Finally an update for a late Valentine's present. As always thanks for the reviews, favorites, and follows and your patience for this next chapter.
Interlude VIII – Percy
Percy stared up at the sides of the steep canyon that formed the Mos Espa Arena from his seat in their speeder. Although the two suns had set over an hour ago, the soft light from the three moons reflecting off the sand provided plenty of light to see the towering stands. Everything was eerily quiet, a sharp contrast to the roaring crowds the last time Percy had been here almost six years ago.
Annabeth slipped her hand in his as she gazed across the patch of desert known as the Hutt Flats. It had once been a lake long ago and was now the location of Jabba's precious arena and the final leg of the podracing course. "Are you sure you can do this?"
Percy gently squeezed her hand, a gesture that comforted both of them, "I guess we're going to find out." Over the years, Percy had trained his power. He had gotten stronger, but forcing water to alter its phase still took much more focus and energy than just manipulating it. And creating water was a pegasus of a different color and much harder to practice. On Naboo water was so plentiful that Percy would just end up gathering it from the underground ocean, and in space – well, there were other problems with trying it in space. But if he could pull this off, it would definitely get Jabba's attention and give the slaves hope.
A thought came to Percy as he hopped over the front seat to the back of the speeder, "I wonder if this is how my dad felt when he made that saltwater spring for the Athenians." He flashed Annabeth a grin. "Are you going to make an olive tree sprout too?"
Annabeth snorted, "Don't be ridiculous, I would give them something far more suitable for their environment. Like a desalination system, so they can actually drink your salty water."
Percy laughed, "Together?"
"Always," she replied with a smile.
Percy reached into the large sack, filled with the remains of an ancient sea creature that the hired paleontologist had dug up for them (Percy actually remembered that nerdy word because the roots were all Greek and made sense. It basically translated to ancient creature study). He grabbed what looked like only half of a rib bone, but it was longer than his arm. This creature must have been as big as Bessie Jr.
He remembered what that river naiad had said all those years ago at the Triple G Ranch: The water is within me. He closed his eyes as he called to the sea and felt an echo from the bone in his hand as the familiar tugging sensation started in his gut. Another long-forgotten voice whispered in his mind: What belongs to the sea will always return to the sea. This bone was going to return to the sea. He was going to bring a piece of the sea back to this godsforsaken desert planet if it was the last thing he did. Percy opened his eyes and threw the bone into the sand of the arena.
A 50-foot saltwater geyser shot into the air. Percy grinned as Annabeth gasped, "Incredible!" It really was. A saltwater spring in the middle of the desert! A feeling of exhilaration rushed over him. He had done it. Now, he just needed to do it a lot more.
Instead of feeling like an all-powerful sea god, after a few more geysers, Percy was feeling like a strange version of Santa Clause, but instead of delivering toys from a sack, he was tossing out old bones. As Annabeth drove the speeder at a steady pace, Percy chucked the remains of the sea creature into the sand, and more saltwater springs would shoot up as the tugging sensation in his gut intensified.
By the time he had tossed the last fossilized bone, Percy felt like he was being stabbed in the gut. Unfortunately, it was a feeling he knew. Percy gritted his teeth and muttered, "Get us to high ground." He didn't want to have to worry about keeping the speeder from capsizing if the water got too rough.
Annabeth glanced back at him in concern, but she knew better than to ask if he was okay. They both knew this part would be taxing for him. Once they were safely up the steep bank, Percy forced himself out of the speeder even though he really wanted to curl up into a ball. He shuffled to the edge of the ancient lake and looked at his work. So far, there was five feet of water covering an area of about eight football fields. "Percy," Annabeth hesitantly started, "if it's too hard, we could work with this."
Percy shook his head, "No, I can get more. More!" he shouted at the water, and all the geysers exploded, the water reaching up to a hundred feet. Did it hurt? Hades, yes. Percy hadn't been in this much pain since Tartarus, but at the same time, Percy felt giddy. The thrill of seeing all that salt water in the middle of the desert and knowing that he had created it made him laugh. He wondered if this was what it felt like to be drunk. Percy wasn't sure how much time had passed as he pushed more and more water out of those bones. It was just him and the water and . . . something else. Something hovered at the edge of Percy's awareness. It wasn't really a thing, and it definitely wasn't any sort of sentient being Percy had sensed in his attempts at Force training. It was more like an extremely faint feeling of extreme thirst, like whatever was causing the feeling was dying of thirst. It needed his water.
Eventually, a voice broke through. "Percy!" Annabeth shouted over a howling wind. When had that started? "You need to stop it! Come back to me, please." The fear in her voice snapped Percy out of whatever strange trance he had been in.
The ancient lake was once again full of water. Jabba's arena was completely flooded, but the water was anything but calm. Huge waves slammed into the shore as a mini-hurricane raged over the lake causing sand to blow all around them and sting his skin. "Oh gods," Percy muttered. His power had truly gotten away from him this time. He wondered how long Annabeth had been trying to get his attention if it had gotten this bad. "Stop," he commanded, but nothing happened.
