Chapter 18 - The Crimson Corsairs

Providence-Class Dreadnought Scarlet Night

Edge of New Republic Space

Captain Jak Sydow, the Crimson Corsair, stared at his prize with a grin hidden behind his mask. "Han, m'boy. You should've run when you had the chance."

"Cap'n," his XO caught his attention, "helmsman's complete the scan. The Raptor's aboard in cargo."

"Good," he smiled behind his mask, "very good. Inform the helmsman that he's earned that extra ration of Grog, Miss Reed."

The Devaronian smiled, her red hued skin shining in the cheeks with a hint of humor, "Aye, Cap'n. Heh, to think we're gonna wait for 'em to come to us, they signal right where they were. So, what are we gonna do? Have the Baleful Eye hook 'em in?"

"No, not quite," the Captain chuckled, "I'm actually going to go over there myself."

Her face darkened a little, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"No. But I owe it to an old friend, and I look forward to seeing the look on his face."

"Ha! That'll be a sight to see. I'll get the borders ready by the time you get done there."

"Good. Oh, and have 'em pack the Ysalamiri. There's a chance we'll have to deal with a brown robe."

"I dunno, Cap'n, been a while since we've seen one, or anybody for a matter. Any chance the whiteheads are just pullin' us to put more umph into it?"

"I doubt it, Bonny. They don't have the sense of humor for that. No, if they say Jedi, they mean it, and this is Han Solo. He's never anywhere without one."

"Fair. Anything else, Cap'n?"

"Tell the boys to sing," he smirked under the mask, "an' have it broadcasted. I want the best vocals by the time I get over there."

The oddest thing suddenly happened as Poe and Finn rounded a corner leading up to the bridge, bypassing all of the B1's coming their way. The ship's intercoms went loud with piercing static before they were replaced with loud, synchronized drums and stringed instruments.

"What the hell?" Poe shook his head, "I never took Han for a musical man."

"Oh no," Finn paled slightly, "that's not Solo's doing."

"What? What are you talking-"

Suddenly, a harsh singing voice back by a chorus of other harsh singers blasted from the intercom.

Hello, laddies!

Hear that howlin' in deep?

The Crimson Night has come!

Ave Dominox! We've come for you!

Ave Dominox! We're comin' for you!

Crimson Night!

We've for your treasure

We've come for your gold

Come for your women

Come for your wives

Hide them away

'Cause here we come!

Crimson Night!

Ave Dominox! We're comin' for you!

Ave Dominox! We've come for you!

Baying in the deep

Howling in the night

Soring in the blood

Shining in the gold

Hoist the Colors, lads!

The Crimson Night has come!

And the song repeated again and again, growing louder and more bombastic.

"I take it you know these guys?" Poe asked.

"Not personally, but I do know who they are. Crimson Corsairs."

"Wait, Captain Sydow's guys? I thought they retired."

"They didn't. They came to work for us."

"Oh, you gotta be kidding me," Poe groaned as he ran his hand through his hair and squeezed his head, "we just escaped Jakku for crying out!"

The intercom buzzed again, the music cutting out as Rey's voice came over the line, "Guys, get up to the bridge pronto!"

They double timed it, getting up there in a few minutes. There, they found everybody else waiting for them, including a still paled Rey in a corner seat.

"You okay?" Poe asked her and she nodded glumly.

"I will be, if we make it out of this."

"We'll make it out," Poe told her with a cocky grin to boot, "c'mon, we just got out of worse."

"I'm not sure this time."

"Solo, what the hell did they do to the intercom?" Finn asked, "Did they hack our systems?"

"Tried to. Eravana's no Falcon, but I rigged her to be tough. All they got was their little song and dance."

"Not bad singing, though," Chewbacca chuckled as BB-8 translated, "a little dry, but catchy. I still find it hilarious Sydow has his own little battle chorus."

"The man always had strange tastes," Han shook his head, "and we're not going anywhere."

Ahead, the fleet of crimson painted warships marked with black skull and crossbone iconography closed in. They spotted the Interdictor Cruiser, and they could feel its gravitational pull on them.

"No doubt Sydow's going to want to make this personal," Han snorted, "that man can really hold a grudge."

"We did blow up his ship." Chewbacca countered.

"Chewie, that was over thirty years ago! And he survived, didn't he?"

