Author's Note: Dearest readers, welcome back to the ever-growing adventure. The wait is over and the third season of this epic saga is about to begin. Welcome to the midnight premiere! I'm so excited to be entertaining you all again! "The Frozen Force" has weekly chapters, so you can find a new episode every Friday right here at GoldenHeart Stories. Much has changed since we've last seen our heroes and the stakes are only going to get higher. So brace yourself as we take this journey to new heights! With plenty of new perils and a host of new characters in store, the adventure of a lifetime is at our fingertips. I hope you enjoy the first chapter of Season 3!
Long Live Imagination!
~ Michael
GOLDENHEART STORIES PRESENTS...
A MICHAEL J. PINEDA PRODUCTION...
The Frozen Force: Season III - "A War on All Fronts"
Chapter: 61 (Knights of the Republic)
"Eliminate a tyrant and someone worse will replace them."
It is a dangerous time for the Republic. As conflicts escalate throughout the galaxy, countless worlds fall victim to the price of war. Prominent members of the Jedi Order are spread thin and struggle to maintain peace. While the Separatist threat continues to grow, a criminal underworld thrives amidst such disorder. Deadly SYNDICATES constantly compete for dominance in a brutal power struggle. But light has risen to confront the overwhelming darkness. Having been knighted by the JEDI ORDER, Anna and Elsa Dellian stand defiantly against the rising tide. After a month of rigorous investigating, all evidence leads them to the snow planet of Carlac. With the burdens of knighthood weighing heavily on their shoulders, Anna and Elsa prepare to stop CRIMSON DAWN once and for all...
"Serpents like her can blend in any crowd and assume any role. They'll sweet talk their way through anyone they can't kill and survive every stone you hurl at them. Burn the forest down and she'll still be slithering in the ashes."
There was something surreal about standing in an elevator. Perhaps it was the the daunting heaviness spurred on by constant anticipation. Maybe each periodic 'ding' kept those aboard lost in some trance. Working on such little sleep was likely taking a harrowing toll on Lieutenant Tan Divo of the Coruscant Security Force. His tired eyes peered away from the flashing lights overhead as he examined his watch. Knowing it was the dead of night brought both comfort and eagerness to him as he sighed deeply. Only by taking the elevator could Divo truly understand how many floors the Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center had. The dinging stopped and he glanced at the lift's wall-mounted monitor. A digital symbol flashed across the touchscreen and read:
(LEVEL 30 - Solitary Confinement Wing)
As soon as Divo stepped out of the elevator, a pair of clone shock troopers saluted him and stood at attention. "At ease," Divo murmured until another clone emerged from a corridor. Only then did the lieutenant realize that they weren't saluting him. A crimson kama swayed from Commander Fox's utility belt.
"Lieutenant," the commander greeted. "Here's the dossier you requested." Fox handed Divo a datapad as they traversed an elongated corridor. "I have to warn you. It's...extensive."
Divo raised a brow as he swiped through and read over the documents. "I knew things had become problematic-" he remarked. "-but this is..."
"Now you see why we'll have to conduct your 'interview' on this level instead of the designated chambers upstairs. It's too dangerous to move her over long distances," Fox admitted. "But don't worry. We've made do and set up a table for you in a former cell."
Divo chuckled. "As long as this isn't some scheme to lock me up."
"No scheme sir," Fox assured.
Divo huffed. "Didn't the Kaminoans program you clones to take a joke?"
Fox simply shrugged and guided Divo into an empty cell. A wide table with a pair of vacant seats had been placed in preparation for him. As Divo sat down, Fox stepped out of the cell. "I'll be right back," the commander said. "Just...make yourself at home."
Divo sat amidst a deafening silence and observed the security camera above him. His fingers drummed impatiently while he continued to read the datapad. His scrolling ceased when a clamorous ruckus sounded from down the hall. It was enough to have Divo knitting his brows and leaning forward inquisitively. If he hadn't been warned about the situation, he might've thought that a breakout was underway. Plastoid boots shuffled as a woman snarled between grunting clones. Divo grew concerned when he heard several slams against nearby walls. He was about to investigate for himself when those responsible arrived.
"Get away from me!" the woman screamed as the clones fought to restrain her. Despite the Republic's ethical treatment of its prisoners, this woman's appearance was enough to call all of that into question. Her wrinkled, orange jumpsuit folded as the clones pushed her forward. When her sleeves rolled up, Divo glimpsed an assortment of bandages and stitches running across forearms. Despite how far they'd dragged her, the prisoner still tried to make a run for it. Fox shoved her towards the seat and she stopped resisting entirely. Her head dipped forward and her disheveled, scraggly brown locks blanketed her face. The ensuing silence was chilling as Divo observed her.
The lieutenant glanced at the notes on his datapad and said, "Prisoner 239." The woman remained unresponsive and Divo looked to the clones. "Commander Fox, can you give us the room?"
"Sir," the commander implored. "Are you sure it's wise to-"
"I'll be fine," Divo assured. While the other clones reluctantly departed, Fox checked to make sure the prisoner's cuffs were secured. "Commander," Divo intoned. "They're locked. Now please-"
"Right," Fox muttered and stormed out.
As the doors shut behind them, Divo was left to sit with his interviewee. "Let's try this again," Divo suggested. "Dia Veritez."
"Taz," the prisoner uttered and slowly raised her head. As her hair peeled back, a bloodshot and exhausted glare was revealed. "It's...Veri-taz."
Divo compared Dia's mugshot on file to her current state. "Prison life hasn't treated you well," he remarked while reading over her dossier. "You've only been locked up for a month and have had eight attempted suicides. Ranging from throwing yourself off an upper level, attempting to induce ray shield electrocution, and-" Divo looked at her bandaged wrists and let the injuries speak for themselves. "At the first given moment, you assaulted an inmate in the mess hall. It says here that you disfigured them 'beyond recognition' before the clones were able to intervene."
