First off I want to thank everyone for their patience. I had never expected this chapter would take so long. I had originally hoped to have this out months ago, but writer's block, gaming and life played a role in these delays. I see your comments and it pained me every day that I couldn't publish, especially with my original editor too busy to review for me this time, forcing me to edit myself. I hope you understand. The next few chapters shouldn't take as long and are already planned out. May the Force be with us.

"Mos Eisley Spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy," Qrow chuckled overlooking the settlement. "My kind of town."

"Anchorhead's got a spaceport too, why not there?" Yang asked leaning back against the speeder. Mos Eisley was one of the places she and her friends were told by her father to avoid. Anchorhead had its criminal elements, but most of the traffic was civilian or military. Mos Eisley on the other hand was controlled by the Hutt Cartel and practically everything brought through was illegal: Spice, Dust, weapons, slaves, the Empire allowed the Cartel limited autonomy and for a cut of the profits they allowed the Cartel to operate free in Mos Eisley.

"Nothing wrong with Anchorhead, cept the number of imps. Mos Eisley's likely to have a few imps wandering around for appearance sake. Unlikely to attack without provocation, and even if they do there are a lot of thugs with a certain hostility for the Empire just waiting for the right opportunity." Qrow grinned before taking a swig from his flask.

Makes sense, Yang thought to herself. The Cartel tolerated the Empire and vice versa, but their relationship was tenuous at best. Rumor has it the only reason the Empire only let the Cartel stay was due to their hold on much of the Outer Rim economy. As Qrow put away his flask, Yang noticed he didn't have his saber at his side. "So where's your saber?"

"Hidden," Qrow replied. "Lightsabers are very rare weapons and only two types of people carry them: Jedi and those who have killed Jedi, neither of which you want to be identified as. I suggest you do the same." He looked to ZW. "Astromechs have small storage compartments, perfect for hiding your saber."

Yang plucked her saber from her side, and she was annoyed at having just obtained it and now having to hide it. Pointing at Qrow she asked "What about that sword of yours?"

"Dust weapons aren't as rare; mostly used by highly skilled warriors. Difference is just about anyone with training can pick up and use one, but a lightsaber requires discipline and a connection with the Force can help. Those without either risk losing limbs or worse." Qrow moved back into the speeder. "Most Jedi carried Dust weapons for circumstances where a lightsaber just wouldn't cut it."

Yang snickered slightly at the pun. "When will I get my own Dust weapon?"

"In time..." Qrow remarked. "...Perhaps on Alderaan."

Yang grinned as she handed her saber to ZW. After climbing in the speeder, it rushed forward onward to its destination.

As predicted, Mos Eisley had a few Imperial troopers guarding the gates. Four stormtroopers, at least one of them a Faunus–– denoted by the reptilian tail–– assuming he wasn't one of the few honorary nonhumans allowed to serve in the Imperial military.

The troopers stopped the speeder. "How long have you had these droids for?" The lead trooper demanded. He had received orders to be on the lookout for any astromechs in the area recently acquired.

"Three or four seasons," Yang replied.

Qrow responded pointing back, "They're for sale if you want 'em."

"Did you come in from the south?" The trooper further inquired.

"No…We live in the west, near Bestine," Yang lied, hoping the trooper wouldn't inquire further.

"Bestine?" The trooper wasn't buying it. "Let me see your identification."

"You don't need to see her identification." Qrow remarked as he waved his hand. He had had enough with the trooper's inquiries.

"We don't need to see your identification." The trooper replied, seemingly in a trance.

"These aren't the droids you're looking for." Qrow waved his hand again, almost as if he was peering into the trooper's mind. Within a moment the trooper was waving them through and telling them they could move along.

The speeder continued deeper into the town coming to a stop near a building marked as the Sandskiff Cantina. "I can't understand how we got past those troopers? Did you do something?" Yang asked getting out of the speeder.

Qrow nodded as he got out. "The Force can have a strong influence on the weak minded."

Yang grinned. "You gotta teach me that trick."

"In time." Qrow pulled out his flask and took a swig.

"You think we're really gonna find a pilot here that'll take us to Alderaan?"

"It won't be first class, but a good smuggler will get us there, for the right price." Qrow moved for the door, "Watch your step, as this place can get a little rough."

"I'm ready for anything," Yang responded, almost overconfident.

