That was so much fricking fun to right. Hope you all enjoy.

And yes, I am implying that CP has a strong Navy, and yes, we probably retrieve some high speed cool shit.

**2 Jedi's and 2 Senile Droids Walk into an Old Secret Imperial Base**

Bridge, Corra IV

Kalen looking at the half filled cargo crater. It appeared as though D had only packed the first page of the 3 page list of items that they needed for this mission. It was calamity in the making. None of the critical gear made the trip. The Jedi reminded himself that it was probably his fault for not explaining things better for the droid. Still, a hint of rage at the droid incompetence began to bubble up within him. It didnt help that Karracca new(but very old) R3 droid just chiped his binary giggles from the corner.

“I would never forget to read the second page of anything Master Joss.” Reece beep booped.

“Oh you mind your circuits you flea ridden tin can” D said to his robot counterpart.

Kalen was looking at his datalink with the first page if the ‘mission equipment’ list open, which read-

-Glowrod with a flickering charge

-Emperor Palpatine Hologram Projector, stuck on loop

-Imperial Datapad with a locked interface

-BlasTech DH-17 Blaster Pistol with a cracked power pack

-Stormtrooper Utility Belt, missing most pouches

-Destro-6 demolition charge trigger, but no charge

-F-187 fusioncutter

-Rusted Cybernetic Hand

-Clone Commando Helmet missing visor

Now, exactly why Kalen and Karracca had needed those specific items, well, that info will be lost to the sands of time. But what was important was that none of it was mission critical. This was the second mistake of its kind that the protocol droid had made this week.

“So if you read the second page D, where is the stuff from the second and third pages?”

“In the other cargo crater sir.” D said with a bow.

“And why would you forget to load the second crater then?” 

“I didn't forget to load it Master Joss. On my word, lest I be disassembled sir.” D rambled.

“Then who forgot to load it?” Kalen began pacing back and forth in the small 5 metre by 5 metre bridge of the Corra IV.

“I don't know sir. I saw it down in the hold just yesterday.”

“Wait yesterday…you saw it onboard yesterday? So you mean the other crate is onboard?” Kalen sounded relieved and engaged at the same time.

“Well yes, I assume so sir as we haven't landed anywhere or stopped for a few days.” the droid said matter-of-factly.

“I swear sometimes D, you're lucky sliced protocol droids are so expensive. Otherwise I might be half tempted to put your cranium through a bulkhead. Grrrr.” Kalen said as he stormed out, heading to the main cargo hold below them. Brushing past Corra with a grunt.

“Whats wrong babe, she called after him…you guys aren't still teasing him are you.” She said as she walked in and took a seat in Kalen pilots chair, something only she was allowed to do.

Karracca and Reece(R3-E5) as usual, began gossiping back and forth in Shryiwook and binary respectively. The two had actually been reunited by a twist of fate when Karracca was looking for an astromech and came across Reece in the classified ads of Interstellar bulletin board. Karracca had actually owned Reece for a few years three and a half decades before. Though, Reece had become somewhat more arrogant, depraved, and outright hallucinagenic since the last time they'd been together. The old wookie had learned a few days after buying him that the plucky little droid had avoided a memory wipe since Karracca had sold him. At random times throughout the week since he had taken possession of him again Reece would randomly mention to Karracca he had found out the answer. Each time Karra would brush off the astromech as just rambling due to his memory circuits being nearly full. But as they got closer to Wayland, the droid had become more and more urgent in his proclamations.

Finally, as they landed on Wayland the little R3 droid screaming out ‘the answer’ he had found.

“The answer to what Reece?” Kalen relented on behalf of Karracca just so he didn't have to hear the droid natter about it anymore.

“The answer to whether or not the Emperor had a child.”

“Really Reece? Yeah, we know he did, there was like, two direct-to-net holovids released about it just last week.” Kalen replied.

Reece, who thought he had found out a galaxy shaking secret and had diligently held that secret in for so long stoo stoically for a moment. He had planned to keep the secret until he met up with some trusted sidekicks(yes, Reece was so hallucinagenic, that he actually views humanoids as his sidekicks) who could help him solve the case. But instead, his hopes of ever lasting glory for himself and his kind faded yet again and he cooed and moaned, and spiralled into a deep state of droid depression for a few days.

