Chapter 12: The Road To Skako: Bloody Pirates!
Shaak and Fe-Sun gazed out of the viewport into space. Overhead, a frigate flew into view over the ship. It was somewhat ramshackle and looked as if it had been repaired several times – very roughly at that.
"Pirates," said Shaak, "This does not appear to be our day."
{Wonderful,} said Fe-Sun. {So, we take these guys down and go on our merry way, right?}
"I'm afraid it won't be that simple," Shaak replied with a frown. "If we put up resistance, there's nothing stopping them just blowing our ship up – with us in it."
Fe-Sun stared at Shaak.
{So... what do we do?}
The frigate was coming closer now, drawing their shuttle into its hangar bay. Shaak pondered for a moment.
"I... think," she said slowly, "I... may have a workable idea."
The shuttle was guided in and set down on the hangar floor. A large, but ragtag mob of pirates swarmed around it and levelled their weapons at the closed entry gangway.
"What did we snare?" asked the frigate's captain as he strode into the hangar.
"A Slayn & Korpil T-6 shuttle, sir; it hit one of our mines."
"I see," he stroked his chin with his nigh-triangular taloned fingers thoughtfully. He was a tall, gaunt, slender Falleen dressed in elegant purple, grey and golden robes. He looked thoroughly out of place on a pirate ship. He looked more akin to a rich connoisseur. Or a politician.
Or a Prince.
"Marvellous piece of engineering, the T-6," he continued. "The Verpine are truly impressive shipwrights. The T-6 is usually favoured by diplomats, the incredibly wealthy and The Jedi Order. I suggest you all pray we are not dealing with the latter. Force the gangplank down."
Two of the pirates warily approached the gangway when it suddenly lowered with a hiss. Shaak strode down it purposefully, followed by Fe-Sun.
"Greetings," she addressed the mob of pirates, "I am Jedi Master Shaak Ti. May I ask who is in charge here?"
"That would be me," said the captain.
"Ah. Well, thank you ever so much for our rescue – I was concerned we would be lost in space for good. It is most fortunate that you happened upon us."
The pirates glanced at each other, confused. Surely she couldn't be that clueless.
Right?
The captain however didn't even bat an eye.
"You are quite welcome," he said impassively, "We shall have quarters prepared for you. In the meantime, would you and your – Padawan?" he glanced at Fe-Sun, who nodded, " – care for refreshments?"
Shaak smiled. Like a tiger.
"Yes, yes I would. Thank you."
Instantly several of the pirates marched off – presumably to prepare the aforementioned guest quarters – and those remaining lowered their weapons. As the captain guided their 'guests' out of the hangar, the pirates began to quietly speculate on whether these Jedi were genuinely this stupid.
"I trust you are comfortable?" asked the captain as Shaak and Fe-Sun settled into cushy armchairs.
"Yes, thank you," Shaak replied, "Tell me, do you understand Geonosian? Or will it be necessary for me to translate for my padawan?"
"I know enough."
He nodded to his assistant – a blonde, pale woman – and she placed drinks on the small table between them all. The assistant then took a seat beside the captain.
"So, if I may ask," began Shaak, tenting her fingers "What, exactly, is a person of your stature doing captaining a pirate ship?"
"Ah, yes. The question that has stalled the execution of your doubtlessly cunning escape plan," the captain smiled wryly. "the political landscape at the moment is... tumultuous. Someone is making a play, a bid for control. The easiest method of evading the volatile situation is to... fade into the background. At least for a while."
The captain's assistant had seemingly lost interest in the conversation, turning her gaze on Fe-Sun. Her eyes seemed to bore into the Padawan, as if analysing her. If Fe-Sun had to guess, she could only assume the assistant had never seen a Geonosian before. It was unnerving. She distracted her nerves by beginning to drink.
"So you have turned to an insignificant pirate operation under Black Sun?" said Shaak.
"It passes the time. My role as a prominent member of Black Sun would place me firmly in jeopardy. Underlord Alexi Garyn appears to have angered someone greatly – I find it prudent to simply... sit out of the higher echelons of Black Sun until he removes his opponent or is removed in turn."
