Corellian Pledge-Ch.7- Pt.2

Ch.7: Tavers Tavern- Pt.-2</b>

Meanwhile, hyperspace sped Luke Skywalker and the others closer to Zirus Five.  The Jedi was going over his course.

“Hey Han you still with me?” asked Luke, looking at his comm.

“Yeah, what’s up? ” Answered Solo curiously.

“Well I’ve just been going over our course and the side of Zirus Five that we’ll be heading to, and it looks like we’ll be landing close to night fall.”

“Obviously you’ve never been to Zirus Five before kid, otherwise you would’ve known that one side of that moon is always in perpetual dusk.”

Luke rechecked his readings on Zirus Five, which confirmed his friends statement.  “Well it looks like we’re headed towords that side of the moon.”

“Yeah  -- and? ” Replied Solo, obviously wondering what the big deal was.

Artoo-Detoo gave a few beeps that alerted Luke to something that he was picking up on a separate radio frequency.

“I see it Artoo, thanks.”

“You see what? ” Asked Solo next.

“There’s a storm over the area that we’re headed to.  With the combination of the dusky skys and the rain it could make finding our friends a little difficult if they remain indoors.”  Luke rechecked his coordinates again, looking for a safe disstance from the heart of the city and then relayed his findings to Han.  “There’s a docking bay near the outskirts of town that might be out of the storm’s range.  We should land there.”

“What’s the matter kid, afraid of a little water? ” Teased Solo over the comm.

“No, but there’s no sense in all of us getting wet.”

                                                        * * *

In the cockppit of the Millennium Falcon, Han checked his own computer and disagreed with his friend’s suggestion.  “That’ll take us too far from the pick up point.  Besides just because there’s clouds doesn’t mean that there’s any rain, you of all people should know that.”

Leia pointed out another docking bay not far from a main boulevard.  “Han’s right, Luke.  We’ll need to be closer so we can get back to the ships in case there’s an emergency.”

“Alright,” came Luke’s very disappointed voice over the comm.

“Luke, what’s bothering you?” Leia inquired after hearing the worry in his voice.

“Nothing I just have a very bad feeling about this, that’s all.”

“You want us to stay behind with the ships when we land?” she guessed.

“Leia--”  Han began to protest, but she stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

“Yes,” was Luke’s very serious answer.

In the months since Han’s absence Leia had come to trust Luke’s judgment on things and listen more to her own intuition.  She suddenly felt that there was more to be concerned about on Zirus Five than she had previously thought.  She now had ‘a very bad feeling ’ about the mission that they had accepted.

“You can go on ahead when we land and we’ll stay with the ships and keep them prepped for take off.”

Han, surprised, looked at Leia.  “What has gotten into you?”

“Nothing, I just think that Luke’s right,” she insisted, looking at him in such a way that clearly conveyed that she wasn’t willing to risk putting him in danger so soon after his rescue.

“Le-e-ia,” he said very annoyed now, “I’m not going to sit around on my keaster, while farmboy has all the fun.”

Expecting this from him, Leia countered with what she believed was a casual boost to his skills as a pilot.  “We need to be prepared for a fast get away and you’re the only one who knows how to pilot the Falcon in a crunch.”

Han knew very well what she was doing -- using his ego against him, still he willingly took her bait.  “Fine I’ll stay behind if that’s what you really want.”

Leia nodded, relieved for the moment.  “It’s all set Luke.  But if you come up on any trouble you call us.”
                                                         * * *

Luke switched off his comm, settled back in his seat for the rest of the flight and felt some relief that Leia had backed him up.  Now at least he would not have to worry about his friends.  What harm could befall them if they never left the docking bay?

Several hours later the two ships were emerging from hyperspace not that far from their destination.  They flew through the heavy storm clouds and on to the city’s main docking bay, where they were directed to a bay large enough for both ships.

The Jedi’s small one man fighter came to rest right next to the Millennium Falcon.  Luke was already removing his helmet when the X-wing’s canopy opened.  He stood and stripped his orange flight suit away from his dark Jedi uniform and then tossed it onto the cockpit seat.  The canopy closed while he walked down the nose of the ship.  Artoo-Detoo whistled after him and he turned.

