Janus didn't look around as the door opened. "This had better be important." He said. He was already frustrated and he didn't need to be bothered with useless news.

"Sir, it's about the ship we were tailing. The cargo ship?" The commander said. A nervous boy, Janus could never be bothered to remember his name, skittish.

"Yes, I remember." Janus said. "Now what is it?"

"We, um, we lost it. Sir." The commander fumbled over his words. Now Janus did look around at the commander. He glared at him.

"What do you mean you lost it?" He asked, his voice dangerously soft.

"I, um... Sir," the commander swallowed, "we were tailing the ship and close to flagging it down but it must have noticed us because it accelerated and landed on Mustafar."

Janus stood up and clenched his hands behind his back. Of course the insolent little... Of course he'd land on Mustafar. Just to rub more salt in the wound.

"So? Why didn't you go after it?" He asked. "From what I know, it's not impossible to steer a ship into a planet." His words had a bitter hint now. Was everyone on this ship such brain-dead idiots?

The commander swallowed again. "Sir, we had no idea where on the planet's surface they could be. And we couldn't continue in the ship, the shields would be destroyed-"

"Then go on foot." Janus snapped.

"Darth Incus - sir - the planet's sulphur-based." The commander said. "No one in our ship could walk on the surface without dying within the hour."

"Then take some people who can." Janus growled. The commander nodded.

"Yes, sir. We won't let you down next time."

Janus reached out towards the commander and curled his fingers inwards. "Believe me, commander," he said quietly as the boy crumpled to his knees, "there won't be a next time."

"Virge? How're we doing down there?" Roman called. "I want to get off this planet."

"Hold onto yar hair, Princey." Virgil said around a mouthful of wires. "This takes time."

"If it takes much longer, we're going to be baked like potatoes in tin foil." Roman muttered.

"I heard that." Roman jumped as Virgil stuck his head up through the engine room hatch. "Calm down, Princey. We'll be off Mustafar as soon as, kay? Just need to connect everythin' and then we'll be good."

"How long is that going to take?" Roman asked as Virgil ducked back down.

"Even longer if ya keep talkin'." Roman rolled his eyes.

"Okay, okay, fine." He put his hands up. "I get the message, I'm leaving."

"Thank ya!"

Roman turned to head back to the pilot room but stopped. "Hey, Virge?"

"Sweet Genar, what now?!" Virgil asked snappishly.

"Why d'you think they were tailing us?"

"Huh?"

"The Empire ship." Roman said. "Why d'you think it was tailing us?"

"I dunno." Virgil said. There sounded to be something false in his voice but Roman ignored it. "Why d'ya think, Resistance fighter?"

"Oh, come on. It couldn't've been because of me." Roman said. He sat down and hugged his elbows. "No one wants me. Not even as a prisoner. I'm that annoying."

There was a small silence. "Princey, that's not an accomplishment." Virgil said eventually.

"Eh, it's kept me alive." Roman said, shrugging.

"Still..." Virgil trailed off. "Well, if they weren't tailin' us for ya, then why were they tailin' us at all? I've not done anythin' to annoy the Empire, why'd they want me?"

"Don't know." Roman said. "Maybe your legendary engineer skills have spread across the galaxy and reached the Empire's ears."

Virgil laughed. "Yeah, right." He scoffed. "Legendary engineer skills, can't even fix an old cargo ship after twelve years." He laughed again, shaking his head. "Anyway, how's ya hand?"

"It's surprisingly fine." Roman said. "Had to patch up the cuts a bit but the vines weren't poison or anything. Otherwise I'd be dead."

"Mm." Virgil hummed. "Well, glad ya're not."

"Why?" Roman asked. "Thought you didn't like me."

Virgil shrugged. "I dunno." He grinned up at Roman. "Maybe ya're growin' on me."

*The Nightmare Before Christmas faintly plays in the background*
The time has come.
Bye,
Blaize