CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
THE WRAITH – NAR SHADDAA
The Wraith dropped out of hyperspace, the engines throb dying down as sublight engines took over pushing the craft towards the golden brown orb that was Nar Shaddaa. Necrolis Darkstar stood on the command deck and peered out at the Hutt controlled world they were headed to. He had long ago learned to trust his instincts, and he found they were screaming at him in warning at the moment. He did not like the way things were going. There was too much glee in Baras, and far too much tossing Necrolis to the fore of things. He was beginning to think his so called Master was already angling to see if he could get him killed. It was the sith way, Necrolis reminded himself. Shaking off the thought, he turned his attention back to the present, since if he was focused and paying attention there was a big difference between walking into danger and being dead.
"Quinn bring us straight in, I want us landed and locked down as soon as possible. We're going to be in and out as fast as we can here. No dawdling about." Looking from the Captain at the helm over to the two women on the weapons and communications terminals, Necrolis covered things with them as well. "Jaesa stay sharp, if anything even remotely changes course towards us I want to know. Vette, don't miss."
"When have I ever let you down?" Vette remarked back with a grin.
"Just stay sharp people, as I said we are in and out." Necrolis answered back even as he frowned and watched as Quinn brought them in on a standard approach to the planet.
"Expecting trouble, my lord?" Quinn asked over his shoulder.
"I would count on it, Captain. We're in Hutt territory and Nemro is not exactly thrilled with me." Necrolis answered back in all seriousness.
"And here I was trying to work out the odds the traitors would know we were coming." Quinn admitted and shrugged.
Necrolis sighed and shook his head. It was an angle he had not thought about in fact. As impressive as it was Quinn was thinking on that, it was still a far lesser concern than what resources an angry hutt might bring to bear. Especially after disrupting his business as you did, Necrolis reminded himself. Once more he could not help but think there was going to be trouble ahead.
"Master…" Jaesa said softly, eyes moving to study him where he stood.
Necrolis glanced over and shook his head slightly as he waved off her curiosity. He knew she could sense his tension and unease. Taking a long slow breath, Necrolis calmed himself once more and centered his thoughts. He did not need to worry his own crew, not when he really had only his gut feeling. He knew they were all capable and if and when the shit hit the fan, they would do their duty as they always had. Glancing once more at his new apprentice, Necrolis walked over between the two women.
"Jaesa you will stay ready, but you are on stand by only. If we get into things too deeply I want you ready to help extract us." Necrolis stated and Jaesa chewed her lower lip in disappointment, but simply nodded her understanding. "Vette you are with me."
The Wraith touched down and even as the slight bump and shudder went through the ship as the struts met ground, Necrolis was activating and lowering the ramp to exit. Vette arched an eyebrow before casting a glance to Malavai Quinn. The Captain stood watching as without a word Necrolis left the ship, which was out of sorts. Whatever the pure blooded sith had on his mind, it was clear he was not feeling at ease on Nar Shaddaa.
"Guess you can hold the fort." Vette quipped and grinned at Quinn.
"Do try and shoot straight and hit something." Quinn shot back and Vette flashed him a dirty look before running after Necrolis.
Quinn watched them go and then closed the ramp once more, sealing up the Wraith. Necrolis had made a good point about being in hutt space. Nemro the Hutt was someone that would not let things stand. Sooner or later the odds were good their paths would cross again and when they did, Nemro was not going to let them get the better of him a third time. Hutt's were well known to hold grudges after all. The truth was however, Quinn was more concerned with Necrolis being on edge. He sensed more than anything, it was to do with Baras. Did he suspect something, Quinn wondered? Had he sensed Baras was using him to get information and to keep tabs on him?
"Don't get paranoid." Quinn muttered to himself before turning and heading back to the command deck of the ship. He wanted to be where he could react to things quickly in case something was wrong.
He had known there was a risk when Baras had put him in this position. It was not like he had much choice at all, he remembered. Moving over to the command chair, Quinn fell into its comfortable embrace and sighed. Alone since Jaesa was off getting ready, Quinn knew he would not be disturbed for a while. Recent events had brought back old memories for him, some he had buried long ago and was not happy with having resurfaced. Ghost's offer had been unexpected and only added to his thoughts. It was all he could do to not find an excuse to go off to Alderaan, but then that would give everything away. No, Quinn reminded himself, play the game. Baras had set the board, put the pieces in play, but he was not the game's master. He was but a player in it as well, even if a powerful one. It was all just a matter of perspective. Patience, Quinn thought, it was all about patience and playing the game.