Near the back of the Starport cantina, a young Corellian smuggler sat nursing a glass of blue milk. He was well within the planet's drinking age, but a promise kept him from partaking. He was deep in thought about his land job. "Ten-thousand credits," he mumbled silently to himself. He looked into his drink almost as if he was expecting it to answer him back. The last job was supposed to be a simple Dust run, but instead he had a run-in with an Imperial patrol and had to drop the cargo in order to escape. Now he awaited his contact, a Cartel Lieutenant Hei Xiong that more commonly went by the nickname Junior, to discuss options of repayment.

A bottle of ale slid across the table as a man with a green mohawk slid opposite the smuggler. This was not Junior. "Long time no see, Jauney boy," He took a long guzzle of his ale, obviously enjoying it.

Jaune looked up at the interloper. "What do you want, Russel?"

"What, can't a guy just drop in on an old friend?" Russel set the bottle down with a grin.

"We're not friends, we worked only one job together." Jaune gritted his teeth. Russel was a pain, but one that could be dealt with.

"But that job was a success." Perhaps to him, it was a success, but in Jaune's mind, the operation had been a disaster.

"Success? My ship was damaged, half my crew nearly died, and for what? A few droids!" Jaune pointed at Russel accusingly.

"Not just any droids Jauney, Czerka destroyers."

"The job was only for six, and you guys stole fourteen."

"Cardin's idea, they were worth tons on the black market." Russel rubbed his fingers together to emphasize the amount of credits each were worth. "Besides, we eventually lost that Trandoshan trash and his weird little sidekick."

"Only cause Nora was able to knock them off the maglev, we're lucky they didn't get our faces." Ren had suggested disguises for the mission and it was lucky as Czerka was likely still looking for the culprits.

Russel leaned in closer. "You still got that feisty little Faunus on your crew?"

"No." Jaune's response was quick. "She left a few weeks back; personal reasons I think." In truth he didn't want to talk about it, the event was still a raw wound to him.

"Eh, probably for the best," Russel commented rubbing his jaw. "The girl had a strong left hook, but she was hot as fu…"

"Enough!" Jaune stood up, ready to slug Russel in the face until he saw that Russel already had his blaster out, pointing at him.

"Tsk tsk." Russel shook his head disapprovingly, pulling his ale closer, "And I thought we were having a civil conversation. Now, to get down to business."

Jaune sat back down, keeping his eyes on the blaster. Russel wanted to talk business and if he needed a blaster, it wasn't going to be something he wanted to hear.

"The boss heard about your problem with Torchwick, so he has a proposition for you." Russel said before finishing his ale.

Jaune clenched his fists. "If Cardin wanted to talk he should have come himself."

"Ain't said nothing about the Captain. Boss wants you to join up. He's had you in mind since you helped him off Kessel."

"Zann," the word came out in almost shock. "You signed up with Tyber Zann."

"Absolutely. He made an offer too good to resist."

Jaune had only met Tyber Zann once during the prison break on Kessel. He thought it was just a normal Spice pickup, but it turned out Zann was his cargo. Zann was infamous, beside Xizor and Torchwick, Zann was among the rising crime lords, except more ambitious and aggressive.

"Thanks, but I think I'll have to decline. I prefer my independence rather than joining one of the syndicates."

Russel raised his blaster. "Not an option. The Consortium is on the rise. The whole underworld will have to chose a side sooner or later. Join the winning team or I'll drag your unconscious hide to Zann myse…"

A blaster bolt roared through the air hitting Russel squarely in the chest, making him drop to the ground. Jaune swung around to see the shooter approaching. "Nora!?" He stammered. "What are you doing here? Why'd you do that?"

"To save you, duh," Nora replied nonchalantly rolling her eyes.

"I had the situation handled."

"He was gonna shoot you, so I shot first."

"You could've hit me."

"But I didn't."

Jaune snatched the blaster from Nora's hand and confirmed it was set to stun, making him sigh in relief; Jaune wasn't one to kill unless absolutely necessary.

"Oopsie," Nora slipped taking her blaster back and resetting it to burn. "Allow me to…" She aimed her blaster at the unconscious Russel, but Jaune stopped her.

"No!" He attempted to grab the blaster from her hands. "We only kill in emergency, last resort. That's how Gramps taught us, remember?"

Jaune was right, and after reevaluating the situation, it was not the mandalorian thing either to shoot an already unconscious man. "Vor'e or'dinii," Nora replied holstering her blaster. Jaune's Mando'a was rusty, but he was pretty sure he'd just been thanked and insulted. Moving closer to her target, Nora snagged the blaster at Russel's belt.

"Must you take a trophy every time?" Jaune commented as she holstered the new blaster opposite her own. "Don't you think you have enough?"

