Sprend & Swift Hunting Trip

Sprend showed up on Baron's doorstep, dressed in camo greeting the performer with nothing more than a nod. They traveled in silence out of the city, Swift unusually silent. When he finally broke the silence it was to pose a question.“How is the Safehouse working out, with the Takkas there? Any trouble with the kid?”

“It's gotten a bit cramped, the Takkas… I'm glad you ask. They're fine, the kids all right but it's not a place for a family like theirs, we need to get them out of the city soon, even off world would would be better for them.” Sprend pulled the delivery truck over and the two got out and started walking into the bush.

“Do you think we have any weaknesses in our group,” Baron asked, “or suggestions to improve our efficacy?

Sprend looked up at the fading stars as twilight neared, “Inexperience makes us weak, but the diversity makes us strong, we could afford to run more drills. We need more missions where we're confined together, you see much in each of us, but…” Sprend paused for what seemed like several minutes, “We need to believe in each other; doubt in each other, in ourselves, is dangerous, deadly.” Motioning for silence Sprend started setting up a quick and dirty duck blind near the water's edge as the two made themselves comfortable and settled in for the hunt.

It was an hour before dawn was in full force, and another before the calls of ducks drew near, Sprend motioned for Baron to wait and the two remained motionless until the sound of ducks got close, then Sprend took out a small call from within his coat and started calling to the ducks, they started to circle and settle down at the waters before them. Then Sprend nodded to Baron and the two opened fire.

Two hours later Sprend shared a rare smile to the Baron, “the hunt has been a resounding success overall, don't feel too bad at not getting too many birds, that was good for a first time.”

Swift smiled back, but after a moment turned serious.

“I appreciate your willingness to be a team player,” Baron started, “it is not easy to bide our time and strike only from the shadows. We have a finely balanced job to do - if we push too far, too quickly, the Imperials will spare no expense to hunt us down.”

Sprend nodded quietly, listening as the two started back.

“But if we are viewed only as a minor annoyance, hiding the extent of our victories, the bureaucracy may not realize how powerful we are becoming until it is too late. One slip up, and we may have to abandon everything we have here and run.

“In fact, we may have already made one mistake in our last mission - the man we rescued is guaranteed to draw undue attention to Bin Prime.

“Sprend; I need you to watch our backs. Be vigilant on our missions; the Empire is far more powerful here than our team realizes, and I have a feeling you understand that better than the others. They will show no mercy - they showed no mercy to my family, and will not show mercy to us.”

“You're right Baron, I know all too well how the Empire treats its…” Sprend paused, swallowing. “Threats. They won't stop at nothing, killing defenseless women and children, evicting families because they don't share a vision or bow in respect to the name of the Emperor. You all think that I started fights just for the sake of revenge, it was meant to be seen as that; I've lost…much…” Sprend suppressed a shudder as he choked back his words and stopped talking for a mile further, before he spoke again.

“You should know, he talked with me last night,” Sprend didn't wait for Baron to ask. “Our new guest, he's a Jedi, you've surely heard the stories of the old order. His name is Lo-den Xenrad. Just don't let anyone know, not just yet. I think I've seen him before, as a kid, oh, some thirty odd years ago. He was a master in the Jedi order, how he escaped the purge I don't know. He passed out after telling me to talk with you. I think he knew we would have this talk.” Sprend stopped and looked the Baron directly in the eyes, “If a Jedi has trust in you, then you have mine as well!” With that the two got in the truck and returned home.