Chapter Six
Arriving to Tatooine, Arden Lyn could immediately see why Palpatine had called it a pitiful speck of a planet and why Shira Jade hated the idea of going there. It was a desert planet at all four corners, nothing but sand swirling across the wind and nothing but sand as the ground beneath them. "I've never seen a planet so lifeless," she said immediately. "Oh trust me, it gets better when we get a little deeper into Mos Eisley: you'll never find a greater cauldron of scum anywhere," Shira replied.
"The planet is that harsh on the people here?" Arden asked. "Oh it's not the harshness of the planet, it's a refuge for gangsters, smugglers, pirates, and hired assassins. Bounty hunters often make their way here in case the Hutts decide to hire them for important jobs as well," Shira answered quickly. "Wait, so basically Tatooine is a world where criminals rule supreme without interference from the law?" Arden inquired.
Shira nodded, adding that some of these criminals had been dubbed so even before the rise of the Empire. "Then you'd think their crimes from before the Empire would have been excused with its rise, right?" Arden suggested. "I'm afraid it isn't that simple. Even though the Empire reformed from many of the things that made the Republic the way it was, there were still many things unchanged.
"One of those things were criminal records: in other words, if you were a criminal before, you're one now," Shira explained. "That's a little unfair, don't you think?" Arden asked rhetorically. "The Emperor and Lord Vader don't give a shit about being fair, only about maintaining power. In this new galaxy that they've created, only the strong survive and the weak serve the strong," Shira answered.
Arden thought about the implications of that statement, readily accepting a world like that but not an entire galaxy. All she and Xendor had wanted in their day was for their research to be accepted and used to the benefit of the Jedi Order's growth, not to its detriment as the Council thought. They had wanted to remain members of the Order in a universe of curiosity, learning, and even love. But nothing had prepared them for the greed and corruption of the Council except for Jedi Master Pina.
Though he was the man who would ultimately imprison Arden Lyn in her hibernation, he had initially defended their research with vigor. He had determined that tradition could be made stronger by what Arden and Xendor offered to find out for the Council before his voice was shut off forever. But Arden returned her mind to the present and asked Shira to track down Thok and get him talking. "I will go and examine the attack sites myself and determine which one he's most recently hit," she added.
"Yes Mistress, I shall but if he has potential to be a student do I persuade him to come along?" Shira asked. "If he does and if you can," Arden answered, nodding. "Yes Mistress, he will be defeated by the Variant of the Assassin if he tries to put up any resistance," Shira vowed. "Remember, we need him alive even if he doesn't have the potential," Arden reminded.
Shira nodded and raced off to find someone who knew the way to Thok while Arden requested knowledge of Hoar's favorite attack areas. "It's been impossible to pinpoint a pattern but we were able to find some favorite places that he liked to visit," a stormtrooper colonel told her. "Show me the attack points," Arden requested. "Yes milady, would you like to start with his most recent attack and continue from there?" he asked.
"If that's not out of your way, I would," she answered. The colonel called in a speeder and had one of his subordinates take Arden to the sites and answer any questions she had as best as possible. "All right, the first site we'll be taking you to is a rather big moisture farm that the Empire relies on for its water supplies whenever the Emperor can't have shipments sent out here. Filters are required to safely drink some of it but for the most part, the water's pretty crisp," the sergeant explained along the way.
"I would have thought that there'd be no water on a planet as dry as this," she stated rather calmly. "For the most part, you're right but there are pockets of moisture here and there that we pay farmers to exploit for our benefit and theirs. Tatooine has other valuables not too far away from the water wells and it's not uncommon for the farmers to dig up some of those materials," the sergeant said. "What's typically dug up out of these moisture farms?" she inquired.
"A few precious metals that eventually find their way into our blasters and armor but nothing like cortosis or phrik alloy which can resist lightsaber cuts. Those exist on only a few planets and unfortunately, this isn't one of them," he answered. Valuable metals and stones were rare even in my day, it's no surprise to me that it's rare now she thought but didn't say. "Why do you think Hoar favors this area when he attacks as much as some of the other locations?" she asked aloud.
