Disclaimer: I hold no stock or other interest in the Bumani Exchange Corporation.
The Exchange headquarters was a nondescript office, marked only by the shady Rodian guarding the outer door. "You have no business with the Exchange," he said as they approached, "Get out of here."
Meetra shot him an icy glare. "Luxa sent me."
The Rodian shrugged. "I hope you know what you're getting into, human." He turned and spoke into a comm terminal. "Vula, a human is here to see Slusk. Everything checks out. Please open the door." There was a chirp from the console, and the door opened. Meetra headed into the lobby with the others in tow.
Vula was the human woman sitting behind the reception desk. "I'm terribly sorry, but there must be some sort of mistake. I don't have a record of your appointment-are you sure it was for today?"
"There is no appointment," said Meetra. "Luxa asked me to drop by and speak with Slusk."
Vula frowned in confusion. "No appointment? Then how did… why did… oh!" She blinked as she realized what was going on. "Let me, ah, open the door for you, ah, right away…" Vula thumbed the intercom, along with what Meetra assumed was a silent alarm. "There's a package here for pickup." She turned back to Meetra. "There you are. Have a good day!"
There was a loud click as the outer door locked behind them. The inner door opened to reveal four Gamorreans holding axes. Their chief grunted a command, and the group parted to let Meetra pass. Vula's mouth fell open in shock as Meetra walked right by the guards and into the office suite. Luxa was standing just behind the Gamorreans; she smiled slightly and pointed out a door to her right. Meetra walked through to find Slusk standing around a table along with Benok, Matu, Nahata, and two other thugs.
"You've got a lot of nerve coming here, Jedi, with the bounty we've got on your kind," said Slusk threateningly. "What do you want?"
"I'm here representing Chodo Habat," Meetra said evenly.
"You-what?" snapped Slusk, "I gave very specific instructions regarding that hammerhead and any of his cronies." He turned to his bodyguards. "Who let this idiot in? Matu, bring me whoever's working the door. Nahata, tell Chodo if he sends anyone else, we'll come after him. And Benok…" Slusk's mouth tentacles flared wide and he clicked his fangs, "Dust this foolish Jedi."
Benok grinned cruelly. "With pleasure." He kicked the table over and took cover behind it with Nahata; both drew blaster pistols. Slusk retreated to the next room. The rest ran in with vibroblades; Meetra and Kreia met them in the middle of the floor. Atton drew his blaster and took cover in the doorway. Benok and Nahata stood up shooting; Atton drilled the Rodian twice in the chest. Benok fired again, forcing Atton behind the door.
Meetra and Kreia stayed close together, so Meetra could protect Kreia's vulnerable left side. Matu circled Meetra, attacking her head and upper torso with quick slashes. Meetra parried with her off-hand blade and sliced horizontally. Matu hopped backwards, then lunged for Meetra's belly. Meetra trapped his vibroblade between her swords and forced it down to the deck. She saw movement in her peripheral vision; one of the other thugs was attacking her while she could not parry. Meetra ducked and the thug's slash killed Matu. The thug froze when he saw what he had done and Meetra neatly took his head off. Benok roared and swiveled to fire at Meetra. Kreia shot a Force push with her left arm and blasted the table into Benok, crushing him against the wall. The last thug was about to stab Kreia in the back when Atton popped out and shot him dead.
Meetra took a breath and headed through the door Slusk had used. Two more Gamorreans were guarding a final door; an Ithorian was locked in a force cage in the corner. "Help!" he cried, seeing them come in, "Jedi, you must help me!"
Meetra directed a deadly glance at the Gamorreans. "I give you this one chance. Release him now if you value your lives."
The Gamorreans spread their hands. "We cannot open the cage," one grunted. "Once Vula hit the alarm, this entire compound locked down. You need the boss' keycard; he will have it on him."
Meetra nodded grimly and hooked a thumb over her shoulder. "I need that door open."
