New Cov - Ilic City
Lando eased the Lady Luck gracefully in for a landing. They hadn't originally planned to return to Ilic City but that changed when they had been contacted by Winter. Aside from news of more Imperial hits on their shipping and Fey'lya doubling his efforts to take control of the military, she had delivered a message from Luke. According to Winter, he wanted to meet them at the "money-changing center". Lando knew what it meant, even if Han didn't and so here they were. "It's just terrific to be back;" muttered Han sardonically. "Probably ought to snoop around a little before we head down to the Mishra."
"I don't think we're going to have to bother with the Mishra;" said Lando stiffly, looking at the man standing five meters from the bottom of the boarding ramp. He was bulky and chewed on the end of a cigarra.
Han's hand casually dropped to his blaster. "Friend of yours?"
"I wouldn't go that far;" murmured Lando. "His name is Niles Ferrier - ship thief and occasional smuggler."
"He was in on the Mishra thing, I take?" asked Han.
"One of the key players."
Han looked at their surroundings. Aside from the regular traffic of beings hustling on by, another three or four individuals were loitering just within sight of them. Han didn't like it at all. "Ship thief, huh?" he murmured.
"Yes, but he's not going to bother with anything as small as the Lady Luck;" assured Lando.
They reached the foot of the ramp and stopped there by unspoken consent. The ship thief's grin only broadened as he sauntered a few steps toward them. "Hello there, Calrissian. We keep bumping into each other, don't we?"
"Hello, Luke;" said Han. "You've changed."
"Yeah - sorry about that. I didn't figure you'd come if I put my own name on the message?" said Ferrier almost sheepishly.
"Where's Luke?" Han demanded.
"Search me. He burned out of here same time you did - that was the last I saw of him."
Han and Lando studied him, looking for tells that revealed any lies. Not seeing any, Han asked, "What do you want?"
"I want to cut a deal with the New Republic;" said Ferrier in a noticeably lower voice. "A deal for some new warships. You interested?"
"We might be. What kind of ships?" said Han, not trusting the thief for a minute.
"How about we talk in the ship?"
"How about we talk out here?" retorted Lando cooly.
Ferrier lifted his hands disarmingly. "Take it easy, Calrissian. What do you think I'm going to do, walk off with your ship in my pocket?"
"What kind of ships?" Han repeated, a little more durasteel in his voice.
Ferrier made a show of looking around them before leaning in and saying, "Big ones; Dreadnought-class;" and then in an even lower voice, "The Katana Fleet."
With a little effort, Han maintained his sabacc face. "The Katana fleet. Right."
"I'm not kidding. The Katana's been found - and I've got a line on the guy who found it."
"Yeah?" Han said, studying Ferrier's face. There was something about his expression that Han did not like. Suddenly, he whipped around, half expecting to see someone sneaking up the ramp of the Lady Luck. But no, there was only the usual mix of shadows in the spaceport lights. "Something?" murmured Lando.
After a moment, Han shook his head and turned back to Ferrier. "What makes you think this guy has anything?"
The ship thief grinned slyly. "Free information, Solo? Come on - you know better than."
Lando scowled. "Alright then, what do you want from us, and what are you offering in trade?"
"I know the guy's name;" said Ferrier, his demeanor all business again. "But I don't know where he is. I thought we could pool our resources, see if we can get to him before the Empire does."
"What makes you think the Empire's involved?" asked Han through a tight throat.
"With Grand Admiral Thrawn in charge over there? He's involved in everything."
Han and Lando looked at each other. Ferrier had a point. The Empire was just as hard up for ships as the New Republic. What's more, given Thrawn's alliance with Darth Diabolis, he had a whole network in the fringe with which to search. The Grand Admiral had a substantial head start.
Focusing back on Ferrier, Lando stated, "We still haven't heard what we're getting out of the deal."
"Do you know where he is?"
"We have a lead;" Lando said, "what are you offering?"
"I'll give you half the ships we take out;" said Ferrier, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two of them. "Plus an option for the New Republic to buy out the rest at a reasonable price."
"What's a reasonable price?" demanded Han.
