The Sins of the Father...

[Michael Cline]

"MICHAEL TIMOTHY CLINE!"

The words were like fingernails drawn slow and tortorous over a chalkboard. The flaming haired boy came to a sharp stop at the door he had been creeping out of. "Yeah... mom?" He was almost afraid to even answer.

"Where do you think YOU'RE going?" The woman stalked towards him from the kitchen, a frying pan in hand... Michael felt his blood run cold - his mom was a whiz with a frying pan - both in and out of the kitchen...

"Just to Billy's house... he wants to show me his new speeder." He felt his mother's icy glare fix on him, and a chill went through his spine. "You can go to Billys later. I need you to run your dad's lunch to him, he left in such a rush this morning he forgot to take it with him." His heart sank, that meant going all the way to the port, any chance he would have had to go see Billy's speeder was slipping away moment by moment. "But Mom!" He started to protest, but his mother's glare didn't halter, and he thought better of it.

"FINE." He sighed in exasperation. His mother's scowl quickly vanished, a kindly smile (with just a touch of victory behind it) replaced it. "That's the boy I raised." She extended her hand, a silver lunch pail dangling from her grasp. Taking it he walked towards the door.

"And Michael..." His mother called out. Leaning his head back, he looked over his shoulder at her from the door. "Yeah, mom?"
"You might see if your father needs any help, before you head home, alright dear?" Well, there went his last fleeting hopes of seeing Billy's new speeder - his dad ALWAYS had chores for him. "...Sure thing mom." With that he headed out.

MEANWHILE

Harlen Cline was just finishing up some minor shield repair to his small freighter. "Whelp," he said with a half-smile, "that should hold for now, I'd reckon."

[Mandy with an I]

"Good, because I found a special shipment that needs to be delievered pronto."

A steady stream of smoke followed the woman as she walked towards the man. Her dark hair was pulled back from her face by a pair of darker sunglasses, a smile *and lit stim* on her lips as she stopped in front of Harlen. She took a long drag, dropping the butt to the floor and stubbing it out.

"And you're just the man for the job, Mr Cline."

[Michael Cline]

He frowned sharply, rubbing his hands in an oil rag.

"I'm sorry Miss. Jinn, I don't do that kind of work anymore." He glanced away, this was it - he was making his stand. No more smuggling, he had a nice little nestegg, Michael hadn't had any problems with his vision in years, and he was finally developing his business into a comfortable, and legitimate, enterprise.

"You'll have to find someone else to do your job."

[Mandy with an I]

"Oh."

Her smile faded quickly as she took another stim from the pack, lighting it and drawing in deep. A few seconds of silence passed, followed by a sigh and a plume of smoke from the woman.

"Well, that's too bad. I'm sure my clients will be very disappointed when they hear about your retirement. " Her eyes narrowed as more smoke escaped her lips. "I'm almost certain they would try to...persuade you to reconsider."

[Michael Cline]

He turned his back to her, his voice cold.

"Is that a threat?" He walked away from her a bit and stopped. "The answer is no, and I'll deal with the consequences of that answer." He turned sharply to glare at her, "Now, get lost."

-MEANWHILE-

Michael had pulled into the port, and having docked his speeder walked slowly towards his dad's 'shop', from this distance he could see his dad talking with some lady, probably a client. If he timed it just right... maybe he could get in and out before dad could think of any chores for him to do. Maybe.

[Mandy with an I]

Hot ash flicked onto the cold duracrete floor as Dae shook her head.

"Nah, you know, I don't think so. I bust MY behind, go out of MY way to get you all those jobs, to help you pay for your brats' surgery, and this is how you treat me. You can't just walk away from this, Harlen. There isn't some escape clause when you're in as deep as you are."

She glanced over her shoulder - a young man was walking towards the open hangar door. Her gaze returned to the Harlen. "Do you really want them to come after your family? Because they will."

[Michael Cline]

His eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed. "I'm quiting because of my family. I have to get out of this biz before we all end up either dead or imprisoned." He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose gently. "C'mon Dae... help me out here."

Michael was strolling up on the entrance when an intense feeling washed over him, an urgency. He couldn't place it, and he didn't know why he suddenly thought it - but he knew right down to his very bone that something was wrong. He rushed towards his father, "Dad?" He called out as he ran...

[Mandy with an I]

"I will try, but you're going to owe me. Big time."

The pair clammed up as Michael approached. Dae put on a bright smile, nodding to Harlen. "So, I should be going, but we can discuss this later, Mr Cline. You have my comm number."

[Michael Cline]

"I do indeed, Miss Jinn. I look forward to our next... conversation." Harlen put on the biggest fake smile he could muster.

Michael stood there for a moment, it... was just business? No, something still seemed off. "Dad... is everything alright?" Michael asked timidly, looking up at his father.

Harlen was taken aback for a moment. "Of course it is, Michael. Miss Jinn and I were just discussing a little business."

Michael eyed the woman carefully, business, right. "A new job, dad? What are you going to be transporting for Miss Jinn?" He narrowed his eyes a bit at the woman, he didn't like her. She was creepy, or at least that's how he would have described the sensation he felt around her.

[Mandy with an I]

She took the stim from her mouth, flicking the spent stub to the ground. She kept her smile in place, in spite of the boys' questioning glare.

"Your father is just taking some supplies to one of my businesses. Nothing special." Her words seemed forced, but polite. She nodded to Harlen. "This must be the Michael I've heard so much about. Your dad is always telling me what a great son he has."

[Michael Cline]

"Funny, he's never mentioned you." He glared deeply at her. "MICHAEL!" His father growled, "watch your manners, boy. I raised you better than that." Michael let out a half sigh, his breaths were shallow, and his gaze didn't leave the woman. The more he was near her, the more he was sure he didn't like her.

Harlen shot Michael a quick glare, then looked back to the woman. "I'm sure you're busy, and have things to take care of Dae..." He extended a hand, "Take care... and keep what I said in mind, alright?"

[Mandy with an I]

"Sure."

She didn't bother shaking his hand, turning on her heel as she walked back towards the entrance. She gave him a half-hearted wave over her shoulder.

"Good luck, Harlen. I have a feeling you'll need it."

[Michael Cline]

- Weeks passed, without incident -

Michael had gone over to Billy's to check out his new speeder the day before, he'd ended up spending the night over there helping Billy work on the engine. He was in SO much trouble, he hadn't even thought to call mom or dad to let them know - let alone him staying out all night, maybe he could sneak into his room before anyone saw him, fat chance of that though - at 11:00 a.m.

He docked his speeder carefully, quietly, and crept to the door. He reached out to check the handle, it was unlocked. CRAP. Mom and dad were already up, then - probably on the couch waiting for him to come in. Might as well get it over with, he thought to himself as he walked inside to find an empty room.

"..." He stopped in the middle of the room, once again being overwhelmed by sensations he didn't know or understand. GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, his mind was screaming at him. The house was empty, and felt like death. In a flash he turned, rushing out of the house as if Vader himself were chasing him. He ran for dear life, down the street and past everything he'd known, and when he finally felt safe - he kept running, just to be sure.

He came to rest in an area he had never been to before, never seen. He fell to his knees, his heart and head pounding, his breath tight in his chest. "What the FRACK was that?!" He said to no one in particular. He didn't know what was going on - all he knew was he couldn't go home. He'd try mom and dad's comm soon, maybe... maybe he was wrong - maybe they were just out - at lunch, or looking for him or something. They're gone, and you know it. No... NO! He couldn't believe that, they were okay... they had to be.

[Michael Cline]

Continued Here. (http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39314)