The breeze was strong, the wind holding a tainted, almost metallic smell to it. Like most hutt worlds, Nar Shaddaa was not the cleanest at all. Still, it was better than most others in the system. Even Tivva had been able to make it here, she thought. A smile touched her face at the thought of having found and reunited with her sister. All thanks to Necrolis, she reminded herself. It seemed quite a while, though it had not been that long since that had happened. Vette marvelled at how time sometimes played such tricks. Vette had learned all about not being able to go home again, but when she thought about meeting Necrolis on Korriban, it almost seemed so long ago as if it had somehow lost its vividness in her minds eye. Oh well, Vette reminded herself, there were more memories to be made anyways.
Vette looked about once more, taking in the neon glow that lit the underside of the heavy clouds that blew fast across the darkening sky above. She only had moments to take it in before they hurried inside the spaceport and made their way through it. Vette had to almost break into a jog to keep up with Necrolis as he strode through the milling crowd that shifted and moved about the spaceport. Nar Shaddaa was the tourist destination, a hustling crowd that never seemed to sleep, never wavered in numbers. Vette felt a little uneasy knowing there was no way to know if the eyes casting glances were curious, or something more sinister. All she could do was try and register if there was any threat to them while trying to keep up with Necrolis. He kept ahead of her, his longer legs working with determined strides she had to hurry to keep pace. Lekku bouncing lightly, Vette caught up enough to reach out and grab Necrolis' arm, pulling him up. Moving in front of him, she looked up at him in concern.
"Ok, now I'm getting worried." Vette commented. "If I didn't know you well enough, I'd have to say you were scared of something here."
"Hardly." Necrolis stated and frowned. "I just have a bad feeling we might be walking into a set up here. I don't trust Baras."
"Well talk about an understatement there! Nobody in their right mind trusts Darth Therma-slice!" Vette giggled and shook her head. "Let's just deal with what we can. Come on, we're gonna go kill stuff! Time to get that sithy grrr on!"
Necrolis shook his head even as he grinned and chuckled at Vette's words. His hand rose to let fingers cup under her chin and lift her head up to him. Leaning in he gave her a quick kiss before winking at her. Vette blushed even as she felt a rush of heat rise up through her and she had to fight the urge to squirm. Damn the man, but he could disarm her so easily, she thought.
"Come on, I'll even try to let you shoot some of them before I cut them down this time."
"Oh how utterly gallant of you… my lord." Vette shot back and laughed.
"My lord, I have the co-ordinates of the meeting from Darth Baras." Malavai Quinn reported over the comm channel. "Jaesa is ready to join you on your command, though I fear there will be a delay in response time unless you allow her to follow and move into a closer position."
"No, she stays on the ship for now." Necrolis answered back, and he could hear the sigh of resignation out of Quinn. "Nar Shaddaa is too unpredictable, and while I trust her abilities she is still green in the field, Quinn."
"Understood, my lord." Malavai Quinn said, glancing over to Jaesa who was standing off to the side and scowling at hearing her Master's words. Quinn spared her a small smile and then sent the co-ordinates to Vette's datapad. "I'm sending the location now. Good hunting."
Necrolis glanced to Vette who held up the datapad and waved it in her hand at him. With a grin and shake of his head, Necrolis reached out to take the pad from the twi'lek only to have her pull it back out of his reach. Necrolis gave her a look, to which Vette grinned back at him. When he made to grab it again, Vette once more tried to pull it back out of his reach. Necrolis was ready for it this time, and even as Vette giggled, he reached out with the force and pulled it from her grasp and floated it over to him.
"Hey! No fair!" Vette cried out and put her hands on her hips, pouting at him.
"Beats the old days, when I just used your shock collar." Necrolis countered with a smirk to her.
Vette moved up close and tight to Necrolis, sliding a gloved hand up over his armoured chest and winking at him when their eyes met.
"Ask nice and I just might let you."
Necrolis stared at Vette a moment, wondering if he had heard her right, or just imagined she had said that. Shaking his head he watched as she burst into giggles and bounced away from him, looking back over a shoulder at him and batting her eyelashes at him. For a moment Necrolis forgot how to move, how to think, how to even breathe as he watched the armour clad blue skinned twi'lek. Forcing off thoughts best left for when they were able to steal some alone time back on the ship, Necrolis moved to follow after her, focusing back on the mission at hand.