"Not yet," Nora replied returning beside her captain. "It'll take a few more to afford that jetpack." Nora grinned. She was sometimes impulsive and sometimes eccentric, but she had a goal in mind that little could stand in her way.

"So, you heard from Ren yet?" Jaune asked.

Nora nodded. "Yep. Renny called on the holo and he found us a job. Alderaan, if I heard him right."

"Alderaan..." Jaune rubbed his chin. "What's the cargo?"

"Two droids, two passengers." She replied. "Kind of suspicious, if you ask me."

"Suspicious is light. People don't hire smugglers for passenger work."

"Maybe they're wanted."

"Who in Mos Eisley isn't? Still, we need the work. Tell Ren to keep them occupied; I want a face to face before taking the job." Jaune preferred it this way, as it made sure he knew what he was in for, and while Ren is good at finding work and explaining details, it was the Captain's job to seal the deal. "Tell him once my meeting with Junior is done, I'll meet up with him."

"Oh," Nora said pulling out her holo. "Junior's waiting for you in the hangar."

"What!? I told him to meet me in the cantina!"

Nora shrugged, "He had extra guards with him, other than the twins he had a Weequay, a Nikto, and a hunter in Mandalorian armor."

"Great," Jaune sighed, "let's get down there before he impounds my ship."

"What about him?" Nora pointed to the still unconscious Russel. He'd likely be waking up soon.

"Eh, we'll turn him over to Cartel security on our way out. You snag his wallet?"

Nora held up the item in question, and though it didn't look like it had much in it, every credit counts.

"Atta girl." He slung his arm around his crewmate as they headed for the hangar.

The meeting had gone longer than expected; if Watts and Schnee had stopped their bickering the meeting would've been over twenty minutes ago. The Grand Inquisitor followed his master towards the detention center. Whatever training she had in mind, it likely involved prisoners as victims.

"Despite those blathering fools, the meeting served as a good lesson of what you'll face as my apprentice."

" You wanted to kill Schnee for his insolence. Why did you let the Grand Moff sway you?"

"Tarkin is an old ally, one of only a handful of Imperials that have my respect. As Sith, we rule the Empire, but we cannot rule it alone. A good ally will keep you in check, keep you from rash decisions. In time, you will find an ally of your own, form a powerbase and by then, you will be Sith."

Entering an empty interrogation room, Darth Raven pulled a red & black pyramidal relic from an equipment locker. The Grand Inquisitor could feel the Dark side emitting from it. "A Sith Holocron?" He inquired, drawing closer to the relic.

"Not just any holocron apprentice, this one belonged to the ancient Sith Lord Darth Nox. Few of his holocrons remain. The Jedi of the old republic were keen on hunting down and destroying Sith knowledge." Holding the Holocron before her, she looked to her apprentice. "Open it." She ordered handing over the relic. "Only those strong in the Dark side can open it. Prove yourself worthy."

Still in awe, the Grand Inquisitor took hold of the Holocron. The relic ornately decorated with ancient Sith glyphs felt like he was holding history, something almost sacred. Concentrating the black tips of the holocron started to turn. The relic started pulling apart, expanding with pieces floating in mid air. An apparition appeared in the middle. The image wore light robes and a mask that hid his face. The hologram spoke. "Another student comes seeking power." It turned slightly as if looking around. "Darth Raven, I see you're training a new apprentice. Have you finally overthrown your Master, or are you still scheming?"

"Still scheming," Raven replied. "Apprentice, this the gatekeeper of the Holocron. An artificial intelligence created from the creator's consciousness."

"Darth Nox, Lord of the Sith, heir of Kallig and Tulak Hord, Master of the Dead and of Ancient Secrets. In my day, acolytes went through trials of knowledge and blood to become Sith apprentices. What has this one done to earn that position?"

"Trials," Darth Raven countered, "out of every Inquisitorial class one hundred initiates are tried, only four graduate, the rest..."

"Beast fodder, just like back on Korriban. How many did this one end?" The hologram pointed to the Grand Inquisitor.

"Twenty-two initiates, and since then several rogue Force users."

"Impressive. Still the ability to kill Force users alone does necessarily make one Sith material. To teach him he must first pass my trial."

Raven nodded in agreement. "Proceed."

The hologram turned to the Grand Inquisitor, "recite the Sith Code."

"The strong rule, the weak don't." The Grand Inquisitor replied. It all seemed so simple. Force users ruled the Empire whether the Imperials recognized it or not.

