Chapter Nine
"Jedi Master Hermione Astin, mother of Fable, is dead then?" Vader asked. "Yes, she will be troubling you no more, Lord Vader," Arden Lyn answered. "Her lightsaber," he requested tonelessly. Arden unclipped it from her belt and threw it at him, watching as he first stopped it with telekinesis then pulled it into his hand without even turning around to face her.
Igniting both ends, he held it out in front of him for a brief moment or two and spun it slightly before deactivating it once more. "You have done well, Arden Lyn. I have already handed Shira Brie the chip with the information she needs and now she is permitted access. Tell her that the code for unlocking the information, I had it locked while before you left, is 'Amidala'," he said after some silence.
A glimpse of a vision that Arden had at that word showed a woman with long braided hair, and pregnant, in pain and she wondered if it was something from Vader's past. However, she didn't bother to ask as she proceeded to leave though not before Vader stopped her one more time. "I have no more missions for you right now and the Emperor doesn't have any for you or Shira. Use this time off from service well," he stated.
She didn't know if he had glimpsed into her bond with Shira Brie or if he was just guessing but either way, it somewhat surprised her that he would say that. "I think we both intend to, Lord Vader. And I can say that with more than adequate confidence in myself and in her," she replied. What the hell is he doing, talking about us anyway? she asked herself silently.
Arriving at her headquarters, she was surprised to see Shira Brie already waiting for her there. "Shira, what a surprise. I just came back from dealing with a Jedi named Hermione Astin," Arden began. "I know, Lord Vader bargained a Jedi life in exchange for the information; did you get the combination out of him?" Shira asked immediately.
Arden nodded and told her the code to which Shira laughed, something that prompted Arden's curiosity. "Amidala was the clan name of a woman he loved years ago and fell to the Dark Side in an attempt to supposedly save her from the future. She was pregnant with his child and he feared her death in childbirth, however, he was the one who killed her," Shira explained. "That explains the vision I had when he said the name Amidala of a pregnant woman being painfully killed by someone," Arden stated.
"Do you do that every time someone mentions a significant name?" Shira asked. "No, just when a name is mentioned that is familiar either to me or someone I know," Arden answered. "Well don't tell him I mentioned anything, I only know because the Emperor chose to tell me," Shira said. "Not to worry, we won't even be anywhere near him or the Emperor for the next few days or so," Arden said.
"What do you mean?" Shira demanded. "I think it's time we had a night or two on the town, explored the sights of Coruscant. Besides the Palace and the blocks around, I haven't seen much of Coruscant during my service to the Emperor," Arden explained. "You mean..." Shira began.
"Yes, it's time we explored and get some good views, maybe even some shopping. Isn't shopping normal for girls?" Arden teased with a smile. "Yes of course, except that I myself have never been shopping before in my life," Shira replied.
"Neither have I, it'll be a new experience for the both of us," Arden retorted, giggling. "Can we go see the operas that the Emperor is a fan of?" Shira asked. "Why not? So long as we have the time. I believe we can squeeze that into our schedule," Arden answered.
"Then what are we waiting for then, let's get some credits and get going!" Shira exclaimed. Arden smiled and managed to withdraw two thousand credits from the payments that both of them received from the missions they had went on though their total was double that. "This should be enough for a week of travel if we budget the credits just right," Arden said. "Excellent, let's go shopping now," Shira replied.
"Arden and Shira did what!?" Hoar asked. "They went shopping and seeing the sights, just like normal Human girls," Thok answered. "I will never understand humans and why they do the things they do," Hoar stated. "Well maybe we should get some practice in on our techniques while we await their return," Thok suggested.
Since being captured by Arden and Shira last month, Thok had been practicing the Variant of the Rancor whilst Hoar practiced the Variant of the Snake. Both were excellent techniques and Hoar showed the speedy, fluid movements, while Thok was brutal and strong in his own technique. "I don't see why not, it would be what she would want us to do," Hoar said, shrugging in acceptance. The two aliens walked off from their quarters and set up a session of sparring in the chambers of their practice.
