Chapter: 55 Korbi in the House
"Trust goes both ways."
A city of mystery! With killers on the loose and missing persons cases piling up, Coruscant remains constantly imbalanced. Its law enforcement works diligently alongside members of the Jedi Order to try and keep the peace. But as conspiracies and corruption run rampant, even Jedi can succumb to temptation...
Also known as Coruscant's sleepless party district, Uscru held true to its reputation. Upbeat tunes boomed from hidden nightclubs while drunken buffoons stumbled throughout the streets. Police sirens were so common that they formed their own rhythmic song. Between the bustle of partygoers and roar of police cruisers, it was unfathomable to think that some people actually lived in Uscru. While the "lively" district's inhabitants had adapted to tune out the noise, a Jedi outsider would undoubtedly struggle.
Hans Westgard groaned as he opened his groggy eyes. A plethora of colors flashed across the rickety shades, reminding him of the nightclub just below. He yawned and clutched at his raggedy, tearing sheets. The club's music was like a ceaseless, dull hammering against his head as he tossed and turned. With all hope of continued slumber lost, Hans grumpily sat upright. The neon signage outside flickered against his toned, bare chest. As he groggily slouched at the edge of the bed, a pair of hands crept up his back. Like two pale serpents, the arms slithered around his neck and tried to pull him back to bed. Guilt clashed with annoyance as a set of kisses ascended towards Hans' neck. The pale Twi'lek squeezed his shoulders and brought her lips to his neck.
"You're so...tense," she playfully whispered.
"Celenia," Hans frustratedly murmured.
"I love it when you say my name," she teased and nipped at his earlobe. The gesture was enough to really set Hans off.
The knight nudged her off and rose from the bed. "That's enough," he asserted. Celenia's initial gasp transitioned into a lusty smirk. Her sultry giggle only made Hans roll his eyes.
"What's wrong, Jedi?" she jeered. "Am I too much for you?"
Ignoring her comment, Hans leaned in and jabbed a finger at her. "I've done what you wanted," he said. "Now give me what was promised."
"Right," Celenia sighed. "The information. You Jedi," she scoffed and lightly pinched his cheek. "Always straight to the point. I'll tell you what you need to know, but I need to get dressed for work."
"Just hurry up," Hans snapped as Celenia slipped out of bed. He averted his eyes and checked his communicator. The profuse amount of missed calls from Anna had his heart sinking.
"Is your master wondering where you are?" Celenia snickered while rummaging through her wardrobe.
Hans shook himself free of his anxieties. "That's none of your business. Now am I wasting my time or-"
Celenia buckled her boots and fastened her gloves. "Do you mind?" she asked and spun towards Hans. She gestured to her corset's loose strings. "I know you don't mind taking it off-" she teased. "-but how about tightening it for me, sweetie?" Hans rolled his eyes and indulged the Twi'lek. While he tightened her corset, Celenia finally spilled. "Alright," she sighed. "The missing pageant contestant is a ghost. That Theelin is hardly seen by anyone but her Gran companion isn't as inconspicuous. Word on the street is that the three-eyed coot has quite the appetite. He tries to use crowds to hide his movements, but he's unknowingly made a name for himself among food vendors. He's an early riser and will hit the lower market district in just a few hours. You can tell him apart from other Gran because one of his eyes his partially damaged." Celenia turned and squinted an eye to mimic the Gran. "See? I can be helpful."
"Yeah," Hans muttered. "Much obliged." He made for the door as Celenia threw her arms up in protest.
"What?" she heckled. "No goodbye kiss?" She flashed a toothy grin when he ignored her remark.
As Celenia returned to the downstairs club to start her dancing shift, Hans activated his comlink. "It's me," he asserted. "I've got a lead."
*
The lower market districts teemed with boisterous merchants and groggy customers. The aroma of fresh produce and steaming meals wafted its way towards one of the tallest rooftops. "What is that amazing smell?" Padawan Anna Dellian asked her sister, Elsa.
The siblings tilted their heads upward and sniffed in unison. Gentle smiles crept across their lips as one scent triumphed over all. "Chocolate," the sisters spoke simultaneously.
They shared a brief laugh as Anna placed a hand on Elsa's shoulder. "I'm so glad we're okay, big sis," she said.
"Of course we are," Elsa assured. "We're stronger than any squabble. And now we get to work together just like old times!"
"We've come so far since those days," Anna considered. "It feels like only yesterday since we were screaming our heads off in that ancient temple."
Elsa smiled proudly and observed her sister. "And now look at you," she said. "Growing stronger in the Force each day."
Anna smirked and gave her sister a nudge. "Well don't forget about you," she chuckled. "Taking on Master Cin Drallig, I hear? We'll make a duelist out of you yet!"
"Here's hoping," Elsa jested.
"You sure you're okay helping us out instead of being at that big state banquet in the Senate?" Anna asked. "Won't Senator Veritaz get upset with you?"
"Trust me on this one," Elsa whispered. "She'd get upset if I went. You see, Senator Amidala is hosting the banquet and invited me but not her. They don't exactly see eye to eye on things so trust me...this mission is doing me a favor." Elsa sighed and examined the market below. "So how did you get this tip?" she asked.
"Hans," Anna boldly boasted.
"And how did he get the tip?" Elsa inquired and raised a skeptical brow.
"I don't know," Anna felt backed into a corner and scoffed. "He's a Jedi Sentinel. He investigates. He knows people."
"I see," Elsa remarked. Her questions and wary comment left Anna unsure about Hans' sources.
Rather than focus on those doubts, the youngest Dellian activated her comlink. "Perimeter check," she called in. "Elsa and I are in position. What's everyone else's status?"
"We're sweeping the east side of the market now," Mattias responded. He and Yelena discreetly trudged betwixt the crowds. From a civilian's perspective, Yelena and Mattias' cloaked figures made them look like any other strangers.
"If our Gran enters or exits from our end-" Yelena added. "-we'll see him."
"Deathchasers," Anna beckoned. "What's your status?" She bit her lip when no one responded at first. "Sergeant Blazer? Brother, come in!"
Blazer, Sparx and Speedy were positioned at the west entrance to the marketplace. "Sarge?" Sparx queried after removing his helmet. "Are you sure about this?"
"It's only for a moment, lieutenant." Blazer assured. "Alright, boys. Ready...set...sniff!" The three clones took a whiff of several delectable aromas blowing in from the market.
"Holy kriff," Speedy sighed. "It all smells so good."
Blazer's black beard rose with his smile. "The stuff in this marketplace makes Republic rations look like ronto feed," the sergeant quipped.
"While I couldn't agree more," Sparx admitted. "We really should put our helmets back on."
"You're right," Blazer concurred and threw on his helmet. "How are we looking?" he called only to have Anna's voice boom after his.
"WHERE THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN?" Anna screeched over comms and had the Deathchasers gripping their helmets.
"Um...sniffing?" Blazer replied and nervously chuckled. "The food here looks and smells so amazing, Anna."
"I'm down to pig out after we find this Gran," Anna said. "Split up and keep searching. Remember, he's our only link to Chela Tuzi."
"And all of you are my link to insanity unless you shut up," Hans snapped. "Can we please keep comms quiet? I can hardly hear myself think." He stepped forward and revealed his position on an adjacent rooftop. "You're all so damn loud and-" While advancing towards his ledge, Hans accidentally stepped on a faulty gutter. Its frame dislodged and sent him plummeting into the alley below. The cacophonous clatter was ear-splitting and had multiple citizens turning their heads.
