Philanthropy and Procrastination

[Rufus Delauvay]

Rufus sat in a cafe where several obvious scholars were lounging, drinking some highly sophisticated drink while they spoke of highly sophisticated topics of discussion.

"Did you hear about Professor... and that student...?!"

"Oh no! They didn't...!"

Rufus was leaning forward, an elbow resting on the table surface while his palm supported his forehead, his eyes closed. Rondo had said he should probably arrive a little bit early. Maybe he'd been too early and should've expected this Russard person to be fashionably late. Rufus was a bit uncomfortable, sitting in a cafe in the Imperial Sector of Coruscant. He was sitting here to speak with the contact that would finalize his entry into the Rebellion in the capital planet of the Empire itself. While it might've been great for a story, every stormtrooper that passed the panes of the cafe had Rufus' eyes somewhat casually trailing. He had sat before enough Imperial Investigation teams and lied out right to their faces concerning the cargo he had aboard the ship and he'd made it down to an art, but he wasn't on his ship now. It was kilometers away at the docking bay where 'Lance and Celia were waiting.

[Estelle Russard]

She didn't know if it was such a great idea to meet here, at one of the favorite campus cafe's, but Estelle couldn't deny the obvious merit - she was completely in character and would raise no questions from anyone by being here. Her contact was a young man, apparently. Of an age close to her own. That might raise some eyebrows from one or two of her friends, they loved anything gossip-worthy. But that, too, could work for her. A 'cover' of the most natural circumstances. Unless the guy was a gamorrean to look at, that would be an obvious suspicion raiser as far as her friends were concerned. But Estelle was getting ahead of herself. Just make the contact first, she chided inwardly. No need to complicate what was simple first steps.

She breezed into the cafe just a minute or two after the arranged time. Bundled in her coat, sketch book and tin of charcoals tucked under one arm, her floppy purse-slash-pack clutched in the other, she pushed open the door with her hip and side-stepped inside, smiling a breif hello here and there to those she recognised already seated inside.

She stepped up to the counter to order a tea, casually looking around to locate one "Rufus Delauvay" aspiring Rebel hopeful. The description she'd been given via Alliance HQ was quite accurate as she spied what had to be her guy seated near the storefront window and looking at her from under his semi-bowed head. Bingo.

"Tea, white one sugar please" she ordered, allowing her sketch book to slip out of her grasp to fall onto the floor.

[Rufus Delauvay]

Finally, something worth looking at. Rufus glanced beyond his table to watch the latest arrival bend over to retrieve a dropped book and gave her around 8. The face was generally what finished the last two points off but he had only gotten a glimpse of that and not enough of one to make any quick judgements.

Rufus supposed he should've felt guilty, with Celia back at The Last Chance, but it wasn't like she meant anything. It was practically window shopping and anyone could do that, for free even. As refreshing as it was though, his eyes went to the ceiling as he leaned back and rested his elbows on the back of the seat behind him, tossing his head slightly so that a shard of his brown hair might remove itself from his eye.

He didn't have to glance at his chrono to know the Russard person, who he really knew nothing about, was now a few minutes late. He knew little about the inner core social mannerisms, but Rufus stuck with his fingers crossed that being fashionably late was the trend around here.

[Estelle Russard]

Ok, note: Rufus Delauvay is a little slow on the uptake. Estelle picked up her sketchbook before some other helping hand assisted her and took the opportunity for the accidental introduction she'd set up. Slow..or: he had been told nothing about her and had no idea who to look for. She gave him the benefit of the doubt, paid for her tea, and made her way over to where he was seated.

"Excuse me" she opened, noticing he had an intelligent face when he looked up to her. "Would you mind if I sit across from you? I have a sketch I have to finish, and the light falls just right here." She sat before he could reply and continued on in that easy manner fellow students had with each other, "My name is Estelle Russard, whats yours?"

[Rufus Delauvay]

Rufus determined that with a proper judgement delivered upon viewing her face that she was in fact a 9. But before he could make an objection and devise some trite and polite way to say he didn't give a rancor's bottle of perfume how well the light fell even though it did fall well down her neckline, and then she finished her sentence...

"I-I-I-I... I'm R-r-r-r... I'm Rufus Delauvay."

Rufus could talk himself out of cryostasis unless of course it involved a lady. It always felt like he had to give the engine a few seconds to get running before he could operate on a natural level with them. And this was one of those moments where he was glad he didn't blush and his hair was long enough to cover his ears which he was sure were glowing red by now.