That got Shaak's attention.
"Who could possibly be willing to risk all-out war on Black Sun?"
The captain took a sip of his drink before responding. When he did, his face was utterly rigid. Locked, devoid of emotion.
"Some suspect the Sith Empire – due to Black Sun's involvement in The Stark Commercial Combine. However this does not quite add up, seeing as the hostility towards Black Sun predates those events. I have arrived at a different conclusion, having carefully studied the situation. Revealing the identity of the chief conspirator, however, would paint an impressive target on my back. So I am not going to do that. I will give you a hint, seeing as it suits my interests for the Jedi to 'scatter the birds'. Look at the Intergalactic Banking Clan closely enough and you may find something rather..."
He paused for a moment and took another sip.
"InSidious."
Shaak regarded his words for a moment. Then she downed her glass.
"Interesting. So may I ask what happens now?"
"Quite simple. When we arrive at our next destination we shall leave you to be picked up by the Jedi Order with your morsel of intelligence."
"I am afraid that's not going to work," said Shaak setting her face firmly. "I am needed on Skako and I want my ship back."
"Your ship is now my profit and your business on Skako is not my concern," replied the captain, "If you try to resist, you will be subdued."
"And how do you plan to do that?" Shaak made to get up, only to sway dizzily. She teetered for a moment, before tottering over back into her chair.
"Quite simple, Master Ti. Falleen are capable of using pheromones to addle the minds of others. It seems to work on Togrutas."
He shifted his gaze to Fe-Sun who had leapt up.
"Although less so on Geonosians."
Fe-Sun's vision was hazy, but she could still make out roughly what was going on. She reached for her lightsaber. Suddenly the assistant rammed her fist very firmly into Fe-Sun's abdomen. Fe-Sun doubled over in pain, dropping her lightsaber hilt. She tried vainly to swing at the assistant. The assistant easily dodged, then grabbed Fe-Sun by the head and slammed it into the table. Fe-Sun was able to make out Shaak struggling to get up again before blackness overtook her.
Pretty colours swam around.
Fe-Sun dimly remembered an abstract painting she'd once seen looking rather similar to what she saw now.
Wasn't she doing something?
Something important...
She remembered being on a ship.
Then an explosion.
Then...
…
Suddenly it all came flooding back and she sat bolt upright. Only now did she realise she had been lying down. On a soft bed at that. Looking around, she appeared to be in a luxurious, yet modest cabin.
'Huh. So that captain at least kept his word,' she thought.
She gingerly got off the bed and explored the room. The door was of course locked; there was nothing especially useful in the drawers, just clothes; the viewport let in a bright glare. She crossed to the viewport and looked out. Below was a cityscape; it extended as far as the eye could see. It was unusual in that it was mostly stonework, virtually no metal or concrete. Everything was all geometric shapes and monolithic. Fe-Sun guessed the ship was a few kilometres above the surface. They appeared to be descending.
Suddenly there was a tapping on the far wall. Fe-Sun crossed to it and pressed her ear against it.
Mon Calamari Blink Code.
[Fe-Sun?]
[Yes] she tapped back.
[It's me, Shaak. I sensed you coming round. Stay calm; I have this under control.]
[How? How is any of this under control?]
[Oh ye of little faith.]
There was a shuffling sound and then silence.
[Hello? Are you still there?]
Nothing.
Fe-Sun frowned. She could sense her master, but she wasn't answering. There was no feeling of pain or discomfort; so she had to be fine. Fe-Sun shrugged, then scrutinised the door. It was firmly locked. There was a lock, but she hadn't the faintest idea how to pick it. With her options seemingly exhausted, she settled down cross-legged on the bed and began to meditate. She had the feeling that she'd been concentrating on something important before the hijacking... what was it?
Ah yes.
The type of Jedi she wanted to be. That was it.
What had she decided upon again? It eluded her.
'Hmm.'
Minutes passed. It continued to elude her.
Then...
She almost had it... almost.
Nearly.