"Now who's being loud?" Anna murmured while Elsa gasped. "Come on. We better make sure he didn't get himself killed." Anna and Elsa discreetly hopped across the rooftops until they reached Hans' position.
"By the Force," Elsa uttered upon looking down at the disorderly chaos. The entire gutter had come undone and crashed into a line of trash cans. The popped and dented lids caused garbage to spew across the alley floor. The crash had also caused a colony of tooka cats to scatter out of the cans. Hans' robed limbs stretched out from the malodorous carnage like gunky tentacles. His muffled, frustrated groans made it hard for Anna to conceal her snicker.
The Padawans used a nearby fire escape to safely reach the ground level. "Now's as good a time as any to practice more of those Force powers, hm?" Anna jested and her sister nodded.
"Together now," Elsa insisted as they raised their hands towards Hans. "Concentrate. Focus on his body and the mess around him."
"With a stench like that, it's hard not to focus on him," Anna chortled.
Elsa shushed her and whispered. "Concentrate."
"Right," Anna murmured and reached out through the Force. While Elsa focused on clearing the mucky debris, Anna's thoughts dwelled on Hans himself. She visualized his alluring, emerald eyes and recalled the sensation of his lips on hers. That feeling...that passion...drove her to fully visualize his body. Anna was then able to lift Hans out of the garbage heap while Elsa cleared more debris. "I'm...I'm doing it!" she gasped as a joyous grin took hold.
"Nicely done, Anna!" Elsa complimented. "You might want to set him down before he freaks out." Hans slowly started to stir amidst the atrocious odor. As he opened his eyes, he realized he was covered in trash and suspended in midair. His reactionary scream startled Anna, who impulsively dropped him atop the trash pile. "Like that," Elsa sighed and facepalmed.
"Hans!" Anna gasped and knelt by his side. She did her best to not appear fazed by his stench. "Are you okay?"
"Just dandy," Hans grumbled. His brows furrowed when one of the tookas came up to nuzzle him. "Stupid little-" Furious, Hans scooped up the tooka and threw it across the alley. The frightened cat shrieked until Elsa caught it with the Force. She gently lowered the feline down to her as it slowly calmed down. It was as if the tooka could feel the Force through Elsa and was reassured by her calmness. After dropping into her arms, the cat climbed onto Elsa's shoulder and nuzzled her cheek. She giggled as its tranquil purring intensified.
"Disgusting," Hans griped until he saw Anna glaring at him. "What?" he defended. "That thing could have rabies."
In that instant, all three of their comlinks chimed. The sudden alert caused Elsa's tooka to meow in alarm and leap from her shoulder. "This is Speedy," a voice whispered as Anna's eyes widened. "I have eyes on our target entering the marketplace. He's got a messed up eye and everything. He's moving toward several food stands."
"Well done, brother." Blazer called back. "Keep him in your sights and we're on our way."
"We're moving in as well," Mattias said. "Yelena and I can observe from the east."
"Just no one get too close," Anna insisted while rushing to get in position. "Especially the clones. Keep your distance but don't look like you're trying to keep your distance."
"With all due respect-" Blazer called back. "What the hell does that mean?"
"I don't know," Anna blurted. "Walk casual."
Blazer huffed and regrouped with the other Deathchasers. He, Sparx, and Speedy tried to stroll through the marketplace while casually saluting people. "Citizen," Blazer greeted a puzzled Ithorian.
"Good day, ma'am." Sparx said to another patron. "That's...um...a very nice hat."
Speedy heard children laughing and turned to greet them. The clone was taken aback when he realized just what the source of their revelry was. Two human children were pointing an laughing at a Rodian boy. The Rodian hung his head and clenched the arms of his wheelchair for safety. They were about to hurl more insults at him until a shadow loomed over the group. The kids looked up to see Speedy standing with his arms crossed. His expressionless, dark visor stared the bullies down until they fled. The Rodian fearfully flinched as Speedy knelt beside him.
"Are you alright, kid?" the trooper asked. The Rodian blinked his bulbous blue eyes and answered in Rodese. "I'm sorry. I don't understand you." Rather than continue speaking, the child became fascinated with Speedy's legs. He reached as far as his chair would permit until Speedy caught on. "Oh, you wanna feel?" Speedy jokingly knocked on his cybernetics and the Rodian gasped at the clang. "I lost my real ones too," he said even if the Rodian couldn't understand. The child ran his suction-cupped digits across Speedy's leg.
"Brother," Blazer called. "Anna said walk casual. Not full-on mingle casual."
"Right," Speedy replied and gently lifted his knuckles towards the child. "Pound it, kid." The Rodian understood the gesture and fist-bumped Speedy before he regrouped with the others.
The clones' faceless helmets gave the illusion that they were looking forward while they were actually monitoring the Gran. "Grandpa Gran is heading your way, Master Mattias." Blazer reported.
"I have eyes," the master responded before spinning with Yelena. The duo pretended to browse fresh vegetables in order to keep a low profile.
"If Belle's intel is accurate-" Elsa said. "-then this Gran goes by Korbi."
"Well Korbi is going to give us the slip if we don't start to ease our way into this crowd," Mattias suggested.
Elsa, Anna, and Hans inched their way through the market's central plaza. While Anna and Hans took the lead, Elsa was suddenly stopped by a metallic tap on her shoulder. Her frantic turn startled the gold-plated protocol droid who was trying to get her attention. "Oh my," the droid yelped. "Pardon me, young Jedi. I was wondering if you could aid my companion and I." Elsa almost mistook the droid for LM-3R based on his bright plating. She glanced at the blue and white astromech at his side. It beeped profusely and the Padawan nodded to greet it.
"You lookfamiliar to me," Elsa told the protocol droid. "Have I seen you around the Galactic Senate?"
"It's quite possible," the droid eloquently replied. "I serve Senator Padmé Amidala. Oh where are my manners? I am C-3PO, human-cyborg relations. This is my counterpart, R2-D2."
"Of course," Elsa realized. "You're Padmé's droid! But what are you doing out here? Isn't there a state banquet this evening?"
"The banquet is precisely why we are here," 3PO answered. "One cannot have jogan fruit cake without the titular fruit itself. R2 and I are having some trouble locating any and were wondering if you could help-"
"Elsa," Anna whispered sharply. "We don't have time to play cake n' bake. Are you coming?"
Elsa bit her lip as her eyes darted between 3PO and her sister. "I'm sorry," she told the protocol droid. "I'm currently on a mission, but I did pass several fruit stands in the aisle behind me. You may be able to find some jogans there."
"Thank you kindly," C-3PO said before strutting off with R2-D2. While Elsa regrouped with Anna and Hans, she kept glancing back at the droids. Despite how oddly calm things appeared in their direction, Elsa felt an odd sense of foreboding. It manifested as a chill down her spine and she looked up into a nearby alley. She thought she'd seen a set of silhouettes watching from above, but nothing remained.
"Elsa," her sister intoned. "Snap out of it. Are you okay?"
"Yeah," the eldest Dellian murmured. "I'm fine."
"Then keep your head in the game because Korbi is headed our way." She, Elsa and Hans ducked under an awning and discreetly observed him. The old Gran hobbled down their aisle, staying close to large groups and sniffing the nearest food stands. He rubbed his bulky hands together as an eager grin formed across his snout. Korbi set his sights on a vegetable wrap and humbly negotiated the price. His belly grumbled and the six, bulky fingers on each hand eagerly drummed.
