The skylanes were teeming with Jedi craft making last minute and unannounced dockings at the Jedi Temple. Hyperspace transit hubs between Coruscant and Ophuchi, their adopted homeworld, had experienced an unusually heavy flow of craft transmitting the highest of security codes and planetary control was abuzz with speculation. Almost unnoticed in the excitement, a ship reading as the 'Guardian Knight' entered the Coruscant stratosphere for the first time in twenty-five years. There was a great deal of carbon build up on the hull, but the port authorities could pretty much make out all the lettering. The code she was transmitting was almost as old as her last visit, but it checked out and she was given clearance to dock.
The Temples' main training hall echoed with the sounds of light sabers powering off. What had just transpired had been an impressive display of weapon prowess, Force powers and battle tactics. By the time the weapon master had called an end to the duel virtually everyone at the academy who was not engaged in duties was present, and avidly watching the spectacle. The entire gathering, including a highly unusual number of Masters and Council members, regarded the young adept with respect and even awe. It was clear that she was a better fighter than the academy's Master of the Blade whom only an elite few had ever fought to a standstill. Abira Jin was the first – student or otherwise - to whom he had conceded defeat in over a century at the post. He was serious in expression and supple limbed in the way that only dancers, athletes and warriors ever seem to be.
The way out of the training ring was slowly clearing as those with duties that they had postponed silently slipped away to attend to them. Looking around at all those gathered, the weapon master indicated vaguely with his open hand as he attached his saber to his belt.
A figure in Jedi robes so dark a brown as to be almost black bowed its head at the Weapon Master's subtle acknowledgement and quietly and unobtrusively made its way out of the hall. Within minutes the figure was outside the Temple and heading for an adjacent tower. To any observer it was obvious that pre-flight systems were tended to by a droid for, as soon as the canopy closed, the 'Guardian Knight' joined a skylane.
Back in the Jedi Temple, the training hall was abuzz with subdued conversations. Across to the side, a group of very young Padawans were enthusiastically performing a fair re-enactment of the defeat of their Master. Older and wiser Padawans quickly distanced themselves from any perception of complicity, for they had quickly noticed their Master's roaming eyes taking everything in even as he addressed his opponent.
"I will speak to you in my rooms, Padawan Jin. There is a matter that we need to discuss." Silently, the two duelists passed through the spectators and into the Masters chambers. The doors closed silently behind them. After some time had passed, everyone who had witnessed the fantastic display had moved on to other pursuits and duties. Jedi at the academy did not generally have much free time, so none wasted much of it in the hope of congratulating her personally.
The post-duel interview had not gone as well as could have been hoped, for it had gone awry around about the time that she made the statement that her feelings sometimes helped her to focus her Force capabilities. 'Forbidden...it's forbidden -within the Order - Remember the code'. I KNOW the code...and the code of the Twain on top of your code you ignorant nerf herder! She growled audibly as she strode through the Temple entrance hall, eliciting startled glances from two nearby students. She ignored their curious looks and their shocked observations about her appearance. Her black robed form quickly passed out of view, obviously lost in her own contemplations. Two damned hours of meditation for using emotions to fuel me in combat; more likely two hours' meditation for wiping the floor with his ass in front of almost the entire school, much less the Padawans. In the end he still had to cut my braid. A grin danced across her face. It was worth every minute of meditation...Lost in her reveries, she was startled at just how quickly she had reached the hangar bay.
"Ah, there you are Rogue, it's about time; we already have the cargo loaded. Here're the delivery coordinates.' Nathifa handed a datapad to Abira and gave a tight-lipped smile, "It still strikes me as unusual to have a Jedi as my only viable smuggler to a Sith planet."
"I may transport cargo's there, but never weaponry..." Abira returned her own crooked smile. "Give me that at least. Heh heh."
"No, I'll grant you that – never armaments, my friend. Not that they're my field anyhow. Things are spicy enough in this business as it is." Both women shared a snicker at the bad joke as the datapad was checked, exchanged hands to be rechecked, and was then pocketed. "It's so damned irregular to have a smuggler that no-one will search at any port. It goes against all my instincts to load shipments openly in a hold – you know that, don't you? Handy; but bloody weird at the same time. Have a safe trip, Rogue." Nathifa smiled and Abira raised a hand in farewell as she turned and entered the 'Obsidian Knight'.