"Luxa said you were strong," said the Gamorrean. "I will get you inside. We will see how strong you are!" He keyed an intercom panel outside the door. "Boss! Matu is here with Koobis, from the door. You want to see him now?" The pig listened to the response from inside the office. "Yes, I will send him." The two Gamorreans ran from the room.
The door opened; Slusk was standing behind two war droids armed with repeating blasters. "What? Whoever let you get back here better be dead, or they'll be wishing they were when my droids are through with you." The two droids stepped through the door, which began to shut behind them. Kreia threw a bolt of blue lightning to disable the droids. Meetra hit them with a powerful push and the droids flew back into the doorway, where they were crushed by the closing doors. Atton and Meetra grabbed the doors and pried them apart, then walked through.
Slusk stood behind his desk; he looked concerned, but not overly so. "You've handled yourself well getting this far. But you should think things over carefully. I can be a very valuable ally." He held out his hands. "Just what is it you want? To join the Exchange? Money?"
Meetra shook her head. "I just want you to leave the Ithorians alone."
"Really?" asked Slusk mildly, "All this trouble just for that?" He focused on something behind Meetra. "Ah, it seems we have some visitors. I was wondering when you'd show up, Luxa."
"Slusk," said the Zeltron in greeting. She stepped into the office with all six Gamorreans at her back.
"I assume this was all your doing?" asked Slusk quietly.
Luxa smiled impudently. "I may have had a hand in this, yes."
Slusk shrugged. "I suppose I should have known. You always were an ambitious one." He laid his hands on the desk. "Enough with that, though. On to the business at hand. I don't think it's possible that all of us will be leaving this room alive."
"I agree," said Luxa. "Don't you agree, dear?"
Meetra picked up the scent of Luxa's pheromones once again. "No, I don't." She noted the look of shock on Luxa's face. "I am here to get the Exchange off the Ithorians' backs, nothing more. You two settle your business; I'll negotiate with whoever is left."
"There will be no negotiations, fool," snarled Slusk, "Because I'll be the only one left!" He hit a control on the desk; two blaster turrets emerged from hidden compartments in the floor and began firing. One of the Gamorreans was killed right away. Luxa must have known about the hidden guns because she threw herself to the floor. Atton threw an ion grenade, temporarily freezing the guns. The Gamorreans moved in, smashing the turrets with their axes. Slusk began firing a sonic pistol; he killed another pig before the rest knocked him to the floor and finished him off with a torrent of ax blows.
"So much for the squid-head," said Luxa gleefully. "Now, we did have a deal, but it was struck under false pretenses." She wagged a finger at Meetra. "You resisted my telepathic abilities and my pheromones… meaning you still have some skill with the Force, and the bounty applies to you."
Meetra raised her eyebrows. "Are you sure you want to take me on under those circumstances? Seems unwise from where I'm standing."
Luxa chuckled and drew an Exchange negotiator from her belt. "I want the Jedi alive, and the other two dead." The Gamorreans spread out and raised their weapons. Three went after Atton and Kreia while one moved to help Luxa take on Meetra. Kreia gestured and one pig simply fell unconscious. Atton fired at another; the Gamorrean took hit after hit and kept coming. Atton was forced to dive out of the way to keep from being cut in half. He jumped, kicked off a wall and grabbed the thug's head. The agile pilot swung his body around the Gamorrean and snapped the pig's neck. He shot the Gamorrean attacking Meetra in the back, doing little damage but forcing it to come after him.
Meetra dodged a baton strike from Luxa. She slashed vertically; Luxa flipped out of the way and landed a powerful kick to Meetra's ribs. She stopped another attack with a palm strike to Meetra's forearm. Meetra saw an opening and struck at Luxa's throat with her short sword. Luxa parried with her negotiator, then triggered the shock pulse. The jolt was transmitted down the metal blade and Meetra cried out as her muscles went into spasm. Luxa smiled cruelly and kicked again at head height. Meetra brought up an arm to block, but the impact knocked her short sword out of her hand. Meetra took a step back to gather herself. I don't dare touch that baton again; another shock will knock me out. Luxa moved forward, preparing to finish her off. Meetra gripped her sword two-handed; Luxa positioned her baton to parry. Meetra took a step to the side and slashed downward, taking Luxa's arm off at the elbow, then lunged and stabbed the Zeltron neatly through the heart. Luxa fell dead, face frozen in wide-eyed surprise.
