Knight in Shining Armor
Chapter 2
Jace walked into the Krayt Dragon Lounge and looked around. He knew it was the cleanest and most reputable cantina in Mos Eisley, but that wasn't saying much. Fact was that he felt safer doing business in one of the less reputable establishments than he did here. At least there one knew what they could expect. Plus everyone was usually trying to keep out of each other's shady business deals. A cantina like the Krayt Dragon Lounge always presented the problem of Imperial undercover agents monitoring you, not to mention information dealers.
Spotting a sabacc game in the corner, Jace walked over, figuring he'd find Dash there. He wasn't disappointed to see the Corellian sitting at the table, a fairly decent pile of credits in front of him. Jace pulled out a seat and sat down, tossing a few credits into the pot.
"Deal me in," Jace told the dealer. The Sullustan across from him looked like he was about to object. Jace simply gave him a menacing look, silencing the him.
"Was wondering if you were ever gonna show up," Dash said as he looked at his card chips.
"Would have been here sooner but something came up and Krysta needed my help with it."
"How is Krysta anyway?" Dash asked as he threw in a couple more credits.
"Sorry boys, but I'm afraid this hand is mine," the Sullustan declared as his turn to speak came up.
"She's fine." Jace casually threw in his card chips, ignoring the Sullustan's comments. "Course she'd probably rather see you dead than have me talk to you. Might have been why she needed my help."
"She just doesn't know me that well. If she did she'd want to see me disintegrated," Dash joked.
"And she doesn't want to know you either," Jace replied. "Anywhere we could get a little privacy?"
Dash pointed to a nearby booth with a droid in it. "Leebo's holding the table for us."
Jace got up and walked over to the table, closely followed by Dash. Both men sat down opposite from each other. One of the cantina's waiters came over and handed Dash his drink. He then took away the glass of water in front of Leebo, promising to bring back another, before asking Jace what he wanted. Jace placed his order and then dug out the pouch of credits he'd brought for the purchase.
"I believe this is the amount we agreed upon," he said as he tossed the pouch into the middle of the table.
"You didn't use any for your bet did you?" Dash demanded as he handed Leebo the pouch.
"Their all there. I never touch credits I've put in a pouch like that once their in there. Got others for that."
"Which you may need if all my credits aren't in that pouch. Leebo?"
"All the credits are here sir. Including an extra five hundred you did not request."
"For keeping you waiting past the time of our meeting," Jace told him, leaning back against the cushions on his side of the booth.
"I like your thinking," Dash said. "Keep a person waiting so you pay them extra. I like it."
The waiter came back and gave Jace his drink. As soon as he was gone, Dash reached into a pocket inside his vest and pulled out a small box, tossing it to Jace. He opened it and looked in. "These aren't the TX-55s I ordered."
"Factory fresh. I got lucky with that. My contact was able to smuggle them out of the factory under the nose of some stormtroopers. More importantly, he was able to get me the new TX-56s instead of the 55s. Not what you ordered, so I wont charge you for the mix up."
"TX-56s. Same basic design as the 55s, but faster and with a greater punch. Also more angular, making them slice through the air easier. I'm impressed."
"The rest of your order is on the Outrider. Either you come over to Docking Bay Fifty-six and pick it up or else I bring it to the Wind Star. Your choice."
Jace was about to respond when a Quarren he knew caught his eye. "Polto Jalril."
"What?" Dash asked, confused.
"Nothing," Jace responded, realizing he'd just spoken out loud. "Guess you'll have to bring the order over to Docking Bay Forty. I've got some more business to take care of."
"And what would that be," another voice said, coming up to the table.
"Glad to see you could make it back, Solo," Dash said as he looked up.
"Long time no see, Han," Jace said, making room for the other man. He took note of the fact that Jalril was sitting by himself, apparently waiting for someone.
"Last time was just before the Battle of Nar Shaddaa," Han reminded him.