Jaesa Willsaam paced the durasteel deck plating, glaring at it as it passed beneath her feet. Her hands clenched and unclenched as she sought to relieve some of the stress and anger building within her. Every word Necrolis had said echoed over and over in her head, deafening out any other thought she had. When she heard the slight cough from Malavai Quinn, Jaesa stopped pacing and turned her intense burning gaze upon the man. He was leaning against the comm station, arms crossed over his chest and watching her. It just irritated and annoyed her all the more. For a moment she thought about force choking the man, but knew that likely would not win her any favour with her Master.
"Nice of you to defend me there, you asshole." Jaesa snarled.
"What Necrolis said had merit and truth." Quinn brushed off the angry words and shrugged as he answered her back. He knew she was mad, and he also did not blame her either. It was always tough to hear harsh criticism, especially when young. Once more he could not help but wonder if he was ever so naïve and foolish in his own youth?
"Screw you." Jaesa spat and seethed all the more.
"You offered that already, a few times I think." Malavai Quinn stated calmly and shook his head even as Jaesa looked at him as if she could glare him to death.
"You are a bastard, Quinn."
"Calm down girl, and think!" Malavai Quinn ignored the insult and remained calm with the girl. "Do you know where I was before I joined this crew?"
"Balmorra, I believe, wasn't it?" Jaesa asked, "Cowering in some crater no doubt."
"Very droll." Quinn looked at Jaesa and shook his head. So much anger in her, unchannelled and right there to be put to use. Once she had more training, she would prove a powerful sith indeed, he decided.
Quinn rose and moved to lean on the back of the command chair, gaze looking out the viewport but not seeing the landing pad or Nar Shaddaa beyond it. Instead he recalled Balmorra, his time there and what he had seen.
"It was Balmorra. I was there a long time, Jaesa." Quinn explained, voice dropping low as he spoke. "I watched the ships come and go, troopers, specialists, even some sith all arriving to carry on the good fight. Those raw, green, full of life warriors, all so eager to charge the field and win the day for the Empire, it was that look and feeling from every last one of them. They thought they were unstoppable, they thought they were ready."
"And what happened?" Jaesa asked, her curiosity peaked even as she noted the distant look that had come to Quinn's face while he talked.
"They went out into the warzone, every one of them thinking they were ready, every one of them thinking they'd go kill the Republic and celebrate victory. They craved their moment to shine, they wanted the glory."
Quinn turned and faced Jaesa, leaning against the back of the chair, frowning even as his arms crossed over his chest. Jaesa watched him interested in what he was saying but not sure how it related just yet to her. Stepping closer she waved a hand urging him to continue. Seeing such from her, Malavai Quinn sighed and then found his voice once more.
"Do you know what they found out there, Jaesa? They found death waiting for them, every last one of them. Death haunts the battlefield, waiting for the brave and the foolish. It doesn't care about your hopes and dreams, your belief that you are ready for it." Quinn explained, his words taking on a harder edge to them. "Every one of them thought they were ready for it. You think you're ready for it."
"I am." Jaesa stated, shaking her head. "I'm not them, Quinn."
"No, you are exactly like them. The only difference is you have Necrolis, and you have me." Quinn growled, shoving off to move up in front of Jaesa, dark eyes locking on hers as he looked down at her. "You are not ready at all yet. You are impatient and foolish and looking to rush right in. Do that and you are dead. Do you remember what I taught you?"
"About being the weapon, not using the tool?"
"Yes." Quinn nodded and stepped back a step, pleased Jaesa had at least caught on to that. "Use your head, think things through. Do you think Necrolis overcomes the odds just because he is lucky? No girl, he is smart, he thinks things through to stay ahead of his opponents."
Quinn began to pace himself then, short quick strides carrying him left, then right, back and forth before he finally stopped and looked back at Jaesa. He could see she was listening, mulling over and digesting what he was telling her. She might not understand it all, but some of it was reaching her. It would have to do, and perhaps he could make it clearer he realized.
"Having you wait out there, where we have enemies unseen would be stupid. Nar Shaddaa may be a pleasure resort destination, but it is controlled by the hutts, of whom one has a grudge against us. Below the flow of credits, past the glow of neon lights, there's a world of pirates, cutthroats, and bounty hunters, all of whom would just as soon rip out their mother's heart to earn a credit. You'd be vulnerable and a sitting target, possibly right when Necrolis needs you most. And let me just say those bastards have spent a lifetime at their craft, and they are ready."
Jaesa thought about what Quinn had just said to her, taking it and drawing it back to what he had seen on Balmorra and suddenly seeing what he was saying. Think before acting, find the best plan to stack the odds in your favour. Necrolis was being truthful not to hurt her, but to ensure she would be there for him when needed. He did not distrust her, he was protecting her and stacking the odds in his favour.
