Star Wars: Radiance/Chapter One

The two suns of Tatooine had sunk below the horizon not but seven Galactic-standard minutes ago, and already Mortis could feel the icy desert winds cutting into him. Funny, that was, how the winds of a desert could be as cold as ice. Mos Eisley stood before him, glittering in the darkness.

Walking through the streets, Mortis didn't see many citizens, or Stormtroopers for the matter. Though he could hear the low-roar of the famous Mos Eisley Cantina, it was a bit disconcerting to be alone in a relatively large city. He shuttered; he'd had his share of loneliness, and didn't care to have anymore of it. Not that he wanted to be surrounded by people either, but he wouldn't have minded a few Tatooi citizens on the streets.

After several more minutes of walking, Mortis finally arrived at his destination: a short warehouse with boarded-up windows. I thought this was one of the fastest growing spaceports in the Outer Rim... Mortis thought to himself, and pushed open the door in front of him, tearing off a few shards of pressboard.

The interior of the building was in shambles, holes through walls, dust motes floating in the air, and the smell of desertweed nearly suffocating, Well, at least I know why this place was abandoned.

"Fulcrum? Are you here?" Mortis hissed into the building. "I got your holocomm, and came as quickly as I could-"

A hand clamped around his mouth, and pulled him back into the darkness, "Mortis, are you insane?" a femalen voice whispered into his ear, "You could have gotten us both kill," an orange-skinned figured pointed towards a small probe droid that hovered farther into the storehouse. "I sent you another holocomm, but when I didn't get a response, I figure'd you hadn't seen it. Come with me, and for the love of the Force, please be quiet."

Mortis and Fulcrum entered a small chamber off of the Cantina's main drinking area, paid for by the Rebel Alliance to maintain their secrecy. Four others were already seated at the round table: a small Human male, a tall silver-plated droid, a purple Twi'lek female, and a grey-scaled male Trandoshan.

"What took ya ssso long?" the Trandoshan hissed, his tongue flicking out of his mouth, scenting the air. "Scared, eh?" he asked Mortis.

"Not now, Vulcan," Fulcrum said, using the Force to calm the Trandoshan, "We don't have much time anymore, so let's get to business." She sat down between the droid and Trandoshan, apparently named Vulcan, leaving only one seat left for Mortis: between the Twi'lek and boy.

"Now that we're all here, we should introduce ourselves to one another. My name is Fulcrum, and if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm one of the leaders of the Rebel Alliance, second only to the Supreme Commander himself." She turned to Vulcan, and nodded.

The Trandoshan raised the scales above his eye, but said, "The name's Vulcan K'marr. I'm one of the best bounty hunters that credits can buy."

The Twi'lek went next, "Andromeda O'Hara. I was apart of the Free Ryloth movement before that monster killed them. Now I work for anyone so long as they aren't with the Empire." She elbowed Mortis, and whispered, "I think you're next."

"Mortis," he said, and turned to the Human boy.

"Come on now," Andromeda elbowed him again, "What do you do, Mortis?"

"Nothing."

"Well, you are you then?"

"Nobody," Mortis said, and pointed look at the boy.

"I'm Nom Bane, son of the infamous Cad Bane. And this is my partner, Razzi-2," he said, patting the droid, "She's my better half."

"I think you mean three-fourths, boy," Vulcan rasped out, "You're barely older than a youngling, stars boy, can you even drink?"

"That's enough, Vulcan," Fulcrum eyed the Trandoshan, "There's no need to tease the poor boy. Besides which, he could have you dead in less than a Galactic-standard hour if he wanted to. His father isn't dead yet, you know." The Trandoshan paled slightly, and licked his scaled lips.

Nom smiled, but remained quiet.

More soon.