Mercenaries Kyle Katarn, Jan Ors and young padawan Leon are riding in a light blue civilian speeder, traversing the cities skyline. So far, there has been no sign of Imperial presence. Lately, they had improved on their ability to hide their presence. Much to the annoyance of the New Republic. If only it were easier in finding the Imperial Remnant's officers, generals and admirals. Then their wouldn't be the constant threat of attack from stormtroopers and Star Destroyers.
The trio are headed to the home of Shistavanen senator, Vaar Torreps. Dark gloomy clouds gather above. The herald of a storm. That could explain why there is barely anyone flying around. But Kyle, he has a different theory. One he has been trying to explain to Jan who, oddly enough, is reluctant to agree on. Then again, so is the young boy. And it seems to Kyle that she is agreeing on many things with him, and siding with him. Why? That's what annoys Katarn, because he does not know, and he cannot figure it out.
"I am just saying, it could be an Imperial curfew! That's one of the things they do!" Kyle tries to reason. But Jan counters.
"Don't you think that would be a little obvious? One of their top priorities is to be hidden, and work in the shadows." Kyle rolls his eyes. Why did she have to disagree with everything? And the worst part is that she is a quick thinker. She can think up the most reasonable excuses in only a matter of seconds. He scratches at his beard quickly, and a sudden feeling comes on. Then just like that, it's gone. He ignores it like it is nothing.
"It does seem a little off" Leon adds. Kyle glances back with a scold.
"You stay out of this. You may be under my training, so here's lesson one: Not everything involves you." Kyle crosses his arms arrogantly.
Jan pilots the small shuttle past the tall towers of the richest of the districts, where the senators home is located. Traffic is minimal, so they are able to rush without delay or crash accidents. Red, blue, black, all different shades of colours flew by, their reflections going by their sides in the windows of nearby towers. The hum of the speeders engines is heard inside from the back.
And, as nature would have it, the rain starts to pour down. Streams of rain drops go down the front window, obscuring the view partly and in a way distorting it, due to the amount of water. "Funny how quickly this started" Jan states, leaning forward in her chair to get a better view on things. Kyle, on the other hand, leans back, crossing his arms across his chest. The rain is somewhat soothing. Blocking out all other sounds.
But something disturbs him. A sudden feeling. A bad feeling. It takes him a short moment to realize the cause of it, and he shoots upright. "We're being followed." Just like in any other situation like this one, Jan remains calm. Until a turn comes.
She jolts the wheel to the right so hard the civilian speeder goes on it's side in the air, and the speed goes to maximum. Speeding through the air, rounding sharp corners with precision. And eventually, they lose the shuttle. As it were, they had lost it on the first turn, and Kyle knew that because he could sense the stalker's frustration when they did so.
"We've lost them, Jan. You can slow down now." But surprisingly, she did not slow down. "Jan, slow down!" he shouts as he sees an oncoming building. At the speed they are travelling, they won't have time to turn. He quickly reaches over and grabs the speed adjustment stick, pulling the appendage back and slowing the shuttle to a hovering stop. Jan lifts her hands from the wheel, staring at them fearfully. They tremble as if they were just dipped in cold water. She is startled by Kyle's hand on her shoulder. Leon looks at her weirdly, and she looks back at both of them with a wry smile. Relaxing as if they hadn't almost crashed into the side of a building.
"What? I was in the moment" she admits, before slowing accelerating the shuttle. Kyle watches her, studying her. He knows something isn't right with her. But eventually, he lets the go.
After some more traversing the air space of the city, they come across the richer district. There are more speeders and shuttles in the air here. Ahead is the Capital Government building, but their destination lies to their right. Jan pilots the shuttle to a landing pad that slowly slides out, with an attendant awaiting their arrival. The shuttle touches down smoothly, the sound of the engine going down. Jan and Kyle are first out, and Kyle has to resist the urge of locking the teenager inside it. But Jan's narrowed stare helps him with that. Sometimes, he wonders if she had contact with the force as well. As if she could read his mind. The Shistavanen before them opens her arms and bows, her bent-back shins pointing backwards.
"I have been taught to greet all, although I was also told that the senator was having no visitors" she remarks, a threatening touch added to the final part of her sentence. Her eyes are glued to them. Two guards arrive from inside, readying their blaster pistols. Kyle's hand darts to his side, yet never reaches his saber, for his partner is quick to defuse the situation.
Jan is quick with an explanation, which proves to be a useful skill of hers. "We were sent by the New Republic. They received word of a call of aid from the senator." The assistant goes to speak, but quickly shuts her mouth when another Shistavanen arrives on scene. And a young adult, at that. She bows, this time lower. By the look of the dark red tunic adorned with some hanging golden threads at the sleeves and the collar, this is their senator.