Almost as soon as she was out of the atmosphere and was prepping for the hyperspace jump the communicator light flashed. That's odd. I wonder who that could be... she flipped the switch. "Abira Jin here. I'm listening." Nathifa's voice sprang to life almost immediately in Tradoshan. Not many non-Tradoshans could actually speak the sibilant tongue of the reptilian people.
[Hey Rogue – I just pinned it – your braid is gone! I couldn't figure it while we were standing in the hangar, but there was something 'bout the way you looked. - The hair and the style of your robes is different. Congratulations, kid. Safe journey – let's have a drink or ten when you get back.]
[Thanks and sure thing. Gotta jump now.] The ship seemed to twist and then disappeared in a flash of afterburners.
"Get off me dianoga breath! Overgrown wamp rat! Bubo! Mynock! Argh!" spluttered the slim, hawk-nosed man as he attempted to push the Hutt's tail off of his wriggling torso. "Rancor droppings! Urk..."
[Ho ho ho ho ho!... You talk too much human, and you scare too easily. I should crush you like the worm you are. But if I did that, who would know where to go back and pick up the stims? No, I need you alive for now,] Kare the Hutt lifted his tail slightly and brought it down heavily once again, enjoying the human's stifled gasp of pain. [in one piece and breathing enough to talk. Ho ho ho ho!]
"Squash him, slug, and I am taking my services elsewhere. Killing valuable sentients is bad business; especially when I need them to fulfill your contract." If he had a better view the human might actually have been able to tell if the sudden lifting of the Hutt's tail was due to a physical threat or merely the quiet female voice. Standing as quickly as his bruised body would allow he turned to see who dared to speak to Kare this way. She has balls that clank! Better be holding a thermal detonator at least when you talk to a Hutt that way... The sight that met his eyes, however, caused him to stare in utter disbelief; for what he saw was a very well built, but not too tall, human female narrowly out of schooling age. She was coolly returning his gaze with a dismissive one of her own, taking in his rumpled and stained clothes, outdated blaster charge packs and impact vest with an air of disdain.
[Ah... ho! This is the truth of the matter, Rogue. You cut straight to the heart, as usual. Iyapo here was just agreeing to guide you to where he...misplaced...my shipment of stims. We have made no agreement as to what you do with him after that. Perhaps if it is not too much trouble, you could slip him out an air lock. Ho ho ho.] Demothi Iyapo did not find it particularly encouraging that the girl merely raised one eyebrow at this suggestion as she turned her dark eyes on him once again.
"Hey – I was on my way back to pick it up when that bounty hunter disabled my ship. It wasn't my fault! C'mon, we can work something out, there's no need for the air lock!" He scowled at Rogue and drew himself up to his full height. Hmm, she doesn't look impressed. Well – it was worth a shot Uh oh... "Hey, Kare, there's no need for binders."
"He's right. No binders. No-one runs from me."
[Your choice, human, he will try to run again I am sure. But that is now your concern. Bring me my stims.] The Hutt turned and slithered away with his retainers in tow. A few of the bounty hunters in the retinue nodded to the girl before they turned away. Demothi's eyes narrowed. No-one runs from me, she says... is she a bounty hunter? Can't be; can she? They're a tight knit bunch though, and those guys did seem to acknowledge her. Only one way to find out I guess...
Huh – what happened? Opening his mouth to speak was the last thing he remembered before this blasted beeping brought him round. I'm still alive. I'm in a ship. We either just came in or out of hyperspace going on that alarm. This is good. I can work with this. And I would be on her ship. Nice; one of the new Sienar designs. She has probably had a few mods made. I know I would've.
"What are the coordinates, Demothi? This is where that hunter picked you up – your ship is gone, by the way – so according to your story the stims were dumped somewhere round here. Be a good fellow and tell me where they are, ok? I don't want to have to do this the other way." The pilot seat swung round and his captor smiled sweetly at him. Lightning danced across the tips of one outstretched hand. "You don't want that either."
"I, uh, that is I mean...erm...in my vest – the coords are in a chip in my vest. Erm, are those light sabers? Are you – never mind." The sweet smile turned coy as the pretty girl slid from the seat and walked over to him. As she leaned down to locate the chip with the coordinates for the stims Iyapo tried hard not to think too much about the expanse of shadowed skin that he could see due to the partially unsealed neck of her flight suit.