"I'm ap-p-p-p-plying to the University, I'm j-j-just waiting for my paperwork to go through. You wouldn't happen to know how long that takes, would you?"

[Estelle Russard]

She assumed a casual air and opened her sketchbook onto the table, pushing her tea to one side and her tin of charcoal to the other.

"It usually doesn't take long" she said, eyeing him with slight concern. Did the guy have a speech impediment? She selected a small, often-used peice from her little box and fixed Rufus with her brown eyes as she brushed a line here and there on the page. "References are the big thing they look for, really"

Rondo was a man of good reputation among the rebels. And Rufus had been sent by him. All preliminary checks on him had satisfied Alliance screening so far. Apart from some glaring inconsistency between the man on paper and the man in person, this meeting would be the first of many between herself and Mr. Delauvay.

She continued to move her hand across the paper in long fluid motions. "Can I ask why you chose the Tarkin Institute, Rufus?"

[Rufus Delauvay]

"Uhhhhhh..."

He leaned his head back, being incognito about this stuff wasn't really his forte. He generally just avoided outright lying if he could to save him the problem. 'Lance pointed out all too often how easily Rufus could mix up a story the moment he fumbled. So he just had to dress it up a little, that was all.

"W-w-well, I chose here 'cuz I'm like a huge fan of Tarkin, a solid hero of the Empire and all."

Rufus hated the man with every breath.

"And I heard y-y-you guys have some good college sports, I figure I have a chance at a scholarship, maybe go pro later on. I might even get an education out of it all."

Rufus had really never considered a higher education. There just wasn't enough time in the world to be a scholar at some Institute. He'd read on occasion during flights but for the most part he left the smarts factor up to his little brother.

[Estelle Russard]

A small thin line appeared between Estelle's brows as they knit together in a slight frown.

What was Rufus talking about? She had thought she was clever, following his lead with the 'paperwork' reference and had continued on in that vein, assuming the double-speak was actually about him joining the rebel cause. Was he really expressing interest in the University itself?

That was twice now in almost as many minutes that she had assumed something about Rufus and was left feeling foolish. Geez, the Alliance would frell itself if it knew what an amatuer had been sent to welcome Delauvay into the cause. Her handler, Kal Kristmansen, had obviously expected her to deport herself professionally when he'd given her this assignment, and here she was making errors like a typical rookie. She felt bad for Rufus.

Her own recruitment had been handled expertly - Grace Van Derveld and Yun Tilgraze had not misstepped once. She needed to do better if she was to prove herself worthy to follow in their path.

She made an effort to clear the airwaves between herself and the young man opposite her.

"The University is the best you can get" she said simply. "Have you seen the campus? I could show you around, if you'd like"

[Rufus Delauvay]

"Uhhhhh... sure."

He stood slowly, turning around to push the chair in let him glance about the room some more. He thought being a little more subtle about his appearance would've helped but seeing the other students present in the cafe conveyed that he still stuck out pretty badly. Coruscant catered to too many fashions and styles for even Rufus' taste. And thinking back at his attempt to fit in, all he had really done was change his blaster holsters out from his hip to his chest so he still could've been easily profiled as an Outer Rimmer.

As they made their way to the door, eyes trailed them and a few tables emmited this loud whispering noise which he figured was something close to gossip but it still made him feel uneasy. He held the door for her and they exited into the frequented walkway outside.

"Where to first?"

[Estelle Russard]

"I'll take you to the Registrar's office" she said, smiling warmly as she stepped passed Rufus, tucking her sketchbook and tin into her baggy purse. They turned in the direction of the University.

"Good, its much easier to talk out here" she said as they walked along at an easy pace, "but still be careful what you say, and how loud you say it."

Suddenly, she was not quite the young, layed-back student any more, but had taken a more business-like attitude.

"You have come to us through a loyal contact of good standing. The Alliance has run the necessary background checks and given you the green light. You did not arrive in Imperial Center alone, correct?"

[Rufus Delauvay]

Awesome, now that she was suddenly talking like she was someone else and down to business, time seemed to start moving again at a normal pace.

"Right, my crew, me, my brother, and Celia Monteverdi, Rondo's daughter. They're back at the ship though."

[Estelle Russard]

"And they are of the same mind as yourself?"

