[Last Of The Jedi] - 06(6)

With another sigh, Clive stretched out full-length on the ground. His black hair was filmy with dust, and grease had settled into every crease in his tunic. He was still working on the balky landspeeder. He appeared to be in a state of utter exhaustion, but when Astri walked over and placed her folding stool next to Trever, Clive sat up.

“At least we get some light today,” Astri observed. “We must be passing by a big star system.”

“Great. More light to see more dust,” Clive said.

“What do you expect from a hideout, Clive?” Astri asked. “Fine hotels and sunshine every day?”

“I don’t see why not. I’ve hidden out in many a fine hotel in my day.” Clive settled his head back on the rock he’d used as a pillow. “Ferus just has to make things hard. And may I point out that he isn’t even here?”

The others began to straggle toward them. Dona appeared, carrying a basket with the bread she’d managed to bake every day despite her other chores. She loved to feed them, and Toma and Garen already had grown stronger under the spell of her soups and breads. Behind her, Roan carried a small table, which he placed near Trever and the others. Dona laid the basket on it. Then she put her thick, broad hands on her back and stretched.

“A long day’s work,” she said. “It feels good.”

A groan emerged from Clive. “If you say so, mate.”

Roan gave him a nudge with his foot and dropped a thick chunk of bread on his chest. “Maybe this will revive you.” Like Ferus, Roan had known Clive for years. Roan and Ferus had been partners in the firm of Olin/Lands, which had created new identities for those trying to escape criminal gangs, pirates, or governments — anyone who had crossed an evil organization and needed to hide. Clive had been more of a con man than a whistle-blower, but Ferus and Roan had liked him and helped him anyway. They’d rescued him from several scrapes and earned his loyalty. Clive claimed not to believe in anything but credits in his account, but he was loyal to his friends.

Oryon and Solace joined the group. They were the unofficial leaders. Oryon was a strong, tall Bothan who’d run a successful spy network during the Clone Wars. The Empire had put a price on his head, and he was forced to disappear, joining a group called the Erased on Coruscant. Now he sipped his tea and stood talking quietly with Solace.

“Good news,” Oryon said to the others. “Astri was able to fix the comm system today. Toma’s got the stormtracker working, so we were able to get a message through to Coruscant. Keets and Curran are out of danger and hiding with Dex. They’re driving Dex crazy, but they’re safe.”

“Glad to hear that,” Roan said. “Good work, Astri.”

Keets Freely and Curran Caladian were other members of the Erased. They’d risked their necks by returning to Coruscant to gather information, and had almost gotten arrested. Trever was glad to hear they were safe. He wished he was with them, hiding in the Orange District in the sublevels of Coruscant. Sure, it was dangerous, but at least it was lively.

Dona handed Trever a mug of hot tea. He sipped it gratefully. There were enough warming units to go around, but the chill of the asteroid settled in his bones.

Garen and Lune left their game and came over, Lune running to Astri, who spread honey on his piece of bread. Lune chomped on it happily.

The last to join them were Raina and Toma. Toma had grown a beard since his illness, and it was now streaked with gray. He moved with the careful attention of someone who had been recently ill.

Raina was carrying two stools under her arm. She put one down for Toma and motioned to Dona to take the other. She found a flat rock to perch on and accepted a mug from Astri.

Raina flipped her thick auburn braid over her shoulder. “Toma has news,” she said.

They all turned to Toma. He wrapped his hands around his mug and leaned forward. “Thanks to Astri’s good work,” he said, nodding at her, “I’ve been able to contact someone I knew in the resistance on our homeworld,” he said. “Has anyone ever heard of Moonstrike?”

“A moonstrike is when a satellite moon gets hit by an asteroid big enough to give it a wobble in orbit,” Oryon said. “It can alter planetary tidal patterns and influence severe weather changes.”

“That’s what it is,” Toma said. “And it is also the name of a secret organization. This contact is the head of it. Her name is Flame. She was an extremely wealthy aristocrat on Acherin when the Empire took over the government. Her family ran the biggest factories and corporations on the planet. She was able to get most of her wealth out before the Empire took over the main industries. Now she’s using that wealth to fund Moonstrike. It’s her idea to go from planet to planet, contacting any resistance movements. She’ll use what she has to fund them and raise more funds through her contacts. The point is organization. We can accomplish so much more if we’re in contact. She’s put her personal fortune on the line.”