Dia's blank and lifeless stare seemed to go through Divo. "I had to make sure they'd put me in solitary confinement," she whispered. "For as long as possible."
"You must know that the prison's made several changes to its security systems since the last breakout," Divo explained. "The solitary confinement level now has cameras on-"
Dia slowly shook her head and sighed. "You think I've done all of this to escape?" she hissed. "There is no escape." Her widened eyes listed across the room and focused on the security camera. "They have eyes everywhere. On every level of this game we call life. And people like me are just pawns, making sure we do are part and stay in line. Only I didn't."
Divo scrolled through the datapad and zoomed in on an image taken of Dia's back. An obscure, circular symbol had been painfully branded into her skin. "Why are you afraid of Crimson Dawn?" Divo asked.
"Why aren't you?" Dia retorted. "They can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time." Dia's eye twitched as she sniffled in her seat. "Always checking in. They don't even have to call but you know they're watching. Waiting for you to slip up at any given moment so they can replace you. My master doesn't take too kindly to failure. You've seen how far I was willing to go to avoid it."
"And so has the Republic," Divo said. "But here you are."
"Tormented," Dia defined. "Waiting for them to come for me, yet unwilling to accept it. My master's price for failure is death."
Divo furrowed his brows. "And yet you're trying to end your own life?"
"Whatever agony my master would unleash is far worse than anything I could do to myself. He's torturing me. I know he is. Even now as I wait for one of his agents to come and make me suffer, I feel myself slipping into madness. I barely eat...I don't sleep-"
"Perhaps you think you're more important to your master than you really are," Divo snarked and Dia sneered. "It's ironic really. That a slaver such as yourself answers to a master."
Dia faintly smirked. "Oh please, officer. Spare me your 'high and mighty' lecture. I lived that facade for years and spewed plenty of banthacrap to the Senate. But I'm feeling truthful tonight so I'll let you in on a little secret. We're all slaves in one way or another. We're all just trying to survive and hoping whatever master we serve approves of our accomplishments."
"The Republic condemns slavery," Divo affirmed.
"Precisely what a well-trained slave would say about his masters," Dia jeered. "We pretend that this Republic is so refined and almighty. As if its people aren't oppressed right here in the capital. How do you think it was so easy for someone like me to take advantage of them? But keep living in your fantasy world where you're the hero. Tell yourself that 'ethical treatment' is a thing when you just saw how your clones dragged me in here. It's a beautiful lie isn't it? It must help you sleep wonderfully."
The lieutenant lowered his tone to a calming utterance. "Dia," he began. "I've read your files and I know your history. I know that you were once a prestigious noblewoman of Corellia. You had dreams of making a difference in the galaxy and chose a career in politics."
"And then I learned how it all really worked," Dia grumbled.
"No," Divo countered. "You gave in to fear." The prisoner raised a brow as he continued. "You don't have to be afraid anymore, Dia. The Republic is cracking down on crime syndicates across the galaxy. And just like the other syndicates, Crimson Dawn will fall."
Dia's initial surprise transitioned into shock as she snorted. The former senator suddenly laughed insidiously while descending into madness. Her cacophonous cackling had Divo wincing as she stared into his bewildered eyes. "You hoity-toity buffoon!" she mocked. "How naive can you possibly get? Crimson Dawn is unlike any other syndicate out there. They have resources and contacts beyond all others. They'll arrive out of the blue and disappear just as quickly! You'll never find them!"
Divo waited for Dia's laugh to conclude and cleared his thought. "What if I told you-" he began. "-that we already know where they are." Dia's laughter came to a halt and she glared at the lieutenant. "What if I told you that after a month of rigorous investigating, we've been able to locate a primary compound and have a team assembled to engage?"
Dia's brows furrowed and she leaned against the table. Her glower deepened as she murmured, "If that's true...I'd get some funerals organized because whoever you send will die."
Divo ignored her remark and tried pleading. "Dia, I know it may be hard to see...but Crimson Dawn is not as invincible as you believe them to be." Her eyes trailed off towards the table as he continued. "You're just another victim in their trap, but we have a chance to stop them. That's why I've come here. If there's any information you can spare to help the team, we can turn the tide in our favor. Who is your master? We need names, events, anything that can-"
Dia shook her head and looked to Divo with teary eyes. "Nothing I say can help," she muttered. "We're all slaves, Crimson Dawn will thrive, and your team will die."
Divo scoffed. "Dia, be reasonable. The team-"
"They will die," she reiterated as a tear rolled down her cheek. "They will all...die."
The cell doors opened and Commander Fox returned. "Time's up," he grunted. "I've seen enough." He hauled Dia to her feet and dragged her back to her cell.
As Dia maniacally hollered "They're all gonna die!" from down the hall, Divo was left to contemplate her words.
The Outer Rim planet of Carlac was a remote and frigid world. Aside from small settlements, vast regions of Carlac remained largely untouched. Its scenic, neutral grounds were ideal for explorers and anyone seeking to hide from the "noise" of the galaxy. Bright cherry blossom trees rustled as a chilling breeze blew in from the mountains. A blizzard had made its way from the jagged peaks to blanket the forests in a fresh layer of snow. There was a tranquil solace to such desolation as the blizzard swept over the region. As the whiteout ensued, lights flickered from a nearby slope. An illustrious compound weathered the storm as faint musical tones echoed from within. While the snowstorm raged outside, the compound's patrons basked in the warmth of an elegant party.
Spotlights glistened on a violet-hued, oblong stage. "Ladies, gentlemen, and gender-nonconforming guests." an extravagant announcer declared. "I give you Luleo Primoc and the 'Chanteuse of the Stars' herself, Aurodia Ventafoli!"