The group had him cornered on all sides. "We're all set on our end," Blazer confirmed.
"If we're going to apprehend-" Mattias began. "-now is the time."
"We might want to reconsider," Yelena said. "What if he's not willing to give up information about Chela? It may be wiser to hold back and tail him instead. Then he can lead us to Chela and we can provide watchful observation."
"I second that," Elsa voiced. "It's our best shot at finding the missing contestant."
"Enough of this," Hans hissed. "I'm sick and tired of all these sleemos just slipping through our fingers."
"Hans?" Anna worried. "What are you-"
"I'm taking him now," Hans asserted and bolted out of hiding.
"Wait!" Anna whispered but it was too late.
Hans' stern gaze remained fixated on the elderly Gran. He built up as much speed as he could and dashed straight for him. Bending his arms and hunching his back, Hans prepared to pounce and tackle Korbi to the ground. What he didn't realize was that he still had a banana peel stuck to his heel from the trash pile. When Hans tried to lunge, he slipped on the banana peel and lost control. Carrying all of his momentum, Hans bumped into a burly and severely agitated Gamorrean. The hulking, pig-like humanoid immediately turned and punched Hans in the face. The strike was powerful enough to hurl Hans into a nearby fruit cart.
"Seriously?" Anna grumbled.
Korbi dropped his food and turned towards the commotion. All he saw was half of Hans' body twitching amidst a collapsed cart. His eyestalks flexed leftward and spotted the Deathchasers nearby. "Clones?" the Gran blurted. "Oh poodoo!" The elder spun and ran as fast as his stubby legs permitted.
"He's making a break for it!" Anna blurted.
"We'll get him," Elsa assured and placed a firm hand on her sister's shoulder. "It looks like Hans needs your help."
Anna huffed and examined the knight's predicament. "Seriously?"she griped and slid over to help him. "I swear it's like I can't take you anywhere."
Hans furiously rose from the wreckage with a spiteful glower. His reddened cheek was swelling from where the Gamorrean had struck him. "That's it!" he growled. "Time to teach thispiggy a lesson." He reached for his lightsaber until Anna stopped him.
"Are you kidding me right now?" she snapped. "Tossing tookas in an alley is one thing, but you are not about to use your lightsaber on some unarmed brawler. If you want to fight him-" Anna cracked her knuckles. "I'll gladly help."
"I don't need your help," Hans scoffed and put up his fists.
The Gamorrean didn't back down and emitted a high-pitched squeal. Within moments, several other muscly Gamorreans stomped over from throughout the marketplace. "Still think you don't need my help?" Anna snarked as the gang of ruffians surrounded them.
"Just be ready," Hans grumbled. "If one of them draws a weapon, I'm igniting my lightsaber."
The lead Gamorrean snorted and jabbed his thick finger at Hans. His fellow thugs squealed and charged with raised, rugged fists. Given her hulking and corpulent opponents, Anna used agility to her advantage. She leapt over the Gamorreans and kicked one in the face. Her heel grazed his upturned tusk and sent saliva splattering across the ground. Steadying himself for battle, Hans eyed the nearest target and threw a punch. He was able to land a swift right hook against one of the Gamorrean's flabby faces. "Haha!" Hans jeered. "How do you like it?" This would be the only taunt he'd be able to utter. The Gamorreans surrounded Hans until their bodies blocked out the sunlight. Within a matter of seconds, Hans was dragged into a sea of snorting, green muscle. He flailed like a madman as the Gamorreans pummeled him like a human punching bag. He used the Force to push two off of him, but a third smashed a fist over his head.
"Hans!" Anna gasped. She ducked under a punch and ran to his aid. She didn't get far before one of the Gamorreans wrapped its tremendous arms around her. She squirmed in his chokehold as he squealed victoriously. The irksome sounds in her ear only angered her further. She tried elbowing her titanic opponent, but he only tightened his grip. In that instant, the black-gloved hand of an ARF trooper snatched the Gamorrean by his ear.
"Get the hell off of her!" Blazer growled and squeezed until the foe released her. From the moment Anna was freed, she punched her assailant and caught her breath. The strike sent the Gamorrean stumbling straight into an uppercut from Blazer, ultimately knocking him out. "So these pigs want a fight?" the sergeant taunted as Sparx and Speedy cracked their necks. "Let's give 'em one!" Without wasting a moment, Speedy used his cybernetics to propel himself into the air. With his rising momentum, Speedy delivered a heavy punch across one of the Gamorrean's faces. "I gotta hand it to these fellas," Blazer quipped while kneeing one of them. "They don't know when to quit. What'd you do to piss them off so much?"
"Well don't look at me," Anna retorted. "Hans just bumped into them!" She ducked under an incoming strike and unleashed multiple punches to her attacker's torso. Her eyes widened as each blow was absorbed by the Gamorrean's jiggling body. He reached for Anna's face and she hastily weaved away. Once she saw her opening, Anna dead-legged her opponent and shoved him into a stand.
"Come on, big fella." Blazer taunted the nearest Gamorrean. He got exactly what he asked for as the beastly individual tackled him against the duracrete. Blazer's armored back scraped and skidded as he fought to free himself from his enemy's grasp. Sparx rushed in from behind and threw a heavy punch at the Gamorrean's cheek. It was enough to stun the brute and let Blazer wriggle free. Once out, he and Sparx punched the Gamorrean directly into one of Speedy's kicks. The clone's powerful cybernetic clanged against his face and sent a dislodged tusk swiveling across the ground.
Hans had just started to stir when he felt himself being lifted off of the ground. His first assumption was that he'd been seriously injured and that he was being taken for medical attention. His true fears were realized when he felt a Gamorrean's stubby fingers dig into his hips. His assailant snorted angrily and stomped towards the market's nearest ledge. Realizing what the oaf was up to, Hans desperately tried to break free. Bystanders gasped and shrieked while Hans flailed in the Gamorrean's arms. "Take your stinking hands off me, you damn dirty pig!" Hans growled. "Let me go!" He reconsidered his choice of words as the Gamorrean approached the ledge. The sound of bustling airspeeders roared up towards them from miles below. Tapping into his Force powers, Hans unleashed a tremendous push to separate him from the Gamorrean. He fell with his foe as they both grabbed the ledge. While Hans was able to pull himself up, the Gamorrean was far too heavy. The Jedi Knight glared down at his enemy with hatred in his eyes. After all he'd been through from the start of the mission, Hans just wanted to be merciless. His boot shifted across the duracrete as he contemplated raising it. The idea of stomping on the Gamorrean's fingers and sending him plummeting brought a vengeful grin to Hans' lips. He had started to raise his foot when Speedy rushed over.
"Hey!" the clone warned. "What are you doing, sir? Look around!" Hans' eyes swayed across the marketplace. Adults and children alike were frightfully observing his actions. "Everyone's watching."
Hans scowled at the clone and returned his focus to the Gamorrean. "Good," he snarled and prepared to stomp on his hand anyway.
"No!" Speedy shouted and sprung into action. He tackled Hans to the floor while Anna and the other Deathchasers arrived. Police sirens rang out from above as law enforcement cruisers descended on the scene. Sparx and Blazer heaved the Gamorrean over the edge...where he was immediately taken into custody.
