Author's Note: This is an idea I got one day, that I'm just getting down on paper. For story reasons, Atton deserted around the same time that Malak betrayed Revan. It has been a year since than.

Disclaimer: I don't own "Star Wars", "Knights of the Old Republic", and "Knights of the Old Republic 2". They all belong to Lucasarts. All I own is any OCs in the story.

Chapter 1

Nar Shaddaa, Two Weeks before the attack on the Endar Spire

Someone was following him. Atton Rand knew it. He could not see the person, but he could feel them, sense, that someone was pursuing him. Maybe it was due to…no, he could not think about what she had told him! Not now, and not ever. For now, he had to speed up, dodging his way through all the late night foot traffic. Nar Shaddaa was a city wide planet that never went to sleep. Even now, its cantinas and pazaak dens were filled with crews resting as their ships were re-fueled or tired locals who were looking for something to do to liven up the monotony of their impoverished lives. With all the beings around, it would be easy to lose himself in the crowd.

He ran past a pair of Twi-leks and into the Green Room, a notorious pazaak den that was all but impossible to gain access to. Thankfully, Atton was a master at the game, and thus was free to come in and out of the place, as often as he liked. Its exclusivity made it ideal for losing any pursuers. The door guard never let anyone in without the password. Now that he was safe, he reviewed his situation. For the past hour, someone had been tracking him. Whoever it was clearly knew what they were doing. They were doing it so masterfully, that it was only due to his own special training that he knew.

But how they were tracking him did not matter. It was the why. There were many Hutts such as Vogga, as well as the Exchange, which had its hands in nearly every business on the smuggler's moon. But Atton had made a point of not get embroiled in Exchange or Hutt business. It reduced the number of bounties on his head, at any rate. That meant that there was only one group that would be after him.

"No," he thought. How could they have known that he was here? That was the reason he had chosen Nar Shaddaa in the first place. It was the ideal place to get lost in. For nearly a year, he had gotten lost, biding his time for the war to end, ideally with the Republic as the victors. And now they had found him. He could not hide in the pazaak den forever. They were patient enough to wait for him as long as they needed to. There was only one solution really. He needed to get off world now.

….

Jason Archer was not pleased when he woke up to the Endar Spire's blaring alarms. He really was hoping to get some shut eye after a very boring and uneventful shift. As he stretched, groaning, the door burst open, heralding the arrival of his bunk mate Ensign Trask Ulgo. Jason himself personally did not know the man very well, although he had heard some of the other crewmembers complain about the man using his family connections to get a better position.

"We have to find Bastila and help her!" the young man stated.

"Tell me something I didn't know already," Jason retorted, as he reluctantly got out of his bed and grabbed his weapons and armor, checking to make sure his blaster was loaded, before turning to Trask. "You're call, Ensign. Although personally, I think we should head to the bridge."

Fortunately, Trask nodded in agreement. "Good point. We need to help cover Bastila's retreat. Let's get to the bridge." He punched in some codes to force the door open, before nodding to Jason. The pair began their long trek.

Jason reflexively got into a battle stance, shooting down the Sith boarding party. Trask wasn't as skilled, but he was at least managing to hold his own. At least, he was until a flash grenade soared towards him, and he ignored it. Jason dived across the floor shoving him out of the way. The grenade exploded with a resounding boom that was a little too close for comfort. Jason quickly jumped to his feet, gunning down the two remaining Sith troopers.

He then turned to Trask. "You see what just happened back there kid. If I hadn't been there that grenade would have blasted you into tiny pieces, and splattered you all over the ship." Trask stared at the ground, not replying. He quickly added, "Just be more careful next time ok? You're no use to Bastila dead."

Trask briefly met his gaze and nodded before turning away. Jason sighed. "If I get this kid out alive and safe with me, it'll be a miracle," he thought.

Their trip to the bridge was largely uneventful, apart from their brief encounter with a Dark Jedi and Jedi Knight dueling each other. The Jedi had killed the Dark Jedi, only to have an explosion take her out. They had arrived at the bridge, and Jason had quickly switched to his vibroblade. It would be suicide to use a blaster in such close quarters, Jason knew that instinctively. Trask stood back, providing cover fire, while Jason charged, slashing the enemy troops, who one by one, all fell to either his blade or Trask's cover fire. Jason quickly assessed the situation. The bridge of the Endar Spire was devoid of personnel. Just as Jason was about to suggest that there was nothing they could do, and maybe they should head to the escape pods, several explosions burst out, rocking the bridge.

"Bastila's probably already gone to the escape pods," Trask observed. "The Sith will hold back as long she's alive, but once she's off there's nothing stopping them from blasting the Endar Spire into galactic dust!"

Jason could sense that Trask was more afraid than he let on. He placed a hand comfortingly on the younger man's shoulder. "Listen kid. I know things might seem tough right now, but we're both going to make it out alive if I have anything to say about it."

Trask nodded, and the pair left the bridge. The Endar Spire's alarms continued to blare, and Jason had a feeling that the ship wasn't going to last much longer. Just then, he heard a banging noise on the other side of one of the doors.