“No Artoo, you stay put,” said Luke.  He gave a sharp shake of his head and pointed at his loyal droid, “I mean it, you stay put.  I need you to keep the engines warmed up for departure.  I’ll be back in a little while.”

Artoo-Detoo sighed and lowered himself back down into his slot.

Satisfied with his trusty droid, the Jedi surveyed his surroundings and found two exits.  One was blocked with heavy supply boxes, leaving just one way to leave or enter the hanger.  A sudden feeling of vulnerability swept over Luke as he glanced over at the Millennium Falcon.  It was a small warning from the Force that he did not ignore, telling him that he had landed his X-wing in the wrong direction.

“Hey Artoo turn the ship around when I leave and keep her ready.”   With that Luke jumped off the end of the ship and met the others when they strolled down the Millennium Falcon’s ramp.

“I still don’t like this idea of you going off on your own, Luke,”  Han replied, seriously unhappy with the decision.  His concerning frown only deepened when his young friend brushed him off with youthful assurances.

“I can handle myself, Han.  Besides what could go wrong?  It’s just a simple pick up, right?”  Luke turned to Leia and pulled her unexpectantly into a hug, where he whispered an urgent warning in her ear.  “Don’t leave this hanger bay except in the Falcon, no matter what.”

He released her and met her eyes and she nodded her understanding.

“We’ll wait for your call,” she assured him.

“I won’t call.”

“Now I know you’ve lost it,” Han commented derisively.  

Luke turned to Lando who was casually perusing the compad he carried as he walked up.

“Hey Luke, it says here that the pick up’s at a place called Tavers'--”

“--Tavern,” echo the Jedi.

Lando looked up, his brow raised and nodded.  “You know where you’re going then?”

“Yeah.”

“I take it the Force has told you where they are,” his inquiry was more a statement than a lucky guess.

Luke nodded.  “In a manner of speaking.”

Lando was outwardly impressed.  A calculative grin spread across his dark handsome features.  “Remind me the next time I play cards to have you sitting next to me, I could use your insight.  We could make a killing at the slots too.  A little flick of the wrist, some minor manipulation in our favor and we wouldn’t ever have to worry about who has enough money to buy the drinks next time around.”    

“I don’t work that way Lando,” Luke reminded him with a mild smile, “you know that.”

“Hey, I had to ask,” said the gambler shrugging.  He looked back at the compad and continued, “Anyways, the guy to ask for is the tavern owner, a Stilmon Tavers.  He’ll know where to find your pick up.”

“Stilmon Tavers,” Luke repeated, committing the name to his memory.  Then he gave the gambler a serious warning that Lando took to heart.  “If something goes wrong, don’t come after me, just take off and I’ll find some other way to get them off planet.”

“You got it Luke,” Lando agreed.

“Chewie?”  The Jedi looked at the huge Wookiee next.

Han looked completely surprised when Chewbacca gave an agreeing bark.

“Has everyone gone crazy? ” Han asked, incredulously looking around at the others and then back at Luke.  “Look, I’m not going to leave you behind, so you just better make sure that nothing happens.”

Luke nodded and said nothing more on the subject.

See-Threepio stepped forward with his worried concern.  “Master Luke, you can’t be serious.  You don’t actually expect to be. . .”

“You stay with the Falcon, Threepio,” Luke interrupted, with a crucial tone that was unmistakable.

“Yes Master Luke.”  The droid slouched noticeably.  “But do try to be careful.”

“I will and I’ll be back before you know it,” he said, removing his lightsaber from his belt to tuck it into his black tunic, well out of sight.  With that the Jedi turned and left them.  

Han watched Luke leave with disapproval etched on his face.  It didn’t feel right to him to just stay behind with the ships.  Though his sight was not fully recovered, he was feeling better now.  He was ready to get back into his old routine.

Chewbacca and Leia both studied him with some concern.  The Wookiee clearly saw the misgivings on his friend’s face.  He muttered an assurance of Luke’s new position as a Jedi, which gave Han very little relief or hope for his rebel friend.

