Chapter: 58 An Inside Job
"Even the most prestigious gardens have serpents."
A hostage situation! Notorious bounty hunter Cad Bane and his posse of outlaws laid siege to the Galactic Senate. As Coruscant descended into chaos, the hunters used their victims as leverage in order to free Ziro the Hutt from prison. While Padawan Elsa Dellian rushed to get Senator Veritaz and her handmaiden to safety, other forces fought to stop Bane. Padawan Anna Dellian joined a Jedi strike team and engaged the bounty hunters as they made their high-flying escape. But chaos struck as the chase descended into an underworld portal. Cad Bane's distraction proved lethal and Anna was unable to stop a transport from accidentally killing two civilians. As night falls upon a city in disarray, those who have survived these tragic events are now trying to move forward...
All was quiet in the Jedi Temple. If its inhabitants weren't asleep, they were studying away in the Archives while others stood guard. After such a pulse-pounding and harrowing day for Coruscant, the silence of the night was most welcome. Master Mattias roamed the vast halls with far too much on his mind. He tried to shake the persistent feeling of failure regarding the protection of his Padawan. But Mattias had to understand that he couldn't protect her from the trials of life. He couldn't safeguard his apprentice from every threat the world possessed. Still, Anna was in many ways the child he could never have. His time with her had only brought them closer together and yet he felt himself slipping. Mattias used an elevator to ascend to the temple's security station. Each swaying light coupled with the occasional beep was somewhat euphoric to Mattias. While his heart was racing, he calmed himself with several steady breaths. A resounding ding signaled his arrival as he entered a chamber teeming with monitors.
Several astromechs curiously swiveled from their positions to glimpse Mattias as he walked by. As he stepped out of the droid's operational apparatus, Mattias found himself in yet another vacuous room. Long aisles comprised of teal-tinted machinery lined the chamber. Data chimed from pulsing, illuminated screens. As Mattias' footsteps echoed down one of the aisles, so too did another's. The master froze and raised a brow. He peered around and tried to pinpoint where the sound had come from. His eyes narrowed on a distant silhouette as it shifted between the aisles. Mattias cautiously crept after it, staying low and keeping close to the walls. As he brought his body into a full crouch, he became deeply grateful for his flexible cybernetic. The brief shuffling of boots had Mattias pausing again. He shimmed closer to the nearby corner and listened for any other clues. "Where are you?" he whispered. As all fell silent, he dared to round the corner and thought he'd find his target. Instead, he found darkness there...and nothing more.
Just as Mattias succumbed to his bewilderment, a set of boots landed nimbly behind him. It wasn't long before a pair of sleek hands slid against his cheeks and covered his eyes. "Guess who," a gentle voice whispered.
Mattias didn't even bother, for he was too dumbfounded. "H-...how'd you even...I checked my corners."
"Oh Mattias," the woman chuckled. "You're always looking around but never up. No one ever looks up." The purple-skinned palms departed from Mattias' face.
He quickly turned to look upon a Nautolan Jedi Master. "Zodra," he greeted.
She brushed the bunching tendrils off her shoulders and smiled. "Mattias," she said. "It's been too long, you old relic."
"Old?" he grumbled. "Look who's talking."
"I can't help it if my species ages better than you humans do," Zodra teased.
"How have things been?" Mattias asked.
"Oh you know," Zodra remarked. "Life among astromechs isn't all it's cracked up to be, but I'll take it over listening to the blathering council any day. Up here, I'm the queen of data." Her deep, violet eyes widened as she came to a realization. "Oh! You have to see what I've been working on!" She snatched Mattias by the hand and led him down an aisle. As she did so, a whirlwind of emotions came surging through him all over again. It was like they were Padawans once more, scurrying through the halls and whispering secrets. Venting about their masters and sharing a-
"Check this out!" Zodra eagerly blurted. She flailed her arms toward a massive wall of pulsing technology and Mattias scratched his beard. "Isn't it just the coolest thing you've ever seen?"
"It really is," Mattias answered before leaning closer. "Um...what exactly am I looking at?"
Zodra snickered and playfully pinched Mattias' cheek. "You haven't changed one bit and I love it," she jested and slapped the device. "This bad boy can fit so much signal strength in it. Mattias, say hello to the future of intergalactic communication." Mattias humored her and actually waved at the device. "I call it the 'Jedi Beacon' and it will be able to send a signal to every Jedi in the galaxy. If there's ever an emergency or maybe we're throwing a party, this beacon will ping to every Jedi's communicator and summon them back to the temple. And!" Mattias couldn't help but smile at how enthusiastic Zodra was about her work. "-basic signals are just the beginning. When I'm finished, you'll be able to send text and holographic messages."
"Zodra," Mattias uttered. "This is incredible."
"It'd also make for one heck of a crank call," Zodra snorted.
Mattias laughed along with her and said, "You know...you haven't changed one bit either."
"I suppose that's a good thing," Zodra said. "You hear all the horror stories on Coruscant and beyond. Jedi losing their way...people losing their faith in the Jedi...Everywhere it's just more loss." The Nautolan looked into Mattias' somber eyes and lifted his chin. "Why are you really here? What's going on?"
"I feel myself slipping, Zodra." Mattias admitted. "I've done my best to help Anna become all that she is meant to be, yet sometimes I fear I'm too lenient."
"We always said we'd be easy going masters after the strict teachers we had," Zodra said. "You're just the one who actually got an apprentice to fulfill those words."
