Chapter Twenty-One: Business of the Republic
Hours later, the clouds above Coruscant were reflecting the multitude of city lights. Yet, for all the lights, they left the city in darkness.
Revan, however, had more important things to deal with.
"...but I need those circuits, Master!" said HK 5. "No, please do not destroy my chips out of frustration! Medic!"
Revan relented and tried again as he continued his operations from a different angle.
"Query:" said HK 5. "Master, will this take much longer? I am concerned that your attempts to integrate me into this body may lead to permenant loss of function."
"Hang on, HK 4, I just need to finish activating a few more segments," said Revan, adjusting some parts in the chassis. "And done." He shut the last panel after hours of work. "How do you feel, HK 5?"
HK 5 rose up and looked over his new, tan body. In one hand was a blaster rifle, and he had legs that could move. "Commentary:
"Master, this is a far preferable body, so far as my diagnostics can determine. However, I must urge you to consult a licensed mechanic when unsure of to next. I am too valuable an asset to perish at the hands of ineptitude."
Revan felt a bit offended at that. "Are you implying I am inept?"
"Supplication:" said HK 5. "Of course not, Master. You gave me speech and life, after all. My concern was merely that, in your anger, you might not be operating at full capacity."
"I happen to be very good at what I do," said Revan.
"Query:
Of course, Master. May I inquire as to what the price was for this body?"
Revan sighed. "A pretty large amount of credits.
"I get paid a fairly large amount by Atris, and I haven't been able to buy anything while working in the Polar Regions. So it all added up.
"The real hard part was jury-rigging the body so your chips could interface it."
That had been very hard, indeed.
"Statement:
"I am all too aware of that, Master," said HK 5.
Revan moved over to the far end of the machine shop. Television was showing the news. From the looks of things, a plague had started on Iridia that was spreading beyond merely the cities. A lot of people were denying it was even happening. The politicians were largely dismissing the issue.
Elsewhere, the Mandalorians had had some skirmishes with the Iridonians. They had been largely inconclusive, but Iridonia was now mustering armies. The Republic Senate, however, seemed to want to stay out of it.
"In the end," Senator Holdo was saying. "the Mandalorians and the Iridonians are sovereign nations in their own right. The Republic has neither the responsibility nor the right to intervene in their affairs.
"There are problems in the world that can't be solved by getting in a starfighter and blowing things up."
Revan was more worried about the Iridian Plague than the Mandalorians. The way he saw it, the Mandalorians would stop sooner or later to consolidate. But the Iridian Plague had already spread beyond the city and was already all over the planet.
Chances were it not only would get out but already had. The only question was how far it had gotten.
"Request:
"Master, I am interested in studying the physical parameters of organic beings," said HK 5 suddenly.
"Why?" asked Revan.
"Explanation:" said HK 5. "It is my perception that my purpose in life is to end their lives. Consequently, I feel a certain professional obligation to understand their functions."
"Your droid seems like quite a handful," said Mira, walking in. A white towel turban covered her red hair. She'd just finished taking a shower, and she was wearing a green shirt. One that bared her midriff and had a lot of cleavages. She was also wearing short shorts and black gloves, and Revan noticed she was being sure to sway her hips a bit.
What, was she trying to seduce him?
"Yes, well, his chips were meant to coordinate mining droids originally," said Revan. "So, he has a different mindset."
"You reappropriated a mining droid into a combat model?" asked Mira. "That seems like a lot of work."
"Retort," said HK 5. "combat and mining are very similar processes. Both are best conducted with proper timing and care and are based around the precise use of energy weapons. The only difference is that now I 'mine' organics.
"I must say, it is a far preferable career path."
"Fine," said Mira. "But if word gets out about him, he'll be scrapped for sure. Assassination droids are illegal."
"He's not an assassin droid," said Revan.
"Legally, he is," said Mira. "An assassination droid is a combat AI that is capable of high levels of planning. Trust me; there was a big court case about it at one point.
"He qualifies."
"But he's not a combat droid," said Revan. "He's a protocol droid."
"What?" said Mira.
"I've been running HK 5 through language programs continually while on Telos. He's learning languages at the same time I am," said Revan.
"You're training a droid?" asked Mira. "Why not just install a package?"
"Because packages are expensive," said Revan. "Also, HK 5 learning this stuff helps him grow in intellect. He can perform his tasks better."
"If he gets memory wiped, you'll lose everything," said Mira.
"Well, I'm never going to memory wipe him, then," said Revan. "He's not a product; he's a person."
"Sure, whatever you say, Droid lover," said Mira.
"Query:" said HK 5, raising a three-fingered hand and clenching it. "Would you like me to crush her throat, Master? I find this one most irritating."
"Maybe if she tries to murder us or something, HK 5," said Revan. "For now, let is go."
"You've got some real nice taste in friends, don't you?" asked Mira.
"Yeah, I'm glad you think so," said Revan.
The door opened, and Mune Gunray entered with his guards.
"Ah, Revan, Mira, I am pleased to see the installation was successful," said Mune. "I have a great many battle droids, and I am likely to benefit a great deal from your presence."
"How so?" asked Revan.
"Well, rumors that I rescued you from the massacre at the Senatorial Guard," said Mune. "The entire city is in a panic about it, so I imagine my business shall profit a great deal from the PR."
"What is your business anyway?" asked Revan. "You haven't mentioned it."
"Oh that?" said Mune. "Well, the Trade Federation has many business ventures. However, here on Coruscant and planets like it, I run a transport service to the Outer Rim colonies.