"I understand." Jaesa said softly, nodding her head as she realized how foolish she was. Looking back at Quinn, Jaesa moved to him and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek before heading away to have time to herself to digest things. "Thank you, Quinn, for having my back."
The Imperial troopers flanked the chiss officer, two aside, as he walked through the Upper Promenade, leading the group through the guarded doorway and down the hall into the makeshift office area that had been set up. The chiss cast red eyes about the room, noting the handful of Republic troopers that hung out at the back of the room, all of them watching warily. Blaster rifles were shifted but not brought to bear and Fawste cast a glance at his own Imperial troops and motioned with his hands for them to keep their weapons down. It was not the first time they had met and done this dance, it was almost becoming predictable and routine for both sides. Fawste stepped further into the room and looked towards the other end where he saw the middle aged man with his tanned skin, the dark brown hair matching the goatee and moustache on his face. The Republic uniform was as it always was, crisp and worn with pride as befit his status as a general.
"General Gonn, I'm happy to report that jedi knight Xerender has landed safely on Hoth. I saw to it personally."
"You're a valuable asset to the Republic, Fawste." Gonn stated and gave the chiss a smile and nod in greeting as he rose and moved about to lean against his desk. "Some day the rest of the chiss will follow your lead."
Fawste smiled at the praise. He wondered just how heartfelt the General did feel such. Would he really be happy if and when the day came the logically and analytically inclined chiss came over to the Republic side in the galactic conflict? Fawste knew well enough history could see and write about him as a patron of his people, or mark him just as possibly as nothing more than a traitor. It all depended on who won the conflict, as history was always swayed and written by the victor. Still, he was not doing it for such noble purpose. No, Fawste reminded himself, he was doing it because it felt he was right in doing it.
Necrolis leaned in the doorway unnoticed. He had choked out the outer guards and then watched as the chiss and his target conversed. With a slight wave of his hand, Necrolis pointed Vette towards the back to cover the collection of each faction's troopers. He had no need to say anything or even look over his shoulder to know she had such well in hand. Pushing off the wall, Necrolis moved in and chuckled, the noise drawing cries of alarm and all eyes to him.
"Good work leading me to General Gonn, Fawste." Necrolis remarked, nodding to the chiss officer.
"Men! We've got trouble! Rally around the General!"
The cry came from one of the Republic troopers who edged towards Gonn down the far wall until Vette trained her blasters towards them. The lead trooper, the one who had shouted out, stared at the blue skinned twi'lek, trying to guess if she would pull the trigger or not. The woman frowned as Vette smirked at her. She knew they were not going to get any closer to Gonn without things erupting into an all out fight.
"What's this Fawste?" General Gonn cast a hard look to the Imperial chiss, the question laced with anger. "Have you double crossed me?"
"N… no, General!" Fawste stammered hands rising up in defence before him, eyes darting between the General and the Sith. "I'm not… I mean… ummm…"
Necrolis looked at the squirming chiss officer and tsk'd at him. While both the Imperial and Republic troopers fidgeted and were undecided who to shoot, the two men central to the outcome were locked in a battle of wills. Gonn had Fawste on his heels, their alliance and trust built up over time now shattered. All it would take was a push and Fawste would sever the tie fully, Necrolis knew. The chiss had a lack of fortitude, that much was abundantly apparent.
"Think carefully, Fawste." Necrolis stated coldly, "Who do you think is going to survive this?"
"Uh… that's right, General." Fawste blurted out, falling back towards the Imperial troops even as the Republic ones slipped closer to gather near the General.
"Fawste you spineless…" Gonn growled.
"I'm sorry, General." Fawste replied before looking at Necrolis and snapping to attention. "Long live the Empire!"
"How quickly you run to save your own skin!" Gonn snapped and then spit on the floor in disgust. "Consider our alliance over, Fawste."
Necrolis watched as Fawste took a few more steps back towards the Imperial troopers. Necrolis could not be sure but it appeared the chiss paled to a lighter shade of blue as he contemplated what was about to happen. Necrolis was sure the man was seeing his pathetic little life flash before his eyes. Looking back to General Gonn, Necrolis saw the man meet his gaze, the anger dimming as he focused on him.
"I think I can guess who you are, sith. For all of Darth Baras' covert manipulations, you have banged around the galaxy rather loudly." Gonn stated and Necrolis bowed, taking such as a compliment though he knew it was meant otherwise. "Now Baras has finally found me. I'll have to be more careful going forward."