"Excellent work," a police droid said. "We've had warrants out for this gang's arrest. While they are quite fearsome, they aren't brightest when it comes to discretion." The nearby scuffle had everyone looking towards the ground.
"Get off of me!" Hans growled and shoved Speedy away. The trooper was immediately caught by Anna, who became furious with Hans.
"Hey!" she snapped and stomped up to him. "Tossing a tooka was bad enough, but I will not tolerate this behavior."
"So you're taking the clone's side over mine?" Hans argued.
"Speedy," Anna inquired. "What is the meaning of this?"
"His opponent was already defeated," Speedy explained. "I was preventing Knight Hans from making a critical mistake in front of dozens of people."
"Critical mis-" Hans murmured as his face flushed with red. "Your genetics are a critical mistake, clone! If you so much as even touch me again I will tear you to-"
"Hans," Anna gasped and the knight slowed his breathing. As he calmed down, he saw the genuine concern in her widened eyes. "What's gotten into you?"
Hans bit his lip and sulked. He thought of the overwhelming frustrations festering within. Celenia's sultry chuckle was a poison in his mind which only sunk deeper when he looked at Anna. Her innocent concern made the consequences of his action sting even greater. "I-" he uttered. "I just..."
"Hey," Anna assured. "You can tell me anything."
Hans swallowed hard and looked as though he'd choke. Her comforting smile destroyed him on the inside. "It's just been a rough day," he relented and gestured to his filthy robes. "I-"
"Padawan!" Master Mattias called in. "We've still got Korbi in our sights! Any chance you can back us up with the pursuit?"
"We'd better go," Hans muttered.
"Of course," Anna said. "We can continue this conversation later."
"With all due respect," Blazer spoke up. "You two go on ahead. The boys and I will make sure these clanker-cops get every gang member." While its photoreceptors were unblinking, the police droid still gave Blazer a judgmental stare. Anna nodded to the sergeant and ran off with Hans.
Elsa ran alongside Yelena and Mattias as they approached a set of alleyways. "For an old-timer," Mattias panted. "He sure can move."
"Look who's talking," Yelena huffed, out of breath herself.
Elsa sped ahead of both of them and rounded a corner. Her heart sank when she came across a fork in the alley. Multiple vacant paths kept her on her toes as she tapped into the Force. Elsa shut her eyes and tried to quickly sense the area around her. She sought to pick up on anxious living things shifting through the energy fields. While her concentration was sturdy, her increased heart rate still made it difficult to focus. I need backup, she thought and reached into her backpack. Upon flipping a switch, she flung a metallic creature into the air. "Sir Porgen," she said. "Come on out!" Her porg droid squawked and flapped its tiny appendages. "We need to find someone," she told him. "It's time to test those new boosters I installed." Elsa tapped on a handheld interface and watched Porgen's wings spread out. Miniature boosters extended from hidden flaps on each side and helped lift him into the air. While Elsa was amazed, Porgen appeared terrified.
"Some day I'll trust you to fly yourself around," Elsa assured. "But until then, don't worry. I'm in control and I won't let anything happen to you." Elsa smiled at her creation as a mother would her child. She gently increased the boosters' strength until Porgen was hovering over the buildings. "That's it," the Padawan whispered. "You're safe." Once fully airborne, she used Porgen's built-in camera as a guidance system and flew over the area.
"Apprentice?" Yelena queried as she and Mattias finally caught up. "Why'd you stop?"
"Porgen can cover more ground," Elsa explained and waved her remote. "If you two split at the fork ahead, I can call out anything I see from above." Although reluctant at first, Yelena and Mattias ultimately obliged. The masters each picked a different alley to search while Elsa monitored her controller. Flickering footage from her droid showed a bird's eye view of both alleys. Elsa's eyes darted towards every shifting pixel as she tried to find Korbi. "Where are you?" Elsa whispered to herself before connecting to her comlink. "Nothing on my end yet," she reported.
"We'll keep searching," Yelena called back.
As Elsa sent Porgen onward, she suddenly felt a disturbance in the Force. With her breathing slowed and composure maintained, she was better able to sense her surroundings. A faint grin found its way to Elsa's lips as she slowly backed up towards a wall. She eyed a stack of decrepit crates and pretended to make a call. "This area's clear master," she bluffed. "I'm going to move up and check the nearest street." Elsa took several steps towards the corner and then doubled back. She ducked behind a trash can and slightly peeked over its lid. The ensuing silence was short-lived as a set of stocky legs shuffled into view. Korbi's eyes stalks emerged from behind the crates as he examined the area. Thinking the coast was clear, the Gran sighed in relief and headed in the opposite direction. As soon as Korbi turned, Elsa directed Porgen to land on the crate closest to him. Both Gran and droid were equally frightened of each other as they shrieked. Korbi turned to flee, but found himself staring down a bright blue lightsaber.
Elsa kept her blade at a safe, yet authoritative distance and pointed it towards him. "Hold it right there," the Padawan ordered. "Please stop running and calmly surrender to us." Korbi's old snout wrinkled when he pouted. All three of his eyes shut as he raised his hands in defeat. "Smart move," Elsa said but kept her blade activated. She used her free hand to activate her comlink. "Everyone, I have the target. Come to my coordinates as soon as possible." Korbi started to chuckle and Elsa took up a defensive stance. "What's so funny?" she asked and wondered if he'd set up a trap.
"Forgive me," Korbi sighed and fought to conceal more laughter. "It's just that...no matter where I go undercover, my stomach will always find a way to betray me. I just can't resist a good meiloorun salad." Elsa raised a brow until the Gran extended a hand. "The name's-"
"Korbi," Elsa interrupted. "We know."
The Gran sighed. "I told her to be more careful with my name around folks."
"Her?" Elsa inquired. "Chela Tuzi?" Korbi's eyes twitched as Elsa cautiously advanced. She Force-pulled the elder's blaster pistol away and only then did she deactivate her lightsaber. "We don't mean any harm to you or Chela," Elsa assured. "I know people are trying to kill her. I think those same people came for my friends and I. We just want to understand why."
Korbi huffed and shook his head. "Because as long as people speak out against injustice, there will always be those who try to silence them."
"Please," Elsa insisted. "Let us help you fight this injustice you speak of. You can trust-"
The heavy stomps of Mattias and Yelena's boots echoed across the alley. "Nice work, Padawan." her master lauded. Meanwhile, Anna and Hans slid in from the opposite pathway. The sight of so many Jedi had Korbi overwhelmed. Before more opinions could be thrown into the chaos, Elsa tried to quell the situation.
"Hold on just a moment," the Padawan told her peers and turned to Korbi. "You can trust us. I promise."
"Wait, what's she doing?" Mattias asked.
"Elsa?" Anna worried while Hans was already withdrawing a pair of binders.
Korbi eyed the cuffs in Hans' hands and looked to Elsa. "Are you sure about that whole trust thing?" he jested.
Elsa motioned for Hans to back off and Anna had to restrain him. "No one here has to get hurt," Elsa assured. "And neither does Chela." Her mention of the Theelin garnered Korbi's attention. "We can help stop these 'Coruscant Killers' but we need to know what we're up against. We need to understand why they want to hurt her. Did she do something? Does she know something?"
Korbi's snout quivered and he took a deep breath. "What if I-" he leaned towards Elsa and lowered his voice to a cautious whisper. "-could connect you with Chela?" Elsa nodded as he continued. "But I'd need to know you were trustworthy."
