Chapter 13

May 28th 2553 1200 Hours Marketplace Nar Shaddaa.

I lay cloaked in a ventilation shaft that was located above the slave market, staring through the scope of my DMR at a target rich environment. The DMR I was using was specialty modified for covert ops missions. It was equipped with a day, night, and thermal capable optic, suppressor, bipod, and a brass catcher. Where I was located was perfect, I could observe nearly the whole cargo bay with very little risk of being spotted. And while the cloak would still disengage when you fired a weapon, with the upgrades to the cloaking software, made by Parker and myself. The cloak would reengage a half second after firing, this made it even more unlikely that I would be discovered.

A little green light flashed on the side of my HUD indicating Six was in position, another one told me that Buck's team was ready. A moment later I got the confirmation signals from the other teams. Now we just had to sit back and wait for the show to begin, we didn't have long to wait.

The lights dimmed and a pair of spotlights were directed to the stage. The slave market was little more than a massive cargo bay, fancily decorated. The area had rugs placed on the floor, there was a large number of tables and chairs set up for the buyers to sit at, a buffet and bar were set up to one side, the guests were being waited on buy scantily clad females from a large variety of races, and finely there were a number of well-armed guards stationed at the entrances and I strongly suspected there was some mussel mixed in with the crowd as well.

A Twi'lek mail stepped onto the stage he was dressed in what I assumed was this part of the galaxy's formal attire. "Laity's and Gentlemen." I had to stifle a laugh at that. "It is my pleasure to open the bidding to day, and to start with we have a lovely treat for you." The Twi'lek gestured to the back of the stage where the curtness parted reveling Aubrie and Leska who were then escorted to the front of the stage. They had collars placed around their necks, and if the info about slave collars Parker had found was correct they were likely dampening their force abilities. They were also dressed in metal bikini thing, that did not leave very much to the imagination. "We have not one, but two female, human, Jedi for you today!" With that the crowd erupted into all sorts of noises before being quitted down by the announcer.

"We will start the bidding for this auburn beauty at one million credits." The Auctioneer said, referring to Leska. Immediately a patron flashed their holo biding indicator. "I have one milion do I hear one point five!" another holo flashed "two million?" Buck flashed his holob, but was instantly outbid. This went on for quite some time with Buck ocasinaly biding to see if he might get lucky.

"Parker how many credits was in that Pirate captain's account? I asked.

"About three million. And before you ask, no I could not hack in and add a few zeros to the end of his account. This part of the galaxy might have laughable cyber security, but their cyber banking security is legit."

"What do you know, the one thing we could use right now." I complained.

"SOLD! For fifty million." The Auctioneer declared in a loud voice, as Leska was escorted off the platform. "Now don't be discouraged folks we have a blooming young Jedi padawan here." The Twi'lek assured the crowd and the bidding began again.

"Parker do you have eyes on the General?" Six asked as the guards took her away.

"Of course I do." The AI bragged "She is being taken to a holding cell in the back separate from the unsold captives."

Bidding on Aubrie lasted ten minutes and when it was over she went for seventy million. She was then escorted from the stage as well. "There are a lot of credits being thrown around down there!" Parker mused, I almost thought I heard a sort of longing in her voice, but that was crazy why would an AI want money.

"Now Ladies and Gentlemen, I have another treat for you today." The auctioneer proclaimed enthusiastically as Mak Lotor was led on stage. "Here we have a high spirited, young, Jedi, male he would make an excellent gladiator, or maybe the buyers of the female Jedi would like to get this one as a stud." With that the bidding started and Lotor finally wet for sixty million. Unfortunately captain Darr wasn't brought up until near the end.

"Let us start the bid for this fine looking Republic SIS agent at one-hundred thousand" The Auctioneer proclaimed as Darr was brought onto the platform, she caught sight of Buck in the crowd and I swear if looks could kill he would have been a smoking crater. Thankfully the ONI captain composed herself and didn't give his position away.

Buck flashed his holo. "Do I hear two-hundred thousand?" Someone else flashed their holo. "Do I hear three-hundred?" A Rodian flashed his holo. "Do I hear four?" A Zabrak flashed her holo. "Do I hear five?" Buck flashed his holo again. "Do I hear six?" there was silence. "Sold!" the Twi'lek announced and Darr was escorted off the stage. I couldn't help noticing a small smirk on Bucks face.

"Everyone get to your positions." Jerome ordered. "Gunnery Sergeant Buck, Delta teams in position once you give the go ahead they will breach the holding area."

"Gunny hurry to the slave pick up point in the back. I have uploaded a virus into your credit chit,but I need you to get there before the our friend's buyers do." Parker instructed with urgency, over the comm."

Buck quickly made his way through the crowd to the back where you played for, and collected the slaves you had just purchased.

"Every one a slight change of plan." Jerome said over the come after a few moments of silence. "Parker has filled me in on what she wants to do." More like he had to pry it out of her, I thought to myself.

"Parker is going to commandeer the slave's bank account. We will allow the buyers to pay for and take the packages. Parker will hack into both party's bank accounts." So she does want those credits, I thought. I wonder if the neural map was made from belonged to an ex thief. "And we will track the buyers and retrieve the packages from them." Jerome finished explaining.

"The new plan went into motion. Buck paid the slaves and retrieved Dairr, and then Parker did her thing and found our buyers and siphoned off two hundred million credits from their accounts. I couldn't really fault Parkers reasoning there, those credits would prove useful for something, at some point.

1900 Hours, Nar Shaddaa Skyway

I was flying one of the speeders from the pirate ship, discreetly flowing the buyer of Leska, wile Six was flowing Aubrie and Motor, when Parker's face popped up on to my HUD.