**Mount Tantiss Expedition**

The mission was seemingly simple. Head to an old secret Imperial research facility on the planet Wayland, proceed down to the base that was built into the side of a mountain, and retrieve a device in a laboratory.

Karracca warned Kalen about the endless dangers they might face on the planet and within the base, but Kalen appeared unfazed by the warnings. A contract was a contract, and this one had a nice price tag on it. So they were going to at least try. As they approached the planet even D three in a cryptic warning.

“Uh, Master Joss, I should have you know, that 2 of my previous Masters both attempted to enter the base we are now heading for. Neither returned.”

“Really? So what happened to you after your Master didn't return D.” Kalen replied.

“Well Master. Each of those times led to brief periods of me functioning as an autonomous cybernetic being. Truly disturbing and terrifying times that I'd rather not talk about. Suffice to say I found a new Master quite quickly each time. I found that I'm temperamentally ill suited to enjoying freedom and liberty, how you humanoids deal with the constant choices and countless potentialities will forever escape me.” the protocol droid said, sounding almost poetic.

“Wow…so how long did you have you’re freedom each time?”

“Less than 72 hours on each occasion sir. The second I nearly turned myself in for scrapping…”

“Fooooof…well I'm glad you didn't buddy. But the 3 of us are together now. So if we don't return, at least we'll die together.”

“My apologies Master, but that isn't very reassuring.” The droid said before gazing out the cockpit window, eyes flickering with light, as if remembering something.

After they landed in a clearing about 800 yards away from the mountain base and suited the trio walked down the ramp amd stared into the dark jungle around them. It was only mid afternoon by the eery blackness loomed in the large TRIPLE canopy jungle. Various sounds of random jungle creatures could be heard all around them. D informed them that several were notable dangerous predatory species that would like stalking and hunt him and Master Karracca.

“Thanks D, but we got blasters and lightsabers. We'll be alright.” Kalen said he stepped off, walking towards the treeline as the wookie and droid tentatively began following him.

Before they got to the edge of the clearing an raspy and evil sounding voice rang on both Kalem and Karra's ears.

‘Those who enter, never exit.’

Kalen stopped and turned to hos companion “Did you guys hear that?” The first signs of apprehension entered his voice.

“Hear what Master?” D said.

“I heard it kid. Sounded like the Emperor to me.” Karracca growled. He had heard the voice of the long dead Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious before, many times. It was unmistakable.

“Emperor of wha…oh, you mean that Emperor.” The holovids about the fall of the Empire and the events of nearly a decade before often referenced or hinted at the Dark Sith Lord, and Kalen quickly clued in.

“Yeah, that one. I'm telling you kid, this is a bad idea.” Karracca growled.

“Hmm, spooky.” He took a few more steps towards the mountain and heard the insidious disembodied voice again.

‘Yes Jedi, come to my lair.’

“Alright then…uh, everyone back on the ship, lets get the kark outta here. No reward is worth this kinna Sithy weirdness.nope, nope, that's a whole bucket of nope.” Kalen said as he felt a corkscrew of goosebumps rush up his spine. He wasn't a coward, but he also wasn't suicidal. The trio got back on the Corra IV and beat feet, heading out of the system and away of this infernal place.

To: ACE Accounts Recievable, ACE Internal Affairs, ACE Chief Financial Officer

From: Joss and Associated Ltd

Time: 2326h 303rd day of 43 ABY

Re: Overdue Notice- Possible Legal Action

In response to your billings department refusal to pay the sums below I will now be forced to seek legal recompense for this insult if my revised invoice is not paid promptly within 30. As an Inquisitorious file has already been opened regarding the ACE's shady treatment of contractors and even Brotherhood members, I am hopeful that this bill will be paid promptly.

As was so rudely demanded by your billing clerk on the attached datalink message of Thursday last week, I have removed the fee I had included for the Oil Bath and steam cleaning of my droid D-3PO, even after he proved instrumental in the success of the operation. Further may I remind you that this invoice has a top secret TRIPLE VIOLET code clearance attached to it, and I'm sure the the duly appointed member of the ACE Board of directors be disappointed to hear from the Dark Council about how unfairly one of their own members was treated by some non force wielding bureaucrats.

The below sums are not a small amount of money, and we expect this matter to be handled expediently as this invoice is now more then 43 minutes overdue, it's honestly a bit of an outrage that you let your billing department act like this. Yes, I'm talking directly to you Mr. Chief Financial Officer, speaking directly into all 7 of your ears. Ignore this notice at your own peril. I was working directly for the DGam on this one so I feel this level of disrespect is unwarranted and unprofessional.