"Yeah, I remember that day. Krysta still has nightmares about it."
"Hey, the kid spent so much time in a bacta tank after the battle that I'm not surprised," Han said. "And as I recall, you had to junk that YT-1200 knock-off of yours afterwards."
"Krysta hated to see the Nova Flare go. Spent so much of her life in it."
"So what are you flying now?"
"He's got a CEC HT-2200 now, Solo," Dash answered for him.
"Finally getting a real design, huh."
"Krysta's idea. I bought it then she modified it far beyond factory specs."
"So she's not pirate bait?" Han asked.
"The Wind Star couldn't match the Outrider for speed, but she'll keep up with your Bria. In fact I think she'd probably out run the Bria in a race."
"Sure she would," Han agreed. "Course anything could out run the Bria now. The Imps blew her away not too long after the battle."
"Sorry to hear that," Jace said. Then he noticed Dash's bemused look. "OK, what am I missing here?"
"Oh, nothing," Dash told him, "except Solo's new ship."
"OK Han, I'll bite. What are you flying now?"
"The Falcon," Han replied with a grin.
Jace nearly choked on the swig of ale he'd just taken. "The Millennium Falcon? Lando's pride and joy?"
"My pride and joy now," Han corrected.
"How'd you manage that one?"
"Won her in that big sabaac game on Bespin."
"Talk about luck Han."
"Yeah, well I could use some of that luck now."
"Oh yeah," Dash interrupted. "That deal with Jabba."
"What deal with Jabba?" Jace gave Han a questioning look.
"Last Kessel Run the Imps boarded me. Forced me to dump the spice I was hauling so they wouldn't catch me with it. Cost Jabba twelve thousand four hundred credits. He wants me to pay for it."
"Stang, that's rotten luck," Dash exclaimed, not having heard the full story about Han's trouble's with Jabba.
"Still, I got something out of that Run. Either of you boys ready to try and make it in under twelve parsecs. That's the new record and it's all mine."
"I'm not even gonna attempt it with the Wind Star Han. But I am gonna try and help you out with your problem with Jabba. Still got that sonic rifle?"
"Let me guess, you plan on buying it off me."
"You got it."
"Come by the Falcon later, once your other business is done. Bring Krysta if ya can. Would love to see her again after all these years. Docking Bay Ninety-four."
"Deal," Jace said. But his eyes were fixed on Jalril and the man who was taking a seat across from him. "Guys, would love to sit here and talk about the good old days and what we're doing now, but I've got that other business to see to."
Taking his drink, Jace began walking over to the bar. As he passed Jalril's table he pretend to trip, spilling his drink all over Jalril. Both Jalril and has companion jumped up and yelled at him for being a drunken oaf. Jace began apologizing profusely, trying to dry Jalril off in the process.
But it was all a cover. Jace knew Polto Jalril was a high ranking member of the Alliance who was suppose to be on a mission to Bespin in an attempt to get Tibanna Gas for the Rebellion. The fact that he was here on Tatooine meant that he was up to something. The Alliance had suspected they might have a traitor for some time. Jalril's companion told Jace who the traitor was. After all, it wasn't everyday Imperial Admiral Sol Gallaex met with an alien.
Knowing Jalril would never recognize him out of his armor had made it easy for Jace to get near him. Spilling his drink and then making like he was drunkenly trying to dry the Quarren off gave him his chance to discreetly plant a listening device on him. Once it was planted, Jace walked over to the bar and ordered an ale to go. He then left the Kyrat Dragon Lounge.
"Windy, this is Jace, come in," Jace whispered into his comm link once outside.
"What can I do for you, big boy?"
"I spilled my ale and need you to clean up after me." The code had been devised between Jace and the droid ship before he left for the cantina. It told Windy that for some reason Jace had planted the listening device he'd brought and needed her to record what it picked up.
"I can't clean up there, but am clean here," Windy responded, using the affirmative code.
