Chapter Four
The apartment was dark and silent when Mara entered, she didn't see or sense that anything had been taken or misplaced. Throwing her jacket over a chair she headed straight for the comm unit and waited to be patched through to Ghent.
The youthful computer genius glared at her over the holo, but quickly became embarrassed. "Oh! It's you Mara! I thought it was another interruption."
Mara gave him a rare kind smile. "Busy?"
"It's hectic!" Ghent ran his hands through his hair. "I've got the files you wanted." He rummaged around in front of him. "It's some pretty heavy duty Imperial stuff. I haven't been able to translate the encryption yet." He apologetically told her.
"No problem. I didn't expect you to do that anyway. Just send them over as is."
"All righty." Ghent flipped a few buttons and files immediately began to come through. Mara quickly downloaded them onto a datapad, making sure nothing was left on the holo monitor.
"Thanks Ghent." She nodded her thanks and signed off.
Mara sat for awhile looking at the list of unopened files, quickly glancing to her room. She had told Han to get some rest and it was probably something she should do as well. Mara would be of no use if she were a walking zombie.
Picking up the datapad she walked over and flopped on her bed. She'd take a quick look at the information before getting some shut-eye.
***
A clicking noise brought Mara wide-awake, the sound was not supposed to be there. Glancing out her window she saw that it was still dark, but lights from the city blazed brightly.
Looking to her bedroom door she spotted a shadow shift under it. Mara frowned and silently got up, moving to the side of the entrance where the intruder wouldn't be able to see her if he stepped inside.
She watched for any other shadows, but didn't see any, Mara stretched out with the Force just to make sure. No one but her was supposed to be in the quarters.
The shadow grew closer, until it blocked all light from under her door. Mara's muscles tensed and her eyes swept the room to keep a mental map of where things were.
The door opened and a humanoid hand was still clasped on the handle. Mara pressed herself closer to the wall, waiting for the intruder to present more of a target.
More limbs followed until a black clothed figure stood fully in her room; there was no mistaking the knife in his left hand and others that lined his belt.
Mara's eyes rose. No blaster- he wanted to get rid of her with as little noise as possible.
The figure raised his left hand so it was away from his body, he started moving towards the rumpled bed.
Mara lashed out with her foot and caught the figure's upper arm, breaking it and the knife dropped to the floor.
The intruder didn't make a sound, instead his right hand found his belt and pulled out a wicked looking curved blade. He faced Mara as they circled.
He lunged forward with the knife raised, Mara using her forearm to stop his. The two stood for a bit, their arms locked and starting to quiver. The figure unexpectedly slid his arm across Mara's, cutting it on its path and freeing the knife wielder's arm.
Mara could already feel her left forearm throbbing and starting to tingle, the cut wasn't deep but already blood was beginning to drop onto the white carpeted floor.
They circled again, but this time Mara brought a leg out and down to trip the guy. He jumped and her momentum was too strong for her to stop on a dime. Her circle continued and that's when he got her from behind.
He wrapped his good arm around her neck and brought the knife down towards it. Mara struggled to keep the sharp edge away from her throat. He may only have one arm, but he was as strong as a rancor.
The locked pair staggered back, in the direction of her bed. She felt the impact of the intruder's feet hitting the base and both of them started to fall backwards.
The pressure at her throat lessened slightly, Mara used that moment for her hand to reach down and grab a knife of her own from the overstocked belt.
They hit the bed and the knife grazed Mara's exposed and tender throat, but she made sure her knife did more harm. Angling her hand, she shoved the knife to its hilt in the man's side, it would be long enough to puncture a lung.
Mara heard a gasp behind and below her, the knife dropped from her throat. She jumped off the man and bed as the figure wheezed his last breaths, he died shortly after.
She stood panting for a bit, touching her neck to make sure there was no severe damage. Mara walked over to a light switch and flicked it on- a florescent glow filled the room.
The harsh glare was hard on her eyes and she had to wait awhile for them to adjust. The black figure lay sprawled on her bed, a dark red puddle forming at his side.
Mara pursed her lips together. "Let's see who you are." She marched over and yanked off the black mask.
A young man's face stared up at the ceiling with no life in them. Mara circled the body, looking for clues that would point to who he was. She scored when she spotted a tattoo on the right side of his exposed neck.