Gritting his teeth, Percy shouted in defiance as he channeled all his will to shut off the force of the sea. The wind died, all the moisture above the lake returned to the surface, and the waves calmed. "Stay," he ordered the water with the last of his strength, hoping it would slow down the evaporation. Then, he collapsed.
When Percy woke up, he was in his bed on their ship, and Annabeth was feeding him warm ambrosia with a spoon. "This feels familiar," Percy muttered as he propped himself up.
Annabeth smiled, "You still drool when you sleep."
Percy laughed though it came out more of a croak. His throat felt as dry and scratchy as the desert outside. "Here," Annabeth helped him with a glass of water, and he gulped it down. "How do you feel?"
"Like, I've spent a week in a sand pit with two suns," Percy answered.
"Do you think you can handle some nectar?" she asked
Percy felt a little warm from the ambrosia, but he knew he wasn't at the level of spontaneous combustion yet. Still, he hesitated, "Shouldn't we save the good stuff for when we really need it?"
Annabeth shrugged, "Well, we need you back to full power in two days when we confront Jabba, so I think we really need it now." Percy couldn't argue with that, so he took as much nectar as he dared. Once Percy's insides no longer felt like sandpaper, he asked, "How long have I been out?"
"About twelve hours," Annabeth replied.
"Did it work? How'd everyone respond?"
"You should come see for yourself," she suggested.
Groaning Percy pushed himself out of his too hard and lumpy bed. He really missed the much more comfortable rooms on the Blackjack. Unfortunately, the Blackjack was far too conspicuous for them to take to Tatooine, so they left it with Koyla and a SASS crew. Instead, they were using a nondescript large freighter, that they had highjacked from one of the slavers. He followed Annabeth out of the ship, which was parked near the lake but hidden in one of the many crevices on Ben's Mesa.
She passed him a pair of macrobinoculars and pointed in the direction of the arena. The sight made Percy smile. Children laughed and played in the shallow water where the stadium seats used to be while the adults sat near the edge looking at the water in amazement. Those few that knew how, swam. "That's been going on since the morning. It's not evaporating nearly as quickly as I calculated either. In fact, the level seems to be remaining constant?"
Percy heard the question in her voice, "I think those fossils still had some juice left and are slowly adding more water to combat the evaporation. Before I passed out, I tried to get the water to remain at the same level. It won't stay forever, but it should make it past our 2-week goal. So, how'd Jabba take it?"
Annabeth smiled, "Not well. He dropped half his security and several guards into the Rancor pit."
Percy winced. He knew firsthand that facing a Rancor in an enclosed area wasn't fun. "Bad for them but good for us."
"It is," Annabeth agreed. "And no one can figure out how the water got there or what to do with it now. But there has been an unexpected development. I can't believe I missed it during all my strategizing."
Percy raised an eyebrow. Annabeth didn't often miss things, especially since they had over five years to think of all the possibilities. "Look over there," she pointed to the eastern shore.
Percy looked with the macrobinoculars and saw smoke rising from crashed swoop bikes along with several bodies of large shaggy creatures with horns, banthas. "What happened?"
"The Sand People," Annabeth explained. Percy frowned, in all their planning, not once had they considered the Sand People. "Apparently from what I can figure out, they tried to claim the water and got too close to Mos Espa. Some of Jabba's goons confronted them, and there was a fight. The Sand People, who managed to survive, left, but I think they will come back with reinforcements. Usually, they avoid the larger settlements, but in this case, I think they will at least try to fight for the water because they believe all water is sacred and belongs to them. Based on the satellite images from the satellite we put in orbit, they have a large camp less than two days away by bantha and several more within a day's walk from that one. I predict they will return in a week or so with large numbers to try and take the water for themselves."
"Can't we like form an alliance with them or something?" Percy wondered.
"Before they got too far away, I tried," Annabeth admitted, "but they kept attacking me. I tried speaking every language I knew while trying to defend myself, and to make it worse, their language must not be in Daedalus' database because the translator comm was not working. We probably could have fixed the communication problem eventually, but I ended up accidently killing one of them when I swung my borrowed stick weapon too hard. After that they brought out the rifles and went for the kill. I had to use my invisibility hat to escape."
Percy sighed in relief, "At least you're okay. You think I could try the whole god thing on them and get their support?"
Annabeth bit her lip as she thought it over before shaking her head, "I think it's too much of a gamble. We don't know for sure how they will respond. They might try to kill you for controlling their most sacred element or try to capture you, so you have to stay with them. In either case, you would have to fight your way out, plus I'm not sure if we have the time. We've got too much to do in the next week as it is."
"Well, at least if we timed it right, the Sand People could be a good distraction for our attack on Mos Espa," Percy reasoned.
