Title: Republic Saga - Vengeance, Chapter Five
Author: Jonathan Evans
Author email: noggins@ic24.net
Summary: Mara and Leia come head to head in a clash of forces while Lando and Adi Gallia travel to Nar Shaddar
Disclaimer: George Lucas owns everything and I'm not making any money off of this nor do I intend to (I'd like to but that's not the point). You can distribute this freely provided that it's complete with this disclaimer and give the writer credit where credit's due.
REPUBLIC SAGA
VENGEANCE
CHAPTER FIVE
Yarori was a desolate world, laid to waste during conflicts long
before the formation of the Old Republic. It made a perfect hide-out
for the Mandalore who had been hiding away from the Empire's grip
since the Clone Wars decades earlier. Their base was located in
a dull grey mountain range where it could not be seen unless you
were close enough to it that the guards could blast you away. It
proved effective for hiding, but that was not what the Mandalore
were designed for.
The vessel of similar design to much of the buildings landed on an
outcropping which had carefully carved steps down to the main
entrance. Leia and Anakin Skywalker were the first to leave, closely
followed by Ambassador Keylar. Their cloaks were pulled down over
their faces as a sign of reverence towards the race they were about
to meet - or at least that was what Anakin told his daughter.
The meeting party stood forward. "Welcome back ambassador," the
first said as he shook Keylar's hand roughly. "It has been a long
wait but we hope there is good news."
"The Republic are willing to accept us into their ranks," he replied.
"Good, but we must first deal with the High Council. They are still
against any relations with them."
Anakin stood forward and addressed them. "I was to believe that
they had already agreed to join us..."
The leader of the small group nodded sadly. "Yes, so did we but
they have recently retracted due to the growth of the Empire that
has been discovered."
"Surely then they should strike before it continues!"
"I wish they thought the same way as you, Jedi." He stopped for a
moment. "However we can deal with that in time. Come, we have prepared
living quarters for you. I'm sure you would like to get comfortable
before we begin the meetings."
Leia nodded and they followed the Mandalore down the steps into the
surprisingly high-tech military base. Once they were out of sight
the escape pod that had attached to them during the trip through
hyperspace opened up and Mara Jade stepped out, shaken by the
journey but nonetheless prepared for battle. She watched as the Jedi
and Mandalore disappeared from sight and smiled. "Soon..." she hissed.
* * * * * * * * *
Adi Gallia waited for Lando to enter the cockpit of the Republic
Cruiser. Once he appeared she smiled, "we're nearly at Nar Shadaa,"
she informed him. "I hope you've got the supplies ready."
"Of course," Calrissian replied. "Blasters, thermal detonators...
anything else?"
"Did you bring the lightsaber I suggested you did?"
He shook his head as he sat down. "I know its a great honour to
become a Jedi but I don't think its for me. Now, I don't want you
to take this the wrong way - I love the Jedi - they're great for
the Republic, but I just can't be one. I'm too old for a start..."
Gallia took this as quite a shock. "You know we've changed the
Code to accept older trainees. It's the only way we can replenish
our numbers."
"But it's not just that," Lando replied. "It's just not what I
want with my life. I mean, that's exactly what it is - a life and
that ain't something I'm willing to give up just yet, y'know."
The Jedi Master nodded acceptingly. "It's just I've never seen
anyone who did not want to begin the training."
"First time for everything," he grinned as he brought the cruiser
out of lightspeed into realspace.
The planet of Nal Hutta was in the distance and in orbit, Nar
Shadaa - the smuggler's moon. The dirt and grime could even be
seen from space, the influence of the Hutt's playing an important
part in its appearance to the rest of the galaxy.
Passing the security fields was easy with the aid of Jedi mind
tricks - something which Lando was forced to admit would be pretty
useful given the opportunity. They came to rest in a spaceport
where they hoped to remain inconspicuous.
Upon exiting they looked around but there seemed to no one here.
"Something important must be happening," Gallia noted. "I sense
great anxiety nearby."
"You can actually do that? Sene what people are feeling?" Lando
asked. "Man, what have I turned down."
"You can still change your mind..."
"It was a joke, baby," he replied. "I guess that's just the way
I am." He smiled back, something which the Jedi noticed he had
been doing a lot of recently, for obvious reasons. It isn't every
day you find you have a brother you never you knew you had.
They stepped into a cantina where everyone who was anyone seemed
to be packed. Lando tried to lift himself to see what was happening
but he was too short. "What's goin' on back there?" he asked his
companion. She closed her eyes and used the Force to examine the
entire room. "There is a Hutt there. He is gambling... playing a
card game of some kind..."
"Sabacc?"