Meetra looked around; Atton and Kreia had taken care of the last of Luxa's thugs. She bent down and recovered the keycard from Slusk's body. "Right," she said, "Let's release the hostage and get out of here."
They walked out of Slusk's office and opened the force cage. "Thank you," said the Ithorian gratefully, "I could not bear another moment confined like that."
"Why were they holding you?" asked Meetra.
"The Quarren wanted the location of a human named Batono," he replied. "They were certain I knew where he could be found. When I told them I did not, they hurt me."
Meetra nodded. "We're getting you out of here. Do you need medical attention?"
The Ithorian shook his head. "I will be fine once I return to the compound. More than anything, I need to sleep in my own bed again."
The group headed out towards the main door. Vula was still at the front desk; she looked up when she heard them approach. Her eyes popped wide open, she jumped up out of her chair and flattened herself against the wall in the corner. "Please don't kill me! I'm only doing my job!"
"Your job?" Meetra raised her eyebrows. "What is your job, exactly?"
"Please, I just take the calls, I…" The woman burst into tears. "I'm sorry."
"Well, you're out of work. Slusk and Luxa are dead." Meetra pointed a finger in her face; Vula flinched as if struck. "This is what you're going to do. You will walk out that door and straight to Lieutenant Grenn in the TSF station. You will tell him everything, and help him with any files or documents in here. If you don't, Vula, I will know, and I'll find you. You don't want that, do you?" Vula shook her head vigorously; Meetra smiled thinly. "Good." She swiped the keycard and the door opened. "Get moving!" Vula nearly flew out the door and down the atrium towards the Entertainment Module.
Atton laughed and shook his head. "Don't you think you were a little rough on her? The poor thing was terrified!"
Meetra turned to face him. "That scare should keep her on the straight and narrow. I don't want her getting involved with criminals again, no matter how desperate she becomes." She glanced at the Ithorian. "Let's get back to Chodo Habat."
Meetra walked purposefully into the Ithorian compound. The freed hostage headed directly to his apartment to rest. The greeter headed back to speak to Habat, then returned and waved Meetra past. Habat was waiting in his office with Moza. "I am glad to see you have returned safely," he said. "Thank you for freeing a member of my herd."
"The Exchange will trouble you no longer," said Meetra.
Habat nodded sadly. "I understand that your meeting did not go peacefully. It saddens me greatly that blood was shed, it was not my intention to cause harm."
"Not every problem can be solved without violence," Kreia said quietly, "particularly when your adversary has little respect for life. Ask yourself, Ithorian: How many more will suffer if your goal is not achieved?"
Habat swung his neck to look at Kreia. "I suppose that you have a point. Even so, I cannot bring myself to wish harm upon another." He turned back to Meetra. "Still, you did accomplish what I asked, and you should be rewarded. Please accept this humble gift." Habat reached into a belt pouch and handed her a small blue crystal. "It came from a lightsaber that belonged to a Jedi once of my herd."
"Thank you, Chodo. Your gift honors me." Meetra looked down at the small stone. It brought her a flood of conflicting emotions. I could build a new lightsaber, but should I? Do I deserve to carry one?
She took a breath and re-focused. "I have an important question for you. The Ithorian I rescued said the Exchange interrogated him. They were looking for information on Batono, a former Czerka worker." Meetra looked Habat square in the eye. "Why would they think that a member of your herd would know where Batono is?"
Habat and Moza looked at each other; Habat rubbed his neck nervously. "What is your interest in this?"
Meetra could tell that she had guessed right. "Lieutenant Grenn has me looking for Batono. He was working for Grenn as an informant when he vanished, about three weeks ago. Grenn is concerned for his safety."
