Chapter 1: The Escape

[Lettuce Men of Mars]

Darkness... blinding darkness. It was like an old friend.. more like drinking buddy of Castin. He didn't exactly know what was going on, the last thing he could faintly remember were Storm Troopers breaking onto his ship.. and then a buzzing sound and the feeling that his stomach had just turnned inside out.... it must of been a stunner... or was it a shocker. It didn't matter if it was bantha mace.. whatever it was it did the trick... maybe a little too well. He was guessing the goons must of popped a few more rounds into him once he passed out.. just for good measure.

Though he couldn't really see... or hear... or talk.. he could still feel.. generally speaking. Two guards had hold of his arms and were dragging him down what felt like a steel corridor. His body felt a bit lighter.. meanning they most likely took all his weapons and armor and dressed him up in some yellow jumpsuit.. though luckily they hadn't messed too much with cyborgnetics. He felt a small jerk and came to an adrupt halt. "Fresh Meat! Come and get it!". WIth that he was cast roughly against the durasteel walls of his cell.

Castin didn't move much when he hit.. he didn't even get up. He just leanned against the steel back wall as he heard the energy field sealing his cell buzz to life... Slowly his vision began to return.. though things were still far too blurry to make anything out.

[overlordstowell]

Mij Steyor sat alone in his cell, exercising. He held himself back a lot so as not let the guards know the full extent of his powers. He would save that for his escape. Then they would learn the cost of making a false arrest.

He still felt guilt over that poor man he had tried to help but instead just made things worse for all involved including him. Interferance in offical business, assult and about half a dozen other made up charges. At least they didn't know he was a Jedi.

After doing his one of countless pushup sessions, he felt a distrubance in the cell next to his. A new arrival. There had been a few in his month long stay in prison but this one was different. This one had a plan...

"Hello?" He called out.

[Lettuce Men of Mars]

The call of greetings fell on deaf ears. It wasn't that Castin couldn't hear him, but Castin had other things far more important. He needed to get his sight back and get the heck out of this place before they decided friendly conversation was a meanningless secondary option. His vision began focusing in and out and Castin decided this was good enough. He stood up and wobbled too and forth. Leanning forward, he let his body's weight drift him toward the electric shielding. Reaching out to brace himself, his hands touched the shielding for a shocking surprise. His hands jerked back in reaction to the flash and pop. A guard down at the end of the hall heard the noise and came to investigate.

Castin: Argh damn it. Who put that there?

A laugh came from a cell across from Castin. Castin's groggy eyes lifted up to find a slender Zeltron relaxing on her hard bunk. Though he couldn't really tell if she was smiling or if her lower jaw was attempting to eat her head... no, no she was smiling. His eyesight's image became crisper as if trying to answer it's master's request. She was rather pretty... for something in a prison uniform.

Castin ignored the silly little girl. Luckily he wouldn't have to spend much more time with her.

[overlordstowell]

Mij knew the no reply meant his new friend with the plan was busy with his own thoughts. He heard his neighbor having an encounter with door, indicating he was recovering from some sort of stun device.

The Zeltron across the way giggled at the plan man. This invoked a growl from him. Mij had not interacted with her much, not really interested in spending his days in prison being pheromoned at with no fruition.

Mij noticed a guard approaching to jeer at the plan man. The guards apparently had little to do but to rattle the cages for fun. This guard had picked the wrong beast...

[Lettuce Men of Mars]

The guard grudgingly stormed up to the shielded cell, standing mere inches from the shielding as if taunting the man behind the thin but painful wall of electricity. Castin was still wobbling and leanned against the wall of his cell. The guard obiviously noticed Castin's condition.

Guard: Hey jailbait, how about you sit the hell down and shut up!

Castin went to make a comment but quickly cupped his mouth as he almost puked up a good helping of makeshift stew.

Guard: Ah is the poor baby sick?
Castin: Mighty strong words from a man hidding behind an shield.

The guard scowled at his comment and clenched his enforcer baton.