Annabeth smiled at him with that familiar spark in her eye, "Exactly what I was thinking. Since most of Jabba's enforcers from the city will be fighting the Sand People, it will be an excellent time to free the slaves and take control of the city."
Percy slept the rest of the day and didn't wake up again until night. He ate the squares of ambrosia (artificial ones from the Jedi, he noticed they always tasted kind of stale) on the tiny bedside table that Annabeth had left out for him before heading to the bridge to find his fiancé. As he drew closer, he heard a familiar voice.
"They were extremely hesitant at first," Shmi reported. "Most of them believed it would be impossible and only result in their mutilation or death, but after this morning, they seem ready to believe in anything"
"The cantina?" Annabeth asked.
"All ready."
"Excellent," Annabeth declared, "I guess we should get the transmitting device over there. It's going to take four days to completely synchronize with all the signals. We can also start distributing the weapons tonight, but you must make them understand that they need to wait. If they make their move too early, many will die, and it would be good to wait until Jabba's enforcers are distracted. Only give blasters to the more level-headed people for now."
Annabeth's transmitting device had taken nearly three years to complete. The slaves' transmitter chips were one of the more difficult challenges that they had to deal with because they had to come up with a way to prevent angry slave masters from simply activating the transmitter chips and blowing up slaves as soon as they started to fight for their freedom. Of course, the Republic did have scanners that could locate the slave chip but only one at a time. It would take them way too long to remove the slave chips from all the slaves in Mos Espa before someone noticed.
After studying Shmi's old transmitter chip and remote (of course, Shmi had the chip removed as soon as she could) and discreetly purchasing a few of her own, Annabeth had quickly realized that the problem was more complicated than she initially thought. She couldn't simply block the signal from the remote which according to her would have been easy. Unfortunately, the unique signal from the remote acted as a sort of dead switch. By pressing a button, the remote would stop sending its signal, and the bomb in the chip would go boom. So that meant if anything blocked or interfered with the chip receiving the signal from the remote, slaves would die or at the very least lose a limb.
Instead, Annabeth had to find a way to keep producing the unique signals from thousands of transmitter remotes. Percy of course helped as best he could, but building delicate devices with extremely advanced technology was not one of his strengths. In the end with lots of help from Shmi and some indirect help from Anakin, they built a device that could record thousands of unique frequencies and then produce them. It wasn't a completely full proof plan since someone could find a way to shut down the device or block the signals, and the device could only work for so long, but it should buy them enough time to free the slaves and remove the transmitter chips before they could do any damage.
As Percy walked into the bridge and sank into one of the chairs, both women, a Wookie, and a blue droid looked at him with concern. "How are you feeling?" Shmi asked.
Percy gave the woman who had become like a second mother to him a reassuring smile, "Better." He quickly scanned her to make sure she hadn't picked up any injuries during her time in Mos Espa.
Gaarchit grunted, and Percy didn't need the translator in his ear to understand the Wookie, "No need to worry, Brave One, I looked after her." Right now, Gaarchit was the only member of SASS with them, and he was mainly there to protect Shmi since even the crazy thugs on Tatooine knew better than to mess with a Wookie. Of course, the others wanted to help too, but neither he nor Annabeth wanted SASS to be blamed for starting the slave revolt. They would show up and help later. If things went badly and the Hutts decided to seek revenge, hopefully, they'll be too busy searching for the imaginary Da Soocha to really go after SASS.
If Percy had a choice, Shmi wouldn't be on this horrible planet at all, but as Shmi and Annabeth had quickly pointed out to him and Panaka, it wasn't their choice. It was Shmi's, and she wanted to return to Tatooine despite the dangers to help free her fellow slaves. Even Percy knew that Shmi would be a huge help. She knew the planet and the people in a way that Percy and Annabeth never could no matter how many spy cameras they had or satellites they'd snuck into orbit. And more importantly, the slaves trusted Shmi. So, she had spent the past two days in Mos Espa reconnecting with the slave community and getting them comfortable with Percy and Annabeth's plan to secure their freedom. Percy just hoped they would be able to keep her safe.
"How was Mos Espa?" Percy asked.
Shmi smiled sadly, "It was strange being back. Everything is the same but different. Anakin's friend Kitster has grown so tall now," she sounded wistful then like she was imagining what her own son must look like now. Percy felt a twinge of guilt that he and Annabeth had seen Anakin more than his own mother. Percy had offered to take her to Coruscant with them on the off chance that Palpatine could arrange one of his 'accidental' meetings, but unlike Percy and Annabeth, Shmi didn't want to go around the Jedi rules, not if it would make training harder for Anakin. "But the life of a slave hasn't been kind to any of them. When the time comes, they are ready to fight back, especially after what you did last night."
Just then, a protocol droid with mismatched coverings waddled into the bridge carrying three mugs of some kind of drink. He froze as soon as he saw Percy. "Sorry sir, but I was not aware that you had joined us. I can get you a cup shortly," the droid said in a stuffy English accent.