"Hey B228 you want to see something entertaining?" Parker asked with a mischievous smile on her face. "Sure…" I said not overly enthused with the idea of what I might get. Parker had a strange sense of humor sometimes. A video was sent to me and I opened it. I had to admit it was rather entertaining. What Parker had sent me was a recording from the ship's airlock cameras, starting when Buck and his team got back with captain Dairr. They were all standing in the airlock when Dairr turns around and clocks Buck in the face.

"Tah mah duh hwoon dahn!" Buck eclamed.

"That's for your wondering eyes!" Dairr said angrily. Meanwhile the rest of the ODST are trying to act as off they aren't paying attention.

"Have you seen what you are wearing?" Buck asked as the airlock opens. "What man, that's still breathing wouldn't let his eyes wonder?" Dairr didn't reply she just stormed off into the ship presumably to look for something else to wear.

"She wasn't all that upset with him you know" Parker said as the recording ended.

"What makes you say that?"

"She had all the typical symptoms of being sexually aroused." Parker informed me, with a smile on her face. "I bet if I did some digging I would find they had some history together."

"Parker have you ever heard of privacy?"

"Are you kidding? That went out the window when the digital age started."

I just shook my head, sighed, and focussed back on my target.

From what Parker had been able to dig up. Leska's capture was a female Togruta named Frdarin Jestra, and apparently she was rather high up in the Hutt crime syndicate. What she wanted with a Jedi was a question that peaked my curiosity, but it was still inqosiqwental. Leska was, besides being an ally, a liability if she fell into the wrong hands. Thus it was my job to rescue her, or failing that eliminate her.

The speeder I was following finally reached its destination, a rather expensive apartment, that took up the entire top floor of a tower, and had a ridicules number of large windows. I kept my distance and observed what was happening. The speeder landed on a very large landing platform, were several other speeders were parked. The Togruta exetted the speeder with Leska in tow, she had apparently fastened a chain leash to Leska's collar, and was closely followed by her two bodyguards. They were met by two servants one took Leska inside while the other acupanied Frdarin as she went to her apartment's terrace, I assumed to relax.

It didn't look like this Frdarin Jestra had much in the way of security, at least not the kind that would worry a Spartan. Then again I couldn't imagine someone climbing the ranks of a crime syndicate wouldn't be careful.

"Ghost Actual this is Ghost Two I have located Target beata." I reported over my comm.

"Ghost Two this is Ghost Actal, do you need assistance?" Jerome asked.

"Unknown at this time." I replied.

"Understood Ghost Two, we will have Phantoms standing by."

"Acnolaged Ghost Actual, Ghost Two out."

I spent the next two hours analyzing the apartment. From what I could tell there were four visible turbolaser turrets and at least eight hidden ones. I also noted a very large number of security droids, but only four sentient guards two Zabrak, one Human, and one Twi'lek. I was certain I could get into the tower and out again with Leska, But it was not going to be without incident.

I decided the best way in, was from the air. It was rather simple, I flew my speeder over the tower and jumped out (Making sure the speeder was on autopilot first of course) and used a thruster pack to break my fall just before impact. I landed right at the entrance of the apartment and behind the droids guarding the landing pad. Of course there was no hope they wouldn't detect my arrival, but .50 cal rounds from a silenced M6 through a droids processing unit was a rather effective way of shutting them down. Unfortunately they were linked to the security system and their going offline triggered the alarm and apartment lockdown. Of course I had anticipated that and had back stepped through the door just before firing. Once in, I found a rather lavishly decorated abode, and two startled Zabrak guards who I disposed of before they could pick their jaws off the floor. I passed through the foyer, through a main corridor, and then found myself in the apartments main room.

I had to suddenly duck as a couch was thrown across the room at me. I was surprised to find the Togruta standing at the far side of the room with a very pised off look. She was either far stronger than I had assumed or she was using the force powers I had seen Jedi use.

"Who sent you Assasin?" She demanded in a loud demanding voice. "Tell me and I might let you live."

I went to raise my M6, Frdarin leapt into the air and hurled herself at me with what looked like a single edged sword, commonly referred to in this part of the galaxy as a Vibroblade. I rolled out of the way, I was pretty sure that my shields and armor could stand up to it, but I was not willing to test that just now. I again brought my M6 to bear, but before I could pull the trigger she had closed the distance and tried to stab me. I side stepped it and then pistol whipped her causing the Togruta to fall to the floor. To her credit though she was back on her feet within a second and tried to hit me with a roundhouse kick. It didn't even move me ad I hit her in the face with a dialled back punch (I wasn't looking to decorate the room with her branes) and she dropped like rag doll. After that It was a rather easy process of clearing the other two guards, security droids, and dismantling the turbolaser turrets.

It took me some time to find Leska. I found her in a holding cell that had been hidden in the center of the apartment and heavily shielded from scanners. But I eventually found the hidden door controls. The cell looked like like something I had seen often in the bases of the more radically violent Insurrectionist groups I had wiped out. I found Leska in the middle of the cell, suspended in the air by force fields, she was unconscious, and looked like someone had been entarigating her. I got her down rapt her in a blanket and took her to the landing platform where I had the speeder meet us.

"I hope Six is having an easier time with his assignment." I thought as I piloted the speeder back to the ship.

I am Back

I am finally back, and I figured it would be a good idea to tell you what I plan on doing with this story as I have had a lot of experiences since starting this project.

Furst I do intend on trying to finish this story (However long that might take). Second I plan on going back and making some changes to the older chapters. Making correction, making them flow better, and adding things to make the settings and characters feel more real.