Chapter 7
I would like to say that the following few days went by in a whirl of action but the simple fact of the matter was that not even the many preparations that we made were enough to make the time do anything but crawl by with the slow speed of a slime-beetle.
They were also far more harrowing then any possible battle I have ever encountered.
First was the response at the bank, which only added to my anxiety about my having left my money in Holton's care. At first the banker who cared for me was eminently rude⦠until he pulled up my information, that is.
Then all of a sudden he was all roses and sunshine. Bowing and scraping the entire while, he set me up with a new account stick and respectfully requested that if I ever needed more in excess of "8 figures" in hard currency the bank would need a month's notice- if I didn't mind. Being out on the edges of civilization and all made some things difficult, he apologized.
Naturally, at first it took me a moment to figure out what he was talking about but after a quick mental count of zeros I realized how much he was referring to.
So, it was another moment, this time filled with calming techniques before I just nodded and agreed that was equitable and tried to get through the process as best I could.
I did however decide that regardless of what I had promised Holton or even myself- I seriously, seriously wanted to take a look at what he was up to that would generate that kind of credit.
Despite his assurances that he was "doing a lot of good" I had some strong reservations in that regard which only added to the quickly growing knot in the pit of my stomach.
And so, the days passed by as I made every type of preparation I could think of.
I rented the most modern service center outright for the next several weeks and reviewed the resumes and experience of everyone in the system even remotely concerned with droids, weighing the various pros and cons of their abilities and experiences as well as their personalities just in case.
In fact, I even ordered some of the new prototype equipment concerned with droid programming which would hopefully be there in time for K'Ren to utilize, provided of course that he was willing to help.
When the holotrans from Holton finally came however, I found out that it was all for nothing.
"K'Ren's more than willing," Holton told me shaking his head. "In fact, he thinks it would be wonderful to work on an old astromech again, unfortunately however, the Tribal Council won't budge. They refuse to let K'Ren off the planet, they say he's getting too old and that it's almost time for him to- well," He stated. "They have some rather unique traditions and K'Ren would be breaking one if he left."
"I see," I muttered. "Alright," I stated more to myself then to him. "Holton? Stick near the holoprojector, I've got a few transmissions to make," I told him before gesturing for the operator to end the transmission.
"Agent?" I asked turning to him, "Could you get me the Twi'Leckian Tribal Council? Inform them that I am Lady Vokan of the Jedi Academy calling upon behalf of Master Luke Skywalker. If that doesn't get their attention, I don't know what the Sith will."
And oh boy did it get their attention! No sooner had the agent had expressed this then I was suddenly facing the images of various Twi'Lecks.
The council themselves.
"Gentlemen," I greeted them quickly before they could get even so much as a word in. "I understand that there is some problem with your decision to allow Doctor K'Ren out of the system?"
"No," He shook his head. "Our decision has been made-"
"-And it is about to be remade Councilman," I informed him with a small, cold smile. "Look, I don't think that you're aware of this fact, sir, but the simple fact of the matter is that while Master Skywalker is above revenge- I on the other hand am not.
"Now, unless you want a Sithian Lady descending upon your," And here a threw in a small chuckle. "Rather delicately balanced system, you will capitulate to the extremely generous offer that we have discussed earlier.
"In other words," I smiled again. "If Doctor K'Ren is not heading towards Endor within twenty-four standard hours gentlemen, I shall personally not only turn to the Dark Side but I shall also make absolutely certain that your system, your species and every single being that has ever even so much as given you the time of day dies slowly, painfully and with an extreme amount of screaming.
"Then gentlemen, and only then will I turn my attentions to you and finish by slowly tearing your hearts out through your spleens," I informed them. "Am I making myself clear?"
The councilman blanched his mouth opening and closing several times in complete and abject terror and of course, I smiled again.
"I'll take that as a yes," I decided firmly. "Inform the good doctor that I await the pleasure of his company as soon as possible."
And with that I gestured to the operator and he ended the transmission.
Without even having to tell him, the operator connected me with Holton again and all I could do was smile.
"Two things," I told him. "First off, whatever you were offering? You might want to double it," I stated without preamble. "And secondly? I think they'll be extremely cooperative now."
Of course, my threat was nothing more than a complete and utter bluff!
But apparently it worked because no more than a few hours later I received word that K'Ren was on his way. Then the waiting began.