She was broken from her thoughts, however, by a sudden clattering. Opening her eyes, she looked up to see the door sliding open. Shaak was standing on the other side, twirling a spent security spike between her fingers and smiling faintly.
"Today's lesson, my young padawan, is twofold: Firstly, let your enemy think you have lost so they do not realise that you are merely waiting to strike. Secondly, remember to not neglect your physical skills; far too many Jedi have met their end due to being unable to open a door or repair their ship."
Fe-Sun blinked.
{Woah.}
"Are you coming?"
{Uh, yes Master. But what about the guards?}
"Ah yes; them... I tried to reason with them but unfortunately they had to be subdued. Painfully."
Fe-Sun got up and join Shaak in the passageway. About a dozen figures were slumped outside, all either unconscious or in no condition to fight.
{You've got to teach me how to do that...}
"All in good time, but now we need to disappear before backup arrives. To which I pose a question to you: how does one vanish on a large starship?"
{Umm... wait I know this... er-}
"Clock's ticking," added Shaak.
{Oh dammit! Fine, how?}
"Simple," she reached her hand up and wrenched a grate down from the ceiling with The Force, "Air vents. Large-scale starships need roomy vents to avoid suffocation."
She smirked craftily and they both jumped up into the open space.
"Oh. Damn."
The shaft before them was criss-crossed with lasers.
{Well this captain sure knows what he's doing,} said Fe-Sun irritably.
"That he does. I certainly can't make it through there. You might be able to though. Want to try?"
Fe-Sun rolled her eyes.
{Sure, this can't possibly go wrong.}
"Oh believe me, it can- that was sarcasm wasn't it?"
Fe-Sun rolled her eyes again and nodded.
"We'll meet at the bridge. After our first conversation, I think we need another with our illustrious captain."
{Sidetracked again? Can't we just grab our ship and go?}
"Not until we've found out all we can about this little plot and how it involves the Banking Clan."
With that, Shaak dropped back down into the passage below.
"See you in a little bit," she said with a smile and took off out of sight. Fe-Sun sighed and crawled along the shaft. As she went she contorted and twisted her body around the array of lasers. She really wanted to hum to herself – it helped her concentration. Air vents are not meant to hum however; so she kept quiet.
Up ahead was a rather tricky sequence, even for someone with Geonosian flexibility. Her abdomen was still somewhat tender and this was not helping. She steadied herself for a moment, then twisted herself upwards and over the first laser. Then she rapidly swerved her upper half immediately downward and almost backwards. Having evaded the second beam, she now slithered to the left of the shaft and edged round the third. Her legs carefully followed suit, following the trail. Even by her standards, this was pushing it a bit. Wings pressed firmly against her exoskeleton, bent almost back on herself and now partially corkscrewed against the left wall. She carefully wiggled through about five more beams before she found a gap and almost collapsed into the open space.
Beneath her was a grate; looking down into it appeared to be an armoury. She quietly pulled the grate away and slowly lowered herself into the room head first. Looking around, she couldn't see anyone. She could sense two guards outside but nobody else around. More importantly, on a crate lay her and Shaak's lightsabers. She quickly summoned them both to her and returned to her little crevice in the vent.
'Well, that was convenient,' she thought as she studied her own hilt to check for any damage. It appeared fine, as did Shaak's. Then klaxons sounded everywhere and shouts ran out all across the ship.
If she was honest with herself, Shaak had hoped that she could get closer to the bridge before being discovered. No matter. She summoned the unconscious guard's blaster to her hand and peered around the corner. She quickly withdrew it as a torrent of beams sprayed her way. Crouching behind a metal support, she took stock of her situation.
As far as she could tell, she was inside some sort of mess hall. The bridge was, according to her now-unconscious companion, on the other side of it and the dozen-or-so pirates who were in there. The klaxon wasn't helping her think either. She could hear hurried footsteps approaching her from the direction she'd come. Not good; it was now or never. She closed her eyes, listening intently to the sounds her montrals picked up.
Her 'montrals' were her hollow horns; and were indeed doing her a great service currently. Able to echo sounds into her ears to amplify them.
