Chapter Four

The lounge onboard the Sunrise would have normally been a place to relax. Not now. There was an air of tension. Nias was not happy with having to leave his ship in Glann's hands. He reluctantly handed the security code over to Goah.

   "I've taken all the expensive equipment out and placed it in Lomonas hold. Take good care of her; she's my best ship. I'm only doing this because I need Glann more than he needs me."

Jan was annoyed at Derril's attitude and was about to tell him so when Tarr Ranth interrupted.

   "With all due respect Nias, you are being unreasonable. The choice is simple. If you want to continue working for Cipple then you have to continue with this mission. If you want to leave, then you may do so. No one here will stop you." As if to emphasize his point Ranth locked the safety on his weapon and reholstered it. 

Nias didn't know how, but he had the feeling that his bluff and bravado had been completely transparent to Tarr Ranth. It unnerved him slightly. To Nias, Ranth was very much an unknown quantity, a bounty hunter with his own moral code. People like that could be dangerous. He took a deep breath.

   "All right, I get the picture." He picked up his travel bag. "Where am I bunking?"

Goah lay back on the bunk in the Freedom Flyer, feeling at ease with the situation. He wasn't a smuggler, and was glad of it, although he had vague memories of that reckless life. He was an assassin and a good one at that. It was something he drew pleasure from, satisfaction. That was why he was surprised with himself. Things like this didn't usually cause his temper to flicker. He quietly pondered what had caused the outburst.

Jan opened the box cautiously and peered inside. Sitting within the plush lining of the mini-casket was a strange pyramid like object that glowed with a feint inner light. About ten centimetres high from base to apex, it was entirely covered in strange hieroglyphics, unlike any that he had ever seen. He felt a compulsive urge to touch it, but instead pulled his hand away and closed the box. A chill went down his spine.

   "I have seen something like it before, in my fathers notes." Tarr Ranths voice, made Jan jump with a start.

   "Didn't your dad ever tell you not to sneak up on people?" Jan snapped. Ranth walked around the table that Jan was leaning on and took the seat opposite.

   "My apologies. It comes with the profession. Do you know what it is?" Jan shook his head, pushing the box in Ranth's direction.

  "No idea, you?" Ranth pulled the box across but did not open it. He appeared to study it for a few seconds before answering.

   "I believe it's an ancient Jedi teaching device, possibly thousands of years old, and undoubtedly worth a fortune." He looked towards Jan. "However, I would not suggest trying to use it. It seems to have a coldness inside that I have never encountered before."

   "What makes you say that?"

Ranth looked away from Jan again, pondering the casket. His voice dropped in volume.

   "I have a certain talent for knowing these sort of things." 

Jan was surprised. Ranth had never felt the need to explain himself up until now. In fact, up until now he had held the belief that Ranth was just another bounty hunter for hire. He estimation of the man moved up a notch. He decided to lighten the situation, leant back in his chair and threw his booted feet on the table.

"So where are we going to deliver it? My ship is at your disposal." He grinned one of his most infectious grins. Ranth merely looked him up and down and shook his head slightly.

   "Our ultimate destination is a closely guarded secret, but once there we will be met by a representative of the Imperial Government, who will exchange the device for a large sum of credits." Ranth handed a single data chip over to Jan.

   "These are the precise co-ordinates, the first of which is Janos. It will not require you to approach the planet itself." Ranth knew of Jans wish to stay as far away from the Janite system as possible. Jan took the data chip off of Ranth. 

"Tell me. Just how much is Glann paying me for this journey again?"

The route that had been plotted by Glann was torturous and a waste of resource, but Jan knew better than to question his employer. Glann Cipple never did anything without a reason, especially where large amounts of money were concerned. Jan finished entering the first set of co-ordinates and prepared the ship for entry into hyperspace. Exiting from Chancai had been quicker that usual. Here, Glann Cipple's name held a great deal of power. Jan wondered why the box hadn't been handed over to the new Moff, but he suspected that the man was too greedy to be trusted. Glann was no fool. Jan flicked the intercom button and spoke into his head mike.

   "Thirty seconds to hyperspace entry, we're coming up on the beacon now." Jan slowed the Sunrise down as he locked on to the beacon and orientated the ship. Fifteen seconds later he was sliding the hyperspace lever into the active position. Space elongated, distorting into a million streaks of light, which combined to form the violet maelstrom that was the hyperspace tunnel. Jan sat back and relaxed, no one could follow him now.

Two small ships, the size of one-man interceptors, approached the hyperspace beacon and aligned themselves to the same route that the Sunrise had taken. Their sleek angular designs reflected no light. The two ships rotated, then leapt into hyperspace like pursuing raptors. Moments later a third, more familiar shaped craft, repeated the procedure.

Ryath Centaur grinned to himself as he piloted the Dark Star into hyperspace.