Disclaimer: you know the drill, the star wars universe belongs to George.
I think this chapter is better than the previous one but thats just me really.
Chapter 3
The White Lady
In only a few standard days Ameryia was growing sick of the vile, and sour gas clouds that occasionally drifted over the camp, though the medics kept insisting the atmosphere was safe, it was still disgusting. On a particularly gaseous afternoon she sat in her tent pouring over datapads on the planet and recon files.
She glanced up from a datapad stating the status of the Fork Island base, to see her computer terminal glowing with a message. Putting her datapad on her bed she strode over to the terminal and opened the message. Tulla's face appeared on the screen her long Kaminoan neck almost making her head disappear above the screen.
"Yes?" Ameryia asked into the computer.
"Upon your request I have done some research into Vasp Space Port, directly south of us. It's a busy spaceport and trade city, though our occupation of the area has put a lull in interstellar trade there. I'm sure you'll still, however, find a cantina or a tavern to buy a drink. I am there at the moment myself in the city's mayor's office with commander Bru, Nyk, and General Euryia. It seem he is on a political mission that was not discussed during the officers meeting," said Tulla.
"That's good, I could go for a drink today. I myself am more interested in Euryia's secret meeting with the mayor at the moment. Any ideas why he may have brought you along with him?" Ameryia asked. It was truly odd behavior for Jedi to run off on unannounced excursions.
"I haven't a clue, but he can't be doing anything wrong, or why'd he bring me and the commandos with him. He can't honestly expect to keep whatever he is doing quiet with us around."
"Perhaps, but keep an eye on him, I'd like to understand these Jedi in our company better," and the message shut off, leaving only more recon reports left on the screen. She glanced over a file about the status of the hunt for Grevious, and the Outer Rim sieges. It seemed that the General had seemingly vanished from known space, but a scan had turned up a defected senator, who was now in Republic custody. The remaining Separatist council had disappeared along with Grevious. From the of her eye, as she closed the previous file, she noticed a recon report from earlier she had missed, opening the file a clone appeared onscreen who spoke emotionlessly.
"The Separatist forces have gone to heavily strengthen there hold of the Bridge, using Newhome as the point that locks the Republic controlled Misty Planes and southern hemisphere from the CIS controlled north. 80,000 droids hold the position, making up an estimated three-fourths of their army stations there. However fortifications ten miles due east of Newhome have been damaged by a massive earthquake and a Geeran herd stampede, so it is the current weakest point in the defense."
The terminal then switched to show a detailed blueprint of the area of weakness, Ameryia looked over it again, then feeling elated quickly stuck a datapad into the terminal to copy the report. And then hastily walked out of her tent forming possible attack plans as she went, a trail in the gas sheet appeared in her wake as she made her way to the opposite end of the encampment, to where she hoped to find Master Toue.
"Damn!" she yelped as she collided into a watch tower that had been recently erected. She rubbed her head roughly, and then noticed Master Toue at the top of the tower. She climbed the ladder swiftly to come up beside the Jedi resting on the railing.
"General Secura, what brings you here?" the red headed Jedi asked with averting her gaze from the distance. Ameryia leaned against the railing and stared into the landscape of multicolored gases puffing up and swallowing each other, then following the Masters gaze she noticed a dark mass shrouded by a red swirling oxygen cloud.
"A CIS recon squad," said the Jedi before Ameryia even opened her mouth to ask.
"Ah, well, speaking of recon, I have a record from an earlier mission. I'd say it's a pretty reliable opening to uproot the Separatist base," Ameryia said handing her the datapad, and moved over to lean against a mounted blaster rifle, and eyeing the droids in the distance.
"It probably is, we should quickly mobilize against them. I'd say it's an opening that will last about a standard week; unfortunately that's only two or three days on this world. We must wait for the cover of night fall however to mobilize, I'd say their scanning equipment would be mostly disabled giving us a better than usual sneak attack, so we must wait to move in twenty-four hours time.
"The troops can get ready in about four or five hours time for an assault, maybe ten to be safe and get then alert in case we need last minute planning," said Toue finally looking away from the droids at the datapad.
"Understandable, ah, so what are we going to do about the droids then?" asked Ameryia adjusting the mounted rifle.
"I don't think they pose much of a threat, but we shouldn't take the chance."
"Of coarse," smirked Ameryia and pulled the trigger, a series of brilliant red beams soared through the air. The small mass crumpled as the beams burst into sparks on contact.