Party guests applauded as a unique pair of performers was elevated onto the stage. Golden embroideries glimmered across Aurodia gown and vividly contrasted against her dark skin. Gleaming tassels swayed from her headdress as she held a microphone close. A stylish, multi-vocoder was fastened to her lips and allowed her vocals to be heard at non-human frequencies. Her smooth and melodious harmonies were accompanied by Luleo's deep tones. Confined to a biotube, the green-skinned Gallusian floated up to his mic and serenaded away. Together, the duo captivated their audience amidst the dimly-lit banquet hall. Luleo was no stranger to performing for various crowds. When he wasn't singing, he was acting in holomovies via an exosuit. But Aurodia was still new to such ventures. While her performances had made her a bestseller across the stars, she preferred clients with clean records. But her reputation attracted all sorts of spectators and she couldn't turn down the hefty sum she'd been offered. As she sang her heart out, Aurodia tried not to focus on who her clients were. But the presence of Crimson Dawn spoke volumes. They had been nothing but hospitable to her and still she feared what they were capable of. Aurodia inferred that such fear was the power that syndicates held in the galaxy. She was already thinking about leaving the party at the first given opportunity.
Gambling welcomed those who didn't care for the spectacle on stage. Everything from sabacc, uvide roulette, and slot machines had a place at the banquet. Elegantly-dressed guests cheered and hollered to one another while cards and chips were exchanged. Glasses and coins clinked while slot machines rolled away. Yet despite all of the boisterous revelry, there was a distinct hint of dread in the air. Stern-faced, heavily-armed, Hylobon enforcers set up a perimeter around the event. Their sleek, black helmets yielded to their wide, grey-skinned chines. Dark capes trailed behind their shadowy uniforms as they patrolled the party and observed guests. Their heads snapped toward any abnormal sound or shout.
Multiple Hylobons were stationed at a tunnel system several halls away from the festivities. The tunnel connected to a hangar teeming with the most expensive ships organized crime could buy. Interstellar corvettes and cruisers were neatly parked in rows as another ship entered through the tunnel. The Hylobon enforcer on duty snarled and examined the craft's readout. He snorted when the entry terminal flashed green with clearance and permitted the ship to land. He engaged the tunnel's complimentary heating systems and watched snow melt off the ship's hull. Its onyx coating lay juxtaposed against the whiteness of the snow as it reduced speed and landed.
Another enforcer trudged down to the vessel as it lowered its ramp. Mist seeped from the internal systems and a silhouette emerged. A man donning jet black, chromium-accented armor descended from the ramp. While the upper half of his face was hidden behind a one-way visor. his chiseled jaw remained exposed. The Hylobon tilted his head suspiciously until the man gestured back to his ship. He cleared his throat and announced, "Presenting, her majesty...Duchess Menzel of Aren." The Hylobon followed the man's hand towards a slender silhouette at the top the ramp. From the moment the overhead lights struck the so-called duchess, her midnight blue-gown began to sparkle. A fluffy collar led towards her pale visage and the violet eyeshadow sparkling atop her blue gaze. Her platinum blonde tresses had been braided into a single bun while an eye-catching fascinator rested atop her head. Intricate, crystalline designs stretched from her headpiece and reflected depending on where the light struck them. Despite her gorgeous presentation, the duchess looked anything but pleasant. Her stern demeanor turned her beautiful gaze into an icy stare as she descended down the ramp.
With her head held high, Duchess Menzel barely looked at her bodyguard and grumbled, "Well?"
"Yes, your majesty," the guard panicked. "Apologies, your majesty." He tossed the ship's ignition card to the Hylobon enforcer. "Park her majesty's ship and make sure it remains unscathed."
The duchess scowled and shook a fist of ringed fingers at the Hylobon. "If I so much as see a single dent or scratch on my vessel-" she scolded. "I'll buy and sell you! Do you hear me?"
The Hylobon quickly nodded and went to park their craft. Duchess Menzel held her head high and watched as her victim scurried away. As she and her bodyguard traversed the hall towards the party, they used what time they had alone to converse. A faint smirk formed on the duchess' lips as she whispered, "How'd I sound?"
"Like a villain," Commander Frost said. "Just try not to overdo it."
"Relax," Elsa Dellian remarked. "We've come too far to blow it now."
The sounds of the party loudened as they approached a set of double doors. "Here we go," Frost huffed.
"Link arms with me," Elsa muttered.
"Wait, what?" he choked.
Frost's body stiffened as Elsa pulled his arm around hers. They put on their best glowers and entered the banquet hall. From the moment they arrived, they became the subject of glances and whispers. Elsa could see partygoers gossiping from tables while distracted patrons bumped into one another. Normally, the weight of so many eyes on her presence would intimidate Elsa. But there was something about portraying another person that helped alleviate some of the pressure. She quietly examined the party as a whole, counting exits and the amount of visible guards. She tried to recognize any of the patrons, but everyone was a stranger. "I think I fancy a drink," Elsa muttered.
She and Frost approached an elaborate bar with an illuminated counter. A fine-suited, yellow-skinned Rodian turned with widened eyes. "What can I get you?" he asked.
"Mix me a 'Hyperdrive'," Elsa demanded. "And one for my bodyguard too."
The Rodian observed Elsa's youthful appearance, despite the fact that she was twenty-one. "Can I see some ID?" Elsa's cold and unfeeling gaze had the bartender gulping. "It...um...was just a joke, ma'am. I'm sorry," he pleaded and served their drinks.
"You'd better be," Elsa growled. She angrily sipped the beverage while maintaining eye contact. Crimson Dawn's drink preparation was very different compared to the 'Hyperdrive' Elsa had in the Manaan cantina. The Rodian raised a brow as Elsa struggled to maintain a straight face. She felt like she'd just swallowed a mixture of sweetly-scented fire and quickly tried to regain her composure. Sweat trickled down her temple and her cheeks flushed with red. "Well?" Elsa wheezed. "What are you looking at?" The bartender went back to his business and Elsa was left to catch her breath. She glanced at her drink and mumbled, "What's in this thing, starship fuel?"
