As the war between the Republic and the
Separatists intensifies, many are driven from
their home planets, and it is up to Senator
Tikal to secure aid for them. All eyes turn to
Excessive Corp and the planet Cool Edge. In an
effort to remain independent from the Republic and
the Separatists, all operations are divided, and
money transactions are performed in a neutral zone
surrounding the main vault. For operations to
continue, there must be no war on Cool Edge. However,
worry about the stability of Excessive Corp is
brewing within the Republic as the wellspring of
money may be in jeopardy….
Tikal's shuttle landed on a platform at the Excessive Corp headquarters. She exited the shuttle with Breezie, Rita-Le and two Republic guards. Other Excessive Corp leaders came to greet them "Welcome to Cool Edge, Senator. If you will follow me, we will be traveling into a neutral zone" one of them said. Tikal bowed her head she however didn't notice she was being watched by Hunter with his robotic dog on the roof of the structure. His dog gave him a small sphere which then opened up revealing it to be a small probe robot "Follow the Senator". Just before they entered the building one of them turned back to Tikal "I am afraid your guards will have to wait outside". Tikal nodded "Of course" only she, Rita and Breezie entered with the group but the probe made it through just before the doors closed. Tikal was taken to the main cylindrical room of the city where the five Excessive Corp members stared down at her. Tikal moved to the middle of the room and the centre council member, an elderly green creature, Prank spoke "As the Council of Five, we are honoured but surprised that you have travelled all this way for a mere bank transfer" "A transfer that has not been forthcoming. By request of the Supreme Chancellor, I am here to expedite matters". Prank nodded "Of course. We would merely request that you meet with our special representative, who will go over the terms and conditions of your loan". Tikal heard the door open behind her and was surprised to see it was Jordan the Echidna. He walked up next to her and only gave her a passing nod "Senator" "Jordan?". Prank stared at them "You two know each other?". Jordan was about to say something, but Tikal stepped forward "Sir, I was assured this transaction would be free of prejudice and partisan allegiance. This man is a known Separatist and traitor to the Republic" "I can assure you, Jordan is our most trusted and best negotiator". Tikal shook her head "I'm sorry, gentlemen, but I insist this man removed from these negotiations. Until then, we have nothing further to discuss". She left the room as Jordan watched with an unreadable face.
Tikal and Rita-Le were in their apartment when Tikal heard a noise coming from the balcony "Senator, watch out!" Rita yelled. She quickly turned around and held out a blaster to who was revealed to be Jordan "I'd stop right there if I were you". Jordan raised his hands and chuckled "How did you get a blaster into the neutral zone?". Tikal glared at him "We're resourceful. Now, why are you breaking into my quarters?". Jordan sighed "I need your help" "Last time you needed my help it didn't go so well" "You stole from me, remember?". Tikal lowered her blaster "Get out" "Tikal, listen, it's not safe here. We need to talk". He suddenly looked around the walls of the room before gesturing to the balcony. He walked out and Rita moved over to Tikal "Senator, don't think-?" "It's okay, Rita. I'll be fine". Tikal walked out to the balcony, she didn't take her eyes of Jordan and she crossed her arms "You have two minutes". Jordan stared out to the city "I've been doing research into history of the Republic and the Separatists. There's something going on. The economics of this war are not adding up. You're here for a bank transfer. But I can assure you there's no money in the bank". This surprised Tikal "That's absurd. They were ready to give me the funds today" "Oh, they will give you our first instalment, yes, but they're robbing one side to save the other. The entirety of Excessive Corp is on the verge of collapse". This was now too important for Tikal to ignore "Where's the evidence" "In the vault. The accounts are sealed there, and no one is allowed to see them besides the Core Five" "Convenient". Jordan finally faced her "Well, now that you're here, you must put pressure on them" "And do what, exactly?" "Help me gain access to the vault". Tikal scoffed "You're insane to think I would ever trust you. I'm sorry, but I cannot help you". Suddenly a blaster bolt hit the wall behind them. Jordan quickly pushed Tikal down to the floor for cover and they both crawled back inside. Jordan turned to her "I've risked everything to tell you this. They need me dead for what I know". The shooting suddenly stopped, and they heard an alarm. Jordan started to act erratic "Please, believe me. Our past must count for something. I can't stay here. Think about what I've said". He ran back outside and jumped on a speeder underneath the balcony.