"Depends on what kind shape they're in. I'm sure we'll be able to come to an agreement."
Han glanced at Lando. "What do you think?"
"Forget it;" said Lando harshly, "you want to give us the nam, fine - if it checks out, we'll make sure you're well paid once we've got the ships. Otherwise, shove off."
Ferrier drew back. "Well fine;" he muttered, "You want to do it all by yourselves, be my guest, but if we get to the ships first, your precious little New Republic's going to pay a lot more to get them. A lot more."
Turning on his heel, he stalked off. "Come on, Han;" said Lando, "Let's get out of here. I'll prep for lift. You talk to Control, get us an exit slot."
Neither of them liked it. That was pretty clear. Ferrier had given up too quickly and smiled too much. When they got their clearance, Lando took them out. With a humorless smile, he said, "It looks like while we were talking to Ferrier, someone sneaked up and put something on our hull. Ten'll get you one it's a homing beacon."
"What a surprise;" Han muttered. "What do you want to do with it?"
Lando shrugged. "The Terrijo system's more or less on the way to Pantolomin. We'll swing through there and drop it off."
Talon Karrde's New Home Base
Karrde stroked the grip of his blaster as he watched the Etherway making its final approach. Rianna was over three days late which, under normal circumstances, was not a great delay. However, the circumstances were far from normal. Unease was working it's way through Karrde as the ship settled to the ground in the landing pit and he pulled his comlink. "Dankin, anything suspicious in sight?"
"Not a thing; looks very quiet over there."
"Alright;" murmured Karrde, "Keep out of sight but stay alert."
"I don't like this;" murmured Shada.
"Me neither;" admitted Karrde, "but Rianna transmitted all the proper codes and "all clear" phrases."
Shada didn't respond. The hatchway of the Etherway opened and Rianna called down, "Karrde?"
"Welcome home, Rianna;" he said as he and Shada moved into the light. "You're a nit-"
"We need to go;" the Twi'lek woman interrupted him. "Now!"
"Why? Were you followed?" demanded Shada.
"I don't think so. I did what I could to shake any possible pursuit but it doesn't matter. Karrde;" and she looked at him, more serious than he had ever seen her. "Thrawn is after you hard core. It's time to make a choice - the Empire or the New Republic."
"Rianna;" Karrde said, his voice cooling considerably, "I don't appreciate-" but he was interrupted by a squeal from the comlink on his belt - the squeal of blanket jamming followed by silence. "Come on;" he hissed, drawing his blaster.
Rianna and Shada had theirs out and ready as well. At the far end of the tunnel, he could see shapes moving. Lifting his blaster, Karrde fired towards them. Suddenly, a sonic boom slammed against them, nearly knocking them off their feet. Karrde looked up in time to see two slower-moving TIE fighters screaming past overhead, spitting lasers at the tunnel exit. There was no escaping that way. In moments, there were Imperial troops everywhere. The curious thing was that none of them were firing. "Rianna?" asked Karrde in a low voice.
"Blasted red-eyed freak;" she spat. "He made it sound like he wanted to work out a deal with us. I knew he was lying."
"What happened?" snapped Shada.
"A Star Destroyer caught me on the way off New Cov. It took me to Grand Admiral Thrawn in the Endor system."
"The Endor system?" said Karrde, one brow raised.
"Yes, but that doesn't matter right now. The point is, he told me to return to you and discuss setting up a meeting. He'd take the bounty off your head and you'd divulge any sources you had about acquiring capital ships."
Shada cursed but Karrde was silent for a long moment before asking, "How did he follow you here?"
"I don't know;" she growled. "I found two homing beacons right out from New Cov - one on the haul and one inside the ship. I disabled both but somehow he followed. We need to get out of here."
"Attention, Talon Karrde;" came an amplified voice from the landing pit. "This is Grand Admiral Thrawn. Come out and surrender. There is clearly nothing that you can do to escape now."
Karrde looked at his two companions. "Well if either of you have any ideas, now would be a good time to share them."
"What choice do we have?" snapped Shada.
Rianna glowered and raised her hands, easing out into the light of day. "You know;" she called to Thrawn, "for some reason, I figured you for a warrior who was worth his word. Clearly I was more wrong than I realized."
