We were still some distance away. Twice during the rest of the flight I was hit with pain, but it was almost ghostlike; Canderous was blocking well. Apparently, he couldn't keep it all from me when in serious pain. I used each incident to try and pinpoint where he was. In between, I studied the datapad I had gotten from the space traffic controllers.
Only one Hawk class had taken off, the Scarlet Raptor. According to the records, the owner/pilot was Regar Dunne. That could be true, or not; either way the name meant nothing to me. I had been in the bounty trade, but had few acquaintances and none I would call friend. The really good hunters often were relatively unknown even by others in the trade; being anonymous was a huge advantage. Some, such as Mira, were just so good that they get famous, or infamous as the case may be, whether they wanted the reputation or not. I myself was middling ground; good at it, but I didn't seek out the spectacular captures, or take enough jobs to be widely known. But among the strange little world of bounty hunting, I had a solid reputation, and a good track record.
I ran the information by Mira, and Jarxel, and failing that, the general populace. I also commed Atton, who seemed to know personally, or by reputation, an amazing collection of both respectable and seedy characters. No one had heard of the Scarlet Raptor, or Regar Dunne. I was inclined to think that the ship was legit, the owner's name not; it's harder to hide the registration of a vehicle than a person, weirdly enough. It was entirely possible Regar Dunne was the actual name of the actual owner of the ship, and the bounty hunter was simply using the name for convenience, or had killed the owner and taken the ship, or a million other possibilities that were getting me nowhere. I realized I was using my habit of over-thinking to distract myself from worrying about Canderous.
Finally, we arrived and I was able to tell Atton where to set down. We gathered in the common area. It was standing room only with all thirteen of us crowded around. I asked Bao Dur to scan the area, and we located a large estate deep in a wooded area about two klicks from where we had landed. We were able to ascertain about eighty people on the grounds, about half inside the structure itself.
"Not even as many as were on the Ravager," commented Mira. I nodded.
"Yeah, but we were able to board her with a shuttle," Atton pointed out. "This place has security we have to get through first."
Bao Dur snorted. "There isn't a shield I can't get through, and we can get by most electronic security. We're six and a half Jedi, and seven Mandalorian warriors, what's that against eighty, especially if they're spread out?"
"Don't get too cocky, Padawan," Ladria warned, but she was smiling.
"I have a better idea," I said. "I give myself up at the gate, find Canderous, heal him, and we fight our way out while you guys fight your way in."
There was a storm of protest at that. Dax yelled that Canderous would kill him if he, Dax, allowed me to go in alone, Kex said absolutely he would see me in hell before I did such a damn foolish thing, and Mira looked ready to throw me into the cargo hold and lock me in. But Ladria, and interestingly, Jarxel, were nodding slowly and I focused on them.
"They'll disarm me, sure, but I can fight barehanded, and I can recover my weapons, probably, or pick up some. They can't stop me from healing Canderous, and if I can free him, we fight better together and can take on quite a few until you get to us. Time it right, and you'll be there before things get too hairy, anyway. Plus, they might believe that I just ran after him without backup," I said earnestly.
"It's ballsy, and it has a good shot at working," Jarxel said thoughtfully.
"Travik will never believe that I let you go alone," Dax said loudly. "He knows about your link, and that I was there on Onderon when Canderous was taken. He won't believe you got away from me and just took off; he'd reason you brought the Ebon Hawk here; the shuttles wouldn't make it this far."
"Fine, you come with me, then. I just hope they don't kill you on the spot; they'll keep me alive at least long enough to kill me in front of Canderous. Whoever has him wants him to suffer; they won't care about you," I pointed out.
"All the more reason to go," Dax snarled. "Trying to kill me might be distraction enough for you to get to the Mandalore."
"Fine," I snapped, pissed beyond measure at the thought of losing another friend.
"We're getting nowhere sniping at each other," Ladria said sternly, before I could get a real head of steam going. Dax snapped his mouth shut on whatever reply he was going to make. "Jennet will go in the front gate with Dax; hopefully they'll take both of them in to where Canderous is. If it looks like they won't, fight your way to him however you can. I'll lead the Jedi on an assault from the East side of the complex, Jarxel the Mandalorians from the West. We have plenty of grenades; that should blow the walls. Any questions?"
No one spoke. Ladria nodded. "Right, let's do this. Jennet, you and Dax go on ahead. We'll give you five minutes, and follow through the woods."
I gave her a short nod, and headed out of the 'Hawk with Dax.
It didn't take long to get to the gates. We approached, bold as brass, and the guards surrounded us immediately, blasters at the ready. I had my hands carefully away from my weapons, face blank. Dax glowered.
"You must be the Mandalore's little whore," one of the guards sneered. I was so tired of being called that. I looked at him, memorizing his face. He was a burly dark man, on the short side, and looked like a small Bantha. Dax growled something under his breath.
"I'm Jennet Jax. I'm here to bargain for Canderous Ordo's life," I said calmly.
