"Well?" Sergeant Aenda T'cul asked as she dug a knuckle into Corporal Ned Raalsen's ribs. "When are you going to do the right thing by my daughter?" "What?" The young man turned to his superior, an expression of mock surprise on his face. "Are you saying your daughter is pregnant?" "Oh, that would be a wonderful thing!" Aenda said quickly. "Maybe even a miracle! You know, with you being Human and my girl being a Twi'lek!" "This answer your question, Sarge?" Ned whispered, his left hand coming out of his pocket. The woman swiftly snatched the small box from his fingers. Flipping the lid open, she gasped. "Is that a real ruby?" The beautiful Twi'lek demanded. Ned nodded, grinning. Aenda shoved it back in his hand "Take it back! You can't afford it!" "Sarge?" The young man began. "The day I was born, my grandfather set up a trust fund for me. Placed a cool million in it. He added another when I joined the army. I am now worth about three million. And that is the only thing I've ever bought with that money." "So that means you can take care of my daughter? That she'll live a comfortable life?" "Absolutely! I'll..." Raalsen abruptly spun about, blaster at the ready, his thumb switching the safety off. He quickly scanned about the brightly lit hanger bay. Even though he saw nothing out of the ordinary, he felt something to be wrong. "What's the matter, Raalsen?" Sergeant T'cul asked as she stepped to his side, her own weapon held at the ready. "Another one of your feelings?" "Yes, Sarge," He replied, this 'feeling' screaming at him. "There's something wrong here." "Orthone and Pennar, report in," The Twi'lek spoke into her comlink, attempting to contact the other two security personnel on station in the large hanger. The orange skinned Aenda paused a second then repeated herself. "Privates Orthone and Pennar, report in!" "Rith and Grund, answer me!" She ordered when she still got no reply. Her team had quickly learned to trust Raalsen's premonitions. When they got no answer, she switched channels. "Command, this is T'cul! Tell Major Kalang, we have a situation in hanger one, send backup!" Once again, she received no answer to their call. "I have a very bad feeling about this, Sarge!" Ned told the woman to his right. As he turned to her, he felt the need to drop to his knees, which he did without hesitation. As he fell, he caught sight of a small sphere shooting over his head. A small grunt sounded in his ear, followed by the sight of T'cul collapsing in a heap. A similar sphere bounced across the concrete, away from her still form. The corporal rolled to his right and jumped to his feet. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of a man vanishing behind him. Spinning around, he once again saw the man disappear in a flash. Raalsen felt a rush of fear that threatened to overwhelm him. No Human could move that fast! Not even one on a drug like Thrust! One more time, a feeling told Raalsen to spin about. As he did, a hand shot out and grabbed his weapon, while another gripped his shoulder. To his shock, he heard the blaster's safety being switched back on. The guard vainly tried to jerk free of the grasp. But no matter how he twisted about, he was unable to do so. How can any Human be this strong? Raalsen stood 195cm tall and was an athlete, yet this boy controlled him like he was a child! "You have very good reflexes for a Norm," His assailant said in a soothing voice. A voice that caused all fear to swiftly fade from the soldier, to be replaced by calm. Raalsen then stared down at his attacker. He was a short Human with short cropped brown hair. But to his surprise, he appeared to be about sixteen. And strapped to his chest was a short handled lightsaber. As Ned stood there, speechless, the lights went out. But to his surprise the intruders eyes began to glow red. "Well, well," He mumbled. "It seems my competition is making their move. Got to take care of them, too, I guess." "Good night!" The man said mockingly. He then held his hand before Raalsen‘s face. And in the dim light of his eyes, Ned saw one of the balls. The last thing he remembered was the sphere sailing through the air and tapping him on his forehead. Commander Jen Felding quickly stepped through the door into the hanger, her blaster in hand. She quickly scanned about, her infrared goggles showing the heat signatures of the four guards sprawled across the floor. When her datapad showed that the anti-intruder system she'd tampered with had not engaged, she thought she'd have to take them out personally. With a smile, she took a step in the fighter‘s direction. Felding froze in her tracks when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Spinning about she brought her weapon up. But a strong hand snatched it from her fingers, while another gripped her flight suit. The agent from Imperial naval intelligence turned her head down until she found herself staring into the face of boy in his mid teens. "Hi!" The brown haired stranger said with a voice that caused her heart to sing with joy. "I'm sorry my little lovely, but I need this fighter more than you. I'm going to return home to a very special girl." "Sure," Jen mumbled, entranced by this young man's voice. "If you need