Clive leaned back on his elbows. Hed been working since before dawn… not that there was dawn on this bloody rock. He was beat. Time to catch forty winks before the others arrived for the food break they always took around this time.
He started to close his eyes, but the sight of Astri Oddo exiting one of the prefab plastoid structures stopped him. He kept his eyelids half closed, pretending to be napping while he watched her shake back the springy, dark hair that could never stay confined in a cap or headband. Then she did a long stretch, hands in the air and up on her toes. Shed been working hard on the computer system here at the base. Things had fallen apart once Ferus had left, and now they were all pitching in, working on tasks that never seemed to end, working until they fell onto their sleep mats and crashed into uneasy slumber.
Astri was a puzzle. On the run from some idiot ex-husband, easy with her smiles, and quick to lend a hand… but with something dark and sad inside. Clive couldnt charm her, which annoyed him. After a few tries, hed taken to watching her instead.
Astri watched Lune for a moment, smiling, then leaned down and snatched up a small rock. Suddenly, with surprising accuracy, she winged it through the air toward Clive without even looking at him. Just in time, he lifted a booted foot to deflect it before it hit him.
Hey! he cried.
She grinned, thrusting her hands into the pockets of r dirty coveralls. Stop pretending to be asleep. I wont bother you.
What do you call chucking a rock at my head?
She came toward him and sat down next to him on le hard ground. Saying hello.
He grunted.
And if I were aiming at your head, I would have hit your head.
He sat up. Together, they watched Lune for a moment.
Weve been on this asteroid too long, Clive said. Its starting to get to all of us.
Not me, Astri said, tucking her knees up under her chin. Im in no hurry. I feel safe here.
He knew what she was really saying. Lune is safe here.
Safe isnt all its cracked up to be. Its no way for a boy to grow up, Clive said. Hanging around with a scruffy bunch of outsiders.
Its not so bad, Astri said, but she frowned.
Its not gleaming good, either, Clive observed. You know, the galaxy is a big place. Lots of places to hide
You should know.
Before he could reply, Oryon suddenly_ appeared behind them. Despite being a big Bothan, he had an irritatingly soft tread. Clive figured it came in handy in the spy business.
I agree. Oryon looked very serious. On the asteroid, he had let his beard and his tangle of hair grow wild.
Ive been thinking about Lune, he said to Astri. At this point, Coruscant might be a good option for you.
Are you crazy? Astri asked. Go to the seat of the Empire?
Theyre having trouble monitoring the levels, Oryon said. Its impossible for them to crack down, completely. And Dexter Jettster has a good setup. Im sure hed offer you help. He could find you a place to go. Get you a new identity.
That is, if we can ever blast off from here, Clive reminded the Bothan. Then he turned to Astri with a slight flourish of a half-bow and said, If by any chance Ferus and Trever ever remember that were still alive, Id be glad to escort you and Lune to Coruscant.
Astri bristled. I dont need an escort. I know how to get to Coruscant.
You shouldnt be so quick to turn down help these days, Oryon advised. We can all use it.
. Suddenly Astri looked at her utility belt. A sensor flashed. Our airspace has been invaded, she muttered.
At last, somebodys remembered were here, Clive said.
She began punching numbers into her datapad. I linked the security system to a remote so that… She looked up, her face white. Lune! Come here now! She turned to the others. Its an Imperial ship.
Immediately, Oryon spoke into his wrist comlink. Code red alert, weapons and front-line defense.
Solace burst out of the shelter, a blaster in her hand. What is it?
Imperial ship, Oryon said.
Nobody needed to give an order. Within moments, Astri whisked Lune to his hiding place. Solace and Oryon positioned themselves behind two large boulders near the only flat area close to the camp, the place a ship, would no doubt land. Clive, Astri, Roan Lands,. And Dona split up into teams and flanked them. Toma and Raina remained as a last line of defense inside the first shelter. Everyone was armed with blaster rifles, alpha charges, and grenades.
Solace spoke softly into her comlink. Everyone in position?.
They all checked in with a quick affirmative.
Clive looked up. Within moments, he saw the silver streak against the dark purple of the atmosphere. The ship wobbled crazily. They all knew how turbulent the inner atmosphere was.