Chapter Seven: Anything but Safe
The spaceport on Dromund Kaas was both smaller and less remarkable than you would expect from the Imperial capital. The surrounding jungle constantly threatened to reclaim what the Empire had worked so hard to clear. It was a struggle just to keep the road between the spaceport and Kaas City clear for speeder traffic – a perilous struggle, given the hostility of the local wildlife.
After The Black Talon landed, Cipher Nine waited until all other passengers had disembarked. She particularly didn't want another run-in with that Sith apprentice or her pet monster. She stayed in her cabin, watching through the security feed, only relaxing when the two Sith finally disembarked.
When she stepped out into the hallway, Zarek Voss, the Zabrak bounty hunter she had befriended, leaned against the opposite wall. He clearly hoped for a word. She smiled sadly at him, feeling a pang of regret. A friendly conversation would be a nice distraction. Unfortunately, her orders precluded such a luxury.
"Kaliyo and I need to report to Kaas City immediately," she said. "I just wanted to make sure our, ah, 'friends' were out of the way before I stepped outside. Thank you for your help, Zarek. Thank Mako, too."
"We'll be getting straight to work, too," he said. "With luck, maybe we can meet up at a cantina. I know the Empire doesn't like aliens and humans mixing..."
"A cantina would be lovely," she said. "There's one in Kaas City. If I'm able to find time, I'll let you know."
He smiled at that. She liked his smile.
Then his expression grew serious again. "Be careful of Kaliyo," he said. "She did her job well during the raid, but I know her type. She'll turn on you if she thinks there's an advantage in it."
"I know," she replied. Kaliyo, the one-time Rattataki terrorist, was her burden, insisted on by Keeper. If she'd had her way, Cipher would simply have disposed of her back on Hutta.
"Good luck with The Hunt," she said. "I hope you find your glory."
Zarek left to collect Mako. Cipher turned to the door to Kaliyo's cabin, to retrieve her unwanted partner.
"Time to go," she said simply.
Cipher showed their credentials to Customs as they exited the ship. The guards glared openly at Kaliyo. Whether it was because they recognized her from her past crimes, or simply because she was an alien, Cipher couldn't say.
Kaliyo was unconcerned in any case. She just looked around the spaceport and whistled.
"It always surprises me how clean you Imperials keep everything. If this was Hutta, I'd already be scraping gunk off my boots. Then again, if this was Hutta, I couldn't be thrown into prison for spitting the wrong way."
"How about you just avoid spitting at all while you're here?" Cipher suggested stiffly.
Kaliyo rolled her eyes. "C'mon, Agent. Is that really how you're going to welcome me to the Imperial homeworld?"
"Keeper wants to see us at the Citadel," Cipher said flatly. "Let's not keep him waiting."
"Says the woman who waited until every last person was off the ship before leaving," Kaliyo grumbled. Then she grinned. "Don't worry, I won't embarrass you. After all, it's my charm that got me here."
As they stepped outside, they were hit by a wave of thick, hot humidity. The jungle's welcome. Cipher couldn't suppress a cough at the shift in air quality. Kaliyo actually doubled over, gasping for breath.
It took less than a minute for Cipher to acclimate. Though it wasn't her favorite setting, she had spent time in jungles, occasionally at a stretch. Kaliyo's record indicated she had mostly frequented urban and desert settings, though, and it took her a while to reclaim her composure.
"Nice air you've got here," Kaliyo gasped. "I think I need to stick my head in a foundry to catch my breath." But she finally straightened, and indicated that she was ready to go. "Let's go meet your bosses."
As they turned toward the speeder station, Cipher glanced back at the spaceport building, with the huge Imperial insignias draped down either side of the entrance. She was home again, deep in the heart of the Empire.
But as she settled beside Kaliyo, she found herself feeling uneasy. She remembered Keeper's words, about the interest Darth Jadus had taken in her latest mission, and the Sith apprentice's ire when she stopped her from killing the Jedi on the Brentaal Star. Then there was the scrambled call she had placed to Satele Shan. She had been careful, but she knew that she could be killed for that alone.
But she was most concerned about Darth Jadus. She had received a Sith's personal attention. She might be home, but she felt anything but safe.