"Wait, are you Anakin's droid?" Percy asked as the annoying voice brought back a memory.
"Yes," the droid replied as he served the drinks to the others, "I am C-3PO, human-cyborg relations, and Master Anakin is my maker."
"Kister saved him for me and Ani for all these years," Shmi explained.
Gaarchit sniffed his mug, but then let out a growling complaint and handed it to Percy. He warily took the cup. "What is this?" If Gaarchit didn't want it, he wasn't sure if he did.
Annabeth grinned, "Blue milk. I think you'll like it."
"What!" Percy exclaimed. Sure enough, when he glanced inside the mug, there was a thick blue liquid. "So cool! Why are we just having this now?"
"Because it's mainly found on the Outer Rim though I'm sure there's some seedy dinners that must have it on Coruscant," Annabeth answered. Percy took his first sip, and of course it was delicious. It was blue. It was rich and refreshing and also sweet.
"Mmm, I've missed this," Shmi stated. "Ani and I used to have this as a treat on special occasions."
Percy looked sadly at his now empty cup, "I think we're going to need a lot more of this."
Annabeth giggled, "Do you actually think it's good, or do you only want more because it's the first blue drink we've found in this galaxy?"
"Both," Percy replied with a grin, "It's good because it's blue. You should know that by now." Blue the droid gave a series of cheery beeps and whistle in agreement. Percy still didn't understand the droid's strange language, but he figured he could guess what it was saying. "I know Blue, even after all these years, she's still in denial that blue is the superior color."
Two days later, Percy and Annabeth stood in front of a huge durasteel door. Annabeth looked stunning in a flowing white dress trimmed with gold and a matching gold cloak. She had a gold sword belt around her waist holding the unsheathed drakon bone sword. They were really going for that classically ancient, slightly barbaric look, and hopefully, Jabba's guards would be less likely to confiscate such a primitive looking weapon.
Percy was wearing the closest thing they could get to their old Greek armor. On their third SASS mission, they had rescued the son of a Mandalorian blacksmith from slavers. The woman was so grateful that she had offered to forge them anything they wanted. That was how they got those super cool helmets and sets of armor along with a few other sharp, pointy objects. Percy's breastplate was engraved with waves, and the blacksmith had made a special alloy so that the metal had a bluish hue and seemed to shimmer like sunlight through water. He had a blue-green cape at his shoulders. At Annabeth's recommendation, he hadn't shaved for the past few days, and he'd grown out his hair to get more of a rugged, wild look.
According to Shmi, he definitely looked the part of an avenging ocean god. Annabeth had simply said, "You look like him," which in Percy's mind was basically the same thing. There was only one him she could have meant. Something had tightened in Percy stomach. Sure, he knew he looked similar to his dad, but somehow those words still made Percy swell with pride.
Right now, though, he didn't look like much of anything because he was currently invisible. Annabeth had let him borrow her Yankee's cap, so he could seem even more godlike when he magically appeared in front of Jabba. "You in position?" Annabeth asked.
"Yep," Percy whispered from his spot against the door directly below where the gatekeeper droid would pop out. After several experiments, they had discovered that the hat was good for visible light and UV, but not infrared or the door droid's x-ray vision.
Annabeth took a deep breath before knocking on the door just to the left of his face. A few second later, the grumpy doorknob droid popped out and said a very rude greeting in Huttese before demanding Annabeth explain who she was.
"I am the chosen priestess of Da Soocha," she responded in perfect Huttese. "I wish to speak to the great Jabba the Hutt." After over three years of learning the language and lots of practical application over the last few years, they were both fluent in the unofficial language of the Outer Rim. Annabeth had thought it best to only speak Huttese in front of Jabba. Since the Hutt's thought of Da Soocha as their myth, it made sense for them to assume that if the Living Ocean did speak, he would speak Huttese at least to them.
"You are a crazy fool!" the droid mocked. "You won't be coming out of this door again – at least alive." It finished with a rather ominous chuckle for a droid before retreating back into the door. A few seconds later Percy felt the door behind him vibrate as it slowly lifted up allowing him and Annabeth to enter Jabba's Palace.
By now, they knew the layout of Jabba's palace like the back of their hands, so Percy knew to expect the dark corridor behind the door and the green, super ugly, warthog guards. Two of them blocked the way with their axe weapons, so Annabeth just straightened to her full height and stared down at them with her I'm-far-more-important-than-you glare. It was one of Percy's favorites.
A few moments later Jabba's majordomo, the paled-skin Twi'lek Bib Fortuna, appeared. After all these years in this crazy universe, Percy had gotten used to strange aliens, but this guy was just plain creepy with his red eyes, pointed teeth, long nails, and fleshy colored tentacle thingies draped over his shoulders. (Lekku, Percy mentally corrected himself. Koyla had literally tried to beat the proper term into his head. Apparently calling them tentacle thingies were insulting.) Maybe this creepiness was why Jabba had kept Bib around for so long even though the Hutt cycled through most staff members as often as Aphrodite changed her outfit.