"Still," Mattias replied. "I worry if I'm hindering instead of helping. She's going through so much already that I'm unsure what I should and shouldn't bring up. I just want to be there for her."
Zodra placed a kind hand on his shoulder. "But who's there for you?"
Mattias was unsure how to answer. "I fear my apprentice may be unprepared to accept the responsibilities of knighthood."
"That she might bend under pressure?" Zodra queried.
"Or go mad with power," Mattias murmured. "There was a moment in which she ordered her troops to execute a pair of unarmed criminals."
"And how did that make you feel?" Zodra asked.
"It pained me to see her slip like that. Nothing came of it, thank the Force. But then before I knew it, she was tearing herself to shreds and filling herself with guilt. Now she's placed the loss of more lives on her shoulders and I just couldn't bring myself to add greater pressure." Mattias huffed. "I've gone soft, haven't I? Master Mundi would've laid into me regardless of what was going on."
"But you're not your master," Zodra said. "You're you and you need to stop feeling like that's a bad thing. Have some faith in your Padawan. It's like this beacon I've been working on. While I've applied my own touch and added plenty of modifications to it, it's still going to function in its own way. I may not always like the outcome, but I have to trust the process."
"How I've missed your wise words," Mattias sighed.
"Well you need to come up here more often then!" Zodra playfully scolded. "We can talk all you like. Someone has to keep you in check when that Padawan's knighted and I could always use a hand." Mattias smiled and gently caressed Zodra's cheek. "Not the hand I meant," she sighed and held his. "But I'm not gonna complain."
It was as if an invisible magnet had drawn their foreheads together. The masters sighed deeply and looked into each other's eyes. "I think it's safe to say that there's a boy in her life," Mattias whispered.
"Did you go all 'Do as I say, not as I do.' on her?" Zodra queried.
"Haven't really had the chance to speak to her about it," Mattias said. "At one time, I might have. But these days, as I glimpse what's out there...As I see the amount of pain we're all enduring, I can't help but wonder something. What's so wrong with love?"
"You tell me," Zodra whispered. The Nautolan tilted her head up and pressed her lips to his. Their gentle kiss warped the master back to a distant memory. Their masters had been off to make diplomatic arrangements on a distant world. While they were gone, he and Zodra found themselves alone back on the ship. He vividly recalled reaching for her hand and feeling his heart flutter when they touched. From students to masters, their kiss continued to be a spark of solace over the years. As their lips parted, Mattias and Zodra held each other in a tender embrace. Away from the prying eyes of the rest of the Jedi Temple, they were safe in each other's company. Holding one another close amidst the dark and tranquil aisles of a thriving computer chamber.
Padawan Elsa Dellian had found a lot of things that night and sleep wasn't one of them. With the amount of tossing and turning she'd endured in bed, Elsa had stared into every angle of her darkened room. The stillness of it all still beat attempted slumber, for whenever she closed her eyes...Elsa revisited the day's events. Her mind would play tricks on her and make her relive the Senate hostage situation. What-if scenarios came rocketing towards her at full speed, wondering what would've happened if she wasn't fast enough. She truly felt as though she'd barely gotten Dia and Taline to safety. Merely thinking about what happened was enough to keep her heart racing. It was in her struggle to find slumber that Elsa came to a wholehearted conclusion. "If I can't sleep-" she sighed. "-I just won't!" It was just that simple to her as she bolted out of bed and embraced the free time. She promptly yawned and immediately scolded her own body. "Oh no you don't," she warned. "You don't get to keep me awake with anxiety and then decide to be tired. You've kept me up, so now we're up."
Elsa basked in the silence of the night. With it came the breaking of boundaries and lack of expectations. In the dead of night, no one needed Elsa. The only expectations to be set would be those of her own creation. She found solace in this thought and smiled. But her ever-persistent mind kept reminding her of the day's events. Wanting to tinker and have some company, Elsa grabbed Sir Porgen from her workbench. She turned the little droid on and his wings fluttered. "Hey you," she greeted him warmly. "How about some late night retouches?" Porgen gently nodded and Elsa raised her brows. "Physical acknowledgement?" she inquired. "That's new. Looks like that adaptive data-brain I gave you is developing well." Elsa rummaged through her toolbox and retrieved a set of cleaning utensils. "Let's give you the works," she said and started scrubbing away. Porgen chirped and waddled in response to her tools. His bulbous, mechanical eyes clicked and seemed to focus on Elsa.
"You can see the stress on me, huh?" his maker remarked. "It's just been a long day for so many of us. And I shouldn't even think I had it rough. Who knows what repercussions will stir with Ziro the Hutt's escape from prison? And Anna-" Elsa winced just thinking about her. "I heard about what happened in that portal and that's just..." Elsa loosed a heavy sigh while Porgen worriedly squawked. She patted his head for comfort and kept delicately maintaining his systems. "She's been through so much, Porgen." Elsa whispered. "She doesn't need any more pain. If I could take it all away from her, believe me I would. I wish I could free everyone from their suffering." Elsa took a moment to think about her friends in the Senate. "Something's wrong with Taline. I just can't place it, but she isn't alright. That handmaiden is calling out for help and Senator Veritaz is too blind to see it. She gets so wound up in her work or even in my presence that Taline gets overlooked. I thought they were supposed to be best friends." Porgen worriedly pecked on his 'mother's' hand. "But I don't see the same Dia who was willing to fly all the way to Hoth and rescue her handmaiden from kidnappers. The same Corellian noble who wouldn't leave Taline's bedside from the moment we rescued her." Elsa gasped as her thoughts turned inward. "By the Force," she worried and looked to Porgen. "What if I'm the problem? What if I've somehow caused a rift in their relationship and now Dia favorites me?" Elsa reclined in the seat and nervously ran her fingers through her hair. "I took on this responsibility to find my own voice and speak up for those who couldn't. I never meant to drown out anyone's voice! Oh Porgen," Elsa gulped. "What if that's what I'm doing?"
