Eight days later, the Wild Karrde, Starry Ice and Lastri's Ort lifted of Coruscant, glided out of the system and jumped to hyperspace in three different directions.
Talon wasn't happy. Shada was on the Starry Ice and missing the signing of the peace treaty, now commonly referred to as the Bastion Accords.
Days earlier:
Talon kept his meeting of the lieutenants in Coruscant's port the following day after Faughn's reckless action got her arm broke. She was out of bacta for the meeting and sitting on his couch with a liberal glass of whiskey, still favoring the injured limb. Dankin, Odonnl and Chin were scattered around his living area watching the holonews with her. Mara and Shada were talking quietly in front of the massive window and across the room. Talon was having a private talk with Aves.
Earlier that day, Shada performed surveillance of the outside to rule out listening devices that might have been planted against or near the windows. She found nothing, but Talon wasn't happy to have her dangling off a several hundred story building, even if his room was near the top. He took his airspeeder and hovered nearby until she ascended to the roof and waved to him.
"I'm going to be pretty useless until after the honeymoon," Mara was saying.
"Give me the general layout and I'll wing it." Shada wanted to get to work and was starting to feel like a kept woman. Although she liked the sex, she wanted to be respected as Talon's partner, for her abilities outside the bedroom.
"First, fill me in on last night." Mara sipped imported water from one of the Hapen worlds.
"You mean the shooting?"
"Is there something else that happened?" The force told her Shada was hiding something. "How about we start with what you don't want to tell me." Mara wanted details.
Shada shrugged. "Nothing to tell."
"Or, nothing you're willing to tell me," Mara correctly guessed. With a sly smile, she looked across the room to where Talon was talking to Aves. "It involves you and Karrde." She reached with the force and got a strong reaction.
"You're not probing me, are you?"
Mara laughed. "I don't have to, you're telegraphing or as we Jedi say to each other, you're shouting. I'm just not blocking like I usually do, but don't worry I can't read your mind."
"That's a relief. You don't want to know what I'm thinking about you right now."
Mara laughed. "Okay, if you insist we'll start with the boring shooting, and then I want the juicy details on the rest."
Shada filled her in on the shooting up to and including Ghent hitting on her.
Mara grinned broadly. "I'd have given almost anything to watch Ghent do that. Okay, now I want the more interesting story, dish." Mara focused on Shada, who was trying not to look around and give anything away.
She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Faughn doesn't like me."
Mara's surprised eyes shot to Shirlee, still watching the news. "What happened?"
"We had an altercation and I broke her arm last night," Shada confessed.
"Was it over you joining the organization or…." she looked again at Karrde and shook her head. "No way….Karrde doesn't do employees. He never looked at her that way, but I'm sure she'd have loved him to." She cunningly slid her gaze back to Shada. "It was over Karrde, wasn't it?"
"You just said it couldn't be," Shada deflected.
"I know Karrde has feelings for you that have nothing to do with his propriety. He tries to hide it, but as a Jedi, I can feel him wanting you, and the feelings mutual. Have you two done anything about it?"
Shada couldn't keep the slight flush off her cheeks as memories of last night and this morning flashed before her eyes.
"Kriff, you have, how long? All I need to know is when it started…and everything else."
"It's none of your business." Shada didn't want to talk about her love life. In fact, she'd never had this type of conversation ever, due to the fact, she was never involved with a man until now.
"Of course it's my business. You're stepping into my shoes and his bed. I don't get any feelings of animosity from you towards him or his organization, or we'd see how long you'd last against a Jedi. In fact, I read just the opposite from you." Mara let her trust of Shada out, hoping to pull her into revealing what she felt about Karrde and his business.
Shada let her eyes trail around the room and land on Karrde. "I guess I can't keep it a secret from you. From my childhood, I've been trained to protect and be loyal to my employer. If I couldn't, I wouldn't work for him. It's going to take time to heal from Emberlene and not being a Mistryl. Karrde has proven he will help me, whereas Mazzic told me to get lost and cut his losses. I can't deny I was attracted to him from the moment I got a good look at him in Solo's Orowood Tower apartments."