"Yes. That is it." She paused to detect several other things. "He
is playing against a rival - a Hutt but from another clan. The
second is using a slave to play the game and is doing rather well."
A large Horox Ryyder bumped Lando forward. "Hey!" he called out.
The alien looked down at him. "Mi sorri," it replied in broken
basic. "Game 'eskiting. Rellij Hutt loozin' to humin slave. Viry
fonni."
"Human you say?" Lando asked getting sudden inspiration. "He look
a little like me?"
The Ryyder studied him carefully and after several seconds spoke.
"No. He look lot like yu."
* * * * * * * * *
"I don't think you are listening to me, my friend," Leia said
in reply to what the Mandalore Councilor had said. "What I am
offering is a complete pardon for all of the crimes commited during
the Clone Wars *and* integration into the Republic."
"That is what I have qaulms against, Senator Skywalker," Councilor
Frakiw continued. "We believe that an apology is required from
the Republic for the damage caused to our forces!"
"Statistically speaking," Keylar interrupted, "we caused more
damage to the Republic than they did to us. It was the Empire that
reduced us to this. That is why we can get avenge the deaths if
we join them now..."
The ambassador stopped short as the attention was turned to him.
Frakiw looked at him intently as he spoke. "And why are you for
this Keylar? What benefits would joining the Republic have for you?"
"Only what it would the rest of the galaxy."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Absolutely. When have I ever, in my entire career, had ulterior
motives?"
Anakin beckoned his daughter to sit down. She complied and he
whispered in her ear. "I do not believe things are going well. I
tried to detect their thoughts but it is difficult. All I could
get was a determination to end this as soon as possible."
"I feel it also and it worries me. I don't think my current methods
are working."
The elder Skywalker suddenly smiled. "Then its time you tried to
hurt them - hurt them where it affects them most..."
"I'm not sure what you mean, father," Leia replied.
"Then let me..."
Anakin stood up and addressed the crowds. There was a frown on his
face. "You are cowards. All of you." There was uproar as the entire
High Council called for him to be taken away. Skywalker continued
anyway. "You have betrayed your sacred rites but running from battle!
You have made a mockery of all you are supposed to believe in. Not
only are you weak fools but you are also heretics!" The noise became
deafening as he turned back to his daughter. "I did learn something
from old Palpatine before I realised he was insane - how to rally the
troops."
"As long as it doesn't get us both killed, father, I'll be happy,"
Leia nodded.
"Fools! Cowards! And heretics! That is all the Mandalore are! It is
time you put an end to it and fought back against those who hurt
you - fight back against the Empire!"
"You are the fool, Jedi! Do you wish to die?"
"If only! You could not do it - the Mandalore are no longer warriors.
They are large, armoured Ewoks!"
Two massive security guards dragged Anakin from the podium in which
he stood and out into a corridor. The doors closed behind them. Leia
looked back to him and then to the crowd. "Think this over! You know
how important it is for you... Just accept the Republic and put the
past behind you." With this she turned and followed the route in
which her father had been hauled.
* * * * * * * * *
Lando and Adi finally clawed their ways to the front of the crowd
much to the anger of the aliens they had to push out of the way
to do so. When they reached there, everything stuck Lando in one
swoop. There in front of him was a man who looked exactly like
him except for that he had a full beard, longer hair and dirtier
clothes. He didn't look up, sticking to playing sabacc as if his
life depended on it. Knowing the Hutts it probably did.
The clone won yet another round and the Hutt playing alone threw
his cards down in dusgust and slithered away swearing in Huttese.
The victor pulled the credit chips into his playing field but they
were taken away by his master.
"We have to do something," Lando whispered to his companion.
"But I don't feel that our Hutt friend is going to give up his
ticket to fortune easily. And that is not taking into account
that your 'brother' could be happy here."
"Do you really think he would be?" Calrissian asked. "I wouldn't
be in his situation - winning all those creds and not being able
to keep them. No, he's not happy."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Lando stood forward and looked at the Hutt master. "Looks like
you want a challenge, my friend."
Rellij glanced at the interloper but didn't seem to be able to
compare his appearance to his slave. "Do you feel you can defeat
my... player?" he spoke in Huttese.
"I think I could put up a good attempt." He paused. "I bid my
slave for yours."
"Your slave?"
Lando motioned to Adi. She stood forward with an annoyed expression
on her face. "You better win," she hissed under her breath.
Rellij studied the Jedi carefully. "Pretty... but what makes you
think she is worth the same as my slave here? He is worth a lot
to me."
"Yeah, well you've never had a slave like mine. She has certain...
abilities that could win you more than games of sabacc."
The Hutt realised instantly what Lando meant. He laughed loudly,
his voice booming more than ever. "Then its a bet! Deal!"
