Lizbeth Rael, known to many as Mama Rael, stepped from the warehouse that bordered on the CoCo District. She hated coming to the place. It was run by one of the Hutt clans, and because the Hutts could see in the ultraviolet spectrum, it was always kept dark. And that put others that couldn't do so at a disadvantage. Besides, it looked like a damned dungeon. "Stop and turn around slowly," An emotionless voice said behind her. "And keep your hands away from your weapons." Mama froze. Slowly she turned as directed, and before her stood a man, completely covered but for the eyes, in black cortosis fabric. A Vernou! What would one of those damned assassins want with her? "No," The dead voice intoned. "You are not my target. But you will be a message for my target. Zakaria Cronda has overstepped his bounds, and I am to convince him to step back." As the man aimed his blaster at one of her legs, his eyes flicked to the left, his weapon wavering for an instant before a blaster bolt shot past Mama's head and caught the assassin in his left eye. As he did, his blaster fired, Lizbeth twisting to the side, barely missed by the blue plasma. The gunner then walked past her and crouched by the body and examined it. "Nice dodge," He said. "Lucky shot!" She returned. "Luck nothing. I hit what I aimed for." "Then the Force was with you, because that was great shooting," The woman replied with a tone of awe in her voice. As much for his youthful appearance, as his skill with a blaster. He couldn't have been more than eighteen. "Thank you for saving my life. I'm Lizbeth Rael." "I'm Vreem Zarell," He told her. The woman jerked a little at his name. Zarell noticed her reaction to his name, but before he could enquire further, the door to the warehouse rattled open and three heavily armed Mandalorians stepped through, weapons at the ready. All three stared down at the body of the assassin. "Yes, Lord Carduun, it's a Vernou alright," One of them said over his helmet comlink. "That kid is either the luckiest shot ever, or the best." "Well send them on their way and dispose of the body," A very deep voice could be heard over the helmet's com set. "We don't want the Vernou snooping around here looking for him," "Let's go," Vreem said to the woman. "Their boss wants us away from here. And I don't blame him." "Are you headed anywhere specific?" Mama asked as they walked to her swoopbike. "I was on my way to find a ship to take me to Corellia." "Well you are in luck!" The redhead said with a grin as she started her swoop bike. "My husband and I own a freighter, and we're on our way to Corellia. Going to get the drive upgrade for our GRC-580." "Which upgrade are you getting?" Vreem asked. "The BR-444, or the BR-549?" "We're getting the 444. We've heard that the 549 is junk." "It is," Vreem told her as he jumped on his swoop. "I heard Corellian Engineering is withdrawing it." "You seem to know a lot about this," Lizbeth said with a smile. "Are you a pilot?" "Yeah, that's why I'm on my way to Corellia, to join the Defense Forces. Gonna be a fighter pilot." "I think you might have to stand in line. I heard that they have quite a few pilots trying out for the few spots available." "Well, I have something few of them will," Zarell said with a grin. "Actual combat experience in a fighter." "Who did you fly for, as young as you are?" Rael asked, very curious about this boy now. "You look to be eighteen!" "The Jedi." "You're a Jedi?" asked, instantly defensive. "Was," He said simply. "I was knighted yesterday, and I left today. I will not lead slave soldiers into combat ever again." Mama and Vreem pulled up to her ship just as Maro Rael, her husband, also known as Papa, jumped down the ramp, a blaster in hand. Papa was a rough looking man with an artificial left arm. On his head he wore a bandanna. Vreem caught the gleam of metal from underneath. "This the kid?" He asked his wife as she switched off her Rayzer. "Yes, meet Vreem Zarell," Then she glanced overhead. "Vreem, meet my husband, Maro Rael, and meet our ship the Scandalous Wench." "She might not look like much," Maro said when he saw Vreem staring at the ship dubiously. "But once we get that 444 in her, she'll be one of the fastest freighters of her size. She can already do .9, and we're hoping to take it to .8." "Sounds like she's going to get you in and out in a hurry." Vreem said, nodding as he looked the ship over. "What do you mean by that?" Maro asked, instantly wary. "Your wife was coming out of a warehouse owned by the Dessillijic clan when I aided her," The boy began to explain. "I also heard the Vernou mention the name Zakaria Cronda. My master and I got a tip from him last year about a small Mind Blow operation. So it's not hard to figure out what you do for a living." "You sound like it doesn't bother you," Mama cut in. "That's rather odd for a Jedi. Usually you guys look down on those of us who live on the fringes of society." "The way I look at it is, if you don't transport stuff