"Frisk them," Bantha-boy said, and one of the guards eagerly pawed me, removing my swords, my father's light sabers, and three daggers. He missed one and I carefully didn't smile. Apparently molesting a woman makes one stupid; he didn't check behind my neck. They took Dax's weapons as well, and led us into the complex. I managed not to breathe a sigh of relief that they hadn't killed Dax out of hand.
I reached out for Canderous and felt him ahead. He was unconscious, so he couldn't block me. I sent some healing at him slowly, enough to mend the worst of the damage. I felt him stir, and before he could block me, I sent a thought.
I'm here, Dax is with me, and the rest of them will be attacking soon. Don't let them know you're awake yet, and don't BLOCK ME ANYMORE YOU MORON!
Glad to hear you too Wildcat, he said, resigned. Don't do anything stupid.
Too late for that, idiot, I already said I'd marry you.
That got a wry chuckle in my head.
I'm going to heal you, and you're going to let me. Just don't let on that I did, okay?
Right. Did I give you the impression that I lost some IQ points somewhere along the way? He growled at me. I have a slight clue about surprise attacks, you know.
Don't push it, you're credits aren't too good right now.
Just get me the hell off this gurney, and we'll see how my credit is.
We arrived in what seemed to be a receiving hall. Travik was standing to the right of a man seated on a thronelike chair in a raised alcove. I counted a total of twelve men, including the one seated. Canderous was front and center, several instruments on a table nearby. I suppressed a shudder at what they had been used for. Canderous himself was a mess; blood soaked the front of his shirt, one eye was swollen shut, and his nose was broken – again. I tried to go to him, but two guys grabbed me. I had known they would, and put on a good show of struggling with them, subsiding after a moment. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dax similarly restrained. The man who had taken our weapons put them down on another table about ten feet behind me. I marked where the 'sabers were and faced the dais.
"You must be Jennet," the seated man said pleasantly. "I'm so glad you could join us."
"Who the fuck are you?" I asked rudely.
"Falken Rikes, my dear lady. I'm a past associate of Canderous's," he said, ever so polite.
He was a slender man, but I could see he was well muscled, and when he stood, it was with the grace of a warrior. He had thinning hair between blond and brown, worn long enough to tie back with a thong. His clothes weren't showy, but were fine quality and fit beautifully. His eyes were gray and colder than the Hutt's I blew up. I began to wonder if I hadn't been stupid after all to come in here.
He nodded to the thug standing near the table of torture, who picked up a bucket of water and threw it in Canderous's face. Canderous spluttered and realistically jerked 'awake'.
"Look who has joined us, Mandalore," Rikes said silkily. "Your little Mate."
Canderous glared at him, snarling suggestions about what Rikes could do with himself, most of which were biologically impossible. I tried not to laugh. Rikes just smiled, and nodded again. The thug grabbed an electric prod and shoved it into Canderous's side. The roar of pain was deafening, and everyone stood still for a moment. Except me.
I sagged against the two holding me, who had unwisely loosened their grip, yanked my arms free, and leaped back as they turned toward where I had been. I grabbed the dagger behind my neck and slashed it across the face of the one on the right. I was grimly pleased that it was Bantha-Boy; teach him to call me names. With a spinning kick, I smacked the one on my left into his bellowing buddy and ran to the table that held my weapons, stowing the bloody dagger as I went. I grabbed the 'sabers, whirled around, cut down the one that had followed me, strode forward, and silenced Bantha-boy forever. Then I ran for Canderous.
Dax meanwhile had taken advantage of the distraction to yank hard against his guards, stepping back and smashing their heads together. He grabbed a blaster off one as they fell, shot them both, and started pumping energy bolts left and right. I dove for the gurney, and sliced through the straps holding Canderous down. He hadn't been wearing armor, but did have a shield strapped to his wrist; as soon as he was free he slapped it on, and waded into the brawl. We kept back to back and somewhere along the way he managed to grab a sword, and reach behind him to snag my dagger.
As we danced through the thinning crowd, I saw Dax go down and threw some healing his way. He shook off the blow that had felled him and jumped up, smashing a foot into the gut of the thug who had hit him. The man staggered back, and Dax shot him between the eyes.
I couldn't see where Falken had gone, and in any case was too busy to try and find him. Canderous and I took out two more, including Travik, and I felt Canderous's savage satisfaction in dispatching the betrayer. Suddenly there wasn't anyone left to fight. The three of us tracked around the room, counting the bodies. Eleven, and Falken was nowhere to be found. We recovered the rest of our weapons, and then I spotted a door behind the throne on the dais. As one we ran over to it, yanking it open. Dax lead, me and Canderous right behind. We found ourselves in a long corridor, with a door at either end. Before we had time to choose, the one farthest away burst open, and Bao Dur came barreling in, the other six Jedi on his heels.
"This way!" I shouted, and ran for the other door.
It opened into a large windowless storage room. Another door lead out of it, and I was there in seconds. Locked. Canderous shoved me out of the way and smashed his foot against it; the door held but the wood of the frame splintered. One more kick and we were through.