Solo gave a heavy sigh, “Delusions of grandeur, pal.”

Leia took Han’s arm up in hers.  “He’ll be fine Han, Luke knows what he’s doing.”

“I don’t know--” he sighed again, then paused in thought.  After a moment he shook his head, not liking the situation at all.  “Now I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

The princess, feeling his deep concern and desire to follow his friend, leaned her head against his shoulder.  He glanced down at her and found her looking just as concerned and somewhat upset.  Tension was in her eyes and it was this more than anything else that made Han stay where he was.

Leia felt a twinge of conscious for holding him back and yet she would do it again, if given the opportunity.  They had just saved Han and she wasn’t going to lose him again, not if she could help it.  Still she knew that she couldn’t hold him back forever.  It was not in Han’s nature to sit back and let others take all the risks.

Chewbacca turned and motioned to Lando, who followed him back up the Millennium Falcon’s landing ramp.

Han and Leia were left alone.

The sound of Luke’s X-wing engines, drew their attention, as Artoo-Detoo rose the one man fighter into the air enough to rotate its position.  The engines were now facing the only entrance into the hanger.  Artoo set the ship back down and swiveled his dome to face the door that his young master had left from.  The little droid was unaccustomed to being left behind by Luke and he sighed softly, worried that the Jedi would fall without his help.
         
                                                               * * *

Luke had emerged from the hanger bay and found himself on the dampened main boulevard.  The storm clouds overhead threatened to break at any moment and release a downpour on him.  There was a chill in the air enough to show the Jedi’s breath as he gave the gray heavily overcast sky above an appraising look.  A low rumble of thunder sounded in the distance and did not help to brighten his mood one bit.

He scanned his surroundings as he started walking the busy boulevard.  The apparent threat of rain did not deter shoppers and lookie lous, which walked the boulevard, in search of food, fun, a good buy and some entertainment.  Luke casually strolled across the street and blended into the crowd.

Or so he thought, for soon a feeling of being watched fell over him.  Luke slowed his steady pace and then casually glanced with feigned curiosity at a storefront window, displaying the newest gadgets in holographic display units.  He paused as though interested, then looked over his reflection’s shoulder and noticed that he was being shadowed by two men.  One was tall and burly, the other a sleeker version of his companion.

They walked by the Jedi amid the passing pedestrians and then stopped two store fronts down.  

Luke moved on fully aware that seconds after he passed them the two men started following him again.  He was shadowed all the way to Tavers Tavern.  

The door to Stilmon’s pub opened and music greeted the Jedi’s ears as he stepped in.  Since there was no mud on his boots he was not stopped.  The same could not be said for the two men who followed him in.  They were both made to wait their turn in the clear cleaning stall, by the woman at the front.

The place was full of people, who were listening and enjoying the band on stage.  Various alien races stood or sat at the many tables situated around the stage.  Some were talking and laughing.  Many different dialects met Luke’s ears as he passed through the tavern’s patrons on his way to the bar, where he took the only available seat.

Luke ordered a drink and then casually scanned the tavern patrons, paying little attention to the live band that was playing.  He was too intent with finding the rebels to be concerned with the performers on stage.  His eyes traveled over each person searching for any of the familiar faces he’d seen in his vision.

“Your drink sir,” said the polite voice of Philks, the silver protocol droid behind the bar.

Luke turned back around and took a sip from his glass, before he introduced himself as  Owen Lars, an old friend of Ehker Recs, who asked him to look up the tavern owner.

Philks excused himself and left to fetch his master on the other side of the bar’s large island.

As the droid disappeared Luke felt the approach of the two men who had followed him in.  He nonchalantly glanced over his shoulder and then returned his attention to his drink, patiently waiting for the droid’s return.

Stilmon Tavers curiously leaned around the other side of the bar to inspect Luke.  The Jedi met his inquisitive examination and ever so slightly inclined his head in response.  Stilmon faintly smiled in relief, at last here was the pick up for the rebels he was looking after.  His expression dropped as his focus shifted past Luke, to the two men, who’d shadowed him to the bar.  The tavern owner frowned when Quint and Gavin tapped the shoulders of the patrons sitting on either side of the Jedi, effectively chasing them away with a look.  They took up the seats when they were abandoned.  

