Lost Tales of the Old Republic is a weekly fan fiction story, written by RepublicTrooper.com’s very own Tim Bertram. Tim is an aspiring author, with one completed novel already under his belt. Each and every Monday, Tim will give you a fresh installment in the Lost Tales of the Old Republic series. Enjoy!

Chapter Three – “Baptism By Fire”, Part IV

Written By: Timothy E. Bertram

A few hours later, Gage took a seat in the navigation chair and Jenz and Greasy looked back over their shoulders at him. “That’s Chrondre?” Gage asked as he could see the dimly visible white and dark blue planet before them.

“Yup.” Jenz responded. “This is where you want to come for repairs huh?” She asked with a giggle. “You knew it was like this?”

Gage sighed; “Yes, I know it is a frozen, nearly unpopulated planet, likely with less than 10,000 inhabitants worldwide.”

“Okay… just askin’.” Jenz said as she grinned at Greasy.

“This would be an unexpected place for a Republic strike team to land. There is nothing of value here to the Republic or the Empire unless they want to get into the mining business.” Gage explained. “Why are we not landing?”

“Well…” Jenz began as if she were about to explain something very obvious to an adult, in a manner where a child may understand; “…Chrondre is so darn cold that we can only land during daylight hours. We are in orbit above the mining colony Palmar, waiting for the sun to rise where we will gain another 200 degrees in temperature and less wind so we can descend.”

“It can’t be colder than in deep space?” Gage questioned suspiciously.

“It’s not.” Greasy spoke up to avoid the assured sarcasm that she knew was about to come from Jenz; “You are correct. It is colder in deep space, but there is no moisture or wind in space, that is what will kill a ship trying to land there if the proper precautions are not taken.” Gage nodded that he understood.

“I’ve already been in touch with the starport. They should have what we need to make repairs, but Greasy and I will have to get outside and take a look at the hull before we know exactly what needs to be done.” Jenz told him.

“Okay, listen; when we are about to descend I need you to send this message using light encryption to fleet command: ‘Parts delivered to Palmar on Chondre, please advise next delivery.’ You have that?” Gage told Jenz and Greasy.

“Ummmm, okay. What the hell does that mean and why am I sending this message in an encryption that the Empire can easily break?” Jenz questioned.

“I want them to break the encryption because it will make the message seem less valuable. The parts delivery message will launch an intel team to meet us here.” Gage explained. “The response you should get back will be: ‘Affirmative; head to Tatooine for your next cargo.’ That’s it. With that response they will launch the craft to meet us here.”

Jenz smiled and shrugged her shoulders up as she looked at Greasy; “Don’t you just love all the sneakiness we get to do in our job?” Greasy returned a grin and nodded.

“Glad you are having fun, Jenz.” Gage told her unemotionally and headed out of the cockpit.

An hour or so later and the ship was cleared to land. As they approached the starport at Palmar a large door in the roof of the massive domed outpost opened so the ship could set down, quickly being closed to keep out the deadly cold. Massive furnaces blasted heated air back into the bay until the temperature came back up to a survivable level and the pilots shut the ship down.

Ziekk walked over to Gage who had just donned thermal undergarments and civilian clothes and was securing a pistol to his belt; “How long do you expect us to be in port?”

“Maybe a day, day and a half before the intel team arrives, and as long as they get the ship repaired, I expect to be on the next mission.” Gage answered.

“Are you restricting us to the ship, or can we explore around this place?” Zeikk asked.

“No, not restricting anyone, but I do not want anyone out and about alone. You know someone here?” Gage questioned.

“No, but I could use a drink.” Zeikk replied. “Blaster, you want to get a drink?” He called over to the big man.

Blaster looked out of the frost covered windows, trying to wipe it cleaner to see out into the port; “Me? Go out there? In that cold? Not me, brother. I’ll drink here.” Blaster told him as he shook his head ‘no’.

“Did you bring some liquor from the big ship?” Zeikk asked Blaster with a raised brow.

Blaster stared at Zeikk with a dumb look on his face for a moment; “No.” He quietly answered; “Didn’t you?” Blaster asked him in an almost pleading voice.

Still with the raised brow, Zeikk silently nodded ‘no’.