Guard: I would be careful if I were you, boy.
Castin: Or what? Your going to give me a spankling?
Guard: You can't even see straight, let alone stand straight.
Castin: I don't care. Do I look like I care? I will take both of you on! p*ssy!

That last word was what broke the dewback's...back. The guard pulls out his "key" and turns off the shielding between him and Castin.

Guard: That does it. You won't be so smug when I am done with you.

The guard walked up to Castin and drove his baton into Castin's side. Castin lurched over and stumbled back against the wall. The guard goes to pin Castin against the wall, but Castin pushes off the wall and drives an elbow into the guard's chest, then strikes the guard across the jaw with a quick left hook and drops him like a sack of grain. Castin, no longer wobbling and seemingly just fine, strolls over to the guard and takes his gear. (A baton, cell key).

Amee watched the quick scuff and quickly sprung up to the shielding of her cell when Castin knocked out the guard.

[overlordstowell]

Mij heard the exchange and ensueing scuffle that ended with the collapse of the guard. He grinned. They would begin to escape but first Mij had to prove his salt.

His opportunity arrive in the form of two additional guards running down the hallway because they heard what happened as well. Mij made sure that they didn't reach his escaped neighbor with a series of well timed Force pushes. Knock one's feet out from under him and slid him into the other's, then sending them headfirst into the bulkheads with just enough force, not too much.

Then he turned to face his neighbor. "Perhaps you could free me as well and I could help you a little bit?" he asked with grin.

[Lettuce Men of Mars]

At first Castin thought... nah, he didn't want a crowd following him... then he heard more footsteps coming down the hall and the voices of the fallen guards' friends on their radios.

Castin: Alright, but I don't do this for just anybody.
Amee: Hey what about me?
Castin: (Totally ignoring Amee) When I let you out, you have to stay close to me.
Amee: What about me?! Aren't you going to help me?
Castin: If we can get to my ship before they scrap it, then we might have a chance to escape.
Amee: You can't just leave me here!

Castin gives a swift kick to the guard next to him before using the key to open Mij's cell. He then proceeds to make his way opposite of the oncoming footsteps.

[overlordstowell]

As the ran down the hallway, they heard the Zeltron shouting profanities. Mij felt a twinge of guilt.

"You don't really know where we're going do you?" Mij asked bemused.

"No." The man with a half a plan said simply.

"I supose in the midst of our guesswork and running about we could introduce ourselves, you are?" Mij suggested.

"Castin." Castin said.

"And I, Mij Steyor, Jedi Knight." Mij said with pride.

"A Jedi?" Castin said with suprise.

"Well, yes, I supose you missed how I incapacitated those guard from inside my cell." Mij said.

"A Jedi is the last person I expected to meet in a prison." Castin said changing the subject.

"Well, one good deed and several false charges later I found myself here." Mij explained.

"Save your life story for once we get out." Castin said frankly tiring of the conversation. Luckily they had found the door to the hangar where his ship was supposed to be. Hopefully this hadn't changed.

[Lettuce Men of Mars]

Castin and Mij came to a halt just before rounding the corner, to slip a peek and ensure no trouble. Luckily they stopped, as a squad of troopers rushed past them. Thankfully none seemed to notice the two hidden behind some crates. Castin was the first to jump out of his hiding spot and rush over to hanger control room. It was surprisingly empty, but had a lovely view of the hanger. The two make their way over to the viewing screen to check on Castin's puppy.... only to find her swarming with troopers and her engines dismantled.

Castin:... sh*t.
Mij: Oh, it didn't look like that before.

Castin turns his head to Mij.... and pauses...

Mij: What? Apparently we need to find a new ship.
Castin: Already on it.

Castin was hacking into a nearby console, attempting to pull out information on a tactful ship. Suddenly there came some footsteps down the hall. Castin could hear the slight clicking noise as the person's armor clipped the hard floors.

Mij: So did you find a new ship.
Castin: Hold on.

Suddenly the door opens and two troopers enter the room... to find it empty.

Trooper: All clear.

The two troopers head out. Castin and Mij crawled out from underneath a desk.