"You see, city planets such as this one are constantly suffering from overpopulation. Refugees tend to flock to them, and they live lives of squalor and pain.
"Many children grow up having to resort to crime. Or they work in dangerous factories that are not properly regulated."
"They don't regulate factories in the capital?" asked Revan.
"What do you expect?" asked Mira. "The people who live on the lower levels of Taris might as well not exist for all the people on top could care. They'd probably be herding us into gas chambers if they could get away with it."
"Well, I think that is an overstatement," said Mune. "Even so, it is undeniably true that conditions in the lower city are poor. And they only become worse the further you go. Almost no attempt is made to police the lower city, and gangs are the only source of order. Many of these same gangs deal in drugs and contraband to the service. They even fund private starports that drug runners use on jumps."
"So, what does this have to do with the problem?" asked Revan.
"Well, my young friend, the problem is that the Lower City has too many people to police properly," said Mune. "It is too extensive, too dense. This means that public order is nearly impossible, and every level of the planet suffers.
"I solve that issue."
"Query:" asked HK 5. "Do you pension out hitmen? I am certain the Master could be of great assistance in such a venture."
"Hey!" said Revan.
"Supplication:" said HK 5. "It was a compliment, Master. I have great admiration for the consistency with which you terminate sentients."
"Don't be absurd. My business is perfectly legal," said Mune. "You see the Trade Federation, Czerka Corporation, the Jedi. And many other organizations have been busy creating colonies in various worlds. However, such colonies require a great deal of unskilled labor.
"I provide free transport to many of these colonies. Tattooine, Naboo, Kasshyk, Korriban. These people then arrive and can new employment. I also transport prisoners. Sometimes communities in the lower city don't have the infrastructure to have prisons. Thus, criminals are sent to me instead."
"But how do you make a profit?" asked Revan.
"The corporations pay me, of course," said Mune. "The frontier is dangerous as well as lucrative. Often they need a constant stream of able-bodied adults to perform many tasks. Soldiers, mechanics, farming, it all needs doing in the Outer Rim colonies.
"If a corporation no longer has any need for new individuals, they simply take it off the list.
"I have such setups on Taris, Nar Shadda, and several other city planets. I make a profit, the corporations have their manpower, and the people get to move somewhere they can see the sun."
"Yeah, sure you are," said Mira, removing the towel from her head. "What about those kids you've been offering free transportation. I looked up those locations; they're all in Mandalorian territory." Her voice was accusing.
Mune paused. "Ah, yes, that.
"Well, Mandalore is a warlord and wants young recruits to serve in his armies. An order he calls Neo Crusaders. He offered to pay me money to provide him with such recruits between the ages of eight and sixteen, and I obliged.
"All of them choose to come freely, of course. No one is taken against their will. It's like joining the military with greater risks and greater rewards."
"Sure they do," said Mira.
"If you doubt me, perhaps you would like to take a look at my ships yourself," said Mune. "They are as comfortable as I can reasonably make them."
Revan thought this over. "You are supplying the Mandalorians with troops? And the Senate allows this?"
"The children of Coruscant live lives of misery and starvation," said Mune. "With the Mandalorians, they will face the same amount of danger while being able to see the sun. And with them, they will be a valuable asset to society instead of a burden.
"At the same time, fewer impressionable children in poverty reduces crime.
"I'm providing a service. For them, and the societies they burden."
"And who are you to say we're a burden?" asked Mira.
"Observation:" said HK 5. "Master, I observed this girl removing pieces from a car. She was doing so with clear precision. I believe she is a well-practiced criminal in the making, much like Calo Nord.
"Analysis:
"If I were to speculate as to the reasons for her hostility. I would say the root cause is a desire to throw attention away from her illicit activities."
"Shut up!" said Mira, hurling the towel over HK 5.
And then there was a ringing. Mune drew out a phone and walked out of the room. A moment later, he came back. "We have excellent news. I've just made contact with Senator Yusanis of the Echani. He has offered to provide you transport to his embassy. There you'll meet your associate, Master Kreia.
"Much as I hoped.
"A ship is standing by to take you there now."
"Thank you, Mune," said Revan, before glancing over to Mira. "Mira, are you coming with us?"
"Me?" asked Mira. "Where else am I going to go.
"Walking back home would take weeks."
"Where do you live anyway?" asked Revan.
"My parents are factory workers in the lower city below the Jedi Academy region," said Mira. "A lot of companies use us for cheap labor."
"Ever consider honest work?" asked Revan.
"Honest work?" scoffed Mira. "You mean getting my hand crushed by machinery? Or do you mean like you, Jedi?
"I'd much rather take up bounty hunting. Less robes, same level of morality."
"That is your choice, of course," said Mune. "Come, we must be going."
Quickly they packed their things, and Mune led them out to another shuttle. Sitting down in comfortable seats, Mune provided coffee while it rose upward. Revan looked to Mira, then outside at the cityscape flowing beneath them. "...You know, from up here, the city doesn't seem so bad."
"Up here being the key prerogative," said Mira. "Coruscant is a sucker's bet.
"People come here because it sits on a bunch of trade routes, then they get stuck, and end up in the darkness. Either they go into debt, or something worse happens to them. I used to live on Taris before I came here, and it was pretty much the same. Worse if you were an alien."
Then Revan looked out and saw two blurs of red heading toward them from an aircar. Looking up, he yelled. "Pilot! Move to the side!
"Grab onto something! We're-"
Even as he grabbed, there was an explosion toward the back. The shuttle descended from the sky in a blur of destruction.