Abduction- Agent Galen
The Jedi was... deflated. He'd shown up with his astromech, no sign of his Padawan-or-whatever-she-was, looking grim and dull-faced. He also, Galen noticed, carried no lightsaber.
Altogether, he had a very bad feeling about this, but he would do his duty, as he always had.
"Agent," Antilles greeted neutrally. The droid beeped in agreement.
"Knight Antilles," Galen nodded. They had met on an overpass that stretched over a wide chasm; beyond that lay a large manufacturing plant, brights lights shining from within the gray building. The clacking and humming of large machines could be heard, even from their distance. "Sorry about the delay in responding to your transmission. I'll make this quick. While you and Carsen were investigating the Matthias lead, I followed up on a power fluctuation I detected while hacking the local networks. This plant, here," he pointed, "is drawing power away from the rest of the sector."
"And?"
"And so I sent a mouse droid in." Galen held up a small remote, screen indented into the device. "See for yourself." He thrust the device at the Jedi, who took it and peered at the screen.
After a moment Antilles' face darkened further. "Power Guards," he identified.
"A lot of them," Galen affirmed, looking at the screen as well. The droid, at Antilles' pressing, moved about a large factory floor, where lines upon lines of Power Guards were arrayed in formation, like droids being processed and completed. Their faces were blank as large devices were inserted into them via floating medical droids, guns pressed into their hands, wiring inserted into their skulls. The gore was disquieting, but Antilles and Galen stared ahead, undaunted.
"We need to get in there," Antilles said after a moment.
"I was thinking the same thing," Galen agreed. "If you and Carsen found Sadic at the factory on the other side of the sector a few hours ago, he might still be there, and that must be his control center, not the manufacturing plant." He took back the remote from the Jedi. "If we can get inside, we might be able to overload the reactor and end this thing before it begins."
"Begins? What do you think he's planning?"
Galen shrugged. "I don't know. Something bad."
The astromech twooed lowly. "You said it, buddy," Antilles muttered. "Alright, Agent. We go in. Is there a way?"
"I've already got that figured out," the Agent said, and reached down into the sack he'd brought with him. "Pilfered it from the SIS base before Rieekan could say no."
Antilles looked at the gun held before him. "A line launcher?"
"We do this the old fashioned way," Galen nodded. "That window is on a third floor, above the manufacturing deck." He made sure to point out which he was speaking of. "We can enter there, then proceed to the reactor core for the plant. It has to have a central hub where it's drawing power."
Antilles squinted. "Looks like the window is closed. And barred."
Galen shifted. "Well... I was hoping you might help with that."
(O)(O)(O)
The Jedi left his astromech for instructions to monitor their comms, then fired the line launcher, sped across the chasm, and barreled into the window, a burst of Force power blowing the barricade to pieces before landing neatly inside.
Galen wasn't nearly as graceful; he followed the Jedi through, tumbled into the opening and landed on his knees, but managed to keep his blaster pistol ready. Antilles held both hands out, fingers flexed, ready to unleash whatever considerable telekinetic power he had.
Still, Galen wished he had a lightsaber. "What happened to your weapon?" he whispered, as they took positions on either side of a corridor, peering down the hall cautiously.
"Had to give it up to get away," Antilles responded tightly. "It, uh... blew up."
Galen raised a brow. "That happen often?"
"...No."
"Good." He reached into his belt and tossed a second, smaller hold out to the Jedi. "Try not to lose that one." He winked.
Antilles didn't return the favor. "Thanks," he intoned, fingers gripping the blaster tightly as he stood and proceeded down the corridor.
Well, Galen thought, at least he's being focused like a Jedi, now..., and followed.
It wasn't long before they came to a railed walkway that overlooked the floor, and the pair of Republic insurgents poked their heads over the edge of the sides of the catwalk. The Power Guards were still being created, but the manufacturing plant was large... huge, even...
"There must be hundreds," Galen murmured.
"There are five hundred and sixty-three," Antilles counted. "I... feel them all. Somewhat. It's like they're... alive, but not."
"Not surprised," Galen said, looking down at the abominations.
Each Power Guard was a messy combination of organic and synthetic. A variety of species, human and twi'lek and rodian and mon calamari and even a wookie were all strapped to heavy armor as appendages or even entire limbs were gradually sawed off and replaced with droid parts, used for fighting or holding large weapons. Their heads were cut into by droids with small buzzsaws, them wired into small computers that flashed as data was downloaded into their brains. The organics stood there silently, taking the pain, their eyes emotionless and dead.
"Force... the armor is welded onto the skin," Antilles sighed.
"This is monstrous," Galen declared. "... Var Suthra approved this?"
"Yes," Antilles answered. "Doctor Godera created them. As far as I'm concerned they're both to blame." He moved away from the catwalk, proceeding down the next corridor and deeper into the plant.
Galen caught up with him. "I thought we were better than this," he shook his head. "We're not the Empire. We're not supposed to do things like... enslave people for soldiers..."