It was important to have a clear understanding of what the rebels could expect from Rufus. It was every bit as important for Rufus to know what to expect from the rebels in turn.

Estelle skipped over a hole in the durocrete underfoot, and continued.

"You can speak for them?"

[Rufus Delauvay]

"Hey, lemme' tell ya something..."

This prancing around business was starting to get to him. He knew what she was about with the discreet questions and interview already, but Rufus had been waiting for this kind of oppurtunity really too long for someone he had just met to question his devoted brother and innocent girlfriend.

Rufus turned sharply on his heel and one hand shot out, his shyness lost amidst his bravado. He pushed her against the wall, and he was against her. Some looked but his head was canted so and his long hair covered enough bypassers could only presume some young couple was being anything but discreet about their activities. His right hand was pressed against the other side of her ear, his mouth was close to the opposite ear as he whispered. His voice was as unexpectedly different as his actions were; she could hear an edge in it that betrayed a bitter taste of unknown volumes.

"My brother's literally pickled on my ship from some Imperial engineered disease and my girl, well, she's got those special powers that the Empire isn't too fond of. And to put it all in a more simplified perspective for you. I'm from Alderaan."

[Estelle Russard]

Estelle's heartrate jolted up about ten notches as Rufus, in an instant, had turned from barely able to string three or four coherent words together, into a threatening and very assertive individual.

Pinned against the wall, exposed for anyone to see and make all kinds of conjectures on, Estelle was furious. To draw a weapon, should she have even been carrying one -- which she wasn't-- would have only been like throwing fuel onto a fire. A very unnecessary fire.

Allowing him to say his peice, Estelle waited to see if Rufus had finished. Apparently he had, as they stood staring at one another for what seemed like way too long. Eventually, Rufus eased the pressure of his fingers that held her in place.

"You just could have answered 'yes,' you know" she said with much more calm than she felt. "This kind of nonsense is exactly why we ask questions -- a reaction like you just had doesn't equate with a cool and level head. I think it was a mistake for Rondo to send you"

She should not have said the last part. She didn't have the right, nor the experience to pass such judgements. But dang it, this joker just roughed her up for no reason and that just ticked her off. Too bad for Mr. Alderaan.

[Rufus Delauvay]

Cool and level head? A mistake for Rondo to send him? Just who was this Estelle Russard? Rondo's recommendation obviously wasn't enough to get a man in, nor having his daughter among the crew and both being former natives of Alderaan. Maybe he was going about this the wrong way. Maybe he had been wrong about the Alliance. They didn't need guys like him. He'd been procrastinating this kind of decision for too long now. He was older than he used to be and he wasn't invincible. Maybe getting the other two into the mess was just too much. That was a lot of maybes. Way too many really.

"Keep your cool and level head then."

Rufus leaned back slowly until he was stepping back a few steps, the rush of bravado having melted away with his thoughts like finger paint in the rain. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket as his mouth quirked to the side with uneasiness. She spoke like it was over and he wasn't going to bother wasting anymore of their time. He'd give Rondo a call once he returned and then go from there. Maybe just settling down and running errands and jobs for Rondo would be good enough.

"You have my number then, c-c-call if you need help... I guess."

Rufus shrugged. He mostly didn't care whether or not he had offended her. He had too much respect for Rondo to hear someone throw it around like Rondo wasn't trustworthy. He had too much respect for himself and that he'd finally gotten around to trying to get into this shindig and the only thing keeping him from it was one untrustworthy inconsiderate school girl who thought she had something being a rebel at an Imperial Institute. However, he wouldn't turn down the Alliance if they ever did ask him to help. Just not now obviously, since they didn't seem to want or need it.

[Estelle Russard]

"...you guess..."

Estelle echoed his half-hearted committment and fixed Rufus with a steady gaze.

Just like that, he was gonna walk away. Good lord, what a sorry son of Alderaan this was. With determination like that within Alliance ranks, the Imperials need never fear the rebels again. If Rufus couldn't take basic questions from her, what would he do should there come real pressure upon him? If he was quick to bale now, she could just imagine what would happen when it really mattered.

Too bad..Rondo had spoken so highly of him..

