Rebels with a Cause
XVI
Acquiring the ship was easy. Painfully easy. Harry thought, it was hilarious. Charlie Prizneck hit the gang member with his mechanical arm and all Harry had to do was look disinterested. Soon enough 50 credits had been exchanged and the team had a brand-new ship; unfortunately they had a few new enemies.
"Sabine to Potter." Sabine called.
"Send your message. If this is about the threesome, I still need to ask Charlee."
Sabine flushed under her commlink as chuckles were heard "This is an open comm, Harry. Do have a sense of propriety."
"I do. Organising such a thing with two gorgeous women…Anyway send your message."
"I'm going to castrate you…"
"No you won't. Not once you've seen him." Charlee cut in causing even more giggles and chuckles from everyone.
"Have you got a new ship?"
"We have the keys…just waiting…oh yep. We have it all in legal legitimacy."
If Sabine could she would have fixed Harry with a potential death glare "What did you do?"
"Nothing. We have it nice and legitimate. Unless you're suspecting me of foul play."
"Spectre Eight this is Spectre Seven. Harry what did you do. Explain now." Dudley instructed.
"We went said hi, talked shop and he signed over the deed of the ship…rather Charlie did. I merely made sure no-one got overly zealous."
"Define overzealous."
"Pulling a blaster and letting the SS know what's going on."
"SS?" Kanan and Hera asked as one.
"Schutzstaffel, protection squadron or Waffen Schutzstaffel armed protection squadron. Stormtroopers, as in the idiots in white here, where we're from they're based on the Nazis. The Schutzstaffel aka SS split."
Ezra spoke "In essence the SS where you're from is split into armed and unarmed. The armed become Stormtroopers."
"More or less. You're missing out roughly a decade or more of politics but yes."
"Anyway, we're off the mark here. He's alive, we're alive. No-one got shot and we have a new ship…Satisfactory."
"How much did you pay?"
"Fifty. Not fifty thousand but fifty as in five zero…He did try to get lippy with Charlee but Charlie decked him…Anyway how's the parade."
"Going rather smoothly…" Kanan said as he observed the proceedings. He wouldn't admit but training Ezra was a hard task, he himself hadn't completed his training.
"Okay, Sabine, Zeb get ready to cause a distraction."
Soon enough, fireworks and explosions echoed across the procession. Any potential hit on the Minister was prevented in the chaos. Klaxons blared and the garrison of Stormtroopers deployed and amongst them, the Grand Inquisitor.
The Inquisitor closed his eyes and extended his senses "Excellent…" He turned to the Minister "…My sincerest congratulations on this most glorious day and event. Despite this despicable stunt by those who do not share the Emperor's dream, you've done well. Three, specials are here."
Tua gulped "You mean…like yourself?"
The Inquisitor nodded "Then Inquisitor, do what needs to be done…Do it swiftly. Attention all Imperial Staff, we have an…"
"Call me a Specialist, Minister."
"We have a Specialist from the Emperor's Office himself on the planet. All Imperial personal are to assist him with everything he may need or require." Tua called on a master-comm projecting her voice over the entirety of Lothal.
Taking her hand off the button "Be swift and effective, Specialist."
"As is the nature of my job, Minister. The Emperor will hear of this. My thanks." With that the Inquisitor bowed, concentrated and then jumped, clearing the streets and landing on the rooftops.
"Now, to the one on his own…This should be fun."
(Harry and the Twins)
Harry stiffened. "He's coming, Charlie get the ship going…" Charlee sent her son on board. Harry grabbed her by the hand "Go…He's most likely going to want me alive."
"Most likely?"
"Evil villains when faced against great power…tend to forego original orders to kill them, and try at LEAST three times before coming to kill you…With that I'm heading to the pub."
Charlee looked at him "Please…don't be stupid. Do whatever you need to…just come back to me." She placed his hand on her belly.
"Two weeks ago, remember that night?" Harry blushed, as he remembered the night, he looked at her and the location of his hand. His hands, stilled. Since he'd arrived, his hands had unsteady. Nothing to serious or often but it happened.
Harry looked at her "I'll return…No matter what. They…will have their father…That much I can promise you…But I want to them and you to be alive for me to return to. I never wanted in the Rebellion other for than the fact to protect my cousin."
"Now?"
"My…priorities have changed…Now GO!" As the ship took off, Harry headed to the flight bar, sat down and waited.
The Inquisitor landed a few minutes after the freighter had left and extended his senses. With that he entered the bar, the bar was a den of scum and villains. Bounty hunters both inexperienced and experienced of different specialisations; a few scholars and marshals along with enforcers, hired guns and technicians.
Not all of them were pro-emperor, a reasonable amount of them were firmly anti-empire but the lengths of their distaste ranged. But the vast majority were opportunists. All in all, his target had picked a very good place to hide and make a stand. As he entered, everyone stopped.
"I'm looking for someone. Human, two metres roughly in height, slender build, messy hair, green eyes…was here with a Ship."
A large broad shouldered Besalisk looked at the Inquisitor "Can I get you anything sir?"
"I'll take what the regulars have." The Grand Inquisitors responded, his time as a Jedi, meant he had spent time in pubs and bars to remember the old ways.
A light amber, chilled beverage landed in front of him. The Inquisitor handed over a large cred stick "Six hundred credits the Empire pays those it helps…Beit contractual or regular work."