Thrawn gave a tight-lipped smile. "I decided that I didn't have time to-"
"Save it;" Rianna snapped, "you had me tracked from the moment I was on your ship. I get that you're just another lying Imperial sleemo but at least do me the courtesy of not lying to me in such a blatantly obvious way."
"Very well, you're right;" said Thrawn, his voice cold. "Bring out Karrde. Now."
"Kriff you and your mother;" snarled Rianna. "I figure I'm dead anyway."
"It's quite alright, Rianna;" Karrde said from behind her.
She looked over her shoulder and saw both Shada and Karrde, their hands empty and raised. "You've been seeking me out for some time, Grand Admiral Thrawn;" he said conversationally. "I understand that you are looking for capital warships."
"I am;" said Thrawn. "And I'm sure you will be quite interested in telling us all about them after a day or two in an Imperial Star Destroyer's detention block. Take Karrde away but keep these two here."
He indicated Rianna and Shada. Stormtroopers surrounded Karrde, one of them slapping stun cuffs on his wrists. "It's quite alright;" he assured Shada and Rianna with what was supposed to be a soothing smile. "I'm sure an arrangement will be made quickly."
"Like hell it will;" muttered Shada.
The stormtroopers on the ground filed off to their ship. Only a couple squads remained on the rim of the landing pit now - and Thrawn, seemingly alone. Shada lowered her hands to her side and clenched them into fists. "What more do you want, Thrawn?" she snapped.
"To make you both an offer;" Thrawn said. "The Empire is in need for talented fighters and experienced leaders. From what I have researched about you, you would both fit in quite well."
Rianna scoffed, "I don't know if you missed it but I'm an orange-skinned Twi'lek woman. You didn't miss the head-tails, did you?"
"I am not Emperor Palpatine, Saren;" said Thrawn coolly. "I don't hold with his narrow minded xenophobia."
"Take your offer and shove;" snarled Shada.
Thrawn approached, slowly, his arms widening slightly and his small smile almost inviting. "You haven't even fully heard my offer. You would have an officer's commission and commando's under your supervision. Furthermore, I can assure you that Karrde will survive - all of him. That includes his mind. Nothing serves me by killing him - or you."
"Interesting;" gritted Shada, "here's my counter offer;" and she launched herself at him.
Rianna knew it was coming. As soon as Thrawn was close enough that she could get to him before the stormtroopers would gun her down, Rianna knew that Shada would go directly for him - and Rianna knew that Thrawn's diminutive gray-skinned would be on her faster than a Jawa on a wrecked ship. As soon as she saw him, it was her turn to move. A flicker of movement came from the shadows and she lunged, catching the creature in mid-air. All she had to do was keep it busy for as long as possible.
Shada was thrown off guard momentarily by the ease with which Thrawn fended off her attacks. The blue skinned Grand Admiral easily evaded her attempt to catch him in a lock or deliver a debilitating attack and managed to throw her off balance with rapid counter attacks. With a quick roll and cartwheel, Shada gained some space and considered him with new light. Thrawn was smiling coolly, his hands no longer clasped behind his back. No, now he was in a high crouch, ready for combat. Shada readied herself but, rather than wait for her to lunge, Thrawn moved first. It was fast, nasty and intense from there on. Blows and kicks were thrown and deflected or landed but neither other them gave a centimeter. As they fought, Thrawn commented, "You are quite impressive, Lady Shada. I've study Echani, Teras Kasi, the forms of the Mandalorians, the Noghri, the Twi'lek clans - dozens but yours I have seen only twice before."
They separated, neither of them breathing hard yet. "Sorry to say that there won't be any art for you to study;" Shada snapped. "My people don't have time for such luxuries."
"Everyone has art, Lady Shada;" chuckled Thrawn. "Those hair pins you use for example, probably a projectile weapon when the need arises. They are elegant and beautiful. But even in the art that covers the true purpose I see sorrow. I see wistfulness."
Shada didn't give him a chance to continue, instead launching herself at him.
