(Chapter nine.)

Ja-ni tried to breathe as quietly as possible, hiding beneath a ship's floor panel for the second time that day. She heard the muffled voice of the Guavian Death Gang's apparent.

Han Solo. he said. You're a dead man.

Bala-Tik, Han said in his charming voice. What's the problem? Han tried to convince the gang leader to let him go, but Bala-Tik didn't seem interested in that idea.

Can you see them? Ja-ni asked Cal Kestis, trying to peek through a hole between two floor panels.

No, he replied.

Ja-ni crawled across the space to get a view of the Gusvians. From her vantage point beneath their feet, it looked like there were at least six of them. The one she assumed was their leader, Bala-Tik, wore a collared leather coat and carried a huge percussive canon.

Behind him stood a handful of soldiers in red armor. Their faces were completely obscured by shining red masks. Ja-ni could spot more than a few cybernetic augmentations that melded the soldiers to their armor and weapons. Han clearly knew how to pick intimidating enemies. Bala-Tik demanded that Han pay back all the money he had borrowed. Kanjiklub, wants their investment, back too, he added.

I never made a deal with Kanjiklub! Han replied.

Let's see if they agree with you. Bala-Tik said.

Ja-ni heard a portal open at the end of the other room. A group that could be the Kanjiklub Gang stepped into the already crowded cargo bay. Ja-ni heard Han address their leader. Tasu Leech. Good to see you.

Curiosity got the better of Ja-ni, and she crept back across the space to get a glimpse of the Kanjiklub Gang. There were only five of them, but they looked fearsome enough to take on enemies triple their number. They were heavy armed with different weapons, but they all wore identical expressions of fury as they glared at Han. Tasu spat at Han in a language Ja-ni couldn't identify. The meaning was clear enough.

Guy's, you're going to get what I promised. Han said. Have I never delivered before?

Your game is old, Bala-Tik said, unconvinced. There's no one in the galaxy left for you to swindle.

Ja-ni heard R2-D2 beep in fear. Things were not going well for Han Solo.

That R2 unit, Bala-Tik said, thoughtfully. I heard the Empire is looking for one just like it. And two fugitives.

At those words, Ja-ni and Cal Kestis froze beneath the floor. Han had better talk his way out fast. First I've heard of it, Han said. Below the granting Ja-ni looked at Cal Kestis in panic. Quickly, she pushed herself back down the corridor, toward the hatch. But as she crept forward, the brace beneath her hand gave away. A loud clang echoed through the room above them. It would be only a matter of time before the gangs started searching the freighter. Ja-ni had to do something. Scanning the panels around her, she saw a junction box ahead. She crawled to the controls and began resetting the fuses.

What are you doing? Cal Kestis whispered.

If we close the blast doors in that corridor, we can trap the gangs! Ja-ni whispered back.

Sparks shot from the fuse box, but Ja-ni ignored their tingle on her skin. Just another second and... One by one, the lights in the freighter died, until everyone was standing in darkness.

I've got a bad feeling about this, Han muttered from the middle of his standoff.

Suddenly, all the lights blinked back on at once. As Ja-ni reviewed her work, she realized she had made a mistake.

A big mistake.

Oh, no. Wrong fuse's. In the cargo bay, three containers housing hungry rathtar's opened.

New plan! Bala-Tik shouted. Kill them and take the droid!

A firefight erupted above Ja-ni and Cal Kestis. They had to get back to the Falcon before they were discovered or worse, eaten by a rathtar.

Ja-ni pushed open the hatch and crept outside.

The Falcon's this way! Cal Kestis said.

You sure? Ja-ni asked, looking around for anything recognizable.

No. replied Cal Kestis.

Ja-ni followed Cal Kestis down a long corridor. Anything had to be better than waiting around to be eaten by a rathtar.

What do they look like? Ja-ni asked.

Horrible! Cal Kestis replied.

They turned a corner and stumbled upon a scene of utter chaos. Once the gang members was tightly wrapped in the slimly tentacles of what could be a rath. The creature's flesh was covered in angry red scales that ran all the way from it's round body to the tips of its eleven tentacles.

On top of it's head were pulsing orange pustules that Ja-ni guessed might be sensitive to movement or light, the rathtar had no eyes or any apparent way of seeing the world. Most ferocious of all were the rows of razor sharp teeth the beast exposed every time it howled.

They look like that, Cal Kestis said as he pulled Ja-ni away from the gruesome battle. But when they turned the next corner, another rathtar was waiting for them. Cal Kestis tried to run, but the beast had already grabbed his leg.

Cal! Ja-ni shouted as the creature pulled him down the hallway.

Ja-ni ran after the beast as fast as she was able, but she couldn't keep up. Soon the rathtar disappeared, and Cal Kestis along with it.