Harry was sat in an alcove and the Grand Inquisitor joined him. The Inquisitor watched as his opponent waved his hand "We won't be disturbed…Surprised slightly? Not even slightly flat-footed? What were you expecting some sort of grand shoot-out coupled with some stereo typical holo-vid reelsl; of explosions, adrenaline chases?"
The Pau'an Force User chuckled "Will admit was half expecting a shoot-out. Perhaps even yourself using that every interesting brand force-sorcery…This…is slightly new. This reminds me of a different life."
"Jedi right? Used to be a Jedi of some sort…Although I am curious in why you fell."
"Darth Sidious approached me. Offered me a chance to keep my life in turn he wanted my servitude."
"Your life for service…I don't need to ask that your question, since you being here is that answer."
"You've made Vader and myself angry. Granted Fifth Brother and Fourth Sister were not the best of the organisation, they were rather effective…Vader wants you dead, I…am not sure what I want, but the Emperor is also interested in you."
"In essence more people want me dead for personal reasons but the higher-ups want me alive for my knowledge…I know full well the Dark Side has skills to rip my knowledge from my corpse."
"Not…without a price. A price on everyone involved, with such a thing that could kill the Emperor."
Harry nodded "Interesting…Now, as you may have noticed something has changed with me."
The Inquisitor nodded "True, it must have been deeply provoking for one as…temperamental as yourself to change so drastically so suddenly."
"My circumstances have changed. I would have tried to lure you in here and attempt to kill for the fact you're here to kill me…regardless of my position in the socio-political stance."
"True…Although, here I believe you might have actually succeeded."
"I'm no fan of the empire due to spoilers and I'm not a fan of the rebellion due to their need to make me a recruiting post…I suppose what I'm saying is…"
"You're not going to help us or the rebellion…or if you are, certain criterium are required for your…unique insight."
"You, understand! Also as a Force wielder to a force wielder, you understand that all mortals cannot change fixed-points in time."
"But can try and alter the more fluid aspects…Granted…What can you give me? What can I give you in return."
Just then Harry's comm went off "Spectre Seven to Spectre Eight, we kind of need to go."
"Spectre Eight to Seven, you're going to have to go on without me…I'm in shall we say in…inquisitive and intensive discussions on philosophy and ethics over a few drinks."
Spectre Seven went silent "Affirmative…the rest won't like it. What about Z-Two?"
"Z's know. Z-Two understands…"
Dudley nodded. "Want me to tell the rest?"
"Not my call…I'll chat later…Hopefully."
"Enjoy your inquisitive and intense discussion and drinks? Seriously?"
Harry turned off the comm and the Inquisitor cocked his head "Code to…"
"Your cousin…Inquisitive and Intensive discussions on philosophy and ethics over a few drinks; you're facing a member of the Inquisition trying to get some bargains to keep yourself and a few others alive…or better yet, treated as an honoured guest on word as a gentleman and person of importance."
Harry nodded. "You can put whichever superior you wish on comm if they want in on this. The terms are quite simple: Myself, the Entity known as Spectre Seven and the team known as the Z's especially Z-Two and Z-Three are not to come to any harm or death, deliberately or by accident or anything that could construed as deliberate or accidental. I further request that we and our families are subsequently left alone for the rest of this…incursion."
"And in return?"
"The one known as Thrawn is promoted to Grand Admiral and given the Seventh Fleet, furthermore Scariff is a fixed point in time, Exegol is vital oh and Operation Cinder will only have more people join the incursion…oh and a new second is required."
"Very interesting…very interesting in deed. I can do that, in fact Thrawn being promoted is an interesting idea. His need for promotion is important, that much the force tells me. I accept your information and terms, although I insist you do a task for me." A nasally voice said, catching Harry off guard and made the Inquisitor smirk.
The voice continued "I had not considered 'fixed points' as a reason for why visions of a tropical planet in dark-spires entered my dreams. Exegol…that is a planet that will require much explaining, my young friend. Oh yes, you know of my powers and skills but did you think you knew them all? I see much in you Hadrian Potter. I see lots and nothing and that intrigues me. Operation Cinder, I must profess I had not thought about such a powerful deterrent, to burn worlds in defiance of me. Can people not see why this is necessary?"
Harry gulped; the Inquisitor smirked. Just because the Inquisitor hadn't made it obvious to activate comm, didn't mean that higher powers were not paying an interest. It became very clear to Harry that he was out of his depth "Hadrian Potter, I want you to find Orion Palpatine…the seed is strong. Also, inform of the Leaders of the Rebel Alliance and any potential obstacles that may cause further dissenters to this fledgling Rebellion."
"I can do that…Emperor Palpatine, do I have your word as: Ruler, Leader and as a Gentleman? Darth Sidious, do I have your word as: A Leader, Master of your Arts and a Gentleman?"
"I swear."
"Your Grace…" Someone called and the Comm disconnected.
Harry looked at the Inquisitor "Let's make this look convincing."
Five minutes of force throws/banishing spells and a couple of explosions, Harry was seen booking it for his life as Stormtroopers shot at him wildly. Everyone was in deep shit now, but as Harry realised this a feeling like a bolt of lightning, connected with him. "I'm back…Pandemonium's been unleashed by mine hand…It's time to show Palpatine that even spirit of words and oaths can be twisted. How far can we twist the rules of parole and gentlemanly conduct?"
