Chapter 47 – The Lightspring

Vacy held Corso's dreadlocks out of the way with one hand as she carefully applied a gelled bandage to the back of his neck with the other. "You know, for a notorious underworld crime boss, I would've thought his secret hideout would be a bit nicer than some random cave in - Will you hold still for half a second, Riggs?"

"Sorry, Captain. Tickles a bit, that's all." Since he'd gotten thrown around by Vaverone Zare, Corso's armor was showing quite a few more dents and dings than it'd had before. It was going to cost a decent chunk of change to get everything repaired, but there was no way she was going to let him keep running headlong into combat without proper protection. And since there was likely no way to keep him from running headlong into combat completely, she was just going to have to suck it up and fork over the credits.

Fortunately the droids that were guarding the cave entrance had gone down fairly easily. Vacy smoothed the bandage down gently and picked up where she'd left off. "Anyway, figured it'd be nicer than just some cave out in the middle of the gorram desert. Don't even know why he's got these things here - not like somebody's just gonna go poking around."

Corso shrugged. "S'pose he's just bein' extra cautious. Speakin' of which, we prob'ly oughta use a bit more care ourselves. Like as not this wasn't the only set of droids, and I reckon everybody knows we're here now we've shot the place up like this."

"Hey, I'm not the one who went charging ahead into the fray without so much as a 'pardon me,' I'll have you know." She packed up the last of the medical supplies and shouldered her Darmas-bag again.

At least Corso made an attempt to hide his grin by ducking his head. "Seemed like a good idea at the time?"

It was just about impossible not to smile back. Vacy shook her head. "Dork." But she couldn't keep the fondness out of her tone.

They made their way through the tunnel as quietly as they could, and fortunately encountered no further ambushes. She was just about to suggest that they pick up the pace a bit when Corso froze and gestured for her to do the same. Above the faint hum of their stealth generators, she could hear the murmur of voices, but they were still too far away to make out what was being said - or even who was talking.

Weapons ready, they edged closer. There was more light ahead, and as they came down a slight slope there was a curve, and then the tunnel opened up into a large cavern. They crouched at the edge, looking around. Presumably Diago Hixan had some kind of power source, because a number of lamps were clustered about. They gave off a dull, ruddy glow, but there were enough to keep the room well-lit.

There was a blonde woman in brown robes standing on the other side of the cave, facing away from them. Corso nudged Vacy, who lifted her shoulders uncertainly. She wouldn't have thought Nariel could have gotten there before they did, but Jedi were strange creatures. Plus it was possible that it wasn't her, anyhow.

The woman was talking to someone, but since she was standing in the way, Vacy couldn't see who it was. And besides that, she was more concerned with the battle droids that flanked the woman on either side, though the woman herself didn't seem the least bit concerned. "That object presents a serious danger, and if you insist on keeping it for yourself, you will be making a grave mistake." Her tone was measured, but there was an undercurrent of prim frustration.

Okay, so it's definitely her. Vacy stood, nodded to Corso, and then flipped the switch on her stealth belt. The electromagnetic field fizzled away, and she strode across the cavern, trusting him to follow her.

There was a clatter as the droids all turned toward them, weapons at the ready. The man sitting across from where Nariel stood groaned, raising a hand to his forehead in frustration. "Now another joins the Jedi to irritate me, like sand flies." He was heavyset and jowly, his weathered face rippled with scars all the way up to his receding hairline. Turning to the nikto who stood beside him, he scowled. "Is this how you serve, Tookreek? Inept."

The bartender lifted his hands submissively, taking the tiniest step further away from his boss. "The captain's here on business. We had nuttin' to do wit' dis Jedi."

Vacy took a breath, then shifted her weight to one side and folded her arms. Casual. Confident. "The Jedi's here on my say-so. I figured that a person of your influence would want to be introduced to anyone else of significance, so I told her that she needed to meet you. Figured it'd be only polite, you know. Wouldn't want to have someone with her abilities just runnin' around on your turf without so much as a how-d'you-do to the man in charge."