"Perhaps we best try to relax and enjoy, well in a more placid was, the time we have before the battle, how about getting a drink in town? Vasp Space Port is not to far south, we should be able to find a cantina, maybe play sabaac," said Ameryia raising her eye from the rifle.
"Seems reasonable, Master Euryia left into town earlier to find a place to play sabaac, he's got a bit of a gambling issue," smiled Toue straightening up. "I'll get Durma."
So Euryia didn't inform Toue of why he has going to Vasp, though Ameryia, the new discovery only fueling her curiosity. Master Toue had already jumped off the tower, leaving Ameryia to ponder Euryia's secret meetings alone. Deciding soon she had wasted too much time she climbed down the ladder to find Iieaea standing at its base.
"General Euryia left with Bru and Tulla into town a while ago," she said in here whistling voice.
"I know, Tulla informed me earlier of that, but I was going to Vasp to get a drink, I'm sure you know the city so I'd be glad if you could accompany me, we may be lucky enough to run into Euryia," replied Ameryia
Iieaea nodded slowly and her blank eyes giving no hint to her emotions but her springy ears flipped happily.
"Finally decent alcohols, there is a nice tavern there," Iieaea said.
In twenty minutes time the odd group of Jedi, and mercenaries had gathered, racing toward Vasp Space Port on four speeders. Ke had strangely insisted he go along on the same one as Durma when they came up a speeder short. Durma didn't seem much younger than him, a standard year at most. The brunette girl had her long hair tied up in a long ponytail tucked into the hood of her Jedi robes. She was dark eyed, like her masters. It struck Ameryia odd this was the first time she noticed what the girl looked like in any detail.
As the wind whipped past at an exhilarating pace the landscape was flung behind her, along with her lekku, and others hair. In front of the party, from the flat plane Vasp Space Port suddenly began to rise, like a giant cathedral from a massive cloud of purplish smoke, growing larger as they approached ever nearer.
Moments later they found themselves navigating the many busy streets of the city. Large gas sewage systems dumped the mist out beyond the city, causing the massive purple cloud spiraling around the city exterior.
"The city wall causes a gas build up far to thick to see or be livable, so the gas pipes help thin the air, sometimes to much so for me. But the method of removing gas also powers the city," said Iieaea trotting happily over to buy a strange crater filled, fuzzy silver fruit, the size and shape of a small melon.
"This place is a lot like Tatooine, lacking any sort of extravagantly large industrial complex or high-rises," said Ke. As they cruised further Ameryia noticed Ke's comparison was fairly accurate. The long dirt road was framed with several stone, and worn durasteel structures none high enough to cover the planets sun or sky like Coruscant's buildings. Along the ground numerous merchants ran their businesses in worn tents and stalls, some establishments in small buildings with old placards on the doors.
"Its nicer here, the vendors are less stingy and kinder, than the downtown area," said Iieaea pleasantly. "Most the high-end places don't suit my taste, and there is a great tavern here we can stop at and get the nicest alcohols."
"One can't complain not with some worlds out there being far worse, I like the setting better than huge cities either way," said Ameryia, it was nice unlike Tatooine it didn't have an air of scum and crime, though now that she thought about it here careers qualified as scum to many. She smiled.
They walked down the rustic streets stopping at various vendors to look at trinkets and strange foods. Ke and Durma seemed strangely attracted to stopping at the odd jewelry stalls.
Ameryia was particularly interested in the weapons shops they seemed to find here and there, her eye caught sight of a small shop with a wooden sign saying, Eajouri's Traditional Weapon's. The shop had the most interesting assortment of the planet's native weapon technology. Poking around in the store she found a medley of fascinating buys. Toue was in deep conversation with the shops manager, an aged roan scaled Allouni. The Gran attendant busied himself with attempting to push an ornate vibrospear on Iieaea, while she was translating on the side for Toue. Ameryia browsed the various inventory, stopping at a counter where Durma was peering intently at a small breath homing arrowhead next to a bottle of Geeran Venom, which dissolved its way through most skin patched and medical sealants. Ameryia herself was more attracted to a shield gun, the small D-shaped weapon that cast a large dome around the person as projectile cover.
"Homing heads, assorted poisons, electro-slings… all of these are vastly interesting though some don't have reliable or practical uses," Ke said from behind her fingering the end of an electro-glaive.
"I wouldn't say all of it is impractical the shield gun seems useful, I wonder if it could be set to rebound weapons back at the shooter," Called Ameryia over the sudden noise of a large animal passing outside.
"These don't seem efficient enough to meet you standard Ameryia," said Ke skeptically
"Again there are exceptions, none of these would be practical for effective mass killings, but decent enough if one was to be forced into close range fighting," she said distractedly staring at a shelve of compact chain rifles.