"When did you two do it the first time?" Mara was in love and wanted her good friend, Talon, to be also.
"It happened after my spar with Gharakh. He was waiting for me to come out of bacta."
"That's when it happened?" Mara was trying to remember who had the bet on that night.
"No."
"Oh."
"You sound disappointed." Shada laughed softly.
"What are you disappointed about?" Neither woman saw Talon cross the room and stand by Shada.
"Go away." Mara pushed against his arm. "We're having a woman to woman talk and you just spoiled everything."
"We were done." Shada was grateful for him. If they were alone, she'd show him just how much.
"Let's get this meeting underway then." He motioned for them to take seats and turned the holovid off. He stood before his people. "It didn't take Ghent long to crack the data. As usual, he worked all night and shipped me the info this morning."
Shada was in bed with him when his holopad beeped, indicating he had a message. He got up and stalked naked across the room, retrieved his pad and returned to bed. Together, propped on pillows, they studied the information until his attention started wandering to her naked body and the holopad slipped onto the floor unnoticed.
"I've already contacted Calrissian and told him he's off the hook for the paid hit. I was the target. We have rogue Imperials who defected from Moff Disra's empire and are operating as a recreant unit in the New Republic. We know who they are, but not where they are hiding. They are behind much anti-peace diktats, keeping New Republic Security busy. Ghent was able to track many payouts to local troublemakers. Until we're off the planet, we need to be extra careful. Pass it on to the crews."
"How long are we going to be here?" Faughn asked.
"Until I'm no longer needed. I have a meeting with Gavrisom and Pellaeon tomorrow. They are still hashing out details."
"But why are we here?" Shirlee pressed. "I could be running supplies, you know, making us money."
"You're here if I need to go someplace," Shada spoke up and the two women looked at each other, each showing strong personalities.
Talon kept out of their showdown. This was a good time as any for Shada to exert her authority and Faughn's reaction would determine her future employment. She was expendable, but he was coming to realize Shada was not. He needed her. His days took on a new meaning and he had someone to share the little details with, not to mention the nights. It had been many, many years since he spent more than one night with the same woman and he had no plans of stopping.
Shirlee looked to Talon. "Is this how it's going to be?"
"Shada is my new second. An order from her is as good as from me." His baritone rang out, daring anyone to question his choice. He looked around the room. None of his loyal people so much as raised an eyebrow. "I have work to do, so I want Aves and Odonnl to take two crews to the Underbarn and snoop around." He looked at Shirlee. "Faughn, take your crew and Dankin and do the same at the Dragonsnake."
"What about Bot?" Shada brought their newest crewmember to his attention.
He threw her a smile that wasn't lost on anyone in the room. "I forgot all about him." He looked at Dankin. "You get him initiated?"
Dankin nodded. "Chal is his new keeper. They seem to get along great."
"Take him with you and find out all he knows about the underworld here."
"Okay, Boss." Dankin nodded.
The room's main console gave an audible, signaling an incoming call. Talon went and looked to see who had direct access to him. It was Booster's signature.
Talon waited for the holo of Booster Terrik to solidify before talking. "Booster, miss me already?"
Booster's red eye glowed for just a second and he responded in a light tone. "Enough of your smart mouth, Karrde. I get enough from that thing Mirax married. You able to talk?"
"Hold on." Talon motioned for his lieutenants to leave. "We can talk now." He didn't mention Shada and Mara were still in the room and listening.
"We gave assistance to the Idiot's Array an hour ago." He had the satisfaction of seeing a frown cross the usually impenetrable features of Karrde before they schooled back into his indecipherable countenance.
"I haven't heard from them since I got back. I was going to track them down."
"We dropped out of hyperspace for a course correction near Wayland and not far off our port bow was your ship, dead in the water. Torve was making repairs so I offered to bring your ship on board, which Torve accepted. The crew was exhausted so I told them to rest before entertaining me with the story."