Habat lowered his head. "There is no point trying to deceive you. Indeed, I do know of Batono, and where he can be found. Batono came to us offering help against Czerka. He wished to keep his work with us a secret, even from Grenn-he did not trust the TSF. I arranged a hiding place."
Meetra's eyes widened. "Loppak Slusk grabbed one of your people, so he already knows that Batono met with you. The Exchange doesn't want to invite him to lunch, they want him dead. We must assume that his hiding place is compromised. You can't protect him, but Grenn can. I need to see Batono now."
"I trust your judgment," said Habat. "Batono is hidden in an apartment, rented under a false name. I will provide you with an access card and the location. Please convey my apologies to Batono for betraying his trust; I believe he will understand, given the circumstances."
Meetra took the card and headed out to the module atrium. They were a few steps outside the door when Kreia cleared her throat. "I do not approve of this alliance we have formed with Chodo Habat and his Ithorians."
Meetra frowned. "Why is that?"
"Habat has an agenda," Kreia replied, "and he hopes to tie you into it, to use you to his own ends."
"That's true enough," said Meetra, "but I don't sense he intends to do us harm."
Kreia shook her head slowly. "Be that as it may, it would be best if you avoided such needless entanglements. You are too valuable to be caught up in the struggles of this planet."
Meetra put her hands on her hips. "Telos' destruction was a result of the Mandalorian Wars. I owe it to the galaxy to help undo the damage." She shrugged. "On a more practical note, we need to find the Ebon Hawk, and the Ithorians have access to the surface of Telos. The only other option was partnering with Czerka, and I find them less trustworthy." She tossed the saber crystal in the air and caught it. "Habat may also be able to help me restore my connection to the Force. I will need that if I am to face that Sith from Peragus." Meetra shrugged. "Habat gets what he wants, and I get help on my journey. That's a fair trade, if you ask me."
Kreia smiled faintly. "So, you mingle wisdom with your folly. I suppose that will do for now."
Meetra nodded. "Let's find Batono, and we'll go from there."
The Ithorians were complete novices when it came to keeping someone hidden; the 'safehouse' was only a few doors down from the Ithorian compound. Meetra buzzed the door; there was no answer. She glanced over at Atton, who raised his eyebrows. Meetra took a breath. "Be ready." She unlocked the door and opened it.
The man inside matched Grenn's holo of Batono, and was wearing an anxious expression. "What the-? Hm, you're not CSD, what are you doing here?"
"You're Batono, right?" asked Meetra.
"What? No," he stammered, "You must be mistaken. You're probably looking for the previous tenant or a neighbor."
Meetra held up her hands reassuringly. "Lieutenant Grenn sent me to look for you. He was worried."
"Dol sent you?" Batono rolled his eyes. "Can't say I'm surprised, he was the one who wanted me to come forward in the first place."
"It's the right thing to do," said Meetra.
Batono shrugged. "Easy to say that, but you're not the one Czerka will send its assassins after."
Meetra shook her head. "If it's your safety you're worried about, you shouldn't. After Czerka is exposed, they won't dare move against you."
"Sure, but everything takes time-testifying before the Council, the Council's deliberation…" Batono twisted his hands together nervously. "Time that Czerka could use to rub me out."
"You need to go to Grenn," Meetra countered. "One of the Ithorians was just grabbed by the Exchange. They roughed him up-they were trying to get your location. You need more than a place to hide-the TSF can put you under its protection."
Batono rubbed his chin. "You might be right. I don't think Czerka has gone so far that it's willing to openly clash with the TSF." He looked past Meetra out the open door. "But Czerka has eyes everywhere. I'm not even sure I can leave this apartment safely."
"That's why we're here," said Meetra firmly. "I was once a Jedi Knight. I'll see you safely to the TSF office."
"All right, fine," Batono said, "But we need to get moving." They turned and walked through the apartment commons.