"Your moving forward days have come to an end." Necrolis said back, head inclining slightly to the man.
Gonn went for his blaster, even as the hiss of lightsabers filled the room. Necrolis leapt forward even as Vette dropped to a knee and spun, bringing her blasters to fire on the gathered Republic troopers. Both she and Necrolis were aware of Fawste and the Imperial troopers also opening up on the Republic in the room. The tight confines of the room turned it into a kill zone of flying blaster fire, broken only by the blurring flash of twin red lightsabers. Gonn backed up but not quickly enough. He managed to get the blaster drawn but Necrolis severed his arm at the elbow before he could raise it. The next strike with his other saber sank deep into the man's chest. Necrolis pressed forward, staring the general in the face as the life drained from him.
"You… you have a… choice." Gonn croaked out in what amounted to a whisper against the battle noise. "Don't… don't let… let Baras… control… you…"
Necrolis drew back frowning as he stared at General Gonn, his body crumpling to the floor to lay beside his men. The shooting had subsided for the moment, and he turned to look at Fawste standing with his men. The chiss was slack jawed as if it had never occurred to him such an outcome would in fact come to pass. Glancing at Vette, Necrolis saw her wink at him, a sign she was alright.
"You killed them all." Fawste muttered, red eyes taking in all the Republic corpses. Looking back to Necrolis, Fawste dropped his blaster and held his hands together, begging. "Please… mercy… I… we will rededicate ourselves to the Empire."
Vette looked to Necrolis who was frowning back at her. She knew right away Necrolis was unmoved by the chiss' words. He was not about to be swayed so easily by someone who lacked any strength or conviction at all. Rolling her eyes Vette cocked a hip out and waited for the inevitable. She knew what was coming, knew the fighting was far from done. Necrolis flashed Vette a smile and Vette felt a chill run up her spine. Oh that can't be good, she thought as he turned back to face Fawste and the Imperials.
"What did you help Gonn with?" Necrolis demanded.
"I… I… I helped…" Fawste stammered even as he was unable to stop the shaking in fear that gave him a feeble appearance.
"Out with it you simpleton!" Necrolis snapped through gritted teeth as the man got on his nerves.
"I helped a Jedi land on Hoth undetected." Fawste blurted out hurriedly, "I believe he's searching for something in the starship graveyard wreckage, but that's all I know."
Necrolis tapped the comm link open and partly turned back to glance towards Vette. The twi'lek arched a curious eyebrow at what the chiss had just revealed. They both knew that Gonn had been clever and a worthy adversary. If he had sent a Jedi to Hoth, then it was for good reason, whatever it was. He had taken a huge risk and paid for it with his life, but whatever was being searched for likely held great value to the Republic. Necrolis had a bad feeling about that.
"Quinn, begin running checks on such, and make sure to co-ordinate and advise Baras of the information. His network might find out what is going on a lot faster working with you."
"I copy, my lord." Malavai Quinn's voice answered back in Necrolis' ear.
"So we just walking away now?" Vette asked, almost hopeful the bloodshed was over even though she knew the answer to her question already.
"The offence is too great." Necrolis muttered and shrugged even as he moved.
Spinning about, Necrolis activated his lightsabers and tossed them forward. Vette moved from her spot, dropping and sliding on one knee in tight against Necrolis' leg as she opened fire, immediately dropping one of the Imperial troopers. Necrolis caught his weapons, using them to deflect blaster fire as Vette mowed down another trooper. The other two had fallen when Necrolis had tossed his weapon, leaving just Fawste. The chiss was kneeling on the floor sobbing and holding his hand up and before him pleadingly.
"Oh man, I think he pissed himself." Vette remarked in surprise.
"Pathetic." Necrolis growled, striding across the short distance and bringing his right handed lightsaber down across the man, cutting from shoulder across the body down to the hip killing Fawste.
Necrolis looked at Vette and gave her a small sympathetic look. Vette rose back to her feet and stepped close to him, hand rising to stroke his cheek lightly. Smiling she rose to her tiptoes and kissed him quickly. Necrolis arched an eyebrow at her, surprised by the reaction. He had expected her to be far more remorseful about having killed everyone save themselves. If she felt such, she did not show it at all. Vette quickly figured out what was bothering him and giggled.
"Come on my dark deadly sithy lord." She remarked. "We do what we need to and move on. Betrayal sucks, and deserves such."
"Well said, Vette." Necrolis nodded in agreement and followed her back out to make their way back to the spaceport and to get off planet.