Castin: Never mention that to anybody.
Mij: No, problem here. Find anything?
Castin: Unfortunately. I got a ship.. but now we need a pilot.
Mij: Did you find a pilot?
Castin: Yes.
Mij: I sense another problem.
Castin: You could say that.

Before Mij could respond Castin starts to head back the way they came. Stealthy, the two escapees make their way back to their original cells to retrieve their pilot. As they reach the halfway point, they spot the two troopers from before. Castin looks to Mij and Mij nods in agreement... Suddenly one of the trooper's attention shifts to the direction of our heroes.

Trooper: I think I heard something.

The two guards raise their rifles and make their way toward the disturbance only to find... Nothing.

Trooper: I guess I was just hearing things.

Suddenly trooper a feels a tap on his shoulder and the two troopers turn around to find Castin and Mij. Castin cracks Trooper A across the head with his enforcer, while Mij force pushes Trooper B into a wall. Both troopers go down without much noise. They inspect their new attire and then promptly switch uniforms when Castin's turns out to be too small for him.

Castin: It still rides up in the rear bit.
Mij: Yeah, mine too. Mine too.

_a few minutes later_

Having eluded the guards or at least their suspicion, Castin and Mij find themselves standing in front of a dug's cell.

Castin: Are you a pilot?

The Dug was sitting in his bunk stareing hopelessly toward the floor.

Bola: Yea, Whats it matter to you, bub?
Castin: You're coming with us.
Bola: Drop dead and eat sh*t, pig.
Castin: I was hoping you would say that.

Castin lowers the shield to Bola's cell.

[overlordstowell]

Thanks to their uniforms the original pair no longer had to run, but they had to listen to the Dug pilot swear at them continuously. But during the relaxing walk, one of the dis-uniformed guards ran around a corner and screamed, "There they are!"

"sh*t!" Castin swore. "Run!"

The Dug looked confused. "Wait, you're not stormtroopers?"

"Couldn't you tell the way the uniform rides up some on Castin?" Mij said as they ran some toward the hangar, firing away.

"No, I don't find myself staring at guy's asses at all." The Dug replied.

The Trio's path was mostly influence by the arrival of stormtroopers from various hallways and sealed doors. So, instead of finding themselves in front of the hangar, they wound up back where they started. In course of their journey, the Dug recovered a rifle.

"How do we keep ending up here!" Mij complained loudly.

Any replied was interrupted by blaster fire from the other end of the hall. The Trio dove for cover and began firing back. Mij and Castin found themselves just outside the Zeltron's cell will the Dug was across the hall.

"Well, I guess this isn't the best time to bring this up but the there's another problem." Castin said as he fired.

"What!?" Mij exclaimed.

"Yeah, turns out we need some codes for the ship." Castin admitted.

"You don't know the codes?" Mij asked through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, well I was hoping to sort of find on the way but that doesn't look very likely, so any suggestions." Castin said trying to lighten the mood.

"Hey, you guys need codes?" The Zeltron asked.

"Yeah, got you any laying around?" Mij asked sarcastically.

"Actually, I do. But you have to let me out first." The Zeltron replied, ignoring the sarcasm.

Castin looked at her doubtfully, "You really have the codes we need to get off this rock?"

"Let me out and we'll see if I'm lying." the Zeltron said trying to close the deal. "What do you have to lose?"

"Our liberty, again." Mij suggested.

"Our lives." Castin added.

"Our minds." The Dug finished.

And with that Castin used his key and turned off the electric door.

[Lettuce Men of Mars]

With the Zeltron free... ok as free as being trapped between two squads of pissed off troopers and a half naked dude can be.

Amee: Now what is the plan?
Castin: Plan?
Amee: Yeah, like how are we going to escape?
Castin: ...Good point.
Bola: Great, you dragged me out of my cell to die.