"You should bathe more often. Did anyone ever tell you that? I doubt it." Rogue wrinkled her nose in distaste. "You smell like a three day dead Bantha. Aah, here it is. I'll just retrieve them and we can get this over with. On second thought..." suddenly Demothi regained the ability to move "...you can suit up and go out for the damn stuff. Pressure suits're in that locker – the open one."
'I bet even you'd smell like a three day dead Bantha too if you spent an hour under a Hutt, wench. Ok – where is my thermal cutter...I might need it." Hey – her laugh is as pretty as her...hold up there man. Settle down. Lightning on the fingers, light sabers; that kind of thing can shorten one's life...
"I don't think you need one just yet, Demothi. If the need arises, I am sure we can address...whatever comes up."
How did I end up out here in the middle of the Run floating round in a pressure suit collecting cargo...oh yeah. Sector Patrols. And a woman, there's always a woman. He grinned widely as he finished collecting the stim containers. Helluva woman she is too. I reckon I'll just have to remind myself to count my fingers quite a bit. Some movement off to his left made him turn aside just as he was about to slip through the cargo hatch after shoving the last box through. That slight movement saved his life. He stared at the blaster scar on the hull for a millisecond then scrambled in and slammed the hatch.
[Powering up shields now. At least I have you safe on board first.] The tinny voice in his helmet carried a smile with it. I'm too damn scared to care right now.
"Uh, thanks. I think. Are we going now?" Dem lurched into the bulkhead several times as he made his way from the cargo hold to the co-pilot seat. "Bumpy ride. Any idea who's shooting at me – umm – us?" He looked at the view screen and strapped himself in.
"Friends of yours, I should think. That looks like the ship you described to me as your missing baby. Just coming to port...now. She's keeping unfriendly company right now."
"Shavit – that IS my ship. Sunsabitchesgotmyship! Any chance we could..." he let her captain's heart fill in the unspoken question in his kath-pup eyes. Her lips narrowed and she tossed him an annoyed glance as she cancelled her accelerating evasive maneuvers.
"Since you put it that way;" she reached out to flip a solitary switch, "hang on".
The Obsidian Knight suddenly disappeared from sight and the sensors of the attacking ships as she cloaked. Dem and Rogue both had savage grins plastered to their faces as she fired ion torpedoes into each of the attacking ships to knock out their engines and op systems. Appearing in the middle of the floating vessels, the Infiltrator eased up to the Corellian freighter and closed in to dock.
"Stay here, things are going to get really nasty for anyone within ten metres of me; I am not messing around with pirates and worrying about you at the same time. Do me a favour and keep an eye on those other ships there's something out there that's bugging me... My weapons and shields are operational, but you'll have no propulsion; you have my sympathy – but not my trust. Don't make me regret this." What am I doing risking my ass for this guy? If he had have just shut up...grr... but he had to appeal to me as a pilot. Damn it.
"Hey – if you get me my ship back and I survive Kare's contract, I'll owe you big time. Ok? Trust me. I may be a smuggler and a scoundrel, but I take my baby very seriously. Same as you." He ran a hand through his long, brown hair and gave her a quirky smile. I really like this kid. And that is very, very bad for me, I think. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as she checked her light sabers, strapped on a grenade bandolier and checked the settings on her blasters. She's got sonic grenades and a Bothan squealer too? Ouch.
Without a word the young woman activated her Yusani shields and left the cabin. He heard her as she passed through the ship and he punched up the camera over the docking hatch in time to see her duck through. She had put on a dark hooded robe on the way. Smart kid; they won't know what species or how young she is.
Abira pushed the button that activated her sound dampening unit around her waist and opened herself to the Force. Silently, she slipped through the docking hatch. The pirate now standing immobile, hand on blaster with a terrified expression on his face, behind a curve in the bulkhead had been easy. A little Force push and a free-floating flash mine that he had set as a clumsy trap on the hatch had taken care of him. Abira gestured toward him as she secured the mine. Lights out, ugly; now let's see about your five buddies.
Hulking beside the small human woman, Kare looked at the motley collection of space pirates and the assorted gear sitting in tidy piles under the watchful eye of an impressively armed and armoured Demothi Iyapo. So they call her 'mind-screamer', interesting. And she still uses no binders, even more interesting. I will have to make use of this one.
[Ahm-hmm. I see you have done what my hunters could not; these pirates have been raiding my ships for the last few years. You go out to retrieve a shipment and...] the Hutt thumped its tail in annoyance [...and capture the whole operation in one hit. This will be quite a profitable transaction for you, youngling. Your acquaintance from Coruscant is sending a ship and pilots for the craft that you did not choose to sell. You have good taste in vessels; I would have kept the same ones myself.]