The droid remained silent. It tilted its head inquisitively and slowly waddled up to Elsa. As she remained unsure about Porgen's motives, he suddenly nuzzled up against her arm. She faintly smiled and dropped a hand to pet the droid. "Thanks, little one," she said. "You're such a good listener."
In that instant, a sudden chime emanated from her drawer. The unfamiliar beep was enough to startle Porgen and he hid behind Elsa's arms. The Padawan slowly turned towards the drawer and cautiously opened it. The chiming loudened as Elsa observed a violet, cylindrical device. Elsa's heart sank when she realized it was the unmarked comlink Korbi had given her.
"When the time is right, we'll call you," the old Gran had said.
Elsa hurriedly retrieved it, cleared her throat, and dared to answer. "H-...hello?" she said amidst the darkness.
There was a long and eerie pause. Elsa was about to let herself exhale when a voice finally came through. "Gubla's Noodle Bar," a woman said.
"What?" Elsa blurted.
"Slum District...G17," the woman continued. "Meet us there in one hour. Come alone."
"Chela Tuzi?" Elsa inquired. The call dropped as soon as she did so. Elsa reclined in her seat and tried to process what had just happened. Porgen looked up to her with his big, curious eyes. Alarmed, Elsa's first reaction was to try and call Anna on her comlink. She sighed heavily when her call went unanswered. What are you doing, Elsa? the Padawan thought. Get a grip. She quickly packed her things and ran to find her master.
Yelena had been used to waking up early, but Elsa knocking on her door in the dead of night was a first. The elder yawned while braiding her hair and simultaneously unlocked the door with the Force. Her groggy eyes widened when she noticed her Padawan's worried expression. "Elsa?" she inquired. "What's going on?"
"She called," Elsa said while holding up the unmarked comlink. "At least...I think it was Chela. She said to meet us at Gubla's Noodle Bar in an hour. Slum District G17 I believe."
"Did she say why?" Yelena asked.
"No, but she wanted me to come alone."
"Odd," Elsa and Yelena said in unison. They pointed at each other and nodded.
"I want to check it out," Elsa said. "But there's no way I'm going alone. But I'm also against the clock and I just don't know what to do."
Still waking up, Yelena rubbed her eyes and hummed in thought. "I too am curious about this," she said. "And going alone is always risky, so here's the plan. Misdirection." Elsa raised a brow as Yelena continued. "I'll go with you, dropping you off a block or so away from the bar. Then I'll follow you while undercover, giving off the illusion that you're actually alone."
"I like this plan," Elsa said. "However, Korbi might spot you if he's with her. He knows what you look like."
Yelena glowered and considered an alternative plan. "Do you still have that porg droid?" Elsa grinned, spun around, and pointed towards her backpack. "Excellent," Yelena said.
"I tried contacting Anna, but had no luck," Elsa said. "Should we notify Master Mattias?"
Yelena sighed. "I'm sure you've heard the news of what happened in the portal by now. I think they've been through enough and could use some time to themselves. Plus, we blueblossoms could use a night out."
"Yeah," Elsa tried to cheer but ended up yawning instead. She was still exhausted from the day she'd had and said, "Can we at least get some caffeine in us before we head out?"
Spouting fumes shrouded any starlight from Coruscant's upper levels. Yelena piloted their airspeeder deep into the slum district while Elsa observed its inhabitants. Exhaustion appeared perpetual as haggard vagrants slouched about. "We're less than a block away," Yelena said as she pulled in to an alley. "Think you can manage the walk from here?" Elsa gathered a cloak from the speeder's backseat and nodded. "Good. So can we please go over this droid of yours once more?"
Elsa handed Yelena a personal remote and said, "Under these settings, you'll be able to guide and see through Sir Porgen. The left joystick will lead him in the direction you so choose. The right joystick controls his head and this dial zooms his camera in."
"What about these buttons?" Yelena asked. She pointed to a thin yellow and bold red trigger.
"The yellow button will relinquish control of the remote and restore Porgen's autonomous setting. I wouldn't recommend it in this situation, considering that his data-brain is still...well...juvenile. The red button will ignite the emergency thrusters under his wings, but that'll get loud so...no need really." Yelena looked to Elsa and smiled. "Is everything alright?" the Padawan asked.
"Oh yes," Yelena assured. "I'm just so proud of your innovative self."
Elsa nodded respectfully and said, "Thank you, master." Her eyes glanced at the dashboard clock and she gulped. "By the Force, there isn't much time left."
"Go on," Yelena urged. "I'll be around." As Elsa departed from the speeder, Yelena locked eyes with Sir Porgen. "Let's do this, little one," she said. She gasped in alarm when the droid squawked in her face.
Draped in a midnight blue cloak, Elsa practically blended in with the shadows. Her bulky hood bobbed as she stepped out into the street. The sound of groaning ruffians and hollering drunkards only made her pick up the pace. "Ooo," a drunk brayed as Elsa walked by. "Aren't you a spooky little thing," he jeered in regards to her concealed appearance. His cackle was ignored and short-lived as he toppled backward, spilling an entire bottle of ale over himself. Unable to confirm nor deny whether she had Force-pushed him, Elsa subtly continued on her way. Vibrant, neon signage flickered in her peripherals as she turned towards an eatery. Elsa observed the sleek, yet poorly-maintained establishment's sign.