Percy really didn't like how Bib looked at Annabeth taking in the gold and expensive fabric of the dress with one glance and then lingering on other areas. If it bothered Annabeth, she didn't show it. Instead she just raised her head and looked down at the majordomo, like a queen addressing an annoying subject, a look she probably learned from watching Padmé. "Majordomo Fortuna, I request an immediate audience with your master, Jabba the Hutt."
Bib gave her a mocking bow, "Unfortunately my lady, he is in a very important meeting that cannot be interrupted even by such a beautiful flower as yourself. And I must know who you are and the nature of your business before I would even consider allowing you to meet with His Excellency."
Annabeth ignored the sarcasm and haughtily declared, "I am Atalanta, the chosen priestess of Da Soocha." Of all the Greek myth names, she had picked that one, extremely fitting for their current situation. It was a good thing no one here knew Greek mythology. Atalanta was a real butt-kicking heroine back in the day. She literally ran circles around arrogant, gross, sleazy dudes before killing them and was also really good at hunting boars which happened to look a lot like the guards currently blocking their way. She even ended up marrying a descendent of Poseidon and got so close to living happily ever after. But it was a Greek myth, so of course she and her husband had to anger Aphrodite who secretly influenced them to get it on in Zeus' temple. Zeus wasn't exactly known for his forgiveness after being disrespected, so he turned them in to lions. Percy tried to focus on the good part of the story and not the turning into lions' part.
Bib cocked his head to the side, "Most interesting. I wasn't aware that Da Soocha had a priestess. And why would a . . . priestess of Da Soocha wish to speak to His Excellency?"
"I have a warning for Jabba and the rest of the Hutt families," Annabeth stated. "One they should head, less they wish to further incur the wrath of Da Soocha. Next time, the Living Ocean will not be so merciful."
"Next time? I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean?" Bib's amused tone suddenly changed to a much more menacing one at the applied threat.
"The flooding of the stadium," Annabeth answered slowly as if explaining something to a child. "How else could salt water appear in a desert unless it was the divine will of the Living Ocean?"
Bib hesitated for a moment seeming to weigh his options and the consequences before he bowed again much lower than the last time, "Right this way madam, I am sure my master will wish to hear of this at once. However, you must leave your weapon with the guards."
"This?" Annabeth asked innocently touching the hilt of the drakon bone sword.
Bib nodded his head in response, "Yes, you may not enter His Excellency's presence while armed."
"But this is only a dull, ceremonial sword, and it must remain with me at all times less it becomes tainted." Annabeth wrinkled her face in disgust at the warthog guards. "Besides, I'm sure such a primitive antique would be useless against your far more advanced weapons. You can hardly even call it a weapon."
The creepy Twi'lek chuckled, "I suppose you are right madam. However, ceremonial sword or not, it would be unwise to draw it in His Excellency's presence. If you would please follow me now."
Percy grinned. They had just gotten themselves an audience with Jabba just like they had wanted. So far everything was going smoothly. Annabeth had even been able to keep her weapon. While it wasn't much good against blasters, her sword would hold its own against pretty much any other weapon except a lightsaber. It could even do a number on all but the toughest metals. When things got rough, they would need a weapon that could actually do damage and wouldn't completely blow their covers. And things were probably going to get rough soon. In fact, their plan kind of depended on it.
Bib lead Annabeth down a spiraling staircase along the rotunda wall. Four stocky, green warthog guards joined them in front of the door to Jabba's throne room. Percy had a fun time dodging them all to make sure none of them unknowingly bumped into him.
Jabba's throne room was eerily empty. There were no bands playing or dancers or bounty hunters. Usually, that would have been unusual. Except, Percy and Annabeth knew, thanks to years of surveillance, that at a set time once every thirty days, the Grand Hutt Council had private meetings to discuss their empire and brag about how much better their clan was doing than the others. That's why the only living being actually in the room was Jabba lounging on his throne platform, but in front of him were four life-size holograms of the other Hutt leaders: Marlo of the Qunaalac clan, Arok of the Besadii, Oruba of the Gorensla, and Ziro, Jabba's uncle.
Jabba was the newcomer on the council and most of the other Hutt leaders resented his success and his rising power, particularly his uncle Ziro. Percy reasoned that Hutt family's were almost as messed up as Olympian ones.
"I know it was you Arok," Jabba accused. "You want Tatooine and the hyperlanes back in Besadii control, so you flooded my stadium. I will have my revenge."
"Don't be ridiculous Jabba. How could I have possibly done that?" Arok replied smugly.
Before Jabba responded, he caught sight of Annabeth and the guards. "I told you I was not to be disturbed," he roared at his majordomo.
"I'm sorry master," Bib cowered, "but this woman claims to know about the cause of the incident, so I thought it would be prudent to bring her to you at once."