Frost sipped his glass and cleared his throat. "Woah," he croaked. "That's one heck of a kick."
She glared at him until a glass clinked beside her. The sharp sound was enough to have her and Frost turning towards a set of rugged knuckles. A well-pressed, pine green sleeve slinked back and revealed a series of empty shot glasses. Elsa's eyes followed the rugged hand as it poured yet another glass amidst the assortment. Once the drinker knew he had her attention, a grin formed on his thinly-mustachioed lips. "Malastare," he said. "A forested and hazardous world like so many others in this wild galaxy. But the Dugs are the least of your problems out there." Elsa and Frost exchanged perplexed glances as the stranger continued. With slicked back brown hair and dark, brooding eyes...he stared at the liquid bubbling in his shot glass. "There are far worse predators in those thick and treacherous jungles. I was out on an excursion when a nexu caught me by surprise." He glanced at Elsa to see if she was still watching him. "With rows of sharp teeth and four scarlet eyes, the beast was relentless. But using my wits and a single blaster shot-" the man chugged his drink and slammed the glass alongside its empty brethren. "-I slayed the creature and its head now rests atop my wall." He smirked at Elsa as if attempting to woo her with his accomplishment.
He was taken aback when she actually snickered in response. "You think you're the only one who's encountered a nexu?" she said. "You act as though I need to be lectured on what one even is." She stared the man down and spun a story of her own. "Scarif," Elsa began. "I had just finished mining Blúm Island for resources when one of those savage felines attacked my bodyguard here. Had it not been for a swift shot from my rifle...well...let's just say there might've been a job opening."
The hunter smirked at Elsa's 'exploit' and said, "I like you, madam. You've got...character." He raised a hand and Frost flinched in an attempt to protect Elsa. She held him back when it was just an empty palm. The hunter chuckled at the gesture and introduced himself. "Captain Bry Clayton. But a beauty such as yourself can just call me Clayton."
"Duchess Menzel of Aren," Elsa said. "My bodyguard here is Temuro."
Clayton humored Frost with a nod and diverted all attention to Elsa. "Aren, you say?" he inquired and the knight stiffened. She kept up a smile as he said, "You must be the new contributor I've been hearing about." Elsa nodded. "But with all due respect, your grace. It will take more than donating a hefty sum of credits to stay within Crimson Dawn. I am one of the galaxy's greatest hunters. The syndicate helps me sell the most illegal and priciest of my works to the highest bidders. In fact, I owe a huge portion of my success to that darling over there."
As Clayton gestured with his next drink, Elsa followed his gaze to a heavily-coated woman. Intricate furs swayed as she strutted across the party, mingling with only the most esteemed guests. She had a devious curl to her lips and an icy stare to rival Elsa's fake one. Her shoulder length hair bobbed and was split into two colors. While dark tresses overwhelmed one side, the rest of her hair was as white as Carlac's snow. "Her deeds have earned her quite a reputation over the years," Clayton explained. "To the point where people rarely remember her real name."
"What do they call her?" Elsa queried.
"Cruella," Clayton said. "So tell me, duchess. What is it you have to offer? Surely you don't think credits alone will satisfy the master?"
"Slaves," Elsa forced herself to say nonchalantly. Clayton raised a brow as she continued. "No one here is a stranger to profiteering off war. I've been able to smuggle countless, prospective slaves out of Aren betwixt its conflict."
"So the rumors are true," Clayton murmured. "They are replacing Veritaz." He noticed Elsa's concern and sought to placate her. "Now don't fret. I'm relieved it's you. The last thing we need is to open up more trade and taint our operation with-" Clayton leaned in and brought his voice down to a whisper. "Non-humans. I believe we were once the dominant race in the galaxy, you know. Aliens were never meant for anything beyond servitude," he snarked and gestured to the Hylobon enforcers.
"I couldn't agree more!" a woman rejoiced from around the bar's counter. She brushed the short, fiery red hair from her face and fluttered her emerald eyes. As this violet-dressed partygoer rounded the corner, she was flanked by a pair of Trandoshan bodyguards. "And people dare act like servitude is demeaning." She caressed one of the reptilian's scaly chins before glancing back at Clayton. "But I give my Trandoshans a life beyond that dungheap of a planet they come from. And all they have to do is swear allegiance to me." A grin formed on the woman's scarlet lips and she strutted up to Elsa. "I couldn't help but overhear that you're our new slaver. Trandoshan subjugation is like second nature to me and I'm open to sharing tips."
Elsa forced herself to smile but her blood was boiling within. Despite their typically stern expressions, the Trandoshans looked dead inside. She could sense the cold and listless void within their minds. Their spirits had been broken by this heinous woman that Elsa was now forced to befriend. "Thank you for the offer," Elsa murmured beneath her smile. "Duchess Menzel."
"Oh a duchess," the woman gasped and lightly curtsied. "They call me Madame Meduza. I run expeditions for the syndicate. You'd be surprised how many priceless artifacts and gems are scattered across the stars...ripe for our taking."
A sudden chime sounded on Clayton and Meduza's communication devices. "It looks like it's time," Clayton said. Elsa eyed their matching devices until he commented, "Don't worry, your highness. You'll get yours soon enough." As the party continued, she joined the other high-ranking members and headed upstairs.
While on their way up, Elsa couldn't help but overhear the snarking laughter of guests near a dining display. A raven-haired woman snickered while pointing at the table. "And make sure you get me three of everything, slave! Don't you dare miss one!"
A youthful, submissive blonde rushed over with a tray to gather the appetizers on command. Before she could do so, a young redhead tripped her up and sent her tumbling. Both she and the raven-haired guest were silenced as their elder stormed over. "Stasia! Drizelle! Behave yourselves. I won't be long." As the elder departed, the sisters continued to humiliate their slave by 'accidentally' spilling a drink on her while she was down.