Blaster looked back out of the window at the equipment that was covered in ice from the short time the dome doors had been opened for nearly a minute, and turned back licking his lips like a parched man in the desert; “Let me get my thermals on, damn it.” He finished with a huff and headed off to his quarters.

“Gage, Rein?” Zeikk asked them inviting them along.

Rein declined with a wave, and Gage thanked them for the offer but told him that he had some things of his own to take care of. About this time Jenz and Greasy had entered the common room.

“Ladies? Want to get some refreshments while you are out inquiring about repairs?” Zeikk directed to them.

“Sure.” Greasy answered, but added, “Just pick a place that does not have a dance floor or we’ll never get Blaster out of there.”

“Jenz?” Zeikk looked to her.

“Can I come with you, Gage? See this place?” She asked sweetly.

“I don’t think so, Jenz. You wouldn’t be interested in this anyway.” He told her quietly as if he were making an effort to not hurt her feelings.

“I thought you just said, ‘no one out there alone’?” Greasy interjected.

Gage stared blankly back at Greasy. She had him, he did just say that, and making an exception for himself would show poor leadership.

“I did just say that, didn’t I? Alright Jenz, but you had better be on your best behavior.” He warned her.

“I always am.” Jenz beamed back with her bright smile. “Just give me a minute to change.”

With that, Jenz and Greasy headed back towards the crew rooms; “You owe me.” Greasy whispered to Jenz as they walked down the hall.

“You bet, sister.” Jenz whispered back throwing her arm over Greasy’s shoulder as they walked.

With Rein volunteering to stay back to guard the ship and its prisoner, the rest of the team headed out as a group until they exited the starport. Greasy had insisted to her male teammates that they first needed to talk with the port authority to get the repairs started before she would allow them to indulge, Blaster suffering through this by remarking every few minutes about how thirsty he was. Gage and Jenz headed over to the mining company’s corporate headquarters where Gage inquired about the whereabouts of the Executive Director of Operations. They found out that he was likely at home and were sent back out into the street to await a shuttle that would take them to the residential area of the town.

“You thinking of going into the mining business, Gage?” Jenz asked in her teasing voice. Gage only responded with an un-amused look. “Okay… are you going to tell me where we are going and what we are doing?”

“No.” Gage answered. “Best behavior, right?” He told her again. “This is important to me Jenz, don’t make me have to kill you.” He told her with his stern look, but then smiled a bit and finished, “Just please be professional. I know you can do it, I saw it for a fraction of time when you were talking to my mother.”

“I promise,” Jenz responded, holding her hand up as if she were taking an oath. The shuttle stopped in a housing neighborhood where the houses were a bit nicer than the miner’s homes they had passed and the two exited the shuttle and walked a few doors down towards the address they were looking for. Although it was daytime and they were in a giant clear dome, the ice buildup on that dome blocked out most of the ambient light. Street lights were lit day and night and everything from the streets and foot paths, to the buildings were covered in a coating of ice. Everything seemed to have a blue color to it in this frozen sanctuary, but both Jenz and Gage found something beautiful as they made their way around. Windows in the homes would allow a softer yellow light out causing artful shadows from the panes covered in the patches of ice. The exhaled breath of both of them came out in gentle billowing puffs that swirled around their heads as they walked, and their footsteps made a quiet rhythmic crunching sound. The moisture from Jenz’ breath had collected and frozen on the fur lining of the hood of her parka, encircling her face in a white ring against her usually black attire.

Gage noticed this and the tip of her nose turning red and smiled, turning quickly away when Jenz caught him looking at her. “What?” She asked Gage with an impish grin.

“Nothing.” Gage responded, again having that feeling of vulnerability coming over him. What was wrong with him, he asked himself. Jenz was possibly the most irritating female he had ever encountered, but once again he found himself going clammy and getting this rush as he was near her.

“What?” Jenz asked with a giggle.

“Your nose is about to drip.” He told her as he suppressed a smile. Jenz quickly wiped her nose on the back of her glove and then punched Gage in the arm. Gage did allow himself to smile this time, and then stopped in front of the home they were passing.

After Gage’s reaction to her playful punch Jenz saw his face become very serious again as he looked at the front door to this home. She noticed him swallow hard as he took one step onto the path and then paused. “You okay, Gage?” Jenz asked with concern. “Who’s in there?” She asked.