it, take it." "Thank you," He replied, staring at her. With a quick grin, he continued. "Wait right here. You can tell the others that I'll leave this fighter where they can find it." "You will?" She asked, excitedly. "Absolutely," He whispered. "I would not lie to you." "Oh, that's good," Jen whispered back, softly. "I'll wait here, then." - - - - "Sir!" Private Lini Bernier raised her voice to get the attention of the watch commander. "The roof of hanger #1 is retracting!" "What?" Major Rane Kalang shouted as he spun about and surveyed the monitors that displayed the interior of the structure. All showed the four members of the security team wandering about. The X-Wing sat in the center of the hanger, it's cockpit empty, and it's retractable roof was closed. The officer turned to the woman. "Do you see something I don't?" "Sir?" The woman spoke the one word and pointed out the window where the hanger sat in clear view of those in the room. To Kalang's horror, the roof had retracted, and the fighter rose into view. "Activate the defense systems, and contact the General!" Kalang stared at the building and shook his head, swearing. "And we can't use the interdiction tractor beams!" "Major?" Sergeant Anandar cut in hurriedly. "We have lost comm and defense systems!" "Go to back-up systems!" The Major shouted to all in the room. Several seconds later, Kalang stared at an image of the hanger's interior, the four guards sprawled on the ground, while a woman in a flight suit stood motionless near one of the exits. "Lieutenant Hiller!" Kalang spoke into his comlink. "I need troops in hanger #1 now! The fighter has been stolen! And bring medics!" Rane turned to the woman sitting at the comm station. "Send out the alarm that planetary shields are about to be raised, then get me Shield Control!" "Sir?" Corporal Sharal Lanish spoke up after several seconds. "All craft have vacated the shield zone, and the all clear has been given! And Shield Control says they are ready." "Attention!" The Major spoke quickly as he changed to the channel used by the X-Wing. "Turn about, now! We are about to raise planetary shields! You will either be trapped or destroyed!" The only response he received was the sound of a man's voice singing in an unknown language. "Tell Shield Control to raise the planetary shields," Kalang rumbled as he stared at the image of the stolen X-Wing as it raced through Katta's atmosphere. "We gave him a chance to return the craft." "Yes, sir!" Sharal replied curtly. "Shield Control, please raise shields!" The Devaronian said as she turned to the monitor, waiting to see if the thief would alter his flight. She was shaking her head at the impending destruction of the fighter when she jerked upright. "Sir, Shield Control says their controls will not respond!" "What?" The officer shouted as he ran to her station. "They're locked out?" "They say they are unable to access the system in any way!" "Great!" The man shouted as he activated the comm system. "Defense Platform 4, have you been listening in?" "This is Commander Karda, and affirmative to that!" A woman's voice responded quickly. "I have ordered my ten fighters to intercept this thief. I've also powered up my tractor beam projectors." "Negative on the tractor beams," Kalang answered back. "They will not be able to lock onto the craft." "Very well, then," The Captain returned. "My fighters will be able to do this." "Sgt Anandar?" The officer said to the noncom as he turned away from the monitors. "The general is in the building and will be here any second. I'm heading for the hanger. Hold down the fort until the old man gets here." "Yes, Sir!" ---- “I’m breaking off my pursuit!” Lt Jon Aldo shouted in frustration. “Mardill, you take over!” “What is going on out there?” Patrin Karda demanded firmly. “Why are you breaking off your pursuit as well, Aldo?” “Because I can’t remember how to use my weapons systems, that’s why, Captain!” The pilot's voice came over the bridge speakers, fear obvious in the his voice. But before the commander could enquire further, she was pushed aside by her executive officer. “Everybody back off and let Yanzii have this one!” The Twi’lek said quickly. He then turned to Karda. “Commander? I think we have a Force user here. I think he’s using battle meditation!” “Battle meditation?” She asked, stunned. “Are you sure?” “It’s the only possible answer, Captain,” He replied as they watched the crews newest member take over the pursuit. “Yanzii is a Dargoni, and they are highly resistant to Force suggestion. Let's see if she can stop him,” The pair then stood and watched as the thief broke sharply to his right. “Wow!” Karda whispered, almost to herself. “He should have blacked out from the gee-forces from that move! Even with inertial dampers! This is no ordinary pilot here!” The bridge crew stood spell bound as the stolen craft evaded Yanzii. And all the while, the thief continued to sing. Abruptly, the singing stopped. “Hey, guys?” To the shock of all there, the voice speaking to them was the thief’s. “Sorry for the inconvenience, but I need this baby for a rescue mission. I’ll let you know where you can find it, okay?” With that, the fighter made the jump to hyperspace.