"Oops," Drizelle mocked before she and her sister burst into laughter.
Elsa's fist shook at the sight. She wanted nothing more than to stomp back downstairs and help the innocent slave. "Duchess Menzel," Clayton asserted from atop the stairs. "Are you coming?"
Elsa calmed herself with a steady breath and struggled to maintain a smile. "Yes...yes of course," she replied. She looked to Frost, who was also fighting to maintain his composure. They entered a quiet conference room and glimpsed new faces.
"Of course he's late again," Meduza griped. "He pages us and then doesn't even show up."
"It's called being fashionably late, dear." Cruella muttered. "But then again, you wouldn't understand class." She smoked her t'bac stick and puffed its residue towards Meduza's scowling face.
Meduza gritted her teeth. "I have more class in one finger than-"
"Ladies, ladies-" Clayton placated. "You're both...erhm...charming. But are we really setting the best first impression for the duchess here?"
"A duchess?" the elder from downstairs said. "If you ask me, royalty is precisely what Crimson Dawn needs. Not some hypocritical senator. Speaking of which, has she been dealt with yet?"
"Not yet, Tremaine." A grey-skinned Mikkian confessed. His motile, blue tendrils swayed above his head like a roaring flame. "She knows how we work and has thrown herself in solitary confinement. My guys on the inside can't reach her...yet."
"So much for having Coruscant in your pocket, Hades." Meduza jeered.
The Mikkian raised a leathery hand. "Just because I run its underworld doesn't mean my influence stretches up top. That was little Dia's turf. But seeing how easily the Republic took her down, 'her majesty' here doesn't have big shoes to fill."
"She's quiet," Cruella said and squinted towards Elsa. "Too quiet. I don't like a partner who doesn't speak up."
Elsa's heart sank, yet she mustered the courage to answer. "I will speak up when I please," she intoned and observed a silent member of the group. "What about him?" she said and motioned towards a black-feathered Avinarian. "He hasn't uttered a word since we arrived."
The slender Avinarian glared at Elsa while Clayton said, "We don't count her pet, Diaval, over there."
His comment was met with mixed expressions from the group as the Avinarian cawed, "Mistress Maleficent has better things to do than attend your pointless parties."
"So she sends her little bird instead," Meduza scoffed. "Ridiculous. It-"
Another set of doors opened and the group simmered down. Elsa swallowed hard as a pair of boots tromped into the eerily silent room and she realized...the master had arrived. His thin silhouette drifted across the wide set of nearby windows. The frantic snowfall lay juxtaposed against his calm and composed stride. Aside from his purely white undershirt, the man was adorned in the finest and blackest fabrics. An elegant, shadowy cape loomed over one of his shoulders and contrasted against his light blonde hair. Faint flickers of moonlight crept amidst the storm and shined down through the room's glass ceiling. The moonbeams glistened against the master's cloak as he hunched forward and spoke in a refined tone. "Relentless...ruthless...resilient. These are the words often used to describe Crimson Dawn. We are relentless to achieve what we want. We are ruthless against those who stand in our way. We are resilient through all forms of change." The man slowly turned to his underlings and exposed his youthful, yet near-human visage. Bizarre striations ran across his face and were deeply connected to his circulatory system. While the rest of his fingers appeared normal, a daunting claw extended from one of his thumbs. "It is our tenacity that separates us from any other syndicate out there. This is how and why we shall outlast them all."
A faint smile formed on his thin lips as he approached Elsa. "Tonight we have a very special guest," he said and took her hand. "Menzel, duchess of a world in the furthest reaches of space." He kissed her hand while maintaining stern eye contact. "I, Dryden Vos, am most grateful for your donations to our cause and look forward to this slave trade you've promised us."
"I am honored to serve Crimson Dawn," Elsa affirmed.
"That's what I like to hear," Dryden lauded. Elsa was alarmed by how quickly he could shift from being pleasant to borderline insidious. When she tried to relinquish her hand, Dryden only tightened his grip. "Because once you're part of Crimson Dawn," he whispered while staring into her eyes. "You can't leave." He slowly loosened his grip and smiled again before returning to the others. "I want to thank you all for coming," he said. "As you know, Carlac is remote enough to keep the prying eyes of the Republic and the Separatists away from us. Dryden clenched a fist and spoke with true and utter conviction. "Our slave branch must persist. The demand for such labor has only increased and the Hutts are dominating. Without Veritaz's Coruscant influence, the Hutt Clan will dominate the slave markets again." Dryden's dreadful gaze listed towards Elsa once more. "The floor is yours, duchess. You hail from a warring world we hardly know about and lack any connections within the Galactic Senate. Wealth will only get you so far and donors are easily replaced. So what is your plan of action to get Crimson Dawn back in the slave markets?"
Elsa felt a tightness in her chest as the other leaders stared her down. She could feel the heaviness of their judgmental glares weighing down on her as she pursed her lips. "You keep seeing Coruscant as a strength," she said.
"Because it is," Hades asserted. Dryden held up a hand to silence him and motioned for Elsa to continue.
"But the Senate's corruption is a weakness, not a strength." Elsa elaborated. "Allies in the Senate are unreliable, as they will act in their own self interests. I've seen it before...on Aren," Elsa bluffed. "I've never met this Dia, but she sounds like quite the coward. And an incompetent one to say the least. She could barely keep her sector under control while holding up a facade in the Senate. You need someone who isn't putting up an act. Because if they are, what's to stop them from lying to you as well?" The leaders tilted their heads with intrigue while Dryden nodded. Feeling motivated by their support, Elsa continued. "We need to establish our own network and branch out to other syndicates."
"Form alliances?" Meduza scoffed. "Crimson Dawn would never!"