"Hmm..." Mara reached for a camera and took a picture of the odd shaped tattoo. Five triangles arranged in a circle, pointing to the middle. Mara took another picture from another angle- hopefully Ghent could tell her something about it.
She commed the tired computer genius and sent him the photos, she expected an answer within twelve hours and erased all that she sent over. It was only when she was sure the police wouldn't be able to view what she had sent did she contact them.
***
Mara was moved to a new hotel and promised extra security, she doubted it would make a difference. The whole incident was so professionally set up that Mara couldn't dismiss it as coincidence. She had her and Han's things delivered, checking to make sure none of her's was messed with, she couldn't say anything about Han's though.
She was just finishing wrapping up her arm when there was a bang at her door. "Come in." Mara knew exactly who it was, there was no sense delaying him.
Yihza burst in, beet red with anger, the young blonde lawyer followed behind him.
"Why did you touch the body?" Yihza demanded.
Mara shrugged. "I wanted to see my attacker."
"Why did you send a holo communication out before contacting the police?" Cori asked.
"I wanted outside information on something I found." Mara raised an eyebrow. "The way myself and Solo have been treated I didn't think you would be forthcoming with the information I need."
Yihza fumed.
"And I expect this sort of thing won't happen to Solo." Mara looked directly at the Defense Minister.
The man glared in return, wordlessly marching out.
The two remaining women stood, looking each other up and down.
"Just for you information." Cori started. "I'm not happy about this entire situation either. I feel awful for charging a Corellian hero, especially one that I looked up to as a kid."
"Then why are you?"
Cori straightened her shoulders. "Because it's my job. I prosecute when there is sufficient evidence to do so." She paused. "And I'm also the best. I hope you have something good up your sleeve."
Mara's eyebrows raised, she didn't say anything about the tiny blaster that was up her sleeve. "I'll get to the bottom of this." She promised, and thought now was a good a time as any to bring up her next issue. "I would like Solo to be able to contact his family."
Cori nodded her head. "Of course. Just give the order and it'll be arranged." The woman bowed and walked out the door.
The apartment was dark and silent when Mara entered, she didn't see or sense that anything had been taken or misplaced. Throwing her jacket over a chair she headed straight for the comm unit and waited to be patched through to Ghent.
The youthful computer genius glared at her over the holo, but quickly became embarrassed. "Oh! It's you Mara! I thought it was another interruption."
Mara gave him a rare kind smile. "Busy?"
"It's hectic!" Ghent ran his hands through his hair. "I've got the files you wanted." He rummaged around in front of him. "It's some pretty heavy duty Imperial stuff. I haven't been able to translate the encryption yet." He apologetically told her.
"No problem. I didn't expect you to do that anyway. Just send them over as is."
"All righty." Ghent flipped a few buttons and files immediately began to come through. Mara quickly downloaded them onto a datapad, making sure nothing was left on the holo monitor.
"Thanks Ghent." She nodded her thanks and signed off.
Mara sat for awhile looking at the list of unopened files, quickly glancing to her room. She had told Han to get some rest and it was probably something she should do as well. Mara would be of no use if she were a walking zombie.
Picking up the datapad she walked over and flopped on her bed. She'd take a quick look at the information before getting some shut-eye.
***
A clicking noise brought Mara wide-awake, the sound was not supposed to be there. Glancing out her window she saw that it was still dark, but lights from the city blazed brightly.
Looking to her bedroom door she spotted a shadow shift under it. Mara frowned and silently got up, moving to the side of the entrance where the intruder wouldn't be able to see her if he stepped inside.
She watched for any other shadows, but didn't see any, Mara stretched out with the Force just to make sure. No one but her was supposed to be in the quarters.
The shadow grew closer, until it blocked all light from under her door. Mara's muscles tensed and her eyes swept the room to keep a mental map of where things were.
The door opened and a humanoid hand was still clasped on the handle. Mara pressed herself closer to the wall, waiting for the intruder to present more of a target.
More limbs followed until a black clothed figure stood fully in her room; there was no mistaking the knife in his left hand and others that lined his belt.
Mara's eyes rose. No blaster- he wanted to get rid of her with as little noise as possible.