like Mind Blow, or slaves, I don't have a problem with you." "And of course, if you're familiar with Resha Torvul, you know she refuses to deal with such things." "Yes." "Okay then," The man said. "Let's get those swoops on board, and get off Coruscant." "Oh!" Mama stopped Vreem with a hand on his shoulder. "Two bits of advice. One: be careful around our pilot. She's a bit screwy. She dresses like a cheap Coruscanti prostitute, yet she gets all worked up when men hit on her." "That's not true!" A woman's voice said from the open cargo doors. "I don't mind if I get compliments, I just don't like being groped. And I dress like a cheap Dorouban prostitute!" "And the other word of advice is don't touch our daughter," The redhead finished. "That is if you want to reach Corellia with all your parts still connected. She's only sixteen." "Understood," He said as he pushed his swoop onto the lift that had just dropped. "Besides, she's too old for me. I'm only fourteen." The couple glanced at one another quickly. "Are you serious?" Maro asked. "Yes," Vreem told the man with a slight shrug. "It seems that I aged rapidly as a child. But the doctors have told me that it's been slowing down since I went through puberty." "Why are you going to join the Corellian Defense Forces?" Lizbeth asked. "I was born on Corellia. I was brought to a hospital in Corell City by my father fourteen years ago. He had the hospital do a test for midichlorians. When I tested high, he had them call the Jedi on Coruscant. So I'm just returning home." "What do you know about your father?" Lizbeth asked Vreem. "Just his name. I was able to find it out last year." "What is it?" Maro asked. "If you don't mind my asking, that is." With a shrug, the boy told them. "Are you kidding?" He asked, now staring at the boy, who stared back. "No," Zarell asked. "Do you know him?" "Mk3 was the best damned pilot I've ever known!" Maro said excitedly. "He knew no fear. He held the record for the Kessel Run for five years. Vanished with his wife and a friend fourteen years ago." "Why do you call him Mk3?" Vreem asked Maro. "Because he hated his real name. Insisted everyone call him Mk3, due to the fact that he was the third person to hold that name." Zandya entered the cockpit of the Wench and saw their passenger sitting in the co-pilot's seat doing a pre-flight check. He turned back and nodded. The woman returned the gesture and thought to herself that he was even cuter than Mama claimed. "How's she look?" Zandya asked as she sat in her seat. "Everything is operating within normal parameters except the reactor," Vreem said as the shapely beauty strapped herself into her seat. "It's operating at more than thirty percent above normal for a Korsen ZB 82. I want to check that out later." "I'm sure our engineer Ranzic would give you a guided tour," The woman said as she powered up the repulsors. "He loves to show off his handy work. What the hell? Why is the cabin air circulation running at max?" "It's for your protection." "Protection from what?" She asked, eyeing Vreem cautiously. "From me," Vreem stated simply. "My body gives off pheromones that cause sexual arousal in females from several species." "That's the most original come on I've ever heard, kid," Zandya said with a laugh as the ship shot into the sky. She then reached down and turned the air flow back to normal. "Not a come on, it's true," Vreem glanced at the environmental controls for a moment. "As you'll find out in a few minutes. And please do not call me kid." "What ever you say," Zandya mumbled as she shook her head. A few minutes later the comm activated. On the monitor they saw a Coruscant system defense boat approaching from starboard. "Scandalous Wench!" A man's voice blared from the speakers. "This is the Coruscant Security Forces. You are ordered to cut your engines and prepare to be boarded. Your ship will be inspected for contraband." "Oh, shit!" The ashen skinned woman muttered. "We are screwed!" "Maybe, maybe not," Vreem said as he took the comm handset and switched it on. "What?" Zandya asked. "SecFor, meritorious conduct is a reward in and of itself," Vreem said. But it was in a voice that was deeper. Zandya was about to snatch the handset from the boy when their pursuers turned back. "Understood, sir. Sorry for the inconvenience. We'd just been told that there was a load of Deathsticks on board." "I think you need to have a talk with your informer." "I can assure you, sir, we will. Over." "What the hell was that all about?" Zandya asked in confusion as Vreem replaced the handset. "Code phrase. I told him that this ship had Jedi on board, and was engaged in Jedi business." "Really?" A smile spread across her face. "Code you say?" "Don't try it," Vreem said with a grin. "I assure you, that code will be changed this afternoon." The woman reached down and set environmental controls back to maximum. "Sorry I doubted you," Zandya said with an embarassed smile. She then turned to Vreem. "And what do I