"Ay! Gaid! You have a couple visitors!" The shout of the hanger master came from somewhere in the hanger and was easily heard over the more acute repairs he was doing to Ajax. The droid was not combat ready just yet. He had to get a couple armor modules repaired and others made before he would be ready for a firefight.
But as of now, he should be able to return to his less dangerous duties.
Ajax's head turned to him. "You have a vis-visitor?" The vocabulator mandibles clinking against the snout. Percy frowned at the stutter, working a little more.
"Don't turn your head." Percy muttered as Ajax twisted his head back to its original position. He applied the finishing touches, the pen in his fingers causing sparks to fly off from the point of repair. "Run diagnostics for your vocabulator." He twisted his own head to shout over his shoulder. "Where are they?"
"At the checkpoint!" Another shout from somewhere in the hanger.
"Running." Ajax garbled and ran his language matrix through its paces, speaking greetings in over a dozen languages before looking to him again. "This unit is operating within optimal parameters."
"Good, now watch the ship."
"Is Mako in charge?"
"Just watch the ship."
"Acknowledged." Ajax turned its head to face the ship.
"Smartass." Percy muttered as he stood and went to meet with whoever was here. Ajax getting into a sentry position but given they were in a rather civilized world, there was no need for the droid to be armed.
When he entered the checkpoint, he was greeted with the sight of two Eahndor Peacekeepers. His hand instinctively went to his sidearm, not drawing it but giving clear indication that he was ready to return fire.
"Are you Shield?" At his nod, the peacekeeper continued. "The Governor wants to see you."
"Lead on." Percy gestured with his off-hand.
The peacekeepers nodded and escorted him to an airspeeder, where he was surprised to see the Votills and Shards, all helmed and in their amor as he was, along with another four peacekeepers.
He connected to their encrypted comm channel, making an innocuous gesture that would look like he was just flicking something off his helmet to the peacekeepers but to the Mandalorians that he wanted them to connect to the channel as well.
Within the confines of their helmet, they could choose to have privacy in their conversation. "You do anything that I should be made aware of?" Navike asked, his voice impassive but holding an edge.
Percy spoke, eyeing the peacekeeper that he was standing beside. "Unless you count drinking, then no."
"Nothing here either. We went straight to our ship last night." Kel answered as well.
"If this goes south, Bira, you have the driver, I got the passenger. Kel and Percy break the door, and we'll jet to our ships and meet at Ord Mantell."
"Hold on, these guys look like they just got on shift." Percy said after another moment of close inspection. "No sweat, lazy postures. Either they're really good at what they do and think they can take us, or we're not being arrested." As if to reinforce his point, one of the Peacekeepers even yawned.
"The Rodian over here is sweating." Njom pointed out quietly over the comlink.
"Aama, smack your brother." Aeror visibly brought a gloved hand up to her visor in exasperation. A moment later, a metallic smack was heard. A few of the peacekeepers struggled to keep a straight face at the sight.
The Mandalorians remained silent and still for the remainder of the trip. Aama and Njom made some small talk over the secure comlink and masking their unease in conversation. The older Mandalorians though, kept a close eye on the peacekeepers that were closest to them.
"We're here."
"Where is here is exactly?" Aeror's rough voice cut the otherwise quiet interior of the airspeeder that seemed more like a shuttle.
"Judicial Quarter, specifically the Governor's Estate." Another responded.
Percy clarified further over the comlink. "Nicer part of town. The interior city is reserved for the political and wealthy elite. The people here are nobles of the planet and, for the most part, from the first settler families. The name is supposed to give the impression that the nobles hold the rule of law."
"You hear that, Votill? This is the nicer part of town, let Percy do the talking." Navike's voice was hard as they were led out of the shuttlecraft and escorted onto the opulent estate.
There was a scoff of indignation and before Kel or Aeror could retort, Percy intervened placing a hand on Kel to forestall any confrontation and placing himself standing between the two clan heads. The security escort couldn't hear what they were saying except for muted clicks emanating from their helms though they grew uneasy and Percy noted that they seemed a more than a little uncomfortable, standing a little straighter and gripping their blasters just a little tighter. "Settle it after we're done here." Was Percy's iron words.
