Into the Shadow
Chapter Four: The exchange of power
When Sabé and Felix returned to The Dark Star, it seemed that Felix had everything precisely planned. Just as she was about to ask him how they were to acquire a speeder, he opened a secret compartment, revealing a brand new speeder.
Felix got on the vehicle first, and then extended his hand to help Sabé. "Hop on," he insisted.
Sabé rejected his help and got on by herself. She was now beginning to feel more annoyed by him than plain outrage, but she knew that it would be wise to stay close to him while they were in Mos Eisley.
Felix started up the speeder and Sabé found herself having to put her arms around him to hold on, for he was going at an incredible speed.
And now that she started to think about it, Sabé had an idea of his origin. It was a known that that Corellians were roguish scoundrels. Perhaps she was wrong, but she seemed to be set on that theory.
000
The stubborn man wildly steered his Jedi Starfighter through space. He was determined to reach Mustafar before Palpatine had a chance to harm Padmé; and he also had to protect his children.
"I can't let him harm them," he thought to himself.
He had been to Mustafar once, and so he knew the way; he was going to find Padmé, Luke, and Leia and save them from Palpatine's clutches. He had no choice.
But during his worrying for his family, he had forgotten someone who had risked her life to try to protect Padmé and the twins; he had not intentionally forgotten about Sabé, but his family was the most important thing to him. He remembered how painful it had been when his mother had died in his arms…oh how he had avenged her death! Not one Tuskan remained—he had made sure of that. He didn't care if they were man, woman, child, or beast. As far as he was concerned, they all deserved death.
And he still did not regret his actions…he felt no remorse for a single Tuskan which he had slaughtered that day, and he would do it again. He was prepared to do it again.
"I'm coming, Padmé," he said aloud. "I'm coming for you."
000
The Chiss walked almost soundlessly down the hall; her master had summoned her and she had come almost immediately.
The guards stood aside and let Sev'Rance enter, for Palpatine had ordered them to do so.
The Emperor was seated upon his throne in meditation, when General Tann entered.
"You asked to see me, my lord," Sev'Rance stated, breaking his meditative trance.
Palpatine turned to look in her direction. "Yes; I have an assignment for you," he said dryly.
"I am ready," Sev'Rance said; ready to accept any task, no matter how difficult.
"It is not what you are thinking of: I trust you to stay here in my stead. As you know, Lady Pariah and several other Sith lords and Ladies are going to Korriban to oversee the constructions of the Sith temple and the Sith academy, well I must go to deal with lord Obsidian personally; for it seems that he still wants to hold on to Jedi Master Kenobi; but my intentions for him are quite different. He shall be a great asset to our cause. It is undeniable that he is very powerful."
"Yes master," Sev'Rance agreed, sounding as though she was a droid programmed to say 'yes' to everything that her master said.
"Lady Pariah and I are leaving today; I trust that you will be able to maintain order until I return."
"Yes Emperor," said Sev'Rance, bowing her head in reverence. "It is an honor to undertake such a task."
"Good; I have high hopes for you Sev'Rance; don't fail me."
"I will not, master; but I must ask what I am to do when Anakin Skywalker comes here looking for Amidala."
An evil smile spread across Palpatine's decrepit face. "Notify me."
000
Mos Eisley was a crowded spaceport, and Sabé wished that she didn't have to go any further, but Felix continued to steer the vehicle into the town; the only good thing that Sabé noticed was that he had slowed his pace.
"Where do we start to look?" Sabé asked, not really sure if she wanted to know the answer, but once the words had escaped her lips it was too late.
"Where everyone goes when they want a passage out of this rock," was his reply.
"And where would that be?"
"A Cantina!" Felix exclaimed. "That's where most pilots kill time. I thought that you'd at least know that."
Sabé was about to think up a witty reply, but Felix stopped the speeder at the entrance of a Cantina.
"This is the most popular," he explained. "You can find good pilots here…and for a decent price—sometimes."
They dismounted and entered; the Cantina was crowded, mostly pilots having what they called a good time. Felix, who had tracked down many people in Mos Eisley, immediately headed to the front counter and began talking with the bartender. Sabé followed him, but could barely make out the words that were exchanged between the two.
Felix followed the bartender's gaze to a woman sitting in a corner; she did seem to stick out and she looked insecure.
"Thanks for the help," Felix said, casually sliding some credits on the counter. The man counted the credits and smiled greedily.
"I'm glad that I could be of help to you."
Felix smiled and then motioned for Sabé to follow him.
But his triumph was short-lived, for in an instant, a blaster shot was fired, missing Felix's head by an inch. Commotion immediately erupted in the Cantina as debris fell from the wall. Felix looked to his right just in time to move out of the way as another shot was fired at him.
He looked to his left and saw that Sabé remained unnaturally calm, although she didn't want to stay.
"Let's get out of here!" she shouted, her voice barely audible due to the commotion.
"I'm not leaving without my prize," Felix stated stubbornly. He drew his two blasters and fired back at the attacker, who was—to Sabé's surprise—a woman.
Felix immediately recognized her. "Aurra Sing," he muttered under his breath. "I should've gotten rid of you a long time ago.
Aurra had come to Mos Eisley for the same reason as Felix: Jabba had also hired her to track down the girl from Naboo and Aurra refused to let anyone come between her and her prey.
Everyone began to file out of the Cantina by now, for deadly shots were being exchanged. Two determined bounty hunters, both were intending to catch their prey.
They began to unintentionally take the fight outside, and they were both able to turn their heads in unison just in time to see the girl slip into a flight hangar.
The race was on.
Aurra had the better lead, and she was able to dodge Felix's shots while keeping up the deadly fast pace. Finally, Aurra managed to turn around and aim a shot at Sabé. Felix saw this, much to his horror, and just as the shot was fired, he pushed Sabé out of the way, and he was almost clear of danger himself, but the shot grazed his left shoulder.
Aurra smiled evilly as she saw blood appear, then she ran off to catch the unfortunate girl.