An Open Secret
A Star Wars fanfiction by Andrew Joshua Talon, Mandemon and others
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based parody. Star Wars is the property of Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. Please support the official release.
This takes place in the midst of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith...
Jabba's Palace seemed to take the filth and scum of Mos Eisley, compressed and enhanced it right into the throne room. The smell, the vulgarity: It was pure Hutt, and Cad Bane appreciated it. It seemed more honest for the rich and powerful to put all their disgusting, horrible vices right on display. None of that Republican deception. No, here you saw that the Hutt enjoyed watching slave girls fighting for scraps of food at his massive foot, and he was okay with you knowing that.
That said... Cad Bane was not one to enjoy his time being wasted, even by honesty. So he stunned the fighting Twi'Lek slave girls with his blaster, and walked up to Jabba. He ignored the stunned silence of the onlookers in Jabba's court: Nobody got anywhere with Hutts by being timid. Jabba himself laughed.
"Patient as always, Cad Bane," Jabba boomed. Cad Bane snorted, and chewed on his ever present toothpick.
"You want me for a job. Bad enough you paid my upfront fee. I'm here. So, what is it?" Cad Bane replied, after waiting for the protocol droid to relay Jabba's translation. His fluency in Hutt wasn't something he broadcast to his most frequent employers.
"This job will test all of your strength, cunning, and intellect," Jabba announced, his court making appropriate noises of awe. "So much so you will have the aid of Assajj Ventress's own syndicate."
"That's Boba Fett's syndicate!" Objected a young voice. Cad glanced over at the young Mandalorian boy in armor, scowling deeply at the front of a small group of dangerous looking individuals. Cad tipped his hat to the tall male Trandoshan and the short female Theelin bounty hunters.
"Bossk, Latts. Still babysitting?" He asked. Bossk snorted.
"The kid's okay... Just not good at keeping his mouth shut yet," he hissed, as Boba scowled up at him. A tall, thin Dathomirian female in black stepped forward, hands resting on a pair of well used lightsabers.
"It was a fair vote, kid. Deal with it," Asajj stated smoothly. She looked Cad Bane up and down. "Cad Bane... Thought you'd be taller."
"Asajj Ventress. Thought you'd be hotter, the way Kenobi went on about you," Cad Bane retorted. Ventress snorted, and turned to face Jabba.
"Lord Jabba. You have a job requiring all of us. So mind telling us what it is?" Asajj asked dryly. "And why you're putting this deadweight on us?" She gestured to Cad.
"Why not take his son hostage again? I'm sure that will speed things up," Cad Bane muttered.
"AS I WAS SAYING," Jabba rumbled, "the Mighty Jabba has summoned you all and paid you all a great deal for a mission right to the center of the Republic capital world itself! Right to the heart of the Jedi Temple!"
All eyes were on him, and Cad Bane gave the ancient slug credit: He knew how to command a crowd.
A large, platinum crate was unveiled from behind a curtain, inscribed with ancient Huttese script. Jabba nodded gravely.
"You will deliver this to Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and Senator Padme Amidala! They are expecting their first child, and you will impress upon them how the Magnificent Jabba has gone to immense lengths to show his appreciation and gratitude to them!"
There was a long silence. Asajj Ventress actually blinked... Before she cackled.
"HA! So Skywalker's been poking his lightsaber where it shouldn't?! I KNEW IT! I should have killed that Senator sooner!" She continued laughing uproariously, making her syndicate uncomfortable.
"I fail to see the humor," C-21 buzzed, the tall bounty hunting droid looming behind Latts. Cad Bane chuckled himself.
"So... We're being paid this much, under your diplomatic protection, to deliver a baby gift to Coruscant," he said. Jabba huffed.
"Is my money no good to you, Cad Bane?"
"No... I'll do anything for the right price... But with this crew, you're asking for fireworks and chaos to go off for your delivery," he said. "Which means my rate is now doubled."
Jabba laughed again. "Then you will have your money, Cad Bane. Just make it good... All of you."
"This is stupid," Boba muttered. Bossk elbowed him. "Ow!"
