Arrival (Chapter 3)

His sleep had always been dreamless, but tonight it was full of them. He saw scenes of cloning labs, a cackling old man. Though, most common, were scenes of a tall, bald man, in dark robes. He was always carrying something in his hands. Always, next to him stood an equally tall man, dressed completely in black, his face covered by a hood. Somebody was shaking him.

"Gwywir. Gwywir! Wake up!." It was Ben.

"Wha…"

"You were dreaming."

"I never dream." He was just getting back to his senses.

"I know."

"So why was I?"

"Because you felt like it?" Ben was obviously angry, but not at him. "How would I know?"

"I dunno." Gwywir sat up. He was drenched with sweat. "We almost there?"

"Where?"

"Abo Dreth, where else?"

"Oh, yes, we've landed." Ben said. "You'd best get ready."

"Of course."

"So, what are you waiting for?"

"For you to get out."

"Oh, uhhh, yes, of course." Ben hurried from the room. Gwywir shook his head, and swung his feet to the floor. He stood up, peeling off his shirt, and tossing it into a chute that lead to a laundry room. His trousers were next, following his shirt. He stood, dressed in only his under garments, for a moment, then walked to his armor stand. He lifted the helmet from it, and set it reverently on the table.

Soon, he had every piece set onto a table, and was pulling the environmental cover on. He pulled the armor padding over it, and then attached each piece firmly. Every inch of his armor said Mandalorian, from the helmet with the T-shaped visor, to the spiked boots, and everything in between. The rocket pack held a sniper rifle close to its side, with the barrel broken down. His belt held a holstered pistol, on the other side of his belt, a blaster carbine was hung from a belt loop. He held his helmet underneath his arm. Traci materialized at his desk.

"Are you prepared to exit the ship?"

"I am."

"Very well, Ben will meet you in the cargo hold."

"Tell him that I am coming."

"I already did." She said grinning. Traci had chosen to be a human today, and a beautiful one at that.

"Before you go, what would you be if Ben and I were women?"

"Why, I'd use a different voice level, and become a man, of course." As she said this her voice changed from the smooth pitch of a woman, to the deep grumble of a man. She laughed, her voice changing back from a man's to a woman's as she did so, and faded away.

"She has to be learning…" Gwywir muttered, and placed his green and black helmet on his head.

The door slid open before him, and he turned to go further back into the ship, to the cargo hold. The walk wasn't too long, and he entered the cargo hold. Ben stood there, wearing his black and gold armor. He carried a blaster rifle, and a vibro-sword hung at his waist.

"You ready?"

"I am."

"Good, we'll be getting our money from some noble."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, we head there now, his men will unload the ship."

"Ahh."

"Traci has it under control, they can't get past the cargo hold."

"Good, lead the way."

"Will do."

Ben stepped down from the ramp. They were in a simple hangar, the walls were brown, with no computers attached. Around the walls, crates were stacked. The entrance was from above, the exit was a hole in one wall. Men were already filing in, two were on speeder bikes. These two pulled up to Ben and Gwywir.

"You two the smugglers?" A Rodian asked in a low voice, impressed by their armor, and scared of their weaponry at the same time.

"We are." Ben said, his voice muffled by the helmet.

"These bikes are for you, to get to the palace. You'll get to keep them, if you impress the boss." The other said.

Gwywir and Ben exchanged a glance. Free speeders? Something was up, and they didn't like it.

"Who's the boss?" Gwywir asked, dreading the answer.

"He's Bujabb, a Hutt."

Gwywir's heart fell. Working with a Hutt could bring you a lot of credits, or a lot of pain.

"Oh…" Ben said.

"Well, good luck with it." The Rodian said, dismounting the speeder. His fellow followed suit. The other workers under the Hutt's employ were opening crates, and bringing out the cargo. The two who had brought the speeders went to help them.

"Might as well mount up, then." Ben said, choosing a speeder, and mounting it. He revved it experimentally. Gwywir knew he was grinning under his helmet, and shook his head, mounting the other.

They were soon speeding through the streets of a rather large settlement. A large building reared over all the other in the distance.

As they were crossing a bridge, Gwywir asked through his helmet's built in communicator. "You think that that's the palace?" He pointed at the building.

"That's the one, it's the only building marked on the GPA." Ben replied, nodding.

"You like doing business with a Hutt?"

"Hell no." It was a reply full of dread.

"Hope something isn't fishy."

"Ha! With a Hutt, everything is fishy. You can keep hoping, my friend, but you'd best be ready for action."

That made Gwywir feel no better, but he continued on the way.

Meanwhile…

A small transport ship landed in a nearby hangar. It was painted an odd color, with odd inscriptions littering its surface. A boarding ramp disengaged, and a single, tall man stepped out of the ship. He was followed by a score of other men, all dressed in black jump suits. They activated stealth fields, and disappeared from sight. The tall man continued out of the hangar, in time to see two armored men speed by on repulsorlift bikes.

A grin spread underneath the shadow cast by his hood, and he pressed a button attached on his belt. A black speeder bike glided out of his ship, which he mounted. He revved the vehicle, and shot out of the door of the hangar, into the streets. He turned to follow the dust lifted by the passage of the two speeder bikes.

The Dark Lord of the Sith had arrived…