Castin had stopped listening awhile ago and was set on survival mode. He had all he needed now, now just to use it. He quickly scanned the hall for some way out. Both corridor entrances were blocked by troopers and going into a cell wasn't an option.. suddenly out the corner of his eye he noticed a small chute. It looked like it could fit most of them, but to where it led... hopefully not an incinerator, because before Castin's brain had caught up with his body he was already climbing...wait what am I saying.. He shoves Amee down the pipe.

Amee: Hey what are you doing?
Castin: Escaping?
Amee: I don't want to go down there.
Castin: .... too bad.

He was slightly more comfortable with the idea when he heard her hit with a splash.

Bola: You got to be kidding me.
Castin: Ladies first.

Castin holds the fort as everybody else dives on inside. Castin pauses before the chute's opening, until a blaster bolt convinces him to jump.

[overlordstowell]

After Castin landed and stood back up to look for another way out he found himself faced with angry faces all around.

"What, we're alive aren't we?" Castin said trying to convince them that this was the right way to go.

"For now." The Dug said grimly.

"Now what, Mr. 'Let's all go down in the trash compactor'?" The Zeltron asked of Castin.

"Well, I guess we look for a door." Castin said simply.

"That maintenance door over there is locked and magnetically sealed. So that's out." Mij said thinking aloud.

After he said that however the magnetic seal turned off and the door opened. In walked a maintenance man unaware anyone was in there. This changed when he saw the Group standing there, staring at him blankly. He returned these stares with a blank stare of his own. This continued for several minutes until a blaster bolt caught the man in the chest.

"Well, somebody had to do it." Mij said as the others stared at him incredulously for a second.

Castin shrugged and said, "All right then, let's go."

[Lettuce Men of Mars]

Always full of questions and spunk..

Amee: Ok, now what?
Castin: Well I don't know, how about go get our ship?
Amee: And exactly which way is that?
Castin:... shut up.
Bola: Don't look now, but I think we have company.

Castin turns around to find a squad of troopers with their weapons locked on them. It looks like the end for our heroes.

Bola: So now I stink and I am going to die.
Castin: You already smelled like ass.
Bola: You know I would kill you, if there wasn't already a line.

Suddenly the wall next to the troopers explode and rock and dust fill the hall. In the ensuing chaos, several rapid blaster bolts are fired and there was a faint *CRACK POP* and a body is heard slumping to the ground. As the smoke begins to settle, all the troopers are found either dead or knocked out, and standing amongst them is a trandoshan in a yellow jumpsuit.

[overlordstowell]

The Trandoshan then turned and walked down the hallway. The Group followed timidly. As they followed they watched the Trandoshan carve a path of death to anything in his way. Sealed door found themselves changing their nature against their will. After a while the of stormtroopers slowed a bit as they had to call up more from farther away.

They arrived in front of the hangar and the Trandoshan turned and faced the Group. He gestured to the door. The three males pushed the Zeltron forward, who whimpered a bit but went about her duty.

After she had entered the codes, she stood back and a computer voice said gently, "Processing, this may take a moment."

Then the blaster fire began again. The Trandoshan frowned and stalked off down one of the main hallways. Screams followed.

"Is he on our side?" the Dug asked after he had left.

Mij and Castin just shrugged and took up defensive positions.

"I hope that door doesn't take too long or it'll be opening for our corpses." Castin said grimly.

"You certainly are an optimist aren't you?" Mij asked in a sarcastic tone.

"What can I say, I'm a glass half full kinda guy." Castin retorted.

Then the door said, "We appreciate your patients, and you will be granted access momentarily."

"Lying b*tch." the Dug muttered.

[Lettuce Men of Mars]

Amee cowered behind some nearby crates. What was she suppose to do anyways? She had no fighting skills whatsoever. Castin, while reloading his rifle, turned back to find Amee hiding.

Castin: Whats wrong with you?

She was a bit ashamed, but didn't want it to be too obvious.

Amee: I don't have a gun.

Castin pulls out a pistol and hurls it to her. She stares at it hesitantly.

Castin: Just pick it up and pull the trigger.... preferably toward the enemy.
Amee: ...right.