The cards were shuffled and handed out. Lando tried to get
the attention of his clone but he didn't look up, not
even interacting while they bidded for his life. Both players
picked up their cards. Lando grinned. Seven of coins, four and seven
of sabers and five of flasks. Not a bad opening hand. The clone
looked at him. "What you got?" Calrissian asked.
Both put their cards down - smuggler, three of coins, bounty hunter
and master of flasks. Lando had won with pure sabacc. The memories
of his former victories came flooding back.
"Deal," he called as the next set of cards were handed out. Jedi
Knight, two of staves, seven of staves and two of coins to his
brother's three of staves, five of staves, six of coins and a
rancor monster. Pure sabacc against him. Lando quietly cursed
himself but Adi sensed his agitation and began to worry for
her own safety in the hands of a Hutt. She may have been able
to kill him and escape but that was something she didn't want
to resort to.
"Deal!" the Hutt shouted and the players were handed their
next cards. Four of flasks, eight of flasks, ace of staves
and rancor. Lando grinned. Things couldn't have been better.
This should even out the score a little. The clone's cards
showed how right he was - mistress of coins, one of coins,
eight of sabers and mistress of staves. It was a close one
but Lando managed to gain a thirteen to twelve victory.
Disaster struck when Calrissian got a Dark Jedi in his next
hand. He had to replace it but there was a chance he could get
a weaker card. He took the risk and threw it onto the table
before flipping the card at the top into his hand. Master of
coins. Not bad at all, especially with his four of sabers,
master of sabers and bounty hunter cards. He was dismayed
to find himself opposing a commander and seven of sabers, nine
of staves and and ace of flasks.
Rellij the Hutt laughed. "One more game, my friend," he said.
"And your woman will be mine."
"Don't count on it, fat boy" Lando quipped. "In fact I reckon
we should up the stakes a little."
"What do you have to offer?"
"Only myself - the greatest living sabacc player in the galaxy."
"Ha! You overestimate yourself. It is no deal. You cannot win
either way."
"Your mistake," Lando smiled behind the new hand of cards he
had been dealt. "Now, last chance to change your mind."
"You bluff, scoundrel. You cannot beat my slaves hand."
The Hutt laughed out loud with his eyes closed. Taking this as
an opportunity, the clone put a card down and picked up another
in its place. Lando did the same, replacing his one of staves
with an eight of flasks. For the first time the two players
looked each other in the eyes. The clone gave Lando a smile
that only his rivals had seen just before they suffered a massive
loss. Lando cursed himself. This was not good. He put his hand
down with antipathy. Two of flasks, six of sabers, eight of
flasks and seven of coins. The other hand came down - ten, six
and nine of coins and... a Dark Lord of the Sith! The Hutt looked
down at it and almost fainted with shock! "You idiot! Why did you
change the card?You lost the bet! "
"And it looks like I win," Lando replied.
"No!" the Hutt protested. "We were playing by Corellian Rules!"
"Strange since the last four games were using Rebel Alliance
Rules. Dark Lord of the Sith worth minus ten last time I checked."
"How do you know that?"
"I've played sabacc in every variant possible, my friend... and
won. Now free your slave to me."
The Hutt turned in anger and knocked the table over as it moved
off followed closely by his aide. The clone looked at Lando and
spoke to the first time. "Brother?" he said.
* * * * * * * * *
Leia walked into her quarters and turned the lights on. It wasn't
as bad as the ones she had on Chakran but nowhere near as tidy as
those back on New Naboo. After her father's outburst the talks had
been delayed until the next day but she wasn't holding out much hope
for a positive outcome. She could have done nothing to change this,
in fact Anakin's attempts were probably the only thing that would
possibly be able to change their views.
She wanted to sleep, to relax but there was so much stopping her
from being able to do this. She had to stay focused, to meditate
everything they had to go through. She sensed a presence behind
her. "Luke?" she asked.
"Not quite, Leia Organa Skywalker..." a female voice said. The
princess turned to see Mara Jade holding a blaster to her head.
Leia turned around carefully with her hands raised. "Who are you?"
"My name is Mara Jade. I worked for Emperor Palaptine, but more
than that - I was his hand. I did his bidding and in return I
gained an understanding of the Force, power, respect and most
of all fear. All who knew me feared me, princess, and you took
that away from me. For that you will die."
With a quick nudge of the Force, the blaster flew from Mara's
hand as Leia pulled out her lightsaber and ignited the red
blade. Mara pulled out her own and they clashed with a loud
buzz. They began to battle as Mara parried every blow that Leia
offered and gave back the same in return.
