Chapter 3 – Short Negotiations
"This is a bad idea", Lore started when they came out of hyperspace and laid eyes on the space station that was built into a large asteroid, resting firmly in the nothingness of the outer rim. "Even if it's not strictly run by the republic, we always had contacts there in case we needed to track someone. It's too large a traffic point to remain unseen."
Master Shamsin decreased the power, and slowly took the ship closer to the station hangars. "We will definitely be seen, but if we are lucky, it won't be by republic soldiers. Sending landing signal", he finished before flipping a switch. "This is General Shamsin of the Army of the Galactic Republic, requesting permission to land."
Lore sat quiet as his masters message went through. It was smart of Master Shamsin to not use his master title, he thought but couldn't help but to keep a wary eye on the massively large laser turrets that accessorized the stations exterior, and could probably blow the ship into oblivion with a direct hit. Master Shamsin didn't move a muscle either and if Lore hadn't known better, he would have thought his master scared too.
"Hangar six is free. Overseer Gouldaga will meet you", a raspy voice rang through the communicator, and Master Shamsin pushed the boosters.
"Maybe the news haven't reached them yet", Lore said and unbuckled his strap.
"Assume nothing, Lore. They have everything to gain from favor with those who seek to destroy us", Master Shamsin said bluntly as he smoothly landed the ship in the dimly lit hangar. "Eye open at all times."
"Who's overseer Gouldaga? Do you know of him?" Lore asked, as he pushed the panel that lowered the gangway.
"No. I do not. But the station is run independently. With a bit of luck, we'll be out of here in no time," Master Shamsin answered, and tucked his lightsaber away neatly inside his robes. "Make sure your weapon isn't too visible. We don't want them jumpy if we can avoid it."
"I thought there was no such thing as luck", Lore said bitterly and as he hid his lightsaber inside a pocket of his outer robe, the gangway hit the hangar floor with a soft thump.
"Depends on your point of view", Master Shamsin answered with a slight, but ever so smug, smile before he exited the ship. Lore shook his head and couldn't help but roll his eyes as he followed his master.
"De wanna wanga, gentlemen", a green skinned Rodian woman, greeted them. Her large dark bug-eyes watched them carefully as they descended the ship gangway, and behind her stood several guards of different shapes and sizes. Some were human, and some were other species, and a at least a third were different kinds of battle droids, all with weapons at the ready.
Master Shamsin bowed before the woman, who Lore assumed was none other than the Overseer, and he quickly did the same.
"What can the Alukard Corporation do for two military officials of the republic", the Overseer asked quickly, seemingly uninterested in any further courtesies. Master Shamsin was first to rise before he spoke.
"We are on official Republic business, tracking a certain ship and its crew. With your permission, we wish to have a look at your logs. Against adequate compensation, of course."
The Overseer stood quiet for a moment, first looking at Master Shamsin, and then at Lore.
"Ten thousand dataries. If you accept the republic credit", Master Shamsin continued. Lore looked between the many guards, and felt increasingly uncertain about their plan.
"Certainly. As you know, the Alukard Corporation only deals in valid and legal currencies. This way, gentlemen", the Overseer said and waved a hand at her guards, before she showed the two Jedi towards the hangar doors. Lore looked at his master who just nodded back at him, and so they followed quietly, and entered the spotless corridors of the space station. The Overseer walked in front of them, surrounded by her guards who didn't say a word.
Suddenly, she stopped and turned on the spot, and all of her guards did the same. "Your weapons, gentlemen. Only authorized personal are allowed to carry arms within the station", she said and looked between them again, with large dark eyes. Lore was not overjoyed with the idea of surrendering his lightsaber, but Master Shamsin smiled.
"Of course", he said and withdrew his long lightsaber hilt from within his robes, and gave Lore a look, telling him to do the same. Lore took out his own from within his robe pocket, and looked at its silvery metal plating before he handed it over to the massive Gamorrean guard, who then put both hilts inside a pouch at his belt.
"Jedi, I see", the Overseer said calmly, looking at Master Shamsin.
"Will that be a problem", the master asked, and the Rodian woman blinked.
"Certainly not, Master Jedi. The Alukard Corporation have no quarrel with your order. This way, please."
They kept walking, but this time, a few of the guards waited to follow until Lore and his master had passed them. This time, they were surrounded.
"Eyes open. We leave as soon as we have the data", Master Shamsin whispered. Lore nodded, and kept his eyes fixed on the belt pouch belonging to the large Gamorrean, whose behind wobbled like lard in front of him.
