"They set up another damn security checkpoint." "Another one? In the lower levels?" "Yeah. They keep catching amateurs. Some kid got caught trying to smuggle death sticks out of the planet." "So? They're putting thousands of credits into pointless security checkpoints because of a few rookies?" "They found something else with the death sticks. A Wookie... With a lightsaber." "Shit... Two of the Empire's [I]favorite[/I] things... Doing our job is going to be a little bit more challenging." "If you were good at what you do, then it wouldn't be... What do you think, Leigh?" The smuggler looked up into the smoke-filled cantina. He had been lost in thought, barely listening to the two bicker. "Bin is right, Russ. If you're going to let a couple checkpoints get in your way of work, then you might as well turn yourself in now." Bin, the Twi'lek, smirked and looked over at Russ who rolled his eyes. "Out of all the years we've worked together, Roto, you've never given me the credit I deserve." "Well that's because I don't work with you. I work with Bin. Bin is reliable, and won't crack under pressure. You're her annoying boyfriend that I have to deal with." Bin patted Russ' arm gently as her boyfriend glared at Leigh. The smuggler usually did missions by himself, but as he grew in his career, a lot of suspicion started to circulate around him. The last thing he needed was for people to know who he is--or what he was. Having someone like Bin has had its benefits. He knew she had his back, there was a sense of loyalty in the smuggler's code. Leigh was a good judge of character. [I] I won't stay long, though. I just need one more good gig. One more, and I can leave this place for good. You've been grounded for too long.[/I] "He doesn't mean it, dear." She stole a glance at Leigh who seemed to agree sometimes. "You have any job offers, by the way?" She leaned back, taking a sip of her drink. "No... No, ever since that Cantina fight on level 8 I've been trying to lay low." It had been a few weeks, but the lower levels were still talking about that brawl. No one knew who started it, but they knew who ended it. That girl had a good swing... "We'll get something soon." Russ assured them. "Come on, let's get some drinks, I think we can join in on the next sabacc game." --------------------- Leigh had a little bit more credits than what he came in with. Somewhat satisfied, he pulled the collar up on his dark blue pilot jacket, and made his way through the smog filled streets of the lower levels of Coruscant. He had been down here for so long that he had forgotten what the sky looked like up above... He doubted that it would be what he had hoped. The streets were deserted, but after a while of walking to his apartment Leigh stopped in his tracks. Instead of acting like he had heard something, he went down to fix his boots, but managed to steal a glance from behind... Nothing. A moment later he stood and started his walk once again. He found some hole in the wall to use as an apartment. Inside was nothing special, and he liked it that way. It reminded him of the bunkers he spent his whole childhood in. A simple bed, a small window, and a footlocker, with a small kitchen. With a sigh he tossed his jacket onto the bed, stretching, and walked towards the small fridge. When he closed the fridge he held his blaster in his hand, pointing it at the figure that stood in the small archway. They were hooded, but he could tell the figure was at least male. "You have one minute to tell me why you've been following me." "I'm sorry for the secrecy, Leigh Roto… I am here to hire you on behalf of my employer. We are in need of your specific skills." Leigh scoffed and shook his head, not lowering his weapon. "I'm not that special to be stalked. A simple approach in the street would have sufficed." It was the stranger's turn to shake their head. "No, too dangerous. They have eyes everywhere now. Mister Roto, I understand that you're capable of getting precious cargo off Coruscant." Leigh laughed. "That would require credits. I don't have a lot of fuel to make a liftoff, especially from the lower sectors." "We are aware. The Atlas is a fine vessel. It's small, but strong... The ship design is--" "Doesn't matter what it is, as long as it has its fuel. What exactly am I going to be taking off this planet?" "In your words, it 'doesn't matter what it is.'" He couldn't see it, but the hooded figure was smiling. "Just know that it is [I]very[/I] valuable. I will be honest. If you are caught, you will die... everyone associated with this will die." There was a moment of silence. "I won't get caught..." He lowered the gun, and for a second he asked a question he knew he shouldn't have. "This cargo... Does it mean a lot to you?" The man chuckled, but there was no humor within it. He slowly took off his hood to reveal wounds he knew all too well that contorted his face. With a semi-toothless mouth, he gave a sad grin. "This cargo means [I]everything[/I] to me." Leigh took in the face a bit longer before looking away and nodding. "I'll do it." This was his chance to leave. Years ago he would have been more cautious about this deal, but there was something telling him that this was it. This was his chance of getting out of here. He couldn't turn this down. He was almost free. ------------------------- It had taken a week for everything to go through. Whoever these people were, they paid very handsomely for this job. They paid him enough to get the required paperwork and fuel to exit the lower levels. The rest of his payment will be pushed through as soon as the cargo was delivered to the Yavin sector. As the anonymous employers put the cargo in his ship, he packed everything from the apartment, and made it back to his ship. It had been a little while since he had stepped foot in her. It was like visiting an old friend. He could still hear the echoes within the walls though... the screams of the past. He pressed his hand gently on the hidden compartment near the back of the entrance where his past was hidden. He hoped he didn't need to use it any time soon. "The cargo is secure... We added the coordinates to your nav center. The rest is on you, Mr. Roto. Good luck." It sounded like the mysterious voice wanted to say more, but didn't. "Don't worry. Consider the deal as good as done." Although his voice was confident, he felt a bit of worry. He flipped some switches, pushed a couple buttons, and the engines of The Atlas roared to life with a healthy and satisfying purr. He waited in the infinite line of ships trying to get out of the lower sector, and as he got closer to the front, he could barely make out the sunlight that escaped through the walls of concrete and metal. He was so close, but he knew that the ascension upward would be the most difficult part yet. The Galactic Empire was on high alert ever since the Wookie. He had never failed a job, but there was a first for everything. [I]"Stay calm, Soldier. You can't break now, not when there's so much on the line."[/I] With one last sigh, he inched his way towards the platform to rise up, clearing his throat in preparation to talk to the Empire official on the surface above.