The G9 Rigger Freighter, unlike the Burned Cloak, was parked out in the open on the island's shore. The medium-sized Corellian ship had the look of an elongated shuttle with a boom as a wing. Inside were several beings, though it was hard for Selo to see, given the cockpit's narrow window and Lehon's bright daylight.
Standing next to the ship was a tall human of about the same age as Selo. He was cloaked in a long jacket and a rimmed cap. This was another indicator to Selo that the crew of the G9 ship were not intending to stay, even for a short period. He held a container in both hands. Jedi Corel and Dunn walked toward the unmoving man with the Nediji-raptoid between them.
“Deacon,” Madam Ccer asked Selo, still calling him by his smuggling identifier, “what's this all about?”
Selo waited until they got within a few steps of the man. Jedi Dunn felt it appropriate for her to remain several more steps away, giving Selo and Ccer some space.
When they stopped in front of the tall human, he nodded. “I always knew there was something different about you, Deacon.”
Selo had forgotten about the Jedi tunic he had changed into that morning. He quickly looked down then smiled back at the man. “It's a very long story, Regolith.”
Regolith laughed. “May be some day we can talk about it at a cantina on Tatooine...we make it a practice to place tracking devices on the family members. That's how we were able to find you here, Deacon.” He then looked at Ccer; his face, clean-shaven, once again stern. “Madam Ccer, I am so sorry that we have to meet like this.”
Regolith held out the box-like container toward Ccer. She looked up at Selo.
“Ma'am, Regolith is with Black Sun...”
Being the cosmopolitan being that she was, Ccer was finally able to piece the puzzle that had been eluding her for so many years without the need of either human explaining any further. She nodded to herself as she accepted the container from Regolith, as if it were logical that her husband, Kaird, would be involved with such criminal activity.
“The Empire,” she asked, cradling the container.
Just then, Regolith's face stiffened as he held back a tear. “Oh, yes. You know, others in the Galaxy think that scoundrels like Black Sun, the Hutts,” he then glanced at Selo, “smugglers, are the scourge of the Galaxy. But, this Empire...” He promptly wiped the single tear and looked at all three of them, speaking with harsh determination. “This Empire now stretches way out here, in the Outer Rim. I've heard from others during my Runs in the Galaxy that more and more star systems keep falling to this Emperor! And from what they are saying, he's bent on putting all of us out of business and using all of our turf for his own galactic fiefdom! Just like he did with Kaird's operation!”
Jedi Dunn looked at the man with caution; sensing in him a raging fire.
“Deacon, Madam Ccer...” Regolith glanced back at the G9 freighter, then back at them. “We're joining up with these Rebels we've been hearing about lately! Kaird's operation today, who's next tomorrow?” He then took a couple of steps toward Selo and Ccer. “Join us! I've already made contact with one of their leaders—the son of a royalty from Alderaan, of all places!”
Madam Ccer jerked. “Bail Antillies's son? He's one of the Rebels?”
Regolith now smiled. “If this rebellion against the Empire can get royalty from a rich planet like Alderaan on their side, you know there's a chance at fighting this dictator! And a chance for revenge...” Regolith looked at Ccer with sympathetic eyes, but his strong jawline hardened.
Madam Ccer thought long and hard, while the three humans waited for a response from her. The engines to the G9 freighter popped on and began to hum. Ccer turned to look at Jedi Dunn, the container yet clutched in her raptoid hands.
“Will your people take my family in,” she shouted over the thrusters. Selo looked on, surprised.
“We already have, Madam,” Dunn said over the thrumming from the G9.
Regolith quickly turned to face his crew in the ship and gestured for them to wait just a bit more. He held out his hand in an ushering way for the Nediji widow to enter the ship.
“The Rebels could certainly use some Jedi powers,” Regolith now said to both Jedi, stepping even closer to them. “From what I've heard around the trading lines, of all the beings in the Galaxy, Jedi should be leading this rebellion!”
Fri Dunn stood silently, knowing that the offer was really more toward Selo, given their mutual friend's death by the Empire.
“May the Force be with you, Regolith,” was all that Selo said to him.
Regolith's eyes went to both of them as he nodded. He then quickly turned and hastened to the G9 freighter's hatch and entered. The two Jedi watched, standing close to one another, as the Rebel ship lifted from the surface of the island and rapidly arced its way upward in the Lehon sky...
~~the end~~
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