"I had an apprentice like that once, I'm to do to you as I did him." Lightning erupted from the divided holocron sections electrocuting the Grand Inquisitor until he dropped to his knees. "You survived. At least it means you aren't weak. The power of the Sith are not for the weak. Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion I gain strength. Though strength power, though power victory."

"and through victory my chains are broken. The Force shall free me." Darth Raven finished the code.

The hologram looked over at Raven before returning its attention to the Grand Inquisitor, "to be Sith is to be free. While non-Sith may believe themselves to be free it is a lie. Sith dominate over all, but strength alone doesn't give one right to rule. Cunning and ambition are necessary tools. I see in you a blunt instrument of raw potential, time we sharpen it." He turned to Raven, "where should I begin?"

"Force lightning." Raven replied, "for both offensive and interrogation purposes."

Darth Nox would have grinned if the hologram had a face beneath the mask, "my speciality. We'll require a victim for this endeavor, possibly many." A certain amount of glee could be detected in his voice at the opportunity of causing pain, suffering, and most likely death. Raven nodded leaving the room, the prison had plenty of potential victims. "Keep a close eye on your master. She will betray you."

The Grand Inquisitor shook his head, "why would she? Aren't apprentices usually the first to act, to try and overthrow their masters?"

"Under normal circumstances yes, but Raven is training you to take out her master. Just as Darth Zash used me to take out hers, and you are not the only apprentice Raven has had."

Nox's words cut deep piquing the interest of the Grand Inquisitor. "How many?"

The holonet at the bar blurred as Lisa Lavender reported galactic news. Or at least what the Empire allowed as news. "Like a scene just out of the Great War. Nine hours ago a patrol fleet in the Sluis Van system engaged a fleet of reactivated Separatist ships. With exception of the Decimator, ships suffered only minor damage and are now under repair at the system's shipyards. Former Atlesian General turned rebel leader James Ironwood is believed to be behind the attack and is still at large. Bounty on the General has since his initial defection risen to one hundred-fifty thousand credits dead or alive. In other news…"

Near the back of the Cantina Qrow ordered another drink. As the news changed he shook his head slowly. "So Jimmy's playing with toys again." He sighed silently, he usually didn't pay much attention to GNN, but this one jogged memories, many of them he wished to forget. Yang returned to the table after getting herself a strawberry sunrise. She felt bad for ZW and Penny who'd had to wait with the speeder as the bartender had been adamant about the no droids rule and while Penny might had been able to pass for human she had felt it best to remain with ZW.

At a holoterminal across the room Ren was finishing his conversation with his Captain. Call it intuition, but something in the back of Ren mind had told him to help Qrow. "I'll keep them occupied." Ren replied to his Captain before the holo cut out. Nothing else had yet to pan out and the Nevermores were already circling. Hopefully the black market on Alderaan would have more freelance opportunities than this Dust forsaken planet.

"My captain has agreed to meet with you," Ren answered as he neared his client's booth. "He should be here shortly. He just has some prior business to take care of first." He took his seat opposite Qrow reclaiming the cup of green ooze he called Moogan tea.

What kind of smuggler drinks tea? Yang thought to herself sipping her drink. Come to think about it Ren didn't seem like a typical smuggler. Most smugglers Yang had encountered were dirty, drunk, and often rude, Ren on the other hand seemed clean, stoic, and for the most part civil, though his accent almost screamed Core World Imperial. From what she had seen in the few hours she'd been around Qrow he seemed more the smuggler type than Ren.

"So how long have you been a smuggler?" Yang asked interested, by the looks of him Ren couldn't be much, if any older than her she thought . She'd long considered joining a smuggler crew, but few smugglers ever hired those they considered kids and it wasn't like her father would have let her join up anyways. Now her path was changed, she'd become a Jedi, like Qrow and her mother before her.

Ren scratched his chin thinking for a moment, "close to six years, first mate for almost the last year and a half."

Yang's jaw almost dropped, either Ren was older than she thought or he'd joined his crew when he was only a kid. She could only imagine his Captain had to be different than the normal rabble smugglers usually were to have someone like Ren as a first officer. "What's the rest of your crew like?"

"Unique," Ren was quick to respond. "Captain's an honorable man with a kind head on his shoulders and our chief engineer is an energetic Mandalorian. You can say they're almost family."

Yang blinked, "just two crewmen?" She generally knew most smuggler crews were small, but for some reason she'd expected more.

"There used to be six of us." Ren replied, "one left after our last Captain passed, the other more recently. She was our liaison agent and quite better at handling business negotiations than I am." He scratched the back of his head. He hoped the Captain would arrive sooner rather than later as Qrow was already flagging down a waitress for another drink and Ren had only just noticed the client had five empty glasses in front of him.