They were equally matched. Leia, although not having received
as much training as her opponent, had the Skywalker reflexes
and abilities while Mara's experience in the Force was enough
to fight back, but she only had what Palpatine had allowed her
in his lifetime and now, with his death, they were weakening
slowly.
Mara attacked again, slicing down towards Leia's head but she
lifted her laser sword and blocked it just before her skull
was split in two. She pushed her opponent back into a wall but
was unable to keep her there as she was kicked backwards. With
a motion of the wrist Mara threw the Jedi to the floor and pounced
on top of her before she could get back to her feet.
"Not bad for an apprentice," she smiled.
"It's further than you ever got," Leia replied.
"I never needed grading, princess. I was too good for that."
"Somehow I doubt that." The Skywalker woman pushed Mara off her
and got to her feet with a backwards flip. "You don't have the
strength."
"And what strength do you have? Only enough to destroy a weakened
old man!"
"Palpatine was far from a weak old man. Plus I have fought Darth
Vader and I live to tell the tale."
"Vader? I am impressed."
The two women backed off, ready to attack at any moment. Leia
finally lowered her lightsaber and extinguished the blade. "That
was a foolish thing to do, Skywalker," Mara hissed. "I could kill
you where you stand."
"No you couldn't, and you know it. I can ignite my saber before
you could even move forward. I sense your every feeling."
"And I yours."
"Then we've reached a stalemate..."
"For now," Mara replied. "But when we next meet things will be so
different." She turned her saber off and disappeared as quickly
as she had arrived. Leia breathed a sigh of relief. Her gambit
worked out. There was a twisted sense of honour about Mara which
she knew would win her over.
She looked up and Anakin was waiting for her. He face showed the
news he had to offer was not good. "The High Council had denied
our request. Ambassador Keylar has tried his best but was unable
to convince them otherwise. It seems we're to go back to New
Naboo empty handed."
"I suppose it was to be expected. I must admit I wasn't hopeful
as soon as the greeting party told us they'd been reconsidering
even before we'd arrived."
"They are ready to bit us farewell when you're ready."
"I'll prepare my things now..."
* * * * * * * * *
"We're gonna show you the delights the galaxy has to offer, my friend,"
Lando said, looking at the stars from the viewscreen of their ship.
"Sure, sabacc is one of them but believe me there's more, far more."
"Really?" his brother replied.
"Sure. The Republic has restored freedom to the galaxy and now
you can do what you want, when you want. Once the Empire is out of
the way completely of course."
They entered hyperspace with a bang. The man jumped as if he had
never experience this before. "It's okay," Adi Gallia told him. "We
just made the jump to lightspeed. We're taking you home."
He nodded as a smile came to his face. "So," he asked Lando. "We're
exactly the same physically?"
"Sure. And by the looks of it our brains work the same way too.
I was doomed if you hadn't swapped that card."
"I didn't need to look at you to realise the connection between us.
I had to do all I could to come with you. All I can say is, I'm
lucky you had the hand you did." There was a pause. "Have you actually
won things for yourself playing sabaac?"
"You bet, credits, starships, hell even a tibanna gas mine!"
"Wow."
"You can see it next chance we get. I haven't paid a visit there in
quite a while so I'd be needed at some point soon." He put his
arm around his brother. "Face it, things are looking up for us
both!"
* * * * * * * * *
Anakin shook hands with Ambassador Keylar. "I'm so sorry I wasn't
able to help you," the Mandalore said sadly. "I suppose you will
now have to stop the attack on Coruscant?"
"No," Leia frowned in reply. "They are insistant on it going forward
but now our chances of succeeding are small. It is we who must be
sorry for not being able to bring your people from this self-
induced seclusion."
Anakin boarded the ship they had been given for the journey home and
prepared the engines for take off. Smoke began to fill the air as it
powered up. Leia bid the group farewell and walked on board.
"I'm starting to worry about what's going to happen now," Anakin said,
breaking the silence as they left the surface of the planet. "The
Council will not help us in our attempts to win the Senate over. They
left it up to us and..."
"We blew it!" Leia continued. She hit the edge of the computer console.
"Why were they so difficult? They need our help as much as we need
theirs."
"Races like the Mandalore are complicated to understand my daughter.
Their days of warfare are over - they'll probably become a colony
of farmers."
"That wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for this war."
As the Mandalore starship lifted through the upper atmosphere a light
on the computer began to flish wildly. Anakin checked the read-out
screen. "Sensors detect a group of vessels near our location! They're
waiting for us."
"How many?"
"At the last count nineteen... no! It's twenty now."
"What type?"
"Imperial. Star Destroyers!"
Leia looked out of the viewscreen as the fleet came into view. She
shook her head. "I have a really bad feeling about this..."
