T-minus 3: Ailyn Vel
"My father was never there for me! He's not my father! I hate him!"
Ailyn Vel on her father, Boba Fett.
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The Sith Infiltrator Scimitar flew from the hidden hanger on Theed towards the Kuat Drive Yard research facilities. Imperial High Inquisitor Halmere had been personally sent to Naboo to retrieve the long lost Sith ship by Grand Inquisitor Kael so that it could be studied and some of its technology incorporated into the newest designs for the Imperial Fleet. Halmere smiled as he studied the interior of the ship. There was a modified Razalon FC-20 speeder bike stored inside, as well as two Dark Eye probe droids, multiple hidden compartments and even a torture chamber. There was even a stygium powered cloaking device within the small ship. All in all, a perfect Inquisitorius vessel. The ship of the legendary lost Sith Darth Maul... and High Inquisitor Halmere had the honor of being chosen to fly it to Kuat.
Halmere did not really wish to give up such a prize, but he was actually loyal to Grand Inquisitor Kael. Kael would understand his desire to keep the ship, and possibly, after they had taken what designs they wanted, would actually give the vessel to Halmere once they were finished. Halmere smiled at the fantasy... the Scimitar as his personal vessel...
HIs reverie was interrupted by the comm channel. He flicked the switch and listened. "This is the Corellian Freighter Sunlight to any vessels in range! We are under attack! Please assist! Any vessels in range, this is the Corellian Freighter Sunlight!" Halmere listened for a moment, and he could have sworn that voice was droid in origin. He clicked over to transmit and spoke. "This is High Inquisitor Halmere to Sunlight, what seems to be the problem?"
His question was answered when the heard the voice speak again. "This is protocol droid CT-PX. My mistress has been wounded in the attack! We are being attacked by pirates! Please, my mistress needs medical attention!" the voice of the protocol unit said, clearly agitated. Halmere smiled.. a chance to stretch the Scimitar's wings and see what she could do. He turned the vessel towards the source of the transmission. "I'll be there in less than five minutes." He said over the comm. Already his scanners picked up the battle. A small Jumpmaster 5000 under attack by what seemed like ten TIE uglies... pirate scum indeed.
The Scimitar screamed into battle, the front of the ship splitting open to reveal its six hidden turbolaser batteries. He locked the S-foils into attack position. With a grin, Halmere put the first TIE Ugly into his sights and fired. The TIE ugly exploded into fragments before the pilot knew anyone was there. Suddenly bedlam issued through the comm as the pirates screamed at each other in confusion and fear as the Scimitar scythed through them like a lightsaber through plastic.
Unable to get a lock on the elusive Scimitar, the last six pirates decided that the Jumpmaster was not worth the trouble and turned tail to jump out of the system. Halmere killed two more before they jumped out system, and he turned back to the Jumpmaster. "Sunlight, this is Inquisitor Halmere. Pirates are gone. Do you still require assistance?"
The droid CT-PX called again through the comm. "Yes, my mistress is severely wounded! She needs medical attention badly. I am only a protocol droid and have only marginal medical knowledge. Please assist!"
Halmere smiled as he settled alongside the Jumpmaster and docked with the Corellian ship. He unstrapped himself and made sure his lightsaber was attached to his belt. No need to be unprepared just in case. He touched the airlock control and the hatch opened.
Before him was a harried looking golden protocol droid, just like every other one he had ever seen, except this one had a black X marked on the side of its head. "Thank the Maker you are here, sir. Hurry! She is this way!" the droid turned and waddled towards the cockpit. Halmere reached back into the Scimitar and pulled out a medical kit strapped to the wall. He followed the droid until he got to the cockpit. Inside a young woman lay on the ground, unconscious with blood seeping from a gash in her forehead. "Please assist her, sir!" the worried droid said.
Halmere smiled as he knelt. "Calm yourself. She will be fine." he reached into the medical kit to find a bacta-patch... and thats when he felt the blaster press against his stomach. "Move and your fried, Imperial." the girl said, her eyes snapping open as she sat up. "Keep your hands in the kit, and no one gets hurt."
Halmere's eyes narrowed in anger, and he lashed out with the Force, smashing the girl away from him before she could fire. He stepped away from the girl pirate and went to grab his lightsaber. "Nice trick, girl. Too bad I dont need my hands to... "
The blaster bolt that went through his chest barely missed the girl, who flinched and yelled. "HEY!"
Behind him, the protocol droid lowered its arm, the weapon hidden in its forearm casing sliding back into place with a click. Halmere fell to the deck, unable to move, barely able to breath... he listened as the droid spoke. "There, I did as you asked. One ship for my freedom."
The girl smiled as she reached down and picked the lightsaber from Halmere's grasp. "Alright C3-PX... we had a deal. You get me a ship of unmatched potential, and I set you free." She stepped over Halmere and headed towards the cockpit. The protocol droid that wasnt a protocol droid followed her closely. "You will not be dissapointed. The Scimitar was my Maker's ship... it is a weapon of incredible power."
The girl stepped into the Scimitar and grinned. "Yes.. .oh yes, 3PX... I can feel it.. This is the ship that will carry me to glory."
C3-PX stood at the hatch of the vessel, and caught the restraining bolt control device. "The bolt will only come off with a code, C3-PX." the girl said, looking at the droid closely. "Just in case you were thinking of betraying me."
C3-PX stared at the girl, its eyes flashing red. "You promised, Ailyn!"
The girl named Ailyn nodded. "And I will deliver.. once I am detached and headed outsystem, I'll transmit the code to you. Then you can go where you like, do what you want." She hit the airlock controls and the Scimitar detached, floated for a few moments, and then blasted away.
True to her word, Ailyn transmitted the code, and then Halmere listened as C3-PX laughed down at him. "My Maker's ship might be more than a match for poor little Ailyn Vel.. or maybe she might just become her fathers daughter..." he dropped the restraining bolt on the floor near Halmere's face, and sat behind the controls. "You are not dying, Inquisitor Halmere... I need you alive. You are only paralyzed. Once I have gotten you medical attention... you and I are going to have a nice long chat."
Inquisitor Halmere, a prisoner within his own body, tried to scream in anger and frustration and fear... but no sound came from him.