"You seem to be doing a fine job so far." Yang chuckled sipping from her drink.

Ren grinned back raising his drink slightly. "You can tell that to my Captain when he arrives." Seconds later Yang followed suit lifting her own glass in an informal toast right as Qrow's sixth drink arrived. A nagging feeling in the back of Ren's mind told him this wouldn't be the last drink Qrow would order.

"What the heck are you doing to my ship!" Jaune yelled entering the hangar. Junior and his men were already unloading the Crocea Mors. Nora rushed past him and into the ship to make sure they hadn't touched her weapons collection. If they had things would go south faster than lightspeed. As Junior came towards him Jaune could tell he was walking with a small limp. Rumor had it the gangster had gotten into a brawl; with what rumors didn't agree on, a wookie slave, a juvenile krayt dragon, a malfunctioning droid, no two stories matched, though the one that stood out told he was taken out by a teenage girl at one of his clubs. Whatever the truth it had shaken Junior up enough to hire extra security.

"You mean my ship." Junior replied, "Torchwick still wants his money for the Dust job, and your ship barely covers it. You're lucky he's not taking it out of your hide." That was an understatement, they didn't call him Roman the Butcher for nothing. The Cartel wasn't known for tolerating failure and punishment could vary from being enslaved, to torture, or even execution. Independents on the other hand had an option of repayment.

"I still have three days left." Jaune retorted.

"Three days is barely a Kessel job, and you still owe Roman ten-thousand credits." Junior pointed at Jaune berating him. "Even if you could get a Spice run there'd be a bounty on your head before you get back." Junior's words cut like a vibroknife, but they were accurate.

Jaune scowled, a number of his jobs lately had gone afoul ending with either small rewards or unable to be completed. Other than Junior no one in the Cartel were allowed to hire him, not while he still owed Roman money.

Junior looked the boy over, a smuggler with his talent was a useful asset, but the boy's arrogance was going to get him killed. "Look Arc, you're a top of the line smuggler. You do a few side jobs for me starting with my Ryloth delivery and I'll cover your debts."

Jaune folded his arms. "I don't do slaver jobs." That was his one rule, weapons, Spice, Dust, he'd run anything legal or illicit as long as it didn't involve slaves.

"This isn't a slaver job. I've got crates of forty-thousand computer chips I need delivered." A half truth as the circuits were for slave-collars.

"Almost nothing coming from or going to Ryloth doesn't have to do with slavery. Besides my first officer already has a job lined up for Alderaan."

"Alderaan, that's an imperial core world. Barely a decent black market, who'd hire you for a job to there?"

"Not entirely sure yet, but it's peaked my interest." Jaune hadn't yet accepted the job, but he trusted Ren enough to come to the right conclusion before he arrived and it had to be better than whatever work Junior might have wanted his crew to fulfill.

Gazing behind Junior, Jaune noticed Nora exit the ship. Since he'd not heard any blaster fire or the sound of screams of agony it seemed safe to determine no one had lain a finger on her weapon collection. A sigh of relief to be sure.

Junior grimaced, "you're pushing your luck. Even if this job pays off your cutting your deadline pretty close." Junior made sure to emphasize the dead part crossing his finger over the throat. "Roman's not as lenient as I am."

"I just need a little more time." Jaune pulled out Russel's wallet, "pulled this off a Consortium skug which is now sitting in one of your holding cells. You'll get what's owed, I keep my ship, we all win."

"So you got me a little spy to deal with?" Junior grinned, "still not good enough to dent your debts."

"I don't need anything taken off, just time." Jaune replied quickly.

"Understandable, but Roman will require more, so for an extra twenty percent…"

"Fifteen Junior, don't push it."

"Okay fifteen, but I won't be sticking my neck out any further. I'll give you an additional week, ten galactic standard days in total, that's all I can guarantee. Anything further and Torchwick will put a price on your head so big you won't be able to go near a civilized system for the rest of your days."

Ten days, Jaune thought it over. It was better than nothing, "thanks Junior."

"Just get me what's owed." He pointed at Jaune scoffing before motioning to his guards to pull out. For but a moment Jaune noticed the bounty hunter in crimson and gold Mandalorian armor staring at him before moving on to follow her employer.

Jumping down from the ship's landing ramp Nora rushed to her Captain's side. "We should have just broken his legs." She chuckled, though with Jaune it was hard to tell if she was joking.

"I don't have a death wish. Thank you so very much that you didn't act on that whim. So what did you get on that bounty hunter?"