GUBLA'S NOODLE BAR
"Stop asking me if kids eat free." - Gubla
Elsa grimaced at the crackling sign and entered the establishment. For the messy ruckus outside, the noodle bar was unsettlingly vacant. Empty, stained booths still smelled like a week's supply of noodles. A lonely Rodian slouched at one of the tables and practically shoveled noodles into his snout. "Comfort food is love," he wallowed. "Comfort food is life."
Elsa watched as a barely functional server droid skidded towards the kitchen. It looked like it was using all of its power just to make it across the restaurant. "Hurry it up, will ya?" a woman yelled from the kitchen. "We've got a dinner rush out there!"
The Padawan scoffed at the statement and observed the eatery's patrons. Dinner rush? she thought. What? Three people? A realization dawned on her as she noted the other two patrons seated at a booth. While a mahogany-cloaked figure leaned closest to the window, the second was more conspicuous. His prominent, goat-like snout emerged from his hood as he slurped up noodles. It was only a matter of time before Elsa caught a glimpse of his three, prominent eyestalks. "Korbi?" she whispered and approached the table. Elsa slid into the adjacent seat just as Korbi finished slurping.
His eyes blinked frantically and he nudged the cloaked woman. "Told you she'd be punctual," the Gran said.
"Is it really you?" Elsa asked and leaned against the table. "Che-"
"Keep your voice down," the woman said and Elsa was bewildered. She slowly turned to Elsa and her revealed lavender, speckled face. The tips of her blue tresses tresses could be seen just beneath her hood. Elsa's suspicions were confirmed as she recognized the woman's Theelin features.
"Why am I here?" Elsa asked.
"We're all here because of this one's appetite," Chela grumbled and poked the old Gran.
"Hey," Korbi quipped. "I can't help it if we Gran have two stomachs! I needed a midnight snack, okay?"
"Just hurry up, old timer." Chela griped. "I know 'you Gran' like to savor every single bite too, but we don't have all night."
Elsa tried to keep a cool head and spoke through a fraudulent grin. "Surely you didn't bring me out here just for a late night meal," she said.
"I mean, I could always use an extra noodle buddy." Korbi considered until Chela glared at him.
"Something's happened," the Theelin told Elsa. "And the Jedi Order isn't as secure as we had hoped. According to Korbi here, you were deemed the most trustworthy." The Gran simply nodded while munching on his noodles. Elsa felt like her negotiation techniques had paid off and she started to relax. Still, she was concerned about their presumptions regarding the Jedi Order.
"I'm honored," Elsa said. "But what's going on with the Order?"
"Things have really been stirring since the identities of the 'Coruscant Killers' were released to the public," Chela explained. "Korbi snatched a communicator from one of the thugs at that warehouse you raided and we've been using it to listen in. We've been monitoring chatter from Coruscant's underworld, but our resources are limited."
"And cramped," Korbi added. "You do what you have to while on the run, but the slums are killing us."
"Either way," Chela continued. "The release of the killer's identities has traffickers running scared. We've picked up transmissions regarding smugglers completely backing out of deals because of it."
"It sounds like the criminal underworld has more faith in our law enforcement than we have," Elsa muttered. "I don't think they've made much progress."
"But the threat is enough to shake these thugs," Korbi said.
"Where does the Jedi Order come in to this?" Elsa asked.
Korbi and Chela exchanged nervous glances. "Some of the transmissions we intercepted were...peculiar to say the least," Chela said. "While the actual messages were encrypted, we were able to pinpoint where exactly they were sent to."
"The Jedi Temple," Korbi concluded. As Elsa's brows furrowed in disbelief, Korbi proceeded to ask a question. "How much do you know about that other Jedi who was with you? The one with the sideburns."
"Hans?" Elsa answered. "Not much. He's a Sentinel who's designated to the Collective Commerce District."
"The same district where Herv Bobak was killed," Korbi considered and rubbed his wrinkly chin.
"Now hold on," Elsa said. "Hans also fought the 'Coruscant Killers'."
"And they conveniently spared his life," Korbi added.
"What are you getting at?" Elsa queried.
"That I was right to not include him in our mission to the warehouse," the Gran said. "Chela and I hear the words those on the street utter. This Hans fellow is considered a menace to many. Harassing CoCo Town's populace, frequenting bars...and clubs. Are all Sentinels given such freedom?"
"I think they can wander more than other Jedi," Elsa admitted. "But do you believe that Hans might be involved in all of this?"
"At least someone at your temple is," Chela considered. "And they're buddy-buddy with these traffickers. Would a Sentinel know how to encrypt transmissions?"
"I don't know much about them," Elsa confessed. "But it's possible."
"This is bigger than any of us," Chela said. "The Anti-Slavery Coalition has been trying to shut down Coruscant's slave trafficking system for some time now. But over time, we're noticing something familiar. Something that's also been plaguing similar cases on other worlds where these crimes are rampant." Chela leaned closer to Elsa and said, "Those in charge are afraid. Not of the law nor the Jedi, but of something else. Something or someone with even greater power is pulling their strings and leading this whole operation."
"Perhaps it's Count Dooku," Elsa theorized. "The Separatists have been known to interfere with-"
Chela firmly shook her head. "We considered such as well, but Separatist worlds are just as tormented. Something else is at work here and we must bring it to light." She glanced out the window while Elsa sighed.
