Epilogue
One Week Later
Azi and Corso landed their borrowed speeder in the Old Coco Market District of Coruscant. They had had a busy week since their "heroic actions" at the Jedi Temple. Azi didn't feel they did much but she wasn't going to argue the pronouncement either. I mean she wasn't a Jedi or anything.
After taking the two young wounded Jedi back to the Army Med Center, they had been given this official speeder to track down Skavak and her ship. There was even talk of giving her a Privateer's commission for the impending war that no diplomat seemed capable of stopping anymore. The Sith had played Darth Tarnis' death at the hands of Satele Shan as the execution of a Sith emissary appointed to make sure the Republic wasn't breaking the Treaty of Coruscant. And when he had found out what they had with the Desolator Project he was killed by the Jedi. There was enough truth in there to make it believable, and Azi got the sense that the Supreme Chancellor didn't care to argue that point. She was tired of the cold war hostilities and felt it was time the winner took all.
After that, Army Command had become a hive's nest of activity. She had talked to Corso about wanting to accept the offered commission to fight on behalf of the Republic, and she was no longer surprised when he had said he was thinking the same thing. She felt herself falling in love with Corso Riggs, and she no longer cared to argue with herself over it.
Before they could join the resumption of the longest war in the Republic's history, she had to find her ship. That quest had led them to Darmus Pollaran, an old friend of Vidu's. Darmus owned a small casino in the Old Market and had apparently won a galactic Sabacc tournament in his twenties that he had built his fortune on. Azi had already met him twice and each time he had tried to get her to stay the night. He always did it in a way that made her laugh so she always turned him down politely, while Corso's ears turned a brighter shade of red. This time however, the old card shark and ladies' man had pertinent information on Skavak's whereabouts.
Just ahead she could see the tacky lighting that outlined a woman's legs with the words Red Felt Casino just above the knees. It was named for the lining of the Sabacc and Pazaak tables, as well as the dancer's stockings. She still cringed a little bit at the sight of scantily clad females entertaining men, especially when the majority of these dancers were members of her species, but Darmus had assured her he abhorred slavery and the four employees he had that were purchased as slaves he had immediately freed and started on wages.
The middle aged but still roguishly handsome human was sitting at his large polished office desk in the back when she and Corso entered his office, which was adorned in the finest red and gold silks and carpeting.
"Azi'Tivi" he said as he stood and bowed gracefully.
Ever since she had told him her full name he had insisted on using it.
"Hello Darmus" she returned the smile without the bow.
"Corso, how's are silent warrior today?" he said standing straight and tall when greeting Corso, mimicking or mocking his standoffish posture.
"Pretty good Darmus" Corso said, stiffening his back a bit more.
There was an unmistakable air of the primitive dance of two males locking horns over the available female. Funny that she had no say in this dance. Azi wondered briefly if she had inadvertently led Darmus into thinking she was available and willing…she did laugh awfully hard at his jokes, but he was funny. She couldn't believe how much she had to modify her behavior to not lead men on.
After just a moment that felt like a minute they broke the stare and Darmus turned back to Azi while punching some keys into his desk. A holo image that looked like a spaceport appeared over the desk, and he motioned for his associate to step forward.
"Fez Burba is the one who tracked down your friend Skavak and he can give you the details."
The little Sullustan approached the image from the side and said in his uniquely accented basic, "Skavak is in hangar bay 32 with your ship. He's apparently buying information from a broker with the Exchange. What that information is we don't know but we can guess he plans to leave Coruscant immediately after" he finished, his dewflaps resting with the finished briefing.
That information sent a jolt through Azi and she looked to Corso to see if he shared her excitement. "Then we better move now" she said.
"one thing" Darmus said stepping out from behind his desk and throwing a leg over the corner. "I'm well connected, but even I hesitate to cross the Exchange, or put any of my people on their hit list" he said while gesturing with his hands as he searched for a politer phrase.
Azi thought about that for a moment and in the end couldn't blame him for his reticence. it was an awfully big risk for virtually no pay off.
After a moment she looked to Darmus. "Actually…all I need is this information." He gave a small shrug.
"Thank you Darmus. You've been incredible and we definitely owe you big" she said, leaning in to give the old rogue a kiss on the cheek.
Turning around to slap a simmering Corso on the shoulder she said, "c'mon, we gotta get some help, and I know just where to look".
Back in the air she pulled her comm out and punched in the code Kai-Kwon had given her a few days before. His voice resonated loud and clear and she silently thanked the Force he was still on planet.
"How are you Captain?"
"in a bit of a crunch Jedi" she answered in a jokingly manner.
Remembering his partner or comrade Kira Carson was in the last stage of recovery at the med center she asked, "how is Kira?"