TO BE CONTINUED.......
Author: Jonathan Evans
Author email: noggins@ic24.net
Summary: Mara and Leia come head to head in a clash of forces while Lando and Adi Gallia travel to Nar Shaddar
Disclaimer: George Lucas owns everything and I'm not making any money off of this nor do I intend to (I'd like to but that's not the point). You can distribute this freely provided that it's complete with this disclaimer and give the writer credit where credit's due.
REPUBLIC SAGA
VENGEANCE
CHAPTER FIVE
Yarori was a desolate world, laid to waste during conflicts long
before the formation of the Old Republic. It made a perfect hide-out
for the Mandalore who had been hiding away from the Empire's grip
since the Clone Wars decades earlier. Their base was located in
a dull grey mountain range where it could not be seen unless you
were close enough to it that the guards could blast you away. It
proved effective for hiding, but that was not what the Mandalore
were designed for.
The vessel of similar design to much of the buildings landed on an
outcropping which had carefully carved steps down to the main
entrance. Leia and Anakin Skywalker were the first to leave, closely
followed by Ambassador Keylar. Their cloaks were pulled down over
their faces as a sign of reverence towards the race they were about
to meet - or at least that was what Anakin told his daughter.
The meeting party stood forward. "Welcome back ambassador," the
first said as he shook Keylar's hand roughly. "It has been a long
wait but we hope there is good news."
"The Republic are willing to accept us into their ranks," he replied.
"Good, but we must first deal with the High Council. They are still
against any relations with them."
Anakin stood forward and addressed them. "I was to believe that
they had already agreed to join us..."
The leader of the small group nodded sadly. "Yes, so did we but
they have recently retracted due to the growth of the Empire that
has been discovered."
"Surely then they should strike before it continues!"
"I wish they thought the same way as you, Jedi." He stopped for a
moment. "However we can deal with that in time. Come, we have prepared
living quarters for you. I'm sure you would like to get comfortable
before we begin the meetings."
Leia nodded and they followed the Mandalore down the steps into the
surprisingly high-tech military base. Once they were out of sight
the escape pod that had attached to them during the trip through
hyperspace opened up and Mara Jade stepped out, shaken by the
journey but nonetheless prepared for battle. She watched as the Jedi
and Mandalore disappeared from sight and smiled. "Soon..." she hissed.
* * * * * * * * *
Adi Gallia waited for Lando to enter the cockpit of the Republic
Cruiser. Once he appeared she smiled, "we're nearly at Nar Shadaa,"
she informed him. "I hope you've got the supplies ready."
"Of course," Calrissian replied. "Blasters, thermal detonators...
anything else?"
"Did you bring the lightsaber I suggested you did?"
He shook his head as he sat down. "I know its a great honour to
become a Jedi but I don't think its for me. Now, I don't want you
to take this the wrong way - I love the Jedi - they're great for
the Republic, but I just can't be one. I'm too old for a start..."
Gallia took this as quite a shock. "You know we've changed the
Code to accept older trainees. It's the only way we can replenish
our numbers."
"But it's not just that," Lando replied. "It's just not what I
want with my life. I mean, that's exactly what it is - a life and
that ain't something I'm willing to give up just yet, y'know."
The Jedi Master nodded acceptingly. "It's just I've never seen
anyone who did not want to begin the training."
"First time for everything," he grinned as he brought the cruiser
out of lightspeed into realspace.
The planet of Nal Hutta was in the distance and in orbit, Nar
Shadaa - the smuggler's moon. The dirt and grime could even be
seen from space, the influence of the Hutt's playing an important
part in its appearance to the rest of the galaxy.
Passing the security fields was easy with the aid of Jedi mind
tricks - something which Lando was forced to admit would be pretty
useful given the opportunity. They came to rest in a spaceport
where they hoped to remain inconspicuous.
Upon exiting they looked around but there seemed to no one here.
"Something important must be happening," Gallia noted. "I sense
great anxiety nearby."
"You can actually do that? Sene what people are feeling?" Lando
asked. "Man, what have I turned down."
"You can still change your mind..."
"It was a joke, baby," he replied. "I guess that's just the way
I am." He smiled back, something which the Jedi noticed he had
been doing a lot of recently, for obvious reasons. It isn't every
day you find you have a brother you never you knew you had.
They stepped into a cantina where everyone who was anyone seemed
to be packed. Lando tried to lift himself to see what was happening
but he was too short. "What's goin' on back there?" he asked his
companion. She closed her eyes and used the Force to examine the
entire room. "There is a Hutt there. He is gambling... playing a
card game of some kind..."
"Sabacc?"