"I thought so too," Antilles muttered. "But the more I'm out in the galaxy, and not on Tython, the more I realize how gray things really are."
Galen frowned. "Not a very Jedi thing to say."
Antilles half-turned. "I think you've figured out I'm not the best the Order has to offer."
The Agent snorted. "Was just a comment. I'm... curious."
The Jedi grunted, but did not respond, and Galen knew that discussion was over.
"Droid!" Antilles snapped suddenly, and rolled when a green bolt speared the air where he had been. Galen took aim down the hall in the same moment and fired, placing his own red laser in the head of the machine; it clattered loudly to the deck.
"Kriff," he cursed.
"We need to move," Antilles said shortly, and stepped over the body, Galen at his rear. "We're fine, T7, just stay on the channel," he added, placing a finger to his earpiece.
"Can that droid send out a message?" Galen asked. When the Jedi nodded he finished, "Tell it to contact Captain Rieekan. We have the Project here, and faster than expected. We need backup."
Antilles relayed the message, then stopped short a second later. "... Agent... there's no contact with the SIS base."
Galen felt the blood drain from his face. "No..." It was me... I led them there when I retrieved the line launcher...
"Get it together," Antilles ordered quietly.
"I... they can't be gone," Galen tried to explain. "It was hidden. There would have been defenders. Tell the droid to try again."
"It's no use until we find the reactor," Antilles said, moving forward.
"No use?" Galen choked. "I... maybe they got out..."
And when the Jedi cocked his head, eyes closing, Galen knew that he would hate the answer.
"I... cannot feel them, Agent," Antilles said softly, apologetically. "I'm sorry..."
Anger clenched Galen's heart. "All those men and women... Sadic will pay for this."
For once, Galen was glad that the Jedi was not the usual. "Yes he will," he promised. "Now come."
(O)(O)(O)
If things were bad, they were only getting worse.
The reactor was lightly guarded; Sadic must have thought his base secure, because the pair of Imperial troopers there were quickly taken down by Galen and Antilles. The room itself was small, housing the control console and a dozen screens that showcased the various cameras lining the manufacturing plant. Behind a wall of glass was the antimatter injector that allowed the reactor to function.
Antilles took up a guard position, blaster at the ready, while Galen attacked the computer, hands dancing frantically over the controls. "It's a miracle they didn't see us coming," he blurted.
The Jedi didn't answer, but looked worried. Galen hated that.
"Alright, I have control. It wasn't encrypted. I can start a reactor meltdown that will start a few large explosions, some fires. Collateral damage will be minimal, but there's always a chance for civilian casualties..." He trailed off, glanced at his ally.
Antilles looked grim, but nodded. "We don't have a choice. Do it."
"Alright. I'll set a countdown, and hopefully we can use the line launcher to-" He stopped, spotted the files for plans and designs. "Hold on..." He accessed the file.
"Quickly, Agent," Antilles pressured, but as Galen read timing became all he could think about.
"Force, Jedi," he breathed. "He's... going to build more... and invade the Promenade..."
"What?!" Antilles moved to the console, looking at the files once Galen stepped aside. They were all there; plans of attack, maps of the area, even a transmission in text form from Darth Angral to Sadic.
Sadic-
Begin Phase Three immediately. Once you control the Hutts, you will have the moon. Continue to harvest the civilian population for Power Guard creation. Ensure that production remains on schedule, and that the invasion of Tython will go as planned. Do not fail me, my apprentice.
"He's going to use Nar Shaddaa as fuel," Antilles whispered. "Build an army..."
"Right, meltdown. We're stopping this." Galen moved to brush Antilles aside, but the Jedi wouldn't budge. "Jedi?"
Antilles suddenly whirled, hand splayed, and a burst of blaster fire seared the wall instead of their heads. A Power Guard had entered the room, heavy blaster rifle aimed, eyes staring numbly at them.
And behind him... were dozens more.
A crackle of loudspeakers buzzed overhead, and from one of them came a slimy, gleeful voice. "My, my, rats in my palace. I would've thought you more intelligent than to come back for more, Hayram Antilles."
"Sadic," the Jedi snarled.
"I will confess, I am glad to have you here. You'll make an excellent Guard for my collection."
Galen swallowed, the Guards filtering into the room. There was no way out, no trick to save them. … Force, help us...
"I won't be a slave for you, Sadic," Antilles boldly declared.
"Why my dear delirious Jedi Knight, you have no choice in the matter at all." And the Power Guard in front flicked a setting on his rifle and blue bolts spewed from its tip. Antilles bravely tried to dodge them, but the stream was too focused, and there was no room to move. Several struck him and he crumpled to the deck, unmoving.
Galen felt fear paralyze him, and in a panic he placed his own blaster to his head, finger on the trigger. I... do it now... b-before they...
He hesitated, and the Guard turned on him, fired.
A flash of blue, and Galen sank away into darkness.
(O)(O)(O)
A/N: Reminder, author's notes and tidbits of info are on my profile page.