Later Rita-Le has just finished speaking to security while inside Tikal was speaking to a hologram of Solaris "If what you're saying is true then this information Jordan is offering is vital to our security. I need you to be very clear in this matter, for the Republic. Is he telling the truth?". Tikal nodded "Yes, I'm sure of it" "Perhaps, then, in this scenario, it would be best for you to trust an old friend and do what he suggests".
Tikal entered the council room and stood next to Jordan "I have decided to accept Jordan as representative of this transaction as long as I can go into the vault and accompany the funds throughout the entire transaction". Prank didn't seem to like this "No outsider is ever allowed into the vaults" "I come with the authority of the Supreme Chancellor. If you have something to hide, then that is something we should discuss" "Hide?". Jordan stepped forward "I think considering last night's attack on the Senator, it is only fair that we are transparent and agree to these terms. What harm will come of it". The Council members spoke to one another and then "The vault will be opened first thing in the morning. Please make sure you are here, Senator".
A transport landed on a platform near a building in the mountains, Tikal, Jordan and Rita-Le exited "Where exactly are we, Jordan?" "This is my personal residence. It's remote but we'll be safe here".
Later Tikal and Jordan were examining a hologram of the headquarters "Once I detonate the charge here at the main power source, the vault will go into immediate shutdown. No one will get in or out. You won't have much time before the emergency generator cycles and takes over". He handed her a small device "Use this to locate the files and download them form the mainframe. The vault is one of the most secure in the galaxy, but it was designed to keep people out. Once you're inside and the power is down, there is little they can do". Tikal glanced at him "You make sound easy", Rita-Le then appeared and bowed to Tikal "If you don't mind, Senator, I will retire for the night" "Of course, Rita". Rita left and Jordan went back to watching the hologram "The information we get tomorrow will go a long way to expose perhaps the real criminals behind the war" "These are war profiteers. I've exposed that before. Nobody cares". She sighed "It's late. Goodnight, Jordan" she left the room.
The next day the three of them were at the entrance to the vault which Prank, and the rest of the council members placed thier hands on. The doors started to open and inside there were rows and rows of files of the Excessive Corp funds. As Tikal entered Jordon was about to leave but Breezie stopped him "Where are you going, Jordan?" "I have some business to attend to" "This was your idea. I should very much like for you to await the Senator's return". Jordon nodded "Very well" he stayed where he was but subtly handed Rita-Lee a small device which she then left with. Tikal followed Prank deeper into the vault "The rings for the Republic are in this section".
Rita-Le was making her way to the generator not noticing the probe robot following her. She placed the device on the wall and activated it before running but there was suddenly a laser pointing at the ground in front of her. It was coming from Hunter who saw Rita-Le raise her hands with a terrified look on her face, but he shot her dead anyway. The device detonated destroying the generator and plunging the city into darkness.
The lights shut down in the vault "What's happening?" Prank said. Tikal ran through the vault. She made it to the right control panel and plugged the device in. Outside the council member got out of the vault "Where is the Senator?" Breezie asked, "We got separated in the darkness". Tikal then ran out "I'm here. No thanks to your security system! This isn't a vault, it's a tomb. What is going on?" she said angrily. Prank bowed his head "My deepest apologies, Senator" "It seems I'm witness to many firsts on Cool Edge. Is this an unfortunate incident or a cover-up?". Prank looked confused "I'm… I'm not sure what you mean" "I'm afraid I'm going to have to report on your sad state of affairs to the Chancellor".