"I owe you for rescuing them. How much do you want?"
"My usual fee, fifty thousand."
"Consider it done. Have Torve contact me as soon as he's awake."
"Are you still on Coruscant?"
Talon smiled. "I'll be here for probably a few more days, enjoying the rare circumstance of cordial treatment from the politicians. Not to mention the first class restaurants within ten parsecs. Too bad you had to leave so soon. We didn't get a chance to celebrate my business victory."
"Next time you're on the Venture, we'll celebrate in the best restaurant on the Diamond level, how's that?"
"As soon as we get this signing out of the way, I'll be hopping around showing Shada the ropes. We'll cross your path someplace and I'll take you up on it."
Mara leaned in to the screen. "Before you two disappear, I have a wedding on Coruscant in a month or two. Karrde has to be present and I'll hurt you bad if you're not in orbit, Booster."
Booster laughed. "That's the most unique wedding invitation I've ever gotten."
Mara seemed flustered for a moment. "You'll get a proper one, just give me time. Luke and I just got together. This is happening so fast."
"I get to give her away," Talon boasted with a wide grin.
Shada heard that for the first time and watched Mara set a hand on his shoulder and give it a friendly squeeze.
"What? I'm old enough to be your father, not this kid here," Booster thundered at her. Then he smiled. "You better have something for me to do."
"I'll think of something, Booster." She stepped back to let the men continue talking.
"You going to make Bastion?" Talon changed the subject.
"No and for once I'm glad to be tied up. I'm on my way to Billbringi to lose most of the guns. Of course as soon as we leave, I'll have my personal arsenal reinstalled by my crew. At least the ten they replaced that are legally mine are functioning perfectly."
"I heard a report that a large shipment of red paint is headed that way," Talon remarked casually.
"I made a deal with the New Republic. I told Bel Iblis that if he didn't come up with a color that wasn't white, I was taking my ship, weapons intact to the Outer Rim for the next twenty years. They found enough red somewhere."
"How long will it take to paint it?" Talon was curious.
"Months. I'm going to have to do it in segments. They can't even ship that much paint in one shipment. You got Shada with you?" Booster changed the subject on Talon.
Shada walked up to Talon so Booster could see her.
"Shada, my girl, thought you might like to know I had Mazzic wanting to catch up with me so I told him where I'd be. Any messages for him?"
She exchanged glances with Talon and he fought the urge to put an arm around her for support. Looking back to Booster, she replied, "You can tell him I'm working with Karrde. It's not a secret and I believe he already knows."
Booster looked at the two of them standing together. They seemed like a perfect match and he hoped Talon didn't screw it up. He signed off.
Mara was also watching the duo with much the same expression Booster sported. She caught the wistful expression on Booster's face and knew he was hoping, like her, that Talon found someone to share his life. "Shada." She waited for the other woman to turn in her direction. "I sold most of my businesses and incorporated the rest back with Talon. I have a couple runs I haven't relinquished. I don't see how I can stay up on them, but don't really want to let them go."
"What are they?" Shada thought she knew where this was going.
"They are a result of my special relationship with Lando. He trusts me to carry his gems and certain precious metals to buyers. These are extremely valuable items, not the bulk product his other contacts carry. And he also has me carry only the highest quality glitterstim from Kessel. I also just turned back to Karrde my bacta transport contract. Again, it's not your low grade bacta, but the highest quality. Are you interested in taking over my part on shares?"
Shada glanced up at Talon who remained standing beside her and looked back to Mara. "We both seem to be lacking transportation."
Mara saw Talon smile as his arm came around Shada's shoulders. She watched as Shada and Talon gazed into each other's eyes, then Talon spoke, "I'm giving you control of the Starry Ice when your schedule conflicts with mine."
"I was bluffing with Faughn, you know."
He chuckled and Mara noticed his arm remained in place and she started to feel like three was a crowd, but stayed to listen.
"My dear, you could have fired her and I would have backed you up. She'll come around. I think her main objection is you are a woman and not someone she can manipulate with sexual favors."