"Better each day. Her breathing is back to normal and she's walking again. Had it not been for you and Corso I'm afraid she would not be here"
"Oh…we were just along for the ride, but I'm really glad to hear it."
Trying to meekly shift to her ulterior motive for the comm she said "hey…you remember how you said you would do anything you could for me?"
"As long as it was in the interest of justice, sure" the Jedi said after a moment's pause and she could hear him smile through the comm.
"Well I found my ship, and the womp rat who stole it….and I thought your presence may…how did you put it? Deter violence?"
"I understand, but why not just call CSF?"
"Because the intel that found him, did so at a small spaceport in the Berian, where we believe he is leaving Coruscant immediately after purchasing whatever info he is after".
"So time is of the essence" Kai'Kwon said recapping her point
"Yes, yes, very of the essence…" she said flustered
"I imagine you assumed I would say yes and are headed towards defense command?"
"Or just landed" she said as if apologizing for breaking a dish, which elicited a laugh from the Jedi. "I'll be right out. Landing pad thirteen correct?"
"Yep same one. And thank you Jedi Deo".
"It's Kai-Kwon Captain, see you in a moment".
A moment later two robed figures materialized out of the causeway landing portal followed by the same T7 unit from the Temple that had led them to the battle in the transceiver room. With a simple hello they pulled back their hoods and ducked into the back hatch, settling into the bench seat.
T7 tweedled from the pad next to the speeder. "Sorry pal no room. I'll be back here in no time" Kai-Kwon said from the back.
The T7 gave a mournful series of bleeps before starting to roll backwards "good to see you again…-"
"-01" Kai-Kwon answered.
"good to see you again 01" Azi finished, to which the little astromech gave a short reply before turning around to roll back to the door.
She would swear the little droid was pouting. Kai-Kwon leaned up and tapped Azi on the shoulder with a small circular object "here Azi…it's a pulse beacon that will allow us free range of movement through the skylanes, you just place it on the dash".
"Thanks, but uh, we've been moving pretty freely without it" she said drawing a chuckle from Corso this time in the passenger's seat.
The Jedi held up his palms in defense, "only a precaution then, since getting pulled over could cause us to miss this important rendezvous."
"Well being a cautious lady I'll take it" Azi said and she placed the beacon over the dash where its magnetic strip suctioned it in place.
A minute later they were flying through the early evening sky in silence, the lights from the city's giant monoliths just beginning to pierce the darkness. "Got yourself a loyal friend I see" Azi said looking in the rearview mirror to lock eyes with Kai-Kwon. To which he smiled, "yeah you could say that."
"What's its deal anyway? I mean what was it doing there?" Corso asked.
Kai-Kwon and Kira shared a look before the red-headed Jedi shrugged. "Well…he's been there since the sacking?"
Both Azi and Corso let out a simultaneous "what?"
"Yeah he was the personal droid of Master Ven Zallow, the highest-ranking Jedi killed that day."
Kai-Kwon paused and Azi could see discussing this event was bringing up painful emotions in the two Jedi. "Hey look…I didn't mean to…ya know" she said half turning to face them eye to eye.
Kai-Kwon just help up his hand, "it's quite alright. Anyway Master Zallow had told 01 to hide when the fighting started and that's what he did…until a piece of ceiling in an anteroom pinned him in place. He managed to set a motion alarm before entering hibernation mode."
After a few minutes of awkward silence, Corso finally broke it with a question that Azi had to admit she was curious about as well. Turning in his seat and grabbing the back of it, he asked "so, what's a, what's with the hoods?"
He asked it with that colonial farm boy timidity that she had learned not to ascribe much meaning to. "You mean why do we wear them at a time like this?" Kira asked back.
"Well we're taught to suppress our individuality in favor of the collective Order. It's to prevent us from being identified and individualized by the public".
Corso, enthralled now and starting to lean over his chair into their space said "alright…but why?"
Kira was patient. "Because the notoriety could appeal to our vanity. Many beings forget that we are not droids. We have wants and desires just like you. We are susceptible to ego, envy, and all the other flaws that effect sentient beings. There are numerous cautionary tales from our Order of Jedi being singled out as war heroes and…even sex symbols."
Azi, watching through the rearview, noticed the slightest shift in her eyes over to Kai-Kwon when she said this last part. The Jedi could grace the cover of any holomag, even with the fresh scar that bisected his right eye, but Azi thought that look may have a meaning for the two deeper than simple physical attraction.
"…which has led to a few falls to the Dark side, and numerous near falls. So we don our hoods in public to avoid becoming individual celebrities, and stay known as a collective dedicated to the Force and the principles of the Republic".