"Yes. That is it." She paused to detect several other things. "He
is playing against a rival - a Hutt but from another clan. The
second is using a slave to play the game and is doing rather well."
A large Horox Ryyder bumped Lando forward. "Hey!" he called out.
The alien looked down at him. "Mi sorri," it replied in broken
basic. "Game 'eskiting. Rellij Hutt loozin' to humin slave. Viry
fonni."
"Human you say?" Lando asked getting sudden inspiration. "He look
a little like me?"
The Ryyder studied him carefully and after several seconds spoke.
"No. He look lot like yu."
* * * * * * * * *
"I don't think you are listening to me, my friend," Leia said
in reply to what the Mandalore Councilor had said. "What I am
offering is a complete pardon for all of the crimes commited during
the Clone Wars *and* integration into the Republic."
"That is what I have qaulms against, Senator Skywalker," Councilor
Frakiw continued. "We believe that an apology is required from
the Republic for the damage caused to our forces!"
"Statistically speaking," Keylar interrupted, "we caused more
damage to the Republic than they did to us. It was the Empire that
reduced us to this. That is why we can get avenge the deaths if
we join them now..."
The ambassador stopped short as the attention was turned to him.
Frakiw looked at him intently as he spoke. "And why are you for
this Keylar? What benefits would joining the Republic have for you?"
"Only what it would the rest of the galaxy."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Absolutely. When have I ever, in my entire career, had ulterior
motives?"
Anakin beckoned his daughter to sit down. She complied and he
whispered in her ear. "I do not believe things are going well. I
tried to detect their thoughts but it is difficult. All I could
get was a determination to end this as soon as possible."
"I feel it also and it worries me. I don't think my current methods
are working."
The elder Skywalker suddenly smiled. "Then its time you tried to
hurt them - hurt them where it affects them most..."
"I'm not sure what you mean, father," Leia replied.
"Then let me..."
Anakin stood up and addressed the crowds. There was a frown on his
face. "You are cowards. All of you." There was uproar as the entire
High Council called for him to be taken away. Skywalker continued
anyway. "You have betrayed your sacred rites but running from battle!
You have made a mockery of all you are supposed to believe in. Not
only are you weak fools but you are also heretics!" The noise became
deafening as he turned back to his daughter. "I did learn something
from old Palpatine before I realised he was insane - how to rally the
troops."
"As long as it doesn't get us both killed, father, I'll be happy,"
Leia nodded.
"Fools! Cowards! And heretics! That is all the Mandalore are! It is
time you put an end to it and fought back against those who hurt
you - fight back against the Empire!"
"You are the fool, Jedi! Do you wish to die?"
"If only! You could not do it - the Mandalore are no longer warriors.
They are large, armoured Ewoks!"
Two massive security guards dragged Anakin from the podium in which
he stood and out into a corridor. The doors closed behind them. Leia
looked back to him and then to the crowd. "Think this over! You know
how important it is for you... Just accept the Republic and put the
past behind you." With this she turned and followed the route in
which her father had been hauled.
* * * * * * * * *
Lando and Adi finally clawed their ways to the front of the crowd
much to the anger of the aliens they had to push out of the way
to do so. When they reached there, everything stuck Lando in one
swoop. There in front of him was a man who looked exactly like
him except for that he had a full beard, longer hair and dirtier
clothes. He didn't look up, sticking to playing sabacc as if his
life depended on it. Knowing the Hutts it probably did.
The clone won yet another round and the Hutt playing alone threw
his cards down in dusgust and slithered away swearing in Huttese.
The victor pulled the credit chips into his playing field but they
were taken away by his master.
"We have to do something," Lando whispered to his companion.
"But I don't feel that our Hutt friend is going to give up his
ticket to fortune easily. And that is not taking into account
that your 'brother' could be happy here."
"Do you really think he would be?" Calrissian asked. "I wouldn't
be in his situation - winning all those creds and not being able
to keep them. No, he's not happy."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Lando stood forward and looked at the Hutt master. "Looks like
you want a challenge, my friend."
Rellij glanced at the interloper but didn't seem to be able to
compare his appearance to his slave. "Do you feel you can defeat
my... player?" he spoke in Huttese.
"I think I could put up a good attempt." He paused. "I bid my
slave for yours."
"Your slave?"
Lando motioned to Adi. She stood forward with an annoyed expression
on her face. "You better win," she hissed under her breath.
Rellij studied the Jedi carefully. "Pretty... but what makes you
think she is worth the same as my slave here? He is worth a lot
to me."
"Yeah, well you've never had a slave like mine. She has certain...
abilities that could win you more than games of sabacc."
The Hutt realised instantly what Lando meant. He laughed loudly,
his voice booming more than ever. "Then its a bet! Deal!"
