Chapter 4: Xen's Mission
Xen's Theta class shuttle zoomed down toward the white orb of Hoth. It entered the atmosphere with a jerk that shook everything. Xen brought it smoothly down the rest of the way. It zoomed down over rusted and blacked AT-AT walkers and crashed snow speeders, it was headed for a gaping hole in the snow covered mountain side, the main entrance and hanger to Echo Base. Xen brought the shuttle into it and landed. Several other shuttles were there including an all black one Traya had never seen before. Xen flicked a switch and Traya heard the lifts of the boarding ramp groan as it lowered.
She and Xen walked down that ramp and a grayish green skinned alien with a baldhead except for a long dark strand of hair in a ponytail walked up to them. He was wearing long white and red robes and he had the distinct impression upon him that he despised the ship they were debarking from. He bowed deeply to them and Xen bowed back.
" Greetings Price Xizor." Xen said.
" Greetings milady." Xizor answered kissing the hem of Xen's cloak which she discarded on the floor and a storm trooper that happened to walk by pick it up.
Well Traya knew one thing; this Xizor was a hell of a suck up.
" Have you brought me anything?" He asked standing up.
" No." Xen said. " Just this old woman who is worth more to me then the holochrons, she's a Sith."
" Indeed I am." Traya spoke. " And I wonder, Xizor…"
" Prince Xizor." Xizor said politely.
" Prince Xizor, why are you working with Xen?"
" We had an agreement, her and I. When she went out to search for her holochrons she would bring me back something I could sell to profit my organization, in exchange for that I would offer her its services for whatever she may need."
" Fascinating." Traya said, though she did not find it fascinating, merely useful. " I might be in need of your organizations services, if they have an army."
" The Black Sun does indeed have an army of mercenaries at our disposal. But what would I get in return?"
" The satisfaction of…" Traya began thinking how this could work out. An idea popped into her mind. She could use that army to kill Vader, Yoda, Leia and whatever Jedi band they had amassed. " Knowing it helped kill Lord Vader and the Jedi and… becoming Emperor when the Republic is destroyed and turned into an Empire." Traya added which was an empty promise, all she wanted to do was kill Vader and the Jedi and any other force user and kill Xen and herself so the force would die. It was like killing two birds with one stone, so the saying goes.
" I am intrigued by your offer." Xizor said. " I agree to it."
" Very well." Traya answered. " It shall be done but before it can happen something else must. Xen I have a mission for you."
" Since when do I have to take orders from you?"
" Since I told you to." Traya hissed. " Besides, you'll enjoy it. I want you to gain entrance to the Jedi temple on Coruscant and kill Vader's daughter, Leia."
" They have a new temple?"
" Yes."
" How do you know?"
" I have been one with the force for a long time."
" Okay, so you want me to leave now?"
" That is the reason I am telling you this, yes."
" Alright then."
Xen turned on her heel and her leather cat suit squeaked as she walked back up to her ship.
" Price Xizor."
" Yes mistress…"
" Traya."
" Yes mistress Traya?"
" I would very much like to know where your base of operations is."
" Ah, since my last base was destroyed about a year or two ago by Lord Vader and I presumed dead, though it was actually a clone of me, I have built a new base. It is underground, in the south pole of the wookie planet Kashyyyk.
You see I prefer colder places and remote locations now, I came here to expand my criminal organization and I found Xen. Now here we stand."
" Thank you very much Prince Xizor."
XxX
Chancellor's office, Coruscant
The Chancellors office had been completely remodeled, it now resembled the old one although they could not remove the platform where the Emperor's chair once stood so now that is where Mon Mothma's desk was located. She sat there hands crossed listening to Vader and Yoda who sat in two red velvet chairs across the desk from her.
" Interesting Lord Vader, master Yoda." Mon Mothma said after they told her of Traya. " I will give you full permission to search for her of course, she must be stopped."
" Thank you Chancellor." Vader said. " But I'm not quite sure where to look."
" Followers she will need." Yoda said. " A place where she could gain them easily she would go."
" Perhaps a planet with Palpatine's old storm trooper bands on it?" Mon Mothma suggested.
" Yes. A good place to start that is." Yoda replied.
" Yavin IV." Vader said. " Its rumored that there are a few thousand in the old rebel base there. A perfect place to start."
" Indeed." Yoda said.
" Then you may search it Vader." Mon Mothma said. " Leave when you are ready."
" Yoda and I shall go."
" Agreed." Yoda said.