Jabba fixed his gaze on Annabeth and licked his lips in a way that made Percy feel gross just watching it, but Annabeth met the slug's gaze with her own of pure steel as if she was above it all. "Is that so? You have information regarding the flooding of my stadium?"
"Yes," Annabeth stated, "and a dire warning for the other Hutt kajidic. I am the priestess of Da Soocha, and the Living Ocean is most displeased with you."
Jabba recoiled in surprise much to Percy's amusement while the hologram Hutts who had remained quiet as they watched the drama unfold muttered angrily among themselves until Oruba, one of the older Hutts and more devout believer in Huttese legends loudly claimed, "Da Soocha has no priestess!"
Annabeth shrugged, "He hasn't needed a priestess until now. Ever since your ancestors were on Varl, Da Soocha has been aware of the chosen race, but he can no longer ignore the cries and suffering of those who unwillingly serve you."
Everything was silent for a moment. Then Jabba started laughing. It was loud and deep and reminded Percy of those big, bad bosses at the final level of a video game. "You expect me to believe that the legendary Da Soocha cares about our slaves?"
"It does not matter to me what you believe," Annabeth replied letting annoyance creep into her voice. "I was simply instructed to warn you. If you do not free the slaves on this planet in three days' time, then Da Soocha will free them himself in whatever manner he wishes. If it so pleases the blessed Living Ocean, he will turn his attention to the slaves in other Hutt territories." She gave each of the hologram Hutt leaders a meaningful look. "This will be your only warning."
"This is ridiculous," Marlo commented. "Freeing our slaves would be a sign of weakness. Even if the legend of Da Soocha is true, the Living Ocean would never encourage us to be weak for all know that Da Soocha is as powerful and ruthless as us Hutts."
"It is true that Da Soocha is powerful and can be as ruthless as an ocean storm that tears apart any transport that dares to enter his realm," Annabeth admitted. "But he can also be merciful and helpful like when he saved me from drowning seven years ago after my damaged life pod landed in his sacred waters. Most importantly, Da Soocha values freedom and has become tired of feeling the constant repression of the sentients in Hutt territories, particularly those on this retched, waterless planet. Besides, you will have much to gain if you stop buying sentients. While the practice might have been cheaper at one point, it is no longer sustainable. Sentient workers are best when they are motivated by hope not fear. Therefore, Da Soocha knows if you abandon this archaic practice the Hutts will flourish."
Both Percy and Annabeth knew that this story had more holes than Swiss cheese. At this point even the most gullible Hutt wouldn't be fooled. But it didn't matter because the Hutts didn't have a better explanation for what Percy had done or would do, and that was how myths were created in the first place. When things didn't make sense, most people tended to accept the first explanation they heard regardless of how much sense it made. How else could people have believed that humans were created from clay by a Titan, or that seasons were caused by the combination of a long-distance marriage and a clingy mother? Without a more sensible explanation for Percy's abilities, the Hutts would have to resort to myths and legends.
"Besides," continued Annabeth, "there is no other explanation for how your stadium is now underwater. The water clearly did not come from your reserves, and there would have been a lot more, angry Tuskan Raiders if it had come from their secret well. Plus, in case you hadn't noticed, the water is salt water not fresh. I suppose someone could have brought it in on a spaceship, but a ship large enough to hold that much water would have been noticed."
There was silence as the Hutts thought through Annabeth's logic. Finally, Jabba spoke, "Perhaps you are telling the truth, but it doesn't matter. Da Soocha or not, I will find whoever it was who flooded my stadium and make him wish that he was bantha fodder. As for you . . ." Jabba got a greedy glint in his eye as he looked at Annabeth. "I'm sure we can find a much more suitable occupation for you than a priestess." Percy's blood boiled as all the Hutts started laughing.
Annabeth tensed and looked fearful though Percy knew it was all an act. He got ready, mentally reaching out for the water nearby and imagining the sea like he did in his Force meditation. According to Annabeth, whenever he did that, people around him could feel the sea if they were sensitive to that sort of thing, and at the very least, they would smell it. But he still needed to wait for the signal.
"Bring her to me," Jabba waved his hands at the guards. That was exactly what Percy had been waiting for. Before the warthogs could take a step, Percy ripped off the Yankee's hat with a flourish of his cape so that he could quickly stuff the hat in his pants pocket without anyone seeing it. He'd had to practice that move a lot before Annabeth was satisfied that his appearance would be dramatic and mystical enough.
"You will not lay hands on my priestess," Percy commanded giving Jabba and the guards his scariest glare. The guards squealed in surprise and two of them fell back in shock. The other two though recovered quickly, and one of them reached for Annabeth while the other drew his short axe. In an instant, Percy had uncapped his old trusty pen, and Riptide was in his hands once again. Sure, it couldn't hurt any of Jabba's guards, but they didn't know that.