"Not entirely sure yet, but the armor is of house Nikos. I think she was checking you out."

Jaune sighed, "probably looking to see if I've got a bounty price yet. C'mon Ren's waiting."

A few minutes passed before Darth Raven returned. Two guards behind her escorted in a Sullustan prisoner. The Sullustan was a Black Sun smuggler captured for illegal Dust running and was to be sentenced to the mines of Kessel. Darth Raven on the other hand had other plans in mind for his punishment. The prisoner kept begging in his alien tongue, 'no more. I don't know anything.' The smell of fear was clear as the prisoner was strapped into an interrogation chair.

"Silence before I cut out your tongue." Darth Raven threatened the prisoner who immediately shut up. Turning her attention to her apprentice and the ancient holocron it was clear what to do next. "You have your subject; I expect results." The prisoner watched as Raven stepped back leaving the Grand Inquisitor before him. The prisoner was already beginning to sweat in fear.

"Focus your mind." The Holocron of Darth Nox instructed. "Force lightning requires strength of a sort only a Sith can command. The Force must be broken and made to obey. It must be made to obey your will. Focus your pain, anger, manifest it as energy flowing to your fingertips." The prisoner started to struggle as the Grand Inquisitor raised his hand. Sparks of electricity already jumping between fingers, building up. "Now release!"

Lightning surged striking the target three feet away. The Sullustan screamed as lightning flowed through his body piercing and rupturing organs. The eyes liquified and within seconds the prisoner slumped over dead. The Grand Inquisitor reeled his hands back ending the barrage of force lightning. The power felt incredible, but draining if used too long. Scorch marks dotted the floor marking where extra dispelled energy had struck.

"Impressive." Raven mused, "did you have to fry him so quickly?"

"It would seem he has much raw talent." Darth Nox's hologram replied, "it may take several exercises to fully control this new ability." It was clear what Nox intended. Surviving records showed the real Sith Lord, like most Sith enjoyed the screams and pain of their victims. Even though this Nox was just a holocron, it had the personality and memories of the long dead Dark Lord.

Raven turned to the Grand Inquisitor who was still taking in the results of his handiwork. "Apprentice, how did this kill feel?"

"Exhilarating." The Grand Inquisitor remained looking at his hands as small aftereffect discharges continued to spark. "Like a new side of the force has been opened to me."

"Excellent," Raven turned a nearby locker pulling out a camera droid. "I see no reason why we should stop today. Learn to control your technique, to be able to bring your victim to the verge of death without going over. Every prisoner in the cell block, save for the Princess is yours to break." She looked down at the still active holocron, "and hold on to the Holocron it may be useful in handling your power."

A sinister grin moved across the Grand Inquisitor's face, much blood would soon be shed. As Raven left the room she pulled a second droid out of a security locker, the companion of the hovercam drod she'd given her apprentice. This one a projector droid. She waited as her apprentice cleared a few cells before heading to her objective, the cell belonging to the Alderaanian Princess.

The door slid open as Darth Raven entered the small room. She looked closely at the Princess who'd been staring at her from the second she entered. For the first time Raven noticed the Princess' eyes, Silver. She'd met the Alderaanian Royal Family on a few occasions, but had never taken a close look. No wonder the Inquisitor's interrogations had failed. Silver eyes were an incredibly rare trait, one in a trillion and only found in humans or near human species. Those with the trait had a strong resistance to the Force. Usually found with an unusually strong will and near immunity to torture. The Empress had once told her in ancient times the Sith had used Silver-Eyed Hunters to eliminate Jedi and sometimes rival Sith. Until they turned on their masters and had to be eliminated. Raven wondered for a moment whether this was an omen or an opportunity.

"Your resistance to our interrogators is impressive, but ultimately futile." The droid flew from behind Raven to just in front of the prisoner. "We captured a great many of your crew." A holo jumped up from the droid as it projected the image the other saw. A flash of lightning torrented a rebel soldier in an instant bringing the man to his knees before slumping over dead. Raven could see the terror on the Princess' face. "I have ordered the deaths of your compatriots. Give us the location of the Rebel Base and you can save your crew."

The Princess remained silent for a moment before speaking up. "They wouldn't give up the cause. Why would I? The Rebellion will endure." Her brash nature angered Raven, her emotions well hidden behind her mask.

Before she could do anything two stormtroopers opened the cell doors. "My Lord." The first trooper stuttered, "the Grand Moff would like to see the Princess on the bridge."

"I think he requested your presence too Lord Raven." The second trooper added.