The figure raised his left hand so it was away from his body, he started moving towards the rumpled bed.
Mara lashed out with her foot and caught the figure's upper arm, breaking it and the knife dropped to the floor.
The intruder didn't make a sound, instead his right hand found his belt and pulled out a wicked looking curved blade. He faced Mara as they circled.
He lunged forward with the knife raised, Mara using her forearm to stop his. The two stood for a bit, their arms locked and starting to quiver. The figure unexpectedly slid his arm across Mara's, cutting it on its path and freeing the knife wielder's arm.
Mara could already feel her left forearm throbbing and starting to tingle, the cut wasn't deep but already blood was beginning to drop onto the white carpeted floor.
They circled again, but this time Mara brought a leg out and down to trip the guy. He jumped and her momentum was too strong for her to stop on a dime. Her circle continued and that's when he got her from behind.
He wrapped his good arm around her neck and brought the knife down towards it. Mara struggled to keep the sharp edge away from her throat. He may only have one arm, but he was as strong as a rancor.
The locked pair staggered back, in the direction of her bed. She felt the impact of the intruder's feet hitting the base and both of them started to fall backwards.
The pressure at her throat lessened slightly, Mara used that moment for her hand to reach down and grab a knife of her own from the overstocked belt.
They hit the bed and the knife grazed Mara's exposed and tender throat, but she made sure her knife did more harm. Angling her hand, she shoved the knife to its hilt in the man's side, it would be long enough to puncture a lung.
Mara heard a gasp behind and below her, the knife dropped from her throat. She jumped off the man and bed as the figure wheezed his last breaths, he died shortly after.
She stood panting for a bit, touching her neck to make sure there was no severe damage. Mara walked over to a light switch and flicked it on- a florescent glow filled the room.
The harsh glare was hard on her eyes and she had to wait awhile for them to adjust. The black figure lay sprawled on her bed, a dark red puddle forming at his side.
Mara pursed her lips together. "Let's see who you are." She marched over and yanked off the black mask.
A young man's face stared up at the ceiling with no life in them. Mara circled the body, looking for clues that would point to who he was. She scored when she spotted a tattoo on the right side of his exposed neck.
"Hmm..." Mara reached for a camera and took a picture of the odd shaped tattoo. Five triangles arranged in a circle, pointing to the middle. Mara took another picture from another angle- hopefully Ghent could tell her something about it.
She commed the tired computer genius and sent him the photos, she expected an answer within twelve hours and erased all that she sent over. It was only when she was sure the police wouldn't be able to view what she had sent did she contact them.
***
Mara was moved to a new hotel and promised extra security, she doubted it would make a difference. The whole incident was so professionally set up that Mara couldn't dismiss it as coincidence. She had her and Han's things delivered, checking to make sure none of her's was messed with, she couldn't say anything about Han's though.
She was just finishing wrapping up her arm when there was a bang at her door. "Come in." Mara knew exactly who it was, there was no sense delaying him.
Yihza burst in, beet red with anger, the young blonde lawyer followed behind him.
"Why did you touch the body?" Yihza demanded.
Mara shrugged. "I wanted to see my attacker."
"Why did you send a holo communication out before contacting the police?" Cori asked.
"I wanted outside information on something I found." Mara raised an eyebrow. "The way myself and Solo have been treated I didn't think you would be forthcoming with the information I need."
Yihza fumed.
"And I expect this sort of thing won't happen to Solo." Mara looked directly at the Defense Minister.
The man glared in return, wordlessly marching out.
The two remaining women stood, looking each other up and down.
"Just for you information." Cori started. "I'm not happy about this entire situation either. I feel awful for charging a Corellian hero, especially one that I looked up to as a kid."
"Then why are you?"
Cori straightened her shoulders. "Because it's my job. I prosecute when there is sufficient evidence to do so." She paused. "And I'm also the best. I hope you have something good up your sleeve."
Mara's eyebrows raised, she didn't say anything about the tiny blaster that was up her sleeve. "I'll get to the bottom of this." She promised, and thought now was a good a time as any to bring up her next issue. "I would like Solo to be able to contact his family."
Cori nodded her head. "Of course. Just give the order and it'll be arranged." The woman bowed and walked out the door.