Two stormtroopers escorted a droid off my ship, and I looked up from the card game Kenzah and I had been playing on the deck of the bay.

E9 was an engineering droid I'd built, ninth in the series. His head was perfectly spherical with numerous glowing red optical ports the size of small coins. The rest of his body was more square and only slightly rounded along the edges. The Imperials escorted E9 to a computer terminal and plugged him in for an analysis of his data files.

Most smugglers didn't like droids as their recorded memories could prove incriminating. Bars catering to smugglers had a strict no droid policy because of this. Knowing he'd be scanned on occasion, I'd created E9 with two memory cores. The first was where all his engineering data was stored, and it was the only one wired into the external data port the Imperials plugged into. Isolated inside, the second memory core contained all the data I wouldn't want falling into the wrong hands, such as my smuggling contacts, location of my secret storage compartments, and the cargo I carried of which the Empire wouldn't approve.

Unless E9 was disassembled, it was unlikely anyone would find the secondary memory unit. I forced myself to focus on the card game as I didn't want to let on the droid was important.

***

After the third scanning sweep of the Nova Star, the Captain returned my cargo permit and allowed us to leave.

"Thanks for the hospitality; it's been fun," I told the Captain. "Anytime you want to be detained and have your ship checked, just let me know."

Kenzah and E9 proceeded up the ramp into the ship while I imparted my final words to the Imperials. When I went up the ramp and closed it, Kenzah had a few words for me.

"Are you trying to get us shot?" Kenzah demanded.

"Just having a little fun," I defended with a grin.

"Let's get out of here before your fun gets us killed," she suggested.

"Fine," I agreed, following her into the cockpit. I warmed up the engines while she used the thrusters to push our ship outside the Star Destroyer.

The engines deployed, extending outward from the hull before firing to increase our departure from the Imperial defense force guarding the space of Kessel.

Pressing a control switch on the command board, I activated a system to check for any additional devices planted aboard my ship. No trackers or listening transmitters were detected, so I knew it was safe to talk.

"Plot us an evasive course to Ryloth," I said.

"Why Ryloth?" Kenzah asked. "Aren't we delivering our cargo to the Hutt Cartel?"

"Nope," I denied. "Not today."

"Who to then?" she asked. "The Black Sun?"

"Hardly," I dismissed. "The crime syndicate doesn't care about operations on the outer rim. They're more focused on the core worlds. Our buyer is a new player."

"Who?" she insisted.

"You'll see," I said with a grin. "Is the course set?"

"We're ready," Kenzah answered. "We'll jump in the direction of Nal Hutta, so the Empire will think we're going that direction if their scanners are still following. Before we get there, we'll drop out of hyperspace long enough to adjust course for Ryloth."

I pulled the levers to engage the light speed drive, and the stars outside the cockpit stretched, becoming long lines of light until they merged together into the luminescent tunnel of hyperspace.

***

The Nova Star flashed into existence over the brown planet of Ryloth.

"Looks lovely," I quipped.

"If you like lonely places," Kenzah countered. "My scans are showing a few mining stations around a central structure on the southern continent. Not much else above ground, but I'm getting faint subterranean readings."

"Let's set down in front of the main building in the center of the mining stations," I said.

Kenzah deftly worked her navigation controls to provide us a stable course through the atmosphere while I steered the ship along the pathway she outlined.

The landing struts extended a moment after the engines shut down and retracted along the hull. Thrusters provided the last amount of guidance to bring the Nova Star to a gentle landing on the barren dirt in front of a tall tower the yellowed color of tarnished metal.

The ramp lowered from the ship, and Kenzah and I walked down to see if anyone was at home.

"I thought you said we were selling our cargo to a new player," Kenzah reminded. "He can't be much of one if this is all he's got."

"There are many forms of power in the galaxy," I reminded. "Credits can buy most of them. A mining station like this one, isolated and productive, could funnel a considerable amount into your pockets with no one to notice or challenge your endeavors. When you think about it, this is the perfect place to begin building a financial empire."

"I couldn't agree more," said a smooth voice from the direction of the tower.

Kenzah and I turned to see a man walking across the dirt to meet us. The pants and jacket of his flight suit were as dark brown as the packed soil under his boots. White hair, very similar to Kenzah's hung down to his shoulders, almost covering the left side of his face where a long scar traced across his eye from his forehead to cheek. A large blaster in a holster hung low on his hip.

"Meet our employer," I told Kenzah, "Tyber Zann."

"I thought the Zann Consortium worked with the Hutts," Kenzah reminded.

"We've had some dealings, but that isn't to say he owns me or the Consortium," Tyber remarked. "I'm still free to do as I wish. And speaking of which, time is money. Did you bring my cargo?"

"Of course," I confirmed. "The cargo modules are full of the legally mined ore, but the real cargo is here."

I pressed a button on my belt to signal E9 inside the ship. The cargo modules on either side of the Nova Star slid backwards, drawing away from the central shaft of the hull. A rectangular section of the hull extended outward six feet and halted. The bottom panel split from the rest of the hull extension and lowered to the ground on telescoping supports. Stacked on the panel were a dozen boxes of glossy black plastic.

"I'd heard your reputation for flawlessly smuggling spice, but how do you do it?" Tyber Zann asked, looking at the illegal cargo in front of him.

"The compartment is shielded to prevent scans," I explained. "Additionally, the area where it sits is right beside the main power generator."

"The energy output would scramble sensors even without the shielding," Tyber concluded. "In combination, the shielding and energy scramble makes detection impossible. Impressive."

The leader of the Zann Consortium turned from admiring the secret cargo to face me again.

"You should work for me," Tyber said confidently. "I know how much you make on a Kessel Run. Work for me, and it will be your standard pay every week."

The blank orbs of white Kenzah had for eyes widened in surprise.

"I'm planning something that neither the Alliance nor Empire will be able to stop," Tyber expounded. "Do you want to be a part of it?"

Being on Tyber's secret base meant he could kill us instantly and no one would ever know we had been there at all. I knew he'd never let us out alive with we knew because he couldn't risk word getting out in regard to his plans. However, Tyber's offer was too good to walk away from, so it didn't matter what the hazards of refusal might be.

"Sounds interesting," I answered after looking toward Kenzah and getting a small nod of acceptance. "I have some sensor data you also might find useful. We saw a crazy pilot make the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs."

"Really?" Tyber said. He nodded thoughtfully as he considered the information.

"If you ever need a crazy ship and pilot, this one might do the trick," I finished.

"I'll definitely keep it in mind," Tyber promised. "Thank you for the information. Come with me. I will show you what I have in mind and how you two can be a part of it."

Kenzah and I followed Tyber Zann into the tall tower while his people rushed out to collect the storage containers of spice.