"Mirra, please meet upstairs. Guards, stand down" he commands. The guards drop their weapons to their sides obediently and snap to a stand still. The assistant, however is much more hesitant. She soon storms off, the claws on her feet clicking against the marble floor. "Indeed, she was right. I did not call for help" Torreps admits before stepping forward, standing tall before them. "But I wish I had. Come. It is not safe out here."
They hurry inside, the guards closing the glass doors behind them. Torreps doesn't stop there, however, but continues up the stairs. She finally stops in upper room. With a voice command, the room darkens when shutters go over the large clear windows. The doors close. They are alone to speak. Inside, Mirra waits against a far wall, cautiously watching the newcomers. The three elders sit while the youngest, Leon, stands by the door, as ordered by Kyle.
"We are in danger."
Kyle notices Jan becoming slightly unsettled in her seat. "Why?" Jan asks immediately, cautious of the volume of her voice. "What danger is present here?" Vaar leans forward in his leather chair, clawed hands clasping together.
"Stormtroopers" she whispers. Kyle chuffs with a smug grin, only to earn a glare from his partner. Wasn't his fault he was right in the first place. "They came in a Star Destroyer. Before we could call for help, they were upon us. And the Destroyer fled, leaving many of it's troops behind to watch us." There is a pause before he goes on. "The Destroyer arrived far from this city, and we kept quiet to avoid panic. Many are blind to the occupation."
Kyle goes deep into thought. What could they gain? The only thing he could think of is keeping the planet hostage. But for what purpose? The wolf-men of Uvena rarely care for outsiders, and may try to settle this occupation themselves. There are no minerals of extreme value. So what were they after? Apparently, the senator did not know either.
"Why would they leave?" Jan asks.
"That is what confuses me. I asked for reports of the wilderness, and the rest of the Uvena system. Nowhere in sight."
"That is curious." They all pause, trying to think things over and piece things together. But before they can come to a conclusion, he goes on.
"There is more. They're leader. He wields the force. And he is-" his voice is cut off by a green laser bolt ripping through the side of his chest. Kyle flips over his chair by pulling with his arms on the top of it. He draws his lightsaber, igniting the glowing blade with a light hum. Jan goes to the senators side, her own blaster drawn. Leon draws his own saber, watching the door. Another green bolt slides through the glass, leaving a burning hole on the now heated surface. Kyle lunges forward towards Jan and the senator, deflecting it back out the window.
"We need to head to better cover. Outside the door, now!" he shouts over another sniper bolt that lands mere inches from his planted feet. Mirra is first out, sprinting for the door. Not even bothering to care for the injured senator. Leon is next, sweeping the sides with his gaze and two yellow sabers.
After he nods, Jan follows with Torreps left arm around her shoulder, his right hand covering his scorched wound. Kyle is last, blocking one last bolt before leaving through the door and closing it behind him. It closes with a loud hiss, and the sound of another bolt hits the door. "Go!" The group rushes forward at a steady pace. Kyle draws his pistol along with disengaging his saber, just in case they have any more unwelcome guests from behind he could dispatch from a distance.
They reach the elevator, where Mirra is already inside and pushing the button. Luckily, they get in. Jan throws the young assistant a cautious look. And Kyle understands why, especially since she almost abandoned them. The elevator doors hiss shut, and the metal box they stand in begins to lower down the shaft. Everyone stays at the ready, those who have weapons having them drawn. It is highly likely they were going to face more at their final stop, and they have to be ready. The elevator soon comes to a stop, but before the door opens, Kyle pushes on a button that keeps it closed, his eyes moving up.
"We can't risk going out there with more outside" he quickly states. Jan nods in agreement, and knows his plan. As soon as Kyle removes his hand from the button, Jan takes over. Kyle ignites his saber again and holds it up to the ceiling of the elevator, towards an emergency hatch. Then, with precision and a small cut, slices through the lock. Then, he gives a light force push, swinging the hatch all the way open. There is a sign of marvel in Leon's eyes at his master's work, a look of admiration. Which he replaces with an expression that says 'whatever'.
"I'll go fir-" Kyle starts, but Leon jumps through first, eager to go on. Kyle sighs, before following then reaching both hands down after holstering his blaster pistol. Jan uses her strength to lift up the senator. The mercenary catches the wolf-man's wrists and pulls up, easing him to the top of the elevator, being careful of his injury.