"Next time maybe send your sick brother or your girl" she called to him from where she still stood against the wall, "They might actually want to see things through"

[Rufus Delauvay]

Rufus' hand went to his blaster in his jacket in seconds but didn't draw it. Somehow just having his fingers at the hand guard was reassuring. But this wasn't a duel and she wasn't trying to start a fight where she was. His lip lifted in a sneer slowly as his hand dropped down his chest. What a city slicking snob this one was. From inconsiderate to down right ruthless, she'd made that last remark with no holding back. It stung enough and was humiliating because Rufus half heartedly could admit to it. But the blatant statement demanded a retort, some response in defense of those he stood for.

"They'd leave quicker than I am, sure enough. They've got me on smarts and could've probably seen you've got a worse attitude than most Imperials do."

[Estelle Russard]

She'd seen the movement of hand to blaster - Rufus hadn't even bothered to be discreet about it. He'd not drawn on her, and that was a relief.

Estelle was at a loss to understand how things could have turned so sour, so fast. But frankly, right at this moment, she didn't care. Rufus had a chip on his shoulder the size of a rancor rib and was way to short tempered for her taste. She may be relatively new to the whole recriuting thing, but she wasn't an idiot. Delauvay was volitile - and needlessly quarrelsome. He may be of use somewhere in the Alliance, but the delicacy of espionage was beyond him. She was sure of it.

"Good riddence to the lot of you, then"

She was done here. Rufus could stomp his frill-shirted self right on back to where he came from, for all she cared. She couldn't wait to type off a scathing report of what a conceited, self-important nerf herder Delauvay had turned out to be.

And she might just use those exact words. This made her feel rather happy as she spun on her heel and huffed off back in the direction of the cafe.

[Rufus Delauvay]

---Later, Back at the Last Chance---

Rufus sat behind the round table, nursing a drink that was strong enough to be painful. He figured he deserved it after all the ruthless imagery of vengeance he had devised on his journey back to the hangar bay.

"What do you guys think? Was I too harsh? Did I blow our chance?"

'Guys' was directed at Celia who sat beside Rufus, rather close like in fact, and her hound who sat on the other side of her, eyeing Rufus as if he were the villain and cause of the galaxy's problems. 'Lance wasn't physically present but being as he was hardwired into every inch of the ship, he was more or less present company.

[Estelle Russard]

<B>Later at their Alliance safehouse</b>

"You will apologize." Kristmansen held his anger in check. Barely. The grinding out of his words proved as much. "Get your coat, Estelle" he ordered, having heard out the days events.

"Apologize..?" Estelle accepted the jacket Kal pushed roughly into her hands, a little dumbstruck. "He's the one that should apologize. I told you--"

Kristmansen gave her a glare to chill a tattooine lizards' belly blue, cutting her protest short. "<b>You</b> had a job to do, and did not do it"

Estelle's mouth opened and closed, wordless like a sucker-fish. She hadn't expected this reaction from him. She thought her handler would rally to her side, dismiss the brash Rufus for an idiot and be glad Estelle had not been hurt in the altercation. Apparently, she was mistaken.

"Might I remind you, Agent Russard, that Rondo was an old friend of mine - a man trusted and honored by the Rebels while you were still prancing around in pigtails and pyjamas. And <b>you</b> consider your own personal assessment of a man you've met for fifteen minutes to carry more weight and accuracy than mine, than Rondos -- frell, than that even of the Alliance chief staffers?"

"Er--" She began prudently to don her jacket as Kal continued. Well, if he was going to put it that way..

"You, Agent Russard, have lept to assumptions way beyond your paygrade, and in having done so have failed in your assignment, losing perhaps a valuable asset in the war against the Empire. And, in case you've not noticed, assetts such as Delauvay are not knocking down the Alliance doors of late begging for an <i> in</i>."

Estelle got busy doing up her buttons. She suddenly didn't feel quite so justified about her earlier reactions of the day. Rufus was a hothead, no question. But she should have handled it better. Its true, she had failed. And now she felt ashamed. Angry at herself, and definitely angry still at that scallawag Rufus, but ashamed nonetheless.

Kristmansen turned on his heel and left Estelle to catch him up without another word.

They would go in his speeder and they would be in the Delauvay & Co's company far too soon for her liking.

[Celia]

Celia Monteverdi couldn't exactly say that she was not displeased by the outcome of the meeting; She had been looking forward to moving onward with their plans, after all. However, she found it hard to blame Rufus for the undeniably unfortunate clash of intolerant personalities or whatever it was that triggered the discord between he and the rebel agent. Her lavender eyes drifted down from his expression to the drink he kept close and then back up again. A reassuring smile came to her face and she extended a glove bound hand to extract one of his from the container he clutched.

