Prologue

Interruption

 

        Within a dark and coldly metal room, which is surprisingly big- almost like a training room, rested a old warrior. Deep in meditation, she cut out all sounds and distractions. It's rare to find a quiet day like today. She must've gotten lucky. but Jedi don't believe in luck. She'll just enjoy her-

        Suddenly, the holotable came online. She opened her blue eyes and grumbled, "It better not be that commercial again." With a wave of her hands, the lights came on, showing the Z-95 Headhunter she had, the reflection of the metal shined on her short raven black hair and singular scar on the bottom of her right cheek. Other then the Z-95, and a singular bed located in the entrance alcove which housed the table, the kitchen, and a bathroom door, this spot was completely spartan. She got to her feet and approached it. Much to her chagrin... it was the commercial again. She is gonna have to have a word with Booster.

        The commercial was more of a infomercial, and an annoying one at that. It was Booster Terrick, a old war vet from the Clone Wars turned smuggler, as he spoke highly of the Errant Venture, a Star Destroyer he found abandoned in space and refitted into a casino and resort with a custom red paintjob so it wouldn't be misidentified as a Imp vessel. He tried to sound so enthusiastic, but the script sounds like it was written by a child... which it was.

        The comm on the wall rang, which was a thankful change of pace. "F... heh, we have a bit of a situation over in the Sabacc section. Sounds like a bar brawl. Again. Can you handle it?"

        Again? if it's Tiosh again, she is really gonna have some words with  Booster. Rubbing her tired eyes, she responded. "Yeah... I'll check it out." She then left, locking her door behind her. 

 

        When people think of a Star Destroyer, what comes to mind? Oppression. Tyranny. A cold, calculating, and unfeeling military. Not a wild, rambunxious, colorful resort filled with lowlifes, gamblers, smugglers. It is a stark contrast. Many even wonder how Booster Terrick, a former gun-runner, was even able to acquire it. He says he found it abandoned in space and just took it, but the Empire doesn't abandon things, not without good reason, and even so, they would be back to claim it, yet they didn't. Lucky Booster, then- a Star Destroyer is a sweet prize.

        Currently, the ship was docked at the Ring of Kafrene, a mining station and trading port. Not a pretty locale, but the overworked miners could use a stress release, even if they do lose some creds. It's also a good hiding spot; the Empire is fuming at the loss of the Death Star, and Booster doesn't want to gain the attention of captains in the navy who are unaware of the Venture's special circumstances. 

 

        The lift carrying F reached the Sabacc deck and opened up. She walked out onto one of the loudest decks on the ship, but she had grown used to it during her time here. She passed by tables where patrons were winning, or losing. As a Jedi, she has no need for such trivial games. She doesn't see the appeal. 

        She approached one of the few bars on the deck; she approached the trouble. It was a bar fight, how wonderful...and one of them is, of course, Tiosh, a troublemaker of a Ishi Tib. It didn't take long to figure out the cause: there were spilled drinks everywhere. Educated guess: one of them got wasted and egged the other. Having seen how bad a bar fight can go numerous times, she quickly got involved, the hard way: she made it an effort to not use the Force in public eyes.

        She got behind Tiosh and pried him off- she's dealt with him multiple times, so she knows how to handle him. The other guy, a Muun, not so much. "Alright, break it up, you two!" She exclaimed, putting her arms around Tiosh to pull him back. He continued to swing wildly at the air. The Muun wiped blood from his mouth as he sat up. "Tiosh, i said that's enough!" She yelled, but he wasn't listening. He must've had too much. Was she going to have to use the Force on him?

        Thankfully, no. A light bonk to the head by another bar patron knocked the Ishi Tib out cold, and it was a really light tab- the bottle didn't even break, but it knocked him out and made him go limp. Heavier, but at least he is placated now. F leaned him up against the barstool and wiped her brow; it's difficult without the Force to break up fights.
        "He had one too many and didn't like what was playing on the Holonet." The bartender went on to say. "The Muun politely disagreed and... well, you saw what came of it." Several witnesses nodded in agreement, which made F sigh. Why does he keep doing this? 

        With a prolonged sigh, she said, "Someone contact security... tell them Tiosh needs a night in the cooler again..." The barkeep already did that and they were just now arriving. "Where's Terrick?"

        "Probably in his office again." The barkeep guessed. 

        "Knowing him, yeah." She then left, passing by one of the security.

        "She gives me the heebie-jeebies." One of the guards commented. 

        "Everything gives you the heebie-jeebies." The barkeep replied, making some of the others chuckle.