The Padawan observed a dusty datascreen overhead as an advertisement for Miss Coruscant emerged. "They announced on the HoloNews that they're willing to wait for you," Elsa said. "Are you still going to compete in the pageant?"
"I planned to all along," Chela affirmed. "This year, my plan is going to change Coruscant, the Core Worlds, and maybe even the galaxy forever. I must compete and our enemies know it. This is why they're trying to upend years of evidence gathering and silence me. The platform bombing was the only attempt on my life to make headlines, but slavers have had targets and prices on my head long before." She gently placed a hand around her elderly companion. "I've been fortunate enough to have Korbi tough it out with me, but Herv-" Chela bit down on her violet lip. "Herv Bobak didn't deserve what happened to him."
Korbi's floppy ears drooped as he grieved over the Togruta's death. "His fall is yet another reason why we have to see this through," the Gran said. "But without him, our plan has only gotten harder. Any information he wished to pass on died with him."
Elsa's sympathy gave way to shock as she gasped. "The numbers," she uttered and left the others puzzled. "By the Force...the numbers! Before Herv Bobak died, he used his last breath to pass on information to a child. We were able to translate what was given into a sequence of numbers." Elsa knitted her brows while trying to recall the sequence. "2-5-8-1. Does that mean anything to either of you?"
Korbi looked like could give himself a headache while trying to figure it out. He rubbed his orange temples while Chela huffed frustratedly. "I got nothing," the elder admitted.
"Neither do I," Chela concurred. "2-5-8-1...What the heck is that about?"
"Did Bobak mention anything to you?" Elsa asked. "Perhaps your plan could offer a clue."
Chela wrinkled her nose. "Herv was supposed to host the pageant. He would've been conducting interviews and making announcements, so i don't understand how the numbers come into this."
"Maybe he was keeping part of his plan a secret," Korbi proposed. "That way prying eyes couldn't get their hands on any intel."
"Then it'd be up to us to see things through," Chela replied. "I doubt the new host, Celeste, is aware of what's going on. Perhaps his home may provide the answers we seek. Bobak-" In that instant, a tremendous clang struck the window beside them. While Elsa was initially alarmed, the ensuing squawk had her raising her brows.
"Porgen?" she blurted as her droid repeatedly bumped against the glass like a mosquito.
Within a matter of seconds, Chela pulled a thin blaster from her sleeve and discreetly aimed it at Elsa. "What's with the droid?" she asked.
"Now hold on a second," Elsa insisted. "I can explain."
Chela glanced at Porgen's fluctuating eye lenses and sneered. "Who else is watching us?" she interrogated. "Talk."
"Just my master," Elsa confessed.
"I told you we couldn't trust her," Chela scolded Korbi.
"Technically, you never asked if I was alone when I arrived." Elsa retorted and left the duo speechless. "Also, you were willing to trust Miss O'Har and got her to safety."
Chela scoffed. "How do you-"
"She told me," Elsa said and deepened her tone. "Look, Coruscant's never been this messy. I just dealt with a hostage crisis and am running on sheer caffeine. There was no way I was going to come alone, but Master Yelena can be trusted. All I see here is a bunch of people really trying to do the right thing, but they're going to need each other's help. So what do you say?" Korbi agreed with Elsa's logic and nodded to Chela. She stressfully pinched the bridge of her nose and contemplated her choices. "Besides," Elsa dared to add. "Do you have a plan for getting into Bobak's home? Or even a plan to locate it for that matter?"
Chela loosed a deep and relenting sigh. "Alright," she said. "We're with you and your master, Jedi. But no more surprises."
"Deal," Elsa said and activated her comlink.
Yelena's nervous voice came through before she could speak. "My finger slipped on the joystick," she fretted. "Please tell me they didn't see that."
"They did," Elsa confessed. "And heard it too. You can come over, master. There's been a new development."
Celebrities had never really been Elsa's "thing". When they came up in conversation, she tended to view them as she would anyone else. Holodramas and HoloNews outlets tended to glorify those in the entertainment industry. They did so until said persons reached a sort of god-like status. Regardless of whether these celebrities were pompous or humble, at least part of their wealth went into their homes. Especially on a planet like Coruscant. The Republic capital appeared safe and thriving to outsiders, but the reality of that perspective depended on where you lived. For wealthy individuals like Herv Bobak, the upper city was a paradise. Well-maintained skyscrapers were set aglow by passing headlights. These lights, of course, came from the latest and most expensive airspeeder models. Amid the glitz and the glitter of a rich district at the height of its golden age, Herv's manor was a star in its own right. The massive and luxurious complex extended across a courtyard at street level. Tall, duracrete walls and a security gate made his home look more like a military base.
Elsa knelt from a nearby rooftop and zoomed in on the manor with a set of macrobinoculars. "Why would anyone need that much protection around their home?" she remarked.
"When you're a celebrity, the eyes of the galaxy are upon you." Yelena said. "Stalkers, paparazzi, and obsessive superfans are just the beginning of your troubles. I don't envy them in the slightest."
"You're right," Elsa quipped. "We just have the Sith, bounty hunters, and lethal droid armies to worry about." Yelena glared at her while the apprentice simply shrugged.
"We've got to find a way in," Chela intoned. "If we can find something to stack, we can try and climb over that wall."
"Or we could use the Force," Yelena said and the Theelin sulked.
"Or...that works," Chela admitted.
The group descended to the street and crept towards the nearest wall. "We'll go one at a time," Yelena instructed. "Ready, young lady?"