Stilmon automatically took up two glasses and filled them.  He strode forward, hoping that the rebel escort was as quick on the uptake as his secret guests had proven to be.

“Good evening Constable,” he handed the drinks off to Quint and Gavin.  “Taking a break from the investigation, I see.”

“Just for a while,” said Quint.  He took an easy draw of his drink while he turned and leaned against the bar.

Though the constable’s quick scan did not linger on Luke, he knew that he had just been examined by a seasoned professional.  Gavin’s inspection of the Jedi was not so skilled, his deep suspicion showed in his icy stare.  Luke sat passively ignoring the both of them, while nursing his drink.

Stilmon paid little attention to the black clad Jedi in front of him while he continued with Quint.  “Did you find anything over at the Binary?”

“Not a thing,” the Constable answered conversationally, “Whoever occupied those rooms appears to have vanished.”

“Maybe they trashed the rooms themselves and then skipped out, so they wouldn’t have to pay for the damages,” Stilmon suggested.

Quint eyed the performers on stage.  “I don’t think so.  My gut tells me that they’re still here.”  He turned and looked pointedly at the tavern owner.  “When they finish this set, I want to speak with all the members of Rogue’s Gambit.”

Luke straightened some when he heard this.  His gaze shifted to the long mirror that hung above the length of the bar and he saw the reflections of the band playing behind him.  With a bolt of clarity, he understood that all five rebels were on stage.  Rogue’s Gambit was not just a code name but their cover as well.  His focus went right to the tall auburn haired man, who was standing center stage, singing and playing lead guitar.  Terell’s charismatic performance had gained most of the attention of the females in the tavern, human and alien alike.  They were huddled around the front of the stage shouting out flirtatious cat calls to him to remove his shirt.  A charming smile was all he gave them as he continued singing.  The other band members on stage were not as easy to make out with the light show that accompanied the music.  Luke patiently took another drink and waited for Stilmon to finish with the constable.

“Maybe they can shed a little light onto why the boy’s fingerprints never showed up on any file scans in this sector,” said Quint, pulling out the magazine he’d taken from Bailen the day before.  

Stilmon took momentary pause as he glanced at the magazine.  A frown returned to the tavern owner’s face, he hadn’t thought to tell the boy not to let the constable take it.  He swallowed the sudden dryness in his mouth away and decided to disregaurd Quint’s suspicious statement.  Instead, hoping to diswayed the man’s constant inquisitorial visits, he said somewhat dismissively, “It’s not a crime not to have a file on fingerprints.  It just means that the boy hasn’t done anything dishonest.”

“In fact I want fingerprints on all of them,” Quint said finishing his thought.  He layed the magazine on the bartop with a very pleased, “Call it a hunch but I’m willing to bet that none of them have file scans.  So when they’re finished, I want to talk to all of them.”  

“They just got up there,” said the tavern owner in great irritation.  “And they’ve already told you everything that they can.”

“Well now that you mentioned it, there is an odd thing about that as well.  You see they really didn’t tell me much of anything about themselves, infact you might say that they were downright elusive in what they did tell me.  So I did some checking on my own and you know what I find out about them. . . Absolutely nothing.  I haven’t even been able to find out where any of them are staying.  It’s as if they don’t exsit.  And that, my friend, is what peeks my interest.”

Thinking fast Stilmon explained, “They’re not checked into a hotel because they’re staying with Maybs and me.”

Quint’s brow rose in interest, “I wasn’t aware that you provided housing for your entertainment.”

“They’re a little short on funds so, in exchange for their performance I’m letting them stay on the Maybel, is there a problem with that?”

“No,” Quint answered.

Gavin purposefully bumped Luke with his shoulder, gaining the Jedi’s easy attention.

“Yes?” he asked innocently enough.

“I don’t like you,” Gavin stated flatly.

With a hidden smirk Luke returned to his drink.  He’d lived this scene once before, only this time Ben Kenobi wasn’t here to rescue him as he gave the constable’s man his apology, “I’m sorry.”