"Do you ever wonder why it is that Arden Lyn acts like a normal human whenever she's around Shira and not us?" Thok inquired. "Not really: as I told you before, I can never understand why humans act the way they do around each other. That is, except when they're violent towards each other as I've seen it amongst my people as well," Hoar explained. "It seems that that is the way of things even for the most humanoid alien species: never understanding humans without being around them for a while," Thok agreed.
"I'm glad I found you two here when I did," said the voice of Lord Vader suddenly. "Lord Vader, what a surprise!" they simultaneously exclaimed. "I have a mission for the two of you that you can attend to while your Mistress is seeing the sights with Shira Brie. When either of you get a chance, there is a senator from Cato Neimoidia that is demanding more than he deserves in profits.
"I need the two of you to track him down and silence him with your martial arts and any other techniques that you know," Vader explained bluntly. "Neimoidians, even in the Clone Wars they were the more talkative of the non-humanoid aliens," Hoar said. "We'll clobber this guy before you can say 'I want supper', what vital statistics do we need on this guy?" Thok asked. "Only that he holds very little security around him, preferring to let his wealth say more about his power.
"But when he does have bodyguards around, they're usually hired men that end up doing shabby jobs. That and he likes the party life so you will need to look in every bar that you can find to see him except for the slummy ones. He prefers the high life even when he goes to the bars for a drink and maybe a couple women," Vader answered. "Very well, let's see if we can find this guy and beat him up big time," Thok said.
"I have already downloaded a picture of him into your datapads so that you don't go randomly beating Neimoidians when you arrive. Remember this also, if possible just scare him into submission of my demands but if not, kill him. He'd be a loose end if he does not accept the offers that the Emperor and I have both extended to him," Vader stated. Hoar and Thok nodded, asking if a ship was ready to which Lord Vader said that one was ready for them.
By the time the Emperor heard the news that Arden Lyn and Shira Brie had gone to see the sights, he had already added six servants to the rank Emperor's Hand. None of them knew of each other and Arden Lyn would not know of their existence either. So far Sarcev Quest, Cronal, Roganda Ismaren, Mara Jade, Aralina Salik, and Jallar Grolin were the six hired nominees. Others that he had considered were Jeng Droga, Sa Cuis, Sheyvan, and Vess Kogo who he still was considering.
Inquisitor Tremayne had also put in a request to be nominated as an Emperor's Hand although Palpatine felt that he was still useful as just an Inquisitor. Though he still turned him down, Palpatine had a feeling that maybe Maarek Stele would be useful in this area as well. However, the only reason he had any doubts was because Stele was already an Emperor's Reach which parallel to a Hand. Stele was ambitious and giving him too much power might have meant dooming himself and Vader for overthrow.
However, the Emperor tossed these thoughts into the deepest and darkest pits of his mind when he heard about what Arden Lyn and Shira Brie had done. "There had better be a good explanation for this!" he hissed. "Arden told me she wanted to spend some time alone with Shira, seeing the sights of the planet since she has yet to do it," Vader said. "Very well, but immediately assign them to a mission with those alien men Hoar and Thok so that this distraction never arises in them again!" Palpatine ordered.
He didn't want Shira giving into the temptation to reveal his offer to Arden which would be a catastrophe. When Arden found out, she would immediately suspect that she wasn't the only Emperor's Hand and possibly defect from the Empire. He couldn't afford to lose Arden's abilities, not now when he still had so much that she would need to do for him and under him. "Not all is lost milord, Arden said she would check back periodically and that they would be back in at least a week or so," Vader said.
"Foolish man, by then Shira might have told her everything! Halt this little expedition now, I have a mission for them!" Palpatine ordered. He would not let Shira jeopardize his ability to use Arden Lyn as his pawn for her own pathetic gains. And luckily, Inquisitor Tremayne was immediate to answer as well as bring some stormtroopers with him just incase Arden got a little uncooperative.
"What sights, what beauty!" Arden exclaimed. "I've seen a little bit of this before but never in such glorious detail as this!" Shira admitted. Already the girls had been through several malls and had made purchases with which they were satisfied. These included mechanical supplies to prepare Shira's lightsaber as well as several fashion trends they hoped to try when they weren't in combat.
But the reason for their current admiration was the lighting of the Opera house that Palpatine had claimed having a fancy for. "The story they're trying to tell is a little skewed but the visuals are grand," Arden stated. "Indeed but I think most stories are skewed by the visuals anyway, regardless of how good it is," Shira agreed.