What do you have in mind Tarkin, Raven pondered before answering. "Proceed."

Jaune's eye twitched in annoyance upon seeing his client, or rather seeing how many drinks he had finished in front of him. Ren often offered free drinks to keep clients talking and weaken their fortitude. Usually four drinks was enough to appease a client, Qrow had twelve before him and a thirteenth in his hand. This job had better be worth it Jaune thought to himself. The look on Ren's face communicated there was nothing he could have done to stop him. Taking a good look at the client Jaune couldn't blame him as Qrow seemed to be an intimidating figure.

As the duo neared closer to the booth Ren stood up, "Captain I'd like to introduce you to our prospective clients Qrow Branwen and Yang Xiao Long."

Jaune gave a closer look, the whole thing seemed suspicious to him, an older man with a young beautiful woman. "You certain?" The question entailed more than said, but Ren would understand and Jaune trusted his judgement.

"Indeed Captain." Ren's words sent an all clear signal that the two seemed good which laid most suspicions to rest.

"Just wanted to be sure." Jaune slid into the booth followed by Nora. Centered between his two crewmates he reached out his hand. "Jaune Arc, Captain of the Crocea Mors. Beside me is Nora Valkyrie my ship's engineer and you've already met my first mate Ren." Beside him Nora gave a small but energetic wave.

Qrow scratched his chin a moment. "Arc… Arc…" He pointed shaking his finger in thought, "any relation to Andronikos Arc?"

Jaune's eyes widened for a second, but before he could reply Nora burst out. "YOU KNEW GRAMPS!"

Qrow sat back in his seat almostly chuckling, "I knew plenty of Arcs in the Great War, Corellia's finest. Granted it's been years, but back when I knew him he was a Republic Navy Captain, before the Empire. How is old Nikki?" Almost as suddenly as he had said it Qrow realized by the look in their eyes and the long silence the answer wasn't a good one. "I shouldn't of asked."

"You couldn't have known." Jaune responded, it was obvious on his face and on those of his two compatriots the subject was still sensitive in their minds.

"As I aforementioned we lost our previous Captain a year and a half ago." Ren looked to both Qrow and Yang. "Out of all the crew I knew him the shortest, but he was no less a parent to us."

"Gramps made us a family. He died bravely like a Mandalorian; with honor." Nora replied thumping her chest armor twice in respect. A common custom in Mandalorian culture.

"Doing what he thought was right. What he always told us what was right" A few tears escaped Jaune's eye which he quickly worked to wipe away.

"I'm sure he did, back when I knew him Nikki was always the heroic type." He shook his head for a moment before taking a drink. "Some things never change it seems."

As the trio reclaimed their composure, some more than others Jaune took it upon himself to return to business. "So Ren tells me you want passage to the Alderaan system. Not exactly a tourist destination like Nar Shaddaa or Corellia. Why would you want to go there?" The Captain had already determined it likely that the two wanted to avoid Imperial Customs or Security the only question that remained was why.

"Planning to see some old war buddies." Qrow swirled the drink in his glass almost reminiscing. "Ones that don't exactly see eye to eye with the Empire. I'd for one prefer to avoid any Imperial…" He scratched his chin for a few seconds looking for the appropriate word. "unpleasantness."

"How fast is your ship anyways?" Yang piped up interrupting the conversation between the two.

"The Crocea Mors can make point five past lightspeed easy." Jaune boasted confidently looking at the young woman, "and she made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs."

"Aren't parsecs distance? Shouldn't you use time instead?" Yang inquired wondering if the Captain had made some error.

"In the case of the Kessel Run parsecs are most appropriate." Ren interjected. "An oversight for those who haven't travelled near the Kessel sector. Due to Kessel's proximity to the Maw Cluster it takes an exceptionally fine tuned engines and extraordinary piloting skills to shave off even a few parsecs."

"The Crocea Mors currently holds the record." Nora added grinning. "Spacers take pride in their ship's and skills."

"Point is she's fast, the Crocea Mors has outrun Imperial starships before, and not just the bulk cruisers, I'm talking the big Corellian ones and if fast is what you need she's the one." Jaune looked to Qrow hoping Ren hadn't made an error in bringing him in. "Now that I've told you about our ship, let's talk price. I can get you there for ten thousand credits, upfront of course." Jaune had no intention of charging such an outrageous price, but it would serve as a negotiating factor to ensure he got paid a reasonable amount.

"Ten thousand," Yang almost gasped, "we could almost buy our own ship for that."

"And who would fly it?" Jaune retorted strongly hoping he hadn't overestimated his bargaining tactic.