 

        Booster's office rested at the top of the Destroyer, and that's no hyperbole. Terrick commissioned a observation dome to be installed at the top of the main bridge, right underneath the comm tower, and as this is an Imperial-1 class, it's the huge, bulky, blocky tower. Still, a near panoramic view of everything is quite a sight, even in the vacuum of space. the dome was large enough to hold 10 people, and a fourth of that space was being taken up by Terrick's desk which also served as a holotable, a couple of chairs, a couch, and even a miniature fridge for refreshments.

        Booster, a grizzled old veteran of the last war, was looking out to the planet beside them as the turbolift carrying F arrived. He didn't even have to look to know it was her. "Hey there, F." He said as he still looked outside. She approached his desk, which was playing a news broadcast about the Empire's propagandized version of the Battle of Yavin. "What brings you up here? I thought you were meditating."

        "I was, until i got a call to help Haskl with Tiosh again." Booster quietly chuckled to himself as he went to his fridge to pull out something to drink: Mygeetan Spirits. "When i agreed to help, this isn't what i had in mind."

        "I know serving as a bouncer is not what Jedi training entailed, but..." He hit the bottle on the  side of the table, popping off the cap. "... we both know your options are horrifyingly limited. It didn't exactly work out for you on Dantooine, remember?"

        "Don't remind me..." She sighed, remember her time on the planet... and how bad it all went. "But working as security for a casino is just... it feels like i SHOULD be doing more, but... but i don't know what it is."

        After taking a drink, Terrick gestured to the broadcast. "You could always join the Rebels." He said as two X-Wings, a Y-Wing, and a YT-1300 was shown flying towards a colored moon- the last remains of the live broadcast made during the iconic battle.

        "Don't think i haven't considered it, but what would happen if the Empire caught me and i break under interrogation? They could trace me back to you, and i don't want to put Jysella and Valin in danger. It's bad enough that their mother is missing..."

        "I know...."

        Suddenly, the ship lurched to the side as it shook, tilting a few degrees to the right. In space,  not much of a problem, but when you are in orbit next to a planet, the gravity makes it a problem. Thankfully, the tilt wasn't so drastic to where things fell off the shelves. 

        "What was that?" F exclaimed.

        The answer soon came as the holotable changed from the broadcast to a protocol droid. Formally an Imperial droid, but as it was part of the ship when Booster found it, it technically made it his. The droid was covered in drawings, courtesy of the kids, not that she minded. "<Captain Terrick, it would seem our vessel has been struck by an asteroid.>"

        "An asteroid?" Booster repeated. He wasn't aware Ord Mantell has asteroids.

        "<i suppose. It would be more accurate to say we were struck by a comet, albeit small one.>"

        F approached the edge of the dome and looked down at the ship's body; lights were still on, docking clamps were still... clamped. All in all, the ship looked fine. "Clearly didn't hit anything vital if everything is still working."

        "<It struck near the port engines, and they've begun to fluctuate in power output.>"

        "I take that statement back."

        Booster was quick to issue out the orders. His old War training always came in handy in times of need and emergency. "Send out the tugs to pry it loose. Maybe the minerals in it can help with repair costs. Assuming it has minerals and isn't some stupid rock." They can only hope for that one. He then turned his attention to the resident Jedi. "F, go help them. Maybe the Force can help pry it loose."

        "I was just thinking the same thing." She went towards the lift and took it down.

        Once she was sure F was out of range, the droid turned to her master and "<Actually, sir, i was just about to call you for another reason.>" He sat down to give her his undivided attention, feeling like he knows what she's about to say. "<Our recent attempts to enter Deck 11 have failed again.>"

        He was right- it was that. "Again? I thought for sure it would've worked this time."

        "<.......... sir, i don't think this bears repeating, but... the Empire clearly went to a lot of trouble to keep Deck 11 sealed. Whatever was important enough to erase it from scans, from the blueprints, the ships database, and my own memory files, they clearly didn't want it to be known. How else would you explain their efforts to keep outsiders locked out and all knowledge erased? Whatever is in there... they don't want anyone to know what it is, and it's frightening.>"

        "It frightens me too, Barb, but not knowing what lurks in there is just as dangerous as not knowing. Whatever is in there could be dangerous... but so is leaving it alone. The sooner it's dealt with, the sooner the two of us can relax..."

        "<And if it is something dangerous?>"

        "Then be glad we have a Jedi... someone with the power to help us uncover this secret..." He took another sip of his drink before turning his attention back to the view. He is right in wanting to nip this mystery in the bud.

 

 

        .... if only he knew the Hell that awaited...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Star Wars
Secrets of the Errant Venture