The strangest thing was that, for a people whose job it was to steal things, they had ridiculously terrible security. Luna and Cora followed the pirates to one of the half barrel hangers on the outskirts, hid behind some trees as the group walked in and out of sight and then on a whim, almost as a compulsion, Luna walked straight in after them.
Nothing happened.
The group that they'd followed didn't notice her.
The few individuals already in the hangar looked straight at her - and then went back to their work, ignoring her.
What the hell is happening here? she thought to herself, as Cora snuck in and joined her. 'Stand up straight,' she hissed. 'Act like you belong here. Cora straightened from her half crouch.
'Well this isn't weird at all,' Cora remarked.
'I know, right?' said Luna, looking around. 'Let's walk and have a very interesting conversation.' Luna took Cora's arm in hers and urged her on, looking intently at her.
'What are we doing?' said Cora, confused.
'Just walk and keep your heard looking at me,' Luna instructed her, inwardly cursing herself. Because Cora was on her right, it meant Luna could only look at the the near side of the hangar, whereas Cora could look past her and into the belly. 'Tell me what you see?'
'Cute dimples?' Cora said, confused. 'And you're blushing - oh. Right. In the hangar. Um. Well, there's that Consular class cruiser, looks to be Clone Wars era, by the look of the size of it. I can see, hmm, maybe five Uglies beyond it, and ohh.'
'What?' Luna said urgently, resisting the desire to turn around and look.
'A Z-95 headhunter!' Cora said excitedly. 'My mom had one of those. She taught me to fly in it.' she sighed whistfully. 'So many happy memories.'
'Focus,' said Luna sternly, trying not to smile. Cora's smile was infectious and she felt the sides of her mouth lifting.
'Okayyy,' Cora huffed, and Luna snorted. Cora elbowed her playfully. 'I think there's some more Uglies behind the cruiser, but I can't get a good sight line. There's some stairs leading up to a room, maybe a communal area, judging by the windows overlooking the hangar.'
Luna nodded. 'There's a good half dozen on this side, too. Should be enough for our purposes. How many people?'
'Twelve - no, wait, thirteen!'
'Plus the group we followed?'
'I don't recognise them, so no - oh Sithspit!'
'What - oh!' started Luna, but was interrupted by Cora dragging her into a mainenance alcove. They hunkered behind a powered down lifting droid, just as they heard footsteps walk by, then stop. Luna covered her mouth, trying to cover her fast breathing. She only hoped the pirate couldn't hear her racing heart either. She shared a look with a wide eyed Cora, her brain trying to think up something, a way to get out of there, but all she could focus on was the steps slowly getting closer.
Then, suddenly, there was a loud bang from outside, and she heard the pirate give out a yelp of surprise. Unfortunately, Luna yelped too.
At once Cora grabbed the lapels of her jacket and pulled her to the ground, her lips were on hers, Cora's arms wrapped around her and Luna was too stunned to do anything.
'Oh for crying out loud,' said a voice above her, and they broke apart. 'Ain't you townies got anything better to do than to get your jollies in our hangar?'
Luna's mind was too slow, to preoccupied, to think of anything to say. She felt her blush speak volumes for her.
'Go on,' said the pirate, a Klatooinian. 'Hop it. Don't let me catch you in here again.'
'We won't,' said Cora, then grinned slyly, 'let you catch us.'
The hell. thought Luna. Nerves of steel. The Klatooinian rolled his eyes and stalked off. They shared a look, and then laughed, unbelieving of their luck. 'Let's get out of here.' said Luna, taking Cora's hand.
***
'Sir,' said Luna, 'Can I have a word?'
'Sir?' said Face, arching an eyebrow. He nodded to a nearby bush, then led her away from the group. Luna took a quick look at their small makeshift observation post, overlooking the town. The rest of the Nexus had been taking turns on watching life unfold below, or checking their kit, or playing a game of sabacc. She followed after Face.
'Sir,' she said, steeling herself. 'I'm having second thoughts about the plan.'
'How come?' he asked quietly. 'Did you see something?'
'No,' said Luna. 'Well, yes. It's the town. It's so close to the hangar. I don't think it's a good idea. There could be casualties.'
Face nodded. 'I've already thought about that. It's a risk we have to take.'
'But sir,' she pressed, 'can we not think of another plan?'
Face sighed, long and low. 'We need to sell it. This is the only way.'
'I understand, sir, it's just,' she paused. 'There's something wrong about the outpost.'
'How so?'
'There's no young people.' she shrugged. 'It sounds silly, saying that, but it's something that's been playing on my mind.'
'Here too,' said Face, almost so quietly that she barely caught it.
'Sir?'
'Nothing, Luna. It's nothing.' he took a deep breath. 'I get it. I do. It sucks. But sometimes you have to do a little bad to stop a bigger bad. We go in tonight. We take their ships. And then we blow the place up.'