"It's all about money nowadays, milady. Hoar wants the precious metals that these farmers sometimes so he can sell it to the Hutts," he answered. "And who are the Hutts?" she continued. "A bunch of sluglike thugs that feed upon the suffering of those they exploit for gain, they're gangsters," he said.
After a little bit of time for silence, they arrived at the moisture farm and Arden began looking around. She wasn't surprised to find dead stormtroopers though she did wonder how they got bludgeoned to death. "Sergeant, do Tusken Raiders carry any kind of weapon they might use to beat someone up close and directly with?" she asked. "They have metal rods called gaderffii sticks that they use when their blasters fail them," he answered.
No doubt they also go into hand to hand combat as well when their sticks fail them too Arden observed. She continued to examine the corpses through the Force with a wave of her hand and she was able to recreate the scene of the attack in a series of pictures that played in her head. "Well he didn't attack with a whole lot of precision nor do I think he was alone in these attacks. Do these Tusken Raiders frequently travel in groups before they attack?" she inquired.
"Yes milady, it's almost impossible to get a Tusken Raider to travel by himself," the sergeant answered. In that case, there may be some bloodshed after all. I had hoped to avoid it but it may not be out of order if this man doesn't travel alone she regretted silently. From the pictures, she was able to discern a pattern of attack that she could intercept once she had a place where he'd strike next.
This had her hoping that her apprentice was quick in finding Thok and equally quick in persuading him to talk. True that they needed both alive but Arden hadn't placed any limitations as to the lengths Shira could go to get an answer so long as she didn't kill him. She wondered if even with her mastery of the Variant of the Assassin, she'd have what it took to be cruel. But then she remembered how she thought she hadn't had any evil within her until the Schism began and the Legions were formed.
Having gotten a location for Thok's frequent hangout out of a stormtrooper that had just been thrown out of a bar for misconduct, Shira now made her way to where the Gamorrean hid. "Drink's on me Pigman if you can tell me where Hoar the Tusken Raider plans to strike next," Shira said. She had purchased two cups of Korriban Fire Whiskey before settling down at Thok's table to talk. "I don't mind the drink but I do mind being called 'Pigman', little miss," Thok warned.
"Give me a location and I'll apologize immediately," Shira insisted calmly. "Listen miss, Hoar and I have been pals since we were little kids. I'm not about to rat out such a friend without a price rivaling that," Thok snapped arrogantly. "Well, I was going to offer you the chance to learn the ancient martial arts style known as Terras Kasi at the feet of my Mistress but I think that's out the window," Shira suggested.
"Yeah, I don't wanna learn no martial arts. I'm a good enough brawler without that old fashioned crap," Thok exclaimed. "Then I'll make you a deal: if you beat me with your brawling skills, I'll leave you alone. But if I win, you have to tell me the location Hoar plans to strike at next and I may throw in obligatory Terras Kasi lessons as a stake," Shira offered calculatingly. Already, she had planned out a sequence of events for her Variant of the Assassin to topple his brawling skills.
She would let him try to attack first and then exploit any and all openings he left in the wake of his attack. "All right missie, you go yourself a deal. Head outside right now," Thok said as he stood up to leave the bar. Shira chugged down her whiskey whilst Thok left his on the table to be collected by someone else later. Damn that felt good on my throat, now let's see what happens next she thought to herself excitedly.
Thok pointed to where he wanted her to go for the purposes of this fight and she obliged, knowing she would win no matter where he placed her. "Prepare yourself to be squashed little woman," he warned. "Is that the best threat you can do? My grandma scared me with her spanking threats more than you've scared me so far," she mocked.
This angered the 'Pigman' into doing precisely as she wanted: making the first move in a fit of anger. He made an overextended punch that she dodged with ease before practicing the first rule of the Variant of the Assassin: turn your enemy's strength against him whenever and wherever possible. Grabbing his arm, she wrestled him over her back and made several chops and punches to his throat and chest respectively. But whether it was because of the blubber he had in those areas or because of his sheer will, he was soon back up on his feet for another round.
"I promise I'll give you the whipping your grandmother never did. I'll bust your ass wide open with a single slap of my hand!" he vowed. "Well, you'll have to reach my ass first, now won't you?" she taunted. "That's it girl, you're dead meat now!" he shouted.