Chela stiffened while observing Yelena's raised hands. "I think so?" she nervously answered. She shuddered while feeling her feet lift off of the ground. Yelena gently raised her up and over the wall as Elsa approached Korbi.
"Here we go again," the Gran jested. "I knew I should've brought a helmet."
Elsa simpered and shook her head at his remark. Still, she used the Force to hoist him over the wall. While it was only her and Yelena for a moment, Elsa looked over and asked, "Are you alright?"
"Honestly, Padawan-" Yelena began. "-I'm trying to be. Something about this breaking and entering doesn't sit well within, but something greater is at stake here. When you, Anna, and Mattias helped that Rovani girl...it wasn't necessarily something the council would've approved of. Yet I was upset to find out that you'd kept me in the dark. Mattias got hurt because I wasn't there. And I was only absent because of a mistrust between us. I still want to be someone you can trust, Elsa."
"Are you two coming?" Chela sharply whispered from the wall's opposite end.
"Right," Elsa said. "How will we lift each other?"
"We won't," Yelena replied. "Elsa, it's time to Force Jump." Her apprentice appeared both astonished and bemused. Yelena simply smiled and clenched both fists. "Do as I do and raise your arms," she said. "But keep them close to your head." Elsa did as she was instructed and Yelena carried on. "Now focus on your abilities and the ground beneath your feet. Inhale deeply, and as you exhale...push up. Ready?"
"I think so," Elsa whispered and slowly bent her knees.
"Together now," Yelena said and steadied herself. She planned on taking more time, but the headlights of an airspeeder came streaking down the road. "Jump!" she blurted and called upon the Force. As Elsa threw her hands down, she felt her body being launched over the wall. Energy pulsed through her hands and thrusted her high into the air. The feeling was so sudden and exhilarating, that Elsa barely had a moment to catch herself on the other side.
"That was...amazing," Elsa uttered. "I'm so teaching it to Anna."
"Glad you two could at least catch yourselves," Korbi groaned while rubbing his bottom. Chela was massaging her back as the Jedi realized their miscalculation.
"Ah, right." Yelena winced. "Sorry about that."
"Let's just keep moving," Chela insisted and they crept across the grounds. Bobak's lawn was hauntingly silent as they approached a nearby awning. "There's a window up there," Chela said. "Could be our way in." The group scaled the awning and peered in to find a peculiar sight. An unusual clamor caught their attention as a quadrupedal droid roamed Bobak's illustrious halls. The small, yet unique canine proved to be far from alone. Several other members of its pack emerged from various corners and crawled around the manor.
"Did someone beat us here?" Korbi asked.
"I don't think so," Elsa said. She squinted while observing the odd droids. "Look how each one remains in a specific corridor. Their heads also follow a strict scanning and swiveling pattern. These machines are on some sort of patrol."
"Guard dogs," Yelena realized. "I've never seen this type of droid before, but the wealthy often possess rare prototypes."
"Unlike living massiffs," Chela remarked. "You don't have to feed these eternal guardians." She gestured to one of the droids as it sat at a remote charging station.
"Poor things," Elsa murmured and Chela grimaced at her. "On guard...protecting a home for a master who's never returning."
"That's...depressing," Chela said. "But I don't want them attacking us, so we need a way to get them out of the picture."
Elsa pursed her lips and worriedly glanced over at Chela's holstered blaster. "No one has to get harmed here," the Padawan said and reached out with the Force. She focused on the window's inner locking mechanism and slowly turned it. As it came undone, Yelena and Korbi gingerly propped the window open.
"Wait for the dogs to pass," Elsa whispered and Chela nodded. The Theelin watched as the patrolling droids crawled by.
Once they were clear, she gently dropped into the hall. "Hurry," Chela ordered. "Before they make another pass." The group followed Chela as they snuck deeper into the manor. Moonlit windows served as their only light source as they passed through various rooms.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Korbi asked.
"Any place where Herv might've stashed intel," Chela answered. "His bedroom, a storage unit-"
"Or a study," Yelena considered and gestured to the room beside them. The group slipped inside just as another patrol droid rounded the corner. Elsa nimbly shut and locked the door so they could have a look around. Chela darted for the main desk while Korbi checked drawers. As Yelena and Elsa checked shelves, they discovered a portrait of the late Togruta. He was among the people of an impoverished nation and joined by several healthcare workers. What truly stuck out to Elsa, was that Herv wasn't even in the center of the photo. In his eyes, he was no different than anyone else there. No amount of wealth changed his value and he was only seeking to help those he could. Elsa looked upon the portrait with admiration and said, "Whatever he was up to, I believe he had the best intentions."
"Be mindful of those words," Yelena quietly warned. "Some of the galaxy's biggest horrors have been spawned from the best intentions."
Elsa tried to ignore her master's comment and continued to scan the room. She searched for anything related to Bobak's code of numbers, but nothing seemed to turn up. "I think this room's a dud," Korbi sighed and closed his last drawer. "We-" In that instant, his snout started to nervously quiver. The rest of the group followed his terrified gaze to a distinct shuffling. Although Elsa had sealed the entrance to the study, she hadn't noticed the doggy door blended into it. This tiny entrance slowly turned upward as one of the droids came strutting in. No one budged or even peeped as the guard dog scanned its surroundings. As it neared Bobak's desk, Chela had no choice but to cautiously crouch behind it. The Theelin's heart raced as the droid paused. Its single, yellow-tinted photoreceptor continued to scan the desk. Just when Chela thought the dog was about to leave, it pounced around the corner and scanned her body. Its photoreceptor glowed bright red and an antenna flung up from its head. Before any signal could be pinged, Elsa bent the antenna with the Force and pulled the canine towards her.