There was a pitched battle taking place in the courtyard we ran out into. All the Mandalorians were blasting away at about forty men. Ladria and the others threw themselves into the fray. I spotted Falken across the yard, now armed. He turned toward us and smiled, his hand in a farewell salute.
"Another time," he mouthed at me and Canderous.
"I don't fucking think so," I snarled, ran forward, and threw my light saber at him with all my strength.
I don't know why I did it, and had no idea if it would work. I was about twenty feet away when I hurled the 'saber, and I was drawing on the Force completely without conscious thought. The beam of blue light flew like a boomerang, sideways, and struck him in the chest. A look of pure surprise was on Rikes' face as he fell. My 'saber fell to the ground, blade snuffing out.
He was still alive when Canderous and I reached him, wheezing and clutching his chest. I picked up my 'saber, and looked at the fallen man. He glared at me, struggling to his feet.
"Your Mate killed my wife and children, and turned me in to the Exchange," he snarled at me. "You protect a killer."
"Because torture and kidnapping and attempted murder is so much better," I said quietly. "I know what he was. I know what he is now. What you are, you did yourself." I turned my back on him, and walked away. There was a sound behind me, and I whirled, igniting my 'saber to block the dagger that Rikes had thrown at me. Simultaneously, a shot rang out, and Rikes fell, dead. I looked around, and Dax lowered his weapon. Canderous had neatly skewered Rikes at the same time. Three times dead, that one.
"Thanks," I said.
Dax nodded. Canderous shook his hand, and we surveyed the damage. Bodies were everywhere, but no one on our side was seriously hurt. I felt healing energy going around, and checked out Kex. He was grinning from ear to ear, loudly exclaiming how good it was to fight properly again. I smiled at his enthusiasm.
"Well," Disciple said thoughtfully, "that didn't take long."
"Any survivors?" Ladria asked quietly.
"We haven't gone through the place room by room, but I doubt there's anyone left," I said, equally quiet.
"Who was that guy?" Mira asked curiously.
"Someone I turned in to the upper echelon of the Exchange," Canderous said simply. "They sent me to kill him; I thought I had."
"He must have been pretty evil for the Exchange to want him dead," Atton observed.
"Into every illegal vice you can think of," Canderous said. "Not that that bothers the Exchange much; they only care if you're cheating them, or trying to take over. He was doing both."
"And what he said about his wife and children?" Visas asked quietly. "I know you didn't kill them, who did?"
Canderous stared at her. "I appreciate the vote of confidence, but what makes you so sure?"
"You forget, Canderous, I am a Seer. I felt the lie in his words when he spoke them," Visas said softly.
"He had every reason to believe I had," Canderous said shortly. "I might have, if things had gone differently. As it was, when I got there, they were already dead, and Rikes was gone. I tracked him down later, we fought, and I was sure he was dead when I left."
"He was assassin trained," Atton said flatly. "They have tricks that can make you appear dead."
Canderous looked sharply at Atton, then nodded. "He was, yes. You could tell?"
"Yes," Atton said shortly, and turned away.
I had remained silent during the conversation. I had not believed Canderous had killed Rikes' family, but a part of me was relieved to know I had been right.
Don't worry Wildcat, I don't blame you for doubting.
I wasn't…
You were, a little. It's okay. I'm not a good person.
You are! I thought fiercely.
I am when I'm with you. Maybe. I'm glad you think I am. Someday I might be.
Stubborn, irritating… Mandalorian!
You got a problem with that?
I walked away, breathing through my nose and trying not to hit him. To cover my irritation, I started frisking the bodies.
"Good idea," Jarxel said, and the rest of the party followed suit. Disciple said he was going to go check out the house, Kelborn, Xarga, and Mira joined him. Seeing Mira disappear into the house, Dax hurried to catch them up. The rest of us finished up and followed them inside.
There was a lot of portable wealth in the house; we debated looting, and decided to on a limited basis. Disciple made an interesting discovery in the private office off the master bedchamber. Falken Rikes liked to keep a journal, apparently. Canderous took a few of the datapads Disciple had brought out and scanned them. After a short time, he handed them back.
"Burn them," he said. Disciple looked startled, and a little disapproving.
"They're monstrous, yes, from what I read," he said, protesting. "But they give invaluable insight into the mind of a purely sociopathic personality. These diaries may help catch others like him."
"Or it might give someone just as twisted ideas," Canderous growled.
"I'll do as you say, if you insist," Disciple said quietly. "But I think you're wrong."
Canderous looked at him, clearly assessing what the blonde Jedi had said. Finally, he shrugged.
"Keep them, if you think they're helpful. Just don't expect me to read them." He turned to the rest of our friends. "I haven't thanked you all for the rescue," he said, clearly uncomfortable, but standing straight, and obviously sincere.
Ladria smiled. "No thanks among friends," she chided gently. "You'd do the same for any of us."
A look of surprise went over his face and he stood very still. "Yeah," he said after a moment, "I would."
I squeezed his arm, wordlessly, and he smiled down at me. "Let's go home, Wildcat."