He charged again but this time with intent to grab her so that he could deliver on his vow. However, she was agile enough to dodge this and attack his side and back with several punches and chops that shattered ribs and had him gasping for air. But because of his size and possibly his will, he recovered from this and tried to swipe at her, whilst foolishly doing a full 180 degree turn in the process. Shira scoffed at this and caught the arm before delivering a blow to a small section of his arm near his elbow bone.
"That supposed to be a tickle?" he asked. "It was aimed for your nervous system in that area. The blow itself might have been painless but you won't be using that arm for a couple hours," she answered. He became fearful that she was right and when he tried to use his left arm again, it only dangled in place.
Now this is where things will get exciting in this duel she thought to herself silently. With his good arm, the Gamorrean charged one last time with another overextended punch but she caught this. When she did, she extended the palm of her hand out with enough strength to shatter the cartilage in his nose. "Hey Thok, I thought you were unbeatable; look what a little human girl is doing to you!" exclaimed a Twi'lek in the audience.
"Shut up you! I'll beat this little Imperial scumbag into the dust before I'm through!" Thok shouted in reply. "The great Gamorrean servant of Jabba the Hutt is getting his ass handed to him by a little human chick from the Empire! Who'd have thunk?" mocked a Bothan.
The audience is turning against him, this is where I can kill him with ease if I wanted to Shira observed quietly. Her green eyes focused on the movements of the Gamorrean who seemed to be all brawn and no brains at this point. With his remaining arm raised high, he intended to swipe her upside the head which would give any normal person a massive concussion and comatosed them for weeks. However, Shira Brie was no normal person and she proved it by charging up to Thok for the first time in this battle and conducting a chopping motion of her hand to his underarm.
The blow rushed so much blood up to the Pigman's brain that he almost hemorrhaged right then and there but couldn't fight anymore even without it. "Now, about that information that you promised me when we agreed to have this fight," Shira began after letting him recover a little. "That wasn't fair, you took cheap shots whenever you could!" Thok shouted. "Nope, I took the shots required of a master of my variant of Terras Kasi known as the Variant of the Assassin," she calmly replied.
Then she insisted on the info that Thok owed her and Thok was quick to tell her where Hoar planned on attacking. "He's going to start at Spaceport C-62 and see if he can make his way through the whole C-shelf before going elsewhere," Thok said. "Thank you, now rest and remain in the bar until I return: you need Terras Kasi lessons, my friend," Shira replied. Immediately, Shira relayed the information to her Mistress who copied her and asked a sergeant to take her there.
"Spaceport 62 is the most heavily attacked spaceport of any that we have controlled so far. It's the one where we receive the cargo from Kessel only to have it stolen," the sergeant said. "What's the cargo from Kessel?" Arden asked. "Spice from their spice mines where we keep our most rebellious prisoners work until they drop," the sergeant answered.
I have heard of similar things happening before back in the days of the Republic's formation. The strongest and most uncooperative prisoners were assigned to the toughest worlds in the colonization efforts in hopes of breaking them into submission Arden observed. "Then let's head there and get ready to protect the cargo. Lure them out with the promise of easy pickings and then destroy them when they come within range," she ordered aloud.
"Milady, that's against Imperial protocol!" the sergeant answered. "I am Imperial protocol so long as the Emperor and Vader are absent. And I am telling you to order your superiors to strategize in that fashion if they want to better protect their cargo. Once that's done, if Hoar is not already dead, I will challenge him to single combat in front of his people: he won't deny me," she replied.
The sergeant contacted the Colonel and informed him of Arden's orders to his great reluctance before finally being persuaded. "When the Emperor hears about this, he won't be pleased with the breach of protocol," the sergeant warned. "Number one, the Emperor doesn't need to know: you can always say that you tightened security and it paid off. And number two, what's breaching protocol about baiting your enemies into a trap and then destroying them when I've seen worse off the Empire?" Arden retorted.