Shada turned and placed her hands on his chest, a soft smile on her lips. "And you?"
His hands settled on each side of her waist. "No, I never negotiate from a sexual position, however, I'll make an exception for you." He pulled her in and their lips met.
Now Mara knew it was time to leave, but having confirmation Talon found someone made her smile as she quietly slipped out the door. She used her comlink to track Luke's whereabouts. "I have something to tell you. Where are you?"
"I'm with President Gavrisom. He extends his congratulations to us, as does the Security Council. I'm almost done and will meet you…" he paused, not wanting to say his quarters in a room full of politicians, so projected his place to her.
"Understand Farmboy." She hurried to his place.
"We're alone." Shada heard the door shut.
"It would have been impolite to tell her to leave." He smiled at her.
"She said we're telegraphing our relationship in the force. All Jedi will know we're involved." Shada wasn't sure he wanted to go public outside his organization.
"I'll have a talk with Luke. He won't say anything. I want us to be discrete for now until I can scope out any fallout if we're together. I don't want to put you in harm's way from old grudges." He walked away and looked out the window.
"I know you said at the party, you didn't have any baggage or commitments. Are there other women who might take exception to that statement?" She wanted him to reassure her in private and know about any offspring he might not wanted broadcast aloud. She was still standing across the room from him.
He turned away from his gazing at the traffic and buildings and motioned her to his side. When she crossed the space, he once again pulled her against his side. "I meant every word I said. When I said I was concerned about enemies, I wasn't thinking of jealous women. I don't keep that type of trouble around. And no, I don't have any bastards."
"That you're aware of," she clarified.
He smiled. "I'm very careful. You're the first women I've ever let myself go unprotected with."
"Why?"
"I like to be in total control. That's why I crave information. Knowledge is power. I've seen too many men get destroyed by unwanted children, even among my own people. Invariably the woman comes looking for money or to dump the child off."
"I could be pregnant right now. Are you prepared for that?" She stepped one step away to look in his face without straining.
"Part of me hopes you are." His revelation shocked her and it must have shown for he continued. "You told me you wanted a child. I've seen extraordinary women from one end of this galaxy to the other. All for the most part, with very few exceptions, want power and to control a man, not to mention all his money. Two weeks with you and you didn't make the usual play for me and making me chase you was quite refreshing. I'm offering you the secrets of my organization and you haven't once wanted to know what I'm worth."
"I'm content with my pay." She understood where he was coming from and had seen many women like what he described, and had the pleasure of killing a few.
"I knew before I had unprotected sex with you, Shada, that you were the one for me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have. Neither of us are getting younger. I've had a few days to digest that you want a family. Our relationship will be a non-conventional one as I don't believe in marriage." He saw her face fall and almost regretted his words, but she had to know the grounds of their relationship.
Shada lifted her chin. "I don't get a say in this so called relationship?"
"You'll be my partner, mother of my children. I'm not offering more." He stood his ground.
"I made myself clear. I want a husband."
"I'll be that in every aspect. I just won't exchange vows with any woman."
Shada felt tears welling up and didn't want to show weakness with her tears front of him. How could she have misjudged his advances? He was the perfect lover and lavished expensive gifts on her. "I'll be your second, but I want a husband." She made the door as the first tear made a trail down her cheek alongside her nose. Safely in her room, she let them fall.
Talon stood, back stiff, hand stroking his goatee absentmindedly. Kriff that woman. Fine, she wants to by my employee, I can do that," he made the resolve. He returned to his desk in the room and started working. Hours passed and when he looked up it was dark outside. He ordered some supper to be delivered from the hotel and wondered where she was. Only a few hours and he already missed her company and knew he had to makeup if he wanted her in his bed that night. His momentary vow to make her only an employee forgotten, he walked the five doors to her room and knocked. There was no answer and he felt a stab of panic. Surely she didn't just up and leave him. Swallowing hard, he called for a concierge and showed he was paying for the room and needed to be let in. To his relief, her things were in place, but she was missing. He reached for his comlink and called her.
