Inevitable {Tech}

Chapter Twenty Eight: Shuldene

Cass squinted at Tech, signaling him to maybe not be so blunt when breaking news like that to the hopeful child. Tech shrugged with furrowed brows as if he didn't understand what he did wrong.

"Right...the Empire," Omega frowned and sunk her head forward. "There's no way we can find somewhere to explore with them around now."

"No, that's not true. Many of the outer rim territories haven't been taken over yet," Cass reassured.

"Yeah, 'cause they're run by crime organizations and gangsters," Echo scoffed tiredly.

Cass glared at him and Echo melted into the wall. Cass rubbed Omega's arms consolingly as she ran through every planet and star system she knew.

"It needs to be close. We can afford to take one day off from Cid but we don't have enough credits for more fuel," Hunter pointed out. "We have to get there and back to Ord Mantell with what we've got."

"Okay so somewhere along the Corellian Run...or the trade spine even," Cass thought aloud.

It needed to be somewhere the Empire wasn't. Somewhere desolate enough that they wouldn't be found easily but populated enough to blend in.

Outer rim. Outer rim.

Cass pursed her lips and bounced her knee as she chanted in her head, racking her brain for any ideas to pass along.

If they went to Tatooine, someone from the guild would find them for sure.

Devaron is heavily imperialized already.

Takodana would be hit or miss. Easy to blend in but too many spies.

Dagobah?

No. Trekking through Dagobah with this group would hardly be enjoyable, borderline torturous.

Maybe Hoth.

Outer rim, no big cities, no Empire.

"How about Hoth?" Cass piped up after only an instant of reasoning and filtering out her thoughts.

"Hoth? What's Hoth?" Omega jumped up excitedly and rocked on her heels.

"It's an ice planet," Tech answered.

"Ice? As in...snow?" Omega's eyes widened and her mouth gaped.

"Yes, as in snow," Cass confirmed with bright eyes to match the child's.

"I've always wanted to see snow! Is it as cold as it looks? Is it soft or hard? I can't tell from the pictures in my books," Omega rambled on rapidly.

"You'll have to find out for yourself," Cass smirked.

"Don't you think Hoth is a little too extreme?" Hunter stepped forward and uncrossed his arms. "We don't exactly have snow gear for you and the kid."

Cass sighed and bit the inside of her cheek. "Okay...well...how about Shuldene?"

"And where is that?" Hunter perked a brow.