Star Wars - When the Domino Falls Read Online Free

father, surrounded by the ageless atmosphere of a man used to living on the edge. “This is Nikaede,” he introduced the Wookiee.
    “What are you doing here?” Ancher demanded.
    “I just got nominated to a hard-time academy. The blackheads caught me lifting some there special gear. Armor. Weapons. The expensive stuff.” Ransom shrugged nervously. “They’re shipping me off to Vizcarra.”
    “The Imperial prison planet?”
    “Yep,” Ransom whispered. “And here I sit, picking my nose hairs, with half of my crew docked across the street, waiting for me. By dawn, my co-pilot will figure I got snuffed on the job and will jump planet.”
    “Tait,” Ancher scolded, “ain’t like you to be caught without a plan. What happened?”
    “This happened.” Ransom replied. He threw a cylindrical object toward him. “Or rather it didn’t happen.” Ancher deftly caught the personal transponder in his hand. “When the Imperial armory alarms went off, that transponder was supposed to alert my back-up team.” Frustrated, he whispered. “Somehow it got busted in the shakedown and without the signal, the Boys in White tracked us down faster than old Jabba could lay claim to a debt. No backup, no chance, no way out.”
    “Where are they?” Drake asked timidly, staring around at the empty cells. “The other half of your crew?”
    Ransom pursed his thick lips together, handsome, even the midst of a frown. “Permanently retired, kid. Since I was the leader, they kept me alive to make an example.”
    “Can’t you fix it?” Ancher questioned, examining the unit.
    “If it were a ship’s transponder, I could fix it, change it, make it sing the Republic anthem.” Ransom shook his head, as a few dark strands fell into his eyes. “That thing? I haven’t got a clue.”
    “Can I see that transponder?” Drake took the unit from Ancher, handing it to the Wookiee. “Can you fix it?”
    “Hold on now,” Ransom protested.
    Drake silenced him with a dismissive gesture. Holding the glow rod over a nearby cot, he watched Nikaede pull the delicate leads through the top section. Yowling to herself, the Wookiee began to inspect each wire, sniffing out the defective cord. She carefully disconnected a stray cable, making a rough assessment of the damage, then promptly set about wrapping the wire around the lead heads, continuing to peel the housing apart. “Tait,” the Socorran boy whispered, “you better help her. I don’t know much about transponder codes. She’s afraid she might alter the signal.”
    Moving beside Ancher, Drake leaned against the scuffed plasti-shield enclosure. The cell wall was constructed of a clear plastic fiber, reinforced with antiquated steel bars that had been welded against the structure. The old smuggler’s eyes were distant and stony, seeing nothing beyond the darkness. “Whatcha thinking, Ancher?”
    The Corellian sniffed, a smile playing across his lips. “I was just thinking of all the stupid stunts I’ve pulled in my lifetime. All the suicidal runs, the friends I made … and enemies,” he growled, frowning suddenly. Then the characteristic smirk returned. “And of course the ladies.” Ancher sighed nostalgically. “You know, when that report comes in tomorrow, there could be enough warrants against me to total 300,000 credits.” He hesitated. “I used to think that was a mark of distinction.”
    “What changed your mind?”
    “The value of life, Drake. The value of my life.” He ruffled the boy’s hair. “And the few people I care about.”
    “Is that why you and my dad argued today? You’re worried about him?”
    “Drake, I don’t agree with what your father is doing. He’s asking for too much trouble, bad trouble.” He averted his gaze. “The same kind of trouble that started this bad blood between me and that Imperial stiff. Somebody tried to warn me, telling me it wasn’t worth it, not for one night with a pretty gal.” He shrugged, eyes clouding with the memory.