"You shot him in the middle of space and left him to die. I think he has every right to be mad at you."

"He threatened the Princess."

"You threatened her all the time back then!"

"Damnit Chewie, stop being difficult," Han turned to Rey, "we need to get down to the Raptor. How bad is the hyperdrive?"

"Coolants fried, along with a half dozen other systems I didn't have time to identify. We're lucky the thing didn't explode."

"Not lucky. I built it to last. C'mon, let's get down there and see if we can get it fixed up enough."

"Um, Solo?" Finn asked, "Not to be stating the obvious here, but that Interdictor will grab us the moment we try to book it."

"Not necessarily," Poe countered, "if that ship's pull is only focused on this ship, it's possible we could punch through it if we hit the right velocity."

"And if it isn't in either case?"

"Then we'll be pulled right back in."

"Well… I suppose it's better than just standing here."

"My thoughts exactly," Han drew his sidearm, putting aside the smuggler and settling on the general, "blasters out, eyes open. I've sent most of the B1's to the primary hangar bay, but they're not going to last long. We move fast and we don't stop for nothing. Understood?"

"Yes sir," Poe nodded as he drew his own sidearm, Finn pulling his F-11 from underneath his poncho Rey her lightsaber, Chewie his bowcaster and BB-8 his flame-projector, who casually saluted with it.

"Droids," Han snorted, "alright, let's move."

The refitted LAAT gunship squadron touched down in the hangar without incident, but it was quite clear that they were about to have company.

"Cap'n, I've got the program ready to rock," the slicer grinned wolfishly, "I can initiate a reboot on 'em."

"Good. No need to waste our good friend's gifts," Sydow nodded, "blasters out, boys. Let's do some talking."

"Um, Cap'n? Won't the chrome-domes start shootin' at us?" one of the armsmen asked.

"You forget, Mister Bonnett, that B1's were and still are security droids. Their first action will be to apprehend us, not blast us. So, we'll play that patient game a while."

He was the first with boots on the deck and the first with a blaster in his face.

"Halt!" commanded the droid, "Drop your weapons or we will use lethal force!"

The armsmen rose to fighting stances but kept their guns low. Sydow raised his hands and shook his head at the droid.

"So direct, my mechanical friend. We didn't come to fight. Just to chat with an old mate."

"Negative. Captain Solo says you are here to engage in hostilities. You will surrender."

"No no, that won't do at all."

"Elaborate."

Sydow looked over at the slicer, who gave him a just a few more seconds signal.

"Well, it's quite simple, really," Sydow chuckled, "how about you work for me instead?"

"Negative, that is noooooot pskrks k meed-bee-bop!" and then the droid flopped over, deactivated, followed by his fellows. However, they didn't get back up, even after a minute of waiting.

"Mister Jaster," Sydow asked, "where are my new droids? You promised me them."

"Got a problem, Cap'n. Some kind of shutdown thing in place. Might take me awhile."

"Clever, Han!" he chuckled, "But not clever enough, unfortunately. And this is why I do not rely on anything with oil in its veins. No offense, Mister Carson."

"None taken, Cap'n. I'm a cyba, not a droid."

"Fair enough, Mister Carson," Sydow nodded once and drew his Naboo made S-5 Heavy Blaster Pistol with a slap of the leather holster, "let's go have a chat, shall we?"

The posse moved from corridor to corridor, with Rey ahead at point. She kept her senses about her, stretching out to detect any intrusion ahead. However, it wasn't just the corsairs she kept her senses out for. She shuddered at the memory of the Terentatek, it's cold mental tandrials reaching into her psyche and… and making her remember.

She pushed the thought aside. She would deal with that once they got off the ship and to safety. They rounded the corner when suddenly the B1's droids started falling over around them.

"Uh oh," Han said to Chewie, "that's not good."

"See?" Chewbacca growled, "This is why you don't trust droids! They fall over at the worst possible moment!"

Hey, that's why you don't trust Wookies! BB-8 scoffed, They tend to catch fire at the worst possible moments!

"Don't make me swat you, beachball!"

Try and I'll cook your hide, walking carpet!

"Knock it off, you two!" Han growled, "Or I'll throw you both in the brig and let you work out your issues there!"

Rey suddenly held up a hand, "Up ahead. We got company."

Everybody immediately ducked to the sides of the tunnel, drawing their weapons.