Tikal was back in her apartment with Jordan "Did you get what we needed". Tikal plugged the device into her table's holo-unit which the inventory of the vaults which were all at zero. "Like I said, the vaults are empty" Jordon said, "The Chancellor must see this immediately". Tikal then heard her door opened and she quickly handed the device to Jordon, so no one saw it. Tikal turned around and saw Breezie "Senator Tikal, you are under arrest for espionage". Jordan stood up "No, there's been some kind of mistake" "Take her away!". Two guard took Tikal who nodded to Jordan before looking to Breezie "I have powerful friends. The Chancellor will hear about this".
Later a shuttle landed outside of the headquarters, a group of guards stood waiting as the doors opened revealing Shadow with Emerl "This way, Master Shinobi" "Emerl, stay with the ship". Shadow was taken to the city's prison and they opened a cell where Tikal was lying down looking half asleep. Shadow smirked "Well, well, well. What happened to you". Tikal sat up "Shadow, I'm so glad to see you. How long have I been here?" "A few days. Are you alright?". He sat next to her as her face dropped "They say Rita is dead. Is it true?". Shadow regretfully nodded "Yes. She was found shot at the bomb site". Tikal sighed "Do they know who" "No. She's suspected of sabotaging the power grid. What happened?" "You have to get me out of here. Jordan has-". Shadow's eyes opened wide "Jordan? What exactly does Jordan have to do with this?" "Ugh, I can't explain it here" "How could you ever put your trust in a man like Jordan after what he did?" he stood up angrily. "It's for the Republic, Shadow. Something is very wrong" Tikal answered, "How do you know that? Because of Jordan? He's a traitor". He turned to the door but "Shadow, please", after a moment of silence he sighed "You've already been released into my custody. Let's go". They made it to the landing platform and headed to the ship "Shadow, please trust me. I can't leave without the files Jordan and I took from the vault" "Where would they be?" "The discs may be outside the city at Jordan's… private residence". Shadow rolled his eyes, and he went over to a group of speeders "Fine" he got on his commlink "Emerl, have the ship ready in case we need you". They got on one and the headed for the mountains.
They eventually made it to the house, and they entered as the probe robot watched them. They entered the main room, and it was a mess "Cosy place" Shadow said mockingly, "Someone was looking for the files. They must know Jordan has them". A hatch in the wall opened up and Jordan climbed out "Jordan" "Tikal…". Jordon then saw Shadow "And the Pilot?" "I got promoted" Shadow answered. Jordan then saw his lightsaber "You're a Shinobi". Shadow walked up to him "Yeah, I'm the Shinobi who can save your life if you hand over the disc". Jordan pushed him back "What, so you can leave me stranded like last time?" "That depends on how well-behaved you are" "Hey, can we discuss this later after we get out of here!?" Tikal told them both before they walked out. Shadow however suddenly stopped, and his eyes opened wide "Get down!" a blaster bolt came through the window, but Shadow manged to deflect it with his lightsaber "Run for it!". They ran out to the railing and headed for the speeder as Hunter continued shooting at them. They then saw Hunter's dog running at them, but they just managed to get on the speeder and took off. Hunter shot one of the engines causing it to fall onto the mountain and start sliding down. Shadow turned around and saw Hunter sliding down with skis on his feet "Emerl, bring the ship around and pick us up". Tikal drove the speeder around the ice structures as Hunter fired on them. Shadow used the Force to throw ice shards at Hunter who managed to dodge it. Shadow then saw that they were heading for a cliff "Emerl, home in on my single". He used the Force to push Hunter away. He then saw over the cliff and saw the ship "Jump!" they all did and landed on the cockpit roof "Nice catch buddy" he said down to Emerl. Hunter made it to the cliff edge and watched the ship fly away. He activated his holo-disc and petted his dog before Mephiles appeared "They're on their way to Mobotropolis" "It seems your mission was a success, Bounty Hunter. From this point I will deal with them myself".