His calm reply only made Gavin’s temper flare.  “Who are you?”

“No one of consequence,” was Luke’s nonchalant answer.

“What’s you’re business here?” Gavin asked next.

“Just buying a drink.”

“I think you’re the manager of the band,” Gavin accused in his scratchy voice, leaning in uncomfortably close.  “I have a sense about certain things, and you reek of guilt and something else I can’t quite put my hand on.”

Luke took his scare tactic in stride and was not in the slightest bit intimidated.  “You would be wrong.  I’ve never seen them before.  As for that something you’re smelling, it’s called soap.  I just took a shower before I landed.”

Stilmon glared at Gavin.  “Quint, if you can’t control your man then I’m afraid that I’m going to have to ask you not to bring him in here anymore.”

The constable ignored his warning and finally looked directly at Luke.  “Maybe you didn’t understand his question, what’s your name and what are you planning on doing while your here, friend?”    

“Owen Lars,” Luke casually answered, “I just stopped in for a drink and enjoy the entertainment.”

“That’s it Quint,” Stilmon bitterly exclaimed.  “I’ve had enough of you coming in here and harassing my customers, now get out!”

“I’ll leave after I’ve talked with them,” Quint calmly replied, pointing at the band.

“I’m not going to let you harass them either.  They haven’t done anything,” growled the tavern owner.

Quint shook his head in disagreement.  “Five people have disappeared from the city and there are five people in that band, that have no record of ever having been born.  I find that to be too much of a coincidence.”

“You said that there were six people registered to those rooms at the Binary,” Stilmon corrected.

“Five people were all that checked in,” Quint said, his eyes shifting to Luke, with his obvious suspicions, “The sixth never showed up.”

“You’ve got the wrong group of people,” Stilmon interrupted.

Quint frowned slightly.

“You run an honest place here Stilmon, I respect that.  So I’ll only say this once, I can make life very unpleasant for you here if you try to impede my investigation.”

“You don’t have any authority in my place, it’s a neutral zone in this city,” Stilmon countered sharply.

“I have the authority to question anyone if I think it will help me solve this case,” Quint returned, his intemperate tone unmistakable.

Stilmon reacted, slamming his fist on the counter, with his own threat.  “That doesn’t give you the right to harass my customers.  If you continue, I’ll go to the Magistrate.”

“I asked two simple questions,”  Quint looked at Luke, when he interceded.

“Gentlemen, if I may, I landed not that long ago and I‘m not planning on staying.  I just dropped by for a drink and some food, while my ship refuels.”  He pulled out his docking pass from his pocket, “Here’s my confirmation.”

Quint scanned the pass.  He noted the landing time and the permits layover constraints that backed up Luke’s claim of refueling.  The constable gave a nod after seeing that his ship was classified as a one man fighter.  “All right, I’m sorry if we’ve harassed you in any way.”

“Not a problem Constable, you were just doing your job,” replied the Jedi, casually repocketing the pass.

“I hope you enjoy the show.”  Quint looked at his second with a sharp bark.  “He’s okay Gavin.  Lets go find a table.”

Gavin followed the constable, grumbling that he still didn’t like the looks of Luke.

Stilmon shouted after them with a warning.  “I’m not kidding Quint, you leave them alone or I’ll go over your head!”

“You do that Stilmon, I’m sure the Magistrate will be interested to know why you won’t let me talk to them,” Quint called over his shoulder.

Luke turned back to the tavern owner, when Stilmon touched his forearm.

“You came to take them home?” he asked urgently.

Luke nodded.  “Whenever they’re ready, we can leave.”

Stilmon gave a great sigh of relief, “Thank the gods.  You’ll need to get them out before Quint gets hold of them.  He’s a good man, but he’s strict when it comes to the law.”

“Well we don’t want you to suffer any entanglements with the local law.”

“Exactly,” Stilmon agreed.  He waited for the latest song to end so he could motion to the stage with a hand signal when the main spot light on Terell widened to include Freya and Lana, who were both flanking him.  However none of the performers on stage looked in his direction as they started right into the next set of songs.