"I think there's something behind there." Trask raced to open the door, which whirred open, revealing a dark robed man wielding a double-bladed lightsaber. "Damn another Dark Jedi! I'll hold him off; you try and get to the escape pods!"

Before Jason could stop him, Trask charged into the room, exploding the door closed behind him. Jason raced to the door, and banged against it, trying to get it to open, but he knew deep down it was futile. Trask was probably dead by now. The best thing he could do was honor that sacrifice by escaping this ship, and making sure the Sith did not win this war. He turned and headed through the other door towards the escape pods.

….

Two Weeks earlier

Atton carefully snuck into the docks area, hoping that his pursuers were still waiting by the entrance to the pazaak den. Thankfully, Atton knew of a back door right behind the bar counter that led into an alleyway that was a shortcut to the docks. Atton had already stuffed what few belongings he owned into a bag, and had stopped by a merchant to stock up on shots for his blaster rifle.

Just then he heard a loud racket coming from one of the landing pads. He carefully crept closer to get a better look. A motley group of several different humanoid species were having a rather intense argument in Hutteese.

"Has anyone seen Aaron?" a yellowish skinned Mirialan who was probably the captain demanded.

"He said he just needed to get some supplies," a Sullustan reasoned. "He probably just got tied up with customs."

"Well we can't stay here forever waiting for him," a Twi'lek female pointed out. "Vogga charges a fortune for each hour we're docked here."

"Well where do you plan on getting another crew member Alana," the Mirialan demanded. "We need Aaron, unless one of you two idiots suddenly gained a skill in using the turbolaser and I did not notice."

Atton inwardly smirked. This was his big opportunity to get off planet and away from whoever was pursuing him. He cautiously stepped out of the shadows. "Good evening," he spoke slowly in Hutteese. "I was just walking by when I could not help but overhear your predicament."

The Twi'lek and the Sullustan stared at him as if they weren't entirely sure that he was real. The captain glanced at Atton, sizing him up. "Are you good with a turbolaser?" he asked.

Atton smirked. "You might say I'm an expert in taking down enemy fighters."

The captain snorted. "We shall see. Oh, and we're short on credits at the moment, so you'll have to go without pay until we dock at our next stop, Taris."

Atton shrugged. "I'm just looking for a way off this moon, so you can drop me off at your next stop as payment."

The captain considered this and then stuck his hand out for Atton to shake. "Deal?"

"Deal," Atton agreed shaking it, while inwardly thinking, "Taris here I come."

…...

Jason sat on the floor sweating and panting. The starboard section had been full of Sith, all determined to make sure that he did not make it through to the escape pods alive. But Jason had a reason to live for now, Trask was counting on him. Trask who had willingly sacrificed himself for a complete stranger. Jason had to make that sacrifice count for something. He punched open the door to the next room and was finally face to face with the commander of the Endar Spire, Carth Onasi.

"You made it just in time! There's only one escape pod left. Come on, we can hide on the planet below."

"Thanks for waiting for me sir," Jason replied respectfully. While Trask had technically out ranked him, he had not felt the need to show respect towards someone who was both inexperienced and younger. Onasi in contrast was more experienced, at least when it came to combat. He had heard everyone talking in awe of the man who also served in the Mandolorian Wars.

"I haven't left anyone behind before and I'm not about to do that now. So let's get into the escape pod."

Jason nodded and climbed into the narrow escape pod, Carth creeping right behind him. Jason immediately strapped himself in, as Carth launched the pod from its berth. Jason watched as the Endar Spire was incinerated by the Sith warships turbolasers. It had not been much, but it had been his home for the past month.

The escape pod was exhilarating rapidly as it burned through the atmosphere into the planet below. "Brace yourself!" Carth yelled. "We're coming in for a rough landing."

The escape pod crashed into a wall, and then everything went dark.

….

Two Weeks Earlier

The blond haired human known as Aaron rushed towards the docks just as the ship was taking off. "Damn it!" he muttered under his breath. Not only had he lost the fake job, but the man his true boss had hired him to track was gone as well. At least he knew where the freighter was headed next. He tapped into his comlink.

"Yes?" a cold feminine voice asked.

"Well boss. I lost him."

"Then you have failed me for the last time Aaron."

"No wait! Please!" he begged. "I…I know where that ship is headed."

"Then tell me. My patience is running thin."

"That ship, the Shining Nova is headed for Taris!" he yelled desperately.

"Very well," the voice chuckled, sending a chill down Aaron's spine. "Follow him, keep tracking him, when you find him again, contact me. Do not try to apprehend him yourself."

As he cut the connection, Aaron wondered whether it was really worth all this money to deal with someone who would kill him if he failed. But then again, the bounty she had offered him was high, and Aaron was willing to take risks for those credits. He would capture this man, and prove his worth to her if it was the last thing he did.

Author's Note: What did you think? Please read and review. I love getting feedback on my stories. So I hope you enjoyed this chapter.