Chapter 19
The Nilum flew through the Coruscant spacelanes as it headed toward the city planet below. The small, grey shuttle easily blended in with the already huge amount of space traffic which constantly filled the skies above Coruscant.
"Shuttle Nilum," A voice said over the com. "This is Coruscant landing control. Please send us your shuttle identification number and you will be allowed to land."
"This is Captain Aram," the Captain said. "I am sending the number to you now." There was a moment of silence as the code number was sent to the planet below.
"Thank you, Nilum, I am sending you the landing coordinates. Please follow them and enjoy your stay on Coruscant."
"Thank you, control," Aram said. "Nilum out."
The shuttle landed with a hiss on the northern landing platform. The boarding ramp emerged and Captain Aram looked out at the city, her blond hair blowing in the wind.
"Let's go people," Aram called to her crew as she momentarily went back inside and walked back out with her crew. No one noticed as they walked out, even though a Trandoshan and a Barabel were walking with them. The entire group just merely mixed in with the other Coruscanti population.
People did whisper as they walked past, but not about them. People whispered quietly to each other, asking about if a Sith lord really did take over the Senate, or if was all just a rumor. They knew that they had seen it on the Holonet but they could still not believe it. Some even thought about leaving Coruscant and heading for somewhere safe, before things got worse.
But others also heard that a new force had recently emerged, under the command of the Sith, and attacked planets, bring them into submission. Others said that that was just a rumor as well, as no one had heard of any distress signals going out.
They don't know what secrets are being kept from them, though Aram.
The whispers continued, about an attack on the Jedi planet Ossus, and that the Jedi had been sent into hiding. Some said that they had heard that a Jedi had been involved in the destruction of Ossus. However, no one believed either of these rumors, knowing that no one could destroy the Jedi without any fighting in return. But still people whispered, not yet completely willing to say their opinions aloud. People walked quietly, trying not to draw any attention to themselves. The situation on Coruscant had grown very tense.
But they were here to change all of that.
Aram and her companions turned a corner and headed into the deserted alley. No one noticed them as they did so but to be safe they scanned the area. Then Aram took off her blond hair, revealing her red hair beneath.
"You played your part very well, Captain "Aram", Jacen said as he took off his disguise as well . "No one could tell it was you."
"Thanks Jacen," Mara said. "But we don't have time to talk, we have to keep moving. If anyone detects us then our mission is over."
"We have to head for the sewers now," Zekk said as he displayed the holomap. He pointed to the spots they had to travel to as he talked. "We enter through this entrance here, at the shift change. Fortunately there shouldn't be many guards on duty."
"I still don't understand why there would even be any guards at a sewer entrance." Koln said.
"Ever since Luke and the others were able to infiltrate Imperial city through the sewers, back during the Galactic Civil War, there have always been guards positioned at every sewer entrance," Mara said. "Fortunately they don't do a very good job."
"Then this should be easy," T'rssk said as he flexed his claws.
"But remember we do not want to kill anyone," Mara said. "Just take them out and put them someplace safe. We don't want to kill anyone we don't have to kill."
"But we will have to eventually," Saba said. "Nexus iz still in control, and he will have guardz loyal to him."
"Right, and when the time comes we will deal with them," Mara said. "But we first have to get to Nexus to deal with him. Let's move." Zekk shut of the holomap and they began to move again. They exited back into the busy street, once again going unnoticed as they reemerged. They walked apart from each other so they would no draw attention to themselves. Eventually they once again turned down a deserted alley, on a approach to the sewer entrance.
"There it is." Koln said once the entrance was in sight. There was one guard, his eyes closed and leaning against the wall. "When do the shifts change?"
"Right about, now." Zekk said as a nearby light flashed quickly, waking up the guard, who sleepily walked away.
"Koln, you and your men go in now," Mara said. "Jacen and T'rssk will provide cover for you." Koln nodded and led his men out of their hiding spot and quickly and quietly crawled into the sewer.
"Zekk, Saba, we'll go now." Mara said and the three went out. They looked around quickly to make sure they wouldn't be spotted and saw a guard approach them.
"Hey, what are you-" The guard said as he raised his stun blaster, but with a wave of his hand Zekk planted a quick suggestion in the guard and he quickly ran away.
"What did you do to him?" Mara asked.
"Made him think he had to go to the refresher," Zekk said. "And I made him forget he saw us. He won't be back until we're long gone."
"Good, we have to keep moving." Mara said and the three went in. Jacen and the others were already ready and waiting, all their weapons ready.
"Alright everyone, we've made it this far undetected," Mara said. "But as we go on we'll be even further in enemy territory. Stay together and we'll make it. Everyone ready?" Everyone nodded. "Then let's move."