Rianna had her hands full with the small gray creature. Whatever he was, he was a warrior through and through. At the beginning of the fight, he had pulled a blade of some kind. That was fine. Rianna had her own. It had been careful work from there on. Rianna had expected the creature to be distracted but all the focus of his beady little eyes were on her. The fight had been a careful one but neither of them would escape unscathed. The first rule of fighting with a blade was simple - she was going to get cut. Already she had several shallow nicks - but so did the alien. "Why do you serve him anyway?" asked Rianna, keeping the heat and venom out of her voice, "The Empire hates any beings that aren't human - or are yolu just a slave too? Like my people were and the Wookiees, the Geonosians and countless others?"
She didn't really expect a reply so she wasn't disappointed when he simply advanced on her.
"I have also seen some pieces of fine craftsmanship from your people;" continued Thrawn as he avoid a series of lightning-quick attacks. "So tell me, Lady Shada D'ucal - Mistryl Shadowguard of Emberlene, how does serving Talon Karrde help your devestated homeworld?"
It worked just as he thought it would. Shada froze for just a fraction of a moment. Quickly, Thrawn delivered a series of stunning blows that left her arms numb and her lungs empty. She crumpled to her knees, trying to regain control. "Consider what the Empire can do for your world. At the very least, it is your sworn duty to bring our offer to the Eleven. Rukh;" he turned towards where Rianna was still grappling with her opponent. "That is enough. It's time to go."
The little creature delivered a solid kick to one of Rianna's thighs and then to her chest before hurrying to his master's side. Before either Rianna or Shada could pursue, blaster fire from the rim of the landing pit forced them to scurry for cover. "Do not kill them;" Thrawn ordered into his comlink. "I want them to consider well my offer. Besides, without Karrde, his organization will flounder."
An hour later, the Imperial's were gone. "We have to get him back;" insisted Shada.
"And we will;" said Rianna. "First, we need to check on the others. That's what Karrde would want and you know it."
Shada did know it. Luckily, they didn't have to go far. Aves, Dankin and several others ran into the landing pit. "Are you two alright?" asked Aves.
"We're fine;" Rianna replied, "but they took Karrde."
"What?" snapped Aves. "How could you let that happen, Shada?"
"Hey! Where were you and everyone else? There were only three of us here and Thrawn had an army!" retorted Shada, her hands clenched.
"Not to mention that Thrawn is a superb fighter himself - and his little gray-skinned bodyguard;" said Rianna as she studied her cuts. "Don't worry; we'll get him back. I'm going to get in contact with some old friends and then you;" and she pointed at Shada, "are going to help with the rescue effort."
"Why not you?" asked Aves.
Rianna looked at him and motioned to her head and her bare abdomen. "Maybe because of the lekku and orange skin. Thrawn may say he's changing the Empire but it won't have happened so quickly that a Twi'lek can waltz onto a capital ship and see a prisoner. No, we're going to need professionals who no Imperial protocol - and I know just the people to ask."
"You're going to the New Republic, aren't you?" said Shada.
"Damn right, I am;" said Rianna, her facial expression challenging dissent. "I'm Karrde's second-in-command. While he's gone, what I say goes. Aves, Dankin - you two are going to see to it that the organization keeps working as usual. Shada, you and I are going to go see some old friends."
"Right behind you;" said Shada.
Dantooine - Khoonda City Spaceport
Darth Diabolis and Silri strode down the ramp of their ship though if anyone saw them, they wouldn't recognize a Dark Lord of the Sith and his Shadow Hand. Instead of the dark armored robes he usually wore, Diabolis wore an elegant tunic and trousers. Silri had put on enough make up to cover her tribal markings and wore an outfit to match Diabolis's. In addition, they were under the code names Talvin and Loorna Esan. "Where are we headed, Darling?" asked Silri, enjoying the cloak and blade games they were playing.
"We're headed off to see some ancient ruins - older even than the ruins of the Jedi Enclave, if I'm not mistaken;" Diabolis answered. "Hopefully they will give us a key to what we are looking for."
They rented a fancy but durable speeder and zoomed out of the city and into the rolling hills and plains of Dantooine. "Why is this armor so important, my Lord?"