Just then, the door to their box was knocked on and Shira decided to answer while Arden remained gawking at the sights. "Shira Brie, Arden Lyn, the Emperor wants you and he wants you back at the Palace right now!" Tremayne hissed next to them. "So he's angry that we went on a little spree when we didn't have anything to do, whoopie-fucking-do," Arden replied. "Your defiance will cost you dearly if you do not come with me now and back to the Emperor's Throne for you mission," he warned.
Five years later...
Governors, rogue senators, pirates, smugglers, even rogue Dark Side cults fell before the might of Arden Lyn and her team of Terras Kasi students. But this latest threat was different, it was a branch of the Followers of Palawa that had extended outside of Bunduki to stake their own claim. However, they had come into contact with the Prophets of the Dark Side who demanded their heads now. "Wouldn't it be easier to have Thok and Hoar lead the rest of the students into surrounding this new enemy and stalling them while we kill the leaders of this group?" Shira Brie asked.
"It would if it weren't for the fact that the Followers of Palawa are gifted in the ways of the Force as well as guarding against telepathic attacks based on it. They also have a really incredible talent for war strategy and would suspect such a trap right off the bat," Arden answered. Five years of combat experience had hardened them to the pain of suffering of others but never to each other. Since the fateful day when the girls had attempted to be normal five years ago, their relationship had improved.
As time passed by, it was becoming more and more common for Arden to call Shira "Little Wolf" while Shira called her "Mama Bear" in private. "Then what do you suggest we do, Mama Bear?" Shira asked. Arden thought about that carefully, scanning the fortress that this splinter group of the Followers had holed themselves up in. That was when she observed open moats that her other students, including Hoar and Thok, could use to the advantage of the team.
"Have Hoar and Thok take half of the other students and fill up those two open moats over there. The stench will drive out those who can't stand the smell, let alone any poisonous fumes that they may emit. Once that's done, the ones that remain are the ones that we attack when we go in head-on," she answered. "So I suggest gasmasks for everyone if that's going to be the case: even if they can't ward off the smell, they can ward off the worst of the aerial poisons," Shira replied.
"Good idea, Little Wolf. Have Hoar and Thok make sure that everyone is wearing masks just in case there's anything toxic after they fill up the moats. They're to do the deed by any means that they can find, even if they have to risk swimming in the sewages for a time or two," Arden requested. Shira typed a code into her wrist comlink which she explained as doing precisely that through beeps. "Good, let's hope that Thok and Hoar actually obey orders this time; don't want another Geonosis," Arden said.
Geonosis had been the worst mission for the whole team in the history of their five-year career. Two years ago, a cousin of CIS leader Poggle the Lesser had risen to take his place and was inciting mutiny amongst his fellow Geonosians. The plan to stop had been to infiltrate his ranks as quietly and as efficiently as possible with little to no killing wherever possible. But Thok and Hoar were both used to so much killing that when they went on another spree, they compromised that plan for the whole team.
Out of the original thirty-four that had joined the team at that point, only fifteen had survived to tell the tale though they managed to assassinate the rebellious Geonosian anyway. Since then, their numbers had not only bounced back but also doubled with another twelve soon to join the ranks. During all fives years, Arden Lyn and Shira Brie remained supreme commanders of the team of Terras Kasi-wielding Force-sensitives capable of excellent things even without other weapons than their hands. "How's your hand healing from that?" Shira asked.
During her assassination of Poggle's cousin, Arden had burned her hand in one of the smelting pots that helped create blasters of all kind having used the Variant of Anger. However, the burns were not severe nor was her hand permanently mangled in anyway though some scars remained. She had even had her first bad case of arthritis in her hand since it caused pain to move it for months afterwards. "There isn't the pain that comes from moving my hand anymore, that's for sure," Arden answered quietly.
"That's good, look! Hoar and Thok are actually trying to be stealthy for once," Shira said, pointing to where she was looking in order to get Arden's attention. Sure enough, to Arden's surprise, they were indeed trying to be stealthy and were doing a surprisingly good job of it. When they arrived at the moats, they found it easy to break several of the controls and cause the floodgates to close instantly. "Okay, we got the moats closed: it'll just a matter of time before we flush out the sissies we don't want and kill the rest inside, over and out," Thok said into Shira's comlink.