Elsa remained calm and let Dryden talk to Meduza. She had to try and gather as much information as she could. If she found out about other criminal organizations in hiding, they could be brought to light as well. "Perhaps Duchess Menzel has a point," Tremaine considered. "If we can form alliances against the Hutts, we can tilt the odds in our favor. Forget ruling the slave markets. We can rule the galaxy from right beneath this insipid war."
"What do you think, Dryden?" Cruella queried.
Dryden rubbed his chin and thought deeply on the proposition. "The duchess' plan could work if we choose our allies wisely."
Clayton nudged Elsa and whispered, "Nice going. Believe it or not, he just gave you a compliment." As Clayton retracted his hand, Elsa noticed the Crimson Dawn symbol branded on his wrist. The very symbol that she'd seen burned into Dia's back was branded in a unique spot on each member's body. She caught a glimpse of Meduza's brand scorched against the back of her hand. While people like Dia kept their marks hidden from the galaxy, a woman like Madame Meduza was eager to show off her affiliation.
Before Dryden could carry on, a distinct set of claps sounded from the shadows. "Bravo," a deep...yet familiar voice said. "Bravo indeed."
"Talk about fashionably late," Cruella grumbled.
"I didn't even hear him come in," Tremaine admitted. Although she was nervous, Elsa tried to nonchalantly look around the room. But she and Frost struggled to find the source of the oddly recognizable voice.
"I'm glad you're so welcoming, boss," the man said. "Really I am. I mean, in the wake of losing someone as 'respectable' as that Dia Veritaz...well...Desperation sets in." Everyone's heads swiveled as the man's voice traveled across the room.
"I do loathe these theatrics of his," Diaval cawed.
"But I never expected you all to be this...blind."
Elsa's heart nearly stopped once she finally recognized the voice. Oh no, she thought and looked to Frost with widened eyes.
A pair of polished boots stepped out from the shadows while the hem of a wine-colored trench coat trailed behind. The wearer smirked and tipped his short-brimmed hat to the others. "Facilier," Dryden greeted. "I assumed you weren't coming."
Sweat trickled down Elsa's temple as memories of her encounter on Felucia returned. Unaware of her connection to Facilier, Frost placed a calming hand on her shoulder. Clayton noticed the gesture and raised a suspicious brow. "Apologies," Facilier said. "My studies took me elsewhere. I'm sure Diaval's mistress can relate."
"What a joke," Meduza jeered. "So we have to be prompt but those dabbling in hokey religions get a pass? At least give us a 'card reading' or something as tribute for your tardiness."
Facilier scoffed and chuckled to himself. He took his time and let his vivid, violet gaze drift across the room. "How about this for a tribute? See that duchess over there? Esteemed acquaintances, may I introduce to you...Elsa Dellian, Jedi of the Republic."
Elsa's blood ran cold from the moment he revealed her name. All eyes turned to her in disbelief as she impulsively tried to stand. "How dare you make such a ghastly accusation!" she declared while sweat soaked her cheeks. It mattered not what kind of facade she put on. Elsa's hastening breaths and profuse sweating were already causing her to falter.
"Sit down," Dryden said calmly.
Elsa cleared her throat and tried to compose herself. "If I may-"
In that instant, Dryden's scar-like marks intensified. They reddened along with his eyes as blood furiously circulated through them. "Sit down!" he barked and Elsa stiffened. She slowly returned to her seat while Frost remained close. Clayton backed away while the rest of Crimson Dawn judged Elsa. Tremaine's once admiring stare was now seething with disgust. Cruella and Hades appeared spiteful while Diaval seemed unsurprised. Meduza grinned sadistically as if anticipating a slaughter.
"How do you know this?" Dryden asked and Facilier shrugged nonchalantly.
"We had a little run-in on Felucia some time ago," he answered. "We might not know much about Aren, but I'd never forget that face of hers."
"Is this true?" Dryden inquired.
"Of course it's-"
"I want to here it from her," the master growled and leered at her. "If you can lie...you can speak the truth. And don't you dare test my patience any further. Test me again...and you'll see what happens."
Elsa had merely opened her mouth and Dryden was already raising a hand. The Hylobon enforcers around them powered up their blaster rifles and slowly closed in. Elsa felt like she and Frost were dead regardless of what she said next. Dryden was exercising his power, especially to make up for falling for such a ruse. They were surrounded and unable to even reach the back door. Frost tightened his grip on Elsa's shoulder. Regardless of what would happen, he was prepared to throw himself on top of her and suffer first.
"Well?" Dryden hissed.
Elsa swallowed hard and the lump in her throat ached. "I-" she croaked until something chimed on her earring.
Dryden furrowed his brows towards the sound while a woman's voice crackled in Elsa's hidden earpiece. "That's it," she said. "I'm going in."
A sudden thud drew everyone's attention to the ceiling above. A flash of green plasma sent glass shattering as a pair of figures dropped down against the conference table. Glass shards plummeted across the conference room while snow spewed through the smashed ceiling. Plastoid, scarlet-armored boots rose from the table amidst the smoke and snowfall. A pair of gloved hands swung a lightsaber through the smokescreen as an armored Jedi came into view. Free-flowing auburn locks blew past her freckled and stern visage. Anna Dellian boldly grinned and ducked as an ARF trooper aimed his pistol over her shoulder.
"Knock knock!" Sergeant Blazer said as he opened fire on the disoriented enforcers. Blue lasers zipped over the table and scorched through their vests. Bodies struck the floor while another silhouette swung in from the window. Members of Crimson Dawn braced as a pair of cybernetic legs smashed through the glass. Another clone rolled into action and blasted the first Hylobon in sight. "Nice shot, Speedy!" Blazer shouted over the winds.
The ensuing whiteout shrouded the room as members of Crimson Dawn fled. Frost withdrew his bodyguard pistol and exchanged fire with enforcers. "Well well," Anna quipped and tossed Elsa her lightsaber. "It seems that doing it 'your way' failed. What a surprise."