"If I can claim at least the mask of Darth Revan, I can activate those old war and assassin droids. They served him and his followers and somehow, the HK-47 unit has established some sort of command position with all of them. If I can convince it, the others should fall into line. Then, we will use them to eliminate Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker."
Silri was silent for a long moment before asking, "Do you know where you are going?"
"I am following the path to an ancient grove that was once a dark side nexus. Somehow, millennia ago, the dark side energy was dispersed by I believe - there!"
In the distance, there were many trees and, even though the dark side energy was supposed to be dispersed, they could sense its effect millennia later. The trees were not quite right. They appeared sickly in fact. Diabolis halted the speeder and exited, his apprentice right behind him. At the center of the grove were what appeared to be oblong stones sticking out of the ground. "Those used to be pillars, if my memory serves me correctly."
Closing his eyes, Diabolis reached out with the force. It didn't take long. "The upper entrance and much of the descending tunnel was destroyed in Darth Malak's bombardment of Dantooine but the lower entrance was deep in the planet. We may still be able to find it."
Stretching out with both hands, Diabolis used the force to dig deep into the ground before their feet. A large chunk of dirt, weeds and even small trees lifted and moved to the side at his motion. There, still covered in dirt, was an ancient stone door. Silri waved her own hand and cleared the dirt from it. "How will we open it?"
Diabolis dropped into the hole he had made and reached out again. There was a loud thunk but the doors didn't budge. Again, using the force, Diabolis made the door rise. The stone ground as it did and there was another loud noise. The mechanism inside had locked it open. A dark hole descended into Dantooine. Diabolis pulled his lightsaber in one hand and a glow rod in another and stepped inside.
Neither of them knew how deep they descended down the stone stairs but eventually, it leveled out and before them was an ancient droid. As they approached, it became clear that the droid was no longer even remotely functional. Behind it was a door. "If my memory serves me, that droid was an overseer of some kind. It controlled access to the chamber with a series of tests. Those columns held ancient devices that would kill any who did not pass the tests; said Diabolis. Now however, we need only open the door."
That proved not to be the case. The doors mechanism seemed to be completely frozen in place. "Well, no matter;" said the Dark Lord and ignited his lightsaber. The stone was thick and cutting through it was not a quick task. Finally, a large rectangle had been cut out of it and Diabolis used the force to gently ease it outward and lean it against the wall of the chamber.
Inside was a strange item and as they approached, it glowed and a shimmering orb seemed to levitate two meters or so in the air. Light shined off it and Diabolis smiled. "This is the very star map that Revan used to locate the homeworld of the Rakata. It has been identified as both Lehon and Rakata Prime. Perhaps out journey will take us there at some point."
Behind the star map was an obelisk. That is where Diabolis went. Using the force, he enhanced his senses and examined thoroughly the stone. "Ah yes;" he murmured and pressed on one of the glyphs with his thumb. A half meter section of the obelisk popped out and a holographic image of a tall man in armor, cowl and mask appeared. "My conquest begins; soon the galaxy will be ruled by Darth Revan and then we can prepare for a threat the like of which has not been seen since the Infinite Empire. Continue to follow this path. Prove you are worthy of Revan and the rewards will be great."
"What reward could he possibly be speaking of?" asked Silri. "Surely a suit of aged Sith armor and a Mandalorian war mask cannot be what he is speaking of."
"You are correct. I think, were he still alive, bringing him the armor and such would be proof that we are worthy of- something. I'm not sure what. The reward is something else. Perhaps by the end of this, my dear Silri, we will have more than simply the means to control our assassin droids."
Looking into the compartment in the obelisk, Diabolis gave a small smile. Reaching in, he withdrew a black outfit - the robes of a Sith lord. "How fashionable;" said Silri dryly. "I'm guessing these were his."
"Yes - a set of the robes he wore beneath his armor and the cloak that he wore over it. We are one step closer."
"But where do we go next, my lord."