Before Yang could respond Qrow shot her a look before turning back to the Captain."We can pay you two thousand now, and an extra fifteen once we reach Alderaan."

"Seventeen...thousand…" Jaune stuttered. In all his years he'd never seen anyone up the cost in a negotiation for themselves. He could see the obvious joy on Nora's face and a confident satisfied grin from Ren. It would be enough to cover his debts with extra to spare on Crocea Mors. "You've got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're ready; docking bay ninety-four."

"Ninety-four," Qrow repeated back finishing off his drink as he stood up.

"We'll see you there shortly." Yang responded giving a slight wink leaving the trio to prepare their ship. "How we going to come up with seventeen thousand credits?" She asked as they exited the Cantina.

Qrow turned to her slightly, "I'm certain my associates on Alderaan will be willing to cover our expenses, but we'll have to sell your landspeeder."

A message appeared on the screen of the Grand Moff's console, it read. 'Key assets and personnel discreetly evacuated.' A pleased grin came over Tarkin's face knowing any minute the battle station would be dropping out of hyperspace. Alderaan had been a founding world of the Old Republic. Proud, noble, seditious, and soon it would serve as an example to the entire galaxy. A swoosh from the door heralded the new arrivals to the bridge, the captured Alderaanian Princess escorted by two stormtroopers and followed behind by Darth Raven.

"Governor Tarkin, I should have expected to find you here. I should've recognized your handiwork when I was brought on board." Ruby looked the Grand Moff sternly in the eye. "You're not getting anything out of me."

"Defiant to the last." Tarkin grabbed her chin showing the futility and dire nature of her situation. "You don't know how hard I found it, signing the order to terminate your life." He looked to Darth Raven showing her his satisfied smug look which usually meant the Grand Moff had something planned

"I'm surprised that you had the courage to take the responsibility yourself." If she wasn't handcuffed and guarded she would have decked the vile fiend and if she only had her weapon she would have cut down Tarkin, if only.

"Princess Ruby Rose, before your execution, I'd like you to join me for a ceremony that will make this battle station operational. No star system will dare oppose the Empress now."

"The more you tighten your grip, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."

"Not after we demonstrate the capabilities of this station. In a way you have determined the choice of the planet that will be destroyed first. Since you are reluctant to provide us the location of the Rebel Base I have chosen to test this stations destructive power on you home planet of Alderaan." Seconds passed and the azure hue of hyperspace vanished giving way to realspace and the planet before them.

"No! Alderaan is peaceful! Our only weapons are for defense against the Grimm, you couldn't possibly…" Ruby begged, Alderaan had two billion innocents, the Empire just couldn't destroy it.

A sinister grin crept over the Grand Moff's visage at the girl's dire plea. "You would prefer another target, a military target? Then name the system!" The impatience was growing in his voice and the Death Star was coming into range of the planet. "I grow tired of asking this so it will be the last time. Where is the rebel base?"

Darth Raven knew from years of experience that Tarkin didn't make empty threats. Whether the Princess gave up the Rebel Base or not Tarkin would still destroy Alderaan. To do otherwise would show weakness, something neither the Grand Moff nor the Empire could afford.

Ruby's eyes darted as she thought, she just couldn't give up the Rebellion, even to save her own people, but she had to say something. "...Dantooine. They're on Dantooine." Dantooine was sparsely populated and did have a rebel base that was by now evacuated. If it could save Alderaan and the Rebellion it would be worth it Ruby hoped in the back of her mind.

"There. You see, Raven, she can be reasonable." Tarkin patted the prisoner's head mockingly before turning to one of his officers. "Continue with the operation; you may fire when ready."

"WHAT?" Ruby practically yelled in shock.

"You're far too trusting. Dantooine is too remote to make an effective demonstration," he held up a single finger silencing the Princess, "but don't worry; we will deal with your rebel friends soon enough. Alderaan has a thorn in the Empire's side far too long. Time we remove it."

From their stations Imperial officers, engineers, and technicians started pulling the sequence to fire the superlaser. As the seven superlaser beams converged into one exponentially increasing the beam's power. The shot fired striking the planet; shattering it with one huge blast into millions of asteroids. Tarkin gave a proud look seeing the full firepower of his ultimate weapon. It had already been tested on Jedha and Scarif, but this was full planetary destruction. Even Darth Raven stood in admiration of the gall Tarkin had undertaken to destroy a core world. All the Alderaanian Princess could do was fall to her knees, her homeworld, her family, billions of innocents, gone. Tears started to run from her eyes as all and all she could utter was... "No..."