STEALTH and TRACK: BOOK ONE

C H A P T E R F O R T Y-O N E

"Ruby?" Omega exclaimed, recognizing the lizard immediately. "What are you doing with her?"

"She's my prized pet." The intruder said. "I paid. Cid delivered."

"And where is Cid?" Hunter inquired the same question I did.

"Cid's out."

I felt a lump form in my throat as he rose from behind the desk and circled around. That's when I noticed Cid's blue-beaded necklace hanging on the large horn that sat on the desk... My view of the Trandoshan's accessory was blocked by the Devaronian leaning against the corner. His arms crossed with satisfaction. "This parlor and Ord Mantell are now my territory. But, if you're looking for work, I might have use for you."

"We'll think about it." Hunter replied, and everyone except me holstered their weapons. The proud intruder raised a brow at me with a cocky smirk. "Have something to say, Beautiful?"

"Your name." I growled, my finger itching to flip the missile switch. "What is it?"

"You can call me Roland." he answered with such calmness, it irritated me even more.

"Come on, Fern." The sergeant pulled me by my shoulder. I gave in, lowering my arm and reluctantly following the rest of my squad, my head hanging low. Once we were out of the parlor, Hunter decided our next move. "We are getting off Ord Mantell. Tech, prep the ship. The rest of us will gather supplies."

"But, what about Cid?" Omega asked.

I watched Tech open his mouth to respond, but I stopped him. "Don't say it." My mouth formed a tight, straight line. Hunter placed a hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I will be." I assured. Who knew I would get this choked up over a bully like Cid. And yet, after all this, I couldn't deny we'd be lost without her... I feel like I owe her my life...

"Wait, you don't mean..." the young girl gasped. She halted in her tracks and blocked our path back to the Marauder. "We have to find her and help her!"

"Well, at least one of you cares." A sneer comment sounded from the ship's lowered ramp. A subtle sigh of relief exhaled from my lips when I realized it was the Trandoshan, leaning against the door frame with her scaly arms knotted and troubled frown plastered her face. "Inside. Now."

"Good to see you're still alive." I muttered while boarding the ship. I genuinely meant it, but I wasn't going to be too obvious about it. Once we were all gathered in the main cabin, Cid briefed us on the background of Roland Durand, the son of the crime boss Isa Durand. It turned out that the young Devaronian wanted to make a name for himself and consort with the Pykes. However, anyone and everyone knew the Pykes were a dangerous race, and their organization was ruthless when a deal, or any situation, doesn't go their way. They've destroyed individual lives and their families' over the years.

"What's he doing on Ord Mantell?" Hunter questioned.

"This port's connected to multiple hyperspace routes, ideal for smuggling." Cid explained. "My parlor's right in the middle of the action. Roland saw the value in it and took it!"

"Let me guess," I crossed my arms. "We are going to help you take it back."

"We?" Echo arched his brow.

"Yes, Echo." I whipped my head at him, my braid swinging over my shoulder. "If she loses, we lose. Remember, we still need to get paid for these last two jobs if we want a break. Despite her obnoxiously subtle way of showing it, Cid has been good to us by employing us and keeping our identity a secret. We -- and I cannot believe I'm admitting this -- owe her."

"So, intrinsically," Tech adjusted his specs. "she could blackmail us if we refuse to help."

"Well, that's one way of putting it." I grumbled.

"I agree with Fern." Omega stepped forward. "When we needed help, we came to Cid, remember? Well, now she needs us. We can't just walk away."

"You tell them, Tiny!" Cid cheered with a satisfying smirk. 

Hunter, having developed the inability to say 'no' to the young girl, sighed heavily. "So, what's your plan, Cid?"

"Follow me." The Trandoshan covertly led the way off the ship and down a few alleyways, briefing us on a spice shipment that Roland was holding for a buyer in "his" office. If the deal isn't exchanged, then Roland will be the Pykes' problem. They'll either arrest or kill him, and Cid would have her establishment back. We all turned down a dark corridor, where Cid revealed a ladder leading down to the abandoned underground mining tunnels constructed underneath the whole city like a maze.

The plan was simple enough: use the suspended railcars to travel to the station directly underneath Cid's office and steal the spice unnoticed. Her lackeys -- an Ithorian and a Weequay who were regular customers -- would act as a distraction to Roland and his guards.

"Well, why don't we just barge in there and take it?" Wrecker asked. "We can handle those guards."

"No," Cid snapped, quickly objecting to the reckless suggestion. "no one can know we're involved. Roland and Isa Durand is one thing, but the Pykes aren't an enemy you want to make." As mentioned before, I knew indubitably what Cid was referring to...

It was pitch-black in the mining tunnels, and only five of us had light torches. And since Cid rejected the use of motors, as she titled the stealth mission, the two carts available would be handled manually.

"Tiny, Goggles, and Princess, you are with me." she demanded and claimed the front cart. "The rest of you, follow me." She began pumping the overhead level to mobilize the mechanism — it squeaked, creaked, and rattled quietly, but the subtle echoes off the metallic walls uneased me. We eventually reached giant closed doors, in which Cid ordered Wrecker to open.

"Now, listen up, when we pass through those doors, not a peep out of anyone. We don't want to wake the hive..."

"The what?" Echo growled from the back cart.

"The caverns have a slight infestation problem." Cid said.

"And by slight, you mean..." My words trailed off when I saw her brow rise. I waved my hand with a slight frown. "Yep, got it. It won't be a problem as long as everyone keeps quiet."

Wrecker wrenched the doors open and we all sailed through into a chasm, the sunlight sheened through a jagged crack above our heads. The orange-white rays shimmered upon what could only be the 'hive' that consumed the entire abyss below us. My stomach churned at the thought of what could possibly be lurking within the sticky clotted webs. I could hear distant screeching and scuttling, sending chills down my spine and arms. Those who had a light source maneuvered it along the canyon.

"W-what was that?" Wrecker whispered. Clank! His torch was knocked out of his hand when he unintentionally bumped into the rail. I sucked in my breath as I watched it cascade and disappear into the nest.

"What did I just say?!" Cid air-shouted at the big oaf.

"It was an accident." Wrecker panted.

The high-pitch screeching and curdling continued, spazzing at certain moments. The rumbling of wings flapping scattered throughout the chasm. Omega craned her head over the rail with her own torch, while Tech stood close to me. Our arms touched as we shined our lights down, as well.

"Keep moving..." Hunter called. Only then, did I release my long-held breath. Tech patted my shoulder awkwardly -- for comfort, I suppose -- as Cid resumed working the lever. We made to our destination with no more trouble, in which we prepared to break into our employer's office from below to steal the spice shipment.