The Long Road Home!

Zara was kicked back on the lounge chair aboard Crysania's Voyager. The cargo ship had everything a traveler would want. Whoever her husband was knew how to take care of his women. Crysania appeared at the doorway from the bridge. "I'll be comming out of hyperspace in about 20 minutes. I'm running a little late here so can I get ya to help me ready the cargo for transfer?" She asked with almost a pleading look on her face. Zara got up from the wonderful chair. "Ya, sure. I need to move around a little anyway. I don't want to get spoiled by your chairs." Zara said as he streached. Crysania chuckled as she headed to the cargo hold. Zara quickly followed. It was the least he could do for her help.

Apon entering the hold, it didn't take long for Zara to Identify the cargo. Military rations, Correlian Whiskey, Simple supplies including blank datacards. All of it was in Imperial crates. "Your brave to be hauling this much Imperial equipment. I'm surprised your husband would want you to take chances like this." Zara said as he went to work on the first set of straps. Crysania smiled. "Actually this is all for my husband. But don't worry, he gets along with the Empire." She said as she undid the first strap. Zara stopped working and turned to her. "Uh, am I going to be a problem? I didn't realize we was meeting your husband." Crysania looked up from the second strap. "It's no problem. My husband trust me fully, but I wouldn't mention anything about the New Republic to him if I was you." She said as she went back to work on the straps. "Ah, thanks for the warning!" Zara said as he went back to work.

10 minutes later they was done and heading to the bridge. Idle conversation was made as Zara looked for something to do to help. Crysania pretty much had everything covered so he just sat back and watched the star lines go by. "Ok, we're comming out of hyperspace. Don't get too nervous and everything will be fine. Your just a traveler headed home." Crysania said as she pulled back the hyperdrive levers. Zara opened his mouth to ask what she meant but only silence emmited as an Imperial Star Destroyer appeared in the forward view port. The comm came to life. "Crysania's Voyager, this is Destroyer Vindicator, we have you on radar. Proceed to docking bay 3." Crysania hit the comm switch. "Roger Vindicator. I'm enroute." Crysania said as she turned the comm back off. She quickly headed for the instructed docking bay.

"You could have warned me a bit sooner." Zara said as he undid his blaster belt and hid it under the console. "Well there was no sense getting ya upset for nothing and besides, ya never asked!" She said. She brought the ship smoothly to the docking bay with ease. Zara was still tence when she started lowering the cargo ramp. "You need to relax. your safe here as long as ya don't screw up." She said as she got up and headed for the cargo hold. Zara took some measured breaths. He wasn't prepaired for a cover story of any kind. At least the new YT-2000 and the Imperial cargo made sense now. Zara got up and headed to the cargo hold. He needed to hear what excuse Crysania gave to the Imperials about him.

Zara got to the cargo hold to see the Imperial dock personel already unloading the cargo. Crysania was standing on the deck with a list accounting for everything they unloaded. Zara reached over and picked up one of the Correlian Whiskey crates and headed down the ramp. The Imperials didn't give him much notice. Crysania waved him over. "Leave the Whiskey here with me. It's a bonus for them." She said as she marked it off her list. Zara returned to the ship for another case making a quick glance around as he did so. Across the landing bay he seen a Imperial officer headed this way. The officer had a couple troopers following behind him. Zara didn't dare glance that way again. He fetched another case and headed back to Crysania.

By the time he reach her again the officer was comming up behind her. "Somebody important behind ya" Zara whispered to Crysania as he turned to get another case. Zara noticed the officer eyeing him a bit as he turned back to the ship. Zara only made 3 steps when Crysania yelled out. "Mac!" Zara casually looked over his shoulder to see Crysania hugging the Imperial officer. Zara continued up the ramp and retrieved the final case of whiskey. On returning to Crysania, he seen the Officer had his arm on her shoulders as she was explaining the contents of the cargo.

"And whats this?" The officer asked of the crate Zara was carrying. "It's 3 full cases of Correlian Whiskey minus 1 bottle I have stored for me." She said with a smile. "And how did we come by this?" The Officer asked. "Compliments of a friendly officer with 3 pairs of new boots and a new matress for his bed." She replied. "Ok, I don't need to know anymore." He said with a smile. He motioned for the 2 troopers to take the cases. "And now who is this?" He asked after sending the troopers away. "Oh, I'm sorry. Lt Commander Davin McKenzy, meet Zara. Zara, this is Mac, he's my husband." Crysania said. Zara took Mac's offered hand. "A pleasure to meet ya." Zara added. Zara noted the strong rugged hands of the officer. Very unlike most imperial officers he had met. Though he had to admit to himself that he doesn't know any imperials on a first name basis either.

"So whats your purpose to be traveling with my wife?" Mac asked. "Just hitching a ride when I can." Zara said in his most relaxed voice. Mac eyed Zara for a moment. "Drifting about isn't much of a life. If your looking for a purpose, I may be able to help ya." Mac offered. Zara couldn't hide all of his surprise at the offer. "It's a tempting offer but I have to get home and help my Uncle out. He needs me there." Zara answered. "And where is home?" Mac pried. "Togoria." Zara answered hoping he wasn't giving out too much information. "Togoria?!" Mac said in surprise. He quickly turned to Crysania. "Your going to Togoria?" Mac asked of her. A look of hope was in his eyes. Crysania looked confused. "Yes, we're headed there next. Why?" She replied. Mac thought for a bit and started biting his lip. Zara started to worry and decided to pry himself. "Whats wrong with Togoria?" Zara asked, unable to hide his concern. Mac looked around briefly and then headed to the ship. Zara looked to Crysania who only shruged her shoulders in return and started to follow him. Zara joined in the parade hot on thier heels.

Once inside the ships lounge, Zara didn't hold back. "Whats wrong with Togoria?!?!" He asked immediately. Mac waved off Zara. "Theres nothing wrong with Togoria, but I'm going to need ya to do something for me hon." Mac said turning to Crysania. Crysania looked stunned. "Just name it. I'll do it." She replied. Mac paced as he started to explain. "I have 7 Togorians and I can't get to Togoria without a fight. I tried to set up passage for them only to have the captain of the transport try to sell them back into slavery. I got them back and dealt with him but now the Togorians don't trust me as much. Togoria is too deep in New Republic territory for me to risk my crew. I could probably get there and back out but not without taking some damage and drawing attention to myself. I need you to take them but I don't know how the Togorian Goverment will take to you dropping off slaves." Mac explained. Zara was in shock. "Don't worry about the Togorian Goverment." Zara said. Mac looked at Zara questionly, but didn't ask. Mac turned back to Crysania. "You know I hate to get you envolved in anything that could be dangerous but I'm out of options. Anything else and I have to answer to my superiors for it." Mac pleaded. "There's no danger. I'll take them. You should have told me sooner. Zara can help." Crysania replied trying to assure Mac. Mac looked back to Zara then back to Crysania for another minute before finally returning his gaze on Zara. After a minute of silence Mac asked. "I don't want to know how but can you gaurantee her saftey?" Zara stood up straight in military fashion. "I can 100% promise you that she will be perfectly safe." Zara replied. Understanding came fully across Mac's face. Mac then stood in his own straight military posture "If this goes without any troubles. I know of more who desperately want to go to thier homes."Mac said.


CHAPTER 5