Percy looked to Navike in a manner that, even with his helmet on, showed his displeasure at the antagonism.
There was a moment of silence as the two clans heads simply stared at each other, past the intervening Percy. One of the peacekeepers, the one that looked to be in charge, cleared his throat.
"I don't like this." Kel relented and Percy lowered his hand when he was sure that the hotheaded Zabraki wouldn't simply punt Navike.
The group proceeded to follow their escort. It was covered in gardens, as the garden droids and landscapers manicured it in such a fashion to display the wealth of the family. Typical and common among planetary elite and nothing out of the ordinary. If it followed the trend, then it could be safely assumed that blaster turrets lay hidden at various points and the gardens were laid out in such a way to provide ample protection to a defending party.
Especially, in the Outer Rim where hostile raids often threatened and targeted the planetary government.
Njom spoke this time, attempting to defuse the awkwardness. "What's the governor's name?"
"Aschburn. North of seventy and comes from old money." Percy explained as they entered the large circular atrium of the main building where their steps echoed in against the neatly kept tiled floor. It wasn't all that pertinent information given their professions but the bondsman always spoke of the man and his policies.
They were guided past the pair of blue skinned Twi-Lek secretaries who were standing in their officious clothes and bright smiles. "Welcome to the Governor's Estate. Please go right in. The Governor is expecting you." One of them said in a rather mature voice.
None of the Mandalorians paid any real attention to them as they were escorted further in.
Carpeted halls of intricate designed filigree stitched into them. There were a couple housekeeper droids but for the most part, they passed other sentient housekeepers of a varied species. All throughout were all manner of offices and conference rooms with, Percy assumed to be, various planetary officials.
It was quiet and it wasn't that long of a walk to reach the main office of the Planetary Governor.
Inside was, unsurprisingly, the planetary governor. Another pair of peacekeepers and who Percy knew to be a Republic Judicial representative. Given their rather imminent induction into the Senate, Percy knew their presence on the planet shouldn't be surprising. Though what one of the officials was doing here, he didn't know exactly but he had a good guess as to what this may pertain to.
They weren't in trouble at least. They had been allowed their weapons so that meant they weren't planning to arrest them. Though that could mean that they could be attempting to lull them into a false sense of security but Percy doubted that.
"Governor Aschburn, the bounty hunters you requested." The lead peacekeeper presented.
"Ah yes, please have a seat."
Njom and Aama were forced into the offered seats much to their discomfort by the iron hands of their mother. Bira and Navike stood by the door alongside the other peacekeepers, their hands on their blasters but not having drawn them yet. Kel took a position near the Republic official who shifted in his seat at the imposing presence.
Percy for his part stood, in front of the seated teenagers, hands clasped in front of him, unspoken leader of their group that he was.
There was a silence before the Governor continued, the elder man ran a slightly shaking hand through his snow beard and bald head, his ornate robes slightly crinkled as if he had been pulling at the fabric in nervousness. "You come highly recommended by the Guild and by a close friend. He claims that some years ago, a number of Mandalorians carried out a defense of a farming community protecting the populace from a pirate raid, without asking or expecting payment. For that I thank you."
Percy remembered that but didn't comment.
None of the Mandalorians responded to that actually and an awkward silence followed.
"Tell them." The Judicial officer said.
"Right." Governor Aschburn took a steadying breath and cleared his throat. "Six hours ago, the freighter transporting Eahndor's representative in the Galactic Senate, stopped transmitting on their way back from Muunilinst. We believe it to be a pirate attack."
"And you want us to go get her." Percy easily deduced. The Governor nodded. "Why not them? Aren't the politicians your purview?" Percy gestured to the Judicial Officer.
The Governor was about to speak but the officer was faster. "I know how politics work, son. It would take time for Coruscant to respond for an abducted representative. If it was a Senator, I have no doubt a Jedi would be dispatched here immediately. However, we don't have the luxury of waiting to find out."
"I am prepared to offer a substantial sum for her safe return." The Governor clarified.
There was another pause as the adult Mandalorians regarded each other with looks.
"We'll have to discuss this in private. Do you have a room we can use temporarily?"
