Chapter Two
Let's Make A Deal
"Good morning Madame," said the cheerful voice of a tarnished silver protocol droid as Ally stepped out of her ship and into the harsh light.
"If that's what this is," she replied dryly.
"I am JF-23.I've been sent to escort you to Master Pacter's office," JF-23 explained.
"They sent a simple protocol droid to escort me?" Ally asked skeptically.
"Don't be foolish," said a voice from behind Ally. She turned around and faced a fully armored trooper. "I'm your security escort." Although distorted by his helmet, Ally couldn't help but vaguely recognize the voice and yet was not able to place it.
"Move along now," He said, pointing the butt of his rifle in the direction of a waiting speeder. Ally put her arms up faux surrender and walked to the speeder. At least this time they weren't going to cuff her.
The bright red Republic speeder took off into the busy air traffic, guided by a uniformed rodian. Ally leaned her head against her hand as they flew on. She wasn't looking forward to meeting with Kax again. He was emotionless and boring and not to mention the way he would stare at her for minutes before turning away. He was like a rancor eyeing his prey before lumbering forward for the kill. It was very unsettling.
Before long the rodian reached the Republic's security headquarters next to the large Senate building. "We have arrived," announced JF-23 unnecessarily. The Trooper stepped out of the speeder and offered a hand to Ally.
"I've got it, thanks," She refused and stumbled out onto the platform unassisted.
"Ahem, well move along then," said the trooper, taking Ally by the arm.
"Hands off," She growled and pulled out of his grasp. "If I was going to run I would have already." She shook her head, "You must be a new recruit."
The trooper ran a passkey over a small computer panel outside the door, allowing the trio to walk inside. JF-23's metallic feet scraped against the platform as it followed the two humanoids inside the large gleaming building. The staff manning the front desk nodded to them as they passed into the elevator.
"Madame, when you meet Agent Pacter I suggest that you speak only when spoken to," JF explained automatically as the elevator door opened, allowing them inside the large open floor.
"My ass," Ally said.
"I do not understand that response Madame," JF stated bluntly with large unblinking eyes.
"I'm not surprised," She whispered.
The trooper bustled Ally out of the elevator.
"Please let Agent Pacter know that Miss Maris has arrived to speak with him," he told the desk clerk.
The door to his office whipped open upon the request and Kax's voice could be heard from within, "Please come in Maris."
Ally looked at the trooper who was standing at attention before walking into the office. When she entered the door shut behind her. Republic agent Kax Pacter was sitting with his hands folded neatly in front of him on a bronze metal desk, his stoic face donned with light brown hair combed professionally on top of his head.
"Good morning Allydia. I trust you slept well last night?" Kax greeted her from his seat behind the desk.
Ally shrugged her stiff shoulders, "Not really."
"Please take a seat," he motioned to a chair in front of his desk. Allydia sat down but couldn't relax. A myriad of questions were running through her head.
"What questions do you have for me today?" She asked nervously.
Kax stood up, folding his hands behind his back in an attempt to look dignified. "Miss Maris," he began, "I'm not against you. In fact I've been working hard to try to prove your innocence."
"You've sure made that apparent," Ally sarcastically observed.
"However, that's proved to be very hard with your… Past relationship with the suspect," He stressed.
"How many times must I tell you? I haven't seen him in almost a year. I can't understand why I'm even still suspected!" She argued angrily.
"I've called you here to tell you that although it doesn't look good, we no longer consider you a suspect," Kax replied calmly.
Overcome with relief the smuggler girl leaned back in her chair. "So," she started, wiping her damp palms on her pants before standing up. "I guess this means I'm allowed to go?"
An amused look crossed Kax's face, "Not quite."
"What now?" She sighed.
"You've done your fair share of illegal activities these past months; enough to garner quite a bit of prison time."
Ally eyed Kax with an icy blue stare, "You wouldn't."
"You see Maris, since the sacking of Coruscant and the Jedi leaving for Tython, the Republic can't afford to appear weak," Kax explained, "We can't let Bounty Hunters take the lives of our senators. It doesn't look good."
Allydia leaned against Kax's metal desk and folded her arms across her chest, "What does this have to do with me?"
"My superiors are offering you a compromise Maris. Find Koh'teska for us and bring him here in exchange for your record to be destroyed," Kax responded professionally.
"Why don't you send one of your agents after him instead of me?" She mused.
"If Koh is indeed in Sith controlled space then he is under the protection of the treaty. We can not afford breaking this tenuous peace by sending in a Republic agent," clarified Kax, "We need someone inconspicuous. It needs to look like you did this on your own account; A scorned lover looking for revenge perhaps?"
With his last words Ally was felt a strong urge of resentment towards Kax and the entire Republic. They were extorting her for their own personal gain.
"What if I refuse to go on this little mission for the grand old republic?" She questioned.
Kax stared at her hard, running his eyes down her lithe frame before answering,
"Then you have a cell on Belsavis with your name on it."
"I guess I have no choice then."
"That's what I figured you say."
Kax worked his way back to the desk and took a seat. He ran his hands over a light blue monitor and the door opened.
"Come in here soldier," he called out. The trooper who escorted Ally walked heavily into the room.
"Yes, sir?" He asked militarily.
"Take off your helmet son," Kax ordered.
The trooper holstered his pistol and slowly took off his helmet. A familiar dark haired young man's face materialized from within.
"Wihlidk i think its cause im over reacting or cause im pmsing but this chick who seemed so into him during school has pictures of him tagged of them at the beach with eachother and two other people and she is all over him and he is holding her and shit. god wth? so much for him still loving me. if he goes to boone im NOT goin back out with him. NOT AT ALL?" Ally asked incredulously.
"Yes ma'am," Wihl Jadegh responded with a quirky smile.
"You finished your training! Look at you! A dignified young soldier. I couldn't be more proud," Ally smiled for the first time in days and hugged Koh's adopted son.
"Wihl has requested to accompany you on this mission and we granted his request," Kax said.
"But what about not wanting to involve the Republic in this mission?" Ally asked.
"There is no record of Wihl Jadegh being a soldier for the Republic or receiving military training. He is a free agent as of now."
Ally turned from Wihl and began to speak to Kax, "When are we free to leave the planet?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"And where are we heading?" She asked.
"That's entirely up to you. We've tracked the suspect as far as Sith controlled space. You're on your own from then on. You have two galactic standard months to retrieve him."
Kax leaned back in his chair and waved them away.
"You may go now. Good luck."