"You may examine our logs yourselves, as our technicians are all otherwise occupied. In here, gentlemen", the Overseer said and stopped in front of the entrance to another room, showing them in. Lore looked inside as the door opened, and saw nothing but a large terminal. As far as he could see, everything seemed to be in order, and he followed Master Shamsin inside.
"I thank you", Master Shamsin said and pushed a few buttons at the terminal keyboard in short succession. "Your hospitality is much appreciated." Lore looked back at the Overseer, and saw how she quickly stepped out of the room, and flashed him a sinister smile. "MASTER", he shouted, but it was too late and everything turned black in an instant.
He woke up.
Once again, he found himself on the floor of the Jedi Council chamber. As he sat up, he saw the same oozing darkness float around him. Twirling and crawling, in an almost sentient manner.
"Come… Find… Me…", the same raspy and high pitched voice sounded and echoed through his head. "Come… find… me…"
"Find me, little boy."
The darkness gathered closer around him.
"Find me…", it said again and for the second time, it started to gather in thick and concentrated tendrils.
"Find me… Lore…"
It said his name, and suddenly the tendrils rose from the floor and flew at him, entangling his every limb and lashing around his throat. It gripped him tighter and tighter, as Lore gasped for air.
"Find me…"
He sat up. As soon as the council chamber had appeared, it disappeared again. His head pounded something awful as he sat up on the floor of the prison cell.
"Great…" he muttered. The bright lights stung his eyes as he looked around at the metal and concrete walls. Master Shamsin was nowhere to be found in the small cell, but outside the force field doorway stood Overseer Gouldaga and two of her droid guards. Lore was distraught to notice that the Gamorrean who took his lightsaber, was not in his masters company.
"Sit back and relax little boy. Someone will be along for you in a while", she said calmly while Lore got to his feet.
"You said that you didn't have a quarrel with our order?!" Lore felt his heart pounding as he shouted through the bright purple shield screen.
"Our corporation doesn't. But we do not, however, wish to have one with the Empire, either", the Overseer responded. The Empire, Lore thought. Was the Republic really gone, and the Empire all that was left?
"What have you done with Master Shamsin", Lore added. The droids behind the Overseer clicked impatiently before their owner answered.
"Oh, he is sleeping comfortably in the cell next to yours. Our nerve flash was not enough to bring him down, so we had to use more… intense means. He'll be out until your apprehenders are here." She finished by smiling her sinister smile again, and gave a quick wave to her droids before she walked off, out of Lore's sight.
"Hey! HEY! LET ME OUT OF HERE", he shouted and smashed the shield screen with his fist. A less than wise decision as it turned out, and Lore was thrown backwards by the smash of an electrical shock. Pain shot through his muscles as he once again had to pick himself up from the floor.
"Half-wit", a voice suddenly said. "Haven't you ever seen a shock shield before?" Lore looked around as the voice rang out, and noticed a small air vent centered where the wall of the cell met its ceiling.
"Hey, I think you loosened it. Why don't you try a couple more punches", the voice continued, followed by the laugh belonging to a young girl.
"Who are you", Lore asked loudly.
"Your neighbor. I'm a one-hundred-and-ten year old Ithorian Sith Lord, and the name's Darth Bantha", the voice answered and then proceeded to laugh loudly again.
"Hilarious", Lore answered and felt that he was less than keen to joke around at this particular time. "Got a way out of here?"
"Not unless you can unscrew the vent covers, I don't", the voice answered. He looked back up at the vent again, and counted eight bolts that held it in place. Shouldn't be too difficult, even though his skill with telekinetics wasn't great.
"Remove the bolts, and you get us out", he repeated for confirmation, and reached out with the force. Almost as if he was feeling them with his hands to see how hard they were stuck.
"Sure, but I doubt you'll get those out without a hydrospanner, and mine's in my other pair of trousers."
"Sith Lords generally wear robes", Lore answered and reached out his hand towards the vent. The voice answered, but he didn't listen to it. He was centering himself and focusing. Reaching out with the force, as if extending an invisible arm to grab hold of the thick metal bolts.
He grabbed hold of the first one and wiggled it. It was welded in place, so Lore closed his eyes and concentrated harder. He breathed deeply, and then pushed.
"What the…", the voice from the other cell exclaimed, as the first bolt let go of the vent with a bang, and then fell to the floor almost silently. Lore kept going with the second, and then the third, and as soon as he had gotten a hang of it, the bangs of dense metal breaking free came in rapid succession.
"What are you", the voice asked as Lore finally did one last push to rip the vent cover away from the wall, and suddenly he could hear his cell neighbor much better.
"That wasn't a part of the deal", he answered. "Your turn!"