"Not now, sis." Elsa groaned. "We can't let them get away!" She sparked up her lightsaber and went back to back with Anna. Their blue and green blades deflected incoming blasts while the clones fired away. "To the banquet hall," Elsa ordered. "Quickly!"
The group dashed out of the conference room and found a horde of enforcers awaiting them. Partygoers screamed and scrambled as lasers lit up the halls. Lasershots obliterated display tables and sent coins sputtering from slot machines. "We're taking too much heat on this balcony," Blazer growled while blindly firing back.
"Then let's even the odds," Speedy suggested and held up a thermal detonator.
"Absolutely not," Elsa scolded.
"You're kidding right?" Anna retorted. "We're getting shot at and you want to play the peace game now?"
"There are unarmed guests down there-"
"Oh please! Everyone here's a hostile!"
"There are rules of engagement!" Elsa fired back.
"Generals!" Frost blurted as his cover was shot to pieces. He removed his disguise's helmet and revealed his sweaty face. "With all due respect, we're wasting time."
"He's right," Anna asserted and took command for herself. "Frost, Blazer and Speedy, keep these thugs busy. Elsa, you're with me. Let's try and nab who we can at this point."
"I'll buy you some time," Blazer assured and plucked a flash grenade from his belt. "Incoming!" As the flash grenade exploded downstairs, Elsa and Anna rushed down a separate corridor.
"How much did you hear?" Elsa panted.
"Everything, duchess." Anna snarked. "None of this would've happened if we'd gone with my plan from the start."
"Prioritize capturing Dryden Vos," Elsa intoned. She glimpsed his black cape on a lower level and vaulted down after him. Anna was about to follow when she noticed Madame Meduza on the upper balcony.
"I've got time," the youngest Dellian told herself and gave chase.
Meduza was more perceptive than she led on and noticed Anna in pursuit. She unbuckled a blaster from her holster and opened fire. "Jedi vermin!" she scorned and opened fire. Anna batted away the scarlet lasers and darted towards her target. Once she was close enough, Anna rolled under Meduza's arm and kicked the pistol out of her hand. She then pinned her to the wall and held a lightsaber to her neck.
"Who's the vermin now?" Anna spat. "Don't even think about budging!" While holding Meduza at saberpoint, Anna reached for a pair of binders on her armored utility belt. She was about to retrieve them when a set of claws snatched her wrist. "What the?"
Meduza cackled as Anna's eyes widened. One of her hulking, Trandoshan bodyguards started twisting Anna's wrist until she was forced to turn. "Nice work, my darling," she lauded. "Crush her!" The reptilian hissed and reached for Anna's throat. In retaliation, the knight relinquished her hold on Meduza and drove her lightsaber into the Trandoshan's chest. "No!" Meduza wailed as Anna murdered one of her precious servants. While she had her back turned, Meduza kicked Anna off of the balcony and sent her plummeting alongside the dead Trandoshan. His scaly body broke her fall, but Meduza escaped amidst the distraction.
"Kriffing hell," Anna murmured from the lower level. Despite her aching body, she noticed a toppled dessert tray and helped herself to a mid-battle snack. "Lieutenant Sparx," she called in with a mouth full of chocolate. "Do you read?"
"I hear you, general." Sparx replied. "Are you...eating?"
"Maybe?" Anna mumbled while chewing. "...Yes. We're gonna need that getaway ride. Something tells me we're walking away empty-handed. I'm gonna get Elsa."
"Is she alright?"
"She's in pursuit," Anna griped. "And just another reason we're walking away empty-handed. Just meet us at the banquet hall."
"Banquet hall? But where am I supposed to land?"
Anna paused and swallowed her chocolate truffles. "Um...we'll figure it out," she assured.
Elsa ripped off the hem of her gown and sprinted down a corridor. She came to a halt upon approaching a fork in the passageway. Countless partygoers were fleeing the scene down one route while the other appeared more secluded. Elsa opted for the latter and discovered a private hangar. As she slid in to intervene, several Hylobons started shooting at her. While she deflected their blasts, Dryden and his underlings fled to their personal ships. Running out of time, Elsa Force-pushed the Hylobons into a wall and leapt towards Dryden's ship. As the small vessel started to take off, it came to an abrupt halt in midair. Dryden and his crew were caught off guard as Elsa snatched their vessel with the Force.
"Maximize thrusters!" Dryden commanded. The ship sped up as Elsa struggled to hold it in place. With gritted teeth and shaking palms, she fought to ground the craft. "Engage emergency boosters," Dryden said. Despite the crew's best efforts, Elsa refused to yield. She curled her fingers together and the engines started crunching in response.
"Sir!" a Hylobon snarled. "Systems are destabilizing."
Genuine concern gripped Dryden as he watched Elsa through a surveillance camera. She continued to focus her energy until a devious palm patted her shoulder. "You've gotten so much stronger," Facilier spoke into her ear. "It's...astounding really. And yet with all that power, you're still weak. Still denying what you are and living in a fantasy. The 'Duchess of Aren'...what a joke. Playing with your present...to shape a future...when you don't even know your past. Is that all your home is to you? A facade?" Facilier's grin twitched into a sneer. "But you don't even know anymore. Because beneath whatever ploy you stage is just a frightened little girl who thinks she has something to prove. But no one feels like that...unless they've failed."
Facilier's words caused a horrid image to creep into Elsa's mind. She saw the Jedi traitor, Udo Klee, dying in her arms by her hand. His haunting words echoed and plagued from within. "You're a killer now...just like the rest of us."
"NO!" Elsa screeched and diverted her power to a Force repulse. Energy surged around her as Facilier was flung back. While he endured the hit and escaped into the shadows, Elsa had relinquished control over Dryden's ship. She watched in shock as the vessel rocketed out of the compound and vanished into the unknown.