Two figures were waiting at the door to the module atrium-a skinny Rodian and a tall, muscular Devaronian. "Hm, what do we have here?" The Devaronian smiled unpleasantly. "Batono, if I'm not mistaken. You've been a hard man to track down."
Meetra recognized the escaped criminals Grenn had been looking for. She gestured, and Atton and Kreia hustled Batono into cover in the doorway. "And you are?"
"It doesn't matter who I am," squeaked the Rodian. "It's him we've all been looking for. Executive Lorso sent us to take care of some unfinished business."
Meetra drew her swords. "Lorso isn't taking Batono anywhere."
"That's fine," chuckled the Devaronian. "We weren't planning on taking him anywhere anyways." Both killers drew vibroswords.
Meetra drew on the Force and leapt forward, bringing both blades down at the Rodian. She hit nothing; the alien had sidestepped and was slashing at her head. Meetra parried but had no time to counterattack as the Devaronian attacked her blind side. These two were much more skilled than anyone else Meetra had faced on the station; she found herself struggling to fend off both attackers. Kreia ran up to help while Atton guarded Batono. She showed no sign of either age or blindness, and held the Rodian back with expert fencing. The alien grew increasingly frustrated, and tried to break Kreia's guard with powerful two-handed slashes. It was a fatal mistake. Kreia spun aside and the Rodian's momentum carried him past her. Kreia turned and drove her vibroblade into the alien's upper back, severing his spine and puncturing a lung. The Rodian dropped like a puppet with cut strings.
The Devaronian circled Meetra, angling his vibrosword as he looked for an opening. Meetra kept him in front of her and waited for him to make his move. The Devaronian stepped in and slashed; Meetra parried with her off hand and swung for her opponent's head. He ducked and rolled to Meetra's right, stabbing at her belly as he stood. Meetra dodged and the Devaronian tripped her with a low kick. Meetra scrambled to her feet but the killer was past her. Atton began firing; he hit the Devaronian but the big alien kept right on coming. He knocked the pistol from Atton's hand with a wide sweep of his sword. Atton ducked a head-high slash and drew his knife. The killer spotted the blade and seized Atton's wrist. Atton grabbed the Devaronian's weapon arm and the two struggled. The Devaronian head-butted Atton; his horns left a deep cut in Atton's forehead. Atton slumped and the Devaronian threw him to the ground. Atton rolled and jammed his knife into the Devaronian's calf. As the alien roared in pain, Atton grabbed his pistol and fired repeatedly until the Devaronian fell.
"That was a close one," said Batono. "We need to keep moving. Let's leave this mess for the TSF guards to sort out."
"You're right," Meetra agreed, "Let's go."
In ten minutes, they were talking to Grenn in the TSF station. "I have to hand it to you, I'm damned impressed," said the lieutenant. "Not only did you find Batono, you convinced him to testify against Czerka to the Council."
"Also, we took out a couple of heavies Lorso sent after your witness," quipped Atton, rubbing his head. The cut had needed wound glue and a kolto patch, but Atton wouldn't have a scar.
Grenn smiled. "Yes, well done. Those were the two killers I warned you about, and there's a reward for them-dead or alive." He handed over five 100-credit chips. "I was mistaken-they weren't hired to kill you, they were part of a larger scheme to eliminate witnesses against Czerka and the Exchange." He grimaced. "By the way, Samhan Dobo is dead. There was another breach in our computer security-the slicer overloaded Dobo's force cage. Still, we have Batono in protective custody now. I've also been approached by a woman named Vula, who claims to have information on Exchange operations on the station." Grenn smiled at Meetra. "I have no idea what happened in the Bumani offices, of course."
"Of course," chuckled Meetra. "Lieutenant, if there's nothing else, I need to return to Chodo Habat. I need to tell him about Batono, so that we may determine our next move." Grenn nodded, and Meetra and the others returned to the Ithorian compound.
A/N: Like so many other villains, Luxa should be smarter than this. If Meetra has the Force, Luxa is out of her depth. She really should have picked her battles.