"How can we prove it to you?" Elsa asked.
Korbi inquisitively observed each Jedi around him before answering. "If you do this, you play by my rules."
Elsa looked to her peers for guidance as they offered an assortment of responses. Hans remained frustrated because he still wanted to cuff Korbi. Anna looked supportive but offered Elsa a questionable shrug. Mattias and Yelena were quite the mess, alternating between curious nods and defensive shakes of denial. Elsa knitted her brows and crossed her arms. "And what exactly are these rules?" she asked.
"No law enforcement," Korbi asserted. "Or military of any kind so send your clones elsewhere. Jedi only, but not that guy." He pointed at Hans and the knight's eyes widened.
"What?" Hans blurted. "Are you kidding me right now? No deal! Let's just cuff 'Old Three-eyes' and bring 'em in for questioning."
"Your malodorous companion there makes it very difficult to trust you," Korbi told Elsa. "Plus, he isn't the most...subtle."
"He has a point, Hans." Anna considered. "Why don't you sit this one out and get some rest?"
"You're seriously okay with this?" Hans grumbled. "It's obviously some sort of trap. Why else wouldn't he even want your clone buddies tagging along?"
"Because, you yapping gizka!" Korbi scolded. "I have witnessed the corruption of clones firsthand. Like ordinary men enforcing the law on so many worlds, they can be easily susceptible to heinous bribes."
"The Deathchasers are different," Anna defended.
"DEATH-chasers?" Korbi gasped.
"Sis," Elsa scolded from behind gritted teeth. "Not helping here."
"So let's say we agree," Yelena spoke up. "No other factions...just Jedi minus Hans. What would you ask of us?"
"There's an illegal operation going on in Coruscant's Industrial Sector," Korbi explained.
"Which operation," Hans snarked and the old Gran glowered.
"Right now the only important one!" Korbi intoned. There was passion behind his words as he shook a wrinkly fist. "Slavers are kidnapping and smuggling Coruscanti offworld right under the Republic's nose."
"Why not contact the Coruscant Security Force with this information?" Mattias queried.
"For these slave traffickers to persist, people with badges have to be looking the other way." Korbi said. "I can't trust them on this and there's more corruption in this city than any of us could imagine. But I have to trust the Jedi Order above all others. Your strict doctrine keeps your resolves hardened and helps you resist temptation." Anna guiltily scratched her head while Yelena asked a question.
"How did you find out about this trafficking operation then?" the master queried. While she wanted to help, she also sought to protect her Padawan and fellow Jedi from any tricks.
Korbi swallowed hard and glared at Hans. "Can you please send him away?" he requested. "I don't trust him."
"Oh come on," Hans griped. "I-" He tensed up when all eyes were on him and the alley fell silent. "Anna," he pleaded, but she too was in agreement.
"Just do it for the mission," she insisted. "And then you can always join us lat-"
"This is bantha crap," Hans scoffed and stormed off. "None of you would even be here if it wasn't for my tip! Do you have any idea how hard I work to protect this city and find information? No! None of you do because you're too busy trusting senile suspects." Hans furiously kicked a trashcan and fell over in the process. "Bunch of ungrateful, backstabbing-"
"Hans," Anna beckoned but the knight had already left. "Don't be like that!" She sulked and faked a smile towards the others. "I'm sure he'll come around," she sighed.
"Mr. Korbi," Yelena continued, caring little for Hans' departure. "My question?"
Korbi recomposed himself and unclenched his fists. "I know about the operation because I am part of the Anti-Slavery Coalition," he declared.
While Elsa and Anna were equally confused, their masters appeared astonished. "The ASC?" Mattias realized. "I remember reading about them on the HoloNet. But I thought they were all killed at a protest turned massacre on Tatooine."
"Not all of us," Korbi affirmed. "Chela and I had joined hundreds to march against the Hutt Clan. For too long had those corpulent crime families built empires on the backs of the slaves. We were supposed to be part of a historic demonstration as we marched towards Jabba the Hutt's palace." Korbi's antennae drooped as he recalled the fateful day. "But the Hutts were ready to silence our voices once and for all. They didn't care about who was watching, especially in the Outer Rim. As we approached the palace with our fists and voices raised, a wave of skiffs descended upon us." Korbi's hands trembled as he recalled the experience. "Mercenaries...assassin droids...bounty hunters...all of them opened fire without hesitation. Scorched bodies and holosigns ravaged the sands as people fled for their lives. There was so...so much screaming. One of the lasers fried my rightmost eye," Korbi said and gestured to it. "As I took cover in a nearby crevasse, I remember looking up and seeing her."
"Chela?" Elsa asked and Korbi nodded proudly.
"Despite this horrid massacre around us, there was Chela. This young Theelin was still waving her holosign and marching towards the palace. Her voice was louder than ever, boldly facing off against decades of cartel oppression. My heart sank when a skiff descended towards her. But rather than shoot Chela like the rest of our companions, they chose to take her prisoner. Knowing the Hutts, they were likely threatened by her determined resolve. They sought to break her and make an example of her. But still she managed to escape their clutches. It took months of searching, but we were finally able to find each other again. To this day, our crusade against slavery continues...only we've learned to be more covert with surviving members. The ASC is always growing amidst a multitude of different species on many worlds. It would mean everything to even have four members of the Jedi Order on our side."
Anna, Elsa, Mattias, and Yelena all exchanged dutiful...yet reserved nods. "You can count on us," Elsa answered for the group.
Dumbbells clinked in the Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center. Its vacuous, yet monitored workout area was filled with inmates trying to stay in shape. For some prisoners, exercising was a way to maintain sanity and hold on to a lost life. For others, building muscle was a means of survival amidst the tougher inmates. After his failed 'kill' in the mess hall, weakness was all anyone thought of when they looked at Vitts. With a determined yet flustered scowl, the Snivvian was trying to bench press as much weight as he could. "Load me up," he growled to his Nikto spotter. When nothing happened, Vitts lost his patience and sat up from the bench. "Are you deaf or something?" he scolded. "More weight!" Vitts raised a brow upon observing the Nikto's frightened face. He traced his spotter's gaze to a pair of women strutting towards the bench. "Oh great," Vitts scoffed.
Jee and Aurra Sing even walked in sync with each other. They stepped towards Vitts and loomed over him. "Off," Aurra commanded and shooed him with her finger.
Vitts didn't budge and glared up at her. His eyes swayed to Jee as he asked, "Are you her new pet now?"
"I'm no one's pet!" Jee snapped until Aurra raised a hand.
Her abnormally long, bone-white fingers gestured to Vitts. "Don't waste your breath with this sleemo," Aurra told Jee. "He's just bitter because no one has his back." Perplexed by her statement, Vitts spun to see that the Nikto had already fled. "Now," Aurra continued. "Unless you're 'deaf or something'...beat it."
Vitts unclenched his fist and reluctantly trudged off. Aurra flashed Jee a confident smirk. "You make it look so easy," the Rodian said.
"It comes with experience," Aurra boasted and sprawled herself across the bench. "Now come and spot me." Jee did as Aurra asked and stood watch as she lifted weights. "You watch my back and I'll watch yours," Aurra said. "We're hunters, honey. Cut from the same, deadly cloth. And while we have different experiences, we certainly don't belong in here. But you're telling me that you've busted out before?"
Jee nodded. "Once. They underestimated me then and they'll do it again. They still don't about my Force powers. I can use them to override the locks to our cells."