"Of course. Sergeant, if you would escort them?"
"Sir." The trooper nodded.
The Mandalorians remained silent as they were taken to an adjacent conference room. It was simple in nature, with a long polished and dark wooden table with a silver metal center with chairs surrounding it. Control pads were before each table but other than that it was largely absent of any decorations save a couple countryside paintings and window displaying the garden.
"Do you suspect foul play?" Kel asked him once they were alone.
Bira answered in his stead. "Doubtful. If the pirates knew they had a representative of the Republic they would've already contacted the Governor for ransom. She probably got caught on a routine raid."
Percy thought for a moment, considering the interaction. "I'll take the job but he wants us all."
"That's expensive. Even for a Galactic Representative. It'd be cheaper to a get group from the Guild." Navike commented.
"For a representative no less." Percy mused. He had an idea why but kept it to himself. He didn't want the others to feel obligated to join if he turned out to be correct in his memory and assumption.
"We're in." Navike said after another moment after getting a nod from Bira.
It took a couple moments longer, but Kel nodded as well as his family looked towards him and as he shared a look with Aeror.
"Alright."
Percy unlocked the door where the sergeant from earlier led them back into the Governor's office. None took preparatory positions in the room nor did any sit this time.
"Have you come to a decision?"
Percy's answer was immediate. "Two hundred thousand, plus salvage rights. Eighty to be paid in advance and the rest when the job is done. That's twenty five for each Mandalorian and twenty five for expenses." He nodded to his colleagues.
"Done." The governor easily agreed as he waved forward a secretary droid who was carrying a datapad.
"We'll also need to know a couple things. Name, last known location and a picture to identify her."
"The name is Alonjuli Prestr. Details and hologram are on here." He handed a data chip to Percy who in turn absently handed it to Aama who was closest to him. She pocketed it into her belt without a thought.
The Governor signed his name on the datapad, and before Percy did the same, he posed one last question to the governor. The Governor holding one end of the datapad and Percy holding the other. "Is the abducted of any familial relation to you?" His voice was stone and one could hear the slight whirring and clicking of the secretary droid.
The Judicial officer and the governor shared a look.
"She's my grand-daughter. Her parents died from a disease that swept the sector when she was little." Aschburn swallowed deeply. "I took her in and raised her as if she were my own." The Mandalorians shared their own looks. "I hope that you don't take advantage of this."
"On the contrary, Governor Aschburn," Percy easily pulled the datapad from the Governor's grasp, signing it, and then setting it onto the desk. The secretary droid producing a credit chit and handing it over to the nearest Mandalorian. "We will do our utmost to return your kin to you. We'll leave within the hour."
And with that, they made their way out, the Judicial official following after them, stepping beside Percy and quietly speaking. "I have reason to believe that the government of Borosk is involved. They don't want to lose the influence that comes with having a sector of agriworlds. If you can find evidence of their involvement the Republic Judiciary of Eahndor is prepared to pay an additional ten. Bring the leader of these pirates in alive for questioning and we'll throw another five on top of that. Any others you take alive is an extra two."
Navike and Percy shared a look and Percy nodded slightly. Even with their obscuring helmets, having fought and worked beside each other for as long as they have it was easy to tell what the other was thinking. "We'll do what we can." Navike said quietly in response.
"Thank you." The Judicial official walked away.
The Mandalorians boarded the shuttle that brought them there though there were considerably less peacekeepers this time. Only the pilot was there.
"You think he might be on the Boroski payroll? It would explain why he hasn't informed his superiors." Navike spoke in a low and whispering voice. Bira and Aeror were discussing how efficiently to resupply before they departed with Kel was speaking quietly to his children.
"It's possible." Percy admitted. "Though that also brings the question, if he is, then why raise suspicion? To try and deflect it or to put out the fire? Or this could be an ongoing investigation. It's not often that the Republic gives new senatorial seats but food is always in high demand and the sector has it in abundance and excess. A Judiciary here makes me think that Eahndor is of, at least, some importance to the Core."
"Then why stall it? Getting rid of the representative doesn't get rid of the Senate seat."