That was the million credit question. "There are several places he could have hidden them. Revan traveled to Manaan, Kashyyyk, Tatooine and Korriban in search of the Star Forge. I would guess, that he avoided Korriban since it was already being populated by his followers and an academy was being established. I would rule out Tatooine as well. The sands there shift and change too much and whatever he hid would be lost forever. That leaves Manaan and Kashyyyk."
"But what of Rakata Prime, my Lord?" asked Silri. "Why would he not hide anything there? It's sparsely populate and other than its historical properties, has no real value."
"You may be right, my dear but it is far away and I would prefer not to go there unless absolutely necessary. Let us try Kashyyyk first. We will have to be exceedingly careful to avoid the locals. Furthermore, we will be going into what are called the shadowlands by the Wookiees. It's very dangerous. The beasts down there are why the Wookiees live in tree tops."
They climbed to the surface and headed back towards the spaceport, their hunt only just beginning.
Coruscant - The Imperial Palace Main Hanger
The Skipray blastboat settled smoothly onto the hanger deck as Luke watched. Rianna had contacted him about Karrde's capture and Luke had discussed the situation with both the Jedi Masters and the New Republic Council. The Masters were more willing to approve action by the Jedi Order than the New Republic Council, but that was no surprise considering Councilor Fey'lya's influence. After a great deal of convincing, Luke had been forced to give up. The New Republic military would not be assisting them. However, the Jedi Order had their own assets. Kyle Katarn had been a stormtrooper in a former life and Ferroda Grey had served in the Grand Army of the Republic. With their help, Luke was confident that they would be able to come up with a plan.
Rianna and a woman that Luke recognized as Karrde's bodyguard Shada D'ukal approached him and his two fellow Jedi Knights. "It's good to see you again, Flyboy but, once again, I wish it were under different circumstances. How's the wife doing?"
Luke returned her brief hug and said, "She's doing just fine. It was easier than I thought it would be to get her to agree with this but I'm guessing she fully understands the need to get Talon Karrde out of Imperial hands. Rianna, you remember Kyle Katarn and Ferroda Grey from the Rebellion days, don't you?"
She shook their hands enthusiastically and said, "I do vaguely. I worked with Ferroda quite a bit but not so much Katarn. You're loaning us two Jedi Knights, Luke?"
"Three if you count me;" he said, "I'm going with them since you won't be able to. Do we know where the Chimaera is now?"
"Our network says that it's going to be taking on supplies in the Wistril System;" said Shada. "We'll get aboard there on one of the cargo freighters. Do you have the gear you need?"
"We just need four Imperial Navy uniforms;" said Katarn and he patted a crate next to him.
"Good;" said Shada, "when do we leave?"
"Hold on;" came a voice from the entrance. Mara Jade Skywalker was making her way to them. "You'll need this;" she handed Shada a code cylinder. "It has all the access codes you'll need for when you get aboard the ship - something that Wade Vox and I have been putting together for awhile. I'd go with you but this knucklehead;" and she pinched Luke's arm, "made it nearly impossible for me to be useful."
Kyle and Ferroda snorted and Luke kissed his wife's brow. "Thank you, Mara. We'll be leaving immediately."
"What ship are you taking?" asked Rianna, "you won't all fit on the Skipray."
"We'll take one of the Order's faster ships;" said Luke, "a modified HWK-290 light freighter. We'll land it in the spaceport and commandeer an Imperial supply shuttle. From there, we'll sneak aboard, free Karrde and escape without anyone being the wiser."
"Yes, because with Thrawn, I'm sure everything will be just that simple;" said Mara, eyeing her husband. "Do you have any contingency plans?"
"Mara;" Luke said, taking one of her small hands, "we'll be alright. Trust me. On the way there, we'll come up with plenty of contingencies."
"Hmph;" Mara said. "You'd better."
"Enough of the touchy feely stuff;" said Shada impatiently. "Karrde isn't going to free himself. We need to go. Now!"
Luke kissed Mara one more time before he and his three co-conspirators boarded an airspeeder and zoomed out of the palace towards the castle that housed the Jedi Order. Mara sighed and put both hands on her stomach. She wished she could go with them. After a few moments, she straightened and turned back to the palace interior. She still had work to do searching for whoever the Empire's Delta source was.