The cards were shuffled and handed out. Lando tried to get
the attention of his clone but he didn't look up, not
even interacting while they bidded for his life. Both players
picked up their cards. Lando grinned. Seven of coins, four and seven
of sabers and five of flasks. Not a bad opening hand. The clone
looked at him. "What you got?" Calrissian asked.
Both put their cards down - smuggler, three of coins, bounty hunter
and master of flasks. Lando had won with pure sabacc. The memories
of his former victories came flooding back.
"Deal," he called as the next set of cards were handed out. Jedi
Knight, two of staves, seven of staves and two of coins to his
brother's three of staves, five of staves, six of coins and a
rancor monster. Pure sabacc against him. Lando quietly cursed
himself but Adi sensed his agitation and began to worry for
her own safety in the hands of a Hutt. She may have been able
to kill him and escape but that was something she didn't want
to resort to.
"Deal!" the Hutt shouted and the players were handed their
next cards. Four of flasks, eight of flasks, ace of staves
and rancor. Lando grinned. Things couldn't have been better.
This should even out the score a little. The clone's cards
showed how right he was - mistress of coins, one of coins,
eight of sabers and mistress of staves. It was a close one
but Lando managed to gain a thirteen to twelve victory.
Disaster struck when Calrissian got a Dark Jedi in his next
hand. He had to replace it but there was a chance he could get
a weaker card. He took the risk and threw it onto the table
before flipping the card at the top into his hand. Master of
coins. Not bad at all, especially with his four of sabers,
master of sabers and bounty hunter cards. He was dismayed
to find himself opposing a commander and seven of sabers, nine
of staves and and ace of flasks.
Rellij the Hutt laughed. "One more game, my friend," he said.
"And your woman will be mine."
"Don't count on it, fat boy" Lando quipped. "In fact I reckon
we should up the stakes a little."
"What do you have to offer?"
"Only myself - the greatest living sabacc player in the galaxy."
"Ha! You overestimate yourself. It is no deal. You cannot win
either way."
"Your mistake," Lando smiled behind the new hand of cards he
had been dealt. "Now, last chance to change your mind."
"You bluff, scoundrel. You cannot beat my slaves hand."
The Hutt laughed out loud with his eyes closed. Taking this as
an opportunity, the clone put a card down and picked up another
in its place. Lando did the same, replacing his one of staves
with an eight of flasks. For the first time the two players
looked each other in the eyes. The clone gave Lando a smile
that only his rivals had seen just before they suffered a massive
loss. Lando cursed himself. This was not good. He put his hand
down with antipathy. Two of flasks, six of sabers, eight of
flasks and seven of coins. The other hand came down - ten, six
and nine of coins and... a Dark Lord of the Sith! The Hutt looked
down at it and almost fainted with shock! "You idiot! Why did you
change the card?You lost the bet! "
"And it looks like I win," Lando replied.
"No!" the Hutt protested. "We were playing by Corellian Rules!"
"Strange since the last four games were using Rebel Alliance
Rules. Dark Lord of the Sith worth minus ten last time I checked."
"How do you know that?"
"I've played sabacc in every variant possible, my friend... and
won. Now free your slave to me."
The Hutt turned in anger and knocked the table over as it moved
off followed closely by his aide. The clone looked at Lando and
spoke to the first time. "Brother?" he said.
* * * * * * * * *
Leia walked into her quarters and turned the lights on. It wasn't
as bad as the ones she had on Chakran but nowhere near as tidy as
those back on New Naboo. After her father's outburst the talks had
been delayed until the next day but she wasn't holding out much hope
for a positive outcome. She could have done nothing to change this,
in fact Anakin's attempts were probably the only thing that would
possibly be able to change their views.
She wanted to sleep, to relax but there was so much stopping her
from being able to do this. She had to stay focused, to meditate
everything they had to go through. She sensed a presence behind
her. "Luke?" she asked.
"Not quite, Leia Organa Skywalker..." a female voice said. The
princess turned to see Mara Jade holding a blaster to her head.
Leia turned around carefully with her hands raised. "Who are you?"
"My name is Mara Jade. I worked for Emperor Palaptine, but more
than that - I was his hand. I did his bidding and in return I
gained an understanding of the Force, power, respect and most
of all fear. All who knew me feared me, princess, and you took
that away from me. For that you will die."
With a quick nudge of the Force, the blaster flew from Mara's
hand as Leia pulled out her lightsaber and ignited the red
blade. Mara pulled out her own and they clashed with a loud
buzz. They began to battle as Mara parried every blow that Leia
offered and gave back the same in return.