Elsa slowly rose from the ground, ashamed of what she'd done. Grief over her failure would have to wait as several Hylobons took aim from a catwalk above. "Elsa!" Anna scolded from the nearby hallway. "We gotta go! Now!" The eldest Dellian reluctantly departed, dodging lasers and joining her sister as they returned to the banquet hall.
Blasterfire rang out and scorched numerous tables as the clones descended to them. "I had a feeling we'd be crashing this party-" Blazer admitted. "-but this takes it to an entirely new level!"
Anna's comlink chimed and Sparx's voice crackled through. "I'm in position, general." She could faintly make out a covert speeder hovering just outside a nearby window. "What's the plan?"
Anna smirked and plucked a thermal detonator from Blazer's belt. "Get down, everyone!" she shouted while simultaneously arming it. She ran towards the window and flung the grenade with all of her might.
"General?" Blazer worried. "What did you just-"
A tremendous explosion ignited, shattering nearby windows and leveling walls. Carlac's freezing winds blew into the banquet hall while a speeder glided over. It dropped its ramp as Sparx called in from the pilot's seat. "Come on!"
The group quickly boarded as laserfire zipped around them. Once the ramp resealed, they were welcomed by the speeder's internal heating systems. "Step on it, lieutenant." Anna ordered. "Get us out of here!"
"Hang on, everyone!" Sparx hollered and accelerated to maximum speed. Their speeder soared across icy slopes and frosted forests. As they flew away, Blazer sought to catch his breath and leaned against a nearby viewport. Upon doing so, he noticed multiple Crimson Dawn speeders darting through the snow.
"We're not out of this yet!" the sergeant groaned before the speeder took a hit. "Deploy countermeasures!"
"This ship only has front-facing laser cannons," Sparx lamented. "We're useless up here."
"See if you can get behind them," Anna said.
"Belay that order," Elsa asserted and her sister scoffed. "We don't know how many they have and are outgunned as it is. We're better off trying to lose them in the storm."
Anna could tell Sparx was unsure which Jedi to take orders from. She rolled her eyes and admitted, "My sister has a point. Stay your course but if you see a shot, don't hesitate to take it." Anna glared at Elsa before stepping towards the back of the speeder.
"Where are you going?" Elsa asked.
"To buy us some time," Anna murmured. "Blazer...Speedy. On me."
"She's a pistol," Frost remarked to Elsa.
"You have no idea," she murmured.
"But she's full of courage."
"What good will that do us if she gets herself killed?" Elsa grumbled. "We'd better help."
"As much as I admire the care you have for your sister-" Frost said. "Perhaps the lieutenant is in greater need of your assistance." Frost gestured to Sparx, who was struggling to see through the blizzard. Elsa nodded to Frost and stepped towards the cockpit.
Meanwhile, Anna popped open the speeder's dorsal hatch alongside Blazer and Speedy. While only exposing her upper body, she tried deflecting what lasers she could. While she did so, the clones at her sides fired back at the Crimson Dawn speeders.
"I'm losing visibility!" Sparx grunted while keeping a firm grip on the controls. His panic lessened as Elsa slid into the co-pilot's seat...and tapped into the Force. Her eyes rolled beneath her closed lids as she sensed the terrain amidst the blizzard.
"Level out," she uttered. "Sharp left...now." Sparx gasped as he narrowly avoided a jagged ridge. An explosion sounded as one of their pursuers crashed into it instead. "It's clearing up ahead," Elsa detailed. "Full speed and-" Elsa's brows furrowed as she tried to comprehend her senses.
"And?" Sparx fretted.
Elsa's eyes shot open as she blurted, "Stop!"
Sparx brought the speeder to an immediate halt once they exited the storm. The force was so sudden, that it sent Anna and the others tumbling back into the vehicle. Sparx peered through the viewport and observed what exactly Elsa had seen. An entire wave of Crimson Dawn speeders had flown around to cut them off. Flanked and outgunned, Sparx's only option was to return fire. His heart sank when his trigger fingers were unaccompanied by laser cannon fire. "Oh no," he grieved. "The blizzard froze are guns over! I can't defend us!"
"Divert all power to shields," Elsa said. "That'll buy us some time." Sparx obliged as their speeder endured a devastating laser barrage.
The vehicle shook as Anna growled. "This never should've happened," she scorned. "If we'd just gone with my plan-"
"Give it a rest, sis!" Elsa snapped. "We need to find a way out of this."
"I'll just hop out and save everyone," Anna answered nonchalantly.
"You can't just take on all of those speeders!" Elsa refuted.
"Well you're not gonna!" Anna fired back as a dark shadow loomed over the terrain.
"Um...general?" Sparx mentioned.
"What are you gonna do?" Anna jeered at Elsa. "Wave a hand and poof our enemies away?"
In that instant, an ear-splitting explosion sounded just beyond their viewport. In a flash of flickering blue, the speeders closest to them were reduced to flaming scrap. The ensuing, yet selective devastation had the rest of their pursuers scrambling, but escape was futile. Elsa and Anna leaned forward to observe what was casting such a colossal shadow over the land. A tremendous Venator-class star destroyer descended from the clouds. Utilizing powerful turbolasers, it rained pure destruction upon the Republic's enemies. Not a single speeder escaped and left the strike team standing amidst the chaos.
Anna's comlink blipped as a youthful voice came through. "General Dellian," it said. "I tried to buy you as much time as I could, but Watcher overrode my clearance. I'm sorry."
Anna sighed and glanced at Elsa. "Don't get to worked up about it, Admiral Shang." Anna glared at the looming Venator and said, "Leave Watcher to us."
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading the premiere of "The Frozen Force - Season: 3!" I'm so excited, happy, and honored to be entertaining you all again. I've got so much planned for this season and there are plenty of challenges for our heroes ahead. With a new assortment of villains to take on, the adventure never stops here! Now that I'm back, you can expect a new installment every Friday! I'll see you next week for the next chapter and hope you enjoyed the premiere!
Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with You!
~ Michael