Right above them is the door to the floor above. Closed. Leon takes his chance and leaps up, earning another sigh from Kyle. What is with the boy wanting to always show off? That is all he can wonder. The padawan activates on saber, then stabs right into the middle of the left side, slowly curving upwards in an oval shape. Kyle helps Jan up, then Mirra last. Who is more than thankful to her savior. In fact, so thankful that she starts clawing her way up the wall. Well, trying at least. Soon, the padawan gets through, but once again is too eager, knocking in the metal door that has been cut out with a very loud bang. Something that makes Kyle cringe, knowing someone else must have heard it.
"Quickly, get up." He throws Jan up with two hands to her foot. She grabs hold of the edge, pulling herself up. It takes her only a small moment to stand upright, then kneel down to grab the senator. Mirra is next up, followed by Kyle with a large upwards leap.
He looks down to the new hall they arrive in. Drawing his blaster, he points it forward. "Let's get going. Quickly." As if by some great luck, they had gotten out just in time as the elevator suddenly drops, ending in a fiery explosion.
"That's sure to turn a few heads" Leon quietly quips. Kyle takes the lead, rounding a corner by hugging the wall. So far, they are doing well. In fact, Kyle can't sense anyone nearby but themselves. But he cannot always trust his instincts, since he has not fully gotten used to the force. He realizes how close they are to the side of building when he sees a platform outside. But before he can make a move to it, there is blaster fire behind them. Looking back, some Shistavanen guards are firing at an unseen attacker, which can be easily guessed by the red laser bolts. One guard falls, and that's enough to send urgency running through the group.
"Go!" They make a run for the platform, except for Leon. He has both sabers in hands, staring down with his hands constantly adjusting their grip. Kyle is forced to grab him by the collar and pull him back as a barrage of fire hits the wall behind him. Leon is so surprised that he ignites the sabers, but doesn't swing when he sees who has a hold of him.
"Get to the platform! You can't win this." Leon obeys, hesitantly at first, and runs behind the others. Kyle walks backwards a couple of steps, lifting his blaster to shoulder length. Once he sees the white armor, he fires, hitting his mark right away in a trooper's helmet, where the left eye would be. The others get into cover, avoiding his other bolts from his Bryar pistol.
He reaches the platform. This time, there is no such luck as before. No transports or shuttles in sight. And the stormtroopers are getting closer. It seems all is lost. They can only fight their way out. Until something comes through the air, stopping right by the landing platform.
The human bounty hunter slams his fists against the side of the shuttle. How could they lose them?! He just couldn't believe it. Especially since he is the one flying. And he thinks himself to be one of the best, especially with civilian shuttles like these. One second, they were in front of them. The next, they were darting around a corner so fast he thought he had blinked for more than a second.
"This is ridiculous. How are we supposed to find 'em now?!" he asks his copilot, the armored Rodian. The Rodian is silent...until a wry smirk appears.
"With a little help from one of the crew, I can find them." The hunter quirks a brow as the Rodian begins playing with a small data pad he has with him. It lights up, revealing several screens. "I can begin a city wide scan using cameras along all main paths. If they are travelling along any of them...There!" He points to one. An area in the rich district. By their heading, there are many locations. But with their bounty and his reputation, there are two possible destinations. The palace, or the senator's home. "We'll check the senator's place first. The palace has higher security, and will take longer to search."
The hunter places a hand on the Rodian's shoulder. "What would I do without ya?" The air speeder races off. And it isn't too long before they reach their destination. They see their targets speeder. But no one around it.
"Curious. They must be..Wait. Are those-"
"Yes...Stormtroopers." They both glare down at several are seen through the window of the same floor. "They are not stealin my target. We'll go round!" He speeds the speeder in a cycle around the tower, searching for their target. And on the floor above, they find a firefight. And in it is the target. "Let's give 'em an exit, shall we?" The Rodian's smirk grows.
The speeder aligns itself with the platform, the red doors opening. "Get in!" They give no hesitation as the pinned down group moves to the speeder one by one. First is a Shistavanen, a young female one. Followed by a woman with an aged Shistavanen, and then a young Human, armed with two sabers. Lastly is the aged mercenary, the infamous Kyle Katarn. As soon as he is in, the bounty hunter speeds the shuttle forward, propelling them away from the oncoming blaster rifle fire.
"Thank you" the woman says. The hunter chuckles to himself.
"No need" he pauses when he turns his body around, setting the speeder to auto-pilot, then draws one of his pistols. The Rodian armed himself with a blaster shotgun. "Now hand over ya weapons."
There you go. Another chapter. Wish I made this longer, but I thought that I shouldn't leave you guys without another chapter for much longer.