Further work on open contracts with the Arx Commerce Exchange will halt if this bill is not reconciled within the next 7 business days. We currently have 14 ongoing jobs with you and some are time sensitive, and I would hate for you to have to explain this one to the powers that be. Failure to pay an invoice this overdue is a breach of contract, as clearly stated in the documentation signed by both parties at the start of each job. Also, if heads don't role in the Accounts Receivable department I might make some heads of account receivable employees. Figure it out up there, and quick if you want to keep us on as high level contractors

Attached invoice:

-58.5 hours of work at our premium rate of 100 credits per hour.

-50 hours of work at our standard rate of 200 credits per hour.

-40 hours of labour performed by my protocol droid, 50 credits per hour.

-26.5 hours of flight time on operational duty for the JV Corra III, standard rate of 100 credits per hour.

-Extra fuel surcharge of 1892 credits for excessive hovering in atmospheric conditions due to your Economic Attache's negligence.

-250 credit surcharge for cleaning my prisoners hold on my ship.

-1760 credit charge for required permits and parking fees.

-180 credit fee for required dry cleaning of garments an upholstery after your official got too drunk on the outward trip.

**The Undercover Plagueian Jedi**

The missions just kept coming for Kalen, this would be his 24th operation since joining House Ventress two and a half months before. And that had included a weeks long trip to Arx where they had done only 3 missions in over 3 weeks.

“This is wild. I'm just too busy, I got all these missions. New house, new pets. 2 new business ventures it’s craziness I tell you. At some point I'm gonna have to slow down…you know what I mean?” He asked Reece, the hallucinatory, demented, but exceedlingly useful R3 droid hmwho was chilling with him on the bridge of Corra IV.

“Was waiting for this dude. Yeah you're running yourself ragged. Why don't you hand things over to me for a bit, take a little vacation, you can come back nice and refreshed.” Again, Reece thought that he was the main character and the humanoids were his sidekicks as he beep booped a response.

“You're really eager to step up and lead aren't you Reece. Its commendable, really, and you've got alot of experience too.” he replied to the droid who wiggled a bit in excitement, thinking that maybe this would be his chance. Maybe he'd be freed and could build his own crew, take his own gigs, and show that stuck up goofy goof R2 droid in all the news stories and holo-ocumentaries the what for. Much of Reece's drive and inspiration on life stemmed from a meeting with a blue and white punk R2 droid way back in 3 ABY. He'd never forget the rebuke, and had avoided a memory wipe ever since. And though his AI was beginning to hallucinate, and though his experiences had led him to have a demented sense of humour and worldview, he was a good person deep down inside, he knew it, and his new friends knew it, and his current owner Karracca certainly knew it.

Kalen punched in the coordinates where they were going to drop off a Brotherhood Inquisitores agent who was assigned to infiltrate the Severian principle and figure something about some weapons shipments or some such. Kalen hadn’t payed much attention to the brief, it was a standard drop off and pick up mission. He'd drop the dude off, bingo bango, he would stow away on a freighter that they suspected was going to be hijacked or rerouted or some karkin thing. Then, bippity bap, the guy would get the info, then jump off at the next service station the ship stopped at. Ziggity zam, Kalen picks him up. They head home with intel, bang, mission done. At least that's what Kalen thought was gonna happen.

“So. You want to give me a promotion then?” Reece asked.

“Oh, wait…uh, I mean. Yeah, sure. What kinna job you want? These Lancer class freighters are rated for a crew of 4-6 depending how we got the hardpoints configured…but sure how about Chief Navigation Officer, with the uh, rank of, I dunno, Junior Lt? Sounds good bud?”

Reece almost leapt out of his gears in excitement. “Are you karkin kidding me? Yeah that sounds good.” He rapidly booped and beeped.

And with that the Corra IV added its 3rd Officer and member of the crew. A senile old R3 droid.

Oh yeah…the mission. Almost forgot about that. So yeah, the stowaway Brotherhood spy dude ended up finding out that it was a group of freighter captains that were siphoning off all the weapons shipments and pocketing the profits. The Brotherhood then quietly had the freighter skippers killed in quite a gruesome and public fashion and their ships were impounded and seized.