They were equally matched. Leia, although not having received
as much training as her opponent, had the Skywalker reflexes
and abilities while Mara's experience in the Force was enough
to fight back, but she only had what Palpatine had allowed her
in his lifetime and now, with his death, they were weakening
slowly.
Mara attacked again, slicing down towards Leia's head but she
lifted her laser sword and blocked it just before her skull
was split in two. She pushed her opponent back into a wall but
was unable to keep her there as she was kicked backwards. With
a motion of the wrist Mara threw the Jedi to the floor and pounced
on top of her before she could get back to her feet.
"Not bad for an apprentice," she smiled.
"It's further than you ever got," Leia replied.
"I never needed grading, princess. I was too good for that."
"Somehow I doubt that." The Skywalker woman pushed Mara off her
and got to her feet with a backwards flip. "You don't have the
strength."
"And what strength do you have? Only enough to destroy a weakened
old man!"
"Palpatine was far from a weak old man. Plus I have fought Darth
Vader and I live to tell the tale."
"Vader? I am impressed."
The two women backed off, ready to attack at any moment. Leia
finally lowered her lightsaber and extinguished the blade. "That
was a foolish thing to do, Skywalker," Mara hissed. "I could kill
you where you stand."
"No you couldn't, and you know it. I can ignite my saber before
you could even move forward. I sense your every feeling."
"And I yours."
"Then we've reached a stalemate..."
"For now," Mara replied. "But when we next meet things will be so
different." She turned her saber off and disappeared as quickly
as she had arrived. Leia breathed a sigh of relief. Her gambit
worked out. There was a twisted sense of honour about Mara which
she knew would win her over.
She looked up and Anakin was waiting for her. He face showed the
news he had to offer was not good. "The High Council had denied
our request. Ambassador Keylar has tried his best but was unable
to convince them otherwise. It seems we're to go back to New
Naboo empty handed."
"I suppose it was to be expected. I must admit I wasn't hopeful
as soon as the greeting party told us they'd been reconsidering
even before we'd arrived."
"They are ready to bit us farewell when you're ready."
"I'll prepare my things now..."
* * * * * * * * *
"We're gonna show you the delights the galaxy has to offer, my friend,"
Lando said, looking at the stars from the viewscreen of their ship.
"Sure, sabacc is one of them but believe me there's more, far more."
"Really?" his brother replied.
"Sure. The Republic has restored freedom to the galaxy and now
you can do what you want, when you want. Once the Empire is out of
the way completely of course."
They entered hyperspace with a bang. The man jumped as if he had
never experience this before. "It's okay," Adi Gallia told him. "We
just made the jump to lightspeed. We're taking you home."
He nodded as a smile came to his face. "So," he asked Lando. "We're
exactly the same physically?"
"Sure. And by the looks of it our brains work the same way too.
I was doomed if you hadn't swapped that card."
"I didn't need to look at you to realise the connection between us.
I had to do all I could to come with you. All I can say is, I'm
lucky you had the hand you did." There was a pause. "Have you actually
won things for yourself playing sabaac?"
"You bet, credits, starships, hell even a tibanna gas mine!"
"Wow."
"You can see it next chance we get. I haven't paid a visit there in
quite a while so I'd be needed at some point soon." He put his
arm around his brother. "Face it, things are looking up for us
both!"
* * * * * * * * *
Anakin shook hands with Ambassador Keylar. "I'm so sorry I wasn't
able to help you," the Mandalore said sadly. "I suppose you will
now have to stop the attack on Coruscant?"
"No," Leia frowned in reply. "They are insistant on it going forward
but now our chances of succeeding are small. It is we who must be
sorry for not being able to bring your people from this self-
induced seclusion."
Anakin boarded the ship they had been given for the journey home and
prepared the engines for take off. Smoke began to fill the air as it
powered up. Leia bid the group farewell and walked on board.
"I'm starting to worry about what's going to happen now," Anakin said,
breaking the silence as they left the surface of the planet. "The
Council will not help us in our attempts to win the Senate over. They
left it up to us and..."
"We blew it!" Leia continued. She hit the edge of the computer console.
"Why were they so difficult? They need our help as much as we need
theirs."
"Races like the Mandalore are complicated to understand my daughter.
Their days of warfare are over - they'll probably become a colony
of farmers."
"That wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for this war."
As the Mandalore starship lifted through the upper atmosphere a light
on the computer began to flish wildly. Anakin checked the read-out
screen. "Sensors detect a group of vessels near our location! They're
waiting for us."
"How many?"
"At the last count nineteen... no! It's twenty now."
"What type?"
"Imperial. Star Destroyers!"
Leia looked out of the viewscreen as the fleet came into view. She
shook her head. "I have a really bad feeling about this..."
TO BE CONTINUED.......