Aurra grinned while pushing up on her weights. "Then the element of surprise is on our side," she considered. "How soon can you be ready to move?"
Jee shrugged. "I'm not sure, Aurra. What exactly are you thinking?"
Aurra set the weights on their hooks and sat upright. "Tonight," she asserted and Jee nearly choked.
"Wait...like tonight tonight?" the Rodian gasped.
Aurra's patience was limited. "I'm sorry," she snarked. "Do you have somewhere you need to be in here?"
Jee sulked and shook her head. "No," she relented. "It's just so sudden and-"
"Excellent," Aurra interrupted and pulled Jee close. She waited for the patrolling clones above to pass them by and then whispered. "We're getting out of here and kissing Coruscant goodbye tonight. You stick with me and I'll guarantee you a well-paid, respectable life with the Hutt Clan. So here's the plan..."
A Jedi Temple airspeeder soared through the smoggy skies of the Industrial Sector. Elsa watched the sun set over the cityscape while Anna tried not to be awkward next to Korbi. Mattias took a break from flying and rode shotgun next to Yelena. "Not much further," Korbi told her. "You're gonna want to land near that set of smokestacks up ahead. It's a typical maneuver that ASC members use to shroud our reconnaissance."
"Not bad, gramps." Anna admitted.
"Thank you...childs," Korbi snickered and Anna glared at him.
"Are you sure the Deathchasers will be alright without either you or Mattias watching them?" Elsa worried.
"Relax, sis." Anna boasted. "They're growth-accelerated man-children. I'm sure they'll be fine. Plus I sent them on a special mission anyway."
Several Coruscanti were shocked by the presence of ARF troopers at the Galactic City Super Mall. "Welcome to Gameville," a nervous employee spoke up. "How can I help you troopers?" she asked.
The last thing the employee expected was for Sergeant Blazer to withdraw a datapad and say, "Hey...Can I get a copy of Jawa Crossing: New Horizons?"
"Ummm sure?" she responded and unlocked a cabinet.
"Remember, Sarge." Sparx intoned. "Anna wanted the DLC bundle."
"What the hell is DLC?" Blazer mumbled before shrugging it off. "Whatever. Can I get the bundle thing?"
"Certainly," the chuckling employee answered.
"Hey Sarge," Speedy called. "What if we got this for Anna too?"
Blazer glanced over and saw Speedy hugging a Jawa plush that was bigger than his body. "Absolutely not!" Blazer scolded. "Now put that thing away before it crushes you. Besides, Anna only gave us enough credits for the game."
"Pssst," the employee whispered excitedly. "I'll tell you what. If you let me get a selfie to prove that there were clone troopers in my store, the plush is on me."
"Oh I don't know," Blazer mumbled.
"Oh come on, Sarge." Speedy pleaded and kept squeezing the colossal plush. "Do it for Anna."
"It would be a nice surprise," Sparx considered.
"Fine!" Blazer snapped. "But just one photo."
Between Speedy and the employee, it was difficult to tell who had cheered the loudest.
Yelena landed the airspeeder and disembarked with the others. Mattias withdrew a pair of macrobinoculars and scanned the warehouse below them. A pair of men armed with blaster rifles kept watch over the main entrance. "What are industrial workers doing with that much firepower?" Mattias muttered and offered the binoculars to Korbi.
"Oh no," Korbi nervously chuckled. "I'm good, thanks."
"Why?" Mattias inquired until he realized his grievous mistake. Having no choice but to confront the obvious, Korbi gestured to his third eye and jokingly tapped on the binoculars twin lenses. "I'm so sorry," Mattias confessed. "I wasn't thinking-"
"Relax, Master Jedi." the Gran laughed. "Most technology isn't favorable to us...unique beings."
"What's the plan?" Anna asked.
"My fellow ASC agents had been monitoring this warehouse for quite some time," Korbi explained. "They'd gathered that this is where those kidnapped from the undercity are transported offworld. It's also where those taken from other worlds are brought in to be sold to buyers in Coruscant."
"That's despicable," Elsa whispered.
"Agreed," Korbi said. "You'll need to infiltrate the warehouse if you want to liberate those kidnapped. I can monitor things from up here and provide intel based on previous recon."
"Now hold on a moment," Yelena interrogated. "Whatever happened to these 'fellow ASC agents' then? Why didn't they stage any kind of rescue for themselves or seek out the Jedi Order sooner?"
Korbi sighed. "You're right to ask questions and be cautious, Master Jedi. Paranoia has become second nature to me. In truth I don't know what became of the Coalition agents here on Coruscant. The last thing I'd heard was that they were embarking on a rescue. Since then, I have to believe that their silence can only mean failure and termination."
"Maybe they tried to attack this warehouse after all," Elsa deduced. "If that was their fate and they did fail, I'm sorry."
"The Anti-Slavery Coalition may not be the strongest," Korbi said. "But we are persistent. If this mission is a success, we can avenge what our fallen agents stood for."
"And you'll connect us with Chela, right?" Elsa asked to secure their deal. Korbi's nod was swift and loyal.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Anna asked.
"We need to be quick and silent," Mattias said. "Anna and I can move in from the front, stealthily eliminating opposition and slicing the doors open."
"The doors will have to be opened by a staff member," Korbi explained. "Any forced entry will immediately trigger an alarm."
"We'll improvise," Anna and Mattias answered simultaneously. The smirked at each other while Elsa and Yelena joined up.
"My apprentice and I will take to the rooftops," the elder said. "Once a path is cleared, we will advance into the facility and locate the victims." Korbi started to smile until Yelena snagged his collar. "And if you think we're leaving you alone with a perfectly working vehicle, you've got another thing coming."
Korbi gulped. "B-but I can't jump across rooftops."
"We'll lift you with the Force," Elsa assured.
"That's...comforting," the Gran gulped as everyone moved out.
The gunmen kept a vigilant watch over the doors as the sun descended over Coruscant. Once darkness took hold of the street, the men turned their heads towards a sudden clamor. "The hell was that?" one of them asked. A trashcan tumbled over and its lid rolled eerily towards them. It should've lost traction, yet it just kept on going until it reached one of the men's feet. The lid then came to a halt and fell flat with a clang. The gunman craned his neck towards the lid and gave it a kick. "Probably a damn tooka," he said. "I hate those things." In that instant, the garbage lid began to tremble. It rattled as if something was trapped beneath it. "Huh?" Figuring it was some sort of rodent, the gunman stomped on the lid until it went silent. He flashed his partner a toothy grin, but this cockiness was short-lived. He peered down as the lid continued to shake. "How the-" Utterly confused, he bent down and picked up the lid. His jaw dropped and eyes widened when he found nothing beneath it.
"You done playing with garbage?" his partner heckled.
"This is creepy, man." The first gunman said until he felt the lid shake in his hand. Suddenly, an unseen force pushed it straight into his face.
He was repeatedly smacked with it while his partner watched in confusion. "Are you on deathsticks or something?" he jeered until an arm emerged from the shadows. Anna surged forward and put the man in a chokehold while Mattias used the Force on the trash lid. Both of their targets fell unconscious at the same time and Anna nodded to Mattias.
"Did you have fun playing ghost?" she quipped.
"Oh yeah," Mattias replied while scooping up the unconscious goon. "Ready to play puppeteer?"
Korbi had to shut his eyes as Elsa Force-pulled him over the rooftop. "Am I over yet?" he fretted.