Luke’s attention was drawn straight to Lana’s reflections in the mirror over the bar.  At the moment she was engrossed in playing rhythm on her six stringed instrument.  He smiled faintly when she stepped up to the hovering microphone in front of her and began singing.  It was a sweet song of romance, which suited her melodious voice nicely.  There was no hard look about her like there had been when he’d first seen her through the Force.  On the contrary she looked completely at ease while on stage and only smiled flirtatiously when the males in the audience began moving forward to get a better look.  The outfit Lana wore exposed her toned midriff and made her look very appealing.  The black lace leggings appeared as though they might have been painted on her.  A short midnight blue jacket hung open and only the right angle revealed that she was wearing a lacy bodice that matched her leggings.  Patches of delicately quilted midnight blue material, strategic placed, discreetly covered what she didn’t want seen through the lace.

Sparkling mid size spheres dangled from Lana’s ears.  They caught and reflected the light as she glanced warmly at Terell on her left when he began singing the background harmony.  The two met eyes on stage and their affection for one another was unmistakable in the mirrors reflection.  Their voices complimented and harmonized so perfectly together.

Only when the petite empath, flanking the melodious pair, began singing a second harmony line did Luke look away from them.  Here at last was the woman who had appeared only as a shadow in the Force.  She looked somewhat other worldly to the Jedi, like she didn’t quite fit in with the people she shared the stage with.

Freya was dressed in a similar outfit to Lana’s, though not in lace.  Still she was attracting just as much interest from the audience.  Her long blond hair flowed gracefully down her back and swayed softly with her time keeping, foot tapping, movements as she played her keyboard.  She followed Bailen’s beat, who’s energetic drumming kept everyone in time and the song up lifting.  Keirdan’s bass line filled in the rest while he openly flirted with ladies that called to him.

Rogue’s Gambit was a well seasoned band and their on stage presence was hard to look away from.  They offered up five different vocal talents that mixed and blended together for what was a very enjoyable performance in Stilmon’s packed tavern.  

The owner gave a happy nod in agreement when another of his regular patrons complimented him on acquiring such an energetic and charismatic band.  Stilmon handed the man a new drink and waited till he moved away to gesture at Rogue’s Gambit again.  He gave a small growl of annoyance and ran his hand through his thinning hair to cover his wave when Quint looked in his direction.  Stilmon scratched the back of his head wondering how he was going to gain the bands attention without notice.  His annoyed gaze swept over the bar and then came to rest on a hot plate warming a steaming amber colored drink.  He glanced back at the stage, scanning the band members hoping one would look in his direction.  An idea jumped into his mind when his eyes fell on Rogue’s Gambit’s empath.  He looked back at the steaming pot and didn’t think twice about it.   

Luke watched with some concern when Stilmon purposely touched his hand to the steaming hot pot.

With a sharp painful hiss he drew his hand back.  Shaking the burning sting from it, he looked back up at the empathic woman.   

From the stage Freya felt the rising sting of his pained emotions and looked towards him. She saw Stilmon’s greatly relieved smile before he gave a slight head gesture to Luke.  With a nod of understanding she mentally passed the word onto Lana.

**Rides here.**

The effect of her short mental sending was instant on Luke.  His stomach tightened up into a painful knot and a wave of lightheadedness suddenly washed over him.  It was the same disruption he’d felt earlier in his X-wing, only this time he was very close to the fleeting source.

Luke followed Freya’s brief glance, in the mirror, to Lana and saw her look up.   

In mid chorus Lana automatically focused her relieved gaze on Stilmon, who again gestured with his head to Luke.  She saw the Jedi’s reflection in the mirror first and shrugged, a clear indication that she couldn’t make out who he was gesturing at.

Stilmon spoke to Luke and he turned to casually lean against the bar so they could get a better look at their ride back home.

Feeling better, the Jedi met the Corellian singer’s gaze.  Luke felt his heart lighten some when Lana, sticking to her stage performance, tossed a flirtatious little smile at him as though happy to see him.  He smiled back and inclined his head acknowledging her and then saw her smile slide away from her face.

With an icy plunge, Lana’s heart sank into her stomach as she stared at the man from her dreams.

                                                               * * *