need to do to make this urge go away?" "One of two things. You can tough it out. And I mean tough it out. It's in your system now. It will continue to gnaw at you badly for the next several hours." "And what's the other?" "You can have sex." Zandya pushed foreward the lever that sent the ship into hyperspace, then flipped an overhead switch. Vreem heard the cockpit door lock. "Now that sounds like an idea!" As she unstrapped herself, she turned to the ship's sole passenger. "Is it true what Papa said? About Mk3 being your father?" "Yes." "Cool!" Zandya said as she pulled her top off and jerked Vreem from his seat and pushed him to the deck. Zandya smiled as she lay on the cockpit floor, Vreem's arms around her. For the first time in her twenty four years, she felt safe. Growing up on her homeworld meant she was never safe. It had been a hell hole ruled by monsters like the Night sisters. But with Vreem's strong arms about her, she was now safe. And that meant everything to her. But that peace was soon shattered by a metal fist pounding againt the hatch. "Hey!" Maro Rael's voice came in over the intercom. "It's time to eat! But you two clean that cockpit up first, and it better be spotless! Damned horny kids." "I guess we should have gone to your quarters," Vreem said as he sat up and started to gather up his clothes. "Not likely," The woman said as she stretched seductively. "I share quarters with their daughter Rella while you're on board. They put you in my berth till we get to Corellia. Though I guess we can share now for the next eight days." "Eight days?" Vreem asked, puzzled. "It shouldn't take that long to get to Corellia." "We're making a short stop at a place called Dessin. Offload a little cargo." "The Deathsticks that SecFor was talking about," Vreem muttered as he watched Zandya dress. "Do you like what you see?" Zandya asked playfully as she shook her breasts at him. "Yes," He said as he stood. "Very much so. You are without a doubt, the most beautiful woman I've ever met. And I love those red eyes." "I'm glad you like them," She said with a smile. "Most people are put off by them. Now let's get this cockpit scrubbed clean. Then we can grab a quick shower before eating. You've made me all sticky and sweaty." "Then I have succeeded in my mission," Zarell said with a grin. "And just to let you know," Zandya muttered over her shoulder as she released the lock on the cockpit hatch. "We're actually carrying a cargo of weapons components for Republic Intelligence. They're bound for the world of Deshrat." "But their government had decided to remain neutral in the war," Vreem said. "Is the Republic going to bring about a change in policy by bringing about a change in leadership?" "Don't ask me!" Zandya replied with a grin. "I'm just paid to fly! Though I have decided to take it upon myself to entertain our sole passenger." "Well look who's finally decided to join us," Mama Rael said as the two sheepishly entered the cramped compartment. "I hope you cleaned up after yourselves." "Yes Mama," Zandya said impishly. "Say what you like about the Jedi, they know how to clean up." "Good. Now you two eat!" Lizbeth said hurriedly. "Maro and I are going to help Ranzic finish prepping the engine room for the upgrade. You two get to baby sit Rella here." Mama pointed over her shoulder as a Zabrac girl stepped through the hatch. "Don't say that!" The girl said as she rolled her eyes at the words baby sit. "You make it sound like I'm a little kid." "You'll always be a little kid to me," Her mother said as Rella sat down to eat. She then turned to Vreem. "She'll always be a little kid to me." "I heard you the first time," He said in a calming tone before glancing across the table at Zandya. "Besides, I've found someone to spend time with." "Just as long as we're clear on this," Mama said. "I'm going to die a virgin if they all have their way," The girl complained. "Don't be silly, Rella!" Zandya said testily as the girl's mother got up to leave. "She just doesn't want you ending up like Kaddy!" "Kaddy?" Vreem asked curiously. "She was our pilot before Zandya here showed up," Lizbeth told him over her shoulder as she put away her dishes. "She'd jump into bed with any man that would have her. Jumped in the wrong one, in the end. Got kidnapped and sold into sex slavery. She was freed by a Jedi and his Padawan last year. She ended up killing herself." "Kenobi and Skywalker?" Vreem asked, sure he knew who it was. "Yes," Zandya replied. "Yeah," Zarell nodded. "I heard about that mission. They said Skywalker tread close to the Darkside that day." "How would you know that?" Rella asked suspiciously. "Because he was once a Jedi," Her mother said as she left the room. "So you know Skywalker?" The girl asked excitedly. "Yes," He said with a sigh before staring into Zandya's eyes. "And you wouldn't believe how many times I get asked that question," The two then sat and listened late into the night to the story of Vreem's life as a Jedi.