"Who is she?" asked Durma suddenly urgent; causing Ameryia to turn so rapidly she almost lost her balance. She was looking at a chalk white Twi'lek, with piercing pinkish red eyes and scathing black tattoos on her Lekku and left arm.
"I don't know, but I feel an uneasy ripple in the Force about her," said Toue
"I did too," said Ameryia and indeed she felt a slight strange feeling that was no doubt an impulse from the Force.
"Probably just a passerby, I mean other than being albino she isn't that odd," said Toue in an undertone. But there was a strange familiarity about her, which Ameryia couldn't pinpoint. She continued to stare at the Twi'lek racking her brain.
"Wait but she has a lightsaber," whispered Durma in shock, and sure enough as the Twi'lek turned and her tattooed left Lekku shifted slightly Ameryia could clearly see the hilt of a lightsaber on her belt. Ke had finally spotted the suspicious shopper but seemed oblivious to why the others kept staring intently at her. Toue walked toward the albino slightly, however the Twi'lek decided to choose that moment to slip out the side door with a bag in hand throwing a few credit over onto the counter, and she was gone before Toue could reach her.
The group ran outside and scanned the crowd desperately for the strange being. Ameryia spotted her briefly before she vanished into a mob of people, the tattooed wrist disappearing last behind a curb.
"Who was that?" repeated Durma.
"I don't know but she was definitely emanating a suspicious aura into the Force. We best try to follow her," answered Toue dashing down the alley to follow the Twi'lek women.
"Well I've seen Rutain, Lethan, and albino Twi'leks. Now all I need is black one to complete my collection of the rare color set," laughed Ke, as they pushed past the various shoppers, mostly Allouni, and human, the assortment of alien shoppers proved a challenging obstacle to navigate, while trying to track down their target. Ameryia let her lekku slap Ke purposefully as they turned a corner for his comment.
"Left," panted Toue, sharply turning down a path full of vendors selling exotic and native fruits and vegetables. Then left again to an empty alley. Toue called up her blazing blue lightsaber as they ran. Ameryia kept catching glimpses of a ghostly pale lekku snapping around a corner, now a faint blue from the newly appeared lightsaber.
Halfway down another deserted alley the Twi'lek hurtled herself into the air landing softly on the rooftops. She was clearly potent in the Force, much like Asajj in Ameryia's eyes, she had no doubt she was a dark disciple of the past Dooku.
"Stay behind and meet us at the tavern. This women is clearly dangerous," Master Toue called back at Ke and Iieaea as she leaped up to the roofs, followed by Durma, green blade now in hand. Ameryia drew her blaster pistol and then summoned the Force to fling herself up along with the Jedi. She landed rather clumsily on the roof to see four arrowheads from the shop flying at them.
The Jedi cut down the heads swiftly, but two seemed to pass by them. Ameryia leveled her blaster to shoot them down, but when she pulled the trigger instead of a red beam, a dazzling green dome appeared around them from the end of the D-shaped gun. The arrow heads where absorbed by the dome, leaving only smoking spots where they made contact. The dome receded, as she let go of the trigger and stared at the gun shining in the sun. She was now convinced to return to the store and buy the weapon.
She fumbled for her real blaster and fired thrice. The first went wide, but the other two shots headed dead on. In a flash of red the bolts went skyward and the Twi'lek escaped, leaving no trace of her detectable in the Force or otherwise.
"She seems to be a dark Jedi, in any case she is no friend of the Republic," said Toue sheathing her saber.
"She may function like Asajj, perhaps she previously was under the employment of Count Dooku," breathed Ameryia in response.
"She may be a Sith then," said Durma. They stood in silence staring at the crack between the buildings where she had disappeared.
"We need to inform the others, we should go meet them at the tavern, and buy ourselves a huge drink," said Ameryia.
"No doubt Euryia will want to play sabacc, he's not the greatest though so if your playing for money…" mumbled Toue smiling slightly. Instinctively Ameryia stuck her hand into her pocket to find a few credits that she could fit in her tight leather. She smiled inwardly, if she had any luck this small amount would turn into a large amount of credits.
The three walked over to the edge of the roof, and jumped down. A few people looked rather surprised at their random appearance on the streets from above.
"Wait where is the tavern?" asked Durma.
"I don't know, I think Iieaea said it was down that way," said Ameryia confused.
"Well we will just have to ask someone then," said Toue as she headed off down the street.
A/N: hope it was actually decent, the next chapter is being drafted