He had his lightsaber hidden behind the cape too, but that was for absolute emergencies. Not only did a glowing bronze sword magically appearing in his hand help them sell the whole god thing, but if the Hutts even glimpsed a lightsaber, they would assume he was some kind of strange Jedi and not their legend. Plus, then Annabeth and Percy's actions would be blamed on the Republic and could start a war. Percy swung at the guard's weapon, easily cutting it in half. He followed with a kick in the chest that slammed the green piggy into the wall. Percy turned to point his blade at the other guard, but he was already slumped against the ground thanks to Annabeth's leg sweep-knockout kick combo. Percy raised an eyebrow at her, and she shrugged as if to say: What? You were taking too long.
Jabba must have pressed his emergency button because guards and bounty hunters were pouring in from all the entrances. "What's going on?" Ziro asked. "Where'd that man come from Jabba?" Percy ignored the extra guards and the holograms. Instead he looked only at Jabba as if he was a bug he wanted to squash.
"Stand down," Jabba ordered his guards with another wave of his hand. Once they all took a place near the walls, Percy shrank Riptide and slipped it in his pocket. Hopefully, from the Hutts' points of view it would look like it magically disappeared. "How did this man get in here?" Jabba demanded from his majordomo.
"I don't know, Your Excellency," Bib pleaded. "He wasn't there at the door. You saw him. He just . . . appeared," Bib looked like he couldn't believe he had just said those words, but there wasn't a better way to describe it.
Ignoring his stuttering majordomo, Jabba turned back to Percy, "Who are you?"
Percy resisted the urge to smirk, instead he arched an eyebrow and tried to capture the annoyed look he imagined Zeus would have if someone didn't recognize him, "Isn't it obvious, Hutt?" He said 'Hutt' in the same tone most of the Olympians said 'mortal.'
Jabba looked at him curiously but didn't answer. Instead, Oruba spoke next, "But you can't be Da Soocha. He would never take such a weak, puny form."
Percy just gave the old Hutt a disdainful look. He and Annabeth had decided that it would be beneath a god to respond to stupid comments and explain trivial things. That job fell to the priestess. "The Living Ocean can take whatever form he wishes," Annabeth explained. "Currently, he's chosen this one since it is the same species as many of those enslaved on this planet."
"As for weak," Percy continued. "I assure you, no matter what form I chose, I am anything but weak." He grinned wolfishly at Jabba and tried to block out the memory of being a less than ferocious guinea pig. "For I am Da Soocha, the Living Ocean, directly blessed by Cyax's powerful rays. All water obeys me. You have three days to comply to my wishes."
"But if you really are Da Soocha then you could tell us the coordinates of your hidden planet?" Arok asked with a greedy glint in his eye.
Annabeth responded, "Time and space mean nothing to the great Da Soocha."
"How convenient," Ziro taunted, "Though I must admit, this has been a rather entertaining charade."
"However," Annabeth continued with a glare at the interrupting Hutt, "time and space do mean a great deal to me. Da Soocha is in grid S-11 with the coordinates, 789, -142 –"
Before Annabeth could finish Jabba shut down the holograms. "How do you know those numbers?" he demanded.
"Clearly, the only logical explanation is that we are telling the truth," Annabeth replied with a smile and a spark of challenge glinting in her eyes.
Percy braced himself for the big pile of Bantha poodo that was coming their way and reached for the water that he knew was one floor above them, where Jabba's amphibian food lived until he ate them. "Seize them," Jabba ordered, "I want them alive."
Percy called down the water at the same time he drew Riptide. Annabeth drew her 'ceremonial' sword, but they ended up not needing it. Just as the first few guards reached them, a huge wave of water crashed down the stairs, sweeping away the guards, and knocking Jabba off his pedestal. Percy dropped Riptide, swept Annabeth into his arms and willed the water to lift him up. He towered over Jabba who was flailing on the flooded floor. "You have three days, Hutt. I suggest you make the wise choice." Then he rode a wave like a pro surfer out of the throne room and up the spiral staircase bringing the rest of the water with him.
They picked up speed, and Percy willed the water to surge in front of him, planning to smash through the door. "Percy!" Annabeth yelled in warning. They weren't going to make it. Annabeth's calculations were never wrong. Percy plunged them into the water straight to the hallway floor, trying to slow them down even as the water around them crashed into the door. Percy's back still slammed into durasteel, but it could've been a lot worse.
The water sloshed around them until Percy gained control again and willed it to retreat giving him and Annabeth a view of the door. Annabeth gasped for breath and pushed her wet hair out of her eyes as Percy let her find her feet. He glared at the massive door, "I thought that would work."
"Not enough force. We should have practiced this beforehand," Annabeth grumbled.
"Because we've seen so many 30-foot durasteel doors to practice on," Percy retorted.
Annabeth just ignored him. "The durasteel is too strong, but the stone . . ." Annabeth trailed off as she thought. "There," she pointed at the top of the stone arch that supported the door almost 25 feet above their heads. "That's the weakest point, if we could get that to crack the whole thing should come down."
Cracking stone brought back an old memory for Percy, "I got an idea."