"Glad to know. Jace out."
Jace had taken his time getting back to the Wind Star so as not to look suspicious. Once back, he told Krysta that Dash would be stopping by with the rest of their purchase and that she'd have to be the one to see him when he arrived. She started to give that pout she always used to get her way, but he turned his back on her and went to his quarters. Frustrated with the fact that he'd ignored her pout, Krysta sighed, knowing full well she'd have to see Dash.
"Windy, give me a play back on that recording I had you make," Jace said once the door to his quarters was sealed.
"As ordered, boss," Windy replied, becoming all business and not trying to sweet talk him.
The play back began with muttered voices and a lot of patting like sounds. Jace realized the voices he heard were in the background and that Jalril was still drying off. Evidently both he and Admiral Gallaex were waiting till they were sure they wouldn't be interrupted again.
"The information you provided us with was indeed very useful, Jalril," the admiral said.
"I trust you were able to protect the Empire's new Star Destroyers from being captured."
"KDY didn't even realize they had been infiltrated by your rebel allies."
"Some allies. If they had been wise, they would have paid me what I deserve."
"And treat you with the respect you deserve?"
"Yes," Jalril agreed, not hearing the underlying sarcasm Gallaex's voice had been filled with.
"I trust the reason you have set up this meeting is worth my time."
"Oh, it will be worth it only if you choose to set up another meeting with me tomorrow. Did you bring your datapad as I asked?"
There was the rustling of fabric on fabric as Gallaex reached into his satchel and brought out his datapad. The next sound was of Jalril reaching into a pocket and pulling out something. Jace heard a ripping sound and realized whatever had just been pulled out had been in a waterproof pouch.
"This datacard should be enough for you to decide if we can do business tomorrow," Jalril told Gallaex.
Gallaex plugged the datacard into his datapad. "The location of the main rebel base. Politicians who support the rebellion. Codes the rebels use. And a rebel decryption unit. Jalril, this is more than I could have wished for."
"There's more, much more. What I have here on Tatooine is just a sampling of all I'm ready to give you. It will be you, and not someone like Grand Moff Tarkin or Lord Vader, who brings an end to the Rebellion. Emperor Palpatine will make you a Grand Admiral."
"Wrong, he would put me in charge of the entire Imperial Navy. Be at the Mos Eisley Cantina tomorrow around noon with the goods. One of my subordinates will pick you up and bring you to my quarters."
"Very good. Considering I still have much of what you'll need, I have nothing to fear about being in your private quarters."
"Indeed so. I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow."
Jace heard Gallaex get up and leave. "So somehow I have to find out where the two are going to be meeting."
"You could go to every hotel in Mos Eisley and see where that Imp admiral is staying," Windy suggested.
"That would take too long," Jace told her. "If I plant a tracer on Jalril, then I'll be able to learn the location of Gallaex's room. No that wont work, they'll no doubt scan him to see if he's being traced. But they wouldn't check the man the admiral sends to pick up Jalril."
"Very intelligent. Of course that's why Alliance High Command gave you rogue operations status."
"True, but I can't simply go in there, wherever there is, and kill Gallaex and Jalril. While the Imps could careless about Jalril's death, they would shut down the port just to find Gallaex's killer."
"The admiral travels with a pet sand panther. He cages it when in transit. This recent holo shows him prepping his pet for a trip to Garos IV from Coruscant."
Jace studied the holo carefully. From an Imperial navy news holo, the article was about Admiral Sol Gallaex's impending vacation on Garos IV. Jace could care less about the man's trip. It was the cage he was putting the big cat in that interested him. Big enough for the sand panther to walk around in, it's walls were solid instead of the traditional barred cage. Air vents along the top of the walls allowed air into the cage while keeping curious on lookers from looking in.
"Good job Windy. That's how I'll get them out." Jace then noticed the time. "I better round up Krysta. We've got an old friend to see."