"What are we looking at?" Poe asked.

"It's hard to get a read. It's almost like they're invisible."

"Invisible?" Han raised an eyebrow, "How so?"

"Like the Force is having trouble going through them. It's more keen to go around them, but if I had to guess, maybe ten or more. Can't be more than twenty."

"Ah blast!" Chewbacca shook his head, "They must have Yssalimiri."

"Ah hell," Rey groaned, "not those furry lizards again!"

"Yssalimir?" Finn asked, and Poe provided an answer.

"They're basically anti-Force lizards. They put up a bubble that prevents the Force from going through it."

"So, you can't push them?"

"Basically."

"The Chimera loved them." Han grumbled, "whole lot of them went missing when the regime went under."

"So what are we going to do?" Rey asked.

"If it weren't for the Ysalamiri, I'd say we could take 'em. But this is a tight tunnel and they got numbers. Chewie?"

"We could have them go under the deck and crawl to the Hangar bay."

"Hold on, 'them'?" Rey asked, "You're coming with us."

They heard a door open ahead and Chewbacca pull out one of the deck grates, "No time, get in."

"But what are you going to do?"

"What I always do," Han smirked, "talk our way out of it."

Chewie growled something they didn't catch and Han jutted an accusing finger at him, "Yes I do! Everytime! Now, you all get. We'll catch up."

She was about to protest but she bit it back with a sigh, "Don't do anything stupid," and she went under the floor.

"This is a bad idea," Finn grumbled as they began crawling through the claustrophobic underdeck, with only a few inches clearance for them on either side, not including the constant jutting pipes and power cables.

"Oh yeah, crawling around like being packed in a sardine can," Poe chuckled quietly, "I dunno, I can think of a few things being worse."

"Oh hush, you two," Rey chided them, "you never had to crawl around in a Destroyer's aircon network. Those come with rats!"

Hmm, rats, BB-8 chuckled darkly, I can handle rats. Rats you can barbeque. Cutthroats with blasters above us, though? Dunno about that.

"Couldn't have said it better, BB-8," Poe nodded, "seems the galaxy is determined to throw even the kitchen sink at us."

"Oy, Chappa? Did ya hear somethin'?" they heard someone with an undercity accent above them and they all froze, "I swear I heard someone chatterin' something fierce!"

"That was probably you, ya stick-fiend!" someone just as gruff replied, "I keep tellin' ya ta lay off them sticks, but noo! Ya have ta stuff yer nose with 'em!"

"Oi, Knock it off, you two!" a non-com bellowed, "And get this door open 'fore the Cap'n gets here."

We can take 'em, Poe mouthed to Rey and Finn, you cut a hole, and we can spring on these guys.

Not a good idea, Finn mouthed back, putting his hand up to the deck plating, feel this.

They did, feeling the incoming vibrations of a lot of footfalls coming their way.

Rey?

I don't know, she shook her head, the closer they get, the more prominent the Ysalamiri is. I can't even pick up the individual readings anymore.

Spast. Okay, we need to deal with these guys somehow. A Providence Class can hold thousands of Armsmen, and if they got enough boarding craft-

I get the idea, Rey replied, but what are we going to do? They outnumber us, outgun us, and they've practically neutered my abilities.

The doors, Finn suddenly said, we can try and trap them between the two or even three blastdoors.

Hmm, if I can find the right fuses, maybe I-

They then froze as the rest of the pirates came down the hall, their footfalls not a foot above them as the door slid open.

"Han Solo. Fancy meeting you here, ol'boy."

Though Han had been expecting it, the voice still caught him by surprise. The distinctness of it, with its drawl of over-pronounced vowels and an overbearing air of sophistication, was far too unique for it to be anybody else.

"Hello Jak," Han replied asturned with his hand touching leather, "what the hell are you wearing?"

"Took it off a dead man, of course," Sydow shrugged his heavy shoulders, his voice coming out gravelly and distorted, "Have to look the part, after all."

The man had changed his appearance since the last time he'd seen him over three decades ago. Along with his disreputable crew, Sydow was wearing a scarlet armor-weaved doublet and breeches, with the latter being tucked into black leather cavalier boots. His shoulders were adorned with a long dark cloak, pistols poking out of every corner and a few tucked into a golden sash around his middle.