"Because like the officer said, Republic bureaucracy will drag its feet, they'll get the market for food regardless of internal politics. Pretty straight forward here, get rid of the prospective Senator, install a pro-Boroski noble into the Governorship when Aschburn kicks the bucket and then they don't lose their bread basket. Prestr being saved, ensures that doesn't happen."
Navike hummed. "If that's the case, we'll have to move fast. If pirates want to get rid of someone, they'll take them to Hutt Space where she'll never be heard from again. Killing her will cost them their insurance against Borosk hunters and their Judiciary."
Percy nodded. "They'll still have to deal with Eahndor hunters. Assuming that this is a motivated grab, the pirates would have had been locally sourced, a group that's been raiding the trade lanes for awhile and of significant threat to deter the more inexperienced Guilders and numerous enough to force independent hunters to second guess."
"Black Sun, Pykes?" He shrugged.
"At the very least, they'll be affiliated or sponsored by them, since their fragmenting I doubt this is a full-blown operation." He agreed. "Of course, this could just be a run-of-the-mill pirate group that got lucky with their grab and the Judiciary is just jumping at ghosts."
"Prepare for the worst, hope for the best." Navike commented.
"I thought you hated that saying." Percy cocked his head in a questioning manner.
"When you say it, it sounds like I'm listening to my old man." They both laughed at that.
"We need to pick up some supplies but we'll be ready to go." Kel interrupted, breaking their conversation, his gaze directed to Percy.
"We'll meet at the jump point." Percy said. A series of agreements followed though Kel looked to Navike.
"We'll settle that insult after this is over."
Navike shrugged.
As much as Percy would have loved to intervene, it was a matter between them two. For as long as Percy could remember the two had always butted heads and this time would prove no different.
It wasn't long before they arrived from where they initially began. They didn't waste any time and immediately set about preparing their ships for departure. Ajax was ensuring everything was set in place though with their latest run, their cargo hold was near barren with only a few crates of spare parts and supplies.
Ajax joined him in the lift.
"Mako, cycle the drives and run prelim checks." He said into his vambrace as Ajax stepped off, following their routine of preparing to depart, the droid would ensure the reactor, the engines and the droids were all squared away before joining him in the cockpit. A couple of affirmative beeps responded through the comlink.
Percy checked his quarters to ensure everything was in its place before heading into the cockpit.
Gazing out of the reinforced windows of that was the cockpit, Percy contacted the flight control. "Tower this is Iron Shield at Hanger 122, looking to head out soon."
The response was immediate. "Uh, copy Iron Shield, people up top have notified us of your departure. Just give us the go ahead and we'll pull you up from your hanger."
"Copy, Iron Shield Out."
Ajax walked in, sitting adjacent to him in the co-pilot's chair and also began working the controls. "Beginning main power start-up." Percy announced as he began flicking switches. The consoles began lighting up in an array of blues and whites.
"Cycling shields." Ajax announced as he also began working the controls. His voice, crackling and distorting slightly. "Shields are operating within optimal parameters."
"Running diagnostics. Check." Percy spoke, working the controls.
"Check." Ajax responded after a moment. "Diagnostics complete. All internal systems are operating within optimal parameters."
Percy reconnected to the tower frequency.
"Iron Shield to Eahndor Tower, requesting clearance for departure."
"Eahndor Tower to Iron Shield, we read you. You are cleared for assisted departure. Have a good flight. Tower out." The transmission cut.
Percy and Ajax settled into a comfortable and easy silence as they worked the flight controls. Percy could feel the Iron Shield be grappled by the hanger tractor beams as the starship began to be pulled upwards and outwards. His starship's wings rotating and angling to flank the ship.
"And we…are…away." Percy muttered as he prepped for manual flight, taking hold of the flight steering handles.
It took a moment for the artificial gravity to kick in as they ascended up and out of the planet's atmosphere.
"All flight systems are operating within optimal parameters." Ajax announced once again, tapping at more of the controls.
He continued to work the controls and diagnostics, making sure that the techs didn't mess with his more sensitive and custom equipment and after giving Ajax a list of tasks to do, the droid left the cockpit but not before requesting for his armor modules to repaired and installed.