The droid wriggled in midair as Elsa tried to stabilize it. "I'm sorry," she said while gently removing a panel on its underbelly. "I promise I'll reactivate you when we leave." Using the Force, Elsa twisted one of its processors into the 'off' setting. As it powered down, she gently set the droid on its side.
"Couldn't you have just crunched it or something?" Chela scoffed while catching her breath.
"It's just doing its job," the Padawan defended. "Same as us." Elsa was about to move on when she noticed something peculiar on the droid's underbelly.
Chela grimaced as she knelt beside it. "Please don't tell me you're reactivating it," she huffed.
"Elsa?" Yelena inquired. "What is it?"
Elsa checked the processors and examined a set of unique scrapes within. "This droid's been reset," she said. "Someone less-skilled in droidworks shut it down and struggled to reposition the processors."
"It could be a bit of a stretch," Yelena admitted but tried to remain supportive. "However, if you're correct...we may have a coverup on our hands."
"Cover up," Elsa muttered to herself and started pacing about. The others seemed puzzled as Elsa continued to mumble. "Something might be hidden, but only from where they think people would look. Not-" Elsa looked to the ceiling and found a dull scorch mark embedded in it. "Aha," she rejoiced. "No one ever looks up."
"Nice work, apprentice." Yelena lauded. "So we've got reprogramed guard droids and a rogue blastershot."
Chela raised a hand and pretended to wield a blaster. She aimed it at the ceiling and tried to trace its trajectory from where the person would have had to be standing. "The shooter would need to be right about here," Chela deduced and stood in a corner by Herv's bookshelf. She raised a brow and scoured the furniture behind her. "I wonder...Hey Korbi! Gimme a hand with this." Together, she and the old Gran gave the bookshelf a tug. While Elsa blocked the doggy door with Herv's desk, Yelena prevented any excess holobooks from falling off of the shelf. Once all had been cleared, the group gazed down a shadowy set of stairs. "Well well," Chela said. "What do we have here?"
Using her lightsaber as a lantern, Yelena led the way down and Elsa watched their backs. The shuffle of their boots echoed into an expansive basement until Yelena stepped on a splintered plank. When she lowered her saber to investigate, she found a Twi'lek corpse laying atop a broken table. The master's initial gasp only made her reveal two more bodies sprawled throughout the room. "By the Force," Yelena said.
"What the heck happened here?" Korbi asked.
Chela observed how every body was armed with a blaster. "Some sort of struggle," she deduced. "But why? And over what?"
"Hold on," Korbi gasped and knelt by the Twi'lek's body. While trying to ignore the stench of decaying flesh, he noted the Twi'lek's cybernetic eye. "Chela, it's Tormo." Korbi looked to the Jedi and further explained. "He was part of the Anti-Slavery Coalition's Coruscant unit."
Elsa noticed similar yellow armbands on all of the corpses. "I think all three of them were," she said.
"Did Bobak do this?" Yelena theorized.
"Impossible," Chela blurted. "There has to be an explanation. Look around for clues!"
Elsa sighed while checking a nearby table. "This computer's been destroyed," she lamented.
"Wait!" Korbi yelped. "I might have something. Forgive me, old friend," he said while rummaging through Tormo's boots. A grin of relief emerged across Korbi's face as he withdrew a holoprojector. "Tormo always was a sneak! Let's hope this sheds some light on things." He activated the device as the others gathered around. The blue-hued projection of an exhausted and anxious Twi'lek came into view.
"This is Agent Tormo Sallus," he said. "We've lost track of the days and it's felt like the walls are closing in. I should've known they actually were. Bobak's been letting us use this place as a base, but we can't hide forever. If you find this, I'm probably dead. This thing is bigger than I could've ever imagined. We don't know who's really behind all of this. All I know, is I really wish we had larger numbers right now. It's just Hopu, Lokana, and I." Elsa somberly looked at the other bodies as the recording continued. "The others have left for some damned rescue mission. We never should've split up. If we've been tracked here, odds are that Herv's been made a target. If the slavers know he's involved, the plan doesn't stand a chance. Bobak's going to rig the Miss Coruscant pageant's Q&A segment. He has a special code to trigger a specific question, that way our agent can expose them. She can expose them all-"
"Tormo!" one of his companions called. "They're breaking through!"
Tormo's expression changed as he readied his blaster. Before he met his fate, the Twi'lek looked into the recorder and said, "There's a Jedi with them. Don't trust-"
"Tormo!" his ally screamed as lightsaber swings echoed. In his panic, Tormo cut the transmission, leaving the rest of his fate to be inferred by his corpse.
Yelena knelt beside his body and observed an aged, yet significant scorch mark in his chest. "It does look like a lightsaber wound," she murmured.
Chela stood in silence and was still taking in all which had occurred. "So that was how he planned to do it," the Theelin said. "We'd always planned to expose the oppressors at the pageant, but I never imagined how involved Bobak really was."
"It appears he was just as secretive about his work as you were," Yelena said. "Likely to protect those he could."
"Doesn't seem to have done much good," Korbi grieved. "And without Herv, now there's no one to input that code at the pageant."
"If I may ask," Elsa added. "Why expose everything at the pageant? Could you not go to a news outlet as my master and I did?"