"Williamsburg Bridge?" Annabeth asked. She actually hadn't been there because she'd taken a dagger for him, but she'd heard about it. Percy nodded. Annabeth sighed, "We're going to have to come in hard and high."
"Yep, should be fun," Percy smirked as he pulled out Riptide again and started walking back down the corridor to give them more room, pushing the wall of water in front of him. From the other side of his watery wall he heard shouts and muffled steps hurrying up the stairs. "Good, looks like we've got an audience too." He turned back around and faced the door. "Ready?"
Annabeth held on to his shoulders, piggy-back style, so he'd be free to use his arms. She kissed his cheek, "For luck!"
Percy jumped and his wall of water surged under him so that he was once again riding a wave. He pressed it forward and higher until he could have touched the roof. Behind him he heard shouts and blaster fire, but he was traveling too high and fast for them to reach him. He braced himself as the top of the door drew near. He stabbed Riptide into the stone, and salt water spurted from the spreading crack. Percy and his wave smashed into the door. It hurt, but the salt water shooting out helped cushion the blow some. The stone holding the door crumbled and the huge door fell forward.
Percy and Annabeth poured out of the palace with the water. They were almost to their hidden swoop bike when Percy's Wonder Wave Express finally ran out of water between the hot sand and suns. Percy glanced back and he could see Jabba's guards staring down at them from the gaping hole in the palace wall where the door had been. "Better put the cap back on," Annabeth advised. "Make it look like you vanished again until we can lose them in Mos Eisley." Percy did and then clambered onto the swoop bike behind Annabeth. "Hold on tight, and don't you dare lose my cap."
They quickly sped off in the direction of the nearer spaceport, hopefully leading Jabba away from their real first target, Mos Espa. "I still think it would have been a whole lot easier for everyone if I'd just drowned Jabba back there," Percy muttered.
Even with the wind roaring in his ears, he still heard Annabeth's annoyed huff, "We've been over this a thousand times. Yes, in the short run it might have been easier, but in the long run we'd be in deep trouble. If you'd drowned Jabba back there, the Hutts would have just assumed you were a strange assassin and would have to hunt us down just on principle. It looks really bad for a Hutt clan leader to get assassinated with no retribution. Even with the fake names, I'm not sure how safe we'd be with all the Hutts actively looking for us. One of the assassins they sent would eventually get lucky. Plus, since the Republic can't be involved without starting an intra-galactic war, either Ziro or Arok would have taken over the territory. Regardless of the drastic increase in slave prices these days, with either of those two, there would be more slaves in Mos Espa as soon as we left assuming we could actually leave. Even with SASS, we just don't have the manpower to fight more than one Hutt at a time.
"We need time to make them believe that you are more than a man. We need time to build the legend of Da Soocha, so that when we finally do finish Jabba, the other Hutts will blame it on his arrogance and hold nothing but awe, respect, and fear for the name Da Soocha. Jabba actually helped us a lot by cutting that transmission early. The Hutt Council should be smart enough to realize that the only reason Jabba would do that was if we were saying something that he really didn't want them to know – something like the real coordinates for Da Soocha which we know Jabba has taken great pains to keep secret. Plus, they heard us give Jabba his three-day warning, and you can bet any spies the other Hutts managed to get in Jabba's palace are reporting back our dramatic exit. By the time we're done, they won't dare to even look for us or question our decision to let Gorga take over Tatooine. The story of Jabba the Hutt will become a cautionary tale that Hutts will tell their children to explain what happens if you don't listen to the Living Ocean. Hopefully, this will keep the other Hutts in line, at least for a few years."
Annabeth finally finished her rant, and all Percy could do was chuckle. Jabba's slimy behavior must have bothered Annabeth a lot more than she'd let on. "You know, Wise Girl, you're really scary when you go all evil, super genius. It's sexy, but scary."
Getting back to their ship unfollowed ended up being easy. They ditched their swoop bike in the roughest part of Mos Eisley they could find and used Annabeth's hat to quickly change into plainer clothes. After that Annabeth dumped a pile of gold cloaks that matched hers at the mouth of the alley. She wrote the words, 'Take at your own risk if you dare' in Aurebesh onto a scrap of old metal plating by the cloaks using her mini-wielding torch. "A warning for the innocents and a bit of reverse psychology for the jerks," she explained. Jabba's goons were so busy chasing all the people in gold cloaks, that Percy and Annabeth just slipped by in their speeder and headed back to Mos Espa without any problems.
At this point, Percy was starting to get worried. So far, everything had been going extremely well which meant with his luck Bantha poodo was going to hit the fan, any day now.
Assuming I'm not hit by a sudden inspiration to change anything, the next chapter will be up this weekend. It's becoming a common occurrence, but I ended up writing a lot more than I thought I would, so the AotC should start in five more chapters. All but the last one will be mainly from Percy's perspective, and the Jedi hinted at in the last chapter won't appear until Interlude X.