Finally satisfied, Corso turned back to look out the windscreen. "Plus it adds to our mystique" Kai-Kwon added into the silence, and Corso was immediately back around in his seat. "Say what?"
"Yes Kai-Kwon, what do you mean?" this from Kira who had turned slightly in her seat to face him herself.
Kai-Kwon gave a look of unease at this scrutiny from Kira but went on with his explanation anyway. "We-" he indicated himself and Kira but clearly meant the Order, "often depend on our reputation to prevent violence where none needs to occur. If we can utilize a public perception of being invincible well...cyborgs or droids for the lack of a better word, to preempt a need for violence than we gladly will. The hoods and anonymity play on that perception."
Kira and Corso turned back without further comment, the former seemed to really be pondering the latter's opinion. Azi found the Jedi's honesty refreshing.
After another interminable bout of silence she looked in the rearview. "Hey do you guys listen to music?"
She saw both Jedi trade toothless smiles. "Sure" Kai-Kwon finally said. "We don't listen to a lot of modern music but we use a lot of classical in meditation at the Temple".
"Well this ain't the time for classical so get ready for some modern culture" she said as she turned up the music deck.
Riding around Coruscant with two Jedi listening to the thumping sounds of what she thought was probably Reaping Rancor was not something she ever thought she'd be doing.
Ten minutes later Azi and Corso were standing near the pedestrian entrance to bay 32, watching that backstabbing thief Skavak haggle over the price of information on some kind of star map it sounded like.
After getting a good lay of the land and sure that the five beings present were the only ones there she made her move. "I'll give you credit for not junking her" Azi called as she and Corso stepped out of the shadow and into the artificial light of the hangar bay.
Corso whipped around and his two lackeys; a Devaronian and a furry Shistavanen, both pulled their blasters and looked to Skavak for orders. The two well-dressed humans from the Exchange began taking a couple steps backwards as they scanned the sides and ceiling for the CSF commando team they must've believed would be crashing through the walls at any moment. Skavak held up a patient hand at the men on either side of him as he scanned the room quickly. His confidence grew as he realized the ambush wasn't coming.
He took a step forward. "Well if it isn't the lap dancing spacer and the farm boy wonder" he called out with an exaggerated bow. "You got guts, I'll give you that."
Azi came to a stop ten meters in front of Skavak. "Not really" she answered, hands still in her jacket pockets.
Skavak cocked his head just before the blasters leapt out of the hands of his bodyguards and disappeared into the shadows behind Azi and Corso, smashing to pieces against the darkened back wall. Skavak's look quickly transformed from confusion to alarm.
All five were looking for the source of the mysterious disarming mechanism when the shadows behind Azi and Corso were lit up by a vibrant blue and green, turning the space behind them a kind of dark purple. The light was followed by two hooded Jedi who stepped out of the dark and came to a stop beside Azi and Corso. The two henchman turned on their heels and ran. The two men from the exchange both raised their empty hands above their heads, probably surmising they had not technically done anything illegal here and simply had to wait out this altercation.
Skavak turned to his two fleeing compatriots. "Hey where are you going!?"
the answer obvious he simply yelled "cowards!" as he pulled his own blaster and whipped around firing a flurry of bolts at Azi.
Kira's green double blade formed a whirring shield in front of Azi as her Djem So form sent the first red bolts deflecting into the ceiling and floor. The last two bolts were sent back to their source, the first missing Skavak's head by and inch, the second entering at his right kneecap.
"Aaghh!" the tattooed face yelled out in pain as he threw his blaster to grab the cauterized whole where his kneecap had been a moment earlier.
"Blast you whore!" he spat literally, the spittle falling to the chin of a face contorted by pain. Hands still in her pockets, she bent down to hover over the wounded thief. "I warned you on Ord Mantell to give up then, that I would always be-"
"Don't gloat Azi" Kai-Kwon interjected.
"Oh please?!" she turned to him.
"Oh fine" she huffed and folded her arms across her chest.
Kai-Kwon and Kira approached the two humans. "We've done nothing wrong, you have no authority to detain us Jedi" the older one said with clear venom, dropping his hands to his sides.
"You're free to leave."
The argument the human had planned started to come out when he realized what the Jedi had said and grabbed the younger man by the shoulder before turning to head out the bay door.
Corso approached Skavak who was now laying on his back with his shattered knee pulled up to his stomach. Corso kicked him lightly in the ribs and Skavak jerked and shielded his eyes from the overhead lights until Corso moved his head to make a shadow across his face. "Where is she?"
"Where is what? Boy"
"Torchy, my Blastech DL-44" he said as menacingly as he could.
"I threw that piece of poodoo out an airlock" he said laughing, but nervously so. "Rogun is gonna have your heads!".
