Reyes books it up the ramp into the ship. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!" he yells, and gets strapped in for what he hopes will be the quickest takeoff in the port's history.

"Everybody, strap in! Reyes, make sure our new guest is properly restrained."

Arnae rushes through the pre-flight. As soon as the last crewman puts foot to ramp, he tells the ramp to raise and activates the shields. As soon as the repulors start lifting the craft off the hangar floor, he keys the comm.

"Tower, this is the Second Chance in AA23, announcing our immediate departure. Recommend that you clear the pattern."

Aurelia bolts from the cockpit, heading down to the drive room, prepared for the nearly inevitable damage the violent manner of their takeoff is going to inflict on one system or another.

Feeling the ship beginning to rise, she plants her boots rather firmly against the wall and braces herself.

The Second Chance disengages the landing field and boosts into Sullust's lower atmosphere. Aurelia runs to shut down non-essential systems before the engines fry themselves - the lights go out once, then twice, then come back on weakly as Arnae puts the hammer down. He sees stars through the cockpit by the time Erit picks up two Y-wings launching from the starport closing on an approach vector.

*This is Sullust patrol Gold-2 to unidentified freighter - engage your planetary repulsors and return to port. I repeat, return to port or you will be disabled.*

Wayde looks at the tactical display from his seat then gets on the internal comm channel.

"Captain. We're lucky to be where we are. It's dumb luck that the planetary defenses didn't light up like a solar flare when we blew out of there. I say we take our chances with those Y-Wings. While they're heavily armed and shielded, even this rust bucket can outrun them. My recommendation is angle the deflectors full to aft and do a maximum burn until the jump to light speed. And if you're asking for coordinates, my answer is anywhere but here!"

Reyes cinches down the safety restraints on their unannounced passenger.

"Ow, do they have to be so tight?" she asks.

"That's for your own safety, miss," Reyes says.

"And why are you strapping my arms down?" she asks.

"That's for our safety," Reyes says. He turns and walks up to the cockpit.

"Excuse me, but why aren't we gone yet? Let's gun this sucker and get the hell out of here," he says.

"My thoughts exactly, Wayde. Get on the navicomp and find us a course. Like you said, anywhere but here."

Arnae's fingers dance across the controls, angling the deflectors full aft and rerouting weapons power to the engines. That done, he tips the throttle the rest of the way forward and oofs as the acceleration pushes him back against his seat.

Mental note: have Aurelia check the inertial dampers.

He keys the comm open to the Y-wings. "Cannot comply--insufficient data," he states in his best robotic voice. "Elaborate, unit Gold 2."

Erit has a sudden flash of inspiration and grabs the commlink, murmuring something about dumb droids in it.

"Second Chance to Gold 2, I'm afraid we can not comply. Somebody has sabotaged our reactor assembly, and it's about to go critical. We're attempting to shut it down, but I take it you agree that it would be better to have it explode in orbit than on Sullust, yes? Recommend you clear an escape vector and escort us away from crowded airspace."

"My, this is getting a little exciting, isn't it?" Jileeza muses mildly to the Twi'lek from the neighboring chair. She cinches her restraints down, while leaving her arms free, just in case she needs to deal with the stowaway.

*We copy, Chance. Recommend you jettison escape pods immediately.* The fighter/bombers cease pursuit, merely hanging around to watch the fireworks.

Meanwhile, Wayde's entering the hyperspace coordinates. Tatooine's too far... I know some people on Nar Shadaa, but I know MORE who want me dead... Bespin! Nobody cares about Bespin!

Wayde confirms the navacomputer's output and gives Arnae the all-clear.

Inside the Y-wings
---

"Do you think they'll make it?"

"10 credits says they jettison."

"How about we ionize their escape pod and see if they live through re-entry?"

"Eh, sounds good to me. I've had a shitty day so far-sonuvaBITCH!"

The Second Chance jumps to hyperspace...

Erit looks at the hyperspace jump in the cockpit windows, then smiles. (That is, his face contorts in a way that people who know Ithorians associate with being happy.) He looks at Arnae.

"I'm not the pilot. You are not the diplomat. Do you agree with my analysis?"

"I agree with your analysis, Erit. Remind me to buy you a drink."

He turns to Wayde.

"So, Sarge, where did you decide to fling us this time?"

"Well, I hope you like Tibanna Gas. We're heading to Bespin. It's on the Outer Rim and I doubt anyone look for us there. Besides, once we things in order, we might want to head to Sluis Van and re-fit this crate of bolts with some useful things...like torpedo launchers and concussion missles. I'm sure the deflector grid needs some serious overhauling too."

Erit nods.

"A wise choice. I heard there's a small Ithorian enclave at Bespin. If you don't mind, I'd like to liven up my quarters some. You never know when you need some fresh fruit."

"Not that I wouldn't like to talk about fruit," Mak leans against the cockpit's doorway, "but what are we going to do with the tied down female? We're not pirates, so I know one option is out of the question."

"You're damn right we're upgrading this crate. I am sick to death of being shot down by TIE's. Never again, dammit. And Erit, tell me that dumb droid bit didn't help set your line up."

Arnae heads to the lounge where the Twi'lek girl is tied up. He sets himself into a more serious captainly posture: feet shoulder width apart, arms crossed, and a gruff countenance.

"Welcome to the Second Chance, miss. I'm Arnae Maddock, the captain. Since this is your first flight with us, the fare is cheap: your story. Start at the beginning, and don't stop until the end. Once I have that, the crew here will be happy to see you comfortable for the rest of your flight. Anything less, then Miss 'Za-" he motions Jileeza to take a bow- "will be thrilled to reaquaint you with the airlock that you passed on the way inside."

I'm not serious, of course, but I hope she buys it. Light knows that one spaced damsel is enough for my conscience already, thank you.

Jileeza nods and smiles. "Works for me. I love watching how they swell up and explode from the pressure differential in space. It looks quite painful."

"My name's Ta Filo, and up until... recently... I worked with my dad in the starport. We were just fueling up a shuttle in AA38 - her crew was already onboard - when five, six men came running in and started blasting everything. The shuttle's crew couldn't take off, they hadn't been refueled, so the crew started shooting back, and we all - the techs, I mean, me and my dad, and Bindi, and some others... we all ran for it or looked for cover, then ... then.. my dad got hit, and three of those guys blasted Bindi on purpose, and I just got out the door and they chased me. I managed to lose them - I don't know why they were shooting us - and I sliced into your docking bay and then you know the rest."

Erit walks up to the girl, trying to sense her sincerity.

Erit senses something more to Ta's story... she's holding something back, either deliberately, or unconsciously, but he can't ascertain what it is. She may even have some degree of Force sensitivity or perhaps she's just strong-willed. In either case, more could be learned, Erit surmises, but it would take both time and would be tiring to both himself and the girl, not to mention things would go better if she were a willing subject.