"You're fine," Elsa teased and set him down. "And it looks like Anna and Master Mattias are in position."
"Stand by," Yelena said and clasped her lightsaber. "What else do we need to know, Korbi?"
"This place is run by one nasty looking Zabrak," the Gran said. "They call him the'Slavemaster' and he's tasked with breaking those they kidnap. While rescue is our priority, stopping him would stop a lot of suffering."
Elsa was reminded of the sinister foe she'd encountered long ago: Baron Clud Frollo. She recalled how he had persecuted innocent individuals and how she'd almost captured him alive. But when all was said and done, Anna had let him die for 'the greater good'. Monster or not, Elsa thought. I have to make sure justice is carried out properly.
"Elsa," Yelena beckoned and held up a hand. "Reach out with me, see if you can sense those inside." Elsa joined her master, closed her eyes, and tapped into the Force. As soon as they did so, they were immediately struck by wave upon wave of malignant energy. While he wasn't Force sensitive, Korbi sympathized with the sight of the wincing Jedi.
"There's...so much pain," Elsa remarked. "Anger."
"I sense it too," Yelena said. "Try to search deeper. Look past the hate-filled smugglers who thrive within."
"They only hate...because they're hurting too," Elsa realized. "So many broken spirits...disappointments...loss." Elsa's eyes widened as another wave of emotion struck her. "Sadness," she murmured. "Master, I think I sense those kidnapped."
"Be ready to move," Yelena intoned.
A sturdy knock came to the door as several thugs approached. Anna literally slammed their unconscious target's hand against the door like some kind of rag doll. "Is he drunk?" a Sullustan brute queried. "Pillek, go have a look." A lanky Pantoran rolled his eyes and trudged over to the door. He propped it open and was immediately Force-pulled outside. Fists flew as sounds of his pummeling echoed back to the others. "Pillek?" the Sullustan called. The lack of a response prompted him to draw his blaster. "You two," he ordered the other thugs. "Fetch the Slavemaster. Tell him-"
"Tell him what?" Mattias asked while strutting into the room. "That your operation's busted?" One of the thugs ran for an alarm, but Mattias flung his lightsaber at him. Using the Force, Mattias activated the weapon in midair and let it pierce his hand before it could reach the alarm. He called it back to him as the wounded thug screeched.
"It's a Jedi!" a criminal panicked.
"Blast him!" the Sullustan ordered. They opened fire as Mattias rushed to get his lightsaber. The first few lasers would've killed him had Anna not leapt to his side. She sparked up her blade and deflected the shots away from his face.
"Nice save, Padawan." Mattias panted and went back to back with her.
"I've got you!" Anna assured and deflected a laser into a thug's foot. "Ooo!" she winced. "At least now you'll get your shoes for half the price!"
While they battled the thugs, Mattias used the Force to open the upper windows. "That's our cue," Yelena whispered. "Let's move." She and Elsa slipped onto the upper catwalk while Korbi tripped over himself.
"Let's see what I can do," Anna said to herself. She eyed a nearby crate and tried to focus on it. Upon throwing her hands forward, she sent it steadily flying towards several crooks.
"Not bad," Mattias teased. "But how about a 'snatch n' bash'?" Anna's puzzled look made Mattias all the more excited to show off. He sprung towards two thugs and Force-pulled the weapons out of their hands. Before they had a chance to react, he then used the Force to slam their heads into each other. "Snatch and bash!" he cheered.
"You've got to teach me that one," Anna admired as they continued fighting.
Yelena and Elsa leapt to a lower catwalk where thugs awaited them. "I'll take them," Yelena said and activated her blade. "Find the prisoners!"
"On it," Elsa answered and listened to her senses. She ran into a shadowy, rusted corridor and focused on the feelings of despair.
The sudden rattling of shackles and durasteel bars caught her attention. The frantic, malnourished hands of countless species reached out from behind cell doors. Teenagers from all walks of life cried out for help upon seeing Elsa down the hall. "A Jedi!" one of them gasped.
"Save us!" another wept.
"I'm gonna get you out of here," Elsa said and activated her lightsaber. She raised it to the bars and its glow illuminated the prisoners' faces. Their shocked, horrified expressions had Elsa wanting to reassure them. She figured whatever horrors they'd been conditioned to endure had left horrid, psychological scars. "I'm just going to slice open the bars," Elsa calmly explained. "Then I'll put my blade away and-"
"Behind you!" a teenager shrieked and pointed.
Only then did Elsa realize they were never afraid of her. By the time she caught on, a firm hand was already gripping her head. Long, insidious nails dug into her scalp before her unknown assailant slammed her face into the bars. Acting on defensive impulse, Elsa threw her hand back and unleashed a powerful Force push. She sent her foe spiraling into the wall and bought herself time to recover. Elsa's world was a blur as she clasped her throbbing, reddened forehead. Her vision was spinning and she tried to focus on the man who'd attacked her. With eerily pale skin and violet facial tattoos, a muscular Zabrak rose up. The Slavemaster's jagged horns cast ominous shadows under the dimly-lit, overhanging lights.
A smile formed on his thin, dreadful lips as he stared Elsa down. "Fear," he bellowed. "I can smell it off of you. You're no different than these other weaklings!" He merely knocked on the bars and it was enough to have the teens cowering.
The gesture made Elsa scowl and she reignited her lightsaber. "I'm not afraid of you," she declared.
"Oh you will be," he chuckled and plucked an electrostaff from the wall. "I'll break you like all of the rest!"
As the Slavemaster charged at Elsa, her world appeared to slow. She practiced quieting her mind and listened to herself. As she did so, another voice spoke alongside her own. "Are you truly fearless in this moment?" Evara, Wraith of the Force, asked.
No, Elsa responded. But while I am scared, I will not give him the satisfaction. Part of dueling is psychological.
"That it is," Evara responded. "And never forget, young one. Fear can be your strength. Not as a gateway to the Dark Side, but as a guide to valiance. To be brave, you must first be scared. Focus on all you've learned, Elsa. You can defeat this tyrant!"
Elsa met the Zabrak's attack with one of her own. Their strikes collided and his strength outmatched hers. While one end of his staff forced her saber back, he jabbed the opposite end into her shoulder. Elsa yelped as purple lightning buzzed through her body. The Slavemaster cackled until Elsa Force-pushed him back. With a vicious growl, he steadied himself and kicked off of the wall. He took a swing at her head as she rolled to evade. The buzz of his pulsing staff hummed just above Elsa's forehead. As both fighters took up new positions, Elsa heard Yelena running down the corridor.
"Padawan!" Yelena shouted and tried to catch up. Before she could, the Slavemaster activated a wall panel and sealed her off with a ray shield. He then smashed the panel with his staff and pointed it at Elsa.
"If I'm going down-" he snarled. "-you're all coming with me. No one is coming to save you, girl."
Stay strong, Elsa willed to herself and charged at the Slavemaster. She attempted a combination of lower and upward slashes, but his versatile staff blocked all attacks. He countered by weaving around and punching Elsa in the arm. As she staggered, he landed a painful strike with his electrostaff against her back. While Elsa Force-pushed her foe away, he dug his staff into the floor to stay grounded. Regardless, a sudden idea dawned upon the Padawan.
"What are you thinking?" Evara asked.
This is going to take a lot of concentration, Elsa thought and glanced at her lightsaber. But if this is the day I become one with the Force, I know the others will finish what I've started. May the Force be with me.
