Writer's notes: Yep, another chapter and in the same year too. ;-)
 
 

Chapter Seven

"Whoa!" mouthed Li as she stared up at the shining steel starship sitting next to one of the many piles of rocks that littered the surface of the desert world she'd lived all her life on.

Not only was she impressed by the fact that it was one of the best looking ships she'd ever seen, but she was even more impressed by the fact that only a moment ago this ship had been just another pile of rocks. Now it was something much, much more.

"How ...how .." she began, "how did you do that?"

Kat Rin Pryde, Jedi Knight, smiled warmly down at her companion.

"Something you likely have never had the chance to see in this backwater part of the universe, an 8th level cloaking and shielding system."

"Whoa ...again. Boy, you sure have all the best toys."

"Hardly a toy. This ship was bequeathed to me by my final Jedi teacher, Master Logan."

"That's the guy whose lightsaber you carry as a second, right?"

"Yes. The ship was his." Kat replied as she laid her hand against the side of said ship, and Li could see her eyes as they filled with memories.

"Inside here he gave me my final training."

"Inside this ship?" asked Li, puzzled. "Jedi doing their training inside starships?"

Kat smiled and shook her head.

"Its not the normal thing, though it has happened more often then most people think. No, the reason I received training within his ship was because we both were on a long range mission. And when I say long range, I mean long range. Most hyperspace travel takes at most a day or two, but we were in space for months."

"Months?!"

"Yep, and as Master Logan said many times during the trip I had lots and lots of spare time so he gave me lots and lots of intensive training."

"I've seen you in action, so I think you learned your leasons."

"I tried my best."

"Uhm, if you don't mind me asking." began Li, "whatever did happen to your Master Logan? Given the way you misty-eye everytime you talk about him, I'm guessing he was killed a long time ago."

"A very long time ago. He died during that mission I spoke of that took months to reach."

Kat closed her eyes as her mind took her back to that terrible day so long ago, when Master Logan had faced off in combat against the Sith Lord Darth Ogun. He'd inflicted what to anyone else would have been a mortal wound, but Ogun hadn't died. Instead he'd stuck back, and a stunned Logan's reactions had been just a microsecond too late.

Whether by accident or design, his lightsaber had fallen from his hand as he died and rolled almost impossibly to stop before the feet of his apprentice.

Kat had grabbed it up and fled, with young Lockheed upon her shoulder, into the dense jungles of the planet Garden. It became during those terrible weeks her totem. It gave her hope and determination and, in the end, the strength to face and with the aid of the Acanti finally end the menace of Darth Ogun.

But oh, the cost... the cost had been so high.

"So now what?" asked Li after they'd finished transferring what little Kat had chosen to remove from her old home. Kat was working at a terminal, tapping in commands with a speed that surprised Li.

"Just a moment ....and ..there!" replied Kat as she lifted her hands from the keyboard and removed an info crystal from its input slot.

"Ok, let's go," she continued, pocketing the crystal.

"Where?"

"Into the starport, such as it is."

"Why?

"Why not?" answered Kat impishly.

"Why not!?!" sputtered Li, "Because the guys who tried to kill you came from there, and I'm bettin there's more where they came from."

"I'll take that bet."

"Huh!"

"No really, it's rather unlikely there is anyone there at the moment who's up to the standards of my last visitor," stated Kat as she waved her hand in the direction of her old home. "So that leaves the local thugs who I think the two of us can deal with."

"I guess so..." replied Li hesitatingly. "But why go there anyway?"

"Several reasons," began Kat as she headed out of the starship. "First of all, we'll need supplies, food and other things, as well as something even more important."

"What?"

"Information."

A short time later the two drove their airbikes into the starport's merchants' sector.

"And now?" asked Li, eyebrow raised, as they parked their vehicles.

"Now you take this." Kat handed her the info crystal she'd been working on earlier.  "It contains a detailed supply list as well as a credit transfer to pay for it all."

"Neat"

"Mind you," stated Kat sternly, "Go to Hardenns' only. I've dealt with him in the past, he should have everything on the list, and he's about as honest as you can find on this planet."

"So you trust him?"

"I trust that his fear of me is greater than his desire to cheat a customer."

"Now, that I can believe."

"And take this credit chip too," said Kat as she handed Li the item. "Use it for anything else you think you'll need, including a second carrier for the bikes."

"Mega cool." replied Li, her eyes wide as she took the credchip. "Uhm, anything I think I need?"

"Within reason mind you, you naughty child. Oh, and Li?"

"Yeah?" asked Li, a little worried by the sudden change in the Jedi's voice.

"Nothing much, just ..... if there are any friends you've got here that you'd like to take along with us and you were wondering how to talk me into allowing them to come, don't worry. You can bring as many as you like."

"Wha?!?"

"Just take into account how big the Star Runner is and plan accordingly," finished the smiling Jedi.

"Uhmm ...ah ...oh," was all the young girl could manage in reply. It had passed through her mind during the trip from Kat's starship to the port. Of course, she was still in a bit of a stunned state due to the idea that she was going to get off this dust ball, something she'd never thought was possible.

But her mind began to consider who to take along -- there were others she hung out with and considered friends; none of them could get by without her help, of course, so they'd all have to come.

There weren't many of them, End's Land hardly produced that many trustworthly people.

Now, how to gather them on the sly?

Her musings were interupted by a light touch on her shoulder.

"Don't waste too much time thinking about it," quiped Kat. "Just do it."

"Uhn sure, right away. And what will you being doing while I'm working at all of these many tasks?"

"Asking questions," replied the Jedi.

Kat Rin Pryde slipped from one shadow to another as she worked her way through the star port's alleyways and backways. These were the places the people who might have the answers oftened lurked.

Unfortunately none of those she'd found had the answers, didn't even know the questions.

All of which simply meant she had to look elsewhere.

As she continued on, she spared a moment's thought for Li. Despite all the girl's cleverness and skill, she was hardly as practiced as Kat herself and far more likely to be spotted by those hostile.

Which was why Kat was glad Lockheed was keeping an eye on the youngling.

A dragon's eye view, to be exact.

Which also meant Kat herself had no backup should anything go wrong.

Not that she hadn't found herself in similar situations in the past, mind you. It was just that she'd been a lot younger then, with a great more energy.

Right now a short nap sounded very nice.

But that would have to wait

There was work to be done.
 

End Chapter Seven