The flattery seemed to mollify Diago somewhat, and he sat back a bit, his scowl relaxing into a contemptuous frown as he looked over the new arrivals speculatively. He motioned Tookreek closer, and when the nikto bent down, the crime boss murmured something that Vacy couldn't make out.

Nariel stepped closer and put a hand on Vacy's shoulder, her brows drawn together in concern. "You shouldn't have come," she said quietly. "It isn't safe here."

Vacy couldn't help wondering if there was some reason that everyone seemed to think she was incompetent, and she was about to say so.

But just then another voice interjected - one she knew all too well. "Oh you have no idea." The smooth, arrogant purr of Vaverone Zare was still fresh in the spacer's mind.

She turned to face the Sith, but instead found herself nose-to-durasteel with Corso's back. Vacy stepped to the side, shooting her partner a glare of fond annoyance. "Hello again," she said, trying to ignore the gasp of alarm from Nariel. "I'd say it was lovely to see you, but we both know it isn't."

Zare smiled, thin and predatory. "Forcing me to follow you through that blazing desert? Not your best move."

Vacy put her hands on her hips. It was easier to project confidence with both Corso and the Jedi right there. "Hey, nobody forced you to follow anybody. If you'd just held your peace for a day like you said you were gonna, everything would've been fine."

The Sith stepped closer, and Vacy fought the impulse to take a step back. Actually the impulse might have been to hide behind Corso and Nariel, but that wasn't something that she was ever going to let anyone find out. Zare's eyes narrowed. "Enjoy playing games?" she hissed. "I'd just love to show you some new ones."

Diago let out a deep, boisterous laugh. "Beautiful woman! I would enjoy learning about these games..."

But it was Nariel who stepped forward, the Jedi standing nose-to-nose with the Sith. "This isn't a game," she said, her gaze locked with her adversary's. "You're not going to get what you came for. The wisest course of action would be to surrender now."

Zare's smile broadened at the challenge. "But where would the fun be in that?" she chuckled, her voice low and satisfied. She turned and walked toward the crime lord. "Diago, I can offer you ever so much more than the pittance you'd get from this meddlesome Jedi. Shall I dispose of her for you?"

But he merely arched a brow and smirked at her. "How do I know is not empty chatter?" he sneered. "You talk, talk, talk. Like fingernails on transparisteel. Is no action."

There was a snap-hiss, and Zare lifted her lightsaber, its crimson blade glowing with a dull hum. "I assure you that I can do much more than talk."

In an instant, Nariel had ignited her saber as well and moved to stand in front of Vacy and Corso. "Zare, set aside your weapon." Her voice was firm, but calm. "There is no need for violence. I do not want to fight you, but I will if I must."

The dark-haired woman let out a low chuckle, the sound rippling off the cavern walls. "You say that as though I'm not looking forward to killing you, Jedi."

"Silence!" Diago slammed his fist into the cushioned arm of the chair he was lounging in. Unsatisfied with the effect, he pushed himself to his feet and shook his fist at the intruders. "The only voice here should be mine!"

Nariel turned and pointed her blue blade at him, her eyes snapping. "And you! Your crimes are as great as those of the Sith. You shall face justice as well, Diago!"

He gasped in shock. "This is intolerable," he raged, his fleshy face nearly purple. "Such disrespect cannot stand. No more!" Drawing a large blaster pistol from a holster at his belt, he glared at Nariel. "I will silence all of you. Droids! Kill everyone!"

Tookreek scrambled backward, looking around for a way out. "But I didn't DO anything!"

Diago looked at the nikto for a moment, then shrugged and shouted again. "EVERYONE!"

That was when everything went to hell.

Author's Note: Happy Halloween, everyone! Since I cannot give candy to my internet friends (alas) hopefully this chapter will be a bit of a treat. Can't help being curious about what Halloween would be like for the crew... what would your characters dress up as?

Thanks for reading! Stay safe, take lots of pictures, and drop me a note to tell me about your Halloween adventures. :D