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Chapter Nine: Desperate Times, Desperate Measures
Aliana frowned as she read the latest reports on her desk: riots and rebellions were spreading throughout the planet. A few Imperial soldiers had escaped prosecution and were spreading rumors in the ears of the people. Afraid of reprisal from other Imperial remnants, the people willingly listened to the whispers, and this was the result. I have no idea what to do, she finally admitted. I was never ready for the throne.
A knock at her door brought her back to the present, and she looked up to see Shadow in her office doorway.
"My lady, you sent for me?"
"Shadow." Aliana rose and crossed the room, taking his hand in a firm clasp. "I'm glad you could come on such short notice."
"I haven't had any assignments for a while, as you know. And knowing you, I'm sure you have something up your sleeve." Shadow smiled, but inside he was worried. Aliana may not have heard the latest rumors, but he had: she was being accused of conspiring with the Emperor to murder her family and take the throne, a plan that had gone awry and forced her to flee. She was doing nothing to take control, and the planet was ripe for chaos.
"I needed you here to discuss some tactical options," Aliana's voice brought him back to the office. She shut the door and moved to a nearby chair, motioning for him to sit. "I've been listening to the rumors, Shadow, all of them. And without proof, I'm afraid to say, there's nothing I can do that would refute them. I'd rather not use brute force on my own people, not if I have any other options."
"In my opinion, my lady, it's the Remnant that are the real threat. Silence them, and you can silence the rumors." Shadow noticed the troubled look on his Princess's face.
"It's not that simple. We don't have the manpower or resources to deal with them, and there's no knowing whether or not the rumors will end after that. No, we need to do more than silence the Remnant: we need to disprove their rumors, somehow."
Shadow was silent for a moment. "What about the New Republic? Maybe they could help us."
"Maybe." Aliana paused, then voiced a new concern. "There's something else, Shadow. I never brought it up before, but I think I can trust you with this. I think…I'm almost sure Pareus is still alive."
The courier ship docked on Coruscant, and Shadow exited the ship with his eyes open. He wasn't sure what to expect, having never met these people, but the word of the Princess was better assurance than anything he knew. Spotting a group of people approaching, he straightened his uniform, making sure the Eagle's Talon insignia stood out.
"Well, I never would have expected to see you here!" a voice called; Shadow knew that voice, and met the man's enthusiastic greeting with one of his own.
"The feeling is mutual, my friend. The Princess told me you were part of the Rebellion, but I never would have thought to see you here." Shadow straightened again at the approach of the rest of the group.
"Madam Organa, Senator Mon Mothma, Admiral Ackbar, this is one of Lady Aliana's most trusted men, Odarno Tiriun, more often known as Shadow."
"Master Tiriun, we are honored, but I am surprised that Lady Aliana is not with you," Ackbar's gravelly tones echoed about the landing pad.
"Is she still onboard the ship?" Noran Murandos looked questioningly at his old friend, noticing he refused to answer. "Odarno?"
"Noran, Aliana sent me to ask the New Republic for help. She didn't come herself because she couldn't." His voice lowered, enough so that only Noran could hear. "She had some business to take care of, off-world." He mentally replayed their last conversation, before she sent him to Coruscant.
"I think…I'm almost sure Pareus is still alive."
"What?" He stared at her in shock. "How can you be sure?"
"Pareus and I had planned ahead of time for our escape. We had hidden supplies and false identities so we could get off-world. When I came back, I checked the stockpiles as soon as I got the chance, and Pareus's false ID was missing."
"That means someone took the ID, but it doesn't mean Pareus was able to escape," he pointed out.
Aliana's face was set with grim determination. "I'll take the chance, Shadow. If Pareus is still alive, he may not know Deneva is free. I need to go off-world, find him somehow, and ask him to come home."
"Even if he is alive, he could be anywhere. How do you expect to find him?"
"I'll find a way, Shadow. I'll find away."
The cloaked figure entered Mos Eisley cantina, making sure to draw as little attention as possible. Spotting her objective, she moved across the room and took a seat near the back of the room. The armored figure nearby moved a hand to his blaster, but stopped when he heard her low voice.
"I figured I'd find you here," she murmured softly. "This seems to be a preferred place among bounty hunters and smugglers."
"Why were you looking for me?" the man rasped, mildly surprised when the woman didn't even flinch."
"I have a job for you, one I refuse to give to anyone less than the best. I need you to find someone, and pass on a message when you do. He's probably gone to ground, which is why I'm asking you to find him." She chuckled softly. "You definitely have a reputation for finding things, for the right price."
"Perhaps, if I know what I'm looking for," he replied. "I'll need names, possible places, a description, and payment of course."
The woman turned and looked at him; piercing blue eyes bored into him from beneath the hood. "Payment will be one hundred thousand credits, with ten thousand in advance, should you take the job. IF you decide to accept, I'll have the appropriate information sent to you." The eyes scowled. "The offer's on the table: take it or leave it."
The armored figure chuckled mechanically. "You're not intimidated by me at all, apparently. This must be a singularly important person you're looking for."
"More than you'd guess." The woman rose, placing a small sealed envelope on the table. "I'm going to assume you'll take my offer. Ten thousand credits, and you'll have the appropriate information in the morning." Her hood fell back a bit, and the bounty hunter saw her face clearly for the first time.
"I trust you'll find him. When you do, come to the planet mentioned and I will personally see to the remainder of the contract." She smiled a little. "It would be wise for you to keep a low profile when you arrive: my people aren't too fond of bounty hunters."
Boba Fett watched the woman leave the cantina, then picked up the credits she'd left him. It was legitimate currency, but the seal on the envelope was one he'd only seen a few times: a talon superimposed over a planet with a shield behind, the Royal Seal of Deneva. Connected to the royal family, apparently, he thought. A most interesting contract.