Mako beeped and whistled.
"Put them through." Percy looked out of the viewport, seeing the other two Kom'rks slip onto either side of his flanks. Their hulls mimicking the colors of their respective clans.
The holograms of both Kel and Navike showed up, both seated. Kel began without preamble. "The data shows that the Representative's ship was last seen three jumps away. On a lesser used hyperlane checkpoint by the looks of it. System is uninhabited so we don't have to deal with locals. How do we want to run this?"
"We'll make the jump together. As much as going in alone may draw them out, a single Kom'rk jumping in system would be enough to make any sane pirate think twice about making themselves known." Percy said as he began preparing the ship for the jump. "Go in together and sweep the system of anyone that isn't supposed to be there. We'll be able to coordinate a search without having to worry about an immediate attack."
"Copy." Kel nodded.
"Sounds like a plan." Navike inclined his head.
"Mako, sync the navicomputers with the Whistler and the Pale Flower."
An affirmative beep, and the twirling and cranking of his socket whirring and after a moment, the ship went silent.
"All clear?"
Another affirmative beep. Followed by affirmatives, from the other two starship captains.
"Sending…now." Percy unlocked the hyperdrive levers and pushed them forward.
Even through the tinted and protected viewports of his starship, Percy saw the pulling and stretching of reflecting starlight, the tiny sparkles turning into pale lines of light before disappearing entirely to be replaced by the swirling blue, white and black tunnel of hyperspace.
"Now, in Mando'a." A woman's stern voice spoke as she looked at the child before her.
An exasperated emerald eyed child repeated the phrase for what felt like the hundredth time. It wasn't quite that many times, not even close, but for an impatient child it might as well have been.
He enunciated the words clearly once again, before saying it in Basic and in Huttese.
For the next few hours, the woman taught the child a variety of common words and phrases, alternating and translating the words in the most common languages of the galaxy but most in importantly, in Mando'a. Automatically recanting the words and phrases. Repeating after her as if it was just an afterthought.
After a while, the two sat in silence enjoying lunch. Though the woman sifted through a datapad, reading reports on skirmishes between the True Mandalorians and the Death Watch, a frown marring her face as she forced herself to shut it off. Adonai was going to be busy.
A very pregnant Kirmec Kryze spoke whilst cradling a newborn, her voice questioning yet stern. "Percy, do you know why we speak Mando'a?"
The child's voice was as bland as it was automatic, and with a roll of his eyes, he answered. "Because the Resol'nare says so."
"Roll your eyes again, young man…" Kirmec cautioned, allowing the boy's hyper-imagination to dissuade him from further disrespect. "That is…an answer." She settled on. "But why?" She stressed the last word.
Percy blinked owlishly for a moment before shrugging.
"It's because its our culture." Kirmec answered her own question. Percy adopted a confused look and Kirmec explained to the child, who while young, indeed still an adolescent, was exceptionally bright and mature for his age. "Many species have their own language for them." She waved one of her hands dismissively. "For them, its simply communication. A means to an end. Nothing that binds them. Anyone can speak Basic. Anyone can speak Huttese or Bocce. But only Mandalorians can speak Mando'a, its what binds us, its what makes us unique."
Percy nodded and went back to his casserole.
He didn't understand. Not yet at least. Bright-eyed he may be but he was still a child. It was to be expected. He wouldn't have eyes for anything unless it was right in front of him.
Once upon a time she didn't understand either. It wasn't exactly something that could be explained in words. Only lived through and done through example.
Something that Percy was much more willing to do than sit through lessons.
But regardless, there was a time and place for those, and that was not now. Not until he was older and able to truly experience the harsh but strong culture of their people.
She looked down to her daughter, Satine was sleeping peacefully against her, and absently cradled her stomach, than looked back to her son.
A small smile played on her lips. Her family almost complete.
'In due time…in due time.' She thought to herself.
'Per aspera ad astra'
'Through hardships to the stars.'
-Latin Proverb
On that note, (and as always), you can find me on the Emerald Library Discord! It's a fantastic place to interact with other writers and readers where we just chill and chat about ideas, future works and generally just have a good time!
The link to that is on my profile!