Most distinct of all however, was the gleaming metal red helm, almost eldric looking with its long horns and drooping eye slits that ran up the top of the helm. It impressed the imposingness of his bear like physique, even if the man was pushing past Han's own age.

"You always had strange tastes, Jak."

Sydow tilted his head rather strangely, his hand patting the head of lizard-like Ysalamiri wrapped around his shoulder. Its beady black eyes stared ahead at Han, and when it forked its tongue at him, Sydow barked out a laugh.

"Better than be a bore. Oh, and a new jacket, eh? What was wrong with your vest?"

"Got burned over Mimbam fighting the Sssi-Rook. And it's actually an old jacket."

"Ah. I'm a little insulted, Han. I gave you that vest."

"Really? That's what you're insulted about?" Han scoffed, folding his arms over business style.

"Nothing more insulting than a man who doesn't take care of his appearance. Then again, you never were a good listener. More interested in chasing tail and fame than actually making money."

"Says the man with a three billion bounty."

"Oh, I did that on purpose. That Hapian ice queen more than earned that scandal. Besides, I never got carbinited by the Slugs."

"You going to remind me I shouldn't have worked for them?"

"Tssk tssk, too late for that, lad. Besides, I believe it turned out quite well for you. Seat in the new government, cozy with a Princess. Nice work on that one. You were utterly lousy at smuggling, but you always were good with lasses."

"What do you mean lousy?" Han exclaimed, "I was the best in my day!"

"No, you were the biggest target back in your day. A good smuggler is one you're never heard of, not one that's known by name, ship and look. Thanks to that, I got locked up in Kessel."

"It was you or me and Lando, and you didn't exactly make it easy for me."

"You stupid boy. You still haven't learned that for every willin' lass, there's one to stick you. Qi'ra was a tramp through and through, and she got what she deserved."

"I shouldn't have had to shoot her," Han growled, "and you shouldn't have threatened Leia."

"That's fair, for the latter point. Only time when your taste actually blossomed. Granted, I haven't forgiven you for leaving me in the vacuum, but that's in the past."

"In the past, huh. Then what is this?"

"Just business, Han," he shrugged as he patted the Ysalamir's head again, "just you found yourself on the wrong end of it, as usual."

"Funny. Just like you working for the First Order."

"No different than you working for the Rebels."

"Last I checked, the Rebellion won and toppled the Empire."

"Yeah, they did. And then your wife dried up all the work in Mid and Core. And then they let Zahn get away with his shenanigans in the Outer Rim. Didn't your New Republic say they don't kindly to slavers?"

"It's not that simple, and you know this."

"Yes it is. I offered my company to Master Hett and Deba Jarrus, and the New Republic put a warrant on me. And for what, stealing Zhan's latest ship line? Your wife's government has lost its spine, and I'm a mercenary. I go where I am paid and welcomed."

"You're a sellout, Jak. You hated the Empire. Now you're fighting for their grandkids."

"At least the First Order don't tolerate slavers in their space, nor do they trade in them. Can't say the same for your government."

"We don't trade in slaves," Han bared his teeth.

"Not under your wife's rule, maybe. Can't say the same for her successors. After all, a Senator is only worth the latest bribery."

"And the First Order are the ones handing those out, Jak."

"Perhaps. But that's neither here nor there. Now, to business, you and I," his hand dropped from the Ysalamir to under his cloak, "I'm looking for a Jedi, a Pilot, a Traitor and a BB unit. Where are they?"

"I have no idea," Han shrugged his shoulders, "first time I've heard of it."

"Don't play daft, m'boy. We found your kid's ugly in the hangar. We know they're here."

"It's a big ship."

"Not big enough, Han. Make it easy for me for once. You've played your hand, and I brought an idiot's array for your Jedi." The Ysalamir gave a low hiss at this

"You may hold an idiot's array, but I have one, too." Han pulled out a remote and pressed the transmitter. Far below them they heard a series of high pitched howls. Soon after, Sydow fidgeted with his hand going up to his comm.

"Oh…" Sydow's voice turned icy, "I'm going to kick your arse for that, boy!"

And before Chewbacca could raise his bowcaster or Han could clear leather, Sydow had his S-5 drawn and an emerald bolt sent downrange. Before it could make contact, the blastdoor came up and the bolt pelted it with a mean blast. Han let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and he wondered if he had just made a bad situation worse.