Amee picks up the pistol and shakily lifts the barrel over her cover. Turning her head away at the last second, she squeezes off a few rounds. Castin stares in amazement. Amee had managed to kill three troopers with headshots...and almost nail Bola in back.

Bola: What the f*ck?
Castin: Not bad....for a girl.
Mij: Thats not bad for Rambo.
Computer Voice: Thank you for waiting. Welcome to hanger 35. Enjoy your stay.
Castin: Thanks but no thanks. Lets move out!

The battle continues into the hanger... As Bola turns around to find more cover he freezes...as he catches sight of the ship. While it wasn't his ship, it was something far better, and something he never seen in his whole career of piloting. The ship was about the size of a blockade runner. A thousand or more specs flooded his pilot crazed mind. Suddenly a force shook his body, and Bola snapped out of his fantasy to find Castin trying to jog his simpleminded friend back to the problem at hand.

Castin: I bet she looks better inside.. when we're not being shot at.
Bola: Yea...yea.. *Shakes head*

The three warriors take up defensive positions as Amee finds another spot to hide.

Castin: uh.. Girl!
Amee: I have a name!
Castin: Don't care. Go up to the console. You need to slice open the ship and lower those shields or we would of got here for nothing.
Amee: You don't have to tell me twice.

Amee crawls over to the control room for the hanger, and slides inside. As she gets up, she comes face to face with several techs. Raising her pistol, the techs quickly raise their arms in surrender.

Amee: Er.. Get down!.. I don't want to have to kill you...please.

The techs look at each other then drop to the ground, when she accidentally blasts a console. She runs over to a console, while half assingly keeping her gun on the techs. Hacking and slicing wasn't all too hard and had managed to open the ship and set up an escape route. Turning one last time to the techs.

Amee: Uh... and let that be a lesson to you...

She quickly leaves the room.

Tech: ..what in the hell was that?

The team begins making their way inboard the ship. First it was Bola, followed quickly by Amee and then Mij.. with Castin holding up the rear. He wasn't really expecting the Trandoshan to make it back.. and leaving him behind didn't bother him in the faintest. Castin turns around as the ship lifts off the deck. Dang that dug was quick. The door behind him began to seal when suddenly there was a loud "thunk". Castin didn't even bother to see who it was.

Castin: Took you long enough.

The trandoshan just growled and walked on by. The team made their way to the bridge to find Bola cranking every gear within his reach. It was actually quite amazing. He had read in the Lil bastard's report on how "it seemed he could do the work of 4 to 6 others, allowing him to pilot ships solo that would require a small team.". Amee had somehow found herself on one of the consoles and Mij was...well he was somewhere in the damn bridge. The trandoshan had vanished once again.. Castin guessed he was trying to find something to shoot.

Castin: Ok. We're all here.
Bola: Unfortunately.
Amee: Hey, I am right behind you.
Castin: Pull together... and by that I mean get this damn ship out of here.

The ship lifts off the ground and opens fire on the hanger walls. The troopers on the ground either run back inside or get sucked out into space.

Castin: Oh.. I almost forgot. We're inside an asteroid field.
Bola: Son of a b*tch.
Amee: Won't we need astronavigation charts?
Castin: Nah.. I sure the dug can pull it off.
Bola: ..mumble grumble...

The Ship begins to pull out of the hanger. It was far faster than Bola had expected and tore out of the hanger at dangerously high speeds. It was the first time most of them had seen the station they were trapped in.... it was huge! It was like a giant steel city built into the side of a small moon... and it had guns... plenty of guns. The sky began to fill with cannon fire. Bola tried his best, and it worked... more than he had expected. The ship's handling was like nothing he had ever seen. Most of the blasts missed the ship entirely and any that hit were absorbed by the shields. Suddenly all the firing stopped..

Amee: What should we do?
Bola: Why did they stop firing?
Mij: Where now, man with half a plan?
Castin:... Head that way... To that star!
Bola: That is uncharted territory.
Castin: Good. Go to hyper-drive as soon as you can.
Bola: No problem, bub.

The ship makes some distance then rips into hyperdrive...