"D'ukal," she answered immediately.
"Where are you?" he demanded.
"At the Underbarn, Boss." She tried to keep her voice neutral and not let her hurt and anger at him show.
"I need you here, we have work to do. Aves can handle things there."
"I'm staying." She gave her final order and severed the link.
Aves and four of his crew were sitting at a table where they could see the back and door at the same time. Others were spread around the room, blending in. It was a seedy joint with muli-species, all looking like the warrants would be high on their heads. They'd been asking around for information about humans paying customers for work. The bartender told him and his friends to leave. Aves pulled a large chip and laid it on the counter.
"I remember now. They showed up a few days ago and hung around looking for someone to do a job for them; a hit on someone powerful. I don't know who." He reached for the chip. A vibroblade stabbed the counter between his fingers.
"Do you know where the hit was to take place?" Aves knew his people had his back so concentrated on the bartender.
The hand was withdrawn in a hurry. "A fancy hotel near the palace is all I know. I know an Amomid was talking to them. He was a regular of mine and he hasn't been in tonight." His hand hovered, but he didn't go for the chip.
"He won't, he's dead. We're going to hang out. If the humans come in; I want you to quietly, without tipping them off, tell me." Aves pushed the chip to the eager bartender.
"You got it…if there is another one of these in the offering…that is."
Aves looked the human over. He was the typical bartender in a million tapcafs, middle age with a pot belly and in need of a shave and bath. "Only if things go our way, and that means no violence. All we want to do is look at them."
"Are you NRS?" The bartender was starting to look around in a nervous manner.
Aves laughed. "No, and I don't want them here either or no bonus." He moved back to his table and they settled in to wait. It was one of the more pleasant jobs Karrde had given them lately, all they could drink and women to flirt with.
The presence of a woman appearing without a sound at their table startled most of the men, except Aves. His back was to the rear of the room and he was facing the front door when Shada entered from the rear and checked them out.
"Well, what do we have here." Milcen smiled up at Shada. "Honey, join us. We just got in from space and could use a little companionship and you're as fine as they come."
Aves stated laughing. "Shada, forgive Milcen, he's dense. But, please join us."
Milcen whitened noticeably. "This is the Shada? Our new boss?"
Aves acknowledged she was and introduced his crew to her. She sat down and punched up a drink. It was served by an actual human.
"Girlie, I saw you enter from the back. How did you get in here? There's no way you could have done so without picking my lock." He was the bartender and owner Aves had spoken with.
"You have an old lock. Those codes can be bought," she informed him.
"Can I get updated codes from you?"
"It'll cost you, but I'll still be able to enter."
"I could use a pretty woman like you serving drinks. The place will be busting at its seams with a vixen like you to spruce the joint up," the bartender offered.
"And give up my day job as a killer, no thanks." She sipped her drink as he moved to another table.
While they waited, Shada learned a lot about the organization from this group of loyal people. She didn't want to think about the disappointment Karrde dished out to her that afternoon so concentrated on learning as much as she could. It passed the time and she paid for the drinks, to the appreciation of the crew.
Her comlink chimed. It was Talon. She excused herself and stepped into the street or what passed for a traveled path in the underbelly of the urban beast.
After abruptly cutting her comlink off, she debated not going back inside. She wanted to act like a scorned woman. Never before had she experienced feelings that put her high as the clouds one minute and wanting to crawl under a rock the next. She knew Aves would worry so returned to the table. "Did you get a time when the Imps usually arrive?"
Aves shook his head.
Shada went to the bartender. They talked and she returned. "They always are here before now, but don't show up every night. Let's go to the Dragonsnake. If they're not over there, we're calling it a night. They walked the three klicks to the other undesirable local. Nobody messed with that large of group, but the local kingpin did stop them and ask if they were taking over his area. Shada surveyed the façade of the Dragonsnake and saw a ladder pulled out of her reach. "Lift me up," she instructed Aves and soon was entering through a window above the bar.