Master Cin Drallig's words came back to haunt her as she charged at the Slavemaster.
"With twelve thousand midi-chlorians to your name, your potential for greatness is monumental. Learn from the dead and don't throw it away."
"Time to put those midi-chlorians to the test," Elsa whispered under her breath. She flung her lightsaber at the Zabrak and he prepared to deflect it. Much to the Slavemaster's surprise, the blade didn't come anywhere close to him. Instead, it spun over his head and landed behind him. His relief was short-lived as Elsa used the Force to send it swinging from behind. Her temporal muscles twitched and ached as she commanded her saber to strike. The Slavemaster was forced to give his back to her in order to engage the floating lightsaber. Elsa seized the opportunity to jump on his back and wrap her arms around his neck. He was about to pull her off when Elsa used her last ounce of concentration to make her saber strike on its own once more. The Slavemaster had no choice but to deflect, and Elsa used the distraction to reach for his staff. With a mighty huff, Elsa heaved the staff leftward and forced one of its electrified ends into his neck. The Slavemaster roared as purple streaks of electricity pulsed through his body. Elsa leapt off and pushed the staff away, granting just enough exposure to incapacitate the Slavemaster. Exhausted and dizzy, Elsa collapsed against the nearest wall and examined the Zabrak's unconscious body.
"I chose you for many reasons," Evara said. "This is one of them. Well done, agent of the Light Side."
Elsa faintly smiled while catching her breath and uttered, "Thank you."
"Ummm who are you talking to?" A captive teen asked.
Elsa's eyes widened as she desperately tried to recompose herself. "No one," the Padawan said. "Let's get you out of-" Suddenly, an ear-splitting rumble sounded from directly above Elsa. "Now what?" she worried and readied her lightsaber. While she was prepared to fight, she certainly didn't have the strength to recreate what she'd just pulled off. Relief overwhelmed her when blue and green lightsabers pierced through the ceiling. The vibrant blades cut holes through the upper level as Elsa's companions arrived.
"Down here!" Yelena yelled. "Hurry! Elsa's-" Her master choked at the sight of Elsa standing over the Slavemaster's unconscious body. "-...fine?"
"Holy kriff, sis." Anna uttered after assessing the situation. The eldest Dellian shyly nodded and scratched her head.
Using the stun setting on a thug's blaster, the group was able to ensure that all smugglers were incapacitated. "I've done a lot of workouts," Anna huffed. "But piling up baddies on top of each other like fresh fish-" Anna threw another thug on the stun pile. "This is new for me."
After being released from their cages, the teens gathered around to receive energy pellets from the Jedi. "Looks like we were right to trust you, Korbi." Elsa said.
"Our deal isn't finished yet," the Gran insisted. "During the attack, I found a ship big enough to get all of these kids out of here. Either to the their families or somewhere else safe."
"Now hold on," Mattias contested. "These are slave trafficking victims. Law enforcement must be contacted to-"
"The system is rigged, Master Jedi," Korbi explained. "You call the cops, and those involved with the very men you just busted will make sure these kids go back in cages. Nobody wants that."
"So we're just supposed to let them go with you?" Yelena inquired. "And what if you're tricking us to secretly sell these teens yourself?"
Korbi shook his head as two of his three eyes began to tear up. "While I understand your concern, I promise that my intentions are pure. When Malastare was liberated by the Republic, my family was one of millions seeking relief aid. Yet it was a division of bribed clones and dirty officials who separated me from my loved ones. They sold my wife and sons into slavery, deeming me 'too old to be worth anything'." Korbi sniffled and wiped his tears. "I spent months searching for them. Months became years and I soon lost hope. But then I met Chela Tuzi. She introduced me to the Anti-Slavery Coalition and reinvigorated my spirits. Even if I never see my family again, I can at least fight to make sure what happened to me never happens to anyone else." Korbi placed a weary hand over his heart. "Jedi, I swear to you on the memory of my family that I would never harm these teens."
Elsa could sense the old Gran's grief and considered her own experiences with Republic corruption. She remembered how Republic forces had blatantly taken kolto from Manaan on the Chancellor's behalf. "I still trust you," she told him. "But will you hold up your end of our agreementl?" Korbi nodded and handed Elsa a violet-tinted, cylindrical device. "What is it?" she asked.
"It's an unmarked comlink," Korbi said. "Rendered untraceable without a proper encryption."
"What are we supposed to do with this?" Elsa inquired.
"Wait," Korbi explained while ushering teens into the ship. "When the time is right, things will all make sense."
"But you promised to connect us with Chela Tuzi," Yelena scolded impatiently.
"And I stayed true to my word," the Gran insisted. "That comlink provides a direct line to her and I. I will speak to Chela about your deeds here tonight. When the time is right, we'll call you."
Mattias called to Korbi before he could take off. "And what about all of these crooks? Won't the corrupt officials you speak of just free them?"
"They might," Korbi considered. "But my priority is getting the victims out of their reach. Jedi, it's been a privilege. Excellent work handling these degenerates." The Gran saluted the group and flew off into a skylane.
"I hope we made the right decision," Yelena grumbled.
"I believe so," Elsa said.
"Well what the heck are gonna tell the law?" Anna griped. "That we just busted a ton of crooks?"
"Precisely," Mattias said. "I say this respectfully but...we're Jedi. They're not going to question it." Yelena glared at him as he placed a call to the Coruscant Security Force. "What?" Mattias jested. "Am I wrong?"
It wasn't long before the warehouse was swarming with police cruisers. GU-series officer droids were cuffing and hauling away criminals while the masters explained the situation. Meanwhile, Elsa observed the unmarked comlink Korbi had given her. "So let me get this straight," Anna said. "You manipulated your lightsaber with the Force?"
"For a brief moment, yes." Elsa confessed and rubbed her aching temple. "I thought my head was going to burst from concentrating so much."
"That's insane," Anna chuckled. "But still pretty hardcore." She playfully nudged her sister until a sudden, unanimous chime sounded from every parked police cruiser. "What's going on?" Anna asked.
"I'm not sure," Elsa admitted. The sisters stood up and approached the nearest cruiser. The police droid inside was observing a brightly-lit warning screen on its dashboard.
ALL UNITS BE ADVISED - LOCKDOWN IN PROGRESS - BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR TWO ESCAPED PRISONERS
PALLIDUVAN AURRA SING AND AN UNNAMED KNOWN BY MANY AS THE BUG
As the escapee's mugshots flashed across the screen, Elsa and Anna remained frozen in shock. Elsa gasped and slowly turned to Anna with her mouth agape. "Jee," the youngest Dellian whispered. "What have you done?"
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this week's chapter of "The Frozen Force!" I cannot thank you enough for all of your kindness and support. Thank you to everyone for helping me reach my goal of 100 reviews! I'm so happy that you're all enjoying this ongoing adventure. My friends, we are down to the FINAL FIVE CHAPTERS OF SEASON 2! The board is set, the pieces are moving, and questions are begging to be answered! What will become of Jee? Can Korbi be trusted? What does 2-5-8-1 mean? For any Clone Wars fans out there, you may have caught the reference about C-3PO and R2-D2 shopping in the marketplace. If you did, you know what other chaos is about to descend on Coruscant! I am so excited for next week and the rest of this season. As always, it is a pleasure to entertain you all weekly and I hope you're having fun!
Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with You!
~ Michael