The Runaways

The Plan

21 BBY, Coruscant

Detta, despite the news she just received, was hard at work. She looks so tired. Slight bags under her eyes, sunken in flesh. Her normally vibrant violet skin had a slight grey tint to it. It concerned me. She conversed with Crack-up, devising a plan. Without looking, she used the force to send a small case flying from her closet. It landed with a thump on the floor beside her.

"We'll use this." She opened the case. It was full of credits. Golden, shining. We were all slightly taken aback. "I've been saving these up ever since I was little." Crack-up spoke next.

"Detta, your plan rests on luck."

"It rests on hope, and these credits are my only hope." Detta snapped.

"What's the plan?" Ranahan leaned in.

"We find an unmarked cargo ship, paint it up to look like a slaver ship-" Crack-up began.

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Verity wrung his hands together.

"Let him finish."

"As I was saying..." Crack-up cleared his throat. "We paint it up to look like a slaver ship. That's after we fly to Ryloth to see an old friend of Detta's. He's a tailor. He'll sew us up some outfits. Us clones play the part of slaves. Detta plays the slave master. We fly to Zygerria, worm our way into the hearts of the slavers, buy back Detta's mother and sisters with the credit's she's been saving."

"Are you kriffing kidding me? This plan will never work." Rider hissed. "It's one of the most reckless, stupi-"

"HEY." I snapped at him. "Detta needs our help. This is our only plan. I suggest you shut your mouth and go along with the only plan we have, or make a better one." The room fell silent. 

"Well, rest good men. We leave early in the morning." They all left, mumbling about the plan. Once I was the only one left, Detta flopped on the bed and let out a long sigh."I don't know if this will work." She inhaled shakily.

"If the plan goes awry, we'll find a way." I replied. She rolled over to face the bland wall. She threw off her robes. I watched as they landed on a crumpled heap on the floor.

"We need a neutral, unmarked ship."

"I've got one." I replied coolly.

"How?"

"I've got friends."

"Ooo~ mysterious." Detta rolled her eyes. I scoffed in reply. She rolled over, never making eye contact with me. "Spitfire."

"Yes?"

"My sister is dead." Detta still lay on her side, staring at nothing. I was at a loss for words. "She tried to kill the Zygerrian queen. Anakin Skywalker stopped her."

"Lecti?"

"No, it was Avalyn...when the queen threatened more processing, she decided she couldn't take it. She jumped off the palace wall. She just couldn't go back."

"I'm so sorry." Neither of us moved. "Why didn't you tell the council."

"I didn't want to show that I had attachments." She finally broke down. Her empty stare turned into more tears. I stood to comfort her, but she turned away. "I would like to be alone."

"Ok. I'll see you in the morning."