Aves led his people through the front door. They stopped inside to take stock. He saw Shirlee and Dankin looking back at them. They moved together until the large group was bigger. "See anything?"
"I think so. See that human with the short hair." She surreptitiously waved a hand in a general direction.
Aves made a show of looking around. "Wearing a black jacket?"
"That's him. He isn't drinking alcoholic beverages, just water. He is either waiting for someone or isn't comfortable in a place like this."
"He might be waiting for G'rradd," Aves observed.
"Could be."
"We could follow him when he decides nobody is going to show," Aves suggested.
"Maybe we should approach him. Did Karrde give any instructions on how to handle a contact?"
"I got as much as you. Let's go." He approached the man and sat at his table. Shirlee stood behind Aves.
The man gave them a measured look, but didn't bolt or speak.
"We have a message from G'rradd." Aves spoke low.
"Why didn't he come? If he wants his bonus, he has to report in person. There was no agreement for other's to be involved. Did he accomplish his mission?"
"If you mean to die; he did an excellent job of doing that." Aves wondered what to say next.
"I should have known he was all talk." The man stood.
Aves rose as well. "We have a few questions for you."
"I'm leaving and if you don't let me, my associate will shoot you."
Aves looked around. He saw his people, but nobody else was paying them any mind. "You have me at a loss. Is your help a Wraith?"
"He's in the stairwell with a blaster trained on you. Now I'm going to walk to the door and you're not to follow."
"We only have your word you have an assistant. I need more proof."
"Very well." The man motioned to the dark stairwell.
Shada stepped in view and the man looked stunned. He bolted for the door, but Dankin was faster and tackled him to the floor while Shada joined the group. "Faughn, take him to your ship and lock him up. We'll let Karrde decide what he wants to do with him."
"What about my assistant?" The man felt his wrist restrained with something.
"He resisted," she spoke bluntly and turned away.
Shirlee took her crew for backup to her ship while Aves called one of the crew ordered to stay with their transport to pick them up. It was a large mass transit shuttle. How Karrde rounded one up for his crew, she'd have to ask. Shada made sure she was sitting next to Bot.
"How is the new job?"
"A lot better than not knowing where my next meal is coming from. Chal is teaching me the operations of the Wild Karrde. He says I never know when I might be called upon to fill in for someone. I don't know who Mr. Karrde is, but I owe him a lot."
"He was the man who took you for bacta."
"Oh. I want to do a good job and not get fired." He sounded younger than his sixteen years.
"I'm sure you'll do fine. Karrde is a fair man." They fell silent for the trip to the hotel.
Karrde was waiting in the lobby, legs apart and arms crossed when his people entered the Republic. "Faughn called me with an update. Get some food and rest. Shada, you're with me." Without waiting for a reply, he spun and walked to the lifts. Shada felt a wave of tiredness wash over her and realized she'd forgotten to eat since her breakfast in bed with Talon. Right now, she wanted to sleep and not have a confrontation.
They rode in silence and he noticed her exhausted, by the tension in her face and figured he contributed, starting with him not letting her get a full night's sleep. "Have you eaten?"
"No." She leaned against the wall of the lift.
He reached out and pulled her against him and felt her stiffen. "Nothing's changed in our relationship, Shada. I still want you in my room and bed." He hoped he said the right thing.
He could use his glib tongue to placate the most cantankerous person, but from the moment they met, he occasionally fumbled around her.
"I'm too tired to eat or talk."
"Let me hold you." His grip tightened.
"I'm sleeping alone tonight, Boss." She emphasized his title.
His deep voice rumbled, "I'm not your boss in the traditional sense." The lift opened and he kept an arm around her and tried to steer her past her door.
She stopped and turned on him. "I need some time to digest the part where I'm not worthy to be your wife. I'll be sleeping alone." She punched her code in and he was alone in the wide hall.
"Not gonna happen, Shada, you'll never be my wife," he spoke softly to the closed door.