"Copy that, Pigman. Over and out," Shira retorted. Arden laughed slightly and quietly at that, unbelieving that five years of the Gamorrean complaining about being called that hadn't deterred Shira. "One of these days, he's going to challenge you to a rematch of the duel you two first had or worse," Arden teased. "Right and when that day happens, my ass is the size of his fist," Shira joked.
"What the hell?" Arden asked confused. Then she recalled that Shira had always had a tomboyish build and as a result, had small breasts and a small buttocks. Shaking her head, she understood immediately that Shira was just trying to ridicule Thok further behind his back. "One of these days Shira, one of these days..." Arden said, drifting off as she quietly laughed.
"How long before the moats do their part?" Shira asked. "Shouldn't be more than a standard hour or two for the weaklings to decide to leave. One and a half at the most before they're all crowding to get out first," Arden answered. "Great, now all we gotta do is sit back and play the waiting game we're already going to win anyway," Shira stated.
"I know you hate having to wait almost as much as Hoar and Thok do but it does pay to be patient, Little Wolf. Trust me," Arden said. Shira shrugged though she did manage to wait out the hour and twenty-four minutes before the soldiers of the Followers were beating a hasty retreat. "So they didn't like our little present, too bad they can't return it," Shira joked.
Arden chuckled and asked Shira to order Hoar and Thok to have the students incite some terror into the people at the back of the retreating masses. "Gives the front ones more incentive to get out faster than they already are," Arden added. Shira delivered the orders and soon, they bore witness to the soldiers at the front being trampled by the more terrified ones at the back of the crowd. "Good, now our part begins; come with me, Little Wolf," Arden said as she ignited both her lightsabers.
Following behind, Shira had ignited her own black-bladed saber as she followed Arden into the fray of the battle that their other team members had already started. Immediately, Arden began hacking down people with her Jar'Kai and Ataru skills upon arriving to the front of the fortress. Meanwhile, Shira cleaned up those she missed with Shii-Cho, Shien, and some Juyo when it was necessary. Both would sometimes fall back into Soresu in order to deflect the blaster bolts but would continue hacking.
When it was over, the priests who had led the splinter group of Followers of Palawa were exposed and vulnerable to the attack of people who were mostly in the prime of their youth. "It's over Priests, surrender now and spare yourselves the humiliation of defeat by people that know your ways. Terras Kasi has betrayed you twelve because they now belong to us sixty-eight," Arden warned them. "Even with your numbers and your ancient age, Arden Lyn, we will put up a valiant fight before we fall and that is a promise," the leader replied.
"I'm counting on it, Follower of Palawa and my students are begging for it," Arden retorted. Then the students unleashed their potential upon the other eleven priests with many wielding the Variant of the Assassin like Shira or the Variant of the Rancor like Thok. But for the leader, Arden decided to show him her might in the Variant of Anger, the very tactic all like him feared most in their own styles. "I sense great tragedy and pain within you Arden Lyn, please let me help you," the priest asked her.
"Your ancestors made a similar offer to me once but they betrayed me and my husband Xendor when they took money from the Jedi in exchange for information about our locations. I need no help from a child of Palawa who flees from Bunduki to go about his own way!" she hissed at him. She defeated him with relative ease after that by breaking his skull and denting his ribcage severely. However, even as he lied dying before her, it still seemed as though he wanted to remedy her pains and relieve her suffering.
But she quickly snapped his neck with a boot, finishing him off once and for all. "That was an easy enough mission, the Emperor's beginning to run out of ideas for us since the Death Star blew up. Are we to be the first subjects of his anger or something like that?" Hoar asked. "No, he's just too busy to give us anything other than this, that's why he trusts the Prophets to assign us," Arden answered.
"She does have a point there, Thok. Kadann has been giving us some real biggies and the credits to go with, after all," Hoar pointed out. "Thank you, now if no one else has any suggestions for what to take from this temple, we are done here," Arden stated. No one did and they walked out with their two-hundred and thirty-seventh mission as a team completed with relative ease once again.