"I'm sure it was just an off day with a bit of misunderstanding, Rufus. We'll get another chance." She informed him confidently, bringing up her other hand so that she might caress his captured knuckles with her finger tips. She wasn't sure she was doing any good. Canting her head, she chewed at her bottom lip for a moment before adding.

"Soon in fact. I'm sure of it."

[Rufus Delauvay]

Rufus leaned into give Celia a peck on the cheek but 'Lance set off the proximity alert. Someone wanted into the hangar bay. Rufus sighed a centimeter away from Celia's soft skin before leaning back to face the round table as the holoprojector came alive. 'Lance was feeding the security camera right into the projector which gave Rufus a clear glance at who was a'knockin' at the front door.

"Great... That's her..."

He easily picked the skinny one out to be the Queen Bee from before. This just wasn't his day. The Alliance was probably coming to get something out of Rufus for his... attitude earlier. He was trying not to obviously sulk as he slumped his way out from behind the round table.

"Ey', 'Lance, hit the intercom will ya'? And lower the ramp... and arm the turrets... uhh... j-j-j-just in case..."

Rufus tried to ignore the fact that his confidence came and went like the wind when he didn't absolutely need it. And then he remembered Celia's prediction and he quickly turned on his heel, made a little gun with his hand pointed at her and made a horrible imitation of a blaster noise as Rufus winked at her.

"Sure of it, huh? Good eye, Lady."

He grabbed his harnesses and slid his jacket on as he approached the ramp. There was a good ten meters between the ship and the door of the docking bay, which the small group of five or so were waiting to be let in. When Rufus spoke from the ship, 'Lance routed the intercom to the door, instead of Rufus risking his neck and having to be right there on the other side of 'em.

"Something I c-c-c-can help y'all with?"

[Estelle Russard]

The peripheral hum of the turrets being armed was not lost on either Estelle or Kristmansen, but only Russard's expression acknowledged it. She had been trying to keep a sulky attitude from leeching out of her and so far, to her credit, she had succeeded. But the audible "hmff" embodying a "see, I told you so" sentiment as the ships weapons were made ready, put paid to all her good efforts.

"Remember yourself, Ophelia" Kal warned softly.

Kristmansen had used her codename, and she was duly chastened. She was the rebel agent - recruited and trained by two of the best operatives the Alliance had - not Deluavay. More was expected of her. Much more. Pettiness would not be tolerated. She breathed in deeply, this was not going to be pleasant.

"Mr Delauvay, I believe there has been a misunderstanding today." It was Kal at his diplomatic best. "I was hoping we could talk, like gentlemen. Clear a few things up."

Estelle looked up to where she assumed a visual security cam was located and gave the best demure look she was capable of, given the circumstances.

[Rufus Delauvay]

He heard the nice man speaking on the other end and saw that... nice woman from before on the security feed and grimaced. Even Rufus could tell she was fakin' it and he got beat at sabaac all the time. It was a good thing pazaak wasn't so much about playing your opponent. Well, Rufus thought it wasn't...

"I reckon..."

The door unlocked and opened, allowing the small group into the hangar bay. The turret didn't stand down but remained carefully trained on the group as Rufus stepped out to meet them halfway.

"How can I help you, Sai?"

[Estelle Russard]

Kristmansen, too, moved forward, but no so quickly as to appear threatening.

"You're taller than I remember," he opened easily, appraising Rufus with a candid eye. "And not near as skinny"

The statement surprised Estelle and she turned a sharp look at Kristmanssen. He knew this guy?

"O'course, thats going back a few years when you were paying your dues as Rondo's go-fer. He sure used to have you runnin" Kal smiled, reminiscent of a man from a less complicated life.

Russard felt quite suddenly the third wheel, and the feeling did nothing to mend her ill favor towards Rufus.

"Tell me, does the old man still grow those damn tomatoes?"

Grow what now? Estelle scowled, wanting to get down to the business of Delauvay's fool stunt outside the diner and the war with the Empire and the service of the Alliance. She bit her lip to hold her peace.

[Rufus Delauvay]

"By K-k-k-kessel's Run! Kal K-k-k-kristmansen! Why didn't-t-t-t you say somethin' there at that door, good Sai!?"