Gage broke from his stare and looked down at Jenz and reminded her; “Best behavior.” With that he walked up to the door and rang the bell.

A gentleman in his late fifties open the door; “Yes, can I help you?”

“Mr. Tavers?” Gage questioned the man.

“Yes, I’m Tavers. Who are you?”

“My name is Lieutenant Jarrek Gageiz from Victor twenty-two.” Gage answered and was interrupted by a woman about the same age who jumped up from a chair behind the man.

“Jarrek Gageiz?” She blurted out with a panicked voice. “Gage? Oh my God, what has happened to Randell!?” She cried.

“No, no, ma’am! Tav is fine, I mean Randell is fine!” Gage came back sounding panicked himself. “I just saw him two weeks ago, he is doing well.” Gage quickly tried to reassure her, to which the woman covered her heart with her hand and fell back into the chair.

“Come in, please.” Mr. Tavers told them as he opened the door wider. Gage and Jenz entered and took seats offered to them on a couch.

The two took off the parkas they wore and Gage smiled to Tavers’ mother; “I’m very sorry to have startled you ma’am, this is what I was afraid of as I came over here. Tav… errrr , I’m sorry, that’s just what I’m used to calling him; Randell is doing great. I have left V-22 for a new assignment and we happened to have stopped here for repairs. I know Tav would have wanted me to see you folks and let you know he was doing well.”

Mrs. Tavers smiled wide as tears welled up in her eyes; “I’m so glad you did, Gage. Randell has told us so much about you. He has so much respect for you and speaks very highly of you.”

“He is a good man. You must be very proud of him.” Gage told them. “He was promoted to Staff Sergeant and has taken my position as Red Squad’s leader, did you know that?”

“No.” Mr. Tavers answered with a smile. “We haven’t heard from him in some time, and were very worried, but I’m glad to hear about his promotion and that he is doing well.”

“Look folks, I can’t tell you where he is, mostly for your own safety, but I will tell you that V-22 is in deep space which is why you have not heard from him in so long. I expect that V-22 should be porting in the near future and I am sure he will contact you.”

Jenz had been sitting quietly, hands folded in her lap, when she abruptly cleared her throat. Gage looked at her and then back to the Tavers. “I’m sorry, this is my associate Jenz.”

Jenz, finally being allowed to enter the conversation leapt to her feet and shook hands with the couple; “Very nice to meet you folks,” she said with the charm that he had only seen once before in his own parents’ home.

The two talked for nearly an hour with the Tavers as Gage told them everything he could about their son, his accomplishments and the outstanding leader he had become. Mrs. Tavers had asked about Yoly and Gage had to tell them about the young man’s severe injuries which brought tears to the couple’s eyes. “Yoly is going to recover, I am sure of it. He’s a tough kid, and with Randell there to encourage him, he will be back at his side very soon” Gage told them. “I know Randell is an only child, but I can tell you this; he certainly has a brother now.” He finished warmly.

Gage and Jenz said good-bye to the Tavers and were going to head back to the shuttle but were stopped by Mr. Tavers who insisted that he would have a company vehicle pick them up and take them back to their ship directly. As the two sat in the back of the warm and luxurious vehicle Jenz gently put her hand on top of Gage’s which was resting on his knee. “You’re a compassionate man, Gage.” Jenz told him softly with an affectionate smile, those bright eyes sparkling at him.

Almost in a panic, Gage moved his hand to scratch his head. “The Republic Troopers are a brotherhood; I was just doing what one brother would do for another.” He told her trying to down play his actions. Jenz smiled at him taking selfish pride that she could make him so uneasy with her touch.

By early the next day the intelligence group from Fleet Command had arrived, taken possession of the prisoner Pith, and the data that Zeikk had obtained. Before departing the intel team commander handed Gage a folder which contained the details for the next mission.

Continue to: Chapter Four – “Hunters or Hunted?” Part I!

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Tags: Blaster, Chrondre, fan fiction, Galactic Republic, Greasy, Jenz, Jerrek Gageiz, Palmar, Randell Tavers, Rein Galia, Sith Empire, Star Wars: The Old Republic, SWTOR, Timothy E. Bertram, TOR, V-22, Victor Twenty-Two, Yoly, Ziekk Randoss