"Yeah well we got better friends than he does" Corso said as the two Jedi returned to stand over Skavak.
"Corso go check on Azi, she shouldn't have gone on board alone. A CSF patrol is coming to pick up our friend here"
"I need medical attention Jedi, or do you plan on torturing me?"
Kira bent down over Skavak and again he flinched and tried to scoot away as if he had just given them some great idea to amuse themselves while they waited.
"Hold still" Kira commanded as she held both hands over the shredded knee.
After a minute sweat started to bead and roll down her forehead but still Skavak was at a loss. "What's she doing?"
"Quiet" Kai-Kwon commanded back.
A minute later Skavak began to feel a change. "Oh wow, that feels…wow!"
A moment later Kira took a deep breath out and opened her eyes to inspect her work. "It will still need medical attention but most of the tendons are repaired and I healed the pain, but only temporarily so don't be surprised when it returns".
Skavak couldn't bring himself to say thanks but for a brief moment he held the look of a middle aged man who realized he had wasted the first half of his life on cynicism.
Azi only had time for a cursory inspection, but so far everything appeared to be in order; C2-02 was on board and greeted her as master, meaning Skavak had never gotten around to changing his programming. Her quarters were a mess but that was to be expected when a dirty Akk had been living in it for the past three weeks. Her clothes were still in the closet. She walked down the curved corridor to the cargo hold entrance and peered in to find…a woman…holding a blaster on her.
"Don't! Don't reach for it" the human woman warned. "Are you with Rogun? Are you here to kill us?"
"Whoa whoa whoa!" Azi said taking a step in with her hands up. "Big misunderstanding. You mean Rogun the Butcher?"
The woman nodded. "What does he have to do with this?"
"Skavak is searching for the treasure of Nok Drayen for Rogun. He kidnapped me for my knowledge of it."
"No…look, I'm the Captain of this vessel, my name is Azi'Tivi Zanek. Skavak stole her three weeks ago from Ord Mantell and I've been chasing him ever since."
Finally the woman looked like she wasn't going to pull the trigger at the slightest sound and she began to lower the blaster. "So you're the one he's been running from" she said as a statement instead of a question. Stepping forward she lowered her blaster and said "I'm Risha, Risha Drayen."
Azi took the proffered hand. "Well that answers my next question. Nice to meet you Risha"
"Captain!" a winded Corso said from the doorway, "everything okay?"
"Everything's great Corso, let me introduce you to our newest crewman…well if she wants to stay on and get paid that is".
A minute or so later everyone was in the hangar to see Skavak off. Azi cursed Jedi altruism as she saw Skavak walking under his own power between two CSF officers.
After he was gone the two Jedi turned to Azi. "Well Azi, are you going to accept the Republic's offer of a Privateer's commission?" Kira asked.
"Yes I think we're going to need you in the years ahead" Kai-Kwon added.
"I wouldn't feel right doing anything else now" she answered.
"Umm what about my father's treasure…and Rogun?" Risha asked from slightly outside the friendly circle.
"No reason we can't do both" Corso said, reading Azi's thoughts exactly.
"Well I'm glad to hear it" Kira said. "As am I" Kai-kwon added from over her shoulder.
"Well then let's call this a temporary goodbye" Azi said to the two Jedi. "Agreed" Kai-Kwon said as he shook her hand. Then reaching over to shake Corso's hand he added "until we meet again Corso Riggs."
"It's been an honor Master Jedi" Corso said but Kai-Kwon just waved a finger with his other hand. "Just Kai-Kwon for now".
Behind them Azi took a chance on broaching formalities and moved past Kira's outstretched hand to give her a hug. The Jedi tensed at first but then reciprocated with a squeeze of her own.
When they broke she said "it's been a real pleasure Azi. It's nice to have friends outside the Temple"
"It's nice to have friends inside of it" Azi said, rubbing Kira's shoulder.
Kira looked at Corso and Kai-Kwon briefly before turning back to Azi, "You and Corso make a great couple".
"How…how did-" Azi started to say.
"Your feelings for each other permeate the air around you. I think the Force has fated you together" Kira said breaking contact.
Azi could only smile as Corso rejoined her and Kai-Kwon touched Kira's shoulder to go. Seeing the two Jedi walk across the hangar it finally clicked and she called out "you guys do as well, the Force wills it."
Kira turned to flash a knowing smile and Azi saw Kai-Kwon's confusion as he leaned over, no doubt asking her what that was about.
Corso was thinking the same thing. "What did that mean?"
Azi leaned up to give him a kiss. A long slow kiss and their first kiss since that night on the Republic fleet. Breaking apart but just inches away she whispered "I'll tell you tonight".