Rufus was astounded at the good fortune he'd just seemed to step out into in this hangar bay despite the look from that woman which he was almost afraid would peel the coating off his ship.

"The real quest-t-t-tion is when will he st-t-t-top growin' those tomatoes."

Rufus gave a wry smile and chuckled to stifle his laughter, hostility now well behind him in the company of a trusted man who'd always been good in Rondo's books which meant more than enough for Delauvay.

"I reckon an apology for holdin' you up at the door Krist-t-t-tmansen. I can't be expected-d-d-d-d to recognize every good voice I hear over the last-t-t-t deca-d-d-de."

The tall young man shrugged innocently.

[Estelle Russard]

"Its smart to be cautious these days, son" Kal said, unoffended. "One can never let their guard down or we invite disaster"

The small party was led inside and Estelle was somehow bumped back further and further behind the conversation, forcing her to step quickly and maneuver her way back to her place beside Kal. But by then the troupe had halted and, in her momentum, she came to a stop herself - one clumsy foot crunching hard on the top of one of Delauvay's boots.

Clear the throat a little, take a step back, there - back to composure again. When she looked up, Kal was looking down at her with a sharp frown. Delauvay was just looking at her. Curse the man.

Another step back and the men's conversation resumed.

"I was glad when Rondo made contact again" Kristmansen continued, "And when he mentioned you...." his smile widened. "You are a man who is not afraid to take risks, I know" he said, "but this is not the same as some of those crazy trade runs we did out by the Devils Colonade. Not the same game, you could say..."

Kal watched Rufus carefully as the young man replied.

[Rufus Delauvay]

Rufus was getting worked up again, he could feel it as he almost made a step forward. He liked Kal a lot but it sounded like there was just that thread of doubt, like Rufus hadn't been hounding Rondo for all this time for the job. Sure he'd been reluctant at first when the old man had made a few hints at it but then Rufus had set himself straight. He'd got his ship, pulled his brother out of that smelly hospital, and his girl was on board and more or less out of the reach of any rotten Imps.

And then that Estelle broad. Maybe she'd gotten a hold of Kal's ear and whispered some rotten corpse of deceit into 'em. Rufus wasn't sure but he figured if Kal couldn't tell he was the man for the job, then he just simply wasn't.

"Listen 'ere, Kal."

The stutter was more or less gone all of the sudden and Estelle could probably hear that similar edge from before when Rufus turned on her.

"I'll make the Kessel Run a day trip, I'll fly in and out of another Death Star, and I'll take on a SSD if you need me to. But if you say ya' need me alive, I'll stay alive by golly. I got kin and folk to be thinkin' of myself on board but they're in for the long haul as well so we value what we got and we know what we're fightin' for. For the Alliance, for Alderaan, and even for that one, spiteful as she might be."

Rufus lifted a glove and casually pointed towards the Ms. Russard.

"You need more of a sign than Rondo's word, Kal?"

[Estelle Russard]

Kristmansen lofted his brows in exagerrated surprise, turning to Estelle.

"He thinks you spiteful, Estelle" Obviously, that was amusing.

Russard glared.

"I think, Rufus" Kal said, turning back to Delauvay, "that we have an understanding." He draped a friendly arm around the young man's shoulders. "Is there somewhere private we can talk - I have some details I'd like to go over with you."

**************

Estelle kicked her heel against the crate she was seated upon, rythmically sounding off the long seconds of the long minutes she'd been awaiting her handler's return. Kristmansen and his long lost buddy had shuffled off down the eastern corridor of Delauvay's ship, leaving her to her own devices. Disgruntled and still chaffing on stutter-boy's rude remark, Russard sought comfort in her own company in the small loading bay area just inside the vessel's entryway.

It had seemed a long while before they returned, but it could not have been more than 15 minutes or so.

Estelle pushed herself off the crate with a small hop. It would be good to see the back of Rufus Delauvay and she was eager to be on her way.

"Its good to see you again, Rufus. Good luck" Kal said, shaking the young man's hand. Estelle gave him a cool look as farewell and led the way down the offramp.

Behind her, Kal called back to the newest member of the Rebel Alliance.

"Be ready to leave in 2 hours, Rufus. Estelle will be back by then with her things. Give my regards to Belargic."

Russard spun about in consternation, "What?!"

Kristmansen spoke, unsmiling "Your'e going on a little trip."