Rogue nodded peremptorily and glanced aside watching a stir amongst the bounty hunters as one of them separated himself from the group and walked over to share a few quiet words with his former mark. She smiled at the way Demothi casually rested his hand on the butt of a Zabrak pistol, one of a pair slung about his waist.
[You can see my chamberlain for payment later. Now – come; let us get in out of the suns.] Kare's guard contingent put binders on the pirates and led them away. Rogue looked to where Demothi was overseeing the valuation and packing away of the gear they had decided was either not needed or was not valuable enough to hang on to. Shrugging her shoulders at his inquisitorial look, she turned and caught up to the Hutt as he reached the cantina. Not far from the door, Kare stopped to order a vile drink for himself from a passing servo-droid and Tarisian ale for the human.
[Quite a haul, girlie.] A lean and surprisingly tall Rodian planted himself belligerently in front of the young smuggler turned bounty hunter.
[Don't do it.] Rogue looked him over and smiled charmingly. Then she sighed as the Rodian put a hand to her chest and gave her a shove. She allowed it to carry her a few steps backwards. I don't think I have to kill this guy. I hope not anyway. The more room the better anyhow.
[I have been hunting that scum for two years. It cost me a lot of credits. I was only a parsec away when you opened fire. I could have helped. In my view, my scanning those vessels you torpedoed while you went on the Corellian ship entitles me to a share. Here is my estimate. You will pay it, or you will die here.] He obviously expected a response other than the quiet snort of incredulity. His ear stalks quivered with anger as his datachip was dropped to the floor as she turned her back to him. [I will be paid!]
"Not today you won't, those are just costs of doing business. Find a weaker target, friend. Let me buy you a drink."
The Rodian's snarl of rage turned into a howl of agony as he clutched the cauterised stump that was suddenly at the end of his arm. Every being in the cantina froze and of all the regular sounds, all that could be heard was the faint dripping of the ale tap and the whirr of a small cleaning droid as it swept up a shower of broken tankards.
[I told you not to do it. I tell you what I will do; I will let you live. Does that sound good? If it does, nod; ok then. I will extend to you another offer; take this and have a hand fitted. If I ever see you again – just never let me see you again...]
Tucking the wallet of deca-credits into a pouch, the wounded bounty hunter picked up his hand and stumbled out into the street. Dem nodded to Rogue and surreptitiously slipped out the side door. The snap hiss of her light saber powering down acted as the switch that activated the patrons once more into a deafening crescendo of sound. Kare slithered over to Rogue with a huge smile and some half eaten rodent clutched in one hand.
[I too am considered small amongst my people. We are always underestimated, we little ones.] Heaving with laughter the hut popped the creature into its maw and chewed noisily, apparently oblivious to the human's moue of distaste. [Why you requested it I cannot imagine, but the death mark has been removed from the head of Demothi.]
Demothi looked across the breakfast nook in the comfortable quarters provided by Kare for as long as they were needed. Overgrown slug never offered me as much as a drink.
"So, what happens now my pretty benefactor? You got my cargo and ship back and a death mark lifted from my head. I'd say I owe you." He admired the sleek form beneath the black sleep suit while she had her back to him. Damn, girl, you could sure make a man forget his troubles.
"Yeah yeah – not to mention getting you some pretty armour and a cache of weapons any professional merc would kill for... just remember that you owe me big time, as you put it back on my ship. Now that this sector is no good for you, I recommend that you go to Coruscant and speak to Nathifa Mieko at Hanger thirty-fifty-one. You can organize it with her team when they arrive to pick up my fleet. I have already programmed the clearance codes in your nav comp that will get you through planetary control. Be sensible, Dem, Coruscant security teams tend to shoot first and read your indent after if there is a misunderstanding. You aren't wanted on Coruscant, are you?"
"Who, me? Nobody wants me. Er, nobody else, that is. Nobody that ever recognized me anyway." He smiled lopsidedly and took a gulp of caf that burnt his tongue. He smiled at her reassuringly. Nope, she's not buying it. Ah, the hell with it anyway. Blasted females! "Ok ok – no I am not wanted on Coruscant. Hell, I have hardly ever even stopped over in the Galactic Core, ok? Satisfied, woman?" Abira gave him an odd look as she turned round and brought her food over to the table to eat.
"Good enough, Dem. Good enough."