"No job is too big, no fee is too big," Bossk hissed.
"Never been to a baby shower," Latts said with a smile, flicking her hair behind her forehead ridges, "might be fun. Besides, a paid vacation to Coruscant? Nice change of pace. Asajj? We going for it?"
"To see the look on Skywalker and Kenobi's faces? I might take this job for free," Asajj purred. She smirked at Jabba. "Not that I'm gonna take it for free."
"Right, any chance to see your boyfriend again," Latts teased. Asajj did not dignify that with an asskicking. She just hit Boba again.
"Ow! What was that for?" Boba whined.
"For complaining in front of the employer," Asajj stated.
"You did!" Boba protested.
"Yes, and I'm the boss. I can do that," the former Sith apprentice snorted.
"For now," Boba grumbled, as Bossk rested a clawed hand on his shoulder.
Cad Bane sighed heavily. He had a feeling he was going to be getting a lot of trouble for this job. Whether it would be worth the pain, he'd find out.
And then he'd charge Jabba more if it wasn't.
Clone Trooper CC-5052, Commander Bly, had been summoned to General Aayla Secura's personal quarters enough he knew the route by heart. The two had a close, trusting work relationship, and it was gratifying that his general trusted him enough to take him into her personal confidence like this. There were, of course, the barracks jokes and rumors that their relationship was not entirely professional. That the seductive Twi'Lek Jedi Knight had more affection for Bly than was allowable.
Such rumors were just part of the price paid for her trust, and any troopers who made such jokes in earshot got Scrub Duty on the nearest Venator's drive thrusters.
Or combat training in hand to hand with him personally. While he was armed and armored, and they were not.
Or getting to be the General's target dummies for her blaster deflection practice. Which Bly himself supervised.
The rest learned to not make such observations where anyone could hear. Especially not him. Or his general. Especially when he was with his general.
He dismissed that thought quickly, keeping his focus on the job ahead as he ringed for entry into General Secura's quarters.
"Enter," she said, and the doors slid open. He entered, standing at attention as the doors shut behind him. Leaving him in the room with her. Alone. Completely isolated from any prying eyes or wagging tongues.
His general looked up from her datapad, smiling warmly. "Bly, thank you for coming so quickly," she said. She rose from her couch with a grace Bly had learned to pretend to ignore over his years of service.
"Not a problem, General. What's the mission?" Bly asked.
"First, at ease," Aayla said. Bly relaxed, just a bit. "Maybe a bit more."
"I am, General," Bly said. Aayla chuckled softly, and nodded at him.
"Of course," she sighed. "General Shaak-Ti and I are... Involved in a key part of an operation for the reception for General Skywalker and Senator Amidala," Aayla said carefully. Bly nodded.
"So it is an operation," he said. Not that he paid attention to rumors that it was an actual reception, and that the two were actually involved. He didn't pay attention to rumors, he was a professional.
"Yes," Aayla said with a nod and smile. "I will require your escort and assistance for the reception and gathering materials beforehand."
"Yes ma'am," Bly said. "Will you require any more members of the unit?"
"No, just you," Aayla said. "You are more than enough for this task."
"Of course, General," Bly said. Of course, only he could handle this important task. It was as it should be.
"Good," Aayla said. "Now, let us get going. You're driving."
"Of course General," Bly said automatically. "Where are we going? Which base?"
Aayla just smiled.
"Come along, Commander! One more shop!" Aayla said cheerfully, striding through the crowds of shoppers. "Keep up!"
"Yes General," Bly sighed, several bags weighing down the hover trolley he was pushing behind her. "May I ask what shop this is?"
Aayla smiled almost wickedly back at her faithful commander. "Bahb's. You remember it, correct? The Zeltron dress makers? I require your opinion on how I'll look at the reception, after all. And there are many possible options for it."
Bly very slowly nodded. "Of course, General," he replied, carefully schooling his expression and his emotions. He had the feeling he was going to have to put his entire battalion on thruster scrubbing duty for how they would talk after this operation...
To be continued...