Sixteen in total; most behind tables; all armed.
Quickly formulating a half-done plan, she waited until calls of 'did we get her?' began to sound.
Then she set her blaster to stun and ripped the support out with The Force.
It came free with a deafening wrench.
Before anyone else could do more than yell in shock, she flung the solid mass across the room and let off a wave with The Force for good measure.
Pirates scattered as tables, cutlery and, above all, the massive chunk of metal blasted their way.
Those who had believed themselves safe behind the tables were caught in the barrage. The few who evaded the spray of debris were scattering in shock.
Shaak quickly dashed across the hall stunning pirates as they scrambled to recover.
Even as they began to pick themselves up; it was too late. Shaak had already run through the exit door and locked it behind her. She put her blasted back to normal and sunk three shots into the locking mechanism.
'There. That should hold them for long enough.'
Then she set the blaster to stun again and turned to the door at the end of the passage. According to the guard, it should be the door to the bridge. She pressed the side of her head against the door and listened intently.
A lot of panic. It certainly sounded big enough to be a bridge. Lots of computer sounds and possibly some kind of orders. Good enough.
She began to think up an attack plan, but was distracted by the unmistakeable hum of two lightsabers on the other side of the door. Suddenly a massive amount of blasterfire followed. Eyes widening, she blasted the door out of it's frame with the force and hurried in, crouching.
Fe-Sun was in the centre of the bridge – for it was indeed the bridge – and deflecting fire from all directions.
Before anyone could react to her arrival, Shaak sent another ripple through the air, bowling over pirates and began putting stunners in those nearby.
Seeing her, Fe-Sun used the moment's pause to fling Shaak's lightsaber towards her. Shaak summoned it to her hand joined the deflection. With two Jedi coming from two different directions; the pirates were simply unable to cope and began to drop like flies. In less than a minute, those who had not been taken down were giving up.
{What took you so long? Fe-sun asked her.}
"A room filled with pirates. Why did you not wait?"
{The vent gave way.} she replied. {I don't think they're made for crawling through.}
Shaak looked around the bridge. The captain and his assistant were no-where to be found. She turned to the most important looking pirate who was both alive and not unconscious.
"Where is the captain?"
"I dunno," he replied, "He left about an hour ago."
"Ah well." She turned to the communications console and contacted the local authorities.
"Aha! We are on Empress Teta. That's a relief; when I saw the architecture, I was afraid we had landed on a Sith world." She then turned to the p.a.
"Attention crew members. I am Jedi Master Shaak Ti. I have taken your bridge and locked the escape pods. Your captain has abandoned you. The Tetan authorities have been contacted and are on their way. It is not advisable to resist further."
Rather than wait for the Tetans to arrive, Shaak decided that they should reclaim their shuttle and move on. As they entered the hangar bay, however, they caught sight of their craft lifting off. Fe-Sun gaped incredulously as it flew from the hangar and out of sight.
{What the- BLOODY PIRATES!} Fe-Sun yelled as Shaak turned instead to another ship in the hangar.
"Calm yourself, Padawan. I am tracking the ship. I suspected we might be separated from it when they picked us up."
Fe-Sun gave a pained sigh.
{Won't they just find the device and destroy it?}
"That's why I put all my devices on board. I highly doubt they will find all of them." Shaak said, smugly, as she marched up the boarding ramp. "I also disabled the sensory equipment, so it will be very difficult for them to detect us."
Fe-Sun gave another sigh.
{More diversions. Wonderful.}
[Kalist IV, the Kalist system]
The Falleen captain approached the T-6 shuttle as it touched down in the hidden compound. It was built into the mountainside. The only sentient-made feature in the arid landscape.
The pirates turned to their captain and saluted as they exited the shuttle. The apparent leader of the group spoke to the captain.
"Sir, the Jedi escaped and overran The SEELE. But we managed to steal their ship for you!"
The captain stared at them incredulously.
"You fled from Jedi and you came here?" he said in dawning horror.
{Yeah, I know! Cut in Fe-Sun as she fluttered down behind them. What were these idiots thinking?}