"You make valid points there Arden but those times where you saw worse were necessary actions taken by the Empire to maintain its properties," the sergeant replied, somewhat confused. "Were you even present at any of these breaches of military protocol? Or are you just rambling out what the Emperor and Vader want you to ramble out?" she demanded. The sergeant said nothing to answer which was answer enough for her and when she arrived, her trap was set in motion.
After dealing with Thok and insuring his future loyalty lied with her and Arden Lyn, Shira Brie decided it was best to take him to the shuttle and stay put until Arden finished with Hoar. In the meantime, she had to put up with Thok snoring in his sleep or else his constant questions when awake. "What variant do you think would fit me?" he asked first. "The Variant of Strength, most likely though I wouldn't be surprised if she decided to give you the Variant of the Rancor," she answered.
"Why is that?" he demanded. "Because you're just as reckless and just as dumb as a rancor," she snapped. "Hey, just because you beat me doesn't mean you can say that about me!" he warned, trying to use the arm that was still limp before giving up. "Damn, do all the variants have this much power on somebody's ability to move a limb?" he inquired.
"Not all of them no although all of them do have the ability to give their Masters unparalleled physical power in their hands," she explained. "Doesn't the name 'Terras Kasi' mean something related to the strength of a person's hands?" he suggested. "'Steel Hands' is its translation from Bunduki, the language of the Followers of Palawa who originated the art. They also found techniques unrelated to fighting that Arden used to survive the stopping of her heart via the Force.
"The result was that she was tranced for twenty-five thousand years, having only been awakened fifteen and a half years ago. Twice, she fell back into her own hibernations after that: one in space for fifteen years and another on Irkalla for six months," she stated. "Yikes, that must suck," he stated. "The first one did but the next two weren't as bad," she admitted.
"Now it'll only be a matter of time before Hoar attacks and she fights him. I wonder if she'll have any difficulty beating him," he said. "Why would you wonder that if she is my Mistress and my teacher?" she asked. "Hoar's killed Jedi and Dark Jedi before for money," he answered.
"Arden is no mere Jedi and definitely not a Dark Jedi. No, I think she belongs in her own, dangerous category: a Fallen Jedi. Shunned by the Light for her curiosities but reviled by the Dark Side for her inability to fully immerse herself in it," she confessed. "Do you say this because you're the same way?" he inquired.
"Had I been a member of the Order at any point in my life, I might have. But that's all that's missing for me to suffice that fit," she replied, shaking her head before speaking. "Would you ever want that fit?" he asked. Shira thought about that, at first confused by why he would ask it but then it became apparent so she just shook her head.
It ended all conversation in that simple response and Thok just rubbed his forehead when he had to. The near-hemorrhage still caused his head to ache sometimes and it was enough that he would probably need pain medications for a couple months to get his blood flow properly aligned. She's pretty tough for a scrawny little human Thok thought to himself quietly. And indeed she was tough for someone of her physical appearance, who wouldn't be after serving the Emperor?
"Hoar, it's almost time for the attack. What do we do this time?" a young Raider asked his commander. "Same as always, use our sheer numbers to overwhelm the security guards and take the spice with force," Hoar answered. "Is that really wise... they might have upgraded by now?" the young warrior insisted.
"Oh no worries, the Imperials wouldn't know to do that if the cue came and bit them in the face," Hoar replied. The young warrior settled down after that and on Hoar's signal, the attack began and it was the seventeenth attack that this tribe of Tusken Raiders would make. Assuming that there was anyone to kill but it looked as though the spice shipments had been deserted this time around. Or else, they had actually walked into a trap just as the younger warrior had feared would be happening.
No, the Imperials can't have gotten smarter since the last time that we attacked this spaceport! he thought to himself silently. His worst fears were confirmed the very moment that the stormtroopers came from nowhere and opened fire on Hoar's people. It was over in a matter of seconds with the majority of the three-dozen-membered party being killed immediately. Only Hoar himself and at least seven others survived and that was before he heard the worst thing possible.
"I challenge Hoar to single, hand-to-hand combat. If you win, we let you go and compensate for those who have fallen but if you lose, you are my slave until I command otherwise," a woman said. Something about her intimidated and scared him but he knew that he would answer this; he had to.