Chela shook her head. "This has to come from us," she affirmed. "They have to hear it from our unafraid and incorruptible voices. Do you know why Bobak reached out and coordinated with me? Because he witnessed the trafficking of his own people by celebrities. He understood the amount of power that public figures possess. They have the law in their pockets and can buy their way out of anything. You'd be surprised, Jedi." Chela sighed. "You'd be surprised at how high all of this corruption goes and the only way to expose it is live to this planet. To the galaxy! Our enemies know it and will stop at nothing to silence our voices. But in turn, nothing will stop me from competing. We must see the plan through, so I'll lay low until the night of the pageant."
"Perhaps this manor can be our new base of operations," Korbi considered.
"I'd be willing to reprogram all of the droids for you," Elsa said.
"Thank you," Chela replied. "It's settled then. This manor shall serve as Bobak's last gift to the ASC. In the meantime, we must find a way to still get that code into the pageant."
"Let me worry about that," Korbi assured. "You just focus on making it to that round."
Chela scoffed at him and looked to the Jedi. "Can we trust you to keep this between us?" the Theelin asked. "While much still remains unknown, there is enough evidence to support that one of your own has been hunting the Coalition."
"They may even be responsible for the disappearance of the rest of the Coruscant unit," Korbi added.
Elsa and Yelena exchanged dutiful nods. "You can count on us," the Padawan said. "But with all due respect, the other two Jedi who helped us have never meant any harm."
"That may be true," Korbi considered. "But that Hans fellow...Until these dark crimes are brought to light, I wouldn't trust that one. He's out for something. You can just feel it, can't you?"
Anna felt Hans' firm arm wrap around her as she sank deeper into his embrace. His warm breath tickled her bare back as he kissed his way up to her neck. "Feel a little better?" he whispered into her ear.
Anna smiled softly and slid an arm back to Hans. She clasped at her lover's head and raked her fingers through his auburn locks. Hans dipped his head into her neck and Anna sighed amorously. A sudden knock had both of them freezing in place. "Anna?" Elsa beckoned from outside.
"Just ignore her," Hans urged and caressed Anna's cheek.
A second knock came to the door as Elsa said, "I just wanted to see how you were doing."
Despite Hans' gestures, Anna became distracted by her sister's impact. She recalled how Elsa was continuously checking in on her regardless of what was going on. Not willing to sully things between them, Anna gently pushed Hans aside. "I think you should go," she said.
"Seriously?" Hans griped.
"Seriously," Anna asserted. "It's my sister."
Hans rolled his eyes and slipped out of bed. Anna sulked at her bedside while listening to Hans grouchily get dressed. As Anna fixed her hair and redressed, she braced for the worst as Hans answered the door. His grumpy visage was the last thing Elsa expected to see after all she'd been through.
"Wh-...what are you doing here?" Elsa asked while trying to remain calm. Her heart thundered as Hans' emerald gaze fell over her.
He leaned in and groggily said, "None of your business, 'Big Sis'."
He was about to keep walking when Elsa dared to block him off. Korbi's words were contributing to her own paranoia and she stared him down. Elsa's voice deepened as her tone transitioned from timid to authoritative. "I'm serious," she asserted. "What are you doing here?"
"Fine," Hans said and rolled his eyes. "I'm looking after Anna. You know, that thing you suck at." He bumped against Elsa's shoulder and shoved past her. The Eldest Dellian was about to engage when her sister called to her.
"Elsa?" Anna beckoned.
"Sis?" Elsa answered. "Are you alright? What was Hans doing here?"
Anna tried to dismiss Elsa's question with a wave of her hand. "He was just checking in," she placated. "The evening's events have really shaken both of us." Anna raised a brow as Elsa kept watching Hans. "Is...everything okay?"
"Fine," Elsa replied. "Did Hans say anything...peculiar?"
"Nothing he wouldn't normally say," Anna answered. "For real, sis. What's your issue with him?"
Feeling like she was becoming overly paranoid, Elsa shook off her stare. "I just worry," she murmured.
"Well stop," Anna intoned and placed a hand on her sister's shoulder. "I appreciate your concern and all, but I just need some time. I-...Sis?"
Elsa could barely keep her eyes open as she stumbled about. "I'm sorry," she yawned. "I've just...been-" Elsa succumbed to her exhaustion and started to topple over. Anna was quick to catch her and pulled her over to the bed. Elsa's body was practically limp as Anna sprawled her out against her mattress. She straightened Elsa's legs and made sure her head was centered on the pillow. Once Elsa was taken care of, Anna simply shrugged and joined her sister. She plopped beside her and crossed her arms atop her chest. Elsa's light snores brought a grin to Anna's lips as she sank into the pillow next to her. "Sleep tight, Elsa." Anna whispered. "Force knows you've earned it." As Anna gave in to the heaviness of her eyelids, she joined Elsa in a deep state of slumber.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this week's installment of "The Frozen Force!" I want to to thank you all for your kindness and support on this continuously growing journey. It's so nice to hear that so many of you are having fun and I love entertaining you! Dearest readers...this is it. We are down to the FINAL TWO CHAPTERS in Season 2! Brace yourselves for the explosive, pulse-pounding, and adventurous TWO-PART FINALE. Two weeks. Two chapters. One epic conclusion! It's all happening right here at GoldenHeart Stories on Fanfiction . net: the best site to find "The Frozen Force". Clone Wars fans, I strongly recommend watching or familiarizing yourself with the tenth episode in Season 3: "Heroes on Both Sides" to get some context on next week's chapter!
NEXT FRIDAY: SECRETS SHALL BE REVEALED
Long Live Imagination and May the Force Be with You!
~Michael