seeing them scrubbing decks tommorrow.

“Now don’t you feel like an idiot?” Jared jested, alluding to the eyes fixed upon Gannon.

All, chucked slightly, as Gannon holstered his blaster and finally sat down. He was still a little wary.

“You...still gonna make me pay for the damage?” he asked.

The Admiral jeered, “You idiot, you wouldn’t know when you’ve been set up for a joke if it snuck up and bit you!” Maybe true, but he had considerable street smarts that were a nice addition.

And they all broke into one unified laughter, Gannon included. Laughter which sounded like a bunch of drunken men, which perhaps they all were.